The B Club at the Andaz Hotel

[jrt patch]

At about 1.50 this afternoon, I was listening to the Robert Elms show on BBC radio London. (There is a listen again facility). One of his guests was wombling on about an event next month at a hotel near Liverpool St Station. Apparently they have a reader in residence called Damien Barr who is promoting something called bibliotherapy. He's running an event next month which involves guests being read to in their rooms or during dinner. And here's the clincher - JRT's name was mentioned as one of those being involved! Now, over to you.
My negligible googling skills have ascertained that the hotel is the Andaz near Liverpool Street Station (formerly the Great Eastern Hotel) and there is indeed a monthly bookclub with a myspace page. I think it's called the bclub.

However, I have not been able to find anything else.

Was I mishearing or is there something going on?

Over to you. I have to go and hang some washing up now.

[faeriequeen]

No you haven't been hearing things...the event definitely exists there:
http://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/eve ... _club.html

I assume Julian will be at the next one if this guy was talking about future ones? I'll be back in Manchester by then typically.
Sounds like a really interesting evening in general though.

I've added them to my friends on Myspace so it should be easier to find out about the next one.

[jrt patch]

I have managed to find this:

http://www.springwise.com/tourism_trave ... residence/

which gives a bit more info, but no mention of JRT.

Have listened to the radio piece again and the event in question is on 27 April at the Andaz hotel's George Pub.

Keep hunting, folks....

[faeriequeen]

Yeah I've managed to find a bit more info about the event on the 27th:

To coincide with the London Book Fair, Damian will hold a "read-in" (a la Lennon and Oko's bed-in), on Sunday, April 27. It'll be held in the cosy side of the hotel pub, and everyone can bring a book along and read together between 11am and 2pm.

I may well come back to London for this as it sounds like my idea of fun anyway! Lol.

Oh! And Damian Barr is the author of that "Blackout" radio play, which is probably how he knows Julian.

[guyoline]

sounds like it could be a very fun day though i may go along just in the hope

[faeriequeen]

There's now a Facebook event for this, which gives a bit more detail:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=13329740131

As seen in New York Post, Metro International, Newsweek, Time, The Times, The Sunday Times and the Observer....Calling all book lovers! To celebrate the end of my time as the world's reader in residence in a hotel.

Grab whatever you're reading and join my Big Read In at Andaz (formerly the Great Eastern). John and Yoko got nothing on us as we fill the hotel with words and word-lovers. Books are so the new rock and roll.

There will be free booky-cookies, there will be coffee, there will be high-brows and low-brows. There will be you.

Cosier surroundings could not be found. Join us in the Mildred Snug nestled in the George Pub in the Andaz Hotel (formerly Great Eastern) . From 11am till whenever.

If you've run out of lovely things to read don't worry--we'll be giving some books away too.

The Big Read In marks the end of my time as the world's first ever Reader in Residence. From April 14-28 I will be reading stories in-room and down the phone to guests at Andaz and also offering bibliotherapy sessions. Book your bedtime story now.

WIN A NIGHT'S STAY AT ANDAZ AND A BEDTIME STORY FROM ME
Answer this simple question: what links Christopher Isherwood and Baked Beans? Answers in a message to me. I will choose the winner at random (promise). Prize night is Fri April 18th.

Still no mention of Julian but we can live in hope...I've decided I'm definitely going to it so I'll let you all know!

[faeriequeen]

Ok so I thought I'd be brave and message that Damian Barr guy asking if Julian was going to be there, and here's what he said:

Julian knows about the event--he was the star in one of my plays for BBC Radio 4. Lovely guy. I've no idea if he'll drop in or not. I am sure it'll be fabulous regardless and EVEN more fun if he does.

So there's nothing official but it's still worth hoping.

[bookgirl]

Fingers and toes crossed for you.

[faeriequeen]

Well I went down there for 12 (when it was supposed to start) and there was no one there, so I went and lurked in the Zavvi shop over the road for a bit and then went and had a look through the windows...and saw a few people all chatting to each other, and not really any reading going on. So I lost my nerve and decided to get the bus home and do some revision for my Italian grammar exam on Monday instead! No sign of Julian (or of any Ducati motorbikes) in the vicinity so I didn't see the point in hanging around for hours waiting for things to kick off, especially because I was on my own.

I am sorry for failing my mission!