The 2nd Strong Island Ale – Dry Dock No. 1
As you may know each year we run a home brew competition in February where the winning brew has the opportunity to be brewed by Irving & Co Brewing Co. and sold around the city in the summer. Last year’s brew, the Strong Island Hopper Ale, was hugely successful being one of Inving’s best selling ales and selling out so quickly it went through a second brew run. This year’s winning ale is Dry Dock No. 1, originally brewed by Lee Immins, went on sale in some of Portsmouth and Southsea’s pubs over the weekend.
We spoke to The Hole in The Wall in Southsea who said the new ale went down a storm with it being their best seller on Sunday and with almost two barrels empty by the end of the Bank Holiday weekend. Those guys at the Hole in The Wall and their regular ale drinkers know their stuff so for us this was amazing early news with the ale.
To officially launch Dry Dock No. 1 we are having a launch party with the lovely souls at The Belle Isle on Thursday evening. The ale will be on full flow, come down and try a pint or two. As well as being on sale all around the city the ale will also be available in Chichester’s Belle Isle too, so you can drink it away from home for the first time too.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by steve bomford, Strong Island. Strong Island said: Portsmouth’s Arts Quarter: http://www.strong-island.co.uk/?p=11111 [...]
Tweets that mention Portsmouth’s Arts Quarter | Strong Island | Portsmouth & Southsea -- Topsy.com on November 8th, 2010Portsmouth as a whole is not very culturally or artistically aware. It’s been like that ever since I moved here in the late 1960s.
Linda Williams on November 8th, 2010Some areas are, of course, some people are, of course.
I sell my art online and 99% of my sales are from America and Canada.
I also try to sell locally but there is not much interest. In some areas of the city there is also not much money to spend on what many see as unimportant.
I have sold my art in Emsworth, but not in the North of Cosham. I’d probably sell more in Chichester, if I ventured there. I hope to sell in Westbourne, where for many years they have had a monthly market for “handmade”. The organiser said such a monthly market simply would not do well in Portsmouth. From my own experience I’d agree with her.
This art centre looks fantastic and is a truly brilliant idea. Every time I walk past those empty arches I find myself contemplating how nice a small cafe or music venue would be under the aged stone…But, in a city that does have an upcoming artistic vibrancy, this is much a better use of space.
In reply to the above, I would encourage Linda to take a look at my magazine (www.ballpointzine.co.uk) to have a look at some creative and artistic talent emerging in this city from the student quarter.
Samuel Stockley on November 8th, 2010Much as I love the arts, the Round Tower upgrade is very welcome, but is there a neccesity to make all those arches into a modern gallery look. Why not promote it much like a art market(eg. paris), allowing all artists to show off their skills at a reasonable rate. I can see it becoming a plethora of coffee shops and upmarket trinket shops and nowhere to park, and even more congestion in this area.
Paul thurlow on November 8th, 2010I think there will be lots on offer and a creative market is possibly one of the outcomes. There will also be enough to suit all budgets.
claire sambrook on November 8th, 2010It’s a great project. I see the whingers are out in force on The News website though, miserable pricks
Gareth on November 8th, 2010Went to Aspex today and it was brilliant! Im always busy as a maker in the city, running workshops/events etc. We (artists) all make the best of what we’ve got. We can whinge or we can just get on with it! No Portsmouth is not as affluent as Chichester or alike but we’ve got more balls and a damn fine community. Screw the Times its for toffs. I love the idea for Old Portsmouth, great stuff! Oh and whens the Hard redevelopment gonna happen?
Lou on November 8th, 2010While it’s true that there isn’t much money in Portsmouth and artists might not sell much work locally I’d have to disagree about the lack of culture. Portsmouth is developing a strong grass roots arts culture and while it struggles to gain national recognition local groups such as the Portsmouth Creative Movement develop and nuture local arts.
Mydogsighs on November 8th, 2010With the financial situation as it is across the country Arts in general are going to have to back to grass roots. We are going to have to be creative, making use of the inevitable empty shops (with PCC help) and support projects like the pop up shops. Funding is going even more scarce and we’re going to have to do more for love than for money. A hard fact.
Well as a new graduate jeweller I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else! I am loving it here in Portsmouth, there’s plenty of inspiration and its a fantastic place to make my little creations (I think some people need to open their eyes a little more!). Yeh Pompey’s a bit rough round the edges sometimes but it certainly doesn’t mean that it’s uncultured!! I cannot wait for the round tower, totally up for exhibiting there when it’s done! Might even send the times a private view ticket…
harriet knightley on November 8th, 2010Can they put one of the arches by for a full pipe – I always thought they were prime for skating (bet the neighbours would moan tho!)
Steve on November 8th, 2010