Is it time to move on?
 

Was having a chat with the good people of the Massive on Friday about the fact that our situation at Frith has become pretty untenable: we are moved on twice a night now, and it's pretty much every friday is spent in the square. I love meeting at Frith, but the Square actually pretty much sucks as a location: no footfall, no coffee etc.

As such, is it time to move the friday night meet somewhere else? I'm thinking either the junction of Carnaby Street and Noel Street, where there is a small bike bay with a single yellow opposite, loads of footfall and loads of coffee shops, or of trying a leftfield move to Shoreditch. Darren and I went scouting on Friday after Soho and found a potential spot at the top of Charlotte Road: There's no parking as such, but a wide pavement and building line I reckon we can get about 12 bikes on, plus squeezing them into nearby parking bays if necessary.

So what do we think folks?

Edit: I've worded this as stick with the Square as I think that's what the option is. If Frith was working I'd much prefer to stay there, but as I say I don't think we can.

The go with the masses option is for if you have no strong feelings either way but will give it a go!

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Option 4 - Get some guys with hi-vis vests and traffic cones to go to Frith St. late on a Thursday night and paint in a bike bay.

I'd agree that Frith St. is no longer viable and Soho Square is lacking in mobile scenery and coffee, so a move is sadly necessary.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Anyone written to Westminster council?

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Yer we got to move on coz it's getting out of hand now.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

I hate the fact that we are being forced to move on (yeah I know I haven't been down in ages but still). Half of me says "yep, can't be ar$ed with the hassle" and the other half is thinking "feck 'em, let's stay".

Another suggestion might be to do alternate weeks between the Ace and Frith?

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

What for?

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

To say that they are being unreasonable and we birng a certain jenesequis(sp?) to frith Street on a friday evening? Either that or to sak them for bike bay on Frith St.

Oh, and have you found those gloves?

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

EDIT: It was Curtain Road Jaime le Bear.

They're being really threatening now though. Apparently they have orders to clean up the streets of EVERYONE as the rickshaws attract pickpockets or somefing or nuffink.

I think we should do trials in different places. A couple of weeks here followed by a couple of weeks there and so on. Then we, as a massive, can have a vote. Of course people would have to look at the poll to see where the meet is. It'd be like an adventure! I think we should try and get one week a month in at the Ace once a regular place has been decided on.

We shall be called the "London hobos".

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Well im not exactly regular but happy to go with the masses, have to admit not worrying about being moved on all the time would be a plus.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

What about Noho?

Click me!

I always though this was a good option. Only downside is that is isn't as lively as soho. Not sure about football but there is coffee (who wants footbal anyway!?)

Feel free to ignore me as I live in NZ - just offering an option! :)

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

FootFALL! Wildlife.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

:lol: Ahhhhhh I see!

Well, yeah - you'd be hard pressed to get any worse than Soho Square on that score!

I though you were talking about missing the TV screen outside of Bar Italia!

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

A map link might not go a miss as on my map I can't find carnaby st join up with noel st ;) but if you mean Great Marlborough st? that would get my vote over shoreditch for still being in Soho depending on seeing it

Be a shame though. What's the option for protesting more? i.e. not moving when told to???

Why do other bikers meet there? not just us, Is it because we meet there? is there somewhere else that other bikers meet that would appeal to us?

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

id say move futher north
say lancashire
more social ,better roads, better beer
simples

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Just too easy

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Bear's suggestion to move the meet to Charlotte Street is sensible.

I know Charlotte Street very well because I work nearby (at UCL)
and I often have to take people out for business dinners. Charlotte
Street is my standard destination because it is so nice, a long
street full of restaurants and bars of all denominations. In
fact, I was in a restaurant on Charlotte Street yesterday and
I am going there again today. My job is so difficult and so bad for my health!

Charlotte Street is less crowded than Frith Street and parking
there in the evening is not much of a problem. And I have never
seen a parking warden or a policeman in the evenings on
Charlotte Street.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

I think that Bear was talking about Charlotte Road in Shoreditch and Professor is talking about Charlotte Street, which is near Goodge St. and runs parallel with Tottenham Court Road. It might be worth checking out.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

If Bear meant Charlotte Road in Shoreditch then I can't say much. I
don't normally venture into East London.

I thought he meant Charlotte Street because it is only a few minutes
walk from Soho.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Nope, Charlotte road in shoreditch, although in fact as monkey said I actually meant curtain road. And as stu said I actually meant great marlborough street. So 2 locations, 2 mistakes... I rule. Maybe someone else has a better idea!

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Yeah come to Selkent

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Ah no, sad to see it's come to this guys :( I used to love the little walk through Soho through the crowds to get you all.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

You didn't work as a courier did you? :smt102



:lol:

your efforts appreciated mate

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Thanks for posting this Jai.

I had a long chat with the Sgt and Mr Jonhson after you guys went off to the square. Sadly i think we need to give it a miss for a few weeks and let them think they have won the war when they have only won a small abttle and then start comming back again when this current operation is over. Its a joint op between wetsminster and the cops it seems.

Westminster have already said that they will not be putting in any more bike bays but simply extending some of the existing bays so writign to them is pretty pointless i think and will only serve to draw their attention to that spot more than ever.

We tried Covent Gdn a few years back and that was pretty much as bad as the square, so come one, come all - bring your ideas for a new venue for the short term and we'll give em all a try.

I know Islington can be good depending on where we get to park, none of the auqare near where i now work are any good cos all the shops servcing them close as soon as the business peeps go home.

Picnics in Hype Park anyone :lol:

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

I come straight from work so if you shift to the Ace or anywhere out of central London I just won't be able to get there. Charlotte Street and Great Marlborough Street get my vote - but how about Market Place just behind Oxford Circus?

I used to work there. It has a bike bay on one side and coffee shops, foodie places, etc on the other side of Kent House. It is near the Oxford Circus Tube for those who aren't biking and has a good buzzy atmosphere.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=mark...BkQ8gEwAA&z=16

http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/fmn/i...&theScale=1250

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Here's links for my suggestions:


Carnaby Street
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&so...,0.020084&z=16

Shoreditch
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&so...,0.005021&z=18

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Jaime: Charlotte Street W1, as mentioned above, should be considered as an option too. It's a busy area with cafes and shops etc, and has the advantage of not being very far from Frith Street.

Also the Soho Massive title wouldn't be so far from the truth, unlike going to Shoreditch :D.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Officially Market Place and Charlotte Street are Fitzrovia. So how about the Fitzrovia Brobdingnagian - catchy eh?

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

:D

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Feel free to ignore me, having not been to Soho for aaaaages (but fear not/be afeared, I'll be free to bother you all again in the autumn). But I do know Central London very well.

Part of the original point of meeting in Soho was that it's dead central and just as much of a pain in the **** for everyone to get to. It's apeal over the years has been the location - seeing and being seen. All human life is in Soho every Friday night - theatre comers and goers, early eaters, late eaters, faggots, queens, has-beens, all manner of shapes and sizes, small children, grandmothers etc that you'd not get anywhere else (and that's just us).

I think moving to somewhere like Shoreditch, whilst havng the uber cool factor, just isn't Soho (and more like Soho Square). Yes, there will be people eating and drinking and staying out late, but it doesn't have the volume of passers-by or outdoors-y thing going on. Remember that its got to be a venue that works all-year round in all weathers. People hide in bars in shoreditch.

Angel really isn't a place you'd want to hang out on a Friday - it can get very rough and rowdy and again there isn't the outdoors vibe.

Charlotte Street would be interesting as there's much more throughflow.

But, just to throw a left-field location into the mix, how about somewhere on the South Bank? Plenty of footfall, plenty of places to get something to drink, and probably plenty of parking. For example, if you picked the spot of road that runs up to the thames path between the RFH and BFI, plenty of parking space and right next door to a branch of Eat. If you picked somewhere further East, eg the back of Borought Market, again, there's a road right up to the footpath and several eateries. By City Hall, under Tower Bridge, has appeal too.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Don't move! I've only just found out how to get to Frith Street with any semblance of reliability!

Seriously though I can see the point of making ourselves scarce for a while then maybe venturing back after Westminster scoundrels have stopped pandering to the tourists (in their minds). I can't offer anything useful by way of alternatives though, unless you fancy a Soho meet in Essex

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

I think, at least for now, we will need to find somewhere else. It's now at a point where you can't get a coffee after 7pm as it's only a matter of time before you're asked to move with it. It's tiresome and removes my enjoyment of the location.

Hopefully, as before, we will return in future, but to anyone that says you can't close a meet down I'd point to Chelsea bridge...

In the mean time I'd like us to stay as geographically close to Soho as possible so it doesn't affect people's destination too much :)

Jambo

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Ive missed out for a couple of weeks so dont know how its got but last time we got moved on pretty early considering how empty soho was.

But as long as we stay close to the soho area im all up for a move if not just to sample other areas.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

So where are you guys meeting this Friday as I want to drop by and say "Hello" ?

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

I suggested Charlotte Street! :p

Given the options - that bike bay by Liberty on Gt Marlborough Street (that bear suggested) is a pretty good option where all the couriers hang out during the day.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Hey yeah, great idea Sal, one of you can give me a lift home from Lord's, then you can all hang out on my driveway until midnight un-hassled then I can fall into bed. I have tea, coffee and cakes and it will take Sal 20 minutes to get home.

But seriously, don't forget to let me know if you are coming to Chelmsford for the BBQ on 24th - I need to know how many burgers to make :chef:

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Lol I like the idea of 'Little Soho' on your driveway!

Sorry but I can't make the BBQ. Would love to but I'm a Trowbridge Festival down in Wiltshire.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

I'm not keen on the idea of moving out to anywhere East, or going to the Ace a lot. I think Charlotte Street would be a good one to try - as others have said, lots of bars, restaurants, cafes, people etc - even in winter it's a pretty vibey place. Okay, we won't see the freaks of Soho, but it's a pretty pleasant place to hang around.

Debs' suggestion of somewhere near the river is also an interesting one, though I don't know those areas so well. My only concern is that somewhere like the South Bank in the winter months will just have people dashing to get indoors.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

i agree or maybe ambleside !!!!! yeah !!!!!

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

ambleside is lovely, we should definately have a meet there.

Re: Is it time to move on?
 

Buggeration. I'd forgotten about Trowbridge Festival. It's just down the road from me. Wonder if there'll be tickets available on the gate.