At the start of the winter season Oli Branford started Morzine Social. Based on the tried and tested ‘pub crawl’ format, punters, seasonaires and locals were encouraged to get on board the Mutzig train. Yet it’s only now, with less than half the season to go, that I’ve actually turned out to a Morzine Social event. Shocking.....
Every Tuesday, Morzine Social arrange drinks deals, taking in bars the length and breadth of Morzine. Yesterday we started in the Happy Hours Bar, just at the bottom of the Ardent Telecabine. Between 3pm and 8pm there were a load of games including ski limbo and tug of war. Retro Rentals were there in force, offering up onesie love in a whole host of off-trend colours and patterns, guaranteed to set your après off with a bang. Half pints of brightly coloured ‘seasonnaire punch’ for just €2 were on offer to match the spectacular creations. And the free ski buses run every half an hour between Ardent and Morzine until 8pm on Tuesday night.
You can buy your Morzine Social wristband, which gives you access to all the venues and drinks discounts arranged by Morzine Social for just €10, or €15 including the hire of a glorious Retro Rentals onesie.
After all the bright pink punch our stomachs required a lining, so off we pushed to Mammas on the Rue du Bourg for some tasty fish and chips. Our Morzine Social wristband included a free drink with dinner. Lovely. And then at Chez Roger, just over the road, Morzine Social wristband wearers get pints for €4 and bottles of wine for €12.
Last year’s White Monkey Bar in the centre of Morzine has become this year’s Haka Bar. I hadn’t been before (Yes, I call myself an après reporter… but it just never looked very good!) but my Morzine Social wristband offered up bottles of Vodka for €30,beers for €3.50 and €2 for a glass of wine. All of which went down a treat as we played ‘battleshots’ – which is Battleships for grownups, in case you didn’t already know.
By the time I’d reached the next part of the bar crawl at Le Coyote, things could have gone either way. Although the electro swing, breaks and funk were enough to keep the party going, a considerable amount of alcohol had been consumed by absolutely everyone in sight. Had it not been for the prospect of BBC Radio 1’s Essential Mix DJ Metrik playing at L’Opera, I might have called it a night!
I missed out on the Café Chaud element of the Morzine Social bar crawl, where wristband wearers got a free shot and a Jagerbomb for €5. And thank god I did because Metrik at L’Opera was incredible and unmissable. Basscamp Sessions are renowned for bringing some of the best and up and coming DJs to Morzine but if you missed this gig last night, you missed a treat. On a regular Tuesday night in L’Opera, Morzine Social wristband wearers get free entry to L’Opera until 1am and entry is €12 after that, which includes a free drink.
So, much to my surprise, Morzine is still able to surprise when it comes to drinking, après, and a big night out. Oli has some big plans for Morzine Social next year so if the whole bar crawl thing is your bag, then follow him on Facebook.
As for me… I’m never drinking again.
