We’re coming back to London! FOCAL returns to the UK capital this summer on August Bank Holiday weekend, in the North London area of Southgate, Enfield.

Date: Saturday 26 August 2023

Venue: St Andrew’s Church, Southgate N14 5PP (map)

Admission: £10, payable here (please remember to select the “Friends and Family” option)

Hosted by: Ruth Cappleman

Doors open: 11am for an 11.30am start

Games to be played: 6, plus the Grand Final

Finishes by: 6pm

Wheelchair accessible?: Yes

Parking onsite?: No, but there are nearby residential streets without parking restrictions.

Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Format

Everyone plays three rounds at tables of three – you play two matches and host the third, using a pack of letters and numbers. By the end of the day, you’ll have played six games. The first round is drawn randomly, but don’t worry if you have a bumpy start – for the second and third rounds you will be playing opponents that have scored similarly to you, so everyone should get some good, well matched games. The aim is to have fun, and there will be plenty of prizes on offer. The top two players after six games will face off in the Grand Final.

Rough timetable for the day

11:00 – Doors open

11:30 – Welcome; announcement of draw for Round 1

11:45 – Round 1

13:00 – Lunch

14:00 – Round 2

15:15 – Round 3

16:45 – Grand Final

17:15 – Prizegiving and tidy up

Payment

The cost is £10 per person, and you can secure your place now with Ruth using PayPal. Please remember to select the ‘Friends and Family’ option. If you don’t have PayPal, please contact us at focalcountdown@gmail.com to arrange alternate payment options.

Lunch

Food isn’t included, although there will be tea and coffee provided at the venue throughout the day. You can bring a packed lunch, or there’s an ASDA next door to the venue, and plenty of other local shops to choose from.

Accommodation

There’s a Premier Inn 0.4 miles from the venue, and a Travelodge 0.8 miles away.

Public transport

The venue is a 5-minute walk from Southgate tube station (near the end of the Piccadilly Line).

If you’re coming from north of London, the best option is likely to be to get a train to Palmers Green, as it avoids the need to go into central London.  There are very frequent buses from Palmers Green to Southgate (or it’s a 35-minute walk).

Coming by car?

The venue is a 10-minute drive from junction 24 of the M25.  At the time of the event, it will still be outside the Ultra Low Emission Zone.

There is no parking at the venue, but there are nearby residential streets without parking restrictions.

Afterwards

We’ll book a meal (almost certainly Italian) for those interested after the event on Saturday.  There are also lots of independent and chain restaurants in the area around Southgate station, so plenty of options for those around on Friday evening as well.

Enquiries

Contact us at focalcountdown@gmail.com

Attending or organising a FOCAL event is subject to the FOCAL Code of Conduct.