Earl Aelfheah

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > But a good old skool pub which becomes a hub for a > load of people who will never necessarily have > each other's phone numbers, but who will greet > each other warmly in there, is my ideal place. Are you sure you aren't just recalling an episode of Cheers.

Any updates on this? Is it still standing?

The explosion in SUVs. Used to be that we laughed at Americans driving ridiculous, pseudo military vehicles.

salt and pepper won't work if he's already a seasoned criminal.

One small thing I will say in their defence, is when confronted by an adult following a fight in front of young children, they did (albeit after a few minutes and rather sullenly) move off. Twice now though I have seen them having proper fights (punches to the face etc.), accompanied by the kind of 'fck him up' type commentary, which is just totally inappropriate in a children's playground. As said above, if they were just hanging out there causing no trouble that would be one thing (alhtough I still don't think it's a particularly appropriate place to do so), but violence and agression are not. It doesn't help anyone (least of all the teenagers themselves) to make excuses for their bad behaviour.

On a couple of occasions there having been fights in the playground, during the day in front of toddlers and very young children. Boredom does not excuse it. It's an inappropriate place for young adults to hang out. Anyway, as quids says there is loads going on in London for free all of the time.

Hermit's Cave is a good boozer. Also (although I haven't been there for quite some time) I used to like the Bear.

Nigello Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Big bang activity :-)

...in the last couple of years of it's life as the CPT. Before that I was in Camberwell. Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > When did you use the CPT? Agree it had to change > in it's last couple of years, but before that > there were quite a few of us that used it very > regularly. > > Damn it, I didn't want to talk about the CPT.

I'm suspicious of the whole misty eyed 'proper boozer' schtick. As someone who does frequent 'old man pubs', I have to tell you that they're generally not 'full of characters', but more 'half empty with one or two pub bores generally best avoided' and twas always so. I used to drink in the CPT, in the back bar, because I could go there with a couple of mates and chat and get a drink easily and it was relatively cheap. But there was hardly ever more than half a dozen people in there. It had to change. The Great Exhibition is much more busy and has far more 'characters' now.

I am going to have to retire from this discussion. It is turning my hair grey. Dopamine1979 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Otta Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > For me it just flows better doing it as > > 0208,xxx,xxxx. Like a mobile number should be > > 07xxx,xxx,xxx. It throes me off when people do > it > > differently. > > This.

But it makes so much more sense to split an eight digit number into two sets of four and to proceed it with the area code (or not, as really in most instances this should be implicit due to the fact that both parties know you're in London). Otta, please, you're killing me here.

I am now in an irrational rage.

Nope. You have to include the area code when dialing from your mobile. But the area code is 020. And if I where to quote a number to you, I would give it as 020 (pause) 8910 (pause) 1234 and get extremely upset if (as often happens) you made me repeat it by saying "sorry, 0208, then what?" I can't understand why after 14 years, so many people still cannot process a London phone number unless it is expressed in (the entirely erroneous) terms of the area code, plus the first digit of the number. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_telephone_code_misconceptions

Agree The Montpellier is a good pub. Never been to the Montague Arms, will have to give it a go.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Because they have a lot of people wanting to watch > sport and that's how they make most of their > money. Fair enough, but I hate having a TV on in the background all the time. Even though I'm not interested in it, I can't help finding my attention drawn to it.

the-e-dealer Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > because of the below 8 is more likely to be outer > and 7 inner London > > 2000 New London-wide code of 020 introduced. Local > numbers lengthened to eight digits be prefixing > with '7' in inner London or '8' in outer London. ... it's true that numbers which were in existence at the time of the change over in 2000 are more likely to follow that pattern, but it still doesn't mean that the first digit of the number forms any part of the area code for any London number.

Otta - you are exactly right, it's a hangover from 0181 / 0171, but it's been 020 for a decade and a half now. It drives me insane that I can't just give people my number without having to express it in erroneous terms. A little thing I know, but it causes me irrational rage. :-)

I liked the Castle, but they've got too many TVs in there now. I don't mind one for those who want to watch the sport, but why have a TV everywhere you look?

http://www.area-codes.org.uk/020-area-code.php "Despite London having had a single area code (020) since the year 2000, many people wrongly think that '0207' numbers are only for central London and that '0208' is for the outer areas. In fact, it is now quite normal for an (020) 8 number to be issued in central London, or an (020) 7 number allocated in the suburbs. Incorrect spacing reinforces misunderstandings and causes people to make incorrect assumptions."

No it's not. 020 is the area code and only needs to be added to the number when calling from outside the area zone (i.e. from outside London). Numbers in London may start with a 7, an 8, or a 3 regardless of where in London they are.

There is always Megabus, if you have a LOT of time.

Sometimes I'll just give the number, i.e. "7890 1234" and it'll blow their mind. "Sorry, 7890, I don't understand.", "It's a London number, add 020 if your dialling from outside London, which I know you aren't". "er, OK, so 0207, then what is it?.." ARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH

People who insist on London phone numbers being described in terms of the area code + the first digit of the telephone number, before they'll attend to the rest of it. I.e. "my number is 020, 7890, 1234", "sorry, 0207, then?..." 020 is the area code for London. The first digit of your phone number does not form part of the area code.

Great Exhibition is my regular, but that's as much to do with it's proximity to my house as anything. Gowlett is a good pub too.