Medirek covers film, TV and commercial productions at or near Margate, Kent, from its base in Alfold, Surrey. Cover is matched to the production's risk, from a single set medic to higher-level clinicians, ambulance cover, RAMS and tech recces, water safety and fire cover.
Margate offers a sandy seafront, a promenade and harbour arm, an old town of narrow streets, and the classic look of an English seaside resort.
Filming in Margate: locations and permits
Sam Mendes's Empire of Light was filmed in Margate, with Dreamland standing in for the film's seaside cinema, according to the Kent Film Office. Coastal towns like Margate are used for seaside and period scenes, promenades and beaches, and night exteriors. Seafront shoots involve tides, cold water, wind and public close to set, while night work adds fatigue, lighting and cold-weather risks that the medical and safety plan needs to cover.
Who gives permission: the Kent Film Office handles filming for Thanet, including permits for council-owned land, footpaths and roads, and highway filming such as road closures and traffic management. Private venues and landowners give their own permission.
Sources: Kent Film Office; Kent Film Office: Empire of Light
Production safety and RAMS in Margate
Permit bodies and landowners in Margate commonly ask for a risk assessment, and some ask for full risk assessments and method statements. Medirek's production safety advisors can attend your tech recce, write production-specific RAMS you can submit with your applications, and provide an on-site safety manager, plus water safety and fire cover teams where the shoot needs them. Because the same team plans the medical cover, the RAMS and the medical plan match.
Hazards we plan for in Margate
- Tides, cold water and the beach
- Wind and weather on the promenade
- Public close to set
- Night exteriors and fatigue
Medirek looks at these at the tech recce and builds them into the medical plan, including access for an ambulance and the route to the nearest emergency department.
What Medirek provides in Margate
Unit and set medics
Staff are DBS checked, uniformed and hold relevant, recognised qualifications, ranging from FREC 3, FREC 4, ECA and RTACC through to HCPC-registered paramedics and nurses, with doctors where the risk calls for it.
Stunt and action cover
Higher-level clinicians for stunts, vehicle action and SFX, planned with your stunt coordinator.
Ambulance cover and conveyance
Arranged where the risk assessment calls for it. Medirek has 4×4-capable response vehicles for remote and off-road locations.
Health and safety, RAMS, tech recce
Production-specific risk assessments and method statements for your Margate locations, informed by a tech recce.
Water safety
Bankside responders and in-water safety staff in full PPE for non-swift water.
Fire cover
Fire prevention advice and rapid intervention teams for SFX, pyrotechnics and builds.
Insured and clinically governed
Strict clinical governance, overseen by a GMC-registered Medical Director and a clinical team including paramedics and frontline medical staff, for consistent care. Insured with £2m medical malpractice and £10m public liability.
Confidential and responsive
Staff work under production NDAs and confidentiality. We endeavour to help all productions, including last-minute requests where possible.
Getting to Margate
The typical route from Medirek's base in Alfold, Surrey, is via the M25, M2 and A299. Unit base, call times and rendezvous points are agreed when cover is booked. We endeavour to help all productions, including last-minute requests where possible.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cover a night shoot on Margate seafront?
Yes. Medirek can provide medics for night exteriors, with a plan for cold, fatigue, lighting and public around the set.
Do you provide water safety for beach and sea scenes?
Medirek provides water safety for non-swift water. For open sea work, talk to Medirek early so the right arrangements can be agreed for the conditions.
Who issues filming permits in Margate?
The Kent Film Office handles filming for Thanet, including highway filming and road closures.
Can you provide a production safety advisor for a shoot in Margate?
Yes. Medirek's production safety advisors can attend the tech recce in Margate, write production-specific risk assessments and method statements for your permit applications, and provide an on-site safety manager, water safety and fire cover, alongside or separate from medical cover.
More filming locations nearby
Further reading: The most filmed towns and counties in the South and South East