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You could be the Kentish Lady’s new owners!
If you take the advice of Tony Cheeseman, who made the lifestyle switch from builder to boat owner 10 years ago, “there’s nothing as nice as messing about on the river”.
After buying Maidstone’s iconic Kentish Lady in 2003, he and his family have built the business into a thriving operation, attracting over 18,000 passengers a year.
He said: “We currently offer several cruises, including one-hour trips from the town centre to Allington Lock on weekends and school holidays; our ever-popular three-hour cruises, which include fish & chips, on weekdays, and attract coach parties from all over the South East; and, not forgetting, the birthday parties and wedding receptions – all with the added bonus of a fully licensed bar and catering.”
Ideally located behind Archbishop’s Palace, its waterside base includes a leasehold office, refreshment kiosk and a store/workshop. For those
feeling adventurous, there is mooring space for a second boat if the new owner wants to expand the business still further.
Tony said: “I’ve loved every minute of running the business, from restoring the boat to running the service. Now I’m looking to spend a bit more time in the garden and it’s time for someone else to take the helm.
“We’ve put an enormous
amount of effort into building the business to where it is now. However, there is still a lot of untapped potential for the new owners to explore.
“Although I’m now looking forward to retirement, I could still be persuaded to steer the Lady, part-time, if I was needed.
The Kentish Lady, with its twin 60hp diesel engines, has been completely refurbished, and is licensed
to carry 100 passengers. Users can enjoy the views from the large windows or on one of the two open decks. There are also two washrooms on board and a large 16kva generator.
Returning an impressive six figure net profit, the cruising company now has a monopoly on the non-tidal River Medway and comes with five years of customer information and a website included in the £250,000 price tag.
For further details, viewings, or to make an offer, contact Tony Cheeseman on 07973 866971.
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George was only a few months old when his mum Sarah Irvine noticed a small lump appearing on his eyelid. Like any new mother, she was anx- ious that this didn’t appear normal and was worried that it might cause longer term problems with his eyes. “I didn’t know where to go for information, the GP just dismissed it as a birth mark but I was worried it could be something more than that. I didn’t really consider that an optician could deal with such a problem. Although I had been having eye tests myself for many years, most
opticians I’d seen had just dealt with my glasses and not really talked to me about the health of my eyes. Then one of my friends mentioned that she had taken her little boy who was having problems reading to see Buchanan Optometrists. I rang the practice and was told they were happy to see George in one of their pae- diatric clinics. I am very pleased that I followed my friend’s recommenda- tion because the care we received was exceptional. I am so grateful, not only for the support and understanding all the staff showed during our visits to the
- cient way Kathryn Buchanan dealt with the referral to the hospital, ensuring that they acted quickly so we received an appointment with the consultant very Kathryn’s suspicions that the growth is not a birth mark but is thankfully be- nign, it may need removing if it starts to affect his vision. We have since seen the consultant several times and he will continue to keep a check on George’s eyelid, whilst we see Kathryn regularly to make sure his vision remains good. Kathryn has kindly called me for up- dates each time George has been seen at the hospital. It is fair to say that she has exceeded my expectations in terms of her superb manner with my young son, her knowledge, expertise, and the - ger tips in the practice. She has proved to be far more than someone who just tests your eyes for glasses, showing a genuine care for George’s health. We shall certainly always use Buchanan Optometrists for our family’s eye care and would recommend anyone with concerns about the health of their eyes to book an appointment without hesita- tion.”
Buchanan Optometrists can be contact- ed on 01634 757227.
Maidstone East August 2014 5
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