London, Hammersmith

[Pina]

Karen

I'm going to the Hammersmith Apollo (Odeon) tomorrow night to see Billy Connolly. I'll check out the area and try to figure out what pub it is. Stay tuned.

[Cindy]

Well, I'd love to say I'm going to Hammersmith, but finances aren't letting me go this time. I've returned my ticket and it was the hardest thing I ever did. Maybe I'll get to take a trip to London or wherever the Snakes may roam someday!

[Florabundy]

Pina

Thanks for that! Enjoy Billy - he is my absolute favorite comedian.
Cindy - sorry to hear you cant make it to Hammersmith - I dont know if I could have given my ticket back!

Take care

Karen

[Pina]

Hi Karen,

I passed by some pubs in the Hammersmith area and there are 3 possible places.

1) The Trout: This is has a traditional pub atmosphere. It's small and has poker machines and the like. It's on Hammersmith Broadway and is accessible directly from the shopping centre (Broadway Centre) through Hammersmith tube station.
www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/show.shtml/3824/Trout/Hammersmith

2) Smollensky's: The large brick building on Hammersmith Broadway. It's a restaurant on the first floor but the ground floor has a separate entrance in the back for the bar. The bar entrance is right across The Trout and it also has tables on the patio.
www.toptable.co.uk/details.cfm?rid=1311&refid=view
www.smollenskys.co.uk

3) Bar 38: Located on the corner of Queen Caroline Street and Blacks Road. It's very large (two floors) with a large glass front. It seems to be very stylish and trendy.
www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/show.shtml/581/Bar_38/Hammersmith

I would recommmend Smollensky's (the bar on the ground floor in the back of the building, not the restaurant on the first floor) as a possible meeting place. The atmosphere is somewhere between a traditional pub (The Trout) and a trendy, stylish bar (Bar 38). But I'll let you decide, Karen.

The bar at the Hammy O is probably not a good idea. The Hammersmith Apollo has different procedures for each show but I'm pretty sure that for unreserved seating (stalls), people will have to wait outside until they are ready to open the doors to the stalls. And then people will rush in to the front of the stage. At the Billy Connolly show, everyone had reserved seats so you could enter relatively early and mill around the bar area. I don't think this will happen for the WS show. I've been to other concerts at the Hammy where there has been unreserved seating and most people just line up early and then head directly for the stage.

I have circle seats (reserved seats) so I'm not too fussed about lining up early. If we do meet at one of the bars outside the Hammy, how's 5pm sound?

Cheers!

[Florabundy]

Hi Pina

Smollenskys sound just about right I think! I see what you mean about those with standing tickets (its a long time since had any standing tickets!). So shall we agree on Smollenskys, from 5pm onwards?

So how was Billy? On top form I hope!

Take care

Karen

[Pina]

Hi Karen,

I happened to be back in the Hammersmith area again today and Paulo and I had dinner at Smollensky's. The restaurant is really nice and the food was great. In fact, they told us that Billy Connolly booked the whole restaurant for a private dinner after tonight's show.

I also visited the bar downstairs. It's not too big but it seems ok. There's some background thump thump dance music but it's not too loud. ;D It looks like a nice place to sit and have some drinks. Nice leather seats!

So Smollensky's bar (on the ground floor, not the restaurant upstairs) is the place to meet on October 20 from 5pm onwards! So anyone wanting to meet before the Whitesnake show, please be there!

Address:
Smollensky's Bar (ground floor entrance)
Bradmore House
Queen Caroline Street
Hammersmith, London W6 9BW
Tel: [phone]

Directions:
On the Hammersmith roundabout, opposite the church
Tube: Hammersmith (accessible from the Hammersmith Broadway shopping centre, across from The Trout and next to Subway restaurant)

By the way, the Billy Connolly show was brilliant! (see my post at mellon.proboards4.com/index.cgi?board=Books&action=display&n=1&thread=626&start=15) I wouldn't be surprised if Billy showed up at the WS show! ;D