News Blast: Margate chef make National Chef of the Year finals and more

Buoy & Oyster head chef makes National Chef of the Year finals, a new pub for Margate Old Town, Thanet pubs in the Good Beer Guide and more. Check out this week's cultural news from across Thanet.

Head chef at Margate’s Buoy & Oyster, Craig Edgell has made it through to the final of the National Chef of the year competition. To make it this far, he had to design a menu to impress the judges. Now down to the final ten, he has to actually make it live in front of them. The final takes place at the University of West London on Tuesday, October 7, with the overall winner announced at the Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square later that night. 

Following their recent announcement that they will be bringing their Chix Stock residency at Cinque Ports to an end next month, Billy Stock and Ellie Topham have announced their next project. The are taking over the pub formerly known as Dukes in Margate Old Town and reopening it as The Wellington. Being reconfigured into two spaces, it will be a pub serving bar snacks at the front, and a French-inspired dining room at the back. See the announcement. 

Twelve Thanet pubs have made it into the new edition of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. Ramsgate has the highest tally, with seven. They are the Artillery Arms, the Conqueror Alehouse, the Honeysuckle Inn, the Hovelling Boat Inn, he Montefiore Arms, the Pub, and the Red Lion. They’re joined by the Magney and the Royston in Broadstairs, the Four Candles in St Peters, the Old Bay Alehouse in Birchington, and the Mechanical Elephant in Margate. Seven Thanet breweries also get a mention: Four Candles, Isla Vale, Northdown Brewery, Gadds, Shivering Sands, and Wantsum. Buy the guide. 

Union Yoga & Wellbeing in Ramsgate is seeking a food business to take over its lovely cafe, in order to allow owner Amie Evans to focus on the yoga side of the business. Today will be the final day of trading for the cafe until a new operator is found - a decision that does not affect the yoga studio. “Although I’m heartbroken to say goodbye to the cafe as we know it, I’m also excited and hopeful to welcome a new business into the space who can give it the time and energy it truly deserves,” says Amie. Email cafe@unionramsgate.com for more information.

Happy birthday to Broadstairs ethical children’s clothing and toy store Kinder Collective, which is turning two. If you’ve never visited this cute little place, this is the perfect time, as they’re spending the whole month celebrating. There will be activities for children every day, plus spooky storytime on October 21, a beach clean on October 22, and trick or treat trail on October 24. You can also find them running a curated children’s book store at the Turner Contemporary on October 11-12 as part of Margate Bookie. Find out more.