Hearty & arty at The Foragers

Andrew Kay talks to Paul Hutchison from The Foragers and Daniel Doherty of Art + Believe

The bus journey to Hove seemed short enough, possibly because I was on my way to indulge in two of my great loves: good food and interesting art. The art thing goes back as far as my love of eating and I have been an avid collector since I was in my early twenties and could afford to buy paintings, prints and ceramics. Come to think, that was when I started my love affair with eating out.

I was travelling to Hove to meet up with Paul Hutchison, the man behind the successful pub The Foragers. I’ve known Paul for some years now and we share a passion for great food and a belief in sourcing as locally and as seasonally as is possible. His two pubs, The Foragers and The Kings Arms in Lewes are both great exponents of both traditional dishes as well as new fashions in food, a balance that works well.

The reason for our meeting was to introduce me to artist Daniel Doherty. Daniel has recently completed a large mural in The Foragers, a vibrant landscape of multi-coloured dwellings that rise and sprawl across a hilly landscape. It’s an impressive work and one that, whilst on the one hand says ghetto, on the other speaks of an exciting community, a network of homes and therefore of course, people. As I sit and look across the room it pulses with life even though there is only one figure, flying a kite in isolation at the top of the hill.

But first we need to eat, and I am delighted when I see that cottage pie is on the menu, what could be better? When it arrives it’s piping hot and delicious. Paul orders mussels and Daniel makes pretty light work of a rather tempting burger as we chat.

Paul has always encouraged local artists, and from day one The Foragers has exhibited of work of different kinds. I ask if people actually buy the art they see on the walls and he says yes, they have had a great deal of success with their exhibitions.

“It pulses with light even though there is only one figure, flying a kite in isolation”

“Having art on our walls has certainly encouraged people to come in,” says Paul. “It makes art more accessible as people who would perhaps not go into a commercial gallery will see it here when they pop in for a drink or a meal. In a way it can encourage people to start collecting.”

Paul is possibly right, from experience I know that galleries can be a little intimidating. It’s that kind of attitude that in part inspires Daniel. He has loved creating the mural here and loves finding ways of introducing people to art. He also has a very refreshing approach to his work and how it is priced. “I like to make the work and make it affordable.” It’s a policy that makes total sense and blows away the concept of the starving artist in his garret. Daniel wants to share his work and to do so he has created a manifesto of sorts under the banner Art + Believe.

“If you add art and believe together something brilliant happens.
Art+ Believe creates time and space for people through art and design. Spaces to share and enjoy the moment. I created it in 2000 as a way of involving people in creating something beautiful. Art+Believe is about living in the moment and using art and design to bring people together – through exhibitions, photography, screenprints, murals, buildings…

“And at the centre of Art+Believe has always been the favelas of Brazil. Favelas are alive, breathing and growing every day. The architecture is beautiful, organic and free. The favelas are a visual representation of our world.”

So what inspires Art+Believe?
“Travel, people and architecture,” says Daniel. “Living in the now, Art+Believe is about people.”

I’m sitting with a delicious meaty pie in front of me totally carried along by Daniel’s passion. I look around the room at his prints and find them more and more fascinating as he tells me about his way of working and his forthcoming project, transforming a building, The Brit School, in South London. I can also see why Paul has become so involved, not only in mounting this exhibition of Daniel’s work but also as a sponsor of the West Hove Artists Open House Trail this year. Here at Latest 7 we have a long standing relationship with Brighton’s AOH trails so it’s great to see yet another local business getting right behind them.

The Foragers continues to make great food in a relaxed environment that maintains the pub atmosphere and status. The art on the walls simply adds to the experience and Daniel’s lively works are certainly worth stopping by to see, ideally whilst enjoying a tasty meal and a well kept pint of ale or bottle of wine.

The Foragers, 3 Stirling Place, Hove, BN3 3YU, 01273 733134, www.theforagerspub.co.uk, www.artandbelieve.com
Open 12pm–12am daily
Lunch: Monday to Friday: 12pm–3pm,
Saturday & Sunday 12pm–4pm
Dinner: Monday to Saturday: 6pm–10pm