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There is usually a small pre-meet gathering in a pub near Market Square, called the Malt Cross. I'm sure this will continue. It starts whenever people show up, and finishes when they kick us out.
location: http://tinyurl.com/28cum9 (the Malt cross is not where the pin indicates it to be, it is between Maid Marian way and Old Market Square on St James street. Zoom in for a better view)
The Friday plan
As is tradition, for early risers, early trainers/busers, and people who like breakfast, there is a wetherspoons pub directly opposite the Malt Cross (see previous map) called the Roebuck. They serve breakfast till 12, and there will doubtless be some people there on the Friday morning.
the official meety bit though will not start till 2, to give people time to check into hotels and drop off luggage etc.
This itinerary may change slightly, as things are not set in stone yet, but this is what we hope to be doing at the moment.
2:00pm
Meet in the beer garden of the canal side pub, Via Fossa, which is about 1 minute away from the bus and train stations, and easily accessible from the City Centre, or anywhere in the City in fact
location: I'm not even going to bother posting the local live map, as it shows it being the other end of canal street, and it's a very long street!
from the train station: turn right, heading into the city centre with everyone else from your train. cross the road, and walk down the path that leads down to the canal tow-path (turning left just after the Magistrates letter box in the wall) cross the canal using the handy bridge. Spot the joinees milling around the canal drinking
(you may recall this is the pub we went to 2 GGFs ago)
from the bus station: head towards the train station, away from the City Centre where everyone else form your bus is going, but turn right down towards the canal tow-path
if it is not raining, there will be directions chalked on the pavement.
If you get lost, or are new and nervous or just want to say hello, you can give me a call to find out where we are: 0seven91seveneightthree2 forty-eight 7
2:30
once we're sure everyone's present and gotten a drink in, it's time for the duck race from the bridge, followed by the motorised duck race.
3:15 ish
we will set out on the raok march-challenge, which we aim to be 1/2 hour to 45 minutes. We are still formulating a plan for this one, but you don't need the details just yet, do you?!
Those not wishing to raok march, it would be appreciated if you could use this 30-45 minutes to finish your Via Fossa drink and head over to the pub we are planning to book from 4pm. (you can head over earlier, but our room at the back is a restaurant at lunchtime, so we won't be allowed in there till 4, but the rest of the pub is open all day)
4:00pm
head to the pub we're planning to hire the back room of, the Fellows Morton and Clayton. http://www.fellowsmo...dclayton.co.uk/ It has a lovely 2 storey private room at the back, and it's own little beer garden, and friendly staff. Best of all, they usually let you play your own music (to be sorted later, oh yes!)
whilst there, we will be doing various fund raisingy things. amongst them, a raffle, a book sale (albeit smaller than last year, as nobody lives in the City Centre this year so getting spare books elsewhere afterwards will be problematic) the selling of hugs for 20p each by attractive volunteers (I hereby nominate Annie Meek, Thomas Rushton and Rory Google*) the general whoring of everything that isn't nailed down, and of course, music, drink and merriment.
chuck out time
the traditional Friday night GGF club of choice is of course the Cookie Club, back on St James street. 'tis good
Bad Bad Saturday
11am
meet at 11, for a half past kick-off. That sound fair? late enough for the Southern fairies' hangovers?? North v South football, on the forest fields.
location: http://tinyurl.com/2zh3lm
there is a tram stop called Forest fields. It stops at the Forest fields (d'uh?) you can catch a tram from the City Centre in Market Square, or if you're staying in one of the hotels near the station, there is also a tram stop at the train station, called Station street. All trams heading out of the City Centre go past Forest Fields, the split in the line is after this stop.
There is also a little cafe type thing on the Forest Fields for the purpose of breakfast.
after football, it's traditional to go back to a pub. I'm open to suggestions, last year we ended up in the Pit and Pendulum.
at some point in the afternoon when we have all gathered again, I propose a repeat of last years join me bowling tournament, at the AMF. It is right next to the National Ice Centre, which is signposted from most places in the City Centre
location: http://tinyurl.com/2xu9aw
it is on Belward street on that map, opposite Barker Gate
times for this will be decided later, depending on interest.
after bowling, there will most likely be more pub. The Saturday night GGF pub of tradition is the Sal on Maid Marion way. The map seems to think it's on the other side of the county though, so again, no maps!
evening: for those who are interested, there will be a hockey game taking place at the National Ice Centre (if nothing else, come for our awesome Ice rink, it's so different to the freezing rickety tin sheds strewn across the country) where the GMB Nottingham Panthers will be playing the Manchester Pheonix. And kicking arse. Hopefully. If we're less poo by then. http://www.panthers.co.uk/modules/Panthers...es.asp?LinkID=2
face off is usually at 7pm with doors opening at 6. Tickets are £14, £10 concessions.
for anyone coming to the hockey (seeing as it falls at a rather odd time for eating purposes. I usually eat at 7!) or just anyone interested in a late dinner, I propose that after the hockey, at about half 8, 9-ish for anyone interested, there is a lovely all you can eat Chinese place at that end of town called Goji. £10.95 all you can eat for quite good (and healthy!) food. http://www.lifeatgoj...estaurants.html (it's the buffet one, not the "Opium" in Nottingham)
then back to the pub! huzzah!
kicking out time
the Saturday night clubbing adventure of GGF that is, of course, Rock City.
no waistcoats.
The Sunday that has NO NAME (No, not even Easter Sunday. shhhh Rory)
anyone still around: go home people, you need to sleep tomorrow, it's back to work on Tuesday, what are you still doing here?!
alternatively, why not see some of Nottingham?
places of interest include:
The Tales of Robin Hood - creaky animatronic ride through history
The Galleries of Justice - museum of justicy prisony type things. quite interesting
The Caves of Nottingham in the Broadmarsh centre - tour round ancient caves used as factories, residences and war shelters throughout Nottingham's history. Only slightly ruined by the foundations for the Broadmarsh shopping centre being visible for part of the tour.
The 2 oldest pubs in the UK - The Bell Inn and the Old Trip to Jerusalem both claim to be the oldest pub in the UK. The trip has a beam which has been carbon dated as very old (but it could have come from somewhere else) but the trip looks older. It has rooms in caves and old bar games involving throwing tethered hoops at a spike on the wall and everything.
Nottingham Castle - the stately home of castles. Some interesting exhibitions about the country's history, and what part Nottingham played in it
The various guided walks - A lovely man runs some guided walks of Nottingham. My personal favourite being the Nooks and Crannies of Nottingham walk, in which he contradicts everything (if anything?) you know of Nottingham and tells you a far more interesting version. He also does a haunted walk. He does them at scheduled times (more info at the Tourist centre in Market Square) but if there are enough people he can do a walk for us at any time. I have his mobile number should people wish to do a walk. I seem to recall his prices are reasonable (something like £5-£7 for an hour and a half guided tour. Not bad)
some nice (or handy?) restaurants/pubs/places to eat in Nottingham:
Goji - http://www.lifeatgoj...estaurants.html
The Keans head - http://www.barcrawl.co.uk/pubreview.asp?Ci...=7&PubId=35
a million and three subways in 1 square mile. You can't miss them.
The red hot buffet shack - http://redhotbuffets...ngham/index.php
cheap and cheerful is the order of the day, then the Roebuck (I'd recommend this over the Market Square Weatherspoons, it's slightly less rough)
(team Notts, PM me if you think of more and I'll add them to this list)
I shall go and find a small list of hotels and such like, but for now I leave you with the Gresham Hotel (right by the station, cheap and cheerful) The Gresham Hotel Ltd
0115 950 1234
109 Carrington Street, Nottingham, NG1 7FE
The Ibis - http://www.ibishotel.com/ibis/fichehotel/g...che_hotel.shtml
and the backpackers hostel - http://www.midtownhostel.co.uk/
there are various travel/city/permier lodge/park/hotels etc. as well, I'd be surprised if a google search wasn't enough
any questions, just drop me a PM.
*typing cramp*
ow.
*I'll give £10 to the charity if you change your name to this by the way...
This post has been edited by Gold Joinee Zena Bing: 20 January 2008 - 08:21 PM
