Welcome


Look ahead with optimism – not back with regrets


MEMORIES of Christmas are fading fast but hopefully at least some of those presents are still proving useful and/or entertaining.


For some, this time of year can be a bit of an anti-climax, but


for others it’s an opportunity to look ahead with optimism to the year ahead.


Either way, for a short while, why not relax with this latest


edition of Mid Kent Living? TV actor Shaun Williamson – born and bred in Maidstone and


now living near Faversham - is our featured celebrity. Forever remembered as the bumbling Barry Evans from EastEnders, Shaun recalls his early childhood and some of the jobs he “enjoyed” before fame came calling, as well as the success he has had in other TV roles since Barry’s demise.


Our featured town is Tunbridge Wells, which has been popular


as tourist attraction, a place to live and a place for business ever since its famous spa was discovered 400 years ago.


Going back even further, our tourism feature centres on


Rochester’s two most famous buildings - the castle and cathedral.


Eating out is always a treat, and Mid Kent is blessed with a vast


selection of venues. In this edition we focus on the extremes of the range – from a popular truckers’ café to a Michelin-starred restaurant.


We also have some suggestions for things to do and places to


visit over the next three months and a couple of ideas for walks, perhaps to help you recover from any Christmas and New Year indulgences.


Plus some property snippets and our usual free competitions. Murray Evans


Hitting Mid Kent towns


Mid Kent Living is published every three months with a free circulation in Maidstone, Medway, Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Malling, Ashford and Sittingbourne. It is available at pick-up points throughout the area. Subscription copies are posted (£6 annually).


ROCHESTER CHATHAM


SEVENOAKS Kings Hill


TUNBRIDGE WELLS TONBRIDGE


Paddock Wood MAIDSTONE


Cranbrook Charing


Tenterden ASHFORD


The team Mid Kent Living is published by


GILLINGHAM SITTINGBOURNE


Mail Publications Ltd (which also publishes the successful Downs Mail newspaper), Forge House, Bearsted Green Business Park, Bearsted, Maidstone, ME14 4DT. Tel: 01622 630330 Fax 01622 631131 email info@downsmail.co.uk website www.downsmail.co.uk


Chairman: Claire Procter Editor-in-Chief: Murray Evans Sales Director: David Dadswell


Advertising Sales: Tel 01622 630330 email: info@downsmail.co.uk


Mid Kent Living is available at an increasing number of pick-up points. Call 01622 630330 for details.


Mid Kent Living 3


Page 24 Walks around Kent Page 25


Legal


Pages 26-27 Property Pages 29-30 Homes and gardens


Contents


Pages 4-5 Interview with Shaun Williamson


Pages 6-7 Visit Rochester’s Cathedral & Castle


Pages 8-10 Editor’s choice


Pages 12-14 Tunbridge Wells - a town tapping into its heritage


Page 17 Kids


Pages 18-19 Dining Page 21 Page 23


Theatre Education


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