Windmill, Crawley

(From 09/04/2015)

Just to let you know that there has been yet another change of personnel at the Windmill, with Joannie leaving on Tuesday night and a new landlord, (Richie), taking over yesterday.
Joannie will be taking over a pub in Staines-upon-Thames. She left in good spirits and we emptied the table and handed over her share along with a thank you on behalf of the teams for having looked after us during the course of the season.

We met Richie last night to establish the future of bar billiards at the venue and it seemed to go pretty well. Stand him next to Lloydy, Curt Driver and the darts player Van Gerwen and you'd have four peas in a pod !!!!!

Richie's previous pub was in Salisbury but he's originally from Portsmouth where his father ran a pub ...... which had bar billiards ...... and dad was capable of running out a table completely. Although he hasn't played bar billiards for 20 years he plays snooker and is looking forward to renewing his acquaintance with the game.

Well, the latest bombshell is that Richie has done a vanishing act and Bev (previous landlady to Joannie) has taken over the licence once more. Which cannot be a bad thing.

.....and a further development: our table is on the move once again.
The bands have been struggling in the corner and want their stage back ! Apparently last Saturday the sound carried to the flats above the shops to the extent that complaints were received.

I must admit that I had been a little concerned about the claustrophobic effect on a hot day caused by having a row of windows that do not open:
We were shown the proposed new position tonight and on reflection I think that this is now definitely for the best. A little cramped but at least next to windows that open.

More time for levelling etc will be needed from me, but spare a thought for poor Johnny Haigh who is now faced with hanging the lights and scoreboard for a third time !

[Sav]

Jul 22, 2015 23:32:44 GMT tommo III said:

but spare a thought for poor Johnny Haigh who is now faced with hanging the lights and scoreboard for a third time !

Back lights are the best solution such as I did for the AEBBA tables and the improved ones I am doing for all my local tables.

Situation update.........

Table has now been moved to the agreed optimum position;
We have been down to level it and it should be found to be acceptable, still nice and fast;
Pockets were whippy and so have been cleaned.

To do:
1. Replace spots on next visit;
2. Monitor over the next month as it 'beds in' to the carpet;
3. Overhead lighting to be installed and scoreboard to be repositioned. (JH).

Practice session for the 'Mill team arranged for next Wednesday.

[clacky]

Jul 29, 2015 14:38:36 GMT tommo III said:

Table has now been moved to the agreed optimum position;
We have been down to level it and it should be found to be acceptable, still nice and fast;

Practice session for the 'Mill team arranged for next Wednesday.

Hi Clive, I am available at a reasonable rate plus expenses, to level the table for you.......

Aug 4, 2015 8:59:39 GMT clacky said:

Hi Clive, I am available at a reasonable rate plus expenses, to level the table for you.......

Well, okay, if it transpires that I've made it too damned easy, I'll call on your expertise !
Sam-trained (you) or Sav-trained (me): Which is more advisable ? That is the question !

Update..........

Overhead lighting installed, and wired up. (Many thanks to Johnny H.)
Further levelling, brushing and replacement of break spots by me this lunchtime.
Just the fixing up of the scoreboard is left to do. (Done. many thanks to Johnny again.)

With some relief I can advise that Bev confirms that the leak in the roof has now been fixed.

No need for Ros to bring wellies for her next visit.

We are happy to report that the Windmill table has now been converted to take the new pound coin.

Windmill website showing photo taken last night by landlady Sarah:
www.facebook.com/Windmillpubcrawley/photos/a.610477585695110.1073741829.127435930665947/1749688938440630/?type=3&theater

Sarah's last night tonight.

We wish her well as she takes on her new venture tomorrow:

whatpub.com/pubs/HES/72/royal-st-leonards-on-sea

Spoke to her yesterday and she reckoned she loved hosting the bar billiards and will be looking to purchase her own table for The Royal once she has settled in. So Gandalf etc. please note !

Our new landlady will be none other than Bev, returning for her third tenure.......a case of "meet the new boss, same as the old boss"

Our best wishes also to Sarah's (large) family - and of course Bev as she takes over once more.

Mar 19, 2020 17:12:27 GMT tommo said:

My own local watering hole The Windmill (Crawley) looks like being the first pub casualty of Covid 19:

We called in there last night and Bev informed us it was likely to be closing its doors on Monday (23rd March). Ankle-biters will be banned for the weekend.

Our table will be left there in situ to await happier times.

This means that as things stand, the Windmill CC will be homeless for the last quarter of the League season.

[edit 26/9/20 - pub re-opened 4th July with distancing and hygiene measures in place. Table available to practice on but no league play allowed yet]

Under lockdown rules, Windmill closed again until 3rd December.

Margo and I have done our best to reduce wastage, the Strongbow went on Tuesday and the last of the Fosters on Wednesday !

Windmill has re-opened again (as of Sat 12th). Condition of service is buy a filled roll with side plate of chips, leave a few on plate and you can stay as long as you like !
Expecting quite an attendance on Wed for Liverpool v Spurs. Happy days !

[Sav]

Sounds a good way of respecting the government's request to be more careful in the run-up to the relaxation in social distancing rules for fear of infecting loved ones over Xmas.

Quote from government advice:
You should reduce unnecessary contact with people you do not live with as much as possible in the two weeks before you form your Christmas bubble.

[margo]

News on pub re-opening:
Windmill, closed so far all this year, now opening for outside service tomorrow (Friday 30/4/21) at 2pm.
A preliminary to Indoors service being resumed on 17th May.

[margo]

Windmill now open inside. spent a pleasant evening there.

[JB]

Did I imagine it or did you originally say bar billiards and pool tables could be played?

Was going to ask if you had a game and how it went with any sanitisation, wearing masks whilst playing etc.

[Sav]

Hi Jean,

The comments on playing bar billiards were removed after discussion by forum staff as per the edit comments.

This forum had the most dire of warnings from proboards last year over the posting of possible covid misinformation from non authorative sources.

If all goes well it's only one month now until restrictions end. I would ask everyone to be patient for four more weeks after fifteen months of forced incarceration.

To quote from the government guidance linkhere

Indoor areas at hospitality venues (cafes, restaurants, bars, pubs, social clubs, including members’ clubs) can reopen. At any premises serving alcohol, customers will be required to order, be served and eat/drink while seated (“table service”).

[margo]

Good writeup on the "CC" team having won the Horsham League - sports page of the Crawley Observer (out today).