To show what good taste we have, The Ribs has been voted 'Pub of the Year 2001' by the Evening News (Which one of the local papers published by Eastern Daily Press)

Unfortunately, due to its location, the Meeting Room does not have easy wheelchair access. If anyone in the area is deterred by this, don't be -  please get in touch and we will see what we can arrange.

March 7th: "We come in peace!" - Diplomacy in Science Fiction

March 21st: Equinox Quiz

April 4th: "Fooled again!" - Humour in Science Fiction

April 18th: Open Meeting (Hopefully with the new magazine available . . .)

We usually plan the meetings one season in advance. If anybody is interested in coming along, or if you have a suggestion for a meeting, then please get in touch

Back in the days before our records begin, Norwich's science fiction afficionados had somewhere to congregate. The reasons for its seeming demise may never come to light. It is rumoured files lay gathering dust in the vaults beneath City Hall but know one is brave, or foolhardy, enough to venture into those treacherous regions. So what happened next . . .

Picture this - August bank holiday, 1987. In Brighton the World Science Fiction Convention has touched down. Sue Lewis is there. Amidst all the hustle and bustle she discovers that there are lots of small SF groups dotted around the country. She tries to find out if there is one in Norwich. but the answer is in the negative.

Returning enthused, she decided to set one up. Over the next few months she arranged a site - the basement room at the Ribs of Beef, tries to contact people through the British Science Fiction Association, places an ad in CityWise (a local listings magazine at the time) and sends a press release to the Eastern Daily Press and Eastern Evening News (the local daily newspapers) announcing the first meeting for January 1988.

Because of the coverage the basement was packed. Amazed at her success the Norwich Science Fiction Group emerged.

Not every meeting was as packed as the first, people drifted off, new people arrived, Alternate Wednesdays saw a variety of activities taking place, discussions, games, talks, guests or just drinking and chat. For a while a smaller group used to meet on the alternate, alternate (or in-between) Thursdays, at Micawbers (another local hostelry), for a friendly chat around the fire.

For the sometimes less sedentary, excursions were arranged - Pub Crawls, Meals, Barbecues and Treasure Hunts.

A regular Clubzine was produced by Sue, Star Paws and Apocrypha, but that is a story for another day (and another page). Sue changed jobs and changed her name (to Paeony). There were changes at The Ribs too so the NSFG had to move up the road to The Lawyer (now a Firkin Pub). Paeony handed the reins of  power over to a triumvite, Ken, Paul and Val.

After that the Group moved about a bit. The Plasterers, The Golden Star, The Merchants, Take 5 Cafe (at Cinema City) and The Mischief Tavern have all hosted us for varying lengths of time - "Fine hostelries, all of them". However, we are back in our spiritual home - The Ribs. The wall with the small grill at the far end of the room has now been replaced with double doors opening onto the river aspect and mooring facilities.

Val left Norwich leaving Ken and Paul in charge. Andrew, one of the early members, returned from London and took control of the magazine. Ken was lured away to the bright lights of Bristol and so Paul and Andrew became the new Executive.

As most members had their Wednesdays free, the in-between weeks saw a different sort of gathering - the tweenie'. Trips to the Cinema, video sessions, board game evenings, picnics, Writers' Workshops and storytelling evenings.

On Sunday March 9th 1997, the NSFG held INFINITE POSSIBILITIES, a Science Fiction and Fantasy Fair at the Hotel Norwich's City Suite. A tangle of traders and a gaggle of guests - artists and writers - mingled with the paying public. Rumours that the Group will hold another event may not be unfounded . . . (just unlikely in the near future)

The NSFG has been involved with Literature Development here in Norfolk, and helped the local Library Service with their Future Fantastic SF book promotion.

August 2000 saw the release of the first in the new magazine series NSFG presents: with the second issue following in February 2001.