If we’re voting, I fly out (for good) on the 5th July and had hoped to be there, so earlier would suit me better…
Grim
OK, its confirmed for me work-wise that I’m going to be around from the 6th July. How does the evening of the 7th sound?
To throw a spanner in the works, there may be a logistics problem with the Silver Cross next Saturday: the Tour de France.
The race proper starts on the Sunday, but they’re doing some sort of preliminary time trial through central London on the Saturday. It’s the first time this has happened and there’s a good chance this is going to be the biggest public spectacle in the city this year. The snag is that Saturday’s route starts in Whitehall, literally a stone’s throw from the Silver Cross. It wouldn’t surprise me if you can’t get into Whitehall at all for the duration. And it’s meant to last all afternoon and into the evening.
I therefore suggest we select another pub. Central, but bearing in mind the circumstances. Particularly since I assume that quite a few of you will want to see some of the cycling before meeting for beer.
Tentatively suggest we agree on somewhere on the South Bank.
There are a couple of nice pubs walking distance from Waterloo. The White Hart is pleasant enough as is the Kings Arms but it can get especially crowded since it had a reputation for Thai food (I’ve had one very good and one awful meal).
I’ve been seeing those signs all around town, and I never put two and two together. :smack: I’m open to wherever!
Somewhere on the South Bank sounds good to me. How about the George? Or Maybe the Anchor, riverside?
The White Hart was actually at the back of my mind when I suggested the South Bank. It’s great advantage is indeed that it’s both nice and close to Waterloo Station - GrizzRich, we’re presuming you’ll be wanting to catch a train back out of there afterwards. Biggest potential drawback is that it’s pretty small.
I’m happy to go with it as a plan, but suggest that anyone else with alternate ideas chip in.
Good call from Angua on cross posting this to NADS
Myself and reckah will be there.
The White Hart should be alright, given that we’re football-free at the moment.
If not there are a bunch of other decent pubs in the area, but if we’re thinking that moving might be required its probably worth planning for that possibility - i’m happy to give people my mobile phone number if they email me.
also, just to through another possibility out there - there’s one of my old favourite “way home from work” drinking spots just over from waterloo - The Hole In the Wall
Now thats a proper grim-looking London boozer. 
By chance I will also be in London on the 7 July - we’re watching the Tour de France from a boat party on the Thames, so would be nice to join you all for a drink later in the evening!
Could someone post here on Friday to confirm what the final plans are?
The Hole in the Wall is a fine pub! I’ll be working in the City Saturday morning, I should be able to make this once the when and where are sorted out.
I’m up for it! White Hart or Hole in the Wall?
Do we all wear pink carnations, or roll up one trouser leg or what?
garius, check your email.
Just to be safe, wear one trouser leg and a rolled-up pink carnation.
Wish I could join you chaps. Another time, maybe.
OK, to be decisive, it’s the White Hart. We’ll be there from 5-ish, unless Angua states otherwise in this thread.
For those of you not familiar with the pub, there are directions and a map on the page linked to in my last post. Be warned that, for somewhere so central, it’s tucked away in an odd neck of the woods. It’s in a backstreet south of the National Theatre, east of Waterloo Station and north of the Old Vic theatre. There’s a major road junction just to the northwest (next to the BFI IMAX cinema), which tends to cut the area off if you are coming from that direction or have merely come out the wrong exit from the station.
If you are in Waterloo Station, particularly on the main concourse, then you want to follow the exit signs for Waterloo Road. The pub is on the backstreet parallel to that road.
Given the above, if you haven’t been to the place before, you’ll want to have a map. And/or Garius’s phone number.
Always delicate on these occasions. But past experience suggests that, with a bit of brashness about asking dubious-looking huddles of people, there’s rarely a problem recognising your fellow Dopers.
Some pretty shocking reviews of the White Hart on that site!!
I take it it’s better than it sounds? 
I shall be there at 6.30pm, looking forward to meeting you all!
Unless, like rekkah, you have the misfortune to pick the wrong group and end up with a random gathering of people from a Dr Who messageboard who by complete coincidence happen to be having a get-together in the same pub at the same time 
beer in the evening is the IMDB of Pubs - great for finding places but often full of very snobby reviews by people who want to be seen as proper critics.
I love it when you’re all strong and commanding. Makes me go all tingly inside 
Well, as Keeper of the Social Diary, I can’t see a flaw with this plan. 5pm at the White Hart it is then.
Garius, learn from this…
So, pink trousers and a rolled-up carnation at 5pm at the White Hart. I’ll try to come along for a while. I think I’ll be able to find you lot, having been to one such evening before; Dopers are a pretty distinctive bunch. Not to mention the fact that I think I still have Angua’s phone number.
Ah. That’d be my UK mobile number. With the phone that I’ve forgotten at my flat. In France. I’ll PM you an alternative.
One last bump, since the get-together is this afternoon.