The Samuel Peto (JD Wetherspoon), Folkestone

As well described below this is a grand old building but was let down by a dull beer choice with the only possible item of interest being Westerham East India Pale. As I was eating which included a drink I had the Devils Backbone IPA. The grand building is wasted on me if the beer choice is rubbish as it was here.

This former Baptist Chapel was built in 1873 and funded by a loan from Samuel Peto who was a railway contractor and entrepreneur of the Victorian era.A great deal of the original features remain including balconies,double pulpit and chandeliers.Although smallish by Wetherspoons standards an excellent job has been done on the refurbishment although the 2 one armed bandits at the bottom of the iron stairway do not do it any favours. There was the standard casks on show plus a few guest beers on my Thursday night visit and had no problem getting served but at weekends I can imagine a struggle for seats as there are not that many and most are the booth type seating. Worth a visit if you are in Folkestone even if it is just to view the interior and the painted sky ceiling.

Official site of The Samuel Peto (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com