Elizabeth Mahoney has lived in Tunbridge Wells, England for 11 years and loves the community feel of her neighborhood on St. James' Road. She enjoys being able to walk to the many independent shops and restaurants on nearby Camden Road. On weekends, she often goes to local pubs to socialize with friends and listen to live music. Elizabeth also appreciates the parks and nature areas around Tunbridge Wells that provide scenic places to relax, such as Dunorlan Park along the boating lake. Overall, she loves her neighborhood due to the vibrant local culture and businesses, as well as the friendly atmosphere.

1. SO Magazine / FEBRUARY 2019 / 7
FOOD
 LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE 
This month we talk to Trinity Theatre’s Marketing & Development Manager
Elizabeth Mahoney and discover why she loves where she lives…
Where do you live?
St James’ Road, at the slightly unfashionable
end. I absolutely love it, though. Most of my
neighbours have lived there for 30 years or
more and it’s a two-minute walk from
Camden Road, which is thriving with
independent shops and restaurants.
How long have you lived there and
what made you decide to move?
I moved to Tunbridge Wells 11 years ago
and made my current house my home. I
lived in and around North London for most
of my adult life; the similarities between
Muswell Hill and Tunbridge Wells are
striking. The property market in London
was, and still is, impenetrable and having
visited Tunbridge Wells on family days out
in my youth I thought it worth a revisit,
especially due to its close proximity to
London and the coast.
What’s your favourite shop locally?
The Bicycle Bakery. The offering is excellent
and it’s the perfect place for a catch-up with
a friend over lunch.
Where’s the best place for a Sunday stroll?
The entrance to Grosvenor & Hilbert Park is
at the end of my road, so for a quick stretch it’s
ideal. I like to potter around town and into
The Pantiles before cutting back up across the
Common to the Mount Edgcumbe: another
great place to stop for lunch.
And the best place to get a cup of coffee?
I haven’t drunk coffee for years, I am definitely
a tea fiend! I always grab a cuppa from the
Pleasant Café, located next to Tunbridge Wells
train station. It’s owned by a lovely Mauritian
family and they have built up quite a local
following, the menu offers good value and
they cook a mean bacon sandwich, which is
perfect for an end-of-week team treat.
Where do you take people when they
come to visit?
Tunbridge Wells never fails to impress as
there is so much to do. Many a great night
has been had at The Forum and we are
completely spoilt for choice gastronomically
with a raft of independent eateries that offer
excellent value. Six years ago, the night
before our wedding, my husband and I took
the party-centric element to see a Led Zep
tribute band at Trinity Theatre, which made
for an interesting story during my interview
process there a few years later!
What’s the nightlife like where you live?
Camden Road is pub-orientated, and the
tendency is for an evening to close at one of
them. I am a vinyl junkie, so if we want to
carry the party on, it’s generally back to the
house for drinks and a cheeseboard.
Where’s your favourite place to eat locally?
There is a wealth of good restaurants in the
immediate vicinity. Aside from old
favourites such as The Spice and Il Vesuvio,
Hattusa is excellent and a current favourite.
Are there any nice views nearby?
St James’ is at the lower end of the town, so
views are limited but the Common has great
ones over the town, framed well by some of
its best architecture. I am very excited about
the development of the Trinity clocktower,
which will see the addition of a 360-degree
viewing platform with knockout views
guaranteed. I can’t wait, if only we could slip
a champagne bar into the drawings!
If you’re looking to relax and unwind,
where’s your favourite place to go?
It has to be Dunorlan Park. As I work in
marketing and communications I spend most
of my week either immersed in the digital
world, strategising with touring companies or
developing plans to connect and engage our
audience. It is a bit of a battle to truly switch
off! The nearest I get to it is when I walk;
being near water is particularly restorative and
the boating lake at Dunorlan is not a bad
trade for the sea when I need a quick local fix.
Where’s the best place to meet friends
and socialise?
A firm favourite has to be The Black Horse
on Camden Road. Their jam nights are the
perfect place for young musicians to try out
or even seasoned session musicians to play.
Did you know Rag’n’Bone Man sang there
just before he hit the big time? Fuggles is
my favourite for an after-work get-together
or to while away an hour reading a book.
What do you do when you spend a
weekend or day off in the local area?
When not pulled up to London, or the Old
Town in Hastings, we tend to go to either
The Guinea or Sankey’s for lunch. Or we
have a mooch around the galleries along the
High Street or The Pantiles. Invariably,
though, we end up pub-hopping, catching
live music along the way, it makes for a fun
evening with local friends.
Why do you love where you live?
For the people: Tunbridge Wells is made up
of micro-communities and the area around
Camden Road is unlike any other. Its strong
presence of independent retailers and
support for the artistic endeavours of the
town is not well-noted but hopefully that will
change! Recognition for this developing hub
in a much overlooked part of town is
deserved. The vibrancy, ingenuity and
dedication to local business resonates
strongly with the town’s motto, which reflects
drive and positivity – ‘Do Well, Doubt Not’.
Plus it’s friendliest walk to work I have
ever experienced.
3 www.trinitytheatre.net 3
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