Kokova Magazine

Since 2010, when we launched The Source magazine across London, with the print edition reaching 250,000 copies, we have worked hard to bring you a variety of information on a plethora of topics (that's what the bio said). A few of the original founders have moved on to start new ventures and families but we are still here, going strong.

Seven years later and we have been looking back at what we have achieved - and where we are now planning to go, and we think it is time to get a little more personal. So, we have update our About Us page to let our readers know exactly who we are. We are taking a change in direction to a more direct market, and actively looking to go back in to print in 2018 (this time with distribution on a more local level). We are based somewhere in between Oxted and East Grinstead, with a different county bordering on all sides. A few miles in any directions and we could be having breakfast in Kent, lunch in Sussex, dinner in London and home to Surrey for tea.

This means we have the best access to thriving towns, country escapes and beautiful beaches across the South East. Our aim is not to just focus on food and drink, but to explore all the lifestyle choices that are open to us today, and in the future. We want to focus on our local areas as well as those independent suppliers, who ooze passion for their products, from far and wide.

When I took over the daily running of Kokova Magazine in 2013 the first company that struck a cord for me was Honeybuns BakeryWe popped down to meet Emma and Matt and spend the weekend Glamping at Naish Farm, where the work ethics, passion and the whole team made a tremendous impression on us, and to this day I still use one of their little tea holder purses to keep my business cards safe. If you meet me out and about ask to have a look!

Since then we have met and published stories about a whole range of products, people and places, including events and days out. It is no surprise that we love chocolate, and when we made the decision not to print again in October 2014 (with the Sunday Telegraph) we knew we had to try something new. With only 8 weeks until Christmas (2014) we got together as many chocolatiers as we knew, whom we had met through various press events, and we brought them to St Mary's Community Hall in Oxted, Surrey for the first Oxted Chocolate Fair - and Discover Cacao (our sister venture) was born. Since then we have been back each year, and added the Denbies Chocolate Fair to our growing list. In 2018 Discover Cacao is expanding, so if you love chocolate, you will love what we have planned.

Our introduction to Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking also completed our trio of activities, with art exhibitions adding to our list of planned events. The First for Art exhibitions started to support my son (who is Aspergers) and promote his artwork to an audience for the first time. Our exhibitions at Denbies now include many local and emerging artist from the surrounding area, offering our exhibitors affordable exhibition space to showcase their work.

Locally we have also been hopping across the border to Kent, to team up with Jo Banks, who is Alive with Flavour, helping to grow her business, while she in turn supports us with her fabulous foodie knowledge and huge passion for local produce. Keep an eye on us both next month when we head to town for October's Chocolate Week, getting up-close and personal with as much chocolate as possible at The Chocolate Show (Olympia). If you can't wait till then pop along to the Alive with Flavour Choctails event at Crockham Hill on the 4th. Tickets are limited for a night of chocolate and cocktails, plus a little truffle making so you have something to take home too.

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