Fonty Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 13 hours ago, penelopesimpson said: I think this strategy re food and drink is going to misfire horribly. I have brought in sandwiches and eaten them discreetly up on the terrace but have usually bought a coffee or drink. Me too. They may decide to turn a blind eye to people bringing in a small amount of food, and I always have my own water bottle to counteract the coughing fit I always seem to get mid performance, but alcoholic drinks are another matter. Especially if the outcome is that the prices are shoved up for those who do purchase something from the bar. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 16 hours ago, Colman said: Why is everyone so worried about bag checks? I'd assume that the ROH have done appropriate risk analysis and decided they can manage the risks in other ways. I would be very interested to know what these other ways are. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi'smom Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Thank you @John Mallinson @Mary @LinMM @ninamargaret for your very helpful replies. She rang the box office last night and was told her cabin size bag will be fine in the cloakroom but probably will be subject to a bag check. Many thanks! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 Hmm. Let's hope those with mischief in mind are thoughtful enough to check their bags of terror into the cloakroom. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 5 hours ago, Sim said: I would be very interested to know what these other ways are. Sim, it's the positive discrimination I referred, the type they are absolutely not allowed to practise at airports. You know the drill - little old granny heading to Palma Nova gets the same going-over as bloke with rucksack, recently shaved beard and no return ticket! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted October 13, 2018 Share Posted October 13, 2018 (edited) Well, I had a very beige evening tonight, punctuated by spots of red mist. Offered our bags to the doorman who 'd looked askance when I preferred my ticket. He waived me on and I hit the downstairs cloakroom which wasn't there.(Loo' s atrocious - paper all over the floors and washbasins overflowing, Eventually found cloakroom upstairs in airport departure lounge filled with pine tables and chairs (?) occupied by desultory groups of individuals looking about as excited as their relentlessly beige surroundings So, upstairs for a drink before dinner. Terrace is nice but is the bar open or closed? All we saw was rows of glasses so I had to go inside to purchase, then negotiate my way back through non automatic doors, with my two glasses of champagne - that'll be £30 please. If you want to eat inside a beige sand pit utterly devoid of personality, look no further than the Ampitheatre (sorry, Level something) Restaurant. I am happy to report that my pork chop and my friends Sea Bass were excellent, as were all the staff despite being a new team. But the decor - half local authority, other half airport lounge for those who can't afford Club. This is an Arts Centre for God's sake. A temple of creativity it is not. More tomorrow, too depressed to write more. ROH has always been my special place and I feel I have lost a friend. Edited October 14, 2018 by penelopesimpson 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 On 11/10/2018 at 23:31, Mary said: It was disconcerting to find the bench seating in the amphi bar already full with a big party encamped with bags etc when we came out of the performance (Solomon) in the interval this evening. I was hoping this wasn't going to happen. It does seem a bit unfair on people who have bought tickets. Downstairs on the ground floor in 'Big Benugos' was an absolute orgy of picnicking on M&S snacks and people even had their own bottles of wine ( no wonder with the ROH prices now) so perhaps ROH are not selling as many sandwiches as they had hoped. For some reason the atmosphere was far from festive and in fact a bit depressing. Last night, at least, there appeared to be very few non-ticket holders in the amphi bar area - we happened to get there early at the first interval and it was almost empty, and only filled up when the rest of the Mayerling crowd piled out. I got the same impression in the ground floor area- there did not seem to be any noticable or objectionable overcrowding caused by non-ticket holders. There are some quirks like the revised door/area nomenclature, and lack of bag checks, and they could add some more of the lovely costumes and more informative displays, but overall I am favourably impressed with the new areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sim Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 At the matinee yesterday, there wasn't an usher to be seen in my area until the second interval. No-one to help people to their seats, no-one sitting inside the auditorium once the performance started. A member of the public came from the Lower Slips (or whatever it's called now) and watched Act 1 from the user's seat. Someone finally turned up in the second interval. Most bizarre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonty Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Have they removed all the photos in the Amphitheatre Restaurant? I do hope not, that was one of the best features. And while I have no issue with beige carpet in general, you don't get many public places with light coloured carpet. Especially those serving food and drink. Let's hope the ROH went for something in polypropylene, which can be bleach cleaned if necessary. I organised the fitting of new stair carpet in the communal areas for my block of flats last year, so I am well up on these things. 🙂 At least, I assume it is carpet you are all talking about? And not some other beige flooring covering. Lino? Painted floorboards? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Yes, the photographs are all gone. There are a number of costume prints but they are all along one wall so you can't really see them. Last night it was only about one third full and this on a Saturday. Dining there was completely without any atmosphere at all. Before there was a lovely sense of anticipation and a theatrical buzz. Now - nothing. The new chairs with very low backs are extremely uncomfortable and you could be eating in a hotel coffee shop anywhere. The brief to the 'designers' must have been: please produce something absolutely bland so that patrons feel they could be anywhere in the world eating in a modern restaurant devoid of personality. Shocking. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonty Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Oh, Penelope, that is so sad. I used to love looking at all those photos. Why on earth would they be removed? What were the management thinking? This is the ROH, for goodness sake, not the restaurant in one of the hotel chains. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 (edited) I confess myself baffled by the entire open up project and am beginning to wonder if all the pain regular patrons have suffered over the past four years with the building work was actually an attempt to make them go away! Should have added that good though the food was (apart from cold plates) and charming though the staff were, I won't be eating there again. I heard the lady at the next table say exactly the same to her waiter. Said she'd been eating there since the original rebuild but that she would now dine in Covent Garden where there was more atmosphere and not so expensive. It's Cafe Murano for me now or the lovely Greek round the corner. (There was one source of amusement. The Maitre 'd' and his sidekick have also been kitted out in beige. Numero Uno was sporting a thick beige check suit that could have been found in Rudolf's hunting lodge but for all the world made him look like Mr. Toad!) Edited October 14, 2018 by penelopesimpson 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coated Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 I don't particularly like the corporate look of the open up areas and don't feel it was worth years of pop-up cloakrooms and random boarding. The cafe downstairs has no atmosphere at all and the ceiling manages to be both pretentious and ugly. I'd rather pop into the slightly more comfortable Costa nearby if I'm early - at least they have that lovely concept of non-communal tables. Level 5 is even worse. Most of the benches gone, replaced by a tiny gaggle of raised tables for 6 and then there is that horrendous carpet. But after some thorough searching, I found something I really liked: they made the 'IN' and 'OUT' signage of the loo doors really obvious in the former amphi, and even changed the doors so they look like one that opens inwards and one that opens outwards. If that doesn't clarify it to punters, nothing will. Haven't seen the Linbury yet in person, and living in hope that that was money well spend. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninamargaret Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 To me one of the remaining atmospheric areas now left is the area that surrounds the orchestra stalls. It retains the cosy red velvet seats lots of photographs -maybe from the amphi restaurant?- and is,generally pretty quiet.Hope it doesn't get infected by the beige bug! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 (edited) 28 minutes ago, Coated said: But after some thorough searching, I found something I really liked: they made the 'IN' and 'OUT' signage of the loo doors really obvious in the former amphi, and even changed the doors so they look like one that opens inwards and one that opens outwards. If that doesn't clarify it to punters, nothing will. Yes, that was my one point of real approval too! (Though I did wonder why it's taken 18 years to do something so simple and which has been clearly a problem for all of that time...). Though having read Thalia's post below, the arrangement evidently still isn't quite right. Edited October 14, 2018 by bridiem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalia Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 22 minutes ago, Coated said: But after some thorough searching, I found something I really liked: they made the 'IN' and 'OUT' signage of the loo doors really obvious in the former amphi, and even changed the doors so they look like one that opens inwards and one that opens outwards. If that doesn't clarify it to punters, nothing will. The “in” and “out” is now very clear but they’ve changed the former “in” door to be the “out” door in the ladies, which has the potential to cause some severe door bashing to anyone coming out of the disabled toilet. A near miss happened on Monday at the rehearsal. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 (edited) 5 minutes ago, ninamargaret said: To me one of the remaining atmospheric areas now left is the area that surrounds the orchestra stalls. It retains the cosy red velvet seats lots of photographs -maybe from the amphi restaurant?- and is,generally pretty quiet.Hope it doesn't get infected by the beige bug! I wonder then why they've taken down all the photos in the amphi corridors, including the old ones of the theatre. Again - no atmosphere. I hoped/hope that that is just a temporary situation and they are going to put photos up. (But if so, why make a big fuss about re-opening etc if you haven't actually finished?). Edited October 14, 2018 by bridiem 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
penelopesimpson Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 I found myself so baffled by the lack of theatrical feeling that I am wondering if they actually want to turn it into a conference centre. What are all those little rooms downstairs off the corridor that used to lead to the temporary cloakroom? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninamargaret Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 (edited) I would recommend that whoever is responsible for the bland atmosphere that now exists visits the RSC in Stratford. A busy shop, pictures, large props (e.g. the bear from Winters Tale) throughout the building, an excellent exhibition, well worth the admission charge, and several eating and drinking places, ranging from a reasonably priced sandwich and coffee up to a pretty good pre theatre meal that doesn't break the bank. The restaurant is beautifully sited at what was the back of the old upper circle and is decorated with photos and old posters. And lovely views across the river and town. I know which I find most welcoming. Edited October 14, 2018 by ninamargaret Spelling correction 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Wall Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 (edited) Had to laugh. The 'new' ROH piazza entry door - revolving and not - was shut off yesterday. In at least small part, the 'Open Up' incentive already seems to be 'closing down' 'May' it please NOT be a sign of/for our times!!! Edited October 14, 2018 by Bruce Wall 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bangorballetboy Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 35 minutes ago, Bruce Wall said: Had to laugh. The 'new' ROH piazza entry door - revolving and not - was shut off yesterday. In at least small part, the 'Open Up' incentive already seems to be 'closing down' 'May' it please NOT be a sign of/for our times!!! It was open when I went through it yesterday. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalia Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 36 minutes ago, Bruce Wall said: Had to laugh. The 'new' ROH piazza entry door - revolving and not - was shut off yesterday. In at least small part, the 'Open Up' incentive already seems to be 'closing down' 'May' it please NOT be a sign of/for our times!!! According to the staff member guarding the piazza entrance, a gust of wind had caught the door as it was closing, bending the frame and shattering the glass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan McNulty Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 9 minutes ago, Thalia said: According to the staff member guarding the piazza entrance, a gust of wind had caught the door as it was closing, bending the frame and shattering the glass. Oh that happened at the Lowry earlier this year too. I hope no-one was hurt by the shattered glass. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard LH Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 (edited) It was shut for a while at least - it just looked like some damage was being repaired (confirmed by others whilst I was composing this)..no need to make a big thing of it! Edited October 14, 2018 by Richard LH Update 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thalia Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 16 minutes ago, Jan McNulty said: Oh that happened at the Lowry earlier this year too. I hope no-one was hurt by the shattered glass. I don’t think so; it just shattered in the frame. I suppose it was roped off as a precaution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 7 hours ago, Coated said: Level 5 is even worse. Could you translate, please, Coated? I'm struggling with the "Levels" system. Indeed, I'm suddenly starting to find myself very disoriented on the "back" and "front" stairs adjoining the Floral Hall. I'm sure I never used to pay attention particularly to whether I was at Stalls Circle, Grand Tier or Balcony level, but I'm suddenly feeling lost without the names there. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 I popped in last week to have a nosey around - its very "open", and somewhat disconcerting no security checks at all, but just like any other modern building now - characterless I suppose. I took some photos - the Hamlyn Hall is pretty much the same except for the addition of loads more tables and chairs and the new staircase going down under the existing escalators. The escalators up and down sides have been switched round so the up is now on the left and down on the right. That threw me! Paul Hamlyn Hall If you look at the tutu photos you can see the restaurant behind - (those all glass cabinets are nightmare to photograph the items in them!). The outdoor terrace has glass sliding windows now which will shield patrons from the wind and rain so that was good, but the public space is much smaller as the restaurant has taken over more space to the left as you go out. Amphi restaurant/2018 Swan Lake tutu In the photo below Margot Fonteyn's Black Swan tutu/amphi restaurant - and you can see those uncomfortable chairs! Down in the basement there are some lovely items from different shows on display, but I had to ask where I could find the caterpillar shoes which I particularly wanted to see. The shop is very open plan and not so many things as the old shop - not sure I saw any magazines there either. Overall everything was quite dear though. The basement level Alice display - there were more for opera and other ballets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 (edited) Thanks Don Q Fan - it may of course be my iPad (or me) but I'm afraid I can't see the photos. Edited October 14, 2018 by JohnS 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Macmillan Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Nor, I'm afraid, can I. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alison Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 2 hours ago, Don Q Fan said: The outdoor terrace has glass sliding windows now which will shield patrons from the wind and rain so that was good, but the public space is much smaller as the restaurant has taken over more space to the left as you go out. All unused on my visits thus far And no sign of any magazines in the shop that I can see. I was really looking forward to those being back Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LinMM Posted October 15, 2018 Share Posted October 15, 2018 I can't see the piccies either Don Q!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Q Fan Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Oh dear re my photos I can see them but maybe that is because I posted them.....so I'll re post the post trying a different method with my photos! I popped in last week to have a nosey around - its very "open", and somewhat disconcerting no security checks at all, but just like any other modern building now - characterless I suppose. I took some photos - the Hamlyn Hall is pretty much the same except for the addition of loads more tables and chairs and the new staircase going down under the existing escalators. The escalators up and down sides have been switched round so the up is now on the left and down on the right. That threw me! Paul Hamlyn Hall If you look at the tutu photos you can see the restaurant behind - (those all glass cabinets are nightmare to photograph the items in them!). The outdoor terrace has glass sliding windows now which will shield patrons from the wind and rain so that was good, but the public space is much smaller as the restaurant has taken over more space to the left as you go out. Amphi restaurant/2018 Swan Lake tutu In the photo below Margot Fonteyn's Black Swan tutu/amphi restaurant - and you can see those uncomfortable chairs! Down in the basement there are some lovely items from different shows on display, but I had to ask where I could find the caterpillar shoes which I particularly wanted to see. The shop is very open plan and not so many things as the old shop - not sure I saw any magazines there either. Overall everything was quite dear though. The basement level Alice display - there were more for opera and other ballets 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bridiem Posted October 17, 2018 Share Posted October 17, 2018 Thanks very much, Don Q Fan - great photos! I was also caught by the change in escalator direction; in fact I nearly came to grief... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now