Friday 23rd-Sunday 25th October 2026
I’m pleased to announce that the York Sloggers & Betters event is once again scheduled for “Clock Weekend”, allowing everyone an extra hour to recover from Friday and Saturday exertions on Sunday morning.
I’m less pleased to announce that Stableside, our usual hosts, will not be available this year.
I’ve therefore been liaising with the Holiday Inn nearby to negotiate rates for a block booking of single, double and twin rooms. You will see the prices in the email copied below. I fear that the higher rates for the Saturday night are unfortunately typical of hotels in York, so feel free to shop around – but (particularly in the case of doubles and twins) do please note that Holiday’s Inn’s charges are by the room, not per head as at Stableside. I’ve also talked to them about rates for the Sunday night as many of you stayed over until Monday last year because of the railway engineering works – you’ll see that the rates for Sunday night are rather more agreeable!
All the details for booking, together with the all-important group code, are below.
I would ask you, when you book, to let me know on the thread below: that way I can keep an eye on figures and, if necessary, negotiate more rooms.
As regards the timetable of events …
Friday 23rd
Afternoon: Early arrivers foregather at the Fox & Roman (https://www.vintageinn.co.uk/restaurants/yorkshire/thefoxandromanyork#/)
Evening: 630pm: Gustav’s Famous Link Quiz at the Marcia Inn (www.marciainnbishopthorpe.co.uk), incl. Pizza supper (£5-6 pp approx.)
930pm onward: further socialising at the Marcia
Saturday 24th
11am-6pm: Main crossword event at Marcia Inn, incl. hot lunch (£14-15 p.p. approx.; pub menu available). Socialise, do puzzles …
7-8pm: appetisers. Meet at Dick Turpin pub (https://camra.org.uk/pubs/dick-turpin-york-123334).
8 for 830pm: Indian meal at Woodthorpe Spice (https://woodthorpespice.co.uk/) – note (a) that this may be number-restricted (around 32 people); (b) that the restaurant is under (excellent) new management.
Sunday 25th
Departure: pre-train pint or two at the York Tap (opens 11am) (https://camra.org.uk/pubs/york-tap-york-123772)
So that I can get an approximate idea of numbers, I’d be grateful if you would indicate below whether you are likely to attend and, if so, whether you would like to partake of the above options (the normal pub menus will also be available, but there may be a longer than average wait). Please indicate, as follows:
A – your name(s) with pseudonyms as appropriate, these are useful for name badges;
B – attending Marcia on Friday? Y/N
C – (if Yes to B) – food, please? Y/N
D – attending Marcia on Saturday? Y/N
E – (if Yes to D) – food, please? Y/N
Note that, at present, this is about the likelihood that you will attend, it does not commit you to attending. There will be a further announcement at the start of October.
Holiday Inn booking
Here are the details of the email:
Rate:
23/10/2026 – £109.00
24/10/2026 – £169.00
25/10/2026 – £79.00
Board basis: Bed and Breakfast
Your group code: GD4
In order for your guests to book this, they will need to contact our Central Reservations Team on 03333 209 357 and then select option 1, then option 1 again to go through to the booking team. They will need to quote the group code in order to book onto this block.
Alternatively, they can make the booking online at JETdoc 1730841 (https://www.ihg.com/redirect?path=rates&brandCode=HI&localeCode=en®ionCode=925&hotelCode=YORTR&checkInDate=23&checkInMonthYear=092026&checkOutDate=26&checkOutMonthYear=092026&_PMID=99801505&GPC=GD4&cn=no&adjustMonth=false&showApp=true&monthIndex=00), once you have entered your dates and pressed book now you will need to expand the change search section (in dark grey at the top). Once expanded, you will need to select group code from the rate preference drop down and enter the above code.
Upon booking, all guests will be required to provide card details for guarantee purposes only, no payment will be taken until 14 days prior to arrival. In case of any late cancellations, or non-arrivals, the card provided upon booking will be charged for these costs. Your guests can cancel their reservations free of charge up until 14 days prior to arrival, any cancellations made after this will be fully chargeable.
These rooms and rates will be held until four weeks prior to arrival. At this point, any unsold rooms will be released and go back to general sale, after that stage the agreed rate will no longer be available. Guests will still be able to book; however we will only be able to offer our best available rate at the time of booking and this would not be part of the group.
Please note that there will be various rates showing online between now and the date of arrival, however these rates come with different terms and conditions such as full pre-payment, no option to cancel etc. In addition, your rate will not change between now and the six-week cut-off date.
A Hugh Hudson / beery hiker
B N
C N
D Y
E Y
A – Mike Crapper (mc_rapper67) – can re-use an old badge!
B – attending Marcia on Friday? Y
C – (if Yes to B) – food, please? Y
D – attending Marcia on Saturday? Y
E – (if Yes to D) – food, please? Y
A – Rob Townsend / Henri / Odo
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
A – Raider (can reuse badge)
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
A – Jamie / Amoeba (I will look for a badge, but we’ve tidied the flat since last year…)
B – Y
C – Y – vegetarian
D – Y
E – Y – vegetarian
A provisional Y to all from Cath, Jenny and I
First time! 😀 Barring unforeseen complications:
A – Jack Keynes / Bluejacket
B – Marcia on Friday? Y
C – Food then? Y
D – Marcia on Saturday? Y
E – Food then? Y
A – Rosy Hunt (will bring badge)
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
think I mistyped my email, it’s rosy.hunt@gmail.com
A – Rachel (Angel) and Matt
B – attending Marcia on Friday? Yes
C – (if Yes to B) – food, please? Yes
D – attending Marcia on Saturday? Yes
E – (if Yes to D) – food, please? Yes
Thanks as ever!
A – Y – Chris Evans / Umpire / Potoroo
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
Oh, and follow-up comment to say that Bluejacket and I have taken a twin room!
A – Simon Griew (Coot) + Louise
B – Y * 2
C – Y * 2
D – Y * 1
E – Y * 1
A: Mark O’Connor / Cranberry / Fez
B: Y
C: Y
D: Y
E: Y
+ Holiday Inn booked via your JetDoc link at special rate thanks (though it didn’t then ask for the code)
A – Richard Heald
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
A – Mark Hartshorne/PostMark
B – N
C – N
D – Y
E – Y
A – Emma/Turnstone/Heron + Jim
B – Y x2
C – Y x2
D – Y x1
E – Y x1
Thanks!
A – Jez Lundström/Ouroboros
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
I’ve booked separate accommodation so not joining the block-booking. I also doubt I’ll be attending the meal at Woodthorpe Spice, but will be at everything else, with luck. See you all there!
A – Michael Benbow (Biggles)
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
Recently moved to York and started writing clues so really looking forward to this!
A – Jennie (Guinevere/Dice/Kybos) and Steve
B – Y x 2
C – Y x 1
D – Y x 1
E – N (will order from pub menu due to awkward dietary requirements!)
We have booked a double room at Holiday Inn with the discount thank you!
A – Becky (Liari/Pavo/Apus/Potoroo)
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
Sorry. Forgot to specify vegetarian.
A: Ken MacKenzie (kenmac)
B: Y
C: Y
D: Y
E: Y
A John Moody (johninterred) + Dawn Jepson
B Y
C Y
D Y John only
E Y John only
Thanks as ever.
A – Josh Roach / Major / Iguess (can reuse last year’s badge also)
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
A – Ginger Tom and Princess V
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y (Princess V will order from pub menu due to dietary requirements)
A – TomR (Kruger) & JanetR
Y
N
Y TomR only
N
A – Dave Fernley and Vera Lowson (Ginger Tom and PrincessV )
B – Y
C – Y x 1
D – Y
E – Y
A – Andrew Taylor (andrew) + 4
B – Y
C – Y
D – Just me
E – Y
Jo
A – Jo Welch (Skylark)
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
Jo
A – Jo Welch (Skylark)
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
A – Duncan Shiell (duncanshiell) – can re-use old badge
B – N
C – N
D – Y
E – Y
A – Paul Robinson (Cheeseman)
B – Y x1
C – Y x1
D – Y x1
E – Y x1
I’ve booked a double room with the group code (thank you) for me and Linda (who won’t be taking part in the crosswordy goings-on)
I am actually booked to stay in York, so will be coming this year. I’m coming up with my daughter, but whether she’s up to doing any of this is moot, so she’s the possible extra.
A – Shanne (it’s really my name)
B – maybe
C – maybe
D – Y (+ possible extra)
E – Y (N for possible extra)
A: Laura & Gary O’Donoghue
B: Y x1
C: Y x1
D: Y x2
E: Y x2
A – Jon / Check
B – N
C –
D – Y
E –
Hoping something doesn’t get in the way this year, been a while since I’ve seen a few faces!
Sorry John for a double comment, as far as I know, only one of me is coming.
Then I was told I’d failed to post my reply, so logged in again under my second email address and replied once more.
Jo / Skylark
Julie Rugg (Mrs Graves) [first time attending]
Y
Y
Y
Y
Sadly I can’t make it this year as I have a trip to Derbyshire and Somerset planned already.
A – Nick Huntley/ Karla/ Leonidas
B – N
C – N
D – Y
E – N
A – Peter Moore Fuller (Bard/Playfair/Glyph) + Lucy
B – Y * 2
C – Y * 2
D – Y * 2
E – Y * 2
Looking forward to it!
Cheers to everyone putting it together.
I thought I had already signed us up, but can’t see us.
A -Sally Wraight and Anne Spratling both coming
B Yes x2
C yes x2
D yes x2
E yes x2
We are booked in to the Holiday Inn
Hoping I can make it for the first time this year
A – Keith Sutherland / Noctifer
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
A – John Black/Sloop John B
B – Y
C – Y
D – Y
E – Y
Accommodation not required as I am local
A almw3
B – Y x1
C-Yx1
D-Yx1
E-Yx1
A – Rob Primhak [plus Bev] – Zebedee/Primus
B – attending Marcia on Friday? Y
C – (if Yes to B) – food, please? Y
D – attending Marcia on Saturday? Y
E – (if Yes to D) – food, please? Y
A Andrew Varney (Brock)
B Y
C Y
D Y
E Y
Although provisional only at this point
Thanks for organising this again. Looking forward to it.
A Ian Simpson
B Y
C Y
D Y
E Y
Comment #48
I thought I’d already signed up here. Belatedly:
A Helen Ougham
B Y
C Y
D Y
E N
Comment #50