Casual Meetups London

Great Conversations with Friends at the Pub

We love a good chat. Come and join us at Table 45

Casual Tennis 🎾

Join our WhatsApp group and sign up at [www.thesocialsport.com](www.thesocialsport.com)! Our weekly casual tennis session in Ruskin Park. We play every Sunday afternoon (times may vary slightly week on week). **What is Social Sport?** Social Sport was set up to face two main challenges in cities like London: 1. Limited opportunities for those moving here to meet new people and socialise in a genuine, healthy way. 2. Lack of casual sports clubs for young professionals. We started with our New Sport Every Week session, voted for by people in our community. Since then, we have played over 21 different sports. Our weekly casual sessions allow us to create communities around certain sports. **Please note this session is popular and has a set number of places. If you do not secure your place before attending and the event is full, you may not be able to play.**

How much spontaneity is good for us? (Beckenham venue)

NOTE: the pub does not charge for our space on the understanding that we all purchase something from the bar. Please support them. I'll be there from around 7pm if anyone would like a social chat before we get started. **Please arrive in time for a prompt start at 7:30.** When did you last do something spontaneously? What made it spontaneous? How did it feel, and did it turn out well? Spontaneity has an obvious appeal. We celebrate the “free spirit”, the “open road” and being “free as a bird”. We talk about following our intuition or gut feeling rather than thinking everything through. Spontaneity seems to promise freedom from routine, obligation and the constraints of careful planning. Yet much of adult life involves the opposite: making plans, weighing up options, pursuing objectives and honouring commitments. Our past decisions, responsibilities and expectations can leave us feeling hemmed in with no time for spontaneity. But while spontaneity can be liberating, it can also be reckless, disruptive or simply unwise. **So how much spontaneity is good for us?** What place should it have in a well-lived life? In this discussion, we'll explore questions such as: * **What is spontaneity?** How does it differ from impulsiveness, intuition and acting without thinking? Can an action be spontaneous if it has been influenced by our past experiences and character? * **How free are we to be spontaneous?** How do our commitments, habits, social expectations and circumstances constrain us? Do we sometimes impose unnecessary constraints on ourselves? Can we be spontaneous and rational at the same time? * **Does spontaneity change as we age?** Are some stages of life more conducive to spontaneity than others? Can retirement or growing older bring a new kind of freedom – perhaps even more so than the early stages of life before careers, families etc? * **Is spontaneity good for us?** When should we trust our instincts rather than deliberate carefully? Is spontaneity essential to creativity, or can creativity flourish through planning and discipline? What are the dangers of too much spontaneity? * **What kind of freedom is spontaneity?** Is there a distinctive sense of freedom in being able to depart from our plans and expectations? How does this compare with: \- Isaiah Berlin's ideas of negative and positive liberty; \- Jean\-Paul Satre’s notion of being “condemned to be free” \- Ideas of autonomy and free\-will\. * **In what ways can we cultivate the capacity and opportunities to be spontaneous? Should we?** Or does trying to plan for spontaneity undermine it? Optional pre-reading/watching: [https://jonathangingerich.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/gingerich-spontaneous-freedom.pdf](https://jonathangingerich.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/gingerich-spontaneous-freedom.pdf) Spontaneous Freedom - the paper I came across that inspired this topic [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHE08GSThZs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHE08GSThZs) Berlin’s Negative and Positive Liberty [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YYlJroSSf8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YYlJroSSf8) Satre’s Paradox of Freedom Looking forward to another interesting discussion. Hope to see you there. (Or perhaps we’ll spontaneously decide, on the night, to talk about something completely different!)

Casual Pickleball in Central London

**Join our WhatsApp group and sign up at [www.thesocialsport.com](www.thesocialsport.com)!** Our weekly casual pickleball session at Borough Academy, Southwark. We play every Tuesday from 6 to 7 pm. **What is Social Sport?** Social Sport was set up to face two main challenges in cities like London: 1. Limited opportunities for those moving here to meet new people and socialise in a genuine, healthy way. 2. Lack of casual sports clubs for young professionals. We started with our New Sport Every Week session, voted for by people in our community. Since then, we have played over 21 different sports. Our weekly casual sessions allow us to create communities around certain sports. **Please note this session is popular and has a set number of places. If you do not secure your place before attending and the event is full, you may not be able to play.**

Casuals, 8-10pm £7 @ Reynolds / plastics

Casual Badminton - Wednesdays in Southwark 🏸

**Join our WhatsApp group and sign up at [www.thesocialsport.com](www.thesocialsport.com)!** Our weekly casual badminton session at Borough Academy, Southwark. We play every Wednesday from 6 to 7 pm. \*Sometimes the venue may vary if Borough Academy have an event on. **What is Social Sport?** Social Sport was set up to face two main challenges in cities like London: 1. Limited opportunities for those moving here to meet new people and socialise in a genuine, healthy way. 2. Lack of casual sports clubs for young professionals. We started with our New Sport Every Week session, voted for by people in our community. Since then, we have played over 21 different sports. Our weekly casual sessions allow us to create communities around certain sports. **Please note this session is popular and has a set number of places. If you do not secure your place before attending and the event is full, you may not be able to play.**

Casuals, 6-8pm £7 @ Reynolds / plastics

🔭NASA Confirms Life on Mars: View With Wine, Music & Telescopes ☾P Date☽🪐

If you're looking for sensational headlines - this group is defo not for you! But seriously - do you look up and marvel with insatiable curiosity at both the beauty and the wonder of the **universe?** How it began, our place in it, how life evolved and where else in the cosmos other non-microbial life might live (99% of stars have exoplanets orbiting - some similar to Earth )? And nah I didn't make it up - unless you live in hibernation or have zero idea about our greatest endeavours - you'll know **NASA really did find the best evidence to date of ancient life on Mars.** This follows scientific verification of the biological signatures of microbe life discovered on Venus a few years ago So we'll defo take a look at the red planet as well the majestic rings of **Saturn** and it's potential life harbouring moon, the international space station, Tau Ceti star with **2 Earth like planets** orbiting in the habitable zone, remnants of **supernova** witnessed by our early ancestors plus a range of other fascinating celestial wonderments (comets, star systems, **galaxies**) over drinks and engaging chats and banter this Sept fully hosted by me - a passionate amateur astronomer and former global Reuters journalist covering cutting edge big picture science related stories. In between observing - we'll have **drinks and engaging chats** on all astronomy related topics for those inclined (Astrobiology, SETI/Femi Paradox, cosmology, space exploration, exoplanetology, astrophysics etc) as well as non space chatter and banter too. No doubt I'll hear the usual jokes we've all heard hundreds of times before! If those don't make you laugh, then my impersonation of Los Angeles ET will! 👽 **====Free Astronomy Club =====** Over the years we have enjoyed numerous social evenings of stargazing and thought provoking chatter with people of all ages and varying levels of astronomy knowledge - so complete beginners that are genuinely curious about the universe are very welcome. If you are just looking to meet generic randoms that you have nothing in common with / share passio**ns** then there are other groups that easily cater for that. The world renowed **BBC Television Sky at Night** also attended our events pre covid and interviewed some of us for it's show that aired on BBC1 in Feb 2019. BBC **Radio London** (94.9 FM / digital) were there Aug 2023 to cover our meteor shower event broadcasting live to millions of Londoners for 3 hours You don't need a telescope as you will be able to view through scopes belonging to me and other club members (as long as you behave responsibly and don't temper with expensive equipment). If you have your own telescope/binoculars feel free to bring along and I can help you setting it up if you're a newbie. **====ITINERARY=====** We will meet outside Camden Station. After a short wait for anyone delayed, I will escort everyone to our observation point in the park about 15-20 minutes walk away and brief you in terms of what to expect, observing etiquette, tips, equipment handling and take any questions you have - weather general or astronomy/cosmology related. **After Drinks:** on work nights - unless I have a important 9AM deadline for a client presentation or something - most of us usually head our way back to Camden for another drink till about 1am - yes even on a skool night. I will annouce the pub to all on the walk back. **===What Can You Expect To See (this time of year)? ====** * Orion Nebula * Jupiter and 4 moons * Meteors * Andromedia Galaxy * Saturn, rings & moon * Star clusters such as the Pleiades & Owl Cluster etc * International Space station fly by * Venus & Mercury * Binary & tripple star systems (think planet *Tatooine in* Starwars!), * Neptune * Uranuus * Mars * Our moon * A look towards the galactic centre where that supermassive £22b black hole sits (Sagittarius A) More here from Jodrell Bank Observatory/Astrophysics Centre: [http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/](http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/) Guide to viewing the cosmos for beginners: [https://phys.org/news/2018-05-universe-distant-starstips-cosmology-backyard.html#jCp](https://phys.org/news/2018-05-universe-distant-starstips-cosmology-backyard.html#jCp) **===Weather Dependent=====** The event is subject to clear skies forecasts on the night so if on the actual afternoon of the event the weather forecasts looks unsuitable beyond doubt then I will postpone so please check the event status on the day of the event . If this event is still listed here at 5PM on the day, it will be going ahead at the designated day and time! Happy Stargazing Lucas Skywalker (Amateur Musical Astronomer)

🚀Free Bonfire Night Fireworks Display With Prosecco & Fun Chats 🎆

If you love Fireworks like me then finish work early this Guyfawke's night to celebrate the preservation of Britain's finest parliamentary **democratic sovereignty** on one of the most fun celebrated days in our political history with a free mesmerizing fireworks display to uplifting **melodic symphonies** and a red hot bonfire to keep chills at bay. As you'd expect on a cold Guyfawkes night (though I swear it use to be way colder when I was a kid!), we'll sip liver damaging **delights** as our eyes track with trepidation those sinister **gunpowder** trails igniting into beautiful gyrating flames of merriment in da sky and wonder what could of been. There will also be food and drinks to purchase. Or, if you hate the **Westminister** status quo and the recent installation of the George Orwellian free speech pluralism infringing incompetent duplicitous dishonest gas lighting Labour government - you can always join to commiserate the unfolding plot! The part II **PRIVATE firework display** we went to last year in Islington is now taking place on the 4th so we will go to straight to a nice cosy warm pub around 6.45pm for more socialising. **======ITINERARY / RENDEZVOUS POINT / DRINKS ========** We will meet close to a short walking distance Central London underground station (will post in private comments on the day) at 4.45pm sharp. After a 5 min wait for laggards, I will escort everyone to the nearby location to watch the fireworks display up close. After the firework display ends - due to the very big crowds people always end up getting lost and split - we will meet directly in the pub and then play it by ear. Last year we gate crashed an art gallery party with free booze and lots of posh English people (oh I say...) , and then took a bus ride singing songs so nothing is set in stone! The exact meeting point in Kings Crioss for will be revealed to the confirmed RSVPs on the on the night in private comments section along with post drinks pub name and address. Note, I wont be taking any calls or replying to phone messages during the 20 minute display - that time is for my own enjoyment. As we wont have time to buy drinks before hand, I recommend you buy before you arrive - so that you have some alcohol to enjoy during the show; **REMEMBER KIDs: FIREWORKS ARE DANGEROUS - NO DRINKING, DRUGS N LIGHTING HERE!** I'll have a bottle of wine or presecco with me and may share if I have spare to go around. For identification, I will be wearing a Starwars lanyard. Also I will send out my number to the confirmed RSVPs on the evening. Once the waiting list gets activated, preference will given to my most loyal regulars plus those that have demonstrated genuine passion for key aspects of the event - we want people that really love loud fireworks there to ensure a banger of a night. Lucas - The Explosion Specialist

Soho Sky Terrace 50% off food.

Join me for dinner at the Soho Sky Terrace and Bar for 50% off food. I have booked a table for 6 of us so to secure your place it will be a £5 refundable deposit (taken off your meal). Your place is not confirmed until you have paid so the first five of you to pay (and that includes anyone on the waiting list) gets a spot. 19, 21 Great Marlborough St, London W1F 7HL

Let’s Go Bowling!!! - 2 Games of Bowling and 2 Drinks!!

Another Bowling Night! Our most popular event! We are going to Hollywood Bowl at the popular O2 for a 2 Games of bowling as a group with a 2 Free Drinks! ( In Two Hours we should get a couple of games in with 7 people per lane. **2 X Free Drinks included** Free Drinks from the bar which include: Bottles of beer/ cider, Selection of draft beers, wines, cocktails, non- alocholic beer and cider, soft drinks in bottles and on tap, glass bottled mineral water. I have reserved 4 lanes for 7 players in each lane. So 28 people maximum! **Location** Hollywood Bowl Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX, United Kingdom **Schedule** 6:55pm - Arrive at Hollywood Bowl (Meet at main reception) 7:10pm - 9:30pm - 2 Games of Bowling and 2 Drinks 9:30pm + After Social at the Bar **Cost** This Meetup includes 2 Games of Bowling and two Drinks. Total Cost is £27 ONLY! Can pay by Paypal: Https://paypal.me/MeetupSaltyYoga or You can pay on Stripe with card here: https://buy.stripe.com/00w7sK68Igsk2kH3oC4ZH08 or Bank Transfer: Message me for my details Let me know when payment is made. Total of **28 X Spots** Available so RSVP and make the Payment Quick (I will let you know when all the spots are full in the title so feel free to make payment) Chris3

After Work Drinks - 30s, 40s & beyond - Out of Office Adventures Together!

Are you in your 30s or 40s or beyond.... and want to make the most of your time outside of the office. Does relaxed after work drinks in the City sound good to you. No organised activities, no awkward icebreakers and definitely no networking pitches. Just a small group of people in their 30s, 40s and beyond getting together for a drink, a chat and hopefully meeting some people they’d actually like to see again. This is the beginning of the OOO community, so it’s also a chance to chat about the kinds of things we’d love to do next — from London socials to hikes and day trips. Back to Mine - 5 Exchange Square, Liverpool Street Coming alone is absolutely encouraged. Grab a drink, meet some new people and help us kick off one of our first adventures. Great people. Great places. Great times.