This Saturday 6^th August 2011 at The Chichester Memorial Hall, Sandgate

from 10.00am until 12.30pm

The Sandgate Bakery – freshly baked bread, pies and biscuits, French cheese

Juicy Fruits – fresh fruit and vegetables

Izzy’s Deli – homemade lasagna, soups, meat and vegetarian pies, pizzas and home cooked ham freshly sliced, English cheese

Milbank Olives – olives, semi-dried tomatoes, balsamic onions, pesto and sauces

Exotic Foods – chicken and vegetable curries, onion bhajis, samosas and pakoras

Coast & Country Fayre – homemade sauces and dips

Catherine Jordan Cakes – large and small cakes, seasonal fruit pies and tarts, scones and biscuits

Old Hall Farm, Brookland – traditionally reared meat & sausages, rare breed lamb & pork and fresh eggs

Swallowfields Nursery – cottage garden plants, hardy perennials and shrubs

Sandgate Farmers’ Market is in the Chichester Memorial Hall on the first and third Saturday of each month from 10.00am

Student artist Kate Garcia to exhibit at St Pancras International, the UK’s most iconic station, with support from High Speed 1.

When art student Kate Garcia invited Inferential Grin – The Triennial Fringe exhibition organiser Johnny Cotter to her college art exhibition, little did she realise it would lead to such an amazing opportunity with up to 1,000,000 people a week walking through St Pancras International and past her artwork!

Johnny Cotter who owns his own gallery in Folkestone, decided to put on a self funded “Fringe Exhibition” from the profits of his gallery and artwork, to compliment the main Art Triennial being held this year in his hometown of Folkestone, and give local artists an opportunity to be seen.

(The main Folkestone Triennial is a three-yearly exhibition of contemporary artworks sited in public spaces throughout Folkestone. The inaugural exhibition in 2008 featured 22 internationally acclaimed contemporary artists and artist groups including Tracey Emin, Mark Wallinger etc.. and the 2011 exhibition will continue to build on this).

Kate Garcia, one of the 14 local artists chosen by Johnny Cotter, had an idea to do two installations called “Ticket to life” which are been created using a series of ticket shaped photos, along with names and ticket-sized excerpts of how passengers feel and why and where they are travelling. Included in the artwork will be photography of the passing scenery, points of interest and stations. The piece uses real travel tickets, some blanked out, and others with just a glimpse, to respond to the notion of time and the sheer volume of destinations that can be visited simply by alighting a train.

One of Kate’s 2 installations will be in the main concourse at St Pancras International and the other in Rendezvous Street, Folkestone.

“High Speed 1 and St Pancras International have been amazing in supporting our Inferential Grin exhibition”, said Johnny Cotter, “Thanks to their support over 1 million passengers and travelers will see Kate’s piece, Ticket to Life, its an opportunity of a lifetime for her”.

A spokesperson from High Speed 1 added: “High Speed 1 is very pleased to be able to offer this space to support Kate, Johnny Cotter and the Festival - the artwork is a wonderfully imaginative use of High Speed tickets!”

Inferential Grin – The Triennial Fringe has 14 local artists exhibiting public works of art at Rendezvous Street, Folkestone Town Center, with a theme of “Right Here Right Now”. Local landlord Anthony Pound has embraced the exhibition and donated his many shop and office premises in and around Rendezvous Street for the artwork to be displayed.

The exhibition is on from the 25^th June until 25^th September 2011.

For more information please contact

Johnny Cotter, 07842 776007, me@johnnycotter.com www.inferentialgrin.com

Ben Ruse, Place PR, 07717 151070, ben@placepr.co.uk www.placepr.co.uk

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.

Related articles

• Tourism industry urged to keep pushing (lookatvietnam.com)

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

Related articles

• Larissa Brass: Farmers upset over safety law (knoxnews.com)
• Are copycat farmers markets unwelcome in Seattle? (seattlepi.com)
• Saving Rare Breeds, One Pork Chop at a Time (food.change.org)

Walking past Ella Fashion Boutique, 13 Rendezvous Street, as I do frequently I noticed that there was a lovely red silk corsett and black bussled skirt in the window which caught my eye and was very attractive.

I thought this time instead of just looking at the fashions in the window I would pop in for a closer look - so inside I went and Aggi was happy to let me browse the clothes rails.

What was lovely was that the rails held lots and lots of beautiful evening dresses and party frocks - it really did feel a bit like Aladins cave - and none of the dresses looked like the mass produced fashion you find in the big stores. These were all one off pieces so you could be quite sure you would be the only person wearing that particular dress.

I asked Aggi what type of person shopped there and she said it was mostly professional women who wanted clothes tailored to fit exactly right for them rather than buying off the shelf items which rarely fit well.

I asked Aggi the price of the silk corsett and skirt - expecting it to be too much for me..but surprisingly it was within my range. In fact I am booked in for a fitting for a silk corset next week, the first of two sittings, and it will then be made especially for me in time for a special event at the end of the month. And the cost of this made to measure silk corset - amazingly it will cost me no more than a nice meal out for two…so I am very happy.

Now I just need to consider if I can afford the skirt too…..hmmmm!!

http://www.ellafashionboutique.co.uk/

Ella Fashion Boutique

13 Rendesvous Street, Folkestone,

Tel: 01303 246085

Opening times: Mondays appmnts only, Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm, Saturday 10am to 3pm.

Each person is unique with different body shapes, sizes and personalities. Your clothing should be individualised to suit you. What we offer is: fashion, design, dressmaking, clothes copying, personal styling, bridal dress making and alterations and colour consultations.