KFC fast food outlet at Stop 24 Folkestone, situated left of the main entrance, between Don Air Kebabs and Subway, opposite customer seating. KFC is an important brand at Folkestone, and has operated here since the site's opening in 2008. KFC has a large fan base of customers, and it's always been Folkestone's most profitable facility. KFC offers no customer seating of its own, & was last refurbished in 2017. KFC were introduced to the motorway network in 1989 by Trusthouse Forte, who opened one at Keele Southbound. They quickly spread to most of their sites & KFC outlets are common to find at Welcome Break sites (formerly Fortes). Extra began to open KFCs at many of their sites, and at a similar time, this one at Folkestone opened. Just recently in 2022, Moto committed to adding KFCs to any of their sites that they were refurbishing/investing in. Now around half of Moto's sites consist of a KFC. All of this has made KFC a recognisable name to the motorway network. KFC at Folkestone is operated by "Caskade" who lease the unit from Stop 24. KFC's prices are slightly inflated here compared to a standard high street KFC. This is typical for KFC at motorway services due to the high demand, but you'd think this one would use standard prices as Folkestone is a very quiet site. KFC outlived both Burger King & McDonald’s here. McDonald’s closed almost instantly, & Burger King closed more recently. This photo shows the bright & spacious nature of the amenity building here, constructed by blue pillars & glass walls. Most 2000s motorway services buildings follow a similar design. Like most facilities here, the future of this KFC is uncertain. Stop 24 (operators of the site) have been bought by a Getlink company, who plan to add 2 new drive thrus (McDonald's and Costa) in addition to adding a fitness suite inside the amenity building. If the fitness suite proves successful, Stop 24 may wish to extend it, possibly taking more space from the food court, potentially resulting in the removal of this KFC. The drive thru units will distract customers from entering the amenity building entirely, causing a likely loss of trade for KFC. KFC is included on all motorway signposts for Folkestone, so customers are aware it's present at the site. Additionally, KFC is advertised on the small totem pole outside the amenity building's main entrance, but isn't advertised anywhere else around the site.

Photo taken on 21/07/2024 by Tom Moon.

Assigned to galleries: Folkestone, KFC, Stop 24, M20