broadstairs-old-town

Saturday, June 11th, 2011

We’re officially claiming the invention of the term ‘Broadstairs Old Town’. And if you think you’ve heard it before somewhere, well you haven’t. You’re imagining it – probably because you’ve had too much to drink. Again.

Anyway, Broadstairs Old Town… It’s got a certain ring to it, don’t you think? Granted it’s historically, geographically and factually inaccurate – an estate agent’s wet dream – but it’s what we’ve randomly decided to call part of Broadstairs. At least until it fails to catch on or someone sues us.

The part of Broadstairs in question – the ‘Old Town’ – is the bit from Charlotte Street round to York Street, twisting through Chandos Road and petering out in Chandos Square. Now, fair enough, this area of Broadstairs is no older than any other part – but it’s no newer either and many of the buildings are genuinely from the olden days – so we feel comfortable. Anyway, what are you going to do about it? Have another drink probably.

But what’s so great about this place we’ve just made up, this Thanetian Narnia? Well, it has a whole heap of shops and businesses, some long-established, but many which have sprung up in the past few months. And there are some little classics here. The best include Arrowsmiths and the Bottleneck on Charlotte Street, Harrington’s the venerable ironmongers on York Street, and there’s even one of those places where fish eat your veruccas for you.

Of course, there are a few slightly more ‘quirky’ businesses, notably the pleonastically, yet imprecisely, named Antiquarian Antiques. In fact, we counted (and we use the word ‘counted’ in the sense of ‘guessed’) around 15 shops and businesses in this little area.

But possibly the most exciting place of all in this bustling, creative quarter (yes, we really did just say that) is the forthcoming Salon Bohemia. Due to open later this month, Salon Bohemia is hiding itself coquettishly behind its black and gilt curtains, breathily teasing us with whispers of V&A crockery and gold-plated cutlery downstairs and a boutique hotel upstairs. The outside of the salon has been painted salmon-pink – suggestive (apparently) of vintage underwear and Jean-Paul Gaultier. And you can even apply for exclusive private membership.

Whatever would Charles Dickens have made of it all?

the latest

you reckon

LO as I suggested, breeding is all dear boy. [...]
According to Sir Reginald on Waitrose moving to Broadstairs?

LO, what goes up does not always come down and let [...]
According to Sir Reginald on Waitrose moving to Broadstairs?

Wasn't the whole country built on Victorian values [...]
According to Locals Only on Waitrose moving to Broadstairs?

Nanny has just chided me for my inelegant tone, sh [...]
According to Sir Reginald on Waitrose moving to Broadstairs?

75 Responses to “Broadstairs Old Town”

  1. Dave says:

    Have a laugh – broadstairs is shit!

  2. Broadie Mag says:

    Thanks for your input Dave! ahem Brilliant, love it. It seems to have worked elsewhere so bandwagon here we go. For clarity, are we including Morrellis? or is that in a captured time zone of its own. Think the boundaries should stay ambiguous then businesses/properties will become near to Old Town even if they are in Kingsgate.

  3. isleone says:

    Broadie, yes, Broadstairs Old Town should be more conceptual than geographical. It should be everywhere and nowhere, mostly nowhere.

    Dave, how can you say anywhere with a conceptual, semi-ubiquitous Old Town is shit? You’re clearly not an estate agent.

  4. Owen says:

    Some good creative/constructive input from you Dave. Unfortunately, like some parts of Margate, the people attempting to improve parts of each town are met with conflict from those who either don’t care (in which case you’d think they wouldn’t have the time or effort to comment or act…see above) or dont want the change.
    The Pier was constructed in 1530-something so i guess ‘Broadie’ can get away with parts of it known as ‘Old Town’

  5. isleone says:

    Good point, Owen. And in “fact”, if you take a look at this Facebook page you’ll see that the stick in Viking Bay is actually 1000 years old: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=72531374940

    According to legend, Julius Caesar tied his boat to that stick when he landed in Britain. Apparently he was just popping into Harringtons for some screws.

  6. I work in folkstone,dover as I cannot get peolpe to book their holidays,hotels,flights on our web site.I would love to make a living in broadstairs & internet but it is all about the walk in customer in broadstairs.Folkstone & Dover peolpe (approx 100 peolpe and all of ward & partners staff)always ask where do you live “old town broadstairs/beach” or near new town west wood cross.Some come to old town 1st for lunch a wander around shops then west wood cross.Most visit west wood cross and lunch in old town.All moan about traffic jams to get into west wood cross,but always point out there is two ways to old town then vist west wood via ramsgate!!

  7. fiona says:

    Now that we have an old town do we get regeneration funding? Think you’ve been hanging round those Save Broadstairs High Street Hacks Isleone. Talking of hacks – thanks Dave for your positive input. maybe its shit because you’re not in it? Or maybe you are and bringing it down. Broadstairs Old Town – BOT – has so much to offer and is like the circle of life – youth and sex at salon bohemia, marriage at bridal shop, diy at Harringtons, kids at Helter Skelter Play Centre, back to diy at Harringtons, round corner to Gore bros and a swift half in Charles Dickens if you’re lucky. Thank the lord for the Bottleneck!

  8. isleone says:

    I like the sound of the BOT, especially next to Margate Old Town which is, of course, the MOT. Which I think makes Cliftonville the chin rest.

  9. Old Timer says:

    Broadstairs is wonderful and doesn’t need much changing about it.

    If I could offer some advice to new businesses coming to the town, it would be to make an effort to get on with long established businesses. Do your homework first. Don’t open up near to a pub or greengrocers which you know you are going to get some noise from and then start issuing noise abatement orders. All that happens is that you alienate the long time residents of Broadstairs who aren’t likely to recommend you or spend any money in your business.

  10. isleone says:

    Or else… Eh, Old Timer?

  11. Broadie Mag says:

    What have you started Fishy

  12. Old Timer says:

    Isle One

    I’m a bit confused as to your question?

  13. Fiona says:

    Agree Old Timer – you so need to get on with your neighbours in this town. When does your status change from DFL to Old Timer?

  14. isleone says:

    We all need to love one another, Old Timer.

  15. Old Timer says:

    Right

    Just to make one thing clear. I do not have any links with any business in Broadstairs other than being a customer. I think the town is a bit like a patchwork quilt, made up of odds and sods (in the nicest possible sense) which when all combined together makes the place work.

    But I still feel you need to get on with your fellow retailers, because at the end of the day, if you upset them, they aren’t going to recommend you to their customers or daytrippers DFW, the W standing for wherever, as believe it or not, it isn’t only Londoners who visit Broadstairs.

    So, to sum up, don’t live near the coast if you don’t like Seagulls, the pub if you don’t like late night revellers or a shop if you don’t like delivery lorries.

  16. isleone says:

    Thanks for the clarification Old Timer. Always helpful for people to know what they can and can’t do.

    I think the point about the original post on this page was that here is part of Broadstairs that is thriving. It’s remarkable how people can turn that into us and them.

  17. Thanet Janet says:

    My giddy aunt. Having had a few sherries this lunchtime I feel compelled to contribute. Firstly, isn’t all this guff on Isleone a bit tongue in cheek anyway? So have a sense of humour. Please.

    Secondly, I am a BBB* but welcome the DFLs (sorry, DFWs) and anyone else who happens to visit our lovely town. Old Timer, I couldn’t agree more that retailers should all work together – but this works both ways surely?

    Come on, there is room for everyone. Let’s all try and get along a bit better. Out with anger in with love I say.

    *BBB – Broadstairs Born and Bred.

  18. Locals Only says:

    More utter tripe from the DFL’s. There was another idea not so long back by yet another DFL who came to Broadstairs. That was to call it “Broadstairs Village”.
    You are only local if you were born in Thanet, just moving here doesn’t make you “local”. I have seen time and time again DFL’s attempt at new ventures, only for them to run off back to London when it all goes wrong.
    Leave Broadstairs the way it is, we do not want it to become another Brighton, if that’s what you want move to Brighton or try Margate that’s ripe for a DFL invasion. Broadstairs charm is that it stays exactly the same, we welcome all the DFL’s to Broadstairs to spend money, but please don’t buy our houses as holiday homes, and please leave our beaches clean. But most of all remember London is ruined, its dirty and over crowded and over priced, that’s exactly what we don’t want in Broadstairs.Think about improving London first and leave your silly ideas for London. But most important always go back to London. Preferably when you have spent all your money.

  19. my 2 pence worth! says:

    goodness me. looks like lots of people have a lot to say about our little town. This stuff happens in every town up and down the country. There;s nowt wrong with our visitors, yes they may walk really slowly down the high street forgetting that some of us have to rush about in our breaks and they may stop in the middle of the pavement outside every estate agent but do you know what, this is a great little town and we only survive in the winter becuase of all the holiday makers in the summer. Just a shame that everyone with such passionate feelings about the old town don’t care about the real issues in B’stairs and help the rest of it be turned into a corporate town. Man up people, don’t rant about the un-important things! make a difference for a change keyboard warriors.

  20. my 2 pence worth! says:

    “Locals Only” – Who said we don’t want Broadstairs to change? We’d never survive without DFLs leave them alone. Or do you want town to go the same way as Margate?

  21. Locals Only says:

    You need to read my post properly, I’m all for taking the money the DFL’s spend. But I do not want them coming with crazy ideas for our town. Same as I don’t want them buying up property as holiday homes which are never used.
    Of course they have plus points but attempting to import ideas from places like Brighton/London will not wash in Broadstairs.
    I have recently heard a comment from a DFL who informed me that “someone from Tower Hamlets Council should be brought in to run Thanet Council”
    This is exactly the moronic statements I hear daily.
    What next build a Mosque because Broadstairs doesn’t have one yet. After all there’s loads in London!

  22. isleone says:

    Locals Only, I think you’ve unwittingly come up with a brilliant idea: Broadstairs Village is a superb proposal. Someone else suggested an Arts Quarter to us today and we would add to that a couple of further areas (or enclaves, if you will).

    First, there should be a ghetto for all the DFLs who don’t want to mix with locals. This will be named ‘New Brighton’. Second, there should be a Locals Only zone for all the locals who can’t bring themselves to talk to an outsider.

    Then all the rest of us can just get on with our lives.

    Incidentally, often the people littering the beach are kids who appear to have been born in Thanet (though I haven’t been able to ascertain this).

    My 2 pence worth! – hear, hear. I’ve never said that before and I just wanted to try it out.

  23. isleone says:

    Locals Only, I think anyone who read the original post would realise it’s a piss-take.

  24. Locals Only says:

    Actually the worst people for anti social- behaviour and litter seem to be from the Medway area. The local scum are just an annoyance at the very best.
    I think what’s being lost here is that why do people from London seem to think that they can always do things better? When in London they can’t even get the tube to run on time if at all.
    Like I said thank you for your money DFL’s the last train back to London is in 20 minutes.

  25. isleone says:

    I love the way you have a sliding scale for litterbugs.

  26. Thanet Janet says:

    Well, that’s the mystery of beach littering cleared up (so to speak). Locals Only, could you shed any light on who is responsible for letting their dogs foul the pavement the most? I’d really like to see them named and shamed.

  27. My 2 pence worth says:

    Locals only. Can I perhaps suggest you move very far away from town as it clearly annoys you far too much. May I suggest a small island just for yourself.

  28. isleone says:

    I bet it’s the Medway bunch. Litterbugs and dog-shitters.

  29. Broadie Mag says:

    WTF what started as a really funny, over the top, piss take of preciousness has turned into a squabble about dog poo!!! I want you all to go into a corner & stay facing the wall until you have decided you can be nice people & make friends.

  30. Locals Only says:

    Dog shitting on pavements is mainly caused by the staffordshire bull terrier brigade, usually complete with can of strong lager and a joint. Mainly from the St Peters area.
    However my real pet hate is dogs on the beach full stop. Another is those of you dog owners who carry the shit bags for your pet ,are happy to clear it up, then just leave a shit filled bag on the beach hoping the tide will wash it away.
    As for Medway, my favourite is the Medway bracelet as worn by both men and women from Medway. Often worn on ankles, comes in black and gray. The get out of jail early kind of bracelet.

    2Pence I was under the impression I was already on an Island. Island of Thanet ring any bells.

  31. isleone says:

    Locals Only, you are classic. You don’t have pet hates, you have an entire menagerie of dislikes.

    Would you be interested in writing a piece for us – ideally a breakdown demographically and geographically of all the people you don’t like, but could be on any subject of your choosing? We will publish it on the site.

    Incidentally, here is our take on New Brighton from nearly a year ago: http://isleone.co.uk/not-the-new-brighton

  32. Locals Only says:

    yea no worries, as the great Trent Reznor once said “you know me, I hate everyone”
    I’ll gladly write a piece for you.

    and don’t even get me started on Jed I could write an entire novel on him.

  33. isleone says:

    Great. Locals Only, can you drop me a line here with your email address: http://isleone.co.uk/contact

  34. Paul - been here for years!! says:

    What a great response to a superb piss take!!

  35. DFW says:

    Locals Only I’m sorry to inform that you are an amdram King Canute. Floods of people are leaving London. Anyone with a little capital (in property or in the bank) and critically children but without the desire or the extra to fund private schooling automatically make plans to get out when the child hits 2, if not before. That’s because the alternative in much of London is for their child to be an ethnic minority in a school where English is, if they are lucky, a second language or third. The criteria for a quality of life post-children is very different to pre. Then there are the retirement aged and..

    With the property prices in Thanet, great beaches, architecture and grammar schools the IOT will tick many mobility boxes. Don’t fret, pet. Those with pseudy metro entrepreneurial ideas will plummet quickly their capital absorbed by retail freeholders and local tradesmen while those with more nous will have a better chance of staying.

  36. Locals Only says:

    DFW its not a problem will just burn the DFL’s out if we have to. Same as the Welsh did when it became fashionable for the new money London brigade to try to move in there.
    May I recommend Norfolk as an alternative option for all DFL’s. Or maybe Australia?
    Its quite simple don’t ruin our town in the same way London has been ruined.
    Broadstairs seems to be fashionable at the moment but you will get bored and a new “in” place will get a mention in the Sunday Times and you’ll all up sticks (just like what happened with Whitstable) and Broadstairs will be run down over dinner tables by equally boring people who try to use big words to look intelligent.

    Not in my town DFL’s.

  37. isleone says:

    Locals Only – the offer still stands, you can write a piece for this site. You can pick your topic – your theories of economic migration, Welsh nationalism, arson – and everyone will have the benefit on this site of seeing a balanced point of view.

    A lot of people would be interested to know why you think an influx of people from elsewhere would ruin Broadstairs. Presumably you’re afraid all the DFLs will instigate a late-running tube service?

    Everyone has to come from somewhere and I imagine that even you or your family came from somewhere else originally…

    Like I said above, contact me on http://isleone.co.uk/contact and we can discuss. You can blog under whatever name you like, all completely anonymous.

  38. DFW says:

    Locals Only it seems from your reply that you are not just a bile filled cask of resentment but also a delusional fantasist.

    It is not the use of words of more than two syllables that suggests your level of intelligence (or the lack of it) but more the making silly tin-pot revolutionary threats on a public website, no doubt without using a proxy before doing so. Must do better.

    The thing is to be fair to you if you laid out your grievances with some coherence I would probably largely agree with them: the raising of house prices, local displacement, disappearing of the familiar.

    I can’t really see though how a few shops that try to bring a ‘London’ or ‘Brighton’ sensibility to the area though is such an issue. They will either survive and find a place or disappear to be replaced by the next.

    If you want DFL/W money locally (as your posts suggest) then having shops that cater to their tastes, or vanity alongside all the others is a good way to do it, is it not?

    If you dislike the changing high street, direct your ire towards Iceland, Tescos and the like. The sad thing is many of those who land on the IOT have probably done so because of similar pressures elsewhere and who would have been otherwise quite happy to remain in the area of their childhood memories.

  39. Locals Only says:

    Message sent containing a contact email.

    I only wish there was an underground in parts of Thanet, namely Newington, Millmead, St Peters, and Ramsgate Town. That way I wouldn’t have to look at the great unwashed when passing through.

    I’m fine with Welsh nationalism at least they stay in Wales unlike the Scottish who seem to be everywhere and are only to quick to tell you how wonderful Scotland is. If its that wonderful, move back there. Hadrian built a wall for a very good reason.

    I was born in,Thanet as was my mother, and grandmother and grandfather. My father was born in Liverpool to a mother from Ireland and a father from London. My father is an original ’60′s DFL and I’ve never liked him much either!

  40. Old Timer says:

    Locals Only

    Oh dear, what a troubled soul you are.

  41. Locals Only says:

    DFW.

    You really need to lighten up and stop taking yourself to seriously its the internet not real life, however I don’t need to hide behind a proxy as I would say anything I do on here to anyone face to face. I say it as I see it, straight. I’m not asking you to agree with me I don’t even care. Its just a rant nothing more.
    Trust me I have more intelligence in my little finger than you will ever have.

    I actually like Iceland, they are lovely people I mean look at Bjork for starters. As for a changing High St I’m all for a McDonalds in Broadstairs “Old Town” at least then I wouldn’t have to go one of the local kebab houses and suffer the effects the day after.
    I’m all for a DFL season so at least we could get it out of the way in one go?
    I’m actually going to start a Twitter feed, lets go viral!

  42. Locals Only says:

    @Old Timer

    yea but at least I’m not old. Are you dead yet?

  43. fiona says:

    Isleone may I congratulate you on your new venture: vent.com, of rant.com – does everyone feel better now?

    Still like the thought of Broadstairs Old Town, especially as my lovely little business is in it! Come in folks for coffee and tlc, and we’ll make it all better for you. You’ll find some DFLs who want to contribute to the community and appreciate very much being here!

  44. DFW says:

    LO,

    I need to stop taking myself to seriously.. where?

    Little fingers are an unusual location for grey matter, I hope that yours is larger than the average, it remains to be seen.

    So by your own admission you are 50% outsider, is that right? How about those other locals who suggest all your family need to be local, not the progeny of holidaying interlopers who steal ‘their women’?

    Myself I rarely take seriously, one of the benefits of being here and reacclimatising to a different pace of life but the issue itself is a serious (and very interesting) one. There is no Thanet focused forums for access to these perspectives, sadly.

    Fiona, I have to say yes. Being of general right wing tastes, I do quite enjoy LO’s multi pronged assault on various things Thanet and abroad. Gentility and love-ins have their place but it’s always a little more interesting to hear dissident/dissonant voices.

    Perhaps Isle One can give LO an occasional column, liven the place up a little. With a little crafting perhaps we have the Peter Simple of Broadstairs in waiting or a simpler man’s Theodore Dalrymple…

  45. Locals Only says:

    Were these DFL’s so keen to contribute to the London community from which they came? Or do they just see us country bumpkins as ripe for the taking?
    Why do DFL’s think they have the right to start renaming anywhere in Broadstairs? After all shops in the “old town” open and close more often than my fridge door.

  46. isleone says:

    Locals Only will hopefully be writing something for IsleOne in the near future. I’m sure we’re all looking forward to it enormously.

  47. Locals Only says:

    I’m moving to Brighton better class of DFL down there.

  48. DFW says:

    LO “I’m moving to Brighton better class of DFL down there.”

    As a presumed single man you will also double your chances of a date there too.

  49. isleone says:

    @DFW, um, probably not in Brighton.

  50. Locals Only says:

    that’s Brighton Australia.

    It would be very silly to “presume” anything about me DFW.

  51. DFW says:

    Yes, yes of course LO.

    I will truly look forward to your forthcoming screed and I wish you the best of luck in its construction. May you become a focal point for such voices to gather around. First the essay, then a blog and then the TV series.

    You’ll be able to purchase an oversized whinging Pom’s bolthole in Brighton Australia (well one of them) before you know it.

  52. DFW says:

    Shame..

  53. Locals Only says:

    DFW the perfect example of exactly the type of DFL we don’t want.

    I’m going to call the TV show, “DFL’s, A Warning from History.”

    You have new money written all over you DFW and I can’t even see you.

  54. DFW says:

    I have to say with all honesty, Locals Only, that you are immensely amusing. If we lived in another age I might request a cage be constructed and have you placed inside to direct random comments at those within earshot like an irascible Cockatiel.

    In our own minds we are all nature’s Dukes and Duchesses. I see a thick seam of cod-aloofness winding its way through your comments.

    Not new money, not a Thatcherite arriviste, just a small businessman who hires a couple of locals and who has plans to expand that to more next year, Dei gratia.

  55. my 2 pence worth! says:

    Can I just say to all reading this that Locals Only has his/her personal views (for what ever reason) they by NO means reflect what the rest of us think.!!!!! we welcome whoever wants to visit!!!!!!

  56. fiona says:

    Isleone – wouldn’t there be better balance if DFW got their own blog too? And to be honest, find prejudiced, non pc crap incredibly dull and old fashioned; especially as your new blogger didn’t understand the irony behind your article and used it as excuse to rant.

  57. DFW says:

    Fiona “find prejudiced, non pc crap incredibly dull and old fashioned”

    Fiona, the alternative would be to suggest we have a rule of thumb to only utter exciting, fashionable and only pro-PC statements. The wider population is not so minded (nor even are the old bastions of PC, see the Comment is Free section of the Guardian website).

    And among the many social problems locally (IOT) some of them are exacerbated by the influx; or at best those social problems are seen through the prism of the DFLs even if they are at present in manageable numbers.

    That’s why I personally am fascinated by this perspective.

    Where I used to live there was a local web forum. Many of the contributors were admittedly self deluding (many from those desperate to retain their property values) but you got to hear a range of opinions but they did offer a wide smorgasbord of opinions.

    Sadly locally there is no such thing. Various bloggers, Twitterers and independent news outlets but that’s about it. Thanet itself is quite diffuse so perhaps an overarching forum would fail.

  58. isleone says:

    Fiona – maybe…

  59. DFW says:

    Sh’d have quality checked the above..

  60. Locals Only says:

    Is this the Fiona who was praying for sunshine for the Abba weekend (which was a great success, very well done) and yet wished rain upon all the beach traders for the rest of the summer, as it would drive the tourists to her indoor business?
    You see those sort of comments get around especially in such a small place as Broadstairs. It doesn’t go down well with the local traders who rely on a hot summer to earn a living. Those very people who use your business.
    These kind of London attitudes where you’ll sell your own grandmother/soul don’t go down well.
    I actually welcome DFL’s to come to Broadstairs and spend money, what I don’t want is crap ideas for parts of the town, or self centered London type attitudes. The type of visitor I want is the DFLFTD, down from London for the day.
    What do you DFL’s want next? A seat on the council, to take over Folkweek? Water Gala has already been taken away from the people who ran it for years and we now have gypsies from Canterbury doing it. Same as we have a fun fair by the same people nearly every bank holiday. From what I’m lead to believe the local traders it effects were not even consulted.
    I find the Liberal, two faced, politically correct, middle aged DFL boring. But you know what they say about opinions there are like arseholes everyone has one.

  61. isleone says:

    I think it’s probably fair to say that there’s a big difference between wishing for rain and actually causing rain to happen.

    I’ve even heard local people wishing for rain to help their gardens or allotments.

    I don’t really think you can have that as a “London” attitude.

  62. DFW says:

    LO “What do you DFL’s want next?”

    Not parking on double yellow lines on both sides of narrow streets would be nice.

    Oh and maybe chuck the council out and turn Pierremont Hall into a Wetherspoons.

    ………….joke

  63. Spooky says:

    UTLH,WTLATCB

    ‘Used to live here, went to London and then came back’.

    Feel like I’m between a rock and a hard place in determining my true identity. Do I have a reduced residence time in order to be accepted, or should I simply end my life?

    Didn’t need a passport to travel here, was that right?

    ‘The world is like a great big onion’.

  64. isleone says:

    Spooky, that’s a difficult one. I think even LO would agree that the criteria change like the weather as he himself is from DFL stock.

  65. fiona says:

    Wow – selling my grandmother – my comment was more of a desperate attempt to bring attention to fact that my business is struggling as much as the next person’s. And I think that my recent track record demonstrates very clearly that I promote other businesses (prob better than my own). Am very aware of the talk that goes around, and am very happy to be described as boring, middle aged, pc.

  66. isleone says:

    LO, stop winding everyone up and concentrate on writing your blog post. That way you can have a pop at everyone properly – and vice versa.

  67. Locals Only says:

    But I was actually born here that’s the difference.

    Sorry to say Spooky if you leave it re-sets the clock. Your a DFL for life.

    If anyone knows anybody who is able to create rain can we do it at night. Me I’m hoping for a long hot winter to keep people out doors longer.

    The London attitude is that DFL’s are happy for misery to others as long as it doesn’t effect them, the rain was just an example. A lack of consideration for others, they have probably stepped over one to many dead bodies on the streets of London.

  68. isleone says:

    It’s boring now.

  69. Locals Only says:

    you wait for my blog that will bore you. On it now.

  70. Spooky says:

    Locals Only

    Thanks for your mention, can you help though?

    Problem is- that in London now, I’m considered a UFB (Up from Broadstairs). Also they gave me a similar answer as you, ‘that I’ve left means I’m a UFB forever’.

    Christ, blatant, churlish, pathetic prejudice is really confusing.

    Don’t you agree?

  71. bertie says:

    20% of housing stock in St Ives bought by second home owners and weekenders. Unfortunately these second home owners contribute much less to the local economy than say, a family of four moving in.
    The second home owners or (DFLs if you like) opposite us bought what most would describe as a starter home for the very occasional weekend they spend down here. Thats one home less for a young family who live and work here, less to the local economy, because they’re never here, and less neighbourly-ness in our road (because most of the homes have now been bought up as weekend retreats). Great if you want to move here and become an active part of the community in the town of your choice, you’ll be welcome as far as i’m concerned, otherwise, why not just book a hotel. They have however enabled Broadstairs to become the Coffee capital of the world, with more coffee shops per head of population than any other town in the South East……although what that has to do with “Old town ” is anyones guess.
    As for “Spooky”, dont fret, we regularly hold rehabilitation classes for wtlatcbs at The Neptune…….mmmm, Shepherd Neame

  72. Locals Only says:

    I can’t do nothing for you Spooky it would mean a change in the Thanet constitution.

    My advise Bertie, burgle the weekend retreat across the road repeatedly, it will soon become un-insureable and they will move to Margate where the whole cycle can start again.

    The coffee shops could be worse, we could be Ramsgate and have largest proportion of mobile phone unlocking shops. Run by obvious terrorists.

  73. Locals Only says:

    Spooky, wear gloves very important that.

  74. Spooky says:

    bertie

    Problem I have with the second home moan in Cornwall and Devon, is that the original local home owners are quite happy to profit in the first place, despite their sons and daughters obvious need for local affordable housing.

    I did try and suggest to a property owner in St Austell once, that he may consider selling his house to the local housing association at a sub-market level with letting rights to local people, this I thought would be an excellent way of increasing the stock of affordable accommodation for young local people. There is also an excellent Shared Ownership (Part Buy/Part Rent) scheme.

    The fellow told me to Crantock Off or he’d slice me Lizards with his Bodmin.

    Don’t know what people think about Broadstairs local home owners considering a similar proposal-one for future consideration, and it would keep the property available for local lads and lasses to stay in the area. Seems like a win win to me.

    Thanks for the nod on the rehab in the Neptune. Hope it is open for a UFB to enroll?

    What is-wtlatcbs?

  75. isleone says:

    Okay. I’m closing the comments on this post.

    LO, you are going to have to do better than this in your blog post. Your theories on who leaves the most litter behind and the origin of Thanet’s dog shit are funny, perhaps unknowingly. Calling people terrorists lacks imagination.

    Thanks to everyone for their opinion. Please keep a look out for our next post which is entitled ‘Let’s change St Peters name to Pinktown and make it the gay capital of Kent.’