One of Margate’s most iconic residents, it’s hard to miss mega-babe Siobhan with her goddess-worthy neon hair and outfits! I first met this gorgeous lady when she ran the merch stall at London’s infamous queer nightclub, Sink The Pink a few years ago. She’s one of the most seriously fabulous (and lovely) people I know and her ‘niche not normal’ fashion label ShopFloorWhore is stacked with all the colourful clothes and accessories my dreams are made of! Check out her exclusive festival collection on Asos Marketplace and her top tips for things to do in Margate!
📌 Explore all Siobhan’s things to do in Margate on my map.
Siobhan says:
I left London in search of money, fast women and hard drugs. Jokes, I’m tee-total and single but that sounds cooler than the fact that I couldn’t afford to spend 2K on renting a flat in London anymore. Margate was my little saviour: it took me in and made me feel like I could be anything I wanted to be. Again, I joke, but it deffo made my life happier and healthier.
But listen up: we’re all here for a good time not a long time. So let me break Mar-Vegas down for you – it’s small and you can probs hit the hotspots in a day. So don’t break a sweat, act cool and let me show you the way!
☕ Coffee
I’m a coffee crackhead. Soz but true – I don’t have many vices left so don’t come for me. If like me, you wanna get high on some grade A beans then I’ve listed my faves below.
Cliffs
Listed as “cafe, record shop, yoga studio, hair salon and coffee roastery” or as I like to call it home 😊 It’s a one-stop swag AF hotspot. Make sure you try the scrambled eggs. Ooh also, while you are there say hiya to Emily ~ my style crush and popping local artist!
📅 Open 7 days, 9am-5pm (10am-4pm on Sundays)
📍 Cliffs, 172 Northdown Rd, Margate CT9 2QN
➡️ cliffsmargate.com
Mar Mar
Mixing my 2 crushes, good coffee and plants, this is my fave place to come and chat shit with my mates. If you wanna do it for the gram, this is the most Instagrammable place in Margz, plus you get to meet Diego the dog – so what’s not to love! FYI they do a BREAKFAST combo (black coffee, freshly baked croissant and fresh orange juice) for a bargainous £3.75 – wake up without spunking all your cash money!
📅 Open 7 days, 8am-6pm Mon-Thurs, 9am-9pm Fri-Sat, 10am-4pm Sun
📍 Mar Mar, 80 Northdown Rd, Margate CT9 2RE
➡️ instagram.com/marmarmargate
Walpole Bay Hotel
Treat urself like the Queen you are, and go all out at Margate’s jewel in its crown: the Walpole Bay Hotel. Splash out on Afternoon Tea, wear your best pearls and fake Chanel and make sure you go for a nose around the museum on the 2nd floor. Don’t miss the walls of fame leading down to the pink ballroom – spot Mystique amongst the pics of famous guests!
📅 Restaurant open for tea 7 days, midday-5pm
📍 Walpole Bay Hotel, Fifth Ave, Margate CT9 2JJ
➡️ walpolebayhotel.co.uk
The Walpole Bay Hotel is also one of the most amazing places to stay in Margate. Check out my review for this boutique hotel.
😋 Hello my name’s Siobhan and I love food
If you know me, you know I’m firmly food focused. I love food, I like good portions and usually, I wanna eat alone so I can be at one in my happy place. Mostly tho, I will drag my mates along to some of these amazing Margate restaurants so we can talk about how much we love food, whilst eating food. So listen up for my top food recommendations.
Casa
This place is my FAVE. The best pizza I’ve had in a long time, with dough that will make your heart weep. It’s reasonably priced, run by actual legends and the Vegetable Calzone is the size of a small child. Plus, if you can’t be arsed to move, they deliver!
📅 Closed Tues. Open 5-9pm Sun-Thur, 5-10pm Fri-Sat
📍 Casa Pizza, 89 Canterbury Rd, Margate CT9 5AX
➡️ casapizzeria.co.uk
Cheesy Tiger
This place is no secret, in fact, this gaff is legendary round these ways. Ask anyone and they will point you in the direction of this cheese utopia. Situated perfectly on the Harbour Arm, expect it to fill up quick- so I’m advising you book and wear stretchy trousers. Order the truffle Mac and cheese and thank me later.
📅 Closed Mon-Wed. Open midday-10pm Thurs-Sat, midday-3:30pm Sun.
📍 Cheesy Tiger, Unit 7 & 8, Harbour Arm, Margate CT9 1AP
➡️ instagram.com/cheesytigermargate
Dalby Cafe
Tasty, cheap and their portion control is out the window! Its Margate’s greatest greasy spoon and they do a mean veggie breakie – tell them Shiv sent you 😊
📅 Open 7 days, 7am-2:30pm
📍 Dalby Cafe, 4-6 Dalby Rd, Margate CT9 2EX
➡️ facebook.com/dalbycafe
Batchelor’s Patisserie
Heaven on the high street, family run business around for 50 plus years. Serving up some serious Bake Off realness – freshly baked bread and food daily. Get yourself someone who looks at you the way I look at Batchelor’s Iced Fingers.
📅 Open 7 days, 7am-2:30pm
📍 Batchelor’s Patisserie, 246 Northdown Road, Margate CT9 2PX
➡️ facebook.com/BatchelorsPatisserie
Cyril’s
Banging butty shop, just opened. Does a mean egg mayonnaise on white and they sell lots of snazzy books too!
📅 Closed Sun-Tues. Open midday – 3pm (ish!) Weds-Sat
📍 Cyril’s, 32 Northdown Road, Margate CT9 2RW
➡️ instagram.com/cyrilsmargate
💅Fashawn
It’s a microclimate of cuteness down on the east coast, with a whole load of independent clothing stores to facilitate all your fashion needs.
Margate Superstore
Newest addition to the fashion bosom, Superstore is a hotbed of psychedelic vintage prints and nu-rave inspired fluoro pieces. Superstore are “crusaders against clothing waste and champions of the freshest vintage fashion.” Think pink bubblegum shell suits and loads of 90s streetwear. Prices are proper spot-on, starting from as little as a £1.
📅 Closed Sun. Open 10:30am-5:30pm Mon-Sat
📍 Margate Superstore, Unit 16 The Centre, Margate CT9 1JG
➡️ margatesuperstore.com
Madam Popoff Vintage
Not only does Popoff’s have the slickest vintage edit I’ve ever seen, but owner and Margate legend, Debs, is a blast in a glass – pop in, buy loads and have a laugh! Make sure you stay in touch on her FB as she has £1 sale days that are enough to make you weep. I bagged a velour playsuit in the last one and about 18 pairs of retro sunnies.
📅 Closed Mon. Open 10am-6pm Tues+Thurs-Sat, 10am-4pm Wed, 11am-5pm Sun.
📍 Madam Popoff Vintage, 4 King St, Margate CT9 1DA
➡️ instagram.com/madampopoffvintage
Little Bit
Not technically limited to fashion, Little Bit has something for every babe – from umbrella hats to flamingo bog brushes, COOL SHIT slogan t-shirts and cactus planters. It’s a technicolour dream!
📅 Closed Mon. Open 11am-4:30pm Tues-Fri, 10:30am-5pm Sat-Sun
📍 Little Bit, 1-3 Broad St, Margate CT9 1EW
➡️ instagram.com/littlebitmargate
🏖️ Life’s a beach
I’m smug as hell about living this close to the many amazing Margate beaches. Even when it’s pissing it down, its a dream. Apparently, all this outdoor stuff is good for you, so here are some top tips to get your beach on, babes!
Walpole Tidal Pool
FYI it took me a year to jump in, but it’s the best way to go! Lash your clothes off, prepare yourself mentally and throw yourself in. Don’t panic, you won’t touch the floor: its deep as hell and yes, there are jellyfish but they won’t fuck with you unless you fuck with them. Guaranteed to make you feel funky fresh and it’s free! If you don’t wanna go alone and your bessies are being bores, there’s even a swimming group you can hit up.
📍 Walpole Tidal Pool, Hodges Gap Promenade, Margate CT9 2JW
Palm Bay Beach
If it’s all getting a bit too much down Walpole, grab your grunds and head around the corner to Palm Bay. It’s dog-friendly all year round (whereas Walpole is meant to be a no dog zone from May-Sep) plus, if you forgot your butties, you are spoilt with the choice of two cafes – massive shout out to The Palm Bay Cafe & Games Centre, who do a killer fish finger sandwich!
📍Palm Bay, Palm Bay Ave Margate CT9 3DQ
🎉 Right, let’s rave!
It might be small, but Margate’s nightlife is perfectly formed. Here’s a glimpse of my faves!
Gem’s Jams
Hosted by Margate’s fave babe Gemma Cairney, Gem’s Jams guest DJ’s bring a mega mash-up of RnB, jungle, garage, hip-hop and pop! Expect loads of shapes to be thrown and a good time to be had by all. Even as a sober baby, I’m always there till the end!
📅 Every couple of months. Next one: Sat 30th June 2018
📍 Olby’s Soul Cafe & Music Rooms, 3-5 King St, Margate CT9 1DD
➡️ facebook.com/pg/GemStuff/events
Ziggy’s
It’s a rooftop bar. Nuff said. Think mojito’s, boss views and getting your tan on!
📅 Open 7 days, midday-10pm
📍 Ziggy’s Rooftop Bar, 49 Marine Terrace, Margate CT9 1XP
➡️ ziggysrooftop.co.uk
JUJU Music
Two birds, one big stone with this one. Hit up JUJU Music at Radio Margate for AfroBeat and highlife goodness. Party on the seafront and see the best bogs in town – the mural is hand painted by my bessie, Amy Exton
📅 Every couple of months. Next one: TBC
📍 Radio Margate, 17 Cliff Terrace, Margate CT9 1RU
➡️ facebook.com/pg/JUJUMUSICMARGATE/events/
📌 Save the date!
So you might not be able to fly down to Margate this weekend, but here are a few dates for the diary!
Margate Pride
Margate Pride is grassroots, DIY, non-commercial and all about creating a safe space for Kent’s LGBTQIA community. August 11th we march! Come join us!
➡️ facebook.com/pg/margatepride/events
Cockles & Muscles
Pride after party at Margate’s most famous/phallic LIDO bar! This year’s theme: FIERCE CREATURES. Dress up and dance your tits off!
📍 The Lido and Cliff Bar, Ethelbert Terrace, Margate CT9 1RX
➡️ facebook.com/pg/cocklesandmuscles/events/
Block Party @ Dreamland Margate
With a hearty mix of fashion, music, art and dance, Block Party is a day dedicated to everything street culture – featuring an immersive marketplace (curated by my mush!) as well as dance/music/art workshops and demonstrations. Stick around for the evening, when grime heavyweight BIG NARSTIE, Garage heroes OXIDE & NEUTRINO and JAMMZ pull up to headline the scenic stage!
📍 Dreamland Margate, 49-51 Marine Terrace, Margate, Kent, CT9 1XJ
➡️ dreamland.co.uk
📌 Looking for more things to do in Margate? Check out my city guide.
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