www.spicebristolcardiff.com
October to December 2013
Colourful Autumn Issue!
Autumn with Spice…. ● Quad Biking in Bristol & Cardiff ● Haunted & Hidden Bristol ● Murder Mystery Walk in Cardiff ● Center Parcs - Longleat ● Walking Weekend - New Forest
Center Parcs Nottingham June 2013
r e t t e l s w e n e ic p S t he
● Fire Eating & Breathing Workshop ● Opera Evenings ● Christmas Parties & Dinners ● Scuba Diving Taster ● New Year’s London Thames Party Cruise ● New Year Mini Break - Venice
special programme of initiative challenge & excitement
Spice UK Holidays - enjoy more time away with Spice Holiday with a group of like minded Spice members and share your amazing adventures. Select from a fantastic range of holidays from Spice UK. We do everything from Gulet Cruise Chill-Outs to Rafting the Grand Canyon, from exploring Italian Lakes to Sports holidays in Lanzerote plus some great ski trips. You can now book your holidays online at www.spiceuk.com. Please contact the Spice UK office on 0161 873 8788 or e-mail info@spiceuk.com for your unique Spice UK membership number. (This is different to your local group member reference). You do not need to login in order to browse the holidays on our web site.
Chill-Out & Relaxing Holidays ● Turkey Chill-out
7 October 2013
● Turkey Gulet Cruise
9 October 2013
● Spice National Xmas Break
28 December 2013
Spice - Goes Exploring the World!
● Lake Garda Autumn Special Wait 10 October 2013 ● Iceland Discovery
t Wai 1 December 2013 t Wai 21 December 2013
● Lapland Adventure
● New Year Mini Break Venice
11 January 2014
● Cultural Andualucia
2 August 2014
● Best of the West USA
2 August 2014
Spice in the White Stuff - Skiing
Spicy - Adrenaline & Excitement
● Ski Christmas
24 December 2013
● Ski New Year
30 December 2013
● Ski Austria St Christoph
18 January 2014
● Ski Sauze D’Oulx
26 January 2014
● La Santa Sports Holiday
15 October 2013
● Ski Val D’Isere
2 February 2014
● Grand Canyon Rafting
9 September 2014
● Ski Deluxe Meribel
23 February 2014
● Ski Andorra
2 March 2014
● Ski Alpe D’Huez
5 March 2014
Just Having Lots of Fun
t Wai
● Crete Yoga & Walking
5 November 2013
● Ski Canada
● Mickeys Magical Fireworks
10 November 2013
● Ski Meribel
15 March 2014
● Austria Ski Jive Spectacular
9 March 2014
● Ski Mayrhofen
18 May 2014
● Arctic Dog Sledding ● Arctic Dog Sledding
t Wai t Wai
9 March 2014 22 March 2014
9 March 2014
You may also contact the Spice UK office for a full information pack about specific holidays to find out more or to book on 0161 873 8788.
Dianne’s Wee Bit
Hello Everyone! Welcome to the Autumn issue of the Spice Bristol & Cardiff Newsletter! If you're a new member an especially big welcome it’s great to have you on-board, take a look at our top tips elsewhere in the newsletter for some ideas on how to get the most from your Spice membership. The main thing, if you haven't already done so, is to book that first event, so that you’re not missing out on all the fun in. By the time you receive this newsletter I will have just got back from coordinating Spice UK’s rafting trip down the Grand Canyon. I have run this trip before and it is a truly amazing experience, negotiating 280 river miles with dozens of huge rapids to get well and truly soaked. Exploring the side-canyons, taking-in the stunning scenery and of-course some great Spice members to share the experience with. Expect some amazing photos on our web-site. Summer, this year turned out to be one of the best in quite a while and Spice members have been having a great time. We enjoyed a weekend in Bala, Wales walking & rafting, quite a few of you headed to Croyde bay for some surfing, and some of you joined the Dance and Walk + Party weekend in Alcester. Please let us know via the feedback page on our website what you have thought about our events. It’s always great to read good feedback but we also want to know if an event can be improved in anyway. You can also help by sending (using social media or good old-fashioned email) any photo’s of Spice members having a great time. We will get them onto our web-site & in the newsletter! Another way to help & make Spice even better is to tell your friends about us, most members join through personal recommendations. Since there are ‘only’ 90 days or so shopping to Christmas why not consider a Spice membership for a friend and as its a whole lot better than socks, give us a call and we will arrange it for you. As usual we have some great outdoor activities planned over the next 3 months, including walking weekends in Oban, Scotland (I remember it as a wee lass), Llangollen in Wales, Dorset, Devon, Shropshire, The Lake District, The Mendips, Whitby and the New Forest, in fact pretty much everywhere! There is also a chance to try an introduction to sailing in Cardiff bay, Quad bikes in Bristol & Cardiff, Clay Pigeon shooting and even some Mince pies on a steam train. In October we have our Butlins 70’s party weekend including T-Rex, Slade, Mud & Blondie tribute bands. We have our annual Center Parcs Longleat in November, this one is a bit closer to home and already lots of Bristol & Cardiff members have booked so why not join us. We also have our Christmas Center Parcs in Penrith in December for a pre-holiday getaway. If you want to get-away over the Xmas and new year take a look at our Twixtmas/New year breaks in Snowdonia, and the Lake District. There is also a fabulous walking breaks on the North Downs, or you could just socialise and party in the Hogmanay in Edinburgh or on our fabulous mini break to Venice! How about seeing the new year in and join us in London on our Thames cruise and party, we have an exclusive Spice boat for the evening and an option of a one or two night stay at the luxury Thistle hotel in Kensington? One of the great things about Spice is the chance to try something new or different. Over the next few months you can try a Dowsing workshop, a kayak river adventure, a SWAT training mission, a Drawing & watercolour workshop, and glass blowing Workshop, Or you could learn how to play poker or try our amazing fire eating & breathing workshop. On the social side there are lots of great dining options including live Flamenco dancing & Paella. Our Spice Christmas party has gone upmarket to the lovely Alveston Hotel in Thornbury in Bristol. We have a private party with a 3-course dinner and dancing till 1.00am, there is also an option to stay the night at the hotel. So get the date in your diary and BOOK real soon. Looking into 2014 we have our Spice Ski trips to Les Arcs in France for January, which is great for all abilities. our March trip is to the stunning Verbier in Switzerland. If you are thinking of joining us on the slopes you need to BOOK now.
Have fun on the events and we hope to see you soon Dianne.
Coming Events – October 2013 Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
1 October
2 Bristol Curry Night - Three Brooks Inn
3 Ceroc Dance Thornbury
4 Pyramid Bowling – Cardiff
5 Bath Ghost Walk Dog Owner for a Day
6 A day out at Dyrham Park and Lunch
Riproar Comedy Club With Food
Dowsing Workshop Birmingham
Llama + Wolf Experience Day – Bedford
Indoor Surfing - Bedford
Mind Management Workshop – NEC
Ceroc Dance Bristol
7
8 Badminton Night - Drop In and Play
9 Ceroc Dance Bristol
10 Ceroc Dance Thornbury
11 Pub Social - Antix Cafe Bar. Bristol Walking
Overnight Forest Experience Tank Battle Experience Outdoor Digital Photography Weekend Sailing Weekend around the Solent Sailing Weekend in Malta + Gozo WAIT LIST Walking Weekend - Chippenham Wiltshire 12 13 Flight Simulator Eastnor Castle Heirs Tour Experience – Northampton and Lunch Kayak River Adventure Day
Pub Quiz Night at The Wharf Cardiff
Quad Bike Trail Ride – Bristol Spice Dines - Viva Brazil, Cardiff
14 Preview and Social - Bristol (North)
15 All-You-Can Eat Asian Banquet Bristol
16 Ceroc Dance Bristol
17 Ceroc Dance Thornbury Cheltenham Local Meet
18 Pay As You Go Signor Valentino Cardiff Pyramid Bowling - Cribbs Causway
22 Badminton Night - Drop In and Play
23 Ceroc Dance Bristol Pieminister Pie Feast Night Stokes Croft
24 Ceroc Dance Thornbury
25 Haunted and Hidden Bristol Murder Mystery Walk - Cardiff City
Live Jazz at Old Duke+Pub Supper in Bristol SWAT Training Mission WAIT LIST
The Life of a Coal Miner Underground Tour Butlins 70's Party Weekend – Skegness Creative Clay Weekend Drawing and Watercolour Weekend - Wales Weekend - Oban + The Highlands Walking Weekend The Vale of Llangollen 19 20 Ballroom Dance Medieval Jousting – Masterclass - Cha Cha Cha Warwickshire Dinner Shuffle - The Living Room Bristol Flying Taster Lesson Elstree, Herts Indoor Skydiving
21
Guided Walk Westonbirt Arboretum + Cream Tea
Walk: Lacock Village Microlight Flying Visit to the Red Lodge Museum and A/Tea
Walk: St Fagan's and Radyr Circular Walk Leisure + Chill Out - Luxury Lodges, Devon Sailing Weekend around the Solent Skills for Walking the Hills Walking Weekend - Dorset Coastal Path Walking Weekend - Langdale, Lake District 26 27 Chipping Campden Brunch + Walk - Brandon Cotswolds Ramble Hill + Cabot Tower Improve Your Laugh Life Intro to EFT and Energy Connections Step Inside the BBC Bristol
Make the most of your Spice membership! Remember to check our web site regularly as we update it daily, don’t miss out on the fun! To book: www.spicebristolcardiff.com or phone the office on 0742 959 8414 or 01276 479253
Quad Biking Cardiff Watercolour Painting Intro Day
Coming Events – October to November 2013 Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
28 Burger Night at Racks Bar + Kitchen - Bristol
29 Preview Night – Cardiff
30 Ceroc Dance Bristol
31 Ceroc Dance Thornbury
1 November Live Music /Jazz + Supper – Bath
2 Halloween Sleepover Party - Birmingham WAIT LIST
3 Bangless Bonfire Night at Bristol Zoo
Spice Meet + Eat Social - Hole in the Wall
A Night of Terror at Woodchester Mansion Gloucester
Skittles Evening - King William Pub
Visit to Horseworld Rescue Centre – Bristol
Spice London 20th Birthday Party
Walk: Kewstoke near Weston Super Mare
Scuba Diving Taster Session Bristol
Spice Meet And Eat - The Tredegar Arms
Western Style Rifle Shooting Afternoon
Spice Preview Night - The Hole in the Wall
4
11 Preview and Social - Bristol (North)
5 Badminton Night - Drop In and Play
6 Bristol Curry Night - Three Brooks Inn
Pub Quiz Night at The Wharf Cardiff
Ceroc Dance Class - Bristol
12 Crazy Golf Adventure Bristol
13 Ceroc Dance Class - Bristol
7 Ceroc Dance Thornbury
8 Live Music and Supper at The Canteen Pie and Pint Night - The Goat Major Cardiff
14 Bath Local Meet + Preview Night Ceroc Dance Thornbury
15 Pay As You Go Spice Berry Cardiff Pyramid Bowling - Cribbs Causway
New Members Easy Walking Weekend Snowdonia Outdoor Photography W/E Snowdonia Valley + Rivers Walking W/E Walking Weekend - Cheddar Gorge Mendips 9 10 Behind the Scenes Bristol Introduction to Sailing Hippodrome Cardiff Bay Behind the Scenes Tour + London Aquarium
Jazz, Blues and Sunday Lunch – Bristol
Snorkelling with Sharks London Aquarium
Learn To Play Poker – Bristol
Spice Dines Chinese Malvern's North and Cardiff Worcester Way Ramble Murder Mystery Luxury Cottage Weekend Outdoor First Aid Certificate Level 5 Ballachulish Bargain Break Scotland WAIT LIST Magic of Venice Photography Break 16 17 Behind the Scenes at Royal Clay Pigeon Shooting Opera House Cardiff Cosford Restoration/Behind the Scenes Day WAIT LIST
Microlight Flying Visit to The Wild Place Bristol
Royal Opera House-Romeo and Juliet Ballet Saturday Lunch + Stroll The Brassmill Stow-on-the-Wold Ramble, Cotswolds
18
19 Badminton Night - Drop In and Play Preview Night Cardiff
20 Ceroc Dance Class - Brisol
21 Ceroc Dance Thornbury
22 Raymond Blanc Dining – Bristol
Center Parcs – Longleat Tennis W/E with Coaching - Northants Walking Weekend - Sidmouth, Devon 23 24 Bristol Walking Tour + Pies Doctor Who Experience + for lunch Lunch, Cardiff Bay
Gloucester Local Meet
Caving at Burrington Coombe
Pizza Social at Zerodegrees Cardiff
Gecko Blasters - Royal Oak, Nailsea
Fire Eating Workshop Sunday Roast at the Grain Barge - Bristol
Indian Dining at the Spice Route Cardiff Walk with Wolves Bedford Shropshire Easy Walking Weekend Shropshire Photography Weekend Welsh Cottage Walking Break
Why not come along to these regular events Preview nights & Pub socials Bristol Club & Preview Nights
!
The Hole in the Wall enue V w Ne 2 The Grove, Queens Square Bristol BS1 4QZ Last Thursday of each month From 7:30 till 10:30pm 31 Oct, 28 Nov, 19 Dec Spice Presentation at 7:30pm Reserved area - look for Spice sign.
Bristol North Preview Nights Hilton Bristol Hotel Woodlands Lane, Bradley Stoke Bristol, BS32 4JF 2nd Monday of each month 14 Oct, 11 Nov, 9 Dec From 7:45 till 9:30pm Spice All presentation at 8:00pm Ask at reception.
Cardiff Preview Nights Chapter, Market Road, Canton Cardiff, CF5 1QE Every Month 29 Oct, 19 Nov, 17 Dec From 7:45 till 9:30pm Spice Presentation at 8:30pm Ask at reception for Spice
Bath local meet & Preview Saracens Head, 42 Broad Street Bath BA1 5LP 14 Nov From 8:00 till 10:30 pm, Spice Presentation at 8:30pm Reserved area - look for Spice sign.
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” ● Booking early means you won’t be disappointed by an event selling out (most do come around again). ● Use any credit vouchers you received when you first joined, as these will expire after 3 months. ● 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.
Our regular Club/Preview nights are a great way for members to catch up with each other and socialise over a drink in relaxed surroundings, if you have never been why not drop by. They are also a way for prospective members to come along, meet a few existing members and find out more about Spice & maybe join on the night. A Spice coordinator will be there to welcome you & make some introductions and also give a short talk about how Spice works, it’s all very relaxed and friendly. These nights are always popular and its well worth dropping in. There is no need to book and there is no charge, you only pay for your own drinks on the night, bring a friend if you like.
Gloucester Local Meet The Fountain Inn 53 Westgate Street Gloucester, GL1 2NW Thursday 21 Nov at 7:30pm Reserved area - look for Spice sign.
Cheltenham Local Meet The Brown Jug 242 Bath Road Cheltenham, GL53 7NB Thursday 17 Oct at 7:30pm Reserved area - look for Spice sign. ● Don’t forget Spice UK has some brilliant holidays, check their web site. ● Remember Spice is a network, one big family, you can attend events with another group, just call us to book. ● Call the office if you have any questions about an event, or are not sure about something, we are happy to help.
Ceroc Dance Class - Bristol The Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road BS10 5PY 8:00pm for beginners lesson Wednesday nights weekly
Ceroc Dance Class - Thornbury Armstrong Hall Complex, 4 Chapel Street BS35 2BU 8:00pm for 8:15 beginners lesson Thursday nights weekly
and make the most of your Spice membership!
Finding events or an event in your local area Do you want to find a type of event (e.g. walking, meals out etc.) or events in your local area. You can do this quickly and simply on the Spice London web site. ● From the home page click the Event button. ● In the Search events block you can search for a type of event by clicking on the dropdown on Category for example walking, parties, Weekend breaks etc.
Behind the scenes Museum of London - July This was a really fabulous day. The curators were passionate about their subjects. We were given a rare opportunity to hold bronze age and roman artefacts. The archeological finds we were able to see were recent finds including Roman leather panels. They spoke enthusiastically about the cheapside jewels find which is to be displayed in October. There are a variety of events associated with the Cheapside Hoard which would in my view make an excellent spice event e.g. all that glitters on 17 October.
● You can find an event in your area simply by selecting the County e.g. Kent, Surrey. ● You can also search on Words, by using Words ● When done click the magnifying glass icon to find what you want.
vents E t n e c e about R
said u o Y t a Wh Vintage Bike Ride to Hampton Court Palace - July
Cycling Weekend, Peak District - July A very enjoyable weekend with a lovely group of people. I was a bit worried about cycling for two days as I don't do much cycling, but although it was pretty full-on with lots of undulating countryside (some really long, slow hills) nobody minded if I had to get off and walk here and there. The meal in carriage's restaurant was a highlight. It's a long taxi ride from Derby station - if I did it again I would definitely go by car.
This was a fun event, the cycle was easy with regular breaks to look at all the sights and we stopped along the way at a pub for a drink, it just so happened that dragon boat racing was taking place so we watched a little of that too. We arrived at Hampton Court at 13:00 and found some lunch then enjoyed an afternoon wandering around the palace and trying not to get lost in the maze! It helped that the weather was cool in the morning for the cycle and sunny and warm to walk around the grounds in the afternoon. A very enjoyable day.
Tidal Thames Paddle - June A enjoyable way to spend Sunday afternoon, Graham & Adrian were very relaxed and brilliant at explaining things and guided us up the Epson Social & Meal, The Canopy - July river for a pub stop. A smart move going upstream with the flood tide This was my first Spice experience, I loved the evening and and downstream with the ebb tide - makes it easy, you almost meeting and making new friends. The Canopy was a beautiful don't need to paddle. Would like to see a day canoe restaurant and the food was lovely, we were well looked after all trip would book it! evening. Jerry was a fantastic host, making sure everyone was happy and catered for well. I love the concept of Spice as you can meet and circulate with a group of people, just what I needed in my life at this Total Archery Experience - August moment entering back into the world of socialising. Thank you A really fun day playing bows and arrows in the woodlands of SurSpice and everyone who made my first experience a good one. I look forward to many more and rey. An amazing opportunity to have a go at using all kinds of differmaking more new friends. ent types of bow too, who knew there were so many? Mike is
incredibly knowledgeable about his subject too. I hope there is a follow up improvers' session sometime so I can have another go!
Dinner at the Albany -August This was the first event that I attended as a SPICE member having only joined on-line the previous night. I have to say that despite my reservations before arriving it was a really nice evening and I was welcomed and made to feel totally at ease with the other attendees. I have subsequently met up with 3 members since that event and booked several other SPICE events.
Stonehenge Exclusive Sunset Tour - August Just to say what an amazing event Stonehenge was. I've always loved Spice as it gets you to do things you wouldn't otherwise do, and this was a perfect example of that. How we would have managed to get on a sunset tour with a fascinating guide where we actually got to enter the stone circle without Spice arranging the event I have no idea. But it was amazing. Possibly one of my all time highlights, and I've been in Spice for at least 14 years! Genuine thanks for a truly great experience
Bristol Curry Night - Three Brooks Inn Date: Place: Cost:
Wednesday 2nd October 2013 at 7:15pm Bradley Stoke District Centre, Bradley S (BS32 8EF) The Three Brooks - Spice Table £8.99 Member, £10.99 Guest Includes: Curry, Drink, Service, Spice Host
The Three Brooks Pub in Bradley Stoke is a comfortable local that serves real ale and traditional pub food. This evening is an opportunity to meet up socially with both new and longer term Spice members and to enjoy a curry and drink together. Tonight we’ll be enjoying a choice of Curry and rice PLUS poppadums, naan bread with mango chutney AND a drink. There is a great selection of curries to choose from on the night. For the drink which is also included you can choose from a pint of beer with a selection on offer, 175ml glass of house wine, or J20 or Pepsi. Please see our web site for a list of menu choices.
Outdoor Digital Photography Weekend Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 4th Oct 2013 - Sun 6th Oct 2013 Lluest Fach, Foel, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00pm - Buffet at 8.30pm £174 Member Sharing. Includes 2 nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, 2 buffet/picnic lunches, 4 course evening dinner
Do you own a digital camera? Do you look at the pictures on the screen and your prints and think they’re ok, but they’re not really as you remember when you took the shot. Maybe you’re unsure about manual settings and prefer to leave it on the automatic setting rather than really knowing how to make the most of your camera and the location you’re in? Well this weekend aims to change all that and will allow you to get to grips with how your digital camera really works amidst the stunning and varied scenery that Mid-Wales has to offer. More details at our web site.
Pyramid Bowling - Cribbs Causway Date: Place: Cost:
Friday 4th October 2013 at 7:30pm & 18th October 2013 Hollywood Bowl, Cribbs Causway (BS10 7TT), inside the main entrance £15 Member, £17 Guest, Includes: 2 Games Of Bowling, Shoe Hire, Spice Host, Prizes, Extras: Drinks / Food
Tonight we’re playing our ever popular Pyramid Bowling. The game is very simple and is basically a clever variation on normal Ten Pin Bowling that helps to even out the experts and the beginners. Ten Pin Bowling is always a great laugh and it doesn't matter if you've never bowled before or if you are at the top of your game, join us tonight for some fun.
Walking Weekend - Chippenham Wiltshire Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 4th Oct 2013 - Sun 6th Oct 2013 Arrive from 4:00pm Meal at 8:00pm Angel Hotel, Chippenham, Wiltshire (SN15 3BW) £169 Member Twin Share, £189 Guest Twin Share, £209 Member Single Included: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals & 2 guided walks Walkwise Overview: We are delighted to be returning to the Angel Hotel, whose hospitality, comfort and facilities we enjoyed so much last year. The hotel is one of our favourites with its own pool and gym, well-appointed bedrooms, relaxing lounges bar areas and very friendly staff. Add to this the amazing Wiltshire countryside and we are in for another great weekend away. On Saturday we will walk the White Horse Way and the Wessex Ridgeway to conclude in the famous village of Avebury. On Sunday we may choose to reacquaint ourselves with Harry Potter’s pretty village of Lacock Abbey which has lovely walks and some cracking afternoon teas. Accommodation: Set right in the centre of the dynamic market town of Chippenham the Angel hotel was originally a seventeenth-century coaching inn. It was extensively refurbished in late 2007 to offer the best in surroundings and comfort with a unique blend of traditional and contemporary style.
Sailing Weekend around the Solent Date: Place: Cost:
th
Fri 4 Oct 2013 - Sun 6th Oct 2013 th th Fri 18 Oct 2013 - Sun 20 Oct 2013 Haslar Marina, Gosport (PO12 1AH) Friday evening at 8pm £236 Member Shared Cabin, £256 Guest Shared Cabin (Deposit £50) Includes: cabin share, diesel, wet weather gear, life harnesses, breakfasts, Lunches and teas. Extras: Marina fees are shared amongst the group and evening meals are taken ashore
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. On Sunday, after breakfast we return to Gosport, possibly mooring or anchoring for lunch en route. EnCompass Sailings are experienced at ensuring everyone is catered for whether you wish to try your hand at every new task or just relax and enjoy the maritime scenes passing by.
Riproar Comedy Club With Food Date: Place: Cost:
Friday 4th October 2013 Bush House, 64 Prince Street, Bristol (BS1 4QD) Fifth Floor - 7.15pm at the entrance at 7:15pm £17.95 Member with food, £19.95 Guest with food Includes: Entry To Comedy Show, Main Course Meal Extras: Drinks Join Spice for a Saturday night of laughter and fun as we enjoy some of the best comedians on the circuit at Riproar Comedy Club. There’ll be three great acts providing the entertainment and lots of laughs all round. Please note: It’s not for the easily offended as these funny men and women enjoy poking some fun at anyone and everyone and have even been known to use the odd swearword in their routines. We have a special SPICE exclusive price which includes a main course meal before the show. Dishes on offer include Lasagne, Burgers, and chicken Tikka with Plain Rice amongst others.
Bath Ghost Walk Date: Saturday 5th October 2013 Place: Garricks Head, 8-9 St Johns Place, Bath (BA1 1ET) Spice Table at 7pm Cost: £17 Member, £19 Guest Includes: Welcome Drink, Bath Ghost Tour, Spice Host Meet up with Spice tonight as we experience the highly acclaimed Ghost Walk Tour of Bath. The walk will take us to many famous places noted for their strange events. Apart from experiencing first-hand the charm of this wonderful city and its Georgian buildings, we will sample the atmosphere and imagine the situations which set the stage for so many strange events which have been so well documented. Our experienced guides have been thrilling visitors to Bath since 1974 with the real-life stories of macabre goings-on, hauntings and the tragic events of yester-year. Take in the splendid city and watch the mysteries unfold - and perhaps feel just a sprinkling of fear! We meet at the Garrick’s Head and will first have a drink before setting off with the tour which starts at 8.00pm. The tour lasts an hour and a half and promises to be both entertaining and fun!
Dog Owner for a Day Date: Saturday 5th October 2013 Place: Pawpounders, Nr Sutton Coldfield (B75 5QX) 10.30am to approx. 3pm Cost: £45 Member, £49 Guest Includes: A Dog! Tea/Coffees, a Light Lunch and Instruction This is a unique opportunity to experience the enjoyment and fun of dog ownership without the cost and commitment required in having a dog of your own! Pawpounders has hundreds of dogs representing over 70 breeds attending their day care centre and are able to provide you with a new 'best friend' for the day. After a short welcome talk about the safe way to approach a dog, you will be introduced to the particular dog you will be working with for the day. You will settle in and get to know your dog by participating in a dog handling class, culminating in a fun competition to test your newly acquired control and command skills. Over coffee you will be able to enjoy watching the dogs running free together, playing and exploring the beautiful 4 acre site and have time to get to know and interact with all the dogs available. Now fully settled in, you will participate in an agility training session preparing you for competition later on. Over a light lunch we will talk to you about responsible dog ownership, give advice about appropriate breeds to choose as pets, answer any questions you may have about dogs and tell you some of the often heartwarming and amusing stories of our work here at Pawpounders. Refreshed and relaxed it is time to show what you have learned by competing in the 'Spice Agility League'. Finally, whilst the dogs take a well-earned rest, the day will be rounded off with a presentation of prizes and commemorative photos (and, of course, the opportunity for one last cuddle!) before heading home, maybe with the nagging feeling that something warm is missing from your life….!
Dowsing Workshop Birmingham Date: Place: Cost:
Saturday 5th October 2013 The Arden Hotel, Coventry Rd (by NEC) (B92 0EH) 10.30am to 4.30pm £39 Member, £42 Guest Includes: Teas/ Coffees and light buffet lunch
“Dowsing is a gateway to the intuition, bridging the gap between the mind and spirit” Dowsing is easy! It will also be great fun! Bob’s motto is “If it’s not fun I don’t want to do it”, so be prepared for the unexpected during this workshop! You will learn, through the use of the Pendulum and Dowsing Rods, how to; • Dowse for Health through your own Energy Field • Assess your Dietary Requirements • Test for Allergies • Create your own ‘Stress Buster’ regime • Balance your Chakra Energies • Choose suitable Flower Remedies, Minerals, Vitamins, Tissue Salts, Homoeopathy etc. • Test for Ley Lines and other Earth’s Magnetic Fields • Use your Pendulum to help grow healthy flowers, vegetables etc • Clear Rooms and Buildings of negative energies • Choose the man/woman of your dreams! This workshop is suitable for beginner and experienced dowser, and will be a very practical day of laughter, learning, and guidance from your ‘higher self’. You need to take with you something suitable to use a pendulum.
Indoor Surfing - Bedford Date: Place: Cost:
Saturday 5th October 2013 Twinwoods Business Park, Thurleigh Rd (MK44 1FD) Flow House - Flowboarding Entrance 11:15am to 1pm £24.99 Member - Early Booking, £27.99 Guest - Early Booking
Flow-boarding is surfing with a difference! Here, there’s no need to take a trip to the sea, or wait for the swells and perfect surf conditions, as the Flow-Rider is always ready and waiting for you! This sport combines all the best bits from surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding and skate boarding, wrapping them neatly up into one new and exciting sport. A FlowRider sprays a sheet of water, about four inches deep, over a trampoline like ride surface and it’s here where you can really enjoy body-boarding or stand-up riding, or both. The specially designed boards allow people of all experience levels to first try the very popular body-boarding and then for those who are ready Flow boarding. Our surfing session lasts for an hour but we first meet to get kitted up and have a safety instruction and briefing before the session begins. After that, it’s time to hit the waves!
Overnight Forest Experience Date: Place: Cost:
Sat 5th Oct 2013 - Sun 6th Oct 2013 Symonds Yat, Forest of Dean (GL16 7NN) 8.00pm £52 Member, £59 Guest
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.
A day out at Dyrham Park and Lunch Date: Place: Cost:
Sunday 6th October 2013 The Crown, Dyrham, Tolldown, Wiltshire (SN14 8HZ) Ask for the Spice Table meet at 12pm £29.50 Member (Lunch and Entry), £31.50 Guest (Lunch and Entry), £18.50 Member Lunch - National Trust, Includes: Sunday Roast, Service, Entry into Dyrham Park, Spice Host Today we’re off to Dyrham Park to explore the 270 acres (110 hectares) of ancient parkland, where a historic herd of fallow deer roams freely and magnificent trees and breath-taking views abound. Inside the impressive mansion, built by hard-working civil servant William Blathwayt, we’ll discover fascinating interiors little changed in 300 years, as well as a rich collection that includes superb Dutch art and ceramics of the period. We’ll start our day at The Crown Pub and will enjoy a Sunday roast with all the trimmings before setting off to Dyrham Park where we can join the deer park walk at 2.15pm. There’s a lot to see and it’s a lovely day to spend socialising and exploring. If you have booked the National Trust Member Option, please don’t forget to bring your National Trust card.
Llama + Wolf Experience Day - Bedford Date: Sunday 6th October 2013 10am to 4pm Place: A428 between Bromham + Turvey, Bedford Directions will be emailed Cost: £49.99 Member, £52.99 Guest We are joining our friends from the Anglian Wolf Society on a combined day out where you visit the wolf sanctuary with the opportunity to take photographs and ask as many questions as you like. Then there will be talk from a knowledgeable member of staff about the wolves and about the conservation projects that the Anglian Wolf Society are involved with. The wolves will then be fed and you will soon understand where the saying ‘wolf it down’ comes from! About 1.00p.m. some sandwiches, nibble and refreshments will be served then at 13.45 we will head off for the Llama/Alpaca Walk. (Times of the itinerary may vary slightly) Llamas and Alpacas are gentle animals who give a sense of relaxation and well-being to those who walk with the. They have a natural curiosity and interest in humans making them ideal walking companions. The walk lasts about 1hour 30mins and is in beautiful countryside. Two people share one Llama/Alpaca and there will be plenty stops for photos along the way.
Mind Management Workshop - NEC Date: Sunday 6th October 2013 Place: Arden Hotel, Coventry rd, by NEC (B92 0EH) 10.30am. Finish around 4.30pm Cost: £45 Member, £49 Guest Includes: Coffees/Teas & Light Buffet Lunch Do you want to be more confident? Does the 'inner critic' in you hold you back from being the fantastic person you are? Have you had enough of doubting yourself? Are you ready to make a change? Then this workshop is for you! This Mind Management workshop will help you identify the negative beliefs that prevent you from living the life you want. It will show you the skills to empower you to make positive changes to your life. Also we will be challenging negative thinking and negative patterns Sheila is a Qualified Counsellor and she is also a stand-up Comedienne and performs in her own one woman shows all over the country. She is very passionate about people achieving their goals and breaking through their own limitations.. She believes no matter what age you are, who you are, you have the potential to feel fantastic about yourself and to live an amazing life....besides no-one gets out alive anyway!!!
Tank Battle Experience Date: Sunday 6th October 2013 Place: Lutterworth, Leicestershire (LE17 6NW) 10am to approx. 12 noon session Cost: £95 Member, £99 Guest This event has had great feedback. We have booked 4 tanks, each of which take a crew of 3 Spice members who will be with their tank throughout (so no waiting around on this one!). We start with a practice session, where we put the tank through it’s paces on the 1 mile track and firing range. We will alternate the 3 positions in the tank so that each person gets a chance to drive, a chance to load the gun and a chance to fire. The gun is adapted to fire paintball ammunition, and can be fired with the hatch up or down. In battle, of course the hatch has to be down and aimed by periscope. After the practice, the four tanks will do battle, with each tank attempting to out manoeuvre and “knock out” the others with their huge, paintball firing guns. For this part, teams will not be able to switch positions, so you will need to decide between you or toss a coin to decide who will drive, who will load and who will fire. Extra notes: The organisers sell a disc of photos for an additional £15 (sent by post). There is a Kiosk that sells a small range of hot food (burgers etc) and tea, coffee, coke etc.
Pub Quiz Night at The Tredegar Arms – Newport th
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Date: Tuesday 8th October AND Tuesday 5 November AND Tuesday 3 December 2013 Place: The Tredegar Arms, 4 Caerphilly Road, Bassaleg, Newport, Spice sign on the Table FROM 7.30pm Cost: £2 Member Includes: Pub Quiz and Spice Host Extras: Food and drinks Our monthly pub quiz has moved to a new pub as the quiz is a bit easier and more fun! The Tredegar Arms has a quiz hosted by their regular quizmaster and we are going along to join in the fun. The quiz includes everyone's favourite categories along with picture rounds, music rounds, and great prizes and is guaranteed fun for all! Join us tonight as we enter the competition as a Spice Team and show them what we’ve got! This is a pay as you go event so you pay a deposit of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the pub and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
Creative Clay Weekend Date: Fri 11th Oct 2013 - Sun 13th Oct 2013 Place: Lluest Fach Farm, Foel, Mid-Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00pm, Buffet Supper 8.30pm Cost: £140 Member Sharing, £160 Guest Sharing (Deposit £30) This fun weekend is for anyone who fancies getting their hands into a lump of clay and exploring the many ways of being creative with it. Clay is a wonderfully tactile medium which just invites you to shape and mould, and on this weekend you’ll enjoy learning how to pinch, coil and mould your clay into wonderful shapes and forms. Your instructor for the weekend is Sonya Smith, teacher, ceramic artist and sculptor. Sonya will take you through several techniques, and encourage you to explore the many things you can do with clay in a relaxed and friendly environment. As you get hands on with the clay you’ll explore shape and form, textures and patterns, and you’ll soon discover the tactile quality of the clay, and your own creative eye. Whether you want to create simple pots, more intricate forms or sculptural pieces, Sonya will be on hand to show you how easy it can be. You’ll be amazed as you reveal your individual creativity with your own unique pieces and you’ll soon be pottering about and enjoying yourself on this stress free fun weekend. Further details are on our website.
Drawing and Watercolour Weekend-Wales Date: Fri 11th Oct 2013 - Sun 13th Oct 2013 Place: Lluest Fach, Foel, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00p.m. Supper 8.30p.m. Cost: £140 Member Sharing, £160 Guest Sharing (Deposit £30) 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 Piccasso 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. Previous members that have been on this weekend have been amazed by what they were capable of creating! Further details can be found on our website.
Walking Weekend The Vale of Llangollen Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 11th Oct 2013 - Sun 13th Oct 2013 ) Arrive 4pm. Meal 8pm WildPheasant Hotel, Llangollen, Wales (LL20 8AD) £159 Member Twin Share, £199 Member Single Included: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 evening meals, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 guided walks each day Not Included: Transport to walks. Overview: Our seventh annual pilgrimage to the Wonderful Wild Pheasant Hotel is a month earlier than usual and we can’t wait to get back. Their food, hospitality and relaxing spa facilities make it far too alluring for us not to return. We have now built up an impressive repertoire of walks around the area which are certain to satisfy all abilities of walkers. The lush Vale of Llangollen has some remarkable scenery from the colourful deciduous woodlands that line the meandering river banks to miles of peaceful canals and all with a backdrop of towering limestone escarpments which lead out to the open ridges, hills and moorlands beyond. Accommodation: We will be staying in the superb Wild Pheasant Hotel, a super catch for WalkWise. It has everything you could possibly want from a hotel with a quiet location just walking distance to a vibrant town. More details at our web site.
Spice National Butlins 70's Party Weekend - Skegness Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 11th Oct 2013 - Mon 14th Oct 2013 Ingoldmells, Skegness, Lincolnshire (PE25 1NJ) £99 Member Twin Share, £119 Guest Twin Share, £174 Member Single (Deposit £40)
This is a new national Spice weekend especially for you party animals in Spice! Experience a weekend of great music from the bands of the 70’s – including:The Three Degrees * Slade * Mud * Brotherhood of Man * Alvin Stardust Heatwave * Jimmy James and the Vagabonds plus great tribute bands to Blondie, The Stylistics, T-Rex and more Butlins has gone up-market since the red coat days of “Hi Di Hi”! Their Skegness resort is set on the sandy Lincolnshire coast and is ready for you to dig out your party gear, dust off your dancing shoes and enjoy a great party weekend. This is a three night 70s music themed weekend for over 18s and a public event, with a sell-out 5,000 people due to attend, so early bookings are a must. If you want a quiet night in and need your sleep, this is probably not the right weekend for you. Every evening a variety of live 70s big-name acts and bands perform on stage in the numerous entertainment venues around resort. In between live performances the discos go on until late each night. 70s fancy dress is the norm for the Sat night, but not essential. The price covers entrance to all venues and live shows on resort. During the day there are loads of other activities included in the price, such as Butlins amazing new indoor Splash Waterworld (which will be newly opened this spring) with flumes, wave machines and a DJ booth, plus a funfair for hair-raising rides, a traditional carousel and dodgems. There are also landscaped gardens and direct-access to a lovely sandy beach, to make the most of the fresh sea air! Some other activities cost a bit extra like ten-pin bowling, go-karting, adventure golf and a relaxation spa with massage and beauty treatment rooms (best to call ahead and book spa sessions and treatments as they get fully booked up). And of course the various bars and pubs on resort to see you through the day. We will have sole use of their Jaks Bar for a welcome reception, to get the party started and our Spice host will organise meet ups throughout the weekend and plan which bands to go and see. We’ll be staying in modern silver self-catering apartments that are walking distance from the hub of the resort. They have 3 bedrooms, made up of one double bedroom and two twin-bedrooms. They have a shower room and a nice lounge with TV and a kitchen/diner area. Electricity and bed linen are all included, along with all the kitchen equipment you might need, but you’ll need to bring your own towels. They can accommodate six people (assuming a couple goes in the double – otherwise there will be five people to each apartment). You can book the double bedroom for yourself at £75 single sup. Rooms will be allocated depending on bookings, male/female mix and sharing requests.
Pub Social - Antix Cafe Bar. Bristol Date: Friday 11th October 2013 Place: 44 Park Street, Bristol (BS1 5JG) Antix Cafe Bar - Spice Table at 7:30pm Cost: £14.50 Member, £16.50 Guest Includes: Sharing Platters, Service, Spice Host The idea behind this evening’s social is for members in the Bristol area to get together for a relaxing social evening. You can meet up with the people you’ve met on events and also some new people, have a chat over a drink & discuss which other events to go to. Our Spice Host will be there to welcome you and help with the introductions. If you are new to Spice this is a great way to find out more about the group and meet some of the local members. This evening we meet at Antix Café Bar where we will enjoy some sharing platters. For those night owls in the group, club life kicks off around 11pm when lights are dimmed and a DJ starts spinning the funky tunes that have made Antix famous. It’s a brilliant night out giving time for both socialising and then strutting your stuff on the dance floor. Please note: the food is only a light supper of nibbles – we need to have some food to secure our table at the pub as Fridays can be busy here. Please book early as numbers are limited.
Kayak River Adventure Day Date: Saturday 12th October 2013 Place: Symonds Yat (HR9 5QT) 10am to approx. 4.30pm Cost: £52 Member, £59 Guest This area really is canoe country! The team from Forest Adventure have come up with a varied route for single seat kayaks enjoyable for absolute beginners and practiced paddlers alike. They have planned out for us, one of the most scenic, most photographed, stretches of the Wye, from Kerne Bridge to Huntsmans Bridge taking in views of Symonds Yat as we go. Having allowed four and a half hours for the trip, it should be a leisurely day, the famous Kestrels might even be keeping an eye on us from high above the valley. It's a great first timers event, but will also be fun for those of you who have some experience. If you've been to one of our Canoe Skills Workshops at the pool, you'll discover that moving water adds a whole new dimension to the sport, as you try to master your boat, the currents and your technique! Throughout the trip we will be practicing and developing technique, and using the water to help manoeuver the kayak. All equipment is provided.
Quad Bike Trail Ride - Bristol Date: Saturday 12th October 2013 Place: Weston Lodge Farm, Portishead (BS20 8JY) 10.45am for 11.00am ride Cost: £40 Member, £42 Guest Riding a Quad is great fun and today the experience is even better as you get a chance to put them through their paces on a 5km trail. The 6 250cc KYMCO sports quad bikes have had extras fitted to them - wheel widening spacers to make them more stable (an extra 4") plus bars and safety webbing. Our expert hosts at Weston Lodge Farm provide helmets, upper body armour, waterproofs or overalls, protective footwear (wellies) and gloves. Before heading off they give all drivers a safety instruction and control operation briefing. We will then be taken out on a fantastic local trail following one of their instructors. The trail starts with driving in and out of poles so that you immediately get used to the controls, reverse into a space individually, and then drive around tight turns around cones at a faster speed. After this is completed we then run across pasture at speed 40-45 mph (if you want to of course). We will then be taken down a steep bank into woodland and around the trees, up and down the bank in the wood and through the hollows and humps. You will go around the wood 4 times in different directions before heading out of the wood, back cross the pasture and then dive through the cones again before arriving back at the start point again. All of this takes 50 minutes to travel over 5 km. The grins and smiles on drivers faces when we finish is sufficient to tell the instructor that you have enjoyed it!!!
Spice Dines - Viva Brazil, Cardiff Date: Saturday 12th October 2013 Place: Viva Brazil, Saint Mary Street, Cardiff (CF10 1GD) Ask for the Spice Table meet at 7:30pm Cost: £31 Member, £33 Guest Includes: Rodizio Meal, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks 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!
Guided Walk Westonbirt Arboretum + Cream Tea Date: Sunday 13th October 2013 Place: The National Arboretum, Nr Tetbury, Glos (GL8 8QS) Westonbirt - Main Entrance - Spice Sign at 1:30pm Cost: £18 Member, £20 Guest Includes: Entry to Westonbirt Arboretum, Guided Walk, Cream Tea, Service, Spice Host Westonbirt, The National Arboretum is a fantastic place to visit in all seasons. Several of the 16,000 labelled trees (around 2,500 different species) have interesting stories to tell and are worth seeking out. Autumn is a particularly good time to visit the arboretum, as the trees are like a firework display with all their stunning colours. We’ll be joining a guided walk at 2pm, led by a volunteer, and this lasts about 1and a half to two hours. After our walk we’ll head off to the restaurant for a lovely cream tea and a chat. It’s a great day out in a wonderful landscape of colour!
Eastnor Castle Heirs Tour and Lunch Date: Sunday 13th October 2013 Place: Ledbury/Malvern Hills Area (HR8 1RL) 11.15 for 11.30am start Cost: £22 Member, £25 Guest Our Heirs Tours of our regions stately properties have proved very popular. Sir Richard Fitzherbert has shown us around Tissington Hall; Charles Berkeley has shared Berkeley Castle with us; Lord Cobham has welcomed us to HagleyHall and now James Hervey- Bathurst is going to show us his home, Eastnor Castle. On Spice rambles you may have caught a glimpse of Eastnor Castle in the dramatic setting of the Malvern Hills, surrounded by a beautiful deer park, arboretum and lake. You may have wondered who lives in such a castle and how they came to be there! Well, the castle remains the home of the Hervey-Bathurst family and James splits his time between his castle and his business interests in London. James has a particular interest in trains and steam engines which is why he and his castle appeared on several Fred Dibnah TV Programmes in the 1990’s. The castle was built in 1812 in to resemble a medieval castle guarding the Welsh borders and its lavish interiors contain medieval armour and fine art. Particularly of note is the stunning Gothic Drawing Room added in the 1850’s by AW Pugin. After our tour we will be treated to a light lunch. This includes a selection of sandwiches, homemade cake and a pot of tea or coffee. You will then have free time to explore the extensive grounds. Note: If for any reason James becomes unavailable on the day, the tour will still go ahead but with a castle steward.
Live Jazz at Old Duke+Pub Supper in Bristol Date: Sunday 13th October 2013 at 7pm Place: Llandoger Trow Pub, King Street, Bristol (BS1 4ER) supper at Llandoger Pub-Spice Table Cost: £14.50 Member, £15.50 Guest Includes: Live Jazz, 1 Course Supper, Service Charge Tonight we are heading to The Old Duke a great music venue situated on the cobbled King Street in the heart of Bristol. Scheduled to play tonight is The Severn Jazzmen playing traditional and Dixieland jazz which will keep us toe tapping throughout the evening. Before the Jazz we will meet at the Llandroger Trow Pub on Kings Street for a one course supper with a great choice of British traditional dishes such as Beef and Ale or Chicken Pie, Chicken Curry, Fish and Chips, Half Roast Chicken, Lasagne, Sausage and mash and a selection of vegetarian dishes. Then we will head to the Old Duke for the Jazz. The Old Duke is named after Duke Ellington and the pub has become world famous for it's live traditional, New Orleans inspired Jazz and blues music. Please be prompt at the Llandroger Trow as after our meal we will need to make our way to the Duke for 8.00ish to get a table.
The Life of a Coal Miner - Underground Tour Date: Place: Cost:
Sunday 13th October 2013 Coed Cae Rd, Trehafod, Nr Pontypridd (CF37 2NP) Lewis Merthyr Colliery, Visitor Centre at 11:30am £7 Member, £9 Guest Includes: Guided underground tour with ex- miner guide, tour of the Lamp Room and Trefor Winding House, Admission the Visitor Centre, Spice Host Ever wondered what it was like to work underground in a coal mine? Well, now’s your chance to find out. Today we head off to the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery in Trehafod situated in the Rhondda Heritage Park. Our tour will take us on a cage ride to the ‘Pit Bottom’ and we will then explore the underground roadways of the Lewis Merthyr colliery pre-mechanisation and right to the working coalface. To complete the underground tour there is an exciting finale - a mysterious and unforgettable route back to the surface. The guides are all ex-miners and provide a fascinating insight into the life of a coal miner. Our tour starts at 12h00 and takes approximately 40 minutes. After that, you are welcome to grab a bite in the Level One café (payable on the day), or explore the Visitor Centre. Here you will find an indoor reconstruction of a period Village Street displaying the domestic and commercial life of the valleys as well as the Art Gallery, where a regularly changing programme of exhibitions presents both local and national artists. Please be aware you will as part of your tour experience uneven ground and warm clothing and sensible footwear is advised.
All-You-Can Eat Asian Banquet - Bristol Date: Tuesday 15th October 2013 7:45pm Place: Cosmo, The Pavilion, Triangle West (BS8 1ET) Ask for Spice Table Cost: £19.50 Member Includes: All-You-Can Eat Pan Asian Menu If you’re looking for a fun evening out with good company, conversation and lots of great food then this is the perfect event. It's worth coming just for the desserts with over 40 to choose from including a fabulous chocolate fountain!! Tonight we’re off to the stunning new Cosmo in Bristol. They’ve recently introduced some new Live Cooking – The Indian Tandoori Oven, The Robato Grill, as well as more global dishes and hot desserts. The restaurant has also had an extensive makeover – you’ll love it. With over 250 seats , 6 live cooking stations, including a teppanyaki hotplate, yakatori barbecue grill, dim sum bar, wok station, fresh noodle bar and freshly prepared sushi counter and hot and cold cooking stations, there’s certainly something to tempt everyone. It’s a fabulous social evening with lots to chat about and lots to taste. It’s the perfect opportunity to get together with other Spice members in the area and perhaps meet some new ones!
Pay As You Go - Signor Valentino Cardiff Date: Friday 18th October 2013 Place: Unit Upper 14, Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay (CF10 5BZ) Signor Valentino - Spice Table at 7:30pm Cost: £2 Located on the first floor at Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, Signor Valentino undoubtedly occupies the best position on the waterfront. With views to die for over Cardiff Bay and stretching to Penarth Marina, it feels like you could be anywhere in the Mediterranean. This is a great place to get together with other Spice members in the area and have a social and relaxing evening. Don’t worry if you’re new to Spice as our host will be there to make introductions. This is a pay as you go event so you pay a deposit of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the restaurant and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
Leisure + Chill Out - Luxury Lodges Devon Date: Fri 18th Oct 2013 - Mon 21st Oct 2013 Place: Chudleigh, Newton Abbott, Devon (TQ13 0EJ) Finlake Holiday Park - Arrive from 4.00p Cost: £125 Member Twin/Dbl Share, £145 Guest Twin Share, £175 Member Double/Sole (Deposit £30) Includes: 3 Nights’ accommodation in luxury Spice exclusive Superior VIP Country Lodges including outdoor hot tub, Guided walks on Saturday and Sunday or mountain biking, Welcome Drinks on Friday and 2 Course Meal on Saturday plus the services of your Spice hosts, Kev Phillips and Carol Osborne. This weekend is aimed at taking some time out to relax with some walking, cycling, exploring and socialising. We have planned a fantastic fun weekend is some amazing luxury lodges complete with hot tub. For this, we’re heading to Finlake Park, set in 130 acres of magnificent Devon countryside. There are miles of signposted walks, cycle track and nature trails to explore as well as plenty of wide open spaces. It’s a beautiful part of the country and if you haven’t been you’re in for a treat! We’ve also got some lovely activities lined up with a choice of a guided walk on Saturday and Sunday or a Bike Ride. Chilling out instead of an activity is also an option! There are plenty of facilities included in our stay at Finlake and you can enjoy the indoor swimming pool, sauna and steam room, as well as tennis courts. Use of the Gym, Horse Riding and Go Active Activities can all be arranged through the Park at an additional cost. Nestling in perfectly landscaped settings, our accommodation is in luxury lodges. These traditionally styled timber-clad lodges provide superb accommodation in peaceful countryside. All kitchens come fully equipped. A digital TV and DVD Player are provided as standard. For added comfort all lodges are fitted with double and central heating. All bed linen (excluding towels) is included, and beds will be made prior to your arrival for your convenience. High quality timber decking adds another outdoor room to your home, perfect for alfresco dining, watching the wildlife, or simply reading your favourite book. Our VIP accommodation also benefits from an outdoor hot tub. For breakfast, lunch and dinner, Finlake’s very own organic Farm Shop makes it easy to get a taste of the region’s local produce, while the friendly Retreat bar and restaurant, offers a fabulous choice of delicious home cooked meals. For those of you who don’t have to be at work on Monday morning, there is the option of staying the Sunday night and check out time is on Monday by 10.00am.
Skills for Walking the Hills Date: Place: Meet: Cost:
Fri 18th Oct 2013 - Sun 20th Oct 2013 Lluest Fach Farm, Foel, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00p.m. Buffet Supper 8.30p £134 Member Sharing, £154 Guest Sharing (Deposit £30) Includes: Two nights B&B, Friday evening light supper, lunches, 4 course evening meal and instruction If you're interested in hill walking, but want to learn more about the practical skills and techniques needed to venture safely out to the hills and mountains of Britain, or you may already have some of these skills but want to increase your level of competence, then this weekend is for you. Anyone who has been out walking on the hills will appreciate the problems that may arise if you are not prepared and this weekend is designed to make sure you're aware of what can happen and what to do about it. The majority of the weekend is practical so you will be out walking in the breathtaking scenery of the Welsh Hills. The countryside in which we’ll be walking, as well as being of outstanding beauty, is ideally suited to developing navigation skills as it is not always easy to follow the paths and rights of way. The emphasis for the weekend is on enjoying the walks and the instruction will be given on the hoof with the each person having the opportunity to develop their own level of confidence. Both day's walks are not too demanding and the pace is leisurely so you don't need to be superfit to take part. Full details are on our website.
Walking Weekend - Dorset Coastal Path Date: Place:
Fri 18th Oct 2013 - Sun 20th Oct 2013 Prince Regent Hotel, Weymouth, Dorset (DT4 7NR) Arrive from 4.00pm Evening Meal 7.30pm Cost: £159 Member Twin Share, £199 Member Single Includes: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals & choices of 2 guided walk per day Not incl: Transport where taken to the walks, Walkwise Overview: The Prince Regent Hotel in Weymouth provides an excellent base from which to explore some of the most beautiful and dramatic coastal walking in the UK, including the delights of Dorset’s South West Coastal Path near Weymouth. Everybody loves walking on the coast so this year we shall spend both days on the coast. On one day we shall aim to maximise the pleasure (or the pain if you are on the hard walk!!) by walking to the east of Weymouth, in the sensational area around Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. Accommodation: The Hotel Prince Regent is an attractive three-star seafront hotel nestled on Weymouth’s historic promenade, close to the town centre and overlooking an ocean vista. More details at our web site.
Walking Weekend - Langdale, Lake District Date: Place: Meet: Cost:
Fri 18th Oct 2013 - Sun 20th Oct 2013 Brathay Hall, Ambleside, Cumbria (LA22 0HP) Arrive for 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £159 Member Twin Share, £179 Guest Twin Share, £199 Member Single (Deposit £35 Member Twin Share, £35 Guest Twin Share, £40 Member Single) Included: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals & 2 choices of guided walks per day. Not included: Transport if taken to walk starts Overview: This event has been created to get the very best walking the Langdales has to offer. The scene is set around the most deeply impressive glacially carved U shaped valley, itself adorned by countless hanging valleys and heavily defended by granite rock citadels. Our objective is to tackle part the skyline of this roofless cathedral has to offer. We have split it into two days; the first monumental day defines it! Classic Lakeland favourites and giants such as Crinkle Crags and Bowfell form our initial day on the southern flanks of the valley while the Pavey Ark and Sergeant Man shape our final day which concentrates on the northern side of the valley. We have combined this fine encounter with a New WalkWise accommodation base on the outskirts of Ambleside. This Outward Bound style accommodation makes a perfect base for hearty walkers challenge. The Walkwise Guides organised two walks each day for you to choose from one harder and one easier one. Accommodation: is in Brathay Hall; a historic building and an outdoor centre and is located in a commanding position at the head of Windermere which frames its view across the lawns. The centre has a mixture of in house or very nearby single, double and twin-bedded rooms but please note these rooms vary in size, outlook and facilities and the allocation of these rooms is strictly on a pot luck basis. All rooms have a TV and complimentary tea/coffee making facilities, there is also a well-stocked bar and a comfortable lounge, so you can relax in the evenings. Their catering is designed for walkers with good wholesome food and portions and the picnic lunches are satisfying. Should you have any excess energy in the evenings we could strike out for Ambleside’s excellent array of pubs within walking distance (a little over a mile away) for an evening drink!
Dinner Shuffle - The Living Room Bristol Date: Saturday 19th October 2013 Place: Explore Lane, Harbourside, Bristol (BS1 5TY) The Living Room - Spice Table at 7pm Cost: £33 Member, £35 Guest Includes: 3 Course Dinner Shuffle Meal, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Tonight we are visiting the Living Room Bristol, a cool and contemporary restaurant and piano bar, located close to the city centre on the city’s stunning Harbourside. We are having a three course dinner and will be doing one of our famous “Dinner Shuffles” where half of us move places after Starters, and the other half move after the Main Course, so it’s a very social evening and you are guaranteed to sit next to lots of different people! It’s the perfect way to start the New Year! The menu changes seasonally but a sample menu is below and we can cater for any dietary requirements if you just let us know. Please see our web site for an example menu.
Flying Taster Lesson - Elstree, Herts Date: Saturday 19th October 2013 Place: Elstree Aerodrome, Hoggs Lane, Elsetree (WD6 3AW) Flight Training London at 11am Cost: £105 Member, £108 Guest Pre-Flight Briefing, 30 Minutes Flying Time per person at the controls, Certificate Have you ever looked up at the sky and wondered what it was like to weave in-between the clouds? Well now you can, taking the controls of an aeroplane yourself! This is a once in a lifetime experience, not to be missed. After a 20 to 30 minute pre-flight briefing, you’ll take to the sky and the instructors will provide the feeling of complete freedom that flying delivers, while giving you a bird’s eye view on the world around. To top all this up, after expert tuition and under the guidance of the instructors you will take control of the aircraft through a range of manoeuvres that will challenge you both mentally and physically for about 30 minutes. It is a magnificent experience that will leave you yearning for more. Please note: If there is more than one Spice member booked you will have an extra 30 minutes to an hour in the air in the back seat as the other member takes their turn at the controls.
Indoor Skydiving - Milton Keynes Date: Saturday 19th October 2013 Place: Xscape, Milton Keynes (MK9 3XA) Meet at Airkix reception 2:30pm Cost: £100 Member, £120 Guest What is it? It's flying! Imagine a wind tunnel that could be used for testing the aerodynamics of an F1 racing car, turn it upright, step into the airflow and you are skydiving. It's a proven concept operating in several countries to the benefit of the skydiving community and anyone else who wishes to taste the thrill of freefall in a completely safe environment. To enter the tunnel, stand in the open doorway and lean forward, you will feel your legs lifted from under you as you assume a horizontal flying position. The instructor will take a loose grip on your flight suit and help you get into a neutral flying position before teaching you the basic moves. Movements including going up and down, forwards, backwards, sideways and turning are all simple you will soon be learning new tricks! See our web site at website for full details.
Medieval Jousting - Warwickshire Date: Sunday 20th October 2013 Place: Warwick International, Guys Cliff (CV34 5YD) 9.15an - 5.00pm Cost: £175 Member, £185 Guest This is a unique opportunity to learn the ultimate medieval art, with The Knights of Middle England. Our day is run by Karl Ude-Martinez who has over 12 years of experience in performing live jousting shows all over Europe. Some of you may have met him at our Polo days, and may also know that he is an upcoming actor with numerous TV, Film and Theatre appearances. For obvious safety reasons, we will not be allowed to actually hit each other with our jousts as death often results from that – and such bravery is not deemed culturally appropriate to the modern age! However, they use a quitaine (or dummy) to take the impact. On arrival you will be given a safety briefing and then you’re riding will be assessed. You will learn basic jousting skills such as hitting the quintaine and learn basic sword and staff fighting. Being a knight also involves being dressed in medieval costume. Traditionally jousting was only permitted for men to partake in, but fear not we take lady knights too!! So come and throw down the gauntlet and challenge the men! No real riding experience is needed in order to participate in the jousting, but would be an advantage for certain activities. For safety reasons if the instructor on the day feels your riding is not strong enough for certain tasks, you will make it up in other activities. Reasonable level of fitness is required as you will be in the saddle and partaking in many tasks for most of the day. Max weight is 20 stone. There is no height restriction.
Microlight Flying - Winchester Date: Sunday 20th October 2013 Place: Popham Airfield, Just off M3/J8 (SO21 3BD) 11.00am In the café Cost:£61 Member, £65 Guest Airbourne Aviation gives us a fabulous experience introducing us to microlighting and what is involved in this growing sport. You will be given the opportunity to actually take control and fly one. These fixed wing machines (Ikarus C42) are capable of flying to the continent; one has even made a trip to Australia! (Please note these are not hangliders.) When you arrive, meet in the Clubhouse café. It’s well worth arriving early as the Clubhouse serves great food. A member of Airbourne Aviation will then come and meet you and take you to the instruction room for a briefing before your 20 minute flight begins. After your flight you will be handed a certificate to amaze your friends. The café is on hand to have a drink and chat whilst you wait your turn with the other Spice high flyers! This event is weather dependent so please ring 0845 1309676 on the morning to check that it's going ahead. Please note there is a maximum weight of 16st for this event.
Visit to the Red Lodge Museum and Afternoon Tea Date: Sunday 20th October 2013 Place: Park Row, Bristol (BS1 5LJ) The Red Lodge Museum - Main entrance at 2pm Cost: £16 Member, £18 Guest Includes: Visit to Red Lodge Museum, Afternoon Tea, Service, Spice Host Today we’ll be visiting The Red Lodge Museum which is often described as Bristol’s ‘hidden treasure’ because of its magnificent Tudor rooms. There are seven rooms over two floors with tell the history of the house from its Tudor origins to its role as a Victorian girls reform school. The house, built in 1580, is furnished in Elizabethan, Stuart and Georgian styles and contains the impressive Great Oak Room, with its original Elizabethan plasterwork ceiling, oak panelling and carved chimneypiece. From here you can gaze down on the knot garden below. It was built as a lodge for a Great House, which once stood on the site of the present Colston Hall. It was subsequently added to in Georgian times. It has had several uses in its past, including a reform school for girls. This was set up in 1854 by Mary Carpenter and a room is dedicated to her memory. After our visit to the museum we will wander down to Browns for a delicious afternoon tea with a selection of finger sandwiches including cucumber, smoked salmon & cream cheese and egg & watercress, served with fruit scone(s), strawberry jam & clotted cream plus a selection of mini cakes.
Walk: St Fagan's and Radyr Circular Walk Date: Place:
Sunday 20th October 2013 Radyr Railway Station, Station Rd, Radyr (CF4 8AA) Outside the main entrance - Spice Sign at 11am Cost: £6 Member, £8 Guest Includes: 6 Mile Guided Walk The St Fagans area is rich in biodiversity with numerous woodlands and ponds to explore. Today we’ll be taking a leisurely walk through a mosaic of farmland, mature Planted woodland and a well-managed parkland character, forming part of the wider Plymouth Estate. The adjacent St Fagans National History Museum includes St Fagans Castle, a late sixteenth century manor house, buildings from around Wales and listed historic gardens. The area is also rich in biodiversity and is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. Otters, Dippers, Kingfishers and Sand Martins can all be seen as well as smooth and Palamate Newts, Common Frogs, Toads and Dragonflies. It’s a walk with plenty to interest the eye! On our way we’ll stop at the Plymouth Arms in St Fagans for a drink and a bite to eat (optional and payable on the day).
Canadian Canoe Trail + 1 night camp Kent Date: Place: Cost:
Sat 12th Oct 2013 - Sun 13th Oct 2013 Tonbridge, Kent Directions will be emailed £69 Member, £75 Guest Includes: all equipment needed for canoeing, coaching and safety cover but not campsite fees, food and meals which are all payable separately Why not join us on a leisurely and unhurried cruise on the River Medway. This easy going trip makes a perfect introduction to journeying by Canadian canoe. It also provides an opportunity for those with some experience to develop and consolidate their skills and knowledge of open canoeing The cruise follows part of the newly opened Medway canoe trail from Tonbridge to Teston Bridge a distance of around 12 miles over two days. We will camp at the halfway point, by the riverside, at the Hop Farm Campsite near East Peckham and drop off our camping gear there on the Saturday morning, so that all is ready when we arrive by canoe in the early evening. The nature of the river is essentially rural, passing through woodlands, fields and villages. The river flows fairly gently, unless there has been recently heavy rain. It is punctuated by a number of locks which maintain and regulate the river’s natural flow. Canoes and kayaks can use the specially constructed canoe passes/slides, which are great fun to shoot; I'm sure you will come back with some great action pictures! Full details are on our website
A Gentle Stroll Around Lacock Date: Sunday 20th October 2013 Place: Red Lion pub, Lacock Village, (SN15 2LQ) at 10:15am Outside Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest Includes: guided walk with Steve & Cal Starting in the beautiful village of Lacock, star of many an historical drama, not to mention Harry Potter we meander through the village and out towards Reybridge. After walking past Rey Mill (home to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall) we head along a section of what remains of the Wilts and Berks canal, then rising slowly to take in the views from Nocketts hill before our return via Bowden Park and the Rising Sun pub. Returning back to Lacock you will have time to explore this pretty village at your leisure, maybe visit the house or the Fox Talbot museum showcasing Fox Talbot the photographic pioneer who lived at Lacock Abbey. Directions From Bristol take M4, exit Jcn 17 and then follow the A350 signposted Chippenham and Melksham, continue on the A350 around Chippenham and out towards Melksham. At the traffic lights take the first left signposted into Lacock. Find parking on the outskirts of the village or head for the National Trust pay and display car park. The grid Ref is ST918681. Sat Nav post code – SN15 2LQ Distance:6.0 Miles Difficulty:1-2 Boots Bring:Water, Snacks Pub Stop:Yes Kit: Walking Boots, Sensible Walking Clothes, No Jeans Walk Leaders: Steve Maggs 07774596653 Cal Griffiths 07736648055
Pieminister Pie Feast Night - Stokes Croft Date: Wednesday 23rd October 2013 Place: 24 Stokes Croft, Bristol (BS1 3PR) Pieminister - Ask for the Spice Table at 7pm Cost: £13.95 Member, £15.95 Guest Extras: Drinks Included: Pie Meal, Service, Spice Host One of Bristol’s favourite eateries, Pieminister serves up its magnificent award winning pies and more, in its newly revamped restaurant in Stokes Croft. Today we’re going to pop in to indulge in the ultimate pie experience! We’ll be having a classic pie with mash, gravy, minty mushy peas, grated cheddar cheese and crispy shallots. There are so many interesting pies to choose from, we’re spoilt for choice. There is the Chicken of Aragon pie (free-range British chicken, vermouth, tarragon, smoky bacon) the Moo pie (British Beef steak, cracked black pepper and real ale) or the vegetarian Heidi pie (goats’ cheese, sweet potato, spinach and red onion) to name but a few. So, if you feel like a really lush time with loads of pie and accompaniments in a cool environment, then why not join us!
Haunted and Hidden Bristol Date: Friday 25th October 2013 Place: Llandoger Trow pub, King Street Bristol (BS1 4ER) Spice Sign - Ask for Spice Table at 7:30pm Cost: £10 Member, £12 Guest 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.
Murder Mystery Walk - Cardiff City Date: Friday 25th October 2013 Place: Browns, The Friary Centre, Cardiff (CF10 3FA) Outside Browns at 11am Cost: £6 Member, £8 Guest Includes: Murder Mystery Walk and Quiz, Spice Host Extras: Refreshments A strange new mummified body has been discovered recently in the Ancient Egyptian section of the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. This grim discovery was only noticed when museum staff were packing up the exhibits ready for the next destination. The mummified body in question gave off a strange putrid aroma and was much heavier than other exhibits. A pathologist stated that the body was human and had probably been deceased for less than two months. Who carried out this crime and how did the victim die? Join Spice today as we hunt for the answers by following the clues on this circular walk of 2 miles. You’ll be taken to all the best parts of Cardiff city, taking in both the historical and the more recent cultural attributes of a unique and vibrant modern city. You’ll be divided up into teams and given an easy route and lots of clues to follow. After our walk we’ll meet back at Browns where we see how everyone’s done and give a prize to the winning team. It also gives us a chance to grab a drink and a bite to eat (optional and payable on the day). It’s a fabulous way to spend some time with other Spice members exploring the city and getting out in the fresh air.
Chipping Campden - Cotswolds Ramble Date: Saturday 26th October 2013 Place: Chipping Campden, Cotswolds (GL55) Meet: 10.30am PROMPT START Cost: £6 Member, £7 Guest This is 8 mile ramble with Alan is aimed at walkers who may want to step up from the shorter ½ day walks. Any hills are relatively short and not to steep. From Chipping Campden we follow the Heart of England, Monarchs and Diamond Ways passing through Ebrington, Paxford, returning across country through Broad Campden on of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds.
Improve Your Laugh Life Date: Saturday 26th October 2013 Place: Lea Marston Hotel, just off A4097 nr M42 (B76 0BY) 10.30am at Hotel Cost: £49 Member, £55 Guest Extras: includes tea/coffee and light buffet lunch We all know “ Laughter is the best medicine” but how can we learn to laugh more? Kate Hull Rodgers, Humour Consultant to health organisations, businesses & governments on 5 continents will teach us how. With wild wacky exercises such as “Humour-obics” we will soon see how simple it is to practice the skills of having a Humour perspective. Kate will share with us her unique 12 step programme that will help us be happier. Today’s session has the potential of being a Life changing experience – or just one heck of a good laugh! We will learn to: • Laugh more easily • Use Humour to deal with anger & conflict – nor more road rage or desk rage • Reduce your blood pressure • Release your body’s “happiness hormones” – natural endorphins • Sustain your good moods, shorten your down times Kate’s background is in health and she is an award winning comedienne. She runs HumourUs, a Humour Consultancy firm. The session promises to be very, very funny but Kate emphasizes it is not about telling jokes or being funny & foolish… it is about finding your sense of fun and allowing yourself to laugh more.
Step Inside the BBC - Bristol Date: Place: Cost:
Saturday 26th October 2013 153 Whiteladies Road, Bristol (BS8 2RF) Aqua Italian - Ask for Spice Table 12:30pm £26.99 Member BBC + Lunch, £28.99 Guest BBC + Lunch, £10 Tour Ticket only Includes: Guided tour of the BBC, 2 course lunch and Spice host. (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.
Brunch + Walk - Brandon Hill + Cabot Tower Date: Sunday 27th October 2013 Place: 1 York Place, Clifton, Bristol (BS8 1AH) Rosemarino - Ask for Spice Table 11am Cost: £15 Member, £17 Guest Includes: 1 Course Meal, Service, Walk, Spice Host Rosemarino is the 2012 and 2013 Winner for Best Breakfast and Best Italian in the Bristol Good Food Awards, so today we’re off to sample it for ourselves. It’s a little gem of a restaurant situated in Clifton and we can enjoy a sumptuous and leisurely meal with other Spice members. After our breakfast we’ll be taking a walk to Brandon Hill, the oldest park in Bristol, where we can enjoy the great views over the city and the harbourside area. We’ll also see the icon of Bristol’s skyline, Cabot Tower, built in 1897 to commemorate John Cabot’s famous voyage from Bristol and the continent of North America four hundred years earlier. For those who don’t mind heights, you can climb up the spiral staircase inside and enjoy the panoramic views from above.
Quad Biking Cardiff Date: Place: Meet: Cost:
Sunday 27th October 2013 Cwrt y Celyn Farm, Upperboat, Pontypridd (CF37 5BJ) Taff Valley Quad Centre - Spice Sign 11:15am £29 Member, £31 Guest Includes: one hour quad bike trek on farm, equipment and safety briefing, Spice Host. Slots are limited so book your space now! Take the Spice Activity Challenge and join us for an action packed day of Quad Biking! It’s a fun way to discover the superb Welsh countryside, get out in the fresh air, learn something new, and spend time with other Spice members. All Quad biking sessions start with a safety briefing and initial training on the practice circuit. Once the expert instructors are happy with our progress, we will follow them trekking, around the 360 acre working hill farm. We’ll be using the semi-automatic 90cc and 250cc Honda quads and will experience the ultimate off-roading as we drive along a woodland safari trail – over mogul hills, up inclines, down declines, across fields and through some radical mud puddles! We suggest you take a change of clothes with you as you are likely to get very wet and muddy but that is part of the fun! After we finish we have the option to join us for lunch (payable on the day) at the Rose & Crown Pub.
Watercolour Painting Intro Day Date: Sunday 27th October 2013 Place: Centre of England Arts, Nr Solihull (B92 0LT) 10.00am to approx. 4.00pm Time: 10am to 4pm Cost: £39 Member, £45 Guest Includes: Basic Materials, Tea, Coffee and Biscuits Artist, Julie Hyde has put together a day’s course, demonstrating the various techniques of watercolour painting. Julie will demonstrate the different ways that watercolours can be applied and how to plan and build up, stage by stage your own watercolour pictures. You will try out different techniques experimenting with wet on wet, basic washes and dry brush work, giving you confidence to use these for your own pictures. Julie will explain the mysteries of paper stretching and will advise you on the vast rage of selection of equipment that is available in the art shops. Working from photographs or still life groups Julie will talk about how to plan paintings and demonstrate how to build up you painting. You will work through one, two or maybe even three paintings and Julie will help you through each stage. Although it will take a beginner through the process of watercolour painting there will be plenty of ideas for the more experienced artist. Basic material will be provided, but if you have your own or want to use different medium please bring it along. See www.COEA.co.uk for more information about Centre of England Arts and Julie Hyde.
Burger Night at Racks Bar + Kitchen - Bristol Date: Monday 28th October 2013 Place: St Pauls Road, Clifton, Bristol (BS8 1LX) Racks Bar & Kitchen, Spice Table at 7pm Cost: £9 Member, £11 Guest Includes: Racks Burger & Fries, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Racks is one of the friendliest restaurants in Clifton and most cosmopolitan drinking and eating venues in Bristol. The emphasis is firmly on a fun, relaxed atmosphere with table service and great food. Monday can be a dreary day for cooking and so tonight we’re off to try one of their legendary burgers (at a good price) and some good Spice company. The burgers are not just any old burgers and you have choices between100% British Beef burger with melted smoked applewood in a rustic ciabatta served with crispy fries and our homemade tomato and onion relish, Welsh Lamb burger with melted mozzarella and fresh tomato slices in a rosemary focaccia served with crispy fries and homemade tzatziki and - 100% Chicken breast burger with rustic ciabatta, mozzarella, chips and a gooseberry, ginger and elderflower relish. It’s sure to be a lovely night out, so join us!
Scuba Diving Taster Session - Bristol Date: Tuesday 29th October 2013 Place: Dean Lane, Bedminster, Bristol (BS3 1BS) Bristol South Swimming Pool 8pm to 9:30pm Cost: £35 Member, £37 Guest Never tried SCUBA diving? Then this is your chance to experience the sensation of breathing underwater. The 1 hour session will be conducted by a professional instructors or divemasters who will first explain to you what you will be experiencing and take you step by step through your scuba equipment and diving safety procedures. Once equipped you will start in the shallow end of the dive pool taking your first breaths underwater! As you progress at your own pace your instructor will take you towards the deeper end of the pool. There are male and female changing facilities on site, please bring along your swimwear, a towel and an old T-shirt to wear over your swimwear. Please note: We need to know your chest size and shoe size so that we can provide you with the sized wetsuit and flippers.
Spice Meet + Eat Social - Hole in the Wall th
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Date: Thursday 31st October AND Thursday 28 November AND Thursday 19 December 2013 Place: Hole in the Wall, 2 The Grove, Queens Square, Bristol (BS1 4QZ) spice Table Time: 7pm Come on down to The Hole in the Wall tonight for a lovely, relaxed social evening. With a welcoming atmosphere and a great reputation for food and drink, The Hole in the Wall is named after a spy hole that enabled 18th century sailors and smugglers to keep watch for customs men and press gangs. The pub was prime recruitment territory for the Navy, you see, and men would wake up after an inebriated night to find themselves at sea. Of course, you're in safe hands now. Our Spice Host for this evening will be there to welcome you and help with the introductions, so don’t be shy about coming on your own. This is a social where you pay for your own drinks and food on the evening. As we are providing a Spice host and will need to book a space at the pub please book online to let us know if you are coming along. This social is replacing the club night social for the summer months to give you a change of scene and a chance to socialise informally with other Spice members.
Spice Meet And Eat - The Tredegar Arms, Newport Date: Thursday 31st October 2013 Place: The Tredegar Arms, 4 Caerphilly Road, Bassaleg (NP10 8LE) Spice Table Time: 7:30pm Join Spice tonight for our monthly Meet & Eat. Every month we head to a new pub for a social night-out. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. We’ll let the pub know we’re coming and anyone who fancies a meal can choose, order and pay on the night. If you’ve already eaten then just come along for the social chat and a drink. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Book online (members) or drop us an email (non-members) so we know you’re coming and one of our Spice hosts will be there to meet you. Our venue tonight is The Tredegar Arms, a popular village pub just off the M4, known for its real ale beer and fabulous food.
New Members Relaxed Walking Weekend Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 1st Nov 2013 - Sun 3rd Nov 2013 Lluest Fach Farm, Foel, Mid-Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00pm, Buffet Dinner 8.30pm £118 Member Includes: 2 Nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, Saturday picnic lunch, 4 course evening dinner party and ML guided walks This relaxed and welcoming walking weekend is for anyone who’s new to Spice and feels a little daunted by attending their first Spice weekend away, The weekend takes place at a secluded 16th Century stone farmhouse in the heart of the Welsh countryside with breath-taking views over the Cambrian mountains. This popular retreat is run by Sonya and Barry; our friends at Breakaway Holidays, and is well known to many Spice members for its cosy atmosphere, homemade farmhouse food and friendly ambience. On arrival on Friday you'll be greeted by a welcoming log fire, tea/coffee and nibbles, and there will be a buffet supper served at 8.30pm. You'll soon be unwinding and getting to know everyone else as well as your hosts. Saturday’s walk begins as you step directly from the door of your remote Welsh cottage with your guide Barry leading you through some of the most secluded and beautiful countryside Britain has to offer. The walk will end back at the farmhouse where you can relax with a glass (or two!) of wine before enjoying our evening dinner party. On Sunday, we plan to drive over to the picturesque RSPB reserve at Lake Vyrnwy which is a rich mosaic of heather moorland, woodland, and open water and a short walk. In the afternoon we have another optional short walk to a beautiful waterfall at the end of the lake. Both days walks are relaxed and varied and will be adapted to suit the weather conditions and the pace and preferences of the group.
Live Music /Jazz + Supper - Bath Date: Friday 1st November 2013 Place: Green Park Station, Bath (BA1 1JB) Green Park Brasserie - Spice Table at 7pm Cost: £28.99 Member, £30.99 Guest Includes: 2 course meal, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks The Green Park Brassiere occupies the old booking hall of Green Park Station, built by the Midland Railway in 1870 and now magnificently restored to become one of the finest restaurants in Bath. It is located within a quarter of a mile of the city centre and has a warm, friendly and lively ambience; the style of cuisine eclectic English. The brassiere is also famous for its live music featuring the best of local, live jazz and acoustic music. Tonight we’ll be enjoying the music and a 2 course meal. It’s a good night out with lively Spice company and great entertainment. See our web-site for a sample menu.
Snowdonia Outdoor Photography Weekend Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 1st Nov 2013 - Sun 3rd Nov 2013 Beddgelert, Gwynedd, N Wales (LL55 4YE) Royal Goat Hotel £189 Twin Share 2 night’s dinner, B&B, 2 picnic lunches, 2 days guided photography
The high peaks, tranquil valleys, fast flowing rivers, waterfalls and forests attract so many walkers and climbers to Snowdonia National Park. But also provide the photographer with some of the most outstanding landscape scenery in Wales. 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 scenery that Snowdonia has to offer. Our base for the weekend is Beddgelert a charming village and great location from which to explore the surrounding area. Full details are on our website.
Snowdonia Valley + Rivers Walking Weekend Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 1st Nov 2013 - Sun 3rd Nov 2013 Beddgelert, Gwynedd, N Wales (LL55 4YE) Royal Goat Hotel - Arrive from 4.00pm £159 Member Twin Share £199 Member Single Includes: 2 nights dinner, bed and breakfast, 2 picnic lunches, 2 days guided walking Extras: Car share if used to start of walks
Snowdonia is a beautiful area with a huge variety of walking available. The high peaks, tranquil valleys, fast flowing rivers, waterfalls and forests attract so many walkers and climbers to Snowdonia National Park. But away from the classic high peaks such as Snowdon, Moel Hebog and Cnicht there are plenty of lower level valley and river walks that provide us with stunning scenery but at a gentler pace. Our base for the weekend is Beddgelert, set in some of the most majestic scenery Wales has to offer and a legend in a field by the river that is Gelerts grave. The walks will be around 9 miles on Saturday and 7 miles on Sunday taking in sweeping glacial valleys with amazing views, serene lakes, hidden wooded valleys, fast flowing rivers, the drama of Aberglaswyn Pass, forest trails, and of course Beddgelert. . Full details of this weekend are on our website.
Walking Weekend - Cheddar Gorge Mendips Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 1st Nov 2013 - Sun 3rd Nov 2013 Webbington Hotel Country Club, Somerset (BS26 2HU) Arrive from 4.00pm Meal at 8.00pm £159 Member Twin Share, £179 Guest Twin Share, £199 Member Single (Deposit £35) Included: 2 nights’ accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals and 2 choices of guided walks per day Not included: local transport (if used)
Situated prominently on the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills, the Webbington Hotel and Spa offers a comprehensive fitness, wellness and beauty facility. It offers one the opportunity to relax and enjoy the best of both comfort and cuisine in beautiful surroundings. The location is perfect to explore the splendour of the surrounding region. To the north there are the charms of Burrington Combe. To the east lies one of the natural wonders of the world Cheddar Gorge. Then further to the south east and equally comparable to Cheddar’s is Ebbor Gorge. Finally there is the enchanting Wookey Hole with its cave systems. With all this to go at and varying walks each year it makes sense to put this one on your calendar. Accommodation: The original Edwardian manor house was built at the turn of the century and has been extended several times, although the elegance and style of the country house has been maintained.
Skittles Evening - King William Pub Date: Place: Cost:
Saturday 2nd November 2013 Severn Road, Hallen, S. Gloucestershire (BS10 7RZ) In Skittle Alley at 7:30pm £10.50 Member, £12.50 Guest Includes: Team Games Of Skittles, Hot Pub Supper, Spice hosts Extras: Drinks This evening we’re going all traditional as we head back to the King William IV pub in Hallen for another game of Skittles together with a hot pub supper. Skittles has been around for centuries in all sorts of different forms and today many people still play in leagues across the country. It’s a fun and sociable game (mainly because it’s normally played in a pub) and can be enjoyed by anyone of all abilities. We’ll be dividing into two big teams and will enjoy this fine old game mixed in with some good conversation and maybe a drink or two.
Spice London 20th Birthday Party & Disco Date: Saturday 2nd November 2013 Place: Jamies, 1 Fleet Place, London (EC4M 7RA) Meet the Spice team inside the venue from 7pm to 1am Cost: £28.50 Member, £32.50 Guest th It’s Spice London’s 20 Birthday, so it’s time celebrate this fantastic achievement and have a fabulous party! It is also 17 years since Dianne, took over running this amazing club so it is a double celebration! (I thought I would run it for about 5 years and now I seem to be built in with the bricks!) We have had some fantastic years and had lots of fun. We have tried all sorts of different and exciting events and had some extra special moments along the way. We hope you enjoyed some of them with us and will come along and make this party extra special too!! Spice parties are always great social events as we do like to party, so get your party gear on and let’s hit town. The price includes a welcome glass of Prosecco on arrival, buffet supper and a disco so that you can dance till you drop! Our DJ is Jonathan Mills who is our regular DJ and who always plays a great selection of music to suit all tastes. The Spice team will be on the door to welcome everyone and help with the introductions so don’t worry if you are new to Spice just jump straight in and book yourself on. Please see our web site for more information and a sample menu.
Bangless Bonfire Night at Bristol Zoo Date: Sunday 3rd November 2013 Place: Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol (BS8 3HA) Main Entrance - Spice Sign from 4:45pm to 8pm Cost: £10.50 Member, £12.50 Guest Includes: Firework Display, Spice Host Extras: Refreshments Tonight, Bristol Zoo will be lit up by special bangless fireworks, adding a sparkle to Guy Fawkes Night without the bangs that might frighten youngsters – that’s us! - or the Zoo animals. There will be a bonfire and other entertainment and hot drinks and wintery treats will be available to buy. We meet at 4.45pm and the display starts at 5.30pm. Please note that there is have limited access to the Zoo and please be aware that in the event of windy conditions, the display may be delayed for several minutes until the weather has improved.
Visit to Horseworld Rescue Centre - Bristol Date: Place: Cost:
Sunday 3rd November 2013 Staunton Lane, Whitchurch, Bristol (BS14 0QL) Horseworld Visitor Centre – Entrance at 11am £17.95 Member, £19.95 Guest Includes: Entrance to Horseworld Visitor Centre, 1 Course Lunch, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Set in beautiful stone farm-buildings just to the south of Bristol and the west of Bath, is HorseWorld, an award-winning Visitor Centre that rescues horses, ponies and donkeys that have been abandoned, mistreated or neglected. They are often the only lifeline for animals treated so cruelly they had given up hope. Each animal rescued is nursed back to health and, wherever possible, rehomed to give it a second chance. Today we’ll visit to learn more about how and why animals like these are rescued, and we’ll discover how they’re nursed back to full health and how they guarantee them a safe and happy future. We’ll meet some of the rescued horses, ponies & donkeys, and see some of their work in action as well as exploring over eight acres of adventure.
Walk: Kewstoke near Weston Super Mare Date: Sunday 3rd November 2013 Place: Kewstoke, Weston Super Mare (BS22 9UZ) Car Park opp. Commodore Hotel 10am Cost: £6 Member, £8 Guest Incl. 8 Mile Guided Walk Extras Drinks, Refreshments, Lunch Today we’re off to the Kewstoke and Worlebury area near Weston-super-Mare with Mike Vowles for a great walk. We start from the public car park just opposite the Commodore Hotel and then on down the boardwalk to the sandy shore. We walk past Trig point and Sand Point and then North along the cliffs (with fantastic views to Wales) as far as Woodspring Priory. With a quiet country lane, a golf course, a wooded track and a scenic crossing over the toll road on the way back, it’s a lovely day out. There are some muddy stretches but mostly good surfaces and 2 moderate ascents. After our walk we’ll pop into the Commodore for a great carvery lunch (optional– payable on the day).
Pub Quiz Night at The Wharf - Cardiff Date: Tuesday 5th November 2013 Place: The Wharf, Schooner Way, Cardiff (CF10 4EU) Ask for the Spice Table from 8pm to 11pm Cost: £2 Member Includes: Pub Quiz and Spice Host Extras: Food and drinks Every Tuesday The Wharf has a quiz hosted by their regular quizmaster, Conor. It includes everyone's favourite categories along with picture rounds, music rounds, and great prizes and is guaranteed fun for all! Join us tonight as we enter the competition as a Spice Team and show them what we’ve got! This is a pay as you go event so you pay a deposit of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the pub and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
Bristol Curry Night - Three Brooks Inn Date: Place:
Wednesday 6th November 2013 Bradley Stoke District Centre, Bradley S (BS32 8EF) The Three Brooks - Spice Table meet at 7:15pm Cost: £8.99 Member, £10.99 Guest Includes: Curry, Drink, Service, Spice Host The Three Brooks Pub in Bradley Stoke is a comfortable local that serves real ale and traditional pub food. This evening is an opportunity to meet up socially with both new and longer term Spice members and to enjoy a curry and drink together. Tonight we’ll be enjoying a choice of Curry and rice PLUS poppadums, naan bread with mango chutney AND a drink. See our web-site for a sample menu.
Magic of Venice Photography Break Date: Place: Cost:
Thu 7th Nov 2013 - Sun 10th Nov 2013 Venice, Italy £679 Member Twin Share, £699 Guest Twin Share, £769 Member Single (Deposit £200)
Includes flights, transfers, 3 day pass for the Vaporetto bus, 3 nights B&B in the 3 star Hotel Abbazia, 3 days photographic tuition]. Extras: Insurance. There is also a local payment of €50 euro. Lunches, evening meals and drinks are not included. Flights are from London Gatwick to Venice Marco Polo VERY IMPORTANT – You are advised to book early. Flight supplements may apply in line with any increases in airfares at the time of booking. Now in our seventh year we return to experience the magic of Venice; everyone should see Venice at least once in his or her lives… it’s just made for photography… To stand on the Rialto Bridge as the warm glow of the setting sun radiates across the water onto an array of passing gondolas, the amazing architecture of San Marco Piazza, the canals and bridges, the bustling Rialto market, the gondolas bobbing provides our backdrops to give you breath-taking images. Away from the grandeur of Venice, nowhere could be more contrasting than Burano, a lagoon island with its brightly coloured houses spilling shimmering reflections into the canals providing a rich colourful palette. Some of the best images you will ever capture will be in Burano and Venice. The weekend break is designed to give beginners or those looking to get more from their digital camera the confidence to use their camera to its full potential. Through motivating, practical sessions you’ll learn more about your camera and various techniques to capture stunning images of Venice. Accommodation: Our 3 star Hotel Abbazia is housed inside the ancient monastery of the bare footed Carnelite friars of Venice. The recent restoration has preserved the charm of the ancient abbey, and many rooms overlook the private inner garden. Located in a quiet corner of the historical centre of Venice and is within easy walking distance of many of the photographic opportunities Venice has to offer.
Live Music and Supper at The Canteen Date: Friday 8th November 2013 Place: Hamilton House, Stokes Croft, Bristol (BS1 3QY) The Canteen - Spice Table at 7:30pm Cost: £15 Member, £17 Guest Includes: Live music, 1 Course Meal, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks, Tips for the Music Bucket Nestled amongst Banksy-esque street art and a wall of interesting books, antique sofas and a grand piano there’s a lively and inviting restaurant, The Canteen, and they have live music (almost!) every night. The music is eclectic and vibrant and tonight we’re going along to see what’s on. We’ll also be enjoying a one course meal from their seasonal menu. It’s a great night for good music, good food and great Spice company. See our web-site for a sample menu.
Outdoor First Aid Certificate Level 5 Date: Fri 8th Nov 2013 - Sun 10th Nov 2013 Place: Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive from 6.00p.m. Cost: £194 Member Sharing, £214 Guest (Deposit £40) Includes Friday evening light supper, two nights B&B, lunches and 4 course evening meal) This ITC Outdoor First Aid course is ideal for anyone who regularly takes to the hills with friends or family to go walking, climbing, mountain biking, skiing or any of the many popular outdoor pursuits. It is essential for anyone involved in taking groups into the outdoors. In the outdoor environment different considerations apply to first aid. This qualification will validate Outdoor Instructor awards and satisfy the majority of public indemnity insurance requirements for the outdoors. For more information please see our web-site.
Pie and Pint Night - The Goat Major Cardiff Date: Friday 8th November 2013 Place: The Goat Major, High Street, Cardiff (CF10 1PU) Ask for the Spice Table meet at 7:30pm Cost: £16.50 Member, £18.50 Guest Includes: Pie, Pint of Beer/Ale or Glass of Wine, Service, Spice Host Tonight is a good time to sit back and relax with some good Spice company. We’ll be going to the Goat major, a small cask ale house in the city centre of Cardiff, right opposite the picturesque front entrance of Cardiff Castle. Inside you'll find a range of local Cask ales from Brains Brewery which is situated just down the road, including Brains Dark, Brains Bitter and straight off our back stillage and served right out of the cask Brains SA. Here we’ll enjoy a pie and a pint (a glass of wine for those who prefer). The pies are highly praised in the area and include, amongst others the Wye Valley Pie which is a 2010 British Pie Week Award Winner, Steak & Dark Ale Pie, Pork, Pork & Pork Pie, Slow-Cooked Mutton & Rosemary Pie, Lamb & Mint Pie and Curried Mutton Pie. All are served with a portion of chips and puff pastry lid and should not be missed!
Murder Mystery Luxury Cottage Weekend - Derby Date: Place: Meet: Cost:
Fri 8th Nov 2013 - Mon 11th Nov 2013 Knockerdown Cottages, Ashborune (DE6 1NQ) Arrive from 3.00p.m. Supper 8.00p.m. £189 Member Twin Share, £209 Guest Twin Share (Deposit £40)
Includes: 2 nights Country Cottage Accommodation, 2 x buffet Continental style Breakfast, 1 x Friday evening supper and Welcome drink, evening meal on Saturday, tea/coffee throughout the weekend, Professional Murder Mystery Party Organiser, Use of indoor heated swimming pool, sauna and spa. Extras: Saturday lunch (at the pub) You can stay for Sunday night for an additional charge of £25 B&B. Are you a budding Agatha Christie or Hercule Poirot? We have taken our popular murder mystery weekend to a lovely country cottage in Derbyshire – so why not join us. The Plot is a Wedding to Die for.... Guests arrive at Todifer Hall to attend the wedding of French aristocrat Cari Frivolite and millionaire Sir David Suave to be held the next day. But nuptials are never to take place. On her wedding morning Cari is brutally murdered. Strangled by thin wire and bludgeoned with an ice axe she collapsed on the floor of her room in a pool of her own blood. At 9am Reverend Smarm, to his horror, stumbled upon her corpse. She was still in her nightclothes. Before she bled to death Cari scrawled the word ‘MAD’ in blood on the floor – could this be a clue to the killer’s identity? Our country cottage is at Knockerdown Farm in Ashbourne in Derbyshire. The cottage is surrounded by beautiful countryside and the facilities on the complex include a heated swimming pool, sauna and spa. The bedrooms are tastefully decorated and are twin/triple rooms. (Single rooms are on request and will be in one of the smaller cottages close by) The cottage has a lovely big kitchen with dining room and a good sized lounge. There is car parking on site and the pub is only a 1 minute walk. We meet on Friday evening (you can arrive from 3.00p.m.) and an evening supper will be served at 8.00p.m. You’ll meet Helena Coulston, aka Detective Coulston, who is running the weekend! You’ll have the opportunity to meet the rest of the Spice gang on Friday evening but don’t get too friendly as one of them is a murderer! The serious business starts on Saturday morning, when you come down to breakfast and discover that a gruesome murder has taken place! As the weekend approaches we will be in touch with everyone as we need you to play a character over the weekend. No acting is required unless you want to as you are given a booklet which gives you all the information about your character. You can bring props to enhance your character and add to the fun (optional). This is a set to be a great weekend, full of surprises and good fun. Places are limited for this one due to the size of the cottage. We can add further cottages if required.
Behind the Scenes Bristol Hippodrome Date: Saturday 9th November 2013 Place: Bristol Hippodrome, St Augustines Parade (BS1 4UZ) Bristol Hippodrome - Main Entrance at 10:15am Cost: £29.50 Member, £31.50 Guest Includes: Theatre Tour of Bristol Hippodrome, Booking Fee, Drink, Service, Spice Host This is an ideal way to spend a Saturday morning whether you’ve lived in Bristol all your life, are a regular theatre goer who wants to find out more, or just plain curious. Entertainment is the name of the game. Join us behind the scenes of Bristol’s West End theatre. Presented by our knowledgeable guide, the tour will take us around the front of house and backstage areas, and includes the history, the shows, the stars, and of course a smattering of gossip and ghost stories. After our tour which lasts about 2 hours, we’ll head off to a local pub to have a drink (included in the price) and catch up.
Behind the Scenes Tour + London Aquarium Date: Place: Meet: Cost:
Saturday 9th November 2013 County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road (SE1 7PB) SEA LIFE London Aquarium - Main Entrance at 10am £31.50 Member, £33.50 Guest Includes: Priority Entrance Ticket into the main London Aquarium and 40 minute “Behind the Scenes Tour”, Booking Fee, Spice Host. A new Behind the Scenes Tour at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium exposes the attraction’s inner workings and whisks guests “behind the glass” to discover what it takes to keep one of Europe’s biggest aquariums running smoothly. Join Spice today as we tour the areas where the dedicated aquarists actually work, with plenty of hands on interaction and Q&As along the way. We start the day with priority entrance to the London Aquarium and will join the ‘Behind the Scenes Tour’ at 10.30. There’s a lot going on beneath the surface at SEA LIFE London Aquarium and here we team up with the expert aquarist guides to discover how they care for over 600 marine and fresh-water species. There is privileged access to the working areas usually closed to the public where we learn about the extensive breeding, research and conservation programmes and see how the fish food is prepared! After this we can explore the rest of the main aquarium at leisure, and with over 500 marine species, 14 themed zones over three floors and more than 2 million litres of water, we’re spoilt for choice.
Snorkelling with Sharks - London Aquarium Date: Place: Cost:
Saturday 9th November 2013 County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road (SE1 7PB) SEA LIFE London Aquarium - Main Entrance at 10am £135 Member, £137 Guest Includes: 15 minute snorkel with a group of over 15 magnificent sharks – including two impressive 2.7m long Sand Tiger Sharks, 8 sleek Black Tip Reef Sharks and two Brown Sharks in the Pacific Reef tank, Full instructional briefing by trained Aquarists, All equipment and orientation, Priority admission to SEA LIFE London Aquarium for the day, Behind The Scenes Tour Ticket for 10.30am, Booking Fee, Spice Host. Please note – We are not able to refund unless we are able to re-sell your ticket. Come face to fin with some of the most amazing creatures of the deep as you snorkel amongst an array of sharks in SEA LIFE London Aquarium’s dramatic Pacific Reef display. This major new experience stars 16 awesome sharks and you! You will be submerged beneath the water in a mesh divers net as a group of over 15 magnificent sharks – including two impressive 2.7m long Sand tiger sharks, 8 sleek black tip reef sharks and two 2.2m Browns sharks – circle just feet away from you. A transparent perspex floor will give clear views right to the bottom of the 5m deep display, where the lower swimming Bow Mouth and Nurse Sharks dwell. This unique experience is a thrilling, totally safe, fully immersive underwater experience that will enable unprecedented up close access to these awe inspiring creatures. Absolutely no diving experience is required but you must be able to swim. All the instruction needed will be given by the SEA LIFE London Aquarium’s experienced Aquarists. As well as a full orientation, including some fascinating insights into the shark species who reside in the display, the exciting experience also includes a Behind the Scenes Tour of the inner workings of the SEA LIFE London Aquarium.
Spice Dines Chinese - Cardiff Date: Saturday 9th November 2013 Place: 44 Tudor Street, Riverside, Cardiff (CF11 6AH) Riverside Cantonese - Spice Table meet at 7:30pm Cost: £26 Member, £28 Guest Includes: Chinese Meal, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Tonight we’re off to the Riverside Cantonese Restaurant to experience Cantonese cuisine, one of the eight culinary traditions of Chinese cuisine. The Riverside Cantonese is one of the oldest established Cantonese restaurants in South Wales and although the Hong Kong trained chefs may keep up with trends, they never forget the centuries-old tradition that has made Cantonese food the most popular in Britain. We’ll be dining in the traditional Chinese manner, sharing many dishes that will tempt all taste buds.
Introduction to Sailing - Cardiff Bay Date: Sunday 10th November 2013 Place: Mermaid Quay, Cardiff (CF10 5BZ) Lower Boardwalk – Trysail at 11:45am Cost: £33 Member, £35 Guest Includes: 2 Hour Introduction to Sailing Sailing isn’t just about cruising in the sun, there’s a lot more action to be had, and there’s a real spirit of adventure. It’s both a fun recreation and serious sport, and today we’re going to learn the very basics of sailing. This is very much a hands-on 2 hour session and your first task will be to hoist the sails to start the learning experience. The Skipper will then introduce you to lots of sailing manoeuvres and give you the opportunity to learn some basic sailing skills. It’s a great day out on the water! Your skipper Steve Marks has been sailing in the Bristol Channel for 25 years sailing to harbours such as, Porlock, Minehead, Portishead and many more. Steve also has a good knowledge of Cardiff Bay both before and since construction of the barrage. The yacht Takamaka is a 36ft Jeanneau Sunshine cruising yacht with impressive performance.
Jazz, Blues and Sunday Lunch - Bristol Date: Sunday 10th November 2013 Place: 139 North Street, Bedminster, Bristol (BS3 1EZ) The Spotted Cow - Spice Table meet at 1:30pm Cost: £16 Member, £18 Guest Includes: Jazz, 1 Course Meal, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Today we’re headed to 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. This afternoon we’ll be treated to Tony Clark’s Jazz and Blues Sunday. When it comes to Jazz there really can’t be anyone in Bristol with more knowledge than Tony Clark. Now entering his seventh decade Tony has been part of the Southwest Jazz scene for nearly as long. From hosting his own Radio Show to playing alongside some of the greats Tony Clarke has lived and breathed Jazz and happily shared this love with others. Musically, however he does not limit his style to only Jazz and is happy to mix up Blues, Country, Americana and much more and his Sunday sessions are a journey through his vast collection. We’ll start the afternoon by tucking into one of the Spotted Cow’s legendary Roast dinners. The jazz is from 3.00pm to 7.00pm so there’s plenty of time to enjoy the food, the company and the music!
Learn To Play Poker - Bristol Date: Sunday 10th November 2013 Place: Hilton Bristol Hotel, Bradley Stoke (BS32 4JF) 7.15pm for beginners lesson. Cost: £6.50 Member, £7.50 Guest Poker Nights have very quickly achieved something of a cult status with Spicers all over the country, and Spice Bristol is no exception! Our Learn To Play Poker event will allow anyone to enjoy this excellent game. Don’t worry – it’s all for fun with plastic chips, but there is a SPICE prize for the winner. Garry Ellis who hosts this evening for us will start by teaching you everything you want to know about the game before you try your hand!! Please arrive for 7.30 SHARP for the training session so we don’t leave anyone behind. If you are just coming for the competition arrive for 8.15 SHARP so we can get under way on time. Whatever happens we’ll be finished by 10.30pm.
Malvern's North and Worcester Way Ramble Date: Sunday 10th November 2013 Place: Malvern Hills, Worcestershire (GRID REF: SO 77) 10.30am Cost: £6 Member, £7 Guest This 8 mile walk with Alan is aimed at regular walkers with a good level of fitness as there are two steep ascents. We start at the northerly most point of the Malvern Hills, then head west across country, linking up with the Worcester Way and following this route through forestry and farm land gaining great views of the Malvern Hill, until we reach Colwall Stone. From here we will climb up to the Worcester Beacon, and spend the afternoon meandering around the hills, before returning to our cars via North Hill.
Crazy Golf Adventure - Bristol Date: Tuesday 12th November 2013 Place: Jungle Rumble, Cabot Circus, Bristol (BS1 3BQ) 7.30pm by entrance desk Cost: £9.99 Member, £11.99 Guest Includes: 18 Holes Of Crazy Golf , Spice Host Extras: Drinks Join Spice in the Jungle! Come and share in the fun with other Spice members as we have a golfing experience like none other. Our venue is Jungle Rumble Adventure Golf where we’ve booked a group to play one of the two fantastic indoor Crazy Golf Courses. We’ll head onto the course in groups of 3 or 4 and enjoy 18 crazy, mad and fun holes on this superb new facility. After the game, which will last about an hour, we can enjoy a drink in the café or at a nearby bar.
Center Parcs - Longleat Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 15th Nov 2013 - Mon 18th Nov 2013 Longleat Forest, Wiltshire Arrive from 2.00p.m. £144 Member Twin Share, £164 Guest Twin Share, £224 Member Single, £144 Member Double/2 person (Deposit £50) Includes: 3 Nights’ Accommodation, Friday Welcome Drinks, Saturday Disco, Programme. Upgraded Accommodation (Woodland Lodges) in Central Area Free ‘Mixer’ Dance Sessions on Saturday Night Fancy Dress Theme – “Song Titles”
Center Parcs weekends are now a Spice institution, brilliant activity breaks with as much sport or relaxation as you can cope with. Longleat Forest is situated on the edge of Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. Longleat Forest has a spectacular landscape with hundred-year-old giant redwoods that tower above forest glades of every shade of green. There is an elevated boardwalk that links the hilltop and the valley below while scenic cycle paths give views down to the lake. There is plenty to do at Center Parcs – in the valley there is the impressive Jardin des Sports (badminton, squash, golf simulator), with the Aqua Sana and Spa (sauna, herbal bath, ice room) nestled nearby. Up through the trees, you’ll come upon the classically French Village Square with its Grand Café (continental bar and brasserie) and La Sapinière (high standard of French and British cuisine), and an alpine-style Pancake House (traditional Dutch pancakes, cooked freshly to order on a special pancake griddle). The sub tropical paradise (free entry) is the centre of attraction with crashing waves, exhilarating flumes, whirlpools and thrilling rapids. You can spend all day in the 'dome' which is tropically heated, or you can move outdoors - tennis, squash, sailing, bikes, canoeing, aerobics, roller skating, bowls, archery, falconry - the list is endless...(extra cost for these). There a few extra Spice Events too organised by your local Spice Group like our Welcome Drinks Reception, badminton, ten pin bowling, floorball and other group bookings etc, to provide some group get together during the weekend. More details in your joining pack. Our accommodation is in beautifully located villas surrounded by woodland and wildlife. Fully fitted bathroom and kitchens, lounge, television, central heating and even an open log fire. The Villas are all 3 bedroomed (6 people), each villa has one double room for couples (or can be booked for single occupancy at £224 if available), 2 x twin rooms. This year we have moved the quality of the villas upmarket to Woodland Lodges, and they are in the central area, closer to the venue, with towels provided.
Pay As You Go - Spice Berry Cardiff Date: Friday 15th November 2013 Place: 30-32 Caroline Street, Cardiff (CF10 1FF) Spice Berry - Spice Table meet at 7:30pm Located in the heart of Cardiff's City Centre, SpiceBerry fuses authenticity with innovation to provide you with a Malabari culinary experience like no other. Combining the centuries-old art of blending spices with the freshest ingredients, the exquisite creations will take your taste buds on a fine dining journey through South India's most famed culinary destinations. From the beautiful coastline of Kanya Kumari to the snow peaked mountains of Kashmir - the signature dishes are bursting with the region's renowned fiery flavours and enticing aromas. This is a pay as you go event so you pay a deposit of £2 to secure your place and then you pay on the night for any food and drinks that you have. Spice need you to book in the usual way as we need to book a table at the restaurant and we will organise a Spice host for the evening.
Pyramid Bowling - Cribbs Causway Date: Friday 15th November 2013 Place: Hollywood Bowl, Cribbs Causway (BS10 7TT) inside the main entrance at 7:30pm Cost: £15 Member, £17 Guest Includes: 2 Games Of Bowling, Shoe Hire, Spice Host, Prizes Extras: Drinks / Food Tonight we’re playing our ever popular Pyramid Bowling. The game is very simple and is basically a clever variation on normal Ten Pin Bowling that helps to even out the experts and the beginners. Ten Pin Bowling is always a great laugh and it doesn't matter if you've never bowled before or if you are at the top of your game, join us tonight for some fun. Meet inside by the shoe collection point where your Spice host will be waiting to say ‘Hi’ and introduce everyone. At the end of the game there will be prizes for the best team score (the lower the better !!!).
Walking Weekend - Sidmouth, Devon Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 15th Nov 2013 - Sun 17th Nov 2013 West Cliff Hotel, Sidmouth (EX10 8RU) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £169 Member Twin Share, £229 Member Single Room Includes: 2 nights hotel B&B, 2 evening meals, 2 picnic lunches, 2 guided walks each day Extras: drinks & transport to start of walks 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 negotiated a weekend at the excellent West Cliff Hotel, which is one of the nicest hotels that Walkwise use, lying in its own grounds overlooking the sea and is just a stroll from the sea front of Sidmouth, The food is excellent, the lounges ooze warmth and its charm and character blended with their unique courtesy. It’s just a short stroll into town where there is everything from traditional quaint inns to modern bistros many of which have live music on the weekend too! Oh and I have not mentioned the walking, well that is superb! Red sandstone or brilliant white limestone cliffs tower above Mediterranean blue waters in the peaceful bays and estuaries and there are numerous picture perfect villages to visit too. See you there! 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 up to 2500ft of ascent, and a gentler walk of 7-9 miles with less ascent. Accommodation: All the bed rooms are en suite with all the little extras needed for a comfortable stay. All the bedrooms are unique and many of them above the three star rating. The standard, feature and deluxe rooms are decorated in a simple yet elegant way, all with tasteful soft furnishings to ensure you have a comfortable stay. Standard features include remote control colour television with teletext radio and freeview channels. They also come with tea and coffee making facilities, direct dial telephone and hair dryer. Dining will be in the hotels own Harding's Restaurant which compliments your dining experience with simply stunning views over the bay… it even has its own car park!!
Behind the Scenes at Royal Opera House – London Date: Saturday 16th November 2013 Place: Bow Street, Covent Garden (WC2E 9DD) Cloakroom adjacent to Box Office meet at 9:45am Cost: £35 Members + Lunch, £38 Guests + Lunch, £16 Tour only includes tour, Spice host and 2 course lunch Here is a chance to see behind the scenes at the Royal Opera House. Have you ever wondered where they store all those huge sets? Where do the dancers train? How are the costumes made? We will be visiting the backstage and the front areas of one of the world’s leading theatres as it prepares to open its doors for the evening performance. The tour includes an introduction to the colourful history of the theatre, an insight into the recent re-development of the Royal Opera House and a look at aspects of current productions. As the Royal Opera House is a fully working theatre, each tour is a unique experience, and may include opportunities to see The Royal Ballet in class, or the magnificent backstage technology in operation. The tour will last approximately 1 hr 15 minutes. After our tour is finished we will head off for a 2 course lunch in a pub/restaurant nearby.
Royal Opera House-Romeo and Juliet Ballet – London Date: Saturday 16th November 2013 Place: Bow Street, Covent Garden, London (WC2E 9DD) Ticket Office - Spice Sign meet at 6:30pm Cost: £33 Member, £36 Guest Includes: Ticket for the Amphitheatre, booking fee and Spice Host The Royal Ballet from the Royal Opera House is thrilled to announce that it will perform Kenneth MacMillan’s timeless classic Romeo and Juliet. A stellar cast of Royal Ballet dancers will dance the roles of the famous star-crossed lovers with the Royal Opera House Orchestra conducted by the Royal Ballet Music Director, Barry Wordsworth. When Romeo and Juliet meet at a ball they fall passionately in love. But their families are sworn enemies, divided by a bitter feud. Can they stay together against a backdrop of hatred and hostility? The lovers' story is set against a wonderful evocation of 16th-century Verona: a bustling market place erupts into a violent sword fight and a lavish ball is held at an elegant mansion.
Saturday Lunch + Stroll - The Brassmill Date: Saturday 16th November 2013 Place: Avon Mill Lane, Keynsham, Bristol (BS31 2UG) Spice Table at 12:30pm Cost: £16 Member, £18 Guest Includes: 2 Course Meal, Service, Gentle Stroll The Avon Valley evokes idyllic images of rich verdant landscape, winding gentle waters and quiet country pubs – and at its heart you’ll find The Brassmill at Keynsham. With its still, green millpond and ducks, and standing by a foaming weir, this listed building with its exposed wooden beams could not be more appealing as a place to enjoy some delicious pub fayre. Today we’ll be enjoying a lovely 2 course meal and will then go for a stroll along the Kennet and Avon Canal.
Stow-on-the-Wold Ramble, Cotswolds Date: Saturday 16th November 2013 Place: Stow, Cotswolds (GL54 1BX) 10.00am - 10.30am prompt Cost: £6 Member, £7 Guest This 10 mile walk with Alan takes us through some of the prettiest villages in the Coltswolds. We start from the historic village of Stow heading across country toward Bourton-on-the-Water where we stop for lunch. After lunch we continue on to Lower Slaughter where we join the Gloucester Way, following this path across country returning to Stow, where we can stop for a wellearned rest and a drink at one of the many Inns in Stow. This ramble is aimed at regular walkers with a good level of fitness. There are a couple of ascent's, albeit not to steep.
Tennis Weekend with Coaching - Northants Date: Place: Cost:
Sat 16th Nov 2013 - Sun 17th Nov 2013 Marriott Hotel, Eagle Drive, Northampton (NN4 7HW) Arrive 11.30a.m £158 Member Twin Share, £178 Guest Twin Share, £158 Member Single (Deposit £35)
An Opportunity to play loads of Indoor Tennis with some great Drills & Coaching - Great Fun & Superb Value The Weekend price includes the Tennis Program & Coaching, supply of balls, one night’s luxury accommodation, Saturday Night Dinner, Sunday Breakfast and Prize Giving Lunch. An excellent Indoor Tennis Weekend along with a stay at the 4 Star Marriott Hotel. We are heading to Northampton for another one of our very popular Tennis Weekends. This Weekend is exclusively for Spice and is suitable for all levels of players. The Weekend proves quite intensive, offering up to 7 hours of Match Play, Team Tennis and Coaching. We will be staying at the 4 Star Marriott Hotel, and using the LTA Indoor Tennis Centre, with 4 Indoor and 4 Outdoor Courts, which is located a short distance from the Hotel. The accommodation is indeed luxurious with single & double-bedded rooms. There is no supplement for single occupancy. The lovely rooms have en-suite bath, shower and toilet facilities along with multi-channel TV, tea/coffee facilities, and 24 hour room service. You also have full use of the Hotel facilities - swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and gym. Gerry Wyatt, a very experienced Tennis Coach, has organised a special event for us and he will be your coach over the weekend. On arrival you all meet up in the Hotel bar, and Gerry will be there to greet you and conduct a Welcome Meeting, which will provide you with a personalised copy of your Tennis Programme, the Weekend Timetable etc. The group will be split depending on ability and on both days you will spend time being coached or playing matches in a Doubles Tournament. The Tournament will be arranged to ensure that the matches are balanced and as enjoyable as possible. The competition is intended to be a fun event but is also designed to provide some practice in pressurised match play.
Clay Pigeon Shooting Cardiff Date: Place: Cost:
Sunday 17th November 2013 Cwrt y Celyn Farm, Upperboat, Pontypridd (CF37 5BJ) Arrive at 12.45pm £39.95 Member - 25 clays, £42.95 Guest - 25 clays Includes one hour clay pigeon shooting, instruction and equipment provided. Bring cash for a visit to the pub afterwards Today it’s a chance for our South Wales based members to try your hand at some Clay Pigeon Shooting. Whether you're a shooting enthusiast or just want to have a go as part of a group day out, clay pigeon shooting is a unique experience. With excellent and highly motivated shooting instructors from a local shooting club, learn the skills needed to safely use shotguns, and how to properly aim and fire! With 25 shot sessions, turn it into a competition amongst yourselves and you might be surprised who the top score will be! Your shots will be taking in sets of 5 at a time. Start off with easier shots, working your way through to more trickier shots, faster paced, different directions and ending with 2 at a time!Our experience will last for around 2 hours as we have an hour on the clays and we need to allow another hour for the pub afterwards! After our exercise we will head to the nearby Rose & Crown pub (optional) at mid-day for a bite to eat (payable extra on the day) Directions are on our website.
Visit to The Wild Place - Bristol Date: Sunday 17th November 2013 Place: Wild Place, Blackhorse Hill, Bristol (BS10 7TP) Main Entrance - Spice Sign at 10:30am Cost: £17.50 Member, £19.50 Guest Includes: Entrance to the Wild Place, Coffee/Tea or Soft drink & Sandwich, Spice Host The Wild Place Project is an interesting and fun attraction in Bristol that provides adventure and learning, with an emphasis on protecting threatened habitats on our doorsteps and around the globe. The Wild Place Project is an open space, comprised of natural beauty that utilises the existing woodland and environment. Today we’ll discover ‘Madagascar’, which is home to several lemurs, visit the Edge of Africa with zebras and eland roaming in the grassland and see Okapi in the ‘Secret Congo’. You can take off your shoes and enjoy an array of textures on the Barefoot Trail without worrying about getting muddy feet as there are washing facilities at the end of the Barefoot Trail. We’ll also pay a visit to the award winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden and the Sanctuary Garden. We’ll go to the Courtyard café for a drink and a bite to eat at lunchtime, with a sandwich and cup of tea/coffee or a cold drink included in the price.
Pizza Social at Zerodegrees - Cardiff Date: Thursday 21st November 2013 Place: 27 Westgate Street, Cardiff (CF10 1DD) Spice Table at 7:30pm Cost: £15 Member, £17 Guest Includes: Pizza, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks It’s time to relax and enjoy a pizza social with Spice. Tonight we’re going to Zerodegrees Microbrewery known for its great ale and good food. With stunning views of Millennium Stadium from its Grade II frontage, ZERODEGREES is the ideal venue with many dining areas, including two terraces and two mezzanine levels, where you can get a wide view of the working brewery and open kitchen. It’s a chance to not only munch a delicious pizza (with a variety of toppings to choose from), but also a chance to catch up with old Spice members and meet some new ones!
Raymond Blanc Dining - Bristol Date: Friday 22nd November 2013 Place: The Friary Building, Cabot Circus (BS1 3DF) Brassiere Blanc - Spice Table at 7pm Cost: £28.95 Member 3 Courses, £32.95 Guest 3 Courses, £26.95 Member 2 Courses, £29.95 Guest 2 Courses Includes: 3 Course or 2 Course Option, Glass of Red or White house wine, Service Charge and Spice Host Extras: Drinks Raymond Blanc is not only a well-known name, but he also was voted the AA’s Chefs Chef of the year by his peers and has also received an honorary OBE. Tonight we’re off to the fabulous Brassiere Blanc in Bakers and Cutlers Halls, The Friary Building to sample his famous recipes with the focus being of fresh, local, seasonal and tasty cooking. This is a good opportunity to catch up with other Spice members in the area as we enjoy an optional 2 or 3 course set menu including a glass of wine in relaxed company.
Welsh Cottage Walking Break Date: Fri 22nd Nov 2013 - Sun 24th Nov 2013 Place: Lluest Fach Farm, Foel, Mid-Wales (SY21 0PB) Arrive at 6.00pm Meal at 8.00pm Cost: £134 Member Sharing, £154 Guest Sharing (Deposit £30) In response to demands from our more serious walkers; who like the idea of a relaxing Country Cottage weekend but want more challenging walks, we’ve asked our friends at Breakaway Holidays to come up with this weekend break. Over the weekend we plan to conquer the spectacular Cadair Idris on Saturday and then take in the breath-taking views from the Arrans on Sunday. Both days on the hill will be full days out with most of the altitude gained in the early part of the walk. On these ridges you will be able to relax and enjoy long wonderful traverses with fantastic views as the ridges you will be crossing are wide, so you can enjoy the company while you soak up the scenery and fresh mountain air. Due to the shorter days we’ll be finishing the walks a little earlier giving us time to visit a local hostelry on the way back to our cottage. You will need a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy this weekend as the walks involve some steep scrambles. If you have any doubts get out there and have a few practice walks before the weekend. On your return to the cottage a roaring log fire will be waiting to greet you and you’ll have plenty of time to unwind and chat, roast a few chestnuts and relax in front of the fire as you look forward to the special five course meal being prepared for you. * The proposed menu for the evening is: Carrot& Coriander Soup with French bread, * Topside of Beef marinated in Brandy with a cream and pepper sauce and seasonal vegetables, a selection of three deserts, cheese board with crackers and port, fresh coffee and chocolates. Please see our web-site for more information.
Shropshire Easy Walking Weekend Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 22nd Nov 2013 - Sun 24th Nov 2013 Valley Hotel, Ironbridge, Telford (TF8 7DW) Arrive from 4.00pm £192 Member Twin Share, £212 Guest Twin Share, £230 Membe Single (Deposit £40) Includes 2 nights Bed & Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Evening Meal on Saturday, 2 days guided walking Area: This is the perfect weekend to escape to the world famous Ironbridge Gorge for an Easy Walking weekend staying in a lovely 3 star hotel. In 1779 the world’s first cast iron bridge as built spanning the River Severn and today stands as a reminder of our industrial past. Regarded as the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, Ironbridge is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Ironbridge Gorge offers some great walking with gentle inclines, riverside paths and woodland trails in an area stepped in industrial heritage. The iron bridge itself spans the river in the centre of the town. Ironbridge is easily accessible from the M6 via the M54. The nearest railway station is Telford Central, which is six and a half miles from the hotel. Accommodation: The Valley Hotel is a beautiful refurbished Georgian listed building set in its own spacious grounds. The hotel garden adjoins the European award-winning parkland that sweeps down to the bank of the river Severn. The hotel has 44 en-suite bedrooms with flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities and free high-speed wireless Internet access. 2008. We meet up on Friday night for introductions over a drink in the hotel bar. Jackie from Ventura has designed the weekend to be flexible and above all fun.
Shropshire Photography Weekend Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 22nd Nov 2013 - Sun 24th Nov 2013 Valley Hotel, Ironbridge, Telford (TF8 7DW) Arrive from 4.00p.m. £210 Member Twin Share, £230 Guest Twin Share, £250 Member Single (Deposit £45) Includes 2 nights Bed & Breakfast, Picnic Lunch & Evening Meal on Saturday, 2 days photography tuition) This is the perfect weekend to escape to the world famous Ironbridge Gorge with your camera. In 1779 the world’s first cast iron bridge as built spanning the River Severn and today stands as a reminder of our industrial past. This weekend is designed to give beginners or those of you looking to get more from your digital camera the confidence to use your camera to its full potential. Through motivating, practical sessions you’ll learn more about your camera, the secrets of composition and various techniques to capture the wonderful images of the architecture and landscape that Ironbridge Gorge has to offer. Accommodation: The Valley Hotel is a beautiful refurbished Georgian listed building set in its own spacious grounds. The hotel garden adjoins the European award-winning parkland that sweeps down to the bank of the river Severn. The hotel has en-suite bedrooms with flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities and free high-speed wireless internet access. We meet up on Friday night for introductions over a drink in the hotel bar. Steve from Ventura, has designed the weekend to be flexible and above all fun, and will tailor the photo locations to the weather conditions and the requirements of the group. Photography: The trip is open to all Photographers; however it is particularly designed for those just starting out with their Digital SLR camera or those wanting to improve their skills with their SLR or compact camera.
Bristol Walking Tour + Pies for lunch Date: Saturday 23rd November 2013 Place: College Green, Bristol (BS1 5TA) Outside Marriot Hotel - Spice Sign at 10:45am Cost: £14 Member, £16 Guest Includes: Walking Tour, Pieminster Pie, Spice Host Take the chance to delve into the history of Bristol, meet some of the characters raised here, explore their ideas and see the work they’ve done; you can be sure you’ll come away impressed, even if you’ve lived here forever. Did you know, for example, that the first ever blanket was allegedly made here? I don’t know what people used before that, big sheets of card maybe? It’s just one of a long list of accomplishments made by Bristolians throughout the ages. Today we’re joining one of the walking tours of Bristol to find out how Bristol became the city it is today, as well as hear some cracking stories, laugh at some great jokes and stop for an indulgent lunch at the unique home-of-the-Bristol-pie, Pieminister which is included in our price. Highlights include the Langdogger Trow pub, where we’ll meet some scurvy Bristol Pirates, the floating harbour where you’ll learn all about Bristol’s finest engineer and St Nick’s market. We finish at 2 back where we started in College Green, but not before sitting down to hear Bristol’s greatest tale, the adventure of John Cabot. Please note: The walking tour is free. No, not because they are rubbish but because they believe that Bristol’s story should be heard by everybody, regardless of budget, they survive on tips.
Gecko Blasters - Royal Oak, Nailsea Date: Saturday 23rd November 2013 Place: 43 High Street, Nailsea, Bristol (BS48 1AS) Royal Oak - Spice Table 7:30pm Host: Please book this event so that we can organise a host and can let the pub know numbers Our very own Spice member John Gebhardt will be playing in 'The Gecko Blasters' tonight, a lively 5 piece rock/pop covers band from Bristol. Their aim is to play a set with some of the most popular and catchy tunes around to date, from some classic Beatles to modern day Kings of Leon. So whatever your taste the Gecko's will have you singing along in no time!!! Join Spice as we add our voices to familiar songs such as ‘Knocking on Heavens Door’, ‘Back in the USSR’, ‘Love Machine’ and ‘Another Brick in the Wall’, to name but a few. You can just come along and listen to the music which starts at about 9.00pm but if you could book online as we would like to have a Spice host there to help with introductions. If you would like food then book this option so that we can book a table. For this option, we’ll enjoy a one course meal with choices of curries such as chicken korma, beef madras, and Kashmiri lamb, or there are tasty burgers and pub classics like lasagne and cheese and steak salad. Please book for this event so that we can let the Royal Oak know how many are coming along.
Caving at Burrington Coombe Explore an Underground World Date: Saturday 23rd November 2013 Place: Burrington Coombe, Mendips, Somerset (BS40 7AT) Time:9:45am to 12:30pm Cost: £36 Member, £38 Guest Start your day’s adventure with a briefing before being kitted out with a hard hat and head torch, and full instruction on caving. You will marvel at the underground rock formations and become charged with pride as you beat the underground challenges, you will also discover the fascinating history of the area you are caving in. You may well go in one cave entrance and exit from another!
Indian Dining at the Spice Route Cardiff Date: Saturday 23rd November 2013 Place: Red Dragon Centre, Cardiff Bay (CF10 4JY) The Spice Route - Spice Table At 7:15pm Cost: £22 Member, £24 Guest Includes: All You Can Eat Indian Meal, Service, Spice Host It’s a Spicy night tonight and time to socialise over a fantastic Indian Meal while we catch up with other Spice members in the area. Tonight we’re going to the Spice Route in Cardiff Bay to sample a variety of cuisines. With dishes from the Sub-continent, East Asia, Far East, and Mediterranean there is a dish to suit all tastes and even satisfy fussy eaters. The open plan restaurant lets you see what’s being cooked by the chefs who work behind the central cooking area. You can also have some dishes cooked exactly to your liking right in front of you with the ingredients of different colours and textures of your choice on show. With dishes from India, Europe, Malaysia and Thailand the only trouble you’ll have is deciding which one to choose. Your Spice host will be there to welcome you on arrival, just ask for the Spice table.
Walk with Wolves - Bedford Date: Saturday 23rd November 2013 Place: A428 between Bromham and Turvey Directions will be emailed from 10:15am to 1:30pm Cost: £47 Member, £52 Guest Walk and feed the wolves - another unusual and truly amazing experience and one of our most popular events. 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 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 accompany the wolves on their walk around the adjacent land and to have a wolf experience where you can help feed them. You will be introduced to the wolves before setting off on the walk. We cannot guarantee how many wolves will go on the walk. They are moody and temperamental and sometimes fall out with each other! It is very much the wolves who are in charge on the day and they will decide if they are going to walk or be friendly to any visitors!
Doctor Who Experience + Lunch, Cardiff Bay Date: Sunday 24th November 2013 Place: Discovery Quay, Porth Teigr, Butetown (CF10 4GA) Dr Who Experience Entrance - Spice Sign at 10:45am Cost: £29 Member, £31 Guest Includes: Dr Who Experience, 1 Course Meal, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks This interactive journey takes you and the Doctor on a spectacular adventure through time and space. Step through a crack in time and help the Doctor, armed with his Sonic Screwdriver to escape from his foes, fly the TARDIS and come face-to-face with some of the scariest monsters seen on screen including Daleks, Cybermen and Sontarans. Featuring exclusive filmed sequences with Matt Smith and packed with amazing special effects, this multi-sensory experience is fun for everyone. After your action-packed journey with the Doctor, there is so much more to see and explore. The world's most extensive collection of original Doctor Who props and artefacts includes the entire collection of Doctors’ iconic costumes from 1963 to the present day; the David Tennant TARDIS set and the Doctor's arch foes through the ages. Specially created sets, images and interactive experiences allow you to discover first-hand what happens behind the scenes of the iconic television series, how the special effects are created and even how to walk like a Doctor Who monster. Don’t miss out on this incredible adventure, book today! After our Doctor Who Experience we will be heading off to The Eli Jenkins for a 1 course meal with choices such as roast beef, roast chicken and vegetarian bake amongst others.
Sunday Roast at the Grain Barge - Bristol Date: Sunday 24th November 2013 Place: Mardyke Wharf, Hotwell Rd, Hotwells (BS8 4RU) The Grain Barge - Spice Table at 12:30pm Cost: £16 Member, £18 Guest Includes: 1 Course Sunday Roast, Service, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Today we’re off to the Grain Barge for a lovely Sunday roast and a social with other Spice members. In its lovely harbourside location in Hotwells, this historic converted barge is bursting with character. The main harbourside lounge and dining area is light & airy, with the upper 'al fresco' deck boasting a 270 degree view of the harbour. Within sight of the SS Great Britain, it's the perfect place to relax and watch the world go by. A sample menu can be viewed on our website at www.bristolcardiff.co.uk.
Fire Eating Workshop Date: Sunday 24th November 2013 Place: Woodlands Camp, Streetly, Sutton C'fld (WS9 0SH) 10.30am for 11.00am start Cost: £39 Member, £45 Guest Extras: Please bring a packed lunch, a towel and milk Fire Eating & Breathing: This has got to be one of the Spice Classic Events. Go on, It Must Be On Your List of "Got to do's". If you are not sure about doing it then ask around and find out what a great day it is! Over 2000 Spice members have faced the challenge and swallowed fire - and the feedback forms tell us it's crazy - thrilling - adrenaline pumping and more - fire eating is one of our Classic Events that sets Spice and its members far above the mundane and gives you the chance to leave mediocrity behind and become extra-ordinary. Bob the Fire Eater pioneered this classic event for Spice and taught a whole generation the joys of eating and breathing fire over a period spanning around 25 years of Spice history. Sadly Bob died in 2012 but his legacy remains in the happy faces of those members who have conquered this unique and dramatic skill. In memory of Bob we have created a new Fire Eating workshop with Blair, a performer who we believe to be the only remaining person teaching the same techniques as Bob. Please see full details on what to bring are on our website. Although no-one has been injured on this event there are potential dangers and hazards associated with this event. There will be a special disclaimer to sign on the day.
Scuba Diving Taster Session - Bristol Date: Tuesday 26th November 2013 Place: Dean Lane, Bedminster, Bristol (BS3 1BS) Bristol South Swimming Pool from 8pm to 9:30pm Cost: £35 Member, £37 Guest Never tried SCUBA diving? Then this is your chance to experience the sensation of breathing underwater. The 1 hour session will be conducted by a professional instructors or divemasters who will first explain to you what you will be experiencing and take you step by step through your scuba equipment and diving safety procedures. Once equipped you will start in the shallow end of the dive pool taking your first breaths underwater! As you progress at your own pace your instructor will take you towards the deeper end of the pool. There are male and female changing facilities on site, please bring along your swimwear, a towel and an old T-shirt to wear over your swimwear. Please note: We need to know your chest size and shoe size so that we can provide you with the sized wetsuit and flippers.
Spice Meet and Eat - Castell Mynach Date: Thursday 28th November 2013 Place: Llantrisant Road, Groesfaen, Pontyclun (CF72 8NH) Castell Mynach Pub - Spice Table at 7:30pm Join Spice tonight for our monthly Meet & Eat. Every month we head to a new pub for a social night-out. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. We’ll let the pub know we’re coming and anyone who fancies a meal can choose, order and pay on the night. If you’ve already eaten then just come along for the social chat and a drink. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Book online (members) or drop us an email (non-members) so we know you’re coming and one of our Spice hosts will be there to meet you. Our venue tonight is The Castell Mynach a country pub & restaurant oozing rural charm and rustic character. Built in the 1930's, the name Castell Mynach translates into English as: "The Castle of the Monks", referring to an old monastery which the pub overlooked.
Crack the Code Walk + Quiz - Clifton, Bristol Date: Saturday 30th November 2013 Place: Cote, 27 The Mall, Clifton, Bristol (BS8 4JG) Ask for the Spice Table meet at 11am Cost: £6 Member, £8 Guest Today we challenge your minds and ability to solve the clues on our ‘Crack the Code’ Walk. Deranged entomologist, Dr Mike Robe, determined that Bristol is too congested, has planted a device containing millions of wood boring weevils which, when released, will attack the wooden deck of Clifton Suspension Bridge rendering it unsafe for cars to enter the city. Can you help Detective Bea Essate to solve the clues, deactivate the device and save one of the finest bridges in the world. If so you might win a prize. We’ll be splitting up into teams with each team receiving an easy to follow route and a series of clues to solve. A prize will be awarded to the best team at the end. This walking Trail is 2.5 miles long and will take about 2 to 2.5 hours to complete. After our walk we’ll meet back at Cote to see how everyone’s done and give a prize to the winning team. It also gives us a chance to grab a drink and a bite to eat (optional and payable on the day) while catching up on the news.
Bristol + Bath Christmas Markets Social Weekend Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 29th Nov 2013 - Sun 1st Dec 2013 Marriott Hotel, 2 Lower Castle St, Bristol, (BS1 3AD) Arrive from 4.00p.m. £189 Member Twin Share, £209 Guest Twin Share, £229 Member Single Includes: 2 nights B&B, Xmas Party on Saturday and co-ordinated activities throughout weekend Extras: Evening meal on Friday, train fare on Saturday, lunches and any chargeable attractions A weekend developed and run by Steve Dell to explore and discover the two great cities of Bristol and Bath, the latter being renowned for its wonderful Christmas Market. The weekend is designed to be flexible and on both days there will be a number of co-ordinated activities – you can do some or all of these activities, dipping in and out as you please. On the Saturday we will catch the train to and discover Bath with attractions such as The Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, JaneAusten Centre and of course the wonderful Bath Christmas Markets. We have tables in a Christmas Party at the hotel on the Saturday Evening. On the Sunday we can discover Bristol, one of England’s most popular tourist destinations. Bristol’s waterfront and Harbourside has been transformed in recent years to become a major leisure destination in its own right, with its stylish cafes, bars and museums & galleries and of course there is the SS Great Britain.
Walking Weekend - Lyndhurst + New Forest Date: Fri 29th Nov 2013 - Sun 1st Dec 2013 Place: Lyndhurst Park Hotel, Lyndhurst, (SO43 7NL) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00pm Cost: £169 Member Twin Share, £209 Member Single 2 nights’ accom, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 meals & 2 walks The New Forest in autumn is simply spectacular, we have missed the amazing splendour of colours the last couple of years so this year we have booked it a little later in a bid to catch it at its best!!! So this year the heaths and woodlands should be a blazing with a mix of wonderful golden colours. Lazy streams and rivers criss-cross the unique and ancient pasturelands that are also a home to the rare wildlife including the much-loved wild ponies and the Dartford Warbler. WalkWise have chosen the excellent Lyndhurst Park Hotel as our base, which is ideally located on the edge of the village and heath therefore being superb as a walking centre and within walking distance of the pubs too! 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 up to 1,500ft of ascent, and a gentler walk of 7-9 miles with less ascent. Accommodation: Situated in the very heart of the New Forest this idyllic location allows us to absorb the true peace and tranquillity of the forest. There are two restaurants offering a range of delicious dishes to suit all tastes; the lovely oak panelled Tudor rooms and the adjoining Palm Room, a light and airy conservatory which overlooks the hotel’s five acres of beautiful gardens. There is also the well-stocked contemporary lounge bar. All bedrooms are all very well equipped with wifi access, telephones, hairdryer, flat screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities and trouser press. There is a large complimentary car park.
Glass Blowing Workshop-Christmas Bauble Date: Saturday 30th November 2013 Place: 105 - 107 Walcot Street, Bath (BA1 5BW) 11.45 am for 12.00pm start Cost: £37 Member, £39 Guest Join us for a fantastic opportunity to have a go at glass blowing. On this course you will learn all the basic skills of glass blowing in order to make your own Christmas Bauble with a professional glassblower. Each person will be shown what to do individually under the watchful eye of the professionals. The other members of the group will be watching you hoping to pick up some tips. The price includes all materials, instruction and your own bauble. As the baubles will need to be fired over night, they will not be available to take home. You can arrange to collect them on the Monday or pay to have them posted. An approximate postage charge of £4 per person will be payable to the venue on the day. Please book early for this fantastic event as not only did it sell out in 3 days last time, we need to confirm numbers a month before!
Pub Social - Commercial Rooms, Bristol Date: Saturday 30th November 2013 Place: 43 - 45 Corn Street, Bristol (BS1 1HT) The Commercial Rooms, Spice Table at 7:30pm Cost: £9.99 Member, £11.99 Guest Includes: Sharing platters, Service, Spice Host It’s time to get together for a relaxing social evening. You can meet up with the people you’ve met on events during the year and also some new people, have a chat over a drink & discuss which other events to go to. Our Spice Host will be there to welcome you and help with the introductions. If you are new to Spice this is a great way to find out more about the group and meet some of the local members. This evening we meet at The Commercial Rooms in Bristol, a great Wetherspoon pub situated in the former Commercial Rooms, a gentlemen’s club and meeting place for the city’s merchants, built in 1811. We’ll be enjoying some sharing platters which includes a selection of chicken wings, spicy king prawns, onion rings, chips and dips. Please note: The food is only a light supper– we need to have some food to secure our table at the pub as Fridays can be busy here.
RSPB Newport Wetlands Guided Walk Date: Place: Cost:
Saturday 30th November 2013 RSPB Newport, Nash Rd, Newport (NP18 2BZ) Visitor Centre at 9:45am £9 Member, £11 Guest Includes: 2 Hour Guided Walk, Booking Fee, Spice Host
Join Spice on this lovely 2 hour guided walk at the Newport Wetlands Reserve which offers a haven for wildlife on the edge of the city. Cetti's warblers and bearded tits can be seen and heard in the reedbeds, while ducks, geese and swans visit the reserve in large numbers during the winter. The views of the Severn estuary are spectacular. You don’t have a to be a ‘twitcher’ to enjoy this walk as our guide is there not only to point out the wildlife and birds we see, but also to give us an insight into their habits and to explain some of the history of the area.
Live Flamenco Dancing, Music + Paella Date: Place: Cost:
Sunday 1st December 2013 El Puerto Ltd, 57 Prince Street, Bristol (BS1 4QH) Ask for the Spice Table meet at 7pm £14 Member, £16 Guest Includes: Live Flamenco dancing and music, Paella, Service and Spice Host
Join Spice today as we go to El Puerto, located in the town centre on the corner of Prince St and The Grove, for an authentic Spanish experience. This Grade II listed historical harbourside building boasts whitewashed walls, large rustic wooden tables and friendly Spanish staff. Tonight we’re in for a treat as we sit back, unwind and relax with great Spanish rhythms, sexy flamenco dancing and live paella cooking. The flamenco is a highly-expressive, Spanish solo dance characterized by hand clapping, percussive footwork, and intricate hand, arm and body movements accompanied by live Spanish guitar music. As part of our evening we’ll also enjoy a fabulous dish of paella with choices of different meat in them. It’s a great way to end the weekend!
Bath Wine Tasting Evening - Laithwaites Date: Place: Cost:
Thursday 5th December 2013 Banqueting Suite, Bath Guildhall, Bath (BA1 5AW) Entrance to Guildhall from 6:15pm to 8:30pm £20 Includes: Wine tasting with Laithwaites Wine Experts (Welcome Champagne in a glass that’s yours to keep, approximately 30 wines to taste, water and biscuits, Spice Host)
New to wine; or keen to learn more? Join Spice as we head off to the Banqueting Suite at the Bath Guildhall for a wine tasting with Laithwaites trained wine advisors. This special venue is the Guildhall’s most splendid room, with one of the most impressive Georgian interiors in Bath with its spectacular decor and stunning crystal chandeliers. The tasting evening is very relaxed and informal as well as being informative and great fun! We’ll be welcomed with a drop of chilled Champagne (in a glass that is yours to keep) and will then simply pass from table to table at our own pace, tasting whatever wines we fancy. Laithwaites wine staff will be on hand to discuss them with us.
Downhill Tubing Christmas Special Experience The Thrill Of An Alternative Christmas Celebration Date: Place: Cost:
Friday 6th December 2013 Gloucester Ski And Snowboard Centre (GL4 6EA) Spice Sign at 7:30pm £29.99 Member Includes: Mulled Wine or Hot Chocolate and Mince Pie, 45 Mins Tubing, Chicken or Vegetable Curry, Booking Fee, Spice Host
If you’ve already tried Skiing and Snowboarding now is the time to try yet another way of getting from the top of a slope to the bottom very quickly - Tubing. This evening we descend (literally) upon Gloucester Ski & Snowboarding Centre for a Christmas celebration with a difference. We've enjoyed this excellent evening for the last few years and it was so much fun that we’ve decided to go back and have another go. We’ll be welcomed upon arrival with Mulled Wine or Hot Chocolate and a Mince Pie each before setting out onto the slopes for 45 minutes of a thrilling downhill Tubing session. We’ll then head indoors again for a lovely warming Chicken or Vegetable Curry. Tubes, also known as “Ringos” are large inflatable rings which can be spun and linked together to slide down the slopes. It’s very safe, superb fun and another great way of enjoying snow-sports.
Christmas Center Parcs Weekend Date: Fri 6th Dec 2013 - Mon 9th Dec 2013 Place: Whinfell Forest Holiday Village, Penrith (CA10 2DW) Arrive from 2.00p.m. Cost: £139 Member Twin Share, £159 Guest Twin Share, £214 Member Single sole (Deposit £50) Our Annual Spice Christmas weekend break and party weekend with all your mates (some of whom you haven’t met yet!). Country lodges situated in deep forest surrounded by towering scots pines, beautiful surroundings, lakes, streams, forest paths leading to an unrivalled choice of sports and leisure facilities, health and beauty treatments, restaurants, cinema, cafes, bars…you name it - all just a short stroll or cycle from your lodge. The Lodges are situated in small clusters, and in order to keep Spice members together we have had to block book a number of different types and styles. All are fully furnished, warm and very comfortable. There is a Friday night private Spice Welcome drinks get together for each Spice Group followed by an exclusive Disco, and a late Disco until the early hours on Saturday night. Our easy Sat Night Disco fancy dress theme this year is ‘Christmas Around the World’ which helps us recognize who’s in our party! There will also be other opportunities to meet up with your local group as the weekend progress e.g. Fun Quiz, Sports Events, Flash Mob Meetup, Group Swim the st rapids, Ten Pin Bowling, Farewell Drinks, etc. Deposits are £50 and non-refundable. Balances due 1 Oct, and no refund for cancellation unless we/you can resell your slot. Terms and conditions as per Center Parcs brochure, on request, and online.
Glass Blowing Workshop-Christmas Bauble Date: Saturday 7th December 2013 Place: 105 - 107 Walcot Street, Bath (BA1 5BW) from 11:45am to 1:30pm Cost: £37 Member, £39 Guest Join us for a fantastic opportunity to have a go at glass blowing. On this course you will learn all the basic skills of glass blowing in order to make your own Christmas Bauble with a professional glassblower. Each person will be shown what to do individually under the watchful eye of the professionals. The other members of the group will be watching you hoping to pick up some tips. The price includes all materials, instruction and your own bauble. As the baubles will need to be fired over night, they will not be available to take home. You can arrange to collect them on the Monday or pay to have them posted. An approximate postage charge of £4 per person will be payable to the venue on the day. Please book early for this fantastic event as not only did it sell out in 3 days last time, we need to confirm numbers a month before!
Roman Xmas at the Roman Legion Museum Date: Saturday 7th December 2013 Place: National Roman Legion Museum, High Street, Caerleon, Newport (NP18 1AE) 11am Cost: £6 Member, £8 Guest Step back in time at the National Roman Legion Museum and explore life in a far-flung outpost of the mighty Roman Empire. Today at Caerleon you can learn what made the Romans a formidable force and how life wouldn't be the same without them. You'll be able to see Exhibitions and Artefacts that show us how they lived, fought, worshipped and died. We can enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the beautiful Roman Garden and see the remains of one of only three permanent fortresses in Roman Britain. The Ruins include the most complete amphitheatre in Britain and the only remains of a Roman Legionary barracks on view anywhere in Europe. Today there is also a special event where we can learn a bit more about Saturnalia. Saturnalia is the Roman version of Christmas. The museum will be sharing some Roman food and drink as well – essential for a party; playing games, making Roman presents and the will round things off with a traditional Roman fight.
Ronnie Scott’s Christmas Cabaret Lunch Date: Place: Cost:
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Saturday 7th December AND Saturday 21 December 2013 Ronnie Scotts, 47 Frith Street., London (W1D 4HT) Ask for the Spice Table 12pm £70 Member, £73 Guest Includes: Christmas Cabaret Lunch ticket, 3 course lunch, glass of bubbly, Service Charge, Spice Host Extras: Drinks Ronnie Scott’s World famous Christmas Cabaret Lunch is returning for 2013. They have an exclusive run of dates during December and there is limited availability on Saturday Lunch dates so their tickets are already selling fast! This was a massive sell out last year for SPICE with 60 people attending and having a fabulous time. Tickets are limited and once we have sold our allocation we will not be able to get anymore – so please book early so as not to miss out! The Ronnie Scotts Christmas Cabaret Lunch includes fantastic live music provided by the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars and special guests and includes a three course Christmas lunch and a glass of bubbly on arrival. The Ronnie Scott’s Christmas Cabaret Lunch is a sparkling, fun, friendly festive celebration with a delicious three course Christmas lunch and a glass of bubbly on arrival. Be alongside the best entertainment in town from some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians who play a special festive programme of swinging ‘cool yule’ classics - including a ‘Challenge The Band’ segment where the band play guest requests. ‘Silent Night’ in the style of the ‘Three Penny Opera’? No problem. ‘Jingle Bells in the style of Bob Dylan? They’ll oblige.
A Visit to Llanchaiach Fawr Manor Date: Sunday 8th December 2013 Place: Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Nelson, Treharris (CF46 6ER) Main Entrance - Ticket Office Time: 11am Cost: £17.50 Member, £19.50 Guest Includes: Entrance to Manor, Sandwich and Tea/Coffee, Spice Host Llancaiach Fawr Manor stands proudly, as it has done since c1550, overlooking the Glamorgan Uplands. Visitors today step into the Manor House restored and furnished as it would have been in 1645. All the furnishings in the rooms are accurate reproductions of items from the time of the Prichards and many of the originals can be found in the Museum of Welsh Life at St. Fagans. You also never know just whom you might meet when you visit Llancaiach Fawr Manor… If you are very lucky, you might sometimes meet the master of the house, Edward Prichard, or his wife. Certainly the servants are always around, although we can’t say which of them you’ll meet at any time (they have their duties to perform after all!), but you can be sure that there will be someone who will be pleased to show you around the master's fine house - provided that you are of good repute of course! There’s plenty to see both in terms of the house and the gardens and we will also stop for a sandwich and a cup of tea or coffee during our day there.
Spies + Deception - Bletchley Park Visit Date: Sunday 8th December 2013 Place: Bletchley Park, Nr Milton Keynes (MK3 6EB) Sherwood Drive main Entrance from 10:15am to 4:30pm Cost: £34.50 Member Includes: Guided tour, admin to Colossus & Tunny galleries, museum, sandwich lunch Seeing one of the Enigma Machines, including the rare 'Abwehr G312', is undoubtedly a highlight of a busy day out at Bletchley Park, but there is much more than machines in a visit to the historic site. Check out the tales of spies and strategic deception.. There are more than enough different activities and exhibitions to occupy us for a whole day, from wartime toys to working computers. There's a wartime mini cinema and an outstanding Churchill collection. Have a look inside the ornate Victorian Mansion that was headquarters to intelligence staff during the War. Our day includes a one hour guided tour covering the main points of interest around the site, then a sandwich lunch and admission (non-guided) into the Colossus and Tunny galleries and museum (National Computing Museum) to see the world's first semi-programmable electronic computer. Full details of this fabulous day can be found on our website.
Cheltenham Wine Tasting Evening Date: Place: Cost:
Tuesday 10th December 2013 Pitville Pump Rooms, Cheltenham (GL52 3JE) Main Entrance - Spice Sign from 6:15pm to 8:30pm £20 Includes: Wine tasting with Laithwaites Wine Experts (Welcome Champagne in a glass that’s yours to keep, approximately 30 wines to taste, water and biscuits, Spice Host New to wine or keen to learn more? Join Spice as we head off to the Pittville Pump Room for a wine tasting with Laithwaites trained wine advisors. This special venue is testament to 100 years of fame where Cheltenham was regarded as one of the most picturesque Spa towns in England. The tasting evening is very relaxed and informal as well as being informative and great fun! We’ll be welcomed with a drop of chilled Champagne (in a glass that is yours to keep) and will then simply pass from table to table at our own pace, tasting whatever wines we fancy. Water and biscuits will be provided to help ‘soak up’ the wine and there will be spittoons beside every table – the use of which is optional! It’s a lovely evening where no prior knowledge of wine is necessary so don’t miss it.
Royal Opera House - The Nutcracker Ballet Date: Place: Cost:
Tuesday 10th December 2013 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London (WC2E 9DD) Ticket Office - Spice Sign at 7pm £33 Member, £36 Guest Includes: Ticket for the Amphitheatre, booking fee and Spice Host
We have secured seats at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for the Christmas Ballet, “The Nutcracker” so treat yourself to a great festive night out! Clara, a young girl, creeps downstairs on Christmas Eve to retrieve her favourite present. But a mysterious magician, Drosselmeyer, is waiting to sweep her off on a magical adventure. In Peter Wright's classic production, the stage sparkles with theatrical magic – a Christmas tree grows before our eyes, toy soldiers come to life to fight the villainous Mouse King and Clara is whisked to the Land of Sweets on a golden sleigh and falls in love with a handsome Prince. Tchaikovsky's score contains some of the best-known melodies in ballet, from the flurrying sounds of the Waltz of the Snowflakes to the dream-like Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, the vigorous Russian Dance and many other familiar favourites.
Carols by Candlelight for Christmas Date: Place: Cost:
Saturday 14th December 2013 Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore (SW7 2AP) Meet at Door 8 - Spice sign 7:15pm £31.50 Member Circle Seats, £34.50 Guest Circle Seats Includes: ticket, Spice host and booking fee (Sorry there can be no refunds for tickets unless we are able to re-sell your ticket) We have secured our tickets very early for this special Christmas night out why not treat yourself to a ticket. We have Circle seats in row 5 and 6. The Royal Albert Hall has been thrilling audiences from around the world for many, many years offering the best in live performances. In keeping with the Christmas spirit we have secured tickets for their Christmas Carols by Candlelight. The carols and seasonal classics will be performed by the UK’s most elegant ensemble in full period costume in a candle-lit setting. The carols will include Come All Ye Faithful, The First Nowell, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Once in Royal David’s City - to name a few! There will also be readings by special guest Julian Rhind-Tutt of Dickens and the scriptures.
Christmas Carols Singalong - Albert Hall Date: Place: Cost:
Saturday 14th December 2013 Kensington Gore, London (SW7 2AP) Meet at Door 8 at 4pm £31.50 Member Circle Seats, £34.50 Guest Circle Seats Includes: ticket & Spice host booking fee. (There can be no refunds for tickets unless we are able to re-sell your ticket) We have bought our tickets very early and have secured front circle seats. These Christmas events at the Royal Albert Hall always sell out so early bookings are advised for this Christmas Special! You can of course sit back and enjoy the atmosphere at this fabulous venue or you could clap your hands, stamp your feet and sing your heart out! Irrepressible showman Jonathan Cohen leads us through the festive hits and Alison Jier is the special guest singer. The London Concert Orchestra and chorus are also there to help us sing Jingle Bells, Ding Dong Merrily on High and Winter Wonderland to name a few! You should meet your Spice host at Door 4 Please arrive promptly so that the Spice group can go into together for a pre-show drink or coffee.
Spice Christmas Party 2013 Tis the Season to be Jolly (And A Bit Merry Too ....)!! Date: Place: Cost:
Saturday 14th December 2013 Alveston, Thornbury, Bristol (BS35 2LA) Alveston House Hotel from 7pm £45.50 Member no Wine £55.50 Member with Wine Includes: Private SPICE Party with 3 Course Dinner plus Coffee & Mince Pies, Disco and Dancing until 1.00am Extras: Drinks, Option to Stay at the Hotel Early Bird Discount (Save Up To £10) so Book Early This year’s SPICE Bristol & Cardiff Christmas Party is at the elegant Alveston House Hotel nd which has been named ‘Best Small Hotel of the Year’ for the 2 time. Ideally located near Bristol and the M4/M5 Motorways, it holds the highest AA rating of any 3 star hotel in the area, and is set in beautiful walled gardens. We have arranged for our own private SPICE members and guests party in the Carriages Restaurant. We’ll meet at 7.00pm for a Welcome Drink before heading into our room for a superb 3 Course Christmas Dinner with Coffee and Mince Pies. Included in our price is half a bottle of wine per person and there is a bar for you to purchase any additional drinks. After dinner we’ll be able to party until 1.00am with our own disco. As its Christmas, why not take the worry out of driving home and stay at the Alveston House Hotel by booking our amazing option that also includes Saturday night’s bed and breakfast accommodation in either a twin / double shared or single room. Arrive early, relax and enjoy the hotel facilities before enjoying an amazing evening’s entertainment. Book here for ticket only option as we are advertising the party and hotel option separately. th Event Cancellation Policy: Please note that in the event of cancellation no refunds will be payable for this event after 15 November unless we can re-sell your ticket, as to obtain such a fabulous deal we are having to pay for our tickets well in advance.
Spice Christmas Party HOTEL ROOM Tis the Season to be Jolly (And a bit Merry Too..!) Date: Place: Cost:
Saturday 14th December 2013 Alveston, Thornbury, Bristol (BS35 2LA) Alveston House Hotel - Check in from 2pm £48 Member Twin Share - EB, £60 Guest Twin Share - EB, £80 Member Single - EB, £48 Member Double - EB Includes: Room only - twin/double or single. This year’s SPICE Bristol & Cardiff Christmas Party is at the elegant Alveston House Hotel which has been named ‘Best Small nd Hotel of the Year’ for the 2 time. Ideally located near Bristol and the M4/M5 Motorways, it holds the highest AA rating of any 3 star hotel in the area, and is set in beautiful walled gardens. As its Christmas, why not take the worry out of driving home and stay at the Alveston House Hotel for the night of the party. For a one night stay you can check in from 3.00p.m. and we have either twin / double shared or single rooms available. Breakfast is included. . Arrive early, relax and enjoy the hotel facilities before enjoying an amazing evening’s entertainment. Book here for overnight option. Don’t forget to book your Ticket for the party which is advertised separately. Event Cancellation Policy: Please note that in the event of cancellation no refunds will be payable for this event after 15th November unless we can re-sell your room, as to obtain such a fabulous deal we are having to pay for our rooms well in advance.
Spice Meet and Eat - The Ty Mawr, Lisvane Date: Thursday 19th December 2013 Place: Graig Road, Lisvane, Cardiff (CF14 0UF) The Ty Mawr - Spice Table at 7:30pm Join Spice tonight for our monthly Meet & Eat. Every month we head to a new pub for a social night-out. It’s a great opportunity to come along, meet some fellow SPICE members over a drink and perhaps have a bite to eat – it’s entirely up to you. Everyone is welcome including established members, newer members and anyone thinking of joining SPICE. Our venue tonight is The Ty Mawr, and informal rural pub in Lisvane. The Ty Mawr features a fabulous exterior area overlooking the stunning views over Cardiff and an expansive landscaped garden. There’s a wide variety of freshly prepared food from a daily changing menu and sure to be something for everyone.
Dinner at the Cosy Club - Bath Date: Saturday 21st December 2013 Place: Unit R4, SouthGate Place, Bath (BA1 1AP) The Cosy Club - Meet in the Bar at 7:30pm Cost: £24 Member, £26 Guest Extras: Drinks Includes: Sharing Tapas, Main Course, Service + Spice Host Tonight will give you the chance to meet lots of new Spice friends while dining and socialising in the lovely Cosy Club in Bath. Located in the heart of the new SouthGate shopping centre, the club boasts gorgeous décor with a mix of Art Deco-style pieces, lovely soft armchairs, chandeliers and walls filled with interesting pictures, mirrors and signs. We will enjoy a 2 course meal and this is a great opportunity to meet other members local to this area so we hope you can make it along.
Spice National Christmas Break Manchester Date: Tue 24th Dec 2013 - Fri 27th Dec 2013 Place: Double Tree by Hilton, Manchester (M1 3DG) Arrive from 12 noon Cost: £259 Member Twin Share, £339 Member Single ***On early bird price until 1st November when price increases by £30*** This Christmas we are thrilled to be staying at the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton in Manchester. This fabulous city centre 4 star hotel is situated close to Piccadilly Train Station allowing easy transport into Manchester via train or Metrolink. It is close to Canal Street and Northern Quarter areas, renowned for their lively nightlife. And for those in search of retail therapy, the hotel is a stone’s throw away from the city centre shops and boutiques. Arrive from noon on Christmas Eve when you are free to explore our lovely city centre then we’ll meet up in the bar before going for our dinner, a 3 course meal at the delightful City Café Restaurant (the name doesn’t do it justice – this is fine dining at its best!). After dinner if you have the energy, we have a few options to choose from, including Christmas Eve late night mass or perhaps you would like to visit Canal Street or The Northern Quarter for a lively atmosphere to welcome Christmas 2013. Be back for midnight if you don’t want to miss out on our mulled wine and mince pies at the hotel! Christmas day will comprise of a lazy breakfast, followed by Secret Santa in the morning and a bit of time to relax before we head up to the fabulous Skylounge for our 3 course exclusive Christmas dinner – the Skylounge is a private glass walled penthouse room with fabulous views over the City Centre and beyond. How often do you get to enjoy Christmas dinner whilst admiring the Manchester skyline from daylight to dusk? Full details of the itinerary can be found on our website.
Twixtmas Walking W/e White Cliffs of Dover Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 27th Dec 2013 - Sun 29th Dec 2013 Dover Marina Hotel & Spa, Dover (CT17 9BP) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £179 Member Twin Share, £229 Member Single Included: 2 night’s accommodation, 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals, choice of 2 guided walks on the Saturday and the Sunday Extras: local transport (if used) Christmas is past, and we're not quite at New Year…which leaves a wonderfully peaceful gap in our schedules! The Walkwise Twixtmas break to the White Cliffs of Dover this year falls across the weekend which is a great chance to escape and walk off that extra portion of Christmas pudding. So why not squeeze in a weekend away by the sea. The Walks are fantastic, everyone knows just how fabulous the White Cliffs of Dover are and we will be enjoying them to the full. Add to this the salubrious setting and facilities of the Best Western Plus, 4*, Dover Marina Hotel and Spa and you are all set for a superb getaway! As we are staying in Dover it is quite simply a must to do a walk along the White Cliffs of Dover. The White cliffs of Dover are one of the best known landmarks in Britain and they are steeped in history, legend and folklore. We will explore the coast between Dover and Deal as this is quite simply one of the finest coastal walks in England. WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day, led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. Accommodation: Entering the hotel you are grabbed by its salubrious décor, spacious bars and refined restaurants and your holiday immediately begins. The 4 Star BEST WESTERN PLUS Dover Marina Hotel & Spa is a seafront hotel in Dover, just opposite the beach, with the white cliffs of Dover behind and it’s within easy walking distance of Dover Town Centre too. The bedrooms are designed with your comfort in mind and come with free high speed wifi internet access, TV, tea and coffee making facilities, desk area and they are all en-suite. The hotel also has a new boutique spa. It offers a wide variety of treatments in an inviting and relaxing atmosphere. There is also a large gym and sauna too. With such excellent leisure facilities it will be a wonder if we ever manage to get out for a walk!!!! But you will quite definitely enjoy your stay.
Twixtmas Walking Weekend - Snowdonia Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 27th Dec 2013 - Sun 29th Dec 2013 Royal Goat Hotel, Beddgelert, Wales (LL55 4YE) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £179 Member Twin Share, £219 Member Single Included: 2 breakfasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 evening meals and 2 guided walks each day This is one of the WalkWise favourites. We have been talking about doing a Twixtmas and a New Year break here for a long time and now we are going to do it. The Royal Goat is a cracking hotel, in the charming village of Beddgelert in the heart of Snowdonia in North Wales-perfect! The chef has a super menu of tasty and filling meals and there are real ales in the bar and then there are two or three charming country pubs within yards of the hotel. Add to this the superb walking that literally surrounds this centre, with the high lofty ridges of Nantle Ridge, Moel Hebog, Cnicht, Snowdon and Moel Siabod. 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 event a very attractive and interesting walking weekend, see you out on the hills! To allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day. Accommodation: Staying at the 3 star Royal Goat hotel you will find all the comforts you ever wished for together with the hotel’s excellent reputation for food and wine! The bedrooms are all tastefully furnished centrally heated rooms, all with en-suite facilities.
Christmas Spectacular - Lasers/Fireworks Date: Saturday 28th December 2013 Place: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London (SW7 2AP) Meet Door 8 - Spice sign Time: 7pm Cost: £37.50 Member, £39.50 Guest Includes: ticket, Spice host and booking fee (Sorry there can be no refunds for tickets unless we are able to re-sell your ticket) We have secured our tickets very early for this special Christmas night out – why not treat yourself to a ticket. We have Circle seats in row 2 so you are in for a treat! MUSIC * DANCE * OPERA * BALLET * LIGHTS * LASERS * FIREWORKS For the first time, Raymond Gubbay and the Royal Albert Hall bring you Christmas Spectacular, the perfect show to keep your Christmas spirits high with a stunning combination of favourite music, breath-taking dance, thrilling lights, sensational lasers and a fantastic indoor firework finale!
Twixtmas Winter Break - The Lake District Date: Place: Cost:
Fri 27th Dec 2013 - Sun 29th Dec 2013 Glaramara, Borrowdale, Lake District (CA12 5XQ) Arrive 4.00p.m. Meal at 7.00p.m. £185 Member Twin en-suite, £190 Member Single Standard Included: 2 night’s accommodation, 2 evening meals, 2 picnic lunches, 2 breakfasts, 2 days of guided walks Not included: Transport if taken to walk starts
Christmas is past, and we're not quite at New Year…which leaves a wonderfully peaceful gap in our schedules! The Walkwise Lake District Twixtmas break this year falls across the weekend which is too good an opportunity to miss, so why not squeeze in a fantastic winter weekend escape amongst some of the finest mountains in Britain! And Glaramara just keeps getting better and better, in addition to some absolutely superb food, some great walking they have now added 10 stunning new en-suite bedrooms so now you have no excuse. Glaramara in Borrowdale is one of our most popular locations as it occupies an enviable location in the heart of some of England's most spectacular mountains and beautiful valleys, and the food is great! WalkWise Walking Programme: Quite simply this centre is one of the finest walking locations anywhere in the country, truly immersed in the deep Lakeland valleys and surrounded by majestic mountains and inviting Lakeland fells. By contrast, there are delightful river valleys with tranquil lakes, dancing waterfalls and peaceful woodland, providing enchanting scenery for all levels of walkers. To allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day. Accommodation: Is in Glaramara, a purpose built walking centre at the foot of the Borrowdale Valley in the heart of the beautiful Lake District National Park. The centre is ideal for walker located in a commanding position in the beautiful vale of Borrowdale, it offers a mixture of single and twin-bedded rooms. Some of the bedrooms have lovely views of the surrounding valley and hill and all have with complimentary tea/coffee facilities. The single rooms are standard rooms and the twin rooms are now all en-suite. As part of the continuous programme of development, all the single rooms have just been refurbished and a New ladies shower room installed. There is a well-stocked bar and comfortable lounges, so you can relax in the evenings. Their catering has an excellent reputation amongst walkers for good wholesome food, the portions are plentiful and the packed lunches satisfying! Then, should you have any excess energy, there is a cosy bar, or three excellent country pubs within walking distance for an evening drink!
Fiendish, Fun Tube Map Trail Day - Ian Jelf Date: Saturday 28th December 2013 Place: Slug & Lettuce pub, Lisle Street, Leicester Square, London (WC2H 7BG) Time:11am Cost: £29 Member, £32 Guest You might remember our treasure hunt around central London following sites on the famous Monopoly board? Well Ian Jelf has now concocted another fiendish but fun trail around the heart of London, this time inspired by the world-famous London Underground map. With a series of clues to find and a prize to be won, this is how the day works. We meet at 11.00am, to give you a chance to socialise before being put into teams of 3 – 5 people and for Ian to explain what you have to do. Then we set off to find as many clues near (but not in) Tube stations as possible. As ever with Ian’s days out, there’s more to it than that, but all will become apparent on the day! Later, at a predetermined time, you return to our meeting point for a bite to eat, the results and – most important – prize giving before setting off for home. The day includes the organised treasure hunt, a buffet and the clues. Extras include a London Bus/Tube Travelcard (for Zones 1 and 2) which will cover all the clues: we’re not sending you to Hounslow or Upminster!) and you might find a London A-Z or map a distinct advantage!
Mince Pies Special on a Steam Train Date: Sunday 29th December 2013 Place: Bitton Station, Bath Road, Bristol (BS30 6HD) Main Station Entrance - Spice Sign at 2:30pm Cost: £11.50 Member, £13.50 Guest Includes: Mince Pie, Steam Train Trip, Spice Host The Avon Valley Railway is more than just a train ride, offering a whole new experience for some, or a nostalgic memory for others. Once you take your seats in the period carriages, the guard blows his whistle and the rain begins to move. Then, your journey takes you into the scenic Avon Valley, crossing high above the River Avon, away from the hustle and bustle of modern-day life. Sit back, relax and enjoy the tranquillity while you indulge in some mince pies with some old and new Spice friends.
New Year Break in Beddgelert + Snowdonia Date: Place: Cost:
Sun 29th Dec 2013 - Wed 1st Jan 2014 Royal Goat Hotel, Beddgelert, Wales (LL55 4YE) Arrive from 4.00p.m Meal at 8.00p.m. £329 Member Twin Share, £389 Member Single Included: 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 evening meals including a special New Year’s Eve Feast and course 3 days of guided walks with a choice of walks each day New Year’s Eve Black Tie Feast, disco then a break for FIREWORKS as Beddgelert gathers to bring in the NEW YEAR, then more partying! This is one of the WalkWise favourites. We have been talking about doing a Twixtmas and a New Year break here for a long time and now we are going to do it. Beddgelert is famous for its New Year, they like a party in these parts. We’ll begin with a Black tie dinner, then we’ll dance the evening away, but as New Year’s Eve progresses the whole village gathers around its heart before a spectacular Firework display lights up the mountains to bring in the New Year. It’s understandably very popular but this time we got in first and booked our favourite hotel. The Royal Goat is a cracking hotel, in the charming village of Beddgelert in the heart of Snowdonia in North Wales-perfect! The chef always has a super menu of tasty and filling meals, but his New Year feasts are legendary! Even better there are real ales in the bar and then there are two or three charming country pubs within yards of the hotel. Add to this the superb walking that literally surrounds this centre, 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. This will book up very quickly so get in soon! 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. Accommodation: Staying at the 3 star Royal Goat hotel you will find all the comforts you ever wished for together with the hotel’s excellent reputation for food and wine! Comfort is the key word here and the bar and lounges are set up to provide the right ambience to relax and chat. The bedrooms are all tastefully furnished centrally heated rooms, all with en-suite facilities, telephone, hair dryer, clock radio and T.V.
New Year Walking Break - The Lakes Date: Place: Cost:
Sun 29th Dec 2013 - Wed 1st Jan 2014 Glaramara, Borrowdale, Lake District (CA12 5XQ) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 7.00p.m. £339 Member Twin en-suite, £344 Member Single Standard (Deposit £70) Includes: 3 breakfasts, 2 evening meals and a New Year Gala dinner, and New Year’s Party 3 picnic lunches, 3 days of guided walks Glaramara in Borrowdale is understandably one of our most popular locations and once again it will play host to three days of fantastic walking in the heart of the Lake District, culminating in what always proves to be an excellent New Year's Eve party! And by popular request, to make New Year's Eve Disco and party, go with an even bigger swing, and to celebrate the continuous improvements that the centre is making we have decided to make this New Year Party a Black Tie Affair. So don’t forget to pack your posh frock or Dickie Bow and remember to have a Happy Christmas but save some energy for a great New Year! WalkWise Walking Programme: Quite simply this centre is one of the finest walking locations anywhere in the country, truly immersed in the deep Lakeland valleys and surrounded by majestic mountains and inviting Lakeland fells. From the front door of the centre, there is a massive range of walking to choose from, with something for everyone! There are the towering heights of Great Gable and Scafell Pike, Castle Crag, the beautiful Derwentwater, the superb cafes throughout Borrowdale and some traditional Lakeland hostelries! Simply a superb place for a winter break. By contrast, there are delightful river valleys with tranquil lakes, dancing waterfalls and peaceful woodland, providing enchanting scenery for all levels of walkers. To allow you to choose a walk that suits you best, WalkWise UK will provide a minimum of two walks on each day, three if we fill the centre! And they will all be led by professional and knowledgeable walking guides. Accommodation: Is in Glaramara, a purpose built walking centre at the foot of the Borrowdale Valley in the heart of the beautiful Lake District National Park. The centre is ideal for walker located in a commanding position in the beautiful vale of Borrowdale, it offers a mixture of single and twin-bedded standard rooms. Some of the bedrooms have lovely views of the surrounding valley and hill and all have with complimentary tea/coffee facilities. The single rooms come with no supplement and the twin rooms are now all ensuite. As part of the continuous programme of development, all the single rooms have just been refurbished and a New ladies shower room installed. There is a well-stocked bar and comfortable lounges, so you can relax in the evenings. Their catering has an excellent reputation amongst walkers for good wholesome food, the portions are plentiful and the packed lunches satisfying! Then, should you have any excess energy, there is a cosy bar, or three excellent country pubs within walking distance for an evening drink!
New Year Walking + Social Break - Nottingham Date: Place: Cost:
Sun 29th Dec 2013 - Wed 1st Jan 2014 Mercure 4* Hotel Lace Market Nottingham (NG1 3BP) Afternoon for a walk or the evening £299 Member Twin Share, £329 Guest Twin Share, £349 Member Single (Deposit £60 Member Twin Share, £65 Guest Twin Share, £70 Member Single)
For this New Year’s break with Steve Dell we are heading to Nottinghamshire. There will be a walk each day but as we are staying in the centre of Nottingham there will also be a great programme of social / touristy / shopping activities. So whether you are a walker, want a social break over New Year or a mixture of both this break is for you. On the Sunday you can either arrive by lunchtime for an afternoon walk or in the evening. Our hotel is a lovely 4* hotel which has recently been refurbished. There is discounted parking very close to the hotel and there is a small gym should you feel the need! There is also plenty to do for non-walkers or if you want to mix & match walking with social / tourist stuff. Nottingham is a great tourist destination and has something for everyone; there is a castle, canals to explore, theatres, lots of pubs and shops if you want to look at the sales.
New Year Walking Horsley + North Downs Date: Place: Cost:
Sun 29th Dec 2013 - Wed 1st Jan 2014 DeVere Horsley Park, Horsley, Surrey (KT24 6DU) Arrive from 4.00p.m. Meal at 8.00p.m. £329 Member Twin Share, £375 Member Single Included: 3 breakfasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 evening meals including a special New Year’s Party, 3 days of guided walks with a choice of walks each day, a history tour of Horsley Towers, New Year’s Eve Feast and Party with complimentary arrival drink and then a disco to bring in the NEW YEAR, then more partying! Walkwise Overview: This is a totally New Event and it will undoubtedly become one of the WalkWise favourites. It is a superb venue, set in 70 acres of stunning parkland of Horsley Towers, the contemporary accommodation comes with all the modern fixtures and conveniences you would expect and there is a pool and mini-gym too. On the doorstep is some of the finest countryside that the North Downs has to offer and the Walkwise Team have planned some beautiful and picturesque walks, which take in some lovely villages, friendly inns, rolling chalk hills and tranquil woodlands. Then on New Year’s Eve we will be in for a real treat, We’ll finish the walks early so we have ample time to relax and sparkle ourselves for the Black Tie evening ahead. A complimentary drink will help get into the party mood before we tackle the our New Year’s Eve dinner in the Steam Bake and Grill Restaurant. Then we’ll dance the night away!!! Book early because this is going to be a NEW YEAR to remember!!! The WalkWise Walking Programme aims to get the best from the rolling North Downs and we will enjoy the best walks that encompass the spirit of the area. The North Downs are a lovely range of rolling hills, characterised by rolling chalk hills, tranquil woodland and some panoramic views. 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. Accommodation: Set within 70 acres of stunning parkland, leisure facilities include a health and fitness club with gym, sauna and indoor swimming pool and even a 5-a-side football pitch. Needless to say all the bedrooms are en-suite and come with Free WIFI, LCD TV, DDI Telephones, refreshment tray. Our meals will be taken in the Steam Bake & Grill restaurant and there is always free flowing tea, coffee, cappuccinos. At some point during our stay we will take a tour of Horsley Towers which dating back to 1820, Horsley Towers is the ancestral home of the Lovelace family and home to a long line of distinguished thinkers.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay 2013 Date: Place: Cost:
Mon 30th Dec 2013 - Wed 1st Jan 2014 Travelodge, Belford Road, Edinburgh (EH4 3DG) £259 Member Twin Share, Includes: 2 nights B&B, Street Party & Concert to the Gardens Ticket, Torchlight Procession Ticket and Spice Co-Ordinator
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay welcomes 2013 in style, with over 200,000 revellers enjoying spectacular events throughout the New Year. Now entering its 20th year, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 2012 promises to be the biggest and best party ever and Spice Scotland invite you to join us! We are delighted to offer a superb 2 night break to experience the world famous Edinburgh’s Hogmanay. Join us at the ‘Home of Hogmanay’, with live music stages, giant screens, light and laser shows and the spectacular Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Midnight Fireworks when over 4.5 tonnes of fireworks light up the Edinburgh sky in one of the world’s largest New Year displays. Included in the cost of your weekend are 2 nights bed and breakfast at the Travelodge Learmouth Terrace (a short walk to the city centre), a chance to join in the Torchlight Procession and a Hogmanay Street Party ticket that gives exclusive entry to the Concert in the Gardens Enclosure Full details of this break can be found on our website.
New Year Mini Break 2013 - Venice a very special New Year break to Venice for 2013 Date: Place: Cost:
Mon 30th Dec 2013 - Thu 2nd Jan 2014 Treviso, Near Venice, Italy Meet: London Gatwick £599 Member Twin Share, £619 £699 Member Single
Includes: Flights (incl 5kg hand luggage), transfers, 4* hotel accommodation on a twin share basis (local rating), half board (breakfast & dinner). New Year’s Eve Party including music and dinner with water, wine and Prosecco. Extras: 20kg luggage allowance £27 (at time of booking!). Travel Insurance available through Spice UK - Single Trip Insurance £17; Annual Insurance from £55. Single supp £100. Some drinks & some meals, optional excursions and personal extras. Local accommodation tax €3 per person per night. Deposit: £150 A couple of years ago here at Spice London we ran a short break to Lake Garda over New Year which was extremely popular. Now we feel we have found something a little bit special and we are pleased to be able to offer you this wonderful mini break to Treviso, nr Venice. While it isn’t actually Venice itself (we did look at it and you would not believe the price!), Treviso is the next best thing ! A small town near Venice we have a lovely 4* hotel for you to enjoy plus a fabulous New Year’s Eve Party that should really be something to look forwardstoo! On New Years Eve if you do want to go to Venice (your coordinator will be arranging a trip if you do!) then its just a short taxi journey to the railway station and a 40 minutes train ride takes you right onto Venice Island itself. After a bit of shopping and a spot of lunch it’s back to the hotel for a quick dip in the jacuzzi or sauna before donning your best party gear for your Party night with music and dinner. Depending how late you partied ‘til last night, New Year’s Day will be a fairly sedate affair. Take advantage of the hotels leisure facilities or maybe go for a stroll around the grounds to blow the cobwebs (hangover!) away. Park Hotel Bolognese is an ancient Villa dated at the end 800’s located near Treviso , a medieval town surrounded by sixteenth-century walls. The spacious rooms all have air conditioning, en suite, satellite TV, minibar, safe, direct telephone line and modem. There is wifi coverage throughout the hotel (extra charge). The tour operator for this flight inclusive holiday is Spice UK Ltd (ATOL 9046) for whom we act as agent.
New Year Break in London Cruise + 1 or 2 Night Date: Place:
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Mon 30 or Tue 31 Dec 2013 - Wed 1st Jan 2014 Thistle Kensington Gardens, Bayswater Rd (W2 3HL) Arrive from 2.00p.m.
1 Night: £245 Member Twin Share, £310 Member Single 2 Night: £299 Member Twin Share, £435 Member Single Includes 1 or 2 night B&B luxury hotel accommodation, New Year’s Eve party cruise on the River Thames which includes a cold buffet supper and ALL drinks of wine, beer or soft drinks, party with a DJ and disco. Also includes the boat being moored at London Eye for the New Year’s Eve fireworks, open decks which can take everyone for that special New Year view. Cruise finishes at 1.30a.m. Services of a Spice host throughout. A wonderful opportunity to celebrate New Year in London! This very special New Year break includes 1 night (or 2 nights) luxury hotel accommodation on a B&B basis staying in the recently refurbished Thistle Kensington Gardens Hotel. The hotel offers the comfort of luxurious rooms with stunning views across Hyde Park. There is easy access to all of London’s attractions from this fabulous hotel. We will celebrate the arrival of 2014 cruising down the River Thames where we will enjoy a party cruise onboard the Connaught which we have hired exclusively for Spice on this very special evening. Our cruise departs & returns from Westminster Pier. As an added bonus we will moor close to the London Eye for the New Year’s Eve fireworks. Our cruise package includes ALL your drinks – thought that might get your attention! Thistle Kensington st Gardens Hotel - you will be able to arrive any time after 2.00p.m. on Tuesday 31 December. The bedrooms are all en-suite with the usual facilities. Hyde Park is literally across the road from the hotel and Kensington Palace and the stylish Kensington High Street is only a short stroll away. The hotel has a Brasserie which is open throughout the day and evening for light meals and drinks. On Saturday evening we will meet for an early evening drink or cocktail before leaving our hotel and heading for the Westminster Pier where we will board our cruise boat to head down the River Thames. The Connaught is a party boat and all the guests on board for the evening will be Spice members and we are expecting there to be 50/70 guests attending. There are a few upstairs decks and outside areas which are open and large enough to have you all up there toasting in the New Year! The atmosphere on the Thames is always amazing on New Year’s Eve and we will be moored up close to Big Ben to hear the stroke of midnight and watch the fireworks which light up London on this special occasion.
New Year’s Eve Party + Hotel + Jazz Brunch Date: Place: Cost:
Tue 31st Dec 2013 - Wed 1st Jan 2014 Hilton Hotel, Cobham, Surrey (KT11 1EU) Hotel check in 3pm Drinks In Bar 7.00pm £175 Member Twin or Double, £199 Member Single Room,
Includes: Welcome Sparkling cocktail, 3 Course Dinner, Coffee and Petit Fours, ½ Bottle of Wine per person, (option for no wine at £10 less), Fireworks at Midnight, Disco to 2.00a.m. 1 night's Hotel Accommodation, use of LivingWell Health Club, late check-out at 2.00p.m. Breakfast, Guided Walk and Jazz Brunch at the Hotel on New Year's Day and services of Spice Host throughout. Extras: Spa treatments at hotel should be pre-booked and are at additional cost. Following our previous very successful New Year events we are celebrating in a NEW hotel which is the Hilton Hotel in Cobham, Surrey. This promises to be a lovely relaxing break with a great New Year’s Eve party – a truly memorable way to see in 2014! The Hilton Hotel at Cobham is part of the International group of Hilton Hotels and is set in woodland grounds. The bedrooms are comfortable with modern facilities with a LivingWell Health Club with gym, heated swimming pool, whirlpool and sauna or indulge yourself in the hotels Spa for a massage or beauty treatment. There are lots of bedrooms and free car parking. We are going to start our New Year celebrations with a bang and enjoy a delicious dinner followed by great music and dancing and Midnight Fireworks to bring in 2014. The party will be getting off to a sparkling start at 7.00pm with a pre-dinner sparkling cocktail. Then we will adjourn to the Dining Room for a fabulous 3 Course Dinner followed by coffee and Petit Fours. We are including half a bottle of wine per person in our price which will be served with your meal. For this evening we will be joining other guests, but we have secured a number of tables so all the Spice members will be sitting together. After dinner, the disco will have us boogie-ing the night away on the dance floor until the wee hours! (2.00a.m. finish) Arrive from 3.00p.m. on Tuesday to check in All rooms offer en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, colour TV, telephone, internet access, radio and hairdryer. You can chill out or perhaps take advantage of the LivingWell Health Club or Spa Treatments. Breakfast the next day is also included, plus a New Year’s Day Guided Walk around the picturesque countryside with our Spice Host – guaranteed to work-off that hangover! After the walk the overnight package includes a Jazz Brunch with late checkout at 14.00.
Magical Mystery Circus Sleepover Party Date: Place: Cost:
Tue 31st Dec 2013 - Wed 1st Jan 2014 Crowne Plaza Birmingham (B40 1PS) Arrive during afternoon £109 Member Twin, £89 Twin Share - SOFA BED, £109 Double Bed Share, £139 Single (Deposit £20) Includes: 1 night at the 4 star deluxe Crowne Plaza, with drinks reception & fun quiz with tea and coffee, party with an amazing buffet and disco, New Years Day Brunch. Spice coordinators at Hotel throughout. Extras: We will add £20 supplement to guest bookings Every year this party gets bigger and more exciting! “Roll up Roll up Step this way for the Magical Mystery Circus”. This year we are transforming the Crowne Plaza into “the Big Top” for an incredible Party. The Party: Professional theming will recreate the Circus and fairground with side stalls, entertainment and a few surprises. A DJ will follow the theme with a range of music to entertain us. The chefs will create a range of food stations showcasing fantastic food at Pablo Fanque’s Olde Pig and Beef Roast, Mr Kites Food Emporium, Henderson’s Marvellous Deli and Lovely Rita’s Candy Store.Those who have been to our New Yea Parties before will also be pleased to note that the party is being held upstairs at the hotel so that we create one large party room this year. We’ll have a traditional countdown to 2014 and no doubt some surprises along the way. There will be a drinks reception in the afternoon (approx 5pm) and then we meet up later for our party. For those able to arrive earlier still, there is also a fun quiz at 3.30pm with tea and coffee provided. Up to 200 members are expected and Spice is taking over the whole hotel, so expect a very special celebration. Fancy Dress: Oh What A Circus! This can be as simple as being one of the audience at a circus, to the wackiest outfit. As ever, fancy dress is not essential but is always fun and there is usually a prize for the best. The Sleepover: The 4 star deluxe Crowne Plaza Birmingham NEC, is a great place to stay. Following the party, we can return to our superbly appointed bedrooms, with truly luxurious beds and fluffy pillows! We can then discuss our New Year’s resolutions whilst enjoying a leisurely“Brunch” in the Restaurant overlooking Pendigo Lake (where you ended up swimming naked the night before.. don’t you remember!).We have various room options including a reduced cost “sofabed” room where you would be twinned in a room where the second bed is a temporary one but is made up to the same high standard as the others. Sofa Bed Option: Some of the twin rooms we use have a double bed plus a sofa bed that the hotel make up for us to the same high standard as the main bed but it is smaller and less comfortable. Feedback from last year was that it seemed unfair for both people to pay the same price, so we have agreed a significant price reduction for the person who takes the sofa bed option this year. Extra Night: There is also an extra night option (see separate event) if you want to arrive a day early and make it a 2 night stay.
Cirque Du Soleil - Quidam Date: Place: Cost:
Tuesday 14th January 2014 Royal Albert Hall Kensington Gore,London (SW7 2AP) Meet at Door 8 - Spice Sign at 7:15pm £49.99 Member Early Booking, £52.99 Guest Early Booking Includes discounted ticket, booking fee and Spice host. We have a number of tickets held at a ‘early booking’ th price so to get the best price you need to book before the 30 September after that date the price will go up. Sorry we cannot refund on tickets unless we are able to re-sell your ticket. We meet at 7.15p.m. so that we can have a pre-show drink in the bar. Public Price is £62.50 We have excellent seats in the front rows of the Circle Cirque du Soleil, are bringing its startling show Quidam to London “a show so extraordinary it makes the impossible come true”. Quidam is a dazzling show seen by millions all over the world that contains all the elements Cirque du Soleil is famous for: astonishing acrobatics, awe-inspiring aerial acts, unique lighting and an elaborate set design.This is your opportunity to buy a ticket and join Spice members on this special night out. If you want a night of beauty, awe and wonderment book your ticket now…..
Spice Ski Trip 1 Les Arcs / Vallandry Date: Place: Cost:
Sun 26th Jan 2014 - Sun 2nd Feb 2014 La Forest, Les Arcs/Vallandy, France Gatwick Flights) £795 Member (Deposit £130) Includes Flights, Airport Tax, Hotel Accommodation on Half Board Basis Extras: Area Pass Ski Hire, Ski Boots, Ski Hire and Ski School (prices to be confirmed) For our 1st Spice ski trip for the 2014 season we are returning to the slopes in the very popular resort of Vallandry/Les Arcs in France. We have been to this resort before and with it being a ski in and ski out resort it was a very popular trip and definitely worth another visit. Vallandry is one of six separate villages making up Les Arcs, one of France’s renowned ski resorts. The diversity of these villages ranges from Villaroger, a huddle of ancient farm buildings, to the purpose built Arc 2000, with its modern high rise hotels and apartments. Vallandry sits amongst the trees on a sunny plateau and is made of chalets built from local wood and stone. The centre, which is about 400m along the piste from our Chalet Hotel La Foret, has a lively charm and an assortment of shops, bars and restaurants. The skiing is as diverse as the villages themselves. From the steep bowls around Arc 2000, to the wide pistes of 1600, and the tree lined slopes running down to Vallandry, there is skiing to suit everyone’s requirements. La Foret is finished to a high standard to give comfortable communal areas and large bedrooms. The lounge is dressed in warm, deep colours, with sofas and chairs gathered around coffee tables and a large log fire to add an extra glow to the room. Adjoining is the dining room where circular tables allow all guests to sit down together to enjoy fabulous evening meals. All bedrooms are en-suite and rooms vary in size, views, balconies and are allocated on a pot luck basis. We have some twins, triples and double rooms. There is a large south-west facing terrace which is fantastic place to sit and relax with a drink on your return from skiing to watch the snow-capped peaks opposite turn red with the last of the day’s sunshine. Our meals include buffet breakfast, afternoon tea with cakes, and 3 course dinner with complimentary wine. The Tour Operator is Ski Olympic (ATOL 2508) for whom we act as agents and the Terms and Conditions of booking is as per their Brochure. Your money is protected via a Trust Account in compliance with EEC Travel Regulations.
Cardiff Wine Tasting Evening Date: Thursday 30th January 2014 Place: Havannah Street, Cardiff (CF10 5SD) St David's Hotel & Spa from 8:15am to 8:30pm Cost: £20 Includes: Wine tasting with over 30 different wines, Spice Host The format is simple – You’ll be greeted and provided with a glass, which is yours to keep. You then simply pass from table to table at your own pace tasting which ever wines you like. Laithwaite's staff will be there to serve you and we invite you to discuss the wines, or anything else with them if you wish. Over 30 favourites from our range will be available for you to try, from everyday drinking through to classic and fine wine, including some old heroes as well as new and unusual styles that you might not have had the opportunity to try before. There will be a sprinkling of sparkling wines, dessert wines, and fortified too – a real assortment from all corners of the wine world. Water, biscuits and a little cheese will be provided to help ‘soak up’ the wine. It’s also worth knowing that any orders made on the evening will benefit from a 10% discount and free delivery.
Spice Ski Trip 2 - Verbier Date: Place: Cost: Extras:
Sat 15th Mar 2014 - Sat 22nd Mar 2014 Verbier, Switzerland £769 (Deposit £130) Includes Flights, Airport Tax, Hotel Accommodation on Half Board Basis Area Ski Pass, Ski Boots & Ski/Snowboard Hire and Ski School, Insurance (prices to be confirmed) Our Spice London Ski trips are always brilliant fun they are a sociable way of getting onto the slopes with a like-minded crowd of ski buddies and are great for all abilities as you always have someone to ski with (or après ski with)! For our second ski trip this season, Spice London is very excited to be heading to Verbier in Switzerland, a new destination for us. Two years ago our Zermatt trip sold out very fast and this is sure to be another big hit! Verbier, is surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and its four huge valleys and 400km of varied pistes make it deservedly one of Switzerland’s top resorts. Despite its exclusive image Verbier has managed to retain most of its alpine charm, its nightlife and après ski are nearly as famous its endless skiing opportunities. Skiing in Verbier For beginners, there is an excellent ski school and sunny nursery slopes both in the village and at Les Essserts and some easy blue runs at La Chaux. For Intermediate skiers Verbier provides a variety of blue and challenging red runs on varied terrain, the 4 valleys cover a huge area so we are able to really put some miles in especially with the efficient Swiss lift system. For expert skiers Verbier offers some of the most challenging skiing in the Alps with a variety of tough reds, exhilarating blacks and is renowned for its steep itinerary runs and outstanding off-piste. Apres Ski The apres ski is throbbing, on the slopes there is the popular Rocks bar at Ruinettes and in town the Médran is great for people watching. Chalet Hotel de Verbier Conveniently located on the 'Place Centrale', Chalet Hotel de Verbier provides a superb base from which to explore Verbier's spectacular ski area. The Medran gondolas, which provide the main access from the centre of the resort up to Les Ruinettes and on to La Chaux and Mont Fort, are less than 5 minutes' walk away. The hotel is furnished in an attractively rustic Swiss style and provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with reception, comfortable lounge with log fire, where afternoon tea and cake is served daily, and an adjoining bar. Includes buffet breakfast and 5 course evening meal, including pre-dinner aperitif and a choice of complimentary wines with dinner, Enjoyed in a separate traditionally-styled dining room. The Tour operator is inghams (ATOL 0025, ABTA V4871) for whom we act as agents and the Terms and Conditions of booking is as per their Brochure. Your money is protected via a Trust Account in compliance with EEC Travel Regulations.
Mini Break to Stockholm Date: Place: Cost:
Thu 24th Apr 2014 - Sun 27th Apr 2014 3* Star Hotel Rex, Stockholm Heathrow Airport departure £479 Member Twin Share, £609 Member Single (Deposit £150)
Includes: Return Flights from London Heathrow to Stockholm, transfers to/from hotel, 3 nights’ accommodation in a central hotel, sharing a twin room (we will link up shares); Breakfast each morning of our stay; Stockholm Tour & Vasa Museum entrance; Services of a Spice Coordinator throughout. Extras: Meals other than breakfast. Extra tours/ entry fees (other than on day tour). Holiday Insurance is compulsory. This can be obtained from Spice UK (www.spiceuk.com) or privately. Single room option £130 (otherwise we will link twin shares). Stockholm: Stockholm is the largest city in Scandinavia. It’s the place towards which people from all over Scandinavia gravitate. Beauty, food, design, music, shopping and history – Stockholm has it all. Stockholm, one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, is built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges. With its 750 year history and rich cultural life, Stockholm offers a wide selection of world-class museums and attractions. Most of the city's attractions can be reached on foot, and there’s a good chance of experiencing a lot of things in a short time. You can visit Stockholm City Hall and climb the City Hall tower for a fantastic view of Stockholm. The green island of Djurgården is home to some of the city's most popular attractions. Visit the world-famous warship the Vasa, the world’s oldest open-air museum Skansen, or Astrid Lindgren’s Junibacken. Our Tour (Saturday Morning): “Introducing Stockholm and the Vasa Museum”: Stockholm is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s most beautiful cities and is often called the Venice of Scandinavia. Dramatically situated at a point where the cobalt blue Lake Mälaren meets and clashes with the darker hue of the Baltic Sea, the city has been splendidly endowed by nature. Eating & Drinking: A buffet breakfast is included to start the day, but other meals are not. There is no shortage of places to eat out in the evening. It is usual for us to split into smaller groups for eating out and then to meet up in the many bars. The tour operator for this flight inclusive holiday is Spice UK (Atol 9046). This holiday is protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under the ATOL scheme in the event of failure of the tour operator.
For your free information pack, contact your local SPICE group SPICE UK (Head Office) National Co-ordinator: Dave Smith 13, Thorpe Street, Old Trafford, Manchester, M16 9PR Tel: 0161 873 8788 Fax: 0161 848 9465 Website: www.spiceuk.com E-mail: info@spiceuk.com SPICE (West Midlands) Co-ordinator: Richard Coulter 6a, Burnett Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield West Midlands, B74 3EJ Tel: 0121 353 6161 Fax: 0121 353 6861 info@spicebham.com www.spicebham.com
SPICE (London) Co-ordinator: Dianne Livingstone 330 High Holborn London, WC1V 7QT Tel: 0845 604 8041 Fax: n/a dianne@spicelondon.co.uk www.spicelondon.co.uk
SPICE (Scotland) Co-ordinator: Jamie Morris Suite 2, 81-85 Portland Street Edinburgh, EH6 4AY Tel: 0131 553 0026 Fax: 0131 553 0027 info@spicescotland.com www.spicescotland.com
SPICE (Bristol & Cardiff) Co-ordinator: Dianne Livingstone 130 Aztec Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UB Tel: 0742 959 8414 Fax: n/a dianne@spicebristolcardiff.com www.spicebristolcardiff.com
SPICE (Manchester) Co-ordinator: Lauren Fawkes The Stables, 11 Poplar Road Stretford, Manchester, M32 9AN Tel: 0161 864 3849 Fax: 08444 120 996 info@spicemcr.com www.spicemcr.com
SPICE (Thames Valley & Solent) Co-ordinator: Dominic Renshaw 118, Shiplake Bottom, Peppard Common, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 5HR Tel: 0118 972 4810 dominic@thamesvalleyspice.co.uk www.thamesvalleyspice.co.uk
SPICE (East Midlands) Co-ordinator: Steve Dell Foxhall Business Centre, 2 King Street, Nottingham, NG1 2AS Tel: 0845 017 1031 Fax: n/a office@spiceeastmids.com www.spiceeastmids.com
SPICE (Yorkshire) Co-ordinator: Neal Morris 33 Great George Street, Leeds, LS1 3AJ Tel: 0845 094 22 00 Fax: n/a info@spiceyorks.com www.spiceyorks.com
Spice Extras Save on your shopping & travel The Spice Extras web site gives Spice members access to vouchers and special offers from over 100 different retailers, service providers and travel companies. Visit www.spiceextras.co.uk to register and save £££’s on your shopping & travel.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Policy Evening and one day events
Providing you give us more than seven days (includes weekends and bank holidays) notice you will receive a full refund as a Credit Note, less a Cancellation Fee of 20% of the cost of the event or £3 whichever is the higher amount. (except where stated otherwise in the Newsletter event description). Credit Notes are valid for 12 months and only redeemable against events. Ticketed events: Note: Theatre, Concerts, etc. These are nonrefundable unless we can resell your place, as tickets will have already been purchased.
Overnight Events and events costing over £100
Note: This excludes overseas trips which have a separate Holiday Cancellation Policy. Providing you give us more twenty eight days (includes weekends and bank holidays) notice you will receive a full refund as a Credit Note, less a Cancellation Fee of 20% of the cost of the event or £3 whichever is the higher amount. (except where stated otherwise in the Newsletter event description). Credit Notes are valid for 12 months and only redeemable against events.
Holidays and Overseas trips
Note: More than three overnights or outside UK. Cancellation is as per the Tour Operators Terms and Conditions as supplied with Holiday Information Packs. Cancellation must be in writing. A back up phone call is recommended. You should assume you are still booked until you have written confirmation of your cancellation.
General
Where cancellation is received within the cancellation period prior to an event, you will lose all monies paid (and also be liable for any balance) unless we can replace you. If you simply do not turn up for an event without contacting us you will automatically forfeit any monies paid, and will be liable for any balance.
Should Spice Cancel an event.....
Should Spice cancel any event you will be refunded directly back by the payment method used. Our policy is that wherever possible we will always issue a refund.
The ‘Nuts & Bolts’ of Spice
Office Hours
9.00a.m. - 5.00p.m. Monday to Friday. 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 – www.bristolcardiff.com Telephone – 0742 959 8414 or 01276 479253 Post - Simply complete and return the membership form along with your cheque, credit card details or completed direct debit mandate.
Booking Events
Online – www.bristolcardiff.com Telephone – 0742 959 8414 or 01276 479253 Post - complete and return the booking form along with your cheque or credit card details. Bookings are only secure when payment has been received.
Credit Notes
please remember to quote the number when booking.
Late Bookings
Slots do sometimes become available at the last minute due to cancellations, you can call the office check availability.
Event Info
All event information and descriptions are correct at the time of going to print, errors and omissions and exceptional circumstances excepted
Photographs
Please be aware front cover photos are sourced from all Spice Groups nationwide and do not represent any specific event advertised in this newsletter.
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
Please ring the Spice Office 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.
Transport Share
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.
Most Importantly
Spice is all about enjoying yourself – remember to have lots and lots of fun!!! Never simply “turn up” at a Spice event as this is unfair to those who have taken the time to book and it may mean a wasted journey if we cannot accommodate you.
How the Spice Money Goes Around
We get a lot of questions about how Spice runs from a business point of view. So I thought members might be interested in a little information on how ‘the money is spent'. Is Spice a business? Yes we are a commercial business we seek to operate at profit, which then pays our salaries. However, we differ from the general commercial world because those running Spice Groups have made what Accountants describe as a ‘lifestyle choice’ - choosing to leave perhaps better paid jobs/careers to do something they love and believe in. Another difference is the valuable contribution made to the group by keen volunteers which helps us to keep costs down.
What are the major costs? Obviously staff comes pretty high on the list, plus the usual costs of running a business, the telephone, postage, printing, motoring, and IT bills and then professional fees and insurance (try telling your insurance company you run fire eating!). However, there are some areas of cost, which are often overlooked by members. One is the cost of producing, printing, packing and posting the newsletters and holiday supplements, six times per year. Another is banking/credit card charges because of the huge number of transactions between so many members and events by cheque, direct debit and credit card. The other big 'hidden' cost is VAT. The 'vatman' is a particularly large 'cuckoo in the Spice nest' as most of our activity suppliers are not VAT registered yet we have to be. This means that we have to allow the full VAT amount in most of our costs without being able to claim any back. We also have the cost of recruiting members (info packs, new member packs, advertising etc).
Where does income come from? Membership Fees: As a membership organisation, a proportion of our big costs are covered by the fees we receive for membership. Then a portion is returned to Spice UK to pay for the national structure of Spice and the administration of national initiatives and events.
Event Income: We always try to achieve a price to members which is competitive (often significantly lower than a 'public price') yet also covers our costs (administration of the event, the VAT, a co-ordinator).
What is an 'admin fee' ? Some events, usually concerts or meals, are priced by the suppliers in such a way that we can only charge members the cost price to us for an event (e.g. no advance or group booking discount). When this occurs we will sometimes levy an ‘admin fee’ (usually £3) to cover our costs (time spent booking, organising, promoting and co-ordinating the event). This allows us to keep such shows in the programme.
Why do ticket prices show a different price from the newsletter? Theatre/concert tickets always have printed on them the final ticket price paid by Spice after any group discount has been deducted. This printed amount does not include any booking fee paid by Spice (often £3 or £4 per ticket). This type of ticket almost always has to be bought and paid for in advance and we have to take a risk that we sell all of the tickets bought. We therefore have to price the tickets to members accordingly so that we can hopefully pass on some of group booking discount without risking a loss if sales are poor. Over time you’ll find sometimes we win ... sometimes we lose ... sometimes we just break even!
Why we charge for walks and rambles? All walks and rambles have to be researched and checked, we need to know that the paths/roads are still open and accessible. Can you imagine the mayhem if 30 people walked for 10 miles only to find that a path was blocked and they had to walk another 10 miles to return to their cars! Walk leaders are paid for their services the same as any other supplier whether they are a Spice member or not.
Booking Form NAME: ........................................................................................................................
Home tel. : ............................................... Work tel. : ....................................................
Mobile : ..................................................... email address ………………………………… Event Title Please also provide any additional information here, if requested in the event write-up. (e.g. Weight, size, height). If booking more than 1 slot, state names and if members or guests.
Date of Event
How many slots?
Member Cost/Deposit
Non Member Cost/Deposit (see event or 10% extra if not stated)
Total now due Less credit notes or vouchers (must be enclosed) GRAND TOTAL: Cheques payable to Spice Bristol & Cardiff
Total £ (guests at 10% extra unless otherwise stated)
£ £ £
Payment by Credit Card (see below) Card Number ...................................................................................
Security Code .............................. (3 digit code on back of card)
Card Type ......................
Expiry Date ............/.....................
Issue number if SWITCH card ............
Name on Card ................................................................................
Date ...............................................
SPICE Bristol & Cardiff, 130 Aztec, Aztec West Business Park, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4UB 0742 959 8414 Online Booking : www.spicebristolcardiff.com email dianne@spicebristolcardiff.com You can book online or complete and return this form to Spice Bristol & Cardiff, 130 Aztec, Aztec West Business Park, Almondsbury, Bristol, BS32 4UB. You are welcome to book guests (PLEASE STATE NAMES) on events if we have space. Please ring to check availability on 0742 959 8414. Remember - you snooze, you lose, you rest, you rust!!! It’s a good idea to make a note of your bookings - you could use the calendar on the inside of the front cover. We confirm all bookings by email and we’ll gladly send you a print-out of your current bookings if you enclose an SAE. Don’t hesitate to ring the SPICE office if anything is unclear or if you need extra information or help. Remember if you book less than a week before the event please ring to confirm that you are booked
Spice Bristol & Cardiff Terms and Conditions of Booking Important points to note: Whilst we will do our best to help you get to events, the responsibility of getting to an event rests solely with yourself. If you book an event and you don’t have transport and find that you cannot get to the event the cancellation policy will still apply. If you are due to attend an event but do not have all the information that you feel you need, contact the office in plenty of time. We may not be able to respond to you on the day of your request or it may take a day or so for us to obtain the information. Check your email – additional information is often sent by email. As a guideline you should always have joining instructions for a weekend event at least ONE WEEK before the event starts.
General Terms and Conditions for Weekends As per The Package Travel Regulations Act, 1992. These will be overridden by each individual supplier but are universal to most package suppliers. SPICE Bristol & Cardiff, unless the supplier of the package, only acts as an agent in the sale of the package. No part of this website or the newsletter represents a brochure under the definition of the Package Travel Regulations, all events are listed for the convenience of the members and are for advertising purposes only. The following terms and conditions will apply in respect of SPICE Bristol & Cardiff overnight events. Balances for weekend events are one month prior unless otherwise stated in the event description.
Price Alteration:
Cancellation
We reserve the right to alter the cost for any variation in transportation, including fuel costs, duties, taxes (e.g. VAT rate change) or fees chargeable for services such as landing, embarkation at ports/airports., exchange rate changes for overseas holidays. Notwithstanding the above we will not increase the price less than 30 days before departure. We will not pass on the first 2% of the first permitted price variation. Should the price increase significantly beyond the contractual price we will advise as soon as we can in order that you can decide whether you wish to withdraw without penalty.
See Spice Cancellation Policy.
Complaints Complaints relevant to any aspect of the Spice Bristol & Cardiff Overnight Event as performed should in the first instance be made as soon as possible to the Spice co-ordinator if present or other official. If you make a complaint upon return from your Overnight Event it must be made in writing to Spice Bristol & Cardiff within 10 days of return.
Insurance For any Overnight Event arranged by Spice Bristol & Cardiff which is to take place in Britain, Spice Bristol & Cardiff takes out British Activity Holiday Insurance Services on each member’s behalf. This insurance covers Public and Product Liability risks. You will be covered by your Member Accident Insurance which is part of your Spice membership. This is not a travel insurance policy and will not cover you for cancellation for an insurable reason such as emergency assistance etc. Each member is responsible for ensuring that he/she has taken out adequate insurance for any Overnight Event you have booked.
Any Agreed Special Requests Any requirements which you have indicated on your booking form have been forwarded to the organisers.
Emergency Contact
Spice Bristol & Cardiff office : 0845 604 8041 (24 hour answer phone) Mobile 07702 046730
Medical Condition
Please inform Spice Bristol & Cardiff if you have any medical condition or are taking medication which may affect your participation.
Security
Deposits and prepayments are secured by being deposited in a designated account.
Baggage & Personal Effects: Spice Bristol & Cardiff will not be responsible for loss or damage to baggage, personal effects, money or documents.
Guest Bookings: Guests of Spice Bristol & Cardiff members are permitted to attend Spice Bristol & Cardiff short breaks once Spice Bristol & Cardiff members have had first option to book Overnight Events. Spice Bristol & Cardiff members will be responsible for their guests.
Transfer of booking: Up to three weeks prior to the date on which the Overnight Event commences you may transfer your booking to another Spice Bristol & Cardiff member of the same sex (which is necessary for accommodation purposes). Subject to Spice Bristol & Cardiff Cancellation Policy you will be liable to pay the full cost of the Overnight Event if the Spice Bristol & Cardiff member to whom you transferred the booking fails to pay for the Overnight Event in full.
Liability Spice Bristol & Cardiff will not be liable to compensate you for any damage or loss of enjoyment in respect of your Overnight Event if the failure in the enjoyment was your fault, or could not have been reasonably foreseen or avoided by Spice Bristol & Cardiff or if the failure in your arrangements was the result of the actions of someone unconnected with your arrangements. Spice Bristol & Cardiff’s liability to compensate for any damage or loss (including both direct and indirect loss of enjoyment) will not in any event be greater than the price paid by you for the Overnight Event. If you suffer death or personal injury Spice Bristol & Cardiff will only be liable to compensate you if the death or personal injury is a result of Spice Bristol & Cardiff’s or a Spice Co-ordinator’s negligence.
Event Participation By accepting these terms and conditions you agree to accept the authority and decisions of your Spice Event Co-ordinator accompanying your party.
Join-in with the fun & Book these fun events…. Walking Weekend Oban & the Highlands Friday 11�� Oct to Sunday 13�� Oct Oban is set in stunning scenery, for this weekend we will have two groups of walkers. The easy group will explore two of the nearby islands, for the harder walking group it’s of to hike along some of the mountain ridges. We are staying at the spectacular Caledonian hotel near the centre and right on the harbour, a great location.
New Year’s Eve Party Cruise on the Thames 31�� December to 8:00 to 1:30 am
For those party animals in Spice we are off to Butlins in Skegness for a 70’ style party weekend with lots of great music performed bands from the 70’s including Slade, Mud & Alvin Stardust plus tribute bands to Blondie & T-Rex. There are also lots of fun things to do during the daytime including the Splash water-world, a funfair, ten-pin bowling and adventure golf.
A cruise on the Thames at new year is something special and this year is even more special since we have our own party boat just for Spice! We leave Westminster Pier and start with a buffet supper, which includes house wine, beer for the evening and a disco. We will cruise up & down the river and at midnight try to get close to Big Ben for the countdown to 2014. Join us for the night, or an option for either a 1 or 2 night stay at the Thistle Kensington, so no worries about getting home, don’t miss the boat!
Leisure & Chill-Out Luxury Lodges in Devon Friday 18�� Oct to Monday 21�� Oct
New Year Mini Break in Venice 30�� Dec to 2ⁿ� Jan 2014
Butlins 70’s Party Weekend Friday 11�� Oct to Monday 14�� Oct
A chance to chill-out with some walking, cycling and exploring the area. Our luxury lodges have a hot-tub to relax, we are staying at Finlake Park set in 130 acres of lovely Devon countryside. There is plenty to do including a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, tennis, gym and horse riding available. There is even an organic farm shop which is a great breakfast, lunch or dinner option.
We aren't actually staying in Venice itself but are based in nearby Treviso which is a beautiful medieval town and is well-worth exploring. And It is only a 40 minute Walking Weekend - Cheddar & Mendip Hills train ride into Venice, no Friday 1�� Nov to Sunday 3�� Nov doubt we will take advantage and arrange A weekend suited to all levels of walkers, pleasant gentle strolls and a group to explore the canals and for those wanting slightly more slightly more challenging walks. All famous buildings. We are staying at the lovely 4* Park with some great scenery thrown-in. Hotel Bolognese, our break includes a New year’s Eve Party with dinner Center Parcs - Longleat & music. This promises to be a brilliant trip so book now to avoid missing out. Friday 15�� Nov to Monday 18�� Nov Not so as far as our Summer Nottingham Center Parcs but just as much fun, join Spice members in this big party weekend with plenty to do in the day, Aqua Sauna & Spa, Racket sports, Ten pin bowling or just relax. Saturday is party night with this year’s theme is Song Titles.
Bristol & Bath Christmas Markets Social Weekend Friday 29�� Nov to Sunday 1�� Dec This is a weekend to explore both of these great cities, there is so much to see Brunel’s stunning Clifton suspension bridge & SS Great Britain in Bristol to the world heritage city of Bath. The emphasis will be on a relaxed flexible social weekend with fellow Spice members.
Spice Christmas Party 2013 Saturday 14�� Dec from 7pm Our Christmas party this year is at the elegant Alveston House Hotel,where we have our own private party for Spice members. We are having a tasty 3-course dinner with a disco till 1am. You also have an option to arrive early and enjoy the facilities before the party and stay overnight and enjoy a breakfast before checking out.
Winter 2014 Skiing to Les Arc & Verbier January & March 2014 Our London Ski trips are always brilliant fun and our trips to the Alps for the 2014 season look to be another fantastic season, lots of Spice members have already booked! Skiing with Spice means you always have a great bunch of people with similar ability to ski with during the day and to party with for that all-important Ares-Ski. In January we are returning to Les Arc / Villandry in France, a brilliant ski area suited to all levels, the hotel Foret is right on the piste. For our March trip to the slopes, we are very excited to be heading for a brand new resort (for us) of Verbier in Switzerland. Take a look at the main entry in the newsletter or go to our web site for more information.
See you on the Piste!
Make the most of your Spice membership!
Fun & Spicy Autumn Weekend Breaks We have something for everyone in Spice with our Autumn weekend breaks! for October: Try our brilliant autumn walking weekends in Wiltshire, Oban & the Scottish highlands, the Vale of Llangollen in Wales or Langdale in the Lake District or walk the Dorset Coastal Path. Or just Chill-Out with other Spicers in Luxury Lodges in Devon or try Sailing the Solent. We are also running a number of workshop weekends including Photography, Creative Clay, Drawing & Watercolour and improving our Skills for the Hills. Finally for Spice party animals dont forget our Butlins party weekend in Skegness.
for November: For new members we have a relaxed walking weekend in Wales, for all Spicers try a fun-packed break to Longleat Center Parcs. Grab your camera for some fantastic photo opportunities in our Magic of Venice trip. Our walking program is packed with fun including Sidmouth in Devon, the New Forest, Shropshire, Cheddar & the Mendips & Snowdonia. Or just relax on our Bristol & Bath Christmas markets & Social weekend.
for December:
Tis the season to be jolly and Spice have some cracking weekends this month! Christmas at Center Parcs, a national Christmas break in Manchester and a Twixtmas Snowdonia walking break. To see-in the new year try Hogmanay in Edinburgh or our fantastic mini break to Venice. In London you can cruise on the Thames with a supper & party and stay in town at the Thistle in Kensington for either 1 or 2 nights.
h Spice t i w n Au t u m
Book now events!
Many of our events are repeated, but some events are a one-off or are seasonal and others get booked very quickly. We wouldn’t want you to miss-out on that amazing must do event, so here here are a few suggestions. Don’t miss out on the fun Book Now!
Butlins 70’s Party Weekend in Skegness - 11�� October Dinner Shuffle The Living Room Bristol - 19�� October Murder Mystery Walk Cardiff City - 25�� October Live Music & Jazz plus Supper in Bath - 1�� November Introduction to Sailing in Cardiff Bay - 10�� November Fire Eating & Breathing Workshop - 24�� November RSBP Newport Wetlands Guided Walk - 30�� November Spice Christmas Party 2013 Thornbury, Bristol - 14�� December Mince Pies Special on a Steam Train - 29�� December
Spice Bristol & Cardiff www.spicebristolcardiff.com | 0742 959 8414 or 01276 479253 130 Aztec | Almondsbury | Bristol | BS32 4UB