'The Little Boat Gig'
Yes MV Ella is small, and at present seats around 40 people, but aren’t these small venues the best places to listen to live music. She’s intimate and candlelit with a licensed bar and in house PA. There is a black stage area backdrop to draw the audiences full attention to the performer. We want to create a special ambience where the listener gets in to the zone with the performer and are left with having had a real musical experience, rather than just a drink and chat whilst paying occasional attention to some guy singing background music. If the latter is what your after then you'd be best go to your local social club. There’ll be lots of time to let off steam - before the performance and during intervals etc. We want the artists and the true music fan to want to come back.
We’re hoping to get the best in roots and acoustic music, be it from the folk, blues and country traditions to come and play this novel small and intimate venue.
Due to the limited capacity, shows will be all ticket ranging from £4 to what ever - depending on who we’ve got playing. Tickets are available on the boat or by reservation. Venue should be contacted to enquire about ticket availability on the night.
Contact venue on 01429 279803. Address: MV Ella, Navigation Point, Hartlepool Marina
History of MV Ella
MV Ella was built in 1961. Most of her working life was spent in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Amsterdam towing oil tankers around the ports. In 1965 she was acquired by Harvey towing of Grimsby, where she was employed in transporting in transporting equipment and supplies to the east coast gas rigs. She was eventually retired in 2001 and sat waiting for something to happen to her when David and Carol Howe came along! Ella arrived in Hartlepool in October 2002 and in January 2003 restoration work began on converting her into what you see today if you pay her a visit.
Her working days are over , and she now provides a very pleasant venue for refreshments with a nautical feel on Hartlepool marina. Hopefully she’ll become renowned for being a special place to come and play and experience music.