News Blast: Heritage Lab to revive 1930s East Cliff shelters

The ambitious plan for Ramsgate's East Cliff promenade, Thanet's Staple Stores bakery chain expands, a great opportunity for young people looking to work in live music and more. Here's this week's creative and culture news from Thanet and wider East Kent.

Heritage Lab has agreed a 20 year lease with Thanet District Council to take over and redevelop the eight Art Deco shelters along Ramsgate’s East Cliff lower promenade. While one shelter will be restored to its original purpose, with seating and local information, the other seven will be put to new uses. Ideas include a food and drinks outlet, a sauna, water sports and fishing facilities, beach huts, toilets, a community and educational space, and art space. A public consultation is now open. Find out more.

The Ramsgate branch of Staple Stores is moving. Later this month, you'll have to walk a few doors up to the former Corby’s Tea Rooms to get your coffee and pastry fix. The good news is, your effort will be rewarded with more space and an expanded menu, which will include hot food offerings. Even better, early next month the old cafe will reopen as new ice cream parlour Scoop. The grand opening of the new Staple Stores branch is tentatively set for Saturday, June 28.

Plans to reopen the Port of Ramsgate have stalled after no ferry operators came forward to manage services at the site and fund £15 million of necessary upgrades. Local councillors will meet on Thursday to consider a proposal to end the Ramsgate Pathfinder Port Infrastructure project and reallocate its £7.6 million of funding to other projects. Read more. 

The retail unit formerly occupied by the Sister Joan hair salon in Cliftonville is going up for auction with a guide price of £135,000. The amazing frontage seems ready made for a pub or restaurant. But maybe you’ve got another idea for what to do with those huge windows. See the listing. 

Are you 18-25 and looking to get experience working in live music? Margate Soul Festival and Flat Lemonade have launched Behind the Bass, a paid programme offering training, mentoring and experience working behind the scenes on the festival. This looks like a really fantastic opportunity. Apply now. The deadline is Monday, June 23. 

Streets in Cliftonville has had a rebrand and is now the Riding Wine Co. This is actually a return to the name of owners Jesal Thakker and Vikram Mertia’s former wine bar in Ealing, West London, which they closed in 2022 when they moved to Margate.

Having recently launched their bicycle drinks delivery service, Drops have now revealed that they will be opening a bottle shop in Cliftonville too. They’ll be selling a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks for independent companies, plus tasty snacks to go with them. Find the shop at 46 Northdown Road. There will be an official opening party at 4pm on Saturday, June 21. 

The Curzon Riverside in Canterbury is bringing back its outdoor cinema for the summer. There will be film screenings from Friday to Sunday, with £5 tickets, free popcorn for kids, five hours of free parking, and refreshments brought to your seat (deckchair or beanbag, depending on your preference/knees). Also look out for free screenings of live sporting events. Find out more. 

Folkestone’s Compass Music grassroots music festival will return to the town on October 17-19. Organisers have just put out a call for independent artists to perform. Last year saw 32 acts play across seven venues. The deadline for applications is Monday, July 7. Find out more. 

A Broadstairs home recently featured on Tinie Tempah’s Channel 4 property show Extraordinary Extensions is up for sale. The main thing that’s extraordinary about this extension is how green it is. So very, very green. Oh, and also that it completely changed the orientation of the end of terrace house so that it now faces the sea. Nice, right? If you like green houses, sea views and have at least £900,000 to hand, check it out.