message query for gate

Non political news

Ah, the weekend, seems like so long ago now. Chocka at work this week, I am shut away in isolation for two weeks to work on a new project. Good to be without distractions of people coming up to my desk, and actually good to be so busy, it's making th...

Great weekend (belated weeekend-o-blog)

Great as in really good and great as in just enormous, fitted quite a lot in. Clare was out in London Friday night, and had got a hotel so I was planning to meet her later and we'd stay over so as to have a nice Saturday there too. Work is busy as ev...

Escondido Sandgate still closed, but free cocktails at Escondido Deal

Does not look like they're in a hurry to reopen Escondido Sandgate, but they're trying to make a go of the Deal branch, there's an offer of a free cocktail with presentation of the advert in My Shepway free sheet....

Rated 7.71/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Folkestone Literary Festival Brochure - OUT NOW!

Folkestone Literary Festival 2008 - 1st to 9th NovemberIf you haven't managed to check out the programme for this year's festival online you'll be pleased to know that the brochures are now available in many locations around Folkestone and the surrou...

Shop next door to Gate 28 starting to be cleared out

Looks like the expansion of Gate 28 might happen sooner than I thought.

Rated 5.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Mysterious young entrepreneur secures local support

Hmm got emailed this today and thought "I recognise that chap", he used to work at our place. Read the whole press release though, have you any idea what the business is? The accompanying pictures show our Dan stood next to a painted lady (literally,...

Some details from this week's Herald about Gate 28

According to the Folkestone Herald:It's under new ownership because Roger DeHaan sold the freehold, hmm why would he do that? I wonder if it's because Jimmy Godden has been buying up properties on the same street.The same owner owns the Gate Inn in H...

Rated 5.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Gate 28 reopens at last Friday 26th

Grand reopening of Gate 28 this Friday, at last the rumours have come sort of true. Walked past today, the pumps are back, it's going to be the same kind of bar it was before by the looks of it. Possibly see you there for last orders......

Rated 5.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Escondido still saying closed for the forseeable

Escondido is still closed, and the sign on the door still says it'll be closed until further notice, but there was apparently a piece in the paper saying it'd be open again in three weeks. Fingers crossed!Remember to invite us for the grand reopening...

Rated 7.71/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Gate 28 - gutted!

Walked past Gate 28 tonight, and it's under serious redecoration. The bar is still there, but no sign of the pumps or anything. Looks like the rumours of it reopening not as a bar could be true....

Rated 5.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

New top ten most popular restaurants in the area

As voted by you... click, rate, go on!Tinto Tapas (8.52/10)Savour Aroma (8.39/10)Curry Garden (8.03/10)Kalala (8.01/10)Chambers (8.01/10)The Prince of India (7.86/10)Wagamama (7.77/10)Bella Amalfi (7.45/10)Escondido (7.39/10)La Vue (7.28/10)...
Rated 8.14/10 on Folkestone Gerald

AF&RM CAMRA says Gate 28 is reopening as a pizza restaurant

Not sure if that info is more up to date than what I read on Facebook. This is from the September issue of Marsh Mash, the newsletter of Ashford, Folkestone and Romney Marsh branch of CAMRA: The bad news, The Fox Willesborough was firmly closed when ...

Rated 5.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Terry Pratchett's Nation limited edition.

I've got one of these a Nation special edition, I think. Dad queued from early this morning to secure one of these, and got it signed, good work!Had a great day in London where we also saw Terry Pratchett, he helicoptered between Hayling Island (wher...

Escondido Sandgate / Folkestone closed until further notice :-(

The wife went today, it is closed until further notice, doh!

Rated 7.71/10 on Folkestone Gerald

F-I-R-E I-N E-S-C-O-N-D-I-D-O

Has there been a fire? And did Gate 28 reopen? We were not in that part of town all weekend.Here is video of a fire in Escondido:That's Escondido, California though, not our favourite local restaurant. Yes, still my favourite, went to Sandbanks this ...

Rated 7.71/10 on Folkestone Gerald

The lights are on at Gate 28, but is anybody home?

Saturday is the rumoured day of reopening, has anyone any idea if anything is really happening? I went past there on Tuesday, lights were on so someone had been inside, but it wasn't clear if anything had changed. It didn't really look closed down at...

Rated 5.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

No more news about Gate 28 reopening then?

I found nothing on Facebook, except a group saying "wouldn't it be good if it reopened"... it's still under offer, and still has not changed internally so I guess it could happen fairly quickly. If you have any more specific info please post it up he...

Rated 5.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Woo, we took the Ship quiz again!

The wife and I got 30/30 in this week's Ship Inn quiz, beat that!

Rated 6.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Opening 6th September

As what it was.... tables and chairs still there as they are being used by new owners (why!?)Sounds like they are doing some decent live events there though - type gate in facebook!! Hope they get SKY for footie!!...

Rated 5.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Beer festival at the Ship this weekend

See you there all weekend! Looking forward to this a lot.

Going to try out the quiz for the first time in ages on Tuesday too, be afraid if you are competing against us...

Rated 6.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

They are still the number one ranked local restaurant!

Who is doing all this voting then? I enjoyed it when I went, I think I've only had takeaway there, but also sat for a drink while waiting for it. Here are the current top ten:Savour Aroma (8.59/10)Chambers (8.41/10)Tinto Tapas (8.36/10)The Mayfly (8....
Rated 8.46/10 on Folkestone Gerald

The Jackdaw

I used to work at The Jackdaw, the people who run it are nasty and the food is even worse. The cleanliness standard in the kitchen are horrendous and way the food is prepared is stored is no better. If food is sent back due to a fault in the kitchen ...

Rated 5.29/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Gate 28 "under offer"?

Is that an "under offer" sign I spied in Gate 28's window? And why haven't they cleared out the tables and chairs or the bar yet? Is there a chance of it reopening as a bar?And what's the latest on The Leas Club, is it closing down or what?...

Rated 5.03/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Sad about Dave

This sunny weather would have been just right to see a dolphin leaping about.
Good to know you're still checking the site out Mick.

RE: sandgate dolphin on youtube don t watch

Dave disappeared sometime in November and hasn't been seen since unfortunately

sandgate dolphin on youtube don t watch

hi. my dad and family live in folkestone. i am comin down there on sunday and wondered if dave was still at sandgate beach as i saw him last year and am bringing my step son this time. please reply to my e-mail, thanks

Maybe the PHP 4 to 5 will go more smoothly than I thought...

If all has gone according to plan, www.claremahon.com should now be serving up pages using PHP5, while www.clarkeology.com and www.folkestonegerald.com are still on PHP4. Pages like this Harry Clarke page or wiki style searches like this are using PH...

ouch

Limited updates from me today, just shut my finger in the car door, so only my left hand is in action.Not broken, but can't type so well. Oh dear, can't do the housework either.Made my first mapplet on Friday. Going to investigate more, mapplets and ...

Top ten best restaurants in the area

The votes are in, these are the top ten best restaurants in the area as voted by you (so, the ten restaurants with the most loyal net savvy customers and regulars who visit this site then), a few surprises in there:Botolphs Bridge Inn (9.10/10)Bella ...
Rated 8.36/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Tinto Tapas

In the 18 months we have been going to Tintos a (at least once amonth) it has always been good food, service and atmosphere. The sea bass is to die for. The bill is never a shock other than how inexpensive! If you haven't been make sure you go you wi...
Rated 8.14/10 on Folkestone Gerald

The Sandgate Hotel

at The Sandgate Hotel, Esplanade, Sandgate. (Lee Westwood) Brighton based legend plays his unique guitar compositions in his own renowned style. 14:00-17:00
Rated 5.35/10 on Folkestone Gerald

The Sandgate Hotel

at The Sandgate Hotel, Esplanade, Sandgate. (Lee Westwood) Brighton based legend plays his unique guitar compositions in his own renowned style. 14:00-17:00
Rated 5.35/10 on Folkestone Gerald

Bull and Gate

Some sort of twee indie bear themed evening. Last minute addition to the bill were The Futureheads for some reason.