Folkestone still has a working harbour. That matters if you like fish. What lands here in the morning can be on a plate by lunch, and it hasn’t spent a day in the back of a lorry first.
You can eat it somewhere smart with a view, or in a proper pub with a pint. This guide leans towards the pubs, because that’s what we know best. We’ve also included the one restaurant locals always mention.
On the harbour
The Harbour Inn
24–26 Harbour Street, CT20 1QN
We took on the old True Briton in 2017 and brought it back to life as The Harbour Inn. It looks straight out over the boats. The fish comes from the local day boats, so the specials change with the catch, and the chalkboard is the first thing to check when you walk in.
Since 10 October there are a few new dishes on the menu. The seafood platter is built for sharing: calamari, whitebait, Atlantic prawns, beer-battered fish goujons, wholetail scampi and mussels, with chunky chips and tartare sauce. The king prawn and mussels pappardelle comes in a cream and dill sauce. And if you want something you can pick up with your hands, the fish burger is fried haddock with lemon mayo and lettuce. You can see the full Harbour Inn menu before you go.
It’s still a pub, though. Come for a pint at the bar and stay for the fish if you’re hungry. If someone in your group wants seafood and you want to stay by the water, this is where we’d send you.
It’s also a short walk from the Harbour Arm. Spend the afternoon out on the Arm, then come back along the front for dinner when it gets chilly.
In town
The Pullman
7–9 Church Street, CT20 1SE
The Pullman isn’t a seafood place. It’s a country pub in the middle of town, with pies, steaks and a big whisky shelf. There’s still fish on the menu, though, including a proper beer-battered haddock and chips.
It’s the easy choice when half the table wants fish and the other half definitely doesn’t.
Along the beach in Sandgate
The Ship Inn
65 Sandgate High Street, CT20 3AH
Keep walking west along the beach and you reach Sandgate and The Ship Inn. There’s been an alehouse here since 1798, and it joined us in 2023. Fish dishes come out to tables by the fire, and the restaurant has a view of the sea.
It’s a good one if you’d rather have the beach than the bustle of town.
The smart option
Rocksalt sits right on the harbour and is the name most people give you for a special-occasion seafood dinner. It isn’t one of ours, but it’s well worth booking.
A few tips
Book ahead at The Harbour Inn or The Ship Inn if fish is the main event, and ask what’s on the board that day. On Sundays the roast takes over a lot of the menu, so check before you go if you’ve got your heart set on fish.
If you’re signed up to L&B Rewards, you collect points at both, the same as at all our venues.
Staying over? The London & Paris has eleven rooms looking over the harbour, so dinner at The Harbour Inn is just across the street. For a full couple of days, see our weekend in Folkestone guide. Planning a festive meal? The Harbour Inn’s Christmas menu includes a pan-roasted hake.
Ready to go? Book a table.
Quick answers
Where’s the best seafood in Folkestone?
For a pub, The Harbour Inn. If you’re heading to Sandgate, The Ship Inn. For a smarter dinner, Rocksalt.
Is there seafood near the harbour?
Yes. The Harbour Inn is on Harbour Street, and Rocksalt is on the water too.
Where can I eat seafood near the Harbour Arm?
The Harbour Inn on Harbour Street is a short walk back along the front from the Arm.
Does The Pullman do fish?
It does, including fish and chips. It’s a pub kitchen first, though, so there’s plenty for non-fish eaters too.
Fancy it? Book a table.
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