SeanMacGabhann

Look I accept it's not going to happen at the Castle but I'm getting a bit irate at people's prejudices. Every single drinks so far someone says a pub and I've gone along. Do I like the pubs we go to ? Not always... But if people choose the Vale I'll go along to that one. TO argue that it's not the surroundings that matter but the people and company is exactly MY point as well. People are resistant to visiting what they consider a dodgy pub - so how exactly is it "peculiar" to suggest that people push those boundaries?? I'm going to say it again - unless you have a personal beef with the place, and if you are not going to go because you consider it unsafe or dodgy then I'm really not bothered if it's a forum regular or a first-timer - you are a snob Of course people are nervous coming along to meet a strange bunch of people for the first time - most of us have been through it and I certainly haven't forgotten my first time. But if we did go to the Castle (and we're not, we're definitely NOT) then many of the regulars in the Castle (who to my knowledge aren't forum regulars) will be exposed to the forum and broaden the demographic further. I see this as a good thing. Given the average 2-5 first-timers who come along each new forum drinks.. let's say that reduces to zero because of the "fear" perpetuated on here about the Castle... That would be a shame but I would count on gaining at least the same from the existing regulars Right now, precisely 15 mins after Arsenal's glorious victory at the San Siro I feel like going for a pint. In the Castle....

Carolyn - you back home and everything ok yet? Lozzyloz - no-one has ever seen me and quids in the same room.. think on...

I'm so unable to commit just yet - I'm 50/50 depending on what happens at work tomorrow. But it is Ganapati... it is you guys... and it is a chance to check out 2 or 3 of Peckhams bars which I really like

annaj and bignumber5 chill - your objections to the Castle are founded in personal experiences and for that I'm on your side - I think however that ultimately more than a few people would be uneasy with the Castle anyway, even had you guys never posted. So it's not you.. relax With the exception of these 2 good people however I fear that the accusation of middle-class lah-de-dah-ness which gets flung at the forum from time to time is only supported by people who have never been to the Castle's reluctance to try it out. I see it as prejudice I'm afraid - unless anyone can put me straight (I mean most of you have met Keef, Mockney and Brendan by now and if it's good enough for them....) So my vote A) Castle B) EDT - IF we can have the upstairs bar (downstairs on Friday night and I'll be lucky to hear anyone) (and if we are doing the rota thing or can't have the upstairs EDT bar than I say CPT. I do like the Herne but it's bar section is a bit too small on a Friday for the usual forum drinks I fear)

If it's any consolation Caron most of us have sat looking at the screen perplexed at this one at some point

the ?3.80 Italian beer in the Bishop costs about ?3.20 further up Lordship Lane at the Plough

Life Survey © Quids 1) Does life have any redeeming features (choose one answer only) a) no

"then saw it was up already. Now having a think..." bignumber5 2008

Y'see Mike P, this is one of your "I'm being cheeky, not taking things seriously" posts but with enough of a serious point for me to respond - but I can't. You're not armed... (but he can do what many of us do, have a look at his parents and think sod that for a game of...er.... soldiers, I'm off to find out what the world is like) Abdication- a small price to pay. yes yes yes, Statute of Westminster, Acts of Parliament yadda yadda. He's 22, he's big enough and ugly enough as my mother used to say to me. Before I "abdicated"

Welcome emma (oooh - nice katana!)

and none taken annaj (a post so you good you sent it twice!) And I detect no snobbery in your post either (my comments on that score were aimed at anyone who was thing of giving the Castle a miss because of it's appearance/rep) - it's purely a noise/nuisance issue for you guys. I hear you and as I say I have been in your situation Most of the bars down on LL have similar problems with neighbours as well (hence the inability to sit outside the back of any of them after 9:30) Maybe we should all go more often and as we sip our beverages we could raise an eyebrow and anyone being a nuisance after 10? ;-)

Sorry Mockney but some drink-addled-celeb (be it Harry or Paris Hilton) falling out of a club isn't really the same as knowing you are a target, will attract enemy interest, wanting to go and fight in an already dubious war and then saying it would be the press' fault if anyone got killed because of it It's so obviously a pre-arranged tour of duty and this foreign-press-leaks-details is a distraction from the fact that it was probably a pre-arranged signal. Bonus points for being able to blame Jonny foreigner On top of all that people are now calling for Jon Snow's rsignation!!! For what exactly? That Jon Snow, he's a wrong 'un comparing his actions to "informing Hitler if all of our secrets" - sorry?- is Harry some secret weapon that is going to bring the whole sorry mess to a close? What's at stake with Harry's presence is his comrades lives - not any advantage to the efforts over there. The reason he was there is to gain valuable PR for both the Royal Family and the war itself - job done seemingly As for Harry himself - I largely agree with Annasfield comments about unwanted attention. But he could at least appear to be taking the killing of others a leeeetle bit more seriously. War not exactly being the local polo team and all that

annaj's post probably sums up why so many back-street pubs are closing (partly explains anyway). I don't disagree with anything written but it's not the whole story We all moaned and complained when the Upland's chucked us out at 11 the other night. I dare say they have had problems in the past and have decided to keep a lid on things. Sensible. Good news for the local residents. Makes for a dull world tho I have lived next to several pubs with worse reps than the Castle and have been kept awake by drinking into small hours. But then again sometimes I'm in the group drinking. Mea Culpa I'm not trying to dismiss the distress cause to people who live nearby - and if you are stuck in a place you don't like then that is a bad situation. But cars pulling up with the speakers pumping? Drinking until 1am? Fights outside a pub? If the pub moved in to the area I could maybe see more of an issue - but if I was buying a place along there and saw a great big Irish pub? I'd have a fair idea of what was likely to happen that sounds really unsympathetic, for which I'm sorry. annaj speaks much sense on most issues on here. And Mr annaj could have me in a fight before the fight started. But basically I'm with Keef - it's a good solid old-school boozer. I'll miss very much the people who have said they won't attend if it's held there but I am going to argue STRONGLY that if you bite the bullet and come along you'll be surprised at how good a pub it can be. I'll go further and say that if one's natural inclination is to not want to go somewhere (and it goes every-way - if Louisa came to the drinks but said she would never go to say, Bar Story then it's just snobbishness with a different hue) then it's GOOD for you to make the extra effort (as I will when the Vale is next up) Edited to include bignumber5's post as well: my same sympathies apply but to say it's a pub with no redeeming features is plain wrong. Even if it drives local residents nearby bat-shit crazy it just does have redeeming features. Some pretty friendly regulars (honest guv) , cheap prices and very good beer, a good screen for sport, some crazy irish bands to name a few. Yes it has bad features as well.... as you've outlined but I have provide balance...

I liked the assumption that this forum only worries about The White Stuff and Jojo Maman Bebe - the very notion that we might discuss politics, religion, crime, dangerous dogs, friendly dogs I've loved the replies from everyone and snorky's was all the better for measuring the vitriol (instead of the rather OTT attack on poor Nuala) Whoever Alicia is, her contempt for the rest of humanity speaks volumes. It shouldn't need pointing out (but subtlety isn't the strong point of people like Alicia) that we're not, you know pro-knife-wielding-youts and anti-law-abidin'-folks - but leaving aside her contempt for the crims I love the barbs aimed at the entire forum "misguided, wishy washy, liberal" - last heard about 1990. Not even quids uses that exact expression. Unless..... no, no. Anyway as a misguided soul, I await further education from one so guided as Alicia And YOU! You bad, bad parents who are even thinking of staying in ED, nay London! - you do realise you are effectively culpable of at LEAST manslaughter! If anything bad happens to your children it is your fault for not paying attention to Alicia..

if someone "doesn't really care" then why is their opinion important?

I'm leaning towards the Castle too

Mockney - by there do you mean Ganapati? or Tandoori Nights? I can vouch for the latter Mike P - you'll live ;-)

come come georgia - you have an internet connection, you have google and for more specific info you could look up www.beerintheevening.com (don't recommend you register with them however) What's with this "haven't a clue where any of them are" - does no-on go out in Peckham? Some of my best nights out have been down around there (usually involving Ganapati or il Giardino + Bar Story) I would say Bar Story might be too "loud" for some people (but I like it).. I say Montpelier as it's being mooted as a possible forum drinks night venue

From my perspective I would be uncomfortable using the forum to bargain for discounts. Being an open forum, people are free to post any opinion and many businesses get dealt quite a harsh hand (even if it can be accurate). Businesses which extend discounts would expect more positive reviews I'm happier when businesses offer deals off their own back - such as when the FHT and Hoopers both put on free food spreads, and the EDT has always gone out of it's way to accomodate forumites at various events even when we've been too slack to get ourselves organised If businesses are expected to provide discounts you willget people with the most tenuous links to the forum brandishing the name in the hope of getting summat for nowt

Montpelier or Bar Story or Wishing Well all perfect for meetingbefore Ganapati (with Wishing Well being closest and a proper pub - the other 2 are more "ED" and bar-ry)

now that would be political correctness gone mad!

result wasn't good for Arsenal but more worrying is the general air of "losing it" which permeates the club at the mo The team looked poor on Sat, and Wenger's paranoid interview the day before didn't help. Tour? and RVP nearly back (fingers crossed) but the much heralded "spirit" Wenger talks about needs to return sharpish (surprised at the "blue scum" language tho - haven't we just managed to dissuade Atila from that sort of thing? ;-) )

but the opening statement... it is basically true I can have a good time in most of them, but food-wise it's so-so

I can't see them selling (m)any at that price - I was just more surprised to see them there I reckon you can get most of those cd's for between ?3 and ?7 elsewhere - but I applaud their taste

I had cause to pop in to Roullier White this morning and noticed the had several shelves of CD's for sale - an not any old obvious choices either New Pornographers Joan as Policewoman Tanya Donnelly Just had a quick peek on t'web - ah a link. There seemed more than this in the shop Music Room Of course at these prices you'd want to be flush and in a devil may care mood but nice to know they are there