We weren’t sure if we could pull this off, but now it’s official: on Monday, April 21, at 7:00 p.m. James Randi and I will be doing a Skeptics in the Pub: a free public skeptical talk in London. I’ll be doing the Moon Hoax talk, and Randi will be grumpy and charming and very very entertaining. 
It will be held at The Penderel’s Oak, 283-288 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7HP. The phone number there is 020 7242 5669. I hope to see more of you left-side-of-the-road drivers there!
My thanks to Sid Rodrigues for getting this set up for us.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
I’ll be there…
April 18th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Not Fair! I am inPenrith on Tuesday! As far away from London as you can get and still be in England lol.
April 18th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Welcome to England Phil. Sorry about that smell…
I’d love to get to that meeting on the 21st, but unfortunately I simply can’t afford it - the train trip from Birmingham costs more than I care to pay (yes and it’s only 100 miles - that’s England for you). I could drive down but I HATE London (sorry Londoners) and I wouldn’t want to drive round the place - and then of course there’s parking fees and the congestion charge on top of everything else - no, forget it. London just isn’t for me.
However if you’re planning a diversion to the Midlands, let me know. You’ll find a totally different country up here!
April 18th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I wish my trip to London was a week later than it was! Drat!
April 18th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
While you’re at London, why don’t you pass by the Lord’s Witnesses church? It’s at 6 Daniel Place. You can then tell us if it’s really THAT creepy
Nah, just kidding. Enjoy your stay in London, BA!
April 18th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Oh, wait, on second thoughts, you should stay away from London. The Lord’s Witnesses are predicting a nuclear bomb on UK now! (Before April 20th or most likely before April 18th) Who knows? They may be right this time! They were almost right the last 96 times!
April 18th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I’ll be there! And to think, a month ago I was miserable that I couldn’t go to Vegas for The Amazing Meeting - now I get a double dose of Randi*, and a dose of Phil, in an above-average pub!
Captain Swoop - seriously, enjoy yourself. I’ve passed through Penrith twice this year - once on the way to Sca Fell, where horizontal hail defeated our ascent, and once on the way to the north Pennines, where I crossed Cross Fell under arctic conditions with my dad and a Duke Of Edinburgh’s Award expedition group. It’s a lovely place to be. A distinct lack of astronomers and Santa Claus impersonators, but lovely all the same.
* Conway Hall, tomorrow night, is dose #1. Hopefully not a homeopathic dose…
April 18th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
This time, I’m in. I couldn’t make last night…but I’ll pop down for Monday.
See you all there
April 18th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I’m hoping for a homeopathic overdose of Randi and Phil.
What a treat!! Thanks!
April 18th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I have been to Penrith three times in the last fortnight trying to get a Dental Xray scanner to work properly. To be honest I am sickof the place.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Have you tried the good old “smack-it-on-the-side” trick?
April 18th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
“I have been to Penrith three times in the last fortnight trying to get a Dental Xray scanner to work properly. To be honest I am sickof the place.”
Try plugging it in.
Penrith, hmm, sounds familiar. I think my cousin ran a holiday camp there for several years. That’s up on the Scottish Border is it not? I’m in Canada now, but was born near Manchester.
BA, I will go out to the pub tonight and hoist a pint or two, or three, or four… Then I’ll start ranting skeptical things… When someone talks, I’ll just say, “I don’t believe you.”
April 18th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
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April 18th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
I’ll be there again, too! Thursday was already a good chat, and now we even get proper talks! whoo
April 18th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Oooooh, that’s interesting… I’ll be in Leicester (it’s my usual haunt these days) which makes it a bit of a trek. I was too busy to make the event on thursday, but it’s conceivable that i might have time to make this.
April 19th, 2008 at 12:29 am
Hey, there are plenty of astronomers around Penrith! In nearby Carlisle there’s the Border Astronomical Society, with its own observatory, and a bit farther south, here in Kendal - birthplace of Arthur Eddington - the Eddington Astronomical Society is going from strength to strength!
http://slscope.co.uk/eas_web_site/index.php
April 20th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
This makes me a very happy camper. I’ll be heading to the train station tomorrow to see if my few meagre pennies will win me a ticket. If so, I’ll see you there. I’m the tall fellow with long hair and a beard :oP
Expect to be approached for a fanboy autograph moment.
April 20th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Dammit Phil, you’re such a tease! I thought this was originally planned for the 17th? In terms of both time and money I can’t afford to come, and although nothing has changed and I still can’t afford to come, now I’ve got to grit my teeth and decide that I can’t afford to come all over again…
I hope all those who are attending have a great evening and make our honoured guests feel very welcome.
And Phil, don’t believe the rumours, the beer is NOT warm. It’s at cellar temperature!
We do have pretty bad teeth though.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:35 am
Dang it. I live in the UK for 30 entire years, then the very month after I move to California the BA himself schedules an appearance at my former local pub. Just my luck.
Oh well, you’ll have a great time there - just don’t try the nachos at the Pendrel. They are bitterly disappointing.
April 21st, 2008 at 1:37 am
Does anyone know what sort of time this will finish? I have to get my train home from King’s Cross at 9:15pm and I’m hoping that I won’t miss anything.
April 21st, 2008 at 1:56 am
@Dave
Assuming it runs as normal - you’ll probably miss the Q&A, although you’ll take in the talk and (part of) the beer break.
It generally finishes towards 10pm.
April 21st, 2008 at 2:00 am
Thanks Robin.
April 21st, 2008 at 2:03 am
@Dave:
…on the other hand, we don’t normally have both the Bad Astronomer and James Randi…
April 21st, 2008 at 7:20 am
After a pretty amazing night on Saturday night, I am looking forward to tonight. Will be my first (hopefully of many) Sceptics in the Pub, but wouldn’t want to miss you being over here in the UK, Phil, for anything.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:01 am
> However if you’re planning a diversion to the Midlands, let me know. > You’ll find a totally different country up here!
Seconded. How about - fly into Birmingham International Airport, grab some civilisation before heading back to London? Simple!
BigBob
April 21st, 2008 at 10:54 am
I’m well up for this. Couldn’t make Thursday because of work, and this is just round the corner. I’ll be wearing a Big Lebowski t-shirt if anyone’s still reading this.
April 21st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
[…] the honour to attend tonight a speech by Phil Plait “The Bad Astronomer” on the “Moon Hoax Hoax” (i.e. the hoax perpetrated by those that believe the Apollo manned lunar landings were a […]
April 22nd, 2008 at 4:18 am
First rate talk there Phil! Really was excellent, and I hope you enjoy the rest of your time over on this side of the pond.