News and things to do: Best restaurants, Self Esteem, Galaxy Season
The Times has published a list of the 21 best places to eat on the southeast coast. Thanet is well represented with Seabird in Ramsgate, Twenty Seven Harbour Street and Kebbells in Broadstairs, Angela’s, Sargasso, Dory’s and Sète in Margate all making the list. Meanwhile, The Sportsman in Seasalter comes out number one and Deal makes a strong showing with the inclusion of The Zetland Arms, The Rose and The Blue Pelican. The full (paywalled) article is here.
Tracey Emin’s TKE Studios will be hosting a screening of Life Is Excellent, a new documentary about visual artist and poet David Robilliard, who died of AIDS aged just 36 in 1988. It will be followed by a live recording of Russell Tovey and Robert Diament’s Talk Art podcast. They will be joined by special guest Susie Hall - who co-produced the film with Tovey - to discuss Robillard’s life and career. It takes place on Sunday, February 23 from 5pm. Pay-what-you-can tickets available now.
Shelly Grotto’s new book The Lonely Thanet Guide to Queer Margate was released into the world this week. It promises “Semi-comprehensive directories of queer businesses, venues and community groups, insider tips for authentic LGBTQ+ experiences”, as well as “maps, itineraries, when to visit guide to help you have the gayest time possible.” Copies are available for £7 from CAMP.
March is ‘galaxy season’, when the distant galaxies in the night sky are at their most visible. Ramsgate’s Discovery Planet will be gazing up at the sky in mid-March, giving children and adults alike the opportunity to join them. Mega Zooming will run as part of British Science Week, offering you the chance to get to grips with and learn more about telescopes. Sessions begin hourly on March 13-15, between 10am and 3pm.
If you fancy a trip up to London for an even bigger cosmic experience, artist Nelly Ben Hayoun-Stépanian will be taking over Piccadilly Circus on March 6-8. There’ll be asteroid-sized inflatable moon rocks, giant cat sculptures inspired by physics experiments, soundscapes being bounced off the moon, and state-of-the-art telescopes placed for public use across the West End. Find out more.
The iconic Prince Charles Cinema on London’s Leicester Square is under threat. Operators say that its landlords appear to be angling to force the cultural institution out of the building in order to redevelop it. The cinema has been in operation since 1962, and was a theatre prior to that. It’s a massively important venue for UK cinema, and I’m sure many of you have sat in its seats at some point. The cinema is currently gathering signatures in support of keeping it going for years to come. Add your name now.
Margate Radio curated an excellent night of music and meditation at the Turner Contemporary earlier this month. However, the station itself has been quiet for the month of January. After a short hibernation, it’s back on the air today, returning to its usual weekend schedule. Tune in from 10am.
Forever Margate royalty Self Esteem will release her new album A Complicated Woman on Friday, April 25. Out now is the LP’s first single Focus is Power. The week before it comes out, she’ll be launching the record with a theatrical version of it in London’s West End. She’ll be at the Duke of York’s Theatre on April 16-19. Tickets go on general sale on Wednesday, February 5 at 10am (but you can get early access by pre-ordering the album).
Margate’s Turner Contemporary is currently closed as it wipes away the rotting apples and flowers left by Anya Gallaccio’s brilliant Preserve exhibition. Next up at the gallery is a show curated by film director Steve McQueen called Resistance. It will examine “how protest shaped Britain and photography shaped protest.” It will run from February 22 to June 1. More info.
Hughie Gavin of Institute Studios and the Social Singing Choir will be performing some work-in-progress new music at Rosslyn Court in Margate on Thursday, February 6. He will be playing new songs for his JAKL project as well as some solo piano pieces. His work on the soundtrack for the last season of True Detective was nominated for an Emmy, so it’ll be exciting to hear what he’s got in the works now. Tickets are £12.
Looping the Loop is hosting Pitch Perfect - a workshop for performing artists and producers on crafting the perfect pitch - at Radford House in Ramsgate on Friday, February 14. If you put on great shows but struggle to explain them to programmers and audiences, then this is for you. Early bird tickets are just £10.
Heavy music promoter Mother Brain has announced its first show of 2025. LA ‘fairy-doom’ trio Faetooth will be performing at Ramsgate Music Hall on Friday, June 20. A way off, sure. But if you like the sound of a band that merges doom metal, black metal, shoegaze and sludge (I see no reason why you wouldn’t) then don’t hang about. Tickets are £16.
Margate’s Bombo Doughnuts is spreading its wings, launching a second outlet in Whitstable. It will take up residence in pop-up market shop We Sell By The Sea on Saturday, February 15. Until February 17, they’ll be offering half price doughnuts before launching their full coffee and doughnut offering the following weekend. The original Bombo stall launched in Margate's Old Kent Market last summer.
ICYMI - previous tipped events happening in the next week
London’s Barbican kicks off a season of alt-folk shows tonight (Feb 1) with a performance by Roo Panes. On Monday night, catch a tribute to David Crosby. Full details.
Folkestone Pride and the Silver Screen Cinema host a screening of camp cult comedy But I’m a Cheerleader tonight. Tickets are £6.
Margate Pride is celebrating LGBT+ History Month with a programme of good stuff. Coming up in the next week there’s a letter writing session (Feb 2), and New Rumours: Celebrating Margate’s LGBTQ+ Venues of the 80s & 90s (6 Feb).
Independent Venue Week 2025 draws to a close this weekend. Marking it by heading to the Kent Pop Exchange All-dayer at Where Else on tonight, and Keg at Ramsgate Music Hall on tomorrow. We recently spoke to the owners of both venues about the existential threats facing small venues in the UK. Read the article.
Folkestone’s Winter Beer Festival is here to welcome you out of Dry January. It’s on at The Board Room at Folkestone Harbour all weekend.
Chump’s Comedy is putting on two improv workshops for performers at beginner and intermediate level at Where Else tomorrow. Both are sold out but you can add yourself to the waiting lists for last minute places.
Margate Restaurant Week runs February 3-7, with eateries all around the town offering set menus for £20.25 per head. Find the full list of participating restaurants on Instagram.
The Kent Poetry Slam takes place at The Venue in Canterbury on Thursday, February 6. Eleven poets will duke it out, and there will also be a headline performance from Vanessa Kisuule. Tickets are £5.
Cinque Ports in Margate reopens with a kitchen residency by Chix Stock. There’s an opening party on Thursday, February 6 from 5-11pm.
Writer Ellen Jones will be in conversation at the Fort Road Hotel to launch her new book Outrage, about the fight for LGBTQ+ equality on Thursday, February 6. Join the waiting list for seats.
Illustrator Megan Metcalf hosts a Valentine’s card and rosette making session on Thursday, Feb 6 at Louie on Sea in Margate. Tickets £20.