From This is Kent, Saturday 17th November 2012.

By Mike Sims

NO MOBILE phone use, no music or TV, no lager and no bar area – welcome to Shepway's first "micropub", which aims to strip boozing back to the basics.

The Firkin Alehouse is due to open in Cheriton Place in Folkestone today, with its owner hoping it will establish itself as a social place to drink and chat.

The pub will not serve spirits or alcopops, instead offering a table service for thirsty punters wanting local ales, ciders and wines.

Landlord Neil King, 37, has high hopes for the venture, pointing to the success of similar micropubs which have sprung up in areas such as Deal and Herne.

The Hawkinge resident, who managed pubs for Wetherspoon's for five years and has just left the "Telegraph" in Deal, said: "It's stripping it all back to basics, and in a way going back to how pubs were is looking like the way forward."

Drinkers who use the pub, which was previously a hairdressers, will be asked to go outside if they wish to use their phones and will be able to see their ales poured direct from the barrel.

Mr King, a father of one, said: "I want it to have a real community feel.

"I hope it'll encourage chat and develop a good atmosphere.

"It's working in other parts of Kent so there's no reason why Folkestone can't have a successful micropub."

The boozer will have about four ales at a time, rotating the choice so that it offers punters hundreds of different brews over several months.

Mr King added: "Pubs are really struggling, but this removes a lot of the overheads and aims to offer people something a bit different."

The Firkin Alehouse will be open Tuesdays to Saturdays 11.30am to 2.30pm and 4.30 to 9pm (10pm on Fridays and Saturdays), and Sundays 11.30am to 3pm.