insideKENT Magazine Issue 45 - December 2015 | Page 14

NEWS

NEW CHAIRMAN FOR THE HIGH
WEALD AREA OF OUTSTANDING
NATURAL BEAUTY (AONB)

10 NEW SHOPS OPEN AT
FOLKESTONE CREATIVE QUARTER
This November, the Creative Quarter
welcomed 10 new businesses and
two pop-up shops. With the recently
completed redevelopment of two
key buildings, as well as a surge in
applications for retail and living
spaces, Folkestone Creative Quarter
continues to develop rapidly.
With a variety of new cafés, bars
and coffee shops, the Creative
Quarter is the place to meet, eat
and recharge.

The former chairman of Sevenoaks District Council has been elected to
chair the High Weald AONB Partnership, a body that promotes the nationally
important landscape of the High Weald and enables its conservation and
enjoyment. Jill Davison, an analytical chemist by profession, will chair the
Partnership for the next two years.

New businesses include Steep
Street Coffee House, a coffee shop
inspired by the famous book cafés
of Paris. Interesting and arty books
line the walls – poetry and local
literature, classics and coffee table
hardbacks.

Mrs Davison, who has lived in the area since 1979 and served the Partnership
since 2004, said: “It is a great privilege to be elected as chairman of the
High Weald Partnership. I am looking forward to raising the profile of the
area’s needs both nationally and locally and enabling work to conserve its
medieval landscape of rolling hills, abundant woods and hedges, small
fields and sunken routeways.”

Another new exciting social hub
coming to the Creative Quarter is
Lime Bar. Lime is a dynamic and
cultural bar café that takes its
inspiration from wider European café
bars. Lime Bar will serve good coffee
anytime day or night, amongst good
beers, wines and classically inspired
food. The atmosphere of Lime aims
to encourage creativity,
communication, sharing and social
discussion.

As chairman, Jill is keen to highlight the value of engaging children with
their local landscape and the need to provide opportunities for young people
to enter into farming. “I believe that children can gain a sense of identity
and of place through exploring their local environment and it is important
that young people are given an opportunity to play a part in its future”.
Councillor Brian Kentfield of Rother District Council, who has served the
Partnership for over 15 years and lives in Bexhill on the edge of the AONB,
has been elected as vice chairman. Councillor Kentfield said: “The AONB’s
landscape is highly valued as a beautiful place to visit and it is very important
that we sustain that beauty for future generations to enjoy. I very much look
forward to continuing to work for the future of the High Weald.”

14

British womenswear brand Suzie
Abbott opens at 25 The Old High
Street and specialises in bespoke
shift dressmaking in luxurious vintage
and modern fabrics. The pair behind
the Suzie Abbott label go the extra
mile for their clients, creating not
only a bespoke fit but also in fabrics
of their customer’s choice. “We really
enjoy making our clients look great
and feel amazing and that is our
number one aim in what we do. If
you are not sure what you require
we spend time with you to see what
works for you,” says owner Patsy
Abbott and Sue Keeler.
Claudine and Naomi Lentell launch
Concept, offering a range of clothing,
jewellery, bags and photographic
works that bring together the worlds
of art and fashion. Designers and
artists featured include photography
jewellery by Naomi Lentell, clothing
by Judith Hobby Clothing, jewellery
by Lentell, L’Etoile Carrée and Xala
design, as well as bags by
Keenbags.
With late night openings and a
wealth of food and drink options
available, Folkestone Creative
Quarter is moving forward in leaps
and bounds and is proving to be
the ideal place to eat, drink, shop
and create.