At the heart of the Prince Albert is a story that goes far beyond running a much-loved pub and music venue.
For Lotte, the Prince Albert is not simply the place she helps run – it is home, a creative hub, and a huge part of the life she shares with her husband, Miles.
So when Miles reached his 60th birthday, there was only ever going to be one way to celebrate – with music, friends, laughter and a party at the Prince Albert.
What followed was a spectacular two-day celebration, bringing together old friends, familiar faces and musicians from across Miles and Lotte’s remarkable journey.
Here, Lotte reflects on a very special weekend celebrating the man she shares both her life and the Prince Albert with.
Well, what a weekend we had celebrating Miles’s 60th birthday at The Prince Albert!
I’m not sure who was more excited about it – Miles or me – but I suspect I was. Sixty sounds like such a significant number, although neither of us feels remotely like we’re in our late fifties, let alone sixty. Forty seemed impossibly old when I was a ween in the seventies, and yet here we are.
But if anything, Miles’s birthday was a wonderful reminder that there is still so much life to live, so much music to hear, so many people to see and so much fun to be had. And that was exactly how we celebrated.
We had two very special days, surrounded by wonderful friends, brilliant music, good food and plenty of laughter.
Saturday night saw the return to Stroud of an old resident and very dear friend, Alan Burke. I first picked Alan up hitchhiking back in the late 1980s, shortly after he had moved to Bisley. We struck up a conversation, and somehow, all these years later, he was back on our stage – almost 50 years on – playing a wonderfully raucous and hugely enjoyable night of contemporary and traditional music, alongside some of his own beautifully penned songs.
Alan was part of the hugely successful Irish band After Hours and is now a member of The Rambling Boys of Pleasure. It was fantastic to welcome him back, and even better that the evening brought together old friends and musicians, including Tim Potts, one of his former bandmates who still lives in the Stroud Valleys, and Alan’s wife Debbie.
There was music, dancing, laughter and that lovely feeling you get when old friendships are picked up exactly where they left off.
Sunday was a rather more relaxed affair – cocktails from Kitts, soul music and wonderful food from 1pm until 6pm. The perfect antidote to the excesses of the night before and a very fitting way to round off a truly memorable birthday weekend.
And perhaps that is the best thing about turning 60: realising that age is really just a number, while the friendships, music, adventures and experiences that make life special just keep on coming.
So, happy 60th, Miles. Here’s to the next chapter – and all the adventures still to come.
And now, before we get too carried away with autumn, there is still plenty of summer left to enjoy…
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