On Sun, Jan 18, 2004 at 02:51:44PM +0000, Chris Walker wrote:
On Sun 18 Jan, Bryce Martin wrote: [snip]
Just a thought. We left the Firkin pub pretty quickly and went across the road to the City Gate Weatherspoon pub.
It no longer belongs to Wetherspoons as it was sold in early December 2003.
It has the right atmosphere for a meeting in my opinion. The seating and lighting are very good and tables can be brought together. There is no music but the place has a lively congenial atmosphere. As an added bonus you can get a curry if you're hungry.
I'm not sure what the policy of the new owners (London & Edinburgh Inns) is towards food and so that too may change.
Take a look at http://www.norwichpubs.info/norwichpubs/centpubf.htm for info on the 'Finnesko & Firkin' and you will see that too is scheduled to close soon for refurbishment. It's been bought by a local brewery, famous for their Black Dog Mild and so hopefully it will improve the atmosphere. Sadly it's unlikely to include using the brewing equipment.
FWIW it's now the Reindeer again and I was there for a couple of drinks with some friends this evening. Seem pleasant enough. Music level was low, it wasn't busy (possibly as it's only just opened) and there were 7 of us there and I think double that could have fitted, which doesn't seem any less than we normally have at the Thursday meets. Atmosphere seemed better than the City Gate has been recently, especially allowing for the fact it wasn't that busy.
Might be worth a try again at some point (but not this month, as I won't be around for the Thursday meet). June 18th perhaps?
J.