Week Starting 24 May 2010

A Scorching Day and an Upcoming Three Day Weekend!

Welcome one and all to another weekly newsletter from purveyors of fun, The Good Time Guide! This Monday morning differs from others, namely because it is so stupidly hot that we can barely contain our excitement, yet nervously looking over our shoulder that it'll all end too soon!

So keep in mind that the Guildford Lido is now open, should you get the overwhelming urge to jump in a pool and lay outdoors (surely not so much an urge as a 'must-do'). Heck, go in your lunch break! But for more hints, tips and nods on the subject of 'where to go?', read on dear subscriber...

Monday - England vs Mexico at The Stoke, Guildford

First of all, please note that The Stoke is closing for refurbishment on Monday 24th May, until Friday 28th.

HOWEVER, being the good people that they are, what with all their TGTG offers and all, The Stoke will be opening the function room towards the rear of the pub on Monday 24th to show the England v Mexico match, free entry, as a cheeky teaser for the World Cup!

So what of the re-opening? It doth occur on Friday 28th June at 7pm, and The Stoke will be serving cocktails, platters of food from the new menu, and there'll be live music from The Keith Winters Trio. Expect new interior features (decor, furnishings), table service in the dining room, carvery on sunday's, new menu (obviously still to include the infamous Pizza menu), regular live music at the weekends and six (count 'em!) 50inch HD widescreen TV's showing all the best in live sport. If you don't frequent The Stoke... why oh why?!

Tuesday - Great Views with Great Food at The Boatman, Guildford

The best views in Guildford town? With terraces right down the edge of the River Wey, it's a definite contender, but The Boatman offers way, way more. Just look at this menu - you're really not short of choice, even if the sun is playing hardball and you have to sit inside, and all their grub is sourced as locally as possible with award winning suppliers including Rawlings Butchers.

What else? Loadsa real ale, supplied from the Hogs Back Brewery, ciders, beers, wines - but of course, that terrace in the presently sunny surroundings are what'll swing it for ya. Anything else you want to know? Call 01483 568024.

Wednesday - Top Drawer Cuisine at The Plough at Cobham

Coming into mid-week, you may want to consider going out for a nice meal, or perhaps plan a lovely evening out for the weekend. If it's the latter, good for you; you're far more organised than this writer. So if you are able to head in the vicinity of Cobham, there's one place you simply have to consider; The Plough, one of the few pubs that can boast having truly incredible cuisine.

If you want to come at lunch, Monday to Thursday (why, this is WEDNESDAY'S slot!) sees a lunchtime deal of just £10.50 for 2 courses - only once you've been will you realise what mind-bogglingly good value that is. But if you can't do that, we still say check out the menu and book your table 01932 862514. If this'll be your first visit, guaranteed it'll be the first of many!

Thursday - Fantastic Drink Deals at Bar Med, Guildford

A great venue that often boasts fantastic live DJs, Sunday to Thursday sees a fantastic array of drinks deals at Bar Med in Guildford. And as this is Friday part one (Thursday's an outdated word), why not treat yourself to a cheeky beverage? Don't forget, next Monday is bank holiday, so by Thursday the long weekend will almost be palpable...

So just how good are these drink deals? Well, any bottle of Echo Falls is £4.95 (sparkling £6.95), a pint of John Smith's £1.79 and Foster's just £1.99, and that's just a couple of examples - to see the whole drinks menu, click here. Pretty special no? God love the month of May! Don't forget, Bar Med also has loads and loads of screens as well, so keep it in mind for the imminent world cup! Click here for any other info you may desire of Bar Med.

Friday - Tilford Bach Society - Ensure you Catch An Amazing Concert Performance...

Tilford Bach Society perform ensure that you lucky Farnham locals get to see some of the finest live classical music outside of the big smoke, so we had to give you some info about some of their performances. Friday 28th May from 8pm sees The Revolutionary Drawing Room performing Haydn's String Quartet in D Minor, Mozart's String Quartet in G Major and Beethoven's Quartet in F Major. This showcase will be performed at Farnham Castle.

And for a further heads up, in June, Tilford Bach Society will be showcasing a seemingly never-ending well of classical music talent. Friday 4th June sees 7 members of the London Handel Players, playing works of Bach and Leclair. Saturday 5th June sees performances by the Handel Orchestra and Singers, and they'll be playing some works of Bach and Purcell. Both will be performed at Tildford's All Saints' Church.

All will be directed by the Royal College of Music's Adrian Butterfield. Find out more about performances from the Tilford Bach Society. For a booking form and further info, click here.

Saturday - The Thin White Duke at Farnham Maltings

Let Farnham Maltings explain: "Taking their name and look from the Thin White Duke character created by David Bowie for his legendary 1976 Station To Station tour, the band delivers a powerhouse of a show that contains hits and classic album tracks from Space Oddity to Let's Dance and everything in between."

"This is a must see for David Bowie fans looking for an authentic tribute to one of UK music's most innovative and enduring acts of the past 40 years." - So if you love Bowie, you won't get too many opportunities to see such a true-to-life interpretation of the great mans music! The Thin White Duke will be performing on Saturday 29th May. We say: Book your tickets right this very second!

Sunday - The Reggae Rooms at Boileroom, Guildford

A monthly event at Boileroom, Guildford's premier live music venue, this fantastic afternoon comes complete with Caribbean BBQ, so pray the weather decides to hold up this (at the time of writing) glorious sunshine. It's certainly not the end of the world if not, though, as there is a true legend in our midst this Sunday 30th May.

Take it away, Boileroom: "Earl Gateshead is the selector and leader of Trojan Sound System, the ofﬁcial sound of Trojan Records. Since its creation in 1968, Trojan Records has led the way in presenting the very best in classic Jamaican sounds. The labels releases have featured the cream of Jamaican talent, with the likes of Bob Marley & The Wailers, Dennis Brown, John Holt, Ken Boothe, Toots & The Maytals and The Inner Circle all included on its illustrious roster." - And Mr Gateshead is headlining this great event!

With the emergence of dubstep as the new dance sub-genre over the past couple of years, this is the perfect chance to hear how it all began - the mellow beats of Jamaican dub and reggae. Click here for all the info you could wish for.

Tip of The Week

Live Music in Farnham: 2 for 1 ELO Experience Tickets on Wednesday & Mini Festivals All Weekend!

Believe it Electric Light Orchestra fans! You can now see ELO Experience, one of the world's finest ELO tribute acts, at Farnham Maltings on Wednesday 26th May. Great in itself, but the best bit is...

2 for 1 tickets with your TGTG Offer Card! So you and a friend can enjoy a night to remember knowing that you only paid for half a ticket each! Call 01252 745444 to book and remember to mention your card when you do!

What of the weekend? First up, The Horns in Crondall will be running a charity festival all weekend. From Saturday 29th - Monday 31st May, noon 'til 11pm, they will be showcasing 20 bands - all for FREE! Click here to find out what to expect!

Next, it's the turn of the Lazy Bishop Festival, tucked away at the bottom of Farnham Library Gardens. This is a one-dayer, on Saturday 29th, featuring an eclectic mix of Irish folk, jazz, blues, rock, electro, acoustic soul, country across two stages - check it out!

Finally, The Duke of Cambridge in Tilford presents Cherryfest '10 - the very first Real Ale festival they've held, with 20 (20!) ales served straight from the cask and a bbq alongside a choice selection of bands! It goes on all weekend, and proceeds go to Cherry Trees, so it's for a great cause.

So absorb, click on those handy links and pick; or why not mosey on down to all three!