From the https://www.kentlive.news By Sean Doherty, 29 May 2018.

First look inside The Radnor Arms after a complete transformation of Folkestone's former Frenchman pub.

'The Radnor Arms is still very much a public house but it’s a modern public house'

The owner of Folkestone’s newest pub The Radnor Arms has laid out his vision for the “modern public house”.

Following a complete redesign, the Radnor Arms opened last Tuesday (May 22) and had “very positive” feedback from customers during the busy bank holiday weekend.

The pub is located in Christ Church Road, near to Bouverie Road West, on the former site of The Frenchman.

The building has a storeyed history, with pubs existing there for more than 160 years, and while its owner John Rogers said he is acknowledging its past, he also wants to make clear that the pub marks a clear departure from what came before.

“I think it’s fair to say The Frenchman had a little bit of a chequered history in the recent past,” he said.

“The Radnor Arms is still very much a public house but it’s a modern public house; it has moved with the times.

“You can sit where you like whether you are eating or drinking.

“I would say that it is dedicated to the community it serves and today also has diversified its appeal.

Owner of The Radnor Arms John Rogers spoke about wanting the pub to be accessible to "a broad church of people" Surrounded by local people'

“We want to be embraced by the local community.

“If I go somewhere, I want to go somewhere where I am surrounded by local people.

“That’s how I want The Radnor Arms to feel.”

The sense of community and locality is weaved into the pub’s décor, with historical photographs shot in the town lining the walls.

As well as a courtyard garden at the rear of the pub, there are spaces available for private dining and exhibition facilities for local artists upstairs.

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While the venue is modern in many aspects, Mr Rogers insists it adheres to what he feels are ‘the values of a public house’, chief of which is accessibility to the local community.

He said: “I want a broad church of people, many of whom these days look to their pub for both great food and drink in the company of like-minded people.”

The centrality of the bar is one of the key elements Mr Rogers identifies in the pub.

He said: “We like the bar to be at the centre of the business so it feels it has that energy rather than have the bar in one area, the restaurant in another.

“It’s important to have the bar at the centre of the business and people feel part of it, though of course there are lots of smaller areas away from it if you want somewhere quieter, more intimate.”

The pub is one of four Ramblinns establishments, the others being The "Five Bells Inn" in Brabourne, near Ashford, The "Woolpack Inn" in Warehorne, Ashford and the "Globe Inn" in Rye.

Like those venues, Mr Rogers said The Radnor Arms has a wide-range of local beers that customers are unlikely to find elsewhere.

With an open kitchen led by head chef Wentzel Coetzer, the pub serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, with food sourced as locally as its drinks.

Mr Rogers said: “We can trace any herd, we know exactly where our produce comes from and it’s all fresh. There’s nothing frozen in this business.”

The Radnor Arms is open every day from 8am-10pm.