[poisoned_rose]

I'm starting a PhD at Durham in October, and there's a lot of postgrads who want to arrange a postgrad get together, so we can all meet each other. DSU only has arranged events for undergrad freshers, and Ustinov events may be difficult because we're all in different colleges. We want an informal laid back setting, where we can talk and actually hear each other! I was thinking maybe a decent sized pub would be a good idea? Numbers are a bit sketchy right now, but I'm thinking it'll probably be a couple dozen at most. Any idea what the best place in Durham would be to hang out and get to know each other?

[Awoodrow2]

(Original post by poisoned_rose)
Any idea what the best place in Durham would be to hang out and get to know each other?

Thoughts off the top of my head:
- the LGBTa seem pretty fond of Esquires coffee shop when they have getogethers
- picnic in the Botanical Gardens if you get nice weather
- try one of the larger college bars when they've not got a special night on (Trevs leaps to mind, being my own, and isn't usually too busy)
- Half Moon Inn on New Elvet has a fairly good sized beer garden
- Kingsgate Bar in the DSU is pretty large and usually empty
- same goes for the DSU's Riverside Café, for that matter

[poisoned_rose]

(Original post by Awoodrow2)
Thoughts off the top of my head:
- the LGBTa seem pretty fond of Esquires coffee shop when they have getogethers
- picnic in the Botanical Gardens if you get nice weather
- try one of the larger college bars when they've not got a special night on (Trevs leaps to mind, being my own, and isn't usually too busy)
- Half Moon Inn on New Elvet has a fairly good sized beer garden
- Kingsgate Bar in the DSU is pretty large and usually empty
- same goes for the DSU's Riverside Café, for that matter

Ahh, I should have been clearer: we're looking at an evening/night sort of time. I guess a bit like a social. We can't use the DSU because we're looking at meeting the weekend before term starts. I got directed towards the Slug & Lettuce in town, and it looks OK, but is there something we should be aware of? Like, for instance, one of the first things a friend of mine told me was to stay clear of the Fighting Cocks because the locals don't like students.

[Awoodrow2]

(Original post by poisoned_rose)
Ahh, I should have been clearer: we're looking at an evening/night sort of time. I guess a bit like a social. We can't use the DSU because we're looking at meeting the weekend before term starts. I got directed towards the Slug & Lettuce in town, and it looks OK, but is there something we should be aware of? Like, for instance, one of the first things a friend of mine told me was to stay clear of the Fighting Cocks because the locals don't like students.

- I've never been to the Slug myself, but it looks like a pretty nice place.
- The Cocks is the only place I've been warned off going, everywhere else seems fine, but most of the pubs are a bit pokey (not good for groups trying to get to know each other)
- I'd suggest a restaurant, but I've only been to a couple of them, so I'm not much help there. Just not Spags, because it's really noisy, and a bit hard to talk in there (well, at least during term time).

[Winnipeg]

The Market Tavern on Market Square is nice - it's quite small but if you can bagsy one of the large tables you'll be fine. Maybe a better option would be Varsity as it's a lot bigger and pretty good value...those are the places that spring to mind for me!