May 2025 Newsletter

Welcome to the latest edition of the What’s On In Kent newsletter!

Summer is nearly here, and there’s plenty to look forward to! With Father’s Day just around the corner and a packed calendar of motoring shows and seasonal events, it’s the perfect time to give visitors even more reasons to head your way.

Whether you're planning something special for families or have exciting events coming up, make sure your listings are up to date. See below for all the latest updates, inspiration, and opportunities to get involved!

Non-partners – let people find you when they’re looking for ideas for things to do and places to visit. You can list your business to our continually growing audience on What’s On In Kent from as little as £30 per month with no contract.

Coming up in this What’s On In Kent Newsletter:

Father’s Day Half Term Networking with a Difference at Gusbourne Estate Next stop Frasers Meet your Inspiration Podcast Kent food Fest Chilston Park Event Monte Carlo Madness - Martha Trust What’s on in Ibiza Over 11,000 app downloads

Father’s Day 2025 - Sunday 15th June 2025

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and there’s no shortage of fantastic events across Kent to help you celebrate. Whether Dad’s into classic cars, local ales, or a day out with the family, there’s something for everyone happening this June. Here are just a couple of highlights: Celebrate Father’s Day at Frasers (https://whatsoninkent.com/events/3056-celebrate-fathers-day-at-frasers) - Two Courses - £32.50pp Three Courses - £38.50pp Musket Brewery (https://whatsoninkent.com/events/3322-fathers-day-treat) - Treat Dad to a pizza and a pint for just £10! Orida Hotel Maidstone (https://whatsoninkent.com/events/3062-fathers-day-beer--burger) - Beer & Burger West Kent Shooting School (https://whatsoninkent.com/events/3338-fathers-day-offer-week) - Father’s Day Offer Week

See all Father’s Day Events Here (https://whatsoninkent.com/categorypages/40Father's_Day)

May Half Term - Great Success for all of our partners! https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/369-buttercups-sanctuary-for-goats https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/339-combat-laser-games https://whatsoninkent.com/partner_profiles/365-battlekart-sittingbourne

May Half Term has been a great success so far, with families across Kent enjoying everything from outdoor adventures to hands-on activities and brilliant local events.

We saw a rise in page app views for family activities. Combat Laser Games (https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/339-combat-laser-games) had a busy month with visits as well as BattleKart in Sittingbourne (https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/365) , Buttercups Goat Sanctuary (https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/369-buttercups-sanctuary-for-goats) and Millbrook Garden Centres (https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/363) with their half term activities.

And the good news? It’s not over yet! There’s still more to enjoy this weekend, with plenty of ways to make the most of the sun!

What’s on this Weekend (https://whatsoninkent.com/this_weekend)

‘Networking with a Difference’ at Gusbourne Estate

We would like to thank everyone for coming along to Gusbourne Estate on Monday 12 May for another one of our ‘Networking with a Difference’ events. We have made a short video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nLOLzEnO4) created by Jack McGowan of What's On In Kent to capture some moments of the event. Jack is available for videography work, so whether it’s a festival, showcase, launch, or special occasion, we can bring it to life on screen. If you’d like professional video coverage that highlights the best moments and tells your story, get in touch - we’d love to work with you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-nLOLzEnO4

As always it was fantastic to see familiar faces and new from a wide variety of businesses across Kent!

Our next event is next week at Frasers on Wednesday 4th June 2025. If you haven’t signed up yet, please do below: Sign Up Now (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/networking-with-a-difference-at-frasers-tickets-1245058757259?aff=erelexpmlt)

Spreading the Word: Beyond Our Dreams Podcast

We’re proud to support the incredible “Meet Your Inspiration” podcast, a project born from a simple conversation between Nick and Meri - and now a fast-growing platform filled with powerful stories and meaningful impact.

Their mission? To bring you real people with real stories - individuals who have overcome adversity, built businesses from the ground up, and achieved success through passion, hard work, and belief in what’s possible. These are the voices that inspire, motivate, and help you find your own sparkle to chase your dreams.

You can tune in to every episode on your favourite platform: YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondOurDreams-ce1zf) | Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/2A2o2cOsvI5cvZTNBhj7Pz) | Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/meet-your-inspiration-podcast/id1816403112)

Kent Food Fest – A Delicious Success!

We’re thrilled to say that Kent Food Fest 2025 was another fantastic day out, held on 17th May in Knockholt, Sevenoaks. The event brought together a vibrant mix of local bakers, artisan producers, and independent food companies, all showcasing the very best of Kent’s culinary scene.

From handcrafted sweet treats to bold global flavours and locally brewed drinks, the festival was a true celebration of food, community, and local talent. It was brilliant to see so many people turning out to support the region’s small businesses and enjoy a day filled with live music, great vibes, and of course - amazing food.

A Great Day at Chilston Park’s Corporate Hospitality Showcase!

The What’s On in Kent team had a fantastic time attending the Corporate Hospitality Showcase at Chilston Park Hotel!

It was a pleasure to join so many brilliant local businesses and experience firsthand the elegance, professionalism, and passion that Chilston Park brings to corporate events. From stunning spaces to inspiring hospitality, the showcase gave a real taste of what makes this venue so special.

With their “everything is possible” approach, it’s clear that Chilston Park is the perfect setting for standout events - and we’re excited to see what future collaborations will bring.

Thanks to the team for such a warm welcome - we’re already looking forward to coming back! Visit Chilston Park’s profile (https://whatsoninkent.com/partner_profiles/208-chilston-park-hotel)

Supporting Martha Trust: Nick’s Monte Carlo Madness Challenge! https://whatsoninkent.com/partner_profiles/365-battlekart-sittingbourne

We’re proud to share that Nick, the owner of What’s On in Kent, will be taking on an incredible challenge this September in support of the amazing Martha Trust.

As part of their Monte Carlo Madness Car Challenge 2025, Nick will be getting behind the wheel and joining a convoy of brave (and slightly bonkers!) participants driving from the UK all the way to Monte Carlo - in cars worth no more than £500! It's all in the name of fun, fundraising, and raising awareness for a truly life-changing charity.

Martha Trust provides care and support for people with profound physical and multiple learning disabilities, helping them to live life to the full. Every mile driven and every penny raised on this adventure helps support their vital work.

But here’s where you come in: * You can sponsor the car and have your company’s logo or sticker proudly displayed for the entire journey! It’s a fantastic opportunity to promote your business while supporting a truly meaningful cause. * We’ll be sharing regular updates across social media, along with shoutouts, advertising opportunities, and behind-the-scenes moments as Nick and the team take on this wild and wonderful adventure - all to raise funds for Martha Trust, a charity providing care and support for people with profound disabilities. * It’s a unique way to gain visibility, give back, and be part of something unforgettable.

Donate here - as little or as much as you can - to help us reach our fundraising goal and support the amazing work Martha Trust does every day.

Donate Here (https://www.justgiving.com/page/whatsoninkent)

Heading to Ibiza this Summer? https://www.whatsoninibiza.uk

Planning a trip to Ibiza this summer? Be sure to check out our What’s On in Ibiza guide for all the best things to do across the island. From top bars and restaurants to exciting events and boat rentals, we've got you covered.

Visit our What’s On in Ibiza website here: www.whatsoninibiza.uk for all the details! Visit What’s on in Ibiza (http://www.whatsoninibiza.uk)

Below you can find just a small handful of wonderful places to take the kids during the school holidays. Click here to view all of our partners. (https://whatsoninkent.com/our_partners)

https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/339-combat-laser-games https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/339-combat-laser-games

Combat Laser Games

Combat Laser Games offers the ultimate outdoor experience for all!

With 3 purpose built woodland maps, a multitude of instructor led missions, cutting-edge laser tag technology, unlimited ammo, camo overalls, army style face paints and the option for adults to experience our electrifying Hyper Shock system – there’s no way, you won’t have the best time of your life!

View more on Combat Laser Games (https://whatsoninkent.com/partner_profiles/347-harden-holidays)

https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/369-buttercups-sanctuary-for-goats https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/369-buttercups-sanctuary-for-goats

Buttercups Goat Sanctuary

Buttercups began in 1989 when Bob and Valerie Hitch decided to care for two unwanted goats. A few months later, the RSPCA approached them to take in another goat in urgent need, and this marked the beginning of a steady stream of goats arriving from around the county, many suffering from cruelty and neglect. By 2003, the number of goats in their care had grown so much that the sanctuary became a registered charity. View more on Buttercups Goat Sanctuary (https://whatsoninkent.com/partner_profiles/369-buttercups-sanctuary-for-goats)

https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/210-bredgar-and-wormshill-light-railway https://whatsoninkent.com/partnerprofiles/210-bredgar-and-wormshill-light-railway

Bredgar Railway

A beautiful garden railway, showcasing full size steam locomotives as well as many other steam and vintage vehicles. The railway has a delightful tea room amongst gorgeous parkland and woodland, ideal for a true getaway from Wednesday to Sunday. View more on Bredgar Railway (https://whatsoninkent.com/partner_profiles/210-bredgar-and-wormshill-light-railway)

https://whatsoninkent.com/partner_profiles/347-harden-holidays

Harden Holidays

Harden Holidays, situated in the heart of Dartford, Kent, is an award winning, independent travel agency providing an extensive range of holidays to premier destinations worldwide. View more on Harden Holidays (https://whatsoninkent.com/partner_profiles/347-harden-holidays)

Feature on the What’s on in Kent Website

If you missed it last month, here’s another chance to take advantage of a fantastic new service we’re offering.

We now provide the opportunity for partners to promote themselves with a banner ad on the What’s On in Kent homepage, which will link directly to your profile. This service is available for just £150 per week.

This is a great way to boost your business exposure, promote events, or highlight special offers. With this prime banner placement, your brand or event will be front and centre on one of Kent’s most popular websites. It’s the perfect opportunity to attract more attention and connect with a wide audience.

Don’t miss out—reach out today to secure your spot and start driving more traffic to your website, engaging with potential customers, and raising your profile across Kent!

Latest audience figures

We have hit over 11,000 app downloads!

It’s always good to know that we’re helping people get the most out of all the great things to find in Kent. We are always promoting What’s on in Kent across the county and we have a large social media following. We have over 4250 Facebook followers, over 3500 Instagram followers and over 3000 newsletter subscribers, so it’s great news for all of our partners to get promoted!

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Fast, Flexible & Reliable Couriers!

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For Same Day, Next Day, International, Temperature Controlled or Specialised Delivery Services. JDL Deliveries can collect and deliver anywhere in the UK mainland and Ireland. Visit www.JDLDelivieres.com (https://www.jdldeliveries.com/) https://facebook.com/ https://instagram.com/ https://twitter.com/

https://www.whatsoninkent.com