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Home Ground & Googies have teamed up and will be holding our first annual Belgium Beer Festival this coming Bank Holiday Weekend. There will be a selection of over 30 Belgium Beers to choose from plus a weekend of live music events at both venues. More details to be revealed nearer the date. So make a note in your diaries for this fantastic Summer event.

There will be a A good mix of well known, Blonde, Brune / Double, Triple, Fruit, Wheat, Gueze / Sour and Strong… there is sure you will find something to raise a smile.

For such a small country, Belgium has an astonishingly wide range of breweries and beer styles. Add to this the fact that the number of different beers carried in many bars are often numbered in the hundreds
(for example, Kulminator in Antwerpen lists over 400 beers on its menu) and someone new to Belgian beer can easily feel overwhelmed by the choice available. It’s not for nothing that the Confederation of Belgian Brewers describes the country as “Beer Paradise.”

Googies and Home Ground have 30 different beers, 15 in each venue. For those of you who apply yourselves and complete the score card of all 30 over the 4 days, we will be presenting a specially engraved Belgian beer festival glass.

Saturday 28th…. THE FAUX-HEMIANS play @ Googies from 7.30pm.

Sunday 29th… Surprise guests, classically trained entertainment from 2pm - 5pm…expect to be amazed

BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 30 August….. CLUB BELINGO present Nick Harrison, The Magnets, Dan Lucas and the Tatterrattles performing out front of Googies

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On Saturday I had popped into the Sandgate Arts and Crafts Fair which is held monthly in The Chichester Hall, Sandgate. It is a new market so I wanted to have a little nose around to see what was there and I was very pleasantly surprised.

There were many lovely items on display: beautiful handmade earings, bracelets and other jewelry, paintings by local people, patchwork goodies and many other exicting things. I wanted to buy most of the items on display but finally settled on a beautiful patchwork table runner - and I have plans to use it as a wall hanging because it was such lovely cheerful colours. I will certainly have to go back next time to buy something else and my guess is that this event will now be a regular part of my Saturday morning from here on. For more information or to book a space to sell your work on one or more of the above dates please contact mirandabest@talktalk.net

When I came out of the Arts & Craft Fair I wondered across the road to see what all the fuss was about - I could see lots of people going into the new bicycle shop The Hub.

I had popped into The Hub a week or so ago - the shop is full of stunning bicycles and I couldn’t resist a look. This business is owned and run by Sara and Simon Barnes The Hub, a triple fronted shop, has a huge range of cycles and specialises in makes such as: Marin, Electra, MirraCo, Sunday - and also has a range of Cycling clothing and helmets too. The white bike in the window is very beautiful and reminds me of days long gone - it is based on an original design but made with new materials and given a contemporary treatment - just beautiful! If you already have a bike - The Hub can also offer a full service and repairs when needed. Oh…I forgot to mention…the reason I popped over on Saturday was because lots of people were going into The Hub…so I wondered over and popped my head in and found a lovely contemporary coffee shop where we bought two coffees and home made cake. What a delight that place is!! - a lovely big space, furnished in contemporary style - just the right place to sit down to read the papers (which are also on hand) whilst considering which bike you would like to buy. A brilliant idea and a welcome addition to Sandgates High Street.

If you want to find out more contact The Hub by email at: thehubcycleshop@hotmail.co.uk or tel: 01303 210311. A new website will be up and running soon at: www.thehubcycleshop.com The Hub can be found at: 61-63 Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 3AH

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Googies barely opened 6 months is fast growing in popularity amongst locals. It is not only the place where you can get great food (the googie burger wraps are a favourite) - but it is also where musicians hang out so you can often hear the strumming of a guitar or a melody being picked out on the piano. Googies is fast becoming the place where new musicians and artists can be heard and seen. So - if you like good food and a relaxing friendly environment in a mix of talented, creative and interesting people then make your way to 15 Rendezvous Street and say Hi!

Some gigs and exhibitions coming up over the next few weeks:

Folkestone Design Exhibit by Moses Lovey: A collection of 12 designs that represent Folkestone by the art designer Moses Lovey. These simple prints are framed and exclusive to Googies during March for £30.  Additional Art work by John Cotter celebrates the Folkestone Music Festival currently taking place in Folkestone during the month of March

James Kirby: The amazing James Kirby will be making his 3rd appearance at Googies, this being his first full 2 hour set on 26th March at 8pm. Born in 1985 on Merseyside, James first picked up a guitar at the age of 8. He first gigged at primary school aged 10, raising money for the Bucket and Spade Appeal! James moved to Kent in 2000 and was lead gutarist in Abandoned for three years, producing 2 albums. Then came his big break. Sikhona was formed and for 4 years they were a regular fixture on the Kent and London scene. James was the front man and during this time they released an EP and enjoyed Radio play. In 2009 Sikhona disbanded due to conflicts of interest. James Kirby has thrown himself into a solo career with determination and vigour. His beautiful and melodic songs have resulted in him building a large and loyal fan base in little time. His live sets hold audiences regardless of size, age or musical preference. A busy year lies ahead for this “breath of fresh air” and “modern day Bob Dylan.”

Reasons to be Cheerful: March 28th is 10 years since the great Ian Dury passed away. Bluesky PIE along with Googies Art Cafe will be celebrating his music. Come along and watch many of Folkestone’s finest musicians perform covers of this legends work on 28th March at 2pm.

Liquid Jacket: Liquid Jacket will be performing for the first time at Googies since the Cafe’s opening party where they headlined and found a whole new fan base - on 9th April at 7pm. Googies is excited to be able to welcome Tom and Charlie back.

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What do you think of the new modernist design that is intended to replace Jetty’s? Personally, i think it stands out like a sour thumb. It is slap bang centre in an un-spoilt area of the harbour, and is this the way that things are to be? I’m in favour of change but its got to fit the area a design that had a traditional frontage and look would have been far better.

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Jon Doran, Liu Batchelor and Dan Desborough present URBAN Art Exhibition. The opening viewing, by invite only, is Friday 15th January from 6pm to 11pm. With entertainment on stage from 8pm onwards by Marty Ratcliffe and Diane Dunn.

The Exhibition continues through to Sunday 21st February 2010.

Jon Doran - is a young, local artist who’s work is bold, intense and energetic. Often creating semi abstract portraits, his paintings depict strong movement and colour combinations inspired from urban culture

Dan Desborough - fresh from his collaboration with John Cotter at The St Georges House Gallery show (2 Views) , Dan Desborough shows another side of his photography abilities. Dans Urban photography is edgy and thought provoking, with the ability to capture on camera that which is often missed by the naked eye.

Liu Batchelor work is all about vibrancy, dynamics and spirit. Using mainly acrylic her work has an urban pop art feel; with the emphasis on sport, people and muscles, movement, and exciting colours.

Hosted by Googies Art Cafe, 15 Rendezvous Street, Folkestone.

For further information contact Keith Holland on 01303 246188

Email: googiesartcafe@yahoo.co.uk website: www.googies.co.uk

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