Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal

Subject: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 03:40 PM

Many of you will know of the carolling tradition which continues to this day. One of the main carolling "holes" is the Royal Hotel Dungworth.

Last week someone who came for the first time in thirty years arrived at 12.40 pm by which time the pub is usually very busy, and afterwards reported thepbu to Sheffield City Council.

The result of this is that the pub now has to install £3,000 worth of fire doors - for what is essentially six days each year.

The regular carollers felt that it would be good if the folk community made a contribution to this it is mostly for our benefit - so we started a collection this Sunday. If there is anyone who has enjoyed the hospitality of the Royal at any time - but especially in the time between the first Sunday after Armistice and Boxing Day perhaps you would like to send a Xmas card - and enclose some money.

www.royalhotel-dungworth.co.uk

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: michaelr
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 03:59 PM

Reported the pub for what? You're almost as cryptic as GSS.

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: Folkiedave
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 05:31 PM

Reported it for being over full. Hence the need for extra doors.

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: michaelr
Date: 11 Dec 11 - 06:23 PM

Ah, got it, thanks.

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: JHW
Date: 12 Dec 11 - 04:15 PM

A wonderful sing on Sunday and I'm mainly just keeping the thread flying with this post but might an on-line means of collecting donations be possible? (Damien Barber is currently collecting for a favoured charity via a facebook page.)
I don't know how to set this up or whether extra Fire Doors would qualify as a charity! but someone might?

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: GUEST,Yvonne
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 04:03 AM

Gather you know the person who reported them. I hope they are barred for the next 30years!

Cheque and card on the way.

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 04:36 AM

I'd send funds but difficult to do so as the banks don't trust me with a cheque book.

I'll get in touch with them on Facebook and see what I can do - I've never done the Dungworth ones (was really excited to have a Sunday morning free, which was then destroyed by no voice), but I'd like it to still be there if I'm ever free.

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 05:44 AM

I'm not sure a pub should ask for "charitable" contributions from other than its own community, it IS a commercial undertaking. The owners, brewer or freeholder, should be responsible for Health & Safety building modifications. After all, the benefits would be they could organise other sell-out activities during the rest of the year with no worries. One would hope this is just the sort of thing local banks ought to be giving loans for. Having said that, I deplore the mean-spirited peson who blew the whistle in a fit of pique.

RtS

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: Owen Woodson
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 06:26 AM

Roger. The Royal is a country pub in a remote part of the country (despite its proximity to Sheffield). In fact it is the only pub in Dungworth and for several miles around. If you knew the location you would realise that the opportunities for other sell out activities are virtually non-existent.

The carol sessions in the Royal, and in other pubs in the area, are not commercial undertakings. They are opportunities for the local community, plus a few of us who journey from the far ends of the country, to get together and celebrate Christmas in a way that is practically unique.   

It is true that the pub does a lot of business during the run up to Christmas, but from what I gather it struggles the rest of the year. In any event,I doubt the profits from those six weeks would justify the expenditure of having extra fire doors fitted. The logic is therefore that those of us who have enjoyed the carols in the past, to say nothing of the Royal's hospitality, and wish to see this wonderful tradition continue, will have to contribute towards the cost of the doors.

On the score of safety, I have wondered before now, if a fire ever broke out in there, how many people would get out alive. So fitting extra firedoors sounds like a very wise move.

So one way and another, this is one cause I will definitely be contributing to.

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 09:17 AM

Roger, the pub hasn't asked for "charity"; the local community of singers came up with the idea to support one of its best-loved venues. Of course the pub has to pay its way, but it isn't easy running a country pub these days and I for one am happy to contribute what I can towards this appeal. For me it is a way of putting something back in return for all the enjoyment I've got over the years from attending the carols and other events at the Royal.

As it is I've just got home after a great weekend of music and songs at the Royal in Dungworth; there was a brilliant performance by Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham at the Royal Traditions club on Saturday night, followed by the carols on Sunday morning.

There are other ways of supporting the Royal Hotel; eg by attending one of the excellent Royal Traditions club nights organised by Fay Hield and Jon Boden, or (if you are a box player) one of the Royal Concertinas events organised by Mark Davies. Mark also organises the Bradfield Traditional Music Weekend which features some events and sessions at the Royal. I can also personally recommend the accommodation at the Royal for a visit at any time of the year - it is lovely countryside to walk in, and it is also very easy to get to Sheffield thanks to an affordable and reliable transport network of buses and trams.

Matthew

PS Dave's Royal pies are worth the journey to Dungworth alone, but if you want to get served on a club night make sure you get there early!

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: Owen Woodson
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 10:46 AM

An awful lot of singing talent has found its way to the Royal carol sessions over they years. Would it be feasible to stage a fund raising concert to help meet the cost?

Bear in mind, those carol sessions, whether at the Royal, the Blue Ball or elsewhere, are among the most important annual customs we have. I for one do not want to see this one die for the price of a couple of firedoors.

Just an afterthought. I mentioned in my previous posting that the carol sessions are important in terms of keeping the pub open the rest of the year. The Royal is a superb country pub, with splendid hosts and it is situated in some of the remotest and most wonderfully unspoilt countryside in Britain - despite being only about 4 miles from the outskirts of Sheffield.

If the pub went to the wall because the carols had also gone to the wall, that would indeed be a double tragedy.

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: Folkiedave
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 10:53 AM

As the OP let me emphasise the request for a contribution had nothing whatsoever to do with the landlord. The idea came from the carollers themselves.

Some people come to the carols in the first couple of weeks and not again. They would not have had the chance to contribute. Likewise those who may not come this year will not have had chance to contribute. This thread was to draw their attention to what was happening - in case they wished to make a contribution.

The resultant fire door will be of use for six occasions each year. The pub is never full enough to warrant it at other times.

As an aside - the kitchen is almost separate to the pub. When the room is full at carolling time, I challenge anyone to actually start a fire!

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: Will Fly
Date: 13 Dec 11 - 11:56 AM

The Royal's a great pub. From talking to Dave (the younger of the two Daves who run the place), its most steady income is from the three B&B rooms attached as an annexe at the rear of the building. These are used, not only by those that gather in Dungworth for concertinas and/or carols, but by walkers. Being on the edge of the Peaks, it's an excellent centre for that activity - and the walkers probably bring in more money over the year than music nights.

As Folkiedave says, the pub is rarely full to't brim other than on music nights, so the two Daves who run it - father and son-in-law - welcome the trade that the folk and carol music brings. Secretly, as they confided in me, elder Dave really prefers 1950s rock'n roll and younger Dave heavy metal - and there's a massive drum kit in the cellar to prove it! But business is business.

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 09:05 AM

I don't disparage the kind offers by regulars to help the pub, and as I'm not one of them it's none of my business, but just point out that any improvements like this will benefit the freeholder/owner, whoever is running the pub in the future and whether they continue this Xmas tradition or not.

RtS

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: Owen Woodson
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 10:27 AM

"the kitchen is almost separate to the pub. When the room is full at carolling time, I challenge anyone to actually start a fire!"

I disagree. The kitchen is adjacent to the bar and a fire in there could easily spread to the bar. Moreover, the size of the crowd has no bearing whatsoever on the bar's susceptibility to fire. EG., suppose for the sake of argument that a fire started via an electrical short in the wiring. The only difference a crowd would make would lie in the number of people who received severe burns or died trying to get out.

The law is quite specific on this point. Adequate egress in the event of a fire is an absolute condition of the pub's license, and that is not something which licensing panels or magistrates benches are in a position to vary. I know that from having been involved in various licensing applications in the past.

The bottom line is that, in order to hold the numbers of people who turn up for carol sessions, firedoors are essential. If they are only required for the eight days of the year when carolling takes place, then I fully support the gesture of the carollers in contributing towards the cost.

And before anyone says anything, my card and contribution are in the post right now.

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: GUEST,Wyrd Sister
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 02:35 PM

I'd just like to reiterate that the owners have never asked for anything towards the cost. On the contrary, they were extremely touched by the collection on Sunday.

As Folkiedave says, it was the idea of the carollers, and this is just to give those who might only get there once a year, but value it greatly, chance to contribute if they wish.

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: GUEST,Bracken Rigg
Date: 26 Dec 11 - 02:20 PM

Been to Boxing Day sing @ Royal for last session this year. Excellent session and not heaving at the seams. We support them all year round with our love of pies and beer, and some fantastic music can be heard there.

Long Live The Royal!!

Subject: RE: Royal Hotel Dungworth Appeal
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 27 Dec 11 - 08:02 AM

I'll be back in Sheffield mid-January and I'll be going over to give them a belated card with a couple of bob in it. I might even get myself a pie...