Tony’s 70 Birthday Party
Just a quick note to let you know where we are, the best way of getting here, and parking.
Location
If you’re using a Sat Nav, the postcode RG7 4LW will get you to the right side of The Street but about 100 yards too far towards the pub.
Although we’re on the main A340 road through the village, it’s relatively quiet on weekends, and parking is easy due to the wide road.
- From the A4 (Reading/Newbury/M4): You’ll be approaching from the north. We’re the last house on the right before the triangle (The Loosey).
- From Tadley (Basingstoke/M3): You’ll be coming from the south. We’re the first house on the left after the bend, opposite the Mad Hatter florists.
Our house is easy to spot—it’s the only one set back from the road, behind a tall wall covered in ivy.
Parking
Parking on the main road, facing north towards the Hinds Head, will leave plenty of space for passing traffic. Please try not to obstruct the pavement.
The pavement directly opposite us is quite wide and often used by customers of the florist—so if your timing is right, you might find a spot there.
Alternatively, you can park around the Loosey.
Public Transport
Aldermaston Station is about 1.7 miles from the village, with a good connecting footpath.
Unfortunately, the bus service is limited. The village is now served by the WestBerks Community Connect scheme, which requires trips to be booked in advance. While this might be useful for those living nearby, it’s not ideal for connecting from the station.
More details here https://www.westberks.gov.uk/communityconnect
Food and Drink
As usual, Pauline has gone all out in preparing for the party.
The food will be buffet-style, and hopefully, we (she) have covered most dietary needs. We’re aware that some guests have nut allergies, so that has been carefully considered, and there will also be options for vegetarians.
For drinks, there will be a selection of alcohol-free and low-alcohol options, alongside beer, wine, and cider.
A couple of weeks ago, we spent a few days in Lyme Regis, and I brought back a selection of ales from the local Gyle 59 Brewery. Some of these are bottle-conditioned, so they should be poured carefully.
Tom from Gyle 59 Brewery generously donated some special beers for the party. These unlabelled bottles were set aside by the brewery for quality control.
*** Warning ***
The beer was uniquely brewed using a Ukrainian recipe, reportedly featuring beetroot, and sent to Ukrainian soldiers. It turned out to be a hit—perhaps too much so—since it’s incredibly strong, with an ABV of over 9%.
BYO
Please feel free to bring your own preferred drink just in case we’ve not covered all bases.