A couple who packed up their life in London after falling in love with the county have launched their second business in the town they now call home.
Rob Porter and Emily Davies have taken over the The Board Room at Folkestone Harbour Arm – the largest venue at the popular tourist spot – two years after moving to the town from the capital.
They’ve given it a new name, renovated inside and refreshed the food and drinks menu, and are now buzzing to welcome customers.
They both have experience in hospitality – Mr Porter, 36, previously ran pubs for brewer Shepherd Neame in London, while Miss Davies, 33, managed venue the Old Bank of England in Fleet Street.
The couple first visited Folkestone in summer 2023 and, after just one more visit shortly afterwards, made the bold decision to leave the capital and relocate.
After two years commuting, it was in April this year that the pair founded Hatch Rotisserie Chicken at Folkestone Harbour Arm’s busy The Goods Yard, home to several food and drink vendors and an outdoor cinema.
Now, they have also taken on The Board Room, a scenic social gaming venue which originally launched in May 2024.
It is home to a beer cafe, three 18ft Canadian maple shuffleboard and four Flyby digital dartboards.
Miss Davies said: “We were living in London, with our two dogs, and came down to Folkestone for a visit.
“We’d heard about it and thought we’d come and see what it was all about. After two visits, we decided to move down here.
“We loved that a lot of Folkestone was full of quirky independents – everyone here is full of passion and is bringing their own touch.
“The Goods Yard felt like Box Park in Shoreditch, but next to the sea and a big screen, and it didn’t feel like a classic seaside town.
“Everyone we spoke to was keen to recommend a new little gem to try.
“We’re big foodies, so The Goods Yard drew us in as an incredible place with so many choices of food.
“Every visit you can find something new to do – you never get bored of it.”
The couple, who have a son called Hugo, previously told the Folkestone Dispatch how much they “liked the vibe” of the town.
Their new venture has been renamed Hugo’s at The Board Room and has been revamped with an Art Deco and mid-century modern aesthetics design.
The couple have also expanded its food and drink offering for diners and players, with a new gastro-gaming menu comprising Korean BBQ pork belly bites, jackfruit bao buns, gyoza and breaded wings.
Meanwhile, the site’s new drinks menu features a range of wines, ciders, lagers and craft beers from local Folkestone brewery Dockers, including the aptly-named Hugo Spritz.
Twenty staff are currently employed across both Hugo’s and Hatch Rotisserie Chicken, although this could increase to 30 soon.
As well as food and drink, Folkestone Harbour Arm, run by Folkestone Harbour & Seafront Development Company, is home to mini golf, a seaside sauna and a market.
General manager of the Arm, Paulo Kingston-Correia, said: “Thanks to the introduction of Hugo’s and the refurbishment works we have carried out, The Board Room is now so much more than a competitive socialising space.
“It offers a wide-ranging bar, game-play friendly food, social sharing boards, and a full dining menu.
“The Board Room is our largest venue on site, boasts some spectacular views, and we are really looking forward to working with Emily and Rob to realise the amazing potential of this one-of-a-kind venue for Folkestone Harbour Arm and our visitors.”
