ARRIVING
Taven night time-in usually occurs around 7.30pm and the IC entrance to the hall is directly from the outside. Although players are not allowed into the hall until this time, they may arrive earlier in the main part of the hotel to pick up their event pack and make use of the downstairs public bar, restaurant and any prebooked hotel room. At around 7pm VI usually opens the upstairs unisex changing room next to the hall to aid those who haven't already arrived in costume.

THE BEAR HOTEL
Address: Hodnet, Shropshire, TF9 3NH

The hotel had new owners in 2005 and is currently undergoing long awaited refurbishment. As well as the main medieval hall with bar upstairs and a downstairs (OOC) restaurant / bar, there are two star hotel rooms down the corridor from where the role-playing takes place, and we also have crash space available in the Hall itself.

Crash Space
Floor space in the hall costs £10 - bring your own sleeping bag / duvet. This includes a full cooked english breakfast the next morning. This has to be paid when you book for the event as the hotel requires names for fire regulations. You will be woken up around 8.30am the following morning for breakfast.

Rooms
VI has pre-booked all the hotel rooms as the hotel only has ten. If you are interested in booking one then please contact VI as they are on a strictly first come-first served basis.

For more information on alternative accommodation in the area refer to the bottom of this page.

DIRECTIONS

Click Maps for bigger image:

The Tavern Night is being held in the Baronial Hall of The Bear Hotel, Hodnet in Shropshire. The A442 runs through Hodnet village itself, and the A53 is near by, on a recently built bypass.

From Stoke: Take the A53 from Newcastle to Market Drayton. Continue on the A53 following the signs for Shrewsbury then turn right at the roundabout signposted to Hodnet.

From Stafford: Take the A518 past Stafford Castle, then right onto the A41. Turn left onto A53 then turn off right to Hodnet once on the A442.

From North: M6 at J15, onto the A5182 (Shrewsbury) and then left onto the A53 then as from Stoke.

From South: M6 at J10A onto M54, off at J5 and follow the A442 around Telford and north to Hodnet.

The Bear Hotel is a large black and white style 16th century coaching inn with a 60 space car park and is located on right on the main bend in the centre of Hodnet, opposite the turn off for the A442.

There is an overflow car park just a 100 yards east on the right next to a Church. This has a handy back set of steps that can be used as a shortcut to the bottom of the main car park.

Upon arriving go around to the main entrance and through the bar to the stairs that lead up to the hall. There is also a back entrance directly off the car park and up into the hall if you are arriving late and in costume.

Hodnet itself has several shops including a supermarket and a late opening village shop. The Bear Hotel has an 80 seater restaurant and is open from 12 noon to 2pm for lunch and 6.30 to 9.30pm for dinner. Breakfast time is 7.30 to 9.30am.

The Bear Hotel's phone number is 01630 685 214.

B&B GUEST HOUSES
These Guest Houses usually have only a handful of rooms, are within a few miles of Hodnet (mainly Market Drayton direction) and are around £40-50 a night for a double/twin room (£20-25 for a single). Full details on the places to stay below are available from the Shropshire tourism site [here]

TAXIS

Robs Taxi	01630 657272
D & W	01630 653200
First Call	01630 653200
Andy Cabs	01630 653094
Johns Taxi	01630 655500