Doors at four, sitting at sundown
Teaching tables early in the week, a full Friday, the Saturday ladder and a long quiet Sunday. Monday the bay is shut.
Evening by evening
Teaching table from six, six seats, free
Teaching table, slow room, easy pace
Sundowner sitting, kitchen at its busiest
Full bay by seven, ring ahead to eat
Ladder table from eight, sign up inside
Long afternoon, quiet tables, early close
Deliveries, repairs, a day off
Why the evening moves with the light
The roller door faces the street and the last of the light comes straight in through it. When it goes, the lamps come on, the first sitting is called and the room changes character in about a minute.
In summer that is close to eight and in winter it is barely five, so the chalkboard by the door carries tonight's time and the phone will tell you if you ring.
The Saturday ladder is our nearest thing to a competition: an open chalked ladder, points only, and a round of something cold for the table on top. No entry fee, no prize money, nothing to collect.
Tue & Wed 6pm
Teaching table, free, six seats, no experience needed.
Every evening
Sundowner sitting, called at the light rather than the clock.
Sat 8pm
Ladder table, open sign-up, no stake and no prize fund.