News Blast: Thanet awards, designer clothes, fiction, new bars and more

Ramsgate scores an award and a grant to develop its high street, awards nominations in Margate, a Broadstairs murder mystery, and more news from Thanet and beyond.

Ramsgate has been named one of six winning towns in the British Retail Consortium’s Let’s Celebrate Towns Awards. Winning the Small Business Support category, as well as a trophy, the prize grants £20,000 to Ramsgate Space to continue its work developing the town’s high street. The organisation's next project is to launch a hospitality incubator for food businesses to operate small scale residencies. Find out more.

Margate’s Dreamland has been nominated for the Best Seaside Park prize at this year’s UK Theme Park Awards. It’s up against 12 others, including Clacton Pier, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach and Pleasurewood Hills. It all comes down to a public vote, which is open now. If you have the time/inclination, there are 21 (!!) other categories in which to vote. Cast your vote. 

Margate’s Buoy and Oyster chef Craig Edgell has reached the semi-finals of this year’s National Chef of the Year competition. One of 40 chefs to make it through, the final ten are set to be announced on July 31. If selected, he will go through to a head-to-head cook off at the University of West London on October 7.

Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran has confirmed in a letter to East Thanet MP Polly Billington that the new Reform led administration plans to go ahead with plans to sell off the buildings occupied by Pie Factory Music in Ramsgate and the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Broadstairs. Other cuts to services in Thanet are also set to go ahead as planned under the previous Conservative leadership. 

Author Anna Sayburn Lane has published the sixth book in her Marjorie Swallows murder mystery series, setting the story in Kingsgate Castle in Broadstairs. The action takes place shortly after the castle was converted into a hotel in 1922. Find out more. 

Fashion designer Matthew May has launched new Ramsgate-based womenswear brand MAI. Born in Thanet, Matthew has designed for brands including Valentino in Rome. “Launching the brand from my hometown is an incredibly proud moment for me. MAI clothing is a chance to do what I love in a very special place,” he says. “I hope to grow the business and eventually work even more with the exceptionally talented people in Thanet. This is just the beginning, and the future is looking bright.” Find out more. 

Margate’s Crab Museum is extending its opening hours for the school summer holidays. From July 30, it will welcome crab fans of all ages from Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm. Make the most of the two extra days until September kicks in. 

A new bar called Henry’s is set to open soon on Margate High Street with sea views over the main sands. It takes over the unit formerly occupied by Henry’s electronics store, which closed several years ago. Follow on Instagram for updates. 

When they closed The Folkestone Wine Company in May, owners Polly Pleasance and David Hart promised to return. They’ve now announced that they will open new French restaurant and wine bar Franc in Canterbury later this year. 

Ramsgate’s Elephant & Castle pub has gone up for sale promising its new owner a “profitable free house with predominantly wet trade”. Built around a central bar there’s space for 50 people inside and 40 in the beer garden, which overlooks Boundary Park. The venue is also known for putting on punk gigs and screening live sports. Sometimes at the same time. It has a guide price of £375,000. More details.