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CAMRA National Real Ale Pub of the Year Awards, 2007
The Old Spot, Dursley - Regional Winner (South West)
This means we're within the top eight pubs in the country! Well done to Ric & Ellie and all our staff who have worked so hard throughout the year.
The Award Presentation Night will be on Sunday 28th October. All are welcome.
Steve & Belinda.
Summer At Last
Finally it arrived - all very randomly, but summer actually did arrive! Luckily for us, all the good days fell just when we needed them. I knew getting the Reverend back behind the bar at the beginning of August would bode well for the pub!
St. James Church Roof Fund
On the subject of the Reverend Janet Bromley, with her efforts behind the bar and selling Frocester Beer Festival T-shirts, we have managed to just over £1690.00. All proceeds are going to St. James Church roof repairs. It goes without saying that without everyone pulling together it would never of been possible, so on that note, the following get big hugs . . .
Steve Macdonald of Severn Vale Brewing Company, for donating the beer - Severn Bells, a refreshing summer ale - and what a glorious beer it was! One we all hope to see on a regular basis.
All profits were donated towards the roof repair of
St. James's Church, Dursley.
Stu the Brew for designing the T-shirts - they look fab and we're still getting requests for more! If we get enough, we may consider a reprint!
The Lions Club for kindly allowing us to sell them - looking forward to your full support again next year.
And finally, all you guys for your support and sticking two fingers up to the Daily Mail by proving that pubs aren't just about the corruption of the young, binge drinking and late night disturbances!
RIGHT: "Old Spot Beer Sisters at the Frocester Beer Festival" . . . corrupting the young ???
Summer Beer Fest
The pub's Summer Beer Festival was a riot, proving to be the busiest yet, with the weather being absolutely perfect. We sold all the beer outside by 9.45pm, but needless to say that there was enough to keep everyone inside fully sated. Our busiest ever day - well done & a big thank you to all the bar and kitchen staff.
Frocester Beer Festival
The stories have been flowing in about everybody's little adventures at Frocester Beer Festival. Most of them consisting of lost hours and bumping into random people . . . and then forgetting about it until strangely repeating the whole process again and again! The pub did its bit by taking in its fair share of waifs and strays, those people who lost there bearings, their friends or their beer taxi . . . and in some cases, all three!
The now traditional, annual (Frocester) Chill Out was manic, amazing and drunken! And anything but chilled! Both Belinda and I agree that it's our favourite day of the year - everybody is on top form, and in some ways you don't want it end, but unfortunately internal organs have the final say!
Staff Christmas Party -
Big thanks to Ben for organising the Staff Christmas Party a couple of weeks ago (yes I know it was August, but hey, we live busy lives!)
I am pleased to announce that all staff behaved themselves, though I do believe that the breakdancing demonstrated by several key members of staff on the dance floor, could perhaps do with a little work! Thanks to Ric and El for picking up the tab (again), we really do appreciate it, if only to give Nathan's tonsils a thorough workout each year.
Building Work finally gets underway!
During the next couple of months, you may notice a little building work going on. Finally the ladies are getting their extra toilets - and if you're a bloke, you will never fully grasp what some of our fairer sex have had to go through over the last couple years! We've counted a queue of 16 at its peak, so chaps take note, trust me you've had it easy!
Our Carbon Footprint
Now were approaching my occasional preaching point, at the end of October we will be having our Autumn Beer Festival. This year's theme is all about looking at our 'Carbon Footprint' and with help from Chad Staddon, we will be estimating our carbon emission and planting the corresponding number of trees at relevant sites with the assistance of Ken Hall.
I also want to initiate a debate within the pub about our Carbon Footprints I would hope to include views and/or analysis from any of you that are interested and in particular:
the Gloucestershire Ale Trail,
- CAMRA,
- local brewers,
- other licensees,
- the local M.P.,
- and a representative from one of the big brew chains.
The discussion being, that in this day and age, surely it's more and more important to start sourcing beers locally - the ones that are right on your doorstep - and therefore cutting down our Carbon Footprint and also supporting the local economy.
How can licensees justify only allowing beer to be sold in their estate that comes hundreds and hundreds of miles away. Don't get me wrong, some pub companies are seeing the error of their ways, and they allow there licensees to purchase local ales through various organisations, then charge them double the going rate for the privilege! Grrrrr.
If you have an opinion on this and would like to get involved on either side of this debate, please email me on the following address:
Just a reminder that the Xmas menus are now done and bookings are being taken - already!!! Brief details are below, more information and booking form are available here.
Lunch and evening bookings taken for the 1st to 22nd December 2007 £18.95 per person
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Starters CRAB AND AVOCADO SALAD HOMEMADE CREAM OF TOMATO AND BASIL SOUP GOATS CHEESE AND BABY LEEK TARTLETS GARLIC MUSHROOMS ARBROATH SMOKIES -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Main Courses ROAST GLOUCESTERSHIRE TURKEY FILLET OF SEA BASS VEGETABLE BIRIYANI PAN-FRIED CALVES LIVER DOUBLE ROASTED OLD SPOT BELLY PORK STUFFED BREAST OF CHICKEN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Desserts LEMON MERINGUE PIE CHRISTMAS PUDDING INDIVIDUAL APPLE CRUMBLE WHITE CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE CHEESE AND BISCUITS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COFFEE AND SWEETMEATS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
The Old Spot Rugby World Cup Guesser
League Table after 1st 12 games.
| 1. | Bedford | 205 points |
| 2. | Rob M. Craig de Groot | 195 points |
| 3. | RWC 2003 Champion (James) Alex Graeme Robb The Landlord Mike & Erin Tom Sainty | 185 points |
| 4. | Robert Gulwell | 180 points |
| 5. | Matt Rushton | 175 points |
| 6. | Kate Stu the Brew Dean Jan W. | 165 points |
| 7. | Ken Hall | 160 points |
| 8. | Nancy Rob T. | 155 points |
| 9. | Ric | 145 points |
| 10. | Paul E. | 135 points |
| 11. | Steve V. | 120 points |
Forthcoming Events
:: All RWC 2007 England Fixtures on TV at the Old Spot
 England | ||
England (Pool A) Visit the RWC 2007 Official Site
:: London Pride Rugby Shirt Promotion- Unbelievable value: only 10 pints! Get your card at the bar.
:: Wednesday the 19th September
- Leon Daye playing
:: Saturday 6th October
- Opportunity to take revenge on Leicester! See Steve for more info.
:: Wednesday the 24th October- The Old Spot Pickers playing
:: Wednesday 31st October
- Wychwood Pumpkin Competition. Loads of prizes. Click here for more info.
Looking ahead to our Autumn Beer Festival where we will be raising money for the Macmillan nurses via Kite and Skate.
Chas of Uley Brewery is sponsoring the event (see the liveried vehicle below) with free beer - the now infamous Reverend Janet, brewed by Kenny Boy!Below is the main text from the challenge website which will give you the basic details and background:
The Macmillan 4x4 UK Challenge
In May 2000 a group of enthusiasts saw a gap in the 4x4 events programme and decided to introduce a new event to mark the Millennium. The objective being to provide an interesting 'Challenge' for 4x4 owners / addicts / enthusiasts over a weekend 'somewhere' in the UK, whilst supporting a worthy charity.
"The Macmillan 4x4 UK Challenge" was 'born'. After two false starts, in November 2000 because of a petrol blockade and March 2001 due to Foot and Mouth, March 2002 proved to be a case of third time lucky! The event took place with only 8 teams. Enthusiasm and quality made up for numbers, however and a magnificent £8,000 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Relief.
The hard core of supporters and a website in place that was getting lots of hits showed the success of the formula. With very supportive items in club and national mags and plenty of word of mouth from the excellent supporters the 2003 event was soon raising its entry limit above the intended 30 teams to cope with demand. Eventually 38 teams set off and the spirit of fun, quality and enthusiasm, combined with the mix of offroading, navigation and observation, was just as high as in 2002. From an estimated figure of £20,000 announced at the Presentation Dinner it went over £33,000 in June 2003.
The level of generous sponsorship was as catching as the enthusiasm for the event and the 2004 event, with 45 teams achieved £46,000.The record was now firmly established - we thought! That was without reckoning on the 47 teams who started for the 2005 event raising a fantastic £55,000 only to be followed by the 52 teams who raised £67,000 in 2006; the year in which, having covered most of the UK already, we took to the high seas and went to Ireland. This seemed to increase interest and by July 2006 the 60 places for 2007 were taken. The enthusiasm seemed to grow even more and at the 2007 Awards Dinner on the Sunday night the figure was already at £75,000 and potentially growing!
The proceeds of the fun - which depends largely on the sponsorship which teams can raise - will go to "Macmillan Cancer Support"www.macmillan.org.uk, the country's major charity devoted to the treatment and care of people with cancer and their families. It supports Macmillan's continuing efforts to provide better support services through the well known Macmillan Nurses, doctors, buildings and patient grants.
Please sponsor us for the Mac 4x4 2008: www.justgiving.com/snafu
Also have a look at: Mac 4x4, in aid of Macmillan Cancer support: www.mac4x4challenge.co.uk
The websites you may want to have a gander at are:
www.mac4x4.co.uk and
www.mac4x4forum.co.uk
tthey should answer any event questions you have
Alan Greenhill, Kite and Skate (working with The Old Spot and Uley Brewery.
| Our NEW Food Service Times . . . | |
| Fri, Sat, Sun: | 12.00 pm - 3.00 pm |
| Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur: | 12.00 pm - 8.00 pm |
| Our normal Opening Hours remain as ... | |
| Monday - Saturday: | 11.00 am - 11.00 pm |
| Sunday: | 12.00 pm - 11.00 pm |
NEXT MONTH - The Old Spot conquers West Wales!
Cheers!
Steve Herbert
September 2007THE OLD SPOT INN
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