FOOD + DRINK
SHOP LOCALLY - BUILD RELATIONSHIPS - BOOST HAPPINESS
It is well known that positive social interactions are proven to boost your mood , but did you know that shopping locally also affects your happiness ?
Whether you pop into the local bakers for your freshly baked bread , nip into the greengrocer for your weekly fruit and veg , or visit the butchers for a joint , new research published has proven that each of these interactions helps not only to boost the local economy but also goes a long way towards increasing your feelings of happiness and belonging .
Happiness is something we could all use more of and with this in mind , the Buy Local South East ( BLSE ) campaign , which won funding from South East Local Enterprise ( SELEP ) to roll out across Essex , Kent and Sussex , has been set up to support the local food and drink sectors across all three counties . Its organisers are urging people to support Kent businesses not just to help protect the local community and the environment but also to boost happiness .
Floortje Hoette , chief executive of Produced in Kent , comments ; “ A sense of belonging is vital . Strong social networks and neighbourhood relations can impact the quality of life . The launch of ‘ Buy Local South East ’ builds on the success of Produced in Kent ’ s Help Kent Buy Local campaign .
“ We want to work together with the surrounding regions to create real change in consumer habits . Over the past few months , we ’ ve seen an enormous increase in local shopping but now we must sustain this change . For this to happen , it ’ s got to matter , it ’ s got to be personal and relevant to every shopper , and what could be more relevant than our own happiness and that of our local community ?”
Growers , producers , retailers , and hospitality outlets in the three counties will benefit from access to training , coaching and even one-on-one support . The campaign will encourage and improve the financial health of the three region ’ s food industries by
helping them to build new business relationships and create new relationships with existing and future customers .
The Buy Local South East website is now live and aims to build on the success of the HelpKentBuyLocal website which was launched a week after lockdown and has already seen more than half a million interactions from businesses listing and customers searching for the best way to source food .
HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM TAKE OVER AWARD-WINNING VILLAGE GASTROPUB
THE GARDENS IN YALDING , ANNOUNCES OPENING OF ‘ TIPIS ’
A new husband and wife team , Chris & Deb Irwin are now behind the bar at award-winning gastro pub The Kings Head in Wye .
Deb , 40 , said : “ We both wanted a new challenge and to find something that we could do together . We are aware that The Kings Head has a special place at the heart of the community in Wye , so we have been reassuring local residents that this is an evolution , not a revolution . Chris and I have children , one of our first goals is to ensure that families feel comfortable visiting us .”
Chris , 53 , adds : “ The Kings Head has a stunning location in the heart of Wye , which is such a beautiful country village . It also has a great reputation and is ranked in the top 50 UK Gastropubs . With the guest rooms as well , we thought it would be a fantastic opportunity . The local residents have been incredibly welcoming , and we have a fantastic team . These are challenging times so we just want to keep things simple , creating a safe , welcoming environment where customers enjoy fantastic food and drink , and most importantly , feel able to relax .”
The pair have also opened the Kings Head Pizza Shack , with a click and collect service for pizzas , drinks and snacks to takeaway .
Wedding and events venue , The Gardens in Yalding , has launched its new restaurant , Tipis , serving seasonal British food from The Gardens ’ on-site tipis using ingredients sourced exclusively from local suppliers including David Catt & Sons ( Boughton Monchelsea ), Crouch Butchers ( Bearsted Green ), Linton Seafood ( Tonbridge ), and Taywell Ice Creams ( Paddock Wood ); as well as harvesting produce from its 12 acres of organic gardens ; including honey from its on-site hive , freshly picked herbs , and the three varieties of apples featured in its garden apple crumble .
The venue ’ s barn and tipis have been transformed by local styling company Hire Love to celebrate the outstanding natural beauty of the Kentish countryside . Diners will have access to 12 acres of grounds and a lounge bar . The bar menu includes the ‘ Paul Hollywood ’, a bespoke gin-based drink created in honour of Kent ’ s Great British Bake Off star .
Rod Clark , owner of The Gardens , commented : “ We are delighted to welcome guests to the Tipis restaurant for delicious , seasonal food and drink . To say the wedding and event industry has been hit hard by COVID-19 would be a colossal understatement and yet challenging times often bring new opportunities . Diners can expect rustic , comforting British dishes , from pumpkin soup , to steak and ale pie , wild mushroom risotto , and garden apple crumble . We offer vegan , vegetarian , and gluten-free options .”
Bookings can be made for parties of up to six , as per government guidelines . All table bookings for Tipis must be made in advance to facilitate the restaurant ’ s decision to support better environmental practices and its move towards low waste , which will be achieved by cooking all dishes to order .
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