Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2007/January 2008 | Page 109

MOTORING

life

Deliciously dark
and indulgent –
it’s party time at
Snows
It was more than the chilli
ice cream that made the
launch of the new MINI
Clubman party go with a
zing. The cars themselves
went down pretty well: three
were sold on the night.
Sixty guests were invited to
Snows MINI for a VIP cocktail
party to peruse the new baby
at the showroom on the
Forest Road. Before the wraps
were off, however, they were
treated to a buffet of all things
chocolate: white chocolate
vodka, chocolate-flavoured
red wine, and plain chocolate
chunks topped with sea salt.
Inevitably, but deliciously,
there was a chocolate
fountain. And that ice cream –
Minghella’s special Chocolate
Chilli Spice-cream. Are we
spotting a theme here?
Yes, the livery of the new
MINI, once it was unveiled
to enthusiastic applause,
was ‘Hot Chocolate’.

Sarah Burridge, manager
at Snows MINI, blamed her
condition for the overwhelming
theme of the evening. “I’m a
chocoholic,” she said. “And
the Hot Chocolate colour was
really popular on the night.”
Ever since the showroom
opened, when MINIs were
launched in 2001, Islanders
have had a particular affinity
with the little cars, according
to sales executive John
Crowson. “They like them
because of their size, and their
practicality,” he said. “They
are brilliant at handling the
Island roads, and because
of the way their seats drop
down they are really easy
to load.” Clubmans – the
MINI estate – are nine inches
longer and two inches higher
than the standard MINI.
One of the cars sold on the
night was to lsle of Wight
Radio DJ Big Al – and his
dog Doc. The leather seats

Island Life - www.isleofwight.net

Even more space with the use of The Club Door

Space inside is plentiful especially with the unique door system.

appealed to Alex, and the boot
was roomy enough for his dog.
The appeal of the MINI is
multi-generation, it seems.
The fastest of the family is the
M