Carnival of the Baubles kicks off the Festive Season in Ashford, Kent
On Saturday, 23 November, thousands of people will be lining the pavements of Ashford town centre as Carnival of the Baubles kicks off the festivities and lights... Read more.
A Evening of Songs and “Tails” in Aid of East Sussex Wildlife Rescue
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) has organised an evening of music and “Tails” to raise money for its community service which is... Read more.
Every Last Friday in Battle, East Sussex
I’m in Battle, Sussex (ACTUAL site of the Battle of Hastings) on a Friday night and there’s much ELF talk about. Well, it IS only two months to Christmas. ... Read more.
Calls to Protect Rare Fungi on Ashdown Forest
Ashdown Forest is calling for more prosecutions of illegal commercial foragers to deter the destruction and theft of the Forest’s rare fungi. The call comes as... Read more.
Rescue of Two Deer Tied Together, Forest Row
A report received from East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service (WRAS) about a horrific, but not isolated, incidence of a double deer entanglement. Such... Read more.
The Piltdown Man Hoax: Sussex’s Infamous Scientific Scandal
In the early 20th century, Sussex became the epicentre of one of the greatest scientific hoaxes in history: the Piltdown Man. This elaborate deception captivated... Read more.
Leo Sayer Returns Home to Sussex
My friend and our photographer, Ann and I arrived at Worthing Assembly Hall nice and early just in case the advertised start time of 7:30pm was true while not expecting,…... Read more.
Artist, Nicola Bagge – Reflections of the Forest
During September, Sussex residents and visitors were treated to a weekend of Open Studios organised by Crowborough Arts. We were given free entry to studios and... Read more.
Friends of The Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne
The Friends of Devonshire Park Theatre were formed in said theatre’s Centenary year of 1984 with the purpose of keeping the historic Devonshire Park Theatre... Read more.
The Most Magnificent Castle Visit – Hever, Edenbridge, Kent
Despite having lived only 20 miles away from Hever Castle for the best part of 30 years, I’d never visited. Ain’t that often the way? All that was set…... Read more.
East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service: Been Rather Busy
Over the recent UK Bank Holiday Weekend, as people were out enjoying themselves, the dedicated staff and volunteers of one of East Sussex’s busiest charities,... Read more.
Garden Party Fund Raising: Cancer Research UK: West Sussex
The first Annual Garden Tea Party, held at Orchid House on 10 August, proved to be an unforgettable afternoon of elegance, culture, and community spirit.... Read more.
Back in Time at Charles Dickens Museum, Broadstairs
I was delighted to have an opportunity to visit the Dickens House Museum while in Broadstairs. Actually, how could I not, it’s a “must do” when visiting... Read more.
Free Events for Health Week on Ashdown Forest (29 July – 3 Aug)
Butterfly Safaris and Reptile Rambles are just two of the many activities on offer as Ashdown Forest prepares to celebrate Heath Week and share some of the... Read more.
Dining with the Smugglers in Broadstairs
On our first night in Broadstairs we secured a dinner booking at The Tartar Frigate, a highly renowned seafood restaurant above a bar that was certain to have hosted... Read more.
Help with Alcohol and Drug Addiction in Kent & Sussex
It can be hard to spot addiction in yourself or others and there’s a difference between use, abuse and addiction. It’s estimated that 308,000 people... Read more.
Space & Luxury at The Yarrow Hotel, Broadstairs
During a recent, and very much enjoyed, trip to Broadstairs, we had the pleasure of spending two nights at one of its most prestigious hotels, The Yarrow Hotel.... Read more.
Charmed by Broadstairs, Kent
If I had to describe Broadstairs in one word it would be: Utterly Charming! OK, so that’s two words, but I really feel the compliment deserves additional impact.... Read more.
On the Trail of the Nightjar in Ashdown Forest
The month of June sees more than 50 volunteers venturing onto Ashdown Forest at twilight on the trail of one of the most elusive and enigmatic birds in the UK.…... Read more.
Visit Ashford’s Food & Drink Festival in July
For some people, Ashford is still synonymous with the International Terminal built to accommodate the Eurostar, so it’s looked on as little more than a place... Read more.
Beautiful Sussex Open Gardens
Throughout Spring and Summer owners of some of Sussex’s most stunning private gardens open them up for the public to visit. This is often done to... Read more.
Blues & Americana Live in Sussex
I was pleased to see two super bands playing in our local Civic Centre earlier this month. They were BAD INFLUENCE, who have been one of the leading acts on... Read more.
Meet the Man in the Moon
If you, like me, are a sucker for an interesting life story, I think you’ll enjoy this one… David Eyles – for it is he – like many now living…... Read more.
Four-Artists in One Exhibition – Pie Factory, Margate – (Diarise this for June)
Evolution perfectly describes the remarkable development of these four Kent artists whose accomplished and very distinctive artworks have rapidly placed them under... Read more.
Sam Brothers – Folk? Blues? Whatever – He’s Really Something Else!
Sam Brothers… the first time I heard the name, I thought it was describing a group, like the Isley Brothers, Walker Brothers, Righteous Brothers, whether... Read more.
The Next Agenda: A Band with Attitude & a Hugely Talented Leader
Last week you came with me to the Rotosound strings factory where we met Jason How, Chairman and son of the original founder, the late James How. This week,…... Read more.
Rotosound Strings: The Iconic Pride of Kent with a Fascinating Story
It was a fairly nondescript – some might even say dull – early spring day and Hub and I were pretty excited because we were off to worship at one…... Read more.
Thoughts for Thursday: A Poem Inspired by Some of the Scandals of Our Time
NO JUSTICE Crouched in darkness ‘neath the counter’s friendly face Who could know the turmoil and the panic and disgrace Taking care of business, for... Read more.
Benita Johnson: A Talented Songbird Worth Catching
We’re blessed to have an abundance of live music in our counties ranging from visiting high-profile acts at cost to free pub gigs by professional, semi-professional... Read more.
Step Back in Time at Dreamland, Margate – Season Starts Soon
Last weekend I watched a film – and I say film rather than movie because it was a true British film – called Last Orders. The premise was that four…... Read more.
Wicked Little Letters: Historic Intrigue, Scandal & Celebrity in West Sussex
In cinemas right now you can see the film Wicked Little Letters (2023) starring one of our greatest actresses, Olivia Coleman (who spends a lot of time with her... Read more.
The Creative Isle of Thanet: Margate, Ramsgate, Broadstairs & a COMPETITION!
I’ve written previously about how much I enjoy a visit to Margate and I mentioned in my previous article about the amount of art that exists in the town. Well…... Read more.
Hopped on the Train for a Visit to London’s British Museum
Following on from my article last week about my trip to London, I promised to dedicate this week’s article to the afternoon I spent that day at the British... Read more.
Unfairness for a Friday
Dedicated to all victims of injustice and corporate bullying: INJUSTICE Crouched in darkness ‘neath the counter’s friendly face Who could know the turmoil... Read more.
A Trip to London to Hear the Voice of an Angel
I’d booked tickets to see what sounded like a rather intriguing musical experience for the evening. You’ll remember, from my previous writings, how much I... Read more.
My Favourite Price… FREE! Pizza, That Is.
As you’ll know, here at UKS we like to review and promote local, owner-run businesses where possible. So how does a franchise fit it? Well, it’s still owned... Read more.
The Six Bells – billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World
Following on from our walk around Chiddingly, we suggested a visit to the Six Bells pub would be an appropriate landing place, so let’s tell you a little about... Read more.
The Old Chain Pier in Brighton
At low tide, some way to the east of Brighton’s brightly lit Palace Pier, can be found a few petrified wooden pilings and stone supports. These are all that... Read more.
Incredible Engineering & a Stunning Piece of Art
I’m referring to the Ouse Valley Viaduct, also known as the Balcombe Viaduct, carrying the London-Brighton line in West Sussex. In order to carry the line... Read more.
Visiting a 12th Century Village Church
A couple of miles from Uckfield in East Sussex lies the small village of Framfield. You’ve come across it in a previous article enthusing about its fabulous... Read more.
Putting the Last First in Eastbourne: the Fascinating World of Handmade Shoe Manufacture
On 19 February, six highly skilled artisans will travel to Eastbourne from as far away as Germany, Switzerland, Finland and even the USA. They’ll walk down the... Read more.
Ethical Roadhouse Diner in Sussex: Quirky Custom Café’s Quality Cuisine
I like quirky places with lots of interesting paraphernalia to catch the eye. You’ll notice as much in my reviews of the Upper Dicker Village Shop and the Hare... Read more.
Kiki Dee & Carmelo Luggeri Outshine the London Christmas Lights
Although we have so much on offer throughout our two counties, another thing going for us here in Kent and Sussex is the ease with which we can get to…... Read more.
The Perfect Village Pub: Hare and Hounds, Framfield, East Sussex
Throughout Sussex and Kent we’re blessed with an abundance of village pubs but if I were to select the perfect specimen I would choose our local, the Hare and... Read more.
Sussex & Kent vs Bruges – No Contest!
At this time of year I see lots of advertisements for trips to enjoy Christmas markets in Europe. From Kent and Sussex, places that are known for providing good... Read more.
Saying a Final Goodbye to a Very Fine Cat
The following article was first published in another magazine in July 2022. Last week, we said our final goodbye to Oliver when he succumbed to kidney disease.... Read more.
The Viceroy – Pride of Polegate Curry House
Hub and I prefer to dine out on a school night – Monday to Wednesday – when the tables tend to be much quieter, the service quicker and the restaurant…... Read more.
The Crazy Lexicon of Kent – the Garden of England
Well last week I looked at old Sussex words so it seemed only right to take a look at what Kentish folks were spouting in days of yore. Being in…... Read more.
Exploring Colourful Old Sussex Words and their Meaning
As well as being mixed species (man and woman – whoever thought that would work as a combination?!), Hub and I cross the divide – the north/south divide,... Read more.
Going Underground: Rockin’ Around the Clock in Eastbourne
It’s 11.15 on a Saturday morning and I’m sitting watching a live music performance with a cuppa and a biscuit in my hands. Not very rock’n’roll, you might... Read more.