Stockport Rapidplay Sunday 26 January 2014

[Mick Norris]

The 28th Stockport Rapidplay

http://www.stockportchessclub.org/2014/rapidplay.php

entries to [email protected]

[Mick Norris]

Entry form

[Sean Hewitt]

I'm playing in this event, being held in a hotel in Stockport and just witnessed the following:-

Firstly, a woman was arguing with the staff about whether the coffee was £1.70 or £1.75. The sign clearly says that it's £1.75. She was insistent that her friend was only charged £1.70. The staff said that must have been a mistake, so the woman said she'd leave it then (after the staff member had poured the coffee).

Then a player saw the coffee stand and turned to me (sat nearby) and said "Is this free?". I told him it wasn't and he walked away, saying nothing. No thank you; not even an enquiry as to the price!

Finally, another player turned up and just poured himself a cup. When the staff member asked him for the money, he put it down again and walked away!

All in the space of 10 minutes

[Martin Crichton]

but was the milk and sugar free at the coffeegate rapidplay?
I recently was going to purchase a can of diet coke in a shop in Bakerstreet station but when I was informed it was £1.35 I left it at the counter.
not being a coffee drinker I have no idea whether £1.75 is an extortionate price or not? Clearly some people perhaps thought it was!

[Barry Sandercock]

£1.75 for coffee in a Hotel seems quite reasonable to me.

[AustinElliott]

£1.75 for coffee in a Hotel seems quite reasonable to me.

Though that value for money question depends there, as at other outlets, rather critically on the quality of the coffee....

[Peter D Williams]

I'm playing in this event, being held in a hotel in Stockport and just witnessed the following:-

Firstly, a woman was arguing with the staff about whether the coffee was £1.70 or £1.75. The sign clearly says that it's £1.75. She was insistent that her friend was only charged £1.70. The staff said that must have been a mistake, so the woman said she'd leave it then (after the staff member had poured the coffee).

Then a player saw the coffee stand and turned to me (sat nearby) and said "Is this free?". I told him it wasn't and he walked away, saying nothing. No thank you; not even an enquiry as to the price!

Finally, another player turned up and just poured himself a cup. When the staff member asked him for the money, he put it down again and walked away!

All in the space of 10 minutes

Afternoon All

Why do you never bring up the positive things you may see at these events your always so negative to me almost as if your on the look out for these types of incidents.
I have seen many good examples of good and kind behavior at various chess events people buying others drinks or food and others just helping out in way their can yet where not part of the group of people who where running the event.
I remember many years ago when Peter was playing in London i walked into the high street and saw a laptop for sale but did not have enough money on me to buy it anyway went back to the tournament and told a chess parent he offered to give me the extra 20 pound we needed to buy it.

I do hope your all keeping warm and dry.

[Neil Graham]

If you play chess in a 3* Hotel you expect to play 3* Hotel prices for coffee.

If you want your congresses in the local greasy spoon you may get your coffee cheaper.

[Andy Stoker]

Interesting point ... I'd rather play in a greasy spoon, church hall, school hall ... when I've played in a hotel, it's seemed obvious to me that the regular clientèle and the chess players were from different planets - and I'm in the latter camp, if I have to pay my own way, and would rather pay 50p for a coffee than £1.75 (or even £1.70) - but then I mourn the gentrification of Youth Hostels.

In any case, I'm grateful to those who organise the events - and thank them for whatever they decide works best.... especially those who organise the Stockport event - always efficient, cheerful and apparently tireless.

[Barry Sandercock]

Hotels are best. Sean Hewitt's are the most enjoyable Congresses.

[Peter D Williams]

If you play chess in a 3* Hotel you expect to play 3* Hotel prices for coffee.

If you want your congresses in the local greasy spoon you may get your coffee cheaper.

I know of no chess player who wants to play in a greasy spoon cafe do you?

Well weather appears to be OK so far so i pop to the shops and get some fresh fish for our west highland terrier .

[Andy Stoker]

Me!

[Jon Mahony]

I always forget the price of the bar at the Blackpool congress, go up and order a pint after the Friday night game, then am informed it’s something in the £4.00+ range (for John Smiths this) - very tempting to say put it back in the pump


£1.75 is fairly reasonable for Hotel Coffee, at least its got some real beans in it - quite a lot of Congresses ask £1.00 for a small, styrofoam, cup of cheap instant.

[Sean Hewitt]

My point was that the argument was about 5p!!

[Mick Norris]

Interesting point ... I'd rather play in a greasy spoon, church hall, school hall ... when I've played in a hotel, it's seemed obvious to me that the regular clientèle and the chess players were from different planets - and I'm in the latter camp, if I have to pay my own way, and would rather pay 50p for a coffee than £1.75 (or even £1.70) - but then I mourn the gentrification of Youth Hostels.

In any case, I'm grateful to those who organise the events - and thank them for whatever they decide works best.... especially those who organise the Stockport event - always efficient, cheerful and apparently tireless.

You should email Peter Taylor and let him know - organisers get too many criticisms and not enough compliments

For interest - Which other Rapidplays have you entered? How did they compare to Stockport? Do you play any other chess - club, league, internet?