The Bristol Railway Archive

On the "What kindled your interest in railways?" thread, Ralph Ingham (worthvalleyfitter) said that he is coming down to Bristol next month, and it crossed my mind that this might be a good opportunity for us to have a bit of a get-together one evening in Bristol.

He will be around from Saturday 12th to Tues 15th of May. So, a few questions:-

1. Does anybody else fancy a night out talking railways?
2. If yes, what evening would be best?
3. Does anybody know of a good real ale pub not far from BTM?

All contributions to this thread gratefully accepted

He will be around from Saturday 12th to Tues 15th of May. So, a few questions:-

I'd been mulling this idea over myself on occasion, so I'll be there! Any evening would be fine for me on those dates. As to pubs, the obvious choice is the Wetherspoons outback of Temple Meads (the Knights Templar) - good cheap beer and food, pleasant environment and a stone's throw from the Ibis / TM.

Or, knowing the area as I do, for the more adventurous other possibilities are The Barley Mow, Barton Street, St Philips (aka The Dings), a few minutes walk from TM and very close to the old Kingsland Road sidings (real Midland territory!) A little further on, I can also really recommend The Volunteer Inn in New Street, Old Market (not very easy to find, but well worth it) or several of the other pubs in that area. Both the afore-named pubs do really excellent Sunday lunches, so that's another possibility

If anybody is walking in the former area of Barrow Road shed, might I also suggest the Russell Arms on Ducie Road for a pint - a very, er, *original* ahem, back street Victorian boozer and still "full of characters!"

I'll be there for sure and wouldn't mind a bit of walking around to see the sights also.

Great idea but it would have to be Monday for me or possibly the Saturday at a push. Forget the 'Spoons' - far too noisy if you want a reasonable conversation without shouting. The Barley Mow looks good and is just behind the Ibis but how about the Rhubarb Tavern in Queen Anne Road? Only 10 minutes stroll and it has featured in a few threads.

I would be very happy to meet for a drink and a chat. I think I could make any of the suggested days, although there might be a clash with another event on the Tuesday.

Yes Rhubarb is another option. It's nice and big and fairly quiet, though maybe nor quite as nice and friendly as The Barley Mow.

If we got guests for a few days and people who can't make certain nights, perhaps we should try them all!

Walked past the Barley Mow a few times but never actually crossed the threshold. Might do a dummy run to sample the ale when I am in town later in the week. Will report back.

Visited the Barley Mow on Wednesday. A bit rustic but the beer is fine.
Opening hours 12 - 3 and 5- 11 weekdays. The BLT baguette I had for lunch was all I needed to keep me going for the rest of the day.

OK then, lets make it the Barley Mow and, to accommodate everybody, how does Monday 14th suit you?

8.30pm?

I'd love to join you all but its a bit far from Surrey for a pint.

That's a long way to come for just one pint! Monday should be fine for me barring mother-in-law emergencies. Will need to be on 2C98 departing for Exeter at 2306 to get home. Is 8.30 a bit late? How about our friends from Bronte country?

the green mile wrote:That's a long way to come for just one pint! Monday should be fine for me barring mother-in-law emergencies. Will need to be on 2C98 departing for Exeter at 2306 to get home. Is 8.30 a bit late? How about our friends from Bronte country?

The 55F men are stopping at the Ibis up to and including the Monday night so 8.30pm or earlier to suit others is fine by us.

I took the view that anything before 2030 might be awkward for those of our brethren that have to work for a living that day

Quite happy to be over-ruled on that, though, if most want an earlier time.

For fairly obvious reasons I shall be coming by train. At the moment my times are BTM arrive 2013, depart 2235 (the last London of the day)

Monday 14th May sounds excellent to me too. I'll be finishing in Bristol about 6:30pm, so not wishing to head all the way out to Sea Mills and back in again, I'll amble over to The Barley Mow and arrive about 7:00pm and wait and see.

I'm quite happy to sit in a bar and wait! It's a small pub, but even so, how will we all recognize each other? Should we erect a sign or something - maybe a shed code on a small post - 22A or 82E?

jules wrote:Monday 14th May sounds excellent to me too. I'll be finishing in Bristol about 6:30pm, so not wishing to head all the way out to Sea Mills and back in again, I'll amble over to The Barley Mow and arrive about 7:00pm and wait and see.

I'm quite happy to sit in a bar and wait! It's a small pub, but even so, how will we all recognize each other? Should we erect a sign or something - maybe a shed code on a small post - 22A or 82E?

I was about to edit last night's post and say something on the lines of "if you want to start without me that's OK by me" but then you posted this, so I suppose that covers it

Recognition is an interesting point. I have been in many circumstances over the years where I have gone into a pub to meet somebody, or a group of somebodies, that I didn't know, and somehow or other it always seems to work out.

Usually something like this. You walk into a pub - there are a number of groups of people, but one group is studying the entrance door much more than the others. If you don't go straight up to them, their beady eyes follow you up to the bar and keep looking at you until either you or one of them says a variation on "are you the over-60s nudist leapfrog team?" or whatever. (Incidentally, my experiences of this have been mainly classic car related, but I just liked the sound of that description!)

All that said, I think the idea of a "shedplate" is a very good one. Jules, as you seem to be likely to be the first one in, have you just volunteered yourself to make one?

Robin Summerhill wrote:....or one of them says a variation on "are you the over-60s nudist leapfrog team?"...

Now THAT would be an entertaining way for incomers to recognise those of the group already assembled!!

A rookie to the group like me, though, would wear a 70's style anorak. As I haven't got one, I won't be able to come, oh - and there's the small matter of a 324-mile round trip (although I appreciate worthvalleyfitter will be travelling considerably further). And do you think her indoors could possibly swallow the perfectly bona fide reason for such a trip? Not b***** likely! But I hope you enjoy your evening of reminiscences.