Friday 24 December to Tuesday 28 December 2010
Bruges in the snow, Christmas Tour 2010
Friday 24 December
06.15 Coach pick up Colchester.
06.45 Coach pick up Chelmsford – Woolpack, Mildmay Road, Chelmsford.
07.45 Pick up Maidstone Services J8, M20.
09.50 Eurotunnel from Folkestone.
11.30 Arrive Calais.
12.30 The first stop will be at De Leute at Oeren, in Belgium’s smallest village. Here we will taste our first beer of the tour (the café features De Bie brewery beers) and enjoy their Breughel meal of local delicacies.
15.00 Arrive at Café de Zon in Vleteren, the brewery tap of Deca Brewery for an included Antiek Blonde or Bruin*.
17.30 Arrive at Rembrandt Café in Zedelgem for a friendly reception and a good selection of beers including most of the Trappist beers and La Chouffe on draught.
19.30 Arrive at Bruges and the four star Hotel Acadamie. Maps of Bruges* and copies of Podge’s Bruges Top 10 Bar Guide* and City Map*will be distributed. Early evening free to explore Bruges. Unlike in the UK, most bars and restaurants close early on Christmas Eve, so I have reserved a number of tables at Strijdershuis, in the shadow of the belfry, where they always supply great food and a more than decent beer list.
Bruges Ice Sculpture, Christmas Tour 2010
Saturday 25 December
Christmas Morning at leisure in Bruges and you may want to take in the fabulous Ice and Snow Sculpture in marquees on the square in front of the railway station – bring your gloves!
12.00 Head off by coach to a very special location for Christmas morning – where we can enjoy our first beer on Blankenberge Pier. The huge Pier café has great views over the sea and a beer menu offering Petrus beers from Bavik Brewery*.
15.00 We then make our way to the lovely Royal seaside town of De Haan and the great De Torre café with a great beer list which usually includes a Dupont beer on draught.
18.00 We round off the day with a special beer cuisine evening meal at the Bistronoom in Ostend, which is opening especially for us, courtesy of the chef, Stefanie De Vos.
Late return to hotel in Bruges. 
Blankenberg Pier, Podge's Belgian Beer Tours, Christmas Day 2010
Sunday 26 December
10.00 Coach leaves Bruges and we head for a Boxing Day beer at Smisje brewery, Mater, who are having their open brewery day hosted by genial brewer Johan, where we can enjoy a warming Christmas beer on tap*.
13.30 Arrive for a visit to our old friends at Alvinne Brewery in Heule for a taste of a selection of their beers. The first beer is on Podge*. There will also no doubt be some extraordinary beers for sale from their shop.
16.00 Call in at the lively De Zalm Café on the Grote Markt in the town of Roeselare (home to Rodenbach Brewery) which uniquely serves Rodenbach’s Foeder Beer on handpump. We will also have an opportunity for a snack or meal from their excellent menu.
19.00 Arrive for a visit to new café Den Zytholoog, run by our old friend Stefaan who has moved his Den Bierloods café and beer shop to this new location in Adegem. We will have the chance to choose from his staggering selection of 1500 beers, to be selected by the customer from the fridges and brought to the bar for opening and drinking! Late evening return to Bruges. 
Podge's Belgian Beer Tours at Smisje Brewery, Boxing Day 2010
Monday 27 December
10.00 Leave Bruges for the first visit of the day.
11.00 Arrive at In De Vrede, the world famous monastery brewery at Westvleteren for an opportunity to taste their fantastic quality Trappist beers and hopefully to buy limited stocks for home from their Monastery Shop, along with other artisanal goodies of a food and drink variety.
14.30 Arrive at De Filosoof Beer Café in Maldegem for a special tasting of the exceptional Viven beers, hopefully including their Viven Imperial IPA and their Porter*.
18.00 We round off the day with an evening visit to the quality and friendly café Pado in Tielt, who specialise in great food and great beer and we will have a full Belgian Beer Cuisine meal paired with beers.
22.00 Return to hotel in Bruges.
22.00 Return to hotel in Bruges.
Christmas snow slide in Markt Bruges, December 2010
Tuesday 28 December
10.00 Set off from hotel for a visit to beer warehouse Rotsaert in Zedelgem for an opportunity to buy quality beers to take home.
12.30 Arrive at the coastal town of Middelkerke for a visit to the new and excellent Den Toogoloog cafe where we will have a three course meal prepared by their chef, accompanied by beers.
12.30 Arrive at the coastal town of Middelkerke for a visit to the new and excellent Den Toogoloog cafe where we will have a three course meal prepared by their chef, accompanied by beers.
16.00 Arrive at the pretty coastal town of Nieuwpoort to pay a visit to their special Christmas market including the Chouffe Fire House, run by the local Fire Brigade, selling Chouffe beer from their outdoor Chalet – so wrap up warm – or have a Hot Chouffe Coffee Liqueur! Time permitting we will have a last chance for a beer and snack prior to catching the train home is a stop in the historic town of Veurne, where there are plenty of great beer and snack cafes on the main square.
20.20 Leave Calais on Eurotunnel Shuttle.
20.00 Arrive Folkestone.
21.00 Drop off Maidstone Services J8, M20.
22.15 Arrive Chelmsford. Drop off at Woolpack, Mildmay Road.
22.45 Arrive Colchester, drop off.
Egyptian Ice Sculpture Bar, Bruges Ice Sculture Exhibition, December 2010
Egyptian Ice Sculpture Bar, Bruges Ice Sculture Exhibition, December 2010
All above times are local and approximate. Food, drink, passport and insurance costs are your responsibility. The items marked* are inclusive of the tour price. The price of this extended five day tour is £397 per person based on sharing a twin or double room, with a single supplement of £120 if you want a room of your own. We use a luxury coach throughout these Tours. Included in the tour price are coach travel from Colchester or Chelmsford, still and sparkling water available on the coach and hotel breakfasts on Tour. Arrangements can be made for different joining points on the way from Colchester to Dover/Folkestone or even on the other side of the channel. Personal insurance is not included but is strongly advised, as is carrying the European Health Insurance Card available online, by phone or via the Post Office.
06.45 Coach pick up Chelmsford –
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