This little shop is filled to the brim with retro furniture, lighting, bits and bobs for the home, as well as local produce, sweeties and Margate rock. It is also a coffee shop, so you can enjoy a hot beverage while spending all your pennies on old milk bottles and wire baskets. I was particularly fond of the old wooden sledge in the window, but sadly we haven’t yet had any snow!
The treasures in Margate Retro General Store appear to stray across the road to Fort Road Yard, which is, as you might expect, a yard with a few bits and pieces of retro furniture strewn about. I spotted a gorgeous retro bureau, but sadly it had already been sold (and the Texan might have been a bit peeved with me if I ended up buying yet another piece of furniture…). I have later discovered that Fort Road Yard often hosts local events, including live jazz music, so perhaps you’ll be lucky enough to stumble across such an event when you visit.
This was my favourite shop in Margate! It is packed with retro furniture, as well as some older Arts and Crafts pieces, paintings, cameras, typewriters, ceramics, ephemera, vintage toys – you’re bound to find something that you love. Prices were very reasonable – I had to resist the large wire baskets for £28 (I already have too many boxes and baskets!) – and the owner was very nice, with no pressure to buy and more than happy for us to take photos and browse.
A vintage clothes shop, this tiny space was crowded with what I can only assume was a local rock band when I visited, and I can see why – denim jackets, plaid shirts, an array of knitwear and sheepskin coats, HFW Vintage sells clothes for cool kids. Although I certainly don’t consider myself to be remotely cool, I did like the sixties vibe of their coat collection – so definitely worth a quick browse.
Madam Popoff Vintage, 4 King Street
This kooky vintage clothes shop houses an impressive selection of dresses dating from the 1950s-1980s, as well as some colourful knitwear, wool skirts and silk blouses. They also have a display cabinet of fun vintage and new jewellery, including some Tatty Devine pieces which I was told have been selling like hot cakes!
Another mid-century treasure trove of furniture, lighting and industrial pieces, Margate Retro also has smaller bits on offer, such as old radios, baskets, cameras, trunks, kitchenalia, clocks and bottles – and the shopkeeper wears a brown coat like they did in the olden days, cute!
This beautiful shop-front houses what is really more of a junk shop, but amongst the unwanted hoovers and board games, there are some goodies to be found – in particular, old suitcases, West German pottery and vintage train sets. Just come prepared to rummage.
The Shop, Market Place
This is not strictly an antique or vintage shop, but it is vintage-inspired and certainly deserves a mention. It sells lots of old style kitchenalia, cushions, throws (one of which I bought, and Chutney has taken a liking to!), scented candles and gifts, and is a really well laid out and pretty shop. It also hosts workshops and classes in the back of the shop, but I’m afraid I couldn’t find a website (it must have one, can anyone assist?) to link to. In any case, don’t miss it – it’s on the corner of Market Place.
One for the boys, this vintage clothes shop is packed to the rafters with tweed, wool coats, lumberjack shirts, denim and shearling and leather. It is a Kinfolk subscriber’s dream shop, with its Midwest American vibe and Nordic winter knits. The Texan isn’t hip enough for Breuer & Dawson, but your beau might be…!
Dolly Miller's, 20 Market Place
Browsing this sweet vintage shop is like raiding Nana’s wardrobe, but in a good way! The rails of clothes were a little twee for my taste, but the jewellery selection was delicious – 1960s gold bracelets, pearls, brooches – I couldn’t help myself but part with my pennies for this little Edwardian brooch (my collection is getting to be quite impressive!).
Frocks ‘N’ Stock is actually a charity shop, for Pilgrims Hospices. When I visited, a young lady was trying on a cinnamon coloured coat which looked incredible on her. Two old ladies in the shop (you can just about see them through the window in the photo!) were comically complimentary of said coat, and I did wonder if they had been paid to persuade people to buy! I ended up coming away with a gorgeous grey jacket for my mum, for just 15 quid – it was promptly added to her ridiculous pile of Christmas presents, and I think she liked it very much!
Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous
And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the shop in the Turner Contemporary. Although it doesn’t sell antique or vintage bits, it does have a solid collection of unique pieces from local designers. The Texan treated me to a pair of earrings, which I’ve pretty much worn every day since!
A few extras which I didn’t have a chance to visit:
- Junk Deluxe, located inside R G Scott Furniture Mart, within the The Old Ice Works, in Bath Place
- Rough Trade, 5 Fort Road
- Helter Skelter, 13 Market Place (I couldn’t find it!)
After all that shopping, I can assure you that your tummy will be rumbling! Mullins Brasserie in Market Place does an awesome mussels and frites, or why not grab a takeaway fish and chips and have them on the seaside?
