ALL-SEASONSHOLIDAY

AND LEISUREPLANNER

AVEC RÉSUMÉSEN FRANCAIS

INSIDEWHERE TO STAY

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

PLACES TO GO

WHAT TO SEE

THINGS TO DO

Contentsavec résumés en français

ALL-SEASONS HOLIDAYAND LEISURE PLANNER

3

EDITORIALSWelcome everybody ...............................4-5Bienvenue tout le monde History and heritage ...............................6-7Histoire et patrimoineSights, scenes and sounds .......................8-9Attractions touristiques et paysagesThe great outdoors...............................10-11Au grand airOut and about.......................................12-13Amusez-vous!Sports and pastimes ..............................14-15Sports et divertissementsFestivals, events and entertainment......16-17Festivals et événementsGreetings from your hosts....................18-19Salutations de vos hôtes

ADVERTISEMENT SECTIONSPlaces to stay .....................................20-23, 36LogementsPlaces to eat and drink ............................24Où manger et boireSports and recreation ..............................25Sports et loisirsExcursions, travel and transport ........25, 26-29Les excursions, le voyage et le transportShopping and services.........................2, 29-35Le shopping et le service

This holiday and leisure planner is published byDiscover Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh, thetourism organisation for the Shepway district of Kent(see pages 15 & 19), in association with SMC MediaLtd., Invicta Business Centre, New Ashford Market,Ashford, Kent. TN24 0HB. Tel: 01233 501707

Miles of promenades, cliff-topwalks and family-fun beaches

Super base for excursions in Kent andSussex and across the Channel

Carnivals, art, music and literaryfestivals, historic re-enactments

Events, activities and entertainmentfor all ages and interests

Stunning countryside to exploreby car, bus, bike or on foot

4 For more information and to book accommodation...

WHEREVER you live,Folkestone, Hythe andRomney Marsh is a holiday and leisure destination that’seasy to reach and well worththe journey. By car, head forthe M20, turn off at any junc-tion between 10 and 13 andfollow the signs. (It’s 11a forthe Channel Tunnel). Or take slower roads and enjoy thesights and scenery as the greenGarden of England rolls by. Or take a rest from drivingand let a bus, coach or traintake the strain.

Whichever, whenever, atjourney’s end is where wishingends and enjoying begins.

Here, in this delightful corner of south east Kent,everyone can have a goodtime. Here, it’s easy to turn afew days’ break into a great

experience. Here, a browse inan attractive seaside or inlandtown or village, a stroll by thesea, a country walk, a visit toan attraction or event canmake a day excursion out ofthe ordinary. Right round theyear, there’s always somethinginteresting to see and do.

In the following pages weintroduce you to places whichhave been firm favourites forgenerations and also guide youto the exciting new featureswhich are making Folkestone,Hythe and Romney Marsh oneof southern England’s top destinations for a few days’break or a day-out pleasuretrip – and the place to pauseawhile on journeys to or fromthe Continent.

If you have not been toFolkestone recently, you will

be amazed at its transforma-tion. Imaginative develop-ments, carefully planned to enhance characteristic features, have brought freshlife and a tangible ‘buzz’ to atown which possesses assetsenvied by many other resorts.

New is the Bouverie PlaceShopping Centre housingmany brand name stores alongside traditional shops and an ‘old town’ rejuvenatedto be the heart of a lively ‘creative quarter’ - studios andgalleries showcasing the workof artists and craftsmen - aswell as an entertainment areaand.university campus.

Visitor-friendly changes havetaken place on the outskirts ofFolkestone, too. New placesto stay include the 100-room

Holiday Inn Express near theEurotunnel terminal. Stop24,Britain’s biggest motorwayservice area, at Junction 11 ofthe M20 (exit for Hythe andRomney Marsh), has restaurants,shops and a visitor informa-tion point. A Days Inn hotelwill be added in 2009. In thesame year, visitors travellingby rail will benefit from theintroduction of high-speedservices from London.

If you haven’t visitedFolkestone, Hythe andRomney Marsh before orhave not been for some time,we hope that this guide willgive you a flavour of experi-ences and pleasures to come.

So don’t just wish you werehere. Come soon. We’ll makeyou very welcome.

FRIENDLY hospitality, servicewith a smile and value-for-money - that’s what you willenjoy in Folkestone, Hytheand Romney Marsh. Places tostay come in all shapes, sizes,gradings and price ranges.

There’s a splendid choiceof accommodation: comfortable hotels (someoffering in-house/on-siteleisure facilities and entertain-ment); friendly family-runhotels, guest houses and B & Bs; atmospheric villageinns; holiday villages, caravanparks and camping sites forthose who like the cheerfulcompany of a community;self-catering apartments andcottages for those who preferindependence.

We offer great venues forall-important occasions: weddings, honeymoons,anniversary celebrations andweekends away for social andsports clubs - and for confer-ences, business meetings and corporate events, too.

Ask about special rates forgroups.

For information aboutaccommodation, check theadvertisements in the ‘Where to stay’ section onpages 20-23 and 36.

For latest availability, ratesand special offers and to bookonline log on towww.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

A greatplace to stay

log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

Treat yourself and the family - or someone special - to a breath of fresh air and a wholehost of enjoyable experiences by the sea or in the countryside of south east Kent.

Don’t just wishyou were here Supported by Kent County Council,

Shepway District Council,Folkestone Town Council and thebusiness community.

Postal address:20 Bouverie Place ShoppingCentre, Folkestone CT20 1AUTel: 01303 258594

For 24/7 informationand to find and bookaccommodation beforeyou arrive log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.ukFor information when youare hereLeaflets, flyers, etc. are racked atthe following addresses duringusual business hours:FOLKESTONEShepway District Council, Civic

Centre, Castle Hill AvenueFolkestone Town Council,

George Lane Library, Grace HillWaterstones, Old Town Hall

Guildhall StreetHarbourMart office, car park,

Tram RoadSandgate LibraryHYTHERomney, Hythe & Dymchurch

Railway station.SDC One Stop Shop, High St,Stop24 Motorway Service Area,

Junction 11, M20NEW ROMNEY Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch

Railway station.Romney Marsh Visitor Centre,

Dymchurch Road (A259)SDC One Stop Shop,

Church ApproachLYDD Town Hall EUROTUNNEL TERMINALS

Folkestone and Calais

Bienvenue tout le mondeCE guide vous fera découvrirles multiples divertissementsqui vous attendent de l’autrecôté dé la Manche. Les villesde Folkestone, Hythe andRomney Marsh sont situéesdans un coin du Comté duKent, le célèbre “Jardin

d’Angleterre”, avec sespaysages spectaculaires, sesmanoirs historiques entourésde magnifiques jardins et ses centres d’intérêts uniques.Folkestone et les villes avoisi-nantes vous propose unlarge choix d’hébergements

avec un très bon rapportqualité-prix (hotels, hotels deluxe, B&B, cottages,). Cesont des destinations idéalespour des séjours courtes oucomme base pour visiter lesud-est de l’Angleterre,Canterbury, Londres.

Folkestone est située seule-ment à 35 mn de Calais parEurotunnel (pour les voitureset autocars) et à 12 km duport de Douvres où les services de ferries assurent laliaison avec Dunkerque,Calais et Boulogne.

WELCOME EVERYBODY!

log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk Û 76 For more information and to book accommodation...

HISTORY AND HERITAGE

Through the ages, in war and peace,our corner of south east England hasbeen destined for a special place inhistory.

Once upon a time...

DON’T be tempted to skipreading these pages justbecause of the ‘historyand heritage’ label. Much thatmakes Folkestone, Hythe andRomney Marsh interesting andenjoyable comes from wayback when.

Through the ages, in warand peace, this corner ofsouth east England has beendestined for a special place inhistory. Ancient Britons,Romans, Saxons, Normans andpeople of eras much closer toour times - Georgians,Edwardians, Victorians andthe generations who havelived here through and aftertwo world wars - have allmade emphatic marks on ourcoast and countryside.

The legacy of the pastcomes not just by way ofmonuments, memorials, artefacts in museums andplaques on buildings. It is represented by such diversefeatures as the visionary townscaping along Folkestone’smile-long Leas promenade,Hythe’s Royal Military Canaland thirteen ancient churcheson the Romney Marsh.

The most precious of ourmemorials, though, honourbrave young men: the

hundreds of thousands ofWorld War 1 soldiers whomarched through the streetsof Folkestone and down thehill to the harbour to embarkfor the battlefields of France;and, more recent heroes, the aircrews who flew from localairfields to fight the Battle ofBritain.

To drop a few names, somenotable characters have beenassociated with these parts:novelists Charles Dickens,Oscar Wilde, H G Wells,Agathie Christie, E Nesbit and

Russell Thorndike; inventorsSir Francis Pettitt (screw propeller) and Lionel Lukin(self-righting lifeboat); wireless pioneer John LogieBaird and William Harvey, discoverer of the circulation of blood.

To end our once-upon-a-time tale, here’s a saintlyname: St Eanswythe, whosenunnery was founded inFolcastan in 650 AD. Herremains are entombed in theParish Church, perched on the cliff above the harbour.

THE opening of the railwayline from London in 1843brought fame and fortune toFolkestone and its neighbour-ing coastal towns. Ten yearslater, the main line wasconnected to the harbour andtrain services were able toconnect with boat sailings via a viaduct which sweeps highover the east of the town tomake a highly visible landmark.

Fine hotels were built toattract and accommodate thefamous and the fashionable,who stayed to enjoy livelysocial seasons or to breaktheir journeys en route forgrand tours of the Continent.

The bucket and spadebrigades came, too, makingFolkestone a favourite summer holiday playgroundfor generations of families

Until the outbreak of World

War 1, the town was one of Britain’s leading resorts. Oldphotographs show prome-nades and beaches throngedwith people in numbers nowalmost unbelievable.

Its popularity recoveredsomewhat between the warsand for some years afterwardsbut then suffered, as did thoseof many traditional resorts,because of the advent of low-cost air holidays to the Costasand other sunspot destinations.

Quieter now than in its heydays, 21st-centuryFolkestone is a super place for a short break holiday orday out to blow the cobwebsaway. And, thanks to theChannel Tunnel, whose terminal is just a few minutes’drive from the centre of town, it’s still a busy gatewayto and from the Continent.

FOLKESTONEBattle of Britain Memorial

and MuseumRoad of RemembranceParish Church of

St EanswytheLibrary Martello Towers

HYTHECinque Port townParish Church of St Leonard’s

- ‘the church of bones’Royal Military CanalMartello TowersWartime sound mirrorsRoman ruins (Lympne)

ROMNEY MARSH Historic townsSmugglers’ hauntsMedieval churchesRomney Marsh Visitor

Centre Brenzett Aeronautical

Museum

CETTE région du sud-est del’Angleterre est empreinted’histoire - les bâtimentsclassiques, les monumentsaux morts, les plaques com-mémoratives, l’ascensseurhydrolique de l’époque victo-rienne, le Canal MilitaireRoyal à Hythe qui est aujour-d’hui un lieu de promenadetrès apprécié, la ravissante promenade du “Leas” quilonge la côte et les nom-breuses églises médiévales.

Here’s a quicklook round

A favourite resortfor generations

Histoire et patrimoine

Saint Eanswythe Church, Folkestone

Royal Military Canal, Hythe

St Mary’s Bay

Û 9log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk8 For more information and to book accommodation...

WATCHING the inter-play ofthe moods, movements andcolours of the sky and seaalong our 25-mile-long coast isan unforgettable experience.

Our great free show ofspectacular skyscapes andseascapes is yours to enjoywhen you stroll Folkestone’sgrass-topped East Cliff oralong the Leas promenade.

The hill behind the townwhich overlooks the comingsand goings at the Eurotunnelterminal is a good place tocatch a view. Or enjoy it fromthe corniche roads leadingfrom the military camp atShorncliffe to Sandgate andSeabrook, from the seafront atHythe and from the beaches

bordering the broad baytowards Romney Marsh.

Folkestone is no longer aferry port, but the colourfulfishing harbour and nearbyLower Leas Coastal Park andpopular Sunny Sands Beachare great places to enjoy traditional seasidey scenes and sounds.

Historic Hythe offers expe-riences of a visual kind. Townwalks and trails make explor-ing easy and pleasurable. Thecenturies-old Parish Churchstands above the High Streetlike a small cathedral. Itsremarkable ossuary (a collec-tion of thousands of humanbones between 500 and 1,200years old) is world-famous.

The Royal Military Canal,built as a defence againstNapoleon and now a prettywaterway, meanders throughthe town and westward acrossthe Romney Marsh to theSussex border. Two other outstanding attractions are-described on the oppositepage.

If observing wild life isamong your interests, makefor the Royal Society for theProtection of Birds reserve atDungeness and the solitarybeaches by the famousLighthouse.

SIGHTS, SCENES AND SOUNDS

EXCITING sights, scenes andsounds are aplenty at Hythe’sfamous family-appeal attrac-tions: the Romney, Hythe andDymchurch Light Railway - theworld’s smallest public railway,which starts near the towncentre and runs fourteen milesacross the Romney Marsh tothe shingle headland ofDungeness; and, four milesaway, Port Lympne and itsinternationally renowned wildanimal park.

RH&DR miniature trains - fifteen-inch gauge, somesteam-hauled, some diesel-hauled - run daily from Easterto September, at weekendsand school holidays inFebruary, March and October,with special runs beforeChristmas and on other adver-tised occasions. There are sixstations along the route.

As well as providing a scenicride across the Marsh, the rail-

way is a good way to get tothe superb sandy beachesalong St Mary’s Bay.

Allow plenty of time toenjoy Port Lympne: it could be an all-day experience. Thewild animal park, with a magificent mansion in land-scaped gardens, is set in 400acres of countryside roamedby herds of captive-bred blackrhinos, elephants, lions andtigers.

Safari trailer rides makeexploring easy. There areindoor and outdoor cafes aswell as places to picnic. Except on Christmas Day, Port Lympne is open every day of the year.

The park is the impresssivevenue for seasonal concertsand other events and there areoccasional opportunities tostay overnight as part of anexciting ‘safari experience’ towatch the animals.

FOLKESTONEThe Leas promenadeEast CliffWhite horse carved on a

chalk hillFishing Harbour and StadeLeas LiftLeas Bandstand

HYTHERoyal Military CanalTown walks and trailsParish Church of

St LeonardPort Lympne Wild Animal

Park, Mansion, GardensRomney, Hythe &

Dymchurch Light Railway

ROMNEY MARSHRSPB Nature ReserveRoyal Military Canal

and countrysideMarsh maize maze

(seasonal)Dungeness Lighthouse

and Lifeboat Station

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 nom-

breuses 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.

Here’s a quicklook roundWhere small trains steam

and big animals roam

Magnificent vistas of sky and sea and stunning views across the Channel toFrance from cliff tops and countryside provide a great free show.

Experiencesto remember

Attractionstouristiques

St Leonard’s Church, Hythe

FOLKESTONE has added adelightful ‘green’ feature toits family fun attractions: aspart of a major coastalcoastal protection scheme,a new seashore has beencreated just west of theharbour, considerablyextending the Lower LeasCoastal Park.

The five-acre park providessheltered bays for swimming, a large sandpit and otherplaces for children to play,including an exciting adventureplayground - the largest in the south east.

The place where familiesespecially enjoy exploring isthe Warren Country Park.It’s east of the harbour,

beyond the East Cliff and Copt Point and below thewhite cliffs which tower above the bay and is reachedby steep paths though a hum-mocky undercliff of wild flowers and shrubs which have been shaped by thewinds which blow in from the Channel.

Attractively wild, the parkis the home of many kinds

of birds, moths and insects;fossils and minature plantskeletons are to be foundhere. Some of the beaches are great for rock-pooling.

On the eastern side of the harbour, the Sunny SandsBeach has long been a popularvenue.

By contrast, a few miles tothe west of Folkestone and

Hythe, the beaches are wide and sandy. Stretchingfrom Dymchurch around the long curve of St Mary’sBay, they have been familyfavourites for generations of visitors.

The golden sands atLittlestone and Greatstone,hundreds of yards wide at low tide, are among south east England’s finest for beachgames, paddling, building sandcastles and flying kites - a paradise for kids.

Farther along the coast, at its Dungeness naturereserve - located on one of the longest shingle land-scapes in Europe - the RoyalSociety for the Protection ofBirds provides a year-roundprogramme of participationevents and activities to interest youngsters of all ages.

Inland, off the A259, children’s activities and learning projects are popularfeatures at both the RomneyWarren Country Park and theRomney Marsh Visitor Centre.

The coast is by no meansthe only place for open-airactivities which appeal toyounger visitors. Amenities at the Folkestone SportsCentre, near Radnor Park,include a skateboard park,toboggan and swimming pool.

Seasonal events and activi-ties for children are organised at Brockhill Country Park,near Hythe.

Û 11log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk10 For more information and to book accommodation...

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

HIKING, biking, helping thekids dig sandcastles or explorerock pools, enjoying unspoiltcountryside, strolling seafrontpromenades, sitting in a deckchair and watching the worldgo by - if any of these is youridea of holiday contentment,don’t miss the outdoor pleas-ures on offer in our very special corner of Kent.

For rambling and havens of wild life, for space withoutstress, head for the hillsbehind Folkestone - designat-ed an area of outstanding natural beauty - or the WarrenCountry Park, a superb naturereserve just east of the town.

The award-winning coastalpark below the Leas prome-nade (see next page) connectswith seaside walks and cycleways to Hythe and beyond.

Well-marked routes fromFolkestone town centre andalso from Hythe, a few mileswest, show walkers andcyclists how easy it is to discover stunning countryside.

For swimmers, sunbathers,windsurfers, anglers, kite flyersand skimmers of stones acrossthe waves, the long stretch ofshingle shoreline betweenFolkestone and Hythe has a special appeal. Rowing boatscan be hired during the

summer months at the Hytheend of the Royal Military Canal.

Hythe’s Brockhill CountryPark is a wonderful place toroam and relax, while, inland,Lyminge Forest and thewoods, fields and pretty villages of the Elham Valleyoffer eye-pleasing excursions.

An unhurried visit to theRomney Marsh, where a hundred square miles of countryside roll down fromthe hills to meet broad sandsand shingle beaches, is a must for everyone who enjoys peace and quiet.

Here are isolated churchesfrom medieval times and fields where thousands ofsheep graze between thebroad ditches which drain the flatlands. Miles of windinglanes, quiet and level with long views across unspoiltcountryside, 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 theMarsh as wild and desolate -‘the sixth continent’. Artistsand writers say its beauty ismagical. We claim it’s a verygood place to enjoy The GreatOutdoors.

Space forcontentmentCountry parks, nature reserves and areas of outstanding natural beautyprovide a perfect setting for outdoorpursuits for everyone to enjoy.

Here’s a quicklook roundMiles of beaches are

a paradise for kids

Au grandair

FOLKESTONE Warren Country ParkLower Leas Coastal ParkSunny Sands beach Walking and cycling routes

HYTHERoyal Military Canal -

walking, cycling, boatingBrockhill Country ParkSeabrook ValleyWalking and cycling

ROMNEY MARSHBroad, sandy beachesWalking and cyclingMiles of countrysideMarsh maize maze

(seasonal)Royal Military CanalRomney Warren

Country ParkRSPB Nature Reserve

MARCHER, faire du vélo,aller à la plage, flaner enbord de mer… n’hésitez plus!

Des kilomètres de prome-nades longent les falaises et la mer, avec des vues àvous couper le souffle. Vous pourrez égalementapprécier la beauté, le calmeet la sérénité de ses “vertsattraits”, ses réservesnaturelles et ses parcs.

Région facilement accessi-ble en voiture, à pied ou à bicyclette, ses charmesenchantent les personnes detoutes âges, jeunes ou moins.

Warren Beach, Folkestone

Brockhill Country Park, Hythe

Canal footpath, West Hythe

13log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk12 For more information and to book accommodation...

Kingsnorth Gardens

OUT AND ABOUT

Never a dullmoment...

WHEN it comes to eating anddrinking, good places areaplenty and come in all shapesand styles - from star-ratedrestaurants to cool cafes andtrendy wine bars, from tradi-tional teashops to fast-foodplaces where kids won’t haveto be coaxed.

Sea food, of course, is a

speciality in these parts. So are local dishes featuring freshproduce from the Kentishcountryside.

Stay long enough and youcould sample the cuisine ofseveral countries - France,Italy, Greece, Mexico, India,Nepal, China, Japan, Thailandincluded.

BROWSING and buying is animportant part of a holiday.

Visitors are delighted to findsuch a choice of stores, traditional and speciality shopsand markets.

Folkestone’s Bouverie PlaceShopping Centre housesbrand-name stores alongsidethe traditional shopping areaof Sandgate Road, just a shortstroll from the pedestrianised‘Creative Quarter’ whereartists and crafts people haveset up studios.

For family-run traders, headfor nearby Cheriton; for DIY superstores the ParkFarm estate, off the M20, isthe place to go.

Sandgate and Hythe arefamous for antiques and collectables. Street and indoor

markets are a feature of townsand villages.

To round off busy days, takein a show. Visit Folkestone’smagnificent Leas Cliff Hall fortop concerts and shows rightround the year.

The 350-seat amphitheatrein the Lower Leas CoastalPark stages open-air concertsand other events from sum-mer to autumn.

Entertainment at other ven-ues includes cabaret, variety,concerts and plays.

A number of hotels offerguests in-house entertainment;many town and country pubsregularly feature groups andsolo artists.

Night birds have a choice of discos and late licensedbars.

You’ll be spoilt for choice for places to goand things to do when you fancy a changefrom relaxing by the sea. Go shopping, gosightseeing or be entertained.

Great shopping and shows

Explore Kent - Garden ofEngland - and Sussex, too

FOLKESTONEStores, traditional and

specialty shopsCreative QuarterArt galleries and studiosFarmers’, fishermens’ and

artists’ market Restaurants and good

eateries. Shows and entertainmentFrance by Eurotunnel

HYTHEInteresting High Street of

traditional shopsSupermarkets Good restaurantsAntiques and collectablesFarmers’ market

ROMNEY MARSHTraditional town and

village shopsFarmers’ marketsFrance and local sightseing

by air

DES magasins intéressants et une variété d’excellentsrestaurants sont parmi lesautres bonnes raisons pourvisiter les villes côtieres et lacampagne avoisinante ous’arrêter en route pour desdestinations plus lointaines.Le choix est vaste pour vousqui aimez sortir.De plus, vous pourrez testertoutes sortes de cuisines(indienne, nepalaise, chinoise,thailandaise, grecque, italienne, mexicaine et japonais) mais n’oubliez pasles pubs anglais traditionnels.

Here’s a quicklook round

MAKE the Folkestone areayour base for exploringsouth east England.

Within easy reach by car, busor train are the cathedral cityof Canterbury, the Thanetresorts, historic towns and picture book villages in otherparts of the Garden of Englandas well as Rye and Hastingsacross the Sussex border.

For a bird’s-eye view of the coast and countryside take a sightseeing flight fromLondon Ashford Airport atLydd, near New Romney.

The airport, just off theA259, has a restaurant open topassengers and visitors, a viewing area to watch aircraftmovements, and ample parkingfacilities.

THERE’S a special bonus whenyou stay anywhere inFolkestone, Hythe andRomney Marsh - the opport-unity of a day or longer trip tothe Continent.

Eurotunnel offers the fastestway if you take a car: only 35minutes to Calais. By air, theflight from London AshfordAirport to chic Le Touquettakes twenty minutes.

If you prefer to travel by

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

Hop across to France

Amusez-vous!

q

For latest Out and Aboutinformation, visit DiscoverFolkestone, Hythe & RomneyMarsh leaflet pick-up points(see page 5), see local news-papers or log on to our web-site which posts details of hundreds of events.

Creative Quarter, The Old High Street, Folkestone

Dover Castle Canterbury Cathedral

Church Street, Folkestone

The Lanterns, Folkestone

SPORTS & PASTIMES

14 15For more information and to book accommodation...

Play or watch - readyfor a good game?Action - in variety and plenty of it to keep players and spectators happy at all seasons. That’s a winning formulafor many visitors to Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh.

VENUES and facilities forjust about every sportingactivity and pastime in thebook are on offer in andaround Folkestone.

Those for angling, swimmingand a range of exciting watersports, of course, are amongthe top attractions along thecoast.

Golf, tennis and bowlsenthusiasts are well cateredfor and skate parks are amongoutdoor attractions whichappeal to younger visitors.

Facilities for squash, indoorbowls and numerous healthand fitness activities are avail-able at a number of clubs.

Flying or watching kites is an increasingly popular pas-time - and there are plenty ofbright and breezy venues onthe hills and beside the sea for

flyers of all ages to displaytheir skills. The manoeuvres of big and super-size kites in the hands of experts are spectacular.

Folkestone Racecourseoffers followers of flat andNational Hunt an attractivecalendar. Kent’s only racecourse, it’s located atWestenhanger, near Hythe.

Pleasure riders have miles of country lanes and plenty of open spaces to exercisehorses. (There are several livery stables in the district).

Sailing and water-ski-ing are popular all along the coast, with the broad, sandybeaches which border theRomney Marsh a great placefor sand yachting. Jet-skiersand racers of go-karts andmodel cars are able to test

skills and thrills at centres near Lydd.

Club sports for spectactorsto enjoy include soccer, rugby, hockey and cricket.

Last but not least, areminder that in Folkestone,Hythe and Romney Marshthere 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 aboutwhere to play and watch andfor dates and details of majorsporting events in and aroundFolkestone, log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

FOLKESTONEBeach anglingGolfTennisSwimming - indoor

and outdoorBadmintonSquashBowlsCricketHockeySoccerRugbySailingRowingWind surfingWater sportsSkateboardingDry ski-ingTobogganingBasketballVolleyballYogaPilatesFencingAthletics

- field and trackGymnastics

Horse ridingWalkingCyclingKite flyingHealth and fitness

club amenities

HYTHEAngling - beach,

Royal MilitaryCanal, lakes

GolfTennis BowlsSwimming - indoor

and outdoorSailingRowingWind surfingHorse racingHorse ridingFootball CricketPetanqueKite flyingWalkingCyclingHealth and fitness

club amenities

ROMNEYMARSHAngling -

beach andfreshwater

GolfTennisCricketFootballBadmintonSquashSwimmingBowlsSailingWind surfingJet ski-ingGo-KartingKite flyingModel car

racingSand yachtingFlyingSports and leisure

club amenitiesWalkingCyclingHorse riding

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 - andby no means exhaustive!

Sports et divertissements

log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

DARTS, billiards,snooker and cribbageand other games arepopular pastimes atmany pubs.

Local clubs caterfor enthusiasts of

petanque, short mat bowling and bat andtrap as well as for adiverse range of non-sport activitiesincluding: gardening,flower arranging,

bridge, dancing,debating, amateurdramatics, music, choirsinging, stamp col-lecting; photography,model aeroplanesand railways, etc.

Many other pastimes to enjoy

DANS et autour de Folkestonenous avons de no breuses distrac-tions et d’activités populairespour tous les gouts et tous les

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

Û 17log on to www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk16 For more information and to book accommodation...

FESTIVALS, EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

ROLL up, roll up. Come andhave fun. A sparkling programmeof quality entertainment awaitsyou and yours in our southeast corner of Kent. Be sure ofthrills, excitements and not afew surprises as ingredients ofa jolly good time.

With such an array of festi-vals, events and entertainmenton offer, it’s no wonder thatother holiday and leisure destinations rather envy whatgoes on in Folkestone. Hytheand Romney Marsh. In theseparts, ‘happenings’ come in allshapes, sizes and guises - somewith celebrities and a grand finale firework display; somewith more modest presenta-tion, but all great fun.

Here’s a something-for-everybody selection from our diverse calendar: colourfulcarnivals; celebrations of artand culture; jazz and popshows (including open-air extravaganzas in the uniquesettings of Folkestone Racecourseand Port Lympne Wild AnimalPark); concerts by famousorchestras and choirs; band-stand performances; gigs intown and country pubs; village fairs; re-anactments of historic episodes.

Some of the biggest crowd-pullers are the festivalsdescribed on the oppositepage. But there are literallyhundreds of other events.

Folkestone’s magnificentLeas Cliff Hall, overlooking the Channel, stages big-nameshows and concerts rightround the year as well asdances, exhibitions and eventsto mark special occasions.

Live entertainment is a reg-ular attraction at some hotelsand restaurants and at manypubs. The Grand, in Folkestone,hosts a notable jazz club.

Adjacent to FolkestoneHarbour, the Grand Burstin is south east England’s only‘entertaiment hotel’, providing guests with leisure packageswhich include nightly live showsand other activities.

Count in the numerous seasonal events organised by clubs and societies - social,sports, cultural, craft and hobby - to which visitors areinvited and you can besure that, indoors and out-doors, right round the year,there’s always somethinginteresting going on inFolkestone, Hythe andRomney Marsh

FOLKESTONE TRIENNIAL

Inaugurated in 2008, three-yearly summer season (June-September) exhibition of especially created work byinternationally acclaimed sculp-tors and artists. Sited in publicspaces - and free. www.folkestonetriennial.org.uk

FOLKESTONELITERARY FESTIVAL

Bringing together the creative worlds of letters, art, music and theatre, annualnine-day event (in November).Lectures, discussions,seminars, performances,workshops and activitiesfor young people. www.folkestonelitfest.co.uk

FOLKESTONE MULTI-CULTURAL FESTIVAL

In early June, annual four-day festival of entertaimentand cultural experiences. Street theatre, music, dance,food samplings, workshopsand children’s events.www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

FOLKESTONE CHARIVARIJuly event features a proces-

sion of hundreds of children incolourful costumes, bandsand a programmme of musicalentertainment. www.strangecargo.org.uk

OTHER EVENTSTo be announced:

Folkestone Harbour Festival(July); Folkestone Carnival(August); concerts at St Eanswythe’sand other churcheswww.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

HYTHE VENETIAN FETESpectacular five-hour show

on and along the Royal MilitaryCanal on the third Wednesdayof August every other year(the next in 2009). Floatingtableaus, illuminated afterdark, bands, entertainment,children’s fun fair and grandfinale firework display.www.venetian-fete.com

HYTHE FESTIVALAlternating with the

Venetian Fete, ten-day family-fun festival starting in the firstweek in July (the next in2010). Parades, concerts, displays and historic re-enact-ments. Most events are free. www. hythe-festival.com

OTHER EVENTSTo be announced: Seasonal

shopping and family-fun eventsin and around Hythe HighStreet; classical music concertsin St Leonard’s Church; eventsat local attractions. www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

LYDD CLUB DAYPopular ‘annual’ on the third

Saturday in June. Parades,music, entertainment and allthe fun of the fair. www.cinqueports.org

NEW ROMNEYCOUNTRY FAYRE

Traditional fair held annuallyon the last Saturday in July.Parades, bands, arena displaysand competitions.www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

DYMCHURCH DAY OF SYN

Biennial August BankHoliday weekend of celebra-tions of the exploits of a fictional eighteenth-centuryvicar of Dymchurch, who led anotorious gang of Marsh smug-glers. Pageants and re-enact-ments of encounters betweenrogues and customs men.www.dymchurchdayofsyn.org. uk

OTHER EVENTSDetails to be announced:

New Romney Open-AirConcert. Free and featuringbands, jazz and vocal groups,firework display

Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh arefamous for festivals, events and ‘happenings’,hundreds every year, attracting visitors fromfar and wide.

Always somethinginteresting going on

Presenting a feast of fun festivals- entertaining cultural ones, too

The events described below are planned many months in advance anddates and details are liable to change. For latest information, please visitthe relevant website (shown in red) or telephone 01303 258594.

Festivals etévénements.

DES centaines d’événements- les festivals, les foires et les fêtes aussi bien que les concerts, les spectacles et les expositions - rendentFolkestone, Hythe etRomney Marsh un endroitoù, toute l’année, il y a tou-jours quelque chose d’in-téressant à faire dans cetterégion.

Charivari Parade, Folkestone

Hythe Festival

Venetian Fete, Hythe

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GREETINGS FROM YOUR HOSTS

Where to stay, where to eat and drink, what to see

Members of the Folkestone,Hythe and Romney Marshtourism partnership are listedin bold type. Entries alsoinclude non-member enterpris-es which support the work ofthe partnership by using thispublication to promote theirservices.

Announcements in the advertisement sections which follow are identified by page numbers.

* Hotels marked with this symbol also provide accommo-dation and facilities for conferences, meetings andother functions

Hotels with RestaurantsAbbots 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, Folkestone01303 850952.Langhorne Garden Hotel,Folkestone01303 257233. (20)Mercure Hythe Imperial Hotel,Hythe*. 01303 267441. (23)Rhodesia Hotel, Folkestone01303 253712. (23)Salisbury/Carlton Hotel,Folkestone. 01303 252102. (22)Stade Court Hotel, Hythe*01303 268263. (21)The Grand, Folkestone*

01303 222222. (36)Guesthouses/Bed and BreakfastsChandos Guest House, Folkestone01303 851202. (22)Coxell House, Lydd01797 322037Crete Down, Folkestone01303 892392. (23)Frogholt Bed & Breakfast, Frogholt01303 274181. (23)Garden Lodge, Densole*01303 893147. (23)Kentmere Guest House, Folkestone01303 259661Lighthouse Inn, Capel-le-Ferne01303 223300. (22)Moyle Cottage, Hythe01303 262106. (23)Romney Bay House, Littlestone,01797 364747Roundwood Hall B&B, Lyminge01303 862945. (21)Seabrook House, Hythe01303 269282Seaclifffe, Folkestone01303 254592The Dog House B&B, Folkestone. 01303 251608The Rob Roy, Folkestone01303 253341. (22)

Self CateringBybrook Cottage, Folkestone01303 248255Dymchurch House, Dymchurch0208 3002100Hemlock Cottage, Hythe01303 263786Meyrick Court, Folkestone01303 247422. (23)Newcombe Bouy, Coast Drive,

Lydd-on-Sea. 01797 366008Nuthatch Cottage, Ewell Minnis. 01304 824004Stade Cottage, Folkestone 01303 240698. (22)The Grand, Folkestone01303 222222. (36)

Restaurants and PubsBlossoms Cafe, Folkestone01303 251100. (24)Chambers Bar & Coffee Shop,Folkestone01303 223333Garden Lodge, Densole*01303 893147. (23)Gurkha Palace Restaurant,Folkestone01303 257700. (24)Lighthouse Inn & Restaurant,Capel-le-Ferne. 01303 223300. (22)Sotirios Restaurant, Hythe01303 262000. (24)The Hermitage Restaurant,Folkestone. 01303 251251. (24)Hythe Bay Seafood Restaurant,Hythe. 01303 233844. (24)The White Hart, Hythe. 01303 263121. (32)

AttractionsPort Lympne Wild AnimalPark, Lympne. 01303 264647Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway01797 362353. (25)

Sports VenuesFolkestone Sports Centre01303 850222. (25)Littlestone Golf Club,Littlestone. 01797 363355. Lydd Golf Club & DrivingRange, Lydd. 01797 320808Romney Warren, Littlestone01797 362231. (25)Roundwood Hall Golf Club,

Lyminge. 01303 862260. (21)Excursions, Travel and TransportBuzzlines Travel, Hythe.01303 261605. (26)Eurotunnel08705 353535. (29)Folkestone Taxis01303 252000. (32)Le Boulonnais. (34)00 333 2110 3607Norfolkline-Dunkerque Ferries. 0870 8701020. (27)Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway01797 362353. (25)Seafrance0871 6632543. (28)Stagecoach Buses, 08702 433711. (27)

Shops and ServicesBouverie Place ShoppingCentre, Folkestone01303 248102. (29)Creative Quarter, Folkestone01303 245799. (20, 21)Folkestone Town CentreManagement andFolkestone Area PartnershipAgainst Crime. 01303 850522Hythe shops and businesses01303 266301. (32, 33)Le Boulonnais. (34)00 333 2110 3607Stop24 (M20, Junction 11)01303 760273. (35)Sainsbury’s, Folkestone. (2)West Park Farm: 01303 850810 Bouverie Road West: (2)

01303 242638.

TO complete the editorial section of this holiday and leisure planner, here’s a two-page ready-reference of more than fiftybusinesses dedicated to making your stay enjoyable. Please contact them for latest information and brochures.

THIS guide provides general information about holiday and leisure opportunities inFolkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh.

Telephone and websiteaddresses of other sources ofinformation about the districtare listed below.

White Cliffs Countryside Project01304 241806. www. whitecliffscountryside.org.uk

Folkestone Town Centre Management01303 850522. www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk

Shepway District Council01303 853000www.shepway.gov.uk

Folkestone Town Council01303 257946 www.folkestonetc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Hythe Town Council01303 266152www.hythetowncouncil.gov.uk

Hythe Chamber of Commerce and Tourism01303 266301www.hythe-tourism.com

Channel Chamber of Commerce01303 270022www.shepwaybc.co.uk

New Romney Town Council01797 362348www.newromneytc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Lydd Town Council01797 320999www.lyddtc.kentparishes.gov.uk

Romney Marsh Countryside Project01797 367934www.rmcp.co.uk

VisitKentwww.visitkent.co.uk

Association of Tourist Attractions in Kentwww.kentattractions.co.uk

DON’T JUST WISH YOU WERE HERE . . .

FOR MOREINFORMATION

ALL-SEASONS HOLIDAYAND LEISURE PLANNERThe official guide for theShepway district of Kent

Editorial and advertisement con-tent is published in good faiththat information was accurate atthe time it was supplied.Inclusion does not imply recom-mendation or liability by the pub-lishers. The content is copyrightand may not be used or repro-duced without the written per-

mission of Discover Folkestone,Hythe & Romney Marsh.Credits: Editorial - Ted Kirkham.Images: Shepway DistrictCouncil, B Brisley, R Jones, N Cuffley, S Humphries, Central PhotographyC Kirkham, Strange CargoProduction: SMC Media Ltd

Salutations de vos hôtesCES pages énumèrent plus de cinquante entreprises qui sontconsacrées au fait de garantir quenos visiteurs ont un tempsagréable. Les montrés en grossont des membres de l’associa-

tion de tourisme de Folkestone,Hythe et Romney Marsh. Lesnuméros des pages identifientceux-ci et les entreprises dont lesannonces sont publiées dans lessections de publicité de ce guide.

20 Û 21

PLACES TO STAY

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Moyle Cottage, The Fairway, South Road, Hythe,Kent CT21 6AU T/F: +44(0)1303 262106

• e: marion.inc@btinternet.com

Moyle Cottage Bed & Breakfast

• 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

On parle francais - Man spricht DeutchEn suite facilities - Family accommodation

PLACES TO STAY

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PLACES TO EAT AND DRINK EXCURSIONS AND TRAVEL/SPORTS AND RECREATION

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EXCURSIONS, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT

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SHOPPING

EXCURSIONS, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT EXCURSIONS, TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT

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ADVERTORIAL

OVER the past few years importantchanges have been taking place in theareas of Folkestone around the old townand harbour. A ground-breaking arts-ledregeneration project has been developing,led by the Creative Foundation and rootedin cultivating and nurturing individual imagination and creativity throughout the community.

The Creative Quarter is at the heart of this creative regeneration. Visitors to the CreativeQuarter can see original art, go shopping forunique 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 newarts, entertainment and conference venue in the Creative Quarter, will provide a 250-seat auditorium with bars and a restaurant. It willalso provide a showcase venue for studentsfrom the performing arts courses at the newUniversity Centre.

If you would like to find out more or if youare interested in taking a retail, studio or residential space in the Creative Quarter please visit www.creativefoundation.org.uk

Folkestone’s Creative QuarterFolkestone’s Creative Quarter

ART STUDIOS • GALLERIES • SHOPS • CAFES

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ADVERTORIAL

A WARM INVITATION TO VISIT THE HISTORIC CINQUE PORT TOWN OF

WHERE THE COUNTRY MEETS THE SEAHYTHE

EVERYONE likes coming to Hythe. It’sa great place for a few days’ break or abrowsing sort of day out for shoppingand exploring or a visit to an event.

Its many places of interest, uniquevisitor attractions and reminders of anhistoric past are mentioned elsewherein this guide.

Many visitors tell us they especiallyenjoy our High Street and adjoiningshopping streets, finding them attrac-tively ‘different’, with an attractive mixof small independently-owned special-ist shops of a kind long gone from many town centres.

Hythe is a place antiques and collect-

HYTHE CHAMBER OFCOMMERCE & TOURISM

For information about localaccommodation, shops,restaurants, attractions, amenities, events, etc,

Tel: 01303 266301www. hythe-tourism.com

able hunters certainly should not miss.When it’s time for a breather, there’s

a splendid choice of places to eat anddrink: good restaurants and pubs, ofcourse, and also some good old-fash-ioned tea shops.This Advertorial feature has beenpaid for by the advertisers

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