Things to do in Margate: We don't sleep, CRABS, Vintage finds
News, happenings and upcoming events in Margate.
The London Tavern pub on Addington Street sold at auction this week for £361,000. That’s above the £250,000 guide price, but below the £475,000 it sold for in 2021. It’s not yet clear who the new owner is or what they plan to do with the building.
The Libertines’ Albion Rooms hotel will stop taking paying guests from the end of June. Instead, it is set to become a residential recording studio and events space. “The time has come for us to pursue our original artistic goals and spend less time worrying about running a hospitality enterprise,” said the band’s Carl Barât in a statement. The last available rooms are going fast, so if you fancy spending a night there (without booking recording time too) you’d better move fast.
Speaking of moving fast, if you haven’t caught We Don’t Sleep at Tracey Emin’s TKE Studios yet, this weekend is your last chance. The exhibition brings together work by artists who work out of the studios as well as Emin herself. Entry is free between 12pm and 4pm until May 19.
Margate Pride is calling for applications for two upcoming events. The third BRINK artists residency for LGBTQIA+ creatives in Kent and Thanet will see six artists selected to participate in the residency, which will take place at ARK from July 29 to August 2. Apply here by June 5. Meanwhile, the search is on for this year’s Mx Margate. The first round will take place on June 13 and the winner will be crowd on Dreamland’s Scenic Stage at Margate Pride on August 10. Apply here by June 2.
Electronic music night Margate Electronics will return for its fifth edition (and first of 2024) at Margate Arts Club on June 14. There will be performances from YKLU & Dan Scott, Wįll Mätęrïâlįšē, My Panda Shall Fly and Thomas Ridley. Tickets are £5 + bf.
New Filipino restaurant Tins & Fins has announced its happy hour in the bar from 5-8pm. Drop in to sample their menu of cocktails. Check out our review of opening night for more on what to expect from this “fresh, vibrant” offering.
Margate punk band CRABS have announced they will release their debut album Down From London on June 21. A launch show will take place at the Tom Thumb Theatre the same night, with support from Thee Mongrels and Harmony Bo. You can pre-order a CD (of all things) on Bandcamp and Tickets to the gig are £8.
If you’re free tonight (May 18), you can drop in on the opening of local artist Lucy Lyons’ exhibition Seven And A Half at the Liminal Gallery from 5-7pm. The artwork “provides a unique realm where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, offering a glimpse into the intricate workings of the human mind.” liminal-gallery.com
Dance and movement project The Body As Data is set to explore themes of migration and surveillance technologies this summer. As well as hosting dance workshops, there will be a series of community walking events in Margate, Folkestone and Dover that will be captured via drone cameras for a film that will be screened later this year. The next Margate based events are on June 1-2. Follow the project’s progress on Instagram and find out where you can get involved at thebodyasdataproject.com
Mergate returns for its second outing on June 1. As well as the central mermaid parade along the coastline, there is an expanded catalogue of events with food, crafts, bowling and art stalls on offer across four venues. Passes are £10 for adults (although walking in the parade is free). In the evening there’s also the Mermaid Ball at Faith In Strangers in the evening. Tickets for that are also £10.
Margate Vintage Furniture and Flea Market is on this Sunday, May 19. Bringing Hackney Flea to the sea, have a rummage around from mid-century, vintage and retro furniture and homewares. On 11am-4pm, at Dreamland. Tickets from £3 at eventbrite.co.uk