Jeremy

Well... they are known for demanding huge discounts from the breweries, and as such many breweries won't deal with them. But on the other hand, presumably the breweries that do sell to them shift sufficient quantities to make it worth their while?

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > What's the live music scene in Camden like these days? Think it's pretty much down to Dublin Castle and The Enterprise for pub bands. Then Barfly and Underworld for smaller touring bands.

miga Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ..as long as it's an IPA in a small bottle from > the States, that smells like potpourri and tastes like an alcopop :-) Nope! I drink all sorts of beer - including American IPA but also lager and some real ales (but personally prefer bottle to cask). Have a particular soft spot for belgin dubbels. By "the whole CAMRA thing" I was really referring to the more militant factions who seem to think that good beer is synonymous with cask ale, and everything else is piss.

Well yeah... when I started drinking, cask ale was usually boring bland bitter, and considered fit only for old men and northerners. Certainly it has come along in terms of quality and diversity. But these days good beer comes in all shapes and sizes.

Of course a pedestrian should never step out in front of a moving car, forcing the driver to brake. Any evangenlical anti-motorist who thinks this is reasonable behavior is an utter moron. Obviously the driver is morally and legally obliged to take evasive action to stop the lemmings coming to harm, but that should go without saying. The rule about pedestrians having right of way if they have started to cross is designed for junctions/turnings or other situations when the pedestrian wouldn't have realised that there is approaching traffic when they started to cross.

indiepanda Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In what way are mini cabs safer than black cabs? > The standards black cab drivers have to meet far > exceed those of mini cabs. The fact they are booked in advance means there's a record of who's car you've been in and when. That would give me a lot more piece of mind than whatever these standards are which black cab drivers are supposed to meet. > I don't get the convenience point either - if I am > leaving work late at night I can usually pick up a > black cab on the street in a few minutes where > Addison Lee suggest booking twenty minutes in > advance. If you find it more convenient then fair enough. I find it more convenient to book one, get a text when it arrives, and then sit back and relax - without having to listen to the driver moan about going south of the river, or constantly ask for directions.

MrBen - I also think the craft beer fad will eventually fade and merge into the mainstream, but I think the hoppy IPA style is here to stay (although of course some/most of the breweries won't survive). Couldn't really give a toss about the whole CAMRA thing, good beer is good beer... regardless of the brewing processes used.

You'd choose a black cab for safety reasons? Even though if you take, for example, Addisson Lee, there is a record of who picked you up and when? I don't think black cabs are safer at all. As we all know.. perfectly possible for black cab drivers to turn out to be highly unpleasant or dangerous individuals. MrBen - why would you assume I don't use taxis?

MrBen Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > London needs a trusted regulated taxi service like > any other major developed city. Black cab drivers > are some of the most qualified drivers in the > world... Minicab (so Uber/Addisson Lee) drivers are licensed, right? And there is a record of who's car you've been in and when. They have sat navs so know where they're going (unlike black cab drivers, anywhere out of central London). I would suggest that they are safer, more convenient, and more efficient than black cabs. Traditional black cabs are for tourists as far as I'm concerned.

Always a shame to see a smaller company sucked into a larger one, but you can't blame them for cashing in on their success. It's been a pretty mainstream brand for a while now, I don't think this will make much difference to the customers.

"Right of way" is kind of a moot point as a driver or cyclist doesn't really have any choice but to brake! But should pedestrians walk out in front of moving vehicles? Clearly not.

It is still there (isn't it?). It is still a local landmark for now.

I would very much welcome a Spoons in ED - and suspect it would draw a more varied crowd than most of the other places. I just wouldn't eat there.

The last one I remember was around 2002/2003... when the whole of South London appeared to be out for around 2 hrs. Luckily this one was over much more quickly!

aquarius moon Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Horrid if you can afford to go elsewhere and are > used to better. > > If not, it's a treat and the food is wonderful. I don't really get that. If it's worse that what you'd cook at home, how is it a treat? I suppose you don't have to do the washing up...

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've never been a fan of wetherspoons as a pub, > but for cheap and cheerful food it's ideal. > Especially if you're on a budget and fancy a treat. I actually find the opposite is true! Good for a pint (often reasonable selection of ales at good prices) but the food is horrid...

Can't believe your dog doesn't wear a helmet. Disgusting.

Lack of light is rarely a problem in loft conversions. I find the whole "juliet balcony" arrangement quite strange... why have a door which doesn't lead anywhere? Would much rather have a window, and you can put a radiator/draws/table underneath it.

DirtyBox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I was in Singapore a few years ago at a party and > the host served some French wine that was so > corked I nearly puked...he had been happily > drinking it and talking bollocks about fruity > notes all evening Doesn't surprise me at all. I think people are slowly wising up (the days of drinking it with 7up are probably gone) but the pursuit of prestige - even amongst people with modest means - is always something of a culture shock.

DirtyBox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The Chinese guy clearly didn't like caviar but felt the need to eat it > because of the price I think that's very much a Chinese thing... abalone tastes of nothing and has the texture of tyre rubber, but people pay loads of money to eat it. Shark fin soup is served at meals as a sign of affluence/generosity, even though the fin has no flavour at all. Wine has to be from the most renowned chateaus, even though most people don't know the difference between a good and bad wine.

Yep its old news, but nevertheless it is quite amazing how much money people will pay for things. Is caviar the most delicious food on the planet? No. People buy things just because they can...

KB - Well luckily we DO have access to toilets and washing facilities, so eating with your hands is perfectly safe. I'm sure they could rustle up some kind of bland veggie alternative for you. phobic - as much as I love a good steak, they do a very good burger for ?15 (or a French dip sandwich for around a tenner I think). I can't always drop ?60+ a head on dinner...

Blah Blah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Lousia, the Scots did not shift towards the left > (and you contradict yourself in that point), they > shifted to the right in support of a nationalist > party. The SNP are nationalists first, fighting > for independence. I don't think that's right. Nationalism is not inherently right wing. It's about national identity and self determination.

And note to Snorkins... the trick to eating with your fingers and not dying is to actually wash your hands now and again (or adopt the Indian system).

I like burgers. Whether it's from McDs, Shake Shack, or Hawksmoor... I like them all.