Northern Drive-Out - Coast & Castles Run, Fri/Sat 7th/8th August 2020

[john]

Understandable Robin.
Sure, the hotel may be open, but if the restaurants are closed then we may struggle to be sociable, even at a distance.
I'm imagining Norm telling jokes by semaphore......

[Normb666]

Funny you should say that, John - got two fingers up even as I type...not saying up where tho, before you reply

But, regarding the Grand Opening (or is it the Grand, opening?), I think they're basing the re-opening date based on the government's aim to have the hospitality sector running again on the 4th July. Although they say they're only doing B&B for now, they'll obviously be looking at opening the restaurants as well ASAP, so to get an idea of their thoughts I've dropped them a mail asking them what their plans regarding that are.

I'm hoping that, with our gig being a month after their opening, they should be kicking off the actual dining by then....otherwise we'll all be having takeaway fish and chips round the corner in Tynemouth village...
It may be that we push it back a further month, to 12th September. It has to be that date because of the Lindisfarne tide times being favourable for our trip out. If neither date works for whatever reason, we'll have to call it off till next year...bummer!

As for virus nervousness, that's up to individuals, but I'm now at the sod-it stage after Our Dominic's trip to the North East and all the BLM protestors and peeps on beaches etc. rubbing shoulders and whatnot with each other. And given that we'll be pretty much isolated for the whole weekend (in cars and bedrooms), with just a few hours social interaction, and all of us still healthy, I'm willing to take the risk if you lot are too!

Anyhow, watch this space to see what the hotel's reply will be.

[Normb666]

*** UPDATE *** The Gig's Still On!! Wahey!!!

OK Gang - been speaking to the hotel, and they're operating according to govt. guidelines, which at present means they can open on the 6th but still have to keep people apart, hence B&B with dinner served in your room.
HOWEVER - because this is a social event rather than just a family staying for one or two nights, they've given us a private dining room, so we can still get together as a group to eat and have a few drinkies later.

Obviously anything could happen between now and then (it's 8 weeks off, after all), so I'll keep y'all posted on here, but I'm just waiting on a list of attendees from the hotel to make sure it matches what I've got. If we concur, then there's still a couple of places left, if anyone else is thinking of coming along... obvs if anyone just wants to come along for the drive then that's OK too (Bob, I'm thinking of you here )

Watch this space...or the skies...but don't walk in to any lampposts while yer at it

The (Social) Norm

[Redline]

Norm,

I have a room booked, looking forward to it.

Mark

[David J]

Yipeeeeeee

[Bernard]

Great news Norm... we will be all ready for this event !!... fingers crossed

[Normb666]

More info after I asked the hotel to send me a current rooming list - only one room left from the number I initially asked for, but it looks like they've had some cancellations over the last few months cos they say other rooms are currently available (which wasn't the case previously - we got the last 12 rooms). But they're not guaranteed, so if anyone wants to put their name down, get in there quick (and let me know please!)

The other thing they mentioned was that indoor events and social functions are currently banned by the govt, so our private room is dependent on that restriction being relaxed, which they're hopeful of. The offer of the room was to ensure we could have our event without worrying about anybody else, which I thought was pretty good of them. Anyhow, more news as I get it, but right now we're expecting the Run to go ahead!