Finding the SONG LOFT

The SONG LOFT is located in the historic market town of Stony Stratford, now part of the New City of Milton Keynes. Geographically Milton Keynes is classed as part of the South Midlands and / or East Anglia.

Milton Keynes is J14 on the M1. (You can also use J13.) The simplest route is to follow the signposts to the A5, and proceed northwards (towards Towcester and Northampton). The first exit for Stony Stratford is signposted for the A422. Take the road off the roundabout marked 'Kiln Farm' (second exit), follow it to the end, then turn right at the roundabout you come to. You will now be on the 'old' A5 which leads directly into the town.

The exit for the other side of the town is marked for 'The Stratfords' and is off the roundabout where the dual carriageway ends.

If you are coming from the north, you may find it quicker to leave the M1 at J15 and turn southbound onto the A508. When you get to the roundabout that is the junction with the A5, instead of turning onto the A5 southbound, take the next exit, signposted 'Old Stratford'. This will bring you into Stony Stratford within a mile.

Coming from the west, head for Oxford, take the A34(M34?) and the A43 northwards to the junction with the A5, then turn south onto the A5. You can turn off the A5 either at the Old Stratford junction, which is first, or proceed one more junction to the Stony Stratford exit (marked for the A422).

Stony Stratford is centered on the High Street (the A5). See the map to the left.

No matter which direction you enter the town from, you will either do so via the High Street, or will end up there.

The SONG LOFT meets in the Cock Hotel which is situated in the center of the High Street.

The normal venue is the first-floor function room known as the Oak Room. However, for major artistes the much larger Marquee Suite is employed.

Since Song Loft events are always in the evening, parking is not normally a problem. However, Stony Stratford is full of pubs and restaurants, so the town tends to be busy of a Friday evening. Because of this, parking space in the High Street is usually taken up very quickly. However, as you can see from the map to the right there are plenty of car parks, and it exceptional for them all to be full. Stony being a small town, all are within easy walking distance of the Cock Hotel.

It is worth noting that enforcement of parking regulations has been privatised in Milton Keynes, and although it is rare to see wardens of an evening, it has been known. The police foot patrols have also been known to ticket the more blatent offenders.