A Sunny Afternoon of Networking & Cocktails at Macknade

On Tuesday, we welcomed members to the Wildbox event space at Macknade in Faversham for an afternoon of networking, learning, and cocktail-making – all under glorious sunshine and high spirits.

Jill kicked things off with a quick update on some exciting new member benefits, including:
– The launch of the Corporate & Weddings section of the website
– The option to add the Southeastern Train Finder widget to your business profile
– And brand-new 1:1 content sessions with Jo, where members can plan six months’ worth of newsletter content together and pick up tips on using tools like AI, Canva, Hootsuite and more.

We then heard from Laura at Wildbox, who shared a little about the story behind her brilliant bar and what it’s like being part of the growing Macknade community.

Stefano from Macknade gave us a fascinating overview of the site's evolution – from its roots as a hop farm to the buzzing foodie destination it is today. With resident businesses including Wildbox, a sauna, gym, vets and more, it’s clear Macknade is about so much more than shopping.

Then it was time to shake things up! Laura led a mini cocktail class, showing us how to create a beautifully refreshing strawberry mojito. Everyone had great fun muddling, mixing – and of course, tasting.

We were spoiled with delicious food from Macknade too – sausage rolls, cheese and crackers, and fresh Kentish strawberries – the perfect match for a sunny afternoon.

It was lovely to see a mix of familiar and new faces, including Jenny (The Hunton Baker) and Anna (Tom’s Teas) – two of our newest members. As always, the best part was seeing members making new connections, swapping ideas and sharing a laugh or two.

📸 Big thanks to Stepstone Imaging for capturing the day so beautifully.

These events are exclusively for Produced in Kent members and Industry Partners. If you're not yet part of the community but want in on events like this – plus all the other brilliant benefits – head to the Membership section of our website to find out more.