I have the opportunity to go to the GBBFⁱ this year again but I've decided not to.   For the last two years I've organised a works corporate entertainment day on the Thursday of the festival & arrived just before 12.00 and left around 20.00.   On the Fridays I took the day off work & went again with my friends & drunk the leftover beer tokens that the clients didn't use.   Both sessions have been fun, but it takes it out on your legs standing all day.

This year I am not with the same company as before & am waiting for my new job to start, so I have a good opportunity to go.   However I keep remembering the following points;

• Its a long journey there & back.   Plus I need a lift / taxi from local station.
• It gets incredibly busy indeed as the afternoon progresses
• British queuing system often breaks down into European style system (ie a scrum).
• Not nearly enough seats
• Too hot, irrespective of outside weather
• People drinking pints of London Pride.   A lovely beer but you have the choice of 400+beers from all over the world!   Don't buy one that you can get anywhere in London!   Don't buy a pint - you'll get to try more if you drink 1/3 or 1/2s!
• Finally - its in London.   Meh.

Its not all bad however as it is the 2nd biggest beer festival in the world - of course the Americans do it bigger in Denver - and quite a day out.   Massive pub quiz on the Saturday session & some half-decent bands on.

It is always discussed during the GBBF that now would be the best time to do a pub crawl around London.   Now there's an idea...