Spring Celebrations

Explore Biddenden Vineyards this spring.

Join us for a Self-Guided walk around our vines, followed by a tasting of 3 or 6 wines, ciders and juices. Spring is a great time to visit us and the vines are starting to come alive as we see the first leaves coming through.

Visit our website for more information on visiting www.biddendenvineyards.co.uk

We have launched our beautiful new Spring/Summer menu, devised by head chef Henry and his wonderful team. There is a range of new items on the menu including dishes with our speciality mushrooms – grown on-site using the grain, CO2 and water used in the brewing and distilling process – mushrooms on toast, mushroom risotto and mushroom, leek and pea pie – gorgeous seasonal spring and summer flavours. Our firm favourites are also available of course, including The Foundry Burger, The Foundry Nachos and our mixed Mediterranean Mezze Platter.

This spring we are distilling Batch 4 of our fantastic Canterbury Cathedral Herbarium Gin – utilising the botanicals, herbs and flora from the cathedral’s stunning herb garden. These bottles are produced in small batches, and are individually numbered and signed by head distiller Jon Mills.

UK grown and well established!⁠

Its time to get out in the garden.. and we have handpicked the best plants for your garden this year. Plant now and enjoy seeing them flower this Summer.

Choose from lavandin ‘Grosso’ ⁠, Little Lady, Stoechas Papillon, Melissa Lilac⁠, Dwarf Blue, Miss Katherine…

Order online, and they will be beautifully gift wrapped, boxed and delivered on overnight service. Or pop into the shop and take a look at the full range.

Fresh Lavender Bunches & Plants - Castle Farm Shop (castlefarmkent.co.uk)

Designs on Silk will be at the Craft & Design show in RHS Hyde Hall Gardens, Essex CM3 8RA, from Friday 3rd to Monday 6th May 2024. RHS members enjoy free entry.

I will be in St George’s Hall, Wrotham for their Arts Festival, from Friday 10th to Sunday 12th May.

Fabia has created two fabulous Folkestone-themed tea towels and a whole range of floral, fun and profane designs that bring your home into bloom hanging as tapestries, over the oven door or traditionally, for drying up.

Available in store mid-May at Bloom & Whimsy, The Old High Street, and online to Pre-order now.

https://fabiahgoff.com/

Having entered three competitions, earlier in the year, Invoke Distillery have been awarded GOLD for their very first attempt at a London Dry Gin, by the London Spirit awards. Two weeks later, and they’re a ‘finalist’ in The Gin Guide. A potential medal is yet to be announced. The results from the International Wine, Spirit & Cider awards, will follow that. Wish them luck!

Only launched in October, of last year, you can still get your hands on this virgin “first batch“ of their (now award winning) Gin. Each bottle is individually numbered, by hand.
Support local and find yours at: https://www.invokedistillery.c...

Full story at: https://www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/amp/we-met-at-the-pub-now-we-re-making-award-winning-gin-toge-305364/

Spring has finally sprung with the release of Forager – a 3.4% ABV hedgerow berry cider. This fruity little number is a perfect blend of fresh Kentish apple cider & juicy berries - real berries mean real flavour!

Available in sparkling (keg & can) & still (bag-in-box).

Contact sales@kentishpip.co.uk for more information.

The 2023 vintage of Hoppy Cox, a lightly sparkling semi-dry cider made from Cox and dry hopped with Ernest hops, and Satakieli No.2, a complex fine cider with red fruit and acidity.

Both are available on the webshop: www.nightingalecider.com

There are less than 9 weeks before our green walnut season starts. Green walnuts are commonly used for pickling in many cuisines because of their unique tart and earthy flavour. Fresh green walnuts from Potash farm are available during a short seasonal window.

The pickled green walnuts are made from the unripe fruit and must be prepared before the shell has formed. Pickled green walnuts can be enjoyed as a savoury snack or added to salads and charcuterie boards for an extra zing.Please pre-order now to avoid any disappointment. A standard order of 1kg on average is about 25-30 nuts. Follow our pickling recipe. https://www.kentishcobnuts.com/

Have fun with a Quiz Trail – explore in a new way! Discover more about one of our fantastic Kent towns – maybe Rochester, Faversham, West Malling or our city Canterbury. Order online at https://www.quiztrail.co.uk/ Here’s a shocking tale from the olden days!

Gordon Bennett was born in Scotland in 1795, emigrated to the US to become a journalist and subsequently founded the 'New York Herald' in 1835. He amassed considerable wealth. His son, born into the now incredibly wealthy family in 1841 was also called Gordon Bennett. Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he took every opportunity to live life as a playboy. At a New Year's party in 1877, being held by his fiancée's family, he got so drunk as to mistake the fireplace in their lounge for a toilet ... and proceeded to use it in front of his prospective in-laws and their guests (liquid only we hasten to add!). The exclamation 'GORDON BENNETT!!!' was born.

This is the perfect excuse to pop the cork on your favourite English rosés – still and sparkling – and raise a glass to this elegant and expressive style of wine, especially as the warmer weather begins to take hold.

Also, what impeccable timing for this drink pink celebration to coincide with the bank holiday weekend – you’re welcome!

Simpsons’ is thrilled to have both their exquisitely elegant Canterbury Rose Sparkling Rosé 2020 and Railway Hill Rosé 2022 still wine to delight you, with the latter also available in magnum format!

Visit: https://simpsonswine.com/pages/shop-all to stock up your cellars and get ready to raise a glass to Rosé next week.