RESIDENTS of a seaside town that's wilder than Ibiza have revealed it has a hidden side that people judge.
Those living in Margate, on the north coast of Kent, have revealed they don't care what others think.
The area has gained a number of nicknames over the years, including Shoreditch on Sea and Camden of the south east.
Now it is also known as the unofficial polyamory capital of England.
Polyamory means to have romantic relationships with more than one person at a time.
It’s not considered cheating as it is all consensual and often blurs the lines of sexuality.
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Tracy Emin’s hometown was already a tourist hotspot, featuring art galleries, posh boutiques, artisan coffee shops and trendy bars.
It also hosts one of the south coast’s hottest parties – Margate Pride where Pride flags are displayed proudly.
With Margate only having a population of some 61,000 for those who enjoy a bit of polyamory, this means they’re very likely to meet someone their partner is dating.
This though isn’t a problem for resident Ruby Rare, who is a sex educator and co-host of E4’s Sex Rated.
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The 27-year-old told Sky News: “It doesn’t feel like a big deal.
"I wouldn't look at them and think 'oh God, that's my partner's partner'. Instead, I'd go 'Oh my God that's a lovely person who is in our wider friendship group'."
As Margate has become something of a destination for people, it’s seen house prices rise significantly.
According to Rightmove, property prices have on average, shot up nearly 50 per cent faster than the rest of the country in the past five years, from £245,199 to £317,036.
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 something of an open secret in the town and Ruby and her pals have just started its first official meet-up for Ethically Non-Monogamous (ENM) people.
Ruby, who moved from South London to the town nearly three years ago, said she loves living there.
She says there’s lots of fun to be had in the “pockets” of Margate that are “queer heaven” but the area is still “economically divided”.
While she said polyamory can feel “weird” at first, it was better than keeping secrets from people.
Writer and performance artist Genevieve Pepper, 45, is also part of the polyamory crowd in Margate but actually lives in Ramsgate.
After her marriage ended several years ago, she started using the dating app Feeld which caters for people looking for unconventional hook-ups.
She said: " Seaside towns have always had a reputation. A little bit seedy, a little bit crazy."
There can be a downside to the lifestyle, as Genevieve admits, as people can often lie.
Some people may also feel pressured to participate, according to Genevieve.
Former Pornhub star Mia Khalifa is also a big fan of Margate, visiting the town in November last year and tucked into a traditional Sunday roast.
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At the time she took to her Instagram page to post pictures of the popular British staple – chicken thigh, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, veg as well as bread sauce – all covered in gravy.
The OnlyFans favourite was suitably impressed, rating it 12 out of 10.
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