Lunch at Telegraph Hotel – Gunning NSW

04 September 2025 / Words: Ian Bottcher Photos: Robyn Bottcher

Our start place, The Little Bakehouse at Sutton once again proved to be invaluable in caffeinating 24 club members, just prior to tracking to Gunning for lunch at the Telegraph Hotel.

We had 26 club members on the run, but unfortunately a little black NB called “Sooty” encountered mechanical problems (turned out to be the fuel pump) on the way to the start line. After a considerable amount of time passing, and the repair being beyond NRMA’s roadside gamut, “Sooty” was transported back home and thankfully repaired by MX5 Mania. He’s once again zooming around all the backroads of NSW and beyond.

And so, there were only 24 MX-5 enthusiasts seated in 14 MX-5-s headed for Gunning. While not brilliant (chilly), the weather was good enough for most to go topless. Being one of the shortest day/lunch runs this year (46 kms one way), it did allow some sleep deprived participants to get that extra hour or two sleep. The brief was brief (not much to tell on such a short run) and along the lines “head due north, through Gundaroo and onto Gunning bypassing potholes and wildlife”. The road kill on the country roads at the moment is certainly abundant.

With a grading of ‘easy’ the day did encourage camaraderie among like-minded MX-5 enthusiasts, all seemingly enjoying the scenic, wandering, and relaxing drive north. The Telegraph Hotel Bistro accommodated all of us in a friendly and timely manner and they lived up to their 4.5 star rating – good pub food.

After lunch, much good humored banter together with some more serious conversations (world solving) the party dispersed, all finding their own way home. The odd one or two stayed on to “assist” the local retailer and of course top up with more caffeine at The Old Hume Cafe, before heading home.