KENTSTAYCATION
MATCHES LEO AND SAGE
ASHFORD DESIGNER OUTLET
As well as historic cities , Kent also has its fair share of towns that have embraced a modern transition , offering excellent shopping , state-of-the-art entertainment venues and sleek and shiny places to eat . One such town is Ashford , which as well as its more traditional highstreet , boasts two major modern developments perfect for spending a sunny day at . One such area is Elwick Place , which has delightful places to eat , such as Leo and Sage , serving great coffee , brilliant brunches and lunches and delicious Italian-style gelato . The Taste of Kent Silver Award winner has recently extended its menu which now includes freshly made burgers alongside its regular favourites of Turkish eggs , avo on sourdough and focaccia sandwiches , all served up with passionate Italian charm . If you need a coffee to start your day , the latte art here is the best in town , from hearts to show your coffee appreciation to a unicorn or two , every cup will be something to marvel at .
For those looking for a midday refreshment or evening drink alongside a lively atmosphere pay Matches a visit . Offering the ultimate , familyfriendly sports bar experience , here you ’ ll find an extensive range of beers , spirits and cocktails alongside a street food menu , as well as 23 HD screens showing the current big sports matches . Matches also offer a huge range of games and activities including quiz nights , karaoke , pool , beer pong , arcade games , shuffleboard , interactive darts and even a Playstation
5 and Nintendo Switch . The entertainment at Elwick Place doesn ’ t stop there either , Picturehouse cinema boasts six cinema screens , a bar and serves food . This month it is showing the highly anticipated films Barbie and Oppenheimer .
Another superb summer experience in Ashford is a trip to Ashford Designer Outlet , a £ 90 million expansion development . Run by the McArthur Glen Group , the centre now has over 100 popular brands , and as well as shopping , there ’ s plenty of places to fuel yourself up too as Ashford Outlet is home to lots of foodie favourites including Pizza Express , Wagamama and a whole host of coffee shops . This wonderfully clean and bright centre also houses a children ' s play area ensuring that little ones never get bored and also welcomes four-legged friends . Just look for the paw print sticker in the window of participating brands and pop into Guest Services for a dog biscuit and a drink from the doggy fountain . This is ideal for shopping on a hot day , a covered walkway provides plenty of shade and air conditioning as you walk in and out of shops .
As Kent ' s county town , Maidstone lies at the very heart of The Garden of England . Pretty orchards and hop gardens sprawl over lush countryside , surrounding romantic English villages , must-see heritage sights and country parks . In the centre lies Maidstone ’ s metropolis , a vibrant town full of
independent restaurants , bistros and boutique shops just waiting to be discovered and loved by both guests and locals . Whether you ’ re sitting out on the street under the shade of a parasol or in a sunbathed garden enjoying some much-needed refreshment , Maidstone has plenty of food and drinks offerings . This includes Lockmeadow , an entertainment complex with everything anyone seeking food and fun could ask for including an eight-screen Odeon cinema , a gymnasium and pool , and an 18-lane bowling alley plus a myriad of pop-up style food offerings . As well as all these permanent attractions at Lockmeadow , this summer they are hosting exciting events in the form of their Summer Sessions . On 13 August , the Amazing Thai Festival will be held and includes Thai beer , performances from TK Kiss Kiss Former Ladyboys of Bangkok , cabaret , Thai food , stalls , live music throughout , dancing and more . On 20 August there will be a Summer Indian Street Fest with music performances , stalls , henna tattoos . On 27 August , delight at the River Medway Paddle Fest . Make the most of the pretty riverside setting with this great combo of paddleboarding and great food as you watch the paddleboard race in the morning , try some lessons , chill out to music and enjoy a sunset supper with the award-winning Funky Feast Food Bazaar .
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