Today you are in the premises now known as the 'Press Room Bistro' but the history behind the building goes back in time..
In 1881 the Invicta Press was founded by Herbert and Burgess HEADLEY in a small room above their father's grocery shop at 46 High Street, ASHFORD. This new firm offered a printing service of paper bags, billheads and circulars to the local traders and was an immediate success.
In 1883 the brothers opened a stationery shop next door. Herbert HEADLEY had a desire to produce something new and to print a local newspaper with a strong emphasis on temperance and morality. Together with a friend he started the ' Kent Examiner & Ashford Chronicle'. The friend, Barham BOORMAN went on to produce the Kent Messenger; which we still know today publishing a number of local newspapers.
Gradually the Headleys moved into book printing and later into colour work. In 1892 a printing works and factory was built behind the High Street. After Burgess HEADLEY returned from America on a fact-finding tour, HEADLEY BROTHERS became the third firm to install monotype in Europe and began to lead the way in printing here at the premises you are in.
In 1906 disaster struck when fire destroyed almost the whole printing works but this Press Room survived. After this HEADLEY BROTHERS moved to a new site in Ashford, and today remain trading as a family run firm.
We believe this building was then used as a warehouse before becoming a restaurant a number of years ago.
Purple Sprout Catering took over the premises in October 2013. The new proprietor John HOWLAND with his team welcome you and hope that you enjoy your experience here. It is John's policy to use local purveyors of food and drink and to serve you good quality value for money food.
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