Gulberwick Hall was one of the top venues for the South Mainland Up Helly Aa according to many of the guizers after their visit to our local hall. And it was rated one of the best and most enjoyable nights ever in the hall by the people in the hall.

Being a host hall for the first South Mainland Up Helly Aa required a lot of planning to ensure that everything went smoothly on the night - as indeed it did, thanks to the advance preparation by members of the hall committee and Gulberwick Together. The atmosphere throughout the evening was electric with the high spirits and amazing acts of the guizers, the music by the Alan Nicholson Band was outstanding as always, the floor was crowded with dancers throughout the whole night and the soup and savoury supper was greatly appreciated after all the activity.

The hall was ready and full to capacity when the first buses arrived at 9.00 and thereafter steadily throughout the night until 3.30 am. The buses were scheduled to arrive at the hall from the north junction and depart to the south to help the flow of traffic. Parking was not a problem despite the number of people arriving with cars.

The mixed squads performed an amazing range of acts with a dazzling range of costumes and colours and many high intensity dances and acts. Many of the acts were longer than is the case at Lerwick and gave a fuller account of some of the local events during the previous months.

The Gulberwick Hall committee and the helpers are to be congratulated on rising to the challenge of staging the event and ensuring that the services, food and enjoyment met the usual high standard for events in the Gulberwick Hall. Everyone left Gulberwick delighted with a splendid evening of outstanding entertainment which ran very smoothly and bodes well for the future of the South Mainland Up Helly Aa.

To view photographs from the event, click here: South Mainland Up Helly Aa Gallery

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