Our first August meeting is a return, after several years, to The GrillMed restaurant on Watling Street, near The Bowl. Despite its external appearance, the food is very good and the staff welcoming. It's £14.99 for the unlimited buffet (drinks are extra). We will meet at 7pm on Wednesday 2nd, but please let me know by Tuesday 1st if you are planning to come, in case I need to book a table.
As ever, we are at the Three Magnets, Leys Avenue, Letchworth. Thursday nights are curry nights but other food (standard Wetherspoons' fare) is available as well. Leys Avenue is the main shopping street in Letchworth and is a few minutes' walk from the station (Kings Cross to Cambridge line). Call me on [Phone Number] for more details and encouragement.
On Friday 4th we return to Nottingham Greyhound Stadium in Colwick for another charity tournament. I've been donated 100 tickets and am selling them for only £3 each (normal admission and race card is £6) with all that money going to Cancer Research UK. Come along for a fun night out at a bargain price and help a good cause. A win win situation! We'll grab some tables in the large bar downstairs from where food and drink is available, tote bet counters to hand and we can watch the racing either on the screens or pop outside and stand track side. Betting is purely optional! It's worth a try if you've never been before and friends, family or work colleagues are most welcome with accompanied under 18s free of charge. You can arrive/leave any time from 6.00pm to 10.30pm. Follow the brown signs to Colwick race course and park and ride. There is ample free parking at the venue. You will need to purchase tickets from me in advance as I'm not allowed to hand them out on the night.
The following evening, Saturday 5th, we're at the Vat & Fiddle pub adjacent to Castle Rock Brewery and near Nottingham railway station. We should be in the Goldings Room to the left of the bar from 8.00pm until late. New members are especially welcome so why not come along and find out what you've been missing and suggest some events for the future? We don't bite!
Summer's definitely here, I'm doing the notice for Helen and Paul's annual 'Afternoon tea in the Garden'. This is a meeting I would recommend to everyone, they have a lovely garden to sit in and always provide wonderful food. It's a great event, do come on Sunday 6th August, 15.00-17.00, near Spilsby. Because they may have to limit numbers, please contact them beforehand: hshovlar@gmailcom or [Phone Number] by Friday evening (4 August), please include your phone number so that they can contact you on the day if bad weather forces cancellation.
On Thursday 10th we're at the Cadland, High Road, Chilwell, for a meal from 7.30pm or later for just a drink. Their menu is at www.emberinns.co.uk and if you sign up for their emails there are often useful discount vouchers. We reserve tables 20-24 at the far side of the bar. Look for a yellow Mblem.
Lots of various types of eating opportunities this month! Starting with Susan and Mark kindly inviting us to their home in Ilkeston from 7.00pm on Friday 11th for some socialising and a BBQ. Please bring something for the BBQ and whatever you want to drink but bread rolls and salads will be provided. Contact them on [Phone Number] for directions and to confirm attendance.
Then, we are now back to our usual SECOND Saturday, 12th August, pub discussion at the Adam and Eve on Lindum Hill, Lincoln. We meet at around 12, start the discussion at about 12.30, this month it's 'Should we have genderspecific awards?" The conversation continues down various byways until we feel like going home, anytime from 2, sometimes as late as well gone 3. Hopefully, we will be in the garden, if not the alcove, look for Mblem; free car park, food available.
Alphabet Event - T is for Tapas Bar
Join Richard Allen on Saturday 12th at 1:00pm for lunch at Letchworth's famous tapas bar, La Concha, which is locally famous for the quality of its food and wine. As space is limited, please let me know no later than Saturday 5 August if you want to come so I can book a table. The bar is located next door to the railway station.
On Saturday 12th August, join me at Bricks Britannia - the history of Britain in Lego bricks. This exhibition is on at the County Museum, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP. We are promised over 30 models of wellknown landmarks including an 8 metre long Lego representation of the Flying Scotsman train, complete with light, sound and smoke effects. Tickets will be available on the day and are expected to cost less than £5 each. Meet me at the Museum entrance at 2:00pm to go into the exhibition.
As usual we shall be meeting at the Rendezvous Coffee Shop in Market Walk, Northampton Town Centre at 10:30 on 13 August for a drink, breakfast or brunch. We shall be including a discussion on pets, usual and unusual. Contact Marianne on [Phone Number] or email: [Email] for more information or encouragement.
Join Dave and Alison at their home in Flackwell Heath for a relaxed evening of indoor board games. Arrive for an 8pm start on Monday 14th August. Please contact Dave on mensagames@ divenal.plus.com or [Phone Number] for directions and to let him know which games you would like to play. For further details or encouragement contact me on [Phone Number] or e-mail me at [Email]
On Wednesday 16th we return to the Standing Order in Derby city centre for a meal and/or drink and some interesting conversation. Find us on a long table in the low ceiling rear section of this Wetherspoon pub on Iron Gate any time from 7.30pm until late. There will be a yellow Mblem on display or phone me in advance if needing directions or encouragement to come along.
I recently went for a lovely afternoon tea at Victoria Vintage Tea Rooms in Draycott and was so impressed I'm organising a group visit there at 2.00pm on Thursday 17th. Their afternoon tea comprises a nice selection of sandwiches and cakes, scone with jam and cream, unlimited coffee or tea (including flavours such as liquorice or apple crumble!) and a glass of fruit juice. All this for only £10 per person. We are limited to 16 places but can then have their upstairs Hepburn Suite to ourselves which is decorated with Audrey Hepburn memorabilia. Please let me know by 14th latest if you'd like to join us.
Sunday breakfast is on Sunday 20th at Carluccio's in the Centre:MK. Join us from 10am for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink. We will probably be in one of the red booths in front of the restaurant.
Our regular Third Monday visit to the Barge in Woolstone for the quiz is on Monday 21st. Meet from 8.15 - the quiz starts at 8.30pm (note the earlier start time) and costs £1 per person. Please let me know beforehand if you're coming - the maximum team size is 6 people so it helps to know whether we'll be one team or two, or somewhere in between.
Last Friday is at our usual venue of the Cowper Arms, Digswell. The pub is next to Welwyn North station and is served by stopping trains from Kings Cross to Peterborough and Cambridge. Good food, beer and conversation guaranteed! Please call me on [Phone Number] for more details and encouragement.
Finally at 7.30pm on Tuesday 29th we're going for a Thai meal at Grand Siam in Eastwood (NG16 3NQ). This restaurant is close to my home and gets good reviews but I've never visited. Time to change that! See their menu at www.grandsiam.co.uk and let me know by 24th if you'd like to join us.