BUSINESS + TECH
warm and friendly office party that works for you and your team- if a majority are parents, for instance, then head to the local for a lovely lunch before surprising everyone with the afternoon off. You can still have a relatively wild night out on a budget if that’ s what you’ re all into, but consider a BYOB restaurant first, put the first few rounds at the bar afterwards on the company credit card, then make it clear that further drinks are not being paid for by the business.
Take time to chill out
Juggling the responsibilities of running a business with the demands of everyday life can be challenging enough, so throw in a bucketload of Christmas activities and it’ s easy to feel overwhelmed. It is the season to be jolly though, which means taking time out to relax. You’ ll have Christmas Day and New Year’ s Day off as a given, but if there’ s any way you can extend the Christmas break to be exactly that- a break- you’ ll reap the rewards hugely.
Whether you choose to use that time doing little else other than curling up on the sofa watching festive flicks with your loved ones, or you’ d prefer to pack your time with ice skating, seasonal shows and parties galore, the change really will be as beneficial as a rest and will clear your head, giving you time to reconnect, not just with family and friends but with your business too; you’ ll be surprised at how many new ideas you generate simply by switching off.
Give
It’ s not a cliché; Christmas is a time of reflection and of giving, not just to your family, friends, employees and customers, but to those who don’ t have as much as you do. It’ s likely your business supports a charity or two anyway, so use this seasonal springboard to contribute a little more than you do throughout the rest of the year and encourage your employees to give what they can too, whether that’ s a single toy to Barnardo’ s, a care package for a women’ s refuge, or a bag of Christmas goodies for a food bank.
Appreciate all that you have in your personal and professional life, from the employees that have helped you get there to the customers, suppliers and mentors who keep the whole chain ticking along. Say thank you to them. Give them a gift. Be grateful.
Wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a prosperous new year. inDEPENDENT BUSINESSES
TOAST, FEAST AND CELEBRATE WITH THE HELP OF THESE INDULGENT INDIES WHOSE ELEVATED FOOD AND DRINK ENDEAVOURS ARE SURE TO MAKE YOUR FESTIVE SEASON A SPECIAL ONE.
SHEPHERD’ S TABLE shepherds-table. co. uk shepherdstabledining
Driven by an unwavering dedication to quality and innovation, talented chef Darren Best, supported by passionate wife Gemma, founded a bespoke private dining service this October to bring restaurant-quality experiences to intimate and exclusive settings. Holding a passion for cooking since a young age, Darren’ s culinary journey started with professional courses, including one in France where he secured a European diploma.“ I then gained hands-on experience at many award-winning restaurants bringing passion, creativity and a deep appreciation for Kent’ s finest produce to every plate,” says Darren.“ My understanding of seasonal Kentish produce combined with my wealth of knowledge allows me to create unique personalised menus that delight and impress.” From corporate Christmas socials to special birthday soirées, Shepherd’ s Table’ s bespoke menus showcase everything from gourmet sharing boards to elegant fine dining and tasting menus, promising a culinary experience to remember.
GAIA STUDIO gaiastudio. uk gaiastudio. uk
A buzzing cocktail, coffee, lifestyle and events space set 500 metres out to sea on Folkestone’ s historic Harbour Arm, Gaia Studio was founded by Alex Vouzoukos-Field in 2021 after they spent 18 months teaching themselves woodwork through YouTube videos, eventually leaving their nine-to-five to pour time and love into building a meaningful brand. What started in Alex’ s back garden soon grew through local Marketplace huts before finding its home on the Harbour Arm in 2024.“ Anything with the Gaia name has been made by us in-house in Folkestone- from our home fragrance and bath-and-body collections to the cocktails and coffee we serve daily, we use the highest quality ingredients possible and champion local wherever we can.” Gaia Studio’ s ethos is proudly at the heart of every movement- to create exceptional products and drinks with care and creativity, while keeping them accessible to the community that helped shape who they are today.
FINNIAN’ S finnians. co. uk finnians _ deli
With an esteemed background in hospitality at The Savoy and Claridge’ s, years working across the continent and a decade in a highly respected Kent food hall, Finnian Dunlop developed a true love for artisan cheeses and the stories behind them. Launched in May this year, his eponymous deli’ s range is constantly evolving and currently gearing up for its first festive period.“ At Finnian’ s, I love to connect customers with exceptional cheeses, wines and other produce through sampling and shared stories, aiming to make every visit a memorable and happy experience,” says Finnian.“ Food brings people together and we love to introduce customers to new tastes and sensations.” Finnian’ s is situated in Bishopsbourne alongside the likes of Gilda Bakery, with a stall also at the Marketplace on Folkestone’ s Harbour Arm for the lead into Christmas. Be sure to stay in the loop as 2026 sees Finnian’ s own commercial cheese production, more tastings and ticketed experiences, too.
198 • www. insidekent. co. uk