My Seats vs. Sheffield Utd.

[TNJOHN]

I will be visiting from the USA and attending the match vs. Sheffield Utd. on the 31st of August. What kind of seats did I purchase in the South Africa Road Stand area A upper section? Are there any visual obstructions to the field from this area? Any comments about this seating area? Any recommendations on which tube station to stop at coming from the Westminister area? Thanks

John

[QPR Kevin H]

I will be visiting from the USA and attending the match vs. Sheffield Utd. on the 31st of August. What kind of seats did I purchase in the South Africa Road Stand area A upper section? Are there any visual obstructions to the field from this area? Any comments about this seating area? Any recommendations on which tube station to stop at coming from the Westminister area? Thanks

John
Your seats in SA Road should be fine. There are some pillars in the way which might slightly restrict you, but it should not be a huge problem - just requires the patented Loftus lean to make sure you see everything. Plus the most restricted seats are sold last - and you've gotten yours pretty well in advance.

Many ways to get to the ground via the tube. Most direct if you're going straight to the ground... take the Circle Line to Notting Hill - then Central Line to White City. Ground is a 5 minute walk from there.

If you want to see more of beautiful Shepherds Bush, including the favoured QPR pubs... take the District Line to Hammersmith then walk outside to the Hammersmith and City Line (different station) - one stop up that line to Goldhawk Road. The most popular QPR pub (and recently refurbished), the Bushranger is practically next door to the tube stop. Plus, a slew of other pubs nearby and as you walk to the ground. Loads of fast food, chip shops and (slightly) healthier options as well. Some pricier, nice pub food at the Goldhawk - a few streets down Goldhawk Rd from the tube and only a 10 minute walk to Loftus Road.

Should be a good crowd that night, and a decent match. Hope you enjoy it.

[TNJOHN]

Your seats in SA Road should be fine. There are some pillars in the way which might slightly restrict you, but it should not be a huge problem - just requires the patented Loftus lean to make sure you see everything. Plus the most restricted seats are sold last - and you've gotten yours pretty well in advance.

Many ways to get to the ground via the tube. Most direct if you're going straight to the ground... take the Circle Line to Notting Hill - then Central Line to White City. Ground is a 5 minute walk from there.

If you want to see more of beautiful Shepherds Bush, including the favoured QPR pubs... take the District Line to Hammersmith then walk outside to the Hammersmith and City Line (different station) - one stop up that line to Goldhawk Road. The most popular QPR pub (and recently refurbished), the Bushranger is practically next door to the tube stop. Plus, a slew of other pubs nearby and as you walk to the ground. Loads of fast food, chip shops and (slightly) healthier options as well. Some pricier, nice pub food at the Goldhawk - a few streets down Goldhawk Rd from the tube and only a 10 minute walk to Loftus Road.

Should be a good crowd that night, and a decent match. Hope you enjoy it.

Thanks! I have read reports of the stadium and cramped seats in some areas of the stadium and the possiblility of the restricted view but i could not tell from the seating chart where the pillars are. Nevertheless, i hope for an exciting game and great crowd.

[Atouk]

I'll be able to tell you more about your seat location next week, so check this space. My tickets for the Derby match this weekend are in South Africa Road Section A in the upper parts. I'll let you know how it went (and my exact seat location) after I return to the US next Wednesday.

I agree with Kevin on transport. If you're headed straight to the ground, go to the White City station on the Central Line. A pub called The Springbok (http://www.sff.net/people/chris.amies/publist/images/Springbok_SouthAfricaRoad.jpg) is the last thing before the ground, so you can catch a mix of (mostly) away and (some) home fans there if you're looking for a quick one. There's a chip shop right there and usually a van selling food as well.

However, if you've got a bit of time, I'd definitely recommend taking the Hammersmith & City Line to either Shepherds Bush (a bit closer to the stadium, lets you out on Uxbridge Road) or Goldhawk Road (next major street after Uxbridge Road). Neither makes for a bad walk to Loftus Road and both offer a variety of pubs, restaurants, and take-aways.

For a basic map, see here (http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Directions/0,,10373,00.html). If you go to Streetmap.co.uk (http://www.streetmap.co.uk/) and enter Loftus Road, the default-size map that comes up will include the stadium and all three tube stations mentioned.

There's a great list of pubs in the area (http://www.sff.net/people/chris.amies/publist/index.html) that's worth a look.

The BushRanger (http://www.sff.net/people/chris.amies/publist/reviews/bushranger_goldhawkroad_w12.htm) is just outside of the Goldhawk Road station, while just up Goldhawk Road (to your left, exiting the station) are The Goldhawk (
http://www.sff.net/people/chris.amies/publist/reviews/goldhawk_goldhawkroad_w12.htm) and O'Donoghue's (http://www.sff.net/people/chris.amies/publist/reviews/odonoghues_goldhawkroad_w12.htm), now the home of the QPR Loyal Supporters Association.

Some of the pub on Shepherds Bush Green probably would be decent for a pre-match pint (I've been to these, just not before a match), such as The Green (http://www.sff.net/people/chris.amies/publist/images/Green_UxbridgeRoad.jpg) (NW corner of the Green at the beginning of Uxbridge Road) and O'Neills (http://www.sff.net/people/chris.amies/publist/images/ONeills_GoldhawkRoad.jpg) (SW corner of the Green at the beginning of Goldhawk Road).

I go to The White Horse (http://www.sff.net/people/chris.amies/publist/reviews/whitehorse_uxbridgeroad_w12.htm) on Uxbridge Road before matches, although you'll probably need to be a regular or in QPR gear to get in. There are several others along Uxbridge Road, as well, with every pub in W12 probably offering a pretty decent vibe on matchday.

Hope you enjoy your trip.

[HiJazzey]

The Central line station for Sheperd's bush is close as well. It's slightly further away than White city station, but you make that up by the fact you don't have to sit through the incredibly slow crawl the train makes between Sheperd's bush and White city.

[Atouk]

The Central line station for Sheperd's bush is close as well. It's slightly further away than White city station, but you make that up by the fact you don't have to sit through the incredibly slow crawl the train makes between Sheperd's bush and White city.Good point. That station is right on the edge of Shepherds Bush Green. If you're on the Central Line and don't want to change, that's a better place to get off than White City if you're going to pubs/restaurants on Uxbridge Road, Goldhawk Road, or Shepherds Bush Green.

[Atouk]

Sorry I can't help with info about the view from those seats. Through a bit of luck, I was able to watch the Derby match from an Executive Box, so my South Africa Road Sec. A ticket went unused.

Hope you have a good time at Loftus Road!

[doolittledog2]

Through a bit of luck, I was able to watch the Derby match from an Executive Box.




This must mean our Atouk decided he had $500,000 too much in his bank account and is now a 20% owner in QPR. Have fun in those board meetings!!!

[Atouk]

This must mean our Atouk decided he had $500,000 too much in his bank account and is now a 20% owner in QPR. Have fun in those board meetings!!!I wish! If I won the lottery, I'd have a share of the club, that's for sure! No, I just happened to start up a conversation with these guys in the pub. One of them had been given four seats in a box, but only two of his group of friends had said they'd rather sit there than their regular seats, so with one left over, he invited me to come along.

It was fun and very cool of them to offer. As a general rule, in good weather, it's probably more fun being out in the crowd, but I bet that suite is pretty sweet come the bitter part of winter.