News Ladies’ lunch


HUNDREDS of Kent’s most influ- ential women met for a charity lunch at the Great Danes Hotel in Hollingbourne. About 300 guests attended the


event onMay 16, organised by the Women of Kent Committee. Lady Kingsdown became patron


after the death of her predecessor, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, in June 2017. This year’s charity is ellenor, which supports families facing terminal illnesses.


Crash closure


TRAFFIC was disrupted when a white van and a foreign-registered lorry collided on the A20 near Hollingbourne. The accident happened at the


roundabout linking to the M20 at junction 8 shortly before 8am on May 21. The van ended up on its side


with its windscreen shattered. Po- lice and paramedics attended the scene.


Play auditions THE Detling Players are holding auditions for Yes, PrimeMinister to be staged in November. For further details, email detling- players@outlook.com.


downsmail.co.uk


Butcher’s £500k plan to save shops on the green


THE newowners of Bearsted’s pa- rade of shops have exciting plans for the popular outlet. Rob Crouch, who with mum


Rowena and sister Sara have in- vested more than £500,000 to buy the freehold, says the threatened business can now move forward, although major work will have to wait. He thanked campaigners for


keeping the business in private hands, adding: “The efforts of Bearsted and Thurnham Society and Downs Mail in raising aware- ness of the plan to pull the building down were pivotal in rallying op- position.” However, four years of uncer-


tainty have left theirmark,with the loss of keymembers of staff and no investment in the building. Mr Crouch, who runs W J


Crouch butchers in the parade, is nowrecruiting amanager.He says general improvements will be made and tenants offered new leases atmarket rates, but the fam- ily firmwill need to showthe bank


New owner, butcher Rob Crouch


a profit across its three stores be- foremajor plans can be realised. The third-generation butcher


said: “The journey to this point has been expensive.Wewere in talks to


buy Hunker Down Daisy to relo- cate there beforewe got into a bid- ding war with Costa. Then we bought a property next to our store in Staplehurst, as we feared we would have to move our baking and catering operation, and finally wewere able to buy the freehold at Bearsted.” Mr Crouch said: “We have just


spent £200,000 rebranding our butcher’s


in Wadhurst, and


Bearstedwill take on the same style in time.Centred around a butcher’s block, with a kitchen feel, and funky food lines and friendly, in- formative butchers, the idea is to create a more comfortable buying environment.” In the meantime, the company


has also launched a new website and a presence on socialmedia. Mr Crouch said: “Overall,


change will come gradually, with exciting times to come. I can’t wait.” Hewill be spendingmore time at


the store in Bearsted and hopes its existing tenantswillwish to stay.


12


Maidstone East June 2018


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