News Blast: New coastline cafés

Plans for a new café at Walpole Bay, plus one already up and running at the nearby Newgate Gap that will brew your coffee in hot sand. This is all the latest creative and cultural news from across Thanet.

Plans for a new cafe and community space near Walpole Bay tidal pool have been published by Thanet District Council. Funded with money from the Margate Town Deal, if approved the new development will offer a two storey cafe, toilets, showers and a separate space for community projects in a converted shipping container. Restoration of the nearby lift would also be funded as part of the £2.1 million project. The new development would sit on the other side of Hodges Gap from the tidal pool, in a space currently used for parking. A previous cafe facility overlooking the tidal pool was destroyed by storms in the 1950s.

Margate Creative Land Trust has submitted plans to convert the former St Georges Garage on Harold Road in Cliftonville into a creative hub, offering workspace, studios and rehearsal rooms. “The transformation of Harold Road presents a significant opportunity [to] create high-quality creative workspaces that will generate sustainable employment opportunities, contribute positively to the local economy,” says MCLT. 

Ramsgate’s Ravensgate Arms could become a pub again under new proposals, following the closure of the Eats & Beats restaurant that moved into the building last month. The pub was closed in 2023 due to a fall in customers and spiralling costs. Now, under new proposals submitted by Propstock Community Pubs, the pub could be reopened as a smaller venue, with its first floor converted into a standalone flat. 

Tracey Emin Artist Residency alumnus Bianca Raffaella has won the Overall Prize at this year’s Women in Art Awards. She also came top in the Printing Prize category, receiving her awards at a ceremony at the British Library in London on Wednesday. As recipient of the top prize, she will get a solo exhibition in the Art Academy Gallery next year. Find out more.

Honestly, you wait ages for one coffee van to turn up on the Thanet coastline and then two arrive at once. Following the recent arrival of After Party at Walpole Bay, you can now find Flints at Newgate Gap beach. Serving coffee brewed in hot sand, organic teas and sweet treats, it offers no single use cups. Not carrying one of your own? Borrow one from the cup library. Drop it back later or donate it to the Oasis charity shop on Northdown Road - Flints will come and buy it back later. Profits go to maintaining the beach and community projects. 

Broadstairs and St Peters Town Council has announced new free and discounted hire rates at Pierremont Hall for local projects. A 20% discount is available for projects focussed on improving Broadstairs, under 18s or mental wellbeing. Free venue hire is available for non-profit organisations offering free services. Email events@broadstairs.gov.uk for more details. 

Ocean conservation focussed artist residency Rise Up has commissioned three new murals in Broadstairs, Westbrook and Margate. Artist KMG will paint murals at Broadstairs’ Albion Street carpark and 46 Canterbury Road in Westbrook early next month. The Broadstairs mural - a collaboration with POW Thanet - will be officially unveiled on Thursday, October 11. A third mural is set to be painted in Margate by local artist Autonemy, under the mentorship of KMG.

Margate Town Action Group is setting up a database of vacant commercial properties in the town with a view to getting them occupied. Step one is to identify while so many units remain empty, in many cases for years at a time. You can help by notifying MTAG of unused spaces that you know of in Margate and Cliftonville.