News Blast: Broadstairs Viking Bay fireworks cancelled and more

Broadstairs’ annual Viking Bay fireworks display has been cancelled due to safety concerns. “This difficult decision follows a rigorous safety review and risk assessment,” says Broadstairs & St Peters Town Council in a statement. “The ongoing major building works to replace a collapsed sewer on Victoria Parade have significantly reduced vital walking space, which serves as our primary crowd dispersal area.” The display had been due to take place on Saturday, November 5. 

Filming for the third series of BBC sitcom Things You Should Have Done took place in locations around Thanet on Friday. Film crews were spotted on Ramsgate’s East Cliff and St Paul’s Road in Cliftonville, with stars Lucia Keskin and Jamie Bisping acting out a number of scenes. No transmission date for the new series has yet been announced. 

The Carlton cinema in Westgate reopened on Saturday afternoon, following an unexpected two day closure. In a statement, management explained that the shutdown was “due to renegotiations of our insurance policies, which has now been resolved.” The venue’s main screen remains closed following damaged sustained during a fire in an adjacent business in August this year. Repair works continue.

Whybrow Studio has announced that its wayfinding project in Margate is edging closer to realisation. “With the design development and community engagement complete, the Margate Town Wayfinding scheme is now moving towards its next exciting chapter – becoming part of the town itself,” says the design agency. Aiding movement around the town, installation of new signage is planned to take place in the spring. Find out more. 

A new sculpture depicting a hermit crab emerging from a blue plastic barrel has been unveiled in The Centre in Margate. The artwork has been created by Canadian sculptor Laurence Vallières, as part of the ongoing Rise Up Residency project. “Hermit crabs naturally occupy discarded seashells to protect their vulnerable bodies,” says the organisation. “But in a world increasingly overwhelmed by plastic pollution, these remarkable creatures have been documented adopting human-made waste as substitute homes. Laurence magnifies this unsettling reality, imagining an animal adapting to the environment we’ve created around it.”

Faith in Strangers in Cliftonville is raising money for a number of upgrades to the venue and co-working space. This includes a new micro-restaurant in the lobby, plus upgrades to its stage, DJ booth and sound system. Money for the work is being raised via crowdfunding. All money you put in will come back to you as ‘Faith Credit’, with perks including free tickets, guestlist for life and free use of the whole venue, depending on how much you’re willing to pitch in. See the plans and donate.

The Margate Bookshop’s crowdfunder to raise money to provide free books for primary schools in Margate has reached its target of £5000. With the campaign set to run until Christmas, the goal has now been increased to £7500. Donate now. 

Chef François Fayd’herbe de Maudave takes up residency at Cliftonville Dining Room next week. As well as serving up a new menu for the restaurant, he will sell ready-made meals to eat at home. These will be available to purchase mid-week. The restaurant’s excellent roasts will continue to be available on Sundays.