hazel hughes – experience manager

Hazel Hughes is the person responsible for the entertainment at Folkestone Harbour.  It’s her job to book the bands, plan events, schedule the free films and make sure it all goes smoothly.  We have Hazel to thank for Wünder Harbour, Mario Cart Racing, Harbour Hooley and the mountain of activities for the 10th anniversary of Folkestone Harbour being a visitor attraction.  And, Hazel acknowledges the work of the original curators, Diane and Denice Dever in her desire to do this job. Folkelife, over French Toast with bacon and maple syrup, found out more.

“I’ve lived in Folkestone all my life apart from my uni days in Norwich.  I went there to study politics and media and soon realised that being a politician would be one of the most depressing jobs ever.  When I got back to Folkestone, in 2017, you could see the regeneration happening in front of you.  The Arm wasn’t open when I left, but when I got back and started working in town, we’d come down to the Arm to enjoy the atmosphere.”

aspirations

“After uni I did wonder what I wanted to do, and started working in Spoons as a stop-gap.  I realised that a lot of my politics degree came in useful there, public psychology and dealing with all sorts of different people.  My mum and I came down to an event in what was then Follies (it’s now The Tasting Rooms at Platform 4) and I saw Diane and Denice Dever there.  They were the curators of the Arm from 2015 to 2021 and they seemed to have a really cool job.  They’d walk around the Arm, making sure everything was going according to plan, but there was so much fun happening that it didn’t look like work.  I said to my mum ‘I’m going to do that job one day!’ and here I am!”

experience in folkestone

“I moved from Spoons to L+B, then Lockdown hit and I worked a few places across town but nothing really stuck.  I realised when working at the Home Taproom, which is now The Blind Pig, that it wasn’t for me so I quit my job with nothing to go on to.  My mum, weirdly, 2 days later, sent me the link for a job at Folkestone Harbour and I applied immediately.  It was a Duty Manager job and I thought everyone would go for it.  Within a week I’d had an interview and had started work here.  It was part time at first, but I knew that if I got my foot in the door then I’d be able to get more established.  

“Duty Managers look after the weekends. You make sure everything is running smoothly and set up the bands and help the traders if they need it.  It’s the sort of thing where you end up doing every job imaginable.  You might get a call saying the power’s gone out, so you’re an electrician, and then someone needs a paramedic so you’re there doing first aid until they arrive.  You can do all the training, but nothing really prepares you for it until you do it for real.”

growing the site

“I started here in April 2022 and thought the site was massive, but it’s grown so much in the time I’ve been here.  In a few weeks I’d got to see the whole place and learned how it worked. At that time we didn’t have the adventure golf, and Harbourside wasn’t here which is where Sailbox and The Board Room are now.  The Marketplace was a lot smaller too.  There was so much happening that I just got involved with everything possible. 

“By January 2024 I was offered the role of Commercial Operations Manager which is when I took on organising events on the site and making sure the health and safety of traders was in place. That’s actually too much for one person so in January 2025 we changed the roles so that now I’m responsible for the events and vibe of the site, and someone else does the health and safety bit.”

commerical vs working harbour

“It’s easy, when the sun is out and the bands are playing, to forget that the Harbour is actually still a working harbour.  There’s a huge amount of maintenance and organisation that goes on to make sure that it’s safe for everyone to use who is accessing us from the water.  All the boats and the fishermen are linked to this area, and also the upkeep of the site.  Everything rusts within 20 seconds so that’s a never-ending task. 

“So the commercial side of things is anyone coming to spend time with us and buy from the traders – food or marketplace.  Putting on free events is really important for us in creating a vibrant community here at the Harbour.  Our main aim is to provide a space where people can come and enjoy themselves, with no pressure to spend anything at all.  There’s always something to do too.  Every Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday there are 2 free bands with live music on for you to come and listen to.  That’s four hours each day where you don’t have to spend a penny.  If you want to have ice cream and fish and chips, and go nuts, then go for it, but there’s no pressure to.”

Wünder harbour

“My favourite moment was our first Wünder Harbour in 2023.  That was my idea.  I wanted us to put on our own Folkestone Harbour twist on the Bavarian celebrations of Oktoberfest.  It wasn’t really my role at the time but I took it upon myself to plan that event.  I went to the big boss and said ‘please let me do this, I think it’s going to be brilliant’, also managing to convince him for a bit of extra budget too. And it was the best thing ever!  The Steiner Foot Stompers Oompah Band were just outstanding.  The Goods Yard was full of people of all ages.  My godkids were there at the time, they were one and three years old, and there were old couples there singing along.  When the whole place sings Sweet Caroline it does make my heart sing!

“But also it was the traders; everyone here rallied to bring their own element to the weekend.  Barney and the Pizza invested in a load of Steins, Jamie from The Meat Shack came and did Bratwurst – he used to live in Germany when he was younger.  Everyone put on specials – battered bratwurst from The Fish Shack, German Sausage tacos and chocolate covered pretzels, everyone joined in and had a really good weekend – the customers and us!   So much so that in 2024 we put it on for 3 weekends.  I sat back last year at one point and said to myself ‘I did this’ and it’s a huge sense of achievement to see so many people having such a good time.  

“And we can’t forget every Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever.  Dan Johanssen and I always share a hug and a little cry seeing everyone dressed up and joining in on that day.”

folkestone harbour

“I think the Harbour is the heart of Folkestone really.  It always has been and it still is today.  The town is also really important and we support it fully.  I don’t think that Folkestone Harbour takes away from the town.  Folkestone Harbour sets us apart from other towns; we have something to do here, an experience, sitting on the quay edge and eating your fish and chips with free live music to listen to. You know, that is such a unique thing. We’re really lucky.”