Owned by a gay couple called Lee & Tin, These guys have made a name for themselves in this establishment and the town. About 7 years ago this building was run down and dirty. They bought at auction with great prospects.
Over the years the popularity of the bar has grown substantially. Started off as 'gay friendly' only gay people went to the bar and a handful of straight people or the hotel guests. Now homosexuality is more accepted, it is mixed and very busy especially in the summer.
================================================Bar and Beer Gardens & Terrace
It has an outdoor drinking area with garden in front which greets all people from different walks of life. Pets are also too welcome in the garden and can grab a bowl whilst their owners grab a pint! The terrace part of the garden that has the entrance to the main door has an awning which is the only one of its kind in folkestone (possibly kent) which allows you to smoke outside when its rainy or windy. Further down is more garden like tables and benches, still very stylish.
The bar is designed like waves. Hence the name 'Skuba'. It definitely has a Mediterranean feel to it with tiled flooring, comfortable leather sofas and other table and chairs.
Food is served Monday to Sunday with roast on a Sunday and a variety of other choices on the menu. Dare to be adventurous? Foor is served from Midday till 3 Usually then from 6 till 9 if not kept on alll day.
Drinks are fairly reasonable. These are the prices below of what you can expect.
Beck Vier - £3.00 XXXX - £2.90 Stella Artois £3.10 Boddingtons £2.70 Murpheys
£3.00 Strongbow £2.90 London Pride - £3.20 Kopperburg - £3.20 Magners - £3.70
£4.50 for Doubles £3.40 for 50ml specials (Martini, Pimms, Baileys) £2.60 for single £3.40 for House £2.80 for bottled lager £2.80 glass of white or red. Bottles of wine vary between £11.50 & £20 Champagne £25 - £40 Cocktails vary between £4 - £8
They have disco nights on Fridays and Saturday which I do the DJing and have done so since March 2006. With a various amount of music to suit everyone's needs, i play anything from Chart, R'n'B, Dance, Remixes, Electro, House, Trance & Indie. Drag acts are held on in the Winter usually between mid-october and march on a Thursday with karaoke is on Thursdays. If they drag acts are not playing, Karaoke continues throughout the year.
Monday - Thursday, Sunday bar is open from 1130am - 0000 (last orders 2350) Friday and Saturday bar is open from 1130am - 0100 (Last orders 0050)
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Grill Restaurant
Downstairs under the bar, you have a Grill restaurant. The food in my personal opinion is Divine! Great flavours. The decor is very remarkable. The Grill rfestaurant has lots to offer and specialises in Steaks, Fish & Sepciality Burgers. Average 2person 3course meal with a bottle of wine I would say, would be about £50 Food in this restaurant is served on Fridays and Saturdays between 7pm and 10pm. It can be open others days and times for private functions too. please email them direct at French@metro.net
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The Portland Hotel
The hotel has 10 rooms.
Superior Double £70 per room Executive Double £63 per room Executive Double Single Occupancy £45 Standard Double £60 per room Standard Double Single Occupancy £40
All rooms come with a continental breakfast which is served between 730am & 930am in the restaurant.
The rooms are upto date decor with ensuite showers, double or king-size beds, TV and tea & coffee supplements. Room service is done every morning, ensuring the rooms are tidy and bed changing's with top ups of tea, coffees & bottles of waters.
Pets are not allowed in the rooms and only the superiors can fit more then 2 people. Upto 6!
Not all the rooms have a fantastic view i'm afraid due to the positioning of the hotel (windows faceing east and wes and the sea being south facing) but you have the garden and bar to view from
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Parking
Parking is a major problem for this area as it can get very busy with the lea's cliff hall opposite the hotel when there is a venue or gig playing. However there is parking that goes down along side the hotel which can be used free of charge but like I said, it gets very busy and its almost a race.
================================================What is their to do around the town?
Places to go: There is much to see and do around Folkestone; it is in the middle of a rich variety of places to visit.
Port Lympne wild Animal Park This is the brainchild of misanthrope and gambler John Aspinall, The home of the largest breeding colony of black rhino outside Africa,
Pictures of The Portland Hotel, Folkestone
Terrace & Garden
also famous for its Gorillas and the deaths of several wardens during the 70's. There is nothing more unusual than being in or around Lympne and the beautiful Kent countryside, and hearing a pride of Lions roaring into the night.
The Cliff Lifts. One of only 3 water powered Cliff lifts left in operation in the UK. The ride is pretty short and expensive at about £1 for adults and 50p for children, also the lifts make some eerie noises whilst moving up the cliff, but they will save you a huge amount of time as a pedestrian and offer great views over the sea, and weather dependent to France. It's a bit of history with Folkestone so again is a must-do!
The Leas Beautiful promenade at the top of the cliffs, sensational views in sunny weather. A definate must see and walk along.
The Leas Cliff Hall. Built into the side of a cliff only small entrances are viewable from the leas, but from the sea or the coast walk, the leas cliff hall is simply amazing. Many top quality stage, theatre and music acts appear here.
Beaches: Folkestone has only 1 sandy beach in the main harbour and is the main tourist beach. Then you have a nicer beach as you walk towards Sandgate. There is a Coastal park for kids, first one of its kinds in Europe I believe and it has huge towers and slides, zip wires and ship wrecks.
The other sandy beach can only be accessed via the warren or walking along the rocks (slippery) when the tide is out.
There is a large pebble beach that stretches for a long way to Sandgate, from Sandgate around to Dymnchurch / New Romney, are some amazing secluded huge sandy beaches. There is one bar called Mermaids, if you want to get a refreshing drink on your stroll along the seafront.
Shopping: Folkestone doesnt have the best range of shopping facilities but its also not too dire. The town centre is like any other town with Debenhams, Landau Sports, Activ, Bay, Superdrug's, Woolworths, New Look, Sports Direct, Next, Body Shop, Wilkinsons, Agros, BHS, Asda, 2 x Tesco, Iceland, 2 x Sainsburys, Lidl's and many more but not mainstream.
Or why not hop over to France if its worth it. (Eurotunnel is a great way to go to France, See my review on them!)
Night Life: Indigo - Seafront (Dance, Pop, Trance, R'n'B) Chambers - Cheriton Place (Indie, Rock, Jazz) Skuba - The Leas, Langhorne Gardens (Pop, Dance, R'n'B, House, Chart Remixes) The Party Bar (Jolsens) - Tontine Street (Cheese Pop, 70's, 80's, Dance, R'n'B) Bank Bar - House, Dance, Euphoric Bar Vasa - Seabrook (Pop, Dance, R'n'B)
Eating Out
Mexican - Conchitas & Escondido Chinese - Kalala (above Bank Bar) Oriental All You Can Eat Buffet - Oriental Buffet Noodle Bar - Zen Cafe Italian - Giovanni's & Tavernetta Grill - Skuba Pub Various - Weatherspoons, The Office, Django's
Looking for the best place to have a sunday full cooked breakfast whish is served everyday all day??
The best place to go will be Django's. £5.95 and im not joking...its Huge!!!! and absolutelu stunning!
Entertainment: The leas cliff hall offers many shows including traditional sea-side comedians, concerts, displays, etc. etc.; it would be worth checking what's on before you go there. You also have the Amphitheatre down on the lower leas coastal park where they hold plays & productions by local theatre councils.
Carnival & Charivari Folkestone Carnival is fun, great if you have a young family. I haven't been for many years so apart from saying when I was a kid I had the time of my life at the carnival, there isn't much else I can really say about it not having been to it in so long. It also used to incorporate an air show.
Summer events: All along the leas and around Folkestone in summer there are fairs, bands, events, a lot of which are free, local papers or radio should hold more information. You could also try a search on the web, but apart from a site called Folkestone Gerald (a pun on the local paper Folkestone Herald?) there was little I could find on the web about upcoming events.
Overall,
Noone under the age of 16 can stay at the hotel so unfortunately it cannot accept families, unless discrections assured by the owner due to the nature of the bar.
A Top hotel in Folkestone, Great locations, right in the heart of the must see and do's of Folkestone.
What to book a hotel room? Call 01303 251444 this is the hotels number for reservations.
www.portlandfolkestone.co.uk
Thanks for viewing, hope you come and visit!
9/10 < not 10/10 because of the parking
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Opposite the Leas Cliff Hall, beside the sea and Folkestone town centre, The Portland ... more
Hotel has a popular bar and restaurant (dinner inclusive deals). Close to Eurotunnel and the Dover Ferry Terminal.The Skuba Bar, with its sun terrace and garden overl...
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Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
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