Lift-off for Gastronauts

About a dozen men have come up with a way of tightening their belts, while expanding their waistlines

A GROUP of West Berkshire and North Hampshire men have come up with a way of tightening their belts, while expanding their waistlines.

About a dozen middle-aged men have formed the Newbury Gastronauts, which each month sees one member, together with his sous-chef, plan a multi-course menu and buy the ingredients to cook a meal for the other members of the group.

His house is then invaded by the other members, who cook, consume and carouse for the evening.

The recently elected chairman of the group, Steve Davenport, said: “It is an excellent and extremely cheap way to spend a Friday evening.

“I can't say the rest of the lads are any good at cooking and we've had a few disasters, but they're making progress and it is about having fun and having a go.

“Our wives, now dubbed the ‘Gastro-widows', have even passed the odd compliment on our meals.”

Another member of the Gastronauts, Angus Russell, said the idea for the group came from an old acquaintance of his in Oslo, Norway, and he said the group had brought together men from different backgrounds and different countries, including Australia, Denmark, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.

He said: “It has worked out well. We all didn't know each other before, but we now all get together once a month and it is a lovely way of getting to know people.

“We get a good block of about five hours together and there is always a nice variety of views.”