This week in Tunbridge Wells...

The ice rink is coming back to Calverley Grounds. A new team will run it, but the real ice stays. Skating starts on 26th November. Landowners have one last day to help shape the borough’s future. The council’s call for sites closes at midnight on Monday. It wants land for homes, jobs and green space.

Half term brings plenty to do. Children’s illustrator Nick Sharratt hosts a drawalong at Trinity Theatre on Wednesday. Bring paper and pens. On Saturday, Drag Bingo brings a Halloween party to the Assembly Hall. The dress code is Dead Glamorous.

Have a great week.

WEATHER

Monday: 14°C 🌡️ 16°C | 🌧️

Tuesday: 5°C 🌡️ 15°C | 🌧️

Wednesday: 7°C 🌡️ 15°C | ⛅

THE BRIEF

🗺️ Last Chance: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s call for sites closes at midnight on Monday 26th October. The council issued a final reminder on 22nd October. The exercise feeds a review of the Local Plan, which will shape growth from 2029 to 2044. The council only adopted its current plan in December 2025. It wants land for homes, jobs, community facilities, leisure and green space. It also welcomes sites for Gypsy and Traveller pitches.

Anyone can submit a site, from residents to developers. Each site needs its own form and a clear boundary map. The council says housing need is now about 1,098 homes a year. The current plan used a figure of 678. Putting land forward does not grant planning permission. Officers will check each site for suitability, availability and deliverability. The results will feed into a land availability assessment.

​Read more here.​

🧊 Ice Rink Returns: The ice rink is coming back to Calverley Grounds this winter, with a new team in charge. Icescape Tunbridge Wells will run the event this year. The firm has supplied the rink and its kit since 2014. Visitors can expect the same set-up, with real ice and a festive feel. Director Jamie Dann said the firm wanted to keep the Christmas tradition going.

The rink opens on Thursday 26 November and runs until Sunday 3 January. It closes only on Christmas Day. Sessions include parent-and-toddler skates, quiet sessions, DJ disco skates, Santa skates and two-for-one deals. Food and drink will be on sale. Tickets are on sale now. Booking online in advance saves money.

​Read more here.​

🏬 £23m Shopping Centre Loan: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has explained how it plans to pay for a major refurbishment of Royal Victoria Place. The £27 million Palm Court project would be funded largely through a £23.3 million loan, modelled over 50 years. The council expects the improvements to generate around £1.8 million in extra annual income, against £1.5 million in loan repayments and interest. That leaves a projected surplus of £315,000 a year.

The plans include new shops, improved toilets, a brighter atrium and leisure space in the former food court. Higher rents and parking income are central to the business case, with parking charges expected to rise by 4% annually for four years after completion. The council says the scheme should pay for itself without putting pressure on existing services. Final approval is expected at Full Council on 11 November.

​Read more here.

💚 Green Seat Unveiled: A new green bench in Grosvenor and Hilbert Park is raising awareness of missing people and the families waiting for answers.The seat was unveiled on Thursday 15th October by Charlotte Everett from the Green Seat Project and Helen Timms from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Public donations funded it through the council’s Bench Donation Scheme.

The project began in Australia, founded by Sally Leydon, whose mother Marion Barter disappeared in 1997. Its benches offer a place to pause and reflect on all missing people, rather than commemorate one individual.The Tunbridge Wells seat carries a plaque reading “THE MISSING MATTER” and a QR code linking visitors to information about missing people and support for affected families.

​Read more here.​

👼 Angel Centre Funding Approved: Councillors have approved a new £20.6 million Angel Centre in Tonbridge. The vote at a meeting on Tuesday 20th October was unanimous. The new centre will stand on Sovereign Way Mid Car Park. It replaces the current building, which is around 45 years old and faces big repair bills. Plans include a larger gym, a spin studio, soft play, party rooms, a café and a wellbeing suite.

Three studios can host meetings and events for up to 332 people. Some community groups still worry about losing meeting space. The new rooms total 336 square metres, down from 518. The council will fund the project without borrowing. It will use reserves and existing budgets, plus £1 million from operator tmactive. Building work should start early next year. The centre is due to open in 2028. The old centre stays open until then.

​Read more here.​

⚠️ Flood Warnings: Two storms hit Kent in two days. Storm Austen brought strong winds on Friday 23rd October. Storm Boelo followed on Saturday with heavy rain. The Met Office issued a yellow rain warning for most of Kent until 11pm on Saturday. Forecasters warned of 25mm to 30mm of rain, and up to 60mm in places.

Fallen trees blocked roads and railway lines across the county. A tree came down on the A268 Hawkhurst Road at Flimwell, just over the Sussex border. Crews have since cleared it. A train hit part of a tree at Sevenoaks. Southeastern reported five separate incidents involving fallen trees on Saturday evening. The Met Office said the rain would clear overnight, leaving a dry Sunday with sunny spells.

​Read more here.​

TW LIFE COMMUNITY BOARD

Heroes & Legends

Assembly Hall | Sun 1 Nov, 3pm

The Royal Tunbridge Wells Symphony Orchestra returns with an afternoon of Beethoven and Wagner. Peter Selwyn conducts Beethoven’s bold and dramatic Third Symphony, Eroica, alongside Wagner’s atmospheric Parsifal Symphonic Suite.

From Beethoven’s restless energy to Wagner’s sweeping orchestral sound, enjoy an afternoon of powerful music in the heart of Tunbridge Wells.

​Buy Tickets Here · £24–£38; under-18s and students £5.

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Stand With Ukraine, From Tunbridge Wells

When war turns lives upside down, local help matters. KentRelief, a Tunbridge Wells charity, sends food, medical supplies and other essential aid to people hit by the war in Ukraine. Closer to home, it helps Ukrainian families settle in the UK. Its work across Kent rests on practical support, community projects and the kindness of local people. A donation, a purchase or an hour of your time all make a difference.

​Donate to KentRelief today.​

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THIS WEEK

Halloween Half Term: Spooktacular Science | Hever Castle | Sat 17 Oct – Sun 1 Nov, 10:30am | Mad scientist trail, science show, crafts and face painting | Included with admission​

Tunbridge Wells Puppetry Festival | Various venues | Mon 26 Oct – Sat 31 Oct | Six days of puppetry, storytelling and family shows, with free performances and ticketed events | See programme​

Halloween Trail | Chiddingstone Castle | Sat 17 Oct – Sat 31 Oct | Spooky trail; pick up a map at the desk | Included with admission​

October Half-Term Adventure Camp | Bewl Water | Mon 19 Oct – Fri 30 Oct | Outdoor adventure camp for ages 8 to 15 | See details​

Beware the Bad Apple! Halloween Trail | Penshurst Place | Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov, 10:00am | Search the grounds for poison potion ingredients | See details​

Halloween Crafts | Penshurst Place | Sat 24 Oct – Sun 1 Nov, 11:00am | Make spooky crafts in The Old Coach House | See details​

Halloween Storytelling | Penshurst Place | Mon 26 Oct – Sat 31 Oct, 11:15am, 12:00pm, 12:45pm, 2:00pm & 2:45pm | Panto-style, not-too-scary stories in the Garden Room | See details​

All Star Wrestling | Assembly Hall | Mon 26 Oct, 7:30pm | High-flying family wrestling show | From £15.00​

Introduction to Shadow Puppetry | Trinity Theatre | Mon 26 Oct | Youth theatre half-term shadow puppet session | See details​

Trinity Clocktower Tours | Trinity Theatre | Tue 27 Oct – Sat 31 Oct | Climb the historic clocktower for town views | See details​

Design a Halloween Mask Workshop | Trinity Theatre | Tue 27 Oct | Youth theatre half-term mask-making workshop | See details​

Two Mr Ps in a Podcast: Live | Assembly Hall | Tue 27 Oct, 7:30pm | Teachers share funny classroom tales, 18+ | From £31.75​

Stable 2026: Cranial, Expect-less, Forever Nowhere & Tres Kings | The Forum | Tue 27 Oct, 7:00pm | Four-band night from the Stable series | See details​

Nick Sharratt’s Once Upon A Drawalong | Trinity Theatre | Wed 28 Oct, 2:00pm | Family drawalong with the much-loved illustrator, ages 4+ | From £13.00​

Pressure (12A) | Trinity Theatre | Wed 28 Oct – Mon 9 Nov | Film screenings across the fortnight | See details​

Halloween Quiz | The Imperial, Southborough | Wed 28 Oct | Halloween-themed pub quiz with plenty of laughs and prizes | See details​

A Tale of Us | Trinity Theatre | Thu 29 Oct | Half-term children’s show | See details​

Baga Chipz: Bagz to Riches | Trinity Theatre | Thu 29 Oct, 7:30pm | Drag Race star’s comedy and music show, 16+ | From £25.00​

Stable 2026: Covered In Punk, Shark Belly, Spex Appeal & Strumpet | The Forum | Thu 29 Oct, 7:00pm | Four-band punk night from the Stable series | See details​

After Hours: Haunted Hever Castle Tours | Hever Castle | Thu 29 Oct – Sat 31 Oct | After-dark theatrical ghost tours; Saturday sold out | From £42.50​

Speldhurst Art Exhibition | Speldhurst CEP School | Thu 29 Oct – Sun 1 Nov, 10am–5pm (Sun until 4pm) | Returning after nine years, with paintings and ceramics on display and for sale | See details​

A Country Night in Nashville | Assembly Hall | Fri 30 Oct, 7:30pm | Honky-tonk celebration of country music’s biggest hits | From £19.25​

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (U) | Trinity Theatre | Fri 30 Oct | Halloween family film screening | See details​

Bridget Christie and Guests | Trinity Theatre | Fri 30 Oct, 8:00pm | Stand-up from the Taskmaster and Ghosts star, 14+ | From £29.00​

Halloween Quiz | Daily Bread, Rusthall | Fri 30 Oct | Halloween-themed quiz from I ❤️ Quizzing, with the same questions as Wednesday's event | See details​

The Sussex Is Doomed IV | The Sussex Arms | Fri 30 Oct & Sat 31 Oct, 7:00pm | Doom weekender with Acid Throne and The Grey | See details​

Barrioke: The Big 2026 Farewell | The Forum | Fri 30 Oct & Sat 31 Oct, 8:00pm | Karaoke party nights to close out 2026 | See details​

Silk Painting Workshop | Hever Castle | Sat 31 Oct | Hands-on silk painting workshop | See details​

Drag Bingo UK: Halloween Edition | Assembly Hall | Sat 31 Oct, 7:00pm | Camp Halloween bingo with drag queens, 18+ | From £32.00​

Rusthall Fire & Glow Festival | Southwood Road Playing Fields | Sat 31 Oct, 6pm–9pm | Halloween glow party, torchlight parade, live music and fireworks at 8:30pm | Free, donations welcome​

Michael Spicer: Hope All’s Well | Trinity Theatre | Sat 31 Oct, 7:30pm | Satirical sketches from The Room Next Door creator | From £24.00​

RTWSO: Heroes & Legends | Assembly Hall | Sun 1 Nov, 3:00pm | Beethoven’s Eroica and Wagner’s Parsifal suite | From £5.00​

Irish & Trad Sessions | The Sussex Arms | Sun 1 Nov, 4:00pm | Afternoon Irish and traditional music session | See details​

The Trinity Sessions: Sorrel Nation | Trinity Theatre | Sun 1 Nov, 5:00pm | Soulful folk-rock from a travelling troubadour | From £18.00​

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

Republica: 30 Years of Ready To Go! | The Forum | Thu 5 Nov, 7:00pm | Britpop band marks three decades of their hit | See details​

Save the Cinema (12) | Rusthall Community Cinema | Sat 7 Nov, 6:30pm | True story of a campaign to save a cinema | See details​

Romesh Ranganathan Will Change Your Life | Assembly Hall | Wed 11 Nov | New stand-up tour from the comedian and presenter | See details​

Chiddingstone Castle Christmas Fair | Chiddingstone Castle | Sat 21 Nov | Festive artisan shopping inside the historic castle | See details​

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

SPORT

Results

⚽ 24 Oct AFC Greenwich Borough 3–2 Rusthall

⚽ 24 Oct Bearsted 2-1 Tunbridge Wells

🏉 24 Oct Tunbridge Wells 36–22 Maidenhead

Fixtures

⚽ 31 Oct Rusthall v Haywards Heath Town

⚽ 31 Oct Tunbridge Wells v Ash United

🏉 31 Oct Farnham v Tunbridge Wells

🏑 31 Oct Folkestone Optimist v Tunbridge Wells Men

🏑 31 Oct Marden Russets v Tunbridge Wells Women

THANK YOU

Hope you enjoyed this week's letter!

Jamie

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