Is there any chance of doing this before Christmas ?. I'm only saying as the funds might be a bit low in January just a thought.

- would it make sense to have it slightly more centrally (W1/WC1)
Although do appreciate that it made it easier for Lord Ellen, Fraser et al to pop-in being closer to Word Towers in N1.

And also Friday may be a tough night for some to get out on. How about a Thursday? Only one day to get through if following day's hangover is a bad one

With you on that Sheev. W4 even better of course...

in Cardiff??

but happy to fit in with the majority if we can find a date when people are free, which I suspect may be a problem. Agree more central - I am very fond of the Cross keys just off Covent Garden - excellent beer, old Beatles and other bands' posters on the walls, no plonkers!

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/22/2264/Cross_Keys/Covent_Garden

Couldn't make the last one - plenty of notice is a good thing for me.

Would really like to make this one - can get to anywhere in London area, pretty much.

to hold this event in a small village in Berkshire?

Far more convenient for everyone. Well, for some people. Well, for me.

;-)

Near Piccadilly Line would suit me.

W1/Central is best for me, but frankly anywhere on the tube will do, and pre-Christmas sounds good, any evening other than Wednesdays (have to pick up the FPO from evening class!)

January would be better for me. The FPO needs that kind of notice to process my application for attendance but I can fast-track one for December.

Central Smoke also better for me too. The Cross Keys would be ideal in fact.

Anywhere within an hour of the shining Manhattan of Croydon:- December can be a bit plagued with the "Amateur Drinkers" who only visit the pub in the run up to Xmas...

Central London would seem sensible.

Someone wanna raise me on 22nd Jan? I am happy with any date but it would be good to get on in the diary. Hannah, you are showing leadership here - waddaya think?

To keep it "real" !

note to self - will have to work on the chant/title for a whole number of reasons......

We're not going to leave it all to the Cockneys are we??

I'm unlikely to make as I live in darkest Essex, but I've just looked up the Cross Keys on Google Earth out of curiosity. It looks like everyone's there already and I'll have some catching up to do.

Right. Come on chaps, let's choose a night. Vote now or hold your peace, majority wins.

Thursday 21st January
OR
Friday 22nd January

any preference?

And Mr Twangothan's suggested venue sounds like the winner, lots of approval for it above. It's the Cross Keys in Covent Garden: http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/22/2264/Cross_Keys/Covent_Garden

EDIT: don't vote here, vote further down with Occam's smart arrows. Hurrah!

are Archie V and Middlerabbit turning up?

*whistles*

Up arrow here for Thursday 21 January

For Friday 22 Jaunary

without the odd comment, the thread disappears, so it'd be great if it could get the occasional nudge. Unless of course there really are only 6 people who fancy a pint

Missed the last one, so should be ok for this one - Thursday or Friday is good for me

All a bit London centric for me, who says media land is insular? I am based in Sheffield so will give this one a miss. Enjoy you flat beer and 'air kisses';)

I'm not booked up as far as January so can do either day. Just start a thread near the time to remind me!

...I'm going to look into it, flights from Belfast and accomodation etc. I'll let you all know.

Prefer Friday, though Thursday works reasonably well for me too.

(long story, basically I'm an idiot with no observation skills), I'm keen as mustard to go to this one.

Problem being, I start a new job after Christmas which means I won't be working in London any more. Mind you, I'm sure I can hop on a train and make it if there's a decent turn-out

I'd love to be there and fail to keep up with the witty banter. Unfortunately, that's performance week for my am-dram group and I'd be missed on stage - there would be some very long pauses.

Hope you have a good evening and I'll try to come next time.

I'm well up for this. You can help me celebrate turning 50! Looking forward to meeting Sheev after our minor spat a while back :-)

have voted for the Friday because we live in Kent and will probably have to stay the night. Train comes into Charing Cross so Cross Keys works top for me.

(ps. and I'm another word bird)

This is going to be a top do. Roll on end of Jan or whenever it is!!

an open invite, like, or is there a suitably arcane code or intricate handshake which you have to reveal first?

maybe we could have a series of simultaneous drinks round the country with satellite link-ups

Hello Riga!

But just in case it's getting more tricky to find the arrows, I've inserted a picture above to help locate them.

Am up for Friday 22nd and would even be up for a pre-Christmas Friday (4th & 11th are still free) keep the comment thread going so it returns. The Cross Keys sounds like the best venue.

.. and because I'm shy, I have to ask how do you recognise each other ?

Do you have a nomiated colour of carnation in the lapel ? Or just spot the baldy blokes (and 1 attractive young lady!) downing bitter in faded King Crimson tour Tshirts ?

I am up for this meet up. I voted by haven't commented yet. Thought I probably should.

and I'm assuming the answer to mvps question is everyone holds a word magazine in their hands.

Just kidding...

*nudge nudge*

This thread is going to pay out soon, I can feel it.

Good choice - let's hope 'The Word' has a decent cover that month. Can you imagine if it was a nude photo of Pugwash on the cover and us all walking into the bar carrying that?

Can Mr Ellen please ensure that we have a cover that gives us all street cred, kudos for 'The Word', and ensures that we are all taken seriously by the Cross Keys staff. We don't really want blokes in dresses, ballet dancers with beards or a large naked arse on the cover that month!

What, Morrissey again?...I'll be wearing clothes...perhaps Band t-shirts might be the way forward...my giveaway is a close resemblance to Suggs.

They could use one of the shots that was thought to be a bit too risqué for the cover of 'My Beauty' perhaps.

It looks like there's going to be a crowd. I'll tag along, deffo.

Have we chosen the right spot? I mean, it'll be great to meet up, but somewhat less so if we can't actually congregate together. Maybe Thursday or somewhere else would be better?

Friday 22nd January it is, by popular vote.
At the Lamb*, Lamb's Conduit Street (thank you, Retro Man)
It sounds good, doesn't it?: http://www.pubs.com/pub_details.cfm?ID=203

Google map here: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=WC1N+3LZ&sll...

I'll look into booking a private area or private room, and I'll start another thread nearer the time to remind everyone, but for now STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING, RIGHT THIS INSTANT, AND GO STICK THE 22ND JAN ON THE DIARY!

Hooray! Looking forward to it. See you there.
Hannah xx

*although it does still have to pass Twangothan's rigorous QCing in advance...

But like Captain Underpants above, I fear the utterly CRAP monicker I (drunkenly, though that's NO excuse) chose when joining this good old friend of a forum may see me shunned, ridiculed and, quite understandably, beaten up.

Are you suggesting you are less than God-like in person? Say it isn't so! You do at least look vaguely Vorgon-ish though, right?

"The exterior is fairly typical with the exception of striking green tiled walls. Inside, above the U-shaped counter, are rare snob screens"

It's extraordinarily tempting, as ever since Hannah described herself as a slightly overweight Kate Winslet I've had a hankering to find out if it's for real or not, but I'm not sure the FPO will buy that particular excuse for nipping out for a swift half. If anyone's in Ipswich on the 22nd though, perhaps we could engage in one of a series of simultaneous country-wide Word-inspired rounds. Snug bar of The Dove. I'm buying.

Start time? 7pm or earlier??

So I have no excuses regarding forgetfulness.

don't post much but be nice to have a drink and a chat with some Word types.

and I have an 'approved' stamp.

Although I have a list of Wife and Daughter drafted 'Don'ts For Dad In Unmonitored Social Situations'

- Don't giggle
- If you do giggle don't end with a snort
- Don't mention your bloody guitar
- Don't bore anyone
- Don't mortally offend anyone by being overly ironic
- Don't... just don't...

I'm quite excited now. I may have my monthly bath early as a treat for eveyone.

...I'm still feeling my way around this place. Word is the greatest magazine I've ever read, and the only one I've ever felt the need to subscribe to, so very keen to meet fellow readers.

:-)

... so I'd hope the lovely lady with whom I share a house, bed and two small children might have plans for me on the Thurs. You only attain the big three-two the once. Unless you're a Buddhist, I suppose.

Remember the 22-1-2010!

Looking forward to raising a glass with you on the 22nd - three weeks of grind away, but something to look forward to!

Cheers!

Twang

Only 17 days to go.

...cos there's a lot in this one about arranging the date etc.

Hoping if I start a new thread it'll make it easier for me to actually figure out who's coming so I can reserve an area.

So: please go here and sign up:
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/whos-coming-word-bloggers-beer-fes...

but unfortunately stuff has come up and I can't come.

That said I am up for future meet ups so please keep em coming.