Let me tell you a story, Bristol!

B.Y.O.B (Bring Your Own Booze). It is an unthinkable concept back in my home country. Why on earth would a bar encourage you to bring your own drinks? Apparently, this invitation to indicate that guests are welcome to bring their own drinks is  quite typical here. I have seen it in several bars and kebabs, and last night in Crofters Rights bar.

Crofters Rights is the recently opened bar in Stokes Croft that substitutes the red The Croft. The decoration of the bar is unique. I find it funny, somehow, that some areas are nicely decorated while others like toilets and entrance area need a lick of paint and some personal touch, looking unfinished.

We went to that bar, first, to celebrate that a friend of us finally got the job he was looking for, and secondly, because there was a storytelling event going on that night. “Let me tell you a story, Jack!” is Bristol´s first variety storytelling club where "writers, musicians, poets, rappers, comedians, illustrators, graphic novelists and general raconteurs" are welcome.

Doors opened 15 minutes later than the scheduled starting time (7.30pm). Around 40 people took all the seat nicely placed in a U shape and enjoyed the candy that organizer Shonette Laffy thoughtfully located on every seat. They were not enough seats for everybody though, and some had to sit down on the floor and others had to stand up.
Around 8pm, Will from the Shaky Hand Hangover Band, dressed up with a wig and sunglasses, jumped into the stage to welcome us with a performance which made me think... How many raisins are in “two scoops”? LOL

People told all kind of stories. We travelled around the world with a brave Belgian guy who was locked up for giving free hugs in Iran, we heard a very frustrated love letter from a guy who was hoping “she” still loves him, we also laughed with the anecdotes of a guy who was looking for a job as a stand-up comedian, and we flew far away to Canada to safe a polar bear from being lost.

I have to admit that I did not stay in the second part of the event. I was feeling sorry for those who came late and were standing up, and I handed over my seat to one of them. But I will definitely stay all session next time, which I am sure there will be a next time.

 LINKS
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"Let me tell you a story, Jack": http://www.skiddle.com/e/11988822/
The Crofters Rights: http://www.croftersrights.co.uk/
Acknowledgements: first picture has been borrowed from Bristol Culture