Procol Harum at Milton Keynes

Palers' Base Camp

Responding to Palers' requests, 'Beyond the Pale' has made an arrangement with an hotel that we hope will prove convenient and agreeable for fans attending the Procol concert at Milton Keynes.

Experience shows that all the fans have a good time if we stay in the same hotel ... 'Beyond the Pale' started organising this for fans before Redhill 1997, and followed this with Guildford 1998, Guildford 2000, Kristiansand 2001, Manchester 2001, and Croydon 2002. This time we are not organising a party as such, but we have high hopes of informal conviviality in the hotel bar before and after the show!

The Hotel is the Hilton, Milton Keynes, Kents Hill Park, Milton Keynes MK7 6HL, telephone (0)1908 694433. To see a map of its whereabouts, click here; the map of the gig-venue is here.

We have reserved a block of rooms for 16 March 2003 at a discount, but (differently from past events!) we're asking you to contact the hotel direct to make your booking. Send an e-mail to Yvonne Blackwell at the hotel and be sure to use 'Beyond the Pale' as your booking reference.

The normal prices are 70 pounds a night for double rooms, 55 pounds for singles. Mention 'Beyond the Pale' and you will be charged 50 for a double room, and 40 for a single. These prices include breakfast.

The Procol gig is outside Milton Keynes proper, as is the hotel. We understand that the ride from gig to hotel, or vice versa, will cost five pounds from Ace Cars (0)1908 641010 ... cab-sharing will obviously be an attractive option.

We haven't been able to visit the hotel, but see no reason to doubt its claim to be 'in the heart of Buckinghamshire, close to picturesque English countryside'. It boasts a pool, sauna, spa and steam room and New Horizons restaurant and bar. The rooms include minibar, direct dial telephone, satellite colour TV with movies, hairdryer, tea-and-coffee making facilities and 24 hour room service. One can eat at the hotel, at the Britisserie restaurant and bar; after the gig the bar will remain open to residents 'until they wish to retire!'