Ventnor Blog

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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A new market place for local produce and local products will be launching at the end of May.

The location for this wonderful new opportunity is Small Hope Beach in Shanklin.

Local artist, Ruby, has been in talks and secured deal to be able to sell anything created, painted etc by our Island’s creative people.
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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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Anyone walking down Pier Street over the last couple of weeks will have noticed French Affair clearing out their stock from the shop.

Our initial thought was that the shop was closing down, but we heard from Mark on Friday night that the owners, Carol and Steve have decided to change direction slightly.
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Well known Island company, Hurst have joined the list of supporters of our forthcoming art show, VentnorBlog Presents.

Following Simon’s call on the forum for picture rail hooks, Hurst have agreed to lend us 80 for the duration of the show.

We’ve always been really impressed with the service provided at Hurst, whatever branch you go to - you can be sure of informed and friendly advice from the assistants. (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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Come next Saturday, Ventnor should be buzzing with activity and hopefully lots of visitors from around the Island.

This is because Saturday 8th December is when the work of several Ventnor businesses comes to fruition and we see the Ventnor Christmas Fun Day.

Organised by Wendy (Thistle Cafe) and Kim (Fish & Chip shop), the day promises lots of fun for the kids and entertainment for the big kids (that’s you and I).
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Norris & Knight
23 High Street
Ventnor, PO38 1RZ

Tel: 01983 854330

Opening times:
8.30-4.30 Mon-Fri
8.30-1.30 Saturday

Norris & Knight provide fresh meat, a variety of local produce and a great delicatessan.

Listen to what else master butcher, Tony Norris has to offer his customers after the click.

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38 High Street
Ventnor
Isle of Wight

01983 855355

Opening Hours: 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday

Listen to an interview with Steve Hogg, owner of Noah’s Ark, a pet supplies store and successful green grocery to hear what he has to offer after the click.
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The Country Kitchen
37 High Street
Ventnor, PO38 1RZ

Tel: 01983 855004

Opening hours 7.30am-3pm Monday to Saturday

Listen to an interview with Wim Stoorvogel and read more about what The Country Kitchen has to offer after the click.

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Last month we received a worrying email from a Ventnor shopkeeper.

In a nutshell, it said ‘Start using us or we’ll all be gone by the end of the year’, so we thought that it was time to remind our readers of the wonderful variety of shops that Ventnor has to offer.

Many people believe Ventnor town is just full of charity shops and estate agents, of which there are quite a few, but in between these, there is a rich variety of small independent shops, who rely as much on local support throughout the year, as they do on holiday-makers during season.
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We received a very worrying email yesterday from one of the town’s shopkeepers.

Over the past few months, it appears that less and less people have been using the small independent shops in Ventnor, preferring instead to do their shopping in one place - the supermarket.

Many of the shops are now really struggling to keep going, some of them having to borrow heavily, just to pay the bills each month.

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There’s a video relevant to Ventnor that came out earlier this month, about how local shops are disappearing due to the relentless march of the supermarkets - and how you can change this by spending a few pounds at your local shops on a weekly basis.

Voiced by Alexi Sayle, it takes a pop at the “Every Little Helps” phrase used by Tesco.

Watch the video after the jump
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