News and things to do: Car park raves, Sugababes, POW
Comedy, music, booky stuff and a wedding fair that sounds so crafty and interactive, it's worth a nosey around even if you’re not planning to get hitched
Margate Creative Land Trust has nabbed the former St George’s Garage on Harold Road, and have plans to turn it into a new creative workspace. It’s the trust's first site, and they’ve enlisted architects IF DO to turn the 30,000 sq ft space, which includes three industrial units and a forecourt into a space, into a space that works for various creative practices. IF Do will also lead on meanwhile uses, while the Trust is in talks with several ‘lynchpin’ organisations as potential residents.
The Barbican is turning one of its car parks into a pop up club for spring and summer. The car park club is held in conjunction with the centre’s Feel the Sound exhibition, which looks at the noise and vibrations that shape life and the environment. In addition to the 11 commissions and installations, Irish pop-up rave makers Temporary Pleasure will turn Car Park 5 into Joyride - an aural experience made with modified car sound systems. Runs May 22-August 31.
Chump’s Comedy’s first mixed bill for the year is a winning line up, literally. It features, Rob Copland, Marty Gleeson, Rohan Sharma and Paul Hilleard, who all won various awards last year, including BBC New Comedy Award, the Victoria Wood Award and LGBTQ+ New Comedian of the Year. Head to Where Else? On Wednesday, March 26, 7pm. Tickets £15.
Sugababes and Melanie C are set to play Dreamland on Friday, September 12. Subscribe to the Dreamland newsletter before 10am, Thursday February 20 for presale tickets or wait until tickets go on general release the following day. Ticket prices are yet to be announced.
Roni Size is coming to Faith in Strangers in Cliftonville on Saturday, April 26. He'll be playing a two hour DJ set at the venue, which will definitely be one not to miss. Early bird tickets are £23.
Margate Arts Club has announced punk art duo Pink Suits will take over the venue from next year. They’ll spend this year learning the ropes while planning for a big 2026. Expect the same inclusive, welcoming and varied club nights, with the addition of more performance nights, film nights, food nights and relaxed hangs during the week.
Little Simz has been announced as the curator of this year's Meltdown Festival at London's Southbank Centre. It'll be the 30th edition of the event, and this year will run from June 12-25. The line up will be announced in the spring.
Like pizza? Like plants? Foliage Plants in Ramsgate are now serving up stone baked pizza, Friday, Saturday and Sundays from 11am, with takeaway also available. Head to the High Street for a margarita, and a Swiss Cheese plant on the side.
Margate children’s author and illustrator Em Cosh brings their first book, Kip and the Squiggledoodle to the Whitstable Children’s Festival of Books. Head to The Horsebridge, 11 Horsebridge Road, Whitstable, CT5 1AF on Saturday, March 8 from 2pm-3pm. Tickets, £7.50. You can also pre-order the book.
The Pop-up Bookshop hosts the next Broadstairs Book Fair on Sunday, April 13 at the Pavilion Broadstairs and will feature the works of many Thanet writers. If you are a local writer and would like to get involved, tables are £10 and you can share with another author. Email popupbookshopkent@gmail.com for more info or to book.
POW Thanet turns 10 this year and runs all through March, 1-31. Bringing us a decade of dissent, programming focuses on gender equality - where we’ve been, where we’re at and where we’re heading. With more events to be announced, picks include the screening of Rebel Dykes (March 9) and a discussion on aging, technology and social change, and where the three meet (March 9) a night of music from Thanet’s next generation of musicians (March 6) and another night of shorts from upcoming filmmakers ( March 13) and a dance piece looking at women’s cycles of labour by Moving Memory, a dance-theatre company working with older people (multiple dates). Book and peruse events powthanet.com
Ramsgate wine bar and kitchen Seabird has put two new DJ dates in the calendar. Head to the Addington Street venue for cocktails and small plates, trip hop and cinematic tunes Saturday, March 1 and Friday, April 25. Bookings advised.
You don’t have to be in the market for a wedding venue, for this one, even though it’s the brainchild of GATHER 2025 wedding fair. As part of GATHER, The Coastal Venue Trail is a kind of open house for some of Thanet’s most stunning venues (and ones which are available for weddings) - it’s your chance to take a look around and take a long walk. Held over March 1-2 weekend, from 11am-4.30pm, venues include Turner Contemporary, Fort Road Hotel, Faith in Strangers, Quex, Pierremont Hall, The Albion House and the Chapel House Estate. You can download a map and full list of participating venues.
To be fair, GATHER sounds quite weird and glorious itself - would you like to make streamers, or learn how to scent your event? Perhaps you’d like to pipe a cake or decorate a candle or try your hand at embroidery? Listen to some live music? Why not. Head to the Turner on Saturday, March 1, 11am-4.30pm, whether you’re getting hitched or not. GATHER is free, some sessions may require tickets.
NāMAKA at Stone Beach Bay will reopen on April 4 at The Hut, and stay open for all of the Easter Holiday for sandy family days.
Babeslam returns to Where Else on Wednesday March 5. A) Turn up and watch, B) If you’re a babe - that’s every kind of girlie babe-identifying babe - who has a way with words, sign up for one of the six open mic spots quick. Previous Babeslam winner Cassie O’Connor headlines. Tickets £6 or £8 on the door.
Share the love today, Saturday, February 15, with Arts in Ramsgate’s Valentines family fundraiser, held in partnership with United Together. Join in on card-making, face-painting, cake decorating and a singing workshop. Grab some homemade cakes and baked treats while you’re at it. Funds raised will go directly to a family in Gaza - Esam, Manar and their two children Habeeba, 5, and Hour, 1. The money will go towards food, supplies and help the family rebuild their lives. Drop by Arts in Ramsgate, 46 High St, CT11 9AG from 2pm-5pm.
Dory’s in Margate thought that Margate Restaurant Week was the craic, so much so, the fish-forward gaff has launched a lunch set menu, available Thursday to Monday, alongside its a la carte menu. It’s £24/£28 for two or three courses.
Dory’s sister restaurant Angela’s also wants you to know they do a weekday set lunch, school holidays excluded. This one is also £24/£28 for two or three courses.
Bedford Inn puts on a wine tasting afternoon Saturday, March 8, 3pm-5pm. Quaff, swill and swirl six wines, with nibbles provided. £35 per person.
Ramsgate Noise Institute presents an evening of experimental music on Thursday, March 6, 7pm-9.30pm, which sees three artists and musicians will share their sounds Head to Unit 2, St Lawrence Industrial Estate, CT11 0QZ. Entry is free, and it’s bring your own booze.
Folkestone Documentary Festival is open for submissions. Taking place on October 22-26, you’ve got until March 9 to submit your short, mid length or full length documentary.
ICYMI - previous tipped events happening in the next week
Margate’s Bomba Doughnuts opens a second outlet in Whitstable’s pop-up market shop We Sell By The Sea today. They’ll be offering half price doughnuts to mark the occasion.
T33n_Angst's Valentine’s Disco will be playing love songs all night at Margate Arts Club tonight. The twist is that the tracks will get progressively faster, rising to 170bpm by closing time. Tickets £7.
The deadline to enter this year’s East Kent Photographic Competition is Sunday. Entry is free and there are various categories for children and adults. Full details.
Experience the Sunday Papers Live at Park Village in West London on Sunday. There will be talks, arts and crafts, pub quizzes, music and stalls. Tickets are £20, with the option to add a roast lunch.
Secondhand clothing market She Sells By The Sea will be at Cinque Ports in Margate on Sunday. Rifle through vintage and pre-loved clothing and accessories, then grab a beer or two and some hot snacks.
Sooshi Sushi is hosting sushi making workshops at Cliffs in Cliftonville this week. For kids aged 7-11, the class is on Sunday and costs £15. The adult workshop takes place on Wednesday and costs £45. Email sooshisushi@outlook.com for more details.
Singer-songwriter Anna B Savage will be returning to Where Else in Margate on Wednesday night. Tickets are £17.26.
Stand up comedian Paul Foot will perform his critically acclaimed show, Dissolved at Olby’s on Wednesday. Tickets £18.
Margate Pride will be raising funds for this year’s edition with an LGBT+ History Month Special Legendary Quiz & Raffle on Thursday night at Margate Arts Club. Tickets £10.
Open > Project: Session is a new monthly meet up for bedroom music producers to connect with other creatives in East Kent. There will be a launch party at The Ballroom in Canterbury on Thursday. Full details.
Comedian Joey Page will be performing at Justine’s in Margate on Thursday. Tickets are £12.50.
The Faversham Literary Festival kicks off on Friday, running through to Saturday, March 2. Speakers include Miranda Sawyer, Zandra Rhodes, and Michael Rosen. Check out the full programme.
