Where: The Hope and Champion, Beaconsfield Services (Junction 2, M40), Windsor Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks. HP9 2SE. 01494 685530.
When: 1pm-3pm, Sunday March 23rd 2014.
Why: I've held cache events in mainland Britain's most remote pub in the past, so why not Britain's most controversial pub? From The Independent (21/1/14): The first pub at a motorway service station in England has opened today despite intense opposition from road safety charities. The new addition to the... chain, named the Hope and Champion, will be open seven days a week from 4am to 1am, and licensed to serve alcohol from 9am. The company says the £1.2m development at junction two of the M40 near Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire will also serve the local area – but public health experts and charities say it offers a “deadly temptation” to motorway users. An RAC survey found that only 12 per cent of the public support the idea of having pubs of (sic) motorways, with around two-thirds of the 2,000 people asked saying they were actively against the practice.
- - -Sir Ian Gilmore, Royal College of Physicians special adviser on alcohol and chair of the Alcohol Health Alliance, said: “I am disappointed by the decision to open a [pub] on the M40. We are trying to prevent harm from alcohol-related traffic accidents and this sends out completely the wrong message."
- - -Ellie Pearson of safety campaign group Brake, said: “The opening of a pub on a motorway is deeply concerning, and presents a potentially deadly temptation to drivers. Drink driving remains one of the biggest killers on our roads, causing devastation to families and communities every day. Our advice to drivers is not to have even a drop of alcohol if you are driving.”
- - -Steve Baldwin, manager of the new pub which is expected to create 120 jobs, said: “The Extra Motorway Service Area, now including The Hope and Champion, primarily serves the motorway users, but its facilities are also available to the surrounding community from the local road network.”
Also: I'm curious, there are real ales for those who like that sort of thing, I have a day in my caching calendar to fill and I've not cached in this area for several years. Plus I have my local Giants of Bekonscot cache to visit and refresh.
What: A regular pub-based Geocache event to talk caching, swap TBs, geocoins and other travel items, relax with 'like-minded people' (not as bad as it sounds. We're fairly normal really. Well, mostly) and perhaps enjoy a pint. Of squash. Everything a classic pub cache meet offers, just in an unusual spot. Use it as a break from caching in the area? It is lunch time, after all...
Who: Cachers from far and wide I hope! At least there's good access to London, Oxford, Banbury, High Wycombe, the M25... New to caching or cache meets? You'll be made especially welcome.
How: There are a number of options, but given the location, coming by car is probably easiest. The services are just south of the roundabout south of Beaconsfield. Coming by 50cc moped or horse? No problem! Access to the site is off the motorway, so there's no need to actually approach via the M40 if you don't want to.
Note: Ample free parking! Also, free tea and coffee refills until 2pm, according to the Guardian's news report.