Devizes & District Conservative Club

CLUB NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2017 “Wilsford House” 30 Long Street, Devizes, Wilts SN10 1NW Tel 01380 722005 www.devizesconsclub.co.uk email: [email protected]

Club Car Parking

Thank you to all our members who only use the car park when they are visiting the club (patrons). Recently it has been necessary, due to numerous complaints from committee members, patrons and permit holders, to patrol the car park regularly and issue letters to illegal parkers. An illegal parker is a member or non member who is parking at the club whilst not using the facilities but visiting the town shopping, keeping appointments or attending other venues. You may think this is not a problem but it is inconvenient and is a real nuisance to our business associates and members when they book our venue for their business meetings, funeral wakes, charity events, parties etc. Many of these events take place in the daytime when you think the club is not in use.

Please do not abuse the system. You are quite welcome to use the car park whenever you are visiting the club, for whatever function, and your car can be left overnight when required. If you want to park regularly at the club from Monday-Friday 8am-6pm we offer a daytime scheme and for 24 hour parking we offer the anytime scheme. The permit holder system has been in place for many years and works very well. For details please contact the Secretary at [email protected].

Just one more point, recently two cars have been damaged in the car park and one has had to go into the garage for bumper repairs, although all cars are parked at the owner’s risk it is sad to think that the careless driver/s did not own up to the accident/s and leave his/her details. Please take extra care whilst manoeuvring in the car park to avoid this happening again. In the near future we hope to have a camera installed in the car park so that any issues can be resolved easily by licence plate recognition.

Treasurer’s Report for 9 months ending December 2016

Brief update of our 9 months trading position as below Please note that this is internal Management Information and includes VAT on our sales/purchases. In addition, our main capital expenditure on the flat, the wall and painting the premises have in the main, been excluded. Our Accountants will make amendments to how these figures are reported and these are for our internal use only.

9 months 12/16 9 months 12/15

Wet Sales 129827 112605 +15%

Gross Profit 73407 59472 +23%

Additional Income 47967 30050 +61%

Total Gross Profit 121374 89522 +36%

Staff Costs 26991 34843 +22%

Overhead Costs 76415 62489 -22%

Net Profit/Loss 17968 (7810) +£25778

Following an excellent December with wet sales in excess of £20,000 the third quarter revealed a profit of £8725.

We are encouraged by the 9 months trading performance with sales ahead 15%, additional income 61% and combined overheads (salaries and general overheads) under full control revealing a net profit position of £17968.

As a committee we are very pleased with the financial performance. That said it is important to also look to the future where we have substantial increased costs heading our way. In particular Wadworth beer increases on average are at 7% and the National Living Wage is increasing in April. Unfortunately, this results in having to increase our prices to remain profitable and to continue to reinvest in improvements to our club.

As is the norm January/February are generally quieter months. The function room bookings look very positive going forward so we remain optimistic of at least breaking even in the final quarter of the year.

14 out of the next 16 Saturdays are already booked - SO DON’T DELAY BOOK EARLY!

As described in this newsletter a number of events are planned for you so please support the club when you can.

A sincere thank you to all our members for their ongoing support. In addition a thank you to our hardworking Staff and Committee members without their commitment none of the above would have been achieved.

Regards to all

Chris Jones

Treasurer Member’s Benefits & Forthcoming Events

Saturday 11th February Free Quiz and Bingo Flyer Evening - this is a really enjoyable couple of hours testing your general knowledge and your luck! Pop in and see if you can beat our regular winners. It’s all good fun. Well done to January winners, Laurence Plumb and his team (Again) who won the £15 club voucher, runners up this month, winning a £10 voucher were Joshua Grigg, Hanna Ling, Andrew & Stacey Hyde.

Sunday 12th February Bingo in the function room. Over 60 players attended the last session and there were a lot of winners!

Saturday 18th February Singer in the Lounge - artist to be confirmed

Sunday 26th February Louise & Matt’s Traditional Roast Lunches 12.30 - 2.30 pm Advance booking required at the bar or call 01380 722005

Main Courses - Free Range Chicken, Topside Beef or Nut Roast Roast potatoes, Yorkshire puddings, seasonal vegetables and gravy Desserts - Warm Lemon Sponge & Custard Chocolate Brownie & Ice-cream Ice-cream Complimentary - Coffee & Mints

Adult one course £8.95, two course £11.95: Senior one course £7.95, two course £10.95 Child’s one course £6.95, two course £9.95 £5 deposit per head taken at time of booking

Saturday 11th March Member’s Reward Evening - Strictly Members only 50 % off all drinks from 8 pm - 10 pm Complimentary Ploughman’s Supper One-off £100 cash draw to be won on the night (Extra to the regular Saturday night draw) Get one in vouchers not applicable for this offer

Friday 31st March Devizes Conservative Club Super Skittles Evening All Conservative Club skittle team captains will be contacted shortly to invite their teams to attend a Champions Skittle night. This will include the following:- Interclub, Men’s league, Ladies League, Summer League and the Calne League. Entry will be free and a supper will be provided to thank you all for supporting the club over the past year.

Sunday 16th April (Easter Day) Louise & Matt’s Special Easter Day Lunch 12.30 - 2.30 pm Menu to follow

Sunday 23rd April (St George’s Day) £2 a pint on all beers, lagers and ciders - applies to both Lunchtime and Evening Sessions. Get one in vouchers are not applicable for this offer Early Reminder

Membership renewals are due during the month of March. Full details in next month’s newsletter. Tontine - New Savers Welcome

Join anytime; it really is a good way to save throughout the year. Please put your deposit in an envelope marked “Tontine” with your name and amount on the envelope and put in the tontine box situated in the front bar. Please ask bar staff for assistance if required. Inter-Affiliation Tickets

These tickets are now available to purchase over the bar for just £2.50 each. This is your passport to visit other Conservative Clubs in the country.

Bingo Dates

7 games for £3 a book, 2 x flyers for £1 per book. New players are welcome. A selection of rolls will be available. Please check dates carefully as they are a mixture of Fridays and Sundays.

Sunday 12th February Friday 24th February Sunday 12th March Sunday 26th March Friday 7th April Friday 21st April (Charity night in aid of Devizes & District Association for the Disabled - Nursteed Centre)

Free Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the club for members and their signed in guests. Saturday Night Draw

Every Saturday night we hold a raffle in the Club with the draw taking place at 10 pm in the lounge bar. Tickets are available to buy all week from the bar and on Saturday night one/two committee member/s will be selling them and conducting the draw. Among the variety of prizes to be won is a £10 cash prize which, if you are in the club at the time of the draw, you can gamble for a chance to ‘open the box’ and win the cash. At the time of going to print £270 is in the box.

Thursday Lunches

Available from 11 am - 2 pm Our in-house chefs, Louise & Matt, will cook you a delicious meal from their specials menu, just pop in and take a look at the blackboard for details. Well worth a visit.

Long Street Blues Club www.longstreetbluesclub.co.uk/gigs

Saturday 11th March - Giles Robson & His Band - Doors open 7.45 pm Advance tickets: £15 Saturday 1st April - Stevie Nimmo Trio - Doors open 7.45 pm Advance tickets: £15

Saturday 22nd April - Stephen Dale Petit - Doors open 7.45 pm Advance tickets: £15

Saturday 13th May - Antonio Forcione Band - Doors open 7.45 pm Advance tickets: £15 DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL EVENT COMING UP THIS YEAR? WE CAN ACCOMMODATE YOU

Weddings, Christenings, Wakes, Retirements, Presentation Evenings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Children’s Parties, Fundraisers, Business Meetings, Clubs, Classes, Any Event Considered

Very Competitive Rates Friendly Helpful Staff

 Capacity 180/200  Licensed Bar  Flexible Catering  Free Car Parking  Tailored Packages to suit Your Individual Needs