A guide to the best pubs in Folkestone

Folkestone is a good pub town. You can start on Church Street, walk down to the harbour and finish in Sandgate, and every stop feels completely different.

This is the list we’d give a friend. It includes our own pubs, and a few that aren’t ours but that we’d happily drink in.

In town

The Pullman

7–9 Church Street, CT20 1SE

The Pullman was the first L&B pub. Ben and Lucy took it over in 2014. It’s a Kent country pub that happens to sit in the middle of town, with a fire in winter and a garden full of palms in summer. Come for the pies, the steaks and a whisky shelf that takes a while to read.

Book if you’re eating. If you just want a pint, the bar is always there.

The Cat & Fiddle

13 Rendezvous Street, CT20 1EY

The Cat & Fiddle is your friendly local on the corner of the Creative Quarter. There’s live music most weeks, and it’s a good first stop on Rendezvous Street, a few doors from Luben and Panataria.

Not ours, but worth a visit

The British Lion on The Bayle is a classic, tucked up by the church. The Guildhall does an honest pint with no fuss. Kipps’ Alehouse is the place for beer lovers, with a long list of craft ales. And The Radnor Arms turns up on plenty of best-of lists for good reason.

Down at the harbour

The Harbour Inn

24–26 Harbour Street, CT20 1QN

In 2017 we took on the old True Briton and turned it into The Harbour Inn. It looks over the boats, serves fish from the local day boats and does a Sunday roast. It’s a pub first, so you’re just as welcome for a drink at the bar.

The Harbour Arm is a different thing. It’s a promenade with bars and food stalls, and it’s brilliant on a bright Saturday with friends.

Along the beach in Sandgate

The Ship Inn

65 Sandgate High Street, CT20 3AH

The Ship Inn has been an alehouse since 1798, and we’ve looked after it since 2023. There’s a fire inside, fresh fish and roasts on the menu, and an upstairs restaurant for a proper sit-down meal. It’s not in town, and that’s part of the fun, because the walk along the beach is lovely.

Which one when?

For a Sunday roast, try The Pullman, The Harbour Inn or The Ship Inn, and book ahead at weekends.

For a pint with no fuss, go to The Cat & Fiddle or The British Lion. Save The Ship Inn for when you’ve got time for Sandgate.

If food’s the main event, it’s The Pullman in town, The Harbour Inn by the water and The Ship Inn along the coast.

Honestly, the best pub depends on the day. A wet Tuesday and a sunny Saturday on the Harbour Arm call for different things, and that’s the joy of a town with this many good ones.

Want more detail? We’ve written separate guides to Sunday roasts, seafood and wood-fired pizza at Luben. Booking a work do? Our Christmas menus are up now.

You collect L&B Rewards points at all our pubs, and you can book a table at any of them.

Quick answers

How many pubs are there in Folkestone?

Too many to list. Pick an area, whether that’s town, the harbour or Sandgate, and start there.

Which Folkestone pub is best for food?

The Pullman, The Harbour Inn or The Ship Inn, depending on where you are. For a smart dinner on the water, Rocksalt.

Is The Ship Inn at Folkestone Harbour?

No, it’s in Sandgate. Our pub on the harbour is The Harbour Inn.