Can fully recommend weald air at Headcorn, as they have a fleet of 14 aircraft which are available to hire with choice of about 15 self-employed instructors to choose from, if you don't get on with your first choice of instructor then you can always change to another!
Millen Aviation at Rochester have some nice diesel powered Diamond DA40 may not be in your best interest to do a PPL course on them as you are going to come across carb heat & mixture at some point.
http://www.millencorporation.com/MillenAviation.html
If you want I have a spare seat available most times I fly and would only be too glad to give you an introduction to light aircraft if you have never flown in one before. PM me if you have any more questions about airfields in the southeast.
Good Luck