Guest report from Dan on his Monopoly Crawl attempt - 28th September 2007....

Previously we had decided that Chris and I would first tackle the monopoly crawl in order, but I decided that we were going to do it out of order. So we set off to Kings Cross station early Saturday morning. Having arrived at the station at 9 am we were surprised and delighted not only to find The Duke of York, open but serving alcohol. 2 swift halves of Grolsch were ordered at 9:05 am and consumed hastily.

“Would Marlebone's station bar also be open?” - we caught the tube to Marlebone via Baker Street. Unfortunately the pub was closed. Not too disheartened we caught the Bakerloo line down to Elephant and Castle. Once we got our bearings we set off at a fairly quick pace to Old Kent Road - after 35 mins we arrived at The Lord Nelson. Whilst deciding if the pub was open, the landlord let us in. We were not the only customers (I wouldn't count on them always letting punters in this early) so with the scent of bleach strong in the air we ordered 2 halves of Stella at 10:27 am.

After another 35 mins fast walk back to Elephant and Castle we caught the northern line to Bank and walked to Monument. Due to lack of district line trains for the next 20 mins or so we got the tube to Tower Hill. A swift walk round the streets brought us to Fenchurch Street Station - passing the closed East India arms on the way, we visited the station bar The Fen . I opted for a half of Young's Bitter whilst Chris had the usual Stella ordered at 11:25 am. A walk back the way we came led us to one of the Vine Street ‘s in London. The Angel was closed so we walked north up Vine Street and spotted the Chamberlain Hotel. We entered and proceeded to the bar, to be told they were not open - but the bar manager did not take much convincing and we ordered 2 halves of San Miguel at 11:37 am.

From here we walked up to Aldgate - just past Aldgate east station is the Aldgate Exchange on Whitechapel High Street - we thought this would do and nipped inside for 2 halves of Stella at 12:00 pm. Whilst in the pub we saw about six lads doing the circle line crawl with special T-shirts. Was this pub going to be good enough? 50p in the iTbox monopoly proves the property is Whitechapel Road - Doh! (At this point we were serious about where possible doing a pub on the actual street not just nearby) So out the door and up Whitechapel Road, where about 2/3 of the way to the tube station we spotted The Black Bull - quite a smart looking place - and ordered 2 halves of Cobra at 12:20 pm.

We took the tube to Liverpool Street Station - missed the pub in the station - and went outside to the White Hart on Liverpool Street (see - starting to slip already). Being lunch time, this pub was very busy and two halves - Amstel for me and Stella for Chris - were eventually ordered at 12:55 pm. At this point Chris couldn't resist playing the iTbox and because we were actually winning many precious minutes were wasted. Back into the station and more wasted time as Chris had to find the bog. Eventually got on a tube to Angel but I hadn't been playing attention and became convinced we were headed in the wrong direction, so I dragged Chris off the tube to find out we were going the right way and had gotten off one stop too early - 10 mins wasted as we waited for the next tube.

Having alighted at Angel we had to head down White Lion Street as The Angel Islington is an area, not a road. As we walked we passed a new looking bar called the Hobgoblin but decided to carry on down White Lion Street to the Lord Worlsey. 2 halves of Stella ordered at 1:55 - nice pub. We turned left onto Pentonville Road and walked towards Kings Cross - we found The Long Hope which looked ropey as hell from outside, with a couple of Mancuniuns arguing in the door way, but was actually quite upmarket inside - 2 halves of Stella again - at 2:10.

Walked past kings cross onto Euston Road - past the O'Neils (on most monopoly crawls) next door plus one to the Euston Flyer. This is a good Fullers pub and is a regular meeting spot for Stu and I. I had a half of Discovery and Chris a half of Staropramen at 2:33 pm (this is more like it - 3 pubs in 45 mins). From here we walked back up pentonville road to the Thames Link and after a 15 min wait caught a train to the City stop. From here we started to head down Fleet Street and came across the Tipperary - a small irish bar - and ordered 2 halves of San Miguel at 3:17 pm (Still a long way to go - sorry Chris made me write that)

Onto The Strand and opposite the royal courts of justice is The George - a nice pub - 2 halves of Bitburger ordered at 3:45 pm. From here we walked onto Wellington Street which becomes Bow Street and into the Marquis of Anglesey on the corner. A rather upmarket bar, I had a half of Young's Special and Chris had a half of Perroni at 4:12 pm. Around the corner onto Long Acre and down towards Leicester Square, the Moon Under the Water was packed, so we went round onto Bear Street and in The Bear and Staff , Here I had a half of Landlord and Chris another half of Staropramen at 4:33 pm.

I was beginning to feel the pace now, not just the booze but all that walking! Onto Coventry Street - no pub here so down Oxenden Street. We thought the pub on the end - the Tom Glib - looked best, but they refused to serve me the gits, so we took our custom next door to The Comedy, who had no qualms about serving me - we had 2 halves of Stella at 5:10 pm. Now, there is no pub on Piccadilly Circus so I led they way behind the Trocadero to the Devonshire Arms. Unfortunately I can't remember the time or the drinks we consumed here (I only found out the name from the obligatory photo!!). Hunger was hitting hard know so we wasted more time going back to Leicester square and waiting in line in Burger King.

Knowing Trafalgar Square has no pubs either, we stopped at the Halfway Hearted for a half of Landlord (me) and a half of Stella (Chris). At 6:20 pm we were obviously pissed now, as we failed to notice this was a gay bar (Again I only found out from looking at the photo and seeing a 5 foot rainbow flag in the window - How did we miss that!?). Through Trafalgar square and onto Northumberland Ave - h ere we went to the Sherlock Holmes and had 2 halves of Stella at 6:40 pm. At this point I am struggling to remember much about the pub. From here we went on to Whitehall and the Clarence, where 2 halves of Staropramen was ordered at who knows when. From here we walked through admiralty arch onto the mall and over to Pall Mall - again there is no pub here but the Red Lion lies just up Crown Passage. Weirdly I do remember this place - it was tiny and negotiating the stairs at this point was proving tricky. We had 2 halves of Stella and I also had a Red Bull in order to try and perk up. This did not work and at about 8:15 pm I called time on the adventure. Failure you might say - I would say it was a triumph of maturity over alcohol. Still disappointed not to finish, but 20 halves of strong lager - ca. 30 units - is some pub crawl.

Proposed route for the rest of the board: From the Red Lion head up Old Bond Street onto Stafford Street for Shelly's. Down to Green Park for the tube to Hyde Park corner out and up to Old Park Lane for the Rose and Crown. From here turn right onto Hertford street and carry onto through Mayfair to The Grapes in Shepherd Market. From here back to Green Park and up the tube to Marlebone Station in the station is the Victoria and Albert. Back down the tube to Oxford Circus walk up Regents Street to the All Bar One. Walk back to oxford circus and down onto great Marlborough Street for the Fanfair and Firkin. B ack up onto Oxford Street continue towards Tottenham court road station just before is the Tottenham fin.

Note: There is another Vine Street in W1 if following this route do this stop after Bond Street it is just a little alley with no pub then go to Hyde Park corner on the tube.

Lessons Learned

•  Phone the Lord Nelson the night before to confirm opening and plan to get there for that. If they say 10 am it is worth ordering a cab for 10 past back to the station
•  If not cabbing it, use the bus
•  If doing this route, Vine Street could be a problem - phone to check opening times for the public bar. I suppose there is always another Vine street
•  Check times for the Thames Link - you could save time here or take longer enjoying a drink.
•  Do the Hamilton Hall in Liverpool Street Station
•  Do NOT play iTbox ever
•  Do not use the Aldgate exchange - it is cheating as there is a better alternative 5-10 mins walk away
•  Scope Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus better for pubs
•  You really should use The Moon Under the Water for Leicester square
•  A big group is more fun
•  Drink lots of Red Bull and water
•  For food stick to sandwiches, Ginsters etc from kiosks/ newsagents rather than queuing in Burger King
•  Check all opening times
•  A carrier bag full of food / drink is a good idea, you can always ditch it later
•  Summer time may be better especially for the evening venues
•  Get a room in a B&B - later start, quicker to bed.
•  Drink quicker
•  Drink weaker beer - after all 26 halves or bitter is only 26-30 units (what we drank)
•  Maybe reverse order is better

Since writing this, it has been decided to attempt the crawl in orded next time - perhaps in late November/ early December