News Blast: Gadds' saves Ramsgate's Montefiore Arms
A new chapter for a much loved pub, plus more creative and cultural news from around Thanet
A new chapter for a much-loved pub, where to get the best food on the South East coast (according to Which?), your chance to have your say on a new town council. This and much more creative and cultural news from across Thanet.
Gadds’ Brewery has taken over Ramsgate pub the Montefiore Arms. "When it went up for sale, we knew we had to step in and save it," says brewery founder Eddie Gadd. “It’s a special place, full of character and warmth." New colour has been added to the outside of the pub with a mural commissioned for artist and pub regular Dani Flowerdew. An official opening party is set for September 5 from 6pm, with a free welcome drink, nibbles and entertainment all night.
Which? has named Broadstairs the best seaside town in South East England for food. Awarded five stars for food and drink options, the town was given an overall destination rating of 75% - brought down by a lack of parking - pipping Lymington in Hampshire to the top spot by 1%. Deal, Whitstable and Folkestone also made the top five.
Trevor Baker
After years of campaigning, Thanet District Council has launched a public consultation on the formation of a Margate Town Council. Doing so would bring the town in line with Ramsgate and Broadstairs. It would allow representatives elected by people in Margate to directly control things like parks and play areas, while giving the community a greater voice and work to improve quality of life in the town. Have your say. The consultation closes on September 28.
Local artists Jo Evans and Natascha Maksimov have donated artwork to a raffle organised by Land Art Agency, raising money for War Child to support children affected by conflict in Gaza and beyond. There’s lots of great work up for grabs and tickets start at £10. Entries close on Monday.
Smiths Coffee Bar in Broadstairs is moving around the corner to Belvidere Road to become Smiths Townhouse. Still serving up the same great coffee and food, it’ll also now off a bar and hotel rooms. The finishing touches are going on it as we speak, and it’ll be open for business on September 5.
Following a brief one night only not-quite-opening last month, Lowlife on Northdown Road in Cliftonville will officially open its doors on Monday, September 1. The “lo-fi social space and lifestyle store” will sell clothes, coffee and have a barber in the back. One of its USPs is that it will only sell filter coffee. “Our goal is to create a shop that offers the hard to obtain trifecta of a ‘good, cheap and fast’ cup of coffee,” say the owners.
Filmmakers! Time is running out to submit your work to this year’s Margate Film Festival. All levels of filmmaking, regardless of budget or experience are accepted. The final deadline is September 1. Submit via FilmFreeway.
Andy Malt
Writer Stephen Daly will publish his debut novel for young adults The Last Death Poet in April next year. In the book, “the theme of queer identity intertwines with the ghosts of the city’s political past and the dark forces of Irish mythology.” Set in Belfast, it was written in Margate - where Stephen is probably best known for his photography capturing the local LGBTQ+ community.
Patrick Wolf has released a new EP, titled Better of Worse. It features three versions of the title track, which originally appeared on his East Kent-themed album Crying the Neck, plus two new tracks. “All the folklore of the east Kent tradition of The Hooden Horse and its metaphor of resurrection sits as the core mythology of the song,” he says. Listen to the EP.
Repair Cafe Ramsgate is now at Ramsgate Youth Centre every second Sunday of the month from 10.30am to 1pm. Got something that’s not working? See if the team of volunteers there can fix it before you chuck it out. The next one is on September 14 where they will hopefully be bringing my toaster back to life.
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