Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine September 2024

BUSINESS TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Light fantastic

Melissa Bandtock, founder of lumiere, reflects on the stellar success of her bespoke lighting business

Hard work and creative vision are key to enabling us to shine “ “ ´

WORLD CLASS

Go on a global adventure courtesy of Simply Luxury Escapes HOUSE RULES

We meet Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen host of this year’s South East Property Expo

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS

Chef, TV presenter and successful author Rosemary Shrager joins our lifestyle line-up

PLANNING AHEAD

TWBC Leader Ben Chapelard explains why local economy is key to council’s new strategic plan

EYE FOR BUSINESS

Luxury eyewear boutique Edney & Edney on its creative vision TECHNICAL REVOLUTION

We meet two local entrepreneurs who are spearheading impressive and innovative IT software solutions

Ideas on how to wind down in the Wells

EDITOR

Eileen Leahy

DESIGN MANAGER

Jason Stubbs

PHOTOGRAPHY

John Knight

ADVERTISING MANAGER

Robin Singer

COMMERCIAL PARTNER

Coco Piesse Turner

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

George Percy

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Richard Moore

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Nick Moore

Welcome to this bumper edition of Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine. At 92 pages this is our biggest issue yet and we can’t thank all of our amazing advertisers and readers enough for all their support.

As you will see we have also expanded our After Hours section due to popular demand so as well as getting all the latest business news and in depth features, you’ll find plenty of fantastic lifestyle content here too. From food and drink to culture and the arts, gardens and interiors, there’s a whole range of hyper-local content – all of which has been written by us, for you.

Talking of interiors, our cover star is the wonderful Melissa Bandtock who is the founder of lumiere lighting. Some of you may remember her shop which was on Tunbridge Wells High Street for three years. Not only was it a beautiful boutique bursting with all kinds of incredible statement lighting, Melissa and her team were also known for putting on some of the town’s most legendary events. Flares, flamingos and Ferraris…the lumiere team did it all! And now we hear how Melissa is taking her business to a new level after deciding to close her bricks and mortar operation and trade online. It’s been a wise decision as Melissa and her colleagues Carla

and Stef have gained some incredible commissions and been involved in a variety of wonderful projects all over the country. Turn to page 20 to find out how they are lighting up their clients’ lives one light at a time… Staying with fancy interiors we also have an exclusive chat with homes guru extraordinaire Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen who is coming to Sevenoaks this month to host the biggest South East Property Expo yet. Head to page 46 to discover more.

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine is published by JJL Media & Marketing Ltd, 3 Chapman Way, Tunbridge Wells TN2 3EF. Registration no: 15546231 For enquiries please email hello@twbusinessmagazine.com or call 01892 574474 www.twbusinessmagazine.com

Elsewhere we have plenty of interviews and features for you to enjoy. From cutting-edge tech entrepreneurs and revolutionary communications agencies to local marketers who are making a national impact, there is something for everyone. We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank one of the area’s best-known and loved TV celebrities, Rosemary Shrager, for joining us as a columnist. It’s great to have you on board Rosemary! Enjoy the edition,

Find us at: www.twbusinessmagazine.com @twbusiness_magazine @TWBizMag © Copyright 2024. Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine and JJL Media & Marketing Ltd are fully protected by copyright; no

be reproduced or reprinted without the complete and expressed permission of the publisher. The greatest care has been taken to ensure accuracy, however there can be no liability accepted by the publisher for errors and omissions. We can under no circumstance be held responsible for any materials, matter or photographical copy submitted for publication or not within the website or magazine. We cannot be held responsible or liable for any breaches of copyright from adverts, materials or photography or any other such material supplied by a third party. The views and opinions expressed within our publications are not necessarily those of the publisher or Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine or any featured parties.

Printed by:

Business news: What’s happening in our commercial community.

Fantastic Feedback:

We hear what you love most about TWBM

County News:

A look at the new border rules coming into force

Social scene:

Junior Lawyers Division celebrates at Balfour Winery

Light up your life:

We meet Melissa Bandtock, founder of lumiere lighting

Sharp thinking: Siobhan Stirling tells us about what makes her business tick

Working Lunch:

Take time out to discover why Tom Chown has gone electric

Fantastic four:

Neil Simmons of TN Recruits tells us

Future proofing:

TWBC Leader Ben Chapelard on the borough’s new strategic plan

Stage is set:

We find out about Trinity Theatre’s new viewing platform visitor attraction

Revolutionary approach: Discover the wonderful world of tecworks and how it can help you

Social media:

Royal Tunbridge Wells Media Group join us as monthly columnists

Home front:

Interiors guru Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen tells us about South East Property Expo

Work it out:

energie Fitness on why their gym experience is so different

Travel:

Join our new columnists from Simply Luxury Escapes on a global adventure

Glass act:

Edney & Edney reveal why they have a different perspective on eyewear

Food for thought:

Rosemary Shrager shares her favourite autumnal recipes

Hever fever:

Discover the seasonal displays at this historic landmark

Tech head: Matt West explains the benefits of using the clever Boostkit for business

EXPERTS across the board...

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine is proud to have so many of our talented entrepreneurs and inspiring CEOs writing for the title. Whether it’s advice on accounting or property, information on current legal issues or HR legislation you will find all the expert industry guidance you need within these pages. This month our experts include the following...

Henry Adekoya Health & Fitness Specialist

Darren Austin Director Synergee

Sophie ForrestLavery Founder The Forrest Group

Jess Gibson Managing Director The TN Card

Alex Green CEO RTW Together

Mark Hill Antiques Expert

Matthew Hill Founder Private Medical Insurance Brokers

Dee Airey Photographer & Visibility Strategist

Simon HowsonGreen Technology Expert

Gavin Marsh Master Jeweller & Diamond Setter Director Osmium Institute UK Ltd

Clare LushMansell Founder My Tunbridge Wells

Becky Moran CEO TN Lettings

Gillian Palmer Founder The Finance Hub

Sarah Raine Director Colley Raine & Associates

Deborah Richards Founder Maddisons Residential

Erik Brown Food & Drink Writer

Neil Simmons Managing Director TN Recruits

Siobhan Stirling Managing Director Sharp Minds

Rosemary Shrager Chef, TV Personality and Author

Helen Williams Mindset & Business Coach

Matt West Tech Entrepreneur Boostkit

Pantiles hotel is back on the market with £3.4M price tag

By Richard Moore

Twelve years ago Julian Leefe-Griffiths bought a derelict venue on The Pantiles and turned it into a popular town centre attraction.  He’s now put that venue, The Tunbridge Wells Hotel and restaurant, on the market with a £3.4million price tag.  It follows a £50,000 facelift at the Grade 11 listed building.

The 63-year-old believes he has finished what he set out to do all those years ago by creating a ‘really nice boutique hotel’ and says he’s now ready to ‘retire’ and enjoy the good life. That is of course if someone meets his asking price…

“This is not the first time 'for sale' signs have been posted. The hotel went on the market in 2023 and almost sold twice before the deals fell through”

“I don’t have to sell,” he said. “I own the building and have paid off the debt which makes me my own landlord.

“I’ve been going to work every day since I was 17 and deserve a bit of time off.

“It would be very nice to go and live full-time at my place in Sicily with my wife half-way up a mountain - I’ve got a lot of orange trees and some olive trees to look after.”

Meanwhile ‘it’s business as usual’ at the venue that is listed with agents Christie &

Co as a ‘trophy site in an historic town centre’.

“Who knows I might still be here in two years if the right offer does not come along,” said Mr Leefe-Griffiths who at one point owned five other pub/ resturants including The Black Pig near Tunbridge Wells railway station.

This is not the first time ‘for sale’ signs have been posted. The hotel went on the market in 2023 and almost sold twice before the deals fell through.

The Georgian building includes 20 ensuite bedrooms, an outdoor seating area, and a bar and restaurant on the ground floor.

Mr Leefe-Griffiths added: “It’s a great business - I’ve got great managers, fantastic chefs, brilliant housekeepers, and I’ve had this crew for a really long time.”

The business has around 20 staff but in the summer this can rise to as many as 40 on Thursday nights when live music concerts – formerly known as Jazz on The Pantiles - attract huge crowds.

“We served 225 diners in one night recently, it was manic,” revealed Mr

Leefe-Griffiths.

The ground floor of the hotel has seating for 16 in its lounge area, 64 in its dining area, as well as two additional restaurant areas.

Outside there’s another seating area with space for around 90 which can be increased to around 220 during the live music sessions every Thursday during the summer months.

“There’s already been a bit of interest,” confirmed the hotelier before adding that with commercial interest rates so high - around 7.5 er cent - the market is not ‘particularly buoyant.’

Popular M&S café closes as store rethinks its retail options

The M&S store in Tunbridge Wells’ Fountains Retail park has closed its popular café.

A large banner appeared inside the store at the end of last month and read: ‘Thank you and goodbye. This café will be closed down from September 1. A fond farewell from all of us at M&S Cafe Fountains Tunbridge Wells.’

In April M&S announced that it would no longer be selling most of its own brand furniture including sofas, beds, wardrobes and garden furniture in-store.

The café’s losure, along with the shutting of toilet facilities, follows weeks of speculation about a restructuring at the store. M&S were approached for comment. Elsewhere in the town, both Good & Green Organic Health Food Store on the High Street and Haven Vegetarian Kitchen & Cocktail Bar on Camden Road announced they were closing.

GP model ‘not working’ as doctors   forced to focus on business strategy

By Simon Howson-Green

Across the country GP surgeries are supposedly seeing millions more patients a month than they were before the pandemic.

However, very few people who managed to get an appointment think the service or the standard of care they received has improved.

The story is the same in Kent. That’s what this magazine found when it spoke to GPs and patients.

The diagnosis is simple: GP surgeries may be booking more appointments and building their patient lists… but in doing so the care patients get in return appears not fit for purpose.

In February the NHS issued a statement claiming: “Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same a month before the pandemic, as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan.”

However, last month the European Union of General Practitioners and the British Medical Council declared the GP system was in crisis.

It is estimated GPs see an average of 37

patients a day. This, it says, is far too high and is damaging the chance of patients getting the proper care, referrals and treatment. It recommended 25 as the maximum.

The NHS is – as Labour’s new health secretary, Les Streeting has said –‘broken’.

We spoke at length to one lead GP working at a practice for more than 20 years. We have chosen not to name them.  GPs are supposed to be the frontline in health care in the UK. It is their

responsibility to keep a watching brief over the health of all their patients.

The surgeries are funded by the Government. They are not owned by the Government but contracted to provide these frontline services for the NHS.

The amount they receive is based on the number of patients on their list. Their funding, around £164 per patient. is not based on the number of patients they actually see and treat. And most GP surgeries only ever see a small percentage of their list regularly.

“This is an issue,” explained our GP. “We have thousands of patients on our list, but we probably regularly treat a very small and increasingly elderly percentage of them.”

The idea is this distribution of monies across the whole list is supposed to even out over time. It’s too arbitrary and way too hit-and-miss. Ultimately it’s not a wise use of our money but pays GPs well. They can earn between £73,000 and £110,000 a year.

Most GPs claim that to keep operating they need to do as much as possible to monetise their practice. For many of us

Continued on p10

Local relationship banking

Handelsbanken has a different perspective from many other banks. We’re driven by satisfying our customers, taking a long-term view and investing time to get to know each customer, their needs and ambitions.

Here at Handelsbanken, we’re committed to relationship-led banking, with a dedicated account manager who gets to know you and your aspirations. Our unique approach means our colleagues are empowered to make key decisions in branch. It’s this approach that has seen us ranked top for customer satisfaction in an independent survey of UK banks for personal and business customers, for 15 years running (epsi-rating.com, 2009-2023). We have also been named as the most recommended provider for relationship / account management for SMEs by the Competition and Markets Authority’s Independent Service Quality Survey (August 2023).

Handelsbanken was founded in Sweden in 1871, and has built a network of branches serving communities across Great Britain. We have a wide range of services, from mortgages to wealth management for personal customers, and services for businesses including financing, FX and treasury services and financial planning.

that means NOT seeing patients or patients waiting weeks for an appointment. There is no incentive to see patients.

Farming out areas of the practice to private care specialists has been a lucrative sidebar: CBT therapists, physiotherapists and dietary experts have been the most popular.

“The sad truth is that I spend as much time in board meetings discussing business strategy when I should be looking after my patients,” said our GP.

“It’s estimated GPs see an average of 37 patients a day. This is too high and damaging the chance of patients getting proper care. 25 is recommended maximum”

“I’m ten years from retirement but most of the colleagues I started my career with have now left, retired or gone on to jobs in the private sector. They got out at the right time.

“The GP model is not working within the structure of this broken system. The whole thing needs a complete overhaul, but it will never happen whilst I’m practicing – or probably in my lifetime.”

The ageing patient list causes another problem.

The NHS online booking system, online triage system and digital access to our medical history is still in a state of flux. It is also proving challenging to older patients.

The surgery we spoke to held a coffee morning for patients to have the online triage system explained to them. They catered for twenty patients to turn up. More than two hundred flooded the building. Most were elderly and many were very angry.

“This showed that we were out of touch with many of our patients,” said our GP.

“It also highlighted that many patients who struggled with the online system were missing care and avoiding the surgery. This is a real concern.”

This is a strong example of a public service trying to operate as a business but failing to understand how to communicate with its ‘customers’.

Most readers will be able to join the dots and understand why GP surgeries are outdated, outmoded, out of touch and utterly anachronistic.

Taco Bell takeaway disappears as parent company collapses

The Mexican inspired restaurant/ takeaway Taco Bell has closed down just a year after opening on Grosvenor Road in Tunbridge Wells.

It happened when the company that operated the franchise – understood to be the T Bello Group - went into administration. It owned around 50 sites across the country including one in Dartford.

The restaurant was open twelve hours a day seven days a week and served, amongst other things tacos, quesadillas and nachos.

Forty-six locations are reported to have been saved by the Karali Group.

The Tunbridge Wells branch attracted some critical feedback on Google Reviews, where it had just 2.5 stars out of a possible five and on Tripadvisor, where it had just one.

Taco Bell Corp is an American multinational chain that was founded in 1962 and today has just over 8,000 locations. It is part of a family of operations that include KFC and Pizza Hut.

Inheritance Tax changes under the new Labour Government

By Sarah Strong, Partner in the Private Client team at CooperBurnett LLP

Following the General Election on 4 July 2024, the Labour Party is now in government and, whilst they have confirmed some of their policies, there has been very little said about Inheritance Tax. The Treasury received £7.5 billion in Inheritance Tax in the financial year to the end of March 2024. Making changes to this tax would certainly go some way to funding the spending pledges made by the Labour Party.

Inheritance Tax currently applies at a rate of 40% with various exemptions, allowances and reliefs available.

There has been discussion about potential changes, such as the restriction of some Inheritance Tax reliefs (for example introducing personal caps to Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief) and even mention of eliminating certain reliefs altogether. There could also be a rise in the rate of Inheritance Tax from 40%.

Other rumoured changes include how Inheritance Tax applies to gifts made during a person’s lifetime. Currently, if a gift is made and the person making it survives for seven years from the date if the gift, this will pass free of Inheritance Tax. There is the possibility that this could change to implementing a payment of tax at the time the gift is made.

At the time of writing, the potential changes in this article are speculation, and more will be known for certain ahead of the Autumn Budget next month. Any significant changes to Inheritance Tax, as well as any changes to your personal or financial circumstances, are good triggers to review your Will (or to take advice about putting one in place) to ensure that it still meets your needs and is drafted as efficiently as possible from a tax perspective.

If you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact Sarah Strong on email: SHS@cooperburnett.com or tel: 01892 515022.

Looking for a unique and inspiring space in the centre of Tunbridge Wells?

Then explore The Amelia Scott's selection of hireable rooms.

A distinctive feature of the town for around 100 years, The Amelia Scott is a building that has recently gone through significant redevelopment to deliver a space that perfectly combines contemporary design set alongside beautiful original features.

The Amelia has spaces available for hire that are suitable for a variety of meeting types and sizes whilst also being perfect for anyone looking run their own independent classes or tutorials. Spaces and rooms can be booked online at theamelia.co.uk or email info@theamelia.co.uk

Grenfell inquiry blames local firm for failures leading to fire disaster

By Richard Moore Crowborough cladding company

Harley Facades has been criticised by the official inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire that killed 72 people.

The long-awaited report, published earlier this month, announced that the deaths were ‘all avoidable’.

It blamed ‘systematic dishonesty’ among building firms and ‘decades of failure’ by regulators and politicians.

The family-operated Crowborough business is among a number singled out by the inquiry.

It said Harley Facades ‘failed in many respects to meet the standards expected of a reasonably competent cladding contractor’.

As a sub-contractor it designed the cladding system and bought materials for the job that was completed a year before the 2017 blaze, said to be one of the worst disasters in modern UK history.

The inquiry said the East Sussex

firm bore a ‘significant degree of responsibility’ for the fire at the tower block. A refurbishment saw dangerous, inflammable cladding used on the exterior of the high rise.

The report said Harley Facades ‘did not concern itself sufficiently with fire safety at any stage of the refurbishment and appears to have thought there was no need for it to do so, because others involved in the project, and ultimately building control, would ensure that the design was safe’.

Harley Director Raymond Bailey (65) and his wife Belinda live in the area. She is Company Secretary. Their son Ben Bailey Jnr was project manager and was said to ‘lack the competence and experience’ for the role.

The business was paid £2.6million for its part in the Grenfell project. Media reports suggest it remains a vibrant company with more than £4.2million listed as cash in the bank and in hand.

How to build a diversified portfolio

Spreading your money across different asset classes, sectors, regions and countries can reduce the impact of market falls on your investment portfolio. Here are some ideas to help you determine your approach.

Building a portfolio

Think about your goals and your attitude to risk and don’t invest more than you can afford to lose. If you decide to invest for the longer term, you'll have more time to make up for any losses, so you can take more risk. However, if you’re investing over a shorter term, e.g., if you’re close to retirement, you might want a safer investment such as fixed income investments. Ideally, you should try and invest for at least five to ten years.

Diversifying your investments

Whatever your attitude to risk, don’t rely on one type of investment. Spread your money across a range of asset classes including cash, equities, and fixed income investments such as corporate bonds and gilts.

Some asset classes are ‘negatively correlated’, which means they tend to react differently to economic shocks. If one part of your portfolio isn’t performing well, the other investments might compensate for losses and smooth your portfolio’s overall performance.

Broadening your approach

You could look at diversifying further within the different asset classes, e.g., by investing in different sectors or by including some international exposure. If you’re looking to earn regular income from your investments, you might want to consider fixed income investments, property, infrastructure or private equity firms.

Although there’s no guarantee of returns, a balanced, broadly diversified portfolio should be well placed to weather market volatility.

Finding help

Building a diversified and robust investment portfolio that suits your individual circumstances can seem daunting, and that’s where a financial adviser can help. They can structure a balanced portfolio tailored to your individual goals and rebalance it to reflect your needs over the longer term. This will give you the confidence that your money is working as hard as it should, without being exposed to undue risk.

I live and work local to you. I would be delighted to help you and your family achieve financial clarity and stability.

Paul Cannons

Senior Investment Manager

E: paul.cannons@brewin.co.uk T: 01892 739580

RBC Brewin Dolphin, 16 Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1NU W: www.brewin.co.uk/royal-tunbridge-wells

The value of investments, and any income from them, can fall and you may get back less than you invested. Investment values may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations. Information is provided only as an example and is not a recommendation to pursue a particular strategy.

Join our club...

Since we launched our first edition of Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine this May we have had an incredible response - from our readers, supporters and advertisers - to what we are doing. So a big thank you to all of you who have got in touch! Here's just a small snapshot of some of the comments we've received online...

Given the fantastic feedback we thought we would use this opportunity to tell you that we are now launching a new letters and comments page as of the next issue. So if you want to get in touch, express an opinion, tell us about a great business or place to go well here's your chance!

Simply email us at hello@twbusinessmagazine.com and we will do our best to share!

Guiding

At first it might be the facts and figures, but what Panoramic Wealth loves to know are the things that really matter; the goals and dreams that person, couples or family have their eyes set upon. The art of Financial Planning is first understanding who we are advising.  Life has a funny way of making itself more complicated on its own, which is where we come in to help.  It might be that matters are somewhat complicated when Financial Planning goes hand in hand with running your own business, but we are used to that.

Based in Tunbridge Wells since 1989 specialising in advising many family businesses, and as one ourselves we can totally empathise. We have been able to guide clients on their different business journeys from inception to sale.

For businesses and their owners, we can assist on:

• Tax efficient profit extraction.

• Succession and continuity planning.

• Using pensions to buy commercial property.

• Employer Ownership Trusts.

• Estate and Later Life planning to mitigate inheritance tax.

Planning for Individuals:

With so much more to retirement than just pensions these days, we can also ensure you know the answers to the following questions:

• “How much is enough?”

• “When can I retire?”

• “What will retirement look like?”

Businesses need to be border aware

Regular users of the Channel Ports or Eurostar are going to have to get used to new border checks later this year. Andrew Metcalf, Managing Director of Maxim and Deputy Chair of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, believes local businesses need to be aware of this, and other changes…

As the only part of Kent to vote to remain to stay within the EU, the changes to the EU’s border rules certainly suggest Tunbridge Wells was right to be concerned about what it might mean for business and individuals, when it comes to the ease of travel and trade with Europe.

As of November this year, if you leave the country either from Eurotunnel, the Port of Dover or St Pancras on Eurostar, there’s going to be a new series of border checks.

The EU is bringing in an Entry-Exit System to ensure it can get greater control over its borders and who enters the Schengen Area. Following Brexit, the UK is now classed as a ‘third country’, having rejected the offer of a reciprocal arrangement for people crossing our mutual borders.

As a result, our three direct borders with the EU – Dover, Eurotunnel and St Pancras – will see passengers having to undergo biometric tests including facial recognition, fingerprinting and passport checks before being allowed to leave the country. The same process will occur

when UK residents land at all European airports and ports, so expect delays on arrival, especially the first time you travel.

“Oh my God” I hear you cry, and to a certain extent you’d be right, but thankfully herculean efforts have been made on the part of the ports to be ready. In the case of Eurotunnel’s parent company Getlink, it’s spent north of €60m installing high-tech terminals in two hangars, each the size of a football pitch at its Folkestone operation.

In Dover, the port authority’s plans

include filling in a former marina to create space for the management of coach traffic and the processing of passengers.

The new Government has even stepped up and provided £10.5m to be shared by the three ports, but that’s a fraction of the money being invested. However, we’ve got to expect teething problems, especially when the system, which has already been delayed, goes live.

This new regime follows another Brexit impact which has seen meat and dairy products, plants and seeds now subject to physical checks when imported to Britain from the European Union.

Business warnings that new trade checks would see import costs increase immediately have come to fruition. Smaller companies – especially in the speciality foods sector – have been hit the hardest, with some unable to pass on price rises to customers for certain products.

While it would be pointless to chirp “We told you so”, the least Tunbridge Wells businesses can do is get prepared for the border changes.

Nourish appoints new Chair of Trustees – and wins top award

Simon Vincent has been appointed Chair of Trustees at Nourish Community Foodbank and brings with him a wealth of experience from both his professional and personal life. Simon’s 25 years’ experience in the finance sector includes the last decade focused on the technology side of business, which positions him uniquely to lead the organisation during a time when digital transformation and innovation are more important than ever.

As Chair, Simon is eager to build on the strong foundation laid by his predecessor, Sue Smith, who remains onboard as a Trustee following a six-year tenure as Vice-Chair and Chair latterly. Simon is passionate about leveraging technology and strategic thinking to further the charity’s impact and efficiency.

Simon’s first official event was to attend the Kent Charity Awards on Thursday 5 September alongside Dawn Stanford, Operations Director, Volunteer Toni

and fellow

Community

were delighted to receive ‘The Charity of the Year Award – Use of Volunteers’ on behalf of all the brilliant volunteers who are at the heart of the charity’s operation. Simon commented: “It was humbling

that Nourish was recognised for how our teams and volunteers work together. We were fortunate to have Toni, one of our long-standing volunteers join us last night and celebrate the win. We also send our congratulations to fellow finalists in our category, Kent Wildlife Rescue Services and Bright Shadow.”

Boyce

Trusteee, Viv Packer. Nourish

Foodbank

SWEET CHARITY: Simon Vincent (left) is Nourish’s new Chair of Trustees. The charity recently won a prestigious award for their volunteer work

Legalaction

Last month the Kent Junior Lawyers Division hosted its annual summer party at Balfour winery. The event, held on August 15, was attended by over 80 junior lawyers, from firms across Kent. This year’s President is CooperBurnett’s Imogen Fleur (pictured below, 2nd left). The social event was sponsored by Crowe UK and Thomson Snell & Passmore LLP and attendees sampled a variety of Balfour wines before enjoying a delicious seasonal dinner in the Staplehurst winery’s on-site restaurant.

strategy branding video & podcasts social media paid search

web design

Jigsaw Puzzles

by Darren Austin at Synergee

Jigsaws are a popular pastime, engaging the mind and providing a mixture of frustration and satisfaction. They are not something I generally do, although I like to build financial forecasts which have some similarities. Like jigsaws, forecasts start with several items that you need to assemble. With a forecast, these items will be information such as historic business results, sales data, breakdowns of costs and overheads, finance costs, planned growth, etc

With a jigsaw, you are given a picture to recreate. With a forecast, you get to create the picture in conjunction with the business owner. In fact, there may be a range of pictures which will likely change over time as new and better information becomes available. Whilst a forecast can be a discrete task, it works better as a supporting tool for regular strategy sessions.

During regular strategy sessions (typically board meetings say monthly or quarterly), the board will, amongst other things, consider and set the business objectives, put in place strategies to meet the objectives, and then monitor progress towards achieving them. Incorporating financial forecasts helps you to predict the outcome of various strategies, play what-if scenarios, conclude on a strategy and then set targets. In subsequent strategic sessions, the actual results can be compared to the predicted ones in the forecast to see how well the strategy is performing. This may lead to tweaks in the strategy, or the forecast, and the cycle continues. Whilst there is no such thing as a working crystal ball, using a systemized approach to strategic business planning, including target setting via a forecast, helps maintain focus, provides timely indications of success or requirements for remedial action, and thereby reduces stress.

If you have any questions you'd like to ask Darren he can be contacted on 01892 772960

www.synergee.org.uk

Darren Austin is a director of Synergee Limited, a firm of Chartered Accountants & business advisers based in Tunbridge Wells.

“In a world full of darkness, be the light”

Melissa Bandtock is the founder of lighting specialist lumière which offers a bespoke illumination service for both retail and trade customers. Having launched her business in lockdown she certainly knows how to stay agile, resilient and ultimately creative in business. Eileen Leahy discovers more about Melissa’s passion for what she does and why she wants to light up the world one light at a time...

In just four years talented entrepreneur Melissa Bandtock has seen her lighting business lumière eclipse the competition and really start to shine. This is no mean feat given that she launched it just before the very first Covid lockdown happened. But she and her lumière team have worked extremely hard in order to weather the post-pandemic storm, to not only survive but also thrive.

And although her much-loved lumière boutique on Tunbridge Wells High Street closed last year, this is far from being a negative for the business. In fact, this has allowed Melissa and her colleagues – Carla and Stef – the freedom to grow exponentially, establishing an impressive array of both private and commercial clients across the country and beyond. But more on all of that later because if you are reading this and haven’t heard of lumière then allow Melissa to shine a light on the backstory…

“I have loved playing with lighting for as long as I can remember,” she tells me when we meet for a late summer coffee at the new Club Quantum on The Pantiles where she has supplied all the statement

lighting for the incredible new venue.

“I have always had an awareness of how heavily an environment impacts my mood. As a teenager, I was constantly redecorating my bedroom and helping

I have loved playing with lighting for as long as I can remember

friends make the most of theirs. This passion for interiors led to my first property purchase in South London in my early twenties. I was in my final year at university, working two jobs and going through a hefty application for a job at the Foreign and Commonwealth office and yet there I was up until the early hours of the morning painting sash windows…and smiling as I did it!”

Several house renovations followed

and in 2008 Melissa moved to Tunbridge Wells.

“I love the old part of the town with everything from kitchen showrooms to gardening boutiques but there was a clear gap in the market for a high-end decorative lighting consultancy business.

And so, on 14 February 2020 I signed the lease to my new adventure; lumière, my very own lighting consultancy hub, offering a bespoke service catering for the lighting needs of both retail and trade customers.”

So far, so illuminating but what Melissa – along with the rest of us – couldn’t ever have predicted was the devastating Covid crisis which gripped the world just a month or so later, resulting in a complete shutdown of businesses everywhere.

Surely the odds should have been stacked against her launching a new venture during this challenging time but thankfully they weren’t. So how did Melissa have that lightbulb moment in order make things work?

“Well I had a newly refurbished showroom, 200 designer lights sitting in boxes, and a cancelled agreement from the contractors who were meant to spend

two weeks installing them ahead of the grand opening,” she explains.

“In light of being forced to cease trading face-to-face, many business owners accepted their fate and stayed home, but I had a new business to drive. If this meant installing all the lights myself that is what I would do! In an interview, singer-songwriter Taylor Swift explained that creatives needed something to cling to in 2020, she described her lockdown albums as her ‘floatation device’, helping her navigate the waves of change which unexpectedly descended on us all in 2020. lumière became exactly that for me…”

Melissa adds that the moment she stepped into her new premises and closed the door behind her, she decided to create her own ‘little magical world’.

“I started sharing posts via social media. Unboxing lights, showcasing them through little stories I made up about them and illustrating them via ‘Friday Frolic’ posts on Instagram and Facebook.

This slightly bonkers creativity built up a lovely supportive following and led to some incredible connections.”

“

” Word of mouth helps but sometimes the lumière magic happens, and we just seem to connect with some amazing opportunities

That ‘slightly bonkers creativity’ included Ferraris, flares and flamingos all being used as props in order to help Melissa thoroughly make an impact.

“I always say, in a world full of darkness, be the light,” she smiles.

Once she was allowed to open her doors, Melissa says it felt like the whole town was there to welcome and support lumière.

“I guess that was after having followed my journey like a soap opera on those long lockdown days of 2020. Our social media posts lifted moods and we literally used lighting to ensure our spirits were bright and allowed us to shine through this dark period.”

However, like any clever business person Melissa admits there was another more strategic reason involved in all these online capers.

“I quickly realised that people were stuck at home, keen to improve their homes so I came up with ways I could

still reach potential clients without the ability of visiting them in person or being able to allow them into the gallery. And so, I started offering virtual consultations via Zoom and video calls. For instance, this led to an interior designer in Austria tasking me with working on a hotel project with her. Once the lumière gallery was fully dressed, I had a virtual tour created so clients could ‘look around’ and define their style - all from the comfort of their own home.”

By doing this Melissa says it really helped build up a loyal customer base: “Providing excellent product knowledge was a huge aspect of lumière’s bricksand-mortar phase.

We absorbed every detail through strong communication and built solid relationships with both residential and trade customers. Many of these customers remain repeat customers to this day.”

Alongside running the lumière boutique Melissa also had the foresight to establish and finesse the e-commerce side of the business thus ensuring that her captive audience wasn’t just a local one.

“At first the website was a way for clients to view products at home after a consultation and to digest the information we had provided in-store.  As our reach on social media grew, expanding beyond the store with an e-commerce site to reach this wider customer base seemed a very natural progression.”

While this side of the business was starting to take off, Melissa says that she suddenly had to make a ‘very quick decision’ about the future of her High Street store.

the constraints of a physical retail premises has meant that Melissa, Carla and Stef have been free to expand their horizons and secure a number of incredible clients from many corners of the world.

They include commissions from local interior designers SGS for their projects at Charlotte’s in The Pantiles and The Beacon, as well as for 80s pop icons Shirlie and Martin Kemp and Instagram influencer extraordinaire Greg Penn AKA

“It was very unexpected but we were forced to make a very quick decision and so decided to listen to the demands and needs of the business - and its owner! Encouraging lumière to flourish and grow without the restrictions of a physical gallery has turned out to be the right decision for my business.”

The ability to trade without the without

Man with A Hammer. The latter, who has a colossal online following, was how team lumière gained the project from Shirlie Kemp for her Maison Number 9 venture.

“Word of mouth has been our strongest ally,” reveals Melissa. “We use our social media platforms to showcase some of our projects and direct potential clients to our online portfolio. Other times, the lumière magic happens, and we just seem to connect with some amazing opportunities. We recently supplied

lighting for the newly refurbished Lansdowne Members Club in Mayfair, which is project managed by the worldrenowned Rosendale Design.”

But it’s not just recommendations and referrals that Melissa and her team cite as being key to growing the business.

“I’d also say hard work, dedication, vision and sometimes more passion than sense have also contributed,” she smiles.

Talking of impressive clients, Melissa tells me that another Tunbridge Wells High Street retailer – the high-end kitchen showroom – Tom Howley has engaged the specialist services of lumière. So how did that come about?

“We started working with the Tom Howley showroom in Tunbridge Wells on mutual customer projects. As a result, I was introduced to the founder, Mr Tom Howley himself. Our work ethic, drive and attention to detail aligned with his, and from that point onwards, Tom asked

“We started working

with the

Tom Howley showroom in Tunbridge Wells on mutual customer projects and now we have our lighting in twelve of their showrooms across the UK

me to work on every new showroom he acquired - as well as the refurbishment of older showrooms. We currently have our lighting in twelve Tom Howley showrooms across the UK. But there’s more to come so watch this space,” teases Melissa.

By casting the net wider lumière has garnered the attention of other highprofile clients, one of whom is the prestigious interiors bible Elle Deco.

The image that caught their eye was one of Melissa ethereally swimming underwater which was shot at the studio used by singer Ellie Goulding for her most recent album cover and has also been used for many films including Harry Potter.

Melissa explains the story behind the shot: “One of my favourite photos is one in the Saatchi gallery depicting an intriguing woman in a wedding dress moments after she has jumped into a mystical underwater living room. I have always wanted to attempt an underwater shoot. The new direction the business was taking seemed like the perfect

opportunity to create the story of a mermaid freely dancing in the sea among the lights. Elle Deco loved the image, taken by my long-term collaborator John Knight, when we pitched it to them.”

But it’s sourcing stunning lighting for a variety of unique projects that really is Melissa’s raison d’etre.

As previously mentioned, one amazing project she and her team have worked on is doing the lights for the refurbishment of the Man With A Hammer’s former naval Georgian period home Admirals House.

And although Melissa won’t tell me how the pair came to work together – ‘you’ll have to read his new book to find that out’ she teases – the relationship has been a phenomenally successful one, helping

“I’m a fan of Amy Frankie Smith’s beautiful pieces that she creates in her studio on the beach in Shoreham. We also source bespoke pieces from the UK as and when required. Some may remember the old Foreign Office lantern I acquired by chance which I decided to refurbish in the hope of finding it a special homewhich it did!”

And on that note, Melissa says that one of the most special aspects of running lumière is the customer feedback she regularly receives.

“Product quality and the customer journey are paramount, strong relationships and returning clients are so heartfelt and I am full of gratitude for this. We have a testimonials page

TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK

“Both Carla and Stef have been part of the lumière journey since the very beginning, and I now count both of them as two of my closest friends,” says Melissa. “Carla is our project manager and first point of call for clients via email and over the telephone. Stef is our website manager; all product uploads, blog posts and updates are in her capable hands. Most importantly they are my right-hand women and confidantes. I know they only have my best intentions at heart which creates a strong bond.”

lumière reach a wider audience.

“Our international exposure is part of the reason people like Greg find us. We work very hard behind the scenes with each client to achieve the optimum lighting goals and Greg’s honest review of our work brought some of his celebrity following our way - namely the lovely Shirlie and Martin Kemp.”

As we sip on our delicious coffee at Club Quantum I ask Melissa about how she chooses the brands she works with and her answer is simple: “I only supply lights with a standard I would be happy to use in my own home.”

She goes on to say that firm favourites include Ralph Lauren, Kelly Wearstler, Kate Spade New York but that she is always on the lookout for UK-based companies too.

on our website and one of my favourite comments is from a client called Wendy. She wrote: ‘It remains true that each and every time I look at each and every one of the lights that Melissa suggested for us it sparks happiness.’

“This makes my heart sing, and I could not ask for more.  Also on our testimonials page, is a quote from our lovely photographer John (who is also a client) who says: ‘She makes everyone feel important because to Melissa they are.’ This is one of the biggest compliments, I think.”

It’s not just having an instinctive draw to lighting and putting that with people adds Melissa. It’s also down to the hard work she and her team put into the research too. Most of that comes courtesy of the trade shows Melissa attends. So which

ones would be a highlight for her?

“I’d say High Point Trade show in North Carolina. There I have met some of the world’s leading lighting creators such as Seth Troy, Kelly Wearstler’s head of lighting, Thomas O’Brien, whose designs can be seen in James Bond films, Sean

“

Being armed with these invaluable insights means my team and I have the trade secrets about which trends and pieces will be hitting the UK market

”

Lavin, winner of the Design et al award and many more.

“Being armed with these invaluable insights means my team and I have the trade secrets about which trends and pieces will be hitting the UK market. It also means we can source and handpick the perfect selection for any given project both residential and trade.”

And if Melissa could take on one dream commission for any client - alive or deadwho would that be and why?

LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE –

Some of lumière’s illuminating projects include:

Melissa sourced the lighting for the Oval room and the kitchen dining room at influencer Greg Penn’s Admirals House

“Our late Queen,” she immediately confirms. “My first career was working at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, for Queen and Country and my love never faded for that strong, inspirational woman who navigated decades of political change and destruction. The thought of creating a bedroom lighting scheme to help her fall asleep at the end of each busy day and then inspire her each morning as she opened her eyes would have been an incredible lifetime achievement.”

Before Melissa heads off to another client meeting I ask her what her plans for lumière are as we head into 2025…

“Lighting more of the world one little light at a time of course! We have loved working on hotels, members-only clubs, football clubs…I hope to continue to spread our wings within that commercial sector. It is very rewarding to see our lights enjoyed in public spaces.  In addition, when this magazine hits the newsstands, our website should be ready to accept Klarna payments therefore allowing every home to shine bright over the winter months.”

CONTACT: www.lumieredujour.co.uk @lumiere_du_jour_uk

An ongoing collaboration with Tom Howley Kitchens nationwide

Melissa is excited to unveil the incredible lighting she has sourced for the new members’ area of Club Quantum

Melissa sourced the statement lights for this incredible interiors scheme which was created by local designer Helen Pink

“We offer a sophisticated, tactical approach to communications”

Following the news that Sharp Minds Communications has just been shortlisted for the national Leaders in Care Awards, the company’s founder Siobhan Stirling (pictured below) tells Eileen Leahy how she

and her

team have become one of the area’s most successful communications agencies…

Sharp Minds Communications offers brands strategic, intelligent communications with power and purpose. It was founded by former BBC reporter/ producer Siobhan Stirling fourteen years ago and since then has accrued an impressive amount of diverse clients, both locally and nationally.

“We specialise in making the complex simple, accessible and compelling, with our core sectors being financial and professional services, tech, care, health, property and construction, and transport and logistics,” explains Siobhan from her Southborough HQ.

“I set up the business in 2012, when I left the BBC after nearly 20 years. It took me two years to develop from being a sole trader to taking on my first member of staff. It was a big step, but it was instrumental in freeing me to focus on the more strategic part of our offering, where I can add greatest value to our clients.”

From there, Siobhan says the company has grown exponentially in terms of staff, structure, processes and clients. So what would she say is Sharp Minds’ particular USP?

“I’d say it’s our level of expertise combined with our ninja approach. We offer a sophisticated, tactical approach

to communications, at a fraction of the cost of bulge bracket firms you might find in London – and all without compromising on quality.”

She says the team responds nimbly and swiftly to clients and opportunities.

“We are always aware that working with smaller budgets means offering inventive strategies to give our clients as big a bang for their buck as possible. We punch above our weight so our clients punch above theirs. Our campaigns have seen us shortlisted alongside some of the leading agencies in Europe at the international Sabre PR awards. And just this month we’ve been shortlisted for the national Leaders in Care Awards.”

This approach has led to Sharp Minds moving into a larger arena, gaining brands from all over the country.

“Like us, our clients are often challenger brands offering high levels of expertise and customer

Making Fire Safety a Priority

A major incident was declared on August 26th after a fire broke out in a block of flats in East London. More than 200 firefighters and 40 engines from the London Fire Brigade were called to the blaze on Freshwater Road, Dagenham just before 3am.

The blaze meant that over 200 people were evacuated from the block of flats, with two being taken to hospital. The emergency services arrived incredibly quickly, meaning there were no fatalities.

Residents were treated at a nearby hospital for their burns, many having lost their homes and treasured possessions.

This completely devastating incident acts as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety, in order to protect not only the building, but the people inside it.

Having a fire risk assessment conducted by an expert could be the difference between life and death. We recommend updating your fire risk assessment at a minimum once a year.

A regular fire risk assessment ensures that you are continually mitigating any

new risks that may arise. You also gain the peace of mind that you have done all that you can to keep people safe.

We would always recommend that your fire risk assessments are conducted by someone with a Fire Protection Association (FPA) membership, which is something we are proud to hold at the Forrest Group.

The FPA ensures all members have access to the latest industry information, and most importantly training. Given the significant changes

continuously evolving the fire industry, it’s more important than ever to have an experienced competent person conduct your fire risk assessment. Failure to appoint someone with the expertise required, could land you with a severe penalty, and ultimately put you at risk should a fire occur.

Get in touch with our health and safety team to discuss your options today.

experiences competing against more established brands, against whom they have to prove their worth. The strength of the campaigns we have delivered for people – building their brand reputations through imaginative thought leadership – has enabled us to demonstrate our capabilities and attract larger clients.”

Siobhan gives the example of having recently crafted, researched, delivered and distributed a ‘groundbreaking’ report

We respond nimbly and swiftly to our clients and to new opportunities for them, always aware that working with smaller budgets means offering inventive strategies “ ”

on care providers’ experiences of the hospital discharge system that got Sharp Minds’ client, Autumna (the UK’s largest online later-living directory), in front of a digital audience of 120 million.

Tunbridge Wells is a very well-connected business community - what does Siobhan believe the key benefits of networking for you as a company are?

“If you’re not competing on priceespecially if you offer a service that requires trust and respect for the relationship to work – word-of-mouth recommendation is essential for business development. Networking has a key role to play in this; referrers must be confident

when they recommend you to their valued client or associate, so building strong relationships is essential. For Sharp Minds, being part of a supportive, collaborative community has been vital in building our success.”

www.sharpminds.agency

 STAR PERFORMER

Ellie Knight is a Senior Account Executive at Sharp Minds. Here the 23-year-old tells us about her role within the company and reveals some of her professional achievements and ambitions…

Tell us about your current role? It is very varied, which I really enjoy. I’m involved in a lot of our clients’ activities, from websites to social media, to PR campaigns. No two days are the same, especially because we have a range of clients in different sectors, meaning I’m always learning new things and being challenged - in a good way!

Who or what motivates you?

I’d say I’m motivated by a desire to drive change and make a positive impact - whether that’s environmental or social. Luckily a number of our clients are looking to change things for the better, and so I’d say that’s what gets me out of bed in the morning.



Which is more important in business, education or experience and why?

This question actually raised an interesting discussion in the office, and we decided neither: attitude

Electric dreams?

Tom Chown of Digitom, a B Corp™ certified, award-winning video production company, tells us about his journey opting to go from running a diesel to an electric car in order to travel to various work projects…

Three years ago I bought my first electric car. Having previously owned manual diesel cars, moving to an ‘electric go-kart’ and home charging, felt like a big leap.

After test driving some mid-size Electric Vehicles (EVs), I went for the smaller Volkswagen ID.3, as it sits comfortably on our tiny drive without over-hanging the pavement.

The majority of properties in Tunbridge Wells don’t have off-road parking so for some, using a home charger isn’t feasible, and public charging points are the only option. Once you’ve paid for installation (which varies) the cost of a home charger on an overnight EV tariff can give you low rates of 7.5p/kWh, which equates to around 2p/mile. However public charging points can now cost as much as 89p/kWh, so the running cost would be more expensive than petrol or diesel cars AKA internal combustion engines (ICE).

Over-coming ‘range anxiety’ required a mind-shift. Friends and family asked: “What if you run out of charge?” Range is estimated on Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) standards, and my 58kWh battery is advertised with a range of 260 miles on 100% charge.

What dealers don’t tell you is to optimise the battery; it’s advisable to keep the charge between 20 to 80%. As with all cars, things like aircon will use fuel, so doing so will cause range to drop more quickly. The other thing to note is that batteries don’t perform as well in the cold, so during the winter my EV will give around 154 miles on 80% charge.

The majority of my journeys are manageable from home, but for occasional long-distance journeys any EV driver is in the hands of public chargers, and that requires planning ahead. In summer 2021 I downloaded more than a dozen apps for public charging to plan a journey. It was a bit hit and miss and broken or busy chargers meant I needed not just a Plan A but also a B and C too.

But since then there’s been huge investment in the charging network and most now operate with the tap

There’s recently been huge investment in the EV charging network and with many vehicles coming to the end of their lease the second-hand market value has fallen sharply

of a contactless card. Earlier this year Tesla opened up parts of its previously exclusive network, to non-Tesla vehicles costing 44p/kWh, a huge cost saving for longer journeys.

EVs have fewer moving parts than ICE, so in theory less can go wrong. However, they are more reliant on software. The VW ID range promised ‘over-the-air’ updates. Great in theory, however in 2022 an update required dealership recalls. Owners quickly shared their frustrations with components breaking during the update, and delays in obtaining replacement parts due to the impact of the war in Ukraine on the global motoring sector.

After my ID.3 spent two days at the dealership, the update highlighted a possible faulty battery cell, in turn causing electric-drive faults. This required an appointment at a specialist battery assessment centre - in Wimbledon.

When we joined the waiting list in August 2022 we were #89. As it transpired, having not experienced any faults, a year later when it went for its two-year service, it turned out the battery cells were fine and the recall was cancelled.

As an early EV adopter, the last three years have certainly been a rollercoaster, learning the intricacies of charging etiquette, battery optimisation and software updates. The upfront cost of an EV may be a little more than an ICE. But if you offset this against the cheaper running costs (and no road tax until at least 2025, and no ULEZ charges) this does bring down the overall cost.

With many leasehold vehicles coming to the end of their contracts in 2024, the second-hand market value for EVs has fallen sharply. Which means if you shop around there’s some very good deals to be had for those wanting to dip their toe in the EV revolution.

A brighter future for businesses…

With the recent change in government and the nation on alert to understand how any new legislation will affect them, Gillian Palmer, founder of The Finance Hub has some encouraging news for businesses…

Despite all the uncertainty that a change in regime brings, the good news is that there will be two new government loan schemes launched soon – both of which will be supported by the British Business Bank…

The Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS), the successor to the Recovery Loan Scheme, is designed to improve access to finance for smaller UK businesses seeking to invest and grow.

“The Growth Guarantee Scheme offers a broad range of financial products, including term loans, overdrafts, asset finance, invoice finance, and asset-based lending”

Launched with accredited lenders on 1 July 2024, the GGS offers a broad range of financial products, including term loans, overdrafts, asset finance, invoice finance, and asset-based lending.

“The UK Export Finance Scheme provides various financial products to support businesses engaged in export activities,” explains Gillian Palmer of The Finance Hub. “Following the impact of COVID-19 and Brexit, many of my clients had refrained from exporting; however, I am now seeing a significant shift as businesses begin to explore international markets again. This scheme offers a valuable tool to assist businesses in their export ventures.”

Could your oversized garden or unused garage transform your finances?

Why not get in touch to discuss how you could release tax-free equity in your property through design led development. We offer a £5,000 signing bonus on all new projects.

Call: 0207 971 1226

Email: contact@caswellanddainow.com

Website: www.caswellanddainow.com

Gillian’s area of expertise is cashflow lending, and the majority of her clients are B2C (Business to Consumer), where cashflow is a perennial challenge. With the availability of these schemes, the outlook for the UK economy is promising.

For further information, please contact The Finance Hub on 08192 280000 or via email at  hellothefinancehub.money.

Making the dream of a four-day week a reality

In his column for this month Neil Simmons, founder of TN Recruits, explains why he created a fourday working week for his employees two years ago – and the reasons why it has worked…

The new government is proposing full-time workers' rights to ask for a four-day working week. TN Recruits successfully implemented this just over two years ago. Why? Well read on to discover our story…

It was February 2022 and a discussion in the office about the four-day week sparked my interest. My initial reaction to the team was: “If we’re shut one day a week our clients and candidates will go to our competitors, what’s the solution?” My statement and questions were met with silence.

My fellow director Ellie Waterman and I continued the conversation confidentially and researched vigorously. We discovered other companies operated with a ‘buddy’ system. That means each team member has a buddy who has a different day off to them, meaning they cover each other’s work including client and candidate calls when the other one isn’t working.

Having discussed everything through, Ellie and I believed we could make it happen. We decided each team member would work Monday to Thursday one week, and Tuesday to Friday the next with their buddy doing the opposite. We quickly started the phrase “Every other weekend is Easter!”

On the subject of Bank Holidays we

thought: ‘What will happen with those – would a three-day week work?’ The answer was no so we decided that on those particular weeks, everyone would enjoy the Bank Holiday off with the full team in on the other four days.

We realised we would be reducing our normal 37-hour week (including a

Finding Clarity in Chaos: How a Single Session of Transform Coaching Changed My

It was a rainy Tuesday when I received an email from Sarah. “I feel like I’m drowning in my business,” she wrote. “I’ve tried everything - courses, webinars, even hired a consultant once. But I’m still lost. Can you help?”

Sarah’s story is common. Many entrepreneurs pour their time, energy, and savings into their businesses, only to feel stuck in a cycle of confusion and overwhelm. What Sarah needed wasn’t another long-term program; she needed a breakthrough - a moment of clarity to help her refocus.

That’s where Transform comes in.

A Moment of Real Change

When Sarah signed up for a Transform session, she wasn’t sure what to expect. “It was just one session,” she said, “but I needed something different.” We scheduled a video call, where I asked her to share her struggles and goals.

Sarah spoke passionately about her business, but as she recounted her daily tasks - social media updates, customer emails, inventoryit became clear she was trying to do everything alone without a strategy. She felt lost and didn’t know where to focus her energy.

Finding the Right Path

The first step in Transform is creating space to think clearly. Together, we untangled Sarah’s thoughts and honed in on her most immediate goal: “I want to grow my customer base, but I don’t know where to start.”

One Session, Real Results

In the following weeks, Sarah put her plan into action. She streamlined her social media efforts, focused on one key platform, and started seeing results. Her customer base grew, and with it, her revenue. “That one session changed everything for me,” she later shared.

Why Transform Works

The power of Transform lies in its simplicity. In just one session, we cut through the noise and got to the heart of the problem. Sometimes, all it takes is a single moment of clarity to turn everything around.

Book yours this month for just £97 (and mention TWBM when booking for your 10% discount)

We focused on her social media strategy, identifying her ideal customers and where they spent time online. We discussed content that would resonate with them, how to engage authentically, and ways to turn that engagement into sales. By the end of the session, Sarah had a clear, actionable plan. More importantly, she had rediscovered her confidence. “For the first time in months, I know what to do next,” she said, smiling.

5pm finish on a Friday) down to 29.5 and challenged whether this would be enough. We thought implementing an additional 30 minutes to the working days would not exhaust people and would actually make TN Recruits more available to our clients and candidates over the course of the working week.

And so we weighed up the pros and cons which we found to be as follows:

PROS:

• Rest for team

• Work-life balance

• More time for hobbies

• Time for DIY projects

• Time for life admin

• Great for weekends away

• Great for morale

• Recruitment attraction

• Retention of our team

• Positive PR

• Modern concept

CONS:

• Figures may drop

• We can’t go back if it doesn’t work

• Could potentially lose clients who go elsewhere due to service levels

• Morale in the office could drop on Mondays and Fridays

• Reduce holiday entitlement of 25 to 20 days + Bank Hols (although you get an extra 43 days to play with across the year!)

We took the decision early on that new members of staff would not start with a four-day week. Although we realised it would help us to attract candidates to work for us, we didn’t want it to be the sole reason for wishing to join TN Recruits. We thought it best that during their probation period of three months, they would work a five-day week and would then have the option to join the four-day week.

” “

We

measured our results for the first six months of implementing a four-day week and found productivity remained the same - and even improved in some areas

So, with research and preparation done, we were ready to tell the team that we would like to launch a four-day week trial on June 6. Coincidentally, this was the same week as a national trial of the fourday working week.

We wrote to our clients and the feedback was generally positive with a number admitting they were jealous. We invited feedback and asked about any concerns. One client suggested the Chinese would eat us for breakfast, other than that and

questions around availability, we moved past another potential obstacle.

We measured our results for the next six months and found productivity remained the same - and even improved in some areas. But most importantly we sustained the strong service levels our clients and candidates have come to expect, and revenue increased by 7%.

Now, more than two years on, it’s working. OK we do get a little stretched during holiday periods but on the whole, we have a motivated team who appreciate one of the best benefits available.

If you are considering implementing a four-day week, you can take steps towards it. A nine-day fortnight is becoming popular, and if you operate with a buddy system, you could ensure your service levels are covered and your team get a three-day weekend every other week. I was recently speaking to another business owner in Tunbridge Wells who has successfully implemented a 12.30 finish on a Friday which their team love… there are many possibilities out there to consider if you want to enhance working lives - without compromising on performance.

If you would like to discuss the four-day working week or the possibility of working a four-day week at TN Recruits, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

01892 571105 neil@tnrecruits.com

Autumn Revival – Get Back on Track

As summer fades and the vibrant colours of autumn begin to grace our surroundings, the return to school and the shift back to routine, after the holidays offer a unique opportunity to enhance employee wellbeing through workplace culture and bonding activities.

The “back to school” season isn’t just for students; it’s a time for all of us to reset, refocus, and realign our goals. Encouraging employees to set new professional and personal goals during this period can reinvigorate their sense of purpose. Whether through workshops, personal development plans, or simply setting aside time for self-reflection, this seasonal shift can be a catalyst for renewed energy in the workplace.

Also, autumn’s natural beauty can serve as a perfect backdrop for

team-building activities that foster connection and solidarity. Organising outdoor activities, such as fruit picking. Plan a trip to the local fruit farm for berries or apple picking, enjoying fresh juice, delicious tubs of berries or even a cheeky bottle of cider! Walking meetings can also be really engaging promoting clarity of thought and creative thinking, or team strolls through a park to enjoy the autumn foliage, can help reduce stress, boost morale, and strengthen team bonds. These activities provide the opportunity for employees to step away from their desks, breathe in the fresh crisp autumn air, and connect with colleagues in a relaxed, informal setting.

Getting “back on track” after the summer months can sometimes feel challenging, but by integrating the season’s opportunities into workplace culture, businesses can help their teams embrace this transition with enthusiasm and

positivity. Investing in employee wellbeing now will not only enhance productivity but also cultivate a supportive and engaged work environment.

Want to increase your team’s engagement and productivity? Book a free consultation for insights and see how ‘Revive’ can help support your business.

Revive Health Fitness – Specialised Employees Wellness Days  www.revivehealthfitness.co.uk

Henry Adekoya

Digital Revolution

Entrepreneur Matt West has started working with the revolutionary Boostkit. Not familiar with it? Then read on to discover more about this game-changing piece of tech that can simplify and streamline the digital side of your business…

Can you tell us a bit about your professional background?

I’ve spent 17 years working in media – starting at the mighty agency, PHD but always had a desire to launch my own business. At the end of last year when I was made redundant due to a company takeover it was an ideal opportunity to have the opportunity to go solo. Initially I founded West Media, my own consultancy but I soon realised just how many tools businesses need to scale - a website, a personal CRM, social media management, a calendar, a way to get paid and a way to pay others…and it got me thinking… there must be a better way, which is how Boostkit came about.

So how does this new Boostkit tech work?

Boostkit provides a platform to run your entire business from one place. Key features include contact management, a unified inbox, payment processing, website building, appointment booking, social media management and SEO. It's designed for businesses of all sizes, from single operators to companies with up to 50 people using complex and ever-changing technology developed by HighLevel. The beauty is that my clients get the best of both worlds: a highly personalised service with me on hand when needed whilst also benefitting from a large and talented team of developers in the US and India working on the platform to bring speedy improvements and advancements to the platform every day.

What do you enjoy most about your role as a founder?

I am passionate about helping others and that’s why today my main joy is in learning what businesses are doing right now and finding out whether I am able to help them using Boostkit. If I can’t then I am more than happy to tell them that. There’s no contract, no hidden costs, just a genuine interest in making other people more efficient and hopefully able to generate more revenue.

Are you working solo or with a team?

At the moment I am working solo, although my wife is a music teacher and has been helping me with local outreach, and I have also been enlisting the help of my two young children to do flyer drops! I have weekly calls with the developers and receive daily updates on releases and what else is being built. I am part of the beta testing team and can switch on and off certain features before they are public which satisfies the nerdy side of me.

What are the particular areas of working with Boostkit that excite you the most?

There are three elements of the platform which are the current focus: advancements in the web builder, further improvements in social media management, and the integration of AI for creating automations and workflows. We already have Content AI for blogs, social media content, and emails, but I'm looking forward to developments in AI video generation next year.

Who are your typical clients and what is your reach?

We're still in the early stages, so we don't have a typical client yet. Recently, a client chose Boostkit over Salesforce and HubSpot because of my bespoke service: I was able to build a custom CRM and onboarded their email list for an upcoming event. My newest client is a local gin and chocolate business owner who needed an updated website and simplified sales process. I created a new site and backend for her, which she loves. It's exciting to see her now able to schedule social media posts while her daughter is in bed - these small improvements make a big difference and I now have a gin and chocolate supplier a road away from me - win win!

WHAT IS BOOSTKIT?

What are your plans for growing the business?

I'm focusing on building a strong local foundation through grassroots efforts like flyer drops and face-to-face conversations with business owners. My personal approach gives me a clear understanding of their unique needs and demonstrates how Boostkit can provide tailored solutions. I also enjoy supporting local businesses and enterprises - I have

the PTA are now able to sell tickets for the Fireworks and tea and coffee at the sports day using the tap to pay feature on their phones - a game changer.

UItimately, I want Boostkit to be known as the go-to platform for SMBs looking for personalised, efficient, and cost-effective business solutions. By staying agile, listening to our clients, and continuously improving our platform, I believe we can achieve sustainable growth while staying true to our mission of helping businesses thrive. www.boostkit.io

“Boostkit is a platform that streamlines operations for businesses of all sizes: from single operators to companies with up to 50 people. It offers integrated solutions for contact management, payment processing, website building, and SEO optimisation, all in one place and the beauty of it is I am in touch with the developers weekly and they iterate daily as the needs of businesses are evolving fast.”

With over 30 years of experience, we provide a fresh new approach to marketing. Whether you are looking for help with a single project or ongoing support, we are here to assist you with all your print and online marketing needs. So, let’s chat today and together we’ll start making your business, well, famous. Introducing the people behind the marketing in this magazine, FAMOUS.

“A vibrant economy is at the heart of our ambitions”

Cllr Ben Chapelard who represents St James’ has been leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council since 2022. Here he explains why the local economy is at the heart of his administration’s Strategic Plan for 2024-32

For many people Tunbridge Wells is a great place to live, a great place to work and a great place to visit. Our administration believes that it can be an even better place for all, and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has a leading role to play.

Following a process of engagement with residents, the draft Strategic Plan is now out for consultation.

The plan sets out the council’s priorities for the borough for the next eight years –I do hope that Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine readers and supporters will take part. Our priorities are:

• Vibrant Economy

• Community Wellbeing

• Sustainable Growth & Climate Action.

A vibrant local economy in our towns and villages is crucial to creating dynamic places to bring people together. That is why we bought Royal Victoria Place last October.

We have made progress with the opening of new shops such as Søstrene Grene as well as attracting big names

such as Nando’s and Primark.

The shopping centre will also have to evolve to the reality of the digital age. That means there will be a greater mixture of retail, entertainment, food and beverage outlets.

Listening to the local business community matters to us. That is why,

ever since I became council leader, I have gone out to meet various businesses across the borough to understand your hopes and aspirations.

There is so much ambition and dynamism out there. As a council, our role is to do all we can to support and promote business and economic growth. It is

Great Heritage, Hospitality, Shopping & Entertainment

Support your local businesses and commit to ‘Love Local’ in Royal Tunbridge Wells, ensuring our vibrant town, set within an area of outstanding natural beauty, continues to be a great place to live, work and play. Support local traders, their suppliers and the people they depend on to run their business, and for every £1 you spend with a local business, between 50-70p circulates back into our local economy*.

*source: www.indieretail.net

Scan the QR CODE to download a copy of the RTW What’s On Guide for September - November and a directory of Tunbridge Wells retailers, hospitality and businesses.

With a wealth of entertainment, hospitality, heritage and shopping, this year we have a lot to enjoy:

A packed events calendar including Subbuteo World Cup, Art of the Pantiles and Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival Open air events at The Pantiles and Spa Valley Railway Why not try shopping in Piglet in Bed, Monkhouse or Sostrene Grene

Eat and drink at Club Quantum, The Philanthropist or Burger King

Sponsored by

The Amelia Scott Centre The Pantiles

Art of the Pantiles Puppetry Festival

The Spa Valley Railway The Calverley Quarter

Calverley Adventure

Royal Victoria Place

Dining out

Dunorlan Park

Ben Chapelard (centre) with the TWBC cabinet

therefore important that members of the business community respond to the Draft Strategic Plan consultation alongside residents.

A thriving economy is the foundation for making Tunbridge Wells a place where people want to live and work. One challenge we face is that our borough has an ageing population, so we need to attract a diverse workforce to power the local economy.

A thriving economy is the foundation for making Tunbridge Wells a place where people want to live and work

We need to build the right types of homes in the right places. As the local planning authority, the council has a pivotal role in making this happen, quality housing is a key need to live a happy, healthy and fulfilling life. It is great to see businesses in the borough working on sustainability and

reducing their carbon emissions. As a community leader, our council also wants to support businesses as they tackle climate change.

Our Strategic Plan also aims to improve leisure facilities and create opportunities for walking and cycling. Getting Tunbridge Wells moving by getting people out of cars will help our borough to thrive. Pedestrians and cyclists return more

Building brand trust with consumers

often and spend more on each visit, contributing to the vibrant and dynamic community we want to help build.

I hope you can see that through our Strategic Plan our administration is unashamedly ambitious for our Borough and that you will take part in our Strategic Plan consultation. It runs until 13th October.

Twbc.online/strategicplansurvey

Trust is the most valuable commodity a brand can have. But with today’s information overload, it can be hard to win, and even harder to maintain, particularly with conscious consumers. The Managing Director of Sharp Minds Communications, Siobhan Stirling, explains what we can learn from a recent global consumer trust report.

Intuit Mailchimp interviewed 10,000 consumers across Europe to understand how today’s digital-first eco-system is impacting the dynamics of consumer connection, convenience and communication preferences. The findings suggest that it has never been more important to understand your audience and align authentically with their interests. 61% of consumers like tailored content and are happy to see their data used for this, as long as it is aligned with strong privacy reassurances.

Giving your audience control over the communications they receive can help build trust; over 50% of

Mailchimp’s respondents appreciate being able to opt out selectively, for example from emails around Mothers’ Day or Fathers’ Day.

Younger consumers particularly are more receptive when brands give opinions or comment on wider issues. This means having a clear strategy regarding news developments and potentially contentious issues, and ensuring this aligns authentically with your brand values.

Spam is a key way to erode trust. The report suggests consumers will only tolerate up to 6 emails per week from any one brand, even those with high brand currency and loyalty – quality over quantity is key.

While 48% of respondents crave authentic, human-made brand communications, they are open to some AI involvement, as long as it has “extensive human input and oversight”. As brands increasingly adopt AI within marketing, it will be important to maintain the human touch.

Significantly, while 50% of respondents are happy to receive emails from brands, 45% will unsubscribe if they are repetitive or unimaginative. So your content not only has to build trust through personalised connection, it still needs to to be creative and compelling.

MEET THE EXPERT

Siobhan Stirling is the founder and Managing Director of Sharp Minds Communications, a multi-awardwinning marketing and PR agency that provides intelligent communication with power and purpose to help its clients punch above their weight.

It’s coming home

In his regular column for Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine, Alex Green, CEO of RTW Together BID tells us how Subbuteo didn’t just bring football home, it brought with it some exciting new uses of marketing technology

September marks the Subbuteo World Cup coming home to its birthplace of Langton Green and Royal Tunbridge Wells. Depending on when you are reading this, I hope that many of you have - or had - a great time watching the World Cup play out live at Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre, visiting the Subbuteo Memorabilia Exhibition, “Oh, Oh, Oh, Subbuteo” at The Amelia or joining in the fun and learning from the expert players at the ESA Fun Day at Royal Victoria Place.

Behind the scenes, what excited us just as much, was the opportunity to work with Visit Tunbridge Wells to use emerging marketing technology to promote the Subbuteo World Cup to our residents

To see the full augmented reality (AR) video, scan the QR code

“ ”

Thanks to the skills of The Amelia Digital Scanning team and Polyplay, a fantastic Subbuteo marketing campaign has been created for Royal Tunbridge Wells

and visitors. For the first time in the BID’s history, we ran an exciting campaign utilising 3D print and augmented reality to showcase the Subbuteo figures coming to life as giant players!

Augmented reality is an interactive experience that combines the real world and computer-generated 3D content. Thanks to the skills of The Amelia Digital Scanning team and Polyplay (who have created successful digital and viral campaigns for renowned brands such as Pepsi Max, Starbucks, and Walkers Crisps), they were able to capture authentic Subbuteo figures using macrophotogrammetry which creates 3D models in incredible detail and then Polyplay added these giant models with real props to

make them look realistically like they were ‘dropping in’ to Royal Tunbridge Wells! In addition, 100 mini 3D-printed Subbuteo figures were created and hidden around the town, and as this magazine went to print, there were still some to find! A big 45cm tall Subbuteo figure has also been popping up at various places across town and giving people the opportunity to win Subbuteo prizes… Digital marketing, including augmented reality, is a really great way to achieve big results even with a modest budget. With the right strategy and creativity, you can create a dynamic and engaging campaign to generate a viral buzz. www.rtwtogether.com

Pioneered with the purpose of digitising its collection with museumquality scans, the Digital Scanning team has pioneered new ways of capturing physical objects for the digital world (and back again).

The potential applications are many, but some uses could include:

• 3D scanning products for the digital world (at Metaverse ready quality)

• AR/XR Experiences & walkthroughs

• Making virtual products viewable in the real world

• 3D Printing of digital objects in high definition

And, the technology is entirely portable, so the work can be done by the Digital Scanning team wherever you are.

If businesses are interested in working with the Digital Scanning team at The Amelia to develop digital, 3D or augmented reality solutions with them, please contact info@theamelia.co.uk

MORE ABOUT THE AMELIA’S DIGITAL SCANNING TECHNOLOGY

CooperBurnett supports young graduate with new route into law

Tunbridge Wells-based law firm CooperBurnett LLP has awarded a unique training contract to Joshua Hayes. Joshua joined the firm last summer, through the new Masters of Law (M-Law) paralegal scheme at Kent Law School (University of Kent), which CooperBurnett has supported since its inception. After successfully completing his Masters degree, Joshua recently joined the firm full-time.

“The M-Law paralegal scheme is a unique opportunity to start accruing practical experience, whilst undertaking the necessary exams to create a hybrid approach to qualifying as a solicitor,” Joshua explains. “I would definitely advocate for the M-Law, as it provides an opportunity to blend the traditional vocational training (LPC) with real world, practicable legal experience, making for a more well-rounded lawyer.”

Darren Weir, Senior Lecturer at Kent Law School, adds: “Kent Law School is grateful to firms like CooperBurnett LLP which support our QWE [Qualifying Work Experience] Paralegal scheme. It means students who are studying those

final stages get to do handson work in the office and accumulate QWE to enable them to become a solicitor. It truly enhances student learning, as demonstrated by Joshua on the course. We are immensely pleased to see him kept on by CooperBurnett after his Integrated Masters studies at Kent.”

Joshua says he was drawn to the opportunity to work at CooperBurnett, because of the firm’s ‘ability to establish close-knit relationships with both existing and new clients’.

“It’s great to see an established firm embracing the new route to legal qualification”

“It’s great to see an established firm embracing the new route to qualification, whilst not only supporting me in equipping myself with the necessary skills but investing in the up-and-coming generation of lawyers,” he adds.

Joseph Oates, Partner and Head of Contentious at CooperBurnett says: “We had no hesitation in offering Joshua a

training contract and have enjoyed having him as part of TeamCB for the past 12 months as part of the M-Law scheme. We look forward to seeing him grow and develop as he pursues his goal of becoming a lawyer.”

He adds: “As a firm, we are proud to foster a culture of supporting and training the next generation of lawyers and were thrilled to be part of the new M-Law, which is enabling, empowering and encouraging students into the profession.”

Joshua spent his M-Law year as part of CooperBurnett’s Corporate and Commercial team. Since then, he has been working with the firm’s Private Client team, but has recently moved back to Corporate and Commercial.

In his spare time, Joshua enjoys playing tennis competitively and played for the University of Kent while studying there.

Kent firm shortlisted for two major awards

Last month’s cover feature in this magazine was with Nick Gabay, a Senior Partner at Thackray Williams Law Firm. And we are now pleased to share that the firm’s private client team has been recognised for its expertise and exceptional customer service by making the final five for the title of Probate Provider of the Year – South. Meanwhile, Nick’s colleague Nicola Huseyin has been chosen as a finalist for Legal Assistant of the Year.

Thackray Williams has offices in Sevenoaks, Bromley, West Wickham and London.

“We’re delighted that the dedication and customer focus of the entire private client team has been recognised by making it this far in these prestigious industry awards,” commented Elliot Lewis, the head of the Private Client Department since 2014.

“Our probate experts contribute a fifth of Thackray Williams’ turnover – in the last 12 months we were instructed to administer 262 estates – so our success is integral to the firm’s success.

Nicola Huseyin heads the seven Legal Assistants in the department and played a key role in steering them through the

“Thackray Williams’ probate experts contribute a fifth of the firm’s turnover – in the last 12 months it was instructed to administer 262 estates”

firm’s recent restructuring into six sectors that align with client needs, rather than traditional legal silos.

“I was delighted that my team wanted to put me forward for Legal Assistant of the Year – it’s a great honour to have been nominated and I am thrilled to have made the finals,” said Nicola.

“In the ten years that I have been with Thackray Williams, I have always sought to

deliver the kind of service for our clients that I would want for myself.”

To date Thackray Williams has built up a bank of over 35,000 Wills, many of them representing client relationships spanning decades and generations.

These estates range from several hundred thousand pounds to many millions of pounds with assets in different jurisdictions and substantial tax liabilities in the UK.

The restructuring of the probate team within an integrated Private Wealth sector enables Thackray Williams to offer a uniquely holistic service.

Thackray Williams will find out if it has taken the two titles at the black-tie awards ceremony on October 10 in Manchester.

Let’s get visible

Visibility is not just a benefit for small businesses - it’s a necessity. Even if you offer the best products or services, their value is lost if potential clients are unaware they exist. This month, let’s dive into the importance of visibility for your business and how it can fundamentally enhance your growth and presence in your market.

For many business owners, the instinctive response to a decline in sales is to slash prices. Cutting your price as an immediate response is usually aligned with confidence or lack thereof. Instead reviewing your business’s visibility can prove to be a more effective solution.

Online Presence: Start with a welldesigned, professional website that captures your brand’s essence and clearly communicates your offerings. Use Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) to forge a great relationship with Google so that you rank well in search results, making it easier for potential clients to find you at the crucial moment they are searching for solutions you provide.

While online visibility is crucial, offline interactions remain powerful. Participating in local trade shows or sponsoring community events provide a personal touch and can create lasting impressions ” “

Social Media: Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn are essential for connecting with your audience. Select platforms that align with where your target customers are most active and engage them with regular, relevant content. This ongoing interaction helps build relationships and keeps your business visible and top of mind.

Content Marketing: Position yourself as an industry Pro by sharing your expertise through blogs, articles, podcasts, or

videos. This content not only increases your visibility but also establishes your credibility, helping potential ideal clients understand and trust the value you provide.

Email Marketing: Develop a robust email list to send regular updates, insights, and exclusive offers directly to interested parties. This direct line of communication keeps your audience engaged and reinforces your presence in their lives.

Offline Strategies: While online visibility is crucial, offline interactions remain powerful. Participate in local trade shows or sponsor community events. These activities provide a personal touch and can create lasting impressions, complementing your online visibility efforts.

Networking: Building relationships with other local business owners can lead to referrals and collaborative opportunities. Networking is a powerful tool that enhances visibility through word of mouth, which remains one of the most trusted forms of marketing.

Press and Public Relations: Getting featured in local magazines or newspapers can significantly boost your visibility and credibility. Regular press releases about new products, milestones, or unique aspects of your business can attract media attention and bring broader visibility.

Improving your visibility is more than just showing up; it’s about making a memorable impact. Strategic visibility means being seen in the right places by the right people. This strategy increases your chances of being chosen over your competitors, helping you avoid price cuts and instead, thrive on the merits of your offerings.

Join me next month when we look at your visibility and connecting with your ideal client.

www.brandphotographybydeeairey.co.uk

Best in businesses

Entries are now open for the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards by the TN card, which will celebrate the very best of our business community this coming November

With twelve judged award categories plus a members’ choice award, the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards organised by Jess Gibson of the TN card will recognise the successes and achievements of businesses of all sizes based in Tunbridge Wells, from sole traders to our town’s largest employers.

The awards will take place at Trinity Theatre on November 26. The venue is one of three local organisations who

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine is proud to support the TN card awards as Media Sponsor, and will be collaborating with the scheme on an exciting new project for 2025

will receive a generous portion of ticket sales. Guests at the black-tie event will enjoy a drinks reception in the theatre café and bar before a glittering awards ceremony in the auditorium, and further celebrations in the bar afterwards. Highlights will include locally sourced canapes, an awards podcast recorded on the night to interview winners, and an opening film that will showcase as many of the awards entrants as possible.

Solicitors CooperBurnett are headline sponsor of the awards: “Jess has done so much to promote businesses across the TN area, not only through the brilliant TN card itself but by holding events and now, running awards programmes,” says CooperBurnett Partner, Joseph Oates.

“We didn't hesitate in saying ‘yes’ when

Jess talked to us about being the Headline Sponsor for the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards – particularly having seen how well received the inaugural Tonbridge Business Awards were. Jess created an outstanding event to celebrate business and community in Tonbridge and we know she’ll do the same in Tunbridge Wells.”

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine is proud to support the awards as Media Sponsor, and we will be collaborating with the TN card on an exciting new project for 2025.

The awards are also being supported by Hotel du Vin who are hosting a preawards drinks reception on September 26, while Inkerman London will be providing the award trophies. Print sponsor Absolute Creative Print and RTW Together are sponsoring the awards film.

On the judging panel are local business leaders and experts Lynne Gadsden of Eight Wealth Management, Nick Green of RTW Together, Nick Moore of Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine, Dawn Blee of Sevenoaks Chamber of Commerce, Nick Bryant of Brilliant Businesses. Jess Gibson of the TN card will facilitate.

The 2024 awards will raise money for amplifi, Trinity Theatre and West Kent Mind.

Dates for your diary:

October 11: Entries close November 4: Finalists announced November 26: Tunbridge Wells Business Awards

How to get involved:

For more information on the awards and to download an entry form visit tunbridgewellsbusinessawards.uk For sponsorship opportunities contact jess@thetncard.com

CATEGORIES FOR ENTRY:

New Business Award –Sponsored by GF HR Consulting

Recognising start-up businesses operating for less than two years in any sector.

Food and Drink Award –Sponsored by Berry & Lamberts Solicitors

Recognising excellence in the food and drink sector, from hospitality to producers.

Retail Award –

Sponsored by NFU Mutual Tunbridge Wells

Recognising excellence in retail, both brick-and-mortar stores and online.

Creative Business Award –Sponsored by Big Orange Media Recognising creativity from art and photography to PR and social media.

Hair and Beauty Award –Sponsor to be confirmed Recognising excellence in the beauty industry, from salons to beauticians.

Health and Wellbeing Award –Sponsored by Benenden Hospital

Recognising excellence in healthcare, from physical fitness to mental wellbeing.

Small Business of the Year –Sponsored by NetVector IT Services For small businesses demonstrating big results, with 1 - 9 employees.

Large Business of the Year –Sponsored by chilliapple For larger businesses demonstrating growth and leadership, with 10+ employees.

Employer of the Year –Sponsored by Arden Tunbridge Wells BMW

Recognising businesses who engage with and promote employee welfare.

Businessperson of the Year –Sponsored by Charles Stanley For individuals demonstrating success and strong entrepreneurial skills.

Ethical Business Award – Sponsored by Sevenoaks Chamber of Commerce

Recognising businesses who are committed to being socially responsible or sustainable.

Community Business Award –Sponsored by Eight Wealth Management Recognising businesses who make a positive impact on Tunbridge Wells life.

TN Card Members’ Choice Award* –Sponsored by Famous BGA Best TN card business in Tunbridge Wells, as voted for by members.

*No entry form, member nomination only.

Headline Sponsor:

Theatre of dreams

It’s fair to say that Trinity Theatre is considered one of the biggest gems in Tunbridge Wells’s cultural crown, offering a mix of live theatre, cult film screenings, art exhibitions, community workshops and so much more.

But it’s also true that its journey has been somewhat rocky since it first opened as a theatre on Church Road back in 1982.

Funding issues, the colossal impact of Covid and general cost of living crises have all meant Team Trinity have had to work extra hard to ensure this extraordinary arts venue, which is housed in a former Decimus Burton-designed church in the heart of Tunbridge Wells, has a solid future.

Happily now though, ahead of its new Clock Tower viewing platform being opened later this month and a new CEO being appointed in October, the curtain seems to be rising again at Trinity.

We pride ourselves on the strength of our relationships with local businesses and the flexibility of our partnerships ”

I caught up with its Director of Creative Engagement Jason Lower, who is also currently Acting CEO, to discover what’s currently going on behind the scenes…

The first question I ask is what happened to the venue’s former CEO Nick Mowat who was in the role for 16 months and was responsible for getting Trinity back on its feet post-pandemic.

“Nick came out of retirement to help steady the ship after the uncertainties of Covid and the slow return of audiences,” explains Jason.

“He did a great job, but quite rightly he wanted to get back to enjoying his retirement, so left the role earlier this year having helped sort out our financial situation. He is still very much involved though as Programmer and Christmas

Jason Lower is currently acting CEO at Trinity Theatre alongside his ‘day job’ of being the venue’s Director of Creative Engagement. Here he brings Eileen Leahy up to speed about what’s currently happening at Trinity including the imminent launch of the venue’s new Clock Tower viewing platform and its plans for the new Autumn/Winter season…

Pantomime Producer.”

This year the theatre will be putting on Sleeping Beauty from December 14 to January 5 after its first ever panto, Cinderella, was so well received last year.

Since Nick’s departure from the CEO role it has been Jason who’s been running things and he’s very much enjoyed it.

“Trinity is full of untapped potential. I have been here for nearly nine years, and I still think we have only scratched the surface of what we can do,” continues Jason.

“A recent report on the social impact of Trinity’s work showed that for every £1 invested, we generate £6.22 worth of social return but it doesn’t generate the same return on income, sadly.

“This is through programmes such as Speech Bubbles, our drama-based intervention for children with speech, language and communication needs; Transitions, our work with school children moving from Year 6 to Year 7; our youth theatre; our activities for adults experiencing social isolation, such as our Movers, Singers and Play Reading groups; and so much more. We have established a new partnership with The Skinners’ School, sharing a new Junior Technician who will work and be trained at Trinity Theatre, and support the students at the school in their drama and music performances.”

And then of course there’s Trinity’s

‘brilliant artistic and cinematic programme that takes place throughout the year’ adds Jason.

“All that benefits audience members and the local economy – you only have to go into Cote on a night we have a big comedian on, and you can see the impact!

“Our youth theatre has been incredibly popular, and we are adding more activities in this area, but now also for adults. We have a dedicated volunteer team that helps keep Trinity thriving, and I am keen to keep deepening their involvement with the charity.”

Trinity is also a space for community activities - such as the monthly Repair

“ JASON LOWER Image: Samuel Marlow

Cafe, its weekly Chatty Cafe, play script readings, movement and singing groups, and there are also regular exhibitions in the venue’s gallery.

I mention that Trinity’s new branding looks very smart and Jason tells me that it was created by Partners Studio&.

“We also have a new website coming soon thanks to Step3 Digital, making it easier to engage and book tickets for shows here. We now have a new Marketing and Audience Development Manager, Katie Jenkins, who will be working alongside our existing junior marketing team to spread the word about Trinity, the events we have on and the good work we do.”

After a tumultuous time at the beginning of 2023 where Trinity had to fundraise thousands in order to save it from closing, I ask Jason how the business side of Trinity is now looking.

“Thankfully stronger than where we were in January last year but as an arts charity with no core funding in a beautiful but challenging venue, we will never be completely out of the woods. We were very fortunate to receive incredible donations last year from individual benefactors and local businesses when we needed it most.

“One local business mentor helped fund the social value report I mentioned earlier, showing the 1:6.22 social return on investment that will help us articulate

our case to funders more.”

He adds that benefactors are always needed and can help support through a variety of different projects, or by becoming a Lifetime Member, leaving a legacy in a will, or donating money regularly.

“We pride ourselves on the strength of our relationships with local businesses and the flexibility of our partnerships, led by Sara Rice.”

At Trinity Theatre we want to provide life-enriching creative experiences; using the arts to inspire, engage and entertain

Jason adds that Trinity is ‘incredibly grateful’ to its Corporate Partners for their contributions that go beyond the financial.

“This includes advice on different aspects from Berry & Lamberts Solicitors, Knight Frank, Panoramic Wealth Management, Maxipay Accounting Services and others, to training and support from Wiser Safety Management, catering from Cote, audit services from Hilden Park Accountants; and the aforementioned rebrand and website from Studio& and Step3 Digital.”

Energie Fitness Tunbridge Wells is committed to providing a top-tier fitness experience at an affordable price. Corporate memberships start at just £21.99, standard memberships from £23.99 and our best value for money memberships starts from £37.99. We pride ourselves on having the best gym community and ensuring everyone feels that they belong here no matter what their fitness goals or experience. We know gyms can feel intimidating, our mission is to ensure everyone feels comfortable and is able to achieve their fitness goals.

Members at Energie Fitness Tunbridge Wells benefit from a broad spectrum of amenities so no matter what your goal or experience we have something for you:

X Group Exercise Classes: From high-energy HIIT sessions to calming yoga, the gym offers an extensive schedule of group classes to suit all fitness levels and preferences.

He says that Thrive, part of the Retirement Village Group, who are developing the old cinema site opposite the theatre, are supporting the new Clock Tower viewing platform for the next three years.

“Thrive are also our Community Partner. We are really excited to be working with them to offer services to their residents as well as being a cultural destination on their doorstep.”

The project has also been supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation.

“The panoramic views are stunning, and the heritage material on the way up and down is really interesting,” states Jason about the new experience which opens later this month. “It tells the story of Trinity from its inception in 1829, to it being saved from demolition in the 1980s, and its life today as a vital cultural hub in the heart of Tunbridge Wells.”

And finally, how would Jason sum up the spirit of Trinity as it now goes into its 43rd year?

“I’d say it’s inclusive, high quality and joyful. We want to provide life-enriching creative experiences; using the arts to inspire, engage and entertain.”

For more information on Trinity Theatre and its upcoming schedule for autumn/winter visit www. trinitytheatre.net or @trinitytheatretw

X Cardio Equipment: State-of-the-art treadmills, Stairmaster ellipticals, and stationary bikes cater to cardio workouts of all intensities.

X Free Weights and Functional Fitness: With a wide array of free weights, high quality machines from Primal and Precor and functional fitness equipment such as Assault Bikes, Ski-erg and Rowers.

X Expert Personal Trainers: Knowledgeable and experienced personal trainers are on hand to provide guidance, personalized workout plans, and motivation.

Located just 200m from from High Brooms Station and a 5 minute drive from Southborough Free parking for all customers

Meet the I.T. crowd...

Brandon

When did you start tecwork?

It was established as a new brand in 2017. Previously, I had worked at another company, First Office Systems, who traded in Tunbridge Wells for 25 years. A few years ago it was purchased as part of a private equity acquisition and was swallowed up by a much larger company in 2016. Although we were all taken on by the new owners none of us really liked working for a much bigger company and so a few colleagues and I launched tecwork to fill the IT and Telecoms service gap that had been left as a result of First Office Systems going.

Can you tell us about your business's key USPs?

At tecwork we have replicated the ‘wow factor’ we had in the previous company - for which we won two Local Service Excellence Awards. We are proactive which is probably the opposite of most of our competitors, some of whom simply ‘take the money’ and might not build the customer relationships until it’s time to renew the contract.

When it comes to providing stressfree and simple comms what’s your speciality?

In terms of telecoms, we just know from 30 years’ experience, who to partner with. Our collaborators are all global, mainstream leaders in their fields. They include 3CX, Gamma, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services. The key is using those brilliant ingredients and adding a sprinkling of the aforementioned ‘wow factor’. In terms of a specialty, we don’t have one particular area we focus onapart from a geographic one. We like to keep it all as local as possible…

Can you give us an idea of some your clients?

We try to keep really local so most of them are in a 30-mile radius of Tunbridge Wells. They range from one-person businesses and residential customers to companies with over 150 staff. Our

“LinkedIn. We can’t reveal too much about our future plans as it’s a long game but it’s certainly critical to keep doing a great job for our customers. Getting a good reputation takes time…getting a bad one, through bad service, takes around five minutes!

How many are in your team and are you looking to expand numbers?

There are essentially five of us who work full-time and we also have one part-time person who helps with admin. We outsource some jobs and rely on our key partners to take the burden off us for much of the non-customer facing tasks such as bookkeeping and accounts etc. And yes, we will be looking to grow further. We very nearly hit the magic £1m turnover mark last year (we started from 0 in 2017), so I expect we will increase our tech team in the not-too-distant future. We are not interested in growing a sales team though.

”ideal client would be a professional firm or manufacturing business in Tunbridge Wells with 30 or so staff. We deal with some of the best-known local businesses and organisations in Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding area and a lot of less well-known ones too including charities, schools and quangos.

How have you grown your business to reach customers elsewhere?

I guess just by being on the radar and doing a great job! We do get quite a few customers referred to us, so word of mouth is a great source. We are very active on social media - particularly on

Do you feel the local business community is a collaborative one? I do, although having said that I am not a fan of the networking entities that meet weekly. I did that for years a long time ago but I can see how it works well for some sectors. I prefer to go to events that have no strict commitments, requirements or criteria, like enTWine, The Sevenoaks Chamber of Commerce and so on. Groups of people and friends in business that meet regularly on a more informal basis is my preference and I am involved with a few of those.

What do you think tecwork brings to the local economic and tech landscape?

I think we definitely offer something different. I think our people really do work at the coalface and have brilliant knowledge and expertise. Our people are the most important thing in our business – and they always will be. www.tecwork.co.uk

“Our

menu is a love letter to Asian cuisine”

The TN card is the loyalty card that rewards our community for supporting local at over 900 independents across Tunbridge Wells and the TN postcodes. This month founder Jess Gibson chats to Jexsen Lim, owner of DoDoMi on Grosvenor Road, where members receive complimentary salmon avocado rolls when dining in

Jexsen, let’s kick off with you telling us what ‘DoDoMi’ means, and how the name relates to the concept behind your restaurant?

‘DoDoMi’ loosely translates to ‘a lot, a lot of rice’ which reflects our mission here. When you visit DoDoMi, we want you to leave full and happy. Our restaurant celebrates Pan Asian cuisine, featuring dishes from Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Singapore and more. The concept behind DoDoMi is to create a fusion of traditional and modern culinary styles, blending authentic flavours with a touch of innovation to deliver a unique dining experience.

Where are your family from and how long have you called Tunbridge Wells home?

I’m originally from Malaysia, with roots in China through my parents. I came to the UK in 1999, and my wife and three small children live in Orpington. We visited Tunbridge Wells with our children one day, and I remember saying to my wife that I would love to open a restaurant here. I was drawn to this area because of the vibrant community and saw an opportunity to introduce something new and exciting to the local dining scene.

What led to you opening DoDoMi?

Opening DoDoMi in 2021 was a dream come true – a real culmination of years spent honing my craft in the culinary world. Before this, I was running an Izakaya restaurant in London, where I refined my skills and developed the vision

for DoDoMi—a restaurant that would bring something unique to Tunbridge Wells and offer an authentic taste of Asia.

Tell us more about what makes your menu stand out…

At DoDoMi, our menu is a love letter to Asian cuisine. We’re deeply passionate about bringing the authentic flavours of Japan and other parts of Asia to Tunbridge Wells. Our diverse menu features everything from delicate sashimi

and creative sushi rolls to well-loved classics like gyoza and crispy spring rolls. For those seeking something more substantial, we offer hearty curries, satisfying bento boxes, and vibrant noodle dishes like our signature Pad Thai and spicy Singapore Laksa. Every dish is crafted meticulously, ensuring that your experience at DoDoMi is as authentic and enjoyable as possible.

Hospitality is fiercely competitive. What makes DoDoMi special?

What sets DoDoMi apart is our unwavering commitment to quality, creativity, and community. We combine traditional and modern culinary techniques to create a unique blend of flavours. Beyond the food, we’re also deeply invested in creating a memorable customer experience. For instance, our kids’ sushi-making birthday parties are a hit with locals, and our partnership with the TN card helps us stay engaged with the community. DoDoMi is more than just a restaurant; it’s a space where people can come together to enjoy great food and company. We adore our customers and have many loyal regulars- friends and families who use DoDoMi to explore new dishes and cuisines.

How has 2024 been for you as a small independent?

2024 has undoubtedly been a challenging year for the hospitality industry, and DoDoMi has had its share of hurdles. But through it all, we’ve focused on innovation, staying connected with our community, and adapting to the changing circumstances. These efforts have allowed us to continue providing our patrons with the exceptional dining experience they’ve come to expect from us.

Why did you want to join the TN card?

Joining the TN card scheme was a natural fit for DoDoMi. Supporting local businesses and growing a sense of community is at the heart of what we do. The TN card allows us to connect with a broader audience and offer special perks to those who are just as passionate about supporting local enterprises as we are. It’s our way of giving back to the community that has welcomed us so warmly.

What are your future plans?

We plan to expand our menu and further enhance the dining experience at DoDoMi. Innovation and quality will remain our top priorities as we explore new events and collaborations that bring us closer to the Tunbridge Wells community. We’re excited about what’s to come and can’t wait to share more of our journey with you all.

Address: 49 Grosvenor Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2AY

Jess Gibson

Go pro or DIY?

RTW Media Group is a local networking group for those working in advertising, PR, TV, radio and social and digital media. In the first of its monthly columns, we hear from one its members, Spencer Nash, a web designer at Creative Outline Ltd who shares his advice on whether you should build a website yourself or engage the expertise of a professional…

In the early stages of your business, your principal focus should be connecting with your audience. While building a brand is crucial, don’t spend too much time or money on this until you’ve established yourself. Otherwise, you’re likely to spend precious time and money on design and development that you’ll likely want to change a few months down the line once you’ve learned what really works.

If you’re thinking of building your own website then what are your goals for this project? Your answers should focus on outcomes like increasing conversions, generating more sales, receiving more inquiries, connecting with more people, getting more donations, or automating time-consuming tasks.

If you’re just starting out—whether you’re a plumber, business mentor, yoga instructor, or something else—and have a limited budget, it’s likely too early to engage an agency. In this case, using a website-building tool is probably your best option…

How to DIY:

For those choosing the DIY route, here’s how to get started:

• Service-Based Businesses: Platforms such as Wix.com or SquareSpace.com offer userfriendly templates that make it easy to build a professionallooking site

• Online Stores: If you’re planning to run an online store, consider Shopify.com. Stick to the templates—they offer easy-to-use, pre-set layouts and will save you a lot of time

• Costs: DIY web development is primarily your time. For a basic site, Wix starts at £9/month, and a Shopify site at £19/month.

Post content where your audience is likely to be. For example, if you’re a yoga teacher, post tutorial reels on Instagram; if you’re a business mentor, share articles on LinkedIn. Always link back to your site, especially when posting content on other platforms.

Gather as much feedback from your clients, audience, and users as possible and aim to collect as many Google reviews as you can—just make sure you’ve set up a Google Business profile first and always have a detailed Google Maps listing.

When to Hire a Pro?

Engage with an agency when you’ve been up and running for a while, have a clear brand image, established clients or customers and a desire to market more effectively. For example, Corker in Paddock Wood approached us when they knew their target audience and needed a professional-looking e-commerce website to complement their brand’s service of delivering and

installing high-quality garden products. You should also consider hiring a professional if you’re experiencing significant pain points with your current system or DIY website. For instance, if managing orders or products has become overwhelming, it might be time to get help. Thuasne in the industrial estate needed a solution to manage their products, some of which have thousands of variations. Many clients come to us at Creative

In the early stages of your business, your principal focus should be connecting with your audience

SPENCER NASH

Outline when they encounter limitations with templated sites or need custom features, like Adam from Wolfits in Monson Road, who required specific functionality to price deliveries by postcode in the Tunbridge Wells area.

Cost Considerations

As your traffic increases, the costs of using a templated site can add up. For example, Wix charges £119/month for large sites, and Shopify takes over 2% of every sale, which can become significant as your turnover grows. While hiring a

professional might be more expensive upfront, it can be more cost-effective in the long run.

Ownership

When using a website platform builder, you never fully own your website. This might be fine for a simple site advertising your services, but it can be frustrating if you’ve created something complex that’s a key asset for your business.

Support

With a DIY website builder, you’re largely on your own if something goes wrong. This

can be frustrating if you’re not tech-savvy and don’t know the difference between DNS and domains. A professional can guide you through the process and assist when things don’t work as expected. Please feel free to contact us at Creative Outline Ltd, based in the Co-Working space at The House, Tunbridge Wells. If we can’t help, we’ll find somebody else in the RTW Media Group who can… creativeoutline.co.uk 01892 322055

spencer@creativeoutline.co.uk

WHAT IS THE ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS MEDIA GROUP?

Here, RTW Media Group’s founder Andy Evans tells us how members such as Spencer Nash of Creative Outline Ltd who wrote this article can benefit from being part of this ever-growing networking group…

“We connect people who live in, or near,Tunbridge Wells, across a spectrum of media, such as film, TV, radio, poster, digital media, social media, advertising/PR agencies, brands and more. It started when I first moved to Tunbridge Wells nearly 12 years ago. Since then the group, which is free to join, has amassed 450+ members.

“We meet up monthly and run a big Christmas Party at the Hotel du Vin, with entertainment. Generally it’s a very informal group, however, now due to the size of the network, we are creating a steering committee to help organise more events and networking.”

What do your members benefit from by joining RTWMG?

• Access to 15+ WhatsApp groups from AI to Open Water Swimming

• Access to our online platform Mighty Networks for resources, event schedules and further networking etc.

• Monthly Networking Events

• Focused Round Table Events

• Christmas Party

• Co-Working Groups

www.RTWMG.com

Order online today and use code TWBM10 for 10% off your first order.

merchandise.fox-ms.co.uk

Leading efforts to boost visibility and engagement

As Worldwide Cancer Research partners with Yoyo Design to launch a new digital platform aimed at advancing cancer treatment, we talk exclusively to the Tunbridge Wells brand and digital agency about their involvement with this very special project

Worldwide Cancer Research (WCR), a small but impactful charity with a mission to ensure no life is cut short by cancer, has announced the launch of its newly re-designed website - developed in collaboration with its lead digital agency Yoyo Design which is based here in Tunbridge Wells.

This project and partnership is part of the charity’s ambitious goal to fund £20 million into cancer research every year, spanning 16 countries in the pursuit of finding new cures and treatments to stop it.  Amidst economic pressures and the lack of regular government funding, a Yoyo spokesperson said it was crucial to ‘increase visibility and engagement’ for the charity.

The new website aims to encourage donations and support their life-saving research, while providing a better online experience for all of their visitors.

“The result of this collaboration is a seamless, immersive digital experience that works hard to grow the Worldwide Cancer Research community

”“We needed to create a website that not only reflected WCR’s refreshed brand, but also supported their initiatives to grow their curestarter community and make it easier for people to get involved with this incredible charity,” added Megan Howden, Senior Project Manager at Yoyo Design.

She added: “The result is a seamless, immersive digital experience that works hard to grow the community, support emerging research ideas, and make it easy to better engage their varied audiences.”

As a result of an in-depth user research piece, the revamped website now presents critical, specialist information about discovery research in a clear and understandable manner, whilst avoiding negative or over simplistic messaging.

“The use of highly usable, accessible and flexible components, means Worldwide Cancer Research can now better manage cognitive load for users to keep engagement high,” added Megan.

In addition to its user-friendly design, the site incorporates best practice SEO and analytics, ensuring that the site not only looks good, but performs at a high level and reaches a broader audience too.

“This has felt like a truly open and collaborative project from start to finish and I am so grateful to you all for being such great people to work with. Not only have we started our new digital journey with you, but the team feels confident and elevated as a result,” continued Laura Brady, Director of Marketing and Fundraising, for Worldwide Cancer Research.

In addition to Yoyo’s work with Worldwide Cancer Research, in the coming months, it will continue to work with a variety of other charities, B Corps and purpose-led businesses including: Fight for Sight - helping to create a new digital presence that embodies the charity’s bold ambition to “Save Sight.

Sustrans - supporting the charity with the creation of a digital tool set to revolutionise accessibility to walking and cycling routes across the UK, particularly for disabled individuals.

And finally, further work in collaboration with B Lab UK offering digital strategy support to help bolster their digital presence for the rest of this year and into 2025.

“Clients choose Yoyo because of our desire to be part of a revolution that uses creative thinking and digital experiences to bring about more social and environmental change in the world. And we want to do it all while growing a profitable business that prioritises our people and the planet,” explains Jenny Kitchen, CEO, Yoyo Design.

For more information about Worldwide Cancer Research and to explore their new digital platform, visit www.worldwidecancerresearch.org.

To learn more about Yoyo and their recent projects, visit yoyodesign.com

Finance Manager

Tonbridge

£50-55,000

Supportive team, lovely organisation

Applications: jo@tnrecruits.com

Practice Accountant

Westerham

Up to £50,000

Current Vacancies

Trainee Sales Executive

Tunbridge Wells

Up to £27,000

Great entry level opportunity to gain sales/office experience.

Applications: will@tnrecruits.com

Car Technician

Tonbridge

Dynamic and fast-growing accountancy firm offering excellent development opportunities are recruiting for an experienced Accountant to join their team.

Applications: rachel@tnrecruits.com

Experienced Recruitment Consultant (2+ years’ experience)

Tunbridge Wells

£25,000 - £30,000 + Uncapped Commission 4-day working week, uncapped commission, free central Tunbridge Wells parking. Applications: ellie@tnrecruits.com

PA to CEO

Crowborough

£28,000 - £30,000

Rare opportunity to join the incredible charity in a vital role to the business.

Applications: ellie@tnrecruits.com

Private Client Legal Secretary

Maidstone

£22-28,000

Lovely, lovely firm and very low staff turnover. Applications: isobel@tnrecruits.com

£30-40,000

Leading brand, state of the art garage, opportunity to progress.

Applications: melissa@tnrecruits.com

Vinyl Installer

Kings Hill

£30k

Competitive salary, Opportunity to travel Pension, On-site parking Applications: ben@merecruits.com

Telesales Consultant

Tunbridge Wells

£28,000 (OTE £40,000)

Continuous professional development and growth Applications: will@tnrecruits.com

Temporary Finance Assistant

Crowborough

£12-15 per hour

3 month temporary contract, leading employer. Applications: melissa@tnrecruits.com

Creating a design for life

The South East Property Expo takes place at Knowle Academy in Sevenoaks on September 23. Eileen meets its celebrity host, TV presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, to see what type of advice he has up his flamboyant sleeve for those looking to buy, sell, rent or renovate a property…

“I apologise, I'm sort of slightly in holiday mode,” says interiors guru and TV presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as he appears on a Zoom call with me.

“I’ve got all the grandchildren running around and I’ve just been decorating so I don’t look terribly smart,” he explains looking uncharacteristically dishevelled –but I have to admit the off-duty LLB looks pretty cool.

We’re here to talk about his role as guest celebrity host at this month’s South East Property Expo which takes place on September 23 and is sponsored by leading law firm Thackray Williams.

I kick off by asking whether Laurence, who rose to fame after presenting the ‘90s hit makeover show Changing Rooms, whether this is the first time he has hosted the event.

“Yes it is actually and I am very much looking forward to it,” he says. “I occasionally do things like this as I am always very keen to act as a facilitator and get people as excited as possible about making an individual and personal statement in their home.”

Known for his bold signature style –think dramatic colours, lavish textural touches and unique vintage furniture,

“

I am keen to act as a facilitator and get people as excited as possible about making an individual and personal statement in their home

”

Laurence is certainly the right choice when it comes to helping people ensure their home stands out from the beige brigade.

But he says he is also keen to help those looking to invest in buy-to-let properties to create a look that won’t frighten potential renters off either. “There’s definitely more you can do than just hang up those Ikea pictures of pebbles,” he laughs.

The South East Property Expo takes place at Knowle Academy in Sevenoaks on September 23 from 10am to 3pm and will be the biggest one yet, giving anyone interested in renovating, renting or building their own home, all the tips and info they need under one roof.

The event was launched by Thackray Williams in 2017 as a ‘one-stop shop’ for anyone with an interest in property and this year moves to the bigger site of Knowle Academy due to the huge growth of the event over the past few years.

A Thackray Williams spokesperson tells Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine that those attending will be able to gain expert insight from a line-up of industry experts.

“Joining Laurence will be property expert, writer and broadcaster, Kulne Barker; multi award-winning surveyor Colin Horton; local architect and PassivHaus specialist James Galpin from Hazle McCormack Young LLP; and the creators of award-winning local

Sevenoaks co-working space, Limetree Workshop, Sandie Johnston and Cathy Emmins,” they state.

There will also be expert financial advice from various mortgage brokers, accountants and insurance advisers; industry suppliers, house stagers and designers.

And the latter is where Laurence’s expertise and experience will come into play he says.

“Obviously I am not the person to ask about whether the new Government will achieve its goal of building a certain amount of homes by a certain time but I can certainly tell you how to make an individual statement in your home.

“In fact, the more committed you are to expressing your own personality, the

happier your home life becomes – and the more fulfilled you become as a result. I’m almost talking myself out of my job here but I like to say to people don’t listen to designers and their diktats because actually how you decorate your home is very much up to you.”

He says that he can help visitors to the expo ‘cherry pick’ the best advice on how to put together a space based on their own taste and consider things like sustainability, where to source quirky items and how to decorate a rental.

“Lockdown made a big difference with all that. Before it I think people had resigned themselves to the fact their homes were dormitories – and somewhere they only engaged with in between work and play. But being stuck inside for so long made lots of people realise they had limited themselves enormously. There is no one size fits all and in no way should things be homogenised. So people started to express their personality and that was very exciting.”

He adds that people should always ‘make up their own aesthetic’.

“I’d love to feel that I can use this particular event to encourage people to do exactly that. “

The South East Property Expo takes place from 10am to 3pm on Monday, September 23 at The Knowle Academy in Sevenoaks. The event will kick off with a networking breakfast from 8.30am. Tickets are available from www.sepropertyexpo.co.uk

“We deserve better representation”

Global strategic creative agency Southpaw has recently launched a new project entitled The Midlife Revolution. Here its Head of Strategy

Niki Jones tells Eileen Leahy more about it this fascinating and insightful exploration of how midlife women are being mostly ignored by the media

Let's start at the beginning. What was the catalyst for The Midlife Revolution? It stemmed from a personal frustration. As a midlife woman myself, I have noticed there’s a lack of Gen X women in our screens, feeds, conversations and client briefs. Why do Gen Z get all the attention? I love Gen Z – I have two of my own - but I look around at the middle-aged women I know, and I see a really interesting, powerful group of women who deserve to be better represented by brands, media and society. So we set about better informing ourselves and conducting new research. The first insight being that according to Global Web Index, only 6% of midlife women feel represented in the advertising they see.

Why did Southpaw as an agency feel it was important to address this imbalance?

We did so in order to shine a spotlight on the lack of representation for this particular group in society. But it was also about moving the conversation forward, with more and better representation of midlife and Gen X women. If women ARE represented in media and marketing, they’re often portrayed as insecure, frazzled, desperately trying to hold onto their youth. The narrative is often focused on what they’ve lost or losing, NOT what they’re gaining at this stage of life. We have a responsibility to do better: get it right and the results will be felt across the board.

Who was involved in The Midlife Revolution research and what were your findings?

It was a proprietary investigation by Southpaw and The Kite Factory into

what really matters to Midlife women, aged 45-54 years, and how brands and media can play a role in solving or resonating with these needs. This was a three-stage methodology conducted in June 2024, including in-depth 1-2-1 interviews, consumer research groups and quantitative investigation using Global Web Index, TGi and You Gov. There are too many insights to list out here, but we'd be happy to discuss these with anyone that might be interested in hearing more. They can contact sayhello@ southpawagency.com.

In what ways are you now ensuring this particular demographic of women is being seen and heard?

We are meeting lots of brand owners and potential partners, sharing our research and discussing ways we can work together to address the specific insights and challenges we discovered. We are also challenging the briefs we receive from clients to ensure this audience is better acknowledged and represented – putting them at the heart of client strategies - and not just as an after-thought.

“ ”

We

have a responsibility to do better for midlife women - get it right and the results will be felt across the board

How has the industry responded to The Midlife Revolution and are you seeing tangible change?

We’ve consistently had a fantastic reception to what we are doing. The research is validating what some clients already know but raising it up their urgent list, and at best it’s educating people about this nuanced, game-changing audience and making them realise they need to act. There’s a conversation across the board about recruiting more females in the right jobs to effect change, make braver decisions and have a real energy for change. Rewardingly, people (especially midlife women) are thanking us for shining a light on the issues and helping women feel ‘seen and heard’.

What is next for the campaign?

We have produced a report exploring how “Gain Framing can help brands connect with the super consumers –midlife women”. We’ll also be hosting some webinars on the topic this autumn. There was a notable lack of male presence at our launch event, so we’ll be particularly focused on trying to reach a more diverse audience, to make sure the message lands far and wide.

Anyone interested in signing up or finding out more about The Midlife Revolution can follow @southpawagency on Instagram or @southpaw on LinkedIn for updates.

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We believe selecting the right accountant and tax adviser is paramount to your financial success. To discuss how we can help your business flourish call us on 01892 311890 or email hello@createbalance.uk

Community Heroes – Meet Charlie Moore

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine wants to champion the unsung heroes who support our local community. In the first of a regular series, Sarah Raine spends time on the ground with Charlie Moore, Founder of Charlie’s Angels Kitchens.

Charlie’s Angels Kitchens is a ‘surplus with purpose’ café tackling food waste and food insecurity. Charlie (49) opened her café at 86 Camden Road earlier this year, and also provides catering for private functions, but the CIC (community interest company) has been supporting the town since 2021.

Charlie and her team of angels have created Tunbridge Wells’ first ‘pay as you feel’ ethical eatery that’s turned food destined for landfill into amazing meals for the whole community. There is also a pay it forward counter where you can gift a ‘suspended’ drink for someone in need. The café is open to everyone that loves good food and hates food waste and provides freshly cooked hot meals including vegetarian stews, soups, chillies, pastas and other delights inspired by whatever has been collected, to eat in or takeaway, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables and other items, sold on a pay as you feel basis.

Charlie, for those who haven’t met you, tell us a little about yourself

I was born and bred in Tunbridge Wells and moved to London in my early 20’s, working in hospitality. I returned to live in Tunbridge Wells in 2002, had my two sons here (now 20 and 18), and ran a small gardening business for over 13 years. However, I held onto a dream to set up an ethical eatery. I guess I have always

been passionate and curious about food even as a toddler, when I tried ladybirds, much to my family’s horror! Also from time spent with my Grandpa Jack, tending crops, harvesting and preparing home grown vegetables for freezing, pickling and fermenting from his garden in Pembury. I remember he used to claim that Pembury had the lowest rainfall in Kent (residents of Pembury may beg to differ!)

How have the last three years been, running Charlie’s Angels Kitchens?

Truthfully? I thought I had some idea about food waste, but in reality I hugely underestimated it! The quantity and quality of the food staggers me - just today we received a pack of bottled waters that were written off because the outer packaging was split!

In addition, the Cost of Living crisis has seen a huge increase in the number of working people in ‘food insecurity’, it’s affecting all of us and I think part of the café’s success is because taking home ‘repurposed’ food has less of a stigma

for Tunbridge Wells locals

www.thetncard.com info@thetncard.com

Image: Mimi VP Photography

What are the issues you face currently?

We aren’t fully sustainable yet, and whilst I knew it would need more financial support, I had not appreciated the burden it would put on me. I am working 50-70 hours a week (paid for 20) and I rely on my small team of part time managers (on minimum wage) and our incredible band of volunteer angels. We are incredibly lucky with our longstanding volunteers, but we have had some bad experiences of volunteers not turning up or leaving part way through the day … We need more help, and we really want to invite people who get lots of support from the café to give back a few hours of their time, but for many, it’s complicated.

You have been dubbed the ‘food surplus magician’, where does your inspiration come from?

In part growing up as part of a family who encouraged a thrifty zero-waste approach to food, and in part from being a single mum on a very limited budget with two hungry boys! I am of mixed heritage so my cooking style has developed from a huge wealth of family favourite recipes.

Charlie, you mentioned a lot of people don’t understand food repurposing and have preconceived ideas of ‘gone off food’, how do you explain the process you follow?

The food we receive is either from farms, supermarkets and producers who have surplus stock or an items ‘best before’ date has been reached, which doesn’t mean the food is inferior or unsafe, supermarket policy just prevents them from selling it on. What many people don’t know is that the greenhouse gas emissions from food waste are one of the major drivers behind global warming. What are your aims for the future?

To be fully sustainable. We have started opening for evening events which are going well. In July, The George team came and took over the café and we had a great night raising funds, and Roddy Burger are keen to come and work with us soon. We continue to cater private functions as this

generates a good income for us, we host meetings here, host jazz nights, but there is definitely more we could do. I would love to deliver fresh repurposed food boxes to people in need, we also have a first floor room we would like to use for more community activity, I just need to get us stabilised first!

For fun, can you tell us one thing about you that people wouldn’t know Hmmm … I was the best ‘newter’ on Grosvenor Park growing up (sorry Joe & Mick Conboy) … I seemed to always know where to put them back to find for catching the next day!

To volunteer for 4 hours a week, to contribute to the café or to find out more before you visit, have a look at www.charliesangelskitchens.co.uk

A timely launch

Simon Howson-Green describes how a unique independent Kent wristwatch brand has cleverly captured the Dunkirk Spirit…

The micro-brand wristwatch business has exploded onto the horological market in the past decade. At any one-time Kickstarter – the crowd funding platform – has around one hundred new brands vying for the watch enthusiast’s attention and ‘wrist time’.

Until very recently no self-respecting banker, red carpet celeb or Russian gangster wanted to be seen without a Rolex on the end of their arm. But the plunge in Crypto confidence dragged the insane Rolex and other leading luxury brands’ prices southwards.

With the desire for the top brands ticking away the micro-brand filled the gap.

One of the most successful of these is William Wood Watches. It’s put our very own port of Ramsgate at the centre of its latest campaign, celebrating Kent’s vital contribution as a gateway to Europe during World War II.

The British Independent Watchmaker makes unique wristwatches from upcycled firefighter equipment.

Finest hour: Jonny Garrett’s (Pictured left) watch is valued at £3,000

“We are proud to have produced this watch that honours the bravery and heroism shown to change history as we know it

”

The brand, founded by Jonny Garrett almost a decade ago, is dedicated to his late grandfather, William Wood, who served as a firefighter for 25 years.

Each watch is made from a melted down 100-year-old British firefighter's brass helmet, upcycled fire hose and firefighter turnout gear. The company has already donated more than £120,000 to firefighters and their families around the world. Last year it produced a one-of-a-

kind watch for President Biden which was presented to him in the White House.

The company’s latest release is named The Dunkirk Watch.

It’s a collaboration with a London Fire Brigade Fireboat named The Massey Shaw that saved over 600 lives off the beaches of Dunkirk in World War II, sailing from Ramsgate alongside 850 Little Ships that played a key part in The Miracle of Dunkirk, extracting more than 338,000

troops from the beaches of Northern France.

Those who buy the limited-edition watch become part of history by having their name engraved onto a plaque that will be mounted onto The Massey Shaw as she sails over the channel in 2025, to commemorate the 85th year anniversary of Operation Dynamo, with The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships.

"It will be an incredible sight, seeing all of the original remaining Little Ships coming over the horizon from Ramsgate to Dunkirk on the anniversary of the Dunkirk Evacuation,” says Jonny Garret. “We are proud to have produced this watch that honours the bravery and heroism shown to change history as we know it".

For more information on this watch and the initiative behind it: williamwoodwatches.com

If you're a portfolio landlord, now is the perfect time to reassess your investments. With demand slowing and rents beginning to drop, the market is in flux. But this doesn’t necessarily mean doom and gloom. Instead, it’s an opportunity to review your properties and make strategic decisions about your portfolio’s future. What’s Happening in the Market?

Let’s cut to the chase: August was slow for the rental market. We saw a lot of properties come onto the market, but renter demand was surprisingly low. The summer holidays might explain part of the slowdown, but overall, this August was one of the quietest in recent years.

As we move into September, there’s been a slight increase in lets, but not at the levels we’re used to seeing. Many landlords are having to reduce rents just to spark interest, and that’s never ideal. Time to Review Your Portfolio

This shift in the market makes it the right moment to take a fresh look at your portfolio. If you’ve been thinking about selling, the prospect of rising capital gains tax (CGT) may be adding to the pressure. For those unfamiliar, there's been talk

of the government increasing CGT rates in the near future, which could result in a bigger tax hit when you sell. Naturally, some landlords are considering selling now to avoid potentially higher costs down the line.

But selling isn’t always the best solution. With the current market favouring buyers, you might miss out on future gains when demand bounces back. Before making any decisions, it’s crucial to look at all your options.

Holding onto your properties, rather than selling during a dip, might allow you to benefit from higher demand and increased rental prices when the market stabilises. Adjusting rents or re-strategising now could help you stay competitive and even attract long-term tenants.

A Shifting Rental Market

We’re seeing a rise in landlords listing their rental properties for sale, especially in larger cities like London. However, this mass exodus from the rental market could backfire. If too many landlords sell, we could end up with a shortage of rental properties, which would push rents back

up as tenants compete for fewer homes. Instead of rushing to sell, consider holding onto your properties or adjusting rents strategically. This isn’t a one-size-fitsall market, and there are opportunities for landlords who play it smart. You don’t have to navigate these changes alone, either.

Expert Advice You Can Trust

As a specialist independent letting agent, we’re here to help you make sense of the shifting market. We also work with the wonderful Florence Mortgages, who would be happy to review your portfolio with you and explore the best options. Together, we can provide expert insight into whether selling, adjusting rents, or holding onto your properties is the best strategy.

With the right advice and careful planning, you can ensure your portfolio remains strong, even in a changing market. Reach out to us today, and let’s discuss how we can help you navigate these uncertain times.

www.tnlettings.co.uk

Picture: Mollie Manning

Business park deal set to deliver £135m post-development GDV

A 33-acre site in Tunbridge Wells, with outline planning permission to deliver prime industrial and warehouse facilities, has been secured by Scannell Properties and Royal London Asset Management Property.

The proposed scheme will deliver over

Business Park just outside the town centre and has immediate access to the A21 road which connects to the M25 Motorway.

Daniel Shepherd, Investment Manager at Royal London Asset Management Property said: “This marks a significant milestone in our strategy to expand in the logistics sector and demonstrates our commitment to providing highquality logistics developments in strategic locations.

500,000 sq ft of new, best-in-class industrial and logistics accommodation with postdevelopment GDV (Gross Development Value) estimated at £135m.

The scheme targets a BREEAM Outstanding and an EPC A+ rating. BREEAM has become the gold standard for evaluating and certifying the performance of buildings and infrastructures.

The plot itself sits within Kingstanding

“We look forward to working with Scannell Properties on the scheme’s progression and delivering much-needed industrial facilities and offices in the South East.”

Geoffrey Pizzanelli, Head of Capital Deployment for Europe and the UK at Scannell Properties added: “After identifying and securing this opportunity, we have worked closely with the local authority to design the optimal concept including a change of use for the site from offices to a much-needed industrial and logistics scheme.

“The park and its units will offer modern, flexible space with excellent sustainability credentials, aligned to the rapidly evolving needs of occupiers operating in the UK.

After Childrensalon’s departure at the end of June, Durlings have successfully secured a new tenant (details of which were still confidential at the time of going to press) for these modern, refurbished high-specification industrial premises comprising 9491 sq ft and located on The North Farm Industrial Estate.

However the adjoining unit of 4411 sq ft is currently available to lease. A spokesperson for Durlings told Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine: “We have reported increased demand for industrial space locally and therefore invite landlords or tenants with empty space to contact us without delay.”

Anyone interested in renting the unit can find out more by calling 01892 552500. www.durlings.co.uk

It’s a family affair…

Dundale Rd. Guide price £1,950,000

Deborah Richards of Maddisons Residential explains the benefits of

multi-generational living

and showcases two properties currently on her books which are perfect for this

Regular viewers of my weekly video news will have heard me talk for some time now about the growth of the ‘The Bank of Family’, a new term which describes the group of family members who make gifts or loans to their children, grandchildren, brothers or sisters, to enable them to get onto the property ladder.

Indeed the Bank of Family is now the fifth biggest lender in the UK, and I regularly meet parents looking to sell their family home to free up equity for their grown-up children. However, what is less common in the UK, but very popular in the rest of the world, is investing in a home that allows two families (or more) to live side by side.

‘Multi-generational living’ is not about having a young adult child ‘boomerang’ back home after university, or an aged parent move into the spare room. Instead it sees a very deliberate and thoughtthrough restructuring of homes, with the purchase of one property that can allow families to happily co-exist alongside one another, whilst each having their own sense of independence and freedom. And research by the National House Building Council confirms that at last we are seeing a greater demand for a home that allows ‘multi-generational living’, understanding the many advantages that such a lifestyle provides.

This growing popularity has been driven by a number of factors: rising property prices, the government-led sell-off of much of the country’s stock of council

“Multi-generational living is a very deliberate and thought-through property purchase that can allow families to happily co-exist alongside one another”

houses, and a slowdown in the building of new homes (for which of course the new Labour Government has ambitious plans).

The pandemic too shone a spotlight on how elderly family members needed and valued close support at times of need, exposing a vulnerability that is often ignored until it is too late. Equally, help can be mutually reciprocated, often in the form of childcare and helping with household duties. The positive mental benefits of feeling valued and useful should never be under-estimated, and the sense of loneliness that is often reported by Age UK is never an issue for our elderly relatives lucky enough to live within a family unit. However, as a result of multi-generational

type of blended family set-up

living being less common in the UK, there are not enough properties designed to meet this need. Rightmove does not have the term ‘annexe’ as a must-have filter, meaning that even finding such properties from the usual search routes can be challenging. Converting a property to meet your needs could be a route to explore, but this method often comes with planning considerations and costly and disrupting building work. So if you are considering a blended life, we do have two beautiful homes on our books that provide excellent, ready-to-go, annexe facilities.

The first is situated in the lovely small town of Crowborough, set just a few miles south of Tunbridge Wells and with acres of the beautiful Ashdown Forest on its doorstep. Crowborough is a very well supported community, with a good range of leisure facilities, pubs, restaurants, shops and supermarkets. One of the criticisms of an annexe is that the annexe itself can often feel like a poor relation to the main house, but that could not be said of this house. All beautifully presented, the main house consists of 4 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms and a well-appointed kitchen. A door in the downstairs entrance hall separates and leads to the annexe: a good 2-bedroom home with its own kitchen, breakfast room, sitting room, and access to the rear garden. The arrangement is perfect for two families to have both time together and time alone, as required. Sunridge is listed at a Guide Price of £850,000.

The second property is just to the south

of Tunbridge Wells on Dundale Road, and has the most exceptional location, with unrivalled privacy and far-reaching views. This property features a 5-bedroom farmhouse and a separate, gorgeous, 2-bedroom cottage. The grounds are very special, with outbuildings, formal gardens, woodlands and a swimming pool. The property is for sale at a Guide Price of £1,950,000.

Of course, multi-generational living is also very flexible. Often the separate annexe can be combined back into the main house if your requirements change, or left as is and provide additional valuable income streams in the form of a holiday let. Teenage children often love the extra freedom that they offer, and for anyone needing a nanny or in-home help, they provide the perfect readymade solution. Their versatility is often completely unrecognised.

If circumstances and finances mean that you are considering joining those who’ve already embraced multi-generational living, there are many other important factors to consider, and a recent blog on our website explores the various areas in depth. And of course, if you are considering blending your family, and would like to discuss either of the above wonderful properties, please do give us a call. We’d be delighted to help. www.maddisonsresidential.co.uk

Sunridge. Guide price £850,000

After Hours

Where to wind down in the Wells

Plate expectations

Take a look at the fabulous new dining area at Sankey’s

Home is where the art is

Meet interior designer Justine Hodgson-Barker of Barkerdesign

By royal appointment

Discover the seasonal splendour of Hever Castle & Gardens this autumn And breathe... We reveal the benefits of Bionic Breathwork

Puppetry in motion

The Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival is back for 2024

Drive of your life

Get behind the wheel with Stoner Motor Company

“I love that my work is so varied”

Justine Hodgson-Barker, founder of local interior design business Barkerdesign tells Eileen Leahy about her innovative interiors schemes and what inspires them

So Justine, what do you enjoy most about the work you do?

I love that it’s so varied and that no two projects are the same because people and properties vary so much. I get to know my clients pretty well over the course of a job, and there’s nothing better than leaving them with a home that fulfills every practical need but also reflects their personality. It’s always a joy to receive clients feedback on how much they’re enjoying their space after we complete.

There’s far more to your work than just ‘cushions and curtains’ isn’t there?

Yes! As I get to work on every room in the house, a large part of my job is space planning. So in some cases before we even start on the aesthetics - it’s all about how we re-structure a space or just improve the layout to maximise its usage. I get a real sense of achievement in making huge savings across project costs for my clients.

For instance, I rarely use the big designer brands, opting instead for lesser-known ones or up-and-coming suppliers and artisans. Specifying trade and commercial suppliers and passing on trade discounts always helps offset a project’s cost.

You’ve been in the business for 15 years now - how has your brand grown in that time?

When I started, like a lot of small business, I took on most jobs in order to build my portfolio! I then started to become known for my client-centric designs. I found I had a natural empathy to listen to my clients and tease out their style then weave their story through their interiors. The common theme in all my projects is curating new designer finds, vintage pieces, local artisan objects along with some high street heroes! One piece elevates the other and overall it’s not what you spend but how you curate these

pieces so they complement one another cohesively.

Have you managed to build a team over the years?

I’ve gained such a strong team around me, which has really helped me develop the business. From hiring local consultants who are experts in their field, to freelancers and having tried and tested trades and contractors who can ensure that my designs are implemented to the highest standard is all very important to the success of my business.

Who are you currently working with and what are you loving most about any ongoing projects?

Currently I’m working on a third phase of a client’s house (a living room barn

Curtains, soft furnishings, blinds and re-upholstery.

The Black & White Shop, Groombridge Appointments call 07957 811589

conversion, in Lamberhurst). They’re nature lovers and recently had their terrace designed and landscaped by the talented Karen McClure. We worked together with Karen to come up with a design that would create a sense of connection from inside to out. By choosing similar organic materials, textures and complementary palette it extends their living space outdoors seamlessly.*

Do you feel there is a good network between interior designers here in Tunbridge Wells?

Yes, I meet with a few local designers

regularly. We’ve all been established a while, so are happy to share and support one another and refer clients on if we feel they are better suited. I’m also part of a larger network of 30 or so designers nationwide where we share all sorts, from best practice, attend launches and trade shows together and offer advice on the highs and lows of running your own business.

In what ways do you feel connected to the local business community?

Some of my closest friends have been made through networking when I first started to promote my business in

Tunbridge Wells. Some of the trades and artisans I use are from these networking groups. It’s so important to recommend local businesses when you’ve had a good experience, it especially helps the independents!

*Justine and Karen will be giving a talk at Corker on this very subject on 27th September (www.instagram.com/corkeruk/) W: barker-design.com

WORK, REST AND PLAY

Some of the local businesses Justine likes to support include:

Accounts: Create Balance in Eridge

Website Design: Neptune Media

Shopping: Bod & Ted for clothes and the new Sostrene Green store for homes

Hair: Leigh Roberts

Garden Design: Karen McClure

Family meal: Palette Pizza which has been designed by Sam Grigg

Date night: Charlotte’s In The Pantiles designed by the very talented team at SGS

Lunch: St Kilda’s on Camden Road or The Old Auction House near The Pantiles

Racing ahead

Local student Emma Stoner discovered her passion for go karting two years ago after she visited her local racetrack at Buckmore Park. Here the talented competitor tells Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine about her incredible journey so far…

Ihave always been an active person prior to getting into go karting but after doing so I instantly knew this was the sport for me thanks to the fast-paced nature of the sport and the thrill of competing - and the opportunity to meet new people.

For the first year I competed at Buckmore Park, entering their Junior Rookie Programme where I started to learn the skills and crafts I would need to progress. The programme was great for me as it allowed me to race against drivers of a similar standard, so the competition was always closely fought!

After the first year I was reaching the upper age limit (16) of the programme and so I had come to a crossroads about my next steps in karting. With the help and support of my family I was given the opportunity to enter the world of owner-driver racing Rotax Engine go karts, which is a huge step up from the standard hire karts that we had been racing. The karts are lighter, faster, lower to the ground – and I was hooked!

By this time, I had made many friends on the previous programme but one in particular, Jasmine Keepaxwho was two years younger than me - was also showing a natural ability for the sport.

I have spent many hours on the track testing and learning new techniques on how to drive the kart “ ”

Due to Jasmine also looking for the step-up, we decided to join forces. We developed and created our very own race team KLS, which was named after my Granddad’s initials. Sadly he passed away in 2020 and as he loved his motorsport he would have definitely been alongside me if he was still with us today.

KLS racing was designed to provide a platform and safe environment for female racers to enter into motorsportin particular go karting. We set to work in securing sponsorship and were fortunate enough to secure the backing of some major companies including Suzuki, Hyundai and Silkolene. This money enabled us to design and create our own brand and livery kits.

The step up to Rotax Engines has been tough as I was entered into the adult section where I‘ve been racing drivers who have been racing for five years more experience than me - and the standard is

very high!

I have spent many hours on the track testing and learning new techniques on how to drive the karts. The year started OK with my first championship round in January. This was a huge learning curve racing against 20 other drivers and having to learn a new format, involving qualifying, heats and then the final - all in one day! All of this was done in front of crowds of over 500 people which I’d never done before.

It was after this event that I met Lee Jenner of Jenner Motorsport. Lee has many years’ experience within the sport and is a well-respected coach and team owner. Lee offered me some on-track coaching, which I accepted and over the past four months my driving and confidence has improved massively under the guidance of Lee.

In July I re-entered the championship with renewed confidence and went far better than expected as I was able to finish the final in a respectable mid-pack position. This has given me the boost I needed for the rest of the season.

My confidence has improved so much that we have recently entered the championship season at Lydd which is a completely different circuit to what I’m used to, incorporating fast-flowing

corners and much longer straights. It also makes overtaking difficult so this is giving me something new to learn.

So what next? Well I’m delighted to announce that following my rapid progress over the past six months I have been offered a driving spot with Jenner Motorsport which I have accepted. This will allow me to continue my progress under the guidance of Lee and will also enable me to start to move to a more national level – plans for which are all ready under way for next year!

The move to Jenner Motor Sport has provided me with a unique opportunity where I can now support my passion of promoting girls in motor sport. I was recently asked by Buck More Race Go Kart to help launch their new clothing product range which has helped them appeal to the female market which has proved very successful.

I now have the opportunity to seek further sponsorship and I’m currently in the process of having my new race suit and kart livery kit designed. As a result, I have various different sponsorship opportunities available and being a local resident I would love to help promote and endorse companies around the area - and hopefully next year on a national stage.

If you are interested in helping Emma continue with her route into karting and to help promote women in motorsport then please contact: sponsor33kls@gmail.com

THE WARREN

01892 328 191

SET MENU

£55 pp (minimum 5 persons)

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS FESTIVE PETIT FOURS

STARTERS

FAYER GAME’S WARREN VENISON SAUSAGE

Potato puree & caramelised onion jus

BRAISED PORK CHEEKS

Carrot & orange cream, port jus

MONKFISH SCAMPI

Lime aioli

MAINS

SUSSEX BEEF

STROGANOFF

Wild mushrooms & mafaldine pasta

NORFOLK BRONZE

TURKEY

Twice baked potatoes with Godminster cheddar, tenderstem broccoli & cranberry jus

PAN SEARED SEABASS

New potatoes, winter vegetables & roasted pepper salsa

DESSERTS

LEMON & RASPBERRY

BAVAROISE

White chocolate

FLOURLESS FRENCH

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE

CAKE

Meringue & rhubarb sorbet

TWO NOTABLE

ENGLISH CHEESES

Crackers, Warren preserves, fruit & pickled celery

BAKED DORSET SNAILS

Home made garlic butter or cream of blue cheese, toasted baguette

FETA SALAD

Beetroot, pear. apple, hazelnuts & almonds (Vegan option available)

CHRISTMAS DAY

£109 pp

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS FESTIVE PETIT FOURS

BREAD & BUTTER | GLASS OF BUSI JACOBSOHN SINGLE ESTATE CLASSIC CUVEE BRUT | AMUSE BOUCHE

STARTERS

WARREN CRISPY

DUCK LEG

Winter fruit compote

SEARED RYE BAY SCALLOPS

Gremolata, Beal’s farm spaniard & pistachios

MAINS

CONFIT HAUNCH OF WARREN VENISON

Mustard & carrot sauce, bread dumplings

SUSSEX BEEF BURGER

Sundried tomato mayonnaise, crispy onion, lettuce, red Leicester cheese & skinny chips (VE option available)

ORANGE & PASSIONFRUIT

CHEESECAKE (VE)

Mango sorbet & passionfruit chantilly cream

HALF DOZEN EGG

BOX OF WARREN MACARONS

BRAISED PORK CHEEKS

Carrot & orange cream, port jus

SAUTEED WILD MUSROOMS

Home made garlic butter

Cauliflower & almond puree, pine nuts, basil oil

All served with roasted potatoes, brussels sprouts, carrots, parsnips & red cabbage

WARREN VENISON

FILLET STEAKF

Foie gras, crispy onions, port jus & wild mushrooms

SUSSEX BEEF

WELLINGTON

Mushroom duxelles, seasonal vegetables & red wine sauce

MONKFISH BALLOTINE

Crab meat, shellfish bisque & parmesan crouton

DESSERTS

WARREN CHRISTMAS PUDDING

Winter berries & custard

ORANGE & PASSIONFRUIT

CHEESECAKE (VE)

Mango sorbet & passionfruit chantilly cream

ROAST NORFOLK BRONZE TURKEY

Charred hispi cabbage, chestnuts, pigs in blankets & turkey jus

BAKED BUTTERNUT SQUASH (VE)

Puy lentil salad, beetroot hummus, Jerusalem artichoke crisp & truffle nuts

FLOURLESS FRENCH

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE

Salted caramel ice cream

THREE NOTABLE ENGLISH CHEESES

Crackers, Warren preserves, fruit & pickled celery

EARLY BOOKINGS BY END OF SEPTEMBER - CHRISTMAS PARTIES WILL RECEIVE COMPLIMENTARY BUBBLES ON ARRIVAL.

“Fitness should be accessible to everyone”

énergie Fitness is one of Tunbridge Wells’ most popular gyms thanks to its welcoming team, state of the art equipment and very affordable membership model. Here the club’s owner Josh Waters (pictured below) tells us more about what makes this gym so unique

When was énergie Fitness established as a brand?

It was established over 20 years ago, and our Tunbridge Wells location has proudly served the community since 2016. We have around 100 gyms around the country, and the network continues to expand. énergie Fitness operates as a franchise, meaning the brand and systems are centrally managed, but each gym is owned and operated by a local franchisee. This model allows us to enjoy the advantages of being part of a national brand-such as access to the latest fitness trends and reciprocal access to over 100 clubs across the UK-while also benefiting from local ownership.

Does this mean you have more autonomy as owners?

Yes, we recently acquired the gym from the original franchisee last year and we’re excited to continue building on its success. As owners we’re deeply involved

large head offices or extensive teams. My focus is on providing the best value gym experience in our area because I believe fitness should be accessible to everyone.

How would you sum up what the team can offer clients at énergie Fitness?

Our team at énergie Fitness amounts to ten and all of us are dedicated to creating a welcoming and motivating environment for all our members. We pride ourselves on delivering personalised support, whether you’re a fitness beginner or a seasoned athlete. Our goal is to empower every member to reach their full potential, and we do this by offering a combination of cutting-edge equipment, a diverse range of classes, and the supportive guidance of our experienced team. Every member of our team is committed to helping you achieve your fitness goals while ensuring you feel part of our gym community.

in the day-to-day operations, allowing us to quickly implement improvements and maintain a strong community feel within our clubs. Unlike larger corporate gyms, we can make swift decisions that directly benefit our members, fostering a supportive and personalised environment.

You offer very affordable gym membership and state of the art equipment - how do you do this and still make a profit?

Being part of a large network allows us to leverage economies of scale, which helps keep costs low. At the same time, as a smaller operation, we maintain lean overheads. Unlike larger corporate competitors, we don’t have the burden of

You pride yourself on being an inclusive place that is more like a ‘family’ why is this important?

Our company’s mantra is to ‘empower people to transform their lives’ and we believe that creating a family-like, inclusive atmosphere is essential to achieving this. We understand that the gym can be an intimidating place for many, so we strive to make every member feel welcome and supported from the moment they walk through our doors.

How connected do you feel the local business community is in Tunbridge Wells?

As relatively new owners in Tunbridge Wells, we’re eager to deepen our

Our

team at énergie Fitness is dedicated to creating a welcoming and motivating environment for all our members. We pride ourselves on delivering personalised support

“ ”

connections with the local business community. We recognise the value of building strong relationships with other local businesses, and we’re excited about the opportunities to collaborate, support one another, and contribute to the overall well-being of our town. We’re actively seeking ways to get involved and look forward to becoming more integrated into the vibrant Tunbridge Wells business community.

What are the plans you have to develop the gym and its offering?

We’ve recently revamped our equipment, which we believe is now the best in Tunbridge Wells. We’re also expanding our class timetable to include unique offerings that you won’t find elsewhere in the area. Additionally, we’re enhancing our wellbeing services by adding a member recovery room, a dedicated yoga/pilates studio, a social area where members can relax and even work, and saunas in each changing room. All of these upgrades are designed to provide a comprehensive fitness and wellness experience, while still maintaining our position as the most affordable gym in the area.

Web: www.energiefitness.com

Email: Tunbridge.Wells@energiefitness.com

Call: 01892 804 007

The great escape

We’re proud to bring you travel content courtesy of Tunbridge Wells-based specialist Simply Luxury Escapes. Missing summer and sunshine already? Then take some time out to discover their top destinations for autumn 2024…

Cyprus – Amara Hotel

(Pictured above) Nestled on the sundrenched shores of Limassol, the Amara Hotel offers an unparalleled blend of luxury and elegance. This five-star retreat features stunning sea views, contemporary design, and exceptional service. Guests can indulge in gourmet dining at the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant, unwind in the lavish spa, or take a dip in the infinity pool. With its sophisticated ambiance and attention to detail, Amara promises an unforgettable escape in Cyprus.

Special Offer: Up to 30% Saving 5 Nights Bed and Breakfast including flights from £1,203 per person

Crete – Daios Cove

(Pictured right) Perched above a private bay on Crete, Daios Cove Luxury Resort & Villas epitomises Mediterranean elegance. The resort boasts stunning sea views, sleek contemporary design, and world-class amenities. Guests can savour exquisite cuisine at the Michelin-starred restaurant, relax in the serene spa, or enjoy the private beach and infinity pools. With its impeccable service and exclusive atmosphere, Daios Cove offers a lavish and unforgettable getaway on the Greek island.

Special Offer: Up to 30% Saving 5 Nights Half Board including flights from £1,075 per person

Mauritius – Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort

Nestled along Mauritius's pristine coastline, Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Wellness Resort offers an opulent escape in a colonial-inspired setting. Guests are treated to luxurious suites, a world-class spa, and a stunning golf course. The resort’s Michelin-starred restaurant delivers an exceptional dining experience, blending local flavours with

gourmet artistry. With its breathtaking views, personalised service, and elegant atmosphere, Heritage Le Telfair promises a truly unforgettable island retreat.

Special Offer: 20% Saving 5 Nights Half Board including flights from £2,046 per person

VISIT: Simply Luxury Escapes 7 London Road, Tunbridge Wells or head to www.simplyluxuryescapes.co.uk 01892 576777

SIMPLY LUXURY ESCAPES OFFERS:

X Competitive prices that will match those online

X Unique tailor-made holidays to extraordinary destinations

X Personal service from our expert team

X 100% Financial Protection -  ATOL number 7289

Begin your South African adventure with an overnight stay at Welgelegen House in Cape Town. Over the next three days, enjoy a private city tour, including a morning visit to the iconic Table Mountain Aerial Cableway for panoramic views of Cape Town. Spend a full day exploring the Cape Peninsula on a private tour and relish a leisure day in Cape Town to relax or explore on your own.

On Day 6, transfer to the picturesque Cape Winelands, where you’ll stay at La Cotte Orchard Cottages. Discover the region's renowned vineyards, elegant estates, and gourmet dining. Experience the Franschhoek Wine Tram on Day 7, a hop-on hop-off tour that lets you explore various wine estates at your own pace. Fly to Waterberg on Day 8 for a stay at

Marataba Safari Lodge, nestled in the stunning Waterberg Biosphere. This area is known for its diverse wildlife, unique rock formations, and archaeological significance.

Next, head to the Madikwe Game Reserve, a premier wildlife destination. Over the course of three days, embark on twice-daily game drives to spot the Big Five, rare species like wild dogs and cheetahs, and enjoy the reserve's dramatic landscapes. Participate in walking safaris if available for a closer look at the wilderness.

On Day 14, bid farewell to South Africa as you transfer to the airport for your onward journey, cherishing the unforgettable memories of your safari adventure.

Prices from £7,245pp inc flights

We are passionate about creating unforgettable, stress-free holidays. For the past 17 years, we have built exceptional relationships with hotel partners, tourist boards, and destination management companies to ensure every holiday is perfectly tailored to you. Our dedicated team, which since September 2023 has been based in Tunbridge Wells at our shop at 7 London Road, collaborates closely with our partners to meticulously arrange even the smallest details, ensuring your holiday is truly extraordinary.

You might think we only offer expensive holidays to exclusive destinations, but to us, 'luxury' is not about cost. Luxury means exceptional experiences, outstanding service, and meeting your specific needs. We tailor-make every aspect of your trip from start to finish, including unique experiences and hidden gem hotels that you may not have discovered otherwise.

and

www.twbusinessmagazine.com hello@twbusinessmagazine.com

Visionary thinking

Edney & Edney optometrists on Monson Road certainly have their eye on the ball when it comes to offering clients unique quality glasses. Here we discover more about this specialist eyewear and eyecare business…

If going to the opticians is usually a chore then you may just be seeing the wrong one as stepping into Edney & Edney’s bijou store you immediately feel like you are somewhere very special.

Rows and rows of funky Kirk & Kirk, theo, Dita and Sabine.be. limited edition and small batch frames stare back at you from the Monson Road shop’s back-lit custommade shelving and suddenly you feel like you want to try them all…

Owners Jamie and Ayshah opened up their stylish store selling exceptional eyewear eight years ago and in that time they have seen their business go from strength to strength.

“We’ve gone from sitting here all day waiting for people to come through the door, to having a full diary, a bigger team and a very loyal customer base,” explains Jamie when we sit down to chat.

He adds that he and Ayshah now have customers coming to see them from all over the South East, as well as London and Bristol – and even Europe, the US, Canada and Australia.

I genuinely feel that

we’ve probably got the strongest collection of eyewear in the UK

The draw? Well that’s down to the myriad artisan independent brands Jamie works with.

He tells me that he was recently contacted by a famous American ‘eyewear influencer’ who told him that he was having dinner in Miami with some friends in the industry and they couldn’t stop talking about his store.

“He also said that it was rare to find people like me who take such pride in their work and told me to keep up the amazing work,” beams Jamie.

In addition to the brands I already mentioned stocked by Edney & Edney, others include Jacques Marie Mage, Chrome Hearts, Orgreen and l.a. Eyeworks.

But it’s not all about just the frames chez

Edney & Edney. There’s Ayshah’s expertise as an optometrist and then of course the exceptional customer service the couple pride themselves on.

“We want to provide everyone with great service - and we really do look after our clients. If we get a particular product in I might WhatsApp a client saying: ‘I’ve got this and thought of you’.”

“Jamie is always thinking about individuals,” adds Ayshah who is equally focused on providing excellent service.

“Between the two of us we have over 40 years’ experience and we absolutely love what we do.”

Jamie, who is a qualified dispensing optician, adds that when they launched Edney & Edney the couple had a very clear vision of wanting to be the complete opposite of a traditional high street opticians.

“We wanted choosing eyewear to be a fun experience for our customers – but to also offer them something very unique.”

After working in the industry for other opticians, eight years ago the couple launched their own business, choosing Tunbridge Wells as its location. It was a fortuitous choice as many residents have become devoted fans of Edney & Edney’s

different perspective on things.

“Our clients have taken quite the eyewear journey with us. Some people now have an eyewear wardrobe. That means they’ll have a pair for work, weekends and even different seasons.”

Ayshah also expresses her delight at how well the people of Tunbridge Wells have responded: “Ever since we launched, customers have been very supportive and I think that’s down to the relaxed atmosphere we have here in store. We take our time with clients. No one is ever rushed.”

The many recommendations and referrals the couple receives also helps to boost footfall – as does the ever-growing range of incredible eyewear Jamie sources.

“It’s all about finding the most creative people out there,” he states. “When starting out I had to knock on a lot of doors but more people are approaching me now.”

Jamie adds that he’s off to a big eyewear exhibition in Paris soon: “When I’m looking to bring brands into store they have to be unique and quirky but must also have a point of difference.

“We are very lucky that people don’t just buy our glasses but also buy into what we are doing. People used to say ‘Oh you’re wearing Chrome Hearts or l.a. Eyeworks’ but now they say ‘Oh you’re wearing Edney & Edney’ so our brand recognition has definitely built up over the years. I genuinely feel that we’ve probably got the strongest collection of eyewear in the UK.”

www.edneyandedney.com @edneyandedney

Jamie and Ayshah

A taste of autumn...

In her first column for Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine, TV presenter, author, chef and local resident Rosemary Shrager shares her favourite autumnal recipes to nourish and warm the soul

As the leaves turn golden and the air crisps, it’s time to embrace the comforting warmth of autumnal cooking. I adore this season – the rich, earthy flavours, the bounty of harvest, and the sheer joy of gathering around a table laden with hearty fare. So I thought I would share three of my favourite dishes to celebrate autumn.

First up is a Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto. This dish is a true autumnal delight, creamy and rich with the natural sweetness of roasted butternut squash coming through. The sage adds an aromatic depth, perfectly complementing the nutty undertones of the squash. It’s

a simple yet elegant dish that’s bound to become a family favourite.

Next, let’s indulge in a Slow-Cooked Lamb Shank with Red Wine and Rosemary. There’s nothing quite like the tender, fall-off-the-bone meat of lamb shanks, slow-cooked with a generous glug of red wine, earthy rosemary, and a hint of garlic. This dish is the epitome of comfort food – hearty, warming, and ohso-satisfying.

Lastly, for those with a sweet tooth, my Apple and Blackberry Crumble is an absolute must. The tartness of the blackberries combined with the sweetness of the apples creates a perfectly balanced filling, topped with a buttery, crunchy crumble. Serve it warm with a dollop of custard, and you’re in autumn heaven.

Now, what have I been up to? Well, it’s been a whirlwind of activity! I’ve been bustling about the kitchen, developing new recipes for my latest cookbook, which I’m thrilled to share will be out soon.

I adore this season – the rich, earthy flavours, the bounty of harvest, and the sheer joy of gathering around a table laden with hearty fare ” “

My range of jams and pies is also expanding, with some exciting new dishes inspired by my travels. And, of course, you might have spotted me on TV, where I’ve been up to my usual mischief, sharing my love for cooking and a good laugh with all of you. Keep an eye out – as there’s more to come!

Love Rosemary x

Planetorganic

IThis month our Drinks Editor James Viner raises a glass to ‘Organic September,’ the yearly celebration of all things organic and its countless advantages to us and the planet

n 1994, the Soil Association launched a campaign to promote organic products and the businesses behind them. According to their 2024 Market Report, the organic food and drink market experienced a 2% growth in 2023, reaching £3.2 billion – marking twelve years of continuous growth.

So this month it’s time to elevate your organic wine experience! From the rocking Oxney Organic Estate rosé to the cracking local sparkler from Davenport Vineyards, these six planet-friendly bottles are sure to delight your taste buds. Cheers!

1. OXNEY ORGANIC ESTATE PINOT ROSÉ

2022, E. Sussex, 11.5% (£19.99-£23, Waitrose, Waitrose Cellar & oxneyestate.com)  Pierpaolo Petrassi MW, Waitrose’s Head of Trading for Wines, recently informed me that Waitrose carries a larger selection of organic wines than any other supermarket. Kudos for listing Oxney Organic Estate’s exceptional still organic rosé made from Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes. A joy to drink – dive in!

2. DAVENPORT VINEYARDS LIMNEY

ESTATE 2018, Kent, 12% (£29.50-£29.99, Grape Britannia & davenportvineyards.co.uk)

Here’s a Chardonnay-forward, organic sparkling wine of real class, bright acidity and oodles of orchard fruit, hazelnut, and bready/creamy pizzazz from ace Kent winemaker Will Davenport. A ballerina of a bottle from one of the country’s largest and oldest organic vineyards (after ten months, the new winery has finally been built in neighbouring Horsmonden!).

3. CODORNÍU 'CUVÉE ORIGINAL'

ORGANIC BRUT NV CAVA, Spain, 11.5% (£10 mix 6, Majestic)

Sales of Majestic's organic wines have

increased by 94% in the past year. This canny blend of equal parts Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo is dry, crisp and zesty with wet-stone acidity and a welldefined mousse – a bargainous Spanish sparkling liquid disco!

4. FONSECA TERRA PRIMA ORGANIC RESERVE PORT NV, Portugal, 20% (£20£21.99, Amathus, Vintage Roots, Ocado & Waitrose)

Grape spirit used in organic fortified wines must be distilled from certified organic grapes, marc, or wine. In 2002, Fonseca pioneered the first fully certified organic port. Expect notes of spiced plum, raisin, and rose petals. Hello Stilton and chocolate desserts.

5. CHÂTEAU GALOUPET CRU CLASSÉ CÔTES DE PROVENCE ROSÉ 2023, France, 14% (£44.95-£48, House of Malt, Hedonism & clos19.com)

Château Galoupet’s impeccable,

beautifully structured, full-bodied, Grenacheforward maiden certified organic rosé is here and packaged in a 70% recycled amber glass bottle (au revoir lightstrike/ ‘goût de lumière’!). Think red summer fruit, mango, pomelo, yellow peach and a roasted almond/spice nip. Lovely sluice of saline acidity! Has the X-factor.

6. WHITSTABLE BAY ORGANIC ALE, SHEPHERD NEAME, Kent, 4.5% (£2.25, Waitrose 4 bottles for £7 & Ocado, 500ml)

The UK has just eight dedicated organic breweries. This light, local, golden brew from Britain’s oldest brewery (in Faversham) combines chalk-filtered mineral water, organic malted barley and Kiwi hops. The result? A bittersweet flavour with floral notes and a crisp, dry finish.

Follow James @QuixoticWines and #OrganicSeptember

2 1 4 5 3

James Viner

Go wild for The Warren

Erik Brown pays a visit to The Warren and is suitably impressed by the restaurant’s adventurous menu and inspiring approach to being as sustainable and local as possible with its epicurean offerings…

It’s a Saturday night, and The Warren - at the top of the old High Street in Tunbridge Wells - is buzzing. The restaurant is full and, front of house, manager Magdalena Szczerbova and waiter Finn Crisp are bouncing around like balls in a pinball machine.

Head chef Andres Roflics is away, so the kitchen is being run by sous chef Olivier Thevin who Magdalena worked with years ago at Hotel du Vin. He’s doing a good job, and the diners seem relaxed and happy.

The Warren’s decor is quirky. We’re sitting in a pair of matching Indian thrones with wooden lions for arms, facing a boar’s head hung on a wall above what looks like an old church pew. From our table we can look up into the orangery, a sort of glasshouse perched above the High Street.

The restaurant is fun, but it has a serious intent too. It’s an extension of the 650-acre Crowborough Warren estate between Crowborough and Upper Hartfield, and it’s a pioneer of local, sustainable dining.

We begin with sparkling wine, a rosé from the Busi-Jacobsohn estate just beyond the Deer Park Cafe outside Eridge. It’s a classic Champagne mix of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier – and tastes wonderful, but best of all it’s local.

There’s an amuse bouche: honey-tinged goat’s cheese on bruschetta, salty and sweet. Then we order our starters.

My wife opts for Warren smoked duck breast, broad beans, garden peas and a pomegranate glaze (£11.50). I choose breakfast, or at least Warren’s hen egg (the estate tries to use eggs from rescue hens), Mangalista pork from Beal’s Farm in Eridge and mushrooms (£10).

It’s the Mangalista I’m really interested in. It’s an old Hungarian breed, woolly like a sheep. I have never tasted it, but I know that it’s held by some to be the finest pork available. The Spanish would contest that, of course. Their jamón ibérico from the pata negra pig (a cousin of the Mangalista) is also highly prized.

In fact, the Mangalista reminds me so much of the jamón ibérico, I’d be hard

buy one oyster, just like this

and get another

The Crowborough Warren smoked duck is tender and subtly smoked, and comes with sweet and sour slices of pickled onion as well as broad beans and pea

“ ”

pushed to tell the difference. But, once again, it is local: there’s a lot happening around Eridge.

The Crowborough Warren smoked duck is tender and subtly smoked, and it comes with sweet and sour slices of pickled onion as well as broad beans and peas. Mrs B’s main is harissa-marinated chicken supreme, creamy hummus and summer salad (£19.50). She’s a little particular about her chicken, the Mrs B - she likes it to taste of chicken (unlike many of the supermarket varieties). This one passes the test, and the harissa

coating is only mildly spicy. I opt for the confit of venison haunch and as my fork touches the meat, it simply falls apart, it is so beautifully cooked. In the background, pianist Chris Bewley is playing something familiar. It sounds like a classical piece, but it turns out to be Sweet Child of Mine by Guns n Roses. Cute.

The haunch of venison is from the Warren estate just down the road. It sits squarely on a bread dumpling, which in turn rests on a clever mustard and carrot sauce and is decorated with what I think is red-veined sorrel. It’s a pretty dish (£24) and it tells a story.

Did you know that venison is the most ethical meat for British meat-eaters, because we are being overrun by herds of wild deer? There are around two million of them roaming free - more than there were when William the Conqueror landed in 1066. And the herd is growing in size because they have no predators other than man - and we’re not culling them fast enough. The herd is now so big that it’s causing serious damage to the countryside.

With the rich and lean venison, I have a single glass of Love by Léoube an organic rose wine from Côtes de Provence, which is fresh and acidic. The meat is accompanied by a tiny pan of Dauphinoise potatoes with Godminster cheddar (£6), which is pure indulgence. By this time, we had really eaten

enough and reluctantly turn down Finn’s offer of dessert.

In truth, I don’t have a sweet tooth but I might have tried the lemon and raspberry bavaroise with white chocolate at £9. The bavaroise (or Bavarian cream) is an egg-based custard into which whipped cream is folded. I think the citric acid in the lemon would have helped.

I liked The Warren and the local-wherepossible ethic of the Crowborough Warren’s owner, Martin Haymes. And I might just pop back for the two-course £22.95 set menu one lunchtime - it looks great value.

The Warren 5A High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1UL 01892 328 191 www.thewarren.restaurant contact@thewarren.restaurant

There is a place like home...

At La Spiga, we take pride in crafting fresh, in-house pasta and pizzas using only the finest, freshest ingredients. Our recipes are rooted in Italian tradition, ensuring that each dish captures the true essence of Italy. From our hand-made pasta to our perfectly baked pizzas, every item on our menu is prepared with love and care, just as we would for our own family.

www.laspigarestaurant.com 01892327461 laspigarestaurant@gmail.com

3B Monson Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1LS

“We envision this space as a community”

Sankey’s is a timeless institution in Tunbridge Wells but it’s recently undergone a stylish refurbishment to enhance its customers’ drinking and dining experiences. We pulled up a seat at the bar to hear more from owner Matthew Sankey

Sankey’s has been a cornerstone of Tunbridge Wells’ hospitality scene since the early 1960s, when Dick Sankey transitioned from the family building trade to purchase the George & Dragon in Speldhurst. Fast forward 64 years, two generations and over six different locations, the Sankey family is still at the top of its game.

A key to Sankey’s enduring success lies in its ability to evolve with the times while staying true to its roots.

Sankey’s on Mt Ephraim initially opened as a white tablecloth restaurant in 1989, with a street-level dining experience.

Later, Guy Sankey introduced a fashionable wine bar in the basement, which eventually gave way to a brasseriestyle restaurant as the ground floor was converted into a pub.

This month, the street-level bar has been thoughtfully redesigned, balancing a respect for its history with a contemporary, cosy, and informal ambience courtesy of its new décor.

“In the post-COVID aftermath, we became something of a hybrid, serving food and drinks on one floor,” says Matthew Sankey, the third-generation owner who purchased the business from his father Guy in 2008.

“After the pandemic, we refurbished the basement restaurant and moved all the food service down there and into the

garden. We also transformed the streetlevel bar into a comfortable and refined space for everyone to enjoy.”

The bar, instantly recognisable as Sankey’s, features an impressive collection of vintage enamel signs, many of which hail from past local businesses.

“The signs have become part of who we are. My father started collecting them, and over time, people began bringing them to us, finding them in their attics or sheds.”

As for the offerings, Sankey’s was an early adopter of the craft beer movement, insisting on small-batch microbrewery products from day one.

“We aim to keep things as local as possible with brews from Only with Love, 360 & Lakedown breweries to name but a few, but we also want to meet

customer demand. Guinness drinkers want Guinness, so we offer that. We’ve also brought back some old favourites like Erdinger, a unique cloudy wheat beer from Germany, and Fruli Strawberry beer, which is bright pink,” adds Matthew.

“We envision this space as a community pub, a place for locals to gather and enjoy a drink before or after dining downstairs in the Seafood Restaurant or at nearby Thackeray’s.”

Whether you’re a craft beer enthusiast or simply looking for a cosy spot with a rich history, Sankey’s offers a drinking and dining experience like no other in Tunbridge Wells

Sankey’s on Mt Ephraim is open from Tuesday to Sunday. Reservations can be made at sankeys.co.uk.

Raise a glass to Rathfinny

The Beacon has announced it is hosting an exclusive ‘Wine & Dine’ evening with the Rathfinny Estate to celebrate the vineyard’s very special anniversary. Here’s how you can be part of it…

The Beacon, known for its incredible and very intimate super stylish dining experiences – and stunning surroundings – has just announced an exclusive ‘Wine & Dine’ evening in partnership with Rathfinny Wine Estate.

This very special event happening on 24th October 2024, will take place in The Beacon's elegant Billiard Room, offering a luxurious and private atmosphere for just 20 guests.

“This unique evening will celebrate the 10th Harvest Anniversary of Rathfinny, one of England's most renowned wine estates,” explained a Beacon spokesperson to the Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine.

“Rathfinny will host the event, providing guests with an intimate opportunity to explore the world of English winemaking,”

continued the spokesperson before adding that attendees will enjoy a carefully curated menu from The Beacon’s Executive Chef Scott Goss.

“This will be expertly paired with a selection of Rathfinny's finest wines, including their award-winning sparkling wines.”

With only 20 seats available, this first-come, first-served event is a rare opportunity to engage closely with the winemaking process in an exclusive setting.

Event Details:

Date: 24th October 2024

Time: 1900 – 2300

Location: The Billiard Room, The Beacon, Tunbridge Wells, East Sussex

Capacity: 20 guests

For enquiries email:  jenny@illbemother.co.uk

Images: Lottie Topping

Images: Key & quill

A noteworthy classical music festival

Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival Chair, Rupert Preston Bell, celebrates the wealth of music on offer at this year’s event which runs on selected dates from September 20 to October 19

Founded as a resort to escape from city life, Tunbridge Wells is living up to its historic reputation for entertainment. With festivals of literature, poetry, arts and live music of all kinds, the town is humming.

When it comes to classical music, the town has its own well-loved Symphony Orchestra and Choral Society, and the bi-annual International Music Competition currently based in Mayfield. And the numerous professional musicians who have made Tunbridge Wells their home can be heard in concerts all over town and in neighbouring villages like Lamberhurst and Frant.

For 20 years now, the Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival has been part of this scene, recently adopting the richly historic church of King Charles the Martyr, by The Pantiles, for many concerts.

As a concert venue, the baroque church – unassuming on the outside but a revelation within - has won warm approval from many international artists. These have included such names as Gerald Finlay, Felicity Lott, Mark Padmore, James Gilchrist, and the great

This year we’re looking forward to the Fidelio Trio (10 October), pianist James Lisney (13 October, at Rose Hill School, hosted by the CODA concert series), and on 19 October the Wigmore Hall duo Michael Collins (clarinet) and Michael McHale (piano). These are all highlyrespected musicians who’ve played in top concert venues across the world. It’s a privilege to host them here on our doorstep.

And, with the help of sponsors big and small, we want to extend our reach further.

We always offer free tickets for under18s and are hosting a dynamic afternoon of masterclasses for aspiring young musicians on 12 October. Applications to take part are welcome!

We’d love to offer more masterclasses and workshops for young musicians, as well as keeping our ticket prices accessibly low, removing barriers so anyone can come to hear classical music of the highest quality.

If you want to find out more please do get in touch… www.tunbridgewellsfestival.co.uk

Schubert Ensemble, all of whom loved the atmosphere and acoustic.

A passion for puppetry

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine gets the inside scoop of this year’s bill at the Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival 2024

There’s not long to go until the next Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival (TWPF) which takes place from October 5 – 13.

Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine has been afforded an exclusive preview of the incredible acts who will be performing at this popular festival, which is now in its sixth year.

The TWPF team will be delivering their most ambitious festival yet, presenting over 40 performances of world-class puppetry including three international artists, two UK premieres, one world premiere and a parade for the whole town to enjoy.

The event, which is supported by funding from The Arts Council and RTW Together BID, will take place across the town including at venues such as Trinity Theatre, The Forum, The Pantiles, Calverley Grounds and the Assembly Hall Theatre.

Some of our hot picks include:

• The Cackle Street Cats – Saturday 5 October, Royal Victoria Place

• A rhyming fable from Rust & Stardust, featuring spellbinding songs, delightful dances, colourful costumes, and adorable cat puppets who make potions and fall in love

• Macbeth Muet – Thursday 10 October, Trinity Theatre. This wordless adaptation of Macbeth, A UK premiere by Montréal based company La Fille du Laitier, is inspired by silent film and flirts with melodrama. It humorously transports us into a frantic race for power. In a fast-paced in a gory version of the doomed couple's woes using bodies, objects and lots of fake blood

• Improbable Sessions – Friday 11 October, Trinity Theatre. Uniquely for TWPF, Kent based producers Improbable (producers of West End hit My Neighbour Totoro) will see their four-piece band joined by special guest puppeteer Aya Nakamura. Part-gig, part-show, it’s a great night of improvised music and puppetry

• Pinocchio - Saturday 12 October, Royal Victoria Place. One of the most re-imagined characters in children’s literature, Pinocchio comes alive with paper characters in a Victorian-style toy theatre

from The Magical Paper Theatre Company, Turkey. A new adaptation of this classic tale with over 25 characters, crankie box, 15 scenes and special effects

• Puppet Parade (FREE) – Sunday 13 October, Calverley Grounds

The Parade route starts outside of Royal Victoria Place at 11am, parades down Mount Pleasant Rd, and ends in Calverley Grounds where the free puppetry continues until 4pm. This is your chance to join the celebration of puppetry with this spectacular parade led by the Kings of Dhol and featuring giant walkabout puppets including Judith Hope’s giant Keeper’s Nest, Flying Ships and Cloud Travelers puppets as well as a stampede of Rampaging Rhinos and the vibrant mobility scooter Dancing Flamingos. Everyone is welcome…

To book tickets visit www.trinitytheatre.net

Find out more at

www.twpuppetryfestival.org or follow @twpuppetryfestival

Autumnal pleasures

Running from September to October 31, Hever Castle & Gardens has something to please everyone during the autumn season. From bulb planting workshops to tours of Church Gill - the new re-imagined woodland that’s being developed by Kevock Plants, a trip is bound to light up the darker days ahead says Vikki Rimmer

Hever is arguably at its romantic best in the autumn when the Boston Ivy adorning the front of the Castle turns a vivid shade of red.

Visitors are treated to glorious displays of autumn colour throughout the Estate when the rich yellow, red and orange leaves of beech mingle with liquidambars, tulip trees and Japanese maples, contributing to an explosion of colour.  Sunday Walk is a treat for hydrangea lovers - the colours of the summer flowers are beginning to wane but the shapes and papery petals are delightful in autumn.

And rather excitingly, there is now a new area of the garden that can be found at the end of Sunday Walk as visitors to Hever Castle come upon ‘Church Gill’. This area has been redeveloped over the last five years, and planted with the help of alpine specialists Kevock Plants.  This re-imagined rock garden is a tranquil space where birds come to sing in private with the bubbling brook as their sonic soundtrack.  Woodland and shade-loving plants like epimediums and the coloured leaves of the perennials planted on the sloping banks provide for interest yearround.  Monet-style bridges painted in

HEVER CASTLE & GARDENS NEW EVENTS

ADMISSION INFO:

Dahlia Days with Val Bourne

Tuesday 8th October 14:30

Wednesday 9th October 11:30

Dye Garden Tour & workshop

Wednesday 2nd October 11.30

Wednesday 9th October 14.30

Wednesday 16th October 11.30

Bulb Planting Masterclass

Tuesday 8th October

Tuesday 15th October  11:30

Church Gill Tours

Monday 7th October

Monday 14th October

Monday 21st October 11:30

egg-shell blue criss-cross the winding brook, taking visitors on the same route that William Waldorf Astor and his family would have taken to church 120 years ago. Astor purchased Hever in 1903 and was at one point America’s richest man. In 1891, disillusioned with the United States, he moved to England and between 1903 and 1908 set about buying and restoring Hever Castle.

But back to the present day…On Church Gill, a pathway can be found that winds up to Anne Boleyn’s Walk where vistas display views of the Estate from above.  Looking down these red, golden and green corridors, the Outer Moat is framed in autumnal colour.

In autumn, dahlias can be found in proliferation on a long and curved border that runs beside the Festival Theatre. While down in Blue Corner the salvias can be found still going strong.

The Loggia and piazza itself, afford visitors an autumnal view that Astor could only have hoped and dreamed of when he planned the Italian Garden and placed his very own ‘Trevi fountain’ there.

From this viewpoint, a traditional English autumnal scene is painted as the red pin oaks and the buttery yellows of the larch

and sequoia provide a patchwork semicircle of colour around the lake.

To the right of the lake, a grouping of tall mature Scots pines grow; these trees were transported from Ashdown Forest by Astor’s gardening team at the turn of the 20th century following a rumour that they grew on the very spot on Cowden Common - where King Henry VIII first set eyes on Anne Boleyn. This apocryphal tale illustrates how captivated Astor was with arguably the most famous (and ultimately tragic) romance in British history.

On the left hand-side of the lake a red Japanese Teahouse (opened by Monty Don in 2013) welcomes the misty autumn mornings, casting shadows across the water that laps at its stilts.

Behind the Teahouse, the remains of Chestnut Avenue - once a long avenue lying on the axis of the Long Gallery in the Castle itself - can be found.  A detour from here will uncover Anne of Cleves Bower House, a site of interest

“Hundreds of dahlias dazzle in a long curving border

”A DATE FOR YOUR DIARY:

rediscovered by the gardening team five years ago.  In autumn, the coloured trees provide a red and yellow canopy for this folly.

In autumn, hundreds of dahlias dazzle in a long curving border, and on the 8th and 9th October, garden writer Val Border will deliver two Dahlia Days in this location, giving tips on how to get the most from these beautiful flowers.

Golden grasses in the form of miscanthus and Stipa tennuissima provide a beautiful backdrop for the colourful perennials here who throw shapes with their multidimensional seed heads while the asters, alstroemerias and rudbeckias thrive on.

Opening Times:  10:30 – 18:00 (last entry to grounds 16:30) (Last entry to Castle 17:00)

Can you walk through fire this autumn at Hever Castle & Gardens?

The gardening charity Perennial is excited to invite participants to take on the fiery challenge at Hever Castle & Gardens where they plan to host a fire walk event. Perennial is a charity dedicated to helping everyone in horticulture.

The fire walk for Perennial is a unique opportunity for individuals to push their limits and conquer their fears while contributing to a meaningful cause. The event will include a comprehensive training session led by expert fire walk instructors, ensuring all participants are fully prepared to take each step.

“We are delighted to host our second firewalk at such a prestigious and historic location,” says Eleanor Steele, Community

Fundraiser at Perennial. “The Firewalk is not just about the thrill of the challenge; it’s about coming together as a community to support those who nurture the landscapes and gardens we all cherish. We encourage everyone to join us for an unforgettable evening that promises to inspire and make a real difference.”

Head gardener at Hever Castle & Gardens, Neil Miller adds: “As a long-time supporter of the fantastic charity Perennial, I literally can’t wait to get my boots off and walk across hot coals for them at Hever Castle on October 18. We think it will be a really wonderful (and unforgettable) experience and would love as many of our horticultural friends as possible to join us on the day, and raise lots of funds for a charity very close to my heart.”

Event details:

Date: 18th October 2024

Time: 3pm onwards

Location: Hever Castle, Hever Road, Hever, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7NG

How to participate:

Participants can sign up for the Firewalk through the Perennial website www.perennial.org.uk Registration is £25 per person to cover the cost of the event, with a fundraising target of £150. All funds raised will directly support Perennial’s vital services, which include financial assistance, health and wellbeing support, and training and development programmes for individuals in the horticultural industry.

Breathe to succeed

IBionic Breathwork enables individuals to transfer stress into strength through the breathing process. Here we discover more about this holistic practice that can help release deeply held traumas and encourage emotional healing…

n today’s whirlwind pace of life, stress can feel like an ever-present companion. Whether you're a CEO grappling with corporate hurdles, a parent juggling endless responsibilities, or someone on a journey of personal growth, finding balance can seem like an elusive goal. Enter Bionic Breathwork—a revolutionary practice that's redefining stress management and enhancing wellbeing with its profound simplicity.

Bionic Breathwork combines scientifically backed techniques with a deep understanding of the mind-body connection. This method focuses on controlled breathing exercises designed to elevate mental clarity, emotional resilience, and deep healing. Accessible and adaptable, breathwork requires no fancy equipment and fits seamlessly into various lifestyles. For high achievers constantly under pressure, breathwork provides a vital tool for maintaining composure, boosting cognitive function, and improving decision-making. The ability to regulate one’s breath can be transformative, helping to manage anxiety and enhance focus when stakes are highest.

Terry Moseley, founder of Bionic Breathwork, experienced the power of this practice firsthand.

"I was introduced to breathwork and it completely transformed my life," Moseley recalls. "I felt a profound shift in my mental state and emotional resilience.

Bionic

Breathwork combines scientifically backed techniques with a deep understanding of the mindbody connection

It was so impactful that I felt compelled to share this practice with the world. I wanted others to experience the same game changing benefits that breathwork provided me." Moseley’s commitment to making breathwork accessible to everyone led to the creation of Bionic Breathwork’s global training programme. This three day intensive training allows participants to walk away with the knowledge, confidence and qualifications

to start their own global breathwork business or integrate the techniques into their existing business. Bionic Breathwork also offers Corporate Workshops to increase well being, productivity and connectedness to staff.

Our training is designed with inclusivity in mind, offering a solution that's both affordable and practical. With flexible time commitments and a reasonable price point, Bionic Breathwork ensures that people at all stages of life can integrate these techniques into their daily routines.

The programme’s approach highlights the belief that breathwork should be a universal tool for enhancing well-being, not a luxury reserved for a select few.

Breathwork is more than just a trend— it’s a transformative practice with the potential to benefit CEOs, stressed-out workers, and everyday individuals alike. As we navigate an increasingly chaotic world, embracing breathwork offers a straightforward yet profound solution for achieving balance and resilience. With Bionic Breathwork’s accessible training programme, now is the perfect time to unlock the life-changing benefits of this powerful practice.

Contact: bionicbreathwork.comhello@bionicbreathwork.com

Terry Moseley

My Tunbridge Wells, Your Tunbridge Wells

Clare Lush-Mansell from My Tunbridge Wells is your expert guide to all the fantastic events happening in and around the town every month. Read on to discover her top pics for the rest of the month and into October…

Art attack

There’s a new free event in Tunbridge Wells! The Art of the Pantiles Festival runs from Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd September, featuring workshops, talks, demonstrations, and the debut of the Pantiles Artist of the Year Competition. The festival launches on Friday at 5:30pm and also kicks off the Tunbridge Wells International Music Festival season, with a special opening by Mark Hill, live performances, and a concert by The City of London Sinfonia. For tickets, visit www.tunbridgewellsfestival.co.uk

Family affair

Join us for the Messy Kids' It Takes A Village family rave on Sunday 22nd September (from 1pm to 5pm) at The

Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells. Proceeds support Choose Love, a pioneering humanitarian aid charity. Enjoy a Flower Power themed family festival with DJs from Bristol, London, and Tunbridge Wells, plus special entertainment by the Elrow family. Activities include hippy flower crown making, messy play, hula hooping, bubbles, face painting, and more! Bring a picnic, or enjoy delicious food from The Spa Hotel, and don’t miss the licensed bar. Book your tickets online via Skiddle.com.

Express yourself

Join local artist Imogen Partridge at Kingdom in Penshurst on Saturday 28th

September, for a tranquil afternoon learning the basics of watercolour, including materials, colour mixing and painting techniques. Suitable for all ages and abilities, the‘Introduction to Watercolour workshop encourages creativity and personal expression. All materials are provided and you'll leave with your own watercolour painting. The workshop takes place in the serene setting of Kingdom (one of my personal favourites) with refreshments included. Pre-booking is required via imogenpartridge.com.

Board masters

Level up your (board) gaming experience at The Amelia Scott’s board game café, ‘Game Changer’! Dive into the epic world of board games on the first and third Sunday of the month in the Green Room, where strategy meets fun! Whether you’re into classic showdowns or modern gems, they’ve got the perfect game for

everyone. Refreshments are available from Fine Grind (on-site), ensuring you stay energised throughout your session. No need to book for this free event. Under 16s need to be accompanied by an adult. The next sessions are on Sunday 6th and 20th October, as well as Sunday 3rd and 17th November, from 12 noon to 3:45 pm.

Strings attached

The Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival is back for its sixth year, from October 5th to 13th, and we cannot wait to attend many of the performances around town - at locations including Trinity Theatre, Royal Victoria Place, The Forum, The Pantiles, and Calverley Grounds. With over 40 events to choose from, we are looking forward to taking part in the Rampaging Rhinos Mask Workshop (free), watching Mermarella at The Forum, Space Chickens (free) on The Pantiles, and Love Our World at Calverley Grounds (free). For bookable tickets, visit the Trinity Theatre website, and to find out more, visit www. twpuppetryfestival.org.

Earn your stripes

The Tiger Who Came to Tea, a musical play adapted and directed by David Wood, based on the beloved book by Judith

Photograph: Mollie Manning

Clare Lush-Mansell

Kerr (a firm favourite in our household), will be gracing the stage at the Assembly Hall Theatre in Tunbridge Wells from Friday 11th to Sunday 13th October. Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this enchanting family show, which promises to be brimming with magic, sing-along songs and delightful chaos. Suitable for children aged 2 and up, the performance lasts 50 minutes without an interval. Don’t miss this stunning stage adaptation of the classic tale - you’re in for a treat!

Full steam ahead

Trainmaster West Kent is coming to Speldhurst Village Hall on Saturday 12th October for some super fun train-themed sessions (two of which are dedicated to SEN). Get ready for trains, track building, the Step 2 coaster, a ride-on train and much more! Bring your family and

friends along for a session packed with adventure and fun. Grab your tickets at www.trainmaster.co.uk/westkent before they sell out!

Best foot forward

We always love our visits to Ashdown Forest with its rolling fields, stunning views and roaming sheep and cows. The loop walk at The Hollies, including a WWII memorial and stream, takes about an hour and is one of our go-to walks. Recently, we discovered Mungo's Waterfall while there. It’s tricky to find, but worth a try. From The Hollies map board, head right for 500m to a bench. The waterfall is south from there, with no clear path - just follow any water signs and your instinct. Good luck!

Wild wood

Pumpkin patch

Wilderness Wood has some new additions to check out this autumn - including an adorable tiny log cabin for kids in the tea garden and a new mural! This is always such a special place to visit for a wholesome morning or afternoon in nature. We adore the rope swing too, and of course, the mud kitchen. Located in Hadlow Down, this is well worth a visit.

This October, why not head over to the charming Lower Ladysden Farm in Goudhurst to pick up your perfect pumpkin? Tickets are just £2.50 per person, with free entry for children under 3. The farm's pumpkin festival offers a super selection of activities, including frightfully fun and ghoulish games, face painting and plenty of photo opportunities. Don’t miss the magnificent straw mountain, a highlight for both kids and adults. And of course, there will be a tempting selection of fantastic food and drink to enjoy, along with even more surprises to discover!

In the driving seat

In the first of its new monthly motoring features we catch up with Ross Strudwick, Sales Manager at Tunbridge Wells Hyundai, part of the Kent-based Stoner Motor Group, to chat about life at the dealership and his current favourite model on the forecourt….

Can you tell us a little about Stoner Motor group and what makes the group different?

The Stoner Motor Group is a family-run company which has been in business for over 40 years. We are in Kent and have four dealerships in the group. What sets us apart from other dealers is the atmosphere created by our familyrun dealership. Everyone is friendly, laid back and not your typical highly pressurised environment of car sales. This is felt by our customers and often fed back on surveys and reviews.

How long have you been with the group?

I have been with the group for nearly nine years. I initially started as a salesperson and worked up to my current position of Sales Manager. The Stoner Motor Group has given me the opportunity to progress my career within the company. I thoroughly enjoy

my role and think our customers enjoy having a consistent point of contact.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

It sounds like a cliché, but genuinely it’s the people. From my colleagues to our customers, some of whom have been coming to us for so long they feel more like friends. The consistent contact during their ownership, such as at point of service or when we discuss account reviews for their current agreements, helps to build a less daunting experience for the customer and feels less like a transaction. I genuinely love my job; I enjoy meeting such lovely people every day and helping them find their perfect car.

Which is your favourite make and model of all time?

Without a doubt, it has to be the all-new Santa Fe! What an incredible vehicle with

Party Season

Ross Strudwick

an impressive level of equipment and a striking design. I think its new bold design is so eye-catching. It is so great to see Hyundai paying so much attention to the details in their design and continuing their high level of equipment for customers’ ease of driving and convenience. What a great level of equipment, impressive size vehicle with remarking styling at affordable prices.

Who does the new Santa Fe appeal to and why should people consider buying one?

The new Santa Fe appeals to a range of customers. From those requiring a spacious 7-seater as a family car; to those who need the practical size of the vehicle for sports activities or even off roading

to explore the great outdoors. Anyone looking for a large SUV should definitely consider the new Santa Fe for its high level of equipment and eye-catching design. Test drives are available, and my team and I would be more than happy to assist with any enquiries.

Contact Details: Ross Strudwick Sales Manager Tunbridge Wells Hyundai T: 01892 520026

ross@twhyundai.co.uk

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“The

businesses who support us really make a magical difference”

This month our chosen charity Taylor-Made Dreams tells us about its special Titanium Circle Membership scheme which a number of local businesses support to help TMD reach as many children and families as possible. Read on to find out about some of the companies helping the charity – and how yours can too…

Every service we provide at Taylor-Made Dreams (TMD), from bucket list wishes to our sibling support service, is enabled by our wonderful TMD supporters.

Among those supporters are our Titanium Circle members, the businesses that go above and beyond, donating monthly to support our services. Local businesses gifting their support really does make a magical difference, giving back to the community they reside in and showing TMD families that the community is there for them. We wanted to share a few stories from those members, to show why local businesses choose to support Taylor-Made Dreams…

CHILDRENSALON

“One of the best things about TaylorMade Dreams and being part of the Titanium Circle, is that TMD is a local charity, and we can actually see the difference our contribution is making firsthand. Even though the charity is local, it is also making a really big difference, and you can see that on a day-to-day basis. In addition to the Titanium Circle, we often provide individual makeover photo shoots for the children, making us feel a special part of the magic.”

ASHDOWN SOLUTIONS

“At Ashdown Safety, we proudly support Taylor Made Dreams because we believe in making a meaningful difference in the lives of children facing life-limiting illnesses. Taylor Made Dreams provides invaluable support by

“Our Titanium Circle members are the businesses that go above and beyond, donating monthly to support our services

”fulfilling the dreams of these young individuals, offering them moments of joy and creating lasting memories during challenging times. Our commitment to this charity aligns with our values of compassion and community, and we are honored to contribute to a cause that brings hope and happiness to children and their families when they need it most.”

BENTLEY TUNBRIDGE WELLS

“At Grange Bentley Tunbridge Wells, we are incredibly proud to sponsor Taylor Made Dreams.

Hearing Suzi Mitchell’s inspiring story and learning how Taylor Made Dreams was born from a simple bucket list idea to support children with life-limiting illnesses deeply moved us.

As a local business, we believe in giving back to our community and are honoured to provide support that helps enhance special occasions and create lasting memories for these courageous children and their families. We look forward to continued lasting partnership, contributing to their journey and helping to bring joy and comfort during challenging times.”

ZOOMFILMS

“Being a parent, whose children have now long flown the nest, I came to really appreciate the sustaining power of all those special memories made and shared as a family. Zoomfilms has been a TMD Titanium Circle member for three years for this very reason. We love seeing their compassion in action every day, helping families to create wonderful memories during desperately difficult times. All their resources are wholly dependent on donations and it's important to us to know that we can be a part of their work by giving a regular contribution.”

Every business that supports the services we provide, helps to create magical memories for the families that we support at Taylor-Made Dreams. You help to bring light in a dark time and we are forever grateful for all of the support we have received over our 10 years in service. www.taylormadedreams.org.uk

Magical Mdina

In his column for this month our resident antiques expert and TV presenter Mark Hill reveals the story behind one of Malta’s most famous and coveted exports…

It takes a lot to break new ground and be successful in business, particularly when the very framework and techniques you’re using break new ground too. And so it was with pioneering glass artist Michael Harris, who founded a glass studio called Mdina Glass on the Mediterranean island of Malta in 1968.

Mdina art glass became successful outside of its home of Malta and a strong export business grew rapidly, with sales across Europe, the US, and beyond

Tired of the serried ranks of colourful - yet clinically identical - Scandinavian glass that was fashionable in the Swinging Sixties, he harnessed newly developed techniques that freed designers and artists from the confines of factories to be able to use glass as a medium for art and sculpture. These techniques and technology were developed by two Americans, Harvey Littleton and Dominick Labino in the early 1960s, and brought to Britain by the pioneering glass artist Sam Herman, who was studying for a scholarship at the Royal College of Art in London in 1966. Harris, then the RCA’s tutor in glass design, learned about them from Herman, grasped them with both hands and decided there was a gap in the market for handmade, unique sculptural art glass – each piece of which was unique. After tentative, yet successful, experiments, he left a secure job in academia to pursue his dream – with less than a year’s experience of hands-on glassmaking.

Michael very much learned as he went along and, with sheer grit, hard work and perseverance, his skills and artistry in glassmaking grew rapidly. The company’s products were almost immediately successful, with much of the early success coming from tourists visiting the island – a ready audience of buyers. But there was more to it. Before the studio glass revolution of the late 1960s, very few could witness the dynamic spectacle of glassmaking in person, as factories were closed to visitors. Now anyone visiting Malta could see wonder of the fiery orange molten glass being blown, pushed and pulled into extravagant forms. The ‘experience’ encouraged sales.

Michael’s forms accentuate the medium of glass, so are curvaceous and sculptural, echoing the liquid state of molten glass. He was also a clever marketeer too - he

realised that most tourists holidaying in the Mediterranean would want something that reminded them of their holidays in the sun. Hence, the colours of Mdina glass echo the deep greenyblues of the sea, the sandy beaches, and the bright blue skies. They were also different from much else that was available.

Mdina art glass became successful outside Malta too, and a strong export business grew rapidly, with sales to department stores, galleries and retailers across Europe, into the US, and beyond. Heal’s even put on display of this new type of ‘art glass’.

Most affordable, so most common and affordable today, are near-spherical paperweights, some of which look like they contain entire complex galaxies inside them. They were also easily packed into tourists’ suitcases and were unlikely to break. Today, examples cost anything from £10 upwards, making an affordable entry point.

At the opposite end, at the top of the tree, are his now-legendary ‘Fish’ vases. If you’re wondering about the name, then think of a manta ray. Highly complex and time-consuming to make, these could only be made by Michael in the first years of the company’s existence. Their curving form, impressive size, multiple layers of coloured glass, and thin neck make them more a sculpture than a functional vase, and the form has no precedent. It is considered his hallmark form and values today can exceed £1,000 – not bad for a holiday souvenir! Michael always believed in pushing himself to do better, “Our best work will be done tomorrow”, he said. Derived from, but more complex than, Fish are rare Crizzle Stones with their pebblelike forms and web-like sandy internal layer. Fewer than 50 examples are known today, and prices can exceed £3,000!

In between, prices range from around £30 to around £500, with a plethora of forms to collect, some with curious names such as the ‘Chalice’, the ‘Inside Out’ vase, or the ‘Side Stripe’ vase. Although these are largely more practical and functional in nature, and look great with flowers, their strong forms and vivid colours mean that they also look magnificent when they

A rare Mdina Glass, designed and made by Michael Harris c1971. 12in (30.5cm) high

An early 1970s Mdina Glass ‘Chalice’ or Goblet, with knop echoing the wavy sea, designed by Michael Harris. 8in (20.5cm) high.

An earlymid 1970s Mdina Glass paperweight, designed by Michael Harris.

stand alone. The colour palette he devised also works well whatever the interior – it works just as well as a ‘colour pop’ on old English oak as it does on Scandinavian Modern blond woods. The handmade nature of Mdina Glass also fits in with the ‘spirit’ of these popular looks too.

As regular readers will know from my columns, ‘the devil is in the detail’. Much, but not all, Mdina glass is signed with the company’s name. But look closely at the bottom as, if Michael Harris signed a piece with his name, values can rocket by as much as 50-100% depending on the form. Michael didn’t believe in signing his work with his name as he considered all the glass produced as the achievements of the team, not one individual. That makes his signature rare.

The political situation changed in Malta in the early 1970s and Michael, together with many British expats, was ‘asked’ to leave in 1972. Undeterred, he went to another island – this time closer to home – to found Isle of Wight Studio Glass the following year. But I’ll save the continuation of Michael Harris’ ‘journey in glass’ for another article.

Visit:

The Pantiles Arcade at 49 Lower Walk, The Pantiles is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10.30am –5pm. More details can be found at thepantilesarcade.com, or by calling 01892 322 777. To buy online, visit scottishantiques.com.

Valuations:

For valuations or to consign items for auction, email mark@ markhillauctions.com or call 01892 574 310 to set up a free appointment.

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