The summer sun may be shining, but it's never too early to think about booking the office Christmas party in Maidstone, particularly with the need to book early to avoid missing out on key dates essential. When it comes to organising the office Christmas party, however, there are lots of options to choose from. But how do you know what sort is right for you?

Packaged or bespoke - what’s best?

If you’re planning an event for a small group, you may find that a local restaurant or bar will be able to accommodate you. But, if you want something a little different or you’re a larger group, then you’ll need to choose from a packaged party or a bespoke event.

Packaged Parties

These are generally organised by specialist event management companies and, increasingly, by venues themselves. Typically they will have a specific theme (fire and ice, winter wonderland, 70s or 80s, movie themed, etc.), which will be carried through the whole event. There is usually a set menu (three courses with a few options for each) and themed entertainment (e.g. bucking broncos for a Wild West theme, or a casino for a ‘James Bond’ theme).

Advantages

• • All the organising is done for you
• • No restriction on group size - you can book a single table or exclusive use
• • Themed decorations
• • High-quality entertainment
• • Fixed cost (price per head may vary depending on the night of the week, but once you’ve chosen a date, there are no ‘hidden extras’)

Disadvantages

• • Restricted to venue’s chosen theme - may not appeal to everyone
• • Limited menu
• • If your group isn’t large enough for exclusive use, you’ll be sharing the party with other people which means you won’t be able to make any company announcements/awards presentations etc.
• • No flexibility on start/finish times

Bespoke Parties

Unless you can afford to employ a specialist event management company, the chances are you will end up doing all the organising for a bespoke party yourself. You will have to find a suitable venue, organise catering and entertainment and make sure the whole place looks fabulous with decorations and any extra touches. It’s a lot of work, but can be very rewarding.

Advantages

• • You have total control of your party
• • You choose the theme, so you can make sure it’s completely right for your group
• • When it comes to food, you’re not restricted to a set menu so consider external catering for something really different - hog roast anyone?
• • You can choose your entertainment so why not opt for a live band instead of a DJ (if your budget will stretch to it). You can also mix and match so if you want a bouncy castle with a casino then go for it!
• • Freedom to start early and/or finish later (subject to local restrictions)

Disadvantages

• • It’s a lot of hard work! It takes time to source the perfect venue, find a caterer that meets your requirements and sort out all the entertainment.
• • Costs can quickly escalate making it harder to achieve the party you want within your budget.
• • Some venues may insist you use ‘preferred suppliers’ if you decide not to use their in-house facilities. This can limit your options.
• • Sourcing suitable decorations may be quite tricky, depending on your theme. Check with the venue whether they will be putting up any decorations themselves - this may or may not assist with your plans!
• • There are likely to be a number of different suppliers/contractors involved, which will require greater coordination and planning.

Whatever type of party you’re planning, Conference Maidstone can help you find the perfect venue. Check out our ‘Christmas Party’ venues and the ‘Special Offers’ page for details of bespoke and packaged party options.

Maidstone has long been a significant market town with strong agricultural connections. So it should be no surprise that it also has a tradition of brewing and distilling stretching back over 400 years. We take a look at the legacy of alcohol production in the region, ranging from gin to brandy, and beer to cider.

Beer

Brewing has been an important industry since medieval times because, until recently, beer was safer to drink than water, with the latter often heavily contaminated and polluted. As such, by 1650, there were at least six breweries operating in the Maidstone region. These would have relied heavily on hops grown in the numerous gardens found around the county which, once harvested, were roasted in oast kilns – a distinctive part of the local landscape today.

Fremlin Brewery

Perhaps the most well-known brewery in the town was the Fremlin Brewery. Bought by Ralph Fremlin in 1861, the brewery on Earl Street began producing beers under the family name. Due to Fremlin’s deeply held religious beliefs, his principles prevented him from purchasing public houses, instead opening branch offices in London and other towns across the South East.

Fremlin pioneered the supply of beers in bottles and gallon jars, developing an extensive product range. The main product was pale ale and, when the Fremlin Brewery began supplying the Courage brewery in London, it became one of the largest pale ale brewers in the country.

The business was eventually bought by Whitbread in 1967, yet the legacy of the Kent brewer has been preserved to this day. While Fremlin Walk Shopping Centre now stands on the former brewery site, some of the arches from the original perimeter walls still remain, providing access from Earl Street and St Faith’s Street. The iconic Elephant logo, synonymous with the Fremlin brand, retains a prominent position on top of the shopping centre.

While the history of the Fremlin Brewery lives on in the modern shopping centre, there remains one operational brewery in town – Goacher’s Brewery in Tovil. An independent, family-run operation, Goacher’s continues to produce traditional ales with barley and hops, and has been named among the CAMRA top beers in recent years.

Gin

During the Middle Ages, gin was used as a herbal medicine, only becoming popular as a drink in 17th century. Following the coronation of William of Orange, leader of the Dutch republic, demand for the Dutch product genever – a superior product to English gins of the time – was high, yet excise rules prohibited genever manufacture in Britain.

For George Bishop, a Maidstone native, learning his trade in Holland meant transforming the face of gin distillation at home. On his return to Maidstone, Bishop built a large distillery on the south side of Bank Street and began producing gin. Petitioning Parliament to allow the production of genever, Bishop argued that it would reduce smuggling and increase duty for the Revenue. In the face of much opposition, Bishop ultimately won the debate, and the production of genever, also known as ‘Maidstone Hollands’, began in earnest.

By 1789, Maidstone Hollands had gained a national reputation for quality and strength, with production peaking at over 5,000 gallons each week. The link to Bishop’s pioneering work is evident today, with the Maiden Distillery at The Old Brewery producing its own gin, as well as a number of several other spirits following recipes dating from the 1790s.

Cherry brandy

Kent enjoys a reputation for growing flavoursome cherries, so it’s little wonder that it became a centre for production of this popular tipple. Arguably the most renowned brand is Grant’s Morella Cherry Brandy. Originally established in Dover in 1774, Grant’s would relocate to Maidstone following a severe cliff collapse at its previous location. With the move, a new distillery and warehouses were built near the West Station, and a sizeable export business was quickly established. In fact, by 1892, such was the demand for the cherry brandy, over 20,000 cherry trees were used to supply Grant’s with the fruit they needed for manufacture.

The drink quickly became a favourite of Queen Victoria leading to Grant’s being afforded a Royal Warrant by the Prince of Wales. Such was its appeal and growing popularity, the drink was also mentioned in Charles Dickens’ first novel, The Pickwick Papers.
Grant’s Morella Cherry Brandy continued to be manufactured in Maidstone until the 1960s when F. Leslie Grant (great, great grandson of the founder) died and the company was taken over. Today it is still available through Shepherd Neame Faversham.

Find out more

To discover more about the legacy of gin production in Maidstone, Maiden Distillery is hosting a fascinating talk and tasting at Maidstone Museum on October 24, 2015. Find out more today.

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About the author

Ann-Marie is part of the marketing team at Visit Maidstone. She studied archaeology at Southampton University and has a particular passion for historic buildings. View more by Ann-Marie.

It was shaping up to be a typical August Bank Holiday, with the Met Office predicting torrential rain and thunderstorms. But, as Saturday morning dawned surprisingly bright, we decided to take advantage of the sunshine and head for the Military Odyssey at the Kent Showground. The large queue for tickets moved swiftly and, as we collected our passes, it was either eagerness or naivety that saw us forego the purchase of an event programme... an error we would soon regret as we wandered from period to period, stall to stall, surrounded by characters from past eras and scenes straight from the history books. Sometimes a guidebook really does prove an invaluable asset!

Pick a period

Still, inside we were, and we set forth about exploring the various periods being celebrated. The entire showground was covered with tents, stalls, military vehicles, horses, and people in all manner of period costumes. It was a compelling sight to behold, witnessing distinct ‘villages’ for each historical period, with re-enactors steadfastly refusing to break character, instead choosing to live in authentic accommodation, carry out traditional crafts, and eat and sleep as people would have done at the time.

Some even went the extra mile to recall the glory of times past, with Vikings bringing along a magnificent replica of a trading vessel, complete with beach pebbles and seaweed.

From ancient Greece to WWII

Having explored some of the vehicles and tanks from the Second World War, and spent some time browsing the multitude of memorabilia stalls, we headed for the small arena where battle re-enactments were scheduled throughout the day. We arrived just in time to see the end of a confrontation between Greeks and Persians (spoiler alert - the Greeks won), and from there made our way onwards past a display by the Desert Rats to a traditional Kentish scene - a vision far removed from the battle-scarred fields of ancient Greece. That said, with a downed plane having just been ‘discovered’, the Home Guard stationed here had their hands full.

Next up, we headed to the main battle ground, where we witnessed a scene from the Vietnam War. Vietnamese soldiers, with tank support, 'shot' at Americans embedded at the other end of the ground. Despite firing blanks, you could still feel the pressure as the missiles exploded and the realism of war made the hairs on our neck stand. The battle concluded with a spectacular ‘napalm attack’ on the Vietnamese position, with lots of black smoke and flames creating a very realistic illusion. Not so much the smell of victory, but an eye-opening experience nonetheless.

For God and King George?!

In need of food and a sit down, we made our way back to the small arena, passing a company of Saracens and Crusader knights as we went. Both parties were shouting their war cries, although one Crusader seemed a little confused, crying out for King George. He quickly corrected himself and could just about be heard cheering for King Richard above the raucous laughter of his comrades.

This time we arrived at the small arena just as an American Civil War re-enactment ended. The defeated Confederates were being rounded up by the Yankees before being marched off the field. It was at this point we realised that a programme would have been a really good idea for planning where to be and when! Thankfully, the commentator announced that a Crusader battle would follow shortly, so we got out our packed lunches and made ourselves comfortable, determined not to miss the next show. Sure enough, the Saracens and Knights shortly arrived, some on horseback. A ‘fearsome’ confrontation ensued with some excellent commentary.

Ice cream and memorabilia

On a final wander around the show with ice creams in hand (war is a hungry business), we concluded that the whole event was extremely well-managed and organised. Our only slight disappointment was in the retail offering – WWII memorabilia dominated, with very little else available from any other period. Perhaps in part due to the fact it was a military show, but a few more stalls offering traditional leather and wood-working, jewellery, clothing etc. would have been great to see.

With so much to see and so many ‘battles’ to enjoy, it’s hard to pick a favourite bit from the show. What most impressed us, however, was the sheer dedication and enthusiasm of the re-enactors, as they each embraced their chosen historical period wholeheartedly and certainly didn’t hold back in the battles. It's no surprise that the Military Odyssey has been such a staple of August activities in Maidstone for so long.

Share your experience

Did you pay a visit to the Military Odyssey at Kent Showground? Share with us your stories and images below, and let us know what you enjoyed most about this spectacular event.

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About the author

Ann-Marie is part of the marketing team at Visit Maidstone. She studied archaeology at Southampton University and has a particular passion for historic buildings. View more by Ann-Marie.

Finding myself at a loose end one Saturday, I decided to take my Mum for a day out. As we hopped in the car and headed for Leeds Castle, it dawned on me that, despite having lived in Kent almost all my life, I’d never actually been inside this iconic building. I’d driven past it plenty of times and even cycled through the grounds once or twice, but that was as close as I’d got… until now.

We were guided to a parking space not too far from the entrance and, once we’d navigated our way through the ticket office, we entered the beautifully arranged gardens where elegant, formal landscaping combines seamlessly with natural features.

Life in the Leeds Castle gardens

The gardens offer far more than just flora to discover. Barbary geese and ducks were out in force near the pond, waiting expectantly for the next feed (in fact, pots of bird seed were available to purchase in the ticket office, but we decided they were probably getting enough already, it being the summer holidays and all). Still, while admiring the black swans and gradually being surrounded by geese, we also spotted a pea hen with three chicks; since neither of us had ever seen a baby peacock before, we spent some time watching and photographing them, as much to their intrigue as our own.

We eventually pulled ourselves away from this fairytale scene, following the footpath through the garden. Wide and reasonably level, the pathway makes for an easy walk and, following a slight detour to discover the sound of running water, we arrived at the main entrance to the castle. It’s worth noting that turning left through the remains of the old mill and onto a footpath around the moat enables you to enjoy some of the best views of the whole castle.

Heading back to the entrance, we went into the Gatehouse exhibition, which gives a brief history of the castle from its earliest days right up to the present – including a very useful interactive video showing all the different phases of building and rebuilding.

Stepping into history

The entrance to the main building is accessed via a path alongside the moat. There were a few uneven steps to negotiate, and quite a lot of bird droppings, but we soon arrived in the oldest part of the castle – the 12th-century cellar, which is still full of wooden barrels (although I suspect the contents are long gone!).

Upstairs, the first room is given over to a complete history of the castle, putting the building into context with the wider political and social landscape, and explaining how each of the previous owners has left their mark. We then followed the tour around the rooms. Most memorable were Lady Baillie’s bathroom (lots of marble and glitz), and Henry VIII’s banqueting hall, which was laid out for a wedding reception on the day of our visit.

Retail therapy

Of course, no trip to a historic building is complete without a visit to the shop and, as we emerged from the castle, we headed straight for the one next to the Gatehouse. A delightful array of goodies awaited us, including some lovely jewellery and home décor, alongside scrummy sweets, biscuits, and alcoholic drinks. We were both surprised at the reasonable prices – nothing felt over-priced and it all appeared to be good value.

With purchases in hand, we set off to check out the catering facilities as our stomachs were telling us it was well past lunchtime. We wandered alongside the Great Water towards the main café and restaurant, which looked pleasant but was a little busy. Then we spotted a sign for the Maze Café, so we decided to head in that direction and see if it was any quieter.

This took us through the Culpeper Garden, which was full of low box hedges and cottage garden plants. Emerging from the gardens, we spotted the café and were delighted to find plenty of seating outside and no queue at the tills. Once again, we were surprised at the prices and opted for the £4 lunch box option, including a doorstep of a sandwich, a packet of crisps and a drink (hot or cold).

We passed a very agreeable 40 minutes or so sitting outside the café, eating lunch and watching all the children playing in the Squires Courtyard playground.

Flights of fancy

By happy coincidence, we finished our lunch just as the free falconry display was about to start, so we wandered over to the display ground and found a spot on the grass to sit and enjoy the show. First up was Mozart, an eagle owl with a tendency to fall asleep during performances apparently, although he behaved himself impeccably while we were there! Then there was a young owl that was still learning what to do with his legs when in flight, and finally a Harris Hawk called Brock. An old pro at performing, he was almost ahead of himself at times!

The show lasted about 45 minutes and was really informative - it’s always a treat to watch birds of prey in flight. When it finished, we decided it was time to head for home, so we followed the edge of the Great Water back to the Gatehouse. Having done a fair amount of walking already, we opted to take the land train back to the entrance. Just 50p each and five minutes later, we were back at the car and heading home.

All in all, Leeds Castle offers a most enjoyable day for anyone. The weather had been kind – sunny but not too hot – and, although the car park had certainly filled up, we hadn’t felt overcrowded. But then, with 500 acres of grounds, that’s probably not surprising!

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About the author

Ann-Marie is part of the marketing team at Visit Maidstone. She studied archaeology at Southampton University and has a particular passion for historic buildings. View more by Ann-Marie.