Blooming Camden Road
Tunbridge Wells is an incredibly LONG town! Start at the Ramslye end of the town and keep
walking until Silverdale, and you will pass all variety of shops, pubs, cafés, restaurants and other
businesses. Each part of the town has their own community feel, and one of these working hard to
smarten itself up is Camden Road. Like the row of shops along St John’s Road, this area was
originally a working part of the town, and the shops sold provisions in the days before supermarkets
and cars. Now the road has the chance to develop it’s own individual character. Containing some
lovely restaurants, unique cafés and pubs, and a World Wide range of takeaways, this is also the
place for specialist shops.
Well established is Derroll Tozer’s Chairs and Upholstery Shop. For several years Derroll was asked
by customers for the products needed for DIY upholstery, and these are now available in a second
shop just along the road – Karen’s Foam Store. A distinctive blue shop front, Karen has completely
embraced Tunbridge Wells in Bloom, and shows just how a little bit of hard work and thought can
brighten up the road.
Another new shop that has joined in with TW in Bloom is specialist bike shop, Velocipede. Look up
high for their bike and floral basket. This independent cycle shop will sell, repair or service, and can
offer advice on all things velocipede ( Latin for “fast foot”, an umbrella term for any humanpowered
land vehicle with one or more wheels. )
A third new business, at 110, is Art Pull. I looked through the historical records, and for many years
110 was a confectioners shop, offering sweet delights. Now 110 offers weekly art delights. Run by
Mark Paul Perry and Guy Portelli, the idea is that each week a different group of artists take over
the space to display their work. The artists then have the chance to be in the shop, working and
available to talk to potential customers. My favourite week so far was “Hats Matter” where five
milliners decorated the shop with all manner of head-wear on Royal Ascot week. There is
something about hats that made everyone at the Private View join in with trying on and posing; hats
have a fun and easy fancy dress element! Exhibitions carry on this month, so check their website, or
just walk past and see what’s happening (open Tuesdays to Saturdays).
Other newbies are Gill Wing Farm Shop and The Savoury Kitchen, sitting alongside established
specialist businesses such as DW Audio, Mirror Image, In Gear, In Skin, The Flower Basket and
Cosmic Cartwheels. If you venture into Quarry Road past the Black Horse pub, you’ll find a
community project that hopefully will inspire others. Several years ago the public toilets in Quarry
Road were demolished, and the land abandoned. Now, using donations of containers, soil and
plants, the idea is to make a garden for all to enjoy. Well done to all involved, and here’s hoping it
looks lovely by the time St Barnabas Church is open for Heritage Open Days in September.
A road formerly of butchers and greengrocers is growing into a floral, retail treasure trove, so take
time this summer to visit and see what’s happening!
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