If people are happy to make the trip out to Hackney! 
I’ll ring them as soon as I’m off work today, if there are no objections. Still 4 pm?
I’m up for this since it’s been such a long time since I’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 
OK, I’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. It’d end up with everyone standing seperately shouting at each other (because crowded pubs get noisy even without loud music), or standing outside. The Pembury’s OK, but it’s a very, very long way from Central London; I live not all that far from it, and it’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.
Well, if you’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?
Fine if you’re coming from Liverpool St (most people won’t be, if anyone at all), I guess, but I thought most people were travelling in from elsewhere, hence the Central London preference?
I’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 it’s hard or impossible to find a good enough central-ish space on a Sat afternoon is contradicted by the fact that we’ve managed it about three or four times in the past.
The Pembury’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? There’s fuck all else to see or do round there.
I like the Lord moon suggestion off Ian.
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 isn’t central. My email to Nanobyte bounced. I’ll make an enquiry call to them this afternoon to see what their reservation policy is.
We’ve met up in the King and Queen (
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.
We’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).
Just to clarify, sam, are you Cross or bust?
Missed edit window, sorry! Looking at the Ha Ha website, they seem pretty good and central, and you can book an ‘area’ online for free. Any thoughts?
Took me a moment to figure what you meant there. 
I’m ‘somewhere that’s not going to be hideously crowded or too far out’ or bust, but I also think it would be easier for you guys if the group were smaller, so am happy to drop out.
Wouldn’t a restaurant be a little upset if 15 people (or whatever) bookd an area and not many of them ordered food?
The Fox won’t take reservations, I’m suprised the place is still open due to how it’s run. I’ve no idea about Bar Ha Ha, and fuck the Shakespeare, it’s an atrocious pub. Never ever drink in a pub either in a station or within spitting distance of one.
Oh, c’mon, what happened to “the more the merrier”? So long as people don’t try to have a single conversation, that is - a single conversation doesn’t work with more than three people, really. More people means higher probabilities to have tablemates you can actually converse with!
I love the Pembury to bits (it’s one of my locals) but think both Ianzin and Pauly have made valid points about its suitability for people looking to do “London.”
So whilst I’ll be perfectly happy with the Pembury (and think everyone would enjoy it) Ian’s suggestion of The Lord Moon Of The Mall is a good one if we want to stay central.
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.
Nah, what it actually means is never talking to new people because you can’t get across the bar to where they are, and it’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.
Aye, as sams says Nava, busy isn’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!
“Social busy” is great, “Little groups of dopers isolated by 50 foreign exchange students in the middle” notsomuch
Anyway, as far as I’m concerned as long as it’s a proper pub (or decent bar at a push) and there’s enough room to circulate I’m happy.
the Pembury matches that as would the Lord Moon or several other places mentioned (as long as its not the Fox!) so s’all golden with me.