Beckley & Area Community Benefit society Limited (BACBS)

The Abingdon Arms

The hospitality trade is suffering immensely for a number of reasons. First, Brexit has meant that many potential employees from Europe have left the UK; second, COVID has prevented potential employees from reaching the UK (especially from the Antipodes), and many staff have not wanted to return to work after furlough (not just in the hospitality sector).

The Abingdon Arms is no exception and is having problems recruiting the full number of experienced staff that Suzy and Alex need, both front of house and in the kitchen. Despite this, they have made the most heroic efforts to keep the pub open and maintain standards.

Sometimes the shortage of staff means that waits for customers have to be longer than usual, but support and tolerance are what is needed at these trying times. For example, booking ahead and arriving on time (especially if there are several in your group) helps pace the work for the team. So, please go on supporting The Abingdon Arms as much as you can and appreciate what excellent and enterprising tenants we have, providing great food, great drinks and a great environment.

They are now open every day, with their wonderful pizzas on a Monday, Tuesday (and Sunday evening), and full menu the rest of the time including the amazing Sunday lunches (https://www.theabingdonarms.co.uk/opening-times).

More than a Pub Programme - https://bacbs.org/events

The Abingdon Arms Pub Quiz

The ‘real’ pub quizzes in the pub on Wednesday on June 2nd and July 7th were immensely successful. There is no quiz in August but there is one planned for 1st September, 7:30. As before, Suzy has kindly reserved the whole bar area for the quiz, first come, first served!

Community walks

The return of the Monthly Walk is planned for Sunday, 15th August, meeting outside the Church of St, Barnabas at Horton cum Studley at 2.00p.m. for a walk of about four miles and up to two hours. Dogs on leads are welcome. Do join us.

Sunday evening upcoming talks

We hope that the Sunday evening talks will start again in the pub in September, and also available via Zoom, for those unhappy yet about mixing too much, or not able to come in person for other reasons. Once allowed, we strongly encourage those that can, to support the events in person for the sake of the speakers, our social wellbeing, and of course because we want to support the pub in every way we can. For Zoom access details to talks please go to https://bacbs.org/events. If you would like to watch past Sunday evening talks, please email info@bacbs.org with your request.

Sunday 12 September, 6.30pm. The Art of Faith, a talk by Nick Mynheer, of Horton cum Studley, on his life and work as a painter, sculptor and glass designer. Nick has worked on over 40 commissions for churches, cathedrals, and public spaces. He will share some of the experiences and sense of joy he has had in producing them. http://www.mynheer-art.co.uk/

Sunday 17 October, 6.30pm. A talk by Tim Dixon on Carbon Capture and Storage, as a climate change technology, and how it relates to other climate solutions, in the context of the COP26 conference in Glasgow in November. Tim lives in Horton cum Studley.

Sunday 28 November, 6.30pm. Plants, Magic and Medicine, a talk by Dr Sue Burge, retired consultant dermatologist and former Director of Clinical Studies at The University of Oxford. Sue lives in Horton cum Studley, where she is a keen gardener, regularly opening her garden to the public for the National Garden Scheme, and chairing its gardening club.

Sunday 12 December, 6.30 p.m. Otmoor, the Changing Year. A passionate advocate for Otmoor and its wildlife, and for open wild spaces, Peter Barker is author of “The Birds of Otmoor” which will be published this autumn by the Oxford Ornithological Society. He is a volunteer bird surveyor for the RSPB, and convenor of the Otmoor Birding website - http://otmoorbirding.blogspot.com