The 2010 Griff Growl will be held from the 30th July - 1st August at Ettington Chase.  Ettington Chase is set in 11 acres of landscaped grounds and takes its name from the village of Ettington, close to the most globally famous of all English towns - Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is also within easy reach of Junction 11 or 15 of the M40 motorway. http://www.hayley-conf.co.uk/ettington_chase.asp

THOTEL BOOKING
Rooms can be booked by calling 0121-712-7601 and quoting "GRIFF GROWL" to obtain the preferential rates, which are £65 (double room B&B) and £55 (single room B&B). The hotel is modern and the rooms are big and clean, and the price includes breakfast and the use of the facilities (pool etc). This is the link to the web site for Ettington Chase:
http://www.principal-hayley.com/venues-and-hotels/...
Please ensure you get a booking reference when you book. If you book via their web site or a 3rd party web site you will be charged much more than the deal that has been negotiated - be warned. You will only pay when you check out - you are only reserving a room when you book. Any problems please ask for Rachel Thomas in the first instance and if you get no joy please let me FFG (FlipFlopGriff) know.

How to find Ettington Chase

Click here to link to the Google Maps UK website and simply click 'Get Directions'. Enter your postcode to receive an instant route planner. And, don't forget, you can even find your way home again by clicking on 'Get reverse directions'.

Conveniently positioned

Situated within the heart of England, Ettington Chase is easily accessible no matter what your preferred method of travel or though I am sure you'll be in the Griffith

By rail

Stratford-upon-Avon is the nearest rail station with some direct links and connections from Leamington and Birmingham. The best mainline station is Warwick Parkway which has regular connections to Birmingham or London Marylebone. Ettington Chase is then 12 miles or 20 minutes from the station.

Click here to check train times

From the M40 north

Leave the M40 at junction 15 and take the 4th exit signed for A429 Cirencester. Travel for nine miles following the signs for Wellesbourne and turning left towards Stow, still on the A429. At the next island turn left onto the A422 signed for Banbury and Ettington. Continue through Ettington Village and you will find Ettington Chase on the right-hand side. It's roughly 10 miles and 15 minutes from junction 15.

From the M40 south

Leave the M40 at junction 11 and take the 1st exit signed for Banbury and the A422. Continue on the A422 following the signs for Drayton, Wroxton and Stratford-upon-Avon. When you reach Ettington Village, you'll find Ettington Chase on the left-hand side. Ettington Chase is just 15 miles and 25 minutes from junction 11.

From the M1 southeast

Leave the M1 at junction 17 for the M45 which continues into the A45 dual carriageway towards Coventry. At the second roundabout, turn left along the B4455 (Fosse Way) towards Cirencester, passing through Stretton-on-Dunsmore. Continue along the B4455 until the junction with the A422 taking the right turn signed Stratford and Ettington. Ettington Chase is directly on your left. It is roughly 20 miles and 30 minutes from the M45.

From Birmingham International Airport as we normally have visitors from around the world

Follow the signs for the motorway and take the M42 / M40 towards Solihull, Warwick and London. The M42 joins the M40 and you should leave the M40 at junction 15. From here follow the directions as from the M40 north. Ettington Chase is a 30 minute drive from the airport.

Contact details for Ettington Chase

Telephone:0121-712-7601

Address:
Ettington Chase
Banbury Road
Ettington
Stratford-upon-Avon
CV37 7NZ

Fax:  01789 740909

Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

The 2009 Growl will be 31st July to the 2nd August, still at Ettington. This was the only weekend they had free and maybe we will get some decent weather for a change.
The hotel can be booked NOW quoting Griff Growl on 01789 740000.
Rooms are £65 double B&B, and £55 single B&B.
We have 10 traders committed to attend with a large number still TBC.
Format will be as usual (curry Friday, BBQ Saturday, rolling road, traders) but we will be looking to add to this. Obviously the weather has been shocking in 2007 and 2008 which has hampered outdoor activities.
We were intending on a joint Wedge/Griff event but it hasn't materialised but is still an option. We tried to find a venue which ticks as many boxes as Ettington but we couldn't in the time we had.
I have a list of volunteers but if you feel you want something added (not strippers and heavy metal band) then please feel free to suggest and more organisers are welcome to help out.
Andrea and myself have been main organisers/coordinators since 2004 so this is the 6th year and we have less and less time to commit. I think 2010 we need to look for another venue, or maybe add a more formal event into the calendar on top of the normal chit chat/pi55 up weekend of the Growl.
Thank you all for the support over the years and due to so many regular attendees I'm sure we have the mix of informal/location/cost about right but we can always do more with the support and help of a few more.