Less than four three two weeks to go!
So, time for a reminder that there will be a Sloggers & Betters event in Cambridge on Saturday 25 April.
The venue is The Castle Inn, 38 Castle Street, Cambridge CB3 0AJ
http://thecastleinncambridge.com/
The pub will open its doors at 11.30am and from twelve o’clock onwards the complete first floor (including roof terrace) will be ours, with space for around 60 people.
Thus far, more than 40 people have indicated that they will attend.
If you want to add your name to the list or have any other questions, we would appreciate it if you could either post a comment below or send a message to: extrawis@virginmedia.com .
(e-mail addresses will not be shared and removed after the event)
Although we would like to keep an eye on the number of attendants (for practical reasons), we also want to emphasise that everyone’s welcome at any time during the day!
Unlike at previous S&B events there will be no lunch buffet this time.
The main reason for that is that The Castle Inn prefers people to order their lunch themselves at the bar.
They have assured us that they can handle large numbers.
Orders will be taken until 2.30pm which seems reasonable.
Are you a vegetarian, do you need gluten-free food, do you have any other allergy? No problem, just tell them.
Rumour goes that the food is good!
The current menu can be found on their website or here: Menu, The Castle Inn
Most people will come by public transport, some perhaps by car.
Please find below three documents that will show you the way.
Note that especially the ‘on foot’ pdf contains a couple of useful maps.
From the Railway Station to The Castle Inn, by taxi or bus
From the Railway Station to The Castle Inn, on foot
Don’t hesitate to send an e-mail to the address above if you need more information on transport or other issues.
PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE POSTS 10 , 11 AND 15 BELOW.
– There will be no trains between Peterborough and Cambridge (including Ely) but travelling via Stevenage and/or London is an alternative (unless you like a decent bus ride). There will also be disruption on the Ipswich-Cambridge line.
- However, there will be an interesting Touristic Walk through our lovely city for early arrivals. Jon (Rorschach) will be your guide, starting at the Railway Station at 11.15am.
We are looking forward to see you all!
Sil, Phil (Flashling), Jon (Rorschach)
Thanks for the update Sil
Thanks for the really useful walking maps.
Thanks Sil, Phil & Jon, I’ll be there.
Car drivers beware – “option 2 – Put your car immediately next to the pub in the City Council car park” is no longer possible.
The County Council (it’s their car-park, not the City Council’s) now locks the barriers shut overnight and at weekends because of abuse of the facility.
Sadly, it looks like I will not be able to join this event as it’s likely I’ll be away from Cambridge that weekend.
Maxboyce, I was at the Shire Hall car park last week and it is clearly indicated there that it’s open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays for £ 1 per hour (until midnight).
This is also what the landlord of the Castle Inn told me last Wednesday.
But I will have another check.
Sounds as though this is going to be a very jolly event, not least because several of my past students will be there … I won’t be able to make it, but if I can get along next time, I will. Have a great time, and bravo to Sil for organising!
I’m going to have to back out I’m afraid.
I looked forward to seeing you all again but, hélas, maybe next time, in a more favourable (for me) location.
Who will organise a meet in Oxford? 🙂
Hi Jan @7
That’s very disappointing. I thought you had your travel / camping arrangements sorted – we females are usually thin enough on the ground already!
“Who will organise a meet in Oxford?” Are you offering? 😉
Many thanks to Sil for the meticulous details. I shall be arriving at Cambridge Railway Station at approx. 11.40/45 and would be delighted to join fellow walkers to the Castle Inn – or share a taxi. Really looking forward to it!
Eileen @8 – I am quite tempted by the walk, and I’m still considering devious ways of avoiding the long rail replacement bus journey from Peterborough (such as the buses from St Neots and Huntingdon), but if the weather is bad the taxi would certainly be an option.
beery hiker’s post is also a reminder of possible rail disruptions that weekend.
What exactly is going on can be found here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx
Just type in the date.
Hope that helps for those who didn’t realise that some train services to and from Cambridge may be affected by major engineering work.
Dear All,
We’re all looking forwards to having you visit our place.
I have, for those not in the know, just handed in my PhD thesis. This explains for my recent woeful lack of presence in crosswordland. To make up for this, I would love to give people arriving early in Cambridge a whistlestop walk around the town and lead them to the Castle Inn ready for the festivities. Please let me know if you’re keen.
See you soon!
Jon (Rorschach)
My train arrives at 10.55 (to allow for a walk round Cambridge before the festivities) so I’d welcome company and/or the Rorschach guided tour.
What time were you thinking of Rorschach? We’d love to join you, traffic permitting?
@jon I’ll probably head off to meet/greet duties but Mrs Flash would love a tour too, sounds like a plan.
Well I’d promised to show crypticsue around so whenever best suites her. I’m guessing around 11.15.
How does that sound?
I’d be interested in the guided walk
A plan indeed. Do we meet under the station clock at around 11.15 , wearing carnations and carrying a rolled up copy of a newspaper of our choice?
Sil@5 – that’s a relatively recent change then. It was definitely locked one Sunday last summer when I had occasion to try to use it.
And it was always free before!
The Castle is close enough to my house (Mitcham’s Corner area) that I wouldn’t normally use a car to get there. I was there Tuesday evening. I used to work in one of the offices in Castle Park…
Maxboyce, in the past it was indeed like you said.
But they seem to have changed it back although only for weekends.
The pub owner made very clear to me that the car park can be used!
(and I’ve seen it with my own eyes on notice boards)
Grrh! – would have enjoyed The Tour – but ticket booked ages ago and about half an hour too late.
However – I know Cambridge reasonably well and, as Sil says, it’s practically a straight road and it will be daylight. [Knowing me [as many of you do] some help / company getting back to the station might, as before, be welcome. 😉 ]
If all goes well we will see you at the station at 11:15 – if we don’t make it in time because of traffic we’ll see you at the pub!
Meat eating friends recommend the Castle Burger
Eileen @8 – Yes, I’m disappointed too, but the cons were outweighing the pros. I hope to see everyone again in the autumn?
I wish I could organise something in Oxford but I hardly know the city! I just happen to live nearby.
Hi Sil
In case I’ve not signed in already, please put me on the list.
Some of you may be interested in what promises to be an exciting exhibition of sculpture at the small Kettle’s Yard Museum just round the corner from the pub. Its theme is rhythm and dance and in addition to works by Gaudier-Brezka there are ‘imports’ by artists including Rodin. The web address with further info is http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/ and admissionis free.
While nobody actually has to sign in – we only asked for confirmation, if possible, to produce badges and to have an idea how many will approximately be there.
But, Tupu, we had you down ages ago!
Wouldn’t expect you not to be there.
Good point about Kettle’s Yard.
Thanks for that.
Look forward to meeting you all again
Count me in!
I am going to tag along with Liz and Polly – so I look forward to meeting you at The Castle!
David
Confirming that I will attend this – many thanks to the organisers.
I hope to be there
Unfortunately I can no longer attend this one due to family commitments – hope you all have an enjoyable day.
As soon as the date was settled I knew I couldn’t be there, and nothing’s changed. But best wishes for a successful event and hopefully I’ll catch up with you all (or some of you) another time.
Just to clarify, I’ll be at the station at 11.15 for those keen to have a wander around town before getting to the Castle Tavern.
My email address is jonmackenzie – at – gmail – dot – com. Drop me an email if you’re keen on showing up and I’ll give you my mobile number.
Jon
Hi all,
Looking forward to seeing lots of people on Saturday – hopefully coming along for some lunch. The burgers are good, as are the fish and chips.
In the mean time, here’s a puzzle for the train on the way up. It was the first puzzle I had published in 1 Across, a few years ago: Greetings from 1 Down!
Hamish / Soup
As there was some doubt above about the Shire Hall car park, and as I work almost next door to The Castle, I went to check, and it is definitely open to the general public at weekends (Pay & Display). If it’s full then the next best is the public P&D further up the hill (turn in by the Isaac Newton pub). I would offer free parking in my office car park but they’ve been getting a bit stroppy about that recently..
See you all on Saturday!
I’ll put my nose in at the pub at some point.
Good stuff, see you all Saturday, Phil, Sil & Jon. This do is open to everyone who likes a bit of cryptic fun. We very rarely eat newcomers. It was only the once and that setter can’t make it this time. 🙂
I should be there, despite the racing at Sandown.
Room for one more, I hope? See you tomorrow.
So sorry but will not be attending after all. A cough and a cold a) has removed appetite for food and beer and b) would not be fair to impose on others in a closed space.
Will raise a glass of port and brandy at exactly midday!
Thanks to everyone for their part in yesterday’s S&B,especially the ‘organising’ three. A great day was had by all. Hope to see you all again soon