Procol Harum in London, 6 March 2005

Basecamp hotel for Procol fans to stay together

How to book your discounted hotel in London ... further down the page ... booking closed Friday noon, GMT

When Procol Harum play a major concert, experience shows that all the fans have a good time if we stay in the same hotel. 'Beyond the Pale' started organising this for fans before Redhill 1997, and has followed it with Guildford 1998, Guildford 2000, Kristiansand 2001, Manchester 2001, Croydon 2002, Lewisham 2003, Hollywood 2003 and Islington 2003.

We've explored the area round the Bloomsbury Theatre, and found an ideal hotel to be 'Basecamp' for Procol fans attending the London gig on 6 March: excellent concessional prices are shown below. Socially it works very well if the fans stay in the same place, and the particular advantage of this hotel is that it's such a short walk from the gig (see mauve line on map: about 300 yards) ... eradicating transport costs. BtP's social events (yet to be announced) will take place at the Bloomsbury theatre, where Procol will play on Sunday evening.

Hilton Euston London Hotel
17-18 Upper Woburn Place
Bloomsbury
London
WC1H 0HT

The Hilton has just had a million pounds spent on refurbishment, and is of a very good standard, with nice staff, restaurant and bar. It's fifteen minutes’ walk from Oxford Street, and close to tube and rail stations (and to Euston mainline station) in a pleasant area of central London. Click the map for more detail.

The following hotel rates, negotiated for PH fans, are very competitive:

• If staying only Saturday night: 100 GBP for a double room, 85 GBP for a single; full English breakfast and VAT included

• If staying Friday or Sunday, 80 GBP for a double room, 65 GBP for a single; full English breakfast and VAT included

• If staying on the Saturday in combination with adjoining days, Saturday will be charged at 80 GBP for a double room, 65 GBP for a single; full English breakfast and VAT included

• Thursday, Monday and Tuesday bookings will be charged at 110 GBP for a double room and 100 GBP for a single, full English breakfast and VAT included. Accommodation on those days is going fast.

VAT (included in BtP prices) is the only tax payable: nothing else to worry about on that score. Rooms with disabled access are available on request ... please mention this if you'd like it. There's a gym for those who need it. All rooms have wireless dial-up internet access. BtP has already allotted 66 person-nights on these prices.

How to book: send an e-mail to webmaster@procolharum.com containing full names of persons staying, particulars of rooms required, and dates involved. BtP forwards your details to the Hilton, and they contact you.

Drivers should note that the hotel is inside the London Congestion Zone, so there will be a 5 GBP charge payable for those travelling in / out of the area on the Monday (7 March) morning. The fee can be paid at the petrol station opposite, the adjacent Royal National Hotel, or at the Post Office opposite Euston Station – or online before departure. The Hilton has no car parking of its own, but there is a large car park at the Royal National Hotel for non-guests (16 GBP overnight, on a first-come first-served basis) and another large car park opposite Euston Station) (thanks, John)