Faversham's takeaway scene tells you a lot about the town. While most places its size are ringed by the same handful of fast-food giants, Faversham is well known for having almost none of them; there is no McDonald's, no KFC and, for a long time, not even a national coffee chain in the centre. What that means in practice is that when you fancy something quick and hot to carry home, you are almost always buying from an independent, family-run kitchen rather than a franchise. The food has personality, the people behind the counter usually own the place, and your money stays in the town.

The heart of it all is Preston Street, the long parade of independents that doubles as the town's retail spine. Walk its length and you will pass a genuinely broad spread of cuisines packed into a short stretch. For the classic British takeaway there is fish and chips from long-standing chippies near the top of the street, the kind of proper fried fish and chips wrapped to walk home with. For a curry night, the street has well-established Indian kitchens such as Spice Lounge and the Prince of India turning out takeaway and local delivery, while a clutch of kebab and pizza houses, including the Kebab House further down, cover the late-night and post-pub trade.

Chinese food is here too, with established takeaways serving the town's collection orders, though Faversham's independent character does mean delivery options can be more limited than in a chain-heavy town; plenty of locals simply walk in and collect, which is part of the rhythm here. On the lanes off the main streets you will also find smaller operators, burger spots and the like, that trade largely on word of mouth and a loyal following.

Timing and geography matter. The takeaways do brisk business on market days, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, when the centre is busy from morning, and again in the evenings once the town's many pubs start to empty. Faversham is a serious drinking town thanks to Shepherd Neame, Britain's oldest brewer, which is based right in the centre, so the after-pub takeaway is a well-worn local tradition. On the first weekend of September, during the Hop Festival, the streets fill with crowds and the takeaways and street-food stalls do a roaring trade alongside the music and beer.

Because the offer is independent rather than corporate, quality and opening hours vary from place to place, and the smart move is to find your own favourites. Ask a local where they go for chips or a curry and you will get a firm opinion, because these are the kitchens people grew up with rather than interchangeable units. Many use good local suppliers, which in a town surrounded by Kentish farms and close to the coast is no small thing.

Whether you are after a Friday-night fish supper, a curry to share, a kebab after closing time or a quick bite on a market morning, Faversham's takeaways deliver the goods with a character that the chain towns have long since lost. Use the listings below to find what is open, where it is and what the locals rate, and you will eat far better than a retail-park drive-through would ever manage.