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This month we slowed down with Charlotte, co-founder of Verden, the natural fragrance brand for bath, body and home. Sister brand to Votary, their signature skincare range, Verden is inspired by the focal role of nature in Charlotte’s Danish background. She grew up in Denmark but now lives in Oxford. Charlotte is passionate about the power of natural fragrance to connect us with our breath and the earth. Verden literally means ‘the earth’ in Danish and the brand is inspired by Charlotte’s childhood memories of her native beaches and forests. As you would expect from the creators of Votary, Verden products are formulated with natural, plant-based ingredients that perform beautifully on the skin. Verden products are, of course, also vegan and cruelty free. The Falstaff is delighted to now include their signature D’Orangerie products in our rooms and hotel. Its aromatic blend – a bright infusion of citrus and orange blossom – promises warmer times ahead!

https://verden.world/

What brings you to Canterbury?
Visiting the cathedral. I love reading about history and the cathedral often gets a name check in books I read – so I thought it would be fun to visit.

Where did you go on your last journey?
To Denmark for Christmas. It was the first time in 30 years I’d been there for Christmas. Copenhagen was very lovely but SO dark. I think I’ll stick to my usual habit of spending my summers there, I much prefer 18 hours of daylight to 18 hours of darkness! Scandinavian summers are magical because the days are so long that you are always outdoors.

What is your preferred mode of transport?
I walk everywhere that I can. I really dislike being in a car. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a perfectly competent driver, but I just don’t enjoy sitting still.

Home or away? Why?
Don’t ask me to choose! I love travelling but I’m always delighted to be home.

Tell us about your worst journey.
It was a massively delayed train from Edinburgh to London. It took 9 hours, there was no water and the aircon was broken.

If you could travel anywhere at any time… where and when?
I would go to the Maldives in February. It’s the antithesis of the wet, cold and dark European winter.

What essentials do you always travel with to ease your journey?
Moisturiser (from Votary), hand cream (from VERDEN), noise cancelling headphones and my own pillow.

What is your favourite travel song?
“Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles.

Where is the strangest place you have slept on your travels.
I once slept on the ground in a field in Northern Thailand. I got stung by a scorpion, so I don’t think I’ll ever forget that particular night.

Who is/would be your ideal travel companion?
My daughter, she’s the most positive person I know. She loves an outdoor adventure and will happily sleep under the stars on a mountainside, but she is also an enthusiast for luxury hotels. She’s the ideal travel companion.

This month we clinked glasses with Shaun, our very own in-house mixologist, who has recently returned from his world journeys to his Kentish roots. Clearly a keen traveller, out of the many cocktails he has mixed and sampled on the road, his personal favourite would be a Paper Plane! But the new drink that has caught his eye on the Falstaff’s gangster menu is “The Departed”. If you spot him behind the bar over the festive season, pull up a stool and you can ask him why, as he pours you some liquid delight! In the meantime, read on to see what he gets up to on his travels.

What brings you to Canterbury?
I moved back to spend Christmas with my family. It will be my first Christmas off in 10 years!

Where did you go on your last journey?
I flew to Berlin with a friend for its Bar Convent, a giant industry trade event. It was my second time visiting this show and was a lovely opportunity to catch up with colleagues from all over.

What is your preferred mode of transport?
Plane if going far. Car if it’s UK based.

Describe your favourite journey.
To Tokyo. I love Japan and would love to explore the whole country. It’s always an exciting time.

Home or away? Why?
Away. I love to see new cultures and countries and go exploring new cities.

Tell us about your worst journey.
I actually don’t have one. I must be lucky, haha.

If you could travel anywhere at any time… where and when?
Ancient Rome or Feudal Japan, as long as I’m not in danger! I would love to see how it was back then.

What essentials do you always travel with to ease your journey?
AirPods and my phone. I just need my music and I’m good.

What is your favourite travel song?
I just love my playlist; I don’t have a favourite song as such. But I need music.

Where is the strangest place you have slept on your travels.
Not the strangest location, but strange reason. I had to sleep once in the lounge at Zurich airport when my plane was delayed until 11.32pm. The airport closes at 11.30pm, so they wouldn’t allow the flight to take off. Classic Swiss efficiency!

Who is/would be your ideal travel companion?
Girlfriend. Exploring with someone you care about is the best way to share memories.

Describe the best/most unusual meal you have eaten whilst travelling.
A really good steak in Zurich. Most unusual would be an Okonomiyaki (savoury pancake dish) I had in Tokyo.

Adam Chodzko is a visual multi-media artist, exhibiting internationally and living in Whitstable, Kent. Whichever medium he chooses, his art is always a form of ‘sci-fi proposition’ suggesting new forms of human relationship and new encounters between us and the world we inhabit. Weaving together documentary and fiction, his previous work has included assemblies of owners of a particular jacket, a late-night parade of nocturnal animals at the Frieze Art Fair, and the offering of ‘perception-changing footwear’ for gallery visitors to wear at Bologna’s art museum. He is currently about to launch a major project with the residents of Kent’s Isle of Sheppey, using AI to translate their nocturnal dreams into visual animations.
We were delighted to catch up with him and quiz him about his travel stories.
https://www.adamchodzko.com/

What brings you to Canterbury?

Well, right now I’m in a hurry to get to a Free Range music event at Fruitworks Coworking in the centre of town. But I may have taken a wrong turn somewhere…
Anyway, they’re usually great; nicely strange, wonderful, and experimental. You should go!
Now, I’m pretty sure I need to head down that alleyway over there!

Where did you go on your last journey?

I guess my very last journey would be my morning run? I live in Whitstable, and I run to Herne Bay and back with a slightly crazed expression to amuse the local dog walkers.

What is your preferred mode of transport?

Feet; using both of mine, in the right sequence, wearing a very comfortable pair of hiking sandals and bright white thick cotton socks.
My other preferred method is in Ghost, the beautiful 22’ long kayak I designed as a sculpture to ferry members of the public, serenely, particularly along tiny overgrown rivers.

Describe your favourite journey.

Now you’ve reminded me of Ghost it’ll probably be one of those voyages. OK, so, …at dawn, in June 2018, from Lostwithiel to Golant, along the River Fowey, Cornwall. My passenger was Sue Hill, theatre-maker, and part of the creative team at the Eden Project. There was an amazing mist that hovered over the water surface, fish jumping, birds doing odd things…it was very silent but totally magical.

Home or away? Why?

Was that an Australian TV series? Why? I have no idea! I guess a TV producer thought the world urgently needed to see it?

Tell us about your worst journey.

Oh … like everyone I have loads of those, usually involving massively delayed planes and trying to sleep at airports in the Duty-Free perfume section. Or trains that nocturnally transform into a bus rail replacement service, but it’s a bus originally scrapped in the 1970’s, with some 1970’s litter, sticky seats, 1970’s cold air, 1970’s prejudices…etc etc.

If you could travel anywhere at any time… where and when?

Japan. 12thC. In a forest on a mountainside. Being led by a small and wise monkey who knows the most interesting way.

What essentials do you always travel with to ease your journey?

32db noise cancelling earplugs and over those, closed-back headphones playing ambient drone music. I like moving fast through a landscape but only being able to hear the interior sounds of my own body. Maybe, it’s the audio-visual equivalent of wearing a spacesuit in outer space?

What is your favourite travel song?

Do you mean a song to listen to while travelling? Or a song about travelling?
The former would be Ulla Strauss – “I forgot to take a picture”
The latter would be… Ulla Strauss – “I forgot to take a picture”!

Where is the strangest place you have slept on your travels.

I can pretty much sleep anywhere but it’s not necessarily a long and enjoyable sleep if it’s in a confession box in a church, or a shopping trolley.
Actually, recently my partner, Gretchen, and I have been hammock sleeping in some of the many and amazing woods around Canterbury. It is the best thing ever. Particularly if there’s a nice lot of breezy movement in the tree canopy above you along with a fair amount of gymnastic squirrel action.

Describe the best/most unusual meal you have eaten whilst travelling.

I have a tendency to make massive ‘sink salads’ using the sink as a large salad bowl in hotels. Sometimes they can be delicious (but the plug can get in the way).
The best is probably Zaru Soba, an ice-cold soba noodle soup in a tiny café, that was basically someone’s living room, in Kannawa, Beppu, Japan, on a ridiculously hot summer’s day in 2015.

Who is/would be your ideal travel companion?

The genius character Darius, played by the genius LaKeith Stanfield, from the genius TV series, Atlanta.

To kick off our traveller stories, we have started very close to home and quizzed The Falstaff’s very own Head of Housekeeping. Having worked in hospitality since… well he’ll tell you below, James also seems to have a special interest in travel, with previous jobs including working for an airline and a ferry company! Making him the perfect candidate to be our first Canterbury Pilgrim.

What brings you to Canterbury?
I’ve always loved Canterbury. My Gran used to live nearby, in a little village called Womenswold. I started working in the same hotel as her when I was 15. I then worked in another hotel in Canterbury, in 2001. Now some 20 years later here I am, back working in this much-loved city!

Where did you go on your last journey?
London. To see Mrs Doubtfire the musical! Who doesn’t love a trip to London?!

What is your preferred mode of transport?
As I don’t drive, to be chauffeur driven everywhere would be lovely. Failing that, there’s always the train or the bus? I can’t afford a helicopter!!

Describe your favourite journey.
Getting on a plane to Gran Canaria. Or going over to see my friends who live in Dublin.

Home or away?
Why? Neighbours!! Oh? Sorry, different Home or Away!! Either. I’m not fussed! As long as I have a good time when I get there. It’s not about where you go, it’s what you do when you get there and the memories you make.

Tell us about your worst journey.
Missing my flight back from Gran Canaria – thinking I was on the same flight as friends, when in fact I wasn’t! I was tired and hungover and had to wait 7 hours in the airport for the next available flight. When I finally arrived at Gatwick, I had missed the last train home to Kent, so had to spend a further 6 hours at the train station, waiting for the first train in the morning.

If you could travel anywhere at any time… where and when?
I would love to go to Australia one day. The birthplace of my idol, the one and only princess of pop, Kylie!!! Get me on that plane tomorrow.

What essentials do you always travel with to ease your journey?
Headphones, iphone charger, a meal deal. Sometimes an alcoholic beverage, depending on what time and where I’m travelling? Easily pleased.

What is your favourite travel song?
Anything by Kylie!!! – predictable!!!

Where is the strangest place you have slept on your travels.
Not the strangest of places, but probably in a tepee. A group of us went on a canoeing trip to Gloucestershire – in January?! As well as aching from head to toe from the paddling, it was absolutely freezing!!

Who is/would be your ideal travel companion?
I usually travel with friends as I hate being on my own and am less likely to miss a flight or get lost!

Speciality Gin at The Falstaff

Wednesday 15th June | 7 pm – 10 pm

BUY YOUR TICKET HERE

We’re delighted to bring you our next Pilgrims event ‘Speciality Gin Night with JP’ in collaboration with Speciality Brands – Another one for the Gin Lovers, we will be spending the night exploring a small variety of the extensive portfolio of Speciality Drinks with one of the best and most knowledgeable guys in the field, JP.

Speciality is a supplier of premium champagnes, whiskies and other spirits working with over 1000 of the best bars across the globe. Family owned and operated business founded in 1999 they have quickly asserted themselves as the No.1 premium spirit retailer with a passion for service and introducing new produces of fine spirits to the trade.

Join us at The Falstaff on this speciality Gin Night exploring a small variety of the extensive portfolio of Speciality Drinks (paired with the best Fever Tree Tonics!) from one of the leading experts in the industry. On the evening you can expect to explore the wide world of gins through a special selection that will include:

Nikka Coffey – Named after the still in which it is made, Coffey Gin is produced by popular Japanese whisky brand Nikka. Eleven botanicals go are used, including amanatsu, yuzu and sansho pepper from Japan, alongside coriander, citrus peels and apple juice.

Drouin Le Gin – A gin for connoisseurs. Christian Drouin has taken 30 different varieties of apples and added eight botanicals, each of which has been distilled separately before blending. This results in a gin which is rounder, more complex, with even more obvious apple flavours.

Canaima Gin  – A sharp, fruity South American gin, from the Amazon rainforest, Canaima uses 10 local botanicals alongside earthy juniper berries. The botanicals include acai berries, uve de palma, copuazu and merey fruit, creating a medley of fruity, floral notes and rich, earthy undertones.

Boatyard Gin- Hailing from Northern Ireland. Made with spirit from organically grown wheat. The botanicals include juniper, coriander, lemon, angelica, orris, liquorice and grains of paradise.

Highlighting the versatile range and use of these spirits we will be serving a selection of bespoke cocktails made for the night along with knowledge about production, distillation, and methods on what makes the spirits premium.

Tickets are £25 per person (with a friendly discount for our Pilgrim’s Cardholders as usual at £20 per person).

BUY YOUR TICKET HERE
(Pilgrims discount codes should be in your email inbox or send us an email at [email protected])

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Whisky Wonderland – In association with Speciality Brands! 

 Wednesday 15th December | 7 pm – 10 pm

A tour around the whiskey world with some of the most exciting whiskies from some of the coolest distilleries. 

 We have a fantastic opportunity for whisky lovers coming up here at the Falstaff hotel this December. Join us as we wander through a wonderful winter wonderland of whiskies guaranteed to raise your spirits and warm the cockles and banish the bah humbugs so you can look forward to the best tasty tipples over the festive season. 

We’ve teamed up with speciality brands to bring you the most spirited holiday event in Canterbury this year. We will be hitting Japan, the USA, Taiwan, India, Ireland & of course Scotland for tasters and an in-depth walkthrough of some of the different styles and whiskies available as we’re surrounded by the festively decorated surroundings of the hotel. 

While we can’t guarantee the snow will swirl outside we promise to stir up daydreams of luxurious plush velvet armchairs and roaring fires and barrels of fun and laughter as we step a little closer to Christmas day. Cheers! 

Brands featured

Nikka (Japan) | Michters (USA) | Kavalan (Taiwan) | Amarut (India) | Port Askaig (Scotland) |  Drumshanbo (Ireland) 

 As usual, our bar team have put together some awesome cocktails to serve across the evening highlighting some of their favourite whiskeys from the portfolio. In addition to the melody of whiskies, we will certainly be having a little competition on the night for our guests. The Challenge will include Cocktail building most likely around the firm favourite ‘Old fashioned’ and gingerbread houses – Oh what festive fun!! 

 We will certainly be dealing with some serious whiskies on the night and as such tickets will be in high demand, this is truly a fantastic gift for the whisky lover in your life. 

 Tickets are available online now at £30 per person or (£25 for our Pilgrims). 

Tickets can be purchased online here

(Pilgrims, don’t forget to check your email for your discount code!) 

 

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Margarita Margherita Night – In association with Speciality Brands!

 

Tuesday 16th November | 7.00 pm

 “An evening of exploration and pairing of some of Mexico’s finest spirits and Italy’s finest food” 

The Margarita is quite possibly one of the most romantic drinks in history, surrounded by mystery, no one can quite be sure who or when it was invented, but what the experts do agree on is it most probably involved a beautiful woman!

Whoever the beautiful woman was and whoever created the Margarita for her, the experts agree the drink certainly evolved from a ‘Picador’ which was a British recipe that first appeared in print in the 1937 Café Royal Cocktail Book a full 16 years before the first written example of what we now know to be a Margarita, the Picador itself is a basic cocktail format known as a Daisy which dates back to somewhere in the 1800s. Originally made with gins and whisky, the Mexican inspired version used tequila and become known by its Spanish name for daisy – Margarita!

On our Margaritas themed evening, we’ll be pairing various Mexican spirits with complementing home-cooked Pizzas, whilst giving some great knowledge on the Mexican spirits category and serving some fantastic Falstaff cocktails to wash it all down.

We’ll also be wrapping the evening up with a cheeky little competition where groups will be tasked with pairing one of the fantastic spirits from the evening with their own pizza creation that our chef will cook, so be prepared to be judged hard by some professional tequila drinking, pizza eaters!

So, we invite you to come on down for our very own evening of Margaritaville at the Falstaff where each guest can expect tasters of 5 different spirits that include Tapatio Tequila, Don Fulano Tequila, Ilegal Mezcal, Derrumbes Mezcal, and La Venenosa Raicilla, 3 cocktails and half a pizza across the evening.

 Tickets are priced at the fantastic value of £25 per person or £20 per person for our Falstaff Pilgrims.

Tickets can be purchased online here
(Pilgrims, don’t forget to check your email for your discount code!)

As we’ll be serving food on the evening, we’d really appreciate an email just to make sure we are prepared to cater for anyone with any dietary requirements (we offer Vegetarian, dairy-free, and Vegan Pizzas), so if that’s you, please drop an email to [email protected].

In the meantime, we’ll be “Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville, Searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt… Salt, salt, salt”! … eating pizza and drinking tequila to make sure we get the night just perfect for you!

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Greetings Falstaffians,

Whether you’ve been isolating, working from home, home-schooling or on the front-line, we sincerely hope you’ve all been keeping well during these extraordinary times.

We’re very much looking forward to opening our doors, this Saturday, 4th July. We’ve been cleaning, training and zooming and making changes to the Hotel so that we are ready to welcome you. We’ve carried out the risk assessments, adapted our offering and put in place a number of hygiene and safety measures so that you can relax and feel completely safe during your time with us. Our staff will be issued with PPE, fully trained in health and hygiene procedures and in their responsibility both to our guests and to their colleagues.You can view our best practice protocols here.

We will be providing a convenient “breakfast in a bag” for you to enjoy in your bedroom as per government guidelines. You can enjoy a drink on our outside terrace in the sun, and if you’re staying over the weekend, we’re delighted to announce the return of our authentic Neapolitan pizza served from Friday till Sunday evenings. Why not order a take-out afternoon tea to have whilst you’re exploring the outdoors – comprising a selection of sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, and a slice of cake?

There are lots of other local restaurants and delicious street food joints to choose from for lunch or dinner. Many are open now for take-outs and they’re looking forward to welcoming seated guests again (with social-distancing and hygiene measures in place).

We’re very lucky to have so much wide open space on our doorstep and we’re thrilled to see the reopening of our shops and local businesses. The 100-acre Howletts wild animal park is home to nearly 400 animals including African elephants, western lowland gorillas, tigers, lions, leopards and much more. Enjoy a round of golf at one of the many courses within easy distance, or hire a bicycle and explore one of the picturesque and traffic-free cycle routes on our doorstep. The Great Stour Way takes in 3 miles of tranquil scenery along the banks of the River and the coastal haven of the Sandwich and Pegwell Bay Nature Reserve is under 30 minutes’ drive away.

We’d happily share some of our local ‘hidden gems’ with you. We’d love to hear how you are faring and whether you have any feedback on our newsletter, or any suggestions of other things we might do to welcome you back. Do drop us a line on [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you soon!

With best wishes
The Falstaff

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We’re delighted to bring you our next Pilgrims event in collaboration with our friends at Emporia Brands – get ready for a night of Hip-Hop based gin tasting!

Hoxton Gin is inspired by the hippest part of London and they have two wonderful gins – the original Coconut & Grapefruit and their Pink gin, Rosehip & Gunpowder.

Mayfield Gin from Sussex uses hops as one of their delightful ingredients. They also have a couple of incredible gin-based liqueurs, Elderflower & Peach, and Rhubarb & Ginger.

Join us from 7:30 on Wednesday 4th March, when we’ll be tasting our way through the ‘Hip and the Hop’ led by Spirits aficionado Gavin McGowan Madoo from Emporia Brands.

As usual our bar team will be dealing out some high grade Hip Hop inspired cocktails during the evening. There may be some prizes up for grabs and games to be played!

Tickets cost £10 per person (or £15 for 2 for our Falstaff Pilgrim Card holders) and are available from our reception team on 01227462138.

Available throughout February and March 2020, our pizza promotion will appeal whether you are local to Canterbury or staying overnight!

Come and join us between 5:00pm and 7:00pm on Thursdays to Mondays for one of our delicious Neapolitan pizzas, and get the second completely free! In addition, if you sign up for a Pilgrims card you’ll be eligible for a 10% discount on your drinks.

If you like a bit of zing, our Pepperoni hot with spicy Nduja sausage, Guindilla chillies, tomato, watercress & parmesan may be your thing. Alternatively the Truffle Mushroom with white truffle cream, wild mushrooms, pecorino, black truffle and fresh basil is delicious! You can view the menu here.

 

 

We’re thrilled to bring you our first event for 2020 – a Brandy tasting night with one of our all time favourite Cognac houses! Hine are generously sending down their ambassador for an evening of Cognac, cocktails, fun and French games.

Hine are the only official suppliers of Cognac to the British royal family and they have been knocking up Brandy since the 1760s. Although we don’t shout about it often enough, Cognac is one of our favourite spirits to mix with, so we’ll be dropping some phenomenal cocktails around the room throughout the evening to highlight the versatility of the wonderful French export.

We’ll be holding a Boules tournament (or Pétanque for those with a French flair), throughout the evening. Stay tuned for some other awesome games to be announced!

Join us on Wednesday, 29th January from 7:30pm. Tickets are £10 per person, or £15 for 2 for our Pilgrims.

Call us on 01227 462138 to book now as places are limited and will disappear quickly!

The Falstaff

Greetings Falstaffians,

We are gearing up for the fabulous Canterbury Festival – a n eclectic mix of leading music acts, theatre, comedy, talks and arts performances, which runs for the next two weeks.

With a packed programme of over 200 events, the festival kicks off on Saturday with a parade celebrating 50 years since the moon landing. Venues include Canterbury Cathedral, the Marlowe Theatre, and the centerpiece of the festival – the evocative Spiegeltent. The stellar line-up features two-time MOBO award winner Laura Mvula, Jack Savoretti, Ward Thomas, the Afro-Cuban All Stars, Jess Gillam, Paul Young’s Los Pacaminos, Le Gateau Chocolat and Jonny Woo and many, many more. Take a look at the Canterbury Festival website for remaining tickets.

If after all this excitement you need to refuel, we have brought the authentic flavours of Naples to The Falstaff with an all-new pizza menu! Our deliciously moreish thin crust pizzas are available Thursday to Monday evenings from 5pm. If you’re really ravenous, you might like to try one of our six delicious options on a half metre board!

To go alongside, our mixologist has concocted six Italian-inspired cocktails. The Pampelle Paloma is long, sharp and thirst quenching with Ocho Reposado Tequila, Pampelle Ruby Red aperitif, lime, sugar and grapefruit soda. Or how about a Rum & Raisin Espresso Martini?

Once you’ve been entertained, fed and watered, you may as well make a night of it and flop into one of our gloriously comfortable beds. Rooms at The Falstaff start at £74 for a cosy double and we still have some availability over the next couple of weeks.
Ciao for now!
The Falstaff

To celebrate this amazing summer we’ve been blessed with, we’re getting together with our friends over at Porter’s Gin (from tropical Aberdeen) to throw a tropical gin party!

Throw on your best Hawaiian shirt and join us on Wednesday 4th September from 7:00pm for tropical drinks, tropical punch, a sandcastle competition, leis, luau and laughs all round.

There will be prizes for most tropically dressed, for the best sand castle and for the winners of our tropical punch competition!  There will also be a sneak peek at one of the drinks from our new menu, featuring Porter’s Tropical Old Tom Gin.

Tickets are £10 each or 2 for £15 for our Falstaff Pilgrims.  Call our reception team on 01227462138 to book.

The Canterbury Food Festival is the biggest celebration of food, drink and culture in Kent. The popular festival is located in Canterbury’s Dane John Gardens and has over 120 local traders offering a wide range of food, drinks and crafts . You’ll be able to experience the finest street food inspired from from all over the world.  There are two stages of live music, amazing street food, festival bar, a children’s area and shopping in the Produced in Kent area.

The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2018 is the leading international competition which celebrates and promotes the very best in contemporary portrait photography from around the world.

The exhibition can be seen at the Beaney House of Art and Knowledge from the 6th July – 6th October 2019 (closed Mondays).

The competition is open to everyone – talented young photographers, gifted amateurs and established professionals – and showcases a diverse range of images and tells the often fascinating stories behind the creation of the works, from formal commissioned portraits to more spontaneous and intimate moments capturing friends and family.

The exhibition of fifty-seven works features all of the prestigious prize winners including the winner of the £15,000 first prize.

See here for further information.

A liqueur tasting, speed monopoly, artisan cheese…

As we don’t know how to hold a standard booze tasting, we decided we’d do our next one to a knock out speed monopoly contest.

Edmond Briottet are a fantastic French company that makes some incredible liqueurs. We’ll be serving some phenomenal cocktails that showcase some of our favourites throughout the night.

We also have some incredible cheese because cheese and liqueurs are awesome together!

Wednesday 7th August from 7pm

Tickets are £10 each or £15 for two for our Falstaff Pilgrims.

Call us on 01227462138 to book.

Tequila tasting with Ocho Tequila.

We are proud to bring you an evening of Tequila in on 23rd July between 7:00pm and 10:00pm.

Our favourite, traditionally made, bat friendly tequila (it means a lot) Tequila Ocho are sending us their global ambassador to teach us all about real tequila.

He will be dispelling any myths we may have picked up over time (eat the worm anybody?) and teaching us all about Mexico’s finest export.

We are incredibly lucky to pull this chap away from his hectic international schedule so we’re already working on some fantastic cocktails to serve on the evening.

Tickets are £10 per person or 2 for £15, call us on 01227462138 to book!

We’re super excited about having Chapel Down coming on Wednesday 5th of June.  They’ll be guiding us through some of their awesome wines, beers & spirits, including some very interesting new beers.

We’ll be holding two sessions on the evening (6pm & 8:30pm), so there’s plenty of space.  Tickets are £10 each or two for £15 for our Falstaff Pilgrims.

Call us on 01227462138 to book now or sign up for our Pilgrims here.

We’re hosting a Still Life Drawing Session on the 21st May with Aviation Gin and Porter’s Gin.

We’ll be giving some rough lessons on how to draw stuff whilst pouring some amazing gins and serving some banging cocktails.

To celebrate the launch of our new science-themed cocktail menu, we’re hosting a little shindig for our Falstaff Pilgrims on Wednesday, 24th April. Whilst the details are still top secret, we can tell you that our new menu will be based on the chemistry of mixology, featuring 16 mouthwatering new creations.

You will be served a cocktail on arrival, and then you’ll get to sit in on 3 demonstrations of new drinks, with tasters of each drink paired with matching cakes from our afternoon tea selection.

We’ll be holding two different sessions on the night – 6:00pm and 9:00pm. Each session will last around 90 minutes. Tickets are just £5 per person, payable in advance. There are only 30 places per session so be quick!

Afterwards, we’ll be offering our entire menu at half price for those attending the evening.

Please call our reception team on 01227 462138 to book your ticket.

The Beaney House of Art & Knowledge (a two minute walk from The Falstaff) has a dedicated exhibition showing the extensive but little-known production designs by celebrated political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe.

Scarfe had a 50-year career at the Sunday Times but is less well-known for his contribution to the performing arts, designing for productions such as The Nutcracker (English National Ballet), The Magic Flute (Los Angeles’ Opera), Disney’s Hercules and Pink Floyd’s film adaptation of The Wall.

‘Gerald Scarfe – Stage and Screen’ runs at The Beaney until Sunday 16 June and entry is free.

We’re offering an exceptionally intimate session hosted by us and our friends at Bathtub Gin where you will be guided through the art of compounding your own gin (which you can take home).

We’re delighted to have won Gold in Canterbury’s Christmas Windows Competition!

“With beautiful rooms for out of towners The Falstaff has a great bar, and while I loved their fluro-forest window, I was totally charmed by the fir garlands they had across the entrance – on closer inspections each bauble turned out to feature the name of a classic cocktail which really made me smile – so clever!”

Greetings Falstaffians,

Canterbury’s medieval streets are once again adorned with sparkling lights, and our halls are well and truly decked and looking splendid!

The Continental Christmas markets have returned to the City with dozens of colourful cabins throughout Whitefriars, selling seasonal food and drink, gifts and toys. There is nowhere more magical than Canterbury Cathedral at this time of year, and the carol services on 15th, 19th or 23rd December are guaranteed to get you into the festive spirit! Little ones will enjoy Santa’s Grotto at Howlett’s Wild Animal park, just a 15 minute drive away from The Falstaff.

Our bar is a haven of festive comfort after a hard day’s shopping in the City. We’re thrilled to introduce you to our brand new cocktail list, based on sixteen of crooner Lionel Richie’s smash singles. Try “Tender Heart” which features Beefeater 24, Briottet Rhubarb Liqueur, Cinzano Bianco Vermouth, honey syrup, Champagne acid and blood orange tea! For the non-drinkers and drivers we have some delicious mocktails.

2018 sees the continuing trend for experience gifts, and our vouchers can be used in the Bar or towards a stay in the Hotel. Our monetary vouchers come in denominations of £10 upwards. Alternatively, you can buy loved ones a cream or champagne afternoon tea, or a stay in one of our bedrooms (all stays include breakfast). Order online by 18th December and vouchers will be sent directly in time for Christmas. Alternatively, please email us or call 01227 462138 and we’d be happy to arrange this for you.

With our best wishes for Christmas and the New Year!

The Falstaff Hotel

Greetings Falstaffians!

As memories of our glorious summer fade and the nights start drawing in, Canterbury is gearing up for an exciting period leading up to the festive season!

The final countdown is on for this year’s Canterbury Festival – one of the most exciting annual events in the South East – which runs from this Saturday, 20th October to 3rd November. The city will be teeming with talent for the fortnight, with a galaxy of stars providing entertainment of all tastes, including music, dance, talks and comedy. Rooms at the Falstaff over the festival period start at just £85.00 per night for a double room and you can check our availability here.

Among the global superstars headlining the festival are The Christians, The Feeling and Sophie Ellis-Bextor (who will be performing with a full band and string section). The classical offering features the wonderful Sir Bryn Terfel and Dame Evelyn Glennie, internationally-renowned violinist Rachel Podger and pianist Melvyn Tan. Sharing the spotlight with the famous are some of Kent’s most talented young performers, many making their professional debut.

With so much to see and do, you will undoubtedly need some downtime. This can be spent in The Falstaff’s bar, sampling our new cocktail menu which is based on a favourite childhood game featuring London landmarks. We heartily recommend ‘Whitehall’ – Ocho Blanco Tequila, Briottet Peach Liqueur, Champagne acids, white sugar syrup and egg white. It almost looks too good to drink (almost). Alternatively, you may opt for a full afternoon tea relaxing in our comfortable lounge – in the words of one of our Instagram followers, “Is there any greater pleasure?”

Looking further towards Christmas, we still have some availability for Christmas Parties (please contact us for details) and the annual pantomime returns to the Marlowe Theatre on Friday 23rd November. Cinderella features a host of household names and tickets can be booked directly from the Marlowe.

We hope to see you in Canterbury soon!

With very best wishes,
The Falstaff

Greetings Falstaffians!

East Kent is basking in gastronomical greatness this month! This weekend marks a double-bill of deliciousness with the Whitstable Oyster Festival and Canterbury’s Kent Beer Festival.

The famous Whitstable Oyster Festival runs this Saturday and Sunday (July 21-22) and will see the town come alive with briny fun. Why not pop along to watch the ceremonial landing of the oysters, marvel at the competitors in the oyster-eating competition, sample the delights at the Tankerton Food Fair or catch the magical sight of glowing grotters (domes of oyster shells) at twilight. There is lots more on offer during this family-friendly event and it is well worth a visit. Click here for more information.

If you need something to quench your thirst after all that sunshine and salty sea air, then what better than a trip to the Kent Beer Festival? Running this Thursday to Saturday (July 19-21), the festival will feature a range of ales and ciders from local breweries (including Canterbury Ales and Old Dairy), top-notch jazz and pop music acts and a range of delicious food (from curry to crêpes), all at the Canterbury Rugby Club. Click here for more.

Meanwhile, we can highly recommend a visit to The Goods Shed, the fabulous farmers’ market, food hall and restaurant in Canterbury. Founded by farmer’s daughter Susanna Sait, it is a rustic and beautiful venue fit to burst with colourful and fresh produce.

Keep enjoying these soaring temperatures!

Until next month

The Falstaff

Summer is finally here and the cobbled streets of Canterbury are buzzing. As the mercury soars, the events calendar is also hotting up and there is no better time to visit our enchanting cathedral city. Read on for our pick of the best things to do in Canterbury over the next few weeks…

Master illusionist Derren Brown is bringing his mind-bending marvellousness and transfixing trickery to Canterbury! Fresh from the West End, Derren Brown: Underground is coming to The Marlowe between June 26th-30th. Tickets are still available here. Prepare to be baffled. Oh, and heckling not advised!

The St Edmund’s Festival kicks off on June 27th with a world-class concert featuring violinist Tamsin Little, OBE, and celebrated pianist Martin Roscoe. The event, at the school’s Francis Musgrave Performing Arts Centre, promises to be a real treat, with music from Ravel, Brahms and Beethoven. Tickets are still available here. The festival runs until July 3rd and other highlights will include a star turn from award-winning saxophonists John Harle and Jess Gillam and workshops with ceramicist and star of BBC Two’s The Great Pottery Showdown Keith Brymer Jones. Don’t miss it!

And finally, Elgar’s The Dream Of Gerontius will be brought to magical life by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Canterbury Choral society in Canterbury Cathedral on June 23rd, alongside mezzo Kathryn Rudge, tenor Andrew Staples and bass Edward Grint. Gerontius is considered to be his best work by many (including Elgar himself!), so why not book tickets and judge for yourself?

Until next month.
Best wishes
The Falstaff

This father’s day why not indulge Dad in one of our world whisky flights?

With two packages to chose from he can sample some fantastic Scotch, American and Japanese whiskies, complete with tasting notes.

Option 1 – £9.95
Monkey Shoulder, blended Scotch whisky.
Evan Williams, extra aged bourbon.
Hibiki Harmony, Japanese blended whisky.

Option 2 – £19.95
Chivas Regal, 18 year blended Scotch whisky.
Hudson Four Grain small batch American whiskey.
Hakushu 12 year single malt Japanese whisky.

Stocks are limited so booking is required.
You can call our reception team on 01227462138

If you are planning your Christmas celebrations, The Falstaff in Canterbury will take care of every detail. Located within a stone’s throw of the Westgate Towers and just a 3 minute walk from Canterbury West Railway Station, the Falstaff is the perfect venue for your Christmas Party.

Our stunning, refurbished bar and lounge offers the perfect environment for your festivities and our expert mixologist, John, will be on hand to shake up some liquid merriment!

Christmas parties
We can accommodate from 10 to 45 guests in either of our function rooms for lunch or dinner.

Festive afternoon tea
Relax in our lounge or restaurant and indulge in a glass of Champagne, an assortment of finger sandwiches accompanied by freshly baked warm scones, clotted cream and local preserves, mince pies and a selection of cake and freshly brewed loose leaf tea.

Please download our brochure or email us for availability.

The Falstaff Hotel presents a “3-Way Gin-Off” in our Cocktail Bar on Wednesday 26th July.  Between 7:00 and 9:30pm

Tickets are £15 per person, or two for £20 for Falstaff card holders.
Includes three cocktails and three straight tasters.  Call 01227 462138 for tickets and further details.

Dear Falstaffians,

There are a lot of exciting things happening in Canterbury this December. Come take a magic carpet ride to the Far East with our hilarious, fun-packed family pantomime, Aladdin in Marlowe Theatre or visit Canterbury Christmas Market for some Christmas shopping.

Grab yourself an amazing deal and stay at the Falstaff at only £69.00 in a double room, including our hearty full English breakfast (offer is valid throughout December, excluding Fridays, Saturdays and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The offer can only be booked online via our online reservations link and is non-refundable and non-commissionable).

Be fast, because reservations have just opened as of today – Friday 17th October – and for one week only.

Hope to see you at the Falstaff soon.

The Falstaff Team
Best Wishes
The Falstaff in Canterbury

Dear Falstaffians

We hope you’ve had a wonderful summer! We’ve had a busy few months here in Canterbury culminating in the Canterbury Food & Drink festival over the last weekend of September. The three-day event, which takes place in the nearby Dane John Gardens, marks the change of seasons and celebrates all that is Kentish with 150 mouth-watering produce stalls lining the ancient city walls, as well as music, street entertainment and family workshops. If you missed it this time make sure you catch it next year!

As the nights start drawing in there is still plenty to look forward to … Canterbury Arts Festival, the largest festival of Arts and Culture in the region, kicks off on 18th October for a fortnight. With over 200 free and ticketed events including music, theatre and dance, comedy, science, exhibitions and walks and talks the festival is one of the most important events in the South-East. There’s a concert by the Russian State Philharmonic Orchestra, a play starring Simon Callow as ‘The Man Jesus’ (both at the Marlowe Theatre) and the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize (at the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge) to name but a few of the exciting events. Please click here to view the full programme or to book tickets. Rooms at the Falstaff over the festival period start at just £79.00 per night for a double room.

Planning further ahead, if you’re looking at festivities around Christmas, the annual pantomime returns to the Marlowe on 28th November. Aladdin features an all-star cast, including Scott Maslen (EastEnders) as Abanazar, Cbeebies’ Mister Maker Phil Gallagher (Wishee Washee), everyone’s favourite dame Ben Roddy (Widow Twankey). Tickets can be booked by following this link. The Falstaff is open throughout the Christmas period.

Finally, we’re pleased to say that we have recently joined Instagram – we’d be delighted to see any photos you have taken of the hotel or the local area. If you haven’t already joined us on Facebook or Twitter please click on the links to follow us, we’re always happy to hear from you!

We hope to see you in Canterbury soon.

With very best wishes,
The Team at The Falstaff.

We hope you have been enjoying the glorious sunshine of recent weeks. Here at The Falstaff we are excitedly looking forward to all the summer has in store in and around Canterbury…

Oyster-lovers are in for a treat as the famous Oyster festival at Whitstable (just a 20-minute drive away) kicks off on 26th July for a week. A colourful celebration of food and drink, music, parades, competitions and barbeques, there are over 70 events devoted to the tasty crustacean. Highlights include a Venetian carnival, seaside cinema screenings, an oyster-eating competition and a firework finale.

This year sees the 40th anniversary of the Kent Beer Festival from 17th-19th July at Merton Farm, just outside Canterbury. Alongside entertainment (there are different bands playing every day and a groovy 1970s event on the Friday evening) there will be 40 ciders, 40 foreign beers and 40 favourite festival beers to choose from plus the usual selection of superb Kent beers.

If you fancy something a little more sedate, why not book a River Tour along the Stour? Departing from the bridge next to Old Weavers Restaurant (just a short walk from the Falstaff), you can enjoy a unique vantage point of some of Canterbury’s most stunning and important architecture.

Over at the Marlowe Theatre a couple of musical classics return for the summer – Cats is currently showing (until 28th June) and on 17th July, West Side Story arrives direct from a sell-out season at London’s Sadler’s Wells. See the Marlowe’s full programme here.

Here at the hotel we have been busy revamping our rooms ready for the summer months. All rooms now have the most comfortable Sleepezee Hotel Supreme beds (with royal approval no less) so you can sink into bed and enjoy a great night’s sleep after a busy day’s sightseeing! Please see our website for our different room types or give us a call on 01227 462138.

With very best wishes,
The Team at The Falstaff.

Dear Falstaffians

After the wettest winter for 250 years, we are delighted to see a little sunshine and the promise of spring around the corner!

There is plenty going on in Canterbury in March and April and from our location just outside the city walls next to the Westgate Tower we are within easy distance of everything this enchanting and historic City has to offer.

If, after months of rain, you fancy getting outdoors, there are numerous nature reserves, country parks and gardens to explore. Westgate gardens, right next to the hotel, is 11 acres of public gardens which, in a couple of weeks, will be a carpet of spring bulbs – perfect for a gentle stroll along the River Stour. Goodnestone Park Gardens – a little further afield in Wingham – is considered to be one of the best gardens in the South East.

The state-of-the-art Marlowe Theatre is a stone’s throw away from the Hotel and offers an exciting programme of events which includes ballet, comedy, opera and children’s productions. March sees The Russian State Ballet of Siberia’s ‘Giselle’ and Mozart’s ‘The Magic Flute’ to name but two. There are many good restaurants to choose from to enjoy a pre-performance dinner. Our Front of House team will happily give you some recommendations. Meander back through the lanes at the end of the evening and join us for a nightcap in the bar before retiring to your room.

We are just 60 minutes from central London via the high speed rail link and a short walk away from Canterbury West station. If you are coming by car we are one of the few City centre hotels with a free car park within the grounds.

If you are tempted to take a little break in Canterbury, our rooms start at only £60 for a single or £79 for a double, on special web early bird rates. Even our four poster beds are at £119, making the Falstaff great value for money. Please see our website for special rates throughout the year.

We very much hope to see you in Canterbury this Spring!

With very best wishes
The Team at The Falstaff in Canterbury

Dear Falstaffians,

Welcome to The Falstaff’s latest newsletter. It’s been a busy week here in the city, as yesterday the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was enthroned in the cathedral. We weren’t invited to the ceremony itself, but were able to catch the odd snippet from the hotel!

If you are planning on staying at The Falstaff this spring, our latest tip for an unusual place to visit is Reculver Country Park just a short drive from the town – a special protection area for wildlife along an undeveloped stretch of Kent coast. At the heart of the park sits the beautiful Reculver Towers, a 12th century monument which once comprised part of a church – the remains of a Roman ‘Saxon Shore’ fort and a Saxon monastery are also on the site. It is a lovely place to go for a walk; very evocative and peaceful.

Should you be more a fan of some vroom vroom, this Mayday bank holiday car lovers will descend upon the Merton Vintage Show – this is the biggest event of its kind in Kent, and with a serious collection of over 600 vehicles from yester-year. The beer tent and food stalls will be a welcome distraction if you plan to visit with family members who aren’t such fans of the subject matter! More on the the event website.

For your next trip to Canterbury, take a look at our availability directly online. We now have special rates for group bookings of five bedrooms or more – you may not be planning a pilgrimage in the original meaning of the word, but for family outings, Easter breaks or reunions we do have good offers for large parties.

Wishing you a very happy Easter Weekend, and hopefully see you in Canterbury soon!

Best Wishes
The Falstaff in Canterbury

Dear Falstaffians,

Here at the hotel, we are licking our lips in anticipation, as one of the county’s best food festivals arrives in just a few weeks.

If you are a lover of crustaceans or food in general, you simply must make a trip down to Whitstable for its oyster-fest, running in the first week of the school summer holidays (21st-27th July). Lots of events are going on, but the biggie will be the Food Epicentre, when the harbour will host 60 small food suppliers for tastings and street food.

And if you come on the 21st, you can also hop down (yes, a dreadful pun) to the Kent Beer Festival from CAMRA, at which a whopping 120 beers and ciders will be available, alongside entertainment in the form of archery, string quartets, jive dancing and even a ‘pintathlon’ competition: sounds dangerous.

We are also charmed by Cherry Day, which is being hosted at the beautiful Mount Ephraim Gardens near Faversham on Sunday 1st July. We’re hoping to go along to their trailer tours of the orchards, and to sample some of the family’s cherry-based recipes in the tea room. It’s well worth investigating the garden’s other events; this summer there will be outdoor productions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Importance of Being Earnest.

If you need a liedown after all that imbibing, then one of our comfortable bedrooms rooms should suit, with rates starting at only £60 per night for a single or £100 for a double. Have a look at the room types online, and do drop a line to reception if you’d like to explore dates and to make a booking. Summer is very busy so be quick if you want to come in the holidays!

With Very Best Wishes,

The Team at The Falstaff

Dear Falstaffians,

A big hello from us at the start of the spring, as we look forward to a fantastic few months of events, festivals and exhibitions in and around Canterbury. We’d love to share a few things that have come to our attention in March and April….

Kent is home to some of the most beautiful and ancient woodland in the country. Our favourite has to be The Blean, which covers eleven square miles and has over 120 miles of footpath for you to get lost in (don’t forget to do a breadcrumb trail). Spring is our favourite time of year here, when the bluebells come out in force and carpet the forest floor in a riot of colour. After a stomping walk, there are lots of country pubs in the villages around Blean for a Sunday Roast.  We’d recommend The Dove at Dargate which is particularly good for food and local ales.

Even wilder is a fantastic Easter activity on Tueday 10th April hosted by the Wildwood Trust, called Back to the Stone Age. Should you have little ones who have had enough of easter egg hunts (unlikely we know, but…), they can get stuck into learning stone age skills in the woods, followed in the afternoon by making beads, amulets and leather pouches. Wildwood run lots of other events if you can’t make this one, including Junior Zoo Keeper Days and night time moonlit tours. While there, you can also see wolves, bison, foxes, lynx and badgers. Rest assured, these animals are NOT wandering around the woods but are in captivity. An encounter with a wild boar would be taking Stone Age customs too far. At just five miles from The Falstaff, this makes an excellent country day trip.

If you’ve been to Canterbury before, and have never stumbled on a place called The Goods Shed, then next time you come, you are in for a treat. We are slightly obsessed with this foodhall-come-restaurant which, while on the pricey end, is well worth it if you want to pick up some extra-special foody presents. At the daily indoor market, you can buy from local purveyors including the Cheesemakers of Canterbury (pictured) and experimental brews from The Bottle Shop, and then flop down with your shopping for lunch in the restaurant. The Goods Shed is often in the national press ( no surprise – it is a truly magical place) and, hooray, it is jus a short walk down the road from The Falstaff.

If you are tempted to take a little break in Canterbury, whether your thing is the stone age or slap-up lunches, our rooms start at only £59 for a single or £79 for a double, on special web early bird rates. Even our top rooms with four poster beds are at £119, making the Falstaff a very good value option when staying in Kent. You can check out rates and plan your break on our website.

With Very Best Wishes,

The Team at The Falstaff

Hello and welcome to the first newsletter from The Falstaff Hotel in Canterbury. Just as our Shakesperean namesake, the ribald Sir John, sat at the centre of town life and news, so we hope to take up the mantle by sharing interesting goings on around Canterbury and Kent (maybe while drinking a little less sherry than he was partial to)….

“O Oysters,’ said the Carpenter,
You’ve had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?’
But answer came there none –
And this was scarcely odd, because
They’d eaten every one.”

– Lewis Carroll

Yes, oyster-lovers, you are in for a treat. Between today and 30th July,nearby Whitstable kicks-off its annual festival devoted to this tasty crustacean. The event is now so famed that visitors can partake in anything from Champagne masterclasses to food fairs, cupcake-making, barge races, fishing, real ale tastings, performances and a plethora more. At its heart, of course, are the oysters. So famed 2000 years ago that the Romans took them back to their emperor, they are one of the great gastronomic treats, and if you are prepared to go all out, some serious tasting opportunities are on offer. Find out more about the festival here.
The wonderful Garden Opera Company, a troupe of traveling players whotake over gardens nationwide throughout the summer, are arriving at the beautiful Goodnestone Gardens near Canterbury on Saturday 20th August for a double-bill of linked comic operas: Mozart’s Impresario and Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci. Garden Opera say: “A story about what might lie behind the clown’s smile and a tour de force of love, jealousy and disaster that will thrill audiences in a total theatrical experience.” The grounds opens 4pm ready for a 6.30pm performance so bring a picnic and a bottle of something chilled, ready to enjoy this magical production.

And a heads-up that if you are planning a trip to Kent, The Falstaff runs an early bird offer for those who are organised! Book at least 14 days ahead of your stay, and you receive a 10% discount on room rates. Take a look at the offer and room types here.

Wishing you a lovely summer,

The Falstaff Team