Christmas Parties 11/08/2008

Had lunch in the Old Mitre off Ely Place today - seems to have an upstairs room where you can have a party. May be worth checking out. We need a place for the Critics' Circle to hold one, a place which doesn't cost too much to hire and where they have pub prices. But finding a nice pub is not easy. You would think London was full of them but it ain't. Trouble is the Circle lot are poor - or tight fisted. One or both. I suspect it is because people who get their entertainment for free don't go out much at the weekends in the West End and in the West End things cost a lot. Clubs do take non member events but tend to charge the earth for allowing groundlings into their hallowed halls - halls not always as swish as all that either. But the venue sounds good. This is what is wrong with living in a big city - you have to go for the centre and that puts up price and there is no word of mouth local reputation to aid you. That reputation means the place wants your business as your word of mouth will send other business. But not when you are in London's West End. Or not so that it counts.