Folkestone Community Pub Reopens Following Transformational £208,695 Refurbishment

Popular community pub the Valiant Sailor on New Dover Road in Folkestone will officially reopen on Sunday 24th May following a phenomenal combined investment of £208,695 from experienced licensee Mark Smith and Admiral Taverns, the UK's leading community pub company.

This refurbishment will breathe a new lease of life into the Valiant Sailor to elevate and modernise the overall look and feel of the pub, whilst still retaining its original characterful features and classic nautical theme, ultimately enabling the licensee to further cement it as the go-to community hub for local residents.

Internally, the pub has been updated to include brand new flooring, refreshed decor, new dart boards, and a redesigned bar area which will elevate the pub's atmosphere and further expand its offering to ensure it is welcoming for everyone.

Externally, the Valiant Sailor has received a fresh coat of paint and new windows. In addition, the pub boasts an upgraded beer garden, which has made the space more suitable for outdoor dining.

Passionate licensee, Mark Smith brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the pub having worked in the hospitality industry since he was a teenager and having also obtained a degree in event management from Bournemouth University. Mark has been steering the ship at the Valiant Sailor for over six months and in this time has cemented the pub as a destination for great food and community building. Going forward, Mark is committed to continue making the pub a family friendly hub that brings people together and supports all aspects of community life.

Mark Smith, licensee at the Valiant Sailor, commented: "It has been an amazing journey so far, watching my vision come to life and I'm grateful for Admiral's guidance in achieving this. The support from the local community has also been incredible and I can't wait to welcome them back through the doors. I would like to extend a huge thank you to my whole team at the pub and everyone at Admiral Taverns for their support. I look forward to serving up delicious food and good times here for many years to come."

To celebrate the reopening, The Valiant Sailor will be hosting a party to welcome the community back to the pub on Saturday the 30th of May. This will be a whole day celebration with the Mayor of Folkestone, Cllr Jackie Meade officially opening the pub, followed by great food and live music.

Going forward, Mark will be hosting a busy schedule of regular entertainment for the community to enjoy including bingo, darts competitions, quiz nights and paint and sip nights. In addition, as part of his mission to give back, he will continue to support the local community, by hosting fundraising events in aid of local good causes.

Following the refurbishment, the pub will host an impressive range of drinks including an extensive portfolio of cask ales, premium draught lagers and ciders such as Orchard Pig Cider, Brixton Pale Ale, San Miguel, Moretti, Cruzcampo, Guinness. To ensure there is something for everyone, the pub will also offer a range of Summer spritzes including Aperol spritz, elderflower spritz and Pimms.

As part of the renovation, The Valiant Sailor has also updated its food menu. The pub is extending its menu to include brunch items which will be served daily from 10am, which will include a selection of hot and cold options including granola bowls, sandwiches and traditional English breakfasts. The daily menu will also include pastas, salads, meat and fish dishes and seasonal specials. Every week the pub will also be serving Sunday roasts with all the trimmings.

Paul Gornall, Business Development Manager at Admiral Taverns, added: "It's fantastic to see the Valiant Sailor's transformation completed, alongside the launch of a great new menu. I look forward to seeing Mark and his team thrive for many years to come. On behalf of everyone at Admiral Taverns we wish Mark and his team the very best of luck for the future."

The pub is owned by Admiral Taverns, the UK's leading community pub company with c. 1,350 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales.

Notes to Editors

Admiral Taverns ("Admiral") is the UK's number one community pub group. Headquartered in Chester; the Group operates a national estate of c. 1,350 predominantly wet-led community pubs. Admiral's unique operational approach has earnt industry recognition with the Group winning Best Community Pub Operator at the 2024 Publican Awards, whilst also being shortlisted for Best Partnership Pub Company (501+ Sites). In 2019, 2016 and 2013, Admiral Taverns won Best Leased and Tenanted Pub Company at the Publican Awards and ranked highly commended as Best Community Pub Operator in 2017. The Group has also been consistently highly rated by licensees in the industry's independent annual Tenant Track survey, exceeding the scores of all its national peers.

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