The history of Margate’s once mighty Winter Gardens

It’s more than two years since the final curtain fell across the stage of Margate’s Winter Gardens and now a colourful new book looks through the keyhole to explore the building’s 110 years plus history.

Entitled A Salute to Margate’s Winter Gardens, this is the 10th publication in a series of nostalgia books written by Whitstable journalist and author Nick Evans.

Renowned as Thanet’s premier concert hall, the Winter Gardens was once a beacon of variety shows, music and entertainment for thousands of people who packed through its doors every week to take in a show.

After it opened in the summer of 1911 the neo-Grecian style amphitheatre welcomed some of the biggest names of their day in music, singing, dancing and comedy. The long list of luminaries who have trodden the boards of its impressive stage reads like a who’s who of showbusiness.

Building the Winter Gardens in 1911 - thousands of tons of chalk had to be excavated. The huge main hall was originally a place for spectacular concerts and dances and the building even boasted its own resident orchestra. Artists who appeared here in the early days included Dame Nellie Melba and Anna Pavlova. Later, the most famous comedians on the planet, Laurel and Hardy would have audiences laughing at the venue, while in 1963 the Beatles would raise the roof during a six-night residence.

During the Second World War the Winter Gardens acted as a receiving station for some of the 40,000 troops landed at Margate during the Dunkirk evacuation. The building was hit by bombs during the war but was rebuilt and strengthened. After the war political greats such as Sir Winston Churchill and Clement Atlee would come here to give talks on the stage for political party conferences.

Unfortunately, like many other British seaside towns, Margate suffered a decline in visitors during the 1970s as holidaymakers opted to jet off abroad rather than spend their breaks at home. Just like the world famous Kursaal in Southend, the Winter Gardens ended up as collateral damage due to the loss of tourist appeal and the end would eventually be nigh for both iconic buildings.

Postcard of the Winter Gardens in 1913 Nick, 65, who has worked as a journalist for decades and grew up in Thanet, has a special place in his heart for the venue which inspired him to write his latest local history book. He said: 'One of my earliest memories of the place was when I volunteered as stagehand when I was a teenager for a local drama group’s pantomime. I was just so amazed at the place, although I’d been there many times to see pantomimes and shows, I’d never been backstage. I was struck by the building’s grandeur and what real excitement there was at being able to perform there.'

A Salute to Margate’s Winter Gardens includes numerous photographs of the building’s construction and the wide range of events held there over the years. A colour section features Winter Gardens posters produced between the 1950s and the 1970s.

During the 1980s and 1990s Mike Nichols was the Winter Gardens official photographer, capturing dozens of celebrities before and during their performances at the venue. Mike has kindly allowed Nick to build an entire chapter around his work with subjects including Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, The Three Degrees, Hank Marvin, Lulu, Rod Hull and Emu, The Drifters and The Osmonds.

Signed photo of comedians Laurel and Hardy who appeared at the Winter Gardens in 1947 'This chapter alone provides us with a remarkable record of just some of the faces who came to Margate,' said Nick. 'The majority of them have been pictured away from the madding crowds, looking quite relaxed, so that makes them very special.'

Nick has penned a number of books about Kent history and the Winter Gardens – which officially closed in August 2022- evoked many memories from his childhood as he was conducting his research.

He is thrilled to have secured a number of rare photos of the entertainment venue during its golden age to share with readers.

Dancing the night away on the night of Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953 Image: Thanet District Council SEAS Heritage Collection He said: 'I’m delighted also to have been granted access to the SEAS Heritage Collection of photos taken by Cliftonville based Sunbeam Photography which offered images unseen for 60 or more years. These pictures of events demonstrate the sheer versatility of the Winter Gardens. Everything from a Royal British Legion Remembrance ceremony to a political party conference, a flower show or a celebratory dinner and dance.'

Before it even closed the Winter Gardens was falling into a state of disrepair. The ageing historic building, which is grade II listed, is in need to a mammoth makeover that will stretch the purse strings in order to bring it up to scratch.

A number of ideas about its future have been laid on the table and now Thanet Council are hoping to secure a new operator for the venue following an initial £4 million repair project.

A Royal British Legion ceremony of Remembrance in the 1960s Image: Thanet District Council SEAS Heritage Collection 'If it’s going to be restored to its former glory- or any type of thriving entertainment venue- it’s going to take a lot of money, there’s no doubt about that,' said Nick. 'But it could be done.

'The closure of the Winter Gardens has been mourned by many so we can only hope Thanet Council continues to be successful in raising enough money to restore the building and that better days are not too far away- just look at Dreamland just down the road from the Winter Gardens, it has totally reinvented itself and is doing well as an open-air concert venue.

'My biggest fear is that the Winter Gardens is just left to rot while the right investors or new owners can be found and that would be a travesty. People need to know about its important history.

Poster for Larry Grayson summer show in 1973 'In writing this book I suppose I want to get the message across, this is what the Winter Gardens used to be like – this is it’s history, and this is what it could be like once again!'

A Salute to Margate’s Winter Gardens costs £13.50 and is on sale at The Eclectic Art Gallery, Broad Street, Margate; Westgate Galleria, Station Road, Westgate, and Lovelys Art Gallery, Northdown Road, Cliftonville, and No3 Cards & Gifts in York Street, Broadstairs. Online sales via the books section of shorelinepartners.co.uk.

Author Nick Evans