Forget this art palaver, families want some fun

HITMAKERS Chas & Dave reckon "Margit" should be setting its sights on attracting families back to the town, not all this "art palaver".

After performing at Margate Winter Gardens, cockney Chas took a look round the town he's been coming to since he was a child and believes the resort should not rely on the Turner Contemporary.

He reckons town leaders need to take a leaf out of Southend Council's book and start investing in bringing more families and bucket-and-spade day-trippers back to our once-famous golden sands.

The 64-year-old Snooker Loopy singer said: "I don't know about all this modern-art palaver: it needs a family thing and I don't think it's got that at the moment.

"We often go down to Southend, which suffered like Margate as well, especially during the 1970s when you got the lager louts. The council there have really turned it around."

"We get down to Margate once a year and we've noticed a lot of places were closing down. It seems to be a bit better this time around but it still needs a bit of doing up. Give it back its family image. It's not really got that any more, although I think Londoners quite like the area as a retreat."

Chas, proud to have worked with dynamite rock'n'roller Jerry Lee Lewis before joining forces with pal Dave, admits that when visiting the isle they tend to spend their time in Broadstairs rather than Margate, the place that gave him and Dave a top 25 hit.

The piano player continued: "We did a summer season down here in 1987 and we stayed in Broadstairs and used to always go to the Mad Chef Bistro. He was a proper character and he really was mad, but it was a really good fish restaurant."

The pair, who have influenced a new generation of singers including Pete Doherty, also used to enjoy fishing off Viking Bay.

Their latest gig in Margate saw a packed audience of all ages enjoy their classic songs including Snooker Loopy, Rabbit and Ain't No Pleasing You.

Chas said: "When we come down to Margate we keep our song Margate as the finale but sometimes we forget to play it. If we miss out one of the songs people want to hear they'll all start hollering. It's nice that we're not just one-hit wonders: we're a few-hit wonders!"

Chas & Dave promise they will be back at the Winter Gardens next year.

Chas has just finished writing a new book which is out next Monday called "Chas & Dave: All About Us"

Readers can enjoy the stories about getting nicked fishing, dealing with dodgy producers, going barmy locked in recording studios, playing with the Beatles and getting drunk and having a laugh.

If you've ever wondered what makes this legendary duo tick – or even which one is which – then this is the book for you.