They got Margate so wrong on the Apprentice (BBC 1) last night – hardly their fault. They had less than 48 hours and they do not know the town – it is not all doom and gloom, I think there are some marketing opportunities for our area.
It is not a question of who might come to Margate but why would they come?
Yes it has sandy beaches – as can be found all around the British coast line. So what is unique that could really attract any people to Margate?
See Margate through children’s eyes indeed – what a load of RUBBISH! If you know Margate today, then you know what I mean. Apart from the beach need I point out there is no fun fair, there is very little to entertain a family. The Museum in the old town was fascinating – BUT closed due to lack of funding.
The mini golf place is excellent, but is not even within view of the Main sands, you need to know where to find it. Walk west, along the seafront, to Westbrook.
If you asked me – re brand Margate I would say you need to focus on 2 things:
1. Day trippers. At the last minute you find the day is sunny, Margate is ideally located, with in 2 hours travel time of about 10 million people!
The biggest selling point is probably that you walk straight out of the station and you are facing the main beach.
If lots of families were in Margate with children on a rainy day just what would they do? (Not even a cinema unless you travel to Westwood). And if they had come to Margate on holiday where would they stay?
The lack of hotels was obviously not made clear to the apprentices. There is a Travel Inn next to the station. The interesting Walpole Bay Hotel and the Palm Court Smith Hotel. Inland a little, at Westwood, there is a small Travel Lodge.
2. Short break, weekend away crowd – adults that is. Hen nights, stags, dirty weekends etc.. What Margate can boast is lots of bars and night clubs as well as 2 casinos in the vicinity. I think there are a few reasonable places to eat there too.
I don’t want to be negative, but I will be.
In the 1990’s with crowds of friends we would travel to Margate for a day out. If I lived in London now (and was still in my 20’s) I would be unlikely to think of any reason to choose Margate for a day trip. Brighton and even Hastings would hold more appeal – there is more to do. Coming in to Kent, I can’t see any reason why not stop at Whitstable or Herne Bay ( they are nearer) or even go to Dover or Folkestone.
I agree, it was a tough challenge for them but I still don’t feel TDC and Margate Town Partnership or whatever they are called nowadays even grasp the basics of rebranding and regeneration.
I think its a long time before Margate gets to a standard where people actually want to visit.
There is nothing to do apart from the few shining lights of the shell grotto etc, there is nothing.
The Council need to address the fact that a tourist destination needs attractions!!!
I totally agree with all the above. I was so dissapoited in the way they focussed on everything that is bad about Margate. I work in Margate and I can see lots of things Margate people can be proud of.
The Theatre Royal – A beautiful theatre. The second oldest theatre in the country and a fantastic line up of shows this year.
The Indian Princess Restaurant – Currently being inspected by Michelin and hoping for a Michelin Star in 2010. Rated No 1 restaurant in KENT by Tripadvisor reviews with visitors coming from London to eat there. Possibly the Best Indian in the country.
The Tudor House – 16th century 2 storeys timber-framed Tudor house
The Margate Caves and shell grotto – an extraordinary curiosity
I believe Margate has the potential to be something amazing. It has natural beauty and I belive will soon follow Ramsgate and Broadstairs.
Sorry, I was actually disagreeing with your last comments.
Hello, J walker – I understand your point was to disagree not agree with me.
We probably have more common ground than you think (if you read other of my blogs about the local area, etc..)
Tudor House is very interesting but rarely open to the public so how many people really will want to come and look at it from the outside for a few minutes, then walk up to the Shell Grotto?
The Shell Groto is amazing – as I’ve stated previously – but probably not enough to draw people here from far. The combination of these 2 atractions by foot will take up 1 hour of your day trip, then what?
Margate Caves are closed to the public.
The Margate Caves and similarly the extensive Thanet Tunnels have never been made a great attraction, whereas if you visit the caves in Hastings you will see what can be done. There is a good tourist attraction (which I visited in both early 1990’s and just a couple of years ago).
The Theatre Royal is a beautiful Theatre, I agree, and I have performed there a couple of times.
Thanks for Recommending the Indian Princess, I’ve not eaten there but I love Indian food so I will try it ASAP.
One half decent restaurant and no decent hotel stock is a low point to start from!
http://www.jeremyjacobs.com/2009/05/06/the-apprentice-margate-episode/
Yes I agree there is alot to be done in Margate before people will travel to visit in numbers but it has huge potential as its history shows. What we should all be doing is focusing on all that is great about Margate and not what is bad about it as I feel this makes the situation worse.
Some of the small business’s that are stuggling should be commended for what they are doing in Margate and we should support them otherwise we will end up with something much worse.
“Yes I agree there is a lot to be done in Margate” – Understatement of the century(ies)
I could have done a lot better. I was disappointed that the solutions were not more inventive.
1. A word of advice – get a spell check add-on – you use WordPress and so you have no excuse for your spelling and your grammar. And please don’t take it personally; if you are out there, as it were, expecting people to take the time to read your “offerings”, then you should take the time to ensure it is presented properly.
2. I’ve had an interesting, and saddening tour of the Thanet Blogs tonight. Having read them, it is easy to understand why Thanet is history. It’s difficult to understand exactly what point you are trying to make in your post but good luck with that.
Miss Montenaro
My word you are a bit hard on me!
I generally pride myself on quite well written blogs – grammar, spelling and all.
I re-read this one and address 4 spellings. I changed one sentence to make it easier to read.
I generally agree with you that what people write in their blogs should be written so that others can read and understand it.
HOWEVER
A blog – ie a diary. Someones thoughts.
Written in a few quiet minutes of their busy day.
One can not expect the high quality of English that you would get in any formal writting.
Miss Montenaro
I didn’t really understand your second point.
The point I was making with this blog was commenting on a specific TV prog and saying that Thanet has some great potential and some real downsides.
I can’t agree with your comment that Thanet is History, based on sellective reading of a few blogs. I can tell you, however, that Thanet has an amazingly interesting history.
Love the blog. Love the conversation going on betwen posts. You guys are great.