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THAT ’ S NOT ALL FOLKS !
BOYS HALL WELCOMES TIM BATCHELOR AS GENERAL MANAGER AND UNVEILS EXCITING UPGRADES
Boys Hall , the multi-award-winning 17thcentury hotel in Ashford , is celebrating its second year of operation with the appointment of Tim Batchelor as general manager .
In a reassuring turn of events for local cinema enthusiasts , Picturehouse Cinemas has handed over the management of the beloved six-screen cinema and restaurant at Elwick Place to Ashford Borough Council . The council , dedicated to maintaining the vibrant entertainment scene in the town centre , will continue to provide audiences with a diverse range of films and events , while the venue ’ s experienced management and staff will stay on board , ensuring a seamless transition .
Set to be under new management by Easter 2024 , the move not only secures the future of cinematic entertainment in Ashford but also maintains the popular range of dining , drinking and leisure options at Elwick Place .
Clare Binns , managing director of Picturehouse Cinema , part of the Cineworld Group that has been battling administration post-Covid , said : “ It ’ s been a pleasure to serve our customers in Ashford and we want to thank the audiences who have visited the Picturehouse over the years . We ’ ve taken the hard decision to leave Elwick Place but know the cinema is in safe hands with Ashford Borough Council . We ’ re
excited to see how they ’ ll grow the venue and continue to show films at this beautiful stateof-the-art cinema in the coming years .”
Cllr Noel Ovenden , leader of Ashford Borough Council , added : “ We have been in discussions with Picturehouse over how we could maintain Elwick Place ’ s entertainment offering and we are pleased to be able to keep the cinema operating for the benefit of our residents , wider community , town centre tenants and regular cinemagoers .”
The council ’ s proactive step , a county first in bringing cinema operations under a communityserving umbrella , involves taking over day-today operations with the guidance of an industry specialist , as well as affording Picturehouse manager Ben Hammond a unique opportunity to revitalise the space with a series of new events .
It is ( show ) business as usual for cinemagoers and efforts are underway to inform Picturehouse members and customers with pre-bookings about any changes .
Formerly the group bar manager for THE PIG hotel group , Batchelor brings eight years of experience and a passion for food and drink to Boys Hall , where he ’ ll join forces with head chef Charlie Dilworth under the direction of passion-project owners , Brad and Kristie Lomas .
Boys Hall , recognised as the Best Hotel in the South of England by The Good Hotel Guide 2024 , is set to undergo transformative changes in 2024 . A wilderness spa area featuring a treatment hut , sauna , hot tub and plunge pool will be introduced to the Grade II listed manor house , while a new outdoor kitchen and workshop space curated for alfresco events and floristry classes , antiques barn in the old stable and nine new bedroom huts scattered throughout the grounds will further enhance the hotel ’ s offerings .
Commenting on his new appointment , Batchelor said : “ I am thrilled to join such a passionate team at Boys Hall and look forward to heading up this exciting new chapter for the hotel . Boys Hall has already been recognised for so many prestigious awards , I hope to be able to uphold its many wonderful achievements .”
ROCHESTER CASTLE LIVE : THE FESTIVAL CROWD ’ S EPIC TAKEOVER PROMISES UNPARALLELED MUSIC EXPERIENCE
Rochester Castle is poised for a spectacular takeover as The Festival Crowd announces the much-anticipated Rochester Castle Live , a three-day extravaganza from 5 - 7 July 2024 .
Renowned for curating iconic events like Uptown Festival and KISSTORY , The Festival Crowd will redefine Rochester ’ s entertainment scene as it brings Uptown , Superboxx and Down Town festivals to the Castle Live series , with festivalgoers promised indie beats , nostalgic club classics and legendary acts as the historic town transforms into a cultural hub .
Headlining the event is the return of the highly successful Uptown Festival , known for hosting chart-topping sensations like Madness , The Zutons and The Lightning Seeds at its London festival , with the Rochester lineup set to be announced soon ; see rochestercastlelive . com for more information .
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