Bar Des Arts Offers A Mixed Programme to Chase Away Autumn Blues

Published on: 14 Nov, 2012
Updated on: 14 Nov, 2012

By Ellis Taylor

As the nights draw in, coldness fills the air and our TVs are filled with ‘reality’ programmes, it starts to feel like our autumn is full of gloom and lacking joie de vivre.

But that simply is not the case in Bar des Arts. Situated in Millbrook, Guildford, this lively venue boasts a café by day and a cocktail bar by night, not to mention the fabulous line up of events it has over the next month.

Be one of the first to sample the Beaujolais Nouveau

Bar des Arts will get your cultural taste buds tingling with a range of exhibitions, performances and celebrations that will brighten up your evenings. Starting with an event on, Thursday November 15, Bar des Arts invites you to its annual Beaujolais Nouveau evening, where they shall be uncorking the first bottles of the exciting wine.

For all non-wine connoisseurs, this particular wine is only fermented a few weeks before release, the third Thursday of November, when bottles are sent to Paris to be shipped around the world. It has become a race for businesses to be the first to serve the new wine of the harvest. To add to the wonderful Parisian vibe, French musician Sacha Page will be performing. Bottles are available for customers to buy, priced at £19 each.

Dale Devereux Barker’s artwork.

There is also a Veils and glazes exhibition, featuring Dale Devereux Barker and Gaynor Wilson. It continues until Saturday, December 1. Artists Dale and Gaynor have never had work featured alongside each other before, Sara Burks, co-owner of Bar des Arts said: “It is a great opportunity for people to come along and see the difference between two different mediums.”

Dale is a printmaker who celebrates colour and form in his work, and has had previous exhibitions at Tate Britain and the British Museum. In contrast, Gaynor has recently completed a BA in ceramics and this is her first exhibition. The artwork is in the gallery area at the bar, and is free for customers to view during normal bar hours. So if you like new, exciting artwork, then this is the event for you.

Not so into wine and art? That’s okay, as on Tuesday, November 20, at 7.30pm, the bar will be holding and open mic poetry and performance night.

Hosted by poets Dónall Dempsey and Janice Windle, the night is set to be full of diverse and entertaining acts. Featuring five poets, Mel Jones, Will Hames, Pauline Sewards, Murray Shelmerdine and David Goo, the public is also invited to sign up and perform their work.

Email Dónall or Janice on popuppoets@yahoo.co.uk, or alternatively arrive at 7.15pm to book a slot.Entry is free for this engaging performance night, but booking is recommended.

Finally, it’s time to get your castanets out on Thursday, November 29, at 8pm, as London based dance group Ilusion Flamenca return to Bar des Arts with another lively performance. Past shows at the bar by the group have proved incredibly popular, with lots of fun. Tickets are £10 and advance booking is essential.

To book tables for any of the events mentioned above, call Bar des Arts on 01483 453227, or alternatively, email on info@bardesarts.co.uk