Let The Festivals Begin

A packed calendar of events is planned for The Pantiles this summer. Here’s a taste of some of the great events to come...

The new committee of The Pantiles Traders Association has been working closely with The Pantiles’ owners TargetFollow to firm up some great family-friendly events this year. The summer music events of Local & Live (running this year from Friday 26 to Bank Holiday Monday 29 Augustwww.localandlive.org) and the Jazz Nights are now well established and attract thousands, as is predicted again this year.

By its very nature, the area comes into its own in the summer and that ‘season’ officially starts at Easter, which falls in late April this year. By royal decree a certain wedding gives us two long weekends in a row, as Easter is followed by Kate and William’s big day on the Friday, bookended by the May Day bank holiday on Sunday 2 May.

Details are yet to be finalised on all events to be held over these weekends on The Pantiles, but at the very least the Easter bunny is set to organise a kids’ Easter egg hunt; with a right Royal knees up planned for the following week, helped along by a real ale festival.

May heralds The Pantiles first Food Festival - a ‘must’ for all gourmets - to be held on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May. TV chef and owner of Thackeray’s restaurant, Richard Phillips is delighted to be patron of this first event of its kind. Hot and cold food, local produce and some tasty surprises will be on sale at some 50 market stalls.

Meanwhile there will be a programme of demonstrations and entertainment in the Corn Exchange and on the bandstand - with maybe a street performer or two to keep the kids amused. The event will launch with a ticket-only screening of a foodie film, accompanied by cheese and wine.

Skipping forward to August, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 sees The Pantiles first dedicated fashion market - put together by local fashionista and blogger Lady M of www.ladympresents.co.uk

With the aim of bringing a little of the spirit of Spitalfields to The Pantiles, latest fashions will be sold on stalls outside, while accessories will be on sale in the Corn Exchange. Fashion shows, demonstrations and makeovers will take place throughout the weekend.

Saturday 3 to Sunday 11 September sees Tunbridge Wells first arts festival - The Electric Lantern Festival. A celebration of film, photography, painting, sculpture, theatre, comedy performance, dance and much much more. Events will be taking place throughout the borough, but The Pantiles will be playing its part, including hosting an art market on the final weekend.

As of the start of March, the general Pantiles markets will be held on both Saturday and Sunday on the first and third weekend of every month - to complement these special events.

The Pantiles promises to be a vibrant spectacle this summer, not to be missed - once again the place to see and be seen.

The Pantiles car park on Major Yorks Road (adjacent to The Common) offers convenient parking. Alternative parking is available at Union House on Eridge Road (by Sainsbury’s roundabout) and at Linden Park Road (behind the Corn Exchange). Some street parking is also available.

More info can be found at www.thepantilesonline.co.uk or follow @pantilestraders on Twitter. Alternatively please email markets@pantilestraders.co.uk for further details.