News Blast: Green Flags for Thanet parks

Awards for Thanet parks, restaurants and pubs, plus Tracey Emin's donation to Margate Pride, summer menus, and a move towards Cliftonville's new skatepark becoming a reality.

Ramsgate’s Ellington Park and Pegwell Bay Country Park have been handed Green Flag Awards, recognising them internationally as a high quality green spaces. Ellington Park also gets Green Heritage Site status for its conservation and maintenance of historic features. In Cliftonville, the Oval Bandstand and Lawns have received a Green Flag Community Award as “a shining example of a coastal community park.”

Tracey Emin has backed Margate Pride by donating an artist proof of her print A Deeper Place (2025), bringing in £10,000 for the not-for-profit, which launched a fundraising campaign earlier this year. 

A long time coming but welcome news, Thanet District Council has set an October date for work to begin building Cliftonville’s new outdoor skatepark on Ethelbert Crescent. A company to design and build the project is now being sought via Kent Business Portal. The listing states that “the project needs to be delivered and operational by mid-July 2026”. The project is funded with £750,000 from the Margate Town Deal and an additional £175,000 from the council. TDC also recently said that new facilities at Walpole Bay will be open by next summer. 

Two Thanet restaurants have made it into this year’s Good Food Guide list of Britain’s 100 Best Local Restaurants. Cliftonville Japanese restaurant Mori Mori is back on the list for the second year, and is joined by Broadstairs’ small and wonderful Fifteen Square Metres. Slightly further afield, John Dory Wine in Sandgate, JoJo's in Whitstable, and The Goods Shed in Canterbury all make the cut too.

Unassuming gastro pub The Sportsman in Seasalter has been known for its excellent tasting menu for over 25 years. Could you cook like that though? Well, now you can give it a good crack, as its owner and head chef Stephen Harris is putting out a cookbook. The Sportsman at Home: Flavoursome Recipes for Nostalgic Eating will be published by Penguin’s Quadrille imprint on November 6. Find out more. 

Broadstairs micro pub The Royston has been named CAMRA’s Kent Pub of the Year. The award was presented at the venue on Wednesday, with around 60 people turning up (and for the most part having to stand outside) to see the certificate handed to landlord Andrew Smith. It’s the first time a Thanet pub has won the prize for a decade. 

Fancy living the beachside dream and whiling away your summer days going from the sea to your beach hut? Your Leisure Kent will open up its beach hut (chalets, apparently) bookings on Wednesday, July 23 from 9.30am. Book online, or call 0333 3660 661. 

Branching out from its home turf, you can now find Margate Flowers in Ramsgate at the train station, Thursdays and Fridays, for glorious bouquets, stems and a solid range of flowers to brighten up your day with. 

Like beer and find yourself in Walthamstow and/or Dalston often enough? 40ft Brewery is opening up a brewery and tap room on the Blackhorse Road Beer Mile and a rooftop in Dalston. The company has launched a crowdfunder to help things get on the way. For whatever amount you pledge, you’ll get double that to spend at any one of the brewery’s three venues, from August onwards. There are other incentives, but this one’s the best. Don’t fancy travelling? You can also get a mixed-can slab delivered to your home if you donate £80. 

The UK Creative Festival was on at Dreamland last week. If you missed it, the festival’s talks, panels and sessions are all available to watch on demand. Head to ukcreativefestival.co.uk to listen to thought-provoking discussions of big ideas, AI, creativity and community, and Gen Z. 

Northdown Brewery would like to remind us of its weekend meal deal, with a pint (or wine or cider) + pizza is £13, and for + icecream, it’s £15. Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm-6pm/1pm-4pm. 

The George & Heart has launched its summer menu, cranking up the grill for the next six weeks. A cut above your charred beach barbecue (no offence), the pub will be serving up whole sardines, chimula steak, grilled aubergine, red pepper burgers, a selection of side salads and more until 9pm, Friday to Sunday.