Latest news with #DanThompson
The Irish Sun
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Our once-deprived seaside town has become UK's ‘Shoreditch-on-Sea' filled with influencers… it's a blessing & a curse
LOCALS claim their once deprived seaside town is becoming an influencer hot spot. Residents say the sudden influx of 5 Margate is home to a huge community of relocated Londoners Credit: Getty 5 The seaside town has been dubbed 'Shoreditch-on-sea' Credit: Getty Cliftonville West, an area of The town has earned a new nickname amidst the growing relocation of middle class, big city workers, now branded "Shoreditch-on-sea." According to Cliftonville West is now reportedly the place in England that has been most gentrified over the past ten years. Read more in News Following the Second World War the town didn't build any new hotels, a new theatre, conference centre or other attractions to keep up its seasonal trade. Relying almost exclusively on this seasonal holiday trade, Margate began to decline and became on of the most deprived areas in England. Following the slide into deprivation the town's hotels have been left neglected and ill suited to Most read in The Sun Dan Thompson, an artists and historian, was left homeless for six months after struggling to find an affordable rental property. He said Margate has always been a bit rough and added that bids to make it a more attractive neighbourhood made it a town built to attract DFLs. We live in UK's trendiest seaside town that's home to 'national treasure' beach lido - but NOBODY can swim in it In the 2000s hospital admissions for drugs and alcohol were five times the average for Kent and by 2010 it was the 33rd most deprived area in England. Since then the town has turned things around with new attractions bringing in The opening of a gallery on the seafront in 2011 contributed more than £110 million to the local economy and by the end of the decade things began to turn around. Rock band, The Libertines converted a dilapidated B&B into a boutique hotel and the neighbourhood was set to be named the coolest in the country by Time Out. 5 Locals say DFLs price them out of homes Credit: Alamy 5 DFLs have brought a new wave of tourism to the area Credit: Alamy After the pandemic Dan Thompson moved to the area before the Thompson told The Telegraph: "The wave that came down during and post-Covid were coming down seeing the town as finished. "It had coffee shops, it had wine bars, it had galleries, it had all of that. They were coming down as consumers.' New residents who moved after the pandemic claim that old timers hate the DFLs. Sophie Brown, 34, moved from south London eight years ago, she now runs a queer bar and She said: 'There are a lot of old-time Margate people who absolutely hate DFLs like us. "They think that we're coming in to gentrify the place and really destroy it. "We think we're making it better and also trying to make things better for The influx of wealthy Londoners has caused house prices to skyrocket and left locals without the means to afford their own town anymore. Sophie continued: 'People that were born and bred here, they're pretty angry at us. We are part of the problem, there's no sugar-coating it.' While New businesses, fine dining and street food has seen the tourism industry slowly pick up again. Dan Thompson added: 'If you'd have come here in 2004 and spoken to 'Now even the most grumpy of locals, who are moaning about the dog s*** and the bins not being emptied, they'll also tell you that the beaches and the sunsets are beautiful.' 5
Scottish Sun
06-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Our once-deprived seaside town has become UK's ‘Shoreditch-on-Sea' filled with influencers… it's a blessing & a curse
The town was once the 33rd most deprived area of England SHORE DEAL Our once-deprived seaside town has become UK's 'Shoreditch-on-Sea' filled with influencers… it's a blessing & a curse Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LOCALS claim their once deprived seaside town is becoming an influencer hot spot. Residents say the sudden influx of Londoners is both a blessing and a curse with the thousands strong gentrifying force now relocating to their town. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Margate is home to a huge community of relocated Londoners Credit: Getty 5 The seaside town has been dubbed 'Shoreditch-on-sea' Credit: Getty Cliftonville West, an area of Margate, has seen a huge influx of so called DFLs (Down From Londoners) since the pandemic. The town has earned a new nickname amidst the growing relocation of middle class, big city workers, now branded "Shoreditch-on-sea." According to The Telegraph nearly 6,000 people from the capital relocated to the area since the Covid-19 pandemic. Cliftonville West is now reportedly the place in England that has been most gentrified over the past ten years. Property in the area now costs double what it did in 2010 and the number of residents who are university graduates has almost doubled between the 2011 and 2021 censuses. Following the Second World War the town didn't build any new hotels, a new theatre, conference centre or other attractions to keep up its seasonal trade. Relying almost exclusively on this seasonal holiday trade, Margate began to decline and became on of the most deprived areas in England. Following the slide into deprivation the town's hotels have been left neglected and ill suited to locals in need of housing. Dan Thompson, an artists and historian, was left homeless for six months after struggling to find an affordable rental property. He said Margate has always been a bit rough and added that bids to make it a more attractive neighbourhood made it a town built to attract DFLs. We live in UK's trendiest seaside town that's home to 'national treasure' beach lido - but NOBODY can swim in it In the 2000s hospital admissions for drugs and alcohol were five times the average for Kent and by 2010 it was the 33rd most deprived area in England. Since then the town has turned things around with new attractions bringing in tourists, money and relocaters. The opening of a gallery on the seafront in 2011 contributed more than £110 million to the local economy and by the end of the decade things began to turn around. Rock band, The Libertines converted a dilapidated B&B into a boutique hotel and the neighbourhood was set to be named the coolest in the country by Time Out. 5 Locals say DFLs price them out of homes Credit: Alamy 5 DFLs have brought a new wave of tourism to the area Credit: Alamy After the pandemic influencers began to flock to the town bringing a new, wealthy group to the area. Dan Thompson moved to the area before the gentrification and has lived there since, working to help improve the area. Thompson told The Telegraph: "The wave that came down during and post-Covid were coming down seeing the town as finished. "It had coffee shops, it had wine bars, it had galleries, it had all of that. They were coming down as consumers.' New residents who moved after the pandemic claim that old timers hate the DFLs. Sophie Brown, 34, moved from south London eight years ago, she now runs a queer bar and community space in the town. She said: 'There are a lot of old-time Margate people who absolutely hate DFLs like us. "They think that we're coming in to gentrify the place and really destroy it. "We think we're making it better and also trying to make things better for local people.' The influx of wealthy Londoners has caused house prices to skyrocket and left locals without the means to afford their own town anymore. Sophie continued: 'People that were born and bred here, they're pretty angry at us. We are part of the problem, there's no sugar-coating it.' While gentrification has made it harder for locals to afford the town, it has brought back some of the tourists. New businesses, fine dining and street food has seen the tourism industry slowly pick up again. Dan Thompson added: 'If you'd have come here in 2004 and spoken to local people, you wouldn't have wanted to come back. 'Now even the most grumpy of locals, who are moaning about the dog s*** and the bins not being emptied, they'll also tell you that the beaches and the sunsets are beautiful.'
The Sun
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Our once-deprived seaside town has become UK's ‘Shoreditch-on-Sea' filled with influencers… it's a blessing & a curse
LOCALS claim their once deprived seaside town is becoming an influencer hot spot. Residents say the sudden influx of Londoners is both a blessing and a curse with the thousands strong gentrifying force now relocating to their town. 4 4 Cliftonville West, an area of Margate, has seen a huge influx of so called DFLs (Down From Londoners) since the pandemic. The town has earned a new nickname amidst the growing relocation of middle class, big city workers, now branded "Shoreditch-on-sea." According to The Telegraph nearly 6,000 people from the capital relocated to the area since the Covid-19 pandemic. Cliftonville West is now reportedly the place in England that has been most gentrified over the past ten years. Property in the area now costs double what it did in 2010 and the number of residents who are university graduates has almost doubled between the 2011 and 2021 censuses. Following the Second World War the town didn't build any new hotels, a new theatre, conference centre or other attractions to keep up its seasonal trade. Relying almost exclusively on this seasonal holiday trade, Margate began to decline and became on of the most deprived areas in England. Following the slide into deprivation the town's hotels have been left neglected and ill suited to locals in need of housing. Dan Thompson, an artists and historian, was left homeless for six months after struggling to find an affordable rental property. He said Margate has always been a bit rough and added that bids to make it a more attractive neighbourhood made it a town built to attract DFLs. We live in UK's trendiest seaside town that's home to 'national treasure' beach lido - but NOBODY can swim in it In the 2000s hospital admissions for drugs and alcohol were five times the average for Kent and by 2010 it was the 33rd most deprived area in England. Since then the town has turned things around with new attractions bringing in tourists, money and relocaters. The opening of a gallery on the seafront in 2011 contributed more than £110 million to the local economy and by the end of the decade things began to turn around. Rock band, The Libertines converted a dilapidated B&B into a boutique hotel and the neighbourhood was set to be named the coolest in the country by Time Out. 4 4 After the pandemic influencers began to flock to the town bringing a new, wealthy group to the area. Dan Thompson moved to the area before the gentrification and has lived there since, working to help improve the area. Thompson told The Telegraph: "The wave that came down during and post-Covid were coming down seeing the town as finished. "It had coffee shops, it had wine bars, it had galleries, it had all of that. They were coming down as consumers.' New residents who moved after the pandemic claim that old timers hate the DFLs. Sophie Brown, 34, moved from south London eight years ago, she now runs a queer bar and community space in the town. She said: 'There are a lot of old-time Margate people who absolutely hate DFLs like us. "They think that we're coming in to gentrify the place and really destroy it. "We think we're making it better and also trying to make things better for local people.' The influx of wealthy Londoners has caused house prices to skyrocket and left locals without the means to afford their own town anymore. Sophie continued: 'People that were born and bred here, they're pretty angry at us. We are part of the problem, there's no sugar-coating it.' While gentrification has made it harder for locals to afford the town, it has brought back some of the tourists. New businesses, fine dining and street food has seen the tourism industry slowly pick up again. Dan Thompson added: 'If you'd have come here in 2004 and spoken to local people, you wouldn't have wanted to come back. 'Now even the most grumpy of locals, who are moaning about the dog s*** and the bins not being emptied, they'll also tell you that the beaches and the sunsets are beautiful.'
Business Wire
30-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
PMSI to Provide Innovative Tech-Enabled Support for Dart Bank
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PMSI, a leader in tech-enabled investor reporting and accounting solutions, is excited to announce it has engaged by Dart Bank to deliver comprehensive investor reporting and accounting services. Dart Bank, an established Michigan-based financial institution founded in 1925 will leverage PMSI's advanced Q platform to achieve its strategic innovation objectives. 'Behind every loan we service is a customer, a family, or a business that is counting on us to get it right," said William J. Hufnagel, President & CEO of Dart Bank. "Partnering with PMSI helps us move faster and stay flexible while maintaining accuracy, which translates into a better experience for our customers and partners." By leveraging Q, residential mortgage servicers benefit from: Increased efficiency, quality & scalability Greater ability to adapt to market shifts through operational flexibility Reduced technical debt Lower risk of financial loss Stronger investor and servicer relationships 'We believe value and success are created when two partners share the same core values,' said Dan Thompson, CEO of PMSI. 'Dart Bank is known for its relationship-driven approach and forward-thinking solutions and so are we. We are excited about the long-term opportunities ahead.' To see how PMSI can help transform your organization, schedule a demo today at About PMSI For 25 years, PMSI has been a trusted partner for data-driven residential mortgage investor reporting and accounting. The company's unique solutions help leading loan servicers improve operational efficiency without sacrificing quality while offering unmatched transparency into the underlying causes of investor cashflow errors. The company is based in Henderson, Nevada, and is privately held. About Dart Bank Founded in 1925, Dart Bank is a Michigan-based financial institution committed to providing innovative banking solutions while maintaining the personal connections that define a true community bank. With a strong presence in mortgage lending, treasury management, commercial banking, wealth management, payment processing, and cannabis banking, Dart Bank blends the technology and resources of a large financial institution with the personalized service of a local bank. Headquartered in Mason, MI, Dart Bank has 13 offices, more than 360 employees across 23 states, and assets exceeding $1.3 billion. For more information, visit
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New Messiah Christian Academy eyes former Mineral County school
FORT ASHBY, — For 35 years, Dan Thompson worked in various roles, including administrator at Calvary Christian Academy. Now, he said, it's time to put the past behind and look to the future. Thompson doesn't want to criticize his former employer, but said he left the school due to concerns about church leadership related to CCA. 'It was best that I step aside,' he said. Today, Thompson is an organizer of the new pre-K through 12th-grade Messiah Christian Academy. He will apply to be the new school's administrator, a position that must be approved by MCA's board of directors. MCA is incorporated in West Virginia. The academy registered — with the state's education department — notice of intent to operate as a nonpublic school and received a federal tax employer identification number. Roughly 80% of the new school's staff positions are filled, and more jobs are expected to be added as MCA grows. Thompson hopes MCA will open by early September. 'I'm an optimistic person,' he said. 'I also have to be a realist.' Purchase plan'We struggled to find a place,' Thompson said of locating a facility that can house between 100 to 200 students. The former Frankfort Intermediate School building in Fort Ashby offers a prime opportunity for the new academy's location, he said. The facility was removed from operation in 2024 after Frankfort Elementary was built to merge Fort Ashby Primary, Wiley Ford Primary and Frankfort Intermediate. The former Frankfort Intermediate School The former Frankfort Intermediate School 'We don't own the building yet,' Thompson said. 'We're hoping to purchase the building.' The former school, which can facilitate roughly 400 students and includes amenities such as a cafeteria, gym and outdoor recreation spaces, is set for auction next month, he said. 'For us as a school, it would be walk-in ready for the most part,' Thompson said. 'It would give us plenty of room for growth.' 'The beginning'MCA 'will follow all the state regulations for maintaining a school,' he said. Annual per-student tuition will be $5,500 and the new school will accept HOPE scholarship funds that provide roughly $5,000-plus per year for students who live in West Virginia, Thompson said. An income-based student-aid program is in the works for families that live in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Initially, parents will be responsible to take their children to and from the new school; however, transportation options will be explored in the future. The new school will focus on Christian education and be 'open to anybody,' Thompson said. 'In the beginning, God created,' he said. 'That's our foundation.' Various detailsPolicies, bylaws and a constitution are in the planning stage. Students likely will not be allowed to have cellphones in the classroom, Thompson said. 'My experience is, without phones ... education is a whole lot better,' he said. MCA MCA will include a homeschool umbrella and work with families to cover educational needs and allow for participation in school activities and team sports. The new school's colors will be navy and gold, with a warrior as its mascot. A tax-exempt fund has been established for donations that will help the school buy the Fort Ashby building and invest 'in the lives of students effecting generations,' Thompson said. 'We certainly could use some assistance financially,' he said, adding that the new school will also create a positive economic impact on the Fort Ashby community as families visit local restaurants and other businesses. New startOldtown, Maryland, resident Kaitlyn Crabtree's children, one elementary- and the other middle-school age, were students at CCA and are now registered for the upcoming MCA. 'My husband and I are really passionate about Christian education for our kids,' she said, adding that their oldest daughter graduated from CCA and recently completed her college education. 'She was very well prepared,' Crabtree said. Although 'Calvary has been great for our kids,' it's time to move on, she said. Crabtree said she's pleased to have a new option for her children's education. 'It feels good,' she said. 'I'm thankful for this other opportunity.' Keyser resident Heather Haynes echoed that sentiment. 'I think it's a great thing,' she said of school options. Her eighth-grade son was a student at CCA. 'I don't have anything bad to say,' Haynes said of CCA. However, 'it's been a rocky year,' she said. Now, her son and his kindergarten- age sibling plan to attend the new Messiah school. 'I couldn't imagine putting his younger brother anywhere else,' she said of enrolling both sons at MCA. 'They're very close.' Thompson said his wife, Tammy, teaches third grade at Calvary but will soon stop. 'She's finishing out the year for her students,' he said. Over the years, the couple taught many area students, as well as some of their parents, Dan Thompson said. 'We love what we do,' he said. 'We just need to do it again in a different place.' To register or learn more, visit
