rob0r
East of England
Posts: 2,743
Club RR Member Number: 104
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Retro Rides at 8Ball dinerrob0r
@rob0r
Club Retro Rides Member 104
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Apr 20, 2012 21:31:39 GMT
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I've attended a few times and intended to do so more in the future...
I was debating going last night but in the end I was too busy. Had I tried to fit it in last night and go to then find it was closed without warning I would never attend a meet at the 8Ball again. Not to be tight but it wouldn't be worth my money (and time) to risk trying again.
I didn't mind the 8Ball as a venue and I liked the food but what happened last night does put me off. Personally a venue any further towards Chelmsford than the 8Ball maybe too much of a push.
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E30 320i 3.5 - E23 730 - E3 3.0si - E21 316 M42 - E32 750i ETC
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Apr 20, 2012 21:45:15 GMT
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I must say I've never thought a huge amount of the 8 ball as a venue, mostly because of the very dangerous slip into and out of the diner, it really is an accident waiting to happen.
It's not the ideal location for southerners but the Orwell Truck stop on the A14 here in Ipswich always seems like a good place for a meet, I know some clubs already have used the place and they do food.
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Last Edit: Apr 20, 2012 21:46:22 GMT by trigger
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Apr 20, 2012 21:45:55 GMT
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Yeah, it was a bit annoyiong Know what you mean about where to go next, it was kind of perfect (Location wise, that is!!) I don't really have any other ideas at the moment, though I'm happy to join in the search of course!! For me, well I'm happy to travel. Some of the guys do travel a lot further than I do (40 minutes, maybe 30 miles?) So I don't mind going a little further. Dez, I know what you mean about the 8 Ball, It's disappointing to say the least, but I agree that the location is less important than the people. Maybe catch up nexy week for a chat before I head off?
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Last Edit: Apr 20, 2012 21:56:30 GMT by luckygti
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will
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,023
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Apr 21, 2012 12:09:49 GMT
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What a bummer. I was going to make the 100 mile return journey on my new (old) single cylinder dirt bike as the Cortina is still off the road and the van MPG would make it a non starter what with the just before pay day timing of this meet. Really, really glad I decided to sort a Pug for it's re test the next day instead as I would of been more than a bit miffed arriving sodden with no meet to cheer me up.
Always enjoyed the meet when I've attended in the past though for me it's the people and cars that make it. Cheaper food would make it more of a winner and a little further south would aid regular attendance on my part though I'm down for whatever and don't really know of alternative venues in the area as it's pretty far from my ends.
Maybe a new thread with suggestions and then a pole is in order?
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pcoe
Part of things
Posts: 23
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May 17, 2012 15:49:20 GMT
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Reason for temporary closure apart from staffing issues is the fact the owner had to have an unexpected emergency triple heart bypass guys/gals....
There is now a new manageress in there and reopened....
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EmDee
Club Retro Rides Member
Committer of Autrocities.
Posts: 5,922
Club RR Member Number: 108
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Retro Rides at 8Ball dinerEmDee
@emdee
Club Retro Rides Member 108
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Reason for temporary closure apart from staffing issues is the fact the owner had to have an unexpected emergency triple heart bypass guys/gals.... There is now a new manageress in there and reopened.... Oh wow, really sorry to hear that, I hope everything goes as well as possible. I was hoping there was a good reason, but not hoping for something like that. Makes my wasted evening, diesel and dartford toll fade into insignificance. So the third Thursday was yesterday, did anyone go?
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nofrills
Posted a lot
my wings are made of Steeeeeeeel!!!
Posts: 1,243
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May 18, 2012 10:22:36 GMT
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Sorry to hear about the owner but hope he is making a speedy recovery!
wow was it, I forgot all about it.... I would of gone too
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Last Edit: May 18, 2012 10:23:28 GMT by nofrills
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May 18, 2012 10:59:50 GMT
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+1 Sad to hear of that, hope he's ok. I'm up for giving it another go next time it's on
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May 18, 2012 12:14:43 GMT
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glad he is on the mend was hoping for a trip down best wishes to the fella and hope its going well under new managment
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May 18, 2012 14:53:38 GMT
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That's a different story to what i heard... Isn't Brett the owner?
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,714
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Retro Rides at 8Ball dinerDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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May 18, 2012 15:45:32 GMT
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its also totally different to what i heard as well, and id like to think my source was pretty infalliable. i don't really care about the reasons tbh and i wouldnt wish ill-heath on anyone, but not being straight-up about why it was shut either leads to more speculation and rumours, or jsut pi$$es people off.
apparently they are re-open now, but the way it was all handled was still shoddy as f-k, and I'm still annoyed about it all. tbh i really cant be arsed trying to organise anything there anymore. its just not worth the effort. if there was a viable alternative we'd be there instead. ive been chasing up a couple of places but i don't have the time at the moment really.
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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May 18, 2012 18:32:29 GMT
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Did the bloke take all the diner furniture with him to hospital then?
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Did the bloke take all the diner furniture with him to hospital then? That's exactly what came into my mind I'm away at the moment bu happy to look when I'm back. Would be a shame not to have a meet somewhere.
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May 19, 2012 13:07:29 GMT
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I've been to a few but when it gets cold I hibernate (the ol' war wounds doncha know) so will be back more often as it warms up. I'm not keen on the venue to be honest, its noisy next to the A12 if you want to chat in the car park, car parks not massive, takes ages to get served when its busy and prices are not great. Having said that I don't dislike the place its pretty much the norm for car meets, but i wouldn't fight to stay there neither.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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May 24, 2012 13:27:33 GMT
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I seem to recall someone early on in this thread expressing concerns about the management and venue generally, and getting shot down and maybe even banned? His/her posts were removed at the least. Coming back to this thread for the first time since then, I am disapointed to discover they may have been correct.
If a new venue is found, I would also like to register my interest in attending.
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EmDee
Club Retro Rides Member
Committer of Autrocities.
Posts: 5,922
Club RR Member Number: 108
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Retro Rides at 8Ball dinerEmDee
@emdee
Club Retro Rides Member 108
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Not sure what the above message from pcoe was all about, was clearly a little misguided.
Anyway, the following is taken from the 8ball facebook page on the 5th of July:
Seems a shame to me, was a nice friendly place and I hope they sort out any injustices with the council and reopen if possible.
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All sounds pretty odd, is it illness or money, or is it the council? I've never been myself as it's a fair old trek from me but I think if I was hearing good things about them and it seemed like a place to go then I would make the trip. For instance, I've been to The Ace Cafe a number of times, you know what you're getting there, you'll get decent food at a decent price, even when it's rammed I've never had to wait that long for my dinner and if they put on an event you know it's going to reasonably well organised with plenty to see. Obviously The Ace is a place like no other, a lot of history is the a big reason why it's so popular and that can't be bought, but that doesn't mean that with the right people running it another diner-like place couldn't do similarly.
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rob0r
East of England
Posts: 2,743
Club RR Member Number: 104
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Retro Rides at 8Ball dinerrob0r
@rob0r
Club Retro Rides Member 104
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For what it's worth I went there the other weekend whilst it briefly reopened, I was driving by so thought why not. It definitely wasn't being run in the same manner. The menu was simplified to say the least and was just a handwritten A4 piece of paper stuck next to the counter! Still it seemed fairly busy (Sat lunch) and the food wasn't terrible.
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E30 320i 3.5 - E23 730 - E3 3.0si - E21 316 M42 - E32 750i ETC
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,714
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Retro Rides at 8Ball dinerDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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they've fianlly settled with running with that story then ive been looking for an alternative venue for the R-R meets, as I wasnt interested in going back whether they stayed open or not. only real alternative ive come up with so far is the orwell crossing truck stop, but thats moving it further north/east so I think we will loose a lot of the london based attendees. I cant find anywhere worthwhile in the mid-to-north essex area though, unless anyone has any suggestions?
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Last Edit: Jul 9, 2012 15:17:11 GMT by Dez
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,714
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Retro Rides at 8Ball dinerDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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For what it's worth I went there the other weekend whilst it briefly reopened, I was driving by so thought why not. It definitely wasn't being run in the same manner. The menu was simplified to say the least and was just a handwritten A4 piece of paper stuck next to the counter! Still it seemed fairly busy (Sat lunch) and the food wasn't terrible. the menu was the best thing about the place. the daytime menu anyway. to quote a well known film, my girlfriend's a vegetarian which pretty much makes me a vegetarian. but then on 'club nights' it was the cut-down version which was rubbish in comparison.
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