Margate Winter Gardens Theatre Carnival Turner Contemporary Kent UK

Turner Contemporary Art Gallery Margate

The Turner Contemporary art gallery based in Margate on the site of Turner's lodging house overlooking Margate's Bay was conceived in the 1990s. A frequent visitor to Margate, JMW Turner (1775-1851) was drawn to the distinctive Margate light and Thanet skies. The new Turner Contemporary here promises to be Kent's largest and most celebrated arts centre, as well as boosting Margate's regeneration.

Work is currently underway on the large permanent gallery by David Chipperfield Architects who boast a wealth of experience in designing cultural buildings including recently Germany's Museum of Modern Literature and the spectacularly layered Valencia's Veles e Vents America's Cup Building on the waterfront. There's plenty going on already celebrating Turner's links with Margate and Thanet, with numerous events and exhibitions on offer around Margate venues. (see full events, talks and workshop listings via the Turner Contemporary webguide).

Turner Contemporary Art Gallery, 17-18 The Parade, Margate, Kent, CT9 1EY. Tel. 01843 294208.

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Margate Winter Gardens & Margate Theatre Royal

The history of the striking Edwardian Margate Winter Gardens is a long one stretching back to 1911. Adapting well over the years, Margate's Winter Gardens retains much of its Edwardian character and charm, whilst at the same time offering a prestigious programme of concerts and big popular music shows. Conference and banqueting facilities are on-site, with the Main Hall and Queens Hall available for hire. The not for profit company now running the Winter Gardens also manages historic country home Northdown House in Cliftonville (available for weddings and conference hire).

More focused on its three seasons of drama, Margate boasts another theatre enterntainment venue - the Theatre Royal Margate. Here at the Theatre Royal Margate expect an exciting programme of drama, comedy, music, dance, exhibitions and talks. Cutting edge cinema is also often shown at the Royal. There's no end to Margate's selection of historic architecture, with the Theatre Royal Margate laying claim as the second oldest theatre in Britain.

Winter Gardens Margate, Fort Crescent, Margate, Kent, CT9 1HX. Box Office Tel. 01843 296111.

Theatre Royal Margate, Addington Street, Margate, Kent. CT9 1PW. Box Office Tel. 01227 787787 or 0845 130 1786.

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Shell Grotto Margate

Found purely by accident in 1835 under a farmer's field by a farmer and his son (the son was small enough to crawl down a small hole), Margate's Shell Grotto (whatever its controversial origins) is a subterranean gem of a place. Consisting of 4.6 million shells making up 2000sqft of mosaic pattern, some believe this unique work of art dates from around 300 BC, and others point to it rather being Victorian. Due unfortunately to carbon deposits created from lighting within the Shell Grotto over the years, it's impossible to date the artwork accurately. They have tried but with results proving inconclusive.

A range of shells were used in its creation, including cockles, whelks, mussels and oysters to create intricate swirling patterns. Margate's shell grotto isn't the only shell grotto ever discovered either. Pick up a copy of 'Shell Houses and Grottoes' by Hazelle Jackson at the small shop within Margate's Shell Grotto site. Find it slightly inland, down from The Parade, via King Street and Dane Road.

Shell Grotto, Grotto Hill, Margate, Kent CT9 2BU. Tel. 01843 220008. Open daily from Good Friday to Halloween, 10am-5pm. Winter open at weekends only, 11am-4pm. Closed over Christmas and New Year. Small admission fee.

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Margate Arts, Crafts & Restaurants

Market Street in Margate, just down the side of the Old Town Hall and in Margate's attractive old town centre clustered around Margate Museum and Old Town Hall is a particular hotspot for arts and crafts shopping and some rather nice restaurants. Checkout Harbour Monkey Arts and Crafts shop, Creative knits and more via webguide links right.

Old Town Gallery, 1-3 Broad Street, Margate, Kent, CT9 1EW. Tel. 01843 225565. Craft and art exhibitions, courses and some splendid jewellery and textiles made within this favourite Margate arts and crats shop in the heart of Margate Old Town.

No 6 Brasserie Margate Restaurant, 6 Market Place, Margate, Kent, CT9 1DR. Tel. 01843 295603. A fine mix of British and European cuisine, all in a chic setting with alfresco dining in the summer.

Rice Bowl Restaurant, 7 Market Street, Margate, Kent, CT9 1EU. Tel. 01843 223750. See too Margate's new Turkish restaurant Flame of Anatolia, 290 Northdown Road, Margate, Kent, CT9 2PT. Tel. 01843 291908. (Good choice of Vegetarian here).

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Margate Jazz Festival & Carnival

Margate's events calender offers a choice of the festivals including Margate's July Jazz Festival and August Carnival.

Other annual events include a kite festival and collectors fairs and with the pending opening of the Turner Contemporary, no doubt Margate's events and festival calendar will continue to grow. For full events and festival listings checkout the Visit Thanet webguide.

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