Pizza Special, Brewery Tour & CatVideoFest
New Spring menus are popping up everywhere as well.
What a weekend! The sun was out, Broadstairs was buzzing and those blue skies have been getting me excited for what’s to come.
Especially with all of the news dropping at the moment. Who else saw that Viking Bay might be getting its first beach sauna? Find out more and see what’s being proposed below (we have our fingers firmly crossed).
As we head into our busiest season, this week you’ll see brewery tours, wine tastings, music, plenty of creative writing classes, plus family fun, wellness classes to give you a much needed boost, and new menus popping up all over the place. Scroll through and see if anything’s up your street.
Don’t miss out - Kim xx
🌹 A Garden Facing the Waves Exhibition
Open daily until 31 May / The Royal Albion Hotel
Beautiful artworks celebrating gardens in bloom have been on display at the Albion over the last few weeks, but you’ve now only got one more month left to see them. The exhibition’s ending at the end of May – go check them out while you can.
🎟️ Free / More info
📝 Get the Word Out Creative Writing Gathering
Mon 27 Apr, 7pm / The Old Curiosity Shop
A monthly writing and creative gathering, for poets, songwriters, storytellers and scribes of all stages and styles. Create new work, meet new folks. Drinks and cakes will be available to purchase too. Head along tonight if you fancy it.
🎟️ £5, includes one free hot drink / More info
🤸♀️ Kent Pole Championships
Sat 2 May, 1pm / Sarah Thorne Theatre
Don’t worry, no pole dancing is required! But if you want to come and see the Kent Pole Championships in action and support local athletes and performers, then head to Sarah Thorne this weekend. From beginners to semi-pro, you can take a close up look.
🎟️ £30 + BF / Book here
🐱 CatVideoFest
Sun 3 May, 4.30pm - 5.45pm / Palace Cinema
Cat lovers rejoice. The world’s favourite cat-themed film show CatVideoFest will be leaping through the Palace cat flap this Sunday as part of this year’s Festival of Cats. You might even see your own cat on the big screen if you submit a photo in the next few days. No cats invited in the cinema though I’m afraid.
🎟️ From £4 / Book here
🌸 New Spring Drinks Menu
Daily, all Spring long / Salt
Salt’s new Spring drink specials have arrived, and they’re giving vibes of sunshine, longer days and cute coffee shop dates with friends. On the menu: Iced Long Black with Vanilla Cold Foam; Shaken Brown Sugar Iced Latte; Iced White Chocolate Matcha; Chocolate and Espresso Shake; and Peachy Iced Tea. What to go for first?
More info
🍕 Pizza Special: Neptune Scorcher
Pizzas on Tue - Fri, 4pm - 9pm, Sat 12pm - 9pm + Sun 12pm - 6pm / Neptunes Hall
The Neptune has introduced a special pizza to help ScorchaSkateSchool with their crowdfunder. Topped with mozzarella, ’nduja, jalapeños, red peppers + fresh basil, you’ll want to give it a try. Veggie? Just lose the ’nduja. I asked if it was only on the menu this week, but they said they’ll carry on making them long after the crowdfunder ends. Winner! Remember they have 2-4-1 pizzas on Wed too.
🎟️ £14.50 per pizza, £2.50 from each one goes to the Scorcha van fund / More info
🍋 Al Fresco Dining Re-Opens
The Little Sicilian
It’s that time of year – The Little Sicilian’s al fresco dining space officially opened just a few days ago. Reserve your table and enjoy great food and fresh air outside in the heart of Broadstairs… plus dogs are welcome!
Book here
🍴 Fifteen Square Metres Back Open + New Menu
Back open from Wed 29 Apr / Fifteen Square Metres
Fifteen Square Metres have been on a short break, but the good news is they’re opening back up from this Wed – complete with a brand new menu to enjoy. Dishes include za’atar spiced scallops and chicken liver parfait with celery salsa. Get booking.
Book here
🍺 Gadds’ Spring Brewery Tour
Fri 1 May, 3.30pm - 5.30pm / Ramsgate Brewery
I know, I know… it’s called Ramsgate Brewery, but it’s in a CT10 postcode, and we know all of you Broadstairs lot will be wanting to pop down to this. Their brewer Chris will be hosting this next tour, talking all things beer. Learn how Gadds’ ales are made, taste malts, sniff hops and sample a range of their beers.
🎟️ £20 / Book here
📚 Thanet Book Club
Mon 27 Apr, 7.30pm / Sonder
They’re back! After a mini hiatus, Thanet Book Club has found a new home, now taking place on the last Monday of every month at Sonder, and tonight’s is the first one. April’s book is The Lamb by Lucy Rose. Pop along if you’ve read it, or, if you haven’t, go and see what it’s all about in case you want to get involved next time.
🎟️ Free / More info
🪕 Folk Jam
Every Wed from 8pm / Tartar Frigate
If you’re looking for live music on a Wed night, head to the weekly Folk Jam session at the Frigate. Enjoy a cosy evening of traditional tunes and good vibes.
🎟️ Free
🍷 English Wine Tasting from Simpsons
Thu 30 Apr, 6.30pm - 8.30pm / The Bottleneck
After a great start to the year with their last tasting two weeks ago, The Bottleneck team are keeping the momentum going, this time with Kent countryside-based Simpsons Wine Estate. Enjoy a delicious charcuterie and cheese sharing board alongside the wines. But be quick, space is limited!
🎟️ £40pp / Book here
🎶 Thomas Abrahams
Fri 1 May, 9pm - 11pm / Harpers
Great cocktail bar just up the hill from the beach, along with the wonderful sounds of Thomas Abrahams playing to you on a Friday night out? It’s a yes from me.
🎟️ Free
🎸 Bands on the Sands
Sat 2 May + Sun 3 May, from 3pm / The Pavilion
You can’t beat an outside gig when the sun’s finally out, and this weekend we’re being treated to a few. On Sat there’s a double whammy – Nonny & Wompa at 3pm, followed by Jed at 5pm. Then on Sunday afternoon Paul May hits the mic.
🎟️ Free / More info
🦁Family Cafe: Dear Zoo
Mon 27 Apr, 3.30pm - 5.30pm / Queens Road Baptist Church
This one’s a cute one. Join the Gap Project for a Dear Zoo-themed Family Cafe. They hold a monthly themed event, with a different topic each time, including crafts, fun activities, bible stories and games for children and adults to enjoy together. Finish with a free teatime meal for the whole family, so everyone can sit, eat, and chat.
🎟️ Free, tea time meal provided / More info
🧑🍳 Curious Cooks Club
Thu 30 Apr, 11.30am - 1pm / The Old Curiosity Shop
Got some food-loving children? Bring them down to this weekly cooking club, where they’ll get to enjoy some foodie fun and make some yummy snacks together. Suitable for all ages, and you can just drop-in.
🎟️ Free
📖 Free Storytime Session
Every Fri, 9.30am - 10am / Happy Reading Children’s Bookshop
Pop in to see Nicci at Happy Reading above Staple in Reading Street, where she holds cosy and welcoming storytime sessions every Fri morning. Different stories are read each week, plus you can enjoy the goods from the bakery while you visit. Win, win.
🎟️ Free / More info
📜 Free Storytime Session
Every Fri, 1pm / Kinder Collective
Kinder Collective’s Storytime sessions are also back! Now taking place in their brand new Book Room in their brand new sunshine store on York Street. They’ve moved their story sessions to Fridays at 1pm going forwards. All ages and caring setups welcome, and Forts is close by for your coffee and pastry fix.
🎟️ Free, drop-in
🏖️ Kids’ Corner Open
Sat 2 + Sun 3 May, 11am - 5pm / Joss Bay
Hoping for a beach day but need some entertainment? Joss Bay’s kids’ corner will be open this Sat + Sun, and for £8.50 your children can use the play area as much as they want all day. They can slide, go on the bouncy castle + the trampolines while you relax.
🎟️ £8.50 for a wristband all day / More info
💆 New: Himalayan Singing Bowl Sound Therapy
From Wed 29 Apr / Tide Therapies
Exciting news, Eleanor from Floating Frequencies is joining the Tide Therapies team from this week! And we can’t wait for what she’s offering – Himalayan Singing Bowl Sound Therapy. Wondering what that is? During a 1:1 session the bowls are played around the body, with tones and vibrations working with the nervous system to encourage a state of deep rest and internal harmony. Particularly beneficial for stress, anxiety, poor sleep, and emotional processing, it sounds divine. Find out more below.
🎟️ £75 per session / More info
🫶 Free Menopause Clinic
Mon 27 Apr, Various times / Broadstairs Library
Needing some advice? Make the most of these free one-to-one 45-minute sessions, which provide personalised professional help covering lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, exercise, and overall wellbeing. Women will receive a detailed report and actionable insights too. To book, pop into the library, call 03000 413131 or email Sara on aspirehealthandfitnessuk@gmail.com.
🎟️ Free, but booking essential / More info
🌎 Around the World in 12 Months Creative Writing Workshop
Tue 28 Apr, 1pm - 2.30pm / Bleak House
Join this monthly writing workshop, which is inspired by a different part of the world each time. Covering a range of reading, discussion and writing exercises, you’ll look at poetry, prose, song lyrics and non-fiction. So far they’ve 'travelled' to Jamaica, Cuba and the USA. Held on the last Tue of each month, find out where they’re going to next.
🎟️ £10-£12 / Book here
🧘♀️ Yoga
Every Sat, 9.45am + every Sun, 4pm / Sea, Spirit & Stones
Join Sari every weekend for restorative yoga sessions paired with soothing sound baths. The 60-minute experience begins with gentle stretching and mindful flow, transitioning into restorative poses, so you can move at your own pace. Ending with a relaxing sound bath, soothing shoulder presses + the calming aroma of essential oils.
More info
💫 Guided Meditation Class
Wed 29 Apr, 7.30pm / The White Room Meditation
Wanting to give meditation a go? Join Michelle for this hour-long deep guided meditation, perfect for all. You can also add a full oracle reading for just £20 if you wanted to as extra on top of the session.
🎟️ £11 / Book here
Finally, 5 Things To Know…
As mentioned above, there’s potentially huge news for Broadstairs (and for sauna fans like myself): We might be getting a SeaScrubSauna! The owners of The Funicular Hub have just announced that planning permission’s been put in to build a purpose-built sauna and cold plunge, with elevated Viking Bay sea views. SeaScrub already has sites in Margate, Whitstable, Folkestone and Macknade, so we have everything crossed this will get approved. See the concept and follow along for updates here.
One of my absolute favourite days of the year in Broadstairs last year was the Summer Solstice, so I was excited to see that NāMAKA are gathering the troops once again. It’s not a formal event, more of an open invite to come down to the beach and celebrate summer with like-minded souls. Set your alarms, I’ll see you on Stone Bay from 4.30am on Sun 21 June for a sunrise dip and chill. NāMAKA will be open 5am - 6:30am for drinks as a special treat.
Keen to get a new tattoo this Summer? Martha Smith Tattoo has announced that she’s opening up her books again this Sun 3 May at 7pm. It’s first come first served on these flash designs she’s just dropped, but she has space for customs too. This will be popular, so get those slots booked.
New Qigong classes are coming to Broadstairs from next week. Gentle exercises that use slow movements, deep breathing, and mental focus to boost energy and reduce stress, teacher Dave Willis will be holding them Thu 2-3pm at St Peter’s Community Hall from 7 May.
Have you seen that Staple in Ramsgate is now opening in the evenings? Starting from this Fri 1 May, then going forwards it will be open every Thu-Sat evening with beautiful wines and delicious snacks. Head on over.
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And if you missed it…last week’s newsletter still has lots of things happening that you need to know about.