# London Dopefest - Saturday 14th March **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 4, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323 "2009-03-04T21:11:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/21 "2009-03-06T09:33:26Z")
If people are happy to make the trip out to Hackney! šŸ™‚ Iā€™ll ring them as soon as Iā€™m off work today, if there are no objections. Still 4 pm? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/22 "2009-03-06T09:38:14Z")
Iā€™m up for this since itā€™s been such a long time since Iā€™ve been to a 'fest (or post come to that). The Pembury looks worth the trek out East. On the other hand I have no objection to Wetherspoons either. Decent beer, room to move and the ability to hear what folks are saying are my only requirements. Spotting the Dopers is part of the experience - so no name badges. We managed well enough with vague descriptions in my day etc etc šŸ˜‰ ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/23 "2009-03-06T11:02:58Z")
OK, Iā€™ll take my name off the list then, so that reduces the numbers by one at least, which makes it easier. There is more than one pub in Central London which can accomodate a group of 20, but not on a Saturday afternoon without reserving a space. Itā€™d end up with everyone standing seperately shouting at each other (because crowded pubs get noisy even without loud music), or standing outside. The Pemburyā€™s OK, but itā€™s a very, very long way from Central London; I live not all that far from it, and itā€™s still a long journey for me because the buses that go in that direction are so ridiculously slow. Have fun wherever you find to go, but I reckon a smaller group will be more sensible. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/24 "2009-03-06T11:27:31Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > The Pemburyā€™s OK, but itā€™s a very, very long way from Central London Well, if youā€™re walking, maybe. But there are something like 8 trains an hour from Liverpool Street to Hackney Downs, and the average journey time is about 7 minutes. The pub is literally around the corner from Hackney Downs station. Did I mention that they have free WiFi? šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/25 "2009-03-06T11:56:42Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Well, if youā€™re walking, maybe. But there are something like 8 trains an hour from Liverpool Street to Hackney Downs, and the average journey time is about 7 minutes. The pub is literally around the corner from Hackney Downs station. > > Did I mention that they have free WiFi? šŸ™‚ Fine if youā€™re coming from Liverpool St (most people wonā€™t be, if anyone at all), I guess, but I thought most people were travelling in from elsewhere, hence the Central London preference? ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/26 "2009-03-06T12:15:20Z")
Iā€™m interested in attending the Dope Fest. I have no interest at all in going to Hackney Downs. The fact that it is easy to reach from Liv St means nothing at all. Everywhere is convenient to get to from _somewhere_. The benefit of a central-ish location is that it is equally convenient/inconvenient for all. Another factor is that the transport network works like spokes on a wheel - it is usually easier to move in and out from the centre than it is to move in arcs that bypass the centre. By choosing a venue near the centre, you work _with_ the transport network rather than trying to work against it. The view that itā€™s hard or impossible to find a good enough central-ish space on a Sat afternoon is contradicted by the fact that weā€™ve managed it about three or four times in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Pauly\_berserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Pauly\_berserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly_berserker)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/27 "2009-03-06T13:19:01Z")
The Pemburyā€™s a good pub, but a shit choice for this. For people coming into London, you really want to go to a bare bones booze hall in Hackney? Thereā€™s fuck all else to see or do round there. I like the Lord moon suggestion off Ian. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/28 "2009-03-06T13:21:59Z")
Do the Fox, Bar Ha Ha, or the Shakespeare take reservations? I find the Wetherspoons atmosphere really unpleasant and would prefer not to go to one if at all possible. I still think the Pembury or Nanobyte are the best choices, but yes, the Pembury isnā€™t central. My email to Nanobyte bounced. Iā€™ll make an enquiry call to them this afternoon to see what their reservation policy is. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Doris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Sir\_Doris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Doris)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/29 "2009-03-06T13:30:16Z")
Weā€™ve met up in the King and Queen (šŸ˜• something to do with playing cards, anyway) on a previous occasion, which was ok as I remember. But then again, such memories tend to be hazy. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/30 "2009-03-06T13:36:31Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > Iā€™m interested in attending the Dope Fest. I have no interest at all in going to Hackney Downs. The fact that it is easy to reach from Liv St means nothing at all. Everywhere is convenient to get to from _somewhere_. > > The benefit of a central-ish location is that it is equally convenient/inconvenient for all. Another factor is that the transport network works like spokes on a wheel - it is usually easier to move in and out from the centre than it is to move in arcs that bypass the centre. By choosing a venue near the centre, you work _with_ the transport network rather than trying to work against it. > > The view that itā€™s hard or impossible to find a good enough central-ish space on a Sat afternoon is contradicted by the fact that weā€™ve managed it about three or four times in the past. Weā€™ve managed many times in the past because we managed to book a space at the Silver Cross. (Or go to other places, like the Prinny Lou, but with a smaller group of people - and it was horribly crowded). ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/31 "2009-03-06T13:46:03Z")
Just to clarify, **sam** , are you Cross or bust? ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/32 "2009-03-06T13:52:19Z")
Missed edit window, sorry! Looking at the [Ha Ha website](http://www.hahaonline.co.uk/), they seem pretty good and central, and you can book an ā€˜areaā€™ online for free. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/33 "2009-03-06T13:54:06Z")
> [@Tracy\_Lord](#): > > Just to clarify, **sam** , are you Cross or bust? Took me a moment to figure what you meant there. šŸ˜ƒ Iā€™m ā€˜somewhere thatā€™s not going to be hideously crowded or too far outā€™ or bust, but I also think it would be easier for you guys if the group were smaller, so am happy to drop out. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/34 "2009-03-06T14:01:16Z")
> [@Tracy\_Lord](#): > > Missed edit window, sorry! Looking at the [Ha Ha website](http://www.hahaonline.co.uk/), they seem pretty good and central, and you can book an ā€˜areaā€™ online for free. Any thoughts? Wouldnā€™t a restaurant be a little upset if 15 people (or whatever) bookd an area and not many of them ordered food? ---
**Author:** ![Pauly\_berserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Pauly\_berserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pauly_berserker)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/35 "2009-03-06T14:05:22Z")
The Fox wonā€™t take reservations, Iā€™m suprised the place is still open due to how itā€™s run. Iā€™ve no idea about Bar Ha Ha, and fuck the Shakespeare, itā€™s an atrocious pub. Never ever drink in a pub either in a station or within spitting distance of one. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/36 "2009-03-06T14:15:29Z")
> [@scifisam2009](#): > > Iā€™m ā€˜somewhere thatā€™s not going to be hideously crowded or too far outā€™ or bust, but I also think it would be easier for you guys if the group were smaller, so am happy to drop out. Oh, cā€™mon, what happened to ā€œthe more the merrierā€? So long as people donā€™t try to have a single conversation, that is - a single conversation doesnā€™t work with more than three people, really. More people means higher probabilities to have tablemates you can actually converse with! ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/37 "2009-03-06T14:21:39Z")
I love the Pembury to bits (itā€™s one of my locals) but think both **Ianzin** and **Pauly** have made valid points about its suitability for people looking to do ā€œLondon.ā€ So whilst Iā€™ll be perfectly happy with the Pembury (and think everyone would enjoy it) **Ianā€™s** suggestion of _The Lord Moon Of The Mall_ is a good one if we want to stay central. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/38 "2009-03-06T14:22:41Z")
Oh and the Fox is just a straight up no! As **Pauly** says, its great if you love Metal and shoutyness but awful for meetup purposes. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/39 "2009-03-06T14:25:44Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Oh, cā€™mon, what happened to ā€œthe more the merrierā€? So long as people donā€™t try to have a single conversation, that is - a single conversation doesnā€™t work with more than three people, really. More people means higher probabilities to have tablemates you can actually converse with! Nah, what it actually means is never talking to new people because you canā€™t get across the bar to where they are, and itā€™s difficult to hear even the person next to you because the pub is so packed with people that the noise levels are atrocious. And nobody would have a seat at all, let alone a table. Not merry at all. If it ends up being only eight or nine people actually going, though, they could probably find somewhere central that was fine, and enjoy themselves. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323/40 "2009-03-06T14:59:56Z")
Aye, as **sams** says **Nava** , busy isnā€™t the problem - its when its all packed so tight you get stuck being _unable_ to get to new people to chat to that it becomes a problem! ā€œSocial busyā€ is great, ā€œLittle groups of dopers isolated by 50 foreign exchange students in the middleā€ notsomuch šŸ˜ƒ Anyway, as far as Iā€™m concerned as long as itā€™s a proper pub (or decent bar at a push) and thereā€™s enough room to circulate Iā€™m happy. the Pembury matches that as would the Lord Moon or several other places mentioned (as long as its not the Fox!) so sā€™all golden with me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/london-dopefest-saturday-14th-march/488323.md?page=3)