Social
Vesta is an extremely social club. Our members are our club and we like to see everyone taking part in and enjoying club activities, whether rowing, sculling or social, as much as possible.
The Vesta Bar
The Vesta Bar is renowned along the length and breadth of the Globe with numerous international connections from Canada to Australia. The bar is run by our own members and it is a vital support for our boat buying programme. The more money we put behind the bar the more boats we can buy. It’s easy: Beer = Boats!
The bar is open every Saturday and Sunday from late morning to the last member standing, and during the week (Mon-Thurs) from about 7pm. It serves Guinness, Carling and London Pride on tap, and all manner of other beverages from bottles. Not only are we one of the few club bars to be open almost every night of the week and during the weekend, but we also do not charge our members and their guests for entry during the major Tideway events.
Parties
The Vesta Bar hosts all manner of pre-, during and post-event celebrations and parties throughout the year. There are five major Head races, our annual dinner, the Boat Race, and other Vesta parties typically in May and August, all providing the perfect excuse to frequent the bar, strut your stuff and let your hair down – if you have any. This of course is in addition to the normal weekend and mid-week post-outing/training drinks.
The club house is available for hire to our members for private parties. However we have a limited number of late licences available to us, and we only shut the bar to members once in the season, so please bear this in mind when planning an event. The only time members are not permitted free access to the club is on the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race day. During the Boat Race the Club is open to ticket holders only (notices will go up informing you when and where to purchase tickets). This is solely to prevent overcrowding in the club.
Food
Food is prepared by members on many Sunday lunchtimes and on most Thursday evenings. Please turn up and support the volunteers who make the food. We always need more volunteers so please help out. All proceeds from food sales go directly to the boat buying fund. Most of our new equipment is funded via the profit made over the bar. So instead of complaining that you want to row in a newer boat, pop up to the bar and buy a drink to ensure there’s enough money to pay for one!
Keep an eye on the events section of the website and notice boards around the club for details.
