London Spring Pen Show March 8Th

[sandy101]

Does anyone fancy meeting up for a pint/beverage of your choice on the 9th? I believe there is a pub opposite and/or a bar at the hotel.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts? I was thinking maybe lunchtime - 12.30-1.30 - folk can show off their swag and/or discuss what they 'd like to buy or not buy.

 

 

[bbs]

Yes, I’d be up for that! BTW, have you seen there’s also a pen show in Marylebone in London in June this year?

[Fermata]

Yes, I’d be up for that! BTW, have you seen there’s also a pen show in Marylebone in London in June this year?

 

It looks to be a different style to the London Pen Show

 

https://thecapitalpen.show/

 

eta

 

The date is June 13, a Saturday.

 

There isnt too much in the way of details but at first glance it looks to be more of an event than the March and October pen shows.

Edited February 11, 2020 by Parkette

[bbs]

Thanks for adding those details, Parkette. For £2.50 pre-booked entry, worth a punt, I reckon.

[dapprman]

I could be up for a drink - though in recent times I've hit a small but very good locals pizzeria round the corner

[sandy101]

That sounds like a good suggestion. Does anyone fancy lunch at the pizzeria, and showing off some pens?

 

There's three pizzerias (on google in the area). There's Pizza Sophia on Tavistock place, Café Toscana and Blooms in a hotel. Can you remember which one?

 

Is 12.30-1.30 a good time to aim for?

[LesterPendragon]

My default would be a pint *after* rather than a pizza half way through, but I'd probably be up for a break midday if that's the consensus.

Or, of course, both…

[sandy101]

I'm thinking not everyone is going to stay for the whole event - and so lunch might be good for those who come for the 1st half, or 2nd - and folk who want to do all day, are going to want to eat (and that room can get so hot).

 

However, there's nothing to stop us arranging both. A mid-show lunch break and a post show pint. Then people can do what suits them most. After all it only takes two to have a pen meet up.

 

So, if we have a lunchtime venue, and a post-pint venue then folk are going to know where to go, if they so choose -especially if they've travelled down and don't know anyone.

 

Now, what toppings go on a Visconti pizza, and how would that be different from a Leonardo...?

 

Answers on a postcard, please...

Edited February 13, 2020 by sandy101

[bbs]

Both sounds good to me! Leaves it more flexible too. I really don’t need exposure to beautiful costly pens just at the moment though ....

 

On the other hand, I have just invested £2.50 in an advance ticket to The Capital Pen Show in June, and the payment has gone to Izods Pens. Interesting - they seemed to have been winding down lately, which would be a shame if it is the case. At least they’ve stopped selling Tactile Turn pens. Just as I thought I might buy one.

 

Now, about those pizzas ..... the Montegrappa would have every topping piled high.

[dapprman]

That sounds like a good suggestion. Does anyone fancy lunch at the pizzeria, and showing off some pens?

 

There's three pizzerias (on google in the area). There's Pizza Sophia on Tavistock place, Café Toscana and Blooms in a hotel. Can you remember which one?

 

Is 12.30-1.30 a good time to aim for?

It's Pizza Sophia - https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186338-d4925053-r624105183-Pizza_Sophia-London_England.html

[sandy101]

Thank you.

 

If anyone fancies lunch with some fountain pen fans, then please feel free to come to Pizzeria Sophia, 50 Tavistock Place, WC1H 9RG. It is literallty around the corner. I'll be there from 12.30-1.30ish. Got to eat after all. Do Pizzas come in Oversize?

 

If anyone wants a beer afterwards then the Marquis Cornwallis, perhaps? From 4pm onwards.

 

Just look for someone waving a fountain pen around with wild abandon.

 

Do invite folk along.

 

Sandy

Edited February 14, 2020 by sandy101

[Fermata]

Does anyone have any reservations about attending the London Pen Show given the concern over coronavirus, I have just come off the phone from someone who has cancelled the trip, the schools in her town are closed for two weeks due to worries. I also recall that the venue was very crowded with a multinational attendance and very hot with AC that couldnt cope.

 

Should we be concerned?

[dapprman]

Nope not me. I'll be there (I better remember to book my parking)

[Beechwood]

Sounds like the perfect incubator for the virus, 1000+ people from all over Europe compressed into one hot ,under air conditionned hall, all touching and handling pens, and all standing in close proximity to each other. How many will be washing their hands as they come in from the outside before they handle the pens and shake the hands of friends?

[bbs]

If you have concerns, you can always take hand sanitiser, wash your hands after touching pens and avoid touching your mouth or nose with your hands.

 

I’ll be there looking at pens, hoping our European friends are still coming.

[danielbird193]

I'll be there, Coronavirus or no Coronavirus. I take the train to work every day, I'm just as likely to pick up something on the train as I am at a pen show. If others fail to travel I'll just see it as an opportunity to pick up a few more bargains which might otherwise have been snapped up by those who succumbed to fear mongering (which is far more virulent than COVID-19).

[Fermata]

I'll be there, Coronavirus or no Coronavirus. I take the train to work every day, I'm just as likely to pick up something on the train as I am at a pen show. If others fail to travel I'll just see it as an opportunity to pick up a few more bargains which might otherwise have been snapped up by those who succumbed to fear mongering (which is far more virulent than COVID-19).

 

When our doctors and schools are closed its difficult to understand your line of thinking but let's hope that you are right and that you have an enjoyable and virus free day.

[dapprman]

 

When our doctors and schools are closed its difficult to understand your line of thinking but let's hope that you are right and that you have an enjoyable and virus free day.

Panic and paranoia ? When normal flu is far deadlier and just as contagious. It's the uncertainty and the press coverage that makes people worry.

 

OK you could argue that the last time there was something like this or SARS which was ignored was the Spanish Flu in 1918/9 and that was horrendous, but modern medical knowledge and far greater levels of hygiene.

 

With doctors - you should never visit one if you've potentially got a contagious illness, and people do ignore this. Also patients tend to be more susceptible and also weaker (as are the elderly and really young), so that does make sense.

 

Schools only makes a certain amount of sense with really young kids - but then, to be blunt, why close because a teacher or pupil potentially has coronavirus, when they no longer seem to do if there is a case of meningitis, which is far, far deadlier and also highly contagious.

[Fermata]

Panic and paranoia ? When normal flu is far deadlier and just as contagious. It's the uncertainty and the press coverage that makes people worry.

 

OK you could argue that the last time there was something like this or SARS which was ignored was the Spanish Flu in 1918/9 and that was horrendous, but modern medical knowledge and far greater levels of hygiene.

 

With doctors - you should never visit one if you've potentially got a contagious illness, and people do ignore this. Also patients tend to be more susceptible and also weaker (as are the elderly and really young), so that does make sense.

 

Schools only makes a certain amount of sense with really young kids - but then, to be blunt, why close because a teacher or pupil potentially has coronavirus, when they no longer seem to do if there is a case of meningitis, which is far, far deadlier and also highly contagious.

 

 

You are going to feel a bit of a chump if you are wrong!

 

The point about not visiting the doctors when you have a contagious illness, most people visit the doctors to have an illness diagnosed, contagious or otherwise.

 

You havent really made a point on attendance but given that there is widespread concern about passing on the virus people can make their own minds up. I just recall that the hall is very hot, has poor air conditioning and with very high levels of attendance, I recall one year when you could hardly get to the tables it was so busy.

 

As has been said above, local schools are closed, hand sanitizer is sold out of most shops, surgical masks are impossible to find. the above poster has used the word paranoia which normally means an irrational fear, I havent seen any firm evidence that the fear of dying due to Covid 19 is irrational.

 

I hope you are right dapprman and that you have a healthy and successful show.

[dapprman]

Me too. If I go down with something after attending then you can do a 'told you so'

 

BTW the real reason you should not, and they do not want you to, visit the doctors if you are ill is two fold. First you may infect others there, second, many in the waiting room will already be weaker and so more susceptible to your bugs and likely to be less resilient to their effects.

Edited March 1, 2020 by dapprman