Croydon Fun Weekend, Fri 26-Sun 28 January 2018

[nou]

Hello! As previously noted, the sixth annual Croydon Fun Weekend will run from Friday 26 to Sunday 28 January this year. I very much hope you can come!

Here's the schedule, and it's also under a cut below, for convenience.

Important things to note:

• Friday afternoon: Everyone is welcome at Beanies, but only children aged 5 and under are allowed on the soft play equipment.
• Friday and Saturday evenings: If you want to come to dinner at Abshar and/or Osushi, please let me know ASAP, but preferably at the latest by noon on Monday 22 January. It's fine to put yourself down as a "probable" — I just want to give the restaurant a rough idea of how many we'll be.
• Financial considerations: There is no charge for anything during the weekend aside from your own food/drink and entrance to Beanies for children (adults go free). If there are any sessions you'd like to come to but can't afford to pay food/drinks/Beanies costs for, please let me know and I'll find a solution.

Finally, if you haven't received any emails about this event, and you would like to receive them in the future, please let me know! I haven't had any bounces from the batch I sent recently, but it's always possible I have an old email address for you or even that I've accidentally missed you off the list.

Friday 26 January 2018

noon–5pm

Child-friendly lunch/snacks, crafts, and play at Beanies on the lower level of the Whitgift Centre. You don’t have to bring a child to come to this event; we should have plenty between us as it is. Feel free to bring along your own crafts, but bear in mind there will be small children running around us and we may not have a huge amount of table space. Minimal use of sharp objects (e.g. quilling tools, sewing needles) is OK as long as you're willing and able to keep tight control over them at all times they're out. Please note that only children aged 5 and under are allowed on the soft play equipment at Beanies.

Accessibility: Step-free access to all areas including accessible toilet (large cubicle though slightly crowded with stuff). Slightly narrow access at entrance to the space, though there is the possibility of moving barriers to create more room if required. Sturdy nappy-changing table in the accessible toilet, suitable for toddlers as well as babies.

5:30pm-7:15pm

Drinks at the Royal Standard, 1 Sheldon Street, CR0 1SS.

Accessibility: A step to get in, possibly another step to get to seating and toilets (depending on where we find space). Small, narrow spaces inside.

7:30pm onwards

Dinner at Abshar, 67 South End, CR0 1BF. Vegetarian options available. Please let me know by lunchtime on Monday 22 January if you’re definitely or probably coming to this, so I can give the restaurant a hopefully-accurate number.

Accessibility: A small step to get in (around 5cm/2 inches); no further steps inside, including to the toilets.

Saturday 27 January 2018

11:15am–noon

Search and Replace, a pervasive game run by Kevan Davis. Meet at West Croydon tram stop from 11:15am to start the game at 11:30am. The tram stop is on Station Road, behind West Croydon station and opposite the bus station. If arriving by train on platform 4 (southbound non-terminating trains), use the (step-free) exit toward the middle/back of the train, then turn right and walk along through the tram stop to the meeting point on the other side. If arriving at any other platform, use the main station exit, then turn left, turn left again at Maplin, and continue along until just before the tram stop itself (if using the step-free exit from these platforms, continue straight ahead through the carpark to the main road, then do the turn left, turn left again thing).

Accessibility: The game is played on foot on pavements and pedestrianised streets, and participants have a free choice of which roads to explore. There are very few steps anywhere in the game area, and participants who need to avoid these shouldn’t be at any disadvantage. One of the roads (London Road) is fairly busy but has several pedestrian crossings with kerb cuts. North End is completely flat and pedestrianised.

noon–1pm

Lunch at Uncle Lim’s, 1123–1124 Whitgift Centre Upper Level, CR0 1UZ. Vegetarian options available.

Accessibility: Step-free via Whitgift Centre lifts. Toilets are some way away, also accessed via Centre lifts.

1:15pm–4pm, Team Crafts

An art and craft session at the Museum of Croydon, Katharine Street, CR9 1ET. This will be one of their regular sessions, so other members of the public will also be present. The activities are aimed at children aged 5–11, but adults and children of other ages can enjoy them too. The session lasts all afternoon until 4pm, but people can join and leave at any time.

Accessibility: Step-free entrance via a ramp and lift. Toilets on the same level.

1pm–6pm, Team Pub

Pub crawl led by bob walker. Meet at Uncle Lim’s (see above) by 1pm at the latest. Other details TBC.

6pm onwards

Teams converge for dinner at Osushi, 47 South End, CR0 1BF. Please let me know by lunchtime on Monday 22 January if you’re definitely or probably coming to this, so I can give the restaurant a hopefully-accurate number. Accessibility TBC.

Sunday 28 January 2018

11:30am–afternoon

Walk led by Paul Sowan: Croydon’s Lost Cinemas. This begins in South Norwood before proceeding to Croydon, so there are two points where you can join in: either meet us from 11:15am at Portland Cafe, 42 Portland Road, SE25 4PQ (nearest station Norwood Junction) to set off at 11:30am, or join in during our lunch break from 1pm–2pm at Snake & Mongoose, 36 London Road, CR0 2TA (which has a special separate menu of vegetarian and vegan Caribbean food). We will be getting a train (from Norwood Junction to West Croydon) and a bus (from central Croydon to the Swan & Sugarloaf) during the walk, since the cinema sites are quite spread out.

Accessibility: No steps into Portland Cafe. Half a dozen steps into Snake & Mongoose. Quite a lot of steps at Norwood Junction Station.

5pm onwards

Drinks at the Crown & Sceptre, 32 Junction Road, CR2 6RB. The pub does food until 6pm, but there will likely be an expedition around 6pmish for dinner at Fushia, 3 Brighton Road, CR2 6EA. Vegetarian options are sparse at the Crown & Sceptre and plentiful at Fushia.

Accessibility: A step to get in to the Crown & Sceptre, and it's fairly cramped inside when full. Once you're in, it's level to the toilets, including a RADAR-locked accessible one. The dining area at Fushia is on the upper floor, up a flight of steps.