Welcome
... to our autumn update with news of what our local group has been doing over the last few months and what is planned for the latter part of the year.
It’s been quite a busy time – as well as our regular monthly coffee mornings at Waitrose, some of our families got together in Eastrop park, a group went for a meal (plus optional walk) in North Warnborough, Margaret was involved in the Coeliac UK event lobbying parliament about prescriptions, Keith got involved in volunteering for Coeliac UK at the Allergy Show, and Coleen and Maria have been busy making cakes and fundraising for Coeliac UK.
Gemma has children’s activities planned for the end of the year and Lesley is organising a Christmas meal at the BCOT restaurant in Basingstoke.
You can read more details of these events below. We do hope you’ll be able to join us!
As usual, we love to hear from group members with comments, ideas for future events, or just to say hello. Please get in touch at northhampshire@coeliac.org.uk.
Gemma, Keith, Lesley, Margaret, Sue, Faye, Carol, Kate and Jane
A ROUND UP OF RECENT EVENTS
COELIAC UK LOBBY WESTMINSTER
On March 19th I joined Coeliac UK’s day of action in Westminster, highlighting the postcode lottery around gluten free prescriptions. I’ve never been to a demonstration in London before so didn’t really know what to expect! I turned up in Parliament Square to join everyone else wearing their orange t-shirts – and although it’s not my favourite colour I must admit that a sea of bright orange certainly stands out when you want to be noticed! We held our placards high, listened to speeches by medical experts, chatted to bystanders and then marched to Downing Street to hand in a petition with over 22,000 signatures, before some of us went to a reception at the House of Lords. It was a very unusual and interesting afternoon. I really enjoyed meeting Coeliac UK members from around the country and also chatting to Coeliac UK staff – for many years I have seen their names in a magazine or at the end of an email and it was nice to be able to put a name to a face at last and to see how much work they are putting in on behalf of the coeliac community.
ALLERGY SHOW 2025
Having been a regular attendee at the Allergy and/or Free From show in various incarnations, it was great to be on the stand for a change. I enjoyed meeting members: thank you to local members who simply came to say hello. It was also good to meet other exhibitors.
There was a constant stream of visitors, all with different questions, travel being a regular topic, and I was glad to offer my experience.
We had a steady trade in cookery books and some of the new merchandise, especially the water bottles, proved popular.
If you have never been to the show, you are missing out on discovering brands and products you never knew existed. Plus, there are often special offers on products you do already know and love.
Next year's show will be at the NEC, Birmingham, 9-10 May. Perhaps I will see you there.
MILL HOUSE AND WALK JUNE 2025
Nine of our members came along to the lunch at the Mill House in North Warnborough in June. This venue is part of the Brunning and Price chain, which has Coeliac UK accreditation and offers a wide variety of gluten free dishes on the menu. The Beer Battered Fish and Chips and the Salmon and Smoked Haddock Fish Cakes were popular choices for main course, and who could resist the Triple Chocolate Brownies with ice cream or the Passion Fruit and Mango Cheesecake for dessert!!!!
Fortunately we were blessed with good weather on the day, so after lunch, starting from the pub, six of our members decided to take on the challenge of the optional walk, which was a gentle 3 mile circular route, incorporating footpaths through open heathland and woodland. The final section of the route took us along the towpath of the Basingstoke Canal, where we stopped off briefly to explore the ruins of Odiham Castle (King John’s Castle), which date back to the 13th century, before heading back to our starting point.
FUNDRAISING EVENT – OAKLEY VILLAGE FRONT GARDEN STALLS JUNE 2025
A big thank you to all those that stopped by Coleen and Maria’s stall at the annual Oakley Village Front Garden Stall event and purchased cakes, drinks, plants and books. There were cakes and gluten free cakes on offer and at least two groups came round for a second bite!! Well done to all of those who baked the cakes and made the drinks. They raised a total of £340 for Coeliac UK, some of which to benefit North Hampshire Group. Thank you!
FUTURE EVENTS
FAMILY EVENT – SOFT PLAY
SATURDAY 27 SEPTEMBER
We shall be meeting up at Jakes Playbarn, Sandhurst, GU47 8JQ from 1330 – 1500 to let the children play whilst the adults take the opportunity to chat to other families and share experiences.
Booking is essential, as the weekend slots get booked up. There is the option to go to the mini farm after the softplay session. If you want to do this please make sure you select this option when booking.
Here's the link you need for the softplay session:
https://jakesplayworld.byretail.net/menu/Playbarn/Weekends-School-Hols
Email us at northhampshire@coeliac.org.ukto confirm your attendance so we know to look out for you.
The giant Indoor playbarn is suitable for children up to 10 years old. It is 3 floors high with a 3 lane wave slide, a snake slide, arial glider, ball canons, a mini football court and a brand new interactive games mat! There is also a specific area for under 3’s with climbing areas, a slide, interactive panels and even a baby sensory area.
The café has a free from menu and cooks food in a separate fryer per their website, but we would always recommend checking this directly with the staff on the day.
As always, children must be accompanied by their responsible grown up throughout the event.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PARTY
SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER – SAVE THE DATE!
This year we are delighted to announce that we are planning to hold our Children’s Christmas Party at a trampoline park! Details are still being finalised, but the plan is to have exclusive hire of the park for a 1 hour jump followed by food. As we will be making a group booking, we will liaise with the venue to arrange payment and booking on behalf of all attendees. Prices and exact timings etc will be confirmed shortly.
When: approx. 5.15pm – 7.15pm, Saturday 29 November
Where: Atmosphere, Unit B, Daneshill Industrial Estate, Rutherford Road, Basingstoke, RG24 8PD
If you are interested in attending, please email us at northhampshire@coeliac.org.uk so that you are first to receive the details once they have been confirmed.
NORTH HAMPSHIRE COELIAC GROUP CHRISTMAS DINNER
4 DECEMBER 2025
We have provisionally reserved 30 places at the BCOT Restaurant, Worting Road, Basingstoke RG21 8TN for the North Hampshire Coeliac Group annual Christmas Dinner on Thursday 4 December 2025. The cost for the 3 course dinner will be £26.95 per person. The BCOT Restaurant Manager has assured us that they will make the evening totally gluten free for all guests to avoid any risk of cross contamination. You can see the menu at The Restaurant at BCoT If you would like to join us, please reserve your place by contacting us on our email address northhampshire@coeliac.org.uk. Further details will then be sent out to you nearer the time.
COFFEE MORNINGS
10.30 – 12 at WAITROSE CAFÉ, BASING VIEW, BASINGSTOKE, RG21 4YY
Saturday 20 September
Wednesday 15 October
Saturday 15 November
We look forward to seeing you.
There will be no coffee morning in December.
