Fancy A Pint? IV

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Next week: date to be discussed (Tuesday or Thursday?). Venue to be announced.

If Dr C can't make it then we'll call the whole thing off. Maybe.

Added thrill: the draw for the first round of DUEL 202!

― Tom, Friday, 15 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Need for Fancy-A-Pint-IV determined by the Pint Steering Committee i.e. me, Pete, Emma, Starry in the pubXoR tonight.

― Tom, Friday, 15 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

thursday would be best for me, cos i'm going to see dj premier on tuesday night...

― toby, Friday, 15 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hey I CAN make Thursday!! But not Tuesday. Might I get the chance to *meet* some of you at last? Could it happen? I'm quivering with anticipation already!

― Dr. C, Saturday, 16 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Espec want to meet all of steering committee above, Marcello, Pinefox, Tim H, Mike Jones, M.Sink-ah, Gareth....everybody really.

― Dr. C, Saturday, 16 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

oh bah not sure abt thurs: may have to bail... i'll let ya know (tue no prob, but i guess also no dr c!!)

― mark s, Saturday, 16 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Mark, I checked - there is still no Buffy. You may be safe.

― suzy, Saturday, 16 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Sorry Buffy tonight I would like to go out and meet some real actual friends please can I?" "No Mark" "OK my lady sorry please" "My boots are scuffed clean them with your tongue" "Gladly my lady"

Actually that is not the reason, but it does make the reason possibly moveable.

― mark s, Saturday, 16 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Thursday it is then. One of the Steering Committee was concerned about Buffy hence the Tuesday option existing in the first place. THURSDAY 21ST FEBRUARY = ILE DRINKS.

― Tom, Saturday, 16 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Nice

― , Saturday, 16 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

THURSDAY 21ST FEBRUARY = ILE DRINKS.

i'm touched. no, seriously. i am.

― jess, Saturday, 16 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I can't make Thursday, I have a gig to go to. *sigh*

― DG, Saturday, 16 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

damn, i can't make thursday!

― gareth, Saturday, 16 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Can't do next week at all, more's the pity - v. keen on meeting Dr C.

― Marcello Carlin, Sunday, 17 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

nonsense, you must all DRINK TO CELEBRATE ME. i COMMAND IT.

― jess, Sunday, 17 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

item two: where?

I suggest the vibe bar, since I'm going there anyway and its the only way you'll get to see me. I recommend it though the music promises to be good.

― Ed, Sunday, 17 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Vibe Bar"?

I can make Thursday early-ish doors, but I'm off to see the Would Be Goods later in the evening.

― Tim, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

A pub with triv machine and pool table would be good.

― Dr. C, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Where are they playing Tim? I've missed their last few outings and I'd like to go see them as well.

Ed, a Vibe Bar is not really constructive to DUEL 2002 no? I suggest NOT the Marylebone Tup this time :)

― Sarah, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

BAR BILLIARDS Dr C.

― Sarah, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Vibe Bar = Brick lane and defininitely doesn't = boozer. Despite the fact it's in a former brewery.

mmmm, triv machines

― chris, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tom, have you done this AGAIN without specifying a venue. I despair, sometimes I do. Okay, the venue this time will be The Calthorpe Arms on the Grays Inn Road (GIR / Theobalds Road corner). Easy connections for pretty much everyone (five minutes to Kings Cross) and lovely Young's Premier. From 6:30. Cheers.

― Pete, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Well chosen, Mr B. I am intrigued by this Young's Premier of which you speak. Is it ale?

― RickyT, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No Pete I said Venue "to be announced" not "to be discussed". And you have announced it.

― Tom, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes Tom but everyone knows you are such a softie they thought they could sway you with their boozing choices. I can only applaud Pete for his leadership qualities.

― Emma, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Calthorpe: very nice.

Starry: http://www.indiepages.com/matinee/pix/50watts.gif

― Tim, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm guessing that says the Buffalo Bars, £3?

― Sarah, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The pub on the corner of the Gray's Inn Road and Theobald's Road is the Yorkshire Gray. Right next to the Gandhi curry house I sent you to. Calthorpe Arms is on Gray's Inn Road north of ITN.

― suzy, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Sorry, its too early on Monday morning. The Calthorpe Arms - as Suzy said North of the ITN building, junction of Gray's Inn and Guildford Street (of blimmin' course - I'd forget my own head etc etc).

Yorkshire Grey does a nice pint of Porter, but its a bit of a home brew pub.

― Pete, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I was actually thinking of Young's Pilsner but my Brane refuses to work today - so I may refuse to work too. That said Young's always has a nioce selection on - though I am a bit worried that Fancy A Pint like the pub. That often equals badness.

― Pete, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ohh. Booze. I ain't going nowhere called 'the vibe bar'. I have some standards. Ahem. I shall try to come out, unless my world has collapsed *entirely* by this time.

― alix, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i did have a chuckle when Ed put up the Vibe Bar as an option, because i just did not see that happening!

Ed, where were you at Nesh?

― gareth, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Will there be a FAP between 23/03 and 14/04?

― Graham, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

There'll be the Freaky Trigger 3rd Birthday Bash.

― Tom, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hurrah.

― Graham, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think I will come to FAP V!

― j>e>l, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hold on - is this this week? I've just found out that having to pay someone elses council tax - and rent - and well, because I am a tosser - I'll only have a tenner this week - can we make it next week?

― Sarah, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i thought you were on the pint steering committee!!

― mark s, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I am Mark! I AM MARK! No, I am, [on the steering committee], Mark. But how much of a committeeist can I be with a tenner? Then again if I do the wonderous 'take stuff back to M&S and hope they give me cash instead of a cunting vouncher' and get some money back I might be a bit better. Oh groo, this is such a tits up.

― Sarah, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Starry I can lend you a few quid tho you have let the Steering Committee down.

― The Grate Helmsman, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Cheers Tom. Hey do you want to give me a good reference for all my job applications? When I am in a well paying job it will be CHAMPERS ALL ROUND. Currently I have a co-worker who is just about to retire. She is a MENTALIST but I cannot think of anyone else having lost track of ANYONE ELSE who ur, KNOWS ME.

― Scullery Maid, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dude, concerning council tax, seeing as your email is fucked and walls have ears at home...she appeared in my room this morning, teary eyed, oddly, saying that if I get an exemption certificate none of us have to pay. She's sprached with them (ob. not on the land line..) and this is the score. I have the certificate now, so you can hopefully have the cash you gev me back. Then, she totally blanked me. Twice. I want to move.

― alix, Monday, 18 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Um, not strictly true Lixi - how many in the house are students. If there are two or more non-students then exemption certificate won't work.

And getting this thread up near the top of nu-answers.

― Pete, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

and if there's only one non-student you only get 25% off your council tax, i think.

― toby, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I am well familiar with council tax regulations, sadly. I know about this, but person in question won't listen to me, and says she's rang the council and they've told her otherwise. Personally, I think this is bollocks. I am going down there myself to talk to them, as I suspect she has told them there are fewer people in the house than there are. I am humouring her. However, the people liable currently consist of 2 students and a non student, so I really don't know where we stand.

― alix, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Well if it is a two student and one non student household you get a 25% reduction - as Toby says above.

On other news I just saw the Pinefox walk past my office.

― Pete, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The Pinefox should come out on Thursday I think. You should have chased him Pete and told him so.

― Tom, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Run! Tell him! I want to meet him on Thursday.

― Dr. C, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Be careful what you wish for, it may come true.

― alix, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Well there is another bloke there but he's just moved in. Alix when are you going to speak to them as I think they shut at 4.30. I think she's talking bollocks and I don't know if we will still get ANY discount cos we've left it so late - and I bet you anything she hasn't got HER exemption certificate thing.

― Sarah, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Vibe bar thing actually sunday, so I'm open to suggestions. But anyway, why does the sterring ctte. fear bars so?

― Ed, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Because the steering committee is aware that not all ILEers are prepared to pay 3 quid for bottled lager and would rather pay 2 quid for a pint of bitter. However if a rival steering committee would like to set up a trip to a bar instead then that's cool.

― Emma, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I do not fear bars. I do not like bars.

Never too late Starry for renate. But fourth person (if not student) would scupper matters, esp if previous tenant was also not student.

If you want I could come round and dress up as a council tax inspectah and scare recalcatrant flatmate into paying up.

― Pete, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hurrah! The gig is cancelled! I can now come along and ruin your collective evening!

― DG, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

He was not a student. JUST INSANE!

Would your disguise include a HOOKED NOSE?

― Sarah, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Only if I can borrow your wart.

― Pete, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

As long as you don't BITE IT OFF ew gross eurrgh.

― Sarah, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Warts, warts glorious warts, There's no foodstuff greater for clearing your thoughts So gobble me gobble Munch your brown bobble I won't make you hobble, I'll just eat your warts.

― Pete, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Golden Heart? what about something in Camden, I work in Kentish town on Thursdays. The Eagle, for old times sake, (that is the Young's on Parkway, no?).

Calthorpe arms does it for me though

― Ed, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

eating warts is vgood. chewy and nutritiuos snack and gets rid of the unsightly blemish into the bargain

― RickyT, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

we tried to drink in the Golden Heart on Sunday, it was full of Hoxton types comparing body warmers while listening to the Jesus and Mary chain, we walked out and went to the City Darts, which rocks. I love that pub.

― chris, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I had warts when I was like 7 or so and tried loads of different acids and things to get rid of them. Then one day I ate one of them and it bled alot but all the others proceeded to die. It was like the motherwart or something.

I have not had any since. Let the word go out. I think if I ever got them back I'd use a compass or something though.

― Ronan, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ed, a central pub is good for EVERYONE. This is why we have already chosen one!!

― Sarah, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I hope you are not eyeing up my wart when I am unawares, RickyT. I will notice if you eat it.

― Sarah, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

which pub was chose? sorry to be causing problems again.

― Ed, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Still the Calthorpe Arms innit?

― Sarah, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Cripes, your so-called steering committee is clearly in need of a minutes secretary / administrator.

Calthorpe, Arms, yes.

― Tim, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hiya Tim. Quiz tomorrow?

― Sarah, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hello. Busy, I'm afraid! Not that I'm any match for the fiendish questions which emerge from the warped minds of whichever nutcase sets that quiz.

― Tim, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Not yet MORE Freemasonry?!

― Sarah, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No.

― Tim, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The 'freemasonry' was leading up to, and concluded by, my public misdeeds last Saturday night, btw.

― Tim, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

freemasonry!!?!

Oh right, Saturday night, I get it, jolly good by the way.

― chris, Tuesday, 19 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

How will I recognize you folks? Anyone got any photos to post up.

Looking forward to tomorrow. Go easy on Dr. C wiv yer Hoggsford and Cambridge ways.

― Dr. C, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

all-over humanbody fun-fur, dr c

except cabbage who looks like a cabbage, and dastoor who goes naked

― , Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

it's true, I'm not so much green as I am cabbage looking.

― chris, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Actually, redundant question, as I'm sure I'll be the only person in the pub with a blue mohawk and Chelsea FC tatooed on my forehead. You'll recognize ME.

― Dr. C, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Dr C. there are some photos here

― N., Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I daresay looking like a cabbage is some sort of TAX DODGE. (I do believe that vegetables do not have to pay income tax).

I will be there from six of the clock if anyone is interested. Its kinda local for me you see.

― Pete, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Why Pete are you in your other building? Cos otherwise it is not very local really unless we are back to the great Everywhere In Zone 1 Is a Ten Minute Walk Apart Baran fallacy.

I am easily recognised by my ridiculous clothing which entertains my colleagues. My boss was very impressed with my special pink velour top.

― Emma, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Also, the pictures from last summer, in which everyone looks like a total freak are here. In fact, yeah - just look out for freaky looking people.

― N., Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yep, I was planning on working in the othe building tomorrow. Even so it would still (ahem) only be ten minutes away.

― Pete, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

biggest revelation since Mark's sistah proved existence of Zokko - THE MYSTERY OF RAT-GEEZER IS SOLVED! The first thread of pictures was far too long to bother with, but I did notice katethesaint's message about the Rat-Man's photos. He was in the audience at a couple of I, Ludicrous gigs and he's even got Ludes pictures on his site! I trod on this tail in the bar at the Bull and Gate IIRC. This is wonderful stuff.

Second set of pictures gives me a few clues. Yer all swell lookin' people. I was kidding about the mohawk and tattoo.

― Dr. C, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

was that the tribute site or his own one?

he's a deeply odd man that one.

― chris, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Alas Dr C I shall be absent from tomorrow's gathering, but as you know I can now be seen on ITV 1 every Monday between 9-10 pm.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Suddenly it all makes sense. Marcello of The Vice is on the trail of that notorious sex tourist Cabbage.

― Pete, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Not to mention him trying to pimp Nick on the internet.

― Pete, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

surely his momma taught him better than that?

― mark s, Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Re: Vibe Bar. Haven't actually been there in a long while but I'm getting fed up of this constant mob mentality re: bars.

Not that I want to form a breakaway sect or anything. And I do like pubs. Sunday's experience in the Golden Heart annoyed me. I have NEVER heard them play the Jesus & Mary Chain before. Or seen it so packed. I don't know what was going on. Normally it's ace.

― N., Wednesday, 20 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Contant mob mentality" in Dastoor-land = >3 people expressing taste divergent to N.'s.

― Tim, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

there is an anti-bar thing going on here though isn't there? i mean, when Ed suggested the vibe bar i knew that he had no chance with that one. i suggested electricity showrooms once and that was pretty much dismissed straitaway also.

― gareth, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

There are maybe five or six people here with a shared taste in pub over bar. (Maybe there are more who feel the same way but don't say so). To call that a constant mob mentality is loony.

As far as your mention of the Electricity Showroom, you suggested it using the phrase "too Nathan Barley" and pro-bar urban warrior N. immediately replied "imagine Tom & Pete in there? I think not" or something along those lines. Hardly selling the place as a welcoming or comfortable venue for a night out, is it?

― Tim, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

But 'bars' are always full of wankers.

― Dr. C, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

OK, maybe seven then. Heh.

― Tim, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Quite right Tim. I go to bars plenty but not with some of my friends cos they don't like them and I can see why they don't cos they're not into all that gubbins. If people want to go to bars with ILE folk why not just arrange it?

(Plus as I mentioned upthread there's the whole price issue i.e they are generally pretty expensive.)

― Emma, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The London bars I've been to have been expensive and generally quite badly laid out - mind you the last time I went with any regularity (middle of 2000) they all seemed to be doing a "be like someone's front room" thing, maybe the fashion's changed. The clientele don't bother me too much to be honest - you get the same thing in a lot of pubs.

Some bars are fine - Bierodrome surely is a bar rather than a pub and does what it does in fine style.

Bars are also easy to take the piss out of and this might be seen as dismissive, but to be honest the piss-taking is separate from the question of why I don't much like them.

And some of it is personal. I am not a fashionable sort - I'm podgy and badly dressed with a bad haircut. In a pub I fit right in - in a bar I feel self-conscious and a bit uncomfortable. There's no reason for me to seek out places that make me feel that way, any more than I'd seek out pubs which felt rough or unfriendly.

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

previous ones have been arranged and have occurred.

i have no problems with where things take place, it was just an observation that some things will be dismissed straight away. there was never any chance eds suggestion would be considered. this doesn't matter of course, it is just interesting...

― gareth, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

that was a response to emmas question (tom snuck in first there!)

― gareth, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Sooooooooo, who's all coming? I will hopefully be there. And what time? I can't be bothered to read this thread again. Where is it?

― Sam, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Out of interest, why do the people who like bars like them? I can think of a few good reasons but I'd like them confirmed...

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

We considered Eds suggestion of the Marylebone Tup before and look where that left us :)

― Sarah, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I like bars because you can get cocktails in them yum yum and there's more of a 'going out' atmosphere in them than in yr regular booZoR which is more often a 'relax and chat and drink' situation. Did you know there is a cocktail called the EMBRYO wot is Baileys with some vodka floating in the middle of it WITH SOME STRAWBERRY SAUCE STUFF poked inside it??? VOMFEST.

― Sarah, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I would feel extremely intimidated by bars...they all look very sparse, bright and full of smartly dressed people (based on the ones I have seen in central London). They might be great and lots of fun. They just look uncomfortable. I like something a little more ramshackle.

― j>e>l, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

bars = unfriendly and chilly and alienating UPFRONT AND OPENLY this is punXoR and good, also they remind me of outer space

pubs are on the face of it relaxed and chatty this is a TRAP!!! only true if the company is ppl you want to actually be WITH (a lesson i learned the hard way as a student), and when your so-called college friends say they will just have a few drinks then EAT LATER this is a lie you will have to leave early and eat ALONE

in bars you can *not* drink alcohol and not be any more of a freak than they already think you are for not being fuckwhip thin and in media

if i think about this hard i have a lot of "issues" so mabe i better leave it till tonight when i can wave my arm around as i rant; in the office this looks bad

― mark s, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yes, bars = unfriendly unless in a big group of mates I feel, also somewhat lacking in atmosphere. But the main reason I don't like bars is that you are going to be very very very hard pressed to get a decent pint of proper beer in them. I'm not counting Bierodrome in this as they do do good beer but as that is their "theme" this would be expected no? But your standard west-end bar is not going to do good bitter. And the edgy ones in the east end are largely full of Shoreditch twats.

― chris, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Sinker's hit on something here: going to the pub with people you don't like = as bad as going to a bar.

When I find a bar I don't find intimidating (generally for reasons as set out by Jel and Tom above), I quite like it. That doesn't happen very often.

― Tim, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Also, I have been not drinking alcohol in the pub for some time now and have not yet been treated / looked at like a freak (at least no more than usual).

― Tim, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Gareth, I didn't know about any ILE meet ups in bars. I don't remember seeing any threads for them anyway. And you need to consider the target market before proposing places, like I said there are some mates I do bars with and some I do pubs with and I wouldn't suggest bars to the pub gang or vice versa. And if I did I wouldn't get bothered if they dismissed my suggestion.

― Emma, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The "target market"? Blimey this is only ILx we're talking about, not flipping Saatchi & Saatchi!

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I test-market and demographically weight all my threads Marcello - do you mean to say you don't?

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

plug and play. nesh (ok so that was a club, but mucho ile representation!). ok, i spose a few didn't really get their own threads, they just kind of happened.

agreed about the shoreditch twats though, ahem. hee hee!

― , Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Sinker is correct about many things above, though I would dispute his claim that it is easy to not drink alcohol in a bar than a pub. However I tend to find that bars are quite difficult to organise for large groups of people (lack of seating) and the music can be far too loud for decent conversation. This is not true of all bars (and equally true of some pubs), but one which is certainly true of the Vibe Bar thje few imes I have been there (despite its relatively grungey acoutrements).

Going to either (bar or pub) with people you don't like is a horror. And the "meal" thing is a constant problem with some people I know.

― Pete, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I suppose it depends how you use pubs n bars. I wouldn't really want to go to a bar alone - there's more of an expectation that you're sort of *OUT*, but I often go into a pub alone and unplanned and am quite happy to have a pint and read the paper or watch the world go by. Or challenge someone at pool or darts. I just like pubs.

― Dr. C, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

A bad night in a pub can be truly bad. Like your life is a failure and you hate everything about your crappy low rent life and you would be ashamed for people to see where you are on a Saturday night.

Bars can be all the things people have criticised above, if you go home and you cry and you want to die at least you tried.

Tim is being disingenous re: my mentality comment above. If he can't see the truth it's cause he too close to the INNER ILE LIBERAL ESTABLISHMENT LICENSED TO SELL INTOXICATING LIQUOR. Tom's comments are totally fair enough.

Anyway, we did all this before. Sorry to be bang on about it again.

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

With my friends the meal thing is addressed by the '4-pint rule'. If you haven't left for food before you've started on pint #4, you're not going to. You'll just sit there until closing time, and it's a kebab on the way home.

― Dr. C, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's best to be honest at the outset about food. If I fancy boozing and not eating (or rather eating some dodgy all-nite B2 sandwich or KFC num num after closing time) then I'll say so at the start of the evening. Should my views win the day, fair enough. Should they not, at least I tried.

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

This ridiculous discussion is making my guts shriek for booze.

― Emma, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm not being disingenuous, and the thread he links to merely proves my point that there are a (quite small) number of people here who prefer pubs to bars but it hardly equates to the mentality of a baying mob who won't tolerate any discussion of bars or bar-life.

― Tim, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"He" = mad Nick.

― Tim, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

But this 'small minority' are the core ILE and Sinister London socialites, Tim.

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Right, and that constitutes a mob mentality?

― Tim, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Anyway, what's with your crazy maths? I have looked through that thread, and of the 15 people who stated their preference, 8 were pro-pub (mostly through being violently anti-bar), 3 said each had their charms and only 4 were pro-bar (and two of those were American so don't really count as they don't understand pubs).

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Eight people hardly constitutes a baying mob Nick! I could take 'em all on with one hand tied behind my back.

― Emma, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ha ha everyone is disagreeing with Nick. See what happens Dastoor when you take on the ILE Illiberal Elite!

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I can revoke the 'mob mentality' terminology if you want. It's obviously not going down well.

[makes note: people don't like being called a mob]

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ok, BAR MILIANTS are more than welcome to come to the ICA bar with me (I have membership) but they are buying the beer cos it's BLUDDY EXPENSIVE.

― Sarah, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Play nicely. I didn't expect to click on this and find all out bloodshed over the question of bars versus pubs.

Although I did cut my toe open the last time I went to Vibe bar and bled all over the courtyard, the ladies toilets and the sandals I was wearing, which were ruined.

For the record - bars, as I think they're more girl friendly and keep fruit juice in containers so you don't have to spend your life savings on Britvic if you want fruit juice as a mixer. But it is easier for bar people to be happy in pubs than for pub people to be happy in bars.

― Anna, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

One of the reasons why in the bar I run we do very geneour half pints of orange, apple, grapefruit and cranberry for 50p a half.

Can I say the reason I hate bars is because I run one, and it would like taking the work home innit.

― Pete, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

issue to be explored tonite: pubs = blokes = hornbyXoR?

― mark s, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hornbyism = All Bar One, a horrid combo of both.

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't think Hornby would like All Bar One at all. Or do you mean readers of his books.

For those who don't know, Pete runs a STUDENT bar, which is whole different kettle of fish.

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Pete you may have surpassed yourself with the typo GENEOUR.

Bars are better for pulling than pubs if that helps at all.

― Emma, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I mean that Hornby would be attracted to the cosy authenticity and blokiness of the pub (both false reasons to go to pubs in my view) but would also be attracted to the more lit'ry element of the bar scene. So mix them up and what do you get?

Mind you I've never read any Hornby.

See other thread for my views on pulling in bars.

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

So mix them up and what do you get?

Err.. not All Bar One. It is neither cosy, authentic or literary. But I don't think it's trying to be, is it? It's trying to be an airy, non-blokey environment for conventional middle class office workers to meet after work. And it does that job fine.

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

All Bar One is a souless hell hole, deviod of any of the good bits of either pubs or bars. I resent being marketed to so aggressively - ooh big windows and handbag clips and lots of wine - lets go *there* girls and watch suity men with rugby problems flock. Yuk.

― Anna, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, err yes, I agree. It's not for the likes of us.

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

My All Bar One as midpoint of bar-and-pub theory continues to take a battering but I stand by it. All I'm saying I suppose is that I think Hornby wouldn't be satisfied with just the pub - his writing and list- making gives the impression he'd want some of the performative aspects of bar life too. Maybe he'd like one of your trendy pubs like the Golden Heart though Nick.

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'm American, and prefer bars to pubs because I *do* understand pubs. They are where good beer, ale, stout etc are served and where CRAP wine is also served from a bottle kept for emergencies, unless you go to a GASTROPUB. Understand /= enjoy, right?

Finding pubs where decent cocktails are also made is a happy occasion. Otherwise I'm sippin' the neat whiskey

― suzy, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

tom is right hornbyXoR = nu-bloke (ie bloke who makes jokes abt self being "suity w.rugby probs" but actually wallows in same and uses men=rubbish as an excuse for BEING rubbish)

(blimey i sound like elrond)

― mark s, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Trendy pubs = exactly the same drinks and snacks as an ordinary pub with a few extra spirits and some militantly bland artwork on the walls. Two I go to: Sun & Doves which is in Camberwell and East Dulwich Tavern which is where you'd expect. (Unlike the Crystal Palace Tavern up the road which is in, er, East Dulwich.) I quite like them although the EDT has just opened an Upstairs Bar where you can buy ruinously expensive bottled beer ONLY, and there's NOWHERE to sit. This is a turn for the worse.

― Sam, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Every time I've gone to AB1 with my fellow conventional office workers I've hated it with a passion called hate. But other times I've not minded it - Alex T and I went there christmas-before-last and had a great time playing guess-the-hierarchy with the big Christmas party at the next table and watching the mating games. (Though not as good as similar fun on the TCR pub crawl the next day).

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I must admit, I used to go to the Sun and Doves a fair bit back in the day and it was ok, but it did suffer from the lack of good bitter like what bars do. The food was lovely in there though, my ex's sister knew the girl who did the cooking, mmmm extra chips.

Still not as good as the Hermit's Cave though, whose virtues I have extolled before.

― chris, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Manonabike looking over this thread has reminded me I have to do the slips for the DUEL 2002! draw. Thanks ILE!

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You're making all these ridiculous assumptions about the way Hornby is as a person. The only person I know who's actually met him is Mark C., who said he was really nice and went out of his way to be fair in some work dealing.

Tom, I don't think I'm really disagreeing with you about All Bar One - just Hornby. It's a 'midpoint' in that from my and your perspective it has as Anna says the worst of both with the good things of neither. Midpoints don't have to be like that, though.

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No. HornbyXoR more likely to be found in pub, being self-consciously blokey when required (e.g when standing near what he perceives as 'real' blokes, football types etc) or venting literary tendencies slight too loudly (e.g when he perceives there's an audience for this).

Don't forget that HornbyXoR is a chameleon, but one who is most comfortable in the pub, as he beleives that he can more easily impress there.

― Dr. C, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No I quite agree - cf. Pumpkin Publog review of The Brickworks in Oxford, which is where I've been drinking lately and has more than a few bar-like features.

Hornby - of course we're talking about public-figure Hornby not actual living-breathing Nick Hornby. Well I am. Rule 1 of celebrity surely is that one assumes everyone is "really nice" in real life but that hardly matters when talking about the projected persona and what it might/might not do or stand for.

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think we have finished with pubs vs bars now HAVEN'T WE? The real issue is where do we all stand on drinking bottles of cider in bus shelters vs drinking Spesh on park benches? I prefer park benches. I wonder which Nick Hornby would prefer?

― Emma, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

To be fair if we are talking about London lack of good ale is a problem which exists far too much. I think Anna might have hit upon a vague point above which works for me. The aggressively marketed side of All Bar One, theme pubs and so on - they have designed and created an atmosphere for you rather than letting one arise by itself. Wetherspoons falls into this trap, as to a lot of style bars. The venue should create a space in which your interaction should take place - they should not try and dictate how and who this interaction is going to take place with.

And therefore nor should I.

Barz I have liked, Babushkas (BriXtor and on the Cally), Islington Bar, Bierodrome (Islington/Kingsawy NOT Clapham), Polish Vodka Bar round back of Holborn. That mad downstairs bright red place near Old Street - lord only knows what that was called. Bradleys Wine Bar.

― Pete, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Did anyone reply to the bloke who e-mailed a load of ILE people asking if they were Spesh drinkers and could they contribute to his history of Spesh. I hope you did Emma.

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I don't like Hornby but then I look at the world through navy and white tinted spectacles. I hate to admit it but he seems as though he might just be a decent chap - I saw the back of his head at a Teenage Fanclub gig and formulated this view.

As for bars and pubs, well they can both be similarly beautiful and annoying. The one thing that I can't stand is people going purposefully to somewhere that they know they will not fit in. This can be equally true of the gritty pub or the trendy bar.

― Jonnie, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's only really a sin Jonnie if i) you know you won't fit in, ii) you chose the place and more crucially iii) once there you complain loudly about how shit it is.

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I did! I said he could quote whatever nonsense I had spouted if he really wanted, but that he should understand that posting to that thread did not constitute being a super strength lager 'fan'. I think maybe he thought it was some kind of dedicated Spesh enthusiasts website.

Bierodrome (Islington/Kingsawy NOT Clapham)

Well, obviously. I thought it was understood that any bar in Clapham = vision of hell to rival those of Hieronymus Bosch. Begone with your aggressive normalcy and blonde uniforms!

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh Christ Clapham. The pubs are no better.

― Tom, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

The one thing that I can't stand is people going purposefully to somewhere that they know they will not fit in.

I quite like this idea. Cause a stink. Especially if you're not white and it's some kinf of BNP stronghold.

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I remember once going to a decent pub in Clapham, but I can't for the life of me remember the name of the place, let alone where I left my bike.

It may have been a dream.

― Tim, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

n. that arg = uberspeecious: surely heideggerXoR also always bought hiz round and pampored waify hampstors, i do not mean the horn himself wd be poor to spend time with, i too have only heard good things, i mean the pervasive reign of his satanic ideology obv

― mark s, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh - fair enough then. Not that I mind High Fidelity eithe.. *OWWW!*

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

(blimey i sound like elrond)

Otherkin! Otherkin! :) though, i usually hate bars cos there is nowhere to sit down and it's far, far too expensive. and full of City or Arty types. however, i do like JD Wetherspoons, for the cheap spirits and the NO MUSIC. what is the point of going somewhere with yer mates only to find that you can't hear yourself think, let alone speak, over the din of bloody Now 89 or whatever. jukeboxes of course = a whole different kettle of ball game.

― katie, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

tim, maybe it was clapton?

― gareth, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Or Clacton?

― N., Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

or skegness?

― gareth, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

oh no i made a Clacton "joke" on the other thread! i am catching EmmaPete's Mind Meld Disease!

― katie, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Oh yes it must have been Skegness (Skegness sounds like Clapham in the same world that UKG MCs are better than UKHH ones, heh...)

― Tim, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

You know, to be honest, I don't really like pubs OR bars.

This is because I am fundamentally a carpet slipper who is (or was) perfectly happy with a floater coffee and bowl of chips at the Mitre of a Saturday shopping morn. :-------(

(Or the Carpenters' Arms pre-McDonalds).

― Marcello Carlin, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

OK, jellybean, do you want to start with the "All Bar One are evil, they are run by Bass who own twentyfive billion chains of nasty bars and fun pubs and hotels and serve only beer and other drinks brewed and distributed by Bass and this isn't against the monopolies and mergers thingummy as long they each serve the grand total of one, wow ONE, drink not from their corporation and they closed our Point WAAAAAH" line or shall I?

Plus every time anyone suggests AB1 as a meeting place I instantly think, "No, I can't go there, they don't let under-21s in," and then I think, "Oh fuck, I *am* 21, and I've led such a boring bar-free existence over the past year I haven't noticed."

Plus my room in the second year was right opposite All Bar One and there was an exciting evening when there was a fight inside and everyone got involved and the huge glass windows got smashed and loads of police came along and there was much BLOOD and QUESTIONING. So I was a bit intimidated by that. That and the fact that everyone inside always looked dead posh and everyone outside could see in. (I took some photos - bored, sitting at computer with digicam nearby - but there were so many policecar lights and police uniform fluorescent strips that you couldn't see anything else.)

I have no real opinion on pubs v bars in general, bars can be a bit intimidating to us untrendy types, but then pubs can be a bit intimdating to non-regulars, so I don't really mind. Any non-club with a no-jeans-or-trainers dress code is dud, though.

― Rebecca thisaddressprobablydoesn'tworkanymorebuti'llworryaboutthatattheweekend, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

(I had a tutorial in the Mitre once. That was quite good. Although actually it involved less alcohol than most tutorials with that tutor, since a) he was paying and b) we were all being nervous, so we all had tea or coffee, whereas normally we sat in his room and he offered us wine. I always declined because I thought I needed all the clearheadedness I could get, but in retrospect since I never understood a bloody word or got any questions right maybe I should just have drunk as much wine as possible so I had an excuse for making a fool of myself. Hmm...)

(And I know normal under-21s don't let little things like age restrictions bother them anyway but then I am shorter than the average ant and I do look like about 15 years younger than I am, bah.)

― rebecca whatisaidaboveaboutemailaddresses, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Drunks, the lot of you. *weeps tears of jealousy at not being able to join in*

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

eleven months pass...

This comment is almost a year late, but you could have gone to a lounge, couldn't you?

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Sunday, 2 February 2003 03:41 (twenty-two years ago)

A *what*?

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 3 February 2003 00:07 (twenty-two years ago)

An establishment where you go to drink cocktails and hear cocktail jazz in the background. Has much vegetation, and has a carpet because no one would be so insensitive as to spill anything. (I've only seen them in the movies, to tell you the truth.) Or it's a sleazy dive that somehow got "lounge" in its title, e.g. "The Starlite Lounge." The "Peppermint Twist" was made famous at the Peppermint Lounge. Sort of cocktail rock, which is preferable to cock rock. Or maybe not.

― Frank Kogan (Frank Kogan), Monday, 3 February 2003 03:16 (twenty-two years ago)

"Lounge" is actually a permutation of "lownge", from the word "low", which refers to light levels and height of the tables in such joints. I mean hey, this is the 90s, Nick!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Monday, 3 February 2003 03:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Pubs always used to have a lounge bar - though these have been removed in the great removing seperate bars debacle of the mid eighties.

― Pete (Pete), Monday, 3 February 2003 10:33 (twenty-two years ago)

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