Embedded Files
A look back at a very jolly Spring and Summer
Jolly Boys' Tours 2026
"Adrian, I have had a bit of an idea – why don't we do a Margate location tour?" said Mike
"That might be one of your better ideas!" Adrian replied
What started with a flurry of WhatsApp messages in the days leading up to the October 2025 Only Fools and Horses convention led to eight truly incredible days out, with coachloads of delighted fans singing their hearts out. In between came months of planning, bookings and logistics, several reconnaissance trips, stuffing tote bags full of goodies and – thankfully – no coach explosions!
The Jolly Boys' Outing is such a beloved episode that we knew we had to do it justice. We put together a really special package for fans, with the centrepiece being an 80-page souvenir brochure alongside a replica production schedule from the original episode.
We were also incredibly grateful to Perry Aghajanoff of the Only Fools Society, who created a fantastic package of exclusive merchandise for our guests. Perry was also instrumental in handling ticket sales, ensuring everything ran smoothly from the very beginning.
Adrian, of course, had been here before, having arranged the original location filming for the episode as the series' production manager. Mike had essentially grown up in the area and knew every nook and cranny of the Thanet coast from countless walks with his dad. Between us, we knew exactly how to bring the tour to life.
Along the way, we also enjoyed some incredible good fortune. Soon after announcing the tour, we contacted two coach companies claiming to be based in Margate. However, when we tried to arrange meetings in early November, we quickly discovered they were little more than websites hiring vehicles on an ad hoc basis. After one particularly frustrating phone call from Margate seafront, we went back to the drawing board and found a real gem: Careys Transport of Broadstairs, with a depot in Margate itself.
From the moment we met Michelle, the company's booking manager, we knew we were onto a winner. Michelle was a big fan of Only Fools and Horses and immediately loved the idea. By the summer, everything was booked and ready to go. On one of our planning visits, while finalising the arrangements, Michelle introduced us to the man who would become our driver. With a huge smile, she revealed his real name...
Del!
It really did feel like fate. Del became a central part of the team, and with his local knowledge, brilliant sense of humour and wonderfully calm manner, he helped make the tour something truly special. He even embraced our slightly mad idea of following the episode's original running order, including performing a heroic three-point turn in the former Dumpton Park Dog Track Market car park!
Another stroke of luck was finding Olby's as our lunch venue. Eli, Heather and their teams were fantastic hosts and gave us everything we needed. Best of all, they happily allowed us to transform the downstairs function room into our own Only Fools and Horses headquarters, complete with bunting, posters and plenty of memorabilia.
As well as visiting all the filming locations – many of which remain remarkably unchanged since filming took place in 1989 – one of the biggest highlights was welcoming actors from the show to Margate. Sue Holderness, Andrée Bernard, Mike Fenton Stevens, Steven Woodcock and Philip Pope all joined us to share their memories in an intimate lunchtime interview before meeting our guests.
Every one of them was an absolute professional, and hearing their stories about filming The Jolly Boys' Outing made each tour even more memorable. Reuniting Andrée and Steven for the first time since the series was made was a particularly special moment.
Every stop on the tour became a highlight in its own way. From the guest houses, where everyone enthusiastically recreated scenes and burst into song, to the coach park itself, every location brought back cherished memories.
Perhaps the most moving moment came outside the former Roman Galley pub, watching the traffic rush past just as the cast and crew had experienced back in May 1989.
The beach and Harbour Arm were equally special, especially on the tours where some of our guests couldn't resist dipping their toes in the sea.
After successfully completing our first two tours, we were approached by BBC South East, who wanted to film a feature. We were thrilled that the tour would be showcased on the very BBC regional news programme covering the area where the original episode first aired. The following weekend we decorated the coach a day early so reporter Leanne Rinne could interview us on board. The feature aired the following week and, to our delight, was then picked up nationally by *BBC Breakfast* a few days later, meaning the whole country heard about our little adventure. Combined with interviews on BBC 3 Counties Radio and BBC Radio London, the publicity helped sell out many of our remaining tour dates.
BBC 3 Counties Radio Interview with Andy Collins (14th May 2026)
BBC Radio London Interview with Aaron Paul (16th June 2026)
A big thank you must go to our road manager, Nick. Anyone who joined the tour will remember him as a picture of calm, standing in his hi-vis jacket with clipboard in hand, making sure everyone was checked in and ready to go. As a local DJ, Nick also knows his way around a sound desk, making him invaluable at Olby's, where he expertly handled the microphones and lighting throughout our guest interviews. Thanks, Nick!
Finally, our biggest thank you goes to all of you who came along. Whether you were holding up production boards, recreating those now-iconic photographs or simply throwing yourself into the spirit of the day, you made every single tour unforgettable. Quite simply, you brought the magic to life.
We have had the very best of times. This has been a genuine one-off, and that's exactly why we poured so much into making it special. If you joined us, we hope you treasure those memories for many years to come. If you missed out, we hope the photographs and videos have allowed you to relive a little of the magic and reminded you why John Sullivan's untouchable Christmas special remains so loved.
"Never stop believing – you know it makes sense!"
Adrian Pegg & Mike Jones
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