Donna’s really useful guidebook to Westgate-on-Sea (and its surrounds)

Donna
Donna’s really useful guidebook to Westgate-on-Sea (and its surrounds)

Entertainment

Best cinema in Thanet - and on your doorstep.
31 recommandé par les habitants
Carlton Cinema
29 St. Mildreds Rd
31 recommandé par les habitants
Best cinema in Thanet - and on your doorstep.
Tiny fringe theatre with upstairs bar.
51 recommandé par les habitants
Tom Thumb Theatre
2A Eastern Esplanade
51 recommandé par les habitants
Tiny fringe theatre with upstairs bar.
Popular small music and arts venue, with fantastic DJs.
27 recommandé par les habitants
Margate Arts Club
276 Northdown Rd
27 recommandé par les habitants
Popular 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 recommandé par les habitants
Olby's Soul Cafe & Music Rooms
3-5 King St
25 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 recommandé par les habitants
Dreamland
Marine Terrace
242 recommandé par les habitants
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.
Old school bowling alley. Serves drinks and cheap meals (burgers, chips etc). A great backup if it's tipping down with rain.
16 recommandé par les habitants
Bugsy's Tenpin Bowling
Ethelbert Crescent
16 recommandé par les habitants
Old 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 Rd
Tucked 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 Gardens
A 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 recommandé par les habitants
Hotpod Yoga Margate
39-41 High St
8 recommandé par les habitants
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.
Climbing centre that caters for all ages and levels of skill. Lessons can be booked online.
Revolution Climbing Centre
Dane Valley Road
Climbing 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 Way
Part 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 Road
Local 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 recommandé par les habitants
Walpole Tidal Pool
29 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
St Mildreds Bay
8 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
West Bay Cafe
Sea Road
13 recommandé par les habitants
Just 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 recommandé par les habitants
Minnis Bay
30 recommandé par les habitants
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 recommandé par les habitants
Westbrook Bay Beach
12 Royal Esplanade
20 recommandé par les habitants
Another nearby beach between Westgate and Margate. Recommend wearing swimming shoes as can be very rocky underfoot in some places.

Food scene

Now also has a restaurant above the café called Finbars
13 recommandé par les habitants
West Bay Cafe
Sea Road
13 recommandé par les habitants
Now 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 recommandé par les habitants
The Sun Deck
Royal Crescent Promenade
50 recommandé par les habitants
Great beachside area with delicious food stalls and a bar. Occasional DJs. Generally open from late spring to early autumn. Popular.
Beachside café on St. Mildred’s Bay.
12 recommandé par les habitants
Millies Bar
Beach Road
12 recommandé par les habitants
Beachside café on St. Mildred’s Bay.
Farm café and shop on the edge of Westgate, off the beaten track.
Somali Farm Park
Park Road
Farm 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 recommandé par les habitants
Quex Park
Park Lane
43 recommandé par les habitants
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
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 Rd
A 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 recommandé par les habitants
Flavours by Kumar
2 Effingham St
40 recommandé par les habitants
Excellent 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 Rd
Our 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 Rd
Tasty and authentic sourdough pizzas cooked fresh with delicious toppings. Eat in or take away.
Our local Indian restaurant, cosy, friendly and great food.
Regency Tandoori
9 Station Road
Our 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 recommandé par les habitants
Finbar's of West Bay
Off Sea Rd
12 recommandé par les habitants
Small but excellent restaurant above the Westgate Bay Cafe. Great sea views. Ideal place to while away the evening.
Sit outside for an evening meal at sunset - glorious.
7 recommandé par les habitants
Minnis Bay Bar & Brasserie
The Parade
7 recommandé par les habitants
Sit outside for an evening meal at sunset - glorious.

Places of interest

Museum inside Quex Park.
32 recommandé par les habitants
Powell-Cotton Museum
32 recommandé par les habitants
Museum inside Quex Park.
Margate’s famous art gallery is now on the back of the £20 note! A must visit.
352 recommandé par les habitants
Turner Contemporary
Rendezvous
352 recommandé par les habitants
Margate’s famous art gallery is now on the back of the £20 note! A must visit.
A delightfully quirky little place of interest.
171 recommandé par les habitants
Shell Grotto
33 Grotto Hill
171 recommandé par les habitants
A delightfully quirky little place of interest.
Caves dating back to the 1800s - with an interesting history.
72 recommandé par les habitants
Margate Caves
1 Northdown Rd
72 recommandé par les habitants
Caves 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 Rd
Award 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 recommandé par les habitants
Ales Of The Unexpected
105 Canterbury Rd
6 recommandé par les habitants
Micro 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 recommandé par les habitants
The Albion Rooms
31 Eastern Esplanade
20 recommandé par les habitants
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.
A new little bar in Westgate, with karaoke upstairs!
Ginger's
38 Station Road
A new little bar in Westgate, with karaoke upstairs!
A nice bar with a chilled vibe on the edge of Cliftonville
16 recommandé par les habitants
Bar Nothing
17 Cliff Terrace
16 recommandé par les habitants
A 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 recommandé par les habitants
Fez
40 High St
47 recommandé par les habitants
A 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 recommandé par les habitants
Lifeboat
1 Market St
46 recommandé par les habitants
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.
Newest bar in Westgate with a slightly more chilled, adult vibe. Well, at least sometimes!
The Garden Bar
40a Station Road
Newest 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 recommandé par les habitants
Ramsgate Music Hall
13 Turner St
32 recommandé par les habitants
An 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 recommandé par les habitants
Dreamland
Marine Terrace
242 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 recommandé par les habitants
Olby's Soul Cafe & Music Rooms
3-5 King St
25 recommandé par les habitants
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.
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 Rd
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.
Great little independent venue downstairs and bar / record shop upstairs. Lots of local (and some international) music acts.
27 recommandé par les habitants
Elsewhere
21-22 The Centre
27 recommandé par les habitants
Great little independent venue downstairs and bar / record shop upstairs. Lots of local (and some international) music acts.