Here’s a few words from La Grotte du Yeti’s owner, Clive Day aka Torchy Harper:-
With the changing of control in 2003 came many improvements which now see the Grotte du Yeti as the largest and busiest bar in Serre Chevalier.
Before 2003 the bar was over 90% Dutch in clientele and serving almost exclusively clients for Sportura Holidays, a Dutch-based company.
New owner, Mr Clive Day, an Englishman, vowed to change all that.
Whilst still used as a base for Sportura, the bar has over the last two years opened a restaurant, serving well-priced quick “café” type food for skiers, snowboarders and anyone else who is a fan of fine tuck!
With the bar at the base of the slopes directly below the Aravet télécabine, access is simple from the mountain or by road.
Open from 8.00 am until 1.00 or 2.00 am everyday with a full range of breakfasts and lunches washed down with an even fuller range of beverages, it is just what is needed.
At the end of a long day of winter sports relax in a “Happy Hour” environment of 3€ a pint for beer and acoustic live music, such as “sing a long” performances from the amazingly jolly “Sad Ugly Blokes”. With an in-house team of entertainers and musicians a lively bar and great ambience is guaranteed.
Also our delightful “shooters” at 1€ will hit the spot.
With snacks available until 7 pm there is no reason to ever leave, so stay into the evening for the huge range of entertainment available.
Saturday is welcome night, cheap drinks and a chance for us to meet you and you to meet us, we are open until 2.00am.
Sunday is live music from the Ska Bandits, a five piece dance band featuring classic Madness/ Specials songs and much more.
Monday is 70s/80’s Disco with DJ Lurve. We all dress the part so come along with the sequins and loud clothes for discounted drinks.
Tuesday is Abba night featuring Almost Abba, the only Abba tribute band in the French Alps, exclusive to the Grotte du Yeti. The songs, the costumes, a great night!
Wednesdays are theme nights, with hits from the 90s and 00s and a chance to chat and just have fun.
Thursday is the “Black and Blues Brothers” show, a seven-piece Blues Brothers tribute band. Live and rocking!
Friday is politically incorrect night with the always over the top Harper Brothers rock band. The ultimate in showmanship and atmosphere even if it is known to contain some bad language and mildly risqué songs. A fantastic way to see out your week!
Remember… we never charge an entrance fee, it’s all free admission and we never put up drinks prices for live music events. It is in our opinion a rip-off to do this so our prices remain the same reasonable rate. Also if you buy a drinks card for 200€
In advance, you can get an average of 20% discount on everything. Can’t be bad!
We now have a client base of French / English / Dutch / Scandinavians etc with no problems at all, no need for large “bouncers” on the door. It’s just a fantastic ambience where everyone of all ages from small children to pensioners can have a good time in the ultimate holiday bar.
Come and see for yourself, I bet you’ll like it.
All the best
Torchy
Ps To find out more call or email
Also you can buy our new CD, “Live and Shite at the Grotte” for 6€, containing performances by all five regular acts. Also you can now hear some of this via the superhighway – coming soon!
Good Luck
The “Grotte du Yeti” Serre Chevalier
4 Place de l’Aravet
La Salle des Alpes
05240
France
Tel : 04 92 24 96 53
Tags: Sportura, restaurant, SadNo related posts.
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Torchy
It’s Justin here , I used to run L’opera and then Corrigans in Les Deux Alpes (remember Australia DAY!!!!)
I’m an old fart now living in London but I want to buy all your old albums (if you can call it that … I diod have it on K7 but everythings gone now let me know how and how much cheers Justin
Hi Justin, Rick the bass player here. Nice to hear from you, I’ll see what I can do regarding the back catalog. I’ll see Clive later today so I’ll have a word.
nice one
do you remember when torchy made the drummer take his clothes off and the locals went mad?
Thanks
Hi Guys,
I hear the Yeti has gone! Sad news indeed as we will be back in Serre Chevalier in Jan09 – where do we go now!!
Would be good to know if Torchy is still active in the area. Plus I really wanted copy of Rawhide – the Harper Brother Version.
We will bring the Yeti back somehow w/c 4th Jan 09 – In music if nothing else.
Cheers
John
John – you might be confused.
Hotel Le Yeti was in Chantemerle which went a few years ago.
La Grotte du Yeti was in Villeneuve and became ‘La Grotte’ which Torchy aka Clive bought it in 2005. Torchy is alive a well and I’ll be rehearsing with him in about half an hour, it’s a new kickin little 3 piece called ‘Fat City Rockers’, The Harpers still play Friday nights at La Grotte. Hope that clears stuff up.
Rick
Oi Oi Justin,
Milf here, EMF.
Long time fella, what the hell are you doinf in London.
I have a posse of persons going out to The 2 alpes this year and me and a friend were talking about your set at l’Opera. Hope Joana followed by ebeneeza good drop straight into rocking all over the world. Mate you are a legend.
Mucho regardo
Milf
‘ello Milf!
hi…i came to serre chavalier last year and its bloody amazing!!..i would like a job for this season…please!! i like your bar, it makes me smile…i have lots of experiance..i dont know how to get hold of you so this will have to do i guess! if you could send me an email adress…mine is surfermadi@hotmail.co.uk then i can send you a cv and really sell myself!!!!
thanks
Madi x
Saw the fat city rockers in February 2009, played guitar on stage with them. Best après ski ever. Where and when are they playing 2010 season?
Hi Stuart, Rick the bass player here, same as really, but we are expanding back up to a 4 piece with Colbo on guitar.
We will probably revert back to the old (and legendary)name, The Harper Brothers.
We will also be doing loads more gigs in Chantemerle too.
@Rick Lomas:Hi Rick its gilly, bad harper brothers drummer and occasional guitarist, but a great singer. I am trying to get hold of Clive and Maria to catch up.Would it be possible for you to get me a mobile number or ask one of them to phone me on 07979538452. I hope everyone is well.
Cheers
Gilly
Hi there! I am a 21 year old Australian with 3 years bar experience and I have been recommended by a couple of people to apply to work for this upcoming winter season. I have one season left on my visa left and would like to make it a memorable one! If there are any vacancies don’t hesitate to email and I will forward my CV! Thanks for your time and look forward to hearing from you!!!
This is your Big Brother Herbie Here!
Just to let you know that I have not forgotten about paying you and the Lads a visit and look forward to seeing you all sometime this Winter! I am also just putting the Final Touches to a Compilation Album of all our Old Joe- Torchy – Stuff that I have found with the Classics on it – Alice, Siberia, Plastic People, Just ain’t Cool and of course the Original ‘Broken Heart’
Love you all,
Herbie ‘Slim’ Harper
Well looking forward to hearing that!
Hi Torchy not sure why but found my self thinking about you guys the other day and wanted to make sure you are still up to no good – the best f***ing live act ever no matter what happened between us . If you get this just to day hi mate – I have lived in Argentina for the past 7 years http://www.estancialamargarita.com – it was as far away as I could get!!!!t but the gigs you guys did at the frog and roastbif will forever – cheers mate
@david cummings Frog and Roastbif Val Thorens: Sorry David, I had to edit that a tad! I’ll make sure Torchy gets to see this…
Hi
I just wanted to say that we have recently come back from Serre Chevalier and loved your bar. We had a great laugh there every night. The atmosphere was great.
BUT I wanted to comment on Friday night’s entertainment The Harper Brothers. Whilst they may have enjoyed themselves, they made me feel ashamed to be British. Their language was dreadful, their music was pretty poor, their banter with the crown was embarassing and they looked like a bunch of old tramps.
Whilst an hour of them might have been OK, they played all night.
When I went to the toilet, 2 other people came in complaining and asking if there was anywhere else to go.
Rubbish, old and dated.
It was shame to end the holiday with this. All the other nights had been great…………especially the band that played earlier in the week…..Beer Pressure and the Miss Serre Chevalier night.
Just wanted to pass you my feedback because it was a huge shame for sucha crap night to let down an otherwise great week.
Hi Leah, thank you for your comments and calling me an old tramp – freedom of speech and all that
We had heard some complaints that The Harper Brothers had ‘lost their edge’ and weren’t quite as over the top as they used to be, so it’s bloody good job you didn’t see us a few years ago.
So…Why didn’t you just go over the road to the Pere et Noel? It was all happening there.
Leah, you obviously didn’t get into The Harper Brothers spirit did you? I’ve seen them off and on for quite a few years now and the only way to do get through the night is to drink as much as they do, then it all makes sense.
I just read your post again “their banter with the crown” – I didn’t realize there was Royalty there.
Leah, I made this post just for you: The Harper Brothers are shit.
Hi Leah
I’m the drummer of this band.
I am, actually, a tramp.
Just to set things straight your miserable face really put a downer on the gig. Several people mentioned this in toilets all over the valley.
Really nice to know you don’t have better things to do than complain.
I thought my life as a tramp was dull!
Hey Leah,
I also was a tramp, on the streets of Watford, until this rusty old van full of dodgy musos, picked me up, fed & watered me, took me to Val D’Isere, taught me how to ski and play the drums. (not at the same time)
I finally managed to extracate myself from what ~I now know to be some horrible semi-religous sect – my life is now on an even keel.
I know how you feel.
Please contact me if I can offer some comfort.
Love Charlie xx
Hi leah,
Seb’s quote: “Leah, the care box is empty!”
Jess says:
“I must admit, the Harpers are sometimes, well ok, most times, rude. But that is what they are all about! If you didn’t like it then you should have left instead of complaining!
They are good musicians – when they are not pissed. To be honest i don’t know how they do it!
I also think it rude to call people tramps when you don’t know them. Do you actually know what a tramp looks like or is? If you are not sure i suggest you google it – you can find anything on the world wide web.
With this i leave you to it! “
I didn’t realise that YOU were part of the band. I just thought it was a shame that the other nights there were so much fun there. Friday was a complete change of atmosphere and really disappointing. You’ve obviously got some fans….so that’s cool. It would just have been a great week if Friday matched up to the other nights. That’s all. You run a great place and it was the highlight of the week until then. I thought you had just hired in a crap band and actually paid for them so it’s a relief to know that at least you don’t cost La Grotte anything (other than some customers who left early).
Hope the rest of the season goes really well and you continue to enjoy playing………..even if not many people enjoy it with you.
Well I’m glad you came back and made a further comment, however I don’t really know what to say in response. I love a bit of banter on the internet and it was good fun to make this post the other week: http://www.serrechevalier.org/live-music/the-harper-brothers-are-shit-its-official/ and get a bit of response. There was some funny stuff on the Facebook page too: http://www.facebook.com/serrechevalierfrance
See you next time you’re in Serre Chevalier (probably not)
Actually La Grotte pay us loads of money for doing what we do, as do many other bars. You obviously just don’t get it. Sorry if we offended you but at the end of the day we are fcking ace and you aint! Sorry, I’m off again…
p.s. What is your band called?? I really want to come see you!
Going to be in Serre Che week after next – saw a few recommendations for your bar & thought I’d look it up on the web… Have thoroughly enjoyed this thread, & fully expect to enjoy the tasteful tunefulness of The Harper Brothers in the near future
You obviously don’t understand sarcasm so let’s try something more basic, go back to your boring life and boring job you boring c**t.
Please note my words may not be collaborated by the rest of the band, but they probably are you t**t.
Blimey is that really you Clive? I’ve never heard you use the words ‘clot’ and ‘twit’ in the same sentence before???
hi! dangerous dan molloy the most dangerous man in all of serre chevalier here just say hi and hope you guys are still there.
Dan – how you doing mate? Still in Telluride? The Harper Brothers as you may have guessed have gone from bad to worse, but it is still happening. Actually I have a feeling when you were playing with us we might have been called the Loonies or something like that. We tried various names but it always ends up being The Harper Brothers. We might have a few (not many) new songs since you left the band in 2002
Of all the bars in all the countries and all resorts The yeti is by far the best bar with the best entertainment I am yet to stumble into and drag my carcass out of. I vaguely recall sprinting to the yeti holding back last nights pleasures, just to get the free beer before 10am with breakfast!! We were then fed free shots to clear our heads ready for the day on the slopes.
I have not been for a few years as have tried pastures new (and wanted to get some sober boarding done) but me and my mate will return one day to our positions at the bar to renew our “wanker” t-shirts. I hope the bands and the bar are there for years to come.
It sounds like you were last in The Yeti (actually called La Grotte now) when Clive Day ran it and Boro was the bar manager. Things are slightly different now as Clive sold La Grotte to Boro. Clive now runs The Station down the ‘road in Chantemerle. If you come out again check it out (as well as La Grotte of course).
I’m so just loving the The Harper Bros banter and I’ve not even been to Serre yet. There’s a big group (17) of us coming on the 29th Jan 2012 and it looks like we’ll be spending way too much time in La Grotte…looking forward to it guys!!!
Excellent Stuff – The Harpers are at the Grotte every Friday night.
P.S. We’re staying in Chantemerle so will make a point of going to the Station as well!!!
Even better! Clive from The Harpers owns The Station, so you will find The Harpers there in one form or another most Apres Skis
Cheers Rick…I’ll pass the info onto the guys/girls…we’ll defo come and say hello
Excellent, see you on the 29th (ish)