Happy belated summer everyone!
As some of you will have seen on Facebook, I have some good news regarding a new meeting place. It has been sometime since we were last able to have a meeting. The Queens head, our last venue, has closed and we were looking for a replacement before the pandemic hit… Since then I have struggled to find a new venue for our meetings.
Sally and I have contacted a few venues and visited a couple. I had felt quite confident that the Golden Lion in Southwick would be suitable. However we visited for a meal and look around. The meal whilst very good was fairly expensive (£17 for a main course), and when we enquired there was no bar menu simply the restaurant menu. In addition the two small bars would have been too small for us. Whilst there is also an outside marquee/gazeebo; this has limited protection from the cold in the winter.
However the good news is that we have found a venue that can host us. This is the Crofton Inn on Crofton Lane Stubbington PO14 3QF. Sally and I met the landlord and he was most accommodating. We can have a separate area, and although this is an outside building, it has heaters and walls meaning we should be snug. If needs be in the winter we can use an indoor room. The car park is quite large and we can see most of it when indoors.
The pub has a skittles alley which we can book, maybe before Christmas? Pints average out at £4 and the menu is about £10 a dish.
We have booked for the second Wednesday each month, meaning that our first meeting will be on the 15th of this month at 19.30. This venue will only become our permanent home if you all like it. I very much hope so.
I am hoping that for this first meeting that everyone who can will come in a mini. I look forward to seeing you there.
Tony.