S&B York, October 28/29 2016

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The ‘Accommodation’ post can be found here.

A message from John Henderson:

Thank you for the excellent response to my “Show of Hands” posting. It’s time now to start putting together numbers for both parts of the event…

Friday’s Ale Trail Quiz begins at the York Tap (towards the north end of Platform 3) at 6pm, moving each hour on the hour to another location (5 locations in all). I’ve organised sandwiches, chips etc at the second pub, The Maltings, for the 7-8 hour. I’ll confirm the rest of the route nearer the time.

For this event, I need to know: (i) Y/N for attendance (if Y, how many), and (ii) Y/N if you’d like to be included on the food list.

Saturday’s S&B Event at the Fox & Roman, Tadcaster Road, from 11am.  The estimated lunchtime of 2pm will be subject to slight variations, depending on how busy the kitchen is. I’ll try to keep the cost at £8 (with a small surcharge for those also at the Friday buffet). At the moment the pub opens at 9am on Saturdays and Sundays to serve breakfasts, in case you want to build that into your plans.

For this event, I need to know: (i) & (ii) as above, but also very importantly (iii) any special dietary requirements.

In past years, survivors have met on Sunday morning in the York Tap for a farewell drink before catching trains. Please note that the pub’s current Sunday opening time is 11am. Perhaps of greater importance, the clocks fall back one hour on Saturday night. Finally, it occurs to me that those travelling to similar destinations might want to synchronise train times: if so, maybe add that information below?

I think that’s it – I expect you’ll tell me if I’ve missed anything out! I look forward to meeting you all in October.

John

87 comments on “S&B York, October 28/29 2016”

  1. Thanks John. I have not booked my accommodation yet, but my current plan is a yes to everything and no to any special dietary requirements

  2. Thanks, John.

    Just Saturday, with food, please – no special dietary requirements. Really looking forward to it1 😉

  3. Two more for both days please, John, with food (one pescatarian). Cheers for organising this again – it’s become a highlight of the social calendar.

  5. Sounds just the sort of thing to bring us back to England. Put me down for two of everything and no special dietary requirements except that there be plenty of it!

  7. Thank you, John. Please put me down for Saturday lunch & I can eat anything (within reason!). Look forward to it.

  8. I may as well copy and paste from Eileen:

    Just Saturday, with food, please – no special dietary requirements. Really looking forward to it! ?

  10. Hi John,
    I’ll be there for both events and I’d like to sign up for the grub too please.
    I realise this isn’t the travel help desk, but I’m flying into Stansted arriving Friday lunchtime and returning Sunday mid-afternoon. The website tells me there’s no direct train from York to STN on Sunday mornings, meaning I would have to go into King’s Cross, tube it to Tottenham Hale, then out again to the airport.
    Is that insane? Should I just hire a car? All opinions from seasoned travellers welcome!
    warmest regards,
    Rob/Knut

  12. baerchen@10: What time do you have to check in? You can leave York at 11.34 to Peterborough, arrive 12.54, then leave Peterborough 13.18, arriving Stansted 14.44.
    If your check-in time is earlier it does look as if you have to via London; there might be connections from Peterborough but they would involve changing at Ely and Cambridge.

  13. This year, I will attend both Friday and Saturday.
    I haven’t booked anything yet but I’ll get there, don’t worry.
    Food on both days please, no restrictions.
    Looking forward to all of this (even if I’m utterly crap at quizzes).

  15. If it’s not too late, I should like to be of the company and included in all the meal-deals, for which I have no special requirements save those of Tenerife Miller @5 supra.
    I’ll be arriving by car from a Fife gig on the Friday, suitcase and guitar in hand, and leaving by train for Stockport on the Sunday p.m., if that coincides with anyone else’s plans.

  16. I booked my B&B immediately as usual and will be making the usual nuisance of myself at both Friday and Saturday events and require to eat at both.?

  19. Jennifer and I will be there for the Saturday and would like to be included for food please.
    As usual, the dog will be in the car, but is looking forward to another fuss from Mark/Monk.
    Regards,
    George

  20. Would you put two of us down for both Friday and Saturday, food at both please. No special dietary requirements.

    This will be our first such event. Looking forward to it!

  21. Hi John,

    As previously stated I won’t be able to make it since it’s my daughter’s graduation ceremony weekend. For some reason, she thinks her graduation is more important than me downing a gallon of beer in far off land!

    kenmac

  23. Thanks, John. Will be there just for the Saturday. No special dietary stuff. Just plenty of chips to go with the beer. Looking forward to seeing everyone.

  26. Kath and I won’t be able to make it unfortunately as our travelling plans have had to be changed. Such a shame as we were really looking forward to seeing everyone.

  27. That’s a real shame, Ron: I was looking forward to seeing – and quizzing with? – you both again. I hope things work out better for the next time.

  28. I hope to make the journey to Ebagumland, just for the Saturday. As long as traditional pub food is available, then I will be happy. Will confirm my attendance during the week immediately prior to the event.

  29. It’s very useful to have an indication of no-shows, particularly if you said you’d be attending on the “Show of Hands” thread. Also, as with Tom @28, it’s good to have an idea of probables and possibles – and no problem with confirming one way or the other in the week before the event.

    Thanks!

    John

  31. John, I’ll be making the long trek to York from slightly further north in North Yorkshire, so will be there on the Saturday (including food).

  35. Me and Alcina are up for both days, but the lady may not make the Friday evening sesh due to toad work! She will catch up with us wherever we are! See you then. So that’s 1 food order for Friday and 2 for Saturday. No special dietary requirements. Cheers.

  38. Hi John,
    My plan is to attend FRIDAY EVENING and SATURDAY AFTERNOON,both WITH FOOD,but NO FISH.
    Looking forward to my first S&B Event. See you then.

  39. Perhaps I should have posted this here rather than on the other thread…

    Have booked train to arrive York 18:08 on the Friday. Will drop the racecourse centre a booking email shortly.

    Dietary requirement is vegetarian verging on vegan please (minimal dairy but eggs are fine).

    Many thanks: I’m looking forward to it.

  43. At present I’m intending to arrive 11-12 at the pub on Saturday to drop off a small offering, and then depart temporarily for a posh nosh with a friend (ie no pub lunch needed,) then return later in the afternoon.

  44. Could you please add two more (plus food) to Saturday’s event?
    My friends Peter and Karen – although not super crosswordy – would like to join after last year’s fun experience.

  45. Cathy and I will be around sometime on the Saturday but don’t put us down for any food. I don’t think I’ve got the stamina to do Friday as well!
    PeteR

  49. Hi. Sorry for such a late response but I’ve only just seen this. I live in York and would love to join your trail around this wonderful city’s many great ale houses. Because of other events, I can’t get to you until after 10 on Friday and/or from 4 on Saturday. Is that ok?

  50. Excellent! It’s looking very likely that I’ll be able to get to the Saturday session. I’m not sure from what time, but let’s assume that I’ll be eating – anything that comes from the earth or the sea should be fine for me. No need for accommodation, as we have friends in York who are overdue a visit. Looking forward to it …

  51. sue_marie @49, you’d be very welcome. The 10pm pub (I’m guessing Brigantes) will be the last on Friday (itinerary yet to be announced). 4pm on Saturday also no problem, there will be lots of people still there, and diehards will remain A LOT longer!

    John

  52. I’ll go the whole hog if I may. Both events and food – no dietary requirements. Looking forward a lot to this.
    Dafydd.

  53. Everything booked, flights, car hire and hotel. Really looking forward to spending a couple of days in York, one of my favourite cities (possibly because I’m an expat Yorkshire-man) and meeting all the guys and gals. It looks like it’s going to be a full house. Bring on the chip butties!

  54. John

    2 for the quiz, sandwiches and chips for Friday evening please. I’ll pop along for an hour on Saturday morning but we’re busy later on Saturday so no time for lunch

    Best regards

    Alan Goddard

  57. I am debating coming but I don’t have any annual leave remaining and if I left after work I wouldn’t steam into York Railway Station until around 9pm I suspect… a bit late for the Friday night event?

  58. Matthew @57 – see John’s response @51 – having been there on the Friday last year, I can confirm it is not at all essential to make it to the first few pubs – it is still worth trying to find us whatever time you arrive in York.

  61. almw3 @59 I have booked Brigantes as the end pub this year (rest of itinerary to be announced soon!). A number of reasons: we lost a few last year because tehy were staying at hotels in central York and didn’t want to take a cab out of town only to have to get one back again. Also there was much faffing and loss of momentum getting all the cabs to arrive at the right time last year.

    This way, we can book cabs in advance and relax! There will be lots of cab-sharing – we’ve around 15 staying at the racecourse, plus we live out that way too!

    John

  62. Hello,
    One for me, too. I’m not sure if I’ll come up on Friday evening or Saturday morning, so call it Saturday only, plus food, no special requirements.
    Looking forward to seeing everyone.
    Hamish

  63. I think I’ll be trying to make it John – realistically probably a bit late for food on the Friday, but if I can get in on any food
    plans for the Saturday that’d be lovely. Vegan or vegetarian ideally, because I’m obstreperous…

  64. I’ll probably only get there after 8, so will eat on the train. Let me know where you’ll be during the 8-9 slot and I will meet you all there.
    Polly

  65. Can’t make the Friday this year but I will be there on Saturday, one for food, no special requirements (unless tripe and caviar are planned – can’t stand either)

  67. Sorry for the delay in confirming. I’ve finally booked, and will be there on both days. Food for one omnivore on Saturday only please. Looking forward to it.

  68. It’s S&B time again, and so I am – once again – more than happy to blog puzzles especially written for the occasion.
    Within the next few days, I will directly contact some of you for this.

    But if there is anyone else out there with a Masterplan, well, I’ll need:
    – a PDF of the puzzle identical to the one presented in York
    – a Word document (please, no columns) or a PDF with only the clues
    – a JPG of the completed grid
    – a document in which the setter explains what is going on [as I try to keep the blog as neutral as possible]

    The above should be sent to: dalibor1@virginmedia.com.
    Please do this at the latest on the 26th of October.
    All this, to be sure to have your puzzle blogged by Sunday 30 October.

    S.

  72. Whoops, financial stenosis has occurred (probably shouldn’t have been counting on winning top prize at the Times champs to cover my train fare),
    and I probably won’t be able to make it after all, sadly. Is it too late to un-request Saturday food? Doubly sorry if so.

  73. I’m there both Friday and Saturday and will be keen on food both times, no restrictions. I may have replied elsewhere before but just in case.

  74. I’m afraid that the two friends I added (@44) to the list for Saturday have pulled out due to work commitments.
    Don’t shoot me, I’m only the piano player!

  75. My apologies; I thought I’d posted about food, ages ago.(Scammed/new laptop.)
    Just `chips on Friday` please, John.
    Happy Birthday for THURSDAY x

  77. Yep, the 27th. I jumped the gun on the Graun thread. (I blame `being born in the hour` when the clocks change – and my seriously embarrassing impatience.)
    Looking forward to seeing everyone in York.
    Happy Birthday and many blessings, John.

  78. See you in Brigantes around 10 – looking forward to meeting you. Illuminating York is on this weekend (iconic buildings/places/trains in a new light) and well worth seeing if you get the chance.

  79. Just thought we should offer John and Jane a vote of thanks for their hard work organising another great weekend. Hope we can do it again next year!

  80. Wholeheartedly seconded! A super day yesterday – great venue with very imaginative food, great company, great entertainment. Many thanks to all, especially those who contributed puzzles.

  81. Many thanks from me too. I thoroughly enjoyed the day & it was so good to see everyone – hope we can do it again before too long.

  82. Thanks too from Jennifer and me. As usual, excellent company, so appreciation to our table companions and, as always, to John and Jane for their warm welcome and help, and to Big Dave for making sure that Jennifer didn’t feel left out of things as a non-solver.

  83. Thanks so much to J&J for an excellent event – really good to see lots of friendly faces there. Hope to make it to more of them in future.
    H/S

  84. Alan and I add our thanks for a great time yesterday. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many crossword enthusiasts and the time just flew by.

  86. Brilliant! What a great occasion this was, and an excellent setting in which to catch up with old friends and to meet a few that I’ve only known online until now. Chapeau, John!

  87. Belated thanks for a great weekend, expertly organised. My first S&B and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Another chapeau raised here to the enigmatic one.

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