Meetup in Leeds!
posted October 29, 2015 6:46 AM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Sat November 21 at 5:00 PM, Veritas
43 Great George St, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS1 3BB, UK (Map & Directions)
Meetup now confirmed - any time after 5 pm at Veritas. We'll be in the raised dias section of the pub.
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Two years ago, I posted this AskMefi question Tell me about living in Leeds and Cardiff and you were all so incredibly helpful and detailed in your responses.
Well, we moved here in September and we absolutely love it here. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in a meetup?
Depending on the day I'll be up for a meetup. I work in the city centre so weekdays locations there would be good, but weekends anywhere is fine. I'm not sure about availability I'm heading down to Shropshire to press some apples some weekend coming up, but not exactly sure of what weekend.
posted by koolkat at 1:59 AM on October 30, 2015
posted by koolkat at 1:59 AM on October 30, 2015
If it's outside office hours and easily reached from the train station, I could probably come along. I haven't been to Leeds for ages actually, could be a nice excuse to head across.
posted by metaBugs at 3:07 AM on October 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by metaBugs at 3:07 AM on October 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
Hey - that's fantastic! My calendar is pretty open, so I'm happy to meet up anytime.
I really like The Adelphi but if anyone has a place they like better or have been meaning to check out instead...
As we get closer to Christmas I imagine more and more places will need a reservation - I'm happy to take care of that once we've nailed down a date and # of mefites.
posted by champagneminimalist at 3:11 AM on October 30, 2015
I really like The Adelphi but if anyone has a place they like better or have been meaning to check out instead...
As we get closer to Christmas I imagine more and more places will need a reservation - I'm happy to take care of that once we've nailed down a date and # of mefites.
posted by champagneminimalist at 3:11 AM on October 30, 2015
Echoing metaBugs - if so, I'm in! Would be good to go back Oop North again. :)
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 3:20 AM on October 30, 2015
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 3:20 AM on October 30, 2015
I, like iamkimiam, live in York and would love to attend! (and, like champagneminimalist, recently moved from Canada. Weird.)
posted by Fraxas at 4:03 AM on October 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Fraxas at 4:03 AM on October 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
Glad you like it in our fair town!
I remember the Adelphi having quite loud 'background' music last time I was in there, it was a Saturday night though, which may be a factor. Another factor could have been the three pints of US strength IPA I had before arriving.
City centre pubs that almost always have plenty of room, as well as nice beer, include the Leeds Brewery pubs The Crowd of Favours (by the market) and The White Swan (by the City Varieties).
Whitelocks has also been gently hipsterfied by the same people who own Belgrave Music Hall, though it is a bit smaller than the other two places.
All of those pubs do food, but I haven't eaten at any of them. They are all within 10 minutes walk of the train station. The Head of Steam is right by the station, but it has limited seating.
I don't know if you can reserve a table at any of those.
posted by asok at 4:24 AM on October 30, 2015
I remember the Adelphi having quite loud 'background' music last time I was in there, it was a Saturday night though, which may be a factor. Another factor could have been the three pints of US strength IPA I had before arriving.
City centre pubs that almost always have plenty of room, as well as nice beer, include the Leeds Brewery pubs The Crowd of Favours (by the market) and The White Swan (by the City Varieties).
Whitelocks has also been gently hipsterfied by the same people who own Belgrave Music Hall, though it is a bit smaller than the other two places.
All of those pubs do food, but I haven't eaten at any of them. They are all within 10 minutes walk of the train station. The Head of Steam is right by the station, but it has limited seating.
I don't know if you can reserve a table at any of those.
posted by asok at 4:24 AM on October 30, 2015
I love your suggestions asok and now I remember walking past the Adelphi on a Saturday night and it was quite noisy - a cover band or a DJ - can't remember, so maybe not very good for having conversations! :)
posted by champagneminimalist at 5:46 AM on October 30, 2015
posted by champagneminimalist at 5:46 AM on October 30, 2015
I'm in Sheffield and could potentially make this, if near train station and not immediately after working hours.
posted by emilyw at 6:07 AM on October 30, 2015
posted by emilyw at 6:07 AM on October 30, 2015
Sounds good. We're only in Wakefield so Leeds is easy enough.
posted by chrispy108 at 6:17 AM on October 30, 2015
posted by chrispy108 at 6:17 AM on October 30, 2015
The last one I went to was in the Queen Victoria, just after Iamkimiam started her PhD at York. As far as other quietish places I think Veritas is quite nice. They're owned by the same people that own Arcadia and a bunch of other nice pubs without music or TV's at all.
posted by koolkat at 6:22 AM on October 30, 2015
posted by koolkat at 6:22 AM on October 30, 2015
Yeah, I'd second the Adelphi, Whitelocks and the Queen Victoria. I know that the Victoria has a side room that can be booked too. Other pubs within a 10 minute walk of the station worth considering (depending on where the sweet spot on the gentrification spectrum lies for folk here) are the Grove, Wharf Chambers, the Ship, the Town Hall, the Black Swan, Brewery Taps and Northern Monk.
posted by Ned G at 6:46 AM on October 30, 2015
posted by Ned G at 6:46 AM on October 30, 2015
Well, I like how different Leeds is from Toronto - beautiful Victorian buildings, a very walkable city centre, everything is very people-sized and compact.
As for picking a date and time, I'm seeing in the comments that weeknights (as long as people have time to finish work and/or arrive by train), or weekends would work. What about a Friday or Saturday evening some time in November or early December? Or, how do those coming from further away feel about a Thursday evening? I am away the weekend of 27-29 November.
And wow - I really need to step up my visiting pubs game! So many great suggestions and I haven't even heard of most of them. Once we nail down a date and time I'd be grateful for continued help in choosing one! :)
posted by champagneminimalist at 5:34 AM on October 31, 2015
As for picking a date and time, I'm seeing in the comments that weeknights (as long as people have time to finish work and/or arrive by train), or weekends would work. What about a Friday or Saturday evening some time in November or early December? Or, how do those coming from further away feel about a Thursday evening? I am away the weekend of 27-29 November.
And wow - I really need to step up my visiting pubs game! So many great suggestions and I haven't even heard of most of them. Once we nail down a date and time I'd be grateful for continued help in choosing one! :)
posted by champagneminimalist at 5:34 AM on October 31, 2015
[One comment deleted. Sorry, this is really space for working out meetup stuff, not so much for asking questions about Leeds, but you can do that at Ask Metafilter if you'd like.]
posted by taz at 5:42 AM on October 31, 2015
posted by taz at 5:42 AM on October 31, 2015
Weekend would probably work best for us, since we'd probably stay overnight, although with enough advance notice, quite likely the spouse (and silent mefite!) could arrange to have Thursday off.
posted by skybluepink at 12:22 PM on October 31, 2015
posted by skybluepink at 12:22 PM on October 31, 2015
A Saturday works better for me than a Friday. The last train home on a Friday isn't that late, and realistically wouldn't be able to meet til 7pm on a Friday, whereas a Saturday we could start earlier, perhaps with some food if people are interested.
champagneminimalist - have you been to the Hepworth Art Gallery in Wakefield or the Yorkshire Sculpture Park? If not me and the wife would be happy to take you sometime :) Drop me a PM if you're interested.
posted by chrispy108 at 1:54 PM on November 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
champagneminimalist - have you been to the Hepworth Art Gallery in Wakefield or the Yorkshire Sculpture Park? If not me and the wife would be happy to take you sometime :) Drop me a PM if you're interested.
posted by chrispy108 at 1:54 PM on November 1, 2015 [3 favorites]
In terms of Saturdays I think this upcoming one and the 14th are out for me, but otherwise I'm probably free.
posted by koolkat at 5:01 AM on November 3, 2015
posted by koolkat at 5:01 AM on November 3, 2015
What does everyone think of meeting up on Saturday 21 November? Early evening - 5 or 6 pm?
posted by champagneminimalist at 6:51 AM on November 3, 2015
posted by champagneminimalist at 6:51 AM on November 3, 2015
That Saturday is one of two in the year I'll be working in the evening... That shouldn't necessarily stop anyone else!
I'd also be interested in a sculpture park trip if there was one in the offing.
posted by emilyw at 7:05 AM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'd also be interested in a sculpture park trip if there was one in the offing.
posted by emilyw at 7:05 AM on November 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Confirmed with the mister. The 21st works for us.
posted by skybluepink at 8:27 AM on November 4, 2015
posted by skybluepink at 8:27 AM on November 4, 2015
21st is good for me.
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 5:34 AM on November 5, 2015
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 5:34 AM on November 5, 2015
Ok! Saturday 21 November it is!
Now the small matter of choosing a location. :)
posted by champagneminimalist at 12:21 PM on November 5, 2015
Now the small matter of choosing a location. :)
posted by champagneminimalist at 12:21 PM on November 5, 2015
I, too, can make Saturday Nov 21 - and as a straw man, I'll suggest Whitelocks because I like the name.
posted by Fraxas at 8:10 AM on November 6, 2015
posted by Fraxas at 8:10 AM on November 6, 2015
Ok - so I had a long stroll today and poked my head in at a number of the suggestions - some of them are going to have live music that night. I especially liked and ended up booking a section at Veritas. It's a raised dias section in the far corner, seems like it will be good for conversation. I've booked it for 5 pm on 21 Nov with the understanding that people will be arriving in fits and starts.
Koolkat for the win! :)
Also really liked The Crowd of Favours, their best sections are already booked for that evening but the manager assures me that we'd be fine to just pop in and he'd put some tables together for us without advance warning. BUT - if people prefer it to Veritas I'll contact him so that it's not a complete surprise. He also said that the nights they have groups booked in he doesn't hire live music.
posted by champagneminimalist at 11:16 AM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Koolkat for the win! :)
Also really liked The Crowd of Favours, their best sections are already booked for that evening but the manager assures me that we'd be fine to just pop in and he'd put some tables together for us without advance warning. BUT - if people prefer it to Veritas I'll contact him so that it's not a complete surprise. He also said that the nights they have groups booked in he doesn't hire live music.
posted by champagneminimalist at 11:16 AM on November 6, 2015 [1 favorite]
Veritas is definitely not loud, as it is a Town Street joint. Personally I prefer The Crowd of Favours to Veritas, so that would get my vote. I can go any time I like though, so I don't mind either way. It will be good to catch up with past fellow meetup attendees skybluepink, koolkat and iamkimiam!
champagneminimalist, I think you should convert this into an event rather than a proposed event once you have the venue decided so that it shows up on the Upcoming Events list.
posted by asok at 8:41 AM on November 9, 2015
champagneminimalist, I think you should convert this into an event rather than a proposed event once you have the venue decided so that it shows up on the Upcoming Events list.
posted by asok at 8:41 AM on November 9, 2015
Looking forward to this,
Is the plan still 5 at Veritas?
posted by chrispy108 at 12:03 PM on November 19, 2015
Is the plan still 5 at Veritas?
posted by chrispy108 at 12:03 PM on November 19, 2015
I'll be there about then depending on bus timings.
posted by koolkat at 2:14 PM on November 19, 2015
posted by koolkat at 2:14 PM on November 19, 2015
Hi Everyone!
Yes, the plan is still to meet at Veritas at 5 pm. I've booked the raised dias section and I will make sure I'm there a bit before 5 pm tomorrow. I've got shoulder-length blonde hair and I wear glasses. Mr. CM is coming too.
Very much looking forward to this! :)
posted by champagneminimalist at 12:47 PM on November 20, 2015
Yes, the plan is still to meet at Veritas at 5 pm. I've booked the raised dias section and I will make sure I'm there a bit before 5 pm tomorrow. I've got shoulder-length blonde hair and I wear glasses. Mr. CM is coming too.
Very much looking forward to this! :)
posted by champagneminimalist at 12:47 PM on November 20, 2015
We'll get there around 7 at the earliest tonight if that's alright?
posted by iamkimiam at 1:49 AM on November 21, 2015
posted by iamkimiam at 1:49 AM on November 21, 2015
Me and the missus are on the way, think we'll be there about 5.15 depending on transport :)
I'm beardy with long hair tied back, wife has glasses and a purple handbag.
posted by chrispy108 at 8:35 AM on November 21, 2015
I'm beardy with long hair tied back, wife has glasses and a purple handbag.
posted by chrispy108 at 8:35 AM on November 21, 2015
We should be there about 7-7:30. I'm a very tall blonde with glasses, and the spouse (he thinks his username is caractacus, hardcore lurker that he is) is a medium-height stocky dude with salt-and-pepper hair and glasses. Looking forward to seeing you all on this bloody cold evening!
posted by skybluepink at 9:08 AM on November 21, 2015
posted by skybluepink at 9:08 AM on November 21, 2015
Sad to say that alexordave and I will not be joining in tonight — germs and late shifts conspired against us. Hope you all have fun and sorry to miss out on meeting you all.
posted by iamkimiam at 10:32 AM on November 21, 2015
posted by iamkimiam at 10:32 AM on November 21, 2015
Boo to that, Kim! Get well soon!
I am on the way, assuming you are still in Veritas.
posted by asok at 12:25 PM on November 21, 2015
I am on the way, assuming you are still in Veritas.
posted by asok at 12:25 PM on November 21, 2015
That was awesome! Thanks so much to champagneminimalist for organising this lovely do, and what a great evening it was! I will link and memail when I am sober and not using an iPad. You are all wonderful and caractacus/the spouse and I had a terrific evening hanging out with you all.
posted by skybluepink at 4:55 PM on November 21, 2015
posted by skybluepink at 4:55 PM on November 21, 2015
Thanks everyone for a great evening! One of the best nights out I've had since arriving in Leeds - I'm so glad I planned this.
Sorry you couldn't make it iamkimiam, hope you feel better soon!
We all had such a good time and everyone sounds like they're interested in meeting up again sometime, so hopefully anyone who wasn't able to join in this time will be able to next time!
posted by champagneminimalist at 2:39 AM on November 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
Sorry you couldn't make it iamkimiam, hope you feel better soon!
We all had such a good time and everyone sounds like they're interested in meeting up again sometime, so hopefully anyone who wasn't able to join in this time will be able to next time!
posted by champagneminimalist at 2:39 AM on November 22, 2015 [2 favorites]
It was a good night with good people. Great to catch up wit old friends, and new!
posted by asok at 6:07 AM on November 25, 2015
posted by asok at 6:07 AM on November 25, 2015
Was a really good night, sorry we had to bail earlyish. Hope to do something again soon :)
posted by chrispy108 at 1:40 PM on November 25, 2015
posted by chrispy108 at 1:40 PM on November 25, 2015
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by skybluepink at 10:52 AM on October 29, 2015