Programme for 24.10 - 26.10.2014
WORK IN PROGRESS !!!!
Before I start...let me whet your appetite...
http://www.buzzfeed.com/hilarywardle/edinburgh-is-the-best?bffbuk#1dr76vv
Thanks to Jeremy for the links to the maps for Friday and Saturday evening.
First Friday night venue:
www.google.com/maps/place/Reverie/@55.939049,-3.178978,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xc2783d76a0f4e6b6
Second Friday night venue:
www.google.com/maps/place/Regent+Bar/@55.956369,-3.172056,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x35c184110eab2d8f
Saturday restaurant:
www.google.com/maps/place/46+Queen+Charlotte+St,+Edinburgh,+City+of+Edinburgh+EH6,+UK/@55.9734739,-3.1676643,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x4887b805616b78df:0x43b94f897db20954
Saturday dance club:
www.google.com/maps/place/Isobar/@55.975288,-3.167092,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0xb7f9d47c58ba208f
Thursday 23 October
20.00 'Pizza Express' on George IV Bridge
http://www.pizzaexpress.com/visit-a-restaurant/restaurant/edinburgh-george-iv-bridge/?link=nolink
I've provisionally booked for 20. I've paid a deposit but I'll sort that out when we pay our bill. Thanks for ordering your main course in advance, You can order starters/ desserts / drinks on the night.
Friday 24 October
19.30 THE REVERIE ( bar/ restaurant) .. This is Malc's local. ( I'm fairly confident that a fair proportion of this establishment's profits are attributable to Malc's social drinking habits. For this reason it is in their best interests to look after us well. I've also negotiated using Malc's 10% discount card! ;o) .. Yes there are loyalty cards in bars here!!! ( The reduction is reflected in the prices below which are rock bottom)
It's owned by a dutchman, and he's insisting on flying he dutch flag in our / his honour!!
Proposed menu for 35 folk
Menu
Soup
of the day (v)
Served
with crusty bread
MacSween
of Edinburgh Haggis (v.a.)
Neeps
& tatties hash, whisky & thyme cream
*********
Scottish salmon,
Served with new potatoes and salsa verde
Halloumi & Beetroot burger
With rocket, balsamic reduction and fries
**********
Warm Chocolate Brownie
Served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate
sauce
Ice cream & sorbet selection
http://thereverie.co.uk/
21.30 THE REGENT ( bar /food ) ... is an unpretentious, friendly, mixed bar in an untrendy part of town. It serves good beer and is palpably 'gayer' in the evenings, but retains a friendliness that is often absent in the capital's more commercial establishments. The manager has agreed to play ESC music in the bar so don't be surprised if it empties quickly when we arrive! ;o))
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186525-d1972352-Reviews-The_Regent_Bar-Edinburgh_Scotland.html
( Their own website is currently under construction )
Saturday 25 October
1900 CREDO (restaurant)... I've never eaten here, but have provisionally booked online on the strength of recommendations and the fact that it's very near the ISOBAR. Met with the manager today. Basically the menu offered for large groups is the £18.00 3-course menu. If you look at the website you'll notice that they do 'shared' type starters, but they take into account dietary requirements. She gave me a copy of the wine list, which isn't on the website. I'll note some of the wines here in the next few days. ( She just wants to make sure she has enough bottles in stock ... honestly.. I promise you I did not injudiciously disclose our drinking habits.. )
2100 ISOBAR (bar) ... Edinburgh is a little bit too cosmopolitan to have an identity like, say, Glasgow or Dundee. However the area in the north east of the city (LEITH) does have , historically, and socially, a unique identity which it has, in large part, retained, in spite of the regeneration projects it shares with other dock areas.
The ISOBAR has a private upstairs lounge which I've booked. I've used it before and it's a good size for our numbers. It has a screen ( so I can play my compilation of favourite ESC performances .. we will all sing 'Volare' together!!!! ;o)) )
It also has a sound system for mp3players, and Sam has kindly offered to co-ordinate requests for the playlist. See the MB for instructions as to how to communicate your choices to him.
There's a fire escape to the side of the room which is handy for smokers. ( although they can also go downstairs to the main bar and out the front.)
Organised Silliness
1) Mercat Walking Tour
http://www.mercattours.com/home.asp
This is the most authentic walking tour of the vaults under the Royal Mile I've organised a private 1 hour tour for £10 per head. (I do need a minimum of 15 folk to break even, but i think we're gonna manage that). I chose 3.30 (Saturday) as it gives enough time for hangovers to be slept off, and also for folk to return to their hotels/apartment to freshen up after the tour. It will include Edinburgh's most haunted vault. ( Can't promise a ghost, tho')
For those who would like a light 'refreshment' at the end, I'm suggesting Bannerman's Bar. Others ( e.g. Sild et al ) could meet the rest of us there at, say, 4.30.. but that's just an option. ( Bannerman's sits to the side of the 'haunted' vault so it's quite 'atmosheric'!! )
We can chat about the other possible trips when you guys get here. different sub-groups can do different stuff.
boogbiagi@btinternet.com