This month our lunch will be at the Yeoldon House Hotel, Northam on Friday 25 February at 12 midday.

The meeting format will be as usual with a relaxed atmosphere aimed at generating networking through conversation.

As usual, the price is £20, although meals need to be pre-ordered. No-shows will have to pay £20.

For details of Yeoldon House Hotel, please visit yeoldonhousehotel.co.uk.

We're hoping to see existing members and new faces.

Please contact Kevin Woodward on 0333 044 2038 or James Hellyer.

NDBA's monthly meeting for August will be an informal barbecue at the Pig on the Hill Westward Ho! from 2.30pm on Friday 27 August.

The cost is £10 per adult (£5 per child) with a pay bar.

While our monthly lunches usually focus on a serious business topic, this is a chance for more informal networking.

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To book a place, please call 0333 044 2038

July is rushing past and we're approaching our monthly lunch at midday on Friday 30 July at the Chichester Arms, Bishop's Tawton.

After discussing the optimum numbers for these events, we decided 20 was probably the largest number to make them practical – you can't get many more people round a table and hope to be heard.

We're happy that 17 people have already booked for this month, leaving just three places available. 

This month we are also pleased that Barbara Fryer (@BarbaraFPhotos) has offered to take professional portrait photos for anyone needing a good photo for use on their social media profile, web site or for PR. Barbara is charging £10 for one photo with additional photos £5 each. If you would like your photo taken after the meal, please dress accordingly, bring a comb and a USB memory stick so Barbara can copy the JPEG file on to it for you to use.

We look forward to seeing you for lunch, stimulating discussion, photographs and networking!

Call 0333 044 2038 or email info@ndba.org.uk to reserve your place. Lunch costs £20 and includes main course, drinks and coffee.

Directions to Chichester Arms:

 
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11 members and guests took the opportunity to discuss the budget and other topical issues at June's monthly NDBA lunch at the Chichester Arms, Bishop's Tawton on Friday 25 June.

James Hellyer painted a bleak economic scene, which set the tone for discussing how to move forwards. There seemed to be a considerable body of opinion that there is a lot of scope for public sector cuts which wouldn't be noticed. However, there was also concern at the effect on jobs of cuts and a drop in retail activity.

Suggestions for issues that the NDBA could pursue were broadband provision in the area and the future shape of business support after the abolition of the South West Regional Development Agency.

Barbara Fryer impressed everyone with her outstanding photograph of a white puffin which is available for sale as a limited edition print.

Kevin Woodward arrived late, but in time for the meal, after acting as llama midwife and delivering a male cria. The party raised their glasses to wish it well.