TOWNSPOTLIGHT
Spotlight on FOLKESTONE cont .
Folkestone Harbour Mermaid Rocksalt
© Oast House Archive
View of Folkestone from the cliffs © Brian Miller
DINING OUT
Rocksalt There are restaurants that say they are on the coast , even on the beach , and then there is Rocksalt , which is so close you can hear the waves and smell the sea . It ’ s no wonder that the food here is as fresh as it can be since much of it is local , and much of is seafood . And not only is the food exceptional , but this gem of a restaurant is a joy to sit in thanks to its modern design and its floor to ceiling glass windows that give you an unparalleled view Folkestone Harbour . Dishes here include delights such as lobster and salmon pasty with pickled cucumber , Rye Bay cod braised with orange and wild fennel with crushed almonds , and cold chocolate and sea buckthorn fondant .
Earls Restaurant With a recent refurbishment to its name , Earls Restaurant is an eclectic mix of cuisines that all have one thing in common : they taste incredible . On top of the à la carte menu are Sunday roasts , afternoon teas , a great children ’ s menu and an innovative list of weekly specials . The menu has a range of wonderful food including courgette and brie fritters , chicken liver brulée with smoked duck breast , beef and Guinness pie , and the Tex-Med gourmet burger .
Gurkha Palace The award-winning Gurkha Palace specialises in Nepalese and North Indian cuisine , and has been doing so since 2000 . The aim of the food here is to take you to Nepal and allow to experience authentic flavours that you may never have had before . You can expect to find poleko salmon ( a highly flavoured salmon fish marinated overnight in typical Western Nepalese spices then chargrilled ), momo ( warm chicken dumplings entirely cooked by steam and served with chutney ), Nirvana chicken ( chicken cooked with lemon grass , mustard seeds , curry leaves , coconut milk and nuts , this is a dish from the lowland area of Nepal ) and Sherpa khasi ( very hot lamb dish balanced with seventeen different herbs and spices and touch of coconut milk ).
ANNUAL EVENTS
Folkestone Harbour Music Festival // Aug This is a free two-day music festival held each year in August to raise funds for the RNLI . This is a chance to see up and coming bands as they begin their music careers , and to spot those who have been in the business a while as they do their bit for the local area and charity . Also on offer is face painting , raft racing , a fun fair , working dog displays , plenty of delicious and varied food and drink , and a fireworks spectacular too .
Folkestone Triennial // Sep-Nov This hugely looked forward to art festival allows the town of Folkestone to become an artistic hub for two exciting , fun-filled months . It is thanks to the Folkestone Triennial that there are now 27 permanent artworks in the town , and new and established artists alike are always keen to get involved . The Triennial is your chance to see this art , speak to the artists involved and find out more about Folkestone itself .
Folkestone Book Festival // Nov This November event has taken place every year since 1980 , and is set to continue into the foreseeable future . At this event it is possible to enjoy talks by literary greats , take part in writing workshops , and follow a town tour to the most important spots when it comes to literature . Be inspired to write , to read , and to find out more about the town of Folkestone itself through its literary roots .
TOP SPOT
Close to the harbour and the Old High Street , The Quarterhouse ( a Creative Foundation project ) is an exceptional venue for enjoying a show during your time in Folkestone . This award-winning building seats 250 , and is where new talent and new ideas are showcased . With a well-stocked bar , exciting performances that change on a regular basis , and fantastic after show parties , The Quarterhouse is an ideal way to spend an enjoyable and different evening in Folkestone .
DID YOU KNOW ?
ACCORDING TO THE EXPERTS , FOLKESTONE IS ONE OF THE SUNNIEST PLACES IN THE UK , SO YOU WILL DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO MAKE THE MOST OF ITS STUNNING BEACHES THIS SUMMER .
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