Show of Hands - Abbotsbury

Subject: Show of Hands - Abbotsbury
From: GUEST,DevonDave
Date: 04 Jul 05 - 02:55 PM

Is anybody here going to the Show of Hands day at Abbotsbury? Any tips on the venue - where to park, pubs nearby etc....

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Abbotsbury
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Jul 05 - 03:34 PM

There is ample parking at the venue if it's the Sub Tropical Gardens. There's a car park near the Swan Inn, the first one if you're coming from Weymouth and it's the one I usually use.... it was a nice pub but I've not been there for a while.

There is also the Ilchester Arms, where my mum met my dad, my aunt works there and there should be a photo of my grandfather in the back bar. They do excellent food and have a conservatory restaurant. That's in the middle of town, just past the 90° bend in the road where the lesser road leads to the Swannery, Tithe barn, abbey ruins and church. 4 of the names on the war memorial there are related to me, and many more of my relatives are buried in the churchyard. I spent half my early life in the farmhouse with the big double gates set back from the road, 3 or 4 doors down from the Ilchester.

Enjoy the day and watch out for the white peacocks in the Gardens.

LTS

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Abbotsbury
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 04 Jul 05 - 03:39 PM

Forgot to mention, Abbotsbury isn't so big a town that you can't amble gently from one end of it to the other in half an hour or less. If you stop to look at interesting things it might stretch it out to an hour.

LTS

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Abbotsbury
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 04 Jul 05 - 04:57 PM

Here you go Dave, this should help:

http://www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk/

A stunningly beautiful place and.....Show of Hands as well!!!!

What more could anyone possibly want! ;0)

Lizzie :0)

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Abbotsbury
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 05 Jul 05 - 03:49 AM

Don't you just love the way that tourist information sites give you everything for a 15 mile radius when all you want is walking distance of 1 village.....

The Swannery Restaurant is good but expensive and you have to actually visit the Swannery to get to it - which is a lovely place, has a picture of a relative of mine (possibly my great grandfather collecting thatching reeds) on one of the display boards.

Of the other 19 places to eat on that list, 14 are no closer than a mile away and most are over 2 miles away.

The Gardens sometimes has food available but I can't comment on price, etc., having never eaten there. If you take a picnic, watch out for the peacocks... they have been known to creep up behind and steal sandwiches twixt plate and lip....... pate went down well with them but they aren't adverse to a nice egg and cress. It's no use pointing out the 'do not feed the peacocks' signs, they can't read them.

Sorry to keep pointing out my relatives but my family have been there for 191 years (8 generations) and we were a prolific lot.... in the 1930s there were 32 children in the school, all with the same surame.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Show of Hands - Abbotsbury
From: Lizzie Cornish
Date: 05 Jul 05 - 12:46 PM

Are you going Liz?

The restaurant is really good, also they bring in caterers who do great burgers and hot dogs outside the restaurant. AND...talking of hot dogs ;0)....you can take them in as well! Watch out when Steve and Phil start singing Longdog though, it gets them rather excited!

Haven't had any trouble with the peacocks before though. Mind you there's always a first time! ;0) Hmmm.....being savaged by a peacock at a Show of Hands gig...now there's a conversation stopper! ;0)

Lizzie :0)