This coastal town is a hidden gem for vegan food. Cathy White spent a few days here and put together this helpful vegan guide to Folkestone.
Published on 9 Aug 2019
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Dr Legumes
East Yard, Harbour Arm | folkestoneharbourarm.co.uk | Thu – Sat 11am-4pm, 6pm-10pm, Sun 10am-6pm
James and Lee of Dr Legumes source and forage local ingredients to create an imaginative and inspired plant-based menu based on a health-conscious, sustainable approach to eating. If that sounds seriously worthy, it is… but it’s also delicious. Enjoy a seitan ‘Rubens’ pastrami sandwich with mustard mayo, cheese, sauerkraut, pickles, tomato, mizuna salad and hand-cut fries, while sitting inside a shipping container or soaking up the sun outside on a bench overlooking the English Channel.
After you’ve eaten, wander up to the other end of the redeveloped Harbour Arm for a glass of champagne at the Lighthouse Champagne Bar.
Planet Earth Kitchen
10 Rendezvous Street | Mon, Thurs, Fri, Sat 9am-3:30pm Sun 10am-3:30pm | facebook.com/hitthevspot
Spacious, bright and airy, Planet Earth Kitchen is the new vegan kid on Folkestone’s block. Passionate vegans Lorraine and Glenn dreamt one day they’d own a vegan café and here they are. Fill up on homemade vegan comfort food such as burgers and toasties, or Nepalese curry and tofish, chips and mushy peas, while your pooch munches on free doggy treats available from the counter. Read from their pile of vegan magazines, admire the local artwork adorning the walls, buy handmade crafts.
Marley’s
26-30 The Old High Street | Tues-Fri 12noon – 9pm, Sat 9:30am-11:30 12noon-9pm, Sun 9:30am-11:30 12noon-3pm | marleysfolkestone.co.uk
You should definitely book a table at Marley’s because a) you probably won’t get a table if you just turn up; and b) your table will be reserved with your name spelt out in Scrabble tiles and that is just the best thing ever. You also definitely need to eat breakfast in this cosy yet stylish bistro (although breakfast is walk-in only, so you won’t get the Scrabble tiles, sniff) because that involves vegan bacon (supplied by fabulous local business Sister Seitan), plum tomatoes, mushroom, beans, grilled courgette and aubergine and a homemade crispy hash brown. Delicious…
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What to do
Stock up on treats like Vego bars, Ten Acre Crisps and Booja Booja at Wholefoods on the Old High Street. Then wander down to the bottom of the hill to have your hair dyed any colour of the rainbow by Dizzy at The Secret Salon, who only uses cruelty-free, vegan products (@the.secret.salon.folkestone).
Where to stay
The pet-friendly Burlington Hotel overlooking the Channel has moved away from animal products. Sit on non-leather sofas, walk on non-wool carpets and sleep with synthetic-filled pillows and duvets. Try out the vegan food and enjoy one of their cocktails that contain oat milk, not dairy.
Did you find this vegan guide to Folkestone helpful? Find our other vegan city guides here.
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Cathy White is a freelance writer and blogger at planetveggie.co.uk. Originally from London, she emigrated to the Kent countryside in 2009, then left the sticks for the sea and is currently living in Folkestone.
This article contains affiliate links.
