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Post by newishtotetbury on Mar 4, 2010 12:17:50 GMT
Hi
I am a Tetbury resident and, with two colleagues from Cheltenham, will be completing the Regensburg Ironman in August 2010 in aid of CLICsargent.
For those who are unaware the Ironman is an extreme triathlon event consisting of a 2.36 mile open water swim, followed by a 112 mile cycle ride, followed by a 26.3 mile run...back to back of course!
We are looking to raise as much money as we can in aid of CLICsargent, the childrens' cancer charity. The charity is set up to care for children and young people with cancer, and their families, in hospital and in the community. It is a sad fact that every day 10 families are told their child has cancer. As the UK's leading children's cancer charity, CLICSargent is the only organisation to offer them all round care and support. That’s because they are there every step of the way: during treatment, in hospital and at home, and after treatment, be it successful or otherwise.
As a local resident I am hoping that visitors to this site may feel able to support us in this endeavour by sponsoring us, no matter how small an amount. A website has been set www.justgiving.com/ironman-germany which offers a secure method of offering your donation, with an option of leaving a message of support...which is also very welcome.
Please take a few moments to have a look at the website for more information on this fantastic cause.
Thanks for your time... Paul.Attachments:
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Post by newishtotetbury on Mar 4, 2010 12:09:02 GMT
One of the problems I believe more vulnerable members of the community faced was one of actually getting out of the house for the most basic of errands. Could the council, perhaps, in setting up the helpline also canvas locally for volunteers who would provide a phone number. Then when conditions are as extreme as they have been the helpline would have access to people locally who could help at short notice? This would take some pressure off the emergency services who fielded a lot of calls on this matter. Canvassing for volunteers could take place through the Tetbury Advertiser, which is circulated through all households in Tetbury.
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Post by newishtotetbury on Jan 22, 2009 9:55:01 GMT
I have recently acquired a glazed flagon, from the late 19th Century, made by William Powell of Bristol. It is stamped with the legend "B,1751 William Warn Spirit Merchants, Tetbury".
I know that William Warn ran a malt-house, brewery and Spirit Merchants in Tetbury from the mid 19th into the early 20th Centuries. His buildings were located somewhere in Church Street.
Can anyone tell me if it is possible first of all to date the flagon from the "B,1751" marking or, if not, what that marking means. I would also like to know where the Warn brewery was located. Can anyone shed some light on this for me?
Thanks.
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Post by newishtotetbury on Jan 22, 2009 9:50:15 GMT
Several years ago my wife and I were trying to find somewhere to live, between Bristol and Gloucester, to suit both our jobs. We were also hoping for somewhere rural as we had been living in Bristol and found it a little claustrophobic.
We had searched the usual places: Stroud, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Thornbury, Charfield, Wickwar, Wotton Under Edge etc etc. We had few requirements: a pub, a local shop, easy access to somewhere with more shops. That was it...but it proved extraordinarily difficult to find.
Then one sunny afternoon in late Autumn we drove through Tetbury after a long, tiring, fruitless day! We stopped for a much needed coffee at a nice looking "Brasserie" - The Blue Zucchini. Sat outside on one of their pavement tables we looked about us...and bought our house in the town the following day!
So you see, I have a deep soft spot for the Blue Zucchini. It's a restaurant that I am desperate to see succeed as it is, in part, the reason my wife and I live in such glorious surroundings. That is the only reason I can think of for continuously going there for drinks or food, and continuously coming away disappointed!
Under the old management, the restaurant went into something of a decline, being under staffed and serving uninspiring and over priced food. It was possible to go for dinner on a Saturday evening and be the only customers. A sad shadow of what it once was.
So it was with some excitement that we learnt of a change of ownership. A reversal of the decline? Surely. A fresh beginning? Certainly. We have now been 4 or 5 times since the new owners took over and, I am sad to say, it has never wavered in its' ability to disappoint.
The first time we went, soon after reopening, we had food. I had a burger and my wife had cod and chips. The burger was fine, not too much to go wrong, if perhaps a little wilted in its' salad ingredients. The cod though, for the best part of £10, was terrible. It was square, small and clearly not fresh in anyway shape or form. It resembled nothing so much as a Findus frozen cod steak...as bought from Somerfield round the corner. Of course I'm not in a position to say that's what it was but it certainly was not of the ilk of the freshly battered cod fillet one might have at, say, the Ormond or the Priory.
We went back for food some months later, this time with my brother and his wife. The lady owner of the Zucchini was very attentive and polite...to my brother and I. But ignored my wife and sister-in-law, for reasons I do not know. Perhaps a misplaced idea of chivalry, the man ordering for his woman? I'm not sure. All I can say is that my brother and I had our wine refilled and asked if we wanted any more drinks. My wife and sister-in-law did not. This appeared to be a snub (unconscious or otherwise) and robbed us of any enthusiasm we may have had for eating there. So we didn't and went to the Ormond instead!
Since then we have been back with the intention of food only once...on a summers afternoon. We were hoping to sit out in the rear gardens, a lovely oasis of cool and calm in the midst of the town. But it is no more. Apparently it has been reclaimed as a play area for the owner's children! That is their decision of course, but our decision was to go to The Priory instead...and sit outside in the sun.
Other than that, we have been for drinks a few times. The pavement tables remain one of the best spots in Tetbury to have a coffee or glass of wine and watch the world go by. The reindeer skins they have provided as lap blankets are much more Eco-friendly than the previous patio heaters, and are a very nice idea. We have not, however, been able to bring ourselves to order food. The last time I looked at the menu there was a pasta dish for £12, which is way too much money to risk on a meal from somewhere that is so consistently disappointing.
This is not a rant, I would hate to be misunderstood. I love the Blue Zucchini, I am desperate for it to survive and thrive. It should, and could, be an incredibly cool venue in the heart of a historical town. The interior is great, reminiscent of all that is to be admired about the contemporary styling found some very trendy bars and bistros within our modern Cities. It adds something different to Tetbury, something needed and, potentially, exciting. It is, after all, the catalyst that brought my wife and I to Tetbury. We regularly spend money in the local economy, eating out often twice a week. It is sad, therefore, that the Blue Zucchini receives none of this custom. It just hasn't delivered the quality that it once possessed, in spades, for some considerable time. I want, and fervently hope, that it can be turned around and again turned into something great!
Hopefully this post will invite comments from others that have recently eaten there, with a more positive experience than I? That would be good...
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Post by newishtotetbury on Jul 1, 2008 13:08:43 GMT
the debate continues, without abuse, on the original rip-off petrol in Tetbury post....
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Post by newishtotetbury on Jul 1, 2008 12:56:16 GMT
I think the need for cheaper petrol is becoming increasingly pressing. I drive an unleaded car and have to commute to Cheltenham everyday, therefore petrol prices are becoming critical for me (and many others in similar positions), and shopping around is a must.
120.9p a litre was the price at Texaco today. Yet 10 miles away in Chippenham, at the weekend, I got petrol for 115.9p. The difference cannot be justified by distribution costs etc, it is yet another example of profiteering in Tetbury (and please don't answer with comments about free market economies preventing any concept of profiteering - oil prices are leading to a global crisis and therefore the market needs some controls)!
My car, by my calculations, currently costs about 15p a mile to run. Therefore the run to Chippenham and back costs about £3. My car takes 60 litres and the 5p a litre saving will save me £3 so the trip to Chippenham will do nothing but break me even. But I would rather do that than give my money to a garage that is growing rich off the difficulties of its customers. An extreme view perhaps, but one that I think is becoming increasingly common. Only by such boycotts will businesses like Texaco also feel the pinch and respond accordingly.
As for food,: Tesco is a leviathon that is often held to be responsible for the decline of rural communities in Britain. This is often true but in Tetbury I think that's a little unfair, as alternatives exist. It's up to the consumer to make the effort. We buy all our vegetables from Middle Hall Farm in Eastington. It is, believe it or not, significantly cheaper than Tescos, all the veg is grown on site and is fresh and in season. I am fortunate to pass it on my way to work but will (and have) make the journey regardless. Meat comes from the butchers, because although slighly more expensive it is of way better quality than Tesco's. Fish comes from Williams in Nailsworth or the Wednesday fish man in the market (if we're not at work). I tried fish from the chefs table in Tetbury but to say they charge a premium is a vast, vast understatement (£30 for 2 pieces of salmon, 2 pieces of Turbot and some haddock!!!). The quality of this fish is, again, superior to that of Tesco's and is therfore far more than just a conscience choice. Finally milk is delivered nice and fresh from the milkman (Dairycrest in Stonehouse).
Also we grow our own lettuces and herbs in an old tin bath in the garden (acquired from Top Banana "Antiques"!!). I know this may appear as a little Simple Life smugness but it is easy to do and we have a tiny garden!
I accept that not everyone is in a position to make the choices above, but most are and choose Tesco's instead. As do I for toilet roll, detergent, toothpaste etc etc. To then complain about Tescos, when those alternatives exist but you've chosen to ignore them, is somewhat churlish.
Come on people, there are local businesses out there supplying good quality produce, you just need to make a little effort to use them! And that effort is more than repaid when you know which field down the road your Sunday roast tatties came from.....
Sorry all...rant over!
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Post by newishtotetbury on Jul 1, 2008 12:34:15 GMT
The Priory is a lovely place, if a little empty at times (I'm referring to their restaurant/bar area) with good food and, fingers crossed you get good weather, a pleasant beer garden in which to watch the world pass by. Also worth considering though is the Ormond. The bar/restaurant area has recently been redeveloped and is now extremely nice.
In terms of the restaurant I would say that the Ormond's is somewhat classier, the Priory being a "Gastropub" style place. Both, however serve excellent food.
As for the gay-friendliness of them both, sadly I can't comment. However both have quite young, friendly and professional staff which suggests you won't have a problem.
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Post by newishtotetbury on Apr 24, 2008 13:26:22 GMT
Is there anywhere in Tetbury selling reasonably priced computer supplies, specifically DVD-r discs. I used to get a spindle every month or so from Tesco's, but they no longer stock them (rather their old space is taken up by Wii's and LCD TV's - who buys these things from the kiosk at Tesco's? ). The copy shop sell them individually but at £2.99 each that's extortionate. I'd rather not have to drive to Ciren or Stroud to get such a basic item, can anyone assist?
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Post by newishtotetbury on Apr 17, 2008 22:34:23 GMT
On your other question, the Bengal Lancer is nice, though it closes rather early for an Indian restaurant (10pm). The food and the service are very good. It is unlicensed, but a quick trip to the off-license, 100 yards away, prior to sitting down soon sorts that issue out!!!
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Post by newishtotetbury on Apr 17, 2008 22:29:28 GMT
There are many choices for a good sunday roast... The Tipputs as stated is very good, as is the Priory (though can be pricey - in particular do not order the Cabernet Sauvignon expecting it to be the house stuff...instead you get a £28 bottle of, admittedly lovely, fine wine - my fault for not reading the label I guess!!!!). Also very nice is the Black Horse in North Nibley (about 25 mins drive), the food is very good.
A new favourite of my wife and I, however, is The Potting Shed in Crudwell (10 mins drive). This is a fairly new venture and is lovely, both in atmosphere and food.
My final recommendation, if you fancy a bit of a drive to another part of the Cotswolds, is The New Inn at Coln St Aldwyn (the other side of Cirencester)...it is fantastic. One of the beneficiaries from the "Kate Moss effect" to hit that part of the Cotswolds. Again, the food is lovely, and it has a great beer garden for those summer evenings!
As you can tell...we spend far too many weekends sampling our local eateries!!!!
On a similar note, I notice that the Ormond appears to have undergone something of a recent facelift and the bar now seems to reflect the quality of the restaurant. They are also offering a Sunday roast...has anyone tried it yet?
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Post by newishtotetbury on Apr 4, 2008 10:30:17 GMT
Hi all, I haven't read through the whole thread as it's 7 pages long, so sorry if I duplicate anything. But can anyone tell me what Eve's Kabin is/was (opposite The Priory)...I'm most intrigued. Thanks.
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Post by newishtotetbury on Apr 4, 2008 10:26:25 GMT
I haven't played cricket in a number of years (ten-ish!!!) due to time constraints and other feeble excuses. I'm hoping to start playing again, obviously something to do with resisting time having hit my mid thirties... However my standard is going to pretty poor until I brush the cobwebs off...or maybe it'l stay poor!
Does anyone know of a pub / village cricket team that would be happy to take on (for nets initially I suppose) a rusty, slightly past his prime player, and whose standard might suit such a player? The teams I've looked at that are most prominent locally all seem to be of a pretty high standard and, to be honest, that is not really the type of cricket I'm looking for.....
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Post by newishtotetbury on Nov 7, 2007 9:00:26 GMT
It'd be nice to see it used, as long as the renovation is performed sympathetically. If the modern practice of using a building's "footprint" as the basis for a completely new structure is utilised then, frankly, I'd rather see it demolished and the area landscaped!!! Fingers crossed that such historical sympathy will be employed (and insisted on by the regeneration trust) by the architects.
On a related topic, the proposed cycleway to Kemble will be of incredible benefit to us all I think. It will open up so much more of the surrounding areas to cycle rides, which at the moment are difficult to access without first utilising a hazardous section along the London Road (and of course a stop-off at the Trouble House for liquid refreshment will be ideal!!).... Hats off to whoever remains the driving force behind that scheme.
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Post by newishtotetbury on Nov 7, 2007 8:52:22 GMT
It's an interesting point though. When I started driving, a mere 15 years ago, I was paying about 42p a litre. If we take into account inflation then petrol should be priced in the high 90's p/litre. So, as it is, the price is not much higher than inflation.
However, the price of property has far outstripped inflation and yet we perpetuate this problem by insisting on making "profit" each time we come to sell a house, little realising that this just pushes the price of one's next property higher as well.
All that said though, the prices in Tetbury are higher than surrounding areas. Tesco's in Stroud (and I suppose Ciren) still do petrol for less than £1/l. Economies of scale I guess... But, to whoever suggested it, would a couple of pence a litre REALLY be worth allowing another Supermarket into Tetbury or, God forbid, the expansion of Tesco's??? Sounds like the death knell for the butchers, the bakers (and the candlestick makers come to that) if ever I heard one....
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Post by newishtotetbury on Nov 5, 2007 8:32:12 GMT
I'm glad this forum has sparked some interest. Incidentally, Barry Gibbs, of the Tetbury Advertiser, has offered this site some free advertising within his editorial in the most recent edition. Hopefully that will help this site become more of a community resource than is currently the case!
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