Who wants to organise the Northern Pub Meets ?

[s4dreamer]

After 2+ years setting the dates and posting up notifications of the Northern Pub Meets, I've decided to retire, thereby allowing me flexibility in whether or not to attend, and also enabling us to pick a new location which was discussed briefly at the last meet.

I'm going to make this post on Tyresmoke too as it's a joint meet and if we have more than one volunteer, those interested can discuss it between themselves (or in here).

Just so it is clear my preference is to keep it as an evening pub meet where we can chat and have some grub. So, the pub needs to do decent pub food, and preferably good beer too. Ideally, it should be reasonably close to the motorway network so that it is easy for folks to get to. Bear in mind that we have people come from up near Lancaster, Crewe (when he can be bothered to turn up) and Sheffield - not to mention the frozen wastelands of the real North of England.

Anyway, lets have a chat about it and if you folks can come up with suggestions for pubs, that'd be great (especially if you know them).

I'd like to finish up by saying a big thanks to everyone who's turned up to these meets over the past couple of years. They've been good fun with a great variety of personalities and cars.

Trev

[PhilT]

All the thanks must go to you Trev .

I'd like to promote this across a number of communities, so that we are bound to have more than one person there and ample petrol head banter.

Location is vital, and I think that somewhere in the middle of the M62 would be great as it makes it pretty much equidistant for most. The extra trek off the 62 makes it just a little bit longer. Also, since the demise of the Mixed Grill of Joy, the appeal of the White House Pub has fallen somewhat.

Anybody know of a good venue?

[johneroberts]

If its nearer the M6 then even i could attend occasionally
Cheers
jr

[davidhodgkinson]

A Job well done Trevor! Let's hope it can continue

[fatcat]

Also, since the demise of the Mixed Grill of Joy

That thing put the fear of god into me, sad to see it is no longer.

Good work as always Trev

[TarmacTerrorist]

Just a suggestion, but seeing as this is the only 'Northern-ish meet' as such, why not rotate it between 3 or 4 different locations through out the year. We could have one meet more towards the north west, one towards the north east and one or two in the central regions etc. This would not only relieve the monotony of the same venue, but may well promote more people to attend the meets slightly further away if they have only to travel just around the corner the following month. It would also equal up the distances being travelled for those who are in regular attendence. They wouldn't have to be great distances apart, say a 60 mile round trip from each location.

[PhilT]

Good thinking bat boy... Just need some venues.

[TarmacTerrorist]

Sorry, cant help any with scenic locations or names of good pubs down that way (there must be plenty mind).

If the idea goes forward any, we should at least have an alternate meet at either end of the M62, somewhere near to the A1 intersection on the east, and the M6 on the west. Further meets could be then organised inbetween them, perhaps somewhere around the sheffeild/chesterfeild area would bring a few peeps up from birm/leics/cov/notts/derby as it is less than an hour away, and if everyone was up for it, have a meet further north and central around harrogate/knaresborough/ripon area in the middle of the summer when we have more light with us?

Like I initailly said, just a suggestion but may well get a few more attending. What does everyone else think?

[wombat]

Thanks for the organisation so far Trevor, it's not easy being the anchor but without one these events never get established.

Never did finish a Grill of Joy...

I'm game for anywhere on the M62 between the M6 and the M1. I'm in two minds about a variable location; I could keep track of two venues but I don't know about four.

Just my 2ds

Darren
--

[s4dreamer]

I like Gav's suggestion of rotating venues, although I suspect that if we rotate too much or too far, attendences will drop off because people won't be paying attention (eh wombat? ).

If we could find somewhere near the Manchester end of the M62 and then somewhere else nearer to the Leeds end which we could rotate around, that would make it a bit fairer and might also encourage more attendance from far-flung places like the frozen wastelands(tm).

Anyone got an up-to-date copy of the Good Pub Guide - that's where I started last time ?
If not, I'll look in my 2002 edition and see what I can find.

[DavidT]

Crewe (when he can be bothered to turn up)

Wow, someone lives close to me

[PhilT]

Anyone got an up-to-date copy of the Good Pub Guide

The SMS thing here sounds good. Not sure what their pricing policy or use of you mobile number is...

See - http://www.goodguides.co.uk/gpubmobile.asp

[DavidT]

Thanks for arranging them Trev (and to big Al before you), you've put a lot in and it can be a thankless task at times.

Whilst we are debating the whole thing, I suggest we set dates for the next few and hold them at the same location, otherwise if interest wanes we will end up without.

What do people think of this suggestion?

[PhilT]

So I assumed that the one that should be tonight was off....?

[DavidT]

So I assumed that the one that should be tonight was off....?

I didn't know it was on for tonight Phil.