31st December 2019
Always great to end the year in Kent, not that I’ve ever done it before.
I nearly jumped on the Eurotunnel when I reached Folkestone but just in time realised it was going to France.
Two (2) new pubs for me in the ‘tone, as the kidz probably call it. Last time here was a flying visit, but I was struck by the creative quarter and the small bars springing up like, er, wild flowers.
With more time to get to grips with the town I can bring you some of the artistic highlights that should see you heading to the South-east coast this winter.
I was going to call Folkestone the Hastings of the west and wait for Old Mudgie to correct me, and I think the comparison holds.
The Old High Street isn’t quite as atmospheric as Hastings Old Town, but it’s steeper, and as a Fenboy that matters.
The trad Sheps pubs aren’t as atmospheric either,
but there’s Dickensian touches around The Bayle,
the new town is a symphony of brutalism,
and there’s shops that sell the sheet music to MacArthur Park. You’re still not convinced are you ?
Anyway, Folkestone will be pulling in the punters this year as it narrowly beat Inverness to be the setting for the steps sequence in Joker 2.
Good beer in the new GBG pubs, too.
Oooh, a pretty Spoons.
I though Samuel Peto was a Chelsea striker loaned out to Gillingham in the noughties, but I was wrong.
Nice little semi-enclosed drinking cubicles, a superb Titanic Ice that reached NBSS 3.5 once it warmed up, a lot going on.
In fact, Folkkestone was buzzing on New Years Eve, even though the ice cream shop was inexplicably closed.
Down by the barbour, across from the legendary Grand Burstin (don’t ask) Hotel, I contemplated swimming to the new “Floatin’ Firkin” micropub but chickened out.
One of the alluring things about Folkestone is that it’s a town of many parts. long the Stade to Sunny Beach you get the sort of seafood stalls normally seen in Southwold, and the sort of pubs normally seen in South Shields.
Too many beers in the Mariner, of course, but you’d drink a pint of any of them now, wouldn’t you ?
Half a dozen Old Boys discussing pubs they’d been barred from, not a tourist in sight, Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together“, and a gorgeous Old.
And if that doesn’t sell you Folkestone, there’s dozen of micros.
In fact, this is the only building that isn’t one.
retiredmartin 
I smiled at the idea of the old boys discussing which pubs they’d been barred from, rather proudly, I imagine! I recall going into a pub with my friend in Macclesfield where the names of barred patrons was publicly displayed on the wall. Wasn’t sure if that was a common thing or not, but it certainly has a “name them and shame them” aspect to it!
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I sensed it went back a decade or more!
Wonder how many pubs Simon is barred from.
I always assumed those lists of “persons barred” on pub walls (the lively ones) related to drugs or drunkeness, and normally relate to all the pubs in town. Whether use of mobile phones gets you on the list is unknown 😉
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Mark,
I couldn’t add anything to a discussion about being barred from a pub – and only once have I been refused a pint.
Is “in The Bayle” Kentish for “on the Wall” and a sure sign of a Black Country Ales pub ?
Why has Tim put a basketball net up outside one of his venues ?
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These days it probably goes “Pig & Whistle, banned 2007, closed 2008. Black Horse, banned 2009, closed 2012. Red Lion, banned 2010, closed 2011………..”
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Always called the place Fogeystone due to the large proportion of older folk. Doesn’t look like it’s changed much.
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Interesting one. Lots of older visitors, but plenty of the bars and independent restaurants appeal to younger folk like me. I think it’s changing.
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Well, it’s been quite a few years since I was there so the chances are that the demographics have changed, er, naturally!
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A proper pub – any Folkestone Invicta memorabilia on the walls?
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Oooh, good football ref.
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One of the great football team names!
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Yes, the Harvey’s Old does rather jump out from that line-up 😋
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The Harvey’s Old would have been my choice!
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I have mixed feelings about Folkestone. Saw some classic rock groups there, at the Leas Cliff Hall, back in the early 1970’s, but haven’t really been back since.
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I agree that it is good in parts -the creative quarter is nice -we actually had a ruinously expensive overnight stay at Rocksalt & finished off at the Mariners.Next morning a lady caught us to do a survey about our likes & dislikes about the town.We said the Burstin needs demolishing -a blot on the landscape !
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It’s a real hotchpotch isn’t it?
The Burstin gives it character, just like Butlins in Bognor 😉
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My part of the world! Very perceptive review, bits of Folkestone are great, others are grim. Pity you didn’t make it to Kipps, Firkin or Bouverie Tap.
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I did, John, but a few years ago. 😉. If I went to every good pub in a town on every annual visit I’d be, er, dead 😱
Think there’s reviews of some of those others on the blog.
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Parts of the town don’t seem to have changed since Richard Harris left that cake out in the rain!
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Looking forward to visiting Folkstone and the area between Rye and Dover. The Mariner will be among my ports of call.
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When are you visiting, Morten? . I must say hello.
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