2025 Wrapped - Another Year to Remember (and Laugh About)

A warm welcome from Andy - President...

Hello everyone,

What a year 2025 has been at Norton House Country Club. From packed dance floors and buzzing quizzes to quiet coffees and long summer evenings in the garden, the club has once again been full of life, laughter and community spirit.

This “Wrapped” is a chance to look back, smile at the highlights, raise an eyebrow at the stats, and most importantly say a huge thank you to everyone who makes NHCC the place it is. Whether you pop in once a week or once a day, this is your club - and 2025 has been a brilliant chapter in its story.

So, grab a brew (or a pint of Madri), and let’s rewind the year…

Andy

President, NHCC

Bar Sales – The Numbers Don’t Lie (but they do make us laugh)

2025 was a very sociable year at the bar, helped along nicely by 77 private bookings, proving once again that if there’s a reason to celebrate, NHCC is the place to do it.

• Top draught: Madri – 9,506 pints Smooth, stylish, and clearly the drink of choice for those who like to think they’re on holiday.

• Close behind: Stones – 2,385 pints Yes, you read that right. Stones continues to defy logic, trends and probably medical advice.

• Third place: Guinness – 2,359 pints Proof that patience (and letting it settle properly) really is a virtue.

• Best-selling bar snack: Big Hoops – 607 packs Because nothing says “I’ll just have the one” like a packet of Big Hoops.

• Top spirit: Gin - Tonic stocks remain under constant pressure.

• Best wines: White – Sauvignon Blanc and Red – Shiraz. Reliable, popular, and never judgemental.

• Fizz: 197 bottles sold Celebrations, birthdays, “just because it’s Friday” – fizz was always flowing.

• Best alcohol-free option: Guinness 0% All the vibe, less of the wobble.

Based on your feedback (and a few raised eyebrows at the bar), we’ll be reviewing draught products, wines and bar snacks in the new year – so expect a few fresh faces pulling up at the pumps.

Membership

Following recent changes to our membership structure, we’re delighted to report healthy numbers of over 400 members. The club continues to grow, evolve and welcome new faces – while keeping the friendly feel we all love.

Month by Month

January

Our second attempt at Burns Night was a roaring success - fantastic food, energetic dancing and some… very questionable Scottish accents. This one is now firmly part of the calendar.👉 Tickets for Burns Night 2026 are already available at the bar.

February

The birth of Shed Club, formed to help prepare for the 80th anniversary. Calling them “handy” doesn’t do them justice - a hugely talented team who designed and built carnival games that wouldn’t have looked out of place at Glastonbury.

March

A busy and bittersweet month:

• A wonderful wine tasting evening with live music

• The launch of our now hugely popular Fish Friday

• The first-ever Women’s Institute meeting on 25th March

Sadly, March also marked the final Saturday dance evening, bringing decades of modern sequence dancing to a close. A huge thank you to everyone involved over the years – the legacy lives on.

April

A quieter month on the surface, but behind the scenes plans were in full swing for the 80th birthday celebrations. Clipboards were busy. Very busy.

May

• Our AGM, welcoming both new and familiar faces to the committee

• A lovely VE Day tea dance

• The snooker season wrapped up with Norton A winning the league – congratulations!

June

The big one. After months of planning, the 80th Anniversary Weekend arrived – and what a success it was. Games, stalls, food, live music and a brilliant outdoor garden bar meant there truly was something for everyone. A weekend the club will remember for a long time.

July

Extreme heat sadly forced the cancellation of the Family Sports Day (it will be back next year).We celebrated the Lionesses’ historic win, and the Bridge Club began training sessions, sharpening minds and bidding skills alike.

We were also delighted to once again host the annual Year 6 Leavers’ Party for Norton Free School. It’s always a pleasure welcoming the pupils, families and staff to the club to celebrate such an important milestone. A fantastic evening full of energy, laughter and dancing - and a lovely reminder of the club’s strong links with the local community.

August

Beer garden weather. Long summer nights. Not much else needs saying.

September

• A week-long club trip to Llandudno, where we may or may not have cleaned up on the bingo jackpots

• A very successful Macmillan Coffee Morning, raising over £600

• The darts team completed their first-ever league season - and the new season has started brilliantly, with the team top of the table heading into the festive break

October

• Our first Oktoberfest – hilarious, lively, and featuring more lederhosen than expected

• The President’s Dinner

• The always-popular Halloween Family Party

November

• Stuart’s Big Quiz, testing brains and friendships

• The Christmas Market, another delightful afternoon for all ages

• Shed club excelled again in creating the wonderful outdoor Christmas lights

December

A wonderfully festive finale with:

• Wreath-making workshops

• Kids’ parties

• Jumper nights

• Traditional Christmas get-togethers that reminded us what the club is all about

Thank Yous (and There Are Many)

Our Staff

To all our bar staff, cleaning staff and waiting staff - thank you for keeping the club running smoothly, welcoming members with a smile, and coping heroically with busy nights and complicated orders.

Ladies’ Committee

We want to especially acknowledge Joan Harrison, Diane Symonds and Maureen Winter, who have taken the difficult decision to step down from committee duties. Your contribution to the ladies’ committee and the wider club has been immense. The Exec Committee will be reviewing catering options and event support arrangements in the new year.

Clubs, Groups & Activities

Thank you to everyone who runs and supports:

• Bridge Club

• Women’s Institute

• Darts Team

• Snooker Team

• Yoga Lattes

• Line Dancing

• Wednesday Night Games Night

• Sunday Quiz Night

• Tuesday Tea Dance

• Coffee Mornings

• Craft & Natter mornings - especially Sue and Cheryl

Club Finances

A special thank you to Carol Crann and Michael Ellin for their tireless work behind the scenes managing the club’s complex finances. Thanks to you both, the lights stay on, the beer keeps flowing, and - most importantly - the staff get paid. Not glamorous, but absolutely essential (and very much appreciated!).

Grounds & Maintenance

A huge thanks to Mick Tomlinson, Ronnie and Barbara for all the gardening and maintenance - the club quite literally wouldn’t look the same without you.

Committee Shout-Outs

• Sue – the backbone of admin and organisation

• Brian – health & safety champion and guardian of the games section

• Ronnie – gardens, maintenance and endless tip runs

• Jim – bingo calling and calm wisdom

• Pat – officially the lucky one

• Simon – keeping us entertained with his DJ skills

• Adam – website wizard and the voice behind the weekly newsletter

• Anne – running the ever-popular tea dances

• Joan – ladies’ coffee mornings and trips

• Neil – our voice of reason

• Ray – encyclopaedic knowledge of club rules

We’re also lucky to welcome new committee members bringing fresh ideas and enthusiasm: Paul (darts, passion and lederhosen), Charlotte, Dave and Bex - thank you all for your contributions.

Our Steward

Our steward Jim Jefferies has now completed his first full year at the helm. Thank you, Jim, for your hard work in raising professional standards with your team - and for proving that great dancing skills really are part of the job description.

And Finally… Thank You

Most of all, thank you, our members, for your continued support. Whether you come for a quiet pint, a quiz, a dance, a celebration or just a chat, you are what makes Norton House Country Club such a special place.

Here’s to 2026, more memories, more laughter..

Cheers 🥂