Fed up of the same old happy hour venues?

Living on a small island like Bermuda, it can feel like you are running out of places to go to socialize with your friends and enjoy some quality live entertainment.

The Bermuda National Trust may just have found a solution. As part of a drive to attract more young members, the charitable organization plans to open the doors to its various beautiful open spaces and historic properties to host concerts and other events. While providing new entertainment venues, the Trust also hopes to educate the public about what it does while raising more money to help preserve our island’s natural beauty.

The first of these events is The Ultimate Unwind happy hour with live music next Friday on the grounds of one of Bermuda’s oldest buildings and the Trust’s head quarters —Waterville at 2 Pomander Road, Paget.

Local reggae group The Home Grown Band will headline the event and there will be music from DJ OGS Genesis later on. Tickets are $50 which includes one year’s membership with the Bermuda National Trust and the chance to win door prizes from the Stefanel Group and Gorhams.

There will be canapés served throughout the evening which runs from 5:30pm to 8pm.

Membership and development administrator Deanne Hart came up with the plan to introduce the happy hour, an idea that has been touted around at the Trust for some time. She was hired in March this year and began ­planning in May.

“When I joined the Trust they told me they wanted to diversify its membership. They wanted younger ­people and I thought Waterville would make a great venue for a happy hour.

“This is the kick off membership drive and if this is successful I am ­hoping that next year we can have them more regularly like every other ­Friday for a couple of months in the summer.”

Mrs. Hart used to work in marketing at Aardvark Communications and has a keen interest in the arts. As well as promoting the Trust and gaining membership, she wanted to promote ­local talent. Ride the Wave, an album featuring 20 ­contemporary Bermudian artists, will be on sale at the event.

“I am looking to attract 100 new members aged ­between 30 to 50,” she ­continued.

“This particular event will also have a presence of the Ride the Wave CD. I wanted to push local talent. Someone sent me the CD around the time that I was planning the event.  I knew I wanted local talent so I ­approached the artists.  Home Grown is on the CD and agreed to perform at the event“Part of the proceeds from album sales go to the Coalition for the ­Protection of Children.”

In addition to the ­Ultimate Unwind, in a separate development, the Trust will be hosting concerts by singer Joy T Barnum ahead of her tour with Heather Nova. It is all part of the drive to engage more with the youth.

Mrs. Hart believes there are many people in Bermuda who do not know what the National Trust really does —what it preserves and how the public can make use of it.

“Hopefully through these types of events people can see how they can use these venues and appreciate that the Trust is theirs. Hopefully other event organizers and promoters will also see what they can do at these places.

“We have 56 historic buildings, 270 acres of open space and 13 historic cemeteries.

“If this event goes well I will look to make it more regular next year.”

Membership gives you access to the Trust’s museums which are Verdmont House, Tucker House and The Globe Hotel. Members receive an e-bulletin, a ten per cent discount on Trust camps, ten per cent discount at its trustworthy stores and invitations to member’s only events. Memberships are reciprocated with other trust properties overseas.

“The ­bottom line is that this will be their contribution to a local charity for the year. Come out have a good time, socialize in a new venue and learn from us what we do for you.”

For more information visit: www.bnt.bm