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Your regular newsletter from The Walls  
 
Autumn 2004 edition 2
Jez Danks
Friday October 22nd 2004

Coinciding with the private viewing of our latest art exhibition by Montgomery artist Charlotte Durie is the inaugural visit of the incomparable Mr. Jez Danks to the Walls.

As usual you will all mostly be numb to my constant stream of superlatives applied to events at the Walls. However, once again I am not “the boy who cried wolf”. Jez is a gloriously understated and massively talented musician playing extraordinary Russian style folk violin which he follows with some mean piano playing.

This is a non-ticket event, just turn up and be as amazed and spellbound as I was with his playing. Normal table booking arrangements and menus apply.

Art Exhibitions
Charlotte Durie & Scott Faulkner
We are hosting an exhibition by Montgomery-based artist Charlotte Durie from 18th October.

Charlotte is particularly known for her powerful depictions of the horse. She has exhibited widely and has attracted commissions from the great and the good. Her work is of a very high quality has been shown in the Blue Wing and Mall galleries in London and will prove to be a great attraction.

Charlotte's hosted private viewing is on Friday 22nd October. Come along share a glass of wine and talk to Charlotte about her work and the creation of these special pieces.

Following on directly from Charlotte’s exhibition we host a display of work by the very well known American photographer Scott Faulkner. Scott has exhibited with us before as part of a bigger exhibition and we felt he deserved a show of his own. His exhibition will be here from Monday 1st of November.




Hot News from the Stove
As a result of a stroke of peculiar good fortune our position with regards to chefs or lack of them has been resolved by the re-appointment of Richard Williams a.k.a. “Soufflé” as mainstay of our kitchen brigade. With Richard well into his second term as my understudy and chief whipping boy in the kitchen, his understanding of my philosophy about large-scale food production, will help us sail through this next busy period.

ANDY PEATE
Friday October 29th 2004

“THE BLUES IN BLACK AND WHITE”
By a strange “quirk of fate” we are now able to present to you another piano player called Andy who has a five letter surname containing two ‘E’s and an ‘A’… How crazy is that?

Here is probably where the similarities end. However, some of you may have seen Andy P. propping up the tail end of Sunday lunch, giving the aforementioned Mr. A. Leake a chance to cram in another packet of fags before falling asleep.

Andy P. does a lot of work for the BBC and has played as a solo artist and in many groups and so impressed was I with his C.D. of Blues, that I just had to book him. Again, this is a free flow evening, with no tickets required – simply book and enjoy!

OFFERS, DEALS, BRIBERY AND CORPORATE SCAMS!!!!
To clarify the position with regards to our current promotional activity I am pleased to report the continuation of our Two Courses for £12.50 menu throughout October and November. This menu is available every lunchtime Monday through Saturday and thankfully is still spectacularly popular despite a modest price hike to £12.50. The menu will be suspended in December to re-emerge in all its glory in the New Year. Turkey Risotto here we come! I jest!


Sunday Lunch
Similarly our “Eat Children for Free” also continues throughout October and November to restart in the New Year. This offer allows children between the ages of 4 and 12 to partake of our Sunday carvery at no charge – Offer is limited to 2 children per adult. Please book early as the return of winter sees a significant increase in demand for Sunday Lunch tables.

Christmas Parties & Day
As we go to press we are fully booked for Christmas Day. However we are running a cancellation list and if you are keen to visit us on Christmas day there is an outside chance that tables may be available in the next week or two.

Similarly most of the prime dates in December are now fully booked; however, there is a good availability on most Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays throughout December and some weekend space available in January. Please telephone to check.

New Years Eve
The Sharp Cuts
We have been truly blessed in securing this act as the mainstay of our entertainment programme for NYE. If you normally yawn at the prospect of a “cover band” as I do, prepare to re-think your reaction. The Sharp Cuts are supreme- providing cover versions ahead of the originals one after the other. Combined with an overwhelming stage presence- due in part to the colossal proportions of the lead vocalist- approaching 7’ tall! They are not to be missed.

In an attempt to streamline and improve food service this year we are changing from our usual carvery format. No more exhausting queuing of getting up and down out of your seats. You can conserve all your energy for bopping to the Sharp Cuts. We offer the following menu of tried and tested retro favourites.

Classic French Onion Soup with Cheese Croutons
Melon with Parma Ham and Figs
Terrine of Foie Gras with Grapes and Hot Toast

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Fillet of Beef Wellington with Madeira & Mushroom Gravy
Fillet of Salmon with Béarnaise Sauce
Crispy Roast Duck Breast with Orange Sauce
Asparagus, Artichoke and Field Mushroom Risotto

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Sticky Toffee Pudding, Butterscotch Sauce & Clotted Cream
Chocolate and Tia Maria Mousse
Crème Brulee with Raspberries and Langue du Chat
Cheese and Biscuits

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Coffee and Truffles

£55.00 including a glass of chilled Prosecco on arrival
HEARTSTRINGS, HELPING & GOOD TIMES

Just occasionally a tale of such catastrophic misfortune, out and out bad luck presents itself and if you are able to, you feel compelled to help. A short while ago I was visited by Anne Newell a friend of long time Walls supporter, Tricia Williams-Thomas, who explained to me the very sad predicament of her sister Jean, a local Oswestry resident.

Jean has an extremely rare form of cancer related to the birth of her daughter and without some desperately urgently required research and scientific breakthrough her outlook is pretty bleak. Anne and her incredibly brave Sister Jean have started a charity to raise funds for this cause.

So on November 12th (Friday) the Walls host a charity evening in aid of this cause. The evening is built around the musical and organisational skills of our resident loveable piano-playing hooligan, the incomparable Mr. Andy Leake.

Andy will be ably supported by a variety of acts, comprising some of his most gifted pupils and protégés, some of our musically gifted staff and headlining will be “A Little Bit of Chaos” featuring an unplugged set by three members of local band “Total Chaos”, Paul Sturman and Mike Edwards and on drums, Oswestry’s very own Mr. Music, Phil Beaumont.

MENU

Roast Chicken Breast with Bacon, Bread Sauce, Thyme and Lemon Stuffing
Salmon with Spinach and a White Wine Fish Sauce
Spinach and Mushroom Strudel with Provencal Sauce

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Chocolate Mousse
Apple and Blackberry Crumble with Real Custard

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Coffee & truffles


During the evening there will be a wonderful raffle with prizes ranging from tickets to watch Everton Football Club, Champagne, Joints of Meat, Sunday Lunch for 4 at the Walls and more.

Tickets for another raffle with a major prize of golf at Carden Park and a meal at the House of Commons will be on sale. The raffle will be drawn at the Walls on Christmas Day.

Tricia Williams-Thomas has been her usual magnanimous self and donated a specially commissioned painting that will be sold by a sealed bid auction on the evening. Not to be missed!

COME AND HELP THIS MOST DESERVING OF CAUSES

STOP PRESS........ MUSICAL CHAIRS...... STOP PRESS.……..MUSICAL CHAIRS
I thought I could breathe a huge sigh of relief and get down to licking and sticking envelopes and then the phone rang! A little voice said, would you like to be the first UK venue for the Squeeze tribute tour? Oh bother!

I suppose we would – so we re-jig the newsletter – We are thrilled to announce the premier UK date for the co-founder and inspiration behind Squeeze, Mr. Chris Difford, who is bringing his already sold out London show to Oswestry.

Chris will be ably supported by Matt Deighton (ex Oasis) and a host of other top-drawer musicians. The show consists of entirely Squeeze songs, some of which have been re-worked by Chris but all with their hallmark of exceptional lyrical quality and simple punchy melody. Chris will also sign copies of the Squeeze book.

Tickets for the evening on Friday the 19th November are £30 to include a two-course dinner and coffee. Demand will be huge – Don’t Delay!
 
  © 2004 Musketeers Pubs Ltd.