Incoming: Comedy, cider, oysters and mushrooms

A whole lot of new comedy shows, food and drink festivals, mermaid life drawing and more. Upcoming events in Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate and East Kent.

Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre has just launched its autumn brochure, with new shows going on sale for dates right into autumn next year. Highlights include stand up Bridget Christie in February, hip hop dance company Breakin’ Convention in May, and comedian Judi Love in June. Full listings. 

If you fancy seeing Judi Love sooner, Chump’s has her doing a work in progress show at Olby’s in Margate on Wednesday, September 17. Catch an early version of what she’ll be performing at the Marlowe nine months later. Tickets £19.06.

Another brilliant comedian, Helen Bauer will be performing her latest show Bless Her at Where Else in Margate on Wednesday, October 1. You might know her from shows like Am I Being Unreasonable or her podcast Trusty Hogs. Tickets £16.50. 

Felix da Housecat is set to DJ at Faith in Strangers in Cliftonville on Saturday, November 29. A true icon of house music, this is sure to be a great night. Support will come from Jit Exotic. Tickets £19.40.

St George’s Church in Ramsgate is running tours of its tower and crypt over the summer. If you’re quick, you can have a look around today. The next ones are on September 13 and 20. Free tickets. 

The Thanet Games will take place in Cliftonville’s Dane Park on Wednesday, August 27 from 1pm to 3pm. A day of sports, activities, mindfulness, self-care, crafts and more. Free entry. 

The Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival returns from September 12-14. As well as the landing of the oysters ceremony, there will be various free activities, such as a mud tug o’ war and an oyster eating competition. Huey Morgan will also be DJing the East Quay venue on the Saturday and there will be lots of live music throughout the weekend. See the full programme. 

Margate Mushrooms will be putting on the first ever Margate Mushroom Festival at Ark in Cliftonville on October 18-19. Details are yet to be announced, so this is more of a save the date.

Ramsgate wine bar Penelope has DJ nights in the calendar every Saturday night at the moment, but here we thought we’d alert you to their two-day bank holiday line up. Cafe Mambo Ibiza resident Jim Breese will be playing on August 23, then Al Sandler and Rory D from o.utlier will be on the decks on August 24 - both from 5pm.

Cider fans, here’s a night for you. Kentish PIP will be at The Fermentorium in Ramsgate on Wednesday, August 27 to showcase a range of the company’s drinks. Entry gets you cider, a cheeseboard and a Q&A with the head brewer. Tickets £10. 

For even more cider, you can grab tickets for the Brogdale Cider Festival for two days of fizzy apple booze (that’s what people call it, right?). Held on August 23-24 at the Brogdale Collections in Faversham, there’ll be live music, food, and family-friendly activities. And cider, obviously. Over 40 varieties of the stuff. There’s a free shuttle bus from Faversham station too. Family tickets £35. 

The Old Curiosity Shop in Broadstairs is putting on a family-friendly mermaid life drawing class on Friday, August 22. It’s like any life drawing class but with less boob and bum. None at all, in fact. I said it was family-friendly, right? Your model will be sat out on the beach dressed as a mermaid. £5 per person with all materials provided. 

Relatively new LGBTQ+ night Club Climax returns to The John in Canterbury on Friday, August 29. This month is a ‘slaycation’ theme, so expect summer bangers, beach-worthy cocktails and a third summery thing to complete this list that I may or may not have thought of by the time we publish this. Tickets £5. 

Mark Chadwick, best known as frontman of The Levellers, will be playing a solo show at Ramsgate Music Hall on Thursday, September 18. He’ll play a set of songs from his two solo albums plus some Levellers classics. Tickets £25.