Just thought I'd give this one a little lift.
Have you booked this yet Chris?

If its a nice day I might pop down for a drive...

Hi friends!

I rang the Grasshopper last week and spoke to a junior member of staff who suggested we needed to speak to their 'events manager' and muttered something about £50.00 to hire a room!

I have been trying to get hold of the manager and today I have been successful (or not!!).

She has confirmed that they will not be able to accommodate us in the general restaurant at all that day and that the Churchill Room is available for £50.00 (all day) and that holds 20 Max.

Does anybody know if this has changed owners since we have never had this before?! She also muttered dark threats about needing car marshals in case we got lively! I assured her that we were (are) just normal law abiding citizens.

So we probably need a new venue with a large car park and in Kent or Surrey who don't want to charge us the privilege of sitting down for an hour or so!- any ideas?

I think we just turn up and go in for a sunday roast when we are ready , they cant turn you away !

If it comes to it I dont mind popping down there and sorting the booking out, regardless of whether I can make it or not. I only live 2 mins away so Im sure I can make a diversion!

Shame the Grasshopper was a good venue.

There must be somewhere else local we could go.

That's a ball ache Chris!
Sounds like they have a "job's worth" on duty.
A "car marshal"! Just what sort of members does she think we are

Not anywhere near the Grasshopper but nice and close to me and has a nice big car park. Link

i cant believe you need to book an events room, must be able to get a table for 25 odd people. Its the same booking a table for a birthday party or similar

If your looking at Wetherspoons pubs there is one in Oxted with a large car park next to it.

The Cricketers Cobham? The satellite picture shows a nice size car park nearby!

Cricketers Cobham is a nice pub. Gets my vote.

How about The White Bear its very near to where we were originally going. Which I guess was chosen as its central to most people. Its got a very large car park and a nice drive to get to it.

I used to live near it and the food was very good

Menu for the Whte Bear.
Looks good to me (+1 vote), better reviews, and as said, good location.

I'm happy with the White bear.

I'll go with the flow .

Ditto. So long as we know before the day!

No one fancy beaconsfield services then?

Sorry for radio silence but I have been up to to my ears on Friday and Saturday.

Right- firstly thanks to all for the responses and suggestions.

I firstly rang the White Bear- very helpful but already got two car clubs on Sunday 6th. for lunch so no space. If we wanted to change to Saturday 5th. Nicole could have accommodated us (excuse innuendo!).

Just rang Cricketers in Cobham- no problem!- we are booked in for 2:00 pm on Sunday 6th.; presently for 25 people. That should cover all current attendees. I said I would confirm final numbers next weekend.

Could any others who would like to have lunch please let me know by next Sunday?

It looks a great venue thanks to workshy and Serg1 for suggestion and endorsement. Do you know if they do roasts on Sunday- it doesn't appear on their web menu?

James and workshy- do you fancy joining us?

Lunch Sunday 6th April

1) Thunderbox & Jean-the-Brave - x2
2) Nismo - x1
3) petep & James - x2
4) Pondman - x1 - confirmed
5) Richie007 - x1
6) Serg1 Lunch - x2
7) MrC
8) Barnacle - x2 - confirmed
9) Submariner - x2 (possibly 3 with daughter tbc)
10) Cyborg7 - x 2 (possibly with son tbc)

Good work Chris, looking forward to it

Great we're sorted.

Drove pass the White Bear this afternoon and stopped off for lunch. Great pub, good food and more important large car park. Maybe would could try it next time.

Surely they'll do a Sunday roast? It's the law isn't it? ...Have to make do with the 12oz rump if not!

Put me down as confirmed (+ other half) anyway!


Now driving a Sprinty... (Really must change my signature pic!)

Not sure if i can make it, i may turn up last minute.

I'm a little confused, title says Cobham, some posts infer the White Bear.

If the social is relocating to Cobham and The Cricketeers I may not be able to attend. If it is the White Bear then I will be able to.

It's the Cricketers in Cobham, the White Bear could not fit us in.
See Thunderbox's last post.

Thanks to Pete and Ross for editing etc.

The current list is:
Lunch Sunday 6th April

1) Thunderbox & Jean-the-Brave - x2- confirmed
2) Nismo - x1
3) petep & James - x2
4) Pondman - x1 - confirmed
5) Richie007 - x1
6) Serg1 Lunch - x2
7) MrC
8) Barnacle - x2 - confirmed
9) Submariner - x2 (possibly 3 with daughter tbc)
10) Cyborg7 - x 2 (possibly with son tbc)
11) Workshy- x2
12) Jame5- possibly
13) Mr and Mrs T- x2

With lunch booked for 2:00pm we could either arrive earlier and chat etc. in the car park before lunch or have lunch and look at the cars afterwards. If the first method then the car park may be very busy with the other early diners if the second method the car park is less busy but we may want to get away after lunch. My suggestion is therefore to meet up from 12:30pm and have lunch after the ritualistic bonnet gorping and annual Thunderbox shut-lines debate!

Looking forward to blowing the cobwebs away and seeing old and new friends in a new venue.

If people could confirm attendance sometime during this week it would be easier for me to confirm numbers to The Cricketers next weekend. Currently:
5 confirmed
22 signed up but yet to conform
25 potentially

The reason for it, is there has been several pistonhead meetings there, which have filled up the car park and people trying to get in that aren't on the list. There is also the occasional hooning that has happened when people leave the place as well.

I'd be up for Cobham, no idea if wanting food though

1) Thunderbox & Jean-the-Brave - x2- confirmed
2) Nismo - x1
3) petep & James - x2 - confirmed
4) Pondman - x1 - confirmed
5) Richie007 - x1
6) Serg1 Lunch - x2
7) MrC
8) Barnacle - x2 - confirmed
9) Submariner - x2 (possibly 3 with daughter tbc)
10) Cyborg7 - x 2 (possibly with son tbc)
11) Workshy- x2
12) Jame5- possibly
13) Mr and Mrs T- x2

Begbie,
You're always welcome and not too far for you- have your lunch at home and show up! But if you do want lunch just let me know.

Thanks for the 'heads up' re: The Grasshopper- when the woman was talking to me I got the impression that they didn't want any more car people and that it must have been the cerebrally challenged that ruined it for the rest of us!

1) Thunderbox & Jean-the-Brave - x2- confirmed
2) Nismo - x1
3) petep & James - x2
4) Pondman - x1 - confirmed
5) Richie007 - x1
6) Serg1 Lunch - x2
7) MrC
8) Barnacle - x2 - confirmed
9) Submariner - x2 (possibly 3 with daughter tbc)
10) Cyborg7 - x 2 (possibly with son tbc)
11) Workshy- x2
12) Jame5- possibly
13) Mr and Mrs T- x2
14) Begbie- TBC

mark me as Confirmed