Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
roger,sampire hoe is open all year round subject to certain wheather conditions h/s of cource.car parking reasonable a quid all day last time i went down there.there is allso a refreashment kiosk there,teas/coffees etc,open sunrise to dusk.with a nice stroll,fishing bird watching etc.

howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
samphire is a bit of a hidden treasure, not that well advertised and difficult to get to without personal transport.
stacked full of wildlife all trying to gain fame by being potographed by phil.
"in dover you can confidently forecast that when big events are on and their are extra people in town, the usual eating places will be closed." (Howard)
This is scandalously true, and although I know we have no control over someone elses business, surely local reps and commercial bods can have a quiet word!!?? Those that do open do benefit, and if more were open,with more competitin, Dover would benefit.
PS - Samphire Hoe is truly lovely and worth the detour. Worth getting a dog to justify the walk up there!!!

I fully agree Bern, Samphire Hoe is an oasis of pleasure, probably the most relaxing place in our environs.
The coffee shop is not open to dusk, that applies to Samphire Hoe itself. When it was closed it was still broad daylight and only about 15.45hrs.
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I think the coffee shop is run by the Angling Club by volunteers.
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
I was told that as an individual (which I was a couple of years ago - still am really) no one would give me any input or co-operation and as an individual, no one would take any notice of it when completed.
I have no idea Howard if Mr. Pennington has any regrets about not wishing to come on board with any tourism initiatives I worked on.
I doubt if WCCTA have any regrets either on not supporting any tourism initiatives I had created over a number of years, including creating Dover as a destination with Group Travel, or my Passport to Leisure scheme - both worked out and costed.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
thanks for info roger, is there any way that the coach companies that use de braddelei wharf be lured into town?
on some days there can be 2 coaches parked up at any one time with visitors.
at present they just go on to the beach near the western end, take a few snaps, do a bit of shopping then use the cafe in there.
It is often repeated that the coaches that visit the castle go away when the visit is over. The linking of the Town and castle doesn't seem to be to difficult as there has for a long time been spare land at russel street where coaches could park so that they disgorge and load there and visitors can walk or be minibussed UP to the Castle. OK its a little further but once they get down they could be invited to spend time in the town.
DDC own the car park at the top of the hill so its they that are encouraging visitors to pass us by.... just shut it!
D
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
David,most of your imputs on the forum are good but that last one was not one of them, sorry but thats the way I read it.
I attnded a couple of WCCTA meetings and thought them a complete waste of time. Great for those who like to talk rather than do, and drink nice tea and coffee whilst chatting.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
The drivers won't do that on their own, it has to be agreed with the coach company - that they will bring their passengers down to say the Market Square with a Discover Dover lealfet in their hand, they can then see the gift and clothes shops as well as the cafes, pubs and restaurants.
The coach could then go and park in the Maison Dieu coach park and return in a given time.
They could also visit the Roman Painted House and/or the Museum, with the Bronze-Age Boat Gallery and stroll up to the Town Hall.
Some one needs to take a note of the coach companies and their contact details and they could then be contacted.
I understood that the coach park by the Castle was owned by EH, but administered by DDC, I'll check that though.
Roger
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
I won`t mention the building`s behind, but doesn`t the subway look uninviting, with lack of imagination in making it more appealing? TOWN CENTRE, on the signpost, is that it? The shipping murals look okay, but it`s so dark and dismal in there, and though I feel it`s safe, to the visitor, it could be off putting to venture through there and up the town. Another shot I took a couple of hours ago, was of the seagull`s which were swarming round the top of Chapter Eight for some reason. Missed the main lot, but on downloading this second picture, I thought the row of shops there looked quite attractive, and just the other side of the subway too.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
colin
when you venture down to the seasports centre for lunch, can you note down the names of any coach companies parked opposite?
roger will need them in an attempt to get the companies to visit central dover instead of just de braddelie.
Alec Sheldon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 18 Aug 2008
- Posts: 1,037
I have never been to Samphire Hoe but I have seen it from the train and it looks very nice. I worked there for three years and three months from 1990 when it was one of the biggest construction sites in the country, what a mess. It was full of workshops, marshalling yards and massive Demag cranes unloading the segments which went to make the Channel tunnel. We had to dodge JCB's, dumper trucks and every vehicle imaginable as well as miniature locos.
Everything that went to construct the tunnel was unloaded there and transported down below through an adit by small locomotives. There were railway lines everywhere. All the spoil from the tunnel came out there on conveyor belts and was dropped from a great height into lagoons. When it was blowing a gale everything was covered in a thick layer of chalk.
It was a hell of a place to work but the money was good, that's why I stuck it until I was made redundant. 12 hour shifts, night and day, weekends included.
It is amazing to see it now, what a transformation.
Terrismark worked down there as well, she will confirm what I said about the chalk dust that used to fly about. (Terry worked in a site office but still had to walk through all mud and c--p to get there.)
Unregistered User
Howard, I have heard figures of 850,000 visitors per annum to De Bradelei . Now that is trade.
Roger, how does your organisation get in on that action?
This is about traders marketing.
Watty
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i have never known it to be quite down there paul, even on a wet winter sunday the coffee shop is buzzing with people.
come to think of it, i can never remember when i have seen any section short of customers.
i think roger will have difficulty with the coach companies, after getting everyone back on board, they will have to stop again 10 minutes later.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Alec, I worked down Samphire Hoe from 1989, when I joined British Rail, till we had the last train in there in 1992. I took a number of picture`s in there, even though photography was forbidden by TML for security reason`s. As well as being a keen photographer, I could see the historical value in years to come of the whole channel tunnel project, and while TML was taking plenty of their part in it all, nobody was bothering with the hundred`s of train`s that were in and out over the 1988/92 period from British Rail. I wasn`t going to let that happen. Like those cine films I took in the paper mill, one day, they`ll be looking round for picture`s of BR`s involvement in it all. Many ex-Dover driver`s were round there 24 hour`s a day. Where did you work Alec?
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Howard, I shall pack my duffle bag with sandwiches and a bottle of lemonade, and go bus spotting for you next time I`m down there. One popular name always there is Evan Evans. Can`t imagine where they originate from.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
that is the company that i remember most of all colin.
re; de brads, a comment on the open letters page will answer a few questions we have asked.