Thanet Newsround

I've been pretty lax at updating the old blog the last few weeks. So, I thought one way back into the swing of things could be for me to pick out some key features from the local news publications. Inclusion on this round up is just stuff that catches my eye, not necessarily of the most importance:

From The Isle of Thanet Gazette, Friday Dec 5th, 2008.

"Six-Figure Spruce-Up"
A curious article gushing over the owners of Dreamland, the Margate Town Centre Regeneration Company, supposedly planning to 'do up' the delightful shopping centre at the top of the High Street. Shall we await with baited breath on this one? Things have gone so well for Dreamland. Mind you, could it be any worse than what's there?

"Bob light up the town"
You might be surprised to hear what annoys me about this article. No, it's not Bob and his Kent TV. It's the referral to The Parade opposite Margate Harbour as "The Piazza". Just stop it! It's The Parade. There's no need to rebrand it an italian name. The Parade has done nicely for years and years as, erm, The Parade. Pretentious rubbish and where did the reporter from the Gazette get off rebranding it?

Halloween at the shell grotto

There will be an evening of ghoulish folkloric story telling at the Shell Grotto on the 31st of October Halloween. Too scary for kids apparantly!

"For the first time ever the Shell Grotto will be hosting an event on the night of Halloween. And the mysterious temple is the perfect venue for spooky goings on!

Down in the eerie depths of the Grotto, the Theatre of the Small will present Devil Tales; a puppet show based on early European folk tales, portraying how the Devil tricks mankind and mankind tricks the Devil. Meanwhile, Sandwich storyteller and honorary King of Fools Tony Cooper will spin sinister tales and gruesome stories by candlelight - enter if you dare!"

2 days later 2008

How time flies when you're having... well, how time flies. It's come around again. Time for the 2 Days Later short film competition. The theme as usual is horror. There will be a halloween screening at the Theatre Royal Margate on Saturday 25th of October. The competition is now in it's 6th year and is going from strength to strength. Always good to see good things going on in town.

[Still from Alistair Crow/Alan Mandel/Rozi Owen's On Ice]

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.

Favourite Places - The Harbour Cafe

I think The Harbour Cafe is really the best place in Margate for decor. It's situated on the ground floor of a lovely grand old building, The Royal York Mansions, on the Parade, situated next to the Harbour on The Parade. The owners renovated it from a regular pizza takeaway place about five years ago. It's stripped back bare brick walls and raw floor boards. It's got a slightly vintage feel that isn't trying too hard.

The fave things on the menu are the homemade burger and fat hand cut fries. The Sunday lunch is good. The deserts are lovely, fresh fruit tarts and if they have it in the wonderful chocolate tart.

If they ever closed I'd be lost for somewhere to have an afternoon coffee and cake. They're also dog friendly.

Royal York Mansions
10 The Parade
Margate
CT9 1EZ
01843 290110

O Margate

On now, a Radio 4 play on Margate by Annie Caulfield.

Favourite Places - Windshack Cafe

The Windshack cafe is right on the seafront at Minnis Bay. You can see it from a distance by the windsock that flies above. It's popular with dog walkers because the owner Dougle is really friendly and welcoming of dogs. Each dog gets a biscuit! But there's more to it than just dogs. It's in a lovely setting. I've only been the once, so will pop back for a try of their homemade apple pie. I'm told the smoothies are great too.


We need more places like this. What I'd like to see is a really good breakfast place. Can't go wrong with a good breakfast and a sea view.