tunbridge wells
edition
stayingin JAnuArY 2011
Happeyar NewLYof our
gOing Out
to AL readers valuedhanks for and tng StayGo! maki a successk go.co.u such tay www.s
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cheers!
elcome to Staying In & Going Out magazine. We hope you had a great Christmas and New Year break and that you’re still keeping your New Year’s resolutions! Here’s our latest issue to help keep you on that holiday high…
stAYing in
Tips for how to celebrate Burns’
Night, coming up on January 25th
More winter motoring tips for
staying safe in the inclement weather Top advice on how to get a roaring log fire and keep your toes warm this winter
Sunday lunch special: venture out and find great places to eat and drink for Sunday lunch Reflections on the old cinema in Tunbridge Wells – and a look forward to movie releases in 2011 Kids’ birthdays: they come round every year, so here are some cool ideas for parties!
must win! This month, we have a fabulous prize to give away – a family ticket for four to see the Horrible Histories on stage at the Assembly Hall, plus a copy of one of Terry Deary’s books. Get your kids to design their very own gladiator shield and the prize could be yours! Just for fun, there’s also a fascinating Horrible Histories quiz for kids and grown-ups alike. Check out pages 1 and 5 of Going Out for details.
12 Union Square Eridge Road The Pantiles Tunbridge Wells TN4 8HE Tel 01892 617462
Lisa Miles editor
Brighton Tel 01273 841228 Reigate Tel 01737 226450
Readers please reply...
In this issue there’s a reply card on page 8 of our Staying In section. We’d love to know more about you, our reader, so that we can give you the information that YOU want to read. To be in with a chance of winning a £25 gift voucher, grab a pen, fill it in and send it back to us. And while you’re at it, why not enter our great competitions on the reverse as well!
Contact Lisa: editor@staygo.co.uk
food & drink
motoring
great competitions!
log fires
cartoon & quizes
Monday - Thursday 11:30am - 2pm & 4:30pm - 10pm Friday - Saturday 11:30am - 2:30pm & 4:30pm - 10pm Closed Sunday
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High Street Pembury Kent • OCEAN a Traditional Fish & Chips Bar
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6oz Rump of Lamb pan fried & served in a Biddenden Red Wine & Wild Thyme Jus & Plaxtol Shards| £6.00
&
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M
wHAt’s in tHe HAggis?
A Few OF Our...
favourite things
A scOttisH trAditiOn
Burns’ Night
I
n case you missed out on Hogmanay at New Year’s Eve, it’s still not too late to try out the haggis. Every year on the anniversary of the birth of Scottish poet Robert Burns, the Scots celebrate Burns’ Night with a traditional supper of haggis, neeps and tatties – and of course a dram of whisky to wash it all down. Burns’ Night takes place on the 25th, so if the month of January is looking a little bleak, raise your glass to one of Britian’s best beloved literary heroes!
Our FAVOurite
Accompaniment IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE WHISKY… BUT IT HELPS!
A few years back Macsween, the well-know haggis producer, conducted a taste test to find out exactly which alcoholic drink goes best with Scotland’s national dish. The conclusion was that, of course, single malt whisky is the classic accompaniment – Glenmorangie 18 Year Old is well worth trying, especially with vegetarian haggis! tunbridge wells edition
If you’d prefer not to know what’s in a haggis, skip reading this! But for those who are curious, traditional haggis is a mixture of suet, oatmeal, onion, gravy, pepper and sheep’s pluck, all wrapped in a bag made out of a sheep’s stomach. Next question – what’s a sheep’s pluck? That would be the liver, lungs and heart. Glad you asked? Haggis is traditionally served with ‘neeps and tatties’. Neeps is mashed swede – try mashing with a little milk for creaminess. Tatties are simple mashed potatoes – best mashed with butter. Add a generous helping of good old-fashioned gravy and your Burns’ Night main course is complete.
wHAt’s FOr pudding? Traditional Scottish puddings, such as cranachan (a mixture of fruit, cream, whisky, honey and oatmeal) or a simple whisky trifle are perfect. In fact, anything with whisky is fine! The meal can then be finished with oatcakes and Scottish cheeses. Complete your evening with a recital of Robert Burns’ poetry and plenty of toasts, especially to the main event – the haggis! But if you’re not a whisky drinker, then a medium-bodied red wine with a bit of character, such as an Italian barbera, is perfect. And continental beers go down very well, too, with strong Belgian beers such as Duvel coming out tops!
January
sales
FOr Him: scArF bY guess The sale on the designer menswear collection at Greens is continuing in January, with discounts on many desirable pieces including jeans, accessories and knitwear. And check out those Tom Ford sunglasses – sadly they’re not in the sale but they are gorgeous! Greens, 90-92 The High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1YF 01892 534 102
FOr Her: silK JAcKet bY HAndwritten There’s up to 50% off on a selection of the eclectic designer brands on offer at Kitch. If you’re looking for something individual that gives you an edge for the new year, then you’ll surely find it here. Kitch, 1 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UL 01892 513 613
January 2011 / stayingin
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Local independent motoring centre
ff B ta A s A d S ne i a tr
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Saab and Honda specialists
All makes and models catered for MOTs, repairs and servicing Friendly service at affordable prices
WOODSGATE CORNER, PEMBURY, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT TN2 4NG EMAIL: info@pemburyautocentre.co.uk PHONE: 01892 824646
Originally developed in Norway, snow socks give extra grip in bad weather. Although they are not necessarily designed to replace snow chains, they are nevertheless ideal for conditions in the UK where snowfall is sporadic, but causes chaos. The socks slide over your rubber tyres and fitting them is really easy. They take up minimal space and you can keep them in the back of the car, just in case you need them. They’re made of special fabric. Snow and ice sticks to them, giving extra friction. The fabric also wicks away water between the tyre and the ground maximising grip.
L
ast month, we brought you five top tips for looking after your car in cold weather, from Dom Esposito at Pembury Auto Centre. This month we bring you five more great pieces of advice – this time concentrating on what to do when you’re ready to jump in the driver’s seat and set off. Dom says:
6
FUEL UP I usually keep my car fairly full in the cold months, as you never know when you might get caught up in an accident or foul weather. At least you’ll be able to run the engine and keep warm but you must make sure the exhaust is clear of snow, otherwise fumes can get into the car.
7
WINDOWS CLEAR? To keep the windscreen from misting up, soak a cloth in pure washing up liquid then let it dry. Now wipe this cloth on the inside of the windows and it will stop them misting up. Go on, try it in the bathroom – it works!
8
number
DEFROST! If your windows have misted up, use the aircon as well as the heater. It’s not just for summer and it helps to dry the air. Don’t use water to defrost the windows. Hot water can crack the screen and will just refreeze as it cools, either on the
www.autosock.co.uk
tunbridge wells edition
screen or on the ground where you’re standing, which could have painful consequences! Thinking about frosty mornings, a squirt of WD40 in the locks will stop them freezing.
9
BEFORE YOU GO... Take a warm coat, gloves and hat in case the weather or the car catches you out. If you do get stuck, you’ll be very pleased if you packed chocolate, water and a hot drink too. Always carry a fullycharged mobile and take some old bits of carpet and a shovel to clear snow, in case you get stuck. number
Snow socks for cars have been around for a few years, but with the snowy weather we’re getting in the UK, interest is gathering...
5 mOre tOp mOtOring tips
number
Snow socks
mOre winter mOtOring...
number
gO sAFelY in tHe snOw...
10
ON THE ROAD On colder days be particularly careful on number tree-lined roads. The trees prevent the sun’s warmth from reaching the road, which may still be icy when all around has thawed. Staying In & Going Out would like to say a big thank you to Dom Esposito and everyone at Pembury Auto Centre for help with this article. There has already been a lot of snow and ice to cope with and we hope Dom’s wise words have helped.
January 2011 / stayingin
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An amazing 50%off winter boots with this ad* Funky and stylish ladies boots by Camper, Fly London & more Kids shoes and boots including Kickers, Geox, UGG & Merrell Offer valid until 31st Jan 2011 on selected stock items. *Excludes school shoes, slippers & wellies
Shoes for kids, mums and school
48 St. Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9NY
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puZZled?!?
win!
£10 tOYs r us VOucHer
Enter our two great puzzles this month – one for the grown-ups and one for the kids! Grown-ups – you know what to do... and kids, fill in the missing symbols so that every row, column and mini-grid has one of each symbol: Mitten, moon, firework, hat, snow flake, snowman! StayGo Competitions, Suite 504A, 26-28 Hammersmith Grove, London, W6 7BA Closing date: 31st January 2011. The first correct entries out of the bag after the closing date win £10 gift vouchers. nAme:
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telepHOne: Address:
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pOstcOde: emAil: 1
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win!
£10 m&s VOucHer
Complete our crossword, cut it out and send it in to: StayGo Competition, Suite 504A, 26-28 Hammersmith Grove, London, W6 7BA The first correct entry out of the bag wins!
AcrOss
dOwn
1. Meal or feast (6) 4. Sharp and hard, but its made of water. (6) 8. See 18 Down 9. Shortlived chap we encounter at this time of year. Raymond Briggs wrote about him. (7) 10. What the Japanese do with paper. (7) 11. A grotesque gesture or behaviour. (5) 12.Couples get together beneath it at Christmas. (9) 17. Said of someone with prospects that they will travel a long way. (5) 19. See 18 Down 21. All together. Often has a number and a stop. (7) 22. Winter windscreen requirement. (2-3) 23. Most timid in company. (6) 24. May be beaten but must not be gone out of. (6)
1. Poker perhaps. (3,3) 2. The cost of insurance. (7) 3. Girl or boy’s name originating in Eastern Europe. Diminutive of Alexander or Alexandra. (5) 5. Fluid used to transfer heat. (7) 6. Appears in the heavens with a tail, used to be a sign of cataclysm. (5) 7. Traditionally employed in a harem. (6) 9. Steep white things that you slide down. (3,6) 13.Writers. (7) 16.See 19 14.Issue of a magazine or book. (7) 15. Ice houses. (6) 16. People who point the way, eg at weddings. (6) 18/8/19. Social events. Definitely not ‘come as you are’! (5,5,7) 20. Has waves and sets, so we hear. (5)
tunbridge & wells Are still! disgusted! New Years Anyway resolution for Tunbridge, your you Tunbridge, looking deciding Keep Fit! portly these days.
How dare you old boy – that’s it then! You can indeed ‘keep it’ my dear Wells. tunbridge wells edition
bY mArK smitH
And stretch... and 2... and pump... and 3...
Indeed Tunbridge work those glutes! January 2011 / stayingin
7
now...
it’s your turn! TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
S
taying In & Going Out is now going into a 5th issue – and a new year! To help us start it off with a bang, we’d love you to tell us what you think of our magazine. Please enter our free draw to win a £25 M&S voucher and answer the questions below. Tear off and send to: StayGo Reader Reply, Suite 504A, 26-28 Hammersmith Grove, London, W6 7BA Please send your reply in by January 30th
Which section of the magazine do you find most enjoyable?
❏ Staying In ❏ Going Out ❏ Both the same What are the best bits?
❏ Café / pub / restaurant reviews ❏ Features on local places of interest
❏ Puzzles, jokes and quotes What would you like to see more of (tick all that apply)?
❏ Home and gardens ❏ Live entertainment ❏ Shopping
❏ Recipes and crafts ❏ Where to go with kids Which ‘going out’ activities do you most enjoy?
❏ Music ❏ Theatre / comedy / dance ❏ Cinema Which ‘staying in’ activities do you most enjoy?
❏ TV and film ❏ Books and magazines ❏ Computer games and gadgets Have you entered any of our competitions?
❏ Crossword ❏ Kids puzzle ❏ Other*
*Please specify Other below
In the magazine, do you use (tick all that apply):
❏ The Calendar ❏ The Directory name:
Going from strength to strength!
Now tell us about YOU!
❏ Male ❏ Female ❏ Under 25 ❏ 25-35 ❏ 35-50 ❏ Over 50 How did you get this copy of the magazine?
❏ Through your door ❏ Retail outlet ❏ Public building What do you like best about living in Tunbridge Wells?
❏ Shops and eating out ❏ History and buildings ❏ Countryside & surroundings
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Telephone: address:
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Postcode: Email:
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(optional)..................................................................................................................................
and now in your words... If there’s anything else that you’d like to tell us about the magazine or your experience of living in Tunbridge Wells, please jot it here. Thank you for your reply!
8 stayingin
/ January 2011
tunbridge wells edition
www.staygo.co.uk
directory Arts & tHeAtre ASSEMBLY HALL Theatre and entertainment, including traditional panto, for all the family address: Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2LU telephone: 01892 530 613 website: www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
TRINITY THEATRE
Theatre and arts centre with a wide range of events and great café address: Church Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1JP telephone: 01892 678 678 website: www.trinitytheatre.net
THE KINO
Small digital cinema showing a range of films, complete with a great café address: Rye Road, Hawkhurst, Kent, TN18 4ET telephone: 01580 754321 website: www.kinodigital.co.uk
Atmospheric café right inside Trinity Theatre, with pre-theatre suppers available address: Trinity Theatre, Church Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1JP telephone: 01892 500676 website: www.divinitycafe.co.uk
SMITH & WESTERN Wild West themed bar, diner and grill, serving American favourites for all the family address: Linden Park Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5QL telephone: 01892 550 750 website: www.smith-western.co.uk
FOOd & drinK ARTE BIANCA
eAting Out THE BEACON
OCEAN FISH & CHIPS
BLACK HORSE Cosy, traditional pub with range of beers, extensive menu and pretty garden address: 12 High Street, Pembury, Kent, TN2 4NY. telephone: Pub 01892 822 141 Restaurant 01892 824 033 website: www. blackhorsepembury.co.uk
24-seater restaurant, ideal for kids’ parties, family get-togethers or just a great take-away address: 8 High Street, Pembury, Kent TN2 4NY telephone: 01892 823 561
Kids’ FAsHiOn STAMPEDE Specialist children’s shoe shop, stocking a wide range of modern styles address: 48 St Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 9NY telephone: 01892 511 651
mOtOring
BRENCHLEY SPORTS BAR
AUTO BAVARIA LTD
Sky Sports, bar snacks and a warm welcome with a local Kent menu address: Brenchley Road, TN12 7NX telephone: 01892 723 303 website: www.brenchleybar.com
Fully trained technicians are ready to solve any motoring problems for all major brands address: 1 North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells ,TN2 3DH telephone: 01892 522 242 website: www.auto-bavaria.com
THE BULL OF BRENCHLEY Traditional pub with open log fires and a great Sunday lunch carvery, a short drive out of town address: The Bull of Brenchley, High Street, Brenchley, Kent, TN12 7NQ telephone: 01892 722 701 website: www.bullofbrenchley.co.uk
PEMBURY AUTO CENTRE Repairs and servicing for all makes and models, with professional, friendly staff address: Woodsgate Corner, Pembury, Kent TN2 4NG telephone: 01892 824646 website: www.pemburyautocentre.co.uk
© 2010 The Exclusive Edge Ltd. All rights reserved. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily the views 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 prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, phtocopying or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher.
tunbridge wells edition
L SPECIA RY DELIVEM! TEA
DIVINITY
Café and Italian deli, with a wide range of authentic produce address: 1 Chapel Place, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 IYQ telephone: 01892 510554 website:www.artebianca.co.uk
Pub and restaurant with stunning views in a quiet backwater of Tunbridge Wells address: Tea Garden Lane, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9JH. telephone: Pub 01892 524 252 website: www.the-beacon.co.uk
becOme pArt OF Our
ARE... ge IF YOUg to earn extra wedrk er antin able wo W d depend ALocloalyatol athne Tunbridge Wells area IS...
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contact us
to list your company… reaching over 13,000 homes in Tunbridge Wells!
sales@staygo.co.uk or call 01892 509 273
January 2011 / stayingin
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EE FR
* ry ive el ld ca lo
Bertie’s Wood Fuel Kiln Dried Logs Delivered to your door
Bertie’s offer a full range of sustainable, locally produced wood fuel. Available in a range of handy, easy-to-store boxes, barrow sacks and bulk bags. 8” (200 mm) kiln dried Kent hardwood logs well-managed woodlands
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Sourced from local,
Kiln dried using solar and wood powered kilns
Average moisture content less than 20% stoves and log burners
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Kiln Dried Hardwood Logs
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Barrow Sack ................ 0.2m3 ..............£40.00 Bulk Bag ......................... 1.0m3 ............. £110.00
Barrow Sack ........0.2m3 ......... £35.00 Bulk Bag .................. 1.0m3 ....... £100.00
May include birch, beech, ash, oak or similar
Contains high heat chestnut or similar
* Applies to deliveries within 10 miles of Hadlow with a £50 minimum order value. £5 surcharge on orders under £50.
For a full product list or to order, please contact us on:
07704 306900 www.bertieswoodfuel.co.uk
ASK THE EXPERT!
Keeping warm… this winter A guide tO getting tHe mOst FrOm YOur reAl Fire
T
There’s nothing cosier than settling down in front of a warm fire with a glass of wine at this time of year. Staying In & Going Out magazine asked Peter Tweddell of Bertie’s Wood Fuel in Hadlow for his advice on buying firewood and setting your fire.
be wheeled to the back door and used as a log store; or in large bulk bags. The boxes can be used to start your fire or can be recycled, and the barrow sacks and bulk bags we pick up for re-filling.
peter’s FAQs What’s the secret to setting a really cosy fire? There’s no secret really, just start off with a couple of firelighters and a bit of kindling and add a few logs as the fire takes hold. The most important thing to remember, though, is to always use really good quality firewood, preferably kiln dried or at least very well seasoned. Why is kiln drying and seasoning so important? When a tree is felled it has a moisture content of 50% or more. Burning wet logs is inefficient, and can cause smoke and chimney damage. Seasoning is a term used to describe the air-drying of logs and the moisture content can drop to 25-30%. But the only guaranteed way of ensuring logs are below 20% moisture content, and better for burning, is to put them in a kiln. How does your kiln work? It’s like a giant fan oven really. tunbridge wells edition
get cosy with a roaring log fire
We have a 200kW burner that we fire on the wood waste from our log processing line. We then blow the hot air produced into the kiln to extract moisture from the logs. Seasoning can take a year or two, but our kiln dries logs in less than 24 hours! Who should I buy firewood from? There are some very good suppliers around Tunbridge Wells who will be happy to tell you the moisture content of their wood, along with what volume of logs you will receive. Most reputable suppliers will usually give that measurement in cubic metres, rather then the vague ‘half a load’! How do you deliver logs? We offer our customers the choice of logs in low mess, easy to carry, stack and store boxes; barrow sacks that can
Do you sell anything else? At Bertie’s, we produce kindling, along with wood briquettes that make a great replacement for coal. We have also just started producing natural firelighters made from rapeseed wax and wood shavings, which are much more pleasant than the paraffin firelighters! Surely cutting trees and burning logs is bad for the environment? No, as trees grow they absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, which they then release when they are burnt as firewood, only for the CO2 to be reabsorbed by a new tree as it grows. At Bertie’s we make sure we only use timber from well-managed local woodlands that replant after felling or carry out coppicing. What is coppicing? Coppicing is an ancient craft where trees are cut down to about a foot from the ground and allowed regrow, ready to be harvested again in 12-15 years. Originally this industry provided Kent with its hop poles, fence posts and pit props, but we are now using coppicing to produce our firewood. Thanks Peter for the advice!
11
January 2011 / stayingin
www.staygo.co.uk
see you on the flipside Wooosh! That is the sound you flipping over. If it wasn’t a digital version, of course.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
edition
goingout JANUARY 2011
January events at…
the
beacon
GET READY FOR...
Horrible Histories
C
hildren's theatre producers, the Birmingham Stage Company, are touring with stage adaptations of two books by best-selling chilldren's writer, Terry Deary. Based on his Horrible Histories series, the shows take on two big eras that will thrill children and parents alike – the Ruthless Romans and the Awful Egyptians. Using live actors and ground-breaking 3D effects, these astounding shows make historical figures and events spring to life.
It's a 'no' from the emperor!
RUTHLESS ROMANS In Ruthless Romans you’ll find out how the Romans made murder into a sport in the Colosseum with more fouls than a Premiership football match! With incredible 3D effects you’ll feel what it was really like to be a Roman soldier, fighting fierce battles against hordes of grotty Celts – but watch out for those flaming arrows whizzing straight for your head!
AWFUL EGYPTIANS In Awful Egyptians you’ll learn the truth of Tutankhamen and his creepy curse and find out the fearsome facts about fabulous pharaohs, mean mummies and gruesome grave robbers. You’ll see how the Egyptians really lived 5,000 years ago – how dead bodies were turned into mummies and how the huge pyramids were built. Dare you enter through the Gates of the Afterlife? See page 5 for details...
Pulling Faces Louise Jameson - 14th January Louise Jameson play 12 different characters in the course of one hour
£10 per ticket
Live Music Emily Maguire - 23rd January £10 per ticket (see page 9 for further details)
and much more… of r a full listing see page 9 fo at… y ar nu Ja in what's on
the beacon
Tea Garden Lane, Tunbridge Wells
01892 524252 www.the-beacon.co.uk
k .u ne .coonli goith RS ay w FE st now OF
“THE MAGAZINE THEY'RE ALL SHOUTING ABOUT!” ADVERTISE HERE... .uk/advertise www.staygo.co
café culture
theatre & movies
kids' party ideas
live music
CAFÉ CULTURE... AROUND THE TOWN FROM COFFEE STOPS TO PRE-THEATRE SUPPERS
T
his month, we highlight two great cafés right in the town centre. For a warm welcome during the big winter chill, pop in out of the cold and see what's on offer.
Divinity Inside Trinity Theatre you'll discover a great eating place - Divinity café. It occupies a large open space on the ground floor, with plenty of seating and a great choice of food for breakfast, snacks, lunch and supper. In fact, the whole experience is rather unique, as you sit in the gothic surroundings of the old Trinity church. With high, vaulted ceilings, pointed arches and dark wood furniture – atmospheric is certainly the word to describe it!
WHAT'S ON THE MENU?
The spacious interior at Divinity is unusual and inviting
JANUARY EVENTS January brings Burns' Night for those with a Scottish predilection. If you've not done a Burns' Night before, then why go along to Trinity's Burns' Night Jazz on Saturday 22nd, for which Divinity are providing a haggis supper. Get in mood with jazz arrangements of Robert Burns' classic songs and Celtic-tinged ballads. Magdalena Reising brings her stunning jazz harp and bewitching vocals to songs such as My Love Is Like A Red Rose, Charlie Is My Darling and the Skye Boat Song. Magdalena is accompanied by her regular trio on piano, bass and drums led by Terry Seabrook. The
evening promises to be a warm and wonderful celebration for all – and a great opportunity to sample the food! There are also special suppers available for the Comedy Café, which is returning on 27th January, and Divinity is running a full menu for the film nights (except on Sundays) that run throughout the month. In addition, there is a book club that meets at Divinity, which also benefits from the café's delicious catering. This month it meets on the 10th of January and also on the 31st, when the author Amanda Craig is speaking to the club about her book Hearts and Minds. To find out more about groupbookings, events at Divinity or to book a pre-theatre supper, contact the café. Divinity Café, Trinity Theatre, Church Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1JP 01892 500676 www.divinitycafe.co.uk
As owners Paul and Viv Westbrook remark, Divinity is a particularly agreeable place to sit, whilst enjoying items from their varied menu. Breakfast items include poached egg and spinach on a bagel, and the lunch menu is full of delicious toasties, paninis, sandwiches, homemade soups and cakes. There are also mouth-watering light meals available, such as enchilladas and Welsh rarebit. But the real difference at Divinity is that it's open for pre-theatre suppers when there's a performance on at Trinity. Arrive at 6.30pm and then the show starts at 8pm – perfect timing!
2 going out /
January 2011
TUNBRIDGE WELLS edition
Francombs A SUCCESS STORY ON MONSON ROAD
Check out the fare at Francombs
J
oe Francomb is very proud of his sandwich bar in Monson Road – and rightly so. When Staying In & Going Out magazine popped in there for a coffee, the place was bright, buzzing and running efficiently, to the delight of its customers. The business has been open for eight months now and Joe, who is only 23 and fronting the family business for the first time, tells us that it's been a steep learning curve but that business is definitely booming and has been non-stop since they started. The café occupies a coveted position
on a prominent corner, so that passers-by can easily notice it. Francombs prides itself in maintaining the timeless values of a good café – in its design, in the way that it looks and in the good manners and quality of service its customers receive. All the products are made fresh on the premises daily with only top quality ingredients. There are different ranges of sandwiches available to cater for all tastes – including Spanish, Oriental or New Yorker – plus a great salad bar. You can pop in for lunch or a snack or you can preorder. As well as catering for individual customers, Francombs also supplies business platters – even at short notice – and bespoke menus. Francombs, 11 Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1LS www.francombs.co.uk
!" rious food "Food, glo Our café provides a particularly agreeable place to sit alongside an impressive and varied range of food and drinks - snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner and a good deal else besides… Sandwiches, bagels, toasties, salads, home made soups, home made cakes, all made using the finest ingredients, fresh everyday… There's something for everyone.
Viv TUNBRIDGE WELLS edition
January 2011 / going out
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party packages
from £12.50 per head...
This includes your choice of pottery from our party ranges, invitations, use of paints, staff to help inspire, glazing and firing.
“we are well known for our stress-free parties”
The V.I.P. will receive a special party keep-sake signed by all their guests. You will have use of the studio party area for two hours and are welcome to bring a birthday cake and food with you.
us r k s a t ou u abo at gre
ear b y d d te king . ma rties.. pa
Glazy Daisy
Glazydaisy.com
45 St Johns Rd, Tunbridge Wells, Kent Tn4 9TP t: 01892 519719 e:contact@glazydaisy.com
W
UIZ
GHASTLY Q
hether you’re a kid or a grown-up who’s still a child at heart, you’re in for a big treat at the Assembly Hall this February. Horrible Histories on stage is coming to town, with two great shows – The Ruthless Romans and The Awful Egyptians. Both are packed with masses of unbelievable but true facts – many of them really disgusting!
HOW TO BOOK The shows run from Tuesday 1st February to Saturday 5th February. Adult's tickets from £10. Children's tickets from £8. Special offers for schools and signed performances available. Call the box office on 01892 530613 / 532072 www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
TRUE OR FALSE? Test your history knowledge with our true and false quiz – tick the box beside each question! 1) The Ruthless Romans had dozens of gods – some are still known today such as Neptune, god of the sea. But they also had some rather silly ones… so which of these are true and which are false? A) Penates was god of cupboards. T❏ F❏ B) Robigus was god of mildew. T❏ F❏ C) Porcina was a goddess for pigs. T❏ F❏
2) The Romans had a lot of strange superstitions and customs… which of these are for real? A) Sausages were banned as only being fit for Barbarians to eat! T❏ F❏
B) Gladiators would get a dog to pee on their shield before going to fight, as they thought this would protect them from their opponents. T❏ F❏ C) A Roman cure for snakebite was to rub pig droppings onto the bite and then pour wine mixed with the herb fennel up your nose! T❏ F❏
3) The Awful Egyptians had lots of weird and horrible medical remedies. Which of these do you think they actually did? A) If they wanted to cure baldness they mixed viper’s oil with chopped up bats’ ears and rubbed it all over the bald patch. T❏ F❏ B) If you had a toothache you were advised to cut a live mouse in half then while it was warm and fresh place it in your mouth. T❏ F❏ C) To get rid of spots, Egyptian teenagers would collect horse manure, rub it all over their faces and then bow three times to the full moon. T❏ F❏
To find out the answers, check out our website www.staygo.co.uk
DESIGN YOUR OWN...
win!
D .
HIEL S E L B I R R O H
A FAMILY TICKET TO SEE THE HORRIBLE HISTORIES ON STAGE
To win a ticket for a family of four, plus a copy of one of Terry Deary’s books, enter our great Ruthless Romans competition. Draw a design for a gladiator’s shield, cut it out and send it to StayGo Competitions, Suite 504A, 26-28 Hammersmith Grove, London, W6 7BA. You must be 12 or under to enter. Closing date is 20th January 2011.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS edition
January 2011 / going out
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COME AND JOIN US FOR SUNDAY LUNCH TRY OUT THE UNDOUBTED BRITISH CLASSIC AT ONE OF THESE GREAT VENUES!
S
unday lunch season is upon us. And while it's lovely to have the family round and cook your own roast, it's also rather good to let someone else do the cooking for you! To that end, there are plenty of wonderful Sunday lunch venues – and here are our top picks of local pubs who we think you'll very much enjoy! NUMBER
The 1 Bull at Brenchley
A mere 20 minutes journey from Tunbridge Wells brings you to Brenchley – a charming Kentish village, surrounded by orchards and farmland. This is indeed what is meant by the 'Garden of England'. The village dates back to the 13th century and there are a number of timber-framed houses in the High Street to give that olde worlde flavour. On the High Street, you'll also find a great pub, The Bull of Brenchley, run by Rex Ffrench and partner Becs.
chips. You'll also find a list of tempting specials, which change daily, such as Sicilian pork or monkfish. And for Sunday lunch, who can beat a carvery? The Bull is offering two courses at a very reasonalble £10.95. All the produce is sourced as locally as possible – in fact the meat comes from Terry's Butchers in Brenchley.
BEOWULF BEER But the really unique thing about the Bull is that it actually serves its very own beer – Beowulf Beer – named after the couple's English mastiff dog (and the famous Anglo-Saxon poem). It's produced in Tudeley, a village nearby and is 3.8%, made from East Kent golding hops. The pub is well known for its real ales and this new beer has been going down very well since it was put on the beer menu four months ago. In fact, Becs tells us that it's a
A great selection of Real Ale
very good lunchtime beer, so perfect with Sunday lunch perhaps? The Bull of Brenchley, High Street, Brenchley, Kent, TN12 7NQ 01892 722 701 www.bullofbrenchley.co.uk
15% OFF FOOD* with this voucher
Valid from Monday-Thursday in the month of January with this voucher. *excluding steaks StayGo | The Bull | 01/11
TRADITIONAL PUB The Bull is a traditional, country pub, with open fires and and a comfortable atmosphere. You'll also find traditional fare on the menu – steak with all the trimmings, sausage and mash and local cod and
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TUNBRIDGE WELLS edition
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The Beacon
THE BULL OF
BRENCHLEY
CLASSIC CHARM The Beacon, tucked away down Tea Garden Lane, has a great deal to offer over the winter months. Inside, it feels like a rambling country house and you can almost imagine yourself as part of a cosy, weekend house party. It has two comfortable bar areas with easy chairs and sofas, and is exactly the kind of place that you can relax in front of the fire and read the Sunday papers before lunch. So what's on the menu?
Always a warm welcome
Served easily in a relaxed manner, the food at the Beacon has been critically acclaimed. As with all popular Sunday venues, it is advisable to book up in advance to avoid disappointment, as the restaurant does get very busy. The Beacon, Tea Garden Lane, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9JH www.the-beacon.co.uk 01892 524 252
SUNDAY FAVOURITES On Sunday, there's a full menu, including three roasts – beef, pork and lamb. There are also two fish dishes and at least one vegetarian dish so that you and your family and friends can have a choice of menu.
Home-cooked food using local produce
Spacious ensuite rooms from £60 per night including a hearty full English breakfast
Sunday Carvery -
Traditional country pub with open fires
Two Courses £10.95 GHT K NI STEAry Friday ith Eve Steak w illet ngs 8oz F he trimmi all t 5 .9
£10
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Brenchley Sports Bar
GREAT VALUE Sample the home-cooked food at the Brenchley Sports Bar and you won't be disappointed. And it's unbeatable value – you can enjoy a Sunday roast for £4.95! – can you resist the spiced winter pancake? The Brenchley Sports Bar, Brenchley Road, TN12 7NX 01892 723303
TUNBRIDGE WELLS edition
www.bullofbrenchley.co.uk
01892 722 701 The Bull of Brenchley, High Street, Brenchley, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 7NQ
January 2011 / going out
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Our local cinema BY... ZAC THRAVES
O
nce upon a time, over ten years ago, we had a magical cinema right in the centre of town. It had a beautiful art deco interior, plush red curtains and, if you were in the queue going down Mount Pleasant, you had the chance to pop into the sweet shop before you entered, where you could buy a film magazine to whet your appetite. But what do we have now? A shell of a building that sticks out like a sore thumb and a cinema that isn’t exactly easy to walk to and doesn’t have a great deal of personality. Despite that, the Odeon seems to do well, probably because it’s one of the few options alongside the film nights at Trinity. But my memories of the old Cannon cinema have not dimmed. It was, after all, where I first saw Star Wars, where my dad tried to get me into Gremlins when I was underage and where I saw my first certificate 18 film at the ripe old age of 15. That was Die Hard in 1988,
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and I loved it. I can still smell the interior, the decadent smell of popcorn and rich fabric. The old cinema was the closest we got to Hollywood in this town since Tommy Steele danced his way down the Pantiles for Half a Sixpence during the sixties! I now look at the mass of burnt bricks that adorn Mount Pleasant and I feel sad that the magic of cinema has gone from Tunbridge Wells. The Odeon comes nowhere near producing the wonder of film. It’s big, but in reality there’s little choice of film to see there. I feel that we are not served well by cinema in the local area but there is one strong challenge to that.
THE KINO: HAWKHURST This small cinema may be a little out of town but here you have a chance of capturing the magic that you hope to see on screen from your favourite stars. In fact, the Kino in Hawkhurst,
about 30 minutes drive away from Tunbridge Wells, was the first digital cinema in the country and it offers a high quality movie-watching experience in stunning surroundings. It boasts a café and bar where customers can enjoy a drink before, during or after the performance. The management promises to offer a mix of children’s movies, blockbusters and art-house movies. I think this is more in keeping with what a trip to the cinema should be; it should be awe-inspiring; magical; it should reflect Hollywood and I think that if you decide to see your next movie at the Kino, you won’t be disappointed. The Kino, Rye Road, Hawkhurst, Kent, TN18 4ET 01580 754321 www.kinodigital.co.uk
TUNBRIDGE WELLS edition
UP-COMING MOVIES... FOR 2011
2011 promises to be a good year for movies after what was, for me, a slightly disappointing 2010. 3D (some of you may groan) will really come into the fore, with huge summer tent-pole sequels such as Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides; Cars 2; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 and Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon all supposedly benefiting from the three dimensional treatment.
THEATRE & MUSIC
Live at the Beacon
Intriguing original prospects for the summer include Super 8, a supernatural thriller from Steven Spielberg and J. J. Abrams who created Lost; Cowboys and Aliens, another Spielberg produced sci-fi epic starring Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig and then we have Captain America, a superhero movie with Chris Evans and Samuel L. Jackson. It’s sure to be one of those films that will either be very good or very bad. Before that, a British offering that is gathering
PULLING FACES Louise Jameson stars in a one-woman play at the Beacon. As she plays 12 different characters over the course of one hour, you will be guided through a week in presenter Joanne's life as she does battle with her nipped and tucked nemesis, her evil agent and her anti-surgery daughter Rachel. This will surely be an evening of guilty pleasure! Friday, 14th January at 9pm £10 per ticket
serious Oscar buzz is The King’s Speech, starring Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter. Colin Firth is fast establishing himself as the most popular actor from this side of the shores and his presence always guarantees quality in film-making and performance. The King’s Speech will be no exception. Come the end of the year we have the last of the Twilight Saga to look forward to, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Michael Morpurgo’s wonderfully moving book, War Horse. The film stars a very pleasing collection of upcoming British talent and will I think bring a busy year for Mr Spielberg to a satisfactory close.
and flute, she discovered Bob Marley, taught herself to play his songs on the guitar and then began to write her own material. Emily’s fourth studio album is due for release in 2011, but don’t miss out on seeing her live set! Sunday 23rd January at 8pm £10 per ticket
EMILY MAGUIRE Acclaimed singer-songwriter Emily Maguire is best known for her strong lyrics and expressive vocals. Classically trained on the cello, piano
TUNBRIDGE WELLS edition
January 2011 / going out
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EE FR
d E se N ha ary LE WI purFcebru TTSE ealys14th BOOUain monda H m nM F y 2 ly o O everble on la ith ai w av
CALLING ALL COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS! Celebrate Valentines Day with a difference in good ole' Wild West style! Get romancin' with our special Valentines offer of a FREE bottle of house wine with every 2 main meals purchased. With Country & Western music playing in the background to pull those heartstrings, you can't fail to fall head over those cowboy heels! Quote this reference number when making your booking – SGSW 0111
VALENTINES PACKAGE - Why not make a night of it and stay over in one of our 9
themed ranch rooms, which also includes a bottle of house champagne, a box of chocolates and not forgetting a hearty cowboy breakfast the following morning. Stay for one night at £99 per room or book a 2 night stay for £149 available from 11th – 14th February. Call the Sheriff now to make your booking and be sure to tell him it’s the Valentine’s package you wanna book!
www.smith-western.co.uk
★
01892 550750
★ Linden Park Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5QL
Planning ahead
BIRTHDAY SEASON…
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GLAZY DAISY
Have a pottery painting party at Glazy Daisy. Kids can create to their hearts’ content, decorating beautiful ceramics such as plates, mugs or figurines. Other party options include teddy bear making, craft make ‘n’ take and jewellery making. Parties are for a minimum of 6 at £12.50 per child. 01892 519719 www.glazydaisy.com
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ARENA PURSUITS
For the more active kids, try Arena Pursuits. Based on 250 acres overlooking Bewl Water, the company runs exciting half-day junior events, tailored to different age-groups. Activities include team tasks, bush-craft, quad-biking and paintballing. Prices and minimum numbers vary according to type of activity you'd like to book. 01580 879614 www.arenapursuits.com
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t’s a brand-new year and those family birthdays are coming round again very soon. If you’re looking for something different for your kids this year, try out one of these cool party ideas!
TEMPER TEMPER
If you love chocolate (and we bet your kids do, too), then you’ll love this idea. Children from aged 8 upwards can take part in chocolate parties where they mix and make their own chocolate treats in a real-life chocolate factory. Move over Willy Wonka! Parties are for a minimum of 8 children at £25 per child. 01892 538 758 www.tempertemperchocolate.co.uk
TD UITS L PURS HURST, ARENAWELL , WAXDTN5 7PT SSE , FLIM L ANE EAST SU OM MARY E S O UITS.C R PURS 879614 A N E .AR 01580 WWW
TUNBRIDGE WELLS edition
January 2011 / going out
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MONDAY
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TUESDAY
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THURSDAY
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JANUARY 2011 HAPPY NEW YEAR! Make a resolution, break a resolution – whatever! January is here and it's the start of a new year...
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Wednesdays & Sundays at The Grey Lady www. paulduntonandguests.com / www.thegreylady.co.uk
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See page 4 for 50%off winter boots 01892 511651
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EXCHANGE TESCO CLUBCARD POINTS
BURNS’ NIGHT JAZZ!
for Smith & Western vouchers www.smith-western.co.uk
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SALE NOW ON! THROUGHOUT JANUARY
Happy 35th Birthday Ian Poulter!
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SUPERB CANDLELIT SHOWCASES
Only £10.99 www.papajohns.co.uk
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SUNDAY
NEW YEAR'S DAY!
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ANY XL PIZZA
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at the Trinity www.trinitytheatre.net
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STEPHEN K AMOS
BURNS' NIGHT
The Best Medicine at Assembly Hall Theatre www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
Shoes for kids, mums and school 48 St. Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 9NY • 01892 511651
Happy 40th Birthday Clare Balding!
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S ROMANS HORRIBLE HISTORIES – THE AWFUL EGYPTIANS & THE RUTHLES Hall Theatre… from Tuesday 1st until Saturday 5th February at Assembly www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
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beacon LIVE MUSIC FROM EDWINA HAYES!
LET ME IN
showing at the Trinity Theatre www.trinitytheatre.net
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Tickets £10 www.the-beacon.co.uk
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STEAK NIGHT!
ST. VALENTINE'S
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every Friday at The Bull of Brenchley, see page 7 for details www.bullofbrenchley.co.uk
Happy 28th Birthday Agyness Deyn!
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25% OFF LUNCH AT THE BLACK HORSE
3rd Jan - 28th Feb, pop in for details www.blackhorsepembury.co.uk
28 Happy 64th Birthday Stephanie Beacham!
FEBRUARY 2011 GET ROMANTIC! February brings Valentines Day, so why not send a card to that person you’ve been thinking about...
PUL AND L OUT KEE P! Cale n d ADD ar YOU DAT R OWN ES!
www.staygo.co.uk
contact us... sales@staygo.co.uk or call 01892 509 273