2023 BWE LONDON / MARCH 23, 24, 25, 2023

Tom In DC · Post by **Tom In DC** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:13 pm

That does look great, Ian - thanks for continuing the hunt for us!

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:31 pm

Sounds great Ian. With the corkage calculated per bottle, rather than a fixed fee per person as we’ve often had at past conventions, we might even end up with a more reasonable number of bottles, maybe just a little more than a bottle per person (vs 3 or even 4 at most events).

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:35 pm

Well done, Mr. Flaneur. Very well done indeed.

SF Ed · Post by **SF Ed** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:37 pm

Sounds great! If we can negotiate a per-person corkage, even better!

SF Ed

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 10:19 pm

SF Ed wrote: ↑Wed Jan 18, 2023 5:37 pm Sounds great! If we can negotiate a per-person corkage, even better!

SF Ed

I second this. Seems like such a hassle for them to count our bottles, especially when some don't get opened or if they are sadly corked or flawed in some other way. But whatever is best for you and the restaurant of course.

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:11 pm

La Cabotte looks like a good option. Lot of Beaujolais!

At the moment, we are 13 officially confirmed?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:18 pm

This is what I have Nicola:

Updated:
1. Ian (confirmed)
2. Jim (confirmed)
3. Patrick (confirmed)
4&5. MichaelP and Nalan (confirmed)
6&7. Ed and Lisa (confirmed)
8. Tim (confirmed) +1 (tbc)
10. Alex (confirmed)
11. Nic (confirmed)
12&13 Tom and Gail (confirmed)
14. HM$
15. & 16 Joel (confirmed subject to meteorites hitting the planet) +1 (tbc)
17. & 18. Stefan and Lucie (hopeful)
19. Marcus (hopeful)
Looking good…

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 1:28 am

JimHow wrote: ↑Wed Jan 18, 2023 11:18 pm This is what I have Nicola:

Updated:
1. Ian (confirmed)
2. Jim (confirmed)
3. Patrick (confirmed)
4&5. MichaelP and Nalan (confirmed)
6&7. Ed and Lisa (confirmed)
8. Tim (confirmed) +1 (tbc)
10. Alex (confirmed)
11. Nic (confirmed)
12&13 Tom and Gail (confirmed)
14. HM$ (confirmed)
15. & 16 Joel (confirmed subject to meteorites hitting the planet) +1 (tbc)
17. & 18. Stefan and Lucie (hopeful)
19. Marcus (hopeful)
Looking good…

I know Jim. But if i count names with confirmed next to it, i got 13. The tbc, or hopeful, or HM$ aren't officially confirmed?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 1:47 am

HM$ is confirmed, I just edited that.
I count 15 confirmed but more likely 18-19, based on my offline conversations.

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 1:53 am

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 1:57 am

You will look forward to seeing Timmy's "mystery guest," Nicola.

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 3:17 am

Unfortunately, Lucie and I will not make it. I just could not work this in.

We do intend to go to the UK in the spring of 2024.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 8:23 am

I am sorry you can’t make it this time stefan, but look forward to seeing you and lucie in London next year.

Howard - is Lisa not joining you?

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 10:35 am

So La Cabotte is confirmed for Friday 24th

We already have the blow out finale for Saturday 25th nailed down at Noize

I made an executive decision and rather than book my local Italian for Thursday booked a more appropriate somewhat more upmarket/slightly less rustic Italian-themed restaurant for Thursday with a great private dining space.

My local, delightful as it is, tends to be quite noisy especially on a Thursday night.

Instead I booked Cafe Murano in Covent Garden in the centre of town. Which is about two miles from my abode in Islington. Covent Garden is tres trendy, chic and groovy.

This is the private space at Cafe Murano:

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 10:40 am

Cafe Murano also charges £25 per bottle corkage.

I asked La Cabotte - by email - about charging corkage per person rather than per bottle and will see what they say. I suspect they won’t agree but let’s see.

I will also ask Cafe Murano the same question.

The Murano space is bigger than Cabotte and seats up to 24 people, so I might invite a few of my local reprobate Londoners to join us, if no one objects.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 10:42 am

It all sounds fantastic, Mr Flaneur, reprobate Londoner friends of yours are friends of ours.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 8:47 pm

All three venues are confirmed now and I have put down a deposit down for Cafe Murano (Thursday) and La Cabotte (Friday). Noize (Saturday) has not requested one as they know me very well.

Once we nail down the final numbers nearer to the time I will ask for a small per head transfer to my US bank account to cover everyone’s pro rata share of the deposits (£750 in total).

There might be a better way to do it - suggestions welcome. I doubt there will be any other common expenses like transportation because all three venues are in central London.

The restaurants here much prefer credit cards and generally don’t like to be paid in cash. They will go to each individual/couple and collect payment. They do charge for service - typically 12.5-15% - but an additional tip on top of that is neither expected nor warranted.

If anyone is in town on Wednesday night I might go out for a late informal dinner with Alex around Islington somewhere. But I will be working from home until 845pm that night.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 8:59 pm

Updated:
1. Ian (confirmed)
2. Jim (confirmed)
3. Patrick (confirmed)
4&5. MichaelP and Nalan (confirmed)
6&7. Ed and Lisa (confirmed)
8&9. Tim (confirmed) +1 (tbc)
10. Alex (confirmed)
11. Nic (confirmed)
12&13 Tom and Gail (confirmed)
14. HM$ (confirmed)
15&16 Joel and Daniela (confirmed subject to extreme exigencies)
17.Marcus (hopeful)

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 9:01 pm

Looks great, Ian. Thanks so much for setting all this up. I think you have it set up the best way, assuming that the deposit will just come off the bills equally at the end.

I'll probably be in town Wednesday night, still finalizing my flight details by next week. But both my friend Daniella and I fully plan to be there. JimH may want to join as well, I will try to get him on that if he is going to come.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 9:05 pm

Great Joel.

Yes that is correct: for the Thursday and Friday the total bill will have the deposit subtracted and we split the remainder equally.

I am covering the US FOMC meeting on the Eednesday evening and the Fed Chair J Powell press conference wraps up at about 830pm London, so I should be free hopefully around 845pm - and you guys will be on EST anyway, only Alex will be on French time.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 9:11 pm

Sounds like a plan! I'm totally flexible. Just let us know when you need payment Ian.

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Jan 19, 2023 9:13 pm

Much closer to the time thanks Jim.

We just need to hear from Marcus and from Tim, whether his mystery guest can join too.

tim · Post by **tim** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 12:24 am

Looks good Ian. I'm really bummed that 67 Pall Mall bailed on us, not a good experience.

My mystery guest is still tbd, I'll see if I can get a confirmation this weekend.

Looking forward to this! Need to pick out my wines... hmmm

Hm$(still) · Post by **Hm$(still)** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 3:00 am

Lisa is not joining me. Last year with kiddo at home. And I am confirmed for all 3 nights.

Hm$

Comte Flaneur wrote: ↑Thu Jan 19, 2023 10:35 am So La Cabotte is confirmed for Friday 24th

We already have the blow out finale for Saturday 25th nailed down at Noize

I made an executive decision and rather than book my local Italian for Thursday booked a more appropriate somewhat more upmarket/slightly less rustic Italian-themed restaurant for Thursday with a great private dining space.

My local, delightful as it is, tends to be quite noisy especially on a Thursday night.

Instead I booked Cafe Murano in Covent Garden in the centre of town. Which is about two miles from my abode in Islington. Covent Garden is tres trendy, chic and groovy.

This is the private space at Cafe Murano:

DFDDD1B3-D9A7-4D5A-B277-ABB742339FD9.jpeg

AlexR · Post by **AlexR** » Fri Jan 20, 2023 7:42 am

La Cabotte is:

- the name, in Burgundy, for a small stone hut in the vineyards where winegrowers can store tools and seek shelter during inclement weather
- the name of a cuvée of Chevalier-Montrachet from Bouchard Père et Fils
- the name of a restaurant in Nuits-Saint-Georges

and, apparently,

the name of a very good restaurant in London!

Alex R.

Hm$(still) · Post by **Hm$(still)** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 7:29 pm

I will be arriving a couple of days before the festivities. 1 night (Wednesday), I am planning to go to opera at Covent Garden and Tuesday night I am going to try what is apparently a very good Chinese restaurant — Hutong. Any of you are welcome to join me if you are there and looking for an activity.

Hm$

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sun Jan 22, 2023 8:06 pm

I'm coming in Tuesday night, my schedule is left intentionally flexible if you want to go to a museum or anything Wednesday or any of the other days. Ian mentioned a late dinner on Wednesday night with Alex and Joel.

tim · Post by **tim** » Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:51 pm

Please remove my +1, it will just be me.

greatbxfreak · Post by **greatbxfreak** » Thu Jan 26, 2023 9:56 pm

Be aware of catastrophic situation with strikes in London and especially in health sector. Just saw in Danish TV that it took 1.5 hour to get ambulance to an old man who suffered heart attack. Trains, buses and airports are on strike now.

Maybe the situation will get better in March. But it is a misery.

It would never happen in Denmark, because we have a mediator who is given three rounds of talks between unions and industry chefs, and if it fails, the Danish government has the right to put a settle proposal made by mediator, as a law and call the strikes off. That is what we call "The Danish Solution"!

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Jan 26, 2023 9:59 pm

tim wrote: ↑Wed Jan 25, 2023 10:51 pm Please remove my +1, it will just be me.

Sad face

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:01 pm

Updated:

1. Ian (confirmed)
2. Jim (confirmed)
3. Patrick (confirmed)
4&5. MichaelP and Nalan (confirmed)
6&7. Ed and Lisa (confirmed)
8. Tim (confirmed)
9. Alex (confirmed)
10. Nic (confirmed)
11&12 Tom and Gail (confirmed)
13. HM$ (confirmed)
14&15 Joel and Daniela (confirmed subject to extreme exigencies)
16. Marcus (hopeful)

Marcus are you going to stop beating about the bush and buy a plane ticket?

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:57 pm

No question Denmark is a better run country than the UK with higher living standards and less inequality.

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Thu Feb 02, 2023 2:36 pm

Flights are booked for me and my friend Daniela. I'll get into Paris early Monday morning. Will take the train up to London on Weds afternoon or Thursday morning. Leaving London Sunday around noon.

I'll update soon if Jim Harrgian is able to make it as well.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Thu Feb 02, 2023 2:53 pm

Excellent Joel!
Tell Jim the BD orders his attendance.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sun Feb 05, 2023 4:10 pm

Been communicating with Ian, Nicola, and Timmy this weekend, it looks like this Doubletree is a possible option as it is centrally located within walking distance of all three restaurants. Also, we can cancel up until a day before check-in. Timmy usually stays there and I believe is staying there on this trip.

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/lonlid ... ngs-cross/

Hm$(still) · Post by **Hm$(still)** » Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:04 pm

I have decided to ditch the opera, so if you are going to dinner Wednesday night, please count me in.

Hm$

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Sun Feb 12, 2023 8:30 pm

Will do Howard…hanging out with us is much more enjoyable than watching strange looking dudes dressed in funny outfits singing in Italian….

Wednesday night will be a light/gentle training session … warm up …. so the early birds from the USA can adapt to the new time zone. Alex will be joining us so we could be 7-8 already.

Where you staying Howard?

Anyone else going to be around on Wednesday night? It will be a 9pm booking…

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Wed Mar 01, 2023 3:20 pm

I don't think there is a thread for the Wednesday night dinner but Daniela and I just booked our train tickets from Paris and will arrive in London around 5:30pm so we will make it the 9pm dinner that night.

What is the restaurant name? Any wine theme?

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Wed Mar 01, 2023 4:50 pm

The restaurant is called 1251Joel just cross the road from where I live in Islington N1.

I am hoping to give it a trial run next Wednesday

https://www.1251.co.uk/

I increased the reservation to 8 people for 9pm … 9pm because I have to listen to Chair Powell, wearing his Paul Volcker hat (but without the cigar), explain his latest brilliant plan to expunge the blight of high core PCE services inflation

I had in mind some interesting left banks from 01 and 02 but I think you are keen on doing Pomerols? We do do both

JoelD · Post by **JoelD** » Wed Mar 01, 2023 8:00 pm

9pm is perfect for us. I'm sure I'll still be on a later schedule and maybe just stay that way for less jet lag on the way back.

The place looks great. Pomerol was just a thought, as a smaller crew is often perfect for coaxing the beauty out of some of those wines that might get lost in the shuffle at the blowout. 01/02 left banks sound great too. Still sitting on 89/98 VCC that I would love to open with you and a few other BWEers.