Why Margate SHOULD Be Successful.

 

Margate is a seaside town in Thanet, South-East England. It was once a well-known holidaymaker hotspot, where families would flock to indulge in the seaside culture of fish and chips, candyfloss, icecream, rock and sand.  Mods and Rockers swarmed into the town in the 1960s, causing trouble on holiday weekends. The theme park, Dreamland, was a huge attraction for all ages, and arcades were full of children and teenages, begging their parents for more coppers. Unfortunately this is, for the most part, now just an image of Margate, whilst the high-street stands as a ghost town. The episode A Jolly Outing, in Only Fools and Horses, summed up what Margate was – A Jolly Outing – and it still could be! 

Margate Harbour Arm - with some fantastic bars, cafes and gallery spaces.

THE OLD TOWN AND HOW WE ARE AN ART TOWN

Artwork in the train station - a lovely surprise when I came home!

In more recent years, Margate has found itself struggling to keep tourists attracted, and in the winter season, it collapses altogether. However, there is still success in the area, and it is they who we shall learn from. The Old Town is a shining example of what Margate should be heading for. People look for charm and character, something original, and that is exactly what this quarter delivers. Its vintage style and charm is a reflection of the town’s heyday, but with a retro-futurist edge. The clusters of cafes, vintage clothes shops, quirky bars and art galleries bring an interesting edge into the area, and people LOVE IT. After losing yourself in beautiful clothes (some homemade and 100% original), you could find yourself sitting in Angela’s café, what looks to be a regular greasy spoon, but turns out to be so, so much more. You indulge in something delicious, in a setting that somewhat resembles an old, American diner, the walls donned with images of Margate’s very own Mods and Rockers, before heading to her vintage pinball room to play on some truly nostalgic machines. Afterwards, you could head across to the Lighthouse Bar, a sweet, nautical little bar with a selection of ciders and ales to try, before going to local art galleries and, of course, the Turner Centre. All in all, the old town is beautiful. They indulge the artistic and quirky side of our seaside town, and blow it up for everyone to see. In the summer season, music is often staged outside for various events, and the tiny area around Pete’s Fish Factory, Milos and Kiss Me Quick is soon teeming with people. Why can’t the rest of Margate follow this example?

My personal opinion is that Margate could truly become an art town. The Turner Centre has brought in thousands of visitors each year, and the town is bursting at the seams with local talent from artists, performers, musicians, dancers, filmmakers and writers. Utilising this could be a key factor in the rise of our dying town. 

MORE FESTI-FUN 

It’s no secret to any of us Thanet locals; we do love a good party. Broadstairs Folk Week sees the small town filled with people from all walks of life, coming together to enjoy the atmosphere, stalls, live music, activities and, of course, Morris Dancers. Considering the successes of all of the local festivals and carnivals that brighten up our area in the summer period, why not consider some winter ones? With the large amount of indoor venues and bars, the festival fun could continue through the Christmas period, and hopefully bring more money into the area. 

NO TO TESCO 

The plans for a Tesco superstore on the seafront of Margate is, in my opinion, not a good idea. I understand the idea behind the amount of jobs it will bring to the area, but what we are not looking at is the huge amount of jobs that it will also take away from some of the smaller industries surrounding it. Picture it this way - Tesco’s will be clever and knows the area it’s in. It won’t consider the bucket and spade shop that has been stood by the arcades for years, and it won’t consider the café, or ice cream stores on the sea front, but it WILL consider its own profit. So, of course Tesco is going to target the most likely audience – tourists. Just think of the discounted packs of ice lollies, and low priced meal deals that will take money out of the small businesses, who have built their living on this target market.

All in all, we have been given pretty much one Tesco per town (no, really, and they want to build on in Westgate too – an even smaller town) and I think the locals are getting sick. Where is the creativity, the originality, the character? Nobody wants to visit a town that looks like all the others, so why are we filling a valuable building space, which could be turned into so much more, into yet another superstore?

I agree with the public – No to Tesco.

KISS ME QUICK, PORTAS! 

Mary Portas, the crowned ‘Queen of the High-street’ chose Margate as one of her Portas Pilots, a project in which the intelligent and savvy seller aims to reboot some of the UK’s dying high-street. We were in desperate need of her help, but sadly the attitudes of some members of the residents, and shockingly some of the Margate Town Taskforce, prevented her from truly helping. The one man who did listen was Billy, the owner of the fantastic Kiss Me Quick! which is in the Old Town. Following the visits from Portas, Billy’s shop has become a booming business with a fantastic range of tourist treats, an original design collection from Tracey Emin herself, and a cheeky range of naughty treats for adults, a true reflection of Margate’s mischievous nature. Why was Billy the only one who was successful? Because he put what Portas said into practice. Since her visit, the town has not hosted another ‘in-land pier’ (a fantastic idea, which saw the street teeming with visitors), and are still sat pondering what it is that will make Margate rise once more.

Portas was also hugely disappointed, and strongly disagrees with the bid for a Tescos in Margate. My proposal would be that the town give her a second chance and work with her to ensure that Tescos is not Margate’s future – and for the Taskforce to sit with her, members of the council and our local MPs in an open forum with members of the public to form a thinktank of ideas that will bring Margate back on its feet – and this time for good. 

To me, there are so many brilliant ideas that should be put forward to rejuvenate Margate, and they’re not being heard. Margate – let’s do something about this, let’s get the voices of your public heard over the large corporations and town officials. 

The website for Kiss Me Quick is here .

Read an article about Tesco in Margate here 

Read about the Taskforce here 

Follow Mary Portas on Twitter here

If you are a member of the Taskforce and would like to contact me about anything I've spoken about here, please feel free to message me.

Satori Screen and Derby's QUAD

Friday 18th saw the year anniversary of the QUAD's very own Satori Screen, a monthly event dedicated to Asian Cinema. The film on show was the highly popular Oldboy, South Korea's 2003 Mystery-Thriller, directed by Chan-wook Park. The film follows Oh Dae-Su, a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, before finally being released without any explanation. Bent on vengeance and a desire to find out why, he follows a series of clues to find his captor. The film is violent, shocking and gorgeous and it was wonderful to watch it on the big screen in a 35mm print. I highly recommend it.

Satori Screen was set up by Quaddie Peter Munford, and began with a fantastic double bill of Godzilla vs King Kong, and the completely bizarre Mantango, a film where people are turned into mushrooms after consuming a highly addictive fungi. Since then, the event has seen a colourful mixture of comic, intriguing, disturbing and inspiring pieces of Asian cinema. One that must be noted is the extremely rare Somi:Tae-Kwon Do Woman, which saw it's fourth (and possibly last) ever screening outside of Asia at the QUAD. It was an extremely special treat. If Asian cinema interests you, it's a definite must in Derby.

This is the beauty of the QUAD; the variety of brilliant cinema, art and activities that are on offer never fail to interest, illuminate and inspire the public. In the centre of the town, QUAD strives to be a creative hub for those with an interest in all things artistic. There are monthly poetry nights, writing groups, drawing groups and much more. One of my favourite monthly events is OST, which is a monthly event held in the cafe area. DJ Flatbush City Limits plays a fantastic arrangement of often quirky soundtrack choices from a variety of different films, often fitting in with a theme. Other fantastic events that occur annually include Dead and Breakfast, a horror marathon that falls close to Halloween (unfortunately I have had to miss it - it's tonight) and the fantastic I.D Fest, which is in the Summer season and boasts a host of interesting films and special guest (and they are real gems) talks around a set theme. Another great feature of QUAD is its selection of short courses in photography, film making and much more, which serve as an excellent platform to expand your knowledge and skill.

All in all, if you're looking for something to get your creative juices flowing, to expand a hobby (or start a new one), or just a nice night out, there is something for everyone.

The next Satori Screen is Ruroni Kenshin, a new release. The film is a cinematic telling of a Japanese Manga that follows an ex-assasin Kenshin in an action adventure "...filled with swordfights and intruige." (taken from QUAD). It looks like a real treat and will be screened on the 15th Novemeber at 8:45pm. For more information, join the Facebook group here.

The next O.S.T is 80s Cinema, Pop and Underground on 9th November at 7pm. For more information, join the Facebook group here.

If I have intruiged you with anything else, find the QUAD website here.....and their Twitter here.

Watch this space next month for a more in depth review of some more events in Derby.

Friday 15 November 2013

Friday 15 November 2013

Friday 15 November 2013

Friday 15 November 2013

ASDA and Tesco "Psycho" costumes - How far can horror go?

Asda's withdrawn costume (Image taken from the BBC News Website)

This afternoon, a BBC story was posted online about the withdrawal of Asda's "Mental Patient Fancy Dress Costume", and Tesco's "Psycho Ward" costume after a number of complaints that they enforced a stigma on those living with mental illness. The companies, in their best efforts to keep the peace, also offered a donation to the charity, Mind, which had criticised the stores for offering these outfits.
 Soon, politicians and the public alike gathered around to share their thoughts and opinions on the topic, with a large amount of people agreeing that it was offensive. Naturally, as an avid fan of all things Halloween and horror, I couldn't help but take to my keyboard to offer my own thoughts - and here it is - are we taking this a little too seriously?

Tesco's withdrawn costume (Image taken from the BBC News Website)

 I'll be honest, I dressed up as a psych ward patient a couple of years ago, and at the time I couldn't say I even considered that it might be offensive. I am a sufferer of depression myself, and have been on a number of different anti-depressants, but when I donned my costume that Halloween, I was not myself, and I did not aim to replicate anybody with this illness - I was a character of my own fiction, one which I had designed to be scary. I do recognise the concern these people are trying to raise. There is a stigma that comes with mental illness (I have seen the brunt of it) and this, like a lot of issues to do with disability, needs to be addressed. There are people living with these sorts of illnesses and others often don't know how to support them. HOWEVER, is there a difference between selling these types of costume and a character like, say, Hannibal Lecter - a psychopath, succumbing to his mental illness, who is deemed terrifying and used as a horror icon? Can we now say that literature, television shows and films that MAY enforce a stigma on those living with mental illness should be removed on the basis they are offensive?  Do we consider that we might be offending nurses, or surgeons, people who may have lost a patient on the table and have felt affected by it, when slipping on our bloodied scrubs and wielding plastic knives as accessories? These costumes are not mocking, or attempting to be cruel, they are a nod to the horror genre.

Norman Bates from Psycho (Image taken from Wikepedia.en)

In my first year of university I wrote a piece on the horror genre, listing a number of features that regularly occur. My argument was that the horror genre often reflects a shared fear of something relevant to the time the film was made. It blows the issue up and makes it plain scary. For instance, Britain's rising concern with teenage crime and violence could arguably be reflected in horrors such as Eden Lake. One thing that has always been relevant and reoccurring is the idea of the human mind, something we still know very little about, and this often veers into the idea of human capabilities. Think films such as Switchblade Romance, Silence of the Lambs, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and, of course, Hitchcock's iconic Psycho. Like horror, Halloween addresses our fears and allows us to express them. I must be clear and stress that I am not saying we are afraid of people with mental illnesses, but afraid of our own capabilities and the power our mind can have over us.

On the subject of costumes, I was surprised to see that this was the only costume choice that was targeted. I understand how people may be offended by the term "mental patient" being used on the costume, but if we are going to go as far as to ban these outfits, then perhaps we should consider a few others to also rid our shelves of. A common fancy dress choice, not only for Halloween, is the "Sexy School Girl" outfit. If we look into this, are we not just objectifying school children? Could we go as far to say that it is encouraging pedophilia? To take it further, if we dress as the dead, might we offend those who are bereaved? There are many costumes that may upset, or even shock people, but the reaction to this particular issue leads me to question whether we are really doing something good, or whether we are encouraging the stigma ourselves. By creating such a reaction against it, are we simply making mental health a taboo subject once again?

 
My final word on this debate is that it's really all a big kerfuffle over bad wording. If it was the same costume with the name "Serial Killer" or if it was an authentic costume of, say "Leatherface" or (again) "Dr.Lecter" then I have no doubt that they would have been fine to sell. In fact, one could argue that the "Psycho Ward" costume from Tesco pretty much IS a knock off of Hannibal's outfit. This is probably because it's trying to be cheap and affordable without breaking copyright laws. I am certain we will still see people in orange jumpsuits, who are playing the Silence of the Lambs villain, and nothing more. At the end of the day, I feel that all we can do is promote awareness of such illnesses, whilst also accepting that costumes like these are really trying to sell cheap-o versions of popular horror icons without treading on copyright toes and were not intended to offend.  

Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs (Image taken from Fanpop.com)

To read the BBC News report online, click here.



I encourage debates and would love to hear your opinion. However, I urge you to be considerate of others, as I have tried to be, when responding to this blog. Thank you. 

 


 

Hiatus

Recently, I have been 100% away from my computer as my busy work and play schedule filled up. For that, I apologise. My life has currently been flipped upside down, where both wondrous and not-so-wondrous things have happened. Within the past few months I have had the stresses of finding yet ANOTHER flat (well, bedsit), and the pleasures of meeting new people, including some particularly lovely ones who I hope to see more of. I've also been through an operation, and tried to get as many working hours as I could so I could keep afloat. HOWEVER, I have indulged myself in good company, and some fantastic food, drink and fun around Kent and I have plenty stocked up this autumn, my favourite of months, to share with you. Watch this space.

In the mean time, here are some pictures, and a series of 'mini-reviews' of what has occupied some of the cooler times this hotter than hot of summers. Enjoy.

       

  Art Installed in Margate Train Station

Art has started to become an integral thing in Margate, with the number of galleries rising, particularly after the opening of the Turner Centre. Margate is becoming an Art Town, and it was a real delight to see these little installations brightening up the spacious train station for new visitors. 

Margate Carnival

I'll admit, in the past couple of years I have been disappointed by Margate carnival. It felt like something was missing...the colour, the excitement and the hype. Instead, we were bombarded with leaflets and half-attempted floats. This year, however, the carnival 'zing' was back. It was bright, lively and filled with a variety of  colourful costumes and creative themes.

The tropical theme was addressed strongly, particularly due to a budget agreement from the arts council, and the fantastic return of the Notting Hill influence.

Let's hope next year sticks to the same agenda!

Vodka Slushies at Kiss Me Quick, Margate.

You should definitely check this place out. I consider Billy (the fantastic man behind this emporium) the only man to have listened to Mary Portas on her show Queen of the High Street, and trust me - it worked. His Emporium is a true homage to the seaside culture. Trinkets and sweets adorn the shelves and, for the more adult audience, there is even a saucy selection of sweet treats at the back of the shop (along with a mini bar) to tickle your fancy. This naughty but nice tongue-in-cheek memorabilia is all hidden behind a curtain, so little eyes are well protected! 

This is also a place where you can buy Tracey Emin's "For a dirty weekend, come to Margate" items, such as pillows, mugs and much more. She created the design especially for Kiss Me Quick, and it's the only place you can buy them, so make sure to pop in, or take a look online - Click me quick for kiss me quick!.

Theatre on the Sands

The Theatre Royal was taken over by what was Thanet Leisure Force, now names Your Leisure. At first I was tentative about what this might mean for the theatre, but after this fantastic performance of Shakespeare's Richard III on Margate Sands, I was convinced that my beloved theatre was in safe hands.

The idea was a simple one - everyone brings a blanket or hires a deck chair, and enjoys a classic play for free. The creativity of the set and the sheer willpower of the actors' voices against the blustery evening winds was admirable. However, the sound was an issue, with key lines being lost to the wind, or the volume of the background music which carried itself in the air much more than the vocals. Though it had its faults, there was no doubt that this idea brought many to Margate Seafront, and the overall performance was innovative and interesting, making for a good evening.





Again, I apologise for my long hiatus, but watch this space for some very exciting events that I'll be participating in, both in Derby and Margate.

Vintage Style Swimwear...It's SO now.

Whether you prefer bikinis or full body swimsuits, it's all about vintage style. Choose polka-dots or colourful prints (tropical fruit is a big YES) and don yourself in a high-waisted piece. These cuts are perfectly flattering for curves as well as our skinny minnies and will certainly turn heads on the sunny beaches. Think Bettie Page, pin-up glamour and you're right on target.  Have you found your must have for this summer? I think I have! 




VintageStyle...it's SO now. by rachaelismejewels featuring asos

Motel red bandeau top, $53 / Vintage pin up bathing suit / ASOS , $24 / Pinup swimwear / J.Crew beach bikini

Get some soul food - it's Irie Margate!

If there is one thing I enjoy about Thanet, it's the ability it has to present you with a wonderful variety of places to eat and drink, and the newest addition has to be one of my favourites. Irie has just opened on Margate Seafront and is a definite must if you like comforting, spicy, Caribbean soul food. The restaurant itself is filled with a variety of reggae-esque decor, not forgetting an image of the icon Bob Marley, and music fills the room to set a relaxed atmosphere. I certainly felt the summer during my visit!

The food itself took a while to arrive due to there being only one cook on the day, but the overall result was worth it. With a mixture of various meats and veggies prepared for you in wraps, fritters, rice and much more, there is certainly enough choice for everyone. With extra notice, Irie will also cater for special diets, so nobody is left out. For myself, I had a vegetarian wrap, a medley of various grilled vegetables, including sweet potato, tomato and peppers. This was  accompanied with a creamy coconut, and spicy chilli aftertaste. That alone was filling enough, and certainly was hot enough to have me sipping on my mango juice in regular intervals.

I decided to have a light dessert, and chose the exotic fruit salad - a mixture of delicious fruits in juice which was topped by a gorgeously light, melt-in-the-mouth coconut meringue. It was a wonderful way to finish the meal, though I have heard that their Rum Waffles with ice cream are something to be tasted!  If indulgence is something you enjoy, you should also try their 'festivals' - soft, doughy, deep fried balls rolled in sugar and cinnamon. They're incredibly moreish, but a little bit naughty! 

So, if you're looking for a relaxed atmosphere, reggae tunes, sunshine and friendly service on Margate's beautiful seafront this summer, then I would highly recommend Irie for a taste, sight and sound experience.

Fine Dining At It's Best - Restaurant Zest.

When coming back to Derby, I am always on the lookout for new places to spend time with friends, and one such place on my agenda this time was Restaurant Zest. Tucked away in George Street, just off of Friar Gate, Restaurant Zest stands as a cosy, intimate restaurant that boasts relaxed fine dining at its best. The ceiling is somewhat rustic, with great wooden beams that seem to be from an old mill, and the walls share interesting and modern artworks (I failed to ask if it was local art or not). Nonetheless, the surroundings fill you with a relaxed, but quite 'posh' atmosphere. This can only be matched by the staff, who were fantastically courteous and extremely accommodating.

When arriving, we did encounter a mix up with our booking, but I cannot complain about this as the staff handled the matter fantastically, offering a bottle of sparkling wine on the house as an apology. We were seated and handed our menus, drinks poured for us and topped up whenever they passed. We barely lifted a finger.

We ordered from the July A La Carte Menu, a deliciously summery selection of dishes which ensured enough choice for you to hover and think hard before ordering. I chose the Summer Squash, Feta & Olive Salad to start, and was not disappointed. The problem with some restaurants is that they add far too much feta, which makes a salad a little too tangy for my liking. This, however, had feta crumbled in small chunks that was just enough for the mouth to handle. The onion and olives complimented the cheese beautifully and the portion was just enough to satisfy you before the main.

For my main, I selected the Courgette Fritters, Goats Cheese & Lentil Salad, Roasted Beetroot & Creme Fraiche. The mixture of tart goats cheese and sweet beetroot was gorgeous and the fritters were in such a light batter that there was no reason to feel guilty at all. There was minimal creme fraiche, but this may have been because I chose the BLF (Bottom Line Fitness) option for the dish. This is something else that Zest does very well; it is a healthier option to certain dishes on the menu so you can watch your health and still indulge. Nevertheless, the taste was not affected in the slightest.

Now this was the truly indulgent course of my meal - Dessert. I chose the Gooseberry & Elderflower 'Zest' Mess, Lemon & Lime Sorbet, which came in a tall glass. However, when it arrived I failed to see any gooseberry or elderflower in sight. Instead, I seemed to have been given the Strawberry Zest Mess from the Early Evening Menu. Without complaining, I ate. It was a delicious take on the typically British 'Eaton Mess', bursting with fruit and pieces of meringue, but with a tangy lemon-lime aftertaste from the refreshing addition of the sorbet.

Despite the two minor hiccups, I felt that Zest is an affordable and lasting experience that I highly recommend. It is also worth booking a Champagne Breakfast (something I have enjoyed before), which serves you a highly indulgent three-course breakfast and a glass of champagne. A truly wonderful restaurant hiding in a side street in Derby!