The Big Fat South-West Bass Bash 2025

[rwillett]

I only managed to come to the last one but thoroughly enjoyed it. I had actually started to plan for the next one.

 

Thanks very much for all the hard work that the whole team have put in. As I organise the NW Bass Bash, I know it doesn't just happen and the more effort you put in, the easier it looks to everyone. Yours looked very easy

 

Hopefully somebody might want to pick the SW Bash up for this year (he says hopefully). 

 

Rob

[Chienmortbb]

Thank you to Mike and the Scrumpettes for your work over the years. Hopefully someone can take things on. 

[GrahamT]

I think that I am one of the few to have attended every SWBB and it has been a joy to come to your events Mike. 
You, Gabby and the team have made us extremely welcome and produced a superb series of Bass Bashes. 
Thank you all for your hard work. You will be missed. 

[NancyJohnson]

Sorry to hear the SW Bash is off this year, hopefully someone will be able to take this on elsewhere locally!

[rwillett]

People are welcome to come up to the NW Bass Bash, but it'd a fair old trek from down south. 

[basstone]

Really sad to hear this. Thanks for all your efforts on previous bashes Mike. Most enjoyable. Is there any possibility of looking into alternative venues. It would be hard to find a better hall but I’m sure lots of us will miss the bash!

[Woodinblack]

5 hours ago, scrumpymike said:

would be the full commercial rate of £232

 

What was it before, as it doesn't seem terribly bad if there are 23 of us at £10, or maybe putting in a bit more for £15?

[scrumpymike]

3 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

 

What was it before, as it doesn't seem terribly bad if there are 23 of us at £10, or maybe putting in a bit more for £15?

A third of the full price but the increase isn't the only reason, just the one that has pushed things past the tipping point. It's always been a big ask of Mrs S and the Scrumpettes and it felt an awful lot easier when we started in 2017.

[Jabba_the_gut]

I will really miss this - it’s been a superb get together and I have met some fantastic people there.

 

Mr, Mrs Scrumpy and the Scrumpettes have made this a great event over the years. A big thank you from me for everything. 
 

All the very best!!

[Richard R]

The hall I have booked for the Midlands Bash is £180. I figure there will be about a dozen, so I plan to say £14 each without food and anything over goes to Nordorf Robbins along with raffle profits. There's a risk to me of course.

 

The SW Bash has been fab with food included, but I would very happily pay more to cover the true cost and bring sandwiches. 

[Geek99]

@Richard R if I make it, I will bring Costco cake, theirs are so large that they have their own postcode 

[chyc]

Thank you @scrumpymike and all those involved in organizing these events. Best £15 I spent last year.

[JohnDaBass]

Thank you @scrumpymike and the fantastic Scrumpettes for your hard work, enthusiasm, and superb organisational skills in creating and delivering the SW Bass Bash over the years. The Bash was a joy to attend and meet with so many like minded, kind bass enthusiasts.

All who attended are extremely grateful for your efforts and kindness.

Thank you 

John 

[JapanAxe]

34 minutes ago, JohnDaBass said:

Thank you @scrumpymike and the fantastic Scrumpettes for your hard work, enthusiasm, and superb organisational skills in creating and delivering the SW Bass Bash over the years. The Bash was a joy to attend and meet with so many like minded, kind bass enthusiasts.

All who attended are extremely grateful for your efforts and kindness.

Thank you 

John 

I second that emotion!

[Rich]

22 hours ago, scrumpymike said:

Dear Bass-Bash buddies,

 

I'm sorry to start your New Year with unwelcome news, but I'm sad to announce that the 2025 Bash was the last one that we'll be doing.

 

As you know, our Bashes have always been massive value-for-money, largely because Mrs. Scrumpy and I were able to hire our wonderful hall at a much-reduced rate. For various reasons, we have both recently retired as Trustees, meaning that the cost of hiring the hall this year would be the full commercial rate of £232!

 

Thank you all for making this such a joyous event over the years. If anyone else decides to continue with a S-W Bash, you can be sure I'll be there 🙂 

 

Here's wishing you all the very best for 2026 and beyond!

 

Mike, Gabrielle & The Scrumpettes.

 

😭x1000

And there's me having already sorted out my raffle prize donation for this year.

Seriously though... Mike, I cannot put into words how much I (and I'm sure I speak for all of us here) appreciate all the hard work you and Gabs and the Scrumpettes have put into the BFSWBBes over the years. I've only missed one, and spent the whole of that day feeling like I was missing a limb.

 

As an aside, I've been looking into hall hire etc round this way, and the cheapest I could find was smaller, less convenient (i.e. closer to houses) and 30 quid more expensive than the full rate for Cheddon would be. The place was perfect.  

 

[Nos]

As everyone has already said, it's sad but understandable, and many thanks for the hard work that has gone into the previous events I've been lucky enough to attend and enjoy!

[Stub Mandrel]

The end of an era. Was so glad it was there after the Midlands hiatus. At leadt Midlands is back this year. 

 

Many thanks and best wishes to Mike and the Scrumpettes and everyone who helped make the SW bashes legendary. 

 

 

Edited 11 hours ago by Stub Mandrel

[basstone]

If there is enough interest and willingness to commit to paying the full price of the Cheddon hall hire  maybe we could group together to run the event to take the strain of Mike and his team? It is a great venue which would be hard to beat on price and facilities?

 

[Geek99]

Now I’m back in gainful (and frankly very nice) employment I’d consider it 

 

obviously I’d have to check with management first 

Edited 11 hours ago by Geek99

[Rich]

49 minutes ago, basstone said:

If there is enough interest and willingness to commit to paying the full price of the Cheddon hall hire  maybe we could group together to run the event to take the strain of Mike and his team? It is a great venue which would be hard to beat on price and facilities?

48 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

Now I’m back in gainful (and frankly very nice) employment I’d consider it 

Ditto and ditto. Food-wise maybe we could do a bring-&-share? Richard mentioned sandwiches and Geek mentioned a giant Costco cake, and I know Costco also do trays of wraps and things, and I'd be quite happy to make some stuff to bring. Obviously I couldn't hope to make anything as utterly brilliant as The Crumble  

[Stub Mandrel]

I'd be happy to chip in a higher fee for the day, and bring some veggie munchies. My catering skills are superb, witness the DoI Page 4,000 Walnut Cake.

 

[Chienmortbb]

So the question is, how many of us are willing to stump up for the hall? @scrumpymike, how much do you need to cover the costs?

[Woodinblack]

I certainly am

Hopefully that far in the future Mrs Woodinblack will be better and capable of doing the vegan food and the heart thing will be fixed in some way

[scrumpymike]

11 minutes ago, Chienmortbb said:

So the question is, how many of us are willing to stump up for the hall? @scrumpymike, how much do you need to cover the costs?

 

OK, so let's see if we can make this work on the basis that everyone pays more and brings their own food.

 

Just checked that the hall is still available on Sunday 11 October and put a provisional hold on it. However, we will need at least 20 Basschatters to commit by paying £15 a head well in advance. This will also more than cover the continuous provision of hot drinks. If the attendance is higher on the day then we can just divide the cash surplus and give everyone a cash refund before close of play. Alternatively, the balance could be donated to a pre-agreed charity.

 

Over to you 🙂 

[Rich]

FANTASTIC 

You can have my 15 quid now if you want

 

12 minutes ago, scrumpymike said:

This will also more than cover the continuous provision of hot drinks

What, even my virtually-intravenous coffee addiction?  

 

14 minutes ago, scrumpymike said:

Alternatively, the balance could be donated to a pre-agreed charity.

Can I put in a cheeky early bagsy for a dementia/Alzheimers charity? Sadly, a cause that is very close to home.