EVIDENCE of confidence in town centre business being able to succeed against out of town competition came this week with the official opening of the Ashford Sony Centre in Park Mall. Alongside Barrett's Digital World store stocking the latest digital products and domestic appliances from major manufacturers, the Barrett run Sony Centre has a full range of products from televisions, cameras, and DVDs to Home Cinema and Vaio computers.

As it is the 100th Sony Centre in Britain, joint managing director Shaun Barrett was able to attract a VIP line-up to the launch, including Sony UK managing director Steve Dowdle and former Kent and England cricket star Dean Headley.