17 ‘WE were told we were mad to open in Folkestone 10 years ago - now look at us,' he told me. I'm sipping champagne at the much-loved Lighthouse Bar on the Kentish seaside town's harbour edge when the owner, Simon decides to join us with his own glass in hand. 17 The hugely popular Lighthouse Bar in Folkestone is one of several cool bars that have drawn holidaymakers to the town in recent years Credit: Alamy 17 Folkestone isn’t short of amazing stretches beaches to choose from Credit: Alamy 17 The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey is lucky enough to call the seaside town home Credit: Supplied / Kara Godfrey And that’s exactly what we are told by all the locals here; that Folkestone is the next big thing.
Kent isn’t short of amazing seaside towns - there is the established Whitstable and trendy Margate on everyone’s lips. But Folkestone is having a moment, taking its time but growing in the form of new hotels and cool bars. It was named one of the best places to live in the south east by The Sunday Times earlier this year, and has been tipped as one of the next big seaside towns by cool British holidaymakers.
Read more on seaside towns SANDS GOOD Country's 'best-kept secret' is UK seaside town with sandy beach and waterpark YOU CAEN BEAT IT I've found top EU seaside town - with huge beaches & £14 magnums of rose However, unlike it's other cool counterparts, locals say its slower growth means it has kept its character while adding its new and much-loved impro.