Yeah not really a forum any more, sorry. It might come back in this form.
After a brief hiatus Firkin Alehouse is back doing beer deliveries again. I've not heard from the Inn Doors.
Good luck out there everyone and stay safe
This coronavirus business is mad isn't it? I can't keep up with the news of who's closing, who is changing their hours etc. Please support your local if it's safe to do so, and I'll see you on the other side.
The Ship in Sandgate has finally been sold! Or has it?
It's supposedly been up for sale for five years, and the repeated story was that they were asking nearly a million for the pub and restaurant only, not the accomodation. Also seemingly not included is the new bar + brewing bit next door as the room leased from someone else.
Now the story has changed, there is a new landlord in town. Collected rumours say his name is Darren, he used to be a bank manager. But has he bought it or not? A consistent story is that there is a six month trial, so is it only leased in this time?
I've not been in this year I don't think, but will report back what I hear...
After a hard Dryanuary I had a plan for February, had to be something booze related, so Febrewery, why not. It is not part of anyone else's organised plans and it's not for charity, it was my plan to go to twenty-nine different pubs in twenty-nine days. We're nearly half way through the month and I'm doing ok, though got some catching up to do at the weekend. I am visiting the same old haunts in parts (been to the Inn Doors too many times really and it's disrupting my plan, it's just too good to pass up) but I've sampled a few places that are completely new to me, including:
The Globe Inn, Hythe. This feels like a step back in time, a traditional old boozer. Was very quiet on my lunchtime visit, but warm as the fire was on. It's not a frozen historical pub either, there was a modern jukebox playing some Megadeth. I'm not normally a fan of Shepherd Neame but I had a nice Bishop's Finger. And a pint of beer, hoho.
The Red Cow, Folkestone. A family friendly boozer, no real ale.
The Royal Norfolk, Sandgate. OK not completely new to me, but I have not been in for a long time. I remembered it being a bit dark in there, but it's very bright and comfortable indeed. We played pool, and I'm keen to go again soon, except again there's no real ale.
I will be back with my full list of twenty-nine on my blog, though they will not all be local.
Wow did Follies expand too quickly or what? For a while they had two in Folkestone, one in Hythe and one in Dover, and now there are none. It's a real shame, it was good pizza and mostly a nice place to go. We enjoyed the bargain midweek deal in Hythe fairly often, though I suppose we did not go there when it was full price. We have used both of the Folkestone venues quite a bit too. When the Harbour Arm opens up again for this season (easter weekend I suppose?) it will be without Follies. So the Harbour Arm company are looking for a new food outlet to go into that space, and also for a new bar to go into an exciting new space by all accounts.
You can apply to be one of the new businesses on the website. Good luck!
Slight repost from the blog but I'm pleased with this one. First Chinese takeaway round here I've noticed that are calling out what is good for vegans and what is not. Making some effort instead of saying "it might all have shellfish in it":
There's a bit vegan section, all with "vegan chicken", a fake meat made of tofu and things, and then the guy in the takeaway talked me through all the other dishes that were suitable or could be adapted. That has never happened to me in a takeway like this before. The food was all good and it all felt quite light and healthy too, an unexpected bonus.
So Nine Dragons, Tontine Street, Folkestone, heartily recommended!
They do free delivery and they're on Just Eat and things too.
Happy new year all!
Sorry to hear the Beanos vegetarian (and mostly vegan) cafe is calling it a day. They were trailblazers in the area, but there is plenty of competition for the vegan market these days. A loss.
Thought I should pop up on here with a new post every so often as someone at a party this week said "do you still do that website? it used to be really good!"...
On the twitter, Old Westbrookian says
Old Westbrookian here, still looking for Christine Howarth (nee Brazier). I heard through the grapevine that Robert Brazier, who I used to hang out with and play endless games if Risk, has passed away. I'm so sorry to hear this news and I send my condolences.
In fact the Inn Doors is open again about now. Summer holidays are over, they must be back by now. It reopened again after a two week break yesterday, and you'll find me back in there again from Friday. Cheers!
Hmm this was a thing at Seabrook primary school, a talent show for the kids. The new thing at The Fountain is not actually called Seabrook's Got Talent, but that's what I'm thinking of it as. They're taking auditions of comedians and singers and things. It's £5 to enter, which sounds a bit rum to me, but whatever you have to do. Good luck.
This is part of my website The Folkestone Gerald that I built in a fury of enthusiasm when we first moved here sometime in 2004. I'd been a frequent visitor for a while previous to that so I am technically one of those DFLs you get nowadays. The site was a lot more dynamic with a gig calendar and voting for favourite places and stuff, and I know it was a useful resource for those who were thinking of moving here. Now I've moved out of Folkestone again (though only to Hythe) it doesn't get as much attention as it used to. Ironic really as The town is now becoming the exciting place we knew it was about to become. I am not Gerald BTW, the name comes from a pretend newspaper in an episode of The Day Today or something, the Portsmouth Gerald, and how there is a local paper here called the Folkestone Herald. Puns like this are GRATE aren't they? Do get in touch if you have something to offer, email anythign @ this domain, or try @folkestone or @pauly on Twitter.