insideKENT Magazine Issue 53 - August 2016 | Page 16

NEWS

TONBRIDGE GYM GOES GLOBAL
Award-winning UK gym, The Strength & Conditioning Institute (The SCI),
has recently launched an online service which delivers world-class training
and nutrition programmes directly to internet devices around the world.
THESMARTCOACH is the brainchild of national level strength and conditioning
coaches Alex Shoebridge and Martin Shyvers, and filmmaker and
photographer Christopher Shoebridge.
Combining Martin and Alex’s more than 30 years' knowledge and experience
with the skills of professional chef Ben Sulston gives THESMARTCOACH
enviable credentials. The service aims to help people achieve their goals,
change their lives, and dramatically improve their health, anywhere in the
world.
Director and head coach Alex Shoebridge said: “We provide a level of
training and expertise for people of all ages and abilities previously unseen
in the sector, and this is what has lead people from all over the UK, and
from as far afield as Australia, to contact us for guidance. THESMARTCOACH
means that anyone with an Internet device can now benefit from our expertise
and revolutionise their health.”

VISITOR NUMBERS MARK A
SUCCESSFUL KENT COUNTY SHOW

CINEMA EXPANSION PLANS
INCLUDE IMAX SCREEN AS
ASHFORD CONTINUES TO BE A
MAGNET FOR INVESTMENT
Plans have been
submitted for an
extension to the
Cineworld cinema
complex at the
Eureka Leisure Park
near J9 of the M20
in Ashford.

©Thomas Alexander

The application, by
Land Securities, is
for a further three
screens at the Cineworld site, to include an IMAX screen which, if approved,
would be only the second in Kent.
The expansion at Eureka will complement the proposed six-screen town
centre cinema at Elwick Place. Developer Stanhope PLC was granted
planning consent for the £75m scheme in December 2015.

Organisers are delighted to report that over 80,000 people attended the
2016 Kent County Show. Lucy Hegarty, show manager said: “We knew
that it was going to be a great attendance number from the amount of cars
in the car parks. Once the gate numbers, online ticket sales, members,
exhibitors, competitors, onsite services and volunteer tickets had been
tallied we were able to confirm the increased footfall.”

Kevin Frost, property director at Cineworld, says: “We’re committed to
bringing the best cinema choice to our Ashford customers and that means
providing both an out-of-town multiplex experience at Eureka, which will
include new IMAX and 4DX theatres, and an in-town boutique cinema offer
with a best-in-class tailor-made food and beverage service at Elwick Place.”

Kevin Attwood, chairman said: “We are thrilled with this year’s Show, the
showground looked wonderful, visitors were happy and the mostly dry
weather helped to swell visitor numbers. We are slowly increasing attendance
year on year which is an indication that the wider community are behind
the agricultural and rural sector. We also need to thank our sponsors,
stewards, volunteers and service providers, who all work together to make
sure our visitors have the best experience possible. We are grateful that we
have such a professional and dedicated team.”

In April, Ashford Borough Council announced it was to buy the Elwick
Place cinema, hotel and restaurants complex, providing short-term funding
to assist with their delivery.
The scheme will transform a brownfield site in the heart of Ashford town
centre into a boutique cinema, family hotel, restaurants and cafés. The 6.42acre site was originally part of the location of the town’s cattle market and
will deliver new leisure facilities to transform the night-time economy.

Principal sponsor Hadlow College won an award for the Best Agricultural
Trade Stand with their interactive marquee as well as taking part in floral
art and sheep shearing displays. Elsewhere on the Showground, many
stands provided entertaining, educational and interactive stands that gave
members of the public a chance to engage with a wide variety of activities.

Phase one of Elwick Place is likely to generate around 250 jobs and includes
a six screen, 897-seat cinema, a 58-bedroom family hotel, eight restaurant
and bar spaces, 282 car parking spaces and attractive public space and
landscaping. A second phase of up to 200 apartments is expected to come
forward later in 2016.

The dates for the 2017 Show will be Friday 7th, Saturday 8th and Sunday
9th July 2017.

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