The only way is Essex once again as FOCAL returns to the market town of Braintree on Saturday 2nd November. Jeff, Rachel and Tim will be back with a rerun of Countdown+Quiz in the main hall at Church House (CM7 1EY), next to St Michael’s Church.
Date: Saturday 2nd November 2024
Venue: Church House, next to St Michael’s Church, Braintree, CM7 1EY (Google Maps link)
Hosted by: Jeff Clayton, Tim Goaté and Rachel Perkins
Price: £12 each or £20 for two, preferably by PayPal, please. Other methods are available on request (please email Jeff).
Doors open: 10:30, for draw at 11:15.
Games to be played: 5 games of Countdown and 4 rounds of Quiz.
Refreshments: Tea, coffee, soft drinks, fruit and biscuits will be available free of charge from the kitchen. Lunch is not provided but you are very welcome to bring your own.
Finishes by: 18:00/18:15 (aim for the 18:59 train back, not the 17:59 – stay with us a while longer!).
Wheelchair accessible?: Yes
Parking on site?: No. Please use a nearby car park, such as Braintree railway station, which is chargeable.
Format: 14-round LLNLLNCLLNLLNC, Bristol style – everyone in the room plays the same selections on the big screen. You will be drawn at random for the first match, then we’ll use the Swiss method to assign pairs based on performance. Note: only these Countdown results will count towards the FOCAL league standings. As with last year, there won’t be a Grand Final as we want to give more time to both Countdown and quizzing for everyone to enjoy.
You play Countdown in pairs as normal, then everyone will join their teams for the Quiz, and we alternate back and forth throughout the day. You play both with just a pen and paper (a Captain represents each team in the Quiz), we have all the graphics on our big screen, you give us your results as you go along and we’ll do the rest. Your admission fee includes both Countdown and our Quiz.
Train connections: Braintree station is a short walk from the venue. This provides a direct service from London Liverpool Street, or change at Witham off services from Ipswich and Norwich.
Train timetables for June-December 2024 have now been published.
The 09:48 service from London Liverpool Street passes through Witham at 10:34 and is due into Braintree at 10:51.
The 18:59 return passes through Witham at 19:15 and arrives into London at 20:01.
Bus connections: First 70/170/370 from Chelmsford, First X20 from Colchester, Arriva 133 or First X20 from Stansted Airport. The £2 fare cap on single bus fares is available on these services and is expected to remain in place until the end of 2024. Please check with the operator before travelling (or ask us). To check times and live locations, we suggest using www.bustimes.org.
Rough timetable (these timings allow for short breaks in between rounds):
Doors open – 10:30
Welcome/Round 1 Draw – 11:15
Round 1 – 11:30
Lunch – 12:30
Round 2 – 13:15
Round 3 – 14:30
Round 4 – 15:45
Round 5 – 17:00
Prizegiving – 18:00.
Evening group meal plans: Turkish on Friday evening, Chinese on Saturday evening, both within walking distance in Braintree town centre, and tables to be booked for 19:30.
Payment: Entry fee for the day will be £12 each or £20 for two, preferably by PayPal. Please remember to select the ‘Friends and Family’ option otherwise a charge is deducted – the hosts organise this event at their own cost. Other payment methods are available on request (please email Jeff).
What’s happening in the evenings?
We’ll arrange group bookings at two different restaurants in the town centre for the Friday (Turkish) and Saturday (Chinese). Interested? Let Jeff know if you want a seat at either or both of the tables!
What about staying over?
Well, why not make a weekend of it — in the town centre we have a Travelodge and there’s accommodation at the White Hart (Greene King). Out-of-town, you have two Premier Inns and a Holiday Inn Express next to the A120. Further afield, there’s a selection of farmhouses and old inns offering accommodation in the countryside around Braintree. Please check with individual venues about parking arrangements and charges.
Any questions?
External web links and other details are provided in good faith in advance, and will be checked regularly, but please take care to cross-check them for your own assurance. If you find anything to be incorrect, please let Jeff know. Thanks!
Enquiries
Contact us at focalcountdown@gmail.com
Attending or organising a FOCAL event is subject to the FOCAL Code of Conduct.
Last updated 02/06/2024
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