I'm a CAMRA member and I used to go every year when it was in Manchester city centre. I haven't bothered since the move up Oldham Road. Off the top of my head, I know about a dozen people who haven't been since either. I feel a bit sorry for people coming from outside Manchester having to find the venue.
Yeah, it was a bitch to find. Five minute walk from the Marble Arch to a bus stop. Three minutes on a bus to right outside the venue.
As much as I want it to be in Derby - twenty-three quid more I can spend on beer rather than trains - I have the sneaking feeling that a little bit of the passion will be lost. There's good people involved at the moment. I'd hate to see that lost.
Simon, you obviously know your way round Manchester. Others have written on blogs about wandering around North Manchester looking for the place.
As a Mancunian living in Stockport, I cannot claim to be that familiar with the area, for outsiders it's even more of a challenge.
Of the dozen people I know who stopped going after the move, most are from Manchester. I know the CIS opposite Victoria station became unavailable but since then SIBA have held a couple of beer festivals, one opposite Oxford Road station and the other a stone's throw from Piccadilly.
Matt - You are talking unmitigated nonsense frankly. Fortunately 9500 or so people from all over found the place with ease. Can't find Oldham Road? Then you probably couldn't find your own arse in a blackout.
We didn't have one complaint this year or in any other about it being hard to find and we had folks from all over the UK and abroad too. And and nowhere in Manchester Centre is big enough or within our budget in any event. Do you really think we didn't try that one?
I came across from York for the first time and using the excellent NWAF website directions walked out to the venue in about 20 minutes. One of the easiest venues i've had to find with no prior knowledge of it's whereabouts.
Visiting on Friday afternoon and looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteWish I could.
ReplyDeleteIs this the last year it's in Manchester?
ReplyDeleteNo, next year is the last one then to Derby.
ReplyDeleteAll the best with it fella. Hope it is a success.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested in reading a blog post regarding the punter profile.
To what degree are you putting on a do for the faithful? A do for beeks by beer geeks.
To what degree is the event campaigning for cask beer? A do with numerous none beer geeks enjoying something they usually do not?
I'm a CAMRA member and I used to go every year when it was in Manchester city centre. I haven't bothered since the move up Oldham Road. Off the top of my head, I know about a dozen people who haven't been since either. I feel a bit sorry for people coming from outside Manchester having to find the venue.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was a bitch to find. Five minute walk from the Marble Arch to a bus stop. Three minutes on a bus to right outside the venue.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I want it to be in Derby - twenty-three quid more I can spend on beer rather than trains - I have the sneaking feeling that a little bit of the passion will be lost. There's good people involved at the moment. I'd hate to see that lost.
Simon, you obviously know your way round Manchester. Others have written on blogs about wandering around North Manchester looking for the place.
ReplyDeleteAs a Mancunian living in Stockport, I cannot claim to be that familiar with the area, for outsiders it's even more of a challenge.
Of the dozen people I know who stopped going after the move, most are from Manchester. I know the CIS opposite Victoria station became unavailable but since then SIBA have held a couple of beer festivals, one opposite Oxford Road station and the other a stone's throw from Piccadilly.
Matt - You are talking unmitigated nonsense frankly. Fortunately 9500 or so people from all over found the place with ease. Can't find Oldham Road? Then you probably couldn't find your own arse in a blackout.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't have one complaint this year or in any other about it being hard to find and we had folks from all over the UK and abroad too. And and nowhere in Manchester Centre is big enough or within our budget in any event. Do you really think we didn't try that one?
Matt, you may find this little known yet handy website to be of some use:
ReplyDeletehttp://maps.google.co.uk/
Or even use the handy link to the appropriate Google map provided right on the NWAF web page.
ReplyDelete"We didn't have one complaint this year or in any other about it being hard to find and we had folks from all over the UK and abroad too."
ReplyDeleteMaybe they're still looking for it :-)
I came across from York for the first time and using the excellent NWAF website directions walked out to the venue in about 20 minutes. One of the easiest venues i've had to find with no prior knowledge of it's whereabouts.
ReplyDelete