Shop: The Seventh Magpie, Margate Old Town

Popped into The Seventh Magpie at lunchtime. It's nestled inside an original Georgian shop on Duke Street, the road that leads from The Old Town back to the Parade and The Harbour. It's become a really lovely shop with cabinets of customised treasures glinting in the cool shade of the shop. Also famed for brilliant shop window displays. A range of jewellery caught my eye, fashioned from watches and time pieces. It's one of a growing number of creative shops in Margate, who have carved out their own niche.

They have a Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Seventh-Magpie/106613979402195

The new Cupcake Cafe

Cupcake Cafe, originally uploaded by margatearchitecture.

The all new, bigger, roomier Cupcake Cafe at 4-5 Market Place in Margate's Old Town is proving to be really popular. Really tasty daily hot dishes of the day that won't break your lunchtime pocket. Of course there are cakes and more cakes. But personally I do love their chunkt cheese on toast. Moving from much smaller premises next door was a great move and really excellent for The Old Town.

For Sale: Old Town Gallery

Old Town Gallery, originally uploaded by margatearchitecture.

We were really sad to see that Margate's Old Town Gallery closed down a few months ago. Stephen Roper was one of the first traders to stick it out and open a business in the Old Town. It's such a shame that things didn't work out, so close to things seemingly starting to really work in The Old Town.

The building is now for sale.

For sale: 2-3 Market Place

Offered as two lots. Shops on the ground floor with space above.Was previously supposed to be live work. These are lovely Georgian buildings sitting at the heart of Margate's Old Town on the pedestrian section of the street.

Details of the sale 1st lot

Details of sale 2nd lot

Guide price £60,000 - £90,000

Result: £80,000

For sale: 7 & 9 King Street

Back to the auctions in London. This is the sale of a Georgian building in Margate's Old Town. It's a great shop.

Details of the sale which takes place on the 6th of July.

Guide price £40,000 - £60,000

Result: £70,000

For sale: 6-8 Duke Street

Image from the listing on Images of England.

At the same auction as Royal York Mansions on the 27th of May at Allsops, there is also a couple of flats at 6-8 Duke Street in Margate's Old Town. The building is Georgian and Grade II Listed. Again what seems like a crazy guide price of £30k-£40k.

http://www.auction.co.uk/residential/LotDetails.asp?A=639&MP=24&ID=639000356&S=L&O=A

http://www.auction.co.uk/residential/LotDetails.asp?A=639&MP=24&ID=639000357&S=L&O=A

Press: ‘Turner effect’ has got the Old Town buzzing

Margate’s cultural quarter is already feeling the so-called ‘Turner effect’, according to some traders in the Old Town.

Many are feeling more upbeat as the gallery takes shape, and new shops are opening each month as the arts scene begins to flourish.

The opening of the gallery, which is still being built, is due in the spring of 2011, but some in the town say they are already feeling the benefits.

Stephen Roper from the Old Town Gallery in Broad Street said: “The effects are already being felt, but the big push needs to start this year.

“It has taken a lot longer than we anticipated and we have had to hunker down for a good few years, but the time is upon us.

“These old streets are coming to life and the impetus is with us now.”

Mr Roper, a jewellery-maker and gallery-owner, used to run a business in Whitstable, a town that has been transformed in the last 15 years.

He says the same thing is now happening in Margate but more quickly.

“I saw that town change so much through the years, but I believe it is happening much faster here,” he said.

“I came to Margate because of the Turner as it is a project we really believe in and I see this place transforming in a way that Brighton or Whitstable did,” he said.

Artist and businesswoman Zoe Murphy, an acclaimed furniture-designer, has moved into an old pie factory next door to Stephen.

She said: “As a local artist I would definitely say there is a real buzz around the place at the moment.

“There seems to be more investment in the area with new shops opening and I think that is lovely.

“It gives you a lot of encouragement to see other people having the confidence you have and makes you want to stick around. Shops that are opening may not be frequented loads now, but you think they will be when more people come here. I’m optimistic about the next couple of summers.”

In recent months the Cupcake Café, an antiques shop, Helter Skelter, Busy Bs and My Old Dutch have all opened.

In the meantime, live-music venue The Westcoast goes from strength to strength, with top acts such as The Bluetones playing in recent months.

Anne Marie Nixey, chairwoman of the Old Town Action Group and owner of Oriental design store Qing, said: “It’s encouraging to see everybody’s hard work pay off.

“We have believed in the Old Town and realised the potential it has and that is really beginning to show now.

“When visitors find their way into the back streets they are delighted at the little secrets that are to be found.

“There are more shops opening soon and I get asked about the place by traders all the time. I feel lucky to be in my third year and see the transformation as it happens.

“This year really feels like changes are happening.”

John Kampfner looking forward

Nice piece in The Guardian from Turner Chair, John Kampfner. The Turner is on budget and on schedule. He also likes the new vintage shop openings in Margate Old Town. Nice to see he's taking an interest and spending some leisure time here too.

local food producers in Thanet?

I listened to an excellent edition of the Food Programme on Radio 4 today. It was visiting the Slow Fish expo in Genoa which is part of the Slow Food movement. They were accompanying cornish oyster fishermen, members of Slow Food Cornwall. It lead me to look up to see if there is a local representative within Slow Food UK locally in Thanet. Looking on the map it seems that Thanet doesn't seem to have a rep, which is a shame. The nearest is the Weald and Kent and is inland.

The promotion of sustainable fishing for the area that serves the local community would be a great concept and could only improve domestic tourism to the area. You've only got to see how well Whitstable has done from its connection with quality local seafood as an example.

I'm still looking for quality local food producers and retailers for the food market in Margate Old Town taking place on the last weekend on the 29th and 30th of August. Pop me a mail if you are interested.

The London Pie'n'Mash shop coming soon

Very pleased to see a specialist food shop coming to the Old Town that really fits with Margate's heritage. It's due to open next week on March 11th in the shop that was previously the barber's that closed before Christmas. The shop will be baking their own pies at a friend's shop in London. I look forward to sampling some tasty pies and hope we will see more of this type of shop opening in Old Town.

Market coming to the Old Town

The Old Town Action Group are organising a series of monthly markets in the Old Town from May to September. Dates to be confirmed. They're looking for independent food contacts who might be interested in a stall. So suggestions are welcome. What's wanted is quality local food produce for a dozen stalls.

I see from today's Gazette that Broadstairs is planning a festival of food that will go on over three days along the seafront in Victoria Gardens. It will take place next September. Sounds great.

Send me an email to margatearchitecture AT gmail.com

Andy Warhol's TV

Went to the Andy Wahol's TV exhibition at Substation on Friday night where they've re-constructed the inside of Kate Jackson's shop, Style Counsel. I think Margate really misses shops like Kate's. There was a time, not so long ago when there were quite a few antique and second hand vintage shops in the Old Town. This was before my time unfortunately. The exhibition has a nice twist to it, where kids can get a £5 voucher to take up to Scott's, another of my fave haunts in Margate and pick up an item and bring it back to the exhibition. The kids then get to keep the object after everything is finished.