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Docker Brewery to open new taproom in Sandgate high street eight months after leaving Folkestone Harbour Arm

14:00, 25 June 2023

A taproom which closed eight months ago is set to reopen in a new location.

The team from Docker Brewery are taking over the former Inn Doors in Sandgate high street and hope to open in just two weeks time.

Docker Taproom is opening in Sandgate high street. Picture: Docker Taproom/Instagram
Docker Taproom is opening in Sandgate high street. Picture: Docker Taproom/Instagram

Lack of footfall forced the closure of Docker’s bakery and brewery on Folkestone’s Harbour Arm with the company leaving the site for good in September.

But bosses snapped up the new location when it was up for rent saying it holds a lot of opportunity.

Pete Nelson, who owns the company alongside Wes Burden and Patrick Butler, said: “We have just signed the lease and got the keys.

“We want to change it from a traditional micropub to a brewery and taproom so we can showcase the beers we have in our range.

Pete Nelson from Docker. Picture: Paul Amos
Pete Nelson from Docker. Picture: Paul Amos

“This place came up for rent and it was what we considered to be a really good location.

“It has people who are on the beach coming to drink, and people on the high street.

“It has a bit more of a year round offering and it’s not entirely weather dependent like the harbour so it has more opportunity.

“It’s in quite good condition already, we just need to make our mark.”

The Docker bakery and beer taproom closed its site at Folkestone Harbour Arm last year. Picture: Docker
The Docker bakery and beer taproom closed its site at Folkestone Harbour Arm last year. Picture: Docker

It’s hoped the new location will be able to stock a larger offering than the former site with 10 craft beers on tap.

There will also be ciders and spirits from distilleries across Kent.

Docker also supplies fresh sourdough to its wholesale customers, inlcuding restaurants, cafes and pubs.

But the bread will not be available at the Sandgate taproom.

Mr Nelson explained: “We won’t have the bread because it won’t be open in the morning.

“It's going to be a place to go out drinking in the afternoon and evening.

“There is a kitchen, so there is always the chance we may do something with our bread, but we're not sure what that will be yet.

It had been based at Folkestone Harbour Arm since 2016. Picture: Alan Langley
It had been based at Folkestone Harbour Arm since 2016. Picture: Alan Langley

“What we will most likely do is get people to do pop up food offerings to start with.”

Docker, which brews a range of beers, became a fixture on the Folkestone Harbour Arm in 2016 but left the site last year to focus on the wholesale side of the business.

Its products are stocked at shops across Kent and served in pubs and restaurants in the county.

The taproom will be open Wednesdays to Sundays.

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