There’s a particular kind of stillness that settles over a house once it’s listed — a quiet waiting, a sense that every room is holding its breath. We were living inside that stillness when the first offer came in. It arrived on an ordinary day, without ceremony, but it carried the weight of possibility. For a moment, it felt like the future had stepped a little closer, and the past had grown a little larger, all at the same time.
When the call came in, and my husband told me that an offer had been made contingent on the perspective buyers selling their home, my heart leapt, and then my chest grew a little heavy. The shift was nearly simultaneous, but not quite. It’s true it was exactly what we were hoping for, but change had never been a strong suit of mine, so this was equally exciting and scary.
It was a sign — a good one — that things were moving, and I told the girls that the next chapter we’d been imagining on our walks might be starting sooner than we thought. We didn’t celebrate, not exactly. I think even for them, there was a huge mix of emotions. The excitement of moving forward on this grand adventure coupled with the knowing that it would mean leaving behind the friends they’d grown up with and a home that was almost the only one they had ever known. But in in that strange mix of emotions, we let ourselves imagine. We pictured the next steps, the transition, the momentum. It felt like the story had taken on a life of its own and was finally turning its own page.
We began to prepare, buying boxes and packing supplies, making piles of things to travel with us, things to throw away, things to put in storage, and things to sell. Four buckets that summed up every belonging in the house, and it was a mountainous task.
The weeks moved on. The contingent offer had included us pulling the house from the market for eight weeks to allow the buyers time to list and sell their home. The early belongings that we didn’t need day to day and the ones that wouldn’t disrupt living too much were sorted out and put in the spare room, and life crept back toward the normal on the gauge and we began doing all the summer things with neighbors and friends as we waited.
And waited.
And then, just as quietly as it arrived, the offer fell through.
No drama. It was as simple as the clock running out of time. Two months had passed and they had barely had a showing, much less an offer. A request came in that we hold out a little longer, but we denied it and put the house back on the market.
It was one of those “Maybe this isn’t meant to be” kind of moments that once again came with a cornucopia of emotions. We were back in the same place we were before, but with the echo of what almost happened still lingering in the air.
But I also knew this was part of the process. Part of the journey. Part of the story.
But there was a moment — brief, private — where the stillness returned, heavier this time. Not with fear, but with the reminder that forward motion isn’t always linear. Sometimes the path dips before it rises again.
We went for a walk that evening. The same route, the same rhythm, the same conversations about Europe and cobblestone streets and bookstores tucked into corners. And somewhere in that walk, the disappointment softened. The dream hadn’t disappeared. It was simply waiting.
And it didn’t wait for long.
Walking through Canterbury, you can feel the layers of history pressing in from every direction, from the cathedral spires, crooked timber frames, and even in the hush of old streets that have seen centuries of footsteps. And then, just a few minutes from the historic walled part of the city, you hit something entirely different: Saint Smokey’s BBQ House. It's the perfect comfort food place, bursting with modern energy.
It’s the kind of place that reminds you that travel stories aren’t only found in ancient stones. Sometimes they’re found in the places where people gather together over food that’s loud, messy, and made to be shared. In meeting with family, young and old. In gathering with friends. In putting down the phone and taking it all in.
A Break from the Expected
Canterbury is full of charming cafés and traditional pubs, both inside and outside the city walls. And casual, fast food dining from McDonalds to pizza to subs are equally plentiful throughout the city. But Saint Smokey’s is a shift in tone. The vibe is lived‑in, local, and unapologetically itself. The moment you step inside, the smell of smoked chicken wraps around you. Music hums under the chatter. It’s casual, energetic, and refreshingly unpolished.
This is where you go when you want to step out of the postcard version of Canterbury for a laid-back atmosphere that is both modern and industrial, relaxing and casual.
The Food That Makes the Story
Saint Smokey’s doesn’t do subtle. The portions are huge, the seasonings range from sweet to hot, and it’s all good.
During our visit, we enjoyed the:
- Chicken Wings — the perfect share‑plate if you’re traveling with kids or friends. Or makes a perfect meal for one.
- Chicken Wraps — my personal favorite. Flavorful chicken wrapped in a tortilla with lettuce and sauce for dipping (I chose the sweet).
- Chicken Sandwich — Chicken with lettace served on a fresh bun. My youngest didn't use her bbq sauce, but my oldest used both on your sandwich and dipped her chips (fries) in it.
What meal new restaurant experience would be complete without dessert. We had:
- Apple Crumble with ice cream - delicious but not quite as warm as we're used to.
- Kinder Brownie with Kinder Cream - Rich, thick, and to die for.
Most plates fall between £7-16, making it a solid stop for families, students, and travelers watching their budget.
How it Plays in Our Journey
Smokey’s is not a destination restaurant in the way that others might be. It generally flies neatly under the most popular tourist restaurants in the city. Being located near a WaitRose Grocery Store, it's on the busy St. George's Place Road while still feeling somewhat tucked away. But that’s what makes it a treasure. This is a restaurant that allows you to capture the moment with family, friends, or even relax in the pages of your favorite book. It's a place you can stumble into after exploring the cathedral or after wandering the narrow lanes of the city center. A place where you sit down, breathe out, and let the day settle while the smoke and spice do their work.
It’s the kind of stop that becomes part of the memory of the trip—not because it’s fancy, but because it’s real.
If You Go ... And You Absolutely Should
Saint Smokey’s BBQ House
5–6 St George’s Place Canterbury CT1 1UL,
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1227 769027
Travel isn’t only about the places that make the guidebooks. It’s about the unexpected corners—the ones that surprise you, feed you, and remind you that every city has a heartbeat beyond its history. Saint Smokey’s is one of those corners in Canterbury. If you’re wandering the city and craving something warm, smoky, and full of character, this is where the story takes you next.
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If you are planning on the perfect bookish trip to Canterbury, check out how to expand your story by staying in at Canterbury Reach Lodge Retreat: A Quiet Base Just Outside the City.
At the start of your bookish travel planning? Read my full guide here.
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Join the Journey
Walt Disney has survived over a hundred years for many reasons, not the least of which is their ability to tell a story. The theme parks take that storytelling magic and place it in a world guests can feel, touch, smell, and experience for themselves in a real, tangible way. And while every corner of Walt Disney World does this in a way few places can duplicate, it’s difficult to think of an attraction more immersive than Rise of the Resistance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Stepping Into a Story, Not a Queue
The story begins the moment you step into the Resistance encampment carved into the forests of Batuu. The rockwork is jagged and worn, as if carved by decades of hidden activity. The hum of distant ships echoes overhead. Resistance radios crackle with coded chatter. Even the temperature seems to shift as you move deeper into the mountainside.
You’re not waiting for a ride. You’re entering a world that doesn’t let you stand outside the story for even a moment.
This is where Disney’s immersive design goes far beyond the norm. Batuu itself is a fully realized environment, and Rise of the Resistance is its beating heart.
The Transport That Isn’t a Pre‑Show
Most attractions have pre‑shows. Disney is famous for them. But Rise of the Resistance doesn’t, not in the way you're expecting. Here in these mountains, you receive a mission briefing.
Rey and BB‑8 appear in a hidden Resistance chamber, and Rey's holographic message flickers with urgency, and you'll find yourself recruited into the Resistnace with your first urgent mission. You need to carry intel that will stop the First Order.
When the metal doors to this secretive base slide open, and you step outside into the Batuu mountains where a transport shuttle awaits. Lt. Bek sits at the controls, ready to fly you to a rendezvous point to deliver critical message. The shuttle doors close, the engines rumble, and you lift off into the sky.
Until the First Order intercepts the transmission.
The shuttle shakes violently. Blaster fire streaks overhead. The Resistance and the First Order clash in a battle you witness through the windows on both sides.
Bek warns you of the danger, and then — in one of the most shocking transitions in theme park history — the doors open to reveal something you absolutely weren’t expecting.
This isn’t immersion as an effect. This is immersion on a whole other level.
The Hangar Reveal: A Moment You Never Forget
There are theme park moments that stay with you forever, and the hangar reveal is one of them.
The scale is overwhelming. Rows of stormtroopers stand at attention, their heads turning as they track the prisoners. Sleek black TIE fighters line the walls. The cold, sterile precision of First Order architecture surrounds you, stretching upward into a cavernous space that feels impossibly large.
It’s theatrical. It’s cinematic. It’s completely disorienting in the best possible way.
Adult or child, the experience isn't one you simply see. It's one you full feel—the awe, the tension, the sense that something enormous is happening around you.
This is the moment where Rise of the Resistance stops being a ride and becomes a place.
Cast Members Who Become Characters
One of the most brilliant immersive elements is the cast. They don’t “play along”. They become their roles.
First Order officers are curt, intimidating, and humorless. They bark orders, glare at you, and make it abundantly clear that you are not welcome here. The trademark Disney friendliness? You won’t find it. They do not break character — not even for a second.
Be prepared to be warned not to laugh or smile. This is an interrogation. You are a prisoner of the First Order.
The Resistance fighters, on the other hand, radiate urgency. Their movements are quick, their voices hushed, their tone serious. They’re not guiding you through a ride, they’re rescuing you.
This human layer is what makes the experience breathe. It’s what makes the story feel alive. And it's brilliant.
The Escape: A Ride That’s Really a Finale
The trackless ride system is thrilling, but the thrills are never the point. Every drop, every turn, every blaster bolt is part of the narrative. You’re not on a ride vehicle, you’re escaping.
You race past stormtroopers. You dodge towering AT‑AT fire. You weave through First Order corridors. Kylo Ren confronts you, his light saber cutting through ceilings and his use of the Force pulling you closer. The urgency of a Resistance rescue surrounds you.
It’s adventure, yes. But it’s adventure that is fully and completely immersive.
Every detail keeps you locked in the story. Even the time of day is accounted for — if you enter during daylight, the final scene reflects daylight. If you enter at night, the finale matches the night sky. The story respects the world outside, keeping you grounded in the reality Batuu has created.
For an experience that plays out over a complete story arc from start to finish, Rise of the Resistance is a masterpiece — not just for Star Wars fans, but for anyone who loves the craft of storytelling.
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More immersive experiences await at Pandora in the Summer: A Otherworldly Escape Inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom And learn why Walt Disney World is a bookish destination.
At the start of your bookish travel planning? Read my full guide here.
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