NEXT Tuesday is the race that stops a nation – and with it the Hastings region.
Clubs and pubs throughout the area will be staging functions leading up to the Melbourne Cup at 3pm, with the fun starting as early as 8.30am, so if the streets and shops seem eerily silent on Tuesday it’s with good reason.
The fun and festivities includes cup sweeps, fashion parades and prizes for best dressed man and lady. Most clubs will also be running courtesy buses to get you to and from the event so you can relax and enjoy a drink without worrying about driving.
Port City Bowling Club is offering the choice of a $12 champagne breakfast in the Ocean Breeze Cafe and a two-course lunch with bubbles for $27 per person in the same restaurant. The Club Buffet restaurant will also be open for lunch at a more modest $11 a head. Melbourne Cup sweeps will be on sale in the morning and afternoon, with a fashion parade and a best hat and best-dressed-man-and lady competitions among planned events.
The fun kicks off at Panthers at 8.30am, when the Melbourne Cup sweeps goes on sale. There’s a champagne breakfast at the Bay Street Brassiere for $7.70 a head (members) and $9.90 (guests). The Ladies Melbourne Cup Luncheon is on in the Paws Lounge with a two-course lunch and champagne ($30 and $35 respectively). Entertainment and activities during the day include the band Hot Potato, a fashion parade and prizes for best-dressed man and lady. There will also be numerous fun promotions to get people in the festive mood.
The Settlers Inn is offering a two-course lunch for $30 a head. This includes complementary champagne, beer or soft drinks on arrival, a complementary mystery trifecta, lucky door prizes, fashion parade and prizes for the best dressed male and female.
At the Aspire Restaurant at the Port Macquarie Golf Club you can enjoy a two-course meal with complementary champagne on arrival for $26.50. The North Haven Bowling and Recreation Club is also offering a two-course meal plus music by Three’s Company for $25 a head.
Some of these functions were already experiencing heavy bookings weeks out from the cup, so jump on the phone straight away to book and confirm details to increase your chances of securing your first choice.
Port City can be reached on 6583 1133, Panthers on 6580 2300, Settlers Inn 6583 3100, Aspire on 6582 0409 and North Haven Bowling on 6559 9150.
