Friday 18th September
Strolls Coffee Morning. The Snug Cafe, Trinity Centre, Trinity Place, at 10.00 am for about two hours. Buy your own refreshments and chat to your hearts content.. Everybody is welcome.
Friday 16th October
Strolls Coffee Morning. The Snug Cafe, Trinity Centre, Trinity Place, at 10.00 am for about two hours. Buy your own refreshments and chat to your hearts content.. Everybody is welcome.
20th November
Strolls Coffee Morning. The Snug Cafe, Trinity Centre, Trinity Place, at 10.00 am for about two hours. Buy your own refreshments and chat to your hearts content.. Everybody is welcome.
Saturday 5th December 2026
CHRISTMAS CHEER
A nice easy seafront walk from Meads (Tesco) to the Langham Hotel for coffee and biscuits £4.50 in August, subject to change). 11.00 a.m. downstairs in the West Dean Suite.
Lift available. Refreshed, some might continue to the Sovereign Centre or Harbour. See rambles programme for more details. No booking – just come and join us on the walk or at the hotel.
GRAHAM THOMPSON
Thursday 10th December
CHRISTMAS LUNCH
It is that time of the year again when we start thinking of winter and our Christmas lunch in the elegant surroundings of the Hydro Hotel. We usually arrive about 12.00 for a drink and chat, before sitting down to eat at 12.30 in the Crystal Restaurant. Choose from the menu on the day, which is as follows:
STARTERS
Roasted cherry tomato soup with red pepper & basic (vegan, gf, nut free)
Broad bean & pea tartine with Serrano ham and grilled burrata (nut free)
Cantaloup, honeydew melon and rocket salad with pistachio and pomegranate (vegan, gf, df)
Tandori king prawn, onion, tomato and coriander, lime raita (gf, nut free)
MAINS
Roasted breast of turkey with a cranberry & thyme dumpling, chipolata, honey, parsnip and roasted chateau potato, smoked bacon & rosemary jus (df, nut free)
Red wine braised feather blade of beef, sauteed chestnut mushroom, baby onion and garlic pea ragout, roasted new potatoes (gf, nut free, df)
Pan-roasted cod, tomato fondu, olive, almond and gnocchi dressing (df)
Carrot & cashew nut roast, roasted baby potatoes, tenderstem broccoli, aubergine wafers (vegan)
DESSERTS
Traditional plum pudding with a spiced plum compote and Amaretto sauce (vegan on request)
Chocolate and coffee roulade, Tia Maria Anglaise (nut free)
Cranberry delice, orange puree, sugared cranberries (nut free)
Vegan cinnamon panna cotta, toffee apple compote, vegan crumble (vegan, df, gluten free on request)
Freshly brewed coffee & mints
The cost of the lunch is £38.00 including staff gratuities, but excluding drinks which can be purchased separately as required. Booking opens on Thursday 1st October when payment, along with the enclosed booking form, must be sent to me whether you are paying cash, cheque or BACS.
I can take bookings up to Saturday 5th December (day of Christmas Cheer ramble coffee morning, providing there is room in the restaurant. Do come along and join us as this is a lovely part of Christmas festivities.
GRAHAM THOMPSON
18th December.
Strolls Coffee Morning. The Snug Cafe, Trinity Centre, Trinity Place, at 10.00 am for about two hours. Buy your own refreshments and chat to your hearts content.. Everybody is welcome.
Friday 1st January 2027
NEW YEAR’S DAY CELEBRATIONS
After the overwhelming success of last year’s event, we plan to do similar again. There will be a town walk (see Programme for details) which is finishing at the Crown & Anchor pub 15/16 Marine Parade, Eastbourne. Here at 1.00 p.m. in a private room upstairs, we are laying on a lunchtime buffet at either end of the room for quicker service at a cost of £11.00 (normally £16 but subsidised from Derek Kennett’s legacy to the Club). Drinks are extra and can be purchased separately as required. Booking open on Thursday 1st October when payment is required with the enclosed forms, which must be sent to me whether you are paying cash, cheque or BACS.
I can only take 60 Club members with the last day of booking on Saturday 5th December (day of Christmas Cheer ramble/coffee morning). Judging by its popularity last year, make sure you book promptly and join us for our New Year’s Day adventure.
GRAHAM THOMPSON
Tuesday 15th – Saturday 19th June 2027
WEYMOUTH AND PICTURESQUE DORSET
Dorset is a county of diverse contrasts, with its rolling countryside, picturesque villages, magnificent views and a coast of high cliffs, a shingle shore-line and fine sandy beaches.
Our base is the seaside resort of Weymouth with its fine Georgian sea-front and long arc of sandy beach and historic harbour. On our doorstep is the Isle of Portland with its rugged coastline and nearby fine stretch of Chesil Beach. Walking is plentiful, whether along the coast path, Liberty Trail, Hardy Way or roaming the countryside around Cerne Abbas Giant, Tolpuddle (home of the Tolpuddle Martyrs) or the fine house of Athelhampton.
Further along the coast is Lyme Regis, Lulworth Cove, Corfe Castle, Swanage, heritage railway and Swanage.
On at least 2 days of the holiday, there will be a 5 mile or so walk which will later join those not walking on the coach, and who will have already been somewhere of interest, so there is something for everyone.
Our stay is at the 3-star Georgian style Daish’s Prince Regent hotel, situated in a central position on the Esplanade overlooking the sea and only a short level walk from the shopping centre and William Henry Wetherspoon pub. It is comfortably furnished and tastefully decorated and has a fine ballroom and offers entertainment, along with en suite bedrooms. The lift serves 3 floors with the fourth and lower ground being accessed by a staircase.
Our 5-day/4-night holiday is £541 providing 35 go, in single twin and double rooms, but as always single rooms are limited so please try to share if possible to be sure of a place, as a ballot may be necessary to allocate single-use rooms.
We are on half board from Tuesday evening dinner to Saturday breakfast and the cost includes return coach fare, coach excursions from the hotel, gratuities to staff and driver but not entrance fees to museums etc.
I shall be picking up at Daish’s Imperial Hotel, Devonshire Place, Church Street Willingdon and the British Queen on this holiday. I have arranged our holiday through Daish’s Holidays with all money protected by Bonded Coach Holidays, which is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Please make your own arrangements for holiday insurance.
Booking opens on Thursday 1st October when a deposit of £50 along with the enclosed booking form which must be sent to me whether you are paying cash, cheque or BACS. To secure a place. Cheques payable to Eastbourne Rambling Club and sent to Graham Thompson enclosing an SAE if a receipt is required. Payment by BACS to Eastbourne Rambling Club, Barclays Bank Sort Code 20:27:91 Account 50353361 and marking the booking with the date of payment.
Anyone unsuccessful in obtaining a place will be advised within 3 weeks of booking opening. The balance of £491 will be due by Wednesday 7th April 2027 and the itinerary etc. will be sent out two weeks before the holiday.
This is another lovely part of England which we last visited in April 2004 and here’s to a good holiday so do join us.
GRAHAM THOMPSON