Madonna's recent visit to Margate, where she dined at Cantina Caruso and called the town 'heaven', has cast a spotlight on the seaside resort's deepening social and economic divide. While the pop superstar praised its creative energy, locals warn that the cost of living is hitting many residents hard.
Simona Di Dio, who cooked for Madonna at her candlelit Italian restaurant, said the town had always offered opportunities. But her partner, Harry Ryder, acknowledged that the influx of wealthier incomers, known locally as 'DFLs' (Down From Londons), has not benefited everyone. 'It's not all rosy,' he said. 'She didn't see it all, she saw the art scene.'
Dan Thompson, an artist who moved to Margate 20 years ago, now finds himself homeless after being priced out by rising rents and high-end galleries. He is curating an exhibition called Lost Margate, which examines how successive waves of arrivals have reshaped the town. 'For 300 years, it has only existed to take money from Londoners,' he noted.
Poet Connor Sansby, a lifelong resident, described Margate as 'a place of two halves' in his contribution to the exhibition. He cited the controversy over the opening of a Greggs takeaway as a symbol of the disconnect between those who need affordable food and those who do not. 'They're not interacting with the Margate native population,' he said of the new art-world arrivals.
Projects such as the Perfect Place to Grow cafe, which trains local young people struggling to find work, aim to bridge the gap. Chef David Wilson said the initiative offers 'uninspiring options' for youth employability. Despite the tensions, many acknowledge Margate's enduring appeal. As Thompson put it: 'Every generation that comes in falls in love with it for a slightly different reason.'
