Once-in-a-lifetime trip for Belgian winner in world’s first
Evelyne enjoys a glass of Guinness with her husband and sister in the Guinness Deep Sea Bar
In a global first, a lucky Belgian competition winner has travelled into the depths of the black stuff in the first ever Guinness Deep Sea Bar.
Evelyne Gridelet, 30, of Seraing, Belgium, won the incredible trip in the futuristic custom-built Guinness submarine as part of the Guinness Experiences competition held during the global Guinness 250 celebrations.
Along with her husband, Arnaud Splendore and sister, Virginie Gridelet, Evelyne was flown to Sweden for an unforgettable four-day trip to explore the remote island of Hogmorso in the Stockholm Archipelago. Set against a winter wonderland, the highlight of their adventure, which took place during the last week of January 2010, was travelling to the bottom of the Baltic Sea in the Guinness Deep Sea Bar which was designed and modified exclusively for the trip, and raising a glass to Arthur Guinness.
Evelyne said, “This has been an unbelievable trip of a lifetime! Winning the Guinness Sea Experiences competition has given me the chance to do something totally unique and unforgettable, and I think I’m the first person ever to enjoy a cold glass of Guinness on the ocean floor!”
To enter the Deep Sea Bar, Evelyne and her guests had to face strong winds and bracing temperatures of -15oC, as they walked out across the frozen surface of the Baltic Sea. Earlier in the day an ice breaker cleared a path for the voyage under the sea. Once inside the Deep Sea Bar, the winners made their way below the surface experiencing spectacular views of the underwater landscape while enjoying a glass of Guinness in this most unique of locations.
The Guinness Sea Experience was one of three remarkable prizes offered as part of the first global promotion for Guinness. These remarkable experiences were created as part of the worldwide celebrations to mark Arthur’s Day, the anniversary of 250 years since Arthur Guinness signed the 9,000-year lease on the St James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin.
In addition, two lucky winners have won an unforgettable trip into space aboard Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic Spaceship and an exclusive gig in an intimate studio setting with one of the biggest recording groups in the world, multi-platinum recording artists The Black Eyed Peas. Details on the fulfilment of both these remarkable experiences will be available over the coming year.
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