GRAND OPENING OF THE ‘PERFECT BLEND’
& SKYLARK IX VINTAGE TEA PARTY
AT THE SCOTTISH MARITIME MUSEUM (DENNY TANK)
11am – 2pm Saturday 13 May
The Scottish Maritime Museum (Denny Tank) in Dumbarton gets set to celebrate the grand opening of the new ‘Perfect Blend Vintage Tea Room’ and Skylark IX Vintage Tea Party on Saturday 13 May.
The Perfect Blend Vintage Tea Room, which will open officially this June, is situated on the ground floor of the Museum on Castle Street. It is the latest joint venture between the Museum, Alternatives Community-based Recovery and the Skylark IX Recovery Project.
The Perfect Blend will serve delicious cream teas and cakes freshly made by Alternatives’ clients mastering bakery skills as part of their recovery programme.
The grand opening of the Perfect Blend, which is named after the partners’ ongoing relationship and the ‘perfect blend’ of tea, coffee and sweet treats served, will take place as part of the Skylark IX Recovery Project’s annual Remembrance event.
This year’s theme is ‘Vintage Tea Party’ reflecting the wartime service of the Dunkirk ‘Little Ship’ Skylark IX and the opening of the Perfect Blend.
The Skylark IX Vintage Tea Party will be free and run on the Museum green from 11am to 2pm on Saturday 13 May. Opening with a piper at 11am, highlights will include singing, dancing, crafting and baking by the Perfect Blend team.
Visitors can also view a vessel from the Skylark IX Recovery Project’s new fleet of kayaks and skiffs, which the team hopes will inspire a new Dumbarton Rowing Club.
There will also be a moment of Remembrance and reflection during the event.
On Saturday 13 May, visitors will also enjoy half price entry to the Museum and free entry for up to three children with each Adult/Concession ticket.
David Mann, Director of the Scottish Maritime Museum, says:
We’re delighted to partner with our friends at Alternatives Community-based Recovery and the Skylark IX Recovery Project on the Perfect Blend Vintage Tea Room.
“As well as a great new added attraction for the Museum and a complement to our own skills training programme, the Perfect Blend brings a fresh and exciting new vintage style tea room to Dumbarton.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors to the Perfect Blend and watching Alternatives’ trainees thrive as they help develop the tearoom over coming months.”
Anne Dyer, Depute Manager at Alternatives Community-based Recovery, adds:
We’re grateful to our friends at the Scottish Maritime Museum for giving us the opportunity to open the Perfect Blend.
“All the baking will be done at our ‘Sweet Success’ training hub and social enterprise. With the increased production, our trainees will gain more experience and, as they grow in confidence, will be able to move on to the Perfect Blend and develop their ‘front of house’ skills.
“As well as a spot to enjoy the ‘perfect blend’ of tea or coffee and delicious pastries, we also want the Perfect Blend to become a wee heartbeat for the local community, a space where lots of great initiatives happen.
“We’re busy developing exciting ideas to get this going like Cake and Craft stitching sessions, to follow on from the popular Skylark IX Community Tapestry, and Tea and Tour events with the Museum.
“We also hope to include our ‘Skylark IX Voices’ oral history project, bringing local people, in particular friends and relatives of former William Denny and Brothers shipyard workers, together to share memories. Watch this space!”
The Grand Opening of the Perfect Blend Vintage Tea Room and the Skylark IX Vintage Tea Party take place between 11am – 2pm on Saturday 13 May.
The Skylark IX Recovery Project’s fleet of four includes a skiff and two kayaks built by Alternatives’ clients at the Skylark IX Recovery Project’s Boatbuilding Workshop at the Museum. The fourth vessel, a skiff, was crafted by trainees at the Scottish Maritime Museum’s Scottish Boatbuilding School.
The Skylark IX Recovery Project hopes to use the new skiffs and kayaks to inspire community members to establish a new rowing club for Dumbarton, a town which enjoyed rowing success last century.
The Scottish Maritime Museum is open Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm.
The Perfect Blend Vintage Tea Room at the Scottish Maritime Museum will open in June.
www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org
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