Sponsored Editorial

The Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District is bringing not one, but two Christmas light switch on events back to the town centre, as the organisation behind supplying and funding the Christmas lights for the town centre since 2020.

On Saturday 19 November from 2pm to 4:30pm, Carols in Chapel Place will see carol singers from King Charles the Martyr church provide live festive music, with Scrooge character and free hot food and drink, including chestnut stand, panettone from Arte Biance, chocolate from Goupie and festive canapes from Larratt&Co Butchers.

At 3:30pm, KMFM will take over the musical offering, with the Mayor of Tunbridge Wells switching on the Chapel Place Christmas lights at 4pm. There will also be giveaways of free gift guides, colouring books and illustrated Christmas cards.

From November 15, Chapel Place will also have a large Christmas tree installed, courtesy of RTW Together.

Later in the evening, Party on The Pantiles, from 8pm to 9:30pm, sees live music from Miss Holiday Swing, appearances from Elf, gingerbread characters and the Jack in the Beanstalk panto stars, with additional music and chat from KMFM. The switch on will take place at 8:30pm.

For the first year, RTW Together has brought The Pantiles into the main town centre scheme, previously supplied by owners Target Follow. RTWT have now match-funded the cost of the scheme with Target Follow, and arranged for infrastructure works to bring the area up to the correct standard.

In between the events, The Pantiles Big Reveal event will take place from 5pm to 8pm, also sponsored by Royal Tunbridge Wells Together.

BID Director Sarah-Jane Adams says, “After the success of last year’s event, we’re pleased to be sponsoring the Big Reveal, as organised by the Zero Waste Company. To capitalise on this footfall, and to add something extra to proceedings, we’re holding our two small scale lights switch on events for Chapel Place and The Pantiles, to celebrate the start of our Christmas lights season.”

The remainder of the town centre’s Christmas lights will come on overnight on Saturday 19 November.

New additions to the scheme for 2022 include Castle Street, trees in Calverley Road and precinct, and the frontage of Royal Victoria Place shopping centre, for which a grant has been supplied to Royal Victoria Place.