Why not come along to the Strawberry Fayre on Bank Holiday Monday 27 May 2013 being organised by Orsett Hall and The Partyman Company which promises to be fun for all the family.

It’s FREE ADMISSION and there will be Strawberries and Cream, Tea Rooms, BBQ, Craft Stalls, a live Jazz Band, a Bar, Morris Dancers,

Craft Stalls and Psychic Readers. For the children, there will be lots of FABADOUSA fun courtesy of The Partyman Company. There will be a live show from Jimbo the Partyman, a Carousel, Face Painting, Donkey Rides, Side Stalls and much more! (Please note there will be a small charge for some of the attractions except for the LIVE SHOW).

You can also purchase a £8.00 wristband per child and they will be able to enjoy all day long: unlimited bouncing in the Inflatable Park, Swing Boats, Circus Skills Workshops, Football Skills, Balloon Modelling and Under 5′s Area.

It’s going to be a brilliant day – we hope to see you there!!

Please note that in the event of bad weather the Strawberry Fayre will be cancelled although our weather experts predict we should be OK!!
There will be a £1 Car Park Fee on the day.

With free membership at www.thecomedyclub.co.uk there has never been a better time to receive club discounts, win free tickets and get all the comedy gossip free each month.

Host Comedian – Imran Yusuf

Edinburgh Foster’s Comedy Awards 2010 – Nominated Best Newcomer & Star of Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow

Imran’s TV debut was made shortly after the 2010 Edinburgh Festival appearing on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Road Show (BBC1) and the Edinburgh Comedy Fest (BBC3).

Renowned for his stinging, lyrical street-slang verbiage and super-high energy performance that triggers an eruption of belly-aching laughter. Fast and furious yet charmingly endearing, this is a very unique voice.

Opening Comedian – Gerry K

FHM Comedy Heroes (Ch4), The Bill (ITV), Angelo’s (ITV), The Hawkesby & Jacobs Show (TalkSPORT)

Anecdotal, observational and refreshingly honest, Gerry K’s performed across the UK and abroad at The Comedy Club, Jongleurs, The Comedy Store, CKP and many more top circuit venues, not to mention winning his honours along the way; The Comedy Store’s ‘King Gong’, Metrolife Comedy Newcomer, and The Comedy Café’s Best Newcomer Awards. As a regular headline act on the comedy circuit, Gerry also performs regularly at many corporate events. Seen his face before? Gerry’s performed on FHM Comedy Heroes (Ch4 – 2010), acted on The Bill (ITV) and Angelo’s (Ch5) plus even hosted the football forum with Jeff Stelling and Rodney Marsh for Zoo Magazine…that might have something to do with it!

Headline Comedian – Geoff Norcott

‘The 888 Show’ (Channel One), Weapons of Mass Distraction (ITV), GMTV Morning Broadcast (ITV), WKD Sports Shed Presenter (Nuts TV)

Geoff Norcott is undoubtedly one of the strongest Comedians in the UK today. He is in continuous demand as a Headliner on the prestigious club circuit. He is also just as at home when performing abroad thanks to his widespread experience overseas. Everything Geoff Norcott does is under-pinned by enthusiasm, optimism and a sharp comic mind. His extensive range of material means he can entertain a wide variety of audience from battle weary troops on the front line, to laughter hungry festival goers, Geoff really does have something to please everyone.

Performing is not his only talent though as he has proven by regularly writing material for various popular TV shows. Such credits include the recent series of ‘Live At The Apollo’, ‘Stand Up for the Week’, ’8 Out of 10 Cats’, ‘Parsons & Naylor’, ‘The Now Show’ on BBC radio, MTV, & ITV’s ‘Comedy Annual 2011′ to name just a few.

Venue: Orsett Hall, Prince Charles Avenue, Orsett, RM16 3HS
Tickets: £12.00 | Comedy Club Members £10
Time: Doors Open: 6.00pm | Show Time 9pm
Box Office Tel: 01375 891402
Web: www.thecomedyclub.co.uk

IT is always encouraging to see a business trying out a new venture and offer fresh entertainment into the area.
Orsett Hall has introduced a new comedy evening over the last few months in the wonderfully appointed Pavilion Room.

This venue is nicely set out with a small stage appropriately lit and a good friendly feel to the place. It is good value as well with three comedians on the bill plus a disco,if you so wish, for just £12 or £10 if you are a comedy club member.

Comedy is a fickle thing and we all have our own favourites. We can now witness comedians performing in massive arenas, which can work well but this is on the more intimate scale where the comedian can see the whites of the audiences’ eyes. It goes without saying that it is bad timing to go to the toilet/bar/escape because you will be abused by the comic.

So, warm up man John Ryan instantly had the audience in the palm of his hand and it was obvious that this guy was a seasoned pro. He didn’t actually tell any jokes but used observational comedy which I love and worked the room well and delivered a sense of anticipation about the upcoming acts which is what he is supposed to do.

The wonderfully named Otto Canneloni approached the stage with a large carpet bag which remained untouched for some considerable time and this sight gag worked well, as the audience wondered “what was in the bag”. It is very difficult to watch a new comedian and not compare them to someone you know well. In this particular case for me the act brought some resemblance in style to Milton Jones. What was in the bag were a few magic tricks which Otto delivered deliberately badly and achieved his goal of making people laugh.

The beauty of the comedy club is that it gives the chance for new or unknown comics to trade their wares in front of a reasonably large audience and of course the risk is they can have the room in fits or they can die on their feet. All of today’s top arena sellout comedians have died on their feet at sometime during their career and that’s the business.

Headliner John Newton struggled. He tried really hard to work the audience and in his defence had some success but the night was not his and along with Otto didn’t really set the room on fire. Perhaps we were a difficult audience, if there is such as a thing, and I’m sure on another night both these comedians are capable of producing a good act.

There are many more comedy nights planned at Orsett Hall and I really hope they work well for all concerned. It was an enjoyable evening, however, and this reviewer would certainly go back for more! I feel it will really establish itself in the very near future as a top venue for comedy in Thurrock.

Each show features three top stand-up comedians from the prestigious UK comedy circuit, handpicked by The Comedy Club, the UK’s market leading comedy provider.

With free membership at www.thecomedyclub.co.uk there has never been a better time to receive club discounts, win free tickets and get all the comedy gossip free each month

Host Comedian – John Ryan

“Genius 5 stars” Telegraph
“Upbeat, interesting and unique” ITV

The irresistibly amiable John Ryan uses his acerbic wit and seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of the world around him to keep any audience on their toes. His East End Irish upbringing gives him the rare ability to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. No stranger to either the strange or the norm, he will put an amusing spin on any subject matter going. John has a reputation for thinking on his feet and confidently and cleverly adapting his show to any audience making him a huge hit with Corporate Clients.

Opening Comedian – Otiz Cannelloni

“Don’t we have laws against this sort of thing?” South China Morning Post

Billing himself as a “Reluctant Messiah, Man of the People and an O’Level in Woodwork” – Otiz Cannelloni has been variously described as a comic genius, a phenomenon and someone you’ve never heard of! More at home in front of a live audience than he is in his own front room, Otiz’s unique mix of mirth, magic, mystery and madness, delights crowds as diverse in range as 12 people in a smoky pub to a full house in the West End’s Duke of York Theatre.

Headline Comedian – John Newton

A Truly Globetrotting Comedian: Abu Dhabi, Alicante, Amsterdam, Bahrain, Barcelona, Burma, The Caribbean, The Channel Islands, Dubai, Estonia, Hamburg, Ireland, Kenya, Munich, Russia, Stockholm & More

With material by the spoonful ready to lead people on a series of whimsical journeys, he has even the hardest audiences spellbound by his penetrating narratives. Add to this some subtle and often sublimely tasteless comedy, and you have the basis for a strange, but oh so amusing night out. You might even find yourself contemplating such obscure subjects as the socio-economic stability of Thomas the Tank Engine’s island home, which as any parent will tell you, is very strange place indeed.

Venue: Orsett Hall Hotel, Prince Charles Avenue, Orsett, RM16 3HS
Tickets: £12.00 | Comedy Club Members £10.00
Time: Doors Open: 6.00pm | Show Time 9.00pm
Box Office: 01375 891402
Web: www.thecomedyclub.co.uk or www.orsetthall.co.uk

Entry is £3.00 each and Concessions £2.00 each and there will be drinks, delicious cakes and sandwiches in the Jaguar Bar.   Have you got hidden treasure in your home? 

Come along and see us and we can tell you how you can appear on ITV’s Secret Dealers! There will be a free gold valuation service on the day. 

For more information, call Haddon Antiques on Tel: 07519 276507 or Email: haddonantiques@googlemail.com

Why not have Sunday Lunch at the Orsett Hall or dine in the Garden Restaurant after your visit – call Reception on Tel: 01375 891402 for reservations.

WHAT a night… Simply the best night out I have ever had in Essex. Having never been to a
comedy club before.

I had no idea what I was letting myself in for, however from the second my fiancée and I arrived I knew it was going to be a good night. We drove through the Orsett Hall entrance following the trail of glowing lights leading to the car park, and listened for the sound of laughter to lead us to the pavilion. I’m sure this plan would have worked if we weren’t 2 hours early; so instead we followed the pathway marked ‘comedy club’ to check out the pre show buffet and help prop up the bar.

At the entrance to the garden pavilion we were greeted by a gentleman named Leo, who I am certain was the nicest man I have ever met, and through his welcoming and enthusiastic approach when showing us to our seats really got the night off on a great foot. After a plate of chicken curry and a cold shandy, the tables really started to fill up. Groups of people out for work parties, stag nights, hen nights, date nights surrounded us and it proved this show really was appealing to just about everyone.

The show began with the host David Ward who settled everyone in very nicely. His banter with the crowd set a friendly tone for the rest of the night and you could almost see the audience settle back in their chairs and open themselves up to be entertained… and criticised if you were brave enough to try out your own jokes as a come back to his quick wit.

David soon handed over to the first featured comedian of the night Dougie Dunlop. Described as a modern day Billy Connelly, Dougie is a highly talented Scotsman well recognised for his comic abilities and he uses these abilities to effortlessly send the whole room into fits of laughter by delivering his unique take on everyday life.

The second featured comic to take to the stage was none other than the Canada born John Hastings. John manages to control the audience with observational comedy related to every day events and has a great way of delivering this in a way that makes you connect what he is saying to something you have already done or witnessed in your own daily life, which in my opinion only makes it funnier.

John left us with a historical note on the origin of beer, and trust me, I never thought it would feel quite as awesome to have beer come out of my nose until it involuntarily happened while listening to him talk about drunk Egyptian slaves.

In summary; Orsett Hall’s Comedy Club is definitely an event to check out.

IT SEEMS strange that the Orsett Hall has a hidden treasure. It is first place that brides think of when planning their big day. The speciality nights such as comedy club are sell-outs and the suites such as Whitmore and Graeme Thomas are very popular with conferences.

However, the Garden restaurant is such a hidden treasure. Many know about the delights of the afternoon teas but the Garden restaurant has a wonderful menu that you have to see, taste and enjoy to truly appreciate..

The tasting menu has been constructed by head chef Robert Pearce as a journey through the meals of the day. Taste is foremost but presentation is also key and there is humour, eccentricity in the whole tasting menu but most of all, there is superb food.

A lot of the credit must also go to restaurant manager, Andi Ricketts who is extremely proud of his restaurant but also ambitious to take it to the next level.

Recently, YT went to the restaurant to sample their taster menu.

Amuse Bouche: “Egg and Soldier

This was delightful first course. You have to be curious when you are served with a boiled egg on a bed of straw! But deep within is the spicy delights of chorizo. It really does set the scene.

Roast Duck Breast: Liver and foie gras parfait, plum and almond

The combination of textures and tastes are outstanding. We would recommend this with a Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. The breast was succulent and all the elements perfectly complimented each other.

Orsett Hall Tea Party: Scallops and Consomme

There was a certain eccentricity in the menu as it took you through the meals of the day. The scallops and consomme were served with the consomme in a little tea-cup. The scallops were light but juicy.

A Yoghurt Sorbet followed before the

Seared Loin of Local Venison. 

For a tasting menu, this was a meal in itself and is a testament to a generous menu at the Garden restaurant. The venison was complimented by glazed pear, walnut and juniper jus.

By the time, we got to the pre-dessert of rhubarb and custard we were bowled over by wonders of what we had been treated to. Chocolate and Salted Caramel Column was designed with popcorn, ice-cream and butterscotch

We have to admit that we didn’t get to the British Cheeses.

It can only be a matter of time before the Garden Restaurant at the Orsett Hall receives a Michelin Star. Like a number of restaurants, it is only a matter of time before people come down the A13 or the A128 to find out for themselves. Once the word spreads across the county and into London, this will be  go-to restaurant in Essex.

For full details click on the banner next to this story.

Jewellery
Fashion
Textiles
Homeware
Kitchenalia
Art
Books and Music
Curiosities
Collectables
Furniture and Effects

There will be a vintage style café selling homemade cakes and snacks too. To add to the atmosphere, our professional DJs will be playing music from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s. There will also be some excellent classic cars on display.

All in all this will be a great day out and a great opportunity to buy unique items that are not available on the High Street.

Why not make a day of it and have Sunday Lunch in Orsett Hall or Lunch or Afternoon Tea in The Garden Restaurant. For further details and reservations, please call Reception on Tel: 01375 891402 or email: reception@orsetthall.co.uk

If you wish to have a stall at the Fair, please contact me Steven Cooper, email:info@essexvintagefair.com or haddonantiques@googlemail.com or call Tel: 07519 276507 or visit www.essexvintagefair.com

Orsett Hall is set in 12 acres of beautiful landscaped gardens, coupled with serenity, peacefulness and personal service. Creating the perfect day, one that you won’t forget! There will be over 50 exhibitors at our Wedding Fayre on display, many of whom have worked alongside Orsett Hall for many years, all here to help make your day perfect. Come and see our lovely Wedding Chapel, it has to be seen to be believed!

Our experienced Wedding Coordinators and Management Team will also be on hand to discuss options available, show you around all of the facilities and answer any questions you may have.

Please feel free to bring along family and friends and why not stay and have Sunday Lunch with us or Afternoon Tea in the Garden Restaurant. We look forward to seeing you there…

For more information or reservations for Sunday Lunch and Afternoon Tea, please call Reception on Tel: 01375 891402 or email: reception@orsetthall.co.uk

Each act is handpicked to give the best blend of comedy so you’re assured a great line-up and jokes that will keep you laughing all night long.

With free membership at www.thecomedyclub.co.uk there has never been a better time to receive club discounts, win free tickets and get all the comedy gossip free each month
.
Venue: Orsett Hall Hotel, Prince Charles Avenue , Orsett, RM16 3HS
Tickets: £12.00 | Comedy Club Members £10
Time: Doors Open: 6.00pm | Show Time 9pm
Box Office: 01375 891402
Web: www.thecomedyclub.co.uk / www.orsetthall.co.uk

Host Comedian – Dave Ward

“Enjoyable and entertaining” Time Out

Dave Ward is a friendly, upbeat comic with a cynicism that gives his comedy a unique gentle bite. Fluid, quick thinking and with an original take on life, Dave’s material is both varied and universally popular. He has worked alongside such impressively, diverse names as Harry Hill, Frank Skinner and Richard Littlejohn.

Opening Comedian – Dougie Dunlop

Through the Night (LBC), Beat Room (BBC3), Loud TV (STV), Live Floor Show (BBC Scotland), Velvet Cabaret (BBC Radio Scotland), Voiceover – Days That Shook the World (BBC2)

Highly talented observational comic, Dougie Dunlop, effortlessly gets audiences laughing and sharing his unique take on life. Dougie started his career at the “The Stand” in hometown Edinburgh, and made his fringe debut in 2000 as part of the “The Midnight Show” in the Gilded Balloon. For Fringe 2003, he headlined the prestigious Big Value comedy package show at the Café Royal. “Dougie has a rare ability to tell jokes about ordinary things and be hilarious!” Edinburgh Evening News. His precision humour is delivered with great warmth, and he’s been selected by many high profile comics, both old school and new, to support them on tour.

Headline Comedian – John Hastings

Named in the ‘Top 5 comedians to watch’ – Comedy Network Canada

John Hastings may be new to the UK, but certainly not comedy. John was the winner of the 2010 Irwin Barker Award at Canadian Homegrown Comedy Competition as part of the 2010 Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal. John was also nominated for a 2010 Canadian Comedy Award in the category of best new-comer and named as one of the 5 comedians to watch by the Comedy Network. Impressively John was one of the first Comedians signed to Canada’s first and only Stand-up Comedy Record Label: Comedy Records featuring on their debut release “Comedy Records Presents”. Last but not least, John was also a finalist for the 2009 and 2010 XM Canada’s “Next Top Comedian in Canada Competition”.

AFTER several successful shows in 2012, Friday night saw the return of the “The Comedy Club” to Orsett Hall. The event was held in the Pavilion and was the perfect setting for what promised to be a great night.

Doors opened at 6pm so there was plenty of time before the show started to get a meal and to make a proper night of it. The food available was typical “comedy night” fare such as curry, chilli, burgers, rice, chips and for those watching their figure, a lovely salad.

At 9pm the show started and the first act, Joe Rowntree, came on to a luke warm reception. It seemed like he would be facing a tough crowd however, within minutes he got everyone clapping, cheering and whooping like Americans.

As with a lot of nights like this there are always a couple of hecklers who think they are funnier than the comedians, but Joe came back with some brilliant (but unrepeatable) put downs.

Most comedy clubs shut the bar while the acts are on to make sure all eyes are on the stage and there are no background noises. At Orsett Hall they offer a waitress service which is a nice touch. If, halfway through an act, you need to lubricate your chuckle muscles all you need to do it hold up a card and someone will come over to get your order.

The second act, Peter Francis, blasted onto the stage and had everyone eating out the palm of his hand. The fast talking comedian grabbed the audience by the scruff of the neck to ensure he had their full attention and pummelled them with gag after gag. Some of the jokes were little near the knuckle but it was great to see the crowd go with him and not take it seriously.

The final act of the night was not the one advertised. Originally, Paddy Lennox was due to headline the show but cancelled at the last minute. Luckily, the organisers managed to get a brilliant replacement in at short notice. Ricky Grover (you may know him as Hevver’s boyfriend, Andrew Cotton, on Eastenders) came on to the stage and put on a great act. Ricky, ex-boxer and ladies hairdresser (I kid you not), did such a good job that the audience lapped it up and ensured the night finished on a high.

Overall it was a brilliant show and is highly recommended. Whether you go as a couple or as a group, Orsett Hall will be able to cater for your party to ensure you have a great evening. There’s not enough of this sort of thing in the area so please support live comedy and go to The Comedy Club at Orsett Hall.

The next show will be on Friday 1st March 2013. Book your tickets ASAP as they go very quickly. Click the link for more information http://www.thecomedyclub.co.uk/venue-events/orsett-comedy-club.html

Come and join THEM and see how the professionals do it in style.

With another three top comedians from the prestigious UK comedy circuit, waitress service to your candle-lit tables, you know you’re in for a night of first class entertainment.

With free membership at www.thecomedyclub.co.uk there has never been a better time to receive club discounts, win free tickets and get all the comedy gossip free each month.

Venue: Orsett Hall, Prince Charles Avenue, Orsett, RM16 3HS
Tickets: £12.00 | Comedy Club Members £10.00
Time: Doors Open: 6.00pm | Show Time 9.00pm
Box Office Tel: 01375 891402
Web: www.thecomedyclub.co.uk

Host Comedian – Joe Rowntree

An ace performer and writer composing put-downs for Anne Robinson on the Weakest Link
Graduating from Goldsmiths College (University of London) in 2003 with a BSc Hons in Psychology, Joe spends his days delivering inspirational and educational courses in goal mapping, mind mapping and accelerated learning techniques. In the evenings, Joe works as a man of mirth, trading his surreal observations for laughter, performing in some of the most prestigious and reputable comedy clubs in and around London and across the UK. Recently he has completed presenting a UK Tour of Brainiac Live after appearing in all 6 series of the award winning hit TV show Brainiac: Science Abuse (Sky One) which saw him take part in live and highly dangerous scientific experiments.

Opening Comedian – Paddy Lennox

“…simply a scream” The Telegraph

Irish comedian and actor Paddy Lennox first burst on to stage as a Stand-Up in 2001 only to be interrupted with a couple of comedies at the Shakespeare Globe Theatre and filming in far off lands, before returning to his new found passion. An engaging and instantly likeable comic, Paddy combines topical material with observational routines. Paddy’s had a great start to 2008, he’s been working the corporate scene including gigs for the BBC, ITV and Jysk (the new Ikea!), and he’s also featured on Sky Poker and Talk sport Radio. But the big one for him this year was the Edinburgh Festival as part of the Bound & Gagged AAA Show alongside Maff Brown and Tom Crane at the Pleasance Courtyard. When not gigging all over the UK, Paddy finds ‘carpentry’ helps him to unwind.

Headline Comedian – Peter Francis
“A darkly, deliciously cheeky catalogue of events based on life’s fortunes and misfortunes. Any similarity to actual persons or events whether made-up or real is definitely intentional.” Chortle
In 2001 Special P (Peter Frederick) embarked on a journey, He had a god given gift for making people laugh and he knew from within he was destined to become a comic/comedian actor. He began working on his goal part time, for two years he learnt about comedy, watched other artist perform and he also used stage time to fulfill his aim. He became quickly recognized. During his first two years as a comic, he appeared on Channel fours “so you think you are funny”; he was a finalist in the Wilkinson sword competition and achieved a BECA award for best newcomer.

Entry is £3.00 each or £2.00 for concessions.

There will be lots to see at the various stalls including a gold valuation service and there will be delicious cakes, hot drinks and sandwiches to buy from the bar.

Why not make a day of it and book your sunday lunch at the hotel – reservations can be made by calling reception on Tel: 01375 891402.

For more information on the Fair, call Tel: 07519 276507 or email haddonantiques@googlemail.com and for more information about Sunday Lunches at Orsett Hall please contact reception on Tel: 01375 891402 or email: reception@orsetthall.co.uk

This month, we thought we would dip into the world of folk.

Here is Whatever Next.

If you would like to see more of the artists, then go to WhateverSalesPAandadvice on youtube.