FAQs

A. Certainly, although you normally need to be invited by a member as a guest.

A. You can apply to the Hon. Secretary, via the website. If we have spare tickets for a dinner we will try to squeeze you in.

A. Anywhere between the mid fifties up to twice that number. On average we have catered for about 65 members & guests over recent years.

A. Members currently pay an annual subscription of £40. Tickets to dinners are priced in the region of £50 for members. Guest tickets are £20 more, to reflect the membership fee.

A. Dinners take place during the week, in the spring & autumn of each year. Members & guests arrive between 7 – 7.30 pm, and are served with drinks and canapés. The meal itself is most often four or five courses with a selection of fine wines and appropriate alcoholic drinks. We aim to finish the evening by 10.30 pm.

A. The sponsor is considered a vital part of the evening; so he or she will address and inform members about the meal they are consuming. They also might reflect upon the overall theme of the dinner. This is often done in short bursts to accommodate the caterers. At some stage in the evening official minutes will be read from the previous dinner. Examples of the minutes may be found elsewhere on the website. We are a club, so after the spring dinner there is an AGM.

A. We like to think of our evenings as special occasions, and it is probably fair to say that everyone makes an effect to look his or her best. The majority of men still wear DJ’s, but no one should feel compelled to hire something to fit in with the crowd. The Club has its fair share of eccentrics, and this often manifests itself in some splendid outfits.

A. The short answer is no. Frank Buckland devoted his life to experimenting with unusual and frequently culturally unacceptable foodstuffs. The Buckland Club is not a restaurant; it would be impractical to serve a choice of dishes. The only choice that diners have is whether to consume what is put in front of them or leave it. Potentially controversial dishes are more often than not served as canapés. Memorable successes over recent years have included squirrel and horsemeat. A gastronomic sense of adventure is crucial for anyone considering applying for membership. However, a limited range of non-alcoholic drinks is available at dinners.

A. No. We aim to provide an interesting, exciting and thought provoking experience at a typical Buckland Club dinner. During the course of the evening guests will frequently be served novel and inventive fare that may include the occasional challenging item. Dinners are very much unique experiences. We believe in taking culinary risks, and as a result there are the occasional misses along with a possibly higher than average range of hits. But then again, that is part of the fun.

A. Definitely! We usually plan dinners somewhere between twelve months and two years ahead. Firstly you need a theme and then, most importantly, someone to speak knowledgably at the dinner. The cost of the menu must be realistic; as a rule of thumb the sum of £50-60 per person would be within budget. Remember this figure should include not only food and drink, but also any additional costs or expenses. Be aware that specialist wines will almost certainly incur a corkage charge at any venue. This is currently about £8 for a bottle of wine. You can expect to get about five to six glasses to a bottle. Buckland Club members tend to be a thirsty lot, and expect a drink with each course of their meal. Aim to be catering for sixty-five covers. Feel free to get in touch with your ideas if you think that you have a realistic idea. Please consider that sponsoring a dinner is not only extremely rewarding: it will also involve a considerable amount of time and dedication to deliver your masterpiece. Along the way you will undoubtedly experience worry, heartache and extreme grief in some shape or form before you ultimately triumph. Naturally we will assist you as much as possible – just be aware that it is not for everyone. If you are not put off, then please get in touch.

A. Definitely not. However, we are realistic and are more than willing to pay reasonable expenses. These might include: travel (possibly a return ticket from outside the UK), the cost of an overnight stay in Birmingham and research into the dinner. Traditionally the sponsor, plus any partner, is not charged for their tickets.

A. Younger children do not attend dinners, but anyone aged sixteen, or over, is more than welcome. Occasionally we have summer parties, which are held during the afternoon. These tend to be more of a family affair, and all children are definitely most welcome.

A. Semper in ventrem aliquid novi. Well, when we put it into a search engine it translated as: Always something new in the stomach. We rather like it.