One place I heartily recommend for a glass of wine, and some lovely snacks to go with it, is TPS Bodega. Formerly an interiors shop, acting as the cover for the secret speakeasy bar hidden out the back, The Potting Shed is now a trendy wine bar and wine shop.

Sit in and enjoy a glass of wine from their extensive selection, along with some great gourmet deli-style food to go with it, or grab something to take away. I warn you though – if you pop in to pick up a takeaway bottle of wine, you’ll end up staying for a glass or two while you’re there. The place is so charming, you won’t be able to resist.

Last time I was there, David recommended a nice glass of Sfera Rosso, an organic, Sicilian, easy-drinking red. This went beautifully with the food he suggested – a lovely goats cheese and tapenade crostini. With the quirky decor and the classy background music, it’s a fabulous place to be.

I stayed long enough for a second glass of wine, and was tempted by this beautiful Basque cheesecake. Soooo good!

You’ll find The Potting Shed on Rendezvous Street. Just look for the bright yellow building. And while you’re there, you can book a table at TPS Speakeasy for an evening of cocktails from the prohibition era.

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Folkestone does not disappoint when it comes to places to go for breakfast, but if it’s a view you’re after, the town has a couple of absolute gems nestled up on the top of the cliffs.

Little Switzerland

This cute little spot is a caravan park and campsite café open to residents and the public. Ok, it doesn’t sound great on paper, but it has some of the most breathtaking views you’ll find in Folkestone.

Located a little out of town up on Wear Bay Road, it’s reachable by car in a few minutes or if you fancy a scenic walk, you can get there in around half an hour from the harbour.

Serving all your classic breakfast options, this traditional little café reminds me of simpler times on caravan holidays as a child, with its no-fuss, no-frills approach. It seems as though you enter a time warp when you visit Little Switzerland, but that’s part of the charm.

It even has a small bar, and it’s a fabulous spot to enjoy a cool, crisp pint of lager looking out from the clifftops over the Warren and out to sea.

My Full English Breakfast and a cup of tea was less than a tenner, so it’s one of the few places to eat in Folkestone where you don’t pay a premium for a good view.

The Clifftop Café

This popular breakfast and lunch spot is a little further afield on the clifftops of Capel-Le-Ferne, but it’s worth the trip out. It’s less than ten minutes by car or, for those who like a hike, you can get there on foot in an hour and ten minutes, and the panoramic views are unrivalled.

While you’re filling your belly with a delicious breakfast, you can look straight out over The English Channel to France, glance left to the White Cliffs and look over to the right to see the Warren Country Park and Folkestone Harbour in all it’s glory.

It’s a stunning place for a spot of breakfast or lunch on a clear day. It also has a small bar they’ve named “The Edge Bar”, serving beers, ciders, cocktails and ice-creams. Perfect on a sunny day!

Capel-Le-Ferne does have it’s own micro-climate however, so you might find yourself shrouded with sea mist if you’re unfortunate enough to visit on the wrong day.

You should also be aware that The Clifftop Café is cash only, so make sure you’re prepared before you go.

You can find The Clifftop Café on Old Dover Road in Capel-Le-Ferne.

Breakfast In Folkestone

Of course, there are lots of great places for breakfast in Folkestone if you’re not bothered about a stunning view. The Bouverie Tap in the West End comes highly recommended, along with Gourmet Kitchen for some fabulous breakfast and brunch.

In town, Django’s On The Corner is a must-visit. Or another cracker next door is The Market Square. If you fancy a good old-fashioned greasy spoon, The Hillside Café is the go-to place.

Marleys on The Old High Street is a belter for brekkie and brunch. Further down to The Harbour, Sailbox can offer you a great view over the water, the next best thing to a clifftop view.

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Neuron: Smart Wellness Made Easy

Dr. Julia Jones, a.k.a. Dr. Rock, is the author of Neuron: Smart Wellness Made Easy. The book entered the Amazon Bestseller list after she appeared on Steph McGovern’s Channel 4 show, Steph’s Packed Lunch. In the book, Julia draws attention to the shortcomings of previous diet and fitness approaches. She then details how her 12-month experiment, using only simple bio-hacking techniques, transformed her health. Julia is in her fifties, but used these techniques to return to the same weight she was in her twenties.

The first book in her Smart Wellness Health Trilogy is titled The Music Diet. In it, she explains how to use music as a bio-hack for wellness. Her latest book, F-Bomb, was released in 2022. It charts 6 million years of health evolution and simplifies the latest longevity science to show how we can live longer and healthier lives.

Julia has a deep connection to Folkestone and the surrounding areas. She first moved to Folkestone in 1993 and has been involved in various projects, including setting up the Hythe Imperial health club, which was pivotal in the hotel’s success. She also launched the Folkestone Music Town project back in 2017, leading to Folkestone being announced as the first official music town in Britain in 2019.

Neuron: A space for the community

Julia hosts regular events and educational talks at Neuron. Be sure to visit the Neuron website to sign up for the newsletter and follow Neuron on social media to keep up to date on these. Aside from this, the bar is a space for anyone to come along to hang out and relax. It has various designated areas, each relating to one or more of the Smart Wellness Wheel techniques Julia teaches in her books and courses.

Board games, books and musical instruments are dotted around the space for people to use. And there are dedicated work spaces with free WiFi and a standing desk for when you are working from home and need a change of scenery.

The bar

Neuron serves a selection of live bacteria drinks. These improve gut health by repopulating your digestive system with a diverse range of bacteria species. According to Julia, our modern lifestyle and processed food culture have wreaked havoc inside us and our gut bacteria have suffered as a result. At Neuron, you can enjoy live bacteria Kombucha in all different flavours, even CBD infused. I had a Coconut Water Kefir which was delicious. There are vegetable juices, including sauerkraut and kimchi, and things like turmeric or ginger shots to boost immunity.

Neuron is also working in partnership with local veggie restaurant Dr Legumes, to provide a range of “Smart Sushi”.

A room for smart meditation

If meditation is your thing, Neuron is where you need to go to take it up a level. Here, they use smart technology to boost the effectiveness of your meditation. You are provided with a BrainTap Headset that plays a guided meditation. The headset uses light pulses and sound to deepen your meditative state. Over time, you can train your brain to reduce stress, get better sleep and increase performance. Your heart rate variability is also monitored in real time, indicating how your nervous system is responding.

Carol, the A.I. exercise bike

At Neuron, you can even get in your workout for the day. Carol, the A.I. exercise bike is a next generation fitness machine, and it blew my mind. After entering your vitals, Carol talks you through some guided imagery as you slowly pedal, mimicking a relaxing walk through a prehistoric jungle. She has you breathe in a specific pattern to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the “rest and digest” mode.

After a few minutes, a sabre-toothed tiger is on your tail, and 20 seconds of ultra high intensity sprint cycling ensues to escape from it. This activates your “fight or flight” sympathetic nervous system, initiating a cascade of hormonal responses. It mirrors how our prehistoric ancestors used their bodies, as opposed to the more unnatural forms of exercises we have today.

The upshot of this is that after a couple of 20 second bursts, and the guided breathwork in between, you have put your body through the equivalent of a moderate intensity, 45 minute cycle. I can vouch for its effectiveness. I had to lay on the floor for an embarrassing length of time to recover.

Carol monitors your heart rate throughout, and you can see how you did on the results screen. Regulars who sign up to a Neuron Membership can use a login to track their progress over time.

Tests for gut health and biological age

If you want to know more about the state of your health, Neuron offers a test for gut health, which shows you your current gut function status. The report also gives you some simple suggestions showing how to improve and maintain it. You can also purchase a test that reveals your biological age including the age of your immune system. Test kits are available at Neuron and on the Neuron website.

Looking after your health

Whilst we at Folkestone Foodies mainly focus our attention on good food and drink in the town, there is most definitely a place for Neuron too. Anyone who wants to eat out regularly and enjoy life also needs to look after their health. It’s great to indulge now and then, but balancing it out with healthy habits can make all the difference. So having a place like Neuron on your doorstep can only be a good thing.

Interested in learning more? You can purchase Julia’s books here:

The Music Diet: The Rock & Roll Route To A Healthier, Longer Life
Neuron: Smart Wellness Made Easy
F-Bomb: Longevity Made Easy

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They have a great menu, including burritos, burrito bowls, nachos and quesadillas, along with oodles of side portions of deliciousness, such as pulled pork, coriander lime rice, refried beans and homemade guacamole. They also have a fully stocked bar and plenty of beers on tap. Perfect for a sunny afternoon on The Harbour Arm.

I decided to go for the Big Buoy Carnita Burrito. It was huge! What an absolute feast. It almost defeated me, but I just about managed it! This huge tortilla wrap was stuffed full of succulent pulled pork, refried pinto beans, lime and coriander rice, cheese, sour cream, salsa, pickled jalapeños, black olives, salad and garnish. I chose an additional salsa verde to drizzle over it too. The flavours were incredible – a real taste of Mexico in every bite, with a spicy kick that’s just right.

I washed it down with an ice cold pint of Yeastie Boys Bigmouth IPA. With beautiful views across the harbour, out to Dover and all the way to France, it’s the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon.

Follow Burrito Buoy on Instagram – @burrito_buoy

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Just thinking about one of these huge burgers can get your juices going. These are certainly not junk food however – they are a cut above your average burger, using quality bacon and beef that’s cooked to a juicy, pink perfection, one bite and you’ll be in a cheesy, meaty heaven. This Bacon Double Cheeseburger is made with two aged beef patties, applewood smoked bacon, that beautifully melted American cheese, ketchup, mustard, onions and pickles.

Expect to get messy! The cheese oozes it’s gooey gorgeousness everywhere. I ended up resembling a toddler, with cheese and sauce all over my hands and face. But it was so worth it!

And the Truffle Cheese Fries add a nice twist compared to your average portion of chips, which resulted in me wiping up the residue of salty, truffle cheese from the empty basket with my fingers. A voracious affair but without even the slightest hint of guilt!

And if you head down on a Wednesday, you can choose from one of their range of cocktails for only £5 each. 

Follow Lucky Chip on Instagram – @lucky_chip_folkestone

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We saw the queues at Lobster & Burgers (Sunray burgers) and knew we had to try some. And the food was well worth the wait.

The Lobster Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food, with a generous portion of lobster that works incredibly well with the rich cheese sauce. We added bacon to ours to make it even more of a treat. The flavours in the Mac and cheese were just gorgeous, definitely some garlic in there, some red onion and chives, as well as some crispy onion bits to give it some crunch. I’m salivating just writing about it.

We also ordered a Lobster Double Burger with Maple Bacon, and of course we added the optional mac and cheese to it for extra filth. You can’t help getting messy eating one of these, but it’s worth it. So, so good. It has two 28-day aged, locally sourced, smashed beef patties, Sunray’s own special seasoning, a generous pile of lobster meat, cheese, pickles, burnt butter and tarragon mayo all loaded on a toasted bun. Amazing!

You can find Sunray Burgers on Instagram @sunray.burgers

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