So Tunbridge Wells December10

Page 1

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

VR

WIN LAPLAND FAMILY TICKETS

0(55< &+5,670$6 TUNBRIDGE WELLS CELEBRATES THE RETURN OF RETAIL

FROCK PARTY

HOW TO TURN HEADS THIS SEASON

AWESOME AUDI BAGS OF ATTITUDE FROM NEW COUPE

FESTIVE FEASTS SERVED UP BY 12 TOP LOCAL CHEFS

7,0( ,6 021(< THE TEN MOST EXPENSIVE WATCHES IN THE WORLD

DECEMBER 2010 £1.50 SOTUNBRIDGEWELLS.CO.UK

CHERYL COLE WHAT MAKES HER THE MOST TALKED ABOUT WOMAN IN BRITAIN

+HOOR There’s only one way to start this issue – Merry Christmas! And have we got a package of goodies to get you in the festive mood. Busiest people in town right now are the restaurant chefs slaving away in kitchens to create mouth watering Christmas dishes. We asked 12 of the best for their culinary tips on how to make your big day a memorable occasion with our special feature Meals Yule Remember (sorry!). We also offer words of advice on wines to dine for (we just did it again!). To help you look great during the party season we’ve got all the sparkle, shimmer and shine with ideas on everything from cocktail dresses to perfect tresses. One person who probably doesn’t need our help to wow the crowds with her stunning looks is our cover celebrity Cheryl Cole. What makes her the most talked about woman in Britain with a current worth of £10million? Which means she’s more than able to buy one of the time pieces featured in our Top Ten list of the world’s most expensive watches. One of them sold for almost £7million. For that amount of money you could buy nearly all of the prestigious properties on show in our Beautiful Wealden Homes section. Imagine that choice; a wrist watch or half a dozen stunning houses. While we’re on the subject of spending, it seems the green shoots of recovery are now evident in Tunbridge Wells as retail therapy encourages the opening of new businesses. What a nice gift! Also in this issue, gossip about Robbie Williams actually buying a TW home, a twittering session with the police chief and the chance to win a fabulous family day out to see Santa Claus. Pour the mulled wine, sit back and savour the moment.

6R7:

DECEMBER 2010

0RXQW (SKUDLP 5R\DO 7XQEULGJH :HOOV .HQW 71 $$ VDQNH\V#VDQNH\V FR XN ZZZ VDQNH\V FR XN

0HUU\

V D P W V L U K & )URP

7KH RQH SODFH ZLWK UHDO &KULVWPDV SUHVHQFH RSHQ À UHV WR ZDUP \RXU KHDUW VSHFLDOLVW EHHU WR TXHQFK \RXU WKLUVW DQG XQEHDWDEOH VHDIRRG WR URXQG RII \RXU SHUIHFW GD\

'HFHPEHU INSIDE YOUR

5(*8/$56

THIS CHRISTMAS‌

THE LETTERS

What to see, visit and buy during this festive season. How about a snow shovel on a huge wheel? The debate over parental parking continues and Twitter enters the frame.

THE SECRET

We salute Canon Edward Hoare, the “protestant pontiff of TunbridgeWells.�

62&,$/6

THE NEWS The Campaign for Courtesy bemoans the lack of members in TW and car toppling makes an appearance.

THE GOSSIP

BLUES BROTHERS Shady characters aplenty at the Pickering Drop-in Centre charity night at the Spa Hotel. What an event! With a new chef and menu at Thorins, we popped our heads round the door to get some feedback.

)($785(6

WIN!

DECEMBER 2010

COLE FOR CHRISTMAS She’s the most talked about woman in Britain, but just what is it about Cheryl Cole that keeps people hungry for more?

RETURN OF RETAIL The green shoots of an economic recovery are spreading across the town as retail therapy sees new businesses open.

)$6+,21

FASHION INSIDER

PARTY TIME

TIME OUT

OVERALL SUCCESS

Which business woman got it all wrong when the Rolling Stones asked her to “buy some coke.� Family tickets to LaplandUK are up for grabs.. Visit one of the best Christmas events in the country – for free!

How you can contribute to charity and stay on trend plus the ultimate tux and present opening attire. From cocktail dresses to perfect tresses, we’ve got all the sparkle, shimmer and shine you’ll need this Christmas season. What’s on your wrist? Our count down of the world’s Top Ten most expensive watches, collectively worth a cool £12million.

&RYHU LPDJH &KHU\O &ROH FRXUWHV\ RI ,DQ *DYDQ *HWW\ ,PDJHV

ISSUE‌

3(23/(

A REAL TWEET

DEALER TEAM MOTORS

SO MONEY

We ďŹ nd out about the long and the short of Day Trading in the third of our special ďŹ nance features.

We catch up with the town’s Police Chief onTwitter and ďŹ nd out what he loves about TW. Thirty-ďŹ ve staff from Lifestyle Europe are taking part in the town’s half marathon to raise money for charity.

)22' '5,1.

,19(67,1*

VIEWING PLEASURE A combined venture between K College and Whiting & Hammond pubs has created an impressive new restaurant on campus. We went on for a taste.

MEALS YULE LOVE Top local chefs talk us through their perfect Christmas dinner and give us all a few tips on how to get the most from our own meal.

&8/785(

THE GALLERY This month our gallery wall features a range of works available at the Fairfax Gallery Christmas exhibition.

and live up to the original Quattro, one of the ďŹ nest Audi’s ever?

%HDXWLIXO

:($/'(1 +20(6

Step inside some of the most prestigious properties on the local market with a collective value of almost ÂŁ9million; from a double-roundel oast to a barn conversion.

FROM THE WINGS

Our new column dedicated to the town’s theatres. We open with our friends at Trinity Theatre telling us what’s on offer.

027256 RS NICE The new RS 5 certainly talks the talk, but can it walk the walk DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Studio Six, Sussex Mews, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5QJ Tel: 01892 616103 sotunbridgewells.co.uk Publishing Director Nick Moore nick@magazinepeople.co.uk Editorial Director Richard Moore FRSA richard@magazinepeople.co.uk Head of Design Jodie Hulse jodie@magazinepeople.co.uk Designer Erica Price erica@magazinepeople.co.uk Publishing Assistant Phil Glover phil@magazinepeople.co.uk Senior Writer Melissa Woodland melissa@magazinepeople.co.uk Writer Dan Smith dan@magazinepeople.co.uk Deputy Advertisement Manager Amy Lawson amy@magazinepeople.co.uk Account Manager Vikki Hyder vikki@magazinepeople.co.uk Account Manager Charley Petersen charley@magazinepeople.co.uk Sales Executive Jordanne Reville jordanne@magazinepeople.co.uk Contributors Steve Walker Valerie Thacker Nick Woodroof Mirror Image Nancy Cremore

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/SoTWMag

Tel: 01892 740851

Find us on Facebook: SO Tunbridge Wells magazine 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.

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

:RYHO« It seems far less than a year ago that the South East ground to a halt after a number of heavy snow storms. Arguably, we might all have fared better had we been the proud owners of a fleet of Sno Wovels – the device hailed as the world’s safest snow shovel. But don’t take our word for it, because the rather Victorian-looking device has apparently won TIME magazine’s ‘Innovation of the Year Award’, so it’s far from old fashioned. Simply dig in the blade, lift the snow, and cart it (or fling it) away. The Sno Wovel costs just over £130, see wovel.co.uk for details.

7KLV &KULVWPDV 7RS«

9LVLW« The arctic homeland of Father Christmas has returned to Bewl Water for another festive celebration. At Lapland UK children can decorate gingerbread with Mother Christmas, meet husky dogs, see reindeer, send a postcard from a working North Pole post office, make toys with elves and meet the mystical Sami people. Tickets are around 30% less than last year, priced from £44.50 rising to £62.50 per person and are available from laplanduk.co.uk or 0871 620 7063.

Ever felt your tree deserves more from its crowning decoration? If so, check out these truly lavish rustic tin stars. Made from reclaimed metal, they’re decorated and then stressed to give them that worn look. Simply adorn with fairy lights and you’ve instantly got a festive classic. Available in 12”, 22” and huge 44” sizes there’s one for every tree size. The stars range from £25 to £115, see notonthehighstreet.com

4XDII« Join the likes of Tsar Alexander II, Winston Churchill and Kind George V this festive season by enjoying a little Louis XIII Cognac. It takes four generations of Cellar Masters to create a single decanter of Louis XIII, named after the French King who first recognised Cognac as a distinct type of brandy. This £1,500 ‘King of Cognac’, produced by Remy Martin, has legendary length, lasting on the palate for up to an hour with notes of myrrh, plum, honey, sandalwood, honeysuckle, passion fruit and lily. Available from Harrods, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols.

DECEMBER 2010

THIS MONTH

62

:LQ Step through the wardrobe at Hever Castle this December and visit the magical world of Narnia. Join Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy in the castle that’ll be sumptuously decorated with sparkling lights and welcoming log fires. Encounter the much-loved characters of Mr Tumnus, Aslan and the White Witch in a series of charming stories recounting the adventures of Narnia. We’ve managed to get hold of five family passes worth £33 each. To win, either email us on info@magazinepeople.co.uk or send us a postcard (see p.33), with your name, address and phone number marked ‘Hever Castle’. Competition closes December 15, after which the winners will be drawn at random. Standard T’s & C’s apply. The attraction closes December 24. For opening times visit hevercastle.co.uk/christmas

\RX VKRXOG« 5HDG«

:HDU

Listen to This is the ideal book for anyone who’s truly passionate about music. In the words of the author, Alex Ross, it’s a “panoramic view of the musical scene, from Bach to Björk and beyond”. Ross essentially aims to portray music as a way of explaining the world and society, rather than being distinct from it, and hints at how the influence of the classical masters is still prevalent in pop today. With chapters on how the history of music can be told through base lines and the impact of technology on modern music, it’s an enthralling read for audiophiles. Available for £17.50 from Waterstones, TW.

Every girl needs a little gem in her wardrobe that will lift her outfit from ‘so-so’ to ‘wow’. It may be a pair of killer heels to make you feel red carpet ready or a bejewelled cuff that dazzles with every move of your wrist. Designer Fiona Paxton’s new range for House of Fraser has harnessed that need to create a series of stellar pieces guaranteed to impress. Throw this gold chain ‘Bib’ necklace on over even the simplest of black trouser/top combos and you’ll be ready to hit the town. Gold chain ‘Bib’ necklace £260, Fiona Paxton for House of Fraser, Bluewater.

:DWFK«

In our opinion, Inception is a near perfect film. If you didn’t catch it on the big screen over the Summer, make sure you pick it up on Blu-ray this Christmas. With an excellent cast led by Leonardo DiCaprio, the story follows Dom Cobb, an ‘extractor’ whose job it is to steal secrets from people by entering their minds while they dream. On the run from the US government, Cobb is finally offered the chance to go home when he’s hired by a wealthy Japanese businessman to attempt ‘inception’ – planting an idea in someone’s mind, rather than stealing it. Gripping and heartbreaking in equal measures, this is a must-see. £17.99 from hmv.com DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

0DUYHOÂŤ If you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at falconry, Fair Oak Farm in MayďŹ eld has to be one of the best venues at which to give it a go. Their sessions start gently, with the opportunity to get to know a variety of raptors including owls, hawks and falcons. Then, experience the sensation of birds on your glove, witness the display of a bird ying in the valley and learn how to free y an owl or hawk. Marvel, when despite the birds being free to y, they choose to return time and time again. It all starts from ÂŁ50 per person. Visit fairoakfarm.co.uk or call 01435 884 122.

/LVWHQÂŤ

Two year’s after she took the pop world by storm, Duffy now returns with her second studio album. On Endlessly, Duffy will no doubt once more entertain us with more sixties charm and her trademark sultry tones. If it’s anywhere near as successful as Rockferry, her debut album (which sold 6.5million copies), it’ll be a ďŹ ne Christmas for the Welsh lass. Around ÂŁ10 from Ape, TW.

/DXJK To celebrate this magical time of year, Trinity Theatre is putting on a special production of The Adventures of Mr Toad, based on Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind In The Willows. Fantastic costumes and catchy songs make this rendition of the classic tale of Ratty, Moley, Badger and, of course, Mr Toad a great family treat. Performances run from Saturday December 11 to Friday December 31, see trinitytheatre.net or call 01892 678 678.

DECEMBER 2010

*LYHÂŤ In association with the St George’s Community Children’s Project, The Mayor’s Toy appeal will again bring happiness to hundreds of children in and around Tunbridge Wells this December. Collection points have already been set up (see tunbridgewells.gov.uk/ toyappeal) at which you can donate presents to less fortunate local youngsters. Simply pick a label with the details of a needy child then ďŹ nd a suitable present for them, before returning it to the tree by December 11. The gifts will be distributed to the children in time for Christmas Day.

See 2011 arrive in style and make it a night to remember...

Ne

o night dinner n i s a c s r a only e y w

at

ÂŁ80 PER PERSON Price includes 6 course gourmet meal, champagne at midnight, free black jack and roulette tables. Party tables available for 2-10 people. Dress Code: For the occasion no jeans or trainers.

For reservations please call 01892 520587 1 Warwick Park Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 5TA info@brewhousehotel.com www.brewhousehotel.com

THIS MONTH

1RPLQDWH«

62

This is the time of year when we are most likely to think of others, such as the 1,500 children diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK. Thanks to the work of charities like Cancer Research UK, three quarters survive, compared to the 1960s statistics of one in four. To recognise the incredible battles many children face Cancer Research UK have launched Little Stars, an award that sees each nominated child receive a chrome trophy and a certificate, signed by one of a host of stars from the worlds of TV, music and sport. Below Konnie Huq, Andy Akinwolere and Stacey Solomon are joined by Eastenders actors with some of last years little stars. To nominate someone you know, email littlestar@cancer.org.uk or visit cancerresearchuk. org/littlestar

%XUQ« One of the country’s most celebrated Winter solstice festivals, Burning the Clocks, takes place just down the road in Brighton and attracts more than 20,000 people. If you haven’t enjoyed the night’s entertainment before, get involved on Tuesday December 21. It’s well worth a trip. With a procession of lanterns and costumes made from willow canes and white tissue, it’s as surreal as it is magical and the carnival atmosphere is one of the best in Brighton’s impressive calendar. See burningtheclocks.co.uk for details.

(QMR\« Local and Live has been a part of the TW Summertime for a number of years. On Saturday December 4, the first Local and Live Winter concert will be held at the Assembly Halls to help raise funds for next year’s August event. The Paul Dunton Orchestra Band will be joined by The Charlie Rivers Band in an evening that will see an orchestral vibe laid over more modern singer/songwriter style music. Tickets are £10 and available by emailing paul@pauldunton.co.uk or calling 07872 334 803.

:RQGHU« In the biggest park in London you can visit what has to be the biggest Christmas themed outing in the country. Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a truly spectacular Winter celebration, with London’s largest ice rink, a giant observation wheel, circuses and continental food and drink stalls. Entrance is free, but attractions cost from £4.50 for kids and £8 for adults. To book in advance visit hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

forget to buy your Most importantly, don’t ion to their favourite loved one a subscript 11! 62 local magazine for 20 DECEMBER 2010

OPENING DOORS FOR YOU IN 2011... :RRG 3LOFKHU KDYH KDG D YHU\ VXFFHVVIXO µRSHQLQJ GRRUV¶ IRU WKHLU PDQ\ &OLHQWV ZKHWKHU LW ZDV EX\LQJ RU UHQWLQJ D QHZ KRPH VWDUWLQJ D EXVLQHVV LQ QHZ FRPPHUFLDO SUHPLVHV RU ¿ QGLQJ WKH LGHDO SORW RI ODQG RQ ZKLFK WR EXLOG D GUHDP KRPH 0DQ\ SHRSOH DUH QRZ VWDUWLQJ WR SODQ IRU WKH \HDU DKHDG DQG ZLWK WKH ZHDOWK RI H[SHULHQFH EHWZHHQ RXU 3DUWQHUV DQG 6WDII LQ WKH SURSHUW\ LQGXVWU\ ZH ZRXOG ZHOFRPH WKH RSSRUWXQLW\ WR DVVLVW \RX DQG EH GHOLJKWHG WR µRSHQ D QHZ GRRU IRU \RX¶ LQ

:H ZLVK \RX D 0HUU\ &KULVWPDV DQG D +DSS\ 1HZ <HDU

01892 511 211 ZZZ ZRRGDQGSLOFKHU FR XN +LJK 6WUHHW 7XQEULGJH :HOOV .HQW 71 87

LETTERS

6R WHOO XV Z KDW \RX WKLQN LETTER OF THE MONTH 6LU :H DUH WROG WKDW ZH¡UH LQ WKH JULS RI D SODJXH RI PRWKV WKH PDLQ FXOSULW EHLQJ WKH FRPPRQ FORWKHV PRWK DQG WKDW ZKHQ ZH XQSDFN RXU :LQWHU ZRROOLHV ZH FRXOG EH LQ IRU D ELJ VXUSULVH 0LJKW , VXJJHVW D VROXWLRQ WKDW ZRUNV IRU PH DQG P\ IULHQGV" )ROG \RXU ZRROOHQV LQWR VPDOO EXQGOHV DQG WKHQ SXW WKHP LQ WKH PLFURZDYH IRU DERXW VHFRQGV $Q\ PRWK HJJV RU ODUYDH LQ WKH JDUPHQWV ZLOO EH FRRNHG WR GHDWK Sir, The woman who believes that mums today do not deserve reserved parking bays outside supermarkets (November) is completely missing the point. In her younger days you were probably not required to carry children in car safety seats as you must now do. In order to remove a child from the safety seat it is necessary to open the car door extremely wide meaning you need extra space in any parking bay as with the ones that are reserved. Pauline Jackson (Via email)

Ed: I just knew we were right not to express an opinion on this one.

6LU 7KHUH LV D JURZLQJ WUHQG DPRQJ EURDGFDVWHUV DQG SROLWLFLDQV WR GHVFULEH RXU FRXQWU\ DV WKH 8. DOWKRXJK WKH\ DFWXDOO\ GHVFULEH LW DV ´<RR .D\¾ $P , WKH RQO\ SHUVRQ ZKR EHOLHYHV LW GHPHDQV RXU &RXQWU\ E\ GHVFULELQJ LW LQ MXVW WZR OHWWHUV" *HRUJH 5REHUWV 9LD HPDLO

(G <RX DUH QRW D ORQH YRLFH 7KHUH DUH WZR RI XV QRZ

62

If your letter is chosen by the Editor as the Letter of the Month, you’ll win a Bespoke Aromatherapy Massage at THE CHAPEL worth £75

<RX VKRXOG UHSHDW WKLV HYHU\ \HDU EHWZHHQ WKH PRQWKV RI 2FWREHU DQG 'HFHPEHU .DWKHULQH 3HWHUVHQ 9LD HPDLO

(G %HIRUH WU\LQJ WKLV DW KRPH PDNH VXUH \RX DUH IXOO\ LQVXUHG %HWWHU VWLOO MXVW EX\ D QHZ MXPSHU

Sir, How great to see the new styles and fashions available right here in Tunbridge Wells (TW Fashion Week/ November). It makes you realise how lucky we are without having to jump on a train and go up to London. Hopefully it will become at least an annual event. Sarah Geoffrey Tunbridge Wells

Ed: We very much hope it does become a regular in our social calendar.

6LU , MXVW FDQ¡W UHVLVW OHWWLQJ \RX NQRZ DERXW D UDWKHU IXQQ\ VD\LQJ , RYHUKHDUG LQ D ORFDO SXE UHFHQWO\ ´,I DW ILUVW \RX GRQ¡W VXFFHHG GRQ¡W WU\ VN\ GLYLQJ ¾ 3HWHU -DFNVRQ 9LD HPDLO

(G /HW PH JXHVV \RX ZULWH MRNHV IRU ;PDV FUDFNHUV We accept Letters to the Editor by e-mail: (G /HW PH JXHVV \RX ZULWH MRNHV richard@magazinepeople.co.uk or post to SoTW, Studio Six, IRU ;PDV FUDFNHUV Sussex Mews, The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5QJ. Letters must carry full names and contact details. Letters may be edited for publication.

AND SOME RESPONSES TO OUR TWITTER ACTIVITY... LadyMPresents LadyM loved your twitter interview – such a great concept – always up for a twinterview about LadyM & fashion blogging in TW ankertw Anke CHECK out the front cover of SO Tunbridge Wells Magazine, I’m on it!!! Two whole pages inside too! Angela_TMEys AngelaWard would you like Emma from Creaseys to answer your Twitter questions? charitystyle Debbie Attwood Can ďŹ nd some amazing gifts in Twells charity shops – see www. thatcharitystyle.com Tweet us via twitter.com/SoTWMag D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0

Sponsored by

NEWS

62

$1' 12: )25

7+( 1(:6« OUR MONTHLY LOOK AT SOME OF THE STORIES MAKING THE HEADLINES

CIVIC UNREST A new pressure group as been launched in Tunbridge Wells to spearhead the fight to save civic buildings, including the Town Hall, from being redeveloped. It’s independent of all political parties and is called Shouts – Saving the Heart of Tunbridge Wells. The move is designed to bring together individuals and groups such as the Over Fifties Forum, the Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Society. Organisers hope to build on the success of the petition, signed by 3,500 people in two weeks, calling for an open debate on the Borough Council’s plans to develop the town centre. There were angry scenes when members of the public were shut out from the Town Hall when the petition was presented, on the grounds they could not all be accommodated.

ALARMING FACT Firefighters across Kent might stop responding to automated alarms as part of a cost cutting package aimed at saving £4million a year. Over a five year period they turned out almost 30,000 times to answer automated fire alarms. Only 551 were actual fires. Lovat Insurance Brokers 'Hold the front page – we've got it covered.' Lovatins.co.uk

COMMON COURTESY

CLIFF HANGER

The National Campaign for Courtesy is somewhat baffled that it has no actual members in Tunbridge Wells. “Your town used to be the English capital of politeness,” explains Chairman Peter Foot. “It’s where retired colonels wrote complaining letters to the newspapers but now we don’t have a single member from your area.” The organisation was originally known as the Polite Society and was set up in 1986 to promote “good manners, respect for yourself and others and rejection of antisocial behaviour.” Today the Campaign, which used to have TW supporters, has high profile members such as June Whitfeld and Esther Rantzen.

Pembury resident Victor Rust (47) is something of an expert on Cliff Richard. He spent seven hours a day for two months listening intently to each of the singer’s 1,200 songs in order to produce a book titled: Cliff Richard Recording Catalogue 1958-2010. His labour of love runs to 678 pages and itemises which instruments were being used. It also relates stories behind the music and describes how various tracks were put together. The former bass player with the London Philharmonic Choir, who has already sold 100 copies of the book on the internet, says it was “pleasurable but also very hard work.” He believes he has found a niche in the market.

AFFAIRS MATTER A website that encourages married men and women to be unfaithful claims to have almost 1,000 members in Tunbridge Wells with a further 247 in Tonbridge and a total of 11,400 throughout the county. Leading local church figures have condemned the site which boasts of being “a discreet extra marital affairs dating service.” Father Leo Mooney of St Dunstan’s in Southborough says:”I don’t think people nowadays take marriage seriously, they don’t take sex seriously either.”

ROLL OVER It’s every driver’s worst nightmare. You return to your parked car only to find some kind souls have rolled it onto its side. That’s exactly what happened to one unfortunate motorist who left their vehicle on Tunbridge Wells Common. “My car was parked three cars in front of the toppled Fiat,” says Steve Grech who took the picture. “The road down from Mount Edgcumbe is notorious for car thefts and break-ins and now car toppling! “Although I felt sorry for the poor owner of the car it did add a little more excitement to my 10 minute commute to work.” A police spokesman says: “Thankfully we still have some of the lowest crime in Kent and this sort of mindless damage is not common.” DECEMBER 2010

CONFIDENTIAL

62

NOTHING OUR ATTEESCAPES NTION

CONFIDENTIA L

:K\

is Robbie Williams li shortly? B kely to be ecause he back in th has boug Wells afte e local ne ht a home r all. Rum ws close to T ours were was repor unbridge rife a few ted to be weeks ag buying Bre of his Wilts o when he nchley Ma hire pile fo nor after r ÂŁ8millio Seems, th the sale n. The rum ough, the ours were singer po on a place denied. p p ed back a , although nd struck we’re not a deal saying on what or w h e re. business is considerin because o g scrappin f the antic g its Chris s of certain last bash. tmas part senior me Seems a c y m b o ers of staff u ple of them tried to be at their (one male come a ta d too frien the other The idea is female) dly with so to blame a me of the ny cancell climate: “N lo w e r ranks. a ti on on the ot the don current ec e thing to around.â€? T o n b omic e seen to he reality be splashin is the fear the pair. g money of a forma l complain t against

:KLFK

:K\ did we receive

:K\ KDYH K DLUGUHVVHUV LQ WKH WRZQ JRW W KHLU FXUOH UV LQ D WZLVW" %HF DXVH VRPH RI WKHP WKLQN ZH U HYHDOHG WKH LU VHFUHW SODQV 1RYH PEHU WR R SHQ VDORQV LQ RWKHU DUH DV 0RVW X SVHW WKH\ DUH )RU WK H UHFRUG W KH VWRU\ DFWXDOO\ F RQFHUQHG V RPHRQH Z UHJXODUO\ D KR WWHQGV FKD SHO

OUR? M U ALh R ells.co.uk I T N IDE roug gew COtNuFs knowl@thsotunbrid Le dentia conďŹ

oman, working in :KLFK buwsinoresldsw d of , got the wrong en

the property once e Rolling Stones the stick when th e m out and “buy so asked her to pop n with back loaded dow coke�? She came ement much to the amus cans of the stuff r of inted out the erro of the lads who po ver ne e them promise her buys. She mad W n. hat such a thing agai to ask her do so naughty boys!

WKUXVWLQJ :KR ZDV WKH HWWLQJ ZRUNPHQ DW SV HQWUHSUHQHXU X VWDWLRQ WKH RWKHU OV HO 7XQEULGJH : HG XS RXWVLGH DW OO )ULGD\" +H SX QLQJ RQO\ WR GLVFRYHU RU P H HG LQ WK HU IUHVKO\ SDLQW KH KDG GULYHQ RYNLQJ WKH SDUNLQJ ZKLWH OLQHV PDU HUH XQKDSS\ DW Z ED\V 7KH PHQ KDYLQJ WR VWDUW WKH RI W JK GD\ WKH WKRX HU DJDLQ RQ 0RQ SURFHVV DOO RY SDLQW RYHU WKH VW WKH\ FDQ›W MX X NQRZ 7KH PDQ \R NV DU P O HH K DW WKH Z RQ WRR SOHDVHG Q DV KLPVHOI Z KLV W\UHV ZKLWH SDLQW RQ

calls from a couple of anxious young ladies the other day? Both thought they were the person involved in our tale last month about the woman caught in a compromising position in the upstairs room of a TW pub. Each asked us not to reveal their identity, something we would never do. Anyway it was neither of them, although we now know who to keep an eye on.

in :K\ are shop keeperofsLis a

Crowborough big fans Marie Presley? Because the daughter of Elvis has taken to popping into the town (from her nearby mansion in RotherďŹ eld) particularly when shopping for clothes for like her twin daughters at places s hope her Trendy Little Angels. Trader k shoppers. presence will pull in star-struc DECEMBER 2010

0)%()6&3%6( +30* %-17 83 6%-7) 3:)6 *36 &&' ',-0(6)2 -2 2))( 7KH /HDGHUERDUG *ROI *URXS KDV UDLVHG IRU %%& &KLOGUHQ LQ 1HHG WKURXJK FKDULW\ JROI GD\V DQG VSHFLDO HYHQWV VLQFH DQG WKLV \HDU KRSHV WR UHDFK LWV WDUJHW RI EUHDNLQJ WKH EDUULHU IRU WKH FKDULW\ /HDGHUERDUG RZQV DQG RSHUDWHV RI 6RXWK (DVW (QJODQG·V À QHVW JROI FRXUVHV DOO RI ZKLFK ZLOO EH KROGLQJ IXQGUDLVLQJ HYHQWV LQ WKH ZHHN OHDGLQJ XS WR &KLOGUHQ LQ 1HHG GD\ RQ )ULGD\ WK 1RYHPEHU LQ DQ HIIRUW WR UHDFK WKHLU WDUJHW DPRXQW DQG GR WKHLU ELW WR VXSSRUW WKH 8.·V GLVDGYDQWDJHG FKLOGUHQ &KDUW +LOOV LQ .HQW ZLOO EH KROGLQJ D FKDULW\ JROI GD\ RQ 7KXUVGD\ WK 1RYHPEHU WKH GD\ EHIRUH %%& &KLOGUHQ LQ 1HHG GD\ JLYLQJ FRPSHWLWRUV EUHDNIDVW RQ DUULYDO KROHV RI JROI RQ WKH IDEXORXV FRXUVH GHVLJQHG E\ 6LU 1LFN )DOGR DQG D FRXUVH PHDO WR HQG WKH GD\ 7KH FOXE KRSHV WR UHSHDW WKH VXFFHVV RI SUHYLRXV \HDUV DQG UDLVH D VLJQLÀ FDQW DPRXQW WRZDUG WKH /HDGHU ERDUG JUDQG WRWDO 0HDQZKLOH 'DOH +LOO +RWHO DQG *ROI &OXE LQ (DVW 6XVVH[ KHOG D KXJHO\ VXFFHVVIXO IXQGUDLVLQJ HYHQW RQ )ULGD\ WK 1RYHPEHU UDLVLQJ DQ LPSUHVVLYH RQ D GD\ WKDW LQFOXGHG JROI FRPSHWLWLRQV D FKDULW\ DXFWLRQ DQ HYHQLQJ PHDO DQG D SHUVRQDO YLVLW IURP 3XGVH\ %HDU KLPVHOI ZKHQ WKH %%& &KLOGUHQ LQ 1HHG WHDP GURSSHG E\ IRU D YLVLW 7KH PXFK ORYHG PDVFRW HYHQ WRRN SDUW LQ D ¶EHDW WKH SUR· FRPSHWLWLRQ PXFK WR WKH HQMR\PHQW RI VWDII DQG YLVLWRUV RQ VLWH DQG KDG D JROI OHVVRQ IURP /HDGHUERDUG *ROI &KDLUPDQ 3DXO *LEERQV 7KH 2[IRUGVKLUH QHDU 7KDPH ZLOO EH KROGLQJ D IDQWDVWLF FKDULW\ ¶*ROI

&ODVVLF· HYHQW LQ DWWHPSW WR EULQJ LQ DV PXFK PRQH\ DV SRVVLEOH IRU &KLOGUHQ LQ 1HHG 7DNLQJ SODFH RQ )ULGD\ WK 1RYHPEHU WKLV GD\ LV RSHQ WR PHPEHUV DQG QRQ PHPEHUV DOLNH $V ZHOO DV JROI WKH GD\ ZLOO LQFOXGH EUHDNIDVW FRPSHWLWLRQ SUL]HV DQG D FRXUVH PHDO IROORZHG E\ DQ DXFWLRQ DQG UDIÁ H WR UDLVH HYHQ PRUH PRQH\ IRU GLVDGYDQWDJHG \RXQJ SHRSOH WKURXJKRXW WKH 8. 6DQGIRUG 6SULQJV *ROI &OXE LQ +DPSVKLUH LV SODQQLQJ LWV FKDULW\ HYHQW GD\ WR FRLQFLGH ZLWK &KLOGUHQ LQ 1HHG GD\ LWVHOI RQ )ULGD\ WK 1RYHP EHU &RPSHWLWRUV ZLOO EH ZRUNLQJ KDUG WR UDLVH PRQH\ WRZDUG WKH WDUJHW ZLWK QXPHURXV RQ FRXUVH FRPSHWLWLRQV EUHDNIDVW DQG D FRXUVH OXQFK IRU DOO FRPSHWLWRUV DV ZHOO DV UDIÁ HV DXFWLRQV DQG PXFK PRUH ² DOO LQ WKH QDPH RI VXSSRUWLQJ %%& &KLOGUHQ LQ 1HHG ZLWK WKHLU YDULRXV SURMHFWV DURXQG WKH 8. /HDGHUERDUG KRSHV WR DQQRXQFH LWV À QDO IXQGUDLVLQJ À JXUH DW SP RQ )ULGD\ WK 1RYHPEHU ZZZ OHDGHUERDUGJROI FR XN )RU IXUWKHU LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW /HDGHUERDUG *ROI·V IXQGUDLVLQJ HIIRUWV IRU %%& &KLOGUHQ LQ 1HHG 3OHDVH FRQWDFW /\QVH\ +DGGRZ DW 'HOLEHUDWH 35 O\QVH\#GHOLEHUDWH SU FRP ç ç

'DOH +LOO PRUH WKDQ MXVW D JROI FOXE (EPI ,MPP ,SXIP ERH +SPJ 'PYF 8MGILYVWX ;EHLYVWX )EWX 7YWWI\ 82 (5 8IP ` *E\ IQEMP /IPP] PSY[$HEPILMPP GS YO

[[[ HEPILMPP GS YO

[[[ PIEHIVFSEVHKSPJ GS YO

SOCIAL

62

ORYH

%URWKHUO\

DARK GLASSES WERE THE ORDER OF THE DAY WHEN PICKERING CANCER DROP IN CENTRE STAGED A FUND RAISING EVENING AT THE SPA HOTEL IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS. MORE THAN 230 GUESTS WERE ENTERTAINED BY THE “BLUES BROTHERS LITTLE BROTHER” AND HELPED RAISE MORE THAN £4,000 FOR THE CHARITY WHICH NEEDS AT LEAST £40,000 A YEAR TO KEEP ITS DOORS OPEN. CO-FOUNDER POLLY TAYLOR SAYS: “IT WAS OUR BEST EVENT YET. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT AND WE OWE MUCH OF THAT TO OUR MOST GENEROUS SPONSORS.” THOSE SPONSORS INCLUDE THE ‘BLUES BROTHERS’ THEMSELVES, THE SPA HOTEL, SAINSBURY’S, SMIFFY’S, SIGNAL UK AND TOWN & COUNTRY HOUSING GROUP. PHOTOGRAPHY MIRROR IMAGE

DECEMBER 2010

62 S O C I A L

6XFFHVV

2YHUDOO

CLIENTS AND CUSTOMERS AT THORINS, NEAR THE PANTILES, GOT A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME AS NEW HEAD CHEF GRAEME OVERALL UNVEILED THE RE-DESIGNED MENU. MINIATURE CANAPE-STYLE VERSIONS OF STARTERS, MAINS AND DESSERTS WERE SAMPLED AND GRAEME TOOK TIME TO MEET HIS CLIENTELE AND TAKE FEEDBACK ON HIS CREATIONS. PHOTOGRAPHY ARRON HOLLANDS

D E C E M B E R

2010

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

62

A globee full of memories! London, Paris, New York, Rome.. everyone has a favourite city Choose yours Please come and visit us at Royal Victoria Place, lower level in the concourse between HMV and BHS ‘A beautiful as well as educational gift to treasure those memories’ s Pricem fro y onl

£15

DECEMBER 2010

WIN WIN

FATHER CHRISTMAS IS COMING TO TOWN AND WE’RE GIVING AWAY THE CHANCE TO SEE HIM AND HIS ELVES AT LAPLANDUK – THE AWARDWINNING CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE AT THE WINTER WONDERLAND OF BEWL WATER NEAR LAMBERHURST.

:

62

TICKETS TO LAPLANDUK WORTH £500

e’ve got a couple of family tickets for use on Friday December 17 which means two lucky families can enjoy all the fun of Father Christmas’ arctic homeland, right here in Kent.

While Father Christmas and his little helpers prepare for the big day, you can pay him a visit and pop into the North Pole post office to lend the elves a hand. There’s also tasty gingerbread to decorate in Mother Christmas’ kitchen and an ice rink to enjoy. You can even meet husky dogs, reindeer and the mystical Sami, the indigenous people of Lapland. Each child will have a personal meeting with Father Christmas himself in his snowy forest log cabin and, as is tradition at LaplandUK, all children will receive a collectable husky puppy soft toy dog. This year it’s called ‘Joki’ which means River in Finnish. And it could not be simpler to enter the competition. For your chance to win a family ticket, just send an email with ‘So LaplandUK’ in the subject field to phil@magazinepeople.co.uk with your name, address and phone number. Alternatively, send a postcard to: SoTW, Studio Six, Sussex Mews, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5QJ LaplandUK is open between December 4 and 24 2010. For booking information visit laplanduk.co.uk Please advise on your entry if you would prefer not to be contacted in the future by So Tunbridge Wells or LaplandUK. Ensure you include your full name, address, phone number and email address. The closing date for entries is 12th December 2010 at which point the winner will be drawn at random. All standard competition Terms and Conditions of So Tunbridge Wells apply. One entry per person per household. Entrants must be 18 or over. The prize includes one family ticket to LaplandUK per winner, for the Friday 17th December 9.00am slot only. Dates and time slots are not transferable. A family ticket is for four people and must include at least one child (up to and including age 16). Prior to the visit, the winners will be required to provide information about the children in the party for their visit to Father Christmas. No cash alternative. Prize does not include transport to or from LaplandUK. The winner will be notified by e-mail within 2 days of the closing date. In the event that a winner cannot be contacted by email within 2 days a substitute winner will be drawn and the original winner will forfeit the prize. No purchase necessary. The Editor’s decision is final.

DECEMBER 2010

G 8 B H G ? F > ( 62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

&ROH IRU

WORDS DAN SMITH

NOTHING DIVIDES THE NATION QUITE THE SAME AS CHERYL COLE. LIKE MARMITE, YOU EITHER LOVE HER OR HATE HER. BUT ONE THING’S FOR SURE, YOU CAN’T IGNORE HER. AS SHE ONCE AGAIN DOMINATES THE MUSIC CHARTS, WE ASK: WHAT LIES BEHIND THE CHERYL COLE PHENOMENON?

She always wanted to be a singer and – having entered numerous beauty competitions and talent shows as a teenager – finally struck gold when she won a place in Girls Aloud, the pop group formed on Popstars: The Rivals, the 2002 reality TV show. The girl group would dominate the UK charts for almost ten years, with a string of 20 consecutive top ten hits, mirroring the success of The Spice Girls in the previous decade. With Cheryl as the natural front girl, it wasn’t long before she was hot property in the eyes of the media. Her 2006 marriage to one of the country’s top footballers, Ashley Cole, only further cemented her fame. Today, Cheryl is an ad man’s dream, with numerous endorsement contracts including L’Oreal, Barbie, Nintendo

DECEMBER 2010

and Samsung. With her own solo career and a number one selling single and album, she’s also a judge on Simon Cowell’s The X Factor and is worth more than £10million. But the woman who was voted FHM’s Sexiest Woman in the World still divides opinion. Express your thoughts on the 27-year-old Geordie in a room full of people and, no matter who they are, you’re sure to get some form of impassioned response. It’s even been a topic of furious contention here in the So office. (This is issue 33 of the magazine and we have talked about having her on the cover since issue 22.) There are people who adore her and staunchly defend ‘the nation’s new sweetheart’, saying she’s a hugely talented singer and universally-loved TV personality. Then again there are those who just don’t get it and merely see a career built on savvy PR. Like her or not, everyone has an opinion on Cheryl Cole. “It’s my reality,” she said recently of her life. “But to other people it’s their entertainment.” One person who’s in part responsible for her meteoric rise to fame is Simon Cowell. Since the early days he’s been a strong proponent of her work as a recording artist and TV

W

7

o understand what’s turned Cheryl (Tweedy) Cole into one of the biggest names in Britain today, you need to understand her background. Born and raised on a council estate in Newcastle upon Tyne, she came from a working class family. Her parents split up when she was 11 and Cheryl was brought up largely by her mother, Joan, to whom she remains close.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

CHERYL COLE

DECEMBER 2010

62

<285 6(&5(7 5(75($7

&KULVWPDV *LIW 9RXFKHUV IRU 3DPSHULQJ DQG 0HPEHUVKLS

%H WUHDWHG WR D IUHH PDVVDJH RU UHMXYHQDWLQJ IDFLDO ZLWK HDFK PRQWK PHPEHUVKLS Â…

&RPSOLPHQWDU\ FDQGOHOLW VSD EDWK ZLWK HYHU\ PDVVDJH Â…

‡ )LWQHVV &HQWUH ‡ 6SD 6DXQD ‡ <RJD DQG 3LODWHV ‡ 6NL )LW &ODVVHV ‡ &LUFXLWV %RG\ 3XPS ‡ +HDWHG 1DWXUDO 6SULQJ :DWHU 3RRO ‡ +ROLVWLF +HDOWK ‡ $\XUYHGD ‡ 0DVVDJH ‡ 5HLNL ‡ +DLU %HDXW\ ‡ .LQHVLRORJ\ ‡ 3DPSHU 'D\V 2SHQLQJ WLPHV 0RQ )UL DP SP ‡ 6DW DP SP ‡ 6XQ DP SP :DGKXUVW 5RDG )UDQW .HQW 71 (-

&DOO IRU \RXU DSSRLQWPHQW WRGD\

ZZZ NQRZOHJUDQJH FR XN

CHERYL COLE

“Simon is one of the most important people in my life,” she told Piers Morgan on her highly publicised ITV interview. “One, he changed my life, but most importantly he gets it. He gets me like nobody else and I’ve never met anybody like that before.” The man himself said: “She’s got a great heart, Cheryl. That’s why people like her.” And, regarding her position as a judge on The X Factor he’s revealed: “I knew she was going to be good because she speaks like normal people speak. People can relate to that. And I think that is the best sign of a judge.” Cowell knows television as good as anyone and understands that it’s this ‘normality’ that’s seen her rise to the peak of stardom. Sure, she’s a talented performer. Yes, behind her is an incredible PR machine, but take away her likeability and personality, and there would be no Cheryl Cole. She’s the new “People’s Princess” because she’s one of them. She’s the nation’s sweetheart because, whether you like it or not, she personifies the nation. The high regard in which she’s held – maybe ‘adored’ is a better word – has never been more evident than earlier this year when her troubled relationship with Ashley Cole came to an end.

Since 2008 rumors and allegations regarding his apparent infidelity with a number of women had been circulated in the media, culminating in the pair splitting in February 2010. Cheryl filed for divorce in May and the British public and press alike voiced their unequivocal support for the singer. They identified with her and what she was going through. “When your heart’s breaking, your heart’s breaking,” she said recently. “It makes no difference what either of you do.” As the nation rallied behind her, speculating whether Cheryl would find happiness with either one of two men she is linked with (rapper Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas fame and Derek Hough, the professional dancer), she was struck down with a mystery illness. In July, while holidaying in Tanzania with Derek Hough, Cheryl contracted a deadly strain of the infectious disease Malaria. On her return to the UK she collapsed after a Vogue photo shoot. In a move that some speculate may have saved his friend’s life, Hough urged her to seek medical advice. “He’s an amazing, amazing person,” she told Piers Morgan. “I can never repay him for that… it’s my life.” Her condition became so bad that at her lowest point she was informed by doctors that she might not pull through. “I was just so weak and sick I was actually thinking: if it’s going to happen, please hurry up.” Her face was so swollen that her mother could barely see her DECEMBER 2010

W

personality, hiring her as a judge on the fifth series of The X Factor in June 2008.

62

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

eyes, she had no kidney functions and her organs were beginning to shut down. The nation held its breath for the most talked about woman in the country. “You wouldn’t believe the support I’ve had from the public,� she said later. “And it makes me strong.� Slowly, she began to recover and today declares she feels 95 per cent healthy. With a chart topping album, a No.1 selling single and her reclaimed place on The X Factor panel alongside Simon Cowell, Danni Minogue and Louis Walsh she’s looking forward to starting 2011 afresh. And so, to answer our initial question: What lies behind the Cheryl Cole phenomenon? She’s a talented, attractive young woman who is (and this is most important) a down-to-earth, honest ‘girl next door’ who carries herself with dignity. A nice person!

Cheryl Cole By Numbers Tattoos: 4 Chihuahuas: 2 Height: 5ft 3ins Measurements: 34-23-33 Solo Albums: 2

Worth: ÂŁ10million Siblings: 3 Divorces: 1 Breast Implants: 0 Media stories per day: 50

Cheryl Cole In her own words: “When you’re going through stuff or turmoil, whatever, I don’t wake up in the morning and think, ‘the world loves me’. Nah!â€? “I tend to shop mostly online because I feel like the whole thing of shopping is actually really stressful. Just the lighting in dressing rooms makes you feel depressed.â€? “I don’t think I’m a style icon.â€? “I absolutely love my tattoos. The girls and I decided that the next time Girls Aloud have a No. 1, we’ll all get one done.â€? “It’s got to the point now where the pap (photographers) are intimidating‌ it’s not fun anymore.â€? “I’m still a person, I’m still getting divorced‌ it hurts, it’s embarrassing, it’s life.â€? “If there’s a party I’ll be there. That’s what I’m all about.â€? “I’m not saintly at all. I do have a toughness. That’s what’s embedded in us, to be tough.â€? “Footballers wives are just as bad as beneďŹ t scroungers. These women have nannies, they don’t cook or clean, and never do a day’s work. What kind of aspiration is that?â€? “Don’t show my feet, don’t put the camera on my feet. A lot of people have foot fetishes, but they wouldn’t have them over mine.â€?

DECEMBER 2010

“FOOTBALLERS’ WIVES ARE JUST AS BAD AS BENEFIT SCROUNGERS. THESE WOMEN HAVE NANNIES, THEY DON’T COOK OR CLEAN, AND NEVER DO A DAY’S WORK. WHAT KIND OF ASPIRATION IS THAT?�

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

62

tĞ Žī Ğƌ͗ ͻ dŽŽƚŚ ĐŽůŽƵƌĞĚ͕ ƚŽdžŝŶͲĨƌĞĞ͕ ŵĞƌĐƵƌLJ ĨƌĞĞ Į ůůŝŶŐƐ ͻ ^ĂĨĞ ƌĞŵŽǀĂů ŽĨ ŵĞƌĐƵƌLJ ĂŵĂůŐĂŵƐ ƵƐŝŶŐ ĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞ ĐůŝŶŝĐĂů ƉƌĞĐĂƵƟ ŽŶƐ ͻ ŝŽ ĐŽŵƉĂƟ ďůĞ ĐƌŽǁŶƐ ĂŶĚ ďƌŝĚŐĞƐ ͻ KƌĂů ƐƵƌŐĞƌLJͬŐƵŵͬƉĞƌŝŽĚŽŶƚĂů ƚƌĞĂƚŵĞŶƚƐ ͻ /ŵƉůĂŶƚŽůŽŐLJ ͻ ,LJŐŝĞŶĞ ͻ džƚƌĂĐƟ ŽŶ ĨƌĞĞ ĨƵůůͲĨĂĐĞ ŽƌƚŚŽƉĂĞĚŝĐ ŽƌƚŚŽĚŽŶƟ ĐƐ ͻ ,ŽůŝƐƟ Đ ĚĞŶƟ ƐƚƌLJ ͻ ^ĂŵĞ ĚĂLJ ĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐLJ ĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚƐ ͻ ŽƐŵĞƟ Đ ĚĞŶƚĂů ŵĂŬĞŽǀĞƌƐ ͻ dŽŽƚŚ ǁŚŝƚĞŶŝŶŐ ͻ ^ĞĚĂƟ ŽŶ tĞ ĐŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĂŶƐǁĞƌ ƚŽ ƚŚŽƐĞ ƉĞƌƐŝƐƚĞŶƚ ŚĞĂĚ͕ ŶĞĐŬ͕ ĂŶĚ ďĂĐŬ ƉĂŝŶ ƉƌŽďůĞŵƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŶŽ ĂŵŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƌĂƉLJ ĐĂŶ ƉĞƌŵĂŶĞŶƚůLJ ĐƵƌĞ͘ /Ĩ LJŽƵ ĨĞĞů ƚŚĂƚ ƉƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞƐ ŽĨ ĚĞŶƟ ƐƚƌLJ ůĞĂǀĞ ŵĂŶLJ ƋƵĞƐƟ ŽŶƐ ƵŶĂŶƐǁĞƌĞĚ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ĐĂůů ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ĂŶ ĂƉƉŽŝŶƚŵĞŶƚ͘ tĞ ĐĂŶ ĞdžƚĞŶĚ ŽƵƌ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ Ɵ ŵĞƐ ƚŽ Į ƚ LJŽƵƌ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ͘ ǀĞŶŝŶŐƐ ĂŶĚ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJƐ ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞĚ͘

%22. $ -(66,&$ *(//(5$7,21 /8;85< 0$1,&85( $1' 5(&(,9( $ )5(( -(66,&$ 32/,6+ 72 7$.( $:$< :,7+ <28 /DVWV IRU ZHHNV QR FKLSSLQJ JLYHV FRQVWDQW VWUHQJWK DQG VKLQH DQG HDVLO\ UHPRYHG >VY[O ¶ VU ZLSLJ[LK WVW\SHY JVSV\YZ VUS` 7SLHZL X\V[L º=- » ^OLU IVVRPUN 6MMLY ]HSPK \U[PS Z[ +LJLTILY

*HTKLU 9VHK ;\UIYPKNL >LSSZ ;5 8A ]HUP[`MHPYILH\[`'`HOVV JV \R

^^^ ]HUP[`MHPYILH\[` JV \R

dŽŽƚŚ &ĂŝƌLJ ,ŽůŝƐƟ Đ ĞŶƚƌĞ ϴ ŚŝůƐƚŽŶ ZŽĂĚ dƵŶďƌŝĚŐĞ tĞůůƐ <ĞŶƚ dEϰ ϵ>d dĞůĞƉŚŽŶĞ͗ ϬϭϴϵϮ ϱϭϴϴϲϬ &Ădž͗ ϬϭϴϵϮ ϱϰϯϭϲϳ ǁǁǁ͘ƚŽŽƚŚĨĂŝƌLJŚŽůŝƐƟ Đ͘ĐŽ͘ƵŬ

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

NYV]LOPSS YVHK [\UIYPKNL ^LSSZ [U Ya

*UHDW QHZV :H DUH QRZ RQOLQH

FKHFN XV RXW DW ZZZ NLWFKFORWKLQJ FR XN

[YLH[ `V\YZLSM [OPZ ZLHZVU [V V\Y SLH[OLYZ HUK SHTIZRPUZ

+LJK 6WUHHW 7XQEULGJH :HOOV .HQW 71 8/

3RS LQWR RXU IDEXORXV KLJK VWUHHW ERXWLTXH IRU DOO \RXU IHVWLYH ZDUGUREH QHHGV DQG EHDXWLIXO JLIW LGHDV IRU WKH VSHFLDO SHRSOH LQ \RXU OLIH

-2+1 &+$5/(6 /21'21

Mng[kb]`^ P^eel )*12+ /*- )))

DECEMBER 2010

FA S H I O N

FASHION EDITOR MELISSA WOODLAND ON WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS MONTH

Penguin Suit It’s not just the ladies who make an effort during the party season. There’s plenty for the gents to splash out on too, from tailored shirts in bold colours to sparkling cufflinks and shiny dress shoes. But the key purchase has to be a good tuxedo. Find a well-made, form-fitting evening suit and it’ll see you through many a fundraiser or cocktail hour. Tuxedo from £400, Jaeger @ Fenwick, TW.

62

Early Riser Begin Christmas morning in style and treat yourself to some sophisticated sleepwear. A pair of tactile satin pyjamas or an elegant silk robe is the perfect attire for present opening time. We love this grown-up cream number from Myla. Angelica robe £329, myla.com

Something New Next time you’re on the High Street, be sure to pop into chic boutique Blue Lawn. The new fashion destination opened just last month and should be on the must-visit list of anyone who’s a fan of the bags of Vivienne Westwood, the boots of Paul Smith or the dresses of Odd Molly. Blue Lawn, 65 High Street, TW.

Kiss Kiss If you buy one new accessory this year, make sure it’s one of the Lips bags by Lulu Guinness. Her latest collection of iconic bags includes 25 different versions of the hero piece, from the star-spangled US flag to jewel encrusted studs to metallic snakeskin. To stand out from the crowd choose a neon bright edition, but for a goes-with-everything clutch, you can’t beat the black snakeskin. Selected Lips bags available from Hoopers, TW. Priced from £225.

Charity Style We love it when you can look good at the same time as doing good, which is why this limited edition charm bracelet from Alex Monroe is on my Christmas list. To celebrate the launch of Midomo - a revolutionary water purifier for developing countries - Red Button Design has commissioned the piece from the jewellery designer Monroe. Each bracelet (£265) will cover the cost of donating one Midomo to an African community and, through a unique serial number imprinted on the jewellery, the owner of each bracelet will be able to track the journey of their donated Midomo. Buy online at midomobracelet.org DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

IT’S TIME TO DITCH THE DRAB AND GO FOR THE GLAM. THE PARTY SEASON IS UPON US AND IT’S THE ONE TIME OF YEAR THAT WE ACTUALLY NEED A FEW SEQUINS IN OUR LIVES WORDS MELISSA WOODLAND

/HW·V Ivory ‘Cher’ gown £595 Anoushka G, House of Fraser, Bluewater

DECEMBER 2010

PA RT Y W E A R

62

:

terfly, or hether you’re a social but nth of mo the r, a retiring wallflowe unities to ort opp h wit rich December is g tin partydress to impress. But get glittering the ready is not just about le overhaul sty a to lf treat yourse threads. It’s a chance to es. ess exc s ma of Christ ahead of the onslaught

suit; or ss; a cutting-edge jump That trusty Little Black Dre ty-style, par r you combo; whatever a co-ordinating skirt/top s. ma rist Ch s for you thi there’s the perfect look ss ty piece - the cocktail dre Starting with the go-to par ht rig e tur tex ry of colour and shop rails are a rich tapest us ulo fab k loo fts shi p-waist now. Twenties-inspired dro ecially with opaque tights esp , lds bui it pet or c on athleti e or if you want to play it saf – traditional black nylons is Th . out nd you’d rather sta a vibrant jewel colour if ss ele tim a has on m Monso embellished number fro . ht) rig p (to it to quality places le will nip in all the right Curvy? A wrap-around sty k), or wic Fen @ ast Co (try t assets and accentuate your bes ion, opt y-con look is still a great if you feel daring, the bod the to ss Leger bandage dre from the favoured Herve vani @ La Belle Femme). (Jo ss dre strapless bandeau

Embellished dress £135, Monsoon, TW

Dress by Herve Leger, £975, cruisefashion.co.uk

W

most 0’s trend is one that suits And A/W’s favoured 196 ht curves. hlig dress to create or hig people. Pick a full skirted dress on, the Summer’s maxi For a more formal occasi length orflo d ere lay lti mu into w goes luxe. Bodice tops flo id avo to ing your maxi form-fitt skirts. Keep the shape of on rt ski red the e ethereal fea swamping your figure. Th t’s House of Fraser is one tha m fro ss dre the Anoushka . sts gue ty par ow r fell guaranteed to wow you already, you may want If your social diary is full black dress up or down. Lipsy’s something that you can eljew h satile option; try it wit bandeau jumpsuit is a ver n ffo chi a and West @ Fenwick) encrusted flats (try Nine ng eri tow h wit rk drink, or scarf for a casual after wo an edgier look. for t bel in cha a stilettos and

Isadora £100, Kurt Geiger @ Fenwick, TW

Jewelled shoe £105, Office, TW

Dress £150, Coast @ Fenwick, TW

Jumpsuit £65, lipsy.co.uk

Dress £130 Phase Eight, TW

Shoes £79, Office, TW

Shearling coat £999, Hobbs, TW

DECEMBER 2010

, (3 ; : 3, /6< 7 . ,9 4 :( 96< 4) ;/ ,*, + 'HVLJQHU EULGDO ZHDU E\ %OXH E\ (Q]RDQL &KDUORWWOH %DOELHU (Q]RDQL +ROO\ZRRG 'UHDPV /\Q $VKZRUWK 5RQDOG -R\FH 6DQ 3DWULFN E\ 3URQRYLDV 6RSKLD 7ROOL 6X]DQQH 1HYLOOH 7KH &ORWK +DOO 1RUWK 6WUHHW +HDGFRUQ .HQW 71 11

PA RT Y W E A R

62

r arrival/departure, And when it comes to you a frivolous item of don’t forget to invest in be practical to have outerwear. It might not as your every day a white shearling jacket aring it between we be coat, but you’ll only splash out the taxi and the venue, so fun for the of bit a t’s tha ing on someth r capes and the party season. Faux fur, fea if not tty, pre all are sequinned boleros s. ion substantial, opt

Diamond and leather bangle £38,500, Padani, TW

Blue velvet dress £125, Almost Famous @ Bod & Ted, TW

Dress £195, Coast @ Fenwick, TW

the rule The bigger the better is ristmas. Ch s for cocktail gems thi diamond to gs rin ent From statem most is g blin fs, cuf ted encrus , it’s ver definitely still in. Howe the rdo ove important not to one or frosting. Limit yourself to gs and rin ear nd mo dia – ces two pie osing imp an a dazzling pendant or e! onc at g ring, not everythin

Layered Skirt £59, Phase Eight, TW

Ring £2,010, Padani, TW

18ct White Gold and diamond earrings and necklace £295£995, Peter Jenner, TW

Belle Femme, TW Lace back dress £950, La

e Jovani dress £450, La Bell

Femme, TW

ptable party pieces Of course, the most ada sets and blouses cor , ics tun are separates; h any number which can be teamed wit gings. Go for of skirts, trousers and leg layered ple pur s a hero piece like thi ar it with a we and ht Eig skirt from Phase right). monochrome top (below

list look when it If you favour the minima up, it’s you’re duty comes to daytime make party face. This to experiment with your is a veritable ng eri season’s cosmetic off and shine, er mm shi , our banquet of col iating from your so don’t be afraid of dev usual look. s remain a Smouldering, smoky eye g dos. Think failsafe option for evenin med by eyefra long sweeping lashes rcoal and cha in s liner and shadow k out the pic her Eit s. hue chocolate p up one of sna perfect tones for you or es with ett pal n tio the new special edi place. one in des sha ial all the essent lection Bobbi Brown’s latest col and ltry Su includes Smoky,

W

Glam Stars Eyelights £25.50, Artdeco @ Hoopers, TW

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

3(0%85< %($87< 6$/21 +DLU %HDXW\ +ROLVWLF 7KHUDSLHV 4%68= 7)%732 -7 ,)6) ˆ 7TVE] XERRMRK ˆ 2EMP I\XIRWMSRW ˆ 1ERMGYVI TIHMGYVI ˆ ,EMV YT ˆ 7IQM TIVQERIRX PEWLIW ˆ +MJX ZSYGLIVW

-DQXDU\ RIIHU RII FRORXUV *LIW YRXFKHUV SDPSHU SDFNDJHV DYDLODEOH 11 Nevill Street, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5RU (At the bottom of The Frant Road)

Tel: 01892 536600 • info$beautetherapy.co.uk

Feel lovely. Feel alive. Feel fabulous

+LJK 6WUHHW 3HPEXU\ .HQW 71 3+

7II SYV [IFWMXI JSV FIEYX] SJJIVW [[[ LEMVERHFIEYX]TIQFYV] GS YO 8IVQW ERH GSRHMXMSRW ETTP]

'LSSWI JVSQ HMEQERXI GVSWWSZIV FIEHIH WXSRIW ERH QER] SXLIV WX]PIW

.I[IPW JSV ]SYV WLSYPHIVW

',6-781%7 03:)0-2/7 74)'-%0 3**)6 &Y] 0SZIPMROW GLEVQW ERH KIX E VH LEPJ TVMGI

*VSQ E WIPIGXIH VERKI JSV (IGIQFIV SRP] [LMPI WXSGOW PEWX

,MKL 7XVIIX 8SRFVMHKI /IRX 82 %4 [[[ QMGEPPIJNI[IPPIVW GSQ

DECEMBER 2010

:MWMX YW MR XLI 6S]EP :MGXSVME 4PEGI 7LSTTMRK 'IRXVI 8YRFVMHKI ;IPPW JVSQ XL 2SZIQFIV XS XL (IGIQFIV WMXYEXIH SYXWMHI 8LI 4IVJYQI 7LST

[[[ XLIFVEWXVETQER GS YO MRJS$XLIFVEWXVETQER GS YO 8IP

PA RT Y W E A R

62

ce ts that are the perfect pla Smoldering Eye compac t bes the e vid pro eyeliner to start. A base colour and g lon and dow sha eye ic metall foundation while a bold y full your eyes stay beauti lasting ‘eye paint’ ensure made up all evening. ers palettes from Artdeco off The Glam Stars Eyelights ssly to mle sea nd ble ich wh s three shimmering colour ing delicate enough to use dur cover the eyelids and are the day. range er, No.7’s new Mirror Ball For a subtle skin shimm r ove d ste Du ssed powder. includes a highlighting pre t, ligh the ch cat es ticl ective par your cheekbones, its refl ’d you If n. xio ple com y dew giving you a youthful and scara obviously, the Glitter Ma re mo bit a rkle spa to like t coa top n is a glistening from the same collectio your lashes. to ne shi t tan that adds ins ur? Givency’s Looking for all-out glamo s offering ma rist vintage-inspired Ch eir Prisme Th ed. kag pac is beautifully ny of black, Yeux shadow’s a harmo textured and white and silver, is softly sparkling in a tly gen leaves your eyelids de. dark, dramatic grey sha

wn @ , Bobbi Bro alette £34 P e Ey y Smok

Silk Georgette Bustier Dress £159, noli.com

No7 MirrorBall Highlighter Compact £13.50, Boots, TW

W Fenwick, T

fit and the makeup You’ve got the party out fix is your crowning to match; all that’s left to and head stylist at glory. Mustafa, the owner bridge Wells, has Tun in The Studio Hair Salon this season. the must-have styles for ling this season,” “It’s all glorious retro sty though the styles en Mustafa explains. “Ev jority of them are ma the d, look complicate ling.” simple cuts with simple sty ssy and blunt - “it’s He says top looks are me - a bit Betty Boo rock chic and retro styling and a bit vampish.” straight from work Heading out on the town nsformation? and need a quick hair tra all handbag sized “For girls on the go, a sm for waking up that ial ent light hairspray is ess tured look on dry tired style. Get a messy tex

upside down and hair by tipping your head n spray from an shaking out the roots - the hair. Flick your the r ove arms length evenly out any bits that are hair back over and tease looking too wild.” greasy a top trick is “If your hair feels a little ount of talc to the to apply a very small am roots and rub in.” Simply make a “Looking for a quick quiff? e with the point triangle from your hairlin the hair forward towards the crown. Comb n twist once the making sure it’s smooth, over. Clip the k bac it ing before gently fold some hairspray h wit ish fin and ends in place ter the twist, the to hold. Remember, the tigh flatter the quiff.” ods Station Road, The Studio Hair Salon, Go 6 480) 62 Tunbridge Wells (01892 54

DECEMBER 2010

7LPHDvH 62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

THINKING OF BUYING A WATCH FOR YOUR LOVED ONE THIS CHRISTMAS? THEN YOU MIGHT WANT TO CAST AN EYE OVER OUR EXCLUSIVE LIST OF THE WORLD’S TOP TEN WATCHES‌ THE FINEST, MOST EXPENSIVE TIMEPIECES EVER MADE. TOGETHER THEY’RE WORTH A COOL £12 MILLION

+

undreds of years of innovation and design have contributed to each one of these masterpieces on our Top Ten list, from the watch which pays homage to the 1950s golden age of glamour and couture, to the timepiece which contains a 2,000 year old piece of the moon. And then there are the one-offs, such as the watch born out of a friendly competition to produce the timepiece with the most complications (mechanical functions of the watch other than the hours, minutes and seconds), which sold for an eye-watering sum (almost ÂŁ7million) at auction, or the watch which borrowed its design solution from an astronomical pocket piece. All of these watches have a story to tell, and they are all, most deďŹ nitely, much more than just watches. They will, of course, make pretty decent Christmas presents. Here they are in reverse order.

WORDS NANCY CREMORE

%UHLWOLQJ IRU %HQWOH\ &ROOHFWLRQ Â… Born from a passion for ďŹ ne mechanisms, this collection from Breitling and Bentley offers connoisseurs a rich range of watches all equipped with high performance “motorsâ€?. In the Breitling workshops, just as in the Bentley factories, cutting edge technology goes hand in hand with the noblest traditions. This particular 18K rose gold “wrist instrumentâ€? comes in top of the line for their most expensive men’s watch at an impressive ÂŁ145,300. Although the model is not typical of the Breitling round face, it has a diamond studded rectangular face, it still comes with the sought after Swiss mechanisms which make Breitling so popular.

%UHJXHW 3RFNHW :DWFK … Since it was acquired by the Swatch Group in 1999, Montres Breguet has rapidly moved up the ladder of luxury watchmakers. The Classique 1907 is a technical masterpiece, with a yellowgold case featuring two secret covers – one hiding the face and the other the movement assembly. A collector’s piece, this watch features a tourbillon, which is a mechanism invented in 1795 by the founder of Breguet itself - Abraham Louis Breguet. These mechanisms were originally created to improve accuracy, and are still included as a novelty in expensive modern watches to this day.

DECEMBER 2010

WAT C H E S

%ODQFSDLQ *UDQGH &RPSOLFDWLRQ Â… Blancpain watches are ďŹ nished, decorated and assembled by hand in keeping with the noblest horological traditions. This watch is one of a limited series of 30 and draws from almost 275 years of research and tradition, and a deep respect for ‘haute horologie’. Its casing is platinum, its skin crocodile, and there are 740 component parts which make this one of the most complicated timepieces in the world.

62

/RXLV 0RLQHW 0DJLVWUDOLV Â… How about wearing a piece of the moon on your wrist? The Magistralis features a 2,000 year-old lunar meteorite for the moon-phase display of the movement (including minute repeater, perpetual calendar and single-pusher chronograph functions). Of all meteorites, lunar is the rarest of all and more expensive than gold and platinum put together. Louis Moinet also introduces the ďŹ rst musical instrument for watches thanks to the watch stand itself which serves to amplify the sound of the repeater mechanism.

+XEORW %ODFN &DYLDU %DQJ Â… Italian watchmaker Carlo Crocco founded the Swiss watch brand Hublot in the 1980s, and today the brand’s sparse, clean designs are instantly recognisable. A strong naval theme runs through the designs, in fact the word ‘hublot’ is French for porthole. The Hublot watches were also the ďŹ rst to be ďŹ tted with rubber straps instead of traditional metals or leather which was an innovation at the time. This avante garde decision in the 1980s is now a staple among other Swiss Brands. With the arrival of Jean-Claude Biver of Blancpain to the halls of Hublot, and the introduction of the fusion-based Big Bang line, the brand’s stature has been ampliďŹ ed.

7KH &KRSDUG 6XSHU ,FH &XEH Â… This glittering creation was released in 1999 and everything in its design, from the bezel to the dial, is a tribute to geometry. To underscore the homage paid to the cube shape, the stones are set with claws which accentuate the angles. On certain models, tiny square diamonds illuminate the claws. And if you don’t fancy diamonds, how about pastel sapphires, rubies or even black diamonds instead? In fact there are 50 different versions of this watch, one to suit every outďŹ t.

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

'UHDPLQJ RI 5XELHV 'LDPRQGV 6DSSKLUHV" *ROG MHZHOOHU\ ZLWK ILQH JHPVWRQHV DQG JLIWV IRU DOO RFFDVLRQV

3HRSOH FKRRVH $XEUH\ *HPV IRU WKH SHUVRQDO WRXFK DQG IRU WKH EHVSRNH MHZHOOHU\ VHUYLFH /LVD $XEUH\ 'LUHFWRU DQG TXDOLÀ HG JHPPRORJLVW SHUVRQDOO\ VRXUFHV WKH À QH TXDOLW\ JHPVWRQHV XVHG LQ $XEUH\ *HPV· XQLTXH GHVLJQV IURP DURXQG WKH ZRUOG

DECEMBER 2010

WAT C H E S

62

3DWHN 3KLOLSSH 6N\ 0RRQ 7RXUELOORQ Â… The objective with this double-faced wristwatch was to accommodate the most fascinating complications in the small case of a wristwatch; a perpetual calendar, a minute repeater, a tourbillon, the display of sidereal time and a depiction of the nocturnal sky with the motion of the stars, the orbit of the moon, and the moon phases. This was a challenge because a chart of the heavenly canopy requires a certain amount of space in order to demonstrate the movements of the stars in a clearly legible manner. The solution was borrowed from the astronomical pocket watches made by the company; a moving sky chart on the reverse side of the timepiece. Due to their high complexity only a few of these watches are produced every year. The Sky Moon in white gold (pictured) is part of the current collection.

9DFKHURQ &RQVWDQLQ 7RXU G¡LOOH Â… Made from 834 component parts and with 16 complications, this double-faced watch is a masterpiece of design which took over 10,000 man hours to complete. Perhaps unsurprisingly there are only seven examples of these in the world. Vacheron Constantin itself is the world’s oldest watch manufacturer and has enjoyed uninterrupted activity since its founding in 1755.

3DWHN 3KLOLSSH¡V 3ODWLQXP :RUOG 7LPH Â…

3DWHN 3KLOLSSH¡V +HQU\ *UDYHV Â…

The platinum World Time indicates 41 cities, regions and countries and was sold for around £4million in 2002 – a new world record for wristwatches. Ever since universal time was adopted at the Internatonal Meridian Conference in Washington, D.C in 1884, watchmakers have tried to outdo each other with clever ways for displaying multiple time zones. In 1930, Patek Philippe presented its acclaimed World Time wristwatch with two rotating discs that made it possible to simultaneously display the time in all 24 zones. Today, these timepieces fetch astronomical prices at auctions. There is also a current collection of this watch (pictured), but be prepared to join a queue for it!

This watch is the result of a friendly competition between the banker Henry Graves and the automobile manufacturer James Ward Packard in the 1920s. The Henry Graves pocket watch is also also known as Supercomplication. Both men commissioned Patek Philippe to produce their watches, and the idea was to own the watch with the greatest number of complications possible. This culminated in a timepiece that took three years to design and ďŹ ve years to produce. When completed in 1933, the watch had a different horological function for each hour of the day and included a chart of the nighttime sky over Graves’ home in New York. When Graves died in 1953 his watch was sold to the Time Museum in Rockford, Illinois. After the museum closed, it was auctioned at Sotheby’s in New York in 1999. The watch had a presale estimate of ÂŁ2-ÂŁ3million. It was actually sold for almost ÂŁ7million, a record-breaking bid, to an anonymous bidder. Whichever watch you choose to buy your loved one just make sure they take time out to enjoy it. 62

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

WORDS MELISSA WOODLAND

THE GR TODAY EEN SHOOT S B TUNBR E SEEN SPRE OF RECOVER ADIN Y CA IDGE OPEN U WELLS AS N G OUT ACRO N BUZZ A P AND THER EW BUSINES SS SES E’S BO SOME UT THE TOW AN UPLIFTIN OF THE G N PEOPL . WE TALK T O E LE RETUR ADING THE N OF R ETAIL

5HWDLO ˰ HUDS\ KHDGV UHFRYHU\ 6

ince 2008, the UK economy has been both challenging and unpredictable. We’ve had tumbling house prices, boarded up shops and rising unemployment. And affluent Tunbridge Wells and its environs weren’t immune to the difficult financial climate. But take a walk down the High Street, wander around Royal Victoria Place or drive over to the industrial estate today and you’ll see signs of the recession disappearing and new eateries, fashion boutiques and interiors showrooms opening. In fact, not only have vacant shops been snapped up, new outlets have been built to accommodate the surge in businesses looking to establish themselves in the town. Councillor Tracy Moore, who’s responsible for Economic Development in the Borough, says the town is doing well. “Even in this challenging economic climate the retail vacancy rate in Royal Tunbridge Wells is a little below the national average, at 11.5 per cent versus around 13.9 per cent nationally. In the last year we have seen a number of large, national retailers enter the Tunbridge Wells market, underscoring the attractiveness of RTW for these retailers.” Many of these new outlets have emerged on the North Farm Estate; retail giants such as John Lewis and Marks & Spencer have opened specialist home stores on the industrial park, transforming it from a DIY hub to a retail park. The village area of town, particularly the High Street, has

DECEMBER 2010

also enjoyed a surge in popularity with new businesses, moving in. Walk past eatery Juliets (which opened earlier this year) during lunch time and you’ll find the queue winding out the door; TW’s residents are flocking to the quaint café for home cooked stews and a slice of cake. And luxury bathroom designer C.P.Hart’s arrival has resulted in many a magnificent home upgrade. Royal Victoria Place too has welcomed national chains and independents to the shopping centre. From fashion behemoth Topshop to luxury chocolatiers Hotel Chocolat, shiny new stores have been unveiled every few weeks. Even established TW brands like Burrells have expanded, taking the opportunity to launch a second retail space in the Centre.

IT ALL SOUNDS SO POSITIVE, DESPITE THE NATIONAL GLOOM. TIME THEN TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO’VE BRAVED THE UNCERTAIN CLIMATE AND SET UP BUSINESS HERE IN THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS. TIME TO FIND OUT WHY TUNBRIDGE WELLS IS THRIVING.

R E TA I L R E T U R N S

62

Katie Mankelow, Manager of The Furniture Rooms on Monson Road confirms her family run business is among those that are thriving. When did you open? 1st October 2010 What products and services do you offer customers? We offer a wide range of original, retro, art deco and vintage furniture, accessories and artwork, with pieces ranging from high end classic to affordable contemporary living. What made you choose Tunbridge Wells as a location? We are in two stores within London and wanted to bring the London vibe down to Tunbridge Wells where there has been little to offer in terms of quirky pieces that are great value for money. Why open a business at this particularly challenging time? We feel that if you are offering a quality product at the right prices with friendly customer service you can’t go wrong. The home is an important part of who we are and how we express ourselves and that never changes. How has the business been received? We have had amazing feedback in the month that we have

7KH )XUQL WX 5RRP UH V

been open with many people saying we are “just what Tunbridge Wells needs not just the same old thing opening”. We have seen a lot of customers through our doors with some returning on the day we have our deliveries, excited about what items we are bringing in next. What are you forecasting for the year ahead for your business? The high street is still a busy place and we are open seven days a week with new items coming in weekly, so we are forecasting a busy 2011 and beyond.

Organ-Nics founder Nicola Ena-Smith thought this Summer was the perfect time to open a second shop, choosing Ely Court in Royal Victoria Place. What products and services do you offer? Organic skincare, organic and mineral cosmetics, organic plant wax candles, organic cotton childrenswear 0-11 years, wooden toys made from recycled rubberwood and natural and organic gifts for all occasions. We also offer a ‘try before you buy’ service where we give samples of most products available.

2UJD

Q L F 1LFV

What made you choose Tunbridge Wells? Having never run a shop before, I decided to start in Rye, East Sussex as it was more local to where we lived. However, I have always wanted to relocate to Tunbridge Wells and it was just a case of waiting for the right location to become available. That opportunity didn’t arise until July of this year. Having been here now for a few months I have fallen in love with the town and plan to make it ‘home’ within the next six months. Why open a business at this particularly challenging time? We opened initially in Rye, East Sussex in November 2007, before the recession hit. We managed to ride it out there and felt that now was a good time to move to a busier location and take advantage of the turnaround in the economy and the recession coming to an end. How has the business been received? I have had some very positive feedback from customers, and also some repeat business since I opened. Everyone in Tunbridge Wells seems so friendly and are very happy that such a unique shop has opened and that products they would normally have to source online, are now right on their doorstep! What are you forecasting for the year ahead? As more people in the local area get to hear of Organ-Nics, we are hoping for a steady increase in trade. We have lots of Christmas gifts for young and old alike, so we are quietly confident of a good Christmas trading period. DECEMBER 2010

/LPH

R E TA I L R E T U R N S

62

Peter Je Tsung nner & hai Sit hole ( below )

Tsunghai Sithole opened Lime Modern Living in March this year with her partner Peter. What products and services do you offer? We sell contemporary and designer furniture from dining tables to mirrors and bar stools. We also provide interior design, bespoke mirrors and a wedding list service. What made you choose Tunbridge Wells? Having lived in Tunbridge Wells collectively for 23 years, we knew there was a gap in the market for a modern, distinctive furniture store. We looked at a few other locations including Brighton and Sevenoaks which cemented our thoughts on our home town. We’ve been in business in Tunbridge Wells for over five years and knew local consumer trends and just how much pull the town had on the rest of Kent and Sussex.

For fashion boutique owner Sophie Brown, Tunbridge Wells had the right kind of sartorially savvy residents. Business name: bod & ted Business locations: 70 High Street, Tunbridge Wells How many people do you employ? Three When did you open? January 2010 What products and services do you offer? This family-owned and run boutique is renowned for its personal service and eclectic mix of more established brands, together with up-and-coming designers. Showcasing unique and quirky pieces alongside beautiful basics and that perfect pair of jeans, labels include By Malene Birger, American Vintage, NYDJ jeans, Darling, Almost Famous, Nobody Jeans and many more! We also offer loyalty rewards, personal shopping by appointment and, if you want to shop out of hours you can visit us online at bodandted.co.uk

Why open a business at this particularly challenging time? Our passion for design meant that opening a contemporary furniture store was a ‘when’ and not ‘if’. We’ve always believed tough economic environments can provide a great platform for new businesses keen to get a distinctive presence within their market. If a business is driven and focused, it’s a great opportunity to hit the ground running in time for the next growth cycle. How has the business been received? We’ve been very fortunate with our reception from Tunbridge Wells. There are a lot of stylish homes in and around Kent and Sussex and our customers, most of whom are individualists, appreciate a beautiful and more unusual piece backed up by the sort of service you could only expect from an independent store. We have set our standards very high, we operate with refreshingly focused levels of service which include offering free local delivery, assembly and packaging recycling as standard. What are you forecasting for the year ahead for your business? For 2011 we are planning more exciting partnerships with some famous European designer names. We will also be showcasing new product ranges from our current partner brands such as Calligaris alongside growing our popular online store and increasing our national coverage.

Why open a business at this particularly challenging time? We love a challenge and as far as we can see from here on in ‘the only way is up’. We have great staff and fantastic products and we expect to increase turnover and open in other areas in the near future. How has the business been received? The reception has been extremely positive and we already have a loyal customer base - as well as one-off visitors to the town. What are you forecasting for the year ahead? We are hoping to expand the business with further shops and increase our services to customers - watch this space!

%RG

7HG

What made you choose Tunbridge Wells as a location? Tunbridge Wells is the perfect mix of town and country with a vibrant cafe and arts scene clientele - the ideal customers for our unique style.

DECEMBER 2010

It’s not just shops that have been launched this year. Independent interior designer Louise Putman opened Recreate Interiors at the start of the year.

5HFU ,QWHUL H D W H RUV

R E TA I L R E T U R N S

62

What products and services do you offer customers? From full house renovations, new kitchens and bathrooms to the restyling of a single room. I also produce scaled plans and source fixtures, fittings, finishes and furniture. I can also project manage the building team and track budget and timeframe. What made you choose Tunbridge Wells as a location? Tunbridge Wells has a vibrant community spirit as well as beautiful property and surroundings. The location was also driven by somewhere we wanted to live as we were looking for a lifestyle change. Why open a business at this particularly challenging time? I dreamed of a time when I would set up my own company once I had gained sufficient experience in London. I took a redundancy opportunity from a Head of Design role last year which enabled this to happen. A risk, certainly, but I’m definitely happier for it! How has the business been received? It’s early days, but so far very well. I think there is a general misconception that appointing an interior designer is a luxury which many people can’t afford, but with fees from £200 for a room re-design, it really

The Kelsey Arms owner Kiran Chadha believed the current economic climate was the perfect opportunity to diversify and opened an Indian restaurant, Bombay Fusion, on St John’s Road. How many people do you employ? Six When did you open? October 12th 2010 What products and services do you offer? We are the only traditional Punjabi Indian restaurant in Tunbridge Wells. Our serving staff are young, friendly, and knowledgeable about our food. Bombay Fusion itself has a vibrant, modern look and is funky Indian chic! The whole ethos about Bombay Fusion is as if you have visited us as a guest and we are wining and dining you in our home. Where available we use local produce and everything is cooked fresh and to order. Our Chef, Mr Suresh Yadav, has an extensive repertoire of authentic Punjabi food and many years of experience at a top London restaurant. We also offer take away with free delivery within a 5 mile radius. And the Kelsey Arms has its own Indian bar menu. What made you choose Tunbridge Wells as a location? I’ve lived and worked in Tunbridge Wells for just under five years and have been running the Kelsey Arms since. I always felt the lack in Tunbridge Wells for an authentic Punjabi Indian restaurant – so I converted part of the Kelsey Arms. Bombay Fusion has its own entrance and vibe so there are no interruptions from the bar next door.

can be affordable. Also, finding reliable builders and managing tradesmen can take time and cause a lot of anxiety on top of the upheaval and stress from having building works done and this is somewhere I can ease the pain from as little as £30 per hour. What are you forecasting for the year ahead for your business? I am hoping to build on my contacts and working relationships here and establish Recreate as a value for money design consultancy for everyone. I would like to expel the myth that it is a ‘luxury’ service and be able to help those people on a tight budget as well as those with more to spend.

Why Tunbridge wells? Because Tunbridge Wells is the best part of Kent! Why open a business at this particularly challenging time? Yes, we have opened Bombay Fusion in one of the worst recessions that we have ever seen, but I think the food speaks for itself! It’s fresh, traditional, authentic Punjabi Indian food – the kind that Tunbridge Wells had not yet seen.

%RPE D\ )XVLR Q

How has the business been received? Very well! Some people have said it’s the best Punjabi food they have tasted and several customers have been in numerous times in the few weeks that we have been open. What are you forecasting for the year ahead for your business? Bombay Fusion Two? Fingers crossed.

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Bathroom suppliers CP Hart chose TW as the location for their sixth showroom. National Sales Manager Adrian Smith says the town has the right mix of customers. Type of Business: Bathroom showroom, offering classical, contemporary and cutting edge design with a premium service. How many people do you employ? Four, at the Tunbridge Wells showroom, but in total C.P. Hart employ 120. When did you open? In June 2010 the Tunbridge Wells showroom opened, but the company has been in existence for over 70 years. What products and services do you offer customers? A full design service, if they choose it. All staff are fully trained in all products and so can correctly specify products ensuring the correct criteria have been followed. What made you choose Tunbridge Wells as a location? A stunning location with design savvy residents who would, our research told us, enjoy purchasing from a quality bathroom retailer. Why open a business at this particularly challenging time? Although C.P. Hart has only recently opened a showroom in Tunbridge Wells, it has behind it a solid foundation and ďŹ ve other showrooms. Being at the higher end of the market, C.P. Hart’s

DECEMBER 2010

customers will more often than not have a large disposable income, and these people will continue to purchase at this time. Equally, due to such poor interest rates on savings accounts, many customers realise that it is better to spend the money and invest on making their property worth more. As an innovative company, always thinking outside the box and offering supreme customer service, people will continue to buy. How has the business been received? Very well indeed. The launch event was a great success, with celebrity presence from local resident, Davina McCall.

& 3 +

DUW

R E TA I L R E T U R N S

-RKQ

62

/HZL

Gabby Arms trong

John Lewis has made it’s first foray into the Tunbridge Wells market with its at home store on Kingstanding Way. We caught up with Branch Manager Gabby Armstrong.

August and October 2010, respectively. We are confident that John Lewis at home Tunbridge Wells will be a great success, offering shoppers quality products and high levels of customer service.

How many people do you employ? 190 staff, known as John Lewis Partners

How do you think the business will be received? The ‘at home’ format has proven to be successful in other areas of the country, with positive customer feedback confirming we offer a convenient place to shop with inspiring products and exceptional customer service. The Click and Collect service has also been popular with customers.

When did you open? 11 November 2010 What products and services do you offer customers? John Lewis at home Tunbridge Wells focuses exclusively on furniture, furnishing accessories, homeware and electrical technology. The product range spans ownbranded quality goods to bespoke pieces from popular designers including Cath Kidston, Orla Kiely, Sir Terence Conran and Lucienne Day. The new shop also provides a ‘Click and Collect’ service allowing shoppers to browse the full John Lewis assortment. Purchases are delivered to the shop the next day or shoppers can opt for home delivery.

V

What are you forecasting for the year ahead? Our busiest trading periods are in the run up to Christmas and during our January clearance. With the VAT increase scheduled for next year, we anticipate increased customer purchasing ahead of the rise. However, it is hard to predict what consumer confidence will be like following the VAT increase. We expect to see a lot of promotional activity from competitors, but our ‘Never Knowingly Undersold’ promise means that we will also be the last retailer to put our prices up.

What made you choose Tunbridge Wells as a location? The criteria for a John Lewis at home shop is a site with approximately 40,000 to 50,000 sq ft selling space, as well as catchment, accessibility, tenant mix and car parking, all of which were met by our Tunbridge Wells site. The area is a prime shopping destination in both Kent and Sussex and the balanced combination of an ideal destination and a thriving community in a historic location provided the perfect setting. Why open a business at this particularly challenging time? We opened our first John Lewis at home in Poole in October 2009 and, after exceeding expectations, we opened a further two shops in Croydon and Swindon in

DECEMBER 2010

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

I thought I needed a new kitchen until I discovered...

the worktop that fits on top! 3TIRMRK XMQIW 1SR *VM TQ 7EX TQ 9RMX 8YRFVMHKI ;IPPW 8VEHI 4EVO 0SRK½ IPH 6SEH

RI\X XS &YMPH 'IRXVI 8YRFVMHKI ;IPPW /IRX 82 5* [[[ KVERMXIXVERWJSVQEXMSRW GS YO XYR[IPPW

62

+VERMXI 8VERWJSVQEXMSRW QERYJEGXYVI ERH MRWXEPP +VERMXI 7XSRI 5YEVX^ ERH +PEWW [SVOXSTW %X +VERMXI 8VERWJSVQEXMSRW [I SJJIV E GSQTPIXI TEGOEKI JSV YTHEXMRK ]SYV [SVO WYVJEGI ERH ETTPMERGIW *MXXMRK E RI[ [SVOXST MW JEWX ERH IJJIGXMZI 8LIVI MW RS RIIH XS VIQSZI SPH WYVJEGIW [I ½ X HMVIGXP] SZIV ]SYV I\MWXMRK WYVJEGI ;I KYEVERXII GSQTPIXI TIEGI SJ QMRH JVSQ WXEVX XS ½ RMWL

&SSO E *6)) LSQI GSRWYPXEXMSR [MXL SYV MRXIVMSV HIWMKRIV ERH [I´PP WLS[ ]SY LS[ IEW] MX MW XS XVERWJSVQ ]SYV OMXGLIR [SVOXSTW 'EPP RS[

;/

, ,

0./

1\ ZLSLZ[ VUL =H J[PV VM H VMML YPLY SP U VM : Z[`SPZ O P[: YPU MLZ MVY N TVK[`SL JO THY[ TV KLY LYU KL HPYZ U SP] ZPN PUN U

;

[! ^^^ ZP[ZTHY[ JV \R ZHSLZ'ZP[ZTHY[ JV \R

'HFLPXV 3DUN .LQJVWDQGLQJ :D\ 7XQEULGJH :HOOV 71 *3

DECEMBER 2010

8QLRQ 6TXDUH (ULGJH 5RDG 7KH 3DQWLOHV 7XQEULGJH :HOOV 71 +( 7HO %ULJKWRQ 5HLJDWH

%HDXWLIXO :($/'(1

+20(6 %($06 21 2$67 TASTEFUL BLEND OF TIMBER & ROUNDELS

&277$*( &+$50 TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

5,',1* +,*+ AN EQUESTRIAN’S DREAM CONVERSION

0,//,1* $5281'

COUNTRY LIVING DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER

3UHVWLJLRXV SURSHUWLHV LQ TUNBRIDGE WELLS | BENENDEN | CRANBROOK | GOUDHURST | MAYFIELD | BURWASH | PLUCKLEY

3RVWFDUG SURSHUW\ 62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

ONCE TWO FARM WORKERS’ COTTAGES BUILT CIRCA 1640, THIS DETACHED FAMILY HOME IS NOW A LUXURIOUS FOUR BEDROOM PROPERTY IN THE CHARMING VILLAGE OF BURWARSH, JUST SOUTH OF BEWL WATER

Property: Yeoman’s Cottage Location: Burwash, East Sussex Price: £950,000 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 3 Land: 3 acres (approx)

Extras: Detached oak garage

Large mature gardens

Best bit: Yeoman’s Cottage has been finished to the highest quality and is a delightful mix of traditional, rustic touches with some contemporary details where necessary. Summary: From the outside, Yeoman’s is a real picture postcard home. Stand on its long gravel drive – with the detached garage on the left – and the cream wood façade of the property gleams, while the door and window frames have been picked out in gloss white. The front door leads into a quarry tiled entrance hall which leads on to the rest of the ground floor. Here you’ll find a delightfully bright and spacious sun room, with views of the rear gardens; a lounge with impressive inglenook fireplace, plus brick surround; a family room or office; and a well-proportioned dining room – again with inglenook. In contrast to the rustic charm of much of the house with its oak beams, the kitchen is a smart and modern area. The bespoke units and granite surfacing are complemented by top-of-therange appliances and ambient lighting. Above, the bedrooms are beautiful, like something out of a storybook. Along with the master, there are three further bedrooms; one fitted as a young girl’s room, another with en suite shower. The family bathroom is incredibly relaxing with wall-to-wall tiling and mood lighting. The gardens are very pleasant and an ideal size. At the top, a patio area and covered BBQ spot enjoy delightful views of the valley below, while two and a half acres drop away from the house towards a number of old oak trees. Contact: Forestersxl.com 01435 865477

DECEMBER 2010

PROPERTY

DECEMBER 2010

62

AT OLD DUNDLE, ON DUNDALE ROAD, YOU’RE TREATED TO A DETACHED COUNTRY HOUSE WITH PLENTY OF CHARM, AS WELL AS A DELIGHTFUL TWO BEDROOM COTTAGE. AND IT’S ALL WRAPPED UP IN A REMARKABLE TRADITIONAL LOOK

PROPERTY

62

&RXQWU\ &KDUP Property: Old Dundle, detached family home plus detached cottage Location: Nr Tunbridge Wells Price: £1,750,000 Bedrooms: 5 (plus 2 in cottage) Bathrooms: 2 and WC (plus 2 in cottage) Land: 2.7 acres

Extras: Heated pool Detached

cottage Detached office and store

Best bit: Old Dundle’s aesthetics are certainly its strong point. Not only do you get two perfect examples of Kentish country homes in the form of a cottage and a house, but the views of the surrounding scenery are outstanding Summary: These two lovely houses, dating from circa 1750, are excellent examples of why Kent is known as the garden of England. With chocolate box looks and astounding views, the two make for a superb pairing in a secluded area between Tunbridge Wells and Lamberhurst. The main house is a grand place, featuring large drawing and dining rooms downstairs along with a highly spacious kitchen/breakfast room. The décor is all typically farmhouse and in keeping with the general theme with plenty of oak. There’s also a study, utility and external log store. Upstairs, a very roomy principal bedroom with en suite is joined by four other bedrooms that lead from the large square landing. A family bathroom serves them. The quaint cottage is a delight to behold and downstairs comprises of a sitting/dining room, kitchenette, bathroom and utility. Double doors lead outside to the gardens, while above you’ll find two bedrooms (one larger than the other) and a bathroom.

based in an outbuilding. More than enough to keep you entertained, we think you’ll agree.

In the grounds are a heated outdoor swimming pool, summer house, double garage and a very spacious office

Contact: Hamptons International 01892 516 611 hamptons.co.uk DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

,QWHULRU GHVLJQ DQG SURMHFW PDQDJHPHQW

,QWHULRU GHVLJQ 3ODQQLQJ VRXUFLQJ DQG PDQDJLQJ NLWFKHQ DQG EDWKURRP LQVWDOODWLRQV 5HIXUELVKPHQWV UHQRYDWLRQV DQG SURMHFW UHVFXH 3URMHFW PDQDJLQJ EXLOGLQJ ZRUNV DQG WKLUG SDUWLHV 6W\OLQJ RU IXUQLVKLQJ KRPHV IRU UHQWDO RU VDOH

¶,QWHULRU VSDFHV VKRXOG UHÁ HFW WKH QHHGV DQG SHUVRQDOLWLHV RI WKH SHRSOH ZKR XVH WKHP·

W P H ORXLVH#UHFUHDWHLQWHULRUV FR XN ZZZ UHFUHDWHLQWHULRUV FR XN

DECEMBER 2010

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE A BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE OFFER. WHICH IS ONE OF THE REASONS OLD SWATLANDS, IN GOUDHURST, IS SO SPECIAL – ONCE YOU OWN THE BEAUTIFUL 16TH CENTURY HOUSE, THEY THROW IN A CONVERTED BARN COTTAGE

PROPERTY

62

6ZDWWLQJ 8S Property: Old Swatlands, Grade II listed house Location: Goudhurst, Kent Price: £1,95million Bedrooms: 5 (7 including cottage) Bathrooms: 1 plus 2 cloakrooms (and two shower rooms in cottage) Land: 2 acres (approx)

Extras: Separate cottage, triple garage, heated pool,

tennis court, underfloor heating

accommodation on this floor. The second level comprises one more bedroom or study, if you’re the kind of person who likes to work at home. Outside this very elegant property a gravel driveway leads up to the house and a turning area, overlooking which is the barn conversion. This now acts as guest quarters, or as a teenager’s paradise, with a large sitting room and kitchen downstairs, plus two bedrooms above. Add to this the astro-turf tennis court, beautiful heated pool, stunning gardens and, of course, those views and you’re looking at a rather spectacular property.

Best bit: One of Old Swatlands finest attributes must be the far reaching views of the Weald. It’s the perfect backdrop for a game of tennis, swimming in the pool, or simply gazing out of the conservatory window. Summary: We love homes that skillfully juggle original, traditional fittings with more contemporary touches and amenities. Old Swatlands does this in style. Thanks to thoughtful restoration and extension by the current owners, this house features plenty of exposed oak with beautiful inglenook fireplaces alongside a modern conservatory, new kitchen/breakfast room, plus underfloor heating. The kitchen has been paid particular attention, with Miele appliances, granite work surfaces and an AGA – it’s also a room that enjoys spectacular views. Elsewhere on the ground floor you’ll find a highly spacious drawing room with a great fireplace, sitting room, dining room, reception hall and utility areas. The master bedroom benefits from a vaulted ceiling and a mezzanine dressing/storage area above, while a large square bedroom and two further bedrooms finish off the

Contact: Knight Frank 01892 515 035 knightfrank.co.uk DECEMBER 2010

62

PROPERTY

WITH THE FEEL OF A QUAINT COTTAGE, BUT THE PROPORTIONS OF A LARGE COUNTRY HOME, MILL STREET HOUSE, IN IDEN GREEN, OFFERS THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF RURAL LIVING AND TRADITIONAL STYLE

0LOOLQJ $URXQG Property: Mill Street House, detached period family house Location: Iden Green, Benenden, Kent Price: £1.175million Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2 Land: 3.5 acres (approx)

Extras: Stables Paddock Basement

Best bit: Traditional rural life doesn’t come much more picturesque than this. Mill Street House is situated in an elevated position overlooking its own, secluded three and a half acres, but within close proximity of Benenden and Cranbrook. Summary: Mill Street House is a 15th Century period family home, with part tile hung elevations, red brick frontage and amazing views of the surrounding countryside. With a number of period features still intact, such as fireplaces and exposed beams, it’s a wonderful example of period Kentish living. The entrance hall of the property features an impressive fireplace, part brick, part wooden flooring and exposed timbers. From here a short staircase leads below to the store room basement, while a door opens onto the family room/dining room with its wood burning stove and feature fireplace. The large double-aspect drawing room, with beautiful exposed beams and double doors leading outside, is the ideal place to relax and, if work calls, a study with French doors is situated at the back of the house. The kitchen of Mill Street House has a farmhouse feel to it, with a butcher’s block style central unit, AGA with brickwork surround and a beamed archway through to a breakfast/dining area. This backs onto a utility room and toilet.

DECEMBER 2010

The master bedroom, with its quite stunning views of the countryside, his ‘n’ hers en suite and walk-in wardrobe is befitting the ‘lord and lady’ of the house. Three generously-sized bedrooms complete the first floor. Externally, a large double-berth garage is flanked by two stables and a store. The winding driveway leads through the front gardens, while elsewhere formal gardens are laid to lawn with acres of paddocks beyond. Contact: Knight Frank 01892 515 035 knightfrank.co.uk

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

DECEMBER 2010

62

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

DECEMBER 2010

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

62

=396 03'%0 %9(-3

:-79%0 74)'-%0-787

1)6-(-%2 039(74)%/)6 86%() 94 463138-32 23; 32 ,31) '-2)1% ,31) %9831%8-32 -28)00-+)28 0-+,8-2+ 1908- 6331 %9(-3 46-:%8) ()13 6331 7)6:-2+ 032(32 8,) 7398, )%78 '328%'8 97 83(%= *36 % ()132786%8-32 %2( *6)) 7-8) :-7-8

[[[ TVSKVIWWMZI EZ GSQ

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

%H

&RQYHUWHG

WITH OVER TWO ACRES OF LAND, STABLES AND AN ADJOINING COTTAGE, AUTUMN BARN OFFERS A GREAT DEAL FOR THE PRICE. IN FACT, THIS PLUCKLEY CONVERSION IS AN EQUESTRIAN’S DREAM

DECEMBER 2010

PROPERTY

62

Property: Autumn Barn, 3-bed converted barn plus 1-bed cottage Location: Pluckley, Kent Price: £725,000 Bedrooms: 3 (plus 1 in cottage) Bathrooms: 3 (plus 1 in cottage) Land: 2.6 acres

Extras: 3 stables Paddocks

Woodland Detached cottage

Best bit: Being a conversion, space is one thing Autumn Barn has in abundance. The large, open plan dining/sitting room is a great place to relax, while the kitchen is a good size with an AGA and brick surround. Summary: Autumn Barn is an undeniably cosy home. Throughout downstairs there’s plenty of brickwork, dark woods and cream carpets to make you feel at home. While in the sitting room there’s a hefty wood-burning stove to keep you warm in these chillier months. Vertical beams split up the spacious ground floor and the kitchen nestles behind a more structured divide. Here you’ll find granite work tops, an AGA, plenty of sturdy oak and attractive stone flooring. The upstairs is also a big area, with an open plan master bedroom plus an en suite and two other well-sized bedrooms, again with their own en suite. Autumn Barn benefits from having a detached cottage as well. This one-up-one-down (plus a kitchen on the lower floor) matches the barn with its wood façade and could also be used as storage, or an office if necessary. The grounds are fantastic, with plenty of horse riding space, woodland, paddocks and greenery. It takes advantage of its Wealden setting perfectly and will suit those looking for a country retreat down to the ground.

Contact: Country Property Group 01580 211 588 countrypropertygroup.com DECEMBER 2010

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

N

)5 ,17

OW ( ( ( 5 AV & 5 ( 6 AI ( 7 LA ' BL , 7 E

62

Do you need extra space to Work, Rest or Play ? These innovative contemporary garden rooms provide the flexibility to create versatile additional accommodation to compliment your home

From a child’s playroom, home office, or recording studio to an indoor pool, the possibilities are almost endless. Made from high quality eco-friendly materials to keep you warm in winter and comfortable in summer, these unique rooms come in a range of standard sizes, or can be built to individual specifications. Nine standard or twelve bespoke colour finishes are also available to add that personal touch.

For a free consultation please contact The Home Office Company, 01233 712710

w w w. t h e h o m e o f f i c e c o m p a n y . c o . u k

STOCKISTS

MOUSETRAP • 90 HIGH STREET SEVENOAKS KENT TN13 1LP

DECEMBER 2010

• TEL: 01732 740639

• FAX:01732 469422

• WWW.MOUSETRAPKENT.COM

PROPERTY

62

WELCOME TO LIME TREES OAST, THE GOUDHURST PROPERTY THAT’S ABOUT AS PICTURESQUE AS IT’S POSSIBLE TO GET. ROUNDELS, PLUS AN ORCHARD AND A KITCHEN GARDEN ARE JUST SOME OF THE RUSTIC FEATURES THAT MAKE IT SUCH A BEAUTIFUL HOME

%HDPV RQ 2DVW Property: Detached double-roundel oast house Location: Cranbrook, Kent Price: £1.25million Extras: Bedrooms: 5 Bathrooms: 2 plus WC Orchard, Land: 2 acres Detached double garage,

Children’s play area

Best bit: Without doubt, roundels are the most intriguing and quaint part of any oast house, but what’s nice about Lime Trees is that it doesn’t rely on them as its only attractions. This house ticks all the right boxes elsewhere too. Summary: Walking up the gravel driveway of this stunning property, you realise that you’re about to enter a beautiful family home. Externally, Lime Trees has been excellently cared for (which is obviously important with such a building) and the wooden façade is in great condition, with all manner of plants bursting from the flower beds below. Enter the property from the north roundel and you’ll find a quaint dining room with a lovely country feel. This leads into the kitchen in the second downstairs circular room; here you’ll find an AGA, electric oven, and units which are a fresh take on the farmhouse look. Elsewhere on this floor there’s an L-shaped family room, WC and a large drawing room with inglenook fireplace. Step up to the first floor, where the master and guest bedroom occupy the roundels, and you’ll also find three further bedrooms and two bathrooms. From the master room a short staircase leads to a second floor, which is perfect as a dressing room.

Outside, Lime Trees Oast really shines. With both a kitchen garden and orchard (from which the property gets its name), the occupants should be stocked with seasonal fruit and veg all year round. The children’s play area is a wonderful addition, while there’s space for two cars in the detached garage. Why wouldn’t you want to live here? Contact: Harpers & Hurlingham 01580 715 400 DECEMBER 2010

KIDDIMOTO balance bikes for ages 2 - 6 years robust wooden bikes different colours and styles from £95

SAFETY CLOTHING for chainsaws, •Gloves from £30 •Safety helmet £54.99 •Safety boots from £70.00 •Safety chaps £104.00 Husqvarna toy chainsaw realistic noises £10.50

LOGMASTER saw horse for safe log cutting stable sawhorse with adjustable feet chainsaw clamp for safer cutting fits any chainsaw adjustable measuring bar £125

BLOWER Husqvarna 125Bx hand held blower with cruise control smart start, powerful 28cc engine air speed of 170mph integrated assist handle comfort grip round and flat nozzles included vac kit available £270.00

STOMP pit bikes Small 2 wheel motor bike 4 stroke petrol start at 50cc great fun for all ages! reliable and robust from £475

*TGCV &JTKUVOCU IKHV KFGCU HTQO :CFJWTUV &QWPVT[ 6GTXKEGU Open 6 days a week, including late nights every Thursday until 8pm 9th, 16th and 23rd we will be serving mulled wine and mince pies too!

01892 784438 www.wadhurstcountryservices.co.uk Dene Farm, Wadhurst Road, Mark Cross TN6 3PD

PROPERTY

62

YOU DON’T ALWAYS HAVE TO VENTURE INTO THE COUNTRY TO FIND A BEAUTIFUL WEALDEN HOME. SOME OF THEM ARE NESTLED WITHIN TUNBRIDGE WELLS ITSELF, SUCH AS BROADWATER COURT ON THE SOUTHERN FRINGES OF THE TOWN

+ROGLQJ &RXUW Property: Broadwater Court, Georgian style four bed Location: Broadwater Down, Tunbridge Wells Price: £625,000 Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 2 (plus WC) Land: 2.7 acres Best bit: Recently refurbished throughout, this property benefits from being a beautifully finished home inside and a property that’s situated in one of the most picturesque areas of the town. Summary: Broadwater Court is an impressive building from the outside. With a gravel drive and columned porch the exterior is made all the more attractive by the surrounding monkey-puzzle trees and rhododendrons. The rear garden features an elevated patio, with access via French doors from the inside. Step inside the entrance hall and you’ll immediately find doors leading into the living room and sitting room. Decorated in a regal style, this relaxing space is fitted with an impressive period fireplace. It’s open plan, spacious and light, thanks to the multi-pane bow window facing the garden and those double French doors leading out to the patio. A further bow window brings natural light into the sitting room as well. A dining room, at the front of the house, offers the perfect environment in which to entertain. This too overlooks the front gardens through one of the elegant bow windows. The kitchen has been recently refurbished with Corian work surfaces, plenty of storage and a stainless steel six burner range cooker. To the side, a small breakfast area offers the perfect opportunity to grab a bite to eat before the day begins. Up on the first floor the master bedroom features an impressive recently updated en suite. With a Jacuzzi bath, plus shower fitting it’ll make the morning routine a pleasure. Elsewhere on this floor are two further bedrooms and the family bathroom – again recently refurbished.

A short flight of stairs takes you to the top of the property on the second floor. A secluded and spacious room, it would be ideal for the teenager, or as a specific cinema room. Contact: Sumner Pridham 01892 516 615 sumnerpridham.co.uk DECEMBER 2010

62

PROPERTY

$ 'RYH 7DOH Property: 2 Dove Cottages, picturesque 3 bed Location: MayďŹ eld, East Sussex Price: ÂŁ425,000 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1 Best bit: Upon entering Dove Cottage’s front room, you realise that the home has been exceptionally well looked after and is a highly pleasant property with neat touches all around. The aesthetics of the sitting room/dining room are kept clean and simple to maximise space and the wooden oor means it’ll be easy to maintain. At the back of the building, a light and airy kitchen reveals views of the East Sussex countryside and a cornered staircase leads upstairs to the bedrooms. Bedrooms one and two are of equal size and would certainly cater for double beds, while the third is a little cosier – perfect for child. Externally, there’s a neat outbuilding that’d be great for storage, or as a workshop. All in it’s a very pretty home and one for the aspiring family or young couple. Contact: Burnett’s 01435 874 450 burnetts-ea.com

D E C E M B E R

2010

AS WE’VE SAID BEFORE, A BEAUTIFUL WEALDEN HOME NEEDN’T BE A MANSION. A POINT PROVEN BY 2 DOVE COTTAGES, A POSTCARD PROPERTY THAT HAS FANTASTIC VIEWS OF THE MAYFIELD COUNTRYSIDE

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

.LQJVZRRG KDV EHHQ SURYLGLQJ D SURIHVVLRQDO WUHH FDUH VHUYLFH LQ WKLV DUHD IRU RYHU \HDUV IRU ERWK FRPPHUFLDO DQG GRPHVWLF FOLHQWV :H SURYLGH DQ H[SHUW KLJK TXDOLW\ DQG HFRQRPLFDO VHUYLFH LQ DOO DVSHFWV RI ‡ 7UHH IHOOLQJ ‡ 'HDGZRRGLQJ ‡ 6KDSLQJ WKLQQLQJ SUXQLQJ ‡ &URZQ UHGXFWLRQ OLIWLQJ ‡ 6WXPS JULQGLQJ KHGJH FXWWLQJ )XOO\ 4XDOL¿ HG &UHZ DQG 3XEOLF /LDELOLW\ &RYHU )RU IUHH HVWLPDWHV DQG DGYLFH SOHDVH FRQWDFW XV RQ

)RU IXUWKHU LQIRUPDWLRQ YLVLW RXU ZHEVLWH

ZZZ NLQJVZRRGWUHHV FR XN RI RXU WUHH IHOOLQJ LV UHF\FOHG WKHUHIRUH ZH FDQ DOVR VXSSO\ VHDVRQHG KDUGZRRG ORJV ZKLFK DUH DW OHDVW WKUHH \HDUV ROG DQG EDUQ VWRUHG

:LQWHU LV WKH WLPH WR WKLQN DERXW SUXQLQJ PDQ\ SODQWV LQ WKH JDUGHQ +RZHYHU QHYHU SUXQH IRU WKH VDNH RI SUXQLQJ ,W LV VWLOO WRR HDUO\ WR DVVHVV WKH GDPDJH FDXVHG E\ WKH VHYHUH ZHDWKHU WKLV ZLQWHU 6R SUXQLQJ RI IUHH]H GDPDJHG SODQWV VKRXOG EH GHOD\HG IRU VHYHUDO ZHHNV XQWLO QHZ JURZWK EUHDNV ZKLFK ZLOO LQGLFDWH WKH FRUUHFW SODFH WR PDNH SUXQLQJ FXWV

62

FRANT OFFICE 01892 750999 GOUDHURST OFFICE 01580 211888 HORSMONDEN OFFICE 01892 724488 MATFIELD OFFICE 01892 724949 MAYFAIR 0207 409 8348

/ 127+,1* 72 6(/

&$6+ %8<(5

Â…

Â…

2Z]DW ,W·V -XVW 1RW &ULFN KRHWPH LGHDOO\ D

7KH :L]DUG 2I 2] 1HHGV 7R )LQG +LV (PHUDOG &LW\

RU KLV GUHDP HVSHUDWHO\ ORRNLQJ I SURSHUW\ 2XU FULFNHW IDQ LV G 1R WR D %HGURRP D\ ·W V RQ H Z W K EX W\ SHU U LQ .HQW SUR WKH P HL RR FUH HGU H $ % J D PLQLPXP RI 2Q GLQ XQ UUR HYHU\ VX DU\ GX QG ZLWK D ERX KH LV RXW IRU D FN H PRPHQW LW IHHOV OLNH RRN DW R O DOV LOO H Z + RU (DVW 6XVVH[ $W WK JH PLGGOH RQH IRU D FKDQ K KH WLPH OHW·V KHOS KLP Q ROG EXLOGLQJ ZKLF RSRVHG SODQQLQJ RU D SU LWK Z 7KH SURSHUW\ QW UWD SR EXLOGLQJ SORWV LP DOO LV UW DJDLQ /RFDWLRQ LWKLQ RQH KRXU RI FDQ ERZO RYHU DQG VWD U 0RGHUQ VW\OH DQG Z G R ULR 3H LWK / DQG O Z XUD PXVW EH 5 ZDQWV 2QH $FUH RI UDLQ 6R LW·V VLPSOH KH RXQGV LV V WK ,I RQ QG FHQWUDO /RQGRQ E\ W /R RQH KRXU RI &HQWUDO KLQ LW I : 5H ORW QH J S KR GLQ H S % XLO SLFN XS WK UDLVH \RXU À QJHU DQG /< 33 6 $ OLNH \RXU 3$' WKHQ 21 ,7, ' &21' 868$/ 7(506 $1

+H LV ORRNLQJ IRU D SHULRG FKDUDFWHU FRWWDJH ZLWK D PLQLPXP RI 7ZR %HG URRPV LQ WKH :DGKXUVW 0DWÀ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

127+,1* 72 6(//

&$6+ %8<(5

Â…

Â…

*DOORSLQJ 6RXWK )URP 1HZ PDUNHW Z WKH

8WRSLD ,Q 7KH :HDOG 2I .HQW

,W·V WLPH WR OHDYH WKH 1HZPDUNHW UDFHFRXUVH EHKLQG DQG IROOR RXOG FKLOGUHQ GRZQ WR .HQW DQG (DVW 6XVVH[ )LUVW DFURVV WKH OLQH Z LF EH D )LYH EHGURRP KRXVH ZLWK DQQH[H RI WUDGLWLRQDO DQG FODVV WKH RX KDYH G 'R \ V RI ODQ $FUH Q DQG SURSRUWLRQV DQG EHWZHH SURSHUW\ WR PDNH WKHLU JDOORS VRXWK ZRUWKZKLOH" 5HI 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21',7,216 $33/<

7KLV ORYHO\ FRXSOH DQG WKHLU FKHULVKHG &DWV DUH ORRNLQJ IRU D GRZQVL]HG 8WRSLD LQ WKH :HDOG RI .HQW :D\ RII WKH URDG LV D ¶PXVW· WKHQ QH[W RQ WKH OLVW LV D 'RXEOH *DUDJH RU URRP WR EXLOG RQH )URP WKHQ RQ LW LV SODLQ VDLOLQJ 5HI 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21',7,216 $33/<

&$6+ %8<(5

&$6+ %8<(5

Â…

Â…

([F KDQJLQJ 7KH ([SDW /LIH )RU 7KH &RXQWU\OLIH

:KHUHYHU :H /D\ 2XU +DWV 7KDW·V 2XU +R

7KLV PXFK WUDYHOOHG FRXSOH DUH ZLVK LQJ WR WDNH D WULS GRZQ PHPRU\ ODQH DQG UHWXUQ WR WKHLU ROG VWRP SLQJ JURXQG RI .HQW 7KH FKDUP V RI WKH H[SDW OLIH KDYH ZDQHG DQG WKH\ DUH NHHQ WR UHDTXDLQW WKHPVHOYHV ZLWK WKH (QJOLVK &RXQWU\VLGH $ SHULR G SURSHUW\ ZLWK D PLQLPXP RI À YH %HGURRPV DQ DQQH[H IRU JXHVW DFFR PPRGDWLRQ D FRYHUHG VZLPPLQJ SRRO DQG D WHQQLV FRXUW DUH GHVLUDE OH $FUHDJH LV QRW D QHFHVVLW\ EXW D VXEVWDQWLDO JDUGHQ LV 'R \RX KD YH WKH SURSHUW\ WKDW ZLOO DOORZ WK HP WR SXW GRZQ URRWV LQ 7KH *DUGHQ R I (QJODQG" 5HI 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21',7,2 16 $33/<

PH

7KLV &KDUPLQJ &RXSOH KDV 0LOOLRQ EXUQLQJ D KROH LQ W KHLU SRFNHWV VR SOHDVH FDQ ZH KHO S WKHP QRW WR ORVH WKHLU &KDQ JH 7KH\ QHHG %HGURRPV OLJKW DQG D LU\ URRPV DQG WKH\ ZLOO WKHQ EH KDSS\ ZKHUHYHU WKH\ OD\ WKHLU KDW V ,I ZH FDQ À QG WKHP D KRPH ZLWK DQ DQQH[H DQG VRPH ODQG WKDW ZRXOG EH D IHDWKHU LQ RXU K DW 5HI 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21 ',7,216

&$6+ %8<(5

&$6+ %8<(5

Â…

0DQ &DYH :RUNVKRS 5HTXLUHG

Â… *HRUJLDQ (OHJDQFH

6KRUW DQG WR WKH SRLQW 7KH EULHI LV D KRXVH RI FODVVLF *HRUJLDQ HOHJDQFH 3HUIHFW SURSRUWLRQV OLJKW DQG EULJKW DQG VLWWLQJ LQ $FUHV RI JURXQGV &ORVH WR D WRZQ RU YLOODJH 'R \RX NQRZ RI VXFK D KRXVH" 5HI 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21',7,216 $33/<

7KLV \RXQJ FRXSOH ZLWK D \RXQJ IDPLO\ DUH ORRNLQJ ZLWKLQ D DFH ZLWK VS *DUDJH 'RXEOH XLUHV D PLOH UDGLXV RI 3HPEXU\ +H UHT IRU D :RUNVKRS D 0DQ &DYH WR HVFDSH WKH FKLOGUHQ DQG 6KH RRPV ZRXOG ORYH D &RQVHUYDWRU\ 7KLV JURZLQJ IDPLO\ QHHG %HGU DQG D ODUJH *DUGHQ RI XS WR $FUHV 5HI 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21',7,216 $33/<

HI>G 0 =:RL : P>>D Fhg]Zr&?kb]Zr 2'))Zf & .',)if LZmnk]Zr% Lng]Zr ;Zgd Aheb]Zrl 2',)Zf & .',)if

'$1,(/ 67,0621

+$55,(7 0$77+(:6

-(11,)(5 6+(3+(5'

.(55,( 7</(5

3$0 52:/$1'

3$75,&. '855

68( 0$548(7

7(5(6$ 3$5.(5

0$5< 67$1/(<

,1 5(17('

81'(5 2))(5

:HOOV

7LG\ 8S ,Q 7XQEULGJH

\ WR UHQRYDWLRQ SURSHUW ORRNLQJ IRU D VPDOO Z QH HLU 7K HD DU (QWKXVLDVWLF FRXSOH LQJ HOOV RU WKH VXUURXQG H : U GJ GH EUL QVL XQ FR Q 7 HQ S L WLG\ X KH\ PD\ HY H D ODUJH *DUGHQ 7 URRP HG % UHH 7K KRPH QHHGV WR KDY H D R E QDO UHVXOW QHHGV W EX\LQJ D 3ORW 7KH À VKRUW GULYH RI ORFDO Q ZLWKLQ D ZDON RU WLR WXD VL XU LHW W R TX OH D SURSHUW\ LQ V VRPH 7/& ,I \RXU KRPH QHHG VKRSV DQG DPHQLWLHV HI 5 RUN Z DUG H K O WK FRXSOH GR DO 6 $33/< 21 7, ', 21 & 1' 868$/ 7(506 $

7KH *UHDW (VFDSH 7R .HQW $ W /HDVW $Q\ZD\

,1 5(17(' &$6+ %8<(5

6WDUULQJ $ GHVSHUDWH )DPLO\ )HDWXULQJ %HDXWLIXO KRXVHV FRXQWU\VLGH 'LUHFWHG E\ 7KH &RXQWU\ 3URSHUW\ *URXS 7KHUH LV QR HVFDSLQJ WKH IDFW WKDW WKLV \RXQJ IDPLO\ DUH VWUXJJOLQJ WR À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

&$6+ %8<(5

$ 7DOO +RXVH )RU 7DOO 3HRSOH

7KLV IDPLO\ DUH Á HHLQJ WKH ELJ VPRNH DQG DUH ORRNLQJ IRU D KRPH WR ZDWFK WKH FKLOGUHQ JURZ DQG HYHQWXDOO\ Á \ WKH QHVW :LWK %HGURRPV D ODUJH *DUGHQ DQG QHDU WR D 0DLQ /LQH 6WDWLRQ WKH KRXVH ZRXOG SUHIHUDEO\ EH ROG EXW QHZ ZRXOG EH VHULRXVO\ FRQVLGHUHG D WDOO KRXVH IRU WDOO SHRSOH ZRXOG PHDVXUH XS $UH \RX DEOH WR À OO WKLV WDOO RUGHU" 5HI 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21',7,216 $33/<

6FRWV 0 LVVHG"

7KLV FRXSOH KDYH GHFLGHG QR +LJKODQG )OLQJ IRU WKHP D Q\PRUH LW·V WLPH WR KHDG GRZQ 6RX WK LQ VHDUFK RI WKH SHUIHFW SHULRG &RXQWU\ +RPH $FFXVWRPHG WR D 7RZ Q +RXVH WKH\ QRZ ZLVK IR UP D GHWDFKHG 3HULRG +RXVH ZLWK D PLQLP XP RI %HGURRPV DQG ZLWK XS WR )LYH $FUHV RI OD QG %XW SOHDVH 1R /R Z %HDPV DQG ZLWKLQ D PLOH UDGLXV RI 7KH :HDOG DQG &UDQEURRN \HV HYHQ WKH 6FRWV KDYH KHDUG KRZ JUHD W WKLV 7RZQ LV 5HI 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21 ',7,216 $33/<

,1 5(17('

'RJJ\ 'HOLFDF\

81'(5 2))(5

/RFDWLRQ DQG VSDFH DUH WKH WZR HVVHQWLDO LQJUHGLHQWV IRU WKLV \RXQJ DQG DFWLYH IDPLO\ :LWK )RXU %HGURRPV DQG 7ZR %DWKURRPV WKHLU QHZ KRPH PXVW EH ZLWKLQ D KDOI KRXU GULYH RI 0DUOERURXJK +RXVH 6FKRRO LQ +DZNKXUVW QRW GLVUXSWLQJ DQ\RQH·V HGXFDWLRQ $QLPDOV IHDWXUH KHDYLO\ LQ WKHLU OLIHVW\OH WKHUHIRUH D JRRG VL]HG *DUGHQ RI DW OHDVW +DOI DQ $FUH LV QHHGHG WR NHHS WKHLU IRXU OHJJHG IULHQG LQ WKH VW\OH WKDW KH LV XVHG WR 7KH\ DUH LGHDOO\ ORRNLQJ IRU D FKDUDFWHU SURSHUW\ DQG DUH ZLOOLQJ WR UHQRYDWH LI QHFHVVDU\ :LWK D EXGJHW RI DQG LQ D SRVLWLRQ WR PRYH TXLFNO\ ZLOO \RXU SURSHUW\ PDNH WKHP SDZV IRU WKRXJKW" 5HI 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21',7,216 $33/<

,1 5(17('

VWXUHV 1HZ $ 3DLU 2I 'RQNH\V /RRNLQJ )RIDPLU 3D O\ DUH QRZ XQGHU SUHVVXUH

WKLV 7KHLU ZRQGHUIXO KRPH LV XQGHU RIIHU DQG OG OLNH D SHULRG SURSHUW\ ZLWK HQRXJK WR À QG WKHLU RQZDUG PRYH 7KH\ ZRX H DQ RSHQ PLQG DV IDU DV DUHD LV ODQG IRU WKHLU WZR GRQNH\V 7KH\ KDY WLRQ LV ZHOO SURSRUWLRQHG WKH\ PRGD FFRP WKH D WKDW FRQFHUQHG DQG SURYLGLQJ WR GR ZRUN LI QHFHVVDU\ EXW LOOLQJ ZLOO ORRN DW HYHU\ SRVVLELOLW\ 7KH\ DUH Z ZHOO SUHVHQWHG FKDUDFWHU SURSHUW\ &DQ LGHDOO\ WKH\ ZRXOG ORYH WR PRYH LQWR D 5HI HOS" H RI K \RX E $33/< 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21',7,216

81'(5 2))(5

.LZL .RQXQGUXP

ZKR DUH JURZLQJ XS IDVW VSDFH LV )RU WKLV \RXQJ IDPLO\ IURP 1HZ =HDODQG $FUHV LV QHHGHG WR DOORZ WKHP WR OHDVW Q DW KLOGUH HVVHQWLDO :LWK D WRWDO RI & RXJKRXW .HQW DQG (DVW 6XVVH[ DV WKU FRQWLQXH JURZLQJ DW WKH VSHHG RI OLJKW $UH UDEO\ EH D 3HULRG 3URSHUW\ SUHIH RXOG QWR Z RYH L H WR P KRXV ZLOO EH FRQVLGHUHG $ HQRYDWLRQ SURMHFW :LWK D G RU U RI ODQ SORW EXW WKH\ ZRXOG ORYH WR NQRZ RI DQ\ EX\HUV DUH ¶KRW WR WURW· KHVH PRGDWLRQ W EXGJHW RI 0LOOLRQ DQG LQ UHQWHG DFFRP HW 5HI SRFN \RXU VK LQ HG FD HDUQ U KDUG DQG UHDG\ WR SXW WKHL /< $33 ,216 1',7 868$/ 7(506 $1' &2

7KH 3LFWXUH 3XUUIHFW +RPH

&DWV %XQQLHV *XLQHD 3L JV DQG D VROLWDU\ +DPVWHU ZLVK WR UHORFDWH WR D 6DIH +DYHQ QHDU WR 7XQEULG JH :HOOV 7RQEULGJH \HW DZD\ I URP PDLQ URDGV EULQJLQJ ZLWK WKHP D YH U\ QLFH /DG\ DQG KHU 7ZR %R \V $ PLQLPXP RI 7KUHH %HGURRP V SOXV SOHQW\ RI URRP IRU SOD \WLPH ERWK LQVLGH DQG RXW DQG D 8WLOLW\ 5RRP D UH WKHLU WRS SULRULWLHV 5HI 868$/ 7(506 $1' &21 ',7,216 $33/<

:EE OB>PBG@L <HG=N<M>= -$1 .,//((1

67(3+$1,( 5,&+$5'6

&$52/,1( &+(1(<

.$5(1 5287

%2% '($1

720 &/$5.(

+$77< 6.,11(5

$0< '$9,6

$/$1 .,//((1

ppp'\hngmkrikhi^kmr`khni'\hf

&8/9(5'(1 648$5( 781%5,'*( :(//6

Â… 3&0

$ WKUHH EHGURRP UHQRYDWHG WRZQKRXVH DYDLODEOH XQIXUQLVKHG /RFDWHG DERXW KDOI D PLOH IURP WKH PDLQOLQH VWDWLRQ LQ D SULYDWH 9LFWRULDQ 6TXDUH

2)) )25(67 52$' 781%5,'*( :(//6

Â… 3&0

%HDXWLIXOO\ UHQRYDWHG IRXU EHGURRP GHWDFKHG KRXVH ZLWK ODUJH JDUGHQ JDUDJH ,QFOXGHV DQ DQQH[H ZLWK VKRZHU URRP WKUHH IXUWKHU EDWKURRPV $YDLODEOH XQIXUQLVKHG

7+( :$55(1 &52:%2528*+

Â… 3&0

/RFDWHG LQ D UXUDO ORFDWLRQ ZLWK EHDXWLIXO YLHZV D WKUHH EHGURRP FRXQWU\ KRXVH ZLWK RYHU WZR DFUHV DQG D WHQQLV FRXUW $YDLODEOH IXUQLVKHG

/$1*721 *5((1

Â…

$ FKDUPLQJ GHWDFKHG IRXU EHGURRP WZR EDWKURRP *HRUJLDQ VW\OH IDPLO\ KRXVH ORFDWHG LQ WKLV KLJKO\ FRQYHQLHQW ORFDWLRQ ZLWK UXUDO YLHZV WR WKH UHDU RYHU RSHQ FRXQWU\VLGH

02/<1(8; 3/$&(

Â… 72 Â…

$ VHOHFWLRQ RI RQH DQG WZR EHGURRP SURSHUWLHV LQ WKLV ODQGPDUN GHYHORSPHQW RYHUORRNLQJ WKH WRZQ RQ 0RXQW (SKUDLP DOO ZLWK VHFXUH SDUNLQJ

781%5,'*( :(//6 $ QHZO\ UHIXUELVKHG WZR EHGURRP WZR EDWKURRP DSDUWPHQW ORFDWHG LQ WKLV KDQGVRPH EXLOGLQJ EHKLQG 0RXQW (SKUDLP

Â…

$ 6$ * / 5 ( (( '

7XQEULGJH :HOOV

6WRQHJDWH

Â…

Â…

Â…

$ 6$ * / 5 ( (( '

¶285 )2&86 '(7(50,1(6 <285 5($/,7<·

$ 6$ * / 5 ( (( '

62

/'

$ 6$ * / 5 ( (( '

&UDQEURRN

2SHQHG ZHHNV DJR ([FHHGHG DOO H[SHFWDWLRQV 9HQGRUV DQG /DQGORUGV %H SDUW RI RXU VXFFHVV &DOO XV WRGD\ 2SHQ GD\V D ZHHN Â… PLOOLRQ

$

$

$

* /(7 5 (( '

* /(7 5 (( '

%URDG 2DN

Â… * /(7 5 (( '

5XUDO 7XQEULGJH :HOOV

7XQEULGJH :HOOV

6XQGULGJH

%UHQFKOH\

Â… SFP

Â… SFP

Â… SFP

+DUSHUV +XUOLQJKDP 3URSHUW\ &RQVXOWDQWV 7KH &RUQHUKRXVH 6WRQH 6WUHHW &UDQEURRN .HQW 71 +( 7HO )D[ (PDLO HQTXLULHV#KDUSHUVDQGKXUOLQJKDP FRP :HE ZZZ KDUSHUVDQGKXUOLQJKDP FRP 2)),&( ,1 /21'21 &+,6:,&. .(16,1*721 $1' )8/+$0

-DQH %HDUG

-DLPH )DLUEDUQV

&KH] 9DQ $VZHJHQ

9HURQLFD &RQVWDQWLQH

'HEELH 6DPXHOV

+$53(56 +85/,1*+$0·6 (;&(37,21$/ 6(59,&( ,6 5(:$5'(' %< 7+(,5 28767$1',1* *52:7+

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ÀFH LQ WKH KHDUW RI WKH VRXJKW DIWHU SUHVWLJLRXV WRZQ RI &UDQEURRN SHUIHFWO\ VKRZFDVHV WR WKH PD[LPXP EHQHÀW WKH XQLTXH SURSHUWLHV RQ WKHLU ERRNV 7KH VHFUHW RI WKHLU VXFFHVV" %\ WDNLQJ DGYDQWDJH RI WKHLU LGHDO SRVLWLRQ LQ WKH KHDUW RI &UDQEURRN +DUSHUV +XUOLQJKDP RSHUDWHV DQ ¶RSHQ GRRU SROLF\·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ÀGHQFH DQG HQVXUHV OR\DOW\ WR WKHLU EUDQG

+DUSHUV +XUOLQJKDP KDYH DOVR UHFHQWO\ DGGHG RYHUVHDV SURSHUWLHV DQG FRPPHUFLDO UHQWDOV WR WKHLU VDOHV DQG UHQWDO SRUWIROLR DQG DUH QRZ ORRNLQJ WR H[SDQG LQWR WKH WRZQV DQG YLOODJHV VXUURXQGLQJ DQG LQFOXGLQJ 7XQEULGJH :HOOV 7KHLU VHUYLFH FRPPLWPHQW LQFOXGHV $ EHVSRNH 0DUNHWLQJ 3DFNDJH WR VXLW HDFK LQGLYLGXDO SURSHUW\ ZKLFK LQFOXGHV IXOO FRORXU JORVV\ EURFKXUHV DQ (3& ÁRRU SODQV SKRWRJUDSK\ DQG DOO DGYHUWLVLQJ ² DOO WKLV LQFOXGHG LQ WKH IHH $ FRPSHWLWLYH IHH VWUXFWXUH $Q RXW RI KRXUV FRQWDFW QXPEHU SDUWLFXODUO\ XVHIXO IRU RXU UHVLGHQWLDO OHWWLQJV WHQDQWV DQG ODQGORUGV DFFRPSDQLHG YLHZLQJV DW WKH FXVWRPHUV FRQYHQLHQFH DQG RQO\ FRQGXFWHG E\ H[SHULHQFHG VWDII $ SUHVHQFH RQ DOO UHOHYDQW LQWHUQHW ZHEVLWHV LQFOXGLQJ =RRSOD 3ULPHORFDWLRQ 5LJKWPRYH HWF DQG RQ WKH +DUSHUV +XUOLQJKDP ZHEVLWH ZKLFK DOVR KDV GLUHFW H[SRVXUH WR WKH /RQGRQ PDUNHW WKURXJK WKHLU DIÀOLDWLRQ ZLWK +DUSHUV +DUULVRQ LQ .HQVLQJWRQ &KLVZLFN DQG +DUULVRQ +XUOLQJKDP LQ )XOKDP $ SUHVHQFH LQ DOO UHOHYDQW SULQW PHGLD $QG WKH FRQYHQLHQFH RI DQ (VWDWH $JHQW WKDW LV RSHQ GD\V D ZHHN DQG ZKR ZRUNV IRU \RX DQG ZLWK \RX ¶7KHLU IRFXV GHWHUPLQHV \RXU UHDOLW\· %H SDUW RI WKHLU VXFFHVV FDOO +DUSHUV +XUOLQJKDP IRU D 6DOHV RU 5HQWDO 9DOXDWLRQ

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

5,> :;69, 1<:; 67,5,+ /HUK^YP[[LU c 4HQLZ[PJ ;LLZ c +\MM` (THaPUN >VTHU 1LHUZ c 3PSP[O -HIPHUH -PSPWWP c .PM[Z (JJLZZVYPLZ 6WLU ;\LZKH` ¶ :H[\YKH` *SVZLK 4VUKH` HUK :\UKH` +VYZL[ :[YLL[ :L]LUVHRZ ;5 033

DECEMBER 2010

?G9DI;F SEVENOAKS SEVENOAKS

62

WORDS AMY LAWSON

ELEVEN MILES DOWN THE ROAD FROM TW LIES SEVENOAKS. WITH ITS BEAUTIFUL PERIOD ARCHITECTURE, BUSTLING HIGH STREET AND GREAT PLACES TO EAT, IT’S A PICTURESQUE KENTISH TOWN RIGHT ON OUR DOORSTEP

6

evenoaks has taken many different twists and turns to become the glorious small town that it is today. Enter from the South, along Tonbridge Road, and you’ll immediately pick up on the historical feel of the place. With roots dating back to the 13th Century, the town has an old fashioned quality, but that’s not to say it’s outdated. The town enjoys a contemporary and fashionable edge that makes it a dynamic place. Modern cafes and bars are joined by boutique shops and fine dining. In fact, as you might describe a bottle of fine wine, Sevenoaks has only improved and become even more tasteful and appealing with age. Continue heading towards the centre of the town and you’ll find one of the most outstanding National Trust sites in the country. Given to the Sackville family by Queen Elizabeth I in 1577, it is the oak trees in the deer-inhabited park that give the town its name and just another reason why the town has become successful in attracting the short break visitors. But that’s not all; Sevenoaks has a great deal more to offer. One minute you can be among the hustle and bustle of the ever busy town centre, the next, exploring the quiet cobbled back lanes lined with idyllic romantic restaurants that are perfect for every occasion and any sought after cuisine. From the French dining Cafe Rouge to a wide range of European delights served from Edwards Brassiere, you’re blown away with the variety of what this town has to offer – either for a lunch time pit stop or an evening out on the town. Wandering along the High Street and you

can’t help but be drawn into many of the shops. Family run Mousetrap Boutique, at the top of London Road, has been there for an amazing 22 years, while Dominic Walmsley, the bespoke jeweller at the depths of London Road, creates contemporary jewellery using traditional craftsmanship. You are, when shopping in Sevenoaks, guaranteed to find yourself a gem for whatever the occasion. Which brings us on to the elegant Christmas feel that you will expereince when visiting Sevenoaks at this time of year; with its warm hearted traditional family welcome and lights that illuminate the picturesque buildings of the town, it’s the perfect place to top up that festive mood. A place that we may often overlook for a night out, the town actually enjoys a small and vibrant nightlife that many of the local ‘nouveau riche’ enjoy. For the perfect escape of a quiet evening of nibbles and wine tasting, pop in at The Vine and, perhaps, if you’re feeling adventurous, take a brisk walk into the centre for a night cap (or few). Although Sevenoaks has that warm enviable family glow, you can also be sure to find quiet and relaxing times. With history, atmosphere, shopping and beautiful architecture, Sevenoaks is a town that offers all you might need to enjoy a brilliant planned day trip... like a sister town of TW, it almost makes you think that the eleven mile gap should be even smaller.

Sevenoaks fact-box: Population: 18,500 Average property price: £472, 916 Size: 3,830 acres Distance from TW: 11.3 miles

Preferred Suppliers: Dominic Walmsley 5 Station Parade Seveoaks 01732 779 555 dominicwalmsley.com Mousetrap Boutique 90 High Street Sevenoaks 01732 740639 Style 1 Dorset Street Sevenoaks 01732 455 820 Badgers Bathrooms 8/9 Tubs Hill Parade Sevenoaks 01732 464450 bardgersbathrooms.com Polhill Farm Shop Shacklands Road Badgers Mount, Sevenoaks 01959 533089

DECEMBER 2010

62 T U N B R I D G E

WELLS

)$,5)$; *$//(5<

on this page: Ashdown, on a Breezy Autumn Day by David Atkins, 32 x 30 inches Girl in Blue Dress by Mary Jane Ansell, oil on board, 20 x 20 inches Was Music by Dorion Scott, oil on board, 24 x 24 inches Cliff Treasure by Rebecca Mclynn, oil on linen, 15 x 15 inches

DECEMBER 2010

62

T T H E G A L L E R Y

on this page: Woods by Beverley Rouwen, oil on canvas, 35 x 35 inches Calm Morning by Robina Yasmin, oil on canvas, 40 x 40 inches Cupboard Love by Gemma Harwood, oil on canvas, 12 x 40 inches Who is Sylvia by Helen Sinclair, Stone Resin, Height 62 inches All works can be seen at the Fairfax Gallery Christmas Exhibition until Monday January 10. Two oors of original paintings and sculpture from over 20 established, award-winning & emerging artists. See fairfaxgallery.com 23 The Pantiles, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TD 01892 525 525 DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

F Me ull C nu hri No stm w On as lin e

Open on Christmas Day, Book Now for Christmas!

A warm welcome awaits you at Palio. An authentic Italian restaurant with locally sourced fresh food, the best available. An Ideal venue for parties, business lunches or romantic evenings.

CHRISTMAS MENU SPECIAL OFFER Mon 29th November-Thurs 2nd December and Mon 6th-Thurs 9th December Buy one 2 or 3 course meal from the Christmas menu and get another 2 or 3 course meal from the Christmas menu half price. RISTORANTE & PIZZERIA 84-86 Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2AS 01892 515558

DECEMBER 2010

)UHVK ORFDO DQG VHDVRQDO :MWMX 8YRFVMHKI ;IPPW´ RI[IWX VIWXEYVERX XS WEQTPI XLI JVIWLIWX SJ HMWLIW ERH XLI FIWX LSQIQEHI GEOIW MR XS[R 8S EGGSQTER] SYV JSSH [I LEZI KVIEX [MRIW PSGEP EPIW ERH XLI FIWX -XEPMER GSJJII EPP WIVZIH MR E [IPGSQMRK GSQJSVXEFPI ERH VIPE\MRK EXQSWTLIVI

e7KH\ DUH EXV\ DQG ZRUG RI PRXWK LV JURZLQJ -XOLHWhV LV LQVSLULQJ 7KLV NLQG RI TXDOLW\ LV UDUH DQG WKLV NLQG RI SDVVLRQ LV HYHQ UDUHU f (EQMER 'SXXSR 2SZ

7S GSQI ERH NSMR YW XS WII ERH XEWXI [LEX [I´VI XEPOMRK EFSYX 8YIWHE] ¯ 7EXYVHE] EQ ¯ TQ 7YRHE] EQ ¯ TQ ,MKL 7XVIIX 8YRFVMHKI ;IPPW 82 <*

[[[ NYPMIXWXYRFVMHKI[IPPW GS YO

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

9LHZLQJ

SOHDVXUH WORDS DAN SMITH

WE WENT BACK TO COLLEGE THIS MONTH, TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE NEW RESTAURANT IN TONBRIDGE THAT’S BEEN MAKING A NAME FOR ITSELF WITH QUALITY FOOD AND A SIMPLE, STYLISH INTERIOR. IT’S CALLED THE VIEW AND CAN BE FOUND ON WEST KENT COLLEGE CAMPUS OR AS IT�S NOW KNOWN AS K COLLEGE

5

eviewing a restaurant at a College of Further and Higher Education doesn’t sound like our usual kind of foodie article, does it? Normally, we drop in at one of the established local restaurants to see if it stands up to scrutiny, or visit a highly regarded pub to ďŹ nd out if their Sunday roast is as good as they claim.

This month, it is with much interest that a colleague and I climb to the third oor of the newly completed main building at West Kent College (there is a lift) to visit a new restaurant open to the public. But this isn’t just any restaurant, The View is a new venture set up by the college in association with Brian Whiting, MD of the Whiting and Hammond pub chain, who runs The Chaser just outside Tonbridge, The Little Brown Jug at Chiddingstone Cause-way and the Mark Cross Inn, to name just a few of its award winning pubs.

a number of the chefs behind the kitchen doors are currently working towards their food qualiďŹ cations.

The View, nestled among the food labs and seminar rooms of the college, has been built as part of the ÂŁ64million Building Schools for the Future refurbishment at West Kent. Their plan, we’re told, is to serve “great food in a brasserie-style environment not only open to people at the college but also to people making a special trip to the restaurant.â€?

“It’s our aim,� says Brian glancing out of the vast windows and towards the town, “to get all those people, in all those houses, to feel comfortable eating, drinking and holding events here.�

Obviously, we fall into the latter category and on this occasion are joined by Brian Whiting himself who explains that the eatery can be enjoyed by students (25% off), staff and the public at large. It’s being co-operatively run by Whiting and Hammond fully qualiďŹ ed chefs – who learnt the ropes at Brian’s pubs – plus students, as part of their courses.

“The college sent me an email last year,â€? Brian explains. “It seems someone identiďŹ ed Whiting and Hammond as a good local company to co-operate with and they sort of took it from there.

This means that the waiters and waitresses milling around the smart wine/coffee bar are all students at the college and

DECEMBER 2010

But how did it all come about?

“Since opening just before the Summer holidays, there are now two or three students working per session in the kitchens and The View is open normal restaurant hours, rather than just lunchtimes and Thursday evening.�

R E S TA U R A N T

62

It’s a smart looking space, with plenty of light filtering through the huge windows that offer a panoramic view of the Weald of Kent. It’s cleanly designed, with wooden flooring, simple décor and more than a few smatterings of purple as a contrast colour. And the food? One glance at the menu and you can gather that a few favourites have been carried over from the pubs, such as beer battered Pollock fillet and pie and mash. However, there are more delicate and sophisticated dishes for those looking for something other than a simple hearty feed. To start, my colleague chooses the breast of pan-seared wood pigeon, which is served with pea and mint ravioli and crispy bacon. For me it’s the sweetcorn fritters – a simple pauper’s dish that was a speciality of my own mother (not to call you a pauper, Mum). I want to find out if it stands up to her original. The pigeon arrives as it should be; rare. And it’s good to see that the kitchen staff are confident enough to serve it properly and not overcook it for the sake of over-fussy diners. The ravioli is big pillows of pasta stuffed with a fantastic green puree of pea and mint. My companion tells me it barely needs the crispy strips of bacon that top it off and that the pigeon itself is cooked to melt-in-the-mouth perfection.

W

My fritter is like a huge savoury pancake, with what I believe to be finely diced spring onion folded into the batter with the corn. With a ramekin of herb crème fraiche and a salad to garnish, it’s a more aesthetic take on Mum’s old dish and more than stands up to scrutiny (as well as evoking memories of days past – is there a higher compliment for a chef?).

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Beer, wine and spirits are available, but it seems cruel to flaunt it in front of those students under 18, so we stick to coffee and ice water. My Editor is a staunch vegetarian, so to find out if he’d enjoy The View (and to get in his good books) I go for butternut squash and sage gnocchi with stilton sauce. Meanwhile, my partner chooses pan-seared sea bass fillets with beetroot salsa. I’m jealous already. It all arrives promptly – though not too soon after mains – and although some of the waiting staff seem a little nervous, it’s understandable; after all, they’ve only been serving for a few months. Both dishes come with a side of roasted new potatoes; crispy and golden brown on the outside and soft inside. Good stuff. The sea bass is deemed “absolutely delicious” by my colleague and looks spectacular, while my gnocchi is excellent. Each little crisp pocket has a sort of chewy give to it and when dripping with peppery stilton sauce they’re simply fantastic. The sauce itself is rich, but not so as to overpower the butternut. All in all it’s a very tasty dish, though far too large to finish. We both agree that we’re impressed and not just because we’re sitting in front of Brian, who’s been tucking into the cauliflower, chilli and almond soup followed by some fantastic-looking honey roast salmon and prawn fishcakes with a side of mango, chilli and lime chutney. Had it not been for the business students in the corner, I’d have quite forgotten we were dining on the campus of a college. Before we came to The View it had been recommended by some friends of ours who work in the town at an esteemed firm. They’ve begun to use the place as somewhere to meet clients for lunch and we can see why. The quiet and clean environment is away from the clutter of the High Street and it serves very good food at very reasonable prices. Before we go, Brian is keen to show us the new food labs and the kitchen that serves the restaurant. It’s all very modern, very spacious and impeccably clean – even while in use. The students busily rush about the place filling profiteroles with cream, creating swiss roll cakes and adding the finishing touches to other dishes. It makes me wish we’d stayed for dessert, but then again we can always come back – one of these budding chefs is sure to be working. 62

Bar menu: from £3.95 Starters: from £3.95 Mains: from £7.95 Desserts: from £4.95

Wine: By the glass: from £3.50 By the bottle: from £12.95

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday: 12-3 and 6-9 Sunday: 12-4

DECEMBER 2010

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

62

:HªUH WKH RQO\ SODFH LQ .HQW WR RIIHU WKH DXWKHQWLF )ODPLJQL 3DQQHWRQH IURP WKH ILQHVW SURGXFHU LQ ,WDO\ ,WªV D GHOLFLRXV DQG OLJKWHU DOWHUQDWLYH WR &KULVWPDV FDNH $OVR DYDLODEOH ZH KDYH RXU VSHFLDOLVW KDPSHUV IXOO RI IHVWLYH VXUSULVHV DQG GHOLJKWV

&KDSHO 3ODFH 7XQEULGJH :HOOV .HQW 71 <4

ZZZ DUWHELDQFD FR XN 7HO

0GTT[ &JTKUVOCU HTQO

Suchitra’s Thai Restaurant

&QOG CPF GPLQ[ QWT PGYN[ FGEQTCVGF TGUVCWTCPV UGTXKPI FGNKEKQWU 7JCK HQQF UKPEG 71 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells Tel: 01892 511370

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Tuesday-Friday two course lunch @ ÂŁ12.50 Wine tasting & gourmet wine dinners Live music 1st & last Friday every month (Blue Roots) Gourmet evenings & gastronomic festivals Private function room

Christmas Eve celebration with a Venezuelan menu & live latin Jazz, call The Chequers for info & bookings Don’t miss out on our fantastic Christmas lunches and dinners – BOOK NOW! Members of ‘Produced in Kent’ sourcing 70% of our menu from local farmers & growers.

8,) ',)59)67 Q 86%(-8-32%00= (-**)6)28 XLIGLIUYIVWMRRPEQFIVLYVWX GSQ 8LI 'LIUYIVW -RR 8LI &VSEH[E] 0EQFIVLYVWX 8YRFVMHKI ;IPPW 82 (&

‡ 0HHWLQJ &RQIHUHQFH 3ULYDWH 'LQLQJ ‡ *DUGHQ ‡ /DUJH )XOO\ /LW 2XWVLGH 'HFNHG $UHD ‡ :HGGLQJV DQG 6SHFLDO (YHQWV ‡ 6N\ 79 IRU 6SRUWLQJ (YHQWV ‡ %RRNLQJ $YDLODEOH 2QOLQH

,QJUHGLHQWV VRXUFHG ORFDOO\ DQG IRRG SUHSDUHG LQ RXU PRGHUQ NLWFKHQV &KLOGUHQ ZHOFRPH SOXV ZH KDYH D ERXQF\ FDVWOH

1HZ 5HVWDXUDQW 0HQX $YDLODEOH /REVWHU 7DQN LQ 3XE &KULVWPDV %RRNLQJV %HLQJ 7DNHQ 0HQX 6WDUWV 'HFHPEHU VW ZLWK &KULVWPDV &DUYHU\ (YHU\ /XQFK

Tel: 01892 890755

www.thebrowntroutinn.co.uk email: info@thebrowntroutinn.co.uk

(\[\TU H[

[OL ILHJVU

5,> @,(9Âť: ,=,

1VPU \Z [V ZLL PU [OL 5L^ @LHY -VYR I\ă L[ KLZZLY[Z HUK KPZJV ‰ WLY WLYZVU PU [OL \WZ[HPYZ YLZ[H\YHU[ VY ‰ PU [OL =LYHUKHO 9VVT ;PJRL[ LU[Y` VUS`

1(5<(9@ ;/

7\SSPUN -HJLZ 3V\PZL 1HTLZVU WSH`Z KPă LYLU[ JOHYHJ[LYZ PU [OL JV\YZL VM VUL OV\Y 7LYMVYTHUJL ILNPUZ H[ WT )VVR UV^ MVY WYL [OLH[YL KPUULY ‰ WLY [PJRL[ ;LH .HYKLU 3HUL ;\UIYPKNL >LSSZ ;LS! -H_! L! ILHJVUOV[LS'I[VWLU^VYSK JVT

^^^ [OL ILHJVU JV \R

DECEMBER 2010

;B;BÓ;F

62

0HDOV \XOH CHEFS

TIS UPON US: CHRISTMAS DAY WHEN WE GATHER FOR PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE YEAR. BUT WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE IT A TRULY MEMORABLE EVENT? WE PUT THE QUESTION TO A DOZEN TOP LOCAL CHEFS. THEIR ANSWERS ARE INFORMATIVE, WITTY AND AMUSING...

gon The George & Dra Location: Speldhurst Web: speldhurst.com Chef: Michelle Porter ner? k your own Christmas din Who would you like to coo o, if we just Tw e!) min like bit it’s ( her like his name , tty Michel Roux Jr. One, I rat ether a pre good dinner his father could cobble tog got totally drunk I’m sure either! and his Uncle isn’t too bad to cook? What would you ask him en llops wrapped in Lucy’s Gre Sca Bay us sweet Rye e som , bits the all To start with some delicio h wit year it has to be turkey a e onc y onl its uld as wo and hel Cured Bacon sweet parsnips. As Mic uts and bacon and some good sprouts with chestn French dish ile flottante. cla sert it should be the ssic be cooking I think for des enjoyable? Christmas dinner most Your top tip for making , do, so that the day ore bef day if you can do it the n, atio par pre ays alw is The key a turkey. Also do yourself ily and friends, not stuffing and itself can be spent with fam d butcher (we use Fullers buy the best, go to a goo the to t visi the ve a favour for one day and lea and organic bronze turkey per pro a lf rse rs you offe buy e Chart Farm) the BOGOF win 364 days of the year. Forget supermarket for the other Secret Cellar knows his The at e Mik . al wine merchant and splash out at your loc e reasonably priced gems. stuff and always has som traditional turkey? And your alternative to m, the legs off and confit the with tons of flavour. I take for h nis fi and fry Pheasant is always great then pan cass and wrap it in bacon take the breast off the car d veg, bread sauce and ste roa us icio del e som h wit six mins in the oven. Serve cranberry sauce. mas? your feelings about Christ Five words that sum up it. Champagne, mistletoe, I like DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

The Beacon Bar and Restaurant Location: Tunbridge Wells Web: the-beacon.co.uk Chef: Scott McKenzie Who would you like to cook your own Christmas dinner ? It would have to be my Great Uncle. He was my inspiration to become a chef and was himself a chef in the army for over 20 years. I used to love his stories about the VIPs he cooked for and it’s funny how the terminology really hasn’t changed in over 50 years. What would you ask him to cook for you? A good home cooked roast with sausage meat stuffing, fluffy roast potatoes, a good selection of local roast meats – sirloin, gammon joint, leg of lamb. Roasted parsnips, runner beans, broccoli and the dreaded Brussels sprouts. Your top tip for making Christmas dinner most enjoyable? My top tip would be – preparation. Make sure your turkey is cooked thoroughly, pre-boil your spuds the night before, so you can spend more time with your friends and family. (No one wants to be stuck in front of the stove on Christmas Day – ha ha – good words for a Head Chef!) If you are doing something a little bit different, have some trial runs. No one wants a pancake instead of a soufflé. Don’t give yourself too much to do, enjoy the day. And your alternative to traditional turkey? Personally I would go for a nice cut of venison – roasted rack of venison, bang in season. A bit pricey but well worth it for Christmas. Five words that sum up your feelings about Christmas? Food, family, friends, drink and oh…work!

hequers Hiltonz at The C Location: Lamberhurst erhurst.com Web: thechequersinnlamb Chef: Nigel Hilton ner? k your own Christmas din Who would you like to coo Martin from ette Jos e dam s dinner cooked by Ma ma rist Ch my er e hav to e I would lov farming family and togeth was the mother of a large ette Jos . f. nce che Fra ng es, you lain a Fub to me as rre was a true inspiration with her late husband Pie to cook for you? What would you ask her d salmon, crab, winkles and h plenty of oysters, smoke wit r tte with pla d foo sea e larg A a bed of root vegetables goose slow roasted over for and e Bri ux vie e shrimp followed by a plump n a littl n ripe Brie de Meaux or eve apples and calvados. The be in heaven uld wo I l. noe de he buc dessert a chocolate enjoyable? Christmas dinner most Your top tip for making aft on er all and friends or ress. This is a family occasi Relax and don’t try to imp bly also helps! feel like family. Plenty of bub guests should be made to traditional turkey? And your alternative to as dinner and try a different Christm rld wo the around really are as llac Ha Why not take a culinary trip l ona diti 12 years and the Tra for ela ezu Ven in d amed). live I ste r! and each yea in banana leaves lled corn parcels wrapped fi at (me l Eve cia as spe istm ing Chr eth on som quers I serve them here at the Che My wife Zorny (pictured) and mas? your feelings about Christ Five words that sum up . ess pin hap d, Family, friends, fun, foo

DECEMBER 2010

CHEFS

62

Hotel Alexander House

Sankey’s Seafood Brasserie Location: Tunbridge Wells Web: Chef:

sankeys.co.uk Location: East Grinstead b: alexanderhouse.co.uk Jack We Petit Chef: Paul Nixon

Who would you like to cook your own Christmas dinner? s dinner? cook your own Christma like to would you WhoChristmas I love cooking dinner but if I could have anybec one ause she has never ner din s Christma cook me e to my wif like than I wanted, other my mother, I would love to experience mas but I can I would I have worked over Christ m the start Fro yet!on for metake Bernard Oiseau’s Christmas Dinner.am He was one of the cookedLone always dre . culinary giants I revered as I was growing up in France. k? would you ask her to coo What would you ask himWh toat cook? ls sprouts, with a light sse Bru d tée sau and atoes h confit pot roast wit birddinner I’dAlove to comprise of a mix of fishven andalth meat, lots of bably wouldn’t tenthe h oug I pro jus. It’s my idea of hea deriavariety. maand different avours gamefland thing. ne fi a be uld nce wo want to move all day… cha Your top tip for making Christmas dinner mostsenjoyable? enjoyable? g Christma dinner most makin for r top For me as aYou chef I puttip my heart into my cooking,rdespecially at oy searching for Enj nd. fi t you can affo and ts thayour ienenjoy t ingred bes Christmas. My advice is to cooking sand not to rush it. Use the complex, keep it be to e hav suppliers. It doe not good local producers and the feast. Also do lity local produce will create of good qua – the flavours And your to traditional turkey? ple alternative ch as the eating. sim mu erience of cooking as the exp can to enjoy g you For eve a meat dish I recommend a Beef Wellington served with rythin t of the fun. par it ke ma plan to follow, try to e tim a te wri to d nee Gratin Dauphinoise. But as I specialise in fresh fish, nothing If you beats fillets of wild seabass simply pan fried with some seasonal? ative to traditional turkey r altern d you Anlike veg and a good sauce, Beurre blanc. from turkey. Deliciously goose if you want a change I would suggest cooking a cooking techniques to x ple to ‘find’ hugely com e hav ’t don you ur, avo fl Five words Christmas? rich inthat sum up your feelings about crown the Christmas table. erent taste alternative to ally diff a tot Family, food, fun, friends, wine. create mas? your feelings about Christ Five words that sum up ug! mb ,hu , turkey Crazy, knackering, manic Words 190

MONTROSE RESTAURANT Location: Southborough Common Web: montroserestaurant.co.uk Chef / Co-proprietor: Richard Hards Who would you like to cook your own Christmas dinner? I would like Graeme Moore to cook my Christmas dinner. Graeme is my business partner and father of my partner and is responsible for all the amazing wine at Montrose. He’s also definitely the person I have cooked for the most – ever! The reason I choose Graeme is I have only ever heard stories of his cooking abilities and all are extremely amusing, one being a phone call to his daughter: “How do I turn on the oven”. What would you ask him to cook? I would ask Graeme to cook a traditional three course Christmas dinner with all the trimmings from scratch and with no help. I wonder if it would be a time of friendly constructive criticism or discovery of a new style of cooking. I shall play my part and try to choose the wine in a trial of role reversal. And I would refuse to tidy the kitchen after. Your top tip for making Christmas dinner most enjoyable? Buy only the best quality ingredients and wine. Or even easier take out all the stress of cooking and the cleaning up after, book a table at Montrose! I can guarantee you will receive only the best. And your alternative to traditional turkey? I suggest duck or goose as an alternative to turkey, or be everyones hero and buy the best fillet steak you can. Five words that sum up my feeling about Christmas? Work, work, work, family, presents. DECEMBER 2010

CHEFS

62

One Restaurant Location: Tunbridge Wells Web: thebrewhousehotel.com Chef: Andrew Giles Who would you like to cook your own Christmas dinner? Hugh Fernley Whittingstall who does a lot of food I find interesting. I’m sure it would be slightly traditional with some quirky twists. The ethos behind his cooking focuses on locally sourced produce, much of which he finds himself – I can often be found in the woods and forests around Tunbridge Wells foraging for local produce! HFW would attach this ethos to his Christmas cooking rather than just buying a turkey from his local supermarket – a much more quirky and interesting way to cook. What would you ask him to cook? I would love a massive feast, like a nine bird roast with all the traditional trimmings and every possible extra to push it up to a medieval banquette level of indulgence. The roast consists of nine birds wrapped inside one another – woodcock, pigeon, partridge, grouse, pheasant, chicken, duck, goose and finally a turkey. All are slow cooked together, with no pre-cooking, regularly basted and covered/uncovered. Not a task for the speedy or impatient chef! Your top tip for making Christmas dinner most enjoyable? Relax! Everyone is so stressed about making it perfect that they turn into mini-monsters. If they just chilled out a little they would all enjoy it a lot more, and get everyone to join in. Many hands make light work. And your alternative to traditional turkey? Goose is a fantastic alternative. You can have all the best bits of a Christmas roast but a much more succulent bird with a slight gamey flavour. Go to your local butcher well in advance and use his knowledge of game to select the best goose for the party you are cooking for. Collect it the day before so you don’t have to store it. Five words that sum up your feelings about Christmas? Family, friends, presents, work, busy.

Gravetye Manor Location: East Grinstead Web: gravetyemanor.co.uk Chef: Rupert Gleadow Who would you like to cook your own Christmas dinner? I was 16 the last time that I sat down on Christmas Day for a full traditional dinner. With this in mind I would love my mother to be in charge of cooking dinner for the whole family again. What would you ask her to cook? Christmas is all about tradition and family so it would have to be roast goose (traditional in our family, anyway!). Always served with loads of vegetables, stuffing, roast potatoes and a really rich gravy. Your top tip for making Christmas dinner most enjoyable? Planning. There is nothing worse than finally managing to get the whole family together for one day and then having to spend it all in the kitchen. All the basic preparations can be done in advance (peeling, chopping, stuffing, etc) so that, on the day, all that is needed is to put the oven on and cook everything. My mother’s fridge on Christmas Eve was full of trays and even saucepans all with the prepared vegetables already in them. The goose was stuffed, oiled and seasoned and simply needed roasting. That way she could relax and enjoy the day. And your alternative to traditional turkey? Roast goose. An infinitely superior choice to turkey. Five words that sum up your feelings about Christmas? Stressful, hot, lonely, rewarding, demanding.

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Jack Petit (left) with fellow Chef Simon Wilson

Sankey’s Seafood Brasserie

Location: Tunbridge Wells Web: sankeys.co.uk Chef: Jack Petit Who would you like to cook your own Christmas dinner? I love cooking Christmas dinner but if I could have any one I wanted, other than my mother, I would love to experience Bernard L Oiseau’s take on Christmas Dinner. He was one of the culinary giants I revered as I was growing up in France. What would you ask him to cook? I’d love the dinner to comprise of a mix of fish and meat, lots of different flavours and variety. Your top tip for making Christmas dinner most enjoyable? For me as a chef I put my heart into my cooking, especially at Christmas. My advice is to enjoy your cooking and not to rush it. And your alternative to traditional turkey? For a meat dish I recommend a Beef Wellington served with Gratin Dauphinoise. But as I specialise in fresh fish, nothing beats fillets of wild seabass simply pan fried with some seasonal veg and a good sauce, like Beurre blanc. Five words that sum up your feelings about Christmas? Family, food, fun, friends, wine.

ar Bistro and B vin at Hotel du Location: Tunbridge Wells Web: Hotelduvin.com Chef: Jens Ove Folkel ner? k your own Christmas din Who would you like to coo s very good wa and k used to be a fantastic coo She r. the mo my be to It has casseroles, which tasted she was making stews and en wh lies ite wh ing tell at kidneys slipped in, food I w now that a lot of liver and great by the way. But I kno couldn’t stand as a child. cook? What would you ask her main with roast potatoes, for se rter. Roast goo a Swedish black soup for sta by a selection of cheese and s and offal toast followed creamed Brussels sprout glass of port to ďŹ nish. enjoyable? Christmas dinner most Your top tip for making king! coo the preparation and Get everyone involved in traditional turkey? . And your alternative to better avour than turkey n guinea fowl which has a Roast goose, duck or eve mas? your feelings about Christ Five words that sum up e. win lled mu , nds Stress, presents, family, frie

DECEMBER 2010

62

CHEFS

PALIO

Location: Tunbridge Wells Web: palio-restaurant.com Chef: Angelo Megna Who would you like to cook your own Christmas dinner? Gordon Ramsay would be my choice so we can see if he can cook as well in real life as he does on his TV programmes. What would you ask them to cook for you? Probably abbacchio which is a lovely Italian dish of roasted lamb with garlic, rosemary and bay leaf. It is best served with mixed veg or salad and is accompanied with onion and mushroom sauce. Your top tip for making Christmas dinner most enjoyable? Keep it simple. Here in the restaurant we like to sing carols to the customers, and get everyone to join in. You could do exactly the same at home.

The Black Pig Pub & Dining Room

Bringing both English and Italian traditions together we serve Christmas Pudding and Panettone at the end of the meal with a glass of Asti Spumante.

Location: Tunbridge Wells Web: theblackpig.net Exec Chef: Julian Leefe – Griffiths

And your alternative to traditional turkey? There’s a range of alternatives we’ll be trying this year, that you could also offer your guests, and they include Tacchion Esotico which is a two bird roast, free range turkey and wild duck. There’s also the very popular grilled fillet steak stuffed with fresh oysters flavoured with garlic and parsley, wrapped in pancetta and served with fresh asparagus and brandy sauce.

Who would you like to cook your own Christmas dinner ? My ideal Christmas Chef would be some fat Northern Italian hill farmer who keeps chickens in his back garden, shoots wild boar on the mountain and forages his mushrooms. It would be also excellent if he spoke no English at all so I wouldn’t have to listen to how brilliantly simple it all was.

Five words that sum up your feelings about Christmas? Its very good for business.

What would you ask him to cook for you? A feast of the forest. It would include wild boar sausage and polenta, slow cooked chicken with preserve lemons and chestnuts followed by a whole acorn-fed suckling pig with rosemary, porcini and thyme stuffing with plenty of Barolo. Your top tip for making Christmas dinner most enjoyable? Big parties, invite the relations you can’t stand, your brotherin-law who doesn’t drink and mix ‘em up with your best friends from around the corner. Stay in or go out, the bigger the party the more fun the whole thing is. And your alternative to traditional turkey? All of the above. Game is really the way forward, but don’t forget the traditional goose or suckling pig. Just remember, keep it festive with plenty of chestnuts, cinnamon, clementine’s and brandy. Five words that sum up your feelings about Christmas? Hard work, but worth it.

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

The Red Lion Pub & Dining Location: Rusthall Web: theredlionrusthall.co.uk Chef: James Ireland Who would you like to cook your own Christmas dinner and why? I would like my good friend and ex-Thackeray’s chef Mike Blizzard as by the time Christmas day comes around we would both have seen enough turkeys to fancy something different. He is one of the best chefs I have had the pleasure to work with. What would the pair of you cook? We would meet after our respective kitchens closed and start with a cold beer before getting stuck into the preparations for our feast which would most easily be described as tapas style. I love the informality and social aspect of grazing food and it’s perfect for the chefs who have seen one too many roasts over the period. Among the treats would be seared pepper tuna loin with, guacamole and roasted pepper and tomato coulis. Scallops are always a treat and we would enjoy these wrapped in Parma ham with a dry sherry and butter sauce. Your top tip for making Christmas dinner most enjoyable? Forget the calories! Diets are for before and after the event. If you can use duck fat instead of vegetable oil, go for it. Finish all your vegetables with a nice knob of butter, enriching even the humble sprout. And your alternative to traditional turkey? Speak to your butcher and get a nice big forerib of British beef. Chop up thyme, rosemary and crush garlic and massage the herbs into the meat, before placing in a hot pan to trap the flavours and seal the meat prior to roasting. Serve with traditional fluffy roast potatoes, using duck fat of course. Five words that sum up your feelings about Christmas? Chop, roast, blanch, serve, chop.

Saint Johns Yard Bar & Restaurant 1R OHVV WKDQ D KRPH DZD\ IURP KRPH ZKHUH UHJXODUV DUH ROG IULHQGV DQG Ă€ UVW WLPHUV DUH VLPSO\ QHZ IULHQGV *UHDW GULQNV H[FHSWLRQDO IRRG DQG JUHDW VHUYLFH DOO LQ UHOD[HG DQG LQYLWLQJ VXUURXQGLQJV FRXXUVH VHW PHQX JODVV RI ZLQH RQO\ Â… HYHU\ 0RQGD\ QLJKW 6XQGD\ URDVW IURP Â… Âś7KH 0RUURFDQ 5RRP¡ QHZ IXQFWLRQ VXLWH DYDLODEOH HQG RI 1RYHPEHU Âś7KH /LEUDU\¡ SULYDWH GLQLQJ IRU XS WR JXHVWV %RRN \RXU &KULVWPDV SDUW\ QRZ WR JXHVWV IURP Â… Saint Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells, 01892 619376

DECEMBER 2010

$EHUJDYHQQ\ $UPV DW )UDQW WK &HQWXU\ &RDFKLQJ ,QQ ZLWK UHVWDXUDQW DQG EDUV 6U [OL ( ,HZ[IV\YUL 9VHK Q\Z[ ZV\[O VM ;\UIYPKNL >LSSZ

‹ >HYT HUK ^LSJVTPUN VWLU SVN ÄYLZ ‹ -VVK ZLY]LK HSS KH` L]LY` KH` PUJS\KPUN :\UKH` L]LUPUNZ ‹ 3HYNL ZLSLJ[PVU VM ÄUL ^PULZ HUK JHZR HSLZ ‹ :LHZVUHS ZWLJPHSP[PLZ ‹ -LZ[P]L TLU\ MYVT [O 5V]LTILY [V *OYPZ[THZ ,]L ‹ 5L^ @LHYZ ,]L ¶ SP]L YVJR IHUK -YHU[ .YLLU 9VHK -YHU[ ;\UIYPKNL >LSSZ ;5 +) HILYNH]LUU`HYTZ'I[JVUULJ[ JVT ^^^ HILYNH]LUU`HYTZ JV \R

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

5HDO

FRUNHUV

YOU’VE GOT A FULL HOUSE ON CHRISTMAS DAY, WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS COMING FROM FAR AND WIDE. BUT WHAT WINES DO YOU MATCH WITH YOUR FOOD AND THE OCCASION? WE ASK ALEX COLE – OWNER OF THE CHAPEL BAR AND CHAPEL PLACE WINES IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS – WHAT HE’LL BE SERVING ON THE DAY

When friends pop by before lunch With scrambled egg and smoked salmon served on mini brioche I’ll be cracking open a great value Cava for the prelunch gathering. Anna de Codorníu Brut Rosé is salmon-pink in appearance and produced using traditional methods in Spain. It’s a beautifully refreshing blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and would be at least three times the price if produced in the Champagne region.

The beauty of this Syrah is it will carry through to the Christmas pudding; the rich fruit and brandy flavours in the pudding add a whole new dimension to the wine.

For Christmas dinner itself

In front of the fire

This year I will be customising my main course with the help of local butcher Peter Speaight. The recommendation is for a three-bird roast of turkey, duck and pheasant (my personal preference) which has thrown up a bit of challenge in terms of keeping everyone around the table happy with the wines… but here goes.

When we retire to the lounge, the waft of mulled wine instantly soothes me and the warm steam of spices always puts a smile on my face - although I won’t be sharing my secret recipe, I’m afraid. It is, however, available to drink in or take-away from The Chapel Bar. Merry Christmas! 62

The white meat, whether turkey or chicken, suggests a nice dry Chardonnay such as the Veramonte Chardonnay Reserva from Chile. This wine is fantastic value for money at only £7.49 a bottle and would suit any poultry. I must add that an old world favourite of mine, Chablis 1er Cru Vaucoupin, J. Moreau et Fils features on my table at Christmas whatever I serve, along with a couple of cases of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut for toasting purposes. I recommend trying out both of these bottles too. Because of the duck and pheasant with my roast, I’m going to have a couple of bottles of French Syrah open throughout the meal. A recent find from a small Domaine; La Croix Belle Syrah is delightful – light enough to complement the white meat and fruity enough to emphasise the richness of the darker meats.

DECEMBER 2010

Anna de Codorníu Brut Rosé, Cava from £10.49 Veramonte Chardonnay Reserva from £7.49 Chablis 1er Cru Vaucoupin, J. Moreau et Fils from £19.99 Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut from £22.99 La Croix Belle Syrah from £9.99 Mulled Wine from the Chapel Bar £3.50 per serving. All wines available from chapelplacewines.co.uk

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

7+( 63277(' '2* 6PDUWV +LOO

The Spotted Dog in Penshurst. Winter and Christmas menus available. Book now! A great place to relax and enjoy the fantastic views. New Head Chef making the most of fresh food. Good selection of draught ales and well priced wines. Excellent and friendly service. Cheryl, Nick, Jacqui and Arthur welcome you at The Spotted Dog.

Smarts Hill, Penshurst TN11 8EP 01892 870253 www.spotteddogpub.co.uk

DECEMBER 2010

;/, 4,(+ :*/663 6\Y TPZZPVU PZ [V LUHISL L]LY` JOPSK [V MLLS Z\JJLZZ YLHSPZL WV[LU[PHS HUK ILJVTL SPML SVUN SLHYULYZ -PYZ[ HUK MVYLTVZ[ ^L HYL H MHTPS` JVTT\UP[` ÄYTS` ILSPL]PUN [OH[ H JOPSK ^OV PZ OHWW` HUK ZLJ\YL PU ZJOVVS PZ VUL ^OV ^PSS [OYP]L HUK SLHYU HUK [OLYLI` HJOPL]L -VY H WLYZVUHS [V\Y VM [OL ZJOVVS WSLHZL JVU[HJ[ [OL 9LNPZ[YHY ,SPaHIL[O >PU[LY

-YHU[ 9VHK ;\UIYPKNL >LSSZ 2LU[ ;5 :5 ;LS! ^^^ TLHKZJOVVS PUMV ,THPS! TLHKZJOVVS'OV[THPS JV \R ;OL 4LHK :JOVVS PZ JVTTP[[LK [V [OL WYV[LJ[PVU HUK ZHML[` VM P[Z W\WPSZ

E D U C AT I O N

62

7KH 0HDG KCN RNCEG C URGE

FOR 24 YEARS MRS ANGELA CULLEY HAS BEEN THE HEAD OF THE MEAD SCHOOL IN TUNBRIDGE WELLS. IN THAT TIME THE INDEPENDENT COEDUCATIONAL PREP SCHOOL HAS BUILT UP AN IMPRESSIVE REPUTATION. WE ASKED THE HEAD, THE PUPILS AND THE PARENTS WHAT MAKES THE SCHOOL SO SPECIAL

7

he Mead School as seen by the Head:

The Mead School is a place which; ‘Encourages all its pupils to feel success’. Children who are happy and secure in school thrive and become lifelong learners. To this end, the school, founded on Christian principles and impressively housed in a Victorian villa within easy walking distance of The Pantiles, is run as a family unit providing a happy, secure, lively and stimulating environment in which children can develop and thrive. Academic standards and expectations are high, enabling each child to realise their potential, discover their strengths and interests and move to secondary school as independent learners who have established excellent work patterns and strong values which will remain with them for life. Children are prepared for entry to a wide range of secondary schools in both sectors including all six local Grammar schools. A list of exam results is available from the school. We are a community based school. We want our pupils to be outward looking for the world is their classroom and life their education. Within our campus children enjoy high quality teaching and resources and their learning is greatly enhanced by a broad range of educational trips and visitors. Mead children can often be seen in the town enjoying all it has to offer including the library, The Pantiles, the Museum and the Trinity Arts Centre.

W

School life must be fun and full. A huge programme of sport, music, drama and extra-curricular activities is offered and our pupils embrace it all with enthusiasm and conďŹ dence.

G 7JG VGCEJGTU CT TGCNN[ TGCNN[ PKEG :G FQ UQ OWEJ CV 7JG 0GCF YJKEJ VGCEJGU OG NQVU DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

JQQN , NQXG QWT CHVGT UE I ENWDU , NQXG RNC[KP QWT HQQVDCNN CPF , NQXG HCD NWPEJGU We hope our pupils look back on their prep school life and be able to say “those were wonderful days!� The Mead School as seen by the Independent School Inspectorate:

The Mead and have good old-fashion values� “My son can’t wait to do homework so think teaching is just the right level and working well�. “All is EXCELLENT. We are so pleased with The Mead�.

‘The school is very effective in meeting its aim to ensure that all pupils have opportunities to feel success within a secure family ethos. The care that the staff devote to the well being of their pupils is an outstanding feature of the school.’

“We cannot fault the academic provisions which are truly outstanding�.

The Mead School as seen by the children:

“Children are encouraged to be who they are and ďŹ nd whatever talent is thereâ€?.

“On my ďŹ rst day everyone was really kind and all the other children were so kind and wanted to be my friendâ€?

“My son has ourished in the ‘family environment’ which the school has created.

“I love coming to school because the work is always interesting and I like seeing my friends and my teacher�

“Pastoral care is exemplary at The Mead and we have a very happy child! This is a great base to build on�.

“Viking Day was terriďŹ c, I can’t wait for next year’s Greek Dayâ€?

“Our child has thrived at The Mead�.

“The Mead is a safe place to be. We help each other, care and share�.

“We are absolutely delighted at the level of help and support our daughter is receiving at The Mead. She is making remarkable progress and we cannot thank you enough�. 62

The Mead School as seen by the parents: “All the staff have a real interest in the children and they put the children’s welfare and education ďŹ rstâ€? “All staff appear to have an empathy with all the children at

DECEMBER 2010

Contact: Web: meadschool.info Email: meadschool@hotmail.co.uk Phone: 01892 525 837

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

PHOTOGRAPHY: PHIL GLOVER

7KH ORQJ DQG

WKH VKRUW RI

'D\ 7UDGLQJ IN THE FINAL PART OF OUR SIT-DOWN WITH NICHOLAS EDWARDS – CEO OF HEDGE FUND MANAGER ALTERNATIVE ASSET MANAGEMENT – WE FIND OUT ABOUT THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF BECOMING A DAY TRADER What is “day trading”? In generic terms the business of day trading refers to the activity of buying and selling financial instruments within the same trading day before the market closes for the day. This is certainly the focus within our company, Alternative Asset Arcades (“A2A”) business. Originally, the most important stocks were traded on the world’s major stock exchanges. Brokers would transact business through the floor of the relevant exchange via a specialist. These specialists would each make markets in only a handful of stocks. The specialist would match the purchaser with another broker’s seller, write up physical tickets that, once processed, would effectively transfer the stock. They would then relay the information back to both brokers who would be paid a fixed commission of circa 1%. However, a change in fixed commissions within the USA gave rise to a more competitive environment and discounting of commission rates was soon with us. This was one of the first steps to make day trading potentially profitable. Today some of the more commonly day traded financial instruments are stocks, stock options, currencies and a host of futures contracts such as equity index futures, interest rate futures and commodity futures. Here at A2A we

DECEMBER 2010

specialise in equity market indeces; mainly in the USA (S&P) and Germany (DAX). We are, though, building a team of traders in different underlying financial instruments to diversify and provide greater scope. Day trading has become more popular since the advent of electronic trading and post the days of the old ‘floor’ of the LIFFE (London International Financial Futures Exchange) and ‘open outcry’ trading. It used to be an activity exclusive to large financial corporates, professional investors and speculators. Indeed, until the past decade most Day Traders were bank or investment firm employees working as ‘specialists’ in the equity investment and fund management business although now it has become increasingly popular among at-home traders. The problem with this is that people are beginning to realise that trading from their back room at home is not good for their sanity or indeed their financial health! How does it differ from other forms of trading? There are many styles within day trading including Scalping, Trend Following, Range Trading, Price Action, Artificial Intelligence, Swing Trading and many other different techniques used to achieve profits. Day Traders look to use whatever skills they have plus, where possible, any other tools of the trade that works for them. These might include:

MONEY

technical patterns, volume spread analysis, price momentum etc but all share a common thread in that they are all designed to look for potential trading setups (ie any financial instruments that, in the judgment of the Day Trader, is in a tension state, ready to accelerate in price in either direction, that when traded well has a potential for a substantial profit). Here at A2A we tend to focus on short term trend following as that is our bias. However, we are developing a greater range of styles as more Day Traders join us. The number of trades that Day Traders can take per day is almost unlimited, as are the profits and losses! This is a totally different style of investment compared to the more traditional ‘buy and hold’ strategy that the vast majority of professional fund managers employ. But then the risks taken vary considerably. Short term price movements can vary sharply within minutes and losses as well as profits can accumulate fast if people are not professional. Some Day Traders focus on very short-term trading within their trading day in which a trade may last just a few minutes. Such trades can be long or short of the underlying financial instrument thus proving opportunity to make profit from falling prices as much as rising prices. Sometimes only tiny movements in prices are taken or booked as profit and then the trader is looking for the next opportunity.

movement of this index can be divided into ticks where each tick is a 1/4 of a full point movement in the index. Traders can choose the number of lots that they wish to buy or sell. Each lot provides exposure to the index. Position sizing is incredibly important and it doesn’t take long to build significant exposure. This is a major consideration in our trading activities and a core focus of our training given to aspiring new Day Traders. What are the attractions of day trading? Due to the nature of financial leverage and potential rapid moves in the underlying investments, day trading can be either extremely profitable or extremely unprofitable and high-risk profile traders can generate either huge percentage returns or huge percentage losses. Indeed, because of the high profits (and losses) that day trading makes possible, these traders are sometimes portrayed as “gamblers” by other investors; whereas the reality is that Day Trading is a profession in itself. Some individuals, however, make a consistent living from day trading and the world is full of people who believe they can become professional Day Traders. It is our ambition to train people to be able to trade profitably and consistently and build a long term career as a professional Day Trader. We are fortunate enough to have built long term relationships with some of our traders who have turned in significant profits over the past few years. It must be said though, the art of becoming a good Day Trader is careful risk control and prudent money management. This is what we look to teach our traders.

W

W

For example some of our traders trade the S&P 500 Index (index movement for the top 500 companies in the USA) through futures. (More on what a ‘Future’ is later). Price

62

DECEMBER 2010

% 10

%08)62%8-:) %77)8 1%2%+)1)28 08( [[[ EPXEWWIX GSQ 6-7/

³6MWO GSRGIVRW XLI HIZMEXMSR SJ SRI SV QSVI VIWYPXW SJ SRI SV QSVI JYXYVI IZIRXW JVSQ XLIMV ³I\TIGXIH ZEPYI´

59%28-*= 6-7/ ˆ %77)77 6-7/ ˆ 1-2-1-7) 6-7/ 8%/) 6-7/ ˆ %',-):) 463*-8 3YV TLMPSWSTL] MW XS UYERXMJ] VMWO ERH [I WIIO XS QMRMQMWI VMWO [LIVIZIV TSWWMFPI XS EGLMIZI TVS½X

4634,)8

³% TVSTLIX MW ER MRHMZMHYEP [LS MW GPEMQIH XS LEZI FIIR GSRXEGXIH F] XLI WYTIVREXYVEP SV XLI HMZMRI´

463*-8

³4VS½X MW XLI HMJJIVIRGI FIX[IIR TVMGI ERH XLI GSWXW SJ FVMRKMRK XS QEVOIX´

;) %6) 238 4634,)87

-J ]SY WIIO E TVSTLIX ]SY RIIH XS PSSO IPWI[LIVI

;) %6) ,-+, 6-7/ ,-+, 6)8962 ,)(+) *92( 1%2%+)67 -J ]SY WIIO TVS½XW ]SY QE] [MWL XS GSRXEGX YW

)\TIVMIRGIH UYEPMJ]MRK MRZIWXSVW SRP] ;I HS RSX LSPH GPMIRX QSRI] SV QEREKI EWWIXW JSV XLI ³VIXEMP´ WIGXSV 3YV 1IKEPMS :MWMSR *YRH XEVKIXW VIXYVRW SJ RIX TIV ERRYQ 3YV SFNIGXMZIW QE] RSX FI VIEGLIH ERH XLI ZEPYI SJ SYV MRZIWXQIRX GER KS HS[R EW [IPP EW YT 1IKEPMS :MWMSR *YRH MW E 4-* JYRH 5YEPMJ]MRK MRZIWXSVW QE] ZMWMX SYV [IFWMXI XS ½RH SYX QSVI EX [[[ EPXEWWIX GSQ

% 10 % RI[ HMVIGXMSR JSV ½RERGMEP WSPYXMSRW

0)%4 ,397) *63+ 0%2) 892&6-(+) ;)007 /)28 82 =8 92-8)( /-2+(31 8IP EHQMR$EPXEWWIX GSQ %PXIVREXMZI %WWIX 1EREKIQIRX 0MQMXIH MW EYXLSVMWIH ERH VIKYPEXIH F] XLI *MRERGMEP 7IVZMGIW %YXLSVMX] MR XLI 9RMXIH /MRKHSQ

MONEY

The common use of buying on margin (using borrowed funds) amplifies gains and losses, such that substantial losses or gains can occur in a very short period of time which is why the importance of careful position sizing and risk controls is ever present in our training methodology. If traders do not pay enough attention to the basics they will be vulnerable to losses. There are no guarantees in this business. So what do you trade at A2A? Our preferred instrument is Futures. In our business, a futures contract is a contract between two parties to buy or sell a specified asset (eg S&P Index or Dax Index) in a fixed quantity and at a specified future date at a price agreed today (the futures price). The contracts are traded on a futures exchange. Futures contracts are not tangible assets and nor are they direct securities like stocks or government bonds. In effect they are still securities, however, they are a type of

derivative contract. The party agreeing to buy the underlying asset in the future goes long and the party agreeing to sell the asset in the future goes short. The price is determined by the instantaneous equilibrium between the forces of supply and demand among competing buy and sell orders on the exchange at the time of the purchase or sale of the contract. We look to trade both long and short contracts and therefore make profits from a falling market as much as we do from a rising market. Futures are an ideal instrument to capture profit in this way; it’s what we call capturing alpha! What do you need to become a Day Trader? Intellectually, a good strategy is needed to be successful but I need to repeat the obvious; good discipline, good risk controls, good money management and a thorough control of your emotions at all times. There is an old saying: “Any old fool knows when to buy but it is a wise old fool who knows when to sell”. We look to train and encourage our traders to become ‘wise old fools’. The basic tools of day trading include trading capital (to use as margin), trading software providing live time market information, a fast computer and good monitor, a fast internet connection and equally as important, a good live trading room environment in which to work. There are many Day Traders out there who are sitting at home staring at their screens all day long and lacking in inspiration and confidence to pull the trigger. We are operationally geared to provide all the tools of the trade as well as full time mentoring to help our traders find and stay in their groove.

W

What are the downsides? “Where the carcass is there shall be eagles gathered together.” There is no question that day trading can be very risky, especially if traders lack discipline or have inadequate risk controls, or they execute trades poorly. The world’s financial markets can be unforgiving and dark clouds will soon gather round the trader who makes poor decisions rather like the eagles over the carcass. There are no short cuts, traders need to be trained carefully and they must understand the need for self discipline and control of perfectly natural human emotions that are always present when it comes to money! Greed and fear are powerful emotions and we look to teach traders how to overcome and remain rational at all times.

62

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Preserving your wealth Having worked hard and been prudent throughout your life; the desire to preserve your accumulated wealth to pass on to family, friends or charity, is completely understandable.

9/ 4VMZEXI -RZIWXMKEXSVW SJJIV QER] WIVZMGIW XS SYV TVMZEXI ERH GSQQIVGMEP GPMIRXW MRGPYHMRK

Meeting the cost of good quality care and support when you need it, through illness or age, can be a challenge for many of us – the dilemma is how to meet these costs, whilst ensuring your capital is preserved as much as possible. Complicated, long term and expensive ďŹ nancial planning might appeal to some people, but for most of us there is an understandable desire to keep things simple, cost effective and exible. Predicting longevity is very difďŹ cult, almost impossible, so exibility and accessibility are key. We have considerable experience in dealing with the elderly and the issues facing them and their loved ones, and what most people seek is clarity. We will happily review your current position and provide an insight as to where we can help – without charge.

Contact Richard Randall on 01892 612554 or richard.randall@avtrinity.com AV Trinity Ltd, 77 Mount Ephraim Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 BS www.avtrinity.com

ˆ 8VEGMRK (IFXSVW ˆ 8VEGMRK 1MWWMRK 4IVWSRW ˆ 1EXVMQSRMEP ERH 4EVXRIV -RZIWXMKEXMSRW ˆ (MWGVIIX ERH IJJIGXMZI 7YVZIMPPERGI ˆ &EGOKVSYRH 'LIGOW ˆ (YI (MPMKIRGI ˆ 4VSGIWW 7IVZMRK ˆ :ILMGPI 8VEGOMRK ˆ -RWYVERGI 'PEMQ -RZIWXMKEXMSRW

&) 796) ;,3 =39 %6) ()%0-2+ ;-8,

'SRXEGX YW SR JSV E JVII RS SFPMKEXMSR GSRWYPXEXMSR SV ZMWMX SYV [IFWMXI EX [[[ YOTVMZEXIMRZIWXMKEXSVW GSQ

0SGEP 2EXMSREP ERH -RXIVREXMSREP

Insurance for Business, Professionals and Private Clients.

Directors & OfďŹ cers Liability Statistics show that as few as 15% of SME business owners/managers buy this policy which protects not only the entity but also key decision makers in the company. This is mainly due to lack of understanding of what the policy covers and a concern that the costs are prohibitive. We urge you to consider this cover as there are many pitfalls that may trap the unwary business owner these days.

TS

IEN

L EC

T IVA

PR

PROF ESSIO Such as : NALS • In the Companies Acts alone there are more than 200 provisions for imposing ďŹ nes and penalties upon Directors. • Corporate Manslaughter – The policy would pay for defence costs of Directors,ofďŹ cers and senior managers accused of a death under the Act. • Health & Safety Executive – Covers claims from, amongst others ,fellow directors,shareholders, liquidators,third parties, regulators and other ofďŹ cial investigating bodies. • Employment Law Protection – Covers Employment Claims against the individual. (Employment claims against the Entity can be purchased). • Insured Person – Includes all Directors and OfďŹ cers, including shadow Directors, Non-Executive Directors and de-facto Directors. Includes Staff in a supervisory position.

BUS INES S

+HOSLQJ \RX Âż QG WKH SHUIHFW FRYHU

Please contact our Commercial Team for more information and a quotation.

Tel: 01892 509037 stuart@lovatins.co.uk www.lovatins.co.uk

DECEMBER 2010

Calverley House, 55 Calverley Road Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2TU Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Part of the Bestinvest group.

MONEY

62

How about emotional traits? Emotion is a huge component of a good Day Trader’s make up. I have already mentioned many important attributes that a trader needs but there is a great deal more that we look to teach. Every individual is different and will have a different reaction to news and events that move markets, plus they will have their own unique tolerances towards risk and objectives for profit from each trade. We believe that everyone needs to understand the discipline of trading alongside the patience and persistence that is required to trade profitably. Day Traders must be willing to accept losses as well as take profits. Knowing when to cut is as important a lesson as any trader will learn. Our traders also need to understand the need to be able to specialise in what they do so as to remain focused and committed to the trades. In essence we seek to help traders identify their emotional traits and then train them and help them to manage their emotions. What are the essential qualities of a successful Day Trader? We believe that to get to a level of expertise in the market, you need to understand the key qualities of a successful Day Trader. Despite the fact that day trading is the most speculative of aggrieve trading activities, the Day Trader trading futures who understands the demands of his trade is in fact the sharpshooter of speculation. With the proper preparation, the Day Trader can take aim and bag his prize and in so doing make a comfortable living. Indeed many make a significantly comfortable living and enjoy often untold wealth. The demands of day trading, however, are primarily psychological and character-driven, requiring strength of character and individual qualities including self-discipline, persistence, toughness, commitment and an ability and willingness to focus energy on a limited arena of activity. It is not the difficulty of Day Trading which limits the field but the ability and willingness of Day Traders to live by the personal requirements of the business.

W

Here at A2A we aim to teach and train aspiring Day Traders about these disciplines and how to deal with the strong emotional aspects that will inevitably come to the fore for each and every Day Trader at some stage – probably every time they take a trade. Only a certain type of individual is emotionally equipped to deal with these requirements. A large part of our business is

“THERE ARE MANY DAY TRADERS OUT THERE WHO ARE SITTING AT HOME STARING AT THEIR SCREENS ALL DAY LONG AND LACKING IN INSPIRATION AND CONFIDENCE TO PULL THE TRIGGER.”

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

focused on identifying the right character and building on all areas to encourage a professional and profitable Day Trader. Where does A2ML fit into day trading? A2ML is a hedge fund manager with small pods of highly specialised traders and managers within a number of strategies under the brand Megalio Fund. We believe that it is entirely possible to blend the strong bottom-up skill sets of good Day Traders with strong top-down professional asset management techniques. Our sister company, A2A is dedicated and focused to train professional Day Traders, whereas A2ML is dedicated to managing only the very best of Day Traders. We believe that by encouraging quality individuals to become top quality Day Traders we will have the opportunity to pick the best from within our day trading operation and bring them over to our asset management business. We’ll set them up in a fund management environment with professional money at work rather than smaller proprietary capital. We have taken on six Day Traders within the past few months. They are all doing very well and we enjoy the working environment within our small but light and airy office in the old part of Tunbridge Wells. Our traders enjoy their work surroundings and working atmosphere. This is important for everyone and we believe it will encourage growth and profitability for all. Our ambition is to build a big team of like minded professional Day Traders who will be offered a full service package and, after appropriate training and once levels of sufficient competence have been reached, we will back them to trade with our own capital within A2A. Meanwhile A2MLwill encourage and nurture those traders with the best track records and most potential to make it all the way. What might the future hold for your Day Traders? We are not here to speculate on the future of our Day Traders; rather we are here to train, encourage and help build the all round skills sets that are required. Those who are successful will, we hope, replicate the team of traders currently trading

DECEMBER 2010

the assets of our flagship Megalio Vision Fund. With performance of over 284% net since February 2009 this team have been consistently profitable month after month (bar a couple of months of small losses – maximum -4.02%) and we are now able to offer investors these returns through subscription to our fund products managed by our A2ML asset management business (to qualifying investors only). It should be noted that this team has many decades of experience which yet again emphasises that there is no short cut to success – as mentioned earlier. However, there are plenty of examples of people who come into the business and after only a relatively short period time (in some cases as little as 12 months) become hugely successful and fit into the character and mould of the perfect Day Trader with ease. What are the next steps for someone interested? The day trading business is growing rapidly. New technology is helping businesses like ours to offer increasingly sophisticated software services to access the world’s financial markets real time. We have built strong relationships with our own services providers to provide our Day Traders and business partners with a best of breed approach. Between us we are actively seeking talented, energetic and hard working individuals who believe they have what it takes to become a successful professional Day Trader. We also seek experienced professional Day Traders and wish to hear from people with a strong track record who might like to join us in our relaxed but professional offices. Interested individuals should contact our training and trading manager, Ken Otalor on +44 (0) 1892 731 083 or e-mail Ken at ken.otalor@a2arcades.com. Nicholas Edwards is CEO of the Alternative Asset Management group of companies providing specialist Day Trading and hedge fund management services, based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. The Company manages PIF products (Professional Investor Funds) and provides services to eligible investors only, it does not provide services to ‘retail’ investors. The Company does not hold client money. A2ML is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the United Kingdom. Qualifying investors can access more information by visiting www.altasset.com. The group also provide training and trading services through Alternative Asset Management Limited (“A2ML”). A2A is a ‘sister’ organisation providing specialist Day Trading services including training and trading to both experienced and new Day Traders.

463*-8 *631 =396 ,%6( ;36/ ;;; %08%77)8 '31 7)6:-')7 % %

&)'31) % 463*)77-32%0 1%6/)8 86%()6

(MH ]SY ORS[ XLEX XLIVI EVI SZIV Q 1EVOIX 8VEHIVW MR XLI ;SVPH XSHE] ERH XLMW RYQFIV MW MRGVIEWMRK HEMP] [MXL RI[ XIGLRSPSK] QEOMRK MX TSWWMFPI XS TVS½ X JVSQ XLI ;SVPH´W ½ RERGMEP QEVOIXW#

;I WIIO EQFMXMSYW TISTPI JVSQ +VEHYEXIW XS I\TIVMIRGIH *MRERGMEP 7IGXSV 4VSJIWWMSREPW [LS [MWL XS MRZIWX MR XLIMV JYXYVIW F] NSMRMRK SYV 8VEMRMRK ERH 8VEHMRK FYWMRIWW

8VEHMRK 'ETMXEP %ZEMPEFPI JSV TVSZIR WXVEXIKMIW 1MR QSRXLW GSRXVEGX ERH QSRXLP] ³HIWO VIRXEP´ ETTP]

3YV 4VSJIWWMSREP 8VEHIVW [MPP FI EFPI XS XVEHI JVSQ ER][LIVI MR XLI ;SVPH EX XLI GPMGO SJ E FYXXSR ERH [I SJJIV E JYPP 8VEHMRK WIX YT MR SYV WQEVX RI[ SJ½ GIW MR 8YRFVMHKI ;IPPW /IRX ;I SJJIV 4VSJIWWMSREP 8VEMRMRK XS UYEPMJ]MRK MRHMZMHYEPW 3YV I\TIVX QIRXSVMRK IRWYVIW XLEX SYV 8VEHIVW JSGYW SR GSRXVSPPMRK VMWO TSWWMFP] XLI QSWX MQTSVXERX EWTIGX SJ 8VEHMRK XLI 1EVOIXW 1ER] XEOI LSQI QSVI XLER † O ERH TSWWMFP] YT XS † Q TIV ERRYQ ERH QSWX WXEVX SJJ [MXL QSHIWX GETMXEP SJ SJXIR PIWW XLER † O MR XLIMV XVEHMRK EGGSYRXW ;I TVSZMHI 1EVOIX EGGIWW E JYPP] WIVZMGIH 4VSJIWWMSREP SJ½ GI IRZMVSRQIRX ERH YRPMQMXIH IEVRMRKW TSXIRXMEP JSV XLI FIWX 8VEHIVW

$ $

% RI[ HMVIGXMSR MR 4VSJIWWMSREP 8VEHMRK 7SPYXMSRW %08)62%8-:) %77)8 1%2%+)1)28 9/ 08( 0)%4 ,397) *63+ 0%2) 892&6-(+) ;)007 /)28 82 =8 92-8)( /-2+(31 4,32) )1%-0 EHQMR$E EVGEHIW GSQ

Q ;I I\TIGX SYV 4VSJIWWMSREP 1EVOIX 8VEHIVW XS FI IEVRMRK WMKRM½ GERX MRGSQI [MXLMR XLIMV WIGSRH QSRXL SJ 8VEHMRK Q 3YV 8VEMRMRK QIXLSHW LIPT 8VEHIVW XS QEOI QSRI] MR VMWMRK ERH JEPPMRK QEVOIXW Q ;I LEZI I\TIVMIRGIH ERH 4VSJIWWMSREP 1EVOIX 8VEHIVW SR LERH EX EPP XMQIW XS QIRXSV ERH LIPT EPP 8VEHIVW Q 8VEHIVW [MPP LEZI GSRWXERX 8VEMRMRK EW VIUYMVIH MR E JYR ERH JVMIRHP] SJ½ GI IRZMVSRQIRX Q 4VSJIWWMSREP 1EVOIX 8VEHIVW QYWX FI HMWGMTPMRIH ERH LEVH [SVOMRK ;I I\TIGX 8VEHIVW XS IEVR VIWTIGX ERH FYMPH PS]EPX] [MXL SYV KVSYT Q ;I WIIO SRP] FYWMRIWW QMRHIH MRHMZMHYEPW [LS LEZI XLI TIVWSREPMX] XVEMXW XS EHETX XS XLI ZIV] GLERKMRK QEVOIXW ERH LEZI HVMZI ERH HIXIVQMREXMSR JSV E PSRK XIVQ JYXYVI MR SYV FYWMRIWW

%PP 'ERHMHEXIW WLSYPH RSXI XLEX [I HS RSX IQTPS] 4VSJIWWMSREP 1EVOIX 8VEHIVW % % IRXIVW MRXS E .SMRX -RZIWXQIRX %KVIIQIRX XLVSYKL [LMGL XS TVS½ X JVSQ WYGGIWWJYP XVEHMRK 3YV XVEHIVW TE] JSV WSJX[EVI ERH ER] EHHMXMSREP WIVZMGIW 3YV STIVEXMSREP WXVYGXYVI ERH TVMQI FVSOIV VIPEXMSRWLMTW QIER XLEX XVEHIVW IRNS] GSQTIXMXMZI HIEPMRK VEXIW ERH PS[ QEVKMR VIUYMVIQIRXW EPPS[MRK KVIEXIV TSXIRXMEP XS KIRIVEXI TVS½ X

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

IN MARCH 1980, A CAR WAS UNVEILED THAT WOULD SHAPE THE FUTURE OF A COMPANY. THE AUDI QUATTRO BECAME AN ICON AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GIVING ITS MANUFACTURER THE IMPETUS FOR A DRAMATIC GROWTH SPURT OF ITS OWN. 30 YEARS ON, AT THE 2010 GENEVA MOTORSHOW, THE NEW RS 5 WAS GIVEN PRIDE OF PLACE

1LFH WORDS STEVE WALKER

Developed by its performance engineering subsidiary, Quattro GmbH, Audi’s RS models are highly specialised versions of its mainstream production cars. In this case, the RS 5 is based on the A5 coupe, while the RS badge can be traced back to the RS 2 Avant. This was the car that was successfully developed in partnership with Porsche and sold in the mid-1990s but, for a while after that, the ultimate performance Audis failed to hit the same heights. That changed with the RS4 of 2006, a genuine BMW M3 challenger, and then again with the mind-boggling power of the 2008 RS6. Can the RS 5 take things to the next level? Audi has been turning more and more to turbocharged powerplants in its faster cars, but the RS 5 sticks with good old cubic capacity. Mounted at the front of its quattro allwheel-drive chassis is a 4.2-litre V8 incorporating technology from the V10 FSI unit in the R8 supercar. The peak power

DECEMBER 2010

output of 444bhp is achieved at the engine’s 8,250rpm maximum and the power band is between 4,000 and 6,000rpm. Against the clock, the RS 5 will blast to 62mph in 4.6 seconds and would comfortably exceed 155mph were the artiďŹ cial limiter ever to doze off on the job. S-tronic dual clutch gearbox technology is rapidly becoming as commonplace as the Quattro all-wheel-drive set up across Audi’s various model lines, and the fact that it’s ďŹ tted to the RS 5 underlines the faith the manufacturer has in it. This particular unit is a seven-speed transmission specially strengthened to cope in the company of the RS 5’s formidable engine. With two clutches working on different sets of gears, the technology is able to pre-engage the gear it thinks will be selected next. This makes for lightning fast shifting via the wheel-mounted paddles or by nudging the gear lever. There are Automatic, Comfort and Dynamic modes to choose from and a launch control setting which will get you close to optimum acceleration off the line. The standard Audi A5 is a beautiful and understated car but whether you could pay either compliment to the RS 5 is open to debate. Understated, it isn’t. Aggressive air intakes and a matt aluminium splitter mark out the front end, the

W

1

obody would claim that the RS 5 could have anything approaching the same impact as the original Quattro, but there’s deďŹ nite symmetry here. We’re dealing with a two-door Audi coupe with breathtaking performance, bags of attitude and, of course, four-wheel-drive.

MOTORS

DECEMBER 2010

62

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

wheelarches bulge imposingly and at the rear are two of the largest exhausts you’ll have ever seen mounted either side of a big diffuser. There’s a spoiler in the tailgate that extends at 75mph, tucking itself away again when you drop below 50mph, so even if you aren’t breaking the speed limit, the police will know if you have been. The cabin is based around the black leather and exposed carbon fibre theme we’ve seen before on RS models. In addition to features found on other A5s, there’s an oil temperature gauge and a timer for track use. Electrically adjustable super sports seats with pronounced side sections and integrated head restraints are standard, as of course are comforts such as a 180-watt CD sound system, deluxe three-zone climate control, the Audi Parking System Plus with front and rear sensors, tyre pressure monitoring and an RS multi-function steering wheel with aluminium-look gearshift paddles. To say the RS 5 chassis is merely advanced would be to do it a disservice. The car features the latest quattro all-wheeldrive technology with a crown-gear centre differential and Audi’s sport differential between the rear wheels. Under normal conditions, power is distributed 40:60 between the front and rear wheels but the crown-gear differential can automatically send as much as 70percent forward or 80percentrearward as the situation dictates. The sport differential then distributes power between the two rear wheels to further enhance stability and traction. The Dynamic Ride Control interlinks each of the car’s shock absorbers with its counterpart on the opposite corner of the vehicle via a central valve and is calibrated to provide extra damping force when required. The driver can select Comfort, Dynamic and Sport modes according to the firmness of the damping required. The car rides 20mm lower than a standard A5 on its 19” alloy wheels. When Audi launched the Quattro in 1980, it had just two

DECEMBER 2010

model lines. Today, it’s well into double figures and expanding with ‘Quattro’ all-wheel-drive technology present in every range. It’s also viewed as a serious rival to the prestige car market kingpins BMW and Mercedes-Benz with the burning ambition to surpass them. Cars like the RS 5 are crucial to this, not because they’re going to generate huge sales or profits but because they generate interest. By being seen to take the BMW M3 and the Mercedes C63 AMG down a peg or two, the RS 5 can enhance the profile of the A5 coupe and A4 saloon models which actually bring home the bacon. The work Audi did on the exhaust system and the aerodynamics of the RS 5 to enhance its performance have also helped to improve its fuel economy. In addition, the car’s entire drive train has been designed to minimise friction losses and a brake energy recovery system is installed. An RS 5 still isn’t going to be cheap to run but the official combined economy of 26mpg could have been worse. That Audi means business with its RS 5 is beyond dispute. The car comes laden with advanced technology to help the driver get the most from its blistering performance and sporting a pricetag substantially higher than rivals from BMW and Mercedes. Arriving 30 years after the original Audi Quattro, the RS 5 would do well to be remembered half as fondly but if the intention was to shake things up in the performance coupe world, its success looks guaranteed. Packing the latest quattro all-wheel-drive system, the S-tronic dual-clutch gearbox, Dynamic Ride Control suspension and all manner of other high-tech features, the RS 5 is a car with its sights set high.

Facts at a glance: Model: Audi RS 5 Engine: 4.2 litre V8 petrol Power: 444bhp Performance: 0-62mph 4.6s, top speed 155mph (limited) Cost: £58,685

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

•Close up

•Card

62

•M entalism

‹,_LJ\[P]L [YH]LS ‹(PYWVY[ [YHUZMLYZ ‹*VYWVYH[L L]LU[Z ‹>LKKPUNZ ‹:WLJPHS L]LU[Z *OH\MML\Y KYP]LU 4LYJLKLZ : *SHZZ

g%X\ ZLWK FRQILGHQFHh ;YHKPUN :[HUKHYKZ HWWYV]LK

Charlie Phelan and James Cathcart are a partnership rising through the ranks of magic and are currently stunning audiences across the South East.

;LS! 4VI! LTHPS! ZPTVUHJVSSPUZ'OV[THPS JVT

•Banquets •Weddings •Parties •Corporate Events

^^^ HK]HUJLKSPTV\ZPULZ JV \R

www.acemagi.com

Contact: James: 07863 001 515 Charlie: 07854 185445 info@acemagi.com

+20( -$0(6 75$9(/

For all your airport transfers 07857 318575

DECEMBER 2010

?<;GH LA; WHDP L I F E S T Y L E R E N A U LT

62

VHW WR PRWRU

DAME KELLY HOLMES WILL ONCE AGAIN BE FIRING THE STARTING GUN FOR THE LIFESTYLE RENAULT TUNBRIDGE WELLS HALF MARATHON WHICH IS LIKELY TO ATTRACT A FULL ENTRY OF 2,500 RUNNERS

7

Some of the Lifestyle Eur ope

hirty five members of staff from the Tunbridge Wells based motor dealer group Lifestyle Europe will be hitting the road next year when they plan to raise money for charity by running in the town’s half marathon.

The Pickering Cancer Drop-in Centre will be among those organisations to benfit from the Lifestyle Renault Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon on February 27 which is actually sponsored by the dealer group. The award winning race, organised by the Tunbridge Wells Harriers, will see runners complete a 13 mile, single-lap route of the scenic countryside surrounding the town. The Lifestyle Renault Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon will be raising money for the official race charities, the Cardiomyopathy Association and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust. Team Lifestyle will be supporting the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre. In a huge boost for the event, race Ambassador Dame Kelly Holmes will once again be firing the starting gun, as well as handing out winner medals... which has helped generate a massive response from staff at Lifestyle, as sales director, Paul Murrells, explains: “The half marathon is a highlight of the town’s calendar, raising huge amounts for good causes and Dame Kelly is a great motivation to us. I’m thrilled that we’ve been able to get such a big team together and, as title sponsors, we’re really excited to lend our support to the Tunbridge Wells Harriers and the race charities.

team with sights on the

half marathon

“Plus, with 36 of us, we hope we can give another big boost to the Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre.” Earlier this year, Lifestyle Chairman, Marc Matthew, along with Paul Murrells, raised over £9,000 for the Pickering Centre, both completing the London 10k Run. Next year, the team is aiming to raise £17,500 to assist with running costs at the centre for the year. The Pickering Centre is a self-funding charity, staffed entirely by volunteers. It provides valuable information, treatment and a social centre for people affected by cancer and has become a charity close to the heart of Lifestyle owners Peter Isted and Marc Matthew. The Centre relies entirely on grants and donations, supported by its own fundraising events. (To find out more about its work or to make a donation, visit pickeringcancercentre.org.uk) The Lifestyle Renault Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon (February 27) kicks off at 10am with the scenic loop taking it through Bidborough, Penshurst, Fordcombe and Langton Green. Entries are now open and with the 2009 and 2010 races being fully subscribed in advance, organisers advise that you register early to avoid disappointment. Entries will not be accepted once the limit of 2,500 is reached and there will be no entries on the day. To sign up of find out more information visit: twharriers.org.uk.

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

3HZ[ TPU\[L *OYPZ[THZ NL[H^H`Z [V Z\P[ L]LY` I\KNL[ V `V\Y U MM OVSPKH L_[ HSS :V;` MVY YLHKLY > Z

$W 7+( 75$9(/ &21&(37 ZH SULGH RXUVHOYHV RQ RXU SHUVRQDO VHUYLFH DQG QRWKLQJ LV WRR PXFK WURXEOH )URP KDQG GHOLYHULQJ \RXU WLFNHWV WR FKHFNLQJ \RX LQ DOO \RXâOO KDYH WR GHFLGH RQ LV ZKLFK FRFNWDLO WR VLS QH[W

*HSS \Z UV^ [V JYLH[L `V\Y WLYMLJ[ OVSPKH` ^^^ [OL[YH]LSJVUJLW[ JV \R

;OL ;YH]LS *VUJLW[ PZ H [YHKPUN UHTL VM ;OL -YLLKVT ;YH]LS .YV\W 3PTP[LK YLNPZ[LYLK PU ,UNSHUK HUK >HSLZ ^P[O YLNPZ[LYLK U\TILY =(; 56 9LNPZ[LYLK VMÄ JL! 5L^ *LU[Y` /V\ZL 4HUJOLZ[LY 4 ,: /LHK 6MÄ JL! /HTPS 9VHK )\YZSLT :[VRL VU ;YLU[ :; (1 ;OL -YLLKVT ;YH]LS .YV\W 3PTP[LK PZ WHY[ VM [OL *V 6WLYH[P]L .YV\W 3PTP[LK ;LYTZ HUK JVUKP[PVUZ HWWS`

2

)LZWVRL OVSPKH`Z [V YLTLTILY

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

DECEMBER 2010

TWITTER

O D H $W ZU HHW SoTWMag: Morning Martin, where are you this morning and what are you up to? kentpolicetwell: In my office. Finished meeting with other agencies looking at crime over the weekend and setting up on-line consultation for tomorrow.

The police are now using social networking a great deal (@kentpolicetwell plus online forums) how does it help you with your work? We use twitter and facebook which attracts more interest than other types of meeting. Helps us to act on local problems and give out advice.

So if we see someone speeding, drink driving, or causing criminal damage, we can report them on Twitter rather than calling 999? Reports should go to 999 if an emergency or 01622 690 690 if less urgent – twitter is OK but we don’t monitor all the time so respond slower.

62

LAST MONTH WE LAUNCHED OUR NEW STYLE OF INTERVIEW VIA TWITTER AND IT PROVED EXTREMELY POPULAR. THIS TIME ROUND WE DECIDED TO TWEET THE MAN WHO INTRODUCED THE SOCIAL NETWORKING TOOL TO THE TW POLICE – CHIEF INSPECTOR MARTIN WILSON

How was the weekend in comparison to others? And also, what sort of online forum will you use? Weekend was similar to usual which was good as Halloween is normally very busy. Using ‘cover it live’ on our website for Rusthall residents.

Have any specific crimes been solved through such means or is it more prevention and advice? We have had crimes reported that we have dealt with. More often it is about speeding + disorder which we can act on and involve local people.

Do you think the future of crime reporting will be more focused on the online arena, as we interact using smartphones/tablets more and more? The preferred method of communication is certainly evolving toward mobile internet and social networking. We need to move in that direction.

To move on, people are worried about cuts in numerous sectors, how will it affect policing in this town? The detail has not been refined yet. I expect that we will focus cuts on areas least likely to impact on the front line or service delivery.

W

Would those crimes be more preventable with more officers on the beat? Something that a lot of locals feel necessary though unlikely. Visibility and uniform patrol does deter and makes us feel safer. CCTV forensic evidence and back office investigation is also important.

What are the biggest challenges that face the town in terms of law and order today? More serious crime types are all down like burglary, vehicle crime + robbery. Shoplifting + lower level thefts are the current problem.

DECEMBER 2010

TWITTER

62

SoTWMag: Some studies show CCTV has little impact on crime and is difficult to use when prosecuting. Do you support CCTV and the costs of the systems? kentpolicetwell: CCTV is a very useful tool for us and it helps us to ID offenders. Currently it is funded by private premises or by the council.

Are plans afoot to move the police station? And, if so, might residents feel abandoned without a ‘hub’ in the centre of town? No plans to move at the moment as our building is listed.

Last month we asked @ankertw: In 5 tweets tell us what 5 changes you would personally make to the town? What are your thoughts Martin? I chose to be here. I genuinely love Tunbridge Wells and so there’s not that much I’d change about it but if you push me.... I’d like to see some more ‘pedestrianisation’ in the town centre with less cars… I’d love to see a bigger range of shops in the Pantiles – I love the current trend for small events and live music there… There is some great voluntary work done in the town. I’d love to see more people engaged in making our community better… I like some of the development on the industrial estate. Not sure what the answer is but less congestion would be good… That’s it… nothing else I’d change.

Good stuff, cheers Martin. Thanks for Tweeting with us and I’m sure we’ll see you out and about soon. Have a good day! Thanks...M

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/SoTWMag and follow Kent Police in Tunbridge Wells at twitter.com/kentpolicetwell If you think you know someone we should interview on Twitter, get in touch!

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

DECEMBER 2010

)URP WKH EXCITING TIMES AT THE TRINITY THEATRE WITH A PLETHORA OF GREAT SHOWS COMING UP. WE ASKED OUR FRIENDS TO TELL US WHAT’S HAPPENING OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD

FROM THE WINGS

62

ZLQJV

+

ere at Trinity Theatre, we are delighted to invite you along to the exciting events we have coming up this Christmas. To kick things off, in the first week of December, Moneypenny Productions will be bringing us The Red Nose Rocket, the story of one plucky reindeer and her adventure to save Christmas Day. Join our cast of colourful characters including Buttons and Mrs Claus in a unique re-imagining of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Set to festive music, and brought alive with panto punch lines and puppetry, this show is sure to delight the whole family.

On Saturday December 4 at 7pm, we’ll be screening the classic film White Christmas. Starring Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, if you’re not quite ready for the big day, watching movie magic like this on the big screen is sure to get you in the festive spirit! For a really Christmassy experience, join festive revellers in the auditorium for a singalong evening of familiar carols on Friday December 17 from 7pm. There will also be seasonal readings, including passages from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and mince pies and mulled wine in the Divinity Café to create a truly magical night. For a fix of classical music, come up on Thursday December 18 at 7:30pm to catch Ethan Merrick conducting the Lydian Orchestra in an evening of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1 and the overture from Nicolai’s The Merry Wives of Windsor. The Lydian Orchestra is made up of exceptionally talented

young people aged 14-25 who are certain to deliver an unforgettable evening. In time-honoured tradition there will also be Christmas carols for audience participation. If you’re looking for a laugh this Christmas, look no further than Trinity’s Comedy Café. For Christmas only, the Comedy Café returns to the candlelit foyer, where the brand new stage makes it the perfect venue for the ultimate festive fun night out. Throughout December, you can join us in the company of a dazzling triple bill (acts to be confirmed). Of course no winter line-up would be complete without the Trinity spectacular musical production. This year we’re hosting The Adventures of Mr Toad, based on the much-loved story The Wind in the Willows. Come along to see the familiar Ratty, Moley, Badger and the unforgettable Mr Toad, singing and dancing in a glorious show running from Saturday December 11 until Friday December 31. Remember that the Divinity Café is open for breakfast, lunch and pre-show dinner. As well as mince pies served all through the day, there will be daily specials throughout the festive season to suit the wintry weather and a Christmas special sandwich of warm turkey breast, stuffing and cranberry sauce. And while you’re here, don’t forget to enter The Big 25 Raffle! Tickets are only £1, and the fabulous prizes include dinner, bed and breakfast for two at the Hotel du Vin, a Hooper’s Fabulous Pamper Hamper, and a Spring weekend break in a 4* Gold Cottage. The draw will be held on Friday 31 Dec at 7.30pm. We look forward to seeing you at what looks to be a magical Christmas at Trinity. 62 trinitytheatre.net

DECEMBER 2010

FA S H I O N

LɜɴȵȐ

62

LIFE & AUBREY GEMS – JEWELLERY DESIGNER & MAKER

Aubrey Gems is a new generation of jewellery company. The designer/ maker Lisa Aubrey is a fully qualified gemmologist and she is passionate about gemstones. She travels around the world sourcing the stones from mines herself, such is her interest in seeing where they come from and making sure that they are not conflict stones. Lisa’s collection is a modern version of classical jewellery, brought to you at affordable prices because she has so few overheads; that is, no shop. She will come to you so that you can discuss your bespoke jewellery ideas in the comfort of your own home. All Aubrey Gems jewellery is made in the UK and is UK hallmarked, as Lisa feels that this is also important. Keen to introduce people to gemstones that they might not know about and to teach people about gemmology, Lisa gives after dinner talks on this subject. She is approachable and friendly and really enthusiastic about jewellery. Anything from Aubrey Gems would make a perfect gift for any occasion. SEE AUBREY-GEMS.CO.UK OR CALL 07793 652 165

ARRAY OF CAKES – BESPOKE CAKE MAKER Emma Buchanan is the lady behind Array of Cakes, the Tunbridge Wells based cake maker providing fabulous cakes, cupcakes and cookies to local people. “I’ve been baking cakes for years,” says Emma, “but decided to turn it into a business last year after the birth of my daughter, and have been rushed off my feet ever since!” With her dedicated network of volunteer tasters (i.e. friends and family), Array of Cakes has a fantastic range of cupcakes and cookies on the website as well as offering a bespoke design service so customers can ask for a personalised style or theme – like Christmas. “People can’t get enough of our chocolate cupcakes and keep coming back for more,” says Emma. “It is great to get positive feedback after catering for a wedding, birthday or any occasion. There’s no better feeling than knowing people were talking about my cakes and that they will appear in family photos for years to come.” SEE ARRAYOFCAKES.CO.UK OR CALL 07768 098 072

DECEMBER 2010

62

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

-9,, :<9=,@ 05:;(33(;065 รท &203(7,7,9( 35,&(6

6SHFLDOLVLQJ LQ FDNHV FXSFDNHV FRRNLHV IRU DOO RFFDVLRQV

รท <($56 (;3(5,(1&( รท <($5 *8$5$17((

&KULVWPDV &XSFDNHV &RRNLHV QRZ DYDLODEOH WR RUGHU

รท :,'( &+2,&( 2) 67</(6 $1' ),1,6+(6 รท 5(12:1(' )25 (;&(//(17 6(59,&(

4XRWH 627: IRU D GLVFRXQW RQ RXU &KULVWPDV UDQJH ZZZ DUUD\RIFDNHV FR XN LQIR#DUUD\RIFDNHV FR XN

;LS! ^^^ ZO\[[LY^VYRZ JV \R

.MMTQVO LW_V IVL LMXZM[[ML' .QVLQVO Q\ LQNร K]T\ \W KWXM _Q\P TQNM' 0MTX Q[ I\ PIVL

ย 0U[LYPVY ,_[LYPVY +LJVYH[PUN ย -\SS 7YVWLY[` 9LM\YIPZOTLU[ ย 7SHZ[LYPUN *V]PUN ย *HYWLU[Y` 7S\TIPUN ย >PUKV^Z ย +VVYZ ย -HZJPHZ :VMร [Z ย -YLL LZ[PTH[LZ ย -\SS` 0UZ\YLK ย ,Z[HISPZOLK :PUJL

^^^ THY[PUIV^SLZ JV \R /HZ[PUNZ

*YHUIYVVR

;\UIYPKNL >LSSZ

9`L

+PTWM 8IQLW][[Q[ฬ 5Q\KPMTT *) PWV[ )L^ ,QX Q[ IV M`XMZQMVKML +W]V[MTTWZ IVL 8[aKPWTWOQ[\ _PW WNNMZ[ QVLQ^QL]IT IVL OZW]X [M[[QWV[ \W PMIT MUW\QWVIT IVL X[aKPWTWOQKIT LQ[\ZM[[ KI][ML Ja ,MXZM[[QWV )V`QM\a <ZI]UI IVL *MZMI^MUMV\ +PTWM PI[ ZMKMV\Ta KWUXTM\ML PMZ ,WK\WZIT <ZIQVQVO I[ I +PIZ\MZML +W]V[MTTQVO 8[aKPWTWOQ[\ IVL PI[ I [XMKQIT QV\MZM[\ QV <ZI]UI\QK *MZMI^MUMV\

.WZ IV QVQ\QIT KWV^MZ[I\QWV \W [MM QN KW]V[MTTQVO Q[ NWZ aW] XTMI[M KITT" !! WZ MUIQT" KPTWMGXIQLW][[Q[(PW\UIQT KWU

%0078%67 13&-0) (-7'3

ย )\TIVMIRGIH )ZIRXW 'S SVHMREXSV ย 4IVWSREPMWIH QYWMG TPE]PMWX ย 4% W]WXIQ FEGOKVSYRH QYWMG QSSH PMKLXMRK PEWIV PMKLX WLS[ ย 1IQFIV SJ XLI 7SYXLIVR (MWGS %WWSGMEXMSR ย *YPP] MRWYVIH ERH PMGIRWIH

MRJS$EPPWXEVWQSFMPIHMWGS GS YO [[[ EPPWXEVWQSFMPIHMWGSW GS YO

$EL; OEKH EL;D

8] \ \PM [PQVM JIKS QV\W aW]Z W^M V IUIbQVO ZM []T \[ IVL IUIbQVO ^IT]M 5HPRYHV DOO WUDFHV RI JUHDVH DQG EXUQW FDUERQ XVLQJ RQO\ ย 1RQ FDXVWLF ย 1RQ WR[LF ย )XPH IUHH ย (FR )ULHQGO\ SURGXFWV ย 6DIH IRU FKLOGUHQ DQG SHWV

8ZQKM[ NZWU ย NWZ I [\IVLIZL [QVOTM W^MV :H DOVR FOHDQ RWKHU NLWFKHQ DSSOLDQFHV VXFK DV ย +REV ย ([WUDFWRU IDQV ย +RRGV ย 0LFURZDYHV ย *ULOO SDQV DQG WUD\V ย 5HSODFHPHQW EXOEV ร OWHUV DQG VHDOV ย %%4 UDFNV

<MTMXPWVM )VLa \W IZZIVOM I \QUM \W []Q\ WV

RU 0HPEHU RI WKH $VVRFLDWLRQ RI $SSURYHG 2YHQ &OHDQHUV

DECEMBER 2010

5HJLVWHU RI $GYHUWLVHUV Page

Company

Page

Abergavenny Arms

111

Juliets Ltd

97

Abigails Bridal Wear

46

Kent Adult Education

119

Ace Magic

131

Kingswood Tree Surgeons

83

Advanced Limousines

131

Kitch

42

Alexander House

40

Knight Frank

90

Alexandre Boyes

86

Knowle Grange

36

Alternative Asset Management

La Belle Femme

42

122

Lakeside

39

Arte Bianca

101

Lapland UK

20

Atman Clinic

143

Lifestyle Europe Ltd

132

Aubrey Gems

52

London Golf Club

32

AV Trinity

124

Lovat Insurance

124

Badger Bathrooms

75

Maison

73

Beaute

48

Marks & Spencer

56

Brown Trout

102

McBeans Orchid

Company

Burrells Jewellers

2

31

Mead School

116

Carpet & Rug

142

Micallef Jewellers

48

Chapter One

136

Millbrook

70

Chilstone

70

Mini Maya

42

Country Property Group

84

Montrose

102

Dale Hill Hotel

28

Mousetrap

78

Dominic Walmsley

92

Padani

Eastwell Manor

114

Palio Restaurant

96

Fairfax Gallery

94

Pembury Beauty Salon

48

G Collins & Son

148

Peter Jenner

52

Polhill Farm Shop

92 75

Globee

31

8

Granite Transformations

63

Progressive AV

Gravetye Manor

115

Purina

24

Harpers & Hurlingham

88

Recreate

70

Ripples

64

HD Living

14

Henry Paul Funerals

135

Rolex

HKS

68

Roundwood of Mayfield

147

Home James

131

Royal Victoria Place

58

Hotel Du Vin

96

Saint Ronans School

140

Jacksons

83

Salomons

101

JB Music

134

Sankeys

10

15

Company Page SBI 74 Sitsmart 63 Smith & Western 106 Space Air 62 Spotted Dog 114 St Johns Yard 110 Stand and Deliver 74 Stile 92 Suchitras 101 Terra Blu 83 The Aviation Bookshop 136 The Beacon 102 The Bottle House 114 The Brastrap Man 48 The Brew House 19 The Chapel Bar 112 The Chapel Hair Salon 41 The Chequers 102 The Furniture Rooms 73 The Home Office Company 78 The Kitchen Doctor 78 The Satellite Shop 73 The Travel Concept 135 TN4 26 Toothfairy 41 Trendy Little Angels 42 Trinity Theatre 140 UK Private Investigators 124 Vanity Fair 41 Wadhurst Country Services 80 Walsh Bros 52 Warners Solicitors 31 Wells Bedding 6 Wood & Pilcher 22 Woods 110 To join this exclusive list please call 01892 616103 DECEMBER 2010

62

Sponsored by

TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Secret TunbridgeWells

WORDS NICK WOODROOF

&DQRQ )LUH THIS MONTH WE REVEAL THE EXTRAORDINARY INFLUENCE THAT CANON EDWARD HOARE - OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE ‘PROTESTANT PONTIFF OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS’ - EXERTED ON OUR TOWN FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS

%

orn in 1807, Canon Edward Hoare arrived in what was then the small town of Tunbridge Wells in 1853 from Ramsgate. The son of a London banker and with a Quaker upbringing, his only claim to fame so far in life was that he was related to the prison reformer Elizabeth Fry. However, upon becoming the vicar of Holy Trinity, he soon became a notable figure in his own right. Canon Hoare was a highly gifted preacher and deliverer of sermons. Such was the power that his homilies held on his captive audience that a large proportion of his congregation came from villages and towns miles away from Tunbridge Wells, to hear what he had to say. People from all social classes of the time would form the worshippers, a testament to the influence he held in the town. Indeed, the appeal of the Canon and his evangelical style led to numerous families of wealth and stature purchasing properties in Tunbridge Wells, which helped create affluent residential areas.

spiritual life of the town, included the formation of three new parishes and their churches in the ever-growing Victorian TW. He also initiated a series of annual two day conferences, which took place for a period of 40 years, between other members of clergy from seven ‘Clerical Societies’ in Kent, Sussex and Surrey. Canon Hoare has been compared to another notable resident in that “his influence over the community’s morals was as great as Beau Nash’s had been over its manners”. Canon Edward Hoare led the religious community of Tunbridge Wells until his death in 1894, at the age of 87. On the day of his funeral the town was hushed and shrouded in black with every flag at half mast. To mark his passing, a Gothic-style memorial, which can be seen at the corner of Culverden Park Road to this day, was erected in his memory. Despite threats of demolition in the 1980s, the memorial was saved by being moved in one piece a few yards to the north. At the behest of the Borough Council, the memorial has been cleaned and restored and stands today as a fitting tribute to the ‘Protestant pontiff’. 62

Not only did he serve the rich in this way, in addition Canon Hoare ran groups advocating temperance and created soup kitchens for local labourers and the poor. One local story of the time pays homage to the Canon and his impact on the town. Two gentlemen were heard talking on the platform of Sevenoaks Station, just before the train was due to depart. One said to the other: “How is it that you have no theatre at Tunbridge Wells? A large town like that should have a theatre.” The other man responded: “Oh, it would never pay. Tunbridge Wells is too religious a place for a theatre.” Canon Hoare’s main achievements, aside from enhancing the

DECEMBER 2010

Warners Solicitors, ‘discretion assured whatever the secret’ warners-solicitors.co.uk

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.