A VV meet

[tonicha]

Dim, sun-kissed grey/blonde, that's me

Used to be brunette maybe not that bright either

[tonicha]

Sorry, gone competely off the subject, I'll just go away now..................

[Ally]

When we used to have the Femail meets in Brum, we used to find a hotel and get a block booking, so then we could colonise the bar for the day (the night and the early morning ) I think the biggest one I was at had about 40 people there I presume there are more hotels now in the city centre, so everyone staying in the same one wouldn't be necessary really. Do you really believe that the afternoon will be enough, Ally?????????????

Ha ha..no!!!

[Ally]

Ok, did a bit of quick research, the hotel we used back then was the Brittannia - it was only okish, but of the four I've checked is the most expensive. I chose Saturday 22nd June as a possible date.

Holiday Inn - £59.77 per room

Ibis - £49.50 per room

Premier Inn - £63 per room

None of those included breakfast but there are plenty of cafes around for those who don't mind if they don't have a hotel breakfast.

What's needed here is for someone to talk to a chosen hotel about some kind of group rate, then get a reference so everyone can make their own reservation. I'm not going to volunteer, as I'm busy organising the ballroomdancematters.com trip to Blackpool in April, so I've enough on my plate!!

Slightly off topic..the Britannia was where we were staying when we were over for Con's funeral and we got trapped in there because of the riots.

[Workingman]

OK, I read Osc's earlier post and thought that I would do some digging around.

This was only a tentative inquiry, to get some idea of how things might turn out.

Ibis: http://www.ibis.com/gb/hotel-1459-ibis- ... dex.shtml#

It is right in Brum centre, midway between the railway and coach stations.

There is a bar and cafe, and pub food is served 24 hrs. It has double rooms - double bed or two singles - and family rooms. There is plenty of availability on the 21st and 22nd of June. It accepts group bookings. and offers discounts for bookings of over seven rooms. Individuals can book using a central group booking number, and it has meeting rooms should one be needed.

I was advised that April would be normal to firm up bookings for June.

It was all informal and for information only, but I hope it helps.

[meriad]

Huge help WM

Another thing I thought of - depending on how many we turn out to be - is to look at pubs that have private function rooms; or an area to one side that we could all invade. Not sure how much I'll be able to do from work but I'll help where I can with making phone calls etc...

This is going to be sooooo exciting

[JoM]

Just a bit of information about that particular Ibis, it's right in the middle of Chinatown, the gay village is just around the corner and it's next to the Arcadian Centre which is an entertainment area with clubs, bars and restaurants - on a Saturday night that area is VERY noisy and very busy so a good night's sleep might not be possible.

[Workingman]

Thanks Jo, that's exactly the sort of local info we need. What about the other ones Osc mentioned, and is there a better area you might think would be more suitable?

[saundra]

iv always stayed in premier i liked it
fugi its a few years since i was in taunton
went to minehead butlins from cardiff
ps i live in the north east nearly
there are lots of ideas being floated about tho
pps could we block book claridges (london) do you think

[JoM]

Frank, the Holiday Inn isn't far away from the Ibis but I'd think it'd be a bit of a quieter hotel. We've been there quite a few times for parties and functions and it's always been really nice, never needed to stay over though.

I'm not sure which Premier Inn Osc had checked out but there's one near to Broad St which I'd avoid on a weekend but there's another up near the cathedral, in the business district, which I think would be fine.
http://www.premierinn.com/en/hotel/BIRSOL/birmingham-city-centre-waterloo-street

That's the area I'd be thinking of staying on a weekend - around by the cathedral in the Colmore Row/Snow Hill area. I'd say it's probably just over a 5 minute walk from New St Station to there.