Experience Ashford & Tenterden

07/10/2024

🎅 It's never too early to be thinking about Christmas, (it's only about 11 Monday's)! You do have to get in fast for these wreath making workshops they book up really quickly!!

🎄 30th Nov & 1st Dec at Molash Village Hall with Wild Bloom
🎄 30th Nov March Woods, with Willow Bushcraft
🎄 30th Nov & 1st Dec at Godinton House And Gardens
🎄 7th Dec at Brabourne Vineyard

⭐ Bookings should be made direct with the businesses ⭐

Find out more about these workshops and other festive events https://orlo.uk/ADbm0

06/10/2024

UK Electric Bike Centre Ltd End of Season Sale

11-13th Oct

Headcorn Aerodrome TN27 9HX

05/10/2024

Harvest Festival at Brook Rural Museum today 2pm - 6pm

This is the last event of the season and the last chance to explore the magnificent timber-framed medieval barn.

There'll be lots of activities for kids, including donkey rides (£1 a go), face painting, crafts and a harvest trail! There will also be live music, markets stalls, food, drink and more!

https://orlo.uk/JK8tf

04/10/2024

Charity Sunday Roast to raise funds for the "Big Cats in Crisis" campaign 🦁🦁

Indulge in a delicious Sunday carvery while making a real difference in the lives of five lions rescued from war-torn Ukraine. Every penny raised from your meal will go directly to The Big Cat Sanctuary "Big Cats in Crisis" campaign, helping to provide these majestic lions with a second chance at life. Funds raised will also support the construction of the Lion Rescue Centre, which will become their future home.

Enjoy a two course meal with tea and coffee while listening to beautiful acoustic covers from singer Amber Houston, performing popular hits to set the perfect mood for a relaxing afternoon.

Enter a raffle with fabulous prizes including a Paul Hollywood Afternoon Tea experience, Big Cat adoption, a BCS Annual Memberships, and more!

📆 Sunday 12th October
⏲ 12noon - 4.00pm
📌 London Beach Hotel TN30 6HX
🎟 Adult £32.50 and Child £20.00

Book now https://orlo.uk/jloH0

03/10/2024

⭐ MORE TICKETS JUST DROPPED!⭐
The final date for Carnival of the Baubles Lantern Making Workshops is now available for booking!

🎄 Carnival of the Baubles Lantern Making Workshops 🎄
🗺️ County Square Shopping Centre
📆 23rd November 2024
🕐 Various time slots available between 10am and 2.30pm

Join in with this year's Carnival of the Baubles event by making your own beautiful festive lantern and proudly parading it in the giant illuminated procession through town!

Here's your chance to craft your own Christmas lantern using willow and tissue paper. The workshops are being run by Made in Ashford in County Square Shopping Centre and are perfect for all the family to enjoy. The sessions are aimed at 5 years+ and grown-ups are very welcome to make a lantern too.

Spaces are limited so make sure you BOOK A PLACE! 👉 https://orlo.uk/JHAyC

01/10/2024

Autumn glory at Hole Park Garden

Hole Park may be best known for wonderful Spring flowers, notably its famous Bluebells, but the colourful Autumn display in this tranquil Wealden gem is a wonder to be enjoyed throughout the coming months.

Once the bright colours of Summer have faded, the gardens and woods explode into a riot of rich reds, yellows and golds and Hole Park's Autumn glory emerges. In fact, the trees and shrubs planted over the past 100 years were chosen with just this range of colour and contrast in mind.

The gardens are open on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout September and October from 11am to 6pm. In October, Hole Park is additionally open on Sundays for visitors to enjoy the unfolding of the golden season, before the gardens close for the year on Thursday 30th October until Spring 2025.

The Hole Park team has created a number of free Autumnal activities for children as they explore the gardens and woods. Alongside a ‘wonderful wildlife walk' trail there is a leaf hunt, helping children to identify leaves from the different trees, and a Pumpkin letter trail to make up an Autumnal word. Completed trails can be handed in to earn a reward sticker.

Find out more about Hole Park https://orlo.uk/56Gli

29/09/2024

Anyone thought about Christmas yet??

Blue Phoenix Productions returns to The Rylance Theatre, Ashford this Christmas with the magical family pantomime Snow White.

Packed with all the traditional pantomime ingredients Ashford audiences expect, Snow White features laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses.

Snow White is the hilarious family pantomime suitable for all ages, with tons of comedy and stunning musical numbers that you are guaranteed to be singing for days afterwards. So, grab your tickets now to the fairest pantomime of them all, it would be wicked to miss it!

Check out Ashford Pantomime website to book 👉 https://orlo.uk/mUWSO

27/09/2024

Check out the fantastic variety of events coming up in the next few weeks:

🎸 Tenterden Folk Festival * 3-6th OCT
🎵 Just Floyd, at Revelation Ashford * 5th OCT
🎶 Music With Mantissa at Willesborough Windmill * 5-6th OCT
⭐ Brook Rural Museum Harvest Festival * 5th OCT
🍷 Opera & Wine Tasting at Chapel Down * 11th OCT
🚗 Austin Counties Car Rally at The Kent & East Sussex Railway * 12-13th OCT
⭐ Autumn Fair at Godinton House And Gardens * 12th OCT

Find out more about these events and other things to see and do in the area https://orlo.uk/W0CVe

26/09/2024

⭐ TICKETS JUST DROPPED!⭐

Another date for Carnival of the Baubles Lantern Making Workshops is now live and tickets are available for booking!

🎄 Carnival of the Baubles Lantern Making Workshops 🎄
🗺️ County Square Shopping Centre
📆 16th November 2024
🕐 Various time slots available between 10am and 2.30pm

Join in with this year's Carnival of the Baubles event by making your own beautiful festive lantern and proudly parading it in the giant illuminated procession through town!

Here's your chance to craft your own Christmas lantern using willow and tissue paper. The workshops are being run by Made in Ashford in County Square Shopping Centre and are perfect for all the family to enjoy. The sessions are aimed at 5 years+ and grown-ups are very welcome to make a lantern too.

Spaces are limited so make sure you BOOK A PLACE! 👉 https://orlo.uk/FI57R

One more date and tickets will be announced soon, so make sure you keep an eye out!

25/09/2024

All Aboard the Twinning Express - at The Kent & East Sussex Railway

Over the weekend, Ashford Twinning Association hosted guests from Bad Münstereifel in Germany and Fougères in France and celebrated two important anniversaries - 60th anniversary of twinning with Bad Münstereifel and the 40th anniversary with Fougeres.

Part of the celebrations included a visit to award winning Kent & East Sussex Railway for a trip on a steam-hauled train from Tenterden to Bodiam and back, including lunch on board. At Bodiam, the party were also able to visit the historic Cavell Van, and on the return to Tenterden Town Station they were given a tour of the fascinating Colonel Stephens Museum to find out more about the history of the heritage line.

Images show Mayor Cllr Lyn Suddards with members of the Twinning Association at Tenterden Station. Credit to Stepstone Imaging.

25/09/2024

Not long now for the annual Tenterden Folk Festival

3rd October - 6th October

A four day long festival of folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions. This year's festival kicks off on Thursday evening with "The Around Kent Folk Concert," featuring performances by Bob Kenward, John & Di Cullen, Julie & Gavin Atkin, and Sue Watson.

The festival runs through to Sunday night, offering a variety of concerts, music and song sessions, workshops, a Barn Dance and so much more. With an excellent line-up of guests, including both festival newcomers and returning favourites, alongside regular local performers.

Check out the full programme of events and buy tickets https://orlo.uk/psOlu

The festival includes many free events.

📷 credit Philip Hinton of Ashford Photographic

24/09/2024

⭐ ⭐ Build a lantern at home! ⭐ ⭐

Carnival of Baubles, build at home lantern kits are now available to purchase!

Purchase a kit for £5 on the Made in Ashford website. Either have it delivered to your home or save on postage by collecting it from the shop located in Park Mall, Ashford Town Centre.

These kits are aimed at 5+ and smaller children will need adult supervision & guidance.

The kit includes willow, tissue paper and instructions. You will need scissors, tape, PVA glue and a light (fairy lights or an electronic candle).

Buy the lantern kits here 👉 👉 https://orlo.uk/PN6Kw

23/09/2024

Book early to avoid disappointment with these fantastic Halloween events:

👻 Halloween Fun at The Rare Breeds Centre
🎃 Half Term Family Workshops at Godinton House & Gardens
👻 The Magic Express on Kent & East Sussex Railway
🎃 Halloween at Willesborough Windmill
👻 Halloween Special: the Ghosts of Pluckley Tour
🎃 Pick Your Own Pumpkins at Sevington
👻 Fright Night Express on Kent & East Sussex Railway
🎃 Spooky Spectacular at The Reindeer Centre
👻 Family Fun Day at Tenterden Garden Centre
🎃 Halloween Fun at County Square

Find out more about these events and other things going on in and around Ashford and Tenterden https://orlo.uk/2f983

22/09/2024

So, we're officially into Autumn now....

What's your favourite things about this time of year?

🔥 Cosy nights in
🍁 The leaves changing colour
🎃 Pumpkin picking
👻 Halloween
🍂 Collecting conkers
🍏 Apple picking

It's the perfect time to get out and about and explore the beautiful countryside around us https://orlo.uk/m2riv

20/09/2024

Check out what's on at The Ashford Cinema 📽 🍿🥤

⭐ The Substance (rated 18)
⭐ 200% wolf (rated U)
⭐ Batman Begins (rated 12)
⭐ Dark Knight (rated 12A)
⭐ Dark Knight Rises (rated 12A)
⭐ The Lego Batman Movie (rated U)
⭐ The Critic (rated 15)
⭐ Lee (rated 15)
⭐ Speak No Evil (rated 15)
⭐ Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (rated 12A)
⭐ Despicable Me 4 (rated U)

Book https://orlo.uk/gwL7g

19/09/2024

Frasers, Egerton

An award winning small private estate and eco venue, located in the heart of the Kent countryside. Offering unique, luxurious bedrooms along with hearty breakfasts served every morning. The accommodation is situated in three beautiful period buildings; a Kentish ragstone oast house, a converted former stable block and a former cattle barn.

The idyllic rural setting offers rustic charm and elegance with panoramic views across the countryside providing a beautiful backdrop for your wedding photographs. Frasers pride themselves on the uniqueness of only ever having one wedding per weekend for exclusive weddings all year round.

The restaurant is housed in a traditional oak framed barn with stunning views and an outdoor terrace in the summer months. They offer both tasting and feasting menus, brunch and afternoon tea using the finest locally sourced ingredients.

Get ahead for Christmas and book your festive feast - what a venue for your works party or family celebration! You can even purchase their award winning Christmas puddings!

Find out more https://orlo.uk/TDrOR

19/09/2024

Great networking event yesterday for the Ashford and Tenterden Tourism Association at Warehorne Vineyard.

It was lovely to catch up with members and see some new faces. Thank you to everyone that attended and a big thank you to Peter for hosting us.

If you want to find out more about the Tourism Association and our members check out our website https://orlo.uk/qvkxX

17/09/2024

🎃🎃 Pick Your own Pumpkins 🎃🎃

📆 Various dates between 19th - 30th October.

Whether you're searching for the perfect carving pumpkin or a unique decoration, Pick Your Own Pumpkin have got you covered! Just don't forget your wellies!

🎃 Pumpkin Pickers of all ages are welcome- just bring some gloves and wear appropriate footwear for mud!!

🎃 Pumpkins are priced on size from £1-£10 per pumpkin.

🐶 No dogs allowed except assistance dogs.

🔎 Get hunting for the GOLDEN pumpkin! Each day they will hide a 'gold' and 'silver' pumpkin on the field. If you find the gold pumpkin you win your wheelbarrow full of pumpkins for free. If you find the silver pumpkin you get your largest pumpkin for free!

Book here 👉👉 https://orlo.uk/hVpaU

16/09/2024

Tickets still available Tenterden Operatic & Dramatic Society

That feeling when you realise you’re 80% sold out for your production, and there’s still three days to go! 🍾🍾🍾

It’s show week, and tickets for Ladies’ Day at the Barn Theatre, Smallhythe Place are going quick, with Thursday and Friday almost completely sold out. Book your tickets now to avoid missing out...

18th-21st September, ticket link below.

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/todsproductions

15/09/2024

Did you miss out on the 2024 Big Cat Open Days? 🐯 🦁 🐆

Well, now is your chance to get in early for 2025 at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden!

📆 25 - 27th July and 31 July - 3rd Aug
⏲ 10.30 am - 4.30 pm
📌 Headcorn Rd, Smarden, Ashford TN27 8PJ

These open days are a fantastic way to see the beautiful animals and all the incredible work that goes into looking after them - it's a fantastic day out for all the family!

Each day will include displays, educational talks from the keepers, family-friendly activities with a Marketplace and plenty of delicious food & drink stalls.

Book early to avoid disappointment! https://orlo.uk/kDWSa

13/09/2024

🍻🍩🥨🍔 Tenterden Food & Drink Festival 🍔🥨🍩🍻

📆 13th - 15th September
📌 Tenterden Recreation Ground, TN30 6RA

A recipe including over forty trade stalls, live music, alfresco dining, children's entertainment and comedy serves up a colourful, bustling festival with a familiar and friendly feel.

A firm favourite in the community calendar, now in its 8th year, the Tenterden Food and Drink Festival provides a great selection of local, national and international stalls. The quality of the shopping experience is complimented by a range of entertainments for the whole family and alfresco dining with a wide choice of mouth-watering food and drink stalls.

The Tenterden Food and Drink Festival is free to enter event on the tree ringed green and spacious recreation ground close to the town centre. All public transport stops nearby, so getting to and from the venue couldn’t be easier.

Friday 12pm – 6pm
Saturday 9am – 7pm
Sunday 10am – 5pm

https://orlo.uk/UAThQ
Zoom Events Tenterden, Kent - The Jewel of the Weald

12/09/2024

See what's coming up over the next couple of weeks:

⭐ Tenterden Food and Drink Festival * 13-15th SEPT
⭐ Challock Summer Fair * 14th SEPT
⭐ Brabourne Vineyard Open Day * 14th SEPT
⭐ Godinton House & Gardens NGS Open Day * 20th SEPT
⭐ Bluey Meet & Greet at Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway * 21st & 22nd SEPT
⭐ Norman Cycles Day at Willesborough Windmill * 22nd SEPT
⭐ Jon Boden & The Remnant Kings at Revelation Ashford * 27th SEPT

Find out more about what's going on in and around Ashford and Tenterden 👉 https://orlo.uk/BuGdN

10/09/2024

Crosskeys Coaches & Travel offer a wide variety of day trips and short breaks all year round, both within the UK and in Europe, with local pick ups from Ashford.

See what's coming up:

⭐ Bruges * 14th Sept
⭐ Shopping in London * 19th Sept
⭐ Camden Market & Canal Cruise * 24th Sept
⭐ Blackpool Illuminations * 30th Sept
⭐ Starlight Express * 10th Oct
⭐ Stratford-upon-Avon & The Cotswolds * 24th Oct
⭐ London Museums * 31st Oct
⭐ Paris on the Seine at Christmas Time * 22nd Nov
⭐ A Festive Afternoon with Carols at The Royal Albert Hall * 15th Dec

Find out more and book https://orlo.uk/NazcN

09/09/2024

High Weald Walking Festival 2024

Saturday 7 - Sunday 15 September

Walkers of all ages and abilities will come together to explore and enjoy the spectacular beauty of the High Weald National Landscape.

Now in its seventh year, the walking festival offers FREE guided and self-guided walks for all, showcasing the outstanding natural beauty, history and wildlife of the High Weald National Landscape.

Whether you're looking to build your confidence with a gentle stroll, discover new routes or challenge yourself with a long-distance hike, there's a walk for you.

Find out how you can get involved https://orlo.uk/MWEJf