Pals hope to satisfy thirst for success


WHEN Paul Herbert and Toby Simmonds met for the first time in a pub garden they realised they had a shared love of real ale.


But their mutual passion for a


good pint did not end there. They decided to go into part- nership and start their own mi- crobrewery. Paul brought his marketing


and management experience to the table and Toby added his know-how as a brewer. In the latter


part of last year, the pair quickly grew


Kent


Brewery’s repu- tation for mod- ern ales – some with a twist. Zingiber, for example, is a golden ale with a ginger taste. "It's like ginger beer for grown- ups," quipped Toby. And it's going down extremely well with drinkers at the Nevill Bull pub in Birling, a short distance from their new factory. Paul and Toby hope to be pro- ducing 40 casks a week this year, to double that by next year, and eventually to quadru- ple initial output by using all four fermenters. They turned out their first


brew as recently as October, for The Bull at West Malling to mark landlord Trevor Norman's birthday. They now have 15 pubs as customers, including the Rising Sun in East Malling and the Flower Pot in Sandling Road, Maidstone, which is the regional real ale pub of the year. Last year, the partners had


faced two main difficulties – keeping up with demand and finding a permanent base. Toby had been using spare capacity at a friend's brewery but, with a random production schedule, it meant limiting supplies to pubs.


Then, the


Cheers! Paul Herbert (left) and Toby Simmonds drink an ap- propriate toast to the future of Kent Brewery.


pair ran into planni ng problems at their first site, Aldon Farm,


Offham. However, their luck changed when they discovered Birling Place Farm did not need planning permission. Now they are up and running


and ready to fulfill existing and potential customers' orders. Their ultimate aim is to re- generate hop-growing in Kent, to compete with fashionable im- ports from America and New Zealand.


Villagers scale peaks for charity


RYARSH pub landlord Jon Sut- ton and a group of nine villagers are preparing to take on the gru- elling Three Peaks Challenge for charity. Theywill be setting off on Fri-


day, May 13, to climb Britain’s three highest mountains – Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Snow- don inWales – within 24 hours. The group, which includes


Ryarsh Primary School head- teacher Jason Matthews, aim to raise £7,500 for the Heart of Kent Hospice. Jon, who has run the Duke of


Wellington pub for six years, and Jason, are no strangers to


Kings Hill salon


is a cut above STAFF at a Kings Hill salon are celebrating after winning a top national award. Saks Kings Hill was named


David Lloyd Salon of the Year, winning £1,000 to spend on a team day out. Owner Claire Denyer re- ceived the prize at the Saks hair and beauty franchise group’s annual awards ceremony in County Durham. She said: “We’re thrilled to


have won this award. To be recognised among our peers is a great achievement.”


charity challenges, having pre- viously completed a sponsored bike ride to Amsterdam. “The other walkers are par-


ents of children at the school or customers of mine.” The group are doing various


activities to boost funds. A 24- hour darts marathon will be held at the pub during March and special luncheons will be on offer on the first Tuesday of each month. Meals are £12 a head with a proportion going to the charity. Book on 01732 842318 or to sponsor the group, visit www.justgiving.com/ryarsh3pe aks.


wartime monument PLANS to convert the derelict control tower at Kings Hill into a coffee shop, offices and a cul- tural centre have been attacked. Developer Liberty’s proposals


for the Grade II listed building, which was at the centre of WorldWar II operations on the former West Malling airfield, have raised no objection from Kings Hill Parish Council But Cllr Stuart Millson, of


East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council, said the plans represent “a shameful end” for such an important monument.


‘Shameful end’ for


We don’t just move houses We move homes....


Local & long distance, full & part loads Wrap & pack service available Domestic & commercial moving & storage Short & long term self storage Temperature controlled warehouse CCTV & Redcare alarm protection Staff fully trained & CRB checked


A KCC Trading Standards approved member. ‘Buy with Confidence’ traders are committed to providing a quality service to their customers.


www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk Call 01622 670562


www.brayandson.com Unit 15 Heronden Road, Parkwood, Maidstone


B.A.R Trained Staff A company you can trust Visit Downs Mail’s website — downsmail.co.uk Malling 17


Established 1946 National &


International Removals & Secure Self Storage


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40