Things to do in Thanet, East Kent and London

The team at Ramsgate Music Hall have announced that they have completed a “significant upgrade” to the venue’s sound and lighting systems, thanks to funding from Arts Council England. Fans who saw Konformer play there last week were the first to see and hear it all in action. Lots of great shows coming up if you want to check it out too.

International Wrap Artists have announced that their lease at Cinque Ports on Marine Drive in Margate has not been renewed. So, after five years their Mexican menu will no longer be available at the seafront pub. Good news is, they’re on the look out for a new home. There’s also a big farewell party for their current incarnation on Saturday, September 28.

The British Museum in London has announced a new exhibition of Pablo Picasso’s prints, made throughout his career. Offering insight into the development of his art and his personal life, Picasso: Printmaker will open on November 7 and run through to March next year. Tickets and info here.

Renowned Graphic Designer and Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker, Margate’s own Arnold Schwartzman will be delivering a guest lecture at The Margate School on Thursday, September 26. Part of the school’s Visual Communication Design lecture series the talk is titled From Margate to Hollywood and Back. Tickets are £5.

Illustrator Ralph Steadman - best known for his work alongside writer Hunter S Thompson - has a new retrospective exhibition coming up at The Historic Dockyard Chatham. It runs from September 21 to November 17. Entry is included with a standard dockyard ticket. More info here.

London’s Southbank Centre will mark the 40th anniversary of Bronski Beat’s debut album The Age Of Consent on Saturday, October 19. A line up of queer and trans artists will perform a reimagined arrangement of the album in full. Artists set to take part included Bishi, Luca Manning, Planningtorock, Tawiah, Tom Rasmussen, Tony Njoku and the Pink Singers. Tickets are £25.

Pink Suits will be sharing art and performance from their two week residency at Quench Gallery in Cliftonville this weekend. “The work is an exploration of ourselves from just the other side of intimacy,” they say. The shows are tonight at 7pm and Sunday at 4pm. Free but book.

Pink Suits will perform a new show at Quench Gallery this weekend. Image: Stephen Daly

Five local chefs will be descending on Margate’s Sun Deck on Tuesday, September 24 to deliver a five course meal cooked over a wood fire. They are Nathalie Nguyen (Thao Thao), Jessica Leah (Jessica Leah Catering), Simon Maynard (Macknade), Russ Jaques (Smokey Rebel), and Julian Brown (Streets). Places are £50 a head.

Margate Assembly has announced a new event, taking a departure from its monthly music showcase night. Assembly at the Auction House on Saturday, September 28 will pair music and food. A 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.

Fancy a good walk? The next Girl Hike - aimed at women, girls and non-binary people - will take place on Saturday, October 5. It’ll be a six mile autumnal walk through woodland near Sturry with a stop for tea at the halfway point. Find out more here.

Mental health organisation STAK.life will be hosting a Halloween Costume Ball at The Pavilion in Broadstairs on Friday, October 25. There will be live music, DJs, magic and more. Tickets are £35.

This year’s Cockles & Muscles Halloween Ball at Margate Arts Club is set for Saturday, October 26. Always a sell out, don’t even think of turning up without a costume. Tickets are £15.

Also at Margate Arts Club, Night for Weird Folk takes place on Friday, September 20. There will be folk music. It will be weird. Oh, and it takes place at night. Tickets are £6. If you want to get even more involved, the people behind it - Bower Street Morris - host free morris dancing sessions at the Arts Club event every Monday night.

Leaping Bulls, one of the artworks set to be displayed in the British Museum's Picasso: Printmaker exhibition. Image: Succession Picasso

ICYMI - previous tipped events happening in the next week

Pomus in Margate is hosting a gin tasting event with Ashford’s Pleasant Land Distillery on Wednesday, September 18. Limited places cost £45 a head, email enquiries@pomus.co.uk to book.

Local artist Megan Metcalf hosts Collage & Cocktails at Louie On Sea in Margate on Thursday, September 19. You’ll make collages and there will be cocktails. What’s not to like? Places cost £35, which includes a frame, all materials, one cocktail and two mocktails.

The Margate Bookshop’s latest live event will see poet Raymond Antrobus in conversation with Emma Dabiriat at the Tom Thumb Theatre on Thursday, September 19. Entry is free, reserve your place here.

Singer-songwriter Odette Michell will perform at Cliftonville’s Rosslyn Court on Thursday, September 19. Tickets are £13.20. The show will also be livestreamed.