SO Tunbridge Wells August 2009

TU

NB

RID

GE

W

EL

LSsoE

£1.

50

FASHION PROPERTY ART & ANTIQUES MOTORING BEAUTY DINING INTERIORS

August 2OO9

SO

TW

T

HE

ON

E W

ITH

WE

AL

TH

IES

T V

ILL

AG

ES

AN

D T

HE

BO

HE

MIA

N B

EA

UT

Y

ISS

UE

17

Tunbridge WellsThe 20 WealthiestPlaces to Live

SIENNA MILLERWE GET UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL

DUTCHCOURAGE

DREAMHOMES

SUITABLY PRICED

THE CAR FUSING ART WITH TECHNOLOGY

INCLUDINGTHE ULTRAMODERNPARADISE

WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE TWO-PIECE

THE GOOD PUB GUIDE

INSIDE

RICHEST VILLAGES

SO T U N B R I D G E W E L L S

6 M AY 2 0 0 9

Aug

ust 2

OO

9Inside...


6 AU G U ST 2 0 0 9

SUMMERTIME, AND THE CHANCE TO RELAX AND UNWIND WITH YET ANOTHER UPLIFTING PACKAGE OF THOUGHT PROVOKING FEATURES, VIEWS AND COMMENT FROM YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL MAGAZINE.

47 FASHION HIGHLIGHTS

Five scintillating pages to keep

you in vogue as celebs choose

leather as their must-have fabric.

54 THE £70,000 SUIT How much would you pay

for a two-piece even if you had the money?

57 HEN PICKED The Mamma Mia!

Musical inspires a TW social network

for women.

62 THE PORTFOLIO An exquisite collection

of property, homes and interiors.

AU G U ST 2 0 0 9

25 LaughterLinesCocktails and jokes fl ow freely at the Comedy Club celebration.

14 This Month You Should…Draw insiration on what to see, read, buy and listen to over the coming weeks.

19 SO TELL US… What turns you

into ‘Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells’.

21 NOW THE NEWS… Why our local MP

is one of the ‘cheapest’ in Westminster.

29 RICHEST VILLAGES Surprises galore as

we reveal the 20 wealthiest places

to live on the outskirts of

Tunbridge Wells.

37 GOOD PUB GUIDE The best of the hostelries at the heart of village life.

82 The GalleryFrom pop art to bronze the best on offer at our local galleries.

Cov

er im

age:

Sie

nna

Mill

er c

ourte

sy o

f Cel

ebrit

y Pi

ctur

es

C O N T E N T S SO

71 THE ULTIMATE GREEN HOUSE

Your chance to buy the most eco-friendly house in town.

75 DREAM HOME We lend a hand with turning a boxy new build into an

ultra-modern pad.

85 ANTIQUE APPROACH

James Braxton urges us to consider green credentials when buying antiques.

87 WHAT A SOURCE We call in at the Heathfi eld

pub that truly believes in buying locally.

88 ALL AT SEA Resident foodie Julian Leefe-

Griffi ths takes a different angle on cooking fresh

caught fi sh.

100 Cleared for Take OffThe Spyker C8 Aileron that fusesart with technology.

40 Cover Story:Burnt Sienna The bohemian beauty that is Sienna Miller is apparently revered by some and reviled by others; you decide for yourself.

93 MY FAVOURITE BOTTLE Down in the wine cellar at Buxted Park

with General Manager Andrew Salter.

95 IT’S ALL INN KEEPING

Meet the pub grub supremo who’s feeding our eating habits in a big way.

105 THE ENTREPRENEURS We recognise the men and women running the small businesses that are keeping the wheels of

the town turning.

114 TRIGGER HAPPY The local shop that’s making a name for itself around the world selling guns.

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 7

CLIVE CHRISTIAN TUNBRIDGE WELLS, 7 LONDON ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT, TN1 1DG TELEPHONE: 01892 619 550 CLIVE.COMC L I V E C H R I S T I A N

CLIVE CHRISTIAN TUNBRIDGE WELLS, 7 LONDON ROAD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT, TN1 1DG TELEPHONE: 01892 619 550 CLIVE.COM

Village life takes centre stage in this issue as we reveal, in descending order, the 20 wealthiest places to live out-of-town. And there are plenty of surprises to get people talking, just as they did when we published our Richest Roads list earlier this year.

The top two spots in our exclusive Richest Villages report go to communities with strong historical connections, while others thought to be hot favourites struggle to make even the top ten; places such as Langton Green and Goudhurst.

Researching the special feature brought home to us just how much the village pub is at the heart of the community. Which is why we highlight a selection of the very best.

And while visiting various hostelries we came across the Pub Grub Guru shaping the way we eat and our resident foodie Julian offering tips on how to get the most out of fish.

Not all of our time has been taken up with mine hosts. We also manage to get to grips with bohemian beauty Sienna Miller who’s reviled and revered in equal measure. Read our fascinating insight into her life and decide where you stand.

Tunbridge Wells doesn’t have much of a manufacturing industry. In fact it has none, which makes the role of our local entrepreneurs even more important to the life of the town. We talk to the men and women keeping the wheels turning.

Top that up with a fitting for the most expensive suit in the world, a peek at the sensational new Spyker C8 Aileron, a tour of the Rusthall ‘Green House’ and you have yet another unique read, particularly when you add to the mix old faithfuls such as fashion, beauty, interiors, art and antiques.

Pour the coffee, relax and enjoy the moment!

Hello...

[email protected] full contact details see Page 12

A u G u S T 2 0 0 9 11

SoTW


12 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

3 Cumberland Walk, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1UJ

Tel: 01892 616103 Fax: 01892 [email protected]

Publishing Director Nick Moore

[email protected]

Sales Director Sharon Lacey

[email protected]

Editorial Director Richard Moore FRSA

[email protected]

Art Director Lee Smith

Designer Claire Hawkes

Senior Writer Melissa Woodland

[email protected]

Publishing Assistant Dan Smith

[email protected]

Account Executive Felicity Evans

[email protected]

ContributorsSarah Taylor

Valerie ThackerAndrew Salter

Harriet LouvelleJulian Leefe-Griffi ths

Fiona FraserPublished by The Magazine People Ltd.

Designed by SCW Design & Publishing Ltd. www.scw.uk.com

Printed by Headley Brothers Ltd.

All rights reserved. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher cannot accept

responsibility for any errors or omissions relating to advertising or editorial. The publisher reserves the right to change or amend any competitions or prizes offered. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent from the publisher. No

responsibility is taken for unsolicited materials or the return of these materials whilst in transit.

Subscribe to SoTW for just £1 per issue!

For details visit www.sotunbridgewells.co.ukor call 01892 616103

Subscribe to SoTW for just £1 per issue!

www.magazinepeople.co.uk


14 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

Bake...

This month you should…

The fi rst novel of Tim Clare, We Can’t All Be Astronauts is a brave and quirky debut. With Clare installed as the lead character (a depressed, overweight writer who still lives at home with his mum and dad) the autobiographical tome follows his struggle to fi nd success in the publishing world. Funny and cringe worthy, this is an enjoyable read, but you are left wondering how on earth this chap ever got a

publishing deal. Available from good bookshops for £10.99.

Read...

Whip up a classic Victoria sponge or create a pile of light as air fairy cakes to enjoy with a cup of tea in the garden. The stylish Artisan stand mixer from Kitchenaid is a must have for the discerning cook, and its aesthetically pleasing looks will be right at home in your kitchen. Available in 16 colours and fi nishes, you’re not restricted to traditional white. We love the brushed nickel (£569). Available from Hoopers, Artisan mixers start at £389. 01892 530222.

chap ever got a publishing

Whip up a classic Victoria sponge or create a pile of light as air fairy cakes to enjoy with a cup of tea in the garden. The stylish Artisan stand mixer from Kitchenaid is a must have for the discerning cook, and its aesthetically pleasing looks will be right at home in your kitchen. Available in 16 colours and fi nishes, you’re not restricted to traditional white. We love the brushed nickel (£569). Available from Hoopers, Artisan mixers start at £389.

publishing

Whip up a classic Victoria sponge or create a pile of light as air fairy cakes to enjoy with a cup of tea in the garden. The stylish Artisan stand mixer from Kitchenaid is a must have for the discerning cook, and its aesthetically pleasing looks will be right at home in your kitchen. Available in 16 colours and fi nishes, you’re not restricted to traditional white. We love the brushed nickel (£569). Available from

should…

The fi rst novel of Tim Clare, We Can’t All Be Astronautsand quirky debut. With Clare installed as the lead character (a depressed, overweight writer who still lives at home with his mum and dad) the autobiographical tome follows his struggle to fi nd success in the publishing world. Funny and cringe worthy, this is an enjoyable read, but you are left wondering how on earth this chap ever got a

deal. Available from good bookshops for £10.99.

Read...

chap ever got a publishing

deal. Available from good bookshops for £10.99.

publishing deal. Available from good

Run...If you’d like to take up running, but don’t want to go on your own, or are a seasoned runner looking to fi nd someone to help you go the extra mile, a new social networking site can put you in touch with fellow runners in your area. www.joggingbuddy.com has members all over the world and enables you to meet like minded athletes, from professionals to complete novices, and share training tips and new routes. Best of all, it’s free!

T H I S M O N T H SO

Rent...In The Young Victoria, starring Emily Blunt, we’re privy to the fascinating world which our 19th Century royalty inhabited. The fi lm is beautifully shot thanks to the tight direction of Jean-Marc Vallée and the well-scripted story is highly engaging due to the excellent performances of the leads. Blunt is believable as Queen Victoria and opens our eyes to the stresses and pressures put on royalty, particularly of that era. For fans of political history this is a must, but if you’re just a fan of moving love stories, this is also for you. Available from The Foyer: £3.50 per night, call 01892 548700.

Listen...

Buy...Since 1940 IWC have produced a special Pilots watch. Now the Flagship of this prestigious watchmaker, the IWC Big Pilot features a movement that automatically winds itself and has a power reserve of eight days. An essential for the discerning gentleman, it is available exclusively for £8,500 from Burrells The Jewellers 01892 519840 www.burrellsjewellers.co.uk

Paolo Nutini’s sophomore effort Sunny Side Up is an undeniably care free, feel good album. Some of the early tracks are reminiscent of simple, catchy Motown but overall the album’s complexity showcases how Nutini has progressed as a songwriter since These Streets (2006). This is a great Summer album and will keep a smile on your face even as the leaves begin to change. Stand out tracks are Candy and Pencil Full of Lead. Available from Ape on Mount Pleasant Road for £11.

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 15

Enrol... Picnic...


Treat yourself to a Sunday afternoon of good food, fi ne wine and funky jazz at Thackeray’s Restaurant. On the last Sunday of every month, the restaurant becomes a sophisticated jazz venue, with a trio of musicians playing sets throughout the day. Start with a ‘Garden of England’ cocktail, then enjoy a delicious lunch, rich in local produce. Three course lunch is £28.50. Call 01892 511921 to book.

Give your kids something to look forward to in September other than school. The Humpty Dumpty Club offers weekly fun-fi lled one-hour Music & Movement sessions across the region for children (from birth to seven years). Your offspring learn actions, rhythm, colours, animals through both modern and traditional songs, using percussion instruments such as monkey drums & xylophones together with fabulous fi nger & hand puppets. It’s a great way to help your child develop. Autumn Term runs from September 21st until 4th December and costs £55. Call 01892 864592 to book.

Make the most of the summer and go for a picnic in TW’s Dunorlan Park. Recently named in the Top Ten picnic hot spots by the Heart of Kent group, Dunorlan is the perfect place for a family day out. After lunch in the picturesque meadows, hire a boat for a trip on the lake and children can feed the ducks. Open all year 7:30am – dusk. Entry is free. Visit www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk for more info.

Enjoy...

16 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

Shoot...

Picnic...Picnic...Make the most of the summer and go for a picnic in TW’s Dunorlan Park. Recently named in the Top Ten picnic hot spots by the Heart of Kent group, Dunorlan is the perfect place for a family day out. After lunch in the picturesque meadows, hire a boat for a trip on the lake and children can feed the ducks. Open all year 7:30am – dusk. Entry is free. Visit www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk for more info.

Enrol...Enrol...

Treat yourself to a Sunday afternoon of good food, fi ne wine and funky jazz at Thackeray’s Restaurant. On the last Sunday of every month, the restaurant becomes a sophisticated jazz venue, with a trio of musicians playing sets throughout the day. Start with a ‘Garden of England’ cocktail, then enjoy a delicious lunch, rich in local produce. Three course lunch is £28.50. Call 01892 511921 to book.

Enjoy...

In 1959, Olympus released the now legendary Pen series of 35mm fi lm cameras. Forty years later they’ve applied the same

innovative thinking

to digital photography with the launch of the E-P1 Pen. The new Olympus is both utterly stylish with its retro design and a technological breakthrough. Using digital fi lters the 12.3 mega-pixel E-P1 takes pictures of D-SLR quality but with the depth and character often only achievable with 35mm fi lm. This camera ultimately takes the best bits from the fi lm and digi world and combines them, creating a

modern classic. This will be in demand this summer so grab one fast. Prices start at £699 from The Pantiles Camera Centre: 01892 527082.

www.lincolnfurniture.co.uk

Now open at the end of The Pantiles

Showroom Styling Warehouse pricing

O A K • A S H • P I N E • S H E E S H A M • O A K • A S H • P I N E • S H E E S H A M

Oak table and six chairs £953

Sir, I’ve just moved to the area in the last few weeks and saw your billboard style poster inthe Royal Victoria Place shopping mall. That picture of Jack Nicholson and the other cover celebrities looks great, really caught my eye. Well done on gaining at least one more new reader.

Jane HendersonLangton Green

Ed: Another quality TW newcomer with excellent taste.

We accept Letters to the Editor by e-mail ([email protected]) or post (SoTW 3 Cumberland Walk, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1UJ). Letters must carry full names and contact details. Letters may be edited for publication.

L E T T E R S SO

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 19

SO tell us...YOUR LETTERS PAGE

If your letter is chosen by the Editor as the Letter of the Month, you’ll win £25 of M&S vouchers.

Sir, Tell me Jack Nicholson (July cover) didn’t actually come to TW. If he did, I’m not sure how I would have reacted seeing him walking down the High Street – I think I would have tried to play it cool, but then snapped and shouted one of the hundreds of Nicholson quotes I know in his face, excitedly.

Angela ‘Jack Fan’ Harris (Via email)

Ed: Hands up. Jack Nicholson did not come to TW. He was in Southborough…

Sir, Parking. Is that really the extent to which Tunbridge Wellians (July letters) get involved in local politics? Surely there are a few rather more pressing matters at hand? Or perhaps Tunbridge Wells really is as idyllic as the rumours suggest?

Peter ThomasBrighton

Ed: No… maybe... yes... are the answers. Brighton, of course, doesn’t have parking problems (much).

SOTW WINNING LETTER OF THE MONTH:

Sir, What a difference the sun makes. I was sitting at an outside table in The Pantiles enjoying a cappuccino and watching life go by and was reminded of just why I love Tunbridge Wells. The Pantiles looked wonderful, it was hotter than in the Bahamas, two young girls were playing a violin and a flute and people were obviously having a good

time. You can keep the Med, I’m staying here.

James ThwaiteTunbridge Wells

Ed: You’re preaching to the choir on this one. Put a towel on that seat and pass the sun block.

01732 455880www.rawstonevehiclehire.co.uk

We won’t be beaten on price!

Prestige Vehicle Hire Available

Ranstone Car Hire | 50 London Road | Riverhead | Sevenoaks | Kent | TN13 2DE

RAWSTONE HIRE

Mercedes-Benz C Class\Sport AMG

Bentley Flying Spur

Bentley GT

Jaguar Sport

Mercedes-Benz SLK

Rolls Royce Silver Spirit

1 Day

£90

£450

£410

£95

£90

£350

1 Week

£450

£1,300 (3 day weekend)

£1,100 (3 day weekend)

£375

£450

£700 (3 day weekend)

Gatwick or Heathrow£100 (Single) £150 (Return)

Weddings£100 (Registry Offi ce)

£250 (Church)

Anniversaries and Birthdaysfrom £80

T U N B R I D G E W E L L S SO

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 21

BOLLYWOOD An increasing demand for white-skinned performers has opened the door for Tunbridge Wells actress Hazel. The 24-year-old is now in Mumbai working on the local fi lm circuit where she is known simply by her fi rst name and where British actresses can earn £1,000 a day.

“While I was backpacking in Thailand after leaving school I took a role as an extra in a Bollywood fi lm shooting there and that’s how it all started,” she explains.

Traditionally, roles for women in Bollywood movies were for exotic backing dancers. Today more actresses are moving to Mumbai in search of serious fi lm careers.

bad News For:

A&E The spell of hot weather has brought an increase in outdoor injuries. The A&E department at the Kent and Sussex Hospital says it’s seen a rise in the number of minor injuries from people enjoying themselves outdoors, including children being hurt on trampolines and others injured playing football.

Over one recent weekend period the South East Coast Ambulance Service received 400 more emergency calls than a normal weekend. Many were for heat stroke and dehydration.

RESIDENTS County Councillors are facing criticism after awarding themselves an infl ation busting rise of eight percent in the allowances (pay) they receive. The 84 members (all but ten are Conservatives) will now be entitled to a basic £13,000 a year in allowances which is up £1,000. County Council Leader Paul Carter sees

his allowance increase more than £3,000 to £44,300 a year.

Members of the Opposition Labour Group describe the move as “outrageous”. The allowances were recommended by the Independent remuneration panel and have not increased in four years.

MORRIS DANCERS Kent’s Motley “Border” Morris Men are hoping to educate the public about their dancing after being banned from some events because they wear black make up. The tradition originated in the Welsh borders where faces were coloured with burnt corks because, it’s thought, the men danced for money and did not want to be recognised.

“We get to the point where everything is set up and then they (the organisers) suddenly realise we are a black-face Border group”, says the Morris Men’s Squire Pete Hargreaves. “They say people might be offended without investigating why we dance with black faces.”

He says the dancing has been cancelled three times this year including once at a school.

CHRISTIE FANS Figures released for Tunbridge Wells’ library show that the most popular book with local readers is Agatha Christie’s Taken at the Flood. The Poirot mystery has been borrowed on average 23 times a year since 2000.

Next in line is Rosmund Pilcher’s Day of the Storm that’s been taken out on average 13 times a year. Crime writer PD James is in third place.

The fi gures also show that twice as many women as men use the library. Men prefer adventure stories even though they tend not to fi nish them.

And now for

the news…OUR ROUND-UP OF STORIES, BOTH SERIOUS AND LIGHTHEARTED, MAKING THE HEADLINESGood News For:

the news…OUR ROUND-UP OF STORIES, BOTH SERIOUS AND LIGHTHEARTED, MAKING THE HEADLINESGood News For:

LOCAL MP Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clarke is one of the cheapest Members of Parliament. New transparency laws on MPs’ expenses show the Cambridge graduate to be ranked 512th out of 650 when it comes to spending taxpayers money.

He says he only claims for accommodation costs: “No furniture, no food, no bills.”

Greg Clarke has still been criticised by some for claiming the interest on the mortgage of a London fl at and £4,600 for a “training course in Parliamentary speechmaking.”

The MP says: “everyone who works is required to undergo training from time to time to keep improving the skills they need to excel at their job”.

SO t u n b r i d g e w e l l s

22 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

Have a look at our website - then give us a call Present this advert and receive 10% off your green fee (promotional code — swpsom08)

• Picturesquecourse—valleys and natural water

• Veryfriendlyclubhouseandmembership

• Achallengeforalllevels• Fullsocialprogramme• GolfShopandPGAProfessional

Registration essential.Please contact Mrs Kathy Webster, Admissions Officer.

Tel: 01622 845206 Email: [email protected]

Sutton Valence SchoolA member of the United Westminster Schools’ Foundation

Founded in 1576 by William Lambe

Ages 11-18 HMC Day and Boarding

Open MorningSaturday 10th October 2009


24 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

Summer Sale

Spectacular

now on!

LaughterLines


Cocktails and jokes fl owed freely when the hairdressing salon of Toni & Guy was turned into an upmarket wine bar for the night to celebrate the ongoing

success of the Therapy Room Comedy Club. It was back in the autumn when the monthly event kicked off at The Grey Lady in The Pantiles. Since then organisers Hype Entertainment have secured support of the comedy nights from local businesses; Moog Royale known for its graphic tee shirts, the drinks company Thunder Toffee Vodka and Toni & Guy. Hype Co-founder Stefan Fuller says: ”The comedy club has been well received which prompted us to approach a handful of local businesses for sponsorship and we’ve been fortunate to get three of the best.” SO

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 25

Ph

oto

gra

ph

y: P

eter

Ju

lian

Sh

epp

ard


a U G U S T 2 0 0 9 27


28 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

UnUsUal frUits and crops with minimal airmiles

we specialise in soft and top fruits, aiming to provide our customers with tasty produce that cannot be found in a supermarket. our fruits are picked ready

to eat and don’t sit in depots for days.

taywell farm shopcranbrook road, Goudhurst, Kent tn17 1dy

tel: 01580 211881 web: www.taywell.co.uk

A beautiful, quintessentially English, 16th Century country Inn selling real ales and f ine wines set on the green in the centre of Horsmonden.Sit in a fabulous oak-beamed dining room and watch a joint of beef, pork, ham or venison cook on one of the few remaining Inglenook Spit-roasts in the country.

There is also a wonderful range of freshly prepared, locally sourced food available, suitable for all the family and it’s all accompanied by a wide range of often locally brewed beers.

The Gun & SpiTroaST

The Heath | Horsmonden | Kent TN12 8HTTel: 01892 722 925

[email protected]

Lunch & Evening menu offers from £9.99 for a 3 course meal

fantastic family days out atCHIDDINGSTONE

CASTLE Discover Egyptian, Japanese and Buddhist artefactsStunning grounds with waterfall and lake11- 5pm Sun-Wed £6 adults, child 5-13 £4, Family £18 Thurs 23 Jul Crafty Stories: Under the sea Sun 2 Aug Japanese Day: Samurai, Drums and Mask Making Tue 11 Aug Egyptian Activity day including face painting Tue 18 Aug Crafty Stories: Spectacular Space Sun 23 Aug Walk on the wild side including face painting Mon 31 Aug Creepy Crawlies at the Castle Come and see the owls

see website for event times www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

or call 01892 870347Chiddingstone Castle, Chiddingstone Village, Kent, TN8 7AD

THIS MONTH WE PUBLISH, FOR THE FIRST TIME, OUR EXCLUSIVE LIST OF THE TOP 20 RICHEST VILLAGES SURROUNDING TUNBRIDGE WELLS. THERE ARE A FAIR FEW SURPRISES, GUARANTEED TO GET PEOPLE TALKING… JUST AS THEY DID WHEN OUR RICHEST ROADS WERE UNVEILED.

P icturesque villages steeped in history, fi ne houses and a great deal of personal wealth are dotted around our countryside. But which village stands out above the rest? Which one has the most expensive

homes? With property prices being a real indication of how desirable a location is, we decide to fi nd out.

Firstly we need to defi ne what we mean by ‘village’. In our eyes a village community must be bigger than a hamlet and yet smaller than a town. Here, we’re talking largely rural settlements despite the emergence of ‘urban villages’.

To qualify for consideration by SoTW, the village should be less than 10 miles from the TN1 post codes of Tunbridge Wells and ideally have at least one pub, a shop/Post Offi ce and a church. If it has a green, then all the better.

Now, obviously the more desirable the address (be it a road or community), the more interest it attracts from people wanting to live there. This, in turn, makes properties more expensive.

Therefore, a good yardstick for identifying the overall wealth of a village is the average price of properties in the area. That’s why we have trawled the records of property sales over the past fi ve years to come up with the average cost of a home in each village we’ve targeted.

With over half a million pounds difference between our top spot and number ten, there’s a huge spread of properties surrounding TW. It’s not surprising really that Chiddingstone and Penshurst top our list; both are utterly picturesque and have sites of signifi cant historic importance.

Bidborough, at number three, is a bit more of a surprise but with its stunning views and close-knit community it fi ts right in. Left fi eld results include Langton Green, which only just manages a position within the top ten, and Groombridge, which interestingly failed to crack the top half of the table.

For the full results and revelations, read on as we discover the region’s Richest Villages. ➢

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 29


Villages WORDSDAN SMITH

RICHEST VILLAGES SURROUNDING TUNBRIDGE WELLS. THERE ARE A FAIR FEW SURPRISES, GUARANTEED TO GET PEOPLE TALKING… JUST AS THEY DID WHEN OUR RICHEST ROADS WERE UNVEILED.

around our countryside. But which village stands out

Firstly we need to defi ne what we mean by ‘village’. In our eyes a village community must be bigger than a hamlet and yet smaller than a town. Here, we’re talking largely rural settlements despite the emergence of ‘urban villages’.

To qualify for consideration by SoTW, the village should be less than 10 miles from the TN1 post codes of Tunbridge Wells and ideally have at least one pub, a shop/Post Offi ce and a church. If it has a green, then all the better.

Now, obviously the more desirable the address (be it a road or community), the more interest it attracts from people wanting to live there. This, in turn, makes properties more expensive.

Therefore, a good yardstick for identifying the overall wealth of a village is the average price of properties in the area. That’s why we have trawled the records of property sales over the past fi ve years to come up with the average cost of a home in each village we’ve targeted.

With over half a million pounds difference between


THIS MONTH WE PUBLISH, FOR THE FIRST TIME, OUR EXCLUSIVE LIST OF THE TOP 20 RICHEST VILLAGES

P icturesque villages steeped in history, fi ne houses and a great deal of personal wealth are dotted around our countryside. But which village stands out above the rest? Which one has the most expensive

homes? With property prices being a real indication of how desirable a location is, we decide to fi nd out.

Firstly we need to defi ne what we mean by ‘village’. In

Villages THIS MONTH WE

Villages THIS MONTH WE

Villages P

Villages P icturesque villages steeped in history, fi ne houses

Villages icturesque villages steeped in history, fi ne houses

WORDSDAN SMITH

Richest

01 House Price: £700,350Based on: 14 salesFrom TW: 9.8 miles

Chiddingstone

T he stunningly picturesque Chiddingstone is the Richest Village in the area and the epitome of rural Kent. With a population of around 1,000 people, Chiddingstone has everything the

traditional country village needs to fi t our specifi cations and does so in unrivalled style, reminiscent of days passed.

With just 14 sales in the past fi ve years, this is clearly a prime piece of venerated real estate.

The reason Chiddingstone is so prized, and in turn valuable, is partially down to how the centre of the village has been preserved by the National Trust as a model of the Kentish tudor village. The Trust actually “bought” a portion of the settlement with a gift of funds in 1939 and now works to maintain the unspoilt character of the village, comprised mostly of 16th and 17th Century buildings.

The Trust oversees the upkeep and conservation of the largely timber-framed properties it owns, including six cottages, village hall, the Castle Inn and the Post

Offi ce stores, which are all leased out. Gary Churchill of the National Trust tells us:

“The aim is to work with the community to maintain the village as a place to live as well as a popular stop for visitors to the Weald.

“The attractive church and thriving primary school located in such an unspoilt setting and within easy reach of London means that this is one of the villages which makes the area a particularly desirable place to live.”

The village’s name actually comes from the large carved sandstone which sits towards the edge of the settlement. According to local folklore, it was traditionally used as a place to berate local wrongdoers (usually wives). The “Chiding Stone” probably took its name from the Chidda Saxon tribe who most likely used it a boundary marker.

Generally the buildings date back at least 300 years, but the Post Offi ce is known to be over 500 years old and the local pub, The Castle, is even older – its fi rst mention in the history books is 1420.

The current St. Mary’s Church has proudly stood in the village since it was rebuilt following a fi re in 1624, yet there is evidence of similar structures on the site as early as the 13th Century.

Chiddingstone Castle, which is open to the public and well worth a visit, lies on the perimeter of the village and is an

impressive addition to the community. The converted manor house was initially timber-framed, much like

the majority of surrounding buildings, but was rebuilt as a medieval castle in the 1800s. It’s

been the home of the Astors, a base for military in WW2 and is today a museum

of artifacts from the collections of former owner, Denys Bower.

Described as, “the most perfect surviving example of a Tudor

village in the county”, this archetypal country idyll quite

rightly tops our list.


30 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

02 House Price: £626,760 Based on: 64 salesFrom TW: 6.9 miles

Penshurst

S itting in rural Kent between the rivers Medway and Eden, and in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is the village of Penshurst which takes second place.

It’s just a short drive from our number one spot with house prices on average £75,000 less than Chiddingstone.

Penshurst ticks the all-important boxes, having both a pub and a church at its centre. In fact there are three pubs; The Leceister Arms Pub & Hotel plus The Spotted Dog and The Bottle House Inn, all of which fi t the traditional watering hole bill.

The church is culturally at the heart of the village, creating both a focal point for the community and a beautiful landmark. This has been the case for over a thousand years as artefacts show that St John the Baptist Parish Church was a place of worship as far back as 860AD.

Of course, the village itself grew up around its most famous attraction, Penshurst Place, built in 1341. For the last 450 years the Place has been the aristocratic family home of the Sidneys (see Good Lord, SoTW 16) and is now open to the public throughout the summer months.

The grounds are so picturesque that they appear on fi lm regularly, most recently in the Hollywood movie, The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

The Tudor and Victorian buildings of Penshurst all add to the quintessentially English country theme of the village, a feel which is boosted further by the fact that cricket is still played regularly here on one of the oldest pitches in Kent.

On the way out of the village towards Fordcombe is Penshurst CE Primary School, ensuring that around 100 local children get a peaceful education without the hassle and worries of big town life.

There’s a strong community feel in Penshurst and plenty of local clubs and groups to unite the small 1,500 population, a number which has remained relatively constant for the past few hundered years.

Manager of The Bottle House Inn, Paul Hammond says: “People are happy here and stay here for a long time. There is a real sense of community spirit within Penshurst.” ➢

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 31


03 House Price: £577,870Based on: 72 sales From TW: 3.8 miles

Bidborough

04 House Price: £545,200Based on: 46From TW: 7.5 miles

Hever

W ith house prices well over half a million pounds and with a population of just under 1,000, Bidborough is about as exclusive as a village can get. This small village just four miles north

of TW enjoys many of the features also present at the number one and two villages, but at less of a premium.

The Hare and Hounds provides a traditional backdrop in which to sample a few cask ales, while Bidborough Ridge offers stunning views over the Medway Valley. The village is also a haven for the traditional sports fanatic as there’s a tennis court, a bowls green and both cricket and fi ve-a-side football are played regularly.

Roger Poulson, Landlord of the Hare and Hounds tells us there’s a real community spirit in the area:

“The best thing about Bidborough is the support from the locals. There’s a certain sense of community in the village and the people put in a great deal and invest a lot of time to maintain its character.”

Bidborough CE Primary School educates young minds and the village hall provides a meeting point for both serious village matters and of course the occasional party. Though Bidborough has the all-important pub, church and shop combination, sadly the Post Offi ce was forced to close in 2008.

A church has been on the site of the St Lawrence Parish Church since the 10th Century and it’s still a hub of activity for the village, from the wittily titled C.A.M.E.O (Come And Meet Each Other) coffee mornings to the traditional weddings and baptisms.

Amongst the Grade II listed buildings in the village is the Bidborough Windmill which was originally built as a fl our mill to aid in feeding the parish’s poor. It’s now been converted into a quirky house.

Many of the local families have lived here for generations which ensures a relatively stable, high-priced housing market. With excellent views of the Kentish countryside and an active local community, it’s no wonder Bidborough is in our top three.

J ust outside of the top three is the little village of Hever. Though it’s out towards Sevenoaks, the idyllic settlement is situated on the banks of the River Eden and is still well within our catchment

area. Famously it houses Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, who of course went on to marry Henry VIII.

Also situated in the parish is the King Henry VIII Inn and the rolling fairways of Hever Castle Golf Club, which straddles the borders of the three local counties; Kent, Sussex and Surrey. ➢

32 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9



34 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

ReadeR OffeR

TU

NB

RID

GE

W

EL

LSsoE

Take The Hever Castle GC discovery Round 18 Holes on the Championship Course ONLY £20 Weekday or £30 Weekend

OR

9 Holes on the Princes Course ONLY £8.50 Weekday or £13.50 Weekend

Offer includes optional 25% off breakfast or lunch at the Club Bar*

aNd

2-for-1 Voucher to visit Hever Castle & Gardens

Pre-booking is required with our club office and tee times are restricted.

Please call Peter Holder on 01732 701004 to reserve your tee time.

* Terms & conditions apply, please enquire on booking.

www.hever.co.uk


Frant


Speldhurst


Hartfield


Cowden

T he picturesque village of Frant resides in East Sussex, just on the other side of the Kent border. With The George Inn on the High Street next to the quaint St Alban’s church it is claimed

that there was a settlement on the site as early as 100BC, around 1,700 years before TW was founded!

The name ‘Frant’ itself comes from the Saxon for “place of fern”, a fact that still remains in this, the fi fth richest village in our list.

F amous around the world for its sausages, Speldhurst comes in at number six. It was a favourite with Rev. Baden Powell, founder of the Scout movement and holds an eccentric

Pram Race every year. Contestants must race twice round the village pushing a pram and ‘baby’, stopping for half a pint of beer every time they pass the local pubs, The George and Dragon and the Northfi elds.

Speldhurst is truly an olde worlde village with its tiny winding lanes and a population just short of 1,500. The beautiful St Mary’s and the recently refurbished village hall keep the locals in touch and as a community.

O ut in East Sussex, on the northern ridge of the Ashdown Forest, lies Hartfi eld taking our number seven spot. Cotchford Farm in the village has a rich history of notable dwellers,

from A.A Milne, the creator of Winnie the Pooh, to Brian Jones, founder of The Rolling Stones (sadly found dead in the swimming pool in 1969).

Locals are spoilt for choice with three pubs in the vicinity, The Anchor, The Haywagon and the Gallipot Inn.

O ur eighth richest village, Cowden, is situated on the northern slopes of the Weald, near Sevenoaks. With a High Street literally crammed with Grade II Victorian and Tudor buildings it

certainly looks the part.The St Mary Magdalene Church is famous locally for it is not-

quite-perpendicular spire, prompting the spiteful old rhyme:Cowden Church, crooked steeple,Lying priest, deceitful people.

That can’t be right, surely! ➢


A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 35


1211

1314151617181920

House Price: £432,520Based on: 114 salesFrom TW: 4.6 miles

Groombridge


Fordcombe


Tudeley


Matfield


Leigh


Mayfield


Withyham

House price: £364,550Based on: 194 salesFrom TW: 8.3 miles

Horsmonden


Rotherfield


Lamberhurst


Langton Green

A lthough strictly within the parish of Speldhurst, Langton Green is more often linked with TW, due to its close proximity. In at number ten it comes complete with a lovely

green, church and the famous pub, The Hare, which dominates the landscape.

Langton Green is also home to the prestigious independent school Holmewood House and former Met Police Commissioner Lord Condon. Other claims to fame include the fact that Subbuteo was invented there before moving to the factory that is now The Brew

House in TW. SOTh

e N

ext 1

0

36 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

09 House Price: £441,370Based on: 151 sales From TW: 10.0 miles

Goudhurst

R ight on the edge of our village catchment area is Goudhurst. It’s a beautiful little village that gains extra ‘quaint points’ for having a village pond complete with a family of ducks.

On the crossroads you’ll fi nd The Vine Inn & Hotel plus Goudhurst Stores with its adjoining Post Offi ce (see Secrets, SoTW 08).

Just up the road is the stumped church which hasn’t had a spire since 1637 when it was destroyed by lightning. Further out, past delightful terraced cottages, lies a good old-fashioned local garage and The Chequers, serving excellent food.

VILLAGE PUBS DURING RESEARCH FOR OUR

RICHEST VILLAGE SPECIAL FEATURE ONE THING BECAME CLEAR; AT THE HEART OF EVERY THRIVING COMMUNITY IS… THE VILLAGE PUB. PART OF OUR HERITAGE AND CULTURE, IT ACTS AS A FOCAL POINT, OFFERING GOOD FOOD, ALES AND WINE PLUS GOOD COMPANY. HERE WE HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE BEST.

Best of the

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 37

P U B G U I D E SO

The Blackboys Inn, BlackboysA delicious choice of food for every palate from £8.50-£13.50. Their Whole Seabream with chorizo and red peppers is a brilliant twist on a scrumptious classic.01825 890283 www.theblackboysinn.co.uk

The Brewers Arms, Vines Cross, Heathfi eldThis charming, ivy-covered pub serves a range of hearty meals - their speciality of Baked Queen Scallops with a basil and tomato crust will go down a treat. Prices: £6 to £17.01435 812288 www.brewersarmspub.co.uk

The Carpenter’s Arms, Mayfi eldUsing only locally sourced food, The Carpenter’s Arms offer a tempting variety of meals from £8.45 to £12.95 and their Hearty Fish Pie with smoked and unsmoked fi sh and prawns is a sure-fi re winner.01435 873294www.thecarpentersarmsmayfi eld.co.uk

The Bottle House Inn, PenshurstThis 517 year old public house serves some seriously good food. The Rack of Kentish Lamb with a herb and garlic crust, Dauphinoise potatoes with port and redcurrant sauce is not to be missed. Other mains are priced at £7.95 to £19.95.01892 870306 www.thebottlehouseinnpenshurst.co.uk


The Chequers Inn, LaddingfordEvery Thursday at this charming 15th Century family pub is ‘Sausage Thursday’. Choose from six different varieties and

enjoy your sausages with mash and gravy or in a baguette. Meals: £7.95 to £16.95. 01622 871266 www.chequersladdingford.co.uk

The Cock Inn, RingmerBuilt in the 16th century and fi lled with old-fashioned charm, they offer dishes from £6.95-£11.95. Their specials menu includes a Venison Burger with chilli relish, chips and salad. Phone 01273 812040 or visit www.cockpub.co.uk

The Dorset Arms, WithyhamWarm welcomes are guaranteed at this cosy tavern, which offers a good range of tasty meals (£7.95 to £17.50). Their speciality is

a tender Prime Fillet Steak wrapped in bacon and served with a Port and redcurrant sauce.01892 770278 www.dorset-arms.co.uk

The Duke Of Wellington, RyarshA cosy, classic village pub, you can enjoy a homemade main here from £8.95-£15.95. Their popular dish, Lamb Tagine served with spinach and chickpeas, will go down a treat. 01732 842318 www.dukeofwellingtonryarsh.com

The Kings Arms, Rotherfi eldEnjoy the beautiful scenery around this pub while you tuck into your dinner (£9.95-£22.50). For something extra special, order their locally landed lobster, grilled with garlic butter and Jersey royal potatoes.01892 853441www.thekingsarmsrotherfi eld.co.uk

The Huntsman, Eridge GreenA hop, skip and a jump from Tunbridge Wells, this delightful local provides mains from £9.75 - £16.95. The Venison Fillet with root vegetable gratin and wild mushrooms is recommended.01892 864258

The George Inn, FrantBuilt around 1750, this wonderful local has kept the best bits of tradition. With meals from £6.95-£13.95 and a special of Calves Liver on mashed potato with a red wine gravy and crispy bacon, you can’t go wrong.01892 750350 www.thegeorgefrant.co.uk

The Junction Inn, GroombridgeLocated in the heart of Groombridge, this friendly village pub offers a delicious dining experience, with main courses priced £7.95 to £15.50. We love the Aged Rump Steak, served with hand cut chips, grilled

tomato and mushroom.01892 864275 www.thejunctiongroombridge.co.uk

38 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

P U B G U I D E SOP U B G U I D E

The Poacher, TudeleyOffering mains from £9.50 to £14.00, this charming pub has a traditional look with a contemporary atmosphere. If you fancy a treat, try the Marinated Wild Boar in poacher’s sauce.01732 358934www.thepoachertudeley.co.uk

The Red Lion, WadhurstFun, friendly and can’t be beaten for value, The Red Lion’s mains cost from £5.50 to £8.50. Enjoy their ultimate comfort food speciality; homemade steak and kidney pudding.01892 782628

The Stanhope Arms, BrastedSteeped in history and set in idyllic countryside, the Stanhope offers a tasty menu, with their mains costing from £7.50 to £15.95. Made using fresh local produce, their Seafood Paella is simply delicious.01959 564913www.stanhopearms.com

Three Cups Inn, Heathfi eldA picture book Sussex pub, you can enjoy a lovely meal at Three Cups that will only set you back £9.50-£12.95. For something special, try the exquisite pan-fried fi llet of Sea Bass served on a crayfi sh risotto with rocket.01435 830252

The Red Lion, WadhurstThe Red Lion, WadhurstThe Red Lion,

Fun, friendly and can’t be beaten for value, The Red Lion’s mains cost from £5.50 to £8.50. Enjoy their ultimate comfort food speciality; homemade steak and kidney pudding.01892 782628

The Lamb Inn, LewesSpecialising in fi sh dishes, The Lamb Inn’s Chargrilled Fresh Tuna Steak served with avocado and chilli jam and new potatoes will defi nitely tickle

your taste buds. Dishes priced £7.50 to £15.01323 811810 www.thelambinnripe.com

The Man of Kent, East PeckhamServing up history as well as food, this Grade II listed inn provides meals from £8.75-£14.00, including their delicious Breast of Duck with ginger and honey.01622 871345www.themanofkentpub.com

The Laughing Fish, Isfi eldA delightful pub that only offers homemade food. Enjoy a main meal from £6.95-£14.95 or their delicious Pie of the Day - steak, chicken or lamb enveloped in buttery short crust pastry.01825 750349 www.laughingfi shonline.co.uk

The Papermakers Arms, PlaxtolA lovely pub set in a leafy backdrop, you’ll be delighted with their mains on offer from £5-£9 and their speciality, Fresh Fish in beer batter with chips and peas.01732 810407

The Man of Kent, East PeckhamThe Man of Kent, East PeckhamThe Man of Kent,

Serving up history as well as food, this Grade II listed inn provides meals from £8.75-£14.00, including their delicious Breast of Duck with ginger and honey.01622 871345www.themanofkentpub.com

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 39


BurntSienna sienna Miller regularly hits the headlines – often as a result of her latest relationship. when she’s not courting controversy, her iMage adorns the fashion pages and she is lauded as a style icon. reviled and revered in equal Measure, is there More to the boheMian beauty than Media coverage would lead you to believe?

D ig a little deeper and you’ll find that this starlet has received her share of plaudits for knockout performances on both stage and screen and runs the successful fashion line

twenty8twelve with her sister savannah. yet she seems to be judged, quite harshly, on her messy love life. so why does she come in for so much criticism?

twenty-seven year old sienna was always destined to be creative, growing up with strong artistic influences. her mother Jo worked as pa to david bowie and ran the lee strasberg drama school in london, sister savannah is a successful fashion designer and former stepmother Kelly hoppen is the doyenne of british interior design.

despite her family background and impressive drama training, one of the new york born star’s first forays into the public eye was modelling topless for a pirelli calendar (2003). she had reasonable modelling credentials considering her diminutive size (5’5”), having appeared in italian vogue, and with hindsight, the move was at odds with her ambition to be a credible actress.

did this glamour shoot shape the way she is perceived today? well, that genre of modelling certainly provokes strong opinions and it probably has made the task of being taken seriously as an actress that bit harder. however, it was her high profile relationship with Jude law that catapulted her onto the gossip pages. they met on the set of alfie, the 2004 remake of the Michael cain movie, but her breakthrough role as wild child nikki was overshadowed by the media interest in her relationship.

sienna laments: “a certain part of me wishes that i maybe had a film out before that attention started because it has been a constant battle since.”

despite having studied drama at the prestigious lee strasberg institute in new york, it’s clear that she worries about the impact her relationship with law had on her career.

“it was a big achievement to get that role [nikki]. i’d done theatre and been to drama school and suddenly it was just about what i wore and who i was with.”

the couple got engaged on christmas day the same year and all appeared to be going well when press reports surfaced that law had cheated on sienna with his children’s nanny. a very public break-up followed and being in the media spotlight put huge strain on the young star.

“it’s a private moment when you get your heart broken for the first time, and that was the absolute antithesis of private.”

the couple attempted to reunite following a public apology by law, but eventually split for good in november 2006.

sienna was just 23 years old and frankly, dealt with the unprecedented media scrutiny with a great deal of composure. despite the scandal, her roles in layer cake (2004) and alfie weren’t entirely eclipsed; she was nominated for best newcomer at the empire awards and she won the role of francesca in casanova.

preparing for the part of independent and free spirited love interest of the eponymous heath ledger was cathartic for the heartbroken star.

“i read a lot about emily pankhurst and the suffragists. i looked at societies where women feel very repressed, just tried to feel that because i don’t feel too [repressed]. i watched Judi dench in ‘Mrs. brown’ a lot, just women who are strong.”

sienna’s mother, Jo, is one such strong woman. she has leapt to her daughter’s defense on several occasions, usually when the media has been particularly brutal. at the time of ‘nannygate’, she publicly described law as “a bloody idiot”.

words Melissa woodland

40 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

➢

T u n b r i d g e w e l l s SO

A u g u s T 2 0 0 9 41

Burnt

➢


Travel agenT of The Year for london and The SouTh eaST 2009 european & WorldWide deSTinaTionS

SPECIALISTS IN TAILORMADE HOLIDAYS www.baldwinstravel.co.uk / www.sevenoakstravel.co.uk / www.kspcruisesociety.co.uk

flights / Cruises / far away holidays / package holidays / Short Breaks / City Breaks / Skiing / late Bookings / Travel insurance / Car ferries / Car hire / eurostar /

eurotunnel / Tailor Made itineraries / foreign exchange

ALSO SPECIALISTS IN BUSINESS TRAVEL 01892 515900 www.baldwinsbusinesstravel.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells Tonbridge Maidstone Sevenoaks Travel 01892 511999 01732 351223 01622 762141 01732 458255 25 Grosvenor Rd 157 High Street 9 Mill Street 4 Dorset Street Tunbridge Wells Tonbridge Maidstone Sevenoaks TN1 2AJ TN9 1BP ME15 6XP TN13 1LN [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]


A u g u s T 2 0 0 9 43

“Her porTrAyAl of edie sedgwick in fAcTory girl wAs THe firsT role To reAlly sTreTcH Her AcTing AbiliTy”

newly single, sienna turned her focus to fashion. Already a style icon in her own right, regularly appearing second only to kate Moss ‘most stylish’ polls (resulting in serious animosity from Moss who didn’t welcome competition), she was invited to design a capsule collection for pepe Jeans. despite previously describing celebrity endorsed clothes being tacky, sienna was signed up to model the brand for two years.

This move was seen as an about turn by the fashionista who had said she “would hate the fact that people are wearing clothes with my name on. After all, i’m an actress.” she went on to model for Tod’s and recently even collaborated with Hugo boss to launch her signature perfume boss orange. guess it’s not so tacky after all!

for a while, tabloid reports of her love life subsided and she was able to focus on serious acting roles. it looked like she was back on track.

Her portrayal of 1960s socialite and muse of Andy warhol edie sedgwick in factory girl (2006) was the first role to really stretch her acting ability and she was described as “wincingly good” as she captured the vulnerability and hopelessness of the troubled star.

on the role of edie, sienna says: “playing somebody who really existed is challenging.

“Accent, her voice, vocal physicalities, the way she smoked, the way she talked. being able to be destructive but also have an audience sympathise with you. not being seen as some drug addict, but actually to make people feel that she’s a drug addict as a result of a very tortured life.”

sienna became totally immersed in the role and struggled to go back to being herself when filming finished – an after effect of using strasberg’s respected Method technique of acting.

“i took off to Mexico on my own for a week and just chilled out, but it was several more weeks before edie escaped my system. i think there’s still a bit of her in me.”

but the serious actress version of sienna was soon once more eclipsed by her personal life. before long, she was back in the media as part of the so-called ‘primrose Hill set’, which included kate Moss and actor rhys ifans. An unlikely romance between the latter and sienna followed, with ifans a complete opposite to the suave and sophisticated law. Though the pair made few public appearances, the paparazzi seemed to step their pursuit of sienna up a gear, and prolific images of her leaving parties in the small hours did little to endear her to the general public.

After three proposals, on her birthday in 2007, sienna agreed to marry ifans and a wedding was planned for the following summer. but once again, her happiness was short lived and the relationship floundered in June 2008, when ifan’s jealousy over one of her co-stars in The edge of love (2008) reared its head. The couple split and sienna was labelled a heart breaker, receiving public threats from the rest of the ‘set’, particularly, if reports are to be believed, Moss, who was perhaps taking the opportunity to get back at the girl who was a threat to her style queen crown.

sienna was back on the career/romance rollercoaster. At the same time as being criticised by the media about another failed relationship, she was receiving glowing reviews for her portrayal of dylan Thomas’s troubled wife caitlin in The edge of love. The part had a profound effect on her: “it comes home with you if you’re being someone for twelve to fourteen hours a day. whether you like it or not... you’re affected by the spirit of the person you’re playing, whether it’s invented or they existed.”

offers of parts in other independent movies followed and sienna was in demand for her talent rather than her personal life. A breakthrough at last!

unfortunately, the most significant damage to her reputation was yet to come. Just a few weeks after the

A u g u s T 2 0 0 9 43


➢

44 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

Ifans split, rumours began to surface that sienna was dating married american actor Balthazar getty. the father of four denied a relationship, but his wife Rosetta soon sought counsel from divorce lawyers.

sienna and getty were photographed on board a yacht off the amalfi coast and the topless pictures of sienna appeared in tabloids in the uK. the actress immediately initiated legal proceedings against the sun and News of the World. she had successfully sued the same publications for printing nude photos of her on a film set the previous year. she accepted a further £35,000 from News group Newspapers in an out of court settlement.

getty returned to his wife after just a few months but later expressed regret over the way sienna was vilified by the media. “they (photographers and reporters) yelled the most awful, disturbing things at her. sometimes I wish I’d just stepped forward and said, ‘Enough!’”

sienna was once again single and labelled a home wrecker. under significant pressure from paparazzi camped outside her home and almost daily criticism in the gossip pages, she started proceedings against photographic agency Big Pictures uK. In a historic judgement, she won £53,000 in damages and costs following an “intolerable” campaign by photographers. taking on the paparazzi was a brave move for the girl who was already so criticised by the press.

she threw herself into the clothing line she had set up with her st. Martin’s graduate sister savannah. twenty8twelve by s. Miller (after sienna’s birthday and the sister’s names) was growing in popularity and attracting praise from industry experts, who described it as “eminently shoppable and unpretentious”.

the sisters took the label to the next level this year, showing their collection on the runway at London Fashion Week and received a warm reception.

this actress/model/fashion designer has had a rough ride on the road to success. still only in her twenties, she has had an unusual level of attention and judgment thrust upon her. It could be argued that sienna’s mixed reputation has been caused in no small part by the relentless pursuit of paparazzi. Had their chase for the story been less insistent, the ‘scandal’ of her private life would have been kept as it should be – private. Instead, the unwise decisions made by someone who’s unlucky in love have been spread across the global media. Having her every move scrutinised laid her decisions open to criticism by anyone who had an opinion.

But is the tide of sienna-bashing on the wane? since the Big Picture judgement, she has attracted fewer column inches and just a few months ago, she was named Icon of the Year at the prestigious Elle awards. the twenty8twelve clothing line is going from strength to strength. sienna’s down to earth personality won her a fair few fans when she appeared in the Mamma Mia Comic Relief sketch – she clearly doesn’t take herself too seriously. Credit for her acting prowess is being expressed more loudly. and she deserves it. anyone who can get through so much criticism and hold their head high has earned a second (or third, or fourth) chance.

this summer she stars in her first blockbuster movie: gI Joe: the Rise of the Cobra and independent film Hippie Hippie shake. Perhaps 2009 will be the year that sienna will be famous for her films not her fellas. Let’s hope so. SO

SO t u N B R I d g E W E L L s

FA S H I O N SO

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 47

Twenty8-Twelve A/W 09

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 47474747

TREND ALERT…

Biker ChicGet your motors running girls – fashion has just got tough as celebs everywhere choose leather as their must-have fabric. If the full-on biker look is a little too OTT for you, ease yourself in with a few accessories such as a zipped bag or studded cuff. And you can’t go wrong with an iconic biker jacket – it looks great with both dresses and jeans.

this month...

THIS MONTH FIONA FRASER CHECKS OUT THE BEST FASHION AND BEAUTY BUYS

Skin Savers If too much sun, excessive fl ip-fl op wearing and lack of water (tut tut) have ravaged your skin this summer never fear – there are plenty of products out there to help repair it. Lips retain less moisture than other parts of the body causing them to dry out and chap easily; a quick exfoliating session should have them smooth in no time. What about those poor feet? Calluses can easily be diminished with a topical treatment containing salicylic acid to break down hard skin… and as for the rest or your body opt for a microdermabrasion re-surfacing stick, a fast way to shed that dead skin and give yourself a healthy glow!

Banish dry summer skin with these handy helpers…

The Bra Strap ManMaking bra straps is an unusual line of business for a male you might think – so how did he this chap get into it? Having taken early retirement in late 2007, a still sprightly Tunbridge Wells resident by the name of John Preston was surfi ng the internet when he stumbled upon a trade exhibition website that inspired him to create a unique line of embellished bra straps. After consulting his wife and daughters, who likewise had never heard of replacement bra straps, he was convinced there was something worth investigating. So, after much research, planning and promotion thebrastrapman.co.uk was born. With a 130

strong collection there is something for everyone – large and small, petite and tall. Check it out at www.thebrastrapman.co.uk or call 01892 862581.

Leather biker (£1,265) by Miu Miu available from www.net-a-porter.com

Dress (£102) from Monsoon at 149-150 Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells: 01892 510775

Microdermabrasion body stick (£39.98) by Blinc from www.blincuk.co.uk, Lip exfoliater (£32) by Ojon from www.ojon.co.uk, Callus remover (£6.85) by Clearzal from www.clearzalcallus.com

NEW LAUNCH…The White Box Company - Samplicious!The White Box Company is a unique business that sells fashion and beauty, mummy and baby plus home and lifestyle sample boxes. The chic white boxes are a great way to sample up-and-coming companies, as well as some already well-known products. Each month, a new box is offered crammed full with samples, full-sized products, and special deals. Contents change monthly – for instance a beauty box may contain a variety of perfume, makeup, and skincare goodies. The nice thing about these boxes is you try products before you fully commit. We think this is an ingenious idea – hurry before they sell out! For more information log on to www.thewhiteboxcompany.com


48 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

CONTEMPORARY AND CONSERVATIVE ENGLISH TAILORING FOR WORK, WEDDINGS OR

SPECIAL OCCASIONS. MADE TO MEASURE SHIRTS & ACCESSORIES ALSO AVAILABLE.

MADE IN ENGLAND BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

HEAD OffIcE

field 01892 521146 fieldclothing.co.uk [email protected]

sTOckIsT

The Pantiles Groom 64 The Pantiles

Royal Tunbridge Wells, kent TN2 5TN 01892 548511

Field

STATE OF CHANGE

SEE OUT THE LAST DAYS OF

SUMMER WITH THE PERFECT

TRANSITIONAL WARDROBE.

PRINTS, VIBRANT COLOURS AND

SOFT TAILORING COMBINED WITH

LOVE FOREVER CLASSICS MAKE

THE MOVE FROM SUMMER TO

AUTUMN EASY

WORDS

FIONA FRASER

Don’t give into

the dark side

just yet. Inject

colour into the

late summer

months by

pairing vibrant

prints with

light knits for

a comfortable

look.

The nautical

palette is a winning

combination.

Blue and white

striped shirt mixed

with straight

leg trousers and

loafers is a stylish

transitional look.

Wide leg

trousers are

the perfect

respite from

the dominance

of the skinny

on the fashion

scene. Team

a soft jacket

with a chic

neutral tote

and wedges.

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 49

FA S H I O N SO

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9A U G U S T 2 0 0 9A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

left: The nipped in waist of this skirt gives a super fl attering shape. To keep this look fresh and modern choose a cropped sleeve

jacket – go for a pattern or stripe to lift the look. bottom left: For a bohemian look mix, gladiator sandals with loose crotchet knits

and not forgetting the obligatory bangles – this really is a relaxed look to see out the remaining days of sunshine.

All

item

s ar

e fr

om t

he B

ianc

a ra

nge.

Pri

ces

are

avai

labl

e up

on r

eque

st. S

elec

ted

piec

es a

re a

vaila

ble

from

Hoo

pers

, Mou

nt P

leas

ant

Roa

d, T

unbr

idge

Wel

ls: 0

1892

530

222

for

mor

e in

form

atio

n.

Bridge the

gap between

seasons with

a blazer. Wear

with either

denims or

smart whites

for a casual

daytime style.

T H E

G A L L E R YH A I R & B E A U T Y

Indiv id ual Creativ e

Cutting an d Colo uring

Full Range of Beaut y

Tr eatm ents For

Wom en an d M en

01892 514900 / www.thegallery.me

63-67 LONDON ROAD SOUTHBOROUGH ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS KENT

FA S H I O N SO

IT’S THE FINISHING TOUCHES THAT MAKE AN OUTFIT AND THERE’S NO EASIER WAY TO UPDATE YOUR WARDROBE THAN BY ADDING CAREFULLY SELECTED ACCESSORIES. THESE ADD-ONS CAN TAKE AN OUTFIT FROM SO-SO TO SO-NOW

MAKE AN OUTFIT

THAN BY ADDING

OUTFIT FROM SO-

THAN BY ADDING

OUTFIT FROM SO-

The accessory du jour, a printed scarf, is the perfect partner to your blazer or leather biker jacket. For a rock ‘n’ roll take,

go for graphics and animal prints in acid colours.

Printed scarf (£98) by Fendi available at Liberty of London: 0207 7341234

A statement cuff can totally change the look of an ensemble. Wear over a chunky knit or with an oversized blazer for an instant fashion upgrade. Next season will see cuffs constructed of gold entwined with silk ribbon, leather and chain-mail.

Leather and gold cuff (£1,330) by Philip Carangi available from

www.kabiri.co.uk.

Throw on a skinny belt over a slim knit cardigan or panelled blouse for an elegant look with edge. This plaited two-tone belt is very fashion forward.

Belt (£9) from Marks and Spencer, Tunbridge Wells: 01892 511466

FA S H I O N SO

leather biker jacket. For a rock ‘n’ roll take, leather biker jacket. For a rock ‘n’ roll take,

Who wants to be weighed down with a big, clumsy bag when a sleek and slim alternative can be called upon. Keep your evening bag chic and classic for perfect night-time clutch control.

Clutch (£132) by Wilbur and Gussie available from Fenwick, Tunbridge Wells: 01892 516716

A statement cuff can totally change the look of an ensemble. Wear over a chunky knit or with an oversized blazer for an instant fashion upgrade. Next season will see cuffs constructed of gold entwined with silk ribbon, leather and chain-mail.

Leather and gold cuff (£1,330) by Philip Carangi available from

www.kabiri.co.uk.

Make a style statement with a bold detailed belt. Embellished or metal clasped wide belts look uber stylish when worn over a simple shift dress or a cashmere sweater.

Clasp belt (£25) from Accessorize, Tunbridge Wells: 01892 616051

Who wants to be weighed down with a big, clumsy bag when a sleek and slim alternative can be called upon. Keep your evening bag chic and classic for

Who wants to be weighed down with a

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 51

Leopard print was a massive hit on

the Summer catwalks and is set to get

even bigger for the Autumn. This bag is a winner, plenty of pockets, ridiculously roomy and wild in style making it easy to walk on the wild side.

Animal print bag (£165) by Episode, Bluewater shopping centre: 0844 800 3708

Black sunglasses are an absolute wardrobe staple and don’t require belting sunshine to look stylish – not only are they extremely fl attering they are also perfect for hiding un-made up eyes. Glamour made easy!

Sunglasses (£233) by Chanel, Old Bond Street: 0207 4935690

You can’t go wrong with fl ats. Wear with opaques for work, denims for a casual look and an oversized knit for the weekend. These fl ats are a nod to Carla Bruni-esque chic – the embellished square toe is a defi nite for next season.

Flats (£25) Portfolio from Marks and Spencer, Tunbridge

Wells: 01892 511466

Fashion’s love affair with statement necklaces shows no signs of waning; this piece makes for an easy style update and is perfectly partnered with a low-cut cocktail dress.

Necklace (£180) available from www.easternmystic.com

perfect night-time clutch control.

Clutch (£132) by Wilbur and Gussie available from Fenwick, Tunbridge Wells: 01892 516716

Who wants to be weighed down with a big, clumsy bag when a sleek and slim alternative can be called upon. Keep your evening bag chic and classic for

Who wants to be weighed down with a

Fashion’s love affair with statement necklaces shows no signs of waning; this piece makes for an easy style update and is perfectly partnered with a low-cut cocktail dress.

Fashion’s love affair with statement

the art of ACCESSORISING


a U G U S T 2 0 0 9 53

54 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

QUINTESSENTIAL ITALIAN STYLEThe Italian tailoring brand Brioni, stands for the ultimate

in perfection, quality and faultless tailoring. Choose from

over 5,000 different fabrics and get your very own

made-to-measure suit; you’ll be part of the

elite 25,000 customers worldwide.

Brioni suits are the benchmark of Italian

tailoring and they are certainly not for the faint

hearted – they’re wide in the shoulders, narrow

in the waist and in impeccable in style.

It’s no surprise they’re favoured by Bond,

James Bond. Pierce Brosnan began wearing

the Italian suits in the movie Golden Eye

and Daniel Craig followed suit wearing a

charcoal grey ensemble in Casino Royal.

More recently Tom Hanks can be seen

wearing a custom made Brioni in the fi lm

Angels and Demons.

When the worst fi nancial crisis since

the Great Depression swept the globe

last October, the high-end Italian clothier

introduced its most expensive line of men’s

suits in its history. Made to measure from

rare fi bers such as vicuna and qiviuk, the suits

have price tags as high as £27,000.

“The timing was not fortunate for us,” says

Andrea Perrone, Brioni’s co-chief executive.

But Mr. Perrone decided to go ahead regardless

and Brioni sent a reassuring signal to

customers that it was refusing to compromise

on “high-quality initiatives.”

Brioni, 32 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London. Call 0207 4917700 for more information.

W ith investment banks collapsing faster than a deck of cards,

the ethos of buy, wear once, then dispose has probably had its day. However, sartorially, tailoring is rapidly becoming the most risk-free investment. Admittedly, you won’t fi nd a well-cut suit for a Primark price so raising the bar is the way forward. If you make the investment, a good piece of tailoring will pay style dividends for years. We look at suits, costing up to £70,000, that would stretch your gold card to the limit.

Inside leg

FASHION EDITOR FIONA

FRASER LOOKS AT THE

TOP LUXURY TAILORS

FA S H I O N SO

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 55

THE ULTIMATE BESPOKE EXPERIENCE Leading Savile Row Tailor William

Westmancott has created Ultimate

Bespoke – one of the most

expensive, luxurious and indulgent

tailoring services in the world; and

with a £45,000 price tag, this really

is for the man who has everything

and for whom money is no object.

So, what do you get for £45,000?

First there’s the cloth, designed

and woven exclusively for you, to

make your suit and your suit only.

The unique material will be woven

from the world’s fi nest, hand blended,

luxury fi bres and hand fi nished,

for fl awless excellence, in one of

England’s top rated traditional mills.

Fittings will be carried out at the

client’s convenience anywhere in

the world – Mr Westmancott will fl y

out personally of course.

Even the lining of the suit is a

one-off, specially commissioned

pure high grade silk.

For an individual touch,

personalised prints can be added to

the lining; maybe a favourite photo

or image. If you’re stumped for ideas

let the designers use their creative

licence to produce a unique visual.

Now for the technical bit. As

you would expect, only the most

talented craftsmen will work on

your suit, putting in hundreds of

man hours. Speaking about his

new service, the creator and tailor,

William Westmancott says: “Ultimate

Bespoke is based on a dream suit;

it’s about creating something totally

unique; about making possible the

seemingly impossible.

“The aim of Westmancott is

to meet the client’s every ideal

for the perfect bespoke clothing

experience. It’s not about just

making you a suit that fi ts out of

a fancy fabric; it’s about designing

and creating every element and

detail exclusively for you.”

Ultimate Bespoke is available by special appointment only with William Westmancott at 12 Savile Row, London W1. or call 0207 0601149 for more information.

EXCLUSIVE LIMITED EDITION CLOTH Holland and Sherry, the world

famous fabric weaver and

cloth merchant founded in

Scotland in 1836, is offering

an extremely limited edition

range of bespoke suits

cut from the world’s most

luxurious and expensive cloth.

The fi rm, which has premises

on Savile Row, has woven

the world’s fi rst 100 per cent

worsted spun vicuna fabric, the

most expensive in the world at

over £2,500 per yard.

The material comes from

the wool of the elusive wild

vicuna, a relative of the

llama, that lives high in the

Andes mountains of Peru and

Bolivia. The vicuna can only

be shorn every three years

and yields an extremely small

amount of fi ne wool.

It took Holland & Sherry

fi ve years to gather enough

of the exclusive yarn, and

another 18 months to develop

the unique cloth, which is

much fi ner than cashmere.

There is only enough of

the precious fabric to make

18 suits, each of which will

cost approximately £31,000.

Customers will have only

three colours to choose from

– black, midnight and natural –

but that’s a small price to pay

for astounding quality.

The King of Morocco was

among one of the fi rst to

place an order.

Call 0207 4370404 to make an appointment at Holland and Sherry or visit the showroom at 9/10 Savile Row, London W1.

EXTRAVAGANCE ON A GRAND SCALE For the uber-rich who are still shopping at Cartier and travelling

in their private-jets, bling king Alexander Amosu unveils THE

world’s most expensive suit with an astonishing £70,000 price tag.

Designer Alexander Amosu says: “I fi rmly believe that in the wake

of the recession, there is still a demand for uncompromising quality.”

The one-off creation took in excess of 80 hours to complete and

is again made from vicuna wool taken from the rare wild South

American animal.

Qiviuk, the world’s most expensive wool gathered from

the Arctic musk fox is also used and blended with pashmina

from the high mountain plateaus of the Himalayas to create

Vanquish II, one of the most luxurious of cloths.

The suit features over 5,000 individual stitches equating

to £14 per stitch. The razzle-dazzle factor comes in the

form of nine 18-carat gold and pave set diamond buttons

with gold stitching.

Amosu adds: “Buying an Alexander Amosu suit is the

ultimate in luxury. We create the fi nest bespoke suits using

fabrics which emphasise character, style and individuality.

“We might not be catering to everyone, but the

people who buy Alexander Amosu want to wear the

very best suits in the world.”

Clients include business tycoons such as Duncan

Bannatyne and James Caan, as well as Formula 1 driver

Adrian Sutil.

The suit looks amazingly impressive, the kind that most

men dream of owning. However, the villainous price tag will

hinder many from even dreaming about owning one; on this

occasion it may be a case of looking but not buying.

Alexander Amosu, 77 Beak Street, London W1. Call 0207 8399338 for more information.


56 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

Insulation Services Shop 2, Lexden Lodge, Crowborough Hill, Jarvis Brook, Crowborough, East Sussex, TN6 2EG

Tel: 01892 661858 / 01892 655757www.insulation-services.co.uk

Est 1977

INSTALLATIONS THROUGHOUT KENT AND SUSSEX

SAVE ENERGY & RETAIN HEAT WITH OUR ‘A’ RATED WINDOWS – THE MOST EFFICIENT ON THE MARKET

Competitive Prices, FREE ESTIMATES,No Pressure Sales

Come and visit our showroom: Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm, Saturday 9am –1pm

Secondary Double Glazing ■ Composite DoorsDoor Canopies ■ Car Ports ■ Garage Doors ■ Patio Doors

French Doors ■ Solar Powered Hot Water Systems

NEWW

E NOW SUPPLY

& FIT SOLAR POWERED

HOT WATER SYSTEMS

Est 1977

Marino Carpentry

T: 01622 813 279 | M: 07882 614 367

E: [email protected]

W: www.marinocarpentry.com

Fitted Kitchens (designed, supplied & installed)

Custom Made Bookcases

Custom Made Wardrobes

Custom Storage Solutions

Bespoke & Ready Made Fitted Furniture

Home Offi ces

Wood Flooring

Bespoke Shelving

Skirting & Architrave

Bathroom Vanity Units

Bespoke Radiator Covers

Exterior & Interior Doors

also undertakes and project manages other trades such as plumbing, electrical etc.

Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your requirements.

HEN PICKEDIT WAS DURING THE INTERVAL OF THE HIT WEST END SHOW MAMMA MIA THAT GILL BENTHAM HAD HER VERY OWN ‘LIGHT BULB MOMENT’ THAT LED TO HENS DANCING. CONFUSED? READ ON:

WORDSRICHARD MOORE

G ill Bentham was with a dozen other women brought together through a website for a theatre trip and dinner. As they sipped wine during the interval one of them commented:

”We should do this more often.”And that’s when Gill came up with the idea of creating a

social networking group just for women called hens dancing.“Mamma Mia is the sort of show that women enjoy more

than men and it got me thinking that there are actually lots of activities and evenings out that women like doing together without men in tow”, she tells me.

“When I talked about the idea with friends and family the feedback was very positive. A desire to get out more and socialise with like-minded women seems to appeal whether they’re married, single or divorced.”

She says women who are no longer doing the school run but who still want to get out and have fun, are particularly attracted to the network idea.

“It became clear to me that when a group of like-minded women get together for a special event or even just a glass of wine, there’s a lot of fun to be had.

“A special camaraderie fi lls the air and there’s an understanding and mutual, support that’s hard to fi nd anywhere else.”

Gill, a qualifi ed life coach who lives in a village just outside Tunbridge Wells, has been proved absolutely right.

Since launching hens dancing in December more than 350 women have registered up for the group. Annual

membership is £95 which gives you hefty discounts for events that are also open to non-members who can go along to fi nd out what it’s all about.

“At out fi rst supper club in Tunbridge Wells there were 16 of us chatting away like old friends,” she recalls. “Now we regularly get more than 20 along and the high point for me so far has been our fi rst inspirational talk How to Meet Mr Right!”

Despite being pressed, Gill declines to give me (male) the low down on just how this might work although she’s quick to point out that hens dancing is not a dating agency in any shape or form.

“It’s come about because I realised that while women are happy to use the internet for information, shopping and banking, they don’t want to network online.

“They want to meet face-to-face through events such as wine tastings, supper clubs, pampering and fashion evenings.”

Time working at the web phenomenon Friends Reunited originally sparked Gill’s passion for the internet and alerted her to the opportunities it brings particularly as a platform for social networking.

Organising and promoting hens dancing (she’s just opened another network in Surrey) today accounts for most of Gill’s waking, and some sleeping, hours.

“I live and breathe hens dancing so even when I’m out and about at the weekends I’m thinking about venues and ideas for events. But when I see how much the women enjoy themselves it makes all the hard work worth while.”

Why, though, the name hens dancing?

“Because it’s for women who want to dance with life,” she laughs.

Of course. SO

www.hensdancing.com


A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 57


A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 59

NuVision EnergyEnergy through innovation

“NVE Solar PST System”A Unique Combined Heat Pump and Solar Collector System

Reduce Your All Year Heating and Hot Water Bills By Up To 80%

■ Provides hot water, space heating and swimming pool heating all year around

■ Patented and proven European designed and manufactured technology

■ Quiet and easy to operate, fully automatic

■ Quick return on investment

■ Energy costs as low as 2pence a KW

Queensgate House, 48 Queen Street, Exeter, Devon EX4 3SRTEL: (01392) 247880 FAX: (01392) 410436

www.nuvisionenergy.co.uk

Home Media ltd 24-26 Union Street, Maidstone, Kent ME14 1ED tel: 01622 676703please visit our website www.thehomeofhifi .com for further details about our product and services

maidstone’s premier hi-fi ,

home cinema & custom installation

specialists

12 Union Square Eridge Road The Pantiles Tunbridge Wells TN4 8HE

Tel 01892 617462

Tunbridge Wells 01892 [email protected]

www.hamptons.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells £1,250,000

A carefully restored and updated character 4 bedroom country house, incorporating many outstanding features and set within gardens of about 1 Acre with a beautiful large pond on the edge of Dunorlan Park.

Tunbridge Wells £1,250,000

A remarkable renovation and extension of a town centre Victorian former lodge. Stunning quality and style throughout the beautifully presented spacious interior.

Tunbridge Wells £350,000

An extremely attractive 2 bedroom garden apartment situated on the edge of the prestigious Camden Park within this Grade II Listed Decimus Burton influenced property.

Groombridge £525,000

Attached former coach house with stable block, great potential to update and re-design, in a delightful location in Leyswood to the south of this popular village.

Langton Green £675,000

A fine detached character 5 bedroom family house with a light and spacious interior, set in attractive gardens of about 1/2 an acre.

Brenchley £785,000

A substantial detached 4 bedroom, 4 reception room house located in a highly sought after close of similar houses within a few yards of the centre of the village.

One address. Thousands of properties. www.hamptons.co.uk


Withyham £1,450,000

A substantial detached Edwardian house situated between Withyham and Groombridge with just under 1 acre of well maintained grounds. Set on high ground with commanding westerly views across rolling countryside the property houses many of the period features one would expect to find in such a property.

• Entrance Hall

• Drawing Room

• Sitting Room

• Dining Room

• Kitchen/Breakfast Room

• 2 Cloakrooms

• Utility Room

• Boiler Room

• Principal Bedroom with En-Suite Bathroom

• 5 Further Bedrooms

• 2 Further Bathrooms

• Summer House

• Detached Open Fronted Triple Garage

• Gardens and Grounds of Just Under 1 Acre



www.hamptons.co.uk

Crowborough £2,700 pcm

An outstanding five bedroom, three bathroom Connor’s built house dating from the turn of the last century and beautifully presented in the ‘arts and crafts’ style.

Tunbridge Wells £2,500 pcm

A four bedroom, three reception room, two bathroom family home located in the heart of Tunbridge Wells in the highly sought after “Village Area”. Available Now.


A spacious three/four bedroom period family home tastefully decorated throughout. Built circa 1880 and benefiting from a garage to the side of the property.

Stonegate £2,300 pcm

A four bedroom four reception room detached executive family home with garage set within an exclusive development in Stonegate, Wadhurst.

Haxted £2,500 pcm

A spacious neutrally decorated four bedroom, three bathroom detached milking parlour conversion situated on the outskirts of Edenbridge, with stunning rural views. SIMILAR URGENTLY REQUIRED

Uckfield £2,500 pcm

An exceptionally light and spacious very high specification 5 bedroom detached family house with self-contained annexe and gardens of about 3/4’s of an acre.


LET


A three bedroom, two reception room detached family home with garage, located in St johns and within walking distance of many local schools and amenities.


A beautifully presented three bedroom semi detached family home located in the popular St Johns sector of town with refitted kitchen and bathroom.

Crowborough £2,000 pcm

A beautiful example of a 1920’s Connors House set within approximately an acre plot. This extremeley spacious four bedroom family home is offered in neutral condition. Available Now. SIMILAR URGENTLY REQUIRED

Lamberhurst £2,000 pcm

A fine example of a traditional Kent Oast built circa 1870. This four bedroom end of terrace family home has a bespoke Stoneham designer roundel kitchen and off street parking.

Mayfield £2,000 pcm

A spacious four double bedroom, two bathroom detached family house with ample parking and double garage, located in the village of Five Ashes.



LET

Groombridge £1,750 pcm

A modern four bedroom, two bathroom detached family home with garage located in the village setting of Groombridge with downstairs w.c. and two reception rooms.

Ashdown Forest A small residential farm in an exceptional setting with huge potentialApproached over a long driveway through its own private valley, the farmhouse, coach house and pump house are built of mellowed stone and are not listed offering scope for improvement or enlargement. Three reception rooms, kitchen/breakfast room, cellar, four bedrooms, two bathrooms. Detached coach house, stabling, detached barn, pump house, attractive store, open-fronted barns, large agricultural building. In all about 65 acres.

Guide £1,750,000 (APH/276116)

KnightFrank.co.uk

Tunbridge [email protected] 01892 515035

L O N D O N K E N T S U S S E X

TUNBRIDGE WELLS REGION £1.2 MILLION

ATTRACTIVELY PRESENTED FAMILY HOUSE IN THIS SOUGHT AFTER CONVERSATION AREA ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF TUNBRIDGE WELLS WITH LIGHT AND SPACIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND LANDSCAPED GARDEN.

Reception Hall. Cloakroom. Drawing Room. Sitting Room. Dining Room. Kitchen/Breakfast/Family Room. Excellent Lower Ground Floor including Cellarage and Storage Rooms with access to the garden. 6 Bedrooms. 3 Bathrooms. Study/Bedroom 7.

South Facing Landscape Gardens. Parking for 2 Cars.

APPLY TUNBRIDGE WELLS

Battle

01424 [email protected]

Tunbridge Wells


Haywards Heath


London

Mayfair Offi ceinfo@mayfairoffi ce.co.uk

www.batchellerthacker.co.uk

www.sussexconstruction.co.uk

Sussex Construction Ltd

■ New Build■ Extensions■ Period Renovation■ Garaging■ Garden Rooms■ Barn ConversionsGibbs Reed Farm, Pashley Road, Ticehurst, East Sussex TN5 7HE

T. 01580 200660


a U G U S T 2 0 0 9 69

Digital aerial installation

Sky service work

Foreign Satellite

FM/DAB Aerials

SKY+ / Sky HD

Freesat

Extra TV Points

Sky Magic Eyes

Communal Systems

Domestic and Commercial

London & South East

Free Estimates

digital aerial & satellite installation

Email: [email protected]: www.dfbinstallations.co.uk

freephone: 0800 756 6944


70 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

CURTAINS

CARPETS

CLEANING

UPHOLSTERY

Established 75 years’Established 75 years’

Bal

lard

sB

alla

rds

IN

TE

RI

OR

S

Ballards Group01892 890033

www.ballardsgroup.com www.curtainmakersonline.comUnit 1, Bayham Farm Buildings, Little Bayham, Lamberhurst TN3 8BD

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 71

W hen John Cadney came to build his family a home near Rusthall four years ago, he was sure he wanted it to be a bit special. As it turned out the property would be so special

that Channel 4’s Grand Designs programme wanted a piece of the action.

The main thing for John though, was that the house ticked a few rather important boxes.

Firstly, the property had to be highly energy effi cient and eco-friendly, with minimal visual impact on the surrounding environment. Secondly, he wanted it to provide adequate room to raise his three children. And fi nally, stables would need to be incorporated for his wife Marnie’s hobby and business – horse riding.

The Stables, as a fi nished property, is an ingenious piece of engineering, mixing the all-important environmental element with roomy, log-cabin interior aesthetics. Additionally, the building’s design means

that it was relatively simple to construct compared to traditional housing and has many benefi ts, including the fact that John could be highly instrumental in the design process.

His stringent specifi cations meant spending a great deal of time deliberating about how his dream should take shape and put a roof over his family’s heads. The solution came in the form of a Northern European “kit house”, a clever method of construction where your house comes almost fl at packed.

It’s not quite as straightforward as IKEA furniture though and John had to spend hundreds of hours working alongside local architect Robin Robinson of Stephen Langer Associates, designing both the exterior and interior of the house, to perfectly fi t his ideals. Only then could a company based in Finland use his designs to cut their Finnish Pine into the right shapes, ready for shipping. ➢

THERE ARE FEW MEN WHO CAN JUSTLY CLAIM THAT THEY BUILT THEIR FAMILY HOME WITH THEIR OWN BARE HANDS. JOHN CADNEY, WHOSE HOME IS NOW ON THE MARKET, IS ONE OF THEM

DIYGreenHouseWORDS

DAN SMITH

P R O P E R T Y SO


72 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

rooms of the house stem. At one end are the bedrooms and bathroom then at the other, the epic living/reception room and adjoined kitchen.

John has, of course, ensured a nice large master bedroom for himself and Sarah, with the statutory en suite bathroom and shower. But he’s also been rather generous when it comes to the kids’ rooms. Two of the three have en suite bathrooms and even the smaller bedroom is far from measly.

The hub of the house is essentially the living room where there’s plenty of space for both a dedicated dining area, with a massive pine table, and a lounge area with easy chairs and suites. There’s also loads of natural light that streams through the windows of the cantilevered roof which run the entire length of the build.

Off the side of the living room is a large, open American-style kitchen with Maytag appliances and a good solid butcher’s block. The other door leads to a spacious log storage area – for when the winter comes, of course.

Out in the extensive land which The Stable inhabits, there are plenty more structures and outbuildings. In fact there are 13 stables spread over two blocks with enough room for 20 horses, all of which can use the sand school set behind the barns.

With so many animals about, a great deal of storage room is needed. There are three further barns, workshops and sheds which are used for both housing for equipment and John’s labours in woodwork.

All in all it looks like mission accomplished for John and now The Stables is on the market for £875,000.

Next in line is a large renovation build to give him even more room for his furniture production. Good luck to him and we hope it’s just as successful as this project. SO

To make sure things ran smoothly at the Scandinavian end, John and Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, made their way to Finland to oversee the creation of the wooden building pieces. Now there’s dedication.

John is a bit of an expert when it comes to wood as he’s been a specialist cabinet maker for over 30 years. His knowledge of the trade led him to source pine from as far north as possible to ensure top quality and so Finnish pine was specifi cally chosen. Another reason to choose this wood is that the Fins make sure that their trees come from sustainable woodland, which fi ts in with John’s eco-ethical plans.

When the pieces fi nally arrived after their manufacture, it was simply down to John and his small team of helpers to assemble the structure, paint it with two coats of Cetol wood stain and fi t the important triple-glazed ultra energy effi cient windows for improved insulation.

The environmentally friendly aspects of the build are pretty interesting. The most striking example is that the house has been built on piers, or stilts, to ensure minimal impact on subterranean water/soil fl ows, which is a thoughtful touch.

The roof itself has also been designed with energy effi ciency in mind. The low angled gradient and manufacturing methods of the roof mean that turf or solar panels can be easily fi tted to provide either extra insulation of heat, or a greener energy solution.

Inside, only recycled papers have been used for decorating the huge one-storey interior of what is essentially a giant bungalow on stilts.

You enter the building via a raised verandah that leads off the driveway. From this veranda, you can go through one of two opposing doors into the entrance hall. The hall leads into a long, wide corridor from which all of the

AT A GLANCE

Internal Area: 194 sq. m (2,089 sq. ft)

Bathrooms: 3

Bedrooms: 4

Stables: 13

Barns: 3

Sand school: 1

Keep your home cool in summer and warm in winter with Rockwool cavity wall and Rockprime loft insulation and it could all come absolutely FREE thanks to your local council. You could also save over £350* a year in heating bills and cut C02 emissions.

Half the heat from your home is lost through walls and lofts that are not insulated. Cosywall, from Skinner and Reeves, will survey your home free of charge and could offer you up to a 100% grant from one of our council funded Schemes, without you having to complete a single form.

Even if you don’t meet the criteria for a full grant we’ll insulate your walls for as little as £169. That’s a MASSIVE SAVING OF £330* on normal prices.

Just ring us on 0800 093 0006 to fi nd out how you can start saving money instantly.

Cosywall Insulation is part of the Skinner & Reeves group which has been doing business in Kent and Sussex for 50 years. We’re specialist builders who are proud of our work and our reputation.

* Based on 3 bed semi-detached home

Skinner & Reeves0800 093 0006www.skinnerandreeves.com

Skinner Skinner

SAVE ENERGY, THE PLANETAND OVER £350 EVERY YEAR…and it might not

cost you a penny!


74 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

◗ Central heating specialists

◗ Emergency call out (no charge)

◗ Gas & oil systems

◗ Boiler breakdowns

◗ Power fl ushing

◗ Plumbing

◗ Ground source heat pumps

◗ Solar panels

◗ Unvented systems

Northdown, Chatham Road, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3AY.

tel: 01622 672743, 01622 692668.

web: www.greenheatingsolutionsltd.co.uk

Renewable sustainable products are now becoming widely accepted as a way to not only save money as gas and oil prices continually seem to rise, but also as one of the major ways in which we can assist in reducing our carbon footprint.

The Way of the Future.


A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 75


ThinkingINSIDE

the boxTW AND THE

SURROUNDING VILLAGES MIGHT BE RICH IN

SUMPTUOUS GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE, BUT

THAT STYLE ISN’T FOR EVERYONE. IF SLEEK AND

STYLISH ARE MORE TO YOUR TASTE, AN ULTRA-

MODERN PARADISE IS CRISP, CLASSY AND UTTERLY SATISFYING

T his month, we’re taking a boxy new build on the outskirts of town and turning it into a chic pad from the future. But sleek and simple doesn’t have to mean white and sterile.

We’re going to inject personality and comfort into picture perfect styling.

No ordinary new build, this imposing white building, with a stunning glass-enclosed balcony that envelopes the fi rst fl oor, overlooks the Weald but wouldn’t look out of place in the Hollywood Hills. The couple bought their dream home off plan and have got the keys a few weeks early so that they can put their own stamp on the blank canvas… with a little help from us.

This home is endowed with great light and spacious rooms, overlooking generous gardens, so there’s plenty of scope for state of the art technology and up to the minute styling. We’re tackling the kitchen, the master bedroom’s en suite bathroom and the guest bedroom and aiming for a luxurious simplicity. ➢


A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 75

WORDSHARRIET LOUVELLE


76 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

23 Degrees presents the UK’s most exclusive collection of modern European bathrooms and interiors from our new 3 storey central Brighton showroom. Please visit our website www.23degrees.co.uk and contact us to discuss your project. Viewing by appointment is highly recommended. Free on-site parking.

12 Trafalgar Lane, Brighton, BN1 4EH Tel: 01273 623523


A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 77

The Kitchen

The BEdroom

The heart of this home needs to be functional and modish. We’ve sought the advice of Kent Kitchen Design in TW to fi nd a style that fi ts the bill. The Ignea kitchen has a timeless identity, with clean lines and stainless steel accents. The curve of the wall units and the refl ective quality of the glass doors keep the feel light and modern without the starkness often associated with modern styling. And the light painted fi nish reveals the subtle oak grain for a hint of nature – a nice

change from the high gloss fi nish usually suggested for contemporary kitchens. Top of the range appliances are built in to maintain the fl ow of the room and the granite work surfaces keep it clean.

The design team suggests adding a breakfast bar to the island unit, making the space sociable and multi functional – no need to go to the dining room for every meal. But instead of repeating the granite, a hardwearing Walnut countertop adds warmth and a focal point to the room. Sleek and chic, the kitchen fulfi ls the brief. Price on individual application.

On to the main guest bedroom. Our clients want to see a little more warmth in this space, so we’re looking for furniture that has richness in the patina, without sacrifi cing the elegant simplicity of the overall house style. We’ve tracked down an imposing collection of furniture from Snapdragon Furniture and Interiors in Tunbridge Wells. The eye-catching Convex range is perfect for the modern look we want to achieve. A stunning blend of rich deep tones and strong lines with gently curved fascias, each piece features the hallmarks of craftsmanship, such as classic dovetailing. With the furniture in place, we accessorise with glass base table lamps and a stunning piece of abstract art. Crisp white and parchment bed linen fi nishes the look. The Convex Double wardrobe is £555, while the Queen Sized Bed is £460. ➢



The Bathroom

We’re aiming for a real sense of luxury in the bathroom, but don’t want to lose the sleek feel that fl ows through the house. Brighton based bathroom experts 23 Degrees bring in the very best in furnishings from Italian suppliers and they’ve put together a stunning en suite that would be right at home in a fi ve star hotel.

A slick and practical integrated basin is installed in white ‘Cristalplant’. The integral drawers provide a good amount of storage for all those bathroom essentials, keeping the surfaces clear for appropriate accents. An oversized ‘shower room hybrid’, a 23 Degrees specialty, is given pride of place. A fully recessed tray is built into the fl oor and the wet room is fi nished with a top of the range showerhead and spot lighting. State of the art textural tiles and premium taps ensure a luxury fi nish. We spend just under £22,000. SO

RECOMMENDED PROFESSIONALS:

Kent Kitchen Designkentkitchendesign.co.uk01322 614156

23 Degrees23degrees.co.uk01273 623523

Snapdragon Furniture and Interiorssnapd.co.uk01892 517575

Smallbone of Devizessmallbone.co.uk01892 545918

Clive Christianclive.com01892 619550

Wells Interiorswellsinteriors.co.uk01892 535555

Transformationstrans4orm.co.uk01892 520763

ID-WCid-wc.com01580 712121

We’re aiming for a real sense

sleek feel that fl ows through

bathroom experts 23 Degrees

together a stunning en suite that would be right at home

appropriate accents. An oversized ‘shower room hybrid’, a 23 Degrees specialty, is given pride of place. A

78 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9


a U G U S T 2 0 0 9 79

21 Camden RoadTunbridge WellsKentTN1 2PS

01892 517575 / 07774 [email protected]

Send ‘COMPeTITIOn’ TO [email protected] fOr yOur ChanCe to win a £250 voucher!

www.snapd.co.uksp

ec

iali

st

s i

n b

es

po

ke

an

d m

ad

e t

o m

ea

su

re

fu

rn

itu

re


a U G U S T 2 0 0 9 81

n KAREN JACKSON INTERIORS n

WE OffER A COmplETE ANd pERSONAl

INTERIOR dESIgN SERvICE

Tel/fax: 0208 650 1655 n mobile: 0772 912 1594

[email protected] n www.karenjacksoninteriors.co.uk

please visit the website

to view our portfolio


82 J U N E 2 0 0 9

THE GALLERY


82 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

on this page:Butterfl ies by Gemma Harwood (oil, graphite and collage on linen) Fairfax Gallery £480Pop Art VII by Peter Blake (limited edition print) Bluemoon Gallery £3,050Blue Horizons by Philip Gray (oil on canvas) Artique Gallery £3,995Grecian Idyll by Lesley Thiel (oil on canvas) Artique Gallery £2,895


J U N E 2 0 0 9 83

T H E G A L L E R Y SO

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 83

on this page:Lazy Afternoon by Robina Yasmin (oil on canvas) Fairfax Gallery £3,300Headland by Elaine Jones (oil on canvas) Fairfax Gallery £2,600Water Baby by Dawn Benson (bronze) Fairfax Gallery £4,000

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 83

by Robina Yasmin (oil on canvas) Fairfax Gallery £3,300 by Elaine Jones (oil on canvas) Fairfax Gallery £2,600

by Dawn Benson (bronze) Fairfax Gallery £4,000

A s antiques are reappraised for their green credentials we should remember that any carbon emissions produced by Thomas Chippendale 250 years ago are long since forgotten.

The thrift of craftsmen using hand tools and potential waste wood for unseen elements of the carcass in a chest of drawers is at odds with the clumsy machining of imported hardwood furniture seen in High Street shops today.

Plus, the purchaser of an antique version will enjoy the smooth running drawers, where as his lesser green neighbour may curse the juddering travel of his new hardwood sock drawer.

For example, take a kitchen Windsor chair made in the mid 19th century by craftsmen in the Buckinghamshire countryside, turning wood sourced around them, on foot powered treadle lathes.

The parts are taken, on foot, to be assembled in the workshop, and then distributed for sale around the country by horse and cart or barge. The chair will have been used for 150 years. What a green product and what a life-cycle!

By buying the antique kitchen Windsor chair we conserve our natural resources and avoid the carbon footprint produced by a new chair probably manufactured in the Far East. Further, if the antique chair starts wobbling, take it to the restorer and it will be revived for another 50 years of service. Spoil yourself, with added green righteousness, and buy a late 19th century ash and elm Windsor chair, such as the one above which made £160 at a recent auction. You’ll be both stylish and green! SO

WITH APPEARANCES ON BBC’S BARGAIN HUNT AND FLOG IT, JAMES BRAXTON IS ONE OF

THE BEST KNOWN ‘ANTIQUE FACES’ ON TV. HE’S

ALSO A FOUNDER DIRECTOR OF THE FINE AUCTION GROUP WHICH INCLUDES DREWEATTS IN TW

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 85

A R T & A N T I Q U E S SO

ANTIQUES GET

lig

ht

GREEN


86 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

Seafood Brasserie, Oyster bar & Fishmongers

Proudly serving local produce from Kent & Sussex…

…and a little bit from Cornwall too.

To make a booking, please phone or visit our website

WWW.SANKEYS.CO.UK01892 511 422

Also visit our chosen charity www.nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk

Of 39 Mount Ephraim, Royal Tunbridge Wells. Since 1961

We source all our fi sh from our local coast line. Ok so Royal Tunbridge Wells is not on the coast, but did you know that Brighton, Newhaven, Folkestone, Eastbourne, Broadstairs & many more coastal towns have fantastic fi shing industries. You might also like to know that around 80% of the fi sh they catch goes abroad, and most restaurants in the UK sell farmed fi sh from Greece.

Nr East Grinstead, West Sussexwww.gravetyemanor.co.uk

The azaleas and rhododendrons are starting to blossom at Gravetye and summer is soon to arrive.

Come and enjoy a two or three course table d’hote lunch and have a stroll around the

gardens before or after your meal.

Relax in one of our sitting rooms or in our beautiful garden with your aperitif or coffee.

Please call 01342 810567 to make a reservation

locally sourced meats and wild game

15, chapel place, tunbridge wells, kent TN1 1YQ

tel: 01892 616668

The

Kings ArmsReal ales & fi ne wines

Contemporary British Food using fresh local produce

Large car park

Open all day

Warm, friendly atmosphere

Outside catering available in our patio and garden with stunning views of Sussex

High Street, Rotherfi eld TN6 3LJ

Tel: 01892 853441

soE LOC

AL

S O L O C A L SO

WITH THE SO LOCAL CAMPAIGN GATHERING MOMENTUM, WE DROP INTO THE BREWERS ARMS OVER IN VINES CROSS NEAR HEATHFIELD TO SEE LOCAL SOURCING THRIVING IN THE COMMUNITY.

S upporting local businesses, as we never tire of saying, has rarely been more important and a perfect example of someone doing just that is Tim Earley, owner of The Brewers Arms in

Heathfi eld. He takes a break from running the place to have a quick chat with us about where, why and how he sources the produce for his pub. SO

TIM, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE BUSINESS?We are a classic and traditional pub. People turn up and enjoy local country food. We are not a ‘gastro’ pub and we don’t have a separate restaurant, people come here to enjoy a relaxed pint with some good home cooked food.

OVERALL WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR PRODUCE IS TRULY LOCAL?About 95%. I’m so lucky to have a farmer, fi sherman and vegetable grower within a fi ve mile radius, so all my produce is collected and cooked daily. I make my own jams, cheese and homemade ice cream which is one of my best sellers. The only produce I use that is not local is my oil and fl our.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SOURCE EVEN MORE LOCALLY?Well I feel on the food side I have pretty much gone where I can. There is a vineyard about two miles down the road which sells lovely white, red and rose wine that I would like to incorporate into my list of alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately being owned by Green King I cannot use locally produced beers.

HOW EASY IS IT TO SOURCE LOCALLY?Really easy. People come to me every day knocking on my door to show me what is available and I produce different menus daily to accommodate this. It gives variety to my cooking and my pub. If I want to try a different vegetable from usual I will let my grower know and they can accommodate for this.

DO YOU THINK SOURCING LOCALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE END?People like to know where there food has come from. People locally like traceability. When they try my sausages or steaks they ask me where I bought them and I will happily give them the name and address for my local supplier. We help each other out in this trade, I buy locally which helps my business and then the suppliers get recommendations when people try their products in my pub.

DO YOU THINK YOUR CUSTOMERS APPRECIATE YOU BUYING LOCALLY?75% of my customers love me buying locally. The other 25% are the people that come to my pub just to drink.

THE REAL QUESTION IS: DOES SOURCING LOCALLY MAKE YOU MORE EXPENSIVE?I don’t feel I am more expensive because I buy locally. I like to buy and serve quality food so obviously this comes slightly more expensive although our starters average only £6.00 and mains £12.00. I do feel that quality is better than buying cheap and my customers also like to know that I source locally.

WHAT A SOURCE

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 87

REMEMBER: Every £10 spent supporting an independent outlet is worth a staggering £25 to the local economy. Simply put, it helps keep our towns and villages alive. For a full list of participants in our So Local campaign visit www.sotunbridgewells.co.uk


88 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

F R O M F I E L D T O F O R K SO

FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OF OUR FIELD TO FORK SERIES WILL REALISE THAT THE PROVENANCE OF PRODUCE IS OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE. A COW SHOULD LIVE IN A FIELD, A PIG IN A STY AND FISH IN THE SEA. WHICH IS WHY THIS MONTH WE FIND RESIDENT FOODIE JULIAN LEEFE-GRIFFITHS ALL AT SEA.

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 89

N ow, if you like wild and organic, the sea is not a bad place to start. I’m not saying the English Channel is perfect, but while I was out there, I did not see anyone spraying pesticides or

spreading dodgy fertiliser – just wild fi sh in a wild sea.I actually went wreck fi shing with my fellow chef Kris

Gorniak from The Black Pig. We left Brighton on a clear bright day and headed out into the blue yonder. We were hoping for a mixed bag of fi sh, which the Channel can really deliver as all around Britain we have the most diverse fi sh stocks.

The variation is immense, from bottom dwellers such as turbot, brill and sole to the nation’s favourite – cod. Ugly gurnard, mini sprats and mighty mackerel are all great to eat and all just off our coast.

First catch of the day was the ever helpful mackerel, enticed on to the hook by shiny feathers. It did its best to play the game and soon we had caught over 25. The next fi sh was not quite so ready for the pan; sea bass is one of the more diffi cult fi sh to catch and it lived up to its reputation. Even though we moved from wreck to wreck we caught none.

So, time to give up and move on. On the next wreck, an old WWII warship, we changed bait

and started on the cod and pollack, which leapt into the boat as though it could not wait to get on the menu.

After 15 fi sh or so the waves got up a bit and the sky started to blacken. Time to make for port and home after a very successful day sea-foraging.

The good thing about this type of fi shing is that it is low impact. No big factory ship destroying everything in its wake, no damage to the seabed and no disturbance to secondary sea life.

All sustainable, all organic, all fresh.If you feel like a great day out, head down to Brighton,

Hastings, Rye and Newhaven, join a day boat and get fi shing. You’ll enjoy it.

We fi shed with the Aquavitesse boat based in Brighton marina, who were excellent and have a really helpful captain called Noel. He is both knowledgeable, friendly and caters for everyone, be they sea-angling experts or complete beginners. www.aquavitesse.co.uk

If, however, you’re a landlubber do try Chapmans of Sevenoaks. They’re a very good, local wholesale fi sh delivery business and they have now started retail home deliveries. They use local boats from the south coast and I’ve always found them effi cient and helpful. www.chapmanshomedelivery.co.uk

Once you’ve got your mixed bag of fi sh here are a few easy ways to cook them.

1. SEA BREAM WITH CHORIZO, BLACK OLIVES AND POMODORINOThis dish not only tastes great but looks fantastic too.Take one whole sea bream per person, make three incisions per side. Insert a sprig of thyme into each cut.

Place in a roasting tin with a large handful of thickly sliced chorizo, pomodorini (small tomatoes) and black olives. Rough cut a large lemon and add to tin with a large slug of olive oil and half a glass of white wine, season with salt and pepper. Cover with tin foil and place in a hot oven for 6-8 minutes.

In a small saucepan melt 200grams of butter and add 3 cloves of fi nely chopped or pressed garlic. Warm through while the fi sh is cooking. After 8 minutes take out the fi sh from the oven.

Remove the tin foil and pour the garlic butter over the fi sh, return to a hot oven or grill to brown for 2 minutes. Do not overcook. Serve with Pak Choi or other green veg.

2. TIN FOIL MACKEREL Butterfl y the mackerel and place on some tin foil, spread with butter and season. Finely chop a clove of garlic and a few parsley leaves and put on the fi sh, along with a good squeeze of lemon. Place on BBQ or under grill for 4-5 minutes. Serve with red onion relish. ➢

F R O M F I E L D T O F O R K F R O M F I E L D T O F O R K What aWhat aFISH FACE


3. BRIGHTON COD WITH SAMPHIRE & PEA RISOTTO AND PALOURDE CLAMSFor the risotto:

Finely chop 2 shallots and sweat off in a large pan for two minutes or so in a little butter, until softened but not coloured. Add the Arborio Rice and cook for a further 2 minutes. Add a glass of white wine and allow to reduce, then gradually add 750ml of veg stock, stirring continuously.

Cook rice to al dente and then fi nish just before serving with butter, parmesan, chives and fresh peas.

Season the fi sh with Maldon sea salt and coat with fl our. Place in a hot frying pan with a little olive oil. Cook on both sides for 2 minutes until golden brown and fi nish with a knob of butter and squeeze of lemon. Remove from pan and keep warm.

Deglaze pan with white wine, add the clams and samphire and cook until all the shells have opened fully. On to a large plate or bowl, spoon a portion of risotto into the middle.

Then place the cod on top and garnish with the clams, samphire and a wedge of lemon. SO

WATCH OUT NEXT MONTH...We will all have to go on adiet in September as our resident foodie is taking a much deserved holiday (probably on a health farm). Julian’s restaurants: The Black Pig and Dining Room TW 01892 523030The George and Dragon Speldhurst 01892 863125The Black Pig and Dining Room TW 01892 523030The George and Dragon Speldhurst 01892 863125

SECRET CELLAR WINE SUGGESTIONS

Valencay Sauvignon Blanc Vin de Pays du Val de Loire (France) £6.99 – To match the grilled mackerel and garlic you need a zingy, crisp white like this bargain Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. It’s bone dry with crunchy ripe gooseberry fl avours that pairs with the mackerel and cleans. This is coupled with juicy acidity that cuts through the garlic.

Jean-Claude Boisset Macon-Villages (France) £11.99 – Cod is a delicate fi sh but when paired with clams in a broth the classic wine match is an unoaked Chardonnay. With its ripe tropical fruit fl avours and a minerally backbone this is a wonderful

expression of modern, fi sh-friendly Burgundy.

Chateau Thivin Cote de Brouilly (France) £13.49 – For the sea bream and chorizo plump for a lighter style of red. This is a very fi ne Cru Beaujolais made solely from the Gamay grape. Forget your usual preconceptions regarding Beaujolais though. This wine is dark, spicy and more than a match for the chorizo without overpowering the bream.

90 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9


a U G U S T 2 0 0 9 91

MONTROSEFine Dining and Wine with StyleEnjoy modern European cuisine with a British bias and probably the best and most affordable wine list in town. Also, special Sunday lunches (last orders 5:30pm) for all the family. All produce is sourced locally.

All That JazzThe first Tuesday of every monthCome and dine to the warm sound of our guest live jazz group. Full details on our website. Next date Tuesday 4th August

Wednesday is Steak and Fish NightChef’s Amuse Bouche, a choice of starters and an entrecote steak or seasonal fish of the day, served with hand cut chips – a bargain at £18.95. À la carte also available.

BOOK NOW 01892 513161MONTROSEThe New Independent Boutique Restaurant Southborough Common, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 0RX

Open: Tues-Sat for lunch and dinner Sun: Special Sunday lunches all day from 12.00-17.30 (last orders)

www.montroserestaurant.co.uk e-mail: [email protected]

Fine dine with fine wine in great style

MONTROSEThe New Independent Boutique RestaurantSouthborough Common, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN4 0RX

www.montroserestaurant.co.uke-mail: [email protected]

Open: Tues-Sat for lunch and dinner

Sun: Special Sunday lunches all day from 12.00 – 17.30 (last orders)

Locally sourced good quality meat/game or something for the more exotic palette?

How about ostrich, wild boar, kangaroo, crocodile or something for the barbeque?

Whatever your requirements, Ian and Martin will be pleased to help.

St Michaels Butchery

Ashford Road, St. Michaels, Tenterden

01580 762579


92 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

Tapas served

Mon – Thursday evenings Mon – Sunday lunchtimes

Drinks served all the time!

TN4 Bar and Kitchen,29 Mount Ephraim,Tunbridge Wells,Kent.TN4 8AA

01892 [email protected]: TN4 bar and kitchen, for updates on all events through the summer

BrighT SunShine, ice colD MojiToS,

piTcherS of Sangria anD

DeliciouS TapaS To graze on.

puT yourSelf in ThiS picTure,

The Tn4 garDen, now open

for a long hoT SuMMer!

W I N E SO

FavouriteAND MY

BOTTLE IS...

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 93

O ne of the perks of working in the hotel industry is having the opportunity to try some of the world’s most interesting wines. When I’m not looking for new additions to the wine list, I’m

traveling around the South of France visiting Chateaux and smaller vineyards – a great way to discover hidden gems.

The two wines I’ve chosen are good Summer wines from both the old and new worlds.

My fi rst pick is a delicious white from the Barossa Valley region of South Australia. The St. Hallett Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 is made up of a variety of grapes – 61 per cent Semillon, 25 per cent Sauvignon Blanc and 14 per cent Riesling. The wine maker Toby Barlow has had considerable successes at Mitchelton in Victoria. He’s ensuring that St. Hallett remains one of the most forward-looking wineries in Australia.

Each varietal batch of this little corker is fermented separately in cool temperatures to retain the different fruit characters. As you drink, the tropical fruit aromas and the fl avours of passion fruit, melon, pineapple and lime come through. The distinctive grassy aromas and hints of lime citrus are from the Sauvignon Blanc grape within the blend.

This wine can be drunk on its own on a lovely Summer’s day or matched with food like fresh seafood, fruit salad and fi sh. On our wine list for just £25.00 per bottle, this is superb value.

My second choice is a lovely Rosé from the Loire Valley, France. Although Sancerre is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, some excellent Rosé wines are also produced. The Sancerre Rosé Andre Neveu 2008 (£39.00) is one such bottle. Very attractive with light and aromatic strawberry fl avours, the wine has a bone-dry fi nish.

This one comes from one of the best villages producing Sancerre, Chavignol where the terrain of chalky and silex soils are ideal for both fresh, fruity Sauvignons and perfumed, full Pinot Noir which is the grape variety used to make Rosé wines.

The colour of the Pinot Noir skins are gently bled and the cold settled juice is then cold fermented to preserve the freshness of fruit. This wine is perfect with white meat, goat’s cheese and most fi sh dishes.

Both wines are sure to be fi rm favourites once you give them a try. Enjoy! SO

Andrew Salter (right) is shown here with Food and Beverage Manager Marc Desseaux.

MY OTHER FAVOURITES FROM THE BUXTED PARK HOTEL WINE LIST INCLUDE:

UP TO £30: White - Domaine Cheval Blanc Signe Semillon Sauvignon 2008 £25.00 Red - Les Nuages Pinot Noir 2007 £25.00

UNDER £60: White - Catena Agrelo Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 £42.00Red - Jean Leon Pago Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2003 £43.00

THIS MONTH WE’RE IN THE CELLAR OF BUXTED PARK HOTEL, NEAR UCKFIELD, TO FIND OUT WHICH TWO BOTTLES OF WINE GENERAL MANAGER ANDREW SALTER WOULD CHOOSE ABOVE ALL OTHERS.

melon, pineapple and lime come through. The

BRIAN KEELEY-WHITING (STRIPED SHIRT) DOESN’T LIKE THE DESCRIPTION ‘GASTRO PUBS” AND HE’S CERTAINLY ENTITLED TO HOLD THAT VIEW. AFTER ALL HE’S DONE MORE TO CHANGE THE LOCAL PUB GRUB SCENE THAN ALMOST ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL; HIS PLACES SERVE 5,000 MEALS EVERY WEEK.

WORDSRICHARD MOORE

IT’S ALL

BRIAN KEELEY-WHITING (STRIPED SHIRT) DOESN’T LIKE THE DESCRIPTION ‘GASTRO PUBS” AND HE’S CERTAINLY ENTITLED TO HOLD THAT VIEW. AFTER ALL HE’S DONE MORE TO CHANGE THE LOCAL PUB GRUB SCENE THAN

WORDSRICHARD MOORE

IT’S ALLInnKeeping


F or 12 years Brian Keeley-Whiting was mine host at The Hare in Langton Green. With its book-lined walls, welcoming feel and “hearty home made British food” he turned it into one of the most successful hostelries in town.

He’s now taken that winning formula and, under the banner of Whiting & Hammond Ltd, opened fi ve new pubs in as many years, gaining numerous accolades and plaudits along the way. In the last 12 months the company has been shortlisted for its food offer in three national competitions.

“We have a habit of taking on failed pubs and turning them into great operations,” says the man named by the Morning Advertiser as one of the top 50 most infl uential people in the pub industry.

But back to his dislike of the description ‘gastro pubs”. How would he then describe his places?

”If you liken it all to cars we’d be a BMW Series 3,” he explains. “Not a small Micra or a great big Rolls-Royce, but a very nice Series 3 that you’d be quite comfortable with sitting behind the wheel.”

He says the pubs are only as good as the crews they put in them.“For example we try to inspire the chefs with our love of food and we

don’t impose a corporate menu which gives them a lot of freedom to be creative and use local produce.

“We want to be perceived as a pub you can go to for any occasion be it a birthday or just popping out for a bite to eat”.

Managing Director Brian (43) has worked as a chef in places like the Savoy and has the support of Operations Manager Darren Somerton (the one in the middle) who was also a chef at the London hotel.

The ‘Hammond’ bit of the company name belongs to silent partner/personal friend Chris Hammond (the one on the left) who does something in the City. ➢

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 95

Ph

oto

gra

ph

y: P

eter

Sh

eph

erd


96 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

With ever-increasing food costs the team took a decision towards the end of 2007 to reduce their target gross profi t from 70% to 65%.

“We feel this has helped with maintaining and even increasing footfall through our pubs,” says Brian.

So, where’s it all heading?“We’d like to be looking at another pub towards the end

of the year with the aim of having about 20 in the next ten years. We will also move into outside catering, hotels and maybe a bit of brewing. Then the world!”

And when the man saying that is the person who’s built a pub mini-empire during a recession… you tend to believe him.

But before he conquers the rest of the world we ask Brian to take us on a tour of his extsing pubs. He’s more than happy to oblige:

THE CHASER INN: ShipbourneWe took the pub from Greene King in the Summer of 2003 and completely refurbished it, relocating the kitchen and toilets and increasing capacity to 90 covers.

As soon as we opened, the pub became very successful and has bloomed with weekly takings rising tenfold.

It has won Invicta fm’s Pub of the Year title, Sunday lunch Pub of the Year in The Publican Food and Drink awards 2008 and twice been runner-up in the County Council’s Taste of Kent awards.

The Chaser, along with all our pubs, has a fantastic relationship with the Farmer’s Markets, uses local suppliers, changes the menu daily and utilises seasonal or daily market offers. The kitchen has a team of nine chefs who produce all the food in-house and currently averages 1,500 covers per week.

THE OLD MILL: East GrinsteadOur second pub opened in October 2004 and again we did a major refurbishment. It had spent a year being closed on weekdays and only occasionally opened on weekends so we did not have a feel for any previous trade or turnover.

We put our tried and tested formula from The Chaser into The Old Mill and the pub, with its team of six chefs, became an overnight success.

THE LITTLE BROWN JUG: Chiddingstone CausewayGreene King approached us to take on The Little Brown Jug after their present operator ceased trading. In April 2006 we ran round the place with a mop, bucket and cloths, added a few candles, cleaned the beer lines and opened with a small team from our other operations. It was a slow start but we had big ideas.

In February 2007 we closed for six weeks and again did a major refurbishment, which included moving the kitchen. After opening our new pub, turnover doubled and is still growing. The kitchen team is made up from six chefs. It made the fi nal of The Publican awards for Food Pub of the Year in 2009.

THE MARK CROSS: Nr Rotherfi eldWe purchased the lease in September 2006 and immediately closed the pub for a 12-week refurbishment which included a substantially increased kitchen and new toilets. Again we adopted the formula from our previous pubs which was received with great aplomb. Turnover increased fi vefold. The Mark Cross, which has six chefs, went on to the fi nal of the Morning Advertiser Great British Pub awards last year.

THE FARM AT FRIDAY STREET: EastbourneAfter the success of the Mark Cross, Enterprise contacted us to take over the Farm. In December 2007 we started to run the pub and refurbish it to bring it in line with our others. It’s now in its second year and has increased turnover 100%. SO www.whitingandhammond.co.uk

98 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

CLEARED FORTAKE OFF


100 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

WORDSNICK MOORE

THE NEW SPYKER C8 AILERON SOUNDS MORE LIKE A PLANE THAN A CAR. BUT THEN AGAIN, ONCE BEHIND THE WHEEL YOU’LL FEEL LIKE YOU’RE FLYING.

M O T O R S SO

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 101

The Spyker is not a car you see or hear of too often, unless you follow F1 racing, although it has one of the most impressive spec-sheets for its class. When it was unveiled recently at

the New York City Auto Show, representatives explained that the C8 Aileron is something of a Frankenstein, a combination of bits from all the best racing cars.

Spyker is a rarity in this era of multi-national, global car manufacturing and dwindling customer demand – it’s an independent company that builds exotic sports cars by hand. The Spyker name goes back to the late 19th century, when it was attached to a Dutch company that built cars and planes before going bankrupt in the 1920s.

In 1999, a pair of Dutch businessmen bought the rights to the name and started a new company dedicated to building bespoke supercars for wealthy enthusiasts.

Having been designed from the ground up as an exclusive exotic sports car, the 2009 Spyker C8 series truly look like nothing else on the road. They feature numerous details inspired by aircraft, from the “Aeroblade” 19-inch wheels to the car’s various scoops and vents. Yet the aesthetic highlight of the Spyker C8 is undoubtedly its sumptuous and singularly stylish interior. Highlighted by full leather upholstery, a brushed-aluminum dashboard and knurled aluminum knobs, the C8’s cabin wouldn’t look out of place in an art gallery. ➢

“THE C8’S CABIN WOULDN’T LOOK OUT

OF PLACE IN AN ART GALLERY.”

The 2009 Spyker C8 is an exotic two-seater sports car available in three versions: C8 Laviolette, C8 Aileron and C8 Spyder. Standard features for the C8 Laviolette include bi-xenon headlamps, keyless entry/ignition, electronically operated single-hinge tilting doors, full leather upholstery, air-conditioning and a CD sound system. The C8 Aileron adds a unique dashboard design with a multifunction LCD display, a navigation system and a six-speaker Kharma sound system with Bluetooth and iPod connectivity. The Spyder version of the Aileron is scheduled to appear later in the year.

As you’d expect of a hand-built exotic car, the Spyker C8 offers a mind-boggling array of options, including riveted body panels, huge 20-inch alloys, stereo upgrades, heated seats, quilted leather upholstery, an aluminum dashboard, Chronoswiss dials, Alcantara interior trim and bespoke exterior and interior colour schemes.

Available in 16 paint variations the C8 Aileron features a completely redesigned all-aluminum, two door space frame making it as light as possible. The suspension has front and rear independent double-wishbones that are made by handling experts Lotus, while the rear wheels are powered by a 4.2-liter Audi V8 that cranks out 400 bhp and 354 pound-feet of torque.

C8 Laviolette and Spyder models have a six-speed manual transmission, while the C8 Aileron offers either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. In case you were wondering that means 0-60 mph in just 4.5 seconds! It can also reach speeds of up to 187 mph.

But let’s be realistic, priced at a modest £189,000, the main draw of this car is not its performance, but rather its exclusive craftsmanship and style. The 2009 Spyker C8 Aileron is the pinnacle of automotive high fashion. Can you think of another car for which a £4,500 Louis Vuitton tool kit is an option? Its impressive capabilities will likely be perceived as just icing on the cake. SO

102 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9


“CAN YOU THINK OF ANOTHER CAR FOR WHICH A £4,500 LOUIS VUITTON TOOL KIT IS AN OPTION?”

THE NUMBERS:Weight: 1,425 kgLength: 4,617 mmWidth: 1,972 mmEngine: 4.2litre Audi V80-60mph: 4.5 secondsMax Speed: 187 mphPrice: £189,000

For more information on this or any Spyker please contact the exclusive UK Spyker dealership:Broughtons (0)1189 766366www.broughtons.co.uk



104 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9


ENTR

EPRE

NEU

RSThe Times newspaper carried a headline The oTher day ThaT simply read: ‘disgusTed’ can sleep easy: The recession is leaving Town. iT suggesTed Tunbridge wells is coming Through The downTurn. if ThaT’s True, Then much of The crediT musT go To local enTrepreneurs for keeping jobs and The local economy alive.

T he definition of an entrepreneur is someone who has possession of an enterprise, or venture, and assumes accountability for the inherent risks

and outcomes.This part of the world has many entrepreneurs,

people who take a chance, start their own business and employ local people. indeed they are the backbone of the region and our town.

we don’t have much manufacturing industry; our biggest employer is the healthcare insurance company axa with around 1,400 people and the

likes of solicitors cripps harries hall which has a couple of hundred.

it’s the hundreds of smaller businesses – largely run by individuals – that make Tw and the region what it is. These people are a pretty good barometer of the health of the local economy which is why, in this issue, we acknowledge the vital role they play by highlighting the thoughts and views of a representative selection of them.

how tough has it been out there for our entrepreneurs? and what do they think the next twelve hold in store for all of us? here’s what they think. ➢

The

RichaRd BuRRellCompany: burrells The jewellers Location: royal victoria place, Tunbridge wellsEstablished: 1967Website: www.burrellsjewellers.co.ukNo. employed: TwelvePosition: managing director

Describe the last twelve months of trading? although challenging, people still want to buy quality products and we are selling more high-end swiss watches than ever.And your feelings about the next year? we are very excited about the coming year and all the new events taking place to enhance even further our service to our customers.What sets your business apart?having the finest award-winning jewellery craftsmen in our own workshops and giving our customers the best service possible from our dedicated team of specialists.If you could recruit any individual, who would it be?richard branson, because he makes running a business look so easy!What drew you in to the business?To be able to create an item of jewellery that people would aspire to own.What do you think people most like about you? That i care about other people.What five words best describe you? professional. gregarious. driven. compassionate. motivated.

a u g u s T 2 0 0 9 105

Manager Matt Delves

106 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

James BrendCompany: Brend Fine FurnitureLocation: Lingfield, surreyBusiness Type: Bespoke Furniture and JoineryEstablished: 1993Website: www.brendfinefurniture.co.ukNo. employed: FourPosition: Owner, Designer, Craftsman

Describe the last twelve months of trading? We have been very busy, with a continuous flow of work from existing clients and new leads.And your feelings about the next year?We are hopeful about the next year. We have some exciting projects in the pipeline and the steady flow of business is encouraging.What sets your business apart?We are a truly bespoke company from design to finish. We have no salesmen, only dedicated craftsmen. a lot of our clients come from recommendations.What drew you in to the business?at 13 I made and sold bird boxes in order to buy a bicycle, then at 18 my first job was making wooden toys and it progressed from there.What do you think people most like about you?No pushy sales pitches and an innovative and flexible design-orientated focus.Give us five words that best describe you?Creative. Practical. Flexible. Calm. Reliable.

SO t u N B R I D g e W e L L s

steve moonCompany: transformations Location: tunbridge WellsBusiness Type: Domestic Renovations/RefurbishmentsEstablished: 2001 Website: www.trans4orm.co.ukNo. employed: Five Position: Managing Director

Describe the last twelve months of trading? Whilst there has been an element of difficulty with the economic climate, we have maintained a stable workflow due to our ability to adapt to clients’ budgets.And your feelings about the next year?Confident, as the trend seems to be focused on major projects, including extensions, complete kitchens and bathrooms; clients are re-investing in their own properties rather than moving.What sets your business apart?Full project management tailored for each client using our fully skilled tradesmen. the needs of each client are different and at transformations we endeavour to meet these requirements. If you could recruit any individual, who would it be? For the purpose of designing kitchens it would be Nigella Lawson. an experienced chef understands the importance of design when is comes to a fully functional kitchen.What drew you in to the business?My experience and expertise in carpentry and enjoying working with customers.What do you think people most like about you? My straightforward, down to earth approach to the job in hand.Give us five words that best describe you? strong. Dependable. Friendly. Perfectionist. Determined.

A u g u s t 2 0 0 9 107

Maureen nicklinCompany: glitterati Designer Jewellery Location: the Pantiles, tunbridge WellsBusiness Type: Contemporary Jewellery RetailerEstablished: 1993Website: www. glitterati-jewellery.comNo. employed: six Position: Director

Describe the last twelve months of trading? surprisingly good. so many big high-fliers seem to have run into trouble or failed, yet small businesses such as ours are strong and growing.And your feelings about the next year?the truth is, there are too many businesses which are not based on a good idea, or are copies. Originality wins and so will we.What sets your business apart?Every day we look for one new idea. so our business has new products, new ideas. they must be exciting, original and affordable.If you could recruit any individual, who would it be? My children; they have acquired so many business and technological skills whilst working at their careers. they always have fresh new business ideas and energy. What drew you in to the business? I trained as a designer, and my husband was a jeweller, so focusing our talents into this business seemed exciting. What do you think people most like about you? I try to be a kind, considerate and modest person.Give us five words that best describe you? Hardworking. Modest. thoughtful. Considerate. Lucky.

andrea afrifaCompany: Heavenly soles LtD & stampedeLocation: st John’s Quarter, tunbridge WellsBusiness Type: Ladies shoe shop & Kids shoe shopEstablished: 2004 Website: www.stampedeshoes.co.ukNo. employed: ten Position: Director

Describe the last twelve months of trading? We have a very loyal customer base who continue to shop with us as they know they’re getting quality footwear at the right price. the Euro, though, has been difficult to manage.And your feelings about the next year?It will be more challenging than previous years but we will continue to concentrate on offering an excellent service. It’s all exciting stuff.What sets your business apart?A unique range of shoes that you can’t find in tunbridge Wells itself and sometimes not even in the uK. A professional service recognising our regulars as friends of the business.If you could recruit any individual who would it be? Peter Jones from Dragon’s Den. He’s my favourite and could help roll out my business nationally.What drew you in to the business? After setting up the restaurant booking service, toptable, in London I wanted to do something closer to home whilst raising my two young boys and saw a gap in the market.What do you think people most like about you? I’m very determined and competitive in everything I do in life but like to always live every day to the full and enjoy it.Give us five words that best describe you?Ambitious. Vivacious. Competitive. Creative. Caring.

t u n b R I D g E W E L L s SO


108 a u g u s t 2 0 0 9

tel: 01892 531727mob: 07736 842954

[email protected]

T u n b r i d g e w e l l s SOKaty GuyCompany: Maison Location: Tunbridge wells and richmondBusiness Type: French & scandinavian Furniture and Home Accessories Established: 1999Website: www.maisonhomeinteriors.comNo. employed: Five in Tw, seven in richmondPosition: Joint Owner

Describe the last twelve months of trading?difficult, but because we have such a strong, unique brand and what we supply is hard to find elsewhere, it’s worked well for us and it’s not as bad as we had foreseen. And your feelings about the next year?i think it’ll continue to be a tough time for everyone and we need to keep our focus on giving our customers the best deal we can.What sets your business apart?we have a unique eye for stylish, good quality furniture that is very hard to find in the area and we care about our customers.If you could recruit any individual who would it be?barack Obama. i think he’s an inspiration!What drew you in to the business? i lived in Paris for two years and had a very strong interest in home interiors. when i came back to england, i couldn’t find any of the same furniture over here and decided to fill the gap in the market.What do you think people most like about you?They can always find something really stylish for their home, or as a gift for a friend. Maison never lets them down.Give us five words that best describe you? determined. extrovert. Happy. Kind. Thoughtful.

LesLie GiLLhamCompany: gorringesLocation: Tunbridge wells, lewes and bexhillBusiness Type: Auctioneers and ValuersEstablished: 1998 in Tw, 1929 in lewesWebsite: www.gorringes.co.ukNo. employed: Two in Tw Position: Partner gorringes Tw

Describe the last twelve months of trading? difficult in parts as the auction trade is driven partly by fashion and the buoyancy of the housing market (clients selling due to downsizing etc).And your feelings about the next year? Clients are looking to raise funds! The market is strong in many collecting areas and collectors are still prepared to spend on antiques they really want.What sets your business apart?A comprehensive and local service – handling antiques worth £20 to £200,000 and above – unusual since many auction houses have closed their provincial branches. If you could recruit any individual who would it be? Anyone from Antiques roadshow. i’ve been in the business 40 years, but some people only believe what they see and hear on the television! What drew you in to the business? love of history and watching Arthur negus on going for a song as a teenager. Tried accountancy – it wasn’t for me.What do you think people most like about you? My interest in who people are and what they do.What five words best describe you? straightforward. Conscientious. Traditional. Humorous. Conversational.

SO T u n b r i d g e w e l l s

A u g u s T 2 0 0 9 109

Jonathan LottCompany: Molior Homes Location: Tunbridge Wells areaBusiness Type: Construction (Property/Renovation).Established: New but 37 years trade experienceE-mail: [email protected]. employed: Two Position: Director, Project Manager

Describe the last twelve months of trading?There was a period of change where people chose to renovate rather than move. However, there are people who have bought very wisely recently.And your feelings about the next year?Very positive. I think that consumer confidence is growing and people are feeling more confident about the economy and the housing market in particular.What sets your business apart? We maintain the highest level of quality in construction, and work closely with the clients to ensure they receive exactly the service they require.If you could recruit any individual who would it be?We would be happy to recruit anyone who is as positive and driven as we are and as passionate about property.What drew you in to the business? I’ve always been fascinated by architecture and renovating affords me the opportunity to really understand properties of all different ages and styles.What do you think people most like about you? Our efficient and professional yet personable service.Give us five words that best describe you? Dedicated. Calm. Professional. Honest. Ambitious.

SO T u N b R I D g e W e l l s

Cindy KnightCompany: The Cindy Knight Clinic Location: Hildenborough, TonbridgeBusiness Type: Aesthetic medicineEstablished: 1999 Website: www.cindyknightclinic.comNo. employed: Two plus three self-employed therapistsPosition: Owner, Director

Describe the last twelve months of trading? The credit crunch has made a difference to trading but the Clinic has a high number of long-term clients – we are the best in the business.And your feelings about the next year? There are a number of new treatments on the market and the Clinic is excited to bring them to its clients.What sets your business apart?I’ve been in the aesthetics field for a long time and the name of our Clinic is synonymous with experience, qualification, regulation, quality and reliability.If you could recruit any individual who would it be?Can I have a dead one? Queen Nefertiti – beauty in perfectionWhat drew you in to the business?A number of people including a colleague at the Nuffield Tunbridge Wells and Dr elisabeth Dancey, who encouraged me to go it alone.What do you think people most like about you? An artistic eye when it comes to aesthetics. You can’t learn that!Give us five words that best describe you?Hardworking. Practical. Forgiving. Nurturing. generous.

110 A u g u s T 2 0 0 9


cindyknightclinic

beautiful skin never goes out of fashion

for a free consultation about our anti-ageing and skin rejuvenation treatments just ring 01892 832004

174 Tonbridge Road, Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent TN11 9HP www.cindyknightclinic.com

Liam mcLaughLinCompany: Progressive Audio Visual ltd Location: speldhurst, Tunbridge wellsBusiness Type: Custom Home entertainment installationEstablished: 2004 Website: www.progressive-av.comNo. employed: Five Position: director

Describe the last twelve months of trading? it hasn’t been easy. uncertainty about the value of your home has always been the big one that affects our industry. Customers have been putting home extensions or new purchases on hold because they can’t see where this recession is going.And your feelings about the next year? we’re getting our confidence although people are more cautious, more thrifty and less extravagant. successful organisations will be ones that can adapt to shifts in spending patterns.What sets your business apart?being independent we’re free from the bias that larger High street suppliers might have towards brands/products that they are contracted to stock. we’re free to recommend what we honestly think is the best solution for the job.If you could recruit any individual who would it be? Personally i couldn’t think of many things more fun than having a comedian such as billy Connelly in the van on the way up to a job! What drew you in to the business? i earned an Honours degree in Management science and Computer science and was planning a graduate scheme in iT. but after spending time working for a company selling plasma screens i was hooked on being around all this technology. What do you think people most like about you? The fact i can usually fix their broken computer/TV/ipod/coffee machine.Give us five words that best describe you?Honest. Friendly. Helpful. Funny. intelligent. SO A u g u s T 2 0 0 9 111


112 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

DON’T MOVE IMPROVE

B I T AT T H E B A C K SO

STILE… EXCEPTIONAL ITALIAN TILESChoose from a comprehensive range of beautiful Italian tiles at Stile in Southborough. Combining quality and design with affordable prices, this company, which is part of the Italian manufacturing group Ceramiche Ricchetti, only offers tiles produced in its own factories. Stile has been a distributor of tiles and associated products for over 35 years. Their selection of porcelain and ceramic tiles can be used all over your home, both inside and outside. Their Il Magnifi co range will bring a touch of Italian sunshine to your patio. Visit their showroom on London Road, Monday to Saturday to check out the latest in Italian design chic. STILE: 01892 541790 www.italianstile.co.uk

CHILSTONEFor beautiful and interesting outdoor adornments, the stunning gardens of Chilstone in Langton Green, Tunbridge Wells, are a must-visit. Showcasing their range of reconstituted stone products (which go through a special process to resemble antique originals virtually indistinguishable from natural stone), each piece is made entirely by hand in Tunbridge Wells. Chilstone offers a bespoke service that ensures your garden ornaments fi t the brief. Established in 1953, the company has perfected the process over the years to ensure you end up with a high-quality product that won’t erode or shrink whilst looking completely natural.CHILSTONE: 01892 740866 www.chilstone.com

COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESSWhat if you could reach a level of awe, amazement, sudden wonder and enlightenment? Imagine a feeling of empowerment that opens your mind to the infi nite possibilities that life offers; a state of mind that inspires you to experience life at a higher level. This is Cosmic consciousness; something many cultures and religions aspire to reach through meditation, dance, isolation, chanting or prayer. To experience altered states, peak or mystical experiences and spiritual enlightenment can take years of dedication, study and often painful isolation. But today we can learn to accomplish Cosmic consciousness within a relatively short period of time; weeks instead of years. Self Hypnosis with internationally renowned hypnotist and trainer Freddy Jacquin will be your guide into Cosmic consciousness. Not everyone will reach this destination, but for those who do, life as they know it will never be the same.COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS: 0800 0936587 www.freddyjacquin.net

ROUND WOOD OF MAYFIELDYou might be surprised at what you can fi nd nestled in an area of woodland on the outskirts of Mayfi eld. Even as you turn into Round Wood and pass through fi elds of pigs being reared organically by a local farmer, there is little indication as to the hive of activity that lies ahead. Then suddenly you fi nd yourself at the home of perhaps our region’s most unique company. Amongst the trees sits a band of Terracotta Warriors. They are accompanied by Giant Easter Island Heads, Buddhas and life-size cast iron stags. Slightly further into the woods sits a large timber mill, offi ces, vast stores of hardwoods and an oak-framed two-bay garage. Even having taken all of this in, you still only have an appreciation of the full range of products and services available. The company comprises three strands: ‘Quality Oak & Decking Products’, ‘Oak- Framed Buildings’ and ‘Home & Garden Features’. All share a common belief in the traditional crafting of premium materials.ROUND WOOD OF MAYFIELD: 01435 867072 www.roundwoodtimber.com

A U G U S T 2 0 0 9 113

LIFE

&St

yle


Trigger Happy

Trigger Secret Tunbridge Wells

Sponsored by

WORDSRICHARD MOORE

Back in 1844 a famous gun maker by the name of ‘Lacy’ produced six experimental muskets for trials being carried out by the East India Company which used to train and retain its

own private army.Each weapon had a huge pike attached to its stock

and the idea was that once the gun had been fi red, the infantryman would use it to repel any cavalry charge. Horses are normally extremely reluctant to hurl themselves on to sharp points.

Sadly, at around 12 feet long the muskets proved impractical and never entered mass production. Today only one, as far as it’s known, remains and

that hangs on the wall of Pantiles Vintage Guns in Union Square.

Priced at £6,995 the .750 calibre piked musket is just one of 250 rifl es and other guns in the shop that through the internet attracts buyers from around the world and across the UK.

“We’ve got one chap coming over from America to spend a few days shopping

in Tunbridge Wells and looking at our collection,” owner John Wood (43) tells

me. “We are one of only a handful of shops in this

country dealing mainly in antique hammer guns dating

from 1850 onwards.”Most of the weapons, including

pistols, are in working order and can be bought by almost anyone.

“However, I cannot sell you ammunition unless you have a valid fi rearms license,” explains John who’s been surrounded by guns most of his life.

“Between the early 70’s and late 90’s my father, Jack, owned half a dozen gun shops, including one in Brighton and another in East Grinstead which is today run by my brother.”

Jack (67) still works in the Tunbridge Wells shop where one of the oldest pieces is a 1720 Dutch fl intlock target rifl e priced at £1,995.

Some of the stock is purchased at auctions while others pieces are traded in by collectors.

“If someone sees a particular gun they want they may well offer another in part exchange,” says John. “It’s a pretty small world where you tend to know most people, a bit like a club really.”

The shop is crammed with guns, books and memorabilia, like the large board showing samples of cartridges arranged in a circular pattern.

“Salesman used to give them away to shops as a sort of advertisement for their cartridges, although over the years most of them have been thrown away which is why this one is worth £6,500.”

But precisely what attracts John to guns?

”It’s the design of the weapon and the mechanics. People are fantastically brilliant at designing things with which to kill people.” SO

TUCKED AWAY AT THE FAR END OF THE PANTILES IS A SMALL, INNOCUOUS LOOKING SHOP THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD PASS WITHOUT A SECOND GLANCE. OPEN THE DOOR THOUGH AND YOU ENTER ANOTHER WORLD; A WORLD FULL OF HISTORY AND GUNS.


Trigger Happy

Trigger Happy

Trigger

Back in 1844 a famous gun maker by the name of ‘Lacy’ produced six experimental muskets for trials being carried out by the East India Company which used to train and retain its

own private army.Each weapon had a huge pike attached to its stock

and the idea was that once the gun had been fi red, the infantryman would use it to repel any cavalry charge. Horses are normally extremely reluctant to hurl themselves on to sharp points.

Sadly, at around 12 feet long the muskets proved impractical and never entered mass production. Today only one, as far as it’s known, remains and

that hangs on the wall of Pantiles Vintage Guns in Union Square.

Priced at £6,995 the .750 calibre piked musket is just one of 250 rifl es and other guns in the shop that through the internet attracts buyers from around the world and across the UK.

“We’ve got one chap coming over from America to spend a few days shopping

in Tunbridge Wells and looking at our collection,” owner John Wood (43) tells

TUCKED AWAY AT

HappyTUCKED AWAY AT

HappyTHE FAR END OF

HappyTHE FAR END OF

HappyTHE PANTILES IS A SMALL, INNOCUOUS LOOKING SHOP THAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD PASS WITHOUT A SECOND GLANCE.DOOR THOUGH AND YOU ENTER ANOTHER WORLD; A WORLD FULL OF HISTORY AND GUNS.

cartridges, although over

designing things with which Warners Solicitors,

‘discretion assured whatever the secret’www.warners-solicitors.co.uk114 A U G U S T 2 0 0 9

TU

NB

RID

GE

W

EL

LSsoE

£1.

50

FASHION PROPERTY ART & ANTIQUES MOTORING BEAUTY DINING INTERIORS

August 2OO9

SO

TW

T

HE

ON

E W

ITH

WE

AL

TH

IES

T V

ILL

AG

ES

AN

D T

HE

BO

HE

MIA

N B

EA

UT

Y

ISS

UE

17

Tunbridge WellsThe 20 WealthiestPlaces to Live

SIENNA MILLERWE GET UPCLOSE AND PERSONAL

DUTCHCOURAGE

DREAMHOMES

SUITABLY PRICED

THE CAR FUSING ART WITH TECHNOLOGY

INCLUDINGTHE ULTRAMODERNPARADISE

WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE TWO-PIECE

THE GOOD PUB GUIDE

INSIDE

RICHEST VILLAGES

Documents

SO Tunbridge Wells August 2009