Gav, Boo Boo, Give us a Word eh?

[jjefferies]

Gav, Good net buddy, Boo Boo and any of you other Brits,

Over here they're pushing us all around about going to Bath and the VETS World Championships. Daily they're inventing new forms that all have to be filled in and filed before some drop dead date. But there's one point on which I would like to ask some public opinion/comment from our Brit comrades in Arms. Or ask that you ask around.

On the schedule there is thing termed "A Gala Dinner", "The Gala Dinner will be held in the Assembly Rooms in the City of Bath. Tickets will be available for purchase in advance. The Assembly rooms were designed in 1769 and were the focal point for the social life of the affluent residents of the City."

All of that is good and well. And like most "Americuns" I'm very happy to be impressed with historical (anything over 100 years old) buildings and all. But the kicker is the "Tickets" part. The cost is USD 75.00 or about GBP 40. per person. Now this is not a deal breaker. But one of my team mates posed the question to me as would I rather spend USD 150 (wife and I) on a plate of British food and the chance to listen to Renee Roche or other worthy dignitary pontificate in a moderately drafty old building or spend USD 150 (GBP 80) on a really good evening at a really nice traditional even ancient British pub.

So can anyone over that way give me any words of wit or wisdom that might sway my choice? I mean his argument in favor of the Pub is carrying more weight as I write this. And our team captain and USFA leaders are demanding commitment and money.

[KD5MDK]

I can say that the Assembly Rooms in Bath have figured prominently in several historical novels I've read, so I'd go for that reason, but you may have different interests.

[fencerbill]

Having been to 6 Vets Worlds and gone to 6 galas, I have enjoyed every one. There is usually a cash bar, entertainment, dancing and an excellent opportunity, with the competitions over, to relax with the fencers from other countries and to get to know them better. I have even seen Gerard LaPouge smiling.

This is more expensive than some have been but if I were going to Bath, I wouldn't miss it.

The location might be an attraction but the best part will be the people.

And I don't remember seeing Rene Roch at any of them. He is long gone by the gala. There have been a minimum of speeches, more likely a repeat of the song contests which erupted at several.

[downunder]

you wouldn't be able to spend 80 pounds (damn australian laptop, doesn't have a pounds squiggle) at the pub for just two of you, heh.

I agree, its a lot of money, but i bet it will be a great evening with all the teams together.

[Gav]

I am sure that Boo could give you better local knowledge than I but I have some thoughts;

Bath is a historical city in the truest sense. It's orgins date back to at least the Romans and possibly before. If you like history and architecture then it's the place for you. It's moderately pretty... In historical terms quite a lot of work was done by victorians to design various bits of it and there are several very notable buildings in the area.

Here is a link to the Bath tourist site.

According to the National Trust the Assembly Rooms would be one place I would go - just to see. I imagine that the food will be provided by 3rd party caterers - check with the organisers to make sure. At £40 I expect you will get a half decent meal and that a disco/dance/spot-of-morris-dancing* is included.

How food works in Britain...

This is a very general (thus flawed) guide to buying 'reastaurant' food in the UK.

So you want a meal? Where to go? You could buy food in a pub. If you are in a touristy spot (such as Bath) finding a traditional pub meal (more anon) could be difficult unless you walk off the beaten path. On the beaten path you invariably find pub chains which sell you mediocre food (ymmv). Off the beaten path you may find a historic pub selling you traditional pub food...

The traditional pub meal consists of something cheap, microwaved or deep fried and could set you back around £15-25 for 2 people (depending on price and number of courses - £40 will probably be a 3 course meal for 2 - probably with a small amount of alcohol). So much for the traditional pub meal.
Be warned that buying a steak that is not actually the sole of a boot is nigh impossible in the UK - you have to know where to go. The traditional pub meal is also what a pub chain will sell you.

So much for the bad news ... moving on to the good.

Things HAVE gotten better and some pubs now do decent traditional pub fayre (a personal favourite being steak pie). So-called gastro pubs are becoming very popular (especially up here in scotland following the Smoking ban) so if you can find one it's worth it. These are normally your best bet for British food sold at a price that doesn't make you feel robbed.

Restaurants can be expensive, quality varies and it's normal that they do some variation on [insert nationality] food (ie 'British' Italian, 'British' Indian etc). What I find weird is that actual 'British' food can often be more expensive than Indian or Italian or Thai or ... whatever. There has been a lot of discussion in food circles about why this is so. Having never dined in Bath I cannot recommend a good restaurant. I find £40 will get you a reasonable 2 course meal in a reasonable reastaurant for 2 and may include a small amount of drink (from the cheap end of the wine list; a better meal if you just get food and avoid alcohol).

Local knowledge is really key to a good meal and I would recommend contacting the organisers and/or the tourist office for advice. For £40 -ouside the gala meal - I expect you will get a decent meal (no drinks no dancing). Again - ymmv. Follow this for the tourist eat and drinking site.

The gala meal has the advantages of the BIG social occasion and grand surroundings.

Hope that helps. I know Boo doesn't live a million miles away and I hope she chimes in with more specific advice. If I sound 'down' on UK food it's because I am - the good news is that things are improving fast.

* I jest.

[Peach]

Half the fun of Veteran Worlds is socializing with the fencers from other countries--I bought tickets to the gala again But I'm also going early so I can sight-see and dine a little before the day of my event.

[D'Art]

Further to Gav's answer, some of the more unscrupulous restaurant chains have their worst wine as the one above the house one, as they know a lot of people are embarassed to ask for the house one if they are in company. Hence, you quite often get a better wine by being cheap.

Avoid any ethnic restaurants which claim to be "authentic" - you're more likely to come from their claimed country of origin than they are.

Oh, and if you find a Brewer's Fayre - keep walking. I know, I work for the buggers, and their stuff is, erm, of variable quality to say the least.

[ChubbyHubby]

Originally Posted by jjefferies

Gav, Good net buddy, Boo Boo and any of you other Brits,

Over here they're pushing us all around about going to Bath and the VETS World Championships. Daily they're inventing new forms that all have to be filled in and filed before some drop dead date. But there's one point on which I would like to ask some public opinion/comment from our Brit comrades in Arms. Or ask that you ask around.

On the schedule there is thing termed "A Gala Dinner", "The Gala Dinner will be held in the Assembly Rooms in the City of Bath. Tickets will be available for purchase in advance. The Assembly rooms were designed in 1769 and were the focal point for the social life of the affluent residents of the City."

All of that is good and well. And like most "Americuns" I'm very happy to be impressed with historical (anything over 100 years old) buildings and all. But the kicker is the "Tickets" part. The cost is USD 75.00 or about GBP 40. per person. Now this is not a deal breaker. But one of my team mates posed the question to me as would I rather spend USD 150 (wife and I) on a plate of British food and the chance to listen to Renee Roche or other worthy dignitary pontificate in a moderately drafty old building or spend USD 150 (GBP 80) on a really good evening at a really nice traditional even ancient British pub.

So can anyone over that way give me any words of wit or wisdom that might sway my choice? I mean his argument in favor of the Pub is carrying more weight as I write this. And our team captain and USFA leaders are demanding commitment and money.

The Assembly Rooms is a popular venue for posh formal dos in Bath. Walking distance from most hotels in town (unless you are staying up at the university)

The same 40GBP would get you similar quality of food at various local restaurants, there is one across the street called Woods which is not bad.

But for 40GBP and the chance to throw a rotten fruit or two at the Roach, I'd go for the gala dinner!

[DJ Apostrophe]

Originally Posted by downunder

you wouldn't be able to spend 80 pounds (damn australian laptop, doesn't have a pounds squiggle) at the pub for just two of you, heh.

I agree, its a lot of money, but i bet it will be a great evening with all the teams together.

£=Alt+0163 ... for all your £ needs

-w

[jjefferies]

Originally Posted by downunder

you wouldn't be able to spend 80 pounds (damn australian laptop, doesn't have a pounds squiggle) at the pub for just two of you, heh.
.

I understand that next year we're coming down to visit you. Get the spare cot ready and show us how little it takes to get to the same state in a pub down under.

[jjefferies]

Originally Posted by ChubbyHubby

The Assembly Rooms is a popular venue for posh formal dos in Bath. Walking distance from most hotels in town (unless you are staying up at the university)

The same 40GBP would get you similar quality of food at various local restaurants, there is one across the street called Woods which is not bad.

But for 40GBP and the chance to throw a rotten fruit or two at the Roach, I'd go for the gala dinner!

Ok, even without comment from Boo, I'll take it from Gav and Hubby that GBP 40 is about what one would pay for a decent meal. And if our esteemed worthy target is present for entertainment value....

Re Gav's comments about the improvement in British pub grub, we have noticed improvements between our visits. While doing the four counties ring a few years ago we came upon a pub serving Tex/Mex. It was interesting to say the least. And not all that bad. I guess my question comes down to not being all that used to eating out in style. For what the Gala is charging for one I would normally expect to easily be able to feed two here in the states. When we go out to dine at a favorite local place, to see and be seen, we usually pick a place like La Mediterranee in Berkeley, a mix of the young trendy, university and staff. And dinner for two usually comes to between USD 25-30 depending on drinks. And then I eat way too much.

After the tournament I've hired a narrow boat for the week, our favorite way to see Britain. If the pub prices are as high as this thread suggests, then we'll be eating in and hitting the pub for drinks only.

Thanks for the comments.

[ChubbyHubby]

Originally Posted by jjefferies

For what the Gala is charging for one I would normally expect to easily be able to feed two here in the states.

Generally speaking, most things over here are the same "dollar value" as over in the US. That is if something costs 10USD, you can bet it costs 10GBP over here.

If you are shocked about the food prices, don't bother hiring a car.

The 20-30USD or so you need to fill up a SUV won't fill up an eighth of the tank in my car over here. It costs me roughly 75GBP to fill up an 80litre tank (sorry don't know what that is in US Gallons)

[KD5MDK]

(80 litres is 21 gallons)
It's more like $45-90 now. Our old van we're trying to sell has a 30 gallon tank, and @ $3 a gallon that's more than I like to think of. On the plus side, that can transport 8 fencers and gear for 12 on weekend trips comfortably.

[ChubbyHubby]

Originally Posted by KD5MDK

(80 litres is 21 gallons)
It's more like $45-90 now. Our old van we're trying to sell has a 30 gallon tank, and @ $3 a gallon that's more than I like to think of. On the plus side, that can transport 8 fencers and gear for 12 on weekend trips comfortably.

$3 a gallon, 21 gallons is $63 is about 34GBP, which will stil only fill just under 1/2 my tank

[Boo Boo]

Whooops!!!

Sorry, I don't check this forum every day and, even when I do, I miss quite a lot... (trying to spot the diamonds in the rough can be a skill that I don't have patience for some days... ).

Ok, I go along with Chubby (also a Bath resident - since he lives with me ), Peach, Gav and others...

We have been to a couple of university balls (proms) at the Assembly Rooms and have always had a good time. That was quite a few years ago though!

£40 is a reasonable price to pay for a "posh night out" in Bath. The Assembly rooms is lovely, the food should be reasonable (although it IS mass catering, so will not be as good as a really good restaurant), but the main thing - I believe - will be socialising and enjoying the company of the other competitors. I know that Dave Sweeney is putting at least 200% into organising this event (and all the social side events). Am sure that you could get a better meal for £40 (+ wine) per person in Bath, but you wouldn't get the atmosphere that you would at the official gala dinner.

I am just sorry that the exchange rate is so bad for you at the moment... It will be great when we visit the US (on Vacation) in October, but must make things ridiculously expensive for you in a few weeks time

If you can, DEFINITELY go to the civic reception at the Roman Baths on the Thursday night (http://www.veterans-fencing.co.uk/wc.../social.shtml). The Roman Baths are AMAZING, there is an ongoing renovation project and it is fascinating from an engineering and a historical point of view (clever folks those Romans!).

Embarrassingly I can't think of many traditional type pubs in/around Bath that I would "rave" about. I like the "Globe Inn", but that is a couple of miles drive outside of Bath (towards Bristol). Restaurant-wise, http://www.moonandsixpence.co.uk/ is very good (and less than 100 yards from Peach's hotel). I also like http://www.thequeensberry.co.uk/olivetree/index.html and http://www.thebathpriory.co.uk/restaurant.asp is very special (although hugely expensive...). There are plenty of Indian restaurants around, if you are tempted (don't think that Indian food is as commonplace in the US as in the UK). http://www.tilleysbistro.co.uk/ is very popular - especially good for the set menu lunch (very popular with the nice, more mature set in Bath). http://www.sallylunns.co.uk/ is a bit of a tourist trap, BUT quite nice for an unusual twist on afternoon tea... although there are places that you could go for a more traditional "cream tea" (http://www.royalcrescent.co.uk/menu_tea.asp or the Pump Rooms at the Roman Baths - http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/ ).

Apparently I have been roped into helping with the opening ceremony (have no idea what I am doing and am sworn to secrecy anyway...), so I may get to say "hello"

Boo

[pigeonmeister]

Bath is definitely one of my favourite places in Britain- a truly beautiful and unspoilt Georgian city. You pay a premium for this and forty quid, on food alone, is a lot for 3rd party catering- but you are obviously paying for the environment and company in which to enjoy it. There are 3, Michelin starred, restaurants in Bath that you would get a better meal for about the same money, but they would be snooty and wine would cost as much as the food. I would still go for the gala event. Pubs are hit and miss, depends (for me) on their selection of British ale or availability of student discounts. Other people insist on luxuries such as a seat, reliable source of oxygen, basic hygiene and feeling of safety.

Sadly everytime I got to Bath it is for Excalibur (county championship) and we religiously go to the same (in no way authenticaly British) pub.

The facilities at the sports centre are the best I have seen in this country as well.