Present at Elephant & Castle at 10:50 were Brian, Luke, Tanya, Laurie, Martin, Tom, Andy Allan. Together they are about to embark upon one of the more epic drinking sessions that this capital can offer. Gus is running late... Tom is still hung over from the beers that we had all had the previous night to celebrate Clare going back up north. The route we took can be found here, all 22 streets and 4 stations, in order. We are test running the route for the website. Old Kent Road The George is already open, everyone in good spirits. Martin has to break the seal early. Whitechapel The pub is air-con central. Burly calls in, he'll meet us at Kings Cross Kings Cross Station We got on the wrong end of the tube train, should have got on at the back to save precious minutes when getting off at Kings Cross. Kings Cross is a mess due to redevelopment. The Coopers is very busy with no good ales. Burly appears. Dan and Andy manage to grab a pasty, everyone else is jealous. Left Gus behind with Burly. Angel Robin & Tom try to run up the stopped escalator at Angel, little knowing that it's the longest in the system. Gus catches everyone up whist they're laughing at Tom from the safety of the moving escalator. We leave Robin in the toilet at Angel. Andy A declares that "Brian will lead us astray both morally... and geographically" Euston Road Tom, Luke and Martin opt for soft drinks in O'Neils. Everyone kicks themselves for not spotting the pub two doors down which is probably nicer than O'Neils. Just miss a 205 bus to take us back up to the Angel Pentonville Road Pall Mall Brian runs down the escalators at Angel, beating everyone to the platform. Decided on the Tube because "Once you're in, you're in!" to quote me. The tube to Pall Mall is rammed. Andy A : "It's getting hot and wet." Whitehall A light drizzle sets in, refreshing after the crush on the Victoria Line. Northumberland Avenue Marylebone Station Most people stop for food. Brian buys cheese at the cheese shop in Marylebone, loses group and catches up again at Bow Street. Bow Street Great Marlborough St Brian, Laurie and Luke stop to have a look at an old Victorian public bath-house that has been opened as part of open house weekend. The Shakespeares Head pub isn't great because they ask you how many people you are! Vine St All the bars on Vine St are shut. "The fucking, fuckers are shut on Saturday afternoon, the fuckers!" - Gus. Used the bar in Waterstones on Piccadilly as a contingency. Lost Burly, he'll meet us at The Strand. The Strand It rains! We shelter under an umbrella and watch the others depart into the rain. Fleet Street The group becomes separated after the Cheshire Cheese! Andy A, Brian and Luke get the wrong bus and end up south of the river! Whoopshh! Trafalgar Square Gay Bar! Gay Bar! Girl I'm going to take you to a Gay Bar! Meet up with Jude and Pickersgill Fenchurch Street Station Have real trouble finding the front of the station which has the pub in it. Leicester Square Coventry Street Piccadilly We're currently running 35 minutes behind due to Gus's miscalculations on the timings. But spirits are still high and we might still make it if we try. Biagio was shut, staggered around behind Fortnum and Mason found a pub on the road behind the church. LF So where's Ben Pickersgill GP He was here earlier, but I have first dibs BT I think most of the gay bar we were in earlier has prior claim GP Hmmm, yes... and Sue Foister. Oxford Street Have lost Luke, Tanya, Martin and Tom. All Bar One is surprisingly, we were expecting it to be nightmarishly busy. Grim determination sets in. We are going to make it around and we only have six stops left. Unfortunately one is Liverpool Street. Regent Street Lost Burly and Ben Bond Street Between Bond St and Liverpool St Gus turns obnoxious. Laurie sitting on Gus seems to clam him somewhat. Liverpool Street Station Some of the cheese purchased at Marylebone is eaten on the tub between Bond St and Liverpool St. Gus is still boisterous at Liverpool St. We have now probably lost Luke, Tanya, Tom, Ben & Burly. Park Lane Pasties are had on return to Marble Arch. Gus is still very noisy and obnoxious. Most of the missing people appear at Old Park Lane, namely Tom, Luke, Tanya and Martin. According to the manager,"A great pub the manager loves people. He is black, he is Lenny Henry, his wife is better looking than Henry's and not as fat." Mayfair "Thank you Gus for coming. I don't know when you came, but thanks!" - Ben P Gus buys champagne Out & About Home