Times Crossword Championships 2014

Author   linxitPosted on Categories Announcement
This year the Championships have moved again, out of the Times HQ and into the Tower Hotel near Tower Bridge. I’ve booked a room myself, so I may just hang around the hotel bar between sessions. In the last few years we’ve all trooped down to the Town of Ramsgate pub, but that looks like a bit of a hike from the hotel.

I’ve posted this as a placeholder for anyone with news of where people are meeting up before and after the event. There may well be a gathering on Friday night – if so here’s where to post the details.

22 comments on “Times Crossword Championships 2014”

  2. Thanks for putting this up Andy.

    Looking at the map the Town of Ramsgate appears to be about the same distance as it was from the Times offices (about a 15 minute walk). There’s a post on Big Dave’s Telegraph blog indicating that it will remain the watering hole of choice over lunch and after the final but the hotel bar may be a draw for those who don’t fancy the walk.

    I intend to follow the example set by Jerry last year and wear a name badge and would be glad to say hello to all fellow TTFTers at the event. I’m in the 11am heat.

    I’m travelling down on Saturday morning so won’t be around for anything on the Friday, but will be in town on Saturday night.

  3. According to Google Maps directions, the Tower Hotel is only 3 mins further away from the pub as it was from the Times HQ.

    I will be at the first session too and then moving on to the Town of Ramsgate.

    Edited at 2014-10-16 10:54 am (UTC)

  4. I’m in the first cull, too. Afterwards, I’ll seek out Penfold’s class monitor badge then cravenly do what everyone else is doing.
    1. I’m definitely going to the pub, not least because one of my fellow bloggers is making a rare trip to London and secondly because another one owes me lunch and several drinks!!
  5. Z8 is attempting the 2nd session & I’m coming along for (im)moral support. We are very easily recognisable – Z8 has a pony-tail, glasses & a beard (our daughter says he looks like Mick Fleetwood) and for a lot of the time he will be pushing a wheelchair containing a large lady (yours truly) with one real leg and a prosthetic leg advertising Spurs.

    We tend to go for a meal & a drink at the Dickens Inn, St Katherine’s dock after his efforts 🙂

    1. I shall look out for you. I would attempt to describe myself but I feel a bit bland and nondescript now. I definitely can’t compete with the Tottenham-supporting appendage (I just hope the other leg isn’t an Arsenal fan!).
  6. If only there were a magic carpet from NYC… I had meant to join the die-hards in the pub afterwards a year ago but was so knackered by the end of the festivities I let I dare not wait upon I would (sorry, we’re rather Shakespearean today) and now regret it. I was wondering if the proximity of the hotel bar might make a difference to the afternoon session(s). Last year sobriety reigned. Looking forward to all the details.
  8. My brain only starts working properly as the day goes on, so I have to compete as close to midnight as I possibly can, i.e. the afternoon session. But my invitation letter looks like a copy of last year’s, with the wrong date and last year’s venue! Is it 12-12.50pm at the Tower Hotel then?

  9. I am in the 2nd session – need my slower start on a Saturday after being woken by early alarms during the week.

    I’m another of the nondescript brigade I’m afraid.

    The second session starts at 1pm – registration/sign in is 12-12:50

  10. I am another in the early session. As a middle-aged man with a beard, I imagine I’ll stand out as a very distinctive presence. On second thoughts, perhaps a name badge wouldn’t be a bad idea.
    1. This fell foul of the spam filter, so I have taken the liberty of deleting duplicates to tidy things up.
      1. Thank you
        It can’t be much of a spam filter if duplicates end up getting on there 🙂
        Anyway, I see the link, which is what I think was causing my message (apparently) to fail to post has somehow made it

        RR

  12. I’ll be there, but mostly invisible until it’s over – working in the scoring room. Expecting to go to the T of R afterwards – one length of the dock isn’t much compared to the rest of the walk.
  13. I’m in the first session – along with crypticsue, sotira and topicaltim (curses!), but at least avoiding coming up against Z, verlaine and shanson (phew!).

    I plan to wear a name-badge as usual.

    See you all there.

  14. I’m also in the first session – I have some misgivings about going to the T of R at lunchtime, as last year I made the final for the first time but had too much to drink at lunchtime, got back late and ended up sitting next to Mark Goodliffe (the only space left, oddly enough!) and came 23rd out of 24.

    If I make the final this year I’ll go down at lunchtime, but try to be a bit more temperate. Umm, yeah right…

    I’ll be easily recognizable, look out for a fat bald bloke without a dog on his head!

  15. Time to remove the sticky now, Andy, perhaps?

    However, I think we should try to do better next year: we should have a specific, TFTT/Crossword Club event, starting immediately after the final finishes… I will organise something if you like, if I’m spared that long 🙂

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