I am keen to have a crack at not FORWARD PLANNING if that's any help ?
Surely weather etc plays a part in decision making. The other factor is who is actually out which can change right up to launch (Tomsk doesn't count in these calculations as he ranges far and wide in his quest for the perfect ale).
I have also noted that the FORWARD PLANNER is usually (unconsciously I am sure) biased towards their favoured locations.
I prefer a weekly bidding process.
One thing which might work is a hybrid system whereby we move between a list of central venues or venues near stations in the depths of winter, frequent the extremities in the long nights of summer in our more miles less beer phase (YC, Olde Albion, Anchor at Nayland, The Axe, Hatfield Not Peverel, Duton Hill, the Viper etc) and freewheel it in between.