Entertainment in Maidstone

Maidstone' wealth of attractions has something to suit everybody.

Eating and drinking

With more than 20 independent cafés alongside Nero and Costa, Maidstone is a great place to get your coffee either on the go or sitting in comfort. Here are some of our favourites:

• Fortify Café - Veggie café offering home-cooked food in a relaxed setting
• Hazlitt Café - Next to the Graham Clarke Gallery so you get culture and coffee in one hit
• Mexxa Mexxa - Authentic Latino feel, tasty food and margaritas in a rustic building
• Spice Hut - Good, reasonably priced Indian food to eat in or take away.

Shopping

Maidstone has all the high street shops you would expect as well as many independent ones in the pedestrianised Fremlin Walk shopping centre and Week Street and the indoor shopping centres of The Mall and The Royal Star Arcade. There is also quirky, historic Bank Street with independent shops and interesting eateries. While you're there, why don't you also check out:

• The Farmers' Market - Takes place on the fourth Saturday of the month and sells the best local produce
• Italian Market - Fremlin Walk hosts an Italian market from time to time - look out for the banners
• Lockmeadow Market - The envy of many market towns with a great variety of stalls every Tuesday and Saturday
• Grinning Demon - Comics and game cards including the rare and unusual.

Cinema and theatre

You can catch a box office hit at the cinema or join the film club at the local arts centre showing more unusual art house films.

• Odeon Cinema - A multi-screen cinema with bars, restaurants, a gym and a nightclub all under the same roof
• The Hazlitt Arts Centre - The centre runs a film club showing films which may not have been widely distributed. It also houses the Hazlitt Theatre which presents an eclectic mix of entertainment from drama to musicals.

Festivals and fairs

Home to Radio One's Big Weekend in 2008 when Madonna and Usher headlined, Maidstone and the surrounding area has a lot to offer for the serious festival goer and for those who just want to dabble.

• Maidstone River Festival - An eccentric mix of entertainment and funfair alongside decorated boats and raft race craziness. Hundreds of brightly decorated boats line the riverside bringing a bit of Monaco to Maidstone
• Maidstone Beer Festival - Live bands, food & other entertainments enhance the beer tasting
• The Hop Farm Festival - Live music with big names such as Paul Weller, Super Furry Animals, Fratellis and The Editors. This festival goes back to basics - it's about the punter and the music
• Maidstone Mela - A celebration of cultural diversity through music, food and dance. The Mela has a truly international theme with stalls preparing, cooking and selling their national and regional cuisine as well as displaying crafts and national dress.

Pubs and clubs

Maidstone really is the club capital of Kent. As well as all the pubs there are at least 14 late night venues where you can dance, party and listen to live music. Its wide range of venues caters for all music tastes. Here are just a few highlights:

• The Source Bar - The main student venue in town
• The Loft - One of the South East's premier dance music clubs, it has hosted many world class DJs including Pete Tong and Nic Fanciulli
• Maidstone Music Room - The Music Room offers a varied programme from jazz, latin and blues, to pop, soul and even opera
• The Style and Winch pub - Live entertainment featuring local bands.

Check out our Student life pages for more information.