Les Best, owner of the Hatters Hall shop, Preston Street, Faversham

Tucked away in the heart of Faversham is an unassuming record shop with a very colourful past.

The owner of Hatters Hall in Preston Street, Les Best, has partied with some of the world’s biggest stars, promoted some of our most well-known musicians and flat-shared with one of rock’s biggest names.

The former music promoter found himself in Faversham by accident, after purchasing the treasure trove at a craft fair six years ago. He now spends his days in the town selling CDs, DVDs and instruments.

But the 59-year-old’s life wasn’t always so conventional.

Les spent the 1970s and 1980s living with Lemmy from Motorhead, promoting David Bowie and has ended up with a guitar bought by Marc Bolan for Les’s friend and Marc’s former band mate Steve Peregrin Took.

Les said: “I promoted Roxy Music, Robert Palmer and David Bowie. My connection with music started when I was 18. I used to do gigs in Canterbury and promote groups.

Les with some of his music collection

“I started doing it in London and got to know a lot of people. I ended up living with Lemmy from Motorhead at one point.

“I managed Steve Peregrin Took. He was Marc Bolan’s partner in Tyrannosaurus Rex.”

But it was his days spent with the Peter Stringfellow that gave the father-of-one access to some of the world’s biggest stars: “My flatmate dated Peter Stringfellow for more than 10 years.

“Stringfellows was the celeb club in London. I met a lot of people, including Princess Diana. Her brother Charles was at my birthday party,” he added.

When the club became a lapdancing club Les says the partying was over and he eventually found himself in Faversham, after caring for his mother.

His connections with famous faces did not end there. A string of stars have visited his store in the town, bringing a slice of the celebrity world to Faversham.

Les has served members of The Clash, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and the town’s very own Bob Geldof (pictured right) at the store.

With his wild ways behind him the music-lover now spends his time with his young son, Kai.

The youngster has certainly learnt from his father – the 13-year-old regularly tours with Alice Cooper, who is a very good friend of his mother’s.

Les said: “He is very lucky.”