Donna’s really useful guidebook to Westgate-on-Sea (and its surrounds)
Entertainment
Carlton Cinema
29 St. Mildreds RdBest cinema in Thanet - and on your doorstep.
Tom Thumb Theatre
2A Eastern EsplanadeTiny fringe theatre with upstairs bar.
Margate Arts Club
276 Northdown RdPopular small music and arts venue, with fantastic DJs.
Beating heart of the excellent Margate Soul Festival. A great bar and restaurant upstairs and has regular acts and music events in its club space downstairs. Serves Jamaican food, particularly at weekends, including a hearty Sunday lunch.
25 locals recommend
Olby's Soul Cafe & Music Rooms
3-5 King StBeating heart of the excellent Margate Soul Festival. A great bar and restaurant upstairs and has regular acts and music events in its club space downstairs. Serves Jamaican food, particularly at weekends, including a hearty Sunday lunch.
So many events go on there that you would be forgiven for forgetting it is a vintage theme park with all the rides of yesteryear, including the waltzer, big wheel, dodgems and the scenic raily - the oldest surviving rollercoaster in Britain. It also specialises in great live music and events that are held throughout the year. No events planned for the remainder of 2020 due to COVID-19, but a whole raft of excellent live events are planned from late March 2021 onwards.
242 locals recommend
Dreamland
Marine TerraceSo many events go on there that you would be forgiven for forgetting it is a vintage theme park with all the rides of yesteryear, including the waltzer, big wheel, dodgems and the scenic raily - the oldest surviving rollercoaster in Britain. It also specialises in great live music and events that are held throughout the year. No events planned for the remainder of 2020 due to COVID-19, but a whole raft of excellent live events are planned from late March 2021 onwards.
Old school bowling alley. Serves drinks and cheap meals (burgers, chips etc). A great backup if it's tipping down with rain.
16 locals recommend
Bugsy's Tenpin Bowling
Ethelbert CrescentOld school bowling alley. Serves drinks and cheap meals (burgers, chips etc). A great backup if it's tipping down with rain.
Sport
Tucked away between Westgate and Birchington - a little golfing treasure by the sea.
Westgate & Birchington Golf Club
176 Canterbury RdTucked away between Westgate and Birchington - a little golfing treasure by the sea.
A small local gym with a good reputation, which has been running for 30 years. £10 day passes available for non members.
FitUnion
3 Surrey GardensA small local gym with a good reputation, which has been running for 30 years. £10 day passes available for non members.
As the name suggests, classes take place in a warm environment – approximately 37°C. It’s not just about the atmosphere of delicious calm: heat helps the body melt into the practice, warming the muscles and aiding flexibility while the heart works harder. All this and a purifying sweat help ensure maximum benefit from your effort.
8 locals recommend
Hotpod Yoga Margate
39-41 High StAs the name suggests, classes take place in a warm environment – approximately 37°C. It’s not just about the atmosphere of delicious calm: heat helps the body melt into the practice, warming the muscles and aiding flexibility while the heart works harder. All this and a purifying sweat help ensure maximum benefit from your effort.
Climbing centre that caters for all ages and levels of skill. Lessons can be booked online.
Revolution Climbing Centre
Dane Valley RoadClimbing centre that caters for all ages and levels of skill. Lessons can be booked online.
Part of the national The Gym group, known for low monthly all inclusive prices. Wide range of equipment / machines. Free parking.
The Gym Westwood Cross
1 Holmes WayPart of the national The Gym group, known for low monthly all inclusive prices. Wide range of equipment / machines. Free parking.
Local authority sports and fitness centre with 25m and teaching pools, a high-tech gym and multi-use sports hall.
Hartsdown Sports & Leisure Centre
Hartsdown RoadLocal authority sports and fitness centre with 25m and teaching pools, a high-tech gym and multi-use sports hall.
This outdoor tidal pool allows people of all ages and abilities to swim in the sea without the dangers of strong currents etc. A real local favourite. Recommend wearing swimming shoes as it can be a little rocky under foot.
29 locals recommend
Walpole Tidal Pool
This outdoor tidal pool allows people of all ages and abilities to swim in the sea without the dangers of strong currents etc. A real local favourite. Recommend wearing swimming shoes as it can be a little rocky under foot.
Beaches
One of the two closest beaches - less than 10 minutes walk away - with two beachside cafés. All beaches are sandy in Thanet and this one is sandy both in and out of the water :-)
8 locals recommend
St Mildreds Bay
One of the two closest beaches - less than 10 minutes walk away - with two beachside cafés. All beaches are sandy in Thanet and this one is sandy both in and out of the water :-)
Just over 10 minutes walk away. Lovely and sandy throughout, even underwater. Visit Westgate Bay café or its rooftop restaurant, Finbars.
13 locals recommend
West Bay Cafe
Sea RoadJust over 10 minutes walk away. Lovely and sandy throughout, even underwater. Visit Westgate Bay café or its rooftop restaurant, Finbars.
A smaller beach in the nearby village of Birchington-on-Sea. Have lunch at the Minnis Bay Brasserie.
30 locals recommend
Minnis Bay
A smaller beach in the nearby village of Birchington-on-Sea. Have lunch at the Minnis Bay Brasserie.
Another nearby beach between Westgate and Margate. Recommend wearing swimming shoes as can be very rocky underfoot in some places.
20 locals recommend
Westbrook Bay Beach
12 Royal EsplanadeAnother nearby beach between Westgate and Margate. Recommend wearing swimming shoes as can be very rocky underfoot in some places.
Food scene
West Bay Cafe
Sea RoadNow also has a restaurant above the café called Finbars
Great beachside area with delicious food stalls and a bar. Occasional DJs. Generally open from late spring to early autumn. Popular.
50 locals recommend
The Sun Deck
Royal Crescent PromenadeGreat beachside area with delicious food stalls and a bar. Occasional DJs. Generally open from late spring to early autumn. Popular.
Millies Bar
Beach RoadBeachside café on St. Mildred’s Bay.
Somali Farm Park
Park RoadFarm café and shop on the edge of Westgate, off the beaten track.
More than a park - a fantastic venue with restaurant, café, activities for adults and children, museum, garden centre, independent stalls selling a range of goods...and alpacas! Certainly worth a visit
43 locals recommend
Quex Park
Park LaneMore than a park - a fantastic venue with restaurant, café, activities for adults and children, museum, garden centre, independent stalls selling a range of goods...and alpacas! Certainly worth a visit
A little gem just next door to the Carlton cinema. Great for a cream tea or light bite in the middle of the day.
Frederick's
31 St. Mildreds RdA little gem just next door to the Carlton cinema. Great for a cream tea or light bite in the middle of the day.
Excellent Indian restaurant in Garlinge, on the way to Margate. Also try its sister restaurant in Ramsgate.
40 locals recommend
Flavours by Kumar
2 Effingham StExcellent Indian restaurant in Garlinge, on the way to Margate. Also try its sister restaurant in Ramsgate.
Our much loved local chippie. They sometimes give you a few chips to nibble on while waiting for your fish to fry.
Westgate Fish & Chips
60 Station RdOur much loved local chippie. They sometimes give you a few chips to nibble on while waiting for your fish to fry.
Tasty and authentic sourdough pizzas cooked fresh with delicious toppings. Eat in or take away.
Hot Wood Pizza
25 Station RdTasty and authentic sourdough pizzas cooked fresh with delicious toppings. Eat in or take away.
Regency Tandoori
9 Station RoadOur local Indian restaurant, cosy, friendly and great food.
Small but excellent restaurant above the Westgate Bay Cafe. Great sea views. Ideal place to while away the evening.
12 locals recommend
Finbar's of West Bay
Off Sea RdSmall but excellent restaurant above the Westgate Bay Cafe. Great sea views. Ideal place to while away the evening.
Minnis Bay Bar & Brasserie
The ParadeSit outside for an evening meal at sunset - glorious.
Places of interest
Powell-Cotton Museum
Museum inside Quex Park.
Margate’s famous art gallery is now on the back of the £20 note! A must visit.
352 locals recommend
Turner Contemporary
RendezvousMargate’s famous art gallery is now on the back of the £20 note! A must visit.
Shell Grotto
33 Grotto HillA delightfully quirky little place of interest.
Margate Caves
1 Northdown RdCaves dating back to the 1800s - with an interesting history.
Pubs and Bars
Award winning and friendly micro pub just around the corner. Do check opening times before you visit.
Bake & Alehouse
21 St. Mildreds RdAward winning and friendly micro pub just around the corner. Do check opening times before you visit.
Micro pub in Westbrook that has regular Sunday afternoon jazz. Do check opening times before you visit.
6 locals recommend
Ales Of The Unexpected
105 Canterbury RdMicro pub in Westbrook that has regular Sunday afternoon jazz. Do check opening times before you visit.
Pete Docherty’s (of ‘The Libertines’) Margate hotel with nice basement bar, The Waste Land. Do a great Sunday lunch, but you'll need to book.
20 locals recommend
The Albion Rooms
31 Eastern EsplanadePete Docherty’s (of ‘The Libertines’) Margate hotel with nice basement bar, The Waste Land. Do a great Sunday lunch, but you'll need to book.
Ginger's
38 Station RoadA new little bar in Westgate, with karaoke upstairs!
Bar Nothing
17 Cliff TerraceA nice bar with a chilled vibe on the edge of Cliftonville
A mad little pub filled with mad people. Friendly and good beers. Wide range of gins from memory.
47 locals recommend
Fez
40 High StA mad little pub filled with mad people. Friendly and good beers. Wide range of gins from memory.
A lovely little pub in Margate old town with a wide range of beers, ciders and perries. Also does food, including vegan options. Regular live music. Roaring log fire in winter.
46 locals recommend
Lifeboat
1 Market StA lovely little pub in Margate old town with a wide range of beers, ciders and perries. Also does food, including vegan options. Regular live music. Roaring log fire in winter.
Newest bar in Westgate with a slightly more chilled, adult vibe. Well, at least sometimes!
The Garden Bar
40a Station RoadNewest bar in Westgate with a slightly more chilled, adult vibe. Well, at least sometimes!
Music
An excellent and award winning small venue for top quality live music.
32 locals recommend
Ramsgate Music Hall
13 Turner StAn excellent and award winning small venue for top quality live music.
So many music events go on there that you would be forgiven for forgetting it is a vintage theme park. Great live music and events are held throughout the year. No events planned for the remainder of 2020 due to COVID-19, but a whole raft of excellent live music is planned from late March 2021 onwards.
242 locals recommend
Dreamland
Marine TerraceSo many music events go on there that you would be forgiven for forgetting it is a vintage theme park. Great live music and events are held throughout the year. No events planned for the remainder of 2020 due to COVID-19, but a whole raft of excellent live music is planned from late March 2021 onwards.
Beating heart of the excellent Margate Soul Festival. A great bar and restaurant upstairs and has regular acts and music events in its club space downstairs.
25 locals recommend
Olby's Soul Cafe & Music Rooms
3-5 King StBeating heart of the excellent Margate Soul Festival. A great bar and restaurant upstairs and has regular acts and music events in its club space downstairs.
At Rosslyn Court expect the unexpected: from the sounds of folk legend, Martin Carthy to an impromptu jam-session with Margate-based Libertines founder, Pete Doherty. Great little venue if you want to hear something live and different.
Rosslyn Court
62 Sweyn RdAt Rosslyn Court expect the unexpected: from the sounds of folk legend, Martin Carthy to an impromptu jam-session with Margate-based Libertines founder, Pete Doherty. Great little venue if you want to hear something live and different.
Great little independent venue downstairs and bar / record shop upstairs. Lots of local (and some international) music acts.
27 locals recommend
Elsewhere
21-22 The CentreGreat little independent venue downstairs and bar / record shop upstairs. Lots of local (and some international) music acts.