CHECC venue 2017?

Hall2501

Member
Hi,

CHECC (council of higher education caving clubs) are looking for a venue to host their 2017 forum in the peak district but are struggling to find a venue. Does anyone know of a venue that could work?

The ideal venue would fulfil the following criteria:

- Situated in/near the peak district (ideally near some caves)
- Big enough to legally host an event for 180-220 people (all can camp if necessary)
- large indoor space for a disco/Annual general meeting.
- Commercial catering facilitates (that we would be allowed to use ourselves)
- Cheap flat fee for the entire weekend ideally. (Friday night - Sunday evening)
- Would allow noise late at night (ideally away from anywhere residential)

Can anyone help?

Brendan (CHECC Treasurer)

 

alastairgott

Well-known member
Off the wall idea, maybe try the girl guides centre down the road http://www.glenbrookguides.co.uk/home/4581686208
I think you would have to ensure you were the only people on site though!
I'm sure you could wangle a good deal at that end of the year.
Good transport links, ie people going to Sheffield could get the bus there!

Another Idea- Maybe try The Earles club (also known as Hope Cement works social Club).
Though I don't know a lot about it. Martyn Grayson would probably know if it were suitable for the Evening entertainment.
If you were to go there then finding a site to camp may be an issue, could be an idea to ask the club if they know of any fields you could use.

I'll try and have another think, if there's anything else I can come up with. Noise, as always, will be the sticking factor in some places.
 

pwhole

Well-known member
Pindale Farm campsite is right next to the cement works, but I doubt it could hold that many people.
The dream scenario would be actually camping in the quarry..., soundproof, rocks to play with, etc. :halo:
 

AR

Well-known member
Camping would be possible at the Agricultural Centre on the adjacent showground, which would certainly accomodate the numbers given. The cement works social club was used for the DCRO anniversary do, I think T-Pot may know who to contact.
 

hell little caver

New member
Have you been let down by a venue? If you have so sorry for the next bit.

Checc venues should be sorted by easter latest. (Have any of you bothered to read the hand book that many good people who done it before had put things in i would guess not as there was alcohol at Northen checc!) would suggest at this point beggars ie you can't really afford to say just the peaks  as you can't really be choosers.

Have you tried all the old venues to see if any of them can have you? Dales bridge ect.

I would then suggest you try outdoor centers, Army centers may also be an option you need to make time to convince venue to have you face to face meetings help! Don't just email people phone them it really helps then follow it up with emails.

I am sorry for this slight rant but I feel like you guys need tough love and a reality check. I have heard great things about training lately so well done on that. but lots of people have also felt snubbed (not thanking people who cooked at a Recent events among other things). I spent many years with the help of amazing people making checc happen I was hugely greatfull to all of them. But I am find it hard to hear people frustrations at the minute I know that people have been saying that you need to sort a venue for a while! having no venue by july means your giving CHECC the time or respect it needs.... I suggest that people stop taking on other things till this one is right.

I'm sorry for the rant but I always said checc was my baby and I felt she was in good hands. Sorry for the emotional out burst but losing lily means I want to help save this baby even more.

Hellie.



Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

alastairgott

Well-known member
I've had a bit more of a think and Clearly Derbyshire has only a few options, you had it in Mendip (I think) last year. So Yorkshire's an option.
-Dalesbridge
-Ingleborough Hall outdoor Education Centre (debateable?)
-(along lines of Debateable is Whitehall Outdoor centre [Derbyshire], apparently a good SRT training Venue, but not sure if suitable for the full event)

Any other Ideas?
 

nobrotson

Active member
Hellie, with all due respect I don't think your self-confessed rant has helped at all. If you have a problem with what the current committee is doing, why not lend a hand or just leave them to it? Interfering like this only undermines the efforts of people who are currently working hard to get checc to happen. Also, as I recall you were in fact the chair who oversaw the last peak event at the rotary centre, who have subsequently put up a number of barriers to prevent checc from holding future events there...
 

nearlywhite

Active member
I think Mr Hall didn't put the exhaustive list of places they've been through because it would take too long and not serve the point of the thread - I have been following the progress from afar and have a great deal of sympathy for them. It gets harder every year as suitable venues decide it's not worth the hassle/price is too meagre.

That said, the limited numbers and good behavior at last year's CHECC resulted in a venue we could go back to.

Anyway, there's been a fair few good suggestions so far and hopefully the forum can continue to be a success. The mud slinging can be tacked on to a different thread, perhaps that one notifying the Youth and Development Officer's absence at a quarterly meeting.
 

alastairgott

Well-known member
nobrotson said:
The last peak event at the rotary centre, who have subsequently put up a number of barriers to prevent checc from holding future events there...

I don't think anyone could have foreseen the Alcoholics retreat down the road. which would have been a major thorn in the side for the Rotary, considering the track to the rotary is all but shared by the centre who had the retreat staying.
Whether there were other objections or not, is by the by. The event happened, and as an attendee, I think it was a great success  :beer:
Parties, whether caving or not (alcohol induced or not) create noise or traffic problems, and some people don't like it even for one weekend of the year.

The venue (wherever you choose) is always going to have that issue, whether they are a small struggling village hall or a large outdoor centre, relationships can be repaired but need a concerted effort on behalf of all cavers.
 

Fatman

Member
Suss had their 50th at the Rotary centre in Castleton. Perfect venue with kitchen, hall, bunks and camping. And close to Peak etc. Shame it seems you cannot use it. Not sure if there is anywhere in the south peak.
 

2xw

Active member
hell little caver said:
i would guess not as there was alcohol at Northen checc

Totally outrageous. I have been to CHECC twice a year since 2013 and never have I seen anyone drink at one. In fact, the most exciting bit of the last CHECC event I attended was a particularly exciting bridge tournament.
 

AR

Well-known member
Two other possibilities have occurred to me - there's Hope Valley College though you'd have to go for the half term weekend if they would be willing to let you use it, or Ravenstor Youth Hostel but getting exclusive use of it could be too pricey, plus looking at their website there's only one mid-October weekend that's not already booked.
 

AR

Well-known member
Or the secondary school in Buxton; I said Hope as that's got the most underground stuff close to it, although Lady Manners has part of Pretoria Mine under its playing field!  On  the youth hostel front, there's Losehill Hall at Castleton or Hartington Hall but again, cost may be  an issue.

On a somewhat related note, if a Peak District venue can be sorted out for this years' CHECC do I'd be willing to do you an evening talk on mining archaeology?
 
Top