If we are willing to pay a modest amount there are lots of venues that we can have quite cheaply. But aside from not spending money, the advantage to my mind of large pubs on their quiet days is that not having to arrange anything with the venue means a lot less work for the event organiser.

Three other things I would add to Fabian's list, disability access, them not minding if we stay on for several hours, sometimes with only one or two people nursing beers, and separate bills or pay as you order. The pub we use in London fits that criteria pretty well, though four minutes walk from Holborn tube isn't the best connected place in London. My experience of cafes is that they are less likely to tolerate a large group that is long past the point of spending money, I also don't fancy trying to work out a  bill at the end, much better to have people purchase from the bar as they order - different cafes seem to have differing systems for this and the one Charles uses in Cambridge is great.

Regards

Jonathan Cardy
GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives & Museums) Organiser/Trefnydd GLAM (Galeriau, Llyfrgelloedd, Archifdai a llawer Mwy!)
Wikimedia UK
0207 065 0990

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On 30 September 2014 12:41, Jon Davies <jon.davies@wikimedia.org.uk> wrote:

How about Sure Start Centres - often empty at the weekend. I used to run them and if a trusted outside organisation offered to do some training for the parents it mught be a good contra deal.  Depends on making a relationship with the local manager.

Or a local secondary school where again the students could be invited along.

On 30 September 2014 11:37, Fabian Tompsett <fabian.tompsett@wikimedia.org.uk> wrote:

I think we need to look at the sort of things we want out of a venue:

• Not too noisy
• Decent food/drink, but not too expensive
• Spacious rather than cramped (particularly important for people with children)
• Ideally, a children's play area attached
• Near railway station for people out of town and with parking not to far away for those who still drive cars.
  

Perhaps there are some other points that could be added.I am not sure about public Wifi asI am getting increasingly nervous about security issues as regards this. However, perhaps we can organise Wikimifis for the occasion.

all the best

all the best

Fabian Tompsett,

Volunteer Support Organiser,

Wikimedia UK,

Address: 56-64 Leonard St,
Shoreditch,
London EC2A 4LT

Phone:020 7065 0990

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Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects).

Telephone (0044) 207 065 0990. 
 
Visit http://www.wikimedia.org.uk/ and @wikimediauk

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