News Blast: Madonna in Margate and more

Madonna paid a visit to Margate, a local chef won an award, one of our favourite Broadstairs cafes is changing things up. This and more creative and cultural news from across Thanet and beyond.

Madonna was in Margate last weekend. I know! The actual Madonna. Apparently she sang a few songs in Peter’s Fish Factory. Actually, that’s not confirmed. Mainly because I just made it up. She was really in town to look at some art, visiting TKE Studios and the Carl Freedman Gallery. I don’t know if she sang any songs at all. She might have hummed to herself a little. She’s always humming to herself. That’s a fact and you can quote me on it. 

Margate chef Craig Edgell walked away from this week’s National Chef of the Year finals with the Best Presentation Award. Chosen by a public vote, he won the prize for his Native Lobster Roll roll starter, part of the menu cooked up for the final. The overall winner of the competition was Danny Young from The Torridon in the Scottish Highlands.

Set an alarm! Super early bird tickets for next year’s Smugglers Festival will go on sale at 8am on Wednesday. These will go fast, so load up the website now. 

Smugglers Festival’s journey to become a magical and mysterious summer highlight

With most of its stages hidden in woodland, Kent’s Smugglers Festival is an “inspiring and magical” experience, says programmer Stewart Hughes

Strange TouristAndy Malt

The Crab Museum has put out an open call to contribute artwork to its 2026 calendar. Do you have a crabby drawing idea? The skill to pull it off? Access to an email account? Now is your time to shine. Submit your landscape orientated image to calendarcrab@gmail.com by October 31. Winning entries will be included in the calendar and displayed one month at a time (as per tradition) in kitchens around the world.

Cute cafe Little Wave in Broadstairs is having a bit of a pivot. Currently closed for a refurb, it will re-open in the near future as Little Wave Deli. It will serve up coffee, fresh sourdough, sandwiches, take out meze pots and baked goods, as well as stocking ingredients from local independent producers. 

Margate Bookie has announced the winner of its Children’s Bookie badge design competition as nine year old Tabitha from Garlinge Primary School. Her design was picked to be turned into the official badge of this year’s competition from over 1000 entries. If you’re heading down to the Turner today, you can pick up a free badge in the Clore Learning Studio. The entries are also on display in the window of the Margate School on the High Street until Sunday. 

Cookie Man in Margate’s Old Kent Market is closing down, which is sad news. Not until the end of March next year though, so there’s plenty of time to overload on those delicious cookies. And while you won’t be able to buy any more after March 28, you will be able to make them yourself. The Cookie Man himself, Stuart Saint, is working on a recipe book to pass on his knowledge. This is one of a number of projects that will keep Cookie Man alive in different forms.