insideKENT Magazine Issue 93 - December 2019 | Page 12

WELCOME Itssss Chrisssstmasssssss! It’s officially the most wonderful time of the year! December, those wonderful few weeks full of festive days out, cosy time at home, family, friends and festivities, and the only month that offers the perfect excuse to munch our way through anything even slightly calorific, with the justifiable excuse of “oh go on then, it’s Christmas!” An excuse that we have been using at iK HQ since mid-November, when we cranked up the Christmas playlist and cracked open the insideKENT Street (thank you John Lewis, Bluewater!) at the first sighting of #ExcitableEdgar and #KevintheCarrot! But we had a good reason for this slightly early festive swagger, as we were all working hard, in our brand spanking new office in the amazingly creative space of Ashford’s new Coachworks, to bring you our biggest and arguably best issue of the year! And what an incredible issue it is… Festive days out, food, drinks, gifts, fashion, interiors, and prizes, we have them all in your must-read Kent magazine this Christmas. Get your skates on to discover Kent’s top skating hot (or should that be cold?!) spots on p36. Light up your Christmas life with a visit to the county’s most renowned Christmas lights and displays from p32; including those in delightful Canterbury, this issue’s Town Spotlight on p71. Ready to cosy up and to stay indoors? Then with all that wondrous downtime looming, get your home Christmas ready, inspired by our special Christmas interiors feature from p144. Discover how to go faux like a pro with a guide to artificial trees on p153. Keeping it real? Discover the best tips on choosing and caring for your natural tree on p154. Whether glamour puss or natural beauty, don’t forget to check out this year’s key Christmas decor trends on p159. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without food, and copious amounts of it. We’ve been drooling over the tempting make ahead recipes compiled by some of Kent’s most heralded chefs. Discover a mouthwatering selection of Christmas treats that can be prepared in advance of your Christmas feast from p97. And with the perfect seasonal excuse for a tipple or two we’ve rounded up some of the best producers and seasonally-inspired cocktails in our special Gin-gle Bells feature on p89. Still battling the Christmas shopping? Then check out Kent Staycation’s guide to the best Kentish gift ideas p49. Featuring attraction tickets to courses, days out to dining, stays to adventure, and more, to inspire you to give the gift of Kentmas this year. Wanting to add a more personal touch? Find homemade gifts sure to be cherished on p39. Or choose to give back this year with a donation or pledge gift that will benefit some of Kent’s most inspiring charities on p180. And one lucky insideKENT reader will WIN THEM ALL! Yes that’s right - over £3,000 worth of Kent’s best Christmas present prizes, all in time for the big day! Be sure to see all the incredible prizes up for grabs and find out how you can enter on p59! Right I’m off to fight the team for the caramel swirls and have a well-deserved gin! Be sure to catch our terrible efforts at skating and our adventures in the Ashford Designer Outlet’s lifestyle snowglobe on our socials insidekent/insideKENT, and tag us to share what you get up to this Christmas. And, saving the best until last... IT. IS. BACK! Our BIGGEST competition of the year - the insideKENT Great Gift Giveaway! Wishing you all a very Happy Kentish Christmas! We have rounded up our top picks of Kent’s best Christmas presents; from hotel stays to afternoon teas, attraction tickets to vouchers, meals out to top show tickets, and more... Editor www.insidekentmagazine.co.uk Publisher Adam Ready Editor Samantha Ready Features Editor Sara Stephen Features & Online Content Writer Lisamarie Lamb Senior Designer Dave Leo Yogore Graphic Designer Lorna Morris Senior Account Manager Jerry Barrett Account Manager Nadene Weed Account Manager Anna Lockyer Administration Manager Karlene Gannon Contributors Explore Kent, Chris Ball, Michelle Cousins, Richard Lockwood, Alice Rose Cover © Ady Kerry / Ashford Borough Council insideKENT Magazine is published by Sideways Media Ltd, Sideways Media Ltd, Coachworks, Dover Place, Ashford, Kent TN23 1HU www.sidewaysmedia.co.uk For general enquiries, please contact [email protected] or 01233 226519 For all advertising enquiries, please contact Adam Ready on 01233 226519 or email [email protected] © Copyright 2019. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Neither the publisher nor any other person associated with the production and publication of this magazine make any guarantees, warranties or claims as to the accuracy, currency or truthfulness of any of the contents of this magazine. No part of this magazine may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form without the publisher’s written consent. No responsibility is taken for unsolicited editorial, images or photographs published. While every care is taken, prices and details are subject to change and the publisher takes no responsibility for omissions or errors. Publisher is not responsible for any variation in image colour due to printing processes. 12