Another Q for planning purposes - Sat lunch?

Hovis, why do you always attempt to find negativity in anything that anyone tries to plan or suggest.

You have complained about the area, the venue, the food and the ride out. But I am sure you will still turn up, still have a fantastic time and still be talking about how great it was for weeks if not months after. Less of the barrage of negativity would be most welcome.

Before i vote, whats a food fairy? Takeaway?

After what i assume will be a big breakfast, something light for lunch such as sandwiches should be enough to tide everyone over till the evening.

I would personally be happy with a petrol stop at about 1, somewhere with a load of different retaurants and what not. People can get whatever they want from roadside services, and it gives a chance to fill up without using up much riding time. An hour and a half should be enough to eat and socialise, then get back on the road till the afternoon/evening.

My opinion anyway.

Originally Posted by BigApe

Hovis, why do you always attempt to find negativity in anything that anyone tries to plan or suggest.

You have complained about the area, the venue, the food and the ride out. But I am sure you will still turn up, still have a fantastic time and still be talking about how great it was for weeks if not months after. Less of the barrage of negativity would be most welcome.

as posted in another thread,

Originally Posted by hovis

call me old fashion, but where did you dream up all that?

1) i have never said i dont like essex, i have never been there

2) i dont even know where the venue is, so how can i not like it

3) i have not said breakfast is not to my liking, all i said was it would be good if you could get the pub to cook somthing, anything would do

4) i have never said anything about the cost

5) neither have i complained about the route, just the fact it seems to stop too often for too long, and you have chosse to have lunch somewhere, where there is basicly nowhere to get lunch.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Magnum

Before i vote, whats a food fairy? Takeaway?

It's like the tooth fairy, she brings the most delightful sumptuous meal to your bike and then leaves 50 pence under your pillion seat. At least it was 50 pence in my day, might be more now

Originally Posted by Magnum

somewhere with a load of different retaurants and what not.

As stated there is no where like that on the route at lunchtime hence the suggestions in the poll are the only ones available.

Originally Posted by Stu

As stated there is no where like that on the route at lunchtime

and thats the bit i dont get?

why take 100 people somewhere for lunch, when there is nothing there?

last year was great, as we had 1½ hours to wonder around the sea side, with 20+ options for food.

surely it would make more sense to go a bit out of the way to somwhere that can cater for everyone. rather than sat out side 1 shop for an hour and a ½

a few people have told me they agree with what im saying, and most of them have said they are not going to bother going,

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by hovis

and thats the bit i dont get?

why take 100 people somewhere for lunch, when there is nothing there?

But there is something there, if you read messies first post, she says theres a tea room there that we can get lunch from, but if 100 odd of us turn up and they are not expecting us they cant cater for us so we wont get fed, but if we pre order lunch in advance they'll be able to plan for us arriving and we will all get fed.

[Spiderman]

Originally Posted by hovis

a few people have told me they agree with what im saying, and most of them have said they are not going to bother going,

Jeez get over it people

Have a large-ish brekkie and a little snack for lunch, how hard can that be?

If you're worried lunch wont be up to your standard then grab a couple of sarnies/pies from the fuel stop earlier and carry them with you...hey presto you brought your lunch with you and didn't have to much about looking for a place to eat.

Last years lunch stop was more because it was a beautiful location, hell i can eat fish n chips anyday and i sure as hell didnt go on the AR for the food. I went for the ride and the socialising, everyhting else was secondary.

i also remember that being one of the last to arrive at the kunch stop meant that by the time a few of us had gathered together and walked to the seafront most of the eateries were full of bikers and i was being told i'd have to wait about 30 odd mins for some fish and chips so i wasted a lot of time wanderign about trying to find something better. By time we didn't we still had to wait half hour or so for some food, wolf it down and get back to the car park for the off.

That situation wasn't ideal but this way we let thm know in advance how many will want food and hopefully we wont have to wait as long.

And you know what...1 teashop compared to 5 different chippies is all the same to me.

The fact that i lost my nice summer gloves at the lunchstop last year didn't make it any worse for me, its all part of going on a group rideout innit.

I'd suggest anyone (not a personal dig at you Hovis, just quoted your bit is all) who isnt over the moon about the lunch arrangments remember that the organisers go to a lot of time and trouble to get the best compromise so MOST people can enjoy the day. if they over organise things (how last year started off) people want to be left a choice, if they narrow the choice people want/ expect a road full of eateries to just conveniently place itself into the rideout route do they?

Me, i dont care. if my belly dont feel full enough after lunch i'll have a big dinner. Problem solved, right?

so please lets all stop the negative nancy attitudes and all have a mass prayer for good weather instead

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by Messie

The tea rooms told me they could do anything we asked, at whatever price we wanted. So could be plates of sarnies or a cold buffet for example. Dishes available would be up to us dependant on cost. They do have cooked meals and a carvery type thing, but they cannot seat more than 50 and they would have to close the whole place for us. That would cost us a bit I think and take a while.
What would people want and what would they be prepared to pay?

£5 would be fine to me.

[Messie]

a few people have told me they agree with what im saying, and most of them have said they are not going to bother going,[/quote]

Several points in response to this

1. If you don't want to go because of the luch stop then that's up to you. There's plenty of people who will be going regardless.

2. The place has been specifically chosen because it is a well known local meet point for bikers (even though it's not a greasy spoon!) and is in a beautiful part of Essex.

3. We discussed at some length the alternatives to this place and could come up with no better plan, given all factors

4. I'm not going to go ahead with the idea of pre-arranging luch at this stop. Not enough want it and enough are moaning

5. To anyone who doesn't like what I/we have planned I'm really sorry. I've been trying to guage opinion to get things right for as many people as possible, but seem to be making a rod for my own back. I'm doing this because I want to put something back into this site, and to have a great week end, but it seems to me that some people think I'm doing it to wind others up. I assure you I'm not. Sorry if I've misjudged the situation

I'll be as hands off as possible from now on
4.