Together with

WEST KENT TALKING

Airship Disaster On this day in 1937, the airship Hindenburg exploded in glames in Lakehurst, New Jersey. 35 of the 97 people on board.

In this week's TW Life:

TW Literary Festival
Lib Dems Take the Council
Murder Mystery at the Mercure

On to the letter!

Jamie

⛅ Weather

Today - 15°C - Light rain showers and light winds

Tomorrow - 19°C - Sunny intervals and a gentle breeze

Wednesday - 19°C - Sunny intervals and light wind

📸#TWLifeToday

Pip the Golden Retriever

@PipTheDog5

⛅️🐶🌳
Let’s play Spot the Dog! 👀
Can you find Pip in this pic of Tunbridge Wells Common?
#GoldenRetrievers 🐕😀🐾

7:30 AM • Apr 30, 2024

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🤝Together with West Kent Talking

Discover the heartbeat of Kent with "West Kent Talking," a captivating podcast that brings the biggest local issues directly to your ears. Join Martin Webber, a seasoned BBC World Service journalist, as he engages with local innovators and activists passionate about enhancing life in Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.

Each episode dives into pressing topics—from the dynamics of council leadership to the promotion of organic farming and the development of cycling routes. Plus, get the inside scoop on initiatives supporting electric vehicle owners in your community!

👉 Subscribe and join the movement for a better community!

📰 The Quick Hits

Lib Dems Seize the Council

The Lib Dems won their first majority win of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in almost 30 years. The party won 22 out of 39 seats. Local leader Cllr Ben Chapeland expressed his elation and new mandate for change.

The Tories lost 7 seats, reflecting large losses across the country. Labour and the Tunbridge Wells Alliance both saw a fall in support.

Søstrene Grene Opens in Kent

Danish homeware brand, Søstrene Grene will open a shop in the Royal Victoria Place. Scandinavian designs and affordable prices are the what the brand is known for. Like certain other Scandanavian shops its has a unique labyrinth-style layout.

The opening is the first in Kent. The shop will offer a rustic ambience with wooden shelving. A store manager and visual merchandiser position are both being advertised for.

The Forum Acts on Venues Crisis

The Forum will pioneer a grassroots ticket levy. The Music Venue Trust's Pipeline Fund will receive £1 from each ticket sold. This will be at no extra cost to patrons.

The aim to support struggling venues and aligns with other efforts such as Skiddle. Despite record live music revenues, small UK venues are closing at an alarming rate. This has prompted calls for mandatory levies on larger events.

Less of a Spa Town...

Local waters have seen a 40% increase in sewage spills in 2023. A majority of people when polled are reluctant to swim due to pollution fears. This Lib Dems highlighted this issue ahead of the local elections. Spotlighting the specific impact on Spa town heritage. The pollution dampens the town's appeal and frustrates businesses reliant on water-based activities.

🔔 Don't Forget

Many of the events are highlighted below but please head here to see the full itinery for the Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival.

🔔 The Recs

The Perfect Loaf 🍞

Maurizio Leo

Want to make bakery-quality sourdough bread from home? Subscribe for the best sourdough guides and recipes to take your bread from ordinary to incredible.

Pinch of Yum

Lindsay Ostrom

Easy recipes ❤️ I am always sharing fresh, flavorful, (mostly) healthy recipes that I love to make and eat in my real, actual, every day life. My goal is to inspire you with food that is both approachable AND exciting, whether you’re cooking for yourself, your family, your roommates, or your friends. I want you to be so excited about these recipes that you eagerly await 5pm when you can go home from work and start cooking.

🎫 What’s On

Monday 6th May

Travelling with a Paintbrush by Guy Portelli (Gallery) / 10:00+ / Details / Trinity Theatre
Day Out With Thomas / Details / Spa Valley Railway
Weald of Kent Country Craft Show / 10:00 to 17:00 / £8 / Penshurst Place
Bushcraft Bank Holiday / Details / Penshurst Place
May Day Weekend / Details / Hever Castle

Tuesday 7th May

Travelling with a Paintbrush by Guy Portelli (Gallery) / 10:00+ / Details / Trinity Theatre
The Zone of Interest (Film) / 14:30 & 19:30 / £9 & £10 / Trinity Theatre

Wednesday 8th May

Rhod Gilbert & the Giant Grapefruit (Talks) / 20:00 / £39.25 / Assembly Hall
Travelling with a Paintbrush by Guy Portelli (Gallery) / 10:00+ / Details / Trinity Theatre
Trinity Encore Movers / 10:00 / £5 / Trinity Theatre
Trinity Encore Singers / 11:30 / £5 / Trinity Theatre
The Iron Claw (Film) / 14:30 & 19:30 / £9 & £10 / Trinity Theatre

Thursday 9th May

Michael Ball - Different Aspects (Talks) / 19:30 / £22 / Assembly Hall
Boys Like Us (Talks) / 16:15 / £5 / Trinity Theatre
Nye (NT:Live) / 19:00 / £23 / Trinity Theatre
Travelling with a Paintbrush by Guy Portelli (Gallery) / 10:00+ / Details / Trinity Theatre
Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I (Talks) / 18:00 / £15 / Amelia Scott
Liz Pichon - Tom Gates Series (Talks) / 10:00 / £5 / Amelia Scott

Friday 10th May

Michael Palin - Great Uncle Harry (Talks) / 19:30 / £22 / Assembly Hall
Story Time / 09:30 / £5 / Trinity Theatre
Liz Earle - A Better Second Half (Talks) / 17:00 / £15 / Trinity Theatre
Geoff Norcott - The British Bloke Decoded (Talks) / 19:30 / £15 / Trinity Theatre
Travelling with a Paintbrush by Guy Portelli (Gallery) / 10:00+ / Details / Trinity Theatre
The Toy Boy (Murder Mystery) / Details / £59 / Mercure

Saturday 11th May

Lenny Henry - Rising to the Surface / 19:30 / £22 / Assembly Hall
That's My Story (Talks) / 11:00 / £5 / Trinity Theatre
Cathy Newman - The Ladder (Talks) / 14:00 / £15 / Trinity Theatre
Peter James - They Thought I Was Dead (Talks) / 16:00 / £15 / Trinity Theatre
Travelling with a Paintbrush by Guy Portelli (Gallery) / 10:00+ / Details / Trinity Theatre
Steam & Heritage Diesel Train Rides / Details / Spa Valley Railway
The Miracle Club / 18:30 / £5 / Rusthall Community Cinema
Hermes Marathon / Details / Bewl Water
A Real Fiction (Theatre) / 15:00 / £7 / Southborough Civic Centre