Posts Tagged ‘art’

New House Gallery Art Space

December 2, 2022

It is good to buildings brought back into use.

An old Victorian warehouse due for demolition, brought back into use as an art gallery with its own in-house coffee shop.

Artists rent their own studios. In return can have free exihibiotion space. Other artists pay to exhibit.

Accessibility no easy.

There are steps leading from Bridge Street but a locked face blocks access. This is a fire risk. Were there to be a fire at the front of the building the only escape route is blocked.

The easiest way to access is from the foot Bridge crossing River Wet. Though not obvious then where to go.

There needs to be better sign posting. Currently non-existent.

Koja in-house coffee shop New House Gallery Art Space

December 2, 2022

Once upon a time there was a coffee shop Turn Fit Deli in Chapel Street that was the number one coffee shop in Guildford, great coffee , great atmosphere. It was taken over by Surrey Hills Coffee, who destroyed it overnight. It was no surprise when it closed, the only surprise it had not closed sooner.

Only it had not closed, it had relocated to Jeffries Passage. Always empty, never saw the same staff twice.

Then a change of tack, sublet as a coffee shop, great businesses opportunity, buy our coffee. Only the lease did not permit sub-let.

One day the poor guy, having put in the effort to turn around the businesses, found himself out on the street. With the help of friends managed to rescue what he had in the shop.

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, has reinvented itself as the in-house coffee shop for New House Gallery Art Space.

The rubbish Surrey Hills Coffee has been jettisoned now a choice of guest coffee.

My initial thoughts a dumb location, the only clientele struggling artists. I will turn my initial thoughts on its head. As an in-house coffee shop they provide a base line customer base. It is now down to word of mouth as no passing footfall and not easy accessible.

There are steps leading from Bridge Street but a locked gate blocks access. This is a fire risk. If there was a fire at the front off the building the only escape route is blocked.

The easiest way to access is from the foot bridge leading from Guildford Station over the River Wey. Even then not obvious.

Ayia Napa International Sculpture Park

October 28, 2022

For the first time on many trips, local bus stopped at the top bus stop, giving me time not to explore but at least to walk through the sculpture park then pick up the InterCity Bus for Larnaca at the bottom entrance.

Ayia Napa International Sculpture Park

October 15, 2022

I caught an rstkier bus thsn Wednesday, which gagevtieç

Bus once again failed to stop at top entrance lm

Fresh Local & Wild

January 28, 2022

The entrance belies the size of the interior.

On entering it is like stepping into an empty warehouse, lots of empty space, and rows of tables as though a works canteen.

My interest was piqued, what was this new venture, how was the coffee?

Very little local in terms of local produce, but yes local businesses, each has a stall, the stalls not manned.

Bananas on the fruit and veg stall rotten, everything else appeared fresh.

Zero waste stall, no one to ask of the various products and I’d be reluctant to use the chutes.

Bread from Vine’s bakery on another stall. What happens to the bread at the end of the day, half price, given away?

Wild? I saw nothing wild.

The coffee?

I was pleasantly surprised. I had an excellent cappuccino, baristas who know how to make coffee. An espresso blend The Lincoln Imp from Seven Districts a local roastery.

Apart from their roastery in the middle of nowhere, the only place worth visiting to try Second Districts coffee.

Lincoln now has three excellent coffee shops

  • Coffee Aroma
  • Madame Waffle
  • Fresh Local & Wild

In the near future, it is hoped to have bags of Seven Districts coffee on sale.

When buying coffee beans, only buy from a reputable roastery or an indie coffee shop where they are passionate about coffee.

St Mark’s closed and boarded up retail units, little footfall, no surprise Fresh Local & Wild empty.

St Mark’s is out of the way, a detour from the town centre, but if passing by, then pop in for the coffee.

The location is not good, not in the town centre, and although hosting local businesses, a chain.

The ideal location would be the Lincoln Central Market and were it not for the dysfunctional local council lacking in vision, they would have kicked the tat out of the market, much needed renovation, then created something akin to Fresh Local & Wild, local businesses, quality local business not rubbish, art and a specialty coffee shop.

In the summer it is hoped to have outside seating.


update

My initial thoughts, with reservations, 5*, but now 2* and that is being generous.

Seven Districts and guest coffee from Two Chimps, but for how long, the baristas have walked, the coffee is terrible, and giving the roasteries a bad name?

The fruit and veg stall, rotten produce, one visit half the produce rotten. My last visit, only three baskets of what I would not describe as fresh.

Vines Bakery pulled out?

The coffee was the only reason for a visit, now not worth a visit.

Only two coffee shops in Lincoln worth visiting for decent coffee:

  • Coffee Aroma
  • Madame Waffle

How long before Fresh Local & Wild closed down? There is virtually zero footfall at St Mark’s, the store must be haemorrhaging money to pay the rent for a unit this size, plus staff, plus heating and lighting, plus business rates.

Ayia Napa International Sculpture Park

October 14, 2020

Yesterday, changing from local bus to Intercity Bus en route to Larnaca, I alighted at Ayia Napa International Sculpture Park and wandered through.

I noticed many new additions since my last visit a year ago.

MauerSkulpturen

January 6, 2020

Sculpture by Eberhard Foest depicting the Berlin Wall outside the Finance Ministry in Mitte on the East German side of the Berlin Wall.

Ayia Napa International Sculpture Park

November 4, 2019

Change bus from local bus to Intercity Bus en route to Larnaca.

Time to walk through the sculpture park.

Fleeting visit Ayia Napa International Sculputure Park

October 30, 2019

En route to Larnaca to visit Larnaca International Food Festival, local bus to Ayia Napa, change to Intercity Bus to Larnaca.

Time to alight from local bus, walk through Ayia Napa International Sculputure Park to pick up Intercity Bus to Larnaca.

Pass through Ayia Napa International Sculpture Park

October 19, 2019

Monday of last week, walk through Ayia Napa International Sculpture Park as change bus from local bus to Intercity Buses to Larnaca.

An idiot thinks it OK to drive into the sculpture park on a rented Harley Davidson.


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