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centre agreed LICENSING approval has been given for a multi-purpose enter- tainment centre and restaurant across the five floors of the former Pizza Express building in Earl Street, Maidstone.
Maidstone Borough Council’s
licensing committee approved li- censing hours up to 4am seven days a week and wished company director Enrique Rodal “good luck with an exciting enterprise”. In addition to a restaurant, the
newly-named Green Room will stage shows, plays, films, live and recorded music, dancing, sporting events and include a whisky room, record shop and a members’ room. Mr Rodal said the 4am licence
was needed mainly for Friday and Saturday nights.
Green status
WEAVERING Heath has been granted village green status which will protect it from development. Local campaigners worked with parish councillors to achieve the recognition by Kent County Council.
downsmail.co.uk
Village store award success after a year
A COMMUNITY-run store has been declared the second best start-up business in the country after just a year of trading. Just a month after Detling Com- munity Store celebrated its first birthday, the store was awarded runner-up at the Rural Business Awards.
The idea of creating the shop took more than four years to come to fruition and it now has 30 part- time volunteers.
Store manager Lou Reed (31)
said 90% of her staff were forced to isolate in the midst of the pan- demic, but they managed to keep the shop open through it all. Mrs Reed, who is expecting a baby in August, said: “In a way, being in lockdown actually helped us, because more people got to know us and used the shop as a pitstop on their daily walk. “I would be in the queue at the wholesalers at 4.30am every morn-
Mrs Reed added: “Considering
we were barely a year old compet- ing with six other shortlisted busi- nesses who had been going a lot longer than us is just amazing.” She is pictured here with volun- teer Terri Rhodes (right).
Chairman Richard Finn said:
“We are a volunteer run store with a mission to put the community at the heart of everything we do. “We are thrilled that the judges
ing waiting for it to open at 7am just so that we could get all our usual stock in.”
The start-up category includes new businesses up to three years.
have seen something special in our business so early in our journey. We are excited to see what the next few years bring. “We would never have imagined when we started this journey four years ago that we would be a na- tional finalist and runner-up in our first year of trading. We’ll make sure we win next time.” Detling Community Store is al-
ways looking for more volunteers. Anyone who is interested should call 01622 631305.
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