After several months out of action, Walpole Bay Tidal Pool is now officially open again. Maybe you already snuck in a little swim (we know we did) but work to replace the pool’s sluice gates is now complete. Closed since January, the work took months longer than expected to complete due to the extremely brief windows when conditions were right for engineers to access the far end of the pool. The 30 year old gates are now in place, so swimming should return uninterrupted through the summer.
Tracey Emin has been voicing announcements in a selection of central London Tube and bus stations this week as part of TfL’s Priority Seating Week. Her pre-recorded announcements encourage commuters to offer up their seats to people who may need them more, raising awareness for non-visible disabilities.
Margate’s Shell Grotto appeared on the first episode of Channel 4’s Listed Britain this week. Presented by Kevin McCloud, the show explores the wildly eclectic array of listed buildings around the UK. The Shell Grotto, McCloud informs us, contains “the most protected genitalia in the country” on its walls. So that’s something to enjoy. Watch now.
Pie Factory Music in Ramsgate has been nominated in the Young Campaigner category at this year’s SMK National Campaigner Awards. The nomination recognises the work young people who use the service put into the campaign to allow Pie to remain in its home at Ramsgate Youth Centre. The overall winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on June 11.
Andy Malt
Thanet Coast Project is seeking volunteers to act as Coastal Wardens, helping to protect the north east Kent coastline. Free training events are set to take place on May 23 and June 17 for those interested. Find out more.
New cafe Lift has launched in Ramsgate, located in the Edwardian East Cliff Lift on the Royal Harbour. Serving up coffee and fresh pressed juice, it also offers a menu of food cooked in-house on a traditional range cooker. Open Thursday to Sunday.
Health bar The Laundrette has launched in Margate, serving up açai bowls, smoothies and deli food. Later this year, it will also launch a spa offering fitness, restorative treatments and meditation. If you know where to look (and the password), you’ll also find speakeasy bar The White Rabbit hidden in the building.
Clarey’s Chocolates in Broadstairs has announced its closure. The shop’s last day of trading was on Friday. The artisan chocolaterie launched in 2012, but said in a statement that “like so many small businesses right now, we have been facing a perfect storm.” A combination of rising costs and global uncertainty have had a fatal impact on the business, with the business saying that “despite our best efforts, it is no longer sustainable for us to keep the shop open.”
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