By Harry Mottram: I’ve often been asked by people who haven’t yet experienced the Axbridge Progressive Supper whether anything funny happens on the night since it is such an unusual way to dine out (this year it is on Saturday, 22nd November, 2025.) You know – the thought that you don’t know where you’ll be eating until you draw names and addresses out of a hat at the start of the night. I would be a liar if I claimed nothing ever went wrong or that people didn’t get lost in the dark trying to find the address on a piece of paper they are holding in their hands. So here goes with some of the things that I put down to the failures and foibles of the human condition – but please note – the photo does not illustrate any of the stories below – I say that for legal reasons. By the way there’s a separate article which lists everything you need to know at https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/journalist/axbridge/axbridge-features/progressive-supper-2025/
And don’t forget tickets are on sale at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/axbridge-progressive-supper-2025-tickets-1654617348029
Those funny stories:
Wrong House: It was dark and they were heading for a house in Moorland Street where their main course was hopefully waiting for them when they saw an open front door with the sounds of socialising from inside. Obviously it was where they were supposed to dine so the couple entered and were greeted with drinks thrust into their hands – only to realise as they chatted that this was a private party and they were mistaken for friends of friends – and those inside were not the hosts of their main course. Sheepishly they apologised and slowly backed out of the front door to find their main course was waiting for them three doors down. With no torch and only a sketchy idea of where they were heading – a mistake anyone who had drunk a couple of glasses of wine could make.
Awkward Silence: Then there were the legendary neighbours at war. A few years ago two couples who lived next door to each other had been in an argument about a dividing garden wall. They had got to the point of exchanging solicitors letters. On the night of the progressive they sat down to their starter and to their horror they were sitting opposite each other. The conversation initially was er… awkward and a deafening silence occurred – until the issue of the wall was breached and they began to talk to each other – and by the end they were – not exactly friends – but they had solved the issue of the wall by simply talking about it and no more legal letters were required.
Broken Hearted: Beware of falling over as to my cost I’ve tripped over many a garden ornament or loose paving slab on a garden path in the dark. I once used the Church Rooms for my pudding course as we had run out of room at home with four teenage children not wishing to be disturbed from computer games and TV programmes. So it was a question of carrying everything up there and then back at about midnight. I was carrying a tray of glasses and half empty bottles of wine when as I rounded the side of the house I tripped over one of the recycling boxes I had used to carry bowls and food in. Apart from the swearing and the broken glasses there was the heart breaking scene of wine bottles glug glug glugging as they emptied into the darkness of the patio. I needed counselling after that.
Quick Change: Some people drive between courses if they are very infirm or find their next course is at the far end of the town. Obviously one person needs to stay off the drink to achieve this. One year – and I may be wrong – but a coupe used a taxi to travel to the bottom of Moorland Street for their next course. As the woman in question opened the car door she stepped straight into the stream. I understand words were exchanged – to put it mildly – and she got back inside the taxi in soaking shoes and an evening dress now with added pond weed attached and was driven home for a quick change of outfit before returning to complete her dining experience. That taxi ride cost a little more than had been anticipated.
Mix up: I have been known to make the odd faux par in conversation. Asking someone who had just been through a divorce the secret of a happy marriage. Or telling them how terrible the High Street is for drugs, fighting and barking dogs only to find out they live there. That sort of thing. But mixing up couples has happened to me on more than one occasion – and the results can be rather unexpected. When you enter one of the courses in someone’s house you get a lot of quick introductions – and of course you might not register who is with who immediately. I’ve paired off the wrong couples in the past – which has led to laughter and even killer looks from Linda. Once the woman who I thought was married to a chap with a trim figure and a youthful air was actually married to the man opposite me with greying hair. She literally said she was happy to swap when I said they made a nice couple. Her husband was not amused and had a sudden bout of coughing. The wife or partner of the chap she was happy to adopt gave me what I can only describe as the look of death. Fortunately after a few moments they all saw the funny side of it. I think.
Then there were the couple who had just broken up over the woman having an affair – you can guess what happened as her husband met her and her new man at the main course… that’s a story for another time – or so my libel lawyer tells me.
Don’t forget to read up on all the questions that you wanted to ask about the supper (with their answers) – along with all the things you should never do or say – such as those recalled above – at https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/journalist/axbridge/axbridge-features/progressive-supper-2025/
For more details and questions email axbridgeps@gmail.com
The event is organised by a small group of volunteers who put in countless hours to make it happen.
See a review of the night at https://www.harrymottram.co.uk/axbridge/axbridge-features/progressive-supper/
The night raises hundreds of pounds for local charities like the food bank in Cheddar. Pictured below.
Any questions email Harry at harryfmottram@gmail.com
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