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Sunday, July 12, 2015

Civil Service Club For Affordable dinners, and lifelong membership for seniors



Starters:
Tortilla and olive tapanade
Chicken and mango

If you know somebody who is a member of the Civil Service Club, it's very near Embankment station and offers affordable dinners at least twice a year, last year pre-Xmas, this year in mid-July. For £14 for two people we had a three course meal. A group of 8 of use enjoyed an evening organised for members of a speakers' club. Any extra costs? You might want to add a tip, or order coffee, or a tomato juice at the bar for £1.50 and extend the evening.

If you want to join the club, look at their website. You can join if you work for the civil service or allied organisations such as the police. If not, you can still join as an associate, and need two members to recommend you. Associates seem to have the same rights to use the club, just not to vote.

If you are over 60 life membership is currently an affordable £300, and if you are over 70 the price comes down to £150. Assorted other prices for people of all ages, partners, country members and so on, one year memberships.

Accommodation at over £100 for a single room midweek is more than you would pay at a bargain hotel on one of the late booking websites. However, members have told me that they find the four day breaks including meals are good value and enable them to enjoy a holiday in London and go the theatre, without the worry of getting back to the suburbs late at night.

Food
Starters included a generous portion of smoked chicken and mango, or a sensibly sized starter of tortilla (slice of omelette filled with potato).

Main courses - I had the lamb roast with roast potatoes and hot veg. I must admit the meat was thin sliced like ham and a bit school dinner-ish with overcooked carrots and limp green beans.

However the roast potatoes were good. And the gravy was so delicious that I finished every drop and ended with a plate so empty which looked like there was no need to wash it.

The desserts were as good as the starters. Lemon tart with fruit. Pavlova with fruit. Good amounts of fruit and vegetables with all three courses.

The bill comes up with mint chocolates wrapped in gold foil, a nice touch.

Check out their prices on their website.

Another club you might consider is the Overseas Club.

www.civilserviceclub.org.uk

Angela Lansbury, travel writer, author, speaker.


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