UNIMPRESSED locals in a popular seaside town have hit back after it was labelled a “dump” in a viral TikTok video.
The post, shared by Olivia Rose, includes unflattering clips of Folkestone, Kent – going on to amass a staggering 500,000 views and 24,000 likes.
Clips were taken on a dull day with the sarcastic caption: “Come to Folkestone for the bank hol they said.”
The footage, from May, showed boarded up shops and less appealing parts of the town, including the Grand Burstin Hotel and dilapidated former Debenhams building in Sandgate Road.
It comes after Folkestone was last year crowned Best Place to Live in South East England by the Sunday Times.
Many of the almost 500 comments on Olivia’s post disagree with her bashing of the town, with one saying: “Folkestone’s actually a really lovely place.”
Another said: “Why did you go to all the horrible parts instead of the nice parts?”
One person added: “Who told you to come to Folkestone for the bank holiday though realistically.”
However, others supported Olivia, writing: “People keep trying to romanticise Folkestone and it’s literally a s***hole.”
Another described it as “b******s”.
The Sun decided to pay a visit to see what locals and visitors really think.
Rebecca Greenway, 29, is among the disgruntled residents that disagree with the video.
She said: “They have just picked the bad areas to nitpick. You judge a book by its cover.
“It is their first impression but when you get to know Folkestone you can fall in love with it when you find all the niche little places and meet the people.”
Rebecca manages the Folkestone branch of Flo’s Pie & Mash, a popular spot among locals.
Flo’s has been in Folkestone for two years, but Rebecca has lived in the area since she was eight years old, and it is now where she is raising a family of her own.
She said: “I love Folkestone. I like the community feel of it.
“Everything is so locally based and everyone gets on as a community – I really enjoy it.”
They have just picked the bad areas to nitpick. You judge a book by its cover. It is their first impression but when you get to know Folkestone you can fall in love with it when you find all the niche little places and meet the people.
Rebecca Greenway
Rebecca also insists that it isn’t just locals who love the area but visitors also sing its praises.
She added: “I just had a customer in who has come from Ramsgate and never been to Folkestone before and he was like ‘I love it’.”
In reference to the controversial TikTok post, she concluded: “They just pick the areas and just show the bad and not the good.
“When you come at the right time it is brilliant.”
Local residents Melissa and Leon Reed share Rebecca’s disapproval of this latest dig.
Melissa, 29, has lived in Folkestone her whole life and said: “I 100% disagree with the TikTok.”
Along with her husband Leon, 24, and Tiana thir French Bulldog, the majority of Melissa’s extended family also live in the area.
She added: “Nearly all my family live here, my dad is a fisherman on one of the boats down there.
“We have a little bit of everything here – sandy beaches, pebble beaches, lots of new bars.
“It’s gotten so much better in recent years.”
Other locals seem to share this belief, with one voicing: “When you look out to sea, you think we are on the edge of England. It couldn’t be a more amazing site.”
Another also added: “There are lots of things to do with the kids. They love it here.”
Owner of Captain’s Table cafe, Yasar Dalkilic, has lived in Folkestone for over 20 years.
In response to the damning TikTok he said: “I really strongly disagree. Back in the day it was not a very nice place to live.
“But now, I almost feel like I’m on holiday here in the summer. Everywhere has got good places and bad places – everywhere.
“The people who made the TikTok need to come and see it for themselves with their own eyes.”
He added: “The best thing about Folkestone is the fact that it is a seaside town.
“There’s sandy beaches and it is nice and close to London.”
Down the road from Mr Dalkilic’s cafe is Sandy’s Fish and Chip shop.
A member of Sandy’s staff, Sam, 27, said: “Everywhere has got good places and bad places but it depends on what you make of it.
“The town is quite run down now but obviously a lot of town centres are not getting the attention they deserve and need at the moment.
“But this a really nice little harbour.”
Local shopowners also urge people to ignore the TikTok video and come see Folkestone for themselves.
Kory Redmond, owner of South East Emporium, and mother to toddler, Darwin, moved from London two years ago for a slower pace of life.
She said: “I wish we had moved sooner.
“There is a big community, people actually say ‘hi’ and ‘good morning’ to you here.”
Alex, who owns the shop next door, recently launched a new beachwear business called Laes with his partner Claire.
He added: “I have lived locally for a long long time so I have seen it change a lot, and I’d say in the past ten years it has really been on an upwards trajectory. Come visit!”
Adrian Harrison owns a family camera business which has been in Folkestone since 1920.
In response to the video, he said: “I wouldn’t say it’s a dump, I’d say newcomers rather like Folkestone. It’s a nice place, there are far worse.”
But one local doesn’t share the views of fellow residents, as she told The Sun: “I don’t think Folkestone has a lot to offer. Look at the state of the hotel.
“The new skate park is an eyesore.”
Has your town been unfairly criticised on social media? Email amelia.morgan@thesun.co.uk
