Faversham Market and Faversham Town Council would like to cordially invite you to join them in jumping into Spring with their Mad March Market on the 26th and 27th March. More importantly, though, another special guest also seeks your company, and you won’t want to let him down.
This will be the first major Faversham Market event that has taken place since before the pandemic, and we warmly await the turning of what has been a very difficult corner for both visitors and residents of Faversham. We are certain you are not going to want to miss out on some great fun and entertainment.
What awaits you?
The Mad March Market will catapult our town into longer, finer days, so spring down to Faversham for:
Town centre market
Family activities
Street entertainment
Talks and displays
Mother’s Day gifts and fun
Independent shops and cafes
Something for everyone!
Hold your horses … there’s more!
We lured you in with the promise of a special guest, and we aim to deliver. That’s right, for one day only on Saturday 26th March, Rupert, the infamous miniature Shetland pony will be at 12 Market Place for the Mad March Market and would love to see you there. Little Rupert won’t be coming alone either as he has put hoof to paper and written some special children’s books that he will be selling on the day.
Let it be known that Rupert is a very clever pony, and he cannot wait to meet all the children, young and old. He knows that like him, there will be many fans of the Easter Bunny who will be excited to participate in some fun and exciting activities during their visit and he will be ready and waiting for the fun to begin!
A date for your diaries
Faversham’s town will be enriched with spring themed window and shop displays, with a window display competition being held for the best decorated. Expect spring colours, Easter bunting, lambs, eggs and all things flowery! The winner will receive a trophy from Faversham’s Mayor, Alison Reynolds.
Special promotions will be weaved throughout the Market, so do come and join us and let’s get back to better, warmer, sunnier days together.
Kind thanks to Harrisons Homes for sponsoring Rupert the Shetland Pony’s visit to town and to Alloy Marketing for sponsoring the window display competition and arranging the prizes
We are absolutely delighted to announce that Fiver Fest Faversham will return this October thanks to the support of Faversham Town Council.
Claire Windridge from Faversham Town Council, has kindly offered to co-ordinate Faversham’s Fiver Fest in order to secure the continued success of this excellent event for residents and businesses alike.
Don’t worry, the InFaversham team will still be helping in the background and supporting Claire and her colleagues at Faversham Town Council in any way we can.
We (InFaversham) have organised two successful Fiver Fest events that have been enjoyed by both businesses and shoppers, plus we’ve had a lot of fun along the way.
However, as volunteers we can only do so much, and to see that the event will now be formally organised and ensure it has a future supporting Faversham businesses, makes us feel much more optimistic about it’s future success.
What is Fiver Fest Faversham?
The Fiver Fest is part of a nationwide volunteer-led organisation called Totally Locally which supports small independent businesses to come together to create a more vibrant, stronger and resilient town by encouraging the community to think and act locally.
Faversham is just one of over 100 towns across the UK that come together for a fortnight to encourage shoppers to support their independent high street and businesses.
Fiver Fest is being organised by Faversham Town Council and InFaversham (the website about local businesses for people who shop in Faversham) which is run by volunteers.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Businesses taking part put on special £5 offers over 2 weeks, to show the diversity and value of what they sell, and to say thank you to the communities that support them.
Businesses come together to support each other, share each others offers, create maps, do trails, work on PR – everything to get people moving around the town, and discovering their local independent shops.
AN OPPORTUNITY…
This is not about just selling £5 things. It’s an opportunity for you to get people through the door who haven’t ever stepped foot in your shop, or who haven’t been for ages. What you do when they get there is up to you.
Don’t worry if you don’t sell a lot of your special offer. It’s not about that (your offer may not be right for everyone). The idea is to get people engaged with the campaign and talking about our local businesses.
£5 OFFERS
Offers should be something with a £5 spend to tie in with the £5 message (don’t use discounts like £5 or 5% off), Businesses not on the high street such as services, fitness etc can offer introductory services to get new clients on board. Make the offer for something brill, not just old stock you are trying to shift.
Don’t worry if you are stuck for ideas, we are here to help, ideas are what we are good at so get in touch and we will help you to find a fantastic £5 offering.
WHAT WILL I GET OUT OF IT?
Apart from a fantastic opportunity to engage and take part in helping to revive the town, you will be part of a National Campaign and get all the promotion, PR, and media opportunities that go with it.
You will get posters to put in your window, trail maps of all the businesses taking part to giveaway, merchandise (optional purchase) like our lovely tote bags (how about putting together a fab goody bag?) to promote the campaign. Lots of local media coverage via Faversham Fiver Fest Facebook pages, Instagram and Twitter plus promotion on InFaversham website and Facebook page. Oh and of course sharing and mentions on everyone else’s social media who takes part and gets involved.
It’ll be a blast.
How Do I Get Involved?
Simply download, complete and return the registration form below and return it to [email protected] along with your £10 registration by the 29th of September* and we will do the rest.
Fiver Fest is organised at a national level by Totally Locally, it’s a celebration our independent high streets and businesses which, during lockdown, have proven that more than ever, our local businesses play a pivotal role in the wellbeing of our communities.
FIVER FEST is the chance for independent businesses to use their collective power to encourage people back to our town centres and to use local businesses. To say thank you to customers who supported them during lockdown and to prove once again, that the small guys can compete with the online giants & the supermarkets. In fact, they beat them hands down in many ways, but most of all their contribution to our local economies.
There are over 100 towns involved in this year’s Fiver Fest, but in Kent there are only two towns taking part and they are both in Swale (Totally Locally Sheerness and Fiver Fest Faversham). This gives us a chance to target the “staycation” and day visitors market that we all know will be very busy this year and promote via Visit Faversham, Visit Swale, Visit Kent and beyond what is going on during the fortnight, show your offers to the visitors market as well as locals and showcase what you have to offer throughout the remainder of 2021.
What can I do to promote my business?
Firstly, check that we know about your offers. The latest list is here. If Something is wrong let us know and we will change it. https://infaversham.co.uk/fiverfestoffers/
Tag. Always tag @totallylocally @infaversham @fiverfestfaversham. Totally Locally have already shared a number of Faversham businesses posts, they have large followings and can put your offer in front of a whole new audience. This is especially good if you have an online element to your business.
Hashtags. People do actively search through hashtags so always add #FiverFestFaversham and #FiverFest as standard. You may also want to think about adding #Faversham #VisitFaversham #HelpKentbuylocal plus any relevant to your business/offer
Join our group. We have set up a participants’ group on Facebook to share hints and tips of how to make the most of Fiver Fest. Join it here (and remember to contribute!) https://www.facebook.com/groups/612291416136462
The InFaversham volunteers are running a market stall again on Friday. We are handing out literature and telling shoppers about Fiver Fest. We had a fantastic response from this last time, there were some lovely comments about how much shoppers enjoyed the last event and how excited they were by this one. Make sure they have some info about your business to take away. You can give us literature/discount cards or freebies such as pens/keyrings etc either on the market stall or drop it into Creek Creative.
Goodie bags. In addition to the market stall, we will be selling our Love Faversham Goodie Bags online throughout the remainder of the year. All of the businesses that we have literature or goodies from will be included. Think about what may make the owners of these bags want to investigate your business. Postcards, keyrings, badges, facemasks, pens etc are all relatively inexpensive and are generally held onto much longer than a flier. Maybe offer a special goodie bag discount?
Donate a raffle prize. We are running a raffle to win a hamper of goodies from Faversham Businesses in aid of The Faversham Umbrella. Each business will get extra publicity and it is always lovely to be associated with supporting local charities.
Share other businesses offerings. Have you taken up a Fiver Fest deal? If so, take a picture and share it (remembering to tag the business you bought from). The more you share other people’s deals the more interest in the event and your business. Plus, it generally shares a little love around the town.
What are you doing to promote my business
Fiver Fest Faversham is run in a different way to most of the other towns taking part. Other towns organise Fiver Fest either directly from the participating businesses or the have organisations such as Traders Groups, Business Investment District or council run Shop Local initiatives giving them access to money and resources.
Fiver Fest Faversham is organised by InFaversham who are a team of volunteers that mostly own noncustomer facing businesses and have no direct benefit from taking part. Why do we do it? We do it because we believe in the shop local message and we believe it has an impact on the local economy which is a benefit to everyone. Plus, we love all things Faversham.
We have been very lucky this time in that we have been able to get support from Faversham Town Council and have sponsorship from businesses who also believe this is a worthy event and love Faversham. Thanks to William Property Management, Brogdale Farm, Standard Quay and Faversham Flooring we have been able to provide more benefits to the businesses taking part in the event this time around.
Here is a list of what we have provided so far:
Town maps. We have produced a town map featuring businesses taking part. The maps have been handed out physically and digitally around town.
Market Stall. This year we have taken on two Friday market stalls to engage with shoppers and spread the Fiver Fest message We also had out literature from participating businesses.
Public Relations. We have already had Fiver Fest Faversham featured in a number of publications including Kent Messenger, Community Ad magazine, Visit Kent and Swale. Radio Kent and BBC South East are talking to us about features also.
Posters and social graphics. We have printed posters for businesses to use and provided digital versions for online use.
Social media shout outs and shares. We are sharing on everyone who has mentioned the event to our two Facebook pages and Instagram accounts (plus local groups when relevant). We also are using stories to maximise their reach. Many local Faversham businesses are already being featured on the Totally Locally network of followers and are being shared by followers.
Bimble. We have added a Fiver Fest Faversham Guide to Bimble. We have added all of the participating businesses into there. If you don’t know what Bimble is, it’s best described as a cross between TripAdvisor & Pinterest. We think it’s more like Spotify – for your favourite places: a way to hold onto them, share them, support them, hear from them and discover new ones shared by the community. The Bimble team are promoting the Faversham Guide via their own social media channels https://bimble.com/lists/fiverfest-faversham-june-2021/6733813442936832?fbclid=IwAR1gu4ouaSRL9PEIeZeIL7PXvexDmu5L1iTt-ikLYL0lUSMXnrfQXa-9ies or download the app.
Facebook group. We run a participants’ FB group offering help and advice throughout the fiver fest fortnight
Raising a bit for charity. In addition to all of this, we are running a raffle to win a hamper of Faversham goodies, giving businesses donating prizes another chance to get there name out there and raising some money for Faversham Umbrella.
We hope you are really enjoying being part of Fiver Fest Faversham and would love to hear your views. If you have any questions or thoughts please email us at [email protected]
When you think of independent businesses on your local high street, you could probably be forgiven for not thinking of letting or estate agents straight away. However, certainly here in Faversham, there is one agent that is very much part of the community.
Without William Property Management stepping in to sponsor the first Fiver Fest Faversham last year, we wouldn’t have got this initiative off the ground. For the second Fiver Fest fortnight, whilst we managed to gain the support of Faversham Town Council and additional sponsors, we are delighted to welcome William Property Management back as our main sponsor again.
To find out why they are so behind the Fiver Fest iniative, Fiver Fest Faversham organiser Liz Jeffery sat down with Mark Greenwood who is the Managing Director of William Property Management.
Mark, why did you decide to sponsor Fiver Fest Faversham for a second time?
When I heard about the Fiver Fest initiative I thought it was a fantastic concept. It’s a good idea generally, but after the effects of Covid and town centre access restrictions, businesses really did need support and they continue to do so, so sponsoring for a second time was a no brainer for me.
I really like the whole £5 message, it makes people think about how their spending directly impacts the local economy and the whole event really does create a community spirit and a real buzz around the town.
Have been involved in supporting the local community in other ways too?
Yes! Apart from trying to shop local where possible and attend as many events as I can (when they are able to run) I was also a founder member of the Faversham Traders Association.
Do you have a £5 offer to run during Fiver Fest?
We’ve created our own £5 offer, giving new landlords their first month’s property management fees for £5 if they sign up during the Fiver Fest fortnight.
About William Property Management
William Property Management was established in 2009, after noticing the need for a good letting service that was approachable and transparent. They are now recognised as the leading letting agent in Faversham due to their outstanding customer service. They have been awarded GOLD by the prestigious British Property Awards for three years running, judged the Best Letting Agent in Faversham.
To find out more about William Property Management’s commitment to outstanding customer service and to find out how they can help you, please visit https://www.williampropertymanagement.com
Fiver Fest Faversham is getting ready to return 12th – 26th June this year.
Despite this being only the second time Faversham has taken part in the Fiver Fest initiative, the first Faversham event which took place in October last year was a great success. With over 70 local businesses taking part, Faversham’s Fiver Fest was one of the largest in the UK.
We believe that this year’s event will be even bigger and better than the first, and this is largely due to receiving much more support and sponsorship this time around. Over the coming days we will be introducing you to our wonderful sponsors and telling you more about them and their businesses.
We are absolutely delighted that this year’s event is being supported by Faversham Town Council. We feel especially grateful for their support as we have learnt from the event’s national organisers, Totally Locally, that it is rare for town councils to get involved or lend support until several events have successfully taken place.
Faversham Town Council backing this event will enable us to effectively promote Fiver Fest Faversham to a much wider number of shoppers and visitors. It will also help support Faversham’s independent businesses after the effects of multiple lockdowns.If you run a business locally and would like part please click here for more information and to download your application form
I think we can all agree that Faversham is full of wonderful, innovative, and creative independent businesses. Behind a lot of these are some brilliant female entrepreneurs who have turned their passion into a successful business. From bra fitting to handmade pizza, we have such a varied selection of services and products that we can all enjoy, right on our doorstep!
Boho + Bloom
When it comes to planning and styling an event, Leah is your go-to girl! Her ever growing prop hire collection is an eclectic mix of boho, disco, wild and one-of-a-kind pieces perfect for weddings, hen do’s, birthdays, window displays and corporate events. Leah launched her own company last year, but in short space of time she’s been featured on Channel 4, The Independent, The Wedding People Podcast and Festival Brides! If you have an idea in mind, Leah can bring your vision to life in her own bespoke way!
The Bra Boss of Kent
Joanna has worked in the lingerie industry for over 10 years, working for well-known brands such as Gossard and Panache. Last year she decided to take the ‘plunge’ and renovate her summer house into a lingerie boutique right here in Faversham. She offers one to one bra fitting appointments in a peaceful, quiet, and private space. She specialises in Sports, Maternity + Nursing and Mastectomy bras, but also offers a good selection of everyday bras too. She stocks bras from A – KK cup and 28 – 44 back. She’s here to support the ladies in Kent, one bra fitting at a time!
Flowerstart
Julie is the award-winning florist that teaches. She runs classes and shares hints and tips from the trade, which enables her students to gain the skills and confidence to create flower arrangements for their home, business or that special occasion. She’s runs some fantastic classes online via her social media and You Tube channel where you can enjoy classes such as ‘Flower Hour’ and how to create a beautiful floral wedding display all on your own – with Julie’s expert help of course!
Rosebud Bakes
Rosie is the owner of Rosebud Bakes and is here to fulfil all your sweet-toothed needs! From brownie and blondie tray bakes to bespoke birthday cakes, all her creations are delicious! Rosie started Rosebud Bakes in June 2019 after years of being harassed by her family to take the plunge and set up her own business. According to Rosie, she’s been baking since she could hold a wooden spoon! She loves creating beautiful, bespoke, and most importantly, delicious cakes for all occasions.
Sophie Jayne Yoga
Sophie has been practising yoga since she was 14 and fell in love with it from the very first class. Since 2016, she has gone on to teach yoga and meditation in Faversham and the surrounding areas and absolutely loves it. Whether you are a total beginner or advanced, Sophies classes are for all abilities and she offers different levels of difficulty for each pose, and there’s absolutely no judgement on how well you can stretch or downward dog! If you fancy a relaxed and friendly bit of “me time” this is the class for you!
Beauty @ Your Door
If you love being pampered but struggle to find the time to get to a salon, Hannah is here to help! Hannah is a Fully Qualified mobile beautician with nine years’ experience, who offers beauty and massage treatments in the comfort of your own home. From luxurious pedicures to eyelash tints, there are so many lovely treatments to choose from and are all at really great, affordable prices too. It’s so important to set aside some time “you time” for yourself and this is the perfect treat!
Workspace on the Farm
Workspace on the farm is a vibrant co-working community for creatives, freelancers and remote workers nestled within beautiful farmland in Hernhill. This fantastic space is run by the wonderful Jo, who has created a calm and inspiring place for people to work productively. It’s a great place to be able to meet other like-minded people, have a coffee and bounce ideas off each other. It’s also perfect if you have young children, as there is a nursery (FarmWorkPlay) adjacent, which means you can work knowing that they are being cared for and having a great time in a safe environment
Papa Bianco
There is a new pizza place in town! Down at Standard Quay, Papa Bianco offers fresh handmade pizza, homemade garlic bread, tiramisu and you can then wash that all down with a cocktail or two! Hannah set up during lockdown and hasn’t looked back! She’s already expanded her menu and has some amazing weekly specials too! You have a choice of dining in the fabulous restaurant or you can take away if you’d prefer to.
Wasted Kitchen/Mighty Fine Things
Katy is the brains behind Wasted Kitchen and Mighty Fine Things. She is passionate about big flavours, local produce and ensuring that no food goes to waste. Wasted Kitchen offers lovely homemade food such as bento salad boxes, freshly made soup and sausage rolls and these can be delivered straight to your door! All of these are made from scratch, have minimal packaging and are obviously full of lovely local ingredients. If you love a condiment, Mighty Fine Things specialises in sauces, vinegars, mustards and much more! You can also treat yourself to some delicious Coxy’s Liqueurs in some fantastic flavours such as Spiced Damson Shrub or Morello Cherry!
Hope Fitzgerald
Hope runs Bindfulness.com a website packed full of beautiful gifts, cards and handmade books. Including Hope’s original Cyanotypes of botanical specimens collected in Kent. Printed on card and fabrics in Prussian Blue, the signature colour of this process
Up until this year Hope also ran hugely popular Bookbinding Workshops, which will return as soon as social distancing rules allow.
If you are stuck for ideas of what to get the men in your life, we’ve put together a short list ideas all available in Faversham. Shop local this Christmas, you’ll be amazed at what you can find on your doorstep
Barley Mow Gifts and Interiors – Barley Mow is currently open for click and collect. The shop stocks a range of gifts for him, including dad gifts and gifts for men with hobbies.
Brogdale Collections – You may be surprised to learn that Brogdale offers a range of rural courses throughout the year including gardening, foraging and cider making – a perfect Christmas present idea for someone who loves anything to do with nature and the outdoors. Details on their website
Creekside Vinyl – A music lover’s dream. Currently open for click and collect, Creekside Vinyl has a wide selection of Vinyl across all genres, they also sell record vouchers if you aren’t sure what he likes. He’s not got a record player? Don’t worry they sell those too
Edible Culture – A must visit for gardening fans. Edible culture is currently open and can supply the men in your life with tools, gift boxes and gardening vouchers
Joe’s Bows – Set in the beautiful Edwardian gardens of Mount Ephraim, Joe’s Bows offers a range of experiences including falconry, archery, axe throwing and laser clay shooting. Find out more on their website
Macknade Fine Foods – For the serious food lover Macknade is offering gift cards (from £5) and a range of food and drink Hampers which can be delivered or collected. Check out their website for more details
Mad Cat Brewery – Based at Brogdale Farm, Mad Cat brews a very popular range of all types of beers using local hops. You can now buy direct from their website https://www.madcatbrewery.co.uk/shop/. Perfect for gifts for the beer lover in your life.
Tiddly Pomme at Brogdale Farm is a great spot to shop for men! It has a terrific selection of beer, juices and ciders (they produce their own very popular Woolly Pig Cider using Brogdale apples on site) along with a wide selection of food and fruit related items and gifts. For up-to-date information visit their Facebook
The Hobby Shop – For the man who can’t quite grow up! The Hobby Shop stocks everything from Model railways, Scalextric, model kits, jigsaws, board games and Lego. Visit their website for the full range.
Top Hat and Tales – A must for book lovers, books and vouchers available here, check out their website, you’ll find there is much more than books available here
It’s easier than you think to support local shops and businesses this Christmas. Here are some great ideas for Christmas presents shopping in Faversham.
Despite another lockdown meaning many shops and businesses having to close their doors again, there are still many ways to continue to shop locally and support Faversham’s businesses.
Many of us miss strolling down West Street, wrapped up in coats and scarves and popping into all the shops for our Christmas shopping. And it’s such a shame that we won’t be able to enjoy the wonderful Faversham Christmas Markets again this year or the fabulous Lights Switch On. However, now more than ever, it’s important to continue to shop local and keep Faversham’s thriving businesses up and running. Plus, with all the amazing and unique gifts on offer from Faversham businesses, who needs Amazon..?
With a lot of local shops going online and starting up delivery services, it can be tricky to know where to start with your local Christmas shopping. Firstly, a quick shout out to the Facebook Page ‘Christmas Shopping in Faversham’, where local people and shops are posting info on how to buy their goods online. Worth a quick look!
We’ve rounded up just a few of the brilliant item available.
Here are just some of the fantastic offering of gifts in Faversham.
Records – Creekside Vinyl
The perfect gift for any music lover – a record! Creekside vinyl has a brilliant range in stock with everything from Radiohead to Beethoven. On their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/CreeksideVinylFaversham) they post regular ‘virtual browsing’ updates to give you a taste of what they have in store (almost as good as flicking through the stacks of albums yourself). But if you can’t find what you’re after just give them a call – they offer a call and collect service.
Books – Top Hat and Tales
Top Hat and Tales has a brilliant range of books of every description available online to order. Along with a wonderfully curated selection of gifts and accessories, customers can enjoy click and collect from the shop in West Street or they will deliver locally. Visit their website to order
Edible Culture – Potted House plants and all things horticultural!
Edible Culture, based on Canterbury Road in the grounds of Abbey School, are currently fully open and a great place for Christmas shopping. They are stocking houseplants, pots, wildlife accessories and gift boxes (picture). They also have a terrific range of Christmas trees decorations. https://edibleculture.co.uk
Chilli oils and rubs – ChilliChupShop
For any food lover who likes their spices check out ChilliChupShop’s Etsy page. They have a huge range of products all centred around the chilli all made here in the UK and would normally be selling at Faversham markets.
Gift Cards and Hampers – Macknade
For the serious food lover Macknade are offering gift cards (from £5) and a range of food and drink Hampers which can be delivered or collected. Check out their website for more details
Bra Boss – Bras and fittings
Although Bra Boss has had to close for lockdown, you can still order online bralettes and briefs, plus a gift voucher would make a fab present. You can choose how much to put on the gift voucher which can cover the cost of a private fitting and maybe a new bra to go with it. Check the website for further details.
Notebooks – Bindfulness
Bindfulness has a delightful range of handmade notebooks which would make a beautiful gift. The cover and first page feature original Cyanotype prints of leaves and flowers. Check out the website (https://bindfulness.com) to order online!
Prints and cards – Sherbert and Spice
Faversham based designer Sherbert and Spice has a range of cool prints available to buy on etsy – a great present idea or stocking filler. Christmas cards are also available to buy.
Gifts and Cards – Barley Mow
Barley Mow offers a whole range of unusual gifts, cards and decorations all available for click and collect. Visit their facebook page for more.
Fawn and Thistle, unique gifts and cards
Local illustrator Kirsten McNee is based at Creek Creative and has fabulous range of cards, prints, homewares and gifts, all featuring her charming and quirky illustrations.
This is a great gift for anyone who loves all things Faversham. Local designer Jess Illo has this print, as well as similar prints for Whitstable and Canterbury, available on her Etsy shop. She also offers personalised prints – check it out here
– Drawn By Freya
Beautiful illustrations of local buildings and scenes by Faversham-based architecture graduate and illustrator. You can buy her Faversham Christmas cards and gift tags via her Etsy site.
You can also commission Freya for bespoke, beautiful illustrations of your home or workspace. Lovely idea for a Christmas gift!
Natural beauty, health and home products – Apotheca
Apotheca has a great range of natural beauty products, remedies, essential oils, candles, incense, and much more. You can also buy a gift voucher for the treatments they offer – everything from acupuncture to hot stone massages. Check out their website or Facebook for more info.
Country Practice at Brogdale Farm
also sells beautifully packaged gift vouchers which can be redeemed against their range of relaxing health treatments for the body and soul. https://www.countrypractice.co.uk/
Gift Vouchers for courses and events at Brogdale Collections
Brogdale is home to the largest collection of temperate fruit trees in the world and their orchards are stunning. We’re so lucky to have them on our doorstep. They run a schedule of rural courses throughout the year including gardening, foraging and cider making – a perfect Christmas present idea for someone who loves anything to do with nature and the outdoors. Details on their website www.brodalecollections.org
Gloves – Top Hat and Tales in West Street
Warm and snuggly lamb’s wool fingerless gloves perfect for the upcoming wintry weather. Find these and other similar bits and pieces on the Top Hat and Tails website.
Socks – Luvies Boutique
Luvies boutique are still trading on their Facebook page by posting products such as these cute bumblebee bamboo socks, so you can drop them a message to order online.
Board games – The Hobby Shop
It isn’t Christmas without family board games and the Hobby Shop in Preston Street has a fantastic range. Game of Thrones Monopoly, Sherlock Cluedo, Harry Potter Trivial Pursuits, Strictly Come Dancing the board game… plus all the classics. Everything is listed on their website which is super easy to use to order online!
For four-legged members of the family – Ollie Bongo’s Pet Essentials
Ollie Bongo’s has a great range of festive treats for your furry friends and will deliver locally – check out their Facebook page for further details. It is also worth noting that Ollie Bongos is open over lockdown, so feel free to pop in to check out what they have in stock and for other pet essentials.
Gifts for small people
There are plenty of childrens gifts available in Faversham
Sweets – Jilly Pop Sweet Shop
For stocking fillers and sweet treats Jilly Pop Sweet Shop based on East Street has gone online and has a variety of gifts on offer. Check out their website for more info
Lego Harry Potter Calendar – The Hobby shop
The Hobby Shop has a great range of toys and games on its online shop, including Lego, Playmobile, and much more. This advent calendar is perfect for any Harry Potter fans and includes 24 wizard-related items waiting to be constructed.
Huckleberry Woods Micro Animal Farm
The perfect present for little people – animal days and walks with micro pigs, donkeys, sheep, and alpacas. You can view the full range of available activities on their website.
Falconry Experiences – Joe’s Bows
Set in the beautiful Edwardian gardens of Mount Ephraim, Joe’s Bows offers falconry handling and bow and arrow experiences, as well as other outdoor activities. Find out more on their website
Eat, drink and be merry
Takeaway bottles of wine – Vino
Vino on Court Street is open for collections, so get in contact if you’re after takeaway bottles of wine or bubbles! They also offer free delivery in Faversham. Check out their wine list on www.vinofaversham.co.uk or their Facebook for contact details.
Craft beers from Mad Cat Brewery
Based at Brogdale Farm, Mad Cat brews a very popular range of all types of beers using local hops. You can now buy direct from their website https://www.madcatbrewery.co.uk/shop/. Perfect for gifts for the beer lover in your life, or just to stock up for Christmas!
Takeaway meals – The Yard
The Yard, in Jacob’s Yard off Preston Street, is offering hearty seasonal takeaway dishes for those evenings you just don’t fancy cooking. Menus change regularly so be sure to follow them on Facebook to keep up to date. With dishes such as caramelised shallot, bacon & apple sausage rolls, roasted veg and cheddar tarts, and chorizo, lentil & parsnip stew.
Takeaway Pizza – Papa Bianco
Currently on offer at Papa Bianco on Standard Quay from Monday to Wednesday is a starter, two pizzas and two deserts for £30 (or £40 with a bottle of wine…) perfect for a cosy night in. Make sure to call up to book your order as deliveries get booked up fast! https://www.facebook.com/papabiancofaversham
These are just a few suggestions of some of the fabulous Christmas gift ideas from Faversham businesses.
Click and Collect – Allport Cars
If you would like to shop local but are isolating or unable to access businesses for collections. Allport Cars are offering a “click and collect” service in the Faversham area. To make arrangements, contact AllPort cars via Facebook.
We are very lucky to have some beautiful dog walks on our doorstep here in Faversham. Take a read below and discover some of the best places you can take your furry pal for a day out!
Harty Ferry
I’m going to start off with my favourite dog walk – Harty Ferry. It might be one of my favourites because I am very lucky enough to be a short 3 or 4 minute drive away, so for me it’s right on my doorstep and very easy! Secondly, and more importantly, it’s absolutely stunning and such a great place to take your dog!
You can find Harty Ferry at the end of a winding country road, past the lovely Three Mariners pub in Oare, and past St. Peter’s Church and some beautiful houses along the way too. Once you get to the end of the road (you just keep going straight until there’s no more road) there’s plenty of free parking in quite a generous sized car park – but be warned this can get full up very quickly and you may have to park along the road at peak times. When you come out of the car park and face the waterfront (oh did I forget to mention it’s situated on a stunning nature reserve overlooking the Swale Estuary?!) you have the choice of two different pathways, left and right. It’s a bit of an unwritten rule that dog walkers go left, and the birdwatchers tend to go right, so we tend to naturally take a left. Once you go past the first gate, the whole walk is great for off the lead walks. There’s a nice path for us humans to walk along, enabling you to take in the views of the surrounding nature reserve. Often, you will see cows, sheep, swans, all sorts of different birds, butterflies, frogs and if you’re very lucky, occasionally seals too!
Our dog Molly loves to run alongside us down the verge, through the long grasses and more often than not, jumping into the little plunge pools of water to cool down. Please be aware that there are lots of opportunities for your dog to get their paws wet and probably muddy too, so it may be good to come prepared with a couple of towels in the car to dry them off at the end of the walk. If you’re keen for a long walk, the path takes you along part of the Saxon Shore Way, which is a coastal circular loop of about 10 miles. It’s a great opportunity to pack up a picnic and take in the scenery along the way.
Harty Ferry is a really relaxing, interesting and tranquil walk. There’s plenty of space for everyone if it’s a slightly busier day, however, some days you may not see another person the whole time. If you do bump into people, it’s often they will have a dog too, and a great opportunity for the dogs to play and make new friends!
Pros:
The scenery is next level stunning. I have been there during some beautiful sunsets on a summers’ evening, or first thing on a sunny, hazy morning and you feel like you could be abroad somewhere exotic with equally stunning views.
Plenty of free parking with no time restriction.
Safe for your dog, as there are no cars or busy roads during the walk.
A fresh water well (named George Oare-Well so I’ve heard!) at the start/end of the walk, so you can fill up your water bottles and re-hydrate!
Things to be aware of:
The car park can fill up very quickly at peak times and the road leading up to the parking area can be very uneven with large potholes – make sure your car has good suspension!
This walk is open to the elements! There is no shelter if it starts to rain and it can get quite cold and windy at times. When getting ready to go to Harty Ferry, I will always say that whatever the weather is like at home, it will be more extreme on the walk. For example, if it’s a tad chilly at home, it will be freezing at Harty Ferry! Wrap up warm and wear sturdy walking shoes.
Bring your own refreshments. Apart from a fresh water well, there isn’t anywhere to get tea or coffee if you are accustomed to a hot drink on your walk. Be prepared and bring a flask and some snacks if you’re going for a long walk!
“Loop de loop” starting at Upper Brents and finishing on Ham Road.
This walk was a lockdown discovery that we didn’t realise was also pretty much on our doorstep! We start the walk along Front Brents, just by the new creek bridge opposite the brewery. Walking along the Faversham creek, you will pass the fabulous Albion Taverna (cheeky margarita anyone?!) as well as some cute little houses until you get to a little path which leads you through Brents Bank community garden and along Upper Brents. During April/May time, there are some stunning wild flowers which all come out to bloom and look absolutely beautiful, as well as a huge Willow tree which you see lots of children playing on. As you get to the end of the footpath, you can cross over just where Quayside Tyres are and it takes you round to some fields that lead you to a lovely walk along the creekside.
From here, you can walk in a huge “loop” along and around the creek. You can take your dog off the lead and there’s a HUGE space for them to run and play. At times there are livestock in the fields, so please be mindful and pop your pooch on a lead if need be. The scenery is so interesting as the path takes you past Standard Quay, the Oyster Bay House (which is a grade two listed building) and the shipyard, which are all on the opposite side of the creek. Keep your eyes peeled for an abandoned pirate ship named ‘Revenge’ which has been left stranded in the creek for many years!
Like with most walks, you may decide to reach a certain point and then turn back, however with this walk you are able to complete a full circle. The walk will lead you right around the creek and past a lovely pub called the Shipwright Arms. We discovered this pub during one of our many “lockdown walks” so unfortunately it was closed every time we ventured past, but it is on our list of ‘must visits’ to enjoy a drink in the pub garden and have a little rest.
Pros:
A really interesting walk with lots of things to see and keep an eye out for (like abandoned pirate ships!)
Will wear your dog out if they are full of beans – there’s plenty of space for them to run, play and sniff!
There’s a couple of really lovely places to stop for a drink and a snack (The Albion, Shipwright Arms and Cafe by the Creek).
A few options where you can make the walk shorter if you wish to or have time constraints.
Things to be aware of:
Again this walk can be open to the elements and get quite windy and cold, so wrap up warm.
At the start of the walk alongside the creek (opposite the Oyster Bay house) the path is very uneven and an open invitation for twisted ankles – watch your footing.
There can be livestock in the fields at times, so please be aware of this and keep your dog on a lead.
Willpower is a must, if you pop in to The Albion at the start of the walk you might just decide to stay there and eat tacos instead!
Through Standard Quay, past the Iron Wharf boatyard and through Abbey Fields
The great thing about dog walking in Faversham is that within a few minutes from the centre of the town, you are immersed in the glorious countryside and this walk is just a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle. We start this walk at the Standard Quay, which hosts some quirky little antique shops such as Aladdin’s Cave, cute cafes, fishmongers, butchers and a new mouth watering pizza restaurant called Papa Bianco’s.
If you carry on walking past all these lovely places you will come to the Oyster Bay House (as previously mentioned in the last walk) and you can cut through the Iron Wharf shipyard. Hop over the water via a little bridge and you are then in the midst of fields, open space and lots of fresh air! The first section of this walk is parallel to the previous “loop de loop” walk, so you will also pass the abandoned pirate ship (but you will be much closer to it on this side!)
You can continue on forwards (this will take you to the Saxon Shore Way) but if you would like a smaller route, you can turn right. This will take you along next to a pretty river and over a bridge round to Abbey Fields. During spring this is such a beautiful walk when the fields are FULL of rapeseed oil plants and other wildflowers all in bloom.
I would say about 80% of this walk can be off the lead or at least away from any cars and busy areas, however, the last part of the walk is along a road or back in pedestrian areas, so it’s best for the pups to be on the lead. Halfway down the Abbey Fields road, there is a little cut through, which will take you past Gordon Square and alongside the Queen Elizabeth Grammar school, past St Mary of Charity church near Abbey Street, and voila – you are pretty much back to the start of the walk near the Quayside!
This lovely walk takes about an hour (give or take) so a great chance to stretch your legs and take in the beautiful surroundings closer to Faversham town centre.
Pros:
A quicker, shorter route closer to the centre of Faversham.
You pass some lovely local businesses in Standard Quay where you can get a cup of tea to take with you on the walk!
The area by the river is really pretty, and if your dog fancies a paddle, they can have a cool down swim.
Things to be aware of:
The last section of the walk is heading back towards Faversham, so you will be near roads and other pedestrians, so best to pop your dog on the lead for this part.
Victory Wood
Victory Wood is situated in between Faversham and Whitstable and has beautiful views over the Isle of Sheppey and the Thames Estuary. We have been here a few times and have discovered there are multiple routes you can take to explore with your dog, so every time you come you can do a different walk to keep things interesting.
There is free ample parking and you are right next to the start of the walk, which is enclosed, so safe to let your dog off the lead if you wish to. The path you take is totally up to you. Some lead you through the beautiful woodlands, or if you prefer to stay in the open, there are plenty of routes that you can follow.
Pros:
Free parking with plenty of spaces
Lots of different route options to choose from
Stunning scenery to enjoy
Things to be aware of:
You will need to drive here as it is not walking distance from Faversham.
Can get very muddy when there has been wet weather (from experience!)
No shelter if it rains
Very few dog waste bins along the route – please remember to pick up and dispose in a bin.
Oare Gunpowder Works country park
Oare Gunpowder works is a beautiful little walk tucked away along The Western Link road and not far from Bysing Wood road. For a while we didn’t even know this walk existed until a friend mentioned it, and we have now been many times to wander and explore.
This enchanting walk is filled with plenty of heritage which you can read about as you walk around, as well as a visitors centre which also houses a lot more information about the site if you wish to learn more. As the name of this walk suggests, this area was a very important area for the Gunpowder industry in Faversham in the late 17th century up until 1934. You can still see a lot of the remains of the buildings and mills dotted about – which is now home to lots of birds, insects and creatures who live in the wetlands and plants which now thrive in the woodlands. Occasionally, there are live walk and talk sessions that take place in the country park, where you can learn more about the species that live in the woodlands and wetlands and if you’re lucky, spot some of them too!
If like us you are naturally drawn to water, there are a couple of lakes and a wetland known as “the leats” which is a system of waterways that lead up to Lower Mill Pond. Here you can sometimes spot frogs, toads and newts. It is a great place to pack up a picnic and have a leisurely walk around discovering new and interesting parts of the woodland.
Pros:
A really interesting place to visit, with lots of heritage and wildlife.
Free, generous parking area and toilets.
Great to bring the children as there are loads of things to look out for and to keep them entertained along the way.
Things to be aware of:
When the car park closes, they lock the gate so please ensure you leave by the requested time otherwise you may get locked in.
Best to keep your dog on a lead here in case there are other people walking around on the pathways or if there are people fishing in the lakes.
The visitor centre may be closed and the nature walks may currently be postponed due to the current pandemic, so please check beforehand if you are interested in these.
