The latest culture news and events in Thanet

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We’ve spent the last week updating our Christmas list with even more markets, nights out, workshops, family activities and more. This is the weekend when things really start to ramp up, so go and find something to do now. Here’s your festive calendar.

Another small business struggling to stay afloat, CAMP in Margate has launched a crowdfunder so the team can keep their queer space open. Not just a gay bar, CAMP puts on book clubs, hosts artists, DJs and drag acts, puts on queer parent bashes, dos for older people and fun stuff for the LGBTQ+ community, alongside paying proper wages. So far they’ve reached nearly £8K of their £12K target, so help them cross the line and donate if you can - it’s a loss to all of us if CAMP goes down.

Dover’s Booking Hall has had its future secured after being purchased by Music Venue Properties as part of its #OwnOurVenues campaign. “Following the owner’s decision earlier this year to put the building up for sale, we were trying to purchase the building ourselves, but did not have the capital up front for a deposit,” says venue boss Stuart Cameron. “Without Music Venue Properties stepping in to purchase the venue, the most likely outcome would have been a property developer turning the building into flats/offices.” Find out more.

One place that sadly hasn’t made it through these tough times is Ramgate’s Queen Charlotte pub, which has announced that it will close on Friday, December 13 (unless it sells out of alcohol before then, in which case the party will be over sooner).

Off Season is a new pop-up art festival set to take place in Margate from January 24-26. It’ll be a weekend of exhibitions and events around the town - partly as a means to get more people into pubs, cafes, galleries and more during the quiet period. Organisers are currently calling for local businesses to register to get involved. Sign up.

Pomus in The Centre, Margate, is hosting what sounds like a banger of a Monday night. On December 2, the wine bar and restaurant will host a hospitality and retail workers party, from 6pm until it’s all gone. It’s walk in only, and there will be a short menu of picky bits to go with your £4 beer or £5 glass of wine. Bottles will be available for retail or at £25 a pop too. Oh, and Bomba doughnuts and Lulu’s Gelato bring cinnamon ring doughnuts with mince pie gelato to the table.

Margate’s Sargasso has announced it will host a New Year’s Day party, where you can shake off the night before’s cobwebs. Lunch will be served until 5pm, so come for a feed and then stay for a boogie as tables are cleared and Joe Lye and Deke play the tunes until late. Book online.

Get 2025 started with a day at Sargasso. Photo: Strange Tourist

Ramsgate’s Bedford Inn is bringing back their roasts from Sunday, December 1. Served from noon to 6.30pm, it’s a classic roast affair that comes with a vegan option. Book your table.

There’s stuff going on at Bon Volks studios Friday, Saturday and Sunday, December 6-8, in Margate. Illustrator Rebecca Strickson is running festive crafting sessions for all ages on the Friday evening and Sunday afternoon (£10), while Chapel of Discontent have a studio sale over the weekend, which should be filled with stained glass and metal works. Book for the workshops.

Pole Dancing studio, Solstice Studio is hosting its Christmas Cabaret at Faith in Strangers on Wednesday, December 18. Drag act Shelly Grotto will host the pole show which features solos and group routines, and there will also be a raffle with prizes like pole dancing and yoga sessions, and bar vouchers. And dancing. There will be post-show dancing. Doors from 7.30, show at 8pm. Tickets £10.

The Palace Cinema in Broadstairs is screening new documentary Children Of The Wicker Man, about the making of 1973 horror classic The Wicker Man and the relationship between director Robin Hardy and his sons, Justin and Dominic. The doc’s directors Justin Hardy and Chris Nunn will also be in the house for a Q&A after you watch the film. Tickets are £10.

Legendary indie label 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.

We had Brat Summer this year and in 2025 it looks like we’re going to have… Brat… Summer… again? Charli XCX will headline and curate her own day as part of next year’s LIDO Festival in East London’s Victoria Park on Saturday, June 14. Among the acts she’s already booked are The Japanese House, 070 Shake, Kelly Lee Owens and A. G. Cook. Tickets on sale now.

Dub Pistols’ Barry Ashworth will be DJing at Justine’s in Margate on Thursday, December 12. Tickets £11.99. If you want the full Dub Pistols experience, then get yourself down to Dover’s Booking Hall on Friday, March 14. Get tickets.

Chump’s is going big in 2025. Having announced shows in Canterbury and Folkestone last week, they’ve now added two up in London as well. Phil Wang, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Michael Odewale, Lou Wall and Amy Annette will appear under the Chump’s banner at Underbelly Boulevard Soho on Thursday, January 30. Tickets £19.65. Then Suzi Ruffell, Olga Koch, Lou Wall again, Roger O’Sullivan and Andrew Mensah will be at Kilburn’s Kiln Theatre on Thursday, February 13. Tickets £16.50.

Margate remains the home of Chump’s, of course. There are loads of shows coming up in venues around town early next year, plus this year’s Chumpsmas festive show at Where Else on Wednesday, December 18. Something a bit different, there will also be two improv workshops at Where Else on Sunday February 2. Frankly, we’re struggling to keep up with how much stuff is being announced - find it all here.

Get the kids excited about science at Discovery Planet today. Photo: YY Teoh/Unsplash

ICYMI - previous tipped events happening in the next week

Discovery Planet on Ramsgate High Street will be putting on a range of festive science activities on today (November 30). Drop in anytime between 10am and 3pm, no need to book.

Thanet Urban Forest Will be marking National Tree Week this year with a series of guided walks around the district's parks this weekend. Book in.

Get Christmassy in Margate today. There will be market stalls along the High Street and in The Centre, Tracey Emin’s TKE Studios is holding its Xmas bazaar from 2-6pm, there are markets at the George & Heart and in the Old Town. Then to top it off, the Old Town Christmas lights will be going on this evening, with a performance by the Social Singing Choir.

JC’s Hedonist Club will be back at Margate Arts Club tonight. DJ duo Buns Night Out will be cranking out the tunes and there will be drag performances through the night. Tickets are £12.

Everything Everything will play a show at Dreamland on Wednesday, December 4, supported by Prima queen. Tickets are £31.80.

Illustrators Jen Davis and Mehmet Erk will go head to head in a charity draw off at The Folkestone Bookshop Wednesday, December 4. They’ll battle to design the best characters based on submitted suggestions. Tickets are £7, with all proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders.

The Babeslam spoken word battle is back from a festive edition at Where Else on Thursday, December 5. Previous winner Cassie O'Connor will headline. Tickets are £6.44.