Friends of Castle Conservation Area Dover

17/03/2026

10/02/2026

Our favourite "down with the cool kids" coffee place 😎.... Take a moment to share your feedback, if you are a local.

We’re taking a moment to reflect on The Art Club and plan what’s next.

If you’ve ever had a coffee, danced, run, chatted, created, or just sat in here - we’d really love your feedback.

2–3 minutes, big impact. All responses are anonymous, be as brutal as you like

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HtAk5XESHs6P7Th6UcDBzR-wyC3fSxB4Upzi18pYAkI/viewform?edit_requested=true

08/02/2026

The gloomy outlook of a rainy February day suddenly brightened this weekend on Dover's Castle Street with the opening of a new stylish boutique coffee shop featuring coffee from in Margate, tea is supplied by and their hot chocolate is from — all chosen for quality, flavour and consistency.

There are strong rumours that additionally to their fabulous coffee and hot chocolate they will soon be offering artisan sourdough breads from St Margaret's based micro bakery .bakery

It's fantastic to see this quirky historic cheese-wedge-shaped shop come back to life and without any doubt this great new enterprise will be a roaring success and a fantastic addition to the historic Castle Street, which will benefit both locals and tourists alike.

23/01/2026

It's time for HOUSES, NOT HAMBURGERS in Dover!

Friends of Castle Conservation Area Dover
Charles Holland Architects
Dover District Council

Campaigners fighting to stop a new McDonald’s being built have unveiled a rival vision - demanding “housing, not hamburgers”.

21/01/2026

Charles Holland Architects -
Townwall House
Proposal for a four-storey apartment building close to the seafront in Dover.
This design has been developed with the as an alternative vision for the currently empty site that sits below Dover Castle at the base of the white cliffs.
Currently the site has planning approval for a McDonald’s Drive-Thru, a use that would have a catastrophic effect on Dover’s town centre. Not only would it massively exacerbate traffic and pollution problems but it would deter visitors, reduce footfall, adversely affect local businesses and negatively impact on the townscape and its heritage.
Instead we propose a building that meets a critical social need for new, affordable housing, rebuilds the town’s urban fabric and offers a public, community garden space.
Studios on the ground floor and flexible apartments above offer a range of accommodation. These apartments are protected from traffic noise along the incredibly busy Townwall Street by planting, triple-glazed windows and set backs while opening up to the gardens at the rear. Generous, wide balconies provide outdoor space to all flats along with an accessible roof garden.
The building is not apologetic - it says that done well and care, new buildings can add positively to the town and its incredible heritage and offer a positive vision for its future.
CHA design team: Charles Holland and Daniel Stilwell.

Townwall House

Proposal for a four-storey apartment building close to the seafront in Dover.

This design has been developed with the as an alternative vision for the currently empty site that sits below Dover Castle at the base of the white cliffs.

Currently the site has planning approval for a McDonald’s Drive-Dru, a use that would have a catastrophic effect on Dover’s town centre. Not only would it massively exacerbate traffic and pollution problems but it would deter visitors, reduce footfall, adversely affect local businesses and negatively impact on the townscape and its heritage.

Instead we propose a building that meets a critical social need for new, affordable housing, rebuilds the town’s urban fabric and offers a public, community garden space.

Studios on the ground floor and flexible apartments above offer a range of accommodation. These apartments are protected from traffic noise along the incredibly busy Townwall Street by planting, triple-glazed windows and set backs while opening up to the gardens at the rear. Generous, wide balconies provide outdoor space to all flats along with an accessible roof garden.

The building is not apologetic - it says that done well and care, new buildings can add positively to the town and its incredible heritage and offer a positive vision for its future.

CHA design team: Charles Holland and Daniel Stilwell.

20/01/2026

35,000 shout 'HOUSES - NOT HAMBURGERS!' and still DOVER DISTRICT COUNCIL DOES NOT LISTEN!

Renowned Architect Charles Holland on behalf of clients who care about the wellbeing and future happiness of Dover and its residents, has drawn up detailed plans for a much more beneficial use of the land directly under Dover Castle and next to the historic monument that is the 1070 St James Church than the DDC proposed for 24 hour Drive Thru McDonald's.

We urge all those who really care about Dover make your voices heard, the people of Dover want HOUSES, NOT HAMBURGERS.

Charles Holland Architects (CHA) has drawn up a social housing scheme as an alternative to a proposed McDonald’s drive-through in Dover

15/09/2025

The latest article about Dover, some interesting quotes from local business owners and residents... Worth a read, despite it being in DM.

The Dover coastline is a key arrival point for Channel crossings and with more than 182,000 people reaching England since the migrant crisis began.

28/08/2025

We are SO GRATEFUL to all the wonderful people who have been supporting our campaign! Don't think Dover District Council realise the damage they are doing to Dover's reputation nationally and internationally by so vehemently pursuing this misguided and ill-thought-out development.
No doubt, a certain amount of the Dover electorate will voice their disappointment with DDC's councillors over this matter at the next opportunity they get to vote.

28/08/2025

We are SO GRATEFUL to all the wonderful people who have been supporting our campaign! Don't think Dover District Council realise the damage they are doing to Dover's reputation nationally and internationally by so vehemently pursuing this misguided and ill-thought-out development.
No doubt, a certain amount of the Dover electorate will voice their disappointment with DDC's councillors over this matter at the next opportunity they get to vote.

27/08/2025

This was posted earlier today by a local resident, which summarises the TRAFFIC SCANDAL with the proposed 24 hr McDonald's drive-thru on Townwall Street pretty well. Please watch and share.
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