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Original poster

To ask - Folkestone changed a lot since the mid 2000s?

32 replies

FoordHopeful · 29/07/2025 08:11

I moved to live in Folkestone in 2005 to work in Saga Insurance.

I left in 2008

I’m now kinda sentimental for those times and want to go back .

Has it changed a lot in past 20 years?

Maybe I can go back there, relive the mid 2000s and open a MySpace account! Grin

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Original poster
FoordHopeful · 31/07/2025 18:13

summerskyblue · 31/07/2025 18:02

I went to that new indoor vintage market today (where Wilko used to be) and I thought it was great! they even have a coffee shop in there now :).

As that’s fabulous!! When I moved to Folkestone it was the pre Wilkos days!! In 2005 when I first ‘landed’ on those shores that particular building housed M & S!!

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summerskyblue · 31/07/2025 18:02

I went to that new indoor vintage market today (where Wilko used to be) and I thought it was great! they even have a coffee shop in there now :).

Original poster
FoordHopeful · 31/07/2025 07:48

DappledThings · 31/07/2025 07:45

The ones already built are called Shoreline. They are a bit down the beach, wildly expensive and plagued with a loud whistle through the balconies whenever the wind is up - https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/sleepless-nights-as-luxury-flats-emit-debilitating-high-293760/.

The whole thing is a travesty. The new blocks will be a total destruction of a fantastic local amenity.

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Oh gosh I heard about that whistle !!

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DappledThings · 31/07/2025 07:45

FoordHopeful · 31/07/2025 07:31

I’m not surprised those flats aren’t selling tbh

i Lived in an EXTREMELY rough block of flats from 2006-2008 in Folkestone Harbour with loads of very serious anti social behaviour going on there and although that’s nearly 20 years ago I can’t see that the fabric of the area would’ve changed all that much !! For me it wouldn’t be a desirable area to live the only area I liked was Enbrook Valley and she might say that’s not really ‘Folkestone’ proper !

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The ones already built are called Shoreline. They are a bit down the beach, wildly expensive and plagued with a loud whistle through the balconies whenever the wind is up - https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/sleepless-nights-as-luxury-flats-emit-debilitating-high-293760/.

The whole thing is a travesty. The new blocks will be a total destruction of a fantastic local amenity.

‘Sleepless nights’ as luxury flats emit ‘debilitating’ high-pitched squeal

A “grating” whistling noise which appears to be coming from the wind hitting a new tower block is keeping those living nearby up at night.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/sleepless-nights-as-luxury-flats-emit-debilitating-high-293760/

Original poster
FoordHopeful · 31/07/2025 07:31

DappledThings · 30/07/2025 23:28

I’ve heard permission has recently been granted for swanky new apartments to be built (not sure how soon). So the harbour and all the businesses will pretty much be gone. From what I saw, that was the main attraction, doesn’t seem like too much more it going on there.
Yep. There was a hard fought campaign against them and they had to be changed a lot and lost the first round but got there in the end. It's really shit. The harbour and the Goods Yard will still be there but built over and given a glass roof. The whole character will be destroyed and it's been so beautifully done up at the moment.

The flats already built aren't selling. It's crazy in all ways.

I’m not surprised those flats aren’t selling tbh

i Lived in an EXTREMELY rough block of flats from 2006-2008 in Folkestone Harbour with loads of very serious anti social behaviour going on there and although that’s nearly 20 years ago I can’t see that the fabric of the area would’ve changed all that much !! For me it wouldn’t be a desirable area to live the only area I liked was Enbrook Valley and she might say that’s not really ‘Folkestone’ proper !

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CookieCrumbles23 · 30/07/2025 23:40

@DappledThings Crazy! I heard it’s only been done up over the past 10 years too. What a waste of time if all the character is going to be stripped away. The independent businesses on the harbour seemed like they were thriving and they shared the success of the Christmas markets (which sound wonderful), so I’ll definitely return to experience that. So much potential, what a shame.

DappledThings · 30/07/2025 23:28

I’ve heard permission has recently been granted for swanky new apartments to be built (not sure how soon). So the harbour and all the businesses will pretty much be gone. From what I saw, that was the main attraction, doesn’t seem like too much more it going on there.
Yep. There was a hard fought campaign against them and they had to be changed a lot and lost the first round but got there in the end. It's really shit. The harbour and the Goods Yard will still be there but built over and given a glass roof. The whole character will be destroyed and it's been so beautifully done up at the moment.

The flats already built aren't selling. It's crazy in all ways.

CookieCrumbles23 · 30/07/2025 23:16

We went there a couple of weeks ago and had a lovely day and evening. Beach was lovely and we had a great time on the harbour. Live music, loads of food, clothes etc stalls. Everyone I saw was having a lovely time. Also the Kate Bush tribute was the next day so that was fun to watch.

I’ve heard permission has recently been granted for swanky new apartments to be built (not sure how soon). So the harbour and all the businesses will pretty much be gone. From what I saw, that was the main attraction, doesn’t seem like too much more it going on there.

I’ve been there once so I definitely don’t know as much as others on this thread lol. We had a fantastic time, preferred it to Brighton and Bournemouth, that’s for sure.

TeenLifeMum · 30/07/2025 19:38

FoordHopeful · 30/07/2025 19:35

argh so you’ve still got an emotional connection to Folkestone ❤️

I lived in Folkestone Harbour. I was pretty grim in mid - late 2000s

ibnow live in Hertfordshire

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I think there’s still the pockets of people who made it grim sadly. The locals also seem to talk with Essex accents which is very odd to us - dh and I don’t have the accent as it wasn’t a thing in the 80s/90s 😂

Original poster
FoordHopeful · 30/07/2025 19:36

DappledThings · 30/07/2025 19:26

No way! Hawkinge is a set of blobs of new estates squished together to make a small town out of a village with one Lidl and couple of hairdressers and kebab shops.

The "nice" bit of Folkestone is creeping upwards from The Old High Street back towards the crummier Bouverie Place. Rendezvous Road now has 4 new independent shops in the old mixed Asian buffet ace and Wilko is now a fancy indoor market, a new offshoot of Ramsgate's Petticoat Market.

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Ahh thats interesting - it’s changed quite a bit since I was last there then - 2008

ive never actually been to Hawkinge

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Original poster
FoordHopeful · 30/07/2025 19:35

TeenLifeMum · 30/07/2025 19:28

I lived in the cheriton end of shorncliffe road.

where are you living now @FoordHopeful

my memories of Hawkinge are friend’s fields drinking vodka age 16 😂 I know it’s changed a lot. We go occasionally to the crematorium to visit my sister’s grave.

argh so you’ve still got an emotional connection to Folkestone ❤️

I lived in Folkestone Harbour. I was pretty grim in mid - late 2000s

ibnow live in Hertfordshire

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TeenLifeMum · 30/07/2025 19:28

I lived in the cheriton end of shorncliffe road.

where are you living now @FoordHopeful

my memories of Hawkinge are friend’s fields drinking vodka age 16 😂 I know it’s changed a lot. We go occasionally to the crematorium to visit my sister’s grave.

DappledThings · 30/07/2025 19:26

FoordHopeful · 29/07/2025 10:38

I think Hawkinge tbh is overall a ‘nicer’ place to live than Folkestone

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No way! Hawkinge is a set of blobs of new estates squished together to make a small town out of a village with one Lidl and couple of hairdressers and kebab shops.

The "nice" bit of Folkestone is creeping upwards from The Old High Street back towards the crummier Bouverie Place. Rendezvous Road now has 4 new independent shops in the old mixed Asian buffet ace and Wilko is now a fancy indoor market, a new offshoot of Ramsgate's Petticoat Market.

TeenLifeMum · 30/07/2025 19:26

@FoordHopeful i loved it. We worked crazy hours but my now dh worked with me and then we moved to the western gazette and I became features editor. I now work in nhs communications, and love that too (newspapers are very different now)

Original poster
FoordHopeful · 30/07/2025 19:23

TeenLifeMum · 30/07/2025 19:21

When they built that saga building they had an open budget. It’s concrete/glass/metal - all retract at different temperatures so there were always buckets everywhere to catch the rain 😂 (I did love working there). Then I moved to work as a subeditor at the Folkestone Herald.

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Blimey I never knew that about the building!

that sounds an interesting job to be fair - working fir the Herald?

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TeenLifeMum · 30/07/2025 19:21

FoordHopeful · 30/07/2025 19:17

Ah thats interesting - so I arrived in November 2005 just after you left !

I lived in a very rough block of flats so if I went back there - I’d never live there again ! I also worked for Saga - firstly in the offices above Boots the Chemist and then in Saga’s flagship building - Enbrook Park!!

Thing is apparently Saga has completely left Folkestone now so I think the fabric of the place has changed

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When they built that saga building they had an open budget. It’s concrete/glass/metal - all retract at different temperatures so there were always buckets everywhere to catch the rain 😂 (I did love working there). Then I moved to work as a subeditor at the Folkestone Herald.

Original poster
FoordHopeful · 30/07/2025 19:17

TeenLifeMum · 30/07/2025 19:13

I grew up there so lived there from 1982-2004, worked producing saga holiday brochures and loved Sandgate but was happy to move away from Folkestone. The girls grammar did me well in terms of education. We go back as family are still in Hythe (which is nice), and the harbour is a lot nicer but there’s a weird vibe. No one seems to smile/acknowledge each other. Living in the West Country now I find Folkestone depressing.

Ah thats interesting - so I arrived in November 2005 just after you left !

I lived in a very rough block of flats so if I went back there - I’d never live there again ! I also worked for Saga - firstly in the offices above Boots the Chemist and then in Saga’s flagship building - Enbrook Park!!

Thing is apparently Saga has completely left Folkestone now so I think the fabric of the place has changed

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TeenLifeMum · 30/07/2025 19:13

I grew up there so lived there from 1982-2004, worked producing saga holiday brochures and loved Sandgate but was happy to move away from Folkestone. The girls grammar did me well in terms of education. We go back as family are still in Hythe (which is nice), and the harbour is a lot nicer but there’s a weird vibe. No one seems to smile/acknowledge each other. Living in the West Country now I find Folkestone depressing.

Original poster
FoordHopeful · 30/07/2025 19:07

Katemax82 · 30/07/2025 18:35

Yes but its still part of it, albeit a few miles up a hill. I went to college in folkestone, happy memories

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East Kent College? My colleague went there

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Katemax82 · 30/07/2025 18:35

FoordHopeful · 29/07/2025 10:38

I think Hawkinge tbh is overall a ‘nicer’ place to live than Folkestone

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Yes but its still part of it, albeit a few miles up a hill. I went to college in folkestone, happy memories

Original poster
FoordHopeful · 29/07/2025 20:01

LindorDoubleChoc · 29/07/2025 19:29

YABU

Why?

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LindorDoubleChoc · 29/07/2025 19:29

YABU

Original poster
FoordHopeful · 29/07/2025 10:38

Katemax82 · 29/07/2025 08:54

My sister has lived in Hawkinge for 13 years and folkestone prior to that. She wouldn't live anywhere else

I think Hawkinge tbh is overall a ‘nicer’ place to live than Folkestone

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Original poster
FoordHopeful · 29/07/2025 10:31

summerskyblue · 29/07/2025 10:06

Deal is indeed lovely.

Friendly people and still lots to do for a small town :).

Also easy to travel to Canterbury and Margate from here.

I would have happily lived in Folkestone too though :).

I loved Canterbury never went to Margate

But I’m just thinking - if I ever went back to Folkestone to live -

Saga Insurance has now comply disappeared from the town

What other jobs in Folkestone would be there for me to do other than the service industries?

There didn’t seem a lot of ‘office’ type places there in the mid 2000s iyswim apart from Saga

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summerskyblue · 29/07/2025 10:06

Deal is indeed lovely.

Friendly people and still lots to do for a small town :).

Also easy to travel to Canterbury and Margate from here.

I would have happily lived in Folkestone too though :).