Folkestone Harbour is marking 10 years since the beginning of its regeneration, which has seen the former industrial site develop into a coastal leisure destination attracting visitors from across the UK.
The harbour’s redevelopment began in 2015, following investment from philanthropist Sir Roger De Haan, who sought to revive the derelict seafront area. Since then, the site has expanded from a handful of seasonal pop-up stalls to a year-round venue that hosts food and drink traders, cultural events and leisure activities.
Today, the harbour includes a mix of independent food and drink businesses, creative enterprises, live music, outdoor cinema screenings and activities such as adventure golf and shuffleboard. The site has played a role in Folkestone’s wider seafront redevelopment and is managed by general manager Paulo Kingston-Correira and his team.
Traders’ stories
Much of Folkestone Harbour’s growth has been shaped by small independent businesses that began trading in its early years. Several of those traders remain key parts of the harbour today.
Bernie and Emma first set up with their Big Greek Bus in 2014, a repurposed double-decker serving Greek food. Initially seasonal and run on generators, the business has since evolved into Cavells Mediterranean Lounge, housed in converted parcel carriages and operating year-round.
Simon and Jess Robinson, both graphic designers, launched the Lighthouse Champagne Bar in the repurposed lighthouse at the end of the Harbour Arm. Designed around the concept of “shipwreck chic”, the venue has become a longstanding fixture, later expanding to include The Tasting Rooms.
Mark Babins, alongside business partner Michael Lake, opened Sole Kitchen in 2015 with a simple menu of fish finger sandwiches and squid. The pair have since grown their presence to include Harbour Coffee, The Fish Shack and Sailbox, a larger container-based restaurant.
Alison Abbott began trading with Dutch pancakes from a gazebo before expanding into seafood offerings under the name Shesells Seashells. She now operates from a converted railway carriage offering year-round dining with sea views.
Adapting through change
The Harbour’s businesses have navigated challenges, including extreme weather and the Covid-19 pandemic, during which some traders operated on a reduced or socially distanced basis. Harbour management also offered flexible trading arrangements during that period.
The site’s growth has been credited to both investment in infrastructure and the willingness of small businesses to take risks on what was initially a little-used site. Many of the traders describe a loyal local customer base as central to their ability to expand and adapt over the past decade.
Folkestone Harbour has become a recognised visitor destination, drawing in both local residents and tourists. As it enters its second decade, traders and management say further expansion and reinvention are likely, with new venues and concepts expected in the coming years.
