FMUKCON - Nottingham 21st April 2018

[Beate]

I might be able to do that this year, though I'm not making any promises yet. Had a quick look on trains from London and they seem to run at under two hours - except for Saturdays where they are between 2 1/2 and 3 hours - most bizarre. I couldn't check for April yet so maybe that might change but for now I'm inclined to come down on Friday afternoon and leave sometime Sunday. Also because I hate getting up early!
The 14th April would be ok - it's my birthday on the 15th so you could celebrate that with me!
The 21st April would be fine too - the 28st would theoretically also be possible but might be a bit close to May Bank Holiday on the 7th for some.
Anyone know any nice hotels or B&Bs in Nottingham? And please don't say Premier Inn - I had my worst night sleep in one of them!
Ejwrank, can we count on David to give us any sightseeing or pub tips? If I remember rightly, he went to uni in Nottingham!

P.S. No thank you to the Park Run!

[steve9872]

I've added another topic as that was the quickest way to get people to vote for a date. March 31st is not included as that is easter and we always avoid that weekend.

[Diane65]

Perhaps we could go for 21 April then or even 28 April, far away from Easter so people are not holidaying at Easter and holidaying straightaway after Easter, if they want to have a weekend break in Nottingham, to spread it out a bit? Thinking more for myself I may be away over Easter, so would prefer 28 April on hindsight! Could Diane add a vote button on this thread, and let's take a vote? Let's get this show going

I have added a vote on the first page as requested.

[asamaic]

I start a new job in February, so can't take any time off for a good few months. If I do make it, I'll get the train up late on the Friday and probably get a train back to London on the Saturday night. Will also fit in a parkrun on the Saturday morning.

No real preference on dates, but the later in April the better for me, as that gives me the most time to get used to working Fridays in the new job and to figure out what time I can realistically get on a train!

PS Oh, come on. I suck at running. More people should come suffer with me! It's a run, not a race...

[the fox]

I’ve voted and can do any of the dates in April.

As I was born and dragged up in Nottingham I’ll have a look at the hotels and B&Bs where price and location is concerned.

Since the last meet up I’ve been thinking about the location for the actual meet / get together etc and have one maybe 2 places in mind that are central.

I’m off work this week so will get something together and post it over the weekend.

Once we sort a date I might be able to get the Friday off from work and catch up with those arriving Friday if it’s not too late

[prettyxcool]

Thanks the fox! That sounds brilliant!

[Beate]

Someone just sent me these suggestions:

http://www.pitcherandpiano.com/where-are-we/Nottingham

As you can see from the website, the location is a converted church and we’ve had some good meals there.

If you want to go totally traditional, there’s the (alleged) oldest pub in England:

http://www.triptojerusalem.com/

Both in easy walking distance of the main Market Square which is, they say, the largest in England.

There’s also a nice Frankie and Benny’s and a Wildwood:

https://www.frankieandbennys.com/restau ... ity-centre

https://wildwoodrestaurants.co.uk/resta ... ottingham/

A brand new eating place has just opened in the Royal Centre Theatre/concert hall complex but I haven’t tried it yet:

https://trch.co.uk/your-visit/eat-drink/

[Diane65]

Hi Everyone
Shall we say wait until next Sunday for everyone who wants to come has voted then we can set a date? We all want to get the best deals on travel/accommodation etc.
Once we set the date we can get the show on the road.
Looking forward to catching up with everyone

[the fox]

I apologise now for the lack of hyperlinks, and the war and peace post.
I’ve been without PC / internet access until this evening so to prevent any delays I thought it best just to get the information out to you as soon as possible.

Here goes:-

Accommodation within walking distance from the train station

A selection below

Travelodge Central – Maid Marian Way – less than 10 mins walk from train station and close to the Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem and Nottingham Castle

IBIS – Nottingham Centre – Fletcher Gate – about a 10 min walk from the train station near Pitcher Piano

Premier Inn - Nottingham City Centre (Chapel Bar) – train station 0.7 miles - near the Nottingham Castle and Market Square

Premier Inn - Nottingham City Centre (Goldsmith Street) hotel – train station 1 mile – near to the University, it’s walkable through town from the train station, however you can also use the tram from the train station to get to this hotel

Premier Inn Nottingham Arena (London Road) hotel – train station 0.25 miles

Strathdon Hotel – train station 0.75 miles - Derby Road - just up from the Premier Inn Nottingham - City Centre (Chapel Bar) so near the Nottingham Castle and Market Square are a 5 - 10 mins walk.

Accommodation On the edge of the city centre

It looks like the majority of the B&Bs are out of town but in easy reach via local transport If you find one then pm me and I’ll let you know local info / buses etc

Premier Inn Nottingham Castle Marina hotel – there is no local bus that passes directly pass this hotel however it is walkable from town / the train station (1 mile to the Nottingham Castle which is near the train station) but it seems more of a trek either along the roadside or along the canal.

Travelodge - Nottingham Riverside – local bus from train station passes the main road near the hotel journey time roughly 10 mins

Cotswold Hotel – Mansfield Road – less than a mile from the City Centre this brings you in the House of Fraser end of town (Victoria Shopping Centre) – this is one of the main roads in Nottingham and several local busses pass the hotel.

For those thinking of the park run at the Forest Recreation Ground, Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham. the tram runs from town and stops at the Forest plus there are local buses that stop the other side of the Forest, it would be the same bus that passes the Cotswold Hotel. It is walkable from the House of Fraser end of town.

Places of interest

Within the city centre

Brewhouse Yard - Museum of Nottingham Life - £2.50 per person - A joint ticket with the Castle is available - Open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays 12pm to 4pm - Last Entry 3:30pm

Nottingham Castle – the address says Lenton Road however it is just up from the Trip and Market Square - Open 10:00 – 16:00 - £8.00

Nottingham Contemporary – Open 10:00 – 18:00 – free entry normally. This is situated next door to the Pitcher and Piano

City of Caves – Upper Level Broadmarsh Shopping Centre NG1 7LS – open 10:00 – 17:00 - £7.95

Galleries National Justice museum – High Pavement NG1 1HN - MON-FRI 9:00AM - 5:00PM / SAT-SUN 11:00AM - 5:00PM – just up from the Pitcher and Piano - £10.45 however you can p*rchase a joint ticket with the City of Caves for £16.00

The Arboretum – Nottingham's oldest public park within walking distance from the city centre plus the tram as a stop close to the entrance – park close 19.30 – 20:00

Saturday Evening

The original Nottingham Ghost Walk - every Saturday at 7pm and you can just turn up for it or get tickets beforehand. It cost £6 each it starts from the Trip last 90 mins - 2 hours and ends up in the haunted caves underneath the Trip

Short bus ride from city centre

Wollaton Hall, Gardens and Deer Park – Appeared as Wayne Manor in ‘The Dark Knight – 9:00 – 19:30 / 20:00 Rises’ - about 15min local bus ride

Green's Windmill and Science Centre - working windmill – 10 – 15 mins on local bus – free entry – Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Location for the meet up

I checked out and spoke to staff at the locations below, all were very friendly and are just waiting for me to get back to them with the date and numbers.

The Herbert Kilpin (named after the Nottingham born founder of the football club AC Milan) - 10 Bridlesmith Walk NG1 2HB - this is a hidden gem, I came across it while looking at another place.
http://thekilpin.co.uk

All Bar One - 3 Weekday Cross NG1 2GB – nice location with a few areas that we can occupy
https://www.allbarone.co.uk/national-se ... ngham/food

Pitcher and Piano - 4 High Pavement NG1 1HN - this is the one in the old church – there’s loads of booth areas if we have a small turn out and if we manage to get a good turnout we may be able to occupy behind the alter area.
http://www.pitcherandpiano.com/where-are-we/Nottingham

These 3 above are in the Lace Market area of Nottingham and within 5 mins or less of each other.

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (the Trip) - Brewhouse Yard NG1 6AD - depending on numbers we can get a room to ourselves, the room that I looked at is called the ‘Snug’ which can accommodate up to 12 people.
http://www.triptojerusalem.com/

Yarn Bar - outside Theatre Royal - NG1 5ND – depending which Saturday we pick will depend on how busy the Yarn Bar will be as it may be used for preshow drinks / eating - pm show normally start at 14:30 - however the guy I saw said that he would be able to reserve an area for us
https://trch.co.uk/your-visit/eat-drink/

That's your lot

[prettyxcool]

Many thanks, the fox! That's absolutely brilliant!

I think we should just go for the consensus so far, as the sooner we are firm on the date the sooner we can get the ball rolling on planning and booking to get the deals that we want!