We’re sorry to say this — and it’s hard to admit publicly — but CAMP is in real trouble. Some of that’s on us, some of it’s the dynamics of the community here in Margate, and some of it’s the wider economic and political climate in the UK. But however we frame it, this is a crisis for CAMP.
We’ve tried for nearly four years to make CAMP a self-sustaining business — paying staff and performers, running not-for-profit events for LGBTQIA+ groups, covering bills, VAT, and everything else that comes with keeping a physical space open. The truth is: it’s no longer possible to do all of that and stay afloat.
We do have a longer-term plan — if we can make it through the next few months. Sophie has been speaking with several national funders who are keen to support us if we transition into a “community-space-first, bar-second” model. That means CAMP would open mainly on Fridays and Saturdays as a bar, and otherwise host funded community events and projects. It’s a model that could work — but the funding isn’t immediate.
We built CAMP because we believed Thanet — and Cliftonville in particular — needed a queer space. If the community no longer feels that way, or if CAMP’s time has simply passed, we’ll accept that. But if people do still want us here, we need help — now.
We’ve poured our personal savings into CAMP, and none of us have ever taken a penny out. We’ve kept covering bills ourselves, but we can’t keep doing that. The financial strain — and the emotional toll — have become too heavy.
We don’t want to be another statistic in the story of queer venues closing. We love this place. We love what it represents. But we need people to show up — to donate, to attend, to help keep the lights on.
There’s a donation link in our profile for anyone who’s able to contribute. Over the next week, we’ll know more about whether CAMP can stay open.
To everyone who’s supported us over the last four years — thank you. You’ve made this space what it is. Between queer running clubs, craft groups, book clubs, open mics, trans socials, over-50s meetups and countless performances — we’ve tried to make CAMP a home for anyone who needs it. We’ve made mistakes, but we’ve always cared.
We still believe in what CAMP can be. But maintaining community spaces is hard work — and right now, it’s make-or-break time.
If you’ve got ideas, want to get involved, or just want to talk — please reach out.
