July 2024 Newsletter
Dear Friends,
At last !!
After countless weeks of cold, windy and rainy weather, summer finally arrived last week. And what a relief: the sunny terraces at Bar71 were soon doing brisk business, the village was immediately alive to the sound of barbeques being cleaned and the air was promptly thick with the acrid smell of sausages being burned. It is the soundtrack of an English summer.
For those of us involved with running BVH, it has been a busy and rewarding few weeks. We were delighted to act as a host for the village's D-Day splendid commemorations and we welcomed a hungry crowd to an absolutely fantastic Thai Food Night. We have been screening the Euros and enjoying the sparkling displays of attractive free-flowing football by the England team. We have filled the place with another darts competition and we have hosted a terrific 18th birthday party. And, being always on the look-out for new ways to serve, we have opened our meeting room (at the rear of the building) to two local artists who will be 'in residence' for the next few weeks, running their own Open Studio !
My own highlight was not a BVH event at all - but a profound expression of community nonetheless. The beacon lighting event on the evening of the D-Day anniversary was truly magical: people gathered in friendship, our village choir sang beautifully and our Parish Council Chair spoke most wonderfully about the men that left our village in 1940, some to return in 1945 to their ordinary lives, and some......... Times will change and the challenges we face will come and go - but I have rarely felt as fortunate to live in our blissfully, timelessly peaceful corner of England as I did on that beautiful sunlit evening.
How blessed we are !
With kindest regards,
John Wareham
For the Brancaster Village Hall & Bar Committee
Regular Groups
The weekly programme of groups and clubs looks like this for the next few weeks.
Yoga on Monday evenings, 6.30pm to 8.00pm
Baby & Toddler Group on Tuesday mornings, 9.30am to 11.30am
Coffee Morning on Wednesday mornings,10.30am to 11.45am
Mobile Library Van, Thursday 27th July, 1.55pm to 2.30pm
And elsewhere....
A couple of other happenings for you to enjoy......
Open Studio / Artists' Residency: 1st July to 31st July. Open every day.
Held in the meeting room at the back of the Hall, Lillian (LHS Art) and AJ (AJ’s Original Art) will be displaying and selling their contemporary original art for the month of July. Let's show our support by visiting and browsing their paintings, textile art, drawings and much more. Everyone is very welcome - so please drop by to take a look.
Martin's Cash Bingo: Saturday 20th July, 7.30opm to 10.30pm
This popular evening, ideal for those that like their bingo a little spicier, has become a regular monthly event.
Dates for Your Diary
Once again, all eyes are on the major social event of the year
Brancaster Summer Party: Saturday 3rd August
Preparations continue and we are now delighted to confirm that the day's festivities will include a CAKE COMPETITION !!!! And not just any old cake competition - but an Olympic-themed cake competition !!
Adults are invited to make an 8 inch cake of any flavour.
Children (up to the age of 14 years) are invited to make 4 cupcakes
All cakes must be decorated in an Olympics theme
Entry is free - so please bring your cakes to the Hall between 3.00pm and 4.00pm - where they will be judged, before being sold at the end of the day.
Note: This year, please could somebody remember to buy Patric's Cake ? His entry attracted no interest at all last year - and it remains a source of great sadness to our good friend. So, this year please could one kind person buy it. It won't be a very nice cake, but you will be performing an act of great kindness. (In event of there being significant interest in Patric's Cake, we will hold an impromptu auction, where the cake will go to the highest bidder).
Details of all events, clubs and food vans are posted in the 'What's On ?' section of our website and on our pages on Facebook and Instagram.
If you would like more information about any event in the calendar, please send us an email. Please also let us know if you would like to discuss booking a regular time for any new groups that would like to use the Hall.
NOTE: We can now be reached on the following email: bvhsetup@gmail.com
Once again, we look forward to a busy timetable of events in Bar71 coming up - with excitement already at fever pitch about England's exciting run to victory in the UEFA European Football Championship. It's definitely, definitely, definitely coming home (maybe !).
Neil the Bar and his excellent team are keen to see as many of you as possible.....
Thursday 4th July: Skittles 8.00pm
Friday 5th July: Euros Quarter Finals KO 5.00pm and 8.00pm
Friday 5th July: Darts Match 8.00pm
Sat 6th July: Euros Quarter Finals KO 5.00pm and 8.00pm
Tuesday 9th July: Euros Semi Final KO 8.00pm
Wednesday 10th July: Euros Semi Final KO 8.00pm
Thursday 11th July: Quiz Night 8.00pm
Saturday 13th July: Private Party 2.00pm-7.00pm
Sunday 14th July: Euros Final KO 8.00pm
Thu 18th July: Skittles 8.00pm
Friday 19th July: Darts Match 8.00pm
Thursday 25th July: Quiz Night 8.00pm
New Beers for July
We will be refreshing our wine list in the next few weeks, but for the time being, you will be interested to know that Neil has arranged some new beers for your enjoyment.
From Moongazer: Euro 2024 special, limited edition, ‘SKIPPER’ a 4.4% abv mid strength session beer for those who like an IPA or a pale ale.
From Greene King: New Craft IPA ‘Hazy Day’. A 4.3% abv, fresh, smooth, slightly cloudy and fruity pale ale with orange and citrus tropical flavours. Perfect for hot, sunny days.
Opening Hours
Normal hours 5.00pm-10.00pm Wednesday to Saturday and from Midday to 5.00pm on Sunday.
We will open at 4.00pm for all Euro Football games kicking off at 5.00pm.
As ever, we thank you for your thirsty support and look forward to seeing you very soon !!!
Mark Eldridge normally writes this section - but he is taking a few days off and very well-deserved they are !!
So, perhaps this month's 'News from the Shop' section should come from me (on our collective behalf) and take the form of an open letter of thanks to Mark and his team for the truly fantastic venue that our village shop has become.
The range of goods is amazing, the friendliness of the service is unfailing, the Post Office is more accessible.
The village is very grateful to you, Mark. Thanks to you and the entire team !!
As ever, please get in touch if you would like to:
Rent the Hall for a private function - a party, a christening or a wedding.
Make a suggestion about new events, if you would like to start a new group or activity, join an existing group or even help with the running of BVH.
Apply for a job in Bar71 - for a large or a small number of shifts.
For enquiries, please email us: bvhsetup@gmail.com
Find out more, visit our website: www.brancastervillagehall.communitybookings.co.uk
© 2021 Brancaster Village Hall, All rights reserved.
Registered Company: The Simms Reeve Institute Brancaster, Main Road, Brancaster, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE31 8AA
Company Number: 1180739 | VAT number: 309 4094 06
Our mailing address is:
Brancaster Village Hall
Brancaster Village Hall
Main Road, Brancaster
King's Lynn, Norfolk PE31 8AA
United Kingdom