Firstly I want to say that it was fantastic that the Horniman won the Museums of the Night event. The event seemed well attended and it was great to see locals out supporting the event. The contemporary dance/art installation was really great.

However it was such a shame that the catering was so badly organised (in my opinion). The queue for the gin bar was ridiculous. There must have been at least 50 people in the queue at 7pm and even at 8.30pm there was still a queue of 20 people. I didn't bother which was a shame as I would have loved to try the special gin. I can't have been the only person who didn't bother and this is a missed opportunity to raise as much money as possible for the museum (and people might have bought two gins if they didn't have to wait so long!).

Surely the organisers knew that there were 200 + (??) people attending and that at least 80% of those would want a drink at the ADVERTISED gin bar and especially on a Thursday night after work. Quite simply they needed more staff. Waiting in a queue when people could have been enjoying the gardens, the museum and critically the event itself seems such a shame.

And in the cafe itself (where I eventually got a drink after a good 20 mins), there was only one guy making drinks and bless him he was rushed off his feet which I thought was rather unfair on him. God knows how long it would have taken to queue up to get a gin! At all events, you expect to queue for a drink but 20 + minutes is too much.

Further it seemed a shame on what was a lovely evening that the samba band (playing songs inspired by nature) were not playing in the bandstand/pagoda in the garden with stunning views of the park and London. The acoustics in the main hall were not very good and on such a nice evening (and with the majority of people waiting at the gin bar!), it would have been gorgeous to listen to such lovely music wafting through the garden. As it was, only a comparatively few people were listening to them. I am sure the music could have been staggered so it didn't clash with the dance timings in the conservatory. Or perhaps some silly music license permit/law says they can't play music outside??

I don't wish to harsh, it was a lovely evening despite of all the above but it could have been better organised. Sorry Horniman - I know you do a grand job and the museum is such an asset to Forest Hill.