The Grit - A Myriad Delight

You go beneath some scaffolding, through a couple of doors, turn left and suddenly there's a different vista in front of you. Fairy lights, huge Desmond Baldry local landscapes, there's Books and Prints, an array of tables. Even a real piano. A counter. And quite likely, a smiling Piers. It all draws you in.

The Grit is an inviting place, which is odd as it's housed inside a brutal fortress County Court constructed in 1989, then closed twenty seven years later.

The whole building is now owned by Peter Colby Commercial. The Colbys have a long association with our town, rooted in fishing. Piers Colby is manager and creator of The Grit. A mere year ago, it was but a sparkle in the brain of Piers. In fact, not even that. He'd envisaged the Lowestoft Exhibition Centre. Sense thankfully prevailed, driven, says Piers, by a visit to meet The Cut's Jo Leverett.

“The Grit. Short, memorable, and the building stands overlooking the south end of what was the Beach Village, aka The Grit. And then, of course, it was already a well-known name because of Jack Rose and Dean Parkin's books.” says Piers.

Piers was self-deprecating. “Little of it is to do with me. It just appeared. I opened the doors and people just made it what it is.”

I know he sweeps up, makes coffee and invents superb sandwiches “People kept asking me 'Do you do food?' So I make these things.” He does the washing up, too, but the Grit vibe just might emanate from him. He's an open sort of person, and The Grit reflects that.

“There's all sorts of people creating, helping, using and visiting. Disparate people, perhaps, but all seem to be rubbing along.”

Piers got serious for a moment “Look. I know very well that the world's in a muddle, but I like to think that this corner of Lowestoft is doing its bit. I mean, we've got locally brewed cask beer at £3.50 a pint, for example.

“We're trying to be affordable in everything we do.”

But what actually goes on here?

“ It celebrates people being together in a room just chatting about what matters to them, weaving the fabric of society.” Blimey. But what actually happens?

“We've got a building which has this large room, two court rooms and lots of smaller spaces. It's versatile. At the moment there's the Easterly Artists Exhibition in Court Room Number One, an artist works in that little room there, that one's currently a store room, there's Hugh 's vast array of books and prints, We've got a guitar doctor in that room. And Court Room Number Two is a performance space...”

You'll understand there's a lot of pointing going on here. I break in “It's amazing how you've made Number Two into such a cosy but efficient place – I've been to a Port Preservation Society talk, seen live music, a table top sale, and with its small but significant stage, it even works as a theatrical space – Neil Gore's The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists worked really well.”

I asked what was coming up

“Persistent Vision's next showing is on the 21st – Moonage Daydream. We've got regular stuff, like My Choir Rocks, My Uke Rocks, North Lowestoft Men's Shed meets here.

“Special events include Our Fallen – Launch of a new website, Tim Ainsley and the Vibes, John Ward Trio as the first of his Broad Roots Review venture, there's sculptor Mark Goldsworthy doing a four day workshop, there's the May Day celebration One People One World.” He paused for breath. “It's all on the website.”

They've already hosted many successful events, like Paul Mills' extraordinary series The New Curiosity Shop, and John Ward's premiere of Buffalo Bill Cody.

I asked Piers what they want to do in the future

“Survive. We've got this huge energy bill to pay off – that felt a bit catastrophic but it's become an opportunity, really, to engage and connect - people are being incredibly generous and supportive of that. So far, we've done the whole thing on volunteers, and the income from the bar. Dave Burd's Cask Club is already a successful money raiser. We've not got into the whole grants thing yet, though that may have to change.

“However we do it, we're here to stay.”

John Ellerby

April 9 2023