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Edinburgh monthly meet - suggestions?

John H

John H

New member
For some time now the monthly meet at Edinburgh has been getting slowly less well attended, and last night only three of us showed up. We got to talking about why the meeting seems to be fizzling out, so this thread is to look for suggestions on how we might revitalise it.

First idea is how about a change of venue? The Dakota is handy for parking, but maybe the atmosphere is wrong, and the price of a pint would make your eyes water [:mad:]. We have met at various places over the years, so the Dakota is by no means sacrosanct.
We also used to meet for a meal, but again the Dakota is less than ideal, as it is a tad formal.

Don has suggested we try the Orroco Pier in S Queensferry http://www.oroccopier.co.uk/ What do others think? Would this cause any issues for you Scott with diary planning?

Just a first suggestion ... what do the rest of you think?
 
I agree John - Dakota is probably the wrong atmosphere for a car club meet. Prices (and menu) are a bit too "formal".

The prior places I've ever been to east coast meets at were:

Cramond Brig - good location, easy parking, food reasonable (but not great if memory serves) but we often struggled for seating/space.

Hawes - good location, parking awful (absolutely awful!), food reasonable (standard pub fare), plenty space, staff attitude absolutely appalling.

In my mind we're probably looking for somewhere to the west/north of the city as currently, easy to drive to, decent parking and a more traditional pub type venue with sufficient space.

If you could demolish dakota, put the hawes in its place and replace the staff we'd be on to a winner.

May be difficult to find?
 
Good summary Greig, totally agree.

Not really much point in considering either Cramond Brig or the Hawes as it sort of "been there, done that".

Queensferry Lodge Hotel on the other side of the bridge anyone?
 
I have been around the Porsche scene since 1992 .We traditionally have had 2 venues East -West .

We have tried a one stop venue in Stirling a good few years ago but for various reasons that ended .
I still think a one stop venue would be ideal as the club gets fragmented with two venues especially in the same week and i would find it hard to attend 3 car clubs in one week .

Most know i am a member of TIPEC as well as PCGB and we meet the 1 st Wednesday of every month at Boness Car Museum and have on average of 18 people turn up, in summer that goes up to over 25. We have a natter and then have a 30min slot to discuss club business and up and coming shows that people want to attend etc, . It is a 85 mile round trip for me. so if i attended all 3 meets i would clock up 230 miles in just club meets alone in one week .

If we could have a one stop venue say during May-Aug summer months we may get a better turnout say the 2nd M.T.W.T off each month Stirling/Livingston is still a centralist spot.
The meets in Glasgow have been going on for years at the Sheerbrooke Castle Hotel again not the ideal venue shocking exit from hotel do not come with a low spoiler you have been warned [:D] and the drinks are not cheap either ,but we are all creatures of habit and still go along we rarely get more that 8 people during the winter and even in summer we struggle to get over 15 so perhaps it is time to move on and go for a one stop meeting but where ??
 
I keep intending to get along to a meet. I may yet. A possible venue? The Melville Gate, next to Dobbies - just off Gilmerton junction of city bypass. Nice pub, plentiful (safe) parking but no idea if geographically appropriate for most. Just a suggestion.
 
So, there we have the solution, Brian's House 2nd Tuesday of the Month, easy to get to , lots of parking, free tea and biscuits and saves him travelling.sorted.

Only kidding, Alan.
 
You guys are more than welcome to hold it at my place ..just bring your own chairs and sit in the heated garage but please take your shoes off, dont want the Wilton carpets getting dirty . [:D][:D]
 

ORIGINAL: simkin911

I keep intending to get along to a meet. I may yet. A possible venue? The Melville Gate, next to Dobbies - just off Gilmerton junction of city bypass. Nice pub, plentiful (safe) parking but no idea if geographically appropriate for most. Just a suggestion.
Click to expand...

Like this idea......! There's also the Steading situated off the bypass at Hillend ski slope - nice place with off street parking?
I think a change in location is a great idea.

Brian, I also agree that somewhere central for a meeting would be a great idea, but not every month. We could continue with our monthly East/West meetings but every 3 months, meet at Dakota Eurocentral for a big get together???? Just a thought but it would be nice to meet the Westies from time to time!!
Kx
 
I would go along with just one meeting each month for everyone and possibly change the venue every couple on months. A couple of suggestions fairly central for everybody if I can throw them in,

Airth Caslte Hotel (1 min from Kincardine Bridge)
Wheel House at Falkirk Wheel (great in summer but may be fairly busy)
Dakota at Euro Central

Any more that come to mind I'll post them up later
 
Interesting suggestions but I am puzzled that when there is criticism of the Dakota at Queensferry, and I don't disagree, then the same venue but at Eurocentral seems to be ok. If we are looking for somewhere reasonably central, why not consider the Park Restaurant near Linlithgow.It has plenty of good parking and the advantage of being owned by a club member. In addition it avoids the potential traffic problems which can occur on the Edinburgh bypass with great regularity.
 
We did try the idea of a "one size fits all" meeting for both east and west when we tried meeting at the River House resturant outside Stirling a few years back. It was a success for a short while, but it never really supplanted the traditional east and west meeting.
 
John I thought Jonathan was keen as the disabled access is good at the Dakota and despite what everyone says the food is good.

Compared with the quality of say Frankies and Bennies you get what you pay for.

It is also good road access from all directions. Happy to try elsewhere in the summer.

I invite you all up to the Dormy at Gleneagles. We can get a dedicated area and we can use my discount!

Shame there is not a bar at the Zoo as we could have watched the pandas.
 
Charles, I agree that the Dakota has its merits, but we were just pondering if a change of venue would ginger up a better attendance.
 
I didn't mean that there was anything wrong with Dakota at Queensferry in fact I think it is good for the meeting, only suggested Dakota at Eurocentral as an option for both sides of the country to meet as its virtually bang in the middle.

Unfortunately my problem is not where the meeting is held but finding the time to come along, something I need to get sorted out!
 

ORIGINAL: kenneth ritchie

I didn't mean that there was anything wrong with Dakota at Queensferry in fact I think it is good for the meeting, only suggested Dakota at Eurocentral as an option for both sides of the country to meet as its virtually bang in the middle.

Unfortunately my problem is not where the meeting is held but finding the time to come along, something I need to get sorted out!
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Agree with Kenny. I like Dakota, just a bit bored of going there & a change would be nice - Eurocentral or Park Inn would be good for a joint meet up from time to time, was just thinking of a central place.

See your point about the bypass but by 7.30, traffic should be queit unless we have 6 inches of snow & in that case we wouldn't be driving the Porsches! [:D]

Kx


 
I haven't been to a monthly meeting since The Cramond Brig days, but can I mention The Bridge Inn at Ratho. It has a fair sized car park, food, a log fire and is still on the West side of Edinburgh.

Jim Campbell
 
Nice to see so many suggestions, thanks everyone.

The plan seems to be that we will meet next month (Thursday 4th April) as usual at the Dakota and we can then have a decent discussion on the subject then. Does that seem OK?

JH
 
Just purely on a personal level what would the chances of changing the meet in the East coast or even the West for that matter to the second week of the month as i find 3 club meeting a bit of an ask .Would certainly be more likely to come along to the East meeting especially during the summer months and more likely if not at the Dakota .
Brian
 

ORIGINAL: kitchens

Just purely on a personal level what would the chances of changing the meet in the East coast or even the West for that matter to the second week of the month as i find 3 club meeting a bit of an ask .Would certainly be more likely to come along to the East meeting especially during the summer months and more likely if not at the Dakota .
Brian
Click to expand...
Or you could ask tipec to move theirs.
 
Fair point Greig ...We always had the West coast meeting on the first Monday of each month ,but when i became RO i asked the members if we could change it to the Tuesday as we missed out on numbers because it fell on holiday Mondays so we potentially lost 4 meetings as most where away .
Like i said what would be the chances only a question . I think i can count on one hand !well maybe two the meetings i have missed at Glasgow .
Brian
 
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