Dear Members
It may be blowing a gale outside as I am writing this newsletter to you however, spring is nearly here! We have snowdrops and crocuses in the front garden at the Club and the daffodils are in bud.
Did you know that just over 50 years ago on Saturday January 29th 1972 the informal opening of Newark Conservative Club’s new premises at Belvedere, London Road took place? According to the piece in the Newark Advertiser the club moved from Cartergate and women were allowed as associate members for the first time! They, the women associates, were in the Club on the following Monday. The women could go into the Eden Lounge but the Churchill and MacMillan rooms where the men played snooker was still forbidden territory. We have come along way since then, thank goodness!
I extend a very warm welcome to new Members – Gary Clay, Shaun Sutton, Richard Rosling, John Moody and Benjamin Reed. I hope you will soon feel at home in the Club. Apologies to John Crowden – a new Member in January – I inadvertently misspelt his name as Crowder.
If there is anything we can do to improve your experience as new Members please let myself or a Member of the Committee know. Details of how to contact us are at the bottom of this newsletter.
Condolences – Our sincere sympathy goes to the families of John Wilson and John Duckett, both Members who have recently passed away.
Committee business
Members Subscription – a final reminder from me if you have not already paid. The renewal fee this year is £41.00. The Committee and I are working very hard to provide a comfortable place for you to eat, drink, socialise and be entertained. We very much value your membership and hope that you will renew and take advantage of the wonderful facilities we have to offer.
AGM This very important annual meeting will be towards the end of March or beginning of April. The precise date will be advertised as soon as it can be confirmed. We hope as many Members as possible will come along. You will be advised accordingly and appropriate notices will be published on the notice board in the normal way in due course.
CCTV In common with a large number of licensed premises it has been agreed by the Committee that
a CCTV camera will be installed behind the bar in the Alexander Lounge. The purpose of this camera will be to protect our staff/workers who are sometimes required to work on their own. In addition, CCTV will be used to provide added security when the Bar is left unattended. Records will, under normal circumstances, only be available to those authorised to view them by the Committee and kept for no longer than 30 days.
Minimum spend The Committee voted at the last meeting to re-instate the minimum spend for card payment. With effect from March1st you will have to spend £5.00 or more to permit use of your card. I apologise for the inconvenience however this is necessitated by the high charge made to the Club when card transactions are processed. It will still be possible to run up a “tab” which will reduce the Club’s costs. The “tab” will be payable before you leave the Club.
I would also like to remind you that, in order to gain re-imbursement for your car park ticket, you must spend £5.00 or more on food, drinks or snooker. This “rule” has been relaxed in recent times because of the pandemic but will be enforced with effect from 1st March 2022.
Sunday Quiz – those of you who attend the Sunday night quiz will have noticed the absence of one of the quiz masters, Steve Turner. Steve would give Ian Stonier a Sunday night off once a month by running the quiz but unfortunately has not been well. Best wishes and thanks very much for all your hard work Steve.
Xmas Quiz – I want to thank Pete Harper very much for all the hard work he put into his special Christmas Quiz. Pete raised the sum of £39.00 for Club funds and has offered to do a quiz quarterly – so keep your brain ticking over.
Ticket Prices for Entertainment events the Committee has long been in discussion about this thorny issue. At their last meeting it was decided that, due to the increasing cost of all our overheads including food, drink and entertainer’s fees, the price for an entertainment evening would have to reflect that and other imminent increases.
On occasions those who are not Members will be asked to pay more than Members and those who choose not to eat will be charged for the entertainment alone. The decision will be made by the Committee with information and advice from Miles.
I realise this will not be a popular decision for some but those of us who go shopping will be well aware that prices have risen considerably in the past months. This decision has been made in an attempt to be fair to everyone. There has to be some advantage in being a Member and paying your subscription. It was also felt that, people who chose not to eat should make a fair and proportionate contribution towards the cost of the entertainer.
Future Events
Miles and the Committee are busy planning for the year ahead. Plans are already afoot for a bonanza weekend of Jubilee celebrations in early June – so watch this space. March is certainly looking full of promise :-
Chilli/Curry Night Saturday 12th March (7.00pm – 7.30 pm). The entertainment will be by James Courtney- The popular vocalist is making a welcome return to the Club. A curry (vegetarian curry available on request) will be served with rice and naan bread, the chilli will be served with rice and garlic bread. Sweets will be available at an additional charge. £15.00 per person with no additional charge for non-Members. Non -diners may join us for the entertainment for £5.00 per person. Payment required at the time of booking.
Bingo Saturday 19th March with a basket meal of either sausages (vegetarian available) or scampi. £5.00 per person. Non-diners and non-Members – no additional charge. Food will be served from 7.00 pm, eyes down 8.00 pm. Booking and pre-payment required
Mothering Sunday Lunch 27th March – treat that special lady to a very special lunch. £22.95 per person served from 12.00 pm. The Sunday carvery at the usual price will also be available. Payment required at the time of booking.
Starters
Duo Smoked Salmon Mousse with black pepper crackers and salad garnish
Chicken Liver pate, Melba Toast and red onion relish
Sea Bass, ginger and lime fishcake , rocket salad and soy sauce
Tomato, basil and red pepper soup, bread roll and butter
Mains
Roast topside of beef or Leg of Lamb
Roast potatoes and mash
Parsnips, Yorkshire pudding
Vegetables and gravy
Tuna Loin steak with Dauphinoise potatoes
Broccoli Florets and baton carrots
Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie with goat’s cheese mash
Broccoli Florets and baton carrots
Desserts
Apple and blackberry Pie
Gluten Free Almondy Peanut Caramel Tart
Strawberry White Chocolate Cheesecake
Trio of Pistachio, salted caramel and Madagascan vanilla ice cream
or
Cheese and Biscuits (at an additional charge of £1.50)
Followed by Coffee and Mints
………
An exciting time table for March – I hope you will all agree. Come along, enjoy yourselves and support your Club. Miles also offers you ….
Thursday Lunch-time Carvery served 12.00 – 2.00 pm. Price for a main course alone is £6.40 and add £1.65 for a sweet.
Friday Shoppers Special served from 12.00 pm until 2.00pm. Hand battered Fish and chips with mushy peas, bread and butter and a pot of tea. £9.00 per person
Saturday Morning Breakfast – from 10.30 to 12.30 pm
large – £6.95 and small £5.95. Vegetarian breakfast available on request. All with a pot of tea and toast.
Sunday Lunch is very popular so don’t forget to reserve your table. All the favourites from 12.00 pm until 3.00 pm. £7.50 per person – and with our loyalty card you buy 9 mains and get the 10th free.
Lunches are served Wednesday to Saturday 12.0pm to 2.00 pm with a variety of meals and snacks to suit your taste.
Snooker Room – I know some of you Grandads will be disappointed but the special Saturday Lunch-time offer of a free game of snooker for children will be finishing on 26th February. The Kids menu will still be available.
Please don’t forget to support the other regular weekly events:
Wednesday Quiz and Open the Box – weekly at approx. 8.30pm. Congratulations to Mick Andrew who won £120 Wednesday 16th Feb on Open the Box. Prize will return to £50 next week.
Friday night Meat Draw, Play your Cards Right and Kath’s Jackpot (prize money stands at £210) starts at 10.00 pm. Filled cobs will be available to purchase from behind the Bar.
Sunday Night Quiz, Silly Question, Card Bingo and Ring the Bell. (Jackpot is £330 at the time of writing) Please note that this event starts at 8.30 pm. Filled cobs will be available to purchase from behind the Bar.
Covid 19 – We will continue to observe measures to keep you safe when in the Club
Please do not enter the Club if you have symptoms of covid-19. Let’s keep each other safe.
Best wishes
Ruth, (Chairwoman) Tony, (Secretary) Helen, (Treasurer) Alan, Darren, Ian, Kath, Mark, Sheila, Vaughan (Committee)
If you want to contact the Committee, please email at info@newarkconservativeclub.org or write to us at the Club address