Commercial

Tonbridge

Bisected by a single, massive High Street - Tonbridge is the place to come if you are shopping on a budget or just looking for a bargain; as well as a massive permanent market it also boasts an above average number of economy shops, discount outlets and charity stores.

The HeroPress Offices

Some of the city's most famous exports - HeroPress Comics - are written, drawn and editted from offices just off Tonbridge High Street. Since the mid-50s, they have been chronicling the adventures of such well-loved characters as:

• The Acrobatic Flea
• Silverfist
• Hurricane & Brutus
• The Atomic Bull

etc etc

and teams such as:

• The Patrollers
• The Gauntlet

Set in a fictionalised version of Knight City called Royal Wells, the monthly adventures of the costumed crusaders have been inspiring children of all ages for almost 50 years... and a massive celebration is planned for the publishing house's golden anniversary in 2008 (both in comic continuity and in real life!)

The publishing house is owned by Sean 'The Gent' Gentry, who lives in Pembury and the comics are printed, and distributed from, presses in Paddock Wood.

Standing outside the offices, on the banks of the Medway, looking across the river at the Castle, is a statue of Steve St. James, sketchbook in hand. Steve was the first regular artist on HeroPress and helped 'The Gent' design many of the iconic characters. Steve moved away from Knight City many years ago, when he gave up the comic book industry.

Vale Road

The 'red light' district of Knight City, Vale Road has a strange history. Originally located in Central, near to Central Station, its shops, bars and brothels were almost forced out of business by moral crusaders in the late 1970s - until members of the 'local business' community came forward and announced they had bought up a derelict street in Tonbridge and moved residents and businesses lock, stock and barrel (and name) to their current location in Tonbridge!

The Rose

The Rose strip club, owned by the Black Brothers, is located in Vale Road - but don't try getting in unless your name's on the list! In the main area, a single bar dominates one side of the narrow room with a pole rising to the ceiling at each end. Girls, in groups of two or three, dance on the bar in 15 minute shifts. Customers seated at the bar will be treated - for an extra fee - to lap dances and other close-up displays. After their performance the girls return - nearly fully clothed again - to mingle with the audience and try to lure punters into paying for extra services in one of the upstairs rooms.

The Bar None

The finest drinking establishment in Knight City - or so the sign outside says. Situated in Vale Road between the strip joints and brothels, the Bar None is smokey dive frequented by low-lifes, prostitutes, drug-dealers, undercover cops and journalists. Local bands are given the chance to try-out here and owner/barkeeper Herman 'Hermie' Leech is always on the look-out for fresh talent to grace his stage.

Herman 'Hermie' Leech

as played by Henry Ian Cusick

Fights are frequent, but good natured - mostly drunken brawls over a woman or an answer on the video quiz machine. Everyone knows Hermie keeps a baseball under the counter, but tries not to get involved unless major property damage looks likely... usually customers are allowed to sort their own problems out.

Punks, skins, chavs and goths dink here because it's a good place to 'be yourself' withou being hassled. Hermie is the eyes and ear of Vale Road - little goes on without him knowing and it is said that he is good friends with the Black brothers and Dr H ... so not a man to mess with!

Drinks are cheap, but nothing special, and no food is served - but then would you want to eat in a place like this?

Strabo & Willis

Up a creaky staircase, above a typical Vale Road sex shop, you will find the offices of private investigators Julius Strabo and Hugh Willis. An odd couple - Strabo is smartly dressed and well-spoken, Willis the opposite, although both have razor sharp minds and great knowledge of the city and its workings - they pride themselves on tackling the cases other gumshoes won't touch ... cases with a dash of eccentricity are their calling card.

Julius Strabo	Hugh Willis
as played by Patrick Stewart	as played by Hugh Cornwell

The Market

The permanent, covered market is a maze of small and medium-sized units selling everything from plastic novelties and flags, through garden furniture and adult toys to old magazines and books. The waiting time for a pitch in the market currently stands at about four or five years, but if you know the right people - and are willing to offer the right 'donations' - it is possible to leapfrog up the queue.

Although the individual pitches are as well lit as their owners would like, the maze of tunnels between them can get quite gloomy.

The foremost traders, at present, in the market are:

Samantha Metcalfe, purveyor of cheap tobacco and cigarettes	Duane Potts, purveyor of second-hand books	Harry Ewing, purveyor of building tools	Chantelle Legton, purveyor of fine perfumes
as played by Kathy Burke	as played by Mickey Rourke	as played by David Spinx	as played by Billie Piper

Tonbridge Station

The main rail hub for both passengers and freight, this is the busiest station in the city - although not the cleanest!

Snuggle's Cove Heffalump Sanctuary

Hidden in the backstreets of this district, behind a nondescript door with only a small sign to identify it, is an Aladin's Cave for children. Packed wall to wall with toys and games, this is an old school doll's hospital, where children can bring their treasured possessions - from teddy bears to action figures - to be mended, at a very reasonable price, by Doctor Susan Spender (aka The Toy Lady).

Susan Spender

as played by Josie D'Arby

Ork's Drift

A combined wargames and comic shop, Ork's Drift concentrates on the modern end of the gaming market - dealing mainly in brand new roleplaying games and flashy Games Workshop, Mongoose Publishing style science-fiction and fantasy wargames. If anyone wants historical miniatures they get politely directed to The Dark Tower in Central.

Spin Dis

A small, specialist record shop selling US imports and reggae music - frequented by local musicians looking to 'hang'. It is run by a moody raste - Clyde - amd his strange, dippy-hippy assistant, Kylie. She is prone to bombard customers, whom she has never met before, with such questions as "Do you know the Dolphin Song? No? Oh, you looked like you would."

Clyde Barrow	Kylie Duppa
as played by Ky-Mani Marley	as played by Sienna Miller

My Kinda Plaice

Located in the same street as the HeroPress offices, this fish'n'chip emporium run by middle-aged greaser Ken Fowler - and is generally regarded as the best in the city. Ken employs two young women, Shirley and Sandra.

The shop has a few tables for people who want to eat their grub and watch the traffic. Ken is very proud of his "humourous" shop name - little realising that his staff tend to constantly take the piss out of it and are always trying to come up with dreadful "fish" puns, such as "No plaice like home", "your plaice or mine" etc.

Ken Fowler	Shirely Wilkins	Sandra Tanner
as played by David Morrissey	as played by Kate Ford	as played by Lacey Turner

Parkland

There are two major parks in this district:

• Haysden: Home to Barden Lake, the largest natural lake in the city, and surrounded by a long walking/cycling tracks which is popular with the keep-fit brigade and dog walkers. The lake attracts its own brotherhood of fishermen - any age, any sex.
• The Sports Ground: Sitting behind the City Museum and Tonbridge Castle, this is a very family-friendly park with play areas, a small model steam train, paddling pools, football pitches, crazy golf etc.