The past two years have been incredibly tough for many of our local businesses.
I recently called into the Hot Tin in Faversham to see how this fabulous local café and music venue is getting back on its feet after the pandemic.
Turning an old church into a café and music venue, has helped preserve a bit of our heritage as well as provide somewhere for local people to meet up and a place where bands and artists can promote their work.
The venue received over £98,000 in Government support through the Culture Recovery Fund, which was set up to help cultural organisations struggling during the pandemic.
As a former Arts Minister I know just how important art and culture are to our communities and local economy. The £2 billion provided through the Culture Recovery Fund has been a lifeline for so many cultural organisations across the country.
While I’m pleased to see the Hot Tin getting back on its feet, I’m concerned that local planning difficulties are holding them back from trading as normal.
With more Covid restrictions set to be eased later this month, this should be a moment for optimism about the future.
I’ll continue to do everything I can to back our local businesses.
