ALL-SEASONS HOLIDAY AND LEISURE PLANNER AVEC RÉSUMÉS EN FRANCAIS

INSIDE WHERE TO STAY WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK PLACES TO GO WHAT TO SEE THINGS TO DO

ALL-SEASONS HOLIDAY AND LEISURE PLANNER Miles of promenades, cliff-top walks and family-fun beaches

Contents

avec résumés en français

Stunning countryside to explore by car, bus, bike or on foot

Super base for excursions in Kent and Sussex and across the Channel

Events, activities and entertainment for all ages and interests

Carnivals, art, music and literary festivals, historic re-enactments

EDITORIALS Welcome everybody ...............................4-5 Bienvenue tout le monde History and heritage ...............................6-7 Histoire et patrimoine Sights, scenes and sounds .......................8-9 Attractions touristiques et paysages The great outdoors...............................10-11 Au grand air Out and about.......................................12-13 Amusez-vous! Sports and pastimes ..............................14-15 Sports et divertissements Festivals, events and entertainment......16-17 Festivals et événements Greetings from your hosts....................18-19 Salutations de vos hôtes ADVERTISEMENT SECTIONS Places to stay .....................................20-23, 36 Logements Places to eat and drink ............................24 Où manger et boire Sports and recreation ..............................25 Sports et loisirs Excursions, travel and transport ........25, 26-29 Les excursions, le voyage et le transport Shopping and services.........................2, 29-35 Le shopping et le service This holiday and leisure planner is published by Discover Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh, the tourism organisation for the Shepway district of Kent (see pages 15 & 19), in association with SMC Media Ltd., Invicta Business Centre, New Ashford Market, Ashford, Kent. TN24 0HB. Tel: 01233 501707

3

WELCOME EVERYBODY!

Don’t just wish you were here

A great place to stay

Treat yourself and the family - or someone special - to a breath of fresh air and a whole host of enjoyable experiences by the sea or in the countryside of south east Kent. WHEREVER you live, Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh is a holiday and leisure destination that’s easy to reach and well worth the journey. By car, head for the M20, turn off at any junction between 10 and 13 and follow the signs. (It’s 11a for the Channel Tunnel). Or take slower roads and enjoy the sights and scenery as the green Garden of England rolls by. Or take a rest from driving and let a bus, coach or train take the strain. Whichever, whenever, at journey’s end is where wishing ends and enjoying begins. Here, in this delightful corner of south east Kent, everyone can have a good time. Here, it’s easy to turn a few days’ break into a great

experience. Here, a browse in an attractive seaside or inland town or village, a stroll by the sea, a country walk, a visit to an attraction or event can make a day excursion out of the ordinary. Right round the year, there’s always something interesting to see and do. In the following pages we introduce you to places which have been firm favourites for generations and also guide you to the exciting new features which are making Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh one of southern England’s top destinations for a few days’ break or a day-out pleasure trip – and the place to pause awhile on journeys to or from the Continent. If you have not been to Folkestone recently, you will

be amazed at its transformation. Imaginative developments, carefully planned to enhance characteristic features, have brought fresh life and a tangible ‘buzz’ to a town which possesses assets envied by many other resorts. New is the Bouverie Place Shopping Centre housing many brand name stores alongside traditional shops and an ‘old town’ rejuvenated to be the heart of a lively ‘creative quarter’ - studios and galleries showcasing the work of artists and craftsmen - as well as an entertainment area and.university campus. Visitor-friendly changes have taken place on the outskirts of Folkestone, too. New places to stay include the 100-room

Holiday Inn Express near the Eurotunnel terminal. Stop24, Britain’s biggest motorway service area, at Junction 11 of the M20 (exit for Hythe and Romney Marsh), has restaurants, shops and a visitor information point. A Days Inn hotel will be added in 2009. In the same year, visitors travelling by rail will benefit from the introduction of high-speed services from London. If you haven’t visited Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh before or have not been for some time, we hope that this guide will give you a flavour of experiences and pleasures to come. So don’t just wish you were here. Come soon. We’ll make you very welcome.

Bienvenue tout le monde CE guide vous fera découvrir les multiples divertissements qui vous attendent de l’autre côté dé la Manche. Les villes de Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh sont situées dans un coin du Comté du Kent, le célèbre “Jardin

4

d’Angleterre”, avec ses paysages spectaculaires, ses manoirs historiques entourés de magnifiques jardins et ses centres d’intérêts uniques. Folkestone et les villes avoisinantes vous propose un large choix d’hébergements

avec un très bon rapport qualité-prix (hotels, hotels de luxe, B&B, cottages,). Ce sont des destinations idéales pour des séjours courtes ou comme base pour visiter le sud-est de l’Angleterre, Canterbury, Londres.

For more information and to book accommodation...

Folkestone est située seulement à 35 mn de Calais par Eurotunnel (pour les voitures et autocars) et à 12 km du port de Douvres où les services de ferries assurent la liaison avec Dunkerque, Calais et Boulogne.

FRIENDLY hospitality, service with a smile and value-formoney - that’s what you will enjoy in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh. Places to stay come in all shapes, sizes, gradings and price ranges. There’s a splendid choice of accommodation: comfortable hotels (some offering in-house/on-site leisure facilities and entertainment); friendly family-run hotels, guest houses and B & Bs; atmospheric village inns; holiday villages, caravan parks and camping sites for those who like the cheerful company of a community; self-catering apartments and cottages for those who prefer independence. We offer great venues for all-important occasions: weddings, honeymoons, anniversary celebrations and weekends away for social and sports clubs - and for conferences, business meetings and corporate events, too. Ask about special rates for groups. For information about accommodation, check the advertisements in the ‘Where to stay’ section on pages 20-23 and 36. For latest availability, rates and special offers and to book online log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

Supported by Kent County Council, Shepway District Council, Folkestone Town Council and the business community. Postal address: 20 Bouverie Place Shopping Centre, Folkestone CT20 1AU Tel: 01303 258594

For 24/7 information and to find and book accommodation before you arrive log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk For information when you are here Leaflets, flyers, etc. are racked at the following addresses during usual business hours: FOLKESTONE Shepway District Council, Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue Folkestone Town Council, George Lane Library, Grace Hill Waterstones, Old Town Hall Guildhall Street HarbourMart office, car park, Tram Road Sandgate Library HYTHE Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway station. SDC One Stop Shop, High St, Stop24 Motorway Service Area, Junction 11, M20 NEW ROMNEY Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway station. Romney Marsh Visitor Centre, Dymchurch Road (A259) SDC One Stop Shop, Church Approach LYDD Town Hall EUROTUNNEL TERMINALS Folkestone and Calais

HISTORY AND HERITAGE

Once upon a time...

Saint Eanswythe Church, Folkestone

St Mary’s Bay

FOLKESTONE Battle of Britain Memorial and Museum Road of Remembrance Parish Church of St Eanswythe Library Martello Towers

Through the ages, in war and peace, our corner of south east England has been destined for a special place in history. DON’T be tempted to skip reading these pages just because of the ‘history and heritage’ label. Much that makes Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh interesting and enjoyable comes from way back when. Through the ages, in war and peace, this corner of south east England has been destined for a special place in history. Ancient Britons, Romans, Saxons, Normans and people of eras much closer to our times - Georgians, Edwardians, Victorians and the generations who have lived here through and after two world wars - have all made emphatic marks on our coast and countryside. The legacy of the past comes not just by way of monuments, memorials, artefacts in museums and plaques on buildings. It is represented by such diverse features as the visionary townscaping along Folkestone’s mile-long Leas promenade, Hythe’s Royal Military Canal and thirteen ancient churches on the Romney Marsh. The most precious of our memorials, though, honour brave young men: the

6

hundreds of thousands of World War 1 soldiers who marched through the streets of Folkestone and down the hill to the harbour to embark for the battlefields of France; and, more recent heroes, the aircrews who flew from local airfields to fight the Battle of Britain. To drop a few names, some notable characters have been associated with these parts: novelists Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, H G Wells, Agathie Christie, E Nesbit and

Here’s a quick look round

Russell Thorndike; inventors Sir Francis Pettitt (screw propeller) and Lionel Lukin (self-righting lifeboat); wireless pioneer John Logie Baird and William Harvey, discoverer of the circulation of blood. To end our once-upon-atime tale, here’s a saintly name: St Eanswythe, whose nunnery was founded in Folcastan in 650 AD. Her remains are entombed in the Parish Church, perched on the cliff above the harbour.

Royal Military Canal, Hythe

For more information and to book accommodation...

HYTHE Cinque Port town Parish Church of St Leonard’s - ‘the church of bones’ Royal Military Canal Martello Towers Wartime sound mirrors Roman ruins (Lympne)

A favourite resort for generations THE opening of the railway line from London in 1843 brought fame and fortune to Folkestone and its neighbouring coastal towns. Ten years later, the main line was connected to the harbour and train services were able to connect with boat sailings via a viaduct which sweeps high over the east of the town to make a highly visible landmark. Fine hotels were built to attract and accommodate the famous and the fashionable, who stayed to enjoy lively social seasons or to break their journeys en route for grand tours of the Continent. The bucket and spade brigades came, too, making Folkestone a favourite summer holiday playground for generations of families Until the outbreak of World

War 1, the town was one of Britain’s leading resorts. Old photographs show promenades and beaches thronged with people in numbers now almost unbelievable. Its popularity recovered somewhat between the wars and for some years afterwards but then suffered, as did those of many traditional resorts, because of the advent of lowcost air holidays to the Costas and other sunspot destinations. Quieter now than in its heydays, 21st-century Folkestone is a super place for a short break holiday or day out to blow the cobwebs away. And, thanks to the Channel Tunnel, whose terminal is just a few minutes’ drive from the centre of town, it’s still a busy gateway to and from the Continent.

log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

ROMNEY MARSH Historic towns Smugglers’ haunts Medieval churches Romney Marsh Visitor Centre Brenzett Aeronautical Museum

Histoire et patrimoine CETTE région du sud-est de l’Angleterre est empreinte d’histoire - les bâtiments classiques, les monuments aux morts, les plaques commémoratives, l’ascensseur hydrolique de l’époque victorienne, le Canal Militaire Royal à Hythe qui est aujourd’hui un lieu de promenade très apprécié, la ravissante promenade du “Leas” qui longe la côte et les nombreuses églises médiévales.

7

SIGHTS, SCENES AND SOUNDS

Where small trains steam and big animals roam

Experiences to remember Magnificent vistas of sky and sea and stunning views across the Channel to France from cliff tops and countryside provide a great free show. WATCHING the inter-play of the moods, movements and colours of the sky and sea along our 25-mile-long coast is an unforgettable experience. Our great free show of spectacular skyscapes and seascapes is yours to enjoy when you stroll Folkestone’s grass-topped East Cliff or along the Leas promenade. The hill behind the town which overlooks the comings and goings at the Eurotunnel terminal is a good place to catch a view. Or enjoy it from the corniche roads leading from the military camp at Shorncliffe to Sandgate and Seabrook, from the seafront at Hythe and from the beaches

8

bordering the broad bay towards Romney Marsh. Folkestone is no longer a ferry port, but the colourful fishing harbour and nearby Lower Leas Coastal Park and popular Sunny Sands Beach are great places to enjoy traditional seasidey scenes and sounds. Historic Hythe offers experiences of a visual kind. Town walks and trails make exploring easy and pleasurable. The centuries-old Parish Church stands above the High Street like a small cathedral. Its remarkable ossuary (a collection of thousands of human bones between 500 and 1,200 years old) is world-famous.

St Leonard’s Church, Hythe

EXCITING sights, scenes and sounds are aplenty at Hythe’s famous family-appeal attractions: the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway - the world’s smallest public railway, which starts near the town centre and runs fourteen miles across the Romney Marsh to the shingle headland of Dungeness; and, four miles away, Port Lympne and its internationally renowned wild animal park. RH&DR miniature trains - fifteen-inch gauge, some steam-hauled, some dieselhauled - run daily from Easter to September, at weekends and school holidays in February, March and October, with special runs before Christmas and on other advertised occasions. There are six stations along the route. As well as providing a scenic ride across the Marsh, the rail-

way is a good way to get to the superb sandy beaches along St Mary’s Bay. Allow plenty of time to enjoy Port Lympne: it could be an all-day experience. The wild animal park, with a magificent mansion in landscaped gardens, is set in 400 acres of countryside roamed by herds of captive-bred black rhinos, elephants, lions and tigers. Safari trailer rides make exploring easy. There are indoor and outdoor cafes as well as places to picnic. Except on Christmas Day, Port Lympne is open every day of the year. The park is the impresssive venue for seasonal concerts and other events and there are occasional opportunities to stay overnight as part of an exciting ‘safari experience’ to watch the animals.

The Royal Military Canal, built as a defence against Napoleon and now a pretty waterway, meanders through the town and westward across the Romney Marsh to the Sussex border. Two other outstanding attractions aredescribed on the opposite page. If observing wild life is among your interests, make for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserve at Dungeness and the solitary beaches by the famous Lighthouse.

For more information and to book accommodation...

Here’s a quick look round FOLKESTONE The Leas promenade East Cliff White horse carved on a chalk hill Fishing Harbour and Stade Leas Lift Leas Bandstand HYTHE Royal Military Canal Town walks and trails Parish Church of St Leonard Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Mansion, Gardens Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Light Railway ROMNEY MARSH RSPB Nature Reserve Royal Military Canal and countryside Marsh maize maze (seasonal) Dungeness Lighthouse and Lifeboat Station

Attractions touristiques EMPRUNTEZ les nombreux chemins de randonnées (à pied ou à vélo) existant le long de la côte, ou à l’intèrieur des terres, mais surtout le Lower Leas Coastal Park. Profitez des nombreuses attractions intéressantes telles que le plus petit train du monde qui traverse le marais de Romney sur 25 km, de Hythe à Dungeness, et le parc zoologique de Port Lympne, son manoir et ses jardins près de Hythe.

log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

9

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Space for contentment

Miles of beaches are a paradise for kids

Country parks, nature reserves and areas of outstanding natural beauty provide a perfect setting for outdoor pursuits for everyone to enjoy. HIKING, biking, helping the kids dig sandcastles or explore rock pools, enjoying unspoilt countryside, strolling seafront promenades, sitting in a deck chair and watching the world go by - if any of these is your idea of holiday contentment, don’t miss the outdoor pleasures on offer in our very special corner of Kent. For rambling and havens of wild life, for space without stress, head for the hills behind Folkestone - designated an area of outstanding natural beauty - or the Warren Country Park, a superb nature reserve just east of the town. The award-winning coastal park below the Leas promenade (see next page) connects with seaside walks and cycle ways to Hythe and beyond. Well-marked routes from Folkestone town centre and also from Hythe, a few miles west, show walkers and cyclists how easy it is to discover stunning countryside. For swimmers, sunbathers, windsurfers, anglers, kite flyers and skimmers of stones across the waves, the long stretch of shingle shoreline between Folkestone and Hythe has a special appeal. Rowing boats can be hired during the

10

summer months at the Hythe end of the Royal Military Canal. Hythe’s Brockhill Country Park is a wonderful place to roam and relax, while, inland, Lyminge Forest and the woods, fields and pretty villages of the Elham Valley offer eye-pleasing excursions. An unhurried visit to the Romney Marsh, where a hundred square miles of countryside roll down from the hills to meet broad sands and shingle beaches, is a must for everyone who enjoys peace and quiet. Here are isolated churches from medieval times and fields where thousands of sheep graze between the broad ditches which drain the flatlands. Miles of winding lanes, quiet and level with long views across unspoilt countryside, make walking and cycling a real pleasure. Centuries-old village inns offer a warm welcome and tales of local legend and history, too. Some people describe the Marsh as wild and desolate ‘the sixth continent’. Artists and writers say its beauty is magical. We claim it’s a very good place to enjoy The Great Outdoors.

Warren Beach, Folkestone

Brockhill Country Park, Hythe

Canal footpath, West Hythe

For more information and to book accommodation...

FOLKESTONE has added a delightful ‘green’ feature to its family fun attractions: as part of a major coastal coastal protection scheme, a new seashore has been created just west of the harbour, considerably extending the Lower Leas Coastal Park. The five-acre park provides sheltered bays for swimming, a large sandpit and other places for children to play, including an exciting adventure playground - the largest in the south east. The place where families especially enjoy exploring is the Warren Country Park. It’s east of the harbour, beyond the East Cliff and Copt Point and below the white cliffs which tower above the bay and is reached by steep paths though a hummocky undercliff of wild flowers and shrubs which have been shaped by the winds which blow in from the Channel. Attractively wild, the park is the home of many kinds of birds, moths and insects; fossils and minature plant skeletons are to be found here. Some of the beaches are great for rock-pooling. On the eastern side of the harbour, the Sunny Sands Beach has long been a popular venue. By contrast, a few miles to the west of Folkestone and

Hythe, the beaches are wide and sandy. Stretching from Dymchurch around the long curve of St Mary’s Bay, they have been family favourites for generations of visitors. The golden sands at Littlestone and Greatstone, hundreds of yards wide at low tide, are among south east England’s finest for beach games, paddling, building sandcastles and flying kites a paradise for kids. Farther along the coast, at its Dungeness nature reserve - located on one of the longest shingle landscapes in Europe - the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds provides a year-round programme of participation events and activities to interest youngsters of all ages. Inland, off the A259, children’s activities and learning projects are popular features at both the Romney Warren Country Park and the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre. The coast is by no means the only place for open-air activities which appeal to younger visitors. Amenities at the Folkestone Sports Centre, near Radnor Park, include a skateboard park, toboggan and swimming pool. Seasonal events and activities for children are organised at Brockhill Country Park, near Hythe.

log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

Here’s a quick look round FOLKESTONE Warren Country Park Lower Leas Coastal Park Sunny Sands beach Walking and cycling routes HYTHE Royal Military Canal walking, cycling, boating Brockhill Country Park Seabrook Valley Walking and cycling ROMNEY MARSH Broad, sandy beaches Walking and cycling Miles of countryside Marsh maize maze (seasonal) Royal Military Canal Romney Warren Country Park RSPB Nature Reserve

Au grand air MARCHER, faire du vélo, aller à la plage, flaner en bord de mer… n’hésitez plus! Des kilomètres de promenades longent les falaises et la mer, avec des vues à vous couper le souffle. Vous pourrez également apprécier la beauté, le calme et la sérénité de ses “verts attraits”, ses réserves naturelles et ses parcs. Région facilement accessible en voiture, à pied ou à bicyclette, ses charmes enchantent les personnes de toutes âges, jeunes ou moins.

11

OUT AND ABOUT

Here’s a quick look round

Never a dull moment...

FOLKESTONE Stores, traditional and specialty shops Creative Quarter Art galleries and studios Farmers’, fishermens’ and artists’ market Restaurants and good eateries. Shows and entertainment France by Eurotunnel

You’ll be spoilt for choice for places to go and things to do when you fancy a change from relaxing by the sea. Go shopping, go sightseeing or be entertained. WHEN it comes to eating and drinking, good places are aplenty and come in all shapes and styles - from star-rated restaurants to cool cafes and trendy wine bars, from traditional teashops to fast-food places where kids won’t have to be coaxed. Sea food, of course, is a

speciality in these parts. So are local dishes featuring fresh produce from the Kentish countryside. Stay long enough and you could sample the cuisine of several countries - France, Italy, Greece, Mexico, India, Nepal, China, Japan, Thailand included.

Creative Quarter, The Old High Street, Folkestone Dover Castle

Explore Kent - Garden of England - and Sussex, too

Great shopping and shows BROWSING and buying is an important part of a holiday. Visitors are delighted to find such a choice of stores, traditional and speciality shops and markets. Folkestone’s Bouverie Place Shopping Centre houses brand-name stores alongside the traditional shopping area of Sandgate Road, just a short stroll from the pedestrianised ‘Creative Quarter’ where artists and crafts people have set up studios. For family-run traders, head for nearby Cheriton; for DIY superstores the Park Farm estate, off the M20, is the place to go. Sandgate and Hythe are famous for Gardens antiques and Kingsnorth collectables. Street and indoor

12

markets are a feature of towns and villages. To round off busy days, take in a show. Visit Folkestone’s magnificent Leas Cliff Hall for top concerts and shows right round the year. The 350-seat amphitheatre in the Lower Leas Coastal Park stages open-air concerts and other events from summer to autumn. Entertainment at other venues includes cabaret, variety, concerts and plays. A number of hotels offer guests in-house entertainment; many town and country pubs regularly feature groups and solo artists. Night birds have a choice of discos and late licensed bars.

Canterbury Cathedral

Church Street, Folkestone

MAKE the Folkestone area your base for exploring south east England. Within easy reach by car, bus or train are the cathedral city of Canterbury, the Thanet resorts, historic towns and picture book villages in other parts of the Garden of England as well as Rye and Hastings across the Sussex border.

For a bird’s-eye view of the coast and countryside take a sightseeing flight from London Ashford Airport at Lydd, near New Romney. The airport, just off the A259, has a restaurant open to passengers and visitors, a viewing area to watch aircraft movements, and ample parking facilities.

Hop across to France

The Lanterns, Folkestone

For more information and to book accommodation...

THERE’S a special bonus when you stay anywhere in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh - the opportunity of a day or longer trip to the Continent. Eurotunnel offers the fastest way if you take a car: only 35 minutes to Calais. By air, the flight from London Ashford Airport to chic Le Touquet takes twenty minutes. If you prefer to travel by

ferry, take your pick of routes and services from Dover: destinations are Boulogne, Calais and Dunkerque.

qFor latest Out and About information, visit Discover Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh leaflet pick-up points (see page 5), see local newspapers or log on to our website which posts details of hundreds of events.

log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

HYTHE Interesting High Street of traditional shops Supermarkets Good restaurants Antiques and collectables Farmers’ market ROMNEY MARSH Traditional town and village shops Farmers’ markets France and local sightseing by air

Amusezvous! DES magasins intéressants et une variété d’excellents restaurants sont parmi les autres bonnes raisons pour visiter les villes côtieres et la campagne avoisinante ou s’arrêter en route pour des destinations plus lointaines. Le choix est vaste pour vous qui aimez sortir. De plus, vous pourrez tester toutes sortes de cuisines (indienne, nepalaise, chinoise, thailandaise, grecque, italienne, mexicaine et japonais) mais n’oubliez pas les pubs anglais traditionnels.

13

SPORTS & PASTIMES

Where to catch the action - a quick look round WATCH or play, there’s a fantastic choice of sports and pastimes to enjoy in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh. Here’s a selection - not listed in order of popularity - and by no means exhaustive! FOLKESTONE

Play or watch - ready for a good game? Action - in variety and plenty of it to keep players and spectators happy at all seasons. That’s a winning formula for many visitors to Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh. VENUES and facilities for just about every sporting activity and pastime in the book are on offer in and around Folkestone. Those for angling, swimming and a range of exciting water sports, of course, are among the top attractions along the coast. Golf, tennis and bowls enthusiasts are well catered for and skate parks are among outdoor attractions which appeal to younger visitors. Facilities for squash, indoor bowls and numerous health and fitness activities are available at a number of clubs. Flying or watching kites is an increasingly popular pastime - and there are plenty of bright and breezy venues on the hills and beside the sea for

14

flyers of all ages to display their skills. The manoeuvres of big and super-size kites in the hands of experts are spectacular. Folkestone Racecourse offers followers of flat and National Hunt an attractive calendar. Kent’s only racecourse, it’s located at Westenhanger, near Hythe. Pleasure riders have miles of country lanes and plenty of open spaces to exercise horses. (There are several livery stables in the district). Sailing and water-ski-ing are popular all along the coast, with the broad, sandy beaches which border the Romney Marsh a great place for sand yachting. Jet-skiers and racers of go-karts and model cars are able to test

skills and thrills at centres near Lydd. Club sports for spectactors to enjoy include soccer, rugby, hockey and cricket. Last but not least, a reminder that in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh there are miles and miles of attractive places, by the sea and in the countryside, for walking and cycling those open-air, good-for-you, always-available, all-ages pastimes which don’t cost a penny. q For latest information about where to play and watch and for dates and details of major sporting events in and around Folkestone, log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

For more information and to book accommodation...

Beach angling Golf Tennis Swimming - indoor and outdoor Badminton Squash Bowls Cricket Hockey Soccer Rugby Sailing Rowing Wind surfing Water sports Skateboarding Dry ski-ing Tobogganing Basketball Volleyball Yoga Pilates Fencing Athletics - field and track Gymnastics

Horse riding Walking Cycling Kite flying Health and fitness club amenities

HYTHE

Angling - beach, Royal Military Canal, lakes Golf Tennis Bowls Swimming - indoor and outdoor Sailing Rowing Wind surfing Horse racing Horse riding Football Cricket Petanque Kite flying Walking Cycling Health and fitness club amenities

ROMNEY MARSH Angling beach and freshwater Golf Tennis Cricket Football Badminton Squash Swimming Bowls Sailing Wind surfing Jet ski-ing Go-Karting Kite flying Model car racing Sand yachting Flying Sports and leisure club amenities Walking Cycling Horse riding

Many other pastimes to enjoy DARTS, billiards, snooker and cribbage and other games are popular pastimes at many pubs. Local clubs cater for enthusiasts of

petanque, short mat bowling and bat and trap as well as for a diverse range of non-sport activities including: gardening, flower arranging,

bridge, dancing, debating, amateur dramatics, music, choir singing, stamp collecting; photography, model aeroplanes and railways, etc.

Sports et divertissements DANS et autour de Folkestone nous avons de no breuses distractions et d’activités populaires pour tous les gouts et tous les

log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

ages: golf, tennis, équitation, boules, squash, bâteaux, planche à voile, cyclisme, pêche en rivière et mer.

15

FESTIVALS, EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Always something interesting going on Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh are famous for festivals, events and ‘happenings’, hundreds every year, attracting visitors from far and wide. ROLL up, roll up. Come and have fun. A sparkling programme of quality entertainment awaits you and yours in our south east corner of Kent. Be sure of thrills, excitements and not a few surprises as ingredients of a jolly good time. With such an array of festivals, events and entertainment on offer, it’s no wonder that other holiday and leisure destinations rather envy what goes on in Folkestone. Hythe and Romney Marsh. In these parts, ‘happenings’ come in all shapes, sizes and guises - some with celebrities and a grand finale firework display; some with more modest presentation, but all great fun. Here’s a something-foreverybody selection from our diverse calendar: colourful carnivals; celebrations of art and culture; jazz and pop shows (including open-air extravaganzas in the unique settings of Folkestone Racecourse and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park); concerts by famous orchestras and choirs; bandstand performances; gigs in town and country pubs; village fairs; re-anactments of historic episodes.

16

Some of the biggest crowdpullers are the festivals described on the opposite page. But there are literally hundreds of other events. Folkestone’s magnificent Leas Cliff Hall, overlooking the Channel, stages big-name shows and concerts right round the year as well as dances, exhibitions and events to mark special occasions. Live entertainment is a regular attraction at some hotels and restaurants and at many pubs. The Grand, in Folkestone, hosts a notable jazz club. Adjacent to Folkestone Harbour, the Grand Burstin is south east England’s only ‘entertaiment hotel’, providing guests with leisure packages which include nightly live shows and other activities. Count in the numerous seasonal events organised by clubs and societies - social, sports, cultural, craft and hobby - to which visitors are invited and you can be sure that, indoors and outdoors, right round the year, there’s always something interesting going on in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh

Presenting a feast of fun festivals - entertaining cultural ones, too The events described below are planned many months in advance and dates and details are liable to change. For latest information, please visit the relevant website (shown in red) or telephone 01303 258594. FOLKESTONE TRIENNIAL Inaugurated in 2008, threeyearly summer season (JuneSeptember) exhibition of especially created work by internationally acclaimed sculptors and artists. Sited in public spaces - and free. www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk

Charivari Parade, Folkestone

Hythe Festival

FOLKESTONE LITERARY FESTIVAL Bringing together the creative worlds of letters, art, music and theatre, annual nine-day event (in November). Lectures, discussions, seminars, performances, workshops and activities for young people. www.folkestonelitfest.co.uk FOLKESTONE MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL In early June, annual fourday festival of entertaiment and cultural experiences. Street theatre, music, dance, food samplings, workshops and children’s events. www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk FOLKESTONE CHARIVARI July event features a procession of hundreds of children in colourful costumes, bands and a programmme of musical entertainment. www.strangecargo.org.uk

Venetian Fete, Hythe

For more information and to book accommodation...

OTHER EVENTS To be announced:

Folkestone Harbour Festival (July); Folkestone Carnival (August); concerts at St Eanswythe’s and other churches www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk HYTHE VENETIAN FETE Spectacular five-hour show on and along the Royal Military Canal on the third Wednesday of August every other year (the next in 2009). Floating tableaus, illuminated after dark, bands, entertainment, children’s fun fair and grand finale firework display. www.venetian-fete.com HYTHE FESTIVAL Alternating with the Venetian Fete, ten-day familyfun festival starting in the first week in July (the next in 2010). Parades, concerts, displays and historic re-enactments. Most events are free. www. hythe-festival.com OTHER EVENTS To be announced: Seasonal shopping and family-fun events in and around Hythe High Street; classical music concerts in St Leonard’s Church; events at local attractions. www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk LYDD CLUB DAY Popular ‘annual’ on the third Saturday in June. Parades, music, entertainment and all the fun of the fair. www.cinqueports.org

log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

NEW ROMNEY COUNTRY FAYRE Traditional fair held annually on the last Saturday in July. Parades, bands, arena displays and competitions. www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk DYMCHURCH DAY OF SYN Biennial August Bank Holiday weekend of celebrations of the exploits of a fictional eighteenth-century vicar of Dymchurch, who led a notorious gang of Marsh smugglers. Pageants and re-enactments of encounters between rogues and customs men. www.dymchurchdayofsyn.org. uk OTHER EVENTS Details to be announced: New Romney Open-Air Concert. Free and featuring bands, jazz and vocal groups, firework display

Festivals et événements. DES centaines d’événements - les festivals, les foires et les fêtes aussi bien que les concerts, les spectacles et les expositions - rendent Folkestone, Hythe et Romney Marsh un endroit où, toute l’année, il y a toujours quelque chose d’intéressant à faire dans cette région.

17

GREETINGS FROM YOUR HOSTS

Where to stay, where to eat and drink, what to see TO complete the editorial section of this holiday and leisure planner, here’s a two-page ready-reference of more than fifty businesses dedicated to making your stay enjoyable. Please contact them for latest information and brochures. Members of the Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh tourism partnership are listed in bold type. Entries also include non-member enterprises which support the work of the partnership by using this publication to promote their services. Announcements in the advertisement sections which follow are identified by page numbers. * Hotels marked with this symbol also provide accommodation and facilities for conferences, meetings and other functions

Hotels with Restaurants Abbots Fireside, Elham 01303 840265. (24) Broadacre Hotel, New Romney 01797

362381. (22) Burlington Hotel, Folkestone* 01303 255301 (23) Clifton Hotel, Folkestone* 01303 851231.(20) Folkestone & District Hotels Assoc. 01303 276535. (20) Grand Burstin Hotel, Folkestone* 0870 7870666. (21) Holiday Inn Express, Folkestone*, 0844 8012383. (20) Hotel Relish, Folkestone 01303 850952. Langhorne Garden Hotel, Folkestone 01303 257233. (20) Mercure Hythe Imperial Hotel, Hythe*. 01303 267441. (23) Rhodesia Hotel, Folkestone 01303 253712. (23) Salisbury/Carlton Hotel, Folkestone. 01303 252102. (22) Stade Court Hotel, Hythe* 01303 268263. (21) The Grand, Folkestone* ALL-SEASONS HOLIDAY AND LEISURE PLANNER The official guide for the Shepway district of Kent

Editorial and advertisement content is published in good faith that information was accurate at the time it was supplied. Inclusion does not imply recommendation or liability by the publishers. The content is copyright and may not be used or reproduced without the written per-

18

mission of Discover Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh. Credits: Editorial - Ted Kirkham. Images: Shepway District Council, B Brisley, R Jones, N Cuffley, S Humphries, Central Photography C Kirkham, Strange Cargo Production: SMC Media Ltd

01303 222222. (36)

Guesthouses/Bed and Breakfasts Chandos Guest House, Folkestone 01303 851202. (22) Coxell House, Lydd 01797 322037 Crete Down, Folkestone 01303 892392. (23) Frogholt Bed & Breakfast, Frogholt 01303 274181. (23) Garden Lodge, Densole* 01303 893147. (23) Kentmere Guest House, Folkestone 01303 259661 Lighthouse Inn, Capel-le-Ferne 01303 223300. (22) Moyle Cottage, Hythe 01303 262106. (23) Romney Bay House, Littlestone, 01797 364747 Roundwood Hall B&B, Lyminge 01303 862945. (21) Seabrook House, Hythe 01303 269282 Seaclifffe, Folkestone 01303 254592 The Dog House B&B, Folkestone. 01303 251608 The Rob Roy, Folkestone 01303 253341. (22)

Self Catering Bybrook Cottage, Folkestone 01303 248255 Dymchurch House, Dymchurch 0208 3002100 Hemlock Cottage, Hythe 01303 263786 Meyrick Court, Folkestone 01303 247422. (23) Newcombe Bouy, Coast Drive,

Lydd-on-Sea. 01797 366008 Nuthatch Cottage, Ewell Minnis. 01304 824004 Stade Cottage, Folkestone 01303 240698. (22) The Grand, Folkestone 01303 222222. (36)

Restaurants and Pubs Blossoms Cafe, Folkestone 01303 251100. (24) Chambers Bar & Coffee Shop, Folkestone 01303 223333 Garden Lodge, Densole* 01303 893147. (23) Gurkha Palace Restaurant, Folkestone 01303 257700. (24) Lighthouse Inn & Restaurant, Capel-le-Ferne. 01303 223300. (22) Sotirios Restaurant, Hythe 01303 262000. (24) The Hermitage Restaurant, Folkestone. 01303 251251. (24) Hythe Bay Seafood Restaurant, Hythe. 01303 233844. (24) The White Hart, Hythe. 01303 263121. (32)

Attractions Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, Lympne. 01303 264647 Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway 01797 362353. (25)

Sports Venues Folkestone Sports Centre 01303 850222. (25) Littlestone Golf Club, Littlestone. 01797 363355. Lydd Golf Club & Driving Range, Lydd. 01797 320808 Romney Warren, Littlestone 01797 362231. (25) Roundwood Hall Golf Club,

Lyminge. 01303 862260. (21)

Excursions, Travel and Transport Buzzlines Travel, Hythe. 01303 261605. (26) Eurotunnel 08705 353535. (29) Folkestone Taxis 01303 252000. (32) Le Boulonnais. (34) 00 333 2110 3607 Norfolkline-Dunkerque Ferries. 0870 8701020. (27) Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway 01797 362353. (25) Seafrance 0871 6632543. (28) Stagecoach Buses, 08702 433711. (27)

Shops and Services Bouverie Place Shopping Centre, Folkestone 01303 248102. (29) Creative Quarter, Folkestone 01303 245799. (20, 21) Folkestone Town Centre Management and Folkestone Area Partnership Against Crime. 01303 850522 Hythe shops and businesses 01303 266301. (32, 33) Le Boulonnais. (34) 00 333 2110 3607 Stop24 (M20, Junction 11) 01303 760273. (35) Sainsbury’s, Folkestone. (2) West Park Farm: 01303 850810 Bouverie Road West: (2)

Salutations de vos hôtes CES pages énumèrent plus de cinquante entreprises qui sont consacrées au fait de garantir que nos visiteurs ont un temps agréable. Les montrés en gros sont des membres de l’associa-

tion de tourisme de Folkestone, Hythe et Romney Marsh. Les numéros des pages identifient ceux-ci et les entreprises dont les annonces sont publiées dans les sections de publicité de ce guide.

FOR MORE 01303 242638. INFORMATION THIS guide provides general information about holiday and leisure opportunities in Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh. Telephone and website addresses of other sources of information about the district are listed below. White Cliffs Countryside Project 01304 241806. www. whitecliffscountryside.org.uk Folkestone Town Centre Management 01303 850522. www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk Shepway District Council 01303 853000 www.shepway.gov.uk Folkestone Town Council 01303 257946 www.folkestonetc.kentparishes.gov.uk Hythe Town Council 01303 266152 www.hythetowncouncil.gov.uk Hythe Chamber of Commerce and Tourism 01303 266301 www.hythe-tourism.com Channel Chamber of Commerce 01303 270022 www.shepwaybc.co.uk New Romney Town Council 01797 362348 www.newromneytc.kentparishes.gov.uk Lydd Town Council 01797 320999 www.lyddtc.kentparishes.gov.uk Romney Marsh Countryside Project 01797 367934 www.rmcp.co.uk VisitKent www.visitkent.co.uk Association of Tourist Attractions in Kent www.kentattractions.co.uk

DON’T JUST WISH YOU WERE HERE . . . 19

PLACES TO STAY

20

21

PLACES TO STAY Moyle Cottage

Bed & Breakfast

On parle francais - Man spricht Deutch En suite facilities - Family accommodation • • • • •

Short walk to town or seafront Close to ports & Channel Tunnel TV, Tea and coffee-making facilities Off road parking & secure storage for bicycles Early starters and special diets catered for by request

Moyle Cottage, The Fairway, South Road, Hythe, Kent CT21 6AU T/F: +44(0)1303 262106 • e: [email protected]

22

23

PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK

24

EXCURSIONS AND TRAVEL/SPORTS AND RECREATION

25

EXCURSIONS, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT

27

EXCURSIONS, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT

EXCURSIONS, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT

SHOPPING

28

29

ART STUDIOS • GALLERIES • SHOPS • CAFES

ADVERTORIAL

Folkestone’s Creative Quarter OVER the past few years important changes have been taking place in the areas of Folkestone around the old town and harbour. A ground-breaking arts-led regeneration project has been developing, led by the Creative Foundation and rooted in cultivating and nurturing individual imagination and creativity throughout the community. The Creative Quarter is at the heart of this creative regeneration. Visitors to the Creative Quarter can see original art, go shopping for unique and individual gifts, jewellery, artworks, accessories and items for the home in the independent shopping streets, or relax in one of the cafes. Opening in 2008, Quarterhouse, the new arts, entertainment and conference venue in the Creative Quarter, will provide a 250-seat auditorium with bars and a restaurant. It will also provide a showcase venue for students from the performing arts courses at the new University Centre. If you would like to find out more or if you are interested in taking a retail, studio or residential space in the Creative Quarter please visit www.creativefoundation.org.uk

31

HYTHE

ADVERTORIAL

A WARM INVITATION TO VISIT THE HISTORIC CINQUE PORT TOWN OF

WHERE THE COUNTRY MEETS THE SEA EVERYONE likes coming to Hythe. It’s a great place for a few days’ break or a browsing sort of day out for shopping and exploring or a visit to an event. Its many places of interest, unique visitor attractions and reminders of an historic past are mentioned elsewhere in this guide.

Many visitors tell us they especially enjoy our High Street and adjoining shopping streets, finding them attractively ‘different’, with an attractive mix of small independently-owned specialist shops of a kind long gone from many town centres. Hythe is a place antiques and collect-

able hunters certainly should not miss. When it’s time for a breather, there’s a splendid choice of places to eat and drink: good restaurants and pubs, of course, and also some good old-fashioned tea shops. This Advertorial feature has been paid for by the advertisers

HYTHE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & TOURISM For information about local accommodation, shops, restaurants, attractions, amenities, events, etc,

Tel: 01303 266301 www. hythe-tourism.com 32

33

34

35