The Bull Blog
Six Nations Rugby – England vs Scotland
Two of the great Rugby teams will be going head to head at the home of English Rugby – Twickenham Stadium on 14th March (kick off at 5pm), as England take on Scotland. After having had five years without losing at Twickenham Stadium, the English team will be feeling very confident. This Round 4 match promises to be one of the great games of the competition as the England team are very strong, well drilled and incredibly committed under the leadership of Chris Robshaw. However Scotland are not slacking, under the inaugural guidance of Vern Cotter they are looking to...
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Capital One Cup Final
From its start at Wembley in 1967, the Capital One Cup Final is thought to be the first major cup final of the English football season. Who can forget Queens Park Rangers come back? From a near 2-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion they achieved a final result of 3-2! Although fewer clubs enter – 92 clubs as opposed to 758 for the FA Cup – this is nonetheless a popular competition, as clubs can qualify for the UEFA Europa League if they haven’t managed to qualify their league positions and clubs. For example, Arsenal and Manchester United use the...
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Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day has been celebrated throughout history with its roots firmly held in Pagan fertility festivals. First celebrated in ancient Rome, young men would playfully spank the behinds of young women in the hope of improving their fertility. In around AD496 Pope Gelasius declared 14th February to be St Valentine’s Day, a Christian feast day and thus Valentine’s Day became a Christian celebration. The writing of love notes or cards was thought to originate from Charles the Duke of Orleans, who wrote the first recorded Valentine’s note to his beloved, while imprisoned in the Tower of London. Early cards were...
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Rugby World Cup 2015
One of the traditions of the IRB Rugby World Cup is taking the Webb Ellis Cup, named after William Webb Ellis, the man credited for inventing rugby football, on the Cup Trophy Tour. The trophy has been presented to winners since 1987, when New Zealand were the first to hold it, and has since been held by four nations; New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England. There are actually two cups which are used interchangeably, made of silver gilt with two cast scroll handles – one side depicts a head satyr and the other a nymph. Until recently the cup...
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Big Band Weekend at Aylesbury Theatre
After the excitement of the festive season, January seems a bit ‘flat’ so what better way to lift your spirits than with a Big Band Dance and Swing Orchestra Night at Aylesbury Theatre. Hits from your favourite shows; Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar will be belted out amongst big pop classics of yester-year from the great Phil Collins and Elton John to Abba and the Beatles. The theatre auditorium has been transformed into a spectacular dancehall, so that you can dance the night away. So whether your passion is for jive, swing, ballroom or Latin,...
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Christmas in Buckinghamshire
Christmas officially begins in Aylesbury on 20th November when the annual Christmas light switch on is performed by stars from the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre production of Cinderella. An evening of free fun is planned with music from local radio station Mix 96 and local choirs, street traders to keep you entertained and fed. Lights are switched on at 18:50 followed by a fantastic firework display and late night shopping until 20:00. On 30th November, Santa parades through Aylesbury with his Snowman, Snow Queen and acrobatic elves through the High Street at 10:30 and into his Grotto. Once settled he will...
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The Chiltern Brewery Tour
The oldest family brewery is built on an old working farm in the picturesque Chiltern Hills. Brewery tours are on offer to give an insight into the brewing process and history that produces the county’s award winning fine ales. The hour-long tour begins at 3pm and, of course, no brewery tour would be complete with a tutored beer tasting! If you would like to arrive 15 minutes before the tour begins, you are offered a complimentary beer to enjoy whilst browsing around the Brewery shop. The Brewery shop is packed with food and produce sourced from local farmers, and, with...
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All Things Hospitality – Interview with a General Manager
Karl Wilson, General Manager of the Bull Hotel in Gerrards Cross, talks about all things hospitality, sharing his experience and knowledge with us. Why did you decide to work in hospitality? I have been working since I was 16, and as a teenager the easiest place to get a job was in bars and restaurants, starting with washing up! I do think it’s important to start with the basics. I realised that I both enjoyed it and was good at it, and decided to study Hospitality at University. What have you always enjoyed about the hospitality industry? I enjoy the...
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Steaming Open Days at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
A visit to Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, open since the 1890s, is a must for the Steam Train enthusiast. The centre is a working Steam Museum with one of the largest collections of locomotives in the UK. Enthusiasts can take advantage of unlimited free train rides whilst the younger enthusiasts can take a ride on the 1 km-long miniature railway complete with crossings, loops, stations and tunnels. The Centre also hosts regular ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’ weekends, and, at this time of the year, offers Festive Thomas the Tank Engine events. So look online for details. Experience the luxury of travel...
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The Hell Fire Caves
Whether you are an avid pagan or just have an affinity with all that is ghoulish and spooky, there is only one place to be this Halloween, The Hell Fire Caves at West Wycombe. During Halloween week (27th October – 2nd November), there is Ghost of Halloween fun! Children can enjoy fancy dress competitions, face painting and spooky games and, if there are any budding witches out there, you can fly yourself to the Witches Workshop and learn how to make potions, take a tour of the caves with a friendly wizard, have a race on your broomstick and, of...
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Marlow Carnival 2014
One of the most important events in Marlow’s calendar is their annual Carnival. This annual tradition has been taking place over the last forty years and with over 3,000 visitors the Carnival brings together local communities, clubs and charities and is well worth a visit. Along with lots of entertainment for the whole family, there will be scrumptious cake and food stalls, a licensed bar and BBQ for a lunch-time snack. Live entertainment will be provided by local groups and music will be played throughout the day by Marlow FM. Along with Tombola and side shows, there will be a...
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The Henley Show 2014
Traditionally held on the second Saturday in September, the Henley Show has been held annually in various locations since 1898, with this year’s show taking place at the Henley Showground in Hambleden. Described as the best one-day Agricultural show, this year will not disappoint. Richard Savory returns with his popular dancing sheep. The JRCS Falconry Display Team will be performing two displays with their fantastic Falcons and trainers along with a static display so that you can see these magnificent birds up close. Working gun dogs will demonstrate their skills during the Game Goer displays and the Companion Dog Show...
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Bucks County Show 2014
Considered one of the best agricultural shows in the country, the Bucks County Show takes place in Weedon Park near Aylesbury. From 8am till 6pm the show is a full day out for all the family. The Kangaroo Kids Quad Bike Stunt team will be showcasing their amazing skills; there will be horse and livestock classes, show jumping and a sheep show along with lots of marquees selling and demonstrating new and innovative ideas for the home and garden. Teach yourself a new culinary skill at the cookery demonstrations and then head over to the food hall to buy your...
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Marlow Penn Festival 2014
Glastonbury comes to Buckinghamshire this July with our very own Penn Music Festival, www.pennfestival.com. Held in the Big Park on Penn Street, enjoying its fourth year this is a great event for all the family. With street entertainers, circus skills and workshops, kids will be fully entertained and love camping out under the stars, whilst adults can enjoy a drink from the open-air bar! Last year’s free Reggae music workshops and circus skills were particularly well received. There are some excellent bands lined up over the weekend; Betty Boo, Dub Pistols, Whigfield, From The Jam, Hot Chocolate, Brother Beyond and...
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Gerrards Cross Food Festival
We at the Bull Hotel have always been partial to great food and drink, so it’s good to know that it’s all about the food during the weekend of the 14th & 15th June at the Memorial Centre, with the ‘Do You Love Foods’ festival. Opening at 10am on both Saturday and Sunday, it offers great value at only £9.00 for a family of four. Local sellers will be showcasing their produce and there are always plenty of samples to try before you buy. Amongst the award winning jams, preserves and cheeses, there will also be the more unusual foods...
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One Direction at Wembley Stadium
There is only One Direction to go on Friday 6th June, and that is Wembley Stadium. This hugely popular band – the first British band since The Beatles to have two Number One albums in the same year in the US – will be staging a three-day concert. The Bull Hotel is conveniently located for Wembley Stadium; it’s only a 30-minute drive or a 20-minute direct rain journey from Gerrards Cross station. Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, the X-Factor phenomenon, will meet thousands of their loyal fans for their first ever appearance at Wembley. It’s hard to imagine, for...
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F.A. Cup Final 2014
Every year at the Bull Hotel we look forward to one of football’s biggest events: The FA Cup Final. After 737 entries at the preliminary rounds back in August, the nine-month wait is nearly over, with the final two teams playing in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 17th of May. Fond memories of the White Horse, Booby Stokoe, Ricky Villa and the late Sir Tom Finney are brought to mind by one of the sport’s most evocative occasions. Tickets for this event can be booked during the first week in April. Purchase Club Wembley membership, along with...
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How will you be spending Easter Sunday
The Easter weekend is the perfect excuse to take some well-deserved time off and spend it with the people that matter most. This Easter Sunday gather your family and friends and join us at The Bull in Gerrards Cross for a proper Easter feast. Let us do the hard work while you are enjoying a fun afternoon. We will be serving our traditional Sunday carvery and the Nigel Fox trio will be joining us for another Sunday afternoon of live jazz music. Sally Knight will be singing your favourite jazz songs from Ray Gelato, Claire Martin and Val Wiseman, with...
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Marlow May Fayre 2014
The Bull Hotel is ideally located within easy reach of many towns and attractions in Buckinghamshire. One such local lively town is Marlow, situated on the banks of the River Thames. With a wide variety of outlets, Marlow offers something different for everyone and, who knows, you may even spot one of the locals: Michelin star chef Heston Blumenthal, quintuple Olympic gold medallist rower Steve Redgrave or even a famous singer by the name of Robbie Williams who lives nearby. Marlow is also the host of the 41st May Fayre that takes place on Saturday 17th May in Higginson...
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Sunny days at The Bull Hotel
Well, the sun is out and there’s no surprise that the terrace was well utilised this weekend. We’ve already received two enquiries this morning to hold private events in our purpose built BBQ area. Work also starts this week creating our very own herb garden for the chefs to pick the days herbs to cook with. It doesn’t get much fresher than that!
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Wedding Fever at The Bull Hotel
With the nights getting darker and the evenings getting colder Christmas is on everyone’s minds. But no matter what time of the year it is, one thing is clear, The Bull prides itself in creating a wedding day for yourselves and your guests to remember. Whether it’s a Spring, Summer, Autumn or even a Winter wedding, here at The Bull our priority is making your big day unique and special in every way. We have four individually unique function rooms for you to host your wedding day, two of which overlook the beautiful gardens, which creates a magnificent backdrop for...
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Sunday Lunch with Jazz
What are you doing this weekend? Fancy a Sunday Roast at The Bull Hotel in Gerrards Cross? It is not going to be just any Sunday Roast, but a JazzRoast! Yes, you read correctly, The Bull Hotel will be serving a JazzRoast! What is a JazzRoast do I hear you ask? It is a combination of our delicious, mouthwatering, heavenly scrumptious Sunday Roast and Jazz music, played by the very talented Nigel Fox Trio. You can now sit back, relax, sip your favourite wine or ale or soft drink, savour our Sunday Roast, while listening to popular jazz tunes of...
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What’s up at The Bull
After sunning ourselves in the typical British weather, in what seemed like very limited sunshine this summer whilst cheering on Team GB in the London 2012 Olympic Games, which, I think we all will agree, were amazing, it seems the summer season is quickly coming to an end. However, here at The Bull Hotel we are in the full swing of planning all the upcoming events. We have our Guides for Brides Wedding Fayre coming up on Sunday 9th September, where suppliers from all over berks and bucks will be attending to offer their specialist services for your big day....
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Celebrate with The Bull
With Spring coming to an end and the summer beginning, it’s not only the London 2012 Olympic Games fast approaching, but also the busy wedding season. Why not come along to The Bull to meet a member of our dedicated events team who can show you the four function rooms we have available for you to celebrate your wedding and make your special day one to remember? As well as having two wedding packages, we also pride ourselves in creating bespoke packages suited to you to ensure you get exactly what you want on your wedding day. Our dedicated wedding...
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My Sarova adventure – The Bull
Hello everyone! My next Sarova adventure was at the Bull in Gerrards Cross! Located in the charming town of Gerrards Cross, close to London, it is a perfect venue for meetings, and corporate or private events. The Bull used to be an old traditional English coaching tavern, and it still has the same charm and cosy feel. The best feature of the Bull is its lounge/ bar area, which looks over its beautiful gardens. I could sit there all day with my book chilling and drinking coffee! In the spring and summer, a BBQ in the gardens is a must!...
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