jason's_planet will be in London. Let's meet up!

Hey, there, London. I'll be visiting from May 16 through the 26th and would like to drink with you.

I'll probably spend the first day or two getting my bearings and recovering from jetlag. I understand that the last three days of my vacation will be a bank holiday and people will probably have made other plans. That leaves us with Sunday, May 18th through Friday, May 23. I've made plans for the evening of Thursday, May 22.

So . . . Sunday, May 18th through Wednesday, May 21 and the evening of May 23rd are the best times for me.

Any drinking establishment is good, as long as it doesn't feature slugs or lettuce or Red Bull or Burberry caps. No need to reinvent the wheel; if a place has worked well in the past, that's fine by me. But if we have to break a tie, let's pick the place with the best beer selection.

So . . . when and where would you like to meet up?

Looking forward to meeting all of you in person!

posted by jason's_planet to MetaFilter gatherings at 12:09 PM (58 comments total) 8 users marked this as a favorite

Weeknights are pretty hard for me to get into London, but I hope you enjoy your trip!
posted by grouse at 12:14 PM on April 28

I can only do the 18th and I'm flying to Ireland early the next morning so... um, well, probably factor me out. But if it does happen on the 18th, I'll try to swing by for a bit before going home to frantically pack.
posted by flashboy at 12:36 PM on April 28

My wife and I will be in London on the nights of the 19th and 20th.

(We'll also be at the Explosions ATP if any other Mefites are going...)
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:43 PM on April 28 [1 favorite]

I might be in London that week. Watch this space.
posted by Lotto at 12:47 PM on April 28

One vote for Friday 23 May here.
posted by chrismear at 1:39 PM on April 28 [1 favorite]

Weekend meetups tend to be better in terms of ability to attend, ability of getting rather merry etc.

On the location side of things, today's justification for suggesting a Smiths is that they provide a perfect hearty English pub atmosphere for those visiting from abroad. Also this absolutely class review of the Lyceum Tavern:

Nearby Kings College ensures this pub is 'student friendly' so the theatre crowd mingles with the students, which means the totty quota will be exceptional, especially for a pre-theatre pub.

Alternatively, I've had my eye on The Rising Sun for a while. But then we did just trek out to Farringdon again recently, whilst the Strand remains a handily central area.
posted by hugsnkisses at 5:40 PM on April 28

Weekend meetups tend to be better in terms of ability to attend, ability of getting rather merry etc.

Fair enough . . the only reasons I suggested a weeknight were:

*I was concerned that nobody would be in London 5/24-5/26 because of the bank holiday, that everyone would be at the beach or something.

*For the first weekend, I was concerned about jetlag. I'll be getting in on Friday morning. I wasn't sure if I'd actually be awake and alert and sociable on Friday evening. (Or even Saturday.) But again, if this concern is unwarranted, I'm open to Saturday the 17th.

Would you all prefer the weekend? Is that how you usually do it?
posted by jason's_planet at 6:40 PM on April 28

This is where I point out that I'm gigging at the Good Ship in Kilburn on the 20th. We could meetup there AND on the 23rd.

Unabashed Self-Link to Facebook Event.

I feel a bit like ludwig_van.
posted by armoured-ant at 4:12 AM on April 29

Hear that Jason? A trip to Kilburn's in your future!

I vote for drink.
posted by cillit bang at 5:17 AM on April 29

I feel a bit like ludwig_van

Can't wait to see the 'tache.
posted by essexjan at 9:27 AM on April 29

May I also add that this takes place on Saturday, 24th May so if the meetup is on that day, it must be arranged at a pub which has a TV tuned to BBC1.
posted by essexjan at 9:30 AM on April 29

I actually vote school night. I'd rather have a hangover on someone else's time.* However, I suggest Jason picks the day that suits him best and then we can see who's where.

*Not really, oh worshipful theoretical future client/employer with extremely thorough Google-checking practices.
posted by nthdegx at 9:37 AM on April 29 [1 favorite]

Count me in! I vote non-school night, I hate being hungover a work, but I'll go with whatever the consensus is.
posted by goo at 10:29 AM on April 29

And I just read essexjan's link - a Eurovision meetup would be all manner of untold ossumness.
posted by goo at 10:31 AM on April 29

I just read essexjan's link - a Eurovision meetup would be all manner of untold ossumness.

Actually, last year's (100% awesome) Eurovision thread ended with a 'everybody must meet up and have a Eurovision party' exhortation.

Not sure about my freeness yet, I will keep staring at my diary until something does or doesn't appear.
posted by randomination at 11:28 AM on April 29

My own preference, if it's going to be the second weekend of j_p's visit, is for the Friday, because people who work in town are more likely to attend. A Eurovision party is in theory a good idea but probably not workable in practice at such short notice.
posted by essexjan at 11:48 AM on April 29

Yer I've just taken a quick survey of my living room and I'd have to buy too many chairs to offer to host. But one of these years we should make. it. happen!
posted by goo at 12:52 PM on April 29

A Eurovision party is in theory a good idea but probably not workable in practice at such short notice.

Whoa, whoa, we have almost four whole weeks. Let's just calm down, take a deep breath, and think rationally for a minute before we throw this beautiful thought away.
posted by chrismear at 1:13 PM on April 29

Mrs Mutant & I can make it but we'd prefer a Friday or Saturday. Also its gotta be someplace either without a dress code or with a low standard (it's my fault - she's always impeccably dressed in the latest Dutch fashions).

Not to derail, but anyone else going to see Einsturzende Neubauten on May 22nd, or Joe Jackson on June 22nd? If we've got critical mass it might be neat to plan a meet up around one of those two shows.
posted by Mutant at 1:15 PM on April 29

Also its gotta be someplace either without a dress code or with a low standard

Another vote here for low standards.

And I am picking Friday, May 23rd as the night of the meetup. That seems to be the evening that works best for most of you.

So . . . Friday evening, May 23. That's when we will have this meetup.
posted by jason's_planet at 1:22 PM on April 29

Ok, the when is sorted, now for the where.

Me, I like Clerkenwell/Farringdon/Holborn. Nothing too far west. Of course, the pub must serve fruit beer.
posted by essexjan at 1:28 PM on April 29

Wish I could come but sadly I am indeed away for the bank holiday weekend- I hope we can have another meetup sometime this summer. Hope you guys have fun, even without the Serbian musical madness!
posted by Kirjava at 1:44 PM on April 29

I should be able to make it on the 23rd (no, really). Clerkenwell/Farringdon/Holborn is very convenient for me, so I support those suggestions though I'm also happy to go a bit further afield.
posted by sueinnyc at 2:07 PM on April 29

Have plans on the 23rd, so I'm sorry I'll miss you! If you're still in New York this Sunday you should come out to Hi-Fi.
posted by grouse at 2:32 PM on April 29

23rd's good for me. Anywhere within Zone 3 is fine.

Also, any MeFites who want to come along to my gig at the Good Ship in Kilburn on Tuesday the 20th of May 2008 will still, of course, be welcomed.

And, hangover permitting, I'm totally up for watching EuroVision with some likeminded types on the Saturday.

However, I must stress that I am not playing at Eurovision (this year) and likewise, Eurovision is not taking place in Kilburn (this year).
posted by armoured-ant at 5:04 PM on April 29

I've always thought Kilburn sounds like somewhere that should be in Scotland.
posted by chrismear at 11:20 PM on April 29

Kilburn *is* somewhere that should be in Scotland.
posted by nthdegx at 12:28 AM on April 30

...or at least quite a bit further away.
posted by nthdegx at 12:28 AM on April 30

RANDOMINATION IN NON-SAM SMITHS PUB SUGGESTION SHOCK
posted by randomination at 1:54 AM on April 30

Not sure it serves fruit beer, though, unless it's a lager top.
posted by randomination at 1:59 AM on April 30

Non-Sam Smith's it may be, but it is a Young's, so it's all good.
posted by essexjan at 5:22 AM on April 30

I may be there too.
posted by vacapinta at 10:25 AM on April 30

I like randomination's suggestion. (The Sekforde Arms in Clerkenwell)

The only issue I have with the place is the possible crowding.

Some of the reviews mentioned that Sekforde Arms was a kind of small pub.

Would we have enough space, especially on Friday?
posted by jason's_planet at 12:20 PM on April 30

Well, one of the comments on BITE mentions that it's quiet on Saturday because few people yet know it's actually open then...
posted by randomination at 2:24 PM on April 30

Er. Except it's on Friday.

?

I obviously haven't had enough tea today.
posted by randomination at 2:25 PM on April 30

I'm around, and dammit - this time I'll be there fo' sho! Am good for anything central.
posted by freya_lamb at 3:37 AM on May 1

Ok, lets actually do it right this time and make a concerted effort not to end up shouting at each other in a crowded pub on a friday night. We need to either find an out of the way boozer, or reserve a function room at a popular joint.

And get off my lawn.
posted by Optamystic at 8:11 AM on May 1

My favorite meetup EVAR was actually on your lawn.
posted by grouse at 8:23 AM on May 1

Can't make it alas, but hope you guys all have fun!
posted by adrianhon at 9:52 AM on May 1

Well, I'm up for a ~~pub crawl~~ pre-meetup scouting expedition this Friday evening, if we really want to do our research and get this right.</html>
posted by chrismear at 4:12 PM on May 1

Now you're talking. Unfortunately, I will not be available for tonight's research expedition. Also, please excuse the pissy tone of my previous post. Allow me to rephrase:

We really should try to find somewhere that's not packed, if at all possible.
posted by Optamystic at 4:50 AM on May 2

Colour me in attendance. I have no preferences as to the date and venue, so you kids sort it out amongst yourselves and give me a nudge when you're done.
posted by triv at 12:23 AM on May 3

Right. I trawled round some pubs near Barbican and Farringdon stations last night with a companion in tow, and here's what we reckon.

Both the Rising Sun and the Sekforde Arms weren't too busy, and I think we'd have no trouble carving out a space for ourselves if people started arriving between 6:30 and 7. Pretty much every other place in the area was seriously packed. (Apart from one real dive off Charterhouse which I won't dignify by naming. Although they did have a fairly good 80s music selection on.)

The Rising Sun is a safe, straightforward Sam Smith's. Quite small in terms of footprint, but there's a second bar upstairs so there's enough space. As you'd expect, there's no music. On a quiet little side-street opposite a church, so while the sun's out there's pleasant standing-outside opportunities to be had, although there's no seating. Bar lady downstairs seemed like she wanted to be somewhere else, but other than that it was a nice crowd. Chessboard table.

The Sekforde Arms did a filling bowl of 'cheesy chips', but felt a bit run-down to be honest, one of your 'someone's non-descript living room that's been turned into a pub' kind of places. Which is nice, if that's what you're looking for, but a bit off-putting if you're not. I think they had some quiet radio playing or something. Also there was an old bloke sitting grumpily by the fireplace who I'm fairly certain called me a bum when I walked past. Dartboard.

We visited a couple other places, and then headed towards Liverpool Street and went to a couple more places there. Nothing to write home about, though. If I had to pick a meet-up pub in the area, my gut would go with the Rising Sun.

(I realise, of course, that having done all this, if it turns out to be crap then I am setting myself up for some serious mocking. In my pre-defence, therefore, my judgement can't be trusted, because I was drunk.)
posted by chrismear at 10:50 AM on May 3 [1 favorite]

jason's_planet will be in London. Let's meet up! April 28, 2008 12:09 PM Subscribe

jason's_planet will be in London. Let's meet up!
April 28, 2008 12:09 PM Subscribe