You may have noticed if you read our latest Blog post earlier this week, that it was a little light on the details. The reason for this was every time I went to write the details, they seemed to change! Largely due to the weather, however, as the whole purpose of the newsletter/blog is to let you know what is going on, I thought I had best at least send something before it was too late! The result was a bit of a half-job, so my apologies! We have now confirmed the details for all the events left on the run up to Christmas and we will be confirming all of our Christmas opening hours later this week and will get them up on our website and socials.
So apologies if you are now reading some of this for a second time, but at least it now contains all the info about our marvellous, upcoming events!!!!
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As we run up to Christmas I have mixed feelings. Firstly, as always, I am completely unprepared. My stubbornness to not deal with Christmas pre-December makes me feel very noble, like I am refusing to get caught up with the capitalist hijacking of festivities. The reality however, is that once December swings round, there's only 24 days to get ready and I am supposed to be working 21 of them! Getting everything sorted in time would take military organisational skills and unfortunately, I have all the organisations skills of an amphetamine addled squirrel! Luckily my children are now adults and them and the rest of my family & friends that I will be hosting Christmas Dinner for, are well used to my last minute chaos!
Secondly, having upped the anti with the amount of events we are hosting at The Crow, it has become SO time-consuming! My To Do list is now the size of a rhino's backside and the chances of me getting anything ticked off this side of Christmas are slim to none!
And lastly, I am worried. Being caught up in the mayhem is an unavoidable distraction from the fact that we may be teetering on the edge. Everyone is busy because they're able to celebrate Christmas properly for the first time in 3 years and with that and the cost of living, the football and arctic weather, trade hasn't increased as much as the industry would usually expect. I think it is the same for all independents, certainly all the other Music Venues and pubs I have spoken with have been feeling it. Silly Season was once a time where you would be so busy it enabled businesses to have a cushion for the dead trade of Jan/Feb that followed. We have had some great busy nights and sell out events recently, but each great day sits along side a quiet one, which means that, whilst we are happily ticking along and are not in any immediate danger, the chance of us building the cushion required to survive quiet months is becoming less and less likely. The fight to get this bar up and stable seems never ending! It's been such an epic journey! Hopefully everything will be just fine, but I have a niggling feeling at the back of my festively addled brain, that we may need to brace ourselves for more tough times to come!
Anyway, I would rather be a Festive Freda than a Debby Downer, so for the moment at least, those niggles can stay at the back of my mind and I will gladly accept the distraction of fantastic events and lashings and lashings of good beer with a side of mince pies!
Last week...
We finally got our Christmas tree up, and as it was unveiled 12 days before Christmas, (albeit by pure coincidence), we will chalk that one up as 'planned'!
And talking of Christmas Trees, we managed to collect just over 50 presents ready to be delivered to Kids Out this for their wonderful #givingtree appeal! Also, with a recent kind & generous contribution from Bob Walkow, the amount we helped raise this year for Macmillan Cancer Support now totals more than £1370! So a huge THANKYOU to all of you who helped, supported and contributed to these fantastic causes. We hope you all feel suitably warm & fuzzy.
We sadly had to postpone the return of our Drag Queen Bingo on Wednesday, as our host, Sassafras Nitro Jet, got stuck in London due to some trouble with the trains.
Thursday we had a bit of a special gig organised by Gazza Records. Chris Difford... yep THE Chris Difford, one of the founding members & song writers from the band Squeeze! Chris launched his solo tour at The Crooked Crow Bar and we were treated to a night of his solo songs, some Squeeze classics and some fantastic tales from a life in the industry.
Friday we had another busy one, with The 2Tone All Ska's Christmas Stomp.
Saturday we were perhaps a little scuppered by the football as we weren't quite as busy as our usual Saturday nights, however The Corsairs treated us to another brilliant performance.
Sunday we had live music from The Scallywags and it was the perfect end to yet another great week at The CCB.
This week we unfortunately have to postpone our Cafe Vibes session with Robert J Hunter due to the weather. Rob will be back in 2023, so watch this space for more details.
This week:
WED: The Big Fat Quiz Of The Crow
This Wednesday was our last quiz of the year and a huge THANKYOU to all of you who braved the weather to take part in our silly antics!
THURSDAY 15th DEC: Bar Night
Sadly, due to the weather, we have had to postpone our Café Vibes session with Robert J Hunter. This event will be rescheduled in the new year.
Tonight we will be open 12-11pm as a Bar.
Not JUST a bar, a GREAT bar, obviously!
With great beer, Crow Cocktails, Hot spiced apple, Boozy Hot Chocolates, pool table, board games, fantastic tunes, dogs welcome, free entry, over 18s.
FRIDAY 16th DEC: The Atomics
8:30pm
Free entry
Over 18s only
Post Punk, New Wave and Power Pop classics that are almost guaranteed to get you bopping! From Elvis Costello, The Stranglers, Blondie, Transvision Vamp, Bow Wow Wow and more!
SATURDAY 12-6pm: BYO VINYL
We are open from 12pm so why not take a break from the Christmas shopping mayhem and pop in & see us! Free entry.
We are an adult only space (over 16s only). Dogs are allowed. This Saturday you are welcome to bring outside food too!
We have great beer, locally roasted coffee, boozy hot chocolates & hot spiced apple, pool table, board games and you can bring your favourite vinyl and give them a spin on our Technics 1200s!
SATURDAY 9pm: The Reformers
The boys in the red suits are back at The Crow and they're ready to party!
With rocked up, mashed up cheesy tunes, you will be ashamed you know all the words to, but they are Oh so good!!!
Free entry. Over 18s only
SUNDAY 12-4pm: Xmas Mash Up!
Join us this Sunday 12-4pm for our Christmas Mash Up.
With fantastic Northern Soul, Ska, Mod, Motown classic vinyl (courtesy of DJ Double Deckers)
Great beer, locally roasted coffee, boozy hot chocolates, Crow Cocktails, Hot Spiced Apple and, as it's Christmas, our tasty Christmas pies!!! (vegan options available). All served with mash & gravy so scrummy, even Santa would approve!!!
Then from 4-6pm we have something EXTRA special... Christmas Carols at The CCB! We will be joined by The Leighton Buzzard Philharmonic Marching Band for a singalong of carols and Christmas songs! Indoor/Standing/Heated event. Over 16s only. No dogs (it will be too loud today for them). Advance tickets are just £5 which includes a mince pie and glass of mulled wine
Then, on to Christmas week... Eek!!!!
TUESDAY 12-11pm: BAR NIGHT
You know the drill!
Great beers, great tunes, great atmosphere, adult space, dogs welcome, free entry.
WED 21st DEC, 7.30pm: CASTLE COMEDY NIGHT
Christmas Special with star names, mince pies, crackers and loads of laughs!
LAURA LEXX - She is an award-winning comedian and a natural storyteller who can tease a grin from pretty much anyone! She has appeared on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, Hypothetical & Comedy Central's Roast Battle.
"rib-tickling...a tour-de-force” ★★★★ THE TELEGRAPH
MATT PRICE – is a Cornish funnyman and is quite possibly the best storytelling comedian working in the UK! He is known for having some of the most extraordinary and outrageous stories drawn from the wilder side of life. He has a hit podcast on his hands ‘Conversations with Criminals’ where he speaks to some of the most famous criminals in the UK.
‘A terrific comedian and a wonderful storyteller’ **** THE SCOTSMAN
Castle Comedy favourite Paul Revill will host the show.
THURSDAY 22nd DEC, 8pm: DIE HARD
It's Blockbuster Movie Night at the old Blockbuster Video!
We'll be showing Die Hard on our big screen, which is Hans down, the best film to watch at Christmas
Indoor big screen, heating, popcorn, boozy hot chocolates, great beer, Crow Cocktails & a fantastic sound system... What's not to like?!
8pm. Tickets £5. Over 18s only
FRIDAY 23rd DEC 8:30pm: Live Music From The Zeroes
Come and show off all your festive dance moves as The Zeroes are in town for our last live music gig before the big day!! Playing fantastic Alt 80s & 90s belters, party classics and some originals too, all with a Latino twist!
Over 18s only
Free entry
Christmas EVE!!!
We will be joined by the delectable DJ Jowitt, who will be providing the perfect, dance friendly soundtrack for your Christmas Eve!
Classic Northern Soul, Ska & Mod vinyl and a few surprises in the mix too!!!
Free Entry
Over 18s Only
We will be closing by 11pm tonight ready for the big day (some of us will still have potatoes to peel and pressies to wrap)!!!
Christmas Day we are CLOSED!
NEW YEARS EVE: SWEET REVENGE (limited tickets left so get yours quick)!
Which leaves us just to say a huge THANKYOU to all of you for your support this year. You really do make The Crooked Crow Bar the awesome, alternative, events bar that it is!
Happy Christmas you wonderful bunch!
The Crooked Crow Crew
xxx