insideKENT Magazine Issue 76 - July 2018 | Page 44

IN ASSOCIATION WITH TOWNSPOTLIGHT Spotlight on ORPINGTON cont. Flavours of Orpington 2017: Chandni’s Executive Chef Sarawar Uddin Khan cooking up a storm at the Saturday Showcase demonstration kitchen. PHOTO BY ROBERT PIWKO PHOTO BY THE URBAN SNAPPER Flavours of Orpington 2017: Foodie Friday welcomed visitors to Market Square to enjoy an evening of Live Music, comedy and street food. PHOTO BY THE URBAN SNAPPER available in the town centre, including Foodie Friday – an evening of street food, live music and comedy, and Saturday Showcase – with chefs from some of the town’s favourite restaurants cooking dishes live in a demonstration kitchen. A fantastic range of award-winning independent eateries, serving cuisine from across the globe includes the ever popular Hisar Meze Bar, the renowned Chinese restaurant Xian, Mediterranean restaurants Ephesus and Scala, Masala Dabbas – serving Indian food as Indians know it and recent addition, Cow & Pig – taking classic British dishes and serving them with a twist. Primo Caffe and Finch House are just two of several excellent cafes, and family favourites Nando’s, Bella Italia and Miso Noodles have also jumped on board in recent years. The 44 Loungers chose Orpington for their first Greater London branch, Pato Lounge. Priory Gardens, home to the Borough’s oldest building, The Priory, includes ornamental gardens, a lake and a children’s play area. Somewhat of a hidden gem – although just a minute’s walk from the high street – the gardens have provided the venue for a series of annual festivals drawing crowds from across London and Kent. Priory Live Music Festival was established in 2014, with a focus on providing a platform for fresh talent performing original music. The Big O Vintage Festival, now in its fourth year, is a celebration of suburbia through the decades. And most recently, Enchanted Children’s Festival pulled in the visitors and delighted local residents. With the tagline ‘Explore your imagination’, Enchanted provides a day packed full of free arts, activities and interactive workshops all designed to spark children’s creativity. For more information on Orpington town centre, please visit www.orpington1st.co.uk. [email protected] orpington1st Orpington1st