The Sandgate Hotel, Folkestone

A Victorian seafront hotel with a main bar reached by climbing steps from the outside terrace garden. There is a separate basement bar - The Waterloo Bar - but this was closed. The main bar is floorboarded, has a repro Georgian fireplace and a TV screen. There is a mix of dining and drinking tables and the stained glass windows frame a panoramic sea view. It's a great setting, the staff are lovely, the clientele are sensible and there is free wifi. It's let down by the food which is average, and the beer - there is no real ale on tap. There were, however, some bottled beers, so I had a bottle of Hobgoblin which didn't quite fill the void. It's fine as it goes, but despite the warm welcome I don't see it becoming a firm favourite when there is so much competition nearby.