SM Xmas doo Drive

conaero

conaero

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You will all be getting the itinerary and who's doing/eating what shortly by email.

I would like to take a couple of hours between 4 and 6pm to do a spirited drive and drinks stop between Ace Cafe and The Crowne Plaza Reading.

Can anyone with local knowledge assist/suggest a route or can I even pass this part of the event over to you?

Here is the direct route which I would like to avoid and suggest arcing North and dropping into Reading from the top:

map.jpg
 
conaero

conaero

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Conaero said:
What was the pub we stopped off at last year, it was really good!
Click to expand...

Found it: The White Horse, Silverstone, a bit of a trek so not doable, but this sort of LOCALs pub would be brilliant, don't want some done out Bernie Inn, more a proper boozer.
 
M

MAF260

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I'll have a look later. Reckon we could go back via Denham up towards Amersham/Aylesbury where there are some cracking roads, across to High Wycombe, through Marlow to Henley and on to Reading. Need to look at a map to see what that looks like, but I think it's doable in the time and will take in some decent roads.
 
conaero

conaero

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MAF260 said:
I'll have a look later. Reckon we could go back via Denham up towards Amersham/Aylesbury where there are some cracking roads, across to High Wycombe, through Marlowe to Henley and on to Reading. Need to look at a map to see what that looks like, but I think it's doable in the time and will take in some decent roads.
Click to expand...

Right you're in charge of that then!

If you can locate a pub, make sure they have parking and give me some way points then I can give everyone the route.
 
M

MAF260

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There will be plenty of pubs in Marlow and Henley that should suit. I'll get on to it over the weekend. How far do we want to drive?
 
conaero

conaero

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Not too far from a direct route off the motorways and main roads, 60 limit lanes will be ideal.

90 mins driving in total, an hour in the pub. Leave Ace at 4, arrive at the hotel at 6.30 giving us an hour and a bit to get ready and have a drink in the hotel bar.
 
Crofty

Crofty

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The Ghibli will be ready for collection on Friday, a little 'spirited' drive would be most welcome, I'll try not to break it this time, although I wasn't at the helm last time it failed...
 
Contigo

Contigo

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Just a thought, maybe worth leaving a little earlier so as to get an hours daylight which makes things a lot more interesting. Nothing worse than driving in winter rain conditions really.
 
maverick

maverick

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There's a pub called the crown at playhatch which has a reasonable size car park but it's only about 15 mins from the hotel but we would pass it on the route there .
 
NickP

NickP

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Being a local of Berkshire, may I suggest coming out of London on M40, hitting the a404 then we can cut across marlow, henley and into Reading.
I could nominate many pubs along the way:-,

The Queens Head Little Marlow is nice https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...0x0000000000000000:0xcb69888012644213!6m1!1e1

Other options The Horns at Crazies Hill - apt name for us lot, lots of parking, in middle of village in middle of nowhere.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...d!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xd92d02777835575f


The Little Angel near Henley:-
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xeda9c8a84d323dbc

Villages like Twyford / Sonning have decent pubs in their centre and aren't as difficult for parking as Marlow or Henley are, Cookham/Maidenhead also have nice pubs but since I live there and I want to be able to go into these places again, we should probably avoid them.
 
M

maserati

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NickP said:
Being a local of Berkshire, may I suggest coming out of London on M40, hitting the a404 then we can cut across marlow, henley and into Reading.
I could nominate many pubs along the way:-,

The Queens Head Little Marlow is nice https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...0x0000000000000000:0xcb69888012644213!6m1!1e1

Other options The Horns at Crazies Hill - apt name for us lot, lots of parking, in middle of village in middle of nowhere.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...d!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xd92d02777835575f


The Little Angel near Henley:-
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...2!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xeda9c8a84d323dbc

Villages like Twyford / Sonning have decent pubs in their centre and aren't as difficult for parking as Marlow or Henley are, Cookham/Maidenhead also have nice pubs but since I live there and I want to be able to go into these places again, we should probably avoid them.
Click to expand...

When Conaero opened this thread he suggested an approach to Reading from the North and that someone with local knowledge could take over the route planning. Given his expertise and the keenness of his suggestion NickP is that man! Those in favour say 'Aye'. They are all good venues but The Little Angel overlooking the River Thames in the centre of Henley looks like a great choice. Leaving Ace earlier than 4.00pm say 3.30pm would give us all more time to complete the bulk of the journey in daylight.

Regards,

Paul
 
conaero

conaero

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I have notified MAF who is organising the route, he will be along shortly. Thanks all and I agree the Angel looks great.
 
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