Land and Sea
May 24-June 4, Pie Factory Gallery, King Street, Margate, 11am-5pm
Artists Karen Stamper Ruth McDonald Paul Fowler Gillian Highland Barbara Colla are committed to interpreting landscape, urban shore and seascape as a core aspect of their work, which features drawing, painting, print-making, mixed media and ceramics. They believe that their work is complementary and offers a modern and exciting interpretation of our countryside and coastline
Sherlock Holmes, The Sign of Four
May 24-25, Theatre Royal Margate, 7.30pm
Crammed full of adventure, romance, comedy and of course one or two rather brilliant deductions, The Sign of Four is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s epic second Sherlock Holmes tale, a breathtaking yarn brought to life in this spectacular new stage adaptation.
When Mary Morstan arrives at 221B, Baker Street to request help with the mystery of her missing father, Holmes takes the case and together with his companion Dr Watson enters a murky world of deception and trickery, unravelling a complex plot involving murder, corruption and stolen jewels.
Age 11+
Full Price £17
Concessions £15
FOMT £13
Schools £8
Plus booking fee
Call 01843 292795 or go to https://www.margate-live.com/
Pokemon Detective Pikachu (PG)
Palace Theatre Broadstairs
Holiday fun for all the family! When ace detective Harry Goodman goes missing, his son Tim enlists Detective Pikachu, a wise-cracking, adorable Pokémon super-sleuth, to help solve the mystery.
Finding that they are uniquely equipped to communicate with one another, Tim and Pikachu join forces on a thrilling adventure. Chasing clues together through the neon-lit streets of Ryme City – a sprawling, modern metropolis where humans and Pokémon live side by side in a hyper-realistic live-action world – they uncover a shocking plot that could destroy this peaceful co-existence and threaten the whole Pokémon universe.
Friday 24 May, 5:00pm
Saturday 25 May, 3:00pm
Sunday 26 May, 2:30pm and 5:00pm
Monday 27 May, 3:00pm
Tuesday 28 May, 1:00pm
Wednesday 29 May, 3:00pm
Thursday 30 May, 3:00pm
Friday 31 May, 4:30pm
Saturday 1 June, 3:00pm
Sunday 2 June, 1:30pm
Call 01843 865 726 or click here
Tolkien (12a)
A moving exploration of how Lord of the Rings author J. R. R. Tolkien became one of the towering British imaginations of his generation. Tolkien explores the writer’s formative years finding friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at school. This takes him into the outbreak of World War I, which threatens to tear the “fellowship” apart. All of these experiences would inspire Tolkien to write his famous Middle-Earth novels.
Friday 24 May, 7:45pm
Saturday 25 May, 6:00pm
Sunday 26 May, 7:45pm
Monday 27 May, 6:00pm
Tuesday 28 May, 3:30pm
Wednesday 29 May, 6:00pm
Thursday 30 May, 6:00pm
Call 01843 865 726 or click here
Charity fun day
May 25, St John’s Church, Margate, 11am-3pm
A Minster primary eight year old is hosting a charity fun day in aid of three causes.
Caitlin Goddard won the titles of Mini Face of Thanet and Miss Congeniality last year and entered the Face of Kent and South Coast pageant on May 12 in Ashford to win a place at the Face of Europe and the World competition at Disney. Caitlin won the Face of Kent junior category.
Caitlin’s little sister Skylar, aged three, took the Miss Congeniality title at the May event.
As part of her role Caitlin has been raising cash for charity East Kent Headway. She has now added Sands – Stillbirth and neonatal death charity – and the Dorset Childrens’ Foundation to her list of causes and will be holding the fundraiser at St John’s Church in Margate on May 25.
The event, from 11am to 3pm, will include stalls, a bouncy castle, sweets, cakes, clothes, sand art, gifts, face painting, glitter, hair, princesses, superheroes and lots more. There will also be coffee and tea, raffles and a food stall. Skylar will also be attending.
Entry is £1 and free for under-threes.
Margate Sixties Festival and Mod Weekender
May 24-26
It’s Margate-a-go-go as the mod and sixties festival rides into town
Headlining the weekend are the Spitfires, Graham Day and the Forefathers, and Big Boss Man and The Baron Four.
Daytime events include live music, DJs and market across the weekend with the scooter run taking place midday on Sunday.
Daytime events are held in Market Place (including Scooter run) in the heart of the old town.
All evening events take place at Olby’s Soul Café on King’s Street.
The venue hosts three spaces including the soul café and The Dug Out basement club room.
Friday- Spitfires £13.50
Saturday- Big Boss Man and The Baron Four £15
Sunday- Graham Day & The Forefathers £15
Norman Jay
May 25, Dreamland, 6pm
Legendary DJ Norman Jay returns to Dreamland for Margate Meltdown this month.
The 61-year-old pioneered the self-coined Rare Groove scene of the late 1980s and spawned a new generation of house DJs in the process.
Together with his brother Joey the famous Good Times Sound System – housed on a London bus – has got the party thumping all over the world including,most famously, at Notting Hill carnival where he played the festival from the 1970s to 2014.
Jay, who started collecting music from the age of 10, still performs at major events and festivals across the globe with a career spanning four decades.
Tickets are £10 + booking fee in advance, and include entry and access to rides, with special discounts for members.
This is an all ages event, but under 16 year olds must be accompanied by an adult aged 18+.
Seaweed and their Secrets: Walk and Talk
May 25, 10am at Dumpton Gap
Join Ian Tittley (Natural History Museum) to find out everything you would like to know about seaweed, their uses and properties on this outdoor talk.
People are asked to wear appropriate footwear suitable for walking on the chalk reef & rockpools (eg Wetshoes or Wellington boots) & clothing for the weather conditions on the day.
Suitable for adults (2hrs; 14+; Online booking; donation) More at: nekmpa.org.uk
Free with donations welcome
Abbey Patchers
May 25-27, St Mary’s Church , Church Street , Minster
Biennial Quilt Show over May Bank Holiday Weekend (Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-4.30pm and Monday 10am-4.30pm)
Sales tables, traders, tombola, raffle quilt and refreshments.
Proceeds to church and Pilgrims Hospice. Entry £1
The Radium Hot Club
May 25, King Street Gallery, Margate, 7.30pm-11pm
Sizzlin’ Jim Williams presents the Radium Hot Club Dance
The hottest music from the 1930s/40s brought to you by DJ Sizzlin’ Jim – Big Band Swing, RnB, and Jump Blues.
Transport yourself back to the heyday of swing!
Tea and cakes available – proceeds from the event go to Looking Ahead Charity. Tickets £6
[email protected]
07568 339786
Toy Fair
May 25, Hornby Visitor Centre, Ramsgate Road, 10am to 2pm
Come along to see a range of toys and curiosities from across the ages
£2 entry
Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle
May 25, Small Boat Owners Club, Ramsgate, noon
Traditional Jazz at its best! Entry £12 including buffet
Call 01227 361238 or Visit Website
Overground-Underground Tour
May 25, Ramsgate Tunnels, 4.30pm-6.30pm
Join a guided walk above and below ground following the route of Ramsgate’s famous Wartime Tunnels (approximately one and a half miles long)
The tour starts from the Sailors Church, Military Road, Royal Harbour, and is guided throughout pointing out places of interest above ground and telling the Tunnels story below ground.
You will be required to climb down a short ladder (2.5 metre) at the end of the overground part of the tour to continue underground before finishing in the Victorian Railway Tunnel with a visit to Tunnel Town.
Hard hats and torches will be provided whilst underground, and we strongly recommend you wear suitable footwear such as boots or flat shoes.
Tickets £10
Call 01843 588123 or Visit Website
Tour of St John’s Church
May 25, 2.30pm
Local historian Robin Colyer is leading a tour of St John’s Church and its surroundings, starting at the West door at 2.30pm.
The tour will last about 60 minutes followed by light refreshments or why not come to the Plants, Ploughman’s and Produce event too?
The tour is of points of interest in the church and its environs
There is no charge and no need to book.
Music and Mayhem
Photo by Mark Allan
May 25, Dreamland
A new exhibition celebrating Dreamland’s musical heritage opens at Dreamland next Saturday (May 25).
Music & Mayhem follows the history of music at Dreamland from its origins as a music hall, through the years to the swinging 60s, Mods and Rockers era to the current day. The exhibition is the fourth to be staged by the Dreamland Trust, a registered charity.
The venue, which was originally called the Hall by the Sea, has attracted music fans from all over the South East and further. It has seen some of the most iconic bands and singers, including Ted Heath and his Big Band, Bill Haley and his Comets, Geno Washington, Desmond Decker, the Rolling Stones, The Who, Lulu, Roy Orbison, The Kinks and many more.
Music has influenced youth culture through the years, the most notorious of which was the Mods and Rockers who famously clashed on the streets of Margate. This has been reflected in the exhibition.
Some of the exhibits have been donated by Dreamland and residents, including Mick Tomlinson, Brian and Dick Faulkner, two of the Trust’s volunteers. The exhibition will also feature background music from some of the acts who have appeared at Dreamland.
The Trust have again worked with local companies – Lovelys of Cliftonville framed the posters and exhibits for the display and PB Design produced the logo. Printing was supplied by Truprint Litho.
The exhibition is free to enter and is open at weekends from 11am – 5pm.
If you have any memorabilia or memories that you would like to share with the Dreamland Trust or would like to be a volunteer please email [email protected]
May task day planting and mulching
May 25, Sunken Gardens, Royal Esplanade, Westbrook, 10am-noon
Bex Cartwright from the Bumble Bee Conservation Trust has donated a truck load of mulch along with foxgloves, snow in summer, yarrow, salvias, Mexican fleabain and lupins for this months task day at the sunken garden. If you are able to please bring a wheelbarrow and shovel.
Wonder Woman
May 25, Sarah Thorne Theatre, Broadstairs, 7.30pm
Multi-talented musician and composer Jamie Moore will perform with virtuoso opera singer, Laure Meloy.
Wonder Woman started life as a piece called A View from the Bottom written for the George Benjamin Ensemble (piano, flute, cello and soprano) and was performed by them at a workshop at the University of Nottingham.
Jamie later developed and expanded the composition reworking it for piano, bass, drums, guitar, percussion, cello, flute and jazz vocalist. He renamed it Wonder Woman – A One Act Song Cycle and it received excellent reviews when premiered in the Purcell Room at London’s South Bank Centre and on a tour which included the Jacqueline Du Pré Music Centre in Oxford and the Havant Arts Centre.
Following a meeting with soprano Laure Meloy and hearing her sing, Jamie decided to revisit Wonder Woman and rewrite it for quartet to feature Laure’s remarkable voice. Laure Meloy is an acclaimed opera singer who has performed internationally with companies including The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, The Welsh National Opera, Opera North, Wiener Staatsoper and The Metropolitan Opera.
Tickets £12 Paid in Advance / Friends: £14 on the door
Call 01843 863 701 or go to sarahthornetheatre.co.uk
Seaside Photographed
Opens May 25, Turner Contemporary
An exploration of the relationship between photographers, photography and the British seaside from the 1850s to the present day will open at Turner Contemporary in May.
Seaside: Photographed includes early photographic depictions of waves, picture postcards revelling in the glee and grime of British resorts, intimate shots of holiday and relaxation and reportage and photo series of eminent photographers.
Since photography’s early beginnings seaside images have charted enormous social change with playgrounds by the sea becoming places of last resort, rackety with decay, so much photographic evidence would insist.
However, the exhibition’s curators Val Williams and Karen Shepherdson say: “Photographers’ visions are necessarily partial ones – they follow their noses, sniff out the strange and the unusual, the comic and the melancholy. They do not necessarily picture things the way that they are.”
The curators have included unknown works from across photography’s history as well as images by such celebrated photographers as Jane Bown, Henri Cartier Bresson and Ingrid Pollard.
Exhibits include Raymond Lawson’s chronicles of family life in Whitstable while Daniel Meadows, Barry Lewis and Dafydd Jones all photographed Butlins in the 1970s.
In response to Seaside: Photographed, artists Bethan Peters and Stacie Lee Bennett-Worth have been commissioned to create a new artwork inspired by residents.
Seaside: Photographed is Turner Contemporary’s first photographic exhibition. A book to accompany the exhibition, has also been published by Thames & Hudson.
The exhibition opens on Saturday, May 25 until Sunday 8 September.
St Augustine’s blessing and recital
Music, a talk and a Latin ritual will take place for the blessing of the restored pipe organ at the Shrine of St Augustine in Ramsgate on May 25.
The organ has been restored by Willis & Sons of Liverpool and London, cleaned and repaired as necessary, with a brand new console in-keeping with the neo-gothic architecture of the church by Augustus Pugin.
The event will begin with a presentation by Director of Music, Shrine of St Augustine Ben Scott followed by the blessing and then a recital by Neil Wright, international concert organist and organist of the Cavaille-Coll at Farnborough Abbey.
Tickets are £10 for the concert – the talk and blessing are free to attend. Pay on the door or reserve seats by leaving a voicemail on 07746 281290.
6.45pm – Presentation given by Ben Scott, Director of Music, Shrine of St Augustine – this will contain images and footage of the organ, including inside the pipe chamber, not accessible to the public and will summarise the important work carried out by Willis & Sons. Ben will also be talking about what needs to be done in the future in order to preserve the organs’ longevity and bring it up to standard as well as plans for the music at St Augustine’s and the annual organ recitals.
7.15pm – Latin ritual of blessing of a church organ. This will include the schola chanting Psalm 150 and the congregation joining in with the Te Deum (a hymn of thanksgiving).
7.30pm – Neil Wright will give his recital. It will contain an improvisation on melodies given to him one minute before he begins.
There will be refreshments afterwards, wine, Prosecco and soft drinks will be available to purchase. There will also be a collection for the music fund.
Ziggy’s rooftop bar reopening – last season ever
May 25, noon-9pm
The drinks are on Ziggy’s…
The popular rooftop bar reopens on Saturday, May 25 for its last season and will be throwing a launch party to celebrate.
The bar is to be demolished to make way for a new Dreamland hotel which will also contain a gymnasium, meeting rooms, a shop or café with frontage onto Marine Terrace, a restaurant and bar at the ground floor and a new rooftop bar.
Under the proposals Ziggy’s rooftop bar and an adjoining empty building will be flattened. The hotel will also use the space at ‘Godden’s Gap’ where the amusement arcade stood.
To celebrate the last season Ziggy’s reopening party will include The Sisters of Reggae spinning the decks while guest enjoy the bar’s signature mix of exotic cocktails and fresh food filled with Caribbean flavour – and some of the best views in town.
If you’re planning to join the fun, get there early; the first 100 guests will receive a free Mojito on arrival!
The opening party not only coincides with the Margate Meltdown gathering of bikers over the bank holiday weekend, but will also be a precursor to Dreamland Margate’s latest sunset sessions with soul, rock steady and reggae DJs Norma Jay, Don Letts and Jazzy B playing live on the Scenic Stage from 6pm to 11pm.
Ziggy’s is part of the Dreamland Margate estate and is run by the team behind Cinque Ports pub. The seasonal rooftop bar opened in 2017, and quickly became a summer hot spot for Margate residents and visitors,
2019 opening hours for the bar will be:
Fridays 12pm-10pm
Saturdays 12pm-10.30pm
Sundays 12pm-8pm (Bank Holiday Sundays until 10pm)
Bank Holiday Monday 12pm-8pm
Opening hours are subject to weather conditions.
Entry to Ziggy’s is free, and tickets for Dreamland’s Margate Meltdown event are just £10 (+ booking fee) and include rides.
Ships and Giggles
Dreamland, May 25-June 2
The Ships and Giggles half-term festivities will ensure there is daily fun for all the family to enjoy during the holidays, come rain or shine.
Guests can expect hoola-hooping Mermaids, pesky pirates and sea beasts, intrepid adventurers, TV characters and even a world-record attempt on the park. The entertainment is on top of the seaside park’s usual mix of thrill and chill rides, open every day during the half term break, and guests can save 25% on ride wristbands when booked in advance online.
Half term highlights will include:
Dreamland’s own Ozzy the Octopus
A hoola-hooping mermaid and pesky pirates exploring the park
Nautical face paints and mermaid glitter designs
Creepy and curious creatures at the Dreamland Ark
Nautical indie floor-fillers for little dancers on the outdoor Scenic Stage (Sun 26th May)
Cbeebies favourites The Octonauts and a Baby Sensory sing-a-long (Weds 29th May)
Phileas Fogg and his travelling balloon (Thurs 30th May)
Baby Shark and Pink Fong stage show (Fri 31st May)
A Monopoly park takeover (Sat 1st June)
An outdoor screening of The Little Mermaid (Sun 2nd June)
Early years sensory class provider Baby Sensory will also be holding a special 10 year reunion event on Wednesday, May 29, where anyone who has attended Thanet classes over the last decade can reunite and take part in an official Guinness World Record attempt for the most people in a nursery rhyme singing relay!
Dreamland is free to enter, and guests can pay per ride but are advised to buy ride wristbands in advance to save 25% online on the normal day price. Dreamland Members ride for free and also benefit from numerous discounts and offers across the park (annual memberships start from £50).
For more information on what is happening on the park, visit www.dreamland.co.uk
St Augustine’s Week
May 26-June 1, St Augustine’s, Ramsgate
A festival of activities (talks, tours, activities) celebrating Augustine of Canterbury who landed near Ramsgate in 597, and became the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
Cliftonville Farmers Market
May 26, Oval bandstand, Eastern Esplanade, Cliftonville, 10am-1pm.
Award-winning Farmers Market where producers will be selling bread, cheese, honey, fruit, vegetables, wild game, fruit juices, fresh meat and much more.
Birchington Silver Band Concert
May 26, Birchington Village Centre, Alpha Road, 2.30pm
Enjoy an afternoon concert by Birchington Silver Band including marches, light classics, music from the shows and popular melodies
Free entry (includes a raffle and collection)
Bongo’s Bingo
May 26, Margate Winter Gardens, 8pm
Doors open at 6pm with last entry at 7.30pm for 8pm start
Bongo’s Bingo are back at Margate Winter Gardens! Expect big cash prizes, rubbish prizes, awkward dance-offs, rave intervals and much more!
Old Town Walk
May 26
Local historian Robin Colyer is leading a walking tour starting from Droit House on Margate Harbour Arm from 2pm
The walk will last approximately one and half hours and looks at the buildings and history of the streets in Margate Old Town
There is no charge and no need to book.
Margate Meltdown
May 27
The legendary meltdown is back with a bang as bikers roar into town from London’s iconic Ace Cafe on Bank Holiday Monday (May 27).
The 12th annual Margate Meltdown will see riders hit the road down to the harbour where trade stands and a stage with live entertainment including a set from rockin’ DJ Bill Guntrip.
Working closely with the cafe’s chosen charity for this event, The Royal British Legion Riders Branch (RBLRB), the town and Thanet District Council, Margate not only has everything that a great ride out requires, but also a great beach and plenty of heritage to include a legacy from the 1960s that is of world renown relating to motorbikes, scooters and the Mods and Rockers that rode them!
Ieuan Edwards
May 27-June 2, New Kent Art Gallery, Broadstairs,
Gallery open Tuesday – Thursday 11am – 3pm, Friday & Saturday 10.30am-4pm and Sunday 11am – 4pm
The wonderful local print maker Ieuan Edwards returns to Broadstairs, with another solo show of his astounding linocut prints, this time featuring some of Thanet’s well known local landmarks.
May Half Term at Monkton Nature Reserve
May 27-31, Monkton Nature Reserve
Enjoy a full and varied programme of events at the Reserve
Monday 27th and Wednesday 29th May
Guided Nature Walk
Monday at 1pm and Wednesday at 11am and 1pm – FREE
Tuesday 28th and Thursday 30th May
Pond Dipping – Discover the variety of spring wildlife living in our pond. All equipment is provided and a tutor will guide you through the process and help you identify your finds.
Sessions 11am and 1pm £3 per child (booking essential)
Children must be aged 5+ and accompanied by an adult
Friday 31st May
Birds of Prey – Come and meet falconer Alex Goodier who will present his incredible birds, Oca and Ash the barn owls, Fraggle the boobook owl, Zakk the harris hawk, Blaze the kestrel and Odin the raven.
10am – 4pm FREE
