It’s all go in Broadstairs at the moment. This weekend saw Jazz Fest taking over the town, plus the farmers’ market debuted in its new Pierremont Hall location, and I was particularly excited to see The Base Pizzeria opening its doors.
You can now get a slice of NYC right on your doorstep. As you can imagine, they’ve been quite the hit, with queues out the door and sell out nights since opening on Thursday. Give it a try this week if you haven’t already. (More on all of that below!)
It’s not long now until Half Term and Halloween, so expect the events to ramp up even more. This week it’s all about getting out and about, from murder mystery dinners to comedy nights, daytime discos and wine tastings, we’ve got it all.
Don’t miss out - Kim xx
Ramsgate Autumn Festival: Follow The Raven
This incredible 10-day festival starts on Oct 23, celebrating the many feathers in Ramsgate’s cap - which include notable literary titans, gothic architecture, a colourful heritage and boundless creativity. Ramsgate Town Council has united local businesses, artists, organisations and community groups to create a programme of 80 events; some are specially commissioned. Watch Gerald Dickens perform his great- great-grandfather’s ghost story, enjoy a wonderful variety of music by singers and musicians, hear about a local haunting, discover Ramsgate’s smuggling past or visit Mary Shelley’s old school. You and your littles can help create Princess Ra - the community Raven being brought to life - before it soars alongside your (workshop-made) lanterns in the closing procession.
Crammed full of magic, most events are free though some are bookable. It all kicks off on Fri 23 with an autumn celebration on Charlotte St and across the town centre; live folk music, seasonal food, traditional skills, wreath-making. Fri 23 Oct to Sun 1 Nov.
📽 Film: Sense and Sensibility
Fri 16, Sat 17 & Sun 18 Oct, 4pm or 7.30pm / Palace Cinema
This week’s cinema offering includes a raw new take on Jane Austen’s classic romance, starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles as two sisters facing financial ruin. They’re also hosting a dementia-friendly screening of Witness For the Prosecution as part of their Billy Wilder season this Thurs too.
🎟️ From £5 / Book here
🎨 East Kent Artists’ Open Houses
Sat 17 & Sun 18 Oct, 11am - 5pm / Various addresses
A chance to step inside the home studios of Broadstairs artists. Scope out incredible local art, from Christine Jeffryes’ fused glass to Ami Blastocks’s jewellery and Josephine Harvatt’s vibrant landscapes. It’s the ultimate autumn weekend art-crawl to meet the local makers. There’s two weekends left, so check them out either this weekend or next. Also taking place in the likes of Ramsgate, Deal and Canterbury.
🎟️ Free / More info
🪶 Poetry Club
Sun 18 Oct, 6.30pm / Kent Talents Arts Centre
Kent Talents Poetry Club returns this month! Join for a cosy autumn evening of poetry, conversation and creativity, whether you want to take to the mic or just soak it all up. Drinks and refreshments will be provided.
🎟️ £10, book online or at the door / Book here
🍕 NEW IN TOWN: The Base Pizzeria
The Base, 28 High Street
As mentioned above, I’ve been eagerly waiting for The Base to open over the last few months, and this week they finally opened their doors! Head to the bottom of the High Street for delicious NYC-style pizza, either by the 10” slice, or a whopping 20” whole pizza pie. With cute decor and pizzas on the menu like Two Hot Italians and the Bonsai Garden, you’ll definitely want to check them out.
Give them a follow
🍇 Clos de Lôm Valencia Wine Masterclass
Wed 14 Oct, 6.30pm - 8.30pm / The Bottleneck
The team from Clos de Lôm, who are based in Valencia, Spain, will be heading to Broadstairs for a very special evening, and bringing their entire portfolio with them! They’ll guide you through the wines, sharing the stories behind the vineyards and the family behind the estate. With sharing-style charcuterie and cheese boards to enjoy.
🎟️ £55 / Book here
🧀 Wine and Cheese Night
Thu 15 Oct, from 6pm / The Lanthorne
Head to the Lanthorne for their first wine and cheese night this Wed. Tickets include a bottle of wine & a cheese board. Table bookings are recommended, but not required.
🎟️ £29.95 for 1 bottle of wine & cheeseboard / More info
🌮 2-4-1 Taco Tuesdays
Tue 13 Oct / Legends Live Lounge
Have you tried Mexi-GO at Legends Live Lounge yet? They recently became permanent fixtures at the venue, and now they’ve started introducing special offers. Head there any Tuesday for 2-4-1 tacos, or for their Tequila Thursdays with plenty of shots and cocktail deals later in the week. I’m in for the tacos.
More info
🍸 Slice & Sip Deal
Thu to Sun, 12pm - 4pm / Reign Bar
Another meal and drinks deal to get you off the couch and out and about in this colder weather. Enjoy pizza and cocktails at Reign, any Thu - Sun afternoon, for a minimum of 4 people.
🎟️ £44.95pp / DM to book a table
💐 New Management & Menu: Flowers & Felicity’s
Flowers & Felicity’s
Flowers & Felicity’s is under new management. But don’t worry, it’s being run by a very familiar face as Iris, who has worked at the cafe since it opened, has taken on the day-to-day running of it. You can expect all the things you love about Flowers and Felicity’s, alongside lots of new things - from freshly made focaccia sandwiches, to matcha, coffee, pastries and all-new pizza evenings. Congrats on this new chapter!
Give them a follow
😂 Comedy Night
Wed 14 Oct, from 7pm / Queens Road Baptist Church
Looking for a midweek pick-me-up? Head out for a fun-filled Wed evening of laughter at this one-off comedy night, raising funds for the Gap Project. Acts include Adam Morrison Jones, Rev Ravi Holy and Sally Prior.
🎟️ £14pp / Book here
💡 Quizzie Night with Mr Ted’s
Thu 15 Oct / Neptune’s Hall
It’s that time of the month again - Mr Ted’s will be bringing his raucous pub quiz to Broadstairs at Neptune’s Hall this week, turning the pub into chaos with fun-filled entertainment. If you’re heading to any pub quizzes, this is the one.
More info
🪩 Ultimate Daytime Disco
Sat 17 Oct, 3pm - 8pm / Pavilion
Love a party, but not a late night? This one’s for you. DJ Frank & Escape will bring the soundtrack, with five hours of dance floor favourites and party classics, just during the daytime for an early finish.
🎟️ £10 + BF / Book here
🔪 Murder a’ la Mode
Sat 17 Oct, 6.30pm / The Yarrow Hotel
An evening with a difference. Head to The Yarrow Hotel for a murder mystery dinner that promises “Devil Wears Prada meets Emily in Paris, so dress to kill.” The three-course dinner looks to die for as well. Check out the menu here.
🎟️ £60 / Call 01843 460100 or email to book here
🪄 Table Magic Afternoon
Sun 18 Oct, 1pm - 4pm / Forno Lounge
If you’re heading to Forno Lounge this Sun afternoon for food or drinks, then you’ll also be entertained by magician Alisdario. He’ll be working his way around the tables for the first of Forno’s table magic sessions.
🎟️ Free / More info
🦀 Free Storytime Session
Every Tue, 10am / Kinder Collective
Every Tue morning you can enjoy a free storytime session in Kinder Collective’s back book room. Pick up some goods while you’re there, and they’ve also got a craft table to keep your little ones entertained while you browse. Win, win.
🎟️ Free, drop-in
📚 Free Family Fun Day: Stories + Crafts
Sat 17 Oct, 10.30am - 12.30pm, with some activities available all day / Broadstairs Library
Looking for something fun to do with the family? Head to Broadstairs Library for a morning full of stories, crafts and adventures this Sat. From making your own bat friend inspired by Pierremont Park, to enjoying a special Storytime with ‘Queen Victoria’, you can also meet young local author Sofia Haq, as well as enjoying mindful colouring, a family Scavenger Hunt and more.
🎟️ Free / More info
🎃 Halloween Colouring Competition
Until Sat 31 Oct / Royal Albion Hotel
The Royal Albion Hotel’s Halloween Colouring Competition is back. Your child (aged 12 and under) can choose from three spooky pictures and get colouring. They‘ll get a treat at the bar once it’s handed in, and three winners will also be chosen on 31 Oct.
🎟️ Free
🌲 Sunday Book Club: ‘The Rambler’s Curse’ (For ages 8 - 11)
Sun 18 Oct, 8.30am - 9am / Happy Reading Children’s Bookshop
Join Nicci to venture deep into the enchanted Wandthorn Woods with The Rambler's Curse – the first in a brand-new trilogy from Mikey Please! Read along together from this beautifully illustrated new adventure before enjoying a creative book-based activity. Fans of The Café at the Edge of the Woods will recognise some familiar faces.
🎟️ £5 / Book here
☪︎ The Muse Facial & Astro
Mon 12 Oct, various times from 2.15pm - 4.15pm / Sea, Spirit & Stones
Make the most of the introductory price and visit Ruth of Astro Déjavu later this afternoon. These are her last sessions in Oct, but there’s a couple more Monday dates in Nov too. Expect a Radiant Reset Facial, alongside a 15-minute astrology reading at the start of your treatment. Find out more here.
🎟️ £80 / Book here
👟 Saturday Run Club
Sat 17 Oct, 9am / The White Swan, Reading Street
Run a 5k from The White Swan, Reading Street and head to the pub for free coffee afterwards. It’s always great to know what regular clubs there are, and this one runs every Sat, so you know you always have a group to get active with.
More info
🏰 Cliffs, Caves + Castles Walk & Talk
Sat 17 Oct, 9.30am - 11.30am / Botany Bay
Join this walk & talk with Tony Child of the Thanet Coast Project, hosted by Margate Pride, that will take you around the stunning Kingsgate coastline. You’ll walk along the clifftop of Botany Bay to Kingsgate Bay, and back along the beach, taking in castle, cliffs and caves. Meet: On the clifftop grassland opposite the Botany Bay Hotel.
🎟️ Pay what you can / Book tickets
Finally, 3 Things To Know…
Want to take part in the Broadstairs Trick or Treat Trail on Fri 30 Oct? This year you can only buy wristbands from Kinder Collective, and they’re selling fast! Pick them up while you still can for £2.50 each, then get your little ones dressed up and visit shop to shop. More info here.
Broadstairs & St. Peter’s Town Council are looking for volunteers to plant bulbs and trees for Big Planting Week (21 Nov - 29 Nov). All volunteers can take home a selection of bulbs for their planting efforts. It’s first come first served, so register your interest with your preferred time and date to admin@broadstairs.gov.uk.
We had a lot of winning Broadstairs businesses this week! Congrats to Little Wave Deli, who won silver at the Taste of Kent Awards. And over at the Kent Life Food & Drink Awards, Giant Coffee scooped Cafe of the Year, Kebbells was awarded Best Seafood Restaurant, Aster picked up Best Use Of Local Produce, Newcomer Of The Year and Chef Of The Year, plus The Magnet claimed best venue for dogs, and was highly commended in pub of the year. Huge congrats to all! And how lucky are we?
📌 The Noticeboard: Find out about regular events and services!
Looking for regular events? Want to know about services? The Noticeboard features regular community events and promotes everything from dog walkers to music lessons across Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs. Discover what’s happening in the area and support your local community.
Got something to promote yourself? Submit a listing for just £10 a month.
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.
Jazz Fest, New Farmers’ Market Location & A Beer Festival
It’s been a sunny, food-filled weekend and I’m writing this from a happy food coma thanks to Broadstairs Food Festival. I managed to pop in on two of the three days and sample just some of the many, many delicious dishes on offer and soak up the happy vibes around town. I already can’t wait for the next edition over Easter!