It is the beginning of a fresh chapter for the former Thanet Gazette building in Margate’s Union Row with new owner Paul Andrews converting it to living space, an Air BnB/guest room and a work studio.
The former semi-finalist of BBC show ‘Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr’ says he fell in love with Margate during the BBC challenge when he and a fellow contestant were tasked with redesigning Olby’s Soul Café.
Paul had been working in home brands and store design but the covid lockdowns from 2020 prompted him to explore other avenues.
He said: “I had been watching Interior Design Masters and been thinking about doing something else and I submitted an application to take part.
“We were filming two months later. There were only four of us left (when they got to Margate) and we were split in two teams with the girls doing Charlies and Banjo and I doing Olby’s. That was the first time I had been back to Margate since Turner Contemporary opened in 2011.
“I could see the transformation – I’ve lived in Shoreditch for 20 years- and I fell in love with it. I grew up by the sea near Blackpool and then lived in London.
“There are a lot of creative industries in Margate and initially I thought I’d get a studio or desk space but stay in London. Then my friend said why not leave London?”
More than two years ago Paul started visiting for long weekends and then looking in the Old Town, Westbrook and Cliftonville, for a property.
He said: “I had a fabulous time and met lots of people. I was moving on my own but when I went back to London, I realised how I’d felt more welcome in a town were I didn’t know anyone.”
Since the Interior Design Masters show was screened in 2022, Paul has worked on projects including design work for a house in France.
Initially he was hoping to buy a Georgian property in Margate but the Printworks came on the market in July 2023.
The property was owned at that time by David Liddicoat and Sophie Goldhill, from Margate Pump House, and Liddicoat & Goldhill Architects. They had converted the building into a gallery, coffee shop, yoga studio and offices but these were unable to operate in lockdown and post-covid plans to split the unit and apply for residential permission were granted.
Paul says when he viewed the building he ‘absolutely loved it,’ adding: “It is so unique and has such a lot of history.”
He made an offer immediately but hit some bumps and it seemed he had lost it to another buyer. Eventually Paul was about the complete on another property when he got a call to see if he was still interested in the Printworks.
He said: “It was fate. I’ve now had two years to plan it and I will live there, have my interior design studio and will be trying to establish myself.
“The building will be a project piece and become a live/work space using local people and tradesmen.
“The accommodation and studio will be downstairs, the space is already totally open plan as it was the yoga studio,
“There will be French doors leading to an outdoor space which is a car park at the moment and used to be the old sorting office but it will be a courtyard garden.”
The main living space will be two-bedrooms/two baths. There will be a third en-suite room, with its own access from Union Row, which will be used alternately as Air BnB or a guest room when needed.
The second floor is also open plan and will convert to the kitchen/dining areas with the skylights reinstated and French doors leading onto a balcony.
Paul has been living in Thanet since July, currently renting, but says he hopes the Printworks conversion will be complete by October this year.
He said: “My mission is to retain as much of the building’s rich history, working with a team of local builders and artisans who collectively have helped me realise the vision.
“The opportunity of working on this iconic industrial building with such a rich history is a dream come true. There are so many exciting projects in Margate which Inspired me to make the move after many years living and working in design in London and Europe.
“Margate’s character, energy and landscape have inspired the design, informing the textures that will flow throughout capturing the personality of the Printworks.
“Completely changing the layout of both floors whilst retaining the structure and integrity of an old printing press will not be without its challenges. However, it will be well worth it to turn my vision into reality.”
Originally known as Lyric House, the property is believed to have been built in 1870 by the owner of Kebles Gazette, later to become the Isle of Thanet Gazette, as the printing works for his paper.
Journalists and the editor of the newspaper were working from the building up until 2009.
It was later used by Union Row doctors’ surgery but this was closed down in February 2016 following the resignation of Dr Henry.
In 2017 David Liddicoat and wife Sophie Goldhill gained permission to convert the building to a multi-use space with offices for their business plus tenants including Union Yoga, Curve Coffee, a gallery and office/studio space.
Find about more about new owner Paul Andrews at: www.paulalfredandrews.co.uk
I remember it well and the Thursday afternoon when the ancient flatbed press ground to a halt and the chaotic panic to hand proof the pages to get the week’s edition printed web offset in Chatham.