Beach Cinema Screenings, Broadstairs Water Gala + Fireworks, Plus Free Theatre Shows
What. A. Week.
I often say how jampacked the newsletter is, but this week it really is incredibly jampacked.
I’m praying the fireworks go ahead this week after last week’s last minute cancellation. There’s also the Broadstairs Water Gala, several free theatre shows, storytime and author talks, wine tastings, sip and paint nights and plenty of live music.
But what I’m most excited for is the beach cinema screenings at Dumpton Gap this Friday. For more on all of that, read on below.
There seems to be a lot of movement around town at the moment. This week we’re sadly saying goodbye to one of my favourite shops, but welcoming a new foodie outlet.
I’ll be updating you on this and more every single week. Thanks for following along. Don’t miss out - Kim xx
🌊 Broadstairs Water Gala
Wed 29 Jul, All Day / Viking Bay, The Bandstand + Victoria Gardens
Mark your calendars, this Wed is the annual Water Gala day! A free, fun-filled family day at the seaside. There’s a big timetable of events, from a Teddy Bears Picnic, to sandcastle competitions, Paddleboard lessons with Kent Surf School, Princess Meet and Greets, and Punch & Judy making its return to Viking Bay. The Summer Fair will also be on Victoria Gardens with stalls and funfair rides, and it all ends with live music at the bandstand and the fireworks display that night. See more below and check out the timetable.
🍿 Beach Cinema Screenings
Fri 31 Jul, 4pm + 8pm / Dumpton Gap Beach
Looking forward to this one! The Ramsgate Community Cinema team are partnering once again with Bayside Cafe at Dumpton Gap to bring you Summer Beach Screenings outside on the sand. Head there on Fri to watch Finding Nemo on the big screen at 4pm, followed by documentary The Deepest Breath (12A) at 8pm. Watch one or both. Bring a towel/blanket or deckchair, bring your own picnic, or Bayside will be serving up their food until 7pm and drinks until 8.
🎟️ £5 suggested donation to help cover the cost / Sign up here
🖼️ Time Bends A Life Exhibition
Until Sun 16 Aug (Weekends Only) / Bleak House
Bleak House currently has an exhibition of new painting and photography works on by artists Sean Parfitt and Angie Hicks. Time Bends A Life opened a couple of weeks ago and will be running until 16 August on weekends only, so catch it while you can.
🎟️ Free
🎭 Free Summer Theatre: Victor & Albert
Thu 30 Jul, 7pm / Pierremont Hall
This week Pierremont Hall’s series of FREE theatre shows kicks off. For the adults, join identical twins Professor Victor and Dr Albert for a riotous, high-energy variety show. All performances are free and take place outside with limited seating (bring a blanket to sit on the grass if you don’t manage to grab one). There is a card-only bar, and you’re welcome to bring your own picnic.
🎟️ Free / More info
🌛 A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Fri 31 Jul, 6.30pm - 8.30pm / The Bandstand
Some more free theatre, because we’re being spoilt this week. East London Shakespeare Festival is bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Broadstairs Bandstand. Bursting with mischief and chaos, this joyful, family-friendly outdoor production re-imagines Shakespeare’s well-known comedy. Just rock up.
🎟️ Free / More info
❤️🔥 Punk Rock Pride - Alt Clothes Swap
Sat 1 Aug, 11am - 3pm / Sarah Thorne Theatre
Make awesome outfits for Margate Pride and other alternative events at this clothes swap. It's completely free. Just bring any goth, punk or emo clothes that need a new owner, or come for a rummage for something new. Then head to the customisation workshop to add studs, slogans + safety pins for that personal punk touch.
🎟️ Free / More info
📚 Author Event: Liz Bentley - Confessions of a Wounded Healer
Sat 1 Aug, 7pm - 8.30pm / The Best of Times Bookshop
It’s The Best of Times Bookshop’s first author event since opening! Therapist by day, comedian by night, Liz Bentley will be sharing stories from her new memoir of becoming a psychotherapist and confronting trauma. Book via the link below.
🎟️ £10.46 / Book here
🥢 Japanese Small Plates & Ramen Menu
Wed 29 Jul - Sun 2 Aug, 12pm - 8pm / Aster
Have you managed to try out vegan wild food restaurant Aster on Oscar Road yet? For just a few days, from Wed until Sun this week, they’re serving up a Japanese-inspired small plates and ramen menu alongside some pud, and it looks very good!
🎟️ £48pp / Book a table
🍷 Portuguese Wine Masterclass
Wed 29 Jul, 6pm - 8.30pm / The Bottleneck
An evening exploring the wines of Esporão, one of Portugal’s most celebrated and historic producers. Alongside the wines, your ticket will include sharing platters of artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and sourdough, complemented by Esporão’s premium extra virgin olive oils from their own olive mill.
🎟️ £55 / Book here
🦐 New Opening: The Crab Shack at The Jetty
Opening on Sat 1 Aug / Jetty Bistro
Another exciting new opening for the foodies this week – The Jetty is opening a new take out kiosk called The Crab Shack. It will have the same delicious flavours as The Jetty, but made for eating on the go. Think Jetty-style po’boys, soft shell crab burgers, seafood brioche buns, French fries with seaweed salt, and much, much more.
Follow their new page here
🏝️ Love Island Finale Watch Party
Mon 27 Jul, 7pm - Late / Cramptons
If you’re not a Love Island fan, scroll on. But if you are, did you know Yasmin from the current season is from Broadstairs? Cramptons will be holding a watch party during tonight’s final to mark it, so if you want to know who’s going to win, you know where to head.
🎸 Bands on the Sands: City Suits
Wed 29 Jul, from 7.30pm / Pavilion
It’s all about fireworks night this week, especially as last week’s event got cancelled, and there’s plenty of live music on to celebrate. The Pavilion will have City Suits playing in their beer garden ahead of the display and it’s bound to be popular.
🎇 Fireworks Night
Wed 29 Jul, 9.45pm / Viking Bay
Let’s all do a dance to stop the wind from ruining our fun again this week! The perfect end to the Water Gala, the Bandstand music this week will be Ozzie and the Uglies from 8pm, and the fireworks are set to go off at 9.45pm. See you there! 🤞
🎟️ Free
🪄 Magic Show
Fri 31 Jul, 7pm / Riparo Lounge
Riparo Lounge is a great venue if you’re ever looking for evenings with a difference. This week the Westwood Cross bar is holding an evening of table magic, with magician Alisdair making his way around the lounge.
🎟️ Free
🌅 ‘Ibiza…But Make It Pub’ Balearic-Style Bottomless Brunch
Sat 1 Aug, 12pm - 2pm / Cramptons
Ibiza energy but in Broadstairs, with Spanish-inspired food, cocktails and DJ sets complete with Ibiza Anthems. Dress code: ‘Day Club’ (think white outfits, floaty dresses, linen shirts and sunglasses… or whatever you can muster up).
🎟️ From £22 / Book here
🎶 Prince Albert ‘Shed Fest’
Sat 1 Aug, 3pm - 1am / The Prince Albert
Head to ‘Shed Fest’, an all day fundraiser to support members of Broadstairs Town Shed. There will be live music with Ritchie Triangle from 3pm - 5pm, a DJ party with DJ LB1 until 1am, plus activities for all ages like bobbing apples, drawing competitions, face painting and a raffle.
🎟️ £2 entry, all proceeds go to Broadstairs Town Shed / More info
🛹 Skate and Scoot Camps
From Mon 27 Jul / Revolution Skatepark
Revolution’s popular Skate & Scoot Camps are starting up this week. For three weeks over the holidays you can send your children in for a single day or full week to enjoy skating, scooting and climbing. Taking place this week, as well as w/c 10 Aug and w/c 24 Aug. Go for a full week or a single day, from 11am - 3pm or 10am - 4pm.
🎟️ From £30 / More info
🪸 Summer Seashore Safaris
Mon 27 Jul, 4.30pm - 6.30pm on Joss Bay / Wed 29 Jul, 6pm - 8pm on Stone Bay
There’s lots of seashore safaris taking place throughout the holidays. This week there’s one on Joss Bay tonight, and one on Stone Bay as part of the Water Gala on Wed. Explore Thanet’s chalky shore and fascinating rockpool wildlife. For 4-11 years.
🎟️ £2.50 suggested donation / Book here
🦀 Free Summer Theatre: Caspian’s Storm
Tue 28 Jul, 1pm + 3pm / Pierremont Hall
Kickstarting their free summer theatre for children this week with Caspian’s Storm. Packed with puppetry and music, it’s a fastpaced, interactive show following a crab that will have both kids and adults laughing. There’s also ‘Trash to Treasure’ activities to create your own sea creature from recycling from 11am - 1pm beforehand.
🎟️ Free / More info
📖 Storytime Session: Beast Meets Stick Plus Craft Corner Activities (2-6 years)
Wed 29 Jul, 10am - 11am / Kinder Collective
Kinder Collective has so many lovely summer events planned. Check them all out here. On Wed this week they’re holding an interactive storytime session with author Emily Ann Davison to celebrate the launch of her new book, Beast Meets Stick. Children can also create and design their own beast character as a part of it.
🎟️ Free but you can sign up here
🏆 Thanet Games 2026
Wed 29 Jul, 10am - 3pm / Memorial Recreation Ground
Join Terri the Tiger at Memorial Rec for all sorts of free activities, including sports, mindfulness, taster sessions and more.
🎟️ Free / More info
🐍 Creepy Claws – Weird & Wonderful Animal Event + Free Children’s Breakfast
Thu 30 Jul, 9am - 11am / Queens Road Baptist Church
The Gap Project is hosting a hands-on animal experience where children can meet a range of creepy, curious, and wonderful creatures and learn fascinating facts up close.
Families can book into one of four 25-minute interactive sessions. Plus children can enjoy a free breakfast of fruit, cereal, and toast. Book up asap as space is limited.
🎟️ Free / Book here
🎪 Punch & Judy Shows
Wed 29 Jul, Sat 1 Aug + Sun 2 Aug, 11am, 12pm + 1pm / Viking Bay, bottom of the steps
Punch & Judy is making its return to Viking Bay beach. There will be just 12 select dates throughout the summer, three of which are this week. You’ll see it on the sand by the bottom of the main stairs.
🎟️ Free / More info
🎥 Films: Toy Story 5 (PG) and Minions & Monsters (U)
Various / The Palace Cinema
There’s a couple of child-friendly films on at The Palace this week if you fancy a cinema trip and a break from the beach. Toy Story 5 is coming to the end of its run, with its last showing on Tue at 4pm. Then Minions & Monsters will be playing this Fri, Sat and Sun afternoons.
🎟️ From £5 / Book here
📚 Sunday Book Club: ‘Beast Mode’ by J.J. Arcanjo (For ages 10-12)
Sun 2 Aug, 8.30am / Happy Reading Children’s Bookshop
There’s so many great book and author events taking place this summer at Happy Reading Children’s Bookshop, but they’re usually sold out by the time we get to them! Make sure you check them all out here so you can book up in advance. This Sunday’s author event is sold out, but they still have some limited spots at this week’s Sunday Book Club: ‘Beast Mode’ by J.J. Arcanjo (For ages 10-12).
🎟️ From £5 / More info/ book here
Honestly, there’s so much going on, I may have forgotten something! Check out my family guide for the first two weeks of the holidays here and keep an eye out for new ones on our Instagram page:
🖌 Sip + Paint Pottery Painting
Tue 28 Jul, 6pm - 8.30pm / Riparo Lounge
An evening of Sip & Paint pottery painting with The Pottery Room. Pay for the pottery you paint over the evening and leave it with them to fire and glaze, ready for collection back at the bar.
🎟️ £7 + BF / Book here
✨ Teen Reformer Pilates
Every Thu, 9am - 10am / REWD Padel
If you’re a teen, or you’ve got a teen, that might like to try out Reformer Pilates in a dedicated class, then REWD Padel are offering teen sessions for 13-17 year olds every Thu morning throughout the summer.
Book here
⭕ Family Beach Circle
Thu 30 Jul, 5.30pm - 8pm / Stone Bay, By Namaka
Head to Stone Bay with the lovely Evie from Sea, Spirit & Stones for a Family Beach Circle to set intentions and happy thoughts through meditation, movement, sharing and sound. Leave feeling lighter, empowered and more connected. Bring snacks, blankets and any beach stuff for an optional 30 minute mingle, swim & chat afterwards. Games such as tug of war and rounders will also be available.
🎟️ Adults £20 + Kids £5 / Book here
Finally, 3 Things To Know…
Sad news this week: You only have five days left to shop at Plantlet as it’s closing this Friday. Make sure you pop in, grab a final bargain in Izzi’s 25% off closing down sale and say your goodbyes while you can. We’ll be very sad to see it go.
Gal + Gather, the Kent community for likeminded women, is hosting a Margate Pride Hike from Namaka in Broadstairs on 8 August. They will be meeting on Stone Bay at 10am for açai and coffee, before walking to Margate for the start of the Pride Parade. Find out more here. Girl Hike will also be hiking in the Margate Pride March too if you want to join them! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Broadstairs DJ Joe Corbani has announced he’s running two days of free DJ lessons for kids on Wed 19 and 26 Aug. If your child has ever wanted to have a go at DJing (or just loves music), this is a fun, relaxed introduction where they'll get hands-on with real DJ equipment and learn the basics of mixing. Sounds great. Find out more here.
📌 The Noticeboard is here — for all of Thanet
Got a job to fill, a space to hire, a class to shout about or something to sell? The Don’t Miss Noticeboard is our new community listings board.
One place for jobs, volunteering, community notices, wanted & for sale, spaces, learning and local services across Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs.
Listings start from £25 a month and go out to thousands of engaged local readers. Pop yours on here.
Browse what’s on the board:
Thanks for reading! If you found this useful, please share it so we can continue to grow in Broadstairs and beyond!
And if you missed it… last week’s newsletter still has lots of things happening that you might want to know about.
This Week: First Of The Summer Fireworks, A Beer Festival & Women's Beach Circle
I’d like to start the newsletter this week by saying a huge thank you to everyone who came to our launch party at Finxs last week. What a brilliant evening!