Down the Hatch is a new solo exhibition by artist Jo Lathwood that explores the rich histories of British pub culture through a queer lens. Centred on the traditions of brewing, pub signage and community gathering, the exhibition reclaims and reimagines the overlooked stories of British pubs – especially those of the medieval pioneering female brewers known as Ale Wives.

Pubs have long played a vital role in shaping the character of towns and villages across Britain. Through newly commissioned sculptures, films, and drawing, Lathwood delves into the origins of these communal spaces and the visual language that defines them.

A key inspiration for Down the Hatch is the story of the Alewives – skilled women brewers of medieval Britain who used brewing as a means of survival. Often depicted in prominent hats and cauldrons, these women were gradually pushed out of the profession as brewing became industrialised and male-dominated. Lathwood reclaims their legacy through a feminist lens, creating a dialogue between past and present.

At the heart of the exhibition are two large-scale sculptures that invite audiences to inhabit and explore, with one taking the form of a large, upturned cauldron, and the second inviting visitors to ascend a spiral walkway flanked by carved, ‘wiggling’ wooden uprights, evoking ancient pub markers and ale-stirring sticks.

A series of films in the exhibition capture both traditional and contemporary brewing processes, including footage from Drop Bear Brewing, a female-led, queer brewery in Swansea specialising in non-alcoholic craft beer. The footage draws parallels between historical brewing rituals and modern-day practices, inviting viewers to reflect on continuity, transformation, and resistance. Dried hops hang from the ceiling, referencing both ale’s central ingredient and the earliest form of the pub sign, a bush or vine.

All works in this exhibition are made from recycled or repurposed materials, reflecting Lathwood’s deep commitment to environmental sustainability and resourcefulness. Down the Hatch is not only an invitation to engage with the visual and material culture of the British pub – it is a celebration of the queer, feminist and often-forgotten figures who have shaped this tradition from the margins.

About the artist

Jo Lathwood is a queer artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans drawing, sculpture and large-scale installation. Her work often begins in response to a specific site, material, process or event, with context and sustainability playing central roles in her approach.

Lathwood works with recycled or repurposed materials, guided by a personal sustainability manifesto she developed five years ago. She advocates for a fundamental shift in how sculpture is conceived – moving away from permanence and possession, and toward borrowing, sharing, reusing and using materials that can either biodegrade or serve a remedial function.

Her philosophy prioritises what happens to an artwork at the end of its life, rather than its creation, embodying a 'leave no trace' ethos over the traditional ambition to 'make a mark'.