CY music

CY Music is an independent music shop in Jewry Street. I have been learning to play the piano for the past year or so, and am still pre-grade 1, so I haven't needed to buy too much sheet music yet!

Buddy's Diner

Talking of 'fries' as I was yesterday here's a place you can get some. A little piece of America right here in Winchester, it's Buddy's Diner. I like this place and have been here for breakfast a few times, but it's also open for lunch and dinner.

It's chip week!

All this week is chip week (that's 'fries' to our American friends!). I must say that Winchester lacks a proper central chip shop (sorry, but I am far too lazy to go all the way to St Cross for my chips!) I like chips, with lots of salt and vinegar, but I hardly ever have them to be honest. When stopped by some tourists in town and asked where the nearest chip shop was the only place I could think of was this place in Jewry Street...

City Church

There are many churches in Winchester, and eventually I'll try to photograph them all. This is the City Church in Jewry Street. I believe that it is a pentecostal type church, their website mentions 'speaking in tongues' as part of their beliefs, which is something that seems very alien to me, but I'm not here to judge! They also have a church rifle and pistol club, which is also quite unusual! The building the church is housed in is called Century House, it was originally a bank and was built around 1925.

Brasserie Blanc

This is one of my favourite restaurants in Winchester and always seems to be popular, particularly at lunchtimes. The 'Blanc' refers to celebrity chef Raymond Blanc - not sure if he actually owns these restaurants or whether they are just using his name these days. Brassiere Blanc is a bit of a chain now, but don't let that put you off, I have always had a good meal here. The menu changes quite regularly, trying to use seasonal produce and it has a very nice atmosphere inside.

Winchester Library

We have a great library here in Winchester in Jewry Street. It's actually called the "Winchester Discovery Centre" and as well as all the usual books it has 2 areas for exhibitions, a small auditorium, a cafe and many clubs and groups meeting here. This building, built in 1838, was originally the Corn Exchange where grain was bought and sold. In the early 1900s it went into decline and was used at various times as a dining hall, roller skating rink, sports hall, theatre and cinema. In 1936 the City Council, owners of the building since 1913, moved the Public Library here from the Guildhall extension, where it remains to the present day.

Inside St Peter's

I posted some time ago a photo of St Peter's Catholic Church. As this week I have been focusing on St Peter's Street and buildings associated with the Catholic Church in Winchester I finally peaked inside St Peter's Church to take a photo, and here it is. Unfortunately it was taken very quickly as they were about to have a service so I will try to go back another time to get some more detail.

H is for Horse trough

In Jewry Street there is a trough which is a memorial to all the horses killed in the South African War 1899-1902. It was presented to the City of Winchester by Mrs Isabella Clowes who lived here for 69 years. It's believed around six hundred thousand horses died during the Boer War. It was originally a working water trough, but now is full of plants. I don't think I have ever seen a horse in Winchester, although outside of the city, particularly to the south, there are lots of stables and riding centres.

For more 'H' related posts see ABC Wednesday

D is for Drawings

At the beginning of 2010 the Winchester-based artist Claire Fuller set herself the goal of producing a drawing every day for one year. Her work is currently on display in the Theatre Royal in Jewry Street. She uses a mixture of ink, charcoal, and even the humble biro pen for most of her drawings. I particularly like the bottom right hand drawing as it reminds me of my son!

For more 'D' related posts visit ABC Wednesday

Just one more thing...

I used to love Columbo as a kid, yes I know the story was pretty much the same every episode.. We know the murderer from the start, the disheveled Columbo appears and works it out pretty soon too, we watch the criminal's reaction to the ongoing investigation as the intrusive but always polite presence of Columbo increases. The killer often "helps" Columbo with his investigation, eventually discovering too late that the Lieutenant is not nearly as simple-minded as he appears.

And now here at The Theatre Royal in Winchester we have a play version of the first ever episode of Colombo "Prescription Murder" - my opinion? It was great fun!

Youth of today

Kids of today, what do they do? Play loud music, hang around streets, drink alcohol - so why not turn it into a business? I have the greatest respect for the 2 owners of this cocktail bar in Jewry Street called Plain and Fancy, they are only 19 and 22 years old and opened the bar at the end of 2009. Well done them!

St Peter's Catholic Church

There are so many churches and places of worship in Winchester. Here is St Peter's Catholic Church in Jewry Street (taken back in December during the snow)