Bexley Life April/May 2022 by BL Journals

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23 PICKFORD LANE BEXLEYHEATH DA7 4RD

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Bexley

LIFE

Before

Working to make our high street a better place Wellingtownbusiness@gmail.com

After

Book your free consultation 020 3982 8602

www.zental.uk

4-5 Market Place, Bexleyheath DA6 7DU

La Belle Cuisine @bexleylife

@bexleylife

THE SCHMIDT KITCHEN SPECIALIST

01322 555353 42 High St., Bexley, Kent

ISSUE 157

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I N T R O D U C T I O N

W E L C O M E

Easter around the area This will be the first Easter in a while where we can all enjoy events and some company - let’s all make the most of it! Welcome to the April/May 2022 edition of Bexley Life Magazine the bi-monthly lifestyle magazine for Bexley Borough and the surrounding areas. With Spring now definitely upon us, inside this edition you will find stories and articles from around the Borough, many of the type you’d expect to see and others representing the differences in the current climate. So, we would like to welcome you to this edition of Bexley Life and if you have any news, reviews, product launches or absolutely anything else of interest across the local market, please email it through to me at info@bljournals.plus.com for future consideration in our forthcoming issues.

Arthur Peaches - Editor

@bexleylife

LARGE STOCKS FOR FAST, FRE E DELIVERY See our advert on page 2

23 PICKFORD LANE

BEXLEYHEATH DA7

020 8304 7400

www.forever-furnitur emyshopify.com

4RD

Editor

Bexley

LIFE

Before

Working to make our high street a better place

Wellingtownbus

iness@gmail.com

After

Book your fre e consultatio n

020 3982 86 02

www.zental.u k

4-5 Market Plac e, Bexleyheath

La Belle Cuisine

THE SCHMIDT KITCHEN SPECIA LIST

01322 555 353

DA6 7DU

Free planning & design with full installation service, including electr ics, plumbing, tiling & decorating

42 High St., Bexley, Kent

ISSUE 157

appliances

APRIL/MAY 2022

@bexleylife

N E W S

I N

B R I E F

Wildlife

study days

WOODLAND MOSSES FOR BEGINNERS

1 May 10 - 3/4pm at Tyland Barn Fees or donations apply and booking essential. Learn more about the complex lives and identification of mosses

BROAD-LEAVES TREES 8 May 10 - 3/4pm Tyland Barn Fees or donations apply and booking essential. Learn to identify trees and shrubs by their flowers and leaves

RESPONSIBLE BEEKEEPING 14 May 10.30 am – 4.00pm Tyland Barn Fees or donations apply and booking essential. An introductory course for anyone interested in learning more about bees and the craft of beekeeping.

BEGINNERS’ BIRDWATCHING 14 May 10.00am – 4.00pm at Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve Fees or donations apply and booking essential. Learn out how to identify birds on this introductory course. An indoor introduction will be followed by an outdoor session to look for birds of woodland and wetland.

AN INTRODUCTION TO FERNS 15 May 10.00 am – 5.00pm Tyland Barn Fees or donations apply and booking essential. Discover how to recognise ferns of woodlands using leaf shapes and other distinctive features.

REPTILE ECOLOGY AND SURVEY TECHNIQUES 21 May 10.30 am – 4.00pm Tyland Barn Fees or donations apply and booking essential. Discover how to identify reptiles and learn about their habitat requirements. Then search for reptiles in a nearby nature reserve.

MORNING AT HAM FEN 22 May 10-15am - 12.15pm at Ham Fen Fees or donations apply and booking essential. An exciting opportunity to visit Kent's last remaining Fen.

INTRODUCTION TO SOLITARY BEES 22 May 10.00 am – 4.00pm Tyland Barn Fees or donations apply and booking L essential. Introduction to the ecology and identification of solitary bees, with a mixture of classroom and field sessions

INTRODUCTION TO ORCHIDS 26 May 10.00 am – 4.00pm Tyland Barn Fees or donations apply and booking essential. What do you know about wild orchids: their life cycles, how they are pollinated, relationships with fungi, where to find them, and how to identify them? Discover all this and more on this course, which includes field visits to orchid sites in mid Kent

CAR CHARGING POINTS

www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk

@bexleylife

EDITORIAL Arthur Peaches Editor Tel 01322 352648 Email: info@bljournals.plus.com

SALES & PROMOTIONS David Peters Publisher Tel 01322 352648 Email: info@bljournals.plus.com Dennis Smith Advertisement Manager Tel 01322 352648 Email info@bljournals.plus.com

PUBLISHING COMPANY BL Journals, 3 Biddenden Way, Istead Rise, Gravesend, Kent DA13 9DE Tel 01322 352648 Email info@bljournals.plus.com @bexleylife Although every effort is made assure the accuracy of the content of this magazine, Bexley Life and it’s Publishers can accept no responsibility for such. All contents of the publication are copyright and remain the sole property of the publishing company.

BL JOURNALS

@bexleylife

N E W S

I N

B R I E F

The biggest food awareness day of the year, National Fish and Chip Day, is back for its 7th year!

On Friday 27th May, a week before the nation prepares for a special four day Bank Holiday to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the nation will come together to celebrate another icon, and still our favourite....fish and chips! From the North to the South, the East to the West, we all love the nation’s favourite dish, but we all enjoy them in different ways! Some can’t eat them without gravy, others think that is an abomination! For others, if it doesn’t have mushy peas is it even a fish supper?! We understand that Her Majesty, who has some of the finest chefs at her disposable throughout her UK residencies, is partial to fish and chips too! She has passed this love of the dish on to her grandchildren too, with William and Kate famously enjoying a portion of steaming hot fish and chips from their favourite shop in Anstruther when they re-visited their University hometown of St Andrews last year. This year on Friday 27th May 2022 we want to celebrate the differences that make fish and chips (and scraps, batter bits, scrumps, batteries...what do you call the little bits of batter at the bottom of the packet?!) so iconic and will see people across the country coming together on National Fish and Chip Day! This is the biggest food awareness day of the year and we would be delighted to help you generate some fabulous features. Get in touch and we can hook (excuse the pun!) you up with fish and chip shops, industry executives, and chefs to create some great content.

BBN BRIAN’s

BUSINESS NETWORKING

Where business people enjoy doing business @BriansBN BriansBusinessNetworking www.bbnetworking.co.uk

@bexleylife

E A S T E R

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Easter at Lesnes Abbey

Saturday 16 April 11 am to 4 pm Admission free

Eggs-cellent Easter Trail at Woodlands Farm Trust Friday 15th Apr 10:00 - 14:00

It is the return of the annual Woodlands Farm Easter Trail! Can you find all the Easter eggs hidden round the farm? If you can then you can get you chocolate egg prize! No need to book, just drop in. £2 per child. For more information contact 020 8319 8900 or email education@thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org

Bring a blanket and the family as there will be delicious street food for you to enjoy, along with scrumptious cakes and bakery items. Sit back as local singers and acts keep you entertained. There will be a large selection of local businesses selling locally produced produce and items perfect for your Easter weekend - don’t forget the handcrafted Belgian chocolate eggs too. Lesnes Lodge will also be running a pre-booked Easter egg hunt for the whole family to enjoy. Lesnes Abbey, Abbey Road, Belvedere SE2 0AX

Zippos Circus in Blackheath Until 18th April

Zippos Circus returns to Blackheath for Easter with an all-new show and an international cast of stunning circus performers. www.zippos.co.uk

275 Main Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 6QL Tel: 020 8300 1465

238 Blackfen Road, Sidcup, Kent DA15 8PW Tel: 020 8850 3243

FOR ALL YOUR EASTER FAYRE - COME TO J.AYRE!

e r y A J. @bexleylife

@bexleylife

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Improving Erith High Street N E W S

I N

B R I E F

Works to improve the pedestrianised section of Erith High Street for residents and to provide new shop fronts and units for local businesses at Erith Riverside Centre are complete.

The improvements include welcoming new street level shop frontage to encourage visitors. Inside some of the new shop floor space, known as the ‘Curiosity Cabinet’, will be offered for free to small local businesses and creative enterprises giving them instant access to a prime town centre location. Find out more at www.curiosity-cabinet.co.uk The new shop units will also be the new home for Bexley’s Employment Services. The Bexley Business & Employment (BBE) team will be providing job search advice and guidance for residents who are unemployed or under-employed. The units will be used to provide one to one appointments, employability workshops and job clubs. The team will also continue to provide its free recruitment service to help Bexley businesses fill their vacancies. Find out more about the support and service Bexley’s Employment Services offer at www.bexley.gov.uk/bbe Some of the adjacent office space will be used by local charity Re-Instate who provide specialist employment support services for people experiencing mental ill-health. “We have many talented local people in our Borough and I know that they will want to make the most of this opportunity to show off their creations in the ‘Curiosity Cabinet’ space.” said Cabinet Member for Growth, Cllr Munur, “Having the employment services in its new town centre location will improve access for jobseekers and employers and the increased space means that working with Re-Instate we can offer an even wider range of free services to local people.” Simon Hart, Chief Executive of Reinstate said, “As an Erith resident of thirty years I am delighted that Re-Instate is able to be a part of this wonderful project to regenerate the town centre. We look forward to working alongside our new neighbours, BBE to support the local community.” The improvements are funded by London Borough of Bexley and the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund. www.bexley.gov.uk

@bexleylife

e f a C DELUXE

Cafe deluxe is a small family run business which has been established since 1995, we have served the public of Welling for many years creating close bonds with all our customers.

Our food is off the highest quietly and our experience and expertise in the hospitality industry have ensured this We are in the heart of Welling with a beautiful outside seating area for you to enjoy the up-coming hot weather! 6 Bellegrove Road, Welling DA16 3PR Telephone: 020 3566 0826

C O V E R

S T O R Y

The story of Zental

Many years ago, there were two friends who met at college in London. These ambitious young men shared the same world view and, more importantly to our story, shared the same desire to make the world better. They took separate career paths - one, Ihsaan, qualified as a medical doctor, as well as a dentist and trained as a surgeon. The other, Arif, despite graduating as a geneticist, pursued a career in finance but eventually found his true calling as an entrepreneur. More than 20 years later, Ihsaan and Arif remained friends, successful in their professional lives but wanting more than ever to change the world - and that is where our story begins...

Chapter One: THE OPPORTUNITY Ihsaan, working as an oral surgeon in the UK, was growing disillusioned by the negative misconceptions most of his patients had about dentistry. Eight of out ten patients whom he treated told him they ‚‘hated’ going to the dentist - this was often based on past negative dental experiences, which had caused them anxiety. Ihsaan was frustrated with the lack of resources available to make the treatment experience better. Moving into the private sector did not really help much either, as he wanted to focus on investing in improving the patient experience; many private practices offered the same dentistry but in fancier rooms. Arif had accompanied Ihsaan throughout his professional journey and felt a genuine empathy towards his struggle. He believed that his standard of care and clinical ability were exceptional and should not be wasted, but shared in abundance to benefit humanity. One fine summer evening, the two friends met for dinner, which was later followed by a gentle stroll through a leafy London neighbourhood. The topic of Ihsaan’s experience with the dental practices he worked in came up, when a spark ignited! Arif turned to Ihsaan and began painting a vision of what a visit to the dentist could look like. Ihsaan was excited by the idea of building a dental practice to the exacting standards he lives by and feels patients deserve, but Arif had bigger plans!

Chapter Two: THE DREAM The friends knew that they could never completely remove discomfort from dentistry - no one would ever compare sitting in a dental chair to sitting on a beach - but they did feel strongly that they could drastically improve the patient journey, from beginning to end. They decided to build a new kind of dental experience, one that would espouse a holistic approach to dentistry as an integral part of caring for one,s entire wellbeing. Ihsaan’s medical background came into play, as he had a unique perspective on how synonymous dental health is with general wellbeing and, how a person’s mindset can directly affect their potential throughout their life. In order to offer a more comprehensive, holistic experience, the dream broadened to include facial aesthetics and medical treatments. In essence, Arif wanted to ensure that patients visiting any of their practices, wherever it may be, would feel as though they were visiting a peaceful sanctuary, relaxed, confident and even excited about undergoing treatment, with a view to a positive end result that would improve their overall wellbeing. Not satisfied with their evolutionary vision, the friends aspired to a higher purpose - they wanted to help people live healthier, happier and longer lives!

Chapter Three: THE BIRTH A short while later in their story, Arif was relaxing on a beach on holiday, lulled into a state of bliss by the sound of the waves, the sun on his skin and the blue sky above, when a name floated into his mind: Zental. It was the perfect blend of the calm philosophy he and Ihsaan shared and the patient care they hoped to provide. They took the name and ran with it, building a company around the convergence of calm relaxation and healthcare. Every aspect was thoughtfully designed to offer a calming experience where patients would come to achieve balance and, ultimately bliss. Offering the latest technology to help reduce treatment worries, improve results and the in-chair experience was essential, but for the two friends this was just a starting point. They thought of every detail in an effort to sooth all the senses and override any anxiety patients might bring with them. Keen to induce the same sort of Zen state that Arif had experienced on vacation, they introduced calming aromatherapy, relaxing music and a beautiful as well as functional interior design into both the waiting area and the surgeries. Also central to their ethos, and represented throughout, were the four elements - earth, water, air and fire - which reflect the interdependence of the various aspects of human health and the need for them all to be in perfect balance. It took just over a year to not only create the flagship dental practice in Barnet, but a holistic, healthcare brand encapsulating dental, facial aesthetic and medical treatments under one roof. The result is a disruptive and innovative new concept in healthcare that the two friends hope will soon become the new gold standard for patients who expect more, better, friendlier and gentler care. Trust in Calm and experience Zental for yourself. www.zental.uk

@bexleylife

C O V E R

S T O R Y

Before

After

Book your free consultation 020 3982 8602

www.zental.uk

4-5 Market Place, Bexleyheath DA6 7DU

@bexleylife

‘Vincent in Brixton’ at The Bob Hope Theatre

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

E A T I N G

O U T

In 1873, the twenty-year-old Vincent Van Gogh was sent to London to work for a family firm of art dealers. by Sheila Arden, Show Director.

He took lodgings at a house in Brixton, owned by a widow called Ursula Loyer, who ran a small boys’ school there with her daughter Eugenie. The following year his sister Anna joined him. We know something of his time there through the letters he exchanged with his family. However, he and Anna left abruptly, and we have this quote from his mother’s letter: “Since the summer he has been abnormal” she wrote “the secrets at the Loyers did him no good”. We do know he proposed to - and was rejected by - Eugenie, who was secretly engaged to someone else. From these facts arose the wonderful play by Nicholas Wright, developed in workshop at the National Theatre. What could ‘the secrets at the Loyers’ possibly be? You’ll have to get along and see the play at The Bob Hope Theatre to find out what could have happened!

Vincent in Brixton - 18th - 21st May www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk

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E N T E R T A I N M E N T

E A T I N G

O U T

Family programme back at Greenwich Theatre by James Haddrell, Artistic Director of Greenwich Theatre.

Over the course of the pandemic, one of the things that upset me most as we closed the doors at Greenwich Theatre was the loss of our family programme. The pantomime and the Greenwich Children’s Theatre Festival are certainly the mainstays in the programme but we offer family theatre and participatory activities all year, so seeing all of that disappear was heartbreaking.

Whenever I watch a show at Greenwich I always sit at the back, so I can watch the audience reaction as well as the performance on stage, and there’s nothing more joyful than watching an auditorium full of children loving a show. They are our most honest critics when we get it wrong, and our most vocal supporters when we get it right. For that reason I am delighted to be able to offer a great programme of shows and workshops for families this Easter, bringing a collection of well known and new stories to the stage, and a host of young audiences back to the theatre. On 7 April we present a very special production for the very youngest theatregoers, an interactive opera for ages 0-2 years called Meet Me A Tree. This production has been a long time coming. We hosted some early development rehearsals for the show before the pandemic, and now all this time later we are finally ready to host the finished production. Featuring music by Schumann, Delibes and Handel with words and additional music created by the company, HurlyBurly promises

@bexleylife

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

E A T I N G

O U T

a multisensory journey through a year in the life of a tree: singing with blackbirds, marching through fallen leaves, smelling new blossom and feeling the wind on your cheeks. Look out too for news about an outdoor experience - HurlyBurly’s The Bug Hotel - heading for the Borough at the same time. Then, on 13 and 14 April, one of the most iconic figures in modern children’s storytelling is set to emerge from the wings when Tall Stories present their stage version of The Gruffalo. Then on 15 & 16 April I am delighted to welcome a new company to Greenwich when PaddleBoat Theatre present Margo & Mr Whatsit, a show about Sophia and her imaginary friend. No matter where Sophia finds herself living, Mr Whatsit is always there, but when Sophia moves into her new foster home she is set to meet a new imaginary friend - and the childish Mr Whatsit will have to fight to stick around. PaddleBoat Theatre will also be offering workshops to accompany the show, with an acting workshop for all ages based on the show, and a second workshop looking at bringing all your senses to storytelling. The family programme doesn’t end when the children go back to school. In May, Travelling Light come to the theatre with Vixen, a new play for ages 7+ about Saffi, an 11 year old who lives on an estate with her Dad. After being scratched by a vixen in the raincoat man’s garden she begins to transform and dreams of running away to live with her fox family. Then in June, we’re back to familiar territory when The Tiger Who Came To Tea returns to the Greenwich stage. With all of this, alongside exciting announcements about our summer season due very soon, families have a lot to look forward to at Greenwich Theatre this season. www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

@bexleylife

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

E A T I N G

O U T

Great comedy at Bexley Park

Two comedy greats come to Bexley Park on Friday 29th April. FUNMBI OMOTAYO Funmbi Omotayo’s friendly, instantly likeable style won him the award for Best Newcomer at the Black Entertainment Comedy Awards. He has since gone on to win the prestigious Leicester Square New Act of the Year competition in 2012; shortly after becoming joint winner of Amused Moose’s Laugh Off Competition in the same year. Gently paced stories and anecdotes are delivered warmly and confidently from this relative newcomer. Funmbi is creating a huge storm on the comedy circuit with tales of living in Hackney, his Nigerian roots and his hilarious day to day observations. A charming young comic - he’s got the jokes to back up his charm. Soon, he could be playing to thousands - Time Out HAL CRUTTENDEN Hal Cruttenden is one of the top touring stand up comedians working in the UK and Ireland today, as well as being a highly accomplished writer, presenter and actor. He has made several appearances on ‘Live at the Apollo’ (BBC1 & 2), ‘Have I Got News For You’ (BBC1), ‘The Royal Variety Performance’ (ITV1), ‘Would I Lie To You’ (BBC1) ‘The One Show’ (BBC1), ‘The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice’ (BBC2 & Channel 4) and ‘The Apprentice: You’re Fired’ (BBC2). Hal presents a comedy rugby podcast with Dan Skinner called ‘Rugby Jubbly’, as well as hosting a new streaming show for Saracens Rugby Club, every Friday and Saturday called ‘The Huddle’. He’s also one of the most experienced and in demand hosts for corporate events in the country. As always there’s a great supporting line up direct from the London Comedy Circuit. Book Early - Limited Availability! For more information visit www.houseofstandup.co.uk/dartford/

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Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at Edward Alderton Theatre

E A S T E R

E N T E R T A I N M E N T

A new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella, proving that ‘evil has many faces’.

It is a classic tale of depravity, lust, love and horror on the streets of fog-bound streets of Victorian London. Jekyll’s experiments with exotic ‘powders and tinctures’ have brought forth his other self Edward Hyde, a sensualist and villain free to commit the sins Jekyll is too civilized to comprehend. When Hyde meets a woman who stirs his interest, Jekyll fears for her life and decides to end his experiments - Hyde has other ideas!

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - 9th to 16th April www.edwardalderton.org

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