The Waitangi Day Pub Crawl

Hi again, there is always loads of news to update you with as we count down to Feb 4th. Many of you are first timers - and so it's important that you all know what goes down on the day!

Firstly, get your NZ flags here, if you feel like parading around in a massive flag.
Very cheap, £3.99 for a 5 by 3 foot flag is a bargain.

I have spoken to Westminster Police and they are very happy for us to do the Haka, however as with last year it will be moved slightly away from Parliament square to Old Palace Yard. I'll put a map up here or on our Facebook page.

The route is as follows:
(I've deliberately not added pubs here as there is NO way we'll all fit in one bar)
10am ;Paddington - kicking off at the Pride of Paddington
Bayswater
Notting hill Gate
High Street Kensington
Gloucester Rd
South Kensington
Sloane Square
Victoria
St James Park
Westminster
Embankment
Temple - Temple Walkabout (after parties will be held at both Temple and Shepherds Bush Walkabouts) More info on the bands later on!

Alternatively you can start at Hammersmith or Shepherds Bush and head to Notting Hill Gate from there. The Walkabout in Shebu will be open for you thirsty animals!

Are there any rules?

Apart from not getting arrested there are a few gentle rules that have been passed on through the years...

Don’t sit down on the tube, no holding on to anything on the tube apart from your mates and don’t upset the locals. Fancy dress is optional and encouraged!

Of course the police will be enforcing liquor laws and try not to be a dickhead. The police love us and don't mind a little tomfoolery, but lets not push our luck too much :)

Tube?

For the last 3 or so years we have had to walk the route as TFL have shut it down for "engineering works"... this year for a strange reason (so far!) they have kept it open. This will mean it's the first year we have been allowed to do the pub crawl during the liquor ban on the underground. In other years while this ban has been on, it hasn't been a problem as we've been outside. So this year try and stick to the rules if we are to be allowed to use the Circle Line again.

As there will be literally thousands of us, like other years, TFL end up closing many stations due to overcrowding. I know I'll probably end up walking a fair bit of it anyway. However, look after each other on the tubes and mind the gap!(and don't forget the no sitting or and holding rules)

Is anybody invited??

Yep. You're all invited (even Aussies!) The pub crawl is very friendly and we'll let you all join in. Be prepared to see all sorts of crazy costumes on the day too.

Haka??

Always a difficult one to pick. Try and get to Westminster around 3:30pm or so if you are really keen to be in the haka or to see it. As there are protesters in Parliament Sq, we have had to move ours along a little. The space is long and you can fit a hell of a lot of people there. Last year it was jammed. I am hoping that this year we'll have more ideas on what will happen regarding the haka but to be 100% honest, this is an annual problem as it just spontaneously happens!

Pub Deals? After Party??

Am working on these now. There will be after parties at the Walkabouts in Temple and Shepherds Bush. They will be messy and epic. They will have live music and deals to keep you going all through the night. I will let you know details as they are released.

Cheers!

Labels: 2012