Things to do: Comedy, parties, roasts

River Action and Surfers Against Sewage have announced the March for Clean Water in central London on Sunday, November 3. The protest will call on the government to take immediate action against the water pollution crisis. Full details here. 

Following the abrupt closure of Selina on Cliftonville’s Eastern Esplanade earlier this summer, plans are now afoot to reopen the building as a co-working space and hotel under the new name Margate Co-work. Co-working should be on offer again within the next two weeks. The bar and restaurant is expected to follow soon after. It’s not yet clear when hotel rooms will be ready. Get updates via the Margate Co-work Facebook page. 

Pie Factory Music in Ramsgate is attempting to buy the Ramsgate Youth Centre, which has been its home for more than a decade. The building has been put up for sale by Kent County Council, news that comes six months after the council cut Pie Factory’s funding and closed the Quarterdeck Youth Centre in Margate. At least £500,000 is required to make the purchase, which will be funded through grants and donations. Find out more on the Just Giving page. 

Where Else in Margate is celebrating its sixth birthday and coincidentally so is local promoter Fantastic Pleasure. Bringing together the perfect combination of music and dancefloor, both will be hosting a joint birthday party down in the Where Else basement tonight (September 28). Tickets are £12.50. 

Snake Oil BBQ has been serving up perfectly grilled meats all summer at Daisy in Cliftonville. Barbecue season is now well and truly over, but rather than hang up their tongs, they’re pivoting to roasts for the winter. They look delicious, and will be served up every Sunday from October 6. 

We’ve been closely watching the renovation work on the former home of Handsome Freaks in Margate’s Old Town recently. You’ll be able to see the results when the Don't Blink gallery and vintage clothes shop opens in the space on Saturday, October 12. Head to 10 Broad Street for drinks and music all day. 

Tickets are now available for talks and workshops at this year’s Margate Festival of Design. There are events looking at reimagining Margate’s seafront, the power of comics, unlocking your creativity, and more. There are also free workshops for kids, to inspire the designers of the future. Book in here. 

Following a break over the summer, Chump’s monthly mixed bill stand up night returns on Wednesday, October 23 at Where Else in Margate. It’s an excellent line up too, with Tatty Macleod, Janine Harouni, and Huge Davies set to perform. Tickets are £15. If you’re new to Chump’s (or even if you’re not), read our interview here. 

The Athelstan/Ethelbert alleyway, which was last year reclaimed by residents and turned from a fly-tipping hotspot to a community space, will hold its second annual open day today (September 28). Head down between 12-4pm for a barbecue and various activities for children and young people. More information here. 

The Sunken Garden Eco Fair takes place at Westbrook’s Sunken Garden on Sunday, October 6 from 12-4pm. There will be a range of workshops and talks on sustainability, bringing ideas for what you can do personally to improve the environment around you. Check out the full programme here. 

The Blue Pelican in Deal will be hosting an evening of Japanese wine tasting on Thursday, October 17 from 6-9pm. For £80 a head, you’ll be served a five course meal, each paired with a different wine from a Japanese winemaker working with European vineyards. Book via the website. 

The Margate Children’s Choir, run by Institute Studios on Margate High Street, is now taking on new members for its winter term. It’s open to children aged 6-12 with no experience necessary. Rehearsals start on November 4, leading up to two concerts at the end of term. Places are £65. Sign up here. 

Betteshanger Park near Deal is hosting a Halloween drive-in cinema from October 28 to November 3. There will be two family-friendly screenings per day, as well as an evening adults-only line up of horror flicks. Tickets are on sale now. 

Cliftonville clothing emporiums House De’Ville and Betty’s Bloomies will be celebrating their birthdays together (two years and one, respectively) on Saturday, October 5. Pop along to House De’Ville between 11am and 6pm for fizz and retail opportunities. 

Get your kids excited about words through hip hop. The Happy Reading children’s bookshop in Broadstairs will be hosting three sessions with Brooklyn-based rapper and educator Kenny Baraka on October 4-5. There will be two sessions for children aged 3+, and one for those over eight. All are free to attend, but head to the shop’s website to book your place. 

The next Inkling new writing night will take place at the Tom Thumb Theatre in Cliftonville on Wednesday, October 9. Come along with your own work-in-progress writing to read out, or simply stay in the audience and enjoy the wide range of work performed. Entry is £3, doors at 7pm. 

Love film music? The first London Soundtrack Festival is set to take place in March next year. The initial programme has just been announced, including a David Cronenberg Q&A, screenings of films including Joker and Lord Of The Rings with intros from their soundtrack composers, masterclasses, and more. Find out more and book tickets here. 

ICYMI - previous tipped events happening in the next week

The Margate Bookie lit fest gets underway this weekend with the Write Up Weekend - two days of creative writing workshops. There will be more events throughout the week, leading up to next weekend’s main festival. Check the Margate Bookie website for all the info, and read our interview with Robin Ince about his appearance here. 

Broadstairs Autumn Food Festival began yesterday and runs throughout the weekend. See our picks of what to check out here. 

The Turner’s new exhibition of works by Anya Gallaccio opens today, Saturday, September 28. The artist will fill the gallery with artworks that will change and develop (or decay) over the course of their time there. Entry is free. 

New documentary The Body As Data will be screened as part of Creating Community - a symposium focusing on the contribution refugees make to cultural life in our local community - at Ark in Cliftonville tonight. Tickets here. You can read our interview with director Sidonie Carey-Green here. 

International Wrap Artists’ time at Cinque Ports in Margate comes to an end tonight with one big farewell party. Help them make it a big blow out from 7pm. 

Assembly at the Auction House takes place in Margate tonight - three course dinner will be prepared by chefs Billy Stock and Ayesha Harris, with accompanying live music from the Institute Collective choir. £75 a head, DM to book.  

For those that missed out on Oasis tickets, The Old Queens Head in Islington is showing Oasis Live By The Sea - capturing the band at Southend’s Cliffs Pavilion in 1995 - on Monday, September 30. Tickets are free.

Folk musician Cohen Braithwaite Kilcoyne will perform live at Cliftonville’s Rosslyn Court on Thursday, October 3. Tickets are £12. The show will also be livestreamed. 

Margate Electronics is back at Margate Arts Club on Friday, October 4. Live performances come from Jorja Chalmers, Mosaic Tapes, and A’Bear. Tickets £7.