Looking for a good meeting venue, Chelmsford area

Looking for a good meeting venue, Chelmsford area

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Discussion

RussBost

Original Poster:

82 posts

106 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
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Looking for any advice/suggestions - Essex Kitcar Club currently meet at D's Diner Hatfield Peverel, but it is becoming more difficult to park & get tables in the cafe that can be moved together etc - typically there are between 12 to 20 of us meeting with probably 10 - 15 cars.

I know there is a Pistonheads meet at White Elms Garden Centre near Danbury - how suitable would this be, how large is car park, & how big is cafe? Can't say I'm mad about gluten free bread they seem very keen on, but that minor downside aside, how's the rest of it.

The Lodge at SWF is a little too far South for us as we have plenty of N. Essex members, same goes for Halfway House on the A127

Any suggestions, particularly in accessible area around Chelmsford would be welcome

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
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The White Elms at Bicknacre can easily accomodate your numbers. Both in the car park and the cafe.
That's for breakfast though: you don't mention what time of day you're talking about.
Don't know about moving tables together: don't recall ever having seen it tried.
As for acessibility, White Elms is only 5 miles north of The Lodge - https://goo.gl/maps/7xe43Di24ux

RussBost

Original Poster:

82 posts

106 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
quotequote all
Yes, sorry, should have said, it's a Sunday breakfast meet once a month (last Sunday of the month) - somewhere slightly N. of White Elms would be preferable, but we could certainly give it a try

rgw2012

598 posts

142 months

Monday 3rd December 2018
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Might be worth trying the Hare at Roxwell - they have regular car meets through the summer so are not averse to hosting that sort of thing and have the space to do so (they do breakfast meets as well). They are part of the Pie and Pint Inns group - www.pieandpintinns.co.uk

RussBost

Original Poster:

82 posts

106 months

Monday 10th December 2018
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Thanks guys, does anyone else have any other suggestions?

Nick L

19 posts

103 months

Thursday 13th December 2018
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The Hare is ridiculously oversubscribed now. So wouldn’t join that day.
Essex Car Meets did one at the Old pottery kiln in Witham in the summer, just down the road from D’s diner. Maybe try there. It was pretty good showing. Nice size car park plenty of room. Food not the greatest though

DS129

137 posts

70 months

Friday 14th December 2018
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How about the Bungalow Diner in London Road, Marks Tey ?
www.bungalowdiner.co.uk

RussBost

Original Poster:

82 posts

106 months

Monday 17th December 2018
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Marks Tey is a bit far North, we try to make it Chelmsford area as it's fairly central for most members. the Old Pottery looks ideal, but unfortunately doesn't open until noon on Sunday which rather rules it out for a breakfast meet - the Hare is still a good possibility tho' as we wouldn't be looking to attend at the same time as any regular meet - correct me if I'm wrong, The Hare meets are Sat mornings I believe? We meet last Sun of the month each month & Hare says it's open from 8am

sjc

13,878 posts

269 months

Tuesday 18th December 2018
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Bit confused you saying the lodge is too far out ? It can’t be more than 4 milesish from the The Elms at Bicknacre ?

NewNameNeeded

2,560 posts

224 months

Saturday 22nd December 2018
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Half an hour West of Chelmsford is North Weald Airfield. Two fantastic cafes that already host a number of car clubs. I go there quite often. Nothing quite like a bacon butty whilst you watch a Spitfire taxi and take off.

Nick L

19 posts

103 months

Saturday 22nd December 2018
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RussBost said:
Marks Tey is a bit far North, we try to make it Chelmsford area as it's fairly central for most members. the Old Pottery looks ideal, but unfortunately doesn't open until noon on Sunday which rather rules it out for a breakfast meet - the Hare is still a good possibility tho' as we wouldn't be looking to attend at the same time as any regular meet - correct me if I'm wrong, The Hare meets are Sat mornings I believe? We meet last Sun of the month each month & Hare says it's open from 8am
Re: the OPK in Witham Essex Car Meets must of contacted them for breakfast as they were definitely open at 9am when I popped down.

NewNameNeeded

2,560 posts

224 months

Saturday 22nd December 2018
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Nick L said:
Re: the OPK in Witham Essex Car Meets must of contacted them for breakfast as they were definitely open at 9am when I popped down.
Definitely. They were serving drinks and bacon rolls.

RussBost

Original Poster:

82 posts

106 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2019
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Thanks for all the info, we're going to try a couple of the places & see how they go down with members. I'll give the OPK a ring as website says opens at 12 on Sundays, it may be that they open earlier only if they have a special event on or something, but worth asking as website could simply be out of date

Nick L

19 posts

103 months

Monday 21st January 2019
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@Russbost
let me know how you got on at the OPK. Id like to pop along to your next meet in my Elise (practically a kits car)
I'm keen to see one of these in the flesh http://www.essexkitcarclub.com/members-cars-dan/
Cheers