Spice Bristol & Cardiff
Spice UK Holidays Holiday with a group of like minded Spice members and share your amazing adventures. Select from a fantastic range of holidays from Spice UK. We do everything from Turkish blue coast cruises to amazing trips to Iceland, from exploring Italian lakes to sports holidays in Lanzarote plus some great ski trips. Book your holidays on-line at www.spiceuk.com. Phone the Spice UK office on 0161 873 8788 or e-mail Spice UK at info@spiceuk.com for more information.
Spice - Goes Exploring the World! Granada - Festival of Crosses, Spain 1�� to 4�� May
Spice - Chills Out! Amazing Algarve 5 star Chillout 31�� May to 6�� June Turkey Blue Coast Cruise Chill Out 15�� to 22ⁿ� June Turkey Blue Coast Cruise Chill Out 14�� to 21�� September Turkey Chill Out, Ortakent 14�� to 21�� September Costa Blanca Chill Out, Calpe 20�� to 27�� September Lake Garda Autumn Special 11�� to 16�� October Cuba - Sun and Fun 22ⁿ� October to 3�� November
Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia 7�� to 13�� August
Spicy - Adrenaline & Excitement
La Tomatina (Tomato Festival), Spain 24�� to 28�� August
Mark Warner 5 Star Water Sport 1 or 2 Weeks 13�� to 20�� or 20�� to 27�� June
Iceland Discovery, Reykjavik 1�� to 5�� November
Walking Austria’s Lakes & Mountains 5�� to 12�� September
Lapland Adventure & Northern Lights 6�� to 13�� December
La Santa Sports Holiday 2015, Lanzarote 8�� to 15�� October Walking Lake Como, Italy 17�� to 24�� October
Key Spice holidays partners For many years Spice has enjoyed an excellent relationship Club Dance are delighted to be working with Spice to promote with our travel partner Exodus Holidays – the UK’s leading our dance holidays whether it is salsa, Ceroc, ballroom or tango adventure travel company. Club Dance covers it all – UK weekends or 7 or 14 night breaks. 5% discount for independent direct bookings with exodus!
5% discount with Club Dance Holidays!
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. Please note: This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount.
Club Free Sprit have taken 23,000 customers to various destinations over the years from Cuba, Miami, Jamaica to Calpe, Spain, Austria and Malta and have increased their 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. Please note: This discount cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount.
Get involved with these fun social events… Social & find out more evenings Our regular social and find out more evenings are a great way for members to catch up with each other and socialise over a drink in relaxed surroundings, if you have never been why not drop by. They are also a way for prospective members to come along, meet a few existing members and find out more about Spice & maybe join on the night. A Spice coordinator will be there to welcome you & make some introductions and also give a short talk about how Spice works, it’s all very relaxed and friendly. These nights are always popular and its well worth dropping in. There is no need to book and there is no charge, you only pay for your own drinks.
Bristol Preview Nights
Keep fit and active evenings Ceroc Dance Class - Bristol The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Rd BS10 5PY 8:00pm for beginners lesson Wednesday nights weekly
Ceroc Dance Class - Thornbury Armstrong Hall Complex, 4 Chapel St BS35 2BU 8:00pm for 8:15 beginners lesson Thursday nights weekly
Badminton drop in and play The Boulevard, Hengrove Park, Bristol, BS14 0JZ Monday from 6:45pm 13 & 27 Apr, 4 & 18 May, 1 & 15 Jun
Scuba diving taster session
The Badminton - Coalpit Heath, Bristol BS36 2QJ Monday 13 Apr, 11 May & 8 Jun from 7:30pm
Dean Lane, Bedminster, BS3 1BS Tuesday from 8pm 15 & 28 Apr, 12 & 26 May, 9 & 25 Jun
The Swan, Bath Road, Swineford BS30 6LN 21 Apr, 19 May & 16 Jun from 7:30pm
Meet & Eat Socials
Bath Preview Nights The Crystal Palace - 10-11 Abbey Green, Bath, BA1 1NW 13 May & 10 Jun from 7:30pm
Gloucester Preview Nights The Fountain Inn, 53 Westgate St, Gloucester, GL1 2NW 20 May from 7:30pm
Cheltenham Preview Nights The Brown Jug, 242 Bath Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7NB 16 Apr & 17 Jun from 7:30pm
Cardiff Preview Nights Chapter, Market Road, Canton, Cardiff, CF5 1QE 22 Apr, 20 May & 17 Jun from 7:45pm
Pub Quiz nights - Free Tredagar Arms, 4 Caephilly Rd, Brassaleg NP10 8LE Tuesday from 8:30pm 21 Apr, 5 & 19 May, 2 & 16 Jun
Our Meet & Eat & Local Socials are a relaxed fun way to make friends with Spice members in your area. Usually you can just turn-up but please take a look at our web site as you may need to book these events. These events are free, you just pay on the night for any drinks or food you have on the night.
Pay as you go socials and meals The idea of our pay as you go events is to have a fun evening with other Spice members. You do need to book these events and we charge a small administration fee of £2 to secure your booking. On the night you are free to choose what to eat and drink and how much to spend. It’s a great way to socialise and also keep and to eye on the pennies.
and make the most of your Spice membership!
Pay As You Go - Cocktails at Opium Bar Bath
Date: Friday 10th April 2015 Place: The Vaults, Spring Gardens Rd, Bath (BA2 6PJ) Opium Bar - Ask for the Spice Table at 7:30pm Cost: £2 Opium, Bath’s best known secret… Tucked away in the vaults below ‘Grove Street’ a quiet residential area just off Pulteney Bridge lays the world of Opium. A bespoke designed bar, it offers a unique experience for the senses. The interiors are a combination of periods from Victorian to Bohemian Louis IV, Renaissance to present day. It offers a selection of classic cocktails and modern ‘house’ varieties, Martinis, a careful handpicked wine list and a wide selection of world beers. Tonight we’ll be sampling the delights they have to offer and will meet for cocktails before maybe moving off to a local restaurant in the area for a bite to eat. This is a pay as you go event so you pay an admin fee of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have.
Kayak River Adventure Day
Date: Saturday 11th April 2015 Place: Symonds Yat (HR9 5QT) 10am to approx 4.30pm Cost: £55 This area really is canoe country! The team from Forest Adventure have come up with a varied route for single seat kayaks enjoyable for absolute beginners and practiced paddlers alike. They have planned out for us, one of the most scenic, most photographed, stretches of the Wye, from Kerne Bridge to Huntsmans Bridge taking in views of Symonds Yat as we go. Having allowed four and a half hours for the trip, it should be a leisurely day, the famous Kestrels might even be keeping an eye on us from high above the valley. It's a great first timers event, but will also be fun for those of you who have some experience. If you've been to one of our Canoe Skills Workshops at the pool, you'll discover that moving water adds a whole new dimension to the sport, as you try to master your boat, the currents and your technique! Throughout the trip we will be practicing and developing technique, and using the water to help manoeuver the kayak. All equipment is provided.
Pay As You Go - Viva Brazil
Date: Saturday 11th April 2015 Place: Saint Mary Street, Cardiff (CF10 1GD) Viva Brazil - Ask for the Spice Table 7:15pm Cost: £2 Tonight we’re off to Viva Brazil in Saint Mary Street, Cardiff to experience the vibrant sights, sounds and flavours of South America. Viva Brazil is an authentic, Brazilian style Steakhouse. Once seated, your Brazilian style dining experience begins. Guests are given the chance to relax and enjoy one of their favourite cocktails, make a selection from the list of hand-picked fine wines, or head straight over to the selection of seasonal salads and side dishes. The main action then begins when the troop of Passadors (Carvers) move from table to table, offering over fifteen select cuts of Beef, Lamb, Pork, Chicken and Sausages, all slow roasted over the charcoal barbeque and expertly carved at the table. To further accompany this feast, dishes such as garlic mashed potatoes, polenta, fried banana and artisan cheese breads are served to the table. Join Spice tonight for a dining experience that dates back hundreds of years to the cowboys of Southern Brazil. We’re sure you’ll love it! This is a pay as you go event so you pay an admin fee of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Dinner at this restaurant is priced at £24.95 for all the food but it excludes drinks. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the restaurant and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
Rugby School Tour
Date: Saturday 11th April 2015 Place: Rugby, Warwickshire (CV22 5DP) 1.45pm for 2pm to 3.30 tour Cost: £11 This 1½ hour tour will take us on a fascinating discovery of one of Britain’s most famous public schools (and the only one that gives its name to an entire sport!). We’ll discover over 4 centuries of history as we stroll through the beautiful buildings with an expert guide. There will also be an opportunity to visit the Rugby museum. Rugby School was founded in 1567 and despite a troubled start, by 1621, the school had achieved a good reputation and its pupils were successfully continuing on to university. In 1750 the school moved to its present site and was extended to include new schools and rooms for boarders. Many well-known and influential people have been educated at Rugby School. Amongst them are Lewis Carroll, Neville Chamberlain, Lord Waddington, Sir Anthony Quayle, Sir Arthur Bliss and John Gillespie Magee. There have also been three archbishops and six members of parliament educated at the school. Rugby School is where the game of rugby football began, when in 1823, William Webb Ellis famously picked up a football and ran with it. Unsurprisingly, with this heritage, the school takes the sport very seriously and excels in the game. Amongst the past pupils from Rugby, 63 have gone on to play internationally for England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and South Africa.
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Clay Pigeon Shooting Cardiff
Sunday 12th April 2015 Cwrt y Celyn Farm, Upperboat, Pontypridd (CF37 5BJ) Main Entrance 1:45pm £39.95 - 25 clays, £42.95 Guest - 25 clays Includes one hour clay pigeon shooting, instruction and equipment provided. Bring cash for a visit to the pub afterwards Today it’s a chance for our South Wales based members to try your hand at some Clay Pigeon Shooting. Whether you're a shooting enthusiast or just want to have a go as part of a group day out, clay pigeon shooting is a unique experience. With excellent and highly motivated shooting instructors from a local shooting club, learn the skills needed to safely use shotguns, and how to properly aim and fire! With 25 shot sessions, turn it into a competition amongst yourselves and you might be surprised who the top score will be! Your shots will be taking in sets of 5 at a time. Start off with easier shots, working your way through to more trickier shots, faster paced, different directions and ending with 2 at a time! Our experience will last for around 2 hours as we have an hour on the clays and we need to allow another hour for the pub afterwards! After our exercise we will head to the nearby Rose & Crown pub (optional) at mid-day for a bite to eat (payable extra on the day) Directions are on our website at www.spicebristolcardiff.com
Llama and Mule Trekking with Lunch
Date: Sunday 12th April 2015 Place: Mallards Pike, Forest of Dean (GL16 7EL) 11.00am Cost: £42 There’s nothing more stress relieving than trekking with animals, and today we’re out with pack animals from various continents! We will definitely have llamas with us, plus two rescued donkeys (called Geoffrey & Liam) who we will all get to drive from her trap or one of the lovely mules who have recently retired there from Barr Beacon. We’re the guests of Alasdair and Moira Fraser, who have nurtured an unusual collection of pack animals in a most scenic and unspoilt area of calm and natural beauty. On arrival, we’ll be introduced to the animals and our guide will show us how to handle them. The animals carry all our provisions and kit for the day. The llamas will then, in their own lovely way, proceed to teach you anything that Alastair has forgotten! The animals are well trained and don’t spit! Once we are all happy we’ll head into the Forest. Our route takes us past Speech House (still the administrative as well as geographical centre of the Forest), various lovely lakes, under railway bridges which used to service the numerous mines reminding us of an industrial heritage of not so long ago. It is difficult to imagine the numerous shafts underneath our feet as we often enjoy fleeting glimpses of small herds of deer in delightful woodland glades. It’s a haven of wildlife. We’ll stop for our picnic (included with the trek) at one of the beauty spots.
Western Style Rifle Shooting Afternoon
Date: Sunday 12th April 2015 & Sunday 7th June 2015 Place: Birmingham Shooting Centre, Hockley (B18 7RL) Choose Time Slot £4 Extras: Pay balance of £25.00 on arrival at club This is an extremely sought after Spice event, and we have recently revised the format with staggered timeslots to minimise waiting time. You are welcome to stay for the whole afternoon if you wish, but this way, you know when you will be on the range rather than having to wait your turn. With extremely tight firearms laws, it is rare to find opportunities for our members to fire live ammunition. However, under close expert supervision, here’s an opportunity to fire Western Style Lever Action Rifles (like John Wayne used!). They are 357 Magnum Calibre, but recoil is similar to that of a full power spring action air rifle, so you don’t need to be built like a cowboy! After booking in (bring photo ID such as passport or driving license), we will have a safety talk including range rules and weapon handling safety and etiquette. We’ll then be introduced to our weapons and have time honing our skills on the range. There will be 4 instructors, so 4 people can be shooting at any one time, as the rules dictate that tuition has to be 1:1 when you are using this class of rifle. Depending on what is going on on the day, we should be able to meet other club members and learn about their firearms. Afterwards, we can relax in the club bar.
Pay As You Go - The Townhouse Bar + Restaurant Clifton
Date: Friday 17th April 2015 Place: 85 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol (BS8 2NT) The Townhouse Bar & Restaurant - Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £2 The TownHouse won the Best British Restaurant Bristol Good Food Award 2014 and so tonight we’re going along to try the cuisine and spend some time with other Spice members socialising in convivial surroundings. The restaurant focuses on all things great and British, Scottish, Welsh and Irish and occasionally they might serve you extra special delicacies from the continent which are frankly just too good to miss. This is a pay as you go event so you pay an admin fee of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the restaurant and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
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Serenity Weekend Discover your inner self
Fri 17th Apr 2015 - Sun 19th Apr 2015 Lluest Fach, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00p.m. Supper at 8.30pm £158 Sharing, (deposit £32) Includes: 2 nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, 2 buffet lunches, 4 course evening meal and all instruction This is a weekend of gentle personal exploration for those intrigued by alternative spiritual and holistic practices. The holistic approach deals with the mind, body and spirit as an interactive whole and can help deal with the stresses and pressure of modern day living. Through the use of healing touch, energy therapies, chakra work, sound, dowsing, movement and meditation you will discover and explore hidden elements of yourself. Learning to connect with your hidden self can help promote greater self-confidence which can lead to a more balanced and harmonious lifestyle.
Walking Weekend Ballachulish and Glen Coe Date: Place: Cost:
Optional extra night available – please see our web site
Fri 17th Apr 2015 - Sun 19th Apr 2015 Ballachulish Hotel, Glen Coe, Scotland (PH49 4JY) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £179 Twin Share (deposit £35), £229 Single (deposit £45) Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 evening meals, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches & 2 days of guided walks choice of walks Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Walkwise 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 Britains’ 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! Accommodation: Days and nights pass easily in the friendly and contemporary Ballachulish hotel. Situated in a breath taking lochside setting at the foot of dramatic Glencoe, The Ballachulish Hotel offers a year-round warm welcome, with many rooms having outstanding loch views. The log fires roar all year making this hotel a perfect venue for us walkers.
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Walking Weekend Derbyshire's Dales and the Eastern Peaks
Fri 17th Apr 2015 - Sun 19th Apr 2015 The Makeney Hall Hotel, Derbyshire (DE56 0RS) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £169 Twin Share (deposit £35), £209 Single, (deposit £4) Includes: Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 evening meals, 2 picnic lunches, 2 guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts if used During this weekend we will be exploring not only the amazing Peak District but also the beautiful trio of rivers the Derwent, the Bradford and the Wye. For this is the southern Peak District National Park which accentuates the exciting and beautiful scenery of the Peaks. This white or ‘light peak’ is typified by the fascinating limestone scenery, deep limestone gorges, exposed escarpments, lush flower-rich pastures and its famous underground cave systems plus pretty villages and impressive stately homes. On the Saturday we’ve really looked after the easier walkers with a fine sojourn around Chatsworth House. The harder walk is in for a real treat too, they make a fine circular walk, along part of the Limestone Way via Rowsley and Alport. On the Sunday we will stay closer to home. On this day we shall visit the lovely Matlock Bath area and both groups will navigate the fine walking above the spectacular Abraham’s Heights which surveys the whole area around Matlock Bath.
Climbing the Longstone Pinnacle
Date: Saturday 18th April 2015 Place: Symonds Yat, Forest of Dean 10.00am - 4.30pm Cost: £55 Climbing is one of the fastest growing sports. Its great fun and anybody can do it. It’s a really exciting way to improve physical fitness combining strength, balance, flexibility and mental stimulation. On your arrival at 'Symonds Yat Rock' you will be met by a member of Forest Adventure’s team of highly qualified climbing instructors, who will give you a full safety brief and kit you out with your harness and helmet. Learning as a group and in pairs all the skills needed to enjoy this great sport will be taught in a relaxed way and at an easy pace. In the morning you will learn the techniques of rock climbing and Abseiling around rock faces at Symonds Yat, we will then break for lunch, after lunch we shall further challenge ourselves culminating in climbing up the Longstone Pinnacle which is a pillar of Rock 110ft on one side and 50ft on the other standing on its own, from the top you can reward yourself with a magnificent view overlooking the Wye Valley.
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Brunel SS Great Britain Visit + Go Aloft!
Saturday 18th April 2015 Great Western Dockyard, Bristol (BS1 6TY) Main Entrance - Spice Sign 11am £30.99 + Rigging Climb, £20.99 - No Climb Includes: Entry to Brunel's SS Great Britain, Optional Go-Aloft Ticket to Climb the Rigging, Coffee/Tea or Soft Drink, Spice Host Experience the sights, sounds and smells of life on board! Today we visit Brunel’s SS Great Britain ‘The ship that changed the World’. Stroll on the decks and take in the views and the sounds of animals and general bustle of the ship preparing to set sail. Take a look down at the dockside where the cargo, cases and crates are waiting to be loaded. The SS Great Britain, the world’s first great ocean liner is about to depart. And you are aboard! Below decks you can peep inside the luxury cabins of First Class passengers. Eavesdrop on a conversation, dodge the harassed cook in his cramped galley, and marvel at the massive turning engine. Listen to the stories the passengers have to tell. And occasionally be ready to hold your nose! Before you experience all the sights, sounds and smells on the ship we will take you beneath the waterline. Below the glass ‘sea’ is a fish’s-eye view of the world’s oldest iron hull. State-of-the-art technology keeps the air down there as arid as the Arizona desert to prevent rust attacking the ship’s delicate iron hull. The Dockyard Museum tells the SS Great Britain’s remarkable story, from her launch in 1843 through a long career as luxury liner, emigrant steam clipper to a super-sized sailing ship carrying coal to San Francisco. You will discover the story of her rescue from the bottom of the South Atlantic and her final triumphant return to Bristol. After our visit we’ll stop in at the Dockyard Café Bar to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee or a soft drink (included in the price) and have a chance to catch up with other Spice members.
Dylan Thomas Birthplace Guided Tour and Walk
Date: Saturday 18th April 2015 Place: Dylan Thomas Birthplace, 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea (SA2 0RA) Main Entrance to House 10:45am Cost: £11 Includes: Guided Tour of Dylan Thomas Birthplace and Entry into House, Walk Host Extras: Lunch and Drinks Join us today as we step into Welsh Literary History at Dylan Thomas’ Birthplace. The Welsh poet and writer Dylan Thomas has inspired presidents, pop stars and generations of all ages around the world with his iconic works and tales of his all too short life. At 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, his birthplace and home of 23 years, you can take a step back in time and experience the surroundings of Wales’ world literary icon. With the help of a friendly and knowledgeable guide you will learn all about the Thomas family and the mischievous Swansea schoolboy who went on to set the literary world alight by the time he was 21 as the bombastic adolescent, provincial bohemian poet, the self-proclaimed Rimbaud of Cwmdonkin Drive.’ Along the way you’ll learn of some of Dylan’s best known works that were created whilst growing up at No.5 and examine some of the myths that surround his life. Every room is packed with period style furnishings, photos and memorabilia. This wonderful house excites and entertains poets and pleasure seekers of all ages. After our guided tour which takes around 1 hour 30 minutes we will take a walk along the trail to Queens Hotel Pub, Gloucester Place, Maritime Quarter, Swansea, SA1 1TY where we can grab a bite to eat and a drink (optional and payable on the day).
Moseley Rugby Hospitality Day
Date: Saturday 18th April 2015 Place: Moseley RFC, Yardley Wood Road, Billesley (B13 0PT) 1.15pm Cost: £35 Includes: Entry to the stadium, Match day parking, Match Programme, Private Box all day(waiter service), Two Course Luncheon, Complimentary Tea & coffee, talk by a current/past player, Spice coordinator We are delighted to have linked up Moseley Rugby Union Club, a club steeped in history, who are based at Billesley Common in Birmingham. They are now in the Championship League, level 2 of Rugby in England and today play a 'crunch' match against Plymouth Albion. Whilst we would not describe our private box/ cabin as "VIP" standard it is a very pleasant way to enjoy the rugby together. The day will start with a talk, hopefully by a Moseley player, past or present who will set the scene with a little history of the club, and explain the game. We will then enjoy a simple two course hot lunch of which tea and coffee is included. This is a very civilised and sociable way to enjoy a Rugby match and is perfect for those who are new to the game and want the experience of live rugby in a very convivial atmosphere. When you add up the package – meal, talk, private box, parking, match ticket etc – you will find it is also a very good Spice deal. All cold drinks including soft drinks need to be paid for. Please advise of any dietary requirements.
Sailing Learn to Handle a Yacht
Date: Sat 18th Apr 2015 - Sun 19th Apr 2015 Place: Haslar Marina, Haslar Road, Gosport (PO12 1NU) 9.00am Cost: £210 Member (Deposit £25) Includes: introductory day to sailing with qualified skipper What most people new to sailing find most daunting is getting the yacht in and out of a marina or onto a mooring buoy. This day is for people who have some sailing experience, they may even be Day Skippers or Yachtmasters, and who want to get more practice in these skills. Numbers are restricted to four so that everyone gets plenty of time on the helm and also on the important aspects of being crew such as using the correct knots and handling springs.
Coventry City Afternoon Walk
Date: Sunday 19th April 2015 Place: Statue of Lady Godiva (CV1 1NA) 2.30pm Cost: £8.50 We’ve had lots of great feedback about our Coventry walks in the past and have had numerous requests for a repeat. Just in case we need to tell you, this is a city remarkably good at hiding its best bits and a walk with Ian is guaranteed to find them out! Our walk reveals that, behind the concrete and the flyovers, this is one of one of England’s most dramatic centres, with remains of its Saxon, Mediaeval and Georgian past. Plus, of course, there’s the chance to discover just why Lady Godiva went topless! Incidentally, following a lot of publicity about The Blitz and the continued dangers of unexploded ordinance in the city, we thought it an appropriate time to look at a City so touched by war and to see how positively it has built on that in the last sixty years.
Indoor Climbing Taster - Cardiff
Date: Sunday 19th April 2015 Place: St Catherines Park, Pengham Rd, Cardiff (CF24 2RZ) Boulders Climbing Centre 3:45pm to 5:30pm Cost: £15.50 Includes: 90 Minute 'have a go' climbing session, Booking Fee, Spice Host Join Spice and try your hand at indoor climbing today as we join a taster session at Boulders – Cardiff’s premier climbing centre. Scale the heights in a comfortable all weather environment as our personal instructor shows you the ropes and provides expert tuition for beginners. The emphasis this evening is on allowing beginners to try out the sport and have loads of fun climbing! Our session lasts for an hour and a half and all safety equipment will be provided including climbing shoes (all sizes catered for).
Sunday Cinema at the Watershed - Bristol
Date: Sunday 19th April 2015 Place: Horts Pub, 49 Broad Street, Bristol (BS1 2EP) Ask for the Spice Table12:30pm Cost: £8.50 Includes: Ticket to Cinema, Booking Fee, Spice Host If you like art films, foreign language films, documentaries, and an interesting selection of films you probably won't see in the chain cinemas, this is the event for you! Today we’re off to the Watershed, a cross-artform venue set on Bristol’s harbourside, offering a lively programme of independent film and events. Watershed produces work that cuts across film, music, theatre, design, and visual art, encouraging culture and diversity to flourish in Bristol. With three screens to choose from there's always something worthwhile on the programme with a great choice of indie, and sometimes even a mainstream film. A bit closer to the time, we’ll put the programme for the day on the web and will ask for your choices. Hopefully we all agree on one (we’ll go with majority), or if we have enough people, we might split into two groups. We’ll first meet at Horts Pub for a lovely Sunday lunch at 12.30pm (optional and payable on the day) and will then take a stroll up to the Watershed for the movie which is included in the price.
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Nordic Walking and Social Weekend
Fri 24th Apr 2015 - Sun 26th Apr 2015 Wansford, on the River Nene, Huntingdonshire (PE8 6JA) From 6.00pm £199 Twin, £311 Single Includes: Two Nights B&B, Two Packed Lunches, Friday Evening Meal, nordic walking instruction & equipment, Coordinator throughout Extras: Saturday Evening Meal Join Spice on our first of hopefully many Nordic Walking Weekends. We will be based at the lovely Haycock Hotel, Wansford, Near Peterborough. The hotel is to a high standard and a great location for the course and walks in the local area. You will receive a full instruction on this Nordic walking course and from our two qualified instructors, Mark Phillips and Mike Horton. The Haycock Hotel is one of the finest 3-star hotels in Peterborough. Set in the idyllic surroundings of Wansford, on the River Nene, the hotel offers the best of breath taking scenery and fine facilities. Nordic walking is growing in popularity and is a great way to experience the outdoors. While walking using poles and a special technique you not only burn twice as many calories as normal walking but take up to 70% pressure of the joints of normal walking. All abilities are welcome, however this course is suitable for total novices. Please see our web site for more information.
Crazy Golf Adventure - Bristol
Date: Friday 24th April 2015 Place: Jungle Rumble, Cabot Circus, Bristol (BS1 3BQ) Entrance desk 7:30pm Cost: £9.50 Includes: 18 Holes Of Crazy Golf , Spice Host Extras: Drinks Join Spice in the Jungle! Come and share in the fun with other Spice members as we have a golfing experience like none other. Our venue is Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf where we’ve booked a group to play one of the two fantastic indoor Crazy Golf Courses. We’ll head onto the course in groups of 3 or 4 and enjoy 18 crazy, mad and fun holes on this superb new facility. After the game, which will last about an hour, we can enjoy a drink in the café or at a nearby bar.
Bizarre Bath Comedy Walk
Date: Saturday 25th April 2015 Place: 1 Terrace Walk, North Parade, Bath (BA1 1LY) Huntsman Inn - Outside - Spice Sign 7:15pm Cost: £18.99 Includes: Comedy Walk Tickets, Glass of Wine or Beer or Soft Drink, Spice Host Join Spice for a unique evening of entertainment that appeals to everyone. Georgian Bath at dusk has an atmosphere that is priceless - as does the Bizarre Bath Comedy Walk. You'll laugh yourself silly when you join the celebrated stroll which takes an irreverent look at the city of Bath. The walk blends scripts and ad-libs, while gently ribbing passers-by and international guests. You'll experience unforgettable mysteries, thrills, and surprises that stretch the traditional image of the city. So if you're looking for something hysterical rather than historical, why not join Spice and mingle with other members for this spectacular evening? We meet at the Huntsman pub at 7.15 p.m. for a drink (included in the price) before setting off on the walk which leaves at 8.00pm.
Bushcraft for Beginners
Date: Saturday 25th April 2015 Place: Forest of Dean 10pm to approx 4pm Cost: £55 The art of Bushcraft has had a real revival due to the popularity of the exploits of such celebrities as Bear Grylls and Ray Mears. So we’ve teamed up with the experts at Forest Bushcraft who promise to show us just how much fun you can have with what nature provides for you in the Forest of Dean. We’ll learn such vital survival skills as building fires and lighting them using modern and primitive fire technology. Shelter building. Tree and plant appreciation. Foraging for food. Knife and axe skills and basic woodcraft ..and much more. It’s a very sociable day, as we learn a lot of our skills as a group around the campfire. Any you never know when those skills might save your life or someone elses! Bring a packed lunch (to supplement our foraging!). Hot drinks are provided throughout.
Dichroic Glass Making Jewellery Workshop
Date: Saturday 25th April 2015 Place: Romilly Road, Canton, Cardiff (CF5 1FH) Llanover Hall - Main Entrance from 1pm to 3pm Cost: £36 Includes: Half Day Dichroic Glass Making Jewellery Workshop; 6–8 Pieces of Jewellery to take Home, Host Learn how to make stunning Dichroic Fused Glass Jewellery! Today we have a half day workshop which introduces you to the fascinating world of Fused Glass Jewellery. Dichroic Glass is a remarkable medium to work with as it reflects light, colour and iridescence, allowing you to create stunning pieces of jewellery that will quite simply take your breath away! Although the techniques used to make it might seem to be daunting at first, you'll find that it is far easier than you might think. The basic concept is fusing thin layers of glass together with metallic oxides, which is what makes the brilliant colours throughout the pieces. During the course you will learn to make about 8 to 10 pieces of work to take home and wear with pride!
Madresfield Court - the real Brideshead!
Date: Saturday 25th April 2015 Place: Malvern, Worcs (WR13 5AH) 10.30 for 10.45am tour Cost: £14 Includes: Booking Fees and Spice Coordinator We are delighted to have arranged a visit to Madresfield on one of the very rare occasions when this private estate allows tours. Madresfield Court is an arrestingly romantic stately home in the Malvern Hills that has been continuously owned and lived in by the same family, the Lygons, back to the time of the Domesday Book, and, unusually, remains in the family's hands to this day. This time capsule of 1000 years of English history gives up many brushes with greatness. Even the 3 grand pianos used to be tuned by Edward Elgar’s Father!
Meet, Mingle and Have a Meal - The Market Place, Cowbridge
Date: Saturday 25th April 2015 Place: The Market Place, 66 The High Street, Cowbridge (CF71 7AH) Ask for the Spice Table 7:30pm Join Spice tonight for a supper and social at The Market Place in Cowbridge. We’d like to make this a regular event and so do come along to meet other members in this area. The plan is to head to a new pub or restaurant on a regular basis for a social night-out. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. We’ll let the pub know we’re coming and anyone who fancies a meal can choose, order and pay on the night. If you’ve already eaten then just come along for the social chat and a drink. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Book online (members) or drop us an email (non-members) so we know you’re coming and one of our Spice hosts will be there to meet you.
Tennis Weekend with Coaching - Northants
Date: Sat 25th Apr 2015 - Sun 26th Apr 2015 Place: Marriott Hotel, Eagle Drive, Northampton (NN4 7HW) Arrive 11.30a.m Cost: £158 Single, £75 Tennis only (Deposit £35 Single) An Opportunity to play loads of Indoor Tennis with some great Drills & Coaching - Great Fun & Superb Value The Weekend price includes the Tennis Program & Coaching, supply of balls, one night’s luxury accommodation, Saturday Night Dinner, Sunday Breakfast and Prize Giving Lunch. Plus the full use of the facilities at the Hotel. An excellent Indoor Tennis Weekend along with a stay at the 4 Star Marriott Hotel. We are heading to Northampton for another one of our very popular Tennis Weekends. This Weekend is exclusively for Spice and is suitable for all levels of players. The Weekend proves quite intensive, offering up to 7 hours of Match Play, Team Tennis and Coaching. We will be staying at the 4 Star Marriott Hotel, and using the LTA Indoor Tennis Centre, with 4 Indoor and 4 Outdoor Courts, which is located a short distance from the Hotel. The accommodation is indeed luxurious with single & double-bedded rooms. There is no supplement for single occupancy.
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Fire Eating and Fire Breathing Workshop
Sunday 26th April 2015 Woodlands Camp, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield (WS9 0SH) 10.30am for 11.00am start £49 Includes: Professional instruction and equipment, help yourself tea/ coffee/ biscuits all day, barrier cream, hire of hall and outside area. Spice coordinator on hand throughout. Extras: Bring: a full size bottle of white spirit or turps substitute; a large old towel, a bottle of full fat milk (or flavoured milk), headbands if you have long hair, packed lunch & a camera to record our achievements! Fire Eating & Breathing: This has got to be one of the Spice Classic Events. Go on, It Must Be On Your List of "Got to do's". If you are not sure about doing it then ask around and find out what a great day it is! Over 2000 Spice members have faced the challenge and swallowed fire - and the feedback forms tell us it's crazy - thrilling adrenaline pumping and more - fire eating is one of our Classic Events that sets Spice and its members far above the mundane and gives you the chance to leave mediocrity behind and become extra-ordinary. Full details on what to bring are on our web site. Although no-one has been injured on this event there are potential dangers and hazards associated with this event. There will be a special disclaimer to sign on the day.
Murder Mystery Walk Portishead - Bristol
Date: Sunday 26th April 2015 Place: The Lido Kitchen, The Esplanade, Portishead (BS20 7HD) Outside Main Entrance - Spice Sign 11am Cost: £6 Includes: Murder Mystery Walk and Quiz, Spice Host Portishead dates back to Roman times and its name derives from the "port at the head of the river". It was built at the mouth of a small tributary; indeed the High Street once met the water at the top of the river. Iron rings, evidence of where the old fishing boats used to moor can still be seen today on the street’s stone walls and the dominant architecture is early Victorian. Around 1836 a deep-water dock was built to facilitate the large ships that brought valuable cargoes from across the globe and exported local products overseas. Industrial activities then ceased in the dock with the closure of the nearby Power Station in 1980. The dock has however been well preserved and is now the centre of a new and exciting marina development. Today we’ll be trying to find out ‘who did it’ on a fabulous Murder Mystery trail which starts and ends on the Esplanade near to the lakeland leisure grounds. You’ll be divided up into teams and given an easy route and lots of clues to follow. After our walk we’ll meet back at the Lido Kitchen where we see how everyone’s done and give a prize to the winning team. It also gives us a chance to grab a drink and a bite to eat (optional and payable on the day). It’s a fabulous way to spend some time with other Spice members exploring the city and getting out in the fresh air.
Mickleton Ramble
Date: Sunday 26th April 2015 Place: Mickleton, Cotswolds (GL55 6SB) 10.15am - 10.30 prompt Cost: £6 Aimed at regular Walkers with a good level of fitness this 10 mile ramble with Alan has one ascent of particular note. The rest of the walk is rolling countryside. The start point for this walk is the pretty Cotswold village of Mickleton. We begin by following the Heart of England Wat North to the Village of Upper Quinton. From here we then head East across country to Ilmington, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch we ascend to the top of KnowlandsHill where we get all round views of the countryside. We then continue west back toward Mickleton where we can find a pub for a well earned drink.
Pay As You Go - Sunday Roast and Stroll at Bryngarw House
Date: Sunday 26th April 2015 Place: Bryngarw House and Country Park, Brynmenyn Bridgend, South Wales (CF32 8UU) Spice Table 12:30pm Cost: £2 The Restaurant at Bryngarw House is one of the best kept secrets in South Wales. Situated in Bryngarw House and Country Park this delightful restaurant has spectacular views over Bryngarw Country Park. The restaurant is also known for their excellent Sunday lunch taken in relaxed surroundings in beautiful surroundings. Here we’ll enjoy a 2 or a 3 course meal at leisure after which we will go for a walk through the park. The park is truly a paradise and you’ll find everything from native woodlands to formal gardens, exotic trees to secluded glades and all set around the beautiful river Garw. This is a pay as you go event so you pay an admin fee of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the day for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the restaurant and we will organise a Spice host.
Peak Classic Caves Day
Date: Sunday 26th April 2015 Place: Hope, Peak District (SK17 8ET) 10am to approx 4.00pm Cost: £49 Extras: plus £3.00 to Farmer on the Day Another day with Mark Fenton plus a support instructor, this time primarily for those who have been on a beginners or “terrified”caving day, but is also suitable for a first time caver who has the fitness and confidence to go straight in at this level. We start the day by tackling the famous Giants Hole cave, which is famous for having the lowest point in England at the bottom of this system! After a break for lunch, we move on to Carlswark Cavern, one of the most fun and best-known caves in the Peak District. Adventure from the word go, we access the cave by abseiling down a 40 foot shaft. For the most part it’s a low, wide cave with many junctions to negotiate and explore. There’s a nice easy exit. All in all, a brilliant adventure day. Caving suits and all special equipment provided.
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Sailing Cross Channel Gosport - Cherbourg Peninsula
Thu 30th Apr 2015 - Mon 4th May 2015 Haslar Marina, Gosport (PO12 1NU) Arrive for 8.00p.m. on Friday £399 Cabin Share (Deposit £80) Includes cabin share on board accommodation, diesel, wet weather gear, life harnesses, breakfasts, lunches, snacks and teas/coffees. Extras: share of mooring fees and evening meals taken ashore. Balance is due 8 weeks prior On this cruise we plan to take advantage of the longer Bank Holiday weekend to venture southwards towards Cherbourg and the Channel Islands. This is a good time of year to cross the Channel because the weather is often good and we have the advantage of long hours of daylight. Sailing across the Channel and making a ‘foreign’ landfall is a special and memorable experience. Starting early in the morning enables us to maximise our time the ‘other’ side and gives you the opportunity to experience lighthouses falling away astern, identify ships by their lights, watch the dawn sky gradually approaching from the east and that first magical glimpse of the sun rising over the horizon. The crossing normally takes between 12 and 15 hours.
Spice Meet and Eat - Mezze - The Green Dragon Downend
Date: Thursday 30th April 2015 Place: 44 Badminton Road, Bristol (BS16 6BS) Mezze at the Green Dragon - Ask for the Spice Table 7:30pm Join Spice tonight for our monthly Meet & Eat. Every month we head to a NEW restaurant or pub for a social night-out. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. We’ll let the venue know we’re coming and anyone who fancies a meal can choose, order and pay on the night. If you’ve already eaten then just come along for the social chat and a drink. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Book online (members) or drop us an email (non-members) so we know you’re coming and one of our Spice hosts will be there to meet you.Our venue tonight is Mezze at the Green Dragon and the emphasis is very much on modern Mediterranean style cuisine with a liberal scattering of traditional favourites. The extensive menu offers a wide and interesting selection of Mezzés (tapas) for informal dining, as well as an extensive A la Carte middle market menu spearheaded by our ex- Michelin star Executive Chef and Director James Brown.
Spice Meet and Eat - South Wales - Three Blackbirds Inn
Date: Thursday 30th April 2015 Place: Three Blackbirds Inn, Llantarnam,Cwmbran (NP44 3AY) In the Bar 7:30pm A popular event in South Wales is our monthly Member’s Meet & Eat. Every month we will head to a pub chosen by the members for a social night-out. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. We’ll let the pub know we’re coming and anyone who fancies a meal can choose, order and pay on the night. If you’ve already eaten then just come along for the social chat and a drink. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Book online (members) or drop us an email (non-members) so we know you’re coming and one of our Co-ordinators will be there to meet you.
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Walking Weekend - Hadrian's Wall
Fri 1st May 2015 - Mon 4th May 2015 Gilsland Spa Hotel, Gilsand (CA8 7AR) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal 8.00pm. £239 Twin Share, £259 Double, £299 Single Includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 evening meals & 3 days of guided walks. Extras: Transport to walk starts Hadrian’s Wall is the most famous and impressive Roman fortification in the Roman Empire. The bank holiday walking programme of 6 walks over the three days concentrates on the very finest sections of the wall and the surrounding area. Our hotel for the trip is the comfortable Gilsland Spa which with en-suite rooms, well stocked bar and hearty food is ideally located just a mile from the wall itself. For more information please see our web-site
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Adrenalin Cocktail Weekend in Pembrokeshire
Fri 1st May 2015 - Sun 3rd May 2015 Preseli Centre, Pembroke. South Wales (SA62 5HN) meet Friday evening £229 Sharing, £42 Extra Sunday Night Stay (Deposit £45 Sharing) Includes: 2 nights 5 star eco lodge accommodation, all meals from Friday supper to Sunday lunch, 3 half day activities, Specialist kit, qualified guides, transport for the activities, free train station transfers for certain trains. If you’re looking for a weekend chilling out with friends, surrounded by breath-taking, unspoilt scenery, or an adrenalin fuelled stress busting adventure - then either way, you’ve found the right place. On this weekend you’ll take part in 3 half day adventures: costearing: The ultimate coastal adventure - climb, swim, traverse and jump into a whole new world. Sea caves and swirling ocean swells combine to produce a truly wild environment. Watch out, it’s addictive, Sea Kayaking: Rocks, caves, seals, birds, waves, surf, beaches, harbours and much more make Pembrokeshire a real sea kayaker’s paradise, and selfguided coastal hiking. We’ve got the world renowned Pembrokeshire National Park Coastal Path on the very western tip of Europe right on our doorstep. Please see our web-site for more information.
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Welsh Camping Long Weekend
Fri 1st May 2015 - Mon 4th May 2015 Lluest Fach, Foal, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 5.00p.m. £70 Camping, £88 Bunks Includes: campsite, Party with BBQ, Barrel of beer, cider £16.00 supplement for dormitory accommodation subject to availability Escape from the city this Bank Holiday for an outdoor experience with a difference! Our camping venue is a private site and is exclusive to Spice for the weekend. A working smallholding which is very secluded situated high up on the side of the beautiful Banwy Valley, with breath-taking views, a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and an ideal spot to relax and unwind in. It has a large room to socialise in, hosts on hand to organise your activities, and includes a huge BBQ/buffet on Saturday night with a barrel of real ale and cider, music and a partying. For more information please see our web-site.
Walking Weekend in Eastbourne, Beachy Head and the South Downs
Date: Fri 1st May 2015 - Mon 4th May 2015 Place: Best Western York House Hotel, Eastbourne, Sussex (BN22 7AP) Arrive from 4.00pm. Meal at 8.00pm. Cost: £225 Twin Share, £285 Single, (Deposit £45 Twin Share, £55 Single) Includes: breakfasts, 3 evening meals, 3 picnic lunches, 3 days of guided walks with a choice of walks each day Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Eastbourne has the enviable position of being situated on the Sussex Heritage Coast on the edge of the South Downs National Park. A beautiful landscape scattered with picturesque villages, friendly thatched country inns and country cream teashops. No visit to Eastbourne and the Sussex coast would be complete without a walk along the cliff tops. So one day will see us tackle these huge white cliffs which are the highest chalk cliffs in the country. The Best Western York House Hotel has the most stunning seafront position, just 400yds from Eastbourne pier.
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Walking Weekend the South Devon Coast and Dartmoor
Fri 1st May 2015 - Mon 4th May 2015 The Passage House Hotel, Newton Abbott, Devon (TQ12 3QH) Arrive from 4.00pm. Meal at 8.00pm. £249 Twin Share, £309 Single (Deposit £50 Twin, £60 Single) Includes: 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 evening meals and 3 days of guided walking with a choice of 2 walks each day Extras: Transport to walk starts if used The stunningly rugged and beautiful South Devon coastline is some of England’s finest and this alone is more than enough reason to visit. Hidden along the coast are secluded sandy bays, rocky headlands, quaint fishing hamlets, towering cliffs all lapped by the inviting Mediterranean blue waters. Add to this the lovely Passage House hotel with its irresistible riverside setting, scrumptious food, relaxing leisure facilities and a traditional country inn with real ale right next door, and we are in for a superb bank holiday weekend away. With over 130 miles of coastline, most of which either faces the sun or is sheltered from prevailing winds by the great shoulder of Dartmoor, South Devon has one of the finest coasts in England.
Archery and Rifle Shooting Worcester
Date: Saturday 2nd May 2015 Place: Top Barn Activity Centre, Nr Worcester (WR6 6NH) 1pm to 4pm Cost: £22 Do you think you’re the next Robin Hood or the next Olympic rifleman? enjoy a fun filled morning at Top Barn Activity Centre for a half day of Archery and Rifle Shooting, an experience on purpose built outdoor ranges, You will be tested across our 25metre Archery range and our 10m shooting gallery guided by fully qualified instructors – that are bound to have you shooting for gold in no time. Top Barn Activity Centre is situated close to the River Severn with a large lake for plenty of water based activities and acres of open space and woodland for lots of fun activities to try out, from archery to zip wire.
Horse Trek Ride on the Beach - Mid Glamorgan
Date: Saturday 2nd May 2015 Place: Ogmore Farm, Ogmore-By-Sea, Bridgend (CF32 0QP) Ogmore Farm Riding Centre 10:15am Cost: £43 Includes: 2 hour guided ride and helmet. Come and enjoy a leisurely horse ride on a wide open beach near the lapping fringe of the sea. Leaving from Ogmore Farm near Bridgend in South Wales, this two hour trek meanders from the farmyard, traversing rivers, beach and high sand dunes. The farm is set in beautiful surroundings, under the silent presence of imposing Ogmore Castle. Riding a horse is a natural and lovely experience, enhanced by the unique beauty of this inspiring location. Experienced rider or first timer, this is an adventure not to be missed. The group will start the morning off getting to know the horses, and staff will then ensure that each rider is led on the trek according to their experience. Helmets are provided. We need to know your height, weight and riding ability when you book. Please wear suitable clothing i.e. comfortable trousers (not leggings) or jodphurs and footwear with a small heel. Trainers and jeans are not suitable for riding. Weight limit is 13.5 stone. Bags, backpacks etc. cannot be taken on the ride so you need to wear something with zip pockets to safely store car keys etc. A pair of gloves may be useful.
Medieval Jousting - Warwickshire
Date: Saturday 2nd May 2015 Place: Warwick International, Guys Cliff (CV34 5YD) 9.15an - 5.00pm Cost: £175 This is a unique opportunity to learn the ultimate medieval art, with The Knights of Middle England. Our day is run by Karl Ude-Martinez who has over 12 years of experience in performing live jousting shows all over Europe. Some of you may have met him at our Polo days, and may also know that he is an up coming actor with numerous TV, Film and Theatre appearances. For obvious safety reasons, we will not be allowed to actually hit each other with our jousts as death often results from that – and such bravery is not deemed culturally appropriate to the modern age! However, they use a quitaine (or dummy) to take the impact. On arrival you will be given a safety briefing and then your riding will be assessed. You will learn basic jousting skills such as hitting the quintaine and learn basic sword and staff fighting. Being a knight also involves being dressed in medieval costume. Traditionally jousting was only permitted for men to partake in, but fear not we take lady knights too!! So come and throw down the gauntlet and challenge the men! No real riding experience is needed in order to participate in the jousting, but would be an advantage for certain activities. For safety reasons if the instructor on the day feels your riding is not strong enough for certain tasks, you will make it up in other activities. Reasonable level of fitness is required as you will be in the saddle and partaking in many tasks for most of the day. Max weight is 20 stone. There is no height restriction.
SWAT Training Mission Sutton Coldfield
Date: Saturday 2nd May 2015 Place: Bassetts Pole, Sutton Coldfield (B75 5SA) 12:45 arrival, finish 4.30pm Cost: £45 Ever wondered how you would cope as part of a SWAT team storming a building! Well this is your chance to find out! And rest assured - you don’t need any special training or fitness to be a special forces hero with Spice, as we’re just doing this for fun! This unique CQB (Close Quarters Battle) experience has been developed using new and specialised 'Kill- House' style SWAT training facilities which has been purpose built on this site. Upon arrival we’ll be issued with our SWAT uniforms and tactical gear (these weapons are powerful but only fire paint) and be transported by military convoy to the briefing centre near to the “embassy” where we can strategically plan our assault and receive basic weapons training. Prior to breaching the “embassy” we'll test our skills on the 'Pit' an accurate replica of the training facility using several of the “Call of Duty” Games, and then wait for the signal. Go Go Go! And we're in! The games are played using a 1200sqm “Kill House” which has 40 rooms, where our scenarios will include:“Hostage Rescue”, “Sweep & Clear” and “Stop the Bomb”. Don’t miss this very special Spice experience, that you’ll be talking about for a long time to come.
Spring BeerFest at the Bavarian Beerhouse
Date: Saturday 2nd May 2015 Place: 46-48 Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol (BS1 4HX) Bavarian Beerhouse - Ask for the Spice Table Cost: £24.50 Includes: Entrance to Spring Festival, Welcome drink Beer or Wine, 1 Course Meal, Service, Spice Host Extras: Additional Drinks Tonight we’re bringing Oktoberfest forward a few months with the “Spring Festival” at the Bavarian Beerhouse. This is a Saturday night which features live Oompah music, dancing and plenty of German beer served in Stein glasses. With a range of authentic German food on offer and Oompah bands providing that extra edge to the party atmosphere, there's no excuse not to get involved and join in with all the fun. A fun venue at any time of the year, the Bavarian Beerhouse is the only authentic Bavarian restaurant & bar in the United Kingdom. It’s a small piece of Bavaria transferred to London, complete with Lederhosen, oompah music and Bavarian dancers. Eating, drinking and entertainment are strongly encouraged. Table service is provided by charming waitresses and waiters in traditional 'Dirndl' and Lederhosn dresses and there is an all-German male team behind the bar. Included in our price is a Main Course Meal such as Wiener Schnitzel (breaded pork escalope served with fries), Beef Goulash with a rich beer sauce and homemade red cabbage, or try a traditional Wurstplatte Sausage Platter (spicy option also available) including Frankfurters, Nürnberger and Bratwurst, served with mashed potato, sauerkraut and mustard or half a chicken Oktoberfest style with potato salad. Other vegetarian options are available such as Bavarian Cheese Noodles or Vegetarian Schnitzel with mashed potato. We’ll also be having a pint of beer or a glass of wine to get into the spirit of things.
Bluebell Walk - Tyntesfield + Portbury Wood
Date: Sunday 3rd May 2015 Place: Station Road, Portbury, Bristol (BS20 7TN) Outside the Priory Inn 11am Cost: £6 Includes: 6 Mile Guided Walk If you like bluebells, you can't beat a walk through Portbury Wood for a fantastic and uplifting experience in springtime. Small-leaved lime trees, oak and hazel are abundant, and in places mature sweet chestnut reach high into the canopy. In spring the woodland floor is a spectacular carpet of bluebells, particularly in the southern and western parts of the wood. With its ancient woodland, streams and plantations, Prior's Wood is rich in bird life, including buzzard, garden warbler and chiffchaff. Spotted flycatcher is also recorded in most years. It’s a lovely walk and also goes past Tyntesfield, a National Trust property formerly owned by Lord Wraxall.
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Hangliding - Tandem Experience by Air Tow
Sunday 3rd May 2015 Darley Moor Airfield near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET) Morning Slots - Time to be confirmed £20 Extras: Total cost is £199 (£204 Guests) but this is paid as £20 (£25 guests) deposit when booking PLUS the balance direct to the supplier on arrival. Here’s your chance to fly with the birds in a specially designed tandem hang glider. The Spice flights are designed to take you to a height of 3000ft (or cloudbase – whichever comes first) towed behind a CAA approved tug microlight, in the company of an experienced BHPA qualified tandem hang gliding instructor. After an introduction to the equipment and a pre-flight briefing, you will be harnessed into the hang glider with your instructor. The microlight will start, and begin towing the glider and its’ occupants into the air. Once the towline is jettisoned you and your instructor will glide free and silent in complete awe of the spectacular views overlooking the beautiful Peak District Park.... an experience only shared with the birds. You may even take the controls and fly the hang glider yourself or enjoy the thrill of limited aerobatics. This is a completely unique experience, hanging on the outside of an aircraft, head down with nothing but the rush of the wind over the face! As one customer said, it’s “rather like flying with Superman”! The hang glider is equipped with its own undercarriage which eliminates the need for running on take-off and landing and is therefore suitable for all abilities. Total flight time is approx. 20-40mins depending upon conditions.
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Microlighting Experience Flight
Sunday 3rd May 2015 Darley Moor Airfield near Ashbourne! (DE6 2ET) Timeslots TBA £5 Extras: Cost is £49 PAID AS £5 deposit to Spice when booking PLUS a balance of £44 directly to the supplier on arrival. These flights are with an instructor, in a dual controlled microlight, so you can have a go with the controls if you wish or just sit back and enjoy the experience! The experience starts with a full briefing on safety procedures, the equipment we use and flying the microlight. The flight counts as a training flight, so if you want to continue flying by taking up a full course you already have some time under your belt which will count towards your full qualification. Unless you state otherwise we will book a “flexwing” flight. They do have “3 axis” microlights as well if you prefer, which look more like a conventional aircraft but still have all the benefits of ultra light flight! What is Microlighting? Microlighting is freedom. Freedom to escape from the mundane routine of life on Terra Firma - and from the confines of conventional flying. Microlights don’t need the facilities that larger airplanes demand. Any fair sized field is your aerodrome, your garage your hangar, your local petrol station your fuel store and you are free to be your own aircraft mechanic. In the air, the views are out of this world. Skimming past the clouds, flying high, swooping down, simply unwinding and watching the ground go by, the sense of freedom is complete. Without an enclosed cockpit and complicated controls you become part of the machine. Microlighting has one of the best safety records in air transport. Note: This event is weather dependent and a weather check number will be provided with the maps to all who book. Weight limit is 110kg (17 stone) to take part.
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Paragliding - Tandem Experience
Sunday 3rd May 2015 Darley Moor Airfield near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET) Time slots TBA £5.50 Extras: Cost is £55 PAID AS £5.50 deposit to Spice when booking PLUS a balance of £49.50 directly to the supplier on arrival. Get the closest feeling to everyone’s dream of truly free flight. Flying with an instructor and towed up by a winch to around 500 -700 feet, you can either help to pilot the paraglider, or just sit back and admire the views of the beautiful Derbyshire countryside. The experience starts with a full briefing on safety procedures, the equipment and flying your glider then builds to a 5-10 minute flight depending on conditions. Notes: There is a weight limit of 95 kilos max. You will be given a weather check number to call before setting out, and need to be aware that the event will be postponed if weather conditions are judged unsuitable for the event.
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Paragliding Day Course
Sunday 3rd May 2015 Darley Moor Airfield near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET) 9am to 5pm £10 Extras: Total cost is £110 but this is paid as £10 deposit when booking PLUS the balance direct to the supplier on arrival Paragliding is a fabulous experience. Technology now allows packs so compact and light that it is possible for experts to climb a mountain then jump from the top – gliding serenely back to earth! This is a great way to get started. The day is designed to provide all the information you need to decide if flying is for you and they are normally able to get students flying low solo flights by the end of the day. This is also the way to start if you are interested in Paramotoring, as you need to be able to paraglide before you can progress to the motors. If this interests you, let the team know and they will be able to show you some motor units and let you try them on during the day. Notes: You will be given a weather check number to call before setting out, and need to be aware that the event will be postponed if weather conditions are judged unsuitable for the event.
Segway Polo for Beginners
Date: Sunday 3rd May 2015 Place: King Edward VI Leisure Centre, Lichfield (WS14 9EE) 10.45am for 11am - 3pm session Cost: £49 This is polo, “the Sport of Kings”, but without a pony in sight! Instead we’re playing it on Segways. It’s Apple's Steve Wozniak's favourite pastime, and for one day only it could be your sas well! You may have read about it in the papers or heard it on the radio, you may even be planning to attend the International Segway Polo Tournament in April (see separate event in this newsletter). Now is your chance to learn to play the exciting sport of 'Segway Polo'. Arranged exclusively for Spice Members only, the Segway Polo Sunday will consist of the following:
Pay As You Go - Prohibition Cocktails at the Milk Thistle Bristol
Date: Friday 8th May 2015 Place: Quay Head Hose, Colston Avenue, Bristol (BS1 1EB) The Milk Thistle - Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £2 Hidden in one the finest historic buildings in the old city The Milk Thistle is the flirty younger sister of Bristol’s hippest prohibition bar, Hyde & Co. They pride themselves on being purveyors of the finest cocktails in the city, and with four floors, including a cocktail bar and lounge, it’s a fabulous place to have a drink and try out a cocktail! With a reputation as one of Bristol’s best kept secrets they promise to provide a decadent escape for those in the know who are looking for good drinks, good company, and most of all, a good time! The regularly changing cocktail menu is full of twists on classic cocktails and unique concoctions. With some of the best bartenders in the city there’s nothing they can’t create – all you have to do is ask! We’ll have a few drinks at the bar before maybe moving off to a local restaurant in the area for a bite to eat. This is a pay as you go event so you pay an admin fee of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the bar and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
Sailing Weekend around Malta
2 Dates: Fri 8th May 2015 - Mon 11th May & Fri 5th Jun 2015 - Mon 8th Jun 2015 Place: Valletta Harbour, Malta Cost: £364 Sharing (Deposit £75) Extras: Your flights to Malta and back Includes: cabin share aboard, diesel, life harnesses, lunch and breakfast, snacks and coffee/tea soft drinks. You MUST book your flights separately; the trip is guaranteed to run. This popular event gives you the opportunity to spend a long weekend sailing around Malta and Gozo. The Maltese people are renowned for their hospitality. The water is clear and warm. The weather is hot, predictable and mainly dry from May to September. EnCompass Sailing and yacht Delphini have been hosting Spice weekends in Malta for the past three years. There are three main islands in the archipelago. Malta, Gozo and Comino. Malta is about 73 miles around; Gozo is about one third the size and Comino is only 5 miles in circumference. This means that we can cover a lot of territory in a weekend. There are some beautiful lagoons and beaches, many of which can only be reached by boat. You join the yacht Delphini on Friday morning. She is based in Kalkara marina, Valetta harbour, which is about 15 minutes from the airport. Once everyone has arrived we have lunch aboard then set sail for one of many beautiful anchorages for a swim. In the evenings we go to a marina with showering facilities before enjoying some of the excellent food available in the many restaurants.
The Glee Club Comedy Night
Date: Friday 8th May 2015 Place: Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff (CF10 5BZ) at entrance to the club 7:30pm Cost: £19 This evening we are back at The Glee Club on Cardiff Bay. The Glee Club is a great independent comedy club and is a hugely popular part of the Spice programme. Tonight, more of the best professional circuit comics perform for our pleasure. The Glee Club's policy is to only pick acts that are on the national circuit and have performed at the London Comedy Club so bring along your best heckles for a laughter filled evening! Tonight there will be a compere and three acts to entertain you during the course of the evening. Please book early as we buy tickets upon demand and these are dependent upon availability. Please note: Food is also available at the club but isn’t included in the price of your ticket. Extras: Any food or drink you choose to order on the evening.
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Walking Weekend Eskdale Ultimate Challenge
Fri 8th May 2015 - Sun 10th May 2015 Place: The Bower House Inn, Eskdale, Cumbria (CA19 1TD) Arrive from 4.00pm. Meal at 8.00pm. Cost: £169 Twin Share, £209 Single, (Deposit £35 Twin, £40 Single) Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 evening meals, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches and 2 days of guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts is used The new venue for these events is going to be the delightful Bower House Inn which has a delightful setting half way up the valley overlooking Muncaster Fell. The Lakeland Challenge Walking’ event is means we will have long days in the hills walking up to 15 miles and climbing up to 5000ft of ascent each day as we tackle some of the Western Lakes legendary walks! At grade 1 this means up to 15 miles & 5,000ft ascent each day. These events are for fit and experienced hill walkers.
Back to the 80's Sleepover Party
Date: Sat 9th May 2015 - Sun 10th May 2015 Place: Lea Marston Hotel, just off M42 J9 (B76 0BY) Check in from 2pm - party from 7.15pm Cost: £79 Twin Share, £99 Single (Deposit £20) Includes: Party with live and DJ entertainment, meal and 80's theming; overnight accommodation with breakfast and use of leisure facilities Wham – Bam, Club Tropicana, Pac Man, Adam Ant, Rubik Cubes, New Romantics, Sloan Rangers .. whatever the 80’s meant to you .. even if you weren’t yet born .. you’re going to love this feast of 80’s nostalgia and fun. Our sleepover parties are always popular because they are great value and lots of fun. You get to stay over at a fine 4* hotel and enjoy the leisure facilities and grounds. We have a great party with food, theming and live entertainment. Then we sleep it off in style before a relaxed Sunday morning breakfast. Entertainment: We have Dennis Seaton from iconic 80’s group Musical Youth to perform some well known soundtracks of the decade. We also have a DJ to entertain us with an “all 80’s” playlist (to jog your memory of how good it was, click HERE for a list of the top 100 singles of the 80’s). Dennis Seaton: Our 1980’s superstar tonight is a Grammy–nominated British soul and R&B recording artist and record producer, best known as the frontman of the British musical group Musical Youth which was founded while the members were at Duddeston Manor School in Birmingham. In the summer of 1982 15-year-old Seaton and the group released the hit single "Pass the Dutchie" (see video HERE). The single peaked at Number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Number 1 in the UK. The band were also the first black artists to be played on MTV. They followed this up with the debut album, The Youth of Today, released worldwide on 22 October 1982, the album sold 18 million copies. Seaton was nominated for the Best newcomer Grammy Award with his band Musical Youth, but lost to the Culture Club. Fancy Dress: You don’t have to dress up, but it’s more fun if you do .. Our Hotel: The 4* Lea Marston Hotel & Spa is just a short distance from Birmingham NEC, Birmingham International Airport and the City Centre all set in 54 acres of North Warwickshire countryside. Featuring 88 contemporary ensuite Rooms, gorgeous grounds, bars and an Elemis Spa and Health Club with pool to relax in. Fitting with our theme it was indeed established in the 1980’s but has been continually refurbished ever since by very proud family owners.
Bristol Food Connections Festival Stroll + Tapas + Drinks at the Tipis
Date: Saturday 9th May 2015 Place: Pitcher and Piano, V-Shed, Cannons Road, Bristol (BS1 5UH) Spice Table 2pm Cost: £23.50 Includes: Stroll through Bristol Food Connections Festival, Glass of Wine/Beer, Service, Spice Host Bristol Food Connections is a revolutionary food festival that takes place across the entire city of Bristol from 1-9 May and celebrates Bristol's independent spirit and vibrant food culture. In collaboration with the BBC, Bristol City Council, Bristol University and other Bristol institutions the festival will educate and build on Bristol’s pioneering attitude to food. From a large celebration in Millennium Square to Eat, Drink, Bristol Fashion in Queen Square, Bristol’s streets will be alive with the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of good food for the full 9 days. Producer markets, a huge food trail, debates, good food walks and cookery classes and demos are just some examples of what to expect. Today we’re going to go along and wander around as a group enjoying the various sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the festival. We will also arrange for various meet up points depending on the group size. After we’ve wandered through the festival, we will head off to the Tapas Tipi where we’ll enjoy some sharing tapas and a glass of wine or beer (included in the price).
Krater Comedy Club with a Meal - Bath
Date: Saturday 9th May 2015 Place: Komedia, 22-23 Westgate Street, Bath (BA1 1EP) 6.30pm inside main entrance Cost: £33.50 Includes: Ticket To See Comedy Show, 1 Course Meal, Booking Fee, Spice Host Extras: Drinks This evening we’re heading off to Komedia in Bath for one of their Krater Comedy Club evenings. Sit at your table, eat, drink, watch three top stand-ups and the best comedy comperes in the business... and LAUGH! Komedia has welcomed to their stage a copious amount of well-known acts, including Jimmy Carr, Ross Noble, Sarah Millican, Alan Carr, John Bishop, John Richardson, and many more! Komedia Bath was also crowned ‘Best Venue in the West and Wales 2010’ after only one year of operation and again in 2012 and 2013. Tonight we have a table in the auditorium and will have a meal together before the show starts 8.30pm. There’s plenty on the menu and you can view a sample menu on our website. After the comedy finishes the venue changes into a nightclub with the popular after show club night Motorcity, where you are free to dance the night away to an eclectic blend of Motown, Soul, and Funk and Rock ‘n’ Roll! It’s a fabulous fun night out, so don’t miss it!
Meet, Mingle and Have a Meal - La Strada Bridgend
Date: Saturday 9th May 2015 Place: La Strada, 4 Old Stone Bridge, Bridgend (CF31 1JD) Ask for the Spice Table 7:30pm Join Spice tonight for a supper and social at La Strada in Bridgend. We’d like to make this a regular event and so do come along to meet other members in this area. The plan is to head to a new pub or restaurant on a regular basis for a social nightout. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. We’ll let the pub know we’re coming and anyone who fancies a meal can choose, order and pay on the night. If you’ve already eaten then just come along for the social chat and a drink. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Book online (members) or drop us an email (non-members) so we know you’re coming and one of our Spice hosts will be there to meet you. Our venue tonight is the La Strada which is a traditional Italian and Sicilian restaurant located on the Old Stone Bridge, Bridgend Town Centre. A warm welcome and nice surroundings await you, but ultimately it’s all about the food at this restaurant! The chef's Valentino and George are confident that their authentic, freshly prepared pasta dishes, stone baked pizzas, mouthwatering steaks and daily fresh fish specials, will make for an excellent dining experience that will have you returning time and time again'
Overnight Forest Experience
Date: Sat 9th May 2015 - Sun 10th May 2015 Place: Symonds Yat, Forest of Dean (GL16 7NN) 7.30pm for 8.00pm start Cost: £55 Anyone with a sense of adventure will love this brilliant multi activity hike after dark. Let’s hope it’s one of those eerie moonlit nights when the deer are out in force and stars that you can reach out and touch - but whatever happens you can be sure it’ll be one of those Spice experiences which you’ll remember for a long time. After meeting Den from outdoor specialists Forest Adventure, we start with a bracing hike, which includes some navigation tuition. Paths may be discarded as we bash through bush intent on a compass bearing despite any obstacles - so we can play at being Special Forces on manoeuvres in the jungle with a little imagination! If our compass work serves us, we should find a cave system at around 1.00am.Life inside is a little more 'normal' as darkness is permanent in these fascinating places, and we will light a fire inside to lift the spirits. Bear in mind that the temperature is constant underground all year round, and this works to your advantage at this time of year. As we'll be a little tired by now, we'll sleep till dawn in the peace of the cave system. Refreshed and invigorated, we'll plan our final route back. A café breakfast (not included) will be a priority stop for 'refuelling' on our journey home. We need to be prepared for all weathers, so good waterproofs and walking boots are essential. A good sleeping bag and mat in your rucksack are also essential for your subterranean snooze. This is wonderful Spice adventure with a maximum 10 to 1 instructor ratio, to ensure your safety on an amazing night out!
Spring Black Tie and Posh Frocks Party with Dinner and Disco Date: Place: Cost:
With optional 1 night at luxury Hilton Olympia Hotel
Saturday 9th May 2015 Hilton Olympia, 380 Kensington High Street, London (W14 8NL) Arrive from 7.00pm £58.50 Dinner with Wine, £48.50 Dinner no wine Includes: exclusive Spice party, 3 course meal, half a bottle of wine per person (optional) & service, Spice Host, DJ until 1.00am. Extras: Drinks Optional 1 night at hotel £129 includes twin share room, party as above with wine & breakfast (deposit £20) Optional 1 night at hotel £195 includes single room, party as above with wine & breakfast (deposit £20) Our Spice parties are always great fun and we are absolutely delighted to have secured a NEW venue for our Spring Black Tie & Posh Frocks Party & Disco. Our party will be held in the fabulous 4* The Hilton Olympia Hotel set in Kensington, a fashionable district in London and close to Kensington Olympia tube station. We will enjoy a 3 course meal (sample menu below) and then our DJ will play some fabulous tunes for us to dance the night away to! We have our private party booked until 1.00a.m. and we have secured fantastic rates if you would like to stay over. We will meet in the bar at 7pm and have a drink or two before we sit down for our 3 course meal. In view of the numbers attending we will be having a table plan and dinner will be served at tables of approximately 8 to 10 people. If you have any preferences as to who you would like to sit with please let us know and we’ll try and accommodate everybody’s requests (but no guarantees!). If you are new to Spice you are welcome to come along and join in the fun, the Spice team will be on hand to help with introductions. We have included half a bottle of wine per person (optional) in our price but there will be a full bar available for any additional drinks you wish to purchase. The dress code is flexible - we just want you dressed up smart and not in your jeans. We suggest that men wear black tie or a lounge suit, and ladies wear short or long dresses. We can offer a discounted price if you do not wish the wine included with your meal – just let us know at the time of booking.
Upton On Severn Ramble
Date: Saturday 9th May 2015 Place: Upton On Severn,Worcestershire (WR8 0HF) Outside the Kings Head Pub 10am Cost: £6 This 10 mile walk with Alan is aimed at those who may want to step up from the shorter ½ day walks. The majority of the walk can be described as flat land walking. From Upton we follow the river Severn toward Tewkesbury where we can see the river boats and working barges navigate the river. We then join the Worcester Way heading across country through the pretty villages of Bushley Green and Longdon. This part of the walk gives lovely views of the Malvern Hills in the distance. Its then back across country for a well earned drink in one of the river side inns. Please call Alan if late or not turning-up (07779990610). Please dress appropriately (walking boots, waterproofs) bring some water, snacks & money. More details on the web site.
Bluebell Walk: Castell Coch + Beech Woods
Date: Sunday 10th May 2015 Place: Tongwynlais, Cardiff (CF15 7JS) Entrance to Castell Coch - Spice Sign 11am Cost: £6 Includes: 3 Mile Guided Walk Extras: Drinks and Refreshments This is a woodland walk which includes a sculpture trail (The Lost and Found Trail) and ends in the fairy-tale setting of Castell Coch. The mainly broadleaved woodlands have one of the best displays of Bluebells in South Wales. The woods also have extravagant displays of Wood Anemones (April) and Wild Garlic (May) and are home to wide range of bird life. The beech woods are some of the most westerly naturally occurring Beech Woods in the UK. After our walk we’ll find a local pub for a drink and perhaps a bite to eat (optional– payable on the day). There is ample parking at Castell Coch, which is signed off the A470. Do check car park closing time.
Mind Management Workshop - NEC
Date: Sunday 10th May 2015 Place: Arden Hotel, Coventry rd, by NEC (B92 0EH) 10.30am. Finish around 4.30pm Cost: £45 Includes: Coffees/Teas & Light Buffet Lunch This Mind Management workshop will help you identify the negative beliefs that prevent you from living the life you want. It will show you the skills to empower you to make positive changes to your life. Also we will be challenging negative thinking and negative patterns
The Big Abseil - 200 Feet Straight Down
Date: Sunday 10th May 2015 Place: Avon Gorge, Portway, Bristol Layby on the Portway 1:15pm to 4:30pm Cost: £37 In Bristol we’re lucky enough to have the amazing Avon Gorge with the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge symbolising our great city. But it’s not just a beautiful landmark – it’s also the setting for one of our greatest and most challenging events – The Big Abseil. What a great shot for your photo album! Go ahead and impress your family and friends with this classic Spice event. You will start off by literally ‘getting to know the ropes’ and receive full instruction on the techniques needed for your descent. Your instructor will build up your confidence and calm your nerves before you progress onto the impressive 200-foot descent. Don’t forget to admire the impressive views whilst you’re up there. So do you have the nerve to take on this exhilarating, adrenalin pumping challenge? Our session in in the afternoon and we’ll be in the capable hands of the experienced instructors from Mendip Outdoor Pursuits. Full details will be sent out the week before.
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Drawing and Watercolour Weekend
Fri 15th May 2015 - Sun 17th May 2015 Lluest Fach, Foel, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00pm. Supper 8.30pm. £147 Sharing, (Deposit £30 Sharing) Includes: 2 nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, 2 buffet lunches, 4 course evening meal and all instruction) Extras: Transport to location starts if used. If they told you at school that you couldn’t draw then this weekend break will prove them wrong. You don’t have to be a budding Monet or Picasso to enjoy this weekend, which takes the complete beginner or dabbler through the basics of drawing and painting. Julie Hyde, an accomplished artist, and experienced tutor, has put together a relaxed, fun programme to draw out all your latent artistic talents. Please see our web site for more information.
Drumming Workshop with Alphonse-Bristol
Date: Friday 15th May 2015 Place: Benjamin Perry Boathouse, Phoenix Wharf, (BS1 6TJ) Function room 6:45pm Cost: £18 Includes: One hour drumming workshop Extras: Optional drinks afterwards If you have always fancied trying your hand at drumming – now is your chance. We’ve been lucky to book a workshop with Bristol’s talented teacher, musician and composer Alphonse Touna from Cameroon. Alphonse is well known across the South-West for his innovative drumming workshops, musical contribution to festivals and for packing venues with his Afro-jazz band Helele. He has been teaching for twenty years and drumming all his life. You will learn drumming basics in a fun and friendly atmosphere on djembes which Alphonse makes himself.
Pay As You Go - Bangkok Cafe - Cardiff
Date: Friday 15th May 2015 Place: 207 Cowbridge Road East, Canton (CF11 9AJ) Bangkok Cafe - Ask for the Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £2 Thai food is full of flavour and Bangkok Cafés hassle free menu means you can order a meal all-in-one. Each dish is created with several elements designed to give you a well-balanced, authentic eating experience and ingredients are locally sourced wherever possible with most of the herbs and spices imported from Thailand. Quick, easy and ‘aroi dee’, it’s like having a Thai chef in your own kitchen! This evening is a great opportunity to taste the cuisine and also to meet up with other Spice members in a social setting. This is a pay as you go event so you pay an admin fee of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the restaurant and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
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Adventure Activities Camping Weekend
Sat 16th May 2015 - Sun 17th May 2015 Matlock Area of Peak District Saturday morning TBA £69 Includes: All activities. 2 qualified instructors Extras: Bring your own camping equipment. Camp site fees for one night. Food other than bacon butties on Sunday morning This may be a back to basics style weekend, but these are probably the best type of weekends to do with Spice. You are guaranteed to “bond” with a great bunch of likeminded Spice Members and have a tremendous amount of adventure based and social fun with Sean & Mark (who you may have met before on our caving and abseil events in the Peak District). As well as being fine instructors, Sean and Mark are very entertaining to be with – so prepare to laugh lots, from start to finish! You should also gain a great confidence boost from completing the activities and learn a lot about yourself. Meeting Saturday morning in the Matlock area of The White Peak, we will first erect our tents at our campsite home that has showers & WC’s. We will then set off for a walk with a difference as it includes trying our hand at climbing, scrambling and a 100 foot abseil. Don’t worry if all this is new to you. With Mark & Sean’s help, almost anyone can do it! That night we will walk to a nearby pub where we can all socialise and enjoy a meal together (not included). Sunday morning we will be woken by the smell of bacon butties being prepared for us by “chef” Sean (who learned all his culinary skills in the forces!). After this, we can choose (numbers permitting) between an easy 5 mile ramble or an easy caving experience. After this, we return to pack up and wend our weary way home.
Canadian Canoe Adventure
Date: Saturday 16th May 2015 Place: Symonds Yat (HR9 5QT) 10.00am to approx 3.30pm Cost: £55 The team from Forest Adventure have come up with a varied route for Canadian style open canoes - enjoyable for absolute beginners and practiced paddlers alike. They have planned out for us, one of the most scenic, most photographed, stretches of the Wye, from Kerne Bridge to Huntsmans Bridge taking in views of Symonds Yat as we go. Having allowed four and a half hours for the trip, it should be a leisurely day and will include a stop for coffee and a stop at a pub! The open canoes minimise our chance of getting wet, which is just as well at this time of year! All specialist equipment is provided.
Foraging and Photography Experience with Shutterbugs
Date: Saturday 16th May 2015 Place: Leigh Woods National Nature Reserve, Bristol Details will be emailed 12:45pm to 4pm Cost: £53 Foraging - "searching for wild food resources" This workshop is a mix of foraging and photography! Our guide Niki will provide the inspiration and knowledge of our environment. While we may find an abundance of resources we will not be gathering or picking any edible foods - we'll leave them alone and simply take some fabulous images. Graham will be on hand to give gentle guidance about improving your skills as a photographer. He will offer advice about technical stuff or simple aesthetics when it comes to composition. A DSLR (digital single lens reflex - with close focussing lens), CSC (compact system camera) or bridge camera will probably provide the best flexibility, smartphones are fantastic for close ups or you can even bring a compact camera - Graham will encourage you to get the best out of your equipment. You may need to check that your lens will focus close as we'll need to fill our viewfinders with quite small subjects (ie leaves/flowers/fungi etc). The nature of this workshop means that it's likely that you'll obtain better shots of some subjects by being at or near ground level.
Golfers Day Out
Date: Saturday 16th May 2015 Place: Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Derry Hill, Calne, Wiltshire (SN11 9PQ) Inside the clubhouse at the bar Cost: £39.99 Includes: 3 – 31/2 Hours Golfing with a Pro. Please note that all attendees must have own clubs, golf shoes and appropriate golf attire. Extras: Any drinks and Lunch Imagine combining unlimited acres of beautiful rolling Wiltshire countryside and mature woodland with one of the UK’s best golf course designers. You’ve just imagined the manicured beauty of Bowood’s championship golf course. The course itself was designed by Dave Thomas to be a joy to play, whilst the surrounding facilities include a clubhouse, hotel, restaurants and practice facilities. The course has a range of tees to suit all levels of golf, ensuring it is enjoyable for higher handicappers whilst providing a full-on 7,300 yard challenge for better players. The layout and views are stunning and the only 3 buildings that you can see on the way round are the clubhouse, Queenwood golf lodge and the spire from Derry Hill Church. This day is aimed at established golfers with on course experience and upon arrival at 1.15pm relax in the bar area and buy yourself a coffee (payable on the day) before we head outside at 1.30pm for a three to three and a half hour golfing day out with qualified teaching professional golfer and Pro, Paul McLean. We’ll start our session with a warm up/practice on the driving range and will then play 9 holes on the Bowood Championship course. Buggies are included (subject to availability) as well as scorecards and course planners. After the session at about 5pm, we'll head into the Clubhouse bar for a well-earned drink (payable extra) and review of our new found skills.
Silver Jewellery Making Taster Course
Date: Saturday 16th May 2015 Place: Highgate Craft Centre, Highgate Square, Birmingham (B12 0DU) 9.30am - 11.30am Cost: £49 Includes: Your very own solid silver creation to take away! Learn the basics of how to make beautiful silver jewellery using the silver clay method on this short “taster” course These two hour sessions are a great way to start. You have one practical and achievable project, you can experience the techniques of jewellery design and construction with minimal outlay. At the end of the workshop, you will complete a pure silver pendant, ready to wear or give as a gift. The fee includes the tools, findings (which are all the bits you need to make it ready to wear), tuition and (the expensive bit!) the silver. The Art Clay Technique: Art Clay is an amazing material that can be worked like modelling clay and once fired becomes fine silver. This means that you don’t have to have silversmithing skills to make your own silver jewellery. Also you need the minimum of equipment to get started, which means that it is easily possible to develop a hobby at home. Art Clay is made from extremely fine silver particles (like a dust) which are held together with an organic binder that burns out when fired to leave silver. The finished item is fine silver and valued as 99.9% silver when hallmarked. You’ll learn the tips and techniques for working with silver this way - how to shape and texture it, fire and finish it. Our tutor Anwa is very enthusiastic and loves introducing new people to the hobby. She will keep it simple so you can build your confidence and play! But you’ll go away with skills you can develop at home.
Spring Afternoon Tea at the Celtic Manor Resort
Date: Saturday 16th May 2015 Place: The Olive Tree and Garden Room., Celtic Manor Resort (NP18 2YB) Ask for the Spice Table 2pm Cost: £39.99 Includes: Afternoon Tea, Service, Spice Host Celebrate the arrival of warmer weather with this fresh take on our favourite afternoon ritual, afternoon tea, featuring blooming delicious hand-made cakes, delicate pastries, freshly baked rosewater and vanilla scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, and a seasonal selection of savoury bites that capture the essence of springtime in Wales. We’ll be enjoying these delights at the Olive Tree and Garden Room at the Celtic Manor Resort with its friendly bustling atmosphere and lovely views. It’s a tradition that should be indulged in at least a few times a year.
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Quad Biking Cardiff
Sunday 17th May 2015 Cwrt y Celyn Farm, Upperboat, Pontypridd (CF37 5BJ) Taff Valley Quad Centre - Spice Sign 11:15am £30 Includes: Includes: one hour quad bike trek on farm, equipment and safety briefing, Spice Host. Slots are limited so book your space now! Take the Spice Activity Challenge and join us for an action packed day of Quad Biking! It’s a fun way to discover the superb Welsh countryside, get out in the fresh air, learn something new, and spend time with other Spice members. All Quad biking sessions start with a safety briefing and initial training on the practice circuit. Once the expert instructors are happy with our progress, we will follow them trekking, around the 360 acre working hill farm. We’ll be using the semi-automatic 90cc and 250cc Honda quads and will experience the ultimate offroading as we drive along a woodland safari trail – over mogul hills, up inclines, down declines, across fields and through some radical mud puddles! We suggest you take a change of clothes with you as you are likely to get very wet and muddy but that is part of the fun! No previous experience is necessary and but there is always opportunity for the more adventurous and daring riders to tackle rough terrain.
Sunday Roast at the Grain Barge - Bristol
Date: Sunday 17th May 2015 Place: Mardyke Wharf, Hotwell Rd, Hotwells (BS8 4RU) The Grain Barge - Spice Table 12:30pm Cost: £18 Includes: 1 Course Sunday Roast, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Today we’re off to the Grain Barge for a lovely Sunday roast and a social with other Spice members. In its lovely harbourside location in Hotwells, this historic converted barge is bursting with character. The main harbourside lounge and dining area is light & airy, with the upper 'al fresco' deck boasting a 270 degree view of the harbour. Within sight of the SS Great Britain, it's the perfect place to relax and watch the world go by. A sample menu can be viewed on our website at www.bristolcardiff.co.uk.
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Sailing Cross Channel Gosport - Cherbourg Peninsula
Thursday 21st May 2015 - Monday 25th May 2015 Haslar Marina, Gosport (PO12 1NU) Arrive for 8.00pm. on Friday £399 Cabin Share Includes cabin share on board accommodation, diesel, wet weather gear, life harnesses, Breakfasts, lunches, snacks and teas/coffees. Extras: share of mooring fees and evening meals taken ashore. Balance is due 8 weeks prior On this cruise we plan to take advantage of the longer Bank Holiday weekend to venture southwards towards Cherbourg and the Channel Islands. This is a good time of year to cross the Channel because the weather is often good and we have the advantage of long hours of daylight. Sailing across the Channel and making a ‘foreign’ landfall is a special and memorable experience. Your skipper is an experienced Yachtmaster who is used to tailoring the event to provide the experience you are looking for – to relax and chat over hot drinks and biscuits in the cockpit; enjoying being afloat and the nautical life; or sailing and navigating the boat. We ensure that you have opportunities to helm, hoist and trim sails, pilot the boat in and out of harbour and assist in the many and varied tasks that arise in a vessel under sail.
Pay As You Go - Sotto Sotto Italian Restaurant Bath
Date: Friday 22nd May 2015 Place: Sotto Sotto, 10 North Parade, Bath (BA2 4AL) Ask for the Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £2 Sotto Sotto was recently Voted Best Italian in Bath at the Bath Good Food Awards and were also recently awarded a Certificate of Excellence by Trip Advisor - only the top 10% of businesses worldwide receive this prestigious award. Offering excellent Italian cuisine with an emphasis on simplicity and quality ingredients, it seemed like just the place for Spice to get together for a lovely social evening while sampling the excellent cuisine the place has to offer. This is a pay as you go event so you pay an admin fee of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the restaurant and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
Pyramid Bowling - Cribbs Causway
Date: Friday 22nd May 2015 Place: Hollywood Bowl, Cribbs Causway (BS10 7TT) inside the main entrance 7:30pm Cost: £15.50 Includes: 2 Games Of Bowling, Shoe Hire, Spice Host, Prizes Extras: Drinks / Food Tonight we’re playing Pyramid Bowling but with a BIG difference. We’ve decided to let the two regions of Spice Bristol Cardiff battle it out, giving you a chance to get a bit competitive as you compete against the other members in the club. For the purposes of this and to make it as fair as possible for everyone to participate, we’re meeting at the Bowlplex in Cwmbran which is approximately 30 minutes from central Cardiff and 40 minutes from central Bristol. The game is very simple and is basically a clever variation on normal Ten Pin Bowling that helps to even out the experts and the beginners. All will be explained on the night but suffice to say that you’ll be teamed up and it doesn’t matter whether you score 1 or 10 as you’ll still be making a good contribution to your teams score. As part of our evening we’ll also be having a meal from the Grill with items like a Burger, Hot Dog, Chicken Burger or Chicken Nuggets to choose from, all accompanied by fries and a soft drink. Bowling is always a great laugh and it doesn't matter if you've never bowled before or if you are at the top of your game, join us tonight for some fun and meet some of the other members from a bit further afield. At the end of the game there will be prizes for the best team score (the lower the better !!!).
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Secret Ridges of Wales Bank Holiday Walking Weekend
Fri 22nd May 2015 - Mon 25th May 2015 Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales. (SY21 0YB) From 6.00pm Friday £172, (Deposit £34) Includes: includes Friday evening supper, three nights B&B, packed lunches 4 course evening dinner party and Mountain Leader guided walks The trouble with ridge walking in Wales on a Bank Holiday weekend is the throng of other walkers doing the same. This break is designed to escape the crowds and tackle some of the spectacular, but lesser known routes. Your guide for these walks is Barry Smith, a qualified mountain leader who has been living in the area and walking these hills for over twenty five years. All the ridges involved are wide and far from scary so you can concentrate on the views rather than the drops. On Saturday, after a traditional cooked breakfast, we plan to tackle two of the highest peaks in Southern Snowdonia, Aran Fawddwy and its sister summit Aran Benllyn. We’ll be approaching the peaks from a little used route to the east which will take us by the impressive waterfall, Pystyll Gwyn. The walk is about 10 miles in length with spectacular views over to the coast and some of the more well-known peaks of North Wales to the North.
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Walking Weekend Harrogate and Dales
Fri 22nd May 2015 - Mon 25th May 2015 The Kimberley Hotel, 4 star, Harrogate, Yorkshire (HG1 5JY) Arrive from 2.00pm. Meal at 8.00p.m. £249 Twin Share, £309 Single, (Deposit £50 Twin Share, £60 Single) Includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 3 evening meals, 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Get to know the beautiful spa town of Harrogate as well as Pateley Bridge, Nidderdale and Knaresborough’s gorge through super, safe and sociable walking over a long Bank Holiday weekend! Situated in the UK’s most popular spa town of Harrogate this event is sure to raise admiring eyebrows and we hope this is going to prove a favourite area for many years to come. This new-to-WalkWise hotel combines the historic and luxurious 4 star Kimberley boutique hotel with some of the best walking the Dales has to offer. We will gain a valuable insight into this remarkable area with contrasting walks which explore a charming variety of natural and man-made habitats. We will intersperse picturesque villages with pretty parkland and open moorland, woodlands and valleys, panoramic open vista, shining rivers and dry stone walls to produce a pure Dales’ tapestry. Accommodation: The Kimberley hotel is one of Harrogate’s hidden gems and just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre. This impressive four star hotel is right in the heart of the beautiful spa town of Harrogate.
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Walking Weekend Ireland the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren
Fri 22nd May 2015 - Tue 26th May 2015 The White's Hotel, Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, Ireland Arrive from 4.00pm. Meal at 8.00pm. £325 Twin, £405 Single, (Deposit £80 Twin, £95 Single) Includes: 4 nights’ accommodation, 4 evening meals, 3 picnic lunches, 3 guided walks led by professional guides. with a choice of two walks daily, a harder and easier option to suit your needs Extras: Flights & transfers, Local transport; Approx. Euro 15 per person per walking day payable locally. Walkwise Overview: There have been requests from many walkers for WalkWise to return to Ireland and we wanted to do something new and exciting so we have chosen the amazing County Clare on the beautiful wild-west coast of Ireland. This area is rightly famous for three things: The Cliffs of Moher – a 5 mile section of sheer cliffs rising some 750 feet from the sea; the Burren – actually western Europe’s largest karstic limestone area! We shall stay in a 3 star White’s Hotel in Lisdoonvarna where all our needs will be fully met. Our holiday will begin early with a sailing from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire where we will be transferred by coach to our destination in Clare. Clare’s charm comes from the friendly local pubs, excellent traditional music, laid back locals and EXCELLENT walking. Beautiful Walking: From our base in Lisdoonvarna, we are minutes away from the Cliffs of Moher. Cliffs of Moher Day: Our intention is to make the very most of our time there to take in the whole experience. We will make sure to visit the state-of-the-art Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, take a visit to O’Brien’s Tower
Walking Weekend North Devon Coastal Treat
Date: Fri 22nd May 2015 - Mon 25th May 2015 Place: Valley of the Rocks Hotel, Lynton, North Devon (EX35 6HS) Arrive from 4.00pm. Meal at 7.00pm. Cost: £225 Twin Share, £285 Single, (Deposit £45 Twin Share, £55 Single, £55 Guest Single) Includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 evening meals & 3 days of guided walks with a choice of 2 guided walks each day Extras: Transport to walk starts if used. £20 Sea View supplement if required WalkWise Overview: This year we will treat ourselves with everyday being a perfect ‘coastal and clotted cream’ day! The North Devon coastal region around Lynton and Porlock offers an undisturbed tranquillity and timeless charm that is so hard to find! These areas each offer something unique, with tremendous seascapes and plunging cliffs to one side and on the other, stunning heather moorland and deep cut river valleys that typify the Exmoor National Park. Our hotel, called the Valley of the Rocks, nestles high up on lively Lynton’s west cliff and its nearby country pub is also a very handy attraction. Lynton is an ideal base to explore the North Devon Coast and this unique and varied terrain provide the perfect options for all levels and ability of walkers. Accommodation: The Valley of the Rocks Hotel is ideally situated within the lovely cliff top village of Lynton abundant in Victorian architecture, arts and crafts shops and quaint tea rooms. Your stay here is intended be comfortable and clean replete with hearty three course meals and amazing views of the dramatic coastline.
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Walking Weekend The Welsh 3000's
Friday 22nd May 2015 Legacy Royal Victoria Hotel, Llanberis (LL55 4TY) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal is at 8.00p.m. £249 Twin Share, £309 Single Includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 3 evening meals, 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 days of guided walking An Ultimate Mountain Challenge completing all 15 Welsh 3000’s from Llanberis Snowdonia. Staying in the ideally situated 3 star Quality Snowdon hotel at the foot of Snowdon itself we aim to tackle all 15 famous summits of the Welsh Mountains. This is some of the best high level walking in the country, taking in the three mountain ranges of the Carneddau, the Glyders and Snowdon massif itself. The beauty of doing this walking over 3 days is that all summits can be achieved during daylight so we get all the views and we get a great hotel to base our challenge from! The WalkWise Walking Programme: This is the crème de la crème of mountain ridge walking in Wales you must have a serious ‘head for heights’. It shows you all 15 precious 3000-foot mountains and at the same time does them all justice. They have been walked in 24 hours but that would involve walking some of them in the dark. Total distance 29 Miles total ascent 14, 160ft. Accommodation: We stay in the Legacy Royal Victoria hotel, a three star quality hotel on the outskirts of the village. The centre is a delightful large Victorian building with a commanding position overlooking Lyn Padarn.
Cocktail Masterclass and Clubbing at Ladybird Cardiff
Date: Saturday 23rd May 2015 Place: Basement, 41 St Mary Street, Cardiff (CF10 1AD) Ladybird - Ask for Spice 7:45pm Cost: £25 Includes: 90 minute Cocktail masterclass, 2 cocktails, Buffet, Entry into Club and VIP table, Spice Host Get behind the bar tonight with some talented mixologists and learn how to shake, mix, stir and even flame your favourite cocktail! We’re off to Ladybird Nightclub, a venue with great music and excellent cocktails. On arrival we’ll enjoy a champagne cocktail and will then watch the mixologists demonstrate three different cocktails which we all get to taste. After that we get behind the bar and make a cocktail of our choice under the guidance of the mixologists! There are games throughout, it’s plenty of fun, and you get the chance to learn something a bit different. As part of our evening we’ll be having a buffet (included in the price) and we will also have a VIP table in the Club after the class. We can then dance the night away while enjoying the fantastic cocktails we’ve created. It’s fun, it’s fabulous and it’s unusual, so don’t miss this.
Dinner Shuffle - Browns, Bristol
Date: Saturday 23rd May 2015 Place: 38 Queens Road, Clifton, Bristol (BS8 1RE) 7.30p.m. in Browns Bar Cost: £32 Extras: Drinks Includes: 3 Course Shuffle Meal, Service, Spice Host This evening sees the return of one of our most popular and well attended events – the Dinner Shuffle. The concept is very simple but will give you the opportunity to meet and chat to many other members during the course of the evening. A shuffle is where half of us move places after Starters, and the other half move after the Main Course. We’ll then do the same thing again before dessert so that you get to sit in three different places with three groups of people during the evening. This is an easy way to socialise and helps you meet a lot of new people! We’ll be going to Browns this evening where you can choose a selection of dishes sample menu below.
Feel the Fear .. and do it anyway®
Date: Saturday 23rd May 2015 Place: Lea Marston Hotel, just off A4097 nr M42 (B76 0BY) 10.00am start Cost: £55 Includes: Coffees/Teas & Light Buffet Lunch Many of you will be familiar with the phrase “Feel the fear and do it anyway” and this is the title of today’s workshop. Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway® is the registered trademark of Susan Jeffers, author of the international bestseller of that name and is being used with her express permission. The workshop is licensed by Susan and based on her teachings. Despite her death in 2012, Susan’s team of trainers continue to pass on her techniques and knowledge, including Eve Uhlig who is training us today. Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway® is for anyone who is allowing fear, doubt, worry or social anxiety to reduce their effectiveness and enjoyment of work and life. How many times have you wanted to do something but stopped yourself because you were afraid or didn't feel you were good enough? This all comes down to one powerful emotion - fear and all too often we decide that this is a good enough reason not to take action. During this workshop you will learn, step by step, how to feel the fear and do it anyway so you can move from a place of powerlessness to a place of excitement, energy and power...... Our trainer, Eve, has incorporated all of the most powerful and effective techniques she has learned to transform her life and supports others in applying them to their own lives. By taking everything you will learn today and applying it to your life consistently, you will feel empowered to embark on a new way of living ... you will begin to fear-less... and make choices that will dramatically change your life for the better!
White Water Kayaks
Date: Saturday 23rd May 2015 Place: Symonds Yat (HR9 6EG) 10am to approx 4.30pm Cost: £55 Your small, streamlined craft becomes an extension of your body – totally manoeuvrable, totally in your control. You navigate lines which are seemingly impossible, in natures’ three-dimensional world that is white water. To succeed against such power is the most satisfying experience. Today maybe just a beginning for you – but you’ll be back. Todays session is run by Den and the team from Forest Adventure and is an excellent opportunity for anyone wanting to experience the thrill of white water kayaking. Whether you're a total novice or have done this before, you'll have loads of fun developing your basic skills, and getting used to the feel of the moving water. If you've kayaked in a pool or on 'flat water' before you'll find this quite different as the movement of the water makes your paddle stokes and turns more interesting. If you're up to it, you'll get a chance on the rapids where you'll have the chance to ' play ' the river - or is it playing with you! Under the expert guidance you'll soon be using the eddies to your advantage and discovering how to manoeuvre round all sorts of obstacles. All necessary equipment is provided.
Blaise Castle Museum + Sunday Roast
Date: Sunday 24th May 2015 Place: Henbury Road, Bristol (BS10 7QS) Meet: Blaise Castle House Museum-Main Entrance 11:30am Cost: £18 Includes: Visit to Blaise Castle House Museum, 2 Course Sunday Lunch, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Join us today as we head off to the Blaise Castle House Museum situated in the beautiful parkland of the Blaise Estate at Henbury. The museum is housed in a late 18th century mansion, and contains most of Bristol’s social history collections. Here you can explore hundreds of weird and wonderful objects that show how people used to live in the past. The displays illustrate how households have changed over time, from dog wheels to kitchen ranges, rush lights to street lighting, fire grates to gas stoves, and some unusual early cleaning appliances. See why the washing used to take a whole day, and wonder at the unusual risk of a gas heated bath! The costume collection consists of approximately 10,000 items dating from the 1730’s to the present day, along with textiles such as quilts and banners, and the entire contents of a Bristol haberdasher’s shop. On display you can find nineteenth century dresses, gentlemen's waistcoats, and a display of hats, shoes and accessories of the twentieth century, from a 1920s cloche hat to 1970s platform shoes. After we’ve visited the house we will wander down to The Blaise Inn situated at the main entrance to Blaise Castle Estate. Here we will enjoy one of their scrumptious Sunday lunches with various choices on the menu on offer for this 2 course meal.
Segway Trekking in Caerphilly
Date: Sunday 24th May 2015 Place: Heol Penybryn, Caerphilly, Gwent (CF83 1NG) Mountain View Ranch 1:45pm Cost: £28 Includes: 1 Hour Segway Experience, Spice Host The Segway is the latest weird and wonderful must try gadget. It’s a 2 wheeled defier of logic and today we’re going to give them a go! Powered by electric motors and gyros you simply stand on it and away you go. It may not look much but you're guaranteed to have the Segway smile during and after your ride. We’ll first get to grips with these two wheeled wonders in a 15 minute training session and will then hit the rough stuff as the experienced ranchers take you up hills, over streams and whatever stand in your way on these amazing off road machines! This is a driving experience you’re bound to love! We advise all participants to wear clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather conditions and which they do not mind getting damaged. Personal protective equipment will be worn for most activities and wearing appropriate clothing will make this a more comfortable experience.
Cinema Night - Cardiff
Date: Monday 25th May 2015 Place: Cine World, Mary Ann Street, Cardiff (CF10 2EN) 7.30pm inside the main foyer 7:30pm Extras: Pay on the night This evening the Spice Cinema Club is getting together at the Odean in Cardiff to go to the flicks. It’s always good to see a movie on the big screen in the company of a few friends so tonight is our opportunity to do just that. Each month we choose a movie (usually a latest release with good reviews) and will email you in advance to let you know what we’ve chosen. For this, we love member suggestions, so please email us if there is a specific movie you’d like to see. Also, please make sure you’ve let us know that you want to be a part of our movie club so you get the emails. If you decide you would like to go along, please book online so that we can organise for you all to meet up.
Spice Meet and Eat - Banco Lounge Totterdown
Date: Thursday 28th May 2015 Place: 107 Wells Road, Totterdown, Bristol (BS4 2BS) Banco Lounge - Ask for the Spice Table 7:30pm Join Spice tonight for our monthly Meet & Eat. Every month we head to a NEW pub or restaurant for a social night-out. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. We’ll let the venue know we’re coming and anyone who fancies a meal can choose, order and pay on the night. If you’ve already eaten then just come along for the social chat and a drink. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Book online (members) or drop us an email (non-members) so we know you’re coming and one of our Spice hosts will be there to meet you. Our venue tonight is Banco Lounge in Totterdown. The Loungers was founded in 2002 by a trio of longstanding friends and the Banco Lounge in Totterdown was the fifth Lounge to open in Bristol in June 2006. Banco Lounge is a relaxed and welcoming venue, offering a good range of popular, familiar dishes at sensible, affordable prices, and ticking all the boxes of what a good local café/pub/restaurant should be.
Spice Meet and Eat - The Castell Mynach
Date: Thursday 28th May 2015 Place: Llantrisant Rd, Groesfaen, Pontyclun (CF72 8HN) The Castell Mynach - In the Bar 7:30pm Join Spice tonight for our monthly Meet & Eat. Every month we head to a new pub for a social night-out. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. We’ll let the pub know we’re coming and anyone who fancies a meal can choose, order and pay on the night. If you’ve already eaten then just come along for the social chat and a drink. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Book online (members) or drop us an email (non-members) so we know you’re coming and one of our Spice hosts will be there to meet you. Our venue tonight is The Castell Mynach, a country pub and restaurant oozing rural charm and rustic character. Built in the 1930's, the name Castell Mynach translates into English as: "The Castle of the Monks", referring to an old monastery which the pub overlooked. Country pub dining in Llantrisant doesn't get much better. From wild boar & chorizo burger to classic cod & chips, every one of the lovingly made dishes is served with a generous helping of rustic charm. You’ll also be sure to find a pint of British cask-ale or a glass of wellchosen wine.
Find the Missing Treasure Guided Walk - Swansea Maritime Quarter
Date: Saturday 30th May 2015 Place: La Baguette du Jour, 9 Caer Street, Swansea (SA1 3PP) Meet in the Coffee Shop 2pm Cost: £6 Includes: Guided Treasure Walk, Spice Host This Treasure Trail is situated in Swansea’s Maritime Quarter, just a stone’s throw away from the stunning Swansea Bay coastline and a five minute walk from the city centre. Along the Trail there are lots of quaint, interesting and historic places to see and visit. Take in the old haunts of Dylan Thomas and you’ll start to discover the hidden treasures in this recently developed area of the city. You could even pop in at the top of the Meridian Tower - the tallest building in Wales. At 350ft, enjoy 360 degree panoramic views from floor to ceiling across Swansea Bay. This is an easy walking Trail of just under 2 miles all on the flat. It will take about 2 hours to complete. After our walk we’ll meet back at the coffee shop where we see how everyone’s done and give a prize to the winning team, as well as grab a drink and a bite to eat (optional and payable on the day). It’s a fabulous way to spend some time with other Spice members exploring and getting out in the fresh air.
Introduction to Golf
Date: Saturday 30th May 2015 Place: Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Derry Hill, Calne, Wiltshire (SN11 9PQ) Inside Clubhouse - Main Bar Time: 10:45am Cost: £19.99 Includes: 2 Hour Introduction to Golf, All Equipment Extras: Refreshments The relaxing, yet frustrating sport of golf is played all over the world and ever more people are taking up this wonderful game. So to help you to see what all the fuss is about we have an excellent morning's entertainment lined up for you today. Upon arrival at 10.45am relax in the bar area and buy yourself a coffee (payable on the day) before we head outside at 11.00am for a two hour lesson with qualified teaching professional golfer Paul McLean. This gentle introduction to golf will include learning the basics of putting and short game on the Academy Course and swing basics on the driving range before setting out to put your new found skills into practise with a Team Texas Scramble on the Driving Range. This day is great for beginners/new golfers and for inexperienced golfers. Absolutely no previous golfing experience is necessary as Paul will tell you all you need to know to get started. Our venue is the beautiful Bowood Golf & Country Club between Chippenham and Calne. This privately owned course situated on the Bowood Estate is one of the best in the south west and boasts top class facilities. After the session we'll head into the Clubhouse bar for a well-earned lunch (payable extra) and review of our new found skills.
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Diving with Sharks
Sunday 31st May 2015 Blue Planet, Ellesmere Port (CH65 9LF) 2:15pm Cost: £205 A fantastic opportunity for just about anybody to sample the thrill of this amazing experience. How often do you get the chance the meet a 10ft long sand tiger shark? Well you can at Blue Planet Aquarium, home to one of Europe's largest collections of sharks. As a PADI 5* IDC and National Geographic Dive Centre, Blue Planet Aquarium offers the highest levels of customer service and product offerings to all of its visitors. During your program you will be diving with Europe’s largest collection of Sand Tiger Sharks (over 7ft long) as well as Lemon & Nurse sharks, southern stingrays, moray eels & a host of coloured fish in tropical conditions. While in the tank you may be able to find sharks teeth from our white coral sand & wave to your friends through the 71m underwater tunnel as you are guided by your experienced Instructor through the Caribbean Reef system. Our session starts at 2.15pm & finishes at approx 7pm – arrive earlier if you want to have a good look around the aquarium. You dive in pairs with three qualified divers accompanying, starting with a session in the holding tank & explanation of the equipment. All divers will be provided with a full set of diving equipment appropriate to their stature. For this event we require to know your height & chest size. The cost includes basic diving tuition; full use of the Scuba equipment, approx 30 – 40 minutes session in the tank; entrance for 2 spectators (who must be pre notified to us) – extra spectators incur a charge & must be pre-booked with the Spice office at least 7 days prior to the event. Although no qualifications or experience is required to undertake the program, scuba diving does require a moderate level of fitness. To ensure this a medical statement must be completed and returned in advance - a copy of which will be sent to all bookers. The full event cost is required to book this event. This is non-refundable unless we can re-sell your place.
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Epsom Derby Festival Race Day and After Party and 1 Night Hotel
Sat 6th Jun 2015 - Sun 7th Jun 2015 Hilton Cobham, Seven Hills Road South, Cobham (KT11 1EW) Arrive at hotel for 11am (final details by email) £179 Twin Share, £210 Single, (Deposit £35 Twin Share, £40 Single) Includes: Grandstand entrance ticket to Epsom Derby, 1 night Luxury Hotel Accommodation, Evening Meal, Drink at Hotel bar (beer/wine, soft drink), Transfer to Epsom Derby from hotel (return), Full English Breakfast on Sunday, Use of leisure facilities at hotel This is an exciting social weekend including the Epsom Festival Race Day and a luxury overnight stay at the lovely Hilton Cobham Hotel situated in the heart of Surrey and just a 20 minute drive from Epsom Racecourse. On Saturday We leave the hotel to make our way to Epsom Racecourse in time of the start of the racing. The transfer to and from Epsom Racecourse is included in our price. The Epsom Derby Festival Race Day is Britain’s Biggest Day out featuring the World’s greatest flat race. It remains the race that everyone wants to win, as horses and riders push themselves to the limit around the unique and challenging course. With approximately 30 minutes between each race, the afternoon is pitched at the perfect tempo, so you can relax and mingle with other Spice members, place a bet on your favourite horses and sample the top class sporting action. There is an after party after the races, which is always a great end to the day. On Sunday after a Full English breakfast (included in the price) we have arranged an optional visit to Painshill Park which is close by. Painshill Park has something for everyone: discover the mystical follies, historic plantings, trees and shrubs and some of Surrey’s amazing wildlife. We can stroll through the grounds, round the Serpentine Lake and visit the tea room. Alternatively you can make use of the leisure facilities at the hotel before heading off home.
Epsom Derby Festival Race Day and After Party and 2 Nights Hotel
Date: Fri 5th Jun 2015 - Sun 7th Jun 2015 Place: Hilton Cobham Seven Hills Road South, Cobham (KT11 1EW) Check In From 3.00pm on Friday Cost: £220 Twin Share, £270 Single (Deposit £40 Twin Share, £50 Single) Includes 2 nights accom with 2 breakfasts. Why not join us for the Friday night and make a weekend of it. Please see the event description above for Saturday & Sunday. We will get together on Friday evening for a meal and a drink (not included) with other Spice members and your Spice host.
Epsom Derby Festival Day and After Party
Date: Saturday 6th June 2015 Place: Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom (KT18 5LQ) Outside Main Pavilion Entrance at 11:30am Cost: £49 Includes: Entrance to Grandstand Investec Derby Day, Booking Fee, Spice Host Extras: Food and Drinks We meet the Spice members staying for the weekend at the race course for 11:30am, see Saturdays event description above
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Night at the Movies Tribute Night and Dinner
Friday 5th June 2015 Aztec Hotel & Spa, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol (BS32 4TS) Ask for the Spice Table 7pm £42.50 Includes: Night at the Movies Tribute Act, 3 Course Dinner, Half bottle of Wine, Disco and Hot Dogs at Midnight, Booking Fee, Spice Host Love movies, musicals and music? Well, then this night is for you. This tribute act will bring back memories of some of the classic films of the era and best of all, there’s also a 3 course meal, a half bottle of wine and you can let it loose on the dance floor to the disco afterwards. Finishing off with a hot dog at midnight, it’s an evening not to be missed. Please book early as we need to confirm numbers with the venue and this show is sure to book out quickly!
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Sea Kayaking with the Seals
Fri 5th Jun 2015 - Sun 7th Jun 2015 Pembrokeshire, South Wales (SA62 5HN) From 5pm Friday evening £279 Sharing, £42 Extra Sunday Night (Deposit £55) Includes: 2 nights 5 star eco lodge accommodation, all meals from Friday supper to Sunday lunch, 2 full day sea kayaking, all specialist kit, qualified and friendly guides, transport for the activities, free train station transfers for certain trains. This tried and tested introductory weekend is a perfect introduction to kayaking in Pembrokeshire and will suit both beginner kayakers and those with a little experience of pootling on rivers, lakes or quiet ocean waters. You’ll get the chance to explore some of the most beautiful sheltered bays, coastline and harbours of Pembrokeshire and there’ll be mysterious and awe inspiring caves to be explored and wildlife to be spotted. On a skills level you’ll develop an efficient forward paddling stroke, you’ll master turning your kayak, and gain confidence to take your skills and experience to the next level.
Take That Tribute Night and Dinner
Date: Friday 5th June 2015 Place: Village Hotel, 29 Pendwyallt Road, Cardiff (CF14 7EF) Ask for the Spice Table 7pm to 1am Cost: £28 Includes: Take That Tribute Act, 3 Course Meal and Disco until 1.00am, Booking Fee, Spice Host Extras: Drinks The Take That Tribute Night bring you all the thrills of this hugely popular act. A tribute show you will "Never Forget". The ultra talented members of The Take That Tribute Band present a show with all the versatility, humour, experience and magic of the real thing! Take That have had 10 No. 1 singles and 4 No. 1 albums in their career and those numbers are set to rise. The Take That show features all the hits from the 90's such as 'Back for Good', 'Relight my Fire', 'Pray' to the new recent hits such as 'Patience', 'Shine', 'Rule the World' to the brand new album 'Progress'. Aside from the fabulous show, we’ll also enjoy a 3 course meal and can let it loose on the dance floor to the disco. This is an evening not to be missed.
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Walking Weekend Arundel West Sussex and Downs
Fri 5th Jun 2015 - Sun 7th Jun 2015 Norfolk Arms Hotel in Arundel, West Sussex (BN18 9AB) Arrive from 4.00p.m Meal 8.00pm. £169 Twin Share, £209 Single (Deposit £35 Twin Share, £40 Single) Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals and a choice of 2 guided walks each day Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Walkwise Overview: West Sussex is simply a stunning area of outstanding natural beauty, filled with history, wildlife, picturesque villages, enchanting country pubs, rolling countryside and meandering river valleys, all of ensure your walks are beautiful varied, interesting and thoroughly enjoyable. Further, numerous trails and paths crisscross the beautiful countryside allowing everyone easy access to what is now Britain’s newest National Park. Our two walking days are planned to provide contrasting scenery and a variety of countryside. The Norfolk Arms hotel is well placed right on the High Street in the centre of Arundel. It simply oozes a wealth of history and heritage. It is a charming Georgian Coaching Inn, built over 200 years ago by the 10th Duke of Norfolk, but today it also provides for the modern traveller, with en suite bedrooms.
Crazy Golf at the Celtic Manor
Date: Saturday 6th June 2015 Place: Coldra Woods, Usk Valley, Newport (NP18 1HQ) Celtic Manor Resort - Hotel Entrance 10:45am Cost: £12.50 Includes: 18 Holes of Adventure Golf, Spice Host Join Spice today at The Celtic Manor Resort where adventure is the name of the game with this fun putting challenge! Adventure Golf at Celtic Manor comprises of two nine hole courses, 'Celtic Challenge' and the 'Kingdom of Legends' which feature water hazards, bridges and rafts to add to the fun, but also pose a skilful putting challenge on high-quality, allweather greens. It doesn’t matter if you’d just like to try your hand at golf for the first time, or if you’re a seasoned pro, Adventure Golf is not to be missed! After our golf, we’ll go along to one of the resort restaurants for a drink and a bite to eat (optional and payable on the day).
Recording Studio Session
Date: Saturday 6th June 2015 Place: Robannas Studios, Birmingham (B19 3SN)10am to approx 2pm Cost: £45 Includes: Full studio facilities, professional mixing, backing tracks, CD & certificate Another opportunity to fulfil a lifetime ambition at a famous studio which has been used by stars such as Pussycat Dolls, Robert Plant, Tony Christie (Amarillo), Magnum & recently Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. Upon arrival we will each be photographed for our CD covers, and will be welcomed to this state-of-the-art recording studio by the professional team who will attempt to explain the equipment and how it all works. When everyone is ready, it is time to get into the vocal booths to record a track for your CD. Each person will get individual attention to get a result that we all hope you will be proud of. When you’re not singing yourself, you’ll be helping and encouraging your fellow Spice ‘stars’, so it is very much a team effort! The studio have a wide range of backing tracks covering lots of styles of music from which you can choose your special song.
Unique Wolf Experience with Walk - Bedford
Date: Saturday 6th June 2015 Place: A428 between Bromham and Turvey, Bedfordshire 10:30am to 1pm Cost: £45 Includes: exclusive Spice visit with opportunity to walk and fee the wolves Usually this visit would cost £69 Walk and feed the wolves - another unusual and truly amazing experience and a popular event with Spice members. We have run this event many times and always receive excellent feedback. Are you afraid of the Big Bad Wolf - probably, so now is a chance to confront your fears and dispel those childhood myths. We meet the wolves and their handlers at the Anglian Wolf Society which is located between Bromham and Turvey near Bedford. The Anglian Wolf Society is a small private sanctuary for wolves and they support and raise funds for wolf conservation. They are not open to the public but have kindly agreed to allow Spice members to visit the centre to learn more about the wolves their habits. There are opportunities to feed them and have some hands on experience. We also accompany one of the wolves on a walk around the adjacent land. The handlers will make you very welcome and chat to you throughout the whole wolf experience and answer any of your questions. This event and the introduction to wolves will allay any pre-conceived ideas we may have about these beautiful animals! We will apologise in advance for our next line!! Why don’t you come along and make this a “howling” success!
Caving for the Terrified
Date: Sunday 7th June 2015 Place: Matlock Bath 10.00am to approx 1.30pm Cost: £35 Another of Mark's brilliant events that are aimed at those who really want to conquer a challenging outdoor pursuit, but feel the need for some extra 'loving care' and patience to help them meet their ambition. This day is an ideal introduction in an interesting cave system, but one where you have the peace of mind of knowing that you could quickly be brought to the surface if the experience proves too much! So if you've always been a bit wary of taking your first trip underground then this is the event for you. Oh, and don’t worry if it’s cold outside, caves are the same temperature all year round.
Medieval Jousting - Warwickshire
Date: Sunday 7th June 2015 Place: Warwick International, Guys Cliff (CV34 5YD) 9.15an - 5.00pm Cost: £175 This is a unique opportunity to learn the ultimate medieval art, with The Knights of Middle England. Our day is run by Karl Ude-Martinez who has over 12 years of experience in performing live jousting shows all over Europe. Some of you may have met him at our Polo days, and may also know that he is an up coming actor with numerous TV, Film and Theatre appearances. For obvious safety reasons, we will not be allowed to actually hit each other with our jousts as death often results from that – and such bravery is not deemed culturally appropriate to the modern age! However, they use a quitaine (or dummy) to take the impact. On arrival you will be given a safety briefing and then your riding will be assessed. You will learn basic jousting skills such as hitting the quintaine and learn basic sword and staff fighting. Being a knight also involves being dressed in medieval costume. Traditionally jousting was only permitted for men to partake in, but fear not we take lady knights too!! So come and throw down the gauntlet and challenge the men! No real riding experience is needed in order to participate in the jousting, but would be an advantage for certain activities. For safety reasons if the instructor on the day feels your riding is not strong enough for certain tasks, you will make it up in other activities. Reasonable level of fitness is required as you will be in the saddle and partaking in many tasks for most of the day. Max weight is 20 stone. There is no height restriction.
Nottage and Sker Point Circular Walk near Bridgend
Date: Sunday 7th June 2015 Place: Rest Bay Parking Lot, Porthcawl (CF36 3UP) Spice Sign 11:30am Cost: £6 Includes: 6 Mile Guided Walk Join us today for a loveloy circular walk from Rest Bay along the coast to Sker point and through the countryside around Nottage. There’s plenty so see with historical interest along the route, as well as fabulous views across Rest Bay, Swansea Bay, and, on a clear day of the Gower, North Devon and the Somerset Coast. Kenfig Burrows is a National Nature reserve and a special area of Conservation and here we can see very rare fen orchid grass, plants, fungi and invertegrates only known to occur in South Wales and on the coast of Brittany. The walk is about 6 miles long and will take approximately 4 hours to complete. We will stop along the way for some lunch, so either bring a packed picnic or some money for a local put.
Walk: Congresbury, Cadbury Hill Fort, Yatton
Date: Sunday 7th June 2015 Place: Bristol Road, Congresbury (BS49 5BG) Congresbury Car Park Time: 11am Cost: £6 Includes: 5 Mile Guided Walk A walk not too far from Bristol takes you along fields, through woods and a hill-fort, along with a reclaimed railway line. Please wear appropriate clothing and good walking shoes and don’t forget to have your waterproofs to hand – just in case it rains. After our walk we’ll stop in a local pub for a bite to eat. Please bring some cash along for lunch. Take the A370 from Bristol to Weston-super-Mare. At the village of Congresbury, you come to traffic-lights just over the river. Right takes you to the M5 and Weston; left takes you to Churchill. You want to turn left prior to the traffic-lights and immediately right to the village car park. Date: Place: Cost:
Fly Fishing Weekend
Fri 12th Jun 2015 - Sun 14th Jun 2015 Lluest Fach Farm and Valley Dam Fishery (SY21 0YB) From 6.00pm on Friday £202 Sharing, (Deposit £40) Includes: Friday night light supper, Two nights B&B, lunches, 4 course evening meal and all instruction, equipment and licences You’ll soon be hooked on the popular and fascinating sport of fly fishing on this weekend rural escape. As a group activity it can be great fun, and over the weekend you will learn all the basics, including the opportunity to catch your first trout and take it home for supper. This weekend is aimed at the complete beginner and is suitable for anyone interested in taking their first steps into fly fishing as all equipment and licences are included. Your tuition takes place at the private Valley Dam Fishery; in the heart of the beautiful Mid Wales countryside
Birds of Prey Weekend
Date: Fri 12th Jun 2015 - Sun 14th Jun 2015 Place: Lluest Fach, Foel, Mid-Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00pm Buffet Supper at 8.30 Cost: £215 Sharing, (Deposit £43) Includes: Friday evening supper, 2 nights B&B, lunches & 4 course Evening meal Birds of prey can be admired at a distance and enjoyed at open air displays, but if you’ve ever wondered how great it would be to get really close to these birds, now's your chance. You’ll discover more about them, and experience them up close and personal on this unique birds of prey and falconry weekend. You will be part of a small group spending time in the heart of the beautiful Welsh countryside, learning all about raptors and everything involved in the keeping and flying of these amazing birds. During the weekend you will be guided through the world of falconry, and trained in the handling of birds of prey, getting the chance to fly owls and buzzards from your own gloved hand! You will also gain an insight into the history of falconry, which came over to the British Isles in around 860 AD, and discover why it is still enjoyed around the world today. Over the weekend, the experienced falconers will take you out into the countryside where you will handle and free fly a Harris Hawk. As you ‘walk’ the birds through the beautiful Welsh countryside, you will have the thrill of sharing the grace and mobility of these fabulous creatures as they soar through their natural environment.
Ladies Evening at Chepstow Racecourse
Date: Friday 12th June 2015 Place: Chepstow Racecourse, Chepstow, Monmouthshire (NP16 6BE) Grandstand Entrance - Spice Sign 5pm Cost: £32.50 Includes: Entrance to Grandstand and Ticket, Booking Fee, Spice Host Extras: Refreshments Includes: Grandstand and Paddock Ticket, Booking Fee, Music after the Racing provided by BBC Radio DJ Sara Cox, Spice Host You can’t beat the spectacle and colour of an evening at the races! Join us tonight for one of the most popular race meetings in the calendar at Chepstow. It will be a lovely summer’s evening of fashion and fun with music playing after racing as the sun sets over the picturesque sporting venue. There is a fantastic prize for the Best Dressed Lady to the value of £1000.00 and the top ten will also receive a prize. The post-racing entertainment will be provided by BBC Radio DJ Sara Cox. Sara currently works on BBC Radio 2, where she hosts the popular Saturday night Sound of the 80s show. Those heading to Ladies Evening can look forward to a mixture of 80s classics and modern tunes for 90 minutes after the last race. It’s a fantastic way to kickstart your weekend as we meet and mingle with other Spice members, take a look at the horses, put a bet on our favourite horses and watch as they thunder through the finish line. Book early so you don’t miss this one!
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Walking Weekend Norfolk Coast and Broads
Fri 12th Jun 2015 - Sun 14th Jun 2015 Comfort Hotel, Great Yarmouth, Kings Lynn, Norfolk (NR30 3JH) Arrive from 4.00pm. Meal at 8.00pm. £159 Twin Share, £199 Single, (Deposit £35 Twin Share, £40 Single) Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals & 2 days of guided walks with a choice of 2 walks each day Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Norfolk has always been high on the WalkWise wish list with recent visits to Kings Lynn and Cromer. It is our plan to walk through some of the finest scenery in Norfolk, namely the Broads and the Coast. The Norfolk Broads is a unique national park famed for its quiet waterways and stunning nature reserves. But contrary to popular belief, it’s not just accessible by boat, and much of it is networked by a maze of peaceful footpaths. This will allow us to walk alongside the broads before reaching the coast where we will visit some traditional seaside towns, cross golden beaches and seek out the hidden wildlife as we trek back to Great Yarmouth! Accommodation: Ideally located within a one-minute walk from Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile promenade, the Comfort Hotel at Great Yarmouth is a superb base for a leisure break by the seaside. The hotel has a lovely Below Decks Restaurant where the restaurant staff will take great pride in serving you a tempting choice of local and international cuisine that will set you up for your walking weekend and there is a wine list that compliments a variety of tastes.
Athorpe Literary Festival
Date: Saturday 13th June 2015 Place: Althorp, Northants (NN7 4HQ) 12.30pm Cost: £45 This is a wonderful Spice opportunity to join in one of the highlights of the social and literary calendar and enjoy this impressive estate. As well as your entry ticket, Spice have got in quick to secure tickets for what we consider the 4 most sought after sessions of that day (see below). A Spice coordinator will meet us and help us to stay together during the day. And perhaps we’ll have some literary discussions over a glass or 2 of champagne! Althorp House provides the most magnificent setting for The Althorp Literary Festival. Literature is synonymous with Althorp – part of its history. George John, the Second Earl Spencer, amassed one of the greatest private libraries of its time, amounting to over 43,000 volumes of priceless first editions, sprawling through the house’s grandest rooms. The Literary Festival is a unique celebration of Literature. In its first eleven years, the Festival has been privileged to host nearly 200 novelists, historians, comedians, actors, politicians, sportsmen and television personalities. Our Day Ticket includes tickets for four individual author sessions. Talks will take place in one of two venues; The Christie’s Lecture Theatre marquee on the front lawn or in the State Dining Room inside the House:
Avon Gorge River Cruise - Bristol
Date: Saturday 13th June 2015 Place: Wapping Wharf, Gas Ferry Rd, Bristol (BS1 6UN) Wapping Wharf - Spice Sign 2pm to 5:45pm Cost: £23.50 Includes: River Cruise to Avon Gorge, Snacks, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Join Spice and other Spice members as we spend a lazy Sunday afternoon taking a scenic cruise through the Floating Harbour, out on to the tidal Avon and through the spectacular gorge. We’ll then sail under Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge and down the river to the Bristol Channel. There’s a full bar serving hot and cold drinks, and we’ll have some snacks along the way. This is a great way to spend the afternoon with friends in an idyllic location.
Golfers Day Out
Date: Saturday 13th June 2015 Place: Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Derry Hill, Calne, Wiltshire (SN11 9PQ) Inside the clubhouse 1:15pm Cost: £39.99 Includes: 3 – 31/2 Hours Golfing with a Pro. Please note that all attendees must have own clubs, golf shoes and appropriate golf attire. Extras: Any drinks and Lunch Imagine combining unlimited acres of beautiful rolling Wiltshire countryside and mature woodland with one of the UK’s best golf course designers. You’ve just imagined the manicured beauty of Bowood’s championship golf course. The course itself was designed by Dave Thomas to be a joy to play, whilst the surrounding facilities include a clubhouse, hotel, restaurants and practice facilities. The course has a range of tees to suit all levels of golf, ensuring it is enjoyable for higher handicappers whilst providing a full-on 7,300 yard challenge for better players. The layout and views are stunning and the only 3 buildings that you can see on the way round are the clubhouse, Queenwood golf lodge and the spire from Derry Hill Church. This day is aimed at established golfers with on course experience and upon arrival at 1.15pm relax in the bar area and buy yourself a coffee (payable on the day) before we head outside at 1.30pm for a three to three and a half hour golfing day out with qualified teaching professional golfer and Pro, Paul McLean. We’ll start our session with a warm up/practice on the driving range and will then play 9 holes on the Bowood Championship course. Buggies are included (subject to availability) as well as scorecards and course planners. After the session at about 5pm, we'll head into the Clubhouse bar for a well-earned drink (payable extra) and review of our new found skills.
Kayak River Adventure Day
Date: Saturday 13th June 2015 Place: Symonds Yat (HR9 5QT) 10am to approx 4.30pm Cost: £55 This area really is canoe country! The team from Forest Adventure have come up with a varied route for single seat kayaks enjoyable for absolute beginners and practiced paddlers alike. They have planned out for us, one of the most scenic, most photographed, stretches of the Wye, from Kerne Bridge to Huntsmans Bridge taking in views of Symonds Yat as we go. Having allowed four and a half hours for the trip, it should be a leisurely day, the famous Kestrels might even be keeping an eye on us from high above the valley. It's a great first timers event, but will also be fun for those of you who have some experience. If you've been to one of our Canoe Skills Workshops at the pool, you'll discover that moving water adds a whole new dimension to the sport, as you try to master your boat, the currents and your technique! Throughout the trip we will be practicing and developing technique, and using the water to help manoeuver the kayak. All equipment is provided.
Pay As You Go - Chez Francis Cardiff
Date: Saturday 13th June 2015 Place: 185 Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff (CF11 9AJ) Chez Francis - Ask for the Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £2 Chez Francis is a cosy little restaurant, tucked underneath Canton’s renowned Purple Poppadom, and it’s quite frankly a beautiful place. The interior is decorated in shades of green, deep red and dark woods. This, accompanied by the catchy accordion music playing, creates a great atmosphere and it’s always popular. The food is authentically French and simply delicious, so do join us in experiencing the lovely cuisine. This is a pay as you go event so you pay an admin fee of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the restaurant and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
Find the Missing Treasure Walk and Quiz - Clevedon
Date: Sunday 14th June 2015 Place: The Moon & Sixpence, 15 The Beach, Clevedon (BS21 7QU) Ask for the Spice Table 3pm Cost: £6 Clevedon is a lovely seaside town with plenty to offer for all ages. It has a pebbled shoreline overlooked by wonderful Victorian architecture. The grade 1 listed pier dates from 1869 and is frequently visited by the Waverly paddle steamer and the Balmoral pleasure cruiser in the summer months when visitors can enjoy a cruise down the Somerset and Devon coast and to Wales. There are beautiful coastal walks in the area which have been the inspiration for many great writers including Tennyson, Thackeray and Coleridge. The Salthouse fields on the seafront offer entertainment and refreshments for all. The Trail is 2.75 miles in length and does incorporate some short inclines.You will start and finish near to the pier where there is plenty of parking. Refreshments and toilets are available along the route. After our walk and quiz we’ll meet back at the Moon and Sixpence Pub where we see how everyone’s done and give a prize to the winning team, as well as grab a drink and a bite to eat (optional and payable on the day). It’s a fabulous way to spend some time with other Spice members exploring and getting out in the fresh air.
Henley in Arden Figure of 8 Ramble
Date: Sunday 14th June 2015 Place: Henley in Arden, near Warwick (B95 5BD) 10.30am or 1.15pm start Cost: £6 Figure of Eight rambles have become very popular as they appeal to both social ramblers who just want a short morning or afternoon ramble and longer ramblers who want a full day ramble. Steve Dell has organised another one from the lovely village of Henley in Arden – both rambles are around 4½ miles and both are fairly easy. Henley is a lovely historic village with pubs, cafes and of course the famous ice cream shop! If you choose the morning ramble you can either finish then (if the weather isn’t too good – or the pub is more inviting!) or carry on with the afternoon one.
Maxstoke Castle Visit and Easy Ramble
Date: Sunday 14th June 2015 Place: Maxstoke, nr Coleshill (B46 2RD) 11am for Castle (or 12 for ramble) Cost: £6 Extras: Castle entry (if required) is £7 paid on day (donated to local charities) Maxstoke Castle, just 3 miles outside Coleshill, is a fine example of a C14th moated and fortified manor house, commissioned by Sir William de Clinton; the licence to crenellate dates from February 1345. The house, which is surrounded by four acres of mixed formal and informal gardens, has been in the continuous ownership of the Dilke (later Fetherston-Dilke) families for over 400 years. The house is private and not open to the public but, once a year – today - the house and gardens are opened in support of local charities. Teas, plant and other stalls are provided. So we offer the chance to visit the Castle (if you wish) and then enjoy an easy ramble with Richard. The ramble will be around 5 miles and will use some of the Heart of England Way, visit Shustoke reservoir and the village of Shustoke all linked by lovely farmland and quiet country lanes. The plan is to visit the castle first and then the ramble. The castle visit is optional but recommended.
Murder Mystery Walk - Cardiff City
Date: Sunday 14th June 2015 Place: Browns, The Friary Centre, Cardiff (CF10 3FA) Outside Browns 11am Cost: £6 Includes: Murder Mystery Walk and Quiz, Spice Host Extras: Refreshments A strange new mummified body has been discovered recently in the Ancient Egyptian section of the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. This grim discovery was only noticed when museum staff were packing up the exhibits ready for the next destination. The mummified body in question gave off a strange putrid aroma and was much heavier than other exhibits. A pathologist stated that the body was human and had probably been deceased for less than two months. Who carried out this crime and how did the victim die? Join Spice today as we hunt for the answers by following the clues on this circular walk of 2 miles. You’ll be taken to all the best parts of Cardiff city, taking in both the historical and the more recent cultural attributes of a unique and vibrant modern city. You’ll be divided up into teams and given an easy route and lots of clues to follow. After our walk we’ll meet back at Browns where we see how everyone’s done and give a prize to the winning team. It also gives us a chance to grab a drink and a bite to eat (optional and payable on the day). It’s a fabulous way to spend some time with other Spice members exploring the city and getting out in the fresh air.
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Center Parcs Sherwood Weekend
Fri 19th Jun 2015 - Mon 22nd Jun 2015 Rufford, Newark, Nottingham (NG22 9DN) Arrive Friday - Villa access 3.00p.m. £149 Twin/Double Share, £224 Member Single (Deposit £50)
Special this Year: ‘Spice Triple Challenge’ (optional) Party Theme: ‘The Letter P’ * 2 Discos * Sports * Dance Classes Our unmissable summer Center Parcs Weekend is now a Spice institution - a brilliant weekend break with TWO great exclusive parties and as much sport or relaxation as you can cope with! Special this year is the return of It’s A Knockout on the Sunday, adding a brilliant fun event into the weekend which will be another hi-lite. The sub-tropical paradise is the centre of attraction with giant waves, water chutes, Jacuzzi’s, flumes, a thrilling wild water rapids ride, and much more. You can spend all day in the tropically heated 'dome', or move outdoors - tennis, squash, sailing, bikes, canoeing, gym, badminton, bowls, archery, - the list is endless...(you pay extra for these). There a few extra Spice Events organised by your local Spice Group like our Welcome Drinks Reception, BBQs, Badminton and Volleyball group sessions, ten pin bowling games, etc., to provide some great group focal points during the weekend. Or you can just choose to chill! Full details in your joining pack. We also have a fantastic Friday Night Welcome Disco to get the party started. The Saturday has free Dance Classes– great for mixing and meeting people –this year we are running with 2 sessions each learning the dance steps of a different dance ready for your group ‘performance’ at the Disco in the evening. Our dance leader will be showing you the moves for some wonderful great group sessions (no partner needed), to be dance ready for an evening Flash Mob at the disco! Go along to just one or all and laughs are guaranteed! Numbers are limited to max 100 per session and will be on a first come basis. On Sunday we have a very special optional event with our own Spice Triple Challenge – starting at 12.00pm at the The Venue. This is a fun mix from Treasure Hunt, Photo Challenge and Scavenger Hunt with a couple of twists. Teams of five. We will put teams together if you don’t have 5 of you. Cost £4 pre-booked (£5 on the day). Please pre-book if poss as it helps us plan. We will also have an easy and longer BIKE RIDE this year. Our accommodation is in beautifully located villas surrounded by woodland alive with cheeky not so 'wild’ life. Fully fitted bathroom and kitchens, lounge, TV (with video channels), central heating and even an open log fire. The Villas are 3 & 4 bedroomed (6 or 8 people), each villa has a double room for couples (or can be booked for single occupancy), twin rooms. We will arrange members into Villas - grouping people together - don't worry if you're on your own, so are many others booking, and with Spice you won't be on your own for long, as soon as you meet your Villa mates! Please advise at the time of booking if you have rooming requests, we will do our best to accommodate these but due to the mix of rooms, and villa sizes, cannot be guaranteed. All bedding is provided, as is household equipment. Food is not included, so you can self cater or eat out at a variety of onsite restaurants. Friday Night sees our Welcome Disco and Saturday night a Spice Disco with a late bar. Both Parties are included in the price and a Spice wrist band will be included with your weekend joining pack, giving you entry to the parties and our events. A few years ago we used the S of Spice as our fancy dress theme and had great fun and following a Facebook poll of members it was decided that the Saturday night party theme should be ‘The Letter P!’ which couldn’t be easier and adds a bit of SPice to the weekend! Think Pirates, Pubs, Paris, Portugal, Peter Pan, Princesses, Punks, Pans People, Pink, Purple, Prince, Pumpkin and much more – please remember when creating your costume however that Center Parcs is a family resort so please be appropriate with your design; nothing too risky or racey! (e.g. not Porn Star!). So this could be a relaxed, laid back break, or an energetic dash from one activity to another - you choose! You can check in from 12.00 noon on Friday (villa available from 3.00pm) and leave the Villa by 10.00am Monday morning. Many of us arrive Friday after work, and depart Sunday evening of course, but it's your choice. You can remain on site all day on Monday if you wish, and many of us have a morning at The Spa as its quiet! NB – Please ensure that you book your place on the Spice Triple Challenge if desired as well as booking for the weekend as slots are limited!
The Big Abseil - 200 Feet Straight Down
Date: Sunday 14th June 2015 Place: Avon Gorge, Portway, Bristol Layby on the Portway from 1:45pm to 5pm Cost: £37 Bristol has the amazing Avon Gorge with the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge symbolising this great city. But it’s not just a beautiful landmark – it’s also the setting for one of our greatest and most challenging events – The Big Abseil. What a great shot for your photo album! Go ahead and impress your family and friends with this classic Spice event. You will start off by literally ‘getting to know the ropes’ and receive full instruction on the techniques needed for your descent. Your instructor will build up your confidence and calm your nerves before you progress onto the impressive 200-foot descent. Don’t forget to admire the impressive views whilst you’re up there. Date: Place: Cost:
Cycling Weekend - New Forest
Fri 19th Jun 2015 - Sun 21st Jun 2015 Lyndhurst, New Forest, Hampshire Final details will be emailed £185 Twin Share, £215 Twin with Bike, £235 Single, £265 Single with Bike (Deposit £40) Includes two nights hotel accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 1 evening meal (3 courses) on Saturday, 2 days fully guided cycling. We have linked up with Graham Hills who organises our Bike day rides for a cycling weekend in the New Forest. We will spend two days and nights in this historic National Park. We will cycle through unenclosed pasture land amongst the iconic miniature ponies. Take in the forest, rivers and the coast on this varied and beautiful part of the country. This will be a great weekend to relax, indulge and have some fun. Over the weekend we will be covering a reasonable distance on mainly flat forest gravel track and quiet country roads. The cycling is classed as moderate but you do need to be reasonable fit to take part and it is best if you have done some day rides before coming along. There will be about 3 hours cycling each day at a medium pace. We will be staying in the town of Lyndhurst either in a comfortable hotel or B&B. We can cross the road and you are straight into the New Forest, take a stroll up the road to Lyndhurst village where you will find the New Forest Museum and Visitor Centre as well as a variety of shops. The restaurant serves dishes sourced from local produce wherever possible
Friday Night Comedy at Jongleurs Bristol
Date: Friday 19th June 2015 Place: The Cuban, Harbourside, Bristol (BS1 5SZ) Jongleurs Comedy Club - Main Entrance 7:30pm Cost: £28.50 Ticket + Supper, £16 Member Ticket Only Includes: Comedy Ticket, Booking Fee, 1 Course Meal, Spice Host Extras: Drinks It’s weekend and definitely time for a good laugh! Tonight we’re off to Jongleurs in Bristol, located in the best new bar and live entertainment venue in town, The Cuban! Each show features a Compere who will host your evening, and they introduce 3 top acts who will do their finest to make you laugh. The shows sometimes include open spots - a chance to see brand new talent trying out for the first time on a professional stage. All the seating is allocated so no fighting for the good views, tasty bar food is available before the show and the Cuban Bar next door is perfect for after work beers and pre-show cocktails as well as late night drinks after the show. We will also enjoy a one course meal before the show with dishes like Spicy Cuban burger with salad and fries, Chicken and lamb kebabs, seasonal vegetables and pineapple, Cuban slow and peri peri fries or a Tapas Platter with dishes like Arancini, Chicken Tenders, Patatas Bravas . It’s a great night out for some laughter, fun and fabulous Spice company.
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Ten Pin Bowling - Cardiff
Friday 19th June 2015 The Red Dragon Centre, Hemingway Road (CF10 4JY) Hollywood Bowl inside the bowling alley 7:30pm Cost: £15 Includes: 2 Ten pin bowling games, Shoe hire, Host Tonight, it’s back to the traditional Ten Pin Bowling so it’s a case of strike em down and rack up the score. Ten Pin Bowling is a great laugh and it doesn't matter if you've never bowled before or if you are at the top of your game, join us tonight for some fun. We’ll meet inside Hollywood Bowl by the shoe collection point at 8.00pm. Tonight we’ll be playing 2 full games and we’ll add up the scores from both games to find a winner. At the end of the game there will be a small prize for the best overall scorer.
Pay As You Go - The Bathwick Boatman, Bath
Date: Saturday 20th June 2015 Place: The Bathwick Boatman, Forester Road, Bathwick, Bath (BA2 6QE) Ask for the Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £2 Just 10 minutes stroll from Bath City Centre this lovely restaurant overlooks one of the prettiest reaches of the River Avon. Perched above Bath’s historic boating station, this old rowing clubhouse is a charming place to enjoy a Spice Sunday lunch. Inspired by their years in Italy, chef-owner Ben Hall and his wife Rosy offer a deliciously simple and rustic menu made with the freshest produce on the market. Everything is freshly prepared on the premises and the dishes reflect Ben’s love of robust earthy flavours. Tonight we’ll be sampling the delights they have to offer and will enjoy a social evening with other Spice members in the area. This is a pay as you go event so you pay an admin fee of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the restaurant and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
Symonds Yat Adventure Mission
Date: Saturday 20th June 2015 Place: Forest of Dean 10pm to approx 4pm Cost: £52 Have you ever been on a walk through the forest that starts with you being kitted out with harness and helmet? If not, you've never been on one which starts with a 100 foot abseil down the Buttress at the Yat! Fuelled on adrenaline we then navigate down to the river and walk along the disused railway line to the Biblins Wire Suspension Bridge where we cross the Wye. We then ramble onto Pancake Caves, which we enter by being lowered on a rope through a hole in the roof - wow! Our ramble then takes us onto King Arthur's Cave on the Doward, an ancient dwelling place, and on to the Seven Sisters, a rock outcrop with great views of the Wye Valley, which is classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You will need a basic level of rambling fitness, boots and waterproofs. Bring a daysack with food and flask for the day.
Weston Air Festival and Armed Forces Day - Weston-Super-Mare
Date: Saturday 20th June 2015 Place: Yates's, 12-20 Regent Street, Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset (BS23 1SQ) Yates' - Spice table 10:30am to 5pm Cost: £13.50 Includes: Weston Air Festival, 1 Course meal, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks The Weston Air Festival will be a two day international air show in 2015, building on the success of the previous year's show. Taking place on Weston-super-Mare Seafront on 20 and 21 June 2015, the event will incorporate the town's Armed Forces Day celebrations on the Saturday with military exhibitions and displays, and family fun on the Beach Lawns on the Sunday. Planning is already well under way with aircraft from both the UK and abroad confirmed to appear at the show. Displays will include formation display teams, fast jets, historic planes and helicopters. Today we’ll meet at Yates’s for a coffee or tea (optional and payable on the day) at 10.30 and will then wander out to see the festival. We’ll meet up again for lunch (included in the price) before seeing what else is on the programme.
Pub Quiz at the Swan Inn in Nottage
Date: Sunday 21st June 2015 Place: The Swan Inn, Nottage, Porthcawl, Bridgend, Wales (CF36 3SS) Ask for the Spice Table 7:15pm You can get Book-It to insert an event write-up here for you automatically. Simply go to the events screen and find this event then click on the button labelled 'Edit Write-Up' on the write-up page. When you have saved and closed your write-up just run the newsletter again. You can include text, images, tables and just about anything else that your Word is capable of in your write-up.
Taff Trail Walk and Carvery - Pontypridd
Date: Sunday 21st June 2015 Place: Williams Place, Upper Boat, Pontypridd (CF37 5BH) Outside the Upper Boat Inn 10:45am Cost: £15 Includes: 5 Mile Walk, Carvery Lunch, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Sample the delights of the Taff trail and be rewarded by a sumptuous crown carvery at the end of the walk. We`ll be walking towards the Taff trail which is situated along the track bed of the old P.C.N; the Pontypridd-Caerphilly-Newport railway. After crossing a bridge we`ll be entering the hamlet of Groeswen with its old postbox dating back to Queen Victoria`s reign and its giant and ornamentally furnished graveyard. We will then walk along the Ridgeway path and have some lovely views of the surrounding countryside before joining the Taff Trail. This is a pleasant, fairly easy walk with spectacular views, fairly steep ascents and descents, of about 5 miles. Please wear proper walking boots as it can be muddy in parts. After our walk we’ll be heading off to the Upper Boat Inn Carvery for a lovely meal. Meet for walk: 10.45 am outside the Upper Boat Inn for an 11.00am start.
Tank Battle Experience
Date: Sunday 21st June 2015 Place: Lutterworth, Leicestershire (LE17 6NW) 10am to approx 12noon session 10am to 12pm Cost: £95 This event has had great feedback. We have booked 4 tanks, each of which take a crew of 3 Spice members who will be with their tank throughout (so no waiting around on this one!). We start with a practice session, where we put the tank through it’s paces on the 1 mile track and firing range. We will alternate the 3 positions in the tank so that each person gets a chance to drive, a chance to load the gun and a chance to fire. The gun is adapted to fire paintball ammunition, and can be fired with the hatch up or down. In battle, of course the hatch has to be down and aimed by periscope. After the practice, the four tanks will do battle, with each tank attempting to out manoeuvre and “knock out” the others with their huge, paintball firing guns. For this part, teams will not be able to switch positions, so you will need to decide between you or toss a coin to decide who will drive, who will load and who will fire. Extra notes: The organisers sell a disc of photos for an additional £15 (sent by post). There is a Kiosk that sells a small range of hot food (burgers etc) and tea, coffee, coke etc
Withdrawn Exhibition at Leigh Woods and Dinner at Cote
Date: Sunday 21st June 2015 Place: Entrance to Exhibition, Leigh Woods, Bristol Spice Sign 4pm Cost: £21.99 Includes: Visit to 'Withdrawn' Exhibition in Leigh Woods, 1 course meal at Cote, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Luke Jerram, local artist of sculptures and live artworks, invites visitors to Leigh Woods in Bristol to experience an unexpected encounter with a flotilla of abandoned fishing boats installed in the depths of the woodland. A beautiful, surreal and poetic vision in the woods, the sound of the wind in the trees is reminiscent of the sound of the waves. All of the boats are pointing the same way as if turned by the tide or moving together. The boats can be explored by the public. At night the navigation lights of the boats will come on, and may be spotted blinking in the woodland. By teaming up with arts and music organisations in Bristol, the boats will also be used as a site for special marine and environmental, sound installations, theatrical performances, lectures and interactive workshops, staged both in the daytime and at night. This thoughtprovoking and engaging exhibition raises discussion about climate change, extreme weather, changing ocean temperatures, falling fish stocks and our impact on the marine environment. After we’ve viewed the exhibition, we’ll head on over to the Cote Brasserie to enjoy a 1 course meal. It’s a fabulous opportunity to see spend some time outdoors viewing something interesting and unusual and then to spend some time socialising with other Spice members in the area.
Bristol Meet and Eat - The Cosy Club
Date: Thursday 25th June 2015 Place: 31 Corn Street, Old City, Bristol (BS1 1HT) The Cosy Club - Spice Table 7:30pm Join Spice tonight for our monthly Meet & Eat. Every month we head to a NEW pub for a social night-out. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. We’ll let the pub know we’re coming and anyone who fancies a meal can choose, order and pay on the night. If you’ve already eaten then just come along for the social chat and a drink. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Book online (members) or drop us an email (non-members) so we know you’re coming and one of our Spice hosts will be there to meet you. Our venue tonight is the Cosy Club which is newly opened. Located in a majestic former-banking hall on Corn Street in the heart of Bristol’s historic Old City, Cosy Club Bristol an absolute show-stopper. Behind the neo-classical facade is a building rich in grandeur with dressed stone walls, marble floors, mahogany panelling, domed glass roof lanterns, and richly embellished and decorated plaster cornicing. They're the bar to end all bars, four 2m wide solid brass chandeliers, and all of the distinctly eccentric, quirky and fun Cosy Club hallmarks. All in all, frightfully spiffing
Sailing Round The Island Yacht Race
Date: Thu 25th Jun 2015 - Sun 28th Jun 2015 Place: Shamrock Quay Marina and Haslar Marina 8.00pm Thursday Evening Cost: £509 Member Sharing, £529 Guest Sharing (Deposit £50) STOP PRESS – In 2015, due to the great popularity of this event, there will again be two Spice boats sailing in the race. The two boats are of similar size and design, which gives the opportunity for Spice members to sail against their fellow competing Spice crew as well as the rest of the race fleet – a “Spicing-up” of this already exciting event! Boats and berths for this event are already selling out for 2015 and even 2016. This is a unique opportunity to have one of the most exciting and spectacular sailing weekends in the sailing calendar. Some Spice members have told us that this is the best weekend that they have ever had!
Spice Meet and Eat - The Black Cock Inn
Date: Thursday 25th June 2015 Place: Waunwaelod Way, Caerphilly (CF83 1BD) The Black Cock Inn - Spice Table 7:30pm Join Spice tonight for our monthly Meet & Eat. Every month we head to a new pub for a social night-out. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. We’ll let the pub know we’re coming and anyone who fancies a meal can choose, order and pay on the night. If you’ve already eaten then just come along for the social chat and a drink. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Book online (members) or drop us an email (non-members) so we know you’re coming and one of our Spice hosts will be there to meet you. Our venue tonight is The Black Cock Inn, a rustic and friendly country pub serving great food and situated about a mile from Caerphilly. Found among the hills just to the north of Cardiff, at the start of the Welsh Valleys, and aside a quiet country lane, The Black Cock Inn is a perfect retreat for this evenings meet.
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National Murder Mystery and Disco Weekend
Fri 26th Jun 2015 - Sun 28th Jun 2015 Holiday Inn, New Road, Weston Turville, Aylesbury (HP22 5QT) Arrive from 2.00pm. Evening Meal at 8.00pm. £179 Twin Early Book, £249 Single Early Book. (Deposit £35 Twin, £45 Single) Includes: 2 nights Luxury Hotel Accommodation, 2 x Breakfast, 2 x lunch buffet, 2 x 3 course evening meals Professional Murder Mystery Party Organiser with a NEW plot A Spa to Die for... Free time given to explore the area or use the hotel leisure including spa and swimming pool facilities Saturday Night Party with Disco to midnight. An absolute classic Spice weekend that embodies the spirit of the club! Are you a budding Agatha Christie or Hercule Poirot? Warning - our plot will have you guessing and working with your team to find out who dunnit! If you have joined us on one of these weekends before we have another BRAND NEW excellent plot! A Spa Day...To Die For There is great excitement in the sleepy town of Slaybury when a new Spa Hotel opens its doors to local dignitaries and celebrities for a ‘Gala Night’. Free treatments are offered to guests as they arrive in the afternoon: Botox injections from Dr Bodget, Image Advice from ‘Life-Style Guru’ Jude Namaak and a relaxing massage from Drew Rubbit. Plus use of the Sauna, Spa and Pool. Owner, Pip Poshington, has organised a fabulous formal black tie 5 course meal with unlimited champagne for the Gala Evening. However, when local bank manager Robin B’Stard doesn’t turn up for dinner a search of the Spa Area uncovers a horrific scene in the Sauna. Robin has been brutally murdered and suspects are gathered together, in all their finery, to answer Inspector Snoop’s questions.
We meet on Friday night in the Bar from 7pm onwards, with a 3 course dinner served from 8pm onwards. You’ll meet your team but don’t get too friendly with your team mates – one of them is a murderer! The serious business starts on Saturday morning, when you come down to breakfast and discover that a gruesome murder has taken place! You will be searching for clues in the hotel and grounds, gradually building up a picture of what might have taken place.....? Saturday afternoon is free to chill out and explore the area or you can make use of the leisure facilities at the hotel. Bicester Village shopping centre is a short drive away if some retail therapy is for you. The hotel is also close to Silverstone and Whipsnade Zoo. We resume our search for more clues later in the afternoon. A 3 course dinner is served on Saturday night, followed by a Disco so get your dancing shoes on so you can hit the dance floor to boogie the night away. We conclude our investigations on Sunday morning – everyone has a different theory, who did it and why? Only one team can win the coveted prize – so “who dunnit”?! Our hotel for this weekend is the Holiday Inn located in a semi-rural location on the outskirts of Aylesbury on the A41. It is easy to reach the M25, M40 and M1. This stylish hotel is the perfect base for our Spice weekend with elegant comfortable en-suite.
Pay As You Go - The Mint Room - Bath
Date: Friday 26th June 2015 Place: The Mint Room, Longmead Gospel Hall, Lower Bristol Road, Bath (BA2 3EB) Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £2 The Mint Room has quickly established itself as one of the most interesting contemporary Indian restaurants outside London where high-quality local and free-range ingredients are transformed into vibrant, modern regional Indian dishes by a team of experienced chefs, backed up by knowledgeable front-of-house staff. This restaurant is far from your average curry house, the food here is fresh and innovative and diners are treated to beautifully presented, Indian dishes with a contemporary twist. This makes it the perfect place to have a regular Spice get together in Bath where we can enjoy the restaurants ambience, try the fabulous cuisine and spend some quality time with other Spice members in the area. This is a pay as you go event so you pay an admin fee of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the restaurant and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
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Angus Coast Getaway
Fri 26th Jun 2015 - Sun 28th Jun 2015 The Park Hotel, 61 John Street, Montrose (DD10 8RJ) Venue £129 Twin, £164 Single, Includes: 2 Nights Dinner, Bed and Breakfast, Led Walks, Place of Interest may have an additional cost. 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.
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Walking Weekend Cheddar Gorge and the Mendips
Fri 26th Jun 2015 - Sun 28th Jun 2015 Webbington Hotel & Country Club, Loxton, Axbridge, Somerset (BS26 2HU) Arrive from 4.00pm. Meal at 8.00pm. £169 Twin Share, £209 Single, (Deposit £35 Twin Share, £40 Single) Includes: 2 nights' accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals and 2 guided walks with a choices of guided walks per day Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Situated prominently on the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills, the Webbington Hotel and Spa is easy to get to, offers comfortable accommodation, a comprehensive fitness, wellness and beauty facilities. You can relax and enjoy the best of both comfort and cuisine in beautiful surroundings. From a walkers perspective its location is perfect to explore the surrounding region. To the west the Mendips stretch out and the early summer date, all the chalk escarpments will be adorned with a blooming carpet of flowers. Last year we walked right across the Mendips from Wells in the east to the hotel in the west. This year it is out intension to do something different. Saturday will see us concentrating on the stunning area around the dramatic Cheddar Gorge, with both walks completing the dramatic Cheddar Gorge Loop.. On the Sunday we may head over Burrington Combe and enjoy a walk on the northern edge of the Mendips or we may do a local walk closer to the hotel.. So whether you simply wish to catch up with your friends and have a relaxing weekend away or if you like getting out in the fresh air and having some excellent walks and exercise then this is an ideal weekend for you. Accommodation: The Webbington Hotel is a luxurious hotel that is a perfect base to explore the limestone heights of the Mendip Hills or admire the splendour of the famous Cheddar Gorge. Situated prominently on the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills, the Webbington Hotel offers you the opportunity to relax and enjoy the best of comfort and cuisine in beautiful surroundings.
Introduction to Golf
Date: Saturday 27th June 2015 Place: Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Derry Hill, Calne, Wiltshire (SN11 9PQ) Inside Clubhouse - Main Bar 10:45am Cost: £19.99 Includes: 2 Hour Introduction to Golf, All Equipment Extras: Refreshments Includes: Balls, Clubs and 2 hours Introduction to Golf lesson with Pro. Please wear trainers if you don't have golf shoes and avoid jeans as the golf club has a certain dress code. The relaxing, yet frustrating sport of golf is played all over the world and ever more people are taking up this wonderful game. So to help you to see what all the fuss is about we have an excellent morning's entertainment lined up for you today. Upon arrival at 10.45am relax in the bar area and buy yourself a coffee (payable on the day) before we head outside at 11.00am for a two hour lesson with qualified teaching professional golfer Paul McLean. This gentle introduction to golf will include learning the basics of putting and short game on the Academy Course and swing basics on the driving range before setting out to put your new found skills into practise with a Team Texas Scramble on the Driving Range. This day is great for beginners/new golfers and for inexperienced golfers. Absolutely no previous golfing experience is necessary as Paul will tell you all you need to know to get started. Our venue is the beautiful Bowood Golf & Country Club between Chippenham and Calne. This privately owned course situated on the Bowood Estate is one of the best in the south west and boasts top class facilities. After the session we'll head into the Clubhouse bar for a wellearned lunch (payable extra) and review of our new found skills.
Walking Weekend The Lake District, Helvellyn and Ullswater
Date: Fri 26th Jun 2015 - Sun 28th Jun 2015 Place: Patterdale Hotel, Paterdale, Lake District (CA11 0NN) Meet: Arrive from 4.00pm - Meal at 8.00pm Cost: £175 Member Twin Share, £195 Guest Twin Share, £205 Member Single, £225 Guest Single (Deposit £35 Member Twin Share, £35 Guest Twin Share, £40 Member Single, £40 Guest Single) Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfast, 2 eve meals, 2 picnic lunches, 2 days of guided walks With a minimum choice of 2 walks each day Extras: Travel to walk starts if used Walkwise Overview: Patterdale is one of the most popular WalkWise Weekends and for good reasons: it is away from the madding crowd, it’s a lovely hotel and set in a lovely peaceful village in the beautiful Ullswater valley! The Patterdale hotel is all en suite, with lots of space to socialise in the evenings and what’s more the head chef and his team consistently pull out all the stops making the finest food using as much fresh local produce as possible. On top of this it’s just 2 minutes away from the White Lion, the local Lakeland pub, Oh and the walking’s some of the best in England!! This really is a destination where you are spoilt for choice, as all around the hotel are stunning Lakes and beautiful Tarns, lush green valleys, traditional Lakeland villages all enclosed by towering ridges that reach up to some the true Lakeland giants. So, whether you want to aim for the mighty heights of Helvellyn, High Street or delightful lakeside stroll, you’ll find that it’s all right outside the front door of the hotel! Let’s not forget a special mention to one of England’s most picturesque lakes and steamers; what more can you want? The WalkWise Walking Programme: So what do we have we on offer this year? Well we always try to give you the opportunity of doing something a bit different to last year. It’s a while since we tackled Helvelyn, so this year we will tackle it, we will ascend the fantastic striding edge (weather permitting) then follow the ridge line around before descending either via Swirral Edge to complete the classic horseshoe, or we may head on over to Sheffield Pike where a lovely quiet ridge leads us away from the crowds before gently lowering us back to the valley. On the second day, we can head out the back of the hotel over the amazing St. Sundays Crag and up to Fairfield! This lesser known Fairfield horseshoe is stunning walk and the ridge of Hartsop above how rewards every effort with stunning views of the area. Accommodation: WalkWise are returning to a firm favourite, the Patterdale Hotel that lies at the head of the Vale of Ullswater. As many of you will know, this is a superb destination as it lies at the foot of St. Sunday Crag in its own grounds on the outskirts of the hamlet of Patterdale. There are two levels of accommodation; mainly Patterdale rooms but also some twins /double Lakeland rooms which have a view to the surrounding fells and/or lake. All bedrooms are en-suite and all have courtesy trays and colour TV’s. The hotel has a bar, a lovely dining room and comfortable lounges where you can relax in the evenings. Oh and just in case you are interested there is also a lovely Lakeland pub, The White Lion just 100m from the front door of the hotel!!!
Learn to be a Fashion Photographer
Date: Saturday 27th June 2015 Place: Bristol Location Details will be emailed from 12:45pm to 4pm Cost: £53 Chic Shape: A photography fashion shoot Ever wanted to have a go at Fashion Photography but never had the opportunity? Here’s your chance to try your hand as a fashion photographer without the grief! On this workshop we guarantee that the models won’t be diva’s! Hand-picked to be easy going & responsive you will be working with up to 4 experienced models who range in age from 17-65 years! They will make your job very easy. They will have a selection of outfits & are all, of course, beautiful! Consequently they photograph very well but more importantly they know how to employ different expressions & poses without being asked. That said, communication is extremely important – they will be more receptive to your ideas if you communicate – you just have to ask. The location will be in Bristol, for ease of access & will be probably be in or outside an old building. What you’ll learn during this photography ‘experience’: You’ll learn all about what different reflectors will do and how they help fill in flash. And you’ll be encouraged to explore which camera settings to use to capture that one great shot whilst working in an exhilarating and engaging atmosphere. Should any technical questions or challenges arise along the way, your tutor will be on hand to ably assist and ensure your camera doesn’t inhibit your creative flair. As with all these ‘experiences’ you’ll come away with a sense of achievement having started to make informed decisions about how to photograph the action as it unfolds in a unique photographic environment. By the end you should have achieved a good set of images you’ll want to share with friends and others you might want to showcase in your growing photographic portfolio. What you’ll learn after your fashion shoot: After we have finished shooting we will decant to a local pub for a tea (or a beer!). This will give us an opportunity to share photos, help us collectively explore what we have learned and provide each other with constructive feedback on techniques to help us all improve. This will also give you an opportunity to quiz your tutor with any specific questions you may have and chat with the models to hear their side of the story.
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Crime Scene Investigation Weekend (The Great Train Robbery 1963)
Sat 27th Jun 2015 - Sun 28th Jun 2015 Holiday Inn, New Road, Weston Turville, Aylesbury (HP22 5QT) Arrive 9.45 ready to start at 10.00a.m £205 Twin, £230 Single 1 (Deposit £40 Twin, £45 Single) Includes: 2 days of crime scene investigation delivered by former Scotland Yard officers, and forensic examiners, 2 lunches, 1 evening meal on the Saturday night, Saturday night disco, 1 overnight stay with breakfast on Sunday morning. Fancy yourself as a Sam Ryan (Silent Witness), Gibbs (NCIS) or DCI Morse, well look no more. Spice has the answer with our own Crime Scene investigation weekend. In this weekend you’ll discover the forensics behind solving a crime, in this case the Great Train Robbery of 1963. This is a highly unique weekend as the Great Train Robbery site is only 9 miles from our hotel. th Saturday 27 June - Day 1 - Crime Scene Investigation Academy- Learn how to be an investigator • Wear and retain full, CSI equipment (one piece body suit, mask and gloves) • Taking, Developing & Lifting Fingerprints • Forensic Dentistry and the psychology behind bite marks at crime scenes • Blood Spatter Pattern Analysis • Hair and Fiber Analysis • Investigate a murder case live time • Hear from an experienced investigator th Sunday 28 June - Day 2 - Visit the Scene of the Great Train Robbery 1963 • Receive an insight into one of the UK’s most audacious robbery and watch a short film • Visit the track side of the train robbery • Visit Brigado Bridge where the money was transferred • Handle some of the money and mail bags used at the time • Investigate some of the evidence found at the robbers hide out • Dust for fingerprints on copies of the original evidence • Examine an alternate theory • Prize giving and “take-aways” The great train robbery took place on 8 August 1963 and remains one of the UK’s most audacious robberies. A gang of 15 robbers led by Bruce Reynolds stole £2.6M, worth about £40M today from a Royal Mail train near Mentmore in Buckinghamshire after tampering with line signals (a glove was placed over the green signal light and a battery used to power the red signal). After the robbery the gang hid at Leatherslade Farm where much of the incriminating evidence was later found (including 311 fingerprints and palm prints) leading to the arrest and conviction of most of the gang. th
Step Inside the BBC - Bristol
Date: Saturday 27th June 2015 Place: 153 Whiteladies Road, Bristol (BS8 2LR) BBC Broadcasting House - Tours Entrance 9:45am Cost: £28.99BBC + Lunch, £11.99 Tour Ticket only Includes: Includes: Guided tour of the BBC, 1 course lunch, Service and Spice host. (There is a tour ticket only option) Extras: Drinks Come and find out what goes on inside BBC Bristol on this exclusive Spice tour. You’ll learn how television and radio programmes are made and have the chance to visit the interactive studio where you can have a go at presenting the weather and star in your very own radio drama complete with sound effects! Our tour guide will give us a behind the scenes insight into the many programmes originating from BBC Bristol and tell you what happens behind the scenes to get them from script to screen. Our tour takes us to the Points West studio and the Radio Bristol studio and you will hear how programmes such as Antiques Roadshow and Springwatch are produced. Many of Radio 4’s programmes are made at BBC Bristol. The tours last one hour and 45 minutes and as we are in a working building no tour is ever the same. There is a fair amount of walking and standing and the maximum we can take is 15 – you really MUST book early to secure your place.
Gorge Walking Adventure - Abergavenny
Date: Saturday 27th June 2015 Place: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire (NP7 0LP) 10pm to approx 4.00pm Cost: £55 This is a really fun experience that provides the opportunity for scrambling, climbing and abseiling in order to travel up a beautiful gorge. It sounds a challenge – and it is – but anyone of reasonable fitness who is prepared for anything (including getting wet) should be able to enjoy this wonderful day with our instructor from Forest Adventure. We will be kitted out with waterproof overalls, buoyancy aids & helmets before entering the gorge with a thrilling viaduct abseil. We then walk to the base of the gorge and then navigate a section by following the stream up hill. Along the way we will master such obstacles as a waterfall, beautiful pools and even a natural tunnel. Where necessary we will be roped together for safety.
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Archery - Cardiff
Sunday 28th June 2015 Taff Valley, Cwrt y Celyn Farm, Pontypri (CF37 5BJ) Taff Valley Activity Centre 12:15pm £17.50 Includes: Approximately one hour archery session, instruction and equipment provided. Bring cash for a visit to the pub afterwards Bullseye! Improve your aim, hand-eye coordination and agility while hopefully not hitting one of the sheep in the process!!! Today, with a Grand National Archery Society Coach, we’ll learn the real skills and proper techniques of an ancient sport; Archery. The archery session will start with a training round, on easier training bows, following onto a scoring round with higher poundage field target bows. Various arrows will be used suiting your ability. If it’s great weather, we’ll be outdoors, with fabulous views of the valleys below, but if it’s raining we'll head into the barn. After our exercise we will head to the nearby Rose & Crown pub (optional) at mid-day for a bite to eat (payable extra on the day)
Berkeley Castle Heirs Tour and Tea
Date: Sunday 28th June 2015 Place: Berkeley Castle, Gloucestershire (GL13 9BQ) 11.00am for 11.30am Tour Cost: £32 Berkeley Castle, an ancient fortress home where the Berkeley’s have lived since their ancestor, Robert Fitzharding, completed the Keep in 1153. Berkeley Castle is one of the most remarkable buildings in Britain and possibly the most outstanding example of medieval domestic architecture in the country. Where other Castles were romanticised or “modernised” by the Georgians or the Victorians, Berkeley quietly survived as what it is: a Norman fortress with an enclosing curtain wall, built and enlarged through the mediaeval period and beyond into a secure, comfortable, substantial home. We have arranged a special tour of the Castle by Charles Berkeley (heir to Berkeley Castle). On arrival we will meet up with Charles who will take us on a private tour and give you a full history of the Castle and some of his many family stories! After the tour there will be afternoon tea, a pot of tea, scones, jam & clotted cream with time to look around the gardens and butterfly house before closing.
Sunday Brunch + Live Jazz at the Old Duke
Date: Sunday 28th June 2015 Place: V-Shed, Cannons Rd, Bristol (BS1 5UH) Pitcher and Piano - Spice Table 11:30am Cost: £14.99 Includes: Breakfast, Service, Jazz at the Old Duke, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Sunday’s are the right kind of day for enjoying a late and leisurely breakfast and some jazz and blues, so today we’re off to the Pitcher and Piano for a filling breakfast, followed by a short walk to the Old Duke where we can listen to some stunning jazz. We’ll meet at the Pitcher and Piano for some breakfast with choices on the menu such as full English, Eggs Benedict and smoked salmon & scrambled eggs amongst others. After this we’ll make our way over to the Old Duke for the jazz which starts at around 1ish. The Old Duke is world famous for its’ live, traditional, New Orleans inspired Jazz and blues music and is sure to be keep us toe-tapping throughout the afternoon. Named after Duke Ellington, some real legends of jazz have taken to the stage of Bristol's Old Duke and continue to do so today. It’s a fantastic Sunday out, so don’t miss it!
Spice Rack - National Groups SPICE (West Midlands)
SPICE (London)
SPICE (Thames Valley & Solent)
Co-ordinator: Richard Coulter 6a Burnett Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield West Midlands, B74 3EJ Tel: 0121 353 6161 info@spicebham.com www.spicebham.com
Co-ordinator: Dianne Livingstone 330 High Holborn London, WC1V 7QT Tel: 0845 604 8041 / 01276 479253 dianne@spicelondon.co.uk www.spicelondon.co.uk
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 (Manchester) SPICE (Bristol & Cardiff) Co-ordinator: Dianne Livingstone 130 Aztec, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UB Tel: 0742 959 8414 / 01276 479253 dianne@spicebristolcardiff.com www.spicebristolcardiff.com
Co-ordinator: Lauren Fawkes 11 Poplar Road Stretford, Manchester, M32 9AN Tel: 0161 864 3849 info@spicemcr.com www.spicemcr.com
SPICE (Yorkshire) Co-ordinator: Lauren Fawkes 11 Poplar Road Stretford, Manchester, M32 9AN Tel: 0845 094 2200 info@spiceyorks.com www.spiceyorks.com
SPICE (Scotland) SPICE (East Midlands)
Co-ordinator: Jamie Morris 63 Easter Langside Crescent Dalkeith, EH22 2FN Tel: 0131 531 2653 info@spicescotland.com www.spicescotland.com
Co-ordinator: Steve Dell Foxhall Business Centre, 2 King Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AS Tel: 0845 017 1031 office@spiceeastmids.com www.spiceeastmids.com
SPICE UK General Manger: Ian Purves 13 Thorpe Street Old Trafford Manchester, M16 9PR Tel: 0161 873 8788 info@spiceuk.com www.spiceuk.com
Spice UK emergency 24 hour telephone 07778 298497 Please be advised this telephone number is strictly for use in the case of serious accidents & emergencies only and is NOT for general use (booking, enquiries, directions etc.) thank you!
General Information Office Hours 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Monday to Friday. Please call us on 0845 6048041 or 01276 479253 if you have any questions about an event. There is a 24 hour answer phone. For emergencies only try the mobile 07702 046730 as it is checked regularly out of hours for messages. How to Join Spice Online at www.spicelondon.co.uk or by phone – 0845 6048041 or 01276 479253 Booking Events Online at www.spicelondon.co.uk or by phone – 0845 6048041 or 01276 479253 Please see our Web-Site for our full terms & conditions of booking. Bookings are only secure when payment has been received. Credit Notes Please remember to quote the number when booking & please use any credit issued when you joined within 3 months.
Confirmation of Bookings Booking confirmations are sent out via email. Where further information is required i.e. directions this will be sent out prior. Full joining instructions are sent out for all weekend events. If You Can’t Make It To An Event or are going to be late Please ring the Spice Office or the event co-coordinator if you realise that you cannot make an event so that other members are not left waiting for you to arrive and if it is a ‘team’ type events such as sports evenings we can make the necessary arrangements. Also you maybe entitled to a refund, see the Cancellation Policy for full details. Guests Guests are welcome on almost all Spice events. Guests are asked to pay a slightly higher fee and are allowed to attend 2 events, after that time we expect them to become members. This to ensure the value of membership for our members.
Late Bookings
Transport Share
Please go on the wait list, slots do sometimes become available at the last minute due to cancellations and sometimes we are able to secure extra places please call the office check availability. Never just turn up at an event as we may not be able to accommodate you.
If you indicate when booking that you require a lift or are willing to offer or share transport then we are always happy to do our best to link up members for travel share. Please ring the office about 7 days prior and we will be able to give you telephone numbers of possible links.
Event Info All event information and descriptions are correct at the time of going to print, errors and omissions and exceptional circumstances excepted. Prices in this newsletter are for Spice members booking events, guests are charged a higher fee (please see our web site for guest prices). Photographs Please be aware all photos are taken from all Spice groups nationwide and are for illustration only and do not represent any specific event advertised in this newsletter.
Cancellation Policy Please see our full cancellation policy at our Web-Site. If we cancel an event you will receive a full refund on the event price only. If you need to cancel an event please let us know, we may be able to re-sell you place otherwise there will be a cancellation fee as we pay many of our suppliers in full ‘up-front’. Sorry we cannot refund you if you fail to turn-up.
Spice Bristol and Cardiff www.spicebristolcardiff.com 0742 959 8414 or 01276 479253 130 Aztec | Almondsbury | Bristol BS32 4UB