I have recently been to Calais on a booze buying trip or three. I have also identified a great restaurant in the centre of town for the FRUITS DE MER of your life! The LA MER in rue dela Mer, Calais. The whole menu is seafood orientated but other dishes include meat varieties as well as veggie and other dishes. All very very good.

My plan is this. To organise a trip for 80 people around the middle of April 2004 from Dover on a P&O ferry at about 1000 - check in time of 0900.

Buses will meet us at the ferry and will take us direct to the restaurant for lunch which will include Moules, any way you like them, or whatever takes your fancy. After lunch you will be bussed to your hotel and then taken for a wine tasting session.

You will then arrive back at the restaurant, at around 1730 for drinks, and then dinner at about 1900. the restaurant would be for exclusive use all day! Late drinkies are welcome!

Sunday breakfast may be at your hotel OR in the same restaurant - not decided yet. Not much is decided as a matter of fact except the basics as above.

What I need to know is if I can get 80 people to support it. So......I need to know.

I have no idea of cost so far but as a foot passenger, at the moment - the fare is £6 return with P&O and £6 a day parking. A tableau of Fruits de Mer is currently priced at 24eur (about £17 per person) other dishes are less. BUT......a special price will be arranged - the man says!

There are of course hotel and coach charges - all at discounted prices and I am working on it. Quite a few details to sort yet.

For now - I would like to know who will be coming.

Me for a start:ok:

A couple of thoughts - avoid Easter at all costs. And if it falls in school holidays, the ferry prices will be considerably higher.

Grande idée. Je voudrais réserver deux billets

Monsieur et Madame Stan Sted

I hadn't forgotten Easter PP I just didn't know when it was - now I do and the kids will be back at school a week after. So the date I expect will be either 17/18 or 24/25. I fancy it will be the latter.

Only need another 72!!!! :{ :{

Twill be a good weekend but it must be 80 people to take over the restaurant.

I guess there is too much happening at the moment so I will make sure the thread stays open. But please indicate if you are interested.

IFR

You can count me and the missus in too! Sounds like fun.

(Still don't know about GatBash though - still waiting on work to let me know if I can come out and play :( )

Oh yes, the FRUITS MER. Truely a superb resturant.

If you are lover of seafood its a must
:ok:

Why not open it up as a fly-in as well InFin? I've just been on the fantastic Le Touquet trip that the Flyer forum organised, and numbers were good, as good as I've seen at some of the UK based PPRuNe trips!

Anyway, it's just a thought...Calais has an airfield according to my chart!

Best of luck with the organising of this one!

Mike :ok:

So long as it doesn't complicate things, no reason at all.

LFAC is no distance at all really - probably only 10 minutes in a taxi. The Wx might be a problem at that time of the year. Let us wait and see how many might be up for it.

Ok then, who else is there? ;)

Hope I can be! Will work on getting time off now ;)

Don, sounds wonderful! I'll try to find out tomorrow if we're on hols from uni then, and if we are, count me in!

Hx

I'd be very interested - depending on dates of course.

Did you mean what dates? Or did you mean if you can make the dates? :confused:

Either way the dates are 24/25th April 2004. :)

In diary.

Will not eat for previous week.

Thanks for that. I didn't realise that a definite date had been set. Now I just need to see if I can make those dates ;)

The story so far:

CALAIS PLAN

24/25 April 2004- assumes 80 people.


Ferry from Dover to Calais Time and cost TBA.

2 Coaches direct to hotel.

1230 - Lunch at LA MER, 30 rue de la Mer.

Welcome drink - Cassis and white wine.

Moules in wine. With frites

OR – Fish and Frites

OR – Steak and Frites.

Apple tart

One free bier or a Glass of wine or soft drink.

**************************************

1415 Board buses to the NEW Sainsbury’s for wine tasting.

Then to Supermarket – AUCHAN.

1800 Back to hotel
******************************
1900 Arrive LA MER for Dinner.

Coupe de Champagne
Potted crab on rye bread
OR > Salmon and toast
OR > Foie Gras Maison
************************
Plateau of FRUITS DE LA MER
OR > Beef Steak
Gratin of Potatoes and green beans.
*************************
Selection of Regional Cheeses
***************************
Homemade Pastry


Cost includes:

Double room
Breakfast
Coach hire
Lunch and Dinner
Wine tasting
Shopping

Drinks are NOT included other than above.
Ferry is NOT included but I will get details as soon as the festive season is over.

TOTAL COST Per Person is about £82.

**********************************************

After breakfast the rest of the day is your own to wander, shop or travel. Groups can be arranged for various sight sees on the Calais coast, LFAC, museums, war museums etc.,

Coaches will leave the Hotel at 1700L to the Ferry Time TBA.


Comments below please: