The tired old lunch box may soon be a thing of the past, with the arrival of a new venture in Folkestone’s Creative Quarter that aims to tempt the palate with exciting tastes from across the world. Partners Philippe Vialon and Daryl Hodgkins will open “Fresh & Easy” as tenants of the Creative Foundation at 17-19 The Old High Street in mid May, offering a wide variety of gourmet sandwiches, salads, desserts, pastries and chocolate, amongst other temptations.

Philippe was born and trained in France, where his family owned and ran a restaurant, and has extensive experience as a senior chef in locations around the world, principally in Australia and across Europe, and including London’s prestigious One Aldwych. He has worked in businesses varying from small patisseries to five star hotels and restaurants, and has managed large corporate kitchens and restaurants. Daryl, who will provide management support to the business, is an experienced event, bar and restaurant manager.

Fresh & Easy will offer nutritious food using fresh ingredients. Central to the concept will be a typical lunch box, consisting of a choice of fresh fruit juice, a main course and a dessert, based on a variety of dishes from around the world. Examples include: baby octopus & marinated in chilli & coriander salad, duck & orange pate with a green salad and a slice of crusty fresh bread, roasted mixed vegetables with French bleu d’auvergne cheese baguette, spinach & ricotta cheese with herbs de provence quiche, and for dessert raspberry tart, pineapple & vanilla crumble. Customers can also choose from a range of croissants, yogurts, fruit salads, homemade chocolate and truffles, cakes for special occasions, homemade jams, pickles and sauces, fresh fruit juices, smoothies and milkshakes. Wherever possible produce and meats will be sourced locally.  Even dog owners are not forgotten: Fresh & Easy will offer a variety of homemade nutritious treats for dogs!

Fresh & Easy will also provide catering for special occasion lunches, parties and for local businesses in the area.  And to complement the lunchtime service, Fresh & Easy will be open a few evenings during the week to offer a relaxed environment where people of all backgrounds can meet to socialise and discuss issues that affect the community.

Philippe said: “We are re-locating to Folkestone from London to take advantage of the exciting opportunity that Folkestone offers, and in particular the attractive premises and terms on offer from The Creative Foundation. We believe that we bring a new dimension in food to Folkestone with our attention to hospitality and friendly service and our determination to serve a wide choice of fresh and interesting food in a creative manner.”

Daryl added: “We believe our passion and enthusiasm, combined with our very different formula, will create a very convivial atmosphere in which our customers can eat, drink and chat. We shall work with local community groups and with schools, and in time we hope to be recognised as a venue where people can meet people from all walks of life over a good cup of coffee and an even better slice of cake!”

The SHED

45 Bouverie Road West, Folkestone, CT20 2SZ

So often you hear disappointing comments, often made by local people, about how depressed and sad looking the town is. Parts of it are actually booming!!

The area in Bouverie Road West not far from the bus station heading west is the ‘GastroZone’ a term coined by Go Folkestone’s Phil Carter to support the group of eating places to be found in this small parade of shops.

There you will find a Chinese Buffet, a Kebab Takeaway, also Mexican, Italian and Chinese Restaurants all within just 100 yards of each other. It would seem strange that one style of food is missing from this exotic line-up and that is English food.

One local thought so too and the old ‘French style’ restaurant on the south of the road has now been revamped and re-opened as The SHED selling quality ENGLISH food with the occasional venture into other regions as required.

The new owner, Head Chef Dave Pascoe learned his trade in a busy Cornish resort where backed by his team he served over 200 meals a session during the summer months.

Dave brought one of his west country delicacies with him and will be serving Cornish Cream Teas, a fresh home cooked Scone with Strawberry jam and real Cornish Clotted Cream. Served with either a pot of tea or fresh filter coffee.

The SHED is presently serving English breakfasts and Lunches using excellent quality meat from the Butcher just 40 metres away and local vegetables from Cheriton. It is open from 8am until 4pm Monday to Saturday.

Why not pop in for a cuppa and of course a Scone? Delicious ………

The SHED

Folkestones Newest Restaurant

WE WISH OUR READERS A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND A REWARDING NEW YEAR
The future’s bright for tourism – oh, yes, it is

THAT’S the thrust of turn-of-the-year messages from the pundits who pronounce on holiday, leisure and hospitality matters. ‘Look behind you’, the cry goes up.

Preferring to look ahead, we’re optimistic at DFHRM and stick to what we said in info@ a year ago – and also in the last issue of 2008: Shepway is better placed than most destinations to weather the consequences of the recession. Reasons for confidence in the Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh product have been chronicled many times in this bulletin; indeed, they drive all our activities to attract visitor business.

As for 2010, there’s no denying that, across the district, visitor-dependent enterprises of every size and kind have had a difficult year, but its good news that many claim that it has been better than they expected. In general, Shepway tourism-related businesses seem to be in good heart and ready to tackle whatever ups and downs are on the way.

Clearly, 2011 is going to be tough. There are huge challenges ahead not only for commercial businesses which cater for holidaymakers and leisure seekers but also for destination marketing organisations which are in the government’s firing line for reform, streamlining and localisation. Tourism Minister John Penrose is due to report and recommend on these matters pretty soon. No crystal ball is needed to forecast that changes are likely to impact at all levels.

He told MPs representing seaside constituencies a few days ago that tourism provided a ‘superb opportunity’ for the rapid economic growth of their towns and they were lucky to have a Prime Minister so enthusiastic about prospects. Politics aside, the implication is welcome; information and outcomes are awaited.

Meanwhile, our New Year resolution is to attract more visitors to Folkestone, Hythe and Romney Marsh from more places more often by every affordable means. Marketing tools are well sharpened.
For now, in the spirit of our upbeat headline, festive season greetings from the DFHRM management team.

Cheers! Back in January.
Chris Kirkham, manager, Discover Folkestone, Hythe & Romney Marsh

Latest facts and figures
INFORMATION requests handled by the DFHRM office in November totalled 780: 561 by telephone; 219 by e-mail and post. While these figures were slightly lower than in the corresponding month of 2009, website traffic amounted to 553,623 hits (64,437 visitors); up from 369,020 hits (16,316 visitors) a year ago.
December figures are likely to show a similar trend, with the majority of requests for information coming from the UK, of course, but with significant numbers from overseas including long haul markets.

Tools of the trade
FOLLOWING its launch to UK and international tour operators at last month’s World Travel Market (info@, November), the 2011 edition of the DFHRM holiday and leisure planner is now in process of distribution. Over the next few months, 50,000 copies will be distributed via tourist information centres and selected outlets in main sources of UK and overseas visitors, in response to information requests and at tourism events.

At events specifically targeted to the coach and tour operator and group travel markets, it will be accompanied by an updated edition of the Shepway travel trade pack and the new Channel Region travel trade guide, published (in English) by DFHRM and Communauté d’Agglomération du Boulonnais. On behalf of Hythe Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, we will also be distributing copies of the Hythe Visitor Guide.
As for cyber space communications, there will be further development of www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk as well as the use of Facebook and Twitter, recent additions our to marketing armoury.
News in brief

Folkestone Town Centre Management, which organises the successful Folkestone Multi-Cultural Festival and Christmas lights and entertainment programme, plans to stage more events next year.
Holiday Inn Express, Cheriton Parc, has rejoined DFHRM.

Royal Military Canal bridleway between West Hythe Dam and Aldergate Bridge has been re-surfaced to improve amenities for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders.

Visit Kent has added an image of kite surfers at Greatstone to the selection of photographs to be used in a three-year Kent Contemporary poster campaign at London railway and underground stations. and is looking for pictures of tourism businesses for use in posters promoting British Tourism Week. Deadline for entries is January 12. For details, click on to infobtwphotocomp@gmail.com

Romney Marsh Countryside Project, set up in 1996 to help care for the special wildlife and beauty of the Romney Marsh and Dungeness, has been renamed Romney Marsh Countryside Partnership to emphasise that it is part of a network of Kent rural conservation organisations.

British Resorts and Destinations Association is to merge with Destination Performance UK to become British Destinations. Due to launch on April 1, the enlarged organisation aims to provide ‘an articulate voice in national tourism policy and strategy formulation’. Members include Shepway District Council.
Last but not least . . .

A TOAST to the many people, shops, businesses, community and charity organisations, event and entertainment organisers who have made such great efforts to make Folkestone, Hythe and the villages of the Romney Marsh and rural areas extra-enjoyable this festive season. They have worked wonders to cheer us all up. Thank you.

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Hello Terlingham Wine Lovers!

We are delighted that our wines have become so popular, and that is because of you!  If you visited us this year, thank you.  If you bought our wines, thank you.  If you passed our details on to anyone, thank you.

We were intending to be open at weekends in December but what with the very cold weather and our neighbours new building project we are not going to open again until Easter.  Instead we will be offering a free local delivery service for purchases of 6 bottles or more or a courier will deliver if you are not local for a small charge.  The wines have sold exceedingly well,  the only wine left in any quantity being Saxon Shore, one of the whites from 2009.  We do still have a few bottles of White Cliffs, Bacchus, Riley Rose, Caesar’s Camp and the Terlingham Sparkling but you will need to order soon by email to avoid disappointment.  Please put WINE ORDER in the subject box of your email.  Descriptions and prices of the wines can be found on the website, www.terlinghamvineyard.co.uk.  Mixed cases can be bought.

In addition to the wines we are also offering gift vouchers.  These can be redeemed between Easter and the end of September 2011 for a vineyard tour and tasting - £5, a Ploughman’s Lunch inc two drinks - £10 and, of course, the wines.  Vouchers will be printed to demand so please advise the amount you would like the voucher for when you order and the name of the person it is for.  Please note that next year we will be open to the public 12-4pm Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays and Ploughman’s Lunches will be available, no need to book.  Visits at any other time can be arranged for groups but booking will be necessary.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Penny & Steve Riley

Terlingham Vineyard

Terlingham Lane

Gibraltar Lane

Hawkinge

Folkestone

Kent

CT18 7AE

www.terlinghamvineyard.co.uk

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Image via Wikipedia

I first come across Old Hall Farm produce at a local Farmers Market - and have since been to visit the farm premises in Romney Marsh several times to buy my fresh meat, pies and sausages.

Deborah (she may be the farm owner but am not sure) is really helpful and explains what each cut of meat can be used for. The lamb joints are from rare breed lambs and according to those that know means they will have more flavour, be more succulent with enhanced eating quality (it also helps the conservation of rare breeds if the public seek out butchers who sell it).

A short drive through Hythe and onwards towards Romney Marsh - and it took a few minutes to find the farm using my satnav - but it was worth the journey. The pies are deep and deliceous and the meat and sausages are very good too - so this is a trip we will be doing regularly.

Marsh Produce

Old Hall Farm

King Street, Brookland

Romney Marsh, TN29 9RJ

Telephone : 01797 344 383

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