Category Archives: entertainment

Friday Night and Saturday Morning – now Strattons has closed

No Strattons
I cannot see too much out of place this Saturday morning, apart from the odd traffic cone.
No Strattons
Strattons (recently renamed Funky Monkey) had a final night last weekend.

There is a nightclub called The Club @ Abingdon Town FC that stays open to 2 am. More people are heading that way now Strattons has closed.
No Strattons
But at 12:40 AM the pavement outside the Grapes was still heaving with people. It was like a London pub – with more people outside than in. Four policemen stood on the pavement opposite to maintain control – there not being not much else happening at that hour. The Grapes is open to 3 AM so could be the favoured destination (picture taken the morning after).

Other places still serving drinks at that time were the Blue Boar, Black Swan, and possibly the Stocks.

Final Night of Improvised Pantomime at the Unicorn – Sinbad the Sailor from Swindon

Improvised Panto
On the last night of the 4 night run of Improvised Panto at the Unicorn theatre, Sinbad was chosen by chance as the Panto. The plot was padded out by suggestions from the audience and so Sinbad the Sailor from Swindon, went to try to rescue the Princess, locked up by the baddy in a  cave of shoes on the Isle of Slough.
Improvised Panto
The improvisors did their best with the material they were given, and by their efforts, over 4 days, helped raise funds to support Pathway Workshops. Pathway Workshops give productive employment and training for disadvantaged adults and help improve their employment prospects. They mostly make things from reclaimed timber, such as the rocking horse and reindeer shown above.

Free Food and Drink Showcase and a very well known celebrity

Today’s event on the Market Place – organised by Abingdon-On-Thames Chamber of Commerce – was a repeat of a very popular one from last last year – which I missed then but made sure to get to this time round because there was lots of  free food on offer.

That included …
Food and Drink Showcase
… Tapas from the Lounge Cafe on Bath Street. They are still doing Tapas on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the colder months.
Food and Drink Showcase
… Dough balls and wine from Pizza Express.
Food and Drink Showcase
… Curry from Tiffins on Bath Street …
Food and Drink Showcase
… and Burgers and Chilli Con Carne from Skillets at the Crown and Thistle.
Food and Drink Showcase
There will also be a special act appearing at the Crown and Thistle on New Year’s Eve – doing some very well known songs.

Quiz Venues X 3

Quiz Night X 3

Last night there were three quizzes I knew about in the town centre. There was the special Mayor of Abingdon’s Charity Quiz Evening.
Quiz Night X 3
There was a Quiz and Auction at this venue which raised hundreds of pounds  for Children in Need. There will also be a hot dog eating competition at 8:30 tonight and raffle – also for Children in Need.
Quiz Night X 3
And there was the usual Thursday night quiz starting at 9 PM at this recently refurbished venue by the Rover Thames.

Name the venues …