News and things to do: Sundowners, Thanet photography, wine tastings

Upcoming events around Thanet, East Kent and London, including queer club nights, Beaujolais Nouveau events, a kids’ book making workshop and more

News and things to do: Sundowners, Thanet photography, wine tastings
Mike Goldwater launches the hardback edition of his Thanet photography book Island tonight. Photo: Mike Goldwater

Uber has launched on the Isle of Thanet - an announcement that’s not without controversy, particularly among existing cab firms. Still, all transport options between local towns and villages have come in for criticism in recent times, so many will be hoping that this brings some improvement. Maybe the app will get you to and from some of these events…

Sundowners’ big farewell party takes place tonight with the Boy George Experience and DJ Olly providing the entertainment. Entry is £5 after 9pm. Get down and see this Margate institution out with a bang. Read more about this end of an era here.

Photographer Mike Goldwater will be launching the hardback edition of his book Island at Margate Photo Lounge on Fort Road tonight from 6pm. Featuring nearly 130 photos taken in Thanet, it is a delight to behold. Head down to see an exhibition of some of the photos, grab a signed copy of the book, and also pick up prints of some of the images. The exhibition runs until November 17.

The Body As Data project - who we interviewed earlier this year - have partnered with Kent Downs Geopark to launch a new app as part of its exploration of borders. The app will guide you on a 30 minute walk along the coast, tracking your steps to form part of a broader story. Find out more and try it here

BBC Radio 6 Music’s own Huey Morgan will be pulling up at Faith In Strangers in Margate on Saturday December 14 for his Xmas Block Party. He’ll be DJing a mix of funk, hip hop, disco, jazz and soul. Support comes from Mr Shiver. Tickets are £22.66.

Artists Anya Gallaccio and Michael Landy will be in conversation at the Turner Contemporary on Sunday, November 23. Discussing sculpture, they will cover both the history of the medium and their own approaches to it. The event will start at 3pm and run for 75 minutes. Tickets are £8

The Happy Reading Children’s Bookshop in Broadstairs has yet another great event coming up later this month. On Saturday, November 23, author Charlie Moyler and illustrator Martin Stanev will be hosting a book making workshop. As well as a place in the workshop, your £5 ticket will also get you a copy of their new book The Tree Next Door.

Watch Loving Vincent on the big screen at Whitstable's Horsebridge Arts Centre. Photo: BreakThru Films

The Horsebridge Arts Centre in Whitstable will be screening the 2017 Vincent Van Gogh biopic Loving Vincent at 2pm on Sunday, November 10. A visual marvel, the film is the first (and as far as we know only) fully oil painted feature film. Each of its 65,000 frames is an oil painting on canvas. Book tickets here

Legendary disco DJ collective Horse Meat Disco will be in Margate next spring, taking over The Lido on March 15. This is all part of the Margate Winter Series nights, which will also see LTJ Bukem, Todd Edwards and Fat Tony appear at the venue. Tickets are on sale now for £22

Our favourite quizmaster Mr Teds will be popping up in pubs around Thanet over the next week for his raucous monthly quiz. He’ll be at the Horse & Groom, Ramsgate on November 12, Rose In June, Margate on November 13, and Neptunes Hall, Broadstairs on November 14. Follow on Instagram.

Peruse and purchase the works of various local authors at the Broadstairs Book Fair on Sunday, November 24. You’ll find it at The Pavilion on Harbour Street from 9.30am to 4pm. More details here

Beaujolais Nouveau is coming - the short-fermented wine that traditionally arrives in the third week of November. This year, Thursday, November 21 is the day and there are a whole load of events around Thanet marking it. Sargasso, Little Swift, Streets and Sète in Margate will all be cracking opening bottles. Alex + Josh (formerly No. 1 Oscar Road) are taking over Twenty Seven Harbour Street in Broadstairs. Chix Stock and La Cantina are hosting supper clubs in Margate. Meanwhile, Penelope in Ramsgate is having a whole Beaujolais Nouveau weekend, with tastings from Thursday to Sunday.

JC’s Hedonist Club will be back at Margate Arts Club on Saturday, November 30. DJ duo Buns Night Out will be cranking out the tunes and there will be drag performances throughout the night. Tickets here

Alternative club night Kerosene returns to Salon Du Miel in Ramsgate on Saturday, November 23 with a playlist of emo, punk and metal. Entry is £5. Grab your tickets now.

The colder months are a time for thinking about festivals, and one that’s already caught our eye is Wide Awake Festival, which returns to Brixton’s Brockwell Park on Friday, May 23. Irish rap crew and now film stars Kneecap have just been announced as headliners. Also on the bill are CMAT, English Teacher, Daniel Avery, Sprints, and loads more. Find out more here

Kneecap headline Brixton's Wide Awake Festival next summer. Photo: Peadar Ó Goill

ICYMI - previous tipped events happening in the next week

Stanton Warriors will be pulling an all-nighter at Faith In Strangers in Cliftonville tonight (November 9). There are still some tickets available for £15.50

Margate Ceramics Market is back at the Turner Contemporary this weekend, the perfect place to pick up some Christmas presents. 

C.R.I.M.P is coming to Oast Bakery in Cliftonville on Tuesday, November 12 - a four course supper club celebrating pie. Places are £38 a head. Book in here

Folkestone Book Festival returns this week, running from November 14-24. Speakers include Helen Lederer, Rory Cellan-Jones and Robin Ince. Find out more here

Poetry convention Poeticon takes place at the Clagett Auditorium in Canterbury on November 15-16. There will be a range of talks aimed at established acts and people just entering the industry. Book tickets and find out more here

Melanin Power Up! and Margate Black Pride will be hosting a gaming and playable art workshop for LGBTQIA+ people of colour at People Dem Collective in Margate on Thursday, November 15. Places are £6.99 in advance.