New standard dedication
May 8, service 10.30am at All Saints Church Birchington
The Birchington Branch of the Royal British Legion will be dedicating their new Standard at All Saints Church Birchington on Friday 8th May. The present Standard is now 42 years old and will be laid up in the church.
Guests at the service will include children from Birchington Primary School and members of Minster RBL. All welcome to attend the service.
Glenrothan -12A
May 8-12, Palace Cinema Broadstairs
Making his directorial debut, National Treasure and Succession actor Brian Cox stars alongside Alan Cumming as two estranged brothers reunited in their idyllic Scottish hometown, bound by the traditions of their family’s whiskey distillery.
David Devant & His Spirit Wife
8th May, 7.30pm, Ramsgate Music Hall
Following their sell out show back in July ’24 David Devant and his Spirit Wife make a welcome return to the Ramsgate Music Hall!
Entry Requirements: 14+ (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult)
Tickets £19 Book now
A Study In Chalk
7th May – 13th May, Salon Northdown Road, Cliftonville
10am – 6pm. Private View – Friday 8th May 6pm – 9pm
Matt Ward creates unique, beautiful landscapes using local chalk.
Pop Up: Stone and Clay
7th May – 10th May, 2pm – 4pm (10am – 4pm Saturday), Margo in Margate Studio in Addington Street, Ramsgate
Exhibition of work by Mary Michael showing expressive figures and birds carved from stone or sculpted from clay.
Metamorphosis
7th May – 12th May, Pie Factory Margate
Open: 11am – 7pm Thursday to Monday / 11am-1pm Tuesday
The exhibition Metamorphosis is an opportunity for six artists to explore a concept fundamental to creative practice. As such, whether at the level of process, metaphor, illustration and/or reflection, change or transformation underpins all their responses. Despite this common impulse, the collected work is marked by difference, providing few visual or thematic similarities.
Static
8th May, 7.30pm, Tom Thumb Theatre
Static is a 4-piece Alternative/Punk band from Kent, gaining popularity in Medway’s rapidly growing scene. Static brings chaos and a unique, scrappy stage presence to complete their rapid-fire songs. Joe Crowther (Lead vocals, Rhythm guitar)
Hue Robertson-Ritchie (Vocals, Bass)
Oliver Baldwin (Lead guitar)
Robyn Baldwin (Drums)
From £7 Book now
1 – 800 GIRLS (Live)
8th May, Faith In Strangers Cliftonville, 9.30pm (dinner service starts from 6pm)
An unmissable live show celebrating the release of debut full-length album LOVE, a deeply personal 12-track project tracing the emotional arc of love from infatuation to stability, released on Epic Records.
Click here to check menu and book a table
18+
Tickets £20.20 Book now
Broadstairs Bandstand
May 8, 1pm-4pm, Nick Kelly
May 9, 2pm-4pm, George Butler & Nancy Okai
May 10, 2pm-4pm, Invicta Concert Band
NO TV’s Disco Punk Party
8th May, 7pm, Where Else? Margate
Live acts downstairs, and electroclash DJ’s upstairs.
Interactive party games like: The Guess Who Board Game… but all the characters are from the NO TV universe / The Cococ**t Shy – where you have to eliminate NO TV’s enemies like Trump, Farage, Daniel Esk & more!
Live acts: NO TV – Disco Punk band/ Artinho – Rapper / LuLu – Dreampop singer & producer.
This event is a fundraiser to help NO TV record and release their debut EP, and is supported by WhereElse,
All ages (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult)
Tickets £8.10 Book now
STAK Life Fundraising Art Exhibition
8th May – 10th May, 10am to 4pm,ARK – Cliftonville Cultural Space
A community fundraising event where all money raised goes directly towards lifesaving mental health support for autistic young people in Thanet at ARK, Cliftonville’s Cultural Space
Painting, ceramics, prints, photography, glass, sculpture, collage & more.
Donated by local & international artists plus a few surprises.
Tea, coffee and cake available as well as raffle prizes and sealed bid items.
Crab Lates: Everything is Crab – Launch Party & Livestream
8th May, 7.30pm, Crab Museum, Margate
The launch of the Crab Museum’s own Video Game!
Join the Crab Museum as they partner up with Secret Mode Games to launch their newest video game EVERYTHING IS CRAB…
This rogue-lite game follows a blob called Darwin as they navigate eating, and not getting eaten, to progress through stages of evolution.
The game’s publishing team will be on hand to help explain the ins-outs and round-abouts of crafting an educational crab-themed video game. The Crab Museum hosts the world premiere of this game.
Accompanying the EVERYTHING IS CRAB team, Crab Museum staff will also be giving a series of short talks on evolution, carcinisation and crab boinkies – obviously.
16+
Tickets £6.66 Book now
The Malle Mile Beach Race
8th May – 10th May, Margate Main Sands
Classics, scramblers, electrics and antiques- bikes of all descriptions will be on Margate main sands this weekend for the Malle Mile Beach Race.
The annual event involves more than 200 custom and vintage bikes taking part in a series of races.
The event, from Friday (May 8) to Sunday (May 10) includes sprints, Motopolo and after parties.
Racing starts as soon as the tide goes out, giving all day to race through each and every class, from modern, to classics, antiques, electric, lightweight and off-road motorcycles.
On Friday 8th of May, guests, drivers and riders set out on The Malle Rally100, a 100 mile road rally across the Kent countryside, finishing at the official Malle Beach Race Pre-Party in Margate.
Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th May are the Beach Race days, where an array of wild machines enter The Sprint, The Double, The Malle Go Round and The Motopolo Tournament.
The Beach Race Village which will be packed full of partnering brands, rare machines in The Art Of Machine Exhibition, showcases from parters, food, cold drinks, coffee, snacks, beach games and ice cream to keep the whole family fuelled between the wild and entertaining beach races.
The public can still access the beach all weekend, with one area dedicated to The Mile Beach Race.
You can find more information about tickets, the racing programme, the Beach Race after parties, live music, DJs, bands and more by clicking here
Weekend Spectator Ticket £20 plus booking fee (children FREE) Book now
Scoops of Glory
8th May, 7pm, 101 Social Cliftonville
Screening of the infamous French film about an ice-cream shop war.
Scoops of Glory (2025) is a 45-minute independent crime-thriller film directed by Bob Nichols and produced by Santé Loisirs Pictures, featuring a story about a performance artist turned mayor sparking an ice-cream shop war after the passing of a controversial bill.
Free, donations welcome
The Devil Wears Parada 2- 12A
Now until May 14, Carlton Cinema Westgate
Twenty years after making their iconic turns as Miranda, Andy, Emily and Nigel – Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci return to the fashionable streets of New York City and the sleek offices of Runway Magazine in The Devil Wears Prada 2. As Miranda Priestly nears retirement, she reunites with Andy Sachs to face off against her former assistant turned rival: Emily Charlton.
Deerhoof
9th May, 7.30pm, Ramsgate Music Hall
This US/Japanese quartet is now celebrating its 31st year. =
Tickets £27.50 Book now
Thanet Male Voice Choir Concert
9th May, 7.30pm, Sarah Thorne Theatre Broadstairs
Concert in aid of Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund
Come along and enjoy an evening with the Thanet Male Voice Choir at the Sarah Thorne Theatre.
Tickets £15 in advance – £17 on the night Book now
Adam Beattie & Fiona Bevan
9th May, 7.30pm, Tom Thumb Theatre
Acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriter Adam Beattie and multi-platinum singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan embark on a double headline tour of the UK this spring/summer in celebration of their new music releases.
Adam will be performing songs from his latest album, Home Fires Burning, and Fiona will be performing songs from her EP First Woman On The Moon.
From £10 Book now
Kane Brown – Crowd Work King
9th May, 8pm, The Granville Theatre
One hour of purely unscripted, unplanned comedy; all based around audience participation.
Everything is made up on the spot so you can witness the comedy unfold in real time.
Including support from some the UK’s funniest comedians.
From £23.10 subject to a transaction fee of £2.50 Book now
Saturday Kids Clay Club
9th May, 9am, Clayspace Cliftonville
These classes offer an exciting opportunity for children to explore and develop their own creative ideas through the medium of clay in a professional studio space with inspiring tutors. The sessions will include hand building, sculpting and throwing on the potters wheel, as well as an exploration into decorative techniques.
These 1.5 hr pottery sessions are suitable for 6-11 year olds. These sessions are limited to small groups so that everyone gets lots of attention and can work at their own pace.
Fee includes materials and firings (i.e. a “reasonable” amount of clay and glazes – if your child really wants to build a life size dinosaur they may have to charge a little extra.)
This is a kids only session, no adults please.
Example costs: £45 for 3 x 1.5 hour sessions per term / £90 for 6 x 1.5 hour sessions per term Book now
Spring Open Day
9th May, 1pm-4pm, Garden Gate Project Margate
See the garden in its springtime glory… eat cake and pizza, buy some plants and go home happy!
There’ll be teas, cakes, coffee, wood fired pizzas, nettle soup, crafts and plant stall.
Dogs on leads welcome.
The Garden Gate is a independent registered charity community garden based in Northdown Park.
Disco Bingo
9th May, 7pm, Violets, St Lawrence high street
Bingo with a musical twist
Cash prizes!
Bring your friends and family for a night of fun, laughter and great music
Tickets £10 per person
Eli’s Soul Supper: Reggae Edition
9th May, 7.30pm, Olby’s Soul Café Margate
A special soul supper with reggae and rare grooves
Expect good food, great music, and the signature laid-back atmosphere that makes these nights so loved… Gather your friends & share a meal!
DJ Matt Martin will be playing Reggae & Rare Groove.
Entry is free, but tables fill up quickly – booking is strongly advised to secure your spot.
18+ Book now
May Walk & Talk
9th May, noon, Pegwell Bay Country Park
A gentle walk, chats, laughs and a very chilled vibe – no pressure, at Pegwell Bay Nature Country Park.
It’s more than just a walk..
It’s a safe space to connect, feel part of a community, and start building real friendships
Treats also included upon arrival!
Tickets are non-refundable.
Tickets £2pp Book now
By The End of This Show Every Man In The Audience Will Be in Love With Me
9th May, 9pm, The Alley Bar Ramsgate
ELZ is working on her debut hour. She’s sure it will win 3 to 4 hundred awards, but she needs to write it first.
Come and be some of the first people to see this new piece, combining songs, jokes and poems.
ELZ is a lesbian but she still wants men to fancy her. Join ELZ as she explores her relationship to masculinity in this work in progress hour.
Age restriction: 18+
Tickets £8 – £10.50 plus booking fee Book now
Truffle Making Workshop
9th May, 1pm, Clarey’s Chocolates, High Street, Broadstairs
Immerse yourself in the world of fine chocolate during this hands-on workshop.
Beginning with a guided tasting of chocolates from around the world, carefully selected to showcase distinct cocoa origins and flavour profiles.
You’ll then learn the art of crafting silky ganache, expertly flavouring and piping your own truffles under the guidance of Clarey’s chocolatier.
After a short break with a hot or cold beverage, including the signature hot chocolate, you’ll return to decorate your creations using an elegant selection of high-quality ingredients and inclusions.
The experience continues with the creation of a beautifully finished chocolate shard and six hand-rolled traditional truffles coated in cocoa powder.
To conclude, you’ll carefully box and gift-wrap your handmade chocolates, leaving with a box of 24 luxury truffles and a bag of decorative shards, followed by a relaxed debrief and time for questions.
Upon booking your place you will receive a full itinerary and a copy of the terms and conditions.
Tickets £65 Book now
Birchington Model Railway Exhibition
9th May, 10am to 4pm, The Centre, Birchington
Thanet’s largest and most popular model railway exhibition returns to The Centre
Organised by the Whitstable based East Kent Model Railway Society, the event expects to host 15 model train layouts and a clutch of reputable specialist dealers.
The illustration of Minnis Bay used in the event’s poster was created by Birchington artist David Burley, a former graphic designer for the Southern Railway!
Light refreshments will be on sale, pay and display parking opposite the venue and some free on street parking nearby.
Buses stop close to the railway station which is five minutes walk away from the venue
Adults £6, Children £1 (5-16), Families £12 (2ad+3ch) under 5s free
Crab Lates: Lydia Wong – Salty, Wet at LIMBO
9th May, 6pm, Limbo Margate
Join the Crab Museum for the opening night of Lydia Wong’s new exhibition – Salty,Wet
Hong Kong artist Lydia’s work centres on crabs, salt, and bamboo scaffolding as a way of exploring the changing nature of identity in Hong Kong. Salt-encrusted crabs emerge from collapsed scaffold forms, referencing the bamboo scaffolding that has long defined Hong Kong’s skyline.
Crabs’ transformative shell moulting is used in Lydia’s work to treat them as living archives. Drawing on Lo Ting, the mythological ancestor of Hong Kong who lived between land and sea, these salt-encrusted crabs bring together ancestral myth and preservation of identity.
Alongside Lydia’s work will be a selection of short crab-centric talks from Crab Museum residents and friends, examining political and philosophical angles to crabs and their representation in iconography.
National Mills Weekend
9th May – 10th May, 2pm-4pm, Drapers Windmill Margate
The country celebrates its many and varied windmill and water mill sites during the National Mills Weekend in May and, as part of that, Drapers Windmill will have an open weekend and you’re very welcome to attend this marvellous mill on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday there will also be a performance from Bower Street Morris
Refreshments and souvenirs available
Free (donations welcome)
Aqua Gel Animals
9th May, 11am, Little Ravens, High Street, Ramsgate
Watch as the magic happens and you make your own squish aqua animals.
Watch your animals grow as you add them to the ocean!
You will make a beach, add slimy fish eggs and seaweed and of course rocks and water.
A truly magical process, using special coloured reactive material in moulds and magic water!
Ages 5-11+ years
Children must be accompanied by an adult. Due to space restrictions they can only house one adult per family.
Tickets £16 plus booking fee Book now
Looping the Loop: A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in Ramsgate
9th May, 11am-2pm, Ramsgate town centre
Join Looping the Loop for A Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – FREE for all ages, just turn up and enjoy the magic, the music and a little mayhem!
Step through the Looking Glass for a free, immersive experience where the tea is colourful, the cake is fluffy, and the logic is… well, entirely missing.
The event is packed with activities designed to spark the imagination and draw visitors into the wonderful world of the Lewis Carroll story. There will be tea …. of a sort, short performances involving the key characters in the Alice in Wonderland story, a hat-making workshop led by hatmaker Christine Pettet, and the Quest for Red Roses. The Queen of Heart’s gardeners have made a terrible mistake, so the crew need visitors to pop into surrounding shops to change the white roses they have grown for red ones, before the (slightly) terrifying Queen arrives back at the party.
Coastal homemade fair
May 10, 10am to 2.30pm, Quex Small Barn, Birchington
Stalls with goods from local artisans and crafters.
When Judas Met John
10th May, 5pm, Sarah Thorne Theatre Broadstairs
This is a story by Brothers Broke exploring the intriguing relationship between Bob Dylan and John Lennon. A presentation of songs based around a fact-based script, it tells the story of influence, envy, parody and respect that each artist had for the other. The story captures little known truths about their relationship.
Tickets £19 in advance, £21 on the door Book now
Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing
10th May, Monkton Nature Reserve, 10.30am – 11.15am
TMW (Tai Chi Movements for Wellbeing) is a specially developed sequence of movements which promotes physical, psychological, and emotional health and wellbeing.
You can practice TMW seated or standing, or a combination of the two, making TMW accessible for all.
* This ticket includes day entrance to the reserve for you and your family, or friends.
* Attendees should arrive at reception at 10:15 so Lesley can start promptly.
* Please wear appropriate clothing and note that the pathway to the dome might be muddy so sensible footwear (i.e. wellies/walking boots) is advised.
Tickets £10 Book now
Oval Summer Sundays: The Licks
10th May, The Oval Bandstand and Lawns Cliftonville
Doors, toilets and concessions open 1pm – 5pm, Concert 2pm – 4pm
Get ready for a high-energy Summer Sunday as The Licks bring their tight, crowd-firing rock party show to The Oval Bandstand.
Expect a hit-packed set of rock and indie favourites, big choruses, driving guitars and feel-good classics designed for an outdoor summer crowd.
Suggested donation £2 – £10
Bands on the Sands – Blake Sonnet Trio
10th May, from 3pm, The Pavilion Broadstairs
The Blake Sonnett Trio will be taking to the outdoors stage this Sunday afternoon.
Broadstairs Farmers Market
10th May, 10am to 1pm, Bleak House Broadstairs
Local produce, artisan bakes, rolled ice cream, sunshine, family friendly, dogs welcome.
Palm Bay Boot Fair
Sunday 8th May, Palm Bay recreation ground
Cars from 6.30am – no booking required
£8 for cars / £12 for vans or car with trailer (card payment will be available and is preferred)
Access to the public from 7am.
Boot fair closes at noon.
Further afield
Breakin’ Convention
May 9, 7pm, Marlowe Theatre Canterbury
A festival of hip hop dance theatre from around the world presented by Ramsgate resident and Artistic Director Jonzi D.
Promising world-class performances from celebrated poppers, lockers, b-boys and b-girls.
Get ready for: Olivier Award-winning Traplord, exploring masculinity and mental health and challenging racial stereotypes of Black men; Femme Fatale (France/Mexico/South Korea), a mesmerising female trio; trailblazing ILL-Abilities (Netherlands/Brazil), an all-star crew of differently abled b-boys; plus Kent talent, with performances by crews from Twiin Dance Company (TDC), Highworth Grammar School, and Thanet’s Wisewoods Dance.
Live DJ and emcee, workshops, cyphers, talks, and more.
Parental discretion advised.
Some elements of the show include strobe lighting, vaping and strong language and themes of violence, identity and mental health.
Jonzi D made the move from London to Ramsgate and says he will never return to city life.
He said: “The sun hits differently in Thanet, and that influences everything! Everyone is distinctly friendly, warm and generous with their time. The air is so fresh and so clean. A 10 minute walk and I witness a gorgeous horizon on the coastline. The sunsets are stunning. Since leaving London for Ramsgate, I will never go back to city living.”
Tickets £25. Book here
May Walk & Talk, cancelled