Enjoy Milford on Sea

Sunday 24 March 2024

New Equinox Beer at The Beach House

The Beach House in Milford on Sea are excited to reveal their latest brew, Equinox, a refreshing, yet satisfyingly balanced ale, just in time for the bank holiday weekend!

With hints of honeycomb that add a dash of sweetness with every sip, Equinox celebrates the time of year when days and nights become the same length as the Northern hemisphere.

But be quick, because it's only here for a limited time (and as always, please drink responsibly.)

To read about the interesting history of The Beach House and the buildings former lives, please click here.

The Beach House

Park Lane, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PT

01590 643044

beachhouse.reception@hall-woodhouse.co.uk

www.beachhousemilfordonsea.co.uk

www.facebook.com/thebeachhousehw

Milford Explorers to become Milford Early Years Centre

Milford Explorers Day Nursery and Beach School is changing hands, and during the Summer school term will become Milford Early Years Centre who are part of a small group of nurseries owned by The Early Years Group.

Milford Explorers owner Sarah, is moving on to concentrate on her other setting, The Nurture Den in Lymington

Milford Early Years Centre are owned by Gemma & Hannah, who are passionate early years professionals with over 15 years experience. They are fully immersed within the sector and involved in the daily running of their current 4 locations.

They strive to offer the very best quality care for the children who attend their settings, with a very home from home, child centred approach to things.

Sarah said: "It really is an exciting time and the team are equally excited to be moving over to their new incarnation and having a bigger support network in the background."

In the coming weeks, when they have the final go ahead from Ofsted they will be organising a meet and greet and open afternoon. It will be a great opportunity for both current and prospective parents to ask any questions they may have.

To find out more about Milford Early Years Centre, please visit: www.theearlyyearsgroup.co.uk.

Milford Early Years Centre
www.theearlyyearsgroup.co.uk

Milford Explorers Day Nursery and Beach School

The Old Bank House, 5 High Street, Milford On Sea, SO41 0QF

01590 644448

milfordexplorers@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/Daynurserymilfordonsea

Monday 18 March 2024

Total Voice Choir looking for Sopranos

Total Voice Choir has been at the heart of our village community for the last 14 years. If you walk past The Bridge on a Thursday lunchtime you’ll hear their rousing renditions of rock, pop and contemporary hits.

The sessions are fun, open to all adults and they learn by ear so no previous music reading experience is necessary.

The choir are particularity looking to recruit sopranos for this lively group at the moment. If you enjoying singing the high notes and fancy coming along for a free taster session, do get in touch.

Total Voice Choir meet every Thursday (during school term time) at The Bridge from 11.15am to 1pm.

They are a friendly, community focused group and love welcoming new members.

To find out more, please contact Christine on: 07824 388263 or

christine@totalvoice.co.uk - www.totalvoice.co.uk

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About Total Voice Choir

Total Voice Choir has been at the heart of community singing in Milford on Sea since 2010. The choirs founder, Christine Mulgrew lives in Milford on Sea and is an accomplished singer in her own right.

From concerts to festivals, flash mobs and pub singalongs, you name it they’ve done it and had lots of fun and made lots of memories along the way! They even carried on during lockdown in 2020, meeting on Zoom, and twinning online with choirs all over the world, and keeping everybody’s spirits up.

The choir love having fun, singing and socialising at any time. The choir sing contemporary rock and pop songs learnt by ear, and hold very own Christmas concert in the village.

New members are welcome to join this friendly group at any time. No previous musical skills are required and you don’t need to read music or audition.

Total Voice meet every Thursday (term time) in The Bridge from 11.30am to 1pm and new members are always welcome.

Interested? Contact Christine - christine@totalvoice.co.uk / 07824 388263

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Private Singing Lessons:

Christine also offers private singing lessons for anyone looking to develop their vocal skills and build confidence.

Total Voice Choir

The Bridge, 9 Sea Road, Milford on Sea

christine@totalvoice.co.uk

www.totalvoice.co.uk

Cyclist Falls 100ft over Hordle Cliff and has an Extraordinary Escape

Glenn Burnage, a 68 year old local cyclist, had a amazing escape after he plunged 100ft over the cliff from the path between Hordle Cliff and Taddiford Gap

This extraordinary event happened on the afternoon of Thursday 14th March 2024.

Glenn was on a regular mountain bike ride, and as he navigated the ruts along the path towards Milford on Sea the afternoon ride nearly became a tragedy.

Within a split second, he fell from the top of the cliff, hitting the sides and very luckily landed on a muddy plateau at the bottom.

The full might of the combined emergency services were soon at the scene after he was able to make a 999 call.

Astonishingly, ex-competitive cyclist and time trialist, Glenn escaped with only cuts and bruises after the near-100ft cliff fall.

An article by Chris March in the Advertiser & Times carries the incredible full story. To read please click here.

Sections of Hordle Cliff Path - Pretty narrow in places!

Messy Easter for Kids

Come and enjoy the kids activities at Messy Easter from 10.30am to 11:45am on Good Friday 29th March 2024 in All Saints' Church Hall.

The free morning is for children and their families to enjoy and explore faith together.

The Messy Easter morning will include a variety of activities for different age groups including Craft, Messy play, Stories & Songs. Hot and cold drinks available throughout.

The activities will be led by volunteers from the church with parents/carers and children taking part together.

Bring the Kids. Free entry but booking required. Please sign up all adults and children that are likely to attend with you.

For more information and to register: please click here.

Parents and carers are responsible for their children at all times.

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Messy Easter is followed by the Good Friday Service at 12noon which will be held on the village green with Hot Cross Buns donated by the Co-op Milford being served.

All Saints' Church & Church Hall
Greenbanks Close, Milford on Sea, SO41 0SQ
01590 644992
office@allsaintsmilford.org.uk
www.allsaintsmilford.org.uk
www.facebook.com/AllSaintsMilfordOnSea

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Sunday 17 March 2024

The Cave announces latest dates for Live Music Events

The Cave have announced their upcoming Live Music Nights, and it looks as though we have a lot of good music to look forward to!

Entry is free, so go along to enjoy the music over a relaxing drink, and if you fancy, grab a tasty plate of tasty Tapas.

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Easter Sunday 31st March - 4pm to 6pm: Ben Poore

Ben started playing acoustic guitar at the age of 16 as a way to accompany himself singing. A self-confessed campfire guitarist he has been described as a human jukebox, picking up new covers as requested by the audience. Heavily influenced by Americana and Folk music Ben's performance has been described as stripped back and upbeat.

Ben also started writing new original music in 2020.

Come down and enjoy Ben's chilled vibe, sip a few drinks, sit back and foot tap along with the rest of us, after all, it is Easter Sunday.

To listen to Ben, please click here.

Meet Ben: www.thebenpooreproject.com

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Easter Monday 1st April - 5pm to 7pm: Emma Hardy

We are thrilled that Emma can perform here on Easter Monday. What a treat we've got for you. Our local singer, songwriter & guitarist will have you glued to every word, come down and enjoy.

Emma and a Springsteen classic, please click here.

Meet Emma:

www.facebook.com/EmmaHardyMusic

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Wednesday 10th April - 8pm to 10pm: Harry Brown

New to The Cave, Harry and his guitar take requests from you, and his range of songs are ridiculous. He will have you up singing and dancing along. It's The Law!

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Friday 19th April - 9pm to 11pm: Gavin & Chloe Wyatt

These two need no introduction to The Cave. This husband and wife team are amazing at what they do, and it's no wonder their synergy is faultless. Chloe's voice is as smooth as warm butter. You should come early as this gig will be full.

To listen to Gavin & Chloe, please click here.

Meet Gavin & Chloe:

www.facebook.com/gavinandchloeacousticduo

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Monday 6th May - 5pm to 7pm: Danny Hall

Local lad Danny, also known by his artist name FJ Law, is a singer, songwriter and music producer who works hard at his craft. He plays a great range of cover songs and some originals. We look forward to having Danny back.

Meet Danny: Please click here.

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Friday 10th May 9pm to 11pm: The Three Acoustic Trio

Adrian Withers & His 2 Mates! This trio of good mates have been playing together since the start of time!

They will cover some of the great songs of the era’s, along with our favourites from the 60’s until now. You don't want to miss out on this performance.

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About The Cave

The Cave is a popular, friendly, and vibrant Wine & Gin Bar, Off-Licence, and Tapas Restaurant.

This unique business has been in Milford on Sea since May 2013 serving premier quality wines, speciality gin & tonics, spirits, and an exciting range of beers, which are always available to enjoy in the bar or take home.

The Cave has stylish and relaxing surroundings and is the place to meet friends at any time of day.

Pop in for a morning or afternoon tea/coffee, a tasty Tapas lunch or evening meal, or simply enjoy the extremely well-stocked bar from 12 noon, or to finish off your day in style.

Events: There are also regular Live Music Nights and Tasting Evenings. To keep in touch with the latest events at The Cave, please keep an eye on their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/TheCavewinebar.

Private Hire: The Cave can be booked for Private Hire to host parties and gatherings.

Dog Friendly: Furry friends always welcome in The Cave.

The Cave

2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH

01590 642195

info@thecavemos.co.uk

www.facebook.com/TheCavewinebar

www.thecavemos.co.uk

Free Monthly Nature Walks around the village

Did you know, that as well a leading conservation projects across the village, the Milford on Sea Conservation Volunteers (MCV) also run regular free Nature Walks for all.

Next Free Nature Walk: 24th March 2024 - 10am to 12 noon.

The Nature Walks are hosted by an experienced guide, as you visit various places around the village as you discover the nature that abounds nearby. Age ages welcome.

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Dates for your diary:

Milford Conservation Volunteers AGM & Illustrated talk on Butterflies of the New Forest

7pm: Wednesday 27th March 2024 at the Bridge.

Free entry. Open to everyone, and new members are especially welcome.

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Creeks & Saltmarsh Winter Birding Trips

Sailing from Keyhaven Hurst Marine Ferry Pontoon, this is a boat trip around the creeks, channels and saltmarshes of Keyhaven.

The trips are led by Keith Metcalf and an experienced guest bird expert.

Space is limited, so pre-booking is essential.

Winter 2024 trips can now be booked via the MCV website or direct with Keith Metcalf at: keithmetcalf2022@btinternet.com.

Creeks & Saltmarsh Winter Birding Trips

Thursday 10th October 2024: Departing at 9am sharp
Friday 22nd November 2024: Departing at 9am sharp
Monday 9th December 2024: Departing at 9am sharp

Bookings will be confirmed by Keith (Trip Organiser) upon receipt of full payment. A trip booklet will be sent to you about a week before the date of your trip with full details on how to prepare for these winter cruises.

A short guide on seals will also be sent to help you identify any seals we might encounter during your trip.

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Other Milford Conservation Volunteers Events

The MCV have lots of regular events to explore and appreciate the beautiful surroundings we all have available to enjoy. To see details of all MCV events, please click here.

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Twice monthly Drop in Birding Sessions

This drop in birding sessions are open to everyone of any age, and are held from 10am to 12noon on 1st & 3rd Saturday of every month, at eith Sturt Pond Bird Hide or Keyhaven Bird Observatory.

Local bird experts are available to help identify birds and answer questions. Scopes and binoculars are available to use. Over 120 species of birds have been recorded in recent times.

Everyone is welcome, so why not pop in and see what you can discover?

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1st Saturday of every month at Keyhaven Observatory: 10am to 12noon.

click image to enlarge

The Keyhaven Observatory exists through the generosity of the J & D Edgar Ltd. family with assistance from Simeon Morgan Farming, MCV has been given an occupancy licence for a redundant farm building (old pumping station) at the westernmost end of the Ancient Highway. The brick-building has been converted into a small Bird Observatory looking up The Pans and across to the lower Avon Water. The Pans has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to its gatherings of winter wildfowl.

Directions to Keyhaven Observatory: From Milford village, turn left at the bottom of the green towards Keyhaven. Pass the Keyhaven War Memorial green on your left and The Gun Inn on your right. Turn left into the NFDC car park. Pay and park and walk towards the track that leads round the northern part of the quay towards the coastal footpath and Iley Lane. After about four hundred metres, you will see the Bird Observatory gate and Welcome sign on your left. For location, please click here.

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3rd Saturday of every month at Sturt Pond Bird Hide: 10am to 12noon.

Sturt Pond is a haven for swans, ducks, Brent geese, mallard, teal, shelduck & grebes. Two wooden bridges cross the stream which runs from Sturt Pond to the salt marshes. The bird hide is a hidden sanctuary to observe Keyhaven nature reserve.

click image to enlarge

Sturt Pond Bird Hide is open to the public every day from 9am to 5pm, or dusk if earlier. (Locked at night.)

Directions to Sturt Pond Bird Hide: The bird hide is located immediately behind the Lighthouse restaurant on the Hurst beach side. The bird hide can be found at the end of the concealed metal gated path between the Lighthouse restaurant and the black council sheds.

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About Milford Conservation Volunteers (MCV)

Milford on Sea Conservation Volunteers are a group of local people who are dedicated to conserving and improving the wildlife and environment within the Milford on Sea and Keyhaven parish. MCV volunteers have regular tasks groups for logging, scrub clearance, balsam pulling and such like.

In 2020, MCV members were honoured to receive the country’s highest accolade for a voluntary group, the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, which is equivalent to an MBE.

New volunteers, young and old are always welcome.

MCV also run other events related to local nature such as:

Birding for Beginner Sessions on 1st & 3rd Saturday each month.

Guided local Nature Walks are held on a monthly basis.

Creeks and Saltmarsh Boat Trip each month. Sailing from Keyhaven Hurst Ferry Pontoon. This is a boat trip around Keyhaven Creeks and Saltmarsh, led by a Bird expert. Space is limited so pre-booking is essential.

To see details of all MCV events, please click here.

Milford Conservation Volunteers (MCV)

www.milfordconservation.org

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Jump aboard the Soul Train Disco on Saturday

The Soul Train Disco with DJ Dave get the vibe going from 7.30pm this Saturday 23rd March at The Bridge.

Join in for a wonderful evening of dance and fun. Playing the smooth Soul Train sounds of Motown and the 70s.

Grooving starts at 7.30pm and all proceeds go to support the M3 Milford Monday Madness school holiday activities programme for local children aged 4-10 years.

Everyone is invited. If you fancy, dress to impress in midi skirts, flares and colourful shirts!

Tickets £12.50. Please click here.

To see what else is on at The Bridge: Please click here.

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The Bridge

Formerly: Milford on Sea Community Centre

Sea Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PH

01590 644861

www.moscommunitycentre.org.uk

www.facebook.com/MoS-Community-Centre

Box Office Open:
Monday to Friday: 10am to 4pm

01590 644861

Spring Events at Ray's Italian Kitchen

Ray’s Italian Kitchen love to entertain, so below are some special events they are running during Spring.

Pick your favourites and book now, these events sell out quickly!

Coming Events at Ray's Italian Kitchen

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CLASSICS NIGHT

Tuesday 26th March 2024.

Dinner for two plus salad, garlic bread & wine for £39.95pp. *Must be pre-booked.

Gnocchi al forno with Tuscan sausage, dinner for two plus salad, garlic bread & wine.

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GIN TASTING

Thursday 18th April 2024.

Tasting on the Salcombe gin range whilst creating one bottle of London Dry small batch during the event to be won on the night. The evening includes a Gin & Tonic on arrival. Cicchetti and a cocktail to finish.

Limited spaces available, full payment on booking £35 pp.

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WINE DINNER EVENINGS:

Wednesday 27th March 2024

Sicilian Evening with Alivini.

The evening will feature perfectly paired Italian wines by Alessandro from Alivini, along with traditional Italian dishes.

Take a look at the menu on the image to the right.

£68 pp.

Wednesday 24th April 2024

Tapas Evening in conjunction with Solent Cellar.

£45pp.

Wednesday 15th May 2024

Wine Dinner Evening - Save the date.

Details to follow soon.

(*Please pay in full when booking Wine Dinners.)

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To book any of the events above, please call: 01590 645300

or email: info@raysitaliankitchen.co.uk

To discover more about Ray's Italian Kitchen, please click here.

Ray’s Italian Kitchen

11 High Street, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QF

01590 645300

info@raysitaliankitchen.co.uk
www.raysitaliankitchen.co.uk
www.facebook.com/raysitaliankitchen

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Have a Stall at Hurst Castle Sailing Club Boat Jumble

Hurst Castle Sailing Club are planning to hold a Boat Jumble in their clubhouse from 10.30am to 3pm on Saturday 13th April 2024, subject to getting enough stallholders.

The club are selling 12 tables/pitches at £10 each for people to sell their no longer required boating and sailing equipment.

All proceeds would go to the RNLI in support of their 200th Anniversary and hopefully sellers will voluntarily donate a percentage of their proceeds.

There would also be a raffle and collection boxes for RNLI and refreshments to purchase.

To rent a table please contact Jim Page at secretary@hcsc.org.uk

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About Hurst Castle Sailing Club

Hurst Castle Sailing Club was founded in 1938, and today it is a small, friendly family oriented club where the emphasis is on enjoyment rather than competition. A warm welcome is given to people of all ages, with a range of boating interests and levels of experience.

The Clubhouse, completed in 2013, offers modern changing facilities and a well-equipped kitchen, with splendid views out across the creeks to the Solent.

The Club caters for dinghy, yacht sailors and also canoeists. The most common dinghy sailed is the Scow numbering some forty boats. There are also Mirror, Gulls, Enterprises, Wayfarers, Skippers, Wanderers, Lasers, Toppers and others. There is a full summer sailing programme for the racing, cruising or “pottering” sailor. The Club’s Annual Regatta provides a range of events for dinghies.

For those who do not yet own their own boats, the Club has several dinghies available to members for a nominal fee.

The Club also run a programme of training, delivered by RYA-qualified instructors for both adults (beginners and improvers) and junior members.

An active social calendar takes place throughout the year, and there is a Coffee Morning every Tuesday which provides a social meeting place.

To read about the clubs history, please click here.

Hurst Castle Sailing Club

Keyhaven, SO41 0TP

secretary@hcsc.org

www.keyhavenyc.co.uk

www.facebook.com/hurstcastlesailingclub

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Hurst Castle reopens with 'A-MAZEing' Easter Fun

Hurst Castle reopens on Wednesday 27th March 2024 with Easter fun for kids in 'A-MAZEing Easter' running from 10am to 5.30pm on Friday 29th March to Sunday 14th April 2024.

When you take the family to Hurst Castle over this period you can enjoy Arts and Crafts, and the Easter Maze. All activities included in castle admission.

Ferry available from Keyhaven from 10am and then approx. every 30 minutes.

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Hurst Castle Opening Times 2024:

27th March to 4th November 2024 - 10am to 5.30pm Daily.

Adult: £7.50 - Concession: £7 - Child: (5-17 years) £5.50
Family: (2 adults, 3 children) £24 - Children under 5: Free
A Local Resident Annual Pass is available for people living locally to Hurst Castle

Well behaved dogs on short leads welcome in Castle and on Ferry.

Take the Ferry to Hurst Castle: www.hurstcastle.co.uk/how-to-get-here

For further information about your visit please call 01590 642500 or email:
info@hurstcastle.co.uk

See What's On at Hurst Castle, please click here.