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This week in Tunbridge Wells...

Canvas on Vale Road has won a place in the Michelin Guide in its first year. Inspectors praised its cooking and its friendly team. The council has also pushed its plans for Royal Victoria Place forward. A new glass roof and bigger shops could reshape Palm Court. Full Council will consider the funding in November. Martin Kemp brings his 80s party to the Assembly Hall on Friday. On Sunday, the town's symphony orchestra opens its new season with Elgar and Copland. Tickets for students and under-18s cost £5.

Have a great week.

WEATHER

Monday: 14°C 🌡️ 19°C | 🌦️

Tuesday: 17°C 🌡️ 23°C | ⛅

Wednesday: 13°C 🌡️ 20°C | 🌦️

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The Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra’s new season begins this Sunday, 4^th October, with a vibrant journey through some of the most powerful, beautiful and surprising music ever written. The orchestra is excited to welcome celebrated cellist and former BBC Young Musician of the Year, Laura van der Heijden, to join us in the first of six concerts, held here in the heart of Tunbridge Wells.

The opening concert, 3pm at the Assembly Hall Theatre, pairs Brahms and Elgar’s much-loved Cello Concerto with Copland’s exhilarating Third Symphony, setting the tone for a season that brings familiar favourites together with hidden gems. Throughout the season, further acclaimed soloists rarely heard outside of major cities will include Joo Yeon Sir, Freddy Kempf, Robert Plane and Paula Sides, alongside distinguished guest conductors.

There’s drama and passion in Beethoven and Wagner, the vivid colours and irresistible rhythms of Czech music and fascinating musical rediscoveries including Ruth Gipps’s rarely heard Clarinet Concerto. February’s concert places this British rarity alongside Debussy’s shimmering La Mer and Sibelius’s powerful First Symphony.

March brings the sweeping emotion of Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich, while the season finale turns to childhood, memory and belonging, culminating in Mahler’s serene and uplifting Fourth Symphony.

Across six concerts, expect great melodies, emotional storytelling, thrilling orchestral sound and plenty of opportunities to hear something new. Whether you’re a lifelong classical music lover or simply looking for an unforgettable afternoon out, there’s something for everyone!

Hear the music and watch Laura van der Heijden speaking about the Elgar Concerto.

​Book Now!​

THE BRIEF

🥩 New Michelin Restaurant: Canvas, a modern British bistro in Vale Road, has joined the Michelin Guide. It opened last year. It is now one of 27 Kent restaurants in the guide. Inspectors said the team runs it with heart and cooks with passion and pride. They picked out a crispy pork belly dish with pak choi, apple, ginger and chilli oil. They also praised the chatty staff and the cocktail list.

They said lunch and midweek dinner offer the best value, thanks to a fixed-price menu. Owner Magda Fuller said the listing means a lot to a small independent restaurant. She thanked everyone who has supported Canvas in its first year. It joins Thackeray's and The Counter by Robin Read as the town's other Michelin Guide entries. Canvas is the fourth Kent restaurant added in recent months. Read more here.​

🔶 Lib Dems Win Cranbrook: The Liberal Democrats have won the Cranbrook, Sissinghurst and Frittenden seat on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Harry Wormington took 697 votes, or 37.4%. Conservative Nicholas Lees came second with 590. Reform UK's David Somers had 392 and Green Max Chesters had 188. Turnout was 32.2%. The Conservatives won the ward in May, but their share fell from 46% to 31.6%. The vote followed the resignation of Nancy Warne of the Tunbridge Wells Alliance.

The Alliance did not stand a candidate. The Lib Dems now hold 26 of the council's 39 seats. Cllr Wormington said residents want better infrastructure, easier access to GPs and repaired roads. He also pledged to press water companies after months of supply problems in the borough. A Conservative spokesman said the Lib Dems worked hard and ran a fair campaign. Read more here.​

❎ Elections Back for May: Plans to redraw local government in England are on hold. Borough and district council elections will now go ahead in May 2027 in Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. The government announced a review in early September. It followed threats of legal action from several councils, including Kent County Council. Ministers will give more detail in mid-October. Elections for new town councils in Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge will still take place next May.

These councils would have worked alongside the planned new unitary authorities. The government has told councils to carry on with their Local Plans. These plans set housing targets and choose sites for new homes. Many councils have criticised the pause. Their officers and leaders spent 18 months preparing for the changes. Read more here.​

🌴 Palm Court Plans: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has taken another step towards transforming Royal Victoria Place. Full Council will consider funding for a Palm Court makeover on 11 November. The plans include a new energy-efficient roof over the atrium, inspired by Victorian glass palm houses. Larger, modern shop units aim to attract the brands shoppers want. The atrium would get brighter lighting, new floors and glass railings.

New toilets and better access also feature. A new leisure space would replace the basement food court, with a direct link to Ely Court. The council also has plans for a cinema at Ely Court. It says footfall at the centre is back to pre-2019 levels. New tenants include Søstrene Grene, Jamaica Blue and Primark. Read more here.​

🧑‍🎤 Bowie's Local Roots: A new book has revealed David Bowie's links to Tunbridge Wells and Southborough. Local author Peter Carpenter, a former Tonbridge School teacher, gives the town a chapter in his travelogue Bowieland. Bowie's parents met in 1945 at the Ritz Cinema, which no longer stands. His mother, Peggy, worked in the cinema café. There she served a cup of tea to Haywood Stenton Jones, known as John. He became David's father. Peggy's family lived in Meadow Road, Southborough.

Her uncle Tom lived nearby in Springfield Road and later owned stables on Southborough Common. Bowie's half-brother Terry passed his 11-plus and went to Skinners' School. Terry later inspired some of David's songwriting. Carpenter, a long-time fan, says he had no idea of the local link before. Read more here.​

TW LIFE COMMUNITY BOARD

Neighbours Helping Ukraine

KentRelief is a Tunbridge Wells charity with a simple aim: to help people in need across Kent. It sends food, medical supplies and other vital aid to people hit by the war in Ukraine. It also helps Ukrainian families settle here in the UK. The work runs on practical support, community projects and the kindness of local people. Every donation, purchase or hour you give makes a real difference.

​Find out more and donate today.​

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THIS WEEK

The Misanthrope (15) | Trinity Theatre | Mon 28 Sep, 10:30am | Captioned NT Live screening starring Sandra Oh | From £16.00​

Stable 2026: Alcon Blue, Going Postal, Palermo & Tellermine | The Forum | Mon 28 Sep, 7:00pm | Four-band live music night | See details​

Autumn Colour | Hever Castle | Mon 28 Sep – Sun 1 Nov | Autumn colour season across the castle gardens | Included with admission

Trinity Clocktower Tours | Trinity Theatre | Tue 29 Sep – Sat 31 Oct | Tours of Trinity's historic clocktower | See details​

The Endlessly Inventive Life and Works of David Hockney | Trinity Theatre | Tue 29 Sep – Tue 6 Oct | Art history sessions on Hockney's life and work | See details​

Thunder Horse | The Sussex Arms | Tue 29 Sep, 7:30pm | Live music in the basement venue | See details​

The Bluetones: 30th Anniversary | The Forum | Tue 29 Sep & Wed 30 Sep, 7:00pm | Britpop band plays Expected To Fly in full | See details​

Simon & Garfunkel: Through The Years | Assembly Hall | Wed 30 Sep, 7:30pm | Bookends recreate the folk-rock duo's classic hits | From £32.25​

Macbeth | Assembly Hall | Thu 1 Oct, 7:00pm | Full-scale Shakespeare with sorcery and sword fights | From £17.25​

Kathryn Mohr w/ Siem Reap | The Sussex Arms | Thu 1 Oct, 7:30pm | Live music night | See details​

Martin Kemp – Back To The 80s | Assembly Hall | Fri 2 Oct, 7:30pm | Spandau Ballet star's 80s anthems DJ party | From £42.50​

Big Fear | The Sussex Arms | Fri 2 Oct, 7:30pm | Live music night | See details​

Prima Queen | The Forum | Fri 2 Oct, 7:30pm | Live music night | See details​

Autumn Colour Sketching – One Day Course | Hever Castle | Sat 3 Oct | One-day sketching course inspired by autumn colour | See details​

The Rocket Man | Assembly Hall | Sat 3 Oct, 7:30pm | Tribute to Sir Elton John with live band | From £36.25​

Clobber | The Sussex Arms | Sat 3 Oct, 7:30pm | Live music night | See details​

Back To The 80's | The Forum | Sat 3 Oct, 8:00pm | 80s music night | See details​

Archaeology Adventure | The Amelia Scott | Fri 10 Jul – Sun 4 Oct | Family archaeology activity in its final week | See details​

RTWSO: Season Opening, with a Fanfare | Assembly Hall | Sun 4 Oct, 3:00pm | Brahms, Elgar and Copland with cellist Laura van der Heijden | From £5.00​

Autumn Aromas – Aromatherapy Workshop | Hever Castle | Sun 4 Oct | Seasonal aromatherapy workshop | See details​

Irish & Trad Sessions | The Sussex Arms | Sun 4 Oct, 4:00pm | Irish and traditional music session | See details​

Warrior Soul | The Forum | Sun 4 Oct, 6:00pm | Live rock gig | See details​

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

H Is for Hawk (15) | Rusthall Community Cinema | Sat 10 Oct, 6:30pm | Grieving daughter bonds with a hawk; Claire Foy stars | See details​

Jeremy Bowen: Truth Under Fire | Assembly Hall | Mon 12 Oct | Talk from the veteran BBC foreign correspondent | See details​

Halloween Half Term Fun | Hever Castle | Sat 17 Oct – Sun 1 Nov | Spooky half-term family activities at the castle | Included with admission

Tunbridge Wells Repair Café | Trinity Theatre | Sat 17 Oct, 10:00am | Free volunteer repairs for household items | Free entry

The Christmas Cavity Calamity Mini Panto | Penshurst Place | Sat 5 Dec – Wed 23 Dec | Festive mini panto, then meet Father Christmas | See details​

SPORT

Results

⚽ 22 Sep SE Dons 1–3 Rusthall

⚽ 22 Sep Tunbridge Wells 3–3 Corinthian

⚽ 26 Sep Hollands & Blair 2–0 Tunbridge Wells

⚽ 26 Sep Rusthall 2–3 Faversham Strike Force

🏉 26 Sep CS Stags 1863 14–53 Tunbridge Wells

🏑 26 Sep Woking 2 - 0 Tunbridge Wells Men

🏑 26 Sep Tunbridge Wells Women 1–1 Gore Court

Fixtures

⚽ 28 Sep SC Thamesmead v Tunbridge Wells

⚽ 3 Oct Rusthall v Erith & Belvedere

⚽ 3 Oct Tunbridge Wells v Phoenix Sports

🏉 3 Oct Tunbridge Wells v Bournemouth

🏑 3 Oct Tunbridge Wells Men v Reigate Priory

🏑 3 Oct Burnt Ash v Tunbridge Wells Women

THANK YOU

Hope you enjoyed this week's letter!

Jamie

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