2019 MEMBERS COUNTRY MEETING 26-29 JUNE 2019
Ludlow Farm Shop
The 2019 Royal Smithfield Club Members Country Meeting is to be held 26-29 June in and around Ludlow and the Earl of Plymouth Estate with its impressive and award-winning Ludlow Farm Shop. To book please fill in the form below and return by 12th April. Our theme this year is ‘Field to Plate’ and there is no better place to see this in action. Ludlow Farm Shop is passionate about local produce, with 80% of the food sold coming from Shropshire and its surrounding counties. Uniquely, over half of products are made in its own production units that surround the shop floor and we will have an exclusive tour of the artisan producers making much of the food you will eat during your three days in Shropshire!
The Earl of Plymouth Estate extends to approximately 8,000 acres with all of the beef, lamb and Gloucester Old Spot pork coming off the farm along with the milk used to make its cheese and dairy products. The livestock enterprise includes 300 head of dairy, 2,000 ewes comprising Welsh Mules and purebred Lleyns as well as a dairy-bred suckler herd – all AI’d to Limousin bulls.
This year’s Members Country Meeting will be a three-night stay with Members arriving on the afternoon of the Wednesday (26th) and departing after breakfast on the Saturday (29th). The Club has block-booked two hotels (Fishmore Hall & The Cliffe at Dinham) however Members may wish to make alternative accommodation arrangements or, for those living locally, join us as day guests – costs are published below. Please note that the Club will be introducing new Membership tiers and fees from 1st April so Members are respectfully asked to join the Royal Smithfield Club and pay the appropriate subscription (see ROYAL SMITHFIELD CLUB MEMBERSHIP section on the website).
On the Friday, a visit is planned to ABP’s flagship facility at Ellesmere, Shropshire which underwent a £30 million investment programme in 2015. The new unit is one of Europe’s most advanced, efficient and energy sustainable beef processing operations. The plant employs over 700 people and receives cattle from more than 2,000 farmers - mainly from Shropshire and Cheshire in England, and from Powys in Wales. It includes the very highest in international animal welfare standards including a Temple Grandin-designed lairage alongside many innovative features in order to reduce animal stress. Video Imaging Analysis (VIA) has also been introduced for improved carcase grading which sees a 3D image of every carcase taken and stored – providing valuable feedback to farmers, which will ultimately help them to improve the yield of future cattle. ABP Ellesmere is also the first beef processing facility in Europe to be certified a carbon neutral building by the Carbon Neutral Company. Helping achieve this certification has been the installation of a new Combined Heat & Power (CHP) unit.
An alternative to ABP Ellesmere is a visit to the nearby Stokesay Court which includes a guided tour of this magnificent late-Victorian Grade II-listed mansion imposingly set within extensive landscaped grounds and awe-inspiring gardens, with far ranging views towards Ludlow. It includes a behind-the-scenes insight into the filming of the critically-acclaimed ‘Atonement,’ starring Keira Knightley & James McAvoy followed by a two-course lunch. Additional displays tell the fascinating story of Stokesay's role as an auxiliary military hospital during WWI.
With a full and varied programme on offer, we very much hope as many Members as possible will be able to attend for what promises to be a fantastic gathering!
Members Country Meeting - Provisional Timetable
Weds 26 June – Arrival Day
Check-in from 3pm
4pm Trustees meeting
Informal dinner at leisure – either at own hotel or any number of excellent restaurants in Ludlow - at own cost
Thurs 27 June - Full day on the Earl of Plymouth Estate including tour of Ludlow Farm Shop, Estate & Members Annual Meeting
Breakfast 7.30-9.30
10am Welcome & Introduction to Estate
10.30am – 12pm Morning programme (split into two groups)
Either Farm, hydro-electric turbines, granary, calf unit
Or Farm shop ‘behind the scenes’, Ludlow Kitchen, shopping
12.30pm Members Annual Meeting at the nearby Ludlow Racecourse
1.15pm Light buffet lunch (all)
2-3.30pm Afternoon programme (split into two groups as above)
3.30-4.30pm Tea with Lord & Lady Plymouth at Oakly Park
7pm Drinks reception Fishmore Hall (all)
8pm Gala dinner Fishmore Hall (all)
9.30pm After-dinner speaker Lord Digby Jones
Fri 28 June
Breakfast 7.30-9.30
10am depart on coaches to visit either ABP Ellesmere or Stokesay Court
5pm approx. arrive hotels
7.30pm Drinks reception Cliffe At Dinham (all)
8pm Informal dinner at Cliffe at Dinham (all) including presentation by RASC Next Generation delegate Harry Huddart
Sat 29 June
Breakfast 8-9.30am
Check-out by 11am
Costs
Resident at Fishmore Hall (www.fishmorehall.co.uk)
Per couple £715. Per single £575
What’s included….
Three nights’ B&B accommodation (Weds, Thurs, Fri)
Thursday drinks reception and gala dinner including wine on table at Fishmore Hall
Friday pre-dinner drink, and dinner with wine on table at Cliffe at Dinham
Dog friendly (allowed in bistro not restaurant)
Use of spa
What’s not included….
Wednesday dinner
Spa treatments (these may be booked in advance)
Supplement £40pp for optional Stokesay Court visit Friday (includes two-course lunch)
Additional drinks etc charged to your room
Prices inclusive of VAT
Resident at the Cliffe at Dinham (www.thecliffeatdinham.co.uk)
Per couple £685. Per single £545
What’s included….
Three nights’ B&B accommodation (Weds, Thurs, Fri)
Thursday drinks reception and gala dinner including wine on table at Fishmore Hall
Friday pre-dinner drink, and dinner with wine on table at Cliffe at Dinham
What’s not included….
Wednesday dinner
Supplement £40pp for optional Stokesay Court visit Friday (includes two-course lunch)
Dogs allowed (but not in restaurant) £10 per dog per night
Additional drinks etc charged to your room
Prices inclusive of VA
Members making their own accommodation arrangements or joining us as day guests
- Thursday only (includes bus, lunch, drinks, dinner) £100 per person incl VAT
- Friday only (includes bus, lunch, drinks, dinner) £80 per person incl VAT
- Thursday AND Friday (includes bus, lunch, drinks, dinner) £170 per person incl VAT
Note, supplement £40 per person for Stokesay Court (includes two-course lunch)
How To Book
Please click HERE for a booking form and return by Friday 12th April 2019. Bookings are on a ‘first come-first served’ basis as room numbers are limited with a maximum of 60 people forseen. We will endeavour to allocate you to your chosen hotel but this cannot be guaranteed. You are most welcome to circulate details of the Members Country Meeting to other prospective Members who may like to be involved with the Smithfield Club.