This year our annual Section Picnic is being held on Sunday 29th June at Penshurst Place, near Tonbridge in Kent.
Penshurst Place & Gardens and the surrounding estate have stood in the historic village of Penshurst since the 14th century, when the awe-inspiring medieval Baron’s Hall was completed in 1341 as a country retreat for the Lord Mayor of London. Penshurst Place is the ancestral home of the Sidney family who have taken care of the estate since 1552. After passing through the hands of two of Henry IV’s sons, followed by Henry VIII who used it as a hunting lodge. Penshurst Place was given to Anne of Cleves as part of her divorce settlement from Henry VIII. It was then briefly in the hands of Sir Ralph Fane and was finally gifted by Henry VIII’s son, Edward VI, to his loyal steward and tutor, Sir William Sidney.
Highlights include the Baron’s Hall, crowned by an original 60ft high chestnut beamed ceiling; the Victorian Kitchen; and the 48 acres of grounds to explore including 11 Acres of formal Grade I listed gardens. There are walking trails through the grounds and riverside walks surrounding the estate. Further details can be found on the website https://www.penshurstplace.com/.
As with previous picnics, AROC will have a dedicated parking area, separate from the public carpark, for us to display our Alfa Romeos and enjoy our picnics. There is also the option of food and drinks from the Porcupine Pantry Café which is accessible without having to enter the house or gardens.
To join us at the event you will need to purchase tickets in advance. If you just wish to join us for the Picnic and do not wish to visit the house or gardens there is a cost of £5 per car with no limit on the number of passengers; this will get you entry to our Picnic and will allow you to visit the parkland surrounding the estate and the Porcupine Pantry Café. For those who also wish to visit the house and/ or gardens we have secured group rates at the following prices:
- Entry to AROC Picnic and Penshurst Place gardens: £13 per adult/ £9 ages 16-18/ £7 under 16.
- Entry to AROC Picnic, Penshurst Place house and gardens: £14 per adult/ £9.50 ages 16-18/ £7.50 under 16.
Note that entry to the Picnic is included in the cost of any ticket to enter the house or gardens.
Tickets for all options are now on sale at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/alfaromeoownersclub/1710561.
Please note that due to the nature of the historic gardens and wildfowl on the estate, only registered assistance dogs are permitted to enter Penshurst Place and Gardens; this includes the playground and woodland trail. Dogs are however welcome in the parkland surrounding Penshurst Place & Gardens but must be kept on leads when around livestock. Dogs are also welcome inside the Gift Shop and on the dog-friendly marked tables in the Porcupine Pantry Café.
If you have any questions about this event – or any other Surrey Section event – please ask me or any other member of the Committee.