Winchester Connections

This is not an event as such, so no RSVP required, comments welcome.
Bimonthly Update and Subs.
It is now just over four months since we set up the group ‘Winchester Connections’. During this time we have posted and attended 44 events including Walks, Quizzes, Beer Festivals, Socials and Music Events. Those visiting the site regularly will have noted that some of the events posted do not take place until sometime in the future, these events are ticketed and many sell out quickly, so it is important that if you would like to attend you register your interest asap.

As I have said to many of you I have met, ‘this is your group, if you have any ideas for future events, or would like to host one let me know’.

We now have 300 members, many have joined over the past two months, so it seems appropriate to repeat the following.
There are costs to running a Meet Up Group, I have taken time to research and investigate the way other Groups cover these costs and have come up with the decision to introduce a membership fee. From an administration point of view it would be easier if we collected subs once a year but I appreciate that not every one is happy with that. So I will offer two options.

Option 1. Pay £12:00 per annum (that equates to £1:00 per month) and attend as many events as you wish without incurring any further membership fees.

Option 2. With effect from the 1st of June 2025, a fee of £2:00 was introduced when attending some of our events. This will always be indicated when the event is posted and will be payable on the day.

Any surplus funds will be used to subsidise future group social events.

The bank details for those wishing to choose Option 1 are:

Account Name - James Dunderdale
Sort Code - 041904
Account No - 89028822
Please quote full name in reference.

Join me for this 5.2 mile mid-week afternoon walk.
We will meet in Owlesbury at 13:45 for a 14:00 start (exact location to be confirmed).
This is a great walk with wonderful scenery. Wildlife in abundance including deer and many different species of butterflies and birds.
It’s a good mixture of terrain including fields, wooded paths and several gentle inclines.
We will take at a steady pace, the walk is suitable for people with a modest fitness level.
Dogs and well behaved owners welcome.
Guests and prospective new members welcome.
This is a chargeable event, a fee of £2.00 is payable on the day by non paid up members.
Update - the Ship Inn will allow us to use there Car Park, Post Code SO21 1LT.

Following the success of our last Boules Evening.
A number of members have asked that we repeat it.
Join us for another evening of fun and friendly competition.
This time we will meet up on a Friday evening so that you have the option to enjoy one of the pubs renown pizzas.
The Tichborne Arms is a friendly and relaxed country free house set in the rolling Hampshire Countryside just 7.5 miles from Winchester.
As well as beautiful gardens and outstanding views, it has its own boules court, which we will have sole use of between 19:00 and 22:00.
The Pub serves food until late (I can recommend the burgers and pizzas).
We will meet in the garden at 18:45.
Guests and prospective new members welcome.

This is another Saturday afternoon walk, we’ll meet in the Winchester Coach Park ( on the same site as the Winchester Hotel and Spa) at 13:00 for a 13:15 start.
We will walk through Hyde, the Winnall Moors Nature Reserve, then follow the Itchen out through Easton, Avington and the Worthy’s to Itchen Abbas where we will join the Watercress Way for a few miles following a different route back to Winchester.
Although this walk is longer than normal at just under 10 miles it is a relatively easy, with no notable hills, suitable for people of moderate fitness. One Caveat - a lot of the walk follows the river, so if there has been recent wet weather it could be a muddy in places. The walk will be taken at a good pace but with regular drinks stops and a longer stop half way for snacks.
Refreshments will be available at the King Alfred on completion of the walk for those wishing to partake.
This is a chargeable event for non fully paid up members, a charge of £2.00 will be payable on the day.