Wealden Times | WT214 | December 2019 | Guide to Christmas supplement inside

PRICELESS
DECEMBER AUGUST
2019
GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT inside
Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes

Designed to stand the test of time
The difference is in the detail

Please call for a brochure or visit our showrooms
Unit 9, Chart Farm, Seal Chart
Sevenoaks, Kent TN15 0ES
Tel: 01732 762682
81 Calverley Road
Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2UY
Tel: 01892 520730
www.rencraft.co.uk

01580 291221 jminteriorsuk.uk
Please call to arrange an appointment at our Biddenden showroom

ENGINEERED FLOORING - From £27.50 per m 2
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OAK SLEEPERS
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BOX OF ECO-NUGGETS
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5 High Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3EB
01580 715144
Email: kld@kingsfords.net www.kingsfords-solicitors.com
We offer an excellent, swift and friendly service.
Conveyancing - Wills & Estates - Commercial Law -
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Conveyancing Services from £550.00+VAT
Wills from £220.00+VAT / Mirror Wills from £350.00+VAT
Lasting Power Of Attorney (LPA's) from £250.00+VAT
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Litigation Solicitor from £200.00+VAT
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We will always try and match any quotation
Kingsfords Solicitors Limited registered office address 2 Elwick Road, Ashford, Kent TN23 1PD
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Contents
December 2019
42
98
116
18
31
42
67
72
95
98
GARDENERS’ WEALD
Maggie Alderson’s pick of Wealden
homes with gorgeous gardens
NOTEBOOK
Santa’s grotto, a murder mystery
and a Christmas craft workshop –
all the best events this month
A BOX OF DELIGHTS
Inside the magical seaside flat of
interiors stylist Kimberley Watson
GET THE LOOK
Be inspired by Kimberley’s home
A CLASSICAL APPROACH
A gloriously restored
Elizabethan pub
GET THE LOOK
How to get some ‘classical
approach’ style for yourself
FESTIVE FLAIR
We went to Leeds Castle
this month for our
loveliest festive fashion
109
113
115
116
122
SHINE BRIGHT LIKE
A DIAMOND
Josephine Fairley’s beauty
tips to keep the festive
season sparkling (but
in a grown up way)
HAVE A HEALTHY
CHRISTMAS
Sprouts, nuts, turkey and
cranberries – we wish
you a healthy Xmas!
BANISH THE
WINTER BLUES
Keep the mind and
body healthy throughout
the festive season
GET THE PARTY
STARTED
Juliet Bidwell’s best
crowd-pleasing canapés
DREAM OF A GREEN
CHRISTMAS
Where the presents are homemade
and the trees are home grown...
Published by Priceless Media Ltd. Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street,
Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF | Call 01580 714705 | Email info@wealdentimes.co.uk
Visit wealdentimes.co.uk Copyright © 2019 Priceless Media Ltd. The views of
the advertisers & contributors are not necessarily those of Priceless Media Ltd.
131
136
145
149
150
SEASON’S TEACHINGS
Hilary Wilce celebrates the wonderful
work of educators everywhere
CHRISTMAS GUIDE
A guide to all things festive from the
exhibitors of our sister magazine’s first
ever Surrey Homes Open House
WHAT’S ON
A guide to December’s events
COMPETITION
Win a guided walk, lunch
and wine tasting for two
FABLES FROM THE FARM
Jane Howard gets ready for Christmas
with hand-picked holly, home-made
candles and a hand-selected yule log
GUIDE TO
CHRISTMAS
SUPPLEMENT
34 pages
of festive
inspiration.
After page 96.
Guide to Christmas
A Wealden Times Supplement
Su plement_Logos.in d 12 18/ 1/2019 1
Sponsored by
7
Stocking fillers Table accessories Chefs’ recipes

A.T. Palmer Ltd
Restoration Specialists Est.1949
CELEBRATING 70 YEARS IN BUSINESS
| Employed Skilled Workforce
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| Design & Build
T: 01233 770077
Smarden Business Estate, TN27 8QL
atpalmer.co.uk

DISCOVER NEW HOMES
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Specification may vary subject to house type and build stage. Full details available on request. Price and details correct at time of going to print. Interior image shown is The Weald show home. Computer Generated Images shown are indicative only.

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January 2017

HARPERS AND HURLINGHAM
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAVE A
CRACKING NEW YEAR
CRACK OPEN YOUR DREAM HOME FOR 2020
Christmas Opening Times
We are open throughout the Christmas period with the exception of
Christmas Eve - Closed Christmas Day - Closed
Boxing Day - Closed Fri 27th Dec - Closed New Years Day - Closed
Sales & Lettings Team
Harpers&Hurlingham
The Cornerhouse, Stone Street, Cranbrook
01580 715400
www.harpersandhurlingham.com
Jane Emilie Chez Cathy Sara Debbie Debbie S Caroline Dianne
Caroline J

EST
1900
IN ASSOCIATION WITH

01580 242700
wealdproperty.net
Residential Sales | Management and Lettings
SUTTON VALENCE OIEO £350,000
ROLVENDEN LAYNE OIEO £800,000
An enchanting 5-bedroom, detached Grade II listed former
A handsome 3 bedroom detached weather boarded
farmhouse with an additional 1-bedroom annexe which
cottage sitting in the heart of this sought after village.
There
garners are excellent
an enviable schools
holiday such
let revenue as Sutton
stream. Valence
Located
in
close proximity as well as fantastic transport links -
London home 55 offers mins some from of to the London finest views Bridge in from Kent, Headcorn. stretching
in a peaceful and unique rural position, this inviting family
out across the River Rother towards Tenterden.
As a
As loyal
a loyal supporter
supporter of
of local
local business business
since since
1985,
1985, this
Christmas
once again we
this are
Festive pleased
Season to be
we collaborating
are pleased to be
with
Biddenden
collaborating Christmas
with Biddenden Trees.
Christmas Book a free
Trees. sales
Book a
or
letting
complimentary valuation
sales with
or letting Weald
valuation Property
with Weald
in
November
Property in or
November December
or December and receive
and receive the
the gift
gift
of a beautiful, locally grown Christmas Tree!
of a beautiful, locally grown Christmas Tree - see below.
❄
❄
❄
❄
2 Windmill Oast,
Windmill Farm,
Rolvenden, Kent TN17 4PF
WealdPropertyWT214A.indd 1 20/11/2019 13:46
from
saturday
november
16th
For more details call
07957 44 50 57 or
01580 291260
PRE-ORDERS &
DELIVERY AVAILABLE
biddenden christmas trees are branching out!
LOCALLY GROWN
COME & JOIN US AT THE MAIN EVENT
Biddenden Christmas Trees & The Three French Hens
Silcocks Farm, Grange Road, St Michaels, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6TL AND
Frogshole Farm, Sissinghurst Road, Biddenden, Kent TN27 8EY
OPEN FROM NOV 16th - DEC 15th from 9 - 4 (Monday’s CLOSED)
More details at www.biddendenchristmastrees.co.uk
13 wealdentimes.co.uk
WealdPropertyWT214B.indd 1 11/11/2019 11:37

DESIGN & PLANNING | RESTORATION | NEW BUILD | BARN CONVERSIONS | EXTENSIONS | JOINERY
For a brochure or home consultation call 01797 366895
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Design & Planning · Restoration · Extensions
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07762 771372 07799 766248
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1 13/03/2018 12:30
Go green and
save money
What is Ground Source Heating?
Ground Source Heating is exactly what it
says. It’s a way of obtaining heating from the
ground. Ground source heat pumps are a
carbon emission free way to heat the home
using solar energy stored in the ground.
Tel: 0800 0496 939
Waters End, Standen Street,
Iden Green, Kent TN17 4LA
www.geotechdevelopments.co.uk
17 wealdentimes.co.uk
GeotechDevelopmentsWT214.indd 1 06/11/2019 16:22

House
Month
of the
£3,500,000
Gardeners’ Weald
Maggie Alderson finds homes with glorious gardens
Barelands Farm
The dream: All the character and
beamy charm of a Grade II listed
house with parts dating back to the
16th century, combined with very
desirable 21st century features, such as
solar panels and a biomass boiler. The
house is on a large property with 178
acres, or can be bought separately with
a package of 20 acres.
Where: Between Bells Yew Green
and Frant, in the country but just 10
minutes’ drive from Tunbridge Wells.
Setting: At the end of a long private
drive amid rolling countryside in a
lovely part of the High Weald.
Beds: 8 Baths: 4
Special features: The barn is 1,661
square feet of fun with a games room
big enough for a full-sized billiards
table, plus a home cinema, sauna,
steam shower and gym.
Pleasing details: An oak-framed
orangery breakfast room off the
modern country-style kitchen.
Outside: Garden, knot garden,
kitchen garden, swimming pool,
summer house, woodland, streams,
ponds, a lake…
Time to town: A 10-minute walk
to Frant station, then an hour to
Charing Cross, or six trains an hour
from Tunbridge Wells.
Price: £3,500,000 with all the land,
£2,500,000 with 20 acres.
Agent: Knight Frank, Tunbridge Wells
01892 883494 knightfrank.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
18

Heronden
£3,000,000
The dream: A small country estate
with a Grade II listed mansion of rare
elegance, with a porticoed entrance,
straight out of Jane Austen. The
proportions are typical of the era
with gloriously high ceilings and an
abundance of tall windows, drenching
every room in light. The music room
adjoins the drawing room via a lovely
arch, perfect for entertaining.
Where: On the outskirts of Tenterden,
walking distance to the high street.
Setting: Down a long private drive
in its own landscaped grounds,
surrounded by farmland.
Beds: 6 Baths: 5
Special features: A superbly elegant
sweeping staircase.
Pleasing details: Wonderful attics.
Outside: 20 acres of established
gardens and grounds, with beautiful
specimen trees.
Time to town: Half-an-hour to
Ashford, then 36 minutes to St Pancras.
Agent: Jackson Stops, Cranbrook
01580 720000 jackson-stops.co.uk
Warrenders
£2,350,000
The dream: An ultramodern house
worthy of Dr No, with two wings and a
through-flow open-plan main reception
area in the striking cantilevered flange on
the first floor.
Where: Fairlight, at the southern end of
the Wealden AONB.
Setting: A coastal hilltop with views
over the Channel and across Rye Bay to
Romney Marsh, with access to the beach
at Pett Level, three miles away.
Beds: 3 Baths: 3
Special features: A splendid indoor
heated pool with silver slate walls.
Pleasing details: The excellent storage of
a well-planned new build.
Outside: A landscaped front garden and a
productive vegetable garden with a 7,500
litre underground rain harvest tank.
Time to town: 20 minutes drive to Battle
station, then from one hour 15 minutes
to Charing Cross, London Bridge,
Waterloo East or Cannon Street.
Agent: Phillips & Stubbs, Rye
01797 227338 phillipsandstubbs.co.uk
19 wealdentimes.co.uk

4th, 5th & 6th June 2020
HOLE PARK Rolvenden TN17 4JB
Save
the Date
Tickets on sale
January 2020

THE BEAUTIFUL EVERYDAY

The Little Shop
of Horrors
5 th - 8 th December
COMING TO THE MALTHOUSE THEATRE
An Audience
with Pam Ferris
15 th December
A Christmas
Cabaret
18 th December
A Christmas
Carol
20 th & 21 st December
for more information and box office please visit:
www.malthousetheatre.co.uk
Malthouse Theatre, Malthouse Road, Canterbury, CT2 7JA
Joanna Lumley opens new theatre for Canterbury
JuniorKingWT214.indd 1 15/11/2019 14:03
On Saturday 16th November, star
actress Joanna Lumley OBE, FRGS
cut the ribbon on the spectacular
new Malthouse Theatre at the King’s School,
Canterbury. The 334-seat theatre, converted
from a Victorian industrial building, is now
home to The King’s School’s vibrant Dance
and Drama departments, as well as hosting
productions from visiting theatre groups.
Joanna, whose conductor husband Stephen
Barlow is a former pupil of the School,
entertained the audience in the theatre
by quoting words written by the King’seducated
16th Century Author Christopher
Marlowe, “Now is the time for me to play my
part”. Praising the “quite superb” facilities,
Joanna urged pupils and visitors alike to
“haunt the Malthouse and other theatres
across the land” to support the Arts.
The theatre opening formed part of a wider
celebration to mark the formal opening
of the Malthouse site, which includes a
new residential International College for
King’s and a new sports hall which is home
to the UK’s largest school fencing salle.
Standing proud as the King’s School,
Canterbury’s centre of drama, the Malthouse
also opens its doors to professional touring
productions and community projects.
Productions such as Hobson’s Choice with
John D. Collins, best known for TV’s ‘Allo!
‘Allo!, and the critically acclaimed Pantaloons’
production of Othello have already been
a huge success this autumn season.
With four shows coming this festive
season to choose from, audiences
are guaranteed to enjoy a night out
at Canterbury’s newest theatre.
No Christmas season in a Victorian Malthouse
would be complete without A Christmas Carol
on the 20th and 21st December, performed
by a multi-talented cast in The Pantaloons’
own inimitable, hilarious and moving
style. This really will be an evening out to
remember featuring live music, audience
interaction and absolutely no humbug*.
*There may be some humbug.
www.malthousetheatre.co.uk
Malthouse Theatre, Malthouse
Road, Canterbury, CT2 7JA
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
wealdentimes.co.uk
22
JuniorKingADVERTORIALWT214.indd 1 20/11/2019 17:04

visit www.krieder.com | for enquiries & brochures 01892 619721

very day was
a battle with
agonising
sciatica…but
I’m pain-free and
enjoying life again
after IDD Therapy
Sarah Gower from Marden had suffered
with back pain ‘niggles’ for a few years,
but last summer she was suddenly
struck with unbearable sciatica in her
leg which stopped her in her tracks.
Sarah explains: “For as long as I can
remember, I’ve always experienced a
degree of discomfort in my back, which
my osteopath at the time had put down to
muscular issues, but one day I woke with
the most excruciating sciatic pain which
literally floored me; I could hardly move.”
Over the following weeks Sarah’s pain and
lack of movement completely disrupted
her routine: “I couldn’t find a comfortable
sleeping position for my back and the
shooting pains in my leg woke me several
times every night; I actually ended up
sleeping on the floor out of desperation. I
couldn’t go to work, driving was impossible,
and everyday chores – even bathing and
dressing – became incredibly difficult.”
Sarah’s GP prescribed strong painkillers
but after a short while, she discovered she
was allergic to them. She was also put on
a waiting list to see a spinal surgeon: “I
knew it would be a few months before I
saw a consultant, but honestly, I really
wasn’t comfortable with the idea of
spinal injections or surgery; I’d read
about the risks and recovery periods
involved and it was a big worry for me.”
More than that, Sarah didn’t think
she’d be able to manage waiting for an
operation; she needed to get the pain sorted
as soon as possible. “I’d seen some local
magazine articles about patients who had
recovered well at Wealden Osteopaths &
Spine Centre, so I went for some handson
osteopathy to begin with, but when
I wasn’t responding, the Clinic Director
James Pickering stepped in and arranged
for me to have an MRI scan straight away;
he suspected I had some disc damage - a
possible reason for my relentless sciatica.”
James’s thoughts were confirmed; the
scan showed a herniated disc in Sarah’s
lower back. He recommended a course of
IDD Therapy, a targeted disc treatment
for persistent back pain, neck pain and
sciatica. The non-invasive treatment
uses gentle pulling forces to draw
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and irritation from trapped nerves.
James Pickering’s team is changing the lives of
slipped disc and sciatica sufferers with IDD Therapy
James’s expert team uses the programme
to help patients who find themselves
on a merry-go-round of painkillers,
physiotherapy and GP visits.
Sarah was keen to start her treatment
immediately: “James was confident
that IDD Therapy could help me; he
reassured me that it would treat the
root of my problem so that my sciatica
wouldn’t return. I knew my progress
may take some time, but I felt hopeful
at last, and I went into the treatment
programme feeling very positive.”
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
After her IDD Therapy programme,
Sarah enjoyed a pain-free holiday
on the island of Jersey
Sarah made steady progress with
IDD Therapy; halfway through the
programme, she felt a real improvement
in her pain and movement.
“I still can’t quite believe
I’m back swimming, going
to the gym and sleeping
through the night at last.”
When her course finished, she was
completely pain-free and back to her usual
routine: “Actually, I still can’t quite believe
I’m back swimming, going to the gym and
sleeping through the night at last. IDD
Therapy has been a godsend, and James’s
team has been wonderful throughout.”
James is delighted with Sarah’s progress:
“IDD Therapy continues to be an
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who are stuck in ‘limbo’ between
unsuccessful hands-on treatments,
injections and surgery. It’s our first choice
treatment for disc-related issues.”
Don’t let back pain, neck pain or
sciatica put your life on hold
To arrange a FREE 15 minute phone
consultation with one of our experts,
call: 01580 212833 or email:
enquiries@wealdenosteopaths.co.uk

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1 02/01/2019 10:00

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WindowSanctuaryWT214.indd 1 04/11/2019 16:39

“Playful,
imaginative
& original”
Noah, Audience Member and Dad
13 December - 24 December
Folkestone Quarterhouse
Mill Bay, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 1BN
Ticket prices: Adult £8 | Children £7 | Family £27 | Schools £5
Box Office 01303 760750 www.creativefolkestone.org.uk

Notebook
What to do and see near you this month
Christmas
at the
Manor
Christmas at a Neo-Elizabethan country manor/spa is about as luxurious and
idealistic as you would expect. A covered ice skating rink here, a Christmas
boutique there, afternoon teas, delicious dining, a New Year’s black tie gala
and a murder mystery. And of course all the spa treatments you could ask
for to get you feeling entirely pampered, because it’s Eastwell Manor and it
is also a Champneys Spa. The cuisine is award winning, with a new festive
menu and a new look for the Manor Restaurant. The afternoon teas are
delightfully served with a selection of sweet treats, savouries, sandwiches and
fresh warm scones, and can be booked with 50 minutes of ice skating as well
for just £99 for a family of four. Christmas Eve can be spent with a round
of golf, canapés in the Manor Bar and carol singing around the Christmas
tree. Christmas day will have a falconry display, mulled wine and roasted
chestnuts on the Manor Terrace and the Chef’s superb traditional Christmas
lunch in front of a huge stone fire place. All in all the manor is taking your
Christmas dreams and bringing them to life this year. eastwellmanor.co.uk
Garden of
light
Inspired by Kent’s rich heritage and
picturesque landscape, McArthurGlen
Designer Outlet Ashford has brought
visitors a truly unique interactive
installation. The garden of light is
a multi-sensory experience which
invites you to play with light itself.
It’s free to enter, but is collecting
donations for William Harvey
Hospital and is located within the
Outlet’s new extension – a festive
shopping destination complete
with inflatable snowglobe, highly
Instagrammable Christmas lights,
and new shops including Doc
Martin, Zwilling, Largerfeld, and
Ugg. ashforddesigneroutlet.com
Iced gems
Garden Gems in Rye’s
Christmas Fayre is coming
to town on Saturday 14 and
Sunday 15 December. Expect
market stalls full of goodies,
face painting, carol singers from
Rye Primary School, mulled
cider, homemade hot chocolate,
real Christmas trees, free kids’
decoration colouring and a free
Santa’s grotto garden-gems.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk

Notebook
Who dunnit?
It’s Friday 13, you’re in a 14th Century
palace, on a trip to the thirties for an
unforgettable evening of sleuthing and
feasting. A murderer is on the loose and
over a three course meal you have just one
question to answer: Who dunnit? Tickets cost
£75 per head, are limited and sold for group
sizes of four or more. penshurstplace.com
Christmas
past
Visit Michelham Priory House &
Gardens this month for a series of festive
events with Sussex Past. On weekends
up to Sunday 15 December there will
be hearty fare, music and activities with
Christmas at the Priory. Wednesday
4 and Sunday 7 will be designated
for wreath making workshops and on
Thursday 5 December, Christmas at
the Courtyard will have carols, discount
shopping and a two course dinner in
an Elizabethan barn. sussexpast.co.uk
if
sight
beautiful A
It’s back! Hyde Park’s
Winter Wonderland returns for
another year and it is the place to be
for the festive season. On our to-do list
there’s the UK’s largest open air ice rink, Bar
Ice, Ice Sculpting worshops, Paddington on Ice,
Santa Land’s 45m Ice Slide (yes ice is a big part of
Winter Wonderland), Zippos Christmas Circus
and Cirque Berserk, Bar Hütte Karaoke, the
brand new Cedar & Spruce Bar & Kitchen,
the Magical Ice Kingdom, and of course
the 70m Giant Wheel. For starters.
hydeparkwinterwonderland.com
LOOK FORWARD: JANUARY
It’s time to dust off your binoculars and refill the birdfeeders
– the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch returns from Saturday
25 to Monday 27 January. All you need is a good place to
while away an hour watching the birds and you can do your
bit to help the RSPB research Britain’s many wonderful species.
They have been recording data this way for over 40 years
and it really helps to monitor trends and better understand
how the birds are doing. It’s a lovely way to spend time in
nature, to learn about what’s going on in your own backyard
and to give the birds a little helping hand too! rspb.org.uk
l
The greatest
grotto
On selected days between Sunday 1 and
Sunday 22 December, Santa will be
waiting, just a Snow Train trip away,
in Painshill’s incredible crystal covered
cave. Santa will be meeting individual
family groups so tickets are limited
and advance booking is required, and
are on sale now at £10 for adults and
£18.50 for children. painshill.co.uk
Christmas
Crafts
Get in the festive mood with a short but
sweet Christmas Wreath Workshop with
Clare from See Rose Floral Design at The
Milkhouse in Sissinghurst on Wednesday
4 December. There will be a quick
introduction to cut flowers and foliage, a
demonstration of how to make a Christmas
door wreath, then you’ll design and make
your own. A festive welcome drink and
nibbles will be provided as well as gorgeous
seasonal flowers, materials and tools for just
£50 per person. seerosefloraldesign.com
wealdentimes.co.uk
32

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23rd NOVEMBER -
Discover magical decorations at Leeds Castle every day
1st JANUARY
Christmas Market weekends only until 15th December
LEEDS CASTLE | KENT
leeds-castle.com/Christmas
MEDIA PARTNERS

WEDNESDAY 4 DECEMBER
Festive wreath making workshop 7–9.30
SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER
Cracking Christmas crafting with TMH elves 4–6
FRIDAY 13 DECEMBER
A chorus of carols with Trinity Church 7.30PM
WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER
Christmas movie marathon 4–10 PM
T HURSDAY 19 DECEMBER
Christmas concert with Cranbrook Town Band 7.30PM
FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER
Rock around the Christmas tree with
Indigo Sea 7–9PM
PM
PM
TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER
CHRI STMAS EVE
Christmas feasting 12–9PM
Go crackers! Christmas tinsel tunes 8PM–LATE
WEDNESDAY 25 DECEMBER
CHRISTMAS DAY
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THURSDAY 26 DECEMBER
BOXING DAY
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FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER
Warm & fuzzy live music 7–10PM
TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER
NEW YEA R’S EVE
Family roast with the most 12 – 4PM
Firework fodder: hot dogs & DIY hot choc 4–7PM
Out with a bang! Family fireworks 5PM
Dinner in the Dining Room 8PM–LATE
Saddle up for The Outriders Band 8PM–LATE
WEDNESDAY 1 J ANUARY
NEW YEAR’S DAY
Wrap it up long lunch 12–4PM
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37 wealdentimes.co.uk
MilkHouseWT214.indd 1 20/11/2019 Untitled-12 15:26 1 11/11/2019 11:57

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
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Editor’s
Letter
After chatting to my colleague, Katie, on the phone
earlier, I realised quite how fast Christmas has crept
up this year. Whilst it’s true that we start planning
our Midwinter Fair, festive features and supplements for the
magazine months before the big day itself, I’m always left with
a mad dash a few days before the shops close their doors to
grab last-minute gifts and brave the dreaded mega supermarket
shop! So, this year, with a jump from one to three little people
for Father Christmas to visit, I’m making an early New Year’s
resolution to practise what I preach and give myself a little time
to plan, and enjoy the run-up to 25 December with my family.
With this in mind, Rebecca and I, alongside new
addition to the editorial team, Emily, have compiled a
special Guide to Christmas Supplement, with foodie,
gift and interiors ideas to inspire and help you on your
way to creating a stress-free day for everyone to enjoy.
We were thrilled that WT stylist Kimberley Watson agreed
to style her own beautiful Hastings apartment, which she
decorated to the nines with colour and sparkles for a special
festive shoot on page 42. Plus we’ve taken a look inside Toby
and Megan Osborne’s spacious Edwardian house to find
out how they renovated it into a stunning family home.
Enjoy your Wealden Times and have a very merry Christmas!
Wealden Times Team
Editor ............................................................................................ Lucy Fleming
Deputy Editor ..................................................................................Emily Pavey
News & Features Editor ...............................................................Rebecca Cuffe
Fashion Editor ............................................................................. Kate Liz Watts
Design .........................................................................................Powerful Pierre
Design Director ..........................................................................Anthony Boxall
Design Team ................................................................................ Ryan Huggins
Phoebe O’Leary
Tanya Goldsmith
Executive Chairman ...................................................................... Julie Simpson
Managing Director .............................................................. Vivien Cotterill-Lee
Sales Manager ................................................................................... Jen Shearer
Senior Account Manager ................................................................ Sara Henslow
Maria Hurley
Distribution ................................................................................. Kate Liz Watts
Wealden Times Events Team
Sales Account Manager ...................................................................... Joy Adams
Jude Brown
Show Director ................................................................................. Flo Simpson
Events Assistant .....................................................................................Ed Steele
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© 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C.
Where to find your copy of
Call 01580 714705 to find your nearest distributor of
Wealden Times or to have your free copy delivered
for 12 months for just £22 postage
Distribution of Wealden Times published in Cranbrook for Kent & Sussex.
Alfriston
• Emmett & White
Antiques & Interiors
• The Dressing Room
at Emmett & White
Ashford
• Eastwell Manor
• Hunters
• Kingsfords Solicitors
• M&S Food Hall
• Perry Court Farm
• Secret Garden, Kent
• Waterstones
Battle
• British Design
British Made
• Jempson’s
Benenden
• Village Shop
Bexhill
• Sivyers Antique
Emporium
• M&S Food Hall
Biddenden
• The Bakehouse
• Bloomsburys
• Costcutter
Bluewater
• John Lewis
Food Hall
Boughton Aluph
• Perry Court
Farmshop
Boughton
Monchelsea
• The Cock Inn
Bromley
• The Glades
Shopping Centre
Burwash
• Londis
Canterbury
• Benton Kitchens
• Fenwick
• Gibson’s Farm Shop
• The Goods Shed
• M&S Food Hall
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Shopping Centre
Charing
• Post Office
Chilham
• Bagham Barn
Antiques
Cranbrook
• Ashwal Garage
• Cocolicious
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House
• Hartley Dyke
Farmshop
• Jackson-Stops
& Staff
• Kingsfords Solicitors
• Pages
Crowborough
• Costa Coffee
Eastbourne
• Waterstones
Eridge
• Fuller’s Farm Shop
Faversham
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Fine Foods
Five Ashes
• Heals
Flimwell
• The Weald Smokery
Folkestone
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the Castle
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Lewes
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BussMurtonWT214Q.indd 1 20/11/2019 17:16

A box of delights
Interiors stylist Kimberley Watson has created
a magical space in a tiny seaside flat
Words: Maggie Alderson
Photographs: David Merewether
Styling: Kimberley Watson
wealdentimes.co.uk
42

43 wealdentimes.co.uk

SMART
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Previous pages: A bow window is dressed with handmade yellow silk
curtains that Kimberley sourced from a friend’s client. The Murano glass
chandelier was a charity shop find Above: Kimberley chose a rich teal
from Papers and Paints for the walls and ceiling of the sitting room. She
found the painted wood mantelpiece on eBay
There is a particular joy in returning to visit a home you
have seen only very much in the ‘before’ stage. In this
case, the last time I saw Kimberley Watson’s flat in a
Regency terrace on Hastings Old Town seafront, I literally had
to step over rubble from opening up the fireplace to get inside.
Despite the chaos the space did have good bones, with
the uniquely satisfying proportions of houses of that era
and a beautiful floor-to-ceiling bay window in the sitting
room, opening on to a balcony looking across to the sea.
But even beyond that – and knowing from Kimberley’s work as
an interiors stylist (often for this magazine) that she would make
it into something special – there was one detail from that first
visit which made me determined to return to see it finished.
In the muddled area to the rear that she assured me would
one day be the kitchen there was a large vintage dolls house.
It seemed an odd stage of the renovation to be moving in
45 wealdentimes.co.uk

COLLINS
BESPOKE
Beautiful Kitchens
W: collinsbespoke.com| T: 01233 822595 | E: info@collinsbespoke.com
Showroom and Workshop: Unit 40, Old Surrenden Manor, Bethersden, Kent TN26 3DL

While Kimberley does seem to have had plenty of these fated lucky breaks with
her renovation, she has also made a lot of her own luck, making an effort with
small details, which make a big difference to the overall feel of a room.
47 wealdentimes.co.uk

“I found the bureau at Ardingly – and
it was the colour I had already decided
I wanted to paint the flat. Then when I
started stripping the walls I found several
layers of wallpaper and one of them
was the same colour as the bureau.”
treasured possessions, so I asked Kimberley why it was
there. “It’s going to be a kitchen cupboard,” she said. A
light went on in my head – this I would have to see.
So, on arriving at the flat this time, now reconfigured, with
a bedroom where there hadn’t been one before, and styled
with Kimberley’s amazing flair, the kitchen was the first place
I headed for… and there it was. The dolls house, mounted
on the wall, all the wallpaper still in place inside, a perfect
storage space for cereal, tea bags, etc. An utter delight.
I can only imagine how it would feel to rent this flat on
Airbnb – where London-based Kimberley makes it available,
when she’s not taking a seaside break herself – and find
that dolls house cupboard in the kitchen. I think my squeal
would be audible from the beach and that is just one of
many details to delight over in Kimberley’s finished scheme.
The realisation that you are entering somewhere out
of the ordinary hits you the moment you step over the
wealdentimes.co.uk
48

THE SEASON FOR
SHARING
Friends, family, good food and great conversation. It’s the season for sharing quality time with the
ones who matter. And to make those occasions even more memorable, we have special offers just
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Finance options available.
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wealdentimes.co.uk
50
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2 29/06/2018 10:33

Above: High ceilings and luxe touches of gold and marble add to a sense of grandeur, making the flat feel
much larger than it really is. A round mirror, with ridges not dissimilar to an ammonite, sits above
the mantelpiece adorned with an eclectic mix of ornaments, artworks and faux plants
51 wealdentimes.co.uk

An impressively large parlour palm turns out to be, like all the house plants, a
very good fake – and an amazing bargain. “I noticed they were taking down
a display in River Island’s flagship store on Oxford Street,” says Kimberley
“and they were getting rid of all the fake plants. I bought this one from
them for £8 and managed to get it home to Hackney on the bus.”
threshold. The first thing you see on the wall opposite the
front door – only about four-feet away in the very compact
hallway – is a set of splendid French double doors.
The scale of them in the confined space, draws
your attention to the lovely high ceilings and gives an
immediate sense of grandeur, plus an understanding
that this might be a small place, but it has big idea. It’s
also the first of the many professional styling ‘hacks’
that Kimberley has used to make her flat so special.
Another is that she found the doors, plus a matching
set, for a very reasonable price on eBay. So many of
the brilliant effects in the flat have been achieved
with minimal outlay, either because of the places she
sourced them, or through thinking laterally how to do
something, as with the dolls house kitchen cupboard.
Stepping into the sitting room, another example of savvy
sourcing comes into view. An impressively large parlour
palm turns out to be, like all the house plants, a very
good fake – and an amazing bargain. “I noticed they were
taking down a display in River Island’s flagship store on
Oxford Street,” says Kimberley “and they were getting rid
of all the fake plants. I bought this one from them for £8
and managed to get it home to Hackney on the bus.”
London is Kimberley’s base, but after she inherited
money from her late mother she decided to invest it in
a getaway. Like many people who buy in Hastings, her
familiarity with the town came from a South London
childhood, with many outings to that stretch of
wealdentimes.co.uk
52

The new Hoxton range by Parker Knoll
Parker Knoll is still producing high quality furniture in Britain after 150 years.
This new Hoxton range is inspired by 1920’s Art Deco to celebrate the company’s many years of
rich heritage and to reflect the originally commissioned furniture by Cunard from that period.
Currently on show in our Eastbourne store.
Wealden House, Cross In Hand 01435 863921 116 South Street, Eastbourne 01323 722921
www.davidsalmon.co.uk

NOVEMBER 16 - DECEMBER 21
RYE ART GALLERY
107 High Street Rye East Sussex TN31 7JE Tel: 01797 222433
www.ryeartgallery.co.uk ryeartgallery@gmail.com
Open daily. See website for Demonstration and Masterclass information

Above: A Belfast sink sits on a unit that was being taken out of a friend’s bathroom
close seaside – although she says the sea wasn’t her
original motivation for the choice of location.
“I was looking for somewhere that suited my budget,”
she laughs. “Until now I’ve never been a huge lover of the
sea, but since having this place, I absolutely love it.”
The view over to it is wonderfully framed by that
bow window in the sitting room – but there is so
much else that is interesting to look at in the room,
you might be forgiven for not even noticing it.
First of all there is the wonderful vivid teal blue of
the walls and ceilings, painted in a colour from Papers
and Paints, the specialist shop in Chelsea, which is
Kimberley’s favourite source of decorating materials.
Kimberley knew this was the colour she wanted for this
room from the moment she bought the flat and then, in
a kismet way that seems to have happened a lot with
55 wealdentimes.co.uk

Design. Inspire. Install.
01732 350911
townsbathrooms.co.uk

Above: A special feature of the kitchen is the original
stone wall, which was revealed when flaking plaster was
chipped away Below: The dolls house, mounted on
the wall, all the wallpaper still in place inside, makes a
perfect storage space for kitchen cupboard staples
this project, things seemed to fall into place around it.
“I found the bureau at Ardingly – and it was the
colour I had already decided I wanted to paint the flat.
Then, when I started stripping the walls, I found several
layers of wallpaper and one of them was the same colour
as the bureau. I found the mantelpiece on eBay, with
wood painted to have a marble effect, the perfect colour
to go with the floor which was already painted.”
The final touch in the blue/green scene is the marble
hearth, which Kimberley found by chance on eBay. “It was
in Dorset, so a friend and I collected it after a weekend there.
It was the perfect match for the painted surround,” she says.
The curtains, in a yellow that contrasts brilliantly with
the teal walls, were another of Kimberley’s lucky finds – and
cost precisely nothing. “A friend who is a gardener told
me that one of his clients was getting rid of some curtains
and didn’t want anything for them, just to have them
taken away. They are silk, handmade and interlined.”
Another of these lucky breaks happened with the wall
lights on either side of the fireplace. “I had the electrician
57 wealdentimes.co.uk

In the kitchen, an old Welsh dresser has been updated with dark grey
paint and new metal handles in the shape of beetles. A piece of marble
has been fitted into the top and an induction hob set on that
here for just one more afternoon and I realised I
didn’t have any wall lights for him to install in the
sitting room. I went rushing out to the junk shops of
Hastings Old Town and luckily came across these in
Roberts Rummage in the High Street. They are
made of agate – and were only £5 each.”
But while Kimberley does seem to have had
plenty of these fated lucky breaks with her
renovation, she has also made a lot of her own
luck, making an effort with small details, which
wealdentimes.co.uk
58

A different
perspective…
A warming welcome. A golden glow.
A childhood memory. A dusting of magic.
We believe in homes for every occasion,
whatever the season.
Neptune Canterbury, 01227 209300
Neptune Tonbridge, 01732 351866
neptune.com

RENOVATE OR SIMPLY UPDATE
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or call 01892 888 684 and ask for Lisa.
TUNBRIDGE WELLS SHOWROOM
Unit 5, Tunbridge Wells Trade Park, Longfield Rd, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3QF

This page: The wonderfully romantic bedroom is like a film set from the 1950s. The room is taken up almost entirely by a steel
bed, made up with dramatic floral bed linen, from John Lewis, dressed with a floral counterpane and a purple fake fur throw
make a big difference to the overall feel of a room.
In this spirit, she had surrounds made for the two sets
of double doors, copying the original trim around the
bay windows. She put in dado rails and skirting, and
created the effect of panelling by tacking up old picture
frames and painting them the same colour as the walls.
Kimberley also found a way to echo the original
ceiling rose in the sitting room, bedroom and
61 wealdentimes.co.uk

I can only imagine how it would feel to rent this flat on Airbnb – where London-based
Kimberley makes it available, when she’s not taking a seaside break herself. The realisation that
you are entering somewhere out of the ordinary hits you the moment you step over the threshold
kitchen. “They are plastic, from B&Q…” Painted the
same colour as the ceilings, they look just the part.
Also in rich evidence in the sitting room is Kimberley’s
stylist touch, with a wonderful blend of ornaments and
cushions, which are a mix of eBay and charity shop finds – she
is a vigilant visitor to such establishments – and TK Maxx
specials, combined with carefully chosen anchor pieces.
The wonderful Murano glass chandelier was a charity
shop scoop, the jungly cushions from TK and the lovely
brass and glass shelves more of an investment, from Swoon
Editions. The sofa was off eBay, along with the table which
became available from the same owner. “I even bought her
floral carpet for my London house,” laughs Kimberley.
The same combination is found in the kitchen, at the
back of the flat, where an old Welsh dresser has been
updated with dark grey paint and new beetle-shaped
metal handles. The dresser was saved from a friend of
Kimberley’s, who was going to put it in a skip, until she
decided she could make it work as her main kitchen unit.
A piece of marble (eBay) has been fitted into the top and
an induction hob set on that. The Belfast sink sits on a
unit that was being taken out of a friend’s bathroom.
What about the light fitting? I ask. “I found it on
the street,” says Kimberley. For someone with an eye as
refined as hers, treasures truly can be found anywhere.
In this kitchen, one special feature was already in place:
the original stone wall, which was revealed when flaking
plaster was chipped away. Kimberley sealed it and left it to
add an earthy touch to this quite otherworldly residence.
The bedroom, on the front side of the flat, has a
special atmosphere all of its own. You enter from the
sitting room, via the second set of double doors, which
Kimberley leaves open allowing extra light to pour
through from the large window in the bedroom, in a
kind of ‘when is a wall, not a wall?’ arrangement.
It also allows a glimpse of the glorious rhubarb pink
paint (also from Papers and Paints) on the walls and ceiling
in here. Stepping inside, it has a wonderfully camp feel
to it, very romantic, like a film set from the 1950s.
The room is taken up almost entirely by a steel bed – gifted
to Kimberley by a friend – made up with dramatic floral bed
linen, from John Lewis, dressed with a floral counterpane
and a purple fake fur throw. There is a fluffy pink sheepskin
rug on the floor, you can just imagine sinking your toes into,
with a white one on a gold salon chair by the window.
The dramatic brass and glass light fitting is made from
wealdentimes.co.uk
62

THE LEADING AUCTIONEERS IN THE SOUTH EAST
Abraham Ortelius, Map of ‘Maris Pacifici’,
first published 1589 (dated), Theatrum Orbis
Terrarum Latin edition, later hand-coloured,
35.5cm x 50cm SOLD FOR £2,000
• Regular selected sales including
Fine Art, Asian Art, Jewellery, Silver,
Clocks, Medals, Watches, Wines
and Furniture
• Weekly sales of antiques, collectables
and general items from £50 to £1,000
(Payment made in two working days)
• Free internet listing for all sales
• Free auction estimates
• Valuations for Insurance
and Probate
For a FREE valuation on items you would like
to auction, simply email your images to:
tunbridge.wells@gorringes.co.uk
To arrange an appointment call:
01892 556 860
www.gorringesauctions.co.uk
Grosvenor House, Grosvenor Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2BF
5333-Gorringes (WT) (Dec2019) 130x185.indd 1 08/11/2019 12:33
GorringesWT214.indd 1 08/11/2019 14:24
Opened in June 2019 Bluebell Cemetery is a privately-owned cemetery offering facilities
for traditional burial, woodland burial, cremation services and the placement of remains.
Set within 28 acres of natural beauty containing ancient woodland that features a
variety of flora and fauna, the beautiful grounds have been developed to provide a
venue for funeral services whilst maintaining an ambience of peace and tranquillity.
Located close to junction 4 of the M25, the cemetery has easy access to the
motorway and Knockholt Railway Station which are both about one mile away.
• Non-denominational Chapel with seating for 100
• 1-hour Service Times
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• Ample Parking
Watercroft’s Wood, Old London Road, Halstead, Kent, TN14 7AE
www.bluebellcemetery.com
Tel: 01959 533769 Email: info@bluebellcemetery.com
63 wealdentimes.co.uk
BluebellCemeteryWT212.indd 1 18/09/2019 17:11

PLOT OR NOT?
If you think your land or property has development potential,
why not give us a call without obligation and in confidence.
WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR LAND AND PROPERTY WITH DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL
Many of our clients retain our services and, in the majority of
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Commercial buildings for residential conversion, former public houses, redundant
buildings for redevelopment, buildings for conversion or replacement, houses
for improvement, large sites on the edge of town, barn conversions, large
gardens in residential areas and major regeneration projects.
Contact Stephen Donnelly on
07739 514350 or 01892 579937
website: sjd-projects.com
email: steve@sjd-projects.com
For regular updates, visit us at
twitter.com/projects
SJDprojectsWT214.indd 1 01/11/2019 14:49
Pur Connectio Pet
wealdentimes.co.uk
64
PureConnectionPetsWT214.indd 1 31/10/2019 16:31

This page: A chandelier from nationallighting.co.uk illuminates the sage green shower room, complete with an ornate pedestal basin
two lights that belonged to Kimberley’s mother and increasing
the sense of space there are mirrors on each of the doors,
reflecting light back into the one on the wall next to the bed.
The curtains, with blousy pink roses on a pistachio green
background, which contrasts with the pink walls, are another
of Kimberley’s great finds. “I’ve had them for years,” she
says. “I found them in a charity shop and finally this was
the right place for them. To make them fit, I tore them into
sections and layered them, leaving the edges raw, and then
pinned blackout curtains from IKEA onto the back.”
Tied back with lavish yellow tassels, it’s an arrangement
it would take 30 years’ experience as a stylist to have
the confidence to do – and it looks fantastic, the
perfect frame for the view across to the beach, which
was the whole point for Kimberley. “I wanted to be
able to sit in the bed and look out to sea,” she says.
And in this gorgeous bedroom, it’s hard to imagine
doing so without wearing a fluffy marabou bed jacket,
with a heart shaped box of chocolates close to hand.
Admiring all the details – the brass table with a brass vanity
mirror on it, the wonderful 1950s painting of a lady in a pink
dress – once again, I can imagine the excitement of seeing
this room in real life, having booked it for an Airbnb stay.
Indeed, I am rather tempted to book it myself. Even
though I live just 10 minutes’ walk away, a weekend in this
magical flat would feel like an escape to another realm.
Address Book:
You can book a stay at Kimberley’s
apartment at airbnb.co.uk/rooms/35037668
Papers and Paints papersandpaints.co.uk
Roberts Rummage 68 High
Street, Hastings Old Town
Swoon Editions swooneditions.com
65 wealdentimes.co.uk

The finest of British
Country Outbuildings
From Passmores - Est 1909
Specialist mess free beam
renovation process, the
alternative to blasting.
01424 259733
www.bespokebeams.co.uk
The ideal home for your
daily run around or classic car
OAK FRONTED
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AND STAND ALONE
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View our picture gallery on line
for ideas and inspiration.
Excellent range and service.
HIGH STREET, STROOD
ROCHESTER, KENT ME2 4DR
Est 1909
Tel: 01634 290033
For further information visit : www.passmores.co.uk
AFTER
BEFORE
PassmoresWT171.indd 1 11/04/2016 BespokeBeamsWT209.indd 10:53
1 10/07/2019 12:52
Classic interior design for contemporary living.
From single rooms to whole house projects.
Supply of an extensive range of
designer fabrics and furnishings.
Tenterden Roofing Co.
Established roofing in Kent and Sussex
• Kent Peg Tiling • Clay & Concrete Plain Tiling • Interlocking Concrete Tiling
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email: tenterdenroofingcompany@gmail.com
call: 01580 241000 / 01233 860301 • mobile: 07921 509 564
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Tel 01233 513878 07789 863488
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wealdentimes.co.uk
66
TenterdenRoofingWT202.indd 1 22/01/2019 CrabtreeDesignWT199.indd 15:08
1 08/08/2018 11:12

Get the
LOOK
1 Filigree circle mirror, £129, The Farthing thefarthing.co.uk 2 Flamingo bauble, £8, John Lewis johnlewis.com
3 Eichholtz chandelier, £2,490, Sweetpea & Willow sweetpeaandwillow.com 4 Lucinda photo frame,
£25, Laura Ashley lauraashley.com 5 Bauble garland, £59, Marquis & Dawe marquisanddawe.co.uk 6 Framed
botanical fern prints, £165, The Farthing thefarthing.co.uk 7 Butterfly decoration, £12.99, Historic Royal
Palaces historicroyalpalaces.com 8 Flamingo hook, £16, Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com 9 Kitchen Makers Somerton
in Baltic green storage cupboard, £6,800, Burbidge burbidge.co.uk 10 Handmade cockatoo candle holder,
£168, Audenza audenza.com 11 Teal fringe cushion, £30, The French Bedroom Co frenchbedroomcompany.co.uk
12 Flamingo snowglobe, £15, Paperchase paperchase.co.uk 13 Evelyn velvet chair, £289, Cult Furniture cultfurniture.com
14 Gold horn leg side table, £175, Audenza, audenza.com 15 Gold 6ft garland, £14, B&Q diy.com

Midwinter Fair!
We take a look back at this year’s three-day
festive shopping extravaganza

This year’s Midwinter Fair was, yet again, the
perfect place to launch the festive season.
We were delighted to welcome so many of
our regular visitors plus all the WT readers
and first timers who joined us over the three days of
the fair. Despite being the end of a very wet couple
of months, we were warm, dry and had a great time
inside our Christmassy tented village at Beltring,
tucked away in the fields beside the Hop Farm.
The exhibitors, as ever, provided a fantastic range
of gifts, homewares and fashion which we all need
to create the perfect Christmas. Over 250 stands –
handpicked by our events team – were a mixture
of old favourites plus new brands which they’d
sourced throughout the year. The best dressed stand
competition was won by Millie and Rose Designs.
With special commendations going to Eclectica
Vintage, So Cosy, Rising Star and The Make Shed.
The difficult job of choosing a best when the
standard was so high went to the fair’s new stylist,
Lizzi Smith. You’ll find this year’s winners showcased
around the entrance at next year’s Midwinter Fair.
No day out is complete without good coffee and
Fine Grind of Tunbridge Wells and Coffee Buzz kept
“So many of our exhibitors
compliment us every year on
what a joy it is to work with
our visitors who are always
friendly, fun and polite”
the crowds topped up while Dotty About Cake’s
fabulous confections and Oatopia’s fabulous flapjacks
kept hunger at bay. Once we reached lunchtime
the range of food in the Street Food Café and Café
Bar made sure that every taste was catered for while
Miss B’s Bubbles Prosecco Bar kept all our spirits
up with bubbly, G&Ts and beer, literally, on tap.
One of the highlights of this year’s show were the
much-talked about shepherds’ hut loos – the last
word in country chic! Event Washrooms and Event
Electrix you are so clever to create something so
stylish and fun out of what is basically a portaloo!
So many of our exhibitors compliment us every
year on what a joy it is to work with our visitors
who are always friendly, fun and polite (apparently
this is not always the case at other fairs!) and this
helps to create a really special atmosphere. So, the
final words must go to all of you who joined us
this year and made the three days such fun and a
real joy to be part of. Thank you so much for your
support, we wish you a very happy Christmas and
can’t wait to see you again at Hole Park in June.
Keep up to date with Wealden Times Midsummer
and Midwinter Fairs and find information on all this
year’s exhibitors online at wealdentimes.co.uk/events.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Meet the Sponsor
David Cole, Director of Burfields House Wealth Management Ltd, the
sponsor of this year’s Midwinter Fair, speaks to WT about financial peace of
mind and the importance Burfields House places on supporting charities
Tell us a bit about what you
do at Burfields House Wealth
Management. Why is it important
to seek financial advice?
We help our clients, who are from all
walks of life, and their families to plan
and protect their financial future. We
provide face-to-face bespoke advice and
focus on building long-term relationships
with them to work towards achieving
their financial and often life goals. Our
clients appreciate the financial peace of
mind that our experience provides, which
is no different to the value they place on
any other expertise, such as a mechanic,
accountant, solicitor or dentist.
Wealth management can sound
quite daunting. How can you
help potential clients make the
best financial decisions?
Yes, it sounds daunting but look at it like
understanding your financial health for
today and tomorrow. Our clients all have
different needs, challenges and goals.
How do they protect and grow their
financial wealth? Not just investment
returns and their appetite for risk, but
ensuring they are being tax efficient
or protecting themselves against the
potentially costly impact of a critical
illness, long-term care or Inheritance Tax.
We support our clients through
reviewing the options and the decisionmaking
process, so they are confident
they have a plan that’s fit for them.
Also, we help clients navigate how they
financially support both down as well
as up the generations and the increasing
desire to consider the impact beyond
tomorrow, investing sustainably in a
legacy for those generations yet to come.
you clearly do a lot with the
local community. Why is this
so important to you?
Life is not all about making money! As
a locally based business that employs
local people we believe we should all
support each other and we are delighted
to help and support small local charities,
events and surrounding projects
which benefit all in our community.
Tell us about your work with
the Tongole Foundation and
what do you do with them?
The Tongole Foundation is something
I am very proud to be involved with. It
was created by myself and friend and
business colleague David Gridley, in
memory of my daughter’s boyfriend
who was killed in a tragic accident on
his way home from football training
in Cranbrook, Kent, in 2007. The
foundation was set up to help support
children in Malawi, (see photo below)
where he originally came from.
Sadly, many children in that part of
the world do not have the facilities or
the opportunities our children benefit
from here in the UK. Their schools
lack funding for even the basics, such
as chalk, paper or pens, and more often
than not, there is no shelter to protect
pupils and teachers from the sun or rain.
By the time we finish our work
building and restoring classrooms
and ancillary buildings, the children
have all of the above, plus the chance
for a better future. Education is the
most sustainable way for them to
work their way out of poverty, which
in the long-term benefits them, their
families and their community.
If Wealden Times readers would like
to find out more, I would encourage
them to go to the Tongole Foundation
website thetongolefoundation.org
where they can view the video
narrated by Clare Balding.
01580 211211
burfieldshousewm.co.uk
Burfields House Wealth Management Ltd is an Appointed Representative of and represents only St. James's Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and
regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the group's wealth management products and services, more details of which are
set out on the group's website sjp.co.uk/products. The titles 'Partner' and 'Partner Practice' are marketing terms used to describe St. James's Place representatives.
wealdentimes.co.uk
70

fabrics & wallpaper • curtains & blinds • headboards & upholstery • lighting • home accessories
EnsorInteriorDesignWT212.indd 1 09/09/2019 14:51
Precision, your local independant Porsche Specialists.
Service whilst still under warranty?
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71 wealdentimes.co.uk
PrecisionPorscheWT213.indd 1 31/10/2019 15:35

A Classical Approach
Photographs: David Merewether
Words & styling: Clare MacDonald
wealdentimes.co.uk
72

With their lifelong love of design
and architecture, Toby and Megan
Osborne have restored a down-at-heel
guest house to its stately elegance
This page: A contemporary dining table jostles comfortably
with an eclectic mix of secondhand dining chairs, all
Ebay finds. A sideboard was sourced from Oka
After enjoying an early morning coffee in the
picturesque country town of Cranbrook, I
can wholeheartedly understand why creative
couple, Toby and Megan, were attracted down
to this beautiful area. For any young family, the
heady cocktail of rolling scenery, wide skies, fresh
air and gorgeous villages is difficult to resist.
However, having been used to the generous Victorian
proportions of South London, their challenge was to
find a home that not only provided all the benefits of
the countryside, but also accommodated their desire
for spacious rooms, high ceilings and large windows.
When an unusually tall building came onto the market,
they were ready to pounce. This imposing Edwardian house
had originally been built as a pub after an Elizabethan
coaching inn on the site had burned down in the early
1900s. Set comfortably in a generous courtyard of
73 wealdentimes.co.uk

CATCHPOLE & RYE
KENT ENGLAND
EXCLUSIVE LUXURY BATHROOMS
LONDON • TUNBRIDGE WELLS • ASHFORD
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Le Vingt-Neuf - Polished Exterior

Above left: A bespoke boot and shoe rack, designed by
Toby clearly demands attention from any passing parent
who has ever yelled ‘boots!’ on a rainy day Above right
and bottom left: An old butcher’s block, which was found
locally, serves as a work station, and doubles as a showcase
for Toby’s much loved collection of Le Creuset casseroles
outbuildings and stables, the building overlooks what
Toby explains was once the cricket pitch and post office.
“It was in a sorry state when we first saw it,” reports Toby.
“Having been a guest house, the interior was divided into
lots of small spaces. Every room seemed to be painted either
custard or mustard, with the exception of the drawing room
which was blood red!” Fortunately, the pair had vision.
“We could see the building had good bone structure.”
For Toby, an architectural and interior designer, tackling
renovation projects is in the blood. “My parents were
forever buying properties, doing them up, then moving
on,” he explains. He remembers being actively involved
in project managing from a young age. “I was often
to be found telling various contractors where this wall
or that socket was going.” This skill set, absorbed by
osmosis, has meant that Toby has a solid understanding of
buildings and a natural ability to transform tired and
perhaps tricksy interiors into desirable living spaces.
75 wealdentimes.co.uk

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Stepping into the house via the old stable yard, I am struck by a sudden pang
of storage envy. Facing the back door, panelled doors stow all manner of outdoor
paraphernalia, and a bespoke shoe and boot rack organises all footwear
77 wealdentimes.co.uk

This page: The marble fireplace in the elegant drawing room is new
but follows a simple Victorian design and, like all the carefully chosen
pieces in the room, sits peaceably amongst a mix of old and new
Stepping into the house via the
old stable yard, I am struck by a
sudden pang of storage envy. Facing
the back door, panelled doors stow
all manner of outdoor paraphernalia,
and a bespoke shoe and boot rack
organises all footwear. A bench with
further storage, provides an essential
seat for the putting on and taking
off of Wellies. Toby explains that
renovating houses in London has
taught him the useful discipline of
using every centimetre when designing
a room. “I don’t like wasting space.”
Toby and Megan kept the kitchen
in its original position resisting the
temptation to knock through into
what is now their dining room.
“The main reason was the
dining room fireplace,” points
out Toby, which backs on to
the kitchen. “We couldn’t move
it, which would have meant
wealdentimes.co.uk
78

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Above: Toby knew he wanted to design a set of bookcases to sit opposite the fireplace
“It was in a sorry state when we first saw it. Having been a guest house, the interior
was divided into lots of small spaces. Every room seemed to be painted either
custard or mustard. But we could see the building had good bone structure.”
constantly walking around it.”
Refreshingly, neither Megan nor Toby are fans of the
‘open plan’ look which has been the dernier cri in house
renovation for the last decade or so. “One great advantage
of having separate kitchen and dining areas, is not having
to look at the dirty dishes after dinner,” adds Megan.
Toby confesses to a major dislike of clutter, and the white
marble worktop running down the length of the kitchen
is enviably devoid of the usual culinary suspects. Needless
to say, this has all been thought of. Behind another area
of floor-to-ceiling panelling are found all of the messy but
essential appliances you would expect in any well appointed
kitchen. “I have a hatred of wall units,” he admits, “they
make me feel claustrophobic.” Instead, the cleverly designed
panelled wall and the free-standing butcher’s block give the
kitchen a much more individual look than that of a fitted
kitchen. “It’s also more cost effective,” he points out.
Original terracotta floor tiles run through from the
boot room to the kitchen, which have been restored
and resealed. “They were black with the dirt of ages
81 wealdentimes.co.uk

when we first moved in,” remembers Toby.
The dining room, like many rooms in
the house, had previously been partitioned
to accommodate bed and breakfast guests,
so stud walls had to be removed and fake
ceilings taken down. This room, now
so light and airy, is flooded with light
from two generous sash windows.
Presiding over the dining room is a sombre
but stunning fireplace. “This is the original
Edwardian mantelpiece,” explains Toby, “and is
an early example of poured concrete made to look
like stone.” The couple added the wood burning
stove, which when lit, throws out enough heat to
make the whole downstairs area deliciously toasty.
Aside from the quarry tiles in the kitchen
and boot room, the original parquet flooring
downstairs was still intact, albeit the typical
yellowed pine colour associated with 1970s
saunas. The wood blocks were stripped of their
old lacquer, then lime washed before being sealed
with a pale wax, giving the parquet a soft ashy
tone, and in areas of heavy traffic, the worn
surface develops a lovely patina. This approach
illustrates the couple’s intention to maintain
the character of a house. “We don’t like
This page: Partition walls dividing this room were removed creating
this light filled space. “A playroom for the children and a ‘media’ room,
meaning we can keep the TV out of the drawing room,” explains Toby.
A storage unit that spans one wall keeps the room organised and tidy
wealdentimes.co.uk
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This page: An office downstairs is vital for Toby and Megan
as they both work from home. They have ‘embraced the dark’
here, and in a corridor upstairs. “If a room is small and dark,
pale paint won’t make it lighter or bigger, just sadder and duller,”
Toby explains. “Instead, make a virtue out of a misgiving.”
houses which have been renovated to death,” says Toby.
“Period houses should have something of the mongrel
about them, with interiors borrowing from different eras.”
Further illustrating the ability to create an effortlessly
organic interior, handpicked furniture choices are a
clever blend of antique and contemporary pieces. Three
boldly modern yet classic pendant lights grace the
table and the bright red flex delivers a pop of colour.
Toby places lighting amongst his five tenets of interior
wisdom and works on the basic principle of layering
at different levels. This house is well stocked with
interesting pendants and wall lights, with plenty of
standard and table lamps creating mood and warmth.
“Nothing changes a place quite like lighting,” he says.
The drawing room, at the front of the house, promises
sumptuously upholstered sofas and another roaring log
fire. A generous Ottoman invites you to sprawl and peruse
the many interesting books. A wonderfully eclectic gallery
of prints and paintings forces you to pause and enjoy a
visual feast. Much of this collection is down to Toby’s
ability to recognise a good painting even when it’s in a
pile at the back of a junk shop. He swears you really don’t
need to spend more than £50 to find a piece of artwork
that you love. Megan is an accomplished artist in her
wealdentimes.co.uk
84

gazine
email: production@indexmagazine.co.uk
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Below is a proof of your ad to be published Positions in the in the magazine cannot be guaranteed except where special
tel: 01892 517320
PLEASE NOTE The content of the advertisment it will be taken that this advert is acceptable in
WEST is KENT the responsibiluty MAY edition of the Index Magazine. positions tel: PLEASE NOTE are agreed 01892 The content in writing 517320 of the and advertisment on payment is of the a Special responsibiluty Position of Fee. the
PLEASEadvertiser NOTE The – content the publisher of the advertisment cannot email: accept production@indexmagazine.co.uk
is responsibility the responsibiluty for any of inaccuracies.
the every detail email:
advertiser and will PLEASE – be the
production@indexmagazine.co.uk
published publisher NOTE The cannot content as seen, accept of subject the responsibility advertisment for any is inaccuracies.
the responsibiluty of the
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advertiser
MAY
Positions – the publisher in the magazine cannot cannot accept be guaranteed
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except
this is
where
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special
wish your advertisement to
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the magazine cannot be guaranteed except where special
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positions are agreed in writing and on payment of a Special Position Fee.
advertiser guaranteed – the publisher except where cannot accept special responsibility for any inaccuracies. PLEASE NOTE
please note that if no response Please is received remember by this Positions The content in the magazine of the advertisment cannot be is guaranteed the responsibiluty except of the where special
positions are agreed in writing and Positions on payment in the office magazine of a Special by
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& web in the address go magazine etc... back cannot be guaranteed 100 except years
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tel: 01892 517320
email: production@indexmagazine.co.uk
PLEASE NOTE The content of the advertisment is the responsibiluty of the
Drive down our leafy lane & go back 100 years
advertiser – the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies.
Positions in the magazine cannot be guaranteed except where special
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Delve through centuries old oak beams, tiles, bricks, slates, stone, fireplaces, antique furniture, garden antiques & much more...
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elve through centuries old oak beams, tiles, bricks, slates, stone, fireplaces, antique furniture, garden antiques & much more...
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85 wealdentimes.co.uk
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wealdentimes.co.uk
86
SofasAndStuffWT213.indd 1 05/11/2019 10:01

own right, and much of her work can be seen here too.
For the younger members of the household, a further
light filled sitting room leads off the dining area, and
the Osbornes have cleverly eked out both a good sized
cloakroom and an office downstairs, which is vital as
they both work from home. These being smaller rooms,
they have ‘embraced the dark’ here. “If a room is small
and dark, pale paint won’t make it feel lighter or bigger,
just sadder and duller,” Toby explains. “Instead, make a
virtue out of a misgiving.” This certainly works to great
effect both here and in the corridor upstairs and has the
added advantage of drawing the eye to the lighter spaces
beyond. “I like creating internal views,” he says. Natural
seagrass flooring runs up the stairs and throughout the
first floor bedrooms; a favourite with both Megan and
Toby. “Layer these natural floor coverings with old Persian
rugs for a fabulous country house look,” they advise.
Both children’s rooms have been treated simply, with
features being made of the charming Arts and Crafts
fireplaces painted to complement the colour scheme in
each room. Their rooms interconnect via a Jack and Jill
bathroom, where wood cladding gives a nautical feel, as do
the utilitarian wall lights above the basins. The cladding
is fixed to a series of batons built out from the line of the
original wall, the by-product of which is a slim cavity
Top left & right: In the couple’s son’s room, Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey blue used for the fireplace works well with the red Anglepoise
and yellow lampshade Above: The Jack and Jill bathroom he shares with his sister was originally two rooms divided by a stud wall
87 wealdentimes.co.uk

Above and left: Toby and Megan’s daughter’s room has a
built-in wardrobe and an original Arts and Crafts fireplace.
Both are painted in Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal, which works
beautifully with the soft pinks in this delightful bedroom
Top: A pale pink spare bedroom is an inviting retreat
created behind. As ever, this space is not wasted, with
two medicine cabinets slotted in above the his and hers
sinks. These sit flush with the cladded walls, but open
the doors and there you have all the necessary potions
and lotions which usually litter every bathroom surface.
A delightful spare bedroom leads on to a small but
perfectly designed bathroom in the eaves, another
example of the pair’s excellent design skills. “No space
wealdentimes.co.uk
88

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This page: At the very top of the house, the
light filled master bedroom looks out over the
old post office and former village green
should ever be dead space,” says Toby.
Just as I thought we’d completed the
tour of the house, I discover there’s a
further staircase to the second floor which
arrives into a gorgeous master bedroom.
Still enjoying fabulously generous
proportions, this lovely room leads on
to a stunning bathroom with wow factor
geometric floor tiles and, the pièce de
résistance, a bijoux studio, which is strewn
with Megan’s beautiful drawings.
The couple have created an elegant but
extremely homely space here; I’m amazed
when they tell me the work was all done
within a year, and further amazed when I
hear they lived in the house throughout.
“A low point was when we had ripped all
six bathrooms out, and then had to bath
the children in the butler sink,” remembers
Megan. Their expert knowledge, handson
approach and hard work has paid off
though; the house with its paired back
and elegant interior, is a triumph.
91 wealdentimes.co.uk

Address Book:
Toby runs Osborne & Warwick, an architectural
and interior design firm specialising in period
renovations. Visit osborneandwarwick.com, call
07786 110225 or email toby@osborneandwarwick.com
Megan runs Gayle Warwick Fine Linen Ltd, a bespoke linen
and soft furnishings business. Visit gaylewarwick.com, call
020 7493 5567 or email megan@gaylewarwick.com
This page: The master bathroom features beautiful geometric
floor tiles that complement the matte black roll-top bath
Wooden crates on the kitchen table and large white
candlesticks on the dining room mantelpiece are
from The Pink Cabbage Produce Company,
Mayfield thepinkcabbageproduceco.com
The foliage downstairs and succulents on the drawing
room mantelpiece were supplied by Flower House
& Home, Mayfield flowerhouseandhome.co.uk
93 wealdentimes.co.uk

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wealdentimes.co.uk
94
PurpleRhinoWT214.indd 1 04/11/2019 17:00

Get the
LOOK
1 Wall planter, £10, Sainsbury’s Home sainsburyshome.co.uk 2 Blackboard effect adhesive film, from £15, Purlfrost
purlfrost.com 3 Dyberg Larsen Haipot yellow pendant light, £95, Lime Lace limelace.co.uk 4 Gestural abstraction
II wall art, £252, Mindthegap mindtheg.com 5 ‘Summer Sales’ print, £99, made.com 6 Elephant head, £50,
Bobby Rabbit bobbyrabbit.co.uk 7 Gold multi-frame wall mirror, £106.95, Melody Maison melodymaison.co.uk
8 Doric table lamp with Pacha gunmetal shade, £224, Cotterell & Co. cotterellandco.com 9 Nyx three-head floor
lamp, £190, Habitat habitat.co.uk 10 Hampstead side table, £160, Sweetpea & Willow sweetpeaandwillow.com
11 Rainbow 100% wool blanket, £99, Tolly Mcrae tollymcrae.co.uk 12 The Rebel three-seater sofa in a box,
£899, Snug Shack snugshack.co.uk 13 White aspect hexagon tiles, £32.95, Walls and Floors wallsandfloors.co.uk
95 wealdentimes.co.uk

CYCLE INTO SHAPE
THIS CHRISTMAS
Light Commercial
Upright Cycle
SAVE
£200
A solid, sturdy bike ideal for home use, the
U628 Upright Cycle is a prime example of the
fantastic quality you can rely on from Nautilus.
> Magnetic resistance: 32 computer
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> Programmes: 29 including intervals,
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> Heart Rate Monitor: Contact and telemetry
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> Bluetooth® connectivity: Sync your data
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Under Armour Connected Fitness Apps
> Additional features: Water bottle holder,
media rack, 3 speed cooling fan and
transport wheels
List price £899
Our price £699
0% Finance
Available †
An upright
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At Fitness Superstore we’ve got an unrivalled choice of exercise bikes for every budget and
fi tness level. They’re compact and offer a low-impact workout making them a great choice for
any home gym. So this Christmas visit your local store, chat to our in-store experts and try the
equipment before you buy. We also offer 0% finance † and free delivery on orders over £99!
GET 7.5% OFF
WITH CODE WT1219 *
Find us at 30/34 Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2AP
Call 01892 883747 or visit fitness-superstore.co.uk
*T&C’s apply, see website for more details. Code expires 29/12/2019. † Subject to status, T&C’s apply.

Guide to Christmas
A Wealden Times Supplement
Supplement_Logos.indd 12
Sponsored by
Stocking fillers Table accessories Chefs’ recipes

The ultimate fitness fanatics
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30-34 Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2AP
Call 01892 883747 or visit fitness-superstore.co.uk
3 wealdentimes.co.uk

The Festive Season 2019
43846 - Ooh How Lovely A5 Christmas.qxp_Layout 1 17/09/2019 15:48 Page 1
LATE NIGHT
OPENING
THURSDAYS
UNTIL
CHRISTMAS
The Corner Shop
Highgate, High Street
Hawkhurst, TN18 4ER
We are open:
Wednesday - Saturday
10am to 5pm
Beautiful bespoke shop in a gorgeous setting. Full of quirky
items including gifts & cards, furniture, ladies’ clothing,
jewellery, handbags, scarves & much more.
A warm welcome is guaranteed 7 days a
week. Complimentary coffee & wrapping.
Visit soon - you won’t be disappointed.
07503 287632
The Granary, Potten Farm, Main Road, Sellindge, Nr Ashford, TN25 6EQ
• Cards
• Chocolate
• Candles
• Decorations
• Gift Vouchers
• Beautiful
handmade gifts
• Jewellery and so
much more
oohhowlovely.co.uk
01580 848303 / 07400 522081
Hobbs&HeartsWT214.indd 1 15/11/2019 OohHowLovelyWT214.indd 16:08
1 05/11/2019 11:27
Shop with us in store and online
this Christmas
Fine Jewellery & Giiware
12-14 Gabriel’s Hill Maidstone Kent
ME15 6JG 01622 753754
contact@gcornell.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
4
CornellWT214.indd 1 11/11/2019 12:54

19
15
Art Deco
Jewellery • Furniture • Lighting • Gifts
Credit: Mo Welch
7
15
27
Contents
7 STOCKING FILLERS
Rebecca Cuffe selects gifts
suited for all kinds of stockings
15 ... AND ALL THE
TRIMMINGS
Seasonal dining table inspiration
19 CHEF’S TABLE
What local chef’s will be
serving this Christmas
23 HOT STUFF
Three wise chefs share
their stuffing recipes
27 THAT’S A WRAP
Stylish ideas to get your
gifts all wrapped up
29 FIRST CLAUS DELIVERY
Christmas cards coming
to a letterbox near you
31 BABY IT’S COLD
OUTSIDE
Christmas jumpers to
make your Christmas
warm and bright
15
29
7
27
SHOWROOM NOW OPEN
Friday & Saturday - 10am - 5pm
Sunday - 12 noon - 4pm
Desirable Designs UK
29 Lower Walk, The Pantiles, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TD
Telephone: 07974 322 858 Email: sales@designgallery.co.uk
We are located behind Sankeys Champagne Bar & Mottrams Kitchen Shop
DesignGalleryWT214.indd 1 18/11/2019 17:01
Your Christmas
begins at...
Bedgebury Pinetum
Pick your perfect Christmas
tree with the help of our
specialist tree team
Tree sales open 29 Nov - 1 Dec
and 6 Dec - 22 Dec between
10am - 3pm (closed 9 Dec)
For more information call 01580 879820
forestryengland.uk/bedgebury
5 wealdentimes.co.uk
BedgeburyWT214.indd 1 01/11/2019 16:08
Christmas advert - Wealden Times (90x130mm).indd 1 14/10/2019 13:31

Christmas comes
to life at Eastwell Manor
GET YOUR
SKATES ON AT
THE ICE RINK FOR
SOME FESTIVE
FAMILY FUN
From £14.50pp
MAKE THIS YEAR
EXTRA MAGICAL
AND SPEND
CHRISTMAS AT
THE MANOR
From £789pp
INDULGE IN
A FESTIVE
AFTERNOON TEA
IN OUR COSY
LOUNGE
From £26pp
ESCAPE THE
CHRISTMAS
RUSH WITH A
RELAXING
SPA DAY
From £110pp
SPOIL THEM WITH
THE GIFT OF
EASTWELL MANOR
THIS CHRISTMAS
Available from
only £10
DISCOVER MORE AT EASTWELLMANOR.CO.UK
OR CALL 0843 224 1700 TO BOOK

Stocking Fillers
10
WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
12
11
1
Extras
2
9
under
3
8
£10
4
7
6
5
1 Almost Everything Cream, £10, Hershesons hershesons.com 2 Velvet moon cosmetic bag, £8, Oliver Bonas oliverbonas.com 3 Chocolate
coins, £5, Hotel Chocolat hotelchocolat.com 4 Last Angel earrings, £5.99, Serendipity Fashions serendipityfashions.co.uk 5 Linden Gloves,
£10, FatFace fatface.com 6 Painfully British Haikus by Dale Shaw, £9.99, Penguin penguin.co.uk 7 “Beloved person” Japanese motto enamel
pin, £7, 2littleboys.co.uk 8 Trumpet keyring, £7.99, Sutton Music Centre suttonmusic.co.uk 9 ‘You’re Beardiful’ kit, including a beard comb,
wax and scissors, £10, M&S marksandspencer.com 10 V by Very diamanté star hair clip, £6, Very very.co.uk 11 100% recycled plastic racing
car, £10, Natural History Museum nhmshop.co.uk 12 Black spaniel keyring, £9.50, Inspired by Darcy inspiredbydarcy.co.uk
7 wealdentimes.co.uk

1
Perfect gifts for
all the family
this Christmas
2
3
1. Mongolian Cushions in
4 sizes from £33
2. Mens Sheepskin
Slippers from £40
3. Ladies Sheepskin
Slippers from £40
4
4. Leather make up purse
in many colours £15
5. Welsh Wool Blankets £45
6
6. Sheepskin Ear Muffs
and hats from £39
5
01233 503 913 | www.snugrugs.co.uk
SnugRugsWT214.indd 1
Eaton & Jones
20/11/2019 11:27
120 High Street, Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HT
Specialising in bespoke handmade jewellery
www.eatonandjones.co.uk
01580 763357
wealdentimes.co.uk
8
Eaton&JonesWT214.indd 1 18/11/2019 17:23

11
Stocking Fillers
10
WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
12
1
Lovely
2
9
luxuries
3
8
4
7
6
5
1 Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour, £22, Chanel chanel.com 2 Cashmere gloves, £50, Pure Collection purecollection.com 3 Glenjade silk tie,
£90, Liberty London libertylondon.com 4 Philanthropic Cheek Shades, Butterfly, £35, Chantecaille chantecaille.com 5 Star & Moon earrings,
£198, Thomas Sabo thomassabo.com 6 Fox ring in rose gold, £50, Bill Skinner billskinnerstudio.com 7 Angora bed socks, £18, Leglicious
leglicious.co.uk 8 Gold swallow stud earrings, £120, (10% of all sales goes to RSPB) Catherine Zoraida catherinezoraida.com 9 Lauren by Ralph
Lauren Elmswood flap continental wallet, £135, Fenwick fenwick.co.uk 10 18ct Bee brooch/pendant, £970, Eaton & Jones eatonandjones.co.uk
11 Evolve superfood 360 Serum, £38, Hoopers hoopersstores.com 12 Amelie kids’ silk pjyamas, £145, Sleepy Wilson sleepywilson.com
9 wealdentimes.co.uk

WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
11
12
1
10
2
9
Foodie
favourites
3
8
Wine Tasting
for everyone
Kent
Part of the network
www.localwineschool.com
4
7
6
5
1 The snowman biscuit, £11.95, Biscuiteers biscuiteers.com 2 Benenden sauce, from £9.80/250ml, Harrington Foods harringtonfoods.co.uk 3 Measuring
spoons, £19, Le Creuset lecreuset.co.uk 4 Happy Vegan Christmas by Karoline Jönsson, £14.99, Fenwick fenwick.co.uk 5 Bamboo straws, £7.15/pack of 6,
Wearth London wearthlondon.com 6 Double white chocolate chunk cookies, £8.54/pack of 6, Thomas Cookie thomascookieco.co.uk 7 Cubitt Blanc de
Noirs 2013, £34, Denbies denbies.co.uk 8 Wine tasting voucher, from £25, Kent Wine School kentwineschool.com 9 Mini Christmas pudding, £2.85, Roots
& Wings rootsandwingsorganic.com 10 Almond, orange blossom and kumquat Wildcat espresso coffee £7.50, Beanberry Coffee beanberrycoffee.com
11 Pinkster gin mini, £5.75, Weald Smokery wealdsmokery.co.uk 12 Jingles of Joy chocolate bells, £9.90, Pierre Marcolini eu.marcolini.com
wealdentimes.co.uk
10

NOW
OPEN
NOW
OPEN
Kent
GIFT
VOUCHERS
AVAILABLE
At Foodie’s Emporium we curate the finest
collection of foods and combine with the highest
standards of customer service. We source our
stock from as close to home as possible, to offer
you the very best in quality and flavour.
Have fun and
learn about wine
Wine Tasting in Kent
From £25
www.kentwineschool.com
9 NORTH STREET
HEADCORN TN27 9NN
DELICATESSEN · COFFEE HOUSE · EATERY
SpecialityBreadsLtdWT214.indd 1 15/11/2019 KentWineSchoolWT213.indd 15:29
1 10/10/2019 16:45
Happy Christmas
7 days a week
BRUNCH cake poinsettias
Sunday Roast gifts COFFEE
Christmas trees
Cyclamen
Call: 01580 890713
Clapper
• frankiesfarmshop.co.uk
Lane, Staplehurst, TN12 0JT Clapper Lane,
01580 890713
0158
Clapper Lane, Staplehurst, Opening TN12 times: 0JT9am-5pm Mon-Sat
Opening time
Open 7 days a week, Mon-Sun 9-4pm & Bank Holidays 10am-4pm Sun
10a
11 wealdentimes.co.uk
StaplehurstNurseryWT214.indd 1 13/11/2019 15:56

THIS CHRISTMAS
ESCAPE TO...
WITH A GIFT
VOUCHER
THE BEST WAY TO SAY
“I LOVE YOU” THIS CHRISTMAS
Use of the spa facilities, treatments and
products available for both men and women.
www.sheldonspa.co.uk/gift-vouchers
W E L C O M E T O T H E
Christmas is a time to celebrate but also a time to relax.
Why not treat yourself or a loved one to a
Gift Voucher from Sheldon Spa...
F r o m n a t u r a l s o a p s t o b o d y
b u t t e r s , s o y c a n d l e s t o s h a m p o o
b a r s , s i s a l b a g s t o b a t h s a l t s &
m o r e , o u r h a n d c r a f t e d b a t h b i t s
a r e t h e p e r f e c t C h r i s t m a s g i f t s .
P l a s t i c - f r e e . V e g a n - f r i e n d l y .
E c o - a w e s o m e .
K E N T I S H S O A P . C O M
Put your best
face forward
SheldonSpaWT213.indd 1 21/10/2019 KentishSoapCompanyWT213.indd 14:02
1 03/10/2019 15:39
this festive season
Dr Christine Or is an Award-winning Aesthetic Doctor, a member of B.C.A.M.
& trained in Harley street. She offers a range of treatments, including:
• Advanced Wrinkle Relaxing Injections
• Dermal Filler Treatments • 8 Point Lift
• Lip Enhancement • Treatment of Excessive Sweating
www.drchristine.co.uk
07928 971683
christine@drchristine.co.uk
17 High Street, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1UT
BESPOKE AESTHETIC
TREATMENTS WITH A
WHOLE FACE APPROACH
Aesthetic Practitioner of the
Year 2016
wealdentimes.co.uk
12
DrChristineWT214.indd 1 05/11/2019 12:11

Stocking Fillers
10
11
WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
12
1
2
9
Beauty
bargains
3
8
7
4
6
5
1 Rose Gold Hand Cream, £8.99, Lano lanolips.com 2 Rainbow Baby Bombs, £10, Beauty Kitchen beautykitchen.co.uk 3 Nourishing Lip Collection in
Vanilla, £6.99, Burt’s Bees burtsbees.co.uk 4 Men’s Duo of Hair & Body Wash and Deodorant, £8.50, Champneys shop.champneys.com
5 Revive Morning Roller Ball, £18, Aromatherapy Associates aromatherapyassociates.com 6 Calming Bath & Shower Oil with Rose & Ylang Ylang,
£19, The Rose Tree therosetree.co.uk 7 Lip Lustre in Pillow Talk, £19, Charlotte Tilbury charlottetilbury.com 8 Charlie Brown voucher, for any amount
charliebrownhair.co.uk 9 Honey & Propolis 2-in-1 Cream Cleanser, £12/£19.50 for 2, Bee Good beegood.co.uk 10 Niche Collection Three Discovery
Box with 15 niche fragrances in various sizes, £19, The Perfume Society perfumesociety.org 11 Sleepover kit (contains deep sleep pillow spray, sleep
balm and stress check roll-on), £15, This Works thisworks.com 12 Molton Brown Bizarre Brandy Bauble, £14, Hoopers hoopersstores.com
13 wealdentimes.co.uk

WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
1
...and all the
2
We all know we eat with our eyes, so for a fabulous
festive feast a beautifully set table is an essential ingredient
3
4
5
6
7
9
8
10
11
12
14
13
15
16
17
19
18
20
21
1 Confetti cannon shooter, £3.99, Ginger Ray gingerray.co.uk 2 Star confetti, £3.49, Ginger Ray gingerray.co.uk 3 Noir small tree bowl, £5, Sainsbury’s
Home sainsburyshome.co.uk 4 LEON round oak wood tray, £35, John Lewis johnlewis.com 5 Albany linen table runner, £10, Habitat habitat.co.uk
6 Moss jazz plate, £19, Shekåbba The Danish Home shekabba.com 7 Artisan St. oval ceramic roasting dish, £13, Amara amara.com 8 Saar pecan napkin
£18/pack of 4 Shekåbba The Danish Home shekabba.com 9 Grey linen napkin, £25/set of 4, Kelly Hoppen kellyhoppen.com 10 Scent four three wick
candle, £39, Kelly Hoppen kellyhoppen.com 11 Gold leaf napkin rings, £29, Audenza audenza.com 12 Kidron salad servers, £30, Shekåbba The Danish
Home shekabba.com 13 Gold Foliage Garland, £14.99, Ginger Ray gingerray.co.uk 14 Vintage star bundt made with Nordicware baking mould, £34.15,
Amazon amazon.co.uk 15 Cracker made using a Bespoke & Oak Co. create your own cracker kit, from £30/set of 6, Etsy etsy.com / Bespoke & Oak
Co. bespokeandoak.co.uk 16 Stoneware plates, from £14, Le Creuset lecreuset.co.uk 17 Emma Bridgewater London at night oblong plate, £39.95, Daisy
Park daisypark.co.uk 18 Bon Appétit fine china plate Chase And Wonder chaseandwonder.com 19 Gold mirrored place mat, £6.95, Melody Maison
melodymaison.co.uk 20 Black and brushed gold cutlery set, £145, Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk 21 Yolanda Persian jacquard runner, £69, made.com
15 wealdentimes.co.uk

WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
1
6
2
7
10
3
12
11
13
4
9
5
8
14
1 Green marble paddle board, £20,
Albert & Moo albertandmoo.com
2 Mother-of-pearl cheese knives,
£29.50, Oliver Bonas
oliverbonas.com 3 Croft Collection
reactive glaze cheese baker, £25,
John Lewis johnlewis.com 4 Festive
spice candle, £14, Next next.co.uk
5 LEON Soapstone dip serving
bowls, £20/set of 3, John Lewis
johnlewis.com 6 Doodle frame
placemat, £22.95/set of 4,
with 10 wash-out fabric pens,
eatsleepdoodle eatsleepdoodle.co.uk
7 Aubergine Jazz poke bowl,
£22.50, Shekåbba The Danish
Home shekabba.com 8 Denbies
Redlands NV (recommended
by Denbies to pair with turkey)
£14.95, Denbies denbies.co.uk
9 Silver foiled paper napkins,
£3.99, Ginger Ray gingerray.co.uk
10 Dinner plate, side plate and
bowl from 12-piece Bexley dinner
set, £60, Next next.co.uk
11 Knife from gold cutlery set,
£80, Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk
12 Forest green Emilia coated
Italian linen placemat, £120/set of
6, Rebecca Udall rebeccaudall.com
13 Emma Bridgewater Mince
Pies 8.5in plate, £17.95,
Daisy Park daisypark.co.uk
14 Taupe table linen runner, £25,
Kelly Hoppen kellyhoppen.com
Open every Sunday up
until Christmas starting
1.12.19: 10am-3pm
Open:
8.30am - 5.30pm
Monday - Saturday
Open Sundays
before Christmas:
10am - 4pm
GREAT TASTE AWARD
WINNERS
Blighty’s is a family run independent gift shop situated
in the village of Cranbrook, Kent. All our products in
our store are made & designed here in the UK.
Ask for New our new extended brochure with extended Café range serving of Gift Boxes and
Hampers - ideal gifts for Christmas for family, friends and colleagues.
Smokery Breakfast, Lunch Tea
Full Mail Order Service.
Gold Award Winning Traditionally
See our Christmas display in the shop.
Smoked Food.
Gold Award Winning Traditionally Smoked Food.
Quality range of British and
Quality range of Farmhouse Cheeses.
Continental Farmhouse Cheeses.
Delicatessen and Gourmet Foods.
Delicatessen Café serving Smokery and Breakfast, Gourmet Lunch and Foods. Tea.
Look at the blackboard on road outside
shop for weekly 25% off offers!
We are proud to support wonderful talented artists
& makers throughout the United Kingdom.
Monday – Saturday: 9:30 – 4:30 l Sundays: Closed
5 Stone Street, Cranbrook, TN17 3HF
01580 713241 l www.Blightys.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
16
Mount Farm, Flimwell, E Sussex, TN5 7QL
Tel: 01580 879601
Mount Open: Farm, 8.30am Flimwell, - 5.30pm East Monday Sussex - Saturday TN5 7QL
Last lunch orders Tel: 01580 3.30pm 879601 and tea orders 5.00pm
info@wealdsmokery.co.uk
Open: 8.30am - 5.30pm Monday www.wealdsmokery.co.uk
- Saturday
Last lunch orders 3.30pm and tea orders 4.30pm
info@wealdsmokery.co.uk
www.wealdsmokery.co.uk
BlightysWT214.indd 1 20/11/2019 WealdSmokeryWT214.indd 12:29
1 14/11/2019 12:46

The
Ringlestone
Inn
Country Pub
& Restaurant
Newly re-opened country pub &
restaurant offering seasonal,
regularly changing menus crafted
utilising artisan methods of whole
carcass butchery, dry curing,
smoking & preserving.
The Bars at The Ringlestone Inn
are a truly memorable place to
enjoy a relaxing drink or meal.
We also offer a classic menu
through our bars, to include a
selection of classic pub dishes with
a twist.
A la carte and tasting menu served
in the restaurant.
Now taking bookings for
Christmas.
A warm welcome awaits you....
a truly memorable place to enjoy a
relaxing drink or meal.
01622 290 300
info@theringlestone.co.uk
www.theringlestone.co.uk
Ringlestone Road, Harrietsham,
Kent, ME17 1NX.
KentishHareWT212.indd 1 10/09/2019 RinglestoneInnWT214.indd 12:32
1 20/11/2019 14:54
THE COCK INN
• An Elizabethan pub with
chocolate-box charm
• Your local Cask Marque
accredited pub
• Listed in the Good Beer
Guide for the last 18 years
• The perfect place for
delicious country
cooking and a
relaxing drink
10% off all food orders
with this advert
quote WT214
Open 7 days a week | Book your table online at cockinnmaidstone.co.uk or by calling 01622 743166
Heath Road | Boughton Monchelsea | Kent | ME17 4JD
wealdentimes.co.uk
18
TheCockInnWT214.indd 1 04/11/2019 17:06

Chef’s
Table
What’s on the Christmas menu this year? WT speaks to the foodies to find out how local
eateries are gearing up for the festive season, and what they’ll be serving up at home
Hush Heath’s executive
chef, Fabio Vinciguerra
What is your favourite
part of Christmas day?
Opening the presents! And
spending time with my son
and wife, of course…
What would you choose for
your ultimate Christmas
menu? I like to start the
day as I mean to go on,
so begin with a Bloody
Mary and smoked salmon. Then, for the main event, it
would have to be a Beef Wellington as it is my absolute
favourite – which is one of the main reasons it is on the Hush
Heath pubs’ menus this year. I tend to have dauphinoise
potatoes with mine and it wouldn’t be Christmas without
sprouts, which I serve with pancetta and chestnuts.
What is the highlight of Hush Heath pubs’ festive menus
this year? It would have to be the Salmon Rillette and
Cucumber Carpaccio with Keta Caviar and Melba Toast. We
tend to have a lot of salmon throughout the festive period
as it makes me think of Christmases back home in Italy.
How are you going that extra mile to make customers
feel pampered when they dine in one of your pubs?
This is something which we strive to do every day as we
are passionate about reflecting the family values that run
throughout Hush Heath’s culture. The key area which I
believe we achieve this is through the staff. All of our staff
are hired for their personalities, as it is vital to have people
who truly care about what they are doing, and I believe our
guests can see and feel that when they visit any of our pubs.
What is your favourite Christmas dessert? Don’t judge me but
I love a Black Forest gateau! You can tell I’m a child of the 70s.
Find out more about the Hush Heath Estate and its collection
of six pubs across London, Kent and Sussex at hushheath.com
19 wealdentimes.co.uk

WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
Scandi
Pine Garland,
£60, Cox & Cox
coxandcox.co.uk; Gold
Glitter Hanging Pegs,
£2.99 for 12, Ginger
Ray gingerray.
co.uk
Chef Scott Goss
from Verdigris
What is your favourite
part of Christmas day?
After a full morning in
the kitchen, blowing
away all of our customers
expectations on Christmas
Day, I love it when we
get our restaurant back
and the team sit down
together and I can deliver a full turkey feast for them. We’ll
crack open bottles of fine wine, relax and enjoy our Christmas
Day into the late hours, pulling crackers and sharing presents.
What would you choose for your ultimate Christmas
menu? As much as I love the traditions of a beautiful
roasted Norfolk Bronze turkey, given the choice I love a
beautifully prepared and perfectly cooked Beef Wellington.
What is the highlight of this year’s verdigris Christmas menu?
Verdigris will be showcasing the very best of the Christmas
classics but I can’t help myself in giving them all a little twist.
How are you going that extra mile to make customers
feel pampered when they dine with you?
The biggest excitement for us is to be able to deliver the whole
Christmas package, from Jim’s epic cocktails, the outstanding
service, dining within the stunning Verdigris restaurant to our
beautifully cooked food to get you into the festive spirit.
What is your favourite Christmas dessert? My
favourite Christmas dessert has to be a sherry
trifle – it takes me right back to childhood.
Check out Scott and his team’s festive
offerings at verdigris-tonbridge.com
Andrew Wickham,
owner of Weald
Smokery
What is your favourite
part of Christmas day?
Without a doubt it’s enjoying
a glass of Champagne
with smoked salmon
canapés while opening
Christmas presents with my family.
What would you choose for your ultimate Christmas
menu? It would have to be a traditional free-range
turkey with all the trimmings, including chestnut
stuffing, washed down with a fine burgundy.
What’s the highlight of The Weald Smokery’s
festive food offerings this year? Undoubtedly our
traditionally smoked salmon, which is very popular
with our customers, especially at Christmas time.
How are you going that extra mile to make customers
feel festive when they dine in The Kiln Room? Customers
who come to The Kiln Room will be able to indulge in
our delicious homemade mince pies, homemade Dundee
cake and mulled wine with its festive scent pervading
through our beautifully stocked and decorated shop.
What is your favourite Christmas dessert? My personal
favourite is Christmas pudding made the traditional
way and served with a delicious homemade brandy
butter. For those who prefer a different treat we sell
Chocolate or Lemon & Raspberry Roulades!
Find out more about The Kiln Room café and the artisan food
available at Weald Smokery by visiting wealdsmokery.co.uk
21 wealdentimes.co.uk

NOW TAKING
CHRISTMAS
BOOKINGS
FESTIVE PARTY MENU FROM £25PP
CHRISTMAS DAY BOOKINGS £70PP
Book now on 01580 211451 or
info@thegoudhurstinn.com
www.thegoudhurstinn.com
OUR TRADITIONAL SAUSAGES ARE
MANUFACTURED in the Garden of England.
We put hard work and love into the production
of every sausage to ensure our customers can
buy our high-quality products with confidence
that every sausage is as delicious as the last.
GoudhurstInnWT214.indd 1 20/11/2019 12:01
With 60 years’ experience in the food
industry Korker Sausages have a reputation
for producing quality sausages. Nothing has
changed, we still follow the original recipe
using premium cuts of pork and the finest
ingredients. It’s no surprise why people love
our products, perhaps that is why we have
become the purveyors of the best-selling
sausages in the South East.
Purveyors of fine sausages
Hoads Korkers Est. 1959, Kent
TRADITION MAKES THE BEST
We sell our range direct to our customers
through independent shops, and have
developed long standing relationships with
shopkeepers throughout the South of England.
P100%
KENT
RODUCED
EST.
IN KENT
1959
Find your local Korkers stockist on our website
at www.korker-sausages.co.uk/where-buy
Tel: 01580 241307
www.korker-sausages.co.uk
enquiries@korker-sausages.co.uk
KORKERS DIAMOND
Purveyors of fine sausages for over 60 years
wealdentimes.co.uk
22
KorkerSausagesLtdWT213.indd 1 17/10/2019 12:54

Hot Stuff
Jazz up your Christmas feast with three deliciously
different takes on a festive stuffing
Restaurants’
Chestnut Stuffing
by Paul Webbe from
Webbe’s Restaurants
Roast Stuffed Squashes with Christmas Spices
by Abel & Cole
Preparation time: 30 mins
Cooking time: 75 mins
Serves: 6-8
Pull up a sleigh and sit down to
the best meal of the year, starring
Abel & Cole’s brilliant winter
squashes and wonderful spices.
• splash of olive oil
• 1 leek, washed and chopped
• 2 garlic cloves
• thumb of ginger
• 6 cardamom pods
• 2 tsp fennel seeds
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 300g white basmati rice, washed
• 3 large winter squashes,
around 2kg each
• 50g pine nuts or almonds
• handful of flat leaf parsley
Warm a splash of olive oil in the frying
1 pan. Add the leek and season. Stirfry
for 5-8 mins until soft and glossy.
Stir in the garlic and ginger. Add
2 the cardamom, fennel seeds and
cinnamon. Drain the washed rice. Stir it
into the pan. Pour in 750ml hot water and
cover. Bring to the boil, then turn the heat
down. Simmer for around 5 mins until the
rice is almost cooked and still a little wet.
Slice the tops off the squashes and
3 scoop out the seeds. Stir the pine
nuts or almonds and parsley into the
rice. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
Divide between the squashes.
Pop the squashes on a baking tray
4 or in a roasting tin and put the
tops back on. Roast in the middle
of the oven for about 50 mins until
tender. Carefully lift the squashes onto
a platter or board. Serve in slices
For more festive inspiration,
visit abelandcole.co.uk
• 100g butter
• 2 medium onions, peeled,
halved and finely chopped
• 150g duck, chicken or
pork livers, chopped
• 2 tsps thyme leaves
• 3 tbsp chopped sage
• 30-40 chestnuts, lightly
toasted, peeled and quartered
• 50g fresh white breadcrumbs
• sea salt and freshly
ground black pepper
1Melt the butter in a thickbottomed
pan. Season the
onions, livers, thyme and sage and
cook on a medium heat for 2-3
mins. Remove from the heat, mix
with the chestnuts and breadcrumbs
and adjust seasoning to taste.
2Form the mixture into a sausage
shape on some clingfilm, and roll
it up tightly. Poach in a saucepan of
simmering water for 5 mins. Leave
to cool, then put in the fridge.
3When cold, remove the cling
film and slice into about
4cm rounds. Roast on baking
parchment until caramelised.
Find out more about Webbe’s
Restaurants and their festive menus
at webbesrestaurants.co.uk
23 wealdentimes.co.uk

Stuffing Bombs
Riverford Organic Farmers
Preparation time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 20 mins Serves: 10
Think of this as a cross between a Scotch
egg and arancini. If you’re making
stuffing anyway just make a little extra
for these nibbles. I recommend making
2-3 times the amount you think you’ll
need; I’ve seen people push their loved
ones aside to get to the last few.
• 500g herby sausagemeat stuffing*
• 100g fresh mozzarella or
other good melting cheese
• 1 cup flour
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 200g Panko breadcrumbs
• vegetable or sunflower oil for frying
• salt and pepper
To make each one, take about 40g
1 of the stuffing and press it in to a
disc in the palm of your hand. Break off
a baked-bean-sized piece of mozzarella
and push it into the middle and form
the edges round in your hand so you
end up with a ball of stuffing with the
cheese in the middle. Roll into an even
ball and repeat until it is all used up.
To breadcrumb the balls: lay out
23 shallow bowls, put the flour
in the first, the eggs in the second
and the breadcrumbs in the third.
One at a time dredge the ball in the
flour, shake off the excess, dip and
roll it in the eggs and drop into the
breadcrumbs rolling and pressing
until totally coated. Set to one side.
Heat enough oil in a deep pan
3 to deep fry, bring slowly up to
180˚C. Deep-fry until golden brown
and piping hot in the middle. Keep
warm in the oven until ready to
eat and serve on cocktail sticks.
Cooks notes: *To make the stuffing: add
100g of coarse breadcrumbs soaked in
milk, squeezed and added to 350g of
sausagemeat, the zest of 1 orange, 1 large
red onion diced and cooked until soft, a
couple of finely chopped dried apricots and
some sage, thyme and parsley finely chopped.
Find more Christmas recipes
online at riverford.co.uk
NOW TAKING
CHRISTMAS
BOOKINGS
FESTIVE PARTY MENU FROM £25PP
CHRISTMAS DAY BOOKINGS £70PP
Book now on 01580 388501 or info@thewoolly.com | www.thewoolly.com
wealdentimes.co.uk
24
WoolpackTheWT214.indd 1 20/11/2019 12:04

Where everyone gets what they want
VISIT BLIGHSMEADOW.COM FOR MORE
Christmas at
VelocityWorldwideWT213.indd 1 07/10/2019 16:01
The Hop Pole
Pre-order required
3 Courses - £23.95 l 2 Courses - £19.50 l £10 dep. pp
Starters
• Prawn & avocado cocktail, with brown bread
• Homemade chicken liver pate with plum chutney & toast
• Smoked chicken in a mushroom sauce in a filo pastry basket on a mixed leaf salad
• Goats’ cheese & red onion marmalade tart on a mixed leaf salad
• Roasted winter vegetables soup with garlic croutons & crusty bread
Christmas Party
Menu Throughout
all of December
Mains
• Turkey, beef & gammon served from the carvery with all the trimmings (nut roast available on request)
• Fillet of cod with a prawn & mussel sauce, with seasonal vegetables & new potatoes
• Lamb shank served with a creamy mash & seasonal vegetables
• Stilton en-croute with new potatoes with a mixed leaf salad
• Roasted breast of chicken in a cranberry & wild mushroom red wine
sauce with dauphinoise potatoes & seasonal vegetables
Desserts
• Christmas pudding with brandy sauce
• Lemon & lime cheesecake with a raspberry compote
• Winterberry, chocolate & brandy roulade
• Gypsy tart with choice of cream or ice cream
• Cheese & biscuits
• Coffee & mints
01622 816916
Khazell144@gmail.com
Maidstone Rd, Nettlestead Green, Maidstone ME18 5HH
25 wealdentimes.co.uk
HopPole,TheWT214.indd 1 20/11/2019 15:05

the way to #shoplocal
this christmas
w ith 300 independent boutiques and big brands
to browse, the gift you’ve been searching for is
right here locally, in r oyal t unbridge w ells

WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
Holly tag, £3.95,
Nancy & Betty Studio
nancyandbetty.com
Garden Bird red wrap,
£1.95, Sam Wilson Studio
samwilsonstudio.com
Gold fleck ribbon,
£14.50, Cox & Cox
coxandcox.co.uk
Stripy red parcel string,
£2.95, Rex London
rexlondon.com
Grossgrain ribbon, £5,
Nancy & Betty Studio
nancyandbetty.com
Organic cotton wrap, £11,
Of Cabbages and Kings
ofcabbagesandkings.co.uk
100% recycled
wrapping paper,
£7, Wearth London
wearthlondon.com
Hessian ribbon, £2.49,
The Contemporary
Home tch.net
That’s
a
wrap!
Winter seed-pods gift wrap,
£20, The Shop Floor Project
theshopfloorproject.com
Merry Christmas ribbon
from kit of 3 designs, £4.49,
Ginger Ray gingerray.co.uk
Merry Christmas gift tag,
£3.50, Sophie Allport
sophieallport.com
To get Santastandard
wrapping you
need to start with a colour scheme...
Menagerie reversible
wrapping paper, £12.50,
Cox & Cox coxandcox.co.uk
Gold mini stars Gift
Tags, £7.50, Cox &
Cox coxandcox.co.uk
Scandinavian-style gift wrap,
£2.95, with paper ivy, £4.50,
Paper Tree papertree.co.uk
John Lewis & Partners,
Mini tree wrap, £5, John
Lewis johnlewis.com
Grossgrain ribbon, £5,
Nancy & Betty Studio
nancyandbetty.com
Kraft trees gift bag,
£3.50, Paperchase
paperchase.com
Iridescent self-adhesive
bow, £2, Paperchase
paperchase.com
Vintage ribbon, £4.96,
Cambridge Imprint
cambridgeimprint.co.uk
Elephant gift tag, £3.50/
set of 8, Sophie Allport
sophieallport.com
Little stars patterned paper,
£2.50, Cambridge Imprint
cambridgeimprint.co.uk
Foxy lady wrapping paper, £3, and
gift tags, £3/pack of 10, Chase &
Wonder chaseandwonder.com
27 wealdentimes.co.uk

Your house illustrated…
If you hurry there’s still time to make this
the perfect Christmas present!
Old Hay
(Off Pearsons Green Road)
Brenchley, Paddock Wood Kent TN12 7DG
01892 83 4306 info@westkentshooting.co.uk
www.westkentshooting.co.uk
Perfect framed, and ideal for personalised
Christmas and Thank You cards with bespoke
messages. Differents styles, drawn from life or
photographic reference. For more examples or
information please contact me at
the details below.
andy@andycowan.studio
m: 0778 6921119
WestKentShootingWT213.indd 1 08/10/2019 AndyCowanWT214.indd 12:53
1 20/11/2019 14:08
90x130-Weladen-Ad Andy Cowan.indd 1 20/11/2019 13:47
LIGHTING UP ASHFORD
this December
Find out more at loveashford.com
wealdentimes.co.uk
28
AshfordBoroughCouncilWT213.indd 1 16/10/2019 16:38

WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
Penguin card, £7.50/pack
of 6, Happy & Glorious
happyglorious.co.uk
‘Good Tonics We
Bring’ gin card, £2.50,
Of Life & Lemons
oflifeandlemons.co.uk
First
Claus
Delivery
Reindeer pop our bauble
Christmas card, £3.50, Top
Drawer stormyknight.co.uk
Handmade wax seal
card with envelope
message £12/set of
6 Sleepy Bee Studio
sleepybeestudio.co.uk
‘Naughty or Nice’ card,
£2.95, Nancy and Betty
Studio nancyandbetty.com
Chase And Wonder Snow
Princess card, £3.99,
Blightys blightys.uk
Muffin eco tree planting
card, £2.99, 1 Tree Cards
1treecards.com
‘Santa Baby, leave
some Prada under the
tree’ card, £4. Taylor
Jayne taylorjayne.co.uk
Lasercut winter scene
card, £3.75, Paperchase
paperchase.co.uk
‘Dachshund through the snow’
card, £3.25, Blightys blightys.uk
Winter Goods blank
greetings card £2,
Graham Clarke
grahamclarke.co.uk
‘Merry Christmas’ card,
£2.50, Cambridge Imprint
cambridgeimprint.co.uk
Bird card by Surrey
artist Martin Hayes,
£3, Bourneside Gallery
bournesidegallery.com
29 wealdentimes.co.uk

Sustainable socks -
the perfect gift for Christmas!
Simply Style Sock Box (£29.95) –
3 pairs of bamboo socks in size UK 7-11.
Choose from a range of colours
Superior Style Sock Box - (£59.95)
6 pairs of bamboo socks in size UK 7-11.
Choose from a range of colours
ULTIMATE STYLE SOCK BOX - (£124.95)
15 pairs of bamboo socks in size UK 7-11.
The ultimate sock drawer refresh!
Looking for the perfect gift this Christmas? Why not treat
them to one of Swole Panda’s range of three gift boxes fi lled
with luxuriously soft bamboo socks?
All of Swole Panda’s socks offer a subtle touch of
stand-out style and are knitted from a unique, high-quality
bamboo blend that offers numerous environmental benefi ts,
including anti-bacterial and moisture wicking properties,
meaning the socks stay fresher for longer.
Each pair of socks in the gift box collection feature a
reinforced heel and toe, no-slip cuff band and hand-linked
seams for added comfort, fi t and durability. In a range of
colours and styles, the socks also include Swole Panda’s
signature embroidered panda on the side.
www.swolepanda.com

WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
1
2
3
4
6
Baby
it’s
cold
outside
Cheesy, comic, chic or sparkly…
Everyone loves a Christmas jumper
7
5
8
1 ‘Christmas calories don’t count’, £26,
Dorothy Perkins dorothyperkins.com
2 MaxMara Studio at Fenwick Acciuga
roll-neck in Bordeaux, £505, Fenwick
fenwick.co.uk 3 Penguins, £32, Lipsy
next.co.uk/lipsy 4 Pagoda pom-pom, £59.95,
White Stuff whitestuff.com 5 ‘Bah Hum
Pug’, £26, Next next.co.uk 6 Cotton present
all-in-one, £10, M&S marksandspencer.com
7 Rudolf, £10, M&S marksandspencer.com
8 Juliet star stud, £220, WYSE London
wyselondon.co.uk 9 Barbour Fair Isle
lambswool, £89.95, Counry Clothes
countyclothesmenswear.co.uk 10 Frost
blue split hem star, £67, Pure Collection
purecollection.com
9
10
31 wealdentimes.co.uk

HOUSE OF FLOWERS
by
Hannah Zaidi
Deck
the halls
Hannah Zaidi, the founder of House of Flowers is a British-
Iranian interior designer from Kent who uses the power of
design and style to create large flower installations for any
occasion; from social events such as ladies lunches to corporate
business meetings or as a running feature in your home
throughout the year. Hannah’s personal style presents hints of
cultural influences from Tehran that reflect her heritage.
House of Flowers wreaths and installations use flowers and
accessories hand-picked to suit your style and space. Hannah
will be holding craft workshops that offer a high-class and
creative experience, allowing you to produce a beautiful
new feature for your home that is unique only to you.
Hannahzaidi.com l studio@hannahzaidi.com l 07453 273457

Prices from £24.99 + Delivery

WT Guide to Christmas Supplement sponsored by
Put a
Ring on It
Clockwise from top left: Anngarsk bauble wreath, £30, Habitat habitat.co.uk; Gisela Graham Mixed Fir Leaf Wreath with Blueberries and Cones, £40, Amara
amara.com; In title: Pine Needle Christmas Garland, £39.95, Melody Maison melodymaison.co.uk; House Led Lit Wreath, £55, Laura Ashley lauraashley.com;
Glitter and Sequins Christmas Wreath, £75, Selfridges&Co selfridges.com; Natural Blush Eucalyptus Wreath, £52, Rose and Grey roseandgrey.co.uk; Christmas
Outdoor Pre-Lit Red Berry Wreath, £32.99, Lights4Fun lights4fun.co.uk; handmade wreath, from a selection starting at £24.99, House of Flowers 07453 273457;
Rowan MacGregor Hedgerow Wreath: No. 7 ‘Crisp Leaves’, £155, The Shop Floor Project theshopfloorproject.com Centre top: Autumnal Leaf Wreath, £125,
Funky Bunch Flowers fbflowers.co.uk Centre bottom: handmade seasonal wreath, from a selection, Blooming Green bloominggreenflowers.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
34

Bespoke design & build treehouses, playhouses
and elevated platforms.
Commercial & International commissions welcomed
CHRISTMAS
WORKSHOPS
Tel: 01403 262219
WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP
4th, 5th & 6th DECEMBER
Make a traditional moss based wreath
and decorate it with fabulous accessories.
A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR THE BIRDS
12th DECEMBER
Decorate a Potted Christmas Tree
for the birds with edible ornaments!
TABLE CENTREPIECE WORKSHOP
20th DECEMBER
Create a stunning centrepiece for
your Christmas Day Dining Table.
£45
PER PERSON
£25
PER PERSON
£40
PER PERSON
MARK CROSS (A267 TOWARDS
TUNBRIDGE WELLS), EAST SUSSEX TN6 3PJ
Kibblewhite www.cheekymonkeytreehouses.co.uk
No.5 WT Half Page Ad Nov'15_Kibblewhite WT half page ad CMYK (185 x 01892 130) 852828 12/11/2015 l www.sussexcountrygardener.co.uk
10:35 Page 1
CheekyMonkeyS40.indd 1 25/01/2018 SussexCountryGardenerWT214A.indd 15:42
1 20/11/2019 12:21
MARK CROSS (A267 TOWARDS TUNBRIDGE WELLS),
EAST SUSSEX TN6 3PJ
01892 852828
www.sussexcountrygardener.co.uk
Heavenly
outdoor spaces
With over 50 years of experience, we are the garden design and landscaping
specialists of choice for properties throughout Kent & East Sussex. Friendly
and professional, we pay meticulous attention to detail and take pride in creating
the gardens of our clients’ dreams. Get in touch with our dedicated team to start
visualising your own Eden, today.
Quality garden design and landscaping since 1963
Call: 01580 850394 Or Visit: www.kibblewhitegardens.co.uk
35 wealdentimes.co.uk
KibblewhiteWT214.indd 1 11/11/2019 10:31

Festive Flair
Pick your Christmas style with gorgeous
outfits for every seasonal occasion
Photographs: David Merewether Styling: Kate Liz Watts
Hair Stylist: Kirsty Fellows, Blonde Ambition Model: Cat Williams, Fresh Agents
wealdentimes.co.uk
98

A huge thank you to Leeds Castle for allowing us
to shoot in this stunning historic venue. Visit
leeds-castle.com or call 01622 765400 to find out
how you can experience the breathtaking grounds,
year-round attractions and tour the majestic castle.
It’s the perfect day out in Kent for the whole family.

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT
dressing undeniable beauty
35 High St,
Cranbrook
www.odyl.co.uk
01580 714907
JackieDedmanWT214.indd 1 14/11/2019 OdylWT214.indd 12:38 1 14/11/2019 14:45
wealdentimes.co.uk
100
MantuaItalyWT214.indd 1 13/11/2019 09:47

Previous page (left): Mori heels, £195, Sante +
Wade Previous page (right): Vivien Westwood
Anglomania dress, £289, Hoopers; Dina heels,
£195, Sante + Wade; leather silver star earrings, £25,
Dark Horse Ornament; chunky chain necklace or
two separate bracelets, £375, Julie Tucker-Williams
Jewellery; poinsettia decorations available at the
Leeds Castle shop This page: Absolut cashmere
jumper, £249, Boss Orange faux leather trousers,
£129, faux fur poncho (on chair), £39, Hoopers;
long gold necklace, £29, Who’s Wearing What
Boutique; suede loafers, £175, Sante + Wade; peacock
decoration available at the Leeds Castle shop

Left: Absolut cashmere jumper, £249,
Hoopers; earrings, £19, long gold necklace,
£29, Who’s Wearing What Boutique
Above: Right hand: Hematite crystal
22-carat gold plate bronze ring, £79, Who’s
Wearing What Boutique; gold vermeil
seed rings, £99 each, Julie Tucker-Williams
Jewellery Left hand: Plain gold vermeil
ring, £65, gold vermeil small seed ring,
£85, Julie Tucker-Williams Jewellery
wealdentimes.co.uk
102

cashmere and silk knitwear
All I want for Christmas!!!
Christmas Shopping Event -Friday 6th December 2.00-7.00pm
Enjoy a glass of prosecco and mince pie while you browse
A surprise gift with every purchase!
Complimentary Gift wrapping and Gift Vouchers available
23 High Street, Tenterden TN30 6BJ
Telephone 01580 761222 Shop online at www.cashara.co.uk
Whatever your
Christmas style,
we’ve got it covered!
Swattenden Lane | Cranbrook | TN17 3PS
01580 713189
www.charityfarmcountrystore.co.uk
County Clothes
Quality clothing and a personal service
CasharaWT214.indd 1 12/11/2019 CharityFarmWT214.indd 10:33
1 11/11/2019 12:20
tools
Kent Surrey East Sussex
www.countyclothesmenswear.co.uk
knitwear
Wishing all our customers
a very
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Gifts
for
him...
Gift cards
toiletries
and more...
Available at any value, just ask a member of staff
Hawkhurst - Rye - Lewes
cordeliajames.com
103 wealdentimes.co.uk
CountyClothesWT214.indd 1 13/11/2019 CordeliaJamesWT214.indd 09:35
1 13/11/2019 09:43

Brighten
up your
Days at
44 High Street
Charing, Kent,
TN27 0HX
Open
Tues-Fri 10.30-5pm
Sat 10.00-3pm
After an original
Christmas present?
Look no further!
Come and see
Oscar nominated
Bafta winning
Shuna at her shop
in Heathfield
Market
Men’s and women’s
vintage clothing
and accessories
Tuesday mornings and by appointment
01435 883394 or 07831 258582
shuna
¹ @btinternet.com
1920s–1960s items always wanted. Also Vintage
Chinese embroidered clothes, Ossie Clark, Biba.
Elizabeth44WT214.indd 1 12/11/2019 ShunasVintageClothesWT214.indd 15:23
1 11/11/2019 11:59
Affordable Dental Plans Now Available
for Adults and Children
Opening Times:
Mon, Wed & Fri 8.15 - 6.00pm
Tues & Thurs 8.15am - 8.00pm
Sat 9.00am - 1.00pm
Emergencies seen on the day
10%
OFF
on Registration
on First Visit
SPECIAL OFFERS ON
Zoom Whitening, Facial Aesthetic
(fillers) and Invisalign
T: 01233 502 231
37 Avocet Way
Finberry,
Ashford,
Kent | TN25 7FR
starlitedental@btinternet.com
www.starlitedentalpractice.co.uk
The One Stop Shop for Ladies Fashion in Surrey
www.melitaboutique.co.uk
57 High Street, Chobham, Surrey, GU24 8AF
Tel: 01276 856308
wealdentimes.co.uk
104
StarliteDentalFinberryWTFuture.indd 1 30/09/2019 MelitaOfChobhamS60.indd 11:11
1 23/09/2019 16:17

Icelandic wool knit, £55, Hawk &
Dove; Max Mara Studio checked
skirt, £330, cashmere rib scarf,
£115, Hoopers; black leather tassel
boots, £285, The Boot Room

Lauren, Ralph Lauren velvet pyjamas, £105,
Hoopers; handmade natural wool lined
suede moccasins, £35, Copperhurst British
Romney wool throw, £70, Romney Marsh
Wools; vintage Christmas wool jumper,
£45, sleeveless patterned wool jumper, £35,
Hawk & Dove; glitter
stripe leather bag (in box) £125,
Dark Horse Ornament
Address Book:
Dark Horse Ornament darkhorseornament.co.uk
Fresh Agents freshagents.co.uk
Hawk & Dove 39 High St, Hastings, TN34 3EN, Instagram @
hawkanddovevintage, Etsy shop – HawkandDoveHastings
Hoopers Tunbridge Wells hoopersstores.com, 01892 530222
Julie Tucker-Williams Jewellery julietuckerwilliams.co.uk,
07989 998158
Kate Liz Watts katelizwatts.com, Instagram @katelizwatts
Kirsty Fellows Blonde Ambition,
Facebook & Instagram: @blonde.hairdressing, 07835 764863
Romney Marsh Wools romneymarshwools.co.uk
The Boot Room thebootroom.me
Sante + Wade santewade.com
Who’s Wearing What Boutique whoswearingwhat-boutique.co.uk

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108
CloseToHandWT209.indd 1 19/06/2019 17:16

Beauty
Shine Bright
like a Diamond
Sparkle like a grown-up with Jo Fairley’s tips
for applying shimmering festive party make-up
Charlotte Tilbury
Hollywood Flawless
Filter, £34 for 30ml
charlottetilbury.com
There is a difference between sparkle, shimmer and
glitter. The latter is for Elton John and under-sevens.
The former, however, can be incredibly flattering
for faces of uncertain age, shall we say. It’s often drummed
into us that we shouldn’t gleam but, in fact, the judicious
positioning of light on a face can be super-flattering,
making us look lit from within. (Caravaggio, Vermeer
and John Singer Sargent certainly knew all about that.)
I understand why you might run scared from gleam
and glimmer. All those beauty editors’ lectures (from
people like me) about ‘not applying shimmer to wrinkles
or it makes them look worse!’ And it does: avoid the
crease of the eye, at pretty much any age, with shimmer.
But elsewhere...? Here’s what I know about shimmering,
without looking like the fairy on the Christmas tree.
A gleaming primer can really awaken the face. Primers
are applied before your foundation, of course,
and serve two purposes. First is to help your
make-up to stay put longer – and almost
magically they do. But at the same time, they
can colour-correct, eliminating redness (the new
Daniel Sandler Anti-Redness Foundation Primer,
£24.50 for 30ml, is excellent for that).
But in this instance, we’re talking
about primers that also add a fine
veil of halo-like gleam underneath
your usual more velvety or matte foundation.
There are two particular glow-getting
primers that I recommend:
Nars Radiance
Primer, £29 for 30ml, is amazing for
smoothing out the face and adding subtle
radiance.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood
Flawless Filter, £34 for 30ml,
meanwhile, promises ‘superstarlit’
skin and has more gleam, but
offers the advantage of coming
in seven different shades, acting
like a filter on your skin. I
Chanel
Rouge Allure
Ink Matte Liquid
Lip Colour range,
£31 each
chanel.com
“Don’t go for it
the first time as
you’re prepping
for a big event.
Have a play
beforehand”
like it as a primer, but you can also add a touch or two to
your regular foundation to ramp up the face-lighting factor
– alternatively, dab it over your foundation as a highlighter,
though you’d want to practise this to get it right. (And I can’t
recommend too highly that you nip to your chosen brand’s
nearest counter to have either of these demo-ed on you and
see with your own eyes how they create a sort of ‘halo’ effect.)
My one caveat? If you already use a ‘radiant’ foundation
featuring light-reflective pigments, this is probably
overkill, and you could end up looking sweatily shiny.
up the wattage of your eyes. This does not mean
applying a shimmery shadow all over your lids, sockets
and brow-bone, as a particular four-year-old in my life
loves to do. It means the merest whisper, to open the eyes.
Sometimes I remind myself of the astonishing power of this
by applying my regular taupe-to-brown eyeshadow look
without adding a final gleaming touch. It
looks fine. But then that dab of shimmer –
and hey, presto! Instantly younger and more
‘alive’. (Such are the miracles of make-up...)
Glimmering ivory, rose gold, silver or
white will perform the same job – and
powder products are easier, here; with
liquid or cream shadows, it’s easy to get too
much from the dispenser and be tempted
to slap it on rather than waste it. Although
I generally discard the applicator that comes with most
eyeshadows, the little sponge-tipped wand in mirror-lidded
Chanel Ombre Première Longwear Powder Eyeshadow, £26
(mine is shade 10 Flesh). More affordably, check out the
completely wonderful Bourjois Little Round Pots, £5.49, in
Generose or Ingenude – or use that shimmering shadow
in the corner of a palette you already own, which you’ve
been avoiding like the plague. (Having said that, my
Ombre Première is going strong two years in, although I
do consider it right up there with the loaves and fishes that
I’ve managed to hang onto the applicator for that long.)
But again, the golden (literally) rule with party make-
109 wealdentimes.co.uk

Beauty
up is: don’t go for it the first time
as you’re prepping for a big event.
Have a play beforehand, when
you’re got a moment. (Which I
appreciate is all any of us has, as
we count down to Christmas.)
Illumintate your limbs. At this
time of year, when bodies are dry
and (I’m looking at my forearms as
I type this) can be flat and almost
dusty-looking, it works really well
to smooth in or sweep on a swoosh
of product featuring the teeniest
particles of gold, to catch the light.
Notwithstanding colder weather,
many of us have a bit of extra skin
on show during the party season:
shoulders, décolletage, forearms or
legs. (The late Princess of Wales’s
leg-lengthening trick, FYI, was to
blend a shimmering product into her
bare shins, which created the optical
illusion of even greater length.)
A body oil infused with gleam
does double-duty, nourishing skin
wherever you apply it. The original
(and I think still the best) is Nuxe
Huile Prodigieuse Gold Shimmer
Dry Oil, £34.50 for 100ml, but
you could also try adding a few
squirts of The Body Shop Drops
of Gold, £12, to your usual body
cream or oil. And gosh, if you’re
feeling really splurge-y, Tom Ford
Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil,
£72 for 100ml, featuring tiny
fragments of platinum and gold leaf,
infusing skin with a glorious floral/
sandalwood scent. Alternatively, with
your biggest, fluffiest powder brush,
swirl on a light veil of shimmering
powder – and my current favourite
for this is Guerlain Météorites Pearl
Powder Blush, £36 (shade Dore). It’ll
probably last me a lifetime of parties!
Kiss your lips with gleam. Here’s
the thing about shimmer after a
certain age; you don’t want it all
over your face. So I would probably
counsel against highlighter, or
shimmering blushers, focusing on
wealdentimes.co.uk
radiant skin, eyes – and a touch of
shimmer on lips. This also deceives
the eye, making lips appear fuller
(and most of us long for that).
The new Chanel Rouge Allure Ink
Matte Liquid Lip Colour range,
£31 each, showcases long-lasting
lip stains which in some cases also
feature metallic microparticles (I
am carrying round 208 Metallic
Red everywhere with me). I
am equally devoted to Guerlain
Kiss Kiss Satin Effect Diamond
Lipstick, £29.50, in Red Jewel.
If you’d rather stay within your
comfort zone by wearing your
regular shade of lipstick, meanwhile,
why not just add a finishing flourish
of shimmering gloss to the bottom
lip, then smack them together to
blend? Laura Mercier Candleglow
Lip Glacé, £20.50, is a bronze-y
shade, while Pat McGrath Lust Gloss
(in Blitz Gold), £25, offers pure
22-carat glam. At the high street
end of the price spectrum, L’Oréal
Glam Shine, £5.99, also does the
trick. But remember: less is more!
Last, but not least, embrace
dazzle on your nails. For years I’ve
been wearing a shimmering polish
that makes my fingertips look like
they’re adorned with pearls, thereby
distracting from hands that haven’t
aged as well as some other bits of me.
My polish-of-choice is OPI Infinite
Shine (in Pearl of Wisdom), £14.50,
but any gold, silver or shimmering
white has the same effect. Frankly,
in this day and age there is no nail
polish that is age-inappropriate,
so go as crazy and glimmery as
you like on your manicure.
And one last bit of advice:
just add pearl earrings. As
Vermeer understood, nothing
illuminates the face better...
Visit beautybible.com for
more of Jo’s make-up and
skincare tips and reviews.
110
Tom Ford
Soleil Blanc
Shimmering Body
Oil, £72 for 100ml
tomford.co.uk
Chanel
Ombre Première
Longwear Powder
Eyeshadow, £26
chanel.com
The Body
Shop Drops
of Gold, £12,
thebodyshop.com
Charlotte
Tilbury Hollywood
Flawless Filter,
£34 for 30ml
charlottetilbury.com

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111 wealdentimes.co.uk
BupaUkWT211.indd 1 15/08/2019 11:31

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Health & Wellbeing
Have a Healthy Christmas
Henrietta Norton explains how, despite the extra indulgence, it’s
still possible to have a nourishing and nutritious festive season
“Research
has shown that
Brussels sprouts
have significant
cancer-preventative
properties”
Mid-winter celebrations give us the opportunity
to commune and foster cheer, bringing
light to the darkest month of the year.
However, in our modern interpretations of Christmas
it can also be a time of over indulgence, a feast of sugarladen
and alcohol-dipped temptations. Despite our latter
day adaptations to this seasonal feast, the original Christmas
fare was in fact extremely nutritionally rich, providing those
vital nutrients for the body’s needs at this time of year.
Nourishing indulgences this Christmas:
Turkey – an abundant source of L-tryptophan, the precursor to
serotonin the main brain chemical that gives us the ‘feelgood’ factor
during the darker months. Particularly in the darker meat, zinc and
iron are both important for the generation of energy and hormones
that stress adaption. It is also an excellent source of selenium needed
by the thyroid gland to support the body’s use of food for energy.
Brussels sprouts – too often left to the side of the plate – most
especially by children – but research has shown they have significant
cancer-preventative properties. Steamed Brussels sprouts have
also been shown to reduce cholesterol by supporting gall bladder
function and digestion. Just 10 of these little green bombs will give
you over 140% of your recommended daily amount of vitamin C
Nuts – freshly cracked walnuts by an open fire are one of many
joys at this time and research shows that there are a great deal of
health benefits to be achieved from this activity too. Walnuts are
rich in vitamin E and the antioxidant group ‘phenols’, both of
which support cardiovascular health. Rich in protein they also
support blood glucose fluctuations that can lead to sugar cravings
or energy lows. More recently, walnuts have been researched
for their ability to promote the production of melatonin, the
brain chemical that induces sleep. The best benefits come
from freshly cracking them and eating all but the shell.
Cranberries – the accompanying traditional recipe for
cranberry sauce can be rich in anthocyanidins, powerful
antioxidants with a known ability to fight off infection
(especially in the urinary tract). They are also rich in vitamin
C, supporting the immune and circulatory system.
Visit wildnutrition.com for Food-Grown® supplements and information
on Nutritional Therapists at clinics in Lewes and London
113

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50 High Street, Tenterden 01580 762 564
Book online at www.williamcharleshair.co.uk
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Our Private Care Service offers
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For a free assessment
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Call us on 01580 762244
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Winter Alert from Helios
WilliamCharlesWT214.indd 1 04/11/2019 TownCountryHomecareWT214.indd 12:23
1 18/11/2019 14:52
At Helios we’re busy preparing
homeopathic remedies for
winter covering coughs, colds,
flu, sore throats and more.
Alongside our remedies you will
find the very best vitamin and
mineral supplements, herbal
remedies, flower essences and
immune system boosters to keep
you, your family and your pets in
the best of health this winter.
We have some great gift ideas
for Christmas including luxury,
organic skin care products and
some beautifully illustrated and
informative books covering all
aspects of health and wellbeing.
Helios Homeopathy Ltd, 97 Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2QR
Open Mon-Fri 9.30am - 5.30pm Sat 10.00am - 2.00pm
01892 537254 www.helios.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
114
HeliosPharmacyWT214.indd 1 12/11/2019 11:27

Banish the
Winter Blues
Christmas stress can be kept at bay with a
little self care, Sarah Maxwell explains
A
t this busy time of year
exercise and wellbeing will
usually be last on your
list of priorities, however... !
Christmas can be a stressful time
of year and exercise is actually one
of the best ways to combat it.
Studies have found that active people
experience significantly less anxiety and
emotional distress than active people.
Endless lists, shopping bags, keeping
everyone happy, excess alcohol, edible
treats and less sleep all adds up to
exhaustion, overload and stress.
The average British person gains
around 5lbs at Christmas. If you
manage to maintain a regular exercise
programme, or at least be active and take
care of yourself, you will have a much
less stressful holiday season and be ready
to hit the ground running in January.
I am a huge fan of quick workouts and
I have devised an exercise programme
that I call ‘on the go workouts’ – when
I’m flat out I do these to keep up my
energy levels and combat the difficulty
I have with short dark days. I find it
really helps my mood (especially as I
get rather uptight at this time of year).
In truth this is not just about keeping
Sarah Maxwell is a multiple awardwinning
Fitness and Lifestyle coach
and mum of two who juggles a lot
of balls. Find out more about Sarah
and her work at sarahmaxwell.com
Sarah shares her Fitness and
Lifestyle tips on Instagram
@sarahmaxwelllifestyle
fit and exercising it’s about giving
yourself some energy and calming your
mind. If I didn’t do some exercise at
some point in the day or do something
just for myself I wouldn’t be able to
juggle everything quite so well.
Take the pressure off yourself and do
the exercises in bite-size chunks so you
don’t have to go to the gym or class if
you’re running short on time (aren’t
we all). Try squats while waiting for
the kettle to boil, throw yourself into
a plank while you’re waiting for the
bath to fill, stretches while watching
your favourite TV programme and
if you’ve got young children put
on your favourite music and dance
with them (I’m sure they will love
Michael Buble’s Christmas album).
Every minute counts as we enter
into the festive season, as we do
more shopping online we don’t
walk around the shops as much
as we used to and that takes a toll
on our health and wellbeing.
This year, take time out to nurture
yourself, move more and spend some
quiet time alone. I can guarantee
you will have the merriest, fittest
and calmest Christmas yet!
“Take the pressure off yourself and
exercise in bite-size chunks”
Exercise of
the month:
THE WALL SIT
This is a great exercise for
thighs and bottom
(a prefect pre-ski exercise too)
✣
Stand with your back about
10in/2.5cm away from a wall
and place your feet hip
width apart.
Lean against the wall and
slide down until your thighs
are parallel to the floor.
Be careful not to push
your knees beyond your toes and
don’t allow your bottom to be
lower than your knees. Put the
weight on your heels and arms
crossed over your chest.
Try to hold for up to a
minute and repeat 3 times.
✣
Have a Merry Christmas x
115

Jewelled
pear and
apple baubles,
£2.50 each,
sequinned branch,
£10, Maisie K
maisiekshop.com

sponsored by
Get the
Party Started
Juliet Bidwell combines the freshest flavours for
four scrumptuous canapés to get your Christmas
or New Year’s party off to a very tasty start
Recipes: Juliet Bidwell
Photographs: David Merewether
Styling: Lucy Fleming
Artichoke Crisps with Black Forest Ham
Cooking time 10-15 mins Prep time 20 mins
Serves 10
• 200g Jerusalem artichokes
(large)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 100g crème fraîche
• 4 slices of Black Forest ham
• 4 tbsp red onion marmalade
or cranberry sauce
• 1 tbsp cress or chopped
chives to garnish
1. Preheat the oven to 180˚C, 350˚F, gas 4. Slice the artichokes
thinly on a mandolin. You’ll need big slices as they will shrink.
Toss them in oil and season. Lay the slices on a baking tray and
roast for 10-15 mins until golden and crisp.
2. Pull the Black Forest Ham into strips and twirl. Top the
artichoke crisps with ½ tsp of crème fraîche, Black Forest ham
and ½ tsp red onion marmalade or cranberry sauce. Garnish
with cress or chopped chives.
117 wealdentimes.co.uk

WINE TASTINGS &
CHRISTMAS SHOP
25% OFF SELECTED CASES
30 NOV - 24 DEC
Hush Heath Estate, Staplehurst, TN12 0HT
hushheath.com

sponsored by
Glitter
acorn branch,
£4.95, Maisie K
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Five-spiced Duck with Plum Sauce & Cape Gooseberries
Cooking time 30 mins Prep time 30 mins
Serves 10
• 1 tortilla wrap
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 tsp Chinese five-spice
• 2 tsp runny honey
• 1 duck breast
• 100g crème fraîche
• 4 tbsp Chinese plum
sauce or a good brand
mango chutney
• 1 punnet Cape
gooseberries cut into
quarters
• 2 tsp toasted sunflower
seeds
• 2 tsp chopped chives
• 1 mini muffin tin
1. Preheat oven to 180˚C, 350˚F, gas 4. Brush tortilla wrap
with oil and cut into 18 squares. Place oil side down in
the muffin tin and bake for 10 mins until crisp and dry.
2. Mix the five-spice and honey together. Score the skin of
the duck breast and spread with the five-spice and honey
mix. Roast the duck breast for 15-20 mins, it should still
be pink in the middle. Slice thinly when cool.
3. To assemble: put ½ tsp of crème fraîche in a tortilla cup,
followed by ½ tsp plum sauce or mango chutney, 1 slice
of five-spiced duck and a Cape gooseberry quarter. Top
with toasted sunflower seeds and chopped chives.
119 wealdentimes.co.uk

Glitter
foliage
sprigs, £2.50
each, Maisie K
maisiekshop.com
Cheese Soufflé Toast
with Cherry Tomatoes
Cooking time 15-20 mins Prep time 10 mins
Serves 10
• 20g butter
• 5 slices of thick sliced
white bread
• Salt and pepper
• 2 good pinches of
cayenne pepper
• 500g strong Cheddar,
grated
• 300ml double cream
• 4 eggs, whisked
• 1 vine cherry tomatoes
• 23cm square tin
1. Butter the base of the tin. Remove bread crusts and cut
so they completely cover the base of the tin. Season the
bread base with salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne.
Spread the Cheddar cheese evenly over the bread base.
Whisk the cream into the whisked eggs and season. Pour
the cream and eggs on the cheese making sure it goes
right to the edge of the tin.
2. Bake the cheesy toast for 15-20 mins, it should be risen,
reasonably firm and golden brown. When cooked leave it
to rest and then cut into 3cm squares. Serve dusted with
rest of cayenne and cherry tomato vine.
wealdentimes.co.uk
120

Juliet and her team at Juliet’s Catering
provide delicious seasonal menus for
any event, be it a wedding, special
dinner, lunch or drinks party. To
find out more, call 01797 270347
or visit julietscatering.co.uk
sponsored by
Faux
fur leopard
scarf, £14.95, gold
pompom clutch,
£23.95, macaron
baubles, £3.95
each, Maisie K
maisiekshop.com
Brandy Snap Baskets with
Passion Fruit & Mango
Cooking time 30 mins Prep time 90 mins
Preheat oven 190˚C Serves 12
• 110g butter
• 110g caster sugar
• 4 tbsp golden syrup
• 110g plain flour
• Zest and juice of ½ lemon
• Pinch of ground ginger
and allspice
• 50g dark chocolate
• 10g butter
• 100ml double cream
• 2tsp icing sugar sifted
• 2 large passion fruit
• ½ mango peeled and finely
diced
• 2 stem ginger diced finely
(optional)
• 10 mint leaves
• 5½cm and 2¼cm pastry
cutting rings
• Parchment paper
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup together, remove
from the heat and stir in the flour, lemon zest and juice
and spices. When cool, use a teaspoon to make balls
the size of marbles and place 4 on the baking tray, leave
room for them to spread. Bake for 10-12 mins until
golden brown. While still warm cut with the 5½cm
cutter into a neat round and mould over the 2¼cm cutter
into the shape of a basket. If the biscuits harden and won’t
mould, pop them back into the oven on a baking tray for
a minute to soften.
3. Melt chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of warm
water. Turn the brandy snap basket upside down and
spread melted chocolate on the outside base; leave to cool.
4. Whisk cream and icing sugar together, then add the seeds
of 1 passion fruit, the diced mango and stem ginger, if
using, and spoon into the baskets. Top with the remaining
passion fruit seeds and decorate with a mint leaf.
121 wealdentimes.co.uk

Brown paper packaging can
be tied up with string, but a
length of ivy secured around a
parcel can look even better than
a ribbon in a rustic sort of way.
Dream of a Green
Christmas
Jo Arnell shares her top tips and tricks for an eco-friendly festive season

“Christmas trees are
greener when you grow
them in a pot and bring
them in each year”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And the most
wasteful – if my rubbish and recycling bags are anything
to go by. Every year I vow to walk past the mounds of
glittery plastic and not get lured into the festival of shopping
that Christmas has become – but the pull is strong. This
year will be better, more organised, more crafty and more
mindful. It takes a little planning, but once you stop to
think about what can be made from simple ingredients
and foraged from our surroundings, a world of beautiful
and natural ideas – that carry no air miles – opens up.
Grow your own lunch
This is hard to do from scratch now, unless you want to serve
mustard and cress to your guests, but next year you could
be smugly serving your own homegrown fare. Most of the
ingredients for Christmas lunch are easy to grow – perhaps
not the turkey, but there are plenty of local farms where
happily raised birds can be bought directly. A vegetarian
alternative, such as a nut roast or decadent pie, is a greener
alternative to the traditional meat heavy feast and with the
right preparation, just as delicious. Out on the patch carrots
and potatoes will need lifting and storing in the autumn,
but sprouts, parsnips, cabbage and leeks can be left in the
ground – waiting in an outdoor larder until you are ready
to pick them. Even cranberries are fairly straightforward
to grow, but unless you want to give the birds a Christmas
treat, you may need to protect them with netting.
Christmas trees are greener when you grow them in
a pot and bring them in each year, but this does restrict
their size – until you release them and plant them in the
garden – where they shoot up to rival the Norway spruce
in Trafalgar Square. Although a fake tree can be used
for many years (20 apparently, to negate its effects on
the environment), it is not an environmentally friendly
thing. The production and felling of real trees involves
emissions, but at least while they are growing on their
plantations they are carbon positive. The most ecological
thing to do is not have one at all. Bah humbug!
Crafting your own Christmas stationery can be a satisfying
task if you have the time (but rather fraught if you’re up
against it…). Brown paper looks effective with a simple hand
printed design (remember potato prints?), or if you are artistic
you can even draw a unique design directly onto it. The
same goes for labels and cards. Cut sections from last year’s
leftover cards for labels too and recycle what you can from
other packaging. I have even used twigs and foliage from the
garden on tags and cards. Brown paper packaging can be tied
up with string, but a length of ivy secured around a parcel
can look even better than a ribbon in a rustic sort of way.
Homemade and homegrown presents
Chutneys, jams and relishes go down well as presents and
look attractive in recycled jars embellished with pretty labels
and ties. Most chutneys need a little while to develop their
flavours, but a quick last minute (and beautifully coloured)
relish/present solution is homemade cranberry sauce. It is
a doddle to make: just simmer 100g cranberries with the
“Crafting your own Christmas
stationery can be a satisfying task
if you have the time”
Left: Homemade sloe gin
123 wealdentimes.co.uk

Westdene, Whetsted Road A228, Paddock Wood, TN12 6SD
01892 833 325 l www.corker.co.uk
CorkerOutdoorsWT214.indd 1 18/11/2019 12:07
We’ve got designs
on your garden
Tradi'onal or contemporary, large or small, the team at Gardenproud
can help you create a garden you’ll be proud of. Established 2007,
we design, build and maintain gardens throughout Kent and East Sussex.
See our Show Garden at Corker’s, Paddock Wood.
If you are planning a new garden then contact Tim Sykes on
07725 173820, see us on Instagram, or google Gardenproud
wealdentimes.co.uk
124
Untitled-3 1 01/11/2019 GardenproudWT211.indd 14:14
1 21/08/2019 12:32

Garden
juice and a little zest of an orange, add 50g muscovado sugar
(or to taste) and, if you’re feeling ultra festive, a measure
of port. Stir in the pan for five minutes or so until the
berries begin to burst and the sauce thickens, then cool
and refrigerate. It will keep for a week in the fridge.
Drinks such as Sloe gin and Damson vodka are very easy
to make from foraged fruits. It is even possible to grow
your own gin makers hedgerow by planting a mix of native
woody plants such as blackthorn (produces sloes), Rosa
rugosa, Elder, plum and others with edible berries. Beautiful,
bountiful and un-buyable ingredients abound in the garden
and the hedgerows. The only thing to remember (apart
from making sure you’re not picking anything poisonous)
is that while the fruits and berries are an extra bonus for us,
they are crucial for the survival of many birds and animals
through the colder months, so if you do go out gathering,
make sure that you compensate the creatures for raiding their
winter larders – put out extra food on the bird table, keep
fresh/unfrozen water available and provide sheltering places,
such as log piles, hollow stems and cosy piles of leaves.
Cosmetics like soap, bath bombs and hand creams are
satisfying and relatively easy to make. Soap can be made
using sustainably sourced olive or almond oil, rather than the
palm oil so often used in commercial products. It is a bit of a
process to make soap from scratch, but not too difficult. As
an alternative, a pre-made ‘melt and pour’ soap base can be
used – you just heat it gently until it melts, add in fragrances
and other ingredients, pour into moulds and, once your
soap is set, package it up in pretty paper to give away. It is
much gentler on the skin than most commercially made
brands, but make sure you add a list of the ingredients
somewhere on the packaging in case of allergies.
Plants make the ultimate green gift. Carefully
chosen winter containers of perennial
Top: Table decoration using shop bought roses and foliage from the garden Above: Homemade botanical soap
125 wealdentimes.co.uk

Garden Perfection
City Escapes provide domestic & commercial garden solutions
Voted UK’s Best Wedding Florist 2019
National Wedding Awards
Recommended by Kent’s leading venues
www.emilyandme.co.uk 07581 294387
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Emily&MeWT211.indd 1 21/08/2019 CityEscapesWT204.indd 11:14
1 24/01/2019 10:40
For Brilliant Year Round Results
Wealden Country Landcraft
Wealden Country Landcraft
For all your design, construction and maintenance requirements, contact:
Adam Sutton BSc (Hons) Environmental Science | Tim Playfoot BA (Hons) Garden Design
Tel:01892 722699| Adam:07979 362241 | Tim:07990 751353 | www.playfootgardendesign.co.uk
wealdentimes.co.uk
126
WCLandcraftWT209.indd 1 17/06/2019 14:46

Garden
“Beautiful, bountiful and
un-buyable ingredients
abound in the garden and
the hedgerows”
evergreens and bulbs will go on giving long after the
Christmas tree has been assigned to the shredder/bonfire/
recycling van. If you are planning for next year, then forced
bulbs such as Hyacinths and Paperwhite narcissi can be
planted and triggered into flowering in time for the festive
season. Poinsettias are also primed to show off their red
bracts in December, but they are tender plants and don’t
like cold draughts – even the journey from the shop to
their destination can upset them. They can be kept after
Christmas as house plants, but to get the red bracts to
appear again the following year is a complicated process
involving the manipulation of light levels. Cyclamen
are a better bet, but there are several different varieties
available at Christmas and not all of these are hardy.
Gather some decorations
While you are out on the gin foraging session, pick a few
cones, seed heads and twigs to make decorations with. It is
great fun making place settings, napkin rings, wreaths and
table decorations from things you find growing outside. Many
dried seed pods can be gathered and dried well in advance
and then added to foliage nearer the time. Smaller cones, like
pine, alder, beech and acorns can be added as embellishments,
but the seed heads of plants like Artichokes, Alliums and
Agapanthus are of a good size and look glamorous in their
own right. Spray them with metallic paint for extra sparkle,
or leave them looking as nature intended for a natural (and
more ecologically friendly) look. Use the twining stems
of ivy and other climbers as bases for swags and wreaths
and tie around picture frames, doorways and banisters.
Once you start thinking about simple, home made
alternatives to a shop bought Christmas and unleash your
creativity, the preparations – providing you have the time
– become as enjoyable as the day itself. May your days be
merry and bright and may your carbon footprint be light.
Jo’s 2020 gardening courses are now booking.
Call 01233 861149 or see hornbrookmanor.co.uk
for details.
Top right: Rosemary place setting
Right: Birch place setting
Above left: Spruce up your candles
Left: Section of a berry and cone wreath
127 wealdentimes.co.uk

214
213
WT213-Covers.indd 3 23/10/2019 11:23
212
211
SepTember 2019
2019
210
WT Logo Kent and Sussex teal.indd 8 20/11/2019 16:00
PRICELESS
DECEMBER AUGUST
2019
PRICELESS
NOVEMBER AUGUST 2019
Wealden Times
The lifestyle magazine for Kent & Sussex
PRICELESS
OCTOBER AUGUST
2019
PRICELESS
SEPtEmbER 2019
Wealden Times
The lifestyle magazine for Kent & Sussex
Wealden Times
PRICELESS
AuguSt 2019
The lifestyle magazine for Kent & Sussex
J O H N S A N K E Y S L I P P E R C H A I R I N L E AT H E R
DECEMBER 2019
GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS SUPPLEMENT inside
Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes
WT214-Covers-outside.indd 3 20/11/2019 12:49
NOVEMBER 2019
CHRISTMAS GIFT SUPPLEMENT inside
Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes
OCTOBER 2019
RESTORATION & NEW BUILD SUPPLEMENT inside
Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes
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education Supplement inside
Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes
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21/08/2019 11:15
auguST
restoration & new build supplement inside
Inspirational Interiors • Fabulous Fashion • Delicious Dishes
Now available in Whitstable
Pick up your copy at Hotel Continental, Scandinavian Touch,
Tea & Times and The Whiting Post
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128
GreenBoxRecyclingWT210.indd 1 15/07/2019 10:29

Gardening
Courses 2020
Gift vouchers for courses - the gift that grows...
Join Jo Arnell at her garden in
Woodchurch and learn how to get the best
from your garden through the seasons.
TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP PRODUCING
THE FINEST CRETAN TERRACOTTA POTS IN THE WORLD
No experience needed.
Contact Jo 01233 861149
hornbrookmanor.co.uk
HornbrookManorWT214.indd 1 19/11/2019 17:09
© National Trust 2019. Registered Charity no. 205846. Photography © National Trust Images
Winter beauty
made at Sissinghurst Castle Garden
2 November - 6 March; weekends only.
Every weekend this winter, bare beauty and
structure awaits. Explore the garden rooms
to find inspiration around every corner.
These are the places that make us.
nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden
The Barns, East Street, Turners Hill, West Sussex RH10 4QA
+44 (0) 1342 714793 info@potsandpithoi.com www.potsandpithoi.com
129 wealdentimes.co.uk
SissinghurstCastleWT213.indd 1 09/10/2019 PotsAndPithoiWT214.indd 15:10
1 15/11/2019 16:37

Dulwich Inspires
We look to ignite each child’s curiosity,
reveal hidden talents and ensure
all our children fulfil their
extraordinary potential
Open Morning
Friday 11th October
dulwichprepcranbrook.org

Education
Season’s
Teachings
Hilary Wilce pays tribute to the life-changing work of our teachers
It’s the season of joy and goodwill so let’s give a great big
shout-out for our country’s teachers. Every day they get
up, go to work and very often do things that profoundly
change their students’ lives. Sometimes these are small,
supportive nudges. Sometimes they are well-timed words of
kindness or wisdom, and sometimes they are painstaking,
long-term exercises in teeth-gritting supportive belief.
I remember, for example, Christopher, a wiry, lonely
eight-year-old from a highly dysfunctional family.
Christopher could barely read or write, was disruptive in
class, and so uneasy in his own body that he was forever
having accidents and sporting a cast or a bandage.
This was long ago, in the very earliest days of school
technology, and one day a computer was
delivered to Christopher’s classroom. He was
immediately fascinated. When he typed on
the keyboard his letters came out looking like
everyone else’s, not the illegible scrawls he
produced with his pencil, and since no one in
the class knew how to use a computer he didn’t
have to feel hopeless and inferior as he got to
grips with it. On the contrary, he seemed to pick
it up faster than most of the other children.
Seeing this, his teacher made a very big
decision. For a whole term she re-jigged
Christopher’s timetable so he dropped art, music and games to
work on the computer. She also stayed on in her classroom at
breaks and in the lunch-hour so he could have even more time
at the keyboard. As a result, Christopher’s literacy came on
in leaps and bounds, and almost like magic, his behavioural
and co-ordination problems dwindled. He walked and talked
like a different boy, made friends in class, and moved on up
to secondary school looking confident and feeling able.
“They are
instructors,
counsellors,
befrienders,
storytellers,
administrators
and cheerleaders”
That teacher took her own, unorthodox gamble on
unseen ability. In today’s more regulated schools this is
not always possible, but still teachers carry on steering
and encouraging students. They help them see what
they are capable of, teach them to think for themselves,
provide support through difficult patches, and bring
dry subjects alive with imaginative exercises.
Not all teachers, of course, are brilliant at their jobs. They
vary, just like any other large group of people. But good ones
know when to push and when to coax. They are instructors,
counsellors, befrienders, storytellers, administrators and
cheerleaders. And their daily round can encompass almost
anything from sitting for a few quiet minutes with an
infant whose cat has just died, to reading
the riot act to a student who thinks he can
wing his A-levels without doing any work.
You are never too grand to have a teacher
you can thank. I learnt this when interviewing
well-known people about their best teachers.
The writer Maya Angelou told me a wonderful
story about “Mrs Flowers”, a teacher who
had helped her to learn to speak again after
a childhood trauma had left her mute. Mrs
Flowers took the young, silent Maya to the
library and encouraged her to read her way
back into words “starting with all the books from A to C”.
Through that simple act Maya regained her voice. “I never
had a chance to talk to Mrs Flowers as an adult,” she said,
“but if I had I would have said, ‘Thank you, thank you.’”
So when it comes to sending Christmas cards to
your children’s teachers think about anything you – or
your children – might want to thank them for, and
add it in. It will be the best present you can give.
131 wealdentimes.co.uk

@saintronans
/SaintRonans
www.saintronans.co.uk
© Sarah Clark Photography
“What’s not to love...”
Good Schools Guide 2020
“...this place fizzes with warmth, gusto and authenticity”
Excellence in all areas S nspecon Report)
36 scholarships awarded in 2018/19
20 different senior school desnaons in 2019
100+ children in Years 7 & 8
25+ teams typically fielded weekly
19 music ensembles including a 40-piece orchestra
Listed as a ‘best of the best’ Prep School by The Week
ew facilies for Computer Science, Art & DT opening Jan
PREP SCHOOL OF
THE YEAR 2018
Discover Saint Ronan’s
Book an appointment on 01580 752271 or e-mail emmatv@saintronans.co.uk
Boys & Girls 3-13 years | Founded 1883 | Hawkhurst, Kent | 01580 752271

From broad stairs to the stars
Open up a world of possibilities at an outstanding
prep school for boys and girls aged between 3 and
13, offering day, weekly, flexi and full boarding,
located in Broadstairs. Providing an exceptional
education that offers so much more than just
what is learned in the classroom.
For further information or to book an
appointment, please contact us.
E: admissions@wellesleyhouse.net
T: +44 (0)1843 862991
W: www.wellesleyhouse.org
Wellesley House, Broadstairs, Kent CT10 2DG
CONTACT US FOR MORE
INFORMATION
lca -stage.com
07714 276 241
info@lca-stage.com
WellesleyHouseWT214.indd 1 18/11/2019 10:05
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WHEN YOU ADVERTISE
Here at LCA, our classes, workshops and masterclasses
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Everyone wants to get what they paid for. Wealden Times is independently
verified by ABC, because we want our advertisers to know they’re getting the
exposure they’ve been promised.
ABC. See it. Believe it. Trust it.
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133 wealdentimes.co.uk
ABC.indd 1 12/12/2018 LCA-StageAcademyWT214.indd 17:15
1 20/11/2019 15:11

Innovation
Give your child a priceless gift for Christmas.
We have a unique tuition ethos and are
located in Folkestone, Canterbury and soon
Tenterden. However, we are happy to supply
our services in surrounding areas if required.
We provide direct coaching for
school-specific entrance exams and the 11+.
Our pupils develop the skill of reverse
engineering questions to discover the
symmetries in maths, setting them up for
tougher problems at a young age. We apply
geometrical queries to daily life, allowing the
students to visualise problems with
their own imagination.
We teach statistical skills such as interpolation
and extrapolation from a young age, which
are essential for forecasting and predicting
outcomes, (or even stock prices!).
Prices are subject to area.
ukhighflyers@gmail.com
ukhighflyers.com
UKHighflyersWT214.indd 1 20/11/2019 15:06
A School Full
of Opportunities
Grandparents’ SCHOLARSHIP Day APPLICATIONS:
and Harvest Festival
APPLY NOW FOR SEPTEMBER 2020 ENTRY
admissions@vinehallschool.com
Vinehall
ROBERTSBRIDGE EAST SUSSEX
VINEHALLSCHOOL.COM
wealdentimes.co.uk
134
VinehallSchoolWT213.indd 1 22/10/2019 10:09

Be Yourself
at Claremont
New for
2019
£3.5m Octagon
Project completed
State of the art
science laboratories
Dance studio
Art studio
Music Department
9 new classrooms
...except when you’re
being Mary Poppins
YEAR 9 SCHOLARSHIPS
For entry in September 2020
Deadline for applications
Monday 13 January 2020
Assessment week
27 - 31 January 2020
Senior School & Sixth Form Bodiam, East Sussex TN32 5UJ
01580 830396 . enquiries@claremontschool.co.uk . claremontschool.co.uk

Surrey Homes
magazine
25
Christmas guide
2019
Open House brings you some fantastic ideas and inspiration for
your festive gifts from this year’s handpicked exhibitors.
15
1 The 12 Days
of Christmas
Signature advent sleighs
and stylish seasonal
home décor and gifts!
01622 844559
the12daysofchristmas.co.uk
2 2 Little Boys
Exciting range of unique
gift ideas for all the family.
020 8400 3606
2littleboys.co.uk
3 Äiti London
Contemporary Nordicstyle
designer knitwear,
cashmere and scarves.
07810 481480
aitilondon.co.uk
8
5 Alpine Lifestyle
Boutique
An eclectic mix of Alpine
inspired homewares
and furniture.
01943 602633
alpinelifestyleboutique.com
6 Amulette
See our exciting designer
jewellery collection.
amulette.co.uk
7 Annie Gray Designs
Handmade framed silhouette
pictures and portraits.
07854 162978
anniegraydesigns.co.uk
9
8 Annie with Alex
Bags lovingly made by
our family for yours.
01923 229714
anniewithalex.com
9 Around The
Garden Table
Mobile garden boutique,
flowers, plants and garden/
living accessories.
07538 182772
aroundthegardentable.co.uk
11 Babette Wasserman
Beautiful silver jewellery
for women and elegant
cufflinks for men.
020 8964 9777
babette-wasserman.com
20
12 BeeInspired
Natural skincare creams
made from our own
honey and beeswax.
07825 278044
beeinspiredcreams.buzz
13 Birdie London
Luxury Merino wool
activewear for men
and women.
birdie.london
14 Blades Heating
Limited
Authorised distributor of
Aga and Everhot appliances.
01883 713378
blades-aga.co.uk
15 The Boot Room
Leather & suede boots,
also offering a bespoke
fitting service.
07957 887844
thebootroom.me
16 Brownstone
Contemporary home
fragrance and gifts, including
candles, diffusers and bags.
01252 821669
brownstonelondon.com
17 Bukhara
Vintage handwoven
textiles collected from
across the Islamic world.
bukharavintage.co.uk
18 Butternut Box
We make freshly prepared
dog food. Delivered
in perfect portions.
020 3936 4888
butternutbox.com
21
19 Captain Tortue
Chic French clothes company
offering smart casualwear in
capsule collections.
01372 270177
trulycaroleann.com
4 Alpaca Sol
Beautiful handmade alpaca
knitwear, designed in
Bristol, made in Bolivia.
07914 382981
alpacasol.co.uk
10 The Artisan Designers
Decoupage with a twist
& home decor.
07855 385824
facebook.com/pg/
thebullhousestudio
14
20 Cashmere & Cotton
Stunning collection of
100% cashmere knitwear
& crisp cotton shirts.
01829 219016
cashmereandcotton.co.uk

21 Cashmere & Silk
Specialising in unique
100% cashmere and
pure silk scarves.
07785 551254
22 Catherine De
Crèvecoeur
Unique, lightweight,
handmade statement
jewellery that brightens
up any outfit.
07590 472722
catherinedc.com
23
23 Ceramica
Beautiful Spanish grater
plates that grate ginger,
garlic, cheese and nutmeg.
07769 771632
ceramicaplate.co.uk
24 Chandrika
Thomas London
Luxury lifestyle range
of fragrances for
body and home.
07885 269268
chandrikathomas.co.uk
7
19
25 Choice of Scandinavia
Bringing Scandinavian
trends to your home!
Let us inspire you!
07718 483812
choiceofscandinavia.co.uk
26 Coban Rugs
Unique rugs and runners
handwoven from natural
undyed goats’ wool.
07769 800321
cobanrugs.com /rugs.html
27 Cozi
An exclusive range of
coats, jackets, gilets,
hats and accessories.
01923 854999
marie-s.co.uk
28 The Curious Yak
London textile retailer
working closely with
independent makers.
07743 058374
thecuriousyak.com
119
29 Desavery
Skincare with pure, plantbased
ingredients designed
to boost your mood.
07748 693693
desavery.co.uk
30 Drysure
The use anywhere boot &
shoe dryer - improves smell.
07971 019974
drysure.co
31 Ella & Cherry
Beautiful clothing with
exquisite details including
ruffles, roses & crystals.
07801 289899
ellaandcherry.co.uk
26
32 Em&Lu
Adorable collection of
children’s nightwear,
bedroom, bathroom
and baby accessories.
07502 405932
emandlu.co.uk
85
33 Eton Taylor
Ladies’ timeless elegant
luxury clothing and
accessories.
07720 548510
etontaylor.co.uk
34 Eva Nagy Massages
Take care of your body,
it is your home too.
07752 112404
evanagymassages.co.uk
35 Fairydusk
Beautiful range of
decorative lighting for
your home, & gifts.
07976 525824
fairydusk.co.uk
36 Faro Home
A colourful edit of India -
homeware and homewear.
07908 532683
farohome.com
22
120
5
105
50
10
77
29
1

37 The Fashion
Loft Boutique
Beautiful ladies clothing
collection, accessories &
jewellery at affordable prices.
07801 930570
39
45 fwp by rae
Stylish, ethically produced
T-shirts and sweatshirts
fusing design and wine.
07584 418927
fwpbyrae.com
76
38 The Firebowl Shop
Beautiful antique and
new firebowls that you
can cook on.
07762 251347
thefirebowlshop.com
41
39 Flint & Flame
Premium quality kitchen
knives, blocks, chopping
boards and sharpeners.
01403 740230
flintandflame.co.uk
40 Flock Design
Super soft giant Merino
wool handcrafted
home accessories.
07979 536275
flockdesign.co.uk
41 Flot & Jetsam
Seasonal clothing,
activewear, exclusive
cashmere sweaters, knitwear,
accessories and more!
07487 696985
flotandjetsam.co.uk
42 Flutterby
2019 collection of stylish,
original jewellery. Unique
pieces. Show Offers.
07890 348196
flutterbyonline.co.uk
43 Forever England
Exquisite Bedspreads,
Bedding and Cushions.
‘Millie Mae’ Fashion
accessories.
01935 811970
foreverengland.com
44 From Belo
Award-winning kind, luxury
accessories formed from
re-purposed materials.
07887 537008
frombelo.com
46 Gifts for Urchins
Lots of gorgeous gifts
for girls, from preschool
to teenagers.
giftsforurchins.co.uk
47 GoodToBee Ltd
Handmade, reusable,
organic cotton, beeswax
food wraps and bags.
07715 749239
goodtobee.co.uk
42
49 Hermosa London
Neoprene and velvet
pouches, tote bags &
overnight travel bags.
07875 846776
hermosalondon.com
50 The Holiday
Shop London
Stylish and practical
accessories for sport, leisure
and holiday adventures.
07486 671395
theholidayshop.london
51 Home Portraits 4 U
Hand-drawn, detailed
commissioned portraits of
your house by Eli Ofir.
07851 791772
homeportraits4u.co.uk
52 Hopeful London
Beautiful and stylish
brand-designed accessories,
exclusively made in the UK.
07979 694771
hopefullondon. com
38
101
81
48 Hare & Bone
An instinctive fashionfocused,
style and trend
conscious hair salon
01737 924800
hareandbone.co.uk
44
53 Hülsta Furniture
- Esher
Modern quality fitted
furniture, made in Germany.
01372 479726
hulsta.uk
47
24
55

6
11
54 Image Plus
Country Collections
Suppliers of ethically sourced
sheepskins, cowhides and
beautiful leather goods.
01424 893461
imagepluscountry.com
55 Initially London
Monogrammed accessories,
linens and gifts.
initiallylondon.com
56 Inky & Mole
Unique, stylish and vibrant
hair accessories for women.
01935 826071
inkyandmole.com
57 Isabel Haines
Heritage Brands
Fine European heritage
homeware brands: Redecker,
Opinel, Berard & Durance.
07733 113440
isabelhaines.com
58 Jin Designs
Clean, simple and stylish
designs on contemporary
British made products.
01273 777070
jindesigns.com
58
52
64
59 Jo Hooper
Art & Design
Highly detailed and
realistic Equine, Pet &
Wildlife pencil portraits.
07958 797313
60 Kaaren Buchanan
Classic, everyday
jewellery with an edge.
01635 201708
kaarenbuchanan.com
66
61 Kastur Jewels
Unique, handmade heritage
inspired jewellery with
a contemporary take.
07512 907522
kasturjewels.com
62 KC Collection
Ladies outwear and
accessories.
07950 027148
64 Kitty Clogs Sweden
Sustainable, ethicallymade
footwear for fashion,
fairness and the future.
kittyclogssweden.co.uk
65 La Costa Del Algodon
Luxury loungewear
brand from Spain.
lacostadelalgodon.com
66 Ladies Who
Lunch Boutique
Handmade jewellery
in fabulous colours
and unique designs &
complementary accessories.
01323 423816
lwljewellery.co.uk
67 Laslett England
Luxury hand-finished
scarves and pocket squares.
Modern & vintage twist.
01424 532484
laslettengland.com
68 Law & Co
Former model Denise Law
reveals her latest boutique
clothing collection.
lawandcompany.com
69 Lighthearted
Metal garden sculptures
made from recycled washing
machines & fridges.
07708 936923
light-hearted.co.uk
70 Lightstyle London
We provide innovative
lighting ideas for the
home and garden.
lightstylelondon.co.uk
71
61
71 LilyMatthews
Interiors Ltd
Makers of curtains,
blinds, soft furnishings
for trade & residential.
01580 241614
lilymatthews.co.uk
72 Little Plum
Ribbon Memo Boards,
Jewellery Boards, Photo
Frames. Original,
useful presents.
01672 540427
littleplum.co.uk
73
73 LittleLeaf Organic
Luxurious organic cotton
bedding to superking,
plus designer babywear.
01428 712583
littleleaforganic.com
104
63 Kirei Home
Lifestyle brand combining
best of vintage homeware
with more modern.
07909 543755
kireihome.co.uk
74 Liv Morgan
Luxury real leather
handbags and accessories
at affordable prices.
07702 886420
livmorgan.co.uk

75 Lottie’s Loft
Boutique store, ladieswear
including Robell,
cashmere, linen & silk.
01622 679642
76 Loved By Da
Cool & comfy Ibiza inspired
clothing.
07737 307329
lovedbyda.com
77 Lulu B Ltd
Lulu B is a collection
of stylish and affordable
jewellery.
07973 771014
lulub.co.uk
78
80 Marie & Lola
Up and coming French
fashion brands for women.
07779 275816
marieandlola.com
81 Mary Ann Watt Art
Beautiful, contemporary
homeware featuring stunning
painted flower images.
07831 211056
maryannwatt.com
84 NIGHTPORTER
Uniquely versatile
loungewear. Made in
Britain. Made to order.
nightporterstore.com
85 NoLoGo-Chic
Soft cotton, linen
embroidered, printed
nightwear along with
resort wear.
07812 734582
nologo-chic.co.uk
86 The Oak & Rope
Company
Handmade and hand
personalised items made
in oak and rope.
01227 469413
theoakandropecompany.
co.uk
89 Organise-us
Beautiful diaries,
notebooks, guest books,
wallets and handbags.
01252 781878
organise-us.com
90 Pelle London
Beautifully designed suede
garments for women
hand-tailored in London.
07967 223729
pellelondon.co.uk
96
87
78 Maisie K
A unique lifestyle store
offering the latest fashion
trends, luxury home
accessories and furniture.
01580 715123
maisiekshop.com
79
79 The Make Shed
Handmade and hand selected
clothing, home fragrance,
gifts and accessories.
07776 477641
themakeshed.co.uk
82 Mette Høj
A unique collection of
rare semi-precious stones
and pearl jewellery.
07887 573136
mettehoj.com
83 Moon Flower Cobham
Designer florist in the
heart of Cobham.
01932 863843
moonflowercobham.com
59
100
87 Odyl
Independent ladieswear
boutique.
07973 391548
odyldesign.com
88 ORA Pearls
British luxury pearl jewellery
made in Chelsea, London.
07771 778856
orapearls.com
91 Phoebe Grace
A British designed luxury
leisurewear brand.
07711 017063
phoebe-grace.co.uk
92 Plooms
Fabulous fountain pens
in gorgeous colours.
07881 348609
plooms.co.uk
93
54
51
93 Polkadot Parsley
Ceramic oven to
tableware, French
coated linen tablecloth,
napkins, tea towels.
07798 797068
polkadotparsley.com
57
117
106
30

99 Rikke Line
Contemporary Danish
jewellery design.
07932 162439
rikkeline.com
100 Romney Marsh Wools
A simple, yet stylish woollen
range from our own farm.
01233 721800
romneymarshwools.co.uk
94 84
108 Simply Naturale
Gorgeous skincare and
fantastic home textiles
from Florence, Italy.
020 8941 5223
simplynaturale.co.uk
109 SOUZU
Delightful children’s gifts.
020 8780 0025
souzu.co.uk
94 Possum Merino
Exceptional, comfortable
possum Merino knitwear
from New Zealand. Non
bobbling.
01488 668938
possummerino.co.uk
95 Princess Alice Hospice
Providing outstanding end of
life care in Surrey, Middlesex
& South-East London.
01372 468811
pah.org.uk
96 The Real Ruler
Height Chart Company
Fantastic 6ft 6in
wooden height charts
for all the family.
07790 306220
realrulerco.com
86
101 Rose & Bows
Country Boutique
Country boutique
fashion accessories, home
furnishings and gifts.
07578 112220
roseandbows.co.uk
99
102 Rosella Style
Lovingly sourced gifts,
homeware and clothing.
Brighten up your life.
07885 464678
rosellastyle.com
103 RTfact Flowers
Specialists in Luxury Faux
Flowers, Trees and Greenery.
01372 470580
rtfactflowers.co.uk
104 Sally Wilcox
Sally handmakes beautiful
silver floral jewellery.
sallywilcox.co.uk
105 Sansho -
Handmade in Japan
Sansho works with
traditional craftsmen
to develop beautiful
Japanese homewares.
020 7387 9256
sansho.com
106 Sante + Wade
A contemporary footwear
label for women who
own their difference.
020 7030 3981
santewade.com
107 Silver Pink
UK designed cashmere
jumpers and cardigans
co ordinated with
beautiful shirts.
07774 724630
silverpinkcompany.co.uk
127
82
110 Squiggle Dot
& Squeeze
Children’s craft, activity
kits ages 3-9.
squiggledotandsqueeze.co.uk
111 St Bert’s Clothing
The 1970s inspired “Go To”
brand for adults and kids.
01273 891848
stberts.com
67
97 Really Helpful Club
Free online network to share
great recommendations,
discover outstanding
businesses and connect
at inspiring events.
07796 262045
reallyhelpfulclub.com
83
122
43
98 Reg&Bob
A stylish, vibrant, yet
totally practical collection
of dog products.
regandbob.com
89
16
36

117 Tatum Diamond
London
Luxury hand-crafted bags
for today’s women who
care about tomorrow.
tatumdiamond.com
107
127 WellBake
WellBake cookware.
CleanZone oven/Aga liners.
NoBurn oven gloves.
01832 731526
wellbake.co.uk
112 Stoned and
Waisted Ltd
Stoned and Waisted
-”Everyday Luxury”.
Stunning shearling
coats and accessories.
stonedandwaistedfashion.
com
113 SW19London.com
A stylish clothing
collection from British
& Danish designers.
020 8404 0623
sw19london.com
88
114 Swann Forge
Artisan blacksmith couple
creating bespoke products
for house and home.
07751 752930
swannforge.co.uk
115 Swole Panda
Luxuriously soft bamboo
socks and scarves &
handcrafted bamboo watches.
07515 854320
swolepanda.com
116 T London
Home fragrance and
bath & body products.
020 3846 4900
t-london.com
112
118 Taylor Bell
Contemporary womenswear.
Classics with a twist.
07939 568051
taylor-bell.com
111
119 Taylor Jayne
Avant Garde lifestyle,
statement framed prints,
beautiful home fragrances.
taylorjayne.co.uk
120 This Wild House
Vintage furniture, maps,
chandeliers, homewares, gifts
& Taschen Sumo books.
01737 211216
thiswildhouse.com
121 Three Grey
Unusual new, reclaimed &
vintage pieces for the home.
07973 440965
threegrey.org
108
122 Tipperleyhill
Quirky animal prints,
personalised with calligraphy
in any chosen phrase.
07814 024280
tipperleyhill.com
123 Total Wardrobe Care
Natural anti-moth
clothes products and
wardrobe solutions.
01420 588588
totalwardrobecare.co.uk
124 Urban Wool
Organic wool bedding,
including wool duvets.
01562 950133
urbanwool.co.uk
115
125 Varca
Taste of Mediterranean
style - Boots, Sandals,
Loafers and more.
01903 746677
varca.com
126 Warp & Weft
Handmade clothing,
accessories & homeware.
Bespoke, made to
order service.
01424 437180
warpandweftoldtown.com
128 Welligogs
British clothing and footwear
brand providing luxury
and stylish elegance.
01785 662277
welligogs.com
125
129 White Ginger
Feminine resort wear with
stunning accessories and
homeware from Singapore.
07747 667788
white-ginger.com
130 Wild Planet
Aromatherapy
Natural home fragrance to
enhance your wellbeing.
01959 523920
wildplanetproducts.com
131 Will and Pop
Customised vintage jackets,
hoodies and bags. The
perfect personalised gift.
07736 677589
willandpop.com
114

134
135 ZUT
Exquisitely designed
and handcrafted
Colombian suede for
stylish elegant women.
07950 059457
zut.com.co
128
132 WOOD like to PLAY
A beautiful range of wooden
educational puzzles and
Noah’s Arks.
01785 813014
woodliketoplay.co.uk
133 Woven Store
Timeless clothing, accessories
& handcrafted lifestyle
goods. Made to last.
07585 705626
wovenstore.com
126
134 Zed & Co
Stylish high-quality
placemats, coasters,
china mugs, kitchen
textiles and more.
01892 782991
zedandco.co.uk
133
136 Alsop & Walker
Award-Winning artists
in Cheesemaking (Cow
and Sheep Cheese).
01825 831810
alsopandwalker.co.uk
130
137 Cocoloco Chocolates
Cocoloco Chocolates. Singleorigin,
artisan, handmade
chocolates from East Sussex.
01424 602614
cocoloco.org.uk
138 Feudo San Lorenzo
Artisanal extra virgin
and flavoured olive
oils from Sicily.
07949 110538
feudosanlorenzo.com
139 Goupie
Devilishly moreish, chewy
chocolate, confection
with a hint of crunch!
01580 211440
goupiechocolate.com
140 Longtooth Gin
Longtooth. The relaunch
of the iconic 1960s
London Dry Gin.
07860 419155
longtoothgin.com
141 New York Delhi
ViPnuts - The gourmet
peanut brand.
020 8876 7057
newyorkdelhi.com
129
142 Nonya Secrets Sauces
All natural award-winning
delicious south east
Asian cooking/sauces.
020 8995 7530
nonyasecrets.com
141
143 Pinkster Gin
Pinkster Gin is a smooth
dry award-winning gin.
01763 849739
pinkstergin.com
144 Potash Farm
Potash Farm are the
country’s leading cobnut
& walnut growers.
01732 882734
kentishcobnuts.com
140
145 Rose Cottage Drinks
Alcoholic mixers for
Champagne, prosecco,
cocktails and desserts.
07974 769669
rosecottagedrinks.co.uk
146 Silent Pool Distillers
Silent Pool Distillers
makes award-winning
gin in the Surrey Hills.
01483 229136
silentpooldistillers.com
143
138
145
144
142
136
146
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137

Try something
different...
come curling & love it!
Staff outings
Entertaining clients
Birthday parties
Christmas Parties
Stag & Hen Parties
Social Events
FUN
on ice!
Find us on Facebook & Twitter
wealdentimes.co.uk
WhiteRockTheatreWT214.indd 1 04/11/2019 TradingBoundariesWT214.indd 15:41
1 19/11/2019 11:33
144
Dundale Farm, Dundale Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 9AQ
01892 826004 • info@curlinginkent.co.uk • www.curlinginkent.co.uk
FentonsRinkWT212.indd 1 10/09/2019 10:49
New Year’s Eve Party
Welcome 2020 with added sparkle
at Trading Boundaries
Join us for a fun celebration
in our atmospheric, candlelit venue
Enjoy a three-course dinner
followed by a sharing cheese board.
Dance along to the fabulous funky
City Funk Orchestra.
A glass of fizz and a screening
of the fireworks
from London at midnight.
Continue dancing until 1am.
Trading Boundaries, Sheffield Green, East Sussex TN22 3RB
Information & Tickets: 01825 790200 / www.tradingboundaries.com

ART
1 Dec – 26 Jan
Grierson Galleries at the Hive,
19 Stone Street,Cranbrook,
Kent TN17 3HF
‘Outside Edge’
An exhibition which focuses on
six artists and explores the theme
of ‘en plein air’. Karl Terry, Les
Williams and Vincent Matthews
are all artists who respond to the
urgency of painting edgy pictures
‘en plein air’. Also Max White who
completes his scenes in studio,
and Tricia Wood who only paints
using the edge of a credit card (a
literal edge) to create her London
Skyscapes – Edgy, avant garde art,
en plein air – ‘Outside Edge’.
griersongalleries.com
Until Sun 5 Jan
Hastings Contemporary,
Rock-a-Nore Road, Hastings
Old Town TN34 3DW
Quentin Blake:
Feet in water
Hastings Contemporary’s Artist
Patron and internationally
celebrated artist and illustrator,
Quentin Blake’s latest installment
in an ongoing series created for
the gallery. It is full of enchanting
creations and characters just like
those you have seen in books
by David Walliams, Joan Aiken
and, of course, Roald Dahl.
hastingscontemporary.org
Children & Families
Until Sun 5 Jan
Bluewater Shopping Centre,
Bluewater Parkway, Dartford,
Greenhithe DA9 9ST
Ice Rink and
Santa’s Grotto.
Bluewater’s covered outdoor ice
rink is bigger and better than ever,
this year with a special rink just
for little ones located outside by
the beautiful lakes at The Village,
beneath a clear roof so you can
skate rain or shine. Plus, families
can visit Santa’s Grotto which is
themed around the nutcracker with
Toy soldier guards, free crowns, and
a series of magical realms to explore.
bluewater.co.uk
Saturday 7 – Tue 24 Dec
Groombridge Place,
Groombridge Hill,
Groombridge, Tunbridge
Wells, Kent TN3 9QG
FATHER CHRISTMAS
COMES TO
GROOMBRIDGE PLACE
If you go down to the enchanted
forest this month, you’re sure
to find all manner of magical
discoveries – wooden bridges,
a huge boat, giant tree swings,
fallow deer, a maze, birds of prey,
a giant chess set, a canal boat and
even old Saint Nick himself in the
delightfully decorated home in the
grounds of Groombridge Place.
groombridgeplace.com
Fri 15 Nov – Sun 5 Jan
Calverley Grounds, Mountfield
Gardens, Tunbridge
Wells, Kent TN1 1SJ
SKATE Tunbridge Wells
This month Calverley Grounds
will be transformed into the
ultimate winter destination, with
stylish skating, festive food and
drink, music and lots of Christmas
spirit. This year there will be the
addition of a second ‘tiny tots’ ice
rink, which will also have Bavarian
Curling from 6pm. Plus there will
be storytelling workshops, live
music events, Carol-okie, wreath
making workshops and local
choir performances on Sundays.
Apple & Cor! will be running
the Coffee Shop and The Polar
Bar running the Bar in Calverley
Grounds this year; offering a
wide selection of drinks, cakes,
snacks, entertainment and more.
Entry: Adults from £12.50,
children from £8
tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com
/ assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
Saturday 7 December, at 5pm
Pilgrims Hospice Ashford, Hythe
Road, Willesborough, Ashford
TN24 0NE & Pilgrims Hospice
Canterbury, 56 London Road,
Canterbury CT2 8JA & Pilgrims
Hospice Thanet, Ramsgate
Road, Margate, CT9 4AD
Trees of Love
remembrance services
Pilgrims Hospices’ are hosting
their annual Trees of Love
What’s On in December
remembrance services with carols
simultaneously at three locations
across east Kent, offering a lovely
and personal way to remember
those we aren’t able to spend
time with at Christmas. Beautiful
dove dedications are placed on
the Trees of Love at your chosen
site, to be lit up during the
service, and remain shining in
loving memory throughout the
festive season. During the service,
guests find their dove dedicated
to their loved one, sing carols,
switch on the tree lights and
listen to festive readings, with
refreshments of hot chocolate,
mulled wine and mince pies.
01227 782062 /
pilgrimshospices.org/treesoflove
Sat 14 Dec 2pm & 4pm
The Pamoja Hall, The Lodge
Sevenoaks School, High St,
Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1HU
Kidenza Christmas
Concerts
Inspire your children with music
this month with Kidenza’s two
fun and engaging professional
classical concerts for families.
There will also be percussion
workshops before each of the
concerts with Alex Neal (co
principal percussionist of the
BBC Symphony Orchestra
since 2003), and participating
children will get to use what
they learn as they take part in
the first part of the concert.
kidenza.co.uk
Fairs & Festivals
Sun 1 & Sun 15 Dec 10am-4pm
One Warwick Park Hotel
Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5TA
Tunbridge Wells
Christmas Fair
Tunbridge Wells Autumn Fair
is back and bigger than ever.
Shop a handpicked selection
of products from small
businesses in Kent and East
Sussex. Shop jewellery, candles,
art, gifts, cards, homeware,
bath products, ceramics,
clothing and so much more.
Entry: Free
supportlocalpopup.co.uk
Sat 14 & Sun 15 Dec
Garden Gems Garden Centre,
Salts Farm, Rye TN31 7PA
Garden Gems
Christmas Fayre
Visit Garden Gems Plant Nursery
& Garden Centre for a Christmas
Cracker next month with market
stalls, carol singing, a free Santa’s
grotto, and free colour-yourown
decorations for kids.
garden-gems.co.uk
Food & Drink
Tue 31 Dec & Wed 1 Jan
ABode Canterbury, 30-33 High
Street, Canterbury CT1 2RX
New Year’s Eve
Tasting Dinner
Celebrate the arrival of 2020 with
an outstanding black-tie tasting
dinner. Start the evening with a glass
of Champagne in a celebrated 3
AA rosette restaurant, then savour
seven superb courses to the sounds
of the resident pianist. Enjoy the
thrills of a close-up magician, before
heading to the County Room
to see in a new decade on the
dancefloor with a DJ and live band.
abodecanterbury.co.uk
Music & Theatre
Sat 14 Dec 7.30pm
St Mildred’s Church, Church
Road, Tenterden TN30 6AT
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
The Kent Police Male Voice
Choir will be in full voice to offer
a joyous seasonal concert to raise
funds for Canterbury Oast Trust,
a Kent charity supporting adults
with a learning disability. Tickets
£11.00, available at the Rare
Breeds Centre, Woodchurch
01233 732684 /
hanlon1@btinternet.com
SHOPPING
Sat 16 Nov – Sun 15 Dec
Silcocks Farm, Grange Road, St.
Michaels, Tenterden TN30 6TL
The Three French Hens
The Three French Hens &
Biddenden Christmas Trees
145 wealdentimes.co.uk

Social icon
Circle
Only use blue and/or white.
For more details check out our
Brand Guidelines.
90mm x 130mm Herstmonceux Castle Advert.qxp_Layout 1 14/11/2019 07:11
HASTINGS INTERNATIONAL PIANO
CONCERTO COMPETITION PRESENTS
A HASTINGS INTERNATIONAL
PIANO FUNDRAISER
A CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION WITH
JOE STILGOE
Gardens and Grounds
Christmas
much more than just a castle…
2019
The perfect venue for your festive lunch gathering
BOOKING
ESSENTIAL
15th December
CHRISTMAS CAROLS and LUNCH
18th and 19th December
CHRISTMAS LUNCH
See website for full details
An afternoon of Christmas songs and music for all ages
and tastes with internationally acclaimed singer, pianist
and songwriter Joe Stilgoe and his band.
SUNDAY 15 TH DECEMBER 3PM
ST. MARY IN THE CASTLE, HASTINGS
Tickets available online, at Hastings Tourist Information Centre or by post
For enquiries and bookings call 01323 834479
or email conf@bisc.queensu.ac.uk
Herstmonceux Castle, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 1RN
HastingsIntPianoWT214.indd 1 18/11/2019 HerstmonceuxCastleWT214.indd 12:56
1 14/11/2019 14:17
Season's cheer
made at Ightham Mote
© National Trust 2019. Registered Charity no. 205846.
Photography © National Trust Images/John Miller
30 Nov - 5 Jan (closed 24 & 25 Dec)
10am–4pm
Explore the house decorated for
Christmas past with Christmas trees and
a crackling fire. With a mini-market and
Father Christmas on 30 Nov - 1 Dec.
nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote
wealdentimes.co.uk
146
IghthamMoteWT214.indd 1 11/11/2019 10:35

What’s On in December
will be together at Silcocks
Organic Farm & Cafe from 10am
until 4pm daily except Sundays
which will be 10am until 2pm,
and it will be closed on Mondays.
23rd Nov – 15 Dec 10am-4pm
(closed Mondays)
Frogshole Farm Sissinghurst
Road, Biddenden TN27 8EY
BIDDENDEN
CHRISTMAS TREES
Visit Frogshole Farm for your
fresh locally grown Christmas
trees and handmade wreaths.
Fri 13 & Sat 14 Dec
18 Lower Park Road,
Hastings, Kent TN34 2LB
A Blooming Lovely
Christmas House Fair
Three floors of homemade
wares, clothes, vintage and
jewellery along with Thai curry,
alcoholic and soft beverages,
cakes and nutritious snacks.
Plus, in-house massage with
the incredible Melanie Heap.
Find out more on Facebook.
Fri 13 Dec
Penshurst Place, Penshurst,
Tonbridge, Kent TN11 8DG
Murder at the Manor
A festive murder mystery
experience. In the magnificent
medieval Baron’s Hall (the former
domain of Henry VIII which
you may recognise from Mary
Queen of Scots), teams of friends
or business colleagues will step
back in time to 1932 to solve a
murder most festive. Mingle with
costumed characters over a glass
of mulled wine around a roaring
fire, but watch carefully – before
long, one of the characters will
be murdered and it will be down
to the individual teams to review
the evidence and decide who
they think the murderer is.
A three-course meal will be
served in the Sunderland Room
(a private historic room that is
not normally open to visitors)
over which guests can discuss
and debate the evidence within
their teams. After dinner, each
table will be invited to reveal
who they think is the murderer.
Tickets are sold for a group
size of eight or more guests.
Entry: £75pp for groups of eight
or more (includes a glass of mulled
wine and a three-course meal)
01892 870 307 /
banqueting@penshurstplace.com /
penshurstplace.com
Workshops
& Courses
Tue 7 (Maidstone) & Thu 9 Jan
(Canterbury & Tonbridge)
Childrens Room, St. Pauls
Church, Church Street,
Canterbury CT1 1NH & Invicta
Grammar School, Huntsman
Lane, Maidstone ME14 5DS &
Humanities Building, Weald of
Kent Grammar School, Tudeley
Lane, Tonbridge TN9 2JP
Practical Philosophy
in Kent
This ten- week course uses
philosophy to put life into
focus. Based on some of the
classic teachings of East and
West it is designed to clear the
mind. Everyone welcome.
Entry: £50
practicalphilosophykent.org
Listings are correct at time of going
to press but may be subject to change.
Readers are advised to check with
venues before making arrangements.
We can list your event in the next
issue of Wealden Times for only
£15+VAT. Please supply up to 200
words that should include date, time,
venue, contact for enquiries and any
entry price to whatson@wealdentimes.
co.uk or send with payment (cheques
payable to Priceless Media Ltd.)
to What’s On, Wealden Times,
Kettle Chambers, 21 Stone Street,
Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF. Wealden
Times reserves the right to edit text to
fit space allocated. If you would like
your event listing to be accompanied
by a full colour reproduction (42.5
x 62.5mm) of a poster or other
pictorial image, the total charge
will be £95+VAT. Deadline for the
January issue is 9 December 2019.
147 wealdentimes.co.uk
OrchardTheatreWT214.indd 1 04/11/2019 12:52

Wood Floor
Primary logo
Sanding
- Family Business -
We also restore wooden kitchen tops
I N T E R I O R S
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Ibbett Mosely
AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS
Limited Liability Partnership
Antiques Valuation Day at Saleroom
Wednesday 4th December, 2019 11.00 a.m - 4 p.m
The Auctioneer's Next Sale Will Be On
Wednesday 22nd January 2020
Commencing at 12.30pm | Viewing 10.00am - 12.30pm
The Auction Rooms, Argyle Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN13 1HJ
Tel: 01732 456731 Web: www.ibbettmosely.co.uk
125 High St, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1UT
Registered in England No. 0C341637 Regulated by RICS Registered at the Sevenoaks office as Ibbett Mosely Surveyors LLP
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I N T E R I O R S
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I N T E R I O R S
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Made to measure curtains, I N T E Rblinds I O R Sand soft furnishings
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Showroom by appointment
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The complete kitchen service...
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I N T E R I O R S
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I N T E R I O R S
01580 712209
colour 01580 palette
clare@clarelangdoninteriors.co.uk
712209
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www.clarelangdoninteriors.co.uk
www.clarelangdoninteriors.co.uk
Association House, St David’s Bridge,
Association
Cranbrook,
House,
Kent,
St David’s
TN17 3HL
Bridge,
Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3HL
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M = 5
Y = 72 colour palette Y = 5
K = 5
K = 60
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Caleigh
InterIor desIgn and
home stylIng servIce
07762 771372
emmahazelwood.co.uk
hazelwooddesIgnbuIld
Gotham Book
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Caleigh
...from a hinge to to a complete makeover
100’s of Worktops l 1000’s of Doors
door replacement l lmade to to measure service l l worktops
appliances l sinks and taps l ldrawer replacement
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door refurbishment service
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The Kitchen Doctor's bespoke service supplies
and The fits Kitchen comprehensive Doctor’s bespoke range service of components supplies and to
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01689 850000 01689 850000
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www.thekitchendoctor.com
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serving London and the South-East for 25 years
Serving London and the South-East since 1984
wealdentimes.co.uk
Made to measure
cabinets now
available
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01580 713778
www.everndeninteriors.co.uk
info@everndeninteriors.co.uk
Stone Street • Cranbrook • TN17 3HF

Competition
Win A guided Walk, Lunch
AND Wine Tasting For TWO
Glorious cliff-top views of the Beachy Head
lighthouse, Belle Tout, Birling Gap and the
Cuckmere estuary! That’s what you could get from
the Seven Sisters cliff-top guided walk from Fizz on Foot.
Or you could meander your way along the Cuckmere River
from Alfriston to Littlington, walk over the hill and past
Charleston Manor and see the White Horse at Frog Firle
up close. Or even a walk through Friston Forest to West
Dean and on to Littlington. These are your choices if you
win the Fizz on Foot prize in our December competition.
Two people will enjoy a guided walk and wine tasting tour.
This includes a morning stroll with Fizz on Foot’s qualified
lead walker who is a geologist and history enthusiast and
makes the area come alive with stories of Alfred the Great and
other famous personalities who have graced our South Downs.
Your prize includes a delicious lunch in a traditional Sussex
pub championing local produce – enjoy a glass of locally
produced wine or beer with your meal.
Following lunch you will be taken to a Sussex prizewinning
vineyard for a tour and wine tasting. You can hear
the ‘vine to wine’ story and see the vines in all their glory.
You’ll hear about the incredible efforts the winemakers go
to so the vines don’t get caught by frost and are pruned,
trimmed and harvested. You’ll see how sparkling wine is made
and learn about the fascinating production time frame.
Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to taste the wine
and enjoy a lively talk by the vineyard’s winemaker.
How to enter:
For your chance to win just answer the
following question: Which estuary could you
see from the Seven Sisters walk? Enter your
answer with your contact details in the online
form at wealdentimes.co.uk/competition by 31
December 2019. There is no cash alternative
and the prize must be taken by 31 July 2020.
You must be over the age of 18 to enter.
149
Congratulations to David Thirlaway
who wins our October competition for
a Laksen Balfour Field Sports Jacket.

Jane Howard’s
Fables from
the Farm
Jane gets naturally creative this Christmas
So Christmas is coming. We don’t have any geese at
Coopers but I’m eyeing up what else the farm might
offer to add a home-spun touch to the festivities!
The bees are now all safely tucked away in their hives
and I won’t be looking at them again until the spring,
usually not until the redcurrant bushes come into flower.
With so much rain this summer it hasn’t been a bumper
honey harvest but I did manage to collect a lot of wax.
Having spun the honey from the frames in August I then
took the older, tattier frames, melted them down over a slow
heat and then poured the wax into tin foil trays. All the flotsam
and jetsam rises to the top, cut this off and you are left with
blocks of fragrant pure beeswax – perfect for making candles.
Now you can just buy a silicone mould, insert a wick, fill
it with molten wax and, hey ho, job done. And undoubtedly
the selection of moulds available is impressive, boy owl,
girl owl – how on earth do you tell the
difference? – Rodin’s Thinker or the Titanic
to name but a few, but no, I have decided
to go all traditional and dip mine in the
time honoured candle making tradition.
I shall be taking long lengths of wick and
dipping each end into a deep pot of hot
wax and then hanging them over the back
of a chair for each end to cool and set. By
repeating the dipping and setting many,
many times one should be able to create
stately, long, deep yellow candles that will
grace any Christmas dinner table. I tried this
once before and they were indeed aromatic
and magnificent but sadly not perpendicular
and dripped yellow wax all over the
sprouts. Hopefully, this year, they might be upright.
And as ever there’s quite a lot of things that won’t be on the
table, despite best efforts! The walnut tree managed about 100
“I shall be taking
long lengths of
wick and dipping
each end into a
deep pot of hot
wax and then
hanging them
over the back
of a chair”
nuts – yes, sadly, we do make a hopeful count every autumn –
but the squirrel got there first. He also managed to take all the
cobnuts and the mice have eaten the Bramley apples which were
so carefully and individually wrapped in newspaper and stored,
not touching, on wooden slatted shelves.
But I did manage to pick a whole load of
holly laden with berries before the blackbirds
had all that too. It was Monty who alerted
me (and the nation in case you thought
I had a personal hotline) to the need to
pick it in November and store it in a cold
shed, as it will always be stripped bare by
Christmas by the blackbirds and fieldfares.
And then, of course, there’s the all
important trip to the woods to find the
Yule log. The Druids, who spent most of
their time living outside, not surprisingly
worshipped the sun, which was seen as a
wheel that changed the seasons. It was from
the ancient word for a wheel “houl” that the
word yule is thought to have come. They believed the sun
stood still for 12 days after the winter solstice on December
21st, so during this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness,
banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year.
It is one of life’s great pleasures wandering around
the woods looking for that special log and family, not
to be confused with Druid, tradition has it that this is
also a good time to check that the 2018 Sloe Gin has
reached maturity. The search can take a long time!
Then all that remains is to deck the house with masses of
satisfyingly berry-laden holly, open a bottle of good red and
sit down to a huge rib of 28-day hung, grass-fed Sussex beef.
Happy Christmas everyone.
Follow Jane Howard – and the farm – on Instagram @coopersfarm
wealdentimes.co.uk
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CHRISTMAS AT WOODCOCKS
S AYERS LANE, T ENT E R DE N, KENT, TN30 6BW
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