The Oval Bookshop

15/03/2026

Creating Margate’s first free outdoor public gym at The Oval in Cliftonville, giving residents of all ages access to accessible fitness

05/03/2026

We love a literary adaptation!

A huge thank you to CommunityAd for the fantastic feature on The Great Gatsby coming to The Oval Bandstand with the brilliant This Is My Theatre.

We’re delighted to see this beautiful outdoor production highlighted, it’s set to be a truly special evening under the open sky.

Early bird tickets are still available, but they won’t last long. Secure yours here:
https://www.theovalbandstand.co.uk/oval-whats-on/the-great-gatsby-by-this-is-my-theatre

You can also read the full feature in the latest edition of CommunityAd here:
https://www.communityad.co.uk/back-issues/thanet-communityad-magazine-issue-82/

16/11/2025

Christmas is coming (!), which means it's just three weeks until our Festive Bookshare.

Join us on Sunday 7th December, 2pm at The Droit House on Margate's Stone Pier/Harbour Arm CT9 1JD (in the Drum at the back).

It's our usual book chat and swap, but with a festive Secret Book Santa twist.

If you want to, wrap a book, adding a little 'Secret Santa-esque' tag with a couple of clues about the book's contents. We'll then swap these so that we all have a surprise book to open on Christmas Day (or just before if you can't wait!). You can choose to wrap your Bookshare read.

We'll provide hot and cold drinks, as well as some festive snacks. Feel free to bring your own snacks or share some to add to the party atmosphere.

There's no need to book in advance, just turn up. All donations will continue to go to The Garden Gate.

I can't wait to see you there for our final Bookshare of 2025.

Bee
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29/10/2025

📚 The Oval Bookshop Survey Results Are In! 📚

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in The Oval Bookshop community survey — we had an incredible response full of ideas, enthusiasm, and love for books! ❤️

The results are now live, and the message couldn’t be clearer: Cliftonville wants a welcoming, inclusive, community-run bookshop where people can read, relax, volunteer, and connect. From second-hand gems to author events, reading groups, and even a café — your ideas are shaping something truly special.

We’ve read every single suggestion, and many of them will help shape the project as it moves forward.

✨ Read the full results and see what your neighbours said: https://theovalbandstand.co.uk/community-bookshop-survey ✨

Together, we’re writing the next chapter for The Oval — and it’s going to be a great one. 💛

We recently asked residents and supporters to share their thoughts about plans for a new community bookshop at The Oval Bandstand & Lawns. The response was fantstic, offering valuable insight, ideas, and encouragement that will help shape the project as it moves forward. The survey explored how peop...

27/10/2025

Thank you to everyone who took part in The Oval Bookshop community survey!

We’ve now closed the survey and are incredibly grateful to everyone who shared their thoughts, ideas, and support. Your feedback will be invaluable as we move forward with developing The Oval Bookshop — a new, community-run space celebrating books, wellbeing, and creativity right here at The Oval Bandstand & Lawns.

We’re thrilled to share that an overwhelming 73% of respondents said they “definitely” support the idea of a community-run bookshop at The Oval, with a further 17% keen to know more (see the graphic below!). This level of enthusiasm from our community is amazing and really motivates us to make this project a reality.

Stay tuned for updates as we bring this exciting new chapter to life!

20/10/2025

Do you live, work, or spend time in Cliftonville? If so, we need your input!

Fill out the short survey below to help us design a bookshop that meets local needs, and to secure funding and support for the setup.

Together, let’s turn a new page for Cliftonville and create a community bookshop that belongs to all of us.

Deadline: Sunday 26th October

📚theovalbandstand.co.uk/community-bookshop

Have your say and help kick off an exciting new project Do you live, work, or spend time in Cliftonville? If so, we need your input! Fill out the short survey below to help us design a bookshop that meets local needs, and to secure funding and support for the setup. Deadline for responses: Sunday

11/10/2025

Happy International Book Day to all who celebrate! ❤️
Follow our story as we endeavour to become a much loved book shop for everyone in Cliftonville, and beyond.

04/10/2025

26/09/2025

Not long to go until the Margate Bookie! Our top picks include talks from these great writers: David Whitehouse, Adam Weymouth and Xiaolu Gao, plus there's writing workshops, poetry, children's events and a pub quiz. Get your tickets here: margatebookie.com

13/09/2025

🌍🚶🚲 Help us shape the future of travel to The Oval! 🚶🚲🌍

GRASS Cliftonville CIC is developing a future Travel Plan to make it easier, greener and healthier for everyone to reach The Oval Bandstand & Lawns.

We’d love your input — please take a few minutes to complete our Travel Questionnaire:

👉 https://kentsmartertravel.co.uk/x.jsp?ano=26&key=j8j3u5

Your feedback will help us improve walking, cycling and sustainable travel choices to our Green Flag Award park, ensuring we’re planning the right improvements for the future.

🗓️ Please complete by 16th September 2025.
💚 Every response really does make a difference!

05/09/2025

We’re really excited to see the line-up for this year’s Margate Bookie Big Weekend at Turner Contemporary on 11–12 October! 📚✨

A brilliant mix of authors, talks and events celebrating the written word — well worth checking out.

Although our new community bookshop at The Oval isn’t open just yet, we’re proud to support Margate’s literary scene and look forward to playing our part in future.

Find out more and book tickets here: margatebookie.com/big-weekend

Introducing this year’s Margate Bookie Big Weekend line up at the Turner contemporary on 11-12 October 2025.

11 October
• Killer Stories - Crime Fiction
• David Whitehouse
• Raymond Antrobus and Victoria Adukwei Bulley
• Jay Rayner

12 October
• 14 Anthology
• Adam Weymouth
• Xiaolu Guo and Jacqueline Crooks
• The School of Life presents The Secrets of Successful Friendships
• History Walk

Book tickets at margatebookie.com/big-weekend