SO Magazine May 2023

BUSINESS

Life lessons

Why Chamberlain Court is the area’s premium care offering

CULTURE Book tickets

The second Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival returns to town this month

FOOD & DRINK A vine time

We preview the second Wine Garden of England event at Balfour Winery

DEBORAH AND JAMES RICHARDS EXPLAIN HOW MADDISONS RESIDENTIAL IS CHANGING ESTATE AGENCY

elcome to your May issue of SO magazine. We hope that when you come to read this month’s edition the sun is shining and the predicted heatwave we’ve all been promised for early May has arrived!

This month’s cover features Deborah Richards and her husband James from Maddisons Residential which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. It’s quite the success story given Deborah, a former banker, had no experience in the world of property when she established her business in 2013. But given her excellent professional skillset she, along with James who joined the company a few years later, has made her sales and lettings agency one of the town’s most successful and unique. Turn to page 8 to discover Deborah’s fascinating story.

Elsewhere in the magazine we welcome a few of our favourite annual events back this month. First up is the Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival which this year sees a stellar cast of authors and celebrity writers appearing on the bill.

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WIn addition to former children’s laureate Michael Rosen, TV star Michael Parkinson and actor Russell Tovey (pictured below) talking about their latest works, you also have the chance to catch presenter Melanie Sykes, star of stage and screen Sheila Hancock and writer Giles Brandreth too. Turn to page 29 to find out more.

We also showcase the programme for this year’s Festival Theatre at Hever Castle (p30) which has a brilliant and varied bill with something for all ages and celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023. This month we also have a few recent discoveries to share with you.

First up is Water Lane in Hawkenbury (p46) a beautiful new imagining of the former Victorian walled garden which is now a great spot for feasting, foraging and shopping. We also share our love for Pomalo, a stunning events space curated and hosted by Andrea Hilgers at her Pembury Hall home (p72).

Then of course there’s all your usual local lifestyle content and pictures of the town’s best parties to enjoy too. We hope you love all this month’s edition has to offer you.

THE TEAM

EDITOR

Eileen Leahy

eileen.leahy@onemediauk.co.uk

ISSUE 175

DESIGN

Jo Turfitt

EDITORIAL

Karen Martin

Naomi Murray

Tim Sykes

Molly Miller

PHOTOGRAPHY

David Bartholomew

Emily Harding

Culture vulture: what’s on where this month

6

Back to black: Paul Dunton previews the line-up of this year’s Black Deer festival

8

Market value: Deborah Richards reveals the story behind her Maddisons Residential business on its tenth anniversary

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15

Fawlty fun: Royal Wells Hotel launches its Fawlty Towers themed dinners

Getting into gear: Soapbox Stars Kart race officially revs up

Great escape: Luxury holiday rental company Bloom Stays hosts Tunbridge Wells press brunch

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21

Cheers to us: One Media celebrates success with spring party

Sweet charity: The Exiles hold their annual St George’s Day bash

50

62 Flower power: Artist Sophie M Cook tells us about her work

65

Work it out: Hypnotherapist Karen Martin advises how to stress less at the office

22

Courting favour: We discover why Chamberlain Court is such a first class care provider

27

On your bike: The

57 Seasonal change: Charlotte Newman, owner of Kitch reveals one of her favourite fashion brands

59 Firm foundations: TAW’s Natalie Piacun on achieving complexion perfection

60 Here to heal: Helios on the homeopathic products their customers love

67

Fever pitch: Naomi Murray from Botanica Health on dealing with hay fever the natural way

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Get in shape: Fitness expert Sarah Gorman suggests simple everyday exercises

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Curate and create: We meet Pomalo founder Andrea Hilgers

74 Clean up your act: Home Edited’s Kate Edmondson on streamlining life

77 Clean up your act: Home Edited’s Kate Edmondson on streamlining life

Drive of your life: We test drive the new BMW M3

MOUNTAIN HIGH

MAY 6

The Banff Mountain Film Festival joins the world’s best adventure filmmakers and explorers as they push themselves to the limits in the most remote and stunning corners of the globe.

We bring you the month’s most entertaining events happening this May

CARRY ON CAMPING

MAY-SEPTEMBER

Bewl’s yurts are now open again along with its Aqua Park. Early bird bookings can benefit from 20% off all activities

Showing screenings at 2pm and 7pm at the Assembly Hall, this is your chance to witness epic humanpowered feats, life-affirming challenges and mind-blowing cinematography – all on the big screen! For tickets visit www.assemblyhalltheatre. co.uk

ALL THAT JAZZ

MAY 4

Kicking off at 7pm is the first Jazz on the Pantiles of the season. Running every Thursday evening all through the summer until August 31, this popular event sees lots of

DID YOU KNOW?

local musicians performing on the promenade’s famous bandstand. Enjoy the sights and sounds for just £5 entry fee or why not make a meal of it – quite literally – and book a table at one of the neighbouring restaurants so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the sonic jazz tonic.

NIGHT MOVES

MAY 6

The Forum goes Back to the 90s on the first Saturday of the month of May, bringing a crate of floor-filling retro tunes from that era to dance the night away to. Brought to you by DJ Alex Macnutt of Back to the 80s and Tiger Tavern fame, this is a not-to-be-missed night for any music lover of that particular period in time which brought us The Verve, Massive Attack and Oasis to name but a few…

Tickets cost £10.

TASTE THE DIFFERENCE

MAY 6

including the Aqua Park, soft play, fishing, bike hire and laser tag. The reservoir’s popular Ranger Bear’s Spring Trail will also be open throughout May.

For more details on this, please visit www.bewlwater.co.uk

Approximately 400 films are entered into the Banff Mountain Film Festival annually, and approximately 70 to 80 are selected by a pre-screening committee and the festival team to be shown at the festival.

The Pantiles’ popular foodie market returns over the weekend of May 6 and 7. Running on alternate Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year, the market welcomes all manner of independent local traders and producers selling their gastronomic goodies. As well as delicious food and drink, there are also lots of other stalls selling jewellery, gifts, fashion and vintage pieces too, so there really is something for everyone!

BROUGHT TO BOOKS

MAY 11

The second Tunbridge Wells Literary festival starts on May 11 with a free talk by children’s author Michael Rosen, who will be reading extracts from his book Goldilocks and the Three Crocodiles at the Assembly Hall from 4pm. Later that day, at 7.30pm the award-winning writer

ROYAL CELEBRATION

MAY 7

The town and Borough of Tunbridge Wells will be celebrating Charles becoming King over the bank holiday weekend with all manner of regal themed events. There will be afternoon teas fit for a King and Queen at One Warwick Park

will host an evening discussing his latest book, ‘Getting Better: Life Lessons on Going Under, Getting Over It, and Getting Through It’ – a memoir focusing on mental health and recovery. The first talk is free to attend, while tickets for the evening event cost £15 per person.

HEVER FEVER

MAY 27

The Three Inch Fools are hitting the road and stepping back into the great outdoors with five actors, all manner of musical instruments and an inventive take on Shakespeare’s As You Like It in order to kick off this year’s Festival Theatre at Hever event – now in its 40th year! Tickets for this performance cost from £16.65 and for more info on other events see www.heverfestival.co.uk

LET THE FUN BE GIN

MAY 27

Over the weekend of May 27 and 28, The Pantiles welcomes back its popular Gin & Jazz festival. Running from 11.00am to 6.00pm you are invited to join and sample some of the best artisan gins from over 30 local and national producers, while enjoying the live music and delicious food on offer.

and Salomons, and special puppetry shows and street entertainers courtesy of an exclusive Royal Tunbridge Wells Together series of celebrations. One of our favourite venues, Chiddingstone Castle, will be hosting soul singer June B at 3pm on the Sunday, so if you love live music and a gorgeous location then what are you waiting for? More information can be found at www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

FESTIVAL FEELING

MAY 27 & 28

Unfest returns in its usual May Bank Holiday slot over the final weekend of May. The Forum’s multi-venue celebration of live music, art and culture is a fantastic staple of the social scene in Tunbridge Wells and one not to be missed. More details here: www.twforum.co.uk

OVER THE OCEAN

MAY 12

Trinity Theatre will be hosting two screenings of My Sailor, My Love on May 12. This heartwarming drama on timeless love and forgiveness from director Klaus Härö, will be on at 2.30pm and 7.30pm, and follows the tale of Howard, a retired sailor and widower. He lives in a house by the sea, but his reclusive existence changes when his adult daughter Grace hires a carer for her father – a lady in her mature years, Annie. Filmed on Achill Island in Mayo, Ireland, this is an emotional watch, further boosted by stunning scenery. To book, visit www.trinitytheatre.co.uk

GOURMET GOODS

MAY 13

Foodies will be delighted to hear that the popular Pantiles Food Festival returns over the weekend of May 13-14. With over 40 different food and drink stalls, there will be all sorts of different-style cuisines to tickle your taste buds, along with live cooking demonstrations, courtesy of some of our popular local chefs. This, along with savouring a bite or two of some top notch food on offer really is the perfect way to get some new inspiration for your summer recipe repertoire.

VA - VA - VOOM

MAY 31- JUNE 3

TWODS are delighted to bring you Ian Fleming’s fantasmagorical adventure with everyone’s favourite car – ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’! On at the Assembly Hall from May 31 to June 3, this promises to be a brilliant production that will appeal to all ages. For tickets and timings visit www.twods.org

DID YOU KNOW?

TWODS was established in 1889. Over the decades it has put on countless performances and raised thousands for local charities including The Pickering Cancer Drop in Centre, The Samaritans, COMPAID Trust and The MS Society.

festival Afestivalnoteworthy

Next month the Black Deer Music Festival rocks up at Eridge Park over the weekend of June 16-18 with a bill that features some fantastic Americana acts, including Steve Earle and Bonnie Raitt as well as legendary groups like the Pretenders too. Paul Dunton previews what’s in store and also reveals some surprise guests…

The award-winning Black Deer Festival of Americana is back for its much-anticipated fourth edition in 2023. Taking place at Eridge Park over the weekend of June 16-18, the festival showcases the authentic Americana way of life and brings a true sense of underground community to England’s oldest deer park.

Black Deer is not just about hearing the music you love, it’s about discovering music you’re going to love and experiencing the unique cultural richness that surrounds the ever-popular way of life that is Americana. The natural ingredients that complete this simple melting pot of a lifestyle can all be found at Black Deer: authentic smokehouse BBQ cooking, the thrill of custom motorcycle culture and a connection with nature to inspire the young folk.

Eridge Park is the perfect playground to entertain and revitalise the soul with the sounds, smells, tastes and spirit of community this festival experience brings together. Black Deer is a gathering for those who love to get together in the countryside and is heading into its fourth year. Named

‘Best New Festival’ following the inaugural event in 2018, and picking up many more awards since, Black Deer is an independent force of nature that continues to go from strength to strength.

The festival has built up lots of good will since its inception thanks to its commitment to finding, developing and nurturing the best of the Americana world. This year will see the festival further its footprint with a main stage operating across three days and bigname artists already announced.

WHO’S ON THE BILL

Friday June 16 will see the

exhilarating and unique offering of Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats performing, as well as Americana pioneers Midlake, GRAMMY Award winning Lucinda Williams, Far From Saints (the new band from Kelly Jones of Stereophonics) plus Kurt Vile & The Violators, Bonny Light Horseman, This Is The Kit and more.

On Saturday June 17, Black Deer will welcome the Pretenders, one of the most enduring acts of the rock era, Bonnie Raitt, who is fresh from claiming the prestigious ‘Song of the Year’ at the 65th Grammy Awards, as well as The Teskey Brothers, Calexico, Allison Russell, Amythyst Kiah, Robert Vincent, Katherine Priddy and more. Closing out the festival on Sunday June 18 is the tender folk rock duo Bear’s Den, country music icon Steve Earle, the unmissable Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Drake White, Elles Bailey, Amanda Shires, Bella White and many more names in Americana, country and beyond.

MORE THAN MUSIC

Away from the main stages, a wide variety of artisan street food and drink is also available, while the much-loved Live Fire arena features expert demonstrations on foraging, butchery and knife-making from master craftsmen, through to the very best authentic low ‘n’ slow American BBQ and live-fire cooking from industry leading chefs, as well as many other delicious food vendors.

The Young Folk area offers a range of exciting range of activities for the kids, from bespoke custom bike and hot rod showcases, storytelling from cultural pioneers, songwriting sessions and much more.

The widespread emergence of Americana is evident and Black Deer is at the heart of raising its profile. Celebrating Americana is what Black Deer is committed to:

a vision and unrelenting quest for staying true to the communities, cultures, storytellers and memories that make up this most authentic of worlds. An independent festival born from passion, from the moment guests arrive at Eridge Park, near Tunbridge Wells, Black Deer’s unique musical offering and unrivalled cultural experience is revealed. Day tickets are available, alongside general weekend camping tickets, while Fancy Camping, prepitched camping upgrades and other camping options are also available. There’s also limited edition Jackson Social Membership available for those seeking an exclusive sanctuary to enjoy Black Deer’s Americana playground in style and comfort.

JUST ADDED TO THE LINE UP

And just at the time of SO going to press, talented guitarist, singer song writer and former member of Pulp, Richard Hawley was confirmed to appear at the festival on Sunday night as the headline act. Also appearing on the Friday night is actor Damian

Lewis, who recently announced himself to the world as a musician, releasing his debut single ‘Down on the Bowery’. The esteemed actor’s debut album Mission Creep, is described as a “thoughtful collection of rootsy, rock and jazztinged songs”, and will be released on the exact same day that he takes to the stage in Eridge Park, in what’s bound to be an unmissable and memorable performance.

Black Deer is also thrilled to welcome Demi Marriner, Motel Sundown, Anna Howie, and Samuel Ashton, winners of the Black Deer Emerging 2023 programme – beating over 700 artists who applied, after being voted the deserved winners from the Black Deer community.

Co-Founder Deb Shilling says, “Each of these winning artists will bring something all of their own to our Americana playground and we can’t wait to welcome them to the deer park.”

For more information visit www.blackdeerfestival.com

“Black Deer is not just about hearing the music you love, it’s about discovering music you’re going to love too”

like to do things

differently”

This month marks ten years since Deborah Richards launched her independent estate agency Maddisons Residential Eileen Leahy caught up with the entrepreneur to discover why she and her team are changing the traditional culture of buying and selling houses…

As local entrepreneurs go, Deborah Richards from Maddisons Residential is certainly one of Tunbridge Wells’ most notable.

Having spent the first half of her professional working life working in finance for Barclays and then at the private bank Coutts, she decided to walk away from her prestigious career a decade ago in order to pursue her passion for property.

That seismic change has resulted in Deborah now running one of the town’s most well-known and successful estate agents, Maddisons Residential, which this month celebrates its 10th anniversary.

But as the first ever winner of Times of Tunbridge Wells Business Entrepreneur award in 2016 tells me when we meet at her smart offices on The Pantiles, things didn’t quite go according to plan at first.

“I placed an advert promoting my new business in the Wealden Times and was panicking because on the day of publication BT still hadn’t connected my phone line. They were only an hour or so late in doing so but I was so worried I would miss a lot of calls from prospective clients, but the irony is the phone didn’t ring once,” she laughs.

Yet it was when the publication called her to discuss what the feedback from her ad had been like that she had a moment of serendipity.

“They asked me if I’d like to place another and obviously I declined, but then they told me

that their Commercial Director had been intrigued by my story and wondered if I’d come and give her a valuation on her property.

“It was a small terraced house miles away in Aylesford but I actually won the pitch and came away elated. It was my first listing and things started to take off from there.”

Sitting in her beautifully appointed HQ, which is tastefully decorated in Maddisons’ hallmark soft grey tones and boasts a stylish seating area complete with velvet cushions, statement lighting and framed pictures of the agency’s current crop of stunning properties for sale, the phone lines

are constantly ringing. Deborah tells me that the agency currently has around 100 properties on its books and also a successful lettings division which is headed up by her husband James, also a former banker. The business also specialises in land sales and new developments.

Such a prolific portfolio certainly makes it hard to believe that it was only ten years ago that Deborah found herself quitting her career in finance to take a punt on a personal passion.

“I’d enrolled on the Barclays graduate trainee scheme thinking ‘I’ll do this for a bit’, but then on my 40th birthday when I was at Coutts I remember thinking ‘How on earth did this happen?’

“At that particular time I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I just knew I had to do something different. So I handed in my notice at Coutts and they said to me ‘Whatever you do, please do something that involves people as you are such a good communicator.’”

On finding herself without a job, the mother of three says she got a dog and did lots of walking in order to think things through.

It wasn’t long until she came up with the idea of blending her professional and personal skill set with her life-long passion of doing up properties.

“It was something I’d always done, even when I was working in banking,” she explains.

“I was 20 when I bought my first property and did it up. Six months later I saw a house that I’d always loved had come onto the market and I ended up buying it and making £60K profit, which was a fortune back then.

“I remember my mum saying ‘See if you can do it again’ because flipping properties and specialist TV shows didn’t really exist thirty odd years ago. I started renovating places because I loved that sense of looking at something that no one else could see any potential in and deciding what could be achieved by changing the décor or switching up the layout. I adored that high of people visiting and going ‘Wow look what you’ve done!’”

Deborah explains that on finally deciding she wanted to open an estate agency she instinctively knew she wanted to do things her way.

“It just seemed completely logical to me! I started by making a checklist of all the things that bugged me when I was buying and selling houses.”

However as Deborah has already admitted to me, turning a dream into a reality didn’t necessarily come easy.

“Getting off the ground was a nightmare! I totally underestimated the difference when you don’t have a big company like Barclays or Coutts behind you.”

Yet despite her initial ad bombing, it did eventually lead to

“People love their homes so can be blinded to understanding who their audience is. So it’s our job to tell them what they might need to do in order to make it more sellable”

“We

her first commission and things started to grow from there by word of mouth.

“The Commercial Director I sold the house for started telling people about me and then mums at the school started hearing about what I was doing. Two years later, in 2015, I took on my first member of staff and eventually moved from working at my kitchen table to a garden office.”

Deborah goes on to tell me that in the early days of running her business, if she didn’t have access to WiFi she’d have to seek it out

wherever she could so as not to miss any calls.

“Back then I’d have missed a couple if I was on holiday, but now we have ten lines in our Pantiles office and receive on average around 300 calls a day!”

Deborah reveals that when she first launched Maddisons Residential – so named simply because she liked the sound of it –she did everything herself from the viewings and listings to overseeing the pictures. But she also learnt the important skill of giving advice to sellers on what potential buyers

might be looking for in a home.

“When I started in estate agency I couldn’t believe that the majority of agents didn’t do this or that, they wouldn’t ask potential buyers for immediate feedback upon seeing a place. They are literally standing right in front of you so why wouldn’t you, as their agent, ask them what they thought!”

Deborah says this kind of ‘disruptor thinking’ is what makes Maddisons Residential stand out from the crowd.

“We constantly evaluate and see where we can do better. We are

committed to communicating with our clients and always want to do things differently.”

Deborah then tells me that being totally independent allows her team to be more dynamic in their approach to all aspects of buying and selling houses.

“I’ve always been about switching things up. There is so much jargon in this industry such as Under Offer, Sale Agreed. But what does that actually mean? When it came to putting up boards I wanted a way of saying I’m currently off the market but I could be back again and that’s when the ‘Spoken For’ board was born. It’s been widely copied since, but as they say, imitation is the highest form of flattery! We also put up To Let and then Too Late boards on our rentals, which people really like.”

Other examples of Maddisons Residential doing things differently include telling clients how to make their home more appealing to their target market.

“Did you know that 78% of people think their house is the best on the road? People love their own homes so they are blinded to understanding who their audience is. So it’s our job to tell them what they might need to do in order to make it more sellable. Sometimes

PHOTOS BY DAVID BARTHOLOMEW

people might not want to hear this, but we know what our buyers are after. Other agents will simply say how lovely their house looks, but that isn’t necessarily going to sell it.

“Essentially it comes down to knowing what a seller’s target market wants and making their property appeal accordingly. We take all the emotion out of it as we need to see how the buyer wants it.”

Deborah says that could include telling people if there is a ceiling price on their road or if they have overdeveloped a house.

“The thing is you’re in no man’s land if you have created a fivebedroom house but there is no parking and a tiny garden. You won’t appeal to a downsizer as it will be too big and a family won’t want to look at it due to lack of car space and the outside not being big enough. The other thing we have to sometimes warn people of is treating their home like a stop-gap. If it looks like you don’t want to live there then why would anyone else want to?

“Buyers make judgements and assumptions all the time. So it’s about understanding what a buyer

wants and then putting together a programme. Most long-term sellers will be relieved you’re giving them this type of advice as other agents will just tell you to drop your price or that the market is hard right now, but it’s not. We offer this kind of advice so ultimately you don’t have to drop your price. To have to shave off £25K is a lot of money to the average person and I realise that. Despite all the success, I have never forgotten the value of money.”

It’s clear that Maddisons Residential has a very tailored and personal approach to each client and their needs – whether that’s buying or selling.

“I personally believe you have a duty of care on behalf of your client to get them the best deal. There are lots of things we can do before we talk about dropping the price.”

This strategic approach to helping Maddisons’ clients achieve the most from their property asset is not surprising, given Deborah’s business degree in economics and her previous banking experience managing clients’ assets.

Her professional experience and qualifications are reinforced by membership of the Property Ombudsman.

MADDISONS RESIDENTIAL IN NUMBERS

At any one time Maddisons Residential have: 20 properties waiting to go on the market 30 on the market but not under offer 30-40 that are under offer and going through to exchange 5 or so which have been exchanged

They also have: 100% success rate in selling properties that other agents have not sold 98% of offers successfully negotiated

DID YOU KNOW?

Maddisons Residential has been recognised as an exceptional agent and is now within the top 3% of agents in the country

“They have a Code of Conduct, which obviously we observe, and the details of that code are all just good common sense combined with how any seller would expect to be treated.”

Deborah does tell me that her husband James, who opened the lettings side of the business a few years ago, did his formal ARLA qualification because the rental market is highly-regulated.

And on the subject of her husband, Deborah says that James

has always been ‘so supportive.’

“I remember presenting him with a full business plan as I wanted to take five thousand pounds from our joint account in order to set up the Maddisons’ website and buy stationery. I did it because I wanted him to realise that I might not earn anything for the first two years of running my own business, but he was so supportive. It’s funny to think that a few years after I had this mad idea he came to join me!”

Deborah, who also publishes a weekly vlog online, updating clients with news and info, reveals that working so closely together has its pros and cons, but that ultimately it means you understand each other’s worlds.

“James is a great asset to my team, and given what he was doing before, his skill set is very high. If you work with us both you wouldn’t necessarily know we are married, but every now and again a rare bit of domestic chat happens when I might have to ask James to pick up some blueberries from Sainsbury’s!”

93% of offers successfully managed to exchange 46 years of combined experience between their directors

And finally:

17+ areas covered in Kent and surrounding areas

It typically takes Maddions

Residential 83 days to market and sell your house

96% of people would recommend Maddisons Residential

While Deborah and James aim to keep work and home separate, being a working mother – like many of her staff – makes Deborah an empathetic employer.

“I have two older children – aged 21 and 15 – so Maddisons launched when they were becoming a little easier. However, in 2016 I found myself unexpectedly pregnant and had my ‘late surprise’, Esme, who is now six. I am therefore well aware of the complexities that the working mum faces, having to keep many plates spinning and quickly swap from career woman to mum, in a heartbeat.”

Maddisons Residential now employs a team of 11, who are a mix of full and part-time and Deborah admits that the work schedule is always full-on.

“Anyone who thinks ‘Oh I’ll do a bit of part-time work as an estate agent as it will be nice looking around people’s houses’ gets quite the shock coming here as it’s always so busy. It’s a great success story, but we are always wanting more hours in the day – yet we do have a brilliant retention of our staff.”

“Our viewings are a different model to the usual. Here you need to know your company’s stock because if one place is not quite right then we can suggest another of our properties”

When I started in estate agency I couldn’t believe that the majority of agents didn’t ask for feedback on the spot

Currently Maddisons Residential, whose instruction fee is a minimum of £5K, has around 100 properties on its books, which means the team is not only dealing with sellers but also correlating buyers, and everything else involved in the process, such as partners, chains and then potential sellers.

“The reality is that for every one of those people buying or selling a home it is the most important thing going on for them in their life. And we must ensure that in turn they are the most important person for us too. You can’t let a phone call go unreturned and you must respond to emails on the same day. So yes, the workload is phenomenal and you have to be so good at prioritising, dealing with pressure and spinning a million different plates at once. You’re also working on constant interrupt mode as you’ll be doing something and then you’ll get a call to see a property.

“But the biggest thing is my team and I really, really care about all

DID YOU KNOW:

Maddisons

Residential has notched up a slew of milestones and awards over the past decade, including:

2013: Deborah Richards sold her first property from her kitchen table

2014: Deborah moved into a garden office and won her first award at the UK Property Awards

of it. I don’t like it when a deal is about to collapse so I’ll get fully into the guts of it and try and work it out. I hate to phone sellers and tell them that their buyers have pulled out – especially if they have found a house to move to. It’s almost like being a therapist to someone!

“I often describe selling houses like a short, intense relationship. You get to know people so intimately – seeing their house, meeting their family, talking to them all the time. I often say ‘I bet your best friend hasn’t seen your bedroom as much as me!’”

In addition to the client loyalty and transparency, the attention to detail, forward thinking and ongoing communication both in person and online, Deborah also employs a stager to ensure all homes on the market look their best, which is something she personally foots the bill for.

OBJECTIVES & RESULTS

They want to sell or let your property for the best price to the best buyer in timeframes that work for you

They deliver this in a way that leaves you feeling truly delighted with the service that you have received

As a result, they receive 96% of their instructions from buyers, sellers and professional contact recommendations

Maddisons Residential have a raft of Google 5 Star Reviews and are the highest-rated Tunbridge Wells’ agent on the independent review site Viewagents.com

They are property experts who successfully market properties

that other agents have struggled to sell or rent through a combination of unique techniques

Maddisons Residential communicate with you every step of the way. Clients receive feedback as soon as the viewing is over, are sent weekly reports and have regular review meetings until the property is sold or let

They genuinely care about helping you achieve your property dreams and you will feel this, every step of the way.

They also care about their great team and wonderful community in which we all live

“The stager will make a place look lovely for the photos and then also give tips for future viewings. Sometimes it’s not needed when the house is so beautiful, but it’s something we offer free of charge. We’re just trying to constantly think about doing things differently and better.”

That also includes a regular review programme for houses currently on the market. The agency’s most popular areas tend to be the heart of Tunbridge Wells – or the village as it’s known – and south of the town in places such as Frant and Wadhurst.

“Every two weeks clients will get a full summary report about their properties, including information on all the viewings, any competition in the area, what we’ve done to market their home on social media and then we just have regular conversations.

“When I was regularly buying and selling it used to drive me mad

as you’d list your property and then it would be tumbleweed, but the Maddisons’ review process ensures that we are always connected. Some agents don’t provide feedback, but we always do. I’m as focused on getting the job done as I am with winning the instruction. I always have that mantra in my head which is a property is always a liability on your books until it’s sold, and that is absolutely true.

“Our viewings are a different model to the usual. Here you need to know your company’s stock because if one place is not quite right then we can suggest another of our properties. An agent has to know how to cross sell.”

Deborah is also extremely passionate about Maddisons Residential, which now a dominant agent for family homes in the town, being a part of the local community.

2015: Gold in the ‘Highly Commended Kent Estate Agent’ category at the UK Property Awards

2015: Best Single Office in the South East at Estate Agent of the Year

2016: Business Entrepreneur of the Year at the Times of Tunbridge Wells Business Awards

2019: Gold in the Best Estate Agency Guide for sales

2021: Maddisons becomes the most dominant agent in Tunbridge Wells for 3 bedroom plus properties and hits a record number of sales, agreeing 137

2022: Maddisons is voted a Double Gold winner in the Best Estate Agency Guide for both sales and lettings, an achievement gained by less than 5% of estate agents UK wide

2022: Deborah takes home The Growth Award at the Kent Women in Business 2022 awards and wins Silver for the Best Business of Five Years

“We always do as much as we can to help. We have done lots for local charities including Hospice in the Weald, Pickering Drop-In Cancer Centre, West Kent Mind and Taylor Made Dreams.

“We have also supported the Tunbridge Wells half marathon and sponsor Langton Girls Football club.

“Looking forward five or ten years I’d like to put back into the community even more by mentoring small businesses voluntarily or take on some nonexec roles. I’d love to mentor more people and be even more of a contributor and mentor to this town.

“In 2016 I won the Times of Tunbridge Wells Business Entrepreneur and at the time I had such imposter syndrome telling myself I wasn’t that. I said I’d just had an idea about how something could be done differently and better and luckily that had legs and it’s done well.

“But equally what I’ve learnt is that I am actually an entrepreneur. I will look at something and go, ‘Now, why is it being done that way?’ I’ve got friends who say ‘Can we go out for lunch as I want to run a business idea past you’ and I’m always looking at ways to improve our own business.”

Given that Deborah was an outstanding co-host at this year’s Times of Tunbridge Wells Business Awards alongside LBC broadcaster and journalist Nick Ferrari and has since won and been nominated for plenty more industry awards, we have no doubt that she and her business will continue to move on up for many years to come… www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk

Fawltyfabulousyetfun

TThe Royal Wells Hotel hosted a sneak peek of its new ‘Faulty Towers Dinner Experience’ which runs from May 29 to June 29.

At the official launch last month, VIP guests were invited to sample a taste of this fun event which brilliantly captures the mayhem of Fawlty Towers, courtesy of its doppelganger lookalikes of the original BBC TV show’s three main characters: hapless hotel manager Basil Fawlty, his longsuffering wife Sybil and hopeless Spanish waiter Manuel.

The idea is the trio perform a series of improvised, interactive sketches from the show, which starred John Cleese, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs, while guests enjoy a three-course meal and become embroiled in a number of hilarious skits.

The hotel’s Sales and Events Manager Luca Zanetti-Springett came up with the idea and told SO Magazine: “I was determined to create an event that would be talked about for months to come and I think we have succeeded!”

To book tickets which are priced £50pp visit www.designmynight.com

Does talking about money really remain a taboo?

Poleposition

The Soap Box Stars Press launch took place on April 20, and was supported by the event’s headline sponsors NFU Mutual Tunbridge Wells & Flimwell, and the Stoner Motor Company, who also generously hosted the party at their showroom on the North Farm industrial estate.

Guests were greeted with a selection of delicious mocktails and canapés provided by The Counter, and the music came courtesy of the funky Balearic beats spun by DJ Cookie.

“The aim of the evening was to educate invitees about the main charities who will benefit from the Soap Box Stars race day on June 24,” explained organiser Coco Piesse Turner.

“This year they are Hospice in the Weald, Pickering Cancer DropIn Centre, Nourish Community Foodbank and Mental Health Resource. We can’t wait for our soap box race teams to rev up their engines and get ready to tackle those hay bales and have lots of fun raising vital funds!”

To buy your tickets visit www.twsoapboxrace.com

PHOTOS BY TOM MILES

In bloom

LLast month boutique luxury holiday rentals company Bloom Stays celebrated its partnership as current sponsors of SO Magazine’s travel section with a delicious brunch at One Warwick Park Hotel. Set up in 2021 by entrepreneurs Nicky and Rowena, the fledgling business specialises in sourcing and marketing the county’s finest places to stay - whether that’s a cosy cottage for a couple or a grand country pile for friends and family marking a milestone birthday. Talking to the group of local influencers they had invited along to the special event, the duo explained that it is their attention to detail and support for the local economy and culture that really sets them apart from competitors. Nicky and Rowena revealed that Bloom Stays has a range of 100 beautiful Kent-based properties to suit any kind of luxury local getaway, and the team can organise pretty much any extras clients may desire during their stay. This ranges from sourcing yoga instructors, eco hot tubs and zip wires to organising wine tours and having someone style your stay by tablescaping and delivering fresh flowers. And it’s never too much trouble to ensure the best cheese and charcuterie platters in the area are delivered direct to your door should you so wish. Weekends away and staycations just got a whole lot more exclusive courtesy of this forward thinking holiday lettings company...

PHOTOS BY EMILY HARDING

Social network

Key advertising clients of the Times of Tunbridge Wells and SO Magazine gathered for a special celebratory evening at One Warwick Park Hotel as guests of the titles’ publisher One Media. Those in attendance included Gillian Palmer from the Finance Hub, Darren Austin of Synergee, Alexander Pushkin of Pushkin Antiques, James and Deborah Richards from Maddisons Residential and Maryna Cole of Retreat Aesthetics. Invitees were served a variety of refreshments including springthemed cocktails created by the hotel’s Deputy Operations Manager Sham Madys and also enjoyed a selection of delicious canapés whipped by Head Chef Ollie Funnell. “It was a fantastic evening of networking and meeting new contacts, and great to see so many of our supporters in person,” a One Media spokesperson said.

FINDING BALANCE IN AN INCREASINGLY VIRTUAL WORLD

As the opportunities of hybrid working continue to evolve, The Star PA is helping health and wellbeing businesses flourish in this new world…

their business.

This is especially important when it comes to the health and wellbeing industry - after all, how can someone run a business focused on helping others if they themselves are struggling to maintain a balanced lifestyle?

The world of hybrid working has brought many new opportunities for businesses, but with these opportunities have come challenges. One such key challenge for many entrepreneurs and business owners is balancing their everyday life with the needs of

This is where The Star PA can help. The Star PA provides flexible and bespoke Virtual Assistant Services to entrepreneurs and business owners in the Health & Wellbeing Industry - on everything from organising a clients’ diary to office and building management.

The founder of the Star PA is Ghislayne Perez-Duran. She started her working life 25 years ago balancing the demands of a daytime office job during the

week, whilst running her own children’s entertainment agency at the weekends. She was also simultaneously taking a degree in Business Administration and Management, which gave her an early insight into the challenges of effective time management. Years later in 2005, she moved to London. Then last year she made the move to Tunbridge Wells. You might have seen her attending business networking

SERVICES SUMMARY

The Star PA offers a wide range of services including inbox and diary management, CRM and database management, email marketing, bookkeeping, credit control, office and building management and many other

events, distributing her leaflets, supporting local and health and wellbeing businesses online or doing research across Kent for her upcoming wedding.

Her philosophy on life and business is simple but effective: dream, plan and finally, do. Her clients come to her for a variety of reasons, but the most prevalent need is time, or more specifically time management.

Time management is a skill

time consuming tasks!

Ghislayne offers a free discovery call to properly gauge your business’ needs, and a fully bespoke service tailored to your goals. The Star PA is on the TN card and currently offers 10% off all rates for the first three months.

we all use on a daily basis. The average business owner can spend approximately 10 hrs a month working on admin tasksthat is circa 30 minutes a day or a couple of hours a week.

By freeing up clients from their time consuming, onerous tasks, Ghislayne is able to provide that most precious resource where and when it is most needed.

Clients can then use that extra time to generate extra income, spend more time with their loved ones, or simply take a much needed break. In other words, Ghislayne’s goal is to help clients find and maintain a healthy balance in their own lives.

e

w www.thestarpa.com

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By George!

At the end of last month

The Spa Hotel hosted The Exiles’ annual St George’s Day charity fundraiser and once again it was deemed a huge success by the many guests who attended.

Over 180 people from the local business community gathered together at lunchtime on Friday April 21 to enjoy a delicious three-course meal in the hotel’s banqueting suite before participating in a special auction in order to raise vital funds for the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre on Monson Road. In total a sum of around £30,000 was raised.

The event’s organiser Simon Jones told SO Magazine: “On behalf of The Exiles I would like to thank local businesses and social groups for their continued support of this special lunch for a very special local charity.”

PHOTOS BY DAVID BARTHOLOMEW

“We aim to deliver an outstanding service”

Chamberlain Court is Tunbridge Wells’ leading care home. To discover what makes it such a special place we caught

up with its General Manager Judy Heathfield-Eliott. Judy has worked at Chamberlain Court, which is part of the Hallmark Care Homes family, for four years. Here she reveals

Let’s start with you telling us briefly about Chamberlain Court and the type of care it offers…

Our home is located on Mount Ephraim and we are proud to have a caring and committed team, who provide industry-leading residential, nursing and dementia care. The home has been rated by ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission and it has a range of facilities that enable residents to thrive, such as our homely café, outdoor activity room, and state-of-the-art cinema. We are also very fortunate to be surrounded by some beautiful landscaped gardens at the home, which our residents make use of all year round.

Why have you ensured that essential home comforts are in place at Chamberlain Court? Our facilities allow residents to carry on enjoying the everyday routines they cherish, including having their weekly hair and nail appointments at our luxurious salon and catching up with friends in the vibrant café. Our dining rooms also have open kitchen areas to enable residents to help with the preparation of meals if they wish to, and our celebrations room enables residents to still be a part of events, from birthdays and anniversaries to a family reunion.

What does your role of General Manager at this very special place entail?

The role is primarily to lead the team to deliver an outstanding service to our residents. For me, that is about knowing all the residents, what their likes and dislikes are and how to match this with the team. Creating a happy environment is all about the people as well as the surroundings and ensuring that we all work together to support the residents to live their best lives. The role ensures the smooth running of the home and making sure everyone is safe. We spend a lot of time at work and it needs to be fun – fun for the team and the residents. The families and friends are a huge part of the success of our home and are included at all opportunities. My role is to ensure the outstanding delivery of all services, like a hotel but with care. The residents have the opportunities to be involved in the day-to-day running of Chamberlain Court as ultimately this is their home. Legislation dictates much of the role, and this is ever changing so flexibility and leading change is vital.

What should people know before moving into care?

Residents and their families should know all of their options before transitioning into care, and should look at multiple homes to find the best fit for them. It’s always good to do this to ensure you pick the home that is right for you. Ideally, they will know what they want from living in a care home, to have their needs met of course, but to know how you would like your life to be, what you want to do will help you to make choices when you get there.

What do you think the most common misconception of care is?

The biggest one is that people think care homes are only for when people can’t live on their

what

she

loves

about working in the care industry and what her managerial role entails…

“Creating a happy environment is all about the people as well as the surroundings and ensuring that we work together to support the residents to live their best lives”

Judy Heathfield-Eliott

own anymore. Whereas I think it’s more accurate nowadays to say that care homes are lifestyle choices, and another way of living independently with fewer worries for residents. Our Lifestyle Team puts together a varied weekly Activities Programme for our residents to enjoy and it is at these gatherings that new friendships are formed, which is lovely to see.

The transition to care can be hard for residents, so how does Chamberlain Court help with this?

Several things are difficult for those moving into a care home, including leaving pets. At Chamberlain Court, we allow residents to bring their pets with them to ease their transition into care and we are already in talks with one future resident talking to us about moving in with her cat. If it’s not possible to bring a pet for whatever reason, they can at least be regular visitors.

Some residents may also be worried about leaving their personal belongings behind. We encourage people to personalise their room when they move in to lessen the impact this can have on them. And when it comes to missing their friends, here at Chamberlain Court we can support by encouraging and welcoming visitors or organising for a resident to visit their friends in their old community.

When transitioning into care, people may feel they are losing control over their life. This is one very close to my heart and is easily overcome by encouraging and supporting the person to keep control of everything they are capable of controlling both day-today and more complex decisions.

What do you think is the best aspect of Chamberlain Court?

Our team are very experienced and extremely well qualified. They are also determined to ensure that we provide excellent standards of care to all our residents. We take

very seriously the company charter and values and work to them on a daily basis. Also – it goes without saying, our fabulous residents!

What is your favourite part of your role?

I love my job! I enjoy meeting new people and getting to know the residents and their families. I also very much enjoy people management and developing multi-skilled teams. I’m always up for a challenge, so bringing team members on is something I look forward to. I’m happy to be here – having a job you love means it is never a chore.

Does Chamberlain Court work with the local community?

Absolutely. We have built solid and loyal relationships with several organisations. For example, Age UK Tunbridge Wells hold their monthly Memory Café with us on the third Thursday of each

month. This fantastic event offers support for both the person living with dementia and their carers. We host a monthly support group for Parkinson’s UK and we also recently launched a Cinema Club. In terms of our intergenerational links, every Tuesday morning we host Songs & Smiles where children aged between 0 and 4 years sing and play games with our residents. This is organised through

the national charity The Together Project. We also work very closely with Rose Hill Primary School here in Tunbridge Wells and the children have formed wonderful relationships with our residents.

For further information, call 01892 618773 or visit: www.hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk

“The biggest misconception is that people think care homes are only for when people can’t live on their own anymore. I think it’s more accurate to say they are lifestyles choices”

THE BIG QUESTION

Are flexible workspaces the way we should all work?

This month in The Big Question, we speak to Ashley Scriven - Senior Associate Solicitor at Loch Law Tom Olden - Founder of Office Tribe and Angie CrushHead of Employment at Thomas Mansfield Solicitors

Q. What is the most popular option in flexible workspaces currently?

A: Tom - Drop-in coworking is the most popular. Flexible Hotdesking where you book for the day, our new £10.50+VAT per day hot desk is very popular. Our dedicated desks & private offices are still popular across both offices.

Q. What do co-working spaces include in the package?

Tom - Not all coworking spaces offer the same. At OfficeTribe we offer unlimited access to all members, 24/7 every day of the year. Printing/Scanning, hot drinks & fruit are all included. Free phone booths & zoom rooms, monthly socials/events, weekly organised runs & discounts to local businesses.

Q. What benefits does co-working bring to businesses?

Ashley - Co-working allows for creativity, exploration of ideas with other people and networking opportunities you would not otherwise get from home.

Tom - Education! I have worked at OfficeTribe since 2019 and I have learned so much from the diverse range of coworkers I have shared space with.

Q. How do people protect confidentiality in a co-work environment?

Angie - Protecting confidentiality in a coworking environment can be a challenge, as co-working spaces are designed for collaborative working and social interaction. Establishing and communicating clear policies on confidentiality is critical. As is ensuring employees use secure storage for physical files, encryption tools for digital information, and conduct virtual meetings and business calls in private spaces.

Q. Has the cost of living crisis had an impact on the popularity of flexible work spaces?

Tom - The cost of living crisis has impacted everyone and flexible work spaces are not immune. We have introduced an unlimited hot desk membership of £100 +VAT pcm. We expect this to become a very popular package given the flexibility and affordability.

Ashley - Whilst during summer months employees may consider working from home the cheaper option, when faced with an increase in heating and electricity costs, as well as the benefits in some office spaces that are offered to employees, e.g. gym, canteen, the cost of living crisis could see a rise in employees returning to the workplace.

Q. Do you think co-working spaces makes people more or less productive in the workplace?

Angie - Flexible working has been shown to have a positive impact on productivity, absenteeism, employee satisfaction and well-being, and attracting and retaining top talent.

Tom - 86% of people asked say they are more productive working in a co-working space (colonyco.work).

Ashley - Co-working spaces used well can increase productivity, the day has boundaries. People are more focused outside of the home environment and a collegial environment is inspiring for employees.

With our grateful thanks to:

Alex Green CEO Royal Tunbridge Wells Together

in motion Wheels

The TN card is the local loyalty scheme rewarding shoppers for supporting our independents. This month, its founder Jess Gibson chats to Jack Ward, owner of Velocipede Cycles on Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells…

Jack, is cycling a long-held passion of yours?

It is indeed. I have always enjoyed cycling, in particular mountain biking, which is not only something I am passionate about, but also now a way of life, with most of my time spent on or around a bicycle.

How long have you worked in the industry?

I have been in the bike trade for nearly 25 years. I started working in a shop in Tunbridge Wells as a Saturday boy at the age of fourteen!

When and why did you decide to open Velocipede Cycles?

In 2012 I was sitting around a fire on a camping trip with friends, and we were talking about cycling in Tunbridge Wells. We realised there was a gap in the market and

WHO: Velocipede Cycles

WHERE: 122-124 Camden Road and 107 Camden Road

Opening hours: MonFri 10am-5.30pm | Sat 9am-5.30pm

REWARD: 10% off parts and accessories

For more info: info@ velocipedecycles.co.uk

thetncard.com/ velocipede-cycles

the idea for Velocipede Cycles was born. We opened our doors the next year, in February 2013.

How would you describe your business ethos?

At Velocipede Cycles on Camden Road we try to treat everyone from novice to professional in the same friendly, helpful manner. We aim to give the best customer service, be as approachable as possible and provide all our customers with the best products from the most respected brands.

What bike brands do you stock at Velocipede Cycles?

We stock a large range of mountain bikes from Orbea, Yeti, Evil, Mondraker and Kona. Alongside our traditional mountain bikes we also sell hybrid, road and electric bikes, plus a fantastic

range of children’s ones too. We now have a dedicated electric bike showroom, which we opened last year. It is situated just across the road from our main shop at 107 Camden Road and is a luxurious, calm space where you can view a selection of e-bikes from Orbea, Mondraker and Forestal.

Do you help customers to maintain and care for their bikes?

Absolutely. We have a very busy, fully-equipped workshop offering repairs and servicing plus custom builds and upgrades. We provide several levels of servicing starting from just £45. Even better, you do not need to book an appointment – just drop your bike off and leave it with us. Our turnaround in the workshop is generally three to five working days.

Who now joins you at the Velocipede team?

We are a small, but efficient team at Velocipede Cycles. We have a highly experienced Workshop Manager, Chris, who keeps everything working smoothly, and Oliver our e-bike specialist, who looks after customer service, aftersales and everything electric.

Why do you think more of us are cycling now more than ever?

There are many reasons, but the main one is the increase in cost of living. More and more people are reducing their fuel costs by making the switch to cycling to work or replacing a second car with a bicycle or e-bike. I think people are also becoming more health conscious, and cycling is a fantastic way to exercise and stay physically fit, as well as it being fantastic for your mental wellbeing.

Do you work with schemes to make bikes more accessible?

Yes, we are proud to work with multiple cycle to work schemes, such as Green Commute Initiative, Cyclescheme, Bike2Work and Bikes for Staff NHS (Vivup). Cycle to work schemes are a great way to buy a bike whilst making an efficient tax saving.

What makes our independent bike shops so special?

Independent bike shops are important because of the wealth of knowledge, expertise and passion they provide. You can buy accessories and shiny upgrades online, but the internet can’t give you personal advice to find the right bike for you or help to look after it. Please support your local bike shop!

Thank you for joining the TN card. How do you thank members for supporting you? We reward TN members for supporting local with 10% off all our parts and accessories purchased in store, as well as providing a free visual bicycle safety check – give us a call or just bring your bike in, no appointment is needed and we’d love to help.

Jess Gibson

Founder, The TN card

“We stock a large range of mountain, hybrid, road and electric bikes, plus a fantastic range of children’s ones too”

to books... Brought

After a successful debut in 2022, The Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival will once again return to the town from Thursday May to Sunday May 14.

This year’s festival will include a diverse range of events taking place at a number of venues across town including the Assembly Hall Theatre, the Amelia Scott, Royal Victoria Place, The Forum and One Warwick Park Hotel.

Last year’s inaugural festival was a resounding success, with more than 1,600 visitors attending the festival’s four-day run. This year, with the backing of Arts Council England, including an offer of more than 1,000 free tickets for children, as well as the generous support of Berry & Lamberts Solicitors and RBC Brewin Dolphin, the festival aims to be even bigger and better than before. Highlights include Sir Michael

Parkinson, who will appear at the Assembly Hall Theatre on Saturday May 13. Discussing his book, ‘My Sporting Life: Memories, Moments and Declarations’ with his son, Mike. This is an opportunity to see one of our most revered broadcasters in person discuss his life in showbiz.

Join Russell Tovey (‘The History Boys’, ‘American Horror Story’, ‘Being Human’), and Robert Diament (Director of the Carl Friedman Gallery) at the Assembly Hall Theatre on Sunday, May 14 as they discuss some of their favourite moments from their hugely popular Talk Art podcast, as featured in their new book, ‘Talk Art: The Interviews’.

Popular children’s authors and illustrators Michael Rosen, David Walliams, Bec Hill, Mama G, Tim Collins, Vashti Hardy, Manjeet Mann and Amanda Quartey will all appear across the weekend at

FAMOUS FACES COMING TO TOWN

venues including the Assembly Hall Theatre, the Amelia Scott and Royal Victoria Place.

Famous faces from of our television screens, David and Carrie Grant, who have been vocal coaches and judges on both Fame Academy and Glee Club, will discuss their book ‘A Very Modern Family’ at the Amelia Scott. In the book, Carrie and David share their own familial experiences that will speak to and help parents whose children are gender fluid and or neurodiverse. It will also help parents be more understanding and compassionate towards their children. This is an important first book that also looks at themes of race and culture.

Arsenal fans can experience fascinating insights from the longawaited memoir of international football ambassador, former coowner of Arsenal FC and legend of the game, David Dein. ‘Calling

The Shots’ is part memoir, part inspirational meditation on the game, including stories from his time at Arsenal FC.

Writers of the hugely successful play ‘Ghost Stories’, Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, will also present an intimate writing workshop. In this two-hour event, they’ll explore the process that led to the show’s creation and discuss some of the lessons they both learned, which they carried forward into the hugely popular film version they went on to adapt and direct. In a further session, they will also discuss their book ‘The Warlock Effect’.

Brand new events for this year will include the first ever TW Comicon, which will feature comic books, novels and films, manga, workshops with comic creators and artists, collectables and comics to purchase, as well as retro-gaming opportunities. Local talent will also be celebrated at the very first TWLF Local Writers’ Fair.

Nicky Carter, Head of Culture at The Amelia Scott, said:

“Following last year’s successful debut event, we’re thrilled to be hosting another Literary Festival here in Tunbridge Wells. In addition to showcasing another fantastic line-up of talented writers and storytellers, this year will also include a Local Writers’ Fair and, new to Tunbridge Wells, a Comicon event featuring stalls and workshops covering everything from Manga to superheroes!”

All tickets are available at theamelia. co.uk/whats-

This month the second Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival rolls into town and with famous children’s authors, celebrity speakers and even a cool comicon event there’s sure to be something for everyone…

“Following last year’s successful debut event, we’re thrilled to be hosting another Literary Festival in Tunbridge Wells”

Hever fever

This summer the Festival Theatre at Hever Castle celebrates its 40th anniversary. Eileen Leahy discovers what’s on the bill for this year’s summer season, which runs from May 27 to August 30 and includes everything from live Shakespeare to comedy, tribute acts and plenty of children’s entertainment…

Every summer the glorious grounds of Hever Castle are filled with great actors, comedians and musicians courtesy of the stately home’s al fresco theatre which hosts a seasonal programme of comedy, musicals, children’s drama and specialist talks.

The outdoor theatre is the longest-running venue of its kind in the South East and has previously been dubbed the ‘West

End in the Garden of England’ thanks to the many productions, plays, comedy performances and music concerts it puts on from the end of May until the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Founded by Ron Palmer as the Kent Repertory Theatre Company in 1983, this year it celebrates its 40th anniversary and to mark this milestone it will be hosting 40 fantastic events that will aim to entertain all.

Its director since 2018 is Ailsa Molyneux who is very excited about the forthcoming season and its celebrations.

“We are so proud of The Festival Theatre at Hever Castle. Our stunning venue, staff and performers are a tribute to our breathtaking home. We can’t wait to celebrate being 40 with our audiences. That will be when the real fun begins.”

She goes on to say that this year’s ‘vibrant and varied’ programme includes opera, plays, jazz, music, speakers, comedy, family favourites and the best tribute artists.

“The festival opened with Shakespeare 40 years ago and will do the same this year as we welcome The Three Inch Fools to The Loggia with As You Like It on Saturday May 27.

“As always, events will take place at our picturesque home, the Two Sisters’ Theatre, as well as The Loggia and Anne Boleyn’s Walk. And this year, for one night only, the castle can be your stunning back drop as you picnic on the main lawn

and enjoy Illyria’s production of Pride and Prejudice on Thursday August 3.”

Audiences can also enjoy a mixed variety of other shows and concerts, including Titipu Tea in the Guthrie Pavilion where singers from Charles Court Opera will serenade a programme of Gilbert & Sullivan while you enjoy afternoon tea. This takes place on Tuesday July 4 and Tuesday July 18. The Charles Court Opera will then head to the Two Sisters’ Theatre for Come and Sing the Pirates of Penzance on Saturday July 22 where the audience is invited to sing the choruses from their seats!

“Several of our most popular companies are choosing to celebrate our 40th with us by bringing their latest shows, including Beyond The Barricade on the evening of Friday July 28 New Creations Collective’s new ballet Nightingale on Thursday August 10, and of course The Last Night of the Hever Proms on Sunday August 27.”

In addition to this Ailsa tells us that firm favourites the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars will be appearing on Sunday August 30, with the ever popular Horrible Histories coming along on August 14 with their New Barmy Britain.

“We are also thrilled to welcome a plethora of world-class

“We are so proud of The Festival Theatre at Hever Castle. We can’t wait to celebrate being 40 with our audiences”

companies performing with us for the first time including Wild Arts with their performance of The Elixir of Love on Friday August 11 and Saturday August 12. This is an opera packed with big tunes, romance, and mischievous comedy, sung in English. The Duke’s Theatre Company perform Twelfth Night on Monday August 28 and there’ll be plenty of opportunity to dance the night away thanks to The Ultimate ABBA Experience taking place on Saturday July 29.”

Set in the award-winning gardens of Hever Castle, which is the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, history is always at the heart of the festival and this year is no exception. The Countess of Roden will be giving a talk to launch her new book, The Boleyns in Context on Thursday June 1 and her new play The Sphere of Light (which is actually set at Hever Castle) will premiere on Friday August 4 and Saturday August 5.

On Wednesday August 2, Dr Owen Emmerson and Kate

McCaffrey will present their talk on the current exhibition on at Hever Castle, ‘Catherine and Anne: Queens, Rivals, Mothers’ which will look at the groundbreaking discoveries found within Anne Boleyn’s Book of Hours.

Add into this heady mix the comic genius of Alan Ayckbourn, courtesy of his play A Chorus of Disapproval on Friday August 18 and Saturday August 19, the award-winning Grinstock Comedy Club with two nights of the country’s leading comedians on Friday June 2 and Wednesday August 23, plus plenty of family entertainment such as the classic tales of Robin Hood (Friday June 2) and David Walliams’ Bad Dad on Wednesday August 30, and there’s definitely something to please the cultural palate of your family and friends.

Ailsa adds that this year the team are excited to be taking the festival off-site, thanks to the first ever event being put on at Hever Castle Golf Club.

“As part of the festival run there will be a Dinner Jazz event with

THE HISTORY OF HEVER FESTIVAL THEATRE

Kent Repertory Theatre Company was created by Richard Palmer and his family 40 years ago to produce a new, varied and exciting programme of theatre for Kent. The group of local actors, directors, and designers chose to present their work in the repertory format which performed more than 70 plays over the following years.

Opening with A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed in the magical atmosphere created in the Italian Garden, The Festival Theatre at Hever Castle was born. The festival soon became one of the most popular openair venues in the South-East, still attracting many thousands of visitors each summer.

Hundreds of performers have

saxophonist Heather Hoyle at the Waterside Restaurant on Saturday June 24. There is also an opportunity to visit two castles in one day as we bring three family events to The Orangery at Chiddingstone Castle.”

The Grimm Sisters (Sunday July 30), Peter Pan by Slapstick Picnic (Sunday August 13) and The Jungle Book (Sunday August 20) will all be treading the boards for this special anniversary year.

“The festival goes from strength to strength despite not receiving any public subsidies or grants, relying entirely on ticket sales to finance each season.

“We couldn’t do this without the fabulous support of Hever Castle, they are exceptional, and, along with the Guthrie family, our greatest supporters,” explains Ailsa.

“Our volunteers play a huge role in our success, their dedication guarantees the extraordinary atmosphere which can only be created at the Festival Theatre.”

taken part alongside Kent Rep including jazz stars; Humphrey Lyttelton, George Melly, Stacey Kent and the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars. Classical music and opera still form a large part of the theatre programme including Charles Court Opera’s hit Gilbert and Sullivan performances, and the everpopular Last Night of the Hever Proms with The Brandenburg Sinfonia. Comedians Josh Widdicombe, Seann Walsh, Andy Parsons, Mark Steel, Shapi Khorsandi and Tom Allen have all made us howl with laughter over the years and there’s always been plenty of familyfriendly shows to enjoy, including Horrible Histories and Room On The Broom.

The box office is now open 07379 488477. Bring your picnic and celebrate with us heverfestival.co.uk

“There will be plenty of people’s favourites on the bill but we are also thrilled to welcome a plethora of world-class companies performing with us for the first time”

Give Dad the day off…

We’ll

Savour flavours from around the world with your platter of chargrilled rump steak, locally sourced sausages and Thai coconut chicken served with sharing bowls of our flavour-filled sides.

5. Respect the building’s proportions and scale

6. Consider local regulations and consult with local historic preservation organisations or authorities to ensure that the retrofit meets all necessary standards

INITIAL IMPACT, LONG-TERM BENEFITS

Director, Tara de Linde comments: “It is hugely rewarding to bring a period property firmly into the 21st century, and our team are well trained and highly experienced in designing, obtaining planning permission and completing retrofit Passive House projects to a high standard.

Director, Angie Pool adds: “At Atelier de Linde, we respect the bones of the building and ensure its architectural integrity is always retained through design and materials. Our current clients are thrilled with the initial impact and longstanding benefits that a retrofit Passive House can offer.”

A PASSIVE HOME IS A PERFECT HOME

As award-winning architects, Atelier de Linde are committed to designing beautifully sustainable spaces for their clients, but increasingly, their work is also a solution for the wider environment. The Passive House is a thrilling concept, which is being embraced by environmentalists and economists alike, especially as we navigate a climate emergency and a volatile energy industry.

WHAT IS PASSIVE HOUSE?

The Passive House is a leading international standard for design, which results in future homes offering energy efficiency as well as comfort. As a leading architectural practice in the South East, Atelier de Linde have been early adopters of this emerging concept, leading the drive for Net Zero in local architecture, and setting it as one of their key goals heading towards 2030.

Passive House Architecture also offers a range of ultra-efficient ways to retrofit existing buildings, setting an exceptional standard for energy efficiency, and – ultimately –improving the health and wellbeing of occupants.

The specifications for a Passive House are:

• No thermal bridging: eliminating any route by which heat can easily escape a structure

• Superior windows: high performance windows with fullyinsulated frames

• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery: MVHR extracts excess moisture, whilst recovering the heat, resulting in cleaner air with no heat loss

• Quality insulation: cladding or internal insulation to retain heat more effectively

• Airtight construction: materials used in the building are selected specifically to ensure the structure is fully airtight to retain heat and improve air quality

HEALTHY HOMES, HEALTHY PLANET

A Passive House brings more benefits than just green credentials and reducing the cost of consumable energy moving forward. In fact, one of the biggest benefits of a passive house is that occupants

live happier and healthier lives. Better ventilation eliminates internal pollutants and reduces chances of airborne viruses spreading within the home. MVHR systems also manage damp, cold or humid conditions that are associated with poor housing and, subsequently, poor health.

It has been reported that the wider cost of poor-quality housing amounts to the NHS spending £848

million a year, with an estimated 10,000 people dying as a result of living in unsuitable homes. The Passive House standard being adopted by more developers and home owners could be a welcome solution.

[subheading]

REVOLUTIONISING THROUGH RETROFIT

In order to hit Net Zero targets by 2050, the UK would need to retrofit one million homes every year for the next thirty years – a huge task.

In Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding areas, there are lots of beautiful period properties, but they can be costly to run. If you are thinking of making your home a Passive House here are some key considerations when adapting an old house for a greener future:

1. Consult an architect who has experience with historic preservation and Passive House design

2. Use materials that are compatible with the original construction

3. Preserve original features which contribute to the building’s character

4. Choose energy-efficient products with a historic look

With considered design and new technology, Atelier de Linde help their clients take steps towards a greener way of life, whether that is a stateof-the-art newbuild Passive House project or an imaginative retrofit solution for a period property.

BEAUTIFUL, SUSTAINABLE DESIGN Award-winning, RIBAchartered architects

We realise your dreams with tailored service, combining high-quality design with sustainable principles.

Experts in:

• New builds

• Passive House retrofits

• Carbon neutral buildings

• Schools, hotels, public spaces

www.atelierdelinde.co.uk

hello@atelierdelinde.com

01892 571474

It is hugely rewarding to bring a period property firmly into the 21st century

With retrofits, we respect the bones of the building

Should I delay retirement?

If your pension is smaller than you’d hoped it would be, you might be considering postponing your retirement.

Deferring retirement could enable you to continue paying in to your pension and hopefully benefit from further stock market growth.

Here, we look at the financial impact of delaying retirement. A financial adviser can help you decide on the best course of action for you.

What difference could delaying make?

Delaying retirement by several years could bring significant financial advantages. For example, consider a 55-year-old earning £50,000 gross per year, with a £400,000 self-invested personal pension (SIPP), who can choose between retiring next month and delaying for five years.

Our analysis shows that if they are planning to retire at age 55 on half of their current income, or £25,000, they could risk running out of money at age 82. However, if they work until age 60 and reinvest growth within the SIPP, save their excess income and add a one-off £10,000 lump sum to the SIPP, they could still have funds in their pension at age 101. These calculations are based on RBC Brewin Dolphin’s risk category 7, pension growth of 5% per year after charges and annual inflation of 2%.

You have more time to save

By delaying retirement, you could continue to get tax relief on pension contributions at your marginal rate of income tax, until age 75. That’s if you are in a position to carry on saving. Your pot and contributions will have the opportunity to grow over a longer period of time, potentially providing a greater income in retirement. And if you can add the occasional lump sum – for example, if you have paid off your mortgage and will not spend all your income – you could further boost your retirement savings.

You could get more state pension

The state pension age for both men and women is currently 66, but it is gradually increasing and will reach 67 by 2028. The full state pension is £185.15 per week1. However, if you aren’t going to depend on your state pension for essential outgoings, you could defer payment.

You earn an additional 1% on your state pension for every nine weeks you postpone taking this, or around 5.8% more for every year you delay. However, you should check that receiving a greater amount in state pension will not impact any other benefits you may receive, such as pension credit.

You can obtain a state pension forecast to see how much you would receive as a starting point.

You could retire gradually

You might want to switch to working part-time, or flexibly, and keep your pension fully invested while drawing on other savings and investments.

Alternatively, you could opt for income drawdown. This enables you to keep your pension savings invested while you draw an income from your investments when needed. This way, you can

Louise Shaw Divisional Director

T.

01892 739580

E. louise.shaw@brewin.co.uk brewin.co.uk/royal-tunbridge-wells

make small withdrawals while continuing to work and earning an income, giving your investments the opportunity to grow and recover any lost value.

You might benefit from working longer

The traditional life path of full-time employment followed by a long period in retirement may be long gone. People are living longer, healthier, active lives – and you might want to continue working in some form, past retirement age, for your general wellbeing. A period of part-time work and phased retirement can reduce some of the pressure on pensions, which may only be needed to top up a lower income level, rather than immediately replacing earnings.

Should you delay? Things to check:

• Before deciding to delay retirement, check whether your pension scheme will impose any charges or restrictions for changing your retirement date. Also, ensure you will not lose any valuable income guarantees, such as a guaranteed annuity rate (GAR), by delaying retirement.

• When you get closer to retirement, review where your pension is invested and ensure you are comfortable with the risk you are taking. You might want to gradually reduce your exposure to shares, for example, and move a greater portion into cash and bonds.

• Bear in mind that the current pension lifetime allowance is £1,073,100. This is the amount of money you can build up in pensions without triggering a tax charge when you come to access your pension benefits.

In theory, the longer you delay, the higher your potential income. However, there are no guarantees of this, and it will depend on market conditions when you retire. Getting some smart advice can help you understand whether you’re on track for a comfortable retirement and the best way of boosting your retirement fund.

1 https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/what-youll-get

The value of investments, and any income from them, can fall and you may get back less than you invested. This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy. Information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness. Forecasts are not a reliable indicator of future performance.

RBC Brewin Dolphin is a trading name of Brewin Dolphin Limited. Brewin Dolphin Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register reference number 124444) and regulated in Jersey by the Financial Services Commission. Registered Office; 12 Smithfield Street, London, EC1A 9BD. Registered in England and Wales company number: 2135876. VAT number: GB 690 8994 69

Adaygrand out

The Wealden Times Midsummer Fair is a staple of the local social scene. Here its organisers tell us what visitors can expect to shop and sample at this year’s event at Hole Park…

There’s no better way to enjoy the summer than a day out with friends at Wealden Times Midsummer Fair.

Returning to Hole Park on Thursday June 8 and running until Saturday June 10, our popular annual event really does have something for everyone.

There will be over 220 handpicked exhibitors showcasing their wares, which include everything from handmade jewellery, aromatic candles and unique knitwear to stunning artwork, luxury handbags and children’s wooden toys.

Visitors can browse our event’s numerous marquees, shopping avenues and countless gazebos and

also have the chance to meet the people behind the brands in order to find those special pieces that aren’t available on any high streets. After you’ve shopped all the wonderful fashion, gifts, jewellery, and home & garden wares, why not sit back and relax in the Bloom Stays Garden Room and treat yourself to a hot drink and a cake from Crumbs & Treacle. Afterwards, head down to the street food vans and treat yourself to a light bite to eat or a glass of bubbles with your pals whilst looking through what you’ve bought.

In our famous food avenue –which boast two marquees devoted to artisan, organic, homemade, premium, small-batch, award-

winning foods – you’ll discover all sorts of deliciousness from around the world, but also very close to home too. Take your time, sample it all and chat to the stallholders. The passion and care that goes into baking, brewing, and making their delectable treats will lift your soul and delight your taste buds. We look forward to welcoming you to THE summer shopping event of 2023. Pre-book your tickets and plan your day at wealdentimes-fair. co.uk. Timed entry slots are every hour and you can book your arrival time. Please note that there’s a limited amount of tickets for each entry slot, so book your tickets early to ensure you get the date and the time you want.

“The Wealden Times Midsummer Fair has over 220 hand-picked exhibitors showcasing their wares, which include everything from handmade jewellery and aromatic candles to stunning artwork – and delicious food and drink”

Where do you live?

I live in Tunbridge Wells and feel lucky enough to have the best of both worlds – we are a short 15-minute walk from the centre of town but also have a back garden that overlooks the countryside.

How long have you lived here and what made you decide to move to Tunbridge Wells?

I was brought up and went to school here. After finishing my degree at the University of Manchester I decided to return to the lovely town that I grew up in and have worked locally ever since.

What’s your favourite shop locally?

I genuinely couldn’t answer this! Not only as some of the 600+ levy

payers I support (as BID Director) would expect me to say them, but also because there are so many that I couldn’t pick just one.

Where’s the best place to go for a Sunday stroll?

My 3-year old loves steam trains and so we often take off for a 20-minute walk that runs from my back garden along the Spa Valley line tracks through the forest up to High Rocks. A nice bonus to this walk is that you can stop for a cool beer in the venue’s pleasant garden before coming back.

And where do you think is the best place to get a cup of coffee?

The Old Auction House just off The Pantiles is great for coffee and, also for an accompanying

cake or lunch! I conduct lots of my meetings over a coffee so I try and vary my locations. They range from Juliet’s to the Fine Grind and Gail’s to The Lodge, The Cake Shed, Eggs Eleven, Basil, Gusta and Caffe Nero… the list is endless!

Where do you take people when they come to visit?

If shopping is on the agenda we will visit Royal Victoria Place, Monson and Camden Roads and then wander down to The Pantiles via Mount Pleasant, the High Street and Chapel Place. A walk around Calverley or Dunorlan Park is often part of our plan and we may even go on the pedalos!

What’s the night life like where you live?

I’m lucky enough to have the historic and lovely Pantiles only a ten-minute walk away, where thanks to its 17 bars, cafés and restaurants you are quite literally spoilt for choice! Then, within another ten-minute walk, you’ve got The Forum, Trinity and the Assembly Hall to watch pretty much anything that might take your fancy!

Where’s your favourite place to eat locally?

In Tunbridge Wells there are so many to choose from but Il Vesuvio, Coco Retro, Soprano, or Air Time Thai would be my favourites. I’d also pick out Thackerays for a special treat.

To enjoy some nice views where do you head to?

The Beacon has some

of the best views around but it will find a match when the clocktower at Trinity Theatre opens up to the public.

If you’re looking to relax and unwind, where’s your favourite place to go?

Chimera Climbing near High Brooms station is a great place to zen out and focus on something so simple but rewarding. It’s also great to get a gym workout whilst doing something fun and sociable.

Where’s the best place to meet friends and socialise?

If you head up to St John’s Road, then an escape room at Cluecracker or game of Shuffle Board at the Shuffle House is always a good laugh before starting an evening with drinks at St John’s Yard or heading down to Sankey’s.

What do you do when you spend a weekend or day off in the local area?

I didn’t know parents got those?!

Why do you love where you live?

Tunbridge Wells has a unique energy about it with so much to do and so much passion running through its residents, businesses and activities. What excites me most is the potential it has for even more.

Thackerays

Soprano

Dunorlan Park

Shuffle House

This month SO Magazine chats to Alex Green, the newly appointed Business Improvement District (BID) Director, about all the places he likes to support locally. Here Alex reveals where he likes to stroll, shop and socialise….

“Tunbridge Wells has a unique energy about it”

Chimera Climbing

The Beacon

A true taste of France...

Michelle Wood takes a trip to bijou bistro Coco Retro to experience its French inspired menu…

When we entered Coco Retro through an unassuming shop exterior on Vale Road early on a Thursday evening, the sun was still high in the sky. Warmly greeted by the sommelier, we nodded to a few patrons seated at an exquisite gold bar, who were chatting and laughing over their glasses of wine, while others dined at the counter.

With classic French discretion, we were ushered to our table in a cosy nook at the back of the ground floor section of the bistro. Surrounded by deep, rich wood walls, scarlet-topped tables bedecked with gleaming cutlery and crisp white napkins, I had a sense that we had been transported to the Left Bank in Paris. A candle glowing on our table, the evening stretched before us, fuzzy and romantic. We leaned into the experience.

We began our evening with an offering from the cocktail menu: A French 75 (gin, lemon juice, sugar syrup and champagne) and a Kir Framboise (blanc de blanc white wine and raspberry liqueur). Crisp and fresh, both were a contrast to the sweetness that’s often the hallmark of cocktails. We enjoyed our aperitifs with a ramekin of mixed olives and a fresh baguette served with coco aioli, basil oil, Pernod and garlic butter. We toasted each other to the background strains of Edith Piaf’s ‘La Vie en Rose’. The choice of entrées at Coco

Retro, which opened in 2017 and is run by Maurizio Di Santo, was remarkably extensive with classic French staples such as snails in garlic, parsley and Pernod, and frog legs also on offer. We, however, settled for the slightly less adventurous, yet still exceptionally tasty, Crevette Marseille (fried king prawns with saffron mayo and salad) and fried calamari with sage and chilli tartare sauce, paired with

a French De L’Amour rosé. Both portions were exceptionally and deliciously crispy, with a subtleness of flavour that made every mouthful a joy.

When it came to the ‘Plats Principaux’ (mains), we wondered if we had overextended ourselves with our starters but forged ahead, keen to try some of the restaurant’s signature dishes. After much debate about whether to try the dry-aged

beef or the oven-baked salmon in leek and white wine sauce, I opted for the ‘Jarret d’agneau au Cassis’ (tender lamb shank in Bordeaux and Cassis sauce, served with mashed potato). My partner meanwhile had been waiting all evening to taste the duck confit in orange and Grand Marnier sauce which came served with Dauphinoise potatoes. We shared side orders of creamy spinach and cheese and minted petits pois.

Again, the portions were incredibly generous. The lamb shank was fall-off-the-bone tender and the glassy, beautifully rendered down sauce delivered all the subtlety of the flavours promised, without overwhelming the shank. Even the mashed potato, usually something I would avoid, was perfectly smooth and buttery. I savoured every forkful.

My only distraction from my gastronomic bliss was my partner’s effusive exclamations of delight at the sheer deliciousness of the duck confit. “It’s perfectly balanced… so tender… the best I’ve ever had.”

After some persuasion to tear myself away from my lamb dish, I tasted a mouthful and had to agree: I can’t remember tasting a better duck confit.

After the generous portions and richness of our outstanding mains, I was reluctant to indulge

“The lamb shank was fall-off-thebone tender and the glassy, beautifully rendered down sauce delivered all the subtlety of the flavours promised”

in a dessert, but was coerced into sharing a chocolate mousse layered with a berry coulis and topped with cream. Dark and indulgent, its richness was tempered by the fresh berries.

By the time we left the restaurant, the evening was in full swing. While groups of friends gathered around the bar, couples at tables held hands and toasted with glasses of Champagne, revelling in Coco Retro’s romantic ambience. We exited the restaurant into the setting sun, sated and delighted to have discovered this dining gem. A walk down the High Street for some window shopping ended the

evening perfectly.

In a town bursting with quality eateries, Coco Retro stands out. The authentic French flavours, slick service and warm, welcoming atmosphere make it the perfect option for a gathering with friends or a romantic date night out. After a night of superb dining, to quote the reverberating refrain of Edith Piaf’s La Vie En Rose: “I too now see life through rose-tinted glasses.”

Coco Retro can be found at 7 Vale Road. It is also easily accessed via the Torrington Car Park and The Tunbridge Wells Train Station. 018 92522773 or email enquiries@cocoretro.com

“Coco Retro’s authentic French flavours, slick service and warm, welcoming atmosphere make it the perfect option for a night with friends or a romantic date”

Toasting local vineyards’ success vineyards’ success

The second Wine Garden of England Summer Festival takes place on Saturday June 10 Here the collective’s brand manager and the event organiser, Jo Smith, tells SO Magazine all about what’s happening at this year’s festival, which will be held at Balfour Winery…

The Wine Garden of England is a group of the largest wine producers from Kent, who work together to encourage wine tourism to the county.

Jo Smith is the woman tasked with the smooth running of the organisation, so all wineries can communicate effectively and support one another.

“We all know that Kent is the Garden of England because of the abundance of produce that is grown here. In recent years that’s included more and more vineyards producing grapes that are used for some of the finest sparkling wine in the world,” explains Jo.

“English wine is winning global awards on a regular basis, and there are more vineyards in Kent than anywhere else in the country. The best way to sample the wine is to visit the vineyards, meet the people behind the label and wander through the vines that produced the wine in your glass. But the vineyards also come together at various tasting events so you can meet all the producers and taste their wines in one day.”

One of the ways the general public can do this is courtesy of the annual Wine Garden of England’s Summer Festival, the second of which returns next month.

The first one, which was held at Squerryes Court last May, was a huge success, with seven of the eight producers offering samples of their still and sparkling wines to visitors alongside a backdrop of live jazz and delicious food stalls.

June 10 is when the second Wine Garden of England Summer Festival takes place, this time at Balfour Winery, and Jo is very excited about it.

“After the success of last year’s event at Squerryes Court, we are looking forward to an even better experience for Kent’s wine lovers at Balfour this year. The interest in Kent wine is overwhelming, and we are privileged to be able to show our favourite wines to so many people in such a stunning setting,” she says.

“We have great growing conditions here because we have well-draining chalky or limestone soil that is perfect for grape production. More importantly, our climate is significantly warmer, drier and sunnier, allowing longer for ripening fruit with a higher sugar content and depth of flavour. We are now producing world-class sparkling wine, and increasingly good still wine too.”

This year the Festival will offer a free bus shuttle service to and from Marden Station throughout the day, meaning that you can leave the car at home and fully enjoy the wines on offer.

“Each Wine Garden of England member will be there to introduce their wines to the public and for the price of the ticket (£20) each guest will receive a free glass to take home, and have the opportunity during the all-day event to taste lots of wine,” adds Jo. We’ll certainly raise a glass to that!

HEARD IT ON THE GRAPEVINE: WHAT IS THE WINE GARDEN OF ENGLAND?

The Wine Garden of England was borne out of two Kent wine producers chatting through some ideas, and then realising that there was no formal group of producers that could benefit from sharing ideas and support.

After a few phone calls, six producers were sitting around a table – Balfour, Biddenden, Chapel

Down, Domaine Evremond, Gusbourne and Simpsons. Not long after, Squerryes joined, and most recently, we’ve welcomed Westwell. Although the group love to chat about everything that’s going on with their businesses, the main aim that was agreed was to improve tourism to their vineyards, and to Kent as well.

A VINE TIME

The Wine Garden of England Summer Celebration takes place on Saturday June 10 at Balfour Winery. Tickets are just £20, and includes a tote bag with the latest Wine Garden of England Handbook, a beautiful Riedel wine glass and samples from each of the seven producing members:

Balfour

Biddenden

Chapel Down

Gusbourne

Simpsons

Squerryes

Westwell

Jo says: “Each producer will have their own large marquee where you can chat to the producers, taste the wines, buy a glass, or a bottle to take home. It is set amongst Nanette’s Vineyard at Balfour, where the vines will be in their full glory. At the time of booking your ticket, you can also book a vineyard tour, and a place on the Masterclass hosted by Kent’s very own Master of Wine, Clive Barlow. All this with a backdrop of live music and delicious food, locally-sourced and cooked by the Balfour chef.”

SPOTLIGHT ON MASTERCLASSES BY CLIVE BARLOW MW:

During the Summer Celebration, there will be an in-depth tutored tasting of a series of wines across the Wine Garden of England portfolio, lead by Master of Wine Clive Barlow, who started his wine career when working at the vineyard in Hampshire’s New Forest in the late 1980s. The work in the vineyard and winery inspired him to seek a career in the wine trade and learn more about the subject of wine. He became a Master of Wine in 1999, one of 415 around the world, and currently runs a wine retail and consultancy business in Canterbury, Kent. Ever since his introduction to English wines, Clive has been a keen observer of the rise and development of local vineyards and wineries. In 2019, he was one of the partners of the Canterbury Wine Festival – the first to celebrate the growing wine industry of the county.

Book your tickets through www.winegardenofengland. co.uk – don’t delay – ticket availability is limited.

He is keen to see a further development of the English wine industry and is joined by Corkk, an English wine specialist, based in Canterbury.

Session 1: 11:45 – 12:30 Blanc de Blancs

The sparkling wines of Kent are winning global awards on a regular basis, and the Blanc de Blancs, made entirely of Chardonnay, are possibly the most exciting as they are exemplars of expressing the soil, vintage and winemaking in a near-magical way. The recent discovery of the ageing potential of these wines has further enhanced the reputation of these wines. This Masterclass will explore and compare some of the finest Blanc de Blancs the producers have to offer.

Session 2:

4.45 – 1.45 White Sparkling Wines

The excellent white sparkling wines of Kent are, as in Champagne, made from blends of red and white grapes but using a broader range of varietals that thrive in our climate. In this Masterclass, discover how these blends reflect the true diversity of the producers, through viticulture and winemaking, in the Wine Garden of England.

Session 3: 2.15 – 3.00 Chardonnay –the winemaker’s friend

Possibly more than any other grape variety, Chardonnay can be transformed by the winemaking yet still retain the varietal character. This Masterclass looks at how the growing environment and winemaking can influence the flavours, structure and quality of wines from the Downs and Weald of Kent.

Session 4:

3.30 – 4.15 Other White Varieties

Although Kent has led the way in Traditional Method sparkling wine, we have been growing a number of other varieties for longer than the holy trinity of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The wines that are made from other varieties are a revelation, and we are excited to share them with you in this Masterclass.

4.45 – 5.30 Red Grapes

Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and lesser known red varietals such as Dornfelder and Regent grow well in our marginal, cool climate, and have created beautiful award-winning Rosés and Reds. You’ll discover how we are competing with Burgundy and Provence with our use of red grapes in this dry and sunny corner of the UK. Masterclass sessions can be booked as an extra when you buy your ticket to the celebration.

“Kent is now producing world class sparkling wine, and increasingly good still wine too”

“After last year’s event at Squerryes Court, we’re looking forward to an even better experience at Balfour this year”

Flowers, food & friends & friends

Water Lane near Hawkhurst is one of the area’s most delightful destinations, offering quality seasonal dining, an artisan shop and pantry, and an original Victorian walled garden which is being lovingly restored by its custodians Nick Selby and Ian James. They tell Eileen Leahy all about their vision and what makes Water Lane such a unique place…

One sunny day in late November last year I had the great fortune to discover a charming spot that has since become one of my favourite local haunts.

Water Lane, formerly the Walled Nursery in Hawkhurst, is where I’m talking about and when I first visited, courtesy of a friend, I fell in love with all it has to offer right there and then.

The custodians of this space which was once a thriving Victorian garden kitchen are Nick Selby and

Ian James, both of whom are passionate about good food and the great outdoors.

The pair, who are responsible for establishing the gourmet deli and grocer brand Melrose & Morgan, are steeped in experience when it comes to sourcing great suppliers and seeking out the finest seasonal produce. So it’s no surprise they quickly got to work after taking it over in late 2020 with the hospitality side of their project.

They created a pavilion for al fresco dining and cleverly repurposed one of the site’s original Victorian glasshouses as a restaurant, Carnation House, for when the weather gets slightly chillier.

Here visitors can feast on an everchanging seasonal menu courtesy of head chef Jed Wrobel whose dishes feature much of Water Lane’s homegrown produce, as well as local specialist suppliers.

Nick and Ian came across the Water Lane site three years ago when Ian was looking to buy a flower field. When they spotted the former walled garden nursery online, they knew they’d hit the jackpot, as not only was there plenty for Ian to get his hands dirty

with, but Nick could also see the potential for what else the land and its period buildings could offer. It was less about a Victorian Garden restoration and more about Water Lane becoming a holistic, multitasking ‘place’. Restoring its former glory and reimagining its future.

Now fully ensconced at Water Lane, Nick and Ian are busy with the restaurant but have also been working with RHS award-winning gardener Jo Thompson and RX Architects to realise their overall vision.

As a result, the garden is carefully being returned to growing all manner of fruit, vegetables and flowers, using a no-dig approach and organic methods.

In addition to all this, there’s also a gorgeous shop, the Vinery, on site, where you can browse Water Lane’s curated collection of both edible goodies, unique gifts and tasteful pieces for the home – all sourced from artisan suppliers.

Nick and Ian host a number of regular food markets and seasonal fairs where they invite producers and specialist suppliers to showcase

“Nick and Ian are both passionate about good food and the great outdoors”

everything from vintage goods to art and ceramics and locally-sourced meats, cheese and condiments. Another of Water Lane’s Victorian glasshouses, Pelargonium House, is often used as an additional space for creatives and makers if their terrace area is full. Talking of which, Nick and Ian are busy getting this space ready for summer and I for one am looking forward to dining al fresco with a chilled glass of something lovely in hand. But before the warm days of summer are upon us, let’s hear a little bit more from Nick and Ian first hand shall we? Enjoy…

Have you drawn a lot on your experience of running Melrose & Morgan at Water Lane? Yes absolutely. We are hopefully and ever so slightly disrupting what people think a walled garden should be. We did the same when we opened Melrose & Morgan in 2004 – no one had heard of grocery shops in a modern way back then.

Ian, you are tasked with overseeing the garden and Nick, you’re in charge of the food offering is that right?

Yes, Ian is in the garden helping our colleagues Linda and Julia

ON THE MENU AT WATER LANE

Head chef Jed Wrobel’s menus are ever-changing and guided by both hyper-local ingredients and the seasons and chefs who inspire him. For example, for the early part of this year he created a series of dishes based on some of his favourite cookery writers including Simon Hopkinson and Claudia Roden. Dishes included Beetroot soup with a horseradish dumpling, Mutton shoulder with fennel dressed in plum and Pernod, Risotto Milanese, grilled leeks and almonds and Marmalade sponge with blood orange custard.

2 Courses £27 (starter & main or main & pudding)

3 courses £32 (starter, main & pudding)

stay on top of things. Nick loves to cook and helps our head chef Jed shape the menu. He is also a keen preserver and helps the team capture the garden’s seasonal bounty.

Please can you tell us how Water Lane’s partnership with gardener Jo Thompson came about and how are plans progressing?

We met Jo on Instagram very early on in this project. She popped by and fell in love with the garden like we did. She has

When will you start serving food and drinks al fresco on your terrace this year?

We normally go out to the terrace at the beginning of May when it starts to warm up!

Where do the majority of your visitors come from and are they mainly local are you wanting to attract people from further afield?

They are from all over Kent, East Sussex and London. We have guests coming from Lewes, Eastbourne and Faversham. We have always been well supported by the nearby coastal

towns Hastings and Rye. Lots of customers are coming from Tunbridge Wells as it’s only 25 mins away.

It’s not unusual for Londoners to come and dine with us at weekends, especially when the sun is shining.

Can you tell us a little bit about the markets you run?

We are running bi-monthly Food Produce Markets with stalls selling seasonal vegetables, fruit, cheese and pasture-raised meat, sourdough bread and pastries, eggs, honey, apple juice, wine and cider. We also have our seasonal fairs throughout the year celebrating spring, harvest and Christmas.

We also have our shop in the Vinery which delivers nationwide and a busy schedule of creative and practical workshops and talks that are running throughout the summer.

drawn up plans for the entire project which is very exciting for everyone involved in the restoration and rejuvination of this special place.

How often does the Carnation House restaurant’s menu change and do you leave head chef Jed to curate it all? It changes all the time, especially during the summer, when there is so much new produce. In winter, Jed takes inspiration from his favourite cookery writers, such as Simon Hopkinson and Claudia Roden, and the menu changes monthly.

Opening Hours: Wednesday-Saturdays 8am-5pm | Sunday 10am4.30pm | Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays www.waterlane.net | @water.lane

“At Water Lane visitors can feast on an ever-changing seasonal menu whose dishes feature much of Water Lane’s home grown produce”

Are you ready to swap worrying for peace of mind when it comes to ageing loved ones?

Amora Care provides premium home care services, supporting older adults to live independently at home in Tunbridge Wells, surrounding towns, villages and rural areas.

If you or someone you love is having difficulty coping with everyday tasks, we can help in the following ways:

Learn from Jane's experience using Amora Care's domestic visits, and discover how she found a solution to help her father and gain peace of mind.

Q: For context, what led you to seek support for your father?

A: I was concerned about my father's wellbeing and wanted to ensure he was being looked after because he lives alone.

Q: How did your father initially react to the idea of receiving extra support?

A: He was resistant at first, but I explained that the visits wouldn't interfere with his independence. They were primarily for cleaning and home help, with the added goal of making sure he was okay.

Q: What was your experience with the carer who visited your father?

A: The carer was extremely helpful. She helped with light housekeeping, cooking, and spent time talking to my father and keeping him company.

Q: How did your father's attitude towards receiving care change over time?

A: As he became more familiar with the carers who visited him, he became more comfortable with the idea of receiving care. He even began asking for help with other tasks, such as grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions. The peace of mind we gained, to continue our lives without worrying about his day-to-day needs, cannot be overstated!

How to introduce the idea of care to someone who doesn't think they need it?

Business class

Tunbridge Wells is renowned for its bustling business hubs and thriving independent scene where start-ups and executives alike flock to take advantage of the numerous

And after a long day spent in meetings or negotiations, nothing beats retreating to your own oasis of calm and luxury, provided by one of the many hotels scattered

With top-of-the-line function rooms equipped with the latest technology, opulent suites where you can unwind to the fullest post power-meet, plus excellent food and drink facilities, one destination in particular ticks all the boxes for business travellers looking for it all.

Boasting old-world charm with new-world service, One Warwick Park is a boutique, four-star hotel

located just a stone’s throw from the famous Pantiles, where much of the entrepreneurial action takes place and has just launched a new corporate concierge service to keep up with growing demand. We sat down with Zoe Ward, the hotel’s Reservations Manager and Corporate Concierge to find out more about the exciting new offering…

Zoe, you became Reservations Manager last year, after supervising the front desk at the hotel’s sister venue Salomons Estate – what sort of vision did you bring to the new role of Corporate Concierge?

We have always been a serviceorientated hotel and want to deliver that in every aspect of what we do. But COVID-19 upended all of it, and as business travel makes

a return to pre-pandemic levels, we wanted to enhance our guests’ experience that one step further. The idea is to have someone take care of everything for you. It will allow our corporate clients time to focus on the important things and enjoy a relaxed stay with us, rather than worry about the finer details such as organising a meeting room or phoning a taxi.

What can guests expect from this new service?

When booking directly through our team, guests will receive a range of complimentary benefits, including the best and lowest hotel rates, bedroom upgrades, late check-out or early check-in, and a reserved space in our coworking lounge, which is well-equipped with free, high-speed Wi-Fi and priority parking. We can also advise on sought-after destinations in and around town and our business travellers will receive 10% off in The Brasserie and our bar, plus enjoy exclusive

discounts on meeting and event spaces.

What does it take to become a Corporate Concierge?

Be a rounded, balanced person and never stop learning about your guests and what great service means to them – after all, that looks different to everyone. You must have the ability to listen, have empathy and be committed to turning an ordinary experience into an unforgettable one.

Who is your typical guest?

Our corporate guests are busy people with insufficient time to manage the finer details of their travels. They are people who want to access our expertise and knowledge to help their day run smoothly so they can focus on the bigger picture, all whilst enjoying the luxuries of our hotel.

What other services do you offer businesses?

We have three differentsized function rooms that can accommodate 2-180 delegates. They are perfect for networking, private meetings, or celebratory occasions such as awards nights and come with a range of refreshment options that are prepared fresh by our team of chefs.

From sandwich platters to grazing tables and even sit-down lunches in The Brasserie, there are plenty of options to choose from. This coupled with our 39 beautiful hotel suites and dog-friendly self-catered properties, plus our ideal location (we’re just a 10-minute walk from Tunbridge Wells station) makes One Warwick Park an all-in-one destination for businesses.

To take advantage of One Warwick Park’s new corporate concierge service, companies should email Zoe Ward at zoe.ward@ onewarwickpark.co.uk

Zoe Ward Reservations Manager and Corporate Concierge

“And after a long day spent in meetings or negotiations, nothing beats retreating to your own oasis of calm and luxury...”

know precisely which factors lead us to our ultimate destinations. It’s for this reason I would prefer to focus on the individual narratives of some of the students to illustrate how schools like Mayfield challenge stereotypes rather than rely too heavily on statistical data.

A can do attitude

This month SO Magazine shines a spotlight on Mayfield School. John Doy, Head of Sixth Form, explains why the all-girls’ school encourages its students to take the subjects they are passionate about – and be free of stereotypes…

One of the principal benefits of an all-girls’ education is the freedom from the stereotyping that seems to creep into any mixed environment. At A Level, the statistics are quite startling. For example, a girl at a GSA school (Girls School Association, of which Mayfield is a member) is 75% more likely to take Maths at A Level, 70% more likely to take Chemistry, and two and a half times more likely to take Physics, all subjects traditionally considered as ‘hard’, male-oriented subjects. This is certainly

something I have witnessed at Mayfield – Maths and the Sciences are far and away our most popular subjects at A Level (as an English graduate I concede this with a slightly heavy heart) and, if I look at our latest batch of university hopefuls, almost half of the cohort of 70 are going on to study Maths or Science based courses: we have engineers, physicists, chemists, earth and planetary scientists, medics, vets all going on to develop their skills in higher education. It is genuinely exciting to see young women fired up about science and technology and my experience tells me it is because they have been given the space to develop these interests in an environment that by its very nature dispenses with any kind of concept of boys’ or girls’ subjects.

Engaging with these kind of statistics and thinking in this way, however, always seems, to me at least, to court a kind of counterfactual approach to the individual narratives of the students involved. The nature of time and space dictates that we can never

Take for example one of our aspiring Vets, now studying Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge, who was able to combine her interest in science with her artistic ability by producing an A Level Ceramics project that evolved from scientific drawings of insects and flowers. Or how about another enterprising student who set up her own ceramics designing business and progressed directly onto a Fine Art degree course without needing to take a Foundation year and is still growing her online business at university? Or one of our students who is now studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge, but who also spent her break and lunch times supporting Year 7 and 8 students with their Maths homework.

These are just some examples from last year’s Upper Sixth cohort and I suppose what I’m trying to illustrate by briefly sketching their aspirations and achievements is where the freedom and breadth of an educational experience afforded by Mayfield can lead. I can’t tell you for sure if it’s because the girls are in a single-sex environment; I can only report what I can see happening here, and it’s dynamic, empowering and exciting to witness.

In this sense then, the higher uptake of STEM subjects I referred to at the start is, rather than being an end in itself, instead a wonderful byproduct of an atmosphere that fosters independence of thought, confidence and a can-do attitude that makes for outstanding students and ultimately fulfilled and happy adults.

They have been given the space to develop these interests in an environment that by its very nature dispenses with any kind of concept of boys’ or girls’ subjects

Empowering girls to excel

Why Mayfield School is a place of learning where girls are encouraged to get involved with many of the extra curricular activities on offer…

Complementing the curriculum at Mayfield are a huge range of extra-curricular activities, providing an environment that encourages the girls to broaden their interests and talents as well as develop their own voices. The School provides a supportive environment in which girls learn and understand the importance of making mistakes in order to learn.

Lizzie, a Lower Sixth boarder from Wadhurst, recently coorganised a coding workshop as part of the Mayfield School’s Festival of Ideas, a series of ten interactive workshops delivered by Scholars to the girls in Years 7 and 8. “The workshop I co-delivered was called ‘No Time to Drive’ and we taught the younger girls how to code the Pi-Top 4 Robot to drive around a track through a series of challenges. It was a great experience to get to know the younger girls, teaching them the fundamentals of coding and it also allowed me to develop my own understanding of coding further.”

Lizzie also loves playing Cricket and is currently in the Sussex U17 County Cricket squad. “I started playing cricket at Mayfield in Year 7 thanks to Miss Starr (Mayfield’s Director of Sport and former England Cricketer) who encouraged me and nurtured my interest. For the last two years, I’ve played against the MCC, featuring several former

international women cricketers, and last year had the privilege of captaining Mayfield in one of the T20 fixtures. I have always loved sport because it has helped provide balance to my academic studies and develop skills outside of the classroom such as perseverance, teamwork and my ability to handle pressure.”

Last year, Lizzie represented the School at the Model United Nations Conference – an educational simulation of the actual United Nations in which students can learn about diplomacy and international relations – in

Torun, Poland. “It was amazing to meet and debate with students from all over the world and to have the opportunity to stay with a Polish host family for the week and experience a different culture. Taking part in the conference helped me grow in confidence, and I learnt some really useful skills, such as learning to negotiate and find common ground, as I worked as part of Nigeria’s delegation and had to work with delegations from other countries to get resolutions passed.”

Yaa, a Lower Sixth boarder at Mayfield, is thriving in the performing arts. She is currently studying for her LAMDA Gold Award and in 2022 was accepted into the National Youth Theatre (NYT), following an audition at Mayfield. “NYT has deepened my love for acting and taught me so much about the world of theatre and performance, specifically how to navigate it as a young person eager to get involved.” She was also recently part of a Sixth Form led drama production, ‘Before the Ink was Dry’, a darkly comic murder mystery written, directed and performed by the students working in collaboration with one another. “Drama has really helped to bring me out of my shell and has given me a sense of confidence

that helps with all aspects of school life. I’m now able to challenge myself to do things outside of my comfort zone.”

Yaa has boarded at Mayfield since Year 7. “I’ve always loved boarding and it has allowed me to develop strong friendships. Boarding has helped me become independent from an early age and as a result, I feel I now have strong time management skills.”

Ella, a local student from Penshurst, is Mayfield’s Equestrian Captain. “At Mayfield, I’ve progressed from jumping 70cm fences to 1.20m. I couldn’t have done it without the help of Mayfield’s Equestrian coaches.

I’ve been able to stable my horse, Jamie, at Mayfield’s stables throughout my school career and everyone has been so accommodating.” Last year Ella was part of Mayfield’s Equestrian team that won the national 1m Show Jumping Team title at Keysoe, and she also won the individual 1.10m Show Jumping Championships at the same event. Ella feels that riding has complemented her studies, “Riding has helped me maintain my wellbeing throughout my studies and I love being out in the fresh air. I have also really enjoyed getting to know a wide range of girls, from across all the year groups, riding alongside them at all the NSEA (National Schools Equestrian Association) competitions.”

FIND OUT MORE

Mayfield is a leading Catholic independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, welcoming all. The School is located in 75 acres of beautiful Sussex countryside, just 15 minutes from Tunbridge Wells. For more information, visit www.mayfieldgirls. org or join us for our next Open Morning on Friday June 16.

Ella also developed her interest in nature through her Sixth Form Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) on re-wilding. “My EPQ – ‘Is re-wilding the solution for the restoration of biodiversity in the UK?’ – helped me realise that what I really wanted to study at University was Zoology or Ecology. As part of the EPQ I undertook a course at the Knepp Estate, where I met Charlie Burrell, one of the leading experts on re-wilding in the UK.”

“I’m now able to challenge myself to do things outside of my comfort zone”

POWDERMILLS

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Set in a beautiful 80 acre Sussex estate with gardens, lakes, woods and fields, PowderMills is a charming Georgian Grade II listed Country House Hotel. We’re dog friendly and there are lovely walks to be had within our grounds and surrounding countryside. Within walking distance of the medieval town of Battle and adjoining Battle Abbey, you can also enjoy glorious walks on the historic 1066 Battlefields from the grounds of the hotel. Our perfect location offers lots to do close by with Herstmonceux and Bodiam Castles, Seddlescombe Vineyards and Old Town Hastings and beach all on our doorstep. This Offer is subject to availability. Please see our website for Terms and Conditions.

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PowderMills Hotel, Powdermill Lane, Battle, East Sussex TN33 OSP Tel 01424 775511 reservations@powdermillshotel.com

How to celebrate the life of your loved one

Dignity Matters

A reputable funeral director can support families in the planning of a funeral, which can make all the difference. Not only will they treat your loved one with dignity, they also can support your wishes and needs. They can even manage the whole process for you, so that you have more time to focus on your needs.

A lasting tribute

Many people wish to take part in a funeral service, by either giving a eulogy, composing poetry or some music or performing a song. To many this is a chance to pay a lasting tribute to your loved one, publicly declaring the words you want to say to them and in their memory.

The power of photos

Increasingly commonly, a video or picture montage is shared at a funeral showing footage and photos of a loved one. Key milestones or perhaps footage showcasing events or performances can be a wonderful reminder of their talents and personality. Having an insight of their life throughout the years can be both memorable and emotional for people in celebrating their lives and their achievements.

Raising awareness for a cause

While the funeral of the late Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II exemplified tradition, there is a growing trend for funerals to be more of a celebration of a life. Simon Welham, Managing Director of Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials, explains the role they play in helping us come to terms with our loss and how to make them positive…

Saying goodbye

For the family and friends of a loved one who has sadly died, a funeral helps to punctuate an ending and forms part of a process for grief. Whether it be a religious ceremony or one conducted by a celebrant in woodland, it can be helpful for all those attending, including children, to understand and see the circle of life and to recognise that their relationship with the deceased has not ended, but changed into one of memories and recollections. Particularly over the first year, when the loss is

especially raw, anniversaries and holidays serve as a focal point of remembrance.

Bringing people together

A funeral provides an opportunity for long lost friends and family to come together. Some people have even said they want their wake before they die so they can enjoy catching up with everyone! Many people lose touch with one other over the years and guests may not even know one another if there are business associates as well as family present, but they each will have

formed a key part in the deceased’s history, so getting together, even for a funeral, is a time when people can share or reignite those relationships.

Shared memories and stories

It isn’t just at a wedding that we hear the best – or naughtiest –stories about a friend or relative! This can happen at funerals too. Many a good yarn or memory gets shared with others and can bring together the ‘jigsaw of life’ to create a complete picture.

Being supported

A funeral can also help in bringing people and families closer together at a time of loss, which can be of great comfort, both before and after the funeral itself especially where geography, family resentments or other issues have got in the way. Supporting each other and setting aside the differences in favour of the common ground at such a time is invaluable.

Funerals can bring awareness of a charity or cause that is either held in close regard to the deceased or linked to their life or maybe their last illness. Instead of floral tributes, it’s increasingly common to have a collection for a charity in celebration of their memory or the family.

The after party

After a funeral service, many people choose to have either an intimate meal or move on to a venue that was a favourite restaurant, pub, sports club or other venue for the deceased. Being in a place that was special to them can bring about a sense of familiarity for loved ones. The additional time for sharing and spending time together with the funeral party can often change the tone to become more celebratory and help people feel more relaxed after the service.

A poignant send off

Whatever the personal circumstances, the funeral is for those left behind. People want to be reassured they gave their loved one a good send off, and that they did them proud – be that in words or music, floral tributes, photo montages or the after party. Whether it’s an intimate or large gathering, on a big budget or small, a funeral is still held very close in people’s hearts and minds, long after the event.

“This is a chance to pay a lasting tribute to your loved one”

Tunbridge

¦ Tonbridge ¦ Sevenoaks ¦ Chislehurst ¦ Borough Green ¦ Swanley ¦ Chelsfield

A funeral helps to punctuate an ending and forms part of a process for grief

The look of luxe

This month, Jamie Edney, who runs designer eyewear boutique Edney & Edney with his optometrist wife Ayshah on Monson Road, reveals an exclusive luxury new eyewear brand coming instore later this month…

Throughout my varied career in the optical industry, it’s fair to say I have encountered a few spectacle frames and sunglasses. From design and production to the dispense to the final consumer, spectacles have certainly dominated my life.

This has given me a very valuable understanding of what I do and don’t like when it comes to eyewear, so when Ayshah and I opened our practice together in Tunbridge Wells in 2016, we knew exactly the sort of collection we wanted to house.

You could say Edney & Edney is the curated end result of a 20-year-long mission to bring together the finest selection of eyewear in the world.

It may sound easy – after all anyone could Google ‘luxury eyewear’ and go from there – but navigating the intricacies of putting

together a selection like ours is certainly a juggling act.

Our collections from across the globe must each bring something unique to the table, and it’s amazing to see new clients walk in and immediately resonate with completely different collections.

Until recently, we had 12 unique collections each promoting and demonstrating different facets of eyewear. Jacques Marie Mages brings a classic classy style, Kirk & Kirk frames are a statement pop of colour, Mykita combines German engineering with a minimal style, MASAHIROMARUYAMA produce artistic and intricate titanium pieces and Theo provides completely unique avant garde spectacles.

I was beginning to think I had seen it all – a dangerous notion which could cause stagnation in the collection. Then, on a buying trip to Paris

last year I stumbled across what I didn’t realise was the missing piece of my optometric puzzle. A collection which had meticulously been designed by a single master of the craft. Superior materials with a unique design combining classic style with contemporary fashion. I am delighted to announce that Edney & Edney is now one of just three UK purveyors of John Dalia.

GET

John Dalia have produced eyewear since 2011, their (at least) 100-step manufacturing processes result in frames which represent ultimate luxury and timeless style. Unparalleled quality, exceptional materials and a love of simple beauty are the cornerstones of this familyowned fashion house of Parisian

eyewear makers.

Dalia himself is a selftaught designer who takes enormous pride in each frame in the relatively small collection. His collections are always refined with each creation designed as a piece of high jewellery, understated yet elegant, just like his native city.

“Our collections from across the globe must each bring something unique to the table”

Splash into summer

Molly Miller reveals why Bewl Water’s Aqua Park, which has just reopened, is the coolest place to be this summer …

Nothing says ‘long weekend’ quite like sunshine, ice cream, and hurtling down some massive water slides, and this May, children of all ages and adults alike can head towards the popular Bewl Water reservoir in Lamberhurst where Aqua Park has made its return for 2023…

We all have our fingers crossed for some sunny weather over the bank holiday weekends giving us

plenty of time to relax and have fun with friends and family.

But as welcome as they are, let’s face it — we don’t always make the most of the extra days off. A trip to your local park or weekends filled with movie marathons are all very well, but if you want to make the most of it, it’s time to get a little more adventurous.

Heading towards another action-packed season, the popular aqua park that floats on southeast

England’s largest reservoir is the perfect spot to keep the whole family active whilst having fun this summer. And after receiving an impressive 34,000 visitors last year, water sports fans shouldn’t hang around when it comes to booking tickets.

The ‘Total Wipeout’-style 3,000 square meter course has already received some amazing feedback from thrill seekers with one adventurer describing the experience as ‘really good fun and a proper workout’.

It’s been dubbed the UK’s ‘best Wibit outdoor aqua park’ and features a range of attractions including an XXL action tower, a springboard, the twist, a balance bar, a flip mattress, monkey bars, the aqua slide, hurdles, and much more.

One of the park’s main appeals is its popularity amongst groups of all ages as Operations Manager Kevin Parker told SO Magazine that the course is loved by children, parents, and teams such as rugby clubs.

“You’d be surprised at the variety of people we get – we’ve even taken hen party bookings!” he said.

Children must be aged six plus, and visitors are advised to arrive 45

“Last year the Aqua Park welcomed an impressive 34,000 visitors who love sliding down its huge water slides and having fun with friends, family and colleagues”

minutes prior to their park time to get changed into their wetsuit and buoyancy vest before watching a safety briefing. Sessions last for 50 minutes and tickets cost £23 per person which can be purchased online at www.bewlwateraquapark. co.uk.

For those looking to refuel after their 50 minutes of inflatable fun, the dog-friendly Waterfront Café is open every day and serves light bites, tasty snacks, and delicious lunch items like southern fried chicken burgers, loaded nachos and jacket potatoes.

And if you have a sweet tooth, Bewl Water has recently opened a brand-new ice cream parlour too, serving flavours such as triple chocolate, vegan vanilla, raspberry ripple, and salted caramel, alongside milkshakes and slushies which can be enjoyed with farreaching views of the glorious reservoir.

Dress

yourself happy

In her fashion column for May, Charlotte Newman from Kitch, shares her love of and explains why the Brazilian label is so unique…

FARM Rio is a fashion brand that draws inspiration from the vibrant and colourful spirit of Brazil. Its unique creations are a blend of fashionforward styles and vintage-inspired elements, capturing the lively and colourful energy of Rio de Janeiro in its pieces.

The brand is known for bold prints, bright colours and flowing silhouettes that evoke the relaxed, carefree lifestyle of the beach. FARM Rio’s creations embody a joyful, tropical energy that celebrates life and encourages women to embrace their individuality and express themselves through their style.

FARM Rio’s pieces are designed to make women feel good. The brand’s hallmark bold prints and elegant silhouettes are a celebration of femininity and individuality. By choosing to wear FARM Rio, women can express themselves confidently and make a statement in their everyday lives.

Research has shown that what we wear can

have a significant impact on our mental state. When we wear clothing that makes us feel good, we are more likely to feel confident, empowered, and ready to take on the world. Whether you’re lounging on the beach or attending a fancy event, FARM Rio has got you covered!

Interestingly FARM Rio empowers women through its business practices as well, by supporting local communities and minimising the brand’s environmental impact. Its garments are made using eco-friendly fabrics and processes, and the label works with local artisans in Brazil to produce its clothing. Creativity and collaboration are at the heart of everything FARM Rio does. It has a collective of Brazilian creatives to bring together a diversity of perspectives and skills, resulting in truly unique and empowering clothing. The company works tirelessly on every detail, from the shapes and sizes of the garments to the more than 700 unique prints they release every year.

At the heart of FARM Rio’s ethos is a commitment to sustainable and ethical practices. One of the fundamental values is to be a leader in responsible fashion. The brand’s commitment to producing sustainable and ethical fashion means it’s able to create and produce pieces that not only look great, but also help to reduce waste and protect the environment.

FARM Rio is a brand that embodies the spirit of women’s empowerment through its designs and sustainability practices. Its vibrant and playful designs promote individuality, selfexpression and confidence, which is essential for women to feel empowered. By supporting sustainable and ethical practices, FARM Rio is making a positive impact in the world. By choosing to wear FARM Rio, you make a conscious decision to support a brand that cares about the planet and the people in it.

“When we wear clothing that makes us feel good, we are more likely to feel confident, empowered, and ready to take on the world”

www.kitchclothing.co.uk @kitch_clothing

perfection Complexion

Everyone loves glowing skin, especially at this time of year when we benefit from that summertime kiss of natural colour. But if you want to look radiant, even when it’s raining then why not elevate your complexion and wake up your skin with my five top tips for everyday illumination…

1. Face value: Treat your skin to a facial. By doing so you will reveal your skin’s natural radiance and also help boost its defence and renewal system. You can do this yourself by

visit to one of our many talented independent skincare specialists here in Tunbridge Wells?

2. Glow getters: I’m currently loving the award-winning Hollywood Flawless Filter by Charlotte Tilbury. Inspired by the illuminating effects of Hollywood lights – and also that picture perfect filter you see so often online – it blurs, smooths, and illuminates for the most magical glow of your life. Hollywood Flawless Filter £39 available from www.charlottetilbury.com

Sun kissed: Everyone suits bronzer, however you’ll need to ensure you are choosing the correct shade. For fairer skin tones, choose pinky bronzers while darker skin tones should opt for more orangey warm tones. When applying a bronzer use a large brush and apply in a figure of three on both sides of the face, blending, contouring, and glowing. My number one, foolproof hero product is Chanel’s Soleil Tan Bronze £46 available from www.chanel.com

The cheek of it: Use a cream blusher to create natural cheeks with a sheer colour wash. This type of product is just fantastic for all ages and origins. Apply to the apples of the cheeks and

Scent of a woman: I’m currently loving a spritz of Le Labo Fleur D’Oranger 27 100ml £157 available from www.lelabofragrances.com Why? Because it’s a one-of-akind fragrance with fresh floral and lemony notes, rounded by succulent, sunny touches of bergamot.

blend outwards with fingers or a cosmetic sponge. There are no rules here, so have fun and experiment as you can easily wipe this type of sheer product away. Try adding a touch to the tip of your nose, lips and even eyelids for a quick spring makeup look. For a multi-functional product see Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge for lips and cheeks by £27 available from www.bobbibrown.co.uk

5.Powder pop: When using a powder blush, generally warmer skin tones suit more orangey reds and warm pinks, whereas fairer skin tones should aim for more bluey pinks and reds. Apply with a large soft powder brush and blend. Top tip: Smile and apply blusher to the apples of your cheeks, rest your face and ensure product is sitting well. Try the luxurious Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Blush £65 available from www.tomford.co.uk

Nailing it:

Celebrity nail artist Liga Tukmane @liga_nails tells us what’s in for spring 2023:

“Spring nails bring us bright colours, floral designs, and abstract nail art with the use of glitter, metallic accents, and holographic finishes. A neon hue of bold, fluorescent colours like hot green, electric yellow, and bright orange are perfect for making a statement and adding a pop of colour to your look.”

For the perfect vibrant colours see E.Mi Global https://emischool. com For a green, clean and cruelty-free nail brand check out https://uk.manucurist.com

Sleeping beauties:

Still relying on counting sheep to get you off to the land of nod?

Natalie Piacun TAW salon @nataliemakeup_ @68thepantiles

That’s so last century! Try treating yourself to a box of heated Spacemasks which we guarantee will help you to achieve a state of cosmic bliss once they are popped on your eyes. Available in a variety of different heavenly scents, including original jasmine as well as aromatic orange and grapefruit, they instantly warm up once placed on your peepers and help you to really relax. Their soothing, sleep inducing heat comes courtesy of a thin layer of iron filings which fuse with natural oxygen molecules in the air, thus helping you to zone out and nod off. A box of six costs £16 and is available at Fenwick, Oliver Bonas and www.spacemasks.com

“If you want to look radiant, even when it’s raining then it’s easy to elevate your complexion with these illuminating ideas”

Our resident beauty queen and professional make-up artist Natalie Piacun from TAW Salon on The Pantiles reveals the five simple steps to give yourself a picture-perfect complexion…

Chanel’s Soleil Tan Bronze £46

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter £39

Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge £27

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Blush £65

Natural selection...

After last month’s fascinating visit to Helios, one of the UK’s leading homeopathic pharmacies based in Camden Road, SO Magazine returns to discover more about some of its best-selling products and what customers love about this holistic hub so much…

HERE TO HELP

“Visitors to Helios pharmacy come with a wide and varied range of ailments, most of which can easily be treated over the counter after a short conversation with one of our homeopaths. For example it is now hay fever season, which can be the source of seasonal misery to millions worldwide,” states the homeopathic business’s founder John Morgan.

“We have remedies that can help alleviate the symptoms such as Helios Hay Fever which is a combination of three remedies for those typical symptoms of irritated eyes, sneezing, a dry tickly cough etc., and can be used alongside mixed pollens and grasses which is a remedy made from tree, shrub, flower and grass pollens. In addition we have a range of natural, soothing eyedrops and nasal sprays to support the remedies available to buy in our shop.”

SPECIALIST ADVICE

For more serious or long-term complaints Helios advises a full consultation with one of the three experienced homeopaths who practice from the Helios clinic which is part of the pharmacy.

In brief, homeopathy is holistic and treats the whole person on

both the physical and emotional level. It can be very successful in helping long-term complaints such as asthma and eczema, arthritis and emotional problems, the list is long. Often people come to homeopathy after having had little or no success with other forms of treatment.

“We get great satisfaction if we can help with these situations and see the improvement that homeopathy can bring to peoples’ lives” adds John.

“Even if homeopathy can’t resolve the problem fully, it can generally bring some relief of symptoms and works well alongside conventional medicine and other therapies.”

“Helios produces all its own homeopathic remedies from scratch, the majority of which are made from plants and minerals that have been carefully sourced from specialist growers and suppliers, or from the wild from ethical and sustainable sources. “

“We make all remedies by hand to traditional methods as laid down by the founder of homeopathy Dr

DID YOU KNOW?

Arnica is the top-selling homeopathic remedy worldwide!

Roz Crompton, homeopath and Trade and Operations Director at Helios.

“He believed that the good intent when making a remedy is equally as important as the quality of the starting material and we continue to follow this principal.

“We have a wealth of experience and expertise with the high number of qualified homeopaths we have working for us, and all our staff have an interest in the holistic management of health and a passion for healing and what we do.

“We welcome visitors to our shop, but much of our business is done by mail order. We send remedies to 140 countries around the globe and receive over 250 calls a day from customers both new and existing who are wanting advice and help with remedies for their complaints. We have a really good website

Samuel Hahnemann,” explains

“Helios produces all its own homeopathic remedies from scratch, the majority of which are made from plants and minerals that have been carefully sourced from specialist growers and suppliers, or from the wild from ethical and sustainable sources.”

which showcases not just our homeopathic remedies but all the natural products that we stock.

“Over the last two years we have seen a real increase in the number of newcomers to homeopathy. The majority of our customers come to us via word of mouth, we have worked really hard to build our reputation over the last 36 years and many of our customer have been

with us since the start.

“Alongside our remedies, we stock a wide variety of supplements, herbal remedies, flower essences and natural skin and hair care for all the family that you won’t find anywhere else in Tunbridge Wells. Customers are often amazed at the extent of products that we have, all sourced from companies with the same ethos as ourselves.”

AMAZING ARNICA: “This is the top-selling homeopathic remedy worldwide and for good reason. If you only had one first aid remedy in your medicine cabinet this should be it,” advises Helios founder John Morgan.

“It is an amazing healer, from trauma injuries to soft tissue, reducing inflammation and pain, healing after any kind of surgery or tooth extraction to mending broken bones and alleviating emotional shock after an accident or injury. This little plant with its understated daisy-like yellow flower grows mainly in Alpine meadows. Nature is so clever.”

HOMEOPATHIC BENEFITS IN PREGNANCY

“The wonderful thing about homeopathy is that we use minute doses of substances prepared by the traditional method of dilution and succession,” explains John Morgan. “There are no known side effects making it safe to use during pregnancy and with babies and young children, in fact this is a growing area as parents are turning more and more to a holistic approach to health for their families.”

born within 45 minutes of us arriving!

“We had no intervention and even the midwife was amazed at how easy the birth was and how calm Carmen was from the start. I then took Hypericum and Calendula to help with the soreness and healing and was back at work (I work from home) two weeks later.

Parents are turning more and more to a holistic approach to health

Liza CromptonPrall is one such parent, her aunt is a homeopath and sent her the Helios remedy kit for pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal recovery. Here’s what she had to say about it:

“I was thrilled when I found out I was pregnant, I run my own business, Sheepcote Kitchen, producing artisan breads and healthy food to delicatessens and farm shops and it was important that I continued working for as long as possible during my pregnancy. From the beginning my husband Harry and I wanted to take a natural approach to the pregnancy and also the birthing process.

“I don’t have much experience using homeopathy but I was absolutely delighted with the Helios kit. My aunt advised me to take Caulophyllum, as the baby was overdue and they wanted to induce me, within 48 hours labour began, and I started taking Arnica to help with the pain. We only just made it to the hospital and baby Carmen was

“Carmen has been a little windy baby so my aunt sent me a combination of Carbo veg and Lycopodium to help ease the symptoms of her trapped wind. They are in the form of tiny granules so I just pop a few in her mouth between her cheek and gum if she has any symptoms and they really work wonders. We will definitely be using homeopathy as a first port of call for the three of us and have just ordered Helios’ 36 remedy kit for home and family.”

www.helios.co.uk

“Over the last two years we have seen a real increase in the number of newcomers to homeopathy. The majority of our customers come to us via word of mouth, we have worked really hard to build our reputation over the last 36 years...”

Floral tribute

Local artist Sophie M Cook is part of the Floris Fine Art collective and their beautiful paintings are about to form part of an exhibition to coincide with this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Here Sophie tells SO more about her work and how you can see the Floris Exhibition in London’s Chelsea, from May 22…

Floris Fine Art is a collective made up of four artists, all of whom have a passion for painting flowers and botanical forms.

The group was established in 2021 and includes Tunbridge Wells resident Sophie M Cook along with three of her contemporaries: Rosemary Lewis, Penny German and Felicity Starr.

“We decided to get together in order to exhibit our work as a group, offering a unique and bespoke gallery experience. Our different approaches and painting techniques bring variety without compromising harmony and unity when exhibiting together,” Sophie explains.

Floris Fine Art have had their work exhibited in many spaces, including the Mall Galleries as part of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters Exhibitions, The Royal Society of British Artists and the Society of Women Artists. The group has also exhibited at various art society exhibitions including The Chelsea Arts Society,

The Bath Society of Arts and The Arts Society Birmingham.

Later this month, from May 2227, the Gallery at Green & Stone in the Chelsea Quarter will present an exhibition of Floris Fine Art’s floral oil paintings.

“This vibrant exhibition coincides with the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show and Chelsea in Bloom, which is the free annual festival produced by Cadogan in association with the Royal Horticultural Society. The festival sees the squares, streets and facades of Chelsea transformed with beautiful floral displays,” explains Sophie.

Floris Fine Art will be showcasing over 60 floral oil paintings and for this special event have collaborated with floral designer, Julie-Anne Brown, to create a themed floral installation in the gallery’s window, which will reflect this year’s Chelsea in Bloom ‘Flowers on Film’ theme.

“We are excited to be taking part in this as we are the only UKbased collective whose work solely focuses on floral oil paintings.

We are therefore on a mission to put floral work centre stage in the creative sphere.”

Sophie also reveals that Floris Fine Art will be participating in another event during Chelsea in Bloom Week –and beyond.

“We will have six of our works reproduced on a 3-metre scale covering the outside of the Old Fire Station on the King’s Road for the months of May and June. The installation is being sponsored by the Sloane Stanley Estate, which has been part of Chelsea for over 300 years and manages over 250 shops and flats in the Chelsea area.

“Since 2017 Sloane Stanley has been supporting artists in a community initiative, which allows artists to cover the Fire Station building on the Kings Road with artwork and murals. Floris Fine Art is delighted to be one of the featured artists for this year.”

Sophie says that these types of related creative projects are something the collective are happy to get involved with.

“We enjoy collaborating with florists, floral designers and growers. Last summer the four of us painted at the Kent cutting garden and workshop of Floral Stylist Graeme Corbett from Bloom and Burn. I have also painted on site at the farm of

“We have a passion for painting flowers and botanical forms

our work will form part of an exhibition to coincide with Chelsea Flower Show later this month”

EXPO INFO

FLORIS

Oil Paintings

MAY 22-27 2023

The Gallery at Green & Stone 251 – 253 Fulham Road, London, SW3 6HY

Monday–Saturday 10.00–17.00

thegalleryatgreenandstone.com florisfineart.com

florisfineart

Speldhurst Flowers and enjoy painting blooms from the Bloom Foundry and Florist in the Forest here in Tunbridge Wells.”

Sophie goes on to say that she has also recently worked with Chiddingstone Castle where she has limited edition prints on display in the Castle’s Tea Rooms. The exhibition runs from May 22-27 at the Gallery at Green & Stone.

ARTISTIC SPOTLIGHT ON SOPHIE M COOK

“My work is principally concerned with observation, colour relationships and the dynamic interplay of marks on the painted surface. Flowers play a key role in my practice as their complex forms, limitless palette combinations and lyricism inform a visual language that I want my paintings to convey. Each painting attempts to describe the language of form and light in a way which is unique and as a direct emotional response to the subject. I work from life and look forward to the change of seasons throughout the year and the effects these conditional shifts have on my work.

I paint mainly inside from my studio in Kent but occasionally venture outside to paint the landscape. I also paint portraits and regularly take on commissions.”

https://www.instagram.com/ sophiemcookart https://www.sophiemcook.com

and

FLOWER POWER: Floris Fine Art’s work on display at Chelsea’s Old Fire Station

– Exhibition of Floral

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Tie the knotinstyle

Even though this is your big day, you don’t want to make your guests jump through hoops to get to your venue

When it comes to weddings, pretty much everything is optional. From wearing a suit instead of a dress to ditching the cake for a fabulous tower of cheese, what you say goes when it comes to tying the knot.

But there’s one thing you can’t skip, and that’s the venue, which is undoubtedly one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. Finding the perfect location isn’t an easy task and there are lots of things to consider. After all, it is a once-in-alifetime celebration, so it has to be just right!

But according to luxury Tunbridge Wells hotel One Warwick Park, finding your dream

venue doesn’t have to be stressful, and whilst options are endless, just a few top tips from their expert wedding planning Austra should help simplify the process…

Know your guest list

Knowing how many people you’re expecting to invite will help you immediately get rid of venues that are too big or too small. I’ve found that many couples who choose a venue first only end up with heartache down the line when they discover it’s no longer suitable for the size of their wedding party.

Remember your budget

It can be very easy to get carried away when it comes to selecting

your venue as this will usually be the very first thing couples allocate their budget towards. Remember your numbers so you know exactly how much you can afford to splash out and how much you need to hold back for décor, catering etc.

Location, location, location

Even though this is your big day, you don’t want to make your guests jump through hoops to get to your venue. Think about things like nearby train stations, car parking, and accommodation. A lot of our couples will often reserve multiple hotel suites for their most important guests, so getting home isn’t something they have to worry about! Choosing a venue with accommodation is also a brilliant way for newlyweds to enjoy a mini break as part of their special day.

Food, glorious food!

Guests love food! People will talk about the wedding breakfast long after you’ve tied the knot, so it’s important to consider what type of cuisine you would like to have on your big day and if your venue can accommodate this. We’ve had many requests to make our brides and grooms’ menus extra special, such as desserts that nod to where they first met! (New York cheesecake anyone?)

Try before you buy

Use your engagement period wisely and visit your potential venue more than once before you make the final decision. This will help you get a better understanding of

the look and feel of your venue and gives you the opportunity to ask your future wedding coordinator lots of important questions.

Open days are a great way to do this – we often host them so couples can come and tour the hotel and our beautiful function room which we dress for ceremonies to help them envision their very own wedding.

SAVE ON YOUR DREAM WEDDING VENUE

Hunting for the perfect lastminute venue in Tunbridge Wells? One Warwick Park and its sister venue Salomons Estate are celebrating the big ‘I do’ with two very special mid-week wedding discounts for 2023!

Brides and grooms-to-be can enjoy an all-inclusive summer BBQ package at the 36-acre country estate for just £4,400 when booking Monday –Wednesday. The offer includes a dedicated coordinator, room hire, and welcome drinks of Pimm’s, prosecco or bottled Peroni.

There will also be a delicious BBQ menu on offer plus bacon rolls and fries for the evening as well as table décor such as crockery, glassware, and linen

– there’s even a complimentary overnight stay included!

Similarly, newlyweds can also save at One Warwick Park, which has cut the costs in half for venue hire Monday –Thursday. Instead of £1,650, it will cost just £795 to get married in the Function Room – a modern, blank canvas perfect for style-forward weddings.

The space can accommodate parties of up to 180 and benefits from a stunning adjoining bar area, double-height vaulted ceilings, 15-foot arched windows and exposed brickwork.

To take advantage of the midweek offers, couples should email leisuresales@salomons-estate. com or info@onewarwickpark. co.uk. Ts&Cs apply.

If you’ve recently got engaged and are looking for the perfect venue to say ‘I do’, then let expert wedding planner Austra Petraityte be your guide to organising your dream day…

“Use your engagement period wisely and visit your potential venue more than once before you make the final decision”

Work it out

Our resident hypnotherapist Karen Martin, who runs her specialist practice at Salomons Estate, discusses how to recognise and then deal with work-related stress…

No one is immune to an invisible killer which stalks silently through our working day. It doesn’t discriminate against age, sex, race or occupation and its grip has tightened in this post-Brexit, Covidstricken era of inflation and the threat of recession.

An epidemic of workplace stressrelated illnesses has driven unprecedented numbers of the population to bail out of the workplace. Tragically, head teacher Ruth Perry did so by taking her own life when confronted with a bad Ofsted report.

Pension provider Legal and General has identified a retirement opportunity gap for the over 50s. Its findings show that 1.3 million are planning to retire early. Those are the lucky ones. Twice that number expect to have to work indefinitely as a result of the financial impact of the pandemic. Covid has cost many the opportunity to cruise into the sunset of their lives.

Those who can afford to choose not to work are jumping ship, whilst those with no choice have to sink or swim. Countless unhappy employees resort to antidepressants to help them face the day. This age of unparalleled prosperity and comfort is also one of uncertainty and change.

Recent research by the Chartered

Institute of Personal Development discovered that 40 per cent of workers reported their job was very or extremely stressful. The survey revealed that 25 percent view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives. And 75 percent of employees believe that workers have more on-the-job stress than a generation ago.

FLEXIBLE FREEDOM OR HYBRID HELL?

Working practices have changed to a remarkable degree post-Covid with remote working now commonplace. For many, this has revolutionised their careers in a positive way, providing a work-life balance which could have only been dreamt of pre-pandemic. For others, often the young at the beginning of their careers, it has been isolating and confusing to be without the team support and social contact which used to be a greater part of working life than it is now. Post-pandemic, according to research by Aviva, the number of workers planning career changes has increased from 53 per cent to 60 per cent. A fifth of UK adults hope to generate an income stream from a hobby. Nearly 700,000 workers plan to switch to a role which helps others. Under-25s are most likely to be re-thinking their careers as a result of the pandemic.

RISKY BUSINESS

Heart disease, stroke, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, allergies, insomnia, depression, anxiety and even cancer can all be triggered or aggravated by stress. It compromises the immune system and symptoms like exhaustion, muscular tension and an increased heart rate all put tremendous pressure on the body. Health is further undermined by mood swings, poor eating habits, lack of exercise and an inability to concentrate, which all take their toll on emotional well-being.

On the one hand, stress gives us our drive and motivation to get out there and achieve our potential but too much of it has the opposite effect. Once there is a gap between our ability to cope with stress and the amount of pressure we are under, problems appear overwhelming, confidence shatters and performance goes into meltdown. Job security is compromised, relationships suffer and habits can easily turn into addictions.

Stress and anxiety are major causes of sick leave in the UK making them bad for the economy as well as for the individuals concerned.

TEN TOP TIPS FOR REDUCING WORKPLACE STRESS

1: Time management

Prioritise and don’t procrastinate. Tackle difficult tasks quickly and you won’t waste time worrying about them.

2: Work that body

Eat well, work out regularly and make sure you get a good night’s sleep. A healthy body and clear head make workplace stress much easier to cope with.

3: Don’t overdo it

Learn the power of ‘no’. If you’re taking on too much or being overburdened, efficiency will be compromised by the resulting stress.

4: Work out why

Once you’ve figured out what the problem is you can look for ways to solve it.

5: Win–win at work

When confrontation looms, be the solution not part of the problem. A positive approach to difficult issues helps colleagues to value and appreciate your contribution.

6: Accept what you can’t change

Pushing against an immovable problem is exhausting and pointless. Give it a wide berth or remove yourself from its influence. This might mean looking for a better job elsewhere.

7: Take a chill pill

Mindfulness and meditation are hypnotic strategies for restoring energy, clarity and focus. You’ll work harder and smarter by regularly taking time out to relax.

8: A little help from your friends

Unwinding with friends is an antidote to workplace stress. Friends can help you change the subject and forget about workplace woes.

9: A different point of view

Take some advice before letting problems get out of proportion. Looking at issues from different perspectives helps you to take a balanced view.

10: Don’t self-medicate Booze, fags, caffeine, recreational drugs or addictions of any kind add to whatever workplace stress you are under. These faulty coping mechanisms could cost you your job, your health and your relationships.

“On the one hand, stress gives us our drive and motivation to get out there and achieve our potential, but too much of it has the opposite effect”

Karen Martin Hypnotherapist hypnotherapykent.co.uk

increasing intracellular zinc concentrations.

• Reduce or eliminate foods you know you don’t tolerate well. Bread and wheat products can be hard on the digestive system and in turn can lower immunity. You may also find that mucus forming foods like milk and cheese also make your symptoms worse, so listen to your body.

• For mild to medium hay fever the probiotic Optibac ‘for every day’ can really help. Research increasingly points to the gut being the seat of a healthy immune system so it stands to reason if you balance your gut bacteria immunity will improve and strengthen.

• Bee Prepared Daily Defense Immune Support is our best selling hay fever supplement.

• For severe hay fever and chronic rhinitis take consider Black Seed Oil. In studies Black seed oil ‘the remedy for everything’ has been shown to reduce nasal itching, runny nose, sneezing fits and nasal congestion during the first two weeks.

• Increase vitamin C through diet or supplementation.

• Nettles help reduce inflammation and ease nasal congestion. Fresh nettles are everywhere at the moment and you can gather (with gloves!) and just add to a teapot with hot water. Alternatively nettle teabags are readily available.

Fever pitch…

NATURAL WAYS TO ALLEVIATE HAY FEVER SYMPTOMS

Irecently drove past a field of rapeseed, the intense yellow, so uplifting and beautiful, I couldn’t help but smile, and yet for many this plant creates misery.

Hay fever is usually worse between March and September, resulting in sneezing attacks, itchy eyes, a scratchy throat and the feeling of being perpetually run down. It can be impossible to enjoy the bright, sunny days.

Hay fever/chronic rhinitis is an over reaction to something that the body should, and can, usually

handle so the key here is to have a strong immune system. When you encounter an allergen, be it food, pollen or a dusty room an antibody is produced releasing histamine which causes itching, swelling and inflammation.

The best strategy is to build up your immune system before hay fever symptoms appear.. And yet here we are in May. But all is not lost. With the right strategies you can dampen down this response, strengthen immunity and enjoy the months ahead.

• Incorporate foods rich in bromelain in to your diet. This is an enzyme found in pineapple and papaya, which is particularly effective at reducing inflammation, pain and allergies.

• Consume foods rich in quercetin, a type of flavonoid antioxidant that has been shown to reduce inflammation, allergies, hay fever and support the respiratory system. Foods include parsley, capers, onions, black plums, apples and berries. Quercetin also acts as a zinc ionophore, a compound that can transport zinc ions across a cell membrane,

• Don’t compromise your immune system by being in a state of constant stress. Consider an adaptogen like Holy basil or Ashwagandha.

• The Reishi mushroom has a combination of high immuno-modulatory and strong anti-inflammatory and antihistamine activity making it a uniquely suitable supplement for those with rhinitis and hay fever, eczema and general allergies.

There are many ways to build resistance naturally during the hay fever season just by adopting a few of the suggestions above.

READER OFFER:

For more help come and see us and mention SO Tunbridge Wells to receive 10% off our vast hay fever range of products for the whole family.

Naomi Murray Co-founder of Botanica Health botanicahealth.co.uk

“The best strategy is to build up your immune system before hay fever symptoms appear”

Naomi Murray from Botanica Health in Rusthall suggests her top tips for dealing with hay fever in a natural way…

Over the last couple of years there has been a definite shift in the fitness industry and it’s fascination with continuously doing high intensity cardio training. The trend now is more geared towards incorporating strength and weight training into our lives. It’s a positive shift and an important one for us to recognise, but it can leave people wondering why, and what they actually need to be doing. When a discipline develops popularity there can be a tendency to have an overload of information so that it can be hard to know where to start. It can feel like everyone else is in some secret club and knows exactly what they’re doing, when most likely that they don’t! The fact is, it doesn’t have to be overly complicated!

Sarah Gorman

Fitness professional and entrepreneur @sarahgormanblendfit sarahgorman.fit

Build your strength

As we age, our bodies go through a number of changes that can impact our overall health and wellbeing. One of the most significant changes is the gradual loss of muscle mass, which can lead to decreased strength, mobility, and independence. So in simplistic terms this is why strength training is especially important for individuals, particularly as we age. I have broken it it down to the main five components to keep things simple:

1. Building muscle mass: Strength training is one of the most effective ways to build muscle mass, even in older adults. By engaging in regular resistance training exercises, you can increase your muscle mass, which can help you maintain your strength and independence as you age.

2. Increased bone density: Strength training has been shown to increase bone density, which can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle.

3. Improved balance and coordination:

As we age, our balance and coordination tends to deteriorate, which can increase the risk of falls and other injuries. Strength training can help improve balance and coordination, making it easier to perform everyday activities and reduce the risk of falls.

4. Boost your metabolism:

Strength training can help increase your metabolism, which can help you burn more calories throughout the day. This is especially important for older adults, who may experience a slower metabolism due to agerelated changes.

5. Enhanced overall health: Strength training has been linked to a number of health benefits,

including improved cardiovascular health, reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, and improved mental health.

SO HOW DO WE INCORPORATE THIS INTO OUR DAILY LIVES?

The first step is knowing how often to train per week. A review of the scientific evidence has found that to optimise muscle growth, strength training sessions should be introduced two to three times per week if possible. If you are just beginning a new strength training program, you should try starting with two days and work yourself up to ensure you get adequate rest between sessions.

Some people like to workout with a specific target focus area, ie,

SO’s fitness columnist Sarah Gorman looks at the rising trend of strength training and how it can benefit you in multiple ways…

“Strength training is one of the most effective ways to build muscle mass, even in older adults”

leg day or arm day. Personally I believe that working the whole body each time you do a session means that you are continuously challenging your whole self and working with much more of a functional movement pattern and therefore getting more out of the session. Most people don’t have enough time in their week to have specific training days for areas of the body so a good full body workout is a great way to train and save time. Speaking of timing – workout sessions don’t have to go on for hours. If you only have 20 minutes, take it. And you shouldn’t really be training for more than an hour at a time.

When I hear that people are on the second or third workout of the day, I wonder whether they are actually training correctly. We don’t need to burn ourselves out to have an effective workout.

There are huge benefits associated to lifting weights, specifically as I mentioned earlier in regard to bone density, however, if you are training from home and don’t have the necessary equipment, or you are unsure of how to use the weights correctly and concerned about injury, then body weight strength training is also a great way to start adding strength training into your routine. It is definitely not an easier option either! My strength Pilates class is often the class that I hear my clients saying is the hardest one! The main thing you want to focus on is how to perform the exercises correctly so that you train your body safely, effectively

MOVE OF THE MONTH:

Weighted (or non-weighted)

squat

Placing the feet in a parallel position slightly wider than hip width with the weight in the heels, lower the sit bones and soften the knees as if you are trying to sit on a chair behind you.

Keep the chest open and shoulders wide and hold the weight to your chest.

If you have no weights you could use a couple of heavy books as an alternative. You could also just hold the hands to the chest and do the squat with body weight only.

Pulse x3 small pulses in this lower position and then push through the heels and stand up to a straight position.

Try x16 reps and repeat three times.

and can move on to more advanced moves as your fitness progresses.

One common misconception among women is that weight training will make them ‘too muscular’ and they will immediately develop a bulky body. (Neither of which I see a problem with, but that’s another issue!) However, women have lower testosterone than men, therefore lifting weights is not going to give women the same muscle hypertrophy as men.

And remember that strength training is also important if you are trying to lose weight. With weight loss, your body will tend to lose fat and muscle. Strength training will help preserve muscle mass even as you are losing weight. In addition, this increased lean muscle mass will keep your metabolism high, aiding in your weight loss journey.

Weald Heights care home Bourchier Close, Sevenoaks TN13 1PD careuk.com/weald-heights

Welcome to Weald Heights

Weald Heights is part of award winning provider, Care UK – one of the UK’s most successful care home operators, with over 35 years’ experience of delivering high quality care to older people.

Our dedicated teams provide a full range of care services, including long and short-term residential, nursing and dementia care. With safety top-of-mind for everyone right now, we have enhanced our already-robust infection control measures to keep current and new residents, as well as our colleagues, safe. We’re doing all this while ensuring life stays as normal as possible for the people we care for –going the extra mile to make every day special for residents, with activities and experiences personalised to their unique needs and wishes.

Visits with loved ones

We are committed to ensuring residents are able to safely enjoy visits with family

With over 35 years’ experience, our highly trained teams are experts in delivering award winning care.

We have enhanced infection control measures in place across all care homes protecting those already living with us, as well as providing a safe and reassuring welcome to new residents.

If you’re considering care for yourself or a loved one, discover flexibility and assurance – ask about the Care UK 28 day guarantee*. To find out more visit careuk.com/28-day-guarantee

Please contact us to discuss booking a one-toone video chat or viewing on 01732 806484 or ameliamoore2@careuk.com

Experts in award winning care. Trusted by over 6,500 families.

and friends. We understand how vital these are not just to residents, but everyone’s wellbeing and peace of mind.

Where a care home has been free from Covid for 28 days, each resident will be able to have two named visitors who can pre-book to see them inside the home.

The home’s visiting suite – a comfortable room accessed from the home’s garden with a clear screen – will also be available to family and friends to pre-book for visits.

Here for you

If you have a question about care for your loved one, or how we’re keeping residents safe, we’d love to hear from you. Please call 01732 806484 or email

amelia.moore2@careuk.com

Number 1 for fun!

BEWL WATER AQUA PARK

SCANHere toBook

REVIEWS

“Really good fun. An hour flew by and my kids aged 12 and 15 loved it. Proper work out as well! Thought staff and organisation was excellent. Will definitely go back.”

SCANHere toBook

“Really brilliant day out, loads of facilities and everything we needed was provided.”

“A place for fun and joy. Had a blast in the summer with the kids and would definitely recommend.”

BEWL WATER, BEWLBRIDGE LANE, LAMBERHURST, KENT TN3 8JH

bewlwater.co.uk

@bewlwater

good life The

Pomalo is the brainchild of Andrea Hilgers who came up with the idea of creating a multitasking venue in the grounds of her beautiful home at Pembury Hall which is perfect for curating and hosting specialist workshops, fun pop-ups, exclusive dinner parties and seasonal fairs. Eileen Leahy went along to discover more about this very special space and lifestyle concept…

It’s a drizzly chilly morning when I arrive at Pembury Hall, a grand 19th century country house that has been beautifully enhanced by its owners Andrea Hilgers and her husband Paul since they moved there in 2019.

I’m here in this pretty pastoral corner of Pembury to chat to Andrea, who is German, about how and why she came up with the clever idea of creating Pomalo, a multitasking space that can be hired out for specialist workshops, seasonal fairs, private dinners and immersive experiences.

As we head over to Pomalo HQ, I’m hugely impressed by the converted coach house outbuilding which is exquisitely decorated in soft earthy tones with sprinklings of Scandi chic and vintage French here and there. It is located in the pretty courtyard of Pembury Hall and looks just as inviting in real life as it does on the Pomalo website

and Instagram account. Andrea explains that it was moving to Pembury Hall with her three children and husband from Amsterdam that sparked the initial idea to create such a convivial space and overall lifestyle concept.

“In 2019, we moved to the beautiful Kent countryside after having lived in Amsterdam for a while. Prior to that we had been living in Sydney but we wanted to move somewhere much quieter where we could all slow down a little bit and reconnect.

“Being expats you are always moving around and therefore for us it’s always been about building a community wherever we go. When we moved to Pembury Hall we’d never had a house this big so the plan was to open it up to others and to create a community around it.”

But then, within a few months, the pandemic had hit and suddenly the family found themselves totally isolated.

“Lockdown was quite lonely as we had only recently moved here. We hadn’t quite settled and didn’t really have any time to make any

connections,” explains Andrea. “But it did give us the opportunity to work on the house, convert the stables and bring the gardens back to life. I’ve always had a strong connection to nature, and when we discovered Pembury Hall I found it to be a place to restore my energy, unwind and feed my soul.”

As we chat and sip coffee in the main Pomalo hub, which can be hired out for private dining, photo

“Being expats you are always moving around and therefore we’ve always been about building a community wherever we go”

www.pomalo.co.uk @__pomalo__

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Pomalo is one of the most quintessential words of Dalmatian vocabulary explains Andrea. “The word literally means ‘slow’, or ‘take it easy’. It’s like a way of life. I really want people to come here and take a breath and relax as we live in such a hectic world –especially after the lockdowns. It’s nice every now and then to take time out. We would like to invite you to experience Pomalo; an antidote to modern living, and an opportunity to gather, feast and learn…”

shoots and pop-up fairs and so much more, Andrea tells me that as well as wanting to bring likeminded people together to enjoy sharing knowledge, ideas and holistic experiences she believes that in addition to curating a community in this way, good food is another great conduit to connecting people.

“As well as the specialist workshops and seasonal fairs, I wanted Pomalo to have a foodie angle too as I am passionate about food. I trained at Leith’s, and did lots of online courses during lockdown and I recently achieved a diploma at Le Cordon Bleu so cooking is something I like to share at Pomalo. Hosting and cooking are what I love to do.”

There is a fully equipped catering kitchen located at Pomalo which Andrea opens up for the regular pop-ups she welcomes.

“I’ve always wanted to run my

own café so doing this allows me to indulge that dream a little bit,” she laughs.

Andrea then adds that the popup events she hosts with the likes of the Faded Shed and Whist eco candles are already achieving what they set out to do.

“They are community building; our neighbours visit, people from Pembury come along and it’s lovely to see people sitting and chatting and having coffee.”

The most recent one was a spring fair last month which also saw creatives and makers including Atelier Chocolates, Darling & Wild florists and Monica Pepper

interiors selling their wares. The specialist workshops Andrea hosts are run twice a month and so far have included themes such as how to dress your table beautifully, courtesy of Sarah Coleman from Beyond The Table, Christmas wreath making

tutorials and a candle making session with Whist.

This month they include how to create stunning floral pots for summer by Andrea’s gardener Maxine Clement (now sold out) and a Metallics Masterclass with Reloved MCR’s Sarah Parmenter on May 13 (see below).

Andrea admits that she is constantly thinking about what to do next and reveals that supper clubs are something she is also trialling at Pomalo.

“We have chef Ben Sulston coming along on June 17 to host one - hopefully al fresco - which is exciting and we have another happening later in September.

“The aim of Pomalo is to put on events that celebrate the seasons and also nourish the body and mind,” she reveals.

On leaving this magical place, I’m pleased to say the weather has perked up immeasurably and the sun is shining brightly. I feel refreshed and happy. I guess that must be the Pomalo effect…

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY:

Every event is personally curated by Andrea Hilgers to be beyond the ordinary, infused with attention to detail and thoughtful design to create the signature Pomalo experience. This month Pomalo welcomes Sarah Parmenter of Reloved MCR who will be hosting a metallics masterclass on Saturday May 13. Here she explains more about it:

“Join me for a day of creativity, relaxation and fun at my first Metallics Masterclass workshop at the fabulous Pomalo, Pembury Hall, Tunbridge Wells. Learn the art of distressed gilding and metallic foiling techniques on a variety of thrifted items, including picture frames, ceramics, ornaments and lamp bases.

I’ll work with you to prep, paint and metamorphosise your very own vintage home accessories using my curated collection of Metallic Skinz… which you can take home at the end of the day. Or bring your own items to work on. Suitable for enthusiastic, hands-on beginners and/or those of you who are already keen up-cyclers, workshop attendees will learn about the products and methods I use to create my trademark ‘faded glamour’!

Using a carefully selected mix of painting, distressing, gold leafing and metallic skins/ foiling techniques, this is the chance to create the one-off, antiqued finishes I love to employ in my own home and commissions. All paints

and materials are supplied, although there will be opportunities to purchase additional products to take home with you for future projects.”

Items which are suitable include: Small vintage side tables

Ornate /carved picture frames or mirrors

Large vases or lamp bases

Decorative serving trays, ceramic ware

Lunch and light refreshments provided. £140 per head

Time: 11am - 4pm

Place: Pomalo, Pembury Hall, Old Church Road,Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 4AT.

@relovedmcr

“Pomalo is a place to restore your energy, unwind and feed the soul”

As we head towards summer there is no better time to detox our homes. This time of year represents new growth and regeneration, so now is the time to tackle that wardrobe purge, remove the clutter and allow a sense of calm and clarity to prevail in your home. The biggest question however is where do you start? Here are Home Edited’s top tips on the best way to tackle your home detox:

PICK A SPACE

Firstly, before tackling any space in your home, be sure to know your priority areas. The areas in your home that impact you the most.

A streamlined approach

Home Edited’s Kate Edmondson, Home Organiser and Accountability Coach, reveals how to get started with a DIY home detox…

Is it your bedroom, wardrobe, kitchen or pantry? Whatever the space, remain focused on the one area or room. This is not about tackling your entire home all in one go. It has to be manageable to be achievable. Having a detoxed and organised home is a journey, one that can have a profound impact on your mental well-being, however, remember to be patient and kind to yourself.

MAKE THE TIME

More often than not, we start detoxing or organising a space, but we’re unable to complete it due to time constraints. This can be frustrating, so however big or small the task is, be sure to allow yourself the correct amount of time to complete the task and achieve the desired outcome – otherwise, you may well be left with more chaos than you started with.

CATEGORISE

Once you have chosen the space you want to tackle and allocated the time to do it, collect similar items together. This allows you to really evaluate what you have of each item and what is no longer required. Now let’s edit…

THE EDIT

Now is the time to decide on the items you want to keep and the items you want to let go of.

ARE YOU AFTER SOME INSPIRATION ON WHERE TO START?

Your wardrobe – tackle one category at a time, for example –jeans, jumpers and so on. Spring is a great time to swap over those thick winter coats and big warm jumpers. Sunnier days we are ready for you!

Paperwork – go around your home and bring all the paperwork together, and really evaluate what you need to keep (I bet lots of it will be out of date now, or available online). This is a great task to do whilst drinking a hot cup of coffee. Food items – remove any items that are out of date. Focus on one category at a time: tins, herbs, and dry goods, for example. Donate to food banks if in date. Cosmetics – are you a lover of lotions and potions but never get

round to using them? Well now is the time to go through your bathroom cabinet and make up bag. Think about how long you have had the item, whether you are realistically going to use it and whether you need it? Be honest with yourself, get detoxing! If items are unopened, charities such as The Hygiene Bank are great places to donate.

That (miscellaneous)

Drawer – we all have one; now is the time to remove all the rubbish and categorise what’s left (drawer dividers are great for this). Be sure to minimise this to items that really do need to be in there.

Most importantly, start small and make it achievable. I promise you, it will be a worthwhile journey. Always remember the reason behind why you are simplifying. For more time, more calm, more space, more financial freedom, and ultimately less chaos.

A great way to approach any edit is to create four piles: Sell, Donate, Recycle and Rubbish. Make sure you’ve got an exit plan lined up too – this is hugely important, so you can finish the job (otherwise these items have a habit of slowly making their way back into the spaces they once occupied!) Utilise charity drop-off points, apps such as OLIO for free food and nonfood items, or perhaps Vinted or eBay for those items you want to sell. Donating or making money for unwanted items offers a real feelgood factor too.

COMMIT AND COMPLETE

You have made it this far, great work. You picked the space, you made the time, you categorised and edited your belongings. Now, is the time to commit and complete the final steps. This is about clearing the clutter –following the exit plan and getting the ‘stuff’ out of your home – to allow for clear space and a clear mind. You’ll be so glad you did.

Having a detoxed and organised home is a journey, one that can have a profound impact on your mental well-being

Best in Show

Our resident gardening guru Tim Sykes takes a look at what the Chelsea Flower Show has in store later this month including this year’s top trends plus a sneak peek of some fabulous garden designs

Like me I’m sure there are many keen gardeners in Tunbridge Wells who look forward to the annual pilgrimage to Chelsea each May. It’s always an inspiration to see the fresh ideas of the UK’s elite designers, manufacturers and growers.

Sponsored by The Newt in Somerset (you must visit this spectacle too) for The Royal Horticultural Society, the show kicks off on May 23 and runs through to May 27.

If you haven’t already got tickets then don’t miss the BBC Gardeners World coverage hosted by Monty Don et al.

This year Tunbridge Wells visitors will be treated to our very own garden masterpiece by local designer Camellia Taylor. Camellia has combined her passion for psychology with garden design to create The Natural Affinity Garden for Aspens.

The Garden is supported by local law firm, Cripps and Project Giving Back.

Aspens are based in Cornford Lane, Pembury and they provide day and residential support for

Camellia studied psychology for 4 years and worked with young people in the autism spectrum, then after a career break retrained as a garden designer. An RHS graduate from Hadlow College, Camellia went onto study at London College of Garden Design.

This change of career has provided her with a rare opportunity at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show to build a garden that combines her knowledge of psychology with her design skills.

You can see the Aspens garden in The Pavilion. It’s a remarkable design that has a calming

influence, and is so special as it also demonstrates sustainability. As Camellia cleverly pointed out: “This isn’t going to be a wasteful garden, it’ll be relocated in its entirety.”

So what other fresh ideas at Chelsea should we be keeping an eye out for?

Among the main Show Gardens, look out for Gavin McWilliam and Andrew Wilson’s Memoria & GreenAcres Transcendence Garden. The garden has a deep personal connection for Andrew and Gavin, who have both lost close family members. They wanted to create a quiet and reflective space that helped uplift the spirits. Well their garden looks like it will deliver this in spades! See more about the garden at mcwilliamstudio.com

Martyn Wilson’s RSPCA Garden can be seen in the Sanctuary Garden area. This is a contemporary wildlife garden that features a ‘dead hedge’. A corten steel interpretation that functions like a hedge and provides sanctuary to wildlife.

This was created by Stark & Greensmith famous for their amazing garden screens we often design into projects ourselves. See more about Martyn’s work at www. wilsongardendesign.co.uk

If 2022 was anything to go by the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this year is set to be a super event.

LAST YEAR WINNERS AND MY FAVOURITES INCLUDED:

Chris Beardshaw’s design for the RNLI Garden, which received a GOLD……..

Ruth Willmott’s inspired design for Morris & Co, whic h received a GOLD………..

The Meta Garden: Growing the Future , designed by Joe Perkins, which received a GOLD …..

And a Garden Sanctuary, sponsored by Hamptons and Koto Design and designed by Tony Woods, also a GOLD winner……..

For further information about the Chelsea Flower Show then please go to www.rhs.org.uk

If you have tickets to the Show then I hope you thoroughly enjoy yourself. Do contact me if you have any questions, or need help with your garden designTim Sykes at Gardenproud on 07725 173820

Tim Sykes Gardenproud

“This isn’t going to be a wasteful garden, it’ll be relocated in its entirety.”

Chris Beardshaw’s Garden

Ruth Willmott’s Garden

Joe Perkin’s Garden

Camellia Taylor’s Garden

Life’s a beach

This month Kent specialist rental company and sponsors of our travel section, Bloom Stays, reveal three of their most in-demand luxury coastal holiday homes all perfect for a local getaway...

Summer 2023 is not far off and if you’re looking to stay somewhere that’s stylish and in a great location this summer, then here at Bloom Stays we have some of the best to choose from.

In recent years the lines between boutique hotels and self-catering have been increasingly blurred and for our guests at least, their expectation of ‘special’ has gone up several notches. There’s extra awareness around what the house looks like; what it can do for you and your holiday. The house you choose for your holiday becomes a destination in its own right. In this Insta-age we love a cool stay. Wellthought-out, contemporary homes are a huge draw to a destination. Here are three of our favourites…

NORTH VAT & COASTGUARD LOOKOUT DUNGENESS

We love Dungeness for many things including its wide-open beach and its ‘end of the world’ feeling, but equally we love that we have ultra-modern North Vat or the restored Coastguard Lookout to choose from. North Vat is the epitome of contemporary cool: a black-clad, modern, clean-lined house.

Coastguard Lookout towers over the southern end of the shore and shares the same contemporary interior feel. But its previous life as a watchtower over the English Channel before the days of radar technology ensures its historic past is never far from view.

WATERS EDGE, GREATSTONE

Waters Edge at Greatstone is one of those houses that instantly relaxes you. The huge windows overlooking Greatstone Beach draw you to the outside first and even on the greyest of days bring light flooding in.

Beginning its days as a relatively modest single-storey house, Waters Edge has been updated and enlarged over the past year or so. It retains its family feel, but it now sleeps 15 people, so there’s plenty of room for everyone. However, it’s the entertainment factor here that’s been designed into the bones of the house. There’s a games room, a huge kitchen, and large, comfy sofas for dropping into after a day on the beach(es) along this wild and quiet piece of Kentish coastline.

Besides the obvious design credentials in the actual building, Waters Edge has a few artistic touches that allude to its designconscious interiors. Keep an eye out for two very special original posters from the 1930s which

were designed to promote nearby Dungeness and on-the-doorstep Greatstone, especially with the then-new miniature railway. Rescued and hung in Waters Edge, they recall that glamorous earlier age of travel and the ever-present need to bring people to the coast to marvel at it. Previous times, present sentiment.

ensure it has a hand-built, roughhewn quality which continues throughout. Even the bedroom walls are clad with hand-sawn timber to continue the surf shack vibe.

Design ideas, such as the tripleheight glazed living area echo the roof of the original bungalow that once sat quietly on this site, but the new annexe – a bright yellow painted addition shouts fun and games. It houses a pool table and cinema room, perfectly designed for rainy days where the British weather gives reason to stay in and leave the wetsuits hanging for another day. Colour is key in this house, the bright zingy yellows shout fun and a holiday care-free attitude which is why you’re here, aren’t you? Turquoise greens and Montauk reds weave in faraway vistas.

In the main house, which sleeps six, surfers and skateboarders will

LARK RISE, CAMBER COOL

Away from Dungeness in Camber, Lark Rise is where East Coast American cool meets Camber’s wild ruggedness to create a space that makes you just sit back and relax. It is beautifully designed yet also practical, and certainly not pretentious for its place. Beach houses have to be tough to take whatever the tide can throw at them all year round but they also have to welcome in those elements of light, air and space. Beach houses should shelter and protect, but they should also throw you headlong into that next wave and open up the possibilities of being next to the sea.

This Camber house, one of the largest plots on the famous dunes, was designed by its owners to capture that relaxed ruggedness. The tough, scaffold-board floors

www.bloomstays.com

love the nod to their sporting glory with vintage boards adorning the walls. Those keen to ensure they get their full R&R may choose the hot tub rather than high tide here. What a brilliant house to find your art, design and beach fix all in one place. We’re off to find our warmest wetsuits…

“The house you choose for your holiday becomes a destination in its own right”

Head south for a jungle adventure

Air access has always played a big role in opening up destinations, by highlighting attractions and making it much easier to visit. But at a time when most airlines are conservatively recouping Covid losses, it’s rare for anyone to take a risk.

Somewhat surprisingly, British Airways has decided to go against the grain by launching a new route to a destination most people would struggle to pinpoint on a map – Guyana.

A new twice-weekly departure will connect London Gatwick with Guyana – an English-speaking nation at the northern end of the South American continent, still 80% covered in jungle.

Even better – fares are less than £500 return, a fraction of the price for tickets to most destinations in that part of the world.

While infrastructure on the ground is still developing, plenty of operators can tailor-make

itineraries. Here are a few of the key places and experiences to check out…

Witness the mighty Kaieteur Falls

Undoubtedly Guyana’s highlight attraction, the world’s largest

single-drop waterfall is a dramatic sight – mainly because it’s still so untouched.

Located in one of South America’s first national parks, it’s surrounded by dense jungle and is best reached by a 55-minute

light aircraft flight from capital city, Georgetown. There’s no hotel accommodation on site, so the majority of visitors do the journey in a day.

The arrival by air is dramatic: cutting across a plateau, the Potaro River plunges into a chasm in a thin silvery streak.

Once on the ground, a trail leads through rocks and vegetation to reach the edge of the flow, where swallows spiral in the mist. Other creatures to look out for include flamboyant cock of the rocks, Guyana’s national bird, and golden frogs living in bromeliads.

Experience Georgetown

The entry point to Guyana, capital city Georgetown has more

New flights from BA make this South American, English-speaking country more accessible – and it’s about time, says Sarah Marshall

“Undoubtedly Guyana’s highlight attraction, the world’s largest single-drop waterfall is a dramatic sight –mainly because it’s still so untouched.”

of a Caribbean than Latin vibe. Food is the best way to tap into the way of life, with tours of the local market conducted by local chef Delven Adams. Once ingredients have been selected, enjoy spicy, fried dishes cooked fresh at his Backyard Café.

Rum is also a specialty here. Produced in vintage copper stills, El Dorado has won multiple international prizes. Sample it at their Demerara Distillery just outside town, where tastings are held in a Barrel Bar (theeldoradorum.com).

But even in the city, nature is never far away. At the Georgetown Botanical Gardens, it’s possible to find more than 100 species of

birds, while manatees can be hand fed in the Guyana National Park.

Sleep in the jungle at Rewa Eco-Lodge

Deep in the jungle, Guyana’s indigenous communities are working hard to protect the environment. Access to the internet – available in public squares – has opened their eyes to the threats of climate change.

Rewa (rewaecolodge.com) is one of the leading eco-lodges, offering guests a chance to experience wildlife at the confluence of the Rewa and Rupununi Rivers.

A motorboat ride is a thrilling introduction to families of giant otters, but it’s a rare fish – the arapaima – that’s been bringing

sports fishermen here for years.

Able to live outside the water for an impressive 24 hours, the once locally endangered fish now receives better protection thanks to work by Rewa.

Find it in a nearby pool decorated with giant lily pads, and continue inland for a journey along jungle trails to find the ominously named Goliath birdeater – an enormous spider lurking in burrows. Arachnophobes might opt for a more relaxing hike up the nearby Awarmie Mountain for views of the valley.

Rooms at the lodge are thatched huts with open air showers and bathrooms; wake up calls are given by roaring troops of howler

monkeys at dawn.

See a show by the

Surama Cultural Group

Learning about indigenous cultures is one of the most rewarding activities in Guyana, made easy by the fact most people speak English.

Based at the Surama Eco Lodge (suramaecolodge.

com), the Surama Cultural Group host dances and demonstrations in a village originally constructed as a film set, designed to teach people about their Makushi culture.

Learn how to cook cassava and sample maggot kebabs around a fire, while listening to stories and legends.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP

Cox & Kings (coxandkings.co.uk; 03301 735 546) tailormake a 15-day Guyana: The Caribbean Amazon tour from £5,295pp (two sharing), travelling through Georgetown, Kaieteur Falls, Surama, Rupununi and Iwokrama. Includes full board accommodation and all flights.

British Airways (ba.com) flies to Guyana from London Gatwick from £499 return.

At the Georgetown Botanical Gardens, it’s possible to find more than 100 species of birds

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

It’s hard to describe why the M3 Touring looks so ‘right’. It might be something about being able to blend performance and practicality, but there are few other estate cars which manage to generate quite so much of a buzz around them like the M3 Touring. It’s longer, wider and more aggressive than the standard M340i Touring – the next mostpowerful 3 Series model – with the blistered arches that we’ve come to expect from BMW’s full-fat ‘M’ models. ‘Our’ test car also came in a brilliant ‘Isle of Man’ green shade which only helped it to stand out even more. The front-end design still gets plenty of people talking, but we don’t find it all that bad in the metal.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

FIRST DRIVE:

BMW M3

After a long wait, the new M3 Touring is finally here. Jack Evans finds out what it’s like…

WHAT IS IT?

It’s the car that enthusiasts the world over have been waiting for. For decades, BMW has refrained from creating an estate – or ‘Touring’ – version of its famous M3, despite flying alongside brands such as Mercedes and Audi which have both seen huge success with their own interpretations of a practical performance car. But that has all changed now. Finally, after a long, long time, BMW has created a proper estate version of the M3 – but can it live up to generations worth of expectation? We’ve been finding out.

WHAT’S NEW?

The biggest thing to notice here is, of course, that extended rear end. The 3 Series Touring has been a go-to option for drivers who want a practical and spacious model that is still good to drive, but this is the first time that we’ve ever seen an M3 badge on the back. It means that the M3 can bring 500 litres of boot space as standard, or 1,510 litres with the rear seats down. That’s not an awful lot more than the 480-litre boot you’ll get in the saloon version, we’ll admit, but the Touring’s wider opening and split-tailgate means that loading larger, bulkier items in there is a whole lot easier than in the regular M3.

WHAT’S UNDER THE BONNET?

You get the same 3.0-litre twinturbocharged straight-six engine

in the Touring as you would in the standard M3, where it produces 503bhp and 650Nm of torque, driven through to all four wheels via BMW’s xDrive all-wheeldrive system and an eight-speed automatic transmission. BMW claims that it’ll manage the 0-60mph sprint in 3.4 seconds –the same as the saloon – before heading onwards to a 174mph top speed. It’s worth noting that here in the UK, we’ll only be getting the xDrive all-wheel-drive version and Competition specification is the sole powertrain choice too, but it brings the most amount of power.

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

Of course, with the same engine setup and the same basic structure, the M3 Touring was always going to feel pretty similar to drive to the regular car. It may be around 85kg heavier than the saloon, but the M3 Touring feels no less capable nor any less exciting to drive. In fact, the real joy here comes in being able to extract massive performance easily and with a moment’s notice – the xDrive system really does manage the power impressively well.

But the M3 Touring also performs beautifully as a ‘normal’ car, too.

It’s very refined on a motorway cruise and the cabin remains quiet and comfortable at speed. The low-speed ride is a touch fidgety, but this is an issue we’ve also found with the saloon. Once you gain a bit of speed, it settles down.

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE?

After options, our test car rocked in at just over £100,000, which definitely elevates the kind of things you’re expecting from a vehicle’s cabin. Fortunately, the level of fit and finish is excellent, with everything feeling sturdy under closer inspection. There’s a good use of high-end materials, too.Naturally, you’d be considering the Touring due to its more practical boot area, but it also has easily-accessible ISOFIX points on the outer two rear seats, so it’s a good option for drivers with little ones in child seats, as well.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

MODEL: BMW M3 Competition Touring xDrive

PRICE AS TESTED: £100,150

ENGINE: 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged straight-six petrol

POWER: 503bhp

TORQUE: 650Nm

0-60MPH: 3.4 seconds

TOP SPEED: 174mph

ECONOMY: 27.2-28mpg

CO2 EMISSIONS: 231g/km

BMW has equipped the M3 Touring with its new curved display which pairs a 12.3-inch screen ahead of the steering wheel with a second 14.9-inch unit in the middle of the dash to create one, big widescreen setup. It’s responsive and quick, but it does feature a dizzying number of options and menus which can be quite hard to navigate by touch alone. Our car’s ‘Ultimate Pack’ might have come in at a hefty £11,250, but the fact that it contains a heated steering wheel, full carbon bucket seats and BMW’s excellent Laserlight headlights – among other features – does make it better value than that high price tag initially suggests.

VERDICT

The M3 Touring was ripe for failure. With so much hype and so much pressure, it could’ve been quite easy for this latest and most practical of M cars to underdeliver. Thankfully, it just isn’t the case. It steers, accelerates and performs as you’d want a performance car to do so, yet with a real sense of occasion that is often lacking in this area.

Of course, a £100,000 estate car is hardly the most ‘every day’ of vehicles, but the final execution of the M3 Touring means that, if you have the means, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most well-rounded cars around.