Inaugurated in 2025 as a multi-purpose venue, Póvoa Arena is a state-of-art facility next to the sea where a bull-fighting arena used to be located.
The arcade on the facade, designed in 1790-91 by the French engineer Reinaldo Oudinot, suggests the architectural and decorative structure of the English Factory in Porto. Inaugurated on December 28, 1807, it underwent extensive expansion and decoration works between 1908-10, overseen by the ethnologist Rocha Peixoto and the Belgian painter Joseph Bialman: the tower and the internal and external tiling of the building.
Built during the reigns of King Pedro II and King João V (1701 to 1740), it has a pentagonal layout and consists of four bastions linked by their respective curtain walls. Above the entrance gate are the coats of arms of D. Diogo de Sousa, the governor responsible for the completion of the works, and inside there is a small chapel, dating from 1743, dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception. Its construction aimed to defend the interests associated with fishing, an activity that was then the economic mainstay of the town of Póvoa de Varzim.
As told by the creators: 2021 - With the decision made to venture into the world of beer, we still lacked a name worthy of our Vision and Mission. We had another 'Eureka' moment and the perfect name emerged: POBEIRA. This name pays homage to the unique accent and spirit of the people of northern Portugal, and the brand exalts our roots and the pride of Póvoa de Varzim.
2022 - The decision was made - 2022 marked the end of our careers in the corporate world and the beginning of our entrepreneurial adventure. We still had one last test to face - scaling our production (from 20 to 1500L) for the first time! So we did, and we brought the beer to the Póvoa de Varzim community with the aim of hearing their feedback and creating the perfect recipe! Based on the conclusions drawn from our first industrial test, we embarked on a dream – a trip around the world! We packed our bags and took our Pobeira beer with us, aiming to showcase our project and learn from unique people and cultures while solidifying our friendship and entrepreneurial partnership.
2023 - Returning home after a memorable and transformative journey, we dedicated five months to meticulously planning the launch of Pobeira Beer. Focusing on ensuring the brand image conveyed our Values, Mission, and Vision, we invested in branding with a logo inspired by the unique symbols of Póvoa de Varzim and revamped our beer. Thus, Beach Lager was born! With an appealing image, this beer is light and refreshing. The goal is to create the perfect beer for sunsets, moments with friends, and unforgettable memories!
Come enjoy a Pobeira at sunset with us!
For the eager runners amongst the attendees, there will be a 5 km way-and-back-type long run, always along the sea side. This is planned to start at 8 am on Day 2. On this day, the conference will only start at 9:30 am to allow everyone to get a quick shower in before showing up for the technical sessions.
Start place in the location link.
Lota Bar is a quaint restaurant located inside the fishing port. It has two items on the menu, exclusively, which are fish soup and fresh sea food! This lunch is also included with your registration.
Upon registrarion, let us know if you cannot eat fresh sea food so we can plan ahead.
This restaurant is quite hidden from the main road. It is where our local composites group (Porto Composites) meets for Christmas dinners, celebrations and other ocasions.
It is a relaxed setting, with an amazing host that will mark the end of the conference with a proper staple food from Póvoa de Varzim.
This lunch can be purchased as an extra at registration if you want to bring someone with you.
See you there!
Plastic Bar will be the setting for the farewell party.
Friday night, let's all gather there for a sendoff.
Entrance is free, and included in your registration, by using a code for the conference guest list that will be made available at an appropriate time. Just pay what you order.