Margate Soul Weekender

About Margate Soul Weekender

Margate Soul Weekender 2027 runs from 6–8 August 2027 in Margate, Kent, as a soul-led music weekender by the sea.

2027 is advertised by the official homepage as 26 Years of Soul by the Sea. Festival-history sources place the event’s start in 2002, while the current site footer says Established 2010.

The festival is based around Margate’s seafront, harbour, Old Town and venue network, with the main address listed beneath the Lido sign on Newgate Lower Promenade, Margate, CT9 1DD.

Lineup and Programme

12 official venues are listed for the festival: The Sunset Stage, The Drill Shed Live Arena, Under The Cliffs, Margate Beach Club, Olby’s Soul Café, Barnacles, The Wig & Pen, Duke Street, The Piazza, The Sun Deck, The Lighthouse Bar and Bar Nothing.

The programme covers soul, funk, jazz-funk, disco, boogie, lovers rock, reggae, R&B, Latin, Afro and soulful house. Verified programme elements include live performances, DJ sets, club sessions, beachside sessions, late-night programming, street celebrations, food and drink, and dancing.

No confirmed 2027 headline acts are included in the supplied data.

Who Is It For?

Soul fans across generations are listed as the core audience, including families, friends, dancers, long-time soul lovers and the wider UK soul community.

Age restrictions are not confirmed in the supplied data. Family attendance is referenced by the official festival information, but no specific child, youth or adult-only policy is provided.

The Venue and Site

Margate is used as a town-wide festival site, centred on the seafront and the historic Lido area.

The Drill Shed on the Margate Lido site has a stated capacity of up to 750 people. Other named locations include The Sunset Stage on the Lower Promenade and the late-night Under The Cliffs beach lounge.

No on-site camping is advertised. The official travel information points visitors instead to hotels, guest houses, apartments and B&Bs in Margate and wider Thanet, alongside food and drink options at venues, access support and an official MSW shuttle service between key sites.

Travel Information

Margate Station is the listed rail station for the festival’s venue network.

• Rail: Margate Station is about 7 minutes’ walk to Margate Beach Club and about 10 minutes to Olby’s Soul Café, Barnacles, The Wig & Pen, Duke Street and The Piazza.
• Seafront venues: Margate Station is about 18–20 minutes’ walk to The Drill Shed, The Sunset Stage and Under The Cliffs.
• From London: London St Pancras to Margate takes around 90 minutes by Southeastern High Speed.
• Road access: Listed road routes include the M2, A299 Thanet Way, A28 into Margate and Newgate Lower Promenade seafront access.
• Local movement: The official travel page recommends trains, walking, taxis, buses and the MSW shuttle service between key sites.
• Parking: No dedicated festival parking details are confirmed; official guidance says to plan ahead for parking and local road conditions.