Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner

Subject: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: Acorn4
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 01:22 PM

Just a bit of advanced notice of changes in arrangements at the York and Faulkner Hotel for this year's Sidmouth.

For a few years now myself, Julia and Taff Brissenden have run and evening singaround in the York and Faulkner lounge. This was started and carried on for a good many years by Rosie Daisley.

The hotel has now decided to become a full festival venue.

The evening singarounds were a part of the "fringe" and the hotel has decided that it is in their best interests not to continue holding the evening sessions. Also Taff is now well into his eighties and now says he wants to be a free agent and not to be tied down in the evenings. Running the sessions in the evening can be a bit stressful at times and Taff has come to a sensible decision here.

I'm not sure what future arrangements are for the evenings - they may well be putting on concerts there. All will hopefull be revealed a bit nearer the time.

Also to stress that the morning singarounds hosted by Tim and Kitty are unaffected and also, I would presume, the "Doom, Gloom and Despondency" contest on Thursday.

This is because they are held under slightly different terms, being official festival events rather than "fringe".

Also to stress that there has, in spite of one or two niggles last year, no major falling out with us and the Y and F: they have just taken what they consider to be the best way forward for the hotel.

We said that we would be OK whatever decision they came to.

Dave and Julia

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 07:00 PM

Thank you very much Dave and Julia and Taff for having run the evening RY&F sessions and for keeping them going when Rosy had to bow out.

Thanks also to the Royal York and Faulkner for your longstanding support of the festival and for letting Tim and myself run the morning singarounds as fringe events for the last several years. Now that the RY&F has decided to become an official festival venue, I think that might mean that our singarounds will become a daily programmed event, rather than getting a brief mention at the back of the programme, but as Dave and Julia's post has suggested we're not planning any changes in the actual running of the singarounds.

Looking forward to meeting up with old friends and new in August

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 14 Feb 18 - 07:01 PM

Cookie now reset, so posting as myself....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: JHW
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 04:39 AM

I'm very sorry this is finishing. It was a staple event for me at Sidmouth and probably tips the balance for my not going again. I enjoyed the Volunteer but it became a bit musichall, was always rather exclusive and I hear has been flattened anyway. The Roger's bar at the Pavilion/Arts Centre was good for years either side of midday but got the chop. I know Tim and Kitty have continued this in the Y&F but the Roger's bar had a unique seaside plus folkies atmosphere. The Middle Bar was excellent in the cellarish room but had no atmosphere upstairs plus outside noise. Last times at Sidmouth I've gone walkies all day and come to the York and Faulk for my evening. Guess that's it.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: GUEST,Bob M
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 06:47 AM

I'll miss it too. Will you two be still be there, Dave?

See you some Sidmouth morning, Kitty

Bob

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: Acorn4
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 05:17 PM

Bob, We won't be coming - the accommodation side has just got too expensive and without the Y and F in the evenings the main attraction has gone.

We're too old to force our way into the bearpit at the Bedford and might investigate a little festival starting in Melton just up the road from us.

Dave

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: RTim
Date: 15 Feb 18 - 05:44 PM

The session run every evening at The Kingswood Hotel by Bob & Gill Berry was very good last year - and gave me the opportunity to sing in a very nice environment - - If I had not known Bob before the week - it may have been different, as I am not known by many in the UK anymore - so Thanks Bob & Gill - hope you are doing the same this year - but I will not be there again............

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 16 Feb 18 - 04:29 AM

As far as I know, the Volunteer has been taken over by Matt and Lyndsay Fudge, whose family also run the Anchor, and the traditional lunchtime sessions will be running as usual.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: GUEST,Andiliqueur
Date: 16 Feb 18 - 04:41 AM

Thanks for all you did Dave,Julia and Taff. Like JHW Sidmouth had just become a colourful seaside holiday in the day with a friendly singaround in the evening if we fancied it. If you wish to sing then outsiders could never feel comfortable at the Volunteer although the quality is excellent. We have cancelled this year and won't be going again as bearpits are not for us either. For us the heart of the fringe is dead.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: GUEST,Henry Piper of Ottery
Date: 16 Feb 18 - 04:46 AM

I can confirm what Kitty says above, us "locals" have been told that the lunchtime folkweek sessions will be carrying on much as before, and would mention that the Sidmouth Traditional Mummers were made very welcome by Matt and his staff at Christmas.Its very far from true that the Volly has been "flattened", the pub has been improved in several ways but still retains the same character and ambience as it always has.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: GUEST,Bignige
Date: 16 Feb 18 - 10:06 AM

Some of the best nights I've ever had have been in the bar area at the Volunteer. That's before it moved out into the back garden. The nights hosted by the Committee Band were wonderful.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: JHW
Date: 16 Feb 18 - 03:29 PM

Glad to hear about the Volunteer, I'd heard it had only been spared for 2017 Sidmouth.
(I wasn't there 2017 as Darlington Mummers inc jhw were at Saltburn end of Sidmouth week)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 17 Feb 18 - 06:45 PM

Thanks for the info on that, Acorn 4. As you'll know, I rarely came for the whole evening, but loved to drop in after whatever concert I had been to, and pick up the last 90 minutes or so, and just loved the way it ran, both in Rosy's day, and with you, Julia and Taff doing it. Can't really see how any replacement is going to better it. (Long since stopped going to late night Bedford rammie!)

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: JHW
Date: 19 Feb 18 - 02:54 PM

Anyone else experience of "The session run every evening at The Kingswood Hotel by Bob & Gill Berry" ?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 19 Feb 18 - 04:08 PM

Not been to the session at the K & D but did go once or twice when Bob and Gill were hosting a sort of "Folk Club" session at the Arts Centre. That was nice and friendly, if maybe a bit more of a performance thing than a session: if you said you wanted to sing, you got a slot.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 03:44 AM

Bob and Gill run the festival folk club, usually with 2 guest spots from booked festival artists and as many floor spots from the audience as can be fitted into the time available. It doesn't run every night - there's generally another event in the same venue in the middle of the week so that Bob and Gill get a day off. Last year it cost £7 to get in if you didn't have a festival season ticket.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 04:50 AM

Thread Drift Alert !

I found out last night that there are licencing problems at Carinas ,and the sessions in The Newt will not be happening this year ! I've not been there fr a couple of years because of accomodation probs , but Gerry Milne will probably be around during the week

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: Acorn4
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 10:04 AM

I think there were the beginnings of a spontaneous evening session at the Conservative Club last year.

Worth investigating for those going this year?

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: GUEST,Essex Girl
Date: 21 Feb 18 - 02:58 PM

There has been a singaround in the Conservative club for the past couple of years. They hold a beer festival and the drinks are cheap. The staff are very welcoming as well.

Subject: RE: Sidmouth 2018: York and Faulkner
From: JHW
Date: 23 Feb 18 - 06:45 AM

"Bob and Gill run the festival folk club"
Thanks Kitty; I know they have run various events. Wouldn't mind the seven quid to get in. Used to buy season tickets (long ago) but didn't make much use of them (and learned not to queue and still not get in).
Thanks for all advice - John