Author: Colin Batt Removals

About Colin Batt Removals

We have over 40 years' experience providing removals and storage services across Kent, London and the UK. We specialise in piano removals and have moved Beethoven's piano on a European tour. Our facilities in Ashford include container storage, piano storage and document archive.

House removals

Four of the best up and coming Kent seaside towns

5 June 2019 Colin Batt Removals Comment

Best places to live on the Kent coast

Kent’s gorgeous coastline is one of the County’s greatest assets. But this isn’t just down to the beaches themselves – the beautiful coastal towns behind them offer a fascinating mix of history and culture for visitors to enjoy. Having moved thousands of people over the years all over Kent we have selected four of the best places to live on the Kent coast.

Whitstable

Popular with Londoners, Whitstable is famous for its oysters – and in particular its annual oyster festival. The prettiest part of the town is the seafront, lined with charming houses decorated with seashells, while in the harbour you can watch the fishing boats being unloaded and explore the fish market for an unbeatably fresh snack. The town also has a strong arts scene, with an arts centre, theatre and several galleries, and numerous independent shops. There are plenty of places where you can feast on shellfish or fresh fish and chips – and make sure you visit the Old Neptune on the beach itself for a pint of local ale.

Margate

Margate has risen from its run-down reputation to become a cool, quirky and arty Kentish treasure. The Turner Contemporary, named after the artist himself in honour of the inspiration afforded to him by the town’s sunsets, is an internationally acclaimed modern art gallery. At the other end of the scale, Dreamland offers amusement rides and a roller skating hall. The pretty Old Town has a good mix of vintage shops, cafes and galleries – then there’s the astonishing subterranean Shell Grotto, 21 metres of winding passages decorated with artworks made from 4.6 million shells. But of course Margate’s crowning glory is the golden sanded, Blue Flag winning beach, the perfect place to spend hours building sandcastles or enjoying the promenade, children’s rides and tidal pool.

Deal

Who has not visited Deal and fallen in love with it instantly? This unassuming yet delightful town boasts a beautiful seafront, with grand houses and pretty pastel colours, as well as two Tudor castles – Deal and Walmer – to explore. Take a stroll along the promenade into Walmer (the two towns run into one another), where the memorial bandstand on the green, dedicated to the 11 Royal Marines who died in an IRA bombing in 1989, hosts brass band concerts throughout the summer.

Folkestone

Another seaside resort that has recently undergone significant regeneration, Folkestone is a melting pot of arty trendiness and old fashioned elegance. The west end of town is a stylish expanse of grand Edwardian and Victorian villas, tree lined boulevards and splendid sea views, while the promenade to the harbour arm is home to classy restaurants and bars. The main beach is shingle, but there’s a sandy spot called Sunny Sands next to the harbour, which hosts an annual sandcastle competition.

Award-winning, family-run Kent removals company Colin Batt Removals has been helping people settle into their new homes across the county and around the world for more than 40 years. We’re specialists in piano removals and have moved some of the world’s most treasured instruments, so you know your belongings are in safe hands with us. As well as house removal services, we also offer a packing service for moving house to make the whole experience as stress-free and easy as possible. Call us on 01233 740395 to find out more and get a free quote.

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House removals

Top commuter towns for home buyers in Kent and Essex

8 May 2019 Colin Batt Removals Comment

Commuter towns you should consider

Working in London but don’t want to live there? Here are some great commuter towns you can choose instead.

Tonbridge, Kent

A market town with 1,000 years of history behind it, Tonbridge is in many ways the unsung epitome of everything Kentish. It’s got an 11^th century castle, and just outside the town is The Hop Farm. Formerly the site of the hop gardens which earned the county its status as the garden of England, it’s packed with attractions for kids. The town is close to the lovely Wealden countryside and itself has plenty of green spaces. Connections to London are excellent from Tonbridge: there are eight or nine peak-time trains an hour to Charing Cross and Cannon Street, all taking around 45 to 50 minutes and calling at London Bridge too.

Maidstone, Kent

Kent’s county town has it all: beautiful green spaces, cultural attractions galore, lively nightlife and fantastic shopping. Just outside the town stands the stunning Leeds Castle, popular as much for its gorgeous parkland as for the fascinating former royal residence itself. Mote Park, a 450-acre expanse of woodland and open grassland with a huge lake and a model railway, is a delightful place to spend a family afternoon; for a rainy day, there’s a theatre, a museum and a range of shops. Maidstone East has two or three trains an hour to London Victoria, taking around an hour and ten minutes.

Southend-on-Sea, Essex

Out on the coast, Southend is within an hour of central London – there are 15 trains from 7-8am to Fenchurch Street and Liverpool Street, mostly taking between 55 and 65 minutes. The seven beaches will provide endless joy if you have kids, but there is much more to the town than its seaside resort status: two theatres, an art gallery, several leisure centres, a cinema and an airport are here too. Leigh-on-Sea in particular is popular with commuters, and has period houses, vintage shops and independent cafés.

Folkestone, Kent

Once a seaside resort beloved of Edward VII, Folkestone has recently experienced significant regeneration, both in the town centre and the harbour area. There are trendy, upmarket bars and restaurants, a thriving arts scene and a creative quarter of independent shops, galleries and cafés along the cobbled Old High Street. The west end of the town has splendid Victorian and Edwardian villas, tree-lined boulevards and a charming seafront, and runs into villagey Sandgate, full of little shops and cafes and cute cottages, upmarket Seabrook and then the quiet, historic former Cinque Port of Hythe.

Ashford, Kent

A quarter of an hour up the line from Folkestone is Ashford, a town transformed by the advent of its high-speed rail link. There are ten trains to various London stations running between 7-8am, with Stratford just half an hour away and St Pancras a 38-minute ride. A lot of redevelopment is underway here, with independent shops, cafes and restaurants and a new cinema springing up, but the really big draw is still the stunning Stour Valley and Wealden countryside which surrounds the town.

When you’re moving house, you need a removal firm who you can trust with your most treasured possessions. An award-winning, family-run Kent removals company, Colin Batt Removals have been helping people settle into their new homes for more than 40 years. Finalist for the British Association of Removers’ domestic remover of the year award in 2018, we’re specialists in piano removals and have moved some of the world’s most expensive and treasured instruments.

When you work with us, you know your belongings are in safe and capable hands. As well as our house removal service, we also offer a packing service for moving house.We’re based in Ashford, Maidstone and Canterbury, and also cover the Folkestone and Tonbridge areas. To find out more about our services, give us a call on 01233 740395.

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Storage

Why wooden furniture, clothes and electronics need climate-controlled storage

3 May 2019 Colin Batt Removals Comment

Understanding climate-controlled storage units

If you’re putting your belongings into storage, you need to think about the conditions in which they’re going to be kept. Certain items are more fragile than others and can be damaged over time by humidity, high and low temperatures, and light.

Not every storage unit offers climate-controlled storage, which allows temperature, humidity and airflow to be set at particular levels. Some units claim to offer climate controlled storage when in fact they only regulate for temperature. Make sure you check what you are getting before you commit to climate controlled storage.

Why do my belongings need to be in a climate controlled environment?

Large variations in humidity can cause natural materials such as wood, leather, cloth, felt and paper to expand or contract, metals to rust, piano keys to expand (and become stiff to use) and canvas to stretch and crack. If the air is too dry, glue can dry out and paper can become brittle, while too much humidity can lead to mould and mildew on works of art, textiles and upholstered furniture.

Changes in temperature have a similar effect on natural materials. Air conditioning, widely used as a method of temperature control, only makes things worse as it removes a lot of the water from the atmosphere. Wines in particular can be damaged by fluctuations in temperature and moisture.

By keeping your items – particularly those of value such as artworks, wines, furniture and musical instruments – in climate controlled storage, they enjoy a consistent temperature and level of humidity throughout. The changeable UK weather makes materials and electronics particularly susceptible to variations, making secure and temperature controlled storage even more crucial.

You can keep your belongings in a climate controlled environment indefinitely, and with complete peace of mind that they’ll still be in the same condition when it’s time to claim them back. Not only does that take a weight off your mind, it means the value of your items is preserved too.

How we can help

Kent removals and storage firm Colin Batt Removals provides award-winning, climate-controlled storage facilities in the heart of the county. They’re perfect for antiques, pianos, art, wine, documents and books – and anything else that needs special protection.

Our facilities maintain a temperature of 20°C, probably pretty much the same as you have in your home, and a safe humidity is constantly maintained. There are no windows, so your belongings won’t be damaged by ultraviolet light, and each item is carefully wrapped for further protection from light and physical damage. The building is protected by security guards, an electronic gate, CCTV and security and fire alarms.

Our Kent storage facilities are easy to get to from just about anywhere in the county, including the Ashford, Maidstone, Canterbury Folkestone and Tonbridge areas – and of course, since we’re a removal firm, we can collect and deliver your belongings to any location you wish. To find out more about how we can take care of your treasured possessions, and get a free estimate, just give us a call on 01233 740395.

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Company News

We’re Recruiting – Removals Porter Wanted

29 August 2018 Colin Batt Removals Comment

We’re recruiting for an enthusiastic removals porter to join our award-winning team. You must be physically fit, enjoy manual labour and be hard working. Additionally, you need to be a strong team player and have good communication skills. You will be entering customer’s homes and handling their possessions, therefore you must be professional, courteous and well presented at all times.

As an expanding family business, based in Ashford, Kent, we are looking for the right individual to join our house removals company. We are passionate about delivering the very best removals with outstanding customer service and are looking for a porter who wants to be part of a top performing team.

You will be required to assist in packing, loading and moving customer’s furniture and belongings. As piano removals specialists you will also be handling these delicate instruments. A full induction and ongoing training programme will be provided for all aspects of the job.

Removals Porter Details

The job will entail:

Vehicle Preparation.
Packing.
Loading and unloading customer goods.
Piano Moving.
General deliveries.
Paperwork in support of the above activities.

This is a full time position with flexible start and finish times to meet customer demand, most days are from around 7.30am to 4.30pm. We mainly provide removals across Kent, such as Maidstone, Canterbury and Ashford, and London with some wider UK and European work. As such, the job demands some nights away from home and you will need a valid passport. A full and clean driving licence is desirable and previous knowledge of the removals industry would be advantageous.

We offer a competitive salary, which is dependent upon your experience and skills. To apply send your CV and covering letter to info@colinbattremovals.co.uk. Any questions or queries can be sent to the same address.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a keen individual to join our growing company, learn more about us here. Come and join our award-winning team and enjoy working with the one of the best in the industry.

House removals

Celebrating 40 years of Excellence in Removals and Storage

7 August 2018 Colin Batt Removals Comment

Not only are we celebrating 40 years of high quality house removals and storage services but we have also just won the Kent Excellence in Business Award for Customer Service and we are one of 3 finalists in the national, British Association of Removers Domestic Mover of the Year Competition. We are amazed and so proud to be recognised in this way and this is on top of the Ashford Business Award for Customer Service we won in November. All in all, we have a lot to celebrate as we turn 40 this year.

Domestic Mover of the Year Finalist

The Domestic Mover of the Year award aims to encourage and celebrate high standards, and to reward those companies that excel in customer service. The competition is open to all 430 members of the British Association of Removers, who are a professional trade body for the removals industry. Reaching the final places Colin Batt Removals as one of the top 3 domestic removals companies in the country. What a fantastic achievement for our Kent business. This achievement is a great honour and praise for the team; to be recognised as delivering high quality removals and excellent customer service by our own industry is a fantastic accomplishment.

Kent Excellence in Business Award for Customer Service

A couple of weeks later we were amazed to receive the Kent Excellence in Business Award for Customer Service. This award is open to any organisation, irrespective of size or sector, from Kent. The winner had to demonstrate commercial success whilst achieving excellence in looking after its customers. The competition is run by Kent County Council and the Kent Messenger Group with Barclays bank sponsoring and judging the customer service category. To top this list is very humbling, as we were up against some very strong competition from very large businesses across Kent. The judges singled us out for the commitment and passion we have to deliver an outstanding service to every single customer.

Simon Batt, the managing Director, said:

Our success in these rewards is down to the hard work and dedication of the whole team. Our motto is “Where Service is Key” and we are dedicated to helping the customer at every stage of their move. We want to make the process of moving house as stress free as possible. To win these awards and achieve this recognition in our 40^thyear is truly amazing. Thanks to all our staff that work so hard every day to make this possible.

Family-Run Removals Company since 1978

Colin Batt Removals are family-owned and run and have been operating in Kent since 1978, providing domestic house removals, piano removals, storage and document archive services. Founded in Bethersden by Colin Batt with a single van the business has grown from humble beginnings. We now operate a fleet of vehicles, have 15 staff and our own storage facility on Maidstone Road, Ashford. At this site we can now offer furniture storage, document archive and climate-controlled storage. The Company is going from strength to strength and we are proud of the award-winning services we provide. You agree too, over 99% of our customers recommend our removals and storage services to their family and friends.

House Removals Accreditation

On top of the awards we achieved British Standard EN 12522 accreditation for Furniture Removals for private individuals. This is an independent verification of the quality of our removals processes and services. Another guarantee that your house or piano move is in safe hands.

So all in all we have many reasons to celebrate in our 40^thyear; two customer service awards, British Standard Accreditation and National finalists in the Domestic Mover of the Year Award. These are all fantastic recognition of our quality house removals and storage services and a perfect birthday present. Thanks to all our staff and customers who make us who we are and Happy Birthday Colin Batt Removals.