We were planning on doing a crimbo meet at Bens, were talking about it saturday, because their christmas menue is funky.

Im free on the 16th if everyone else is cool with the date

Maybe... if I can find somewhere to stay

I'm free at the moment, but christmas is always hectic, so i'm not a deffinite.

I should be a yes

I've even re-arranged my 7yr olds birthday party so I can have this day to myself ::selfish:: I will do the party the following afternoon with a hangover

I should be okay for this

Sounds good to me

Do we need to reserve an area? Can someone who knows what they're doing do it?

Make G do it, he probably knows everyone by naming, we always make him book

G! Do it!

Do you think that'll work?

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by Teresa
Do we need to reserve an area? Can someone who knows what they're doing do it?

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From what I know you have to have a certain number of peeps coming to reserve an area in that bar, but I could be wrong

Just another suggestion - if not Ben Crouches, why not O'Neils? Nothing wrong with that pub and the food there is fantastic and it's not as cramped.

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by Teresa
G! Do it!

Do you think that'll work?

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No, be nicer I can call Kevin the Landlord (Check out me the name dropper) and see what the sketch is for Xmas Bookings though.

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by Jola
(quotes)

From what I know you have to have a certain number of peeps coming to reserve an area in that bar, but I could be wrong

Just another suggestion - if not Ben Crouches, why not O'Neils? Nothing wrong with that pub and the food there is fantastic and it's not as cramped.

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A certain number, yes, a high number, no. They have a few areas for various amounts of people. Everytime an area has been booked at BCs then it's been pretty much fine.

Re: Change of Venue, I think it's very 50/50 on opinion on O Neills (ie think along the lines of Marmite) from what I've heard. Personally, I'm not keen on it. I'd go there for the odd pint, but as a pub, it isn't my kinda place. That's just my take on it though.

As much as i love seeing Wale i just cant stand O'Neils.

Everytime ive been in there i just feel its so unfriendly and 'this aint your pub get out'ish.

I vote Bens You can flash people in the middle of the pub and no one bats an eyelash, do they T?

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by Ethan
Personally, I'm not keen on it. I'd go there for the odd pint, but as a pub, it isn't my kinda place. That's just my take on it though.

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Fair enough, but are you talking O'Neils in general as a pub chain or that particular pub?

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by KaTiEStar
As much as i love seeing Wale i just cant stand O'Neils.

Everytime ive been in there i just feel its so unfriendly and 'this aint your pub get out'ish.

I vote Bens You can flash people in the middle of the pub and no one bats an eyelash, do they T?

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Really? I've never had a problem in there. I'm really picky about pubs especially if I have to walk into them on my own, but no-one has ever made me feel unwelcome there at all. In fact, I've sat there on my own before for ages reading a paper and having a drink and not felt intimidated in the slightest.

Oh and I've seen things flashed in the middle of O'Neils loads of times and no-one has ever batted an eyelid. We've had some fantastic drunken and crazy nights in there.

At least if O'Neils was considered as the venue then Wale can join in from behind the bar. He's always working these days and hardly ever manages to make a meet.

(Edited by Jola 03/10/2006 20:56)

O'Neils is ok, but I find Ben Crouches has a much better atmosphere for our group and we are known in there by the staff, which is always nice too. Plus i'd have to say the foods better there than O'Neils, and they don't sell Bud in O'Neils either.

Ive had some great nights in there too but i would still say that Bens would be btter.

What if we start at Bens and if people want to move on they can and if they dont they can stay?

As a chain in general..

I've been in various O' Neills and the vibe they give off just isn't 'right', or not to me anyway. I'm sure it's the same with everyone. Every person has a particular pub they don't like for their own reasons, it just happens to be a chain that I'm not that keen on. In short, they suck.

Although for myself, the appeal of sitting in a pub in general these days doesn't fill me with excitement as there's only so much water a person can drink

Re: Wale being able to join in, I'd be impressed if that was the case. Mid December, Xmas nights out a go-go in a packed out pub whilst quite possibly under the eye of whoever is the shift manager. From behind the bar, I imagine whatever participation would be limited. Don't get me wrong, Wale's is one of my best mates, but I'm relatively confident he'd see my point.

Not that it matters that much cos I don't even know if I'll be coming...

Ethan: I think it's very 50/50 on opinion on O Neills (ie think along the lines of Marmite) from what I've heard.
I'm only guessing from your comment that you might be generalising but have you actually gone for a piss up in WALE'S pub? It's different trust me with the likes of the regular Fp lot they are used to bad behaviour and sometimes have joined in themselves.

I'm sorry Katie has felt that reception in Wale's particular bar but I have never heard another person that has stated they felt that uncomfortable.

I was thinking of suggesting O'niell's in the afternoon with a crawl onto Ben's in the evening so Wale at least gets a look in (((and he socialises a hell of a lot more then you think would be allowed, like today Jola & I could barely finish a sentence without him coming over to interrupt every couple of minutes lmao! Kevin is really slack when he knows that Wale is working through a meet/event/party that he should actually be attending.))) and then later onto Ben's that way everyone gets what they want. I love Ben's (You know that I been going there for YEARS) but it gets stuffy, overheated and cramped that you(general you not YOU you) start to feel sick and sometimes claustraphobic (on Saturday more then one person was feeling that way before everyone left for whatever plans they had for the evening) please don't poop on a SUGGESTION because you can't stand to go anywhere else if you really cant stand the place just don't go but this is Wale's work place and it's a damned nice place (and number 2 in the whole UK) and the workers are so friendly and such a laugh (and that was from BEFORE I worked there) no-one's asking we move in just have a drink or two.

And when did people stop cross-posting on their journals again not *everyone* comes here anymore.

I'm a "most likely" for this wherever it is if anyone still even wants me there after this post lol. I wonder if anyone is gonna misconstrue this post and hate me for what I just wrote. I just dont think you should turn your nose up at something because of one or two experiences(Katie I can only remember one time I been in your company in Wale's bar and we had a good laugh from what I remember) or a general opinion that isn't really one based on personal experience but of one place. You wouldn't judge a nation of people from one experience with one person why do that with locations? Weird question I know but think about it. I've always found in the end it doesnt matter one iota where you are it's who you with that counts for anything and makes or breaks any meet, we've been to the worst poopholes and had the BEST times.

Anyway gonna go and hide now before the barrage of hate-posts lol.