It seems to be quite difficult to arrange any sort of meet these days. Anything that comes to fruition seems to fold/be cancelled, or turns into a late-night event on an industrial estate with some less-than-savoury driving.

I messaged someone on FB a few weeks ago (with a Mk3.5 Occy vRS) and we've started a small WhatsApp group with some people to try and arrange a (civilised) meet and drive. There are only about 30 of us in the group so far, but we are all keen on a low-key social meet, with a chance to talk and make some friends with like-minded people. There seems to be quite a spread from across the UK, with some people from the North East/West, some from the Midlands, stretching out to Suffolk, Bristol, Scotland, South Wales and London/South Coast. We predominantly have various generations of Occys (this is how the group started), however we have a few Fabias in there too. I'm sure some Superbs and whatever else people might have, would be welcomed too! If you don't have a Skoda currently/anymore, please still join!

We currently don't have a time or place, as we are still growing and trying to find more people. We would like to find a place that is suitable for everyone, however there is also the possibility of opening it up to a few local meets, to make it accessible to all. Currently, we are keen on the idea of a nice drive, followed by a scenic backdrop for some photos and a place for coffee/food.

Here is the link to the group - https://chat.whatsapp.com/IW25DAo8wTLF6MHexGnveJ

We've currently got admin-approval turned on, as we've had a few scammers, so it might take a few minutes for you to be accepted.

Hope to see you there :)

We've got plenty Octavias and Fabias - anyone with a Superb fancy joining? @travs there's a fair few of us near you :)

Mate. I drafted a reply and got distracted. Yeah I’d be up for something. Used to do some decent BMW meets yonks ago; meet at the Grasshopper in Westerham (classic for car meets; my Dad said that had been going on for decades) and then sit down and have some grub. Def different vibe to burnouts in an MFI car park!

Just now, travs said:

Mate. I drafted a reply and got distracted. Yeah I’d be up for something. Used to do some decent BMW meets yonks ago; meet at the Grasshopper in Westerham (classic for car meets; my Dad said that had been going on for decades) and then sit down and have some grub. Def different vibe to burnouts in an MFI car park!

Drop a join in the group then, be great to have you! I spent a while working between Biggin Hill/Westerham, lots of classic cars on the hill there.

Definitely thinking scenery, food, maybe even a BBQ - as opposed to anything on an industrial estate at 2am!

Done matey

7 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

Drop a join in the group then, be great to have you! I spent a while working between Biggin Hill/Westerham, lots of classic cars on the hill there.

Definitely thinking scenery, food, maybe even a BBQ - as opposed to anything on an industrial estate at 2am!

Last time I’ve been past the Grasshopper it was either defunct or closed for renovation. Internet search doesn’t look too good but not much in the last couple of years.

4 hours ago, travs said:

Last time I’ve been past the Grasshopper it was either defunct or closed for renovation. Internet search doesn’t look too good but not much in the last couple of years.

Do you mean the one on the triangular grass green on the hill? Grasshopper on the Green I think. As far as I know it’s still open - I don’t live at home anymore, but it can’t have been more than 6 months since I was last through Westerham!

If you mean the larger Westerham Inn out on the main road, then IIRC that had a structural collapse a few years ago, and the owners ran out of money to fix it. Not sure what’s happened to it, but I think it’s in the same state since 2021.

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

Do you mean the one on the triangular grass green on the hill? Grasshopper on the Green I think. As far as I know it’s still open - I don’t live at home anymore, but it can’t have been more than 6 months since I was last through Westerham!

If you mean the larger Westerham Inn out on the main road, then IIRC that had a structural collapse a few years ago, and the owners ran out of money to fix it. Not sure what’s happened to it, but I think it’s in the same state since 2021.

Yeah the latter - on the A25 heading towards Oxted. That’s a real shame.

Edited 3 April3 Apr by travs

I think they ran out of money halfway through the restoration/rebuild. IIRC it was the bit on the side that collapsed - you can see on Google Maps the damage, followed by the hand-finished repair. It's a shame - the building was very old :(

Edited 3 April3 Apr by OccyVRS

We’ll keep away from box hill. Back in the day we used to travel to Guildford for the No-Rice meets on then last thurs of the month. But, I think there are speed bumps and barriers up now. It’ll have to be somewhere central so it’s fair on everyone too.

2 minutes ago, Dean said:

We’ll keep away from box hill. Back in the day we used to travel to Guildford for the No-Rice meets on then last thurs of the month. But, I think there are speed bumps and barriers up now. It’ll have to be somewhere central so it’s fair on everyone too.

There's speed bumps, barriers and cameras everywhere now. Frankly, I think the days of non-static car meets, outside of a track, are over. Too many people make too many dumb decisions, and ruin it for the rest of us.

The only good moving meet I've been to is the London-Brighton Mini Run! Okay, we did break down three times (I'm not counting the two on the way home), but it was brilliant fun.

I’ve ridden up box hill plenty on the bike. They resurfaced it for the 2012 Olympic road race so it’s a beauty of a road surface but yeah there are a couple of humps. No barriers though. When you get to the top and carry on through the village it’s back to a ploughed minefield of a road surface.

I hated Box Hill - it used to be part of my interval training ride. Ugh.

Much prefer Toys Hill, quieter and a nice pub in Sundridge to head to after.

Well over 100 people in the meet now - anyone else fancy joining?

We've got Octavias, Fabias, Superbs, Enyaq, Karoq, Rapid and even a Favorit!