Parking? Why not jog here instead
10
Courier, Friday, January 31, 2014
IN BRIEF
Ready, set for Games relay TONBRIDGE: The Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay will pass through Tonbridge on its two-week journey around England. After leaving Manchester on May 31, the baton will pass down the west of the country before starting out from Tonbridge on June 5. After moving to Oxford on June 6, the baton relay will spend two days in London. The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will start on July 23.
Do craft works EDENBRIDGE: Crafty people in and around Edenbridge are being invited to “learn, do and chat” at the town’s social enterprise café. Eat@Eden is hosting a free monthly session for people to share their own craft project and learn new skills. The monthly gatherings will take place on the fourth Wednesday of every month, beginning in January, and are open to everyone. Refreshments will be available from 11am to 3pm, but people do need to bring craft materials.
Mills debate LEIGH: It has been recommended that permission be granted for the development of two buildings on the old Powder Mill site. But although Leigh Parish Council welcomes the new plans, it is concerned about the room left on the site for future developments and how it will fit in with the surrounding area. Councillors were due to discuss the plans last night (Thursday) but officers in their report recommended approval.
Homes plan TONBRIDGE: Planning permission is sought to convert a shop in Shipbourne Road into two homes. Applicant Alistair Witherham wants to extend and turn the shop into two-bedroom selfcontained homes. The shop is vacant and was once a barber’s and before that a sandwich delivery shop. The borough council will decide whether to grant permission by March 17.
KSC-EO2-S2
courier.co.uk
OLYMPIAN’S CAFE: We join golden girl in Hildenborough to see
Dame Kelly is breaking new ground with coffee venture By Shams Al-Shakarchi [email protected]
THIS year marks the tenth anniversary of Dame Kelly Holmes’ double gold Olympic win in Athens. But 2014 is also the year she reaches another milestone – the opening of her coffee shop in Hildenborough. The Courier joined the athlete-turnedbusinesswoman on the site of her new venture in Tonbridge Road. The former Fags and Mags newsagents is unrecognisable. Floorboards have been pulled up, walls knocked down and rubble everywhere. But in sixth months’ time, if all goes to plan, the Victorian building will be transformed into a thriving coffee shop for locals to enjoy.
Ambitions Not only will it fulfil Kelly’s ambitions in the business world, it will also end a 17-year wait to take over the shop that holds many childhood memories for the former Hugh Christie student. “When I was 16, I worked in the sweet shop and I was a paper round girl here before that,” she said. “At the front I remember it had window displays, especially at Christmas and Easter, and I want to recapture that because it was a buzzing place back then and I don’t think we’ve got that heart of the village now. “We have a really great farmers’ market, and I’ll continue to support that, but there’s nowhere else for people to go. “I used to come to Ben (previous owner) and say to him, ‘Will you sell me the shop?’ He used to think I was joking. I literally kept going back every year asking him.
GUESS THE NAME KELLY is remaining tight-lipped on the name of her cafe, but she has invited Courier readers to guess what it will be called. She said: “No one has actually come up with it at all. I’ve probably had 50 or 60 names and no one has come close. They’re actually some really excellent names but now I’ve fixed on one. “The clue I can give is that it’s definitely associated with me and my wins and six races in Athens. That’s it.” ■ Get in touch with your guesses by e-mailing reporters.tonbridge@ courier.co.uk “Then, unfortunately, Ben passed away. I assumed his family would take it on. Then I got a call from the estate agent asking if I would be interested. “I knew then I had to get it. If I didn’t get it I’d regret it forever. I’d rather take the risk and go for something and if doesn’t work out I would have sold it again.” Now, 18 months since buying the shop and flat next door, Kelly is overseeing the building work, putting together the menu and getting local producers and students
courier.co.uk
Courier, Friday, January 31, 2014
KSC-EO2-S2
how her overhaul of ex-newagents is taking shape
EXCLUSIVE: It’s celebrity juice next...
SISTER SLEDGE: Dame Kelly Holmes pictured at the site in Hildenborough that will be her new cafe TWSL20140129A-001_C
MUCKING IN: Building work has started on Dame Kelly’s coffee shop
involved. “It’s a bigger job than I would have liked but I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for and it’s been quite nice to see the transformation,” she said. “I’ve been in here with a sledgehammer pulling pieces off. It’s quite therapeutic actually, tearing down the walls. “This isn’t about coming into the building, painting it and putting in a business. It’s everything from construction to interior design, redevelopment, produce, farming, foods, it’s everything.” The project suffered a setback in October when borough councillors told her to rethink the plans. Having addressed issues with parking and the size of the cafe, she was given the go-ahead a month later.
Pleased “I’m pleased that I’ve got to this stage,” she said. “It was hard being in the Army and it was hard being an athlete, but it’s hard when decisions are out of your hands and you’ve got to leave it to other people. “At least when I lose, it’s down to me and not somebody else telling me. “The process is frustrating for anybody really.” She added that more villagers have now pledged their support to the project. “Some people don’t like change because they’re frightened of it, but at the end of the day this is something a lot of people will benefit from, as opposed to a couple of people not being very happy. That’s why it was my mission to still get it because I think it’ll make a huge difference when it gets going. “It was one of my missions to have the cafe and it’s such an achievement. In 10 years I’ve done a huge amount of stuff and this is another milestone occasion.”
Parking? Why not jog here instead
ARTIST’S IMPRESSION: How Dame Kelly Holmes' coffee shop could look
CONCERNS were raised by neighbours about the lack of parking for visitors to the cafe, but Kelly said she would encourage locals to walk, cycle or run instead. “I’m going to create some maps of the local area so I can create little groups who can go out on the weekend, do their exercise and come back,” she said. “The map will suggest the burnt calories on their exercise and they’ll come in and replace them. “Parking is a situation you can’t avoid. From the point of view of having a vibrant community, I think it’s the least of people’s worries. If you can’t get here by car you won’t park, or you’ll go further afield and walk down. But if people don’t do that, it will only impact on me, not the village.” She added cycle racks would be installed at the front and back of the cafe.
11
IN her bid to become a successful businesswoman, Kelly also revealed to the Courier her plans to open a chain of juice bars. She said: “Coffee shops over the last 20 years have exploded hugely, coming from America where they’re really big, and Italy. “If you look at how things change around – I don’t think they’re going to go away – but I’ve certainly seen a big influx of juice and frozen yoghurt bars, having somewhere really nice, but on the healthier side. “It’s still in line with what I enjoy and like for myself. “I’m going to America next week and doing some research. “My first one will open in Kent no doubt. That’s my next mission, a concession of those and hopefully the first one will be open at some time this year.”
Courier, Friday, January 31, 2014
IN BRIEF
Ready, set for Games relay TONBRIDGE: The Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay will pass through Tonbridge on its two-week journey around England. After leaving Manchester on May 31, the baton will pass down the west of the country before starting out from Tonbridge on June 5. After moving to Oxford on June 6, the baton relay will spend two days in London. The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games will start on July 23.
Do craft works EDENBRIDGE: Crafty people in and around Edenbridge are being invited to “learn, do and chat” at the town’s social enterprise café. Eat@Eden is hosting a free monthly session for people to share their own craft project and learn new skills. The monthly gatherings will take place on the fourth Wednesday of every month, beginning in January, and are open to everyone. Refreshments will be available from 11am to 3pm, but people do need to bring craft materials.
Mills debate LEIGH: It has been recommended that permission be granted for the development of two buildings on the old Powder Mill site. But although Leigh Parish Council welcomes the new plans, it is concerned about the room left on the site for future developments and how it will fit in with the surrounding area. Councillors were due to discuss the plans last night (Thursday) but officers in their report recommended approval.
Homes plan TONBRIDGE: Planning permission is sought to convert a shop in Shipbourne Road into two homes. Applicant Alistair Witherham wants to extend and turn the shop into two-bedroom selfcontained homes. The shop is vacant and was once a barber’s and before that a sandwich delivery shop. The borough council will decide whether to grant permission by March 17.
KSC-EO2-S2
courier.co.uk
OLYMPIAN’S CAFE: We join golden girl in Hildenborough to see
Dame Kelly is breaking new ground with coffee venture By Shams Al-Shakarchi [email protected]
THIS year marks the tenth anniversary of Dame Kelly Holmes’ double gold Olympic win in Athens. But 2014 is also the year she reaches another milestone – the opening of her coffee shop in Hildenborough. The Courier joined the athlete-turnedbusinesswoman on the site of her new venture in Tonbridge Road. The former Fags and Mags newsagents is unrecognisable. Floorboards have been pulled up, walls knocked down and rubble everywhere. But in sixth months’ time, if all goes to plan, the Victorian building will be transformed into a thriving coffee shop for locals to enjoy.
Ambitions Not only will it fulfil Kelly’s ambitions in the business world, it will also end a 17-year wait to take over the shop that holds many childhood memories for the former Hugh Christie student. “When I was 16, I worked in the sweet shop and I was a paper round girl here before that,” she said. “At the front I remember it had window displays, especially at Christmas and Easter, and I want to recapture that because it was a buzzing place back then and I don’t think we’ve got that heart of the village now. “We have a really great farmers’ market, and I’ll continue to support that, but there’s nowhere else for people to go. “I used to come to Ben (previous owner) and say to him, ‘Will you sell me the shop?’ He used to think I was joking. I literally kept going back every year asking him.
GUESS THE NAME KELLY is remaining tight-lipped on the name of her cafe, but she has invited Courier readers to guess what it will be called. She said: “No one has actually come up with it at all. I’ve probably had 50 or 60 names and no one has come close. They’re actually some really excellent names but now I’ve fixed on one. “The clue I can give is that it’s definitely associated with me and my wins and six races in Athens. That’s it.” ■ Get in touch with your guesses by e-mailing reporters.tonbridge@ courier.co.uk “Then, unfortunately, Ben passed away. I assumed his family would take it on. Then I got a call from the estate agent asking if I would be interested. “I knew then I had to get it. If I didn’t get it I’d regret it forever. I’d rather take the risk and go for something and if doesn’t work out I would have sold it again.” Now, 18 months since buying the shop and flat next door, Kelly is overseeing the building work, putting together the menu and getting local producers and students
courier.co.uk
Courier, Friday, January 31, 2014
KSC-EO2-S2
how her overhaul of ex-newagents is taking shape
EXCLUSIVE: It’s celebrity juice next...
SISTER SLEDGE: Dame Kelly Holmes pictured at the site in Hildenborough that will be her new cafe TWSL20140129A-001_C
MUCKING IN: Building work has started on Dame Kelly’s coffee shop
involved. “It’s a bigger job than I would have liked but I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for and it’s been quite nice to see the transformation,” she said. “I’ve been in here with a sledgehammer pulling pieces off. It’s quite therapeutic actually, tearing down the walls. “This isn’t about coming into the building, painting it and putting in a business. It’s everything from construction to interior design, redevelopment, produce, farming, foods, it’s everything.” The project suffered a setback in October when borough councillors told her to rethink the plans. Having addressed issues with parking and the size of the cafe, she was given the go-ahead a month later.
Pleased “I’m pleased that I’ve got to this stage,” she said. “It was hard being in the Army and it was hard being an athlete, but it’s hard when decisions are out of your hands and you’ve got to leave it to other people. “At least when I lose, it’s down to me and not somebody else telling me. “The process is frustrating for anybody really.” She added that more villagers have now pledged their support to the project. “Some people don’t like change because they’re frightened of it, but at the end of the day this is something a lot of people will benefit from, as opposed to a couple of people not being very happy. That’s why it was my mission to still get it because I think it’ll make a huge difference when it gets going. “It was one of my missions to have the cafe and it’s such an achievement. In 10 years I’ve done a huge amount of stuff and this is another milestone occasion.”
Parking? Why not jog here instead
ARTIST’S IMPRESSION: How Dame Kelly Holmes' coffee shop could look
CONCERNS were raised by neighbours about the lack of parking for visitors to the cafe, but Kelly said she would encourage locals to walk, cycle or run instead. “I’m going to create some maps of the local area so I can create little groups who can go out on the weekend, do their exercise and come back,” she said. “The map will suggest the burnt calories on their exercise and they’ll come in and replace them. “Parking is a situation you can’t avoid. From the point of view of having a vibrant community, I think it’s the least of people’s worries. If you can’t get here by car you won’t park, or you’ll go further afield and walk down. But if people don’t do that, it will only impact on me, not the village.” She added cycle racks would be installed at the front and back of the cafe.
11
IN her bid to become a successful businesswoman, Kelly also revealed to the Courier her plans to open a chain of juice bars. She said: “Coffee shops over the last 20 years have exploded hugely, coming from America where they’re really big, and Italy. “If you look at how things change around – I don’t think they’re going to go away – but I’ve certainly seen a big influx of juice and frozen yoghurt bars, having somewhere really nice, but on the healthier side. “It’s still in line with what I enjoy and like for myself. “I’m going to America next week and doing some research. “My first one will open in Kent no doubt. That’s my next mission, a concession of those and hopefully the first one will be open at some time this year.”
