Background
For the last 10 years or so we have held an annual event in late March called the Spring Fling, in Allendale, Northumberland.
This event has been a smaller event with less than 30 people attending each year. We have typically had two parallel workshop streams running, one for mountain and one for hammered dulcimer.
Our main Annual weekend & AGM is generally somewhere in the Midlands, and there is also the Halsway Manor event in the South. So a Northerly event at a different time of year has provided a counter-balance to these. The club feels that it is an option we should continue to provide.
However, the two main organisers of this event are moving away from the area. Liz Conway will be in Germany, and Steve Gray has already moved to Newcastle. We would like to thank them for all their support in the last 10 years!
The venue we used in Allendale has some shortcomings, particularly in the quality of its residential accommodation, as well as not being near any organisers now. So we are considering alternatives. Wherever we choose needs a willing organiser on the ground! Steve Gray is keen to continue the Spring Fling and has offered to organise it in central Newcastle. Following some initial research we would like to ask member’s opinions.
About the Proposed Location
The proposed location is in the Gateshead/Newcastle quayside area. The quayside is a lively area, with stunning riverside architecture, easy walking and lots of cafes and restaurants. Nearby, Newcastle Central is a main line station so a car might not be necessary for some. There are plenty of hotels at a range of price points. Many hotels and other venues have suitable rooms for events.
Swing Bridge, Castle and Cathedral 
View from the Copthorne 
Tyne Bridge, Millennium Bridge and Sage Gateshead
Ideas for Spring Fling 2022
Because of the uncertainties of COVID, timescales, and the fact this is a new style of event, we are considering running a member led event without paid tutors. We would ask participants to offer to share music, techniques and ideas in a fun and informal way. We did this a couple of years ago for hammered dulcimer because the tutor was sick and it worked well.
We would also ask people to book their own accommodation to make our administration easier and reduce the risk to the club. Suitable hotels in the area include the Copthorne, the Premier Inn and Innside. It’s a bit difficult to predict prices as it depends when you book, but for a single room the cost could range from £60 upward per night including breakfast. Parking could add £10 a day to the cost.
We would supply the venue space, tea, coffee and possibly lunch, and co-ordinate the activities, making sure the venue worked logistically. Full information would be available at time of booking. Initial research shows us that the area will be less busy and accommodation considerably cheaper mid-week, so we think that is what we will go for. Following the Spring Fling pattern there would be 2 overnight stays, with one full day plus one morning of ‘workshop’ time. We are still looking into options for activities for the two evenings.
Allowing for a smallish group, we think the cost to attendees will be around £40 – £50 each (not including accommodation/food).
We would be grateful to members / potential attendees for answering this short survey by October 15th 2021 to see if there is sufficient interest in this event.