So Wealden September 2015

E

LOCAL PEOPLE

take verbal abuse very well COMEDIAN - HAL CRUTTENDEN -

LADIES WHO LAUNCH

Meet the women making their mark This car has a deeply impressive

OFF-ROAD ABILITY

W E A L D E N

so

RULING THE WORLD HOW THE TAKE THAT TRIO

keep the music flowing FENWICK FASHION

HAVE FUN BUILDING YOUR autumn/winter wardrobe

MIDDLE HOUSE MAYFIELD

Does it really live up to its name?

Winkenhurst Manor

Through the doors of this country house on the market at £2.2million Confidential WHO USED TOO MUCH FAKE TAN?

MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 250D SPORT

EDUCATION GUIDE SEPTEMBER 2015 £1.50 WWW.SOMAGAZINE.CO.UK

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2015 – 2016

35 FACT FILLED PAGES

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CONTENTS

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HELLO HERE’S HERE’S WHAT’S WHAT’S INSIDE INSIDE YOUR YOUR SEPTEMBER JUNE ISSUE ISSUE

34

THE CELEBRITY Take That talk touring, tea and being a three

165 THE HOMES

Live the dream in one of these stunning properties

88

THE TRAVEL Climbing high in Colombia

139

230

Star designers divulge their secrets

The new Mercedes-Benz GLE is a solid choice

THE INTERIORS

THE MOTOR

216 THE FOOD

A fond farewell and fantastic food at the Middle House

160 THE GARDENS

From moats to mowing, find out what goes on at Bodiam

99

THE EDUCATION GUIDE Discover what our local schools have to offer

STRICTLY WEALDEN...

News – The final straw in Tenterden Letters – Etchingham crossing causes cross words Cranbrook school boosts property prices Calendar – hop to Bodiam for festival fun Wines are fine in Biddenden Newenden CC hit the roof Local village named top for commuters SEPTEMBER 2015

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MODEL SHOWN P75008 - ÂŁ41, 711* KRIEDER SHOWROOM - 3 Chapel Place, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN11YO - 01892 619721 - info@krieder.com - www.krieder.com *Price shown includes delivery, cabinet furniture, appliances, worktops and VAT

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SO

M A G A Z I N E

C O N TA C T S

16 Lonsdale Gardens Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU Tel: 01892 779 650 www.somagazine.co.uk Editor Richard Moore rmoore@onemediauk.co.uk Deputy Editor Charlie Bond cbond@onemediauk.co.uk Head of Design Rowena Cremer-Price rcremer-price@onemediauk.co.uk Publishing Design Manager Xela Ruy xruy@onemediauk.co.uk Junior Designer Amelia Giddings agiddings@onemediauk.co.uk Production Co-ordinators Lauren Chalmers-Stevens lchalmers-stevens@onemediauk.co.uk Writer Frederick Latty flatty@onemediauk.co.uk Digital Marketing Specialist Dan Oztunc doztunc@onemediauk.co.uk Head of Sales Joe De Kwant Stoner jstoner@onemediauk.co.uk COMMERCIAL TEAM Team Leader Gemma Hak ghak@onemediauk.co.uk Team Leader Patsy Kelly pkelly@onemediauk.co.uk Jake Short shortj@onemediauk.co.uk Clara Higgs-Prosser chprosser@onemediauk.co.uk Daisy Giddings dgiddings@onemediauk.co.uk Robin Singer rsinger@markerstudy.com Distribution Co-ordinator Lara Milan Contributors Fleur McCoy • Penny Ireson • Valerie Thacker Catherine de Crèvecoeur • Craig Matthews David Bartholomew Publishing Director Nick Moore nmoore@onemediauk.co.uk

Like us on Facebook facebook.com/SoMagazines Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/SoMagazines

one media Published by:

and creative uk ltd

SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE ONLINE All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these materials whilst in transit.

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Designer and maker of handmade bespoke kitchens and furniture Established. 1980

Unit 3 Chart Farm Seal Chart Sevenoaks Kent TN15 OES

==

Tel: 01732 763610 I 07809504251 Email: info@grantsofsevenoaks.co.uk www.grantsofsevenoaks.co.uk

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Designers and makers of handmade kitchens

The difference is in the detail

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I

Please call for a brochure or visit our showrooms Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart Sevenoaks, Kent TN 15 OES Tel: 01732 762682

81 Calverley Road Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN l 2UY Tel: 01892 520730

@

-J0vARDS 20 13

www.rencraft.co.uk

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NEWS

Wealden

NEWS...

OUR MONTHLY LOOK AT SOME OF THE LOCAL STORIES MAKING THE HEADLINES

TENTERDEN TOWN

MONKEY LOVING

THE FINAL STRAW Having parked their vehicles in the High Street, Tenterden shoppers were in for a bit of a shock when they returned to their cars to find them smashed – and covered in straw.

A tractor carrying a heavy load of bales managed to clip a street light, completely bending it in half, before shedding its load on a line of unsuspecting vehicles. Helpless onlookers watched in horror as the bales crushed cars along the High Street, before the tractor eventually came to a halt outside Café Rouge. “I hope the tractor driver has good insurance, but I suspect he’ll be back on the hand plough after this,” comments Ian McCormick, who was visiting Tenterden and witnessed the destruction unfold.

“Developing the school site is important to us, but it is equally important that we do not unbalance the wildlife we are so lucky to have here,” says school estate bursar Simon Brophy. The eight new homes are being built as part of the Perfect Pitch campaign, which is one element of the ‘Centenary Vision’ – a long-term redevelopment programme that will be completed in time for the school’s 100th anniversary in 2023.

NEWT NEWS Benenden school is in the process of relocating the many great crested newts that live in a pond in its Victorian garden ahead of their new building project. The newts have also been identified at a larger pond elsewhere on the site. The school is making sure none will be put at risk when development starts on the new staff housing that will occupy the site.

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COUNTRY CHARACTER Cranbrook has been named as one of the best places in Kent for commuters to live

by Country Life magazine. The emphasis was put on its proximity to a station with good links to London, while still retaining the character of an idyllic rural community.

The village also received a positive assessment for its excellent grammar school, the Michelin-starred restaurant Apicius and the nearby Weald Smokery.

An Uckfield charity has launched a book in accordance with International Orang-utan Day. International Animal Rescue has spent the past six years creating a sanctuary in a remote part of Borneo that is home to nearly 100 young orang-utans injured or orphaned by the relentless march of palm oil manufacturers who have been decimating forest habitats.

The book is called Orang-utan Rescue and tells the emotive story of efforts to save the primate from extinction.

SPORTING SUCCESS Despite recent research showing that, in the last six months, almost 250,000 people in England have stopped taking part in regular exercise, Wealden residents have been named the most sporty in East Sussex for the second year running. Sport England’s Active People survey showed that last year 37.2% of the adults in Wealden areas took part in at least 30 minutes of sporting activity a week, compared with a 34.4% participation score across East Sussex as a whole and an England average of 35.5%. Over the past year, Wealden sports clubs have benefited from more than £21,000 in capital improvements, sporting equipment and coaching facilities thanks to the council’s Community Grants scheme.

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LETTERS

SO

...AND VIEWS

THIS IS WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR SAY ON WHAT’S HAPPENING IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD LETTER OF THE MONTH

they make beautiful lights perfect for a boho chic wedding. So thank you, SO, for making my decision a little easier!

AIMEE WILLIAMS, BUXSTED Ed: Glad we could help!

NOSY NEIGHBOURS I was at a dinner party recently and it was held outside. We were all having a wonderful time until we heard a loud buzzing. Looking around, we couldn’t see anything until the host of the party said, “Oh don’t worry, it’s just the neighbours’ drone; they’re checking up on us to see what we’re doing”. And sure enough, I looked up and I saw it. I mean, if the drone wasn’t bad enough, I think what bothered me more was how normal this was to her! It’s just plain weird to me.

ELIZABETH MANN, GOUDHURST Ed: Creepy is the word that springs to our mind

NAMED AND SHAMED Shock! The most popular girl’s name of 2015 so far is Charlotte. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a lovely name, but is it really so hard to go for a name that is just a little bit more original? Coming from someone who has both a first name and surname that are not exactly one of a kind, it’s sometimes nice to have something that is a bit different.

SOPHIE SMITH, via email Ed: Ever thought about changing it?

SAVAGE SHOPPERS I wish some people could understand that some things are unavoidable. While in a rather renowned shop the other day, their systems stopped working, which meant card machines, tills and various other technologies weren’t available. Obviously it was inconvenient for the customers, but I felt nothing but sympathy for the store in

question – quite different from the reaction of another customer, who let loose on one very unfortunate employee. This annoyed me because, really, does she think that they’d be doing this on purpose? I’m sure they love the idea of losing hundreds of customers and sales! And it wasn’t like the staff weren’t doing everything they could to fix the problem! Honestly, people baffle me sometimes.

JEAN WINTERS, via email Ed: In some cases, the customer isn’t right…

ALL LIT UP My wedding isn’t for another year, but as the blushing bride-to-be, I’m obviously very excited and have already started thinking of ideas. I read about the idea of a boho wedding in last month’s magazine and it gave me an idea. There’s a place in Uckfield called The Hanging Lantern where

MILK MANNERS I couldn’t help but find myself in a very angry debate with my colleagues after I read your magazine last month. I had read the letter called ‘Tea Strainer’ out at work and, while I chuckled at the preposterous idea of ‘milk in first’, I was outraged to hear that a lot of them followed this absurd rule.

Surely we all know that it should be put in last? Did nobody read Fortnum & Mason’s instructions on how to make tea as a child?

ANABELLE BRINKLEY, via email Ed: They’re right next to the kettle at SO towers…

CROSS CROSSING I can’t be the only one whose daily drive to work is blighted by the train barriers at Etchingham station?

Not a day goes by when I’m not caught up in lengthy queues there – all because the barriers go down a good 10 minutes before the train is even due to arrive! I’m all for rail safety, but these extreme precautions just seem a little ludicrous to me.

REBECCA KITTS, HURST GREEN Ed: Perhaps playing a game to guess which direction the train’s coming from would help to pass the time?

Email cbond@onemediauk.co.uk or write to us at SO Wealden, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU Please be sure to include your full name and address. Letters may be edited for publication.

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PRE-OWNED CLASSICS

ELL SPENT • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

WE CAN HELP YOU FIND THE WATCH YOU'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF OWNING. COME AND VIEW OUR PRE-OWNED COLLECTION IN STORE

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SO

INTERVIEW

LUNCH My lunch times are completely variable, depending on whether I’m in meetings, at my desk or out and about on site, but I try to get out for some fresh air during my lunch break and take advantage of working within a 1,000 acre deer park.

DIVERSE DAYS There’s no such thing as a typical day for me! The work is so varied. I could be copywriting and editing text and planning interpretation across the site, attending meetings, drawing up workshop plans for the new Hayloft and contacting potential tutors or freelance practitioners or mapping out our learning offer and planning new cross-curricular programmes with my team.

AFTERNOON TEA I’m very partial to a piece of flapjack from our outdoor café around 3pm, when I’m in

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LEARNING AND INTERPRETATION MANAGER

need of a boost!

Esther Lockwood helps to develop learning schemes at the National Trust property that is Knole in Sevenoaks

our doors is partaking in a learning

LOTS OF LEARNING Learning and educational activity happens every day at Knole and pretty much every member of the public who comes through experience of some kind. We welcome around 1,500 school children a

MY ROLE

grant from the Heritage

This involves leading the development and

Lottery Fund to contribute

winning schools programme

delivery of learning programmes for a very

towards our landmark five

for pupils aged seven to 16

broad range of ages, from toddlers who are

year project to repair and

that’s interactive and hands-

exploring the house and park with their

conserve Knole and share its

families, to school children enjoying a

heritage with visitors. In 2013

Tudor-themed trip, through to adult visitors

we were delighted to hear that

who’ve come for a day out, hoping to

the HLF had awarded us a grant

discover something new. My role is also

of £7.75million towards this project.

focused on the development of a brand

The Heritage Lottery Funded ‘Inspired by

take a tour of the house and visit

new learning facility: the Hayloft Learning

Knole’ project is changing how we

the education room to explore our

Centre, which is set to open in 2016.

understand and relate to Knole and what

handling collection.

year and have an award-

on. Our most popular schools workshop is the Tudor life workshop, which sees pupils dress up in our gorgeous Tudor costumes (all hand made by volunteers),

visitors can see and do when they come

9AM

here – it’s a really exciting time for Knole and

BEST BITS

The first thing I do is make a coffee and

it’s a pleasure to be part of the process.

I love my job at Knole for many reasons,

check in with my learning officer to find out

but I love that the house has a beautiful

what the day has in store for her. We’re

PROJECT PLANNING

faded quality about it, which I haven’t

working hard to broaden our programmes

At the moment I’m doing lots of planning

experienced elsewhere. I never get tired of

for secondary schools and post-16 visits, as

and writing policy documents. This might

imagining what ghosts of the past are

well as the adult learning offer in the new

sound dull, but actually it’s really exciting

sharing these rooms with me. I also have a

Hayloft Learning Centre.

– it’s about discovering our audience’s needs

real passion for history – every one of us is

and then looking at how we can meet these

a kind of living history and our histories

HERITAGE

needs through the development of the

make us who we are. I love sharing special

‘The Inspired by Knole’ project is incredibly

learning programme. It’s also about looking

places like Knole because they mean so

exciting – it’s what brought me down to Kent

at the built environment, the park and

many different things to different people.

from North Yorkshire. The project team at

collections here and deciding what really

Knole, led by our head of grants, bid for a

unique learning experiences we can offer.

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www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole

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SO

E-asily the best and cheapest E-Bikes in Tunbridge Wells E-power allows you to do things other bicycles can't.

The extra speed and acceleration means you can get away from junctions at traffic lights easily, the extra power means you can flatten hills, rediscover peaceful backwaters, and cover distances you've only dreamed of. All without tax, insurance, MOT or licence. *Competition only in the September edition of So Tunbridge Wells Magazine

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For reassurance that you are properly insured, our experts will visit you and value your personal belongings. If the contents of your home are worth £100,000 or more, ask me about a free valuation and an NFU Mutual Bespoke home insurance quote.

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PENSIONS

INVESTMENTS

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SO

EVENTS

SEPTEMBER

CALENDAR

6TH » Vroom Vroom

BLUECRAYOLA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The Kent Italian Car and Bike Day is taking place at Honnington Lakeside in Southborough this year, and all Italian cars and bikes from bygone eras to present day are warmly welcomed. There will be a country fair that will continue alongside the show, giving activities for the whole family, including camel rides, having-a-go stands and sheep racing. Quality local catering will be on offer, including a hog roast and barbecue, fish and chips, crêpes and plenty more. For more information and to register your Italian bike or car, visit www.honningtonevents.com

4TH » Jazzing Things Up

5TH » Kite Flight

6TH » Strings and Keys

If you love the soulful sound of the saxophone, or the talented trumpeter, then get yourself to Finchcocks Musical Museum in Goudhurst for their outstanding jazz night. The concert is organised by bandleader and professional musician Roan Kearsey-Lawson. Having worked with over 100 jazz greats, Roan is the perfect person to lead this brilliant evening. For tickets, timings and more information, call 01580 211 702 or visit www.finchcocks.co.uk

Kent kite flyers will be gathering together for a weekend of demonstrations at Bewl Water.

They will show how they can be flown to music and use a variety over the weekend, including show kites, two line kites and quad line kites. For children, there will be a kite-making workshop and plenty of kites on sale as well.

For more information, visit www.bewlwater.co.uk

Enjoy an evening of classical music at The Great Comp Music Festival near St Mary’s Blatt, Borough Green, where, on this night, Milos Milivojevic will play the accordion and Harriet Mackenzie the violin. They will perform together and separately in a beautiful recital. Guests can enjoy the privilege of free entrance to the garden from 6pm onwards, and are welcome to bring a picnic. For more information call 01732 453 240 or visit www.greatcompmusic.org

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EVENTS

SO

12TH » Hopping Fun

PHOTOSTHATROCK / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Once surrounded by acres of hop gardens, Bodiam Station is hosting a two-day hop festival on September 12 and 13. They will be recreating the memories of the journey eastenders would take on the final leg of their journey from London to the East Sussex countryside for their annual working holiday. The festival includes barbecues, displays, local beer, steam trains, home made produce, Morris dancing, and music from The Sideboard Men. For more information, visit www.kesr.org.uk

9TH » Tenterden Tribute

13TH » Fair Maiden

15TH » The Piano Man

For one night only, the music of Michael Bublé will be gracing the wonderful town of Tenterden at The Raja of Kent Indian restaurant. They will be hosting a Michael Bublé tribute night in which a selection of his most famous songs will be performed in true Bublé style. Tickets are £25 per person and include a fabulous fourcourse Indian dinner. Early booking is recommended, as there are limited spaces.

For more information call 01233 851 191 or visit www.therajaofkent.com

Travel back in time at the Medieval Fair and heritage open weekend held at Tonbridge Castle. With loads of events on, including medieval music and dance, combat display and arming of the knight, there’s plenty of activities for everybody. While you’re there why not explore the castle and it’s background, all for free? For more information, call 01732 770 929 or visit www.tonbridgecastle.org

Marking the seventh annual Richard Beattie Davis Sandhurst Musical Event for Hospice in the Weald this year will be Malcolm Binns, as he once again thrills with his pianistic offerings from the great masters. It will be held in a private home at 3pm in Sandhurst.

Tickets are by donations of minimum £15 and must be reserved. To do so, please contact Gillian Davis on 01580 850 384 SEPTEMBER 2015

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SO

HE VER CASTLE & GARDENS CHILDHOOD HOME OF ANNE BOLEYN

HANDMADE & HOMEGROWN FESTIVAL September 11-13

A celebration of all things handmade, homegrown, recycled, upcycled and locally produced.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT

hevercastle.co. uk/whatson Or call - 01732 865224

BODIAM BOATING STATION & LIME WHARF CAFE

T

he River Rother is one of England's finest rural rivers & has been navigated for centuries.

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It's banks are the home of family run Bodiam ~ ~ Boating Station, offering a small campsite & \. __, ,l endless opportunities to mess about on the river. ,.., 路 """ 路. ~~~~~~~~-

Furniture, homewares, fashion, haberdashery

and local produce Compered by Viv the Spiv, the authentic 1940s Spiv from South London

* Enjoy a leisurely cruise to National Trust's Bodiam Castle or Rye aboard the M.V. Dannie Lee ferry.

* Treat yourself to a sumptuous breakfast, lunch or

Mad Hatters Fancy Dress Staplecross Road, Bodiam, East Sussex, TN32 5RA

Cream Tea in our delightful new cafe & garden.

* Hire a kayak, canoe or rowing boat & try your luck fishing. * Camp in our small site & let us spoil you by bringing

Children's marquee with vintage prices

you a morning paper, coffee & pastry.

NEW FOR 2015

LIME WHARF CAFE Best vintage attire like us on Facebook

Enquiries: Bodiam Boating Station,

competition judged by Viv the Spiv Vintage costumes available Plenty of parking available

Rye Road, Newenden TN18 SPP t :01797 25 3838 e:info@bodiamboatingstation.co.uk www.bodiamboatingstation.co.uk www.limewharfcafe.co.uk 22

SEPTEMBER 2015

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EVENTS

SO

24TH » Fire and Ice

A landscape themed exhibition will be bringing together icebergs, fire and living grass, and is taking place at the OBS Gallery at Tonbridge School.

The exhibit will include artwork from seven artists, of which renowned practitioners Harvey and Ackroyd will be featured. They have been commissioned to make one of their ‘photosynthesis’ pieces for The Bright Field exhibition. Award-winning photographer Gina Glover will also be featured. For more information, visit www.tonbridge-school.co.uk/obsg

16TH » Garden Glory

20TH » Walking Wonders

27TH » Trailing Behind

Every Wednesday and Thursday until the end of October, Hole Park Gardens in Rolvenden will be open for visitors to enjoy the 15-acre gardens, including the impressive border that is full of vibrant colours at this time of year. Open 11am until 6pm and admission is £7 for adults and £1 for children. For more information, visit www.holepark.com or call 01580 241 344

Why not enjoy a guided walk around the outstanding 14th-century moated manor house estate, Ightham Mote? The walk will offer unique views across the Kent countryside and stunning displays of flora and fauna. Discover the hoppers’ huts and the source of the water spring that feeds the moat. Dogs are welcome to join as long as they’re on leads. The walk starts at 10.30am and costs £10.80 for adults and £5.40 for children. Booking is essential.

To do so call 01732 810 378 or for more information, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk

If you’re a keen runner then this event is the thing for you. The Groombridge Place High Weald Challenge Trail Races follow the long distance paths of the High Weald Landscape Trail, the Vanguard Way and the Wealdway.

Enjoy the beautiful countryside while challenging yourself by taking part in the ultra (£39), marathon (£34) or half marathon (£24) race. For more information, call 01825 840 653 or visit www.trailrunningsussex.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2015

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EXCLUSIVE WEDDING & ENGAGEMENT RINGS

FURRER JACOT

MARK ADAM Untitled-1 2

68 High Street, Tunbridge Wells TNl 1YB 01892 616617 www.markadam.co.uk Open Tues - Sat 10.00 - 5.30pm

24/08/2015 16:21

SO

West Kent Shooting School Wednesday 7 October 2015

RNLI Charity Clay Shoot

ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Symphony Orchestra

50 BIRD OPEN ENGLISH SPORTING SHOOT 10am Start : UE 1.00pm

£50 High Gun

£20 per entry

£1s re-entry

Three Man Team Event with Lunch and Flush Available please ea or e ils

Yo111Shots Tuesdav 21 October 2015 1oam1012.3Dpm

Pre-booked

Aged 8-16yr

£55.00 per person

An introduction to Clay Pigeon Shooting or a refresher for those more experienced youngsters

New Hay Farm, Old Hay, Brenchley Kent TN12 7DG T: 01892 834306 E: info@westkentshooting.co.uk

www.westkentshooting.co.uk

WEALD OF KENT

CRAFT &DESIGN - - - - SHOW - - - -

UNIQUE HANDMADE GIFTS FOR YOUR HOME AND GARDEN Chilstone Sculpture Garden • Fly Fishing Demonstrations Family Craft Workshops • Birds 6 Beasts Road show 'Have a Go' Archery • Live Cookery Demonstrations

SEPTEMBER 2015

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SO

SEPTEMBER

THIS MONTH

YOU SHOULD SEE View the country from new heights when you fly from London to Stonehenge in your own private helicopter. Guests will start their journey at the London Heliport, Battersea and fly across the English countryside, peeking in on Stonehenge from above before landing at a local airfield. A chauffeured luxury car will be waiting there to whisk guests off to experience Stonehenge at ground level. After spending time admiring the stone circle, guests will re-board the helicopter, fly back towards the capital and enjoy a bird’s-eye tour of some of London’s most iconic sights.

On landing back at the heliport, it’s time for a glass of Champagne to top off what will be an unforgettable day.

This experience could be yours from just £3,800 for two people. www.thelondonhelicopter.com

READ

LISTEN

WATCH

Give yourself thrills with Lee Child’s latest novel in the Jack Reacher series, Make Me. Jack has no place to go and all the time in the world to get there, so a remote railroad stop with the curious name of Mother’s Rest seems perfect for an aimless one-day stopover. He expects to find a lonely tombstone in a sea of nearly-ripe wheat... but instead there is a woman waiting for a missing private investigator, a cryptic note about 200 deaths, and a small town full of silent, watchful people. Reacher’s one-day layover turns into an open-ended stay... £10 at www.waterstones.com from September 10

It’s been nearly five years since we’ve seen a shiny new album from rock legends Duran Duran. Paper Gods is their 14th studio recording and has a highly anticipated track list, with the first single, Pressure Off, featuring vocals from American singersongwriter Janelle Monáe. The record was produced by Nile Rodgers, who had previously worked on the band’s The Reflex single and Notorious album, and Mark Ronson who produced UK Number one hit Uptown Funk.

Paper Gods will be available from September 11, priced at £12.99 (deluxe) www.amazon.co.uk

Tobey Maguire and Liev Schreiber star in Pawn Sacrifice, the gripping true story set in the height of the Cold War. American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer finds himself caught between two superpowers when he challenges the Soviet Empire. The transfixing tale chronicles Fischer’s terrifying struggles of genius and madness and the rise and fall of a kid from Brooklyn who captured the imagination of the world.

Pawn Sacrifice will be released in UK Cinemas on September 18.

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THIS MONTH YOU SHOULD

SO

DECORATE No room for a bookcase?

No worries! Give the illusion of owning a fully-stocked library with a giant bookcase mural.

These adaptable designs can be centred on a feature wall, or cut down to fit smaller nooks and crannies and comprise four separate pieces. This frieze is applied in the same way as wallpaper and comes in easy to manage sections. You have the choice of either colour or black and white, and it measures 315 x 232cm.

Available from www.presentindicative.com, priced at £65

GROW Invented by NASA scientists, the Ecosphere is the world’s first totally enclosed ecosystem – a complete, self-contained and self-sustaining miniature world encased in glass. It contains active micro-organisms – red shrimp and algae in filtered sea water. Simply provide the Ecosphere with indirect natural or artificial light and the ecosystem will thrive without needing further attention. If you really want to impress, then the extra-large Ecosphere is the one for you. Almost the size of a football and weighing in at around 5kg, this sphere houses over 35 shrimp and contains pieces of Gorgonia, which enhance the beauty of these amazing self-contained worlds.

The XL Ecosphere costs £449 from www.prezzybox.com

PARTY Enjoy a visit to the White Isle while brushing up on your music skills too. Luxury rental firm Chic Ibiza Villas has launched a DJ package for all wannabe DJs visiting the party island this season.

When booking one of the firm’s exclusive villas, guests can add on an exclusive DJ masterclass, where, over a two-hour tutorial, they will learn the basics of mixing, fading and other techniques from an internationally-known DJ. Book with Chic Ibiza Villas by visiting www.chicibiza.com or calling 00346 385 8290

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RANT

SO

SERVICE WITH A SMILE ,

Here’s where we give readers the chance to air their opinions on contentious local issues. Ever felt that etiquette is missing these days? Catherine from Cowden wonders why manners so often go amiss…

M

anners cost nothing. I’ve been working in a restaurant for a long time now and what really winds me up is how rude some people can be. It takes nothing to say ‘thank you’, but apparently those two tiny words are the hardest thing for some to utter.

A lot of people say “Oh well, I don’t need to thank you for doing your job.” Not necessarily, but in your office job, if someone does a piece of work for you, you thank them. At the doctor, after they’ve given you some medicine for your chest infection, you say thank you. At the supermarket, after you’ve paid the cashier for your shopping, you say thank you. It might be our ‘jobs’ to do these things, but it doesn’t rule out simple politeness on your end.

If you come into the restaurant and want to be seated, I’ll get to you as soon as I can. And if you’re miserable when I greet you, I’ll still smile at you. If you order your drinks and food with no pleases or thank yous, that’s not going to change the way I treat you. And, when I clear your empty plates and ask you if you enjoyed your meal, grunting is not going to ruin my happy face. It’s not because I want to get tipped at the end of your meal – it’s because I was raised to be polite. We’re not all just trying to get money out of you; we’re actually just doing our jobs with a smile on our faces!

Another thing – ordering food differently than it comes on the menu is actually a lot more work than it might seem. Especially on a busy

night, when the chefs really don’t want to be faffing around preparing something that isn’t on the menu or swapping kinds of potatoes while they have 10 other tickets that require their attention. Of course, we will always try to accommodate our customers’ needs as much as possible, but there is only so far we can go. You don’t get to have a go at us because the food on our menu doesn’t come with something you want; it’s the way we prepare it and in the nicest way, if you don’t like it, then order something else.

I like our regulars; they’re great fun and what’s better is that, when I’m busy, they understand that I’ll get to them as soon as I possibly can. If the bar is full and you have an empty glass, tapping it will not get my attention; you will have my attention when it’s your turn. I have noted that you’re there, but I have also clocked the five other people who were there before you and who will get served before you. And please don’t say “When you’re ready, love” because a) I’m not your love and b) of course it’ll be when I’m ready, which won’t be until I’ve served the customers here before you.

The hours that we work are unsociable and the pay we get is minimal, so a smile, good manners and simple understanding from the customers we serve is not much to ask. So, please think about that the next time you go into a restaurant and consider the difference you might make to someone’s day.

DO YOU HAVE A RANT YOU’D LIKE TO RELEASE? Email your views, in no more than 600 words, to Deputy Editor Charlie Bond: cbond@onemediauk.co.uk. We won’t publish anonymous letters and contact details must be supplied, but if you’d prefer not to be named in print, please make this preference clear.

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SO

THE LOOK

PASSIONATE ABOUT HAIR With more than 20 years’ collective experience, the team at Revive Hairdressing in Tunbridge Wells offer not just a haircut, but an experience.

Owner Krissy Scotton tells us more about what clients can expect from the salon’s leading products, high quality treatments and exceptional service

different ways. It looks especially good with volume and up to the side or in big tussled waves. Bronde is the new thing for the autumn. It still keeps the ombre and the balayage, but doesn’t go too light, keeping it subtle with flicks of caramel and warm, dark blonde tones. It’s easy to maintain as it’s natural looking, so there’s no regrowth!

Tell us about your business out with a previous colleague, Kim Large.

What do you enjoy most about working at Revive?

Over the years we have grown and now

I absolutely love my job and the best bit is

have a team of six, with the addition of

making someone feel amazing and full of

Selina, Molly, Laura and Lara. There are no

confidence. No matter what the face shape

limitations to the kind of clientele we have,

or skin tone, I can create a style and colour to

which keeps us constantly on our feet with a

suit. Plus, I get to chat all day – what more

different challenge every day. We all lead

could a girl want?

I opened the salon in October 2011, starting

such busy lives, so having your hair done is

Which celebrity’s hair would you most like to get your hands on?

your time to stop and forget for a while, so we try to offer a calm, relaxing vibe.

Jennifer Lopez! She has the most amazing

And what can clients expect from their visit?

natural Mii range, whether just for a night

We offer a wide range of services, from just a

out or your wedding day.

hair. I imagine you could do anything with it

cut and blow dry and colour, to a keratin

and it would look fantastic.

Revive Hairdressing

smoothing treatment for men, women and

Any style tips for the coming seasons?

83A St John’s Road,

children. We have two qualified nail

For autumn/winter this year I think the side

Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9TU

technicians specialising in OPI gel nails. We

parting is going to be very popular. It suits

01892 539 004

also have a fulltime makeup artist using our

most people and can be worn in a variety of

www.revivehairdressing.co.uk

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SO

CONFIDENTIAL

BY TACITUS

NOTHING ESCAPES OUR ATTENTION

WHO pulled a sickie when their fake tan went wrong?

Simples: The woman who used a spray can to boost her appeal but overdid it and ended up with an orange face. She was ‘ill’ for three days before going on her hols hoping to look more normal when she returned in two weeks. Let’s see the holiday snaps.

WHO

WHICH

WHY

WHO

no longer worries about forgetting his password?

That would be the chap who changed his password to ‘incorrect’.

Now when he can’t remember it he types in anything on his mobile/ ipad/laptop and back comes the response “your password is incorrect”.

fashionista has fallen out with her favourite boutique?

The one who believes she’s a trim size 10 although the only clothes that fit her are all a size 12. Obviously, she argues, the shop has brought in stock that for some reason is wrongly labelled. Nice try!

did A&E at Pembury disappoint this mum?

Because she thought she would be there for hours while they sorted out her sprained wrist and had taken a good book and bought a latte for quality time away from the kids. She was in and out in under an hour.

You just can’t win!

embarrassed the bride on her wedding day?

That would be her maid of honour. During the reception she took to raising her glass a tad too much. The angry bride eventually phoned the woman’s sister and begged her to come and take the wobbly one home.

WHY

WHO

WHY

WHO

did this accountant think his number was up?

Because he decided to show off while water skiing on holiday in Turkey. One ski dipped in the water, he took a nasty tumble and ended up in the local hospital with cracked ribs.

That’s not the tale he’s telling back home though.

took a little bit of a liberty over Ramadan?

The barman who went to work with heavy stubble after his pub had been taken over by a big brewery. The new boss ordered him to shave immediately. He said it was the holy month of Ramadan (it wasn’t) and he couldn’t shave. Boss, very pc, makes grovelling apology.

is this chef getting hot under the collar?

Because he has a mystery admirer. A certain lady regularly eats at his restaurant and has made it rather obvious that she only has eyes for him. The poor man is now frightened to come out of his kitchen. Bit of a pot boiler this one.

has yet again vowed to stop smoking?

That would be the businessman who told his wife he had quit and then got hit with an £80 fine when he stubbed out a sneaky cigarette on the pavement. He was spotted by one of the council’s environmental enforcement officers. Guess he won’t appeal the fine.

Got a rumour? Pass it on via confidential@onemediauk.co.uk We never reveal our sources

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SO

J.RILEY & SO SECURE DEPOSIT FACILITY

J. Riley & Sons offers l, l 00 secure boxes in a variety of sizes at the new state of the art safety deposit facility in the centre of Tunbridge Wells .

Using two grade eight vaults and fingerprint technology, the facility offers total privacy and se for personal and business secure item storage With deposit boxes starting from ÂŁ200, we accommodate all storage requirements .

For more information or to book an appointment, please visit our website.

New security facility opens in Tunbridge Wells jrileyandsons.com

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info@jrileyandsons.com

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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CELEBRITY

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CELEBRITY

SO

RULING THE

WORLD

They may be fewer in numbers, but they’re still huge when it comes to creating hits. We find out how Take That keep the music going…

I

t’s now been 25 years since Take That burst onto the pop scene as five fresh-faced twentysomethings. Fast forward to 2015

and they’re still doing what they love best – making music and touring, albeit in a slightly different format to the one they began with in 1990.

The fivesome – Gary Barlow, Mark Owen,

they went on to produce their sixth studio album

Robbie Williams, Howard Donald and Jason

Progress, which quickly became the fastest selling

Orange – enjoyed the dizzying heights of

album of the 21st century, and the second fastest selling

fame for half a decade, until in 1995,

album in British history. While Robbie dipped out to

Williams sensationally quit the band. Less

continue with his solo material after the tour finished,

than a year later the others called it quits,

Gary, Mark, Howard and Jason performed at the closing

and although some went on to pursue solo

ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics and in 2013

careers, it was only Robbie, who had

announced that the following year they would be

continual success over the next nine years.

recording their seventh studio album.

In 2005, the band, minus Robbie reunited for a TV documentary.

It was then that they decided to bring Take That back for

While the band did work on the next album in 2014, September saw big changes, as Jason Orange announced his exit, stating: “At the end of The Progress Tour I began to

good – and, in 2006, the

question whether it might be the right

group announced a

time for me to not continue on with

reunion tour, followed by

Take That. There have been no fallings

a new album.

out, only a decision on my part that I no

After Robbie Williams rejoined the band in 2010,

longer wish to do this.”

A year on from Jason’s departure and the trio have adapted to the changes and new group dynamic. Having completed their Take That Live 2015 tour and released their seventh album III, they are stronger than ever, yet still always grateful of their positions within the music industry.

They may have been ‘playing’ for 25 years now, but the

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OYSTER PERPETUAL SKY-DWELLER

"i'

RO LEX

Moppin & Webb LONDON

UPPER GUILD HALL, BLUEWATER, KENT DA9 955

WATCH FEATURED SUBJECT TO STOCK AVAILABILITY

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CELEBRITY

SO

“I can never bring myself to refer to what we do as work. This is the thing that we play around with” – GARY BARLOW group are obviously taken seriously in the industry, judging by the opportunities that come their way. After being personally asked by director Matthew Vaughn, the band wrote and recorded Get Ready For It for box office smash Kingsman: The

cinema and watch three films in a row,” he admits. “And I

Secret Service’s closing credits.

love soundtracks.”

“What we got from watching it was that

All three confess they’d love to write a full soundtrack for a

the film was very beautifully shot,

film, and, perhaps now that their arena tour is over, this could

expensive looking and very dramatic, so

be the year? Then again, with gigs announced for Dubai this

we needed a dramatic, headline statement

October, maybe they’ll be pushed for time after all.

of a track,” says Barlow, 44. “We went into

“Touring is unquestionably the best thing we do,” Gary says.

the studio and came up with Get Ready

“It’s our audience in front of us, total creativity and expression

For It almost straight away.”

on stage, no media in between us. It’s the best part.”

For Mark, who’s a self-confessed film

The trouble the group face, however, is deciding which of

buff, being involved in the movie was a

their hits to perform on stage. With 28 top 40 singles and 17

dream come true.

top five singles in the UK, 12 of which have reached number

“When I get a day off, I’ll go to the

one, there are plenty of crowd-pleasers to choose from.

“I suggested one giant medley, so we can do everything,” says Mark. “But that didn’t go down very well.”

“We’ve nearly been together 25 years, so there are a lot of songs,” adds Howard. “And for every new song we play, there has to be something left out that fans might absolutely

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SO

CELEBRITY

From left to right: Jason Orange, Robbie Williams, Howard Donald, Mark Owen and Gary Barlow

love, so we have to get that balance just right. We’ve got so many songs in our catalogue, so it’s very difficult.”

What isn’t difficult, however, is packing out

TAKE THAT

the stadiums and arenas whenever they’re on tour. While some bands may lose their

RS

IN NUMBE

ingles 28 top 40 s singles 17 top five ones 12 number ums ber one alb Seven num er ones onal numb ti a rn ums te in 6 5 ber one alb m u n l a n o 37 internati ing best rds, includ a w t A t ri B sh Live Ac Eight d Best Briti n a p u ro G British

following over time, Take That’s loyal fans have been with them since the start.

“There’s a big handful of our audience, usually in the two front rows every night, that we’ve known for a quarter of a century,” says Gary. “You’ve seen them have kids, the kids have grown up and they’re telling us about the exams they’re passing, and we’re doing the same now; we’re telling them about our kids and it’s lovely.”

The family men (Gary has three children, Mark three and Howard two) may have all grappled with personal matters in the past, but those

“I’m a bit disappointed with our rider; I hear about others that are

issues are now all firmly

far more interesting than ours, but ours is quite simple,” explains

behind them. Their early days

Mark. “Nowadays it’s lemon and honey, but even when we were

in the band were

younger, years later I realised that the 15 crates of beer weren’t

undoubtedly wilder,

actually for us, they were for the crew!”

but now they’ve settled into a calmer routine.

“Take That is five people. Exactly when they come back is up to them.

That will keep it interesting” – GARY BARLOW

Despite their energetic 90s dance routines, the band are arguably in the best shape they’ve been. For Gary, it’s through watching what he eats, but he confesses that, for others, staying trim comes a little easier.

“If a plate of chips goes past me I put on two pounds, so I live my life through Howard, watching him eat a club sandwich and saying ‘Is it nice?’ he jokes. “I’m very envious; he’s the body of the band! I hate him, I really do!”

Thankfully, the loathing is jovial, as the group will be spending plenty more time in each other’s company. With upcoming single releases to promote and a performance at the O2 in London this month as part of the England Rugby team send-off, it looks like the trio are sticking together for the foreseeable future. But, will former bandmates Jason and Robbie rejoin?

“Take That is five people,” says Gary. “Exactly when they come back is up to them. That will keep it interesting. I do think our fans will need to get used to the fact that it’s going to change – maybe every album!”

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Aspire to turn your home into a truly heavenly space with Hehku - the pioneers of creating luxury kitchens under bespoke glazed structures, transforming properties into exceptional, living environments. We are delighted to open our brand new Concept Centre in East Grinstead, where you can come and be inspired, with the renowned Hehku design and project management team on hand to provide a warm welcome and in-depth advice on how to turn the heart of your home into a transformational living space. We look forward to seeing you there!

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CONSERVATORIES

ALUMINIUM BI-FOLDS/SLIDING DOORS/WINDOWS/ROOFS

24/08/2015 09:11

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ADVERTORIAL

SO

HAS THE TIDE OF JUSTICE TURNED FOR FATHERS IN THE FAMILY COURTS? THOUSANDS OF PARENTS RUN THE CONTACT AND RESIDENCE BATTLE EVERY YEAR. THEY ARGUE AND FIGHT OVER WHO THE CHILDREN SHOULD LIVE WITH AND WHEN CONTACT SHOULD TAKE PLACE

BY MAX BARFORD It’s not surprising considering the emotional stress that’s experienced when faced with the life changing event that comes with ending a relationship. For the majority of parents an amicable agreement based on what is in the best interests of the child will be agreed without any intervention from the courts but for many who cannot reach that agreement an application to the Court is often the next step. Generally, the courts will not intervene in contact and living arrangements of children unless one party makes an application for what is now called a Child Arrangement Order. This was previously known as an application for contact and/or residence before changes to the law came into effect in April 2014.

It was a contact application that started the Ethan Williams court battle that has received so much press coverage recently.

The unusual thing about Ethan’s contact battle was that the media was allowed to report the case. In this case the Court made a decision to relax the limitation on publishing details in order to assist in locating Ethan’s whereabouts after his mother ran away with Ethan after the court had ordered that he should live with his father even though his application to the Court had been for contact with his son.

Now that the mother has returned Ethan to his father the Judge must also take into consideration her reckless behaviour. The mother will have a long way to go to show she can be trusted by Ethan’s father or the Judge. There will be further hearings to determine how often she sees Ethan and there is every possibility that this will result in even less contact with Ethan. How the

Judge deals with the mother will remain to be seen but the one thing her conduct will not achieve is the reviewing of the change of Ethan’s primary residence to his father.

If you are involved in or considering arrangements for children it is very important to understand what the process is and what orders the Court can make including that the Court has the power to change which parent a child lives with where the Court believes it is in the best interests of a child to do so.

As an experienced family law solicitor I have advised many parents over the years and helped them achieve the best outcome possible in their circumstances. In many cases matters can be resolved relatively quickly through correspondence from your legal advisor and without recourse to the courts. Mediation and collaborative law can also assist with reaching an agreement that is acceptable to both parents. An application to the courts should only take place when you are unable to reach an agreement. It should be remembered that an application to the Court means that a judge will decide when and if contact should take place with a parent and/or where your child should live.

Ethan’s case is full of heartbreak and emotion but the Judge has sent a clear message that parents who do not focus on what is in the best interests of the child will have an impact on what the Judge orders when considering contact and residence arrangements. Attention must also be paid to the harsh consequences of breaching a Court order. In the past some judges have issued little more than stern words to the party breaching the Court order in family contact cases but more recently the tide

appears to be turning and breaches are not accepted and consequences will follow.

This is an important point. The Court simply must not be seen as willing to ignore breaches of its own orders and allow parties to take matters into their own hands.

My advice to any parent facing the stress of contested child care arrangements is to get good legal advice at the start and understand what your options are and work with your legal advisor to resolve matters on a conciliatory basis as far as possible and always focus on what’s in the best interests of your child. If all else fails an application to the Court can be made and the judge will decide.

SO MAGAZINE READERS OFFER

Max Barford is a family law expert at Max Barford & Co Solicitors. Max and his legal team specialise in Children Law matters including contact and residence. For a limited period, Max Barford & Co are offering a selected number of potential clients an opportunity to meet with one of their expert Children Law solicitors for an initial free consultation to discuss the options available. Due to high demand there are only 15 consultations available this month and we know they will book up very quickly so contact Max Barford today on 01892 539 379 or email so@ maxbarford.co.uk quoting reference SOC0715 Max Barford & Co Solicitors 16 Mount Pleasant, Tunbridge Wells. Kent TN1 1QU. www.maxbarford.co.uk

In many cases matters can be resolved relatively quickly through correspondence from your legal advisor

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BACK TO BRANDS!

BACK TO BEALES Angel Centre, Angel Lane, Tonbridge

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THE LOOK

SO

FASHION INSIDER

PERSONAL STYLIST CATHERINE DE CRÈVECOEUR REVEALS HOW TO BRING THE LATEST TRENDS TO YOUR SEPTEMBER WARDROBE

T

he weather has done us no favours in helping us decide what to wear.

One day it’s hot and sunny, the next

we’re subjected to freezing temperatures and high winds. Wool coat or trench jacket? Tights or bare legs? Are open toe shoes a bad idea?

With the temperatures being so unpredictable and autumn now looming,

TRANSITIONAL FASHION

it’s useful to know how you can easily transition your wardrobe through these

A great piece to help transition your wardrobe into autumn is a waistcoat like this two-toned cashmere one by Linea (£189, www.houseoffraser.co.uk).

A classic pair of denim jeans, a plain t-shirt and two-tone loafers will feel instantly more fashionable with it.

seasons. While it’s not quite the right time to show off all your new autumn/ winter purchases, try looking instead at mixing and matching them with some of your summer staples.

Start by taking a floral skirt, for example, and, rather than teaming it with a classic summer top, tuck in a crisp blue Oxford shirt and add a structured handbag and a deeper coloured pair of heels to complete the look. This is the perfect work outfit for this time of the year.

Equally, if you own a great pair of white or pastel coloured trousers, make them work into autumn by simply adding more layers on top. For example, choose a bold coloured top with a silk scarf, a sleek leather jacket and a print clutch to tie it all

“STYLE IS SOMETHING EACH OF US ALREADY HAS; ALL WE NEED TO DO IS FIND IT” DIANE VON FURSTENBERG

style

TIP

If you’re stuck with ways to dress up your casual outfits, add a metallic accessory. Gold or silver shoes, handbags or belts are your friend this season.

together. The lesson here: have fun with colour, no matter the season.

For a more subtle transition into autumn, team your summer skirts or dresses with a fine knit jumper. Wear sheer tights rather than opaque ones and invest in some leather brogues or lace up shoes. And finally, if you want that perfect transitional staple piece, then add a cape to your wardrobe, like this one from MaxMara Weekend (£400, available at www.houseoffraser.co.uk).

Catherine de Crèvecoeur

Splurge vs Steal This beautiful orange handbag by Matthew Williamson will set the tone for your wardrobe this season ). (£195, www.houseoffraser.co.uk).

You can add the same autumnal colour accessory to your look with this bag from Marks and Spencer for a fraction of the price (£39.50, www.marksandspencer.com www.marksandspencer.com)

PERSONAL STYLIST www.stylepourmoi.com

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ADVERTORIAL

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AN ARTHRITIC KNEE – WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS? If you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee, you might want to think about seeking professional advice on the best ways to treat the condition. Mr Praveen Panose, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at North Downs Hospital in Caterham, specialising in hip and knee surgery, tells us what’s available

T

surgery. Therefore, surgeons are now

he most common symptom is knee pain,

Micro-fracture is a technique whereby a small

which is exacerbated by exercise and

area within the knee that has lost its cartilage

considering partial replacements in a

activity and initially this is relieved by rest. As the

is stimulated through keyhole surgery to

carefully selected sub set of patients.

disease progresses, symptoms can occur even

produce cartilage and scar tissue so that this

at night and at rest and can affect sleep. In

replaces the defect.

younger individuals, knee pain is not always due

Mr Praveen Panose MBBS, FRCS (T&O), MS (Orthopaedics), Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in hip and knee surgery, is based at

investigated, including cartilage tears, ligament

AUTOLOGOUS CHONDROCYTE TRANSPLANTATION

injuries, tendon inflammation or bursitis.

This is available for circumscribed and small

please ring 0800 046 8036 or enquire online at

areas of cartilage loss, though not an option for

www.northdownshospital.co.uk

to osteoarthritis and other causes have to be

If your arthritis is not severe, the initial treatment would involve targeted knee

an arthritic knee with large areas of degenerative

exercises and physiotherapy to strengthen the

disease. In this technique, your cartilage cells are

muscles around your knee joint. If your

harvested, grown in the laboratory and put back

symptoms persist, your doctor may advise a

into the defective knee joint.

North Downs Hospital. To book an appointment

steroid or hyaluronic acid injection for partial and temporary relief.

JOINT REPLACEMENT SURGERY Total knee replacements have been around for

KEYHOLE SURGERY FOR THE KNEE

a long time; however, about one in four total

This is done to wash out loose bits of bone

knee replacement patients remain unsatisfied

and cartilage in arthritic knees as well as

with their new knees for various reasons and

address any torn cartilage fragments.

not usually due to technical issues with the

SEPTEMBER 2015

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As we make the most of the late sun's rays, becoming increasingly hazy by the day, we have a period of calm, a time to reflect on the exuberance of summer and time to prepare ourselves for the drama of the season to come. For the jashion forward, the wheel of the seasons is turning and as the excitement and expectation starts to rise within us, the Jun starts right here!

Have fun building the autumn/winter wardrobe that

ivory and flame red set the scene with appliques

shouts loudly about your personality. From masculine

and brocade detailing. Velvet, Bella Jones and

lines tempered with soft greys, pinks and blues;

Rabens Saloner have this look covered.

geometric prints and feminine flora ls; sharp suiting to soft layering. Whether you are an extrovert or not, one thing is for sure, there will be something for everyone.

Retro Futurism: Metallic fabrics with a sporty influence seen in sweat tops and pants. This relaxed and comfy trend will be one of the key designs seen in lots of collections this autumn. In midnight blue,

Let us inspire you for the season ahead with a sample

silver grey and ivory silk from the collections

of just a few of the trends you will be seeing in store

pureDKNY, Des Petits Hauts and Majestic.

this season. Autumn 2015/16 came off the catwalk with dramatic style and lots of trends to think about.

70's Glam : Reinvented with a contemporary, sophisticated take on the 70's aesthetic. Maxi dresses

Modern Tailoring: Masculine essentials but with

and skirts, floaty silk and chiffon blouses, turtle or roll

a feminine edge. From oversized coats, jackets and

neck ribbed sweaters, flared trousers and culottes

shirts to wide leg palazzo pants. Balanced with silk

layered with long floor dusting trench coats. Lots of

blouses, Breton stripe tee shirts or soft cashmere

tweed fabrics with coloured fleck, flannel and suede

sweaters, layered up with a woollen pea coat for

in beautiful autumnal shades of cognac, flame red

classic appeal reworked with a modern twist. Shades

and ivory found in the American Vintage, M.i.H and

of charcoal and midnight blue worn with chambray

Weekend MaxMara collections.

blue and soft ivory, available from the collections Joseph, MiH and Majestic.

Refined Folk: Add drama to your wardrobe with

So the mood has been set for autumn/winter 2015, now take a look at the fantastic brands and trends for yourself.

bold interior inspired florals and art design tiled prints seen in dresses, tunics and trousers alike.

Dramatic dark and moody shades of charcoal, black,

FASH ION AW 2015 ON THE UPPER GROUND FLOOR

Fenwick Royal Victoria Place Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2SR Telephone: 01892 516716

www.fenwick.co.uk

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WE EKEN

MaxMara Untitled-6 3

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FENWICK TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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FASHION AW 2015 ON THE UPPER GROUND FLOOR

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FENWICK TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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AUTUMN WINTER 2015 An exciting combination of materials form the winter collection look: woolly, flowing, hairy, smooth, sporty and delicate.

Irregularly folded paper, origami techniques and a play of light and shadow inspire striped and checked patterns. Vivid digital prints and graphic fabric designs arise from an artistic play on folded looks.

Foggy shades of grey from light platinum to dark basalt form the base of the harmonious and soft winter colours. They are combined with hues of matt green and dark, almost black shades of forest and night. Additionally there are warm feminine natural and taupe tones combined with cinnamon and woollen white accentuated by muted nuances of rose and heather.

The outfits present a relaxed H-silhouette.

A narrow slightly conic shape is the new basis form in trousers. These are combined with hip-length straight cut tops. The new wide-cut trousers with patch pockets are complimented with square-cut shorter tops or long slender coats.

A new look in light viscose-crepe worn with Cc ;ual cardigans and coat-length blouson 路ty' , n OSKA boiled wool A sPIPr 1or o scarvP~ and knitted loops will rr plcw trn OS'<A look

FASHION AW 2015 ON THE UPPER GROUND FLOOR

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JOSEPH FENWICK TUNBRIDGE WELLS

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THE LOOK

SO

WORKING WARDROBE BE THE OFFICE TREND-SETTER WITH THESE BACK TO WORK BUYS

LA REDOUTE

Black sandal, £99 www.laredoute.co.uk

MARKS AND SPENCER

Best of British blouse, £99 www.marksandspencer.com

LOEWE

Amazone 75 bag, £1,450 www.selfridges.com

GRACE GORDON Emma leather backpack, £320 www.etsy.com

WHISTLES

Marisa draped dress, £150 www.whistles.com

VICTORIA BECKHAM

Denim Pleated cross hatch skirt, £275 www.houseoffraser.co.uk

ALICE + OLIVIA

Grey collared cotton blend jumper, £250 www.harveynichols.com

PHASE EIGHT

Amal tux waistcoast, £99 www.phase-eight.co.uk

MARC BY MARC JACOBS

Ladies’ baker dexter watch, £219 Available September 15, www.watchshop.com

BODEN

Codelia heel, £129 www.boden.co.uk

JAEGER

Silk crepe jumpsuit, £250 www.jaeger.co.uk

HOBBS

Aerona coat, £269 www.hobbs.co.uk

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FROUFROU 2015 SATURDAY EVENTS DIARY

NOW AT OUR LUXURY NEW LOCATION - 8a Chapel Place Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1 YQ

FR8 UFROU BRIDAL BOUTIQUE 01892 541381 www.froufroubride.co.uk Untitled-3 2

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THE LOOK

SO

THE FRONT ROW

WE BRING YOU THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM THE FASHION WORLD

TOP MODEL

GOOD CHOICE Footwear brand Lucy Choi London has announced the launch of its first

Topshop has announced Gigi Hadid as the new face of its AW15 campaign.

In her first campaign, Gigi models the autumn/winter collection in a series of images shot by acclaimed photographer Tyrone Lebon and styled by Topshop Creative Director, Kate Phelan. The campaign will feature globally in stores, advertising, online and social media.

“Working with Gigi Hadid on this campaign continues to strengthen our international vision for the Topshop brand,” says Sir Philip Green, Arcadia Group Chairman. “We are continually developing our footprint across all markets with ambitious plans both in the UK and internationally and I feel like Gigi is an ideal.”

standalone boutique in London’s Connaught Village, opening this autumn. Taking on the store once inhabited by her uncle Jimmy Choo, Lucy Choi’s new shop represents the start of a new generation and the continuation of the shoe family legacy. Following the brand’s debut in 2012, three years on, the decision to open a flagship store in central London was the result of increasing customer demand for a boutique where they can browse, try on and purchase from the full collection. The shop will launch with the brand’s AW15 collection and will open its doors to customers this month.

LUXE CLUTCH Manolo Blahnik, Spanish fashion designer and founder of the highend shoe brand, has unveiled a debut capsule collection of six clutch bags. Each bag, priced from £1,320, features a magnified buckle that already exists on the designer’s most coveted styles of shoes, such as Hangisi, Nadira, Borlak and Okkato. “Every woman needs a jewel; something very special and beautiful,” says Manolo. “There is nothing more stunning than a feminine hand holding a gem-like object.”

The clutches are made in opulent satins and crepe de chine with leather interiors and are decorated with sparkly accessories composed of Swarovski crystals.

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174 Tonbridge Road, Hildenborou Tonbridge , Kent TN11 9HP Tel : 0 732 832 004 www.c ndyknightclinic.com

Harriet Rainbow is a profesional makeu p artist based in Tunbridge Wells covering Kent, London and the South East.

With many years experience in the industry, Harrier's services include bespoke bridal and occasion makeup , editorial makeup and makeup lessons, always perfectly tailoring the look to each client.

f 56

07952 306430

i nfo@h arri et-rainbow. co. u k

www. ha rriet-ra in bow.co. u k

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THE LOOK

SO

BEAUTY BULLETIN WE BRING YOU THE LATEST HEADLINES FROM THE BEAUTY WORLD

SUPER SNACKS

BRUSHING UP If, like most of us, you rarely get around to cleaning your makeup brushes, then this handy new gadget could be for you. The Lilumia, a makeup brush-cleaning machine, is currently only available in the US, but it’s been so successful that it doesn’t look like it’ll be long before it makes its way to Britain.

The device, which washes brushes in just 15 minutes, removing bacteria, dirt and makeup, claims to be more effective than hand washing thanks to its rubber brush agitator, which rotates and oscillates your brushes – causing no damage to the hairs or handles.

Soft Skin

They were big news back in the 1950s, but now tiger nuts are making a comeback, after being dubbed the ‘new superfood’. As well as being high in iron, potassium, magnesium and vitamins C and E, the food, which is actually a plant rather than a nut, has also become popular with dieters because it acts as an appetite suppresser. It’s thought the tiger nuts could actually be the world’s first superfood, as they made up 80% of the diet of ‘nutcracker man’, who lived two million years ago, according to research published by Oxford University.

While Botox is still a hugely popular treatment, a new revolutionary anti-ageing procedure could be set to take its place. Silhoutte Soft is the first non-surgical skin lift that is designed to redefine the face for those looking for reduced wrinkles and restored volume providing an extremely discrete and natural-looking result. Plus, it leaves the face completely mobile. The procedure is carried out using local anaesthetic, takes less than an hour and the results last for up to two years. Celebrities such as actress Gillian Taylforth (pictured below) are already huge advocates of the treatment, which costs from £1,500. www.silhouette-soft.com

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PETER JENNER Jewellery maker

designer

Over 45 years creating individual, beautifully designed and expertly made engagement, wedding and eternity rings. Certificated diamonds.

- come direct to the craftsman Specialist in Fine Hand Made jewellery 43 The Pantiles Tunbridge Wells 01892 521796 www.peterjenner.com 58

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Come and meet our expert consultants at our free event for advice Facial rejuvenation What are the options?

Rapid access to Cataract surgery

It's time to stand up to hip pain

Tuesday l 5th September

Monday 2 lst September

Monday 28th September

7pm-9pm Ms Nugent

7pm-9pm Professor Ansari

7pm-9pm Mr Velayud ham

To book your space please call 01892 552932 or email tun.enq@nuffieldhealth.com ( ) Tunbridge Wells Hospital Kingswood Road , Tunbridge Wells, TN 2 4UL

: ; Nuffield Health FOR THE LOVE OF LIFE

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$ {~[:

01892 552 932

www.nuffieldhealth.com

Hospitals + Health Checks + Physio + Gyms

20/08/2015 13:05

What is it?

One in 10 children often suffers from tummy pain which typically lasts for more than a few weeks to months.

Usually they get better without any treatment. However, for some children this may affect their day-to-day activities.

What causes it?

In a few children this could be because of an identifiable problem in their body (organic conditions). Constipation is one of the most common causes. Very rarely, this could be due to other serious conditions like inflammation in the bowels, food allergies, or ulcers in the food pipe/stomach.

Should you worry?

Any acute symptoms like high fever, abdominal bloating, persistent vomiting, or blood in the stools should be cause to seek urgent medical attention.

In chronic cases, the following symptoms - bloating, change in the bowel habits, blood in the stools, loss of appetite, loss of weight, being pale or yellow, or waking up in the middle of the night with pain - should need further investigations.

What investigations need to be carried out?

In most cases, an experienced paediatrician would be able to make a positive diagnosis based on a detailed

S2

history, examination and monitoring the growth of the child alone. In a few cases, blood, urine and stool tests may be required. Very rarely, scans or endoscopy (putting a small camera inside the gut) may be needed.

What if the examination and/or tests are normal?

In more than 90% of the cases, if constipation is excluded, examination and investigations will be normal.

Investigations are organised to rule out serious organic conditions. Based on the history and examination, a diagnosis of Functional Abdominal Pain could be made.

What is a Functional Abdominal Pain?

Children with recurrent abdominal pain, in whom no identifiable cause is found based on history, examination and/or investigations, may suffer from functional disorders.

Is it 'all in their head; then?

No. Just because no identifiable cause was found, it does not mean that the child is making it up. This is like us having headaches. While most of the time, the headache settles down on its own and even extensive investigations could be normal, we cannot deny that the headache could be quite severe.

A child with functional pain could be having as much pain as one with an organic disorder.

What causes functional pain?

A variety of conditions like lifestyle, diet or stress could cause or trigger symptoms in children.

Stress for children?

Lots of children undergo stress in their everyday life. This could be because of family situations or schooling issues and they present with headaches, abdominal pain, fainting, fits, bed wetting or even self-harming.

How could they be treated?

For children that present with typical symptoms, a 'syndromic' diagnosis could be made such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Abdominal Migraine.

Whereas, most children might not have the typical features of these conditions, based on a detailed history, an experienced paediatrician will be able to identify triggers or causes and advise about lifestyle modification, change in the diet and/or behavioural therapy and other complementary therapies.

If you can relate to any of the issues above and would like to book a consultation with Dr Bala, clinics are held at the Spire Tunbridge Wells Hospital on Tuesday evenings.

If you have any immediate concerns about your child then please seek advice from your GP, who can then make a private referral.

For more information, please contact us on

Spire

01892 741150

Tunbridge Wells Hospital

www.spiretunbridgewells.com

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BEAUTY

bulletin Here are some of our favourite new hair and beauty discoveries this month

KISS THE MOON

AFTER DARK BALM 12ML, £16 If you’re struggling to sleep, these handy balms will be your new saviour. Available in two Kiss the Moon aromatic signature blends, including Calm, with jasmine absolute, chamomile, sandalwood and ylang ylang; and Dream, with French lavender oil, apple scented chamomile, bergamot and cedarwood, the 100% natural balms are made from a blend of sleep-inducing essential oils and nourishing shea butter. Just apply to pulse points before bed and enjoy that beauty sleep. www.kissthemoon.com

CLINIQUE

SMASHBOX

JO MALONE

SHAPEMATTERS PALETTE, £60 Whether you’re new to contouring or a sculpting pro, the new Smashbox shapematters palette is a three-in-one product, created to emphasise eyes, define brows and focus features. The kit includes one brow wax and two brow powders in taupe/soft brown, one highlighter, one illuminator, one bronzer and one contour powder, along with nine photo op eye shadows in both matte and shimmer shades and a double-ended shadow/brow brush.

Available from September 16, www.smashbox.co.uk

MIMOSA & CARDAMOM COLOGNE 100ML, £85 This gorgeous new Jo Malone scent will evoke the scent of summer long after the leaves have fallen. With notes of cardamom, mimosa and a base note of tonka bean, the scent is a heavenly mix of sweetness and spice. For those really looking to indulge, the full range includes body and hand wash, body crème and a candle. www.jomalone.co.uk

REAL TECHNIQUES

SKINNY STICK, £15 Clinique’s new eyeliner pencils are ultra-fine, ensuring you can define much closer to the lash line.

Two thirds the diameter of traditional pencils, this product is foolproof and gives flawless results every time. Available in 12 shades, the only difficult part is choosing which colour to plump for. www.clinique.co.uk

PIXI

COLLECTOR’S EDITION EYELINING SET, £19.99 Get your hands on these four exclusive brushes and learn how to master eye lining. Including a precision liner brush, a smudge brush, an eyeliner brush and a pointed liner brush, whether you’re going for a smoky smudgy eye or a polished feline flick, these brilliant brushes will make achieving the look a whole lot easier. www.realtechniques.com

YSL

ROUGE VOLUPTE SHINE, £26 From the new YSL pretty metals collection comes these daring lip colours. The three new shades – Rose in Sound, Fuchsia in Grunge and Rouge in Rock are moisturising, light and easy to apply. They give great coverage alone, but if you’re looking for something a little more daring then you can rock an even bolder lip by layering the colours on top of one another. www.yslbeauty.co.uk

24K EYE ELIXIR, £22 This liquid eye elixir immediately soothes & cools, while preventing the signs of undereye fatigue long term. It helps to brighten the eye area, provide hydration, reduce puffiness, and smooth fine lines. Plus, it’s infused with a calming combination of precious metal and botanicals so it’s basically the ultimate eye area multi-tasker. To use just roll on under eyes, and for extra de-puffing, store in the fridge and use cold. www.pixibeauty.co.uk

ARK

HYDRATION INJECTION MASQUE, 75M, £35 Part of the new Skin Perfectors range which targets specific skin concerns, this intensive multivitamin masque quenches skin, plumps wrinkles and restores vibrancy. The rejuvenating treatment masque is the ideal weekly pick me up for skin which looks tired, stressed and lacking in radiance.

Containing vitamins A, B5, C and E, the mask helps to leave the skin with a youthful glow. Just apply for a few minutes and watch it work wonders. www.arkskincare.com

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Interest free credit Now available At rtwskin we understand the importance of flexibility when it comes to planning your aesthetic treatment. We can help you arrange affordable finance, quickly and simply, making it easy for you to spread the cost of your treatment and pay in affordable monthly instalments. You can choose to borrow any amount from £500 and pay it back over 12 months with 0% interest free credit. A minimum deposit of 10% will be required.

Makes the very best aesthetic treatment affordable Discreet personal service Confidentiality assured Instantly available credit How does it work?

Having agreed a treatment plan with your practitioner and confirmed the cost, you decide how much you want to borrow and complete a simple online application form. Once your application is approved, treatment can start!

Representative Example £1080.00

• Purchase Price

• Total Repayable

• Deposit

£108.00

• Duration of Agreement

• Amount of Credit

£972.00

• Rate of interest (fixed)

• 12 Monthly Payments

£81.00

£1080.00 12 Months 0%

• 0% APR Representative

rtwskin acts as a credit intermediary and only offers credit products for Rate Setter via PayL!Later Ltd. Credit provided subject to age and status.

ln.te,resf1 Free Credit powered by:

For more information call 01892 222222

~ ayll, ~

&.a~er

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ The whole face approach

www.rtwskin.co.uk

01892 22 22 22

(sl @rtwskin

rtwskin

support@rtwskin.co.uk

Royal Tunbridge Wells Skin & Laser Clinic, Cobden House Medical Centre, 25 London Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNl lDA

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THE LOOK

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BEAUTY

bulletin Who is this treatment for?

Silhouette Soft is perfect for men and women from the age of 40 who: • Want immediate results with minimal downtime • Do not wish to go under the knife • Want to look five years younger • Prefer to keep full movement and flexibility in their facial features • Do not like or who cannot have dermal fillers

THE SECRET OF A REFRESHED FACE BY SILHOUETTE SOFT

rtwskin in Tunbridge Wells give us the lowdown on a new incisionfree treatment that could help combat the effects of ageing on your skin

• Want long lasting, natural results What areas of the face does it treat?

We all age differently and the beauty of Silhouette Soft is that it was designed to target specific areas. Whether your problem is your lower face (jowls) or your upper face (cheeks, forehead and eye area) or even your neck, this treatment

More of us than ever are embracing

‘offers something that no other treatment

will bring your profile back in line to your

medical aesthetic treatments as part of our

has ever provided in such a simple way: a

naturally younger looking self.

overall beauty maintenance routine. It’s

redefined face’.

simple to see why; today’s procedures are

How long will it take and how long

far less invasive, providing improved and

The double action

will it last?

lasting results and faster recovery times.

The beauty of this treatment is that not

After your initial free consultation, there is

rtwskin only offer clients treatments that

only does it provide a smoothing effect

no further preparation required. Just one

promise natural looking results that

and a natural lift, but it actively improves

painless, 30-minute session will

whisper ‘fresh rejuvenation’ instead of

your skin condition by acting on the deep

immediately lift and redefine your profile

crying ‘obvious change’, and the most

skin layers, regenerating its lost collagen

and keep it that way for up to 18 months.

popular treatments are those that can be

and thus improving its overall appearance.

tailored to specific problem areas.

For more information, contact rtwskin on How does Silhouette Soft work?

01892 222 222, take a fresh look at the

Silhouette Soft by Dr Jean-Louis Sebagh

rtwskin use thread made of polylactic acid

new website www.rtwskin.co.uk or,

One such procedure is the Silhouette Soft

(PLA) – a polymer that is human

even better, pop in and make an

Thread Lift. This incision-free treatment

biocompatible and 100% biodegradable;

appointment with the friendly team for a

was designed by the acclaimed Dr Jean-

the same thread, in fact, that has been

complimentary consultation. Fresh

Louis Sebagh to counteract one of the

used for years for suture stitching. After

Thinking. Real Results.

most common effects of ageing: facial

injections of local anaesthetic, this thread is

volume loss and sagging. It works by

carefully and expertly drawn through the

rtwskin

restoring natural facial fat to the right

skin in the required areas. Once in place,

Cobden House Medical Centre, 25 London

place, with the right tension. Sebagh

slight pressure is applied on the treated

Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1DA

states the treatment is now ‘as big and

area to effectively reshape the surface of

01892 222 222

important as Botox was 10 years ago’ and

the skin into the desired position.

www.rtwskin.co.uk

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24/08/2015 14:01

Reassurance in a heartbeat

The Wells Suite is able to offer a range of pregnancy ultrasound scans using state of the art ultrasound equipment.

You might want to make sure that there is definitely a heartbeat at 6 weeks, find out your baby's gender at 16 weeks, or want the reassurance of a detailed anomaly scan at 20 weeks. Whatever your reason we can offer expert advice and reassurance in a calm and relaxed environment.

What scans are available?

• Early Pregnancy Scan/Viability Scan (6-8 weeks) • Gender, Growth and Well-being Scan (16 weeks to term) • Anomaly Scan (20-22 weeks)

Why choose The Wells Suite for your scan?

• No referral letter required • Accredited midwife sonographers • Consultant advice available • Flexible appointment times, including evening and weekend appointments

To book a scan appointment, or for further information, please telephone 01892 635888.

The Wells Suite

The Wells Suite Your health in safe hands

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01892 635888

www.thewellssuite.co.uk

21/08/2015 14:57

ADVERTORIAL

SO

WORKPLACE STRESS With hectic schedules and looming deadlines, the workplace can be overwhelming for many. Peter Marlow offers counselling and psychotherapy in Tunbridge Wells, west Kent and East Sussex, providing you with the necessary tools to combat stress or anxiety and perform your job effectively

W

hether you are self-employed,

not coping. We may feel anxious and

setting up a small business or

defensive, or empty, isolated and

stress and anxiety can therefore be

working in a larger organisation, the

unfulfilled, with relationships with family

particularly valuable and effective. We

challenges of work can be very

and friends breaking down just when we

become less vulnerable to destructive

rewarding. However, at times we may

need them. National surveys and reports

feelings. A clearer understanding of

feel overwhelmed by the pressures put

continue to recognise anxiety and stress

ourselves, and the emotional

on us, and unable to cope. Fortunately,

at work as one of the highest causes of

undercurrents that affect our behaviour,

such situations usually occur only

ill health and accidents.

means we can take increasingly gain

infrequently, for short periods. With the

Work-related stress is often related to

Counselling at times of work-related

greater control over our lives.

practical and emotional support from

deeper, unresolved emotional issues,

family, friends and work colleagues, we

which also surface when we feel

To find out more about Peter Marlow

may battle on until the situation is

insecure or a failure. This makes it

or arrange an initial meeting,

satisfactorily resolved.

even more difficult to continue to

call 0800 881 5253, visit

perform well in times of significant

www.petermarlowtherapy.co.uk or email

difficulty at work.

peter@petermarlowtherapy.co.uk

Yet our workplace can also create such demands on us that we are in danger of

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AshfordDesignerOutlet.com

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A McArthurGlen Property

20/08/2015 13:07

ADVERTORIAL

SO

EXPERT OPINION

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE ON YOUR HEALTH, BEAUTY AND WELLBEING

COMBATING THE ISSUE OF VARICOSE VEINS Mr Eddie Chaloner and Mr Aaron Sweeney, consultant venous surgeons at Benenden Hospital, look at the problems of varicose veins and modern ways of dealing with them…

VARICOSE VEINS CAN be seen as an

involves making an incision in the groin and

reasons, because people simply want to have

aesthetic problem, but in some cases they

pulling out the faulty vein,” explains Mr

the confidence to go out and enjoy the

can lead to more severe symptoms.

Chaloner. “Patients require a general

sunshine in their shorts or swimwear, but for

Sufferers often feel very self-conscious if

anaesthetic and an overnight stay in hospital,

some people the reasons are more prosaic,”

they have bulging varicose veins and feel

with a recovery time of around six weeks.”

says Mr Sweeney.

limited with their clothing and not confident in wearing shorts or swimwear.

“This ‘high tie and strip’ method contains

“For instance, I treated a patient recently

certain risks, including up to a 20% chance of

who is a midwife,” continues Mr Chaloner.

nerve damage, leading to numbness and pins

“Spending long periods of every day on her

by using compression stockings, but these

and needles in the leg, so it isn’t ideal,”

feet, her varicose veins were painful and

are hard to tolerate for most patients and

explains Mr Sweeney. EVLT, on the other

made her legs swell, so last summer she had

usually surgery is the best way to eradicate

hand, involves just a local anaesthetic to

surgery on both legs, two months apart, and

the problem. If left untreated, in some cases

numb the area being treated.

she has since been pain free.” Both surgeons

In the early stages, veins can be managed

varicose vein problems can lead to painful and

“So no six-hour fast beforehand, and

love helping people.

debilitating conditions, and sometimes serious

patients can return home the same day – it’s

medical problems such as venous ulcers.

as simple as going to the dentist,” says Mr

quickest and safest route to patients

“These non-invasive techniques offer the

Since Aaron and Eddie joined Benenden

Chaloner. “What’s more, the recovery time is

returning to a normal life, and the recurrence

Hospital in May 2012, they have performed

much shorter, with patients being able to go

rate is less than 5%, so patients can have

thousands of procedures and currently treat

about their normal business within a week,

confidence in their treatment,” says

around 1,100 patients a year using

and can even return to some sports by the

Mr Sweeney.

Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT).

end of the second week.”

“The traditional method of treating varicose veins, which is still widely used in the NHS,

“There is nothing wrong with having troublesome veins removed for ‘cosmetic’

For more information call 01580 242 521 or visit www.benendenhospital.org.uk

SEPTEMBER 2015

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Outstanding orthopaedic care

Th

order Centre, part of

Horder Healthcare, is nationally recognised as one of the leading hospitals in England for treating musculoskeletal conditions.

We are renowned for our outstanding level of surgic expertise, patient satisfaction a therapeutic hospital environment.

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ADVERTORIAL

SO

EXPERT OPINION

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE ON YOUR HEALTH, BEAUTY AND WELLBEING MATURE SKIN For loose skin or deep wrinkles, the most effective treatment is surgery, which can achieve more effective tightening of the skin to restore a more youthful look. There are many different surgical procedures available and more and more refinements are being developed all the time.

If you want to open up and brighten the appearance of your eyes, we might consider blepharoplasty or eyelid lifts (which remove the excess loose skin that creases around the eyelids), or brow lifts to restore your eyebrows to their original position (great for relieving heavy, tired-looking eyes). Facelifts reposition and tighten the skin and its supporting tissue along the jawline, cheeks and – optionally – the neck as well. The type of facelift we opt for depends very much on the areas to be treated and the effect you want to achieve.

BESPOKE TREATMENTS As an expert Consultant Plastic Surgeon specialising in aesthetic surgery, I always see

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culture and everyone wants to look fresh and rejuvenated – but

protecting your skin from the sun and

guide them through the options and understand exactly what they are trying to achieve. Together, we devise a bespoke treatment plan to achieve a fresher, younger – but still natural looking – you.

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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ADVERTORIAL

SO

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE THE BIG DIFFERENCE Situated in the heart of the community, TerraBlu Homecare supports and cares for people who want to remain in the comfort of their own home. We find out how they provide individual care at home for older people, as well as those with disabilities, in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and beyond When we first started helping Sally*, she

their interests, their hopes and their concerns.

help our clients stay in their own homes; our

didn’t want to feel as though she was

And it’s the way they personalise the care

attention to detail and individual needs helps

being looked after by professional carers,

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them regain a good quality of life as well.

as it reminded her of her growing

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Whether it’s changing out of their

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uniforms, cooking the client’s favourite meals

TerraBlu offers expert homecare services

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she’s happy for the world to see her with

expert home carers will find out what is most

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her carers, even in their uniforms.

important to each client and weave it into the

TerraBlu Homecare can help you – or your

care they provide.

elderly relative – enjoy independent living

T

erraBlu Homecare are experts in providing

Of course, we offer comprehensive

at home, call Julia Mead, Director of Care,

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on 01892 529 429.

people with dementia enjoy living in their own

domestic chores to help with medication,

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WEDDINGS

SO

all the boxes and thirdly, that I needed to start booking things about three years ago if I actually wanted to have everything on the list.

Days turned in to weeks, and then months as I tirelessly contacted dream venues, only to be told I’d have to wait a few years to be in with a chance of tying the knot there.

Anywhere with availability had a deal breaker, whether it was the 9pm curfew or the fact the neighbours could overlook the proceedings from their bedrooms.

Then, we found ‘the one.’ It was perfect – a stunning secluded woodland with a license to wed, and a rustic barn overlooking fields. We were elated. Well, until we began doing the maths. This DIY venue was going to need toilets, tables, lighting and an additional marquee, plus catering, drinks and entertainment. We spent the next fortnight diligently contacting suppliers and getting quotes, before finally deciding to just go for it. After all, you only live once etc etc.

Unfortunately, in that fortnight another couple had snared the spot, and they now had no availability for three years – all at once my whimsical woodland wedding

THE SECRET DIARY OF A BRIDE TO BE This month our bride discovers it’s not just marriage that’s all about compromise…

I

have never been one of those girls who’s dreamed of her wedding day since she

maybe, one day I’d like to do the same.

Each time I attended a wedding I’d make

dreams were over. Considering I’d never been that fussed on weddings, the disappointment hit me hard and I found myself crying a lot and seriously considering Gretna Green as an option.

“Why don’t we just wait?” was my fiancé’s helpful comment. I could see his point, but I’d already waited longer than Kate Middleton for this engagement; a few

a note of things I liked and didn’t (chair

more years down the line and I’d be

wasn’t sure I even wanted to get married,

covers, no. Live band, yes) and over time,

claiming my pension.

but, as time has gone on and I’ve watched

my own little wedding fantasy started to

more and more friends walk down the

grow in my head. I was going to get

instincts, I decided maybe it would be

married in the woods, dance among fairy

worth a compromise. So what if we

lights and the evening would end with a

couldn’t have a woodland? We could have

firework display. Then, I got engaged and

a venue with toilets in 2016 if we were

was five. Up until a few years ago, I

aisle, I began to think that

these little fantasies soon began to diminish.

So, going against my natural stubborn

willing to consider other dates or locations.

I started contacting places we’d originally

I quickly realised three points:

discounted and within a few days we’d

firstly, that just because I wanted

booked somewhere. Yes it’s for autumn

these things didn’t necessarily mean

rather than summer but at a quarter of the

my husband-to-be felt the same,

price I might actually be able to afford to

although thankfully, he does

feed the guests…

share my feelings on chair covers.

Secondly, that no venue actually ticked

Next month find out how our bride-to-be is getting on with her dream dress search…

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LIFE & STYLE

We look at some of the best ways to enhance your home and lifestyle this month

Neptune Tonbridge BATHROOM A little effort makes a huge difference in this most underrated room, where it’s easy to transform a functional space into spa-like luxury. Take inspiration from nature and surround yourself with the relaxing, tactile sensation of wood, marble and limestone. Choose a palette of dusky, muted tones, complemented by lovely accessories, where you can lie back in perfect surroundings and splendid isolation.

BEDROOM As well as being comfortable and practical, a bedroom should be a room with every aspect we love, so that we fall asleep feeling relaxed and wake up feeling inspired.

Neptune bedrooms are designed to help you do just that; beautifully timeless designs, clever detailing and an understated palette create a perfect sanctuary. And remember that a good bed is one of the best

investments that we can make – not just the base, but every element of it, layer by sleep-inducing layer.

Neptune Tonbridge Unit 1/2 Tannery Road Industrial Estate, Tannery Road, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1RF 01732 351 866 www.neptune.com/tonbridge

Mayfield School Mayfield: A lifelong love of learning – and sense of perspective Finding the right school for your children is a priority for every parent.

Mayfield is a leading Catholic independent boarding and day school for girls aged 11 to 18, with excellent academic results and prolific extracurricular activities, underpinned by exemplary pastoral care. For the past 150 years, Mayfield has nurtured generations of confident, enterprising and creative young women who are

Mayfield girls are well-informed

Mayfield – An independent Catholic

resilient and prepared to take their place

individuals; young women of faith and

boarding and day school for girls

on the modern, global stage.

reason, ready to make a difference –

aged 11 to 18

whether as scientist, mathematician,

The Old Palace, Mayfield,

sake and the importance of cultural and

linguist or artist and, most importantly,

East Sussex TN20 6PH

spiritual values, not to mention a healthy

supported by a network of likeminded,

01435 874 642

attitude to food and sport. As a result,

lifelong friends.

www.mayfieldgirls.org

Girls learn to enjoy study for its own

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P R O M O T I O N A L F E AT U R E

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Lunch with Tony Hadley in Kent

October 9 2015 – Investing in children’s charity, Action Medical Research This is your chance to wine and dine with Spandau Ballet’s very own frontman, Mr Tony Hadley. Enjoy a unique opportunitye to hear one of the world’s most recognised voices as Tony performs a short set, live at this fabulous ladies’ lunch.

A fun packed afternoon will include a sparkling drinks reception where every lady will get the chance of a photo with Tony, a delicious two-course meal, the chance to win some amazing prizes and a live auction.

What better way to spend a Friday afternoon than at The Mercure Hotel, Maidstone, raising money for Action Medical Research and having fun? Make sure you dress up, let your hair down and enjoy the fun with us! Don’t miss out – buy your tickets today.

Action Medial Research is a UK-wide charity saving and changing children’s lives through medical research. For over 60 years we’ve been

saving and changing lives through medical research and have spent over £100million, funding some amazing breakthroughs: • Introducing the first polio vaccines in the UK • Discovering the importance of taking folic acid before and during pregnancy to prevent spina bifida • Developing the use of ultrasound technology in pregnancy • Testing the rubella vaccine To book you can visit www.action.org.uk/kentladies-lunch-tony-hadley

Action Medical Research Vincent House, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 2DP 01403 210406 info@action.org.uk

Is your Shabby still Chic?

THE BELL INN

Everyone’s favourite local is having a laugh!

The Bell in Ticehurst has joined with local comedy curators JV Productions to bring laughs aplenty. The UK’s top comedy trickster, Paul Zenon, will start the season of world class comedy on Thursday September 24. Paul is known as the UK pioneer of TV’s Street Magic, as well as being a favourite on the international festival circuit.

All the acts are chosen from extensive research at the Edinburgh Fringe, festivals across the country and London comedy clubs.

The Big Room at The Bell will be transformed into a comedy club, so come prepared for a hilarious evening. Entrance is via the Stable from 6.30pm for drinks and snacks for an 8pm start. Supper will be served in the Stable after the show at around 9pm.

Tickets are £30 per person to include supper and are available by calling 01580 200 234 or emailing culture@thebellinticehurst.com. We predict a huge demand for these tickets, so book early to avoid disappointment!

The Bell Inn High Street, Ticehurst, East Sussex TN5 7AS 01580 200 234 www.thebellinticehurst.com

The Shabby Chic look is still popular. However, fans are now looking for new ideas to keep this trend fresh. Palulo have breathed new life into Shabby with their autumn collections, which feature new twists on this look.

Designs are available in a variety of colours and finishes, including old school Shabby distressed finishes, richly aged patina, and their new Natural Wood Chic Collection.

Palulo’s new collections will fit into any style of home, from country through retro and vintage and modern, contemporary interiors.

To see Palulo’s latest collections, visit their online store at www.palulo.co.uk

HILDEN PARK CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Hilden Park Accountants hosted an event at Dame Kelly Holmes’s café, 1809. The café introduced us to ‘breakfast canapés’ and delicious homemade smoothies.

There were presentations from Xero and iZettle. Xero is the emerging leader in online accounting software, providing business owners with real-time visibility of their financial position that’s simple, smart and secure. iZettle enables businesses to take card payments with a free card reader and a tablet/smartphone.

Registration is free with no contracts and the only fee is a small percentage transaction charge. Contact info@hildenparkaccountants.co.uk or @HildenPark for more information, or if you are interested in future events.

Hilden Park Chartered Accountants 79 Tonbridge Rd, Hildenborough, Kent TN11 9BH 01732 838 877 www.hildenparkaccountants.co.uk

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CRICKET

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MATCH UPDATES Earle (50) and Mangold (43) making 93 off 20 overs. However, a collapse followed and the home side finished 168-8 off their 40.

Luckily, we then got back to our winning ways away at Exiles of Bridge cc. Stone won the toss and batted first and made 236-7 off the allotted 40 overs, with Scott Freeman making a solid 59 and Alex Clarke smashing an excellent 71. Stone then bowled Bridge out for 197 with 15-year-old Henry Pelling-Smith the pick of the attack on 3-37.

KEMSING Our good friends at Locksbottom were the beneficiaries of the worst fielding display ever seen on a cricket ground, with a dozen catches hurled to the turf

We find out what our local teams have been up to this month…

and 40 runs conceded on the boundary, when the ball went through flailing hands! Even after that, with the Locksbottom score on 205-6, and a 6 required off the last ball to win, it was

CAPEL

relatives from all ends of the country to

still odds on in favour of Kemsing! But

We made our first excursion over the

do battle, and consume BBQ treats all

sport is a cruel mistress, and the ball

county border into Surrey to play

weekend. The weather turned sour on

was despatched merrily over the

Nutley Hall this month. They opted to

the morning of the game so we opted

boundary. Jubilation for one side and

bat and found Capel’s precision bowling

for a 20:20 smash-about and ended up

heartache for the other!

and tight fielding gave few

on the losing end of a thoroughly

opportunities to make runs, so that at

enjoyable occasion.

The other game, against Betsham, was a worse defeat, as Kemsing struggled to

the end of 10 overs there were only 22

We also played a competitive game

195-5 in their 40 overs, with Martin

runs on the board. After two and a half

against the lads at Castle Hill. Due to

Green scoring an excellent 57, with

hours, Nutley Hall were all out for 173 in

the postage stamp size of our ground,

assistance from James Walkling, 42.

38.1 overs. Capel’s past performance

near on anything is a gettable target

Betsham knocked them off in 30 overs,

gave cause for optimism that the home

and our opening pair put on 150 for the

for the loss of three wickets!

team’s total could be bettered but their

first wicket in 12 overs that involved

innings started even more slowly,

four roof tile breaks and the ball

unexpected results between the other

making a win look less than certain.

clearing a row of houses for only the

teams, Kemsing are still top of the

After a string of outs and with more than

second time in NCC history!

division, 31 points ahead of second

However, thanks to some bizarre and

place, with four to play…

50 runs needed, it looked as if hopes of a Capel win were evaporating, but they

STONE-IN-OXNEY

kept their nerve, struck balls to the

The Sunday XI’s league campaign

HADLOW

distant boundary, and took the visitors’

continued with three games this month

The last month has seen mixed fortunes

score to 177 for 6 wickets in 38.1 overs.

– the first against title chasers

for our teams. The Saturday 1st X1 have

In the end, we won by four wickets.

Littlebourne, who made 256 for 9 off

struggled and lie bottom of Kent County

their 40 overs largely thanks to 113

Village League Division 1, whilst the

NEWENDEN

from opening batsman and skipper

second X1 have done better and have

This month kicked off in style with a

Byron Gould, while Stone could only

progressed towards the top end of

much anticipated game against some of

make 175 all out in reply.

Division 7. Sundays have provided some

our old allies of the club the Campbell

The next game was against fellow

fun, friendly cricket and the relaunched

family. The family have been heavily

strugglers Selsted, who made a fine

kids’ cricket on Monday nights has been a

involved in the club for 30 years and

score of 260-4 off their 40 overs. Stone

growing success with many youngsters

they bring a mob of friends and

then replied positively with openers

getting top coaching from Invicta Cricket.

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EVENT

SOCIAL SO MUCH FUN Businessmen, clients, readers and contributors joined us at Thackeray’s when we held an evening to toast eight successful years of So and the establishment of our sister publication the Times of Tunbridge Wells. Music was provided by two members of Tunbridge Wells retro swing band the Violet Jive, while guests enjoyed Champagne and canapés in the garden of the London Road restaurant. ”It was a great mix of new and existing clients – and thank you to the team at Thackeray’s for a fantastic evening,” says Nick Moore, group commercial director of One Media, which publishes So and The Times. ”It was good to see so many local businesses there, not just from Tunbridge Wells but from across the county.”

Photos by Mark Turnbull

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EVENT

SOCIAL MAYORAL AFFAIR The mayor and mayoress of Sevenoaks, Councillor Stephen Arnold and Louise Arnold, held the annual mayoral cocktail party at Knole House last month. The event was attended by more than 100 guests who enjoyed good weather whilst being entertained by a string quartet in the Green Court and Orangery. A guard of honour was provided by Westerham Sea Cadets and the mayor was accompanied by his cadet, Able Cadet Nicholas Leonard. Guests included mayors and dignitaries from all over Kent and Lord Sackville of Knole was also present. The proceeds of ÂŁ3,700 raised from the cocktail party are to be donated to the Mayorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main charity Rockdale Housing, a local charity providing housing and care for the elderly.

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St Julians Club LAN eXCLUSIVE PRIVATE 0'v£EMBERS' (LUE A secret hideaway in the Weald of Kent, St Julians is an elegant Georgian country house just outside of Sevenoaks. Surrounded by woodland and landscaped gardens with breath-taking views across the rolling countryside, St Julians is an exceptional venue for your event.

Our beautiful listed rooms leading to a flagstone terrace are the perfect setting for music and drinks. St Julians suits dinner parties, charity balls and informal birthday parties of 10 to 150.

Let us help you make your wedding ceremony and reception even more unforgettable. Visit our website for further information.

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EVENT

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SOCIAL STAGE STARS Nearly 300 students from the Italia Conti Associate Performing Arts School wowed audiences in sell-out shows at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells when they performed Don’t Walk – Dance! Aged from three years through to 18, the students showcased their skills, performing traditional numbers from The King & I and Kiss Me Kate also hit Broadway shows such as Newsies, Memphis and Spring Awakening.

Principal Chris Baldock says, “it’s been hard work for everyone involved, but great fun and it’s fantastic to finally see the students performing it all on stage”. www.italiaconti-twells.co.uk Photos by David Bartholomew

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LIVE. LIKE NO ONE ELSE. BeoLink Multiroom unites your Bang & Olufsen products into one liberating wireless system. Play different rooms or let one tune flow throughout your home. Just touch your Bang & Olufsen product to instantly join the music stream, or control the experience from your mobile phone .

Bang & Olufsen of Bexleyheath

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SOCIAL RESIDENT RECOGNITION Residents at a care home in Tunbridge Wells were recognised and honoured for their contribution to HM Armed Forces. Ten people at Rusthall Lodge received HM Armed Forces enamelled pin badges at a Home Front themed event. In the presence of members of the Royal British Legion, RAFA, T.S. Brilliant Corps of Bugles and Drums, the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells, their families and other invited guests, the event commemorated and recognised the valuable contribution made by the residents in serving their country. With entertainment throughout the day, the event culminated with a fly-past by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Dakota from 233 Squadron.

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EVENT

PHOTO SHOOT A monthly roundup of socials and other events across our part of the world

10 TH F EDREE IT IO N

GASTRO

GASTRO

AN N D R E S TA U R NNING PUB A E AWA R D W I NE FROM TH THE MAGAZI

T GROUP

CRAIG MATTHEWS

ON TAP WESTERHAMKent town

How the historic groove back got its brewing

ANT N D R E S TA U R NNING PUB A E AWARD WI NE FROM TH THE MAGAZI

UNDER DINING DOWN top tucker in

Discover some outback Western Australia’s

COOKING LEGENDS chefs from Past and present of fame the gourmet hall

FOOD LOVE BRITISH to miss your You won’t want Hero chance to be a Harvest

GROUP

Foodies, clients and suppliers gathered to mark the tenth edition of Gastro magazine.

Guests packed the restaurant at the Mark Cross Inn, Crowborough to celebrate the milestone reached by Whiting & Hammond’s quarterly in-house publication.

Brian Whiting, managing director of the pub and restaurant group, thanked suppliers and clients for supporting the magazine, and those at publisher One Media for all their hard work in producing the ten editions, the first of which was printed in April 2013.

TUMN 2015 ISSUE 10 AU

RICK STEIN The TV chef tells

us how he embarked

ic odyssey on a new gastronom

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PAW PARADE

CLEANING UP A group of ladies from the Plaxtol’s Women’s Institute have become so fed up with the litter levels in the village that they decided to take matters into their own hands by collecting discarded sweet wrappers, drink cans, crisp packets, plastic bottles, paper and cardboard. “Plaxtol is a beautiful village and it’s so disappointing that there are still a few irresponsible people who just don’t seem to care enough to dispose of their litter responsibly,” says Plaxtol WI member Sandra Furness.

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Despite a soggy start, more than a hundred human companions came along to let their hounds put their best paws forward, to take part in the Tonbridge Dog Show at Tonbridge Racecourse Sportsground. As well as the excitement of competing in the various classes, visitors were also offered a host of information on responsible dog ownership and a free dog micro-chipping service was available throughout the day.

The Dog Show also helped to promote the Yellow Dog Scheme in Tonbridge and Malling. The scheme helps to raise awareness of dogs that need space while training, recovering from surgery, or being rehabilitated.

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DAVID BARTHOLOMEW

FESTIVAL FUN The sun poured down on revellers and music-makers alike on three sensational days of the first Forgotten Fields festival, held at Eridge Park near Tunbridge Wells.

Some 4,000 people packed the venue to enjoy music from Super Furry Animals, Basement Jaxx, Levellers, Razorlight and many more. Visitors also had the chance to enjoy magic and talent shows, karaoke and a children’s area at the sold-out event.“Everyone was having a great time,” says a spokesman for organisers, the team behind the annual Kendal Calling festival. “The weather was absolutely sensational, we couldn’t have asked for more, and the atmosphere was brilliant, really positive.”

CASTLE CELEBRATION Kent based Caxtons Chartered Surveyors, one of the largest independent property firms in the south east, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and as part of their commemorations they held a staff summer ball at Leeds Castle last month. “Caxtons has weathered two recessions; grown the firm from 12 partners and 40 staff to more than 100 employees across Kent,” says founding director, David Gurton. “We count ourselves extremely fortunate to have built an enviable and loyal client list, and our staff have been at the heart of that. We are very grateful to them – they deserved a really good night off!”

Arts and Plants On a scorching summer’s weekend, craft lovers and gardeners headed to the Walled Nursery in Hawkhurst for their inaugural makers fair. As well as local craftspeople selling their wares, there were also blacksmithing, willowweaving and pole-lathing demonstrations. Visitors sipped cocktails in the sunshine as they browsed the stalls and many visited the nursery to stock up on plants too.

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A TREK TO THE

SKIES Sarah Marshall heads to Colombia to rediscover its lost city…

F

ifty-eight, fifty-nine... at sixty, I wearily give up counting. There are now so many red weeping welts on my irritated limbs, it looks like the mosquitoes have been employing some sadistic form of pointillism.

Despite the clammy 35°c heat, I put on my trousers; the same sweaty, permanently damp pair I’ve been hiking in for the past two days. But I shouldn’t be surprised; thick clouds of spindlylegged and vicious (but not malarial) insects are just one of the deterrents facing trekkers hoping to reach Colombia’s Ciudad Perdida (Lost City).

After all, we are at the mercy of nature.

Founded in 800AD, 650 years earlier than Peru’s Machu Picchu, the mountaintop, forest-swathed citadel was abandoned by the ancient Tayrona civilisation in the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors reached coastal city Santa Marta. Rodrigo de Bastidas and his men never made it here, but the deserted settlement remained hidden for several centuries, until looters found a series of staircases in 1973 and dubbed the place “green hell”.

In 1976 the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History stepped in, but it took several helicopter searches to relocate the overgrown ruins. Many riches had already been plundered, although several gold pieces are now on public display at the excellent Santa Marta Gold Museum.

I base myself at the seaside Hotel Arhuaco in preparation for my trek, and find the exhibition of figures chewing cocoa leaves and masks used to transform wearers into bats a compelling introduction to ancient

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Peru’s Machu Picchu

Tayrona culture.

Since the early Eighties, tourists have attempted the arduous but overwhelmingly spiritual 44km hike to Ciudad Perdida, although a kidnapping incident in 2003 put the site off limits to British travellers for several years. Now guerilla activity has subsided in Colombia, and while visitor figures are climbing, the enchanting trail is still far enough off the beaten track to appeal to adventurous travellers.

I’m already halfway through my journey into the Sierra Nevada mountain range, which rises 5,700m above the Caribbean coastline, but more leisurely hikers can choose to do the trip in six days. Sweat pours from me as I haul myself – and seven kilos of camera kit up never-ending inclines, dodging roots winding like trip wires around petrified tree trunks. Yet, I only need to stop for a few minutes and look around to understand why I’m doing this. With thin vines trailing from branches like angel hair and hummingbirds zipping across clear mountain streams, it truly is a pristine paradise.

Showers come in the form of cold water spurting from a sawn-off pipe, and dinners are cooked by head torch in enormous cauldrons. I’ve allowed myself one change of clean clothes,

and I save those (as a treat) to sleep in.

The campsites are maintained by the wiwas and kogis, indigenous tribes descended from the Tayrona civilization, who seem impervious to westernisation. We encounter several villagers along the trail, on horseback, washing clothes in the river, or carrying heavy bunches of plantain. They are shy, sensitive people, and for the most part appear startled and quickly scurry away.

Nearly 40 kogi families live in the Mutanzhi village, close to the trail, and receive money from the government for every tourist making the Lost City trek. Dressed in white smocks and with the same jet-black shiny hair and square fringe, it’s hard to tell men and women apart. One clue is the poporo, a hollowed out gourd filled with crushed shells that no male seems to leave home without.

A thick yellow crust coats the rim, created by moistening a stick with spittle from chewing cocoa leaves and mixing it with the lime-based powder.

The bigger the rim, the more impressive his manhood. Some sentiments, it would seem, transcend all cultures.

Shamen Fermin declines my request to visit the visit the village – elders are busy asking spirits for permission to build a new house – but invites me

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to return another time... with at least two weeks prior written notice.

The kogis have a gentle disposition but I get the impression outsiders are merely tolerated. Every September, the park closes for two weeks for a purification ceremony and I imagine this is when the community is most at peace.

When we finally reach the uninhabited Lost City, after a final hamstring-straining 1,200 stone step climb, I can appreciate why, with 69 terraces carved into the mountainside, it was once an empire in the sky. Only 30% of the original site has been uncovered, so don’t expect anything similar to the complexity of Machu Picchu, but the

small bikinis peer through the windows of his circular thatched home as if it’s a museum exhibit.

“They come to this place, don’t help, leave lots of rubbish and I don’t like it,” he grumbles in Spanish, although he says he’s happy to welcome responsible visitors. He goes on to complain about a “contamination” that first came with the conquistadors, and I know he’s referring to a disease far more harmful than smallpox or tuberculosis.

Perhaps those clouds of mosquitoes serve some purpose after all: the real beauty of Ciudad Perdida is clearly in its name.

FACTS

Local man holding a poporo

silence and seclusion is worth every blistering mosquito bite.

A few army officials are a reminder of the terrorist threat that once plagued these mountains, but with my legs dangling above plunging forest slopes, I imagine the ocelots, pumas, jaguars and 600 species of birds that have reclaimed this biosphere as their own.

The kogi people are deeply connected to nature and the development of tourism in their sacred homeland is a delicate matter.

It’s more acutely obvious in Pueblito, an ancient village in Tayrona National Park, where I head to recover after the Lost City trek.

A 50-minute walk from the nearest car park, the Ecohabs Cabanas Arrecifes (a cluster of boutique tourist huts) is buried deep in the park at the foot of the mountains overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Pelicans soar overhead as fierce waves extend their grip along shores largely unsuitable for swimming, but where smooth granite boulders and delicate palm fronds draw comparisons with the Seychelles.

It takes an hour and a half to reach Pueblito from El Cabo beach, scrambling up a rocky stairway where ropes tied to tree trunks can be used in tougher sections. (An easier although arguably no less ‘treacherous’ trail runs through the neighbouring nudist beach.)

Manuel and his family make up half the village, which has dwindled in recent years, due largely to a lack of privacy. We sit outside his home, chatting, as tourists in disrespectfully

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� Sarah Marshall was a guest of

HighLives who offer a 10-day private tour of Colombia from £2,100 per person. The tour includes two days in Cartagena, four days private Ciudad Perdida trek, two days in Tayrona National Park and two days in Bogota. The price includes B&B accommodation in 3 star hotels, English speaking local guides and transfers. www.highlives.co.uk; to book call Sunways Leisure Travel on 01474 704 816

�

Air France (www.airfrance.co.uk) offers a daily flight to Bogota, Colombia, via Paris from 10 UK airports. Return fares start from £386 including all taxes and fees.

For more great holiday ideas contact Sunways Holidays 5, Station Road, Longfield, Kent DA3 7QD Tel: 01474 704186 www.sunwaysholidays.co.uk

PA/ RENATO GRANIERI

Tayrona National Park

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EDUCATION NEWS Fashion Feat Some of the most talented fashion designers in the south of England travelled to Kent College in Pembury for the Young Fashion Designer UK regional final.

The 15 finalists displayed their work for judging at the school and students also took part in workshops run by Kent College old girls, saw a demonstration SPORTS FACILITIES

BUILDING BIGGER

by title sponsor TechSoft and heard from 2014 winner George Chaffey.

“Teachers said how they were glad such an event is available to showcase the hard work that goes into such pieces and these talented individuals gain the credit they deserve,” says a spokesperson for the school. “At Kent College we are incredibly proud to be part of YFDUK and see the event as a muchneeded platform from which to celebrate the achievements of students with a

Benenden School is planning for the future

flair for fashion. We are so grateful

as the headteacher, Samantha Price, breaks

to all the judges, businesses and

ground on the construction work for their

finalists. Congratulations to all the

project, Centenary Vision. Launched in April

finalists, especially Kent College’s

by HRH The Princess Royal, who attended

Lara, who came second in GCSE,

the school in the 1960s, the £7m project aims

and Yasmin, who came third in the

to enhance and create new facilities for the school in time for its centenary in 2023.

The aim is to deliver the scheme in several phases, starting with the improvement of the sporting facilities and building an all-weather

PERFECT PARTNERSHIP

AS level category.”

floodlit sports pitch and pavilion. In addition,

In an innovative partnership, West Kent Mind, Tonbridge

difference for young people,” says

the girls will benefit from an international size

and Malling Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council

Jill Roberts, Chief Executive of West

lacrosse and hockey pitch and landscaping,

and Kent County Council’s Public Health Department are

Kent Mind. “That’s why we are

with use expected to start in 2016.

working together to support young people’s mental health.

delighted to be teaming up with

A new school hall will be built in order to seat

Evidence suggests that incidents of mental health problems

local schools, young people and

all 550 pupils and 300 staff, also acting as an

are on the increase amongst school age children and that 1

statutory sector partners to deliver a

enhanced concert hall venue.

in 10 are likely to experience a problem at some time during

new pilot project Mental Health for

“Our centenary vision is an ambitious

their school life.

Schools (MH4 Schools). We will be

development programme which will help us to

“These are worrying statistics but evidence also shows that

evaluating the pilot project in six

further improve the complete education we

early intervention and prevention can really make a positive

schools this year and hope to

offer girls at Benenden and to ensure they are

expand the project to all schools

getting the very best facilities to support an

in the area.”

innovative curriculum to let them succeed in

MH4 Schools work with both

the modern world,” says Samantha Price.

teachers and their students,

“When the all-weather pitch and the school

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they need to support young

these wonderful facilities.

people and secondly by

“The centenary vision is not just an

increasing the understanding

investment in Benenden School but an

that young people have of mental

investment in the community.”

health and how to look after their mental health and wellbeing.

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MAKING THE GRADE

Our part of the world has seen an increase in pupils attending independent schools, but what’s the draw? We look into the rise and rise of private education in Kent and Sussex

W

ith exam results days over for another summer, attention begins to turn to the academic year ahead. For the next few years your children will be spending the majority of their time at school, so the decision on where they’ll attend is not an easy one and there are many factors to take into account, be it league tables, Ofsted results or sporting facilities.

One thing that is certain, is the calibre of schools in our part of the world. Consistently receiving excellent results and topping league tables, there’s no doubt that this area offers some excellent options. It is also fair to say that the location itself is a draw when it comes to the school selection process. The Weald is filled with stunning scenery, rolling fields and picturesque towns, so it’s no wonder this is a location where families want to live and have their children go to school.

RISING SUCCESS Our part of the world has the second highest number of students attending independent schools, bettered only by London. In Kent alone there are 89 independent schools, ranging from early years education to A Levels. An impressive 47% of the 1,267 ISC (Independent Schools

Council) member schools are located in London and the South East, showing that not only does this area have a lot to offer educationally, there’s also plenty of choice without having to travel too far.

The economic crisis of 2008 saw the amount of students attending independent schools fall slightly across the country, but the South East saw the smallest decline. However, the waning was short lived, because, while independent school student numbers continued to fall in other areas, this region saw a steady rise – this year numbers were up by 5% on eight years ago, with it estimated that in Kent 9-12% of school students attend an independent school. Pupil numbers at independent schools across the country now stand at their highest level since records began in 1974, with 517,113 pupils attending 1,267 ISC member schools. This is an increase of 5185 pupils on last year – the highest growth in pupil numbers since the start of the recession in 2008.

PROPERTY BOOM The high standard of educational establishments is also good news for estate agents in the area, as families flock to places like Tunbridge Wells and Cranbrook in order to ensure their children receive an

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outstanding school experience. Whether it’s state or independent education they’re after, there are 33 schools in Tunbridge Wells alone, which makes it a huge draw when deciding to relocate.

The town has become a magnet for Londoners, some moving to Tunbridge Wells before they’ve even started a family, just so they can be in with a chance of getting their children into a prestigious school.

While some are leaving city life for the town and its theatres and parks, most are choosing to buy in Tunbridge Wells because of its esteemed educational facilities.

Over in Cranbrook, the grammar school there has created a ‘mini house bubble’. Research by the Good Schools Guide and Savills estate agents showed that on average parents are prepared to pay an extra 22% to live close to some of the best state secondary schools, which are often grammar schools. Outside of London, Cranbrook was the town where the property prices were bumped up the most – a whopping 52.5%, due to the fact that day students need to live within an 8.5km catchment area.

GOING FOR GRAMMAR While independent schools are a huge draw to this area, it’s also the grammar schools like Cranbrook which are bringing people to Kent and Sussex. According to the ISC census, one quarter of all new pupils to ISC schools this year came from state-funded schools, and research

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from 2012 shows that almost one in nine places in Kent grammar schools went to privately educated children, with Judd and Tonbridge offering more than 40% of their places to children from fee-paying prep schools.

Sitting high in the league tables, it’s perhaps no surprise that the grammar schools in this area have such a pul especially as they provide excellent education for fre This year’s GCSE results saw the Judd school in Tonbridge get a new school record when 59% of its students achieved at least four A levels, while 16 students were offered places at Oxford or Cambridge.

Owing to the high standard of grammar schools locally, it is not uncommon for students to attend an independent prep school before moving on to a grammar school for their secondary education, and these days pupils move freely between the state-funded and independent sectors.

The likelihood of parents sending their child to an ISC changes with age, and in England more than 14% of school pupils aged 16 and over attend an ISC school, some pupils moving into the independent sector specifically to study for their A Levels.

In many ways there is now less of a divide between local independent and state schools. Partnerships between the two are on the rise, with many schools teaming up to share their facilities, especially when it comes to sporting and drama facilities.

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as much assistance in the form of means tested bursaries as they do scholarships; over 40,000 pupils are currently benefitting from a means tested bursary, valued at almost £350m and representing an increase of 6% compared to last year. Since 2011, the total value of means tested bursaries provided by schools has increased by more than £80m, and over 5,000 pupils pay no fees at all.

FEES For those parents who are concerned that the fees of private education may be challenging (the average cost for a child at a prep day-school is £2,600 per term, £4,000 at senior level and £3,000 for sixth form), it may come as a surprise that almost 170,000 pupils now receive help with their fees, with a record value of more than £800m, an increase of 7.3% on last year. ISC schools provide more than twice

THE FUTURE In this area, the future of the schools is looking bright. While the grammar schools continue to excel, achieving higher results and sitting further up the league tables each year, the independents are also flourishing, seeing higher intakes and more pupils getting the grades they need to attend the most prestigious universities – 92% of ISC pupils progress to higher education with the majority attending Russell Group universities. However, as much as the figures speak volumes, as every parent knows, it’s the overall experience of their school life that shapes a child, not just the grades they achieve.

With ample schools offering an even bigger range of sports, performing and language options, it’s perhaps no surprise that Kent and Sussex have become so well-established when it comes to offering an excellent education.

Read our 2015-2016 Education Guide to discover more about our excellent local schools

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Feel Amazin Throug Your Pregna

I www.wearepresent.today

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THE EDUCATION GUIDE 2015-2016 IN ASSOCIATION WITH

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TERM TIME TEACHERS TERM TIME TEACHERS LTD is the local and personal teaching supply and support service for providing schools and nurseries with excellent and professional qualified staff on both a temporary and permanent basis in Kent and Sussex areas.

The team, managed by Carol Parisella, is friendly, knowledgeable and very committed to providing support to schools in both Kent and Sussex at all times. Carol and the team are able to ensure they provide an excellent service, which is available from 6am to 11pm daily.

The team consists of professionals who cover roles in the education service, such as SENCO, headteacher, deputy headteacher, classroom teacher, SEN support teacher, HLTA and school office staff, all of whom offer both schools and teachers a complete personal service.

Their professionalism has been commented upon by both staff and schools as an outstanding, reliable and trustworthy service in which the whole team takes great pride. The team at Term Time Teachers Ltd have also been recognised by the REC (Institute of Recruitment Professionals) for their knowledge, experience and dedication to the recruitment industry.

Carol Parisella FIRP, Managing Director of Term Time Teachers, has been recognised by REC for her 20 years within the industry and awarded a fellowship of the REC. Carol, a recruitment professional whose experience and knowledge of the industry has spanned over two decades, was given outstanding testimonials from fellow professionals who she has dealt with in her career.

Carol and her team have taken Term Time Teachers to being recognised as Best Public Sector Recruitment Agency finalists; being awarded the prestigious Gold Standard Quality Mark (DfE Quality Mark) at every stringent audit with a 100% pass rate; and being recognised as preferred suppliers by county councils and schools, who have continued to ensure Term Time Teachers have stayed committed, professional and personal at all times.

“Education is a very fast paced and ever changing sector,” says Carol. “We are dealing with children and this is always our focus when we hold our face to face registrations with teachers, teaching assistants and admin based school staff – to ensure we can continue to provide excellence in our service.

“It was nice to hear that the testimonials provided to REC were of a professional opinion of how we offer an excellent and professional service; it is something that we as a company have always said is our statement. I am proud to say that we have a team that delivers that statement daily.”

John Parisella MIRP was also acknowledged by the REC as a member for both his contribution to the industry and his experience and knowledge within the education sector.

John, a previous senior manager in schools, has also worked to providing a service that is outstanding to both schools and teachers, and of course, delivering a service strict to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, as expected by the REC in its recognition of its membership.

Term Time Teachers Ltd also offers its teaching colleagues additional and current training for all primary, secondary and SEN teachers; again, the training material is set to DfE requirements and reflects current classroom practice.

Please call us on 01892 676 076 for our new free Safeguarding Children courses running over the summer period.

SUPPORTING SCHOOLS IN AND BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Term Time Teachers has been working alongside education establishments at their request in supporting them, not only with classroom based staff such as teachers, teaching assistants, cover supervisors and nursery/ crèche assistants, but also non-classroom based staff such as administration/reception staff, SIMS managers, pastoral and study managers, kitchen and maintenance staff.

As always, Term Time Teachers can assure all schools that every person, classroom based or non-classroom based, registering with Term Time Teachers will always be fully registered, vetted and cleared to our 100% REC Gold Standard Award (DfE Quality

100

Mark Award Standard).

Term Time Teachers are the local preferred, personal and professional teacher recruitment specialists, who work alongside schools in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge, Sevenoaks and the surrounding areas of Kent and Sussex.

Term Time Teachers has been supporting local schools and education staff for 15 years, during which time we have proven that we are a committed, experienced and very friendly team who make it our purpose to ensure at all times that everyone is cleared to excellent high standards following a face to face registration, with all relevant ID and security checks being completed. We also take

the time to get to know everyone on a personal level; one of the benefits of being a local office.

At Term Time Teachers, we are the local office with an open door policy; we welcome our colleagues to always call in to discuss their needs and how Term Time Teachers can support them.

We can offer free training courses, free safeguarding and continuous support with all aspects of working alongside children.

Term Time Teachers has a wealth of experience and skills relating to the education system; our team is experienced in primary and secondary school teaching, senior management, special needs, admin and teaching assistants, as well as being parents.

“Together, we feel we have most, if not all, of the areas covered when it comes to understanding and providing a continuous excellent service,” says John Parisella. “We are a dedicated team, committed to providing a service for which we are highly regarded.”

Term Time Teachers is currently supporting local schools with temporary and/or permanent positions for September 2015. If you are available, please feel free to call the team or pop into our offices.

Toll House, St John’s Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9NP 01892 676 076 www.termtimeteachers.co.uk

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INDEX

Bede’s.....................................................104

Dulwich Prep.........................................109

Sackville School....................................132

Bethany School.....................................105

Eastbourne College...............................102

Sevenoaks Prep....................................117

Beechwood Sacred Heart School.....106

Hustpierpoint College...........................112

Skippers Hill Manor Preparatory School...117

Bricklehurst Manor School.................127

Kent College Pembury..........................114

St Edmund’s School Canterbury.........118

Claremont School.................................119

Marlborough House Preparatory School..124

Sutton Valence School.........................118

Cobham Hall..........................................123

Mayfield School....................................130

Vinehall School.....................................108

Cranbrook School.................................132

The Mead School..................................121

Woldingham School.............................120

Cranleigh School..................................128

Russell House Prep School.................125

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

SO

A GOOD EDUCATION

W

hether your child is about to embark on their educational journey for the first time, or whether they’re moving on to the next academic stage, determining a facility to suit their needs is an important decision with many factors to consider. In our guide you’ll discover what the leading local schools have to offer to hopefully make the selection process a little easier, as well as finding out more about the locations in which the schools are situated.

In order to help you on your way, Neil Roskilly, (pictured) CEO of the Independent Schools Association (ISA) provides an insight into how to make the all-important decisions when it comes to your child’s future.

“Parents make the most important purchasing choice of their lives when they decide on an independent school. While houses and sometimes even cars and holidays may cost more, making the right

choice of private school has life-long consequences for the family members they love. It’s easy to change cars and move house as, for the most part, you usually get what you pay for. But with schools that doesn’t always apply, as there are many other factors to consider and you don’t always get a good return on investment.

But, parents should set aside things like tradition and the size of playing fields, and ask themselves, ‘would my son or daughter be happy here?‘ Ultimately, that’s all that matters, as happy children learn. In a nurturing environment and given the right balance between challenge and encouragement, children will not just go on to enjoy success, but to exceed all expectations.

Parents will recognise a happy school as soon as they walk through its doors. Teachers will be talking to and about children, and the children will be enthusiastic about learning. So don’t get side-tracked at the age of buildings and colour of the walls – watch the children and choose the happiest school you can find.”

Read Neil’s top 10 tips for choosing a school on page 111 SEPTEMBER 2015

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SCHOOLS

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Bethany School, Cranbrook Cranbrook, Kent TN17 1LB

Describe some of the trips and extracurricular activities

TYPE: Co-educational day and boarding school

Bethany offers a wide variety of extracurricular

for ages 11 to 18

activities, dedicating part of each day to

TEL: 01580 211 273

either sports or activities. This programme,

WEB: www.bethanyschool.org.uk

with more than 20 exciting activities on offer,

EMAIL: schooloffice@bethanyschool.org.uk

helps give Bethany the well-rounded curriculum

NUMBER OF PUPILS: 341

that we’re known for. These include varied

ADDRESS: Curtisden Green, Goudhurst,

HEAD: Francie Healy

tasks such as archery, horse riding, fishing,

COST PER TERM: Day Pupils £5,161-£5,662,

quilting and even a remote control car club.

Education at Bethany is supplemented

Weekly Boarders £7,989-£8,761,

by trips that add value and authenticity

Full Boarders £8,614-£9,639

to any topic. Art has benefited from “At Bethany we focus on the individual and I am

inspirational trips that have included

very proud that we do. Being happy and content

New York, Venice and Rome in recent years, and each year pupils can take

in your individuality and who you are provides you with an incredibly powerful state of well-

25-metre indoor swimming pool and fitness rooms,

part in overseas expeditions that see

being that will serve you well in later life.”

which will be ready for use this year.

them involved in life-changing experiences and vital charitable deeds.

FRANCIE HEALY, HEADMASTER

Sum up the ethos of your school

Do you have any awards or accreditations?

Education for life in a changing world.

CReSTeD registered since 1994, our Learning

What do you offer that other schools don’t?

Support department enjoys a well-deserved

The Headmaster firmly believes that

What facilities are on offer?

international reputation for its success in giving

school should be enjoyed rather than

Bethany benefits from an idyllic setting in the

specialist help to dyslexic pupils within the

endured and it is the atmosphere of

heart of the Weald, with stunning views making

mainstream curriculum.

positive nurturing and encouragement,

the perfect backdrop for our 60-acre campus.

focused on the potential of each

of the curriculum is delivered using ICT to

What are your biggest achievements as a school?

support the school’s ethos of ‘education for life in

Bethany draws its pupils at all levels of the school

a changing world’, where technology is of

from a deliberately broad ability range. We believe that

If you would like to find out more

increasing importance.

all pupils who are capable of obtaining good, national

about what Bethany can offer your

qualifications should be allowed to do so, and the

child, then do come along to our

offers not only an outdoor classroom, but also a

effectiveness of this philosophy is evident in our exam

open mornings on Saturday September 26

high ropes course to allow adventurous pupils to

results, which improve year on year. In 2015, the pass

or Wednesday October 7. Contact

explore the treetops. We have an enviable

rate of our pupils at A Level was 99%, and each year

registrar@bethanyschool.org.uk to register

building programme, including a new six-lane,

the majority go on to study at university.

your place or for more information.

The entire campus is served by Wi-Fi and much

Perfectly placed for outdoor education, Bethany

individual, that helps make Bethany ‘refreshingly different’.

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BEECHWOOD School An Independent School for Boys and Girls (3-18)

Nursery, Prep& Senior School

SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER 9.30 -1 .OOPM

To find out more, please contact registrar@beechwood.org.uk 01892 532747

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Beechwood Sacred Heart School, Tunbridge Wells ADDRESS: 12 Pembury Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3QD TYPE: Independent co-educational day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3-18 TEL: 01892 532 747 WEB: www.beechwood.org.uk EMAIL: registrar@beechwood.org.uk NUMBER OF PUPILS: 438 NUMBER OF STAFF: 85 HEAD: Mr Aaron Lennon COST PER TERM: £8,990 (boarding); £3,050 to £5,410 (day) Beechwood is a fully co-educational day and boarding school in a large scenic campus overlooking open countryside. Situated close to Tunbridge Wells town centre, it is within easy reach of London.

Focus on excellence At Beechwood, we believe in excellence in

confidence in areas they find difficult. Academic

teaching. In our small classes, we provide

standards are important and we challenge our

teaching that facilitates learning and inspires our

pupils to do their best. We also encourage our

pupils to explore new ideas so that they achieve

boys and girls to participate in a wide range of

their full potential. A cognitive development

extracurricular activities, trips and visits.

programme focuses on higher order thinking skills,

“The school is successful in helping pupils

encouraging independent thinking, a more positive

achieve good results while developing as

approach to problem solving and better habits of

independent, caring and articulate individuals.”

learning – essential skills for university and

– ISI INSPECTION REPORT 2014

success in the world of work. Pupils in the senior school enjoy access to a wide range of GCSE and

Day and boarding school

A Level academic courses and have an enviable

The boarding areas provide comfortable, modern

degree of flexibility when selecting their option

accommodation throughout, in single rooms for

choices. Most pupils go on to study at their first

sixth formers and two or three-bedded rooms for

choice of university.

younger pupils. More than 80% of our pupils are

In our small classes, teachers stimulate pupils to excel in what they are good at and build

from the UK, while our boarders include local pupils and those from many different countries.

Flexi boarding is also available. Beechwood encourages high standards and values – honesty, respect and consideration for others – derived from its Catholic tradition, while welcoming pupils of all religions. The welfare and wellbeing of the pupils is paramount to the success of any school and at Beechwood the pastoral system is a key feature in maintaining the friendly and happy nature of the school.

“In all parts of the school the pupils’ behaviour and attitudes are excellent and their personal development is a strength of the school.”

– ISI INSPECTION REPORT 2014 “I want our students to be able to think for themselves, to be creative problem solvers so that when they finish their education at Beechwood they are set for the challenges and opportunities that await them.” – MR AARON LENNON, HEAD

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Dulwich Preparatory School, Cranbrook ADDRESS: Golford Road, Coursehorn, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3NP TYPE: Independent day and flexible boarding school for boys and girls aged 3-13 TEL: 01580 712 179 WEB: www.dcpskent.org EMAIL: registrar@dcpskent.org NUMBER OF PUPILS: 540 HEAD: Mr P.A. David, B.Ed. (Hons) COST PER TERM: £1,815 to £5,375 In Little Stream Forest, school activities

Dulwich Prep has developed hugely since its

linked to Apple TV in every classroom and an iPad

humble beginnings in the orchards of Cranbrook

for learning programme in Years 7 and 8, providing

encourage the children to work together to solve

at the outbreak of World War Two, when Dulwich

a great tool for both independent and group study.

problems, to become more independent and to try

College Preparatory School was evacuated to the

There is also a great emphasis on outdoor

new challenges where there is no right or wrong

countryside in September 1939. Since then, the

learning throughout the school. Starting in

answer! The children have the chance to learn

site has grown to 50 acres in the heart of the

nursery, the outdoor environment is used to learn

specific skills such as shelter building, knot tying

beautiful Weald of Kent.

from, not just learn in. Nash House, our early years

and cooking on an open fire. A progressive

section, has recently been completely

programme of activities culminates in a residential

justly proud of its ability to encourage and nurture

redeveloped and now comprises four brand new

trip to Snowdonia in Year 8, led by a specialist

new interests – with opportunities for all abilities

classrooms, all facing south, each with their own

mountain expedition team.

and extracurricular clubs ranging from triathlon to

outdoor learning area under a retractable roof.

sewing. Dulwich Prep offers state-of-the-art

Children are outside come rain or shine, digging in

Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings. Contact

technology, including interactive whiteboards

their gardens and enjoying the playground.

registrar Sally Ahlers to arrange a visit.

Sports facilities are unrivalled and the school is

The headmaster hosts tours of the school on

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24/08/2015 09:53

Concerned about your child's progress?

Children's Centre therapy • education • wellbeing

With a team of highly experienced professionals and state of the art facilities, Starjumpz works closely with parents and teachers offering assessments and treatment to help children overcome their difficulties and fulfil their potential. Therapy can be provided at Starjumpz and within schools.

We help children with: • Developing foundations for learning • Attention & focus Hyperactivity & distractibility • Movement, balance, coordination & fine motor skills • Handwriting skills • Speech, language & communication • Social interaction • Sensory processing difficulties & hypersensitivities • Behavioural issues • Anxiety Sleeping difficulties • Self-esteem & developing a healthy approach to learning • Lack of energy or stamina • Play skills • Self care & life skills • Developmental delay • Underachievement or delay in academic ability

Starjumpz services include:

Unlock the brain's potential with Neurofeedback

• Occupational Therapy • Speech & Language Therapy Physiotherapy • Paediatrician - diagnostic assessment & consultation • Neurofeedback Treatment • Sensory Integration Therapy • Behavioural Therapy • Nutritional Consultancy

Neurofeedback is direct training of brain function, by which the brain learns to function more efficiently. It helps to improve physical and mental performance and emotional control. It is a relaxing and safe treatment.

Neurofeedback treats problems known to impact learning: attention, concentration, sleep, anxiety, stress, hyperactivity, low mood, behaviour problems, migraines and constipation. It is successfully used in America as an alternative to drug treatment for ADHD. It can also treat many conditions such as Autism, Developmental delay, Cerebral Palsy and Attachment disorder

Exams: Neurofeedback is effective in alleviating stress and anxiety at exam times, enhancing academic performance.

Available for children from 3 years old and for adults.

Visit our website for more information or contact us to book an appointment.

T: 01892510257 E: info@starjumpz.com www.starjumpz.com Starjumpz Children's Centre, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

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SCHOOLS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

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THE SCHOOL CHECKLIST

When considering which school is the right one for your child, Neil Roskilly, CEO of the ISA has these tips to make finding the most fitting establishment a little easier…

1. Visit when the school is in normal session – don’t rely on an highly-orchestrated open day.

2. Meet the head and ask if you are happy that this is the person you are entrusting your child to. If the head seems inaccessible, look elsewhere.

3. Send an email to the school and see how long it takes to get a reply.

Schools that put parents and pupils first will get back to you almost instantly.

4. Check the accreditation of the school. Make sure it is a member of one of the Heads’ Associations within the Independent Schools Council, such as the Independent Schools Association.

5. Ask about value-added data (measuring a child’s progress against national norms), as raw examination results tell you very little. Question it if the school says, ‘we don’t do that.’

6. Check the previous inspection report (mostly it’ll be on the Independent Schools Inspectorate or Ofsted website). Look carefully for comments on the strength of relationships between teachers and pupils.

7. Don’t assume that the higher the fee, the more you get. Don’t dismiss schools just because their fees may be lower than a competitor.

8. Enquire about bursaries, scholarships and fee discounts. Don’t be shy.

9. Ask if fees are fully-inclusive or if there are any extras. Sometimes the extras can mount up significantly.

10. Ask about ‘wrap-around’ and extra-curricular activities (breakfast clubs, after-school societies and sports, etc.) These fit drop-off and pick-up around busy parents’ professional lives and also enrich every child’s education.

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urst Hurstpierpoint College Pre-Prep I Prep I Senior School I Sixth Form

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SCHOOLS

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CRAIG MATTHEWS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

An independent view Former pupil at a Wealden public school, Fleur McCoy, 21, talks to us about the benefits of private education How do you think your education has benefited you?

I think in prep school, because it was such a small school it was quite good because you knew everyone who worked and studied there. Class sizes were also quite small. In secondary school I think the main thing that benefited me the most was the one-to-one time teachers were willing to give. Because it was a boarding school, teachers were around in the evenings and were always happy to help. I really struggled with my A Level subjects so having that extra time with teachers was really helpful. They also held lunchtime clinics so if you were having some trouble in your subject they were there to assist.

Do you think boarding influenced your education?

Well at first it was quite hard, it’s always hard to be away from home, especially when you’re settling into a new school. But, I think if I’d gone to a day school I probably wouldn’t have worked as hard as I did for my GCSEs and A Levels. They implemented things like ‘prep hour’ so there’d be an hour set aside in the evening to do homework, and I think if I’d been at home I wouldn’t have done any work to be honest!

What sort of subjects did you get to do that weren’t offered at state schools?

Latin and Greek were both offered; I took Latin all the way through to A level as well. The school also didn’t offer subjects which they saw as ‘soft’. I’m studying psychology now at university but I couldn’t study this at school.

What were the class sizes like?

At my prep school the class was never bigger than 17, and of those 15 of them were boys. In my final year we had a class of 11 pupils. I think smaller classes worked better

because it meant that there was less distractions and disruptions. At secondary school it was similar – the classes were a bit bigger but they were never more than about 18.

Did you have a good relationship with the teachers?

A really good relationship actually because when you’re boarding you have housemistresses/masters and matrons so you got to know them quite well.

The facilities are quite extensive; did you get to take advantage of them?

The facilities are great. For A Level I did maths, Latin and chemistry. Obviously with chemistry it was quite lab focused, so it was good to have the facilities to carry out my coursework. The theatre was really impressive as well.

How has your education helped when it comes to university?

I think working for A Levels to get into Oxford Brookes meant that I got quite a strong work ethic. I worked as hard as possible to achieve good grades, and I couldn’t have done it without the extra help that the teachers were willing to give. I think with the education I’ve had it’s set me up to work hard when I’m at university.

Do you think university is still as important as it used to be?

Yes I do. If anything it gives you an extra three years to work out what your career goals are. Those years at university give you time to explore your options and live life away from home. I went in deciding to study psychology, even though I wasn’t completely sure of what I wanted to do. I know now that I’ve narrowed it down to something in media and having that extra time to decide those things has helped so much.

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Kent

At Kent College you can surpass your expectations & excel at your highest level whilst having the time of your life.

Join us at an upcoming Open Morning to find out more:

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FULLY CATERED BIRTHDAY PARTIES Fun on our giant pool inflatable to sport and bouncy castle parties

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An independent day school for boys and girls aged 2-13 To arrange a visit, please contact Clare Harrison: admissions@theprep.org.uk 01732 762336

www.theprep.org.u k

IRI SEVENOAKS V' PREPARATORY SCHOOL CHALLENGE • CREATIVITY • COMMUNITY

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Take a closer look

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Claremont School, East Sussex ADDRESS: Claremont Nursery and Prep School Baldslow St. Leonards-on-Sea East Sussex TN37 7PW TEL: 01424 751 555 ADDRESS: Claremont Senior School and Sixth Form Bodiam Nr Robertsbridge East Sussex TN32 5UJ TEL: 01580 830 396 WEBSITE: www.claremontschool.co.uk EMAIL: enquiries@claremontschool.co.uk NUMBER OF PUPILS: 536 COST PER TERM: £2,100 to £5,300

Claremont School is a thriving, independent,

South East and has been rated ‘Outstanding’ in all

onwards visit on a regular basis. Trips abroad are

co-educational day and boarding school occupying

areas by Ofsted.

a regular feature of their learning.

two wonderful sites. It is one of the top performing

Fees are some of the most competitive in the

Claremont offers excellent facilities across the

schools academically in the South East. In the

South East. Children may be dropped off at school

two sites. In addition to well equipped and well

recent GCSE examinations, 94% of all grades were

from 8am and collected up to 6pm, or they can be

resourced classroom blocks and science and IT

an A* to C and furthermore, 41%

collected from home and dropped off by the

labs containing the latest equipment, Claremont

of all grades were an A* or A. The site in

school’s extensive transport service, which serves

boasts outstanding facilities for a vast

St Leonards-on-Sea stands in 100 acres of delightful

many villages throughout Kent and Sussex.

co-curricular programme, including a £1.5million

Sussex countryside and comprises a nursery

The curriculum and co-curricular programme

sports centre, a new and extensive performing

school, pre-preparatory department, prep school

at Claremont is broad and ambitious. Students

arts centre, indoor and outdoor swimming pools,

and forest school. The senior school and sixth Form

reach their full potential academically, but also

two theatres, a dance studio, a floodlit Astroturf, a

site is situated in the beautiful village of Bodiam,

participate in co-curricular activities that play an

forest school and pitches for almost every sport.

overlooking Bodiam Castle. Claremont has a state of

important part in a student’s growth and

the art boarding house with newly refurbished

development. The ultimate aim at Claremont is to

opened at the senior school site in 2014;

facilities, located in the historic town of Battle. Over

encourage a positive attitude to learning. The

here, students follow a bespoke educational

the last two decades, Claremont School has grown

school also owns a study centre in St Omer in

programme and receive expert

to become one of the most successful schools in the

Northern France, which children from Year 3

UCAS preparation.

The new purpose built sixth form centre

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The Mead School, Tunbridge Wells ADDRESS: 16 Frant Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5SN

children can develop and thrive.

Academic standards and expectations are high,

TYPE: Co-educational day school for ages 3-11

enabling each child to realise their potential within

TEL: 01892 525 837

small, personal teaching groups, discover their

WEB: www.meadschool.info

strengths and interests and move to secondary

EMAIL: office@themeadschool.co.uk

school as independent learners who have

NUMBER OF PUPILS: 190

established excellent work patterns and strong

NUMBER OF STAFF: 40

values that will remain with them for life. Children

HEAD: Mrs Angela Culley

are prepared for entry to a wide range of secondary

COST PER TERM: £3395 (Years 3-6),

schools in both the independent and maintained

£3065 (Reception, Years 1 & 2) and

sectors, including over 55% transferring to the six

£999 to £1665 (Kindergarten & Pre-Reception)

local grammar schools.

Conveniently situated 300m from the historic

pupils to be outward looking, for the world is their

Pantiles, The Mead School is a place that

classroom and life their education. Within our

‘encourages all its pupils to feel success’.

campus, children enjoy high-quality teaching and

Children who are happy and secure in school

resources and their learning is greatly enhanced by

thrive and become lifelong learners. To this end,

a broad range of educational trips and visitors.

We are a community based school. We want our

the school, founded on Christian principles and

School life must be fun and full. A huge

impressively housed in a Victorian villa, including

programme of sport, music, drama, French and

well-equipped playgrounds and a well-used playing

Mandarin languages and extracurricular activities

field, within easy walking distance of The Pantiles,

is offered and our pupils embrace it all with

is run as a large family, providing a happy, secure,

enthusiasm and confidence. Academic, sport,

lively and stimulating environment in which

music and drama scholarships are regularly won.

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little I Rasca s Exceptional Nursery and Pre-school located in the heart of Tunbridge Wells.

Awarded the Kent Quality Mark in 2014 Large outside learning environments Calm and nurturing baby rooms with seperate sleep rooms Spanish classes, Yoga Classes and Phonics Fun Natural Resources with communication friendly spaces Dedicated to wellbeing & Involvement

"Thank you for all the hard work and effort put into looking after my ch ild and his friends- wha t a great start he has been given. It is a friendly environment where ch ildren can feel safe and happy and the ch ildren are encouraged to learn and question. It has made my going to work so much easier as I don't have to worry." Parent Feedback August 2015

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Russell House, Sevenoaks No look back over the past school year would be

ADDRESS: Station Road, Otford, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 5QU

complete without noting the school’s remarkable

TYPE: Co-educational school

achievements in netball. The U11 team won no

for children aged two to 11

less than five tournament trophies during the

TEL: 01959 522 352

season and the U9 team picked up two trophies

WEB: www.russellhouseschool.co.uk

and were runners up in a third. The U11 team also

EMAIL: enquiries@russellhouse.kent.sch.uk

made it into the finals of the IAPS netball

NUMBER OF PUPILS: 210

competition to finish in the top 12 out of 260

NUMBER OF STAFF: 48

schools across the country. This is a considerable achievement for a co-educational school with one

HEAD: Mr Craig McCarthy COST PER TERM: EY from £625 to £3,140 per term

the school’s science club. One of the club’s

class per year group, competing against

Main School from £3,625 to £4,190

summer activities was to explore the science of

considerably larger opponents.

picnics – the role of yeast in bread making and

A year in highlights Russell House is celebrating another superb year,

how to make cheese.

This was not the only facility to be upgraded

In addition to the sporting triumph, Russell House was the proud winner of the local schools’ Great Maths Race and was successful in a national schools art competition, among others.

having opened a new science centre and IT hub, and

during the year. Also new is an integrated

enjoyed spectacular academic and sporting successes.

café-style IT and library area called The Hub.

“This really is the school ‘where the remarkable

This provides a welcoming and flexible space

happens’,” says headmaster Craig McCarthy. “We

Russell House in April, which allows even more

where children can work independently on

have a friendly, happy atmosphere and a

hands-on practical investigation by pupils of all

projects and is also ideally suited to collaborative

commitment to develop each boy and girl’s

ages up to 11. Curriculum activities include ‘real’

work and for whole class teaching. It was

individual talents. The results across academic,

chemistry, with Bunsen burners allowing children

developed to support the school’s vision for ICT,

artistic and sporting endeavours underline our

to learn about boiling, evaporation and all manner

where computers and reference materials are

school’s success, but just as important are the

of chemical reactions. The centre is also home to

used as an integral part of activities in all subjects.

smiles and enjoyment our children have at school.”

A new, bespoke science centre opened at

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ROSE HILL SCHOOL ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS Independent Co-education from 3-13 Coniston Avenue, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9SY Telephone: 01892 525591 Email: admissions@rosehillschool.co.uk www.rosehillschool.co.uk

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ADVERTORIAL

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A

lthough exciting and a cause for celebration, pregnancy can be a

daunting and uncertain time for many women. The body is changing, emotions are in flux and life may feel a bit out of control. It can be a challenging time both physically and emotionally. That is why it’s important to take time to nurture yourself and your baby; to listen to your body and everything that is going on inside.

Pregnancy yoga can help you achieve this.

It has been shown that practising yoga and keeping active during your pregnancy not only improves your own health, but

helping you to feel amazing throughout

Present Tunbridge Wells

that of your baby’s health too, making this

your pregnancy and prepare you to bring

07450 318 776

a good incentive to get moving.

life into the world.

www.wearepresent.today

Additionally, the more active you are, the

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easier it will be to adapt to your changing

starting again from Friday September 11.

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If you would like to know more about our

*Check with your doctor or midwife before starting any

pregnancy yoga classes, please do not

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hesitate to get in touch with us.

to advise you on what is best for you and your baby.

Pregnancy yoga is a great way to keep your body strong, supple and stress-free,

SEPTEMBER 2015

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ADVERTORIAL

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STRICTLY COME DANCING Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a budding ballet dancer or looking for the perfect pair of shoes to show off your moves, Dancing Boutique in Tunbridge Wells can help you well and truly look the part. We find out what this unique business has to offer and how they will have you fitted out with all the right kit in no time

D

ancing Boutique was originally started

excellent teamwork of the staff, who have an

in July 1971 in the same location where

immense knowledge and pride themselves in

it stands today, on the corner of Victoria Road and Goods Station Road in Royal Tunbridge

the personal service offered.

To move with the times, a new website has

Wells. Over the years it has grown from

been launched, with the additional offering of

strength to strength, servicing many local

individual school requirements, and Dancing

schools and now vocational schools all

Boutique will also work closely with any school

across the UK. Kim Phipps began

to supply their needs direct. Many dance school

management of this family owned business

shows have the costumes supplied by Dancing

and is proud to have now completed 25

Boutique, where Kim will offer her personal

yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; service.

guidance and assistance.

Within the shop you can find all your shoe

For more information as to how

and garment requirements for dance,

Dancing Boutique can help, please

gymnastics and social dancing. All ages are

contact them on 01892 529 720 or email

catered for, nothing is too much trouble and

sales@dancingboutique.com

no order is too small. They have built up a first-class reputation for the fitting of pointe

Dancing Boutique

shoes, for which customers from all over the

82 Victoria Road, Tunbridge Wells,

South East will travel.

Kent TN1 2PW

Much of its success is put down to the

www.dancingboutique.com

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VISIT OUR

OPEN

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SECURITY SPECIALISTS www.1stacesecurity.co.uk

Ace House, 28 London Road, Southborough

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01892 280 280 • 01732 600 600 sales@lstacesecurity.co.uk

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We warmlLJ welcome our British customers, meeting LJOUr installation needs, and offering the benefit

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We Look forward to seeing ~ou!

Located in one huge store overlooking Boulogne, we have a delightful and wide range of choices, full of ideas!

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SO

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INTERIORS

SO

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS These top interior experts share the styling secrets of their own homes

COME DINE WITH ME LAURENCE LLEWELYN-BOWEN, TV PERSONALITY AND INTERIOR DESIGNER

“Dining rooms, once shunned and viewed as over, are enjoying a revival which I welcome hugely.

Latest surveys show that people who were seduced by the idea of seamless living in one glass space are now scuttling back under the protective hem of traditionalism and opting for a separate entertaining area. Basically, we’re much more likely these days to have a mini-Downton rather than a Kevin McCloud style-design.

“Dining areas have more

significance than they’re given credit for. They’re where the family gathers for special occasions and so associated with good memories, and this is a wonderful area for housing memorabilia. This room can almost be a decorative shrine to heirlooms and pieces with relevance and emotions attached, from granny’s ashes to antiques.”

about what you like. Who cares if it clashes or stands out?”

“Stop obsessing about storage. If you need masses of cupboards you have too much stuff, and if you can’t see it, why do you want it?”

MY BEST BUYS

TIPS

“I’m in love with Chesterfield sofas which look serious, imposing and are ultracomfortable - none of that sloppy, slouch seating for me! Mine is velvet with chrome buttoning, from The Chesterfield Company.”

Bespoke Arundel vintage sofas, available in a choice of upholstery, from £760, The Chesterfield Company

“Spread your decor wings and fly beyond the conventional box and be confident

www.thechesterfieldcompany.com

SEPTEMBER 2015

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ON A TO US UN

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EXPAND YOUR CHOICE in Boulogne with our high range furniture!

Why not visit "Flahaut", a huge outlet with a large range of high end furniture - some not yet available in the UK! We have a large range of home wear, as well as outdoor furniture for every weather.

Visit us now to take advantage of the strength of your Sterling Pound!

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INTERIORS

TOUCH ME TEXTURES IAN DYKES, FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, FABRIC SPECIALISTS VOYAGE DECORATION

“For me, creating a home isn’t about referencing the latest interiors trends, but about injecting personality into a space. This isn’t something that can be created overnight, but needs curating, collecting and honing over time.

“It’s often the small things that shape the character of a home, the details which will bring a look together: an original piece of artwork, a favourite colour, treasures from travels abroad. All of these elements can be layered to create a style that is uniquely yours. I’ve been inspired by my travels, and I use vibrant colours and fabrics and pieces made by talented people I’ve visited around globe, from craftswomen in Kashmir to Jacquard weavers in Italy.”

TIP Textures are key. “A piece can’t simply look good, it has to be tactile and feel luxurious. Whether it’s the weave of linen or raised embroidered threads, each piece brings a new dimension to a room, imbuing it with warmth, variety and curiosity. Our latest collection, Iridescence, combines Scottish linens and lustrous velvets and vibrant watercolour designs.”

MY BEST BUYS Nola lotus cushion, £47.50; Samui heather cushion, £46; Quinn twoseater sofa, from £2,199, Voyage Decoration www.voyagedecoration.com

LIGHT THE WAY

CLAIRE HORNBY, CREATIVE STYLIST, FURNITURE SPECIALISTS, BARKER & STONEHOUSE

“Lighting can change the entire perspective of a home, and more importantly, influence its atmosphere, determining how you feel spending time in different areas, so it shouldn’t be regarded simply as functional.

“I love making a feature by grouping ceiling lights in different shapes, sizes and materials and hanging them at varying heights over items such as tables so they become a focal point, adding interest and depth to a room.”

TIP Have fun with wall art and quirky pieces in all areas. “In the hall I have three orange and yellow deer heads mounted on the wall. Being greeted with a bright colour pop always makes me smile and they surprise and intrigue visitors and make them want to explore other rooms.”

MY BEST BUYS Yellow deer head wall hanger, £35; Munro peach ribbed glass pendant, £84 (from £99); Savalen corner chaise, £1,499 www.barkerandstonehouse.co.uk

141

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-

SO We are pleased to introduce the Knole collection, all available in fixed or loose covers.

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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THURSDAY 3 SEPTEMBER lo SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER 2015

SAVE UP lo 50%

ON SEbEcTEQ llNEl

Whether you are looking for an essential piece of cookware for the kitchen or contemporary tableware to entertain your guests? Beautiful prints and colour in bed linen or towels to co-ordinate with a specific scheme. Fenwick has it all!

The Fenwick Home Event is the perfect opportunity to fill your home with beautiful accessories and save up to 50%*at the same time.

Plus, as the first signs of autumn appear and we move away from the hot shades of summer, let us inspire you with our NEW season collections. Beautiful earthy tones, punctuated with warm accent colours of berry, through to the deepest blue.

Available in store now.

Whilst in store, enjoy up to 50% off* Luggage throughout the Home Event too!

Don't miss it! Must end on Sunday 4 October.

Royal Victoria Place Tunbridge Wells Kent TNI 2SR

I

I

Telephone: 01892 516716

www.fenwick.co.uk

*50% off on selected lines

To receive advance information about our events and promotions in store, simply fill in your details below and return to: Let's keep in touch, Fenwick Ltd, IOI Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TNI 2SR. You will automatically be entered into a free prize draw to win a ÂŁ250 gift card.

Title ~ ~ ~~ Address Mobile

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Email Tick the box if you do not want Fenwick Tunbridge Wells to send you details of forthcoming special events and promotions. Your details will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be passed on to any third party.

Terms and Conditions: This draw is not open to employees of Fenwick Ltd, employees of concessions trading within Fenwick stores or their families. The closing date fo r entries is Sunday 4 October 2015.

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KITCHENS, BATHROOMS & INTERIORS

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INTERIORS

SO

WORKING FROM HOME Give your home office a stylish makeover with these functional furnishings

Foxwood

Leather sofa, £1695 www.withinhome.com

4Living

Teak bookcase, £890 www.4living.co.uk

The Old Cinema

Hampshire Furniture

Vintage American black ocean globe, £145 www.theoldcinema.co.uk

Darlings of Chelsea

Executive swivel chair, £849 www.darlingsofchelsea.co.uk

Vintage cream mahogany two drawer filing cabinet, £439 www.hampshirefurniture.co.uk

The Contemporary Home

‘You’ve got mail’ letter rack, £16 www.tch.net

SEPTEMBER 2015

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INTERIORS

Furnish

Blocks collection, £102 www.furnish.co.uk

PITCH

Armchair, £299 www.made.com

Laura Ashley

Large brass wall clock, £130 www.lauraashley.com

Loaf

Domeo lamp, £95 www.loaf.com

Must Have Bins

Wheat waste paper bin, £115 www.musthavebins.co.uk

Hampshire Furniture

Vintage cream mahogany twin pedastal computer desk, £774 www.hampshirefurniture.co.uk

148

SEPTEMBER 2015

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SO

Protection for you and your family ./ Residential , commercial & industrial installations ./ System installation & maintenance

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For more information, call today on

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Tunbridge Wells Office Unit C2 , Speldhurst Business Park, Langton Road , Speldhurst, Kent, TN3 OAQ Maidstone Office Unit 1B, Little Caring Farm , Caring Lane, Maidstone ME17 1TH I 01622 880751

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(PALULO.J ~ t~ !'c ~~o~~o~ in ~~%~ ACROSS

THE STORE

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A selection of homeware and gifts from

NEW PALUlO collections.

THE ACORN RANGE - over 480 designs

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Oak frame garages ideal for self assembly or by our expert team.

Palulo's Autumn Collections feature more than just the designs above. You really must visit palulo.co .uk to view all of Palulo's homeware, gifts, and decorative accessories. There's a choice of colours, finishes, and limited edition designs to choose from. All of which are hand finished and unique individual pieces. Palulo's designs will fit into any style of home from country, through retro and vintage , to contemporary modern interiors. Plus there's Special Offers, and 25% off.

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I

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FREE ~ ®~

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If you would like to discuss your project please call us on 01892 510070 to make an appointment at our new offices in The Pantiles.

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154

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SEPTEMBER 2015

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GARDENS

SO

Glorious Gardens This month Emma Davies, who runs the Walled Nursery in Hawkhurst with her husband Monty, is gathering her vegetable crops

F

or those of us that grow our own

winter days, all this as well as being

watch out for those cabbage white

vegetables, you’ll be in the midst of

delicious. These plants will grow right

butterflies! Our spring sown cauliflowers

harvesting and keeping up with the

through the winter; they are much tougher

bolted (flowered), within a month of

than they look.

planting out – too little water and too hot

fruits of your labour. We’ve finished our peas, broad beans and French beans

We always sow more broad beans now

for them. I must admit, I’m not a fan of

already. Runner beans, courgettes, salad

– this will provide you with an early spring

growing cauliflowers, between the

leaves and kale are being picked daily and

crop next year. Do make sure you give the

caterpillars and bolting, it’s far too much

our sweetcorn, leeks and onions are

plants adequate support as they’ll take a

work for me! But, I have left them flowering

coming along nicely. But, you’re not done

battering from our winter weather. Dwarf

away as I’m treating them as a sacrificial

and dusted once you start to harvest. There

French beans if sown straight away should

plant to help deter the pests from my kale

are some star performers that you can sow

give you a quick crop in early autumn – we

which grows next to them. So far, it seems

again in late summer, some which will

find that Purple Tepee is a fantastic variety,

to be working!

allow you to have another harvest in the

great flavour, good yield and delicious.

autumn and some which will give you a

Lettuce leaves should be sown

You can even sow some more carrots in late summer. You’ll be able to pull them up

continuously to give you a steady supply

as tender (baby) carrots in autumn and

– keep them close to your house so they’re

there is no better vegetable to get kids

Nero with its textured, dark green leaves,

easy to pick. Remember salad leaves are

hooked on gardening as pulling up carrots!

and it can be directly sown into your veg

very shallow rooted so you can easily grow

Pure magic.

head start next spring.

With kale, our favourite variety is Cavolo

beds now. Sow in shallow drills spacing approximately 50cm apart in the row and between rows. By sowing this leafy vegetable now, you can start harvesting early next spring, possibly even this

them in containers.

Spring cabbages can be sown in August or September for a crop in early spring. Just

So, get out in your garden, get the next lot of veg sown and then get straight back to keeping on top of your harvesting! I always say, the hardest thing about growing vegetables is managing to eat everything!

autumn if the weather is kind.

There’s nothing worse than wasting a crop,

Another leafy veg to sow now

so if you have a glut, give some to your

using the same method is chard.

friends or blanch and freeze so you

We love rhubarb chard for its

can enjoy your home grown veg

decorative qualities; the stems

right through the winter too.

are a deep, ruby red and the veins in the leaves

Happy gardening!

are luminous red on

Emma

SEPTEMBER 2015

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BULB WEEKEND

4th, 5th, 6th September Opening times: Fri 9am - 5pm, Sat & Sun 9am - 5pm, Bank Holiday Monday 9am - 5pm

At Stone Green Nurseries you will discover that we are passionate about plants. We grow a fantastic range:

Shrubs Ferns

Trees I Herbaceous perennials I Climbers Grasses I Large plants for instant impact

You can choose your plants from our vast selection and direct from their growing beds!

You can't buy fresher" Our broad variety of garden plants are offered to you at fair prices.

Should you need help with your selection we also have knowledgeable staff to help answer your questions.

VISIT US - YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED

FUTURE DATES Discount Weekend 25th, 26th, 27th September For more details directions please use our website Pinckley Road, Bethersden TN26 3ET

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Wealden Country Landcraft For all your design, construction and maintenance requirements, contact:

Adam Sutton BSc (Hons) Environmental Science Tim Playfoot BA (Hons) Garden Design Tel:01892 722699 Adam:07979 362241 Tim:07990 751353 www.playfootgardendesign.co.uk

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GARDENS

CASTLE CARING In the latest of our visits to National Trust gardens, we look around the Bodiam Castle and speak to premises assistant Terry Featherstone about the work that goes in to maintaining the grounds…

What is your approach to the grounds, in terms of both preserving their heritage and moving forward?

We have recently adapted the way we manage the grounds i.e. leaving some areas of grass longer, to increase biodiversity for insects and invertebrate and to give small mammals a highway to the neighbouring hedgerows. This has had the added bonus of encouraging visitors to immerse themselves fully in the landscape and providing the opportunity for natural play. We support nature in as much as our key focus is on the maintenance of the grounds rather that forcing it in an unsympathetic direction. This means the grounds are supported in evolving as naturally as possible within the environment of a public attraction.

There is also the ongoing battle with Himalayan Balsam. Finally, we are also in the process of completing a conservation management plan which will assist us in developing the grounds further in the future.

The grounds are expansive, how many of you work on them?

Including William Past our Premises Manager there are six on the team to cover the seven day, 363 days of the year opening.

What does a typical day at work for you involve?

We normally start our day at 8am well before visitors arrive on site. As well as looking after the grounds, we are also responsible for ensuring the castle and public facilities are cleaned ready for the day ahead.

This includes emptying all refuge bins and clearing the site of any litter.

Checks are also carried out throughout the day to ensure the site is always presented to a high standard. We can also be called upon to do general maintenance work, mowing the grounds, hedge cutting and car parking. A typical day for us premises assistants is anything but typical, which certainly makes it a varied role and can make for enjoyable days.

And your biggest challenge at Bodiam is?

Flooding in winter from the neighbouring River Rother – this both affects our car park capacity and involves us in a massive clean-up of debris from the river. Also getting the right balance when it comes to conservation; maintaining what is an iconic ancient site to ensure our thousands of visitors have an enjoyable, memorable and positive visit and take away some of the passion we have for Bodiam.

What’s your favourite area or element of the grounds?

The idyllic beauty of the site and the peace and solitude before visitors and other staff arrive. It’s hard to beat being here early on a crisp, cold winter morning, a light covering of frost, a gentle mist above the moat, and the call of a pheasant from Doakes Meadow.

In December last year, you carried out some extensive weeding on the castle, how much of a challenge was that?

Bodiam’s medieval herb garden

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GARDENS

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HISTORIC HERBS

HELENE MARLER

Bodiam volunteer Jan Black gives us an insight into the work that goes on to make the medieval herb garden grow

working within the heritage sector to undertake this high level weeding. The results have made a major difference to the integrity of the castle – it was amazing for both staff and visitors alike to see this conservation work in action, with wall walkers in harnesses hanging from the castle walls as if under siege. We do regularly weed the castle, be it at a less dramatic level.

of Bodiam, providing stunning views to and from the castle. With the repositioning of our visitor reception last year, the grounds are now playing a bigger role in our visitor’s experience which will always be an interesting challenge to the landscape the wildlife and the premises team.

What preparations do you need to do to get the grounds ready for autumn?

The grounds will always be maintained sympathetically to the surrounding environment, however with a focus on a medieval storyline now running throughout the property the natural progression for the grounds is to develop our medieval herb garden into a much larger scale and encourage the grounds to reflect its primitive origins. We are also encouraging visitors to explore the grounds far more extensively through adding various interpretative elements including a grass maze. We are also looking in to the potential of reintroducing some of the water features which would have been in existence in Sir Edward’s day to impress his visitors en route to the castle.

We have a broad maintenance plan which covers such aspects as inspection and maintenance of drainage, not only in the castle but the grounds too. The bordering River Rother can be very impressive when in full flood. Also tree maintenance and survey, resurfacing the gravel paths, and hopefully this year prepare an area of the estate for a wild flower meadow.

How much of an impact do the grounds have on the castle?

I think the landscape since the castle was built back in 1385 has always played an integral role in the support and back drop to the overall impression

Tell us about your future plans for the grounds

Early in 2012 we started work with small groups of pupils from Claremont School on a fairly modest idea of making a herb bed in the castle grounds. Initially we created a herb garden containing plants for cooking, for the household, for strewing and freshening, for medicine and healing, and for well-being. This was followed in 2013 by a bed of plants used for dyeing, and in 2014 a bed of ornamental plants for scent and savour.

Each July we hold ‘all things herbal’ weekends where we show visitors how to use the plants for dyeing, herbal teas, washing, nosegays, smudge sticks, oak gall ink, and provide information about their medicinal uses.

During research for possible plants to include we came across The Feate of Gardening, a manuscript written in verse in about 1390. It includes a list of 89 ‘main herbys’ and reference to a further twelve plants. We discovered that we had over half the plants either in the beds we had made or growing wild in the grounds. So, in 2015 we set about making a further bed incorporating the missing ones. To date we are missing just six plants, mostly due to the rabbits eating them. The one plant which still eludes us is Felwort, Gentianella Amarella; we would love to hear from anyone who has some they could let us have.

Creating the herb gardens has opened up a whole new area of interpretation to the castle. It has proved a fascinating area to research and it is lovely to see how interesting visitors find it.

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HOME FRONT

Sorry, but no apologies for the winter scene. You may not want

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homes your own, whether it’s the views of the cold and crisp

A room with exposed beams and an open fireplace is the perfect

English countryside that melts your heart, or the beautiful front

setting for a family Christmas, and we have plenty of properties this

rooms to enjoy the seasonal TV shows together. There’s

month with the wow factor, whether you need rooms to

something for everyone in this selection.

HELLINGLY

BROAD OAK

BIDDENDEN

TONBRIDGE

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Grade II listed house

Victorian house with

A renovated 18th

Modernised period

Country cottage with a

with guesthouse for

picturesque views of the

century farmhouse

six bedroom home

modern touch just yards

friends and relatives

English countryside

with period features

perfect for a big family

from Dunorlan Park

Price: £2,200,000

Price: £1,300,000

Price: £1,250,000

Price: £1,300,000

Price: £750,000

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PAST MEETS PRESENT

Period family home with modern day furnishings in Tunbridge Wells THIS STUNNING SEMI DETACHED family home has recently been

bedroom with access to the eaves.

LOCATION: Tunbridge Wells, Kent GUIDE PRICE: £829,950

Outside, the sunny garden is mostly

redecorated creating a more modern

laid to lawn with shrubs and flowering

feel to the property, yet still offers period

plants to borders, and also benefits

features you might hope to find, such as

from a terrace accessed via the kitchen.

fireplaces, sliding sash windows, and

The property is vacant with no

exposed floorboards.

forward chain.

On entrance, the hallway leads through

PROPERTY: 10 Park Road

Park Road and the surrounding area is

BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 1 EXTRAS: Kitchen underfloor heating, basement/store room, off road parking

to the kitchen with the sitting and dining

extremely convenient for a number of

rooms set off to the right. The kitchen is

schools and Tunbridge Wells town

open plan with fitted white cupboards

centre, with its excellent range of

and beautiful black worktops to contrast,

educational, leisure and shopping

BEST BITS: The spacious property has

with underfloor heating also included.

facilities. The mainline railway station is

recently been redecorated and is currently

The first floor has three bedrooms, one

just a short walk away and offers

of which is the master, and a family

commuter services to the City and West

bathroom, while second floor has one

End in under an hour by fast train.

for two cars

vacant allowing for a fast move, and offers the opportunity to furnish it best to suit you.

For full details contact: Alexandre Boyes • 01892 525 522 • www.alexandre-boyes.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2015

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RUSTIC APPEAL

Escape to the country with this fabulous farmhouse in Biddenden RURALLY SITUATED, Goldwell

bedroom with an en suite and a

Farmhouse is a charming, Grade II

fireplace. Exposed beams in this room

listed home dating from the 17th

give it that country home feel. Two

century with later 18th and 21st

good-sized bedrooms and a family

century additions.

bathroom are also on this floor. The

On the ground floor there is a spacious living area with a fireplace adding to the period feel that the

PROPERTY: Goldwell Farmhouse LOCATION: Biddenden, Kent GUIDE PRICE: £1.25million BEDROOMS: 5 BATHROOMS: 1 + en suite

second floor hosts two more

LAND: about 2 acres

bedrooms and has access to the attic.

EXTRAS: Cellar, store room,

Features of the grounds include

tennis court, two paddocks

exposed beams of the house create.

a tennis court, two fenced paddocks

There is a modern kitchen, fitted with

plus a lawn area that leads around

a two oven oiled Aga and underfloor

to the side of the house to a

BEST BITS: This wonderful property

heating, and to the back of the house

vegetable garden with fruit cages

you can access both the dining room

and two generous terraces. The

lies in the catchment area for Cranbrook

and the garden where views of the

house is approached via a long

English countryside can be admired.

shared private lane and there is

from Headcorn station giving access

The first floor consists of the master

parking for several cars.

to London in under an hour.

School and is situated about 6 miles

For full details contact: Savills Cranbrook • 01580 720 161 • www.savills.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2015

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BEAUTIFUL HOMES

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TIMELESS ELEGANCE

Beautiful country cottage brought into the modern era in Tunbridge Wells

SURROUNDED BY AN Area of

Basalt tiled floor with underfloor

outstanding Natural Beauty within the rarely

heating. The courtyard can be accessed

available Dunorlan Farm is this incredible

via the French doors at the back, plus

four-bedroom cottage, built in 1861.

there’s a utility room on this floor.

The ground floor consists largely of

Elsewhere, the four bedrooms are all

the open plan sitting/dining room. With

set off the main landing area and most

a bay window to the front offering views

aspects are over the lovely greenery.

over the garden and solid oak floors,

The master bedroom has an en suite

this area is a perfect to suit your every

and a family bathroom is available too.

need. Through the sitting room to the

An expansive garden area has plenty

back of the house is the fantastic

of space for children to play and run

modern kitchen. Fitted with stunning

around. There is also a gated driveway

white cupboards and a breakfast bar,

that has the space for several cars and

there are also Corian worktops and a

offers a great degree of privacy.

For full details contact Andrews • 01892 515 144 • www.andrewsonline.co.uk 170

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PROPERTY: Dunorlan Farm Cottages LOCATION: Tunbridge Wells, Kent GUIDE PRICE: ÂŁ750,000 BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 1 plus en suite EXTRAS: Cloakroom, basement, attic space, open plan sitting room, expansive garden, gated driveway BEST BITS: The home is just yards away from the elegant Dunorlan Park, with features such as the six-acre lake which is popular for boating, as well as a fountain, cascade and a Grecian temple.

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BEAUTIFUL HOMES

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LIVE LIFE IN LUXURY

Modernised period house perfect for a big family in Tonbridge DATING BACK IN part to the 18th century, this unique, impressive family

good-sized utility and door to the cellar.

The master bedroom on the first floor is

home, with a sympathetic extension and

accompanied by a dressing room and en

contemporary improvements throughout,

suite bathroom. Five other bedrooms, one

has retained its character and stunning

of which has a further en suite shower

periodic features.

room, and a family bathroom are settled

The front door opens into the entrance hall leading to the drawing room; a

over this floor as well.

Outside is a large double garage with a

magnificent space with an open fireplace

completely independent apartment above.

and French style doors. There is also a

This area is perfect for a teenage den or

study and sitting room with plenty of

for visiting relatives. There is also space

space for relaxing and a separate TV

on the drive for additional parking. You’ll

room with double aspect doors

also find a fully enclosed, screened

overlooking the garden. On this floor

garden with lawned area and trees and

you’ll also find the comprehensively

shrubs where you can create your own

fitted kitchen, a shower cloakroom, a

little haven.

PROPERTY: Tollgate House LOCATION: Hadlow Road, Tonbridge GUIDE PRICE: £1.3million BEDROOMS: 6 BATHROOMS: 3 (2 en suite) EXTRAS: Detached double garage, independent apartment, TV room with double aspect doors, period feature fireplace, cellar BEST BITS: Located just off Tonbridge High Street this home has a great location. The historic town offers the 13th century castle, shopping and recreational facilities and has a wealth of excellent schools – state, grammar and independent – just a short walk away.

For full details contact Barnes Kingsnorth • 01732 771 616 • www.bkestateagents.com 172

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21/08/2015 15:25

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BEAUTIFUL HOMES

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18TH CENTURY ELEGANCE A Grade II listed home with original period features and a few modern touches in Hellingly THIS GRADE II LISTED, Georgian fronted, country house dates

cellar comprising a boot room, boiler room, china room, store room

back to the 18th century with later additions in the early 19th century.

and an excellent laundry room.

Once through the front door, an entrance lobby leads you through

A sweeping staircase leads to the first floor where the master

to a stunning and spacious drawing room extending the width of the

bedrooms suite and guest bedrooms are settled. The master

house with many original features, two bay windows to the front

bedroom has a double aspect, an en suite bathroom and dressing

and French doors to a courtyard at the side. The sitting room has a

room. There is an office/further bedroom on this floor as well.

beautiful period Inglenook fireplace and a door leading to the

The house is positioned centrally in its plot extending to

kitchen/breakfast room which has a range of wall and floor

approximately four acres and is approached along a winding drive

mounted units with modern appliances throughout. There is an

leading to a gravel parking area to the front and side of the house.

excellent Orangery which provides a spectacular dining room. In

The gardens and grounds are very well maintained and feature a

addition, on the same floor is a guest cloakroom, a WC, stairs to the

duck pond and paddocks.

For full details contact: Knight Frank â&#x20AC;˘ 01892 515 035 â&#x20AC;˘ www.knightfrank.com 174

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PROPERTY: Winkenhurst Manor LOCATION: Hellingly, East Sussex GUIDE PRICE: ÂŁ2.2million BEDROOMS: 4 BATHROOMS: 1, plus 2 en suite LAND: 4 acres EXTRAS: Orangery, cellar with laundry room, boot room, boiler room, china room, further storage, separate stables, further outbuildings, large garage BEST BITS: In addition to the main house, there is the refurbished stable building, the ground floor of which is fitted with a kitchen and sitting room.

On the first floor there are two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

This building makes for a perfect guesthouse for friends and relatives.

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BEAUTIFUL HOMES

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COUNTRY CHIC A period home with a modern touch in High Hurstwood

PROPERTY: Old Hall LOCATION: Chillies Lane, High Hurstwood, Uckfield

LOCATED IN AN Area of Outstanding

fireplace and a window to the side

Natural Beauty, Old Hall is in the village of

overlooking the pool and a dressing room

High Hurstwood and has retained many

with a range of built in wardrobe

period features including exposed timber

cupboards. There are three guest

BATHROOMS: 1+3 en suite

beams and inglenook fireplaces.

bedrooms on this floor as well, two with en

LAND: Approx. 3 acres

suite shower rooms and one with an en

EXTRAS: Garden room study, expansive

room, which offers book shelving to one

suite dressing room. There is a further

parking, detached annexe, games room,

wall and a lovely open inglenook fireplace.

bedroom with built in cupboards. A family

The principle drawing was once used as a

bathroom, separate shower room and a

double garage, pool house, swimming pool

ballroom with a sprung floor, open fireplace

cloakroom are also on this floor.

The entrance porch opens into a sitting

with a door that leads into the garden room.

The property is approached over a

The kitchen/breakfast room has been

driveway leading to space for several

beautifully fitted with granite work surfaces

vehicles to park and a double garage. There

and a breakfast bar.

GUIDE PRICE: £1.6million BEDROOMS: 5

BEST BITS: The gardens and grounds in all extend to approximately 3 acres principally laid to lawn and a separate

is an annexe above the double garage

lane access into the garden at the rear.

Five bedrooms are arranged over the

offering a bedroom, sitting room, bathroom

The pool house has lovely bi-fold doors

second floor. The master bedroom has a

and kitchen with an adjoining games room.

opening onto the pool area.

For full details contact: Batchellor Monkhouse • 01892 512 020 • www.batchellormonkhouse.com 176

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www.fireflyproperties.co.uk

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01 892 838363 carol @fireflyproperties.co. uk

20/08/2015 13:38

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BEAUTIFUL HOMES

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ON A HIGH

A Victorian house with stables and stunning views in Broad Oak THIS HANDSOME AND beautifully

added benefit of an en suite, as does the

presented Victorian house has been renovated

guest bedroom which is fitted with a

and updated by the present owners.

dressing room as well. The other four

On entrance is the reception hall with an elegant double aspect drawing room with a large bay window from which to enjoy the

bedrooms are all of good size and there is a family bathroom on this floor too.

Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural

views. The kitchen/breakfast room has

Beauty, the house’s gardens and grounds lie

recently been refurbished with a generous

to the rear and benefit from the stunning

range of units with polished granite work

far-reaching views of the rolling Sussex

surfaces and leads through to a

countryside. Adjacent to the rear of the

conservatory that has doors to a gravelled

house is a wide sweeping area of lawn with

sitting area. There are fireplaces with wood

steps that lead down to the swimming pool

burning stoves in the drawing room, dining

set within a broad paved surround. The land

room and snug, and an open fireplace in the

is divided into three paddocks separated

reception hall.

from the garden by a fence. The grounds

The first floor is host to six spacious bedrooms. The master bedroom has the

benefit from stables comprising four loose boxes, tack room and wash down area.

PROPERTY: Rock Hill House LOCATION: Burwash Road Broad Oak, East Sussex GUIDE PRICE: £1.3million BEDROOMS: 6 BATHROOMS: 1 + 2 en suite LAND: About 6.6 acres EXTRAS: Double aspect drawing room, conservatory, snug, cellar, double open fronted garage, parking area, three paddocks, stables, swimming pool BEST BITS: If you’re looking to add your own stamp to the property, planning permission was granted, and is still current, under WD/2010/1715/F on 22nd September 2010 for the brick and tile outbuilding to be converted into ancillary accommodation and a home office.

For full details contact: Strutt & Parker • 01273 475 411 • www.struttandparker.com SEPTEMBER 2015

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GARDEN GLORY This lovely family house with enchanting gardens is in Sandhurst THIS PROPERTY IS an attractive

an en suite, and a family bathroom are

detached country house which has been

settled on this floor.

extended over the years to create a practical and welcoming family living space.

The property benefits from a five bar gate giving access to the gravel driveway

PROPERTY: Woodlands LOCATION: Church Road, Sandhurst, Kent GUIDE PRICE: £825,000 BEDROOMS: 5

which provides parking for a number of

BATHROOMS: 1+2 en suite

airy with a vaulted reception hall on

vehicles. There is also a double garage

EXTRAS: Vaulted reception room, study,

entrance. There is a large drawing room

adjacent to the house.

adjacent double garage, five bar gated

Inside, the accommodation is bright and

with an open fireplace and French doors to

The gardens are a particular feature of

the terrace. A well-equipped kitchen

this home – being split into delightful

incorporating a range of maple cabinets

‘garden rooms’ they provide colour,

with granite work-tops making for a striking

fragrance and interest throughout the

yet homely look is also on this floor as well

seasons. To the rear is a substantial paved

as the study and dining room.

terrace which is the perfect spot for

An open staircase leads to the landing, off

summer parties and barbeques. There is

driveway, outbuilding and extensive gardens and grounds.

BEST BITS: A detached outbuilding is available for a variety of uses.

It’s currently used as a games and

which are five bedrooms. The master

also a timber chalet which houses the hot

party room but would also make for an

bedroom is spacious with an en suite

tub, ideal for all weather use with lovely

excellent home office or somewhere

bathroom. A further four bedrooms, with

aspects over the garden.

for friends and relatives to stay.

For full details contact: Jackson-Stops & Staff Cranbrook • 01892 720 000 • www.jackson-stops.co.uk SEPTEMBER 2015

SO TW_SEPTEMBER15_Property_Jackson_Stops.indd 181

181

21/08/2015 15:33

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24/08/2015 09:55

ADVERTORIAL

SO

THINKING OF MOVING HOME THIS SUMMER? You’ve made the decision to move, found your dream home and your offer has been accepted.

Feelings of excitement and apprehension set in and all you want is the whole process to end with you safely ensconced in your new home. So what steps can you take to ensure that the process will run smoothly and costly mistakes are avoided? Well, skimping on surveys and conveyancing can cost you dearly in the long run. So here are some top tips to help your move go as smoothly as possible

BY DEBORAH MILLER

1

GET YOUR MORTGAGE AGREED FIRST Although borrowing from banks and building societies has improved recently, it is not a given.

So to avoid disappointment, check you can get the mortgage you need before starting the process. You can get a mortgage agreement in principle secured first, but remember that this is an indication and not a legal agreement.

2

DECIDE WHETHER YOU ARE HAPPY TO RELY ON THE MORTGAGE LENDER’S VALUATION OR DO YOU REQUIRE A FULL SURVEY. A lender’s valuation is an assessment carried out by and for the benefit of the lender in order to check that the property presents adequate security for its loan should you default and the property has to be sold. However, it does not report on actual faults in the property. For many, a Home Buyer’s Report, which will expose problems such as damp, dry rot and subsidence, is adequate but if you are buying an older house or unusual home a full structural survey will be a wise investment.

You wouldn’t buy a car without the knowledge of a service history, so why would you run this financial risk when buying a house?

3

REMEMBER TO FACTOR IN THE TRUE COST OF MOVING. Mortgage arrangement fees, survey fees, legal costs and removal costs are all substantial costs of moving.

However, the often overlooked but most expensive cost is Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) which varies dependent on the value of the property purchased. If you purchase a property above £125,000 SDLT becomes payable. Recent changes to SDLT have been introduced to try to make the tax fairer. Under the old regime the SDLT percentage rates increased at various thresholds.

Under the old rules SDLT was payable at a single rate on the whole transaction value. From 4 December 2014, SDLT is payable on a sliding scale depending on the portion of

the purchase price that falls within each rate band. Where contracts have been exchanged on or before 3 December 2014, and the transaction is completed on 4 December or later, you can choose whether to use the old or the new rules.

There is no doubt that the SDLT changes will be of benefit to many home buyers. For example, under the old regime, Stamp Duty Land Tax payable on a purchase price of £350,000 would be £10,500 and under the new regime it would be £7,500 - representing a saving of £3,000.

4

CHOOSE YOUR CONVEYANCING SOLICITORS WITH CARE If you take the risk of buying without the support and guidance of an expertly trained legal conveyancer, you run the risk of walking into a financial booby trap which can seriously hamper your progression up the property ladder. You should also make sure you know who you are instructing and that the firm is registered with a regulatory body such as the Solicitors Regulation Authority. There are bogus law firms out there who will take your money and then close up shop which means you lose the money and your dream home. That is why it is essential that you get the advice and guidance you need every step of the way from a known reputable law firm. They are there to help you avoid the pitfalls of what can be a murky area.

The cheapest option may not always prove to be the best.

Remember, this may well be the

For a free copy of the Kent Guide to Buying and Selling Your Home or for further advice regarding your home buying/selling experience just complete and cut out this coupon and post to the address below. Alternatively call or email us today quoting reference MBRTO104 Telephone 01892 539 379 or Email so@maxbarford.co.uk Name Address

Tel.No Email Max Barford & Co 16 Mount Pleasant Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1QU www.maxbarford.co.uk

biggest purchase you’ll make and you want to be sure that you know what you are buying. You should be able to contact your conveyancer and fully understand what is happening at each step of the move. If you are not sure, ask!

One further point to bear in mind is that your conveyancer will not visit the property themselves, so should there be something you feel uncertain about bring it to their attention and they will provide you with the options available in order to try to resolve the issue.

5

REMEMBER TO ARRANGE BUILDING INSURANCE FROM THE DATE OF THE EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS. From exchange of contract you will be legally responsible for

the structure of the property.

This is often overlooked and can potentially have serious consequences. Make sure you have buildings insurance cover in place from this date.

With this being said and the potential risks of buying a home with hidden problems amounting to thousands of pounds in potential outgoings, why would you cut corners for the sake of a few pounds when the risks are so large?

For your free copy of the Kent Guide to Buying and Selling Your Home or for further advice regarding your home buying selling experience contact our office today and speak to one of my property team on 01892 539 379 or email so@maxbarford.co.uk

Max Barford & Co. is a trading name of Parfitt Cresswell. Parfitt Cresswell is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No. 71480

ParfittCresswell Sept15 FPx2.indd 5

24/08/2015 16:39

Savills Cranbrool<

cranbrook@savills.com

Untitled-6 2

savills 20/08/2015 13:55

BIDDENDEN,

KENT Versatile unlisted oast conversion + lovely countryside setting + 3 reception rooms + 6 bedrooms + 6 bath/shower rooms + attractive gardens + about 1 .7 acres + EPC=F Guide £1 .15 million Freehold

WINCHELSEA,

Savills Cranbrook jlloyd@savills.com 01580 720161

Savills Cranbrook pbaily@savills.com 01580 720161

OTHAM,

KENT Well presented family home + in a Conservation Area + 3 reception rooms + kitchen/breakfast room + 5 bedrooms + 3 bath/shower rooms + gardens + swim spa + EPC=D Guide £875,000 Freehold

SISSINGHURST,

Savills Cranbrook ssimmonds@savills.com 01580 720161

Savills Cranbrook ssimmonds@savills.com 01580 720161

HEADCORN,

EAST SUSSEX Period listed town house in heart of Winchelsea + 2 reception rooms+ 4/5 bedrooms+ 2 bath/shower rooms+ superb, substantial cellar + walled garden + tandem garage Offers in excess of £885,000 Freehold

KENT Beautifully appointed new home + versatile accommodation + 2 reception rooms + 4 bedrooms + NHBC certificate + 3.5 miles Staplehurst stn + CSCA (2015) + EPC=B Guide £829,950 Freehold

CRANBROOK,

KENT

KENT Period 5 bedroom home about 2.3 miles from Headcorn + 3 reception rooms + conservatory + kitchen/breakfast room + garden and paddocks+ about 3.1 acres+ EPC=E Guide £820,000 Freehold

Detached 5 bedroom family house + tucked away position + 3 reception rooms + kitchen/breakfast room + 2 bath/ shower rooms+ gardens+ about 0.33 of acre+ EPC=D Offers in excess of £650,000 Freehold

Savills Cranbrook pbaily@savills.com 01580 720161

Savills Cranbrook jlloyd@savills.com 01580 720161

Untitled-6 3

20/08/2015 13:56

An attractive Grade II Listed cottage within walking distance of the village centre Entrance hall I boot room, shower room, kitchen, utility room, sitting room, drawing room, dining room. Master bedroom, 3 further bedrooms, 2 family bathrooms. Mature gardens and grounds.

Attached store room. Garden store. Gardener's WC. In all about 0.35 acre.

A detached family home in a popular position, with planning permission to rebuild Entrance hall, cloakroom, kitchen I dining room, sitting room, family room, conservatory, study. Master bedroom, family bathroom , guest bedroom with en suite bathroom, 2 further bedrooms. Detached double garage. Planning permission to demolish existing house and garage and construct a 7 bedroom house and garage I studio. In all about 0.43 acre. *computer generated image

Untitled-6 2

20/08/2015 13:39

.411Fr

Untitled-6 3

20/08/2015 13:39

Discover the Pentland difference At Pentland Homes we design and build contemporary, high

At Elysium Park in Dover we still have a variety of styles and

quality homes in some of the county's most desirable locations

sizes on offer including a three bed and a four bed currently

and we focus on the people who will be living in our developments.

available to move into and then the last release on this popular

Each of our developments has a character very much it's own

development of the 4 bedroom Lyddens on which building has

but shares the Pentland ideal of Design, Quality and Space.

already commenced.

Although all our developments have different design aspirations,

At Chartham we have one remaining Oast conversion, simply

price ranges and sizing, our standard specification includes

stunning and a must see home - by appointment only.

high end finishes such as under floor heating and high performance glazing. The locations of our homes are also of importance, with transport links, landscaping and ample parking all priorities to ensure a good environment inside and out.

Lastly,

about

to

open

in

early

September,

we

have

Church Mews in Sissinghurst. This is a very select development

of spacious 3 bedroom homes in a tucked away courtyard and nestled next to the lovely Trinity Church off the High Street.

Some of our current developments

Our latest development at Scholars Village in Folkestone has got off to a flying start exceeding even our own high expectations

We look forward to welcoming you to any of our Showhomes

for demand, so much so that we've had to release more 2, 3 and

in the coming weeks so that you too, can discover the

4 bedroom homes earlier than planned.

Pentland difference.

Bluebells in Ashford is also on its final release of just 4 four

bedroom detached executive homes for families to enjoy with 2 en-suites and plenty of space to live in.

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pentlandhomes.co.uk

20/08/2015 13:40

Home Shopping .

Discover the Pentland difference at:

•

pentlandhomes.co.uk

~

14:04

pentlandhornes.co.uk

Now building at Bluebells

Maidstone Road, Ashford TN25 4FD Last few 4 bedroom homes remaining priced from £579,995

bluebells@pentlandhomes.co.uk

The Oast Houses Shalmsford Street, Chartham CT4 7DJ 4 bedroom character home priced at £724,995~ . ,

salestv@pentlandhomes.co.uk

~

Elysium Park Old Park Hill, Dover CT16 2FJ Last few 4 bedroom homes remaining priced from £369,995 elysium@pentlandhomes.co.uk

Eversley Park Coolinge Lane, Folkestone CT20 3FE Stunning 4 bedroom showhome priced at £639,995 ~

-

eversley@pentlandhomes.co.uk

~

Scholars Village Park Farm Road, Folkestone 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes priced from £202,995

CT19 5EY

scholars@pentlandhomes.co.uk

<

Church Mews Sissinghurst Road, Sissinghurst TN17 An exclusive collection of just nine 3 bedroom homes

2JG

churchmews@pentlandhomes.co.uk

Coming soon to Hawkinge, New Romney, Lydden & Chilmington Green Scan this code with your smartphone to discover the difference

~

Backed by HM Government

Untitled-6 3

A Pentland Homes initiative

Pentland Homes 20/08/2015 13:41

ANDREWS

Why would anyone say nice things about an agent?

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Ask Linda, Rosemary and Edward.

Book your free valuation today*

We can say we're great, tell you about our local expertise, shout about our four new awards - and promise all the tools to get you moving, fast. But what really matters is what our customers think.

Sales

So instead of listening to us blow our own trumpet, find out what Linda and all our other happy customers have to say: www.andrewsonline.co.uk/testimonials

Lettings

Call 01892 515 144 Click tunbridgewells@andrewsonline.co.uk

Call 01892 525 551 Click tunbridgewel ls.lets@a nd rewson Ii ne.co.u k Visit 11 Grosvenor Road, TN1 2AH

• Free valuation does not apply to valuations conducted for insurance or mortgage purposes.

Untitled-6 2

20/08/2015 13:41

ANDREWS

Halls Hole Road, TN2

Guide £750,000

Southview Road, Crowborough, TN6

Guide £575,000

Semi-rural four bedroom character cottage with wonderful plot set on the prestigious Dunorlan Farm, Tunbridge Wells. Accommodation comprises: entrance hall, lounge, extended family/dining area, bespoke kitchen with courtyard, utility room, cloakroom.

Upstairs 4 bedrooms, en-suite Et family bathroom .

Located on a private road, this cottage is an individual detached home with a lovely plot and detached double garage. Accommodation comprises entrance hall/reception area, lounge, dining room, kitchen, conservatory, two bedrooms Et en-suite. Upstairs there is a master bedroom Et bathroom.

Energy Efficiency Rating : D

Energy Efficiency Rating : D

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Upper Grosvenor Road, TN1

Guide £75,000-£80,000

St.James Park, TN1

Guide £450,000 - £475,000

Currently let at £420pcm - lovely top floor studio apartment benefiting from a bright aspect with two large sash windows . Clever self-contained kitchen area, four storage cupboards, shower room, communal garden all feature in this great home.

Well presented Victorian semi-detached home in a popular road in the St. James area .

Accommodation comprises entrance hall, living room, dining room, kitchen, lean-to with access to the garden. Upstairs there are three bedrooms and a family bathroom. Call today!

Energy Efficiency Rating : D

Energy Efficiency Rating : E

Untitled-6 3

20/08/2015 13:41

Ravenswood Avenue

Price Range £500,000 to £525,000

This three bedroom semi detached property is situated in the sought after St James area of Tunbridge Wells. It prov ides families with a convenient location for the town centre, two train stations and local primary school. Benefits include a lawned Garden , Garage and Driveway.

Albany Hill

£725,000

We have waiting applicants looking for family homes in the St James area preferably with parking and good size gardens. If you are looking to sell your home then call us today.

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Wadhurst

OIRO £269,950

MORE 2/3 COTTAGES REQUIRED IN WADHURST- If you are looking to sell now or in the Autumn give us a call to discuss what we can do for you .

Newcomen Road £395,000-£410,000 SSTC We have waiting applicants looking for property in the St John's area-if you are looking to sell your home and want to know how we can help you and also find the right home.

Call today.

20/08/2015 13:42

Connells

r Culverden Park Road

.

£1100pcm

Beautifully presented two double bedroom apartment in sought after building. Situated within easy walking distance of Tunbridge Wells town centre, and its many shops and restaurants. Also walking distance to main line station with direct links to London.

Property benefits from two double bedrooms. master with en-suite. family bathroom , Modern fitted kitchen and spacious living room . Allocated parking for 1 car.

Hurst Green

£695pcm

Stunning one bedroom modern apartment. This Spacious apartment is light and airy throughout offering modern fitted kitchen. Double bedroom with fitted wardrobes and beautiful white suite modern bathroom.

Communal Gardens to the rear of the property and allocated parking space. Easy Access to Etching ham or Robertsbridge, Offering Direct commuter rail services to London Bridge and Charing Cross stations.

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Victoria Court

£750pcm

Beautifully Presented One Bedroom Spacious Apartment in sought after building. This top floor property is finished to a high standard throughout.

It offers fitted kitchen, with integrated appliances and space for table and chairs. Good size lounge with Juliet balcony and white bathroom suite with shower over bath. Great size double bedroom with built in wardrobes.

Property includes allocated parking bay and plenty of storage space.

Addison Road

£900pcm

Beautifully presented two double bedroom apartment, Located moments away from High brooms station and walking distance to Tunbridge wells town centre. The property benefits from two double bedrooms. modern fitted kitchen. modern bathroom and good size living space. The apartment is neutrally decorated throughout and also benefits from allocated parking for 1 car.

20/08/2015 13:42

£595,000 GOUDHURST A beautiful 4 bedroom detached family house situated in the delightful village of Goudhurst and within the Cranbrook School Catchment area. There property also benefits from ample off road parking and an outbuilding to the side. There is no onward chain.

"B' Tunbridge Wells 01892

£799,950 TUNBRIDGE WELLS A six bedroom attached family home, situated in a cul-de-sac location, within 1.5 miles off the Town centre and mainline station.

"B' Tunbridge Wells 01892

278085

278085

TUNBRIDGE WELLS £700,000 A four double Bedroom, two bathroom detached family home with three reception rooms and double integral garage situated in a tucked away position in Sandown Park. Internal viewing is highly recommended.

CROSS IN HAND £1,000,000 A beautiful detached Late Edwardian presented 6 double bedroom house situated in approximately 1 acres. The property has a wealth of character and has the most stunning kitchen.

A viewing is strongly recommended.

ff Tunbridge Wells 01892

"B' Tunbridge Wells 01892

Untitled-6 2

278085

278085

20/08/2015 13:43

--

Y -~AMPTONS 11

Beyond your expectations www.hamptons.co.uk

INTERNATIONAL

THE SIJNDAYlntES

TII E. . . .TI MES

Crockham Hill, Kent,

Asking Price ÂŁ1,550,000 Freehold

A Huf Haus within a sought after hamlet, arranged to provide open plan living and set in an elevated plot of one and a half acres, including landscaped gardens, affording stunning views towards the South Downs. EPC: C

Sevenoaks Office Sales. 01732 423 102 I sevenoaks@hamptons-int.com

Untitled-6 2

DC 20/08/2015 13:43

Beyond your expectations .-.

www.hamptons.co.uk

THllSU~ll,\YTI.\tES

THE . . . .TIMl::S

Ethchingham - Guide Price ÂŁ1,999,500

Enjoying glorious views to the South across undulating Sussex countryside, a delightful Grade II Listed eighteenth century farmhouse, set in lovely gardens and grounds of approximately five acres together with a pool and a range of outbuildings including stables, barns and a Home Office.

Tunbridge Wells -Guide Price ÂŁ1,250,000

This very impressive park side Victorian town house has been carefully restored to its former wonderful elegance and character. An extensive renovation and refurbishment programme has created an exceptional family house with many original features restored but also updated. EPC: D

Tunbridge Wells Office

Sales. 01892 597607 I tunbridgewells@hamptons-int.com

Untitled-6 2

20/08/2015 13:43

Tunbridge Wells - OIEO ÂŁ1,995,000 Situated only about 150 meters from the famous Pantiles this substantial detached Edwardian house sits in a private elevated position with far reaching views and houses many fine period features. The accommodation is both spacious and versatile and currently also includes a top floor 3 bedroom apartment. EPC:E

DC Untitled-6 3

20/08/2015 13:44

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TUNBRIDGE WELLS 23 High Street, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN11UT Sales 01892 511211 tunbridgewells@woodandpilcher.co.uk Letting & Management 01892 528888 lettings@woodandpilcher.com

CROWBOROUGH SOUTHBOROUGH

HEATHFIELD

TONBRIDGE OFFICE

124 London Road, Southborough Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 OPL Tel: 01892 511311 southborough@woodandpilcher.co.uk

27 High Street, Heathfield East Sussex TN21 8JR Tel: 01435 862211 heathfield@woodandpilcher.co.uk

38 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN91EJ Tel: 01732 351135 tonbridge@woodandpilcher.co.uk

The Cross, Crowborough East Sussex TN6 1AL Sales 01892 665666 crowborough@woocandpilcher.co.uk Letting & Management 01892 664666 lettings@woodandpilcher.com

woodandpilcher. co. uk Untitled-3 2

24/08/2015 09:58

SALES & LETTINGS

jackson-stops.co. uk Jackson-Stops &Staff

Tunbridge Wells A handsome 3 year old house of about 4,500 sq ft with stunning interior situated to the south of the town centre enjoying spectacular townscape views to the countryside beyond ;

* Entrance Hal I * 3 Reception Rooms * Impressive Kitchen/ Dining/

Family Room

* 2 Utility Rooms 2 Cloakrooms 5 Bedrooms (4 En-Suite) Broad Decked Balcony Large Integral Garage & Parking Gardens * Balance of NHBC warranty * Chain Free * EPC: B * * * * *

Guide Price £1,950,000

TW61021

Eridge Green A fine country house in an accessible rural location with attractive modern styling and generous landscaped gardens and paddock area - additional woodland available * Reception Hall * 2 Reception Rooms & Study * Garden Room

* Kitchen/ Breakfast Room * Boot Room & Utility/ Cloakroom

* 6 Bedrooms (1 En-Suite) * 2 further Bath/ Shower Rooms * About 3,270 sq ft * Double Garage with Store Room

* Just over approx. 1.25 acres * 10 acres (tbv) of woodland

available by separate negotiation * Chain Free * EPC: E

Guide Price £1,350,000

TW61744

Tunbridge Wells A fascinating contemporary family house with light and airy accommodation set away from main roads on the rural fringe of Tunbridge Wells * Reception Hall * 3 Reception Rooms * Kitchen/ Breakfast Room

* Utility Room * * * * *

* * * * * *

Cloakroom Galleried Library Landing 5 Bedrooms (2 En-Suite) Family Bathroom In all over 2,700 sq ft Attached Double Garage Gardens About 0.35 of an acre Balance of NHBC warranty Chain Free EPC: C

Guide Price £1,325,000

People Property Places Untitled-6 2

Tunbridge Wells 01892 521700 tunwells@jackson-stops.co.uk Local & National reach through a network of London & Regional office

TW60491

r•M (i)nTheMarket.com 20/08/2015 13:44

Knights Wood, Royal Tunbridge Wells offers all of the convenience of an easy commute, with green, open spaces, local shops and a new school on your doorstep . ... And with just one 4 bedroom home available at ÂŁ545,000, it offers great value too .

Register your interest now for updates on the next release of family homes at Knights Wood .

Knights Wood. The perfect place to put down roots.

Untitled-6 2

20/08/2015 13:46

www. lambertandfoster.co.uk

<i)nTheMarketcom

ti rightmove

EST 1900

Lambert & Foster PART OF THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE

Don't get left behind. Lets get you moving ....

Our team will value your house for the current market achieving the best possible price for your home. We have a large and diverse database of well placed buyers looking for homes like yours. From studio flats to large country estate and everything in between - call us today for your free valuation*.

Property professionals for over 100 years Paddock Wood 01892 832 325 77 Commercial Road, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6DS

(~ RICS

Untitled-6 2

~ ARIA

Mayfield 01435 873 999 The Estate Office, High Street, Mayfield, E. Sussex TN20 6AE

Cranbrook 01580 712 888 Weald Office, 39 High St, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3DN

*Free valuation applies to residential sales only

20/08/2015 13:46

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

I REGION ÂŁ995,000

Beautifully presented detached house which has been substantially improved by the present owners in an attractive quiet location with views of the golf course to the rear Sitting Room. Drawing Room. Kitchen Breakfast Room. Master Bedroom. 3 Further Bedrooms. Family Bathroom. Separate Shower Room.

Guest Bedroom. Bedroom/ Dressing Room with En Suite Shower Room. Driveway providing off road parking. Garage. Attractive gardens with views over the golf course. EPC F APPLY: TUNBRIDGE WELLS OFFICE

Battle 01424 775577

Haywards Heath 01444 453181

Pulborough 01798 872081

Tunbridge Wells 01892 512020

London Mayfair Office

battle@batchellermonkhouse corn

hh@batchelle rmonkhouse com

pulb@batchellermonkhouse corn

twells@batc hellermonkhouse corn

mayfa1r@batchellermonkhouse corn

Untitled-6 2

20/08/2015 13:47

.

•••••• . • • .•

••

••

Barnes Kingsnorth

'

SOUTH TONBRIDGE SIMILAR PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR WAITING BUYERS DETACHED CHALET STYLE HOME p erfectly situated for excellent schools, town centre and MLS. Beautifully modernised with 3/4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2/3 receptions & kitchen / breakfast room. Parking & Garden. Please call us to book your free market appraisal.

Apply Tonbridge

SOUTH TONBRIDGE SIMILAR PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR WAITING BUYERS EXTRA LIVING SPACE at this linked d etached family home with 4 bedrooms, 2 receptions, kitchen / dining room, utility & cloaks. Additional insulated studio, attractive garden and parking. Please call us to book your free market appraisal.

TUNBRIDGE WELLS SIMILAR PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR WAITING BUYERS CENTRAL LOCATION WITH PARKING. Handsome p eriod property in central location close to highly regarded primary school, with 4 double bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, 1 bathroom plus cloakroom. Scope to modernise further. Allocated parking space. Please call us to book your free market appraisal.

Apply Pembury

PEMBURY SIMILAR PROPERTIES URGENTLY REQUIRED FOR WAITING BUYERS BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED FAMILY HOME. In sought-after location close to popular primary school and within a short walk to village shops. 3 double bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, utility room, modernised kitchen and bathroom. Garage/store and parking. Please call us to book your free market appraisal.

Apply Pembury

Apply Tonbridge

Pembury 01892 822880

TonbridgeOl 732 771616

e.pembury@bkea.co.uk

e. tonbridge@bkea.co.uk

Residential Sales & Lettings Untitled-6 2

Lettings 01732 771616 e. lettings@bkea.co.uk

www. bkestateagents.com 20/08/2015 13:47

j ackson-stops. co. uk Jackson-Stops &Staff

Guide Price fl ,650,000 Guide Price ÂŁ2 ,650,000 Peasmarsh Cran brook A magnificent Grade II * country house with leisure and equine facilitie s in A stunning Grade II listed country house and annexe in a tranquil an enviable setting on the semi rural outskirts of this historic market town. location enjoying fine rural views over the sought after Tillingham Valley *CSCA * No Onward Chain * 5 Reception Rooms * Kitchen/ Breakfast Room * Master Bedroom Suite * 4/ 5 further Bedrooms (1 En Suite) * 2 Bath/ Shower Rooms * Triple Bay Oak Garage with Attached Leisure Building * Swimming Pool * Stable Block * Paddocks * In all about 6 acres

* No Onward Chain *4 Reception rooms * Kitchen/ Breakfast room * Utility room * Cellar * 7 Bedrooms with 2 en suite * 2 further Bathrooms * Double bay Garage with Annexe * Tennis Court * Paddocks and Stables * Gardens and Grounds of about 4.7 acres

Beckley Guide Price fl ,300,000 Leeds Excess fl ,250,000 A cla ssic Grade II listed Georgian farmhouse with flexible outbuildings An exquisite Grade II * country house of immense atmosphere in a semi in a peaceful rural situation rural setting affording wonderful views to the front * 4 Reception Rooms * Kitchen * Cellar * Master Bedroom with En Suite * 4 further Bedrooms * Bathroom & Shower Room * Heated Swimming Pool * Summerhouse * Stables * Outbuildings with potential (stp) * Landscaped Gardens and Grounds* About 2 acres in all * Further Land Available by separate negotiation

Excess fl ,225,000

Biddenden

A sympathetically refurbished and extended Grade II listed country house amid beautiful landscaped gardens and grounds * CSCA * No Onward Chain * 3 Reception Rooms * Conservatory * Kitchen/ Breakfast Room * Master Bedroom with En-Suite * 5 further Bedrooms * Family Bathroom. Garage * Tennis Court * Heritage Outbuilding * 2 further useful Outbuildings * Natural Ponds * Gardens and Grounds including Paddock of 3.6 acres in all

Cranbrook 01580

* 3 Receptions * Kitchen/ Breakfast Room * 5 Bedrooms * 3 Bathrooms * Detached Home Office * Generous Garaging * Outbuilding * Landscaped Gardens and Grounds inc 2 Paddocks of 1.8 acres

Boughton Monchelsea Guide Price fl ,000,000 On a quiet country lane, a Grade II listed Wealden farmhouse amid delightful landscaped gardens with uninterrupted rural views * No Onward Chain * 3 Reception Rooms * Kitchen/ Breakfast Room * Master Bedroom with En Suite * 4 further Bedrooms * Family Bathroom * Shower Room * Study/ Bedroom 6 * Gym/ Home Office * 2 Double Garages * Workshop * Gardens and Grounds of about 0.8 acres in all

720000

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FOOD

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FOOD NEWS Our monthly look at what’s happening on the local culinary scene

WINNER

Vineyard Victory Biddenden Vineyards have been awarded six medals at the annual English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition.

Their Gribble Bridge Sparkling Rosé, Ortega and Pinot Selection were awarded Silver awards and their Bacchus, Gribble Bridge Dornfelder, and Gribble Bridge

Chef Scott Goss

Rose were awarded bronze awards. The vineyard is Kent’s oldest commercial vineyard, having been established by the Barnes family in 1969 to produce wines and ciders.

Eleven varieties of grapes are grown to produce white, red, rose and quality sparkling wines. Traditional Kentish ciders have also been made here for over 30 years together with farm pressed apple and COMPETITION

Competing Chefs

pear juices. Tom Barnes, winemaker, says: “We are delighted that we have again been recognised for

There was friendly competition in

the skills, expertise and

Tunbridge Wells when head chefs

passion which go into

from around the area took

crafting all of our wines.”

on the task of cooking up a storm for diners.

The Tunbridge Wells Eating House hosted the dinner, and, using the finest seasonal and local produce, head chefs from The Tunbridge Wells Hotel, The Leicester Arms, The Black Pig and The George & Dragon cooked a course each of the four-course menu to show off their culinary talents.

Among the dishes was slow cooked free range pork served with rosemary polenta, chargrilled watermelon, yoghurt and watercress salad, and dessert was Kentish strawberries served with clotted cream panna cotta and stem ginger granite.

26/26 The Twenty Six Restaurant in Southborough has been awarded two AA rosettes after only being open for 10 months.

The prestigious accolade means that the restaurant is one of the best locally with greater precision apparent in the cooking and obvious attention to the quality and selection of ingredients.

The eatery itself has twenty six chairs for twenty six people, and is managed by Ben Cox. The talented and passionate chef Scott Goss runs the kitchen as his test kitchen so every day is a blank canvas and a changing menu. “The Rosettes mean a lot to us here,” says Ben. “After 10 months it shows that our hard work, passion and love for what we do as a team at the twenty six is starting to show and we just want to share our love for what we do with everyone.”

To book visit www.thetwenty-six.co.uk

SEPTEMBER 2015

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P L A C E S T O E AT

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THE WEALD ON A PLATE Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area is full of fantastic places to eat – but with so many restaurants to choose from, how do you decide which one to go for? Here, we present some of our favourite eateries and find out why they’re exciting gourmets throughout Kent and East Sussex These days, diners are well and truly spoiled for choice in our part of the world. From Tunbridge Wells to Sevenoaks, virtually every cuisine you can think of is available right on our doorstep, meaning there’s always somewhere to tuck into a mouth watering meal when celebrating a special occasion, enjoying a candlelit dinner for two or just popping

The Barn

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

out for a bite to eat with friends, family and colleagues.

Whether you’re partial to a hearty gastro pub meal or some authentic Italian cuisine, there’s bound to be something that takes your fancy.

So, join us as we pull up a chair, peruse the menu and savour some tantalising offerings from around the Weald…

parties and especially so at Christmas, with great menus to choose from: n

Christmas lunch (two courses, £11.95)

n

Christmas party lunch or dinner with a wide choice

The Barn is a lovely pub restaurant with great

of dishes from £20 for three courses

character and a super atmosphere. It has been

n

DJ and entertainment on selected evenings

privately owned and managed by us for 24 years.

We have an excellent reputation for our

We are open on Christmas Day.

steaks which are cut from 28 day matured

Please visit our website to view our

prime British beef and in addition you will find

Christmas brochure and menus.

on our menus both traditional and unique dishes all freshly prepared, together with homemade desserts. Our 2 course lunch or pre theatre menu is terrific value at £9.75. Wherever possible, we purchase from local suppliers.

We have always specialised in private

The Cherry Tree

1 Lonsdale Gardens Mount Pleasant Road Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1NU 01892 510 424 www.barn-pub-rest.co.uk

possible and use organic produce wherever

TICEHURST

we can. You will not see the word

We opened our doors for the first time on

everything is, and not ‘homemade’ in some

August 26 2013, after a major facelift and not a

factory somewhere.

little surgery to the building. Since then we

‘homemade’ on our menu because

Additionally, we offer a proper Christmas

have added our Garden Room with its stunning

dinner, with jewelled chestnut soup and free

Russian mural, and lately the wood-fired adobe

range turkey from Stan Poland, along with

oven in which we cook our amazing pizzas.

my own Christmas pudding made to my aunt

We had never intended to add a takeaway to

Elsie’s recipe and lots of other goodies.

our repertoire, but it is proving very popular.

We make everything on our menu from scratch in our kitchen from the best quality ingredients we can obtain. We try to buy or barter everything from as close to home as

210

Dale Hill, Ticehurst, East Sussex TN5 7DG 01580 201 229 www.thecherrytreeticehurst.co.uk

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P L A C E S T O E AT

The Mark Cross Inn

enlarged kitchen, as well as the installation of

MARK CROSS

naturally went down a storm.

Take a serene saunter through the heart of the

preparation at The Mark Cross, adapting a

East Sussex countryside – just don’t forget to

menu to what’s fresh and available from the

pop in for a pint at The Mark Cross Inn along

local suppliers and changing dishes daily to

the way. The fourth notch on the Whiting &

ensure a wonderfully diverse menu is on

Hammond belt was added in September 2006

offer for both lunch and dinner; not

when W&H purchased the lease of this

forgetting a great breakfast and their famous

extraordinary pub near Tunbridge Wells.

Sunday roasts served at the weekends.

SO

brand new toilets. The Whiting & Hammond formula that had served them well up until now Seasonality plays a key part in the food

This Christmas, The Mark Cross will have

The views across the rolling Sussex countryside make this venue stand out against

special party nights on December 4 and 18,

all others. The pub shut for an intensive 12-week

with great entertainment and a fantastic menu

renovation, which included a substantially

that will also be running throughout December.

Mark Cross, East Sussex TN6 3NP 01892 852 423 www.themarkcross.co.uk

total number of sites to eight. As with

festive menu to get all taste buds watering.

most of the W&H acquisitions, The Kings

You will always find the traditional turkey

Head had been in a sorry state before

and Christmas pudding on our menus, as

being taken over. The magic wand was

well as delights such as wood pigeon

waved and, after an intensive

Wellington with sautéed spinach,

refurbishment, the new Kings Head was

mushroom duxelle and pigeon jus for

open within weeks. Highlights include the

starters. And who can resist a sherry trifle

three huts in the garden and the

with custard, whipped cream, raspberry

fascinating wall of rolling pins!

jelly and chocolate shavings?

The Kings Head menu caters for one

The Kings Head

and all, from traditional British classics such as fish and chips and a steak burger,

BESSELS GREEN

to interesting, seasonal dishes that use

The Kings Head joined the Whiting &

local suppliers.

the freshest ingredients sourced from our

Hammond family last year, bringing the

The Christmas, The Kings Head has a

The Cricketers Inn

2 Westerham Road Bessels Green Sevenoaks Kent TN13 2QA 01732 452 081 www.kingsheadbesselsgreen.co.uk

the pub, meaning guests can come in frequently and always be met with something new and diverse.

Joining its sister pubs, The Cricketers

MEOPHAM

has a wonderful Christmas menu planned

It was the summer of 2010 when Whiting &

for December, with delights such as crab

Hammond took over The Cricketers Inn,

panna cotta, caviar dressing and beetroot

making it their goal to give the people of

crisps, as well as Horns Oak farm venison

Meopham their local pub back, returning it to

and juniper suet pudding, celeriac mash

its former glory and restoring the locals’ faith

and red wine sauce.

in a place of which they can be truly proud.

Now completely refurbished, the bar and lounge have a wonderfully warm and

The Cricketers is a favourite with foodies, as

welcoming feel, complete with wood and

well as with those who just want to pop in and

stone flagged floors, four open log fires,

have a drink in the vibrant and relaxing

bookcases and curious pictures.

atmosphere. The menus are changed daily at

Wrotham Road Meopham Kent DA13 0QA 01474 812 163 www.thecricketersinn.co.uk SEPTEMBER

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P L A C E S T O E AT

The Chaser Inn

produce, rating the quality over the price to ensure customers receive interesting and

SHIPBOURNE

delicious dishes.

This Christmas, The Chaser Inn will be

The Chaser Inn was where the Whiting & Hammond story began back in 2003. It was a

celebrating all that is festive, with a delectable

big refurbishment when W&H took over from

three-course menu running throughout lunch

Greene King, with a relocated kitchen and

and dinner service in December, including

toilets. More recently, the courtyard has

special menus for Christmas Day and New

been covered with a spectacular retractable

Year’s Eve.

roof, making it cosy in the winter and a wonderful outside space in the summer.

The pub is extremely popular and has won a number of awards over the years, including

Celebrated for its mouth-watering Sunday

the prestigious National Publican Food

lunch, there is no better place to enjoy this

and Drink Award for Sunday Lunch Pub

delicious tradition. The Chaser Inn proudly

of the Year.

promotes the use of fresh, locally sourced

The Little Brown Jug was acquired by

sourced produce. The Little Brown Jug was

Whiting & Hammond as pub number

the first of the W&H pubs to hold a beer

three in 2006. In true W&H style, the

festival and celebrates all that is great

pub received a full makeover to bring it

about British food and real ales.

up to par with the company style and beautiful sister pubs.

Visitors are drawn to the pub’s sleepy,

The Little Brown Jug CHIDDINGSTONE CAUSEWAY

The Hide Out

The Little Brown Jug will be running a delicious three-course menu throughout December with dishes such as game and

idyllic location in the small Kentish village

pistachio terrine, clementine and cranberry

of Chiddingstone Causeway, not to mention

compote and multigrain toast, and of

the rustic bookshelves, cosy corners and

course the traditional roast turkey

roaring fires. Additionally, three distinctive

and Christmas pudding.

and immensely popular huts have been set up in the beer garden, creating a fantastic, one-of-a-kind dining experience.

Whiting & Hammond has a strong company ethos to provide fresh, locally

Chiddingstone Causeway Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8JJ 01892 870 318 www.thelittlebrownjug.co.uk

restaurants in the area. We have a garden

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

for outside dining and drinks, as well as an

The Hide Out opened in November

with Tunbridge Wells cocktail lovers.

2014. We pride ourselves in offering

Stumble Hill Shipbourne Tonbridge Kent TN11 9PE 01732 810 360 www.thechaserinn.co.uk

upstairs bar that is proving very popular The Hide Out can be hired for exclusive

seasonal local produce, coupled with

use for a celebratory event, wedding

friendly service and a regularly

reception or birthday party, whether it’s a

changing menu; we’re also proud of the

seated dinner or a standing cocktails and

quality of our meat, which comes from

canapé reception.

a local butcher specialising in all kinds of cuts and aged steaks.

If you prefer to opt for something a little lighter, we have a range of dishes, including something a little different from the standard fare offered by the big chain

212

26 London Rd Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1DA 01892 315 297 www.thehideout.kitchen

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P L A C E S T O E AT

The Blackboys Inn LEWES

The Blackboys Inn, nestled in the heart of the Weald with multi award winning gardens, is

onion salsa and lime mayonnaise; a lighter summery spin on the classic burger, championing our local native lobsters.

Due to our location and the expertise of our chefs, we are able to utilise the seasons’

recognised as one of the most attractive pubs

offerings of great seafood and game, our

in the South East. The 13th century coaching

bestselling dishes of late being our shellfish

inn offers a diverse and eclectic menu, utilising

a la plancha and our slow braised pork belly

locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. To

with honey and soy glaze, king scallop,

add to the dining experience, there is a superb

tempura king prawns and a papaya salad.

selection of prize winning Harvey’s ales and

With game season around the corner, our

wines. Our aim is to facilitate an atmosphere

chefs get to use some of their favourite

where people feel relaxed, so they can truly

ingredients. You can expect to see some

enjoy the bucolic ambience of our inn.

creative twists on the classics, such as

Our signature dish is the lobster and prawn burger served with a mango, chilli and spring

thyme casserole.

Lewes Road, Blackboys, East Sussex TN22 5LG 01825 890 283 www.theblackboys.co.uk

Cruise into The Car Wash Diner, an

as pool tables and pin ball machines.

pigeon Wellington and rabbit, cider and

authentic 50s restaurant with a fantastic

HURST GREEN

What better way to celebrate than

atmosphere. Just some of the menu treats

with a bash at The Car Wash Diner?

include an array of tasty breakfasts, stacks

This authentic American eatery makes

of pancakes covered in syrup, traditional

you feel like you are on a film set and

hot dogs, succulent homemade burgers

gives you that extra special location

with masses of crispy fries and legendary

for a fabulous pre-Christmas party.

milkshakes and floats made to order.

We also host regular live music

We make every effort to use only local

The Car Wash Diner

SO

and open mic evenings, children’s

suppliers and ingredients wherever

and teen parties and Saturday

possible, all of our meat is free range and

night cruise-ins.

we use free range, organic eggs. We believe our whole dining experience stands out, making sure our diners have a great time as well as a great meal. Every detail is spot on: the music, the food and the service, as well

Horseshoe Garage, Hurst Green East Sussex TN19 7QY 01580 860 370 www.carwashdiner.co.uk

Pasta Madre TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Pasta Madre is a new Italian restaurant in Tunbridge Wells. Everything is homemade by our own chefs and the products are directly imported from Italy to keep the food truly authentic. During lunchtime you will find a sumptuous buffet of fresh salad, quiche, pasta and various ranges of pizza. The dinner menu changes every month and will follow seasonal

Hampers with exclusive food and wine are

products, so it is possible to try traditional

available for an original Christmas gift.

recipes from the 11 regions of Italy. At

Opening times: Monday to Thursday from

Christmas time you can organise private

9am to 5pm and Friday and Saturday from

parties and dinners in our function room.

9am to 12pm

11 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2PS 01892 516 544 www.pastamadre.co.uk SEPTEMBER

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The Brecknock Arms

paninis and ciabattas also available.

With the majority of ingredients sourced locally, the food is hearty and unpretentious

BELLS YEW GREEN

– think gravy and sauces, not coulis and jus!

From Harvey’s beer battered fish and chips

specials and a children’s menu, with many

and moules marinière, to Moroccan lamb

items available for takeaway.

and rib eye steaks, new landlords of The

There are also vegetarian options, daily

Food is available from Wednesday to

Brecknock Arms, Sally and David Fawcett,

Saturday, 12pm to 2.30pm and 6pm to 9pm,

along with chef Ian Cook, have devised an

with a delicious roast menu from 12pm to

eclectic menu that has made this revamped

4pm on Sundays.

country pub in Bells Yew Green a popular dining choice for all the family.

Deli boards and fish platters sit comfortably alongside sausage and mash, homemade burgers, chilli and salads, with a variety of

Bayham Road, Bells Yew Green, East Sussex TN3 9BJ 01892 750 237 www.thebrecknockarms.com

The Kentish Hare, under The Tanner

their hard work, dedication and passion

Brothers, opened in May 2014 after

for food. We hope to see you soon!

extensive refurbishment and is now a stylish, award winning, popular pub and restaurant. Food is freshly prepared at a realistic price using the best we can find from the fantastic larder available to us in Kent, ensuring a superb dining experience,

95 Bidborough Ridge, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 0XB 01892 525 709 www.thekentishhare.com

complemented by a selected range of wines, local beers and spirits. This first

The Kentish Hare BIDBOROUGH

year we have achieved two AA Rosettes, a ‘One to Watch’ award from the Top 50 Gastro Pubs in the UK and recently ranked sixth in The Times’ Alfresco Britain 50 Best Summer Pubs. Chris, James and the team are thrilled with this recognition for all

Bill’s

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

original recipes. In the evening, Bill’s is filled with candlelight and music to create an ambience that is perfect for a romantic evening or a party.

Bill’s Tunbridge Wells restaurant is in a great location for shoppers and has plenty of leather sofas, nooks and crannies. There is also a lovely outside for when the sun is shining. Bill’s is open from 8am and closes at 10.30pm.

As well as breakfast, lunch and dinner, Bill’s offers afternoon tea and a selection of cocktails.

You can take home some delicious treats from Bill’s retail range, including jams and chutneys made to Bill’s own

214

Lime Hill Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1LJ 01892 548 699 www.bills-website.co.uk/ restaurants/tunbridge-wells

SEPTEMBER 2015

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FOOD

THE LAST SUPPER With its beautifully cooked and presented food, picturesque garden views and warming local ales by the fire, The Middle House in Mayfield captured reviewer Frederick Latty’s appetite from an early age. Now, he returns to the pub and restaurant to see a friend off on their globetrotting travels

I

t’s never easy to see a dear friend fly the nest,

arrive on the eve of his departure, we’re

particularly when they’re planning on cycling

greeted by the familiar surroundings, friendly

around the world for two years. But fly they

faces and mouth-watering sights and smells

must, so it’s important to mark the occasion

we know and love so well.

with an appropriate send-off. And for this

Which isn’t to say that our view of the place

particular friend, who has been in my life for

has become in any way rose-tinted, of

almost two decades, I can think of no better

course; our repeat business and return visits

place to say bon voyage than his favourite

speak volumes and it’s surely to the

culinary haunt, The Middle House in Mayfield.

restaurant’s credit that we’ve seen countless

Now, I have a confession to make: this isn’t

other acquaintances fall in love with it just as

my first visit to the 16th century inn, nor to the

Having already ordered from a set menu,

fact, since my 10 years as a local saw me land

16 of us take our seats in the main restaurant;

my first job as a humble kitchen porter at the

more traditional, equally delicious pub grub

pub, where I scrubbed dishes and prepped

is served in the bar, but this is the fancier

vegetables every Saturday night, scraping

area where booking is most definitely

together enough money to see me

advised. Spirits are high as we order our

adequately through my teenage years.

drinks, my own choice being a 2013 Chronos Malbec (£15.95). It’s just the thing to set me

something of a second home to my friend

up for the long, leisurely feast to come, its

and I for many years since, so when we

deep colour and creamy, currant fruit

216

Starters from: £5 Mains from: £10 Desserts from: £6 Wine by the bottle from: £15.95 Wine by the glass from: £3.50

fervently as we have.

picturesque East Sussex village. Far from it, in

Indeed, the Grade I listed building has been

PRICES AT A GLANCE

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FOOD

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act of gallant sacrifice, I agree to swap my fondant for his crumble – unthinkable to give up chocolate for anything or anyone, I know, but needs must. Fortunately, my replacement is every bit as scrumptious, the cinnamon and oatmeal crust with crème Anglaise adding a different angle to the traditionally custard coated classic.

Once we’ve finished eating, we retire to the lounge area where plenty of avid chitchat, photo opportunities and laughter at my friend’s leaving speech ensues. As I watch him say his goodbyes, I can’t help but look back at our time together at The Middle House – a place where we’ve spent many an hour laughing, drinking, eating and dreaming about what the future might hold.

Well, now the future’s here, but while I’m It’s funny – if these walls could talk, our

sad to see him go, I know I’ll see him again,

names would no doubt be mentioned, but

more than likely in this very spot, to hear

starters arrive, and we couldn’t be more

tonight they have taken on a noticeably

about his latest travelling adventures. As for

satisfied with our options. The chicken liver

bittersweet tone at seeing us enjoy ourselves

me, I’ll be waiting with pint and menu at the

pâté with red onion marmalade and

here for the last time in a long time.

ready, safe in the knowledge that our

flavours proving utterly irresistible.

Everyone’s ravenous by the time the

baguette flutes (£7) is a sheer delight; as

There’s still plenty of merriment to be had,

favourite pub isn’t going anywhere fast and

smooth as it is rich, the pâté is perfectly

however, not to mention some indulgent

will forever remain a symbol of an enduring

complemented by the sweet onion, while a

desserts to sink our teeth into. As the third

and unbreakable friendship.

side salad adds a refreshing kick to the

course rolls out, we’re all miraculously able

wonderfully crunchy bread.

to push through our barriers and engage our

The mains are even more impressive and

‘second stomachs’, welcoming the warm

what everyone has been waiting for. The

chocolate fondants, pear and apple

slow roast belly of pork with crackling and a

crumbles and sticky toffee puddings (all

Madeira, plum and ginger sauce (£16) is a

£6.50) with open arms.

popular choice among many in our party, myself included, while elsewhere I spot the

It transpires that I guessed wrong for my friend’s surprise pudding of choice, so, in an

The Middle House High Street, Mayfield, East Sussex TN20 6AB 01435 872 146 www.themiddlehousemayfield.co.uk

similarly appetising chicken supreme with leeks and Mayfield cheese (£16), as well as the roast sea bass fillet with sun blushed tomato and herb mash (£17), both of which leave my fellow diners suitably satisfied.

As for my friend, I’ve managed to pull a few strings and order him something from the bar menu – his all-time favourite – the half roast chicken with stuffing wrapped in bacon, mixed vegetables and (the best bit) roast and dauphinoise potatoes (£13). Needless to say, he’s thrilled with the choice and the envy of many; I should point out that this go-to option has been endowed with an almost otherworldly reputation among our peers due to countless rave reviews from the pair of us.

In between courses, we take the opportunity to swap seats, catch up and regale one another with fond anecdotes about our friend before he takes his leave.

SEPTEMBER 2015

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The Cinnamon Square Co-Owner Habib Siddiq said: "We were surprised yet elated and felt very honoured to have won the award. To be appreciated in just over two years had give us a immense feeling of satisfaction for the hard work and effort we have put into The Cinnamon Square. Futhermore, it had motivated us to go the extra mile to bring great and unparalleled food and service to our patrons.

Mr Miliband said: ''These are incredibly important awards, because they honour a community and a set of restaurants that are at the heart of every street and every neighbour in our country. It's a privilege to celebrate your success."

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OLLV SMITH WINE DINNER We are delighted to welcome Oiiy Smith to play host at our wine dinner to create the perfect evening of food and wine

£95.00 PER PERSON Thursday lst October 2015

EUROPEAN WINE DINNER The evening will begin with welcome drinks and canapes followed by afour course meal paired with wines chosen by our former head sommelier and Hotel du Vin family member Victor Amaro

£79.00 PER PERSON Sunday 13th September 2015 Get in touch with the events team to book aticket quoting SOSEPT15

01892 526 455 events.tun bridgewel ls@hotelduvi n.corn www.HOTELDUVIN .com Subject to availability and places are limrted so book early to avoid disappointment.

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look at the next level: Cochin Marine is a funny little place that hides some decent Keralan and Sri Lankan delicacies amidst the standard curries – try a dosa or some traditional fish – likewise, the Himalayan Gurkha produces real Nepalese dishes.

The most impressive food from the subcontinent served in the Wells is probably found at Spice Club even if the atmosphere is a bit lacking – sufficiently morgue-like that I quite expect to see Emilia Fox carving someone up. I took the editor one evening

ARE THE RESTAURANTS SERVING US WELL? Foodie Damian Cotton gives us his feedback about what delights, or not, are on the table in Tunbridge Wells.

It makes fascinating reading…

W

– for his sins, he is a vegetarian – and we ordered most of the vegetable sides with rice and bread and feasted happily on a colourful, varied and delicious repast that both felt was memorable.

Chinese of true quality seems to be missing, as Thai appeals more - sadly, the best Thai has gone - Preedee on Camden road was fabulous, but it seems you would rather have the formulaic and

hat do you want, good people of

reasonable facsimile of the cuisines they lay

Europeanised version at Giggling Squid.

Tunbridge Wells, when you eat out?

claim to, although both are designed to

Sucheera’s is still popular, but not as good

Are you concerned with quality ingredients,

make conversation impossible for anyone

as when it was Suchitra’s, and Kai’s kitchen

responsibly sourced, cooked and served

who does not have perfect hearing.

is getting rave reviews.

with flair and passion? Or do you want

I also understand the need for familiarity

Fine dining has really only one contender,

something salty, hot and full of glutamate

for people taking their children out for meals;

our star of modern dining, Thackeray’s. Not

like a ready meal, plated up and garnished?

that price may be an issue and that chains

always popular according to Tripadvisor, but

Would you prefer innovative or authentic

can be cheaper (although you do get

cuisine or is the lure of safe and familiar

better value in the independents). And it

going to win out? Does the food and drink

is good that kids get taken out - how else

even matter – is it more important to see and

can they become socially adapted to

be seen? Or is it a bit of everything?

restaurant culture? Yes, there must be

As a critic and a food professional, I am in

active parenting and an

search of quality above all, and desirous of

understanding of the difference

learning something new. This pushes me

between sitting at a table

towards independent restaurants most of

and the ball pit at the

the time as it is there that the love of food

daycare centre, but

and hospitality has its natural home. Chain

restaurants should be for

restaurants are dull and safe and boring, and

everyone.

however good they are when they first open,

So what do we like in

they reach a point where the initiating spark

TW? The backbone of

has burnt out and all that remains is

British eating out is small

business managed by ring-binder to

ethnic restaurants and

maintain margin. And in all fairness, some of

there are plenty of

the Tunbridgian chains are all right - I’m not

curry houses, Anglo-

such a grump as to refuse to accompany

Cantonese places

friends to places that I would avoid

and kebab shops

otherwise: I recall an excellent pizza in Strada

as there are

(although the pasta was grim), superb

everywhere – and you

service in ASK on a quiet Monday afternoon

go to the one you like

when nearly everywhere else was closed,

and eat the same thing

and Wagamama and Carluccios produce a

because you like it. But let’s

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FOOD

SO

Wagamama and Carluccios produce a reasonable facsimile of the cuisines they lay claim to, although both are designed to make conversation impossible…

I’ve never had a mouthful that wasn’t exemplary and the service and wine knowledge is impeccable in my experience. And what superb value for the set lunches with wines – if you haven’t been then may I urge you to do so, especially for lunch as all the online complainants seem to go on a Saturday night and are probably best avoided.

But what you really love is Italian, isn’t it?

There are more Italian and Italian-inspired joints in our town than anything else.

Leaving the chains aside, we have the return of Don Giovanni and his charming sons – slightly retro menu delivered with panache and a bit of a dull wine list so far, but such lovely people and service – we have Max’s Genuine Italian Food in Monson Road with some classy northern specialities and great wines and sandwiches, and we have my beloved Il Vesuvio whose Neapolitan cuisine is outstanding, whose Maria is a shining

Just don’t ask for pineapple on your pizzas.

What else? One of my favourite places to

Ottoman Empire unless prepared to eat standing up – it baffles me that a large, fairly

beacon of loveliness who makes us all feel

eat is Juliet’s Café on the High Street – fab

wealthy town cannot support at least a

like we just got home, and Franco the wine

food with some interesting innovations –

20-cover Turkish or Lebanese restaurant. The

genius at whose feet I have learnt so much.

I just can’t get in very often past the forest of

joys of sharing mezze seem to escape us,

prams. Do we like fish in Tunbridge Wells?

sadly – I haven’t had the chance since the old

shops with smashing produce. It is the one

Well, not old fashioned fish and chips, as the

Persian diner Shiraz closed (good traditional

cuisine that we have really taken to our

quality of the chippies would be actionable in

food, but an ambience that made Spice Club

hearts – and I for one am not complaining.

the north. We do seem fond of more formal

look like Rio on carnival day). There is

Then there are the delicatessens and coffee

fish, as long as it says Sankeys – the

certainly scope for a top-end Chinese, or

main restaurant is worth a visit for the

maybe a small family-run Hunanese or

dressed crab alone. There are also a fair few places where food is not

Sichuan, and maybe just maybe a Korean?

All in all, we are fairly well served with

central but

restaurants – for somewhere that isn’t

socialising is, and

London, we have a good range of cuisines,

they seem to do a

price points and quality. It’s just up to us to

good trade, but

keep going out, to keep asking the right

anyone serving mostly

questions of the restaurateurs, and please,

pre-cooked frozen stuff

please try different things... don’t go straight

won’t keep my

for Pinot Grigio or chicken because they are

attention and

safe, known quantities - just try one new dish

shouldn’t merit

or glass each time. Happy dining.

yours either.

And what do we lack? There isn’t a good burger joint (not GBK or Byron but someone who cares.) We are entirely deprived of the food of the Levant and the

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ROSEMARY SHR__AGER:_S c

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R y

s c

H 0

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Rosemary Shrager's Cookery School is proud to be part of The Pantiles Food & Drink Festival September 2015 We will be showcasing the Cookery School on Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th September 11.ooam - 4.oopm offering:

- Cookery demonstrations throughout the day - Wine tasting classes with an expert Master of Wine (ÂŁ10 per person, to be booked in advance) - A tour of our award winning Cookery School - Book signing by Rosemary Shrager on Saturday 5th September (3.oopm) - Exclusive discounts not to be missed!! -

To book your place on one of our cookery demonstrations or wine tasting classes, please call reservations on 01892 528700

WIN WIN WIN -

a day course with Rosemary Shrager!

We are offering one lucky winner the chance to win a place on a day course with Rosemary at Rosemary Shrager's award-winning Cookery School in Tunbridge Wells. Runner up prizes will include a Royal Afternoon Tea fo r Two at Shrager's Patisserie on The Pantiles and a signed cookbook.

To enter s imply s end us your co ntact details including your email address & phone number to: events@marketsquare.com by Monday 7th September 2015 - Good Luck!

Term s & Conditions - Any entries received after midnigh t on 07/09/2015 will not be entered. The winner will be selected randomly from all entries . Market Square Group selected winner is final. This prize has no monetary value and cannot be swapped for any other event. MSG holds no responsibility for the events on the day. By entering you are agreeing for Market Square Group and Rosemary Shrager's Cookery School to send you marketing material in th e future.

Please visit www.marketsquaregroup.com for full T&C'S.

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FOOD

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THOUGHT FOR FOOD This month our own celebrity chef, Rosemary Shrager is finding many uses for cauliflower

F

irst, I would like to remind everyone

on Lorraine, and people like him are the

that The Pantiles Food Festival takes

future on our screens.

place on September 5 and 6. It’s a

This month I would like to talk about

find it’s a great substitute for potatoes.

You can buy the cauliflower all the year round – the two seasons are summer from

great opportunity to see some local producers

the humble or not so humble cauliflower.

June to October, or winter from November to

and also just to have a good day out. We’re

It actually dates back to the 6th century

May. To choose a cauliflower always go for

opening Shragers Cookery School to do 20

and what’s so amazing is there are now

the whitest heads and crispest leaves around.

minute free demos on the hour, the first

hundreds of commercial varieties used

starting at 11am. We are also doing two

in the culinary world.

afternoon wine tastings with a master of wine Nancy Gilcrest. Do come along!

At the moment I am filming a new primetime series for BBC2, this will not be entirely on my own, but unfortunately cannot

The white cauliflower has to be the most

add spices or chopped salad vegetables and

favourite is cauliflower cheese, but you

chopped fresh herbs.

can steam it, roast it, fry it and eat it raw.

You can find different colour cauliflowers such as purple, orange and green. Green is

filming a new series in the school for four

sometimes called broccoflower – this is

weeks for ITV. They’ll only be using one room

mostly in a cone pointed shape; the florets

so we will be open for business as usual; you

become tighter at the top and fan out more at

just might see John Waite, who is the other

the bottom of the flower. These different

presenter and wonderful to work with. For

colours can be found in floral displays, or

those of you who don’t know him, he won

ornamented in gardens, and, of course eaten.

The Great British Bake Off in 2014. This will be his first major series – he is already a regular

and high in dietary fibre and vitamin C. I also

SERVES 4

• 1 cauliflower • 800ml milk • 50g unsalted butter • 50g plain flour • 4 tablespoons grated Gruyère cheese • sea salt and black pepper

when it’s the size of rice, put into a bowl and

common, adaptable and versatile. My

tell you any more than that! Then, we are

CAULIFLOWER CHEESE

One great way of eating it, is cauliflower rice. Put the florets into a processor then stop

I definitely think cauliflower has its place with all the other great vegetables.

Enjoy! Speak next month.

Cauliflower is low in fat and carbohydrates

 First cut the cauliflower into florets, put

www.rosemaryshrager.com

 Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and

them into a saucepan and cover with the

simmer for 5 minutes, until thickened.

milk. Simmer for 10 minutes until soft, then

 Season well with salt and pepper, pour the

strain the milk into a bowl.

sauce over the cauliflower and sprinkle with

 Put the cauliflower into a gratin dish and

the Gruyère cheese.

leave on one side.

 Place in an oven preheated to 180°c/gas

 Now to make the white sauce: melt the

Mark 4 and bake for 20–25 minutes, until

butter in a small pan over a low heat, then

the top is golden.

add the flour, stirring to make a roux.  Cook gently for 2 minutes, then gradually add the reserved milk from the cauliflower, stirring constantly.

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21/08/2015 17:44

From the racetrack to the road.

Porsche has always been synonymous with motorsport - over 28,000 race victories speak for themselves, most recently our l ?th overall victory at the 83'd edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Every Porsche model is tested on track at some of the most demanding race circuits in the world. It is this testing environment that underpins the precise performance at the heart of every Porsche.

To find out for yourself how it feels to drive a Porsche, arrange a demonstration drive by calling 01732 590 119 or visiting www.porschetonbridge.co.uk.

Porsche Centre Tonbridge Brook Farm, Five Oak Green Road Tonbridge KentTNl 1 OQN info@porschetonbridge.co. uk

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MOTORING MATTERS

OUR ROUNDUP OF NEWS FROM THE MOTORING SCENE CUSTOM CARAVAN

PA/HANDOUT

PA/HANDOUT

AUDI

PA PHOTO/ MARC SOURBRON

PA/HANDOUT

The largest ever caravan model made from Lego bricks will be unveiled at the National Motorhome and Caravan Show in October. It will be made up from more than 150,000 individual Lego pieces. The caravan will have a fully fitted interior, featuring working lights, sink, bed and seating that visitors to the show will be able to try out for themselves.

It will take a full time team of eight professional Lego builders more than 1,000 hours to create the caravan.

As part of the build process, every stage will be photographed and recorded so the finished product can qualify for a Guinness World Record.

TOP TANK

ANNIVERSARY AUDI

ARRESTING SIGHT

PLUGGING IN

Honda has set a new world record for fuel efficiency after one of its cars covered 8,387 miles across 24 EU countries – using just £459 of diesel. Two amateur drivers spent 25 days behind the wheel of the Honda Civic Tourer 1.6 i-DTEC, which recorded an average of 100.31 miles per gallon. Fergal McGrath and Julian Warren stopped a total of nine times to refuel during their journey, which equalled the distance of driving from the UK to Australia.

The car, which was a standard model without any modifications, achieved an average of 932 miles on each tank of diesel.

Audi has revealed a limited-edition A8, named Edition 21, to celebrate 21 years of ‘pioneering production’. Available in both standard and long-wheelbase bodystyles, only 121 of the Edition 21’s are coming to the UK with sales beginning in November 2015.

Propelling the A8 Edition 21 is an EU6-compliant 3.0-litre V6 TDI engine which produces 262PS and 580Nm of torque between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm.

Power is channelled to the road via an 8-speed tiptronic transmission linked to quattro permanent all-wheel drive, and acceleration to 62 mph takes a mere 5.9 seconds. For long-wheelbase models, this increases slightly to 6.1 seconds, and both are capable of reaching an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

The notoriously stylish Italian police forces have chosen a new general service vehicle – and no surprises, it’s the best-looking of their options.

Seat will deliver as many as 4,000 sharp-suited Leons to the Polizia di Stato and the Carabinieri, but these aren’t normal customer-spec cars.

After being built to specification at Seat’s Martorell factory near Barcelona, these Leons will be adapted within Italy for the Italian forces with ‘extensive special equipment’ and armoured panels to resist small arms fire. Meanwhile, suspected criminals can be detained in the rear of the car thanks to a handy metal partition between the officers and the ‘prisoner cell’.

Volvo’s first petrol plug-in hybrid, the XC90 T8 Twin Engine, has qualified for the UK Plug-in Car Grant (PICG) scheme from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). With a combined output of 407hp, this seven-seat SUV emits just 49g/km of CO2, at the same time being able to go from zero to 60mph in 5.3 seconds. The PICG has been designed to encourage manufacturers to decrease the level of outputted CO2 exhaust emissions. To achieve this, hybrid vehicles must emit less than 75g/km, have a minimal travelling range of 10 miles and must reach a speed of at least 60mph.

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WHEN SPORTY MET ELEGANT. 40 years ago, the ultimate driver's car was born. With breathtaking aesthetics and an enthralling four-cylinder petrol engine, the first BMW 3 Series (then called the E21) burst onto the scene. Over the years that followed, countless ground-breaking innovations, engineering advancements and pioneering designs led to a succession of iconic cars that defined their time.

Today, the new BMW 3 Series effortlessly surpasses the benchmarks set by its predecessors thanks to that same uncompromising spirit. Its flowing lines, sporty DNA and wealth of cutting-edge technology deliver more thrills than ever and set the stage for another 40 years of driving exhilaration.

FOR MORE INFORMATION.i AND TO ARRANGE A TEST DRIVE*, PLEASE CONTACT COOP1:R TUNBRIDGE WELLS TODAY.

Cooper Tunbridge Wells Longfield Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3UE 01892 629 503 www.coopertunbridgewellsbmw.co.uk

BMW EFFICIENTDYNAMICS. LESS EMISSIONS. MORE DRIVING PLEASURE.

Official fuel economy figures for the BMW 3 Series range: Extra Urban 39.8-68.9mpg (7.1-4.11/1 OOkm). Urban 20.847.1 mpg (13.6-6.01/1 OOkm). Combined 29. 7-58.9mpg (9.5-4.81/1 OOkm). C0 2 emissions 226-128g/km.

Figures may vary depending on driving style and conditions. * Test drive subject to applicant status and availability. BMW EfficientDynamics reduces BMW emissions without compromising performance developments and is standard across the model range.

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This car summed up in a single word:

SOLID

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REACHING NEW HEIGHTS

Matt Kimberley tests out the new Mercedes-Benz GLE and discovers why this spacious new model is a solid choice…

M

ercedes has realigned

quietest by a long shot, and its stop-start

its naming structure to

action is coarser than the 350d’s, but the

something more

250d is a much cheaper option.

straightforward. If it

but without the high-spec adaptive air

the suffix (C, E or S, mirroring the

suspension there’s a noticeable jiggle to

saloon range) defines the size.

the ride quality that, in the UK, might be

With this shift comes a new GLE that’s

could find on the Swiss ribbons of

chassis, parts of the bodywork and the

perfection that made up the test route

suspension carried over. But a new

suggest the GLE won’t like potholes

interior and lower emissions, plus a

much - although we’d need to try it out

plug-in hybrid option, add new

thoroughly to be sure.

Avoid pale colours and you can’t lose.

If you can bring yourself to lift off the throttle (very) early when slowing for

There’s a slight awkwardness to the

hazards, and to use momentum control

upper-rear bodywork between the C- and

to help smooth out short inclines, this

D-pillars that’s hidden by dark blue, for

GLE can actually record decent fuel

example, and that’s always a classy choice

economy. The figures experience some

anyway. The GLE looks bulky without

bad times if you jam your foot into the

being flabby, muscular without the road

carpet though. The nine-speed automatic

rage and classy without being boring.

gearbox is standard and shifts

As for image, a new naming structure takes time to settle into consumer consciousness but the GLE is one of

seamlessly and instantly, but can hunt around for the correct ratio too often.

The GLE has a lovely sense of solidity

the less ostentatious and in-your-face

about it that makes you feel you’re

SUVs you could buy, though that means

getting a quality product. That goes a

some of the standard wheel designs

long way to justifying the price, but at

are a bit dull.

the same time the options list is long and

With five seats in place there’s a

tempting. List prices are rarely left

whopping 690 litres of boot to play with,

unmolested on models like this, so

which rises to more than 2,000 litres

prepare to budget for add-ons.

with the 60:40 split bench seat folded.

FACTS

a bit sub-par. The few larger bumps we

actually half the old ML, with the

dimensions to consider.

MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 250D SPORT, FROM £49,280 Engine: 2.1-litre turbodiesel producing 201bhp and 354lb/ft Transmission: Nine-speed automatic driving all four wheels Performance: Top speed 125mph, 0-62mph in 8.6 seconds Economy: 52.3mpg combined Emissions: 140g/km of CO2

Body control is good through corners,

starts with ‘GL’ then it’s an SUV, while

An obvious target buyer is the safety-

There’s a mountain of legroom for rear

minded parent who wants that height

passengers, too, and only the longest-

and size on the road, combined with a

legged drivers will spoil that.

level of premium feel not found in

The cabin’s cupholders aren’t positioned

cheaper cars. No doubt plenty will crop

in the most helpful place but it’s probably

up in Kensington, for example, but the

not a deal-breaker. What’s of much

GLE does harbour a secret – a deeply

greater import is the sense of size on the

impressive off-road ability (with the

road, which some people will actively

£3,000 off-road package) that will appeal

want and others just won’t get on with.

to people who tow heavy trailers on

A test drive will tell you which category

grass, gravel or mud.

you’re signed up to.

The entry-level four-cylinder 250d model is actually much better than you’d

If this car was a... flavour of fruit squash

imagine, hauling the 2,075kg body along

it would be orange. It’s a satisfying

with little less real-world grunt than the

classic that you always

350d and its diesel V6. It’s not the

seem to come back to.

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STUNNING NEW KIA SORENTO Lifestyle Kia are pleased to announce that the All-New Kia Sorento is now available at it's Showroom next to the Spa Hotel on Langton Road, Tunbridge Wells. allowing Kia's recent launch of the all-new Sorento, Lifestyle Kia is proud to announce that the fantastic new model is now available for purchase. Featuring some fantastic technologies, the seven-seat SUV is proving to be an instant success with the public.

F

Previous versions have appealed to a diverse range of customers, and the third-generation Sorento will again change the way that people see the brand as it is better equipped, more

refined, stylish and technologically advanced than ever before. Safety and convenience technologies new to the model include Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning, Advanced Cruise Control, Around View Motoring and Speed Limit Information. Powered by an EU6-compliant 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine, it is more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly too.

The all-new Sorento is longer, lower and wider than the previous model thanks to

SPECIAL

OFFER Untitled-6 2

an all-new platform, while an extended wheelbase creates greater room in all three rows of seats. Minutely detailed body and chassis engineering work has resulted in a car which is not only more engaging to drive, but also much more refined to travel in.

Philip Jackson, Lifestyle Kia Sales Manager said, "I'm thrilled to announce that the all-new Kia Sorento is now available at Lifestyle Kia. The new generation model boasts some fantastic new features, and the fact that it's more fuel-efficient is great news too . We look forward to welcoming customers along for a test drive!"

Lifestyle Kia are currently offering three years' free servicing across the new car range. They also have a comprehensive range of Motability offers and approved used cars, with experts at hand to help guide you through to find your perfect car. For more information or to book your test drive contact the Lifestyle Kia team at the showroom on Langton Road, Tunbridge Wells (next to the Spa Hotel).

Call 01892 739171, visit lifestylekia.co.uk or pop into the dealership.

3 YEARS' 20/08/2015 13:51

GET THREE YEARS' FREE SERVICING AT LIFESTYLE KIA. PRESENT THIS MAGAZINE OR THE ATTACHED WRAP TO A MEMBER OF STAFF WHEN YOU VISIT THE DEALERSHIP. ONLY AVAILABLE WITH THE PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR.* AFuel consumption MPG (1/1 OOkm) for the Kia range: Urban 29.1 (9.7) - 80.7 (3.5), Extra Urban 46.3 (6.1) - 91.1 (31 ), Combined 38.2 (7.4) - 85.6 (3.3), co, emissions 189 - 86g/km. MPG figures are official EU test figures for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Terms and conditons: 'Three years' free servicing is available on new Kia vehicles ordered and registered by 31.08.15. Vehicles are subject to availabillity at Lifestyle Kia. Servicing must be carried out at Lifestyle Kia to manufacturer's schedule. "Finance is subject to status. Guarantees/ indemnities may be required. Over 18's only. Lifestyle Kia reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time and without notice. Contact Lifestyle Kia for full terms and conditions. AABased on the 2.2 diesel manual version.

KIA SORENTO: FACTS & FIGURES The Sorento delivers up to 49.6mpg combinedM

Its no slouch, with 0-60mph time of just 9-9,6 seconds

Towing peace of mind with Trailer Stability Assist

Up to 1,662 litres of luggage space, with the seats folded

Lane Departure Warning helps keep you on the straight and narrow

Hill-Start Assist Control comes as standard, making hill starts easier and safer.

All models have reversing sensors, some also come with a rear camera

With 7 seats, the Sorento is ideal for larger families

FREE SERVICING* Untitled-6 3

20/08/2015 13:51

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SO

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BUSINESS

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BUSINESS NEWS OUR MONTHLY LOOK AT WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE LOCAL BUSINESS WORLD

WORTHY CAUSES

A Pembury-based hospice was one of three charities to receive part of a substantial £30,000 donation from Kent automotive group, Motorline. At a presentation held at the company’s Renault, Hyundai and Maserati showroom in Parkwood, Maidstone, Motorline Group Chairman Glen Obee presented Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury, Hospice in the Weald in Pembury and the Heart of Kent Hospice in Maidstone with cheques of £10,000 each. Sara Clark, Corporate Fundraising Manager at Hospice in the Weald, says: “We are so grateful for the support of Motorline. Every donation we receive, no matter the size, makes such a difference.” www.motorline.co.uk

ON YOUR BIKE

Cyclists will find getting around Tunbridge Wells easier with the opening of a new business on St John’s Road. Specialising in a full range of power enhanced ‘e-bikes’, Cycling Made Easy’s showroom was opened

by Greg Clark MP, Mayor David Elliott and Mayoress June Crowhurst. The launch follows the success of the company’s flagship store in Coulsdon, Surrey, which was established over four years ago. Showroom manager Rob Montgomery says: “Having an electric bike taking the edge off the physical strain of cycling uphill really motivates people to choose cycling as a way to get around.” www.cyclingmadeeasy.co.uk

high flyers Celebrations are in order for Baldwins Travel Group, which was voted Travel Agent of the Year for London and the South East of England for the ninth year running at the Agent Achievement Awards in London. The awards are handed out annually and noted as the travel industry’s top accolade, recognising excellence and achievement in the UK’s travel agency community. Nick Marks, Travel Director at Baldwins, which has stores in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Cranbrook, says: “Winning the award is a spectacular achievement and being recognised by our peers in the travel industry is a real honour.” www.baldwinstravel.co.uk

From left to right: Robert Hunter, John Kennett and James Havelock Andrews

ACQUISITION TRAIL

From left to right: Ray Wookey, founder and director of Cycling Made Easy; Greg Clark, Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells; David Elliot, Mayor of Tunbridge Wells; June Crowhurst, Mayoress of Tunbridge Wells; Rob Montgomery, showroom manager of Cycling Made Easy, Tunbridge Wells

Tunbridge Wells stockbroking company Havelock Hunter has been taken over by national firm Redmayne-Bentley. The new structure will see Redmayne-Bentley with two Kent offices: Tunbridge Wells and Locksbottom, which is part of the firm’s head office. Havelock Hunter was co-owned by James Havelock Andrews and Robert Hunter and advised by law firm Cripps during the acquisition. James Havelock Andrews says: “We believe that becoming part of the larger group will bring many new benefits to our clients, whilst still enabling us to continue to provide the same level of personal service that our clients expect and deserve.” www.havelockhunter.com

SEPTEMBER 2015

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Untitled-6 2

County Council kent.gov.uk

Kent Adult Education is part of Community Learning and Skills

20/08/2015 13:51

BUSINESS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

SO

INTRODUCING… LADIES WHO LAUNCH In recent years, female employment has rarely stayed out of the news. Damning statistics about gender pay gaps and underrepresentation in the workplace have dominated the headlines of late, giving the impression that women and business just don’t go. However, dig a little deeper and you’ll discover that, actually, women are really making waves in the business world. While the economic crash in 2008 resulted in job losses and company closures, it also saw the number of women starting up businesses steadily rise. Between 2008 and 2011 women accounted for an unprecedented 80% of the newly self-employed. 20 years ago, fewer than 650,000 women were self-employed – now there are more than 950,000 in the UK. In Tunbridge Wells, hundreds of women are now running businesses across the town. From fashion styling to fitness and everything in between, the area buzzes with creativity and entrepreneurial skill. The high calibre and variety of networking groups we have in the area also provides essential support for women in business – whether they’re mums looking to get back to work, or women with creative new ideas looking for a platform to launch, the town definitely has something for everyone.

To celebrate successful women in business, we caught up with 11 local high-flying ladies from a broad range of companies to discover what makes them tick…

SUSIE BENNETT

Wood is. With new projects around the corner such as

Company: Dandara Type: Property Developer Position: Sales and Marketing Director UK South East Web: www.dandara.com

Union House in The Pantiles, we are very excited about the future of the region.

What gives you the biggest buzz at work?

There is so much that gives me a buzz at work;

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

my enthusiastic team who are full of energy and

The Dandara Group has become known as one of the UK’s most diverse

commitment, successful sales and meeting

property developers, building high-end residential, mixed use and

regional targets, but I think the main buzz for me

commercial developments. My role as Sales Director UK South oversees

is the quality of our product. I still feel excited

the sales department, develops and implements sales strategies and

when I look around a finished house before it is

controls all marketing activities to deliver results and meet the region’s

handed over.

targets and growth requirements.

Do you have any business regrets?

To be successful in business, what attributes do you need?

I don’t have any business regrets; I have made

In my industry resilience is key, along with excellent communication skills and

mistakes along the way but I believe these

a determination to succeed. Building relationships is vital in all businesses; it

are the most valuable lessons.

may seem basic but you must be able to get on with people and build strong relationships at all levels, internally and externally to your business.

Describe yourself in one sentence I am extremely driven and

What challenges has your business faced in the last year?

committed, diligent and

Being a new regional set up, we have worked hard to build our brand

innovative; I am open and

in the South East where we were unknown. To create a new residential

honest, grateful of my

community at Knights Wood in an area which is historically known

amazing family and

as an industrial estate had its challenges. With brand awareness and

friends and I am

showcasing our quality product in our outstanding marketing suite in June

passionate in

2014, the public could see for themselves what a unique location Knights

everything I do.

Thanks to Paul Meyer, Harriet Rainbow and the Gallery Hairdressers SEPTEMBER 2015

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BUSINESS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

GILLIAN FORSYTH

DEBORAH RICHARDS

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

Halliwell Care Home, based in Tunbridge Wells is part of the Elizabeth

I am the managing partner and owner of Maddisons Residential, an estate

Finn Home Group. My role as general manager is to maintain, develop

agent based on The Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. The beauty of running your

and market the business, which currently provides: respite and

own business is that you decide how things will be done, so I have removed

long-term care, residential and nursing, post-op rehabilitation and

many of the ‘pain points’ of buying and selling a property. And the vision

convalescent care, continuing care and gold standard ‘Beacon Status’

is working: we have won two prestigious awards and receive 95% of new

end of life and palliative care.

instructions from client referrals.

How has your business changed and evolved since you launched?

What gives you the biggest buzz at work?

Halliwell has been in Tunbridge Wells from the early 1960s, and when I

So many things, as I am now working in an industry that I love. I love

was brought in, in 2006, I was asked to reinvigorate the business. Since

receiving a recommendation, winning a new instruction, negotiating a deal

then we have undertaken a four year, £7million redevelopment and

(that often breaks the previous ceiling price), selling a house that has been

expansion programme, which was completed in 2012. I am continuing

on the market for a number of years unsuccessfully with another agent

to develop the business. For example, we have just opened our new

and handing over the keys to the new owners. But probably, the best bit is

physiotherapy room to support post op and convalescent rehabilitation.

building really strong, open relationships with my buyers and sellers that

Company: Halliwell Type: Care Home Position: General Manager Web: www.efhl.co.uk

Company: Maddisons Residential Type: Estate Agent Position: Managing Partner Web: www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk

see them writing the most lovely testimonials.

What challenges has your business faced in the last year?

A number of care providers have entered the Tunbridge Wells area.

What challenges has your business faced in the last year?

This has meant that we need to work hard at communicating value for

My previous jobs had always been with really big brands, and I completely

money, as we are perceived as expensive and at the higher end of the

underestimated the power of that brand to open doors. I have such a

market. What we actually are is high quality at a competitive price.

passion for what my agency delivers, but the biggest challenge is getting in front of sellers to tell them! Once we are invited to pitch for an instruction,

What gives you the biggest buzz at work?

we have an almost 100% record of winning the instruction. I just still

Making a difference to the residents and being able to care for them in

want to tell more people about the difference we bring to the world

later life as I would my own mother or father, while providing relatives

of estate agency!

with comfort and peace of mind. starting up a business?

in one sentence:

Do it in something that you love.

I am organised, a

Starting a business is hard,

fervent ambassador

exhausting, lonely and

for elderly care,

nerve-wracking! But

people person,

if you love what you

finisher and

do, your passion

doting mother

and energy will be

and grandmother!

infectious to others and carry you through to the times when you will look back

CRAIG MATTHEWS

What advice would you give to someone thinking about Describe yourself

and realise it was the best decision you ever made.

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BUSINESS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

SO

HELEN TURNER

CAROLINE WEISS-JONES

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

Property Turner is a professional home finding business that acts for

BD Global Medical is part of Berwick Devoil Healthcare Limited (BDHL), a

buyers looking to rent and purchase homes in Kent. Most of our clients

specialist private medical insurance and group risk broker. I bought into the

are either relocating from London or abroad and seeking a family home

company in 2012 and became a 50% shareholder. We launched BD Global

with good communications and that’s close to good schools. However,

Medical in January 2015 to look specifically at the international health

we have also acted this year for a number of clients looking for a second

insurance market and the global transient nature of certain aspects of the

home by the seaside and a number of retired clients who want to

world’s population. My focus has primarily been on the marketing and new

downsize and appreciate having all the stress taken from them. I have

lead/business generation, following the launch in the Caribbean in February

a couple of professional ladies who work with me, both with property

2015 of the new website, www.bdglobalmedical.com where I hosted an

experience and both having excellent local knowledge that can only be

event for local businesses, dignatories and press.

Company: BDHL Type: Private Medical insurance Position: Director Web: www.bdhl.co.uk

Company: Property Turner Type: Property Search Agency Position: Owner Web: www.propertyturner.co.uk

gained from living in their patches. However, I oversee all the instructions and negotiate the transactions.

What challenges has your business faced in the last year?

As well as setting up BDGM, going live and generating new enquiries,

How has your business changed and evolved since you launched?

our main challenges have been time zones and slow broadband.

I initially thought the business would all come from clients looking to

Technology is playing a big part in the growth of BD Global Medical,

move from South West London, but actually a lot of business has come

however, early morning and late evening calls to fit in with time zones and

locally and from abroad, which surprised me. We have adapted to meet

having slow broadband for Skype calls does become frustrating; without the

demand and so cover all the coastal areas as well. I have also acted

tech, however, the business would not have got off the ground.

for a number of developers seeking opportunities to build or refurbish properties, both for personal occupation and commercial gain.

What do you know about business now that you wish you’d known when you started?

To be successful in business, what attributes do you need?

I wish someone had told me that ‘marketing’ your business is actually one

I believe that relationships are really important for my business, so you

of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do. Reaching out to new people

need to be able to get on with everyone and communicate regularly.

and attracting new business is difficult and, more importantly, keeping their

Also, you need to be organised and constantly proactive at marketing.

attention is even harder. Throwing money at a snazzy marketing campaign does not necessarily solve the problem, but having a voice and a personality is one of the most effective tools

What advice would you give someone thinking about starting up a business?

anyone can master.

Do your research, know your market thoroughly and lovely product.

Do you have any business regrets?

Describe yoursel in one sentence: On an ideal Saturday,

Not specifically, except that I wish that I had learned earlier in my career to trust

you will find me

my gut instinct and be more

around the kitchen

confident about what my

table chatting and

niche and mission was.

laughing with family, then walking the dog with my friends before watching a Harry Potter film!

Describe yourself in one sentence: Passionate, funny and sensitive, I’m ambitious and competitive, genuine and honest with a down-to-earth outlook; I’m a professional woman who adores her family, loves to laugh, loves her business and her business partner.

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BUSINESS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

NIKKI MITCHELL

PAM LOCH

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

I run a lovely large showroom in Eridge, near Tunbridge Wells, called Sofas

I set up Loch Employment Law in 2007 to provide expert employment law

& Stuff, which sells bespoke sofas, chairs and beds. They’re handmade in

advice to employers mainly, but we also advise individuals as well. As an

England but covered in any fabric in the world.

employment lawyer, I also often encountered situations where employers

Company: Sofas & Stuff Type: Custom Made Sofa Company Position: Managing Director Web: www.sofasandstuff.com

Company: The Loch Associates Group Type: Employment Law, HR Advice, Training & Mediation Position: Managing Director Web: www.lochlaw.co.uk, www.hradvise.me & www.lochtraining.co.uk

had good reasons to discipline or dismiss an employee, but they often went To be successful in business, what attributes do you need?

about it the wrong way. I saw a need for HR support and set up HR Advise

Enthusiasm for, and knowledge of, your product, as well as the

Me to provide day-to-day HR support. Having set up Loch Training and Loch

ability to listen in order to understand your customers’ needs.

Mediation now too, I still provide employment law advice and HR solutions to clients, but I’m also the Managing Director of these businesses as well.

Where would you like to take your business? Any plans for the future?

I would like to establish more working relationships with local companies,

To be successful in business, what attributes do you need?

such as interior designers, fabric emporiums and architects. I’ve hosted

I think you need to be constantly open to change and to continually review

some art exhibitions and talks in the showroom and I would like to do more

what you have done to see if you can improve on what you do. While you

of that, perhaps a concert!

may have some great ideas, it is also really important to listen to other people and encourage everyone in your business to put forward their

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting up a business?

suggestions and thoughts.

Definitely give it a go, otherwise you will always wonder, “what would have happened if…” However, make sure you are prepared and seek

What do you know about business now that you wish you’d known

professional advice on anything you aren’t sure of.

when you started?

Pre-empting what clients want in relation to the provision of information on

Describe yourself in one sentence:

things such as costs, and being able to provide that upfront, demonstrates a

I’m very enthusiastic about what I do and I like to think I am quite creative;

level of transparency, which clients appreciate.

I also love a good chat!

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting up a business?

Plan carefully. Think very carefully about your finances and making sure you have sufficient funds in place to support you when your business starts up, particularly if you are unlikely to generate significant income in the first six to 12 months.

Describe yourself in one sentence: Work and play are important to me but I also am a great believer in maintaining a good work/life balance and can be spotted at the gym or walking my dog Ellie with my fiancé, for a healthy mind and body!

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BUSINESS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

SARAH BELLAMY

JEMMA SMITH

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

I am the proprietor of Skinners of Tunbridge Wells, an interiors company

Present is a beautiful little hot yoga studio in Tunbridge Wells,

offering a full range of services, including full interior design and project

launched in 2013, where we run yoga classes in a studio heated

management service and production of handmade curtains, blinds and

to 39˚c. No matter what the weather outside, it’s always warm

upholstery, together with a range of exclusive soft furnishings and the

and cosy inside.

Company: Skinners Type: Interior Design Position: Director Web: www.skinnersoftunbridgewells.co.uk

SO

Company: Present Yoga Type: Hot Yoga Studio Position: Managing Director and Yoga Teacher Web: www.wearepresent.today

largest fabric and wallpaper sample book collection in the area.

What gives you the biggest buzz at work?

What challenges has your business faced over the last year?

The amazing feedback I receive from my students about the studio

We have been focusing on increasing our brand awareness among a

and the classes. I have had so many students tell me that the

wider range of potential clients. We’ve been using traditional advertising

classes have changed their life. This feedback makes the hard

methods such as print media, but also digital and social media; so one

work all worthwhile and reminds me why I set up the business

of our challenges has been training all our staff to be more aware of the

in the first place.

opportunities that social media presents and ensuring we keep our online presence current and relevant.

What do you know about business now that you wish you’d known when you started?

Where would you like to take your business? Any plans for the future?

I would say that starting a business is an exciting journey and a

I am really looking forward to this autumn, when we are launching an

learning process, and on this journey I have learned everything

exclusive range of cushions and throws to purchase in the showroom

exactly when I needed to. I am glad I didn’t know everything in the

on Castle Street. I am also launching a new website this winter, which

beginning, as the journey might not have been so interesting.

will reflect the diversity of the Skinners of Tunbridge Wells products and services in a user-friendly format.

Where would you like to take your business?

Any plans for the future?

Do you have any business regrets?

We are about to relocate to a fantastic new studio facility in the

My biggest regret is that I did not launch my business earlier.

centre of town, where we will be expanding our service offering

I feel very fulfilled, proud and happy.

to include both heated and non-heated yoga classes, including pregnancy yoga, workshops, sports massage and

Describe yourself

nutritional consultations. There are a few other

in one sentence:

things in the pipeline, but I’ll keep those

Supplied by my staff and

under wraps for now. The most important

daughter: honest, loyal,

thing for me is to enjoy the journey and

patient, tenacious,

appreciate every moment as it comes.

passionate, enthusiastic and personable. (Their

Describe yourself in one sentence:

cheques are in the post!)

Loving, happy and grateful for the supportive people I have around me.

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BUSINESS

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

JACKIE MORRIS

KATIE KING

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

Tell us a bit about your business and your role within it

I joined Wood & Pilcher in 1992, just at the time when John Pilcher, founder

I’m the Managing Director of a marketing agency called Zoodikers, which I

and owner, started selling new developments off plan in Hong Kong and

set up five years ago. We’re based in Tunbridge Wells but our client base is

Singapore. These properties, located predominantly in London and the

UK wide and international. We help organisations to build their brand and

South East, were to be let on behalf of the clients and I was given the

manage their reputation in a world where consumers increasingly turn to

opportunity to travel to the far east on a number of occasions to promote

digital channels for customer service as well as sales.

Company: Wood & Pilcher Type: Estate Agent Position: Director Web: www.woodandpilcher.co.uk

Company: Zoodikers Type: Marketing Agency Position: Managing Director Web: www.zoodikers.com

our letting services. This was the beginning of what has now become our large letting and management department. When John Pilcher decided to

What challenges has your business faced in the last year?

retire in January 2010, my business partner, Simon Ellis and I took over his

Cash flow is the biggest challenge, which is a combination of ensuring you’re

interest in the firm through a management buyout. My role has developed

paid on time by clients, and not overspending. Due to our location, the talent

more into the management of the business as a whole, which now includes

pool isn’t as wide as it is in London, so it’s sometimes harder to attract the

five offices and 35 members of staff.

best PR candidates. That said, we’ve built an incredible team over the past few years and have worked hard to nurture and retain our staff.

To be successful in business, what attributes do you need?

In my opinion you should be patient but be strong, face any problems and

What do you know about business now that you wish

learn from them. Understand and enjoy your business so that it becomes

you’d known when you started?

something that you are really proud of.

Running a small business of less than 10 staff is the hardest challenge in my opinion. You have to be involved in everything and don’t have the

What gives you the biggest buzz at work?

luxury of IT, HR and legal departments to rely on. Juggling all of these balls

The biggest buzz by far is watching a sale or a let reach completion –

simultaneously is even tougher than I thought but I love it!

particularly when it has required a large attention to detail. The delight of a vendor/landlord and in turn a purchaser/tenant in being able to move

Do you have any business regrets?

home through the hard work and efforts of our staff is very rewarding and

I had an opportunity to set up a branch of a successful agency in Cape

something to be truly proud of.

Town but it didn’t fit with having a young family. It was the right decision for a young working mum, but I do wonder what life might have been like had I Describe yourself

taken that option.

in one sentence I am enthusiastic about anything I take on, self-critical about most things I do, a good listener and I love to laugh!

Describe yourself in one sentence: For this question I asked my longest standing employee, who answered as follows: dedicated, tenacious, approachable, sociable and a leader. A good summary I think…

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ALL THE NEWS THAT MATTERS, LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL

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www timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

A unique mix of local, national and international news Collect your FREE weekly newspaper every Wednesday from newsagents, train stations, supermarkets and independent retailers within a 10-mile radius of Tunbridge Wells Or sign up for your digital version via www.timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk

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21/08/2015 09:37

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EVENT

SOCIAL TOWN TREASURES Groups of treasure seekers scoured Tunbridge Wells for clues during a charity hunt organised by the Pantiles Rotary Club. Sponsored by local businesses in support of local charities and hosted by Woods Restaurant, the event saw eight teams undertake a 90 minute trek around the town, tackling 30 cryptic clues along the way. The team that demonstrated the best local knowledge was estate agent Wood & Pilcher, relegating the early pace setters from BSR Bespoke Chartered Accountants into second place. The event raised well in excess of ÂŁ2,000 from its sponsors and Pantiles Rotary will announce further details at their forthcoming presentation evening once all donations have been confirmed and allocated to the nominated charities.

Photos by David Bartholomew

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ADVERTORIAL

SO

ARE YOU UNDERINSURED? As householders, we take out insurance for our properties and personal possessions. If you are asked to take on the role where you assume the responsibly for someone else’s Laura Manton is a director

assets and belongings, typically as an

and head of the Private

Executor or Administrator of a deceased’s

Client team at Dawson Hart

Will (otherwise known as Personal

UNSOLICITED TEXT MESSAGES – A NUISANCE OR A MARKETING TOOL?

Representatives), Trustee, or if you are acting under a Lasting Power of Attorney (or registered Enduring Power of Attorney), then you must consider your responsibilities to insure the assets you look after.

Around 20% of UK households are thought to be under-insured. In such circumstances, if a claim has to be made, the insurance company may decide to pay out a claim or they may reduce the amount paid proportionately or cancel the policy completely. This would have devastating consequences to an estate and those who benefit from it, both financially and emotionally.

Obtaining up to date valuations of assets is essential so as to make

The number of so-called ‘marketing’ text Jacqueline Hardaway

messages and calls received by individuals

is a director and head of the

seems to be on the increase – whether it be

Litigation and Personal

for PPI, accident claims etc! Many clients

Injury teams at Dawson Hart

who instruct me regarding their personal

sure they are fully insured rather than relying on old valuations or just

injury claims say they have had numerous

estimating. In addition, securing the assets is key, whether by

texts about their accident and yet they have no idea how these

measures to upgrade locks and alarms, or by removing items to safe

companies have obtained their details! In 2014, the Information

storage. Where a property becomes unoccupied following a death or

Commissioner’s Office (ICO) received over 175,000 reports of

when someone moves into care, the insurance company must be

nuisance calls and texts and issued over £360,000 worth of penalties.

informed immediately and they may impose new conditions such as

But they still keep coming!

frequent checking and draining down water tanks.

However, this may now change. Since April 2015, the ICO has been

If you would like any assistance in acting as an Executor,

given enhanced powers to take more action. Whereas previously

Attorney or Trustee, please contact me on 01825 762 281 or

they could only issue a penalty if it could be proved that the

email PClient@dawson-hart.co.uk

marketing activity had caused ‘substantial damage or distress’, now they only have to prove that the marketing company has committed a serious breach of the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. These regulations state that marketing companies must check the Telephone Preference Service to ensure that individuals have not opted out of receiving marketing calls.

Companies should also provide details of how the recipient can opt out of receiving future messages.

Hopefully now that the rules have been relaxed, the levels of penalties will increase and the amount of unsolicited calls decrease.

However, if you continue to be plagued by nuisance marketing calls and texts, then either report them to the ICO or your network operator. The ICO website also helpfully contains guidance on carrying out direct marketing.

For all your litigation needs, contact Jacqueline Hardaway on 01825 762 281 or email Litigation@dawson-hart.co.uk

SERVICES FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR BUSINESS Providing a comprehensive legal service with a personal and approachable touch, together with extended opening times and a loyalty card scheme, Dawson Hart are here to assist you.

01825 762 281 • www.dawson-hart.co.uk Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 8am to 6pm, Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturday from 9am to 12pm

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CULTUREVULTURE OUR MONTHLY LOOK AT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE AREA

ENTERTAINMENT

MUSIC TO OUR EARS This month sees the curtain come down on one of the most popular music events in town – Jazz on The Pantiles.

Every Thursday night throughout the summer thousands flock to the bottom of the town to enjoy the sultry sounds.

Fred Latty catches up with the man behind the music, Lionel Shell Photos by David Bartholomew

Tell us about the background of Jazz on

slightly a victim of its own success. The

The Pantiles

costs now are huge, as it has grown

I have to give credit where it was due: it

beyond 50 people to the biggest numbers

was Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s

we’ve had, which were 3,600 on the

initiative and started between 17 and 19

busiest night last year. You can’t stop a

years ago. The council decided to put on

good thing, and we wouldn’t want to, but

an event and they employed a local jazz

the physical constraints of The Pantiles

promoter to do it. His name was David

mean it will only take so many people, so

Jacobs – not to be confused with the DJ

it cannot go beyond that.

– and he was a very influential jazz booker.

He knew everybody and he used to

It must create a lot of buzz for local bands…

arrange very low-key duos and trios only.

We get bands queuing up to play there,

It went on like that for a number of years.

because, apart from the fact it’s a terrific venue, most bands don’t get the chance to

How has it developed since?

play to 2,000 or 3,000 people. They get the

Because I’m a jazz fan and I want other

opportunity to open to a large crowd and

people to get to hear the music they

the atmosphere is amazing. You’d never

perhaps wouldn’t otherwise hear, my idea

believe you were in England; it’s just like

was to try and get more people involved.

being anywhere on the Continent. It’s the

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council backed

most fantastic thing and I’m so happy it

out about ten years ago when David

has kept going and grown.

Jacobs died, so I took over doing it for free and went to finance it through the restaurants and bars. We’ve gone from four weeks to 21 weeks, as I managed to persuade the restaurants in the area to go to a longer and longer period.

PACKED: Crowds at a 2014 Jazz on The Pantiles concert. The festival now lasts 21 weeks

In what ways has your audience changed?

With due respect, the audiences were ORGANISER: Lionel Shell is the man behind the music

what I call ‘jazz anoraks’ – the dedicated jazz followers. We wanted to get a broader audience, but we didn’t want to lose those people either, because it was their event and designed for the enthusiasts. It has become slightly watered down in order to expand, so that more people enjoy more aspects of it.

Are you happy with where it is now?

I’m really happy with it; the only thing is that I’d like to do it two nights a week.

That’s not an option, although there’s enough material, bands and public enthusiasm to do those nights. The powers that be within The Pantiles Association are looking to do other things, but this really is the big event.

What have been some of the main challenges you’ve faced in putting it on?

As it has become more popular, it’s

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and has done so well; The Pantiles in itself

TRUMPET: Bands ‘queue up’ to play

is fabulous, and within that, there are various restaurants and pubs that put on live music. At one of them, The Grey Lady, there’s something on every night, which is amazing for a town this size.

Let’s talk about noise complaints – is this a widespread problem for music venues?

There are a lot of places throughout the country where this is happening. People buy a commercial property, turn it into apartments, and the neighbours – live music venues – are suffering because of the noise abatement law, which in principal is good, but doesn’t make sense in practice. If one person complains, you can be closed down, which isn’t right, especially if you

Can you tell us more about the costs

administration, security and all the additional

were there first. The culture of music

and funding?

costs you have to have to run an event.

shouldn’t be eroded by something new that

Until this year, the bars and restaurants have

There are so many other components and

comes in and opposes something that has

been the sole people that have paid for it. We

that’s a cost you have to meet.

already been successful and hasn’t been a problem. End of story.

started to do a voluntary collection of £2 or more, which helped, but didn’t really cover

Do you think the town’s culture is thriving?

the costs. When it first started, the event on a

Tunbridge Wells, in my view, is getting

Jazz on The Pantiles runs from 7pm

Thursday night cost between £200 and £300;

stronger and stronger. There are great

every Thursday till September 24 in

now, it’s between £2,000 and £3,000 per

events on at Trinity Theatre and always

The Pantiles. To find out more about

night. It’s not the bands that are earning this

have been; The Forum is very well

upcoming acts and events, visit

money – they deserve a lot more – it’s the

recognised in its area as being a leader

www.pantilestraders.co.uk

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CULTUREVULTURE OUR MONTHLY LOOK AT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE AREA

ENTERTAINMENT

HALLING A LAUGH Next month sees funny man Hal Cruttenden visit Tunbridge Wells to dazzle audiences with his comical outlook on life, death and everything in-between. Fleur McCoy chats exclusively to him about his experiences of the comedy circuit

What can the audience expect

you know that they already like you

from the tour?

because they’ve come to see you.

Well, the show’s called Straight Outta

But anything big like Live at the Apollo

Cruttenden because it’s me trying to be a tough talking gangster. I’m joking, it’s named after an album – Straight Outta Compton by N.W.A. It’s an angrier show than usual. I’m quite excited about this show actually; even if I get bad reviewsI don’t care because I really like this show!

that’s going to get repeated and end up on YouTube is nerve-racking. If you do it well, it really makes an impact. I get so nervous before a TV gig like that that I think ‘this is completely ridiculous, you’re in the wrong job.’

Who’s your favourite comedian?

And what are you expecting

Lee Mac is a brilliant stand up. He’s

from the Tunbridge Wells crowd?

the Eric Morecambe of his generation,

I always think I’m a bit edgy and then I go

one of the true greats. I sort of have an

to places like Tunbridge Wells and they

appreciation of everybody. I tend to like

really are my people. I’ve always got a tick

comics that aren’t like me because I’m

against the fact that I’m a stuffy old typical

less jealous of them. I love Jimmy Carr,

Royal Tunbridge Wells person. I love

I love short one-liners that are really brutal

Tunbridge Wells, they know what people

because I don’t do them.

think of them and they take abuse very well because they’re used to people

See Hal at the Trinity Theatre on Friday

laughing at the fact that they represent

October 2. Tickets cost from £15.50.

some archetype. These are the best places

www.trinitytheatre.net

to play because they’re used to people laughing at them and I’m that sort of person. I’m sort of a lefty hypocrite, I believe in a left-wing society as long as I retain the value of my house and keep my nice car!

You’ve done a lot of comedy panel shows and guest appearances on TV, do you prefer that or the touring side of comedy?

Our main love is that live gig – doing comedy live with an audience in front of you. TV is fun but it’s not as much fun as stand up. As comics we love people because they’ve given you their time; you have your duty to entertain them. I think that’s why we have trouble when we come home thinking, ‘I’m a god, I’m a star’ and our wives ask us to take out the garbage and all I can think is ‘but you don’t understand, I’m a genius!’

Do you still get nervous before a gig?

Not as much for tour shows, weirdly, because even though the pressure is on and it’s your show, you’ve got a long time and you get to know your audience and

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COMPETITION

WIN UP TO £1,000 WORTH OF ROUND WOOD PRODUCTS!

Here at Round Wood of Mayfield, we are offering an amazing prize draw to So readers in celebration of the opening of our new offices. In order to aid our continued expansion, we have recently completed the build of an eye-catching oak

To enter, simply fill out the contact form at

framed office, which doubles as a show building.

www.roundwood.com/contact.aspx. Please supply

Several members of our sales team are already enjoying

all of the details required accurately and in the message

their new surroundings, which features oak joinery crafted

box state ‘Competition Entry’, along with details of

in our workshop and a selection of the oak flooring we

where you heard about the competition. Alternatively,

supply. We are also in the process of developing a new mill,

you can visit us at Round Wood or at the Bentley Woodfair

a new home for our joinery team and a showroom, which

from September 18 to 20 to complete an entry form.

will include additional office space.

To celebrate, we have decided to stage a prize draw with three

Please note that by entering the competition you

amazing prizes: £1,000, £500 and £250 to spend on anything we

agree to receive promotional offers and information

sell at Round Wood, from planters and garden statues to

via email. Entries are limited to one per person.

hardwood decking, oak flooring and oak frame buildings! Every

The draw will be conducted at our stand on the final day of

entrant will also be invited to the grand opening of the new

the Bentley Woodfair on Sunday September 20 2015 at 5pm.

Round Wood when development work is complete.

The winners will be contacted by email the following day.

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It is an all year round project, and there’s no rest for the wicked, as it’ll soon be time to start planning next year’s Local & Live event QUESTION TIME

B

y the time you read this, the sun will be

better and how we can bring even more

setting on this year’s Local & Live

music and entertainment to Tunbridge Wells

festival. Next month I’ll be writing about all

in 2016. Last year was, to a degree, an

the exciting things that happened over the

experiment to see if we could create a mini

This month our music columnist, Paul Dunton looks at how the small things can make a big difference when it comes to planning a successful festival

four day event, but for now, before I head off

version of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival over

for a nap and to play some golf, I just wanted

the weekend, and this year we built on that,

to say a huge thank you to everyone who

adding new venues and new artists – I hope

continually works hard to ensure that Local &

you had the chance to see some of the

Live can come back year after year.

amazing talent on offer.

www.paulduntonandguests.com

INSIDE VIEW

The festival could not happen without the

Last year also saw us move to the

help of all our amazing volunteers, who

Calverley Grounds. On reflection, the

always work tirelessly behind the scenes to

difference with Calverley Grounds over The

keep the event running smoothly. They are

Pantiles is that it offers much needed space

all individuals from the local community who

required to host the event effectively, now

give up their time over the weekend to help

that it has grown to its considerable size.

our cause. In our festival brochure we have a

The atmosphere is also different. Because of

credit and thanks section to list everyone

the setting, I think Local & Live now has a

who has contributed in their different ways

more laid back relaxed festival feel, in part

– I must, however, award a special vote of

down to the little touches, such as having a

thanks to all of musicians who performed

face painter, an ice cream bus and the

and all the Local & Live Angels, all of our

acoustic stage.

various sponsors and the Tunbridge Wells

If you fancy another taste of the festival,

Borough Council, The Friends of Calverley

I strongly recommend attending our next

Grounds and our media partners, The Times

few Local & Live Sessions, which are on

of Tunbridge Wells and SO magazine for all their support and assistance.

It is an all year round project, and there’s no rest for the wicked, as it’ll soon be time to start planning next year’s Local & Live event – looking at what worked, what worked even

September 19, October 17 and Nov 28 featuring a total of six cracking Local & Live acts fresh from this year’s festival. All of them will be will be strutting their stuff in the beautiful setting of Trinity Theatre. Details at

SARAH POOK

www.trinitytheatre.net

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ADVERTORIAL

The Fairfax Gallery will be starting the Autumn with an exhibition including 3 new artists to the Fairfax Gallery, all of whom have successful solo shows in London as we as exhibiting internationally. We hope they have equal success with the Fairfax Gallery. Further images can be viewed on our website www.fairfaxgallery.com

ON THIS PAGE Alice Scrutton ‘Blakeney Oil on Canvas 102 x 102 cm Mary Grant ‘Bungalow from Track’ Oil on Canvas 30 x 40 cm Elaine Jones Reflection with Pink Oil on Board 82 x 82 cm Jenny Pockley London Study Oil on Gesso 35 x 45 cms

Open seven days a week • 23 The Pantiles (Lower Walk), Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5TD

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ADVERTORIAL

The Fairfax Gallery was founded in 1995 on the elegant Lower Walk of the Pantiles. Whilst the Fairfax Gallery gallery has another gallery in Burnham Market as well as regularly exhibiting in London, New York, Singapore & Hong Kong, the original Pantiles gallery always ensures it has the latest and strongest examples on display in its spacious gallery set over 2 floors with a large stock behind the scenes..The gallery offer services for private clients, interior designers including a home trail service to help whether it is one painting or a larger project.

ON THIS PAGE Jenny Pockley “Balloon” Oil on sandpaper 115 x 120 cms Gemma Harwood ‘Ashdown Tree’ Oil & OS Map on panel 92 x 92 cm Barry Wilson Chloe’ Oil & Gold Leaf on Canvas 120 x 10 cm Antonio López Reche Riding Hare Bronze, 40 x 25 x 12 cm

Tel: 01892 525 525

www.fairfaxgallery.com

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diversification of talent across the spectrum.

Just take stateside funny women such as caustic social commentator Sarah Silverman or the newly triumphant Amy Schumer. Or, closer to home, talent such as Sara Pascoe or Josie Long (the latter being a rising star who gives Stewart Lee and Frankie Boyle a run for their money in the cynical political rant stakes) – female comedy doesn’t need ‘strident feminism’ at the top of each and every job description.

Britain’s stand-up circuit is already rich with female excellence of every kind. At the Edinburgh Fringe you’re just as likely to see a woman waxing lyrical about Iraq as you are seeing a 20-something male complaining about ‘brewer’s droop.’ The problem is that we’re yet to see stand-up comedy’s egalitarian tendencies translate properly into genuine equality on our plasma TV sets and digital radios.

Then again, some very funny women have successfully broken onto the hallowed turf of these male-dominated mainstream panel shows. Three of them are hilarious new Canadian stand-up Katherine Ryan, and long-in-the-tooth Brits Jo Brand and Jenny Eclair. Their TV and radio appearances haven’t the slightest air of tokenism, because they’re more often than not sharper and wittier than the men. Who’d have thought it?

Jenny Eclair and Jo Brand have been

ENCORE

pioneers of headline stand-up comedy for

ISN’T SHE FUNNY

decades, and they’re still holding their own.

But Ryan is particularly worthy of note.

Despite being relatively new on the scene,

Discover the rise and rise of female comedians this autumn at the Trinity Theatre

C

she’s starred in Live At The Apollo and QI, and already had a seat on Jonathan Ross’s sofa. Her comedy is equal parts daring, cutting and imaginative. Like the spectacular

omedy. It’s one of those fields

immediately turns to weight loss, or

Amy Schumer, she has imported a

that’s still overwhelmingly

Millican’s love-hate relationship with cake,

wonderful brand of self-aware and naturally

dominated by men. You only have

as opposed to politics, religion or less

hilarious comedy across the pond. Long

to look towards hit TV shows such

gender-specific observations. But in the

may their winning ways continue.

as Mock the Week, Have I Got News For

same way ethnic minority comics can be

You and QI – for every one woman on our screens there are three Paul Mertons, Jack Whitehalls, Hugh Dennises or Russell Howards.

This rarely surfaces as an issue because we’re mostly used to the status quo. Yet it may help to explain why some women’s comic routines often dwell just that bit too long on the ups and downs of being female.

Think Sarah Millican and the mind

seen cutting themselves free of race-

Katherine Ryan appears at Trinity

related gags, female stand-ups are

Theatre on Friday 9 October.

increasingly unconstrained by the

Jo Brand appears at Trinity Theatre on

prejudices that engulf them (it helps for

Friday 16 October.

one thing that we no longer describe them

Jenny Eclair appears at Trinity Theatre

as ‘comediennes’.)

on Saturday 14 November.

And, although there is still a rich seam of material to be mined from menopausal

Ellie Taylor and Angela Barnes appear at the Christmas Comedy Cafe in December.

angst and eating disorders, we’ve often heard it all before. So it is therefore

For further information and tickets,

particularly refreshing to see a

please visit www.trinitytheatre.net

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FROM THE ARCHIVES

T

unbridge Wells; the bastion

police constables to seize copies of

of conservative Middle

literature deemed obscene or prosecute

England, where retired

any purveyors of such material.

colonels spend their days on

Furthermore, any copies of Lolita

bowling greens and their evenings

entering the country were to be

playing bridge, while discussing the

confiscated by customs officials.

latest political scandal.

Although now – and perhaps always –

SECRET

DISGUSTED – NOT This month we reveal how a copy of the “filthiest” novel of its era – Lolita – could be found in only one place in the whole of the land, guess where?

A Bill was proposed in Parliament, advocating that prosecution should only

an inaccurate stereotype, the mid-1950s

occur if a piece of literature as a whole

saw the peak of such caricaturing,

was judged to be obscene, rather than

prompted by the emergence of the now

individual sections. Having been

immortal pseudonym, ‘Disgusted of

revealed as the publishing firm to have

Tunbridge Wells’.

taken on the job of distributing the

Meanwhile, the novel Lolita, the

controversial text, Weidenfeld and

infamous creation of Russian-born

Nicolson came under severe criticism

American author Vladimir Nabokov,

for their decision.

was due to be published in the UK in

While the row raged on, it was

1955, after months of dominating

discovered that there was just one copy

bestseller lists across the Atlantic.

of Lolita available for public

Noted for its themes of illicit desire and

consumption in the UK. Where? In the

patent sexuality, the storyline is about

public library of Tunbridge Wells

a middle-aged man’s obsession with a

which, with remarkable foresight or

teenage nymphet; its publication in

perhaps merely by fortune, had ordered

France earlier that year had been

a copy from Paris three years before the

marked by widespread condemnation

public furore.

from literary academics and the public.

Notwithstanding this apparent setback, it soon became an

But, even with the book receiving huge amounts of publicity and no attempts to prohibit local distribution

underground sensation, with British

of the novel, Lolita did not seem to be

novelist Graham Greene (no stranger to

raising the eyebrows of the Tunbridge

controversy himself) describing Lolita

Wellian masses. The assistant librarian

as one of the best books of the year.

at the time was quoted as saying:

Intrigued by this statement, John Gordon, the then Editor of the Sunday

Express, ordered a copy from Paris and promptly called it “about the filthiest novel I’ve ever read”.

Set against the background of an ensuing public spat between Graham Greene and John Gordon, the book began to be circulated around British publishers. Many rejected it on the grounds of its perceived dubious literary merit – one supposedly tore it up in disgust.

Eventually, one publisher, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, agreed that it would bring out Lolita in Britain.

However, there still existed one major stumbling block: British law enabled

“Demand has never been particularly high… Our top favourites at present are Doctor Zhivago, Monty’s Memoirs (World War II Field Marshall Bernard Montgomery) and The Life of King George VI.” Weidenfeld and Nicolson eventually published the book in the UK in 1959.

Although the passing of time has seen a gradual realisation and acceptance from the public of the true nature of Tunbridge Wells, there are still those who stand by the cliché of ‘Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells’.

Perhaps a look into the colourful, quirky history of the town, as evidenced by this particular incident, might convince these people otherwise…

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