RESIDENTS of a seaside town wilder than Ibiza have revealed it has a hidden side that people are judging.
Residents of Margate, on the north Kent coast, have shown they don’t care what others think.
The area has received several nicknames over the years, including Shoreditch-on-Sea and Camden in the south-east.
It is now also known as the unofficial polyamory capital of England.
Polyamory means being romantically involved with more than one person at a time.
It is not considered cheating because it is consensual and often blurs the lines of sexuality.
Tracey Emin’s hometown was already a popular tourist destination with art galleries, chic boutiques, artisan coffee shops and trendy bars.
It’s also home to one of the south coast’s hottest parties, Margate Pride parties, where Pride flags are proudly flown.
With only around 61,000 people living in Margate, for those who are into polyamory, this means they are more likely to meet someone who their partner is dating.
However, this is not a problem for resident Ruby Rair, sex educator and co-host of E4’s Sex Rated.
The 27-year-old told Sky News: “It’s not a big deal.
“I wouldn’t look at them and think, ‘Oh my God, that’s my partner’s partner.’ Instead, I would say, “Oh my God, this is a wonderful person who is part of our large friendship group.”
As Margate has become something of a destination for people, house prices have risen significantly.
Over the past five years, property prices have risen on average almost 50 per cent faster than the rest of the country, from £245,199 to £317,036, according to Rightmove.
Francesca (not her real name) is another polyamorous person in her mid-30s who said it was “the fastest wave of gentrification I’ve ever seen.”
She moved to Margate in 2019 and lived there until last winter.
Polyamory is a bit of a secret in town, and Ruby and her pals have just started their first official meetup for ethically non-monogamous people (ENM).
Ruby, who moved to the city from South London almost three years ago, said she loves living there.
She says there is fun to be had in Margate’s pockets, which are a “quaint paradise”, but the area is still “economically divided”.
While she said polyamory may seem “weird” at first, it’s better than keeping secrets from people.
Writer and performance artist Genevieve Pepper, 45, also belongs to a polyamorous group in Margate but actually lives in Ramsgate.
After her marriage ended a few years ago, she started using Feeld, a dating app that caters to people looking for unconventional connections.
She said: “Seaside towns have always had a reputation. A little seedy, a little crazy.”
According to Genevieve, this lifestyle can also have a downside: people can often lie.
Some people may also feel pressure to participate, Genevieve said.
Former Pornhub star Mia Khalifa is also a big fan of Margate. She visited the town last November and tried the traditional Sunday roast.
She then took to her Instagram page to post photos of the popular British dish – chicken thigh, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, vegetables and bread sauce – all covered in gravy.
The OnlyFans favorite was very impressed, rating it 12 out of 10.