The Roebuck Oval

2 recommendations and reviews from 1 person

Recommendations from Solveig L.

• Referral from October 20, 2014
  

  Senta M. asked:

  Hi, any ideas for a nice local venue for kids/ adults parties? Thank you!

  

  Solveig L. replied:

  The Roebuck Oval (3 mins walk from Oval tube on Ashmole Street) Exclusive hire available. 3 course Christmas menu is £30 with 10% off for 10 or more people. Also have sharing platters and can design a menu around your requirements. Call John Dignan on 020 7735 5464. There are a few baskets of toys for young kids too

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• Referral from April 17, 2014
  

  Ilona L. asked:

  Hi all, I might get a lot of flack for this - but as I am quite tired of certain posts, I will take that risk and put it out there.... I really like this page for the friendly and very helpful advice we can all share, to exchange information like we do with friends - helping each other, offering clothes, looking for a plumber, asking advice. I don't think this site is the right place for advertising somebody's services on a regular basis (or even at all). To be specific: The Roebuck pub has been advertised on this site 10 times in the last month. I honestly think this is abusing this page. How would we you feel if every family-friendly organisation in the area posted about every single one of the their activities, with announcements and reminders?

  

  Solveig L. replied:

  Hi I wasn’t going to get involved in this as I find it all a bit unnecessary especially seeing as it has taken a rather unpleasant turn. However, I feel I owe it to the parents who are supportive of what we are trying to achieve to say some words. Firstly, thank you to Kathryn and Siobhan for your kind words and thanks also to those of you who have visited us over the past few weeks, you are all lovely and we enjoy your company. We became aware that Mum and Baby Groups were rather thin on the ground on certain days of the week in the Oval/ Kennington area. As a parent myself, I know that these groups are the cornerstones of the community and can be a lifeline for parents. They provide a great opportunity to mingle with other like-minded mums with children of a similar age to your own and they also offer a change of scenery for your child – and yourself. When I first looked to join the Open Group Kennington Parents as a means of informing the local parents about our plans, it clearly stated on the profile page that this was, and I quote, “A group for parents in and around the Kennington area, to post about days out or meetings, anything fun for the kids to do or to help us parents have an easier life! For example, picnics, swimming, meeting for coffee or mother and baby groups.” So in that respect – a perfect forum for us! We were providing a brand new opportunity for parents and children in the Kennington area. Now, we were going to just run the group on Tuesdays but one of the Kennington Parents suggested that Wednesday would be a better day so we ran both days. We have since decided to just run it on Wednesdays. Unfortunately, this to-ing and fro-ing with days has meant that we have had to advise people of the changes and since a lot of parents are parents who use this site, it is the obvious place to update / remind them, so I apologise for the frequency of the reminders on that front. We have also used this site to advise parents of any special days, opening over Easter, craft and music sessions. Yes, The Roebuck is a pub so in that sense it is a business. I should just add though that the Tea & Toast Group actually loses money. We run it in an attempt to connect with the community. As Kathryn said we were honoured to host one of her Pre and Post Natal Depression Advice meetings and it is great to be in a position to provide a facility like the pub for this kind of support group at no hire cost to the organisers. Parents who have attended the Tea & Toast sessions with their little ones have also expressed an interest in the Sewing Club – again it is a way to bond with other parents in the neighbourhood without the children in tow (something else that I think is worthwhile in terms of promoting community spirit – again, this is not a money making scheme). A couple of these parents asked me to post an update about the class in the Kennington Parents page. If I was posting about The Roebuck’s £3.25 a pint of ale, £13 for a bottle of wine or £20 for chilled fizz on Fridays or indeed the amazing food offers then, I would agree that the posts were purely business-based and excessive. The fact is that we are trying to promote and establish a new place for parents to hang out with their children. I am sure that most parents would like to know what is going on in their local area and be happy for other child-friendly organisations to promote their services on the Kennington Parents Group. I am sure the baby swimming business, the handymen, the osteopaths etc in the area would see a benefit if they did promote their services. We have our own Facebook page and I would urge all the parents who DO want to know what we are offering in terms of activities for children or parents to “like” our page www.facebook.com/theroebuckpubsw8. As I say, we have met quite a few of you now and have loved having you. We are also listed on NetMums for those of you are interested in this group and indeed any other Mum & Baby Groups in the area (so I am not sure someone needs to go to the trouble of creating another one as it is really quite extensive). Those of you who don’t mind getting updates about things happening for your kids regardless of their relevance to you, please just ignore/scroll past the posts I make in Kennington Parents (which should now be less frequent anyway as the Wednesday Tea & Toast and Sewing Clubs are established.) To those of you who find this activity offensive, please feel free to block me – Life is too short! Thank you Solveig x

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