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In June 2026 the Office for National Statistics published their findings from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, which found that 9 in 10 people said that the cost of living was their top concern. For those that mentioned the cost of living, 93% said food shopping contributed to increasing the cost of living.
As part of our ongoing place-based engagement, Healthwatch Kent spoke to 39 residents living in Folkestone & Hythe in Winter 2025 to understand how where they live impacts their health and wellbeing.
1 in 4 people we spoke to mentioned a lack of variety or availability when it came to shopping and amenities, leading to them having to travel further, incurring extra cost or accessibility concerns.
“I bank with Halifax so I have to go to Ashford or Folkestone if I need one. I think this has a big impact on the older people in the community. If the ATM at Tesco broke, where would you get your money?”
“I'm very disappointed at the deterioration. The entire focus here is on The Harbour Arm. The High Street has nothing left. Losing Debenhams was the death nail.”
1 in 3 told us that they sometimes struggle to pay for basic necessities. Folkestone & Hythe is ranked in the 30% most deprived local authorities in the UK and is the 3rd most deprived in Kent.
Those that are already struggling to afford basic necessities are more likely to be affected by lack of affordable options for shopping or the increased travel cost needed to access shops. Specifically, residents pointed out the Old High Street and the Harbour arm in Folkestone as areas that had been improving, but that they had been priced out.
“The Harbour Arm and Steep Street area are a bit more for Londoners, I mean £10 for a burger. Most people can’t afford that, especially pensioners”
“The Harbour Arm and the Old High Street and really nice but expensive for locals. It's more for the tourists.”
Within Folkestone & Hythe there are already several initiatives in place to tackle food poverty, such as the Folkestone Community Fridge and the Pantry at Sunflower House. Residents told us that accessing services like these helped them afford other essentials.
“The Sunflower House food bank means I can save £30 to pay for my petrol to get to work”
Several years since the cost of living became a widely discussed issue, it remains at the forefront of many Folkestone and Hythe resident’s concerns.
For some it involves difficulties affording the essentials on a regular basis, and direct support through food banks and related schemes at the community level can alleviate that financial pressure of food shopping, allowing them to divert funds elsewhere, such as on essential travel.
For others who do not face regular issues in affording necessities but still feel impacted by the rising cost of living, savings are made through cutting down on eating out and other leisure activities. Specifically for Folkestone and Hythe, residents felt priced out of areas such as the Harbour Arm.
It is interesting to note that Folkestone & Hythe residents spoke positively about how their surrounding environment, either countryside or easy access to the coast, had a positive impact on them. Stakeholders could consider how to maximise the value in this natural asset to help mitigate the isolating impact of some residents not being able to afford to eat out or socialise in Folkestone & Hythe.
Bias and limitations
Residents we spoke to were those who were available and willing to speak to us at the time and location of each engagement event. Therefore, the sample is not representative of the Swale population. These findings should be interpreted as indicative trends rather than conclusive evidence.
