Improvements To Food And Decoration At The Hayes Conference Centre, Derbyshire

Am I putting on weight?

The cake was delicious but too much - I can't finish it, says Penn.

Problem
The food has improved - and that's not the only thing which has improved.

However, if you have ever attended a Writers' Summer School or other conference at The Hayes Conference Centre you may view the past through rosy spectacles. In the early days, when we were all younger, The Hayes has a small swimming pool, as well as the Lake.

I remember being upset when the swimming pool was erased. On the other hand, it was small, no proper changing facilities, and the water was cold late in the day.

The lake was pretty, but, frankly, the life belts suggest that somebody might attempt to swim, paddle in the large puddle, or take a photo, step backwards and fall in. Now warning signs tell you it's not just a padding pool, but deep water.

The Garden House
The Garden House, a building reminiscent of a student hostel, had small rooms and such poor acoustics that you could play Chinese whispers from room to room.

Here's a friend I made in the Garden House.

I had a bedroom with no lock, unfortunately, beside the gents showers. I heard several men bang open my door by mistake. I heard male voices saying, 'Sorry!' whilst I was pulling a dress or nightdress over my head.

Historic Slides
This year, in August 2018, we were treated to a slideshow reminder of the good old days at the Hayes.

We had an afternoon tea dance, with music from the Fifties.

One of the Writers' Summer School committee, secretary Ingrid, in a costume from the local Jolly Jesters costume and hire shop in Swanwick.

Food Improvements
In reality, food has improved enormously. Instead of two choices, you now have two hot meat or fish dishes, one hot vegetarian dish, salads, potatoes in one two or three styles.


Salad. Picture by Angela Lansbury.


Choice of cheese and biscuits. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.


Fruit-topped cheesecake, gluten-free cake. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Sometimes lots of cakes. Sometimes more than three. Once - no cakes, only healthy fruit.

Desserts
The desserts are desserts to die for, strawberries and cream and fresh fruit. Most meals offer a selection of cakes including carrot cake, baked cheesecake, chocolate cake and sticky toffee pudding.

Drinks
Machines dispense coffee and tea, hot chocolate, hot water for herb teas, cold juices and cold water 24 hours a day.

Biscuits
At morning break time, we have Brontë biscuits, plain biscuits or chocolate chip cookies. Afternoon teatime we have cakes.

The joy of the first night's meal had worn off by midweek. I heard one person loved the dinner time cakes but said, "Last year's cakes at tea-time were better."

Cheesecake! Photo by Angela Lansbury. 

Another was unhappy her choice of a slice of meat which seemed dry. She would have preferred a smaller thicker piece of meat, less thin meaning less likely to be overcooked or dried out. She also thought some vegetables were overcooked until tasteless. Bolder souls were happy, after they went back for an alternative choice, or seconds!

I am a cakeoholic, as well as liking potatoes, biscuits and fruit.

The people have changed, too. The youngsters seems more mature. The over fifties are more energetic. They are smartly and fashionably dressed, even matching their hair to their turquoise lanyards and clothes.

Useful Information
visitbritain.org

Conference Centres
www.cct.org.uk 
Swanwick

The Writers Summer School
www.swanwickwritersschool.org.uk
Visit for a day or all the week. Next year's event: August 2019.
Contact secretary@swanwickwritersschool.org.uk

Author, Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.
See later posts:
http://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2018/08/the-lake-flowers-and-food-and-faces-at.html