The Spice Rack
SPICE UK (Head Office) SPICE (Birmingham) SPICE (Bristol & Cardiff) SPICE (East Midlands)
Coordinator: Dave Smith Coordinator: Richard Coulter Coordinator: Simon Coy Coordinator: Gordon Conway
13, Thorpe Street, 6a Burnett Road 25 Casson Drive, Oak Farm, High Peak Junction,
Old Trafford Streetly, Sutton Coldfield Stapleton Matlock,
Manchester. M16 9PR West Midlands B74 3EJ Bristol BS16 1WP Derbyshire DE4 5HN
Tel: 0161 873 8788 Fax: 0161 848 9465 Tel: 0121 353 6161 Tel: 0845 430 0334 Tel: 01629 820 092
info@spiceuk.com info@spicebham.com info@spicebristolcardiff.com info@spiceeastmids.com
www.spiceuk.com www.spicebham.com www.spicebristolcardiff.com www.spiceeastmids.com
SPICE (London) SPICE (Manchester) SPICE (Scotland) SPICE (Yorkshire)
Coordinator: Dianne Livingstone Coordinator: Lauren Fawkes Coordinator: Barry Haniford Coordinator: Sandra Willis
Office 25, The Runnymede Malthouse Flat 6 Suite 2 9a Beighton Road
Runnymede Road, Egham, 11 Poplar Road, Stretford 81-85 Portland Street Sheffield
Surrey SM6 7AH Manchester M32 9AN Edinburgh EH6 4AY S13 7LP
Tel: 01784 497 070 Tel: 0161 864 3849 Tel: 0131 553 0026 Tel: 0114 288 9997
spicelondons@btinternet.com info@spicemcr.com info@spicescotland.com info@spiceyorks.com
www.spicelondon.co.uk www.spicemcr.com www.spicescotland.com www.spiceyorks.com
What does my membership cover?
Spice is a commercial business, we seek to operate at a profit which pays staff On top of this is the cost of recruiting members - room hire for preview nights,
salaries. advertising, stands in leisure centres and at fairs, country shows etc.
We contribute to the national running of Spice UK, which covers the salaries of
Another hidden cost is VAT. Most of our activity suppliers are not VAT registered
the staff who organise your Spice holidays, plus national initiatives, advertising
yet we have to be. We have to allow a full 15% in most of our costs which we can’t
and events.
claim back. In our negotiations with suppliers we try to achieve a competitive
price which also covers such costs as the administration of the event and the cost
Fixed costs include banking, office rental, telephone bills, heating, electricity, of-
of a place for a coordinator where applicable.
fice supplies, legal fees, web maintenance, motoring and IT costs.
There is also an element of ‘swings and roundabouts’ in that events which are
A huge cost is the producing, printing, packing and posting of newsletters to en-
financially successful allow some events to go ahead at a loss (rather than can-
quirers (over 100 every month). There is also the cost of producing and sending
celling them and disappointing members) or for us to speculate on investment
newsletters to over 1,000 members bi-monthly.
in new ideas.
Getting the most out of your Spice membership
Here are a few tips to help you get the most out
restaurant. We try to ensure numbers are even on 8. Ceroc and Mo’Jive
of your Spice membership. If you are unsure of
dinner shuffles, so unfortunately it is not possible These nights are a great way to meet up with a
any aspect of your Spice membership, please do
to book you on at the last minute. The cost always regular group of friends in your area. These events
not hesitate to contact us.
includes a volunteer coordinator, who goes free to are open to the public, the advantage of booking
ensure the evening run smoothly. We try to ensure through us is that you can access the Transport
1. Allow plenty of time for your journey
that the price of these events come in lower than Share List, so you can arrange to meet up with those
All events start promptly. There is often engineering
our competitors such as Dining with Friends. booked on it. We close Ceroc off at 12pm on the day
works on the railways at weekends or evenings, so of the event. This is to advise the venue of numbers.
5. The 5-day forecast
do plan accordingly. Unfortunately, we can’t delay You can still attend the event, but you won’t be able
A lot of our members keep an eye on the 5 day
the start of events if a member is running late. It to book through us.
weather forecast, especially for outdoor events.
is not fair on the supplier and the other members
Once they know the weather is going to be fine,
who have arrived on time. If you arrive early you’ll be
9. Wait lists
they book. This results in a rush of bookings. Time
more relaxed than late and panicking!
It’s always worth putting your name on the wait
and again we experience events selling out and list, as members do drop out of events (including
2. Weekends
members being disappointed as they have not weekends and holidays). We would rather an event
Nearly all our weekends are shared with other Spice
booked in time. If you do want to go on an event, went ahead full, so we always try to contact those
groups. The lead group will show the exact number
please book in plenty of time, as it helps us manage on the wait list. Please note that once an event has
booked. All other groups sharing onto a weekend
numbers, and increase as necessary. Most events go reached its allocation its status becomes ‘wait list’.
will only show the number of members booked from
ahead whatever the weather. We don’t let a bit of However, this doesn’t mean there is someone actu-
their particular group. The system is not linked, so if
rain spoil our fun! ally on the wait list. Only when someone adds their
you see an event has low numbers, don’t be mislead name to the reserve list does the wait list come into
6. Theatre tickets
into thinking you have plenty of time to book, as existence. You are under no obligation to attend the
We tend to book theatre trips on Friday and Satur-
there are potentially 16,000 other Spice members event if you put your name on the wait list.
day nights, when group discounts are not available.
throughout the UK thinking the same thing!
We also tend to book the most popular acts, which 10. Joining instructions
3. Sports nights
are not discounted. Most theatre tickets do not in- Most of our joining instructions are in the newsletter
Sports nights are a great way to meet up with a reg-
clude VAT, which we have to add on to the price of and on the website. We send out detailed instruc-
ular group of friends in your area. All sports nights
the event. Theatres also add a handling and serv- tions for weekends only, which you will receive
are aimed at the beginner, just come along and have
ice charge, which is why some prices appear higher about 1 week prior to the event.
a go. However, we do recommend that you play a
than the public price. Our members are happy to
couple of Unihoc games before embarking on the
pay this extra charge as it means they will see a
11. Savings and discounts
Thursday night Unihoc session at the Willink. This is
show with a group of friends, and not having to go
Wherever possible, we pass these onto our mem-
our only sports night aimed at the more advanced
alone, or miss out.
bers. This is most evident in our holidays. We offer
player, and is not really suitable for a first event, even
huge discounts, particularly with our skiing trips.
7. Jongleurs, greyhound racing and horse racing
if you were head of the hockey team at school.
We close off these events one week prior for the
Above all, Spice is about enjoying yourself
4. Dinner shuffles
number booked. We do occasionally have members
– so remember to have fun!
We close off our dinner shuffles 5 days beforehand,
dropping out, so it’s always worth going on the wait
to confirm numbers and any menu choices to the
list, as you might get a chance to go.
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