The Grand
3
– 4 Self CateringThe Grand is a magnificent building in a wonderful setting with a southerly aspect directly overlooking The Leas and the busy Channel shipping lanes to France on clear days.
The western end of Folkestone was laid out with wide boulevards, tree lined avenues and beautiful gardens; its crowning glory is The Leas, a wide cliff top grassy swathe which has been described as "the finest marine promenade in the world", and gives pedestrian access to the town centre shopping precinct and most other tourist amenities.
The Lower Leas nestles the foot of the cliffs, and in recent times has been gloriously revegetated, and as well as miles of attractive marine walks adjacent to the beaches now has one of the finest children's playgrounds, and an open air amphitheatre with regular entertainment. And if you don't fancy the ornamental Zig Zag Path, there's always the antique water balance Leas Cliff Lift.
Just beyond the eastern end is the old harbour, with its fish market and fishing boats as well as adjacent sandy beaches and fossil strewn cliff faces.
Day trips to France - particularly the Calias hypermarket and the Boulogne fishmaket and restaurants - are eternally popular, as are visits to neighbouring Canterbury Cathedral and shopping centres, Dover Castle and the tea shops in the ancient Cinque Port of Rye.
But lots of people who stay at The Grand don't bother to go anywhere. The building contains some of the most stately apartments on the south coast - genuinely fit for a king (many kings and princes have stayed with their retinues) and the fine suite of public rooms is second to none.
The Palm Court is one of the most spectacular locations on the South Coast, and is open from 7am to 9pm daily (Sunday 6pm) offering restaurant meals prepared by our renowned chefs, and a Salon de The with light bites throughout the day - afternoon tea is not to be missed. Our house pianists play on Friday evening, all day and evening on Saturday and during the day on Sunday.
Kepples bar snuggles below, and is open 11am to 11pm daily, offering real ales, bar food and a convivial atmosphere - enhanced by the open fires in winter. The Thursday night Jazz Night is a particular rendezvous.
Perhaps not surprisingly The Grand is a well patronised venue for weddings - especially the Drawing Room for ceremonies, the Tudor Room - with its ancient furniture and paintings - for receptions, the massive pillared Dining Room for banquets and the Keppels Music Room for evening entertainment. It is the base for the Folkestone Rotry Club and Folkstone Duplicate Bridge Club among others, and hosts major business shows in East Kent. The Palm Court Gallery has regular exhibitions of art and other material of interest, on the first Sunday of each month we have Kent's largest antique fair, and in November we have what has become one of the largest Literary Festivals in the South East.
Tempted? Why not find out more from our pictorial website - www.grand-uk.com
Facilities
Provider Preferences
- Celebrity connection - Edward VII & Mrs Keppel, Edward VIII & Mrs Simpson, Michael Caine, Agatha Christie.
- Film or TV location - Churchill and The Generals, Perfect Scoundrels, Darling Buds of May, Antiques Road Show, Moon & Son.
- Of historic, literary or architectural interest
- Seafront
Children & Infants
- Accept children (Minimum age) - 0
- Facilities for children - Cots available, Highchairs available
Parking & Transport
- Off site parking - Unrestricted on-road parking
- On site parking - 4 Covered, 30 Uncovered, 50 Garages
Catering
- Bar
- Restaurant
Payment Methods
- Daily rates available
- Delta accepted
- Euros accepted
- JCB accepted
- Maestro Accepted
- MasterCard accepted
- Midweek breaks
- Solo accepted
- Sterling Travellers Cheques accepted
- Visa accepted
- Weekend breaks
Establishment Features
- Garden/patio for guests' use
- Launderette
- Linen provided
- Welcome single sex groups, eg stag/hen parties
Gradings
- 3-4 Visit Britain Stars Self Catering
Road Directions
From M20 junction 13 - 1 mile
Leave at Junction 13
Follow signs to The Leas as far as second set of traffic lights where go straight on, under railway bridge
Vere to left along Shorncliffe Road
Turn right into Grimstone Avenue, signposted 'Arts Centre'
Proceed straight over all junctions until the sea is in front of you, and The Grand is on your left.
Public Transport Directions
From Folkestone Central - 1 mile
Exit station - turn right - down slope
Right again under railway bridge
Follow road to right - Castle Hill Avenue - & go straight over the three roundabouts to The Leas overlooking the sea - turn right
Proceed along The Leas and the full length of Clifton Crescent at the end of which pass between the Manor House and The Burlington
The Grand is the next building on the right overlooking The Leas with the sea on the left.
