Because he’s worth it
Calling all fathers: Over the weekend of June 15 and 16 Hever Castle will be hosting a special event for you to celebrate your special day. On Saturday there will be over 100 Alfa Romeos on display within the grounds of the historic castle and then on the Sunday there will be 50 Ferraris to admire. While dads have a browse at the classic cars, their kids can opt to make a special decoration to hang on his rear view mirror. If you’re a fan of Formula One then you can have your picture taken in a special F1 kit car. Little ones will also have the opportunity to explore Hever’s Tudor Towers adventure playground or the thrilling water maze. To finish Father’s Day in style, stop off for some BBQ food. Usual entry to Hever Castle applies. For tickets and timings visit www.hevercastle.co.uk
Just for laughs
Comedian, writer and all-round British institution Arthur Smith comes to the EM Forster theatre on Friday June 7 at 7.30pm. Audiences can expect jokes, anecdotes, short stories, poems, songs and readings from the Radio 4 host’s recent critically acclaimed memoir My Name is Daphne Fairfax. Tickets cost £15. And on Sunday June 9 you can catch multi-award winning fellow comedian Jay Foreman with his Disgusting Songs for Revolting Children at 2pm. It’s fun for all the family. Tickets cost £10 each at www.emftheatre.com
Hot on the heels of Ricky Gervais another very popular comedian, Rob Beckett (pictured above), will be trying out his new material on the audience at Trinity theatre on June 7 in a show appropriately titled Work in Progress. Tickets cost £20 from www.trinitytheatre.net
All the right moves
Choreographer extraordinaire Sir Matthew Bourne’s all-male production of Swan Lake has become something of a convention-shattering cult classic since its sensational debut in 1996 at the Piccadilly Theatre in London. Over the years this Tony and Olivier award-winning ballet has been revived many times around the globe thanks to its huge popularity and it recently enjoyed another successful run at the Sadler’s Wells theatre. If you didn’t get the chance to see it, now’s your chance as Trinity theatre are screening a recording of it on June 15 and 16. Critics have variously described it as thrilling, audacious, witty and emotional. So what are you waiting for? Tickets cost from £19. For timings and bookings visit www.trinitytheatre.net
Midsummer magic
If you’re into vintage trinkets, unique jewellery, stylish buys for the home and gourmet goodies then a visit to the annual Wealden Times Midsummer Fair is a must. The event is being held at glorious Hole Park in Rolvenden over three days from June 6-8 between 9am and 4.30pm and it’s become a firm favourite on the local social calendar. As well as boasting over 260 exhibitors, 14 caterers and free entry to the location’s dreamy gardens there will also be free expert talks in the Home & Garden Hub and a number of guest speakers including Davina McCall. Ticket prices start from £9 per adult. For more details go to www.wealdentimes.co.uk
Time for tea
Timeless children’s classic The Tiger Who Came to Tea, written by Judith Kerr who sadly passed away last month, is brought beautifully to life in the West End stage show of the same name. Now in its tenth year, it’s touring the UK and coming to the Assembly Hall later this month. Running from Thursday June 27 to Saturday June 29, audiences will love the story of little Sophie who hears the door bell ring just as she and her mummy are sitting down to tea. She goes to see find out who’s at the door and hey presto it’s a big, stripy, tea-drinking tiger who enjoys causing all sorts of teatime mayhem. Tickets cost from £15.25 with a special offer for a family of four costing £56. For more details visit www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk
Party in the pinetum
Forest Live is a major outdoor live music series held every summer by Forestry Commission England. It takes place in seven beautiful woodland arenas across the country including Bedgebury Pinetum. Money raised from ticket sales helps to look after the nation’s forests sustainably, for people to enjoy and wildlife to thrive. The gigs take place over the weekend of June 14-16 with Foals and Yak playing on Friday night, Hacienda Classical and K-Klass on Saturday and the mighty Paul Weller closing the festival on Sunday. Turn to page 19 for more information on the line-up or visit www.forestryengland.uk/music
Branch out for charity
On June 20 the Tonbridge based charity Tree of Hope is hosting The Ultimate Pop Up at Hush Heath Winery in Staplehurst in order to raise vital funds. Local chefs Will Devlin from The Small Holding in Kilndown and Scott Goss from Tonbridge’s Verdigris will be helping to cook up a fabulous five-course tasting menu in the stunning surroundings of this popular vineyard. Other chefs taking part include Bobby Brown, formerly of the Kentish Hare, and Fabio Vinciguerra, Executive chef at Hush Heath. This one-off event is sponsored by CCLA and will help to raise funds for treatment, therapies and equipment for disabled and seriously ill children in the UK. Tickets cost £85 per person. Visit www.treeofhope.org.uk
