It was the end of 2019 when I entered into a genuinely warm, giving and easygoing collaboration with Aimee and Alisdair at the brilliantly innovative pub/restaurant that is The Moorcock Inn, Norland. I have been so, so impressed by their clear earthy ethos, sheer culinary bravery and ingenuity, and truly exceptional customer care. Many of my canvases adorn their walls, and for that I am truly humbled and forever thankful. I’m putting pen to paper now, so to speak, as ‘all good things come to an end’, and very sadly the Moorcock will close its doors for the final time at the end of January 2023.
I can tell you now, it’s going to be an enormous loss to this area (and beyond), as I hear friends, acquaintances and strangers lamenting the news of their closure with great sadness, and feeling the loss of something very special. Let me just say, for the uninitiated, that the Moorcock is going out very much with a bang, more than that really judging by the amount of people making the most of the delicious and special offerings while they still can. In their short 5 years in Norland, a very deep mark has been made and I for one will really miss Aimee, Alisdair and their wonderful team. I think we’ll remember them in our conversations for a very long time.
Aimee and her staff have been incredibly generous to me in their time and efforts, and have hosted several art and wine events over the last couple of years, deftly navigating the pandemic, and presenting a culinary/cultural offering to customers so inclined. Our last event together in October this year, was a truly special evening of exceptionally fine wines, live music, and an art talk/presentation about my recent work. The efforts of Aimee and her team to make this evening extra special were over and above, from the highly technical sommelier knowledge to the setting up of the rooms with fairy lights, candles, logs, sheepskins and general atmosphere of a little bit of hygge to put guests at their ease and comfort. It was early October, and my first evening event, but I couldn’t help but imagine I was on the moor in the pitch dark outside, looking in on the art chats, the fine wine, the smiling, rosy cheeks and the warm, friendly, cultural happening that was going on inside the pub.
It’s getting increasingly harder to find a table this side of Christmas, but tables do become free at the last minute, so don’t give up if you’ve left it late. And of course, there’s January too…
So, what next for me? Well, I’m going to be bringing a large amount of paintings back to my studio, actually a whole solo show of paintings! Where to put them is my first challenge, but at some point I hope they will go up on a wall somewhere, and hopefully have an audience who will be as welcoming, appreciative and generous as those I have met through my experience at The Moorcock.
Aimee, Alisdair, and every one of your brilliant and lovely team, I wish you all the very best in whatever you go on to do, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you have done to support me and my art practice.
Natural Ceramics sitting comfortably with Rose Wall in the Moorcock restaurant.
I walk on the moor often and have many photos of the light, textures and colour palette changing through the seasons. More figurative and ‘of’ the landscape, most are on paper, in sketchbooks and in my studio.
Norland Moor, mixed media on paper, approx. 100x70cm
Winter on Norland Moor.