Sunday 18th May - 3pm- The Sunday Smuggler Session #2

Back again after a really successful start last month. This time:


We have Will (guitar), Tash (violin and saw), Bill (bass and guitar)and Stew ( drums and tablas) from Cocos Lovers playing a chilled mixture of brand new tunes and old

Neil Bob Herd 
A founder member of the Alt.Bluegrass outfit The Coal Porters, NBH is also one of their principal songwriters. 
As a solo performer, he’s been called a “Scots Billy Bragg” literate, witty and barbed by turns.
Proclaiming it vocally, with guitar rich in twang & tremolo, and a wry, dry way between the songs,  he's an all-rounder with real emotional depth in his writing, plus a well-developed sense of fun.....


and last but not least filling in our otherl slot, really pleased to present Kate Wintie, a brilliant young, local song-crafter, who we are delighted to feature in this session:

Sunday 6th April at 3pm










It's going to be a great afternoon of music, some really cool artists will be performing for us.

Acting as hosts we have Will and Tash from, the simply brilliant Cocos Lovers.  "Kent folk with an African twist". In the guise of -'Song for Jack'. Should feature some 'singing saw'.

Next up, the afternoon will present Oliver James Seager (aka Kotchin) and Gabriella Damshenas. Simply a sublime folk and blues duo.

Finally we have the very exciting local band, Ab and the Underclass.

Micropub- Folkestone-Kipps

It's official, Kipps' Alehouse is now Folkestone's second Micropub.

Delighted to have received the news that Kipps' has been accepted by the Micropub Association and listed on their website as a  member of this small but growing community of establishments, bucking the national trend, and making a success of selling quality products to discerning and responsible drinkers.

Based around a clearer definition, the Micropub movement seems to be revolutionary in the way that drinkers are flooding back to these traditional style venues which are not overwhelmed with, TVs, gimmicks, 'happy hours' and chicken nuggets, but instead, provide a limited but high quality stock at a reasonable price.

The definition as it is today, is as follows:

'A Micropub is a small freehouse which listens to its customers, mainly serves cask ales, promotes conversation, shuns all forms of electronic entertainment and dabbles in traditional pub snacks'


At Kipps' it is, 'the listening' to customers that is so important to us. We like to feel that everybody that comes in to our bar is made to feel welcome and important. We want you to be sure that we are trying our best to make sure that the drinks and foods you are spending your money on, are of the best quality we can afford, and that you feel we are grateful you are in our pub. That should be what it is all about.

We are really pleased that this acknowledgement has come now, as it marks our sixth month of trading, and with that, our wish to push forward into the summer and all the challenges that holds for us.

We hope that you will keep coming in, and soon we will earn the right to be your 'local'.

Kipps’ Alehouse, at the top of the Old High Street, will open on 11^th October.  With the re-fit of the building charging ahead,  what better opportunity to tell people and, much more importantly, find out what the ale drinkers of Folkestone think, than to pay a visit to the Leas Lift Beer Festival.  This we did on Friday night and Saturday lunchtime.

https://www.facebook.com/TheLeasLiftBeerFestival

Heartfelt thanks to Peter and Adam and everyone for putting up with us (what a great place for a beer festival!), as we asked their customers what they would like from a new Folkestone venue.  We know it will be about ale – we wanted to find out what else will make Kipp’s a go-to spot.  As we went about the imbibers asking what Kipps could be about, we picked up incredibly useful views, ideas and tips that will help us shape the new Alehouse.  Ideas on the drink (and pie!) range, the style of the venue, and the music were all gratefully received – thanks to all who contributed and made us feel welcome.  Kipps’ Alehouse’s Facebook page started to kick into life over the weekend which is brilliant.

Progress on the building work is advancing and the place is really starting to take shape (getting quite excited now...).  After much vexation we have settled on the signs – take a look.

The beginning of Kipps' Alehouse

The original premises, the Totally Jazz Restaurant.

So begins the adventure - our ambition to create a venue along the lines of a 'micro-pub', but slanting toward the new 'Beer House' movement spreading from London. 

The basic principle for Kipps' Alehouse is to provide gravity poured cask real ales, a wide selection of  wine, and to provide support to small cider producers as well as stocking the old favourites.

In addition we will stock specialty beers and lagers.  The latter, a much maligned product among the general micro-pub movement, has gained such an appalling name over recent years that we thought it time to put the clock back and look both nationally and internationally for superb bottled and cask lagers.  Served in the right way, in the right glass, why should the simple lager not play a role in the revival of small specialised drinking establishments?

So why are we in Folkestone?

You've only to look around the location of the premises to grasp the massive potential in this area. The quaint back drop of the cobble stoned Old High Street within the Creative Quarter, with its art and artisans, and the gentrified and cool Folkestone Old Town area, just seemed the perfect spot. 

Then it got better, we spotted a fantastic property, which was empty, and from here continued to work very closely with the landlord, The Creative Foundation, to secure 'change of use' and to sort out the appropriate licences. 

Now the builders are in, doing just what builders do. We will look to open the doors formally on the 11th October.  In the meantime we will keep you updated on this blog and our Facebook page of how work is progressing and outline a few ideas we have.



 Kipps Alehouse Facebook