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January 2005
~ A very happy New Year to all our readers, customers and supporters ~
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A look back and a look forward
2004 was unquestionably the best year in the now substantial history of the fast becoming Oswestry/ North Shropshire institution that is The Walls. Thanks to your continued and improving support we have had our most successful year since opening in 1991.
Our entertainment programme continued to be well supported with some memorable events and wonderful exhibitions of skill and artistry of all sorts.
Famous names that graced us with their presence in 2004 included Jimmy Carr, Adam Bloom, Paul Tomlinson, from the world of comedy, Ros Goody the well known artist, David Watkins the harpist with Michael Bochmann - violin and a host of other musical geniuses.
I would like to make a special mention of Mr Andy Leake, our resident piano playing curiosity who has really established himself as a key part of our package this year, bringing a whole extra dimension to the Great Walls Sunday Lunch.
Andy has been around through December, holding my hand, giving me his very own “prophet of doom” predictions about our impending descent into obscurity, whilst madly chopping up any bits of broken furniture to stoke up our flagging fires. Thanks, Andy!
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FOOD &WINE
On the food and wine front, our special two-course menu continued to appeal to large numbers of you. As it seems to work, we are going to continue the offer until I think of a more appealing carrot to tempt you with.
To clarify the deal, we offer a two-course menu throughout the week, Monday to Saturday inclusive both lunch and dinner at £12.50, orders in the evening must be in the kitchen before 7.30pm. For parties of 20 or more we usually require a pre-order but please telephone for more exact details.
Our wine list continues to evolve and is possibly the finest in Shropshire, with wines at all price levels to satisfy even the most ardent of oenophiles (drunks to the rest of us).
Shortly, once supplies of all produce get properly back to normal we will launch our first new a‘la Carte menu of 2005.
Again we are sticking to our tried and tested principles of buying the best and then trying really hard not to ruin it by attempting any ridiculously complex cheffy treatments of the said articles.
Good food speaks for itself!
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Sunday Lunch
An equally spectacular and generous scam we introduced in the fall of last year is also set to continue until Easter, with the exception of Mothering Sunday, the 6th March.
This offer entitles children up to the age of 12 to partake of Sunday lunch at The Walls free of charge. Offer limited to two children per adult- sorry old Mother Hubbard.
Whilst we are on the subject, demand for Mothers Day will be huge; to be certain of a table please book early.
BELATED CHRISTMAS PRESENT
I am truly sorry that prior to Christmas life was just so hectic that I failed miserably to send out our traditional Christmas Thank You present. In a feeble attempt to catch up and make amends just print out this WSJ and bring it with you to claim a £10.00 voucher to spend at The Walls.
The voucher will have a special Christmas mark on it and is valid until the end of March on the following basis: It may be used in conjunction with our £12.50 menu offer, provided that only one voucher is used per 4 adults i.e. a table of 8 may use 2 vouchers. For any a ‘la Carte or Paper Blackboard diners it may be used at any time provided that you take at least 2 courses.
Happy belated Christmas!
MY LAST LOOK BACK
I would just like to say as a final “put to bed” how much I and my team enjoyed looking after your Christmas parties, Christmas Day and New Years Eve which were really well received by all and sundry. Finally, a sincere thank you to my long suffering team of chefs, waiting staff and cleaners, who share some of my madness for this place.
A LITTLE BIT OF CHAOS
A more apt name for an act appearing at The Walls is hard to imagine, unless it was perhaps PARTIALLY-CONTROLLED CHAOS, but let's not split hairs.
Oswestry’s finest and most musically gifted ensemble experienced a significant metamorphosis in 2004. From being the best and loudest cover band around, A Little Bit of Chaos are now leaner, fitter, meaner, quieter and with their most thoughtful and sophisticated set list ever.
We were lucky enough to witness the re-born Chaos twice towards the end of 2004 and so impressed was I and the rest of you that we are committed to making more use of them this year.
To kick this series of shows off we start with a Valentines Ball on Saturday 12th February. To prove categorically that the reinvented Chaos really are a little quieter and more reflective we have asked them to polish up their pinker, smoochier, cuddlier numbers and come and play a big part in your efforts to impress your significant other at our Valentines Do.
The evening which will feature one of our usual tongue-in-cheek (it’s a start!) menus with serious amorous and aphrodisiac overtones, a glass of pink fizz on arrival, a rose for the lady, or same sex submissive partner just to be completely PC, three course dinner, the band and dirty dancing.
Tickets are £30.00 all-in. The usual ‘cry wolf’ warning applies: book early to avoid disappointment.
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EATS AND BEATS
FRIDAY 21st JANUARY
Launched last year this very special “club-like experience" is a “chill out lounge” event with a unique feel created by Kate and Neil Clarke. Excellent sound system and projection – eclectic and sophisticated music, innovative and inexpensive food, complementary wine on arrival. Sophisticated and intelligent conversation in a lounge setting. Make this an event to chisel into your diary right now. Space is limited to around 50 people so early booking is again advisable.
Price: £18.50 – two-course buffet and wine.
HOPE HOUSE ALTERNATIVE BALL
Wacky Schooldays Fancy Dress
25th Feb 2005
SCHOOL REUNION
It is an inevitable and most welcome off-shoot of operating a restaurant in a converted school building that we should immediately spring to mind as a venue for such noble events.
There is an eternal human fascination for sticky-beaking how your contemporaries have made out.
This charity event is raising money for Hope House – for more details contact Sue on 01691 650314.
TSUNAMI APPEAL
On the back of a very spontaneous and generous gesture suggested by our very own stand-in front of house dynamo, Phillipa, our magnificent staff donated all the tips on New Years Eve, generating a magnificent £350 for the appeal and just as I was going to press, in through the door came the vision that is Joan Carlisle with this magnificent proposal.
Joan, the famous opera singer, has joined forces with the only slightly less famous and formidable Mr. Phil Beaumont to put together, perform at and host a magnificent musical evening in aid of the Tsunami appeal at The Walls on Friday March the 19th.
Joan and Phil have put together an amazing, eclectic mix of talents and performers guaranteed to delight you with both the quality and range of material on show.
The performers for the evening thus far are as follows:
- Mavis Nicholson – famous broadcaster
- Joan Carlisle – opera singer
- David Watkins – international harpist
- A Little Bit of Chaos, featuring Phil Beaumont.
- Catriona Gallo, Donna Bateman, Sera Baines, Lisa Edwards, Gavin Bailey, Alexander Johnson and Robert Jones – accompanied by Anthony Dowlen on the piano – this gang will perform songs from the shows and songs by Ivor Novello.
- Adam Howes – guitarist and singer
- Paul Oliver – singer/songwriter
- The incomparable Mr. Andy Leake and his mum Ruth (who recites her very own magical and humorous poems)
Tickets for the evening are £25.00 to include a charitable two-course dinner and a donation of £10 per ticket to the appeal.
A range of other tasteful cash raising events such as a good raffle and a surcharge of £1.00 per bottle on all the wines you purchase in the evening.
We know we can count on your support. Tickets are available now.
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