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Contents
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
INSIDE THIS WINTER ISSUE onemaidstone.com / magazine
O N E M A I D ST O N E The One Maidstone Business Improvement District is a not for profit organisation representing Maidstone town centre. We provide services such as Ambassador patrols, Christmas lights, CCTV monitoring and security radio network. For more information on our work , visit www.onemaidstone.com
FRONT COVER
Woods Designer Clothing
08_
BACK COVER
Headonism Hairdressing
Businesses post their Letters from Lockdown.
Images by One Maidstone
16_ Matestone cooks up a new plan for sales.
20_ 24_
The Children’s Trust thank shoppers for giving back.
Salon owner Eve grows through the pandemic.
@onemaidstone
As this third issue of the One Maidstone town centre magazine goes to print, Maidstone is in its third national lockdown. Three times lucky? Whilst we can’t tell you if restrictions will have eased when you read this, we can tell you that businesses need your support, now more than ever, whether they’re opening their shutters or selling their wares online. Within this issue, we’ll explore what multiple shutdowns have meant for our town centre - and for you. Whether you’re a key worker, a home schooling parent, or are now carrying out your job from home, we’ve all had to adapt to new ways of living, working and shopping. As constant changes in news, guidance and rules can take their toll, we’re offering you some ways to take good care of yourself this winter, with things to buy and do at home whilst still giving your custom to local companies. We’ve asked town centre businesses to write you, our nearby readers, a letter from lockdown, so that you may better understand the strain they face, how they are working to best serve you safely, and what they’d love you to do to show your support now, and as they navigate through another phase of re-opening. We hope this special shutdown issue has helped to keep you in touch with your town centre team, and the shops and services we represent - we look forward to welcoming you back in person as soon as we can.
Ilsa Butler ILSA BUTLER
One Maidstone BID Manager
BID Manager Ilsa Butler ilsa.butler@ onemaidstone.com Marketing and Communications Manager / Editor Sarah-Jane Adams sarah-jane.adams@ onemaidstone.com One Maidstone Mall Management Suite, Pads Hill, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6AT 01622678777
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
LETTER FROM THE BID MANAGER
CO N TA C T
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Welcome
PHOTOGRAPHY, UNLESS OTHERWISE CREDITED, BY SARAH-JANE ADAMS AT ONE MAIDSTONE
NOTE ON SOCIAL DISTANCING Please be aware that some images used within this issue were taken before the implementation of social distancing or mandatory mask use by business staff .
THIS MAGAZINE HAS BEEN PRODUCED BY THE ONE MAIDSTONE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT TO SUPPORT TOWN CENTRE BUSINESSES.
To enquire about advertising sales for future issues, or free feature opportunities for town centre traders, contact sarah-jane.adams@ onemaidstone.com © Copyright 2021, produced by the One Maidstone Business Improvement District.
onemaidstone.com
NEWS
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
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THE ONE MAIDSTONE BID HAS ITS FINGER ON THE TOWN CENTRE PULSE!
MAMMA MIA, VESUVIUS DELIVERS! Circumstances permitting, Italian eatery Vesuvius Restaurant in Lower Stone Street will be offering a new and improved takeaway and delivery service from Friday 5th February. This new scheme will initially be available on weekend evenings (Friday to Sunday.) Owner Alessandro is planning to have set up an online store by this time, offering some of the Italian food and drink served at the restaurant, or that guests have asked for over the years. “Even if we cannot serve them face to face for a bit, we will do our best to bring our Italian deliciousness to their homes!”
Instagram: @rupertpugley
Fireaway Pizza is now open! GET SOME FIRE IN YOUR BELLY! Popular pizza chain Fireaway has opened its first outlet in Maidstone town centre. Situated in Earl Street, the heat is on for collection and delivery.
COMPETITION WINNERS In the last issue, we gave readers the chance to win a tour for two of Maidstone Distillery, and a couple’s massage at J Sabai Spa. Winner of Maidstone Distillery tour: Gray Cooper and guest Winner of J Sabai Spa massage voucher: Gayle Barker and guest
CHRISTMAS IS GOING TO THE DOGS! The town centre Christmas lights, provided by One Maidstone, are usually a hit with businesses and members of the public - but this year they found new fans, with Maidstone’s canine community! Both Rupert Pugley, who has mastered the art of taking his own selfies, and rescue greyhound Hunter Supreme enjoyed a visit to see the display. We think we may have to run a competition for best pooch picture for 2021?! Instagram: @rupertpugley and @journeyofarescuegreyhound
@onemaidstone
NEWS
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News to share? If you’re a town centre business with something going on, let us know! Email: sarah-jane.adams@ onemaidstone.com
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
FOLLOW THE BID ON SOCIAL MEDIA Keep up with the work of the One Maidstone Business Improvement District, as well as updates about your town centre at: Instagram: @onemaidstone Twitter : @onemaidstone facebook .com/onemaidstonebid youtube.com/c/onemaidstone SALON ENDS YEAR ON A GOLDEN NOTE
Instagram: @journeyofarescuegreyhound
Botanical Beauty in Gabriel’s Hill has walked away with a top county-wide award, despite having to collect their prize online! The team earnt Beauty Salon of the Year at the Kent Health and Beauty Awards, 2020. Owner Nikki Creelman says of the achievement: “ The date kept getting pushed back due to the virus but eventually in September 2020 we were finalists, and in December it went out as an online live event for the presentation - it was meant to be at a hotel in October but due to Coronavirus it was cancelled. The salon won GOLD for beauty salon of the year in Kent and one of my therapists Hannah won silver in the Kent Beauty Therapist of the Year category. This was amazing, considering the year we’ve had, so it did really feel good to end the year on a high!”
DRESSING UP GOES DIGITAL! With their princess parties and magical makeovers currently on pause, the Fairy’s Tale, Market Buildings, have taken the sparkle online with the launch of a new shopping site. Offerings include treats such as dressing up outfits, adorable accessories, and experience vouchers to redeem when the premises are open once more. www.the-fairy-s-tale.myshopif y.com
onemaidstone.com
TOWN CENTRE
BID BACKS BUSINESS B I D PR OJ E C T S
All eyes on us
Your One Maidstone BID
has secured town centre CCTV monitoring.
T he One Maidstone
Business Improvement District has pledged to save live CCT V for the town centre, as active monitoring came under threat. In light of a Council decision to move to a record-only system for its CCTV network, not for profit BID organisation One Maidstone approached Maidstone Borough Council with the offer of delivering a 24-hour monitoring service for the town centre, committing to fund operatives itself at no cost to MBC. This proposal was accepted, and a trial period began between the two parties at the beginning of June 2020. One Maidstone used this time to identify the best working practices required to provide 24/7 coverage, and to decide where it could place further investment to ensure the best possible service. After six months of trial
operation, One Maidstone and MBC have now deemed it both viable and desirable for the One Maidstone Business Improvement District to take over live monitoring of Maidstone town centre’s CCTV network on a permanent basis, thus ensuring that pictures and intelligence are available as events unfold, rather than to watch back retrospectively. This transfer of operations has been welcomed by the town centre businesses that One Maidstone represents. In a recent survey conducted
by the One Maidstone BID of town centre businesses, 90% reported that they felt actively monitored CCTV was a priority, whilst the same proportion also said this should be carried out 24/7. BID Manager Ilsa Butler says of the progress: “ We understand the importance of monitored CCTV for the town centre businesses that we represent, as well as its value in helping those who live, work and visit Maidstone to feel safe, and to be safe. To this end, we feel it’s a positive step that we have
@onemaidstone
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
One Maidstone will now continue to provide trained CCTV monitoring operatives to complement the town centre radio system it already manages. Reports and requests for assistance can be received by One Maidstone via its Business Crime Reduction Partnership radio network, supported by viewing any active incidents via the CCTV system. One Maidstone Ambassadors can be deployed to the scene if appropriate, and / or the Police notified.
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have been able to negotiate with MBC to facilitate One Maidstone providing a monitoring service, a move that has been welcomed by businesses. The successful six month trial carried out by One Maidstone evidences our ability to prevent a move to a record-only system – combined with our widely used town centre security radios and our close partnership work with Kent Police, we believe that this new service from the BID will help reduce and prevent crime moving forwards.”
MEMBERSHIP FREE FOR SECURIT Y RADIOS As an acknowledgement of the financial strain that the pandemic has placed upon everyone running a business, the BID has taken the decision to offer membership of the MaidSafe crime reduction partnership at no further extra cost to the levy contributors, following a one-off payment of £200 for the radio equipment, thus eliminating the £10 per week charge previously attached. (Non levy payers will still be asked to contribute a membership fee.) We are also moving the secure partnership website to the Disc system, the preferred platform of Kent Police. This system will operate in much the same way as the previous secure members website, but benefits from a higher level of GDPR safety and includes the facility to automatically report to the Police when an incident is loaded. An introduction to this user friendly system and guide to its practical use will be shared when the system is ready to launch. We will also be rebranding MaidSafe as the One Maidstone Business Crime Reduction Partnership to recognise the input of our levy payers, partners and the cohesive approach that we adopt when considering the community in which we all work.
onemaidstone.com
BUSINESS
LOCKDOWN 2021 LO CA L L I VE S
Letters from Lockdown We help businesses reach out to readers to share their thoughts during tough times.
With three national
shutdowns, and a period of Tier 4 closures to contend with, the past twelve months have been a true test for town centre businesses of all types.
VESUVIUS RESTAURANT, 26 Lower Stone Street, www.vesuvius-restaurant.co.uk
One Maidstone has been in touch with traders to ask them, if they could write a letter from lockdown to Maidstone’s members of the public, what would they say? Here are their responses.
revenues, we decided we would close until we would be allowed to serve the public face to face again. It was a bit of a blow, since we had respected all the rules and spent money and time doing so, and losing the Christmas business, which is usually the busiest time.
“ This lockdown was a bit more unexpected than the first. We tried to stay open for delivery and takeaway, but due to
We have now accepted that our books for this financial year will show the worst numbers we have seen since opening back in 2012, but obviously, we traded freely for only 4 out of 12 months during that time, so it is understandable. During this lockdown however, we found the financial support from the government was not on par to the previous lockdown, but still very grateful to receive anything at all, especially the furlough to help us keep our full time staff with us and survive these further months of inactivity. The day when we can finally open our doors again and welcome back all our amazing guests just cannot come quickly enough. We have kept in touch with our regulars through social media, so we know they are all looking forward to coming back to visit us. All we can do is hope that when the restrictions are finally lifted, we can go back to offering our guests our warm family welcome without any more interruptions. Good things come to those who wait!”
Market Buildings, January 2021
Alessandro @onemaidstone
BUSINESS
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BANKS BAR, 76 Bank Street, www.banksmaidstone.com
NOVEMBER 2020
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
The Mall, June 2020
“ The first lockdown gave us a great opportunity to ensure we could use our courtyard to its full potential - our re-opening may have been brief, but it was worth it. The support from the team we have at Banks, our guests, other businesses, as well as the talented DJs we have the pleasure of hosting has been priceless. It has been a hugely reflective experience. Regrettably, lockdowns 2 and 3 have meant our doors have had to remain closed, much like the similar businesses across town. It has been disheartening arranging some fantastic events to have to cancel and postpone all the time. It is an extremely difficult balance to know when to schedule events and a very real fear that the industry may never return to what it was. Despite nearly a year’s worth of obstacles, we’re confident it will be worth the wait!
Sessions Square, January 2021
The key factor is the wellbeing of our team and guests - as frustrated as we may all be feeling, we are lucky to be able to stay home with our loved ones. We are beyond grateful for the continued support - stay safe, and it will be one hell of a party when we can have you all back at Banks!”
J U LY 2 0 2 0
Kim onemaidstone.com
BUSINESS BALDWINS TRAVEL, 21-23 Earl Street, www.baldwinstravel.co.uk “Lockdown has affected our business due to the government travel restrictions. Holidays are being cancelled by suppliers and clients are unable to travel during this period. We are working hard behind closed doors, as the cancellations need to be processed. Clients can choose to either book for a later date or request a refund. Lockdown has generated a huge amount of administration, with no income being made. Although our branches have been closed, we are OPEN! Our team are working from home and are able to accept telephone calls, respond to emails and arrange a Zoom meeting. Baldwins Travel is an ABTA, ATOL & IATA bonded agent, so when booking your holiday with us your money is FULLY PROTECTED. Our team is highly knowledgeable, and will always find the right holiday for you. Everyone will be in need of a holiday to look forward to once travel restrictions are lifted! Baldwins Travel is here and ready when you are.”
LOCKDOWN 2021
HAIRY BEAR BARBERS, 70 Union Street, www. unionstreet-hairy-bear.business.site “ The lockdown has greatly impacted The Maidstone Hairy Bear because we have had to close down again. Being a new start-up business this has been a real shame as we were trying to establish a new customer base only for us to be shut down. Because barbering is a close contact service, we have had to adapt the way we work to ensure that we are Covid compliant. Because we have a seating area at the front and a large rear garden, we are able to offer very socially distanced waiting areas for everyone. When the weather improves, we will be installing sun loungers in the garden so that our customers can soak up the sun whilst the kids have a haircut. We have had to undertake increased cleaning in the shop, we use disposable gowns for all customers and our barbers have to wear visors and masks. We have adapted well and so far none of our barbers have tested positive for Covid-19. When the lockdown ends we are asking all of our customers to book an appointment using our booking system at www.thehairybear.booksy.com and they can guarantee a booking without having to wait. We will be accepting walk-ins too though so please feel free to pop in for a cut. We are asking though that customers do not come to the shop if they have any Covid symptoms or if they are self-isolating.”
Wesley
@onemaidstone
BUSINESS
Fremlin Walk, August 2020
Fargs, 17 Pudding Lane, www.fargs.co.uk “Although we understand the need for it, the lockdown has been terrible for our business, and the entire barbering industry - unfortunately you can’t order haircuts online or to click and collect, so we’re desperately waiting to be able to reopen and get back to doing what we do best!
King Street, January 2021
From the start of the pandemic our focus has been on our staff and our customers’ safety, so we introduced online bookings rather than a walk-in system, removed barber chairs to increase social distancing and cleaning routines between each customer. Our message to the readers of One Maidstone’s town centre magazine would be, if you can, let your hair grow through this lockdown, and book in with us as soon as it’s over. We had some pretty savage kitchen scissor cuts to sort out after the last lockdown!
Royal Star Arcade, July 2020
Hopefully this time around it won’t be such a long wait, and people won’t have been as tempted to have a go at it themselves!”
Steve High Street, June 2020
onemaidstone.com
LO CA L L I VE S
BUSINESS Image: Lau
“Lockdown during the first wave dramatically affected our business but the initial shutdown made us focus immediately on what we needed to do to survive after a period of closure. We needed to really focus on literally every step that a guest would take in our salon, from entry and temperature checking, to exit with a complimentary take home hand sanitiser. The priority was to ensure the complete safety of our team whilst still maintaining the 5 star service and reputation of our hairdressing salon for our guests. The time that we were closed during the first lockdown was completely consumed with redesigning our business, placing safety as our number one priority. We redecorated throughout the building, adding perspex safety screens where needed at the reception and basin areas. We removed 5 working hairdressing positions on the ground floor and extended our working area upstairs into a brand new VIP Room to ensure the correct social distancing whilst working with our guests. We have an automatic Sanitation Station on entry and hand gel
LAU HAIRDRESSING, 13 Gabriel’s Hill, www.lau-hair.com including disposable recycled towels, gowns, retail bags and drinking cups. Please contact us when you feel ready to return to Lau Hairdressing on 01622 670557. We are happy to show any clients our duty of care conformity information and we will still be able to give our usual luxury level of hairdressing and service, but with the added confidence that every precaution has been put in place to ensure your safety whilst visiting Lau Hairdressing. We will welcome you all back as soon as we possibly can.“
Damon
dispensers at every hairdressing position. Each and every contact point in the salon is antibacterial deep cleaned and sanitised after every use. Every stylist has their own equipment and working trolley and even cleaning products that no-one else can touch. Throughout the day you will also see that chemical fogging is used throughout the salon and this also includes every single retail item within our salon shop. We have introduced disposable PPE,
We loved Lau’s balloon homage to Maidstone’s key workers during the summer of 2020!
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SERVICES
BID BACKS BUSINESS N EW YE A R , N EW YO U
Get the lockdown look Enhance Clinic in Starnes Court is facing up to a new beauty normal.
K eeping up
S TA R N E S
CO U R T
appearances is much harder with the closure of Enhance Clinic. “ The industry has been hit hard by the lockdowns - in a time when people are feeling nervous and scared, it would be normal to turn to the things that make us feel better, like getting our nails done, visiting our hairdresser or getting botox! Image: Enhance Clinic
We took on a new premises and expanded the business during the first lockdown and were faced with issues from builders that certainly weren’t helped by the pandemic. We have a very loyal client base and as soon as we could open, our appointment books were full with us working extra hours to ensure we could see clients before another lockdown came into force. The further lockdowns meant we had to cancel appointments and move appointments last minute to ensure we could see as many of our clients as possible. Lockdown has given people
a lot of time to re-evaluate themselves - our fitness, our appearances and lifestyle choices. It’s only natural that people are looking at ways to improve, change and better themselves. This has also given people the chance to research procedures that they had only thought about in the past but had not had the time to look into further and now have that chance. People want to live for the present - it has reminded so many people that life is short, so we should enjoy ourselves, book a holiday when we can and buy the lips!
We can’t wait to open the doors to the clinic again! We love our clients and have missed them whilst we have been closed. We are working hard during lockdown to ensure that we can offer the best experience for our clients when we can re-open! For anyone thinking of having a treatment, we are currently offering digital consultations and arranging treatment plans so that when we are open we can help people be the best version of themself.” www.enhanceclinicuk .com
onemaidstone.com
DINING
BID BACKS BUSINESS A PI E C E O F CA K E
N EW TOWN CENTRE BUSINESS
Chelsea Buns
Open for one day before lockdown? That’s the way the cookie crumbles.
A rtisan baker Chelsea
Prior is concentrating on tiers of a more enjoyable kind that those imposed by the government let them (and more importantly us!) eat cake! “Having always made cakes for friends and family, and growing up watching my Nan create the most amazing wedding cakes, I started my cake business in 2015 whilst on maternity leave. I started making occasion cakes but quickly found my passion was in wedding cakes, so for the last 2 years I have only made wedding cakes and create around 100 bespoke wedding cakes every year. I love what I do and I have the most amazing clients. It is very exciting to have a town centre premises and I think it will be a great move for my business. I had a smaller premises just outside of the town centre for the last year but I decided to take the leap and take on a larger space so that I could open my dream studio and extend my business
London Wedding Photography
to also include my sugarcraft school. I have always wanted to have a large studio and space to create a school to share my knowledge and skills with other cake makers but have never had the opportunity until now. Taking this leap during a global pandemic was a big risk but after moving over 100 weddings from 2020 across to what was already a very busy 2021, I needed the additional space and I also looked at this as a way of future proofing my
business. So I went for it! With no weddings going ahead in 2020, I had no income for the entire year - now having the space to open my sugar craft school, I have another way to keep doing what I love and keep my business thriving. The most recent lockdown meant that my launch in December was very quiet and short lived. After opening my new shop, to a very quiet town centre, the next day I closed again due to new restrictions and haven’t been able to
@onemaidstone
DINING
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Rebecca Carpenter Photography
re-open fully yet. I am however, now offering postal items, treat boxes and celebration cakes for click and collect and delivery.
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
Having only just collected the keys, Chelsea’s Royal Star studio awaits custom.
Sammy Taylor Wedding Photography
The last year has been very hard - with the wedding industry coming to a complete halt, I lost an entire year of revenue and I was devastated when I was unable to have a big launch to open my shop and have since had to close. But as soon as things get better I will be ready to open again and will be back bigger than ever! We will have our Cakeaway Counter open, offering artisan brownies, brookies and sweet treats and I will be welcoming my wedding couples to my studio for their wedding consultations to discuss their wedding ideas, so that I can design and create a beautiful bespoke cake for them. I am also so excited to be opening the doors to Chelsea Buns Sugarcraft School. I will be offering lots of classes, suitable for all ages and skill levels, to teach cake makers how to create the most beautiful and professional quality cakes and sugar flowers. Rebecca Carpenter Photography
There has been a huge baking boom over lockdown, and people seem to be loving creating bakes at home and trying their hand at cake decorating, so I am looking forward to helping the new wave of bakers embrace their new hobbies and perhaps even help some of them turn their baking passion into a new business venture.” www.chelseabuns.co.uk 43 Royal Star Arcade
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BID BACKS BUSINESS
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
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DINING
Matestone Coffee House
Matestone has kept the coffee coming through a difficult opening year in the town centre.
M a te s to n e h a ve wo ke n u p a n d s m e l t t h e c o f f e e f o r t h e i r n ew p a r t n e r s h i p !
P opular coff ee hangout
Matestone in Pudding Lane knows that the best way to get through the pandemic is by working together - which is why they ’ ve teamed up with the Hungry Hog to off er a new range of hearty fare. Owner Sandra explains: “ With the last lockdown in November, we had to come up with an idea on how to be able to stay open and survive as a business. We knew that one of our regular customers Will was a talented chef, serving food in one of Maidstone’s pubs at that time. Finding ourselves in the same boat, looking for a way to keep our businesses up and running we partnered up and developed some ideas on what to offer to our lovely customers. After working together for a
few weeks we realised that it is going very well between us and we are looking forward to keeping on serving food when people are allowed to sit in again. For the time being we continue to offer takeaway drinks and food and have also planned a range of new ideas such as giveaways to reward our customers and to lift the spirits a little.”
Sandra and George only managed to trade as Matestone for 10 days before the first national lockdown hit. Since then, they’ve managed to trade as a takeaway service for their first year in business. The new menu of grab and go lunches includes warming soups, pastries and of course... cake! www.matestone.wixsite.com
Will and Sandra serve up new snacks!
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SERVICES
BID BACKS BUSINESS WI N D OW TO T H E WO M B
Made with love New life is a picture of happiness for town centre scanning clinic.
STILL OPEN
E xpecting a new arrival
is a major life change at the best of times - during a pandemic, services such as Window to the Womb in Starnes Court, are off ering reassurance for parents-to-be. “At Window to the Womb, we are proud to offer our families an outstanding level of care throughout their pregnancy journey. We are a diagnostic clinic where the health of mum and baby is our top priority. We offer a range of private ultrasound scans from 6-42 weeks gestation, which are conducted by fully registered and qualified Sonographers. Our goal is to ensure families feel safe during their baby scan experience. Our clinic teams strive to offer a first class experience and are always here to answer any pregnancy questions. Our baby scan packages always include a diagnostic check of baby and fetal report to take away on the day, meaning that whatever stage
of pregnancy, our families leave feeling reassured. From 16 weeks customers can opt for 99.9% accurate gender confirmation or 4D imaging to be added to their packages. Our clinics also work closely with local NHS hospitals, to ensure you have ongoing care if required. Since the start of the outbreak, we have been working hard to ensure we can continue to support our patients in the safest way possible and to limit non-essential elements. We are a diagnostic clinic where the
wellbeing of mum and baby are our priority and we do ask that all patients confirm they are attending for a medical reason, such as reassurance. We understand how difficult this period is and has been for many of our clients. The heart of our service is to provide reassurance to expectant parents in a calm, safe and caring clinical environment, whatever your needs or previous history. If you are in need of support during this time, we’re here to help.” www.windowtothewomb.co.uk onemaidstone.com
LIFESTYLE
LOCKDOWN 2021 S TAYI N G B U SY !
Things to do online
Click to get fit, get smart and get involved!
I f there’s one thing
worse than a summer lockdown... it ’s a winter lockdown. Without the lure of tropical Maidstone heatwaves(!), we’re in serious need of things to do that don’ t involve seeing much daylight. One Maidstone has compiled this useful list of things to do from your very own living room.
Adult Courses: www.maidstonemind.org/freevirtual-mindfulness-sessions Youth Courses: www.maidstonemind.org/ free-mindfulnesssessions-young-people DOT YOGA CO Chill Out Yoga Flow Zoom class, Wednesdays, 8-8.30pm £3, or £15 for 6 classes A slow, dreamy and nourishing Vinyasa yoga flow that’s beginner friendly. Contact Katie at hello@ dotyoga.co.uk
MMK MIND Mindfulness and Me course Learn more about how HAVE AN ACTUAL Mindfulness can help you to CUPPA VIRTUALLY! better look after your mental Heart of Kent Hospice is health during prolonged FREE inviting you to host a virtual periods at home. ‘Caring Teagether’ tea party. More than ever it is important to Mid Kent Mind are providing stay social while we’re all staying a free mindfulness course, safe at home. known as Mindfulness and Me, which focuses on teaching individuals more about mindfulness – and how they can acknowledge and accept their thoughts, feelings and body sensations in positive ways.
Between Thursday 18th - Sunday 21st March 2021, HOKH is asking you to invite family, friends and colleagues to a virtual ‘Caring Teagether’ tea party and encourage your guests to text
TEAGETHER 3 to 70450 and donate the cost of a cuppa - £3. (Texts cost £3 plus one standard rate message.) To find out more about hosting a virtual ‘Caring Teagether’ tea party visit www.hokh.org
STOP DROP YOGA Zoom classes, Saturdays 9-10.15am, £4.34, Wednesdays 7-8.15pm, £6.40 Stop Drop Yoga offers weekly Ashtanga based yoga - we invite you to join our community of yogis to move and breathe together. Beginners and regular practitioners welcome as modifications are offered for all abilities. breathe@stopdropyoga.co.uk www.bookwhen.com/stop dropyoga Call or message directly 07811052832
@onemaidstone
VINET TA FLOWER GALLERY, ONLINE WORKSHOPS 25th Feb, Spring table arrangement / 11th March, Mother ’s Day / 25th March, Spring wreath. £40 including delivery
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
ART-K MAIDSTONE, ONLINE CLASSES www.art-k .co.uk/weekly-zoom-classes Creative classroom Art-K offers weekly Zoom art sessions for kids, running after school and Saturdays. Free trials are available.
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MAIDSTONE MUSEUM - IWD ONLINE TALK www.museum.maidstone.gov.uk/whats-on/ events/international-womens-day-2021 8th March, 6.30-8pm, £4 This International Women’s Day, Maidstone Museum is hosting an online talk based on the women who gathered, influenced and curated the Museum’s collections.
From 6-7.30pm, floral guru Vineta will take you through a creative lesson, with the materials you need for the workshop included and delivered ahead of time. Book at www.vinettaflowergallery.co.uk, or call 07542276007
MAIDSTONE IYENGAR YOGA CENTRE www.iyengar-yoga.co.uk Available throughout February and March Enrol and get your first class free.
MAIDSTONE DISTILLERY VIRTUAL TASTING www.themaidstonedistillery.com/ stay-tasting-virtual-gin-experience £28 for one, £49 for two, free delivery Join Maidstone Distillery at a time that’s convenient for you with their new virtual gin tasting package! You’ll receive a set by post, including a vintage goblet, two types of gin, two tonics, and dried citrus garnish pack. When you’re ready, log on and drink along to the team’s ‘Stay Tasting’ video to learn about the products and the process.
With their Gabriel’s Hill studio closed, Maidstone Iyengar Yoga Centre are taking their classes online, with your first session free. Workshops are available in beginner, basics, intermediate, improver, experienced and remedial and recovery formats, delivered in a mixture of pre-recorded and live streamed content for you to carry out at home. onemaidstone.com
SHOPPING
BID BACKS BUSINESS F E ATU R E D C H A R I T Y
The Children’s Trust After re-opening, this town centre charity shop found itself busier than ever!
G abriel’s Hill is home to a charity shop that provides a sense of community as well as bargains. Julie Beames tells us more. “ The Children’s Trust shops carry out vital fundraising to support children with brain injury and neurodisability. While offering quality items for resale we are able to raise awareness of the services that we provide and engage our local supporters whether shopping or donating. After the last lockdown, we were very busy - we were much missed as everyone loves their charity shop fix. We were heartened as we saw so many familiar faces who were pleased to see us open but also popped in to check on our team. We are truly part of the community. The Children’s Trust shop provides a community hub where despite being a town centre location we are on first names terms and truly appreciate their customer
loyalty. Our team were devastated to close in the lead up to Christmas as we were super busy from re-opening on 2nd of December. We have great items for sale thanks to the generosity of our community and will bounce back ready to greet our supporters once more. Our safe shopping measures continue to be reviewed but include information posters throughout the store, limited numbers of shoppers, social
distancing demarcation, sanitiser stations at the entrance and till point, till screen to protect staff, changing room suspended but a refund policy is in place, and a simplified store layout - but still plenty of must-buy items are available. Your loyal support is appreciated and helps us to put smiles on the faces of children with brain injury. Please stay safe, be patient and hold onto any donations to await us re-opening. Can’t wait to welcome you back.”
@onemaidstone
TOWN CENTRE
21 One Maidstone / Winter 2021
GET I N VO LVE D
HOW DO YOU READ YOURS? The One Maidstone magazine is delivered to each town centre business, and to a further 14k homes in the immediate area. It’s completely free to read, and each business featured is promoted at no charge - we’d love to see the copies out in the wild! Whether you’re a business owner, a town centre employee, or a reader who’s had the issue drop through their letterbox, why not send us a photo of the magazine on your coffee table, in your hands or a selfie of you enjoying the mag! Tag us on Instagram (@onemaidstone) or email to sarah-jane. adams@onemaidstone .com, and we’ll feature your efforts!
onemaidstone.com
BID BACKS BUSINESS
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
22
LIVING
Mandy Ellen expansion!
We say break a leg to the team at Mandy Ellen Performing Arts!
M E PA k i c ks u p i t s h e e l s w i t h a g r a n d ex p a n s i o n p l a n wo r t h s i n g i n g a b o u t .
I t ’s jazz hands all round
as Maidstone’s queen of performing arts, Mandy Ellen, prepares to open a new state of the art facility. Artistic Director Sam Stanley gave One Maidstone a preview. “Studio 6 has over 5,000 square feet over 2 floors. This new facility has been added to the 2 buildings already owned by MEPA Studios. This means we have 3 incredible sites hosting: MEPA College - Full time professional training for 16+ in Musical Theatre & Dance teacher training. MEPA Academy - Full time training in performing arts for 11 to 16 years with academic schooling. Mandy Ellen Performing Arts -
After school dance classes boosting a variety of classes from Street to Classical Ballet. The building will include a theatre, studio, bar and coffee shop, viewing gallery, conference room, backstage changing rooms and shower facilities. MEPA staff and students are very excited to have this incredible new facility. After many years of working hard with the students, this is the focal point of our hard work and dedication. We are thrilled to have this new expansion - with this new premises we look forward to continuing to deliver exceptional training for all the students here at MEPA.”
@ m e p a _c o l l e g e
To enquire about classes and courses, email mepa@ btconnect.com
@onemaidstone
BUSINESS
23
@ b l owg a rd e n
@ t r u g y m m a i d s to n e
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
@ v i e u x b a r b e r s h o p m a i d s to n e
Insta love Wi t h m a n y tow n c e n t re b u s i n e s s e s
t r y i n g to f i n d a wa y to p i c k t h e m s e l ve s u p a n d c a r r y o n , s h ow i n g s o m e o n l i n e e n c o u r a g e m e n t c a n m a ke a l l t h e d i f f e re n c e - a n d i t ’s f re e ! H e re a re s o m e I n s t a g r a m a c c o u n t s t h a t O n e M a i d s to n e a re s c ro l l c r a zy f o r !
F O L LOW U S @ONE MAIDSTONE Hotel Chocolat, £5
@ v i n e tt a f l owe rg a l l e r y
#ONE M A I D ST O N E
@ m a i d s to n e d i s t i l l e r y
onemaidstone.com
GROOMING
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
24
BID BACKS BUSINESS
Headonism
Salons are struggling with lockdown - One Maidstone gets to root of the problem.
O n g o i n g c l o s u re s h a ve l e f t tow n c e n t re s a l o n s tea r i n g t h e i r h a i r o u t .
E ve Bennett, Director
at Headonism in Pudding Lane, has been running her business in the town centre for 18 years - but counts 2020 as the hardest for the salon so far. “ We opened our doors now almost 18 years ago, in Union Street. Going from strength to strength we decided to relocate to a quaint little street further into the town, Pudding Lane. We run a very small, intimate, cosy boutique hair salon, creating friendships with our customers as well as looking after their hair needs. Our ethos is all about sustainability, which is why the salon is decorated with all reclaimed furniture, and only using the very best of hair care and hair colour products,
Davines, which also follow our passion for caring for the environment. The Covid lockdowns really have tested our patience, but knowing we have the loyalty of our customers gives us hope for when we can return. We feel that our industry has been hit hard, having to pay rent on a property that you’re not allowed to work in just doesn’t seem right. We feel that it is incredibly unfair to be treated the way that we have when we have followed everything by the book with PPE etc and did not have one case of Covid within our establishment. Close contact services are so important for our wellbeing and we’ve all been stripped of fulfilling this need. During our time off we aimed
to stay busy for our own mental health. We have tried to stay in touch with clients as best we can, updating them when we have more information. The internet has been a great tool for keeping up education, so when we do return we will have some new, fresh ideas to try out on our lovely customers. We have also given the salon a lick of paint and a slight twist in colour change. To our clients, we want to thank you for your continued support throughout these years of trading and especially through this last year, it’s been a tough one for us all but knowing we have you to look after one day again soon puts such a big smile on our faces. We love our job and we cannot wait to see you all again!” www.headonism.co.uk
@onemaidstone
DINING Image: Peggy Sue’s
25 One Maidstone / Winter 2021
LO CA L BUSINESS
DRINKS TO YOUR DOOR - COMING SOON! Peggy Sue’s Kent is a vintage horsebox turned mobile bar offering a top class unique bar service, catering for all events. The business is run by Emilie and Jamie alongside their day jobs as a Charity Marketing Officer and Funeral Director respectively. After a third national lockdown was introduced, Peggy Sue’s Kent noticed a rise in demand for cocktail delivery services within Maidstone, so have started the process for obtaining a premises license. Once they have been granted this, they will be able to start delivering cocktails and cocktail kits straight to your door! PUBLIC NOTICE Licensing Act 2003 An application has been made by: Emilie Bowes-Read & James Warmington for the premises 14. St Lukes Avenue, Maidstone, ME14 5AN On the date of: 29/01/2021 Summary of the proposed licensable activities and the proposed hours of opening: This premises is being licensed with the intent for the kitchen area to be used for production for a cocktail delivery service. The alcohol will be delivered out to consumers and thus no consumer will visit the premises. Operating hours are Monday-Sunday open 24 hours (00:00-23:59) We will be adhering to and promoting the four licensing objectives: 1. The prevention of crime & disorder 2. Public safety 3. The prevention of public nuisance 4. The protection of children from harm Any person wishing to view details of an application may contact the Licensing Partnership on 01732 227004 Any person wishing to make representation about the application should make them in writing on or before the: 21/02/2021 Licensing Partnership, PO Box 182, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1GP licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk http://pa.sevenoaks.gov.uk/ online-licensing It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application. The maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary of conviction for the offence is £5000.
onemaidstone.com
SHOPPING
BID BACKS BUSINESS PR O D U C T L AU N C H
On the lash!
This make-up must-have from Aimee Hobbs has us all of a flutter!
O UT N OW !
Make-up artist Aimee
Hobbs had only opened her dream studio three months before Covid-19 forced her to down tools, and has been opening and closing the doors ever since. But now all eyes are on a new way of trading, with the launch of her own brand of false lashes. Aimee explains, “ We started planning the launch of our own lash range in September 2020. We went through a lengthy process of designing our own packaging as well as carefully selecting each style of lash we were going to have to complete our 3D Lash range. The design of our lashes and packaging had to be perfect and scream luxury and glam just like our shop! In December 2020 we received our first prototypes and we were absolutely in love with the whole product. Our team of make-up artists have been secretly wearing these lashes for months to test and try them
out before launching the product to the public. After wearing them for over a month we are so happy with the outcome, they are everything we wanted them to be. They are lightweight and so comfortable compared to other lashes we have used in the past on ourselves and clients. Our AHM lashes are super fluffy and soft to compliment any eye shape and make-up look. Just after Christmas we sent out PR packages to microinfluencers to get their honest feedback and photos of the
lashes being worn. The feedback we received was brilliant. After working in the industry for a few years now we saw a gap in the market for a luxury feel lash that’s slightly cheaper than big name competitors. With Aimee Hobbs Makeup Studios being closed for more time than it has been open this year, we hope that taking a leap into selling products will be more sustainable for us in the future.” www.aimeehobbsmakeup.co.uk
@onemaidstone
Maidstone Distillery, £37
SHOPPING
27
Marks & Spencer
Primark, £7
One Maidstone / Winter 2021
Hotel Chocolat, £10
Next, £8
TK Maxx, £69.99
She’s a lady W h e t h e r yo u ’ re p i c k i n g
s o m e t h i n g p re tt y f o r M o t h e r ’s D ay,
o r i t ’s j u s t t i m e f o r a g i r l y t rea t , t h e tow n c e n t re ’s s to re s a re f u l l o f feminine florals and dainty details. River Island, £40
Hotel Chocolat, £5
Matalan, £12.50
New Look, £14.99
Primark, £3.50
Wilko, £20
onemaidstone.com