Anyone going to Manchester gig from Lancashire?

[King Cnut]

Or any other place really. Due to my usual gig going partner being a f'cking lamo and going on holiday with his family on Saturday I'll be on me tod. Where's the best place outside of studentville for a pint. We usually hit the Grand Central and then move on up but anywhere close will do....

[vickyp]

I'll be there. We should nominate a pub for pre-drinks. Has anyone done that yet on the book of faces?

[paulron32]

I usually go into the Northern Quarter in the twon centre then a joe out to Kro Bar which is right accross the road from the venue and usually has a decent pint. Think they'll have some Jubilee bunting up on stage?

[Egg4Goff]

We're driving over. Does anyone konw where cheap parking is near the venue?

We'll try to get out for a little tipple if we can get over there in time. So let us know where people are drinking.

[Mattie]

I'll be there. We should nominate a pub for pre-drinks. Has anyone done that yet on the book of faces?

The only place mentioned on the facebook group is The Grand Central which is just outside of Oxford Road station. Google maps says somehting about it being 'permanently closed' though, but nobody has replied to me on facebook about that status.

(top left marker = pub, top right = picadilly station, bottom right = Travelodge, bottom left = venue)

[King Cnut]

Yep the Grand Central is a good choice and is very much still open, ten minute walk from the venue.

Due to extreme pov-ness I am now driving to the gig but will probably nip in Kro before hand for one. Probably the first time I'll have seen Ginger sober this!

Re parking if you take the first right after the venue going away from Manchester (Denmark Road/Street I think) there's loads of free on street parking. The area looks a bit dodge but I've never had an issue. Mind you my car's shite!

[macc lad]

Any Belfast reviews ? obviously may contain spoilers

[Egg4Goff]

Cheers King Cnut for the parking advice. We ended up going the wrong way but there's loads of on street parking around there.

Went Jabez Clegg behind NatWest for drinks

[King Cnut]

Ended up getting the train as I'd forgotten my tax disc had run out. Glad I did cos I went into Kro opposite the venue (was it just me or was the bar service the slowest ever at the gig?) Random John & Chris Catalyst were in there having a pre-gig drink and a fairly intense conversation I didn't want to interrupt. So just stood next to them whilst waiting to get served and nodded at them and said "Random John, Mr Catalyst." I'm f'ckin hopeless when faced with musicians!

[Mattie]

That was bloody good

As mentioned on the setlist thread, Very very slow was better live, I think largely because it's played through twice.

It was great to hear the 555 songs, though I thought Time might get an airing.

When I saw Baby Godzilla support E_I in Derby the other month I couldn't stand them.. this time though it all worked so much better and I thought they were great, so a total turnaround.

Think my legs are going to fall off though, must have walked around 4 miles around Manchester in the rain, somehow kept getting lost even though my route should just have been straight lines

Found myself at the aftershow party, bought Ginger a drink. By this time Jon Poole was topless, of course.

[markE]

Ended up getting the train as I'd forgotten my tax disc had run out. Glad I did cos I went into Kro opposite the venue (was it just me or was the bar service the slowest ever at the gig?) Random John & Chris Catalyst were in there having a pre-gig drink and a fairly intense conversation I didn't want to interrupt. So just stood next to them whilst waiting to get served and nodded at them and said "Random John, Mr Catalyst." I'm f'ckin hopeless when faced with musicians!

heh, I know what you mean. I walked into the Crobar in london before the D Generation gig, saw Rich jones who clocked my Wildhearts tee and I just sort of shuffled past