Midlands meet up

Strada is right beside Symphony Hall (or opposite depending on your point of view)I agree with grrranny about a buffet - even with a glitterball!- If I can be honest a buffet with caterers is not really my kind of thing (!) and a potential expense whereas a (long) lunch where you can have a little or a lot and it is all done for you sounds easier.It would not be surrising if a few people c ouldn't make it on the day - life is like that and maybe the museum would give us the option of tea for anybody who might find lunch hard to get to? I think at present it looks like about 15/16 people and tomorow I will ring Museum to see if they would be happy with that, also Strada and maybe Cafe Rouge.

May not be able to get to Brum till September as I'm away at the end of August and not sure what shifts I'm working over the next couple of weeks. grrrrannny; I know it's not very ethical but I lurve MacDonalds! I think as long as we've agreed on a date the rest should fall into place.

I have just followed up on Jeni's google on Clarendon Conference suites. According to the brochure it is 5 minutes by car from New Street station.
They do cater for social/hobbies groups as well as conferences. However if 1 of us is prepared to get married we could get a wedding package. (I don't know what is in a wedding package and I don't think I want to.)
There is no mention of prices but plenty of contact information. I don't want to jump in here if you want to do this Jeni, but I could ring them tomorrow and sound them out and report back to you all. I seem to be spending all day on this site anyway.
One thing in Clarendon's favour, there is WIFI in each room so we could continue gransnetting.
This could then be considered along side crimson's recci.

I think it's up to gracesmum she's organising. It was just an idea. I was playing being a 'silver surfer' I'm still learning how to do searches so typed in a string and this came up. I just thought that as people were saying they wanted to move around?
I've done buffets for up to 40 in my house ( people sitting on the floor type) so I know how much nicer it is to mingle!
I would offer to do here but I think it's too difficult for most people to get to!

I'll get married! Just find me a very rich old man with clean habits and a very limited life expectancy!

Did I give a definite Ok for Oct 6th.I'll be there.Travelling by train from Nailsea to New St.
Stayed at the Mint hotel (Now Hilton Gdn hotel) in March 2011 .Brindley Place off Broad St. 5 mins by taxi from New St. Plenty of conference and catering facilities but quite pricey I guess
( I wasn't paying )

Just to say I have emailed both the Museum and Strada to see how they would react to the prospect of a discreet group of silent ladies who would sit in a corner like mice and not even be noticed. Watch this space

I would love to mingle, just worry that conference-type places cater for the corporate market where expense is not an issue. Just because I have got this ball rolling does not mean it is "my" show, so we will do whatever the majority of us choose to ,whether that be sausage rolls or big macs! Pity we couldn't guarantee a sunny day or we could have a massive picnic!

I must admit to a preference for plain, ordinary, but tasty food, not into fancy stuff. But then again, will go with the majority.

Sorry.
I did not want to take over. I just thought it would spread the load a bit and give us something to compare.
I agree that we do not want to go over the top on corporate funding prices. I still like the idea of the museum even if we have to eat elsewhere e.g. Strada.

It might be worth just enquiring as to prices though?

OK I will ring them tomorrow.

Just want to reassure susie that the Museum isn't a depressing place but it's very Pre Raphailite'y and beautiful. We do have to think about cost, though and make sure there's a choice for people, especially as some people will be paying a lot more train fares than others and times is 'ard. Perhaps we could get a discount if we offer a bit of publicity on Gransnet?

That's why I suggested Gzn might help?
The Barber institute is better for paintings than the museum if that's what you want!

crimson that is a great idea.

Goodnight everyone. I am going to bed now. I will not allow myself to look at this site again today. It is becoming obsessive.

Gosh, I'd never heard of the Barber Institute, but, other than having a cousin who was a lecturer there [who was also part of the side of the family that never spoke to us; large Edwardian families and all that!] I've never had any links with the Uni.

Can I stick my nose in. Just wondering is there maybe a restaurant close which has a room or a sectioned off area where you can have something to eat and chat and not feel that the staff want to move you along as soon as your meal is over, lots of places have lunch specials. Tapas bars are good for a laid back attitude and dont tend to have staff that are only intent on filling the tables again.

Just a quickie - the Museum have responded to my email and are passing it on to the Edwardian Tearoom who will advise re prices etc.

As glass mentions we need to check with them that they won't be giving us a time limit.

I have just been talking to someone from Clarendon Conference Suites.
Location wise it seems OK, there are plenty of public areas where people can meet up and wait for each other. There is also a buttery coffee/alcohol bar.
However I think the price may well be prohibitive. The range is about £15 to £30 per head depending on wether we have a buffet or silver service. Add that to the cost of trains, taxis, petrol etc.

Let GNHQ know if you need any help, they say. They also say we seem to be doing very well!

If my map is accurate it seems to be west of the Botanical Gardens which is a long way out of town - I think 5 minutes by taxi is optimistic! It takes me about 5-10 minutes using the underpasses to get to Edgbaston, so taxis could well be expensive as well as being stuck out of the centre?
I still like the sound of the museum!!

I'm happy!

Museum say a largeish(!) group would be fine, they could reserve a part of restaurant, etc. I have to contact again for prices, (as manager not available)but will let you know as soon as I hear.

So do I.

gracesmum That is really encouraging.