Local campaigns

#ChooseToReuse with The Margate Cup

Margate loves coffee and we're not alone.

#ChooseToReuse with The Margate Cup
Margate loves coffee and we're not alone.
In the UK, 2.5 billion single-use coffee cups are thrown away each year, ending up in landfill and in our waterways. We want to see more people with reusable coffee cups and less single-use plastic on our streets and beaches.

In June 2024, we partnered with Oast and Rise Up Clean Up to launch the Margate cup!
This is a 8oz reusable cup that is returnable and recyclable. A cup is only £2.50, and made from 100% recycled materials. Simply keep it, wash it, and reuse it at any of the participating coffee shops. Plus, you will get a discount for doing so!

Where can I buy the cup?

Oast - 68 Northdown Road, Cliftonville CT9 2RL. Opening hours: 8.30am to 2pm Thursday to Sunday.
Big Shot - 3 Marine Drive, Margate CT9 1DH
The Roller Cafe - Dreamland, Margate CT9 1XJ.
Quex Barn and Restaurant - Quex View Rd, Birchington CT7 0BB.
Louie on sea - Louie On Sea, Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous Margate CT9 1HG

Where can I get the discount for using the cup?
Discounts for bringing ANY reusable cup (including The Margate Cup) are currently available at:

Oast - 68 Northdown Road, Cliftonville CT9 2RL
Curve - 12 The Centre, Margate CT9 1JG
The Grain Grocer - 216 Northdown Rd, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 2QU
Cliff's - 172 Northdown Road, Margate, CT9 2QN
Big Shot - 3 Marine Drive, Margate CT9 1DH
The Bus Cafe - The Sun Deck, Royal Crescent Promenade, Margate, Kent, CT9 5FJ
Forts - 8 Cliff Terrace, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 1RU
Doubloons - 32 Northdown Rd, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 2RW
The Roller Cafe - Dreamland, Margate CT9 1XJ.
Quex Barn and Restaurant - Quex View Rd, Birchington CT7 0BB
Louie on sea - Louie On Sea, Turner Contemporary, Rendezvous Margate CT9 1HG

and we're signing more businesses up. If you're a business who'd like to get involved and get a #ChooseToReuse window sticker, email: plasticfreethanet@co-relate.co.uk
We are looking to get more businesses on board from other towns, such as Ramsgate and Broadstairs.

Each cup can save up to 900 single-use cups from ending up in landfill. Plus, for each one sold, a 25p donation goes to our amazing friends at Rise Up Clean Up.

The Margate Cup and #ChooseToReuse discount scheme is a pilot project that we hope will stem the tide of single-use coffee cups across town. We eventually hope to bring it to other parts of Thanet too.

Each cup can save up to 900 single-use cups from ending up in landfill. Plus, for each one sold, a 25p donation goes to our amazing friends at Rise Up Clean Up.

Read all about it in Cene Magazine.

Frequently asked questions

WHAT DO I DO WITH MY CUP WHEN I'VE FINISHED MY DRINK?

Give it a wipe/rinse and take it with you. Keep it in your bag and use it wherever you go to get discounts and avoid single-use cups. It's lightweight and easy to slip into whatever you're carrying. If you don't want to keep it, hand it back to Oast to keep it in circulation.

CAN IT GO IN THE DISHWASHER?

Yes! It has a lifespan of about 900 washes (even more if you hand wash it) so you can use it again and again.

ARE SCHEMES LIKE THIS REALLY BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

Absolutely. Reuse is almost always better than disposable and the more you reuse the things you already have, the better! If you already have a reusable cup - use that instead.

Don't just take our word for it. Here's what GreenBiz have to say.

I WANT TO SET UP A SCHEME LIKE THIS. WHAT DO I DO?

We want to see The Margate Cup being used across Margate but we don't want it to stop here either. We're keen to see variations across Thanet and beyond.

Please get in touch with us at plasticfreethanet@co-relate.co.uk - we can share what we've learnt with you and help you to set up your own scheme.

Find out more about Circular&Co's returnable cups.