London

I had four driving lessons as a refresher last year. 10 years no driving left me rusty. I went with Mutual (E London). Didn't really get on with the first guy, he told me I was rubbish and grabbed the wheel off me at one point. For the second and subsequent lessons I had a big scottish guy, into football, who was great. Laid back and helpful. I can't remember his name now though. Finding a decent driving instructor is tough.

Sam Smiths pubs are now close to full price. Therefore, no point ever going to one again.

I still think some of them have their charms, I'm a big fan of the Cittie of York and old faithful Glasshouse Stores, even if I haven't been in the latter in ages.

There's been mad beer inflation in London of late though (blame craft beer, the_recession, whatever) - SS beer is probably as far behind the top end as its ever been.

I don't mind the cock tavern off regent street tbh but I've definitely reduced my visits. Their stout isn't a bad alternative to guinness imo - not similar, obv, just not horrible.

Otoh although I've been a student again for nearly eighteen months now it was only two weeks ago that I went to the University of London Union bar for the first time. Five pints for £7.50 is just ridiculous.

Price aside, SS pubs still tend to have a better atmosphere than the vast majority of West End boozers.

get 6 cans of lagers for £5* from an offie
I've been away for a year, I get back and it seems to have gone up to £5.50. Bleak times.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 12:52 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
I'm sure it's Cameron's fault.
― I wish to incorporate disco into my small business (chap), Wednesday, 28 March 2012 12:58 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

haha! the * after £5 was actually going to be the footnote saying exactly that!! something like (* more likely to be £5.50 - bloody Tories innit)

Bring Back Brown's Broken Britain

it's true about Sam Smiths - dearer than ever before, but then so is everything else
the lager is good and distinctive
so are the specials like cherry beer
and yes, they do have a different atmosphere which I still tend to like.

is the beer really now 2.8%??

swap sam smiths with a wetherspoons, then

xp

yeah - pointed out to me just before leaving the bricklayers a few weeks ago, feeling surprisingly sober.

These people seem to be up on it all

It was about 2.20 in Sam pubs pre-Christmas, it's now at least 3 quid, at least for a lager. For me that jump means I'd rather go somewhere with decent food, better beer, and nicer atmos. They're not bad pubs but at 3 quid I reckon it's about 80p or so cheaper than a pint of something decent; in somewhere that's definitely nicer.

Mind you the one I frequented most was The Rising Sun near Barbican, plenty of nice alternatives around there.

Drinking round the Barbican and not going to the Old Red Cow is straight-up wasteful IMO.

always too busy imo. it is small.

or just bring a six pack into the barbican?

a six pack of toilet duck

when it's payday

la dee da

time was you would joke about drinking a six pack of toilet duck in the street

really cleaned up the street

Is this the London thread?

Did you see this?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/magazine/china-mieville-london.html?emc=eta1

/\/\/\

Say something about it

i read that and wasnt sure what to think

what should i think

should i cancel my trip

Definitely, you don't want to hang out with racists and alcoholics.

"eyes roll with the duh".

Say something about it

it's not interesting enough to, really. mostly it reminded me that i don't get along with miéville's prose at all.

the fluff piece that ran alongside it (what are the LDN equivs of these NYC things iirc) was actually more interesting

"The mayor is a ninja of bumptiousness"

Lex otm, esp re: the fluff. Such an effort to read and although I recall vaguely agreeing with him I can't remember a single specific thing that he says.

read the first page and had no idea what thesis he was attempting to expound, beyond a few 'pensions! strikes! olympics!' handwaving signifiers.

It's not written for Londoners really though is it? I mean most of us will be familiar with most of the arguments and issues in it.

/Say something about it/

it's not interesting enough to, really. mostly it reminded me that i don't get along with miéville's prose at all.

this x 1000. absolutely convinced he dictates his novels, and what interested me about the article most was how its prose hobbles along.

Are you all posting from the banlieues of London? Is there anything I can do to help?

suggest banlieu

Haha very good

ty

banlieuy jagger

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6058/6330354186_ec8974ff10_b.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicohogg/

that dude gets london p much

yeah thats great