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A Toast to Ashdown Park
Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club has received a top accolade from the AA for its wine list. The country house hotel at Wych Cross, near Forest Row, is one of only 231 establishments throughout the UK to be selected as a Notable Wine List Award Winner by the AA for 2011 – 2012.
Ashdown Park Head Sommelier Nick Chiu and Senior Assistant Food & Beverage Manager Michelle Newby with the award.
The award recognises an outstanding contribution to promoting wine understanding and appreciation and for
inspiring customers to try different wines. General Manager, Ben Booker, said: “We are delighted to have been selected as one of the recipients of the latest award. Good food and wine goes hand in hand and as much attention goes into our wine list as our menus. Our sommelier works closely with our suppliers to choose an interesting and often unusual selection of wines from both established European vineyards and emerging New World wineries. Wine lovers will always find something different to try, and if guests need help choosing a wine our knowledgeable team can make recommendations across all budgets.”
In the mood to party
No wonder Search staff were in the mood to let their hair down at their recent Bollywood-style party
Search Press, the Tunbridge Wells-based publisher specialising in arts and crafts titles, recently announced an increased turnover for the third consecutive year, with a turnover of £6.4m in its financial results to the year end
30th June, a 12% increase on 2009/10. The company says it is on course to reach £7m in turnover by the end of the 2011/12 financial year. Search’s managing director, Martin de la Bedoyere, attributed growth to an increase in home sales of its craft titles, coupled with a boost to sales in the US. The publisher’s two best-selling titles of 2011 were 100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet and Mini Christmas Knits, with the latter having been reprinted four times.
www.indexmagazine.co.uk 71
Exciting New Business Taps Into Local Talent
West End stars Howard and Vanessa Jones have expanded their talents to launch The JPA Academy, a brand new theatre school in Tunbridge Wells. With classes in acting, singing and dance, regular guest workshops with stars from TV, film and theatre and an affiliation with a successful children’s talent agency, pupils of the academy are already starring in West End shows such as Billy Elliot, Les Misérables and The Sound of Music. Vanessa says, “What better way to develop a child’s confidence than via performing — which is
what we are all about.” To apply for a place call 07870 460687, or visit www.
thejpaacademy.co.uk for further information.
Full Steam Ahead!
Kent’s popular steam railway, The Kent & East Sussex Railway in Tenterden, welcomed 100,000 visitors in 2011, which is an increase of seven per cent on last year. The railway’s general manager, Graham Baldwin, says, “We are delighted that in times of recession our visitor numbers are increasing. With the continued support of our 400 volunteers and tourism partners we hope 2012 will also be a good year for the railway. Our great-value family tickets and popular events programme have contributed to our success, and this year we will be adding a number of new events including Rock with the Tots, starring children’s TV favourite Fifi Forget-me-Not and her best friend Bumble, a WW1 living history event and, in August, a ’60s revival weekend.”
The INDEX magazine February 2012
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