This month SO Magazine chats to Becky Moran, owner of TN Lettings and co-owner of The George & Dragon in Speldhurst, about the places she likes to support locally. Here Becky reveals where she likes to stroll, shop and socialise…
Whereabouts do you live in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells?
I love village life and so my family and I have settled in Bidborough.
How long have you lived there and what made you decide to move to the area?
Bidborough has been our home now for nearly seven years and as a family we love it. We are all very involved in village life, especially with our two boys attending the local school.
Are there any nice views or walks near to your home?
There are lots through Southborough and Birchwoods, which through lockdown was our daily adventure. We also often do the cross-country walk over to Speldhurst and if we’re feeling brave enough to face the hill back up, then we’ll head down to Haysden as well.
Where do you like to grab a tea, coffee or a slice of cake?
It has to be the Cake Shed in The Pantiles but I also love to sit outside the Italian deli Arte Bianca at the top of Chapel Place with one of their delicious paninis and watch the world go by…
Do you have a preferred restaurant you like to dine in regularly?
Friday nights are a favourite time to have a couple of drinks at The White Bear on the High Street and then stroll up to Soprano for some delicious tapas.
When you are in town where’s your favourite place to go shopping – and do you have any specific retailers you like to support?
Supporting local businesses is really important to me. We love Groombridge Bakery; Fuller’s butchers offer amazing local meat and we love the Groombridge Farm Shop, too. We’re so lucky to have so many independent and boutique shops in the High Street and on The Pantiles, too.
Which places do you take people when they come to visit?
We tend to stay local and go to The Kentish Hare in Bidborough as their food is very good and it’s a great pub and restaurant to have as our local. For a really special occasion then look no further than the amazing Tallow on the London Road in Southborough.
Where’s your favourite place to relax and unwind?
As I have small children and their favourite thing to do is go to the beach, we often get on the train to Hastings. We’ll head to the beach, go to the arcades, play crazy golf, and then get fish and chips before getting the train home.
Where’s the best spot to go for a Sunday stroll in the area?
Harrison Rocks is a firm favourite, especially with the Spa Valley Railway trains steaming past!
Where do you like to meet friends and socialise?
I will be honest it is pretty much always at The George and Dragon in Speldhurst. At the moment with the sun shining in the garden it is just amazing – especially on a Saturday with live music sessions on in the afternoon. Being there is just really chilled and it has a nice family vibe to it too.
What do you like to do when you spend a weekend or day
off in the local area?
When the boys have finished clubs on a Saturday morning at Pure Football Academy and Italia Conte, then The Pantiles market with coffee and cake is a favourite – especially in the sunshine. An afternoon at Penshurst Place or one of the other fabulous country houses is a great way to entertain the boys and allow us to unwind too.
Why do you love where you live?
We are so lucky to live in Tunbridge Wells, it’s such a beautiful place to live and I think anyone that visits can see that too. It’s also a great bonus to be so close to the coast and to London. We have amazing walks around the area, a wealth of historic sites such as the Pantiles and personally speaking living within a village, that is so close to town, gives us the best of all worlds.
