🏊 Inside the Sports Centre Plus: Work to reopen Road of Remembrance could start next month, and England World Cup matches will not be shown at the Harbour Arm

In this week's newsletter we go inside the Folkestone Sports Centre to hear about progress towards reopening this summer - and see the recent shocking damage done by trespassers...

🏆 Invicta are champions Plus: Three-day dance music festival to return to The Leas despite noise concerns, and report reveals positive impact of 2025 Triennial

🏆 In this week's newsletter @fifc.bsky.social chairman Josh Healey tells us 'nothing will beat this feeling' after the team's title win...

🚑 Under-performing hospital trust to enter ‘intensive recovery’ programme Plus: Book swap world record broken on Sunny Sands, and table-topping Folkestone Invicta close in on league title

In this week's newsletter we look at the action being taken to try to turn around our under-performing NHS trust...

🧱 Historic viaduct could become home for graffiti and street art Plus: Memorial bench from Sandgate washes up on Lincolnshire beach, and convenience store retains alcohol licence despite police concerns

In this week's newsletter we hear more about a project aiming to make the town's imposing viaduct a home for graffiti and street art...

But another wonderful reader took up our offer on annual subs (below) this morning, so I am already up on the deal for the day. And I've had a lovely walk by the sea. So all good...

folkestonedispatch.substack.com/onethousand

Logging on for my traditional Monday procrastination session before I write the entirety of the @folkestonedispatch.substack.com tomorrow in a blind panic. A very comfortable routine...

Funnily enough, a day after this was published, Southeastern put out a press release today boasting of big rises in season-ticket sales in Kent (be interesting to see where it gets regurgitated)

Thank you David, your support is greatly appreciated!

Join David and many more wonderful, generous supporters of local journalism here: folkestonedispatch.substack.com/onethousand

Thank you Charlotte. And welcome to Folkestone!

🚄 Commuters bemoan ‘eye-wateringly expensive’ fares for packed Folkestone trains Plus: Car park's ANPR cameras to be scrapped after unsuccessful trial, and lorry driver charged with dangerous driving after crash

When users revolt against your pricing strategy:

"... more than 300 regular travellers trade tickets for trains between Folkestone and London, often ones purchased well in advance—to secure the very cheapest fares—but which are no longer needed."

folkestonedispatch.substack.com/p/commuters-...

To celebrate reaching 1,000 subscribers we are running a limited-time offer of 20% off an annual paid subscription. This is what the first person to claim the discount had to say...

Join them here: folkestonedispatch.substack.com/onethousand

Thanks Ed, your advice and insight has been incredibly valuable from the very start!

More than 1,000 people have now signed up to receive the Dispatch each week. This is an incredibly significant milestone on our journey towards making this newsletter a sustainable source of independent journalism.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far, we are just getting started...

🚄 Commuters bemoan ‘eye-wateringly expensive’ fares for packed Folkestone trains Plus: Car park's ANPR cameras to be scrapped after unsuccessful trial, and lorry driver charged with dangerous driving after crash

In the second part of our special report into the state of the town's train services, we look at the issue of fares and hear from Southeastern...

🌊 Opening of country’s biggest beach spa to put town on the sauna map Plus: Convenience store could lose booze licence over sale to teenage girl, and work begins on renovation of former Debenhams building

Folkestone is now home to what has been billed as 'the UK’s largest beach spa' and it opens to the public this weekend. We met the co-founder of Sea Scrub Sauna to find out more...

Now our most-read story since we launched almost a year ago...

Thank you, Andrew. This has taken some work to put together, and we have raised questions with Southeastern based on feedback from our survey. We'll bring readers their responses in the second part of this report later this month

🚄 Train feels the strain as Folkestone passenger numbers soar Plus: Thousands of lorries could be taken off roads and onto rails, and massive town centre regeneration scheme passes halfway mark

In the first of a two-part special report, we reveal results of our survey of rail passengers about the state of services from Folkestone...

🏠 First council tenants move into new ‘affordable rent’ homes at Risborough Barracks Plus: Council to consider budget for coming financial year, and football match abandoned after goalkeeper suffers broken leg

This week's newsletter is out now...

💷 Restaurant that employed illegal workers is stripped of alcohol licence Plus: Preparations begin for UK Town of Culture bid, and beach moves step closer to bathing water designation following campaign

This week's newsletter is out now...

📚 World record attempt to kick off Folkestone is a Library project Plus: New alternative music bar to open in storied town centre venue, and five-star Invicta move step closer to league title

In this week's newsletter we hear more about a fun event with a serious message...

Folkestone Dispatch supporting South Kent Mind Help Folkestone Dispatch raise money to support South Kent Mind

Today is #TimeToTalkDay and is a chance to reflect on mental health support. In 2026 the Dispatch is raising money for South Kent Mind, our charity of the year. You can donate to this important cause here...

🎨 Could Folkestone become the first-ever UK Town of Culture and win £3m prize? Plus: Sadness at death of ‘incredible’ former teacher, and council ‘continuing to prepare’ for auction of former library building

In this week's newsletter we look at some of the questions surrounding the prospect of a Folkestone bid for the crown of UK Town of Culture 2028...

📚 Grace Hill library latest: ‘We’ll buy the building for £1’ Plus: Road of Remembrance work could now start in summer, and Army explosives experts called to property during police operation

Another twist in the ongoing saga of the former library building in Grace Hill? This week's newsletter is out now...

🎉 Thank you to everyone who has joined us on this journey to build sustainable, independent local journalism for Folkestone.

Join us today: folkestonedispatch.substack.com/subscribe

🏊🏻 Sports Centre pool: £2.4m sought to fund work needed to reopen to the public Plus: Town centre could yet be home to new medical centre, and discount retailer lodges plans for new supermarket

This week's Dispatch is out now...

Folkestone Dispatch supporting South Kent Mind Help Folkestone Dispatch raise money to support South Kent Mind

Thank you to those who have already donated to our 2026 fundraiser for our charity of the year, South Kent Mind

Could you spare a few pounds to support this important cause? Every little helps...

🤝 We reveal our charity of the year for 2026 Plus: Clean-up continues after Storm Goretti batters coast, and anger grows over plans for future of town's library

We are delighted to name South Kent Mind as our charity of the year. Find out how you can help support this great cause...

🗓️ Looking back on 2025 in Folkestone These are just some of the stories we have brought you since launching back in April

Because we've been enjoying the Christmas break and trying to avoid any exertion where possible, this week's newsletter is a look back on the year...

🎄 Wishing you a very merry Christmas Thank you to all our readers for your support in 2025!

🎄 Wishing all our readers a very merry Christmas!