First Pipe Club of London Meet - Review

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beerandbaccy

Starting to Get Obsessed
Apr 22, 2015
276
140
I may have been a member of the Pipe Club of London for well over a year but I had never been to one of the monthly meet-ups at James J.Fox - London Tobacconist.

I am not sure why I hadn't been before, but probably a combination of lack of time with some nervousness.

I arrived at JJ Fox at was instructed to go upstairs. I said it was my first meeting, so was directed towards some of the organisers. I was thoroughly warmly welcomed and introduced. I was offered a glass of Port, which I gladly accepted and started to fill my pipe.
We were very lucky to have the Mastro de Paja owner Alberto Montini as a guest with a large selection of his amazing and unique pipes. I fell in love fairly quickly with a large bent pipe that had a beautifully-textured sandblast finish, that sat in my hand perfectly. As I put it back down to ponder whether I could spend another £100 on a pipe (there was a generous one-off members' discount) another keen member spotted it and snapped it up! - Well the early bird and all that!
I continued to puff away and chat to an eclectic mix of fellow pipe-smokers. Young and old, some dressed in jacket and tie, some casual and one or two that could be on their way to a heavy metal concert! All were welcome! The room is exactly what you might expect from a traditional British smoking room. Wood panels, dark wooden tables and comfortable old leather couches and armchairs. What a wonderful atmosphere to smoke a pipe in! I usually smoke out in the garden or on walks, so it is a rare treat to be protected from the London winter in luxury, supping on port with a briar clenched in my mouth.
After recovering from missing out on my perfect pipe from Mastro de Paja I have to say what a pleasant couple of hours I spent in the company of some like-minded smokers in a the most salubrious of surroundings. If you're in London I would highly recommend joining and visiting.
:puffy:

 

rodo

Starting to Get Obsessed
May 1, 2014
157
259
Central Arkansas
Beerandbaccy, thanks for sharing. I'm totally jealous you got to go AND during the meeting when Alberto was there. Nice. I hope to attend the April meeting. Maybe meet you there.

 
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