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There’s so much local business news to cover this week, so we are sending two editions of the Kent Business Newsletter your way! Look out for the regular edition on Thursday as usual...

Today we cover - Gen Z’s shift away from Google and towards TikTok. YouTube and AI tools for travel planning, and what that means for search, social and marketing strategies. A first look at The Courtyard Kitchen, Chapel House Estate’s new open-fire dining space launching in February, designed for weddings, events and social dining.

We look at how Europa Road stepped in to help UK exporters avoid disruption from new French VAT rules, keeping cross-border trade moving. Brachers’ high-profile five-year partnership at the Kent County Showground, placing the firm at the centre of Kent’s rural and business community. Plus, why demand for high-protein vegan meals is still rising sharply across the UK, long after Veganuary ends.

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Younger travellers now plan holidays through TikTok, YouTube and AI tools instead of Google. A new report from Reflect Digital shows 96 percent of people use at least one social platform for travel ideas. Gen Z runs every step of their search on TikTok, while YouTube now draws more than half of all travellers looking for longer, more detailed videos.

AI has replaced comparison sites for many people, especially those aged 18 to 44. LinkedIn and Reddit are gaining ground as travellers look for credible voices before booking. Older groups still lean on Google and in-person agents, underscoring a sharp generational split in how people plan trips.

➡️ See how your customers are really choosing their next holiday.

Chapel House Estate will open The Courtyard Kitchen in February 2026, adding a new live fire dining space beside the Glass Courtyard and its restaurant, number nine. You can watch chefs cook over a bespoke grill, a traditional spit roast and a Big Green Egg that brings strong wood fired flavour to meat, fish and vegetables. A wood fired pizza oven adds a simple, rustic option for groups.

The courtyard has brick walls, greenery and long tables that work for weddings and private events, with a retractable awning for year round use. By evening, the space shifts into a warm setting for shared meals and celebrations.

➡️ See how this new kitchen could change the way guests experience your big day.

UK exporters entered 2026 facing new French VAT rules that threatened delays for any goods shipped under DDP terms. Europa Road moved early, guiding firms through the changes and expanding its DDP Flow service to keep shipments moving. Allaway Acoustics, which supplies materials for major EU data centre projects, was one of the businesses at risk. A third of its work depends on Europe, so any slowdown carried real financial pressure.

With Europa’s support, Allaway secured its own French VAT number and kept January exports on schedule. Early planning and clear guidance meant customers saw no disruption.

➡️ If you want to understand how these new rules could affect your own exports, this story is worth a read.

Brachers has put its name on one of Kent’s busiest venues after agreeing a five year partnership with the Kent County Agricultural Society. The former Maidstone Exhibition Hall at the Kent County Showground now carries the Brachers Building name. The site draws more than 80,000 visitors a year and funds KCAS’s work across agriculture, forestry, horticulture, and rural skills.

Brachers sees the partnership as a long term move to deepen its ties with the county’s rural economy. KCAS leaders say the agreement reflects a shared commitment to support local businesses and the wider community.

➡️ See what this new alliance signals for the next phase of Kent’s rural sector.

New data from Brakes shows Veganuary may finish, but your appetite for plant-based meals often doesn’t. Searches for vegan dinner recipes are up 23% over the past three months. Interest in easy vegan meals on a budget has jumped 67%. Questions about protein and nutrition are climbing fast, with searches for vegan protein sources up 140%.

A follow-up survey from Veganuary shows 80% of participants cut animal products for at least six months, and a third stayed fully vegan. Many are adapting familiar dishes rather than giving them up.

➡️ See which habits are sticking and what people are cooking next.

Insolvency-related activity in the South East fell 6.2 percent last year, dropping from 2,519 cases in 2024 to 2,363 in 2025. The region still recorded one of the higher totals in the UK, but the decline mirrors similar drops in places like Greater London and Yorkshire and Humberside. R3 says the improvement is welcome, though business conditions remain tight.

Many firms are still battling higher costs, weak demand and limited financial room. Start-up numbers also slipped slightly, signalling caution across the market. R3 warns that many businesses remain fragile as they move into 2026.

➡️ See why the fall in cases masks deeper pressure on local firms.

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