The Belvedere pub in High West Street, Weymouth, was always, it has to be said, a fairly average and unremarkable hostelry. Usually hidden in the shadow of its more famous and more patronised neighbour, The Boot, just along the road, it was a watering hole that never quite seemed to make the grade with most local imbibers. But recently all that has changed dramatically!
Two young people with a vision have now transformed this once stagnant watering hole, breathing exhilarating new life into the Victorian building with a mixture of new ideas and very hard work. Thomas de Brincat and Vicki Lindley have combined their considerable drive and talents to turn the business from ordinary pub to vibrant old town Hub, with a scintillating mixture of great live music, attracting such big stage luminaries as the internationally renowned Dolmen, performance poetry and even by being a gallery for budding artists to display and sell their work. Vicki says “We are getting Local artists from schools, colleges, the street, even retired people exhibiting here”. We put their art on our walls and there is great art to be found in this small town” She added “When we have our website up and running it will have all the musicians, artists, writers, poets, anyone that has helped or is skilled in any way on there. Links to their websites. A community website, where we all help each other”. “We are also looking for singer song writers to come down and record themselves for free too. All we ask is for a cd to put in our jukebox which will be full of local talent”.
On the food and drink Vicki said “We now serve ‘Traditional Dorset Tapas’ because … why not? !! All our food is made fresh, locally sourced and yummy! We are catering for the drinkers too though. We are still a pub not a restaurant. Our aim is to get as many proper ciders and rums and as much locally made alcohol as possible on sale.” Vicki then went on to explain about the accommodation available.
“ We have five bedrooms with bunk beds and can house about thirty people. We are an Extreme Sports Hostel. Surfing’, Para Gliding, and even Fishing. “We have storage for their equipment, parking is to be discussed! They’ll have a large living area and kitchen and they also have the choice of B&B. There are separate Ladies and Gents washrooms that both have 3 toilets, 3 sinks and 3 showers each.”
To sum up, Vicki said, “The aim is for us to be known as the Hub of Weymouth. Somewhere that everyone and anyone can come to and feel relaxed, safe, accepted, and encouraged with all their different and wonderful talents. To give everyone a chance, we’re not going to be greedy. It’s a ‘you scratch our backs we’ll scratch yours’ type of arrangement. We want to invest in the people who love this Town”.
The Belvedere Hub is also the haunt of pirates and English Civil War soldiers, reenactors who, several times a year, commemorate Weymouth’s rich history and heritage and use the pub as their base. Not to mention being the only pub in town with live Burlesque evenings !
So .. as you can see, the Belvedere Hub is truly a place for all tastes ! All this combined with a complete interior makeover, with a very attractive new ‘driftwood’ effect bar has given the old place the shot in the arm that it so badly craved and, with all of these great innovative uses and ideas, I think it can be said that it has given the town of Weymouth itself a big boost also.
Long may it continue to thrive.
Mark Vine.
