The Fire Brigade were on the scene and finally got it under control and extinguished, and they are currently in the adjacent buildings making sure they are safe. Luckily nobody was hurt.

See our flickr set for further images.

Video of the fire below (pardon the cursing) :

Do take a look around and if you have any interesting news or information you think would work well on the site, please do send it over. Here’s looking forward to the Triennial 2011, the beach, bbq’s, swimming in the sunshine, beverages, and lots lots more.

(p.s The graphic at the top of the website will change every time you visit / change pages)

The event was organised by Adam Smith (ex Orange Street Music, Canterbury / ex Bank Bar, Folkestone) and photographer Peter Oetzmann.

We speedily marched ourselves down to the Leas Lift lower station house on both days to sample many fine liquids which were all sourced from Kent based Micro breweries. The breweries in question were Abigale Brewing Company in Ashford, Canterbrew in Canterbury and the Farriers Arms in Mersham, with the cider coming from the Kent Cider Company.

After arriving on the Friday and speaking to Adam, he said he almost had people banging on the door for the 4pm opening time, and had visitors who drove 150 miles just to be there.

The Leas Lift was running throughout both days, ferrying drinkers from the Leas above down to the good stuff below, and possibly slightly merrier the other way, when they had finished consuming.

Friday night was pretty jam packed from the time we got there around 6pm to when we left around 11pm, and Saturday wasn’t far behind, even before we arrived at around 6pm again, all the cider had gone. Just before we left on Saturday at 8.30pm a call was put out to all the drinkers that there wasn’t much ale left so they should make use of their tokens. The kegs ran dry soon thereafter.

Two interesting woman were even running out to their car which was parked outside and filling up from their own cider supply after the cider kegs ran dry inside. They were politely reminded that this was not in the spirit of the festival.

Plans are afoot for a summer Food and Beer festival with a possible small road closure around the lower station house, to allow for outside stalls, bbq’s etc and hopefully more beer!

We of course were down there armed with cameras, so please take a look through the gallery below.

Being held in the lower station house of the Leas Lift, which is accessed via the coastal park / Lower Sandgate Road, it will showcase some Kent based micro brewery ale’s and also some kentish ciders. Live six nations rugby will also be on tap to accompany the consumption of beverages.

I take it we will see you there?

Check out the official website : http://theleasliftbeerfestival.co.uk/

The aim of their two/four wheeled adventure ‘Destination Folkestone‘ was to raise money for local charity ‘The Church Street Project‘ who provide Counselling and Creative Therapies to young people in the Shepway area.

Along the way, Shane who is a patron of the charity had produced 10 paintings which were posted to his framer en route and were ready to be auctioned at the Quarterhouse arrival party.

A welcoming bunch of friends and family were at the Quarterhouse to welcome the two back, and who were also not shy in bidding on the artwork which all sold and added an extra £1000 on the running total which now stands at near £3000! If you fancy donating, head on over to their Just Giving page.

Well played dudes from the team at S&G!


Here is a short video of the arrival and some photos from the welcome party.

**WARNING** Images of men in ‘Cycling Mankini’s’ below **WARNING**

…the plane came by several more times, giving me chance to grab my camcorder, and film these images. Play Loud!

Up and running in the now closed Bank Gallery at number 46, Adam, one of the brains behind Orange Street Music Club, Canterbury, has opened up this new sister location.

The S&G team paid a visit on the opening weekend at the end of August, and was very pleased to find the locals making use of the new amenities.

Photos below :

Welcome to The Bank.


From the outside in.


The seating area by the window.


Local artists Oliver Harland and Matt Rowe deep in conversation, with Emily and Adam manning the bar.


“I’ll have an Old Peculiar please”


Adam checks on the music.

We also paid a visit to the NEW Pullmans. Article coming soon.

Not sure about its chances of survival in the long term, but it happily hopped off into the undergrowth when approached, so if it hasn’t been eaten by a fox (or ‘large’ smudged-looking ‘big cat’), is presumably still at large. We, at S&G, wish it all the best.

Due to the summer beauty we were bathed with here down in Folkestone (the most hours of sunshine for the whole of the country) we could be found, splashing around in the sea, swimming out to buoys, sunbathing down the beach hut, or a combination of those with a touch of music, nature,exploration, beverages and football thrown in for good luck.

Keep them peeled, and keep checking back for new articles!

Not much has changed on the Hevy Music Festival site today.

Today’s photos:

The main stage has had a covering attached. It looked like silver duct tape from a distance.

An even closer view of the back of the main stage. I couldn’t see the ‘third stage’ anywhere though.

This might be the ‘main entrance’ coming in off the road, but I’m not sure.

A new sign appeared on one of the trees on the perimeter of the seafront concrete plateau area. The rest of the area to the left of the compound (where the rest of the seaside funfair used to be) has been fenced / taped off.

Weather is looking kinda ok tomorrow, so hopefully we will have some sun, but there is possible rain in the afternoon.

More photos tomorrow of the event, from any possible vantage point, and maybe a zoom lens.