Megan Carr

Megan Carr reviews Borgyn & Bakes in Westgate-on-Sea, a compact cafe offering an immersive Harry Potter-themed afternoon tea. The experience features detailed wizarding decor, themed drinks, savoury dishes and an extensive dessert platter. While the Every Flavour Cupcake disappointed slightly, the Chocolate Frog Brownie, wedges, drinks, service and atmosphere received strong praise. At £29.95 per person including a speciality drink, the reviewer concludes that the generous portions and elaborate setting offer excellent value, awarding five stars for drinks, decor, staff and value, and four for food.

Ann Widdecombe, the former Conservative MP for Maidstone and Maidstone and the Weald, minister, South West England MEP and later Reform UK politician, has died aged 78. Her representatives announced the death and asked that her family's privacy be respected; a police investigation has also been launched. Widdecombe was known for her socially conservative and Eurosceptic positions, her role in the Brexit campaign, and her later appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and political programmes. Political figures and local leaders paid tribute to her public service, campaigning, sharp wit and strong connection to Maidstone and Kent.

A visit to The Egg Machine, a 24‑hour farm vending machine in Aldington, highlights its convenience and unexpectedly high‑quality local produce. Items including a standout chicken pie, cooked chicken, cookies and Scotch eggs impressed despite higher‑than‑supermarket prices, while milkshakes were less flavourful than expected. The self‑service setup, village setting and reliable operation contribute to its appeal as both a practical local shop and a TikTok‑driven curiosity.

A grey Audi caught fire in the Marine Esplanade car park in Ramsgate on May 23, 2026. Kent Fire and Rescue Service sent one engine, extinguished the blaze using a hose-reel jet, and reported no injuries. The fire apparently resulted from an electrical fault and did not spread to nearby vehicles or property.

Megan Carr reviews The Slate Turkish Smokehouse in Gravesend, finding its mixed Turkish grilled-meat platter flavorful, well-seasoned and generously portioned. The sweet potato fries were a highlight, while the mac and cheese was decent but slightly powdery. She praised the attentive service, modern atmosphere and reasonable £68 total bill, and recommended the restaurant for a Saturday night meal before drinks, despite its unexpectedly empty dining room.

A broken-down lorry on the QEII Bridge caused two lanes of the M25 clockwise to close between J31 Lakeside and J1A Dartford, resulting in lengthy queues. National Highways managed the incident, and all lanes had reopened shortly after 9am, although motorists still faced delays of around 10 minutes and one mile of congestion.

A lorry collided with roadside fencing on the clockwise M25 between junctions 5 at Sevenoaks and 6 at Godstone, causing the motorway to be temporarily held and producing delays of up to 45 minutes with four miles of congestion. The incident also caused additional delays on the westbound M26. Kent Police reported no injuries, while recovery crews, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and National Highways attended the scene.

The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate waited until Friday, March 13, to notify the UK Health Security Agency about a patient who had presented with suspected meningitis two days earlier. Officials and experts said the hospital should have reported the suspected case immediately, without waiting for formal test confirmation, because earlier notification could have enabled faster contact tracing, preventative antibiotics and public warnings. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the trust took 26 hours to report after suspecting meningitis, calling the delay unacceptable while saying it did not materially affect containment. The outbreak involved 23 suspected or probable cases, including two deaths and four intensive-care patients; 20 cases had been confirmed, with no new linked cases reported as vaccination efforts expanded.

Kent Police officer PC Bradley Corke, 27, died after being critically injured in a crash on the A20 in Farningham while responding to an emergency call in Swanley. His colleague remains critically ill in hospital, while another member of the public is being treated for serious injuries. Police, colleagues, politicians and members of the public have paid tribute to Corke, who had served since 2022 and was based at Tonbridge. Kent Police is appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage, while the Independent Office for Police Conduct is assessing a mandatory referral.

The number of meningitis cases linked to a Kent outbreak has fallen from 34 to 29 after some cases were reclassified. The UKHSA says 20 cases are confirmed, including 19 caused by meningococcal group B, while nine remain under investigation; all affected people have been hospitalised. More than 8,000 vaccines and 12,100 precautionary antibiotic courses have been administered, with eligibility expanded to nightclub attendees, students and staff at affected universities and sixth-form pupils at four schools. The outbreak, linked to Canterbury nightclub Club Chemistry and two deaths including 18-year-old Juliette Kenny, has prompted multiple vaccination clinics and continued warnings to seek immediate care for symptoms. Officials say the wider public risk remains low, while the Meningitis Research Foundation and Kenny’s family are calling for broader MenB protection for young people.

Megan Carr reviews Billie’s Bakes in Northfleet after spending £48.20 on milkshakes, cakes, cookies, blondies and brownies. She praises the shop’s bright appearance, open working area, energetic staff and indulgent, generously sized homemade treats, particularly the warm Mini Egg crunch cake and dense cookies. Although individual items can seem expensive, the review concludes that the quality and portion sizes justify the cost, especially when shared. Billie’s Bakes receives five stars for food and staff, four and a half for drinks and décor, and four for price.

University student Annabelle Mackay temporarily lost her sight and ability to walk after developing meningitis B following a night out in Canterbury. Her housemates and mother arranged urgent medical help, which she says saved her life. The case is part of a meningococcal outbreak linked to close-contact socializing, with 20 confirmed cases, two deaths and Club Chemistry identified as a key venue. The UK Health Security Agency is tracing people who attended the nightclub on March 5–7 and offering preventative antibiotics, while officials consider expanding the dates and launching targeted vaccination at the University of Kent.

Nine-month-old Nala-Rose Fletcher from Folkestone remains in intensive care at Evelina London Children’s Hospital after contracting meningococcal group B infection. Her family says she faces two operations and lasting difficulties, prompting a JustGiving appeal that has exceeded its £5,000 target and risen to £20,000. Although her infection involves the same MenB strain found in a wider Kent outbreak, the UK Health Security Agency says it is not currently linked. The outbreak has caused 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with suspected links to Club Chemistry in Canterbury and a Whitstable house party; preventative antibiotics and a student vaccination programme are being arranged.

The UK Health Security Agency has denied delaying its public-health response to a Kent meningitis outbreak after confirming that the infections involve group B meningococcal disease, or MenB. At least 13 cases have been linked to Club Chemistry nightclub in Canterbury, and two young people have died, including 18-year-old Faversham sixth-form pupil Juliette and a University of Kent student. UKHSA officials said early cases initially appeared isolated and that links were established within 24 hours, while hundreds of people sought precautionary antibiotics at the university and temporary clinics. Schools and several hospitality venues have taken precautionary measures, and people who attended Club Chemistry on March 5, 6 or 7 have been urged to come forward for antibiotics and seek urgent medical help if symptoms develop.

An 11-year-old child who was last seen in Chatham High Street at around 9 p.m. on March 11, 2026, has been safely located. Police thanked members of the public who shared the missing-person appeal.

An 18-year-old from Otham, Maidstone, who was last seen leaving home at around 9 p.m. on March 10, 2026, has returned home safe and well. Police have ended their appeal and thanked everyone who assisted.

Megan Carr reviews the £25 winter afternoon tea at Cafe on the Creek in Oare, near Faversham, after visiting with her parents on a cold, rainy day. She praises the café’s nautical but cosy setting, accommodating staff and generous selection of sandwiches, sausage rolls, tarts, scones and cakes, with unlimited tea, coffee and hot chocolate. The food, particularly the sausage rolls, caramelised onion tarts and rich cakes, receives high marks, and the experience is judged good value. The café earns five stars for food, drink and staff, four and a half for décor and price, and prompts the family to plan a return visit.

Megan Carr reviews Indulgence, a brunch and breakfast restaurant on Week Street in Maidstone. She praises its generous portions, well-prepared food, quality drinks, friendly service, clean and airy setting, and reasonable bill of £50.64 for three people. The pistachio French toast, Biscoff hot chocolate and substantial breakfast dishes receive particularly strong approval, although some diners find parts of the décor slightly clinical. The restaurant earns an overwhelmingly positive assessment, with five-star ratings for food, drinks, staff and price, and four stars for décor.

An overturned car on Rochester Road in Aylesford caused rush-hour delays after police were called at 6:48 a.m. The road was closed between Pilgrims Way and Chatham Road while the vehicle was recovered, with congestion reported on the southbound A229 from the M2 at Chatham. Injuries were described as minor, and police, paramedics and a recovery vehicle attended.

A man was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries after a car crashed and overturned on Black Bull Road near the bottom of Hawkinge Hill in Folkestone at 7:09 a.m. Police and other emergency services attended, and officers remained at the scene while arrangements were made to recover the vehicle.