Special Notice from the Club Secretary:

I have arranged to hold a chess night this Thursday at the Merrivale Pub, Vicarage Road, Oldbury B68 8HT: normal KO time 7.15 - 7.30 pm - so everyone can come and see the potential new venue for themselves and even if we don't commit to this place then at least we've been able to get the Club back up and running.  Parking is available on the forecourt - enter through the Lounge towards the right of the Pub and turn left up the stairs.

Brian Whitehouse, John Pakenham and myself visited the Bearwood Corks Monday night - it is a properly run Social Club with Rules and Regulations and notices all over the place - quite different to the Midland Red.  It would appear that we would have to sign guests in an put 20p in the kitty every time - not all members may be able to join and each member would have to attend in October and join up and pay a portion of their own 12.00 pound charge with the balance in January - it appears a little cumbersome !?! - but maybe would get easier with time. However the room is excellent - although there was talk of a dance also taking place on a Wednesday - so Tuesday would be better unless the chap who occasionally does band practice turns up ?!?  They are prepared to give us a trial though - and i'm sure things would ease after a while - once they got to know us.

We also then visited the Merrivale Pub which is almost 3 miles further away from the Midland Red in Oldbury - Vicarage Road, Oldbury B68 8HT - again there is a nice room - not as good as the one at Bearwood Corks and not as cosy as the Midland Red lounge but more than good enough for Chess matches. We can keep - Thursday - as our night for chess if we use this venue. The landlady is very nice and helpful - we can use the room at no cost and there are no complications of joining or signing guests in. Obviously she would look to improve bar takings - although we have said that we can't guarantee what spending would be made. Look forward to seeing as many as can make it on Thursday. Cheers John

A chess club close to Warley, Quinton, Harborne and Birmingham.

Location: To be confirmed but this week at the Merrivale Pub.

We meet every Thursday at 7pm