Lawyer Jane Bennett tells us why her legal practice is committed to doing things differently
Our exclusive chat with the owner of Knowle Grange Health Spa reveals some exciting plans
Why The Chequers pub in Lamberhurst ticks all the boxes when it comes to fabulous food
ROSEMARY SHRAGER AND TOM SWIFT ARE IN POLE POSITION FOR THIS YEAR’S TUNBRIDGE WELLS SOAPBOX STARS RACE
elcome to the June edition of SO magazine.
As you will see from our fun cover it’s nearly time for the annual Tunbridge Wells Soapbox Superstars Race, which takes place later this month on June 24th at Dunorlan Park.
Ahead of this brilliant event, we caught up with two of its ambassadors, the celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager and panto legend Tom Swift, to find out why they love being involved in these whacky races so much. We also speak to its co-founders Coco Piesse and Garry Jeffrey about how the TW Soapbox came to be in the first place. Turn to page 8 to discover more about this brilliant day out which brings the local community together and raises thousands for local charities too.
Elsewhere in the issue we have a fascinating interview with lawyer Jane Bennett who opened her eponymously named practice here
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in Tunbridge Wells last summer. On pages 32 & 33 she tells us why she decided to run her own business so she could specialise in an area of law which supports and empowers the more vulnerable in society.
We also preview the upcoming Black Deer Festival (June 16-18) on pages 24-27, chatting exclusively to the Americana inspired event’s co-founders Gill Tee and Deborah Shilling and also meeting upcoming musician Hannah White, who will be appearing on the SupaJam stage. This year promises to be bigger and better and if you’re going we’ll see you there!
We also talk to Lucy Parker, cofounder of Flow Tunbridge Wells who is coming onboard as a new SO contributor next month. Flick to page 62 to read her poignant and inspiring story…
With all your favourite food and drink features, pictures of the best parties in town and a slew of professional advice from our regular lifestyle experts, we hope you find plenty to enjoy in this month’s SO.
Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @somagazines
Culture vulture: What’s on where this month
Eileen Leahy
eileen.leahy@onemediauk.co.uk
DESIGN
Jo Turfitt
EDITORIAL
Karen Martin
Naomi Murray
Tim Sykes
Molly Miller PHOTOGRAPHY
Bartholomew
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Back to black: Paul Dunton previews the line-up of this year’s Walled Garden festival
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Pole position: We get revved up for the Soapbox Superstars 2023 Race
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Home front: Maddisons Residential celebrates its tenth anniversary with a party at The Beacon
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Floral tribute: Corker reveals its fabulous new show gardens
She’s in fashion: Stylist Victoria Genevieve hosts a fun evening at Hoopers
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Here for the beer: Pig & Porter brewery invites clients to its annual summer party
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Brought to book: We review the Tunbridge Wells literary festival
Rave on: Animals in the Night rave is a great success
Back to black: We meet the Americana festival’s co-founders Gill Tee and Deborah Shilling
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26 Music maestro: Hever Festival Theatre turns 40 years old
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La vie est belle: The TN Card’s Jess Gibson meets Laura Foley at vintage emporium Belle Empire
31 Love where you live: Pam Loch tells us where she likes to shop, stroll and socialise
32 Legal duty: Jane Bennett Law tell us about their specialist legal work
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So spa, so good: We take a tour around Knowle Grange Health and Beauty Spa
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On the menu: TN1 serves up delicious food with flair
42 Historic hostelry: Why The Chequers in Lamberhurst is the perfect country pub
47 Summer lovin’: Charlotte Newman, owner of Kitch reveals her favourite looks for the new season
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Here comes the sun: We trial the best SPF products on the market
52 Skin deep: Maryna Cole of Retreat Aesthetics on the power of using Exosomes on your skin
55 Homeopathic help: Helios reveals its top selling products
58 Healing powers: Naomi Murray from Botanica Health on dealing with thyroid issues
61 Move it: Fitness expert Sarah Gorman suggests simple everyday exercises
62 Let it flow: We meet Lucy Parker co- founder of Flow Tunbridge Wells
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Artistic approach: Louise Dean tells us about her passion for painting
68 Design for life: Local interior designer Elizabeth Masters on her style secrets
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In focus: Garden Proud’s Tim Sykes on the appeal of a folly
Best in show: Camellia Taylor’s stunning Chelsea garden for Aspens
80 Great escape: We take a trip to marvellous Malaysia
The Tunbridge Wells Poetry Festival is now in full swing and on until June 18. This year organisers say it promises an interesting and diverse programme that has something for everyone. From Vocal & Live open mic sessions, to forest bathing recitals and inspiring workshops using the magic of nature as a central theme, there’s so much to get involved with. The festival ends with a performance by Harry Baker, a multi-award-winning poet and performer who’ll bring his ‘blistering’ one-man show to The Forum on June 18. More details at www.twpoetryfestival.com
JUNE 6
At 7.30pm Rumours of Fleetwood Mac, the world’s finest tribute to Fleetwood Mac, returns to the Assembly Hall’s stage on June 6 to celebrate the very best musical legends of Fleetwood Mac. The talented band offers a unique opportunity for fans, both old and new, to rediscover the songs and performances that have ensured Fleetwood Mac’s place as one of the most loved groups of all time. Personally endorsed by Fleetwood Mac founding member, Mick Fleetwood, this is the ultimate tribute to one of rock and roll’s most remarkable groups. Tickets from £29.70
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album is one of the most successful ever in the history of modern day music, spending over 900 weeks in the charts –and counting!
Jazz on The Pantiles runs every Thursday evening throughout the summer until August 31. The popular live music event sees lots of local musicians performing on the promenade’s famous bandstand. Enjoy the sights and sounds for just £5 entry fee or why not make a meal of it, quite literally, by booking a table at one of the neighbouring restaurants so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the sonic jazz tonic?
JUNE 10
The Tunbridge Wells Yard Sale is back! Running from 10am to 4pm at multiple sites across town, it’s a community event for everyone to get involved in.You can register for free and hire a pitch in order to sell unwanted goods, as long as they are in decent condition. This year the official TW Yard Sale’s organisers
The Wealden Times Midsummer Fair returns to Hole Park. The everpopular event runs from Thursday June 8 to Saturday June 10 and will showcase some of the area’s most talented creatives, artists and food producers all selling their wares. Ensure you give yourself plenty of time to walk around the numerous large marquees which are home to everyone from jewellery makers, vintage specialists and some truly delicious food and drink suppliers too. Tickets, which also include entry to Hole Park Gardens, can be found at www.wealdentimes-fair.co.uk
JUNE 10
The second Wine Garden of England event takes place at Balfour Winery near Staplehurst on June 10. Just like the inaugural one last year, it will see the seven local vineyards that are affiliated with the organisation showcasing their fine still and sparkling wines to a backdrop of live music, tasty food and a series of masterclasses with Clive Barlow MW. As well as Balfour, there will be Gusbourne, Simpsons, Westwell and Squerryes present. Tickets cost £20 per person and include a complimentary sample of wine from each producer. To book head to www.winegardenofengland.co.uk
are raising money for Mental Health Resource and those selling in their neighbourhood are encouraged to support that charity or one of their choice if they can. Make sure you check the Yard Sale map regularly to see who is taking part and join in the fun! You can become a Yard Seller or plan your route if you are just browsing and buying by heading to https://www.facebook.com TWYardSale
We bring you the month’s most entertaining events happening this June
JUNE 11
Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra are heading back to the Assembly Hall theatre on Sunday June 11 for a night of brilliant live music. The orchestra features original co-founder Gilson Lavis as well as vocalists Ruby Turner, Louise Marshall and Sumudu Jayatilaka. There will also be some special guests performing including Pauline Black and Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson, both from The Selector. The current 19-piece orchestra promises to raise the roof when it entertains the discerning music fans of Tunbridge Wells. Tickets start from £45 and can be booked at www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
JUNE 11
Theatre troupe The HandleBards put on their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Sunday June 11 at 7.00pm in the Library Gardens of Tonbridge School. According to a spokesperson, it promises to be a hilarious, high-octane outdoor interpretation of this Shakespeare comedy about mistaken identity which follows four young lovers lost in a magical forest, where a Fairy King and Queen are fighting for the possession of a changeling boy. As it’s an outdoor production visitors are advised to bring their own chair or blanket to sit on, a picnic to enjoy, and dress appropriately for the weather. Tickets cost: £19 adults; £12 under18s, while under-10s go free with one paying adult. Entrance is priced at £20 on the door. For more info visit www.emftheatre.com
JUNE 16-18
Over the weekend of June 16-18, Eridge Park will be transformed into an arena of Americana courtesy of the fourth Black Deer Festival. The lineup this year is one of the best to date with Chrissy Hynde’s Pretenders band headlining the Saturday night and the legendary Richard Hawley taking centre stage on the Sunday. Other acts performing over the weekend include Steve Earle, Bonnie Raitt, This is the Kit, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Kathryn Priddy, Calexico and actorturned-singer-songwriter Damian Lewis rocking up on Friday night. Weekend and day tickets can be bought at www.blackdeerfestival. com. More details in our feature on page 24.
JUNE 23
Trinity favourite Richard Durrant is staging another of his much-loved concerts at the theatre on June 23.This time it’s a celebration of midsummer which will see this maverick virtuoso and natural storyteller perform his guitar originals as well as some well-known seasonal
sonic moments. Connection with the land is central to Richard’s work, and his tours and album releases are always planned around the Solstices and Equinoxes. Durrant’s bicycle, on which he travels to each show, stands next to him onstage at every concert. He says: “These concerts are not just about the fragile beauty of these instruments, they might also remind people how remarkable a bicycle is.” Tickets are available through www.trinitytheatre.net
Ballet Central comes to the EM Forster Theatre on Thursday June 29 at 7.30pm. This year’s exciting programme for the Ballet Central tour is performed by dance talents from the world-renowned Central School of Ballet and features muchloved familiar stories alongside thrilling contemporary pieces and some brand-new work, created especially for the company. Fall in love with classical Pas de Deux, The Two Pigeons, and be inspired by earthy Pas de Trois, Monotones I.You’ll also have the chance to witness Snow White given new life in Michael Pink’s shadowy retelling, Mirror, Mirror and be captivated by Dextera’s exploration of the Pygmalion myth created by Sophie Laplane. Tickets: £16, £8 dance school groups 6+. Head to www.emftheatre.com for tickets and more info.
The fourth Tunbridge Wells Soapbox Superstars Race takes place on Saturday June 24 in Dunorlan Park. Helping to raise lots of money for local charities including Hospice in the Weald, Pickering Cancer Drop In Centre and Nourish, it is a great family fun day out, with exciting races to watch, live music courtesy of Local & Live and lots of tasty treats and delicious drinks to purchase too. See page 8 for more on the event and to read our exclusive interview with the race’s ambassador Rosemary Shrager. Tickets are available from www.twsoapboxrace.com
A Midsummer Night’s Dream actually takes place over a total of four nights and not just one! And diarist Samuel Pepys wasn’t a fan, commenting after seeing it that it was: “The most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life.”
ABBA The Story is a fabulous show telling the story of the band that shaped the music and it comes to the Assembly Hall theatre on June 30. The show starts with the band’s triumphant Eurovision win and culminates with their last music video, filmed on November 16, 1982. Along the way it takes in their famous music videos and subsequent major arena tours, culminating in a brilliant finale of Mamma Mia the musical and also Voyage, both of which are sure to have everyone up on their feet. The show stars Sheena Beckett as Frida and Suzie Que as Agnetha. Allan Beckett plays Benny Andersson with John Clews as Björn Ulvaeus. Tickets from £25.65.
www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
SO’s resident music guru Paul Dunton is excited about a new music festival coming to Tonbridge in September, featuring famous names including Nik Kershaw, Jethro Tull, Heaven 17, The Feeling and Feeder. Read on to find out more about The Walled Garden Music Festival
This September, a fantastic new music festival is coming to Tonbridge.The Walled Garden Music Festival is the brainchild of music promoter Mel Fordham and takes place on the idyllic lawns of Tonbridge Castle, which is set to provide a fantastic setting.
The family-friendly festival runs over two separate weekends, September 9-10 and 16-17, and the music lineup is absolutely superb, featuring a host of world-class acts including Feeder,The Feeling, Jethro Tull, Levellers, Bjorn Again, Starsailor, Nik Kershaw, Ian Prowse, Mostly Autumn, Lifesigns, Miles Hunt and many more.
Mel is also a keen supporter of local music and I’m delighted to announce that four acts from the Local & Live Festival roster have been awarded the coveted opening support slots.They include The Ackerleys,Two Weeks In Nashville, Steffan James and my own group,The Paul Dunton Orchestra. This is an incredible opportunity for all of the local acts to play on the same stage alongside a host of iconic artists and I know for a fact that we are all absolutely stoked to be invited to perform. It’s not an understatement to say that we really cannot wait!
The festival will have a varied range of food and drink concessions on site, but will also allow festival goers to bring in their own picnics, a move that will certainly prove popular given today’s current financial climate. I recently sat down with Mel to find out
Paul Dunton Music Editor Follow Paul @PaulDuntonmusic
a little more about the history of the Walled Garden Festival and what people can expect from this year’s event at Tonbridge Castle…
SO MEL, CAN TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE WALLED GARDEN MUSIC FESTIVAL?
We have previously staged the event within the Walled Garden (hence the name!) at Brightling Park in Battle, which was a lovely venue. However with a capacity of 1,200, I always felt the Festival had no room to expand and develop further at that location. After several editions of the Festival
at Brightling, we began to look at other options to move the event. In 2020 Covid and lockdown forced us into hibernation, and put the brakes on our plans. As we moved into 2021-2022 things were improving slightly for live music events, however with the onset of the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis, we felt it just wasn’t the right time to plan a new move and launch for the festival. As 2023 approached I had been looking for something a bit larger and Tonbridge Castle has been on my radar for some time. It is a beautiful venue and really ticks many boxes in terms of its prominent location, nearby
railway station, larger capacity, easy access, good parking and hotels. I was delighted to secure the venue for the two weekends this coming September and we now plan to run it as an annual event.
9 AND 10?
In previous years we had always adopted a very mixed-genre approach to each day at the festival, which worked well to a degree, but we noticed that audiences would fluctuate too much.There would be times where the crowd was really sizable and engaged, but then at other times it would drop off.
So, going forward, we will now have a themed genre each day. September 9 will be our ‘Folk Rock’ day which will be headlined by The Levellers and it promises to be fantastic! We have an amazing run of acts leading up to The Levellers’ full band set including Ian Prowse,The Travelling Band, Miles
FeederTwo Weeks In Nashville
“I want people to really enjoy our event and come away from The Walled Garden Festival absolutely blown away”
Hunt,The Heartland Roots Band and an opening set from local group The Ackerleys which will be a great way to kick things off.
The following day, Saturday September 10, is ‘Prog Rock’ day, which will be headlined by Jethro Tull – a real feather in the cap for us! We are thrilled to have such an iconic act top the bill, particularly as they are currently busy touring Europe and are only doing three UK dates, one of which is for us and then they continue their tour across the pond to USA and Brazil!
To have Mostly Autumn on the same bill as JT is also brilliant, they are such an amazing live band and have a great following. Continuing the prog rock theme will be Lifesigns, a truly brilliant act led by John Young.They will be playing tracks from their current album ‘Altitude’ which is a fantastic record.The superb Bruce Soord from ‘Pineapple Thief’ will also be on the lineup alongside the excellent ‘Kyros’ both of which will go down a storm with the audience.The Saturday will be opened by Two Weeks in Nashville who are one of Local & Live’s finest up-and-coming bands, so there is a lot to look forward to.
The following Saturday has a 90s and noughties feel about it with Feeder headlining. We are also delighted to have The Feeling and Starsailor on the bill to add a Britpop flavour to the lineup. We are big fans of Talk In Code, who produce amazing indie music and David Ford who is a mesmerising musician and plays an array of instruments – both are great additions to the bill. Deeply talented local singer-songwriter Steffan James will be opening proceedings at 2pm.
Then the Sunday has a 70s and 80s flavour to it and will be headlined by Bjorn Again who will bring the festival to a climactic finish
TICKET INFO:
To book tickets visit walledgardenmusicfestival.com
You can also find the event on Facebook at facebook.com/ walledgardenmusicfest
with everyone singing and dancing along to Abba’s greatest songs. The whole Sunday is incredibly strong, with Nik Kershaw, Heaven 17 and Dire Straits Legacy on the lineup. The latter of which features many members who have performed and recorded with the original Dire Straights which is amazing. And of course, your very own Paul Dunton Orchestra will get things underway at 2pm!
I simply love music. It’s my favourite passion. I don’t play an instrument myself but I greatly admire people who do and as a result, create interesting music. Originally I was inspired by music that I grew up listening to – particularly at school where I discovered so many bands and different styles through my friends.That love for discovering new and old music has stayed with me ever since. I have a varied record collection featuring music from the 60s to the present day, which I continue to add to all the time. My main career has been as a racehorse photographer and over the years it has enabled me to meet many people in the music industry as
thankfully my photos were often in high demand.Those connections have also given me opportunities to work with lots of renowned musicians. I had a shared horse-ownership with former Genesis manager Tony Stratton-Smith and got to know Chris Wright, cofounder of Chrysalis Records, so my photography definitely opened some doors for me in terms of contacts. It also gave me the impetus to begin exploring the idea of putting on live music.The two most important things for me are getting the right venue and the right acts. I want people to really enjoy our event and come away from The Walled Garden Festival absolutely blown away.
“The two most important things for me are getting the right venue and the right acts”Dire Straits Legacy Steffan James Heartland Roots Band Talk In Code
The fourth Tunbridge Wells Soapbox Stars Race takes place in Dunorlan Park on June 24 and it promises to be bigger and better than ever. Eileen Leahy meets its chief ambassador, celebrity chef Rosemary Shrager, and the event’s compere Tom Swift to find out why they’re such fans of this brilliant, fun day out that raises thousands for various charities every year and is the brainchild of Coco Piesse…
AAs SO cover photoshoots go, this month’s was certainly a fun one! It involved two novelty soapbox karts, a celebrity chef, a local panto legend and many laugh-out-loud moments – especially when traffic had to be intermittently stopped on Wadhurst High Street while the lorry carrying the aforementioned karts reversed in and out of our shoot location.
That location was the front driveway of TV star and cookery writer Rosemary Shrager who, as official ambassador for Tunbridge Wells Soapbox Superstars Race kindly agreed to host the June SO cover shoot at her home. And although it is a beautiful house it’s fair to say it was just a bit of a squeeze getting the karts - and Rosemary and Tom – in and out! But as ever the pair were such good sports and totally willing to go that extra mile in order to
help drum up publicity for this year’s Tunbridge Wells Soapbox Stars Race which takes place in Dunorlan Park on June 24.
The brainchild of local PR and podcaster Coco Piesse Turner, it began in 2018 and, despite having to take a break due to Covid, the event - which raises thousands for local charities and sees both the business and general community of Tunbridge Wells come together for a day of races and fun - is now an annual fixture on the social calendar of Tunbridge Wells.
Rosemary and Tom have been involved right from the start and tell me they are more than happy to lend their support as chief ambassador and compere once again.
“I remember when Coco first asked me if I’d like to be the official ambassador and I said yes immediately. That was simply because nothing like this had ever been done before. And now all
“It’s a win-win for everyone. There are silly cars to look at, fun costumes to giggle at and little crashes to enjoy”
these years later I still jump at the chance of being a part of it,” explains Rosemary after the shoot is wrapped.
“I feel that this one this year will be the biggest one to date. It has become such a staple of the local social scene and that’s all down to Coco’s hard work. She has quite frankly been amazing. It’s her baby and it’s not an easy event to put on given the logistics. Most would have given up after a year or so but she has never done that. She’s invested her own money and kept going in order to promote such a wonderful thing that brings the local community together and helps raise so much for local charities.”
If you’re not familiar with the Tunbridge Wells Soapbox Superstars Race then in short it invites a number of businesses, and this year for the first time members of the general public, to sponsor, pimp up and have fun racing one of the event’s specially made karts. There are various heats throughout the day culminating in a final where a winner is crowned for being the fastest to complete the winding course around Dunorlan.
Businesses who have taken part to date include HR Revolution, Thames Motor Group, Markerstudy and Rise and Shine Cleaning. And last year saw many schools take part too. The karts’ chassis are made in collaboration with engineering students at North Kent College in Tonbridge.
Entrants pay £599 (plus VAT) and are asked to pledge £250 directly to the Hospice in the Weald. It’s then up to those racing to decide upon a secondary sponsor (if they so wish) to raise extra funds for. In the past the likes of Pickering Drop In Cancer Centre, Nourish foodbank and ellenor have all benefitted.
As we chat over coffee in Rosemary’s cosy kitchen, Tom tells me why he is so passionate about his involvement with the soapbox race which has raised over 83K for local charities so far.
“It’s a win-win for everyone. There’s silly cars to look at, fun costumes to giggle at and little crashes to enjoy,” the Wicked Production pantomime star teases.
“Seriously though it’s just a really fun event that brings the whole community together. And it’s something all the family can
To date, the event has helped raise more than £83,000 for a range of charities
enjoy too.”
“You’ve hit the nail on the head Tom,” says Rosemary. “It’s something everyone can enjoy – and actually for me it’s about making memories as well as making lots of money for charity.”
The clever cook who has just published her second thriller novel Proof in the Pudding tells me that her chosen charity this year is the No1 Community Trust.
“It’s local and been going for 30 years but hardly anyone knows about it. I certainly hadn’t until they asked me to be an ambassador. It’s located on the Showfields Estate and has a café, where both subsidised and free meals are offered to those who need it. There’s also a nursery and a children’s library and lots of free activities on offer in the community hall. The delivery of this trust is quite frankly phenomenal.”
Rosemary will officially open the soapbox race by gently racing down the hill along with Tom Swift in her specially commissioned ‘Pie’ kart which has been tagged by local graffiti artist Humour AKA by Hugh Whitaker.
“I only do it once because let’s face it you wouldn’t want to have to get me in and out of that kart twice,” she laughs raucously.
“But in all seriousness this event is so important as it supports local and gives people the opportunity to have a great day out. It’s very special and I’m so pleased to have been involved since day one. I do this because I want to. Coco gives, Tom gives, everybody gives and this is the one I give to as well.
The atmosphere is fab. I do a lot of events but this one is really unique.”
“It’s just so different to everything else,” adds Tom. “It’s karts hurtling down a hill and people having a laugh - including me when I do the compere bit. What’s not to love with me taking the mickey out of everybody?!”
Local musical theatre troupe The Talentz will be opening the event as part of their involvement with Tunbridge Wells Fringe Festival.
Rosemary tells me that in addition to her busy schedule of cooking, presenting and writing she has been working hard on the launch of a new selection of sugar-free preserves and chutneys. “Maybe I’ll go down in a jam jar next year!” she giggles as we bid our farewells.
A couple of days later I meet up with Coco and her partner Garry
Jeffrey. They are keen to give me the background on the soapbox race so people know the full story of why it was originally started.
“I’m a big believer in community,” Coco tells me as we sit down to chat at SO’s HQ which is located at Salomons Estate.
“I’ve been able to get involved with local charities and businesses running my public relations business Chatty Hatter which I’ve done for the past 11 years but I’ve especially enjoyed helping them courtesy of putting on the Tunbridge Wells Soapbox Superstars Race.
Wearing a pair of her trademark Edney & Edney colourful designer glasses and dressed in a gorgeous sundress from Kitch, with funky trainers from bod & ted, Coco who now presents a weekly show on West Kent Radio, explains that it was in fact her partner Garry Jeffrey’s idea originally to run this type of event in Tunbridge Wells.
“He’s the one who initially came to me and said I want to put on a soapbox race and I need your help to do it.”
“I’m Tunbridge Wells born and bred and when I was little there was always an annual summer carnival held in the town,” Garry, who owns Henry Paul Funerals explains. “For some reason it ended and I missed that opportunity for people to come together and to have a good time. So that’s when I thought about putting something on that would
“This event has become such a staple of the local social scene and that’s all down to Coco’s hard work. She has quite frankly been amazing”ON TRACK: TW Soapbox Stars Race co-founders Garry Jeffrey and Coco Piesse
Volunteering is a great opportunity for you to become a valued member of the events team. You can volunteer at the Tunbridge Wells Soapbox Stars Race in return for free entry! Volunteer applications are still open.
be fun but also raise money for charity.”
“My idea was to have lots of cars racing around the centre of Tunbridge Wells but the council said no and we eventually got Dunorlan which of course turned out to be fantastic.”
At that time Garry’s mother had recently passed away so he also wanted to do something in her memory which is why the inaugural event in 2018 was actually called Jean’s Soapbox Race.
“It was a fantastic success. Students from North Kent College built the karts’ chassis and after all these years we continue to have a relationshiop with them. Their help is absolutely vital to the event’s success.”
Coco tells me that her role has gone from simply helping out with the first year’s marketing and PR to taking over the business such is her passion for the event.
“I suppose initially it was a good distraction for me at the time,” she reveals. “When I helped launch it my father was really sick, I’d split up with the father of my children and lost a dear friend. But then I met Garry and that’s when it all changed for me. Being involved with the soapbox race really opened up my creative side and although there was a lot of pressure it did make me realise what I was actually capable of doing!”
Despite having never worked on a project of that scale before Coco and her team made a great success of it, raising 20K for charity and bringing the business community of Tunbridge Wells, who’d all sponsored karts and gathered racing teams, together.
“It was such an exciting project to work on and so it made sense for me to get completely involved the following year,” Coco smiles.
That of course was in 2019 and despite torrential rain and also injuring herself when she and her team were trialling the course at Dunorlan Coco says it was still a success. But then of course the wheels – quite literally – came off when Covid hit in 2020 and suddenly the race hit the buffers for the next two years due to social distancing restrictions.
Thankfully the event was able to return last summer, after NFU Mutual stepped in as the event’s insurers. Thousands of people descended on Dunorlan to see lots of local businesses racing their karts in various timed heats and to enjoy the live music and food and drink on offer.
This year the joint sponsors are NFU Mutual and the Stoner Motor Company, who hosted the 2023 Soapbox Stars launch party at their Hyundai and MG showroom on North Farm industrial estate.
“Both will be raising for Hospice in the Weald but NFU Mutual
will also race for Mental Health Resources while the Stoner Motor Company have chosen the charity Demelza to also support.
“Chatty Hatter will be racing and raising for Hospice in the Weald and Pickering Cancer Drop In Centre while The Big Chat will
be racing and raising for Hospice in the Weald and Mental Health Resources,” adds Coco who has just been announced as an ambassador for the latter charity. Once again there will be live music courtesy of Paul Dunton’s brilliant Local & Live stage with
Two hand-built soapbox karts, sponsored, manned and expertly ‘pimped up’ by each team, will go head-to-head in this highoctane and sometimes chaotic time trial on a specially designed downhill race track in the picturesque park. The Tunbridge Wells Soapbox Stars Race is an
annual race for amateur teams from a range of businesses, organisations and individuals. It provides basic karts for the race, with each team allowed to individualise their karts in any way they choose to make them stand out from the crowd! The wackier the better!
music maestro extraordinaire MC Melody also racing a kart!
“This year for the first time we have had people entering from all over the country including MC Melody from Pied Piper and Master of Ceremonies racing. With his real name being Michael, like my late dad, I might even dare to be a passenger again for the first time since my infamous crash back in 2019!” giggles Coco. Having raised 50K at the Dunorlan Soapbox Superstars Race in 2022, Coco says the aim is to smash through the 100K barrier this year. To date they have raised 83K. And they have made entering super easy she says. “We provide Motorsport built chassis kart frames courtesy of North Kent students and we are the only soapbox race in the country to offer this level of initial help in making it even easier for you to concentrate all your attention on designing something incredible for the main race on the day!
“Each kart races on the day for their very own chosen charity. Each entrant pays £599 (+ VAT) to loan one of our chassis for the race and then pledges £250 out of what they raise to Hospice in the Weald. They can then raise as much as possible for their second chosen charity - which could still be the Hospice in the Weald if you like. Like Tom Swift says it really is a win-win for everyone!”
GET IN TOUCH:
To register your interest in raising money for charity, having fun and having the chance to race against your rivals, then email twsoapbox@chattyhatter.com
TICKET INFO:
To buy tickets in advance for the Soap Box visit twsoapboxrace.com/buytickets
Tickets are not available to buy on the gate on the day
Award-winning Tunbridge Wells sales and lettings estate agent, Maddisons Residential, recently celebrated 10 successful years with an impressive party at The Beacon. The occasion was a special thank you from the company’s founder Deborah Richards to her staff, business colleagues, clients and families who have supported the growing estate agency since it launched in May 2013. A charity raffle, with money donated from the guests matched pound for pound by Maddisons, raised £760, and will be split between local charities Taylor Made Dreams and West Kent Mind.
Since Deborah swapped a career in wealth management to establish Maddisons Residential her business has grown to become one of the market leaders for family homes in Tunbridge Wells. It has achieved a double-gold standard in both sales and lettings in the Best Estate Agent Guide for 2023, putting Maddisons in the top 5% of nationwide sales and lettings agencies.
“We’re delighted to have been able to celebrate such an important milestone with the friends, colleagues and clients who have helped us develop Maddisons to lead the local property market,” said Deborah on the night.
Corker, the outdoor living and landscaping specialists based near Paddock Wood, hosted a fabulous event for the general public in order to reveal their new collection of show gardens. The company’s newly rejuvenated alfresco area includes stunning designs by the likes of Garden Proud, Karen McClure, Cameron Trend Garden Design, Hopkins & Nash and English Gardens.
“Working alongside exceptionally talented local companies has been an absolute pleasure, and we are immensely proud of the exceptional show area that we have collectively crafted,” Corker’s CEO Oliver Corkery told SO Magazine.
“The launch event itself surpassed all our expectations and was a resounding triumph.”
Later that day Oliver and his family hosted a private function for close friends, colleagues and relatives who have all been involved in the project.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every person who played a part in making this vision a reality. We feel truly blessed to have such an outstanding team and community who wholeheartedly believe in and champion the vision of our company.”
Local fashion stylist and personal shopper Victoria Genevieve hosted a special evening at Hoopers Department store offering guests a sneak peek at this summer’s hottest looks, courtesy of the shop’s numerous fashion labels.
From what to wear in order to look chic on the beach, to ideas for simple everyday staples that will ensure you look and feel cool when the temperatures rise, Victoria passed on her sartorial tips to a packed audience who enjoyed drinks and delicious canapes during the fun and informative evening.
As well as talking through some key pieces worth investing in for a stylish summer wardrobe from Hoopers’ wealth of diverse fashion brands, Victoria also offered advice on how to style certain looks. She then took questions from the audience, which was made up of some of her clients, friends and colleagues.
Also present on the evening was a Clarins representative from Hoopers beauty department, who gave attendees some handy skincare hints and revealed the key make-up trends for the season to ensure you shine all summer long…
Pig & Porter, an awardwinning local craft brewery, recently held its annual open day, which saw over 150 people in attendance at its HQ in Chapman Way, in High Brooms.
During the afternoon, attendees had the chance to enjoy sampling different beers from the brewer’s biggest range to date. They included ‘Albedo’, a brand new IPA with subtle, rich, caramel flavours and a big fruity punch. It was apparently inspired by Vangelis’ 1976 album of the same name.
The Pig & Porter team also showed guests around the brewery, got to hear feedback on their new beers and invited people to come up with a name for the brand’s newest lager.
Founder Robin Wright commented: “At Pig & Porter, every one of our beers is made with our customers at the heart of the production. It has become a tradition to invite our customers to help us name our beer lines, which are picked from song lyrics or titles. The icing on our cake was discovering that one of our beers, Caravan, has been selected as a finalist in the Beer Category in the Taste of Kent Awards!”
The House of Biltong, a wellrespected South African meat specialist, barbequed some mouthwatering burgers for people to enjoy with their drinks, which Pig & Porter supply to local bars and restaurants and also sell online.
Last month The Amelia hosted its second literary festival which saw the likes of Sir Michael Parkinson, Sheila Hancock, Will Self, Russell Tovey, Melanie Sykes and Evanna Lynch all speaking at it. Running from May 11 to May 16, the festival attracted over 5,000 visitors to the five different venues which hosted talks. They included the Assembly Hall, The Forum and One Warwick Park as well as The Amelia itself. The event also included for the first time a sold-out comicon event and a local writers’ fair.
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s Head of Culture Nicky Carter told SO Magazine: “We are delighted with the results of the second Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival, bookended by a pair of extraordinary sell-out shows from Michael Rosen and David Walliams.
“Our sincere thanks to the event’s wonderful sponsors, Arts Council England Berry and Lamberts Solicitors, RBC Brewin Dolphin, and RTW Together whose kind support enabled us to offer all our children’s events free of charge. Once again we partnered with Waterstones who reported record sales across the festival.”
Ms Carter said the success of the Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival was down to the ‘incredible talent’ of speakers and performers, the ‘unwavering dedication’ of the Culture Team, and the ‘enthusiastic support’ of the local community.
She added: “We hope Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival continues to inspire, entertain, and provoke thought.”
between the two spaces once doors are opened.
“We aim to maximise our client’s enjoyment of their home right up to the boundary”
As we head towards the longest day of the year, BBQs, al-fresco drinks and lazy days outside beckon. Clever architectural design that aligns with external landscapes can not only help you make the most of your garden, it can also transform your living space. Award-winning architects, Atelier de Linde, explain how.
THE GROWING TREND FOR AL-FRESCO LIVING
‘I grew up in South Africa, where people live outside most of the time, so blending the interior with the exterior space to maximise al-fresco living has always been important in my designs,’ says director Angie Pool.
‘But increasingly in the UK, people are thinking about how they can make the most of all their space,
Our clients enjoy the best of their indoor and outdoor spaces, all year round
inside and out,’ she comments. ‘The good news is that with careful planning and an eye for detail, you can create one continuous living area, whether you’re looking to make the most of an existing property, planning an extension, or even starting with just a vacant plot and your imagination.’
GRAND DESIGNS FOR SEAMLESS SPACES
A common mistake made by people who are building their own ‘Grand Design’ is to concentrate their creative and financial resources on the building itself. The beauty of beginning with a blank canvas is that you can think about aligning the inside and outside space from the outset, creating a design that is both practical and beautiful.
‘A skillful architect will introduce interest and balance light to successfully cultivate one continuous space from inside to outside,’ explains co-Director Tara de Linde. ‘We recommend liaising with landscapers from the outset, working directly with the natural contours of each garden right up to the boundaries, to maximise the space – and the enjoyment it brings.”
If you’re working with an existing building, space is often limited, especially in built-up areas such as Tunbridge Wells. This can bring challenges, but with the increasing need for space that works smarter, and the climate getting warmer, there has never been a better time to
rethink how your home works with the exterior of your property. Whether the limitations of your property lie inside, outside, or maybe both, improvements can be made to maximise flow and frame the outdoors, which creates a feeling of space and serenity within your own home.
A key consideration when looking to create a great connection between your interior and exterior space is the threshold between the two: do you want a distinct border defining the space between inside and outside, or a seamless flow from house to garden?
’What you want to achieve will shape the solution,’ expands Angie.
’A flash threshold for a seamless finish can be done with bifolds or slick sliding doors with pockets, which can be complimented with clever mirroring of inside furniture and outside furniture – a dramatic and effective way to create flow
‘On the contrary, if you want to create a zoned effect, we would recommend distinctive flooring, terracing, steps, and architectural furniture to create the desired result.
‘What is key is to work with consideration and respect for the natural landscape around a building and select the best materials and furniture to totally transform the way the garden can be used.’
Creating an outdoor space that encourages year-round use requires protecting your garden from the elements. Thoughtful planting, artful sculptures and clever positioning of furniture can diminish the effect of a cold breeze, and there is a huge array of attractive awnings to stop the rain getting in the way of an alfresco dinner.
Outdoor heaters and cosy soft furnishings can lengthen the amount of use you get of your garden throughout the year. Similarly, effective external lighting not only allows you to sit outside for longer each night, but also can create a beautiful focal point through windows and doors long after the sun has set.
We realise your dreams with tailored service, combining high-quality design with sustainable principles.
Experts in:
• New builds
• Passive House retrofits
• Carbon neutral buildings
• Schools, hotels, public spaces
www.atelierdelinde.co.uk
hello@atelierdelinde.com
01892 571474
The infectious hedonistic spirit of Ibiza nightlife rocked up in Tunbridge Wells recently courtesy of the Animals in the Night pop-up club at Salomons Estate.
With DJs Marcel Mendez and DJ Cookie on the decks all night, the evening was ‘full of love, joy, dancing and positivity’ according to the event’s organisers.
“The idea was to not only play some fantastic beats but to also help break down mental health barriers through music,” Marcel told SO magazine.
“Salomons was transformed into a never seen before Ibiza Tulum style immersive club. The aim was to create a night of pure joy and total euphoria while raising monies for Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource and I’m pleased to say we did just that,” continued Marcel. Guests enjoyed an amazing night of uplifting music, psychedelic visuals, and exotic animal dancers which created a fully immersive experience inspired by travels to magical destinations of Ibiza as well as South America and Mexico.
This month the Black Deer Music Festival takes place at Eridge Park over the weekend of June 16-18 with a bill that features some fantastic Americana singers including Steve Earle and Bonnie Raitt, as well as legendary acts like the Pretenders, Richard Hawley and actor-turned-musician Damian Lewis. Eileen Leahy speaks to the festival’s co-founders Gill Dee and Deborah Shilling (below) about why they’re so excited for this year’s event
Congratulations on hosting another Black Deer festival. What are you looking forward to most about this year’s event?
Gill: For me, I literally cannot wait to start to build the festival. We work so hard all year to ensure that we give everyone the best time possible, but the excitement when
we are all on site together to make the festival a reality is huge. I also cannot explain the feeling when our gates open, and to see all the smiling faces coming through and people enjoying all the work that our brilliant teams have put into it.
Deb: Black Deer is all about building a community, so I’m most
“There is so much to enjoy at Black Deer. We have changed things up around the festival site this year. We have moved things around and have some great new additions”
looking forward to welcoming everybody back to the deer park for three days and nights of great music, authentic BBQs and making memories with friends and family.
This year’s line-up is incredible. Who are you excited to see performing and why?
Deb: Americana aficionados are so excited about this line-up and the reaction has been great across the board. Allison Russell is a big favourite of mine and she’s headlining The Ridge on Saturday, as well as leading The Songwriter Sessions the same day with some fabulous artists like Amythyst Kiah, Kyshona and Simeon Hammond Dallas. The Teskey Brothers, who play Saturday, will be another soulful highlight. Welcoming the Grammy-winning Bonnie Raitt to the deer park is going to be another special Black Deer moment.
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats also have to be seen live to be believed, they’re so good and will get the party started on Friday...
Apart from the music element of Black Deer what else can visitors to the festival enjoy?
Gill: There is so much! We have changed things up around the festival this year and have moved things around and have some great additions. If you have been
“We know Black Deer and Eridge Park were meant to be together –it’s a magical combination”PHOTOS BY BLACK DEER & CAITLIN MOGRIDGE
to Black Deer before you’ll still find great music on the two main stages and see all the places you have come to love like Haley’s Bar. There’s also the Live Fire area, bringing you the most amazing food, great celebrity chefs on stage doing demonstrations on how to achieve greatness with BBQ cooking. And don’t forget to check out the now infamous chilli eating competition - as well the massively popular Gospel Brunch.
Tell us about the festival’s famous Roadhouse?
Gill: This is where Harley Davidson gives you the chance to have a ride on its bike simulator and it’s great fun! Harley are also
celebrating their 120th Birthday at the festival, and you will be blown away by the amazing bikes on display. Hang out around the Custom Bike Workshop where you can chat all things bikes, look at great custom cars, grab a beer, and just listen to some great music.
What’s on offer at Black Deer for younger visitors?
Gill: Young Folk will bring everything you would want to entertain your little ones at the festival. Black Deer is where the kids have as much fun as the adults. This year we are introducing Caffe Nero, who are creating a really great entertainment area, bringing you all the quality found in all their coffee shops - but in true Black Deer style. This year, for the first time, we have a vintage Ferris wheel, and a Helter Skelter, and of course the bucking bronco!
Have there been any challenges in terms of putting on Black Deer 2023?
Gill: Running a festival is not for the fainthearted, and I would be lying if I said it was all a breeze to bring a small town to the beautiful Eridge Estate. We have had lots of ups and downs, and you get used to the very frequent challenges that you face. As well as navigating our way through escalating costs, a cost of living crisis, and the recent terribly disappointing weather conditions that have given us a few sleepless nights, we are now just a couple of weeks away from opening our gates! The sun is shining, there is positivity in the air, and we will give our customers the respect they deserve, by producing a festival that will give them memories for years to come...
How have ticket sales gone?
Deb: We’re in one of the toughest economic climates many of us have ever known. Working people across the country are struggling to pay their bills and the cost-of-living crisis is having a real impact on all of us. Black Deer isn’t immune to any of that. But from the moment Super Early Bird tickets sold-out last summer, our loyal community have committed themselves to us in their thousands. We’re just weeks away from the festival now and there’s a real buzz about the place. We’re hoping even more of the local community - who have always treated Black Deer as one of their own - come down and sample everything that’s on offer in Eridge Park, even if it’s with a day ticket
Why do you love hosting the festival in Eridge Park?
Gill: From the moment I stepped foot on the Eridge Estate 12 years ago, I knew I was somewhere very special. I never dreamt at that point, when I came to look at the estate for a client who wanted to stage an event there, that I would one day be building a festival that, along with Debs, I had created! It is magical to me, and I know that Black Deer and Eridge were meant to be together. Lord and Lady Abergavenny, because of their mutual love of music, wanted a festival at the estate that had longevity, that people around the area would love and take into their hearts. I hope we have achieved that for them.
Deb: It’s such a beautiful setting for our Americana playground and a wonderful place to let the Black Deer community roam free in a land of stunning surroundings.
To book tickets visit www.blackdeerfestival.com
Let’s start by you telling us a little bit about yourself Hannah... When and why did you get into music?
I have always written songs since way before I ever understood what I was doing. I still remember some songs I wrote when I was 8 or 9 years old. So I’ve always written but performing in public came a lot later for me because of my personal circumstances. I was born and raised on a council estate in South East London; I grew up around crime and drugs and violence. I got into a difficult relationship and ended up pregnant very young and living in emergency accommodation for homeless families. It never, at any stage, occurred to me to consider performing in public. Writing songs and playing them to myself is what helped me survive my darkest days but it wasn’t until years later, and totally by accident, that I ended up singing at an open mic. That was the start of it all… And if I’m honest it’s been a challenging journey, developing the confidence to call myself an artist
and learning to feel natural and ok with people hearing what I do.
Your musical style is described as ‘narrative’ can you enlarge a little bit more on this?
I’m told I’m an honest writer. I don’t make stuff up because I don’t need to; and I think there’s a beauty in sharing a difficult experience, even if that’s uncomfortable (which it almost always is). For me it’s a way of surviving, connecting and making the pain more bearable. It’s the same for the beautiful experiences too. Sharing is what brings us together and unites us all regardless of our backgrounds, or the language we speak or the faith we practice. We all experience love, loss, personal tragedy and moments of joy. For me there are no topics in songs which should be out of bounds. That’s what I love about the Americana genre: the stories, the sharing, it is just so human.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I think of myself as a lyricist. Words
matter to me a lot. I like reading literature and poetry because words have a power over me. Once you’ve consumed a piece of poetry, for example, it accompanies you. It turns up again when you’re busy thinking of something else in the most beautiful way. It turns up when I’m writing and becomes something I can play with or feel until I’m going down a path I’d have never explored without it. Which helps me create my own words for my own experiences. My musical inspiration changes constantly. I love Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Townes Van Zandt, Peter Green and Richard Thompson. I love pretty much any artist who means it.
“For me there are no topics in songs which should be out of bounds. That’s what I love about the Americana genre: the stories, the sharing, it is just so human”
How does it feel to have the support of the likes of Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross and BBC Radio 6 & 2 behind you?
I have to pinch myself when I think about things like this. Hearing my music on national radio stations which I have listened
to myself, is a really strange feeling. I usually dissociate when good things happen so I have to keep telling myself over and over what’s happened in order for it to sink in and to give myself a sense of recognition. Ricky became a great friend from when we toured together last year. It was an exciting time and to have his respect and support for my music means absolutely everything because of what an incredible artist he is!
Congratulations on your win at the UK Americana Awards – how did that feel?
Totally shocking! I had absolutely convinced myself there was no way I could have won that award and I was determined to soak up and enjoy the sense of occasion and feeling of gratitude for being nominated in the first place (which was also a huge shock). The fact that the award was for ‘Car Crash’, a song which wasn’t easy to release given it was about being arrested and facing the risk of losing my son, was mind-blowing. I can honestly say I felt totally elated that night. It was surreal, wonderful and completely unexpected.
You’re appearing at this year’s Black Deer festival as part of the SupaJam offering. Can you tell us why you got involved with this?
SupaJam means a lot to me personally. I initially learned about this music college, based in Swanley, when I was at the very first Black Deer Festival. I met David Court and Nick Stillwell who run the college, and they told me about the work they do with young people who come from the most difficult personal circumstances. I could relate to some of the stories I was hearing so already I felt moved by their ambitions to help these young people. When I saw the youngsters at work in the field, I thought they were amazing. And I could see how happy they were, it was really special. Later I read more about SupaJam. Eighty-four per cent of their students end up at university. It’s major stuff, especially given the backgrounds and challenges some of these young adults have.
EXPERIENCE BLACK DEER DIFFERENTLY IN THE NEW SUPERJAM BACKYARD - AN INSPIRATIONAL HUB FOR YOUNG ADULTS
WHICH IS RUN BY MUSIC STUDENTS
To achieve so much, and to do it all through music is just mindblowing. Music saved me, it saved my husband (also my guitarist) who also had a really difficult background. I couldn’t not get behind SupaJam and everything it stands for. There should be one in every town!
What will the SupaJam Backyard entail and when will you be appearing in conversation?
The SupaJam Backyard is going to be full of performances by wonderful artists as well as the students which will be magical. There will be podcasts and singersongwriter circles. It’s going to be a real hub and an exciting part of the festival. I will be appearing in conversation on Friday June 16 at 5.15pm and will be performing afterwards. There will be plenty of friends and familiar faces both from the festival and the artistic community I’m in, so I cannot wait!
You have said previously how much the organisation helped your son. Please can you tell us a bit more about the ways in which this happened?
My son is on the autistic spectrum and has ADHD. He was diagnosed
when he was just three years old. His entire school life, however, was traumatic. In total he went to six different educational settings, some of them specialist, others mainstream and I even homeeducated him for two years. We’d got him a place prior to finding SupaJam, but after two terms the teachers told me he was ‘uneducatable’. I always knew that James was extremely bright but he was challenging, too. I could write a book about his experiences. One day I sat talking to David and Nick at SupaJam about my son and they both said ‘he should come here’. And that’s what happened. He wasn’t an easy student but unlike every other place he’d been to, SupaJam never gave up on my son. They bent over backwards, created an education plan that was totally bespoke. My son passed all his exams and earned the UCAS points he needed to apply to university. He is now doing a BSc in Music Theory at ACM and is looking into doing a Masters at a Norwegian university. I will never be able to thank SupaJam enough because my son is happy, succeeding and has a successful and creative career ahead of him. And all of it was made possible by the Black Deer Festival.
At this year’s festival the students have created The SupaJam Backyard – a hub for young adults that also gives audiences of all ages something different to see and do at Black Deer. The music programme is based around intergenerational storytelling where seasoned Americana musicians share their life experiences in songs alongside student musicians and young local bands. You can also try your hand at activities like learning slide guitar, writing songs or getting involved in podcasting.
• SupaJam music education has been Black Deer Festival’s philanthropic partner since its inception
• SupaJam colleges use music and media to unlock the incredible potential of young adults who are neurodivergent, have struggled with life issues and fallen out of mainstream education
• The partnership with Black Deer helps SupaJam develop the next generation of talent in the music industry by giving students unique work experience building and running their own festival stage (including sound, lighting and artist liaison)
• SupaJam champions kindness and tolerance for all so the SupaJam Backyard area will have an uplifting, inclusive spirit that gives the family-friendly Black Deer community even more heart and soul
WHO’S ON THE SUPAJAM BACKYARD BILL:
GUEST ARTISTS – As well as Hannah White, other artists appearing on the SupaJam Backyard stage over the Black Deer weekend include Roseanne Reid (the daughter of The Proclaimers’ Craig Reed), the ARC Songwriters trio featuring Kate Ellis, My Girl The River and Anna Howie, American singer-songwriter Doug Levitt, plus The County Affair, UK Dobro Society, The Irish
Passport Band and many more... SONG CIRCLES – songwriter rounds featuring young talent alongside veteran Americana songwriters sharing stories and songs together.
SUPAJAM STUDENTS + LOCAL & LIVE ARTISTS – Performances from SupaJam students as well as local musicians including Bea Everett, Ryan Weeks, Abi Orfila, Ashen Keys, Jack Leon Mackey.
ARTIST INTERVIEWS – Exclusive chats with guest artists Hannah White and Roseanne Reid about their music, their lives and their support for a new generation of artists.
LEARN SLIDE GUITAR + TRY PODCASTING – Take bluegrass slide guitar workshops with expert Chris Eaton from The UK Dobro Society and try your hand at podcasting using a top of the range studio setup with SupaJam’s in-house producer and students.
DROP–IN JAM SESSIONS –Impromptu jams and song writing sessions using a variety of acoustic instruments (guitars, bass, piano, percussion) will take place in The Jam Shed under the guidance of a professional musician.
STAR TALENT SEARCH –SupaJam also scouts for future stars in the Jam Shed, offering talented youngsters the chance to perform on the SupaJam Backyard stage at the next Black Deer Festival. Families with a talented teen musician are encouraged to drop by!
SILENT DISCO – Dance to your own beat at the Silent Disco every night from 9pm and enjoy a range of retro tabletop games for friendly competition.
www.blackdeerfestival.com www.semmuk.com
www.hannahwhitemusic.com
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most passionately about the late Edwardian era through to the 1920s - I love the feminine elegance of the period and the embellishments. However, I also love floating about in a 1970s maxi dress on a summer’s day or slipping into a 1980s mini dress for some ‘va va voom’ on a night out! I think people should be led by their heart every day in how they dress and be open to experimenting with different styles. If we each have a small collection of accessories (a quick and inexpensive way to alter the look of an outfit) then we can step into a different style and personality as the fancy takes us.
Why do you love preloved clothing?
I love it because clothes are still being loved and worn, rather than discarded, forgotten about or sent to landfill. Some of my pieces have been around for a long while and their craftsmanship has stood the test of time – unlike much of today’s fast fashion. I love imagining what vintage clothes have seen in their past lives, I like to think they would all have wonderful stories to tell. Don’t be afraid to wear lovely clothes from the past, you’re adding to their story. Every hole, tear or mark is a little piece of history made.
How do you help women feel more confident in themselves?
I consider myself a healer because I guide
The TN card is the Tunbridge Wells loyalty scheme that rewards shoppers for supporting local. This month its founder Jess Gibson chats to Laura Foley at Belle Empire on Mount Ephraim about sustainable clothing, style and self-expression…
Laura, congratulations on the opening of Belle Empire boutique…
Thank you. Belle Empire was born several years ago and has taken me through a variety of avenues but the aim has always been to enliven, heal and transform women’s lives, and to bring more pleasure and joy. Belle Empire sells vintage clothing, but it encompasses a lot more than that.
I work as a femininity and sensuality coach, a transformational burlesque guide, and a glamour stylist and healer. Belle Empire is also an events and workshop space.
What would you say is Belle Empire’s USP?
I believe when we stop trying to compete with others or fit in, that we come to a place where we can really discover who we are, what we like and begin to have a lot more fun with life. My hope is to encourage
WHO: Belle Empire
WHERE: 43 Mount Ephraim, TN4 8AA
REWARD: 10% off on purchases from our boutique.
For more info: thetncard.com/belleempire
women to access the more playful and experimental side of themselves so they can feel liberated from what is expected of them as women in the modern-day world.
What led you to open the shop?
I have been selling clothing and accessories for the last decade, mainly online and at pop-up events but the dream was always to have my own space from which I could sell my pieces and run workshops. Entering the boutique, its ambience and décor, its smells and sounds hopefully inspires customers to feel as though they have stepped away from the mundane of the day-today and be elevated to a more glamorous lifestyle.
What influences your own personal style?
I have loved and worn a huge variety of styles over the years. I feel
women to a place of self-knowledge, selfacceptance and self-love. I consider glamour to be a healing modality because it brightens up what can be quite a dark and difficult world. The more we give ourselves permission to live and dress from the heart, the more we inspire others to do the same. And so, the joy and the beauty spreads!
Is Belle Empire an inclusive space?
Yes, it is very important that everyone feels welcome at Belle Empire, whatever their age, background or gender. I particularly enjoy encouraging women of a more advanced age to embrace the joy of dressing. I always say: “You should become MORE you as you get older, not less. Don’t let yourself become smaller and invisible.”
You have two beautiful private rooms at Belle Empire, what are these used for?
Yes, I use them to host workshops and events, such as women’s circles, talks with designers, burlesque classes, film screenings, photo shoots and much more. They can also be hired out.
Thank you for joining the TN card. How do you thank members for supporting local? Thank you for having me on board! Members receive 15% off their purchases in the boutique.
“The more we give ourselves permission to live from the heart, the more we inspire others to do the same. And so, the joy and the beauty spreads!”
This month SO Magazine chats to Pam Loch, of employment law & HR specialists, Loch Associates about the places she likes to support locally. Here Pam reveals where she likes to stroll, shop and socialise….
Whereabouts do you live in the borough of Tunbridge Wells?
I live in the Culverden district of Tunbridge Wells.
How long have you lived there and what made you decide to move to the area?
I have lived in Tunbridge Wells since 2007. I moved here from London and love living here. The architecture, restaurants and pubs,
the vibrancy of the area and the people helped with the decision to move here. It also reminds me in some ways of Edinburgh where I lived for some time.
Are there any nice views or walks near your home?
I am very fortunate to have the Wellington Rocks and Tunbridge Wells Common on my doorstep where I like to walk my Spanish Water dog, Ellie.
When you are in town where’s your favourite place to go shopping – and do you have any specific retailers you like to support?
I do always aim to shop locally to support our local retailers and so I love shopping in the many independent stores we have including Kitch, Wolfits (for my dog) and Camden Fruit, Veg & Deli.
Where do you like to grab a tea, coffee or a slice of cake?
I like going to The Cake Shed in
The Pantiles and if I’m at the top of the town then I head to Esquires or Basil.
Do you have a preferred restaurant you like to dine in regularly?
I enjoy eating at The Mount Edgcumbe which is near my home. It is a great place to go any time of the year and their garden is lovely. However, I also like going to TN1 and Lago.
Which places do you take people when they come to visit? There is a great selection of restaurants in the town and where we go depends on the person visiting and whether it’s for business or leisure. I like going to Thackeray’s, The Ivy and Hotel du
Vin but equally, I also enjoy taking them to places like Roddy Burger and Smith and Western. We recently took our young grandson to The Spa Valley Railway to ride on one of the steam trains to Groombridge, which he really enjoyed!
Where’s the best spot to go for a Sunday stroll in the area?
You can’t really beat the Common as it’s so handy for me, but Dunorlan Park is a nice place to visit on a sunny Sunday.
If you’re looking to relax and unwind, where’s your favourite place to go? Apart from visiting restaurants or bars, I also like to visit McQueen Hair & Beauty in Calverley Road. Their staff look after you so well and make having your hair done or getting treatments so relaxing.
Where do you like to meet friends and socialise?
There are some lovely coffee shops dotted about the town, like Basil, but I also like to meet them in the many cafés or restaurants in The Pantiles.
What do you like to do when you spend a weekend or day off in the local area?
There is such a great variety of places to visit nearby and there always seems to be a host of things going on. There are the events at The Amelia Scott, the Trinity Theatre and the many festivals down at The Pantiles.
Why do you love where you live?
I love the combination of the amenities, the people, the green areas with the array of pubs and restaurants and the architecture. I have lived here for over 15 years now and I love it!
“I am very fortunate to have the Wellington Rocks and Tunbridge Wells Common on my doorstep where I like to walk my Spanish Water dog, Ellie”Basil The Trinity Theatre Mount Edgecombe Spa Valley Railway
JE Bennett Law is an industry-leading law firm based in Tunbridge Wells. Established in 2011 by Jane Bennett and her husband Tom Beaufoy it specialises in Court of Protection Law, Power of Attorney, Personal Injury Trusts and Wills and Probate. SO magazine finds out more about this unique legal business which aims to empower those who are most vulnerable in life and enable them to move on with their lives…
Last summer Jane and Tom opened the Tunbridge Wells branch of their legal practice JE Bennett Law after establishing her own business in Sevenoaks since 2011. Having worked in London firms for many years Jane decided to launch her own so she could specialise in certain areas of the legal system.
She tells SO that she chose to specifically go into Court of Protection and vulnerable client legal work in order to represent some of society’s most vulnerable people.
“Having been a Private Client solicitor for several years, I felt the need not only to specialise but to help people who had been brain injured/catastrophically injured or who were suffering with the effects of dementia and other types of mental illness,” Jane explains.
“Court of Protection law, though niche, is not only highly specialised, but requires a wide breadth of knowledge and understanding of financial protection; health and welfare; safeguarding the vulnerable child/adult; care in the community, and the wide-ranging law that encompasses these areas.”
Following partnerships in London law firms, Jane and her husband Tom Beaufoy, decided the best way to genuinely specialise would be to set up their own law firm, which is what they did, opening a small office in Sevenoaks in 2011.
Since then the firm has grown both in terms of the number of
“JE Bennett Law acts for those who, due to events in their lives/personal trauma, are limited in their ability to manage their own financial and health/care needs”
Established in 2012, JE Bennett Law is a successful and expanding business that retains its family ownership and values.
The founder, Jane Bennett, has over 20 years’ experience as a private client lawyer, specialising in the law regarding vulnerable clients for the last 15 of those years. Prior to founding JE Bennett Law, Jane was a partner at two law firms in the City of London.
Jane is passionate about helping the vulnerable and made the decision to start her own practice to have the freedom to focus on just that. Specifically, she wanted to run a firm which could concentrate on the needs of the client and have the freedom to grow that practice without the burden of expensive overheads. Today
The JE Bennett Law team totals 30 staff, with eight partners.
The team shares Jane’s passion and pride themselves on their professionalism and empathy, offering clients real value and a truly personal service.
clients it has but also in terms of the size of its team. Jane tells SO that JE Bennett Law clients are usually sourced via personal recommendations or legal referrals.
“There are not many firms
The firm’s core business is about helping private clients on matters regarding the Court of Protection and Powers of Attorney. JE Bennett Law acts for those who, due to events in their lives/personal trauma, are limited in their ability to manage their own financial and health/care needs. It also advises their family members, who are often going through an extremely stressful time as a result of trying to fight for their loved one’s rights. This requires considerable expertise, empathy, and commitment to what is a growing and ever more complex practice area. The firm has well in excess of 200 professional deputyship clients. It also has two (of only around 60 appointed nationwide) Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) Panel Deputies.
which do only this type of work,” Jane adds.
Their move to a new office in Tunbridge Wells last summer enabled Jane and her husband Tom to focus closer to home as the couple live here but it also gave them the opportunity to get to know local firms and offer services to those in the town.
Jane states that although the firm receives referrals for clients nationally, her hope is to gradually increase local awareness of the firm and attract local families who may need assistance in this specialist field. Jane says she has already begun this process by meeting with some of the town ’s local law firms.
JE Bennett Law, which also supports the West Kent and Sevenoaks Chambers of Commerce in local events, has
JE Bennett Law has become an in-demand name as expert witness solicitors for personal injury and court of protection cases. Due to her experience and reputation in the field, founder Jane Bennett regularly acts as an expert witness for Claimant and Defendants. Typically these are with respect to catastrophic personal injury litigation cases and regarding:
The Court of Protection
The role of a professional deputy
The costs associated with running professional deputyships
also recently become a member of Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Law Societies.
“Protecting the vulnerable or injured client is a calling and the work is vocational. Aside from knowing the law, this work requires mediation skills in highly complex family dynamics, to try to unravel often deep-seated disputes/ difficulties,” Jane explains.
“There is also a need for complex decision-making in the client’s best interests. Our clients
and their families need to know we have their or their loved one’s back. That is our primary focus, to get things done and enable them to move on with their lives after traumatic events that have befallen them. In short, our entire team is committed to this goal 100%.”
The Firm: Legal 500 ranked, Lexcel Accredited, SRA regulated
Jane Bennett: Is in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame; she is individually ranked in Chambers and is an Office of the Public Guardian panel deputy.
“Court of Protection law requires a wide breadth of knowledge and understanding of financial protection; health and welfare; safeguarding the vulnerable and the wideranging law that encompasses these areas”
Soaring house prices over the last decade mean that getting a foot onto the property ladder can be very difficult for the younger generation. The average UK house price stood at £294,329 in December 2022 – that’s 74% higher than ten years previously1. Over the same period, median annual earnings have risen by only 25%2.
As a parent or grandparent, it’s only natural to want to provide financial
1 https://landregistry.data.gov.uk/app/ukhpi
support. But after a year of high inflation and stock market volatility, it’s really important to consider whether you can still afford to help out and, if so, how to gift money in a way that doesn’t undermine your own financial security.
To help you get started, here are some of the key considerations.
2 https://www.statista.com/statistics/1002964/average-full-time-annual-earnings-in-the-uk/.
Before you give any money away, it’s vital to understand how this could affect your own long-term finances and retirement prospects. The economic backdrop has changed significantly, so the financial contribution you can afford today could be very different to what you could afford 12 to 18 months ago. Day-to-day living expenses have increased considerably, and stock market volatility may mean your investments haven’t performed as well as you hoped; both of these could be putting increased pressure on your retirement savings.
The best way to understand how much you can afford to contribute to your child or grandchild’s house purchase is to speak to a financial adviser. By using cashflow modelling, they’ll demonstrate how long your money is likely to last based on your existing plans, and then show how this would be affected if you were to put money towards your child’s mortgage deposit. That way, you’ll feel more confident that any money you decide to give away won’t diminish your own financial security.
A common way of helping children or grandchildren to get onto the property ladder is to give them a lump sum of money, which they can then put towards a mortgage deposit. The simplest way to do this would be to use cash savings, although it’s important to check your savings accounts don’t charge any exit penalties.
If you don’t have enough cash savings, another option is to sell some of your investments and then gift the proceeds. Your investment manager will be able to advise on whether this is a good time to sell your investments and which holdings in your portfolio are most appropriate to sell. If you sell investments that have risen in value, you might have to pay capital gains tax (CGT) at up to 20% on the profits. You can mitigate CGT by using your annual CGT exemption, although this is being slashed from £12,300 in the 2022/23 tax year to £6,000 in 2023/24 and then £3,000 in 2024/25.
Gains on investments held inside an ISA wrapper are exempt from CGT, so selling investments in your ISA could be an alternative option. Under flexible ISA rules, it’s possible to withdraw money and then pay the same amount back in again without it affecting your ISA allowance, as long as this occurs in the same tax year. Your financial adviser will be able to explain whether this option is available to you.
If you’re coming up to retirement, you might be tempted to use your pension tax-free lump sum to help your children onto the property ladder. However, it’s really important to understand the impact that a large withdrawal could have on your pension. Taking too much money at the start of retirement could mean you have to make cutbacks in the future to avoid running out of money.
There are complex rules around how gifts are taxed. If you don’t plan ahead, you could end up leaving your children or grandchildren with a big tax bill, rather than the financial boost you were intending to provide.
Each tax year, you can give away up to £3,000 worth of gifts tax free. This is known as your annual gift exemption. Any unused annual exemption can be carried forward by one tax year, so if you didn’t use your annual exemption in the 2022/23 tax year, you could carry the whole lot forward to the 2023/24 tax year. That means a couple could potentially gift £12,000 to a child tax free in a single tax year.
If you make a gift that is bigger than your annual exemption, it is known as a ‘potentially exempt transfer’; this will be tax free as long as you live for at least another seven years. Otherwise, it could reduce your inheritance tax (IHT) nil-rate band (currently £325,000) and restrict the amount of money you can pass on to your beneficiaries tax free when you die. What’s more, if you gave away more than £325,000 in the seven years before you died, you would not only eliminate your nil-rate band, but IHT would be payable on gifts above this threshold.
An adviser can help you understand your IHT position, so that any money you put towards your child or grandchild’s first home doesn’t result in an unexpected tax bill.
If your children or grandchildren are still young, you could consider investing in a Junior ISA rather than waiting until they’re older and handing over a large lump sum. Investing little and often may feel like a more manageable way of helping children onto the property ladder. You can invest up to a maximum of £9,000 a year per child. Investment growth is tax free, meaning more of your money goes towards their future. And if you set up regular payments (such as monthly or yearly) which come out of your regular income, these will be exempt from IHT so long as your lifestyle isn’t adversely affected by the payments.
T. 01892 739580 / E. louise.shaw@brewin.co.uk brewin.co.uk/royal-tunbridge-wells
Understanding how to make a meaningful contribution to your child or grandchild’s future without undermining your own financial security isn’t always easy. A financial adviser can explain your options and advise on the best course of action for your individual circumstances, so you feel confident you’re making the right decisions for you.
The value of investments, and any income from them, can fall and you may get back less than you invested. This does not constitute tax or legal advice. Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in the future. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy. Information contained in this document is believed to be reliable and accurate, but without further investigation cannot be warranted as to accuracy or completeness.
RBC Brewin Dolphin is a trading name of Brewin Dolphin Limited. Brewin Dolphin Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Register reference number 124444) and regulated in Jersey by the Financial Services Commission. Registered Office; 12 Smithfield Street, London, EC1A 9BD. Registered in England and Wales company number: 2135876. VAT number: GB 690 8994 69
Our new video guide offers expert advice to help you navigate dementia, from initial diagnosis, to living well with the condition and self-care tips for carers. Download the guide at careuk.com/one-step-at-a-time or scan the QR code.
financial difficulty or are on certain benefits you can get help from the government to help with the funeral costs.
Ways families can reduce the costs
Families can reduce costs by selecting a lower-cost coffin; spending less on flowers; not having a limousine; or gathering at home afterwards.
Remember, a cremation is generally cheaper than a cemetery burial and memorials vary in price. Some families opt for direct burials or direct cremations, but as nobody attends these services, it is important to have a family discussion to consider other ways to hold a memorial gathering.
What happens if there is no money?
If the deceased left insufficient funds, there is no family, or no one willing to pay for a funeral then a basic attended service is paid for by the local authority where the death occurred in the community, or by the hospital trust if the death was in hospital.
How can a funeral director help?
It’s a conversation you might not be eager to have, but it’s an unavoidable fact of life – and, if addressed, can save your loved ones a lot of emotional and financial stress. Simon and Rebecca Welham – the father and daughter team behind Welham Jones Funerals and Memorials –guide you through the costs of dying and ways you and your family can budget…
The average cost of a funeral
For many of us, the thought of planning for the cost of our funeral is a topic left avoided. However, in Sun Life’s recent report, ‘The Cost of Dying 2023’, the average cost of a basic funeral in the UK last year was £3,953, and the average ‘cost of dying’ (total cost of a funeral and optional extras, including a wake or party) had risen to £9,200. For most of us, this is the kind of sum that is much more palatable when it is planned for.
What costs are involved?
There are five parts to the overall cost of a funeral: the funeral director’s service charges; the coffin; the ‘on the day’ charges (such as musicians, order of service, floral tributes); additional items (such as embalming, horsedrawn hearse, headstones); and those of third parties such as the doctors for signing a cremation form, someone to officiate, as well as the crematorium, church or cemetery.
There are several ways that a funeral can be paid for. Some people put away savings or make investments, while others
take out a life insurance policy. Some set up a pre-payment plan with a regulated funeral plan provider.
However, you can always come to us with a budget and we will tailor a service to your circumstances.
Does anyone regulate the funeral industry?
Yes and no. The funeral industry is self-regulated through codes of practice established by the National Association of Funeral Directors and the National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors. In 2021 a Competition and Markets Authority order was put into law requiring funeral directors and crematorium operators to make prices clear for customers, or risk court action.
Funeral Planning, however, is a regulated activity overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Who is liable to pay the cost of a funeral?
Funeral expenses are considered the responsibility of the deceased and are usually dealt with in a person’s will. Where there is no will, legal advice should be sought.
As funeral expenses are
permitted to be paid from a deceased person’s estate before the grant of probate – provided there are sufficient liquid funds – the deceased’s bank can be invoiced directly to settle the account. However, the person signing the papers at the funeral directors enters into a formal contract and takes responsibility for settling the account, so it is important to understand this and tell the funeral director how the account is to be settled before signing. This is usually a member of the family, be they the executor, or a solicitor acting as executor.
Who can get help with funeral costs?
If you, as the person responsible for the funeral account, are facing
At Welham Jones, we are an authorised representative of Ecclesiastical Funeral Planning, a regulated pre-payment plan provider, with whom you can make a one-off payment towards your funeral or pay by instalments. These plans usually include directions for your funeral giving family members guidance on what you would have wanted.
To help our families, we have created packages of commonly combined service elements with clear prices, with options to suit all tastes and budgets. Alternatively, you might choose a bespoke service; you can always ask us for a no-obligation quote.
Understanding your options
Whatever your personal circumstances, speaking with your funeral director is a good place to start when planning what type of funeral you would like, and whether it is affordable.
Leaving clear information about your wishes can make the whole process easier for family members and relieve them of financial decisions at an emotional time.
“Your funeral director is a good place to start when planning what type of funeral you would like”
“There are five elements to the overall cost of a funeral”
Knowle Grange Health Spa in Wadhurst is currently undergoing an impressive development, which will see both its existing health and holistic offerings enhanced, and also include a new state of the art gym, kitchen and café.
Eileen Leahy met its owner and director Carol Barazzone (pictured below) for an exclusive tour to discover more…
Winding carefully down the leafy lanes from Frant to Wadhurst, a sign suddenly appears on my left promoting Knowle Grange Health Spa.
I slow down and drive into the parking area of this charming converted country house, that was once part of the grand Knowle estate just next door and is today a hive of activity. There are diggers, concrete mixers and builders all over the place. The latter are busy walking in and out of a very smart, newly erected barn-style building to the right of the main property carrying bundles of cable wires, flooring and general construction
paraphernalia. It would seem there’s lots of exciting development going on at this spa which first opened in 1998.
I head towards the reception area and am greeted by one of Knowle Grange’s extremely friendly beauty therapists who then guides me towards a sunfilled kitchen in the adjoining private house in which I find the spa’s owner and director Carol Barazzone.
“Welcome to Knowle Grange,” she smiles and immediately offers me a cup of coffee.
The first thing the business entrepreneur tells me as we sit down to chat in her kitchen –which is currently doubling up as
a prep space while work is being carried out in the new barn – is that she never imagined she’d find herself running a health spa.
“I picked up a copy of the Evening Standard and saw an advert in it for a property for sale in Sussex. It piqued my interest because of its beautiful gardens but also because it said it was a private residence with a health spa. Two of my daughters also live in the county of Sussex – one in Brighton and one in Hove – and although they are nowhere near here when I saw this property I just fell in love with it.”
Carol reveals that was back in 2019 and before putting her home on the market and taking the plunge to buy Knowle Grange she did a lot of research into the area and Tunbridge Wells and decided that she liked what she found very much.
“That was in August 2020, and amazingly even though we were in and out of lockdowns due to
Covid, there were no bumps in the road. My house sold quickly and this purchase was pretty stress-free too.”
Having worked in finance in the City for her whole professional life, Carol readily admits that she had no experience whatsoever in running health clubs or spas and has therefore had a lot to learn along the way. But with the help of her 12 regular staff who run the gym, beauty spa and general hospitality side of the business, she has learnt a lot in a relatively short space of time.
“When I got here I just loved the gorgeous gardens.” She goes on to say that she and her loyal gardeners, who have tended the land here for around 20 years, were determined to bring back the outdoor space to its former glory. And what a job they have done! Not only have they breathed life into a neglected small kitchen garden, which is located behind a newly built private spa salon, they
“We head into another stunning garden area which has a natural spring water swimming pool and also boasts a beautiful folly which is currently festooned in pretty wisteria”
knowlegrange.co.uk
have also salvaged an ailing yet delightful Victorian greenhouse, designed by legendary 19thcentury horticulturalist John Weeks, where they have planted all manner of vines, clematis and fruit trees.
“The idea is we can eventually source ingredients to serve in our new café which is currently being built. We will also have a lovely terrace where our members and day guests can enjoy lunch or afternoon tea,” explains Carol.
We head over from the huge greenhouse towards the 12 metrelong outdoor pool, which is filled with natural spring water and boasts a clever telescopic enclosure so it can be used in all seasons. Just by the swimming pool is a beautiful folly which is currently festooned in pretty wisteria and is just one of the areas in which you can enjoy a treatment – whether that’s a massage or a manicure.
Knowle Grange also boasts a number of other relaxation areas which are great if you are going along as a group of friends on a spa day and want a little bit more exclusivity. These are very popular with hen parties Carol says, and the good news is you don’t need to be a member to avail of them.
As we continue strolling through even more gorgeous gardens towards the new barn, Carol tells me that she has employed the services of Ruby’s of London to supply her new café’s cakes and savoury treats. They will be sourced from the bakery’s Tunbridge Wells HQ on Monson Road.
Carol also says that the new gym, which will be in the same building as the café, will be equipped with state-of-the-art, multitasking fitness equipment and that there will be a number of unique exercise classes to choose
Here are a few of the types of spa packages available at Knowle Grange:
Your choice of a dreamy Hot Stone Massage or a Warm Candle Massage enhanced with a 15-minute Indian Head Massage.
YUMMY MUMMY
Enjoy a relaxing Divine Back Massage or a Express D-Vine Facial. You can also choose a Heavenly Hands Manicure or a Feet So Neat Pedicure.
This unique spa treatment begins with an invigorating Caudalie Crushed Cabernet back scrub to remove impurities. A Fleur de Vigne Warm Candle Massage will follow, soothing tension from tight muscles of the back, neck and shoulders. Leaves skin feeling silky smooth and hydrated. A 60-minute facial, tailored to your specific skin concerns, including an acupressure point scalp massage, completes this wonderful experience.
Choose your own individual treatments (minimum 1 hour of treatments per person) to create your personal spa day experience.
from, once the barn is officially opened later this month.
“We want to offer our existing members and anyone who is on our waiting list something that’s just a little bit different.”
Currently Knowle Grange’s gym is housed in the main part of the property but this, Carol says, will eventually become the lounge area of the beauty treatment side of the business, which offers Caudalie skincare treatments and also houses a plunge pool and sauna. The boutique establishment’s steam room can be found in Knowle Grange’s smart new changing area which is located in one part of the extensive gardens presumably so guests can quite literally feel at one with nature.
In addition to all that, Knowle Grange also offers its members the services of a qualified osteopath, Timm Smith, from The Back Pain Project who is operating on site.
“I’m also very keen to offer things like Reformer Pilates,” adds Carol.
Although there is a lot of change and development currently happening in this stunning part of the East Sussex countryside, just a few minutes’ drive from Tunbridge
Wells, Carol explains that this does not mean that she and her team will waiver from delivering a very personal spa experience.
“We are looking to increase our membership quota, which is currently 150, but taking care of
course to ensure that the club is not in any way crowded. We want to maintain the ethos of being able to escape here – whether that’s to tone up or simply relax in an atmosphere that is both friendly and private.”
“We don’t want to get too big as we want to maintain that ethos of being able to escape here”
As we enter through the doors of TN1 Bar and Kitchen on Monson Street on a chilly spring evening we are warmly greeted by owners Murat and Tess Askin. They are gracious and hospitable, and Murat shows us to our table tucked in a corner. The restaurant, contemporary and comfortable, is buzzing with patrons. TN1, it seems, is a popular place to be on a Thursday night. Even the outdoor courtyard is busy...
Inside, a man strums on his guitar, and it takes me a good few minutes to realise the music is live. I’m delighted: dinner and a show! He is playing all my 80s and 90s favourites - my partner and I immediately feel at home. The restaurant is humming with people of all ages: young groups of friends celebrating birthdays; families with children still in high-chairs; friends getting together for a bite after work and couples, like us, getting together after a long day
to reconnect. TN1, clearly offers something for everyone.
To set the mood for the evening, we started with cocktails. It’s worth noting that from 5pm-7pm on Mondays to Thursdays you can have 2 for £12. I chose a Royal G&T - so named as it uses the local Bath Tub Gin. It was served with a light tonic, some orange peel and a sprinkling of juniper berries, and delivered a well-balanced yet palate-cleansing jumpstart. My partner opted for the Pantiles Spritz which boasted strawberry gin, schnapps, lemon juice, white grape and apricot soda. It was sweet, playful and definitely moreish.
When it comes to starters on offer at TN1 there are so many options to choose from. Specials that evening included Fresh Pacific Oysters served with shallots, vinaigrette and tabasco, and Soft Shell Crab with avocado salsa, chilli and spring onion dressing. We opted for the grilled King Prawns, which were served shell off with
garlic, chilli, soy and spring onion dressing, and the Moules Mariniere served with a classic white wine, garlic and cream sauce and a hint of thyme. Presented in an steaming terrine with slices of home-made bread, the mussels were not only sea-fresh, but cooked to perfection. The prawns were juicy yet firm with a harmony of aromatic flavours that left my partner beyond delighted. The starter portions were incredibly generous, so it felt appropriate to take a little break between our courses – and TN1 is the perfect place to kick back and relax. Offering regular music nights, the restaurant puts up an impressive array of musical talent throughout the week that sets the atmosphere for a great night out.
To complement our meal, we chose to drink a Rosapasso Rosé from Biscardo Italy. It was smooth on the palate with notes of fresh strawberry and cherry and the
detail that makes it a must-visit, says Michelle Wood
“Specials included Fresh Pacific Oysters served with shallots, vinaigrette and tabasco, and Soft Shell Crab with avocado salsa, chilli and spring onion dressing”
perfect accompaniment to our delicious mains.
On that front, my partner chose the treacle-cured pork belly with crackling and pickled savoy cabbage, while I couldn’t resist the 12oz sirloin steak which was served with a grilled tomato, field mushroom, peppercorn sauce and chips. Again, each dish was expertly cooked. After finishing we both agreed that the culinary flair and attention to detail employed in the kitchen at TN1 is what really sets it apart. It’s no wonder the establishment, which is located on Monson Road and opened in May 2021, recently won Best in Food and Drink at the Times Business Awards.
Still, the highlight of the evening was yet to come: the insanely decadent Homemade Apple Crumble, which we shared, along
with a Brandy Coffee Courvoisier. This homemade crumble tart, paired with spiced apples made the perfect end to our evening.
As the musician picked his way through Prince’s ‘Raspberry Beret’, we reluctantly got up to leave. On our way out, we thanked Murat and Tess and headed into the evening; our hearts and bellies full, knowing that we will return again. TN1 Bar and Kitchen is both literally and physically at the heart of Tunbridge Wells’ foodie scene and is definitely a must-visit for anyone who hasn’t discovered it yet.
TN1 Bar and Kitchen, 33 Monson Rd, is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 12am, Sunday 9am to 9pm, phone 01892 513900 or visit tn1barkitchen.co.uk
“The culinary flair and attention to detail employed in the kitchen at TN1 is what really sets it apart”
The Chequers in Lamberhurst is well known for its fantastic Sunday roasts – the busy kitchen at this 15th Century pub dishes up over 200 of them most weekends. But it’s also the perfect spot for a light lunch, weekday dinner or for a quick pit stop pint as Eileen Leahy discovered after sampling its inventive and super seasonal menu and warm welcome…
As country pubs go The Chequers in Lamberhurst certainly ticks all the right boxes. The 15thC inn is situated in the heart of this picturesque village, which lies right on the borders of Kent and East Sussex. Impressive in size and with lots of nooks and crannies to enjoy a quiet pint or host a special Sunday lunch with friends and family, this is an establishment that can easily cater for all manner of customers and their preferences. I have to admit that before
visiting The Chequers last month in order to review it for SO magazine I had never had the honour of stepping over its historic threshold but after spending a couple of hours in its delightful company I shall certainly be returning on a regular basis.
The first thing that struck me when I arrived was its size. It’s a big old beast with a number of dining areas, a traditional snug bar, an outbuilding which you can hire for private events and a most pleasant beer garden, which backs onto a tranquil stream. It’s
certainly the perfect spot to sip a summertime sundowner and let the cares of the day ebb away.
Once my guest and I have stepped inside this picture perfect period pub we’re greeted by Helen, its friendly manager who’s been behind the bar chatting away to lunchtime locals. She shows us to our table and I am impressed by the gorgeous way this historic pub has kept its ancient charm but also been brought right into the 21st century courtesy of its stylish racing green interiors which are punctuated with hits of pink paint,
“We like to keep things super seasonal and work with as much local produce as we can”
funky soft furnishings, quirky pieces of art and statement lighting. So far, so impressive…
We’re handed our menus and asked if we’d like something to drink. “I can highly recommend one of our local gins,” enthuses
Helen who tells us she has carefully curated an outstanding collection – most of which are hyper local –over the past couple of years. They include Birch Gin and Mousehall, both from nearby Wadhurst as well as Chapel Down Pinot Noir Gin and Ranscombe Wild Small Batch Gin from the Maidstone Distillery. By now the venue’s head chef Caroline (pictured left) has come out to introduce herself and talk us through today’s menu which she explains changes more or less every three weeks. “We like to keep things super seasonal and work with as much local produce as we can. All our fish comes from Sankey’s and our meat is from Fullers. But I also forage a lot too.”
This is evident in the first of our trio of starters: golden, lightly battered courgette fritters which come served with an outrageously tasty wild garlic mayo to dip them in. Oh my! Every bite is a pure delight and I could have happily feasted on just this. But we contain ourselves as next up we are treated to a portion of pulled pork ‘bon bons’. These deep fried nuggets of smoky goodness are presented with a smooth, sweet apple purée compote which, when the two are combined, is nothing short of perfection, not just in terms of taste but texture too. Finally we are served an exquisitely presented plate of delicately gin-cured slivers of salmon, accompanied by hunks of fresh sourdough and the most delicious pickled cucumber and heritage carrots.The dish is finished off with a flourish of fennel, crème fraiche and edible pretty Nasturtium flowers.
Helen clears our plates, which have been scraped clean, and
“This historic pub has kept its ancient charm but also been brought right into the 21st century courtesy of its funky interiors” asks if we’d like to have a glass of another local offering: this time a Chapel Down Lamberhurst Estate Bacchus. Having passed by the vineyard en route to The Chequers it would seem churlish not to. Caroline reappears and gives the choices available for our mains – the enticingly entitled ‘Devour’ part of the menu.
She explains they have an ever changing ‘Fisherman’s Plate’ and a ‘Huntsman’s Plate’ which basically means they will put on whatever fresh fish or meat of the day they have ordered in. Today’s choice is either a seabream or guinea fowl, which Caroline says is pan fried
and served with charred hipsi cabbage and creamy mash. My guest and I both agree this sounds delicious and agree that it’s best to be a little adventurous when dining out. After all, why have something you might cook at home during the week when you could easily set your tastebuds off on an epic culinary journey? We opt to share the guinea fowl which is expertly cooked and oh so tender. The mash is buttery yet incredibly light and the charred hipsi cabbage is a revelation: it’s so tasty done this way we find ourselves duelling forks towards the end! Of course you don’t have to push yourself out of your culinary comfort zone if you don’t want to as The Chequers caters for all types of tastes and budgets which means you’ll find fish and chips, steak and burgers on the menu, alongside lighter bites like sandwiches, Welsh Rarebit and devilled whitebait. And judging by Caroline’s deft culinary touch – and some of the plates we see going out to other customers - all of these are bound to have just that little bit of extra special magic added to them.
Tastebuds – and tums – completely full we decide that a dessert each might be stretching it on a Wednesday lunchtime when we have to return to work and be productive. It’s a shame because they sound divine. There are classics such as chocolate brownie with honeycomb ice cream and baked cheesecake with blueberries on offer, or you could go for something just a little different like chargrilled pineapple with vegan ice cream. Oh well, next time...
8th June Open Mic Night: Bring your guitar or voice and have a jam.
(This event will take place on the second Thursday of each month)
18th June Father’s Day: Treat your dad to a delicious lunch on his special day.
19th June English wine week: Raise a glass to some of our brilliant local wineries.
21st June Quiz Night: This fun event takes place on the third Wednesday evening of each month.
1st July – The Chequers Birthday & Family Fun Day: Roll up, roll up and help us celebrate by participating in our adults’ tug of war, face painting, egg and spoon race, treasure hunt and BBQ in the evening.
8th July – Quack Quack: We are hosting a duck race and we will also have live music on in the evening.
26th - 27th The Chequers charity weekend: Don’t miss this very special event which includes a barn dance at 3pm and a delicious BBQ. This is a ticketed event at £30per person. A percentage of the proceeds will go to Hospice in the Weald, Cancer Research and Lamberhurst Village Hall’s refurbishment. There will also be a live band in the evening of August 26.
www.chequerslamberhurst.com
Big occasions call for extra-special celebrations and if you’re planning your next big do, then let the experts at One Warwick Park be your guide to choosing the perfect venue…
The events team at One Warwick Park organise and host an average of around 150 parties each year.
Overseen by expert planners Karen and Austra, they certainly know how to organise a successful bash – whether that’s a networking breakfast or celebratory drinks with colleagues.
Ideal for charity galas, weddings and lavish award ceremonies, the team tell us the hotel’s Function Room can accommodate 180 guests and has a stunning adjoining bar, vaulted ceilings, 15-foot arched windows and
gleaming white walls, providing the perfect blank canvas to experiment with decorations.
But if themes aren’t your thing, then Karen advises you to pay special attention to the existing decor inside the venue if you want to give your event the wow factor.
“Quirky and luxurious interiors are a great way to do this and make your evening memorable, without having to splash out on decorations.”
In addition to the Function Room, One Warwick Park also has lots of other spaces for guests - each with its own unique
characteristics for a ready-to-go celebration, like the art-decoinspired lounge bar.
The cosy space can accommodate up to 45 people and is dominated by bright colours, striking floral walls and plush velvet seating ideal for stylish and intimate celebrations.
“The Bar is popular with hen parties and birthdays for this very reason. It’s the perfect choice for smaller groups. Our Terrace Bar is also a much-loved favourite too,” she adds.
Boasting sleek interiors of mirror-plated walls that flood the space with light, The Terrace Bar is suited for up to 18 guests.
It’s great for family reunions or engagements, with large sliding doors that frame the views of the outdoor terrace which provides extra space for summertime drinking. There’s even a wellstocked marble bar popular for cocktail-making classes!
“We always recommend some
form of entertainment for any event – it makes the evening memorable and breaks the ice between guests,” Karen explains. “As well as offering cocktail classes, we also work with recommended suppliers including DJs, photobooth hire and live singers.”
To take advantage of One Warwick Park, its fabulous function spaces, and its expert events team, you can email sales@onewarwickpark.co.uk
Looking for the perfect party venue? Then you’re in luck because One Warwick Park is hosting their biggest giveaway ever worth over £1800! To enter, head over to Instagram (@onewarwickpark) and follow the instructions on the pinned post to be in with the chance of winning free venue hire plus a beautiful balloon display from The Glitzy Balloon Company! Celebrate in the hotel’s stunning Function Room with complimentary welcome drinks and photography, before ending the night with a free overnight stay. Enter by 12pm on Friday, June 23 before the winner is announced at 7pm. Good luck! T&Cs apply and can be found at onewarwickpark.co.uk
“If party themes aren’t your thing, then pay special attention to the venue’s existing decor to give your event the wow factor”
This month our fashion expert Charlotte Newman reveals the must-have resortwear brands to have on your radar for 2023…
As summer approaches, it is time to update your wardrobe with resortwear pieces that are perfect for those sunny beach vacations or poolside lounging. Here we profile four brands that are worth keeping an eye out for. From maxi kaftans to vibrant, floaty dresses, these labels offer unique and stylish options to elevate your holiday wardrobe this summer…
Melissa Odabash is renowned for her timeless and sophisticated resortwear designs. The brand cleverly combines comfort and luxury, ensuring you look effortlessly chic wherever you go. For those lazy days by the pool, Melissa Odabash’s swimsuits are a must-have. They feature flattering cuts and highquality fabrics that hug your curves
in all the right places. Pair them with a lightweight kaftan or coverup to complete your elegant beach ensemble.
If you are in search of bohemianinspired resortwear, look no further than Devotion Twins. The brand encapsulates a laid-back and free-spirited aesthetic, perfect for beach lovers. Their collections are characterised by breezy silhouettes, romantic prints and exquisite embroidery. Their signature lightweight cotton dresses and kaftans are perfect for hot summer days, providing both comfort and style. Wear over a bikini or as standalone pieces for a super chic look.
For those who love vibrant colours
“The brand encapsulates a laid-back and free-spirited aesthetic, perfect for beach lovers” www.kitchclothing.co.uk @kitch_clothing
and playful patterns, Farm Rio is the go-to brand for resortwear. Known for their joyful and tropical prints, Farm Rio captures the essence of a Brazilian summer. Their collections feature eye-catching maxi and mini dresses that effortlessly blend comfort with bold fashion statements. From vibrant florals to exotic animal prints, Farm Rio’s pieces will make you stand out from the crowd and embrace the summer spirit.
Greek Archaic Kori is a brand that seamlessly blends modern style with traditional Greek craftsmanship. Their resortwear pieces are inspired by ancient Greek motifs, featuring flowing silhouettes
and delicate detailing. Their dresses and cover-ups exude an ethereal quality, making them perfect for beach clubs or a sunset dinner. With a focus on quality materials and meticulous craftsmanship, Greek Archaic Kori offers holiday pieces that are both timeless and culturally significant.
At Kitch the team has curated a selection of brands who are leading the way with their distinctive styles and exceptional designs. They offer a diverse range of resortwear pieces to suit your every style preference. Embrace the summer season with these top brands and elevate your vacation wardrobe to new heights of style and comfort.
This month, Jamie Edney, who runs designer eyewear boutique Edney & Edney with his optometrist wife Ayshah on Monson Road, talks to in-house specialist Antonio Vas Falcao about the hearing services they also offer…
We have been providing clients with our inhouse hearing for some time now. Our resident audiologist, Antonio Vas Falcao, thought our monthly column in SO would be a great medium to highlight ‘Aural health’ and the importance of early detection and intervention of hearing loss.
which is a deterioration of our eyesight with age, presbycusis is the deterioration of our hearing with age, caused by the associated wear and tear that comes with it. Presbycusis is often associated with the deterioration of certain pitches that we hear, rather than not hearing at all. This is why a lot of people with hearing loss claim to hear most things, but it is the
up on you. Often wearing away at one’s hearing, a negligible amount every day for several years, forcing other senses to
important thing you can do is to seek professional advice. Speaking to your GP or booking in with an audiologist to have a hearing assessment is a great way to identify any hearing loss creeping in. Studies have indicated that early intervention with hearing aids has shown to provide the maximum benefit through continuous stimulation of the auditory pathways, as well as the auditory cortex in the brain. This avoids deprivation and further deterioration of the pathways. Additionally, untreated hearing loss has recently been identified as a potential risk factor for dementia (Further information on Alzheimers.org.uk). However, this link is still being studied, and is not to say that the former definitely causes the latter.
“The onset of hearing loss caused by presbycusis is often imperceptible and can go unnoticed”
se sunscreen every day’ is the ultimate skincare commandment.
Dermatologists and beauty buffs alike agree that protecting your face from harmful UV rays – while simultaneously preventing wrinkles – should be a priority for everyone.
“Skin is the body’s first line of defence from everyday external aggressors which damage your skin such as UV rays,” says Prof Christian Aldridge, consultant dermatologist for LifeJacket Skin Protection.
“The damage from these can have cosmetic, physical and longterm health consequences. At best, it can age your skin and cause you discomfort but at worst, can give you a skin disease you really don’t want.”
That’s why daily protection of your skin is critical, particularly on those areas that are exposed to the sun regularly, such as your face. But in spite of all the warnings we receive, the message isn’t getting through to everyone.
A new survey from LifeJacket and Melanoma UK found that 10% of respondents rarely use SPF, while one in 20 says they never use it.
To make it more likely you’ll stick to a daily habit, finding a product you love can be a huge help – attempting to rub a thick, chalky cream into your skin is not the answer.
The good news is, facial sunblocks have come a long way,
and there’s a whole new batch of lightweight but effective lotions, serums and gels that are a delight to use – and many of them are under the £20 mark.
“To adequately protect your face, I recommend 5ml (about a teaspoon) of SPF of at least 30 every day,” says Aldridge.
“Especially during the months of April to September, to ensure longterm skin protection. Application should be repeated if outside for long periods or undertaking exercising in the light.”
1. The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid Dewy Sunscreen, £14.99, LookFantastic
Fast becoming a must-have among ‘skintellectuals’, this light fluid is formulated with a trio of ultra-hydrating ingredients: polyglutamic acid, squalane and glycerin.
Designed to prevent any white cast (no matter how dark your skin tone), this dewy-finish fluid is what you need if you’re after the trendy ‘glazed donut’ skin look.
2. Skin Proud Serious Shade Lightweight Hydrating SPF 50+ Skin Serum, £16.95
Intended to provide a smooth base for make-up with no white cast, Skin Proud’s first sunscreen comes with extra benefits: ceramides to protect the skin barrier and cherry extract for a
Skin Proud Serious Shade Lightweight Hydrating SPF 50+ Skin Serum, £16.95
vitamin C boost.
3. Eucerin Sun Face Hydro Protect
Fluid SPF 50+, £20, Boots
The newest face sunblock in Eucerin’s high-tech line-up not only protects against UVA and UVB rays, it boosts skin repair with glycyrrhetinic acid, and the nongreasy fluid is fast-absorbing.
4. Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Mineral SPF30, £28
If you prefer a mineral suncreen that provides a physical barrier on the skin (as opposed to chemical, where it works below the surface), Ole Henriksen’s Banana Bright is an excellent option.
The zinc oxide-based formula also contains vitamin C to increase skin luminosity over time and banana powder-inspired pigments to add instant brightness.
5. Chanel UV Essentiel, £48
The newly reformulated UV Essentiel provides SPF50 protection alongside a duo of skin-strengthening extracts – blue ginger and Tahitian gardenia –to guard against pollution and premature ageing.
6. LifeJacket Daily Protection Moisturiser, £19.99
A great all-rounder, LifeJacket’s fragrance-free face cream provides factor 30 protection and hydrates with glycerin.
We are loving: Olverum’s Pure Radiance Facial Oil
As soon as you apply a couple of small drops of this divine facial oil onto your skin not only does your face feel instantly smoother you also feel more energised too. The reason is thanks to Olverum Pure Radiance oil’s aromatic fragrance - which is made up of a plethora of natural botanicals including rosehip and patchouli –which is an olfactory treat. Best applied at night so it can really get to work on cleansed skin, this heavenly holistic product is suitable for all skin types and helps to reduce the appearance of pores, plump fine lines and calm any niggly irritation issues. Make sure you massage it well into the skin so it can help trigger that all important cell renewal which keeps your complexion looking radiant and youthful. I often apply a tiny bit before adding my regular moisturiser in the morning to give my skin an extra boost on the days it needs it.
Olverum Pure Radiance Facial Oil, £60 (15ml) available at SpaceNK and overum.com
With the sun showing up more often these days we need to protect our skin daily with a good quality SPF. Katie Wright picks her top ten that your skin will love…
Damree who not only taught her about the revolutionary Vivace technique but also about the benefits of using powerful ASCE Exosome ingredients which stimulate the skin cells to produce up to 600% more collagen in treated areas and boosts elastin levels by 300%.
She also works with the awardwinning EXoSCRT Exosome which is dubbed the most powerful in the world.
This groundbreaking Exosome treatment is something Maryna is now offering as an unique treatment in her own clinic as well as the Harley Street one she regularly works in alongside the revered maxillofacial surgeon Mr Darryl Coombs who also pioneered the famous Apex facelift.
There’s a revolutionary skincare treatment creating a buzz in the world of aesthetics and one clinic, Retreat Aesthetics, here in Tunbridge Wells has the exclusive rights on the groundbreaking Exosomes facial. Here its founder Maryna Cole
Maryna Cole is a qualified aesthetician who runs her successful clinic, Retreat Aesthetics, at One Warwick Park Hotel. Since launching two years ago, Maryna has been committed to offering her clients the most exclusive, sustainable and regenerative aesthetic skincare treatments available on the market courtesy of her exclusive partnership with the Vivace brand and expert training.
Having worked in the beauty industry for a decade, notably running the Tunbridge Wells branch of Champneys, she decided to retrain as an aesthetician because she wanted to work at the forefront of the aesthetics industry.
“I spent a long time doing my research to find the best products out there to enhance my work and eventually discovered the Vivace Experience; an award-winning, revolutionary treatment which uses micro needling and radio frequency to tighten and brighten ageing or traumatised skin,” she explains.
“It took me about a year to find this treatment as I wanted it to be both sustainable and regenerative.”
Maryna says she was trained by industry expert Dr Shameema
“Exosomes are an ideal maintenance treatment after someone has had a facelift as well as other facial aesthetic plastic surgical procedures,” Maryna continues.
“The Exosome regenerative complex will accentuate the results
Maryna Cole explains the benefits of Exosomes:
• Exosomes are amazing, tiny extracellular vesicles secreted by cells. They have gained huge attention in the field of skincare due to their benefits on the skin.
• Exosomes are a breakthrough product making them fairly new and rare in the aesthetic industry.
• Think of Exosomes as a soldier-like force battling against ‘outside to inside factors’ which cause skin ageing and more importantly skin conditions and inflammation. All the exosomes want is for your skin to be protected from outside influences, which increase signs of ageing.
• The Exosomes promote skin regeneration by stimulating proliferation and migration of skin cells. They enhance the production of collagen and elastin, which are essential for your skin to be happy, firm and healthy, leading to improved skin texture and a more youthful appearance.
“The confidence my patients have after the surgery and Maryna’s treatments is what makes me happy”
tells Eileen Leahy all about this exciting development in the war on looking younger…
“The benefits of using powerful ASCE Exosome ingredients, which stimulate the skin cells, means they produce up to 600% more collagen in treated areas and boosts elastin levels by 300%”FACE VALUE: Aesthecian Maryna Cole and surgeon Mr Darryl Coombes
Exosomes in a nutshell:
• The advantages for skin will be improved elasticity and firmness, and they should be very good for post-procedure recovery from lasers and more invasive procedures.
• Exosomes get your own cells to respond, rejuvenate and of course correct [pigmentation], they also have incredible inflammatory properties which help with acne, rosacea, psoriasis and much more.
of your facelift by rejuvenating the skin of the face and neck.
Exosomes have the ability to regenerate the skin by stimulating the skin cells to produce up to 600% more collagen and 300% more elastin, thereby increasing the thickness of the dermis.”
Maryna says the fundamental results of the Exosome treatment are improvement in the skin’s elasticity, an overall firming effect and that holy grail: visibly younger looking skin.
“In addition, ASCE Exosomes have the ability to downregulate the melanocytes (pigment cells in the skin), to correct pigmentation and create a more radiant and flawless skin, as well as reducing any skin inflammation and redness,” she adds.
The ASCE Exosome Regenerative Complex, which is currently taking the beauty and aesthetics world by storm is only available locally at Maryna’s clinic here in Tunbridge Wells. Available in only a few clinics in London alongside that of Mr Coombe’s, the Exosomes treatment is sought after because it also has a high
growth factors, amino acids and minerals to provide hydration and anti-ageing benefits.
“I guess you could say they are a more evolved and purified version of stem cells and are therefore highly effective. I would say that Exosomes have revolutionised my clinic.”
Maryna further explains that Exosomes work hand in hand with the skin’s stem cells in that they are signalling ambassadors and although they are around 1/800th the size of a cell they have the ability to awaken and stimulate the skin, which in simple terms helps to slow down the ageing process.
“In the industry we also consider Exosomes as an effective new treatment for Atopic Dermatitis, as it targets skin barrier repair. I also use Exosomes-based regenerative aesthetics as therapeutics to get better healing for the skin and scalp.
“To give you an example: Atopic Dermatitis is one of the most common chronic inflammatory skin disorders worldwide. It affects people of all ages and ethnicities and is the leading cause of the global burden of skin conditions. One out of three people are affected and this number is rising. Skin barrier abnormalities are the cause of early Atopic Dermatitis which then result in inflammation of the skin.”
In addition to the regular treatments available at her Retreat Aesthetics clinic, Maryna can now offer the revolutionary 5 Billion EXO Skin Support too. It was in fact her mentor Dr Damree, who first launched this particular facial treatment at the Urban Retreat in Knightsbridge in January 2023.
“For this treatment I utilise a multi award winner micro needling and radio frequency (RF) device, the Vivace RF with an impressive 5 billion ASCE plus Exosomes layered in between the passes,” states Maryna.
“After a consultation and assessment of my patient’s face, I contour and tighten the chin area, jowls and upper face with the hi-tech device. I also use a medical LED light for a better
efficiency of the treatment. I do five different passes with the machine at various depths, so the skin is ultra-receptive. Between each pass I apply an Exosome gel. Due to the device’s RF regeneration properties, the downtime is minimal. It leaves the skin tightened, lifted and glowing from the get go.”
Having already experienced one of these incredible cutting-edge treatments I can personally testify that you can see the benefits of the treatments immediately. The results are, quite simply, fantastic.
“I have been lucky enough to treat some wonderful people and I am very proud to call them my patients,” smiles Maryna. “Readers can have a look at some of my case studies on Retreat Aesthetic’s social media pages for further proof.”
How many Exosome treatments would Maryna advise havingand does this figure differ if she is working with patients after their surgery?
“It really does depend on what we discuss in the patient’s consultation and what I discover during the assessment. However in my professional opinion a series of five appointments is when my patients see the best results.
“The fact some patients may have had surgery does not limit them in any way and they will still see the benefits of our Exosome treatment in the same way that any
other patient would.”
Mr Coombes, who is also a specialist in mouth, jaw, ear and nose facial surgery, adds that the pair are hoping to roll out their partnership to other clinics.
“We are planning to offer Maryna’s post-surgical facial treatments elsewhere in the country,” he reveals.
“The confidence my patients have after the surgery and Maryna’s treatments is what makes me happy. There is that thing of being potentially able to change someone’s life…but I also enjoy the challenge of it and giving people the best results possible.”
“The thing I like about working with Darryl is that he’s genuine and has integrity,” concludes Maryna. “I am happy I can bring something to his work as Exosomes are an ideal maintenance treatment post facelift and other facial aesthetic plastic surgical procedures. The Exosome regenerative complex ill accentuate the results of your facelift by rejuvenating the skin of the face and neck.”
So if you’re looking to regenerate your skin or improve the condition of your hair as it ages then this wonder product ASCE Exosomes is the answer – and the good news is you can avail of it right here on the doorstep in Tunbridge Wells…
CONTACT DETAILS
One Warwick Park Hotel 1 Warwick Park Royal Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TA
@retreataesthetics
www.retreataesthetics.com
The key benefits of using Exosomes on the skin:
1. Cellular Communication –Exosomes facilitate intercellular communication by transferring bioactive molecules such as proteins, lipids and nucleic acid between cells. When applied topically to the skin Exosomes can transfer these beneficial molecules to skin cells promoting cellular signalling and rejuvenation.
2. Skin Regeneration –Exosomes have been found to promote skin regeneration and enhance the production of collagen and elastin, which are essential for maintaining skin elasticity and firmness, leading to improved skin texture and a youthful appearance.
3. Anti-Inflammatory Effects – Exosomes possess antiinflammatory properties and can modulate the immune response in the skin. They can help reduce inflammation caused by various skin conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis. By calming inflammation, exosomes may contribute to the overall health and appearance of the skin.
4. Enhanced Skin Barrier Function – The skin barrier plays a crucial role in maintaining hydration and protecting the skin from external stressors. Exosomes, these wonderful things, have been shown to strengthen the skin barrier function by promoting the production of ceramides, lipids that help retain moisture and fortify our skin’s protective barrier. This hopefully leads to improved hydration and protection against environmental damage.
5. Antioxidant Effects –Exosomes contain antioxidant molecules that can help neutralise harmful free radicals in the skin. By reducing oxidative stress, Exosomes may help prevent premature ageing and damage caused by environmental factors such as UV radiation and pollution.
For the best results, Maryna recommends five 90-minute sessions every 2 weeks. For SO magazine readers she can offer this package at just £750. For more details please call Maryna Cole on 07396 344 527 for a free consultation.
Q. What do you think are the potential benefits of AI for the economy/business?
Gregg: Business AI is a tool and should be seen as such. We still need the artists, copywriters, developers, and designers of the world. People with these skills, when utilising AI, can create astonishing creative solutions.
Joe: AI offers numerous benefits for the economy and businesses; increased efficiency, enhanced productivity, improved decision making, personalised customer experiences, innovation acceleration, advanced predictive analytics, and streamlined operations. These can drive cost savings, competitiveness and growth making AI a valuable asset.
With our grateful thanks to:
Q. What do you think of the risks of AI from an economic perspective?
Joe: From an economic perspective; job displacement, inequality, skills gap,
Ethical concerns, and disruption of traditional business models. mitigate the negative impact we need to put in place measures such as retraining programs, addressing the skills gap, ethical frameworks, promoting competition, monitoring AI systems, and fostering innovation.
Gregg: People perceive AI as a job killer, but we will require "AI whisperers'' or engineers who can effectively communicate with AI. This will emerge as a distinct job role. ChatGPT merely arranges words skilfully without introducing anything genuinely novel.
Q. What sort of timescale do you foresee for the adoption of AI?
Gregg: To reach 1 million subscribers (backers/bookings/downloads),
Netflix took 3.5 years, Twitter took 2 years, Facebook took 10 months, Instagram took 2.5 months, but ChatGPT took 5 days!
Joe: AI adoption is already happening and will continue to accelerate. In the short term (next 5 years), we'll see increased integration of AI in industries like healthcare, finance, and customer service. In the mid-term (5-10 years), autonomous vehicles and advanced decision support systems will become more prevalent.
Q: What AI is currently in place that the average person might not be aware of?
Joe: Virtual personal assistants (such as Amazon Alexa), fraud detection systems in finance, AI-powered chatbots for customer support, streaming services, email filtering, image and speech recognition technologies, and the development of autonomous vehicles.
Q: How impactful overall will AI be to our lives?
Gregg: Huge, it’s part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It will enable us to communicate, learn and grow as a civilisation. We do need to slow down slightly and understand the implications, but AI is here to stay, it will become life as we know it - remember when no one had a mobile phone?
Joe: AI will revolutionise industries like healthcare, transportation, and education. It will automate tasks, personalise experiences, enhance cybersecurity, promote sustainability, and contribute to creative fields. While concerns exist, AI's transformative influence is expected to reshape various domains and drive technological advancements.
Helios pharmacy has built a reputation over the last 36 years for the exemplary and professional homeopathic advice it offers to its customers. As well as providing excellent in store customer service it has plenty of kits and products you can order online or buy in the Camden Road HQ to ensure wellness in every situation you find yourself in…
“We have a wealth of experience at Helios with over 60 qualified homeopaths and six pharmacists based at our Tunbridge Wells and London pharmacies, where a warm and friendly welcome awaits you,” says Pharmacist and General Manager Roger Hadden.
“The highly specialised team at Helios on Camden Road are available six days a week for advice on homeopathic remedies. In addition to this we have our telephone order and advice lines which you can call for help with minor ailments, and our email customer service desks are also staffed by qualified homeopaths to ensure you receive the best possible service.”
As well as sharing Helios expertise on the wide range of supplements and natural health products the pharmacy offers, there is also a huge selection of books available, covering everything from holistic health, homeopathy for pets and home prescribing manuals for all the family.
Helios prides itself on only stocking products from companies that share its same values of producing products of the highest quality and integrity.
At this time of year customers turn to Helios for advice on how to stay well when they go on holiday. Acute illness and injuries, by their very nature, can be unpredictable and may happen at a time when you don’t have access to the right remedies. By travelling with a Helios Travel Kit you can have access to remedies and be prepared for most eventualities.
Part of a range of kits that Helios offers, the travel one should always find a space in your suitcase. Light and compact, containing 36 remedies in a 30c potency it covers a wide range of complaints such as fear of flying, tummy upsets, insect bites, minor injuries or an annoying summer cold. Having one of these kits is the most convenient way of taking a broad selection of remedies away
with you.
To complement the homeopathic travel kit, Helios also stocks a variety of essential natural products for travel including sun protection creams, vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements, natural insect repellents, jetlag essences and pro-biotics particularly tailored for travellers.
With busy modern day living, there are two subjects that Helios is contacted about more than most and this is stress and insomnia. Whilst the underlying cause of these ailments tends to be chronic, and would be best resolved longer term by a full homeopathic consultation, there are still remedies that can help with the acute symptoms these ailments present with. Quite often the two areas of stress and lack of sleep are intrinsically connected, with one often causing the other.
Helios offers a multi awardwinning combination remedy called ‘Sleep’ which contains the homeopathic remedies
Avena Sativa, Coffea, Passiflora and Valarian. This combination remedy can
offer relief to all manner of sleep disturbances, using remedies that help support over-stretched nervous and adrenal systems and clear a busy mind, creating a calmer and more relaxed state to promote a better night’s sleep.
Helios also stocks many other products and supplements to aid sleep, such as A.Vogel’s Dormeasan tincture, a natural herbal sleeping aid and Tisserand’s aromatherapy Sleep Better Pillow Mist. It has been widely reported in recent years of the benefits of supplementing our diet with Magnesium to aid sleep and stress. Helios stocks magnesium products in many different formats from traditional tablet and capsules to oils, sprays, body butters and bath flakes. If stress and anxiety appear to be the cause of a sleep problem, then you could benefit from the Helios Stress Combination. Containing Aconite, Arg Nit and Arsenicum it can support symptoms associated with mild stress and anxiety. These three remedies have traditionally been used for fear, anxiety, apprehension and a general feeling of overwhelm, all of which could
“Helios comprises a sizeable in-house homeopathic pharmacy, a well-stocked specialist retail space, three consulting rooms and a specialist clinic”
www.helios.co.uk
@helios_pharmacy
contribute to a change in sleep patterns.
Helios has been providing its customers with tissue salts dispensed in its pharmacies since it opened 36 years ago. However, it has just launched its new range of 12 individual tissue salts as part of their expanding retail range. Roz Crompton, homeopath and Trade and Operations Director at Helios explains: “The addition of the 12 Tissue Salts to our current range of products is in part due to
the demand from our customers and from years of extensive use in our busy pharmacies and clinic. Tissue Salts have amazing benefits to health, are well known and have been used successfully for decades. Kali Phos is traditionally used for supporting the nervous system and is therefore our top tissue salt recommendation to aid sleep and offer support when feeling stressed.”
“The highly specialised team at Helios on Camden Road are available six days a week for advice on homeopathic remedies”
Amora Care provides premium home care services, supporting older adults to live independently at home in Tunbridge Wells, surrounding towns, villages and rural areas.
If you or someone you love is having difficulty coping with everyday tasks, we can help in the following ways:
Learn from Jane's experience using Amora Care's domestic visits, and discover how she found a solution to help her father and gain peace of mind.
Q: For context, what led you to seek support for your father?
A: I was concerned about my father's wellbeing and wanted to ensure he was being looked after because he lives alone.
Q: How did your father initially react to the idea of receiving extra support?
A: He was resistant at first, but I explained that the visits wouldn't interfere with his independence. They were primarily for cleaning and home help, with the added goal of making sure he was okay.
Q: What was your experience with the carer who visited your father?
A: The carer was extremely helpful. She helped with light housekeeping, cooking, and spent time talking to my father and keeping him company.
Q: How did your father's attitude towards receiving care change over time?
A: As he became more familiar with the carers who visited him, he became more comfortable with the idea of receiving care. He even began asking for help with other tasks, such as grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions. The peace of mind we gained, to continue our lives without worrying about his day-to-day needs, cannot be overstated!
How to introduce the idea of care to someone who doesn't think they need it?
Nobody went to the gym a hundred years ago because most of us stayed fit by walking everywhere. The arrival of the motor vehicle outside every house in the land put paid to that. For many, a short walk to the bus stop would now be a stretch.
But not only does walking keep us fit, there is significant evidence of a number of psychological benefits. Walking keeps the mind healthy and focused by reducing stress hormone cortisol and stimulating endorphins, a mood enhancing neurotransmitter. It also increases blood flow to the oxygen hungry brain, reducing the risk of degenerative diseases like dementia.
With the advent of fitness trackers, setting a goal of walking 10,000 steps a day has become a benchmark for good health and wellbeing. This is an arbitrary figure which is supported by
Karen Martin Hypnotherapist hypnotherapykent.co.uk
research demonstrating that being more physically active in general increases quality of life and life expectancy.
Research cited by Harvard Medical School reports that walking is as effective as drugs for treating anxiety depression. Studies also reveal how just a 20-minute stroll every day relieves stress and helps us sleep better.
There are many different ways to increase footfall in daily life and all of them will contribute toward the benefits of being more active:
• Walking the dog a bit further, faster and for longer makes for a happy hound and makes breathing fresh air in the great outdoors a part of daily life
• Changing shopping and other routines so you’re parking further away from supermarkets, walking short distances instead of driving, taking the stairs instead of the lift or escalator
• Meeting friends for a country walk instead of coffee and a cake
• Joining an organised group of ramblers or hikers on regular walks
• Taking up a sport which involves walking
• Choosing holiday destinations where there are interesting places to walk
• Taking a stroll around
We live in an area of glorious countryside and scenic coastlines to explore. The website Fancy Free Walks signposts the vast choice of free and easy, or not so easy, walks through town and country, London and beyond. It would take millions of steps to cover all these routes. A favourite way of spending a Sunday is a country walk with a pub at the end of it. At least it’s possible to feel a bit virtuous when tucking into a roast followed by sticky toffee pudding. And we are somewhat spoiled for choice with some great hostelries that are never more than a country mile from a scenic footpath. If you want to make a day of it, the South Downs Way National Trail stretches 100 miles from Winchester at the edge of the New Forest in Hampshire to Eastbourne on the East Sussex coast.
Following old routes along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs, this historic trail is littered with folklore of dragons, fairies, ogres and the wrath of the devil. If you want to be entertained with tales of bottomless pools and ancient settlements, Kathryn Burrington of the Sussex Walks blog passes the time so you barely
notice the distance covered.
Walking is a humdrum everyday thing for those of us fortunate enough to be physically fit enough to do it. It can be a joyfully pointless pastime with the added benefit of breathing fresh air and enjoying beautiful surroundings. Those with sedentary lifestyles barely notice the passing of the seasons or the decline in mood and energy that is the inevitable outcome of not moving around much.
Walking ticks so many therapeutic boxes. When you hit your stride, the rhythm of walking is hypnotic, allowing time for mindful reflection and processing information so the stresses of daily life can be relieved. A medication free way of rebalancing hormones and stimulating mind and body, putting one foot in front of the other is proven to reduce anxiety and depression.
During the warmer months when the days are longer, take the time to take a walk outside and step into a healthier state of mind and body.
Whether you manage 10,000 daily steps or not, you’ll be striding towards a happier, calmer, more harmonious way of life.
“Walking ticks so many therapeutic boxes. When you hit your stride, the rhythm of walking is hypnotic, allowing time for mindful reflection so the stresses of daily life can be relieved”
Feeling exhausted all the time? Then perhaps you could be suffering from an undiagnosed thyroid condition, writes Naomi Murray of Botanica Health. Here she reveals what you can do to investigate further…
Perhaps you have visited your GP with common low thyroid symptoms and a blood test revealed that all was ‘normal’, or maybe you are already taking prescription thyroid medication but still don’t feel as well as expected.
Did you know that one in five women will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime, but the majority of these women will remain undiagnosed?
Naomi Murray Co-founder of Botanica Health botanicahealth.co.uk
There is an epidemic of thyroid disease in this country and many women are suffering unnecessarily.
Hypothyroidism is also frequently accompanied by cardiac dysfunction and high blood pressure. In fact I know of one woman who after years of trying to get to the bottom of her obvious symptoms of low thyroid, eventually needed a pacemaker.
Studies by PubMed even show that treatment of hypothyroidism may lead to normalisation of blood pressure.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the throat, just below the Adam’s
apple. Sometimes you can feel it or the neck may appear puffy.
Thyroid hormone is one of the hormones that regulate metabolism and weight; hence why many women although not eating a huge amount of food and regularly exercising, just can’t shift extra weight.
Healthy thyroid function is vital for the overall well-being of the body.
It plays a huge role in the functioning of the heart, brain, liver, kidneys and skin and without the correct nutritional fuel the thyroid is unable to function properly and so symptoms appear. The thyroid influences every tissue in the body and to do this it utilises multiple hormones,
including T4, T3, T2 and T1. Perhaps the most important, and frequently discussed hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
You might have visited your GP with some of the symptoms above and routinely you will be offered the TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) blood test. This lab test was developed in the 1970s using about 200 volunteers to establish a ‘normal’ range. They didn’t really know at the time if these people were already becoming hypothyroid.
Many people are informed their results are normal when symptoms persist.
This can go on for years and years until the TSH test finally comes back as above-range.
But according to the late physiology expert Ray Peat he believed that:
“Measuring the amount of thyroid in the blood isn’t a good way to evaluate adequacy of thyroid function, since the response of tissues to the hormone can be suppressed (for example, by unsaturated fats).”
He also added: “Over a period of several years, I never saw a person whose TSH was over 2 microIU/ml who was comfortably healthy, and I formed the impression that the normal, or healthy, quantity was probably something less than 1.0.”
In Canada Dr David Derry was practicing medicine when the TSH test was introduced. He adds: “The consensus of thyroidologists decided in 1973 that the TSH (lab) was the blood test they had been looking for all through the years. This was about two years after I started practice. Having been taught how to diagnose hypothyroid conditions clinically, I was in a position to watch to see what the relation of the TSH was to the onset of hypothyroidism. What I found was many people would develop classic signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism but
Stress is a major factor inhibiting thyroid function but there are others –
• Stress
• Auto immune diseases like Coeliac
• Fluoride which is an antagonist to iodine
• Infections and trauma
• Pesticides and heavy metals like mercury and lead
• Sluggish liver
• Poor gut health
“Throughout our chat the salon has been buzzing – and not just with the sound of hairdryers. This is clearly becoming a popular place in town”
The thyroid requires specific nutrients to function well, many that are lacking in the modern diet –
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Magnesium
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin B2, B3 and B6
• Vitamin D
• Iodine
the TSH was ever so slow to become abnormal, rise and confirm the clinical diagnosis. Sometimes it never did. Finally I began treating patients
with hypothyroid in the normal manner I was taught. I could not see why I had to wait for the TSH to rise for me to be able to treat them.”
So, in other words he treated a patient the old-fashioned way, according to their symptoms.
Thyroxine is the medication of choice and has become the standard treatment for thyroid conditions because it influences the TSH levels. But this isn’t getting to the crux of the matter.
As I have mentioned above the TSH test is not a good method to gauge thyroid health. It doesn’t consider vital factors such as thyroid hormone conversion and transport or the patients’ nutritional status. By improving a patient’s T4 levels, doctors can normalise TSH levels without ever
dealing with the actual true cause of thyroid dysfunction.
Nutrients are vital for healthy thyroid function but deficiencies are prevalent due to the modern diet.
Zinc and selenium are essential for the conversion of the storage thyroid hormone T4 to T3 the active thyroid hormone.
Iodine is essential for the production
You may have a few or many of the low thyroid symptoms below although this list is not exhaustive:
• Low body temperature
• Cold hands and feet
• Cold bottom
• Feeling sluggish
• Constipation
• Dry skin, hair and nails
• Thinning hair
• Poor circulation
• Inflammation
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Exhausted easily
• Hormonal imbalance
• Fertility issues
• Inability to lose weight
• Poor digestion
• Puffiness
of thyroid hormone and when used alongside selenium it can play an instrumental role in healing.
The adaptogenic herb
Ashwagandha has been shown to have thyroid enhancing properties and can relieve fatigue and anxiety and combat.
Of course there is more to it. So if you would like further support please do get in touch…
• Eliminate unsaturated fats (margarine, vegetable oils)
• Replace with pro-thyroid fats like butter and coconut oil
• Eliminate processed foods
• Add nutrient rich carbohydrates such as root vegetables and fruits
• Ensure your diet includes adequate protein
• Make a raw grated salad daily with a dressing of coconut oil and apple cider vinegar
• Consider that wheat may be problematic
• Eliminate soy products
• Address any issues of a sluggish liver, insomnia and constipation
• Reduce stress
• Consume meat on the bone and from organic sources
FUNDRAISER DATE
30TH JUNE 2023
7PM– 11PM £25 TICKET
Our resident fitness expert Sarah Gorman explains the biohacking trend and reveals its benefits to ensure your ongoing health and well-being
Who wants to live forever? Not me that’s for sure but as I age I do want my body to function and work for me in a way that keeps me happy, pain free and able to move. So this month I want to discuss the idea of ‘working’ on our bodies for longevity as opposed to a ‘bikini body’, (a phrase of which I dislike immensely) as well as taking a look at the term Biohacking.
Let’s begin with Biohackingit’s become a bit of a buzz word recently and is definitely having its moment, but what does it actually mean? Biohacking refers to the practice of using science, technology, and experimentation to optimise and enhance human performance and well-being. The term involves making changes to our biology through various means, including lifestyle modifications, dietary changes, supplements, a nd technology.
Overall, biohacking is about taking control of our own health and well-being by experimenting with different techniques and approaches to optimise our biology and improve our overall quality of life. There is a lot of information out there in terms of what we can physically do to engage these techniques to the point that I find it can be overwhelming to think that we need to be doing all of it, all of the time in order to improve our lives. How do you even know where to start?
I decided to look at what I felt were the most important areas for me personally and what elements were achievable and sustainable to my life. The four areas that I am going to focus on are: Circadian
Sarah Gorman Fitness professional and entrepreneur @sarahgormanblendfit sarahgorman.fit
rhythm, Movement, Hydration and Sleep.
Circadian Rhythm - is the physical, mental, and behavioural changes that follow a 24-hour cycle. It can affect our health and can influence important functions in our bodies such as hormonal balance, eating and digestion and body temperature. The idea is that we try to create a routine for ourselves that we can stick to that follows sun up and sun down. Try getting up at the same time each day, including weekends, and getting outside. Maybe that means just taking a few breaths and a stretch, or drinking your coffee outside. Optimally you would do some movement like going for a walk. And then again by late afternoon try to make sure you get outside before the sun goes down and again, if possible add some movement into this time as well.
Hydration - up your water intake (preferably filtered water) and make sure you drink consistently throughout your day. I know it’s easier said than done - but it really does make such a difference to your health and it is an easy and
cheap routine/habit that we can form. Even set a reminder to drink water on the hour every hour if, like me, you tend to forget to take those water breaks.
Movement - this idea should try to be continued throughout the day. Finding movement or exercise that you enjoy and can practise as and when you can. The more movement we do the more mobile and strong our bodies become. Movement also releases endorphins and can enhance mood and reduce stress.
Sleep - this is tough to hear if you find it difficult to sleep but studies are now showing that a consistent 7.5 - 9 hours sleep really is optimal in order for our bodies to recover. This loops back to finding a good routine/circadian rhythm and sticking to it. Turn screens off earlier than you normally would and read so that you naturally drop off. Once you have formed a new habit and made it a part of your routine it can become second nature. At this point you can begin to add in new techniques such
as cold water therapy and body brushing. By simply splashing the face with cold water first thing in the morning you can trigger the Vagus Nerve which can help to regulate mood and anxiety as well being a direct line from the gut to the brain. You can then build on this technique by taking a cold shower each morning and then even trying an ice bath. Cold water therapy has been shown to have a variety of health benefits, including reduced inflammation and improved immune function. When we start to ‘work’ on our bodies in this way it means that we are looking after ourselves for longevity - future proofing ourselves as much as we are able.
So as the summer approaches and you begin to see the inevitable rubbish about getting your ‘bikini body’ ready, think rather about your ‘old person body’ - the one you are growing into slowly and want to keep as strong and as physically active, healthy and well as you possibly can. With movement you get freedom and with freedom you get life.
This little move is something that you can do every day, whilst watching your favourite box set from the comfort of your own home. Start at five minutes and build up to 15 mins. Grab a soft ball (around 7-9 inches wide) and place it behind the small of your back. Roll the lower back onto the ball so your spine is slightly pushing into the ball. Gently drawing in the abdominal area (imagining that you are almost scooping out your tummy area).
1. With tiny pulsing movements press the lower back into the ball so that you can feel the abdominals contracting.You can keep going for as long as you like.
2. Then move the ball further up
the back so that you are lower to the floor and repeat.You will feel this slightly high up in the abdominal region.
3. Then in this same position slightly twist the upper body from side to side to engage and work the obliques (waist).
“Biohacking is about taking control of our own wellbeing by experimenting with different techniques to optimise our health”
Ahead of Lucy Parker’s new well-being column starting next month in SO magazine, Eileen Leahy meets the co-founder of Flow Tunbridge Wells to discover why her studio’s comprehensive approach to holistic health is so unique – and why her personal story plays such a pivotal part in its success…
Yoga is considered to be one of the most effective ways in which to strengthen your body – as well as your mind and spirit. But for one local mother and entrepreneur it has proved to be so much more, allowing her the opportunity to heal from profound grief, build a
business and dedicated community and ultimately find personal happiness once more.
For those readers who don’t already know her, let me introduce you to Lucy Parker, co-founder of Flow Tunbridge Wells, whose life over the past eighteen years has journeyed through huge sadness and debilitating grief, to finding happiness and fulfilment once again.
Sitting in her beautiful, colourful kitchen which is an energetic mix of bright yellow hues and citrus pops of orange and lime, tempered by stylish gun metal grey accents, you would never know the mother of two, experienced yoga teacher and newly accredited coach and counsellor has survived the most unimaginable situation in life.
As Lucy pours us both a hot cup of homemade lemon and ginger tea, I look out at her gorgeous garden which is in early summer bloom and also where her custombuilt yoga studio and treatment rooms are located.
Despite the drizzle, the mood is serene and relaxing. This is something Lucy says most people
comment on when they arrive at Flow Tunbridge Wells, which is located in the outside space at Lucy’s home on Woodbury Park Road, Tunbridge Wells.
“As people crunch up the gravel path and do a left into the garden and see Flow in all its beauty they tell me they immediately feel relaxed,” she smiles as she sits down to chat at her kitchen table.
“I really do feel like we have built a really good community here over the past eight years.”
Lucy explains that yoga has always been there for her in life – through the good times and the unbearably sad ones too.
“I have practiced yoga since I
was 18 after my mum sent me on a course to ‘chill out’ as she put it,” recalls Lucy who was born and bred in Tunbridge Wells.
“But after having lost my husband Alastair in 2007 to a brain tumour, I eventually found the strength to start practising again and it ended up getting me to where I am now.”
Alastair received the diagnosis five years before he eventually passed away, so Lucy says the couple, who were living in London at the time, decided to get married and try for children.
“We were lucky enough to have two boys who were just 1 and 3 when Alastair died. I had a big job as Director of the London Art Fair and suddenly found myself in a very difficult life situation.
“I moved back to Tunbridge Wells but quickly realised that commuting to London every day just wouldn’t work. I had to rethink everything so that’s when I decided to retrain as a yoga teacher.”
Lucy reveals that in order to get going she started hosting classes in the living room of her flat on The Pantiles.
“I’d be moving back the sofas to prepare for people coming and then usually find one of my son’s Nerf guns underneath,” she remembers.
“I had to make the classes work
“I’ve always practiced yoga. When I was pregnant; when I was trying to cope with grief; and when I have been really fit, so it made sense to do something with it”
“You can’t have good physical health if your mental health is suffering, and vice versa”PHOTOS BY SALTWICK MEDIA
around the children so I would host when they were at nursery, and then later school, or once they were in bed. Gradually, over the next five years Flow started to build momentum. I had a lot of people who wanted to support me as I am local, and people knew what had happened to me. At that particular time in Tunbridge Wells there really weren’t many people offering yoga classes so it worked for me.
“As I’ve said, I’ve always practiced yoga. When I was pregnant; when I was trying to cope with the grief of losing Alastair, it’s always been there. I’ve done it when I have been really bouncy, fit and healthy and then when I’ve been on the floor consumed by profound loss. So it made sense to do something with it.
“I started to get booked up and a few years later got some wellknown names down from London to teach. Everyone had this real drive to make it work and I guess to ultimately build a community.”
Eight or so years on, Lucy met her now husband Ben Parker who is a registered osteopath and father of two boys. And as well as running his original Groombridge practice, he also operates from the Flow Tunbridge Wells HQ at the couple’s home.
Lucy explains that they got together after their paths kept crossing professionally. But it took them both a while to realise that in fact these ‘serendipitous’ opportunities had been engineered by a wannabe cupid…
“It turned out to be one of Ben’s patients, who was also one of my yoga students and they had decided to take on the role of matchmaker!”
Lucy says the pair quickly realised the synergy between them personally also applied professionally too.
“It made total sense to work together given we both focus on anatomy, albeit in different ways. So eventually we decided to get married, bring the kids together and set up a business.
“In 2014 we found this house on Woodbury Park Road and we realised it had immense opportunity for something.
“At the time there was no studio but the garden was stunning and we instinctively knew it would work. It just felt like a very serene place to be.”
The couple opened their Flow Tunbridge Wells studio in 2015 after getting it built in just five weeks. It now houses Lucy’s stunning yoga studio as well as Ben’s osteopathy practice and also a massage treatment room which is overseen by Melissa Denyer.
“We now also have 12 yoga teachers running classes here daily. During the week they start at 7am and then there’s another at 9.30am. We then have a couple of lunchtime classes and two evening classes every night,” states Lucy.
She adds that Flow also runs lots of additional workshops, training sessions and retreats.
“We haven’t done many of the latter because of Covid but we have one lined up for Kefalonia in Greece soon.”
Over the years of building up her business Lucy confides that she has become more and more interested in people’s mental health as well as their physical health.
“The two really dovetail each other. You can’t have good physical health if your mental health is suffering, and vice versa. So I now offer bespoke one-to-one classes and I am doing a lot of these. It’s usually for rehabilitation after an
operation or specialist movement therapy. I talk about how to manage those conditions and how to adapt.”
Lucy says that in offering these tailored one-to-one to classes she soon discovered that people wanted to talk a lot, in addition to doing yoga and she found herself almost acting as a therapist.
“It’s fantastic that clients want to do that but I wasn’t qualified to give advice so I decided to enrol on a course.”
Last month, on May 23 to be exact, Lucy completed a Post Grad diploma in Integrative Counselling and Coaching from the University of East London.
“That means I will now be a registered therapist with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) so I can professionally offer advice. I am excited about this as I will be able to fuse the whole physical and psychosomatic understanding to our individual clients.
“As humans we have often been divided up a bit like a jigsaw. In the past you’d see a doctor for your physical health, churches might help with your spiritual health and psychologists could help with your mental health. But no one was
really looking at the whole picture. Thankfully though this sense of unity and connection between the body and mind seems to be filtering through. It’s so obvious and so vital but not everyone understands that.”
Lucy is quick to acknowledge that Tunbridge Wells is very lucky to have an incredible amount of talented yoga teachers and studios but she believes that what sets Flow apart is the comprehensive and bespoke offering she and her team can offer.
“We now have an amazing opportunity for Flow studio to embrace the whole idea of wellness, from the functional aspect courtesy of Ben’s osteopathy to the physical with Melissa’s massage. And then the various classes with all our teachers. We also have the very bespoke offering courtesy of my one-to-one coaching and counselling. It’s a holistic whole package if you like – and quite unique. Ultimately for me it’s all about connecting both the body and the mind together.
“At Flow Tunbridge Wells we really are all about community and I hope that’s what makes us stand out. Allow yourself to be unique. That is what we can offer here.”
“At Flow Tunbridge Wells we’re all about community and I hope that’s what makes us stand out…”
Tunbridge Wells is fortunate to have an eclectic mix of independent and national businesses, retailers and hospitality establishments within the town centre. This month we celebrate our Independents with a spotlight on just a few of the incredible businesses that have made Tunbridge Wells their home!
Stunning independent car showroom opened its doors on London Road in 2023
Men's clothing brand opens a new branch a premium menswear retailer, opened its Tunbridge Wells store on the High Street in December 2022. James and Jack head up the shop, and specialise in quality service and product, selling a great range of men’s formalwear, casualwear footwear
opened the doors to their refurbished, bespoke showroom in January 2023, choosing Tunbridge Wells because of its historic relation to the motor industry. They specialise in the sale and acquisition of classic and modern sports cars with a primary focus on Aston Martin and other interesting European and American sports cars from the 1950s-2000s’
Website: www.dylan-miles.com
Website:www.countyclothesmenswear.co.uk Contact Number: 01892 354688
Instagram: county_clothes_rtw
The Finance Hub expand into Property founded by Gillian Palmer, is an expansion of the Finance Hub, and brings together all experts you would need if you are buying a property including: Finance, Legal, Surveyor, Insurance, Land / Property sourcing, Architect, Main Contactor, Landscaper. https://www.thefinancehub.money/the-property-hub/ hello@thefinancehub.money 01892 280000
is an independent ‘Contemporary British’ restaurant on the High Street. Foraging for its farm-to-table meals as well as poultry from its land, The Warren Estate in Crowborough. Opened seven years ago, it states its success is also down to collaboration with other local businesses. Sustainability is also a big factor in who they choose to work with Manager, Magdalena, explains that they are not a stuffy, oldfashioned restaurant, rather that they offer a range of options. From white linen tables in The Orangery for special occasions, to their reasonably-priced lunch and dinner set menus, and their beautiful Summer Terrace.
To book: www.thewarren.restaurant/bookings
(Closed Mon & Tues) or call 01892 328191
THE PROPERTY HUB THE WARREN DYLAN MILES
Ex-city workers, Paul and Jacqui Adams saw the Old Post Office, Mayfield and knew it was the place for their dream project; an independent wine merchants. The extensive range of worldwide wines (600+) at come from long established family-owned wineries and renowned winemakers. RVP in Tunbridge Wells was the natural place to open a second store, due to its Sussex/Kent border location, two great English winemaking counties.
FINE WINES OF MAYFIELD
Their wide range of customers include those seeking party pleasers, good value any-day bottles, to those looking for fine and ra re wines.
Call Paul Adams - 07985 425478 or visit the website www.finewinesofmayfield.co.uk
RVP store open – Weds to Sat 10am to 6pm
Fabulous new Café and Cocktail Bar on the Pantiles
new café, cocktail bar and eatery in the heart of the Pantiles opened its doors at the end of April. The stunning interior and beautiful lighting offsets the cosy and intimate seating options. Headed up by Operations Manager, Adam, Charlotte’s offers small plates and a selection of spirits, cocktails and wines from specialist suppliers.
Expansion success for an independent café on The Pantiles
is the second eatery opened by the brilliant team at Eggs Eleven café, this time they have gone down the dessert route. This café and gelateria offers a delectable collection of crepes, pancakes, waffles, brownies and Gelato selections to die for.
Facebook: @Sweet Fifteen
Independent still trading over 100 years later.
Established in 1920, William Bailey is the third generation to run this wonderfully classic gents outfitters. In a prime position on Mount Pleasant Road, the team at believe in a traditional approach, seeing people in person rather than being tempted to go online. It has paid off. They have a high customer retention rate, with visitors from London all the way to the coast. Open Monday - Saturday 10:30 –17:00 Contact: 01892 530517
Instagram: @charlottesinthepantiles @rtwtogether
Having grown up in the Caribbean, Louise Dean says she’s ‘obsessed with painting tropical flowers, birds, palm trees and seascapes’ in bold, beautiful colours. The Langton Green artist talks to Rachael Hale about this month’s SEO Art Trail and her new online art course…
Why do you love painting so much?
It’s part of my identity, my DNA, and I’m constantly designing new artwork in my head. I can’t get over the joy of creating something beautiful. It feels miraculous that I can do it.
How did your career as an artist get started?
I studied art and started my first business with the support of The Prince’s Trust, but it sadly wasn’t viable. I then didn’t try to pursue art as a career until after my children were born. I created murals for their bedrooms, and friends and family soon started recommending me. I didn’t truly
embrace being an ‘artist’ though until I began teaching adults and taking part in Open Studio events in 2017.
Your career changed dramatically during lockdown. Why’s that?
I had a garden art studio built and having that dedicated space gave me the freedom to grow professionally, have meetings, teach and, of course, hold all my supplies – so much better than the corner of the kitchen. It’s also allowed me to create larger commissioned pieces – my biggest so far has been 1.5 metres wide!
What type of commissions do you take?
Everything from pet portraits to botanical, landscape and chinoiserie-inspired canvases. I’m also a very versatile mural artist and create personalised murals for residential and commercial clients. I love creating something unique and by encouraging people to visit my workshop and meet in person, we can collaborate and chat through ideas.
I still do a lot of teaching too and run regular workshops for children and adults. My most recent was a business team event at the Hotel du Vin for Sharp Minds Communications.
“I love creating something unique and by encouraging people to visit my workshop, we can collaborate and chat through ideas”
What inspired your new online ‘Introduction to Acrylics’ course?
I love sharing techniques and doing demonstrations, so during lockdown, I started my own YouTube channel. It soon gained international recognition, and it inspired me to keep going. I love all paint mediums, but acrylics are my favourite, so I created a course – accessible through my website to teach people all the basics, from how to use each brush and what products to choose, to developing an idea and using trusted techniques.
What’s next for you?
My dream is to ‘Paint the World’. I’m heading back to the Caribbean shortly to create video blogs of my visit and how to paint the flora, fauna and scenery there. This is Chapter 1 as I hope to travel to many more destinations, painting, inspiring and selling artworks created in each destination.
Where can people see and buy your work?
My studio is always open by appointment, but this month I’m also participating in the South
Favourite spots?
Green spaces, ieautiful architecture and, of course, The Pantiles. Back in my Nomadic days, I always dreamed that if I lived in England, I would like to live here.
Favourite place to eat?
The Crown at Groombridge serves a delicious roast, and we also like eating at the Hidden Well. Last year, I had the pleasure of painting a mural at The Persian Lounge, which was a great excuse to sample their amazing food.
East Open Studios Art Trail, which runs from June 2-19. This is my third time, and I’ll be open every weekend. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase my bright and beautiful artwork and meet lots of like-minded people. seos-art.org
CONTACT: Louise Dean Artist Instagram @louisedeanartist @artescapeswithlouise
Website: louisedeanartist.store
Favourite shops?
Saltmarsh for art supplies and the Beaume Gallery on The Pantiles, they always have stunning artwork.
Favourite day out?
Paddleboarding with friends on the river at Golden Green or a coffee and a slow walk with my elderly dog at K ingdom. A glass of chilled white wine at Jazz on The Pantiles is great, too.
Elizabeth Masters is a talented local designer whose USP is creating interiors that are both timeless and reflective of each of her clients. Here she tells Eileen Leahy all about her fledgling business and what inspires her…
So Elizabeth when did you get into the wonderful world of interior design?
It was four years ago that I began the transition into the world of interior design. I was studying at KLC school of design alongside my day job which was Brand Marketing Manager at Chapel Down winery. In 2020, Covid obviously turned everyone’s
world upside down, and I like many others ended up on furlough. I realised that this was the perfect time to finish my interior design qualification and gain some more experience in working with people outside of my friends and family.
How did you go about launching your business?
After enhancing my KLC
qualification with additional courses in SketchUp and CAD I created a couple of adverts that I then posted on local social media including Facebook community pages and NextDoor. I explained I was a student looking to help people within the local area with all their interior design dilemmas… for completely free! I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and clicked ‘post’ and thought ‘no one will ever reply’. Low and behold, an hour or so later I had to remove the posts as I had received so many enquiries. They ranged from
needing help with paint colours to layout advice on a new extension. I quickly pulled together a schedule for the summer, listed out all my new clients, project briefs and got to work. I filled my entire summer as if I was still working a full-time job.
How did you make the transition from being employed to going freelance?
At the end of the summer I was told the news that I was sadly being made redundant. Even though I knew that this outcome was inevitable, I was still petrified at
“I get to know clients as soon as possible. We will have a lengthy initial consultation - just that one conversation alone normally takes two to three hours”
the thought of being unemployed and the idea of becoming selfemployed in the middle of a pandemic was enough to send me over the edge! But actually one of my favourite sayings is ‘trust the process’ and whilst it was a scary one, I truly believe this was always how it was meant to be. I spoke to the clients I had taken on over the summer, explained the change in circumstance and they all very kindly agreed to pay me. I’m pleased to say some of those clients I am still working with today, almost four years later.
Do you have any favourite style of interior?
I would say ‘Relaxed Luxury’. It sounds like a contradictive term but it’s totally possible! I think there is nothing worse than designing a ‘show home’ that you can’t relax in or enjoy.
What would you say your interior design USP is?
My team. I’m very lucky to work alongside two other incredibly talented ladies who I’d be lost without. I can say with absolute confidence that we are a team of three. We are very normal, kind, efficient and hardworking people who do everything they can to make sure a client’s vision comes to life.
How do you ensure each client has their character reflected in their home?
I make sure we get to know them as soon as possible. Normally it begins in the initial consultation
where we go through a very detailed design questionnaire and any inspiration images they have collated. We cover pretty much every detail you can think of and just that one conversation alone normally takes two to three hours After that, I’d say we speak with clients on a weekly basis. Whether that be in person or over the phone or on our WhatsApp groups.
Which local companies do you like working with on your projects?
Normally, we’d keep all our trade contacts exclusive to our clients but to name a couple, R J Rogers Ltd is a fantastic builder who we have worked with many times before. And if you’re looking for a bespoke kitchen look no further than Peter Alexander. Pete and Leo are incredibly talented carpenters and are just the nicest people to work with.
ELIZABETH
Is there a local public building you would like to work on in terms of its interiors?
At the top of Grosvenor Road (where you join St Johns Road) there is a beautiful, red brick, grade II listed building which I believe used to be factory and is currently boarded up and derelict. I’d love to restore this building and inject some new life into it whilst keeping its original features.
Who would be your dream celebrity client to work with and why?
I’d have to say Diane Keating. My favourite film is ‘Something’s Gotta Give’ in which she stars with Jack Nicholson. The beach house in The Hamptons, where the comedy is set, is my absolute dream! So, Diane if you’re reading and would like to design a beach house together, get in touch!
· Don’t follow trends: It’s very easy to get hooked on a particular one that keeps popping up on Pinterest, but the reality is that it will probably be out of fashion in a few years’ time. It’s also very expensive to keep up with latest trends.
· Future proof: Good interior design isn’t just about a designing a scheme that works for a client in the here and now. It’s about ensuring longevity. Thinking about how a client’s life might
1. Chrissie Rucker, founder of The White Company. Although she’s technically not an interior designer I truly believe she paved the way for unapologetically white interiors to be acceptable and I love it!
2. Sarah Fortescue, a talented designer who was also responsible for the interiors at our wedding venue, Boconnoc House down in Cornwall. Her interiors bring me such joy, they are the perfect balance of plenty of colour and pattern
3. Olga Polizzi, another amazing designer who created the interiors at my all-time favourite hotel, Hotel Tresanton in St Mawes, Cornwall. Think calm, nautical, relaxed- luxury interiors…perfect!
elizabethmastersinteriors.co.uk @elizabethmastersinteriors
“In terms of Elizabeth Masters’ hallmark look I would say it’s ‘Relaxed Luxury’. It sounds like a contradictive term but it’s totally possible. I think there is nothing worse than designing a ‘show home’ that you can’t relax in or enjoy”
evolve (for example, children, pets etc) is a big consideration and will determine many factors within the design such as colours, materials, layouts etc.
· Invest in good quality materials: Whether that’s your flooring, kitchen worktop or pieces of furniture. Invest now and save later. By investing in good quality pieces, they’ll stand the test of time and not need to be replaced.
VISIT US IN ROBERTSBRIDGE FOR ALL YOUR ESTATE AND GARDEN MACHINERY NEEDS
Follies have been an important feature of English and French landscapes for hundreds of years.
Our concept of what constitutes a folly is very much in the eyes of the beholder. In other words, it could be ornamental or decorative; it could have a practical purpose disguised to blend or contrast with the landscape; it may be eclectic in its design, or historic, or it could be very contemporary. And it is likely to be a focal point in the garden
Think of the Pantheon at Stourhead in Wiltshire for example. The view of the temple and the Palladian bridge is iconic, created by Henry Hoare and his son in the mid-18th Century and designed by the renowned architect Henry Flitcroft. (www.nationatrust.org.uk)
In the modern garden the folly
might masquerade as a garden room, or a ‘man cave’. Cedar clad boxes (there are some very nice ones) immediately spring to mind. But it could be a building of architectural merit that adds something to
the garden. Take for example the stunning mirrored building that reflects the landscape. Called the ÖÖD House and distributed in the UK by Roundwood of Mayfield (www.roundwood.com) it
sits beautifully in any landscape. This particular example doubles up as an Air BnB!
The folly combines the practical with the aesthetic. That means it could work as an office, a potting shed, a gym, a music room, a bar area, a wellness centre, or even an outdoor lounge.
We recently visited the Millennium Pavilion at Oare House in Wiltshire. The property is a grade 1 listed house dating from 1740. Built for the London wine merchant Henry Deacon. Along a tree lined avenue to the west of the gardens, at the peak of a slope, stands a stunning piece of architecture that contrasts splendidly with the Georgian mansion. It was designed by the famous Chinese American architect I.M. Peri (famous for the Louvre Pyramid) as a summerhouse and was completed in 2004 for the businessman Sir Henry Keswick and his wife Tessa.
Back on Mother Earth we have recently designed and built our own folly in the shape and style of a Moroccan Riad garden building. You can visit this at Corker Outdoor Living www. corker.co.uk Conceived by George Sykes, our folly fulfils a similar role as the Millennium Pavilion, which is that of an outdoor lounge and relaxation space, all under cover.
At nearby Sissinghurst there are at least two follies worth visiting. The one I find most interesting is the Sissinghurst Gazebo. It is a beautiful weatherboard building, reminiscent of an angular Kentish Oast House. The building was erected in 1969 as a memorial to Sir Harold Nicholson, the husband of Vita Sackville-West. One of Nicholson’s sons used the Gazebo as his office, beautifully perched on the banks of the moat that borders the meadow at Sissinghurst. On a recent visit I discovered that the building, designed by Francis Pym, is the exact size and dimensions of the Apollo 11 command module which took Armstrong and Aldrin to the moon that same year. What an amazing provenance to give to a building! (www.nationaltrust.org.uk)
One other icon I have recently
had the pleasure of enjoying is the folly at Hauser & Wirth in Somerset. This is called the Radic Pavilion and it was designed by Chilean Architect, Smiljan Radic in 2014. Originally featured at the Serpentine London, it now rests in its permanent location amidst the incredible perennial meadow garden created by Dutch landscape architect, Piet Oudolf. (www.hauserwirth.com)
Finally, if you are thinking of creating a folly on a budget then look no further. Here we have a clever way of disguising a common garden shed and turning it into a stunning garden studio. The building is insulated and clad inside and out, with lighting, heating, WiFi and music. It even has a fridge! www.gardenproud.co.uk
For further information or help with your garden design contact Tim Sykes on 07725 173820.
- Mow the lawn regularly, probably every week
- Strim borders
- Keep the weeds at bay
- Cut back early flowering plants such as tulips, once the foliage has withered
- Plant up summer pots
- Water the greenhouse and pots regularly if there is no rain
- Use slow release plant food in containers and pots and hanging baskets
- Trim hedges and topiary
- Keep the plants in your greenhouse properly watered
“Follies can be ornamental or have a more practical purpose”
Tim Sykes Gardenproud
With over 5,000 roses blooming across the estate in June, Anne Boleyn’s childhood home of Hever Castle & Gardens, is a magnet for rose lovers. Later this month garden writer and organic pioneer, Val Bourne will conduct two special rose tours at Hever on June 20 and 21. Ahead of her visit, she speaks to Vikki Rimmer about how to tend roses and also reveals some of her favourite blooms…
Perhaps one of the most well-known rose lovers is garden writer Val Bourne, who has been specially invited to give a walking tour of the famous rose garden at Hever Castle and dispense her unique advice on how to grow roses organically.
Val Bourne has been growing roses in her garden in the Cotswolds for 17 years and has perfected multiple ways of producing repeat flowering roses, as well as strategies for keeping the good insects in her garden and any disease out.
Val says: “My garden is living proof that you can grow roses organically and without resorting to spraying. I am excited to be at Hever Castle & Gardens this June and to share my favourite floribundas, hybrid teas, English roses, hybrid musks, rugosas, Ramblers and Gallicas with the rose-loving public during Hever In Bloom.
“I will be bringing my 10 favourite roses and enjoying the display in the Italian Garden produced by the head gardener
Neil Miller, who is also passionate about roses.”
Val Bourne’s talk will focus not just on the maintenance of the UK’s favourite flower but also on the different types, the breeders to buy from, the best flower shapes for insects, under-planting, feeding and pruning.
Neil Miller, head gardener at Hever Castle & Gardens adds:
“We are delighted that Val Bourne will be our guest speaker during Hever in Bloom. Val has an encyclopedic knowledge of roses, and her passion and humour make her talks and tours wonderfully engaging!”
Hever will welcome Val Bourne on 20 June at 14:00 and on 21 June at 11:30 for talks.
Neil Miller and his team will also deliver their popular twicedaily tours of the Rose Garden at 11:30 and 14:00.
The sumptuous Gardens at Hever Castle provide the perfect canvas for the rose in the month of June, as these special flowers bloom prolifically – from Rosa Ballerina in the Tudor Garden and ‘Anne Boleyn’ by David Austin producing a misty pink sea of blooms beside Half Moon Pond, to the thousands of floribundas and standard roses delivering an awe-inspiring display climbing the columns and blooming from the beds of the Rose Garden in the Italian Garden.
“Roses come in flushes, so they are terrific in June and early July but then there’s a gap until late summer, so include some companion plants as well in your scheme”
What’s the best way to deal with black spot?
Careful husbandry pays dividends with all roses. As an organic gardener I will not spray! The best way to deal with black spot, which is a fungal disease, is to select healthy roses in the first place. Many people like repeatflowering roses and although some of the older varieties are martyrs to blackspot, there are plenty of modern roses that don’t suffer because the modern tendency is to select for health and vigour.
Bomb-proof roses I grow include ‘Champagne Moment’ and ‘Peach Melba’: both of the these Rose of the Year winners were raised by German breeders Kordes. I also like David Austin’s ‘Wildeve’ and ‘Lark Ascending’, along with
Gareth Fryer’s ‘You’re Beautiful’. If you find yourself struggling with blackspot, which is always worse after a damp and muggy summer, pick up all the fallen leaves because they carry spores. Take the weight out of the rose after flowering is finished, usually in November. Take all the foliage off in December, because the rose doesn’t necessarily need foliage now. Prune carefully in the New Year, taking care to open up the rose so that it forms a cup shape. Mulch around the rose with John Innes 2. This will create a barrier between the soil and the rose stems. Feed with a high-potash fertiliser as the foliage comes back – usually in April.
Which rose bushes have the best aroma?
I love ‘Buff Beauty’. This hybrid
musk was raised from roses that were originally bred by the Reverend Joseph Pemberton, who lived at The Round House, Havering-atte-Bower, Romford in Essex. After he retired, he devoted his life to selecting fragrant roses. It’s a large rose with reddish foliage and loosely-formed soft-apricot flowers. ‘Madame Isaac Péreire’ is considered to have the best fragrance. The large, vivid-pink flowers almost make the nose fizz because it’s slightly peppery, with hints of spice. The lady in question was the wife of the famous French financier. It’s a vigorous, repeatflowering Bourbon rose, raised by Garcon c. 188.
What’s the best way to deal with greenfly or whitefly on roses?
The best way to tackle greenfly is to stand back and allow your garden predators to clear them up for you. Ladybirds need them and they will only lay their clusters of eggs near aphid colonies. Blue tits also need to collect 10,000 tiny wriggly things for their fledglings. Don’t spray your aphids, with a so-called green spray or an insecticide, because you will also kill all your predators. The aphids will come back far quicker and there will be nothing to gobble them up and you’ll end up with more aphids. If aphids on the rose buds and young foliage are bothering you, rub them away with your fingers. These softbodied insects have fragile feeding tubes called stylets and they’re
easily damaged. Whitefly usually arrive later and they are a favourite snack of wrens in my garden. Be tolerant, because insecticides are harmful to human health.
How do you companion plant in your garden - and what do you plant alongside the roses?
Roses come in flushes, so they are terrific in June and early July and then there’s a gap until late summer or early autumn, so you must include companion plants as well. Lots of my snowdrops are planted in the lea of my roses because they flower and fade before the roses. I grow lots of ‘lactiflora’ peonies amidst my roses and they pre-empt the roses. They are mostly creams, whites and pinks and favourites include ‘Duchess de Nemours’, ‘Shirley Temple’ and ‘Gay Paree’. After the peonies and roses have finished, I try to include blues and
Campanula lactiflora ‘Prichard’s Variety’, Stachys macrantha, Geranium ‘Orion’ and Tritelia laxa ‘Queen Fabiola’ are all excellent. Verticals. So important in any border, are represented by two verbascums, the earlier flowering V. phoeniceum ‘Violetta’ and V. chaixii ‘Album’. Latesummer seed a rambling Japanese anemone named ’Pamina’ pop up in the gaps and Japanese anemones have dark stems and downy buds that look like grey seed pearls. Gaura and cosmos end the season, going on until November.
“Madame Isaac Péreire’ is considered to have the best fragrance. The large, vivid-pink flowers almost make the nose fizz because it’s slightly peppery, with hints of spice”
Popular television show Landscape Artist of the Year will be on site during Hever in Bloom this year and visitors will be able to see the artists engaged in their work as they set up their easels in the grounds. Inspired by the show, visitors to the Rose Garden will also be able to enjoy botanical art workshops as part of Hever in Bloom. Hever’s very own gardener and artist Felix Green will delight visitors as he delivers a botanical art workshop twice daily in the Rose Garden and Neil Miller and his team provide twice-daily tours of the heavenly space.
Neil explains: “Felix is a talented member of our team and not only is he a fantastic gardener but he’s also a wonderful artist too so it will be wonderful to see what he creates during his ‘artist in residence’ spot in the garden during Hever in Bloom.” Visitors to the famous Castle will be able to enjoy floral displays and discover fun floral facts around the gardens.
Val Bourne will be leading tours of the famous Rose Garden at Hever Castle & Gardens on June 20 at 2pm and June 21 at 11:30 am as part of Hever in Bloom (on from June 19-22). For details visit hevercastle.co.uk
Aspens charity and local garden designer Camellia Taylor are celebrating an awardwinning Chelsea Flower Show.
The Pembury-based organisation, which provides high quality care and support to individuals on the autism spectrum and those with learning disabilities, worked with Camellia to create the Natural Affinity Garden which went on display at the RHS’s most famous horticultural event last month.
Sponsored by Project Giving Back in the All About Plants category, the garden’s main aim was to raise awareness around the therapeutic value of nature by engaging with each of our seven senses.
It was backed by musician and BBC Radio 2 & 6 presenter Cerys Matthews who, on the first day of the show read from her children’s version of Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas.
The Natural Affinity garden, which was built by The Outdoor Room and supported by Tunbridge Wells law firm Cripps during Chelsea, will be replanted back at Aspens’ HQ on Cornford Lane.
Each planting zone of the design targets specific senses and every aspect of the planting has been
included for sensory stimulation.
“I am so proud and over the moon to have been given a silvergilt medal here at Chelsea,” said Camellia, who before becoming a garden designer worked in psychology supporting autistic children.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has been involved in this project – Aspens, Project Giving Back, The Outdoor Room, all the volunteers and contributors and everyone else who has made this possible. I’m really looking forward to seeing the garden come back to Aspens.”
Cerys added: “This has been such a great opportunity for Aspens to highlight the work they do and raise awareness around autism, learning disabilities and the services the charity delivers.”
Aspens’ Chief Executive Robert Shanahan said: “Central to all we do at Aspens is striving for an inclusive society where people on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities are empowered to thrive.
“We are delighted to have this opportunity to raise awareness of our work and the people we support. When the garden is relocated to our site it will provide our community with an inclusive, inspiring space to relax, recharge and feel safe for many years to come.”
www.aspens.org.uk
2020 marked the year of camping – from endless travel bans to plenty of lockdowns, tents and sleeping bags became the answer to those looking for safe ways to leave the house during COVID-19. But little did we know, three years later, the great outdoors would remain the top travel destination as it firmly holds on to its pandemic popularity. And as one of the most affordable options out there, it’s no surprise so many holidaymakers want to spend their vacations offgrid this year…
Combining the peace and quiet of sleeping under the stars with the opportunity to disconnect and spend time with loved ones, there are few things better than pitching up with only nature for company. And whether it’s the lush wilderness and marvellous landscapes that bring you here, or the great selection of British pubs on offer, southeast England is by far one of the most popular camping destinations with
something on offer for everyone – from secluded coastlines and fairytale forests to picturesque lakes including our largest, Bewl Water. The 800-acre reservoir in Lamberhurst straddles the Kent & Sussex border and is best known for its healthy, outdoor attractions, including its campsite. The facilities are impressive for an offgrid venue, where roomy pitches are scattered throughout naturerich meadows. There’s lots of room for children to play, quiet areas to doze, and plenty of communal space to meet with fellow campers. Hot showers and toilets are close by too, and only a stroll away from any pitch, alongside fresh coldwater taps. Fine dining restaurants, breweries and country pubs can
also be found nearby, or campers can enjoy something to eat from the dog-friendly Waterfront Café. Here, delicious snacks and hot food is served to keep you well fuelled throughout your trip, or you can treat yourself to something sweet from the ice cream parlour.
Operations Manager Kevin Parker said bookings are already up 11% on last year after Bewl Water’s camping season reopened for 2023 last month.
“The campsite has long been a firm favourite amongst families and couples, there’s so much to do here which gets people returning year after year.”
Activities on offer include paddleboarding, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, and fishing alongside a giant inflatable obstacle course – the Aqua Park.
Over on dry land, campers can also book laser tag sessions, hire a bike, or explore the selfguided walking routes that span 12 ½ miles around Bewl’s ancient woodland. An outdoor adventure playground featuring a giant pirate ship can be found overlooking the waters too, or there’s soft play inside next to the café.
“All campers will enjoy 20% off our activities” Kevin explained.
“They’ll get their unique discount code sent within their camping confirmation email, which can then be redeemed when pre-booking any activity – this offer is valid for those staying in our yurts too” he continued.
If you love the idea of reconnecting with nature but aren’t too keen on the basic living arrangements, then glamping at Bewl Water will have all your boxes ticked. It’s camping but with added luxury, style, and fun.
Home to two beautifully furnished Mongolian yurts, each of Bewl Water’s glamping options is suitable for up to four guests. They feature a huge double bed plus two super comfortable singles, all dressed in crisp white linen ensuring the most comfortable night’s sleep.
You can also expect interiors lined with bunting, stunning rustic furniture, a wood-burning stove, your very own tea and coffeemaking facilities and a viewing point for stargazing!
Bewl Water’s camping season runs until September 2023, and bookings can be made at bewlwater.co.uk/book-now. Prices per night cost from £8 per child, or £15 per adult, or for a luxury getaway in the yurts, just £125 per night based on a 2-night stay.
Morning campers! Did you know June isn’t only National Camping Month but Great Outdoors Month too? And to celebrate, Bewl Water is hosting their biggest giveaway ever where one lucky winner and three friends will enjoy a two-night glamping trip plus a host of other goodies, including gifts from international sports brand Trespass! To enter, follow @bewlwater and @trespass on Instagram and like, share, and comment on the pinned post. As well as a two-night stay in one of the luxury Mongolian yurts, you’ll win free tickets for an activity of your choice, plus 20% off all other attractions, free bike hire, a welcome basket, fresh pastries each morning, an afternoon tea picnic, and a hamper of camping essentials from Trespass. You have until 12pm on Friday, June 30 to enter before the winner is announced at 7pm. Good luck!
As the finer weather is now here it’s a great time to go camping. And where could be better to pitch up than the scenic serenity of Bewl Water…
“Southeast England is one of the most popular camping destinations with something on offer for everyone including secluded coastlines, fairytale forests and picturesque lakes”
Datai Langkawi has its work cut out, but it’s doing its best to nurture its little slice of paradise, says Josie Clarke
It’s 6am and I’m cocooned in absolute luxury amid the trees in a 10-million-year-old rainforest. Quietly sipping a coffee high on the balcony of my villa, all I can see is every shade of green, shot through with the occasional riot of feathered colour swooping past.
I can hear the dawn chorus, gently backed by the sound of a stream at the bottom of the valley below. Relaxation drifts down like
a soft blanket.
Playful dusky langur monkeys lark about high overhead. Less than 50 metres away, an oriental pied hornbill flies to and from its nesting partner and chick, supplying figs plucked from a tree near the hotel’s main pool. There’s a suspicious rustle in the leaves below but I keep my eyes up.
Nestled under the forest’s ancient canopy and edged by white sands, the Datai Langkawi resort is a
haven for nature lovers, just an hour’s flight from the concrete metropolis of Kuala Lumpur. And while the Datai prides itself on its “unparalleled luxury”, it unapologetically places the wellbeing of the jungle and the creatures that live in it first and foremost.
Even before they enter through the sleek gates, guests are politely warned that they will be sharing the space with a wide array of enigmatic animals and are advised to keep the doors and windows of their rooms locked at all times or risk a cheeky monkey helping itself to the mini bar.
The lily and frog-filled pool in the lobby – that bursts into a noisy cacophony when night falls – is the first indication that this is to be no ordinary hotel stay. From there, the main pool and its fig tree bustling – particularly at dusk – with birds and monkeys lead on towards the beach, via the resort’s open-air ‘grand staircase’ – a title that somewhat underplays an experience that surrounds you with the smells and sounds of the jungle.
One guest tells me she has
“Whenever I’m facing any troubles in my life, I think of walking down the grand staircase. It’s my therapy”
visited the Datai 12 times over the years with her extended family (she is one of many repeat visitors I meet during my stay), reveals: “Whenever I’m facing any troubles in my life, I think of walking down the grand staircase. It’s my therapy.”
Further down, the path leads through the Butterfly Walk, bordered with specially-chosen nectar plants to attract more than 530 species of butterflies on
the island down from the jungle canopy.
The resort’s purpose-built nature centre houses a team of naturalists and marine biologists where resident – and renowned – naturalist Irshad Mobarak developed the resort’s responsibility for protecting its environment into “The Datai Pledge”.
The programme of practical initiatives aims to create a sustainable future for the resort, while offering guests a variety of experiences, in order to better understand their fascinating but fragile surroundings.
The resort has partnered with local NGOs and social enterprises, including marine mammal conservationists MareCet, whose scientists take us out for a morning on the waters around Langkawi, to observe their research work into the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and finless porpoises.
MareCet guide Sherlynn Ng describes the Datai’s efforts as “really impressive”.
“Nine in 10 Malaysians probably wouldn’t even know we have dolphins out here, but the Datai is giving its guests the opportunity to find out about them and spread the word that they’re here and they need protecting.”
The resort is also working to regenerate the bay’s reef with five large artificial steel frames “planted” with rehabilitated corals from the resort’s nursery within the nature centre, where they are cared for until they are healthy enough to be returned to the sea.
It is working with Malaysia’s Department of Fisheries to reach local people and encourage them to fish sustainably, with the hotel operating a buy-back scheme for their catch.
Back on land, we join an evening walk guided by nature centre manager Dev Dass, serenaded by cicadas so loud that guests have mistaken them for car alarms. Dev halts a few meters in and says: “Hear that! That’s the sound of a healthy forest.” A great hornbill calls out above us.
Another 100 meters in, though, and he stops again. He points out an aquilaria tree, highly prized for its use in perfumes, although most of its resinous agarwood has been scraped away by poachers. “We’re not going to be able to save this one,” he says, crestfallen.
The Datai now employs 35 rangers to secure the perimeter of the resort’s 1,800 acres from poachers.
It has also heavily invested in cutting the resort’s waste, with its own glass water bottling system. Single-use plastic is practically outlawed, and even the boutique’s assistant apologetically refuses to let me keep the manufacturer’s plastic wrapping on a shirt that I’m by now ashamed to say would have been quite handy for the
flight home.
Nothing leaves the resort bound for landfill. Food waste is sorted, drained of liquid and donated to local chicken farmers and dog homes. Crushing machines turn glass into fragments to be mixed into concrete and polystyrene into filling for bean bags, while the team’s pride and joy is “the Asher”, an incinerator producing only steam and neutral ashes, which can be used to improve the forest floor.
Guests can tour the permaculture kitchen garden and pick herbs and vegetables to use in a cooking class, or participate in craft sessions using leftover coffee grounds from the kitchen and burned-down candles from the rooms, to create their own unique memento.
The focus on a gentle, relaxing stay at one with the environment extends to the evening, when you might catch the sound of the piano floating from the bar. This is no party resort, and the lights are kept as low as possible overnight, because the forest’s nocturnal creatures need it to be dark.
Our farewell experience is “Mandi Embun”, an early morning leisurely walk into the
forest, culminating with immersing ourselves under the waterfall of a pristine stream. It’s a ritual long practised by the Malay people to achieve wellness and longevity.
Irshad, who is guiding us, speaks of his pride at the Datai’s efforts to turn a guest’s stay into a lasting appreciation of the glories of nature.
“When you’re breaking new ground, you can see other hotels tucking their shirts in, pulling their socks up.
“May this be the start of something bigger.”
Stay seven nights in a Canopy Garden Room at The Datai Langkawi on a bed and breakfast basis, including economy flights from London Heathrow with Malaysia Airlines, private transfers and UK airport lounge passes from £2,210 per person with Elegant Resorts (01244 897581; elegantresorts.co.uk).
“Hear that! That’s the sound of a healthy forest”
emissions and improve efficiency, but it does feel like a largely ‘usual’ diesel engine. With 296bhp and 650Nm of torque, it’s got more than enough power to hulk this leviathan along and, in fact, a zero to 60mph time of 7.1 seconds isn’t half bad.
Land Rover says you should get a smidge over 31mpg combined, while CO2 emissions stand at 234g/km. As with all Defenders, you get full four-wheel-drive and a suite of off-road assistance systems to help you go here, there and everywhere.
The new 130 has space for eight people, but will everyone on board have a good experience? Jack Evans finds out…
How do you go about tweaking the Land Rover Defender? The chunky off-road-focused model has been a smash-and-grab hit for this British firm, delivering a premium finish, a high-tech interior and plenty of capability wrapped up in a good-looking exterior. So where else do you go after shortwheelbase 90 and long-wheelbase 110 versions?
For Land Rover, that’s the 130. It’s got an extra seat over the 110, bringing eight individual chairs in total. But does this peoplecarrying ability dent the appeal of the Defender overall? We’ve been finding out.
The bulk of the changes surround those extra seating places, of course, but elsewhere things are pretty much tried-and-tested
Defender. Measuring in at 5,358mm with the spare wheel equipped, the 130 is not compact by any stretch of the imagination, and it’s also 340mm longer than the regular 110. You better be ready to find the largest parking spaces you possibly can. But apart from this growth spurt over the 110, there’s not an awful lot to differentiate the 130 from the rest of the range. Head-on, you’d be hard-pressed to tell it apart from the standard-length Defender – it’s only when you move around the side that you realise things aren’t quite what they usually seem.
The 130 we’re testing is powered by a relatively traditional 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine. Granted, it’s got some mildhybrid assistance to help lower
As you might expect, the driving experience with the 130 is dominated by its size. This comes into play when you’re parking, driving at slower speeds or even just gauging how much space you have when reversing. Parallel parking takes some real effort, despite the variety of sensors and cameras you have at your disposal. However, up-and-running things are pretty much straightforward Defender. There’s a tiny bit more chassis shake over lumps and bumps, but at speed the 130 is refined and comfortable. The 3.0-litre diesel engine is a great pairing, too, as it provides wellproportioned acceleration that never leaves the Defender feeling like it’s lacking in power.
As we’ve already touched upon, from many angles the Defender 130 looks like its shorter stablemates – apart from side-on, that is. When looked at from that angle, the 130 does look a little strange to the eye, with the rear, elongated section appearing a little grafted on at the back.
The proportions of many of the panels are the same, but it’s that rear section which does appear a touch heavy – to our eyes, at least.
Big and spacious, the Defender 130 is definitely a roomy way of getting around. The forward part of the cabin is dominated by chunky, robust stylings and nicely finished materials – just as we expect from the mod ern Defender – while plenty of charging points dotted throughout the interior means you’ve a variety of options for topping-up devices.
There are three seats in the second row and three seats in the rearmost row, with all providing a decent amount of leg and headroom. When you’ve got all the seats in place there’s
MODEL:
Land Rover Defender 130
PRICE AS TESTED: £86,785
ENGINE: 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel engine with mild-hybrid assistance
POWER: 296bhp
TORQUE: 650Nm
MAX SPEED: 119mph
0-60MPH: 7.1 seconds
ECONOMY: 31.6mpg
CO2 EMISSIONS: 234g/km
still a decent 398 litres of space –loaded to the roof – but fold down both rows and there’s a huge 2,516 litres there to play with.
Prices from the Defender 130 kick off from £73,850, nabbing you an X-Dynamic SE model with 20-inch alloy wheels, 12way adjustable and heated front seats and a full Meridian sound system as standard, alongside a turbocharged petrol engine. It’s worth adding that prices for the 110 start from £66,395.
Our test car, in a higherspecification X-Dynamic HSE trim level and equipped with that diesel engine tipped the scales at £86,785, with a smattering of options such as an extended gloss black exterior pack (£975) and an Eiger Grey exterior paint (£895) helping to bump the price up. However, the standard equipment that you get with the 130 is already good, so there’s not much need to trouble the options list too much.
You could argue that the arrival of the 130 waters down the spirit of the ‘original’ Defender, but for many people it’ll come as a valuable alternative to the ‘standard’ versions of this car and enable a lot more people to come along for the ride.
It’s also remarkably well executed, with a great cabin and a nicely refined driving experience. For most drivers, the 110 will provide more than enough space but for those motorists who do need that extra people-carrying ability then the Defender 130 is a nicely polished option.
