The Axbridge Charity Progressive Supper
By Harry Mottram: Trying to explain how a progressive supper works is like trying to explain the off-side rule in football or what the different options are for train tickets from Worle to Windermere. You need flow diagrams, power point presentations and several sheets of type written bullet points – or you can read these notes – everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask!
Essentially everyone who takes part has a three course meal – with each course in a different home in the town (from tiny flats to large farmhouses) – so it involves walking in the dark as much as dining. The evening starts this year at The Oakhouse in the back room – and it’s where the evening ends as well. Arrive there at between 6pm and 6.45pm, check in, draw a ticket from the hats, buy a raffle ticket, check where you are going on the map and have a tipple and a chat. If you have agreed to host a course such as a starter then you’ll be discovering by taking a card out of a hat where you will be going for your main course and your dessert or sweet. If you have paid up to be a traveller then you’ll be choosing three courses for the evening of Saturday, 21st November, 2026.
The timings are:
Oakhouse for destinations and to buy a raffle ticket: 6-6.45pm
Starter: 7.00-8.00pm
Main: 8.15-9.30pm
Sweet: 9.45-10.45pm
Oakhouse for the raffle draw and late drinks: 11pm
The prices are (for a couple):
Starters £20
Mains Free
Dessert or sweet £10
Travellers £90
The cash raised on the night will go to Cheddar Food Bank which during the Cost of Living Crisis has been valuable for many people on the breadline. And also one or more local charities – details to come.
Details Cheddar Food Bank: https://cheddarvalley.foodbank.org.uk/
Tickets
First of all you need to buy a ticket for the night – these are released in batches online at Eventbrite as we need to balance the courses – so once a set of travellers, starters, mains and sweets are sold – a new batch is released. These will go on sale on 1st October from 8pm and new batches will be released up until a few days before. So if you find all the tickets have gone initially do not worry as more will be made available as the days go by.
When you arrive at the Oakhouse from 6pm make sure you have a fiver on you to buy a raffle ticket. The raffle helps to swell the amount of cash raised on the night – and over the years the supper has raised tens of thousands of pounds. Winners will be notified by phone or email so if you miss the raffle you’ll still get your prize if your name is drawn.
Top tips:
Put balloons, a sign or a light outside your door on the night if you are hosting a course to help diners who maybe unfamiliar with your address.
Buy a £5 raffle ticket – cash only – on the night in the Oakhouse. £10 and £20 notes also welcome. The raffle helps to increase the amount we can donate to charities and is drawn at 11pm – a good reason to get back to the Oakhouse.
Bring a torch and if the weather is uncertain an umbrella. If you have a torch you will avoid tripping over unfamiliar garden steps in the dark or as one unfortunate diner did – fall into the stream in Moorland Street.
Some people wear trainers to travel and then slip into their heels or posh shoes when they arrive. Good idea if you have to walk from one end of the town to the other!
Pace yourself as it is a long evening.
Dress up – evening gowns, LBDs and black ties are great – but do make an effort as it is a special night and it’s great seeing everyone dressed up.
Don’t fuss about what to cook or prepare. A good wholesome casserole is fine, or a pasta bake – going for something you regularly prepare will ease the stress – and nobody will judge you. Keep it simple is the key – but if you want to be ambitious go ahead – Robin Mace and I did a main based on Peru’s national dishes – although we didn’t include roast guinea pig before you ask.
If your partner is away or needs to babysit – then couple up with a friend – two brothers, dad and daughter, next door neighbour – whoever – it can be more fun as you are guaranteed not to have a marital row!
Hosts – ensure you have an option for vegetarians if possible – but don’t stress over other diet needs as it is impossible to cater for them all.
Food intolerances: it is impossible to second guess food allergies of your guests – it is the responsibility of guests to inform the hosts on arrival if they have any intolerances.
Hosts – ensure there is something to drink – soft drinks included – along with wine – some hosts provide beer and ciders and even cocktails for an aperitif – but wine is fine along with the usual non alcoholic alternatives – which could include a cup of tea and of course water.
Smoking is frowned upon indoors these days along with vapes – but some diners enjoy a gasper outside – nothing wrong with that – as all are welcome.
Bring your phone and front door key.
Check the map of the town in the Oak House if you are unfamiliar with the streets. (We did get someone last year who asked where the Square was.)
Make your own travel arrangements if you have mobility issues.
Couples only is the rule as it works for those doing the catering. Partners, two sisters, mother and son, two friends – but couples only.
Do take a photo – if people agree – it will help you to remember where you went the next day, recall the names and also – share them with us on FaceBook or other social media platforms.
The things not to do:
Don’t drink too much too early. We had someone who staggered in drunk for a starter and asked to go to the toilet and fell asleep in the bathroom having locked the door.
Don’t forget your wallet with that fiver in it. We have a card machine as well.
Be flexible and host a course you’ve not hosted before – and if you usually travel then consider hosting as it is fairer on everyone. Only residents of the town can travel.
Avoid getting into heated arguments with fellow guests – religion, politics and sex are fine – but not who will win Strictly Come Dancing – or who will win the Premiership – don’t go there!
Don’t say to the host you don’t like fish/meat/vegetables/cheese/pasta/rice etc as you are a grown up.
Don’t rubbish Axbridge as a town as it doesn’t have an Ikea or a Waitrose in conversations. This should be subject to automatic exile to Cheddar for ever.
Behave.
Er…
That’s it.
The annual Axbridge Progressive Supper features more than 100 diners who pay to take part and together with a raffle the event has raised tens of thousands of pounds over the years. There’s more at https://www.facebook.com/AxbridgeProgressive
Tickets go on sale from October 1st on Eventbrite.
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/
Any questions email Harry at harryfmottram@gmail.com
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