Issue 2 - Spring 2020 Issue by The Broadstairs Beacon

BROADSTAIRS BEACON

Spring 2020 • Modern-day Seaside Stories

FREE

THE MANE EVENT

FOOD & DRINK

SLOW FASHION

FRANK’S TOWN

The 80-year-old helping Thanet’s disabled children

Where to eat for your budget

The makers making the creative sustainable

Broadstairs’ hospitality maestro and philanthropist

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Broadstairs beacon

Welcome to our spring issue! From the Founding Editor & Publisher Clare Freeman

uring these surreal, troubling times it’s important more than ever to try and stay positive, so I hope whether you are selfisolating, quarantining, or just feeling anxious about the situation, this issue brings a smile to your face and helps you feel better during this challenging period. (For information about how you can help in Thanet, or if you need help, visit margatemercury.com/coronavirus-advice). In this issue we highlight the work and endeavours of some enterprising and talented young people living here. The students of Broadstairs College have contributed some brilliant work, including an artwork by Holly McCullough, created in collaboration with POW! Thanet (page 33), illustrations by Georgia Broad (page 12) and photos by Oliver Kebbell (page 12). On page 18 we also speak to Max Bell, co-founder of The Pub micropub who became the youngest landlord in the country at only 18. I hope these stories inspire more young people to launch their own businesses, get creative, and be part of positive change. (If you are a young person reading this and want to contribute - or need some help launching a business - just email me on info@broadstairsbeacon.com) Also in this issue - yet on the other end of the age spectrum - we meet the inspirational 80-year-old, MBE-awarded founder of the Thanet Disabled Riding School, who has been helping disabled children in Thanet for over 40 years (page 20). We talk to landlord extraordinaire Frank Thorley, who owns 20 pubs, restaurants and hotels in Thanet (page 16). We also guide you to the best places in town to eat on your budget (page 12), give you ten tips for feeling good this spring (page 34), and speak to Film and Communications Officer for Thanet District Council Sharon Kelley, who tells us why Broadstairs is such a hot spot for TV and film (page 28). Stay well and stay positive everyone x

23 - 25

Contact

Contributors

Sister Publications

broadstairsbeacon.com

Writers Anna Bang Andersen Alastair Hagger Karen Hiscock-Lawrence Melissa Keighley Richard Lewis Eileen MacCallum Sophie Morris Aisha Payne Rebecca Richardson Dale Shaw

Meet the contributors - the talent behind the magazine

The Scoop - the latest Broadstairs news

Eileen’s Escapades - a brief on Broadstairs life from a lady about town

Spring Hotlist

11 Spring Exhibition News 12 Where to eat for your budget & Food News 16 Frank’s town - Broadstairs’ hospitality maestro, businessman and philanthropist 18 See you at The Pub - the young duo behind Broadstairs’ popular micropub 20 The mane event - the inspiring 80-year-old helping Thanet’s disabled children 23 Slow fashion - the makers making the creative sustainable 26 Little tips for the big day - a wedding special 28 Filming Broadstairs - why Broadstairs is such a hot spot for film and TV makers 30 Wishing for Winston - a tale of two French filmmakers on the hunt for Winston Smith 33 Artwork created by Broadstairs College student Holly McCullough 34 10 ways to feel good in Broadstairs this spring - tips to give you a wellness boost 38 The Broadie blues - the man putting Broadstairs on the blues map

Issue Two, spring 2020 (March to June) Founding Editor & Publisher Clare Freeman Co-Founder and Advertising Director Jen Brammer Design Lizzy Tweedale Print Mortons Print Advertising and distribution enquiries info@broadstairsbeacon.com Front cover Max Bell and John Bell of The Pub by Sam Grady

16 - 17

18 - 19

20-21

Photographers Sheradon Dublin Sam Grady Kat Green Oliver Kebbell

Illustrators Georgia Broad Holly McCullough Jade Spranklen

Margate Mercury margatemercury.com

Ramsgate Recorder ramsgaterecorder.com

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PEOPLE

Meet the Contributors

Our wealth of local talent, from writers to photographers, editors and researchers, all contribute to making the Broadstairs Beacon a varied and attractive read each issue. Here we get the inside story on some of this issue’s key players

Richard Lewis

Melissa Keighley

Sophie Morris

Richard has lived in Broadstairs for 35 years, following periods in London, Barcelona and many other parts of the UK. He originally came to Broadstairs to run a language school, but even though the school is long gone, he has stayed. His interest in writing, art and local history has led him over the years to write three books on writers and artists with local associations. His latest locally flavoured book is an amusing story about running a language school in the town of “Bradgate”, called The English Chronicles. As so many people in Thanet have hosted or even taught foreign students, the book will certainly strike a chord. richardlewisbooks.co.uk

Melissa is a writer of short stories, novels and opinion pieces, an occasional performer, the managing editor of Thanet Writers and a contributing editor to Blue Nib magazine, a newsreader on Academy FM and a music therapist and entertainer in residential homes in and around Thanet. She is currently collaborating on a book entitled The Virgin and the Whore, alongside Angela Dye, about the position of women in society. Alongside her husband Steven Todd, an actor and playwright, she runs Hags Ahoy theatre company; they also host Sea Breeze, a poetry night in Beaches Café, Albion Street, the third Saturday of every month. Do go and say hi!

Sophie is a freelance journalist and university lecturer who writes about food, feminism and sustainability for newspapers and magazines. She grew up near Manchester and spent 15 years in London before moving to Broadstairs three years ago with her husband Ben and daughter Percy to fulfil an ambition of living by the sea. Her favourite beach is Dumpton Gap and she gets in the water as often as possible. Otherwise you’ll find her trying out new fish recipes, taking pictures of the pink floor in Morelli’s or eating out to discover the best new food places. Follow her on Instagram at @sophielouisemorris

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THE SCOOP

The

Scoop Image by Oliver Kebbell

Seafood restaurant to open at the Funicular Coffeehouse Owners of the ever-popular Funicular Coffeehouse have announced major development plans. Justin Van Oortmerssen and wife Annite Gkioka have revealed plans to extend their business further and create a gourmet seafood restaurant in the currently disused Waterloo shelter on Broadstairs beach, adjacent to where the boutique coffee shop can be found. The restaurant, which will serve locally sourced seafood, will have outdoor seating on the beach, as well as a rooftop garden providing spectacular views of Viking Bay. The couple have also announced plans to open a shared yoga studio above the restaurant, which will provide yoga classes in a unique beach setting. While the restaurant and studio are in early development, it is hoped they will open in 2020. In the meantime you can track their progress by following their Instagram @thefunicularcoffeehouse

You heard it here first

Writer Aisha Payne

Coffee bar launches wellness workshops The enduringly popular Smiths Coffee Bar & Wellness has introduced Salon at Smiths, a series of monthly workshops aimed at generating discussions on various wellness topics. Each event will be hosted by a different speaker. Previous speakers include TV personalities George Lamb, Michaella Bolder and Rio Fredrika, discussing everything from self-development to sustainable food in school, to the tips and tricks of a celebrity facial. Smiths have described the workshops as social events “where friends old and new can gather and converse with speakers who have inspirational ideas”. Upcoming events are regularly announced via their website and Facebook page. Bookings can be made by visiting Smiths or by emailing emma@smithscoffeebar.co.uk. facebook.com/ smithscoffeebarandwellness | smithscoffeebar.co.uk

Dickens-themed B&B opens Artfuls, a quirky boutique guesthouse with a Dickens theme and an impressive gin bar stocking over 40 gins, has opened at 1 John Street. The name, a nod to the town’s connection to Charles Dickens, also reflects the theme of the B&B, where guests will find an array of Dickens memorabilia. The bespoke bedrooms, each unique in theme and style, have been carefully designed by owners Neal Parton and Michael Whitehead. There is also a coffee shop serving a selection of tea, coffee and cakes, and a table-service bar in the evening where you can enjoy a quality G&T as well as cold plates. “Here at Artfuls our aim is to offer you truly exceptional service in a very relaxed atmosphere,” says owner Neal. facebook.com/artfulsbroadstairs

Image by Kelley Reeves

Sustainable lifestyle store opens

Staple Stores to open in St Peters

Book a table at The Table

Salt of the Earth opened in Broadstairs recently to make all your sustainable lifestyle dreams come true. Customers will find an array of products on offer, including bamboo toothbrushes, packagingfree homeware, plastic-free bathroom products and Chilly’s reusable water bottles. With a plastic and packaging-free ethos, you can also refill both cleaning products and food products. Simply bring in your empty jars of pasta, rice, herbs and spices and you can refill them at a reduced rate. There’s also an organic coffee shop, where a selection of light, packaging-free lunches and nibbles are on offer. saltoftheearthliving.co.uk

Rachel Young, the owner of Margate-based clothing brand Staple, is branching into the food market in 2020 with chef Stephen Gadd. Staple Stores, “a local store for all your staple needs”, is set to open in April 2020. It will be based in Reading Street in St Peters, where Village Stores was based. An array of simple and seasonal breakfasts and lunches will be on offer, as well as organic coffee. A main focus will be the staple sourdough, which is baked over 36 hours, and is currently available to purchase through The Table in Broadstairs. Staple Stores will also host regular supper clubs, and will be serving a traditional Gadd Sunday roast. The store will be open Wednesday to Sunday from 8.30am to 3.30pm. @Staple_Stores

A relaxed and friendly cheese and wine hangout has recently opened at 9 York Street. Customers at The Table will find an assortment of Mediterranean-inspired deliciousness on offer, including mezze plates to eat in, or pickles, chutneys, crackers, and olives to take away. They have also recently introduced a brunch menu, which offers a Mediterranean twist on popular breakfast dishes such as poached eggs, avocado on toast and breakfast power bowls. The Table is open Tuesday to Saturday for brunch and mezze, and Friday and Saturday evenings for late night nibbles. thetablebroadstairs.co.uk

Become a Homestay Host in Broadstairs Do you live in Broadstairs and have a spare bedroom available? Would you like to share your culture and experiences with others whilst also learning about theirs? If so, why not host a student with Hilderstone College? Hilderstone is a state further education college which has offered quality English language and teacher-training courses since 1970. The experience is enriching and rewarding for both students and hosts alike. Students benefit hugely from conversing in English in a relaxed, natural situation, such as after college or over dinner. As a Hilderstone College host you will receive full support from our experienced and caring team. Homestay accommodation must be within a 30 minute walking radius from the college.

If you can provide…     

Single-bedroom accommodation for individual students (minimum age 16 years). Twin-bedded accommodation for two students (aged 12-17) coming with a group. Breakfast and evening meal Monday-Friday Breakfast, lunch and evening meal at weekends Breakfast, lunch and evening meal each day (only for our teen groups aged 12-16)

…we’d be delighted to hear from you. We offer:  Our co-operation as a fully accredited, professional state college  Full support from a professional and caring welfare team  Arrangement of DBS checks for hosts of students aged 13-17  Fortnightly payments: typically start at £134 per week (2020) per student rising to £154.00 per week per student for hosting full board teen students. Contact Hilderstone College: Tel: 01843 869171 – Ask for Louise or Angela, our accommodation officers. email: homestay@hilderstone.ac.uk https://www.hilderstonecollege.com/accommodation#hosting

Competitive rates (2020): typically start at £134 per week per student

ee Eil

n ’ s E s c a pa d

Writer

Illustration

Eileen MacCallum

Jade Spranklen

A brief on Broadstairs life from a lady about town

pring is in the air. We feel it and we’re ready. Ready to plan sunshiny frolics and surge to the beach. I say “surge” but, to be honest, getting around our lovely town has been less simple lately. Over the past umpteen months (and counting) Thanet’s crumbling sewers have been getting a long-needed upgrade.

Good news for all, but the resulting roadworks often lasso drivers into playing a game they didn’t exactly plan to play. Roll up folks! Roll up for another round of… Broadie Street Bingo! Wanna get to the beach? Awesome. Can you get to the beach? Let’s see. Cunningly placed roadworks can easily transform a quick pootle from Viking Bay to Joss Bay into a sweaty 15-minute detour round St Peters. And never being 100% sure where the game will be played next keeps everyone on their toes. I live on quite a busy road in central Broadstairs that has been closed to traffic on and off since last summer. For months there was a whopping hole in the road right outside my neighbour’s house. To beat the temporary traffic lights, she learned to reverse out at high-speed at a 45-degree angle – and she knew how all the workmen liked their tea. But by the end of last year, we were confident we were done. Goodbye drilling wake-up calls and orange cone slaloms. However the sewer masterminds still like to chuck the odd round of BSB our way to keep things lively. This leaves many a confused soul (me included) to embody the phrase “hope springs eternal”. It goes like this. Surprised by an out-of-theblue ROAD CLOSED sign, we think, “Nah. It was open this morning / yesterday / at the weekend.” On we drive, hopefully, past the sign, sometimes followed by a string of other hopefuls. Sometimes we trundle optimistically right up to the roadworks until it’s bleeding obvious we cannot pass and we’re forced to do a 13-point turn (watched by chuckling workies) and rev back the way we came, cursing behind our windscreens. But any frustration caused by Broadie Street Bingo has an unexpected, totally wonderful

flipside. This game has introduced me to charming parts of town I barely knew. Pausing at red lights in random streets makes me rush less. It reminds me to enjoy uniquely Broadstairian beauty: glossy flint walls, gobsmacking sea views, blooming balconies. It lets me savour the history and everyday dramas of this place. Then off I go.

“Roll up for another round of… Broadie Street Bingo! Wanna get to the beach? Awesome. Can you get to the beach? Let’s see” A slower pace opens your eyes to changes and new arrivals. Welcome to the canny Salt of the Earth shop (refill anything from soap to cornflakes) and the Amber Palace curry restaurant on the high street. The latter’s proximity to Houdini’s Magic Bar means me and my pals now like to go for a “Houdindian”. Possibly the ideal night out. And it goes without saying that if you want to get to the beach, stick a towel under your arm and hit the road. In this game, in this town, the real winners are the walkers.

Broadstairs beacon

Spring Hotlist MAR Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope An acclaimed solo play about Quentin Crisp, an openly gay figure who has become one of the most memorable figures of the twentieth century.

21 March, 7.30pm  Sarah Thorne Theatre

facebook.com/ sarahthornetheatre

English Night with Chapel Down Winery Enjoy a five-course dinner whilst tasting and learning about all of the different wines from Chapel Down, a vineyard in Kent.

Mental Health Mates Walk and Talk

Broadstairs Food Festival

A healing walk and talk for anyone experiencing mental health challenges. Last Sunday of every month.

Beard Conspiracy

 Broadstairs Bandstand

A performance from this three-piece ensemble playing a dazzling array of fast-paced tango, classical and klezmer with an eclectic blend of contemporary classics.

mentalhealthmates.co.uk

30 April, 8pm

29 March, 2pm

 The Magnet micropub

Stepling

facebook.com/

29 March, 7 to 10pm

More than 50 stalls of produce and hot food, accompanied by music on the bandstand on saturday and sunday afternoon. Free entry.

 Sarah Thorne Theatre

11 to 13 April,

facebook.com/

10am to 5pm

sarahthornetheatre

 Victoria Gardens and

An evening of top quality English folk music and percussive dance from fourpiece ensemble Stepling.

APR

Promenade facebook.com/ BroadstairsFoodFestival

TheMagnetMicropub

MAY

Mitchell and Vincent

Cliffs, Caves & Castles Walk and Talk A performance from this West Country duo who bring traditional and contemporary styles on fiddle and guitar to folk tunes and songs.  The Magnet

Quiz night

TheMagnetMicropub

A quiz night and raffle inside this Broadstairs historic landmark in aid of RNLI Ramsgate lifeboat.

Toys & Collectables Sale

 Crampton Tower Museum

facebook.com/

Enjoy a beachcombing walk around the stunning Kingsgate coastline from Botany Bay to Kingsgate Bay.

8 June, 9am  Botany Bay

thanetcoast.org.uk

22 May, 8pm to 11pm facebook.com/

2 May, 7pm

JUN

Browse a variety of toys and collectables at this fascinating small museum.

24 May

Broadstairs Dickens Festival Celebrate the works and characters created by one of England’s best-loved authors.

19 to 21 June  Multiple locations

broadstairsdickensfestival. co.uk

Wind in the Willows

Soul Deluxe

cramptontowermuseum

Don’t miss this magical performance from Ratty, Mole, Toad and their friends.

VE Day

cramptontowermuseum

3 and 4 April, 7.30pm

A Live Lounge with a band performing a selection of classic soul and soft rock songs.

 Sarah Thorne Theatre

21 April, 8.30pm

Dr Sunshine Beer launch with Gaddzukes

facebook.com/

 Botany Bay Hotel

sarahthornetheatre

facebook.com/

Celebrate the 75th anniversary of VE day at a street party style celebration in the grounds of the beautiful Pierrmont Hall.

Foreverland Festival: The Fantasy Fairground

The Soundcrash Funk and Soul Weekender

A magical festival with DJs & live acts, spanning house, bass, UK garage and DnB.

Get a first taste of a Gadds’ Brewery’s wheat ale whilst enjoying a performance from the Gaddzukes, performing from 2pm.

Absolute Bowie Legacy

The STAstards

Love David Bowie? Don’t miss this performance from this popular David Bowie tribute act.

Dance the night away to classic ska, reggae and twotone with a night with the STAstards.

26 March, 6.30pm  The Yarrow

yarrowhotel.co.uk

28 March, 2 to 4pm  GADDS’ Ramsgate

Brewery facebook.com/Gadds. Ramsgate.Brewery

Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am + Curator intro

botanybayhotel

4 April, 7.30 to 10.30pm  The Pavilion

zootalorspromotions.com

Lara Maiklem: Mudlarking

 Crampton Tower Museum

facebook.com/

20 to 21 June

8 May, 10am

 Dreamland, Margate

 Pierrmont Hall

24 April, 9pm  The Prince Albert pub

Classic Cars at Crampton Tower Check out 30 classic cars and bikes at this event, hosted by Thanet Classics Car Club.

26 April, 10am to 4pm

dreamland.co.uk

facebook.com/ pierremonthall

Murder at The Pavilion! An intriguing Murder Mystery including a threecourse meal.

15 May, 7pm  The Pavilion

Festability Enjoy some of the world’s finest music talent as well as vintage rides, street food, art, yoga and a roller disco.

29 to 31 May  Dreamland, Margate

dreamland.co.uk

A music festival for people with disabilities living in Kent with a fairground, food stalls, a kareoke tent and activities.

20 June, midday to 8pm  Quex park, Birchington

festability.co.uk

broadstairslit.co.uk/events

AMP on Sea Annie Mac Presents

 The Broadway

facebook.com/ thanetclassics

Seaweed and their secrets Find out everything you’ve ever wanted to know about seaweed on this outdoor talk walking through rockpools and along the shore.

Thanet Classics at Maurice House Summer Fete 2020 A summer fete with classic cars.

20 June 1.30 to 5pm

30 May, 11am

 Maurice House

 Botany Bay

facebook.com/

Charity St. George’s Day Lunch

thanetcoast.org.uk

thanetclassics

Learn about the amazing historical finds this acclaimed Broadstairs author and mudlarker has found from the mud of the River Thames.

A charity event with raffle to raise money for the Thanet disabled riding school.

BandSpart Group Open Air Exhibition

Clare Mackintosh

26 April, 12.30pm

An Annie Mac takeover with performances and DJ sets from her handpicked talent.

28 March, 6pm

5 April, 5.30pm

 The Tartar Frigate

16 May, 3pm to 2am

An open-air art exhibition on Broadstairs seafront with paintings and artwork in all mediums and genres.

 Palace Cinema

 Kafeine

facebook.com/

 Dreamland, Margate

31 May

 The Yarrow

thepalacecinema.co.uk

broadstairslit.co.uk/events

thetartarfrigate

dreamland.co.uk

 Viking Bay seafront railings

broadstairslit.co.uk

A screening of the beautiful documentary about the US writer Toni Morrison linked to the exhibition We Will Walk – Art and Resistance in the American South at Turner Contemporary.

The No. 1 Sunday Times and New York Times best-selling writer shares the inspiration behind her work

25 June, 7pm

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BROADSTAIRS LIT

Books Authors Celebrities

Inspiring events all year round

Meet the Bestsellers 2020

Friday May 15th 7.00pm

Murder at The Pavilion!

£29pp, £55 couple @ The Pavilion

Thursday June 25th 7.00pm

Clare Mackintosh £15 @ The Yarrow

fine art gallery showcasing paintings, sculptures, glass, jewellery & printmaking, Sunday October 11th 3.00pm

Thursday December 3rd 7.00pm

£15 @ The Yarrow

£15 @ The Pavilion

Alan Johnson

In partnership with

BROADSTAIRS & ST PETER’S TOWN COUNCIL

49a Albion St, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 1NE

Martina Cole

Tel 01843 319184 www@newkentart.com

Sharp Printing

Go to BroadstairsLit.co.uk for full details or contact us BroadstairsLit@gmail.com Tel 07397 337847

/newkentart

@newkentart

22-25 May 2020

@newkentart

Mod & Sixties Festival *Daytime @ Market Place, CT9 1EN*

FRI NIGHT 22 MAY LIVE MUSIC 7.30pm-3am

SAT: DAY 23 MAY

THE RIFLES

NU DJ PARTY

CANDY

VINTAGE MARKET & OPEN DECKS

DAYTIME 12pm-6pm

THE HURRICANES

SAT NIGHT 23 MAY

THE JACK CADES

LIVE MUSIC 8.30pm-4am

SHA LA LAS

SUN: DAY 24 MAY

THE GALLERYS

DAYTIME 12-6pm

SUN NIGHT 24 MAY LIVE MUSIC 8pm-3am

DJ SESSION

NU DJ’s & GUESTS & MOUSETRAP PSYCH Allnighter in STUDIO ONE

FRENCH BOUTIK

SMALL FAKERS

SCOOTER CRUISE & COMP, MARKET DJ PARTY

NU DJ PARTY

2 rooms of Mod & 60’s sounds @ STUDIO ONE NUTs DJs: Lee Miller, Rob Bailey & Gary Milan + guests: Tony Jackson, Ben Olins,

Charles Whitehouse, Alex Sissons, Dave & Lee Grimshaw, Jack Gadsden, Cookin Catfish Club DJ’s, Dickie Lewellyn, Vinny Baker, Gareth Hedderley, Penny Sanford & Stella Young. Tickets, Program & Contact: www.gbmusicculture.co.uk

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Co-educational, Day & Boarding School for 3-18 years situated in South-East England

With small class sizes and exceptional facilities, St Lawrence College is Kent's only High Performance Learning World Class School, providing outstanding opportunities for all pupils academically, in sport, and in the arts. Find out more about life and learning at St Lawrence College - www.slcuk.com Junior School Senior School

T: 01843 572912 T: 01843 572931

@slcuckofficial

Spring Exhibition News Writer Karen King

New Kent Art Gallery

E: jsadmissions@slcuk.com E: admissions@slcuk.com

@slcMain

pring 2020 is looking to be a busy and exciting season of art exhibitions across Thanet, and the Broadstairs line up is no exception. It all begins on 24 March with award-winning Margate artist Anthony Giles’ Under the Weather exhibition, on until 5 April. An eclectic mix of en plein air paintings and studio pieces, encompassing beach scenes and snow scenes as well as his renowned sunsets, this exhibition of new paintings at the New Kent Gallery Broadstairs (NKA) is not to be missed. Immediately after, the gallery will host a group exhibition in celebration of the Easter festivities. Easter Egghibition celebrates New Kent Art’s fourth birthday with many of Thanet’s favourite artists exhibiting, including Dave Winthrop, Carl Scarlett, Darren Lewis, RossAndrews and Emily Tull. The Broadstairs and St Peters Art Group, which meets throughout the year, will begin their annual Seafront railings

Ceramic Bust and Mask by Jo Turner-Rowe

exhibitions on 12 April, and on 5 and 31 May.Meanwhile during the last week of April ENVIRONART will return to NKA. This annual exhibition of art using recycled and upcycled materials, and works inspired by the environment, has proven to be a breath of fresh air and brings truly unique works by Emily Tull, Harriet Peachey, Merike Sein, Sharon Cavalier, Brian Hodgson and many more. From 5 to 17 May, local chemistturned-artist Jo Turner-Rowe returns to NKA with her spectacular ceramic busts and glasswork. Her two-week exhibition will showcase amazing work in a range featuring her own handmade glazes and finishes.

On 15 May Molly Pickles will host a weekend solo show at the Italianate Glasshouse, Ramsgate, packed full of her delightful illustrations of British wildlife, with 10% of sales being donated to Kent Wildlife Trust. To finish the spring season, Tony Caroli will hold a solo exhibition at NKA 19 to 31 May. A master of fused glass, his work exudes colour and brings warmth and sunshine to any location. His exhibition combines small and large work for display as well as jewellery and trinkets. As June approaches, we will be excited to see what the summer months bring: abstract works and a celebration of printmaking and illustration and a host of fabulous solo shows. Watch this space for further news.

Shoreline 2 (resin) by Karen H King

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FOOD & DRINK

Writer

Photographer

Sophie Morris

Oliver Kebbell

Illustrator Georgia Broad

From chippies to Michelin-starred restaurants, Broadstairs has it all. Sophie Morris shares her tips on where to get bang for your buck

Under £10 Smiths Coffee Bar 8 Dundonald Rd

There’s plenty more to Smiths than the best coffee in Broadstairs. Emma and Dan rotate a selection of simple, tasty dishes on their lunch menu, such as warm, slow-roasted tomatoes on sourdough (£5.95), and their take on a New York Reuben, with pastrami, cheddar and pickles (£8.95). They’re always busy, but service is fast and friendly.

The Old Bakehouse 15 High St

There’s something to meet most cravings on the Old Bakehouse’s menu of hot drinks and cakes, breakfasts, sandwiches and hot lunches. Ploughman’s, quiche, jacket potatoes and Welsh rarebit all come in at under a fiver, as does a cream tea. Everything is made in the bakery and specialities include Kentish gypsy tart (£2) and classic coffee and walnut cake (£3). The courtyard is a lovely spot for people-watching on a sunny day.

Kafeine

35 Albion St Kafeine’s corner plot means it is flooded with light throughout the day. It majors in tea and coffee, but there are also panini and soups (each £4.90), and a delicious veggie chilli bowl (£5.50).

Neptune’s Hall Harbour St

Thin ’n’ crispy pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven start at £8 in this Harbour Street pub. That’s for the Plain Jane, spread with sweet and tangy “secret” sauce and puddles of buffalo mozzarella. The Goatherder (£9) is smothered with goat’s cheese, pesto, pine nuts and rocket, and the Capricciosa (£10) comes laden with prosciutto, artichokes and black olives. There’s coconut cheese too for the vegans. My favourite is the Retired Gangster (£9) with its soft and sweet chargrilled peppers, mozzarella and basil.

The Star of the Sea 34 High St

Cod and chips start from £5.10 at the best fish ’n’ chip shop in town, plus it’s a two-minute walk from the benches on the promenade. Be warned: the seagulls are always hungry. Too windy to brave the seafront? They deliver in CT10, too. If you’re a fan of mushy peas, try the pea fritter (£1.30). ►

RESTAURANT - SEAFOOD BAR - COCKTAILS OPEN 12-9PM 7 DAYS A WEEK 01843 446631 RESERVATIONS@BUOYANDOYSTER.CO.UK

OYSTER HAPPY HOUR 4-5PM EVERY DAY £1 EACH WEDNESDAY UNLIMITED MUSSEL REFILLS £15 WEEKDAY LUNCH SPECIAL FISH & CHIPS £10 THANET THURSDAYS - 20% OFF FOOD BILL CT7-CT12

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9 YORK ST BROADSTAIRS CT10 1PD

BRUNCH / CHEESE / WINE / SMALL PLATES

FOOD & DRINK

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£20- £30/ mid-range

Over £40/ high-end

The Table ►

Wyatt & Jones

A new entry to the Broadstairs food scene, owned by Jenny Scott and renowned chef Joe Hill (formerly of Wyatt & Jones), and open Tuesday to Saturday during the day, Friday and Saturday evenings. You can eat well for under £10 here - the fourcheese toastie and poached eggs with harissa are both £7.50, while the Table Plate, laden with parma ham, tomatoes and mozzarella, is a generous dish for £10. But visit in the evening when things ramp up a notch, stray towards the interesting wine list, and you’ll part with a few more pounds. The couple are also planning a series of pop-up tasting dinners.

The most interesting menu in town comes with a sweeping view across Viking Bay if you ask for a window seat. Spread your sourdough with whipped seaweed butter (£5), then choose from starters including crab tart (£7.50), haddock soufflé (£8.25) and scallop ceviche (£8). The mains (from £16) major on fish too, but there are always great vegetarian options and roasts on Sundays (from £18). The thoughtful kids’ menu includes minute steak (£12.50) and a pumpkin pie (£9).

9 York St

Albariño

29 Albion St You can enjoy a tapa or two at Albariño’s tiled bar, but Steven Dray’s Barcelona-inspired small plates are so delicious I’d recommend booking a table and settling in for the night. Order a dry sherry (£5.50), salted almonds (£4) and pan con tomate (£3.50) while you look at the menu, which includes tortilla (£5.50), baked octopus (£14), padron peppers (£6), salt cod croquettes (£6.50) and lamb and pork meatballs (£6.50). There’s also a great selection of Iberian cheeses and cured meats.

23-27 Harbour St

STARK

1 Oscar Rd This bijou tasting-menu-only restaurant won Broadstairs its first ever Michelin star last year. Like a number of local food businesses it’s a family affair, run by chef Ben Crittenden and his wife Sophie. The seasonal six-course menu changes regularly and costs £60, with a wine flight for £30 (strictly no substitutions). This season you can expect dishes of mackerel, apple and kohrabi; hake, celeriac and truffle; and coconut, pistachio and rose. It’s a small place so book early or look out for cancellations on Facebook.

Samworth & Mee 9-11 Albion St

A cosy modern dining room on the bend in the High Street serving seafood classics with seasonal and Asian twists, such as an anchovy and blood orange starter (£6), monkfish korma (£17) and deep-fried sea bass with chilli (£19). The menu changes regularly but you’ll often find indulgences like lobster risotto, scallops and Dover sole.

Posillipo

14 Albion St If you’ve a variety of tastes and ages to please, Posillipo will step up to the challenge. Starters are priced from £3.95 and there are vegan, vegetarian and kids menus. The choice of pasta and pizza is wide, ranging from spaghetti alle vongole (£13.95) to rigatoni mamma (£10.95), an ovenbaked dish with mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan; while pizza lovers can choose from tomato or mozzarella bases or a calzone (£10.95-£13.95).

Stark

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his spring is certain to be a challenging time for Broadstairs’ food businesses with the outbreak of the Coronavirus. We recommend checking in with local restaurants and food businesses to see if they are now offering takeaways or deliveries, and support them by ordering in instead. (For info on places offering this or other advice visit margatemercury.com/coronavirusadvice.) Staple Stores from Steve Gadd and Rachel Young is coming to Reading Street, St Peter’s, in April (Instagram @staple_stores). There’s a new coffee option for commuters thanks to Salt of the Earth (127 High St) which is open from 6.30am on weekdays for your caffeine requirements. @saltoftheearthbroadstairs. Thai supermarket Rueanthai moved to York Street from Ramsgate last year and its stock of South Asian ingredients is staggering. As well as every kind of noodle and fish sauce you can dream of, you’ll find fresh fruit and vegetables such as Thai aubergines and green papayas (when in stock, check Facebook), hot snacks (try the taro curry puff,

FOOD & DRINK

£1.50) and lots of sweet treats. New opening Ambar, an Indian restaurant, has taken over the spot vacated by the Rustic Co café at 148-149 High St. The menu looks great, with tandoori, balti and biryani dishes, so definitely worth a visit. Delivery is free in CT10. Planning permission has been granted for the closed ThirtyNine Steps Delicatessen in Charlotte Street to be adapted into BeMeTea, a Taiwanese tea and dessert shop. The owners of The Funicular Coffee House on Viking Bay have plans to open a large glass-fronted seafood restaurant. And keep an eye out for Kebbells, a new seafood bar opening this summer at 8 Victoria Parade serving shellfish and seasonal vegetable dishes, oysters and champagne. Wyatt & Jones is introducing a bar menu. Expect small plates of meat, fish and cheese, including marinated anchovies, Merguez sausage, chicken liver parfait, monkfish cheeks and seductive red carabineros - huge Iberian prawns known for their extremely tasty heads. Slurp!

The owners of Salt of the Earth

Licensed Café and Eaterie Serving Meat, Veggie and Vegan Coﬀee and Homemade Cakes Sunny Courtyard, Dogs Welcome

19 High Street Broadstairs CT10 1LP 01834 869895 ONE MINUTE FROM VIKING BAY, NEXT DOOR TO THE LAST BANK IN TOWN

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BUSINESS

Frank’s town Writer

Photographer

Richard Lewis

Sam Grady

There can be few people in Thanet who don’t know the name Frank Thorley. Richard Lewis speaks to the hospitality maestro, businessman and philanthropist

ith twenty pubs, restaurants and hotels in Thanet to his credit, Frank Thorley’s name appears at almost every turn. His first pub acquisition in Thanet was the Charles Dickens on the Broadstairs seafront, and this pub has always been dear to his heart. On the wall behind his office desk, forming a backdrop to his infectious smile and an enthusiasm undimmed by the years, hang the photos of the two pubs that have meant most to him: the Angel in London, his first pub, and the Charles Dickens in Broadstairs. So how did the Broadstairs connection for this Londoner come about, and how exactly did he become the very model of all successful DFLs, as Thanetians love to call its “down-from-London” residents? I went to his Broadstairs HQ, the former Broadstairs Police Station, to find out.

When was your first visit to Broadstairs? In 1946 my family, like many from Bermondsey, where I grew up, had a seaside holiday in Ramsgate, and from there we graduated on to Broadstairs. These were such happy times and I have so many childhood memories of family holidays on the beach and in the town. Little did I know then that I would love Broadstairs so much that I would end up spending over half my life here!

What was your education? I was fortunate. At age eleven I was one of only two boys who won a scholarship to the independent, fee-paying Alleyn’s School in Dulwich.

How did you get from there to buying a pub? After working for an insurance company, I came to the conclusion that the only way to make money was to work for myself. A friend called Stanley Grey lent me the money to buy a newsagent’s shop, and after branching into cigarette vending machines for pubs, one of

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Live music at Gulbenkian March—May Wed 4 Mar, 8pm Songbirds

Self Esteem

In association with POW! Thanet Tue 10 Mar, 8pm Songbirds

Andreya Triana

In association with POW! Thanet Wed 18 Mar, 8pm Songbirds

Olcay Bayir

In association with POW! Thanet

Calan

Wed 6 May, 7.30pm Folk in the Barn

Albert Lee

Thu 14 May, 8pm Global Sounds

Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita with guests Vishtèn

In association with Music For Change

Sat 21 Mar, 8pm

the pub owners I supplied proposed going into business with him. That’s how I got my first pub.

Jack Hues Primitif Album Launch

And from there to Broadstairs?

Sat 28 Mar, from 1pm Folk in the Barn

I was on one of my holidays in Broadstairs in 1973, on the Eastern Esplanade, when I was told a pub nearby was for sale. I had five pubs in London by then and I thought how nice it would be to have a pub in my favourite place. That pub was the Charles Dickens and I bought it in 1975. It became the busiest pub in Kent! After that, in 1977, I moved permanently to Broadstairs.

Wed 29 Apr, 7.30pm Folk in the Barn

In association with Dawn Chorus Records

FiB Fest

Sat 16 May, 8pm The Jazz Sessions

The Jazz Ambassadors

includes ﬁlm screening at 5pm Sat 30 May, 8pm Songbirds

Mon 30 Mar, 8pm Global Sounds

Nitin Sawhney: Music & Me

Grace Petrie

In association with POW! Thanet

In association with Music For Change

To book, call 01227 769075 or visit thegulbenkian.co.uk

“I have so many childhood memories of family holidays on the beach and in the town” How do you see your contribution to Broadstairs? Over the years I’ve looked for opportunities in the area, including buying, modernising and refurbishing a range of outlets in Broadstairs. In 2013, Broadstairs Town Council awarded me the Broadstairs Millenium Cup for making a major contribution to the town.

What charity work do you do? I support many charities, particularly through auctions after annual dinners and functions. At one of my sites, the Pavilion in Broadstairs, we organize a charity ‘do’ for Prostate Cancer each year and last year raised £7,000.

kent.gov.uk

Kebbells Seafood bar opening Summer 2020 Sharing plates & small plates of Delicious Seafood Shellfish & Seasonal Vegetable dishes Champagne & Oysters Wines & Beer

Any thoughts on retiring? No! These days I go to too many funerals of people I knew, and they were all retired! With this parting shot he takes me to see the piles of framed football shirts ready for charity auctions propped up in his boardroom. These, the many prints of bygone Thanet scenes and a collection of memorabilia from the former police station add a final human and very local touch to the picture of the well-known businessman and true Bradstonian that is Frank Thorley. thorleytaverns.co.uk

No 8 Victoria Parade|Broadstairs|Kent | CT10 1QS info@kebbells.com Follow us on Instagram @kebbells_broadstairs |

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See you at The Pub Writer

Photographer

Melissa Todd

Sam Grady

Broadstairs is fair blessed with its choice of micropubs: there are seven of the beauties. Melissa Todd meets the young duo behind one of its finest, The Pub

“

The name choice was deliberate,” says Max Bell, the charismatic teenager who runs The Pub alongside his brother John. “It was ‘The Offy’ and we wanted to keep the vernacular. Which pub shall we go to? Why, THE pub, of course. Where else? It makes it easy to open other branches too.” Which the entrepreneurial youngster has done, selling a franchise to a man in Ramsgate who’ll be opening The Pub in its second incarnation in the spring. This is the first time a micropub has been franchised. Max made headlines when The Pub opened its doors in November 2018, as it was only five days past his eighteenth birthday, making him the youngest

landlord in the country. Clearly he’s a rare breed of adolescent. It was his brother John’s dream to open a micropub. Having worked alongside their grandfather in offlicences for ten years, he had the necessary experience and passion for real ale and craft beers. He speaks with immense fondness of the community of micropubs in Broadstairs, particularly the Magnet, which he visits often to discover new drinks. The Pub stocks between 10 to 20 different ciders for you to sample, along with a fine selection of wines, beers and - most thrillingly - 20 to 30 different gins. “There’s no competition between us, genuinely,” says Max. “The fact there are so many of us trading means

Broadstairs has become a destination for sophisticated pub-goers. The best place for a micropub to begin trading is beside another one.” The boys are keen to stock local produce and support small businesses wherever possible, and also to discuss their stock and provide personal recommendations, but the drinks change so regularly there are no menus or tasting notes. There are dozens of boardgames and a bookcase, making this an ideal destination for families, but also solo drinkers. I visited on a Sunday, and the regulars had all brought in food, including cupcakes, curry and home-made sausages rolls. Dogs are welcome, and well lookedafter. There’s a 1970s record player that you’re encouraged to use, and an interesting selection of vinyl, collected from local charity shops, as indeed was the furniture. The pub possesses the comfiest sofa I’ve ever perched upon. “We could ditch the quirky seating and tables and squeeze more people in,” Max says. “But why would we? Making sure people are comfortable is much more important.” We hear a great deal about how pubs are dying, but less about how micropubs are thriving. In fact every time a pub closes, a micropub opens. (And perhaps too a fairy gets its wings.) They have lower overheads so the margins don’t matter as much. There are plenty of pints at £3 a pop, and a quality gin and tonic will cost you £3.50. Come spring the boys

plan to bring back their £3 alcoholic slushies, G&T and piňa colada proving particular favourites. I was vaguely anxious the first time I visited, imagining a place run by such youthful sorts it might be cool and cliquey. Max grins at that idea. “Oh, I can promise you there’s absolutely nothing cool about me. I’m an old soul.” He certainly has a knack for making everyone feel welcome, dishing out sausage rolls and making beer recommendations even as he kindly answers my questions. “You learn quickly from the look and smell who might be best pleased by a particular cask, although actually, I prefer cider,” he says. “John’s the beer drinker. We made a few blunders keeping the stuff when we first started - beer is a live product, after all. It can’t be kept longer than it wants to be kept. But the drinkers have been very kind and forgiving about our blunders, and we always replace beers that aren’t of good standard. You pay for a decent pint, we make sure you get one. Fortunately it doesn’t happen now we know what we’re doing.” Both John and Max are excited and proud to see their business expand, and hopefully will have more surprises to announce for the brand this year. A pub where comfort and satisfaction take priority over profit, where Peggy Lee purrs and spins gently in the corner, with drinks so divine you can only assume they’re doing you good. Why, it would be absurd not to visit.

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FOOD & DRINK

Other Broadstairs micropubs to check out Mind the Gap

The Chapel

The Four Candles

A railway-themed micropub serving real ales and ciders, wines and bar snacks. 156 High Street, CT10 1JB

Sister bar to The Lifeboat in Margate, this bar is also a second-hand bookshop with more than 30,000 titles to browse, alongside coffee, food and often live music. 44-46 Albion Street, CT10 1NE

This “experimental realale brewery” concocts its tasty ales from a tiny three-by-three-metre cellar downstairs, and is a great place for a friendly natter with the locals. 1 Sowell Street, CT10 2AT

The Magnet

The Yard of Ale

Enjoy live music, games nights with backgammon or Subbuteo, and guest beers, cask ales or real cider at this newest micropub in town. 37 Albion Street, CT10 1NE

This 19th-century stableturned-micropub has a rustic interior, with straw on the floor and a wood-burning stove. A great spot to take the dog and enjoy a quality brew. 61 Church street, CT10 2TU

The Thirty-Nine Steps Brewhouse This lively micropub takes its name from a novel written by John Buchan in Broadstairs in 1915. Enjoy quality ales straight from the cask, cider, wines, bar snacks and - for G&T lovers - a stellar range of flavoured gins. 11-13 Charlotte street, CT10 1LR

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ETHELBERT CRESCENT, MARGATE, CT9 2DY

01843 228632

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COMMUNITY

The mane event Writer

Photographer

Dale Shaw

Kat Green

Dale Shaw meets the 80-year-old, MBEawarded founder of the Thanet Disabled Riding Centre, an organisation which has been helping disabled children in Thanet and beyond for over 40 years

he Thanet Disabled Riding Centre is a very special place. Nestling within the tranquil confines of Maurice House, a Royal British Legion-assisted living facility near St Peter’s, it provides an oasis of calm and comfort just outside the bustling outskirts of Broadstairs. The driving force behind the centre is a very special individual. Nora Setterfield, who has just celebrated her 80th birthday, founded the centre and has dedicated her life to its continued success.

“I’ve always been with horses,” she tells me. “The more I know people the more I love animals. They’re not so complicated.” A lifelong Broadstairs resident, she was recognised for her efforts with an MBE in 2013, an experience she describes as “exciting, but totally embarrassing”. For 43 years now the centre has helped around 50 children a week with a variety of disabilities to gain confidence and riding skills through interaction with horses, thanks to a dedicated network of volunteers.

Nora with her pony Smartie

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COMMUNITY

Jack with pony Roady

“The more I know people the more I love animals. They’re not so complicated” But it hasn’t been an easy ride for the TDRC. Its history is littered with closures, relocations and a lack of funds. “To find our original site, we had bikes,” Nora tells me. “We went around and we would peek over people’s walls. We finally found

somewhere and asked if we could clear it.” This was the centre’s first home, but that site, and then a subsequent one, were sold out from under them as the area was developed. “Again we got on our bikes and had to trawl around looking over fences. And then we looked over this one.” The centre found its current home next to Maurice House 33 years ago. But it did take a certain amount of subterfuge. “They asked me how much land I wanted. And they had this white stick. They walked away from me and stuck it in the ground once they felt I’d got enough. Once they’d left, I just moved the stick a bit further over. They still don’t know.” The area was densely wooded and it took a small army of volunteers,

friends and family to clear it. “Anybody who looked over the wall got a job. Hopefully this will be our final home.” The TDRC finally had an established, permanent home. But in recent years it has suffered from a dwindling lack of donations and a shortage of volunteers. “We never experienced the lack of funding as we have in the last couple of years,” Nora says. “Why it’s been such a problem, I don’t really know.” “It costs about £150 a day to keep these horses. That’s an awful lot of funding. And it is all raised from donations. Breakfast clubs, businesses, pubs - all walks of life. With a lot of people, we’ll never know who they are unfortunately.” The survival of the centre is vital for the continued wellbeing of

disabled children from Thanet and beyond. Carly and Danny travel from Herne Bay so their son Jack can ride with Nora’s horses. “His confidence has grown immensely,” Carly says. “The first time we came, Jack wouldn’t even get out of the car. Now he’ll go off and ride on the road. It’s made a huge improvement.” But what about the future of the centre? “I don’t want people to forget us,” Nora says. “I want to keep going the way I am, that’s all I worry about.” The thousands that have met and been helped by Nora are unlikely to ever forget her. To find out more or to donate to the Thanet Disabled Riding Centre visit tdrc.org.uk

Art and Resistance in the American South

7 February – 3 May 2◊2◊ Margate, entry is free Emmer Sewell, Untitled (Scarecrow), Collection of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation Photo: Stephen Pitkin, Pitkin Studio, ©2◊2◊ Emmer Sewell / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / DACS, London

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FASHION

Slow fashion Writer Anna Bang

Photographer Sheradon Dublin

With the fashion industry often criticised for being unsustainable and wasteful, it’s refreshing to find three designers and artists in Broadstairs who practice reusing materials as part of their working process

Nova Clarke Nova Clarke is a bespoke dressmaker, based at The Workshop on Dundonald Road. Being a bespoke dressmaker turns out to mean wearing a lot of different hats, encompassing running her own clothing label Nojo, doing bridal alterations to ready-bought gowns, tailoring grooms’ suits and making everyday alterations, right up to restoring and repairing old favourites. She is able to copy a beloved vintage piece, which is the nerve-wracking and delicate process of skilfully taking it apart, making a pattern from the pieces, using those to make a perfect copy then carefully sewing the original piece back together again. “There have been times where I’ve studied a dress for an hour before taking it apart, thinking why did I say yes to doing that!” she laughs. “But I like that I’m always doing something different and I meet so many lovely people every day, although some days do feel like endless plate spinning.”

Nova studied fashion technology at Kent Institute of Art & Design, learning garment construction and fashion design, before doing work experience for a label in London, which led to a job at their studio. Once she had her daughter, commuting to London every day became impractical, so she worked from home, with the odd freelance job in London, slowly building up her customer circle. Initially that meant a studio in the Old Town, then the first floor of her current premises, and finally two and a half years ago the ground-floor shop was up for grabs and The Workshop came into being. “I love Broadstairs, it is less hectic than London. People are more relaxed here and they plan ahead better. And when I have a 10-minute break, the sea is at the bottom of my road!” To contact Nova Clarke visit facebook.com/NovaClarkes Workshop or drop by The Workshop at 10 Dundonald Road, CT10 1PE

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FASHION

Gem Blastock Turquoise Gem Textiles Gem Blastock’s business is Turquoise Gem Textiles, the “turquoise” a nod to her love of the sea. She specialises in textiles, prints, greeting cards and wrapping paper. Her workspace is inside the house: print studio in the basement, art studio upstairs overlooking her sister Ami’s (AB Jewellery) workshop in the garden. Gem fell in love with printing at college and decided to pursue a textile degree specialising in that discipline. Her prints were initially based on seaside nostalgia. She then developed the dot technique to bring her drawings alive, giving depth and life to her squid, sea horses and whales. “My pointillism brings its own excitement and it’s my signature technique,” she says. “Broadstairs influences me massively, it’s the core of who I am. I’m always beach-combing. I’m currently working on developing my own ink from chalk - a big experiment - and I also want to

make seaweed ink. Anything I can do to make my business more sustainable. I already use recycled paper. Making my own ink from materials found in Broadstairs would enhance that. Acrylic ink has microscopic particles of plastic in it, which I don’t want to use.” Her typical customers are relocated Londoners doing renovations, young families who start off buying one print from her and then start collecting. “This year I’d like to expand into more home decorating - cushions, lampshades, wallpaper. And colour. I’d love to do squid and jellyfish in colour.” To see Gemma’s work visit turquoise-gem-textiles.myshopify. com or follow her on Instagram (@tgtextiles_uk) for updates on local events where she’ll be selling her work, such as Margate Made and the Dreamland Christmas Market

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FASHION

Ami Blastock AB Jewellery Jewellery-maker Ami both designs her own pieces and remodels jewellery. By that she means you can bring a piece along that feels old-fashioned or has unhappy connotations but with good raw materials, and she will then ascertain what she can make from it and either sketch up a design of her own or respond to inspiration you’ve brought along. Ami discovered jewellery-making by accident after a two-year career as an accountant. “It wasn’t me, so I decided to study interiors,” she says. “During the foundation year, a silversmith came in to teach us, and that was that, I was addicted. I even changed college! My degree work was all about concepts, but I really learned a lot more afterwards working in the industry. If I could do it again, I’d do an apprenticeship. You pick up a better understanding of technical aspects.” “All my jewellery is made from

recycled materials. Usually clients will bring in pieces of jewellery and commission a new design. Some people will want me to do the design and others will bring their inspiration. I get them to look at my work so I get a feel for what they like. Also, sometimes they are adding on to pieces I’ve already made for them, to a collection of stacking rings for instance.” Sitting in Ami’s cosy studio with the stove flickering, her little dog Otis burrows into the basket by her feet. The collection of her granddad’s tools is proudly displayed on the walls, as is the frankly massive tree trunk her partner brought back from Spain, on which she hammers out her metal (steel underlay dents, wood absorbs). Ami emphasises everything in her studio has meaning to her: “I’m very proud of my heritage and the fact that Gem and I are artistic and making a living from our creativity.”

It’s not only the jewellery that is made from recycled materials; her studio space was built using old wood. “In the garden there was a garage full to the ceiling of wood from when our house was done up. Most of that wood has been repurposed to make walls in here, as you can probably tell from the patterns. I’ve been here two and a half years now. Gem and I started our businesses around the same time. And living in St Peter’s I usually walk to work with Otis.” To see Ami’s work visit abjewellery. myshopify.com | @ab_jewellery

“I’m very proud of my heritage and the fact that Gem and I are artistic and making a living from our creativity”

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WEDDING SPECIAL

Little tips for the

big day Writer Rebecca Richardson

Local experts share their tips on planning your big day - from venue-providers and photograph-takers, to dresses and cake-makers, Thanet has it all

Broadie Bakes broadiebakes.co.uk

Based in Broadstairs, Paula designs and bakes to your specification and theme “Cake trends for the coming year are hand-painted floral blooms, simple greenery or succulents on textured or smooth cakes, and an increase in the use of wild flowers,” advises Paula. She says the wedding cake showcases the couple’s personalities, so try not to “feel pressured to go traditional”. And: “If you have to cater for different dietary needs, I would usually suggest these are provided as individual cupcakes.”

Nova Clarke

Georgina Jackson,

novaclarke.com

georginaribena.com

Nova offers a design and alterations service for wedding gowns

Georgie is a wedding and events photographer from Oxfordshire, now based in Margate

Carmen Hanna carmenhannabridal.com

Carmen crafts beautiful wedding dresses from her Margate studio To help define your bridal style, Carmen advises: “Think about the setting. Do you want to be in the grounds of a stately home? Or are you drawn to an open woodland or beach?” From location, to flower arrangements and colours, what you’re drawn to “helps to create a vision of your day. This all connects with the dress, the mood and feel you want to create and how you want to look walking down the aisle - towards your new life,” she explains. “2020 is such an exciting time to get married, with individuality at its heart.” She’s noticed “couples taking a more ecoconscious approach. We are seeing a rise in revamping preloved gowns or using handed-down lace.”

“I am certainly seeing a more simple bespoke bridal dress trend,” Nova says. “Classic, simple or innovative cuts with beautiful fabrics… A less is more approach is proving to be popular.” Also consider the season you are marrying in: “We would offer lighter fabrics for summer weddings and heavier for autumn weddings. It really depends on the style of dress too as some fabrics work better with certain silhouettes.” Nova recommends “trying on different styles of dresses”. She says that customers are often pleasantly surprised by something outside of their comfort zone.

Locations in and around the Thanet area that offer stunning backdrops include “Botany Bay, the sunsets and the white cliffs”, says Georgie. “The Walpole Bay Hotel is great for the lush green plants on the balcony and fun shots around the hotel.” To get the best out of your photographer, she says it’s important to “relax and forget the photographer is there. The best photos occur when you don’t know the camera is on you.” And meeting your photographer beforehand is advised, to ensure you’re choosing one who not only has a style which reflects you as a couple, but also encapsulates the day you envision. “I like to capture the essence of the day,” she says. “I’m not interested in creating fantasy shots, but more to capture the beauty of realism.”

Botany Bay Hotel botanybayhotel.co.uk

A stylish coastal retreat overlooking one of Britain’s most spectacular beaches A picture-perfect place to celebrate special occasions, the Botany Bay Hotel “recommends booking at least 12 months in advance”. And: “If you’re looking to be able to make the most out of the beachside location, summer bookings are key”. Weddings can be personalised to really take advantage of its stunning setting. “We often have weddings where flipflops and buckets and spades are provided for use on the beach! These can be personalised with gift tags made from pre-wedding photos of the couple.”

Port Regis Montessori @

Convent Road, Broadstairs CT10 3PR Port @ Port Regis Regis Montessori Montessori @ Convent Convent Road, Road, Broadstairs Broadstairs CT10 CT10 3PR 3PR

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CULTURE

Filming Broadstairs Writer Alastair Hagger

Images courtesy of Thanet District Council Film Office

From Eastenders to Bollywood blockbusters, Broadstairs is a hot spot for film and TV makers. We speak to the lady who helps make the movie magic happen

hat do Danny Dyer and Dame Maggie Smith have in common? Not Downton Abbey perhaps, although Dyer once announced his acting chops were good enough for the ITV flagship’s consideration. The answer, my dear, is Broadstairs. Both actors are part of a rich history of film and television filming in one of the country’s most scenic and cinematic settings. From Victoria Gardens to Viking Bay, Broadstairs has attracted location managers and film crews for decades. But its high-speed rail link to London has accelerated the region’s growth as a uniquely desirable backdrop. From Only Fools and Horses (1989) to Ricky Gervais’ Derek (2013), from the Tony Hancock biography Hancock and Joan (2008) to WWII drama Hurricane (2018), Broadstairs has evolved over time as a versatile shooting star in its own right. Sharon Kelley has been film and communications officer for Thanet District Council for ten years, and facilitates everything from Harper’s Bazaar fashion shoots to Bollywood blockbusters. Permission to film on the area’s picturesque sandy beaches is a common request. “From London, if you go along the north Kent coast, it’s all shingle, so the biggest thing we have is our sandy beaches,” she says. “We have Botany Bay, which is completely unspoilt and can be any decade, any century. Then you have Viking Bay, which is the quintessential British holiday destination, with its ice creams and beach huts.” Botany Bay doubled as munitions-riddled Normandy in Dan Snow’s 2012 BBC recreation of the D-Day landings;

Viking Bay hosted the Maggie Smith vehicle The Lady in the Van in 2015. “I spent some time talking to one of the producers, and he said Viking Bay was so cinematic because of the horseshoe shape, so filming it was lovely,” says Kelley. “It just has such a great perspective.”

“Broadstairs has evolved over time as a versatile shooting star in its own right” Two of the most high-profile recent productions to exploit the locality’s distinctive visual character have been the Nick Hornby adaptation Juliet, Naked (2018), which filmed at Morelli’s ice cream parlour (a firm location favourite for many years), and the Stan’s Ashes (2015) episode of Eastenders, which featured Danny Dyer’s Carter family mourning the loss of the family patriarch in Victoria Gardens and Stone Bay. “That was like some sort of MI5 operation,” she says. “It had its own codename - Days of Our Lives - because we knew it was going to attract attention. It was very under the radar.” These are busy times for Broadstairs on film. The BBC Films project True Things About Me, starring

Ruth Wilson, begins production in the coming weeks, and the story of city trader turned charity Everest climber David Tait, Sulphur and White, shot at various locations across the Kent coast, held its premiere in early March. Broadstairs was especially enamoured by Sky TV’s Landscape Artist of the Year. The crew “fell in love with the area, and they came and did two heats in 2018. That was quite something.” But the filming of the Len Goodman BBC nostalgia show Holiday of my Lifetime, in which Goodman revisits treasured holiday destinations with a celebrity guest, is one of Kelley’s personal favourites. “This particular episode featured Gyles Brandreth, and both of them actually used to holiday in

Broadstairs in the summer,” she says. “Len Goodman’s grandmother used to live in a house by the station, and Gyles Brandreth used to come for the whole six weeks with his mum. Just walking around Broadstairs with those two was a highlight, because they were incredibly entertaining, and had such fond memories.” She reveals that not everyone is a fan of Broadstairs most alluring feature - it turns out both Goodman and Brandreth detest the feeling of the beach between their toes. “They were saying: ‘We’re so glad we’ve got shoes on! We hate the sand!’” For more information about filming in Kent please contact filmoffice@kent.gov.uk

Holiday of my Lifetime filmed at Viking Bay

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Eastenders filmed at Morellis. Image credit BBC

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The Lady in the Van filmed at Viking Bay

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Wishing for Winston Writer & Photographer Ivanna Wright

What do you get when you mix two French filmmakers, a love of Orwell, and an obsession with the name Winston Smith? A humorous tale that leads right to a man in Broadstairs

re you Winston Smith? The question appears pretty niche on first reading. The answer for most readers will be no. There are few who can answer with a yes, that is me, my name is Winston Smith. However if you apply the circumstances of Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984’s lead character Winston Smith, a man paranoid, uncertain of what is truth and what is not, sickened with his lack of worth and constantly observed by Big Brother, then maybe more of us than ever can answer yes, I suppose I am a bit like Winston Smith. If you find yourself unsure you can always ask someone you trust. Alexa perhaps? A French filmmaker who didn’t need to ask his Bezos-based spying device whether he is Winston Smith or not is Paul Heintz. “Like the beans with an extra T,” his anglo friend Ewan Golder tells me as I scribble down the duo’s names in my pad while they start ingesting the very best breakfast that Verreys in the high street offers. The friends hail from the prestigious Le Fresnoy film school in Lille, and have ended up in Broadstairs for one reason and one reason only: they are after Winston Smith. Not any Winston Smith - as many Winston Smiths as possible. Paul’s admiration and intrigue is clear from the off when speaking about Orwell’s protagonist. “He is a hero in everyday life, he is not a public hero,” he explains. “He is a figure that interests me because he is part of our collective imagination. Everyone knows this Orwell novel without even reading it. Its themes are very contemporary and extremely relevant today.” The goal was to meet as many different people named Winston Smith who live in England today and film a conversation with them. Paul would like to know their point of view on the novel, their identification or fictional immersion in the character who bears their name. The film is a sort of study on how literature overflows into reality. “What particularly interests me is the

“This is a fairly sociological film about post-Brexit England” relationship of someone with authority or to the social norm,” Paul tells me. “Do they also have something of a private rebellion in their daily life, like the character in the novel? This is a fairly sociological film about post-Brexit England. I’m going to meet these strangers all named Smith, the classic English name. As a Frenchman it will be interesting.” The quest for Winstons began late last year in London. The lack of people committed to the one-time household staple that is the telephone directory (now a bygone relic) meant the search was social media-led. Paul also put an ad in the nation’s depressingly “favourite” pun-heavy daily comic-book The Sun, urging all those with the name Winston Smith to make contact.

As well as this a private detective was hired. A trained Winston-seeker provided Paul and Ewan with a list of names and addresses for potential Winstons, whom the pair wrote to asking if they were at all interested. One Winston who couldn’t say no was our Winston Smith of Broadstairs, a man Paul fondly refers to as “a dreamer who loves poetry and music”. Our Winston of Broadstairs is a charismatic character, instantly likeable and always has been apparently. He won the most popular boy in his school year award at St George’s. It’s a title he’s proud of but confesses he may not have won completely fairly. “Well I cheated,” he admits. “I told everyone in the year, if you vote for me I’ll vote for you, but then I voted for the least popular bugger.” He was as popular as he was athletic. The personal folder he presented to Paul and Ewan was full of sporting medals, everything from long jump to cricket. Winston left school, joined the navy, then the fire service, and he now lives a merrily retired existence here in Broadstairs with his wife Janet. The couple have called Thanet home for the last half-century. Paul and Ewan were delighted to discover a surprisingly similar trait in both Winston of Broadstairs and Winston of fiction. Winston’s

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front room is decorated in an impressive collection of paperweights - a bizarre obsession of his that he doesn’t really know the root of. It’s a connection anyone who’s read 1984 will no doubt marvel over. This is not the first media fame Winston’s name has earned him. A few years ago he had a call from Sky Arts to appear on What the Dickens, where celebrities such as the “sharp” Sue Perkins and the “loves himself a bit” Russell Kane had a minute to ask him as many questions as needed to guess which literary legend he was. They failed. The other contestant on that particular episode was one Mrs Marge Simpson. “They got her straight away,” says Winston. Paul and Ewan have travelled the country from Birmingham to Broadstairs interviewing Winstons and plan to bring them all together to meet one another in April. Varied in ethnicity, age and mentality, but they are all Winston Smith! The film will be showcased at GB Agency gallery in Paris in September. Follow the Broadstairs Beacon Facebook page for updates

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10 ways to feel good this spring

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1 Writer

Images

Anna Bang

Courtesy of businesses

With amazing skies, a stunning coastline, as well as the bonhomie you encounter as you go about your daily business, living in Broadstairs gives us a head start to feeling great. But if you need a wellness boost this spring, there’s plenty of other options to put a spring in your step. Here are our must-know tips

Green-ify your home ― Plants purify the air in your home, and spider plants and snake plants - among the top ten air purifiers - are both cheap to buy and easy to look after. For a great selection of plants, Plantlet, a delightful tiny new plant shop at 102 High Street, or Broadstairs Garden Centre, are both good bets. Or if you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor space and you’d like professional help to create your dream garden, contact Tom Drake (tomdrakegardendesign.com) or Catherine Frogatt (catherinefroggatt. co.uk), both Thanet-based garden designers who create beautiful garden designs.

Go to a wellness evening ― As well as serving delicious coffee, sensational cakes and yummy food, Smith’s Coffeebar have also recently launched “salon” evenings, encouraging lively debates with guest speakers, all related to health and wellness (facebook.com/ smithscoffeebarandwellness).

3 Wendy Hills photographed by Rebecca Douglas

Learn to surf ― Nothing looks more in the moment than the people you see elegantly balancing on a standup paddleboard or bashing about in the waves, seemingly glued to their surfboard. Why not learn how to do it this spring? Kent Surf School, which is based in Viking Bay, do courses in both surfing and stand-up boarding, you can hire equipment too and you can get private lessons or learn as a group (kentsurfschool.co.uk).

Get crafty ― If you’re older and love DIY make sure to visit Broadstairs Town Shed, a volunteerled group for the 50-plus age group to meet up and take part in DIY, woodwork and metalwork-based activities. They are based at the Big Shed in Oakwood Industrial Estate (broadstairstownshed.org.uk).

Get gut healthy ― Gut health has been given a lot of attention recently as an important way of staying healthy. There’s a bewildering array of (usually expensive) potions available, all supposedly the way to sort out our guts. Lucky for us, we actually have a brilliant practitioner right here in Broadstairs. Registered nutritional therapist Wendy Hills of the Nutritious Fig focuses on digestive health in menopause and runs fermenting workshops to teach you how to make your own fermented vegetables. Teaching you a new skill and saving you a fortune - what a bargain. Learn more about her work and sign up for her newsletter at thenutritiousfig.co.uk

Refill and re-use ― Save our beautiful Planet Thanet one refill at a time. Refilling saves plastic - and you can do it at the new sustainable lifestyle store Salt Of The Earth at 127 High Street, which sells zero waste products and waxed lunch bags that you can use again and again. saltoftheearthliving.co.uk ►

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Walk and talk ― Walking is renowned for making you feel better, the gentle exercise encouraging a sense of peace and clarity. Why not join a mental health walk and talk? Inspired by reading about Bryony Gordon founding Mental Health Mates, a walking group for people affected by mental health issues either personally or friends and family. Sophie decided to start a MHM group in Broadstairs, which meets up on the last Sunday of the month. Email Sophie for details on mhmbroadstairs@gmail.com

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Join a book group ― If reading by yourself feels too solitary to you, why not join a book group? There are a variety of book groups in Broadstairs, including Broadstairs Library’s reading group who meet on the first Wednesday of every month, 2 to 3pm. Or to meet and mingle with other book lovers and discover new authors make sure to visit the Broadstairs literary festival, on from March (broadstairs lit.co.uk). This year every author is a Sunday Times bestseller, so you’re guaranteed some quality reads.

Swim ― If the North Sea is too bracing for you this spring, head to the indoor Upton Swimming Pool, where you can do unlimited swimming for a mere £25 per month. They also offer a range of fun, waterbased keep-fit options that use an app for bookings to make sure there are never more than ten swimmers using the pool, so it never gets too crowded (mindbody.io/locations/ upton-swimming-pool-broadstairs).

Treat yourself ― Enjoy a healing treatment from Julie Taylor, aka The Happy Healer. Julie is an intuitive psychic who practices reiki, theta and homeopathy in both Broadstairs and London (thehappyhealerbroadstairs.co.uk). Or treat yourself to a new hairdo or beauty treatment at one of the town’s many hair and beauty salons such as Evolve Broadstairs (176 High Street), Toffs and Tarts (50 Albion Street), Cuts Inc (14 The Broadway) or Serene Hair and Beauty (88 High Street). Or if you’re after something more longlasting, head to Bodilight for skin peels and facial fillers (bodilightkent. co.uk).

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The Broadie blues

Writer Melissa Todd

Photographer Sam Grady

The Wrotham Arms may look like an average pub from the street, but this local is also an established part of the blues circuit, attracting musicians from all around the country and abroad. Melissa Todd meets the man behind its success

he blues is the unspoken story of the sixties. From its beginnings as almost an underground scene at London’s Ealing Club, through the success of the Rolling Stones and the Pretty Things, to Fleetwood Mac outselling both the Beatles and the Stones in 1969. Through the ensuing decades it’s never gone away, as Geoff Pine will tell you. Since retiring and pursuing his dream to live in Broadstairs, he’s spent eight years running the Blues and Roots Club at the Wrotham Arms on Ramsgate Road. Jackie Lawson, landlady at the Wrotham Arms and herself a huge music fan, called in Geoff ’s help when Katie Bradley pulled out of a gig at the last minute. Geoff made some calls and managed to persuade the hugely sought-after band Roadhouse to rejig their schedule and help out. At the time Tuesday was the only night not to enjoy regular live music in Broadstairs, so Jackie said she’d give his blues club dream a six-month trial. Geoff is primarily a rock blues man, but he calls this a “blues and roots” club to widen its appeal. On occasion he has booked acts he

doesn’t particularly like. He attends blues festivals all around the country to seek out new acts, and finds that often musicians tell him about undiscovered talent. Even better, they recommend to other musicians that they should play the Wrotham. Alongside arenas and venues ten times its size, it’s become an established part of the blues circuit. What’s the secret to Geoff ’s success? Simply, he says, booking class acts and looking after them well. Being well connected to other blues clubs in the area, he’s usually happy to help bands book tours, handy if they’re travelling huge distances. The pub is willing to offer accommodation, which makes it an extremely useful stopover point for acts on their way to Europe. Around half of the bands he books come from abroad. It’s popular with the punters too, because there’s no charge on the door, which is incredibly rare for music of this calibre. Geoff takes a collection for the band at the close. Blues-lovers travel from all across Kent and beyond, occasionally from Europe, to the little Broadstairs local, to experience some of the talent he attracts: people like Dave Kelly,

Harrison Loomis, Catfish and Jimmy Carpenter. The feedback he gets from the bands inspires him to continue: the acoustics are cracking, the technical support from Griff Rising exemplary, and the audience are great at listening in reverent silence, so the bands always feel appreciated. He also makes a point of booking undiscovered talent. Gradually he’s come to be trusted by musicians, promoters, venues and music-lovers, resulting in a small Broadstairs pub finding itself a respected part of the international blues circuit. I ask him if he’s ever been starstruck. “No, never! They’re just people, and people with a passion that I share and greatly respect. I’m incredibly privileged to spend so much time with such talented souls, but I’ve never yet felt shy of them!” On 14 April the eighth anniversary of the Blues and Roots club’s inception will be celebrated with a special appearance by The Achievers, the UK blues challenge winners. Check out wrothamarms. co.uk/blues-and-roots for forthcoming events

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CONTACT Tel: 07970 333 612 INFO@BROADSTAIRSBEACON.COM / Each answer starts with a diﬀerent letter of the alphabet, can you solve the Tel: 01843 447 798 07900 588 475 rhyming clues to ﬁll in the grid? We’ve given some letters to Start!

Email:you dcbdecor@hotmail.co.uk Instagram @therockindecorator

*As a bonus challenge the answers in red are Broadstairs I.D. institutions 861616 advertising in this very issue! Feel free to ﬂick back through the pages for inspiration/help…

C H

Broadstairs Beacon

Spring Crossword Each answer starts with a different letter of the alphabet, can you solve the rhyming clues to fill in the grid? We’ve given you some letters to Start!

I always said I couldn’t croon, now listen how I’ve changed my tune! (11)

Though you might need a needle in, I promise you won’t feel a thing! (4)

* As a bonus challenge the answers in red are Broadstairs institutions advertising in this very issue! Feel free to flick back through the pages for inspiration/help…

If one can’t go under or round, this way is a bit much, I’ve found? (3)

The scene where scenes are seen on screen - this cinema’s fit for a queen (6)

By getting back under the duvet, I found my health fully improvet-ed (9)

Although a fox is prone to running, the way it moves still shows some cunning (5)

To wrap up warm - if you’re prepared - these can prove more than just hot air (8)

A type of tree before it burns, (and after, could be stored in urns) (3)

B+C If learning opens up the mind, then here those steps are opened wide (11,7) D

S A

Puzzle compiled by local poet Harry Baker - feel free tweet him for clues or clariﬁcations @harrybakerpoet. Answers at:

When days are numbered as you think, you may as well go for a drink? (4)

In times gone by, through different stages, this is a term for the ages (6)

Whether of stairs or in the air, when taking this you must take care (6)

Let's give the local pool a whirl, could almost be Billy Joel’s girl? (5)

To finish university takes partying to new degrees (8)

It’s thrown up all kinds of problems (not to mention stomach contents) (7)

To see East London gentrified - we’ve heard the same too many times (9)

If you were ordering Chinese, don’t get confused by using these (8)

If they don’t look before they leap, this could be all that’s left of sheep (6)

Before you put it in your tummy, it’s the opposite of yummy! (4)

When either leg has need to bend, it’s a joint effort in the end(s) (8)

Two wrongs don’t make a right, they say, but three rights could send you this way (4)

Puzzle compiled by local poet Harry Baker - feel free tweet him for clues or clarifications @harrybakerpoet Answers at: broadstairsbeacon.com