Edinburgh Festival - 19th August 2006

[Pete]

Thanks to motherger for the suggestion to meet in Scotland - the first social north of the border will be in Edinburgh during the Festival.

We'll work on the details as we get closer to the time, but there will be no shortage of choice give the vibrance of Edinburgh in August. No doubt our schedule will include the Pleasance Courtyard bar, The Speigeltent and at least one show. As I'm up their doing reviews, I'll have a pretty good idea what's worth seeing before you all arrive!

I've created this thread as a placeholder for those interested & confirmed in attending. Add your name here if you'd like to join us.

Confirmed:
pixuk
motherger + 1
Nottingham Nick + The Nick Clan
mitchja
RichardMannion
HighFlyer
MarkJ
David
mcuth
pegitt
onionz
roadrunner +1
Mr & Mrs buns4vs
Milliemoo
Richard28
ChuckC
Vslf
JAT74L
Johnathan
Airbus

Tickets for Katzenjammer on the 19th August, Brunton Theatre 7.30pm
pixuk
Nottingham Nick + Sue & Chris
mcuth
RichardMannion
HighFlyer
onionz
mitchja
pegitt
Richard28
Mr Buns & Mrs Buns
Johnathan
Airbus

[Pete]

It might also be worth mentioning, that whilst the 'official' social is just for the one night, do come up for a long weekend (or more!) if you can. There is so much to see and do in Edinburgh during August that you'll find it difficult to tear yourself away after just 24 hours.

Pete

Booked Malmaison for 2 nights - 18 & 19th August.
BMI still have "Tiny" fares on the LHR-EDI route available for 18th, 19th & 20th...

Cheers

Michael

[HighFlyer]

Booked Malmaison for 2 nights - 18 & 19th August.

Woo-hoo! I got my drinking buddy for the event!!

We are likely to be flying over with the dark side though, as their fares seem a lot more competitively priced than even the baby fares, though if any of you find a good deal that we managed to miss please let us know as Richard and i will likely be booking our flights in the next few days. Im finding BA returns at £69.10, cheapest so far ..

Thanks,
Sarah

Just to let you all know, Malmaison have rooms on the 19th Aug for £119.


I am booked for 1 night on 19th Aug, cant wait to meet you all!!!



Geraldine

Originally posted by motherger
Just to let you all know, Malmaison have rooms on the 19th Aug for £119.


I am booked for 1 night on 19th Aug, cant wait to meet you all!!!



Geraldine

Is it a bad/ill house?

Paul

eh?

Oooo. Maybe I can use my BMI Miles! I will go away and check...........

[HighFlyer]

Its Malmaison (not Maison Derriere) [:I]

No ill repute, but more than likely a bunch of drunkard aviation enthusiasts on the 19th (which could lead to the forner of course ...)

The flights are fine for me. The accomodation is a bit pricy at 119 to be honest. I have asked Sarah if she wants to come too.

[mitchja]

Originally posted by HighFlyer

Im finding BA returns at £69.10, cheapest so far ..
Thanks,
Sarah

Seems a pretty good deal. A BMI fare is approx £66 return from Manchester, where as BA want £84!!

Regards

Just a thought, if any of you are near Stansted Fly Globespan do flights every day to Edinburgh / Glasgow.

Also if any near BHX why not try Flybe?

[HighFlyer]

Dont overlook the train option guys! RIchard and I were discussing this last night, could be fun!

Virgin Trains operate direct to EDI from Kings Cross for those of us close to the City (and there is GNR and others that go to EDI from other places) Was going to investigate it as an option, weigh up the variables, granted it will take ages to get to EDI but it could be fun to get the night train there (tell me if i am not speaking sense here). Been looking at the First cabin on Virgin Trains, very lush! - Although the price makes those BMI fares look really baby!

Otherwise its BA all the way for us!

Jeremy, hope you guys can make it! £119 is really very good value compared to many hotels in the area (given the time of year and the events going on) and Malmaison are very nice hotels indeed.

Thanks,
Sarah

I was just looking at train tickets and prices - thought I was the only one.

However, I am on the GNER route and tickets are only £12 EW so can understand why flying would be a better option for most.

Seriously thinking about doing this and putting more faces to names.

Jilly

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Woo-hoo! I got my drinking buddy for the event!!

Only too happy to oblige

Originally posted by HighFlyer
Dont overlook the train option guys!

Hmm, trying to get a quote on a price for August from the train websites is nigh on impossible - all the ones I've tried thus far have come back with errors that they only carry bookings for 3 months in advance.

BTW, maybe you & Richard want to try BRS-EDI?
Fri 18/08: BA4040 Dep 1815 Arr 1930
Sun 20/08: BA4041 Dep 2000 Arr 2115
Cost £74.30 (inc Taxes)

Fri 18/08: EZ421 Dep 1935 Arr 2055
Sun 20/08: EZ422 Dep 2115 Arr 2230
Cost £61.98 (inc Taxes)

Cheers

Michael

[HighFlyer]

Only too happy to oblige

Sorted! Whisky here we come!!

BTW, maybe you & Richard want to try BRS-EDI?

Depends on where we are and what we are doing on the Friday, we were planning on flying up Saturday, but could always extend our stay to the Friday night as well.

Im currently looking at LHR-EDI direct on the 19th for £71.20 on the BA website (BA1442 & BA1465). Im literally 15-20 minutes drive from LHR, i haven't got a clue how far away BRS is from Swindon, its all farmers country down there to this city girl

Fri 18/08: EZ421 Dep 1935 Arr 2055
Sun 20/08: EZ422 Dep 2115 Arr 2230
Cost £61.98 (inc Taxes)

Michael, i know your not suggesting that Lord & Lady Mannion travel with the orange one!! Well - that would be a picture and a half i guess, wouldn't it?

Let us know what you intend on booking, would be good if we were on the same flights - drinking starts in the lounge!!

Thanks,
Sarah

Hey Sarah, Are you from Swindon?

I lived in the the glorious cathedral city of Salisbury for 12 years!!!

(small world)

[HighFlyer]

Hey Sarah, Are you from Swindon?

Oh gosh no, but Lord Richards estate is in Swindon so i am there most weekends when we are not at my residence close to the City

I know Salisbury though, been to a lot of the Cathedral Cities, loving Bath in particular! Im up the road from Saint Albans which has city status and a lovely cathedral. Kim Marsh and Jack Ryder got married there a few years back and caused a right kerfuffle!

Anyway - back OT!!

Who else is up for some Scottish fun!!

Thanks,
Sarah

Originally posted by mcuth
Booked Malmaison for 2 nights - 18 & 19th August.

Count me in guys - Have now booked as above!

Looking for flights from London City to Edinburgh (more my side of London), but the prices aren't great, around 120 quid for Friday evening, returning Sunday late afternoon/evening).

There's a price to be paid for convenience. Incidentally this route is one of the new BA Connect routes, but has retained complimentary food unlike routes from other regional airports - colleague who just flew this route for the rugby had a very nice breakfast onboard, he tells me. [8D]

[HighFlyer]

Count me in guys - Have now booked as above!

W00t! Another drinking buddy!!!

Originally posted by HighFlyer

Count me in guys - Have now booked as above!

W00t! Another drinking buddy!!!

Are you there on the Friday and Saturday nights?

p.s. You are mad for considering the train! Do you realise how long it will take, especially on the Sunday? A very very very long time indeed!

Could some BA Silver cardholders please join us as we'd like some lounge access . TBS?

[HighFlyer]

Jason, currently booked for the 19th only, but we'll have a think (and count the beans) to weigh up going on the Friday as well. Seems its the thing to do with us all at the Malmaison!

Yeah i know the train will take a loooog time, but hey, i like a challenge!! I regularly drive to my Mothers house - in Belgium!

Thanks,
Sarah

This malmaison - it doesn't look too central - how easy is it to get into town?

Malmaison is in "Leith" near to the royal yacht britannia, lots of buses run by so just hop on one and it takes you to the city centre (approx 10 min).Its the harbour area of Edinburgh and they have been regenerating the area to make it more "cosmopolitian".

I will be arriving on the Sat at Malmaison so dont drink too much the night before and stay away from the 92% proof whiskey !

All booked for the 18th & 19th.

Phil