Entertainment For Lively Minds
Thames Valley Mingle
Posted by VincePacket on 13 January 2011 - 4:58pm.
EDIT: The date is now fixed as the 25th February. Venue is to be decided. More to follow. See my post at the bottom of this thread.
Peeling off from another post. A mention has been made of a Thames Valley mingle with Reading as a potential venue.
As a newbie I am completely unaware of the etiquette or process that makes a mingle happen so I would defer to any mingling veterans to grab the idea by the scrotum and tell me where I need to go and when.
The idea is out there, what happens next?
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Easy
As the self selected organiser you gather views on date/place, meet up, drink beer, talk bollocks. If you search there is a potential Oxford meet up there somewhere which my have some synergy.
Reading works for me
Oxford less so but would force myself the extra mile (or 40).
I'd make the trip out to Reading!
Good on you for kicking this off.
Could I suggest a late Jan / Feb date for your meet up? We've just had a London gathering, and the next one's due to be in March. As I reckon lots of people will want to go to both a London and a Reading meet, makes sense to me to make sure they're reasonably spaced???
:-(
The more I think rationally about it, the less likely I am to attend, unfortunately. I won't be able to leave til much later than I'd like, and then it's 1.5 hours journey to Reading. I suspect by the time I arrive, I'll be just in time to head home.
Meh. If anything changes, I'll post again but for now I think you have to count me out. Sorry.
Hey! This was my chance to get a Word Awards"rosette"...
you're stealing my thunder newbie!
I'll put one of these ;-) just so you know I'm kidding by the way.
Reading, Maidenhead, Windsor good for me, even Oxford at a push if anyone wants to get that back on track.
I have no intention
of stealing anyone's thunder. :-)
My intention was purely to get someone with some mingling nous to tell me where to go to pop my socialising-with-the-Massive cherry.
The thought of being responsible for said event is just too much pressure for a newbie like me. I'm trying my hardest to be a contributing member but organising a mingle? Holy crap, that would put the fear of god into me.
Just think of me as a participator rather than leader.
As for Reading. Last time I was there - albeit a long time ago - it had turned into a mandatory shiny shoes and polyester trousers kind of place. I would have no idea where to go for a Mingle. I don't know what kind of place is suitable. I really would like to leave it up to someone with experience of these things.
Please? (rolls big puppy eyes)
As for the date. I don't have a social life so if a Thames Valley meet went well, I could pretty much face East the next day and head to London. So whatever works best for the majority.
haha...
pressure's on you man!
Some are born great
Some have greatness thrust upon them.
"Thrust"
I'm in!
Reading or Maidenhead would be fab! I hear Slough's nice this time of year too...
North Windsor/Eton borders
I'll have you know...
Come lovely people and fall on Slough
Yes Retro and I were discussing this at the London night when we discovered how close a load of us lived to eachother.
Am willing to be designated driver for the nite for any alcoholics in the Maidenhead and surround environs BTW. No points on my license and only two fatal crashes etc
Reading is good for me although only know bad pubs so anyone know any good ones?
I was at The George on The Green
in Holyport last night Dogface, got rather merry on the fine Rebellion Mutiny they serve there...
That would be a fantastic venue but pretty out of the way unless we arranged a taxi shuttle from Maidenhead station?
I could have joined you for a pint
but I was in North London doing a quiz.
Maybe time to go on 'Beer In The Evening' site and sniff out a decent boozer.
Count me in
Frequent reader, very occasional contributor here.
The name's a bit misleading as I moved from Oxford (well, Abingdon) to Fleet (north east Hampshire) three years ago. I am still Paul though.
I'd be up for Reading, Oxford or any of the points mentioned above. Also happy to be a designated driver provided the logistics aren't too messy.
Hey Fleet dweller
Are the logistics to Yateley doable?
Absolutely...
... seeing as you're only four miles up the road.
Grabbing by the scrotum
Is this a secret Massive-onic "handshake".
I did wonder how people distinguished Massivistas from civillians at these bashes...
Mag
The very first one we had a copy of (I think) Carl's copy of the Word on the table, which someone kindly nicked during the course of the evening.
Reading's Good
Have to think of a decent venue in the town - most of the pubs are kack.
This might be a potential venue:
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/57/5713/3Bs/Reading
Any takers/dates etc
BTW I couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery (or Bar in this case) so any assitance in making the TVM (Thames Valley Mingle) a reality greatly appreciated
I spoke to Retro about this last Friday
I could certainly make a Reading one. I know absolutely of pubs in Reading though, unfortunately.
Country Pub Lunch anyone?
I'm trying to rack my brains about a good convenient venue but the pubs in Reading and Maidenhead are pretty dire, even Windsor lacks a really good boozer.
We could go all up market and seek out a decent Real Ale country pub one evening or how about a Saturday/Sunday lunch even? This would make it slightly different from the usual hard-core Rock&Roll antics of the London meets, and take the emphasis away from the alcohol and more on the talking bollocks.
We could even have a go at Morris dancing...
Problem then would be logistics of course - but as there are a couple of volunteer drivers maybe we could get somewhere reasonably close to a main line station and arrange something from there.
I'm in.
Repping da Stainez Massive, blud.
I'm out.
Sorry everyone - can't make it after all.
Reading or Oxford
good for me. As is end of this month or start of Feb.
And County Shall Speak Peace Unto County
Yea I'll be up for a Reading bash. I'm in Sandhurst, I hear of a Yateley massivisto/a out there. This is getting cosy!
Hi
neighbour.
*waves*
Hellooo!
.
I'm in Wokingham
Which is just down the road. And if I had my way, we'd meet in The Ship Inn Wokingham. Fullers for grown ups and fizzy lager for me.
Coffee is fairly decent too.
I'd have to go through Wokingham
to get to Reading, so it'd be marginally more convenient for me.
I suspect I may be in the minority though ;)
We'd be choosing
a pub 5 minutes from my front door.
Not that I'm being selfish or anything...
Wokingham would be good...
certainly better pubs.
But, I think further West, like Reading for example, would be better to make it more accessible for people who might not be able to attend the London gatherings.
Of course nothing to stop anyone peeling off for more informal drinking in Yateley, Wokingham etc in the future...if we all get along that is!
Absolutely.
Reading is the town, just struggling to find what I guess is a suitable boozer near the station.
Try this one
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/57/5713/3Bs/Reading
I used to play football
for The Ship. I'm up for that as a venue - it'll bring back some memories (mostly bad mind).
The Ship - Wokingham
I used to work round the corner - it was the nearest pub to work. Did you know Martin Lee? I think he lived there!
Ah! The Ship - Wokingham
It seems like only yesterday...
Make that a Fleet / Sandhurst / Yateley Triangle
And I'm happy to be the driver for the three of us.
Berkshire...it's the new Rock & Roll
.
You'd better believe it!
That Cliff Bennett lives just up the road!!!
As a resident of the Royal Borough
One shall add this to the social calendar and have my people speak with your people.
Well, more jazz blues really
Was Paul Jones really going to headline over The Floyd, even in 1967? They didn't play in the end cos Syd went loopy or summat
'Ee Towny Baaarrrstarrrrd...
.
reading is best for me
huge selection of drinking places - variable quality though
OK, so far...
I got a sense that Reading seems to be the consensus.
Pubs within walking distance of Reading station would hit the spot as would end of January in terms of the date. Do we prefer week night or weekend? (Newbie has no idea of the etiquette remember?)
I'll go and do some research for a pub that sells good lager. If you insist on putting me in charge then I get to choose the drinks. You have been warned drinkers of foul brown stuff.
Fridays seem to be best
as its not a school night for most and maybe less busy than Saturday
BTW try some of these on your rounds
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/guide/reading.shtml
Dates...
shall we try to get this kicked off?
In February there's the Word gig on the 01st and Reading's home game against QPR has been bloody moved to Friday 04th so that's out for me.
At the moment I am free on the other Fridays 11th, 18th and 25th.
I would consider a Saturday too (except 19th as Reading are playing Watford that day...).
Is there any decent boozer in Caversham? Or even a Hotel by the River that is not extortionate maybe?
Hmmm...
February's not great for me, the 18th is certainly out and the 11th most likely is too. Fridays are better on the whole.
How about Feb 25th or even Jan 28th?
Jan 28th is feeling good
Need a month before the London one.
My preference is for a boozer within walking
distance of the station so that I can do beer sans car. Might reduce the quality of pub but Reading station is well connected and will make it easier for more of the Massive to travel.
Jan 28th and feb 25th fine, or we could try the site that Hannah uses for date selection.
Reading QPR
I'll be there.
As an away fan.
What about the
Hobgoblin in Broad Street? Used to be good - my trips there ended about 8 years ago. I worked in Reading and Sandhurst and lived for a couple of years near Wokingham. Too far out now sadly - the wilds of Wiltshire. Now if you want to come to Devizes I know just the boozer!
Yup
Hobgoblin is OK but utterly rammed on a Friday night from my last experience a couple of years ago.
The one on the River is a good idea, would need to check some reviews to make sure it hasn't turned into a hoodies bar.
The Blagrave Arms
gets good reviews and must be right by the station. No idea how busy it gets
Yes.
Blagrave Arms.
That's it. Venue sorted.
Yes.
I've been there a few times (not for 20 years though) although pubs don't change much do they? And it is close to the station. The advantage of Reading over Wokingham / Slough etc is that it has more trains to and from various places.
I'd come along.
Hobgoblin is always rammed
Blagrave Arms might be the best shout.
Blagrave Arms - Sometime in Feb
Yes Please - see you there
Fridays are good, Saturdays usually do-able
(I'm actually looking forward to it - pretty good for a miserable old sod like myself)
Reading, Blagrave Arms, Fri Feb 25th or Jan 28th?
Let's vote or something.
Vote away
http://doodle.com/ieuxss4ckvahqpv4
Democracy wins out
It would appear the most popular date for the TVM is Friday January 28th. WHich is quite soon.
I'll give it a couple more days for votes and then we'll lock it in.
As a reminder the correct link for voting is http://doodle.com/u5re5xd5whnpc2s3
Democracy wins out
It would appear the most popular date for the TVM is Friday January 28th. WHich is quite soon.
I'll give it a couple more days for votes and then we'll lock it in.
As a reminder the correct link for voting is http://doodle.com/u5re5xd5whnpc2s3
Hmmm
have to see if I can get to the the one on 28th Jan. I'd have said the 25th March would be better bet but hey ho.
Blimey, did I vote for Jan 28th...??
I was thinking this was a February thing - I just realised Jan 28th is next week! A bit soon isn't it now the London one has moved to end of March? Anyway, will go with the general consensus of course.
...well...
you could always delete your vote (hover over your name and select the bin) and re-vote excluding Jan 28th! Most popular date is Feb 25th anyway now...
Inside I'm laughing
Hehe. Does it always happen like this?
I thought later was better too. But the powers of democracy pointed at 28th Jan until recently. Like I say, I'll give it another day or so to settle down but 25th Feb is now in the lead :-)
It's a learning curve :-D
"The Thames Valley Massive - muddling along towards some lovely drinks"
Ta Hannah
Cos I made a right balls up on my vote. Only vote when awake is probably the best option for all events
No worries!
Happy snoozing :-)
UPDATE:
After the final vote was counted, the date is set as the 25th February.
We have a slight technical hitch. I happened to be in Reading today and thought I'd poke my nose in the Blagrave Arms to check out the quality of the Lager (well it was lunchtime)
It's gone. Or rather, it's a nice looking Italian restaurant now. The Rising Sun that used to be next to it is closed. I wandered around the town checking out every place I could think of that used to be a pub. They are all now closed or have become disco bars for young people with no taste whatsoever.
There's a couple of student-type places with sticky floors and 350 types of alcoholic fruit drinks but other than that, I have completely drawn a blank.
Help.
Try this 'un
The Cape / The Varsity, or whatever its called now
Certainly was OK when I last remember going there
http://www.barracudagroup.co.uk/pubs/cspe-reading.html
Other viable options:
3Bs
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/57/5713/3Bs/Reading
Sun Inn
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/57/5709/Sun_Inn/Reading
Zero Degrees
http://www.zerodegrees.co.uk/location-reading.html
Can't vouch for the entire suitability on a Friday Evening, but might be OK
Good job you checked
The review of The Sun seems to suggest it's closed as well. The other suggestions look good. Zero Degrees might be worth a go as it's not far from the rail station but will also have plenty of parking as it's at The Oracle shopping centre.
Bummer!
I really want to come but I've got a gig that night :-(
Failing that
there is always the swings in the park with some bottles of White Lightning.
Seems there aren't many decent pubs
for the discerning drinker in Reading anymore unless you fancy a tussle with some hoodies. A colleague mentioned these places which are probably more like wine bars than pubs.
Can anyone check these out for Word approved suitability?
Copa Reading
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/33/33478/Bar_Copa/Reading
http://copareading.sm4.biz/
http://www.drinksinreading.com/pubs-and-bars/copa--reading/107/66.html
Island Bar & Restaurant
http://www.islandbar.co.uk/
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/32/3256/Island/Caversham
The Ivory Lounge
http://www.ivoryloungebar.co.uk/
http://www.drinksinreading.com/pubs-and-bars/the-ivory-lounge-reading/10...
I'll pop over this week sometime
and have a survey
So...
any updates on the venue?
Reading Venues
I think there was another thread in which we were considering
Zero Degrees
http://www.zerodegrees.co.uk/location-reading.html
My wife says avoid Yates Wine Dive and Revolution.
Am just leaving
to scout out a few of these and will report back later
Well done that man (boy)
Mrs LB and I are still intending on getting there after the Micky Flanagan gig so look forward to you unearthing a suitable venue.
Now this may throw a spanner in the works
but The Blagrave Arms IS open and definitely not an Italian restaurant.
Don't know if its like Brigadoon and only appears on a Friday afternoon but popped in there earlier. Its a bit of a spit n sawdust place, a no nonsense boozer wi' nowt taken out but it may be the best bet as its within spitting (and sawdusting) distance of the station and parking. Real Ale a speciality, nowt more foodwise than bar snacks. Only thing against it is that its a bit small but has a pub dog. Sometimes these things matter.
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/56/5658/Blagrave_Arms/Reading
The only other one I liked the look of was the 'Copa' which is about 4-5 mins walk from the station. Nice modern decor "continental beers" and very roomy (2 levels) and off the main drag enough to not be jammed with beer monsters. Plus an outdoor smoking terrance over looking the canal if thats your packet. They do food til 10pm. Nearest parking in onstreet (free after 8pm) and the Oracle.
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/33/33478/Bar_Copa/Reading
http://www.drinksinreading.com/pubs-and-bars/copa--reading/107/66.html
So can we have a quick straw poll over the weekend and then I'll do a fresh post on Monday announcing final details. Just post Blagrave or Copa below.
I'm still trying to figure out how I missed the Blagrave Arms.
Happy with the Copa or the Blagrave. But posh is always better as long as the lager is cold.
Copa.
I'll bring Lola
After all she's a showgirl!!
I live in Slough...
so I'd like to leave the spit and sawdust behind for a while if possible...so Copa for me.
Can I bring my pineapple?
There were no door staff
searching people for exotic fruit so you may be okay
There's always The Flags
Well you said it was exotic!!
Then all back to your place for a curry!!!
Ooops meant for Retro Man
Copa or Blagrave....
Copa is a bit of a trek from the station... but probably better if you're driving.
I'm easy either way.
Copa
will do us.
Still up for this Friday...
... and I'll be driving. Leedsboy / Fatmanjez - I'm still happy to take a minor detour via Yateley and Sandhurst. Mail paul.beevers@talk21.com and we'll sort out logistics.
And I'm fine with Copa too.
That's very kind
and ordinarily I would have taken you up on it like a shot. I have tickets for the Micky Flanagan gig in the Concert Hall in Reading so will drive in for that. Mrs LB and I will pop in post show and it will be nice to meet some massive neighbours.
Copa
Friday - count me in
See ya there people
The Massive has spoken
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/thames-valley-massive-mingle-frida...