Happy to work on a Manchester Mingle. Suggested pubs before were Briton's Protection or The Peveril Of The Peak. They do have intimate rooms. The BP has an open fire & the best selection of whiskies in the city.

Who's interested? Names below. Manc or The 'Pool? Preference for day of week. February, March or later. Then we can get back to Mr H with a set of dates for him to check his diary.

The original London Beer Fest was on a Friday after work. A Friday before a United saturday game at home could be busy. Logic says that is the best day in the week if any quantity of good ale is to be quaffed. I can equally make Liverpool and happy to get involved in that is chosen.

Shall we push for Manchester then?

Ligging's coming home...

Pssst. Sat. 6th March Trafford United are away at Wolves. Friday the 5th? No pressure. 6th is my birthday (hint).

now we just have to wait for others to join us (drums fingers on table absent-mindedly)...

Fri 5th March is good for me and Manchester being the closest of the two,would be my preferred City, can even pull in a trip to Fopp as well

The Jock Strap?
The Far Northern Uproar?
Bordering on the Insane?
The Rutherglen Ruck?
The Cambuslang Collaboration?
South Side Walkin'? (think Soul City Walkin')
The Weegie West-end (art)Wank?
The Horseshoe Hoedown?
The Babbity Bowster Blaw Oot? <- that wan, I can sit ootside wi ma fag

I've twittered The Hep and am awaiting a response from "his people". Wonder if we need separate room for subscribers?

There are some Word types in our office - could probably round up 5 of us for a few swift ones. Great idea. Hep and Ellen need to be there, come on, meet your public...

There must be more..may even stay over so that I can go the distance and don't have to endure the unspeakable horror of the last train home..
also want to keep this thread alive for people who haven't tuned in for a bit so if they log on they can see it's a going concern!

Once you've sorted a date and location I'll check the diary.

or am I making an executive decision? Anyone else want to chip in? Do we need to book a room, or do we all just turn up?

BP, like most decent Manc pubs will be hammered on a Friday night but they do have a top floor room for hire.
It is a bit of an 'ask' to expect Word staff to come all the way up from London though. Perhaps a video link up?.

for 5th March

What time?

...for a 40th birthday, could come up a day early...hmmm

I'm in. But I reserve the right to clandestinely walk past the gathering first in a superficial attempt to gauge the attendees & whether I will assimilate before scurrying off in a childish, wussy & immature fashion.

Joking.

The BP sounds good. That'll take me back...

That's a step in the right direction. Shall it be tentatively convened at 7? I, for one, will be travelling into Manchester from Warrington, so the earliest could be 6, but it all depends on what you all want, appreciating that some might want a drink after work and not want a later start.
I'm right in thinking that the pub's near the Bridgewater Hall, yes?

This
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/feb/07/elbow-guy-garvey-jesca-hoo...
An interview with Jesca Hoop & Guy Garvey in the Briton's Protection. Spooky?

Bridgewater Hall just across the road. Keep going, there is a Premier Inn (or whatever they are called now). If it's posh you are after the BP is virtually next door to a Jurys Inn. Or the Midland, where Mr Rolls met Mr Royce. Or The Radisson, where Mr Cowell stays when the X Factor auditions are in town.

Are you getting this Mr. Hepworth?

...I only listened to the Pod today on the way to work so I know realise that Mr Hepworth had actually thrown down the gauntlet and offered to ride the Richard Branson Express to Piccadilly should a sufficient Northern Chapter of the massive be convened. Perhaps we should await to see whether he has a 'Window' before hotels get booked etc?
I realise The 5th now isn't ideal for me at all but I may have to flit between two separate events like Mrs Doubtfire...
How many were at the London shindig? We really oughta get as many?

but being a scattered tribe, it might take a bit of time, and, as you know, fortune favours the brave, so let's fix that date and go for it. If we fix it...He(ppers) will come...

... maybe we should just bite the bullet, say the 5th in the Briton's Protection and see what happens.

After all, surely this is only the start of a regular occurrence - we need to catch-up with the London contingent.

Shall we say 7p.m. in the Britons Protection. March 5th. Further details shall be forthcoming closer to the date (i.e. How we shall make ourselves known etc.etc)
How do the chaps feel about that? If you'd like to email me and confirm, or give a heads up about any further developments?

Although I may take advantage of the city's hospitality during the day. Fopp, Vinyl Exchange, Chinatown, er, Disney Store, etc.

We will be Mancunians for the evening. Everybody in the pub will just bloody know we are part of Worldwide Word Massive.

I'm based in Liverpool so may well come over for a meet (Britons Protection is an excellent choice)but are there any Liverpool readers who fancy a pint a bit closer to home?

As I've stated, I'm between both cities, so don't mind where we start, but it would be nice to hope that (appreciating the distance travelled by all partied concerned) we can turn this into a bit of a "movable feast" thus eliminating any (supposed) bias for location?
Would happily attend Liverpool meet-up also.

Just listened to the Podcast yesterday and hoped someone might have organised something on the forums - good work chaps!
I should be able to get there on the 5th.
Maybe we could all carry a rolled up copy of the Dido issue?

I'd prefer Manchester if poss.

..and Elbow were in. Well, most of them. Bodes well I think...

Manchester probably wouldn't be doable for me on that date, but if there's the likelihood of some kind of Liverpool gathering, I could certainly try and make that.

This is a public service announcement: Mark Ellen plans to be in the bar at Mal Maison this evening at 10.30pm, and would be delighted if any local Word readers joined him for a quick shandy. Or two.

I've been working in Manchester today too.

I`m in Blackburn and will deffo try to meet the Manchester/Liverpool/Lancashire etc Massive.

I`ll be the one looking like a fat startled bunny.

so I'm definitely going to be there...beers ahoy!

We were in Manchester recently for The Transatlantic Sessions at The Bridgewater Hall. We went into Briton's Protection and saw The Peverill of the Peak. BP was a fine pub and The Peverill looked very interesting. Any idea where the names originate from?
Also went into both The Chop Houses in the centre. Really recommend the Posh Cheese Toast and Corned Beef Hash.

Peveril of the Peak (1823) is the longest novel by Sir Walter Scott. Along with Ivanhoe, this is one of Scott's English novels, with the main action taking place around 1678.

is a superb boozer. I must sample that cheese on toast..

was recently featured on TV as the current owner is retiring. Sounds ideal for a Mingle in the future...

This is officially the smallest pub in Manchester, having only two tiny, simply furnished rooms. It can accommodate just 2 Tetley Bitter handpumps and approximately 35 drinkers at any given time. There is no room for food, darts board, juke box or pool table either.

Although a friendly, welcoming place, if you find the doors closed at weekends, it's because they simply cannot risk having too many people in. For this reason, it becomes almost the equivalent of a private members' club for its mainly male regulars.

Or have we abandoned all hope?
Just thought I could do with some clarification.

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/the-manchester-massive-march-mingl...