seaside town

The Hotel Inspector – Series 14 Episode 4: Westward Ho! Hotel, Folkestone

Posted on by Kent Film Office

 

Image of presenter Alex Polizzi wearing a white top in a hotel smiling at the camera

Presenter Alex Polizzi ©Channel 5

 

 

Director: Tom Weston
Starring: Alex Polizzi
Production Company: Twofour (Channel 5)
Kent Locations Used: Folkestone

Alex Polizzi comes to Folkestone in her quest to improve some of Britain’s hotels and B+B’s.

The long running series is presented by hotelier Alex Polizzi (Restaurant Rescue), and in this episode, Polizzi visits Westward Ho! hotel and its owner in Folkestone to offer her sound business advice.

Scenes were filmed around Folkestone, including the Leas and seafront. Folkestone is popular as a filming location, some recent examples include David Jason’s Secret Service (2017), The Channel: The World’s Busiest Waterway (2017), and  Coast v Country (2017). As a location, Folkestone offers a seaside town with an elegant Victorian clifftop promenade, a creative quarter, gardens, a coastal park, and fishing harbour.

The Westward Ho! Hotel episode will broadcast on Channel 5 at 9pm on Tuesday 26th  June 2018.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

French Dressing (1964)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
French Dressing Poster- lady in a red bikini standing in front of a cartoon beach scene, the faces of two men float behind her. French Dressing is written over the top

French Dressing Poster © Warner-Pathé Distributors

Director: Ken Russell
Starring: James Booth, Roy Kinnear, Marisa Mell
Production Company: Associated British Picture Corporation, Kenneth Harper Production
Kent Locations Used: Herne Bay, Kings Hall, Medway Queen Paddle Steamer

French Dressing (1964) is a comedy film set in the fictional seaside town of Gormleigh-on-Sea about a deckchair attendant, Jim Stephens (James Booth) who is deputised to organise a film festival. After finally convincing French movie star pin-up Françoise Fayol (Marisa Mell) to attend, a series of unplanned mishaps threatens the festival’s success.

The directorial debut of Ken Russell (The Devils, Altered States), French Dressing stars James Booth (Zulu, Airport ’77), Roy Kinnear (Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, Watership Down) and Marisa Mell (Danger: Diabolik, Under Siege).

Herne Bay beach and beach huts with a man taking a photo behind a camera

French Dressing Screenshot on Herne Bay beach © Warner-Pathé Distributors

Herne Bay beach and promenade with two crew members walking through a row of white dummies

French Dressing Screenshot at Herne Bay © Warner-Pathé Distributors

French Dressing Screenshot © Warner-Pathé Distributors

French Dressing Screenshot at Kings Hall © Warner-Pathé Distributors

a man riding a bike and trailer down herne bay promenade, two men stand next to him whilst a women is sat on the trailer. The pier and beach can be seen behind.

French Dressing Screenshot at Herne Bay seafront © Warner-Pathé Distributors

The film was almost entirely filmed in Herne Bay which doubles as Gormleigh-on-Sea and the Kings Hall doubles as the Council Offices. The Medway Queen Paddle Steamer is used in the scenes when Jim Stephens (James Booth) and Henry Liggott (Roy Kinnear) take the boat to France.

Herne Bay is a traditional seaside town offering two miles of splendid coast including a delightful beach with colourful beach huts, bandstand and seafront gardens as well as many shops and eateries and amusement arcades. Herne Bay has been used as a film location on projects such as Boomers (2014), Big Bad World (2013) and Things I Haven’t Told You (2008).

French Dressing (1964) was released on Friday 10th April 1964 and is now available on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.