The twentieth Bristol Splunch will take place on Saturday, 19th August 2017 from 2:00pm - 7:00pm in Horts Bar, 49 Broad Street, Bristol, BS1 2EP, and for those who are still peckish/thirsty later at some eatery/watering hole elsewhere in or near the city. This is a vanilla meet; all over 18 from anywhere are welcome, and entry is free. I might even buy your first drink. What is it? It's a 'vanilla' pub social meet - drink, chat, meet'n'greet, listen, learn, advise, offer opinions, discuss substances, etc, make friends, maybe arrange a session. This is usually followed by a meal in the evening, and an outdoor mud session the following day; always subject to the bl**dy weather. If I can answer any more questions, I'll be delighted to help; and in any event to welcome you to the Splunch. How do I get there? Broad Street is about twenty minutes walk from Bristol Temple Meads railway station, easily accessible from almost anywhere in the country, and there are several car parks nearby. From the railway station exit, turn right along Temple Gate to the roundabout, cross over onto Victoria Street, continue over the river bridge into High Street, and bear gently left into Broad Street as High Street turns to the right into Wine Street. Horts Bar is about one hundred yards down on the right. From the bus/coach station, exit onto Whitson Street, left into Lower Maudlin Street, cross Lewins Mead to Rupert Street and turn right. After about two hundred yards, turn left into Christmas Street, cross Quay Street and through the stone archway into Broad Street. Horts Bar is about fifty yards up on the left. For those driving, at the bottom of the M32/Newfoundland Street, turn right onto Bond Street, take the first exit at the roundabout into The Haymarket, turn left into Bridewell Street, left into Nelson Street, right into Halifax Street and into the multi-storey on All Saints' Street - only £5 for the whole day, and closer than any other one. Please note that many roads in Bristol are subject to a 20mph speed limit; the mayor, who introduced the limit, has already been caught speeding. To get to the bar, from All Saints' Street, turn right into Pithay, right into Tower Lane, left into Newmarket Avenue, and right onto Broad Street - the bar is a few yards down on the right. (Politically correct notice other car parks are available in Bristol.) For those flush enough (or subsidised) flying into Bristol (Lulsgate) Airport, take the Airport Flyer bus service to the bus/coach station and proceed as above from there. Hotels the usual chains are readily available: Premier Inn, Lewins Mead (approx a half mile from £82.50); Premier Inn, Haymarket (next to the bus station, approx a half mile from £79.00); Premier Inn, King Street (approx a half mile from £97.50); Hotel Ibis, Temple Quay (approx a half mile from £97); Hotel Ibis, Anchor Road (approx a half mile from £113); Travelodge, Anchor Road (approx mile from £101); Travelodge, Mitchell Lane (approx a half mile from £94); Holiday Inn Express (approx a half mile from £128.00); Holiday Inn (approx 1 mile from £145.00); Novotel, Victoria Street (approx a half mile from £99); and Mercure Brigstow (approx a half mile from £115). For those hotels that are not available for Saturday only, rooms seem to be readily available for two-night stays, either Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday nights at very reasonable rates. Other hotels are available; check laterooms.com or trivago or similar sites, try the Royal Hotel, Avonmouth, or check the out-of-town hotels from the above chains. Dinner - please let me know if you'd like to stay for dinner on Saturday evening; it's likely to be Chinese. I'll be hoping to do an outdoor mud shoot on the Sunday (always subject to the bl**dy weather and availability of models and sober drivers). If you have any further questions, post them here or pm me.
Four weeks to go, and I think it's time for an update. Few are indicating whether they're coming for dinner; please don't leave it too late
Definites and Probables DungeonMasterOne Falkor Gungetvuk & Raraohlalaa Iain-ecgunge Kapitan Kitty MessyBusinessman & Sunnie Messy Laura & Mordicus (D) Sammy-Jane (D) Smiley Smolunicorn Sploshed ... and me Mike Nomic (D)
Possibles Bristolwetlook/Deepintheshadows Custard MarksofCane Nina Jay Totalcoverage_uk
I suspect there may be a bit of a rush when folks return from holidays, but there is still plenty of room for more people, and time to let me know you'll be staying for dinner.
Myself and Rara will be doing dinner. I've contacted BristolWetlook to see if he's definitely coming, but I'm pretty sure he will as I mentioned it to him last time I saw him.
Two weeks to go, and I think it's time for an update. Few are indicating whether they're coming for dinner; please don't leave it too late
Definites and Probables Bristolwetlook/Deepintheshadows DungeonMasterOne (D) Falkor & Custard Gungetvuk & Raraohlalaa (D) Iain-ecgunge Kapitan Kitty MessyBusinessman & Sunnie Messy Laura & Mordicus (D) Messy Tom & Emily (D) Sammy-Jane (D) Smiley Smolunicorn Wamadeus (D) ... and me Mike Nomic (D)
Possibles Deviant 312 LRZ & D MarksofCane Mustbetights Nina Jay Totalcoverage_uk
I suspect there may be a bit of a rush when folks return from holidays, but there is still plenty of room for more people, and time to let me know you'll be staying for dinner.
A couple of days to go, and folk are still putting their names down. Few are indicating whether they're coming for dinner; please don't leave it too late
Definites and Probables Bristolwetlook/Deepintheshadows DungeonMasterOne (D) Falkor & Custard Gungetvuk & Raraohlalaa + 1 (D) Iain-ecgunge Jackvade Jaffajape (D) Kapitan Kitty MessyBusinessman & Sunnie Messy Laura & Mordicus (D) Messy Tom & Emily (D) Mr & Mrs Vamp Angel Mr Switch 1988 Sammy-Jane (D) Smiley Smolunicorn Wamadeus (D) ... and me Mike Nomic (D)
Possibles Deviant 312 LRZ & D MarksofCane Miss Lottie Mustbetights Nina Jay Simon 115 Totalcoverage_uk
For the newcomers, of whom there are quite few; so that you don't feel obliged to go round asking people if they are 'the custard crew', we have an area reserved for us at the front of the bar, just inside the main doors on the right. Look out for a map and a light bulb (!) on the table.
There is still plenty of room for more people, and time to let me know you'll be staying for dinner.
Sorry folks, decided after much soul searching to give it a miss this time around, based on finance as much as anything else. I'm sure you'll have a good time, perhaps next time around!
I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to the meet, the diehards, the occasional visitors, and the 8 Bristol newbies alike, for making it the meet that it was. I hope you all enjoyed yourselves; whether you were one of the quieter ones, or the more loud'n'proud; I think I got to chat to everyone, some only briefly, others for longer, on a wide range of subjects. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible, especially returning newbies, at future Bristol and other meets.
Those who made it were: -
Deepintheshadows Falkor and Custard Gungetvuk Natalie & Skye Raraohlalaa & John Iain-ecgunge Jaffajape Messy Laura and Mordicus Messy Tom & Emily Mr & Mrs Vamp Angel Wamadeus Xenia Dressman ... and me, Mike Nomic.
There were a lot of no-shows, in addition to the notified ones, a great disappointment.
The card is below; despite having checked that cameras were available, we again forgot to take a full group photo. There was no mud shoot on Sunday, location-scouting having showed that some drainage ditch re-digging would be needed and we didn't have the time or the manpower. The local mudflats were full of people surveying for new flood defences. Have I retired from shooting by default? The next Bristol dates are 19th May and 18th August next year. Prayers for good weather will be gratefully received.
Custard and I were more than usually tired but still enjoyed the splunch. Great to see everyone, old friends and new. Thanks to Mike for organising Keep going and I'm sure you'll get another Sunday shoot.
Was a really good meet, wish i could have stayed for dinner. Loved talking to everyone farmilliar and new, ill check you guys out on here when im back home with more internet services lol. Dont give up on the shoot Mike im sure it will happen eventually! Love Xenia x
Just wanted to say a (belated!) thanks to Mike for organising. The hotel recommendations were spot on. Great to see you again Falkor and meet Custard, and everyone else I met - especially those of you that stuck around for the food afterwards - I enjoyed your company immensely.
Hopefully see you all again at various splosh events in the future!