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It’s been a strange week of low pressure, bottled water and very fed-up cafés — so if you can, consider giving a coffee to help our independents bounce back. Thankfully, the town still has sparkle: the Calverley Grounds ice rink is twinkling away, and Trinity’s Nativity! The Musical is pure Christmas cheer.

WEATHER

Monday: 11°C 🌡️ 13°C | 🌧️

Tuesday: 10°C 🌡️ 14°C | 🌧️

Wednesday: 5°C 🌡️ 12°C | 🌥️

SUPPORT INDEPENDENT LOCAL BUSINESSES

Tunbridge Wells Needs You - Give a Coffee, Lift a Business

Our independent cafés, pubs, restaurants and food shops were hit hard by the recent water outage. Days of forced closure, low pressure and boil-water orders have wiped out what should have been their strongest trading week of the year - with many losing five figures in revenue.

For the family-run places we love, this isn’t just a setback. It’s existential.

That’s why we’re asking you to give a coffee - just £2 - to help them recover. Every penny goes directly to affected businesses to cover lost income, replace spoiled stock and support staff.

A tiny gift from you. A lifeline for them.

​Let’s stand together and help our independents enter the festive season with hope, not worry.​

THE BRIEF

🚱 Days Without Water: A faulty batch of chemicals forced Pembury Treatment Works to shut. This cut water to about 24,000 homes, schools, care homes and businesses across Tunbridge Wells. What began as low pressure quickly became a days-long outage. Families queued for bottled water, shops ran dry, and some resorted to rainwater to manage basic needs. Schools closed, care homes lost laundry facilities, and hospitality venues reported financial losses.

Local figures reacted with frustration. Kent County Council declared a major incident, criticising the lack of resilience. They warned that South East Water had not learned from previous failures. Tunbridge Wells MP Mike Martin said communication had been “pathetic” and called for South East Water’s CEO to resign. The Lib Dem leader urged the government to consider deploying national resources. Business owners spoke of cancelled events, lost revenue, and staff still needing to be paid. Residents described stress and growing distrust after a series of missed restoration deadlines.

South East Water apologised many times. They said a bad coagulant batch caused a shutdown and that recharging the network had uncovered water-quality issues. The company redirected tankers, opened bottled-water stations, delivered supplies to vulnerable customers. They warned that cloudy or intermittent water would continue as pipes refill. The Drinking Water Inspectorate has launched an investigation. Officials say further testing and possible boil-water measures may follow.

The town waits for clarity on how long disruption will last. Read more here.

🏬 Fenwick Stays: Fenwick has renewed its lease at Royal Victoria Place after the council’s upgrades to the centre boosted their confidence. The store’s leadership said recent improvements, plus emerging plans for further development, made staying the clear choice. Fenwick calls the town a thriving hub and says momentum in footfall is returning despite wider pressures on the sector. Read more here.

🏰 TW Mansions: More than 300 Kent homes have sold for £2m or more in the past five years, placing them in scope for the Government’s new High Value Council Tax Surcharge. Sevenoaks accounts for the largest share, with Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling close behind. A smaller group of properties worth over £5m will face the highest charge under the new bands. The Valuation Office will assess each home individually, so the final bill for owners remains uncertain. Read more here.

🎾 Malik Claims TW Open: Perry Malik claimed his first PSA Tour title at the Tunbridge Wells Open, rounding off a strong year with a straight-games win over Ben Smith in the final. Earlier victories included a hard five-setter in round one and a semi-final triumph over his younger brother Bailey. The result makes PSA history, with four Malik siblings now title-winners. It also lifts Perry to a career-high world ranking of No.73. Read more here.

TW LIFE COMMUNITY BOARD

🎁 Bring Christmas Magic to a Child in Need 🎄

The Mayor’s Toy Appeal has supported local children for over 30 years - last year alone helping 642 kids across our borough. From 12th Nov to 17th Dec, visit the Pop-Up Shop (Royal Victoria Place, top floor) to donate a new toy or gift for ages 1 month to 18 years. Or pick a tag from our Giving Tree and drop off at one of our collection points. Give joy. Change a Christmas.

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Want to spread the good word about your business, a project you’re working on, a hire, or just want to say hi to 5,000 friends?

ADVERTISE ON THE BOARD

THIS WEEK

Skate | Calverley Grounds | Mon to Sun | Fancy a festive skate and hot chocolates under twinkly lights? | Details​

Sleeping Beauty | Assembly Hall | Sat & Sun | Big, silly Christmas panto with dragons, magic and daft jokes | £29+​

Nativity! The Musical | Trinity Theatre | Fri to Sun | A chaotic, feel-good Christmas musical packed with glitter and giggles | £15+​

Beau Nash Jolly Jaunt Tour | Beau Nash Pub | Wed to Sun | A boozy, silly fact-or-fiction tour where you’re joyfully lied to | £27​

The Last N.O.E.L. Mini Panto! | Pensurst Place | Sat & Sun | Cute, chaotic mini-panto where kids help save Christmas from naughty elves | £9​

Father Christmas Afternoon Tea | Chiddingstone Castle | Sat & Sun | A magical castle tea with Father Christmas, stories, treats, and crafts | £45​

Going Off | The Sussex Arms | Thurs, 7pm | Chaotic, high-energy hardcore night perfect for blowing off steam | £10​

The Beat | The Forum | Dri, 7:30pm | A feel-good ska night packed with timeless tunes and big energy | £28​

18th Emergency | The Sussex Arms | Fri, 8pm | Nostalgic, loud reunion gig bringing back classic 90s punk energy | Details​

Karobela | The Sussex Arms | Sat, 7:30pm | A punchy alt-indie night full of energy, big riffs, and fresh vibes | £8​

Back To The 80's | The Forum | Sat, 8pm | Pure 80s nostalgia - big tunes, big vibes, and a very fun night | £10​

Duelling DJs Christmas Party | The Imperial | Sat, 7:30pm | 2 DJs, one epic playlist of bangers - POP-DISCO-HOUSE-ROCK-CHEESE & MARIAH | Free​

Table Tennis | Sunnyside Hall | Mon & Sun | Play table tennis every week (1st session is free) | £4​

Badminton & Pickleball | Sunnyside Hall | Fri, 6pm | Play badminton & pickleball every week (1st session is free) | £5​

FURTHER OUT

Baby Broadway Christmas | Trinity Theatre | 15th Dec to 22nd Dec | Festive sing-along fun for little ones, parents, and grandparents alike | £8​

A CK Gospel Christmas | Trinity Theatre | 22nd Dec | Big festive gospel vibes that’ll have you dancing all night | £26​

Richard Durrant's Songs of the Solstice | Trinity Theatre | 19th Dec | A cosy, folky Christmas concert with gorgeous vocals and wintery vibes | £24​

White Christmas (1954) | Rusthall Community Cinema | 20th Dec | A cosy classic full of songs, romance, and old-school Christmas charm | £5​

NYE: Baby Dave & Friends | The Forum | 31st Dec | A raw, electric NYE party led by Baby Dave’s cathartic, high-energy set | £28​

I ❤️ QUIZMAS | The Imperial, Southborough | 17th Dec | All the fun of a pub quiz, but with terrible prizes, more music, some weird rounds and tinsel | £3 each​

JOBS

• Kitchen Assistant | Miller & Carter | More Info​
• Community Psychiatric Nurse | Kent & Medway Mental Health | More Info​
• Audit & Accounts Senior | TPF Recruitment | More Info​

Check out all the listings on TW Jobs​

(Use discount code TWLIFE30 for 30% off your first listing)

SPORT

⚽FOOTBALL

6th Dec:

• Tunbridge Wells vs. Windsor & Eton (POSTPONED)
• Rusthall vs. Corinthian (ABANDONED)

9th Dec:

• Erith & Belvedere vs. Tunbridge Wells (Cup)

13th Dec:

• Tunbridge Wells vs. Hythe Town
• Bearsted vs. Rusthall

🏉 RUGBY

6th Dec:

• Jersey Rugby Football Club 31 - 29 Tunbridge Wells

13th Dec:

• Wimbledon vs. Tunbridge Wells

🏑HOCKEY

6th Dec:

• Sittingbourne 5 - 5 Tunbridge Wells (Men's)
• Tunbridge Wells (Women's) 2 - 0 Bromley & Beckenham

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THANK YOU

Hope you enjoyed this week's letter!

Jamie

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