Possible new venues

benread · Post by **benread** » 21:07 Mon 03 Nov 2014

jdaw1 wrote:
djewesbury wrote:That dining room looks lovely.
jdaw1 wrote:Ben: are you able to take charge and arrange a tasting?

At some stage, yes. That depends on me negotiating a pass, not easy with Christmas approaching and a number of existing commitments made. But I will see what can be agreed when Mrs R returns from her current travels. I am home alone - with a freshly decanted TTF 1986!

Post by **flash_uk** » 21:17 Mon 03 Nov 2014

benread wrote:
jdaw1 wrote:
djewesbury wrote:That dining room looks lovely.
jdaw1 wrote:Ben: are you able to take charge and arrange a tasting?
At some stage, yes. That depends on me negotiating a pass, not easy with Christmas approaching and a number of existing commitments made. But I will see what can be agreed when Mrs R returns from her current travels. I am home alone - with a freshly decanted TTF 1986!

I think Jan/Feb is a worthy ambition, given the diary congestion between here and Christmas...

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 22:31 Mon 03 Nov 2014

If those armchairs are about 18"-24" (seems reasonable) then the table is very wide. And I count 11 chairs on each side.

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 15:30 Tue 04 Nov 2014

Venue looks good and convenient for my exit point ie Waterloo albeit a little further from my entrance point ie Paddington. I assume that this was not on the list of Davy's earmarked for 'refurbishment'? Any opportunity for squeezing in pre-xmas or is the New Year more realistic?

CPR 1 · Post by **CPR 1** » 21:37 Tue 04 Nov 2014

In the name research I stand ready to do my duty! How about a bring a bottle in foil one night over the next couple of weeks if others are about?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 21:48 Tue 04 Nov 2014

Don't tell anyone I said this, but.. Wednesday 17th December?

Post by **flash_uk** » 22:19 Tue 04 Nov 2014

djewesbury wrote:Don't tell anyone I said this, but.. Wednesday 17th December?

Works for me.

Post by **jdaw1** » 07:21 Wed 05 Nov 2014

djewesbury wrote:Don't tell anyone I said this, but.. Wednesday 17th December?

We want to learn whether TB&F can cope with us. Would attempting a maiden tasting in the middle of Christmas-party season be setting up a failure?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 07:52 Wed 05 Nov 2014

Potentially. Maybe they wouldn't have room for us. Worth asking?

CPR 1 · Post by **CPR 1** » 09:06 Wed 05 Nov 2014

Works for me; woud be good to escape the madness and share some port......

Post by **jdaw1** » 09:11 Wed 05 Nov 2014

I have permission for Wednesday 17^th December. Daniel: you’re in charge.

Post by **DRT** » 10:35 Wed 05 Nov 2014

jdaw1 wrote:
djewesbury wrote:Don't tell anyone I said this, but.. Wednesday 17th December?
We want to learn whether TB&F can cope with us. Would attempting a maiden tasting in the middle of Christmas-party season be setting up a failure?

Unfortunately I have a Christmas-related function that evening.

Post by **jdaw1** » 11:54 Wed 05 Nov 2014

In about an hour my Mz67 and Mz85 will be left at Woolgate for the Martinez tasting on Wednesday 26^th November. That done, I’ll walk south to The Boot & Flogger to measure tables and photograph rooms. If any particular photos are wanted, request them soon.

idj123 · Post by **idj123** » 13:21 Wed 05 Nov 2014

17 December also works for me but we may be doing well to secure in the midst of party season.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 13:57 Wed 05 Nov 2014

jdaw1 wrote:In about an hour my Mz67 and Mz85 will be left at Woolgate for the Martinez tasting on Wednesday 26^th November. That done, I’ll walk south to The Boot & Flogger to measure tables and photograph rooms. If any particular photos are wanted, request them soon.

If you are still online and not yet at the B&F perhaps you'd enquire about a table?

Post by **jdaw1** » 14:11 Wed 05 Nov 2014

Your opinion is not being sought, is not wanted, and if proffered, will be ignored. The matter is settled: we are moving to The Boot & Flogger.

— Supreme Commander, Imperial Port-Drinking Forces
London, 14:00.

(The correct reply is “Yes Sir!”.)

Post by **jdaw1** » 15:03 Wed 05 Nov 2014

The Boot & Flogger has two rooms that could accommodate a fourteen-man tasting.

Descend half a storey to ‘The Ovens’, so named for a previous use rather than current heat. There is a very long room with a smaller space at the end. The table in that smaller space was 120cm × 300cm, or 4.03 A4 heights by 14.2 A4 widths. If necessary, the table could be turned to run the length of the ovens, and lengthened.

Post by **jdaw1** » 15:03 Wed 05 Nov 2014

Descend another half story, to the ‘Red Room’, holding a table 129cm × 470cm, or 4.3 A4 heights by 22.3 A4 widths. There is a partition allowing the red room to be separated from the rest of the Boot & Flogger, and has a side table.

Post by **jdaw1** » 15:04 Wed 05 Nov 2014

Further, there is the ‘Green Room’, which could hold up to eight of is. It was occupied, so not photographed.

Post by **jdaw1** » 15:06 Wed 05 Nov 2014

djewesbury wrote:If you are still online and not yet at the B&F perhaps you'd enquire about a table?

He blanched when I mentioned a date in December. I think we’re full — and was so busy that I wanted let him do things other than talk to me.

PopulusTremula · Post by **PopulusTremula** » 15:22 Wed 05 Nov 2014

jdaw1 wrote:Further, there is the ‘Green Room’, which could hold up to eight of is. It was occupied, so not photographed.

I think it looks very promising indeed. Please say the B&F is not part of any future refurbishment plans.

Post by **jdaw1** » 15:41 Wed 05 Nov 2014

PopulusTremula wrote:Please say the B&F is not part of any future refurbishment plans.

That was asked, and it is safe.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 16:18 Wed 05 Nov 2014

I mentioned Wednesday 17th but it could just as well have been Monday or Tuesday of the same week. I will examine your post in more detail I ascertain an understanding of which room is best for how many and ring the B&F later.

Post by **DRT** » 17:18 Wed 05 Nov 2014

That looks splendid. Very Bunghole-esque.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 17:20 Wed 05 Nov 2014

DRT wrote:That looks splendid. Very Bunghole-esque.

Is your availability any different at the start of that week? Or should I ask your life coach?

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 17:25 Wed 05 Nov 2014

Please, if any information was gleaned regarding the best person to speak to, pass it on and I'll enquire further.

Post by **jdaw1** » 17:39 Wed 05 Nov 2014

I spoke with assistant manager, Tom.

benread · Post by **benread** » 18:54 Wed 05 Nov 2014

jdaw1 wrote:I spoke with assistant manager, Tom.

I was given this advice in an email to me:

Fhamid Malik wrote:Mention my name to the manager, Kasha Fitzmaurice...she'll make sure you have a great time.

Post by **DRT** » 19:58 Wed 05 Nov 2014

djewesbury wrote:
DRT wrote:That looks splendid. Very Bunghole-esque.
Is your availability any different at the start of that week? Or should I ask your life coach?

i am available Monday and Tuesday.

Post by **jdaw1** » 20:27 Wed 05 Nov 2014

benread wrote:Kasha Fitzmaurice

I have Kasha’s business card.

Edit: and email sent to Tom cc DJ.

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:51 Wed 05 Nov 2014

FYI, the business card (more carefully made than the website) says “Boot and Flogger”, without a definite article, So the abbreviation must be “B&F”.

Even though the website does have a PDF with more good pictures, including one of a table running the length of the Ovens, rather than across its end.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 12:36 Thu 06 Nov 2014

December is unfortunately out altogether for the Boot & Flogger, so we are looking at January at the earliest. At this point I politely step aside and hand on the laurel crown to someone else, in the hope that I'm still able to make it on the date that is decided. Tom was very helpful and I think they'd like our business but he just didn't have a space in December.

On that note, does anyone want to share a bottle of Churchill 94 / Offley 70 on either of the dates mentioned (Monday 15 / Tuesday 16 Dec) ? If we can't have a room to ourselves we can at least meet for a civilised drink.

Post by **jdaw1** » 12:52 Thu 06 Nov 2014

djewesbury wrote:does anyone want to share a bottle of Churchill 94 / Offley 70 on either of the dates mentioned (Monday 15 / Tuesday 16 Dec) ? If we can't have a room to ourselves we can at least meet for a civilised drink.

Please ask this in an OT&GT thread.

djewesbury · Post by **djewesbury** » 13:08 Thu 06 Nov 2014

jdaw1 wrote:
djewesbury wrote:does anyone want to share a bottle of Churchill 94 / Offley 70 on either of the dates mentioned (Monday 15 / Tuesday 16 Dec) ? If we can't have a room to ourselves we can at least meet for a civilised drink.
Please ask this in an OT&GT thread.

Yes SAH! How high SAH!

Post by **jdaw1** » 13:42 Thu 06 Nov 2014

djewesbury wrote:Yes SAH! How high SAH!

This high.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 17:03 Thu 06 Nov 2014

I will try out the City Boot next Wednesday with some work collegues.....

Will report back!

regards

WS1

Post by **jdaw1** » 17:22 Thu 06 Nov 2014

WS1 wrote:I will try out the City Boot next Wednesday with some work collegues.....

City Boot, 7 Moorfields High Walk EC2Y 9DP.

Post by **jdaw1** » 21:50 Thu 06 Nov 2014

On Wed 27 Feb 2013, in a [url=http://www.theportforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=6698]TN for Warre 1970[/url], jdaw1 wrote:At Davy’s first bar, the Boot and Flogger, 10-20 Redcross Way, London SE1 1TA, for lunch on Wednesday 27th February 2013.

The wine list included:
£120, Cockburn 1963;
£120, Quinta do Noval 1966;
£120, Dow 1970;
£90, Offley 1970;
£90, Warre 1970;
£190, Sandeman 1970 magnum;
£65, Croft 1985.
The Dining Room would make an excellent venue for six of us, and there were large rooms about which I couldn’t decide whether fourteen would or wouldn’t work. The lighting might be a problem.

I was there for lunch, and the journalist with whom I lunched agreed that Warre 1970 would be a fine addition to our consumption. Notes were taken at D+20 minutes, but it improved further over time. Lovely dark red, brown at rim, 60% opaque. Nose had a touch of heat, pleasantly, and red grape. Taste, not long after decanting, started slightly astringent, with big heat mid-palate. But then it grew into big full red fruit, with red grapes. Mature VP in fine condition. Lovely.

Of course, “about which I couldn’t decide” might have been affected by the W70. It happens.

WS1 · Post by **WS1** » 13:21 Thu 13 Nov 2014

jdaw1 wrote:
WS1 wrote:I will try out the City Boot next Wednesday with some work collegues.....
City Boot, 7 Moorfields High Walk EC2Y 9DP.

Here now the promised feedback...

Overall nice venue with decoration that would work well for

(e.g. you can find an empty bt of Dow 45 on the shelf..). Tables have a decent size etc....But there are several profound issues that rules it out to become our new HQ and replace The Bunghole.

- except sausages and fries no other food alternative
- strict enforced 15£ corkage policy
- service takes a very long period of time since essentially a pub in which it is expected you pick up everything at the bar

Will going fwd go back there since very close to Moorgate station, close proximity to RAYC's home in which plenty of excellent port can be found and him potentially be persuaded for a quick pint of beer and a glass of port...

regards

WS1