Eat your heart out Wossie! (Whatever happened to him? - Ed.) Reader Frances has pointed me in the direction of yesterday's Sunday Torygraph and yet more proof of what I have always known, that Ramsgate is the isle's premier town. Reviewer Zoe Williams describes our very own Age and Sons as 'brilliant'! Zoe, who clearly has excellent taste, writes:
I should warn you before I start that, when a new restaurant opens in a town you visit often, in which hitherto the best boast of the restaurant circuit was 'all you can eat', you arrive with a certain intoxicated delight that nothing short of being served dog on toast is going to shift.
In the back alleys of Ramsgate is an old wine warehouse that in east London would house 75 ad execs and a clan of rats, but here has been turned into a lovely, large, inviting establishment – downstairs a bar decked out in bleached wood, upstairs a swankier restaurant, with directional halogen lighting, exposed brick, enough of a sense of quirk to have kept the building's Victorian atmosphere, but an overriding sense of hospitality. It says, 'Come in! Stay as long as you like!' Maybe you think all restaurants say that. Not in London, chum.
Quite. Another triumph for the Millionaires' Playground!
Click here to read full review in Sunday Torygraph
Click here for details of Age and Sons
38 comments:
I work in advertising and I have just bought a house in Ramsgate. (Much to my surprise, when i moved in I found that three of my neighbours in Ramsgate also worked in advertising in London). Amongst people in London there is a real buzz about Ramsgate being the place to live.
The review of Age and Sons is spot on...
This is how it started in Brighton. One or two nice places and the whole thing snowballed. The revolution of Ramsgate has begun.
Funnily enough the last time I went into Age and Sons there was a very young girl trying to run front of house. She couldn't find a menu or even say what was on the menu for that day and instead of asking would we like a drink while she sorted things out, she wandered off leaving us waiting while the chef yelled from the kitchen that 'this was off and that was off'. After waiting a good ten minutes with no-one dealing with us, we left. It would appear to have improved since then but it wasn't that long ago.
How do you feel about planes flying over your house day and night from an airport the size of Stansted Mr Advertising?
I think the last comment about Manston being the size of Stansted is rubbish. I have worked at a lot of UK airports, including LHR, LGW, STN & LTN and and you're looking at something more akin to Norwich International Airport, busier than Manston but no where near that of Stansted.
NORWICH ARRIVALS
http://www.norwichairport.co.uk/arrivals.asp
STANSTED ARRIVALS
http://www.stanstedairport.com/portal/page/Stansted%5EGeneral%5EFlight+information%5ELive+flight+arrivals/
I feel very bad about planes flying overhead day and night but am assured it is never going to happen...If it does it will be a disaster and I for one will move elsewhere. (Mr Advertising).
Dear 10.47, you do seem to have got around a bit? Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and Luton eh!
Oh sorry, you put it in code so the normal reader would not understand,nudge, nudge!
So you can't hold down a job, therefore that makes you an expert in domestic and international aviation does it?
10.47 could be an airline pilot whose planes fly to different airports or he could be in Customs and Excise or Special Branch who go to different areas where needed.
"I think the last comment about Manston being the size of Stansted is rubbish."
Are you suggesting that the illustrious leader of KCC, is talking through his *rse?
We may think the airport will never get to stansted sizebut matt clarke thinks he will. In a letter to the competition commission he wrote ".. With particular regard to direct competition ...... Posed to stansted by Kent international airport."
Paul carter has had 10mm passengers in his local plan for years.
Whether ramsgate residents want it or not, the idiots in power do. If the airport gets to a few million passenges it will get the transport links to get to stansted size. It has to go opposed relentlessly.
Age and sons- excellent on all counts.
What are the chances of Infratil withdrawing? They are losing money on it.
(Mr Advertising) move to Westgate, its lovely, but don't tell everyone, its a secret.
Steve - I loved your misprint - how do 10mm passengers travel - in the luggage rack?
I'd welcome an influx of wad-laden Londoners but they need to understand just how parochial/xenophobic this area is. I've been living here for 20 years and I'm still referred to as an 'outsider' by people who were living here in the 50's and 60's.
Probably the worst offenders are Councillors, many of whom moved to the area but behave as if anyone else who did as they did should not have a say in how the area is run.
By all means bring your wad to Ramsgate but, be prepared to get involved. A simple way to start would be a letter to the local paper explaining how things are done elsewhere. For example, you could explain how other Councils manage to collect rubbish without throwing it all down the street, or you could explain how other Counils manage to offer recycling schemes for plastics.
Sure as eggs, you'll get some moron replying to your letter:
"I've been living here since they evacuated me from London in a cardboard box. Rubbish? You don't know what you're talking about. I remember when we used to dump rubbish in Pegwell Bay and stop it washing out to sea with clapped out cars. In my day, jobs went hand-in-hand with filth and pollution, so the more filth and pollution the better, I say. All these moaners need to go back where they came from. Bah humbug!"
Sounds good sport. Where do I write?
Well of course the hoverport apron in Pegwell Bay was built out of old rubbish - slag from the local mines. Which is now 40 years later leaching out into the SSSI (the hoverport went bust in the early 90s when the council tried to put their rent up during a recession). What a fantastic legacy.
Another example of the kind of forward, future proof thinking that goes on around here. I bet they all shouted JOBS! back in 1968 as well!
I agree with you. I am new to Ramsgate and have been struck by how defeatist people are - people in Ramsgate seem to be very accepting of low standards.
What is so wrong about this is that Ramsgate has everything - the sea, unbelievable architecture and a proximity to London.
The only thing that holds it back is the acceptance of low standards.
It's time Ramsgate got its confidence back. It has every right to (post Waterloo history and all that).
FFS why does every post have to have some moron harping on about Manston?
I vote that unless there is any actual news about: Manston; Thanet Aquifier; Sericol and China Gateway, that anyone going on about them should have to donate £5 to the RNLI. The whining with nothing new to add is all getting a little tedious. Newsworthy articles are of course most welcome.
Age & Sons, Good.
Surin, Good and ethical too
Arrivals board for Manston, you left it out..
http://daisy.kia-m.com/
The reason residents in this area are accepting of low standards is that they have had no choice up until now. Some of the lowest wages in the country, high unemployment, an incestuous self-serving Local Council and developers moving in to asset strip,full of promises and delivering nothing (Harbour Arm, Lido, Sea Bathing Hospital etc)
I'm sure if you travel to a high paid job in the city and have your home here as a pied a terre, you won't notice, but for people who have to live AND try and work in the area, nothing has changed.
What happens in Ramsgate is up to us. Why does everybody always talk about the council like some all powerful parent?
A phrase for Ramsgate - YES WE CAN
9.30am, you know what I mean!
Nigel, if you are referring to me as a moron and my posts tedious, you don't have to read them.
I suggest if you want to edit posts you set your own blog up.
Er, chaps, let's try and keep it matey. Steve and Nige, kiss and make up, please!
Was recommended Age and co - by "DFLs" and once got over the monday and tuesday lack of opening have been twice and had excellent meals. A young brother and sister whose father has invested in the property - forward thinking. Need more of those types and to be encouraged not having TDC shut down the only tourist attraction in Ramsgate and sell off another part of the harbour too -how short sighted in vision for flexibility for the future is that? sooner they are are out the better - maybe it will take the January spectacle to finally oust them?
Of course. Nigel, sorry for having an opinion.
I hope everyone has objected to the masterplan who has commented on here. Only takes a minute. It may also be worthwhile voincing your concern to Steve ladyman and tdc.
More positive news about the airport on bbc today. If noises on blogs is the only fuss people are making, we won't be able to hear ourselves think in a year or twos time.
Dear 11:55. You haven't a clue what I do for a living. Same job in aviation for 22 years. We tend to move about in aviation, it goes with the territory, idiot.
Steve et al,
I was only referring to those who provide no new information, and try and hijack most of the postings. For instance, I would quote 10.12pm.
So certainly not aimed at Steve, who only jumped in later on.
If it's new info, then I read with much interest.
Steve, have a xmas hug matey, and keep up the good work all you ardent Thanet bloggers.
I'm off to Shipshape for a cuppa and slice of cake :)
Hmmm Strikes me that someone only likes hearing about Manston when the news is good. Trouble is, the only good news about Manston is maufactured. A case in point would be today's announcement on Ceefax that they've taken delivery of two new vehicles. Do we get a press release when Stagecoach buys a new bus?
I'm afraid, Nige, that as long as Manston is being hyped and misrepresented as the answer to this area's problems; as long as huge sums of public money are at risk; as long as nobody does anything about the goddammed noise, you will just have to read postings about it. If you don't like it, move somewhere else because you and your kind will not be shutting me up.
That's enough talk about flying, babe... now let's talk about me!
An interesting point about the new machinery. Is it brand new or hand me downs from another infratil airport?
Whilst Age & Son may be marvellous, it is not quite accurate to claim that 'this is how it started in Brighton', Anon 8.47. For a start, Brighton is a city which is host to two universities,and is therefore populated by a disproportionate number of well qualified people, and is also only an hour from London by train.
And anyway, do we really want Ramsgate to be like Brighton...full of media tossers who overly gentrify the area and push the poor into sink estates?
Ramsgate is a lovely place to live...leave it be!
Ramsgate will only be 1.15 from London in November next year. I am looking forward to an influx of media tossers who drive out the no hopers.
I don't quite get the thing about being poor. The argument being put forward seems to be that there are no jobs in Thanet. But, it emerges that many of those who aren't poor commute out of the area to find employment, some as far afield as London. Thanet is full of idle slackers who constantly bleat and whinge about the lack of jobs in the area. Why don't they emulate those they envy so much, and get on the train in search of work? Why is Council policy constantly driven by the creation of jobs for slackers who really don't want to work, instead of the needs of those who support the local economy? I think we should be told.
Well said.
We all need to make Ramsgate better by getting off our arses and DOING something. Getting a job, an education and making a change.
And here is the probelm.9.52pm's comment.
Large town and small citys thrive on a mobile population. People come and go bringing ideas and change with them.
9.52pm sound like a thanet gatekeeper checking for credentials as you enter the isle. Not from here,sorry take your high disposable income and naff off to whitetable.
Keep it up 9.52 and the only change ramsgate will get is the leftover change once margates redeveloped.
Steve, I think you are missing a point here. Having loadsamonies move in who only spend the last few hours in the weekday evenings and the weekends is not going to solve the basic problem in Thanet which is the lack of a viable LOCAL economy. Years of employers expecting to pay next to nothing, combined with lack of foresight on the part of the Local Government have led to an unsustainable situation. If you want Thanet towns to become retirement and dormitory then yes bring on the monied part time resident immigrants. Otherwise how about thinking about a way in which people will come to Thanet not just for cheap property by the sea or a quick and cheap flight out, these are low brow, quick fix temporary solutions that benefit none of us in the long term, but for actual diversion and entertainment based on an economy that can benefit people who live here full time. As for layabouts, if you think Thanet has a problem with that, you don't get out enough.
Local economies don't depend on local work. People travel to work and bring in the money from outside. This is a 'global economy' we have to make Ramsgate an attractive place to live to people from miles away.
11.01 I agree with you entirely. My point is no-one should be excluded, all forms of money/investment - dfl's, shops, restaurants, thanet earth etc should be encouraged.
People wouldn't want to move in if there was no local ecomomy.
I never post anything about thanets non workers. They are very much in the minority around here but seem to take up most of the councils time and cash. I would rather concentrate on those who want to contribute to the area, like age and sons
Well, we went to check out Age and Co. after reading about it here on this blog! They've done a lovely job renovating the place. Downstairs bar is nice too. Had a bit of a hit and miss meal though. I ordered partridge which came raw on one side. I was nice about it and wasn't sure how it should be cooked. Asked the waiter who came back from the chef and said it was meant to be like that. I tried to cut into it more and the leg was really totally raw. it got cooked again, but this time when I tasted it it really tasted very very storng, like green cheese. So I left it and had pudding instead. When the bill came we'd been charged full price for everything. Nevermind. I looked up partridge online after and I'm pretty sure it's not supposed to be really raw like that or necessarily so pungent. I expected gamey. Not sure I'll go again after that. Shame.
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