NEWS Nearlywed Catch up on the latest from around the county MINIMOON HEAVEN Nestled just below the North Downs in a secluded setting boasting stunning scenery, you’ll find the new North Downs View Shepherd’s Hut, recently created by owners of the family-run Parsonage Farm in East Brabourne. The two-person hut has been crafted by a local team of experts using traditional designs and materials. It features a fully-fitted kitchenette with a two-hob cooker and fridge, electric log burner, king-size bed, en-suite shower room, double sofa and more. It also boasts a fully-integrated, temperature control system with underfloor heating to keep you comfy during those cooler nights. Outside, a chiminea and dining area offer the perfect setting for a romantic evening under the stars. With idyllic Kentish seaside towns Hythe, Folkestone, Whitstable and Margate on its doorstep, the accommodation is also just a short drive from the historical cathedral city of Canterbury. So, it’s a fantastic base from which to see and explore all that our little corner of England has to offer. What’s more, the area also boasts two incredible country pubs within walking distance, The Five Bells Inn and The Tiger Inn, plus a vineyard in the adjacent field and plenty of local walks. So, if you’re looking for a staycation minimoon with a get-away-from-it-all vibe, check out https://northdownsviewshepherdshut.co.uk A NEW LEASE OF LIFE A new sustainable shopping experience is arriving at Ashford Designer Outlet, as it welcomes pre-loved designer apparel store Bond Street to Your Street. The brand offers guests a chance to buy and sell their pre-loved designer clothes and accessories bringing a new breath of life to their wardrobes. Launching in 2009, the brand began by hosting pop-up boutiques in private homes and offices across London, before spending the last five years managing bricks and mortar stores around the country. Bond Street to Your Street has become a trusted name within its market boasting a global following, and stocks designers such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Mulberry and Gucci all with pieces at a fraction of their original price. The new opening also elevates the centre’s current sustainable initiative: Recycle Your Fashion. Here, you’re invited to donate unwanted clothing items to guest services and as a thank you you’ll receive a 10 per cent discount voucher to use at participating stores. The pre-loved clothes are then either re-used or recycled, assisting in the elimination of two million tonnes of clothes from landfills every year across Europe. Find out more at www.mcarthurglen.com A FINE VINTAGE Folc, England’s highest ranking still rose, is set to launch its new 2021 vintage just in time for summer. Having launched last year, Tonbridge-based Folc impressed wine critics and accrued numerous awards both nationally and on an international scale. Folc’ 2021 vintage is a blend of six different grape varieties all sourced from family-run vineyards in Kent, East and West Sussex and Suffolk: pinot noir, pinot meunier, chardonnay, pinot gris, bacchus and kerner. The grapes will then make a short trip to Canterbury where they meet Folc’s talented winemakers with a combined 60 years of winemaking experience. The brand also brings issues such as sustainability and inclusion to the fore. The winery is accredited with the WineGB Sustainability Scheme, reducing the environmental impact of wine packaging and levels of greenhouse gas emission as well as the volume of water used and the carbon footprint per bottle. Each cork used to seal the bottles is plant based and carbon negative, and all of the packaging is biodegradable, recycled and recyclable. The company’s mission is to be fully carbon neutral within the next few years. The word, Folc, is the Old English word for people, tribe and family and this is a wine designed to bring people together, best enjoyed chilled with loved ones! Check out www.drinkfolc.com Sally Burtt-Jones 8
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