Incoming: Margate Bookie, Ramsgate Arts Club, Offvine
Upcoming things to do in Thanet and beyond, including a book festival, comedy, wine tasting and more
Margate's literature festival returns, Ramsgate Arts Club announces a big line up for its first event, Offvine brings the English wine. All this and more dates for your diary from Thanet and beyond.
The Margate Bookie literature festival has just announced its line up for 2025. Speakers this year including restaurant critic Jay Rayner and journalist Adam Weymouth. There are also a series of writing workshops, a week of events celebrating local writers, a pub quiz and more. There will also be a night curated by the Strange Tourist team. The festival runs from October 4-12. See the full programme.
Ramsgate Arts Club has announced its first show, and it’s off to a flying start. The inaugural edition of the monthly Vaults Comedy night on Thursday, October 2 will be headlined by Aurie Styla and feature a set from Sam Nicoresti - winner of Best Comedy Show at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe. Also joining them on the bill will be Alistair Barrie and Katie Pritchard. Tickets £18.
Offvine Tours has partnered up with Seabird to bring some of the most delicious Kentish wine to Ramsgate. The monthly series of wine tastings and drinkings kicks off on Thursday, September 4 with plonk from Ham Street - the only certified biodynamic vineyard in Kent. Pop down to the Addington Street haunt at 6pm for a free taster, and stay if you fancy more.
Zita Whalley
Babeslam Battle of the Champs will be at Where Else in Margate on Wednesday, September 10. Former winners of the poetry and spoken word competition will go head to head. There will also be a headline set from Sarah Ogilvie and a guest performance by Sez Smith. Tickets £6.39.
Paddington is getting the West End musical treatment. Well, it was inevitable, wasn’t it? Written by acclaimed playwright Jessica Swale with songs by McFly’s Tom Fletcher, it will open at the Savoy Theatre on Saturday, November 1. No rush though, it’s currently scheduled to run until May next year. Tickets from £25.
Margate Radio Block Party is back. DJs from the station will soundtrack a day of music, food, drink and fun across businesses in The Centre in Margate. The atmosphere at these is always great. It takes place from 12-5pm on Saturday, September 13.
Musician Lo Barnes is running another term of her group singing lessons, The Singing Club. Cheaper than private lessons and with all the benefits of singing in a group, the first lesson of the six week block is on Thursday, September 25 at Institute Studios on Margate High Street. Places £110.
Margate Electronics is back at Margate Arts Club on Friday, September 12. Performing live will be Timothy J Fairplay, Chupacabras and Cestrian. Tickets £10.
NBE Fitness has announced Plot to Plate - an opportunity to eat in nature and care for the land that grows your food. The event is set to take place at the Perfect Place to Grow’s kitchen garden at Quex Park on Saturday, September 27. This session will teach attendees about growing cucurbita. Minimum donation £2.
Sunday Papers Live returns at London’s Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings on September 28 from 12.30pm to 6pm. It’s a classic Sunday relaxing and flicking through a newspaper - except the newspaper plays out live on stage in front of you. There are live talks, quizzes, cocktails, a walk and a roast. Naps are allowed and massages are available all day. Tickets £39.50.
Margate Caves is hosting a series of monthly sound healing sessions through the autumn. Get down amongst the chalk to bask in a chorus of crystal singing bowls, vocals and drumming. Led by Lucy Michaela Adams, the first two sessions take place this Sunday, followed by more on October 4 and November 9. Places £22.
Margate Mushrooms is putting on a gig next month, a two part performance from Waterflower, a Latvian artist who makes electronic music using plants and mushrooms. Her genre-spanning audiovisual shows explore themes of ecology and extinction. The show will take place on Wednesday, September 10 at 101 Social in Cliftonville. Entry £5.
Like flea markets? There’s a few coming up. If you fancy a country drive, Water Lane walled garden in Hawkshurst is putting on a Flea and Food Market on Saturday September 13, from 9am-4pm. Entry is £5 and kids under 16 go free. The massive Sunbury Antiques Market is on Tuesday, September 9, with entry £5 between 6.30am-8am. You could also just sleep in a little longer and go in for free after 8am. Find it at Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury on Thames. And on Sunday, August 31 (tomorrow) old stuff will line the cobblestones of Harry Potter set Leadenhall Market. This one is from 12pm-5pm on every last Sunday of the month.
The Fermentorium in Ramsgate hosts Lagerfest, September 20-28. Head over for new season lagers, classically brewed german beers and pours by UK breweries.
The Driftweed Artist Gemelia Boss has a string of seaweed pressing workshops taking place in Broadstairs in September. Sessions are across a number of dates, cost £80 and will see you turn what stinks en masse into delicate and intricate artworks. Book your place.
Fancy ringing in the full moon with a gong bath? Head to Gather& in Ramsgate on Friday, September 5 for an aural relaxation session led by kundalini yogi Bettina Ji. Tickets £25.50.
We Are Here Coffee is hosting a caffeine-celebrating soiree at Lowlife Margate on September 17. For coffee people and pals, head to the new Northdown Road shop for Casa pizza, games, drinks and chats.
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