Margate’s New Town Hall

Margate’s Town Hall has had many functions since it was built in 1897, it’s been a Magistrates Court, its been a police station, and now it is home to cultural artefacts as part of Margate’s marvellous Museum.

It is located in Margate’s old town, which up until six weeks ago was the pumping heart of our towns tourist appeal. The Old Town Square which is usually awash with people on a May Bank Holiday, is rightfully deserted apart from the odd dog walker and even odder joggers. The cafes, the galleries, the pubs, the bars all vacant however Margate’s new Town Hall is very much open.

When Storm Ciarra ripped through the nation in February, sheds, roofs, beach huts and fence panels across the Isle of Thanet said goodbye to their homes, as they were uprooted and blown away.  Such was the case for one fence panel in Clifftonville which separated the gardens of the Heath-Hall’s and the Towning’s. The neighbours agreed that it wasn’t an urgent job as there was still a dividing wall, large enough to insure the dog wouldn’t invade, and utilise the neighbours lawn. Now that panel-less wall has in these isolated times become a suitable meeting point for the neighbours to have a chat and exchange the odd bit of grub. It was during one of April’s most sun soaked days, when bored, out of work chef and town councillor, Cedric Towning offered his neighbours a plate of food and when they gleefully accepted he joked, “collect it on the bar will you”…an idea formed.

Phillip Heath-Hall set to work on making, what was once a baron wall, a structure for which to hold drinks and snacks. Sue Heath-Hall, a seasoned festival sign-writer, went to work on the sign. All the materials used to make the bar were up-cycled from their houses at no financial cost. The Heath-Hall’s and Towning’s, are unique in the sense that they are neighbours not only in Cliftonville but also live in neighbouring towns in Portugal (their second homes). Both were due to travel to their homes in Portugal for the summer but like so many peoples plans, this was perished by the pandemic. So, a drink in the English sun at ‘The Town Hall’ is the best compromise they have for the time being.

Cedric told CommunityAd “it was originally going to be called The Lockdown Bar when Phil  with a little help from his daughter came up with the brilliant idea to merge our surnames. Town from Towning and Hall from Heath-Hall it became the Town Hall”.

Sue Heath-Hall added “it’s a two for one pun really as Cedric is a Town councillor, so it works on two levels”. The bar provides both sets of neighbours with the chance to have a social drink at a socially-acceptable distance.

Both parties sit a metre back from either side of the wall and each bring their own glasses as they share drinks at what has to be the most enjoyable visit to the town hall anyone will likely have, enhanced by chef and councillor Cedric cooking up culinary delights such chickpeas and prawns, and when the sun goes down the solar panelled fairy lights illuminate the bar. The neighbours might be the envy of Thanet at the moment as the rest of us wait for our first visit to the bars and pubs but Sue stated “if you cant go to the bar bring the bar to you”.

If you have a tale of how you’ve lifted your spirits this lockdown we’d love to here it. Get it touch via Facebook or email the editor – [email protected]

Written by – Dave McKenna