Brockley Central Drinks: The Drinkening
It's been a while, but after a nearly two year hiatus, Brockley Central Drinks are back!
We're organising a drink-up on Wednesday, March 14th. Brockleys Nick, Jon and Kate will be there, as will at least one single woman, who emailed us to ask if there was such a thing as a singles night in Brockley. From this tiny acorn, BC Drinks was reborn. You don't have to be single to drink with us, but it helps... Monkeyboy.
Brockley Central Drinks are as formless and chaotic as this blog, but without the trolling. There is no agenda (other than that Brockley is great), just lovely people, all in the same place, at the same time, with different drinks in their hands.
Drinks will start at 8pm. What we haven't yet decided is where they will be. That decision coming soon, but we wanted to put this date in your diaries. Hope to see you then.
95 comments:
I'd love to come to this, but I'd be going on my own (not that many local friends, though I'd like to change that). Would people think I was weird?
Fong, I'd say at least 50% of the people who tend to turn up, do so on their own. It's kind of the point, to help people get to know people in the area. Come along!
Can we have the drinks in an 'honest fare' type establishment this time please?
OK, I will! Can i suggest meeting at the Talbot, purely because it's the pub closest to my house
That's as good a reason as any. The Talbot is definitely on the short list.
@Anon - specific suggestions please
I'd like to come but fear being harshly judged on my rabid, pig ignorant and stultifyingly ill-informed comments...
could I bring my baby (with buggy) along?
I can't come (Harmony Sinfonia, Brockley's very own symphony orchestra, rehearses on a Wednesday) but I'd suggest the Old Haberdasher because they need the business!
@Belly - we'd had the same thought - would the distance from some parts of Brockley (eg: Crofton Park) put people off?
fab sounds good and no it's not to far!
yet to try that pub so look forward to it!
Well it's a bit of a trot but it's somewhere I've been meaning to try! I shall be there. And fong, don't worry about not knowing anyone, I didn't the one and only time I've been.
Can anyone come or is this a strictly SE4 event? I wouldn't want to lower the tone with my Deptford mannerisms and scary tattoos. I promise that I won't smoke crack in the pub toilets or beg for beer. Pretty please :)
Rats, I'm not around that evening.
fong, I think I've been to most previous BC drinks, have always gone on my own. Everyone is lovely.
But speaking of going on one's own to things, did anyone go to the swing dancing thing at the Amersham? I'd like to go on Sunday 18th but don't know if it would be awkward. Were there solo types last time?
@Gema - Brockley has never been about a postcode. It's a state of mind. In some cases, a slightly ranty state of mind, but not always.
I trust you will all just drink muddy water.
We'll be there.
Rats! I am around that evening . . .
Never managed to make one before - but given the increased popularity(?), well readership anyway, would the venue (not a suggestion) need some warning?
The Talbot would be a bit of a busman's holiday for me.
I vote The Haberdashers.
Can we organise a Brockley Central smoke up too whilst we're at it? :D
The Talbot is a lot harder from Crofton Park than the Haberdashers - at least there is a bus that direction.
Ravensbourne Arms is a huge pub so may be an option on the other side of the Greater Brockley border?
Damn, just checked the calender, and, away that day. Shame, I was looking forward to meeting 'Good Honest Fare'.
I withdraw my Haberdasher vote.
Haberdasher's or Ravensbourne?
Sounds good, count me in.
I vote Haberdasher too, partly because it's very close to my house, but also because I think lots of people are yet to try it out and I'd like to help promote a nice local pub! Plus if it's not too busy there should be space for all the buggies.
The Ravensbourne is great, but the last two BC events have been in Ladywell (Ladywell Tavern) so would rather go elsewhere on this occasion.
Alas, I am washing my hair that night.
But it would have been good to come along to keep you all on the straight and narrow.
I would like to come and suggest The Ravensbourne Arms as a suitable venue also.
I vote for the Wickham Arms.
Lou, I've assumed that because your assertions were slaphead that...oh never mind...
Looks like we've got a pairing arrangement in any case.
How many Brockley foxes are expected?
I'd potentially like to come! Not sure about the idea of the Ravensbourne Arms though - it's a bit of a hike for many Brockley-ites.
Surely somewhere that's at least *in* Brockley is better?
Where is the Haberdashers? Oh no, I hope no foxes turn up. I have enough trouble with them in my garden.
Oh god, this isn't going to turn into a matchmaking evening, is it?! :-P
I'd be happy to put a bit of business the Haberdashers' way.
Would love to come to a Brockley Central drinks, but as long as it's in Brockley.
I'm sure the Haberdasher's or Ravensborne Arms are lovely, but they're a bit of a trek... One is New Cross and the other is Ladywell.
I suggest either The Brockley Jack or Mr. Lawrence.
Mr Lawrence would be great too!
If people from Crofton Park can't make it down the road to a pub I'm not sure you should offer them much in the way of convenience!
I do not drink alcohol or allow people to enter my personal comfort zone, but don't take my non-appearance as a rebuke, I shall be teaching at my nude macrame class that evening - nobody welcome.
For those not adverse to a trek, I understand that the Catford Bridge Tavern (formerly Copperfield) opens on Thursday! That may be an option, supporting the newest local(ish) pub?
mg - I didn't go so can't comment for sure but I've been dancing for years and anything that starts with a lesson is pretty much guaranteed to be single-friendly as they'll get everyone to swap partners during that so you'll meet people.
Count me in. If all goes according to plan it will be my first night off the wagon for two weeks. Standard apologies all round.
I don't think I'll be able to make this one. Shame after 2 years. Hope the evening wherever it is held goes well.
I will try and make it if I can, though I warn you - my primary topics of conversation are architecture, Brockley gossip, and American Idol. If smalltalk strays from these themes I'm liable to spend the time nodding politely and occasionally making an inappropriate joke.
Can I put in a vote for the Wickham Arms the beer is first rate, the new management do not seem to be wanting to make big changes and there is plenty os room.
Jam Circus. Tell 'em we're coming and reserve some space. I'm bored to tears with The Talbot.
I might come along, but in disguise, so that no-one tries to exterminate me.
Would be a great opportunity to meet the various anon or is there just one anon with multiple personalities.
Wickham Arms or Brockley Jack please.
Is the Haberdasher selling any decent ale yet? It's failed to offer anything other than an iffy pint of Greene King on the occasions I've been in.
I'd happily vote for either Mr. Lawrence or Jam Circus!
I'm liking the hidden agenda of it being a singles night at the same time... Maybe all the singles should wear a mung bean on their lapel for easy identification...
I vote for the Talbot as it's just round the corner from me, but won't mind a longer journey so will be there either way.
Is The Haberdashers on the same site as the Rosemary Branch, a pub I remember frequenting in Lewisham Way a few decades ago?
That's the one - very close to Goldsmiths. As a New Cross-ite I'd be happy with the Haberdashers...
You can tell a lot of Brockley people work for the public sector; it's taken 2 years to literally organise a pissup in a brewery.
Still I bet it'll be accessible, organic and diverse.
Wickham Arms...???
Hummm... The Telegraph?
Mr Lawerences is a good idea!
Never been (or should i say 'bean'?)to Mr Lawrences.
I think the 1st BC Drinks was at the Wickham back in 07, then Jam Circus in 08 and then The Talbot on opening night in 09.... I was at BC Drinks in 08 at JC and again at The Talbot, however The Talbot was sooo busy on opening night that I couldn't actually find the BCers and could barely move around as the pub was so jam packed.
I'm easy but I like the Haberdasher an it sometimes looks like it needs some help to stay open, it's often mostly empty, so my vote goes there. Also it's quite large, airy and spacious so could accommodate the thousands of people who will be turning up!
@HH - very good, that is exactly the order. Then two music nights at the Ladywell Tavern. Then Brockley Nick went in to penury to open a business, Brockley Jon committed to a life of quiet servitude by getting married and Brockley Kate devoted her life to monastic scholasticism by doing another degree. It has been a long two years, but it's spring again in Brockley...
I came to the Ladywell Tavern but could not penetrate the human wall and left.
the Brockley Barge would be a good central location surely?
Haberdashers gets my vote.
Yes, it sounds like it should be Haberdashers. The right size and a nice excuse to get people to check it out.
Ha! I'm betting that Brockley Sarah will like the sound of Jon's 'quiet servitude'!
let's all sit on the wall outside supercuts on the parade and have a few cans
The Jack or the Barge cos they're both big. Seems like there might be few people there
I can't imagine the mung bean elite liking either of the last two suggestions. Which probably means we should pick one of them!
"Brockley Barge would be a good central location surely?"
NQOC darling.
The Barge is a good honest boozer and perfectly good for a drink under any circumstances - maybe not so good if you're a tosser though . . .
ah right
I'll get me coat . . .
The Old Haberdasher is a very good choice, I have popped in for a meal and a quiet drink a few times, it is a bit quiet when compared to the other pubs in New Cross and I really have no idea why as it is a really nice pub but I would say it is exactly the sort of place that needs support especially considering the type of pub it replaced, it gets my vote!
The jack is big, and actually IN brockley... which is probably appropriate for a 'Brockley Central' drinks evening. Or did the site change to 'Ladywell Not So Central' without us noticing....?
How about hiring out Gulen's wine bar?
Mmmmmm donner canapes YUM
The Borckley Jack is only just in Brockley, literally on the border - because as everyone knows, Crofton Park = Not Really Brockley :)
Or, for those of us who subscribe to the Greater Brockley philosophy, Brockley stretches from Honor Oak Park up to St Johns, and from Telegrpah Hill right over to Ladywell.
The Ravensbourne Arms is still too far though, admittedly. Even I can't squeeze that into Brockley.
Crofton Park IS Brockley. The only reason people think Brockley is anywhere other than there is because of the location of a train station called "Brockley". But historically, the Brockley Jack is more part of central Brockley than the Barge is.
@ anon 11:48
LOLZ, it was a wind up - hence the smiley face, thanks for reacting though! although if you look at a boundary map, the centre of Brockley is somewhere around the Brockley Mess (so, almost equidistant between the Barge and the Jack)
:) :) :)
The Brockley Mess is actually in Ladywell
Ladywell is actually in Brockley, and Brockley is actually in Lewisham.
Sorry am I shattering the mung fantasy?
i think the barge would be a good place, it feels like the middle of brockley to me. and if theres a lot of us we wont be paying attention to the dismal surroundings.
Obviously all of those places are in Lewisham, I don't think anyone would suggest otherwise. In fact, lots of places are in Lewisham, but 'Lewisham' as a postcode is not where Brockley is. Brockley and Ladywell are separate. Most of Ladywell is in SE13 (there isn't a Ladywell postcode). But most people who read this blog live in, ahem, Greater Brockley so are interested in things that happen there. Which part of this being a hyperlocal blog do you not get? It's not about some imagined elitism that people are more interested in things that are in their immediate vicinity. div
Aren't we historically either Blackheath, Deptford or Camberwell, with the Kent/Surrey boundary running through the middle?
Brockley is Peckham as far as I'm aware.
And I claim Camberwell (at least the stretch containing No. 67, Silk Road and Wuli Wuli) for a Greater Brockley exclave.
I proclaim that we are hereby Far-East Dulwich
Now THAT"S satire! (Spelled s-h-i-t-e)
Can't wait! Bf and I have been wanting to attend something like this for awhile!
Crofton Park is the original Brockley.
South Blackheath, perhaps?
This sounds like good, potentially raucous fun. I shall be there.
If you take Jon's map of Brockley, then the centre of Brockley is close to the Brockley Barge. It is a large pub, you don't have to shout over loud music, the prices are competitive and the beer isn't at all bad. What more is there to say?
Hey I'm in, the problem you'll have is convincing the many conspicuous consumers round here who'd rather go to an 'ethical' (i.e. faddy and overpriced) establishment.
Well that's two of you.
The area near to Brockley Station used to be known as 'hither'.
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