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Edinburgh July 2020 CANCELLEDThe ongoing COVID-19 lockdown meant that it was impossible to hold this meet.
Tripadvisor reviews of the venue .
If you wish to attend the meet, could you please register using this link to the Future Events section of the SimSig web-site. The page is now on-line to try and gauge possible numbers attending. However, given the current uncertainty over COVID-19, it is possible this event may be cancelled or postponed. Please watch the forum for any updates on this meet. It is important that people register even though there is no charge for the event so that we can advise the venue of the likely numbers attending. If you do sign up then find that you are unable to attend, please return to the event and cancel your registration. This will enable us to keep track of the numbers and give sensible details to the venue.
The venue is situated in The Grassmarket in Edinburgh. Google map of the area here . It is a 12 or 15 minute walk from Waverley station. The shortest route involves a challenging climb up the News Steps to the right from the Market Street exit from Edinburgh Waverley but there are longer routes that are rather less physically challenging.
It is a 20 minute walk from Haymarket station along a route with no significant gradients or climbs.
Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket are served by local Scottish services provided by Scotrail and long distance services provided by LNER , Cross Country , Avanti West Coast and Trans Pennine Express .
Coach services from many parts of the UK to Edinburgh are operated by National Express and Megabus .
Local buses are operated by Lothian Buses and First Group . There is some more information about buses to and from the Park-and-Ride facilities below.
Edinburgh has a tram route from the airport, through the Western suburbs of the city, past Haymarket Station, along Princes Street to Waverley Station then turning off to the Eastern Terminus at York Place. The Beehive Inn is about a 15 minute walk from the West End tram stop.
Craig (handle on the Forum "Hap") has passed on the following information for those considering driving for the meet:
The city centre is absolutely extortionate for parking, but there are several park and rides dotted around the outskirts.
Newcraighall is directly off the A1, at 50p per 24 hours and there is a Premier Inn also with it's own parking at the same slip road. An off-peak day return Newcraighall - EDB costs about £3.50. Journey time of no more than 10 minutes. half hourly service during the day, hourly mid evening. But also a number 30 bus gets you back out if the train was missed.
Sheriffhall Park & Ride is more to the South outskirts with many buses into the city. Lothian buses operate a service 33 which runs every 20 minutes, journey times around 30 minutes to get onto Princes street. £4.50 for a day ticket, £1.80 Single.
Hermiston Gate Park & ride to the West edges of the city.
Multiple buses into the city. Lothian buses operate from here with the same £4.50 day ticket, £1.80 single.
Firstbus (the company not the earliest trip!) also operate from here but have a significantly higher fare structure.
Journey times are around 35/40 minutes.
The good thing about Edinburgh are the Night buses. Separate ticket would be needed but they run most main routes if anyone was staying out past bed time.
No food will be provided at the meet but food can be purchased from the bar menu .
The venue is a Belhaven house (part of the Greene King Group) with a range of real ales, ciders, beers, lagers, wine, soft drinks (brand name cola, lemonade, etc.) and water. Tea and coffee will be available. The upstairs bar will be staffed for part of our meet but the full range is not carried in the upstairs bar. There will still be a selection of real ales, lagers etc. available but drinks may be carried upstairs from the downstairs bar if the range upstairs is not suitable.
A private WiFi network will be set up for the meet laptops to connect with each other but not for internet access. WiFi access to the internet is available through the pub system.
The meet will be held in the upstairs Bar (follow the signs for the Comedy Club) the far end of which is reserved for our exclusive use.
There will be ample space for the laptops to be used in any multiplay with enough room for circulation and socialising in the SimSig private area and then the rest of the room.
Planned from 12noon to 6pm, The venue opens at 11:00 on Saturdays so those with laptops for use by the SimSig public are asked to arrive shortly before 12:00 and register.
The event will take place without any entrance fee.
Shared access to multiplayer simulations, tutorials on how to play SimSig if needed.
There are hotels of all grades and prices from guest-houses to four- and five-star hotels within easy walking distance of the venue. Be aware that even Travelodge/Premier Inn type accommodation within walking distance is often priced in the £80 to £100 range per room so it may be better to get accommodation away from the centre of Edinburgh and travel in on the day.
We had a lot of help in finding a suitable venue from a former Royal Mail colleague of Postal (John Gallon). The former colleague (Alan Paterson) is the drummer in The Banned who play "classic Rock and Soul music predominantly but not exclusively from the 1960s". They have a gig on the Friday night (3rd. July) at Whistle Binkies. 4-6 South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1LL which is five minutes walk from The Beehive. They are booked to be on stage from 21:30 to 23:45. Anyone staying overnight on the Friday night is welcome to attend the gig. Whistle Binkies currently make no charge for entry to the gigs.
Normally some of those attending go on for a curry. The Grassmarket area in Edinburgh has a wide selection of restaurants so it is probable that post-meet victuals will be taken somewhere adjacent to the meet.
No visit has been arranged to date.
TBC
TBC
Last edited by postal on 12/05/2020 at 18:46