FESTIVE TOAST TO GOSPORT GUIDE BOOK

On Wednesday 5 December at 1.30pm, the Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Keith Gill, will welcome Members of the Gosport Tourism Forum to the Council Chamber for some festive refreshments.

Tourism plays a significant role in the future of Gosport and a glass of mulled wine and a festive mince pie will be enjoyed in celebration of the continued success of Gosport as a visitor destination, through the launch of the 2008 Gosport & Lee on the Solent Visitor Guide.

Produced by Tourism South East (TSE) on behalf of Gosport Borough Council, the new Gosport & Lee on the Solent Visitor Guide 2008 not only lists all the places of interest, where to stay and award winning places to eat etc, but also reflects the partnership working between the local businesses who make up the Tourism Forum.

The Tourism Forum, which comprises industry wide representatives includes providers of accommodation, transport, tourist attractions, nationally recognised museums, hotels, bed & breakfast establishments, eateries, leisure and retail etc, recognises the importance of promoting the Borough and attracting more visitors to the area.

As well as a brand new guide, Gosport Tourism jointly with key tourism partners has attended a number of major UK travel trade events and exhibitions in and around London, the South East and the Midlands to showcase what Gosport has to offer.

“We know what a great place Gosport is, but the important thing now is to show that to others,” said the Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Keith Gill, who will launch the Guide. “Tourism is certainly the way forward and it is important we bring out our trump card and promote Gosport as the superb tourist destination it is.”

“We have award winning museums and bathing water and great places to eat. And when it comes to places to stay there is something to suit all tastes from self catering, camping and caravanning to character B&B’s and historic hotels.”

It’s hoped the new guide will encourage not only day trippers, but short break visitors and those people wishing to travel further afield, as Gosport is the ideal base for visiting other tourist destinations such as Portsmouth, The New Forest, Winchester and the Isle of Wight, all easily accessible by ferry or train.

Copies of the Gosport and Lee on the Solent Visitor Guide 2008 are available from the Gosport Tourist Information Centre, Bus Station, Tel: (023) 9252 2944 or e-mail tourism@gosport.gov.uk and can also be viewed/downloaded from our Downloads page.

GOSPORT BUSINESS AWARDS - GOING FOR GLORY

The coveted Gosport Business Awards were presented before more than 100 business leaders and VIPs at a prestigious presentation ceremony, hosted by the Meridian TV’s Fred Dinenage at The Alverbank Hotel last Thursday.

The Business Awards, sponsored by local businesses recognises and rewards excellence, innovation and success. Uniquely open to organisations of all sizes and from any industry sector – public or private, the programme allows the best of Gosport businesses to showcase their achievements and benchmark their successes against firms and bodies of all types.

Shaun Farrell (Impact Business Broker and sponsor) presents the
Gosport Business of the Year award to Eric Grummitt and
Dave Jesse from Flight Data Services.

Following stiff competition from companies across Gosport, Flight Data Services, based at Gosport Business Centre won the overall Business of The Year award. This award, sponsored by Impact, is aimed at rewarding companies in the Borough who achieved significant success over the last few years and can demonstrate how they have played a major role in putting Gosport on the map. As well as winning the overall award they also won International/National Trade business of the year. Dave Jesse, Managing Director of Flight Data Services commented “Flight Data Services have been making great strides within the closed world of Aviation Safety. People don’t realise that flight data from all over the world is being analysed here in Gosport, making it a hub for aviation safety. We are proud to be associated with the first ever Gosport Business Awards and have our efforts recognised in this way”.

Leading Edge Supplies Ltd, won the Innovation and Entrepreneurial award, whilst Solent Waste Services scooped the Small Business of The Year Award. Hardy’s Catering Ltd took home the Best Hospitality Venue prize, with The 17th Century Village winning the Best Leisure and Tourism award. Gosport Ferry won the Benefit to The Community accolade, with Dimensions Different winning the Customer Excellence award.

Impact Business Broker Shaun Farrell said: "All the winners of the Business Awards demonstrated drive, passion and enthusiasm that is needed to be successful. The first awards ceremony was a tremendous success and we are all proud to be associated with such talented businesses in the Borough and congratulate all the winners on achieving this fantastic accolade."

The evening raffle also raised over £700 for two local charities (GADSAD - Gosport and District Sports Association for the Disabled and The Harbour Cancer Support Centre), with prizes again being donated by local businesses.

To obtain further information telephone Shaun Farrell on 01329 848 601 or email shaun@impact-gosport.co.uk

EXCELLENT WEBSITE AWARD

The Awards, which are organised by Tourism South East and sponsored by EDF Energy, attracted entries from as far afield as Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxon across Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, the Isle of Wight and Kent.

After entering for the Tourism Website of the Year category in this year’s Tourism South East Tourism ExSEellence Awards 2007, staff were delighted to find they had been shortlisted to the regional finals.

The final award presentations were made at a glittering ceremony held at the Wentworth Golf Club, Surrey. Awards covered 15 categories and recognised excellence, quality and innovation across all sectors of the tourism industry.

On hand to accept Gosport’s award from TV presenter Jenny Powell, was the Mayor of Gosport, Councillor Keith Gill who said:

“The Judges praised the Gosport Tourism’s website saying that it was; well designed with an attractive look and feel, and innovative in providing podcasts for users to download, as well as French and Spanish translations.

We are situated close to the Historic Dockyard which receives many tourists from London and we are also near to the ferryport which receives visitors on a daily basis from overseas. If we wish to encourage people to visit our town, then it is important that we make the effort to help them and translate, where possible, all the information they need to know. Things like where to go, what to do and where to stay are crucial when visiting somewhere new and the introduction of French and Spanish translations on the website are going someway to address that.”

THEY’RE SIMPLY THE BEST!

Successful entrants of this year’s Hampshire Hospitality and Local Produce Awards will have their achievements acknowledged on Monday 12 November, when the Mayor of Gosport, Cllr Keith Gill presents them with an award at the Town Hall, Gosport.

The Hampshire Hospitality Award is a ‘quality marque’ for restaurants, pubs, tea rooms, cafes and other ‘eateries’ in Hampshire, which aims to:

• Celebrate the best in Hampshire‘s eating experiences
• Promote local eateries to both residents and visitors alike
• Promote Hampshire as the home of good food and drink
• Provide residents and visitors with objective reassurance that they will enjoy    their meal out when they pick a new place to eat in Hampshire

The awards are based on an anonymous visit to a premise by a trained quality assessor who, after purchasing a meal, awards marks for public areas, cleanliness, bar and restaurant, hospitality, food, service and efficiency. Assessors are looking for the ‘all-round’ excellence and the overall enjoyment of their eating experience.

Gosport has nominated 10 establishments, all of which met the criteria of the Council’s Safe to Eat campaign. These are:- The Anglesey Hotel, The Old Lodge, Bayside Cabin, The Pump House, Waterfront Brasserie, Peppers, The Seahorse, Manor Hotel, Landers and The Kings Head.

 In addition to the Hampshire Hospitality Mark, establishments  can also opt to be assessed for a Local Produce award.  ‘Local’ means produced in Hampshire or within 10 miles of  the county borders and assessors look for the:

 • extent to which locally grown produce features on the menu
 • staff’s knowledge about the produce

 Successful establishments will receive an enhanced quality  award.

As well as promoting the awards on the Tourism website, winning establishments will have the logo placed against their listing on the website, highlighting their achievement. Similarly the new 2008 visitor guide will acknowledge establishments in receipt of the award.

Although Gosport is piloting the award this year, it is hoped to be adopted and rolled out nationally by the official tourism body VisitBritain, from 2008.

Explosion!'s Ammunition Ale Boxes

In the late 19th century, ammunition boxes replaced barrels as the main all purpose storage container. Ammunition was stored in these boxes and transported from Naval Ordnance depots such as Priddy's Hard in Gosport.
Until the 1940's joiners onsite would have made and crafted these wooden boxes, they were later replaced by metal equivalents. Packing and unpacking would have been a daily task for those employed at the depot. Boxes were also labelled with specific markings detailing content and origin. The marking P.HD indicated the items were packed at the Priddy's hard depot.

Volunteers within the Museum's Conservation area's have created a fantastic new product line within the Museum Shop at Explosion! the Museum of Naval Firepower. Ammunition Ale Boxes contain three bottle's of our very own Explosion Ale, produced at the award winning local Oakleaf Brewery. The boxes are made of surplus timber and resemble ammunition boxes that would have been used on the Priddy's Hard site in the past for storing munitions.

The boxes retail at £15.00 inc. VAT and can be purchased from the Shop.
Orders can also be made by telephone for later collection. For more information about the boxes, please contact Phil Hazell on 023 9250 5600.

LOCAL HISTORY CREATED AT THE ROYAL NAVY SUBMARINE MUSEUM

Saturday 30th June may have been a miserable, rainy day for some but not at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum where smiles and happiness were in abundance!

Local business man, Dave Pickersgill, managing director of The Oakleaf Brewery
was proud to see his youngest daughter, Helen marry Mr. Dean Sanderson, from Heywood, Lancashire. The reason history was made?
The wedding ceremony took place in the John Fieldhouse building at the museum, the first wedding to be held in such unique surroundings.

Mr. Andrew Poole, corporate manager, was extremely pleased and proud at how well the proceedings went.

“ It’s been a really happy day, the whole event was a success and the guests even enjoyed browsing around the museum and touring HMS Alliance.”

The ceremony was followed by a reception for 70 guests, glasses raised with champagne and Nuptu’ale, one of the many award-winning beers brewed at the local brewery.

It was obvious to all who were there that Helen and Dean were completely happy, as were all those who not only enjoyed a very special day, but who had also witnessed this little bit of history being made.

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