ChrisR
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Well it seems the Edinburgh meet was a success, and I've previously been prompted to organise one in the Midlands. So I was wondering about a film meet in Stratford-on-Avon (or Warwick, if preferred).
Stratford is small, generally picturesque, and rather flooded with tourists. It has pubs and railway station that still gets trains from Birmingham (and possibly also from Warwick?). It's also close to the M40, so good transport links for most of the dedicated band of film-meeters. My OH thinks it is over-crowded with tourists in the summer and so we should wait, but I suspect she thnks we actually want to photograph things rather than chat and look at cameras etc. It's got the Avon and a canal basin, and a couple of ugly theatres, plus some Shakesperian sites. I rather like it.
Warwick is smaller and less touristy, with a Saturday market (actually Stratford has one too... I like markets!).Lots of Tudor architecture. Pubs and a slightly better-connected railway station, and even closer to the M40. It's main advantage is Warwick Castle, but the Castle's main disadvantage is the horrendous entrance charge (booked 7 days in advance, the cheapest adult ticket is still £18). You can get a few Castle views without going in, and there are boats to rent that would get an unusual river view (not sure that boats are compatible with film meets, for various obvious reasons, but hey).
So, what d'you think? Discuss. If there's interest I'll do a poll...
ETA: decided on Stratford on Avon, 9 May 2015. Known attendees:
@ChrisR
@Andysnap
@simon ess
@Woodsy hopes to be there
@donut hopes to be there
@Carl Hall also hopes to be there, if he can buy a van in time!
@Yv might just possibly come!!! And now... drumroll...
@RaglanSurf may also be there! This is turning into quite a party!
For those coming by car there's an official Park and Ride just off the A46 (by the new Parkway station), can either get a bus in or walk in along the canal bank. There's also an unofficial Park and Walk, off the A439 Warwick Road, where you can walk in along the river bank. Plus car parks in town; I guess all will be a bit busy at the weekend.
If you walk in from the main Stratford on Avon station, along Alcester Road, it becomes Greenhill St. At the end of that (before it becomes Wood St) by the Old Thatch Tavern, Rother St crosses it; there will likely be a market in Rother St. If you turn right along Rother St, there is a well-reviewed cafe and coffee shop called McKechnies, perhaps we could meet there, aim for 10 am or so? Checked it out today, looks reasonable; the owner says it gets crowded half tennish, so we'll probably be OK. There's tables out the front and rear if the weather's reasonable. It might be a bit hidden behind the street market.
I also checked out the pubs...
ETA: Useful Stratford Town Map here... If you're coming in from the Park and Ride, the bus probably drops off in Bridge St, need to walk up Bridge St and then Wood St (not far), then turn left at the top for the market in Rother St and McKechnies. If you park in the free Fisherman's Car Park and walk in by the river, that is the Riverside Walk at the bottom right of the Town Map I just linked to (the other two links are Google Maps for the two car parks).
Stratford is small, generally picturesque, and rather flooded with tourists. It has pubs and railway station that still gets trains from Birmingham (and possibly also from Warwick?). It's also close to the M40, so good transport links for most of the dedicated band of film-meeters. My OH thinks it is over-crowded with tourists in the summer and so we should wait, but I suspect she thnks we actually want to photograph things rather than chat and look at cameras etc. It's got the Avon and a canal basin, and a couple of ugly theatres, plus some Shakesperian sites. I rather like it.
Warwick is smaller and less touristy, with a Saturday market (actually Stratford has one too... I like markets!).
So, what d'you think? Discuss. If there's interest I'll do a poll...
ETA: decided on Stratford on Avon, 9 May 2015. Known attendees:
@ChrisR
@Andysnap
@simon ess
@Woodsy hopes to be there
@donut hopes to be there
@Carl Hall also hopes to be there, if he can buy a van in time!
@Yv might just possibly come!!! And now... drumroll...
@RaglanSurf may also be there! This is turning into quite a party!
For those coming by car there's an official Park and Ride just off the A46 (by the new Parkway station), can either get a bus in or walk in along the canal bank. There's also an unofficial Park and Walk, off the A439 Warwick Road, where you can walk in along the river bank. Plus car parks in town; I guess all will be a bit busy at the weekend.
If you walk in from the main Stratford on Avon station, along Alcester Road, it becomes Greenhill St. At the end of that (before it becomes Wood St) by the Old Thatch Tavern, Rother St crosses it; there will likely be a market in Rother St. If you turn right along Rother St, there is a well-reviewed cafe and coffee shop called McKechnies, perhaps we could meet there, aim for 10 am or so? Checked it out today, looks reasonable; the owner says it gets crowded half tennish, so we'll probably be OK. There's tables out the front and rear if the weather's reasonable. It might be a bit hidden behind the street market.
I also checked out the pubs...
ETA: Useful Stratford Town Map here... If you're coming in from the Park and Ride, the bus probably drops off in Bridge St, need to walk up Bridge St and then Wood St (not far), then turn left at the top for the market in Rother St and McKechnies. If you park in the free Fisherman's Car Park and walk in by the river, that is the Riverside Walk at the bottom right of the Town Map I just linked to (the other two links are Google Maps for the two car parks).
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Currently got my car up for sale so if I've still got it, or got a replacement then I might be able to, but not if I'm in that limbo stage between cars where I have to walk everywhere! Seems that a train ticket is £75 with 3-4 changes!