Dear Fellow Hop Grower,

I hope that you already know that the 48th International Hop Growers Congress is to

be held in Canterbury, England, from 6th - 10th August 2001.

The programme, fuller than that published in the leaflet earlier this year, will cover a

wide range of ancient and modern aspects of life in this beautiful part of England. So

too will the programme organised for the ladies who will, of course, join the congress

for the field visits and numerous social occasions. We will also be joined for some of

the programme by a few delegates of the Scientific commission meeting. The pre- and 

post-congress tours have been carefully put together and I hope you will take advantage 

of these.

The venue chosen for the congress seminars is thoroughly modern and should

provide the platform for a meaningful series of meetings. Above all, I look forward to

welcoming you next August and in the meantime, urge you to complete the

Registration Form without delay. Early Registration brings financial benefits and it

would be unusual for a Hop Grower not to take advantage of that!

Yours sincerely,

Tuesday 7th August 2001

09.00 - Ladies Tour departs by coach.

09.00 - Meeting of the Technical Commission - open to all delegates.

12.00 - Lunch.

14.00 - Meeting of the Economic Commission - open to all delegates.

16.30 - Ladies arrive at Hotels.

17.30 - Service of Evensong in the Cathedral.

19.00 - Depart for Bar-B-Q at China Farm.

Wednesday 8th August 2001

09.00 - Depart by coach for field trip - all delegates and ladies. Tour includes visits 

to Hop Museum, English Hops Ltd, lunch and Horticulture Research International.

18.00 - Arrive at Hotels.

19.15 - Depart Canterbury for Shepherd Neame brewery.

Thursday 9th August 2001

08.30-10.30 - Meeting of Executive Committee.

10.30-12.30 - General Assembly.

12.30 - Lunch with ladies.

Afternoon Exploring Canterbury - walking tours.

18.00 - Depart by coach for Dinner Dance at Leeds Castle.

Friday 10th August 2001

a.m. End of Congress - delegates depart.

PRE-CONGRESS TOURS  

2 nights Oxford-Bath-Bristol-Canterbury

(underlined denotes overnight accommodation)

Spend the day exploring the colleges, libraries, museums and shops of this historic

city and international seat of learning (http://web.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oxinfo/) Travel

there from central London in less than an hour or direct from Heathrow and Gatwick

airports. Check-in at The Randolph Hotel (http://www.heritage-hotels.co.uk) a 4-star

hotel built in 1864 in the heart of the City and opposite the world famous Ashmolean

Museum. Meet for drinks at 6.30pm.

Depart at 10 a.m. by coach fro the Roman City of Bath (http://www.bath.co.uk/) visit

the Roman Baths and take lunch in the Pump Rooms. At 3 p.m. travel to Bristol and

stay at the contemporary and exclusive 4-star Hotel du Vin (http://hotelduvin.com)

located in the old part of the City but close to the newly redeveloped Harbourside.

Spend time in this thriving capital of the West of England which combines its past

with a very modern future.

Depart at 10 a.m. by coach for Canterbury, passing the ancient site of Stonehenge,

taking in a leisurely lunch on the way, arriving at your chosen hotel at approximately 4

p.m.

1 night Oxford-Bath-Bristol-Canterbury

(underlined denotes overnight accommodation)

Join the above tour at The Randolph, Oxford at 10 a.m. on Sunday 5th August and then

depart for Bath and Bristol staying at the Hotel du Vin for the night and thence to

Canterbury on 6th August.

COSTS

2 nights - £270 per person sharing twin rooms with bath. £82 single room supplement.

1 night - £160 per person sharing twin rooms with bath. £59 single room supplement.

Included in the cost of both tours are Hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast basis,

private coach travel between the hotels and admission to the Pump Rooms. Not included

are any other meals or drinks, telephone calls or other personal charges at the hotels or

other places visited along the way. A Director of Gibson Rawlins Ltd will accompany both tours.

POST-CONGRESS TOURS

2 nights Canterbury- Oxford-London

Depart at 10 a.m. by coach for Oxford taking in a leisurely lunch on the way. At

approximately 4 p.m. check-in at The Randolph Hotel (http://www.heritage-hotels.

co.uk) a 4-star hotel built in 1864 in the heart of the City and opposite the world

famous Ashmolean Museum.

Spend the day exploring the colleges, libraries, museums and shops of this historic

city and international seat of learning (http://web.comlab.ox.ac.uk/oxinfo/).

At your convenience, travel by public transport (train or coach) on the excellent direct

services to central London or Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

COSTS

2 nights - £250 per person sharing twin rooms with bath. £290 in single rooms with bath.

1 night - £140 per person sharing twin rooms with bath. £160 in single rooms with bath.

Included in the cost of both tours are Hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast

basis and coach travel to Oxford. Not included are any other meals or drinks,

telephone calls or other personal charges at the hotel or other places visited along the

way. A Director of Gibson Rawlings Ltd will accompany both tours.

All hotels are within a 5 minute walk of the Congress Centre and rooms have a private bath

and are booked on bed and breakfast basis only. Prices have been negotiated on group

rates, include taxes but hotels require us to supply your credit card details in order for us to

make the reservations on your behalf. They will not then require a deposit. No single

hotel can accommodate all delegates and therefore requests will be accepted on a first-

Closest to the Congress Centre and in the pedestrianised High Street, this 4-star hotel

offers comfortable accommodation with well appointed restaurant, lounges and bar

which also serves coffee/lunch.

Cost: £63.00 per night for a single room. £73.00 per night for two sharing a double room.

www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/county-hotel

Once a Georgian house, this traditional and comfortable 4-star hotel stands opposite the

City walls and within easy walking distance of the Congress Centre.

Cost: £70.00 per night for a single room. £80.00 per night for two sharing a double room.

www.heritage-hotels.com

Dating back to 1403 the Hotel stands at the West Gate of the City walls, has good parking

facilities and is within an easy walk of the Congress Centre. There is a wide choice of

different style bedrooms, all of which are well appointed and so too are the public rooms.

Cost: £65.00 per night for a single room. £80.00 per night for two sharing a double room.

www.corushotels.com

A 16th Century Tudor house a few hundred yards beyond the Falstaff Hotel offering

friendly accommodation in an “olde worlde” atmosphere. Limited to 9 rooms only.

Parking and a peaceful walled garden are available for guests. French, German and Dutch

spoken.

Cost: £45.00 per night for a single room. £55.00 per night for two sharing a double room.

www.dickens-inn.co.uk