Spice Live It Winter 2015 by Jamie Morris

WINTER 2015

Welcome! To all Spice members your coordinators would like to extend a belated Merry Christmas and a very ‘Spicy’ Happy New Year to you all…welcome to the winter edition of your Spice newsletter. By now you are either right in the thick of your festivities or just coming out the far side (depending on when this newsletter actually drops on your mat!) and you may be wondering how you are going to manage that last mince pie, the final piece of Christmas pudding, your last Turkey sandwich/curry/pie for a while and also how to rid yourself of all that over-indulgence and excess of the festive period… well that’s why you joined Spice isn’t it? After all the parties, Balls, weekends away, etc. it’s time to start planning your diary for 2015 but don’t worry your coordinators have all been busy arranging lots of things for you to look forwards to. Of course January though to March see us very heavily involved in the overseas ski trips – if you haven’t already booked anything, are looking for a second trip or maybe are thinking about trying skiing out for the first time then check the Spice UK website as we may have a few spare places! But it isn’t all about skiing of course there are lots of events in your local programmes to start looking forward to so make sure you have a good look through the local event pages of the newsletter and if you want more information on any of the events just pop on line or call your local group.

Jamie Morris Spice Scotland Steve Dell Spice East Midlands

Dominic Renshaw Spice Thames Valley & Solent

Some of the big events coming up in the year are Center Parcs Sherwood in June, Dragon Boat Racing again in June, the Edinburgh Festival in August plus many, many more. Oh and a quick heads up –2016 sees Spice into its 35th year and you know what that means… that’s right the Spice National Ball! Just ask around and anyone that was at the 25th or 30th Balls will tell you this is something not to be missed! This issue we have a little feature highlighting the success of our Balls/parties so make sure you check it out after all Spice does have big balls. Time for a quick thank you here as well to Yorkshire member Trevor Richards who was interviewed for an on line magazine High50.com. The article was for 50 firsts and Trevor’s piece was regarding his first ever sky dive as an over 50. Trevor gave a great interview and said some lovely things about Spice so a big THANKS to you! Whatever your interests the Spice programme just gets bigger and better and I’m sure you’ll have lots of adventures to talk about over the next few months – and don’t forget to take your camera’s, phones, etc. with you. We love seeing all your pictures on Facebook often making us all quite jealous of the fun you’re having! So, what are you waiting for…Live your Dream. Ian Purvis Spice UK

Richard Coulter Spice West Midlands

Lauren Fawkes Spice Manchster & Yorkshire

Dianne Livingstone Spice London & Spice Bristol/Cardifff

Member profiles Name: Helen Lawlor Group: West Midlands How long have you been a Spice member? 2 years Why did you join Spice? I wanted to get more of a social life. My friends, being married, only came out now and again and I wanted to get out more. What has been your favourite event? Hard to choose a favourite event as I have loved many events for lots of different reasons but the event which I will keep doing each year has to be Dragon Boat Racing. It is such good fun. My team (dressed as Vikings) had such great team spirit. It was hard work but good fun and we won, which was a fantastic bonus. What has been your most challenging event? I’m scared of heights but once joining Spice, and seeing all the different events I could do, I made the decision I would not shy away from events that involved heights to push myself and hopefully overcome that fear. I have done this on several events now and all of them were a challenge. ‘The ultimate zipline’, ‘Go below’ and my latest was a helicopter lesson. I think ‘Abseiling for the terrified’ may have to be my next one. The feeling you get when you have achieved such challenges is amazing. Have you been on a Spice UK Holiday? I have been on a couple of the barn weekend breaks but have not yet done a Spice holiday. What is your life philosophy in one sentence? Live each day as it comes, making sure you appreciate it and enjoy it, as you don’t know what tomorrow will bring. What would be your advice for a new member? Book on everything that appeals. I look forward to the events I wouldn’t have normally done. Take the numbers of friends you make and find out what events they are doing too. Don’t be shy to suggest to someone to join you on an event, they will most likely welcome the invitation. We all experienced how scary it was to go on that first event but you will be so glad you did and you will be made very welcome.

Name: Andy Carr Group: Yorkshire How long have you been a Spice member? About 4 years. Why did you join Spice? Make new friends and go on adventures I couldn’t think up myself. What has been your favourite event? Spice Balls. All of them! What is your funniest memory in Spice? My first Spice Ball. What a great bunch of people who know how to have fun! What would be your advice for a new member? Go on events, relax and enjoy it as it happens. Friends will naturally follow. Have you an embarrassing Spice moment? Er yes .... no comment! What is your life philosophy in one sentence? Do the best you can in everything, be yourself, have fun, try to be nice to people, but if you can’t be nice be honest. Four people (alive or dead) you’d invite to your dream dinner party? Winston Churchill, Muhammad Ali, John Lennon, Eric Morecambe. Your favourite movie? Beatleguese. Most treasured belonging? My gadgets but guess that’s more than one!

Name: Mhairi (Mari) Kirk Group: Spice Scotland How long have you been on the Spice staff? 2 months! Mhairi is the newest recruit to the growing Spice team, our new coordinator for the West of Scotland. Mhairi’s New Year’s Resolution is to give Spice members every opportunity to make 2015 their best year yet! What is the best party/event you’ve ever attended? I thought the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow were spectacular. They gave me the chance to see my home town through the eyes of the world and gain a rejuvenated perspective on the city I see every day. I was reminded of what an amazing place Glasgow is and was inspired to make the most of it going forward. However I’m sure future Spice events will provide competition for the title of best party/event I’ve ever been to! What was your first job? I was a delivery driver on foot! At 14 I was too young to drive so I had to go the extra mile (or ten) and deliver flowers on foot (did I mention it was winter)! Anyway, after that it was hospitality all the way, I still helped to make people happy but they had to travel to me, plus I was minus the frostbite! What is your dream holiday destination? I have been lucky enough to travel all over the world but I have not yet seen enough of my own country so I really want to see more of the northern parts of Scotland. Spice already gave me the opportunity to start doing that last month at the Bargain Break in Ballachulish, an amazing weekend amidst truly stunning surroundings! Sunrise or Sunset? Both are beautiful! I love the tranquility that surfaces around sunrise and the feeling that there are new possibilities on the horizon. For me though, the day begins again at sunset, it’s when I really come to life...I’m a bit of a night owl! Singing or Dancing? Sing definitely....but people don’t seem to love to hear me! ‘People of the world...Spice up your life...Aaahh’!!! Seriously...just be thankful you didn’t hear that! As for dancing, I have recently taken it up as a way to keep fit and really adore it. I’ve tried most styles...contemporary, ballet, jazz and flamenco, so there has been some interesting freestyling going on recently when I’ve been out and about and had the chance to hit the dance floor ...you have been warned! What is your life philosophy in one sentence? Live a balanced life; experience everything, be happy and make others happy! I was tempted to say ‘variety is the spice of life’ but being a Spice member you already knew that!!

Cuba Sun & Fun by Karen Skelton

As soon as we left the airport, the old American cars are passing the bus, some used as family cars and others as taxis, then as we arrive at the magnificent five* Nacional Hotel there is a row of convertibles parked outside the hotel! The Nacional Hotel is stunning, colonial, steeped in nostalgia, frequented by the rich and famous and used by Al Capone and the Mob. We took the hotel tour and visited the rooms the Mob stayed in, then went under the Hotel’s gardens to the secret tunnels built at the time of the Cuban missile crisis. The next day we had a wonderful guided tour of Havana, stopping for lunch at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Malecon and the old town. After lunch some of us wandered through the old Town following in the footsteps of Hemingway frequenting several of his haunts such as the Ambos Mundas Rooftop bar for a refreshing Mojito then made our way to Floridita

for a Daquari whilst listening to the heady sounds of Cuban music and others visited the Rum Museum. During our stay there was the option to go to the famous Tropicana Show and others went to Cafe Taberna to see the world famous Cuban Band “The Buena Vista Social Club Band”. Both a great nights out! The following morning we hired for two hours six beautiful classic 1950’s convertibles and went in a convoy cruising around Havana in the sunshine stopping at key landmarks, changing cars each time we stopped, finishing with a drive along the Malecon Water Front back to The Nacional Hotel is a real ‘must do’ and an highlight of the trip! Havana oozes old world charm and nostalgia, with beautifully restored colonial buildings, churches and Piazzas. As you turn a corner you hear Jazz and Salsa music coming from different bars and restaurants just inviting you to

Going to Cuba is like stepping back in time, it transports you to the colonial times, the 1950’s to modern day....

step inside and listen to the music and sip a cold drink.

warm waters of the Caribbean – the choice was yours.

Some opted for a great day out in the countryside, visiting the lush green Vinales valley to the west of Havana. Such fantastic views... The village is full of painted houses and nestles beneath the mountains and spectacular limestone rocky outcrops. We visited a local Tobacco farmer who rolled cigars for us to try (smoking is optional)! We then had a boat ride through the beautiful underground caves and a traditional Cuban lunch, a great day out.

In Varadero town there are plenty of traditional Cuban bars and restaurants with live bands, we also visited “The Beatles” open air bar where bands were playing and spent an optional evening at the Colonial Millionaires Mansion Xanadu watching the sunset with a cocktail and dinner on the veranda overlooking the ocean – such magical moments to remember.

After the hustle and bustle of Havana we made our way for a relaxing stay in our All Inclusive hotel in Varadero. Beautiful white sandy beaches with turquoise water and free flowing cocktails and drinks from the Beach Bar overlooking the ocean. A great chill out. We also sampled several of the optional excursions on offer, visiting other areas of Cuba. There was a day trip to Cienfuegos and visit to the Historic town of Trinidad, a Catamaran Cruise where we snorkelled and had the option to swim with the dolphins or go jet biking. Others visited the Old Sugar Plantation where Castro had his office and took a Steam Train ride on an original 1920’s steam train then visited (by speed boat) a remote Cuban Indian floating village finishing at the Bay of Pigs and dipping their toes in the

The cars, the colonial architecture, the countryside and the history Cuba is fascinating, a great holiday in the company of lovely Spice members with so many special moments to share and remember.

Gallery

Key Spice Holiday Partners For many years Spice has enjoyed an excellent relationship with our travel partner Exodus Holidays – the UK’s leading adventure travel company.

5% discount for independent direct bookings! We know however that sometimes our scheduled group departures won’t always fit in with everyone’s personal travel needs. We also know that often members would like to visit some of the places we are not featuring in the group holiday programme… To book your independent holiday with Exodus and claim your Spice member discount call 0845 863 9606. To qualify for the Spice Discount, simply advise them you are a Spice Member AT THE TIME OF BOOKING. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount, i.e., you are unable to add Loyal Customer Discount with an Early Booking discount to your Spice Discount!

Spice Cancellation Policy Evening and one day events

Providing you give us more than seven days (includes weekends and bank holidays) notice you will receive a full refund as a Credit Note, less a Cancellation Fee of 20% of the cost of the event OR loss of deposit (whichever is lower) with a minimum of £3. (Except where stated otherwise in the Newsletter event description). Credit Notes are valid for 12 months and only redeemable against events.

Ticketed events Note: Theatre, Concerts, etc. These are non-refundable unless we can resell your place, as tickets will have already been purchased. Overnight Events and events costing over £100 Note: This excludes overseas trips which have a separate Holiday Cancellation Policy. Providing you give us more than twenty eight days (includes weekends and bank holidays) notice you will receive a full refund as a Credit Note, less a Cancellation Fee of 20% of the cost of the event OR loss of deposit (whichever is lower). (Except where stated otherwise in the Newsletter event description). Credit Notes are valid for 12 months and only redeemable against events.

Holidays and Overseas trips Note: More than three overnights or outside UK. Cancellation is

5% Discount with Club Dance Holidays We are delighted to be working with Spice to promote our dance holidays whether it is salsa, Ceroc, ballroom or tango we cover it all – UK weekends or 7 or 14 night breaks . Club Free Sprit have taken 23,000 customers to various destinations over the years from Cuba, Miami, Jamaica to Calpe, Spain, Austria and Malta. We have increase our portfolio of activities from dance to fitness, ski and golf. In order to qualify for the Spice Discount, simply call reservation number on 0207 099 4816 and let them know you are a Spice Member AT THE TIME OF BOOKING. This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount, i.e., you are unable to add Loyal Customer Discount with an Early Booking discount to your Spice Discount! SOLOS Regretfully SOLOS have withdrawn their Spice Member Discount as from 1st August 2013.

as per the Tour Operators Terms and Conditions as supplied with Holiday Information Packs. Cancellation must be in writing. A back up phone call is recommended. You should assume you are still booked until you have written confirmation of your cancellation.

General Where cancellation is received within the cancellation period prior to an event, you will lose all monies paid (and also be liable for any balance) unless we can replace you. If you simply do not turn up for an event without contacting us you will automatically forfeit any monies paid, and will be liable for any balance.

Should Spice Cancel an event..... Should Spice cancel any event you will be refunded directly back by the payment method used. Our policy is that wherever possible we will always issue a refund.

Holidays and overseas trips Note: more than three overnights or outside UK. Cancellation is as per the Terms and Conditions as supplied with Holiday Information Packs. Cancellation should be in writing. Where cancellation is received within the cancellation period prior to an event, you will lose all monies paid (and also be liable for any balance) unless we can replace you. If you simply do not turn up for an event without contacting us you will automatically forfeit any monies paid, and will be liable for any balance.

Free Info Pack

SPICE UK UK (Head Office) I SPICE (Head office) General Manager: Ian n General Manager: IanPurvis Purvis 13, Street, o 13,Thorpe Thorpe Street,Old OldTrafford, Trafford, MManchester, anchester, MM16 16 9P R 9PR Tel: 0161 873 8788 Tel: 0161 873 8788 www.spiceuk.com info@spiceuk. c www.spiceuk.com info@spiceuk.com com

Spice Rack SPICE (W (West W est Midlands) Co-ordinator: Richard Coulter 6a, Burnett Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield West Midlands, B74 3EJ Tel: 0121 353 6161 info@spicebham.com www.spicebham.com SPICE (Bristol & Cardiff) Co-ordinator: Dianne Livingstone 130 Aztec Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UB Tel: 01276 479 253 dianne@spicebristolcardiff.com www.spicebristolcardiff.com SPICE (East Midlands) Co-ordinator: Steve Dell Foxhall Business Center, 2 King Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AS Tel: 0845 017 1031 info@spiceeastmids.com www.spiceeastmids.com

SPICE (London) Co-ordinator: Dianne Livingstone 32a High Street, Bagshort, Surrey, GU19 5AZ Tel: 01276 479 253 dianne@spicelondon.co.uk www.spicelondon.co.uk SPICE (Manchester) Co-ordinator: Lauren Fawkes The Stables, 11 Poplar Road Stretford, Manchester, M32 9AN Tel: 0161 864 3849 info@spicemcr.com www.spicemcr.com SPICE (Scotland) Co-ordinator: Jamie Morris 63 Easter Langside Crescent, Dalkeith, EH22 2FN. Tel: 0131 531 2653 info@spicescotland.com www.spicescotland.com

Finding events in your local area From the home page click the Event button. In the Search events block you can search for a type of event by clicking on the dropdown on Category for example walking,parties, Weekend breaks etc. You can find an event in your area by selecting Subcategory and selecting your area for example Essex, Kent, Surrey etc. You can also search on Words, by using Words When done click search to find what you want.

SPICE (Thames (Tham Valley & Solent) Co-ordinator: Dominic Renshaw 118, Shiplake Bottom, Peppard Common, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 5HR Tel: 0118 972 4810 dominic@thamesvalleyspice.co.uk www.thamesvalleyspice.co.uk SPICE (Yorkshire) Co-ordinator: Lauren Fawkes The Stables, 11 Poplar Road Stretford, Manchester, M32 9AN Tel: 0845 094 2200 info@spiceyorks.com www.spiceyorks.com

As a member of spice you can enjoy

As a member of spice you can enjoy many exclusive and money saving many exclusive and money saving deals.

deals.

Visit spiceextras.co.uk to start Visit spiceextras.co.uk to start shopping and start saving today.

shopping and start saving today.

Do you want to find a type of event (e.g. walking, meals out etc.) or events in your local area. You can do this quickly and simply on your local Spice web site.

A day in the life of the Manchester Spice Office by Hannah Shields

The Spice office opens from 10.00am Monday to Friday, where Jack the office cat is often waiting for us to arrive at the front door. (Well he’s not actually the office cat he lives in one of the flats nearby and his owners often pop in to see him as he rarely goes home!) From this office we run both Spice Manchester and Spice Yorkshire. In our office we have Lauren who manages both groups, Johno, Rachel and me (Hannah) alongside Jonathan and Jill who work in Yorkshire. We seem to be getting the hang of our geography for Yorkshire now! Every morning we have to check the answer phone for any weird and wonderful messages left overnight. Johno can’t start his day without a morning brew which is the only one of the day we manage to get him to make. Our daily tasks are making sure the website is up-to-date, sending out event lists, importing the bookings into our system, enrolling new members, sending follow up emails (as not everyone is very good at getting back to us) ensuring that the system emails are sent, making up enquiry packs and making the tea! We love to get phone calls into the Spice office and love talking to our members - answer their questions, put to rest any queries they may have (if you have a question about the event I bet you someone else has the same question...) it’s good to talk to someone else other than each other in the Spice office. Rachel and I are currently part of an apprenticeship scheme which is ongoing for the rest of the year and once a month we get a visit from our apprenticeship tutors who come and set some tasks for us to complete over the next month. Rachel and I also take turns in working at Spice UK office alternate weeks to widen our skills and help out Ian at Spice UK.

We take payments over the phone but occasionally we do receive a cheque which needs to be banked on behalf of both groups. On a weekly basis Rachel sends out for event balances which helps all the members keep on top of paying their outstanding balance for weekend and party events. We occasionally get members visiting the office and Johno always insists they can’t come unless they bring biscuits! So remember this if you visit us! The majority of Lauren and Johno’s time is spent sourcing and organising new events. But our busiest time is the run up to newsletter deadline when we have to make sure there are all the lovely events are booked and organised so that you can book them. There are always prospective members ringing up to make enquiries about Spice which is great we love to speak to them and try and help and guided them into making the right decision. At the end of the day I make sure that all the members that have booked an event are sent a booking acknowledgement. Although the Spice office day technically ends at 6.00pm you will often find Lauren working late especially if she is not out hosting events.

Every Tuesday afternoon Maureen the book-keeper visits the Spice office to ensure we are all inline and keeping on top of the finances, she is always chasing for missing receipts. Most lunchtimes we spend in the office as there is always lots to do. Our weekly tasks consists of checking with the other Spice groups to make sure that all members are booked on and we have the correct event lists this is crucial task as we have the check and cross-check as we do not want to leave members off the lists! Whilst taking a member booking for an event whether it is on the phone or online this needs to be input into the system and often we need to chase people for menu choices or other details for the event. If there is overnight stay then there are more details for the rooming lists.

Every Spice office works in a

Every Spice office works in a different way, this is our way different way, this is our wayspent andwith weJack the and we all love it, especially our time all love it, especially our time spent cat!

with Jack the cat!

as voted by you... We asked our Members on Facebook to tell us what their favourite event is and why? Here are the responses... There are some firm favourites that have always been around and are part of the Spice event mix and interestingly, more social events and the ability to do events that you would not normally be able to do or learn a skill, for example dancing is popular. This all lends itself to our ethos of Live your dream... The ‘active’ type events are still firm favourites and a number of you liked the unusual events like flying the Jet Provost which allowed you to take the controls and doing loop, roll and circuit before handing over to the pilot for the landing! White water rafting ‘was such fun!’ you said. Swimming with sharks gave you an incredible thrill as you were very close to some awesome teeth - but knowing you were perfectly safe (probably) Fire eating, sea surfing, helicopter rides, gliding, wacky races, racing JCB’s, Motocross and fire and glass walking are real bucket list activities and many members felt that because of Spice this enabled you to participate in these kinds of activities! Center Parcs as this is total Spice immersion! You get to meet lots of people and take part in different activities. The main parties are now renowned for their themes and fancy dress. You always leave the weekend having made new friends. You also love it when we take you to new places up and down the country with excellent destinations, views and of course the magnificent company. SO thank you to all of you for being you.... How can we have an article about events and not mention Dragon Boat Racing! Again, a firm Spice favourite. This team event enables for the group to bond and work together as a team of 16. This is great fun and members all have their own stories to share about this event. There is also camping available the night before and party night so the fun just goes on and on. Members all love a Spice Holiday! You can go online to book on or call the office and ask all the questions you need and hey presto it all done for you. Even if you want to share a lift with someone or start sharing updates with fellow members that are on the holiday, you can join the event Facebook group and

off you go (literally!). Most trips have a Spice host so there is always someone on hand. Go on try one... Skiing is a very popular activity and there are some members that have travelled with us season after season. Some have said that they have learnt to ski with us and again bonding and making friends is a given. If skiing is not your thing then people also mentioned Sailing! There were some super comments around some great holidays. Walking and the walking holidays have been quite popular as members like the camaraderie of the group with likeminded individuals. People who like to be outdoors and see nature around them and I expect have a chat as well.Other destinations that were mentioned in the thread were rafting down the Grand Canyon, and Rio Carnival! The Spice Balls ultimate nights out with dressing up and themes for lots of fancy dress themes as you can see from the pictures we have even had a “St Trinian’s” theme party on train where members got up to all sorts. Two unexpected events are The Big Sleep-out and the White Knight and Good Fairy Event. I will go on to explain both. The White Knight Good Fairy event is described as Spice at its best.This is a two weeks event and you are allocated a V.I.P. and you need to do at least three ‘nice things’ for them over that time. You are given a form with personal details that the member is happy to share and off you go. The form gives you ideas like favourite colour, food preferences, likes and dislikes and over the years we have had some great stories. Members have sent baked cakes or a bath bomb, flowers anything to brighten up their V.I.P’s day. The local office can act like an interface. At the end of the two weeks all participates have a meal and share each other’s identity so you get to meet your White Knight or Good Fairy’. The allocation is done as a chain so it works really well and the evening continues with people regaling their experiences. We have even had relationships start this way.The Big Sleep-out event is when the group ‘sleep-out’ in a cardboard box for a night in the name of a homeless charity. Members collect sponsorship monies and this is donated to the charity. Some members say that the next Spice event is their best event they are always looking forward and never back - which is a wonderful testimonial! All in all the events you like are as diverse and colourful as our membership each event holds memories for all of us and that’s not a bad thing.

If you are interested in any of the events pick up the phone and speak to your Spice office and we are happy to help. A HUGE Thank you to all the members that responded to our thread, look out for more next time! facebook.com/spiceuk

Life’s a Ball At Spice when we tell you we’re having a ball we literally are! Throughout the Spice groups you’ll find opportunities to feel fabulous, dress to impress and enjoy some serious parties. Whether it be with a live band, DJ’s and more, one thing is constant a great Spice crowd enjoying a brilliant night of food and dancing. These events have surpassed all as they have grown steadily over the years and now are a firm Spice favourite. Dancing you say - can you waltz, jive or just boogie? If you want you can, or you can just dance like no one’s watching, whatever suits, what we do know is that you won’t want to leave the dance floor all night. A Spice member goes on and on... A question we hear on a regular basis when talking about a Spice Ball is; Can I come on my own? Our answer - Oh Yes! Come on your own or with friends, you’ll be made very welcome and where possible we arrange table plans to ensure a great mix of members - couples, singles, young, older, everyone. And as you can see from the images it is an event that suits all! You don’t have to get that gorgeous gown, black tie or kilt unpacked just for weddings - we arrange Ball’s throughout the year so you can sparkle in any season. And we love to dress up the themed events with fancy dress are so popular and the amount of comments we receive are staggering. Members just love them! Next time you book on a Spice Ball, tell a friend, you’d be amazed how jealous they can be - they may even want to come and join in the fun. Remember Balls are not just for Christmas! Dates for your diary Saturday 17th January 2015 - Spice Scotland January Ball Saturday 24th January 2015 - Spice London Black Tie & Posh Frocks Party Saturday 11th July - The West and East Midlands Ball More dates will be announced on the Spice website soon.

as at 15 December 2014

International Holiday Programme Welcome to the Spice international holiday programme, available to all Spice members as an exclusive benefit of membership! Over the years Spicer’s have travelled with us to every corner of the world enjoying action and adventure, amazing sights, interesting cultures and always great company with plenty of laughs along the way! Whether you’re after an easy going leisurely break, an active walking week or a trip of discovery we hopefully have something to suit. Over the next few pages we’ve picked out a few of our current holidays to highlight plus there’s a full listing of everything currently available including this seasons ski trips. If you do find something that you want some more information for then more information is available on the Spice UK website www.spiceuk.com – alternatively if you want to discuss anything at all don’t hesitate to call Spice UK on 0161 873 8788.

Happy holidays from your Spice UK team!

Spice Holidays

2015

Date Nights Spice Trip Deposit Price from 07/03/15

Austrian Ski Jive Spectacular

Booked through our partners at Club Dance Holidays and you get

a 5% discount with your membership!

14/03/15

Ski Beginners

Why not learn to ski with Spice!

21/03/15

Ski Val Thorens

You don’t find many higher resorts in Europe!

22/03/15

Ski Val D’Isere

Includes Espace Killy lift pass!

04/04/15

Ski Easter

One for the teachers!

01/05/15

Granada & the Festival of Crosses

We did this trip last year & got fantastic feedback!

22/05/15

Magnificent Madrid

Spend the weekend in Spain’s capital city!

31/05/15

Amazing Algarve 5* Chillout

Enjoy a late spring chillout to a 5* hotel!

06/06/15

Mediterranean Fly/Cruise

Cruise the Med from Barcelona with NCL Freestyle Cruises!

10/06/15

Mark Warner Watersports

Free Full Board upgrade plus single sup is only £100 per week if booked by 10 Feb 15!

10/06/15

Mark Warner Watersports

Free Full Board upgrade plus single sup is only £100 per week if booked by 10 Feb 15!

15/06/15

Turkey Blue Coast Cruise Chillout (with optional hiking available)

Always a popular choice if you want to truly relax!

17/06/15

Mark Warner Watersports

Free Full Board upgrade plus single sup is only £100 per week if booked by 10 Feb 15!

£175

£649

£150

£499

£150

£719

£150

£945

£150

£869

£150

£495

£150

£399

£150

£599

£150

£1265

£150

£789

£150

£1195

£150

£775

£150

£789

Spice Holidays

2015

Date Nights Spice Trip Deposit Price from 07/08/15

Moscow & St. Petersburg

An amazing experience & always a popular Spice trip!

24/08/15

Valencia & La Tomatina Festival

Spain’s famous Tomato Festival – let the streets run red!

01/09/15

Grand Canyon Rafting Experience

The Ultimate Spice Experience!

15/06/15

Turkey Blue Coast Cruise Chillout (with optional hiking available)

Always a popular choice if you want to truly relax!

14/09/15

Turkey Chillout

After 7 years this trip is still going strong (early booking is highly recommended!)

20/09/15

Costa Blanca Chillout

Great feedback last year so we had to repeat it!

20/09/15

Mediterranean Fly/Cruise

Fly to Barcelona and return to Southampton!

7/10/15

Lake Garda Autumn Special

After 3 years the popularity of this trip shows no signs of stopping!

22/10/15

Cuba – Sun & Fun

Repeated after fantastic feedback last year!

02/11/14

Iceland Discovery

Visit the land of Ice & Fire!

06/12/15

Lapland Adventure

This trip has sold out in weeks of release the last 2 years so book early!

£160

£1,595

£150

£649

£300

£2,899

£150

£775

£150

£665

£150

£599

£150

£895

£150

£499

£160

£1,599

£150

£699

£150

£849

We are busy planning our 2015 holidays so keep an eye on the web for the latest releases! All Spice UK air holidays are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under the ATOL scheme

in the event of failure of the tour operator. Each tour operators ATOL number is stated at the end of every holiday write up on our website spiceuk.com plus full terms and conditions. Your money is protected via our Trust Account in compliance with EC Package Travel Regulations.

Exclusive to Spice As you hopefully know Spice have had a long and valued partnership with EXODUS, and our members enjoy a standard 5% discount across all their holidays. But we have arranged something quite special to start you off in the New Year.

A HUGE 10% OFF the entire EXODUS holiday programme (except Polar trips) Must book between 26 Dec 14 and 31 Jan 15.Cannot be combined with any other discount. Discount can be applied to any travelling partner (even if not a Spice member!). Check out their vast array of holidays on line at www.exodus.co.uk.

Why choose Exodus

40 years of passion and expertise is distilled in each of Exodus’ carefully planned adventures. Their local leaders have the inside track on the best places to be and the best times to be there. Stay in a wide range of authentic accommodation to get under the skin of your destination. They take care to invest in local communities and preserve local traditions. Your adventure is what you make it: join a small group, get your own group together, or go self-guided.

Highlighted Holidays

state of the art tennis and watersports facilities. Making the most of the varied wind strengths on this part of the coast, the watersports centre offers sailors of all abilities a great range of craft to use. You can also try out the windsurfing, water-skiing, wakeboarding, knee-boarding, kayaking, ringo riding and stand up paddle boarding, under the expert guidance of our qualified instructors.

GRANADA & THE FESTIVAL OF CROSSES 4 days, Friday 1 May 15 from £495 Departs London Gatwick & Manchester We ran this weekend for the first time this year and the feedback was so good we had to repeat it! Contrary to its title this is not a deeply religious based holiday; this weekend takes place during “Las Cruces de Mayo”, Granada’s biggest street festival. During “Cruces” the streets of Granada are awash with elaborate flower-adorned crosses, celebrated with dancing, street food and Sangria into the early hours. Las Cruces de Mayo celebrates the triumph of life over death. Each square has amplified music for dancing and every corner of the town is filled with ‘alegría’ well into the small hours in true inimitable Andalucian style. Las Cruces de Mayo finale takes place every year on the 3rd May! Our host for the weekend is Gayle, a who lives in Granada so can give us the benefit of her local knowledge to help get the most from this great weekend.

MOSCOW & ST. PETERSBURG 7 days, Friday 07 August 15 from £1,595 Departs London Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham & Glasgow Russia is usually on everyone’s ‘must do’ list, so we do it Spice style! This trip covers the major highlights of the two cities and packs plenty into an unforgettable break. We have run this trip a number of times and it has always received great feedback from the members – we do hope you’ll join us! We have done this holiday many times in recent years and it is always a fantastic experience and one to enjoy in a group with shared experiences and lots of fun…

MARK WARNER 5* WATERSPORTS 10/13 & 17/21 Jun 15 (1 week) from £789 10/13 Jun 15(2 weeks) from £1,195 Departs London Heathrow (Sat) & Manchester (Wed) Upgrade to Full Board worth £85 per week plus single sup at only £100 per week when booked before 10 Feb 15! This will be our 3rd year running visiting Mark Warners superb 5* Levante Beach Resort on Rhodes as our watersports destination for 2015. This 5* resort is located on one of the longest sandy beaches on the eastern coast of Rhodes, in the resort of Afandou, 20kms from Rhodes Town. Rhodes is an island steeped in history, dotted with picturesque little villages, heavenly scented pine and cypress forests and miles upon miles of golden sandy beaches. Custom-designed for Mark Warner and only opened in 2012, the resort boasts

VALENCIA & LA TOMATINA FESTIVAL 5 days, Monday 24 Aug 15 from £649 Departs London Gatwick, Liverpool & Edinburgh

La Tomatina also known as The Tomato Festival! Most of us have of it but how about being part of it… Every year in the small Spanish town of Buñol the streets are taken over with this amazing spectacle and run red (literally) with rivers of tomato juice! But what’s it all about - La Tomatina is basically a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Buñol near to Valencia in Spain. Thousands of people make their way from all corners of the world to fight in this ‘World’s Biggest Food Fight’ where more than one hundred

metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets. Prior to 2013 anywhere from 40,000 to 50,000 (reported to be 50,000 in 2012) people crammed into this huge tomato fight, greatly expanding Bunol’s normal 9,000 person population. However, since the 2013 event official ticketing was put into place limiting the number of participants to just 20,000 lucky people and you could be one! Our trip to the festival is a little more civilised however and we have included 4 nights’ accommodation in the historic city of Valencia to make this a truly wonderful breakaway with a difference.

GRAND CANYON RAFTING EXPERIENCE

busy and a beach shaded by Tamarisk trees on which to relax and watch the world go by. Boasting one of the largest bays on the Bodrum peninsular, with fantastic wind conditions and a huge sailing area, Ortakent is a great spot to enjoy watersports in Turkey. The typically Turkish village sits inland, away from the coastline, but the idyllic beachfront setting of the Tamarisk Beach Hotel means you’re only a stone’s throw away from the clear warm waters of the Mediterranean. By day, take to the waves and indulge your active side, or kick back and relax along the beachfront. Later on, the neighbouring village of Bitez offers a vibrant evening out with its traditional Turkish restaurant. Less than 20 minutes away to the east, Bodrum plays host to a fascinating mix of seafront restaurants and bars.

14 days, Tuesday 1 Sep 15 from £2,899 Departs London Heathrow Possibly the Ultimate Spice Adventure! It has to be the most varied and enjoyable holiday you can imagine. There is the high excitement in running the frequent white water rapids as well as plenty of time to enjoy the ‘off river’ attractions. The Grand Canyon of the Colorado contains the world’s grandest scenery, a fairy tale backdrop of natural wonders and experiences, thousand feet high gorge rims enclosing wide bands of deep blue sky; shadowed bays, isolated sandy beaches. Bright moon peering over black Canyon walls, tumbling springs and cascading waterfalls, smooth opaque waters and booming rapids - its all here. This 8 day, 288 mile expedition from Lees Ferry to Lake Mead provides one of the most spectacular and enchanting journeys on earth. Some 60 great rapids all of varying degrees of difficulty punctuate the route, although exciting - all easily tackled by the large motorised rafts. The two rafts hold all equipment, 20 Spicers and two guides and can tackle the largest rapids with a margin of passenger safety and comfort. At mile 179 we run Lava Falls - the fiercest rapid on the Colorado and another of the trips many highlights.

ICELAND DISCOVERY 5 days, Sunday 02 November 15 from £699 Departs Luton & Manchester Iceland truly is an amazing and unique destination and we would say it should be on everyone’s to do list at least once in their life! This 4 night break is designed to give a wonderful introduction to this stunning island and includes 2 excursions, a visit to the excellent Blue Lagoon plus enough free time for you to explore on your own. This amazing island near the Arctic Circle is still being dramatically crafted by nature – it’s a world of fire and ice that will enchant you like no other.

TURKEY CHILLOUT 8 days, Monday 14 Sep 15 from £665 Departs London Gatwick & Manchester This trip has been a popular Autumn addition to our holiday programme and it always gets great feedback! Tamarisk Beach Hotel in Ortakent is the perfect holiday location and we should know as we’ve been there for the past 7 years! A relaxed and friendly atmosphere, plenty of activities to keep you

All Spice UK air holidays are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under the ATOL scheme in the event of failure of the tour operator. Each tour operators ATOL number is stated at the end of every holiday write up on our website www.spiceuk.com plus full terms and conditions. Your money is protected via our Trust Account in compliance with EC Package Travel Regulations.

To book visit www.spiceuk.com or call Spice UK on 0161 873 8788

‘Only 27,375 days in the average lifetime, what did you really want to do today….’

0161 873 8788 info@spiceuk.com spiceuk.com #spiceuk facebook.com/spiceuk

Coordinator’s Corner Welcome to your Winter 2015 Live It.

Welcome to new members You’ve taken the first steps and joined Spice; the next step is to come along to your first event. I know this can be a daunting prospect when you don’t know anyone else in the group but there’s no need to be apprehensive, Spice are a friendly bunch. Most of us come along on our own to events so we’re all well used to meeting and welcoming new people. A great way of getting into Spice is by booking your first events right away and getting your first event “under your belt”. Even better is to try a weekend away and get to know a smaller group of people really well. If you’ve not been to a Spice Preview Night we hold them most months, so do make an effort to come to one of these, and please next time I am on an event, come up and say hello so I can put a face to the name! After preview evenings we sometimes follow with new members dinners. A great way to get started immediately. If you have any queries at all, please give us a call in the office and we will always do our utmost to help you.

I would like to give a Spice hello to Mhairi Kirk – the newest member to the Spice team. Mhairi has joined us as Glasgow local coordinator, a role that will enhance and expand the West of Scotland event possibilities and member numbers. You’ll meet Mhairi out and about throughout the coming months so say hello and feel free to recommend events you’d like to try. While I’m on the subject of recommendations – do you have an event you’d like to share, or a skill we could use? Walking perhaps, we are always looking for new walk leaders throughout the Central belt – it would be great to have you on board if you can spare a little time. It’s been a brilliant 2014, I’ve forgotten more than I can remember but Facebook always reminds me of how silly my role can be and the fun I have doing it. That said I couldn’t do it without the many members who help – whether it be leading walks, our volunteer coordinators or if you handed out some tickets or acted as the named contact on an event, you have my huge thanks – oh, and Katie does a bit too! We’ve had a busy autumn with lots of great days, nights and everything else. We’ve enjoyed some brilliant trips to Carrbridge for walking, Ballachulish again – just keeps getting better and better – bookings for next year have just gone live, and the legend that is Center Parcs – another great trip – so much fun and laughter and with the Scooby Doo theme all the more brilliant. Looking ahead to the New Year and beyond, on offer is a really varied programme of events for you to enjoy. We have brand new weekends making their 1st appearance along with old favourites including Edinburgh Festivals, Angus, Ballachullish walking, the stunning Walking Week in the Western Isles, our annual Golf break – we’re heading to the Lakes for this one and in Dunoon there’s going to be a murder in October! As I write this we have 1 slot left on our Cortina Ski – still time to join us – maybe? Lastly – we still have tickets for our January Ball – it’s a great night you don’t want to miss….

Jamie

Contact us T: 0131 531 2653 10am until 5pm Monday to Friday except on public holidays. or leave a message on the 24 hour answerphone. Email us at info@spicescotland.com Book events online 24 hours a day at www.spicescotland.com/events Facebook at facebook.com/SpiceScotland Twitter @SpiceScotland Spice Scotland, 63 Easter Landside Crescent, Dalkeith, Edinburgh, EH22 2FN

Events January & February 2015 Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

29 December Walking Weekend New Year in the Lakes

30 Edinburgh's Hogmany 2014

31 Champagne Hogmanay Dinner at Merchants

1 January

3 Saturday Night at The Movies The Hobbit 3 Glasgow

8 Badminton Glasgow

9 Bar Night Buffet at Arta

11 Aerial Circus Classes – Beginners Trapeze

17 Spice Scotland January Ball 2015

23 Dinner and Ceilidh at Sloans

24 Spice Scotland Ski 2015 Cortina D'Ampezzo

25 Robert Burns Birthplace Museum

31 Celtic Connections Meal and Club

1 February The Aerial Assault at Ratho

Torchlight Procession New Year Break London + Cruise

5 January Preview Evening Glasgow O'Neill's

6 Badminton – Edinburgh

Edinburgh's Hogmanay Concert in the Gardens 7

Preview Night Edinburgh

12 January Games Night Cluedo

13 Badminton Edinburgh

15 Badminton Glasgow

19 January Preview Night Edinburgh

20 Badminton Edinburgh

21 Preview Evening Glasgow O'Neill's

22 Badminton – Glasgow

26 January

2 February Preview Evening Glasgow O'Neill's Meal - New Members @ Qua Italian 9 February Curling - Come and Try Session

27 Badminton Edinburgh

3 Badminton – Edinburgh

28 Workshop Learn to Play Ukulele

Fencing Taster with Edinburgh Fencing Club 29 Badminton Glasgow

5 Badminton Glasgow

Preview Night Edinburgh

Spanish Tapas at La Tasca Edinburgh 16

6 Guided Tour Walking with Scientists

16 February Theatre - The Sound of Music

17 Badminton – Edinburgh

23 February Glasgow Film Festival 2015

Theatre - Joseph 24 Badminton Edinburgh

8 Birds of Prey Up Close and Personal

World of Bowling Edinburgh

Meal - New Members at Asti 10 Badminton Edinburgh

Restaurant Mark Greenaway 7 Meal - Rotating Dinner at Alla Italia

11 Skittles at The Sheep Heid Inn

12 Badminton Glasgow

13 Meal - Credo Salsa Meal and Dance Class Glasgow

19 Badminton Glasgow

20 February Bargain Break 2015

26 Badminton – Glasgow

27 Tribute Night at The Normandy 80's Rubix Cubes

Cinema Night 50 Shades of Grey Edinburgh

Wine Tasting with Great Grog Wobbly Lakeland Walking Ultimate Challenge Lake District

14 The Edinburgh Playhouse Tour

15 Quad Biking

Tenpin Bowling - Bowlplex in Glasgow 21

28 Jen's Walk Dunbar and Gullane

1 March Introduction to Track Cycling

Cinema Night 50 Shades of Grey – Glasgow Murder Mystery at The Maitlandfield

Spice Scotland Ltd, 63 Easter Landside Crescent, Dalkeith, EH22 2FN – 0131 531 2653 info@spicescotland.com www.spicescotland.com Registered in Scotland: Company No. SC375093 Vat Reg. 990853577

Events March 2015 Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

2 March Preview Evening Glasgow O'Neill's

3 Badminton – Edinburgh

4 Tennis - Indoor @ Craiglockhart

5 Badminton Glasgow

6 Bar Night Buffet at Arta

7 Meal and Casino Night Edinburgh

8 Lazy Sunday Stroll - Hailes Castle from East Linton

Meal - New Members at Guy's 9 March Quiz Night East v West General Knowledge

Preview Night Edinburgh

10 Badminton Edinburgh

16 March

17 Badminton Edinburgh

23 March

24 Badminton Edinburgh

30 March

31 Badminton Edinburgh

Dodgeball at Airspace 11

18 GICF - Jamie MacDonald That Funny Blind Guy 25 Skittles at The Sheep Heid Inn

1 April

12 Badminton Glasgow

13 GICF - Comedy Film Night and Meal

19 Badminton Glasgow

20 Meal - B'est Edinburgh

26 Badminton Glasgow

27 GICF - Meal and Show - The 45 Greatest Scots

2 Badminton Glasgow

3 Pizza and Cocktails at Sygn Easter Borrowdale the Lakes Walking

14 Alison's Walk North Berwick Law and Surrounds

15 Alan's Walk Dinmurchie and Fairy Know Trails

Meal - Rotating Dinner at Merchants 21 BBC Scotland Studio Tour and Lunch

Curling Taster Murrayfield Ice Rink 22 Guided Tour The Kelpies Segway Safari

28 Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Atholl

29 Mark's Meander - Forth and Clyde Canal

Handcrafted Afternoon Tea at Epicures of Hyndland

Tubing at Midlothian Snowsports Centre

Tank Driving New Recruit Experience 4 Live Music Bar Night at Molly Malones

5 Lazy Sunday Stroll Neidpath Castle and Tweed

Spice Free New/Potential Member Preview Evenings No need to book, simply turn up! Each is in an area exclusive to Spice Scotland. All your questions answered – a short presentation about Spice and how it work’s.

Glasgow & the West Monday 5 January & Wednesday 21 January at 8pm prompt Mondays - 2 February & 2 March 2015 at 7pm prompt – followed by new member dinner. Conservatory, O’Neill’s, 71 Albion Street, Glasgow, G1 1NY O’Neill’s is on the corner of Bell Street and Albion Street, the Preview Night is in the Conservatory (rear and left of bar), which is exclusive to Spice for the evening. Please get your drinks from the bar before joining us.

Edinburgh & the East Tuesdays 6 January & 3 March & Monday 19 January 2015 at 8.00pm prompt Tuesday 3 February at 7pm prompt – followed by new member dinner. The Outhouse, 12a Broughton Street Lane, Edinburgh, EH1 3LY The Outhouse is in Broughton Street Lane, off Broughton Street (through archway near top). We are in the upstairs lounge which is exclusive to Spice for the evening. Please get a drink from the bar and join us.

Spice Scotland Weekends and Holidays Weekend/Holiday

Date

Cost

Dep

Page

Spice Ski Trip 2015 – Cortina February Bargain Break 2015 Wobbly Lakes Walking Ultimate Lakes Walking Loch Fyne Leisure Break Ballachulish Walking Weekend Hadrian’s Wall Walking Seahouses Northumberland Bunk Barn Montrose Getaway The Western Isles Walking Week Lake District Golf Break Edinburgh Festival Weekend Dunoon Murder Mystery Ballachullish Bargain Break 2015

24 - 31 January 2015 20 - 22 February 2015 27 – 29 February 2015 27 – 29 February 2015 17 – 19 April 2015 17 – 19 April 2015 01 – 03 May 2015 05 – 07 June 2015 26 – 28 June 2015 25 July – 01 August 2015 31 July – 2 August 2015 28 – 31 August 2015 02 – 04 October 2015 06 – 08 November 2015

£739 £119 £180 £180 £164 £179 £239 £69 £129 £799 £119 £245 £139 £109

Due Due Due Due £30 £40 £50 £15 £30 £160 £30 £50 £30 £30

12 13 13 13 14 14 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 19

All Spice Scotland Weekends can be booked with a deposit (amounts vary depending on weekend cost) – full balance will be due the month preceding weekend date, ie. Loch Fyne Leisure Break will be due 1 March 2015 unless specified otherwise

Spice Scotland Ski Trip – 2015 – Cortina WHEN: COST: WHERE: INCLUDES:

SLOTS:

Sunday 24 – 31 January 2015 £739 twin share/double Chalet Hotel Parc Victoria, Cortina, Italy Flights from Edinburgh to Innsbruck, transfers, chalet accommodation, 7 breakfasts, 6 evening meals with choice of menu, including pre-dinner apèritif, choice of complimentary wines with dinner followed by tea/coffee & chocolates, 6 afternoon teas. Wi-Fi (public areas) 27 – Very Last Spaces Cortina d’Ampezzo - The most fashionable ski resort in Italy with stunning scenery and great skiing Cortina is one of the most filmed, photographed, skied and visited resorts in the Italian Alps. Set to the east of the Sella Ronda circuit, it is called the 'Queen of the Dolomites' and is renowned for the excellent selection of skiing as well as superb accommodation, bars, restaurants and shopping. The main skiing areas are the Cortina Cube (Crystal, Faloria and Mietres), Tofana, and Lagazuoi-5 Torri, with plenty of challenging runs as well as some of the most amazing views. All the areas are either linked by the great network of lifts or local skis buses. The Tofanas Ski Area's accolade is the famous women's downhill world cup run. Cortina hosts this famous event in January and has done for the past 18 years.

Accommodation The Chalet Hotel Parc Victoria is one of the most iconic hotels of Cortina and has been since 1892 when the original 'Villa Vittoria' was transformed into one of the resort's first hotels. This elegant hotel is located in the centre of Cortina and holds the most sought after address, No. 1 Corso Italia, which is the main pedestrian street that runs through the centre of the town where people go to see and be seen! At the end of the day head for the spa area with its sauna, steam room, 'experience' showers and whirlpool, perfect for reviving those tired muscles. Apéritifs and canapés are served in the lounge bar and once suitably refreshed you can make your way down to the restaurant with its antique wooden beams and wood-panelling which create intimate surroundings to enjoy your evening meal. Beginners - The Socrepes area of the mountain has wonderful nursery slopes and is one of the best beginner's areas in the Dolomities with some great progression slopes. Intermediates - The runs at Tofana are short but great for cruising. You will want to ski a few runs a couple of times as the scenery is breathtaking and this area normally has the best snow. Advanced - Enjoy the Lagazuoi Cinque Torri area where you will find a large selection of red runs and some challenging blacks with great north-facing snow. Another great area to head for is the hidden valley red run from the Passo Falzarego cable-car, and of course you have to try the famous Sella Ronda.

February Bargain Break 2015 WHEN: WHERE: COST: INCLUDES:

Friday 20 February - Sunday 22 February 2015 Based at the Fishers Hotel, Atholl Road, Pitlochry, PH16 5BN £119.00 Member, £139.00 Guest. Single Rooms £35 are full 2 nights bed, breakfast, dinner, entertainment including ceilidh and disco, walks with VC Walk Leaders, Mark’s Meander & Treasure Hunt, and Friday Welcome Spice Rotating Dinner SLOTS: Max. 108 – over 60 booked th Now into its 11 year, join us for the biggest and best weekend in the Spice calendar – our February Bargain Break. The Fishers Hotel 3 Star hotel situated in the lovely town of Pitlochry and offers exceptional accommodation and facilities for the perfect Spice weekend. At just over 1 ½ hrs from Glasgow and Edinburgh this weekend is easily accessible to all. The hotel is also in a great location for those wanting to travel by train with a station nearby. Fishers Hotel, sits within two acres of spectacular, award-winning gardens and a putting green, it is one of the town's finest, a reminder of the Grand Days blending Victorian elegance with modern day luxury and comfort. All public areas have been refurbished to a high standard and provide wonderful lounges with open fires, an exclusive cocktail lounge, a Courtyard restaurant and a lively public bar and bistro. Your weekend includes a 3 course sit down dinner on Friday and Saturday evening in our own exclusive function room. Each morning begins with a full Scottish breakfasts. Activities: On Friday evening we have a Spice Rotating Dinner – over 100 members moving between courses! The perfect chance to meet loads and loads of your fellow Spice weekenders in one action packed evening. Beware – if you come with a friend we cannot guarantee you will sit together during dinner. Each evening offers entertainment including a ceilidh and disco. Our VC walk leaders will be leading a choice of walks suitable for all on Saturday and Sunday (there will be 2 options – a gentle short walk of around 5 miles and a moderate walk of about 6 – 8 miles). or you If you don’t fancy either walk there is the option of joining Mark Biagioni for a very special Pitlochry Meander and an afternoon Treasure Hunt on Saturday and Mini Meander on Sunday – great fun and a great way to mix and mingle.

Walking Weekend - Lakes Wobbly Walking WHEN: WHERE: COST: INCLUDES:

Friday 27 February to Sunday 1 March 2015 (2 nights) Glaramara, Borrowdale, CA12 5XQ Member £180.00 Singles & £195.00 Twin En-suite Share; Guest £20 Supplement 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast, 2 picnic lunches and a choice of 2 guided walks on the Saturday and the Sunday, and a themed wine tasting evening on Saturday night EXTRA: Transport if taken to walk starts SLOTS: 35 (in 15 Singles and 10 Twin en-suite rooms) The WalkWise 'Wobbly' Walking Programme: Wobbly walking offers a great weekend with a usual WalkWise-style walking programme on the Saturday and Sunday, and the added bonus of wine tasting on the Saturday evening! For this ‘Wobbly’ part on the Saturday night, there will be a themed dinner based on the wine’s country of origin. After dinner there will be a chance to learn about the wines, why they were chosen and of course to sample a number of wines from the chosen country! This centre is simply one of the finest walking locations anywhere in the country, with mountains and fells reaching upwards in every direction. By contrast, there are numerous river valleys with tranquil lakes, dancing waterfalls and peaceful woodland, providing wonderful lower level walks. Remember on each day WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day, so you can choose how you are feeling on the day and select the walk that suits you best! These walks will be led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. On both days there will be a harder walk of 10 or more miles with 1500+ft of ascent, and a gentler walk of 6-9 miles with less ascent. All walks are weather dependent and own transport may be taken to the walk starts.

Walking Weekend - Ultimate Walking WHEN: WHERE: COST: INCLUDES:

Friday 27 February to Sunday 1 March 2015 (2 nights) Glaramara, Borrowdale, CA12 5XQ Member £180.00 Singles & £195.00 Twin En-suite Share; Guest £20 Supp 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast, 2 picnic lunches and guided walks on the Saturday and the Sunday EXTRA: Transport if taken to walk starts SLOTS: 16 (in 8 Singles and 4 Twin en-suite rooms) Be warned this is a serious winter challenge and you must be a very fit and experienced hill walker just to make it. 13

Loch Fyne Leisure Break WHEN: Friday 17 April - Sunday 19 April 2015 WHERE: Based at the Loch Fyne Hotel, Shore Road, Inveraray COST: £164 Member, £184 Guest. Deposit £30: Single Rooms £35 supplement INCLUDES: 2 nights bed, breakfast, dinner, walks with VC Walk Leader, Local Place of Interest SLOTS: 24 (8 Single and 8 Twin/Doubles) A return to one of our favourite hotels, last visited in 2010 – the fantastic Loch Fyne Hotel and Leisure Club in Inveraray. We have secured 24 spaces right on the shores of beautiful Loch Fyne, a little over an hours drive from Glasgow and under two hours from Edinburgh. The former "Capital of Argyll", Inveraray is one of the most beautiful and unusual historic towns in Scotland. Inveraray is the classic 18th-century planned village, with its straight wide streets and dignified Georgian houses, and enjoys the most stunning of settings, on the shores of Loch Fyne. It was rebuilt by the third Duke of Argyll, head of the Campbell clan, at the same time as he restored the nearby family home, which now attracts hordes of summer visitors. As well as its natural beauty and elegance, and fine castle, Inveraray has several other notable attractions in and around the town including Inveraray Castle (opposite); Inveraray Jail; Maritime Museum and Auchindrain Highland Township. There are great local walks in the area around the Loch and through local forests and on Saturday and Sunday, walks led by a VC leader are included in the cost. The Hotel : Loch Fyne Hotel and Leisure Centre Overlooking beautiful Loch Fyne to the Cowal Hills, the Loch Fyne Hotel is the ideal setting to relax and enjoy the surrounding area. Situated on the shores of Loch Fyne in the Royal Burgh of Inveraray, the hotel enjoys wonderful views from the hotel gardens and lounge across the loch to the Cowal Hills. Originally built as a private house, the Loch Fyne Hotel was commandeered during WWII for Combined Operations Training and visited by Eisenhower and Winston Churchill. It has been extended to include a 15 swimming metre pool and jacuzzi overlooking the loch, adjoined by a sauna, steam room and sun deck with hot tub - sheer decadence with unlimited use of leisure facilities included in the cost of the weekend! The Spa has treatment rooms offering a range of therapies including aromatherapy, massage, manicures and pedicures, and their relaxation lounge includes Lloyd Loom wicker recliners and a Japanese Inada physiochair. On our previous visits the food was absolutely stunning! Breakfast & Dinner are served in the Clansman restaurant where a log and peat fire glow on cool evening. Food is as simple and natural as possible, and prides itself on using the finest of local produce - with an emphasis on delicious, locally-caught seafood, where there is the choice from the traditional Table d'hote menu. The hotel is beautifully appointed and also has a pleasant airy bar that looks out across the loch. All bedrooms are en-suite with colour TV and direct dial telephone. We will be offering a walk on each day (around 7 miles on Saturday and 4 miles on Sunday) to explore this gorgeous area of Scotland. We will also visit some local attractions (Inveraray Jail; Maritime Museum eg) for those who don’t want to join the walks. The details of the walks and place of interest will be finalised nearer the time. After your day out you can relax in the leisure club and enjoy the facilites. Book yourself a Sonas Spa visit and treat yourself. (Treatment and costs available HERE) Another brilliant Spice weekend awaits!! Directions: The easiest route to Inverary is via the A82 road, a lovely scenic drive along the western shore on Loch Lomond. At Tarbet turn left onto the A83 passing the Cobbler and over the Rest and Be Thankful. Stay on the A83 following signs for Inverary Continue through the town and the hotel is 1 minutes drive overlooking the Loch.

Walking Weekend Ballachulish & Glencoe When: WHERE: COST: INCLUDES: EXTRAS: SLOTS: SUNDAY NIGHT:

Friday 17 –Sunday 19 April 2014 Ballachulish Hotel, Glen Coe, PH49 4JY Members £179.00; Guests £199 (£40 Deposit) Single Supplement £50 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast, picnic lunches & 2 days of guided walks with a choice of walks each day Transport to walks where taken. 31 (7 singles, 10 twin rooms, 2 double rooms) Member £65.00; £75 Guest, £25 Single supplement. Includes Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, please contact the Spice office for details of how to book extra nights. Overview Ideally located to explore Glencoe, the Mamores and Western Highlands, WalkWise have secured one of Scotland’s most famous Highland Hotels: The Ballachulish, It has great food, a good bar and is situated on the breath taking lochside at the foot of Glencoe. However, the main reason for the weekend is the amazing access that this destination gives to the North West Highlands. Needing no introduction to anyone with a love of the outdoors, this area contains some of Britain’s finest scenery. Our walks will explore some of the wildest, most rugged, remote and romantic areas in the country! And there is wonderful walking for everyone whether you want to gently wander alongside the beautiful lochsides and through the enchanting glens or wish to climb up into the high mountains and enjoy the endless panoramas!

The WalkWise Walking Programme: The harder walkers have lots of choice with some of the finest mountains in Britain. To the east lies fantastic Bidean nam Bian, the tremendous Three Sisters of Glencoe and the legendary Lost Valley are breathtaking! However, stunning though it is, there is obviously more to Glencoe than just Bidean! The Ballachulish Horeshoe, Buachaille Etive Mor and Buachaille Etive Beag are also classic mountains days out, with farreaching views of some of the most amazing terrain Scotland! We can head out up loch leven which gives us great access to the Mamores another superb range of mountains there are also some lovely lower walks in this area which follow some of the tumbling rivers through the meandering glens up cataracts and waterfalls to some beautiful and stunning lochans. We are also on the coast and there are some opportunities to head out along the coast and enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery too. To allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day, led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. On both days there will be a harder walk of 9-12 miles with 3000+ft of ascent, and a gentler walk of 6-9 miles with less ascent. Accommodation: Situated in a breath taking lochside setting at the foot of dramatic Glencoe. The log fires roar all year making this hotel a perfect venue for us walkers. We will also take advantage of the warmth of Bùlas Bar & Bistro, where we can savour hearty dishes made with the best Scottish ingredients. After dinner, we will relax by the fire with a glass of your favourite tipple whilst the sun sets over the mountains and the colours reflect their fiery hue on the waters of the loch outside.

Hadrian’s Wall Walking WHEN: Friday 1 - Monday 4 May 2015 WHERE: Gilsland Spa Hotel, Gilsland on Hadrian’s Wall, CA8 7AR COST: Member £239.00; Guest £259 (Deposit £50) Single Supplement £60 INCLUDES: 3 nights dinner, bed and breakfast, 3 picnic lunches & 3 days of guided walks EXTRA: Cost of transport to walks, coach or bus fare SLOTS: 50 - 10 single rooms, 20 twin rooms. The WalkWise Walking Programme: This remote area of the country is often forgotten by the tourists and walkers alike, yet it is a beautiful wild landscape, with friendly market towns and villages nestled in deep valleys surrounded by high windswept moors. It is ideal walking country with lots of variety and interest from sparkling Lochs, dramatic crags, open fells and lush river valleys complete with tumbling waterfalls, museums, cafes and wayside inns and so much more, in fact something for everyone, oh and the romans have left there mark too!! On Saturday we’ll head out east to Chesters Cavalry Fort which guards the river only fordable point of the North Tyne river in miles. From here we’ll join what is perhaps the most famous section and arguably the best preserved section of the Wall. We’ll glide along the wall which clings to the summit ridge of the lofty crags and escarpments which further elevates its defences. The following day will then see us beginning either at Vindolanda, Bardon Mill or Haltwhistle where secluded glens lead us back up onto the wall, parts of which stand at a remarkable 12ft!!! Great views, peaceful villages and the lure of refreshments encourage us along the way as we head back to Gilsland. And for our final day, well head out towards Lanercost and its amazing ancient Priory, where once again we will join the wall. Remember on each day WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day,so you can choose how you are feeling on the day and select the walk that suits you best! These walks will be led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. On both days there will be a harder walk of 10 or more miles with 2000+ft of ascent, and a gentler walk of 6-9 miles with less ascent. All walks are weather dependent and own transport may be taken to the walk starts. Accommodation: The Gilsland Hotel has an elevated position above the valley, which gives you have access to 140 acres of peaceful park and woodland the hotel grounds offer but provides extensive views over the unspoilt countryside beyond! Couple that with its comfy bar, coffee shop and restaurant as well as large function rooms. All the en-suite bedrooms are comfortable and well equipped with colour television and drinks making facilities. All in all, this makes an ideal base for our weekend.

Center Parcs Christmas 2014 – Nothing to see here!

Seahouses Northumberland Bunk Barn BBQ WHEN: Friday 5 June - Sunday 7 June 2015 WHERE: Seahouses, Northumberland NE68 7UR COST: £69 Member, £84 Guest. Deposit £15 INCLUDES: 2 nights hostel accommodation, 2 breakfasts, BBQ and walks SLOTS: 32 We wanted to feature this break as Spice Yorkshire have chosen a fabulous location for their newest Bunk Barn weekend away. Springhill Farm's Bunk House has stunning views towards the Farne Islands and Cheviot Hills and is perfect for groups with comfortable accommodation without a compromise on quality. With eight bedrooms each holding 4 with their own ensuite facilities. With its breezy, seaside feel the Bunkhouse is different to traditional backpackers style hostels. Come home after a days' exploring to serviced, comfortable, clean rooms, electric/oil heating (hopefully not need for a summer visit!), a well equipped communal living room and a fully equipped self catering kitchen. Wake up each morning to views of Bamburgh Castle, recently voted one of Britain's Favourite Views. Wildlife is one of the major attractions to the area. Directly opposite Springhill are the world-famous Farne Islands, a bird sanctuary which is home to hundreds of thousands of visiting seabirds and one of the UK's largest grey seal colonies. Boat trips to the islands leave from Seahouses during the season (Easter - October). Watch red squirrels roaming the grounds of Alnwick's Hulne Park or why not take a Puffin Cruise to Coquet Island off Amble, where thousands of puffins congregate during the breeding season. Inland find heather moors, rugged countryside and Sites of Special Scientific Interest with bog lands, ancient woodlands and wildflower meadows. Included in the weekend are 2 cooked breakfasts (help with cooking breakfasts and the cleaning up is as always very much welcomed) and we will prepare a BBQ on the Saturday night. You will need to bring bedding with you; either a sleeping bag or a duvet, sheet and pillow. The bunk barn rather unusually, has free Wifi and there is parking onsite. Whether you’re a brand new member, an ‘old hat’ or one of the many that have been with us for a little while, and you like having fun with other like-minded Spice members then this really is a great weekend to book. It’s also a great starter weekend if you’ve not been away with us before - very laid back - you can do as much or as little as you choose; it’s your weekend away. But, be warned – our weekend breaks do sell really, really quickly so get those bookings in ASAP to avoid being disappointed.

Angus Coast Getaway WHEN: WHERE: COST: INCLUDES: SLOTS:

Friday 26 June - Sunday 28 June 2015 The Park Hotel, 61 John Street, Montrose, Angus, DD10 8RJ £129 Member, £149 Guest. Deposit £30: Single Rooms £35 supplement 2 nights bed, breakfast, dinner, walks with VC Walk Leader, Local Place of Interest 24 (8 Single and 8 Twin/Double) We wanted to get this great trip scheduled for early summer for your chance to enjoy a break on the coast in beautiful Angus. With its majestic glens, breathtaking coastline, Angus offers an impressive array of attractions alongside outstanding natural beauty. Our base for the weekend is Montrose. Montrose is a bustling coastal town with an ancient history, classic Georgian and Victorian architecture, a wide High Street with good shopping, and lots to offer the visitor. It is a 12th century burgh with interesting museums, and modern leisure facilities, including a an excellent Blue Flag beach. Montrose has a spectacular setting overlooking a two-mile wide tidal lagoon - a wildlife sanctuary of international importance - and the town boasts the widest high street in Scotland, with picturesque closes leading to secluded gardens. Accommodation - The Montrose Park Hotel is located in the quiet mid-links area of Montrose, yet only a few minutes walk from the busy High Street and the beach. The hotel is an excellent base for exploring the Angus Glens and all they have to offer. Castles, including Glamis and Dunnotar, are a little over half an hour away and the area offers stunning coastal walks, perfect for everyone. For golfers the Montrose Links, the fifth oldest golf course in the world, is a leisurely five minute stroll. Our weekend includes bead and breakfast accommodation and dinner each evening in the Parkers restaurant. Also included are local walks led by one of our VC walk leaders or an option to visit local places of interest. This great weekend also offers train links for both Glasgow and Edinburgh and further afield. As with all our weekends a great group and great time await.

Scottish Walking Week – The Western Isles Harris, Lewis Taransay & North Uist WHEN: WHERE: COST:

Saturday 25 July 2015 to Saturday 1 August 2015 The Harris Hotel, Isle of Harris, HS3 3DL £799.00 per person in shared room; Guests £20 Supplement £200.00 per person Double for sole use supplement Room upgrades available contact Gideon@walkwise.co.uk INCLUDES : 7 night’s accommodation, 6 evening meals, 7 breakfasts, 5 picnic lunches. 5 full days professional guiding offering two walks each day EXTRAS : Transport to and from walks. Cost of ferrys to the islands Dinner on the rest day. Travel Insurance, room upgrades SLOTS: Up to 36, 10 Doubles en suite for sole use, 8 twin en suite rooms, 5 double en suite rooms Overview: The Western Isles of Harris, Lewis, North Uist and Taransay are part of the outer Hebrides archipelago. These mysterious islands are steeped in thousands of years of history, folk law and legend with stone circles, brochs, castles standing alongside todays towns and villages. Each island has its own unique character, as diverse and varied as the surrounding landscape where spectacular white beaches, delightful inlets, peaceful bays are set against a backdrop of the rugged machair with the high mountains behind. There is little accommodation on the islands, but for this wonderful trip walkwise have secured the wonderful Harris Hotel in Tarbert, which offers traditional island hospitality, superb food and a relaxing atmosphere. Our fantastic hosts will look after our every need as we head out to explore the islands! WalkWise Walking Programme: Our programme is designed to give everyone a flavour of the islands of Lewis, Harris, South Uist and Taransay, the wide variety of habitats, the inviting beauty, the history and the rugged mountains. Each day we will have two grades of walk, usually in a similar area, with the tougher walkers heading out over wilder and rougher terrain whilst the easier walkers explore the region on easier but no less spectacular routes. Harris is a stunning island in itself, with some of the finest beaches in the UK adorning its western coast. This is set against the large open machair areas and contrast with the east coast which is typified by isolated inlets and rugged bays. The north of Harris changes again becoming much more mountainous and wild with sea lochs cutting into the heart of the mountains. It is here that the harder walker will ascend the Clisham Ridge which leads up to the archipelagos only Corbett An Clisheam at 799m; a spectacular ridge walk with superb views over the whole of Harris. The easier walkers also get to savour this region with remote glen walks that cut through this wild and empty region. One day will see us sailing out a couple of miles off the west coast of Harris to the isle Taransay. The island has some fine sandy silver sand beaches, rock arches, long abandoned villages and these can be combined with the lovely ascent of Beinn na h-Uidhe which should be ascended as affords stunning views back across the island to Harris. For those that are feeling energetic there is a second peak on the island, the islands highest peak, Beinn Ra which has stunning views across the loch to the Mountains of the north. The island has one last treat in store as it has been cleared of Mink and now has breeding population of puffins and Shelduck. And finally there is North Uist, which an island and weather is permitting we will hop over on the ferry to explore it. Once again it has a varied character and the easier walkers cross the sand dunes to walk the beaches of the northwest of the island before making their way back through the harbours and inlets of the east of the island. Meanwhile the harder walkers will pick their way around the numerous lochans to ascent the isolated peak of Eaval and enjoy its amazing panoramic view! So whether you fancy a lower level or a higher level walks you wont be disappointed. The only difficulty is deciding which one to do! So why not come and join us on a week of discovery, nature, laughter and the pleasure of enjoying it with like minded people. Remember to allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, WalkWise will provide two walks on each day, led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. On all walking days there will be a harder walk of 11 miles with up to 3500ft ascent, and a gentler moderate walk of 7 to 10 miles long with up to1500ft. On certain days our journey will take us past some real gems of the islands and if people wish we may well pause our journeys to explore them too. Accommodation: A warm welcome awaits you at the Harris Hotel which has been a family owned and run hotel for over 100years. It is situated in Tarbert, which is the ideal base from which explore Harris, Lewis and even the Uists to the south. They offer traditional island hospitality, superb food and a relaxing atmosphere, and you canl be assured of an enjoyable and memorable stay, for all the right reasons! Here you can unwind in comfortable and peaceful surroundings and allow the islands to work their magic; inspire dreams, charge passions and enliven your senses. The hotel has two sun-lounges for guests to relax in, a small television lounge and a small library and a compendium of board-games for your enjoyment. There is even a drying room! There is free WI-FI internet connection in all the downstairs areas for those with their own laptops. All the bedrooms rooms are different, and have been individually decorated, but there are four different classifications of rooms from standard to delux, some with sea views. All rooms have flat-screen televisions, hair dryers and hot drinks tray. Nb For an additional surcharge you can upgrade your room contact Gideon@walkwise.co.uk for prices and availability. 17

Lake District Golf Break WHEN: WHERE: PRICE: INCLUDES: EXTRAS: SLOTS:

Friday 31 July - Sunday 2 August 2015 Crown and Mitre Hotel, English Street, Carlisle, CA3 8HB £119 Member, £139 Guest. Single Rooms available at £35 supplement (Deposit £30) 2 nights bed, breakfast, dinner, free parking and full use of leisure facilities Golf Package – Saturday and Sunday Course Options Max. 18 (6 twin/doubles, 6 singles) Our Golf and Social Weekend is an annual favourite with members offering a thoroughly enjoyable break for golfers of all standards. This year we head to The Lakes to enjoy a weekend of good company, lovely surroundings and leisurely golf. All participating golfers also have the opportunity to compete for the Spice Masters Golf Trophy. Now into it’s 3rd year, the cup (if won) will be engraved with the winner’s name – you also get to keep the trophy until the 2016 competition. There will be also be a nearest the pin, longest drive and best beginner competitions. All golfers will be allocated a handicap so everyone is in with a shot of winning. Each golfer will also receive a simple golf goodie bag. Accommodation – The Crown and Mitre Hotel offers the perfect mix of Edwardian grandeur, beautiful original features including a real log fire and elegant sweeping stair case plus all the modern comforts of home to create a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. After your round you can head back to the hotel and enjoy the swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Each evening we will dine in the lovely Peace and Plenty restaurant Golfers: We can’t finalise details of the courses and costs until the numbers attending are known but we will offer rounds on Saturday and Sunday. Costs will be advised nearer the time but there are some great courses available. Local courses includes Stony Holme – 5997 Yd Par 69, Eden Championship Course – 6410, Par 72 or the Brampton Course – 6048, Par 72. This golfing break is suitable for most golfing standards. Relative beginners (this covers individual who have had some lessons or played a few 9 or 18 hole rounds) and experienced golfers help to give a great mix of abilities and even better company at the 19th hole.

Edinburgh Festival Weekend 2015 WHEN : WHERE : COST : Includes:

Bank Holiday Weekend Friday 28 - Monday 31 August 2015 (52 Slots) Edinburgh, Scotland – based at the excellent Pollock Halls, Student Residences (near Holyrood Park, excellent central location) Member £245.00 (Guests £265.00) Single Supp £100 (Deposit £50) 3 Nights Accommodation in Single/Twin en-suite rooms, (well furnished with spectacular views of Arthur’s Seat) in the excellent Chancellors Court, 3 Fantastic as much as you can eat Scottish Buffet Breakfasts, Saturday Guided Tour of the Royal Mile (Castle to John Knox House) Spectacular Arthur’s Seat Walk – voted Top place to visit in Edinburgh on Trip Advisor, Coordinators Throughout. Friday Night Welcome followed by traditional Scottish Ceilidh with caller, Option to purchase a Saturday night Ticket for the astonishing Edinburgh International Military Tattoo with spectacular end of show fireworks – the hottest ticket in town! An opportunity to book superb extras such as Merv Stutter’s Pick of the Fringe, Saturday Dinner at Merchants, Fosters Comedy Awards, Picnic in the Gardens the Festival Farewell Lunch plus lots more…. One of the highlights of the Spice calendar, the fantastic Edinburgh Festival Weekend. This year we are offering a single weekend to enjoy the most vibrant city in the world at this time of year. Join us we take you through the biggest arts festival in the world as only Spice knows how. This is the only way to make the most of what’s going on. Year after year members keep coming back – come and find out why!

Dunoon Murder Mystery Break WHEN: Friday 2 October - Sunday 4 October 2015 WHERE: Argyll Hotel, Argyll Street, Dunoon, PA23 7NE PRICE: £139 Member, £159 Guest. Single Rooms available at £35 supplement (Deposit £30) INCLUDES: 2 nights bed, breakfast, dinner, themed Murder Mystery throughout. SLOTS: Max. 24 (8 twin/doubles, 8 singles) Join us as we head to Argyll for a brilliant Murder Mystery Weekend. Sail away on the high seas to the wildest pirate party. Have you got what it takes to join the worlds meanest, baddest, boldest pirate gangs? Can you discover the mystery of the treasure and survive the murderous doings of black hearted salty sea dogs? In a madcap weekend of crazy pirate antics, it’s every man, woman and parrot for himself! Whilst fancy dress is encouraged it is complete optional (although there will be prizes for the best dressed). The Argyll Hotel A landmark hotel of Dunoon in the true sense of the word, with its majestic views of the River Clyde, is a stylish property at the very heart of Dunoon. While many of Dunoon’s hotels claim to have the town’s landmarks on their doorstep, this hotel is one of these landmarks! The hotel is situated right next to the Argyll Ferries Ferry terminal, with an hourly service to Gourock and fast rail connections to all of central Scotland. Dunoon is a famous Scottish coastal resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock. Its prominent position on the Clyde Coast made it a hugely popular resort in the days when the annual influx of Glasgow holidaymakers and day trippers created the ‘Costa Clyde’ as it was affectionately known. The Murder Mystery Arrive at the hotel on Friday at your leisure, dinner is served at 7.30pm sharp; join the other members, hotel guests and actors in the great dining room for dinner where all the action begins. Once the plot has been set finish the night off with our entertainer, enjoy a drink and relax listening to the music or after a few more tipples enjoy a good dance all night. Saturday morning: Enjoy breakfast in the morning at your leisure in the dining room served from 8.00am until 10.00.am. The actors join you at breakfast and set the rules for the trail set ahead, explore the local town with the trail, collect the clues and evidence which points to all the areas of concern. Trail time between one and two hours depending on stop-offs at the local bars on the way. On Saturday evening we meet in the bar for drinks around 7.00pm and be taken into the dining room for the gala dinner and full evening entertainment lots of fun and laughter. Sunday morning: enjoy again another leisurely breakfast. Spaces are limited and as this break will be extremely popular the hotel may ask for slots back beforehand so please book early.

Ballachulish Bargain Break WHEN: WHERE: PRICE: INCLUDES: SLOTS:

Friday 6 November - Sunday 8 November 2015 Based at the Isles of Glencoe Hotel and Leisure Centre, Ballachulish, PH49 4HL £109 Member, £129 Guest. Single Rooms available at £35 supplement (Deposit £30) 2 nights bed, breakfast, dinner, plus excursions/walks on Sat & Sun Max. 74 (33 twin/doubles, 8 single)

This legendary weekend just keeps getting better and better - this is your chance to stay at the fantastic Isles of Glencoe Hotel right on the shores of beautiful Loch Leven a short drive from either Glasgow or Edinburgh. The Hotel: Isles of Glencoe Hotel and Leisure Centre - Almost afloat, nestling on the lochside on the side of a peninsula reaching into Loch Leven, this friendly hotel offers everything for which you dream whilst on a weekend away; spacious bedrooms with loch and mountain-views and a relaxed, convivial ambience. Luxuriate in the Leisure Centre - pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, exercise room and solarium, marvel at the awesome surroundings - enjoy all aspects of The Isles experience. Listen as the water laps outside your bedroom. Step down to the spectacular lochside conservatory restaurant and savour a lively Bistro by day or casual fine-dining by night. Dive into the sparkling waters of the heated pool as they entice to the delights of the Leisure Centre: jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, exercise room and solarium. Outside you can explore easy lochside trails. There will be an additional Spice programme of optional activities during the day on both Saturday and Sunday, we will be offering one of our reasonably easy VC walks on each day led by one of our VC walk leaders there will also be a visit to a local place of interest on Saturday and Sunday. On previous visits many members have enjoyed the fantastic Ballachullish Guy Fawkes Fireworks Display and the plan (if on this weekend) is to ensure dinner is later so all can go along to the quarry and enjoy. The scenery will be stunning, the hotel fantastic and in the excellent company of Spice members a weekend to remember is certain. A joining pack will be sent out 2 weeks beforehand to help with lift share planning, directions etc.

Spice Scotland January Ball 2015 Date: Place: Time: Cost: Includes:

Saturday 17 January 2015 The Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor, 21 Grosvenor St, Edinburgh, EH12 5EF 7pm till 1am £46 Welcome Drink, 3 Course Dinner with Coffee/Tea and Glass of Wine/Bottle Beer, Entertainment courtesy of the amazing Hip Operation

The highlight of the Spice programme and the must do event to kick start your year in style. Don’t be fooled by the amazing ticket price – we are heading to one of Edinburgh’s best function venues – The Roseberry Suite of the Hilton Edinburgh Grosvenor for an evening of fabulous food and excellent entertainment. Dinner Menu Parsnip and Sweet Potato soup with a coriander crouton **** Baked supreme of Chicken filled with a chorizo mousse, braised fondant potato and a pimento cream sauce Or Pumpkin tortellini with red pesto cream sauce **** Vanilla bean cheesecake with an Elderflower syrup **** Freshly brewed coffee or tea For your entertainment we welcome back Edinburgh’s top cover band - Hip Operation – brilliant, awesome – some of the words used to describe this 7 piece band last time out! Enjoy an enormous spectrum of classic pop, rock and soul from the past fifty years with commitment and style sure to keep you partying all night. Dress to impress: Ladies – Cocktail/Evening Dresses; Gents – Kilts/Lounge Suits/Tuxes. Bring along a friend – All member, guest and ex member tickets are priced the same and everyone is welcome. All tickets must be pre booked in advance for this event. This year we will be arranging a table plan so we can look after you all even better – this is great if you want come alone and if you want to sit next to friends please let us know when booking and we can arrange that too. Want to stay over? – We have secured a great deal on overnight accommodation – Twin/Double room just £47.50 per person (requires 2 booking per room) or Double for sole occupancy just £85 – breakfast included – Why not make a real night of it and perfect for those members in Glasgow, Aberdeen and beyond. Rooms are subject to availability and must be booked by mid December to get the special rate. Accommodation needs to be booked direct with the hotel. You will also find even more affordable accommodation in the local surroundings if required.

Weekely Badminton Evenings – Edinburgh & Glasgow Date: Edinburgh - Tuesdays – see website for all dates. Time: 8pm to 10pm Place: Meadowbank Sports Centre, London Road, Edinburgh (EH7 6AE) Date: Glasgow - Thursdays - see website for all dates. Time: 7pm to 9pm Place: Scotstoun Leisure Centre, 72 Danes Drive, Glasgow (G14 9HU) Cost:

£5 Member, £6 Guest

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Walking Weekend New Year in the Lakes Date: Monday 29 December 2014 - Thursday 1 January 2015 Place: Glaramara, Borrowdale (CA12 5XQ) Cost: £345 Member, £365 Guest, £357 Member Single, £377 Guest Single

Edinburgh's Hogmany 2014 Date: Tuesday 30 December 2014 - Thursday 1 January 2015 Place: Edinburgh - Home of Hogmanay (EH1 1TA) Cost: £289 Member, £309 Guest

New Year Break London + Cruise - 2 nights Date: Tuesday 30 December 2014 - Thursday 1 January 2015 Place: Hilton Olympia, 380 Kensington High St, (W14 8NL) Cost: £299 Member Twin/Double, £329 Guest Twin/Double, £435 Member Single, £445 Guest Single

Edinburgh's Hogmanay - Torchlight Procession Date: Tuesday 30 December 2014 Place: Parliament Square to Calton Hill Meet: Details will be provided to those booked Time: 6pm The opening event of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2014 is the spectacular Torchlight Procession.

Meal - Champagne Hogmanay Dinner at Merchants Date: Wednesday 31 December 2014 Place: Merchants, 17 Merchant Street, Edinburgh (EH1 2QD) Time: 7pm Cost: £33 Member, £35 Guest As part of our Spice Hogmanay Celebrations we are delighted to feature a Champagne Hogmanay Dinner at our favorite restaurant Merchants. You will be greeted with a Champagne welcome followed by a 3-course gourmet dinner from an extensive choice, freshly ground coffee/tea, a glass of red or white wine with your meal and the tip has already been paid! Book now for the perfect start to your Hogmanay evening. Includes: Champagne Welcome, 3 Course Dinner, Glass of Wine, Coffee/Tea, Service. Not Included: Extra Drinks - Please arrive prompt at 7pm. NB. We will not be at Merchants for the Bells.

Edinburgh's Hogmanay - Concert in the Gardens Date: Wednesday 31 December 2014 Place: Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh Time: 10pm Cost: £49 Member, £55 Guest We have secured tickets for Scotland’s flagship Hogmanay event – The Concert in the Gardens. It’s the party of the year. Most of the tickets have been allocated to our Hogmanay weekenders but we some spares for Scottish Spice members to book. These tickets are only available if booking the Champagne Dinner at Merchants too – make a real Hogmanay and book now. The headline act will be announced later in the year. Tickets will be given at the Champagne Hogmanay Dinner at Merchants on the evening. See 2015 in style – it’s brilliant!!

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Saturday Night at The Movies - The Hobbit 3 - Glasgow Date: Saturday 3 January 2015 Place: Cineworld and China Buffet King (G2 3AB) Meet: Cineworld, Renfield St. Glasgow Time: 5pm Cost: £28 Member, £30 Guest Includes: Cinema Ticket, Buffet Meal, Service, Booking Fees, Spice Host It’s Saturday Night at the Movies and your chance to watch a New Year blockbuster followed by a buffet dinner. We begin at Cineworld on Renfield Street to take our seats for The Hobbit – The Battle of the 5 Armies – the st final installment of the Hobbit Trilogy. (If you haven’t seen the 1 two yet there’s still time – just about!). The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. After our movie we head to China Buffet King for an all you can eat Chinese. This gives a great opportunity to relax and chat about the film we’ve just seen. Meeting details will be sent beforehand – the start time may change slightly due to the film times not being released at the time of writing this. Includes: Cinema Ticket, Booking Fees, Buffet Dinner, Service, Spice Host

Preview Evening - Glasgow - O'Neill's Date: Monday 5 January 2015 Place: The Conservatory, O' Neill's, 71 Albion St, Glasgow (G1 1NY) Time: 8pm All your questions about Spice answered. Great for new members recently joined online or prospective members. Bring a friend along?

Preview Night - Edinburgh Date: Tuesday 6 January 2015 Place: The Outhouse, 12a Broughton St. Lane, Edinburgh (EH1 3LY) Time: 8pm All your questions about Spice answered. Great for new members recently joined online or prospective members. Bring a friend along?

Bar Night Buffet at Arta Date: Friday 9 January 2015 Place: Arta, 62 Albion Street, Glasgow (G1 1 NY) Time: 7:30pm Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest Join us for another of our popular bar nights in the Merchant City. Arta for those who have yet to visit is a stunning venue in the heart of the Merchant City. A light buffet will also be served around 8pm. The evening is a great way for new, returning and existing members to enjoy a night on the town. We ask that all attending book in advance to help planning and table allocations.

Meal - Spanish Tapas at La Tasca - Edinburgh Date: Friday 9 January 2015 Place: La Tasca, 9 South Charlotte Street, Edin (EH2 4AS) Time: 7:30pm Cost: £20 Member, £22 Guest Includes: Starter, 4 Tapas and Service La Tasca Edinburgh is an authentic Spanish tapas restaurant on South Charlotte Street. We love tapas because we get to try many different flavours in one meal. Tonight we feast on a starter followed by 4 tapas from a set menu. The service has been paid too. A cheap January night out with good company – a great way to start the year.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Aerial Circus Classes – Beginners Trapeze Date: Sunday 11 January 2015 Place: Aerialedge, Glasgow and Websters (formerly Landsdowne Church) (G4 9HZ) Time: 4pm to 5:30pm Cost: £22 Member, £24 Guest A new supplier for an old favourite in the Spice programme. Your chance to try your hand at Trapeze with Aerialedge. Static Trapeze is one of the easiest of aerial acrobatic disciplines to begin with but perhaps one of the hardest to master. Static trapeze starts with you learning simple moves on and under the bar which can be achieved with very little strength. The beginner class takes members of any fitness level and work on improving strength and fitness while learning good trapeze technique. Static Trapeze is an ideal entry point for anyone wanting to start in aerial circus or who just want a fun way of getting fit. Please ensure you wear suitable clothing – as a guide please cover arms and legs to avoid scrapes and burns on the skin. We recommend leggings/men's running tights, or you can wear shorts and trackies over the top. With a close-fitting long-sleeved top or leotard as you will be upside down often. Most aerial is done in bare feet or socks...or as a superhero! This will fun, healthy and 100% safe. This is the type of event you can tell your friends about on Monday morning!! Please meet at Glasgow and Websters (formerly Landsdowne Church), 416 Great Western Road, Glasgow, G4 9HZ 10 minutes before start time.

Games Night - Cluedo Date: Monday 12 January 2015 Place: O'Neill's, Albion St. Glasgow (G1 1NY) Time: 7pm A games night – just come along and enjoy some traditional board games. Tonight we play Cluedo – the original ‘who dunnit’. If you have a particular character you want to be let us know and we’ll reserve the slot for you. Why not wear some purple for Prof Plum, or red for Miss Scarlet? We have access to the conservatory before the event starts so come along and enjoy a bite to eat beforehand. Please let us know if you would like to eat beforehand so we can make arrangements. Whilst this event is free we ask you book in advance so we know how many players we have.

Spice Scotland January Ball 2015 Date: Saturday 17 January 2015 Place: The Edinburgh Hilton Grosvenor, 21 Grosvenor Street, Edinburgh (EH12 5EF) Time: 7pm to 1am Cost: £46 Includes: Welcome Drink, 3 Course Dinner with Coffee/Tea and Glass of Wine/Bottle of Beer, Entertainment courtesy of the amazing Hip Operation - and of course a great night! See Page 20 for full details

Preview Night - Edinburgh Date: Monday 19 January 2015 Place: The Outhouse, 12a Broughton St. Lane, Edinburgh (EH1 3LY) Time: 8pm All your questions about Spice answered. Great for new members recently joined online or prospective members. Bring a friend along?

Preview Evening - Glasgow - O'Neill's Date: Wednesday 21 January 2015 Place: The Conservatory, O' Neill's, 71 Albion St, Glasgow (G1 1NY) Time: 8pm All your questions about Spice answered. Great for new members recently joined online or prospective members. Bring a friend along?

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Fencing Taster with Edinburgh Fencing Club Date: Thursday 22 January 2015 Place: Thomas of Acquins RC High School, 2-20 Chalmers Street, Edinburgh (EH3 9ES) Time: 6:45pm to 8:30pm Cost: £11 Member, £12 Guest A chance to experience Fencing as we head for a group taster session with Edinburgh Fencing Club. In this Fencing Taster, we will play fun fencing games that will help us learn the grip and stance, how to move, and how to score – all more complex than they sound and all great fun to learn. We will fence with foil swords and you are recommended to wear a tracksuit (or loose trousers) and trainers. We will receive instruction from Club Coach Alex McLeod and his team of experts. Generally considered one of the most fun sports to learn book your slot now as spaces are limited to 10. Please wear loose comfortable clothing. NOTE: Please advise us in advance if you are left-handed when booking. Meeting details will be provided beforehand.

Dinner and Ceilidh at Sloans Date: Friday 23 January 2015 Place: Sloans, 108 Argyle Street, Glasgow (G2 8BG) Time: 7pm Cost: £32 Member, £35 Guest Dinner and dancing, always a great night out. Join us we head to Sloan’s, one of the city's most stunning and impressive venues set over three decadent floors. We begin the evening with a 2 course dinner from the ceilidh rd menu (£5.50 supplement payable on the evening for 3 course) before we take to the dance floor to enjoy the famous Sloan’s ceilidh night. Energy and enthusiasm is more important than skill. Book now. Includes: 2 Course Dinner, Service, Ceilidh Ticket, Spice Host.

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum Date: Sunday 25 January 2015 Place: Robert Burn’s Birthplace Museum, Murdoch's Lone, Alloway (KA7 4PQ) Time: 11am Cost: £9 Member, £10 Guest, £0 NTS Member, £0 NTS Guest Robert Burns Birthplace Museum offers a truly unique encounter with Scotland’s favourite son. The museum comprises the famous Burns Cottage where the poet was born, the historic landmarks where he set his greatest work, the elegant monument and gardens created in his honour and a modern museum housing the world’s most important collection of his life and works. During our visit we will have the opportunity to explore at our leisure but also enjoy a guided tour of the museum and cottage highlights – we don’t want to miss anything! National Trust members receive free entry to the museum – please still book with Spice so we know you are planning on going along. Meeting details will be sent to everyone beforehand.

Workshop - Learn to Play Ukulele Date: Wednesday 28 January 2015 Place: The Conservatory, O'Neill's, 71 Albion St. Glasgow (G1 1NY) Time: 7pm Cost: £12.50 Member, £14 Guest Learn Ukulele – a fun workshop courtesy of musician Graeme Gass. Graeme has presented this workshop at both the Celtic Connections and Common Ground music festivals and now it is the turn of Spice members to benefit from his amazing talents and relaxed, fun style of presentation which will have you actively involved throughout! The Ukuleles are provided; you simply need to bring yourself. Each participant will have their own instrument to use for the evening (you can if you want pick up a simple Ukulele for around £20 if you want to bring your own). At the end of this workshop we will, as a group, be able to perform two songs … though we don’t promise that you are on your way to stardom!! What we can promise is a thoroughly enjoyable evening having a laugh, learning to make music and sharing some magical moments along the way! Space are limited so please book early.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Meal - Restaurant Mark Greenaway Date: Saturday 31 January 2015 Place: Restaurant Mark Greenaway, 69 North Castle Street, Edinburgh (EH2 3LJ) Time: 6:30pm Cost: £22.50 Member, £25 Guest Includes: 2 Course Dinner, Service A real treat tonight – a visit to Restaurant Mark Greenaway. The award-winning Mark Greenaway may have come to the general public’s attention thanks to his appearances on The Great British Menu. However, his innovative cooking was drawing plaudits long before the cameras picked up on the Scottish chef. His flagship restaurant is a harmonious combination of modern style in a Georgian-era building. Formerly a bank, there is even a walk-in safe doubling as a well stocked wine cellar in the basement. We may be dining a little earlier then usual but the opportunity to visit was too much to miss. We will dine on 2 courses from the Market Menu rd and the service has been paid. 3 course is available for £5 payable on the evening. You don’t want to miss this one!

Celtic Connections Meal and Club Date: Saturday 31 January 2015 Place: Anti Pasti and The Festival Club (G2 3HQ) Time: 8pm Cost: £26 Member, £29 Guest Includes: 3 Course Dinner, Service, Celtic Connections Club Ticket, Booking Fees, Spice Host. An annual favourite returns to the programme – the Meal and Celtic Connections Festival Club Night! First we dine at Antipasti, a lively, bustling restaurant in Glasgow’s city centre. The ruggedly rustic interior, designed by a local artisan, blends woodcraft and ironwork in neutral tones to create a relaxed, comfortable dining space. An inviting menu prides itself on blending authentic Italian cooking with modern presentation. We dine on 3 courses with tip included! After dinner we head to The Art School, this years venue for the famous Celtic Connection Club. Join local and international artists as they make special unbilled appearances with sparkling host Kevin Macleod to guide you through proceedings. Spaces are limited so please book early.

The Aerial Assault at Ratho Date: Sunday 1 February 2015 Place: Edinburgh International Climbing Centre, Ratho (EH28 8AA) Time: 11am Cost: £12.50 Member, £14 Guest We make a return visit to one of the most exciting and amazing adventure experiences on the planet! Edinburgh International Climbing Centre (formally The Adventure Centre at Ratho) is one of the wonders of the Adventure Sport World! Go for it guys and gals – this will definitely be a thrill of a lifetime! It’s well worth doing, just to see this incredible venue with the Aerial Assault Course being the complete test of mind, body and nerve wrapped in total safety. Climb to level five of the arena and then make the final spine tingling ascent up a spiral staircase right to the edge of the arena. Once you're there you'll get harnessed up. If you're lucky enough to be first you'll head straight out onto the assault course. Otherwise you have to wait. One hundred feet above the arena. Once you reach the edge take a deep breath and step straight out into the open air. The Aerial Assault Course is the ultimate adrenaline rush, a truly unique experience where you, quite literally, let it all hang out 100ft from the ground. The ride begins with a death-defying twisted zip slide and ends with a series of increasingly formidable obstacles. Unlike usual theme park rides, The Skyride is interactive and physically engaging, usable by people of all abilities (subject to height restrictions). Directions: Take the A8 until you reach Newbridge Roundabout. At Newbridge roundabout take the 1st exit onto the B7030 (signposted Newbridge). Take the first left after the petrol station (Cliftonhall Road). Follow road straight avoiding signs for Ratho. Travel round the side of the Newbridge Industrial Estate, under the railway bridge and passed the Newbridge One estate. Travel under the bridges (first canal & then M8) and up the hill. The EICA is on the left. It can be identified by a triangular pillar at the end of the road.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Preview Evening - Glasgow - O'Neill's Date: Monday 2 February 2015 Place: The Conservatory, O' Neill's, 71 Albion St, Glasgow (G1 1NY) Time: 8pm All your questions about Spice answered. Great for new members recently joined online or prospective members. Bring a friend along?

Meal - New Members @ Qua Italian Date: Monday 2 February 2015 Place: 68 Ingram Street, Merchant City, Glasgow (G1 1EX) Time: 8:15pm Cost: £16.50 Member, £18 Guest A Glasgow New Member’s Meal with a twist – we will hosting a preview night at O’Neill’s beforehand and will inviting the attendees to join us for dinner too. New members, established members, those just thinking of joining, everyone is welcome. Qua is a contemporary Cheerful and bustling Italian restaurant in Glasgow's Merchant City with both traditional and signature Italian Dishes, The staff are welcoming and friendly and the restaurant boasts an extensive menu serving unique comtemporary Italian dishes. Qua's head chef Leonardo trained in Rome for 30 years and the menu retains an inspired Roman feel which is enhanced by owner Rocco Martone's Tuscan Influence. Includes: 3 Course Dinner, Glass of Wine/Peroni/Soft Drink, Service.

Preview Night - Edinburgh Date: Tuesday 3 February 2015 Place: The Outhouse, 12a Broughton St. Lane, Edinburgh (EH1 3LY) Time: 8pm All your questions about Spice answered. Great for new members recently joined online or prospective members. Bring a friend along?

Meal - New Members at Asti Date: Tuesday 3 February 2015 Place: Asti, 73 Broughton Street, Edinburgh (EH1 3RJ) Time: 8:15pm Cost: £16.50 Member, £18 Guest An Edinburgh New Member’s Meal with a twist – we will hosting a preview night at The Outhouse beforehand and will inviting the attendees to join us for dinner too. New members, established members, those just thinking of joining, everyone is welcome. This Italian restaurant opened a couple of years ago and whilst not yet well known is gaining a reputation for great food. Tonight we dine on 2 courses for the set menu and the tip has been included. rd Includes: 2 Course Dinner, Service. Extras: 3 Course, Drinks

Guided Tour - Walking with Scientists Date: Friday 6 February 2015 Place: Edinburgh University District Meet: Meeting Details will be provided Time: 7pm to 9pm Cost: £12 Member, £14 Guest Join us for a walking tour around the University district featuring fascinating stories from the lives of some of those scientists who lived and worked in this most beautiful and inspiring of European capital cities; Hutton and geology, Hume and philosophy, Maxwell and electromagnetism and the medical exploits of Conan Doyle, Darwin, Sophia Jex Blake, Elsie Maud Inglis and James Miranda Barry. Stopes, Smith and Nightingale are amongst the other compelling characters that will be explored. Actor and local historian Colin Brown will be your host for this insightful and fascinating evening. Meeting details will be provided beforehand.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Meal - Rotating Dinner at Alla Italia Date: Saturday 7 February 2015 Place: Alla Italia, 194 Pitt St. Glasgow (G2 4DY) Time: 8pm Cost: £21.50 Member, £24 Guest Includes: 3 Course Rotating Dinner, Tea/Coffee, Service A return to Alla Italia for an old favorite as we enjoy a Spice exclusive Rotating Dinner. Opened in early 2014, Alla Italia is an Italian restaurant on Pitt Street in Glasgow city centre. As well as the welcoming dining room, it has a cocktail bar where guests can enjoy drinks while listening to the live background music played at weekends. Authentic Italian classics with fresh produce is the name of the game here. The chefs at Alla Italia take great pride in locally sourcing as many ingredients as possible. The dishes are freshly prepared and cooked daily. Tonight we have exclusive use of the downstairs restaurant area and your opportunity to enjoy a unique Spice Dines evening. At our rotating dinners we will move you between courses to new tables – thus meeting and mingling with other members as you go. It’s great fun and with great food too, this is the perfect Saturday evening dinner. Please book early as early bookings will almost certainly generate more and more bookings – the more who come along the better the rotations! Includes: 3 Course Dinner, Tea/Coffee, Service. Extras: Drinks, Sides and Supplements

Ten Pin Bowling - World of Bowling - Edinburgh Date: Saturday 7 February 2015 Place: Corn Exchange Village, 11 Newmarket Rd, Edinburgh(EH14 1RJ) Time: 7pm Cost: £20 Member, £22 Guest Our sociable Ten Pin Bowling makes its 1st outing of the year as we head to World of Bowling at The Edinburgh Corn Exchange Village. This event is ideal for everyone but new members are especially welcome. Ability is optional and suitable for all. This bit of friendly fun competition includes 2 games of bowling, shoe hire, welcome drink (red/white wine, soft drink or Carling piny), buffet and certificate for best team/player. This event requires a minimum of 10 so please book early.

Birds of Prey - Up Close and Personal Date: Sunday 8 February 2015 Place: Strathblane Falconry, Strathblane, Glasgow (G63 2EH) Time: 1pm Cost: £25 Member, £27.50 Guest Swoop! - Our Birds of Prey experience is the ideal opportunity to enjoy nature at its finest. Strathblane Falconry is housed in a purpose-built centre in the grounds of Strathblane Country House Hotel. In our session you will be shown around the centre and told about the birds before going out into the grounds where you will have the amazing opportunity to fly an Eagle Owl and a Harris Hawk and get the chance to handle a couple of other birds, including an eagle! Cameras are essential to capture this superb and unique experience! Strathblane Falconry is situated in the grounds of Strathblane Country House Hotel. Directions: Strathblane can be reached by Glasgow via the A81 (Milngavie) or from Edinburgh via the A803 (Kilsyth) and the A891 (Lennoxtown).

Curling - Come and Try Session Date: Monday 9 February 2015 Place: East Kilbride Ice Rick, Olympia (G74 1PG) Time: 6:15pm Cost: £4 Member, £5 Guest Curling is one of Scotland's growing sports and a most enjoyable way to get your exercise and meet new people at the same time. Curling is a straightforward and uncomplicated sport suitable for all. East Kilbride Curling Club and East Kilbride are our hosts for our introduction and an excellent opportunity to learn the basics. The session will taken by a qualified coach and provide an insight into the sport. Spaces are limited and must be booked in advance. This is an open public session suitable for all. Please wear clean flat shoes and warm clothing. Meeting details will be sent to members booked beforehand.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Skittles at The Sheep Heid Inn Date: Wednesday 11 February 2015 Place: The Sheep Heid Inn, 43 The Causeway, Duddingston, Edinburgh (EH15 3QA) Time: 8pm Cost: £8 Member, £9 Guest A great night….. the chance to mix and mingle over a game of skittles in Scotland’s oldest surviving public house – The Sheep Heid Inn. The evening includes 2 games that usually take around 2 hours. Teams will be allocated on the night. Early dinner? If you would like to meet at 7pm for dinner (payable on the night) please let us know when booking and we’ll reserve a table. Spaces are limited so please book early.

Meal - Credo Date: Friday 13 February 2015 Place: Credo, 46 Queen Charlotte Street, Edinburgh (EH6 7EX) Time: 7:30pm Cost: £24 Member, £27 Guest Opened on Queen Charlotte Street in early 2014, Credo Restaurant has quickly won a loyal following among the dining public as well as some glowing newspaper reviews. A multi-level space, the restaurant neatly balances the historical charm of old stone walls with more contemporary glass panels, cast iron beams and stylish lighting. The occasional, chilled vocalist or guitarist adds to the friendly, casual ambience. The menus often feature flavours from all over the world in dishes made from locally sourced meat, fish and home-grown vegetables. Tonight we dine on 3 courses from a set menu with service included. Includes: 3 Course Dinner, Service. Extra: Sides, Supplements and Drinks.

Salsa Meal and Dance Class - Glasgow Date: Friday 13 February 2015 Place: La Bodega, 1120 South St. Glasgow (G14 0AP) Time: 7pm Cost: £18 Member, £20 Guest Includes: 3 Tapas and Dance Lesson Something a little different tonight as we head to La Bodega for an authentic Spanish evening. Glasgow's only Spanish-owned Tapas Bar in the West End, La Bodega pride themselves for delicious Spanish home cooking as well as including recipes from around the world and playing the best salsa sounds in town. In either case it has to be "right" and tapas are served as they would be in Spain. The evening also includes an hours Salsa dance lesson in the upstairs DWA Dance Studios –suitable for beginners and experienced dancers alike – the emphasis will be on a fun night out. The table in the restaurant ours for the night so you can eat, dance and eat again if necessary, although we anticipate eating before dancing. Included in the evening are 3 Tapas from the menu and dance lesson as outlined. This will be popular so please book early to secure your slot

The Edinburgh Playhouse Tour Date: Saturday 14 February 2015 Place: The Edinburgh Playhouse, Greenside Place, Edinburgh (EH1 3AA) Time: 10:15am to 12pm Cost: £13.50 Member, £15 Guest It’s your chance to explore Edinburgh’s one of Edinburgh’s most famous landmarks – The Edinburgh Playhouse. Learn about the history, the working and the spectacle of this fascinating building. You will have the opportunity to get behind the scenes to the paces only the stars get to go (and the cleaners) and experience the auditorium from an actor’s viewpoint – spaces must be booked early as this will be extremely popular. The tour will last approximately 90 minutes. Price includes booking fee.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Tenpin Bowling - Bowlplex in Glasgow Date: Saturday 14 February 2015 Place: Bowlplex at Xscape, King's Inch Road, Glasgow (PA4 8XQ) Time: 7pm Cost: £19 Member, £21 Guest We return to the super Xscape complex at Braehead for an evening of Ten Pin Bowling. This fantastic facility has 22 computerised bowling lanes and our package includes two games of bowling per person, a platter meal and drink from the bar. There will be a certificate for the best (and worst) bowler. Meeting details will be sent by text beforehand.

Quad Biking Date: Sunday 15 February 2015 Place: Craigluscar Activities, Dumfermline, Fif (KY12 9HT) Meet: Directions will be sent beforehand Time: 11:40am Cost: £42 Member, £46 Guest We head to Fife and Craigluscar Activities for an amazing 1-hour trek – these four-wheeled all terrain vehicles (ATVs) allow the rider to experience the thrills of off-road driving in the beautiful surroundings of Craigluscar Hill. After instruction on controls and safety procedures, we will test these machines to their limits by following an experienced leader over winding hill and forest tracks. You will see wonderful views over the Forth Valley and a variety of wildlife. All the bikes are easily controlled providing a safe but thrilling challenge. All instruction, safety equipment and insurance are supplied, including helmets, gloves and coveralls. The trek lasts for an hour and is suitable for all. This will be an exhilarating experience – Book Now. Meeting details and directions will be sent beforehand.

Theatre - The Sound of Music Date: Monday 16 February 2015 Place: The Kings Theatre, 297 Bath St. Glasgow (G2 4JN) Meet: Foyer at 7.10pm Time: 7:10pm Cost: £28 Member, £31 Guest One of the greatest musicals of all time returns to the stage in a magnificent new production to enchant and enthral the young and the young at heart. Based on Baroness Maria von Trapp’s 1949 autobiography, this wonderfully lavish new staging of The Sound Of Music tells the true story of the world-famous singing family, from their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their thrilling escape to freedom as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of WWII. The unforgettable score features some of the most memorable songs ever performed on stage, including Edelweiss, My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, and of course, the title song - The Sound of Music.

Theatre - Joseph Date: Tuesday 17 February 2015 Place: Edinburgh Playhouse, Greenside Place, Edinburgh (EH1 3AA) Time: 7:10pm Cost: £24 Member, £27 Guest Bill Kenwright’s 'Amazing', 'Wonderful' and 'Brilliant' production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sparkling family musical continues on its record breaking tour having sold to date an estimated 15 million tickets. Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph and the coat of many colours, this magical musical, the UK’s longest running, is full of unforgettable songs includingThose Canaan Days, Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door To Me. X Factor finalist Lloyd Daniels will play the title role. Having reached the final of the competition in 2009, Lloyd then went on to perform in sold-out arenas across the UK and release his first single Suburbian Girl. Joining him is fellow X Factor starMarcus Collins in the role of the Narrator. Marcus came second in the competition and enjoyed immediate chart success with his self-titled debut album. Matt Lapinskas, famed for playing Anthony Moon in BBC1’s EastEnders and being a finalist inDancing on Ice, plays the role of the Pharaoh.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

February Bargain Break 2015 Date: Friday 20 February 2015 - Sunday 22 February 2015 Place: Fishers Hotel, Atholl Road, Pitlochry (PH16 5BN) Cost: £119 Member, £139 Guest, £154 Member Single, £174 Guest Single Includes: 2 nights bed, breakfast, dinner, entertainment including ceilidh and disco, walks with VC Walk Leaders, Mark's Meander & Treasure Hunt, and Friday Welcome Spice Rotating Dinner See Page 13 for full details

Glasgow Film Festival 2015 Date: Monday 23 February 2015 Place: Glasgow Film Theatre, 12 Rose St. Glasg (G3 6RB) Time: 7pm Glasgow’s centre for lovers of film, GFT has been leading the way in specialised cinema for forty years. From art house cinema to late night cult screenings and from classics back on the big screen to independent documentaries, there's something for everyone at GFT. The Glasgow Film Festival is here so put this date in your diary. The full programme is not released until late January – we’ll update this page when available.

Cinema Night - 50 Shades of Grey - Edinburgh Date: Thursday 26 February 2015 Place: Vue Cinema, Omni Centre, Greenside Place, Edinburgh (EH1 3BN) Time: 7pm Your chance to watch the film everyone will be taking about – 50 Shades of Grey – if I need to give a synopsis here because you don’t know what it’s about you probably shouldn’t go. NB: Please meet at the seats at the bottom of the escalator at 7.00pm. This is a pay on the night event but please let us know if you are planning on going along. Start time subject to time change as film times are not yet known.

Tribute Night at The Normandy - 80's Rubix Cubes Date: Friday 27 February 2015 Place: Normandy Hotel, Inchinnan Rd, Renfrew (PA4 9EJ) Time: 7:15pm Cost: £20 Member, £22 Guest Tonight we head to famous Normandy for a themed 80’s Tribute Night. We begin with 3-course dinner followed by the tribute until late. This is a great party night out! Spaces are strictly limited. Book Now!

Walking Weekend - Wobbly Lakeland Walking Date: Friday 27 February 2015 - Sunday 1 March 2015 Place: Glaramara, Borrowdale (CA12 5XQ) Cost: £195 Member Twin Ensuite, £180 Member Single Standard, Includes: 2 nights' accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals and a choice of 2 guided walks on the Saturday and the Sunday, and a themed wine tasting evening on Saturday night

Walking Weekend Ultimate Challenge Lake District Date: Friday 27 February 2015 - Sunday 1 March 2015 Place: Glaramara, Borrowdale (CA12 5XQ) Cost: £195 Member Twin Ensuite, £180 Member Single Standard, Includes: 2 nights' accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals and guided walk on the Saturday and the Sunday.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Wine Tasting with Great Grog Date: Friday 27 February 2015 Place: Rabbie's Cafe, 6 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh (EH1 3EG) Time: 7pm to 8:30pm Cost: £18 Member, £20 Guest Tutored tasting by Richard de Grog ‘What we sold most of at Christmas’, ie what we like to sell & drink ourselves at Great Grog. There will be at least 8 wines to sample, always a great wine evening. Tickets redeemable against any case purchase on the night.

Cinema Night - 50 Shades of Grey - Glasgow Date: Saturday 28 February 2015 Place: Cineworld, 7 Renfrew Street, Glasgow (G2 3AB) Meet: See Event Write Up Time: 7pm Your chance to watch the film everyone will be taking about – 50 Shades of Grey – if I need to give a synopsis here because you don’t know what it’s about you probably shouldn’t go. NB: Please meet at the seats at the bottom of the escalator at 7.00pm. This is a pay on the night event but please let us know if you are planning on going along. Start time subject to time change as film times are not yet known.

Jen's Walk - Dunbar and Gullane Date: Saturday 28 February 2015 Place: East Lothian Meet: Details will be provided Time: 10:30am Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest Join Jennifer Potter for another excellent walk. Full details will appear here when they are available.

Murder Mystery at The Maitlandfield Date: Saturday 28 February 2015 Place: Maitlandfield House Hotel, 24 Sidegate, Haddington (EH41 4BZ) Time: 7:30pm Cost: £34.50 Member, £37 Guest Could you murder a good night out? The Maitlandfield House Hotel provides a really super night out with a difference as we return for one of their famous Murder Mystery Dinners. The event will include a five course dinner and the theatre, so you have the best of both worlds - food and entertainment. Imagine the scene, stepping straight into the pages of a medieval story set in history and savour a unique atmosphere that has been centuries in the making. From the time of the early English Conquests. A feast of fine local food, local ale and entertainment awaits you. This is a new plot combining murder, intrigue, suspense and entertainment, with audience participation. This is a must for all budding detectives. A group of actors will present a plot and remain in costume and character, mixing with you throughout the meal and giving you the opportunity to question and grill them. You guess who the murderer is and after the meal all will be revealed in the final act with prizes for the winners. Directions: From the South - on the M74 to Abington, take the A702 until you reach the A720 City Bypass. Follow A1 approx. 12 miles to Haddington. On the A1 main road Haddington is situated 12 miles from Dunbar and 15 minutes drive from Edinburgh. From the North – Cross over the Forth Road Bridge, take the Bypass South meeting the A1. Haddington is 40 minutes drive from the Bridge.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Introduction to Track Cycling Date: Sunday 1 March 2015 Place: The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Glasgow (G40 3HG) Meet: Details will be provided Time: 11am Cost: £13 Member, £15 Guest One of the most exciting sports is yours to try today as we head to The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome (home of the Commonwealth Games Cycling) to experience the thrill of Track Cycling. Today is a taster but an excellent opportunity to find out if you have what it takes to speed around the track (or not as the case may be). This session is an opportunity for anyone to have a go, fitness is optional, willingness to try is required. The cost includes bike hire, helmet, and cleats – the session will last an hour with around 45 minutes track time. What should I wear? · Upper body – a lightweight long-sleeved top with a t-shirt underneath is best · Legs – cycling or running shorts are best but track suits/jogging bottoms will also be fine · Shoes – trainers or, if you know how to use them safely, you can hire cycling shoes which fit the clipless pedals. If you wear your own cycling shoes they need Look Keo cleats. Please note that the type used on most spin class bikes won’t fit. Please meet at the venue: Emirates Arena, 1000 London Road, Glasgow, G40 3HG before the start time. Full meeting details will be provided to all booked. Please note that this event is brand new to everyone (not just Spice) and whilst we have spaces reserved the venue can request unused spaces back as required so please book early to secure your slot.

Preview Evening - Glasgow - O'Neill's Date: Monday 2 March 2015 Place: The Conservatory, O' Neill's, 71 Albion St. Glasgow (G1 1NY) Time: 8pm All your questions about Spice answered. Great for new members recently joined online or prospective members. Bring a friend along?

Meal - New Members at Guy's Date: Monday 2 March 2015 Place: Guy's, 24 Candleriggs, Merchant City, Glasgow (G1 1LD) Time: 8:15pm Cost: £18 Member, £20 Guest A Glasgow New Member’s Meal with a twist – we will hosting a preview night at O’Neill’s beforehand and will inviting the attendees to join us for dinner too. New members, established members, those just thinking of joining, everyone is welcome. Guy's Restaurant and Bar is located in the heart of the Merchant City. After more than twenty years feeding the cream of the film industry's A list with his Location Catering business, Reel Food, Guy decided that living out of a suitcase was best left to younger chefs and headed home to Glasgow to set up this unique venue. The exceptionally eclectic menu reflects Guy's personal dining preferences and mirror his passion for cooking. The finest ingredients sourced from many independent producers mixed with simplicity in preparation and sprinkled with a big pinch of Guy's individual flair result in food that just begs to be eaten. Tonight we will be dining on 2 courses from Guy’s pre theatre menu with glass of wine and service included. Includes: 2 Course Dinner, Service, Glass of Wine.

Preview Night - Edinburgh Date: Tuesday 3 March 2015 Place: The Outhouse, 12a Broughton St. Lane, Edinburgh (EH1 3LY) Time: 8pm All your questions about Spice answered. Great for new members recently joined online or prospective members. Bring a friend along?

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Tennis - Indoor @ Craiglockhart Date: Wednesday 4 March 2015 Place: Craiglockhart Tennis Centre, 177 Colinton Road, Edinburgh (EH14 1BZ) Time: 7pm to 8pm Cost: £7 Member, £8 Guest Tennis at Craiglockhart, everyone is welcome, we have 1 court for 1 hour. Times are subject to availability so please book early to help with court allocation.

Bar Night Buffet at Arta Date: Friday 6 March 2015 Place: Arta, 62 Albion Street, Glasgow (G1 1 NY) Time: 7:30pm Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest Join us for another of our popular bar nights in the Merchant City. Arta for those who have yet to visit is a stunning venue in the heart of the Merchant City. A light buffet will also be served around 8pm. The evening is a great way for new, returning and existing members to enjoy a night on the town. We ask that all attending book in advance to help planning and table allocations.

Meal and Casino Night - Edinburgh Date: Saturday 7 March 2015 Place: Grosvenor Maybury Casino, 5 South Maybury, Edinburgh (EH12 8NE) Time: 7:30pm Cost: £32 Member, £35 Guest A visit to the Grosvenor Maybury Casino for what is always an excellent fun evening with super food and a few laughs. We begin with a superb 3-course dinner in the Casino’s restaurant. After dinner we will enjoy a fun session under the expert guidance of one of the casinos staff. You will learn the basics of how to play roulette. After our tuition those who wish will have the chance to play the tables for real and those who don’t want to gamble can enjoy the bar and the sight of the high rollers in action. PLEASE READ MEMBERSHIP TERMS (BELOW) CAREFULLY: Membership can now be obtained (free of charge) on the night upon production of a current passport or driving licence – please remember to bring either of these forms of ID on the night to claim membership if you are a non-member. Please DO NOT come without them! Failure to do so will result in exclusion from the event. Dress Code: Smart Casual. No sportswear. Book now for this high (or low) stake fun night out!

Dodgeball at Airspace Date: Sunday 8 March 2015 Place: Airspace, Playsport, East Kilbride (G74 4GT) Time: 11am Cost: £16 Member, £18 Guest Welcome to Airspace, Scotland’s brand new activity centre. Air Space is over 100 interconnected trampolines; a huge spring-loaded urban playground. Air Space is as much fun, rush and uninterrupted air as you can handle. The rules – two teams, multiple balls. The aim is to throw the balls at your opponents. If they’re hit, they’re out. Last man standing wins and takes victory for their team. Now, imagine that but spring loaded. Use the decks to leap out of the way of incoming dodgeballs, or use the height you get to launch a sneaky aerial shot at your rival. It is the absolute ultimate in airborne team sport. Sessions at Air Space last one hour. That gives you access to all the kit. All Jumpsters must wear Air Space jump socks. The cost includes your jump socks and are reusable so you can use them for future visits. Please note for this event to run we require a minimum number of 10 participants. Meeting details will be sent to participants beforehand,

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Lazy Sunday Stroll - Hailes Castle from East Linton Date: Sunday 8 March 2015 Place: East Linton, East Lothian (EH40 3AB) Meet: East Linton High Street Time: 11am Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest Join us as we head to East Lothian for a Lazy Sunday Stroll. A visit to the extensive ruins of Hailes Castle is the objective on this straightforward riverside walk from the attractive village of East Linton. The alternative return route is along a quiet minor road. Riverside footpath, can be muddy in places; return route is along quiet minor road. This walk is suitable for all and covers 3.25 miles and should take a couple of hours max (not including time at Hailes). Please wear suitable clothing and sturdy footwear. Please meet on East Linton High Street at 11am.

Quiz Night - East v West - General Knowledge Date: Monday 9 March 2015 Place: The Outhouse and O'Neills Meet: Please see main event write up. Time: 7pm Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest Two Hosts, Two cities, Two Quizzes running simultaneously with the aim of finding the top Spice Scotland quiz team. Here’s the format – we will have exactly the same quiz questions in both cities based around various themes and a time scale to work too. At the half time interval we will get an update to see who holds the lead – at the end we will find out the real brains of Scotland – are they in the east or the west? Only you can answer that. Teams will be allocated on arrival at random to hopefully avoid any ‘super teams’ being created - our main focus is a great fun Spice night out. You can book with friends or come along on your own, all are welcome. There will be Spicy prizes for the winners and losers. This will be a great night for a great cause so let’s see those bookings in both the east and the west. Venues: Edinburgh – The Outhouse, 12a Broughton Street Lane, Edinburgh, EH1 3LY – Meeting 7pm Glasgow – The Conservatory, O’Neill’s, 71 Albion Street, Glasgow, G1 1NY - Meeting 7pm

GICF - Comedy Film Night and Meal Date: Friday 13 March 2015 Place: No. 10 Restaurant and The Govalhill Bath (G42 8BS) Meet: No. 10, 10-16 Queen's Drive, Glasgow Time: 7:30pm Cost: £27.50 Member, £30 Guest Includes: 3 Course Dinner, Service, Spice Host, Comedy Film, Booking Fees Southside Film Festival in conjunction with Govanhill Theatre Group present a series of late night comedy films. Tonight we enjoy a pre film dinner at No. 10 before taking our seats for The Bill Hicks Story. Much more than a comedian, Bill Hicks was and still is an inspiration to millions. His timeless comedy tackled the contradictions of America and modern life head on. Featuring interviews with Hicks' closest friends and family members, this film traces his life and career from his early performances in his hometown of Houston, Texas while still a teenager through to his untimely death from cancer at the age of 32. Includes unseen photographs and video recordings of his stand up. Beforehand we will dine at No. 10 Restaurant, located within the luxurious 10 Hotel in Glasgow’s south side. This stylish, contemporary bar and restaurant offers European cuisine using locally sourced ingredients. The menu at 10 Restaurant & Bar has been created by the talented kitchen brigade to offer seasonally inspired dishes using locally sourced ingredients and to suit a variety of tastes. We will dine from 3 courses from a set menu with service included. Includes: 3 Course Dinner, Service, Film Ticket, Comedy Festival Booking Fees

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Alison's Walk - North Berwick Law and Surrounds Date: Saturday 14 March 2015 Place: North Berwick Train Station Car Park, East Lothian (EH39 4BY) Time: 10:50am Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest Your opportunity to walk North Berwick Law – the prominent hill on the East Lothian landscape. Join walk leader Alison Burns as we enjoy this easy hill walk with stunning views at the top. They say ‘if you can walk up Dundas Street in Edinburgh you can walk up North Berwick Law’. The walk will be about 4 miles in length with gentle ascent, taking in the harbour, beach and Seabird Centre. There will be time for a cafe/fish & chips and a browse in the shops afterwards if wanted. Alison will be getting the 10:12am train from Waverley which arrives in North Berwick at 10:45am if you would like to join her. For anyone not coming by train, meet in the station car park at 10:50am. Please wear suitable footwear and warm clothing.

Meal - Rotating Dinner at Merchants Date: Saturday 14 March 2015 Place: Merchants, 17 Merchant Street, Edinburgh (EH1 2DQ) Time: 7:30pm Cost: £27.50 Member, £30 Guest A welcome return to the Spice programme – a popular Spice Rotating Dinner – it’s a simple plan, we’ll move you to different tables between courses – that way you’ll meet lots of different members as you go. We return to the lovely Merchants restaurant, a favourite with Spice members. Everyone is welcome but this event is particularly great for new or returning members. If you come with a friend, beware, you may not sit together! Includes: 3 Course Rotating Dinner, Glass of Wine, Coffee, Gratuity. Not Included: Extra Drinks

Alan's Walk - Dinmurchie and Fairy Know Trails Date: Sunday 15 March 2015 Place: Barr Castle Car Park, Barr, Ayrshire (KA4 8HQ) Time: 10:30am Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest The Dinmurchie Trail at Barr is our first section of this walk led by Alan Wyllie. For those who appreciate a combination of forest and open hill, this walk is perfect. Following the track through the forest you suddenly clear the trees at the top of the hill, from where you can look down on the picturesque village of Barr and across the Stinchar Valley. If we are lucky you may see some of the wildlife including deer, foxes, hares, kestrels and buzzards. The route now descends along the old road which runs from the Water of Minnoch to Barr as described in Armstrong's 1773 map of Ayrshire. We then head onto the Fairy Knowe Trail - an elevated route overlooking the Gregg Valley occasional views are glimpsed through the trees over the Changue Forest to the hills beyond. Once clear of the trees and on to the open hill an impressive vista opens up to the east. We will eventually come across a delightful spot called the Fairy Knowe where we’ll pause for a minute and look back up the gully to where the burn rushes down a spectacular cleft in the hills. The total distance of this 2 section walk is just over 6.5 miles in length and offers the perfect spring day out. Please wear suitable clothing and walking boots and take along a packed lunch. Depending on timings there may be an option to enjoy an early tea in Girvan afterwards.

Curling Taster - Murrayfield Ice Rink Date: Sunday 15 March 2015 Place: Murrayfield Ice Rink, Riversdale Crescent, Edinburgh (EH12 5XN) Time: 11:15am to 1pm Cost: £23 Member, £25 Guest We head Murrayfield Ice Rink to ‘try’ curling - your opportunity to learn the basics and get started. Curling is great fun and provides a little light exercise and is the perfect sport for the winter as it’s played indoors. You will see a major development in your game during this visit, that’s what makes it such great fun and almost anyone can play. A professional coach will teach us the basics before we have a go ourselves. You’ll need to wear loose, warm clothing (inc. warm socks!) and extremely clean flat shoes or trainers. We can expect to be on the ice for almost 2 hours so please arrive promptly for 11.15pm. Cost includes all equipment, tuition and ice time.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

GICF - Jamie MacDonald - That Funny Blind Guy Date: Wednesday 18 March 2015 Place: Yesbar, 14 Drury Street, Glasgow (G2 5AA) Time: 7pm Cost: £10 Member, £11 Guest Scotland’s hottest visually impaired Stand-up comedian Jamie MacDonald is bringing his critically acclaimed 2014 Fringe show to Glasgow. In this character driven, anecdotal hour of fun Jamie talks relationships, the perils of blind skiing, and shares more hilarious stories of his catastrophic triumphs of humour over eyesight. New, exciting and down-right hilarious **** EdFestMag.com ‘Brilliant at finding, exploring and sharing the humour in his life’ **** Broadway Baby ‘I was lucky enough to see Jamie MacDonald perform at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2014 – Brilliant – I recommend this show’**** Jamie, Spice Scotland. Meeting details will be provided to those booked.

Meal - B'est - Edinburgh Date: Friday 20 March 2015 Place: B'est, 16 Drummond Street, Edinburgh (EH8 9TX) Time: 7:30pm Cost: £22.50 Member, £25 Guest A light, airy space, B’est’s walls are covered in pictures of French life as well as French culinary phrases and sayings. Freshly cooked, locally sourced food, the kitchen at B’est produces uncomplicated dishes that let the flavours of the ingredients shine through. B’est is also famous for being the fringe venue that’s offers the Fawlty Towers experience. Basil, Sybil and Manuel thankfully won’t be looking after us tonight. We will dine on 3 courses on the dinner menu and tip has been paid too. Includes: 3 Course Dinner, Service. Extras: Sides, Supplements and Drinks

BBC Scotland Studio Tour and Lunch Date: Saturday 21 March 2015 Place: BBC Studios Pacific Quay and La Fiorentina (G51 1DA) Meet: Meeting details will be provided Time: 9:45am Cost: £18 Member, £20 Guest Includes: Guided Studio Tour, 2 course lunch, service, Spice host. This is your opportunity to explore the BBC Studios at Pacific Quay. Under expert guidance our tour will last approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. This is a walk around the building, including the central staircase and broadcast studios when programme requirements permit access, and includes the chance to try out producing or acting in a 'just for fun' radio drama. On our last visit our group headed to the Mrs Brown set, sat at Jackie Bird’s news desk along with other famous rooms. The Pacific Quay studios offer an insight into the state of the art way our tv showsare made today. After our tour we will make the short walk to La Fiorentina for a light 2 course lunch. (NB. We will need to move any cars parked at the studios). Please meet at BBC Scotland, 40 Pacific Quay, Glasgow, G51 1DA. The entrance to BBC Scotland is through the reception area where your tour guide will meet you. Access is from Millennium Square, directly opposite the entrance to the Glasgow Science Centre. Parking is available free of charge in the BBC Scotland car park. On arrival press the buzzer on the entrance barrier to connect to the security office. Please quote Jamie Morris group at the barrier. There is a security presence around the building at all times. Please do not bring large items with you as there will not be a cloakroom service, and these items may not be permitted past the security barriers. All bags will be checked, and visitors will be wanded with handheld metal detectors. Still photography is permitted at certain points on the tour, our tour guide will let you know when these opportunities arise. Video cameras are not permitted. There is a reasonable amount of walking on the tour. Please wear sensible footwear, trainers/soft soled shoes are ideal. This tour will have other members of the public in attendance – Spice have pre purchased 10 tickets. When our allocation is gone there will be no more available. Please book early to secure you slot.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Guided Tour - The Kelpies Date: Sunday 22 March 2015 Place: Helix Park, Falkirk (FK2 922) Meet: Meeting Details will be sent beforehand Time: 11am Cost: £5 Member, £5.50 Guest Come and see the world's largest equine sculptures up close - we even have access to inside to marvel at the complexity and the engineering which created these fantastic pieces of art. Each of The Kelpies stands up to 30 metres tall and each one weighs over 300 tonnes. They are constructed of structural steel with a stainless steel outer skin. This stainless steel skin reflects the light of the day, and the night, and makes for an amazing sight in all weather. The Kelpies tower above the Forth & Clyde canal and form a dramatic gateway to the canal entrance on the East Coast of Scotland. Sculpted by Andy Scott, The Kelpies are a monument to horse powered heritage across Central Scotland. These stunning sculptures are the most talked about art in Scotland. The brand new visitor centre is also in the final stages of being built and we hope to have access on our visit. The Helix Park is a brand new venture promoting green space between Grangemouth and Falkirk. Parking is available and for those who may be interested – lots of local walks are available. Meeting details will be sent to those booked.

Segway Safari Date: Sunday 22 March 2015 Place: Can We Experience, Loch Lomond Shores (G83 8QL) Time: 10:45am Cost: £40 Member, £44 Guest Forget 4x4's - try your hand at these fabulous, funky off road 2x2 machines. Today we head to Loch Lomond shores at Balloch to try our hand at Segways. Enjoy a 1-hour guided safari and experience the real joy of the Segway. We will begin with a short trial run on the beach before we head into the woods for our safari trek. Please meet at Loch Lomond Shores, Balloch at 10.45am for a 11am start. Please wear comfortable clothes (no heels) and take a waterproof jacket if you have one.

Skittles at The Sheep Heid Inn Date: Wednesday 25 March 2015 Place: The Sheep Heid Inn, 43 The Causeway, Duddingston, Edinburgh (EH15 3QA) Time: 8pm Cost: £8 Member, £9 Guest A great night….. the chance to mix and mingle over a game of skittles in Scotland’s oldest surviving public house – The Sheep Heid Inn. The evening includes 2 games that usually take around 2 hours. Teams will be allocated on the night. Early dinner? If you would like to meet at 7pm for dinner (payable on the night) please let us know when booking and we’ll reserve a table. Spaces are limited so please book early.

GICF - Meal and Show - The 45 Greatest Scots Date: Friday 27 March 2015 Place: Verona and Vladimir McTavish. Please meet at Yesbar, 14 Drury St. Glasgow (G2 5AA) Time: 6:45pm Cost: £27.50 Member, £30 Guest Includes: 2 Course Dinner, Service, Glass Prosecco, Comedy Ticket, Booking Fees Another great comedy festival night out as we take our seats for Vladimir McTavish – The 45 Greatest Scots in History before sitting down to dinner at Verona. Edinburgh Fringe sell-out show, which toured to Australia and the Far East and was later published as a critically-acclaimed book. Now totally updated after the most momentous year in Scotland’s history. An affectionately scathing look at the heroes, villains and numpties who shaped one small nation’s history, and those who may shape its future. Verona – in Glasgow, not Italy – is a modern Italian restaurant on the city centre side of West Regent Street. The staff are very attentive and the atmosphere is friendly making it perfect for a Spice gathering.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Atholl Date: Saturday 28 March 2015 Place: The Atholl, 34 Great King Street, Edinburgh (EH3 6QH) Time: 3pm Cost: £18 Member, £20 Guest We have secured 8 spaces for a truly exquisite afternoon event – A Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Atholl. The Atholl is part of The Howard hotel on Great King Street, right in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town. Originally a private dining room for guests, this elegant, Georgian room is now fflled with flowers and seatsjust fourteen diners. The restaurant is included in The Michelin Guide and has 2 AA Rosettes. Expect home made fruit scones with Devonshire clotted cream and homemade preserve, a selection of sandwiches with various fillings, an assortment of cakes and pastries along with loose leaf tea, ground coffee all finished off with glass of Maillart Grand Cru champagne. Spaces are strictly limited and the venue reserves the right to take spaces back if required at any time so please book early. This afternoon tea would usually cost £24.94 if booked direct.

Handcrafted Afternoon Tea at Epicures of Hyndland Date: Saturday 28 March 2015 Place: Epicures, 159 Hyndland Road, Glasgow (G12 8UQ) Time: 3pm Cost: £15 Member, £17 Guest A late afternoon enjoying the finer things in life is on offer today as head to Epicures of Hyndland to enjoy a Handcrafted Afternoon Tea. Epicures pride themselves on delivering attentive service with a personal touch in atmospheric surroundings. With vast windows and stylish decor, Epicures really is ‘the place to be’ for people watching to capture a snippet of West End life. The Christmas afternoon teas give a flavour of what to expect and includes brie and cranberry sandwich on farmhouse bread, smoked salmon cream cheese and chive sandwich on wholemeal, mini soup of the day, Epicures parfait, cranberry compote & baked oatcakes, mini plain & fruit scones with Cornish clotted cream and jam, cinnamon meringues with fresh cream, mini mince pies, 2 mini cakes of that day, and a pot of tea or coffee.... it will certainly have a spring theme by the time we arrive. Book now

Tank Driving - New Recruit Experience Date: Saturday 28 March 2015 Place: Tank Driving Scotland, The Haugh, Blairgowrie (PH10 7ER) Meet: Meeting Details will be sent Time: 12:30pm Cost: £65 Member, £70 Guest Aaaa-Ten-Shun! – Drive a real 18 tonne army tank, test your extreme off-road driving skills, or get your boots muddy as a soldier… Have you ever wondered what it’s like to drive a real army tank?? Wonder no more! Grouped with our other ‘Spice New Recruits’, you will each take turns in testing your tank driving and tank commanding skills in this introductory tank driving experience. The New Recruit experience is an activity allowing you to experience the thrill of driving a real 18 tonne army tank! The rest of the troop will take turns in the crew and commanders compartments, so you will have to negotiate the obstacles on the course with consideration (only a little)! Geared up in army kit, you will firstly have the opportunity to experience traveling in the hull with your troops. There are seats, but not much else in there. The tanks are ex-military and have all seen active service - you will see the bullet holes for yourself! This gives you a chance to see what real soldiers encounter, and all you have to worry about is telling your friends what a great time you had! You will also act as commander during the experience, riding out of the hatch directly behind the driver. We’ll also drop you off at the observation bunker in the centre of the course, where you’ll have a great opportunity to take some shots at your comrades (Photographic or video of course)! After the experience, as long as the tank comes back in one piece, you will be awarded a Tank Driving Scotland Certificate of Achievement. (Looks good on the wall). We have a maximum of 8 people, who will all have the opportunity to drive. The event will last around 1 ½ hours. The New Recruit Experience is a fantastic outing.

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Mark's Meander - Forth and Clyde Canal Date: Sunday 29 March 2015 Place: Forth and Clyde Canal (G60 5AH) Meet: Bowling Train Station Time: 10:30am Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest Join Mark Biagioni for a different kind of Mark’s Meander today – we’re going for a walk – that’s it, great company, scenic canal route – what more could you want. Starting at Bowling train station we walk from Bowling basin where the canal begins its journey across Scotland. There are 39 locks on the canal. A variety of waterfowl can be seen including mute swans. The path goes under the Erskine Bridge and passes a drop lock the only example of this in Europe which lowers the water in a section of the canal to allow boats to pass underneath the road. The canal enters Clydebank Shopping Centre ( lunch stop payable on the day) and after passing several more locks stops at a pub right on the canal bank (refreshment stop). From here it is a short walk to Anniesland Cross and a choice of train or buses back to your car/home. The walk will be around 4 - 5 miles but it will be very leisurely and there are lots of drop off points for those wanting to shorten the walk. This is suitable for all but please dress for the weather. If this walk proves successful we’ll do lots of other short leisurely strolls in the west of Scotland. Please meet Mark at Bowling Train Station, G60 5AH at 10.30am

Tubing at Midlothian Snowsports Centre Date: Sunday 29 March 2015 Place: Midlothian Ski Centre, Biggar Rd, Edinburgh (EH10 7DU) Time: 11am Cost: £12 Member, £13 Guest The adventure activity for those who simply want to take it easy - Tubing - the travelator takes all the hard work out of climbing up the hill. Just ride up... and slide down! Midlothian Snowsports Centre has recently opened 4 brand new tubing runs – we have 1 hour to get down as many times as we can. Please wear old clothing and have your elbows and arms covered. What is tubing? Sliding down a hill on an inflatable tyre – it’s really for the kids but we’ll have a go!!

Pizza and Cocktails at Sygn Date: Friday 3 April 2015 Place: Sygn Bar, 15 Charlotte Lane, Edinburgh (EH2 2QZ) Time: 8pm Cost: £16 Member, £18 Guest A night out in town with a simple mix of Pizza and Cocktails. We will enjoy a selection of pizzas to share and the st 1 cocktail is included too. Pizzas include; Smoked ham hock and pineapple; Bocconcini mozzarella, tomato and basil; Crayfish, rocket and chilli oil; Roast chicken, pancetta and sweet peppers; Pulled lamb, peas, sweet onions and parmesan. The cocktail menu is large enough to appeal to everyone too. Please book now to secure your slot.

Live Music Bar Night at Molly Malones Date: Saturday 4 April 2015 Place: Molly Malones, 244 Hope St. Glasgow (G2 3PT) Time: 7:30pm Cost: £6 Member, £7 Guest A change of venue for our popular Glasgow bar night as we head to Molly Malones for an evening of good company and live music. Also included in the evening will be sharer plates to enjoy be fore the music starts. Please book beforehand as we need to notify the venue how many tables we require and arrange the sharers these will be served buffet style. Always a great night!

SPICE SCOTLAND EVENT LISTINGS WINTER 2015

Lazy Sunday Stroll - Neidpath Castle and Tweed Date: Sunday 5 April 2015 Place: Neidpath Castle and Tweed Meet: Kings Meadows Car Park, Peebles Time: 11am Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest Join us for a Lazy Sunday Stroll – a gentle walk suitable for all. We are heading to Peebles (suitable for members in the east and west and with good bus links too) and the Neidpath Castle and Tweed Walk. This enchanting walk heads upstream along the beautiful banks of the River Tweed from the town of Peebles. It passes the dramatic Neidpath Castle before crossing the river to climb to a viewpoint before descending through the woods. Paths are mostly riverside and woodland with a short section of minor road. The paths are rough in places so please wear suitable walking shoes/boots and warm clothing. This walk is around 3 ½ miles in length and should take around 2 hours. Whilst the walk has an ascent of around 100 meters it is suitable for all. Please meet at Kingsmeadows Car Park in Peebles.

Narrow Boat Day and Picnic Date: Sunday 26 April 2015 Time: 11am Place: Leomington, Canal Basin, Manse Road, Linlithgow (EH49 6AJ) Cost: £22 Member, £24 Guest We have chartered the Leamington Narrow Boat, a traditional narrow boat 30ft long with a diesel engine. There is an enclosed cabin and an open foredeck (with curtains), a toilet and sink. The Leamington can carry 12 passengers each of whom takes turn of being the skipper for the day. We will have full and private access to the narrow boat from 11am to 3.30pm as we take it in turns to drive this remarkable boat along the Linlithgow Canal. The Leamington is a simple vessel but the best (and possibly) and only way of experiencing the Linlithgow Canal at it’s very best – on the water. Also included in this unforgettable day out will be our Spice Picnic – always impressive – Prosecco, strawberries, cheeses, cold meats, dips, chocolate – you get the idea! (eating utensils, plates, wine glasses etc will also be provided). This event is easily accessible by train and a great opportunity to leave the car at home.

Left – Center Parcs at Christmas Bottom Left – Ballachulish in November Bottom Right – Otterburn late September