Christmas in Thanet

• Written by: Lorraine
• Written on: December 20, 2015
• Filed Under: 2015 Events, 2016 Events, Activities, Christmas, Local Area

When you think of a holiday at the English seaside, don’t just think about the summer months. Spring, Autumn and Winter can all be lovely here in Thanet and Christmas is a particularly special time here. Its often not particularly cold – certainly not in 2015 when they tell us it may be the warmest December on record – but at any time Thanet has its own micro climate and is generally milder than other parts of the UK.

We have romantic twinkly lights out to see all year round here – we love spotting the big ships and their lights on the horizon as we walk along the coastline and they pass by or moor up for the night. They are a beautiful site and particularly so on wintry evenings. But the boats in Ramsgate Harbour really go for it at Christmas – some winning prizes for their distinctive displays – with stars on top of masts, nativities on decks and even a giant inflatable polar bear on one sea going barge.

A walk down to the harbour is sheer delight in December and now there are so many interesting shops and cafes there too, it really makes for a lovely outing. Try Coco Latino for hot chocolate and / or tapas (previously the Chocolate Lounge) or the stylish new Archive Homestore Cafe for Scandinavian themed snacks, hot drinks and gifts.

Step next door to Showtime Retro, a retro-rummager’s paradise with vintage lights, signs, musical instruments, old typewriters, oddments of furniture and many other unique and patina-ed items that you won’t find anywhere else – for the gift recipient who always wants something different and likes their stuff old school style…

Round the other side of the Harbour you’ll find the Custom House which also houses a very good cafe in the back and the tourist information office as well as a really special little shop selling handmade and arty gifts and cards, ‘Nice Things’ including beautiful jewelry, ceramics and textiles by local designers. Several cafes and bars on this stretch include locals’ fave, Miles Cafe Bar, with its comfy leather sofas and well priced menu of wholesome bistro type fare. park yourself in the window with a coffee or a full meal and watch the boats and general bustle of the harbour area while staying snug and warm inside.

All three Thanet towns have Christmas Fairs. Broadstairs’ main one is in pretty Pierremont Park and takes place at the start of December, timed with the switching on of the giant Christmas Tree lights by the war memorial, it’s a lovely event with mulled wine and Kentish cyder, Santa’s Grotto choristers and lots of food and gift stalls. Several of the local schools and churches do their own fairs as well.  Margate have their Christmas Night Market. Ramsgate and Sandwich have their Christmas Handmade Fairs.

You can hardly step out the door without tripping over a choir in full festive song! Thanet Rock Choir and Thanet Festival Choir and the Thanet Male Voice Choir are just three of the most popular and all have concerts and public appearances at this time of year.

Westwood Cross, our local out of town shopping centre which sits between the three towns and has a good selection of large chain stores, gets into the swing with Christmas stall holders and a HUGE bauble filled reindeer as well as their own tree and lights which are turned on each year by a different celebrity.

Why not treat yourself and the family and plan to do something different, spend Christmas 2016 in Thanet. Come for a long weekend, the whole of Christmas and New Year, or take a week in the fun up to the festivities, if you can get away and feel the need to re-charge your batteries in December – lets face it who wouldn’t love that. You’ll be snug as a bug in our comfortable holiday lets in Broadstairs which sleep up to six people. Plan nice and early and you’ve got that to look forward to.

If you’re tempted you can check availability of our holiday lets using the form on our homepage.

Where ever you’re spending the festive season this year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us at Beeches!