Tony's Fabulous Folkestone

🌊 Move to Folkestone – Coastal Living Reimagined! 🏡

Surely not 🙄

Airbnb ban at luxury development axed as homes advertised for £1k a night Bosses have backtracked on an Airbnb ban at a controversial seaside development - with properties now available for up to £1,050 a night.

Debenham's/Folca.
Wilko.
Library.
Sports Centre.

What's next / left for the 'best place to live in the south east of England?" 🙄

I believe that last night's walking tour of Folkestone town centre brought it home to all guests just how lovely it looked a century ago but so unloved and neglected today.

Tackling this, of course, is what the Levelling Up funding is meant to address and I hope it can be spent wisely and bring about a much needed rejuvenation.

Folkestone is NOT JUST the Harbour Arm.

Today we launch our consultation on Folkestone Library.

We are committed to securing a permanent town centre location for the library and registration service. Find out about our proposals and our drop in events where you can talk to us about the proposals and ask your questions. Tell us your views at www.kent.gov.uk/folkestonelibrary

Kent County Council
Kent Libraries, Registration & Archives

Thanks everyone who joined me this evening on a walking tour of Folkestone town centre.

Libraries should be at the heart of public life For those from less privileged backgrounds especially, they provide vistas of opportunity

First St Eanswythe's head, now Tracey Emin's baby bonnet 😡

"From Bobby's to Folca" to ......?

It's , which means the Seaside Heritage Network has announced their Bucket and Spade list - and we've made it!

They asked members of the public to nominate their favourite places, experiences and flavours for inclusion in the 2024 Bucket and Spade List which will be whittled down to a final 10 over the summer.

Please take a moment to vote for the Leas Lift on https://seasideheritage.org.uk/bucket-spade-list/vote-for-2024-winners/

Grace Hill: not just home to a great library.

Stately but neglected emblem of an age when knowledge and learning meant so much more.

Tony's Special foccaccia at Let's Amore - deliziosa 💚🤍❤️

Nearly 70 years after a drunken squaddie put an axe to the original, St Eanswythe has been decapitated again. No words.

Hopefully, the prelude to better times.

Part of tomorrow's literary tour, starting from the Step Short Arch at 12.30pm.

Spaces available on my Folkestone and Sandgate Literary Walking Tour, starting at 12.30pm at the Step Short Arch this coming Monday (10th). Join me for a 3 hour stroll around the town and listen to what famous writers - from Dickens to Noel Coward - thought about it. Cost is just £10pp.

"In the intervals between services he walked about Folkestone with an air of looking for something. Folkestone was not so interesting on Sundays as on week-days, because the shops were shut; but on the other hand, there was a sort of confusing brilliance along the front of The Leas in the afternoon".
(H.G. Wells, Kipps)

If there's one thing young people lack today, I am afraid it is Folkestone standards. It may well be what's wrong with the country.
(Robert Morley)

Rome stood on seven hills; Folkestone seems to have been built upon seventy. Its streets, lanes and alleys - fanciful distinctions without much real difference - are agreeable enough to persons who do not mind running up and down stairs.
(The Leech of Folkestone from The Ingoldsby Legends).

Old and new.

Let nobody with corns come to Pavilionstone, for there are breackneck flights of ragged steps, connecting the principal streets by back-ways, which will cripple the visitor in half an hour.
(Charles Dickens at Albion Villas, 1855).

Chilly and windy - perfect for outdoor poetry reading🙄

Tomorrow is the day for our street open-mic. Old High St, outside Steep Street Coffee House from 11.30 (until about 1pm). Come and join us, read a poem or two at the mic- a poem you like, a poem of your own, a poem in another language. Anything goes!
We’ll have extra seating on the pavement, alongside Steep Street’s usual outdoor tables and chairs, where you can enjoy coffee and cake.

Heroes of the harbour.

Good morning Sir Jeffrey!

This is more like it ❤️