Ventnor Blog

It may a while off yet, but this is one definitely worth sticking into your diary.

Near the end of June, St Catherine’s School in Grove Road, Ventnor will be holding it’s Annual Summer Fair.

If you want to see the Island’s High Sheriff, Alan Titchmarsh open the event make sure you are there by noon. (Door will be opening at 11.30am)
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Tomorrow sees the launch of the very first RiverFest.

It takes place in Newport by the quayside and surrounding river area.

There are tons of activities taking place over the day including a six mile river walk, street theatre, stilt walkers and fire show (with the amazing Matt Splatt) and even a mini beast safari. (more…)

This weekend the weather forecast is great where better to spend your time than at the Robin Hill Garden Show.

If you think this is something just for horticulturalists think again. There are an amazing number of activities taking place over the weekend, including the Requestival party planned for Saturday night.

VentnorBlog chum Guido Oakley will be performing a ‘carve off’ with fellow wood carvers, Paul Sivell (whose Green Man sculpture at Robin Hill is pictured), Tom Harvey, Ant Beetlestone and Erik Van Dam. It’s always brilliant to watch these wood carvers at work and TV celebrity Geoff Hughes will be judging their masterpieces at 3pm on Saturday.
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Apologies for not being able to get this one out earlier - we lost our internet connection for a while (he ho) but had planned to publish this piece on Friday afternoon and let you know that Friday nights at St Boniface Arms is Steak Night.

Anyway, having missed that one, you can certainly enjoy these other great offers.
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The many friends of Mr and Mrs Gibbs and their band of jolly chums know this already, as will those of you who saw the three page advertorial in the CP last week (that’s if you didn’t already turn up on Easter Saturday as was said in the piece), but just incase you didn’t know - there’s a bash on at the SpyGlass today to celebrate it’s 20th anniversary.

There’s music running from 12 this afternoon ’til midnight - and all for free. Can’t be bad - and highly likely to be a great laugh, if the little of what we saw of beaujolais day is anything to go by!
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Don’t forget that Friday is free home delivery day at the Ventnor Brewery.

Plan your weekend now by placing an order with the Brewery and they’ll deliver anywhere on the Island free of charge on orders over a tenner (price list below).
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Starting this Sunday St Boniface Arms will be offering (what they claim to be) the only Sunday Carvery in Ventnor.

Have as much or as little of whatever you want from only £6.50 (children and small portions available £4.50). (more…)

Next Wednesday sees the last jazz night at the Midnight Bar in Rookley until October and a great last gig has been lined up.

Paul Booth is one of the most exciting and in demand musicians on the scene today.

Although a prominent figure in British jazz his powerful fluent tenor sax is much sought after across the genres.

He is currently fronting the Steve Winwood Band and will be playing with Tom Petty on his 2008 US tour.
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Don’t forget that Friday is free home delivery day at the Ventnor Brewery.

Plan your weekend now by placing an order with the Brewery and they’ll deliver anywhere on the Island free of charge on orders over a tenner (price list below).
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The Big Wight is the new name for the Wight Diamond Challenge/Festival which is held each year at Ninham Holiday Camp in Shanklin.

The festival takes place over 23-26 May and whether you live on the Wight or will be travelling from over the water, the schedule of events is jam packed.

There are two major events taking place, The Big Wight and the Wight Challenge as well as the Pick and Mix. (more…)

Yes folks that’s right, if you’re planning to have a few mates round your gaff tonight and want to get the beers in, cut out the middleman and order direct from Ventnor Brewery.

Those amiable guys will be happy to deliver orders over £10 later today, so long as you let them know what you want by 2pm today.
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Thanks to Tim Marshall for sending through details of a new scheme named, LocALe which is designed to encourage the sale of locally brewed beers in local pubs.

A similar scheme has been running successfully in the Nottingham area over the last year and they have over 70 pubs who have taken part.
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Anyone who came along to VentnorBlog Presents … last weekend will have been thoroughly impressed with our choice of venue, The Bonchurch Manor Hotel.

Some of those who visited the exhibition might not have realised that the space which housed Julian Winslow’s fantastic photography, is normally home to The Tiffin Room.
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Yesterday saw the start of the Island Expo, the catering and hospitality exhibition taking places at Haven Events Centre, Cowes Yacht Haven.

Our favourite photographer Julian Winslow was shooting at the event and sent through this wonderful shot of Jose Graziosi from The George in Yarmouth, demonstrating his culinary skills to a captive audience.
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Today sees the launch of the Island Expo.

This looks to be an excellent event, which we hope to pop up to (time permitting) at some point over the next two days.
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FairTrade products do really help the rural producers in foreign parts. Without it they are living on peanuts, for growing peanuts for us.

The big conglomerates regularly screw the poor workers into extreme poverty. But, cooperatives, properly supported by the Fairtrade movement, gives them a half decent living.

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Local sausage man, Paul Murphy is the final name on the list of generous supporters for our forthcoming exhibition, VentnorBlog Presents.

We’ve been fans of Paul’s sausages since he first started out on his own about a year and a half ago.

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We’re almost at the end of the list of supporters for VentnorBlog Presents … but not quite.

We’ve been bowled over by the enthusiasm of local producers offering support for the private view of our forthcoming exhibition at Bonchurch Manor Hotel.
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We’re super chuffed to have The Isle of Wight Cheese Company join the list of Island producers who are supporting VentnorBlog Presents ….

As we’re sure you already know, the Isle of Wight Cheese Company have had great success with the range of cheeses they produce at the Queen’s Bower Dairy in Arreton.

If you haven’t sampled any Isle of Wight cheese, check out the list of retailers on their website. (more…)

Yes, those lovely chaps down the road at
Ventnor Brewery have confirmed as supporters for our forthcoming event, VentnorBlog Presents which is being held at The Bonchurch Manor Hotel.

We’re massive fans of their products and have been consistently keen to try and offer the sponsorship to local business, so were really chuffed when they grabbed it with both hands. (more…)

Thanks to forum member Looby Loo for letting us know about this brilliant event that has been organised by a couple of Ventnor chaps.

Matt and Danny (maybe better known as Widget Productions) have organised a catering and hospitality trade exhibition taking place at the end of the month.
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For those of you fortunate enough to have time on your hands during the day to sit down and watch the box, you probably saw the week long series of programmes featuring the Isle of Wight last year.

You might remember that Ventnor’s very own brewery and fishery were featured.
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Thanks for forum member Looby Loo for letting us know that the Medieval Feast planned for Friday night has been cancelled.

We’ll let you know once a new date has been set.

Update: This event has been cancelled. We’ll let you know when it’s re-scheduled.

In case you weren’t aware, this Friday sees the return of themed nights at our favourite local tapas bar, El Toro Contento.

Last month saw the Andalucian buffet which was a storming success.

This month, they’re going medieval.

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We see in the The Times today that Adgestone Vineyard is up for sale.

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