EY UP

We really hope you will be able to join us for the 2026 Drumming Out weekend which will take place in the spa town of Harrogate, Yorkshire.  This fun-filled weekend will allow us to drum out Graeme Greenfield as 2025 Senate Chairman and formally confirm Jeff Evans in post.

Harrogate is easily accessible by car or train and a short bus ride from Leeds International airport.  The Conference Hotel is Cedar Court, Park Parade, Harrogate, HG1 5AH. This is an eco-certified hotel on the outskirts of the town with plenty of (free) onsite parking.   Please phone the reservations team on +44 (01423) 858 585 and quote BRI150126.  The rates are £99 a night, bed and breakfast, for a single and £111 a night for a double.  Please speak to the hotel if you would like an upgrade or have access requirements. www.cedarcourthotels.co.uk/hotels/harrogate.

Thursday 15^th January    

The evening will start at approximately 6.00 pm with a 2-course meal in the beautiful hotel restaurant.  It’s then a short, flat 10-minute walk to the Everyman Cinema for a welcome drink and a special viewing of a selected film – details to be shared in due course. Audience participation encouraged, but not compulsory!    

Friday 16^th January

We would like to show you some of the beautiful, local countryside so will be boarding a coach from the hotel to take us to Ripon, a stunning cathedral city. It is the third smallest city in the country and is full of independent shops, lovely buildings and plenty to see.

In the morning we will have a guided tour of the lovely Cathedral, including a visit to the Crypt.  A short 5-minute walk will take us to the Ripon Bowling Club for lunch – although, sadly, there will be no bowls as the bowling green is now a car park.  A buffet lunch will be followed by some presentations from our international guests. We may even be able to use the snooker room.

After lunch, another short walk (with a bit of a hill) will take us to one of three museums. Further details will be available nearer the time for you to make your choice but you can take a look at www.riponmuseums.co.uk.  You will have the chance to visit the Workhouse Museum, the Prison Museum or the Courthouse Museum, all of which will include some live interpretations and demonstrations.  Any senator that has been mis-behaving may find PC Plod Greenfield will send them to the cells for the afternoon, so be warned….

We will then board the coach back to the hotel and a bit of R & R (rest and relaxation, Real Ale and Rum or….).  The coach will return to take us on a short 5-minute drive to Yorkshire Night which is taking place in a traditional Working Men’s Club in Harrogate.   Expect a range of traditional Yorkshire food, drink and entertainment.   Real ale will be in plentiful supply, along with other drinks too, of course.

Saturday 17^th January

Today we have plenty of time to explore the delights of the spa town of Harrogate.  A guided tour of the city centre will help you orient yourselves and find out more about the history of water, healing spas, Agatha Christie and more.   We will visit the recently refurbished Royal Pump Room as well as the local Wetherspoons pub in the former royal baths.  This is purely to see the wonderful architecture of course….  A light buffet lunch will also be served.

You have a range of options for the afternoon – you can join the pub tour or go shopping, visit some of the local gardens, go gin-tasting, have a visit to the Turkish baths.   Back to the hotel for the Bumble Bee for those who are members.  This will be a dry event – only in terms of there being no pool, not in terms of being alcohol-free, of course.

The evening Gala Dinner is in the main ballroom of the hotel, starting with a fizz Reception and a three-course meal, with wine.  We will conclude with the Drumming Out / In ceremony where we will bid a fond farewell to Graeme and award the bottle of champagne to the sweepstake winner who is closest to the length of his speeches over the year.

Sunday 18^th January  

The traditional Senate Breakfast – with champagne (well, more likely to be Cava…) – will be held in the hotel and will give incoming Senate Chairman Jeff Evans the chance to introduce his team and tell you more about the plans for 2026. There will be a small supplement for breakfast those who are staying at the hotel (to cover fizz and room hire).

We are looking forward to seeing you in Harrogate in 2026.

Please find below the paper and Online booking forms.

Drumming Out Booking form 2026