So where is THE meet up pre gig on 28th ?

Damn good question - I was expecting this to be decided by now! :)

Flight now booked - arrive in Manchester shortly after 9am - it's going to be a long day - must remember to eat a bit in between beers this time to avoid throwing up!

Come on Al !

He let slip it's manchester - that's too much info already!

we hit town around 4pm ish.

Maybe it is at some special needs school where we can swear at the kids? :D

I think that closer to the Arena makes sense, although Moon Under Water does attract a low standard of clientele on a Sat evening.

It seems a bit silly to go all the way to Joshua Brookes, just because it's the one that people know! I don't fancy half hour walk.

Sawyers Arms on Deansgate is a possibility?

Now thats just lazy!

You could of course, get a tram.

I will walk around the vicinty one morning this week and get the names of a few pubs.

Ness Order wrote: I think that closer to the Arena makes sense, although Moon Under Water does attract a low standard of clientele on a Sat evening.

It seems a bit silly to go all the way to Joshua Brookes, just because it's the one that people know! I don't fancy half hour walk.

Sawyers Arms on Deansgate is a possibility?

Sawyers Arms is nice these days.Or in between Sawyers and the Moon,is Corbieres between Deansgate and St Annes Square.Top jukebox!!

Al Jarvis wrote: A secret Manchester location.

For details - see a television near you.

I dont know Manchester that well, but isnt the MEN next to the Boddingtons place?

Edd Boland wrote: I dont know Manchester that well, but isnt the MEN next to the Boddingtons place?

yup. Adjacent to Victoria train st.

Cool, not much staggering distance then and should make the 12:00 train back

The problem is that there's nothing that suits our needs near the MEN, as far as I can recall. It's a rough-arse part of town, then you have the Arndale and shops and foodie places. The Oxford Rd/Charles St area is surely the best for getting fcuked during the day and nice and central for people arriving. Then the all-dayers could repair somewhere closer as the gig nears, then hot foot it back to across town for any post-match shenanigans or curries.

I'd vote for Joshua Brookes early doors.

Another vote for Josh's early on

it aint that big a walk!

And seeing as my coach gets into Chorlton St at 1.20, Josh ain't all that far away. OM would be closer, but there you go.

oldmonkey wrote: And seeing as my coach gets into Chorlton St at 1.20, Josh ain't all that far away. OM would be closer, but there you go.

That's settled then! A foaming ale will be waiting on the bar for Mr Monkey at 1.24 (allowing time for him to stop at his namesake on the way for a livener!)

Joshua Brookes get my vote

Uncle Liam wrote: Now thats just lazy!

You could of course, get a tram.

I will walk around the vicinty one morning this week and get the names of a few pubs.

any excuse eh?

It ain't lazy, it's logical

Thanks for offering to do a recce Liam!

Would we all fit in Corbieres!?

Shame that Tom's Chop House is so expensive!

hibster wrote:

Uncle Liam wrote: Now thats just lazy!

You could of course, get a tram.

I will walk around the vicinty one morning this week and get the names of a few pubs.

any excuse eh?

Well, you know me. Always happy to help!

always there to take one for the team eh?

Is there anywhere that has a boxing ring and a bar? One of those cages for the anything goes type of fights could be interesting, perhaps a back alley would do.

We may also need a first aider, I'm sure DM could advise were gambling on the outcome of the various spats.

A referee and some ground rules would be good. Perhaps an internet cafe with a bar would also be nice, then we could have fights by keyboard with the brutal onslaught displayed on a big screen.

Given the potential number of drinkers on a Saturday dinner time could we pre-negotiate a reduction in bar rates with a threat to take our custom elsewhere?

Several Casinos in Mancester and 2 in Stockport

James Thomas wrote: Is there anywhere that has a boxing ring and a bar? One of those cages for the anything goes type of fights could be interesting, perhaps a back alley would do.

We may also need a first aider, I'm sure DM could advise were gambling on the outcome of the various spats.

A referee and some ground rules would be good. Perhaps an internet cafe with a bar would also be nice, then we could have fights by keyboard with the brutal onslaught displayed on a big screen.

Given the potential number of drinkers on a Saturday dinner time could we pre-negotiate a reduction in bar rates with a threat to take our custom elsewhere?

I think I'll come 'tooled up'

one of them fold away keyboards

We could always buy some cans of special brew and diamond white and sit in the railways station. Come on lets have a decision here. I reckon JB's is a fifteen minute walk at the most but we have to bear in mind that it is cup day and the pubs will be packed more than normal on a Saturday. Wouldn't the likes of Monty or Liam or even, dare I say it - Rocket be best to advise as they know the vicinity better than some of us?

Al Jarvis wrote: A secret Manchester location.

WOT?? NOT MY GAFF! Banshee's drunk all me booze!

There's always Shambles Square,with an outdoor bit and loads of benches,or if anyone takes out a second mortgage there's the Printworks.I'll go anywhere.MOON and Shambles are the nearest to MEN,and there's some good pubs up round C.I.S building,The BAR FRINGE and THE SMITHFIELD,both about five mins away from arena. Are we after close,cheap,big or all three?

monty wrote:

Al Jarvis wrote: A secret Manchester location.

WOT?? NOT MY GAFF! Banshee's drunk all me booze!

well get some more booze in then

bansheeman wrote:

monty wrote:

Al Jarvis wrote: A secret Manchester location.

WOT?? NOT MY GAFF! Banshee's drunk all me booze!

well get some more booze in then

Are you back mate,or are you in one of them t'internet cafes?

Revolution - Parsonage Gardens. Top end of Deansgate, so very close. About as cheap as it gets and two very distinct drinking areas. Could possibly get the upper bar roped off for 'NOOL only' if there was as many as say 50? Would probably also play anything that we requested. I have some godd mates at Rev HQ and could have a word if required.

Corbieres is also an excellent call. Stonking jukebox and we'd fill it.

Gin_Soaked_Boy wrote: Revolution - Parsonage Gardens. Top end of Deansgate, so very close. About as cheap as it gets and two very distinct drinking areas. Could possibly get the upper bar roped off for 'NOOL only' if there was as many as say 50? Would probably also play anything that we requested. I have some godd mates at Rev HQ and could have a word if required.

Corbieres is also an excellent call. Stonking jukebox and we'd fill it.

Not fussed really. Joshua Brooks was fine by me, though Revolution sounds promising.

monty wrote:

bansheeman wrote:

monty wrote:

Al Jarvis wrote: A secret Manchester location.

WOT?? NOT MY GAFF! Banshee's drunk all me booze!

well get some more booze in then

Are you back mate,or are you in one of them t'internet cafes?

yea am in a internet cafe mate.eating cake,chocolate cake,with hundreds and thousand but NO MARZIPAN !!!

Marzipan's a private matter.

wasnt Marzipan a Chinese dictator???

I thought that as well

Me and Uncle Liam found an ace pub yesterday - the Ox in Castlefield (opposite the Air and Space Museum). Seems like a smart enough place, the beer wasn't too expensive and they've just been voted pub of the year by someone (look out for me, L and Littleinoil in the Evening News, they took our picture for an artical about them). It's closer to the MEN than Joshuas and it's quite smart around there.

Anyway, all that's fine, but there's another reason that we must at least include it on our itinary for the day. I will be posting details later...

...or you can see for yourself HERE.

Look for a photo of the windows!

The Ox has good food, obviously that's second on the agenda. But it's also a drinking hole for the cast of Coronation Street, even on a Saturday. I saw Les and Cilla in there not so long ago! Is this a selling point?!

Angel, is that the dog's bollocks on your avatar?

BIGINOIL, it is.

Angel wrote: BIGINOIL, it is.

You can call me Biggie if you like.

BIGINOIL wrote:

Angel wrote: BIGINOIL, it is.

You can call me Biggie if you like.

Trust me, it gets him all excited if you call him that....

WTF happened to you last week? I waited by the phone in FLOODS of tears.

Mmm... that's very kind of you; Biggie.

So, have we decided on a venue for pre gig refreshments yet?

Angel wrote: Mmm... that's very kind of you; Biggie.

So, have we decided on a venue for pre gig refreshments yet?

No, but we really should.

Nominate Here - NOW!!!

BIGINOIL wrote:

WTF happened to you last week? I waited by the phone in FLOODS of tears.

Aaaawwww!!! I did send you an email, y'know. I think our relationship is becoming too claustrophobic, Colin!! If it's any comfort, I did drive past your place of work on both the Monday and the Friday, thought "bit green, innit?", and then my heart raced a little as I thought of you.....

Hope that helps ease the pain a little!!

(The Good Doctor) Martin Fradley wrote:

Hope that helps ease the pain a little!!

Yes, it's all gone now.

Trust you had a nice week? Do your legs hurt?

BIGINOIL wrote:

(The Good Doctor) Martin Fradley wrote:

Hope that helps ease the pain a little!!

Yes, it's all gone now.

Trust you had a nice week? Do your legs hurt?

The answer to the first question is an enthusiastic "yes"; the implications of the second question I'd rather not think about.....