Spice Spring and Summer Weekend Breaks Spring and Summer are a great time to enjoy our Spice Bristol & Cardiff weekend breaks. For 2016 we have lots to choose from including Narrow Boating, Cycling, Photography, Bunkhouses, The Bristol Balloon fiesta & Harbour Festivals, Summer Chill Outs and even a Bunkhouse Foraging weekend, plus the usual Walking and Sailing weekends. The only problem is deciding just which to do, here are some ideas to help you choose. For a great way to relax and de-stress a weekend narrow boat cruising along one of the many beautiful canals is hard to beat. The UK canals are a direct result of Britain's Industrial Revolution between 1750 and 1840, from then the railways and later the road network saw the decline of the canal network and many fell into disrepair. However in the 1960’s interest grew in their use for recreational use and many have been restored, today it’s hard to believe they weren't built for an industrial purpose. We have three narrow boat weekends, Starting from Aldermaston marina in Berkshire on 27�� May & from Hilperton marina in Wiltshire on the 2ⁿ� September. These are a chill out and relax weekend with the odd lock to navigate, don’t worry the locks are very easy to master. Bristol hosts two world class events every year which shouldn’t be missed. The Harbour music festival has an amazing line-up, soul, reggae, jazz, funk and folk musicians, there really is something for every musical taste. In addition there are artists, circus acts, dancers and stalls plus lots to see including all kinds of sailing vessels. We are staying at the Thistle Grand which is a great base to exploring the harbour area where all the action take place starting 15�� June. The other event is the Balloon fiesta starting 12�� August, this is the largest event of its kind in Europe with over 150 hot air balloons taking off, it’s also famous for it’s night glows. This is a very popular Spice event and is likely to get booked very quickly. Our bunkhouse weekends have been extremely popular with you recently, they're a great way to relax and socialise with other Spice members whilst offering great value for money. We include breakfasts and at least one guided walk and usually an evening meal or BBQ . They are very much a muck in weekend which is all part of the fun so don’t expect tea & coffee to be made for you on this one! For something a bit different we are foraging for our food, don’t worry we have an expert on hand to identify any dodgy looking mushrooms picked, this event is near Dorking in Surrey for June. In July we are off to the beautiful Chilterns for a rustic bunkhouse experience, Saturday evening we have a summer BBQ planned in the garden. Our Summer Bunkhouse weekend in Swansea (August) was an instant sellout with 17 of you on a wait list, not to disappoint we are running it again two weeks later! Finally in September we are off the the picturesque Isle of Wight which offers some great walking, cycling and stunning scenery.
Cycling is a brilliant way to get out and see the countryside. Our cycle rides are at a fairly leisurely pace on mostly flat tracks or quiet roads but you do need to be reasonable fit or have cycled a bit before. You can bring your own bike or you can rent one for the weekend. In May we are exploring the area around the lovely city of Bath, on Saturday we cycle along the canal passing a series of locks and into Bath for lunch. On Sunday we head along the canal and take in some stunning villages and the market town of Bradford-on-Avon. In June we are cycling in the beautiful Cotswolds. The emphasis on both weekends is upon a social leisurely ride, so please leave the racing Lycra at home! If you want to improve you photography skills how about joining us for one of our weekends designed to do just that. First up in April is Cinque Terre in Italy which is a stunning location our photo expert Steve is on hand to offer tuition and tips, you do need to have a SLR or a good quality camera which allows manual adjustments (an iphone isn’t suitable). In May we are off to Woolacombe on the North Devon coast, a bit nearer home but another great location to improve your skills. Finally in June we are off to Bled in Slovenia with it’s stunning mountains, lakes and iconic church on Bled island. If you cannot take stunning photo’s here there really is no hope for you! Sailing is also a popular event in Spice, for a number of years we have teamed-up with Encompass sailing. They have two yachts Kelana is moored in Chichester marina which gives good access to the Solent, a safe and large area allowing many passage options including sailing the spectacular Jurassic coast to Weymouth and also the option of an exciting cross channel sail to Cherbourg or St Vaast in France. Their other yacht Delphini, is moored in Malta which allows for a sunny relaxed sail around the island, it’s Northerly sister Gozo and a warm swim. Whatever your sailing experience or none at all Encompass will ensure you get the most from your weekend. Our sailing weekends usually starts around Easter and end in October, take a look at our website for dates. Our Walkwise walking weekends are always a firm favourite with Spice members, just ask any member who has enjoyed one of their weekends. They are also very social and a great way to make new Spice friends. This Spring we have walks in the Lake District, Cornwall, Hadrians Wall, Devon, Wales, The Cotswolds, Snowdonia and the Dorset Coast, see or web site.
Spice Bristol & Cardiff Weekend Breaks
Coming Events – April 2016 Monday
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www.spicebristolcardiff.com T: 01276 479253 E: dianne@spicebristolcardiff.com
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12 Pub Quiz Night at Tredegar Arms, Newport
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17 Bike Ride: Severn Beach To Chepstow - 18 Miles Round Trip.
Fire Eating and Fire Breathing Workshop
Spice Monthly Cocktail Night Hausbar Speakeasy Bristol
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16 Abseiling Beginners at Symonds Yat
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Spice Social and Find Out More Evening - The Swan
Spice Social + Find Out More Gloucester
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Places of Interest Cyfarthfa Castle Musuem and Art Gallery Spring Walk in Hampstead with Ian Jelf
Fun Pub Quiz Night White Horse, Bridgend RHS Flower Show Cardiff Tandem Skydive from 12,000ft
Cycling Weekend - New Forest Narrow Boat Weekend - Gayton Marina, Northampton North Wales Hostel Walking and Social Weekend Serenity Weekend Discovery Your Inner Self Walking Weekend Ballachulish and Glencoe Walking Weekend Snowdonia Mountains and Coast 23 24
Spice Meet and Mingle - Friday Night Open Mic Bristol
Event: Meet And Eat Traditional Moroccan Evening - Bristol Overnight Forest Experience
Laser Clay and Archery at Celtic Manor Resort Pay As You Go Cinema Afternoon - Bristol The Big Abseil - 200 Feet Straight Down
Sailing Introductory Taster Day Saturday Walk Rhiwderin to Fox Hill 4 Miles 25
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Pub Quiz Night at Tredegar Arms, Newport
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Ceroc Dance Class - Bristol
Spice Meet + Eat The Spotted Cow Bristol
Trampolining At Air-Hop Bristol
Jaguar Land Rover Engine Plant Experience Spice Find Out More Evening Cardiff
Spice Meet and Eat - The Discovery, Cardiff
Italy Cinque Terre Photography Tour - 4 Night Break 30 1 May Canadian Canoeing and Camping Weekend - Hurley Lock Island Madresfield Court The Real Brideshead Meet And Eat - The Hop Pole - Bath
Easy Waterpark Ramble + 3 Course Sunday Lunch Motorbike Off Road Experience - Walsall Places of Interest Aberglasney House and Gardens Places of Interest Bristol Aquarium Sunday Walk - T Hamlets Of Conkwell And Whitley - 8 miles
Sailing Weekend - May Bank Holiday - Gosport to Poole Walking Weekend Hadrian's Wall and Gilsland Spa Walking Weekend Plymouth, South Devon and Cornish Coasts Walking Weekend Spring into Windermere and Ambleside Welsh Camping Long Weekend
Coming Events – April /May 2016 Monday 2
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Relax, it’s
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Spice Social + Find Out More Evening Bath
Ceroc Dance Class - Thornbury
Ceilidh - Tredegar House, Newport
Pay As You Go - Viva Brazil, Cardiff
Segway Off-Road Safari - Bristol
Spice Dines - Spanish Tapas - El Puerto Bristol
Sunday Walk - The Garth via Taffs Well - 4 Miles
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Warwick VIP Horse Racing Day with Meal and Tour
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Symonds Yat Adventure Mission
Friday Night Karaoke Bar
Day Bank Holiday
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The View from the Shard - London
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Spice Social and Find Out More Evening - The Badminton
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Chaddesley Corbett Bluebell Evening Ramble Kidderminster Pub Quiz Night at Tredegar Arms, Newport
Sailing Weekend around the Solent 15
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Charity Curry And Quiz Night at BAWA - Bristol
Canadian Canoe Adventure
Midweek Cinema Club - Bristol
Meet, Mingle and Have a Meal - Poco Poco Restaurant MoonWalk London Spice Team Steward
Canadian Canoeing along St Patrick's Stream, Wokingham to Sonning Mike's Bike Ride Portishead
Saturday Night Social Bath Gin + Cocktail Bar Stonehenge Sunset Tour
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Spice Social and Find Out More Evening - The Swan
Spice Find Out More Evening Cardiff Spice Social and Find Out More Evening Cheltenham
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Horse Riding Weekend for Beginners and Improvers Sailing Weekend around Malta See Glasgow - Cultural and Social Break Walking Weekend Derbyshire's Dales and Eastern Peaks Walking Weekend Sidmouth and the East Devon Coast 21 22
Camping Afloat Miners, Monks and Spaghetti!
Axe Throwing Experience
Anyone for Dessert, Bristol Public Speaking for the Petrified
Bierkeller Bar - Social and Live Oompah Band PAYG - Pizza Night at Tank, Gloucester Saturday Walk Lantrisant Common - 4 Miles
Woodland Walk at Celtic Manor and Afternoon Tea
Scottish Walking Week, the Isle of Mull, Iona and Killin Step Inside the BBC Bristol Cycling Weekend - Bath Drawing and Watercolour Weekend Sailing Weekend Poole, Jurassic Coast and Weymouth
Coming Events – May / June 2016 Monday 23
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Pub Quiz Night at Tredegar Arms, Newport
Ceroc Dance Class - Bristol
Spice Meet + Eat The Sandringham - Bristol
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Canal Walk and Pub Lunch - Bristol
Canadian Canoeing along the River Medway, Tonbridge to East Peckham
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Mindfulness Afternoon Retreat
Spice Meet and Eat - Maenllwyd in Caerphilly
White Water Rafting at Bala
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Food and Drink Festival - Cowbridge, Wales Shropshire Raft Tour Spice Meet And Eat Sunday Lunch - Bristol The Big Abseil - 200 Feet Straight Down
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Bridgnorth and Rindleford Ramble
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Monster Trucks at Beaulieu
2 Ceroc Dance Class - Thornbury
Sailing Cross Channel to the Cherbourg Peninsula Bank Holiday Narrowboat Weekend - Aldermaston Ilfracombe and North Devon Bank Holiday Walking and Social Weekend Secret Ridges of Wales Bank Holiday Walking Weekend Walking Weekend Evesham North Cotswolds Walking Weekend Tenby and Pembrokeshire Coast Walking Weekend on IIkley Moor Woolacombe Coastal Photography Weekend 3 4 5 Live Music At The Royal Navy Volunteer Tavern Ten Pin Bowling Cardiff
Walk - Oxwich Headland, Swansea - 5 Miles
Summer has arrived!
Places of Interest Botanical Gardens Bristol Beer Festival, Avon Valley Railway Train Ride Lunch - Bitton
Western Style Rifle Shooting Experience
Pay As You Go - Miller and Carter Cardiff Science of Attraction and Relationships Workshop White Water Kayaks
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Pub Quiz Night at Tredegar Arms, Newport
Spice Social + Find Out More Evening Bath
Alfresco Pub Challenge Cheltenham
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Wilderness and Foraging Bunkhouse Weekend - Dorking 11 12 Canadian Canoeing along the River Wey Meet, Mingle and Have a Meal - Indiaah, Pontyclun
Live Jazz - Friday Night Social at The Old Duke
Rod Stewart Concert Cardiff Rod Stewart Concert and 1 night Accommodation Cardiff
Disc Golf in Bristol Sunday Lunch at The Clink Restaurant, HMP Cardiff Unique Sailing on the Fabulous Tall Ship Mercedes on the Thames Unique Wolf Experience with Walk - Bedford
Sailing Weekend around the Solent
Getting the most from Spice - top tips ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Check the web site regularly, we update on a daily basis, make sure you don’t miss that “must do event” Some events are seasonal booking early means you won’t be disappointed by an event selling out. Try something different, you never know you may surprise yourself and love it! Use the transport share list if you find it difficult to get to an event, most Spice members are more than happy for a bit of company on a long trip. Go on the wait list, we do get members cancelling bookings and we can often arrange for extra slots. Don’t forget Spice UK has some brilliant holidays, check the web site regularly. Remember Spice is a network, one big family, you can attend events organised by all the other Spice Groups. Call the office if you have any questions about an event, or are not sure about something, we are happy to help. Say hi to the Spice host when arriving, they will introduce you to the group and be included. Check the write-up, although equipment is provided, you may need to wear suitable clothing or footwear, this is especially true for our guided walks.
Coming Events – June 2016 Monday 13
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Spice Social and Find Out More Evening - The Badminton
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Anagram Pub Crawl Bristol
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Haunted and Hidden Bristol
Climbing the Longstone Pinnacle
Center Parcs Weekend - Dastardly Spice Challenge
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Gung Ho - 5k Challenge with Inflatable Fun!
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Spice Find Out More Evening – Cardiff Pub Quiz Night at Tredegar Arms, Newport
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Horse Riding Fun Day
Pay As You Go - Live Music And Cocktails Cheltenham
Places of Interest Aberdulais Tin Works and Waterfall, Port Talbot
Sailing Introductory Taster Day
Sunday Live Music The Bell Bath
Slovenia Photography Tour Sailing Weekend around Malta Center Parcs Sherwood Weekend Walking Weekend Beddgelert Snowdonia 25 26 Canadian Canoeing & Camping Weekend – Wye Valley
Bristol Walking Tour Crazy Golf at the Celtic Manot
Spice Find Out More Evening Gloucester Spice Monthly Cocktail Night Redlight
Spice Social and Find Out More Evening - The Swan
Pay as you go – Bath, Nepalese Cuisine Gower Walking & Social Weekend Walking Weekend – Bournemouth Hampshire & Dorset Coast 27
28 Salsa Dancing Beginners & Intermediates
29 Ceroc Dance Class – Bristol
30 Spice Meet & Eat – The George at Blackwell
Spice Meet & Eat – Lisvane, Cardiff
Spice members stocking up on bacon sandwiches! Wilderness Bunkhouse Weekend near Dorking in February Sailing Round the Island Yacht Race
Our website is always being updated and has all of our latest events
Sailing Weekend around the Solent
Dates: Fri 6th May - Sun 8th May Fri 10th Jun - Sun 12th Jun Fri 15th Jul - Sun 17th Jul Fri 29th Jul - Sun 31st Jul Fri 30th Sep - Sun 2nd Oct Place: Chichester Marina, Chichester Harbour, West Sussex (PO20 7EJ) Friday evening from 8.00p.m. Cost: £255 Shared Cabin, (Deposit £50) includes: 2 nights on board in shared cabins, diesel, wet weather gear, life harnesses, breakfasts, lunches, tea and coffee. Extras: evening meals and marina charges The Solent is an ideal location for a weekend sailing cruise. There is so much to see, the beautiful Isle of Wight, many boats and ships passing by and many historic harbours from which to choose our Saturday night stop. With sheltered sailing, we normally sail for the whole day (after a hearty breakfast) and lunch is often eaten underway. Teas/coffees, soft drinks and snacks are available throughout the day. We aim to moor before dark for time to relax, then set off to a restaurant or pub for the evening meal - there are excellent eating places at all the overnight stops. This is a hands on weekend from those who have never sailed before and want to learn the basics and also for those with sailing experience, see our web site for more.
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North Wales Hostel Walking and Social Weekend
Fri 15th Apr 2016 - Sun 17th Apr 2016 Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales (LL19 7AG) Arrive from 4.00p.m. check out 12 noon £75 Sharing, (Deposit £15) Includes: 2 nights hostel accommodation, 1 cooked breakfast & 1 continental breakfast, Friday night buffet and Saturday night meal. 2 guided walks and the services of a Spice host This one will suit the walkers and the non-walkers for whom there is plenty to do in the area. For the walkers, we have access straight on to the beach and The Wales Coast Path where we can go South towards Rhyll and beyond to the Kinmel Nature Reserve or North passing Prestatyn itself and on to the Gronant Dunes Nature Reserve. Alternatively we could drive inland and access the Clwydian Way & explore the Clwydian Hills overlooking the coastline. For the non-walkers we are within driving distance of many attractions.
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Serenity Weekend Discovery Your Inner Self
Fri 15th Apr 2016 - Sun 17th Apr 2016 Lluest Fach, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00p.m. Supper at 8.30p.m. £160 Sharing, (Deposit £32 Sharing) 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.
Cycling Weekend in the New Forest
Date: Fri 15th Apr 2016 - Sun 17th Apr 2016 Place: Lyndhurst, New Forest, Hampshire Final details will be emailed Cost: £185 Twin share, £220 Twin & Bike Hire, £235 Single, £270 Single & Bike Hire (Deposit £40) Includes: two night's accommodation in Lyndhurst in either a comfortable hotel or B&B, 2 breakfasts, 1 evening meal (3 courses) on Saturday, 2 days fully guided cycling. Extras: Bike hire if required 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
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Narrow Boat Weekend - Gayton Marina, Northampton
Fri 15th Apr 2016 - Mon 18th Apr 2016 Gayton Marina, Near Northampton (NN7 3ER) Arrive between 2.30p.m. and 4.30p.m. £185 (Deposit £35) Includes: exclusive Spice weekend on a narrowboat for 3 nights (option to depart Sunday is also available), 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and Spice host throughout Extras: Drinks and some meals For this weekend we are heading to Gayton Marina in Northampton, which is ideally situated just off the M1 (junction 15A) and close to Towcester and Northampton. We will leave from Gayton and head south onto the Grand Union Canal towards Blisworth. Day two will take us towards Great Linford and we will have a number of locks to go through as we travel to Cosgrove where an aqueduct crosses the River Ouse. On Sunday we will spend the day travelling back to Gayton.
Spice Monthly Cocktail Night - Hausbar Speakeasy - Bristol
Date: Friday 15th April 2016 Place: 52 Upper Belgrave Road Clifton Bristol (BS8 2XP) Spice Table 8pm Cost: £13.50 Includes: First Cocktail, Spice host Extras: More drinks Spice continue their quest to visit all of the top cocktail bars in Bristol and this month’s delight is Bristol's original speakeasy;Hausbar which sure mixes up a fine signature cocktail. Hidden beneath an Indian restaurant isn't traditionally the first place you'd head for a great night out, but that's precisely where you'll find one of Bristol's coolest bars. Right at the top of Whiteladies Road opposite the Downs, Hausbar has long been a place to finish a night in style. The original Bristol speakeasy bar, which you have to ring a doorbell to gain access to, is rather out on a limb – especially with plenty of cocky young upstarts now opening nearer the centre of town. But despite no longer being unique, Hausbarremains a venue for discerning drinkers. First cocktail included in the booking.
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Walking Weekend Snowdonia Mountains and Coast
Fri 15th Apr 2016 - Sun 17th Apr 2016 Ambassador Hotel, Llandudno, Wales (LL30 2NR) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £159 Twin Share, £199 Single (Deposit £30 Twin Share, £40 Single) Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals, 2 guided walks per day Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Walkwise Overview: Llandudno is an excellent resort to visit during the quieter winter months. We will return to our regular haunt of the Ambassador hotel which is within staggering distance of some excellent traditional inns but more importantly it is an ideal location to allow us access to the mountains of Snowdonia and the coast alike. We can explore the beautiful Conwy valley, the surrounding Cambrian Mountains or wander the miles of beautiful coastal paths!
Abseiling for Beginners at Symonds Yat
Date: Saturday 16th April 2016 Place: Symonds Yat area of Forest Dean 10.00am Cost: £39 The team from Forest Adventure have designed a rock session in this area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Abseils vary from a sheltered 40 ft to an exposed 110 ft depending on how you wish to progress. No one is made to do anything, progress at your own pace in an encouraging environment or enjoy the view and support your fellow Spicers. The instructors are confident that anyone can conquer these cliffs with a little encouragement. “Our most senior lady this year from the local WI was 87 – so I’m sure no one from Spice should find it difficult!”
Fire Eating and Fire Breathing Workshop
Date: Saturday 16th April 2016 Place: Woodlands Camp, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield (WS9 0SH) 10.30am for 11.00am start Cost: £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’re 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 & breathed 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. The morning session comprises a thorough programme of games and exercises done as a group, designed to boost confidence and team spirit, and to prepare members for the challenge of safely learning this dangerous and esoteric skill. It's a lot of fun but never the less taken seriously as danger is ever present - so no messing about on this one. The day culminates in the incredible sight of all the team swallowing firebrands and for the grand finale - a team photo of everyone flame throwing! Are we mad - not when you know how!
Places of Interest - Cyfarthfa Castle Musuem and Art Gallery
Date: Saturday 16th April 2016 Place: Cyfarthfa Park, Brecon Road, Merthyr Tydfil, Wales (CF47 8RE) Meet at entrance - Spice sign 12:30pm Includes: Spice host Extras: entrance ticket, food and drinks Cyfarthfa Castle is located in the historical town of Merthyr Tydfil, which established itself as the Iron Captial of the World in the 18th Century with its huge Iron-Works complexes. Cyfarthfa Castle is situated in 160 acres of parkland with formal gardens, a lake, and a model railway. The castle was built in 1824 during the industrial revolution, and has now opened its doors to the public, hosting a spectacular museum and art gallery. Visitors can witness a range of art displays and eclectic collections from the ancient world, including Egyptian grave goods, Greek and Roman artefacts and Far Eastern decorative arts.
Spring Walk in Hampstead with Ian Jelf
Date: Saturday 16th April 2016 Place: Hampstead, London (NW3 1QG) Outside Hampstead Tube Station 2pm Cost: £15 Includes: 2 hour guided walk with Ian Jelf Extras: cash for drinks in the pub afterwards People are always describing London as a collection of villages. Well, hilly Hampstead (be prepared for some climbing!) is home to some of the capital’s wealthiest people and finest open spaces. Yet, more than almost anywhere else in London, Hampstead has managed to retain its atmosphere as a village. It looks really splendid in the winter, too and there are fewer tourists milling around! During our walk, we shall be finding the homes (and graves) of some famous people, hearing tales of the Great Plague, finding out about Hampstead’s forgotten history as a spa and even finding a link with James Bond!
Bike Ride: Severn Beach To Chepstow - 18 Miles Round Trip.
Date: Sunday 17th April 2016 Place: Shirley's Cafe, Station Rd, Severn Beach (BS35 4PL) 10:45 for 11:00 departure Cost: £5 Includes: bike ride with Mike Vowles Extras: Lunch & Drinks at the pub Bring: Bike, Helmet, Bike Lock, Suitable Footwear and Clothing, a Drink and a Snack It’s Back! Thanks to our great Spice member and guide Mike, Spice are back on two wheels exploring the countryside. Cycling is both great exercise and an enjoyable way of seeing the local area. Today Mike Vowles will lead us on a new bike ride from Severn Beach to Chepstow. We'll leave Severn Beach and ride along the seawall via the picturesque villages of Redwick and Northwick. The highlight of this enjoyable ride will be cycling across the old Severn Bridge with some amazing views of both Chepstow and the second Severn Crossing. When we arrive at Chepstow we’ll have some lunch at The Boathouse, a lovely riverside pub. Once fed and watered, we’ll enjoy the return journey back across the bridge and down to Severn Beach. The ride is 18 miles in length, 9 miles each way with a nice break in the middle and is mostly on a recognised cycle routes away from the main roads.
RHS Flower Show - Cardiff
Date: Sunday 17th April 2016 Place: Bute Park, Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, Wales (CF10 3EA) Final meet and times will be emailed 11am Cost: £10 Welcome Spring in style at the beautiful Bute Park for the RHS Flower Show. This show celebrates the best of springtime, inspiring gardeners to creatively use their outdoor spaces, and encourage us to learn and grow as gardeners. There are talks and demonstrations and there will be familiar faces from the world of gardening including television personality Toby Buckland.
Tandem Skydive from 12,000ft
Date: Sunday 17th April 2016 Place: Hinton Skydive Cent, Oxon/Northants bord (NN13 5NS) 12 for 12.30pm Cost: £230 Member (Deposit £50) Includes: Cost includes BPA membership Note: This event is now being arranged through Hinton Skydiving Centre, a world class facility near Brackley. We plan to send groups of 6 Spice Members on each date. To get the full, freefall experience your very first jump, and with as much safety as possible a Tandem Skydive is just the thing! Several Following a short pre-jump briefing, you will experience the thrill of freefall and even learn the basics of steering and landing a modern 'square' gliding parachute, while securely attached to a highly experienced Instructor. Tandem Skydives normally take place from 10,000 to 12,000 feet and sometimes even higher! After exiting the aircraft - securely attached to your Instructor! - you will freefall until the Instructor opens the main parachute at about 5000 feet. You will spend about 30 seconds in freefall (depending on the exit altitude) and reach a speed of around 120 miles per hour! The descent under the large square parachute will take several minutes, during which time you will help to steer it down to the landing area. Don't forget to enjoy the view - you can see for miles on a clear day!
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Italy Cinque Terre Photography Tour - 4 Night Break
Thu 21st Apr 2016 - Mon 25th Apr 2016 Monterosso, Cinque Terre, Italy £899 Twin Share, £1029 Single (Deposit £200) includes: Flights, transfers, 4 nights B&B in the 3 star hotel, 4 days photographic tuition Extras: Insurance, Local Payment 50 euro, lunches, evening meals, drinks A photographers dream… The Cinque Terre must surely contain the five most beautiful seaside villages in Italy. A rugged portion of coastline, The Cinque Terre is in the Liguria region of Italy to the west of La Spezia, on the Italian Riviera. The five villages of the Cinque Terre, coastline and the surrounding hillside is a National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cars are not allowed so access is by trains, boats and feet! This will surely guarantee a very relaxing time. Our photographic tour is based in the pretty village of Monterosso al Mare but we visit all five villages of the Cinque Terre. The five villages, Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore are easily accessed by using the trains, hopping on and off and soaking up the atmosphere and character of each village. There are photographic opportunities in abundance and the late afternoon light warming the colourful houses of the villages sets the scene for some lovely images. Through motivating, practical sessions you’ll learn more about your camera and various techniques to capture stunning images of the Cinque Terre. For more information please see our web site.
Spice Meet and Mingle - Friday Night Open Mic - Bristol
Date: Friday 22nd April 2016 Place: The Hatter, 9 Clare Street, Bristol, (BS1 1XH) In the bar 7pm Cost: £2 Includes: Booking Fee, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Friday night get together at The Hatter. Live music in the form of an open–mic night. The Hatter has had festival comedians, touring musicians from Australia, and an impromptu busking band in the past, so it’s never dull! Meet up and enjoy the show or maybe even display your talents for a free drink*. With a range of hosts both guest hosts and local residents, the Hatter has a great crowd for all to enjoy. *if you would like to get involved we can arrange a slot for you. .
Event: Meet And Eat - Traditional Moroccan Evening - Bristol
Date: Saturday 23rd April 2016 Place: The Assilah Bistro, 194 Wells Rd, Bristol (BS4 2AX) The Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £2 Includes: Spice Host, Booking Fee Extras: Food and Drink - BYOB, An evening of delicious food, traditional Moroccan music, and possibly a belly dancing show. Reviews about this restaurant are great, superb venue, friendly service, and tasty reasonably priced food. Add to that the authentic Moroccan vibe and we’re in for a treat this evening. This restaurant operates on a ‘Bring Your Own’ alcohol policy so if you’d like to have a beer or wine with your meal, please remember to bring some along with you. A £2 corking fee is charged per bottle. A great way to save money on your night out.
Overnight Forest Experience
Date: Sat 23rd Apr 2016 - Sun 24th Apr 2016 Place: Symonds Yat, Forest of Dean (GL16 7NN) 7.30pm for 8.00pm start 7:30pm 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!
All prices shown are for Spice members please see our web site for guest prices
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Sailing Introductory Taster Day
Saturday 23rd April 2016 Chichester Marina, Chichester Harbour, West Sussex (PO20 7EJ) 9.00a.m. Saturday £160 (Deposit £25) Includes: Instruction, lunch, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks, all safety equipment and diesel fees. Waterproofs are available free of charge. Extras: Marina fees On this event you experience the fun of sailing a modern, safe, yacht in scenic and sheltered waters. You feel the excitement of casting off the lines and breaking your bond with the land - then helping to raise the sails and feeling the wind start to push us along… all under the guidance of an experienced skipper. Starting from Chichester Marina, Chichester you join the yacht at 09:00. Following a safety briefing and familiarisation with the yacht and your fellow Spice crew members, we set off for our day’s sail out of the harbour and into the Solent that stretch of sea that lies between the Isle of Wight and the mainland. Your skipper explains how sailing works, answers your questions and helps you “learn the ropes”. Soon you find yourself sailing the boat! – always with the skipper to hand to support and ensure safe progress. By the time we return to port you have had the opportunity to play your full part in the various tasks that make up sailing a yacht. For lunch we eat aboard. Snacks and drinks are available throughout the day. After lunch we sail back to Chichester marina arriving at approximately 5pm. After everyone has gathered their belongings and said their good byes, usually over a last cup of tea, departure is normally around 5:30pm.
Saturday Walk - Rhiwderin to Fox Hill - 4 Miles
Date: Saturday 23rd April 2016 Place: Rhiwderin Community Centre, Wales (NP10 8RX) Outside at the Community Centre gates 11am Cost: £4 Includes: guided walk with John Holloway Extras: drinks/snacks This lovely walk climbs up through fields and woodland to Fox Hill, which is on a ridge, from here there are spectacular views across both the Rhymney and Ebbw valleys and beyond. On the way to Fox Hill there are a couple of short sharp climbs, but as usual we will take this at an easy pace with frequent stops to admire the views (and catch our breath!). Parts of this walk maybe muddy so please wear appropriate footwear. The walk should take around 2 to 2.5hrs Your Guide is John Holloway and as a courtesy to John please let him know if you are not able to make it on the day. Mobile Number 07933 795602 We take late bookings for all our walks.
Laser Clay and Archery at Celtic Manor Resort
Date: Sunday 24th April 2016 Place: Celtic Manor Resort, Coldra Woods, The Usk Valley, Newport, Wales (NP18 2YB) Final Details will be emailed 1pm Cost: £34 Laser & Archery, £18 Laser only, £18 Archery only Includes: combined session of laser and archery or you can book just one activity, booking fee and Spice host We have tried a few of the activities at Celtic Manor so thought it was time for us to try some on target shooting. You don’t have to be a sharp shooter or a hot shot to do this fun activity. For the laser clays you take aim with the state-of-the-art laser adapted rifle and see how many clays you can hit as they speed through the air. Travelling at 65mph it is not as easy as it sounds. For the Archery your skills of accuracy will be put to the test as you try your hand at the ancient art of archery. You can book both the activities or just one – the choice is yours. We will confirm the time slots and final details by email.
The Big Abseil - 200 Feet Straight Down
Date: Sunday 24th April 2016 Place: Avon Gorge, Portway, Bristol Layby on the Portway - email sent with directions 1:15pm to 4:30pm Cost: £38 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. So do you have the nerve to take on this exhilarating, adrenalin pumping challenge? Our session is in the afternoon and we’ll be in the capable hands of the experienced instructors from Mendip Outdoor Pursuits. Remember this event has limited slots and we offer out to members of the other Spice groups. Final details will be sent out 1 week prior.
Pay As You Go Cinema Afternoon - Bristol
Date: Sunday 24th April 2016 Place: The Watershed, 1 Canons Road, Bristol (BS1 5TX) Outside Main Entrance 2:45pm Cost: £2 Includes: host Extras: Food, Drinks Sunday afternoon, nice relaxing get together at the cosy Watershed Cinema. We will be heading for the 3pm viewing. Afterwards we can grab a coffee in the café lounge area to talk about the movie. Watershed is a social enterprise and a registered charity. As the leading film culture and digital media centre in the South West, we advance education, skills, appreciation and understanding of the arts with a particular focus on film, media and digital technologies. Will update with more info about the film when advertised.
Spice Meet and Eat - The Spotted Cow Bristol
Date: Thursday 28th April 2016 Place: 139 North Street, Bedminster, Bristol (BS3 1EZ) The Spotted Cow - Spice Table 7:30pm Includes: Spice table booking and Spice host Extras: Pay as you go evening Join Spice tonight for our monthly Meet & Eat. Every month we head to a new 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.
Spice Meet and Eat - The Discovery, Cardiff
Date: Thursday 28th April 2016 Place: Celyn Avenue, Lakeside, Cardiff, Wales (CF23 6FH) In the bar or at Spice table 7:30pm Includes: Spice table, Spice host Extras: pay as you go evening Join Spice tonight for our monthly Meet & Eat. Every month we head to a new 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. Our venue tonight is The Discovery, which is situated close to Roath Park. Offering laid back dining and drinking with pub classics and some unusual dishes.
Trampolining At Air-Hop Bristol
Date: Friday 29th April 2016 Place: Unit 5 Britannia Road, Patchway, Bristol (BS34 5TA) 7pm to 9pm Cost: £14.50 Includes: Entrance, Bounce Socks, Spice Host, Due to requests from you members, Spice are heading to Air-Hop; the world’s biggest trampoline park. A night of reaching the rafters, back flipping, or just causal bouncing around the massive indoor arena filled wall to wall with trampolines. An evening of great fun and a good work out too. Can’t go wrong!
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Walking Weekend Hadrian's Wall and Gilsland Spa
Fri 29th Apr 2016 - Mon 2nd May 2016 Gilsland Spa Hotel, Gilsland, Hadrian's Wall, Cumbria (CA8 7AR) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £239 Twin Share, £299 Single (Deposit £45 Twin Share, £55 Single) Includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 evening meals, 3 days of guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Hadrian’s Wall is the most famous and impressive Roman fortification in the Roman Empire. The best preserved sections of the wall lie between Lanercost Priory in the West and Chesters Cavalry Fort in the East and it is no coincidence that this also happens to encompass the wildest, most inaccessible and arguably the most beautiful landscape with dramatic ridges, open moors, long escarpments, lochs and deep river valleys. 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.
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Walking Weekend Plymouth, South Devon and Cornish Coasts
Fri 29th Apr 2016 - Mon 2nd May 2016 Duke of Cornwall Hotel, Plymouth, Devon (PL1 3LG) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £249 Twin Share, £309 Single (Deposit £45 Twin Share, £55 Single) includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 evening meals, 3 days of guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts if used This is a great opportunity to explore another stretch of our amazing south west coastline, The stunningly South Cornish Coast and the beautiful South Devon coastline are some of England's finest, and this alone is more than enough reason to visit! Towering cliffs and rugged headlands are all lapped by inviting Mediterranean blue waters, and in between are secluded sandy bays and quaint fishing hamlets. Deep estuaries dramatically cut their way inland, carving beautiful isolated peninsulas. Along the way we will call into picturesque villages and enjoy the hospitality of the inviting cafes or welcoming country inns.
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Walking Weekend Spring into Windermere and Ambleside
Fri 29th Apr 2016 - Mon 2nd May 2016 Windermere Hydro Hotel, Windermere, Lake District (LA23 3BA) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £269 Twin Share, £344 Single (Deposit £50 Twin Share, £60 Single) includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 evening meals, 3 guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Bowness-on-Windermere is one of our favourite destinations. We have a great hotel, great location, great town, oh and great walking too!!! This is a wonderful time of year to be in here with a great sense of life in the countryside and a great vibe in the local pubs and inns, so we are ensured some cracking evenings too! The Hydro is one of the oldest Lake District hotels and it blends a mixture of Victorian elegance with modern leisure facilities. It’s in an ideal location, just set back from the village of Bowness-on-Windermere which affords spectacular views over Lake Windermere.
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Fri 29th Apr 2016 - Mon 2nd May 2016 Lluest Fach, Foal, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 5.00p.m. £74 Camping, £92 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 breathtaking views, a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and an ideal spot to relax and unwind.
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Welsh Camping Long Weekend
Canadian Canoeing and Camping Weekend - Hurley Lock Island
Saturday 30th April 2016 Hurley Lock Island (SL6 5LT) 10am Saturday morning £120 Includes: All specialist equipment required for canoeing, plus river guiding, coaching and safety cover from highly qualified & experienced canoe coaches Extras: Campsite fees, transport, meals, catering & food costs. Fancy a weekend of fresh air and exercise and a great value, "get away from it all" experience? Of course you do; here is your opportunity! Does camping out in the middle of a river on your own island float your boat? How about a blend of paddling in open canoes, riverside walks, wildlife spotting, convivial conversation and atmospheric local pubs. Hurley Lock Island is situated just to the north of Hurley village between Henley and Marlow. Camping is permitted on the island with the agreement of the lock keeper who oversees the simple grade campsite. Cars are not permitted on the island but nearby parking is available in the village and it’s only a short stroll to the local pub. On this weekend, we aim to explore both upstream and downstream of the island and be on the water for around four hours on both days, although Sunday will be a little shorter to enable people to get off at the end of the afternoon.
Madresfield Court - The Real Brideshead
Date: Saturday 30th April 2016 Place: Malvern, Worcestershire (WR13 5AH) 2:15pm Cost: £14.50 Includes: bookings fees and Spice Co-Ordinator 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. Inside, it is a very private, unmistakably English, manor house; a lived-in family home where the bejewelled sits next to the threadbare.
Meet And Eat - The Hop Pole - Bath
Date: Saturday 30th April 2016 Place: 7 Albion Buildings, Upper Bristol Road, (BA1 3AR) Spice Table 7pm Cost: £2 Includes: Booking fee, Spic Host Extras: Food and Drink Spice get together to sample the fine food at the Hop. The Hop Pole is a great place for a pint, but the pub also has a reputation for outstanding cuisine. The Hop Pole’s restaurant is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys fine food accompanied by equally fine cask ales, or wine from a selection designed to suit all tastes (and all pockets). Adjoining the restaurant is the spacious and lovingly restored beer garden. It’s become one of the pub’s most popular and talked about features. No wonder people describe the place as a country pub in the heart of the city. With a bit of luck there could be the chance to see some evening sun in the garden.
Easy Waterpark Ramble and 3 Course Sunday Lunch
Date: Sunday 1st May 2016 Place: Marston Farm Hotel, Bodymoor Heath Lane, Near Kingsbury, Sutton Coldfi (B76 9JD) 11am for 11.15am start Cost: £19 Includes: Guided walk, 3 course lunch, service charge, Spice host Extras: Drinks Join Richard on a 2 hour easy ramble following the Fazeley canal through the picturesque Warwickshire countryside into Kingsbury Waterpark where we can enjoy the lakes and visit the bird hides returning to Marston Farm Hotel for a luxury lunch. Marston Farm was one of the homes of Sir Robert Peel and has a lovely courtyard and secluded grounds.
Motorbike Off Road Experience - Walsall
Date: Sunday 1st May 2016 Place: Frank F Harrison Motor X Track, Walsall (WS2 7NR) 9.30am for 10am - 3pm session Cost: £99 (Deposit £20) Due to a special relationship with a long served Spice member we have exclusive access to a fabulous off road facility in Walsall. If you have any doubts about the scale of this track, just put WS2 7NR into Google Earth and see it “from Space”! They have great equipment and brilliant instructors to teach you how to get the best from it. This fantastic introduction will get you riding in ways and on surfaces that you wouldn't believe! There is no better feeling of exhilaration, than riding a motorcycle over off road terrain. The day cater for all levels of experience from complete novice (including would-be riders who have never even sat on a motorcycle before), to experienced road and off-road riders. Your day starts with a safety briefing and introduction. After which you will receive some basic off road riding instruction and assessment. Your instructors will then take you out to the course to build and develop your skills and confidence in a hands-on situation.
Places of Interest - Aberglasney House and Gardens
Date: Sunday 1st May 2016 Place: Aberglasney, Carmarthen, Dyfed (SA32 8QH) At entrance - Spice sign 12pm Includes: Spice host Extras: £8 Entrance fee, Drinks and food if required Each month we are doing a ‘Places of Interest’ visit. These are pay as you go events where Spice provides a host and then you pay for entrance tickets and any food and drinks that you have on the day. We do need you to book so that we know who is coming along. Our visit for May is to the Aberglasney house and Gardens in Carmarthen. If you have not been before then it really is worth a visit so why not join us today. We will meet at the entrance at 12.00 noon then we will head inside together. Afterwards we usually stop for some refreshments or some lunch close by.
Places of Interest - Bristol Aquarium
Date: Sunday 1st May 2016 Place: Anchor Road | Harbourside, Bristol (BS1 5TT) At entrance - Spice sign 11am Includes: free entrance, Spice host Extras: Entry Ticket. Drinks and food if required Each month we are doing a ‘Places of Interest’ visit. These are pay as you go events where Spice provide a host and then you pay for entrance tickets and any food and drinks that you have on the day. We do need you to book so that we know who is coming along. The entrance for the Cardiff Museum is free. Discover the wonders of the deep in the heart of the city and explore more than 40 naturally-themed displays that are home to thousands of amazing aquatic creatures including tropical sharks, rays, seahorses, puffer fish, piranhas and so much more. Also the only aquarium in the UK to feature a giant botanical house, known as our Urban Jungle, showcasing hundreds of exotic plant and tree species from around the world. Tickets prices are £14.50 which you will pay at the venue.
Sunday Walk - T Hamlets Of Conkwell And Whitley - 8 miles
Date: Sunday 1st May 2016 Place: Avoncliff Car Park, near Bradford on Avon, (BA15 2DR) 10.15 for 10.30 start Cost: £4 Includes: Spice Host Extras: Refreshments This is an 8 mile walk which takes us along the river and canal before rising up to the hamlets of Conkwell and Whitley returning to Avoncliff via Turleigh. The walk includes footpaths and lanes with one potentially soggy pathway, so waterproof and sturdy footwear is recommended. The walk should take over 3 hours so bring a snack and drink if you’d like for the midpoint stop. Refreshments available at the end of the walk at Avoncliff, we’ll be torn between a tea gardens and the riverside pub! .
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Warwick VIP Horse Racing Day with Meal and Tour
Monday 2nd May 2016 Warwick Races, Hampton Street, Warwick (CV34 6HN) 12pm £62 Includes: use of Private bar & box facility, Private Balcony, lunch & personal behind the scenes tour by the Managing Director This special event has been put together specially for Spice by Warwick Racecourse to give us a real VIP experience. We will be treated to a behind the scenes tour from racecourse Managing Director Huw Williams to allow access into areas that become restricted once racing commences. This will include a walk out onto track and a 'history of Warwick' talk, visit to Weighing Room, stable yard tour (they have Stables to hold 120 horses pre racing), visit to Commentators Box and Parade Ring access. There may even be a few Jockeys to meet and greet us. We will also have use of our own box facility with private bar and balcony where we will enjoy a tasty lunch & stay to enjoy the racing together from a privileged vantage point!
Ceilidh - Tredegar House, Newport
Date: Friday 6th May 2016 Place: Tredegar House and Country Park, Newport, Wales (NP10 8YW) final details will be emailed 7:30pm Cost: £7.50 Includes: entrance ticket to the Ceilidh and booking fee and Spice host Everyone enjoys a good old Ceilidh night and as part of the Tredegar House Festival there is a Ceilidh on the Friday Night. There will be a band and a caller to take us through the steps so it doesn’t matter if you have not been to a Ceilidh before. They are great fun and everyone joins in the dancing without too much encouragement so why not join us.
Friday Night - Karaoke Bar
Date: Friday 6th May 2016 Place: Shanghai Nights Restaurant, Nelson St, Bristol (BS1 2JT) Spice Private booth 7:30pm to 9:30pm Cost: £20 Includes: Spice Host, Four Drinks, Private Area Spice heads to Kobe Karaoke in Bristol for a night of entertainment provide by our very own talents. That’s right.. you! Whether you’ve been known to belt out a Whitney Houston or Rod Stewart in the shower or you just fancy a different evening out. We will have our very own private booth and also have four drinks included in the price. Beers, wines, local spirits and soft drinks are all included in the package. So get booking and let’s show what us Spicers can do. A night of high energy and good laughs guaranteed. We need early bookings for this one so we can secure our booth.
Pay As You Go - Viva Brazil, Cardiff
Date: Saturday 7th May 2016 Place: Saint Mary Street, Cardiff (CF10 1GD) Viva Brazil - Spice Table 7:15pm Cost: £2 Includes: Spice table booking and Spice Host Extras: Drinks and food 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!
Symonds Yat Adventure Mission
Date: Saturday 7th May 2016 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.
Spice Dines - Spanish Tapas - El Puerto - Bristol
Date: Saturday 7th May 2016 Place: El Puerto, 57 Prince St Bristol, Avon (BS1 4QH) Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £24.50 Includes: Tapas, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Authentic Spanish evening with traditional and original tapas dishes, we will get to taste every dish on the menu tonight. Menu based on a dish to share between four people, our taste buds will be flamenco dancing by the end of the evening. Great Spanish staff, warm friendly atmosphere, and delicious food. España on our doorstep! At El Puerto we are experts in serving fresh authentic Spanish cuisine as well as Spanish wines, wines, beers, and their signature Sangria,
The View from the Shard - London
Date: Saturday 7th May 2016 Place: The View from the Shard, Joiner Street Entrance, London (SE1 9SG) Meet: Entrance to the View - Spice Sign 12:45pm Cost: £34.95 Includes: Entrance ticket, Booking Fee, Host Extras: Drinks/food optional The Shard is an iconic, landmark building on the London skyline, designed by Master Architect Renzo Piano. At a height of 1,016ft (310m), the tallest building in Western Europe, the Shard redefines London’s skyline. Join Spice today as we journey to the top of the city to see the most incredible views of London. The View is situated at the top of The Shard, on floors 68, 69 and 72, and is almost twice the height of any other viewing platform in London. Prepare to embark on a multi-sensory journey to 244m (800ft) above one of the greatest cities on earth. On arrival at Level 00, we will be drawn into the tapestry of London with glimpses of the city laid out before us. Travelling skyward in two high-speed ‘kaleidoscopic’ lifts, we’ll swiftly reach Level 68 - a cloudscape above the world.
Segway Off-Road Safari - Bristol
Date: Sunday 8th May 2016 Place: Segway Bristol, Old Down Country Park, Foxholes Ln, Tockington (BS32 4PG) At the main entrance 2:30pm Cost: £38 Includes: Segway Training, Safety equipment, Segway Safari Extras: Drinks afterwards Not your average Sunday! A thrilling dirt track ride around a custom built 120 acre track on these unique machines. Test them to the limits whizzing around the course. Afterwards we can relax and catch up over a coffee. Your 1 hour Tour will consist of flat roads to get to grips with these amazing machines, we will then move into a custom built 120 acre off road area where you will experience just how clever and thrilling your segway is, they have lots of different tracks laid out within our site so we can offer various experiences for all capabilities. Segway Bristol Safari is based On The Old Down Estate, near Thornbury, within 120 acres of woodland and country side trailsover looking the Seven Bridges with stunning views. A truly unique segway tour 10 minutes from Bristol City Centre & the M5 corridor.
Sunday Walk - The Garth via Taffs Well - 4 Miles
Date: Sunday 8th May 2016 Place: Taffs Well Railway Station (CF15 7PE) Meet In the Station Car Park 11am to 2pm Cost: £4 Includes: guided walk with John Holloway Extras: drinks/snacks Join us today on this Sunday walk led by John Holloway. This a 4 mile walk with a climb up to The Garth. This is a popular walk; it was one of the walks featured in the Weatherman walking programme, slightly adapted we can start from the railway station. Garth Hill known locally as the Garth or Garth Mountain is believed to be the fictional "Ffynnon Garw" in the novel and the 1995 film, The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain The author Christopher Monger lived in Taffs Well. The Garth has commanding views across the Taff Valley and down to Cardiff and on a clear day it's said it is possible to see Weston-Super- Mare. The Garth was important for the ancient people of this area as there are several Bronze Age burial site near to the top of the Garth. This walk does involve a climb but its steady and we will take frequent rests to admire the views as we climb towards the summit. Parts of this walk maybe muddy so please wear appropriate footwear. The walk should take just about 2.5 to 3hrs Guide John Holloway Mobile Number 07933 795602
Midweek Cinema Club - Bristol
Date: Wednesday 11th May 2016 Place: The Vue, Merlin Road, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol (BS10 7SR) Inside Main Entrance 7pm Includes: Spice Host Extras: Cinema Ticket payable on the night Spice get together, popcorn, and some entertainment via the big screen. Break the week with an evening trip to the cinema. Movie information and actual times to be added when the listings become available.
Charity Curry And Quiz Night at BAWA - Bristol
Date: Friday 13th May 2016 Place: BAWA, 589 Southmead Road, Filton, Bristol, (BS34 7RG) Outside main entrance - Spice Sign 7pm Cost: £7 Includes: Curry, Quiz, Booking Fee, Charity Donation Extras: Drinks Fantastic Charity Curry Quiz in the Concorde Room. Spice to enter the BAWA Charity Quiz, lets flex our biggest muscle and donate some money to charity in the process. This night includes curry plus free pint of standard beer or lager. Additional 50p per round per person will be payable on the night for charity donations. Teams of up to 8 people, meet for 7pm to have a few drinks, Quiz starts 8pm. Proceeds go to local charities. Great fun, prizes awarded to round winners. 6 rounds of 20 questions - some questions are on the giant projector screen.
Horse Riding Weekend for Beginners and Improvers
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Fri 13th May 2016 - Sun 15th May 2016 Springhill Farm, Near Oswestry, Shropshire (SY10 7NZ) Arrive from 4.00p.m. £190 Dorm Share, (Deposit £40) includes: two nights’ accommodation, 1 cooked breakfast, 1 continental breakfast, Friday night buffet, Saturday night meal and horse riding as outlined in the write up Included in the price of the weekend is a 1 hour lesson on the Saturday morning where your ability will be assessed and you will be matched up with a Horse/Pony for the weekend. On Saturday afternoon we will be split into groups and will go out in the beautiful countryside for a 1 1/2 hour hack (ride out to those not familiar with the horsey lingo!). On the Sunday morning we will have the choice of whether we use our final hour to go out for a hack or have another lesson to improve our skills. For those who are really keen there is the option on the weekend to book and pay for a further ride in the afternoon. In addition to the riding, there is the option of helping out around the stable yard grooming the horses, tacking up and to muck out - yes, that's right!!!! poo picking but this is of course completely optional. We stay on the farm in their upmarket Bunkhouse with rooms sleeping from 2 to 6. Facilities available include patio, lawn area, BBQ, outdoor chess, table tennis, activities in addition to the on-site horse riding, include archery and cycle hire and walking, all to help you relax and enjoy yourselves. Included in the weekend is a buffet meal on Friday evening, a cooked breakfast, packed lunch and evening meal on Saturday and a continental breakfast & packed lunch on Sunday. This is a self-catering venue so help with food preparation and of course cleaning up afterwards is all part of the weekend - please be prepared to muck in even if you aren't prepared to muck out!
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Fri 13 May - Mon 16 , Fri 17 Jun - Mon 20 , Fri 9 Sep - Mon 12 & Fri 14 Oct – Mon 17 Kalkara Wharf, Kalkara, Malta £384 Sharing, (Deposit £50) Includes: 3 nights on board in sharing cabins, breakfast, lunches and snacks on board. Wet weather gear and diesel. Extras: return flights to Malta. Evening meals ashore, drinks and marina fees. 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. There is also the evidence of 7,000 years of ever-changing culture as Malta has been frequently overrun due to its strategic location. Many Spicers take the opportunity to stay on after the sailing event to continue exploring the many attractions of these beautiful islands.
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Walking Weekend Derbyshire's Dales and Eastern Peaks
Fri 13th May 2016 - Sun 15th May 2016 The Makeney Hall Hotel, Derbyshire (DE56 0RS) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £179 Twin Share, £219 Single (Deposit £35 Twin Share, £45 Single) 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 Amber and Derwent Valleys too. 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.
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Walking Weekend Sidmouth and the East Devon Coast
Fri 13th May 2016 - Sun 15th May 2016 The Sidholme Hotel in Sidmouth, Devon (EX10 8UJ) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £179 Twin Share, £219 Single (Deposit £35 Twin Share, £45 Single) Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals, 2 guided walks each day Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Walking Overview: The South East Coast of Devon around Sidmouth is a quite simply a stunning stretch of coastline and a personal favourite of the many of the Walkwise guides. We have managed to negotiate a very rare summer date at the Sidholme Hotel in the heart of Sidmouth. This is a great venue, with excellent food and its own indoor swimming pool and leisure facilities, it lies in its own grounds and is just a stroll from the sea front of Sidmouth, The food is excellent, the lounges ooze warmth add in its charm and character and this is an ideal base to explore east Devon.
Canadian Canoe Adventure
Date: Saturday 14th May 2016 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 one at a pub! The Open canoes minimise our chance of getting wet, which is just as well at this time of year! All equipment is provided.
Meet, Mingle and Have a Meal - Poco Poco Restaurant
Date: Saturday 14th May 2016 Place: Poco Poco, 14 Wyndham Street, Bridgend (CF31 1EF) Ask for the Spice Table 7:30pm Includes: Spice table booking and Spice host Extras: Drinks and Food Join Spice tonight for a supper and social at Poco Poco Continental Restaurant and Tapas Bar 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 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 Poco Poco Tapas Bar and Continental Restaurant which offers an unrivalled dining experience with a European atmosphere. Friendly and relaxed, the Mediterranean ambience provides the perfect setting for a get-together amongst friends. A fusion of continental flavours can be found in the tapas selection, a la carte menu and daily specials.
MoonWalk London - Spice Team Steward
Date: Saturday 14th May 2016 Place: Clapham Common, London (SW4 9DE) Volunteer Entrance at MoonWalk City 5:30pm to 11:59pm We are looking for volunteers to join the Spice team of stewards at the Moon Walk in 2016. In previous years we have had lots of volunteers join in to support this worthwhile cause. We always have a tremendous fun evening so why not join us! Join Spice and Volunteer as a Team member to help ensure that the people walking in the marathon achieve their goal of completing the walk. (Please note that we are acting as volunteers/stewards and not taking part in the walk itself. Volunteering with Walk the Walk is one of the most fun, rewarding and unusual things you could ever do. As a volunteer, you will be giving up a few hours of your time to make a real difference. What better way to spend a night than having fun with other Spice members and helping raise money for a worthy cause. The MoonWalk attracts 15,000 participants and raises money for Walk the Walk, a breast cancer charity that makes grants available to support medical research but one that also funds emotional and physical care to those who already have cancer. If you would like to Volunteer as part of a Spice Team, please register on the Spice Website and we will ensure you are registered with Walk the Walk. More information about this Charity Event can be found on www.walkthewalk.org.
Saturday Night Social - Bath Gin and Cocktail Bar
Date: Saturday 14th May 2016 Place: 2 - 3 Queen Street, Bath (BA1 3QG) Spice Table 7pm to 10pm Cost: £2 Cocktails and unforgettable Gin & Tonics.. An evening of socialising over a few carefully prepared drinks. Over 235 different types of Gin! Cocktails £7.50-£9. Beers also available. Review: I've been here a few times and have never been disappointed. There is a vast choice a gins and the bar tenders really know their stuff. Just tell them the flavours or tastes you like and they will make a drink to suit. Don't be surprised if you get a drink with herbs, chilli or dry ginger ale, it will taste wonderful. I will definitely return... again. Be aware that it is not a large venue and get very busy pre and post theatre times; be patient, it will be worth the wait.
Stonehenge Sunset Tour
Date: Saturday 14th May 2016 Place: Stonehenge, Wiltshire (SP3 4DX) 7.00pm prompt start 7pm to 10pm Cost: £43 Includes: Spice exclusive tour to the Inner Circle at Stonehenge with our guide, archaeologist and historian Don Bryan. The great and ancient stone circle of Stonehenge is one of the wonders of the world. The last in a sequence of such monuments erected between circa 3000BC and 1600BC, each monument was a circular structure, aligned with the rising of the sun at the midsummer solstice. This evening we enjoy special access to Stonehenge, after the site has closed, exclusively for Spice, with the opportunity to enter the Inner Circle(usually not accessible during public visiting hours) and see the stones up close. We are even allowed to touch them. Our guide, archaeologist and historian Don Bryan, has specialist knowledge of our distant past and promises to bring the landscape to life for us. Don may also bring his dowsing rods and let you try dowsing the energy lines which cross the circle. Weather permitting we should also be able to witness a spectacular sunset from inside the stone circle.
Candian Canoeing along St Patrick's Stream, Wokingham to Sonning
Date: Sunday 15th May 2016 Place: Wokingham Waterside Centre (RG6 1PQ) 10.45am for 11.00am start Cost: £55 Includes: Open paddle canoeing with full instruction and equipment Extras: Refreshments This is a one-way, downstream trip, which leaves the main river to include St Patricks Stream. We will arrange for transport back to the start point in members' cars to limit costs. We set off downstream with the prevailing wind on our backs and paddle for a mile and a half to reach the teas, ice creams and other essential facilities at Sonning Lock. Refreshed, we continue downstream for a further mile and turn off the main channel into St Patrick's Stream. There are some shallows, some low trees and the delightful feeling of being on moving water on this lovely backwater. The flow is maintained as this stream drops an equivalent fall to that at Shiplake Lock on the main river, which it bypasses. St Patrick's Stream flows into the River Loddon and after another mile this rejoins the River Thames. Our destination is the landing stages at The St George and Dragon at Wargrave. It promises to be another great day on the water, so don't forget your camera!
Mike's Bike Ride - Portishead
Date: Sunday 15th May 2016 Place: Windmill Inn, Nore Road, Portishead (BS20 6JZ) In car park 10am Cost: £6 Includes: Spice Host, Guide Today’s ride will see Mike take you from the Windmill pub with its scenic views across the Bristol Channel to one of Bristol’s oldest seafaring pubs in Hotwells, where we wil take a break for lunch. The route will be mainly on flat cycle paths past Portishead Marina and over Avonmouth bridge the along the portway and under the suspension bridge and into Hotwells.
Camping Afloat - Miners, Monks and Spaghetti!
Date: Fri 20th May 2016 - Sun 22nd May 2016 Place: Gas Street Basin, Birmingham (B1 2JT) Friday evening 7:30pm Cost: £65 Member (Deposit £15) Extras: .. another legendary Spice weekend on the waterways! Meet: From 7.30pm Friday evening (find us on boat or in Pub!) We’ve had great feedback from our various camping afloat trips. This is a new route using a scenic stretch of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal. This is the simplest form of narrow boating and very similar in conditions to what the navies on coal barges would have experienced in the days when the canals were in their heyday. This is why we call it ‘camping afloat’. We have chartered two boats (subject to numbers) which will travel together. Each boat has 12 basic bunks with mattresses under a tarpaulin cover so we can take a party of up to 24 (you must be prepared for mixed sex sleeping as we can’t totally segregate bunk areas).
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Cycling Weekend - Bath
Fri 20th May 2016 - Sun 22nd May 2016 Limpley Stoke, Lower Limpley, Stoke Bath (BA2 7FZ) Arrive from 4.00p.m. £185 Twin share, £220 Twin & Bike, £235 Single, £270 Single & bike (Deposit £35 Twin share, £35 Twin & Bike, £40 Single, £40 Single & bike) Includes: two nights hotel accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 1 evening meal (3 courses) on Saturday and 2 days guided cycling Extras: bike hire if required We have linked up with Graham Hills from Bikers Delight for a great cycling weekend in Bath. This is a great location for our cycling weekends and we will spend two days exploring the fine cycleways around the World Heritage City of Bath. Enjoy this Roman spa town with fine Georgian architecture, flat canal towpaths, disused railway lines, and country roads which will take us through cultural sites and historic market towns. This is classy location to spend a weekend cycling, you can relax, indulge and have some fun. Over the weekend we will be covering a reasonable distance on mainly flat canal tow paths, traffic cycle paths and quiet roads.
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Drawing and Watercolour Weekend
Fri 20th May 2016 - Sun 22nd May 2016 Lluest Fach, Foel, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00p.m. Supper 8.30p.m. £150 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. Julie will dispel the mystique of drawing and painting into simple steps which anyone can follow. Demonstrating various techniques using pencil, watercolour and other media, she will show you how easily you can create sketches and finished works that you’ll be delighted to display. On Saturday we'll begin by getting a feel for sketching and how to 'see' things to paint. Then you’ll discover the many ways to use watercolour, and by Sunday you'll be using your newly acquired skills and techniques to put the final touches to your finished piece of work.
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Sailing Weekend Poole, Jurassic Coast and Weymouth
Fri 20th May 2016 - Sun 22nd May 2016 Poole Quay, Town Quay, Poole (BH15 1BT) 8.00 Friday Evening th nd th rd th nd th rd £305 for 20 to 22 , £430 20 to – 23 , (Deposit £20 to 22 , £20 to – 23 ) Includes: 2 or 3 nights on board in sharing cabins, diesel, wet weather gear, life harnesses, breakfasts, lunches, tea and coffee. Extras: Evening meals and marina charges We start this weekend cruise from the Poole Town Quay marina at 20.00 hrs. On the Friday evening we get to know each other over a meal in one of the Town Quay restaurants. On Saturday morning we sail through beautiful Poole Harbour, one of the largest natural harbours in Europe, past Brownsea Island (home of the original Scout camp and red squirrels) and out into Poole Bay where we sail south for a few miles past a coast of rolling chalk down land, punctuated midway by the famous “Old Harry” chalk stack, before turning to the west around Durlston Head. On Sunday we return to Poole. If time and conditions suit, we may anchor for lunch in Studland Bay, a beautiful anchorage a few miles south of Poole Harbour. We arrive back at Poole town quay at approximately 16.00 hrs.
Axe Throwing Experience
Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 Place: Newton Longville, Buckinghamshire (MK17 0BU) 12:45pm for 1:00pm start Cost: £35 Includes: Workshop and Spice Host That's right you did see it correctly... Axe Throwing. This 2-2.5 hour’s unique Axe Throwing workshop will start with a short briefing followed by a demo given by an experienced instructor. They will run through the safety aspects involved with learning how to throw the axes. You will then start with some light training axes ‘angels’ to get used to the technique of throwing the axe before giving the more challenging ‘norse’ axes ago. This will equip you with the skills to enable you to begin to master the art of axe throwing. Once your technique has been developed with the instructors you will move onto the more challenging axes. Each instructor runs their session slightly differently with light hearted competition i.e. throwing the axes backwards.You will then conclude your experience with a ‘throw off’. Tea and coffee will be provided on arrival.
Bierkeller Bar - Social and Live Oompah Band
Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 Place: Bierkeller, Stadium Plaza, Wood Street, Cardiff, Wales (CF10 1LA) Ask for Spice table Cost: £12.50 Includes: booking guaranteed seating, waitress Service, Warm Pretzel, Cloakroom, Host & booking fee Extras: Drinks and Food Join us tonight for a Bavarian Bierkeller evening – places are limited so you need to book early to secure a place for this fun night out. We need to book a few weeks in advance for this night out so early bookings are advised as the venue regularly sells out. To add to the evening The Bavarian Stompers will be entertaining us and their reputation of being the best Oompah band in Britain is well founded – just ask the Germans! The evening program starts from 7pm with background music whilst everyone gets seated and ready to roll. By 7.30 the lovely waitresses will be introduced and this is when the party starts. By this time everyone will have a stein in hand and will be preparing for the headline act with some more music, party spirit games and some competitions to ensure a vibrant atmosphere is created. Once it hits 9pm you will have met the girls, had some toasts and be ready for the band to begin. Then be ready for the time of your life as the Bavarian Stompers take you on a journey through the Bierkellers of Germany with their amazing live show
PAYG - Pizza Night at Tank, Gloucester
Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 Place: TANK, 12-14 Llanthony Rd The Docks Gloucester (GL1 2EH) Spice Table 7pm Cost: £2 Includes: Spice Host Extras: Pizza And Drinks Join us on this Saturday evening for a fine night of beers and food. Delicious selection of pizzas under £11, fine cheeses, burgers, real craft ales, excellent wine selection, all set in a great venue on the docks. We charge a small booking fee and will book a table at the restaurant and provide a Spice host for the evening. This is a great way to meet some local members so hope you decide to join us.
Saturday Walk - Lantrisant Common - 4 Miles
Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 Place: Free Car Park - Gwaunruperra Road, Llantrisant, Wales (NP10 8RX) Meet In the Car Park 11am Cost: £4 Includes: guided walk with John Holloway Extras: drinks/snacks Stretch your legs on this lovely 4 mile walk. Lantrisant is an ancient hilltop settlement. Our walk start in the centre of Llantrisant and after skirting the site of the castle we emerge onto Graig Common. Graig common occupies a sloping hillside site which has been reclaimed by traditional grazing. We leave Graig common and enter LLantrisant common - which is one of the last areas of Rhos pasture in South Wales and consequently has been classified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are good views in all directions from the commons, which like the town of Llantrisant, are sited on top of the hill. We walk back into LLantrisant where we should be able to find some refreshments, before heading home.
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Step Inside the BBC - Bristol
Saturday 21st May 2016 BBC Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Road, Bristol (BS8 2LR) Tours Entrance - Spice sign 9:45am £28.99 BBC & 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.
Anyone for Dessert, Bristol
Date: Sunday 22nd May 2016 Place: No Man's Grace Dessert Bar, 6 Chandos Road, Bristol (BS6 6PE) Spice table 12:30pm Cost: £2 Includes: Spice Host Extras: Dessert of choice No Man’s Grace pays homage to the pudding by introducing a dessert bar. Each dessert is expertly paired with a dessert wine and a matching cocktail so we’ll pull up a stool at the bar and sample their sweet treats this evening.
Public Speaking for the Petrified
Date: Sunday 22nd May 2016 Place: Penta Hotel, Ernest Street/Holloway Head, Birmingham (B1 1NS) Meet: 10.15am for 10.30am until 12.30pm Cost: £39 Includes: Workshop Extras: Tea and Coffee can be ordered from the hotel bar as requested. Public Speaking is the second highest fear (below spiders) in the UK. If you would like to gain confidence in public speaking, whether for a presentation at work, a wedding speech or simply speaking up in front of a group of people then this is the course for you. We will work in a safe supportive environment and this workshop will enable you to overcome your fears, develop your confidence and find your voice. We will be using some powerful techniques from NeuroLinguistic Programming (NLP) which re-programme the subconscious mind. The course is led by Ben Grassby, a Master NLP Practitioner and INLPTA Trainer together with Julia Cawte, a Public Speaking Coach. Both Ben and Julia have a wide range of experience working with both individuals and corporations using NLP to solve their personal problems and free them to achieve excellence in their personal and professional lives.
Woodland Walk at Celtic Manor and Afternoon Tea
Date: Sunday 22nd May 2016 Place: Coldra Woods, The Usk Valley, Newport, Wales (NP18 1HQ) final meet and host info will be emailed 11am Includes: self-guided walk trail with Spice host Extras: pay as you go event Join Spice today at The Celtic Manor Resort where we are going to take one of the woodland trails on a self-guided walk. The woodland trails are purpose built and easy to explore at our pace. Each trail is mapped and colour coded to make walk easy to follow. There are finger posts and corresponding colours and today we are going to the yellow trail which is 3km with 90m ascent and should take about 40/50 mins. After our walk, we’ll go along to one of the resort restaurants for a drink and a bite to eat (optional and payable on the day).
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Sailing Cross Channel to the Cherbourg Peninsula
Thu 26th May 2016 - Mon 30th May 2016 Chichester Marina, Chichester, West Sussex (PO20 7EJ) Arrive for 8.00p.m. on Thursday £409 Cabin Share (Deposit £50) includes: 4 nights on board in sharing cabins, diesel, wet weather gear, Life harnesses, breakfasts, lunches, tea and coffee. Extras: evening meals and marina charges On this cruise we plan to take advantage of the Bank Holiday weekend to venture southwards towards Cherbourg and the Channel Islands. Sailing across the Channel and making a foreign landfall is a special and memorable experience. Starting on Thursday night or early Friday morning enables us to maximise our time on the ‘other’ side and gives you the opportunity to experience lighthouses falling away astern. The crossing normally takes between twelve and fifteen hours. Once safely in harbour, you enjoy that first evening meal ashore with a real sense of achievement. Weather permitting, we normally visit at least two harbours and enjoy an afternoon’s walk or bike ride on one of the islands before returning to the Solent with a couple of hundred sea miles under the keel.
Spice Meet and Eat - The Sandringham - Bristol
Date: Thursday 26th May 2016 Place: Quakers Road, Bristol (BS16 6NH) Spice Table 7:30pm Includes: Spice table booking and Spice host Extras: Pay as you go evening 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. Our venue tonight is The Spotted Cow, situated on North Street in the heart of Southville and Bedminster. The pub has a rich heritage dating back to Bedminster’s agricultural past and has stood for over 200 years.
Spice Meet and Eat - Maenllwyd in Caerphilly
Date: Thursday 26th May 2016 Place: Maenllwyd Inn, Rudry, Wales (CF83 3EB) Ask for Spice table 7:30pm Includes: Spice table booking and Spice host Extras: Drinks and food 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. Our venue tonight is Maenllwyd in Caerphilly which is a 400 year old former farmhouse on a ridge over the Rhymney Valley in the tiny village of Rudry. There is a car park opposite. There’s a wide variety of food from a quite extensive menu and there is sure to be something to suit most tastes and budgets.
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Bank Holiday Narrowboat Weekend - Aldermaston
Fri 27th May 2016 - Mon 30th May 2016 Padworth, Reading - 3 nights (RG7 4JS) Arrive between 2.30p.m. and 4.30p.m. £235 (Deposit £40) Includes: hire of Narrow boat for Spice exclusive Bank Holiday weekend Spice host, 2 breakfast, 2 sandwich/picnic lunches (Option to finish on Sunday night is available) Extras: Drinks - bring your own and some meals at pubs along the way This is a great way of spending a lazy, long weekend away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. For this weekend we are heading to Aldermaston which is ideally situated just off the M4 at junction 12 and on the outskirts of Reading. We will leave from Aldermaston and head west on the Kennet & Avon canal towards the picturesque market town of Newbury. Day two will take us towards the village of Kintbury where there are some nice canal side pubs for us to enjoy. On Sunday we will spend the day travelling back to Aldermaston. (This is just a guide of what we can do and it can be changed to suit the group and the amount of locks we want to go through!)
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Secret Ridges of Wales Bank Holiday Walking Weekend
Fri 27th May 2016 - Mon 30th May 2016 Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales. (SY21 0YB) From 6.00pm Friday £176 (Deposit £34) Includes: Friday evening supper, three nights B&B, packed lunches 4 course evening dinner party and Mountain Leader guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts is in member's cars to reduce costs 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. You won’t find any well-trodden paths or signposts here, this is real wild country guaranteed get us away from the crowds.
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Walking Weekend Evesham North Cotswolds
Fri 27th May 2016 - Mon 30th May 2016 Abbots Salford, Evesham, Worcester (WR11 8UT) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £259 Twin Share, £319 Single (Deposit £50 Twin Share, £60 Single) Includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 3 evening meals, 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 guided Extras: Transport to walk starts if used WalkWise Overview: We will be staying in a lovingly restored and fascinating Tudor manor almost unchanged by time. This Grade 1 listed hotel is located in the picturesque Vale of Evesham renowned for both Shakespeare and the Cotswolds. The upshot of this wonderful location is that we can access the terrific area of the northern Cotswolds around Evesham. We will be exploring an interesting and diverse new area to the north of Chipping Campden plus visiting an old favourite south of Chipping Campden. Idyllic views and villages feature strongly along with magnificent architecture built from the warm honey Cotswolds stone.
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Walking Weekend Tenby and Pembrokeshire Coast
Fri 27th May 2016 - Mon 30th May 2016 The Clarence House Hotel, Tenby, Pembrokeshire (SA70 7DU) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 7.00p.m. £234 Twin Share, £294 Single (Deposit £45 Twin Share, £55 Single) Includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 1 evening meal, 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts if used WalkWise Overview: Terrific Seaside Tenby & Perfect Pembrokeshire Coast Combine with superb safe and sociable walking. Few people would dispute that the Pembrokeshire coast is one of the finest in the country so it will come as no surprise that on all three days we’ll be walking beside or close to the sea! Whether you are looking for longer or shorter walks, the area is a sheer delight. You will feel invigorated walking above the rugged and spectacular limestone and sandstone cliffs that typify the area. Pembrokeshire’s national park is unique in that it is the country’s only national park based entirely on coastal scenery; it boasts beautiful sandy beaches, wonderful headlands, medieval cliff top castles and early Christian sites.
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Walking Weekend on IIkley Moor
Fri 27th May 2016 - Mon 30th May 2016 Craiglands Hotel, IIkley, West Yorks (LS29 8RQ) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £249 Twin Share, £309 Single (Deposit £50 Twin Share, £60 Single) Includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 3 evening meals, 3 picnic lunches, 3 breakfasts, 3 guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts if used WalkWise Overview: This charming programme see’s WalkWise combine a grand, warm and friendly Victorian hotel with the traditional historic spa town of Ilkley. The Craigland’s hotel sits close to one of the finest walking areas in the country, the Yorkshire Dales National Park. However, just behind the hotel lies the famous Ilkley Moor and the gritstone hills of the South Pennines. Our weekend will get away from it all by walking in three contrasting areas including on the famous and majestic Ilkley Moor itself, the beautiful dales and the dramatic Bronte country of Wuthering Heights. We shall spend our day’s walking up over the hills and dales, through the wild moorlands and criss-crossing the lush landscapes adorned by the omnipresent dry stone walls. In the evenings we will wine and dine in the splendour of their excellent restaurant and take drinks from the well-stocked bar.
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Woolacombe Coastal Photography Weekend
Fri 27th May 2016 - Mon 30th May 2016 Royal Hotel, Woolacombe, North Devon. (EX34 7AB) Arrive from 3.00p.m. £239 Twin Share, £289 Single (Deposit £40 Twin Share, £50 Single) includes: 3 nights’ accommodation, 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches & 3 evening meals & 3 days of photography tuition Extras: Transport to starts if used This is the perfect weekend to escape and experience the delights of the North Devon coastal landscape with your camera. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Woolacombe is a lively village famed for its surfing, with pubs, shops and has a fantastic award winning beach that is frequently cited as being in the top 5 UK beaches. This weekend is designed to give beginners or those looking to get more from their digital camera the confidence to use your camera to its full potential. Through motivating, practical sessions you’ll learn more about your camera and various techniques to capture the magnificent coastline and the intimate landscape within. We’ll focus on the wonderful landscape around us such as silver sand beaches, rocky coves and stunning sunsets. Surfers and kite surfers make interesting subjects and we can be creative with the abstract patterns, colours and textures at our feet. Further afield we could visit the pretty fishing port at Ilfracombe and Croyde Bay. All in all the weekend is designed to flexible and above all fun.
Canal Walk and Pub Lunch - Bristol
Date: Saturday 28th May 2016 Place: M Shed, princes Wharf, Wapping road, Bristol (BS1 4RN) Meet outside - Spice Sign 11am Cost: £3 Includes: guided canal walk and Spice Host, Extras: Food and Drink if required A nice Saturday stroll down the canal starting from Princes Wharf and walking along to the Cumberland Basin. We will stop along the way to take in the sights as there are a few attractions along the way and usually there are plenty of boats on the canal. We can stop at the Grain Barge In the lovely harbourside location in Hotwells, this historic converted barge is bursting with character. Moored opposite Brunel's SS Great Britain, it has panoramic views of the harbour, both from its main bar and also from the top deck, making it a great place to relax and watch the world go by. When we arrive at the barge we can stop for a drink and a bite to eat. The food is supposed to be very tasty for those who wish to indulge. Afterwards we will walk back along the canal on the other side.
White Water Rafting at Bala
Date: Saturday 28th May 2016 Place: Tryweryn river, Bala, Wales (LL23 7NU) 12:30pm Cost: £59.50 Includes: rafting, instruction, wetsuit and boot hire This is always one of the highlights the Spice programme and is always a complete sell out with a long wait list too! It’s your chance to experience the thrills and spills of real white water rafting. This time we are off to the fantastic Tryweryn River at Bala. The Tryweryn provides one of the longest stretches of river for rafting down in the country, with rapids such as “The Graveyard”, “The Ski Jump” and “The Fingers”. Each purpose-built raft will hold up to seven brave Spicer’s as you battle against the flow of the river with 6 of you rowing and one sitting in the middle cheering them on with a rousing rendition of Hawaii Five-O!!!! We have 2 hours of rafting which should give us time for three or four runs down the river which gives you a chance to sit it out in the middle of the raft to rest if you need to! All helmets and buoyancy aids will be provided, just bring a towel and swimwear. It is compulsory to wear a wet-suit & wet suit shoes – bring your own along or hire them on the day for £5 (payable direct to the supplier.) You do not need to be an expert swimmer, but you do need to be water confident. Please note: the water is very cold and you WILL get very wet.
Mindfulness Afternoon Retreat
Date: Saturday 28th May 2016 Place: Lea Marston Hotel, just off A4097 nr M42 (B76 0BY) 1:45pm to 4:30pm Cost: £16.50 Practicing mindfulness is quickly becoming accepted as one of the healthiest and happiest ways to live. It has a way of cultivating appreciation for life, and practitioners of mindfulness are naturally happier. Specialist Dave Partridge will teach us about mindfulness and how this simple approach can help you to wake up to your life and to stop living on auto pilot.
Canadian Canoeing along the River Medway, Tonbridge to East Peckham
Date: Sunday 29th May 2016 Place: Tonbridge Swimming Pool Car Park (TN9 1HR) 10.45am for 11.00am start Cost: £55 Includes: Open paddle canoeing with full instruction and equipment Extras: Refreshments A leisurely "go with the flow" on the River Medway. The cruise follows parts of the newly opened Medway canoe trail from Tonbridge to Teston Bridge. We will be on the water for about five hours, have burnt off few calories and be pleasantly tired! The river flows through woodlands, fields and villages controlled by locks which regulate the flow. Canoes and kayaks can use the specially constructed canoe slides, which are great fun to shoot. You will come back with some great action pictures! You will be on the water for approximately five hours. The event will take around six hours including stops. We paddle best quality Open Canoes, usually two paddlers per boat, as these are light, fast, comfortable and dry craft as small boats go. The trips are led by two British Canoe Union Level 3 coaches. This open canoe trip is suitable for all - all coaching, guidance, equipment, support and safety cover is included. You should dress as if you were going for a walk in the countryside, so do consider the weather. Soft soled shoes or boots are essential (trainers, wellies or deck shoes are ideal). Hard, rigid or leather soles are not suitable. Please bring a packed lunch, drinks and snacks for your picnic lunch, which can be transferred to your canoe.
Food and Drink Festival - Cowbridge, Wales
Date: Sunday 29th May 2016 Place: Cowbridge, Wales Meet: Email will be sent out with final meet and host info 11am Includes: pay as you go event, Spice host Extras: entrance ticket £5 The bustling market town of Cowbridge is situated at the heart of the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan surrounded by stunning countryside and dramatic coastline. Situated a short drive from Cardiff, Cowbridge offers a contrast to the city with a variety of fantastic independent shops along the historic high street and in the delightful surrounding lanes – tasty and local foodie treats, the best in fashion, gifts and design, great restaurants – all contributing to Cowbridge being described as the ‘Bond Street’ of South Wales. Why not join us for a day at the Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival. A great day out with over 100 food and drink exhibitors, food demonstations, musical entertainment and so much more spread around the whole town. You need to book in the usual way on our website so that we can organise a Spice host. This is a pay as you go event. The entrance ticket is £5 and you can buy on the day.
Shropshire Raft Tour
Date: Sunday 29th May 2016 Place: Ironbrige Gorge (TF8 7DQ) 1:30pm Cost: £14 Includes: 2 hour rafting experience with guide. Life jackets. Transport from car park to starting point. Spice coordinator. This new and exciting event was launched last year in Ironbridge Gorge and we know you are going to love it! Nigel Winfield, a very experienced boatman who has run rafts down many of the world’s great rivers, has settled down in Shropshire and set up a raft company taking groups in huge rafts down the River Severn! After a safety briefing and lifejackets, we’re off on a journey through the birthplace of the Industrial revolution. We’ll venture downstream in the largest rafts in the UK! 25ft in length we can fit 12 people plus guide in each raft and on each Spice timeslot we will have 2 rafts travelling together (numbers permitting). No paddling is required as the guides do all the work. It’s a fully guided tour of around 5km and the guide will point out the key points of history and attractions along the way. No whitewater rapids (sadly) so virtually anyone can come along and enjoy the experience. The round trip is 2- 2.5 hours including returning you by road to the start point.
Spice Meet And Eat - Sunday Lunch - Bristol
Date: Sunday 29th May 2016 Place: The Volunteer Tavern, 9 New Street Near Cabot Circus (BS2 9DX) Spice Table 12:30pm Cost: £2 Includes: Spice host Extras: Sunday Meal A relaxed Sunday afternoon at The Volunteer Tavern close to Cabot Circus for easy parking. The Volunteer Tavern, occupying a 340-year-old building only a stone's throw away from Cabot Circus, makes its way onto our list for the great value of their Sunday roasts. Only one of the five delicious roast options costs over £12 and the roast in question is a "trinity of meats", and is a great value way for the indecisive among us to sample all three of the meats the Volunteer Tavern has on offer.
The Big Abseil - 200 Feet Straight Down
Date: Sunday 29th May 2016 Place: Avon Gorge, Portway, Bristol Layby on the Portway - email sent with directions 1:15pm to 4:30pm Cost: £38 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.
Bridgnorth and Rindleford Ramble
Date: Monday 30th May 2016 Place: Riverside, Bridgnorth, Shropshire (WV16 4BH) 9:45am Cost: £6 Enjoy a 6 mile Bank Holiday Ramble with Mik around the village and surrounding areas of Rindleford near Bridgnorth. The ramble will take us through the beautiful Shropshire countryside. When we have finished the walk there is a nearby pub for a spot of lunch and a drink. A reasonable level of fitness is required to do this ramble.
Monster Trucks at Beaulieu
Date: Monday 30th May 2016 Place: Beaulieu, New Forest, Hampshire (SO42 7ZN) 11am Cost: £20 Stand amongst the giants of motoring at Truckmania this May bank holiday weekend for a show devoted to all things trucking! See trucks dating back over a hundred years to the latest environmentally friendly lorries. Watch truck drivers demonstrating their skills on the Truck Agility course and see equally skilled drivers control radio controlled mini trucks as they recreate the tasks their full sized counterparts conduct on a daily basis. Finally, if you're feeling strong you might like to Tug a Truck (on your own or in a team)..
Walk - Oxwich Headland, Swansea - 5 Miles
Date: Monday 30th May 2016 Place: Owich Beach, Gower, Swansea (SA3 1LS) Meet by the Beach Huts - Spice Sign 10:30am Cost: £6 Includes: guided 5 mile walk Extras: drinks/food if required Join us today on this energetic 5 mile walk (with two main ascents) following a path past St Illtyd's Church and through coastal woodland, before emerging to continue along open ground past some impressive limestone outcrops. On reaching the small beach The Sands, the route then turns inland, following a track and then quiet lanes back to Oxwich. On nearing the village, a small section of footpath leads close to Oxwich Castle (owned by Cadw and with an admission charge of £3.50). The final lane descent passes the ivy-covered remains of an old dovecote. We will allow about 3 hours for the walk, plus time to visit the castle if required.
Live Music At The Royal Navy Volunteer Tavern
Date: Friday 3rd June 2016 Place: 17 - 18 King Street (BS1 4EF) Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £2 Includes: Spice host Extras: Drinks Billed as "a truly British drinks emporium", The Royal Navy boasts to cater to the more discerning drinker and their drinks menu continues to reflect this. Also on offer at the Volunteer Tavern is passionate and driven staff and fine pub food. We have a table booked from 7:30pm for those who wish to have some food and then the fun really begins when the live music gets going at 21:00. The pub has live music every Friday night and the musicians always put on a great performance and create the lively atmosphere locals have come to expect. Let’s get together for fine drinks, music and company on this summer’s evening.
Ten Pin Bowling - Cardiff
Date: Friday 3rd June 2016 Place: The Red Dragon Centre, Hemingway Road (CF10 4JY) inside Hollywood Bowl 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.
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Wilderness and Foraging Bunkhouse Weekend in Dorking, Surrey
Fri 3rd Jun 2016 - Sun 5th Jun 2016 YHA Tanners Hatch, Dorking, Surrey (RH5 6SR) arrive from 4.00p.m. £135 Sharing, (Deposit £20) Includes: 2 nights bunkhouse exclusive hire for Spice, foraging experience with foraging expert, 2 breakfasts and 2 suppers and Spice Host throughout Extras: Drinks - Bring Your Own
This picturesque and eco-friendly hostel with plenty of charm and character in National Trust woodland is a perfect country retreat close to London. A haven of peace and tranquillity, you can relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. For this weekend we are walking and foraging in the woods for a real wilderness experience. We will also cook a meal with the mushrooms, berries and any other food we can find. We will have a foraging expert from Wildfood Foraging to give us a talk on the rules of foraging before we set off into the countryside to identify the edible plants and mushrooms that grow in this area. We will learn what we can and cannot eat so that we can enhance our walks and diets. Much of what we find when foraging would be considered food for fine dining so why not learn how to do it for free. YHA Tanners Hatch has low-beamed ceilings throughout with 12 beds arranged across 3 bedrooms (bunk beds). All bed linen is provided. There is a lovely lounge to enjoy the evenings with sofas and armchairs or we can sit in the lovely garden over a glass of wine or two. There is also a dining room with tables and wooden benches. There are two fire pits on site which means we can collect our own wood and build a real campfire. For more information and what to bring please see our web site.
Beer Festival, Avon Valley Railway Train Ride And Pub Lunch - Bitton
Date: Saturday 4th June 2016 Place: Bath Road, Bitton Station, Bristol (BS30 6HD) Bitton Station - 13:15 - 14:00 Train Departure 12:15pm Cost: £15 Includes: Entrance to Beer Festival, Train ticket and Spice Host Extras: Lunch and drinks are buy on the day Join us today for a mix of beer, stepping back in time at the Avon Valley Railway following by a pub lunch. We will meet at 12.15 to join in with the beer festival which is taking place at Bitton Station. There will be a choice of beer and ales for us to sample. We will then have a look around the restored Bitton Railway Station. Afterwards we shall board the diesel locomotive for a ride along the tracks where we will stop off at Avon Riverside and take a nice 10 minute stroll through the countryside to The Bird In Hand Inn where we will have a table booked so we can enjoy some lunch. After lunch we can make our way back to the station and return to Bitton.
Pay As You Go - Miller and Carter Cardiff
Date: Saturday 4th June 2016 Place: Hemingway Road, Cardiff (CF10 4JY) Miller & Carter Steakhouse - Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £2 Few things come close to the joy of steak and chips - cooked simply with tender, loving care, which is exactly how they like to do things at Miller & Carter Cardiff. Rest assured that the chefs treat the carefully sourced 28-day aged British beef with the respect it deserves serving a flavoursome and tender meal. There’s plenty more besides steak though, from juicy burgers and barbecue ribs to freshly prepared fish dishes and luxurious little extras to give your steak that final flourish.
White Water Kayaks
Date: Saturday 4th June 2016 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. Today’s 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.
Science of Attraction and Relationships Workshop
Date: Saturday 4th June 2016 Place: Lea Marston Hotel, just off A4097 nr M42 (B76 0BY) 10.00am start Cost: £59 (Deposit £10) Includes: coffees/teas & light buffet lunch We are flying in a world expert for the day from her home in Edinburgh to run this exciting new workshop. MairiMacleod PhD is a Science Writer, Journalist and Evolutionary Biologist. You can read all about her at www.sexyscience.co This day brings science to human relationships and attraction. It’s a fun day, but also one that could shape the rest of your life!
Places of Interest - Botanical Gardens - Bristol
Date: Sunday 5th June 2016 Place: University of Bristol Botanic GardenThe HolmesStoke Park Road, Stoke B (BS9 1JG) At entrance - Spice sign 11am Includes: free entrance, Spice host Extras: Entry Ticket. Drinks and food if required The University of Bristol Botanic Garden cultivates some 4,500 plant species from over 200 plant families within its five-acre site. This diversity of plants is unique and not found anywhere else in the Bristol area. Special displays at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden include an Evolutionary Dell (with the dinosaurs’ favourite plants, ginkgos, cycads, tree ferns and the Wollemi Pine), rare South West native and threatened plants, Chinese and Western Medicinal Herb Gardens and The Mediterranean collection. The Floral Diversity Collection reflects the extraordinary range of flower forms that have evolved to ensure that flowers are pollinated by insects, birds, mammals, wind or water. Tickets prices are £4.50 which you will pay at the venue.
Western Style Rifle Shooting Experience
Date: Sunday 5th June 2016 Place: Birmingham Shooting Centre, Hockley (B18 7RL) Choose Time Slot £4 Member Extras: Pay balance of £25.00 on arrival at club Cost is £29 – PAID AS - £4 deposit to Spice to book. Balance of £25 to club on arrival (no credit cards) Members only (no guests) for security and due to limited numbers Includes approx 50 rounds of ammunition 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. Important Notes: This event must be approached with respect and in line with firearm legislation. Anyone who is not judged to be of sound mind or is suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be allowed to take part. If you think that anything in your past might prevent you taking part (eg ex offenders) then please check your eligibility under section 21 of the Firearms Act. By law, we will need to pass your name and address to the Club at least 48 hours before the event (so we cannot take late bookings). Despite all this regulation, please be assured that our hosts are friendly people, passionate about firearms, who will ensure you have an enjoyable time!
Alfresco Pub Challenge - Cheltenham
Date: Thursday 9th June 2016 Place: The imperial Garden Bar, 26 Imperial Square, Cheltenham (GL50 1QA) Inside in the garden - Spice sign 7:15pm Cost: £2 Includes: Organised pub route and challenges and Spice Host Extras: Drinks along the way A pub tour and challenge with the theme of ‘Alfresco’ meaning we are heading to pubs with outside areas or gardens to make the most of the summer evening. At each pub we have some brain teaser challenges for you to do. So why not join us as we enjoy the summer sunshine and the lovely pubs in this area. We have picked a few great pubs with outside areas or gardens. We will meet at the first pub The Imperial Garden bar 7.15/7.30p.m and we aim to leave at 7.45p.m to head to the next pub.
Live Jazz - Friday Night Social at The Old Duke
Date: Friday 10th June 2016 Place: The Old Duke Pub, 45 King Street, Bristol (BS1 4ER) At the Duke pub 7pm Cost: £2 Includes: Live Jazz, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Tonight we are heading to The Old Duke a great music venue situated on the cobbled King Street in the heart of Bristol. World famous for its’ live, traditional, New Orleans inspired Jazz and blues music, it is sure to be keep us toe-tapping throughout the evening. Fine ales, spirits, wines and good company on order. The Old Duke is named after Duke Ellington and the pub has become world famous for its’ live traditional, New Orleans inspired Jazz and blues music. We will meet at the Duke for7:00pm to get a table.
Canadian Canoeing along the River Wey
Date: Saturday 11th June 2016 Place: Bowers Lane, Weirs Lane, Guildford, Surrey (GU4 7ND) 10.45am for 11.00am start Cost: £55 Includes: Open paddle canoeing with full instruction and equipment Extras: Refreshments Today we have the fantastic opportunity to explore the River Wey by Canadian Canoe! Don't worry if you haven't done this before, all instruction and equipment is provided. We follow part of this very scenic river/early canal navigation from the north-east of Guildford (near Jacob's Well) through Guildford city centre where we stop for a break. There are shops close by for a coffee to warm us up if it decides to rain... When a Spice group paddled this river in August 2012 this was the chosen turn round point but we could head on south towards the meadows of Shalford for an extended paddle. The trip is full of interest, and includes riverside sculptures, buildings and architecture, flora and fauna and a variety of small watercraft. You will be on the water for approximately three hours. The event will take around four hours including stops. We paddle best quality Open Canoes, usually two paddlers per boat, as these are light, fast, comfortable and dry craft as small boats go. The trips are led by two British Canoe Union Level 3 coaches. This open canoe trip is suitable for all - all coaching, guidance, equipment, support and safety cover is included. You should dress as if you were going for a walk in the countryside, so do consider the weather. Soft soled shoes or boots are essential (trainers, wellies or deck shoes are ideal). Hard, rigid or leather soles are not suitable. Buoyancy aids are provided and to be worn when on or near the water. We provide plenty of dry storage for spare clothing, and food. Please bring a packed lunch, drinks and snacks for your picnic lunch, which can be transferred to your canoe. Your guides will meet you at Bowers Lane (off Clay Lane which runs between Jacob’s Well and Burpham).
Meet, Mingle and Have a Meal - Indiaah, Pontyclun
Date: Saturday 11th June 2016 Place: 34 Cowbridge Road, Pontyclun, Wales (CF72 9EE) Ask for the Spice Table 7:30pm Includes: Spice table booking and Spice host Extras: Drinks and food Join Spice tonight for a supper and social at Pontyclun’s finest Indian Restaurant, Indiaah. 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. Our venue tonight is Indiaah Restaurant which offers authentic Indian cuisine in a relaxed environment. There is a great selection of dishes to suit all tastes and budgets.
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Rod Stewart Concert - Cardiff
Saturday 11th June 2016 Cardiff City Stadium, Leckwith Road, Cardiff, Wales (CF11 8AZ) Final details will be emailed 6pm £69.50 Includes: Ticket, booking fee, Spice host. Sorry there can be no refunds on tickets unless we can re-sell your place for you. Join us for a weekend in Cardiff to see the rock legend, Rod Stewart, at the Cardiff City Football Stadium From Maggie May to Sailing, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy and When I need You, Rod Stewart has released some of the biggest songs of all time. Now, he’s back with his 29th album, Another Country, and a tour of the UK and Ireland for summer 2016. Rod Stewart, the spiky-haired rocker with his unique, raspy soul voice hit the big time with his debut solo album, Every Picture Tells A Story, which was released in 1971, and along with its lead single Reason to Believe and it’s B-side Maggie May, it turned Rod Stewart from famous rock star into music legend. During his career, Rod Stewart has sold in excess of 200 million records worldwide, has been awarded a CBE by the Queen and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. The music legend has produced 29 studio albums throughout his career, which has spanned over five decades.
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Rod Stewart Concert and 1 Night Accommodation in Cardiff
Sat 11th Jun 2016 - Sun 12th Jun 2016 YHA Cardiff, East Tyndall Street, Wharf Road, Cardiff, Wales (CF10 4BB) Check in from 3.00p.m. £159 Concert & Room, (Deposit £30) includes: Concert ticket with booking fee, 1 night YHA accommodation with breakfast, Spice host. Sorry we cannot refund on tickets unless we are able to resell your ticket for you. Join us for a weekend in Cardiff to see the rock legend, Rod Stewart, at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium. From Maggie May to Sailing, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy and When I need You, Rod Stewart has released some of the biggest songs of all time. Now, he’s back with his 29th album, Another Country, and a tour of the UK and Ireland for summer 2016. Rod Stewart, the spiky-haired rocker with his unique, raspy soul voice hit the big time with his debut solo album, Every Picture Tells A Story, which was released in 1971, and along with its lead single Reason to Believe and it’s B-side Maggie May, it turned Rod Stewart from famous rock star into music legend. During his career, Rod Stewart has sold in excess of 200 million records worldwide, has been awarded a CBE by the Queen and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. The music legend has produced 29 studio albums throughout his career, which has spanned over five decades.
Disc Golf in Bristol
Date: Sunday 12th June 2016 Place: Ashton Court Estate, Ashton Road, (BS41 9LX) Ashton Court Main Reception 10:30am Cost: £2 Includes: Spice Host Extras: £7 cash depoist for disc - returned after game It’s different, zany and sporty and perfect for having some fun! Join us today as we try out the latest craze, Disc Golf. Just like traditional golf, the object of the game is to complete each hole in as few shots as possible. With disc golf you throw a flying disc or Frisbee® rather than hit a ball, and to complete a hole you have to land the disc in an elevated metal basket. Wherever your disc lands, that's where you make your next throw or 'play your next shot'. The ‘winner’ is the person with the lowest score. Mendip's New 10 Hole Disc Golf Course, one of only 35 in the country, winds through beautiful woodland and over rolling Mendip hill tops with stunning views. Disc Golf is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get active and have fun trying something new with friends. Join us today to try out this unusual sport.
Sunday Lunch at The Clink Restaurant, HMP Cardiff
Date: Sunday 12th June 2016 Place: Her Majesty's Prison Cardiff, Knox Road, Cardiff (CF24 0UG) Final details will be emailed 12pm Cost: £44.50 Includes: 3 course lunch, cocktail of the day, tea/coffee and Spice host Extras: Additional drinks Spice have a very unique dining experience for you, we are going for lunch at the Clink Restaurant inside HMP Cardiff. The restaurant is run by The Clink Charity. Boasting fancy décor and an a la carte menu, from the inside, this looks like any other first – class restaurant. Clink Restaurant is proving very popular with visitors and provides a lovely menu for us to enjoy. We will be served by and eat food prepared by 28 trained inmates. There are no alcoholic drinks served but we are having the cocktail of the day and there are plenty other soft drinks we can have such as Sparkling Ginger & Lemongrass, Sparkling Pomegranate & Elderflower and Apple & Lulo juice as well as coke, fruit juices and water. The aim of The Clink charity is to reduce re-offending rates of ex-offenders by training and placing graduates upon their release into the hospitality industry. The charity represents a genuine opportunity for change, offering prisoners the chance to gain food preparation, food service and cleaning qualification as well as experience within an exciting, operational business and in depth guidance to find full time employment within the hospitality industry upon release.
Unique Sailing on the Fabulous Tall Ship Mercedes on the Thames
Date: Sunday 12th June 2016 Place: Visitor Centre, Southend Pier, Western Esplanade, Southend, Essex (SS1 1EE) Meet: Visitor Information Centre at Entrance of Southern Pier 1:30pm Cost: £50 Member, £53 Guest Includes: Three Hour sail on Tall Ship Mercedes, Southen Pier Entrance, Drink aboard The Mercedes, Spice Host With the great success off last year’s sailing, join us for a fabulous three hour sail on the Tall ship Mercedes from Southend in Essex. We will meet at Southend Pier Visitor Information Centre then take the Pier Train 1.34 miles (only runs every 30 mins) to the end Southend Pier. Then we will make our way on board the Tall Ship. The inauguration of the Tall sailing ship Mercedes was in May 2005 and she is one of the youngest ships in the international fleet of tall ships. She has two masts and has an impressive square rigging with 900 m² of total sail area. Speed under sail is 16 knots. She is 50 metres long and has beautiful lines with a comfortable deck, bar and lounge area. Included during our sail is a hot or cold drink.
Unique Wolf Experience with Walk - Bedford
Date: Sunday 12th June 2016 Place: A428 between Bromham and Turvey, Bedfordshire 10:30am to 1pm Cost: £45 Includes: exclusive Spice visit opportunity to walk & feed the wolves 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.
Anagram Pub Crawl Bristol
Date: Wednesday 15th June 2016 Place: The Cornubia, 142 Temple Street, Bristol (BS1 6EN) In the Bar - Spice Sign 7pm Cost: £8 Includes: 1 Drink - Pint, Glass of Wine or Soft Drink and Anagram Pub Crawl Join us for a pub Crawl in central Bristol. We’ll start off at The Cornubia pub in Temple Street with a drink and will then move along a route solving some anagram clues at each stop, which will then determine our next location as the evening progresses. One drink will be provided on everyone’s arrival, but no doubt you’ll be wanting to buy a few more, so remember some cash and leave the car at home. This is a fun pub hop for those of you that like their drinking with a little bit of thinking thrown in. Answers will be collected at the last pub, marked and a prize awarded. The winner at the end of the evening will get … you guessed it… another drink!
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Slovenia Photography Tour
Thu 16th Jun 2016 - Mon 20th Jun 2016 Bled, Slovenia Final joining instructions will be emailed £949 Twin Share, £1029 Single (Deposit £200) Includes: Flights from London Stansted to Ljubljana, transfers, private transport during tour, 4 nights B&B in the 3 star Hotel Jelovica, Bled City Tax, 4 days photographic tuition Extras: Insurance, local payment €50, lunches, evening meals, drinks and any optional entrance fees Discover Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj and the Bohinj valley. Join us and discover Slovenia and the Julian Alps and experience a range of incredible locations. Capture images of stunning mountain locations, lakes and fast flowing rivers. We explore Lake Bled and its iconic Church of the Assumption on Bled Island, photograph traditional “Pletna” boats, gracious swans and fantastic sunsets. By the way of contrast, we travel to tranquil Lake Bohinj in the heart of the Julian Alps and experience scenes of everyday life in traditional villages such as Stara Fuzina with beautiful displays of flowers, agricultural details and the sound of cowbells. For more information please see our web site.
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Walking Weekend Beddgelert Snowdonia
Fri 17th Jun 2016 - Sun 19th Jun 2016 The Royal Goat Hotel, Beddgelert, Wales (LL55 4YE) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £179 Twin Share £219 Single (Deposit £35 Twin Share, £40 Single) includes: 2 night's Hotel accommodation 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals & 2 guided walks each day Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Walkwise Overview: The Royal Goat, a cracking hotel, located in the charming village of Beddgelert and set in the heart of Snowdonia! The chef has a super menu of tasty and filling meals and there are real ales in the bar and also there are two or three charming country pubs within a short reach of the hotel. Add to this the superb walking that literally surrounds this centre, with the high lofty ridges of Moel Hebog and Yr Aran. But you don’t have to climb these mighty peaks, it’s just as wonderful to gaze up at them from a peaceful lakes, or to wander over the heather clad moors, stroll by the tumbling rivers or wander through the secluded woodland. All of which makes this weekend’s event a very attractive and interesting walking weekend, see you out on the hills! The WalkWise Walking Programme: The proliferation of perfect routes in this area is unsurpassed. There are so many amazing mountains to attain and each one has numerous routes up and around them. The area is stunning for absolutely all levels of walks too! To allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day, led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. On both days there will be a harder walk of 10-12 miles with 2500+ft of ascent, and a gentler walk of 7-9 miles with less ascent. All walks are weather dependent and own transport or coaches may be taken to the walk starts.
Haunted and Hidden Bristol
Date: Friday 17th June 2016 Place: The Hatchett Inn, 27 Frogmore Street, Bristol (BS1 5NA) Spice Sign 7pm Cost: £8 Includes: Haunted and Hidden Bristol tour, Spice Host Extras: Drinks As featured in TV's 'Most Haunted', a fun Spice exclusive tour around old Bristol and its ghostly buildings including a 16th Century Church guarded by a monk, a haunted Coaching Inn visited by Oliver Cromwell and a haunted 17th Century Pub where Daniel DeFoe was a regular! The tour also features many TV and film locations including 'Starter for 10', 'Being Human', 'Shoestring', 'Skins' and 'The Medusa Touch'. Our guide will be unravelling all sorts of mysteries and ghostly stories on our guided walk around central Bristol. We meet in front of the Bristol Cathedral on College Green and we will be setting off promptly at 7.30p.m and end nearby a couple of hours later. This is an exclusive tour for Spice members and promises to be a thoroughly entertaining evening.
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Center Parcs Sherwood Weekend
Fri 17th Jun 2016 - Mon 20th Jun 2016 Sherwood Forest, Rufford, Newark, Nottingham (NG22 9DN) Check in from 12 noon Villa available at 3.00p.m. £159 Twin Share, £234 Sole Occupancy (Deposit £50)
Includes: Party Theme: TBC * 2 Discos * Sports * Exercise Classes and updated from last year ‘Dastardly Spice Challenge’ (optional) 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! Plus we have the return of the Dastardly Spice Challenge adding a brilliant fun event into the weekend which will be another hi-light – planned by Dianne from Spice London if you were there last year and took part in this then you’ll know how just how much fun it was but don’t worry there will be a few changes to keep things fresh this time! This is a mix of 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. There will be a small charge (£4 in advance & £5 on the weekend) for this activity. 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 are also few extra Spice Events organised by your local Spice Group like our Welcome Drinks Reception, BBQs, Badminton group sessions, ten pin bowling games, etc, to provide some great group focal points during the weekend. Or you can just choose to chill! We also have our exclusive Friday and Saturday night parties! Friday Night sees our exclusive Welcome Disco to get the weekend off to a flying start and Saturday night is our exclusive Spice Fancy Dress Party. 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/activity programme. We are still working on a Fancy Dress theme which is optional, however almost everyone takes part even if just making a little bit of effort. A poll of ideas is ongoing on the Spice UK Facebook page until the end of February. Depending on what comes from that unless there is an outright winner we may narrow it down to the top four and get you to vote again – we will also have to get Center Parcs approval! Sample programme of the weekend (subject to change!) Friday – Arrive and find your lodge Meet your fellow villa mates and head to your welcome drinks in your coordinators villa! Then it’s on to the Welcome Disco in the Venue. Saturday Grab a bite to eat and let the day’s activities begin. Today you can choose from AM short orientation walk of the village centre (great for any newbies or just to get some air!) AM exercise class in the Venue (1-2 hours) PM Group badminton sessions (small charge) PM Ten Pin Bowling (small charge) PM the Great Spice Quiz (you do not want to miss this!) PM Rapids meet up in the Village Dome PM moderate mountain bike ride off Village Back to the villa to freshen up and a bite to eat. Get into your Fancy Dress or best party dresses (gentlemen) and it’s off to the Venue once again to PARTY! Sunday - Plenty to do today AM before the cars start to build up Speedy Road Bike ride off Village. AM exercise class in the Venue AM Steve easy walk 5-6 miles off Village AM Easy bike ride around the Village AM Moderate bike ride off Village PM Dastardly Spice Challenge (small charge) Farewell BBQ’s with your local group Evening Spa deal (spaces will be limited so will need to be pre-booked - more details to follow)
Climbing the Longstone Pinnacle
Date: Saturday 18th June 2016 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. This is an excellent day for beginners and intermediates to learn/fine tune your climbing and abseiling skills, with the final climb of the day up The Longstone Pinnacle. Important: It is not possible to guarantee the Longstone Pinnacle climb on the day, as poor weather or the presence of other climbers can make the climb unsafe. Please be assured, however, that the instructor will do his very best to ensure that you get this experience. For the full write-up please see the website event listing.
Gung Ho - 5k Challenge with Inflatable Fun!
Date: Saturday 18th June 2016 Place: Sandwell Valley Country Park, West Bromwich (B71 4BG) around 11am to be confirmed 11am Cost: £32 Includes: Earlybird ticket price plus £2 booking fee. You also get a T Shirt. Gung Ho is an amazing challenge that’s touring the UK this summer. It’s the brainchild of BBC Children’s presenter Alex Winters who has designed and created a fabulous obstacle course with the most amazing inflatables ever. This includes riding Europe's largest ever inflatable slide! During the day 1000’s of people will be completing the course. We have bought 20 Earlybird tickets (price on the day is £50) so that we can enter a Spice team.
Pay As You Go - Live Music And Cocktails - Cheltenham
Date: Saturday 18th June 2016 Place: Monty's Brasserie,41 St. Georges Road Cheltenham (GL50 3DZ) Spice Table 7pm Cost: £2 Includes: Spice Host Extras: Drinks We are heading to Monty's brasserie for cocktails and live music. The bar enjoys a great location and is just a two minute walk from the Promenade, Montpellier and Cheltenham town centre with ample parking outside. Monty's Cocktail Bar is a modern and lively place, with stylish interior and buzzy ambience. We can enjoy some tasty drinks and fantastic live music. Monty’s offers a superb selection of talented local and national musicians.
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Sailing Introductory Taster Day
Saturday 18th June 2016 Chichester Marina, Chichester Harbour, West Sussex (PO20 7EJ) 9am to 4:30pm £160 (Deposit £25) includes: Instruction, lunch, snacks, tea, coffee, soft drinks, and all safety equipment and diesel fees. Waterproofs are available free of charge. Extras: Marina fees On this event you experience the fun of sailing a modern, safe, yacht in scenic and sheltered waters. You feel the excitementof casting off the lines and breaking your bond with the land - then helping to raise the sails and feeling the wind start to push us along… all under the guidance of an experienced skipper. You sail on “Kelana”, the yacht that is also used for the weekend and cross-Channel events. Starting from Chichester Marina, Chichester you join the yacht at 09:00. Following a safety briefing and familiarisation with the yacht and your fellow Spice crew members, we set off for our day’s sail out of the harbour and into the Solent - that stretch of sea that lies between the Isle of Wight and the mainland. It is the most popular cruising ground in UK waters with much to see and plenty of other boats to add to the interest.
Horse Riding Fun Day
Date: Sunday 19th June 2016 Place: Warwick International, Guys Cliff (CV34 5YD) 10.00am the riding centre Cost: £70 The Warwick International School of Riding’ has a tremendous reputation for their professional attitude and friendly atmosphere. It’s a great setting for beginners, novice and advanced riders. On arrival, we will be assessed and split into separate groups depending on our ability, and then get a varied programme of lessons, hacks, jumping, riding around the grounds etc depending upon what you can achieve. The afternoon includes fun games such as gymkhanas. There are plenty of opportunities to win rosettes! You will be entertained for the whole day and should get around 4 hours on horseback, so this is excellent value for money! You just need to bring a packed lunch. For all horse riding events: Wear footwear (preferably boots) with a small heel & ankle support, also gloves in case the reigns rub your hands. Riding hats are provided and must be worn. Jeans are not suitable. Max rider weight: Middleton 13 stone, Warwick International 20 Stone, Stottesdon 15 stone.
Places of Interest - Aberdulais Tin Works and Waterfall, Port Talbot
Date: Sunday 19th June 2016 Place: Aberdulais, Neath, Port Talbot, Wales (SA10 8EU) At entrance - Spice Sign 11:30am Includes: Spice host Extras: pay as you go event entrance is £5 For our monthly places of interest visit in Wales we are heading to the Aberdulais Tin Works and Waterfall. The Waterfall is a powerful force of nature and always looks beautiful and worth the visit. Aberdulais is also home to the Europe’s largest electricity-generating waterwheel. Power has been drawn from the waterfall since 1584, when it first provided energy used th in the manufacture of copper. The copper works ceased to operate early in the 17 Century and the site was then used for corn-milling and later as a tinplate works. Now owned by the National Trust the site has been brought back to life and is well worth a visit We can enjoy Welsh cakes and bara brith in the Old School House tea-room to round off our visit.
Sunday Live Music - The Bell Bath
Date: Sunday 19th June 2016 Place: 103 Walcot St Bath, (BA1 5BW) Outside the Pub For 12:00pm Open And Grab A Table 11:50am Cost: £2 Includes: Spice Host Extras: Food & Drinks "The Bell has always been a key part of Bath's live music scene, often giving musicians their first break and always providing music that is vibrant, diverse and free." - Peter Gabriel The Bell Sunday lunchtimes offers music ranging from jazz to blues to folk to roots to some things we are not sure what to call. We can meet just before 12pm and head into the pub and grab ourselves a table (unfortunately we cannot book a space). The pub also offers hot food and I have been advised that the stew is a tasty treat. No roasts on offer I’m afraid but you wouldn’t want all them roast potatoes stopping you from having a little shake around once the music gets started at 1pm. Guaranteed to be a lively Sunday at a great Bath venue.
Gower Walking and Social Weekend
Date: Fri 24th Jun 2016 - Sun 26th Jun 2016 Place: Village hotel, just outside Swansea (SA1 8QY) Friday evening Cost: £169 Twin share, £189Twin Share, £214 Single (Deposit £35 Twin share, £40 Single) Includes: Two nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, packed lunches and coach transport to the walks Overview: After our wonderful visit to The Gower last year Steve is running another walking and social weekend around the Gower Peninsula this June. It’s a wonderful area where we are spoilt for choice with gorgeous walks. We will concentrate on the stunning coastal walking over the weekend and include woodland and downs along the way. This weekend will appeal to both social walkers who want shorter walks and more serious walkers who want longer ones as on the Saturday there will be the option of a longer or shorter walk. The walks are easy to moderate, as they will have more gradients than usual with Steve, which gives the area its wonderful scenery, but we will take our time and admire the stunning scenery.
Spice Monthly Cocktail Night - Redlight
Date: Friday 24th June 2016 Place: 1 Unity Street Bristol (BS1 5HH) Spice Table 7:30pm Cost: £13.50 Includes: First Cocktail, Spice host Extras: More drinks Spice continue their quest to visit all of the top cocktail bars in Bristol and this month’s delight is Bristol's original speakeasy; Redlight which sure mixes up a fine cocktail. Hidden knock-and-enter bar that’s less lewd and more louche than the name implies. Red Light advertises its presence on Union Street by, well, a red light, emanating from a graffiti covered doorway. Pick up the payphone, press the button and… presto. Billing itself as a late-night drinking den with an air of 1950s panache, Red Light has a cocktail list that pairs customisable classics with new creations. True to its location, it’s about quality, not crowd-pleasing.
Walking Weekend Bournemouth Hampshire and Dorset Coast
Date: Fri 24th Jun 2016 - Sun 26th Jun 2016 Place: The Oceana Hotel Royale, Bournemouth (BH1 3EQ) Arrive from 4.00pm, evening meal at 8.00pm Cost: £179 Twin, Single, £229 Sole Occupancy (Deposit £35 Twin, £40 Single, £45 Sole Occupancy) Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals and 2 days of guided walks with a choice of two walks each day Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Walkwise Overview: Bournemouth is one of the most popular holiday destinations on the south coast of England mainly due to the magnificent World Heritage Coastline. What better way is there but to enjoy a weekend other than residing at the lovely Hotel Wessex Hotel on Bournemouth’s exclusive West Cliff. This hotel is our favourite Bournemouth Hotel and comes complete with Spa and Leisure facilities that include both an indoor swimming pool and outdoor pool, gym and on site beauty treatment. The surrounding area comprise of beautiful coastline and stunning countryside with a wide variety of attractions to make your weekend extra special. There are many excellent beaches nearby and it is only a short walk to the town centre and it is an ideal springboard for us to explore the Dorset and Hampshire coastline. This year we will spend one day exploring the stunning area around Studland, Old Harry’s Rocks and the Isle of Purbeck and for our other day we will head east towards Christchurch and Lymington with stunning sea vistas and the Isle of Wight forming their backdrop.
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Canadian Canoeing and Camping Weekend - Wye Valley
Sat 25th Jun 2016 - Sun 26th Jun 2016 Bracelands Campsite, Coleford, Gloucester (GL16 7NP) 10am on Saturday morning 10am £120 Includes: All specialist equipment required for canoeing, plus river guiding, coaching and safety cover from Highly qualified and experienced canoe coaches. Extras: Campsite fees, transport, meals, catering and food costs. The Wye is one of the classic canoeing rivers in the UK. The Wye Valley is still largely unspoilt, it has its own interesting wildlife, culture and history... and the scenery is wonderful! On its middle and lower sections it offers relaxed and easygoing paddling with the occasional straight-forward rapid... to add a bit of further interest! This weekend gives an ideal and gentle introduction to canoeing on a river with a flow. It will focus on techniques appropriate for paddling in easy grade rapids and moving water. We meet up on Friday evening and will be paddling on the Saturday and Sunday. The price includes 2 days' paddling (4-5 hours each day) and tuition. NB. does not include transport, accommodation and meals. Please Note: This cruise is most suitable for those people who have had some previous experience of canoeing or kayaking and would like to experience the next step up from still/placid water. However, complete beginners are also welcome but you need to be prepared and confident about the (low) possibility of falling into coldish water! Further details can be found on our website.
Pay As You Go - Bath - Nepalese Cuisine
Date: Saturday 25th June 2016 Place: Yak Yeti Yak, 12 Pierrepont Street , Bath (BA1 1LA) Spice table 7:30pm Cost: £2 Includes: Spice table booking, booking fee and Spice Host Extras: Food and Drinks Nepalese cuisine with excellent reviews. The New Year has just landed. It’s the second of January so time to get out and try something new, I’ve left it to the owners to persuade us to come; Reasons to try us... - Family owned & run restaurant with authentic Nepalese atmosphere. - Traditional dining with low tables & floor cushions (plus tables & chairs!) - Delicious, fragrant cooking using local, seasonal ingredients. - Ever changing Specials menu introducing new and exciting tastes. - Nepalese owner Sera & his team of chefs bring their own traditions to the table. - Located in the centre of Bath very near key attractions. - A simple 3 minute walk from the train station. - Public car park within a minute’s walk. - Rave reviews from regulars and new visitors alike. Add to that list, good company and a chance to discuss New Year’s plans and resolutions with fellow Spice members and we’re onto a winner!
Bristol Walking Tour
Date: Sunday 26th June 2016 Place: Queens Rd, Victoria Rooms, Bristol, England (BS8 1SA) Outside Victoria Rooms Cost: £2 Extras: Tips to the tour guide For those who may not know the city so well and even for true Bristolians, there will be something for everybody. Led by a fun and friendly guide, a great way to explore the city. We will cover the city's history, culture and lifestyle with anecdotes and stories about residents past and present. We will see the city's famed highlights, as well as uncovering some hidden jewels.
Crazy Golf at the Celtic Manor
Date: Sunday 26th June 2016 Place: Coldra Woods, Usk Valley, Newport (NP18 1HQ) Celtic Manor Resort - Hotel Entrance 2pm Cost: £13 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).
Salsa Dancing Beginners And Intermediate
Date: Tuesday 28th June 2016 Place: Riproar @ Steam Cafe Bar, Silver Street (BS1 2AG) At the class 7:45pm Extras: Pay £7 for the class on the night Salsa classes Bristol Tuesday evenings (8-10pm), followed by freestyle dancing till 11 pm in club Riproar. Salsa Classes start with a warm up at 8pm sharp. We run two levels of Salsa classes side by side. Doors open 7.45pm. Classes run from 8 pm till 10 pm with a break in the middle. No need to book lessons – There are no courses, just turn up. Start any week. No partner required. Pay as you go. Please don’t bring your own drinks, there is a bar provided.
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Sailing Round the Island Yacht Race
Thu 30th Jun 2016 - Sun 3rd Jul 2016 Shamrock Quay Marina or Haslar Marina Gosport 8.00pm Thursday Evening £532 Sharing (Deposit £50) Includes: 3 nights on board in sharing cabins, diesel, wet weather gear, life harnesses, Breakfasts, lunches, tea and coffee Extras: evening meals and marina charges The Round the Island Race is THE event of the year for South Coast sailors and attracts big-name international competitors. The 1700 boats competing are a mix of family sailors and top racers. The boats range from small day boats to round-the world racing yachts and make for a spectacular sight. It is the biggest yacht race in the world and the fourth biggest sporting event in the UK. Some take it very seriously, others just enjoy taking part. EnCompass Sailing fits somewhere in the middle we usually do very well in our class.
Spice Meet and Eat - The George At Backwell
Date: Thursday 30th June 2016 Place: The George At Backwell, Bristol (BS48 3PG) Spice Table 7pm Cost: £2 Includes: Spice Host Extras: Food And Drink 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. Our venue tonight is The George at Blackwell, Seasonally influenced dishes, freshly prepared and very good value. Friendly staff and a great venue.
Spice Meet and Eat - Lisvane, Cardiff
Date: Thursday 30th June 2016 Place: The Old Cottage, Orchard Rd, Lisvane (CF14 0UE) In the Bar 7pm 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. Our venue tonight is The Old Cottage, tucked away next to Cefn Onn Park, right at the Northern edge of Cardiff. The cottage itself is a listed building and it has been transformed into a great pub-restaurant. Here we can enjoy a glass of fine ale and perhaps indulge in a meal with choices ranging from traditional favourites such as fish and chips and steaks to freshly made pizzas and pastas with the chef’s daily specials showcasing the finest market fresh ingredients.
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Rustic Bunkhouse and BBQ Weekend - Chilterns
Fri 1st Jul 2016 - Sun 3rd Jul 2016 YHA Jordans, Welders Lane, Jordans, Beaconsfield, Bucks (HP9 2SN) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Check out is 12 noon £69 (Deposit £10) includes: exclusive hire of bunkhouse for Spice, 2 breakfasts with hot items included and 1 evening BBQ supper and Spice host throughout Extras: drinks & other meals over the weekend We have another one of our popular southern bunkhouses weekends and we have exclusive use of a rustic wooden cabin in the Chiltern Countryside. Located in the heart of a village this wooden cabin is set in two acres of woodland with a lovely garden and all the attractions of the nearby towns and pubs. The plan for the weekend will be to meet on the Friday evening, and we will either cook ourselves some supper or head to a local pub. On Saturday morning your breakfast is provided and will include a selection of items with a few hot options such as bacon and sausage butties, cereals, yoghurts, fruits and tea/coffee. Then we will head out for the day. Sunday is a chill out morning with an option for a stroll before checking out of the hostel at 12 noon and heading for home.
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Walking Weekend Lake District Watershed Ultimate Challenge Part 1
Fri 1st Jul 2016 - Sun 3rd Jul 2016 Shap Wells Hotel, North East Lakes, Cumbria (CA10 3QU) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £185 Twin Share, £225 Single (Deposit £40 Twin Share, £45 Single) includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 evening meals, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 days of guided walks Extras: Taxi to the start of the walk on Saturday Walkwise Overview: This beast of a challenge is for experienced and fit walkers only. Maybe don’t even think about it unless you have done one before. The walk itself will take a minimum of 9 hours at a good pace and is over 16 miles long with around 4,500 ft ascent, most people would split that into two days walking. The Watershed itself demarks the rivers that flow to the north of the Lake District and those that drain southwards so during this walk we will in effect be traversing the very spine of the Far Eastern Fells. The stunning topography encompasses everything the Lakes can throw at us in terms of steepness, crags, grassland, moorland and bogginess in the cols too. This event very definitely requires us to cover all that terrain and some is both pathless and rough too! However, the reward is scenery that is simply breath-taking.
National Dragon Boat Camping (Friday Night and / or Saturday Night)
Date: Fri 8th Jul 2016 & or Sat 9th Jul 2016 Place: Pershore Rugby Club, Mill Lane (WR10 2JF) At Campsite from 5pm, Cost: £9 per night Many members make a real weekend out of Dragon Boating by staying up at Pershore either in the local B&B’s or at our specially arranged campsite.
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National Dragon Boat Party
Saturday 9th July 2016 Pershore Working men’s Club, High St (WR10 1EU) Arrive for 8.00pm. Cost: £12 Includes: hot buffet supper, DJ entertainment and venue hire There is always a great atmosphere on Saturday night with a DJ & bar why not make a weekend at our Spice exclusive party.
National Dragon Boat Racing
“East Midlands won last year, who will be the UK Champions of 2016?”
Date: Sunday 10th July 2016 Place: Pershore, Worcestershire (WR10 1AF) 9.15am (safety briefing, 9.30am start. Cost £29 “No Spicer should miss a Dragon Boat Day. It really sums up what Spice is all about – fun, friendship, excitement & the chance to try an activity that anyone can enjoy!” Up to twenty people sitting side by side in a forty foot long boat, with a carved dragon's head and tail attached. A drummer in the prow beating time, a steerer in the stern keeping the boat on course with a giant paddle, the crew, ten each side speeding the boat down the river to the finish line! The atmosphere is brilliant, which is why this is one of the essential events in the Spice calendar! This is The Big One! A huge national Spice event organised for Spice by a great group of specialists. As it’s the Official Spice UK National Finals, all groups will be sending a team to compete. We have our own trophies and medals to go for, and the races will be run on a timed basis over the day. Don't worry if you've never been in a Dragon Boat before, we'll have plenty of time to practice before the racing begins in earnest (and as this is Spice, it’s all just for fun anyway!). It's great fun and totally unlike any other kind of canoeing with team work being the key, not strength.
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Bristol Harbour Music Festival Weekend
Fri 15th Jul 2016 - Sun 17th Jul 2016 Thistle Grand Hotel, Broad Street, Bristol (BS1 6HY) Arrive from 4.00pm £179 Twin Share, £255 Single (Deposit £35 Twin Share£45 Single) Includes: 2 nights hotel accommodation with Breakfast, 3 course evening meal on Saturday, Bristol Harbour Festival & Spice Host throughout the weekend Extras: Lunches, Friday evening Meal The Harbour Festival gives Bristol the opportunity to showcase its rich musical and performance roots. Over 250,000 festival fans head down to the historic waterfront to party, listen to the numerous bands and live acts, eat, drink and dance. It is a fantastic weekend. The programme is massive and is held over three days across a two mile stretch of the city from Brunel’s SS Great Britain to M Shed, and from Queen Square to the city’s leafy Castle Park. Visitors will be entertained by a vibrant mix of live performance, artists, musicians, dancers, circus acts, markets and street stalls. On the water, hundreds of sailing vessels, from historic ships and boats to pleasure yachts and harbour ferries will provide a colourful backdrop to Bristol’s annual celebration of its maritime heritage. For more information and a suggested weekend Itinerary see our web site.
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Walking Weekend Newton Abbot and the South Devon Coast
Fri 22nd Jul 2016 - Sun 24th Jul 2016 The Passage House Hotel & Leisure Club, Kingsteignton, (TQ12 3QH) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £179 Twin Share, £219 single (Deposit £35 Twin Share, £40 single) includes: 2 night's hotel accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals and 2 days of guided walking Extras: Transport to walk starts Walkwise Overview: 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. We will visit picturesque villages, enjoy the hospitality of the inviting cafes and country inns. Add to this the lovely Passage House hotel with its irresistible riverside setting, leisure club and pool, and a traditional country inn right next door, and we are in for a superb weekend away… Oh and it’s just at the end of the M5 and has good rail links so it’s easy to get there too!
Walking Weekend Summer in the Lakes, Eskdale
Date: Fri 22nd Jul 2016 - Sun 24th Jul 2016 Place: The Bower House Inn, Eskdale, Cumbria (CA19 1TD) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 7.00p.m. Cost: £179 Twin share, £219 Single, £229 Sole Occupancy (Deposit £35 Twin share, £40 Single, £40 Sole) Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 evening meals, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches and 2 days of guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Walkwise Overview: Yes! Back by popular request here is a return visit to one of the most stunning valleys in the Lake District, if not the Country! We have negotiated the use of The Bower House Inn as our new venue in Eskdale so we can now return to explore this unspoilt region of the Lakes. The Bower House Inn has a delightful setting half way up the valley overlooking Muncaster Fell. A traditional country inn, it will host all the accommodation and dining for the group and you won’t be disappointed as the chef has an excellent reputation for food and walking is second to none! So whether you enjoy the big high mountains or the gorgeous peaceful valleys of the Lake District then this should be one for your diary. Oh Eskdale is truly magnificent in summer, when the woodlands and hillside are in full bloom! But remember book early because it’s a small country pub and when the accommodation is gone it’s gone!
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Walking Weekend Llandrindod, Elan Valley and Red Kite Country
Fri 29th Jul 2016 - Sun 31st Jul 2016 The Metropole Hotel, (4 star), Llandrindod Wells, Wales (LD1 5DY) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £179 Twin Share, £219 Single (Deposit £35 Twin Share, £40 Single) includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals & choice of 2 guided walks Extras: Transport to walk starts if used WalkWise Overview: We have secured a tasty summer date to return to the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells which will hopefully coincide with some lovely summery weather and allow us to experience it at its very best. The Elan Valley and Red Kite Country is one of our favourite areas and continues to demand repeat visits. The quieter hills of mid Wales, locally known as the forgotten Welsh Lake District are beautiful; with high heather moorlands and wooded valley providing a home to some of Britain’s rarest wildlife, from goshawk, to hen harrier, black grouse and the stunning Red Kites. The area is beautiful with deep carved valleys are interspersed with ancient woodlands, peaceful reservoirs and friendly villages with inviting pubs. By contrast just a few miles to the east the countryside changes with lush valleys and the rolling Aberedw hills; guaranteeing interesting scenery and varied walking. For this trip we will be based in the four star Metropole Hotel in the historic Victorian Spa town of Llandrindod Wells.
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Bristol Balloon Fiesta Weekend
Fri 12th Aug 2016 - Sun 14th Aug 2016 Thistle Bristol Hotel, Broad Street, Bristol (BS1 2EL) Arrive from 4.00pm £189 Twin Share, £255 Single (Deposit £35 Twin Share, £50 Single) includes: 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfasts, 1 Course lunch on Saturday, International Balloon Fiesta, City Docks Packet Boat Cruise & Spice Host throughout the weekend. Extras: Evening meals, drinks Optional lunch on Sunday th This year, Bristol will play host to Europe’s largest ballooning event for the 37 time. In this amazing spectacle over 150 hot air balloons will take off from Ashton Court Estate at dawn and light up the skies at night with evening glows. It’s something everyone has to see at least once in a lifetime! The event features colourful hot-air balloon displays, attracting over half a million visitors to the scenic grounds of Ashton Court. Balloons of all shapes and sizes lift off over the City of Bristol as well as taking part in various ballooning competitions including who can reach the furthest point in a set time or landing challenges. There is also entertainment for everyone on the ground with fairground rides, delicious food stalls, a craft fair, dance stage, arena entertainment, the world famous Red Arrows and a local talent music bandstand.
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Summer Bunkhouse Weekend with Beaches and BBQ
Fri 19th Aug 2016 - Sun 21st Aug 2016 Bova House, Swansea, Wales (SA3 1NN) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Check out 12 noon £89 Sharing (Deposit £10) Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation in sharing rooms in hostel exclusively hired for a Spice weekend, 2 breakfasts, 1 BBQ meal, guided walk and Spice host throughout Extras: Drinks and some meals Join us on this fabulous fun bunkhouse weekend. As The Gower bunkhouse is situated next to the sand dunes and beach this is a perfect place for a Spice weekend away. Come and enjoy the fresh air, the beach, walking, watersports and BBQ on our cheap and cheerful weekend. We have exclusive use of the Gower Bunkhouse at Borfa House in the village of Port Eynon which offers comfortable shared accommodation with a private garden. This is a fun, muck in and help type of weekend so you are expected to help with the cooking and clearing up after the meals. Meet on the Friday evening, and we will either cook ourselves some supper or head to the local pub which is close by. On Saturday morning your breakfast is provided. Then we will head out for a walk on the beach and to explore the local area. Saturday night we have included a 2 course BBQ supper at the hostel so we can relax in the garden over a drink and two. Sunday: Breakfast is provided and then you are free to explore, head for the beach before we have to check out of the hostel at 12 noon.
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Narrow Boat Weekend - Wiltshire
Fri 2nd Sep 2016 - Mon 5th Sep 2016 Hilperton Marina, Trowbridge, Wiltshire (BA14 8RS) Arrive between 2.30 and 4.30p.m. £189 (Deposit £40) includes: inclusive hire of a narrowboat for Spice for the weekend for 3 nights 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches and Spice host throughout the weekend Extras: Drinks & some pub meals It’s a great life afloat, and this time we are heading to Hilperton Marina for another one of our favourite weekends on a narrowboat. This weekend will see us travelling the waterways from our starting point in Hilperton Marina, which is superbly situated on the Kennet & Avon Canal near Trowbridge in Wiltshire (a short distance from the M4). We will probably head to the historic town of Bradford on Avon, and then probably on to Bath, crossing over the impressive Avoncliffe and Dunda viaducts. This is a great way of spending a lazy, long weekend away from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We just drift along at a leisurely pace enjoying the county side and socialising along the way.
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Isle of Wight Bunkhouse Weekend
Fri 9th Sep 2016 - Sun 11th Sep 2016 YHA Totland Bay, Hurst Hill, Totland Bay, Isle of Wight (PO39 0HD) Arrive from 4.00p.m. check out 12 noon £69 Sharing (Deposit £10) includes: 2 nights’ accommodation in sharing rooms in hostel exclusively hired 2 breakfasts, 1 evening meal, guided walk & Spice host throughout Extras: Drinks - bring you’re own and some meals and any activities, ferry crossings We are off to the Isle of Wight for one of our popular bunkhouse weekends. YHA Totland located on the island enjoys a seaside location close to down land cliffs and beaches so ideal for walking and cycling. An added bonus for this weekend is the cycling festival so you can take your bike and join in the fun. It is aimed at all levels, the routes are all made up and easy to follow or you can just spectate. We have exclusive use of a large Edwardian house in its own grounds.
Date: Place: Cost:
Spice 35th Anniversary National Ball
Saturday 1st October 2016 4 star Queens Hotel, City Square, Leeds (LS1 1PJ) 7pm £79 Early Bird Ticket (Deposit £20) includes: Ball ticket, welcome drink reception, 3 course evening meal, ½ bottle of wine, live act on the night, disco plus some extra surprises Extras: Additional drinks. Hotel accommodation to be booked separately Spice has a big National Anniversary Ball every 5 years and the chances are you have heard our 25th and 30th Anniversary Balls were both events that have gone down in Spice history and are still talked about today! Now Spice UK is proud to present the Spice 35th Anniversary National Ball! This will be a truly fabulous night with loads of fun surprises and a great celebration of all that Spice represents. The venue is the 4* Queens Hotel which was purpose built as accommodation for rail travellers and it couldn’t be better located right in the heart of the city with its own entrance straight off Leeds Central. Note the price is for the Ball only. You will want to make a weekend of it please see our web site for accommodation details.
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Guy Fawkes Bunkhouse Weekend - Littlehampton, West Sussex
Fri 4th Nov 2016 - Sun 6th Nov 2016 YHA Littlehampton, West Sussex (BN17 5AW) Arrive from 4.00p.m. £75 sharing (Deposit £10) includes: exclusive hire of hostel for our use, 2 nights sharing accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 1 evening supper on Saturday night, guided walk and Spice host throughout We are returning to the lovely bunkhouse in Littlehampton which is right by the sea, beach and town centre. Our hostel overlooks the harbour from the entrance and offers a high standard of comfort. The hostel is part of a redevelopment of Fisherman’s Wharf on the east bank of the River Arun. Set in a traditional seaside resort with many pubs with walking distance and they usually have some live bands playing. The plan for the weekend goes like this: Meet on the Friday evening, and we will either have some takeaway food or head to a local pub. On Saturday morning your breakfast is provided. Then we will head out for a walk on the beach and to explore the local area. This will be guided and be 5/6 miles. Saturday night we have included a 2 course meal which we will eat at the hostel then we will head out to the pubs which are only a few minutes’ walk from the hostel. As it is Guy Fawkes weekend there might also be a local firework display. Sunday is a chill out morning with an option for a stroll before checking out of the farmhouse at 12 noon and heading for home.
Notes – My Events!
Spice Rack - National Groups SPICE (West Midlands)
SPICE (London)
SPICE (Thames Valley & Solent)
Co-ordinator: Richard Coulter Suite 1, Ryknild House Burnett Road Sutton Coldfield West Midlands, B74 3EL Tel: 0121 353 6161 info@spicebham.com www.spicebham.com
Co-ordinator: Dianne Livingstone 330 High Holborn London, WC1V 7QT Tel: 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 (Scotland) Co-ordinator: Jamie Morris 63 Easter Langside Crescent Dalkeith, EH22 2FN Tel: 0131 531 2653 info@spicescotland.com www.spicescotland.com
SPICE (East Midlands) Co-ordinator: Steve Dell Foxhall Business Centre, 2 King Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AS Tel: 01827 767150 office@spiceeastmids.com www.spiceeastmids.com
SPICE (Yorkshire) Co-ordinator: Lauren Fawkes 11 Poplar Road Stretford, Manchester, M32 9AN Tel: 0161 864 2554 info@spiceyorks.com www.spiceyorks.com
SPICE UK General Manger: Ian Purvis 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 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 01276 479253 Booking Events We encourage members to book online at www.spicelondon.co.uk or by phone 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 photos may be taken from any Spice groups nationwide or other sources and are for illustration only and do not represent any specific event advertised in this newsletter. Please be aware photographs may be used in any Spice promotional material, let us know if you do not wish them to be used.
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 as soon as you can 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 and ‘up-front’. Sorry we cannot refund you if you fail to turn-up.
Spice UK Holidays 2016 Spice - Goes Exploring the World
Spicy - Adrenaline & Excitement
Andalucia Highlights (7 nights) 2ⁿ� to 9�� July, from £799
Mark Warner 5* Watersports - Rhodes 11�� to 18�� June, (7 nights) from £850 11�� to 25�� June, (14 nights) from £1290 18�� to 25�� June, (7 nights) from £850
Iceland Discovery (7 nights) 6�� to 10�� November, from £699 Lapland Adventure & Northern Lights (7 nights) 4�� to 11�� December, from £883
Spice - Chills Out Cyprus Spring Chillout (7 nights) 1�� to 8�� May, from £649
Walking Austria 16 Mayrhofen (7 nights) 10�� to 17�� September, from £869 La Santa Sports Holidays (7 nights) 13�� to 20�� October, from £529 For more information or to book your holidays go on-line to www.spiceuk.com or phone the Spice UK office on 0161 873 8788 or e-mail info@spiceuk.com.
Amazing Algarve 5* Chillout (7 nights) 5�� to 11�� June, from £619 Croatia Chillout (7 nights) 20�� to 27�� September, from £699 Turkey Chillout (7 nights) 19�� to 26�� September, from £699 Costa Blanca Chillout (7 nights) 25�� September to 2ⁿ� October, from £639 Lake Garda Autumn Chillout (5 nights) 9�� to 14�� October, from £549
Spice 35th Anniversary National Ball Spice started 35 years ago in Manchester, think of all those 1000’s of events and friendships made! To celebrate we are having an amazing anniversary ball, at the 4 star Queens hotel in Leeds Saturday 1�� October Ball only £79. 1 night accommodation £138 (twin share) 2 nights accommodation £243 (twin share)
Thailand Chllout & River Kwai (14 nights) 9�� to 22ⁿ� October, from £1699
Key Spice holidays partners For many years Spice has enjoyed an excellent Club Dance are delighted to be working with Spice to relationship with our travel partner Exodus Holidays promote our dance holidays whether it is salsa, Ceroc, – the UK’s leading adventure travel company. ballroom or tango 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.