We're now feeling quite at home in our new Northampton base so why not pay us a visit? The Malt Shovel in Bridge Street on Monday 1st February is where you will find us from 9.00pm onwards. We try to grab one of the tables towards the rear of the pub. There's no juke box or other things to disturb the flow of the conversation so if you haven't been before why not put it in your diary for this month.
From 8.15pm on 4th our regular first Thursday of the month meeting: we'll be around for our usual mix of lively conversation and good atmosphere at the Millstream, Cambridge Road, Hitchin. Good food and good beer both available! Call me for details and encouragement. The pub is about ten minutes' walk from the railway station.
First Thursday is at our regular venue of Jurys Inn on Midsummer Boulevard, on 4th February, from 8.00pm. Look out for the Mblem on one of the tables to the right in the foyer. Parking is a bit busy around Jurys and The Hub, so we try and get in across the road and walk through the underpass.
On Friday 5th it's our get together at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road. If you're wondering why we meet there it's because many years ago our regular pub venue closed for refurbishment and at the time the landlord of the Tom Hoskins pub was a Mensan. Both the landlord and the pub name have since changed but it's ideal for our needs being central yet with free parking right outside, close to both train and bus links, and with real ale brewed next door at the Castle Rock Brewery. Whatever day of the week the 5th falls we usually manage to get a table to the left of the bar. But there's only one bar so we should be easy to find and a yellow Mblem is always on display. New faces are welcome to join us from 8.00pm.
On Saturday 6th February come to a special exhibition at Buckinghamshire County Museum of toys which (mostly) don't need batteries! Entitled 50 Years of Toys, the exhibition promises a nostalgic trip back to childhood, featuring Dinky cars, Hornby trains, Action Man, Sindy, Corgi and more famous names. There is also a separate display of Victorian toys.
The Museum closes earlier in the winter, so we will eat first and then look at the exhibition. Meet at Carlos's Portuguese Restaurant, near the Museum in Temple Street for lunch at 12:30. The menu includes a wide range of sea food, a good selection of vegetarian options as well as more conventional meat and fish dishes. Alternatively join us at the Museum entrance at 2.00pm
You are welcome to come to one or both parts of this event. Contact me by Sunday 31st January to let me know you are coming to the meal so that I can book us a table.
Saturday 6th we're looking to start a T@3 event in the Hitchin area: location is yet to be confirmed but if you ring me, all will be revealed!
On Monday 8th February join us at the Essex Arms, Langley Way, Watford for a pub meeting at 8.00pm. Please come along and join in the warm and friendly conversation! We will also be planning future events away from the pub.
Phone me on [Phone Number] or Elaine on [Phone Number] for information.
Our other regular event is a meal at Nando's chicken restaurant on Forman Street followed by a cinema visit at Cineworld. We'll be meeting at 7.00pm on Wednesday 10th inside the doors to the Cornerhouse in the city centre. Contact host Paul on [Phone Number] or [Email] for more info.
The FSOTH month is actually on the second Saturday at 12noon in Lincoln so, as Christine says, "as this is the third month in row we've moved it, I think we'll change it permanently to the second Saturday". Please join us in the coffee bar at The Collection, Danes Terrace. December's discussion ranged from 'What Art do you like?' to anecdotes on talking to nice call centre staff. Some have lunch/snack, others just drinks. I will try for a table at the far end of the room, spot the magazine and/or black Mblem. All very welcome.
For more details/encouragement please contact me or [Email]
Our regular 3WOTM meeting at the Standing Order in Derby falls on Wednesday 17th this month. Join us for a meal or just a drink and some great conversation from 7.30pm. Look out for the yellow Mblem on a long table in the area just beyond the bar. Please feel free to contact me, for more details/directions or even if you just want some encouragement.
Our Third Wednesday meeting at the Old Beams in Shenley Lodge is on 17th from 8.00 pm. If you're definitely planning to come, please let me know as it will help us to grab the right sized table, but don't let that put you off deciding on the spur of the moment - you'll still be welcome. See www.mcmullens.co.uk for location and menu details. You can eat or not, as you wish - their food is quite good and reasonably priced. Look around for the Mblem - we don't always get the same table each time but we are often in the small room through on the extreme right.
After a two-year gap, the Roadshow meeting returns to the village of Spratton, which lies just to the east of the A5199 (the Welford Road if you're travelling out from Northampton). The Kings Head in Brixworth Road hosts the meeting and we'll be there at 8.00pm. With a bit of luck we might even get a game of skittles going; now's the time to practice your cheese throwing.
We're having an 'eating meeting' at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 23rd at Bay Leaf on Market Street in Heanor. This Bangladeshi restaurant has been tested by several Mensans and comes highly recommended. The service and food are excellent and prices reasonable. The venue does not have an alcohol licence so either buy soft drinks there or bring your own beer or wine. Please book with Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] by 19th so that a large enough table can be reserved.
On Wednesday 24th February at 7.45pm-ish, we will meet at the White Horse Pub on the main road through Bourne End, plenty of parking at the back and they have a new cook. Some of us have dinner but some of us just come for one drink and a chat. All members young and adult are very welcome.
On Friday 26th from 8.00pm join us at the Cowper Arms, Digswell (near Welwyn village) for our new look Last Friday. Good food and good beer available to suit all tastes! The venue is next to Welwyn North railway station . Do come along and try it out for yourself!
Well, the idea for February was a Thai meal in Asfordby, but unfortunately they no longer do them: so apologies to those who were looking forward to it. Maybe we can find a decent Thai restaurant somewhere for a future meeting. So, as the Marquis of Granby at Waltham has been recommended recently, that's where we'll be on Saturday 27th - meeting around 7.30pm. Waltham lies about 3-4 miles from Melton on the A607 Melton to Grantham road. If you get to Waltham, you can't miss the pub! (no prizes for doing so) . . . the Royal Horseshoes on the opposite corner has closed. I would like names by Monday 22nd February, please, although I don't suppose numbers will be too crucial.
Our final meeting this month is a Sunday walk and lunch on 28th February. This time we're going to do Caldecotte Lake, on the south side of Milton Keynes. We'll meet at 11.00am in the car park of the Caldecotte Arms, on the north side of Bletcham Way (H10) and just east of the A5. Afterwards we will have lunch in the Caldecotte Arms, which is a Brewer's Fayre type pub/restaurant - it's easily recognisable as the one with the windmill.