Another Year, Another Pub

[drplokta]

As reported elsewhere, the Barley Mow had problems again last night. We didn't have the upstairs room, apparently because last time too many people were coming downstairs to buy the real ales that weren't on upstairs. And they thought there'd be room, but it was pretty crowded and noisy. So there's a new poll on PNN (look in the bottom left corner) asking that perennial question: Where should we go now?

Comments

[sneerpout.livejournal.com]

When do I get to tell London fandom "I told you so?"

Will post at length about this when I'm less busy at work, and when I'm on a slightly longer fuse than I am now.

[fishlifter.livejournal.com]

When do I get to tell London fandom "I told you so?"

When you find a workable alternative, of course! Provided you don't mind everyone complaining to you when they don't like that either...

[sneerpout.livejournal.com]

I offered to try a year ago, and am offering again now :o)

drplokta

[drplokta]

Yes. Please. Do.

I offer assistance if needed.

Re: drplokta

[sneerpout.livejournal.com]

I'm going to sound out a couple of non-LJ Tun regulars by email, with a view to forming a pub committee. If that idea is acceptable, would you be interested in joining it?

Of course, it appears that the former Barley Mow Poster Boy Robert Newman - who was loudly in favour of the pub and poured scorn on "dissenters" who had their reservations about it - now seems to be reinventing himself as the Big Chief New Venue Finder, so my efforts may not be welcome. Again. :o)

Re: drplokta

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Yes, the antics of Mr Newman have been noted...

Re: drplokta

[daveon.livejournal.com]

Oh my oh my oh my... what a surprise :)

drplokta

[drplokta]

Yes, although I was on the last ad hoc committee and that didn't work out so well...

Re: drplokta

[bohemiancoast.livejournal.com]

Yes; it was largely Rob's efforts in stirring up dissent that took us away from the Silver Cross and to the Barley Mow in the first place.

I don't feel equipped to help, really; I couldn't for the life of me see anything at all wrong with the Silver Cross, and hated the Barley Mow passionately. I actually can't manage to envisage a set of circumstances in which any rational person could prefer the BM; I clearly have a blind spot for its merits.

[fishlifter.livejournal.com]

Good for you. The final sentence of my previous post was serious, though: you may be surprised by many people's inability to distinguish between 'essential' and 'desirable' criteria for pubs, and you may also become very, very tired of people starting sentences that begin: 'What you should do is...'

[sneerpout.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm well known for my cool head and thick skin [coughs], so if nothing else it'll provide lots of drama for the entertainment of the masses!

[gummitch.livejournal.com]

I should mention, perhaps, that Farah Mendlesohn is looking for a new venue for the BSFA meetings. While the criteria for the two venues are not necessarily the same, it might be worth comparing notes.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

She is? Why?

[fishlifter.livejournal.com]

Because she has a programme of guests booked for the year already (Geoff Ryman on 28 January: come along; bring your friends; join the BSFA), she's hoping to increase the numbers of people who attend -- which would make the room rather too small. And in any case, I think Farah feels the layout as it stands isn't ideal for meetings that includes a guest speaker.

I know how much work it took Paul H to find the current venue (there are some similar criteria as for the First Thursday but some extras: for instance, the BSFA meeting actually needs a separate room because of the guest speaker issue) so although I agree it would be great to have somewhere that works better, I rather doubt it will be easy. I think the Rising Sun is fine for now.

But, as gummitch says, there could be some useful read-across between the two searches; one might find something which doesn't work for it but which the other could use and so on.

[flickgc.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes - i suppose so. i don't think I've ever been when there was a guest, but it's not an ideal room.

And it isn't big enough for a much larger group.

Sorry, wasn't thinking.

[del-c.livejournal.com]

When do I get to tell London fandom "I told you so?"

Did you? The first comment I ever heard from you came well after the Barley Mow was settled on.

Tip: When you arrange for a new venue take care to consult as many Tun-goers as possible first. Make a careful note of the idle bastards who couldn't be arsed expressing an opinion beforehand, then jump on them hard if they have the gall to whinge after the fact.

[sneerpout.livejournal.com]

The first comment I ever heard from you came well after the Barley Mow was settled on.

If you mean this (http://www.livejournal.com/community/anonymousclaire/204988.html), it came just before the second Mow meeting, which is hardly "well after" the pub was settled. I'd made other similar comments in various people's journals before that but I have no idea where!

I was very vocal about the unsuitability of the Mow before some of the regular problems started occurring. I took brickbats from a number of people then and I doubt that'll change much now! :o)

One way of doing it might be to leaflet the next Tun, with different options to tick and plenty of space to write "I'm going to disagree with anything you choose to do while withholding my own suggestions".

:o)