Events
Festive Harbour Marketplace – Foodies
The Festive Harbour Marketplace opens for the final two Friday’s before Christmas at 12 noon and trades until 8pm. Saturdays and Sundays are open from 11am to 6pm, Monday 23rd December is 11am to 6pm and Christmas Eve is open at 11am and closes at 4pm. There are free festive movies for the family to enjoy in The Goods Yard. This year the Marketplace has a huge wealth of food and drink options for the foodie in your family. Folkelife thought a guide would be useful.
Terlingham Vineyards
Back for their second year at the Festive Marketplace, the Terlingham Team will have tastings on offer. Their award-winning wines are a must for your festive feasts. The Bacchus is particularly smooth and refreshing. Each wine is grown on the vineyard looking over Folkestone, with a spectacular view of the Harbour Arm. Their ethos is to be as organic and sustainable as possible. Over the decade they’ve been farming the vineyard, they have taken on natural pesticides and methods that respect the land they are working. Come and meet the family.
produced in kent
The Produced In Kent team work hard to give us locally sourced food and drink over the 6 weeks of the Festive Marketplace. Frasers Christmas Puddings were a sell out last year, so make sure you get yours before they’re all gone. Over the 6 weeks there will be local wines, chutneys, sweet treats such as fudge and more.
Folkestone Distillery
This little distillery on the Shearway Business Estate is producing some very fine coastal gin. There are two to choose from and will suit the palettes of different gin drinkers in the friends and family pod. Read more about their journey in our indepth Folkelife article.
harbour coffee
If you need a fix of Harbour Coffee but can’t get down to the Harbour then you can take away a bag of beans. Roasted onsite, there’s a choice of blends on offer. The team will be happy to grind the beans for you, and can explain the different grades depending on how you brew your black stuff. There’s also decaf on offer for the morning after.
gilda bakery
Straight from their bakery at Canterbury there’s a Gilda outlet now at Folkestone Harbour. For the festive season you can delight in their sausage rolls (I think it’s the pepper on top of the pastry that adds that special something) and their cheese twists. If you can get your hands on a cruffin before they’re all gone then you are a lucky champ.
cultura deli
Across the way from Gilda, and next to Terlingham Vineyards there, behind the queue, is Cultura Deli. Finn and his cheese will see you through to New Year. There’s cheese for eating today and cheese to keep for Christmas, because Finn feels that cheese should be a daily necessity. Also, there are chutneys, charcuterie and Macknade Christmas Puddings to represent the other major food groups.
dog deli
And, not to miss out the most important member of the family, there are treats for your four-legged friend too. Andy started his business because finding healthy treats for his new pup was hard. Many commercial snacks contain cereals which dogs have difficulty digesting, so you will be able to choose some protein-packed munchies and natural teeth-cleaning chews at the Dog Deli Hut.