Cecil Sharp House catering rip off

Subject: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Jun 14 - 05:38 PM

Attended the excellent Faustus gig earlier this evening, which was to be followed by a break for "dinner" and then a celidh.

We had one of the "hot food" options - belly of pork, which consisted of cold rice with 3 cold small pieces of pork and a tiny bit of mango salad costing £6.50. Never again.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST,Mrs Miggins
Date: 21 Jun 14 - 05:42 PM

Dry your eyes, princess. I went to Nando's once, and the music was dreadful.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 21 Jun 14 - 05:53 PM

I love it!!

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jun 14 - 06:19 PM

Quite predictable, the way Nice Green were disposed of. The next stage will be industrial catering.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST,silas
Date: 21 Jun 14 - 08:02 PM

Well bonzo, its nice to know that we won't be bumping into each other there.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 04:56 AM

I appreciate your appreciation!

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST,SB
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 11:33 AM

Catering at C#H always was bad. Some years ago it was 'done' by Camden Council for poor food prep. and hygiene. Then there was (still is?) rumours of the rip-offs at the Bar. Interestingly it was the same person involved in both enterprises. The person is still there.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 03:05 PM

I don't know where SB gets his "information" but Pink Food have only had the contract since last autumn.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 03:10 PM

Jerry had nothing to do with Nice Green, SB. I knew both teams well, and there was no link between them.
Because Jerry occasionally had to use whatever help he could get, I'd not be prepared to swear nthing unusual might never have happened there, but it most certainly was not institutional, but chancing by one of the temps.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST,matt milton
Date: 22 Jun 14 - 03:30 PM

Dunno about the experience above, can't say it's a place I'd pick for a proper hot meal anyway given Camden High Street's just round the corner, but the times I've been to CSH over the last few years, it's struck me that the food there's got much better.

Plus, that basement level used to smell of gas and boiled eggs and real ale farts. It doesn't anymore.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 05:52 AM

The starting point in understanding what's been going on in the EFDSS is to read the Board Minutes.
In them, you will discover the instersection of two problems. The first is our old friend, financing: the EFDSS has for some time been dependent on a number of income streams, most critically the Hall rental, and also grant handouts. Katy Spicer was recruited as Chief Exec because of her knowledge of the latter. However, the recession has seen a huge cutback in them, and although the EFDSS can normally survive, it will need its reserves.
The second problem is one to do with Cecil Sharp House itself. An Grade 2 listed 1930s building, it was built in the days before accessibility became a priority, and was not disability-friendly: a physically handicapped person has first to ascend a chairlift to get to reception, and then could not get beyond that floor to access the other parts of the building. As a result, it was decided to install a lift in the stairwell void, to comply with legislation which, to be fair, inclued opt-outs to avoid the cost destroying the institution attempting to comply with it, there being no point in making access open to all if the result is access becomes available to none because the ship has sunk as a result!
In CSH's case, the minutes show the project over-ran, and is costing signifcantly more than expected because the power supply was inadequate. At September, only a third of the cost was covered from current income, and the rest had to be funded from reserves, reducing them far below the recommended level. The delay in the work also had a deleterious effect on the rental income. How bad, I cannot tell, as the Accounts are not in a readable format.
The first I knew of the impact on the Café was a call for bids to take over from Nice Green in March 2013, in terms which would not allow Nice Green to continue. Ms Spicer's vision here was to create a tearoom café open to all passers-by, as if they were in the middle of Camden, which they are not: Nice Green were barely profitable, but not being a commercial organisation were not that hassled by it. The same may not be true of their replacements.
What the users were told in May was that they would close for a short while during the lift installation, but in reality they went never to return, premeditatedly. The new caterers are therefore pricing on the basis of their previous bio markup, without delivering the goods, as you see here.
Not many people attended the AGM, and the Minutes show the Board is selecting its members by Buggins Turn from within the Magic Circle.
What the situation is now, more than six months after the last set of published Board Minutes, is unclear. I would expect to see the Reserves have been seriously weakened, and as a result the Society may be seriously weakened. It is also interesting to see how seriously the published minutes are being redacted. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? Perhaps, one would hope so. But I am aware of another future problem which would suggest it's not so much the exit as a train coming the other way, a train of a size large enough to require the availability of the Reserves.
Katy was recruited to ensure the Grant funding continues. It seems to be hitting problems, and some of the funding has actually subverted other income from royalties on the VWML. The Douglas Kennedy Fund has also been liquidated, although the memory will continue in grants. But as a whole, I'm worried we may be on the edge of more troubles.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST,davemc
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 06:23 AM

Seems like the expensive Ms Katy isn't all she was cracked up to be. I seem to remember she was recruited on the basis of having no folk experience whatsoever but we were all assured that she was going to be the bee's knees.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 11:06 AM

There are two issues here - first the EFDSS - damned shame if it goes under or the magnificent house has to be sole doubtless to be turned into bijoux residencettes for rich foreign students or something nastier. But the other thing is we have a man who repeatedly brags of being rich, holidaying in Argentina (perhaps visiting his aged friend Adolf) eating two pound red steaks oozing blood - whining about paying under £7 for a meal. Man up, bitch, and put your hand in your pocket for a good cause. It'll make a change from whining about tax on your huge wealth.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 04:23 PM

Thank you for your extremely informative comment Richard Bridge - nothing changes around here!!

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: selby
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 04:30 PM

Why not move it to a more central location like Leeds?
Keith

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jun 14 - 08:54 PM

Richard's reference being to the operators whose other contract is with the Guards Polo Club. Yoiks Tally-Ho! There goes the red-tailed varmint...

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 01:25 AM

Actually, Selby; back when Jim Lloyd was director he tried to move the whole organisation lock stock & barrel to Birmingham, but the committee prevented this & he resigned as a consequence IIRC. (I was a member many years ago -- even a member of the EFDSS Cambridge regional committee. But that was in my salad days...)

~M~

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: selby
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 01:47 AM

It seems to me have the national asset in the middle of the country in cheaper property that is fit for purpose is so obvious.
Keith

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: Mr Red
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 03:19 AM

London is expensive. And the world revolves around it.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 05:30 AM

MGM - I'm afraid that is an incorrect statement about Jim Lloyd and Birmingham. I was on the executive committee at the time.
Derek

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 05:38 AM

Thank you, Derek. So what was the story, then? That was certainly widely believed at the time. When would he have been Director, exactly? & why did he leave after so short a time as Director? I seem to remember the distinguished Russell Wortley, who was chair of that regional committee I was on, having something to say on the topic. But recollections tend to meld into one another at my time of life, to be sure...

~M~

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: billybob
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 05:45 AM

So was I Derek, deja vu . sigh!!

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 06:00 AM

As we have some consideration happening, the train in the tunnel is called HS2. The tunnel passes close enough to CSH to pose structural problems because of the exact way they run un the tunnel at that point, shifting level after coming under the canal to convert speed into height inbound, and the opposite outbound, which puts a heck of a thump into the ground CSH stands on every couple of minutes, according to the project engineers. If they have to fix structural problems, CSH could be out of action for months if not years, and without reserves it cannot stand the loss of income.
True, HS2 doesn't start until 2025-6, most likely, but they have to get the problems fixed before they start tunnelling in 2017, not after. On the other hand, I think Katy may already have missed the budget boat, which means they'll pick up the pierces with any reverves left after the damage has been done, maybe as late as 2035. Thank the Lord the RVW wax cylinder recordings have been backed up, as they for certain won't stand the vibrations.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 03:01 AM

We had a very decent cheaper avocado salad in Victoria Station Pret a Manger after the gig, so we know where to eat another time - superb muffins there too!

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 06:05 AM

I have made criticisms of the EFDSS   over the years and their decision to remain at their present location , I have been ridiculed and attacked, it would be very easy to say I told you so, but it would achieve nothing.
all Iwill say is now is the time to have serious consideration of moving head quarters elsewhere.Dick Miles

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST,o
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 08:40 AM

When on the very rare occasion that I have visited " The House " I have used a wonderful Japanese Restaurant called, I kid you not " IdoFuKu "
Perhaps, in hindsight Griff Jones was wrong to fight the closure of C S H

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp House catering rip off
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 26 Jun 14 - 09:30 AM

Re The Jim Lloyd tenure.

He had moved the Society slightly forward but probably ran out of enthusiasm.

He did do one good thing - inadvertently.

He ensured that the people running Whitby Folk Week took it away from the Society when he suggested that all profits from the festival should go to the Society and any losses be absorbed by the VOLUNTEERS running it. This was not only aimed at Whitby but at all festivals under the Society's banner.

Before anyone tells me I am wrong let me just say I was in the room when he said it and was one of those responsible for making sure the festival survived.

The late Edmund Jenkinson was the other person involved.

We had some real bunfights at subsequent NEC meetings as I am sure Steve Heap would testify and in the end we both had to resign.