Orion M.C.

Remember how it used to be not so long ago ... sigh ...

Just a couple of points to continue the debate: The staff themselves are fine. Alot more friendly than the old Alex but saying that I miss his dry humour. But the place is not what it once was. A sad demise of my favourite pub anywhere ever.

I've been to the West once. It's my sister and brother in laws favourite Glasgow pub. Largely cause of the beer. I had a day there with them and Gail a wee while ago and had a good time. Only problem I see is Gail is keen to go back so it could be the end of my boys night out. Seriously, it may be worth seeing what it's like on a Thursday. Wee bit out of town, but only a bit. Good suggestion?



John

Thanks for the comments so far, keep them coming.

There is as always a danger in assuming that the folk who don't regularly contribute to the Forum have the same view as those that do. I am going to let this debate run for a bit but one thing that is clear in the meantime is that the volume of the live music is a bit much. I shall have a word with the management and see how amenable they are to getting it turned down. I hate a pub where you can't hear yourself arguing. I will also try and make a point of sounding out the non-Forum members.

Also it seems that someone (oh well, I suppose it has to be me) will have to reconnoitre the west and Mono. I will try really hard before tomorrow evening.

failing management agreeing to a dB amnesty, I agree wit Martine's suggestion that Scott should get up on stage and do 'That's Intertainment' in his usual inimitable style. The Orion, like rats in a nuclear winter, will be immune to it but the rest of the clientele and the guitarist will be driven to their bunkers for 20 years or so and then we can just have Andy and Graham running an honesty bar like at Tomdoun and we can maybe have guest spots for the old Viccy bar staff, a free scowl or sardonic comment with every skull-splitting but watery pint.

Oi

But I've been secretly practising...was singing along with Paul last Friday And although he failed to include TE in his set he did manage to squeeze in the fantastic Eton Rifles, live for the first time in 26 years

Can you imagine me belting that out in the Vicky

"Sup up your beer and collect your fags, there's a row going on, down near Slough,
Get out your mat and pray for yourself, I'll get out mine and pray for myself,

HELLO HURRAH what a fine day for the ETON RIFLES, ETON RIFLES,

HELLO HURRAH I hope rain stops play for the ETON RIFLES, ETON RIFLES...."


Oops, got a bit carried away

Perhaps I could try some Tibetan Buddhist ritual music. I'm sure that'll just drag in the crowds.

Before or after the whisky?

The Templeton Business centre place is too far out of town.

I`m not standing outside the New Monaco Bar in sunny downtown Brigton at 11.30 pm waiting for a bus home

Anybody going home by train from the Central has to walk for 20 minutes through the Calton to get to the station.It`s just too far out.

Let`s find somewhere else first and try it out before burning our bridges in the Viccy.

A friend mentioned a music free establishment in Waterloo Street named Rui Dubh or something that sounded like that.Not bad parking in the area though the run up to Xmas might prove difficult on a Thursday night.

Agree with Alex, lets not rush into leaving. Lets give them a chance. Can we bribe the new owner? Give him a free night at club meet in return for turning off the amp.

Right Folks, thats it!
Last night was the last straw. Scotch Corner?the Vicky Bar is no longer a joke, its just downright atrocious. I think I've been down about once this summer and that was for 5 minutes to give Gordon some money. The summers are so cr*p that I find it too cold to sit outside even in July. Last night was utterly freezing even with full hill gear on. As per usual there was no ale in Scotch Corner so they sent me through to the Clutha. As per usual it was off in there as well (just as well as a single pint has the same after effects the next morning as 6 pints in a decent pub). Oh and what a surprise they don't stock decent bottled beer in the fridges anymore.
I lasted one uncomfortable drink standing frozen in the dark of the beergarden before heading off to the Laureston and the bright and warmth and decent draught/bottled beer. You wouldn't sit in your own back garden drinking pi** in November, so why pay good money to do so in these dreadful pubs.
I can't believe that they have managed to ruin what were 2 brilliant pubs, and I think it is pretty poor to expect new members to come down and sit frozen outside and virtually unable to see anyones face in the miserable gloom. The Lomond meet in a very pleasant venue with beer you can drink and a seat inside.
We need a new venue and we need it fast. Lauries in King St or Mono are 2 suggestions but I would be willing to go on a pub crawl on a Thursday to find somewhere else.
As its now a bit of an effort to get into town on a Thu, I certainly won't be wasting the effort when I could be warm at home or at least sat in a decent warm pub where the beer won't poison me.

Hang about Craig, I feel that you are trying to steamroll your opinion over the whole club here.

I agree with what Julian stated from the outset…that we need measured debate about what to do. This should involve the whole club and the debate may extend to the AGM when a decision could be taken with the majority of the club present.

We have been meeting in our current location for years and moving should not be taken lightly.

You state that a great pub has been ruined, but in reality what exactly has changed since the change in management.

The beer AND the lager was crap in the days when Alex the barman ruled the roost. The lager is now more than adequate and some say the beer has also improved (not being a regular beer drinker I can’t vouch for this but have to accept the opinion of others). In fact, I have only heard of two members complaining about the beer recently. However if there are others, I apologise for being off the mark. So all in all, to me that sounds like an improvement, at least that is my take on it.

So what else has changed? Well they’ve made some internal refitting alterations that are so minor as to be almost imperceptible. They have also constructed a beer garden which personally I think to be rather fine.

Ok, there is a huge flat screen telly, but the sound is never on so that really can’t annoy you, and anyway just about every pub has one of them these days.

They have also brought in much more friendly and attentive staff.

So, bearing in mind that you were already saying that the pub had been ruined long before they brought in guitar man, how exactly have they ruined the pub??

For most folk who have got a bit depressed about the pub recently it comes down to one thing…the volume of the music. If we can manage to get across to them that the pub would be better if the music was turned down/done away with/moved back to the other room, then I suggest that the vast majority of the club would be more than happy to stay put.

Also, I ask all members not to presume that everyone is upset enough to want to move to another pub. I for one am quite willing to stay at the Vicky even if we are unsuccessful in getting the music turned down. And I know that there are others in the club who share my view on this. Of course if the majority wish to change venues then I shall go along with the democratic vote, but firstly I think we have other avenues open to us, like trying to get the music turned down so that we can sit inside and chat.

Measured debate and the opinions of all, that is the key here.

Oh, and the Lomonds might meet in a warm, pleasant pub, but my sources tell me that the they are going through a rough patch at the moment and that hardly anyone attends their pub meets. Maybe they would get on better if they met somewhere like the Vicky/Scotch Corner

Scott - its a bit strong to say he is trying to steam roll the club. You have your opinion and vocally express it, Craig is doing the same.

It's a bit cheeky of me having a say in this here since I haven't been down at the pub for a good while.

Maybe I could be the referee in this debate?

Graham, I believe what I have said because Craig and others seem to be trying to rush the club into moving. Craig is willing to go on a pub crawl NEXT week to find a new meeting place, he even states that he wants a new place "fast".

That to me is steamrolling because no time would then be given to debating the views of the club as a whole. This is a serious issue and as such requires some thought.

I actually thought I was being rather diplomatic in how I expressed myself. And I am just expressing MY opinions why the pub has not been ruined.

However, if I have offended anyone then I apologise.

Think we now need a formal debate Mr. President before things get out of hand.

No need to apologise, it was just a yello card

I agree with you that we need the whole club involved in this debate not just forum users.

It's emotional stuff, especially with some members wanting to find another pub. Afterall the 'Viccy' has been our home for a long time. (and personnally I hope we can make it work and continue as our home).

A concenus of sorts had been reached on the forum to try and get them to turn the music down.

As you say a propoer debate is needed with some rational thought.

By the way what was it like last night?