mikese22

On the plus side - when it closes down due to lack of interest, someone will get a greatly enhanced space to open a new bar!

I went for the first time last night - mindful that my 20% voucher runs out this weekend Arrived at about and was shocked how empty it was - my mate and I plus one other person in the front bar (and no bar staff); that said the 1930s wood panelling, local pictures and comfy furniture look great and once talking we didn't really notice we were alone (the other guy had left by this point) - music was exactly the right level to give atmosphere without being unbearable Only downside (sorry to disagree with most other posters) was the food - maybe we ordered badly, but the burgers were distinctly average and took 45mins to arrive; the main dining room was about 60% full by this time so the chef shouldn't have been overworked - we were also slightly disappointed that they arrived with only 6 anaemic chips on the plate and in a supermarket style burger bun Would definitely go back for drinks and would probably give the rest of the menu a try just to see if it was a one off

I LOVED the exterior! never ate there though... Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In a strange way, I miss the old exterior. But I > guess it would have made any upstairs flats > unsellable...

the 6/10 wasn't meant to be negative - I thought it was fine, just not my kind of bar! annaj Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What Mikese22 said.... > > But it think I'd put the effort mark higher. 9/10 > probably - they were really trying. > > And I recovered in Liquorish with a champagne > classic.

First review: Fit-out - pleasant enough, lots of seats / tables Bar - too small and too far back Cocktails - only trace elements of alcohol detectable (but cheap so if you don't mind crushed ice and fruit juice for ?6+ then good value!) Artwork - cheap and nasty Accoustics - so bad they are beyond comment (or maybe I'm getting old) Music choice - indie pop / chart - generic, pleasant in a Radio 1 daytime / Capital kind of way Clientelle - dressed up studenty Marks out of 10: Achievement - 5/10 Effort - 6/10 Will I go back? - maybe on a quiet early week night, but probably not... Overall - fabulous espresso martini (thank you Monica) in liquorish to recover from experience

has anyone actually spoken to Somerfield? If their head office PR department knew about this debate they'd be horrified I'm sure

i quite like the planes, reminds me of holidays

the newsagent opposite the sea cow is the same... i agree it is incredibly rude - though to be fair the guy is always pretty friendly

Mark Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Option 1's best (or sometimes ED to Tulse Hill > then to Gatwick), takes about 45/50 minutes > > on the way back though that route stops about 5pm > and you'll have to go Gatwick to East Croydon to > Forest Hill, bus to ED. Or similar. After 5 it's invariably quicker to get the train from Gatwick to London Bridge (or Victoria) than to change at E Croydon Alos if you get Southern or First Capital Connect it is cheaper than Gatwick Express (if you have a Z12 travel card you get a further discount)

Goofy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think its a shame they closed the bookies.We > need another estate agents like a hole in the > head.Knock down Somerfields and build another > bookies thats what i say. they didn't it moved to giant premises next to Winkworth

I don't want to sound middle aged (is 35 middle aged?) but I totally agree re music volume and being able to hold a converstaion - I don't think it's a volume thing, it's more to do with acoustics - my recommendation is get an accoustic consultant involved at the very start of the design phase The Bishop is a perfect example of a bar with great music but awful accoustics - in certain seats the din of talking is deafening and the music (which is loud) is unidentifiable, whilst the person just inches away from you cannot be heard at all! PeckhamRose Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > I would ask for to NOT > have music. Sorry but lots of pubs and bars do > music and even my beloved Clockhouse has fabulous > music (lots of rock from 70s 80s and contemporary > stuff too) but they do at least have the music > turned down low so you can have a good > conversation should you so wish. Music creates > atmosphere of course too. So it's all a balancing > act innit. > >

I've just been cloned too ?200 in the states - could have been worse hats off to NatWest for spotting it straight away - last time (a few years back) I was down ?4k before I spotted it!

NatashaD - what you have failed to recognise when stereotyping patrons of the Vauxhall Tavern, is that that it is a club with differently themed nights - you have obviously passed by on the cropped hair, tight t-shirt moustache night - if you had passed on a Sunday you would have seen skinheads, bovver boots, turn-up skinny jeans and no shirts; on a saturday however you would have seen a confusing mix of guys in Gap shirts, rugby shirts, polo shirts, sweaters, vests, DJs and bow ties, 50s prom dresses etc etc.... you need to get out more NatashaD Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I apologise for stereotyping the guys who go to > the Royal Vauxall Tavern. I was obviously so wrong > that they have cropped hair and tight t-shirts. > Not to mention the ubiquitous neat moustache > merging into a neat, cropped beard. > http://www.timjonesmusic.co.uk/images/boyzfeb06.jp > g

wow - so many posts since I last logged on! my two penn'orth: Strawbs - sorry I missed your rainbow drinks suggestion - I and some friends would have come! Others - the debate about public displays of affection is misleading, if a straight couple are kissing they get smirks, tuts and under the breath comments like 'get a room'; if a gay (male) couple are kissing they may get the same reaction from a lot of people but they may also get verbal abuse and worst case attacked; a gay (female) couple I guess may get sleazy and offensive comments - hardly a consistent situation! The debate about why it's ok to have gay exclusive bars but not men exclusive bars? As far as I am aware the main objection to gentlemen's clubs related to the networking that resulted in women being held back in politics or business - the pink pound may be strong but I don't see much evidence of the FTSE250 being overrun by gays to the detriment of straights! I'm not really bothered if a gay bar opens in ED, but it would be nice to have somewhere to go where I could be completely relaxed and be myself without looking over my shoulder - though I have kissed a boyfriend in Liquorish and goodbye on the street to no ill effect - so I guess ED is not so bad.

The Rye Hotel is supposed to be gayish - landlord is/was gay (by 'was' I mean that the landlord may have moved on, not that he has turned straight!) We tried to organise regular 'gay drinks' there last year, but after a promising start it didn't really take off - maybe for the reason that MadWorld74 is alluding to?? I'd be up for trying again if anyone else is.....? :)-D

it can be - if you buy it from TfL rather than from the train company - it's the same price either way, though if you buy it from TfL and you need to go out of zone then you don't risk a fine - provided you set an automatic top-up of say a fiver i switched from Southern to TfL and it's great - i can now get to Heathrow for about an extra quid each way when needed! ziggy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I find it odd that my annual train pass can't be > loaded onto it. I'd still need to go through the > barrier at London Bridge and there's no check at > ED anyway. In fact in 3 years of commuting from > here, my ticket has never been checked at ED > station or during the journey. I know it's > different if you have a tube pass as well, just > seems like a simple improvement.

NatashaD Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I find the parking fine. It is free, and I always > find a spot. You may not get one outside your > home, but I usually get one close by. I cannot > comment on the trains as I drive to work. > British Rail? I thought Maggie thatcher got rid of > it. it was John Major actually

it's hardly changed - apart from the lack of cars and smurf lamp posts

you need to get off between Gracechurch and Fenchurch streets - though it's all so close together any stop after you've crossed the river would be fine HeidiHi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Addison Lee? I'll google that! That is a good > price! As just going to Lewisham sets me back ?10, > but I do find most cab companies even the > registered ones rip us off, usually on the phone > they say one thing and then you have an argument > with the driver who says something else. > > Mike, this is the 40 bus route: > ulwich - Camberwell - Elephant & Castle - > London Bridge - Aldgate > Dulwich Library - Lordship Lane - Grove Vale - > East Dulwich Station - Dog Kennel Hill - Grove > Lane - Champion Park - Denmark Hill Station - > Champion Park - Denmark Hill - Camberwell Green - > Camberwell Road - Walworth - Walworth Road - > Elephant & Castle Station - Newington Causeway - > Borough High Street - Borough Station - Borough > High Street - London Bridge Station - London > Bridge - King William Street - Monument Station - > Gracechurch Street - Fenchurch Street (for > Station) - Aldgate - St. Botolph Street - > Middlesex Street - Aldgate High Street - Minories > - Aldgate Bus Station > > Where would Bishopgate be? so I know roughly! I > like details and plans me!

it would be before November 2000 because that's when I moved to ED and it was already there - it was one of my benchmarks for knowing that I was buying in an up and coming area ;-)

SimonM Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > "Southwark Council" is not some anonymous clique > of mobsters-cum-business men who use all their > ill-gotten gains from parking (etc) offences to > furnish their caribbean villas with precious > antiques. Southwark Council is actually us and > raising all that money helps reduce Council taxes > etc. The figure quoted of around ?1600 million > really is shocking though...it is shocking that > people disregard or actively break these laws on > such a massive scale and at the same time somehow > believe they have been done by,... I totally agree - it always hacks me off when people talk about the council making money from this or or the government from that - and then in the same breath moan about lack or quality of public services or Post Offices closing - you can't have it both ways!

Can't see a Mincing St in the A-Z but Mincing Lane is on the route of the 40 bus - just after it turns off Bishopsgate - ?20-25 quid in a cab I reckon

I think the reason that you need a large freezer is that you need to do all your clothes at the same time, so that freshly defrosted clothes are not re-attacked by moths hiding in your other clothes that are waiting for space in the freezer Presumably whilst all your clothes are in your newly acquired chest freezer, you have to hang out at home naked or wearing only synthetic fibres....?

the bakers that is curently on the stall outside Moxons - there's another thread on it somewhere

I once tried to join but it seemed difficult to get into - no website, or email address so I gave up I'd be interested in getting involved if anyone finds out more details