Big Knock 2015

[Stuart]

Bat and ball update:

Paid a visit to the Bat & Ball (or Wisborough as it will soon be) and saw the start of the refurnished. I'm told it should be completed around March time & importantly, they will still be having an events field (top half of first field & all middle field). As well as building the restaurant going back from where the Farm Shop barn was they will be putting in a purpose brick built toilet & shower block.
Also the pub will now be 'free of tie' which will mean cheaper beer. Yeah!
The guy overseeing the refurbished is a regular that some of you may well recognise him. He said when he discovered the pub many years ago and camped there our rally was on in the next field! He took a card & will pass it on to new landlord Paul.
I think you'll all agree, good news indeed!
PS: Also, I've listened to the feedback & the next rally will be less family oriented & more about bikes.

[Dan J]

This is good news. It sounded like there wasn't going to be camping there after the refurbishment but from what you're saying there now will be. Be great if the 2015 rally could be held there.

[Tetronator]

Sweet, hope the date is going to be set soon. Planning to do a trip of the United Kingdom with the Big Knock as one of my first stops. At least, I hope.... Funds thing you know.

[oldbmw]

I hope it is the first weekend in June (1st) as that coincides with the woodfest in Wales 2 days later.

[Stuart]

Yes chaps, it's the weekend closest to 1st June which is in fact the last day or two of May. I've still not heard back from the pub as yet but wherever it is, that will be the date

[Redkite]

I'm too am looking forward to meeting up again, this time with my diesel proj. The bat and ball is fine, but I did enjoy the rally at the seaman's mission (or whatever it's called) 2 years back. Maybe it was the fine weather, but If we end up there again I wouldn't mind a bit. Woodfest? Not heard of that one. I have my ticket for the dragon rally in Feb though. Merry Christmas all.

[Stuart]

I've just heard back from Paul, the new owner & landlord of The Wisborough as the Bat & Ball is now called.
He has said we are on for 29th to 31st May. The pub has its grand re-opening the weekend before, on the Bank Holiday.
http://www.thewisborough.com/

[Stuart]

Just put up the rally page:
http://www.dieselbike.net/Rally-Info/rally.htm

[Stuart]

Prior to our rally I made a quick stop by The Wisborough (Bat & Ball) & chat with the builders earlier. I'm assured it will be finished come the end of May & the rally. It's apparently much bigger inside now with the toilets being moved upstairs & it's much more 'band friendly' which should delight the musicians amongst us. The new car park (in the bottom half of the first field near pub) is due to be finished in a week & drainage there has been improved with soak aways. Other fields will still be there for events etc.

[Stuart]

Another shot:

[Stuart]

I'm gonna keep it a bit low key this year & won't be advertising it to widely just in case you understand!

[Tetronator]

So, with the big knock rapidly approaching.

I'm wondering if anyone wants to meet up at the mainland side/English side of the channel for the ride there.
(I've never ridden in the UK before so It would sure be helpful to have someone more experienced to follow)

I'm still in the middle of moving to a new house but I hope to make it.

Shout out if your interested, I haven't decided my ferry location nor the date so it's all flexible.
All tough I prefer Dunkerque/Calais to Dover due to costs and I get to ride trough Belgium and France.

[Tim]

Hi
Any one riding up from the South West to the BK ? Shout out as it would be good to team up for the ride!
Cheers Tim ( near Yeovil)

[Stuart]

Another visit to the rally pub last weekend & work on new car park & field drainage has come on away.

Artwork for T shirts is on its way to the printers

[Dan J]

Their opening night is set for the 1st May. Looks like a fair bit of work still to do! Should all be nicely up and running in time for the rally though

[Stuart]

Hope so Dan Sorting the T shirts presently with help from David.

[Stuart]

Well, the scaffolding is down from the pub now & the new car park in place. New advertising up at the road too. It's looking good for the rally anyway.

[alexanderfoti]

Excellent news, already planning for this. Should be a good one if the weather holds out.

[Stuart]

I've been to the pub today and it is open!
We've a new purpose built toilet block with showers & disabled loo. The pub now has more room inside & a classy restaurant on the side. This means camping costs have gone up but I've managed to negotiate a discount from £20 a night to £15. Higher than we've had before but much money has been invested in The Wisborough so I guess it's not surprising that costs have risen a bit. No Wifi as yet & not sure on breakfasts.

We must now enter our camping field by driving through the car park in the first field. So drive in & turn right!

[Stuart]

Oh, and we've got our T shirts done for this year now

[oldbmw]

I hope to be there, due to unexpected circumstances not by bike but with luck at least a diesel

[Stuart]

Everything is on track for the rally. We'll have an organiser presence in the second field from Tuesday onward I think.

Enter the second field by driving through the new car park.
I'm helping publicity with this Slideshow I put together recently: https://youtu.be/prpK_yMF0Vc

[Stuart]

Another visit to The Wisborough prior to the rally & all is in order. I am shown around again by Jim, the guy in charge of outside events at the pub. He tells me he was drummer for Stiff Little Fingers for 4 years so commands instant respect! I was invited into the club section behind the bar (in my biker gear I might add) & shown the fine wines worth many £100's per bottle. Some were even signed up by top designers like Karl Lagerfeld. Takings there, I'm told, go to charities of various types. Then I was taken into the pubs new courtyard, created when the waste land behind the barn (farm shop now restaurant) was enclosed. This space, I'm told, we could use if we could find a purpose and/or fill it. But the pièce de résistance was the fully retractable electric roof which covered this courtyard. An ideal place for entertainment or show of any kind? After I was shown the more mundane, the sink for washing dishes etc (situated behind the toilet & shower block) and the recently levelled hillock that cannot be camped upon because it's been seeded.
Good to hear that it is a musician friendly pub with some entertainment on the Sunday night of our rally so it maybe worth staying Sunday night?
I'm now told that camping money will be collected when Jim visits campers individually.

[Stuart]

The new toilet & shower block.

[Tetronator]

Looking good Stuart, see you all Friday.

[Diesel Dave]

I'm thinking of heading down to the Bat n Ball on Thursday evening.

Just to get some extra drinking time in hand you understand.

[Stuart]

There is a presence in the field already

[alexanderfoti]

On my way today!

[Stuart]

Breakfast run.

[Stuart]

Thanks to all who came and made it happen! The landlord was happy with us in the end and we've been invited back so same time next year chaps