The Old Spot Inn, Dursley - Newsletter May 09 (Tel: 01453 542870)

Darling's Done It Again
Well, the chancellor's done his bit again - another 2% increase in alcohol tax. This may not seem a lot, but with a huge amount of pubs tinkering on the abyss of bankruptcy this could be the final push. Supermarkets will weather the storm a lot easier than the on-trade, swallowing the increase and quite possibly giving even bigger discounts, and so adding to the binge Britain society we read about so often in the tabloids.

Charity Quiz
Liz Parry - Quizmaster

On a lighter note our charity quiz went rather well with over 29 teams taking part, with an average of 6 in a team; well you can do the maths! With a lucky dip and impromptu auction, we managed to raise just under £600 for epilepsy research. Big thanks to our quiz masters, Nancy, Liz and Nick and all others that that helped make it such a great night.

Friends We Will Miss
Last month was a sad month for the Old Spot. As you are aware from last month's newsletter, 'Nottingham' Nigel passed away. His funeral was extremely well attended with the wake being held at the Old Crown in Uley. A big thank you to Ben and Mary for their hospitality and the excellent spread and also to Kenny Boy who, at Nigel's request, provided some light musical entertainment under very difficult circumstances.

A week later, we were all sorry to hear about the passing of both Don Weekes and Don Harmer on the same day. Absolute gentlemen and will be greatly missed. Condolences to their respective families from all who knew them at the Old Spot.

Old Spot Piglet
Our Old Spot Piglet!

Look out for our new pet project! We are sponsoring an old spot pig and have chosen an 8 week old weaner. We will be supplied with regular photographs and updates. It will be reared in an amazing environment with natural feed and no antibiotics. Then in 6 months it will reach pork weight (approx 40 -50 kilos) and divided up amongst the sponsors. Let's have your ideas for his name!

As well as sponsoring our own porker, we at the Old Spot are working hard to cut our carbon footprint and support our local community. We are now sourcing our milk and cream from Lucy's Dairy, our flour from Shipton Mill, eggs from Sherston.

Butcombe Tour
The Butcombe Brewery tour is coming up soon ...

We will be leaving the Old Spot at 6.30 Tuesday 26th May, calling in at the Lamb Inn at Axbridge for sausage and mash. The cost will be £10 each. We will be arriving back at the Old Spot at approximately 11.45pm. Names and cash behind the bar.

Paintball III
Skirmish - Paintball

The annual paintball trip has been booked for Sunday 31st May. £25 per person; includes lunch, kit and 300 paintballs. Upgraded packages will be available on the day. Teams will be based on youngsters versus oldies. There are some new games this year, so names behind the bar ASAP please. Some of us found we were more than a little stiff the day after last year's, so it might be an idea to do a little training first! More details are available on the website.

Match Replaces Beerfest
Bad news, the Ric-fest has had to be rescheduled again - unfortunately the Dursley Rugby Club Beer Festival has already been organised for the same weekend. But as we all know Ric was a keen cricketer, so in his memory we will be staging a cricket match on Sunday 14th June, billed as 'The Old Gits versus the Young Pups'. If you're interested in taking part please mention it to Steve. Further details should be available in the next newsletter.

The annual boat trip is taking on a different theme this year - unfortunately the Tjalk is no longer available with Eddie and team converting it to a house boat and taking early retirement.

So we will be taking out 3 self drive boats from Slimbridge, stopping off at various watering holes along the canal, hopefully getting as far as the Pilot at Hardwick. Each boat will have a captain and first mate, a goody bag with a picnic lunch, wine and beer (soft drinks will also be available). The fancy dress will be 'warriors' with each boat being either Vikings, Romans or cowboys. You will draw your name out two weeks before we are due to set sail. Cost is £25 all in, with the transport leaving the Spot at 10.30am and being picked up at the Patch (Tudor Arms, Slimbridge) at 6.30pm. With music from Leon Daye and a light supper back at the pub.

CAMRA Glos PotY
CAMRA - Gloucestershire Pub of the Year 2009

Last but not least, we are pleased to announce that we have won Gloucestershire Pub of the Year again. It's a real honour and I would like to thank all those CAMRA members who voted for us. We have now won it four years on the trot, and I would like to thank the team for doing an amazing job, and my local brewers for producing some terrifically tongue-tastic tasting tipples (try saying that after a few!!)

Celebrity Chef Nights Prove a Success
Following Guy's success with the Indian meal last month, Thursday the 30th April saw 37 of us graced with traditional Romanian delights. Big thanks to Scrin Pop and Amelia for some truly amazing fodder it was really authentic and very much enjoyed.

Watch out for the next Celebrity Chef: A Polish Evening with Steve Rubin on Thursday 14th May at 7.30pm. All for £7.50 - Book early to avoid disappointment.

If you are interested in treating us to your own culinary skills, please have a word with Steve.

- Forthcoming Events . . .


May
:: Sun 3	8.00 pm	Charity Quiz Night	£5.00
:: Mon 4	~ ~ ~	Bank Holiday Monday
:: Thur 14	7.30pm	Celebrity Chef: Polish Evening - with Steve Rubin	£7.50
:: Sun 24	8.00pm	Charity Quiz Night	£5.00
:: Mon 25	~ ~ ~	Bank Holiday Monday
:: Tue 26	6.30pm	Old Spot on Tour:- Butcombe Brewery Visit	£10.00
:: Sun 31	9.00am	Paintball, Portishead, Bristol	£25.00

June
:: Sun 14	T.B.A.	Cricket match:- 'Old Gits v Young Pups'	Free
:: Tue 16	8.30pm	Meet the Brewer - Bath Ales	£5.00

July
:: Sun 19	10.30am	Canal Boat Trip	£25.00
:: Fri 24 - Sun 26		Rev. Skye working behind bar	- - -

August
:: Tue 4		Great British Beer Festival (Trade Day), - Earls Court	T.B.A.
:: Fri 14 - Sun 16		The Old Spot Summer Beer Festival	- - -
:: Sun 30	3.00pm	Frocester Chill Out.	- - -

Slimbridge Beerfest tickets (Saturday 20th June, Slimbridge WWT) are available now - On sale at the Spot, priced £6.50

There's lots of new stuff coming up soon so keep an eye out ...

Dates to be confirmed for:


:: Kayak trip

LATE NEWS FLASH: Congratulations must go to the Dursley Male Voice Choir ... Having entered the Cornish International Male Voice Choir Competition, with entries from as far afield as Russia and South Africa, they came overall third, and highest ranked non-Cornish Choir (wink, wink!). Does this mean they are the best in the UK outside Cornwall?

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