Newcon 4 - SF Convention in Northampton.

NEWCON 4:
Venue

The Fish Market - Northampton THE FISHMARKET BRADSHAW STREET NORTHAMPTON NN1 2HL T: 01604 639090	The Fishmarket also known as Market Hall, is in the very centre of Northampton just off the large market square. [Map] Inside, it's a large L-shaped space benefitting from variable gravity floors which slope slightly in different directions, to allow the easy hosing away of fish-heads and tails. These days hosing no longer takes place, since the building has been converted into a commodious arts venue, which will become even better endowed during the year leading up to NewCon4, including, amongst much else, revamped toilets, although only 10 seconds from the rear of the Fishmarket is the prizewinning best loo of the year of all England, a sight to behold. As is the fascinating award-winning restored Rennie Mackintosh house a shortish walk away at 78 Derngate; not to mention Northampton's Museum and Art Gallery specialising in boots and shoes, including the boots from Tommy, a boot worn by an elephant crossing the Alps, and fetish footwear - an even shorter walk.

Fishmarket - Book Shop	Features of the Fishmarket include boutique shops, a café with an expanding repertoire of exotic delicacies, and a bar which will happily stock Real Ale. We'll probably have our dealer space in two longish rooms opening directly off the main hall. We may have our Art Show on the main walls. The vicinity abounds in restaurants, such as a good Chinese buffet 3 seconds from the front door of the Fishmarket - more about such things later. Fishmarkets are traditionally unheated to keep the fish cool, but there'll be ample heaters for NewCon4 (although maybe bring a woolly with you just in case of The Day After Tomorrow happening suddenly). Given a grant, the arts administrators are looking to turn a little wasteland car park at the rear into an outdoor patio opening directly from the Fishmarket, maybe with Global Warming heaters.
LAVISH REFURB FOR FISHMARKET! In January 08 the collective running the Fishmarket as an arts centre received £150,000 in grant money from East Midlands Development Agency. Work is now under way to upgrade basic facilities such as toilets and office, and complete a new workshop and second gallery. The main entrance is getting a major facelift, likewise the café/bar. The rundown courtyard is being transformed into an urban garden that will provide a seasonal extension to the café as well as performance/screening space. This has been further aided by a grant of £5,600 from the River Nene Regional Parks Inspired Spaces program. An important element of the refurb is the involvement of three start-up design companies with local connections, with Jayne McFarlayne of JM Designs sourcing feature seating and lighting for the entrance; the hot London-based company The Farm working on a total transformation of the café; and Artemis creating an urban oasis in the courtyard. The Fishmarket is sheduled to reopen with a celebration of epic proportions on Friday 4th April 2008. What more up-to-date and inspired spatial venue could there be for Newcon4 than Northampton’s Fishmarket!

Fishmarket - Cafe	The photos show bits of the Fishmarket as it is as of October 2007, one year before NewCon4, prior to the many planned enhancements. The Ibis Hotel, where we're block-booking rooms, is about 5 minutes walk from the Fishmarket. Click here to discover more: