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Day: December 18, 2015

Moving on!

Posted on by Graham Robson

Christmas Day will be the last day behind the pumps for one of the commercial gay scenes most popular licensees, Alex Matthews and his partner, Richard Dene-Morel.

Richard and Alex

Alex and Richard took over the A Bar on Brighton seafront in January 2012 and between them have made it a popular meeting place for a more mature crowd.

The couple have been together for 13 years; Alex worked previously at Revenge, Legends and the Amsterdam while Richard worked at Kruze and the White Horse before taking charge of the kitchen when they returned to run the A Bar. In 2013 Richard won the Golden Handbag for Favourite Sunday lunch at the annual awards ceremony at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Hotel.

Together they managed their own pub The Bib and Tucker on Elm Grove before returning to the gay village in 2012 to run the prime site seafront bar.

Alex chaired the Gay Business Forum, The Village Pub Watch, sat on the Council’s Licensing Strategy Group as well as being on the committee of  the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum.

Paul Kemp
Paul Kemp

Paul Kemp, Director of Pride said: “Alex is one of the good guys and was very helpful in assisting Pride make the Village Street Party safer over the last two years.”

You will have a chance to wish Alex and Richard all the best for the future at the farewell party they are holding on Christmas Eve, December 24 at the A-Bar starting from 7pm.

James Ledward
James Ledward

James Ledward, added: “Alex has been more than just a licensee, he understands the responsibilities that go with earning your living from this community. He worked very hard over the last few years to encourage LGBT bars and clubs to work together, a thankless, but nevertheless very important task and spent hours of his time, voluntarily supporting the police and council on the Licensing Strategy Group to benefit all the other gay bars and clubs in the village. He was also a great supporter of the important work of the LGBT Community Safety Forum. I wish him and Richard all the very best for the future.”

Alex will continue to keep working at the venue until January 6 to effect a satisfactory handover.

French performing arts unite after Paris killings

Posted on by Gary Hart

 

Following the tragic events that hit Paris on November 13 performing arts professionals united today, December 18th behind the slogan #MaPlaceEstDansLaSalle.

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In an act of solidarity and resistance, actors, technicians, venue managers, producers, ticket vendors and everyone involved in the performing arts spoke with one voice to show the world that freedom is more powerful than fear.

Throughout France, in theatres, cabarets and concert halls, whether public or private, in Paris and across the country, all shows changed their name for one day to: Ma place est dans la salle (‘My place is in the performance halls’)

December 18, Ma place est dans la salle was simultaneously a concert, a one man show, a classical piece, a ballet, a musical, during which the audience was able to quench its thirst for sensations and culture and laugh, be moved, sing and dance.

Ma place est dans la salle also featured a series of video testimonials, tweets and social media posts in which celebrities, comedians, singers, and dancers, showed their involvement.

From backstage to under the lights, and on the streets, everyone reasserted their belief that singers, comedians, actors belonged on the stage and audiences in front of them.

And for each of them: #MaPlaceEstDansLaSalle

Across France, the public was invited to book tickets and show their support and their determination to carry on attending shows by sharing photos, videos and their thoughts.

Laughter and life echoed in concert halls and theatres: #MaPlaceEstDansLaSalle

The campaign was made possible with the support of The French Ministry of Culture and Communications, La Ville de Paris and Groupe Audiens.

Canadian media support LGBTQ Pride tape campaign

Posted on by Gary Hart

“These 6 Colours Can Change the Hockey World”.

Pride Tape

Pride Tape was unveiled to the world today by the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies and Services at the University of Alberta (Faculty of Education).

The tape, inspired by the six colours of pride, is initially being manufactured for hockey, but will later be produced for other sports.

Speaking for the Institute, Kris Wells said: “This tape will be a badge of support from the hockey world to LGBTQ youth in Canada and other countries. It will say ‘You are welcome on the ice. Come and join us in our sport and be proud of who you are’.”

The level of support from Canada’s English language national media has been extraordinary. Every major television network in Canada is donating national air time to help make the tape a reality.

Kris continued: “The media are, in fact, saying to us – the time has come for the world of sport to change.”

When the tape is manufactured, profits from the sale will be split between the Institute and the You Can Play Project, which has played a leading role in combatting homophobia in sports.

Funding for the manufacture of Pride Tape will be raised through a Kickstarter campaigner.

To make a donation, click here:

Pride tape was created for the Institute by Calder Bateman, led by Creative Director Jeff McLean. A multi-media campaign is being launched today, December 18. In addition to Canada’s television broadcasters, NewAD is contributing space in restaurants and bars across Canada.

Andrew Ference
Andrew Ference

The television commercial was produced free of charge by Global, with the participation of Andrew Ference, alternate captain for the Edmonton Oilers and former captain of the Stanley Cup winning Boston Bruins.

10,000 rolls of tape will be manufactured in the first run. The Kickstarter campaign will allow for an initial free distribution of Pride Tape to local teams across Canada and beyond. The tape will also go on sale to the public.

Creative Director McLean has been immersed in hockey his entire life.

He said: “Unfortunately, all too often, sports remains a hold-out in creating a welcoming environment for LGBTQ youth. That’s why I feel so strongly about the ongoing relationship we have with the Faculty of Education and the Institute, including other projects like NoHomophobes.com, which has captured so much positive attention all over the world.”

Dr. Wells spoke of the Faculty’s appreciation for the way the corporate community and media have embraced the Pride Tape project.

He said: “It’s going to be fascinating to see how the hockey world responds.

“To us, success will mean that every young LGBTQ person can feel confident they will be welcome in sports environments – as players, spectators and fans.”

For more information about the Pride Tape campaign, click here:

 

 

Brighton Kemptown MP thanks postal workers

Posted on by Sarah Green

Simon Kirby, the MP for Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven, visits Royal Mail’s Peacehaven Delivery Office to pass on Xmas greetings to postmen and women at their busiest time of year.

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Mr Kirby was shown round the office this morning, December 18, by Delivery Office Manager, Adrian Boxall, and introduced to postmen and women delivering mail in the Peacehaven area during the festive season.

Mr Kirby said: “There is a huge amount of effort and dedication that goes into delivering a first class Christmas at Royal Mail’s busiest time of year. It was great to meet the team here at Peacehaven.

“Our postal workers do such an important job at this time of year and I would like to thank them for their efforts and wish them all the best over the busy festive period.”

Adrian Boxall, Royal Mail Delivery Office Manager at Peacehaven, added: “Our postmen and women are working extremely hard to deliver Christmas cards, letters and parcels to people across Peacehaven. We are grateful that Simon visited the office to see our operation and to support the team.

“We’d like to remind our customers to post early so that friends and family have longer to enjoy their Christmas greetings. We would also like to ask everyone to please always use the postcode as this helps us greatly in the job that we do at this busy time.”

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