Festive Folkestone Harbour – Plan your visit

Folkestone Harbour sets the festive tone from 13th November until Christmas Eve with many events and activities going on. Plan your visit, for whatever the weather, expect snow flurries to add to your outing from the Folkestone Harbour snow machines!  Here’s a guide to help you.

getting here

The Harbour Car Park is open and accessed via Harbour Approach.  The exit on this road is still closed, but there are plenty of arrows around the car park to point to the exit.  If you are coming by train, we’re 54 minutes from London St Pancras to Folkestone Central.  There’s a lovely walk through the town and The Old High Street which also has good shopping from independent artisans.

festive shopping

The Festive Marketplace opens on Friday 13th November at 4pm with the Christmas Lights Switch On at 7pm. Then, it’s open every Friday and Saturday from 11am until 7pm, and on Sundays from 11am to 6pm.  On Christmas week, it’s open 11am to 6pm up to and including Christmas Eve. There are over 50 fishermen’s huts decorated and selling unique and handmade gifts.  There are crafty kits from Pickle & Pip, The Pencil Workshop; all sorts of quirky gifts from the likes of Salty Sisters, Toolbox Artist and Workshop Widow and Twisted Treasure;  and handmade pottery from My Pottery Shed.  If you are looking for gifts for the green fingered amongst us then try Country Clobber and Glebe House Flowers.  For beautiful objects inside the house try Gaia Studio, Onda Cove, handmade items from Glass Pops and original artwork from That Folkestone Artist and Dirk Seyfried Photography.

There is original fashion from Red One Design and The Donkey and the Badger.  Handmade jewellery from Silver By The Sea, Odette Artisan Jeweller and Helen Sharp Jewellery. For handcrafted Christmas decorations try Witchy Wednesday, for personalised wooden decorated items Burning Desires Pyrography, and there are cute pebble pictures and presents from Pebble Folke.  For the readers there will be something in Cosy Cottage Romance, and you can never, ever fail by giving someone a rubber duck from Gone Qwakers.

food for presents

Well, we know that’s a hard one, so buy two and then at least you can eat one with all impunity.  Drop in to Finnian’s Deli and your cheese needs will be met, as well as your dried fig salami rolls – yes, you didn’t know you needed them until this moment.  The Folkestone Distillery has its award-winning Christmas Gin, and this year has rum on board too. To buy the right roasted beans, ground at the correct spec for your coffee drinker, pop in to Harbour Coffee at the Marketplace and stock up. Pit Stop General Store will have baked goods and their award-winning croissant crisps.  Oh My Goodies, Kawaii Cookies, More Tasty Cookie Dough and The Sweet Quay have your sweet tooth looked after very well indeed. If you’re looking for olives and savoury treats then Organic Village Market is ready. Wayfarer Wines and Terlingham Vineyard return again.  Produced in Kent supply local producers each weekend.  And we have your sauce needs covered with Beaver Creek and Away Days Presents.  Don’t forget the dog, Dog Deli caters for our four legged friends (but not cats).

live music and entertainment

When The Festive Marketplace is open there will be live music, free family films and fun to be had.  There is a calendar packed full of live music throughout the run up from local bands.  Also, live community choirs to get you in the Christmas spirit too, and, shh..say it quietly… the Folkestone Living Advent Calendar makes more than just a special appearance.  Another event not to be missed is the Folkestone Christmas Tractor Run on 19th December where you will see a train of decorated tractors file down into the Harbour.  It’s a sight to behold!

ho ho harbour grotto

The Harbour Grotto is back this year, created by artist Sally Hogarth, and the Harbour team.  Enter into a world, by the sea, influenced by the surroundings.  It’s fully festively decorated to discover the customs of Christmas around the world.  The Harbour Grotto is at Customs House and open from December on Fridays from 4pm to 8pm, weekends 11am to 6pm running up to Christmas Eve. Booking is advised.

come and play

If you have fidgety people to entertain then there’s plenty of things to play on at Folkestone Harbour.  Adventure golf have glowing golf balls so you can play after dark.  Come and play during the day, but this makes it easier in the evenings by being able to see the balls!  The Board Room is another venue where you can entertain a crowd with interactive darts and shuffleboard, as well as some really good food.

festive feasts

Food needs to be part of the plan too.  And there are so many treats to taste at Folkestone Harbour that this needs serious attention.  The indoor restaurants are a great place to meet friends for brunch (and beyond) before you start your shopping. Sailbox, Brewing Brothers, Shuck It And Sea, and The Lighthouse Tasting Rooms all have festive treats that cater for many different tastes.  Cavells and Shesells Seashells are housed in the converted train carriages at Platform 3 and serve delicious Mediterranean foods (Cavells) and seafood platters at Shesells Seashells that are simply delicious, especially with the best Bloody Marys you will find this side of Lake Vostok.

Roasts are available on Sundays and range from the Lighthouse Keeper’s delicacies at The Tasting Rooms, to family spreads at Brewing Brothers and the ultimate sharing roast at The Board Room. If you don’t want a roast, then go for the aptly named Sunday Not Roast at Minutas.  If you want a grab and go option, then Hatch Chicken in The Goods Yard have you covered with their rotisseries with added Yorkies and cauliflower cheese.

Maybe you can’t decide between a brie and cranberry Yorkshire pudding wrap from Fish Shack or a pizza from Barney’s?  Or perhaps a treat from Little Rock after your Friday night saunter through the Marketplace?