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Big decisions ahead for Tunbridge Wells. The council wants to demolish much of the Friendly Societies Building to make way for a new cinema and restaurants. Campaigners say it would destroy a community hub. Meanwhile, planners are set to vote on 178 new homes on Frant Road. Residents have concerns about traffic, water supply and the local landscape.

On a lighter note, Italian-American deli Senza Fondeli is coming to The Pantiles in April. And this Friday, The Forum hosts an Arctic Monkeys 20th anniversary celebration. A good week to get out.

WEATHER

Monday: 7°C 🌡️ 11°C | ☁️

Tuesday: 4°C 🌡️ 12°C | ☀️

Wednesday: 3°C 🌡️ 16°C | ☀️

SPONSORED BY KENT LOCAL WINE SCHOOL

Wine lovers - this one’s unusual.

This week, Kent Local Wine School is hosting an evening tasting dedicated to the wines of Lebanon, one of the world’s oldest wine regions.

Winemaking here dates back thousands of years, but today a new generation of producers is creating remarkable wines from the high-altitude vineyards of the Bekaa Valley.

On Wednesday 18th March at Hotel du Vin, you’ll taste six Lebanese wines, each selected to show the character of this historic region.

Your expert tutor will guide you through the wines, the grapes and the producers behind them, with plenty of time for questions along the way.

Expect a relaxed, sociable evening with fellow wine lovers, whether you’re curious about wine or already enthusiastic.

🍷 Six wine tastings

📍 Hotel du Vin, Tunbridge Wells

🕖 7pm start

🎟 £40 per person

​Book your place here.​

Kent Local Wine School has been running tastings in Tunbridge Wells since 2012 and is part of the Local Wine School network, winner of the 2025 International Wine Challenge Consumer Communicator of the Year.

THE BRIEF

🎱 Snooker Demolition: Tunbridge Wells Borough Council plans a major redevelopment of the Royal Victoria Place area, including a three-screen “boutique” cinema, new restaurants and leisure spaces funded by a government-backed £68m scheme. The proposals would see the demolition of much of the historic Friendly Societies Building on Camden Road, currently home to the Victoria Snooker Centre, although its frontage would be retained. Campaigners warn the loss would erase a long-standing community hub and heritage features. The council argues the project will revitalise the town centre economy. Read more here (and see the images).

🏡 178 Homes: Planning chiefs are set to vote on a controversial proposal to build 178 homes at Pinewood Farm, just outside Tunbridge Wells on Frant Road. The development forms part of a wider 362-home masterplan. Plans include a GP surgery or children’s centre and a relocated sports hub. The site lies in East Sussex and will be decided by Wealden District Council. But Tunbridge Wells officials say the scheme would extend the town and strain local infrastructure. Residents have raised concerns over water supply, traffic and protected landscape status. Read more here.

🍝 All Day Deli: Senza Fondo will open its first site outside London in early April. Senza Fondeli, will be an Italian-American all-day restaurant deli on The Pantiles. The venue will serve focaccia sandwiches, fresh pasta, antipasti and its signature bottomless lasagna on Tuesdays, alongside coffee, cocktails and wine. The concept also includes a deli retail space selling local and Mediterranean produce. Designed by NYC-based Yakka Studio, the venue will host live music curated by local organiser Charlotte Lubbock. Read more here.

🥘 Shuffle Off: Tapas and pizza venue The Shuffle House in St John’s will close on 22nd March as owners Ish and Julia Refet restructure the business. Opened in 2019, the restaurant cited rising costs, power cuts, water outages and wider pressures in hospitality as reasons it can no longer operate in its current form. The team say the move safeguards the business and hinted at a new venture launching in April. Read more here.

💷 £480k: A Kent housing analysis shows Sevenoaks remains the county’s most expensive market. Tunbridge Wells is still second, while Tonbridge & Malling also sits among the pricier areas. All three saw sharp rises between 2020 and 2023, a dip in 2024, then a mixed picture into 2025. Notably, Tunbridge Wells continued to edge down in 2025, unlike some other areas. The piece also explores why pandemic-era demand, stamp duty changes and shifting mortgage rates reshaped the market so dramatically. Read it here.

OUR COMMONS. OUR FUTURE.

Final push to secure the Commons for the community

With the 25th March deadline for a community bid to purchase the Commons approaching, local residents are coming together to support efforts to bring Tunbridge Wells & Rusthall Commons into community ownership.

Residents can also show their support by pledging online, helping build the case for a community bid.

As part of this final push, a community march and public assembly will take place on Saturday 21st March, starting at the Tunbridge Wells Forum.

📍 Meet at Tunbridge Wells Forum – 12pm

🚶 March departs – 12.30pm

More information about the sale and pledge your support here:

​https://friendsofthecommons.uk/​

THIS WEEK

Tales from Acorn Wood | Assembly Hall| Tues & Wed | Julia Donaldson stories brought to life with puppetry and song | From £17.75​

The Subways: Billy & Kamille – Loud & Unplugged | The Forum | Tue 17 Mar, 7:00pm | Indie rock duo play stripped-back but rowdy set | See details​

Vox Pops Indie Choir | The Sussex Arms | Tue 17 Mar, 7:30pm | Community indie choir performing crowd-pleasing songs | See details​

Ginny Millard: Searching the Soul | Trinity Theatre | Mon 16 Mar – Sun 22 Mar | Exhibition of expressive, soul-searching visual artwork | Free entry​

St. Barnabas On Stage! The Wind in the Willows | Trinity Theatre | Thu 19 Mar | School production of the classic woodland adventure story | See details​

Emmanuel Sonubi: Life After Near Death | Trinity Theatre | Thu 19 Mar, 8:00pm | Stand-up comedy about surviving heart failure, hilariously told | From £22​

STABLE: April Blood | Cellar Arts Collective | Ocean | Lay-By Strawberries | The Forum | Thu 19 Mar, 7:00pm | New music showcase featuring four emerging local acts | See details​

Story Time | Trinity Theatre | Fri 20 Mar | Interactive stories session for pre-school children | See details​

G2: Definitive Genesis | Trinity Theatre | Fri 20 Mar, 8:00pm | Tribute band faithfully recreates classic Genesis catalogue | From £29​

Dan Sumner & Band + The Breretons | The Sussex Arms | Fri 20 Mar, 7:30pm | Indie singer-songwriter double bill in intimate basement setting | From £13​

Arctic Monkeys 20th Anniversary Celebration | The Forum | Fri 20 Mar, 7:30pm | Live tribute to Whatever People Say I Am debut album | See details​

Chris McCausland 2026 – Yonks! | Assembly Hall | Thu 19 Mar, 8:00pm | Strictly star's sell-out stand-up tour; nearly sold out | From £34.25​

Gabriella's School of Performing Arts Showcase 2026 | Trinity Theatre | Sat 21 Mar – Sun 22 Mar | Annual showcase of dance, drama and performance from local students | See details​

Musical Theatre Open Mic Matinee | The Forum | Sat 21 Mar, 2:45pm | Open mic afternoon for musical theatre performers of all levels | See details​

Nu-Metal Night 3 | The Sussex Arms | Sat 21 Mar, 7:30pm | Heavy night of nu-metal classics with live acts | From £14.56​

Back to the 00's | The Forum | Sat 21 Mar, 8:00pm | Party night celebrating the biggest 2000s anthems | See details​

The Sussex Jam Night (In The Afternoon) | The Sussex Arms | Sun 22 Mar, 4:00pm | Open jam session for musicians of all abilities | Free entry​

STABLE: Immer | Chloe Harman | Emily Jenkins | Cassius West | The Forum | Sun 22 Mar, 6:00pm | New music showcase featuring four emerging acts | See details​

Dazzling Daffodils 2026 | Hever Castle | Mon 16 Mar – Sun 22 Mar | Thousands of daffodils in bloom across the stunning gardens | From admission​

Hanami – Full Bloom & Sunshine | Chiddingstone Castle | Wed 18 Mar – Sun 22 Mar, 11:00am–5:00pm | Japanese cherry blossom viewing; picnics on the lawn welcome | Free entry to grounds​

Making Language: Emma Smith | The Amelia Scott | Mon 16 Mar – Sun 22 Mar | Ongoing exhibition exploring language through contemporary art | Free entry​

Life Through a Royal Lens | The Amelia Scott | Mon 16 Mar – Sun 22 Mar | Photography exhibition tracing the royals across the decades | Free entry​

Penshurst Place Weekend Opening | Penshurst Place | Sat 21 Mar – Sun 22 Mar, 10:00am–5:00pm | Medieval house, formal gardens and adventure playground open | See details​

Easter Egg Hunt at Scotney Castle | Scotney Castle | Mon 16 Mar – Sun 22 Mar (daily, 10:00am–5:00pm) | Hop the trail, collect your Easter prize in the historic grounds | 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​

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FURTHER OUT

Bat Out Of Hell | Rusthall Community Cinema | 29th Mar, 2pm | Big, loud, gloriously over-the-top rock romance chaos | £10​

Nigel Kennedy: Virtuoso | Assembly Hall | Mon 23 Mar, 7:30pm | The legendary violinist returns with a dazzling solo concert | See details​

Hever Castle Plant Fair 2026 | Hever Castle | Sun 22 Mar, all day | Over 100 specialist nurseries showcasing plants in castle grounds | See details​

Imagine the Beatles – Live at the Orangery | Chiddingstone Castle | Sun 17 May | Beatles tribute on the Orangery lawn; bring a picnic | See details​

Bewl Water Triathlon | Bewl Water | Sun 24 May | Open-water swim, cycle and run in stunning reservoir setting | See details​

Coffee Concert: Jong-Gyung Park & Anthony Zerpa-Falcon | The Amelia Scott | Sat 25 Apr | Intimate morning classical concert with piano and cello duo | See details​

SPORT

📋 Results

⚽ 10 Mar Tunbridge Wells FC 0–2 Hollands & Blair SCEFL Prem [L]

⚽ 10 Mar Rusthall FC 2–1 Fisher SCEFL Prem [W]

⚽ 14 Mar Corinthian 2–2 Rusthall FC SCEFL Prem [D]

⚽ 14 Mar Tunbridge Wells FC P-P Hythe Town SCEFL Prem POSTPONED (waterlogged pitch)

🏑 14 Mar Ashford (Kent) W1 0–2 Tunbridge Wells W1 SE Women's Div 1 East [W]

🏑 14 Mar Tunbridge Wells M1 vs Reigate Priory M1 SE Men's Prem (result not yet entered)

🏉 Tunbridge Wells RFC No matches

📅 Fixtures

⚽ 17 Mar Faversham Strike Force vs Rusthall FC SCEFL Prem

⚽ 17 Mar Tunbridge Wells FC vs Chislehurst Glebe SCEFL Prem

⚽ 21 Mar Rusthall FC vs Sutton Athletic SCEFL Prem

⚽ 21 Mar Tunbridge Wells FC vs Stansfeld SCEFL Prem

🏉 21 Mar Maidenhead vs Tunbridge Wells RFC Regional 1 South Central

🏑 21 Mar Canterbury M2 vs Tunbridge Wells M1 SE Men's Prem

🏑 21 Mar Tunbridge Wells W1 vs Folkestone Optimist W1 SE Women's Div 1 East

THANK YOU

Hope you enjoyed this week's letter!

Jamie

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