White Horse, Hertford, 19th October

Subject: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: IanC
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 12:05 PM

The next 3rd Sunday Session at "The White Horse", Castle Street, Hertford is on Sunday 19th October at about 1:30pm. It's upstairs in some very pleasant rooms with no smoking (you can smoke downstairs) and is completely child friendly (one of our regular singers at the moment is 7). Being upstairs makes it difficult to access if you're handicapped, though. It's also a real ale pub which doesn't do food.

The session has been going for almost 20 years and has often been packed. Recently, though, it's been much less well attended. It seems a shame to let it pass away without at least letting people know it exists, so we're keeping it open till Christmas, at least, in the hope that the wheel will start to turn again ...

It used to be mainly an instrumental session, but has gone through all sorts of styles over the years (it was quite bluesy for a while, for example) and whatever turns you on will be much appreciated.

The contact is Alan Muhr, Hertford [phone], or you can PM me if you need information.

Come if you can.

Cheers!
Ian

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: jacqui.c
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 09:32 AM

Hi Ian

I've been putting the word around and we MIGHT get a few more this time.

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: IanC
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 11:23 AM

Anyone have any idea why a long-established sessions might decline? Or what to do to revive it?

There's quite a lot of life in and around Hertford and this is a session that can be whatever you want to make it.

Is Sunday afternoon no longer a good time?

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 02:17 PM

Not ideal for me but the WH is such a good pub that I will make a real effort.
For those who don't know it, it stands just outside the castle moat in Castle Street. An ancient building with excellent real ale and probably the most miserable landlord in England!
The upstairs rooms are furnished with rickety old tables and plush chairs and sofas. A one off.
Keith.

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: IanC
Date: 28 Oct 03 - 08:37 AM

Thanks Keith

We did quite well on Sunday, I thought. A pleasant, relaxed afternoon with 9 of us altogether (plus Colin's granddaughter). A good mix of music and songs, though Jacqui's friend's pictures of the maggots were a bit yuk!

The landlord seems to have changed and they're doing food now. Just the one barmaid for 2 bars plus food meant you didn't get served too quickly, though.

Alan will be back next month so, with any luck, we might be rolling. Especially if we can get Simon out of the Wetherspoons!

By the way, Nigel was pretty miserable but he doesn't touch some of the landlords I've known for misery. The record for me is the Crown and Cushion in Great Gransden (Cambs). This has had a succession of landlords over at least 30 years (perhaps only 3 landlords in all) who seem to have been recruited by the brewery for their ability to insult and upset anyone who goes inside. This includes most of the locals. At one time, it was almost a tourist attraction for people from the surrounding villages ... I think it would have been except for the possibility of food poisoning from the beer glasses.

;-)
Ian

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: jacqui.c
Date: 28 Oct 03 - 09:22 AM

Hi Ian

I had a great time at the session and will be coming back from Buntingford early for the next one! Carol will probably be there too so we'll have an audience again.

Carol raised about £500 for Cystic Fibrosis with her maggots so even yukky maggots can be profitable.

See you in November, unless you can make any of the evening sessions in between. Chapmore End tonight could be good with a real mix from all over if the thread is to be believed!

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 05:24 AM

The couple of times that I've been there, it always seemed to end about 3pm or so. Perhaps it would be better if it could run on a bit longer. Why not start it a bit later - with pubs opening right through on a Sunday, we've found that sessions which start after the lunchtime rush (especially if the pub serves food) are much better.

Still we should be at Chapmore End tonight.

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: jacqui.c
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 08:43 AM

Dave

The last couple of sessions have gone on until four but I suppose if there are those who want to continue it could go on later.

See you tonight.

Jacqui

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: IanC
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 09:00 AM

When the pubs used to close at 2:30 (and, later on, at 3:00) on Sundays, we used to start from 12:00 (which is when they opened). With the all-day opening, we seem to have been a bit slow adapting but I think nobody was too sure what to do in the first place as it had always been a lunchtime session. We finally moved it to 1:00.

Nowadays, it starts at 1:30 (which means that Alan and I get there then), and this is the advetised time in Unicorn. People are usually there by about 2:00 but some arrive as late as 3:00 or 3:30. Are people happy with this?

Next one's 16th November.

:-)

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: JudeL
Date: 29 Oct 03 - 12:16 PM

Is this mainly a musician's session with a few songs here & there or a more equal mix?

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: IanC
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 03:43 AM

Last week was mainly singing, but it depends who's there.

:-)

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: jacqui.c
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 06:52 AM

It just gets to be a moveable feast really. 1.30's a good start time for me as I can get some housework done first and then not have to worry about leaving early to get back and finish off. Finish time - when we run out of songs/get hungry/get thrown out?

Jude - it would be great to have more female performers - I can feel a bit lonesome sometimes!

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: Ross
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 08:21 AM

Message to IanC

Are you doing the Mummers play this Christmas

Any chance of a performance again at Barton - it went down very well last year

Dates available are 15th & 29th December,12th January

Hope you are available

Many thanks

Ross of the Bull, Barton-Le-Clay

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: IanC
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 11:45 AM

Hi Ross

Yes, Mummers play in Ashwell as usual. Quite booked up already, so will have to ask the team. Next mtg. 9th Nov. Sorry, this should be a PM!

;-)

Subject: RE: White Horse, Hertford, 19th October
From: Ross
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 11:58 AM

No problems - many thanks for your considerations

I'm not surprised you're in demand - I thought I was getting in early