News and things to do: Community spirit, festive cheer, healthy competition

Bon Volks has launched a new initiative called Circular Margate, which aims to redirect unwanted building materials into community and social projects in Margate. Following a pilot of the idea at the Turner Contemporary, the plan now is to build a permanent Materials Hub to store and process materials. Find out more.

The Princess of Wales, Tivoli Street, Margate opens under new management on Friday, January 10. Imperial Bar and Meze Kitchen - Xylo’s neighbours on Marine Parade - are the new publicans, and they’ll open with live music from 7pm and DJs from 9pm. 

Junk Yard Gaming will be holding its second Mario Kart Championship at the Tom Thumb Theatre in Cliftonville this Sunday, December 8. Race against other contenders on the big screen in the theatre itself. Other retro games consoles will be switched on up in the bar. Entry to the championship is £5, with proceeds going to charity. 

Head to the Happy Reading Bookshop in Broadstairs, for a festive storytime and craft session on Saturday, December 14. Neal Hoskins, author of The Girl with the Robot Heart leads the event, and a copy of his book is included in the £5 ticket. For 6 year olds and old, there’s a session at 1.30pm-2pm, while 3 year olds and older can turn up at 11am. 

Another festive booky-thing, Bee’s Bookshare will host a festive meet up on Sunday, December 8 from 2pm at Mills Place. Bring a book or two to pass on and pick up a couple for yourself or to gift on. 

If you missed AUTOHAUs’ amazing live soundtrack to 1922 horror movie Häxan at last week’s Margate Film Festival, then dry your eyes because there will be another chance to experience it. The band will do it all again at the fabulous Rio cinema in Dalston, London on Saturday, March 22. Tickets are £14 and oh so worth it. 

Women’s and LGBTQ+ skateboarding and clothing company PETTICOAT. will be screening new film PETITE. at Xylo in Margate on Thursday, December 12. The 20 minute short was premiered online a couple of months ago, but now makes it to the big screen for one night only - the first ever all women and LGBTQ+ skate film to be shown in Thanet.

Pick up something sweet from a local potter at the Clayspace Ceramics Market, Sunday, December 14. Running 10am to 4pm, at Clay Space Studios, at 60 Ethelbert Road Cliftonville. 

Made by Margate launches its pop up shop at the Margate Design Collective on December 13. Head down between 5pm and 9pmn for festive vibes, free wine and locally made goodies from over 20 Margate-based crafts people. The shop will remain open until Christmas Eve.

DIY shop Our Curated Abode in Ramsgate has opened up its gift store section full of homey-interiors-vintage finds. In addition to regular shop hours, there’s late night shopping on Thursday, December 12 until 7pm. 

The Wave Pictures have announced a show at Ramsgate Music Hall on Friday, March 7 next year, five years since they last appeared at the venue. A great live band who refuse to be pinned down to a genre, this is definitely one not to miss. Tickets are £20. 

A week after that Wave Pictures show, Margate Electronics will return for its seventh edition on Friday, March 14. Taking place at Margate Arts Club, there will be live performances from Factory Floor’s Nik Colk Void, Al Wooton, and Michael Son Of Michael. Tickets are £10. 

ICYMI - previous tipped events happening in the next week

Soft Play (former Slaves) will be DJing at Justine’s in Margate on tonight (December 7). Tickets are £8. 

Deal brewery Time & Tide is bringing back its Tinsel Town event for the third year. Taking place at St Mary's Arts Centre, Sandwich today, from midday to 10.30pm. More details.

NTS resident Donna Leake is DJing at Margate Arts Club tonight for a vinyl-only set covering jazz, funk, psych, reggae, Latin, Afro-beat and more. Tickets are £10. 

Deal Pride is putting on a fundraising party at The Alma tonight. Proceeds go towards Deal's second ever Pride, which is set to take place in July. Tickets are £5.

Illustrator Rebecca Strickson is running a festive crafting session at Bon Volks studios in Margate on Sunday afternoon. Places are £10. Throughout the weekend, Chapel of Discontent also have a studio sale on at Bon Volks, offering stained glass and metal works. 

Daylight Music will be back at Ark in Margate on Sunday, 3-5pm. Performing will be Adrian Crowley, Haymanot Tesfa, Rachel Horton-Kitchlew + Dhanraj Persaud Pandey. More info here. 

BC Camplight will be performing a solo show at Where Else in Margate on Monday, December 9. It’s sold out obviously, but try your luck on the waiting list. 

Margate poet Harry Baker will be up in London for two special Christmas shows at the Bloomsbury Theatre this week. Both events are sold out but if any tickets find their way back into the system they’ll be here. 

TKE Studios artist Layla Andrews presents her new solo exhibition Flies in Amber at Soho Revue, in the West End. It will run from December 11 to January 11. Details here. 

The brilliant Mr Teds will be bringing his monthly pub quiz to Thanet with a Christmas twist this December. Find him at the Horse & Groom, Ramsgate on December 10, Margate's Rose In June on December 11, and Neptunes Hall in Broadstairs on December 12. DM to book your table.

Do you know your Mariah from your Wham Chrissie tunes? Ramsgate restaurant Seabird hosts Xmas Pop Quiz on Wednesday, December 11 which will test your general knowledge and Christmas pop culture, while chucking in a few silly games too. Book your table.

Fire Records will be heading to Ramsgate Music Hall for a big Christmas party on Thursday, December 12, as part of the company's ongoing 40th anniversary celebrations. Performing will be two of the bands on its roster, Memorials and Islet. Tickets are £14.

Dub Pistols’ Barry Ashworth will be DJing at Justine’s in Margate on Thursday, December 12. Tickets £11.99.

Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard will back at Ramsgate Music Hall for the third time on Friday, December 13 for an all night set of disco, house and techno. Sold out, but join the waiting list for returns.