News Blast: David Hockney to create new work for Turner Contemporary

David Hockney's new artwork for the Turner Contemporary, plans unveiled for Margate's Winter Gardens and Theatre Royal, a literary hotel for Ramsgate and more. Here's this week's news from across Thanet.

Margate’s Turner Contemporary has announced David Hockney as the next artist to create a piece for its Sunley Window. The artwork has been commissioned as part of fifteenth anniversary celebrations for the gallery. The seven metre tall, ten metre wide floor to ceiling window is set to be adorned with a depiction of a sunrise in Normandy, based on a piece originally drawn by Hockney in 2020. It will be on display from April 11 to November 1. 

Renovation plans for Margate Winter Gardens were unveiled this week with an open day at Margate Digital Campus. Once complete, the £8 million refit will see the building split up into two venues, a rooftop restaurant, drama school and nursery. While there’s much to do, it’s hoped that the Main Hall will be possible before the end of the year, with announcements about initial performances expected in the coming weeks. 

Plans for the Theatre Royal in Margate were also unveiled this week at an event held at the theatre. If you were unable to attend, the plans are also available to see online. You can also have your say by filling out a survey, which is open until March 1. See the plans. 

Despite a public campaign against the move, Thanet District Council has put the depot at Pierremont Park in Broadstairs up for sale on the open market. Campaign group Friends of Pierremont Park have been calling for ownership of the building to be transferred Broadstairs Town Council for community use. Noting that access is only possible through part of the park itself, the group says that commercial development “is likely to damage the park environment and lead to a loss of trees and shrubs.” A listing on Rightmove is seeking offers in the region of £475,000. A petition against the sale already has over 1200 signatures. Add yours.

The Falstaff in Ramsgate has announced the opening of The Book Hotel, a new collaboration with Tamara Macfarlane of children’s book shop Tales on Moon Lane. The literary hotel will officially open in May this year with a week-long book festival. A book shop will open next to the Falstaff’s existing cafe and bar at the beginning of March. “Ramsgate feels ready for this exciting new literary adventure,” says Falstaff owner Peter Andon. “I am delighted that The Falstaff will become The Book Hotel’s first home!”

A Pavement gold disc donated to the fundraising campaign for Where Else has sold for £7,685.70 on eBay. This gets the Margate music venue within £5500 of its £40,000 to pay off outstanding debts and set it on a more stable financial footing for the future. There are still two weeks to go before the campaign closes. Donate. 

101 Social in Cliftonville is raising money for its weekly soup kitchen, looking to cover costs for the next six months. The project has been running every Sunday since 2024, offering hot meals on a pay what you can basis using surplus ingredients from local businesses and residents. The campaign sailed past its original target of £2200 within a couple of days and has now upped the target to £4500. The additional money will go towards work to clean up Cliftonville’s alleyways. Donate.

Seabird in Ramsgate is also crowdfunding, in this case to raise money to cover legal bills for its protracted battle with Thanet District Council to get its licensing hours extended by one hour to 10pm on weekdays and 11pm at weekends. After 13 months, permission was finally granted, but now their alcohol licence needs to be extended in line with this change. The cost of the battle to open slightly later has proven costly, hence the need to ask for support. Donate.

Having recently got the keys to the Funicular Coffee House in Broadstairs, its new owners have announced that it will go by the new name Finks when it reopens. Follow on Instagram for updates (and to see the logo).

Margate Beach Club is looking for chefs, pop-ups and independent restaurant brands for residencies in its kitchen this year. The venue wants someone who can complement its day-to-night offering and Margate’s existing restaurant scene. Full details.

After gaining a lot of interest during Off Season last month, Margate Comic & Zine Library is to become a permanent fixture. The community street library will be open for you to peruse a range of comics and zines every weekend with hopes to have it running daily by the summer. Find it on Northdown Avenue and follow on Instagram for more information. 

The new Job Muscroft Gallery in Margate Old Town is now open showing works by a number of local artists, including Anne-Marie Rymill, Kevin Chuter, Max Sheppard, and Ann Palmer. 

The Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust has launched a series of podcasts creating an oral history of the sandbank 10km off the Deal coast, titled Shipwrecks, Sailors and Lost Souls. The thirteen episodes feature interviews with people from Deal and the surrounding areas discussing their experiences working on or near the sandbank. Listen.