ABOUT US

OBJECTIVES
Our objective is to provide quality dining and musical entertainment to a sophisticated and appreciative clientele. We offer delightful food, as well as excellent music from different genres, both vocal and instrumental, in the unique and historical surroundings of The Grey Lady. It is important to note that we are not a late night drinking club. Customers should bear this in mind when visiting. Membership is not available at present and we have no current plans to re-introduce it.

BASIC ENTRY CONDITIONS
To help us achieve our objectives we have set the following basic conditions on entry that apply equally to adults and accompanying children:

1. 25 years minimum age for entry except by prior arrangement of the management. This does not apply to corporate or private functions outside of the normal music nights nor to children of clients, 15 years or more only, accompanying their parents in the dining area only.
2. Smart casual dress code, that excludes, as a minimum, trainers and jeans, dirty or tattered clothing.
3. Good standards of behaviour.
4. No entry after 11pm, except at our discretion.
5. We do not accept stag parties.
6. We reserve the right to refuse entry without giving reasons.

LICENCE AND CAPACITY
Our capacity is 100 standing, 75 seated and 85 mixed. We have a minimum of 24 dining covers available in The Grey Lady lounge area, which is slightly quieter but where customers may nevertheless see the performers on stage via television. However, we often seat 40 for dinner in The Grey Lady on busy nights so booking is strongly advised.
Our licence runs until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays but the live music stops at 12:45pm. Doors generally close at 11pm except for customers from our restaurant or who have made arrangements with reception.

NOISE
Customers are requested to consider the comfort of local residents when leaving by keeping noise to a minimum. Many thanks.

CHARGES
Prices are £5 to diners in The Grey Lady, £6 to those who dine in La Casa Vecchia and £7 to others. These charges cannot be modified and apply regardless of arrival time. Tables may be booked by diners at La Casa Vecchia but will be released after 30 minutes if not taken-up. Customers who wish to enjoy the ambience of The Grey Lady and our cuisine are strongly advised to book a dining table in The Grey Lady. Customers should note that Friday or Saturday may be used for a Dinner Jazz evening occasionally, in which case bookings only will apply. Customers are advised to arrive as soon as possible after the music begins at 9:30pm to obtain a seat and so get full value for money.

MUSIC
We try to offer a variety of music to suit the varied tastes of our clients. Artists range from those known internationally, such as Clare Martin, Ian Shaw, Jim Mullen, Liane Carroll and Tony Coe, to local and extremely talented musicians such as Iain Rae's Hard Lines, local solicitor Robert Reid and jazz afficionado Lionel Shell. Genres range from cool instrumental jazz to full-on Brazilian samba, from soul to boogie woogie and as both vocal and instrumental. We try to select the music to suit the occasion and this largely depends on the night.

Thursday Live Jazz is very much a listening evening, where we provide quality live jazz at modest ticket prices, mostly £5, but occasionally a little more for our "Big Name Night". Customers do not have to eat but an excellent menu to suit most pockets is available. This event is largely for music lovers and features established and rising names. The event is promoted by John Levett of in Sevenoaks.

Jazz to Soul nights are held on Fridays and Saturdays and the music comes in many forms; instrumental and vocal jazz and blues, soul, boogie woogie, swing, jump jive, reggae, Andalusian, Brazilian & Latin, etc. to suit listening and dancing. The third set, from approximately 11:15pm, is usually more up-tempo and danceable.

Cool Jazz Lunch is held on Sunday afternoon from 1pm to 4pm (last food orders 3pm) in The Grey Lady. Lunch is available from either our main Mediterranean menu or from our special menu which includes a traditional roast option. The atmosphere is relaxed and the music will be provided by highly respected musicians at variable ticket prices. Consideration for musicians and fellow customers is requested regarding smoking and chat.

PRIVATE FUNCTIONS
Mixed Parties Only - No Stag Parties
The Grey Lady is available for private hire both during the day and in the evenings. Daytime hire is available 7 days a week. Exclusive evening use is only possible Sunday to Wednesday.

Our capacity is 100 standing, 75 seated and 85 mixed but these numbers may be less according to the nature of the booking.

DAYTIME
The Grey Lady can be used for daytime events from business presentations, meetings, special meals such as Christmas dinner, birthday or office celebrations and private dining. Daytime use covers the hours of 9am to 5pm, and complete vacation of the room by 5:30pm at the latest is requested in order to allow time for The Grey Lady to be cleaned and set up for the evening.

EVENING
The Grey Lady is available at the present time for exclusive evening use from Sunday to Wednesday. Evening use covers the hours of 7pm to 12 midnight, and complete vacation of the room by 12:30am. Live music may have to cease earlier.

COST
Cost of hiring the venue only is on application, being dependant on the use required, number of staff needed and the length of time the room will be used for. In the case of food and drink being provided by The Grey Lady, the cost of catering will be deducted from the overall charge, thus if enough people are being catered for there will be no actual charge for the use of the venue.

Music can be organised at an additional cost, dependant on the type and number of musicians involved.

Please let us know your food requirements and we shall be happy to quote.

PAYMENT
A non refundable deposit of 25% is required. The remaining balance must be paid 2 weeks before the event. Please note that whoever books the event is responsible for organising payment unless we accept otherwise in writing.

For further information please contact us on 01892 544 700 or by e-mail.