News Blast: Pie Factory Music secures future with purchase of Ramsgate Youth Centre

Pie Factory Music purchases Ramsgate Youth Centre, Heritage Lab proposes restoration of Ramsgate's former outdoor swimming pool, Tracey Emin lends support to Isle of Culture bid. This and more creative and cultural news from across Thanet.

Following nearly two years of uncertainty, Pie Factory Music has completed its purchase of Ramsgate Youth Centre, its home for the last 13 years. This ensures that it can continue to offer a range of creative and support services to young people in the area for years to come. The acquisition was made possible by a capital grant of £535,000 from the national Pride in Place programme. “Knowing our future in the building is secure fills us with hope and relief,” says Pie CEO Zoë Carassik. “This milestone is just the beginning. Our campaign continues to secure ongoing funding for our universal youth services and music and creative arts programmes. Read our interview about the campaign with Zoë from last March:

Pie Factory Music’s fight to save the building it calls home

As youth service Pie Factory Music fights funding cuts and plans to sell its Ramsgate HQ, CEO Zoë Carassik explains why “young people deserve better”

Strange TouristAndy Malt

Heritage Lab has unveiled proposals to restore Ramsgate’s East Cliff car park to its former use as an Olympic sized outdoor swimming pool. The car park is one of several sites that Thanet District Council is currently considering putting up for sale. Heritage Lab says that it is already in discussions with a developer keen to work on the restoration project and is calling on residents to contact their local councillors to share their support. 

Tracey Emin has thrown her support behind the bid for Thanet to be named the UK’s Isle of Culture in 2029. "Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate and all the surrounding villages make up the Isle of Thanet, in the last 20 years the Isle of Thanet has excelled in contemporary culture,” she says. “The music, film, literature and visual arts have triumphed, it’s now time that this should be celebrated Nationally and Internationally. Our little corner of England has been missed and forgotten for a long time, Isle of Culture 2029 has more than a good ring to it." Find out more.

Margate Main Sands is set to be fitted with a boardwalk, similar to that on the beach at Viking Bay in Broadstairs, under new proposals by Thanet District Council. Making the beach more accessible to people with mobility issues, the walkway will cost £95,000 to implement. The plan just needs final approval from Councillors as part of a vote on the council’s 2026/7 budget on February 26. 

Pavement’s Bob Nastanovich has donated a gold disc marking 500,000 US sales of the band’s single Harness Your Hopes to the campaign to save Margate music venue Where Else. “I have had a great time DJing and watching live music at Where Else,” he says. “I feel like it's an essential element of a great scene and its demise would diminish my enjoyment of my frequent visits there. I am keenly aware of the value of a great music venue to any scene and Where Else is one of my favorite spots worldwide.” An eBay auction for the gold disc ends on Monday and is already over £4000. Pavement fans with deep pockets, bid now. 

Thanet music venues “hanging in there” as others close

Ramsgate Music Hall’s André Dack and Sammy Clarke of Margate’s Where Else on the existential threat facing hundreds of independent music venues in the UK

Strange TouristAndy Malt

Pink Suits have been announced at the new performance artists in residence at TKE Studios. They take over from Keziah, who completed her residency with two performances of her show The Great Drama at the gallery last month. “Their arrival brings a surge of energy and resistance to the studios,” says TKE in a statement announcing their appointment. 

Ramsgate Space is inviting proposals for six week residencies at the former Ravensgate Arms pub. Potential ideas including food and drink pop-ups, creative studios, exhibitions and test trading. Find out more and express your interest.

Changes are afoot at Broadstairs’ Funicular Coffee House as it comes under new management. Details are largely under wraps at the moment, but we do know that there will be a change of name for the venue built into the cliffs at Viking Bay. See the announcement. 

Architecture firm Studio Sam Causer has unveiled rejected designs for the restoration of Margate Winter Gardens drawn up last year but not taken forward by Thanet District Council. They show a vision for a venue split into sections that could operate on their own operating hours, meaning that the whole building did not have to be open and staffed at all times. New operator Westwood One is now bringing the venue back to life with its own plans, but these unused designs are interesting nonetheless. Take a look.