Miscellaneous Questions
A Greenwich newbie is puzzled about several things and has bundled them all up in one enormous Ask The Phantom...
He writes:
1) Pub quizzes - When, where, good/bad, theme...? Seems like the sort of place that would/should have plenty of quizzes.
I know there's a big one at The Vanbrugh Tavern, and the Ashburnham Arms always used to. The Plume of Feathers in Park Vista has one, I believe, and Hardy's in Trafalgar Road. If you're in the Westcombe Park area, there's one just about to start at the newly-refurbished Royal Standard, Blackheath. As to quality or themes, I'm afraid I don't do pub quizzes - I am rubbish at instant fact retrieval. But I bet there are people here who know.
2) What on earth is going on with the works on Greenwich High Road (they've apparently been there for a year and show no sign of abating, merely multiplying)?
I always assumed it was an extension of the seemingly interminable replacement of the Victorian water mains that's been going on here for over a year, but come to think of it, it does seem to be taking longer than everywhere else. Any ideas, folks?
3)What time does the park close - I was wondering around in the dark the other day and it showed no signs of closing up but I do fear being trapped inside at some juncture! The website only says:
The park is open from 6.00am for pedestrians (and 7.00am for traffic) all year round.
Which doesn't really help on the closing front. Usually, it's set at dusk, but how do they ensure people aren't scattered around the place - wardens with torches, loudspeakers..?
I understand that it closes 'at dusk' - but how they let people know I have no idea. I suspect rangers drive around looking for obvious stragglers so unless you're deliberately hiding, I'm sure you wouldn't get locked in. One of the gates is open longer than the others, but which one currently escapes me (I told you I was rubbish at instant fact retrieval...) Could be the Circus one. It would be pretty easy to hang around inside if you wanted to - there are lots of 'hollow' holly bushes (v. good for sheltering in if you get caught out in a rainstorm, I find...)
He writes:
1) Pub quizzes - When, where, good/bad, theme...? Seems like the sort of place that would/should have plenty of quizzes.
I know there's a big one at The Vanbrugh Tavern, and the Ashburnham Arms always used to. The Plume of Feathers in Park Vista has one, I believe, and Hardy's in Trafalgar Road. If you're in the Westcombe Park area, there's one just about to start at the newly-refurbished Royal Standard, Blackheath. As to quality or themes, I'm afraid I don't do pub quizzes - I am rubbish at instant fact retrieval. But I bet there are people here who know.
2) What on earth is going on with the works on Greenwich High Road (they've apparently been there for a year and show no sign of abating, merely multiplying)?
I always assumed it was an extension of the seemingly interminable replacement of the Victorian water mains that's been going on here for over a year, but come to think of it, it does seem to be taking longer than everywhere else. Any ideas, folks?
3)What time does the park close - I was wondering around in the dark the other day and it showed no signs of closing up but I do fear being trapped inside at some juncture! The website only says:
The park is open from 6.00am for pedestrians (and 7.00am for traffic) all year round.
Which doesn't really help on the closing front. Usually, it's set at dusk, but how do they ensure people aren't scattered around the place - wardens with torches, loudspeakers..?
I understand that it closes 'at dusk' - but how they let people know I have no idea. I suspect rangers drive around looking for obvious stragglers so unless you're deliberately hiding, I'm sure you wouldn't get locked in. One of the gates is open longer than the others, but which one currently escapes me (I told you I was rubbish at instant fact retrieval...) Could be the Circus one. It would be pretty easy to hang around inside if you wanted to - there are lots of 'hollow' holly bushes (v. good for sheltering in if you get caught out in a rainstorm, I find...)
Labels: Ask The Phantom
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
08:43
10 Comments:
As the newbie who asked this mixed bag of questions, thanks TGP for putting these up.
Am hoping to lure as many compadres to Greenwich, and the promise of a pub quiz may just do it for some of them..
Apparently at least some of the mess on Greenwich High Road is gas-related, but it does look rather like an abandoned Time Team excavation.
There are signs with closing times at the gates, at least the main gate down by greenwich. It changes every month, as of november I think it closes at 6.
There's always people trying to climb out over the gates at night though :)
Ashburnham quiz is pretty good. The Richard I has had a quiz intermittently for years - though I think that may currently be hibernating! The Monday night quiz at the Van' varies quite a lot in both quality and difficulty
Best one in the area has to be at the Dog & Bell, in Deptford. Sunday night 9pm - questions can be very eclectic mind.
Band new quiz is due to start every Wednesday at The Rose and Crown (1 Crooms Hill). Used to be a regular feature until the the quizmaster/barman got sacked for drinking the profits!
Anyway, revamp and hopefully back to its former glory. You'll find 'The Rose' very welcoming.
There's a cool film quiz I keep meaning to catch at Greenwich Picturehouse once a month.
When the park closes several keepers drive around with bright lights looking for stragglers and herding them out. Some friends got locked inside and ended up climbing over the wall. Fun for a bit. All night? Not so much.
The quiz at the Plume was always good, with Geoffrey the quiz master always entertaining. It used to be every Wednesday, however not sure if it's still on.
My husband and his mates (visiting from as afar as Clapham, hooray people visiting us for a change!) did the film quiz at the Picture House. It was pretty packed and they seemed to really enjoy it. The questions were for film buff types though! Think it's the first tuesday (or is it thursday?) of every month.
The last gate to be closed used to be (and may well still be) the main Blackheath gate. The park police office is next to it and I guess, in extremis, they would let a straggler out- esp. if they were suitably apologetic- it beats having to climb over a gate or scale the wall.
I've been caught inside quite late (straggling home on a nice summer evening). Didn't make it to the side gate on Maze Hill on time so the squad car pointed us in the direction of the Blackheath exit which was a bit of a hassle, as they let you out when they've done the rounds of the park and come back again. No idea what happens if you do a Rip Van Winkle and turn up hours after it has closed.
The Van Burgh Tavern quiz is on a Monday night, quite a decent first prize I believe.
Thanks for all the responses. I shall endeavour to make it to some of the pub quizzes mentioned, and may even unknowingly bump into some of you! As the park, I took a look at the sign at the main Maritime Greenwich entrance and there is indeed a list of closing time which runs to 6pm during winter. Cheers for the advice.
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