Ventnor Blog

Isle of Wight County Councillor and Ward Councillor for Ventnor East, Mr Jonathan Seaver Basildon-Bond has made a public announcement which we are honoured to carry this morning, the 1st of April.

He hasn’t actually stated what it is that he is sorry for, but if he’s looking for ideas of what not what to do, we’ve got a bulging file he can have a thumb through.

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Come and see the future of comedy as Quay Arts presents an Open Mic session.

Hosted by Island funny man, Richard Quigley featuring brand new comedians, including the hilarious Ventnor Girl Hannah George, Paramount Comedy Student Comedian of the Year 2007.

The event encourages new acts from around the world (probably) who may well become household names to try out their funniness right before your very eyes.

Great fun guaranteed.
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Our good friends over at News Biscuit have alerted us to celebrations taking place today to commemorate the 1958 great string shortage.

As a finale to the Easter celebrations, residents of the Isle of Wight are putting finishing touches to preparations for the 50th anniversary of the great string shortage of 1958, when supplies of string almost ran out, leaving local traders in danger of having no means of securing their brown paper parcels.

Read the article in full.

Step into Spring with Quay Arts star line up at the Comedy Club on Friday 28th March. Come and meet US Rock and Roll comic and Human Jukebox Rick Right, BBC New Talent finalist Jimmy McGhie, and stand up comic, scriptwriter and actor Steve Mould from London.

Rick Right
Rick Right is a major presence on the US comedy scene, and stands in a class of his own.

In his unique parody of the Pop Music biz, which continues to manufacture its stars based on how good they look in video, no artist who has ever reached the charts is safe from Rick’s barbs.
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Don’t forget tomorrow night that the Quay Comedy Club returns to Newport.

This month the night features the Island’s very own funny man Andy Askins, with Stuart Hudson and one more surprise act!
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Spring is in the air at Quay Arts when professional touring theatre company Forest Forge return with their latest spoof on village life, To The Marrow on Saturday 15 March - and size really does matter!

The Great Village Marrowthon is about to be contested. Traditional gardener Ed is hoping his beauty will win this year, but he’s up against his arch rival, Miles, a trendy Radio Celebrity Gardener. Can he win fair and square, or will he have to cheat?

It doesn’t help that these two opponents are married to twin sisters!
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Thanks to Roger Regular, who is once again sharing his experience of music at Ryde Theatre. Ed

Shanklin Freak Show, wow what a night, it was certainly a light fantastic at their CD launch.

I’ll try to set the scene; lots of brightly coloured balloons throughout the dance floor, glitter on and off the stage, more than two genders popping out for the night, loads of eye-liner and make-up; that was just the men.
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If you’re a fan of open mic nights and like a bit of variety too, then this event sounds like it might up your street.

If you have a hidden talent and fancy sharing it with a captive audience then head on over to The Roadside Inn, in Nettlestone next week.

Organisers of Painless Parties are inviting anyone who can sing, dance, eat glass (not theirs though please), maybe you can tell a joke, strip to music (what!), do a monologue or make music in some way.

All you have to do is turn up, put your name down and (these are not my words) “play with yourself or with your buddy.”

Now we know what the Nettlestone lot like getting up to!

If you’re looking for something to do with the kids tomorrow, why not head down to the Ventnor Winter Gardens?

The People’s Theatre Company will be performing their production of The Witch’s Bogey.

Before the show, from 2.30 for an hour there will be a workshop where you get to meet the characters and get involved in the story.
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It’s not only unscrupulous property developers who think that they can build whatever they like and get away with it.

According to our favourite daily news site, News Biscuit, it appears that Ernst Blofeld, James Bond’s arch enemy has come a-cropper with plans to build a massive underground control centre and nuclear launch pad on the Wight.
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Have the January blues extended into February?

If so, why not brighten up your month with a trip to Quay Arts’ Comedy Club at the end of the month.

This month the Comedy Club features the Island’s very own funny man Andy Askins, with Stuart Hudson and one more surprise act!

Andy Askins, originally from the north east but now resident on the IW, is a diminutive figure who exudes an air of vulnerability and an innocent child-like quality as he steps up to the microphone armed with a guitar and a cheeky grin.

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If you enjoyed reading Stage One and Stage Two of J. Thompson Wartenburg’s proposals for Ventnor,then read on for his final suggestions. It has sparked much debate over on the Forum, particularly from Maureen and her Labrador. Ed

STAGE THREE
The Botanic Gardens beautiful? Yes I’ll give you that, but adventurous….get outta here!

What comes to mind when you here “garden” - old folks, that’s what! So, out goes the garden and in comes……The Jungle!

What kid can resist the word Jungle? The Botanic Jungle theme park featuring an “edgy” Roller-coater ride, the highest, meanest and fastest in Europe!
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It appears that the recent plans for Ventnor do not meet the agreement of some people in our fair town, but perhaps you need to read on first before making up your minds. Here’s what J. Thompson Wartenburg 3rd proposes for Stage Two. Ed

STAGE TWO
O.K. so we now have about three thousand folk in their holiday apartments, town centre sorted, but what about day visitors ? “Lets go for the dough” to quote our company motto.

The entire front esplanade from the Met to the spyglass and going all the way back to Belgrave Road would be compulsory purchased, demolished, and cleared by the council and handed over to (JTW-MAXI-PROFIT Ltd) on a peppercorn rent with an option to buy the freehold for £100 in five years time. (more…)

We’re honoured that one of our American cousins, who visited our beloved town last year, has forwarded some ideas for regenerating Ventnor. His plans are split into three stages, with the first stage one below. Ed

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is J. Thompson Wartenburg 3rd and I hail from Tampa Florida. I visited your little town last summer and had a delightful stay at the small but quaint Royal Hotel. I had to rent the entire upper floor as my wife needs a lot of wardrobes.

Well, just browsing your delightful little web-site the other night, I came across your attempt to improve the town with a five year plan.

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If the January blues are getting to you and you need a good laugh, head down to Quay Arts tomorrow night.

Quay Comedy Club will be welcoming Andrew Lawrence, Mark Allen and one surprise act onto the stage.

Andrew Lawrence is said to be dark and demonic, whilst Mark Allen, a regular on the comedy circuit, also writes sitcoms, radio plays, comedy sketches and stage plays.

Both have performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and have received many rave reviews over the years.

Tickets are priced at £10 / £9 and still available from the Box Office on 822490.

Thanks to forum member, DarkKnight for posting up this joke below and putting a smile on our faces. Whilst we’re at it congratulations should also be extended to FarmersBoy for creating the most popular thread on the forum. 44,984 views since its creation back in April 2007.

It goes like this …. (more…)

Following the success of the first Open Mic Comedy night at Quay Arts back in October last year, we’re pleased to hear that future events are planned, with the next one taking place a week on Friday.

Island comedian Richard Quigley has confirmed the lineup for the night to include Andrew French (guitar and quips), Scott Anderson, Hannah George, Jane Hill (novelist and funny woman - pictured), Jeff Lane (psychologist and funny man) and of course, himself.

The first night was a right old laugh (so we hear) we they have more nights planned in the future which we’ll bring you details of nearer the time, so there is still the chance for newcomers to perform.

As we’ve said before, it wouldn’t be a true ‘open mic’ unless you were able to get up there yourself, so if you reckon you can tell a good good joke or easily make people laugh, get in touch with Richard to book your slot on quiggers(at)onwight(dot)net.

We all know that January can be a dark month on the Island, so if you need cheering up then how about booking tickets for January’s comedy night at Quay Arts?

This month’s Comedy Club features funny men Andrew Lawrence, Mark Allen and one surprise act!

Andrew Lawrence’s debut at the Edinburgh Fringe was in 2001, when he wrote, directed and appeared in the sketch show Skin Pickings and he hasn’t looked back since. His dark thoughts, gruff voice and soaring songs make him an immediately engaging act - his demonic, teen-with-a-guitar persona makes you think he would probably be killing for fun if he weren’t performing comedy! It also whisked him to second place in the Final of ‘So You Think You’re Funny?’ in August 2003 and winner of the BBC New Comedy Competition 2004. (more…)

Thanks for Mark for alerting us to this excellent piece of journalism fresh out of the News Biscuit site today. (more…)

The Ventnor Lights of Love carol service will be held at The Ventnor Winter Gardens tonight.

Remember absent friends and family whilst taking part in the carol service and help raise much needed money for the IW Hospice.

Doors open at 6.30pm and the service starts at 7pm.

To find out more about the great works of the hospice, visit their website.

Thursday is the last day of term for most schools on the Island, so why not let the kiddies stay up late and take them down to the Ventnor Winter Gardens.

If you book your tickets in advance, your kids could find themselves taking home a wonderful goody bag from one of Father Christmas’ favourite helpers, Lesley from The Ventnorian.
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Tickets for the best festival of the year are now available to buy.

We’ll be bringing you details of the lineup as soon as we get it. In the meantime, make sure you get your tickets pronto. The early birds sold out in double quick time.

Bestival 2008 Ticket prices:
Adult Weekend Tickets - £130
Adult Tickets are for anyone aged 16 or over on 05/09/2008. Ticket holders aged 16 and 17 must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Age 13 to 15 Child Weekend Tickets - £65
Age 13 to 15 Child Tickets are for anyone aged 13 to 15 on 05/09/2008. Child ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*

Age 12 & Under Child Weekend Tickets – FREE
Age 12 & Under Child Tickets are for anyone aged 12 and under on 05/09/2008. Child Ticket holders must be accompanied by a Ticket holding parent or guardian over the age of 21*.
Please Note: All Children aged 12 and under will need to obtain a (free) ticket this year. No exceptions.

*NB: One ticket holding parent or guardian can only accompany up to 4 people under the age of 18.

Campervan Tickets - £50 (per vehicle)
Campervan tickets are only available from Ticketline. Your Campervan must be specially adapted for people to stay in (which does not include transit vans with a mattress in the back or 4×4s with the seats folded down). If your vehicle is longer than 7 metres you will need to purchase two Campervan Tickets. Cars will not be allowed into the Campervan area at any time so consequentially Caravans, Trailer Tents etc are not permitted. Head over to the Practical Info section of this site for more info on Campervans.

All Tickets:
- include camping.
- will incur a booking fee.
- are non-transferable and cannot be re-sold.

Ticket available now from:
Ticketline - Online / 08700 667753 (inc campervan tickets)
Lastminute - Online

To watch the video in full screen, click in the video and it’ll open in a new window.

If you were unfortunate enough to miss the wonderful Peter Pan panto last week at the Ventnor Winter Gardens, but need your dose of panto before the end of the year, fear not.

Quay Arts plays host to The Smith Family Panto - Or Sleeping Mother Whittington in Boots!

From the title we’re sure you can work out that this is going to be a mash up of various panto stories, but what’s really special is that Quay Arts have a great offer on the tickets.

Buy two tickets and get the third one free, that way you can take your little darling and their best friend too.

Give the box office a call on 01983 822490