Pre-War Cotswolds - 6th/7th September

[Ian Grace]

As you know, the Vintage Minor Register is 25 years old this year, having been founded in 2000. We will be celebrating in style in July with Pre-War Kyre Park and the Bromyard hill climb. However, in 2003, we held our first rally weekend in the Cotswolds and there then followed fourteen more fantastic Cotswolds rally weekends between 2003 and 2023. So I thought – what better way to celebrate our first 25 years than to hold a rally around the glorious Cotswolds. Why not mount an autumn Cotswolds rally this year, visiting the very best haunts, hostelries (and breweries!) that we have enjoyed over so many years and adding in some interesting new venues for good measure.

And so, plans are being laid for an autumn weekend in the Cotswolds over the weekend of 6th and 7th September. Let’s call it Pre-War Cotswolds.

The provisional plan that is taking shape looks like this:

Friday Evening

An informal pub reception at The Gardners Arms, Alderton (OS150 999334), as we have done many times in the past.

Saturday

A relaxed day, starting with an optional breakfast (at 9 a.m.) at Ye Olde Hobnails Inn, Little Washbourne (OS150 991332, on the B4077 about four miles west of the Toddington roundabout). The route will take in many of the very best locations that we have visited over the years. There will be a Vintage Picnic lunch at Colesbourne Park, provided fresh by Revills Farm Shop against advance order (order form to be circulated shortly). In the afternoon we will amble back to conclude at The Plough at Ford.

Sunday

This is our traditional day in the countryside with the Navigation Rally (not too serious!) and the parallel Scenic Tour. Once again, we will be starting with an optional breakfast at Ye Olde Hobnails Inn (at 8-30 a.m.). and we will visit a variety of places of historic or scenic interest, climbing the Cotswolds escarpment and heading east to a buffet Ploughman’s lunch at the splendid Victorian Hook Norton brewery (with unlimited fresh ale available!) This visit will coincide with a Steam Day at the brewery. The day will conclude with cream teas, results and the presentation of our prestigious awards back at Stanway House where Lord Weymms has once again generously offered us a special viewing of his 300 ft gravity fountain.

Plans will be fleshed out and entries will open in due course, but for now, please mark your calendars with a big fat marker – PWC! And do please let me know if you would be interested in principle so I can gauge likely numbers.

[Ian Grace]

Entries are now open and the website has been launched, which includes links to the Entry Form and Vintage Picnic Order Form.

You can find the website at:

https://www.vintageminor.co.uk/PWC%2020 ... 02025.html