Folkestone is a seaside town located to the south of the county of Kent. Within easy reach of the M20 and the Channel Tunnel, and with a long stretch of shoreline, it is an ideal location for beach shoots and productions. 

The town is currently undergoing a transition with the arrival of a ‘Creative Quarter’. Sponsored by local businessman, Roger De Haan, this includes the refurbishment of the Old High Street with its quaint independent shops and the development of galleries around the old fishing harbour. The mixture of old and new has given Folkestone a new lease of life that looks set to continue for years to come.

Folkestone Fishing Harbour © Kent Film Office

The Leas promenade has spectacular views across the channel – on a clear day it is even possible to see France, only 24 miles in the distance. Along the walkway there is a bandstand giving a nostalgic feel of a bygone era.

The Leas has a distinctive period feel, and is bordered by wide side streets flanked by splendid whitewashed Georgian and early Victorian town houses. The Grand hotel with its elegant ballroom is a glorious example of Victorian architecture. This makes Folkestone the perfect location for any period production.

Folkestone is also home to the Leas Cable-Car lift. Built in 1885 and driven by water, the lift has survived two world wars and still operates to this day. The lift has been an attraction for both visitors and programme makers alike and proved to be the ideal setting for a ‘Darling Buds of May’ shoot.

The town also offers a great opportunity in the old disused harbour, complete with the long-standing Orient Express train station. It is a unique offering, inducing an isolated and abandoned atmosphere, making it perfect for horror and thriller productions.

 With all these locations on offer in one easily accessible place, what are you waiting for?

[Pascale Blackburn]

Links

• For more information about the 'Creative Quarter' visit http://www.creativefoundation.org.uk/
• For more information about The Grand visit http://www.grand-uk.com/
• For more information about Folkestone visit http://www.discoverfolkestone.co.uk/