Last night's Forest party
Wednesday, October 7, 2009 
In keeping with the restrained nature of this week's Conservative conference (chairman Eric Pickles has banned MPs and PPCs from quaffing champagne at any conference event!), last night's Forest party was a relatively modest affair.
Modest, that is, in comparison to our Prohibition themed party in Bournemouth in 2006 when 400 guests were entertained by a speakeasy style jazz band, a mock police raid and the "arrest" of Boisdale MD Ranald Macdonald for "inciting people to smoke, drink and generally enjoy themselves".
The following year 300 people attended our first post-ban conference party (in Blackpool) and last year around 200 delegates joined us for a drink and a smoke at the inaugural Freedom Zone in Birmingham.
Last night 150 or so people squeezed into Beluga, a wine bar in Mount Street, just outside the conference zone. Guests included Philip Davies, Conservative MP for Shipley, and MEP Roger Helmer. Bloggers were particularly well represented. They included Paul Staines (Guido Fawkes), Phil Hendren (Dizzy Thinks), Chris Snowdon (Velvet Glove Iron Fist) and Total Politics' Shane Greer. Good to see lots of new faces too.
The aim of the event was to get people to sign up to the Save Our Pubs and Clubs campaign. We didn't do any speeches, though. It wasn't that sort of venue - far too noisy, for a start.
Bar bill for the evening - £1500. I think people had a good time.
PS. I can't remember mention everyone I spoke to but I was pleased to meet John Baker from Middlesbrough and Helen Daniels from Wigan. I knew the names but not their faces so it was good to put the two together.
Simon Clark
Reading this post you might conclude that we are haemorraging supporters - 400 guests in 2006, 150 or so this week. I have no doubt that we could still attract 400 people to a Conservative fringe event but numbers are governed by the size of the venue and each year it gets harder to find a suitable room (ie one with direct access to a comfortable smoking area outside).
In 2006 we held our party in a large ballroom deep in the heart of the building. I would love to hire something like it again - chandeliers, sweeping staircase, stage - but we can't host a Forest event and expect people to walk miles in order to light up. Our choice of venue, therefore, is severely limited and this is having a knock-on effect on the number of people we can invite.
Next year the Tories are back in Birmingham. The search for a large smoker-friendly venue within easy walking distance of the International Convention Centre starts now.
Events
Reader Comments (5)
I have one of those 'should have made more effort' moods today. A bus stop 50 feet away, simples. What happened. An important visitor turned up late. Weather was not conducive. Proof reading to do. To sum up then, no excuse!!
I could have been there and said hello to one or two names who may have a fleeting memory of who I am. Alas, timbone stayed home.
I wonder will Forest have a pub to go to by the time the next elections come around?
I hope you wont have to 'knock three times and ask for Joe' to even get a drink not to mind a smoke (what's that).
And be talking to Dave/Gordi/? by satalite link pretending you're all speaking from the local church hall.
That is if its not a mosque by then with a big gob smile giant poster of our EU president Tony Blair plastered all over it!!
Work prevented me from attending - damn!
It was a pleasure to meet you Simon and I was glad I made the effort to both go to the Progressive Conservatives inauguration and Forests/Save Our Pubs bash afterwords at the Beluga bar. Meeting Chris Snowden and your good self is something I would like to repeat. I would have also have liked to say hello to Guido, Dizzy Thinks and, his name is new to me, Shane Greer. Another time perhaps.
Thank you Simon (and Forest) for making me, Helen Daniels and Barry so welcome.
(Timbone, if you could have came there you could have brought your Trombone and cheered all us wet smokers up.) Oh, and Patsy, one of these days I'll meet you also.
Thanks for making everyone welcome Simon. I know I had to leave early (to feed the little darlings!), but it was really good to meet you all.
Helen Daniels