Dover Waterfront is the place to be as parkrun brings people together and leisure opportunities continue to grow

With the first Dover Waterfront parkrun launching two weeks ago and now taking place every Saturday, plus new restaurants, stalls, and entertainment being introduced regularly, more people are choosing Dover as the place to experience the Kent coast.

In its second week, the parkrun brought just under 200 people to the seafront, with families making the most of the free 5k weekly community event to kick-start their weekend. In the same week, the Bella Vita Italian restaurant opened overlooking the wonderful views of the new Marina and visiting cruise ships, and live music surrounded the Marina Curve.

Diederik Smet, Placemaking, Events and Partnership Manager at the Port said:

“It’s brilliant to see such a lively and vibrant atmosphere across the Waterfront. People locally and across the nation are coming to Dover to get active, explore local culture and admire charming views, whilst making memories to last a lifetime with their loved ones.

In just one week, the parkrun attracted nearly double the number of people seen in its first week. Thank you to the team for introducing such a great event to our growing programme – we are excited to see where it will go next.”

Since the new Outer Marina opened in April, around 200 marina berth holders, large numbers of cruise passengers, plus the local Dover community and people from across the Southeast and beyond are using the Waterfront as a base for experiencing the wonders of the Garden of England.

Jason Ransley, Head of Property at the Port of Dover added:

“Our fantastic new recreational spaces of the Marina Curve and Clocktower Square have enabled us to begin to transform Dover’s food and leisure scene.

From permanent street food stalls to new coffee shops, a home-grown brewery and other seasonal pop ups, Dover provides the perfect opportunity to sample Kent’s delicious produce. That’s on top of the traditional family favourite’s already along the seafront and plans for even more growth in the future.”

Dover’s newest permanent food and drink outlets on the Marina Curve include Big Pan Foods, Café on the Curve, Planet Earth Kitchen, Pedaler on the Port and Breakwater Brewery. Bella Vita is now situated next to the new Marina Office after opening recently.

The Port will soon be announcing more details about its Waterfront Christmas events and 2024 schedule, including the much-anticipated 2024 Regatta.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• The Port of Dover is closing the gap every day between the UK and the world by connecting trade, travel, visitors and communities locally-globally, collaborating with local and international partners to create a more seamless, sustainable and tech-enabled port.
• As the UK’s busiest international ferry port and a vital gateway for the movement of people and trade, Dover handles £144 billion of trade per year, 33% of UK trade in goods with the EU and welcomes over 11 million passengers.
• Dover is also an award-winning cruise port, delivering world class travel and visitor experiences to the most prestigious cruise lines. With a growing and diversifying cargo business operating from state-of-the-art facilities, a brand-new marina which is a major feature of the exciting waterfront development, and opportunities for further expansion in the future, Dover’s proud history dating back 400 years has a new modern twist.