NEWS insideSTORY
BOYS HALL IS AWARDED AA RESTAURANT WITH ROOMS OF THE YEAR ( ENGLAND ) 2024
17th-century Boys Hall has been named this year ’ s AA Restaurant With Rooms Of The Year ( England ). The restaurant has made quite the name for itself since its opening in September 2022 , having received two AA Rosettes , making it into the Michelin Guide along with just 12 other establishments and being named Best Hotel in the South of England by The Good Hotel Guide earlier this year .
Husband and wife team , Brad and Kristie , have painstakingly restored the house to its former glory with the help of family , friends and a variety of local specialists . Designed with the help of Kagu Interiors , the hotel consists of nine bedrooms , each with its own unique character , roll-top bathtubs and all the little luxuries to ensure guests feel right at home .
The hotel ’ s 70-cover restaurant is housed in a capacious new beamed dining room , constructed with local oak that was cut and shaped to size on site with a local carpenter and features a stunning open fireplace . With floor-to-ceiling glass bi-fold doors on both sides , every guest can enjoy views over the stunning gardens and terraces .
The kitchen team have created delicious menus centred around seasonal , local produce from The Garden of England with daily changing dishes taking influence from home-cooked favourites . Since opening , the owners have implemented edibles in the garden and produce their own honey from their beehive . Furthermore , they are huge advocates for Kentish wine , with a wonderfully stocked cellar full of over 4,000 of the finest bottles from local wineries and all over the world .
Boys Hall said of the AA Award : “ We are beyond excited to have been named
AA Restaurant with Rooms of the Year ( England ) 2024 ! What an achievement , what a team we have ! Thank you to the AA Awards for this recognition .”
ASHFORD ’ S FIRST PRIDE A SUCCESS !
The town centre was awash with love , acceptance , music and diversity on 22 June as Ashford celebrated its first ever Pride event . The colourful day saw over 2,000 people gathered to soak up live music and performances at the bandstand , then take to the streets for the parade before celebrating at the after-party in Dover Place .
Thomas Fentem , organiser , said : “ It was an incredible sight to see so many people joining us for our first Pride - it just shows that this was needed in our town . We are so very grateful to all those who have helped us launch this monumental moment in our town ’ s history .”
HEVER CASTLE UNVEILS NEWLY REFURBISHED BOLEYN APARTMENT
Pride Ashford will return on 21 June 2025 , and in the meantime the group ’ s monthly Diversify and Diversifamily events will continue . Head to their socials (@ prideashford ) or website at www . prideashford . com for up-to-date events and news .
Hever Castle unveiled the newly refurbished Boleyn Apartment on Wednesday 26 June , the only surviving suite of rooms lived in by the Boleyn family . As well as the chance for visitors to walk in this famous family ’ s footsteps , they can discover more about Hever Castle ’ s involvement in the love affair between Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII .
Tudor historian , Dr David Starkey , who has been advising the castle team on the project , said : “ It ’ s Hever Castle where the royal love affair that shook the world reached its turning point ; it ’ s the place , literally , where the English Reformation began . And , most astonishing of all , it still looks the same . Anne Boleyn would recognise it ; she would even be able to find her way to the room where she slept .”
The refurbishment , with its use of tapestries , fabrics , rush-matting , friezes and 16th-century furniture , lets visitors feel as though they are walking in the shoes of the woman whose influence would transform England ’ s history , monarchy and religion . www . insidekent . co . uk • 181