Christmas Greetings from the Blue Bell
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Christmas Greetings from the Blue Bell Steve and his team at the Blue Bell along with all those involved with the Blue Bell Community Hub, would like to wish all customers, supporters, investors and donors a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and we are sure you all share our hope that 2021 will be a less challenging and difficult year for us all. We look forward to seeing you and yours in the Blue Bell during 2021. Meanwhile have a safe but happy Festive Season despite the complicated situation we all find ourselves in! Re-opening – under Tier 2 rules After the Government announcement this week, we are planning to put a “toe in the water” and re-open on Thursday 3rd December, and we sincerely hope we shall see many of you in your local again – even in this changed situation. As you are all aware (as the news is full of nothing else!) we are obliged to work under strict constraints. Once checked in, (contact details are still required) and seated, an order for drinks and your choice of meal (per person) will be taken. Please remember that seating in the Blue Bell can only be with members of your own permanent household, we are adapting our seating plan to accommodate more of you at smaller tables where we can. Alcoholic drinks will only be served once a food order has been taken. To conform with the new regulations, we are not permitted to serve any alcoholic drinks until a meal order is in place. We will be offering a simplified main course menu to make this more straightforward. A separate dessert menu will also be available for those who like enjoy something sweet after their meal. Just a reminder : the guidelines indicate that those having a meal and drinks are not expected to be on the premises for more than 2 hours. You are welcome to come in for tea, coffee or soft drinks during our opening hours, and no meal order will be required.
December Opening Times Face Coverings
Monday to Thursday 12pm to 10pm (Kitchen open As before, face coverings must
12 - 2.30pm and 5 - 9pm) always be worn when not
seated. All the other COVID
Friday and Saturday 12pm to 11pm (Last orders at
hygiene regulations remain in
10 pm- Kitchen as above)
place and will continue to be
Sunday 12pm to 6pm (Kitchen open 12pm to 5pm) strictly followed for
everyone’s protection.
Takeaway
The Takeaway service that has been operating during lockdown has been kept busy, with Fish and Chips
being the most popular choice. Many thanks to Steve and Alex who have been working away in the
kitchen, and all the team who supported them by doing voluntary deliveries around Cocking for those
villagers unable to collect in person. We will be continuing the Takeaway service for the foreseeable
future.
Wine List
We have changed our wine supplier, and will now be working with Gusto Wines, a local company based in
Storrington. This has enabled us to refresh our entire wine list and we are now stocking the excellent
“Nutty” a delicious white “fizz” from near Pulborough – the perfect Christmas season tipple – try some
with your meal to add a bit of sparkle!
COVID impact on plans for Community Hub activities in 2020
As you will all be only too aware, our plans to provide community activities in and around the Blue Bell
this year have been thwarted. The Christmas bazaar and carol singing, quiz nights, local evenings, book
and film clubs, village lunch club, open gardens, sketching and morning coffee drop ins etc. etc., have all
understandably had to be put on hold until we can safely plan them.
Rest assured that as soon as we can, even if it’s on a limited basis, we will plan and deliver a range of
community activities, as they are at the very heart of the project. Your support for the Blue Bell is still
very much needed, and we all hope that in the not-too-distant future we will be able revive some form of
normal community life around our village. Let’s hope 2021 will be a more sociable year for us all.
Online Advent Quiz
We are running an Online Quiz with a prize
of a Sunday Roast for four people. The
quiz starts Tuesday December 1 and runs
until Thursday December 24 with three
festive questions being released on the
website and Facebook each day.
Please go to the website to read more.
Keep up to date by following us on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Coming of Age
Now that the Blue Bell is fully established, with its Manager Steve Hodges and his team fully in harness,
we feel it is time to concentrate on the Blue Bell at Cocking as our marketing priority. Our initial task as
the Blue Bell group was to set about engaging with the community to save the Blue Bell and establish the
Hub project through our Community Benefit Society. Together we then raised the funds for purchase and
refurbishment. That task was no mean feat and is now complete, and our thanks once again to all who
made it possible.
With the future in mind, and the aim of streamlining and simplifying our various communication
channels, we have decided to merge all the Blue Bell Community Hub Society related information into our
‘Blue Bell Pub’ communications and marketing. That way there will be one ‘port of call’ for updates on all
our activities. This also means we can concentrate our marketing budget, messaging and communications
on reaching the widest possible audience, both in Cocking and beyond. Specific shareholder and donor
communications will still be delivered individually via email and/or the post.
We thank Alan Massey for all his support on the website and the new upgrades.
New Steering Group Members
Tea Towels for sale
Since our last newsletter we now have 2 new
members of the Steering Committee. Howard
Ewing and George Marchand joined us in
November, and we are very pleased to
welcome them and grateful for their support.
Howard Ewing
We have produced a number of tea towels
(£5.00 each) featuring various aspects of
Cocking Village, which are on sale and available
from the Blue Bell, and the shop when it opens.
They will make great Christmas gifts, and all
proceeds will go to the Hub funds.
George Marchand
Cocking Village News
“Hello from us” Church News
“We are very excited to announce that we have Our village church does not yet know what
now moved into the cottage adjacent to the services can be arranged around the Christmas
shop. We will keep you updated with any news period and is waiting for guidance from the
from the Post Office as soon as we know”. Church of England. It is hoped that there will be
the usual Midnight Mass at 11 30 on Christmas
The timing for the re-opening of the shop will Eve and a Eucharist service at 9.30am on
be dependent on the Post Office set up being Christmas Day, but it is anticipated that the
approved and in place. popular family service around the crib may not
be possible, as distancing requirements would
make it impractical. Details will be published as
soon as they are known.
Evie and Travis at Cocking Village Shop and Post
Office
The Blue Bell at Cocking
Telephone 01730 239 669
Email : info@thebluebellatcocking.co.uk
Website : www.thebluebellatcocking.co.uk
Twitter : https://twitter.com/TheBBCocking
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/thebluebellatcocking
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thebluebellatcocking
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