Issue 28

rhythm and booze Brews, News, Bands & Reviews - Issue 28 - November/December 2014

Cat Meets Dogs

Left to right: Brothers Robert, Ian and David Wilson are The Houndogs.

A local band are to set to share the stage with one of their heroes.

Rockabilly group The Houndogs will be joined by Stray Cats’ drummer Slim Jim Phantom at Stamford Corn Exchange on 14 November.

Comprising brothers Ian, Robert and David Wilson, the

Holbeach-based trio were inspired to form a band – at 14, 15 and nine years old respectively – after seeing a Stray Cats’ video. From humble beginnings at a local open mic night, The Houndogs have played everything from weddings to festivals at home and abroad. They have

previously supported Stray Cats’ bassist Lee Rocker.

The Stamford date will mark Phantom’s only UK appearance this year and he will join the brothers on stage for their second set of the evening. For tickets, ring 01780 766455 or visit stamford-corn-exchange.co.uk

Peterborough • south LinCs • rutLanD • east northants

SIx ReAl AleS FRoM £2.50 A PINt

Hodgson Centre, Hodgson Ave PE4 5EG Tel: 01733 578088

Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year 2014 Runner Up Live Satellite Sports n Live Entertainment Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5-7pm n Cash Quiz - Sunday from 8pm

Halloween Spooktacular Beer Festival Thursday 30th October-Sunday 2nd November

Live Music All Weekend - Hell Pit BBQ Friday 31st October - Zombie Walk from Ploughman to Dragon Bands: Friday - Hooker Saturday - The 707 (3pm), High Rollers (9pm) Sunday - Radius 45 (3pm), Children of the Revolution (8pm)

Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year 2014 & 2011 CAMRA Gold award 2013 Live Satellite Sports n Live Entertainment Happy Hour Mon - Fri 5-7pm Werrington Centre, Staniland Way PE4 6NA Tel: 01733 327696

teN ReAl AleS FRoM £2.00 A PINt

the rhythm section Knightfest, a beer and music festival in aid of Alzheimer Research UK takes place at The Heron, Stanground on 1 November. Starting at 2pm, acts include acoustic rockers The Waterboatmen, Mick Davidson and One Eyed Cats’ frontman Simon Russell. For further information on the event, visit http://tinyurl.com/ogvt589 Stamford’s March to the Grave are one of several acts to play The Mayor’s Christmas Cracker, which takes place at Grantham’s Guildhall Art Centre on 4 December.

Hosted by Mayor of Grantham, Councillor Ian Selby – brother of the band’s bassist Sponge – proceeds from the event go towards the Mayor’s Charities, Grantham Journal Children’s Fund, Kesteven Rideability and Gravity FM. Tickets, priced £12, are available by calling 01476 406158 or via www.guildhallartscentre.com Albion, the Bourne-based indie rock band who won MMG’s national battle of the bands competition in July have said goodbye to a founder member. Guitarist George Ramsay has left to take up a place at Newcastle University. His former band mates wish him well and have admitted that he will be greatly missed. For further information on Albion, visit albionband.com The Woolpack, Stanground has launched a weekly Traditional Irish Music session. Taking place on Sundays, it runs between 4

Albion. and 7pm.

Eighties tribute act Wild Boys are performing at this year’s Crystal Charity Ball.

Taking place on Saturday 22 November at Springfields’ Event Centre in Spalding, the ball is in support of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Tickets, priced £50 each, include a threecourse dinner, while reception drinks have been sponsored

by Castor Ales. For further details including booking information, visit www.thecrystalcharityball.org The Brewery Tap’s Winter Beer Festival runs between 27 and 30 November. Showcasing local small breweries, along with Oakham Ales, it will feature 30+ real ales, plus a selection of guest ciders. Music on the opening night comes from guitarist Matt Howard, the Dave Jackson Blues band will perform on 28 November from 9pm, DJ Rick Allen is on from 9pm on 29 November,

while Red Wine Blues brings the festival to a close with their set, from 8pm, on 30 November. Traditional Thai street food, served in buffet style, will be served on the opening night, while a two for £10 Sunday menu is available on 30 November.

Popular website Peterborough Images is building up a database of local bands to accompany its A-Z of national acts who have played in the city. If you were part of a local band at any point in the last 50 years then visit peterboroughimages.co.uk/ music/?page_id=7315 Former JLS singer Aston Merrygold has signed a solo record deal with Warner Bros Music. In a statement following the signing session, the Peterborough-born performer – who has a tattoo of Peterborough Cathedral on his right arm – wrote ‘I feel so blessed to be in this position and I'm not going to waste it’.

the Woolpack Stanground's Best Kept Secret - A 15 minute walk from the centre of town

n Open all day, every day from 12 noon (11.30am Saturday) n Up to four real ales available n Large riverside beer garden n Food served Tuesday to Sunday lunchtimes and Monday to Saturday evenings n Quiz on Sunday evenings (cash prizes)

Live MusiC

Steve Bean (Classical Guitarist) – 16 November, 4-6pm Traditional Irish Music Sessions – Every Sunday, 4-7pm

CHriSTMAS OPENiNG HOurS 24 DECEMbEr 12 NOON–12.30am, 25th DECEMbEr 11am-2pm, 26th DECEMbEr 12-11.15pm, 31st DECEMbEr 12-3pm & 7pm-1am, 1st JANuAry 12-11.15pm th

North Street, Stanground, Peterborough Pe2 8JF (01733) 753544

Pub News

The newly published 2015 Good Pub Guide gives national recognition to several local pubs – The Brewery Tap in Peterborough (Top 10 Own-Brew Pub), Olive Branch, Clipsham (Top 10 Pub of the Year) and Queen’s Head, Bulwick (to Julie Barclay and Robert Windeler – Top 10 Licensees of the Year)/ Spalding’s own micro-pub – the Priors Oven – has received a listing CAMRA’s 2015 Good Beer Guide Faced with closure, the Wishing Well at Dyke, near Bourne has been bought by a consortium of locals. A new chef has been brought ion and a new menu devised.

The pub boasts a large beer garden, function room and accommodation.

The Cock Inn at Werrington held a charity beer festival in September, raising over £5,000 for Peterborough Cancer Care Research Unit.

The Lord Burghley in

the Wishing Well, Dyke.

the Indian Queen & three Kings, Boston.

Stamford’s inaugural GlastonBurghley event raised over £800 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Sharon and Jim Trevor have sold Jim’s Yard in Stamford in order to concentrate on their other two businesses – the Six Bells at Witham-on-the Hill and the Beehive in Peterborough. The Yard, as it’s now known, is being run by Simon McEnery (formerly of

Nicks in Oakham) and Tim Luff (until recently, chef at the Northwick Arms in Ketton).

The Northwick Arms was due to reopen in November.

The Boathouse in Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough has been refurbished and offers a new menu.

The Enterprise owned Drum and Monkey in Stamford has closed again.

Also in Stamford the Punch Bowl in Scotgate closed in September and is for sale.

Despite a tasteful refurbishment, the Indian Queen and Three Kings in Boston has been put up for sale by Bateman’s – for details see the Boston feature in this issue.

The Decoy at Milking Nook near Newborough has recently reopened as the Decoy Bar & Indian Restaurant. It’s open from 4pm Monday to Saturday, and 12 noon on Sundays.

The Grade II listed Golden Continued over

Pub News (Continued) Lion in Bourne has been put of for sale by Samuel Smiths, the asking price is £225,000 and further information can be found at www.pygottcrone.com The Angel at South Witham is now in the hands of Vicky Giddy (formerly of the Blue Cow in the village) and Shaun Mason.

George Sakkalli of the Golden Pheasant, Etton is expecting to gain the final go-ahead to re-license the Exeter Arms at Helpston.

Refurbishment work is already underway.

Planning offers have given their approval for a fivestorey digital hub on the Lansbury Hall site in Blackfriars Road, Stamford – until recently home to the Cummins (once Newage) Social Club. The ‘Haatch’ could create up to 150 jobs, but locals are concerned about lack of parking and the impact of such a large building on a conservation area (the street was used in the filming of Pride & Prejudice and Middlemarch).

The Peacock on London Road, Peterborough is under new management.

Just off our patch, but maybe worth a look is the Three Horseshoes at Houghton near Huntingdon.

Licensees Jason and Claire have created a real ale and cider bar in the temperature controlled snug to dispense up to 12 beers and ciders. www.threehorseshoesinn houghton.co.uk The Crown at Uppingham is

the now-closed George & Dragon, Billingborough. now run by Glyn and Alan Clarke. The refurbished Everards pub now offers food from 10am-7pm daily from the new menu, and has been awarded a three-star AA rating for its rooms.

Oundle Mill closed unexpectedly in September.

Owner Agellus Hotels made the decision after a ’review of the business’ The King’s Hotel in Grantham is being transformed into a ‘boutique hotel’ by new owners Chris and Theresa Duggan, who have run the Eden wine bar in Market Place for several years.

The Nene Valley Brewery is opening a restaurant at its premises in Station Road, Oundle in late November. It will be open daily (including Christmas Day) – the house beers will be supplemented by ‘unusual guests’.

The Woodston on Belsize Ave, Woodston, Peterborough has closed.

The Whistle Stop in Tallington is for sale. Details at www.guysimmonds.co.uk

Pubs no more…

The recently closed George & Dragon at Billingborough is being converted into five houses, leaving the Fortescue Arms as the only remaining pub in a village that once boasted five.

The owners of the derelict Bull and Monkey pub in Churchgate, Spalding have been ordered by South Holland District Council to tidy up the eyesore by the end of October. Other ‘grot spots’ identified by the District Council include former pubs, the New Bridge Inn at West Pinchbeck, the Red Cow at Donington and the Bell at Pinchbeck.

The long-closed Dolphin is Stamford is being converted into flats.

The campaign to reopen a new pub and community hub on the site the Dun Cow at Cowbit, near Spalding came to an end when local planning inspectors ruled that the scheme would be ‘unviable’ and that nine homes could be built there. The original pub was demolished in March.

THE rED LiON 48 KiNG STrEET, WEST DEEPiNG PE6 9HP Telephone: 01778 347190

GReAt FoR ReAl AleS AND GooD FooD t UeS -F RI : 2

SeleCteD MAINS

+2

SoFt DRINKS FoR

£16

ChRIStMAS BooKINGS NoW BeING tAKeN lARGe FUNCtIoN RooM FoR hIRe theredlion,westdeeping redlionwdeeping C heCK

WeBSIte FoR

C hRIStMAS

oPeNING tIMeS

www.redlionwestdeeping.co.uk Ditch the shopping and escape to

the ostriCh Traditional Alehouse in the heart of the City

CaMra gold award Winner 2013 - all real ales £3 Live Music every Friday and saturday open all day every Day (from 12noon sun-thurs, 11am Fri,sat)

north st (just behind Westgate house), Peterborough Pe1 2ra

the crown

www.thecrownonline.co.uk thecrownonline

Mondays: Real Ale & Cider Club Tuesdays: Pie & Pint night Wednesdays: Midweek Madness Fridays: Big Cover Bands Saturdays: Anything Goes Sundays: Acoustic afternoon + Quiz Night Full details on our website

November is Movember charity month Remembrance Sunday 9 November special afternoon Wednesday 12 November Meet The Brewers - 12 local brewers Saturday 22 November Pub Birthday Party - Extra special day Saturday 29 November Race Night - Have fun – win cash!

Sunday 30 November Afternoon Special - Steve Bean Classical Guitarist

December Days of Christmas - A different offer each day Friday 5 December Rock Out - The best rock tribute show Thursday 11 December Open Mic Night - Christmas Party version Friday 12 December Johnny Cash Tribute - The best free Johnny Cash tribute show Saturday 13 December Dr Busker - A proper pub Christmas party sing-a-long and much more Tuesday 16 December School Choir - Local school Christmas Carol concert Wednesday 24 December Christmas Eve Free party open to all

749 Lincoln Road, New England, Peterborough PE1 3HD

O n t h e ( Ti m e ) l a s h A visit to the pubs seen, however briefly, in Doctor Who.

The Duke of York 47 Rathbone Street London W1T 1NW 020 7636 7065 Although no one knew it at the time, 1966’s The War Machines provided the template for the earth-bound Doctor Who stories of the early 1970s. Like those later Jon Pertwee adventures, The War Machines saw William Hartnell’s Doctor team up with the government and military to defeat an unusual enemy in familiar surroundings – in this case, a psychotic computer named WOTAN who had been installed at the top of the Post Office Tower.

At the time that one of WOTAN’s mobile War Machines made its way past The Duke of York, its single horseshoe bar was decorated with hundreds of neckties; a legacy of ‘eccentric’ landlord Alf Klein’s habit of cutting off the ties of first-time customers. While those ties have long gone, one in the shape of Greene King remains. Even before venturing inside, I had guessed that the pub would be serving IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Abbot Ale. A fourth pump was serving Buck Greene Governor Ale – one of GK’s many seasonal beers, masquerading as a guest ale – while the fifth handpump was out of use.

I went for a pint of Buck Greene, a 5% London pale ale, priced £3.90 a pint, which – according to the tasting notes – is ‘light, refreshing and packed with hops’.

In 1947, while the author Anthony Burgess and wife Lynne were enjoying a drink here, a gang called Pirelli’s Mob burst in, tipping beer over and smashing glasses.

When Lynne said, “What a pity to waste good beer,” Pirelli made her down three pints. She did it, earning his respect and protection from other gangs in the area. I suspect that if I was in a similar situation, given how close to water it is, I could have downed three pints of Buck Greene just as easily.

raiLroving

boston

It’s over 40 years since the direct rail route from Peterborough to Boston was closed but there are still a couple of rail options (via Grantham, or via Spalding), and can be done for £16 on a day return basis (£14.90 from Grantham or just £6.20 from Sleaford). We chose the Spalding route – a last chance before the line’s modernisation. This however proved to be something of an error, as the newly commissioned signalling was having some teething problems, which resulted in a 20-minute delay. Had East Midlands Trains/Network Rail used common sense, instead of allowing the connecting train to depart Sleaford at the same time as ours arrived, that would not have been a problem. Anyway rant over… and collective minds and pockets contributing to a taxi we arrived in Boston only a little later than the planned 11.09.

Thankfully the Eagle in West Street is just a stone’s throw away from the station, opens at 11am and offers nine real ales and ciders. This Castle Rock pub has been run for the past three years by landlady Jacqui Clarkson, and appears to be the real ale hub of the town. There’s no food, but there’s an emphasis on good beer, darts and pool.

Occasional live music is offered including a folk night

on the first Monday of the month. Their first beer festival was held in August and proved a big success – 35 beers and 15 ciders were available.

Back towards the station, passing the long closed Great Northern in Station Street, we arrived at The Duke of York – a Bateman house recently taken over by Dale and Liz Elsam. Bateman’s XB and GK IPA were on offer but

we were assured that the beer range would increase.

This couple is big on retro music, so if Ska, 80s and retro rock are your thing, you’ll enjoy the vibe. A theme coming through already in this town is the importance of traditional pub pastimes ie pool and darts, this is evident, as is the striking view of the famous St Botolph’s church – reputedly Britain’s tallest parish church,

known affectionately as the ‘Stump’ – from the spacious beer garden. ‘Basket’ meals are planned in the future, but we’re not sure if Dale’s reputed skills as a magician will also be on the agenda.

A walk through the police station car park and over the bridge, takes you to the Britannia in Church Street – a Bateman pub that’s very easy on the eye, and doesn’t disappoint when you get inside. This former cycle shop offers a riverside terrace, open fires, another good view of the Stump and four Bateman’s ales including the new 4.2% Lincolnshire Bitter, plus Autumn Fall, Yella Belly, XB and Old Rosie Cider. The pub has a very unusual curved door, but is perhaps better known for its ‘Man versus Food’ style eating challenges.

If you think you can manage an Ultimate Burger or 2kg of ribs then you might get your name in lights, and conquerors of the mighty 80oz rump steak get to eat for free. Good value food including a Sunday carvery and live weekend music are also offered.

A quick look in the Stump and Candle revealed no real beer (or customers), so we

the eagle.

Carpenter’s Arms. moved on through the Market Place to the Waterfront – alas, three handpumps but none on!

We moved on to the Ship Tavern – another Bateman pub (their beer is dominant in the town, the lovely ‘windmill’ brewery is just 14 miles away in Wainfleet). This pub is clearly popular with students from the nearby college – it’s been opened out into one large drinking area but retains many traditional touches, with wooden floors and log burner.

Given the title of the pub and huge maritime history outside the door, there’s a surprising lack of shipping memorabilia here but it does offer a pleasing drinking environment. From the door the view across the water to the once famous ‘Gliderdrome’ evoked happy memories among the more, erm, mature members of our party of the days when such talents as Elton John, T Rex, Cream, The Who and Geno Washington were attracted to the town.

Over the river bridge, Wetherspoon’s Moon Under Water can be found on the High Street. The usual

format of cut-priced beers is available. The permanents (Ruddles Best and GK Abbot) were supplemented by Ringwood 49er, Adnams Broadside and Bateman’s Black and White when we visited – not the most imaginative range we’ve seen – plus a couple of real ciders.

Further along the same road is the Golden Lion – another proper boozer, alive with traditional pub games including dominoes. The resident Theakston’s Best Bitter was accompanied

by Reverend James from Brains, and Lancaster Bomber from Thwaites.

Back through the Market Place, we were looking forward to the next stop – the Indian Queen and Three Kings in Dolphin Lane – another Bateman pub this has recently been subject to a tasteful refurbishment as a ‘Victorian drinking parlour’ with wood panelled walls, tiled floors, open fires and even gas lamps, but it’s been put on the market, and is currently closed, awaiting a buyer. From the photographs this looks like a real gem (the freehold is for sale with

www.poyntons.com at £185K) So, onwards, past the Stump and along the delightful ‘Wormgate’ – home to the original Wormgate Tavern, now known as Goodbarns Yard. This proved to be one of the highlights of the day – the sun was shining on the large beer garden, the staff and management very engaging, and the Timothy Taylor Landlord proved to be in great nick. With a ‘two for a tenner’ food offer on (and serving all day), this was clearly the place for much needed grub, and the chilli certainly didn’t disappoint.

Moving along Wormgate, the Little Peacock is another friendly pub, but appears to

town, the Pincushion Inn in London Road, Wyberton (a 2-mile taxi ride, or a catch the half-hourly bus from the Market Place), is thought to be the only pub in the country so named. The 18 th century pub took its name from the ‘pin’ or ‘pinfold’ next door – a hold for stray animals, which were held until the claimant paid a fee.

Now a Marston’s house, it offers food all day, a good beer garden, and pub games along with Hobgoblin, Mansfield Cask and a guest beer. Live music features on a fortnightly basis and at occasional beer festivals.

Chris Shilling, with many thanks to Richard Howes

be a little run down: the fireplace bricked up, and seats folded back as if to say ‘please don’t sit here’. I’m not one for enduring TV and music simultaneously, but to be fair, the Everards Tiger and Ruddles Bitter were both on good form. We left Bateman’s Carpenters Arms in Witham Street until the end, as it’s not open until 3pm each day.

It offers the usual darts and pool plus a games room with ‘retro’ table-top video games. There are open fires and live music with an emphasis on young bands every Saturday, oh…and the Yella Belly was priced at a very reasonable £2.50.

If you fancy a trip out of 9

Key 1. Eagle 2. Duke of York 3. Britannia 4. Ship 5. Moon Under Water 6. Golden Lion 7. Indian Queen & Three Kings 8. Goodbarn’s Yard 9. Carpenter’s Arms

8

7

2 3

1

5 4 6

the heron heron Court, Stanground Peterborough Pe2 8QB 01733 704693

-

locAle accredited Four real ales on permanently live music every Friday night huge enclosed beer garden

- 120” big screen tV - Function room for hire - Quiz every Wednesday

www.heronpub.co.uk BONFIrE PArTY: FrIDAY 7TH NOVEMBEr TICKETS £12.50 PEr PErSON. INCLUDES HOT DOGS, BUrGErS AND SOUP. UNDEr 10S HALF PrICE. BAr OPENS 6.30PM.. BOOKING ESSENTIAL.

QUIz NIGHT: FrIDAY 21ST NOVEMBEr MAx TEAMS OF SIx. 7 FOr 7.30PM STArT. £11 PEr PErSON INCLUDES A 2 COUrSE MEAL. BOOKING ESSENTIAL.

CHrISTMAS LUNCHES 2 COUrSES AND COFFEE £14.95 3 COUrSES AND COFFEE £16.95 AVAILABLE FrOM MONDAY 1ST DECEMBEr. ExCLUDES SUNDAYS. BOOKING ESSENTIAL.

THE VINE 19 Church St, Market Deeping PE6 8AN

CaMra gold award Winner 2014 Free house with a warm welcome and great atmosphere!

5 real ales including guests Large Patio Fine Wines

ALSO: ANY 2 MAIN COUrSES FOr THE PrICE OF 1 MON-THUrS EVENINGS DUrING DECEMBEr

Country Hotel & Golf Club toft, bourne Pe10 0Jt 01778 590614

www.tofthotelgolf.co.uk

the-vine-deeping tel Frank on 07501 465646

the Palmerston arms “oundle Road’s Permanent Beer Festival”

Ukulele Night (thursdays) - See our band and join in Vinyl Night (last friday of the month) Quiz Night (every Sunday) - Cash and beer Prizes Live Music -check thepalmerstonarms for dates announcing:

The Palmerston Pie Co

beef, lamb, vegetable or chicken - £4.50

82 Oundle road, Peterborough PE2 9PA Tel: 01733 565865 o p e n i n g t i m e s : Monday - Thursday 15.00 - 00.00 Friday and Saturday 12.00 - 00.00 Sunday 12.00 - 23.00

PoaCher's Pubs, Past & Present

The Golden Lion, Bourne Situated in West Street, Bourne, the Golden Lion is one of the town’s longestablished pubs. At a time when many of Bourne’s hostelries belonged to Watney’s and served only fizzy keg, ‘the Lion’ was a cask ale oasis (long before real ale was the success it is today).

Up until 1974 it served beer brewed at the All Saints Brewery at Stamford with Melbourn Bros Ltd proudly advertising its ‘Prizewinning Ales’. The award related to them winning the UK Bottled Beer Competition – 1st Prize Class 6 – back in 1968. As with several other Melbourn houses, it became a Samuel Smith’s pub with regulars developing a taste for Old

Brewery Bitter at an enviably low price.

Mind you, if the brewery had raised the price a bit and invested in the property it might have been appreciated.

They did demolish the function room/restaurant to the rear of the property and with it the pub’s kitchen,

which means it now relies on a fairly meagre drinks trade.

The only new addition to appear there is a ‘For Sale’ sign with a £225,000 price tag to go with it. Whether ‘the Lion’ has a golden future or not, we will have to wait and see.

The Poacher

one bite of the Cherry... Cola

Although Peterborough has produced a wealth of talented guitarists, the majority of bands with a local connection to hit the top end of the charts have tended to be electronic orientated. Old boys from The King’s School have featured in Erasure, The Human League (MkII) and Shades of Rhythm, while former Jack Hunt pupil Keith ‘Maxim Reality’ Palmer is a member of The Prodigy – a band later joined by Gizz Butt on guitar but only after going platinum with speeded up breakbeats and cartoon samples on debut album, The Prodigy Experience.

And then there’s Cola Boy, a duo who went to No 8 in July 1991 with the single 7 Ways to Love. Although vocalist Janey Lee Grace had form as a backing singer with Mari Wilson and Wham!, much

was made of the fact that keyboardist Andrew Midgley’s day job was at Peterborough’s tax office; something the Evening Telegraph celebrated by giving away a poster of the group.

Written and originally recorded by Saint Etienne, the band considered 7 Ways to Love too cheesy to put out

under their own name, choosing instead to release it as a white label under the Cola Boy pseudonym.

Becoming an underground hit, Cola Boy were signed to Arista Records but with singer Sarah Cracknell recognisable as a member of Saint Etienne, the song was rerecorded with her friend

Grace on vocals.

Midgley, who moved from Stepney, east London to South Bretton as a child, first met Saint Etienne’s Bob Stanley in 1985, when the writer/ musician was working in the Queensgate branch of Virgin Records & Tapes. Later writing that his ‘Customers’ tastes ranged from number one in the chart to number two in the chart’, Stanley was pleasantly surprised when Midgley ‘walked in looking like a brylcreemed Kenneth Williams’, and asked for a copy of Primal Scream’s debut single.

The two became friends, with Stanley – now nicknamed Stan – hanging out with Midgley aka Boy Naughty and his gang of mates, going to gigs together and working on their respective fanzines.

Stanley moved to London, and on the back of his fanzine, found work on NME and Melody Maker, before forming

Saint Etienne with childhood friend Pete Wiggs.

Cola Boy’s follow-up single, He is Cola, failed to chart and with the Arista contract fulfilled, the duo were dropped. However the name

made a brief return in 2009, when a ‘Cola Boy Remix’ of Saint Etienne’s Method of Modern Love appeared on the four-track CD version.

Grace now co-presents Radio 2’s Steve Wright in the Afternoon, while Midgley moved to Dublin and, later, Edinburgh, managing and writing for comedian Harry Ainsworth, winner of the Perrier Best Newcomer at 2001’s Edinburgh Fringe, and working as a sub-editor on the Edinburgh Evening News.

Sadly, Midgley died in 2010 after collapsing in the gym.

A situation that Stanley suggested his friend, who was blessed with a black sense of humour and ‘laughed like Sid James, and he laughed a lot’, would have ‘thought that was the daftest way he could have gone’. opposite page, top: Cola boy’s Andrew Midgley and Janey Lee Grace. Bottom: Saint Etienne – bob Stanley, Sarah Cracknell and Pete Wiggs.

THE GREEN MAN w STAMFORD 29 Scotgate, Stamford

Tel: 01780 753598

oPen aLL Day - every Day

serving eight reaL aLes anD six reaL CiDers Lunch Time Food served Saturday & Sunday

All major Rugby and Football fixtures shown on 4 split screens

ESTABLISHED IN 1796 AS ONE OF THE OrIGINAL STAMFOrD ALE HOUSES WITH A LArGE BEEr GArDEN, A WELCOMING rEAL FIrE, ACCOMMODATION WITH FrEE WI-FI.

Live MusiC

25th OCTOBEr - INDIGO CHILD 6th DECEMBEr - MArCH TO THE GrAVE

The Surrealist Sportsman’s Club David ‘Dai’roll salutes Capes the Great.

Winter is upon us and so thoughts turn to the annual grunt-fest that is the World’s Strongest Man competition.

This competition was founded in 1977 and has remained a fixture of the post-Christmas television schedules ever since. Events include such pursuits as the Keg Toss, the Loading Race, the Car Carry and the Husafell Stone.

Local hero of the competition has to be Geoff Capes who won the title twice in the 1980s. Geoff was born in Holbeach, Lincolnshire and as a youth he represented the county in sports such as football, basketball and cross-country.

It was at shot put that he gained an international reputation, winning two gold medals apiece at the Commonwealth Games and the Indoors European Championships. He went to the Olympics in 1972, 1976 and 1980. He is the most capped British Athlete of all time, having represented the country 67 times.

After the Moscow Olympics in 1980, Geoff became a professional strongman. As well as the World’s Strongest

Man competition, Geoff also took part in Highland Games (first winning the championship in Lagos in 1981, and retaining the title from 1983 to ’87). His sporting life continued with him winning the Cumbria Fell Race in 2006.

Many locals will remember him as a policeman who regularly visited schools for community relations purposes. In 1985 a computer game was launched named after him, for such systems as Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. He is also a keen budgie breeder and well respected in that field.

Geoff is a gentle giant who has done much for charity (and our entertainment) over the years and long may he continue to do so.

by Cardinal Cox

Pub scrawl

Top storyteller Hugh Lupton is back in the region on 4 November at the Stamford Arts Centre. This time he is part of the Barbed Wire for Kisses show with musicians to tell the tale of one Lincolnshire village through the First World War. Tickets are £10 (concessions available) and can be booked on either 01780 763203 or by visiting stamfordartscentre.com Also on 4 November, at the Central Library, Poets United will present an evening of poetry from and inspired by World War One. Tickets are £5 (£4 concessions) and available from the Central Library and Waterstones Bookshop on Bridge Street.

Concluding the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the death of John Clare, the art exhibition UnEarthed is on at Peterborough Museum until the end of November).

Neil Patrick’s second novel Just Dying to Tell centres on Sniffer, described as a ‘womanising, pub-loving Posh fan’ who sets out on a tandem ride from Peterborough to Norwich when he is told he is dying.

Former journalist Neil is a member of the Palmerston Ukulele Band.

Stamford Arts Centre continues its popular Literature at Lunchtime talks with Henry Miller’s book The Colossus of Maroussi being the subject on 4 November at 12.30pm. This is followed by a screening of the film Henry

and June (staring Uma Thurman and Richard E Grant) at 2.30pm. Then on 2 December it is Louisa Alcott’s Little Women, followed by the 1949 film adaptation.

Pint of Poetry & a Dash of Drama, the open mic night held at Charters on the second Wednesday of each month reaches the milestone of its 100 th meeting on 12 November. This month they are joining the Shakespeare commemorations with an evening of sonnets. Started a smidge over eight years ago

by Mark, Richard and Summer, it has become the flagship of poetry in the city. In previous years members of the group have performed at the Edinburgh Festival and founder Mark Grist (both solo and with MC Mixy as the Dead Poets) has toured his spoken word acts nationally, appeared on TV and become a YouTube smash with his rap battles. The evenings now start at 8pm and you should try to get to Charters early if you want to read. The following month’s meeting, on 10 December, will offer pre-Christmas festivities.

Gervase Phinn will be telling his ever-popular tales from his life in education in Yorkshire on Wednesday 12 November at Stamford Corn Exchange at 7.30pm. Tickets for this are £18.50.

New writing circle Write Club (first rule of Write Club, talk about writing) meet on the last Tuesday of the month (so 25 November but

Germaine Greer will be at Uppingham in December. probably not December) at the Palmerston Arms in Woodston, Peterborough.

Bring a pen, paper and be willing to scribble.

Germaine Greer will be speaking at Uppingham Theatre on 3 December.

Always provocative, she is also practical rather than politically correct. The talk starts at 7.30, tickets are £16 (£14 concessions) and to book either ring 01572 820820 or go to www.uppinghamtheatre.co.uk Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival will be back with us over the weekend of 9-11 January. As well as the music and dancing, there will again be storytelling at the Methodist Chapel on the Saturday (with sessions from 12.30, 1.30 and 2.30pm) with Illinois-born Patrick Ryan.

Over at the Library, Peterborough’s Poets United will also be performing, 12.301.30pm and 3.30-4.30pm.

lINColNShIRe'S FIRSt MICRo PUB IN SPAlDING'S olDeSt BUIlDING

SERviNG Six lOcAl REAl AlES, STRAiGHT FROM THE bARREl, pluS FivE ciDERS/ pERRiES

The

Priors Oven real Ale

* OFFiciAl OuTlET FOR AuSTENDykE AlES

OPEN TuESDAy - SuNDAy 12.00- 23.00 1 SHEEP MArKET, SPALDiNG, LiNCOLNSHirE PE11 1bH

the hare & hounDs Main Street, Greatford, Stamford PE9 4QA 01778 560332

open all day, every day from 12 noon

Succulent Sunday roasts with real ale gravy that really should be on draught!!

Friendly staff & open log fires eight cask ales / plus draught belgian beers and old rosie Cider great family atmosphere, dogs welcome good home-cooked food, served lunch and eves renowned for our stone baked pizzas (takeaway available) Plenty of car parking Quiz nights on alternate tuesdays from 28th october

www.thehareandhoundsgreatford.co.uk

What DiD We Do beFore MobiLe Phones?

The emotions that you experience when you can’t find your phone have only been part of our psyche since the late 1990s. When a friend lost her mobile recently, I thought back to V97, one of the last times when I had to rely on my hangover addled brain to locate my long-suffering girlfriend Amy… When I awoke, my tongue was stapled to the roof of my mouth and I felt like death. I quickly decided that the only way to quieten the banging noise in my head was to start drinking again, so a warm and hearty swig of rancid vodka was my breakfast. As I waited for the alcohol to flood my veins, I took a look around and found that Amy and my sister had, quite understandably, left me to my own devices. Amy though had very kindly left me a note, stuck to the side of my wellies, which said simply “See you at the usual place.”

At every festival I’d been to, the first thing I did was to establish such a place, a meeting point that all members of the group can always head to. So that if you drunkenly got lost, or went to watch a band on your own, you always know that at least some of the

folks from the group would be residing back there. The best ‘usual place’ was normally in the Main Stage area, by an object that couldn’t move such as a tree or the bar. At Glastonbury 1993 our place had been an ice-cream van but the bloody thing kept moving around the Main Stage area, causing much confusion.

So, I trundled off to the ‘usual place’ which was a huge tree to the side of the stage in the Main Arena, stopping to get something to line my stomach with, and a pint of lager for each of us, which I thought would make Amy and my sister happy. It was 11.30am after all, and we were on holiday. Neither looked particularly ecstatic though, as I stumbled through the mainly seated crowd, spilling beer on random strangers as I struggled to keep hold of the paper pint pots.

This segment is taken from the book I Blame Morrissey by Jamie Jones, which tells the story of Jay, an emotionally incompetent Peterborian teenager who wrestles his way through the 1990s by putting his faith in Morrissey. The book can now be pre-ordered from www.britainsnextbestseller.co.uk

Matt anD eMMa WeLCoMe you to the Barholm, Stamford, Lincs F i v e h o r s e s h o e s PE9 4rA • 01778 560238 Enjoy a welcoming open fire in a Traditional Ale House open from 4pm week days, 1pm saturday and 12pm sundays G CHrISTMAS OPENIN 3-11pm, c De th 23 & rd 22 , 25th Dec 24th Dec 12-11pm pm 12-2pm, 26th 12-11

Live MusiC

PennyLess

8th November - 8pm

Pub Quiz

First Wednesday in the month Starts 8:30pm

Teams of Four • Cash prizes

FreshLy MaDe Pizzas

cooked in an authentic wood fired pizza oven every Friday and the last Saturday of the month. From 5.30-10pm

Six Real Ales with four on rotation • three draught ciders • three Lagers • Fine Wine & Spirits • large beer garden • Pool room

Listings

24 october New Generation Crash & Burn, The Solstice, Peterborough Under_Covered, Dragon, Werrington Children of the revolution, Golden Fleece, Stamford rockit, Heron, Stanground One Eyed Cats, The Bell, Deeping St James Shane Poole, North Street Bar, Peterborough Blackout UK, Charters, Peterborough Hooker, The Crown, Peterborough Main Street, Cock Inn, Werrington rock Out, Blue Boar, Eye White Cherry, Cherry Tree , Oundle road 25 october Indigo Child, Green Man, Stamford Mighty Mouth Trev, Dragon, Werrington Leon, London Inn, Stamford Front Cover, Golden Fleece, Stamford Sound Injectors, Stilton Country Club New Generation Crash & Burn, Coach House, Market Deeping The 707, Burghley Club, Peterborough radius 45, Ploughman,Werrington 101 Proof, Angel Inn, Yarwell Mark Bishop, Mason's Arms, Bourne Lee Enstone, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) Incredible Credence Band, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Porky Pig, Ostrich, Peterborough 26 october Quiz, Mason's Arms, Bourne Afternoon Acoustic, Pig n Falcon, St Neots Quiz, Green Dragon, ryhall Best of Unplugged, Charters, Peterborough (3pm) Quiz, Angel Inn, Yarwell 28 october Tony G (Elvis Tribute), Iron Horse, Market Deeping (6–10pm) 29 october Joe Brown, Stamford Corn Exchange 31 october Halloween Disco, Blue Boar, Eye Witches & Warlocks Party, rose & Crown, Oundle Jack O Bones/Luna Vegas, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (9pm) March to the Grave, Golden Fleece, Stamford Dan Collins, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) ramshackle Serenade, Heron, Stamford Fancy Dress Halloween Party, Stamford Corn Exchange 80s Night Halloween Party, The Solstice, Peterborough Hooker, Dragon, Werrington On the Ceiling, London Inn, Stamford Halloween Disco & Fancy dress, Stilton Country Club

New Generation Crash and Burn, Cross Keys, Woodston radius 45, Blue Bell, Helpston The Guards, Ostrich, Peterborough Halloween ‘Princesses & Superheroes’ Childrens Party, red Lion, West Deeping (5-7pm, £17, inc food) Mug Jugglers, Mason's Arms, Bourne Vinyl Night, Palmerston Arms, Woodston

01 november High rollers, Dragon, Werrington The Elements, Angel Inn, Yarwell The Sound Injectors, Stage, Market Deeping Knightfest (from 2pm), Heron, Stanground Porky Pig, Prince of Wales, Castor Halloween Family Fun Day, rose & Crown, Oundle 101 Proof, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (9-11.30pm) Eclectic Ballroom, North Street Bar, Peterborough (10pm) The 707, Dragon, Werrington (3pm) High rollers, Dragon, Werrington (9pm) UK Gangsters, London Inn, Stamford Indigo, Golden Fleece, Stamford Code red, Crown, Peterborough Phoenix, Stilton Country Club Nik Willerton, Mason's Arms, Bourne

02 november Children of the revolution, Dragon, Werrington (8pm) radius 45, Dragon, Werrington (3pm) Irish Music Session, Woolpack, Stanground James Edmonds, Crown, Peterborough 03 november Mexican Mondays, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (5-9pm) Bingo, Mason's Arms, Bourne

White Spirit, Ostrich, Peterborough Dean & co, Mason's Arms, Bourne 09 november Pennyless, Mama Liz’s, Stamford (4-6pm) Irish Music Session, Woolpack, Stanground Alpha 40s Wartime Set, Crown, Peterborough Quiz, Mason's Arms, Bourne 10 november Triumph Sports Six car club, red Lion, West Deeping

04 november Stacey & Dave’s Open Mic, Dragon, Werrington retro Night, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (6-10pm) Folk Jam Session, Mason's Arms, Bourne

11 november Armistice Day remembrance, Crown, Peterborough

05 november Quiz, Five Horseshoes, Barholm

12 november Meet The Brewers night, Crown, Peterborough

06 november American Sports Night, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (5pm)

13 november red Lionz Acoustic Night, North Street Bar, Peterborough (9pm) Open Mic Night, Crown, Peterborough

07 november White Spirit, Dragon, Werrington Martyn roper/Leeds City Stompers, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (9-11.30pm) Bonfire Party, Toft Country House Hotel, Bourne (Booking essential 01778 590614) ramshackle Serenade, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) DIY Disco, Heron, Stamford Lee Major Band, The Solstice, Peterborough White Spirit, Dragon, Werrington The Guards, London Inn, Stamford Little Big Band, Golden Fleece, Stamford Veltones, Crown, Peterborough Fireworks, Castor Cricket Club Children of the revolution, Fayre Spot, Bretton Split Whiskers, Cock Inn, Werrington Phoenix Showband, Ostrich, Peterborough revolver, Mason's Arms, Bourne 08 november Easyersaid, Dragon, Werrington Karaoke, Angel Inn, Yarwell Filthy Lucre, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Disco/karaoke, Blue Boar, Eye The Gypsies, Prince of Wales, Castor Bonfire & Fireworks party, Golden Pheasant, Etton (6.30pm) Pennyless, Five Horseshoes, Barholm Moulin rouge Charity Night, rose & Crown, Oundle Filthy Lucre, Iron Horse, Market Deepinga (9-11.30pm) Agi Jarocka, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) Sinatra, Sequins & Swing, Stamford Corn Exchange Circa ‘73, London Inn, Stamford Firework Display, Golden Pheasant, Etton (6.30pm) Paul Lake, Golden Pheasant, Etton (6.30pm) Detourz, Golden Fleece, Stamford Acoustic Jam Duo, Crown, Peterborough Della, Stilton Country Club Vintage Stuff, Cock Inn, Werrington Twenty4, Grainstore, Oakham

14 november The Mighty Quinn, Dragon, Werrington KMBP Sister Band, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (911.30pm) Shake Hands Eric, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) The Junkpuppets, Heron, Stamford The Houndogs, Stamford Corn Exchange Captain Obvious, The Solstice, Peterborough Hooker, London Inn, Stamford Kickback, Golden Fleece, Stamford Subway 77, Crown, Peterborough New Generation Crash and Burn, O’Neill’s, Peterborough One Eyed Cats, Cock Inn, Werrington Francie reihill, Ostrich, Peterborough 15 november Frankly My Dear, Three Horseshoes, Werrington Leon, Dragon, Werrington Jessica West, Angel Inn, Yarwell Noisy Neighbours, Blue Boar, Eye Alex Haynes & The Fever, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (911.30pm) retrolux, Palmerston Arms, Woodston Otis & Jules (DJ Set), North Street Bar, Peterborough (10pm) zeb rootz, London Inn, Stamford Pulse, Golden Fleece, Stamford Brotherhood’s roundabout, Crown, Peterborough The 707, Ploughman, Werrington The Guards, Cock Inn, Werrington Ian Graham & Kat Moore, Ostrich, Peterborough rocket 57, Mason's Arms, Bourne 16 november Steve Bean, Woolpack, Stanground Bon rogers, Crown, Peterborough Twenty4, Crown Inn, Uppingham

18 november Scotland v England, Crown, Peterborough 19 november Vintage Motorcycle Club, red Lion, West Deeping 21 november Band TBC, Dragon, Werrington Tallawah, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (9-11.30pm) Wishbone Ash, Bourne Corn Exchange (Box Office 07828 032241) Quiz Night, Toft Country House Hotel, Bourne (Booking essential 01778 590614) Lexie Green & The Indigo Blues, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) The Lloyd Watson Band, Heron, Stamford Bon Giovi, Stamford Corn Exchange Blackout UK, The Solstice, Peterborough Band TBC, Dragon, Werrington returns, Golden Fleece, Stamford zeb rootz, Crown, Peterborough New Generation Crash and Burn, Fayre Spot, Bretton Children of the revolution, Ploughman, Werrington The 707, O’Neill’s, Peterborough Chill Factor, Ostrich, Peterborough Cutting Loose, Mason's Arms, Bourne 22 november On The Ceiling, Dragon, Werrington Antoine Fleuriot, Angel Inn, Yarwell The Sound Injectors, The Crown, Peterborough Pennyless, railway Inn, Oakham Overdubs, Blue Boar, Eye El Camino + Support, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (911.30pm) Bianca & The Topcats, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) Velocity, London Inn, Stamford BlackJack, Golden Fleece, Stamford Sound Injectors + Complete Badness, Crown, Peterborough Peter Jay, Stilton Country Club The 707, railway, Whittlesey Spare Parts, Cherry Tree, Woodston retrolux, Ostrich, Peterborough 23 november Irish Music Session, Woolpack, Stanground Stacey, Crown, Peterborough Quiz, Mason's Arms, Bourne 25 november race Night, Prince of Wales, Castor 27 november Andy Fairweather Low, Stamford Corn Exchange 28 november The Brays, Dragon, Werrington The Sound Injectors, Cherry Tree, Woodston rock Out, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (9-11.30pm) Lesley Curtis, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) Velocity, Heron, Stamford

Handmade in Castor

www.castorales.co.uk 07828048664

Home of Castor

Ales

6 Guest Ales & Craft Beer Home Cooked Food Lunch/Midweek Evenings Ideal for walkers & dog friendly Christmas bookings now being taken

Award winning village pub in historic Castor 01733 380222 www.princeofwalesfeathers.co.uk

Dirty House Wives (DJ Night), The Solstice, Peterborough Children of the revolution, London Inn, Stamford Porky Pig, Golden Fleece, Stamford New Generation Crash & Burn, Crown, Peterborough Twenty4, Pear Tree, Stamford Pych-o-bombs, Ostrich, Peterborough Antoine, Mason's Arms, Bourne Vinyl Night, Palmerston Arms, Woodston 29 november Mighty Mouth Trev, Dragon, Werrington Band TBC, Angel Inn, Yarwell The Sound Injectors, Drayman’s Arms, Spalding Circa ‘73, Blue Boar, Eye Steve Hooker Band, Iron Horse, Market Deeping (911.30pm) Isiah, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) Desperado (Eagles tribute), Stamford Corn Exchange Skullduggery, Golden Pheasant, Etton (9pm) Chuck Norris Experience, Golden Fleece, Stamford race Night, Crown, Peterborough Go With The Flow, Stilton Country Club Children of the revolution, Cock Inn, Werrington Band TBC, Ostrich, Peterborough 30 november Pennyless, red Lion Square, Stamford (1-2pm) Christmas Market, Iron Horse, Market Deeping CJ Hatt, Heron, Stamford – 7pm-9pm Irish Music Session, Woolpack, Stanground Steve Been Classical Guitarist, Crown, Peterborough 01 December radius 45, The Solstice, Peterborough Christmas Bingo, Mason's Arms, Bourne 02 December Stacey & Dave’s Open Mic, Dragon, Werrington Folk Jam session, Mason's Arms, Bourne 03 December Quiz, Five Horseshoes, Barholm 04 December March to the Grave, Guildhall, Grantham red Lionz Big Bands Night, North Street Bar, Peterborough (9pm) 05 December The Overdubs, Dragon, Werrington CJ Hatt (Acoustic), North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) The Soul Sisters, Heron, Stamford Veltones, Golden Fleece, Stamford rock Out, Crown, Peterborough One Eyed Cats, Falcon, Whittlesey The Guards, Ostrich, Peterborough retrolux, Cock Inn, Werrington 06 December Frankly My Dear, Ostrich, Peterborough (9.30pm) Ouse Valley Singles Club, Angel Inn, Yarwell Front Cover, Blue Boar, Eye

Mistreated, Prince of Wales, Castor March to the Grave, Green Man, Stamford Eclectic Ballroom (DJ Set), North Street Bar, Peterborough (10pm) Buddy Holly’s Winter Dance Party, Stamford Corn Exchange The Fedz, London Inn, Stamford Overdubs, Golden Fleece, Stamford Soul runners, Crown, Peterborough Son of a Gun, Stilton Country Club New Generation Crash and Burn, Quinn’s, Whittlesey High rollers, O’Neill’s, Peterborough The 707, Ostrich, Peterborough 101 Proof, Drayman’s Arms, Spalding The Influence, Burghley Club, Peterborough Let there B/dc, Cheery Tree, Woodston Locked Out, Grainstore, Oakham Frankly My Dear, Ostrich, Peterborough Nick Glover (Karaoke), Mason's Arms, Bourne Dizzy Miss Lizzys, Palmerston Arms, Woodston 07 December Irish Music Session, Woolpack, Stanground Children Of The revolution, Crown, Peterborough Quiz, Mason's Arms, Bourne 11 December Open Mic Night Christmas Special, Crown, Peterborough 12 December The rocket Dogs, Dragon, Werrington Hosen Brass, North Street Bar, Peterborough (ticket only, 7pm) The rainmen, North Street Bar, Peterborough (free, 11pm) Leon, The Solstice, Peterborough On the Ceiling, London Inn, Stamford roadcrew, Golden Fleece, Stamford Johnny Cash Tribute, Crown, Peterborough New Generation Crash and Burn, O’Neill’s, Peterborough Children of the revolution, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Dana Wylie, Angel Inn, Yarwell Captain Obvious, Ostrich, Peterborough One Eyed Cats, Ploughman, Werrington Captain Obvious, Ostrich, Peterborough 13 December The Guards, Dragon, Werrington Mickey Flynn, Angel Inn, Yarwell Captain Obvious, Blue Boar, Eye Arc Nation, Prince of Wales, Castor Children of the revolution, North Street Bar, Peterborough (ticket only, 7pm) Bon & Justin, North Street Bar Club radius 45, Straw Bear, Whittlesey Band TBC, Ostrich, Peterborough Mug Jugglers, Mason's Arms, Bourne 14 December Pennyless, Mama Liz’s, Stamford (4-6pm) Irish Music Session, Woolpack, Stanground Acoustic, Crown, Peterborough

16 December School Choir Christmas Concert, Crown, Peterborough 17 December Funhouse Comedy Christmas Show, North Street Bar, Peterborough Ladies Pamper Night, Prince of Wales, Castor 18 December Funhouse Comedy Club, Grainstore, Oakham 19 December The Fedz, Dragon, Werrington Children of the revolution, Prince of Wales, Castor Jessie’s Ghost, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) High rollers, The Solstice, Peterborough Detourz, London Inn, Stamford Twenty4, Golden Fleece, Stamford Electric Warriors, Crown, Peterborough New Generation Crash and Burn, Cross Keys, Woodston League of Mentalmen, Nag’s Head, Bourne Kickback, Ostrich, Peterborough Cutting Loose, Mason's Arms, Bourne 20 December Frankly My Dear, Burghley Club, Peterborough Hooker, Dragon, Werrington Under Covered, Blue Boar, Eye Elvis, Prince of Wales, Castor Otis & Jules (DJ Set), North Street Bar, Peterborough (10pm) The Overdubs, Heron, Stamford The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Stamford Corn Exchange Twenty4, London Inn, Stamford Be Bop A Lulas, Golden Fleece, Stamford Junk Puppets, Crown, Peterborough Kickback, Stilton Country Club 101 Proof, Angel Inn, Yarwell The Influence, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Sweet revenge, Cherry Tree, Woodston Divinity, Grainstore, Oakham The Tunnel/Lizzy on the Loose, Ostrich, Peterborough Mark Bishop, Mason's Arms, Bourne 21 December Irish Music Session, Woolpack, Stanground Acoustic, Crown, Peterborough Christmas Party – Live music + Quiz, red Lion, West Deeping Quiz, Mason's Arms, Bourne 24 December The 707, Dragon, Werrington Live Music, North Street Bar, Peterborough (9pm) DIY Disco, Heron, Stamford Front Cover, Golden Fleece, Stamford Christmas Eve Party, Crown, Peterborough Disco, Stilton Country Club 26 December Live Music, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) New Generation Crash and Burn, The Solstice,

Peterborough TBC, Golden Fleece, Stamford Band TBC, Ostrich, Peterborough Antoine, Mason's Arms, Bourne Vinyl Night, Palmerston Arms, Woodston 27 December Mighty Mouth Trev, Dragon, Werrington rapture, Blue Boar, Eye Live Music, North Street Bar, Peterborough (11pm) Circa ‘73, London Inn, Stamford 7 Sinners, Golden Fleece, Stamford The 707, Crown, Peterborough Soul runners, Ostrich, Peterborough 28 December Irish Music Session, Woolpack, Stanground Acoustic, Crown, Peterborough 29 December Bingo, Mason's Arms, Bourne 31 December League of Mentalmen (ticket only), Dragon, Werrington Hootenanny, North Street Bar, Peterborough (10pm) DIY Disco, Heron, Stamford Leon, London Inn, Stamford New Year’s Eve Party, Golden Pheasant, Etton (8.30pm2am) Band TBC + karaoke, Golden Fleece, Stamford New Year’s Eve Private Party, Crown, Peterborough Disco, Stilton Country Club One Eyed Cats, Brewery Tap, Peterborough Jumpback 45 (DJ set), Ostrich, Peterborough Nik Willerton, Mason's Arms, Bourne

Rhythm & Booze, Issue 28 - November/December 2014 All written material, unless otherwise stated, © Simon Stabler All events are listed free of charge.

To ensure inclusion in the January/ February issue, or have any other news included in the magazine, email simonstabler@aol.com by 5 December 2014. Entry cannot be guaranteed for late submissions.

For advertising queries, contact Chris Shilling on 01778 421550, 07736 635916 or by email chris@shillingmedia.co.uk

Advertising Rates (excluding VAT)* £130 - full page £85 - half page £50 - quarter page * Discounts for series bookings.

N ATIONAL TrEASUrE( S ) Spotlighting Britain’s best boozers

top: Various scenes of The brunswick inn, plus landlord Alan Pickersgill explains his philosophy.

Bottom: Class 37, No 37411, at The Alexandra Hotel.

The Brunswick Inn 1 Railway Terrace Derby DE1 2RU Tel: 01332 290677 www.brunswickderby.co.uk The Lonely Planet guide described this place as ‘the best pub, in the best place in Britain, if not the world for drinking real ale’. Quite a statement, but I can confess that it’s brought me many hours of pleasure for over 20 years now.

The Brunswick was the first place where I ever saw the number of hand pumps running into double figures.

I’m sure I can remember 20 at one time, though these days it has ‘just’ the 16, plus up to eight real ciders and perries.

As we know though, that means nothing if the beer’s not consistent, but I’m struggling to remember a single occasion where a beer had to

be returned. It also happens to be situated almost opposite the railway station in arguably the best drinking town in England (Norwich and Sheffield drinkers are welcome to add their thoughts at this point). Dating from the 19th century, it’s one of the earliest examples of a purpose-built commercial inn, situated opposite an entrance to the famous former Midland Railway engineering works, now redeveloped as Pride Park – home to Derby County FC, so it can be lively on a Saturday. The railway theme runs through the pub with many pictures of the station and works environment as well as the steam and diesel locomotives built there until the 1980s.

The whole terrace was almost demolished back in the 1970s but won a reprieve thanks to an outcry from

local preservationists. The pub reopened in 1987, and was extended to accommodate an on-site brewery in 1990. It retains many original features, along with individual rooms (some used as function rooms), real fires. The brewery, which can be viewed through a glass screen, was set up by Trevor Harris.

However he’s moved on (to the Derby Brew Co, and the pub is now owned by Everards, but they’ve kept the house beers along with a good variety of ‘guests’ – prices start at just £2.50. If you happen to be a member of CAMRA, you’ll enjoy a 20p discount of a pint.

The current licensee is Alan Pickersgill – if his face seems a familiar, it’s because he ran the award-winning Crown in Uppingham until a few months ago. He’s passionate about real ale and has introduced a new menu (lunchtime and

evenings) with home cooked food using locally sourced ingredients. He’s keen to ‘put the care and attention back’ in to a pub that was allowed to rest on its laurels for a while, and determined to re-establish the brewery at the heart of the operation.

Other changes include the addition of extra parking spaces, a uniform for staff and bottle-conditioned beers from the brewery, which are supplied to local hotels.

There are weekly Jazz events on a Thursday, monthly Sunday night bands, a weekly quiz night and an annual beer festival.

Opening hours: from all day every day from 11am (12pm Sunday) The Alexandra Hotel 203 Siddalls Rd Derby DE1 2QE Tel: 01332 293993 www.alexandrahotelderby.co.uk Derby has many great pubs but another quality ale house lies just around the corner in the shape of The Alexandra Hotel. This 19th century

Castle Rock pub was also built for railway workers (as a coffee house) and also has a prominent railway theme.

Landlord Ralf Edge is a keen enthusiast – nameplates, enamel signs and pictures hang from every wall – there’s even the front end of a diesel locomotive in the car park (currently under restoration to BR blue livery). If you’re not coming by train, the spacious car park is a godsend as parking in this part of town is not easy.

As well as Castle Rock beers, there are up to eight reasonably priced guest beers plus ciders. Formerly a Shipstones/Mansfield Brewery house, the ‘Alex’ was the birthplace of the Derby branch of CAMRA back in 1974, but was almost lost forever when it closed in 1987 and

was earmarked for demolition. Food comes in the shape of filled rolls and locally produced pork pies and scotch eggs (priced from just £1.25).

Accommodation is also available from just £30 per person per night.

Ralf is keen to foster good a good relationship with the Brunswick – “We compliment one another,” he says. “So does that mean you’ll let us use your car park if we’re popping into the Brunny?” we asked cheekily. “Not a problem as long as you have a pint in each,” he replied.

The pub is open all day from midday every day (11am on Saturday)

rEViEWS Just Dying To Tell

By Neil Patrick, Touching Tales, softback, £7.99

There is a lot to be said for fictional characters raising the profile of a real area.

For example, Inspector Morse has worked wonders for Oxford, its pubs and Mk2 Jags.

Perhaps it is time that Peterborough and the Fens were elevated through literary awareness, certainly some authors are doing their best. Jim Kelly introduced us to the adventures – set in the Cambridgeshire Fens – of journalist Philip Dryden in 2003’s The Water Clock. Peter Robinson’s Chief Inspector Alan Banks has family links with Peterborough and this was brought to the fore in The Summer That Never Was, another 2003 publication.

Peterborough’s Neil Patrick now makes his bid with a highly readable tale of a not totally lovable character nicknamed Sniffer, whose health is fading fast and who has a guilty secret that gives the book its title. The action revolves around a charity bike ride from Peterborough to Norwich and on the way we find some believable characters, dialogue and pubs. Familiarity breeds content.

David Brown Rock and Roll’s Greatest Failure: Otway the Movie DVD, Odeon Entertainment Group, ODNM032 The British music scene has had its fair share of eccentrics over the years; the least successful of these has to be John Otway. His career started off well enough with (Cor Baby That’s) Really Free, his punk flavoured sixth single, released in 1977. An energetic appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test helped it reached No 27 in the charts, earning him a Top of the Pops appearance and a major advance from Polydor. But poor choices of follow-ups and potential TV appearances thwarted (twice) by the Musicians Union saw his career stall.

Famed for his on-stage ‘gymnastics’ – there’s always a chance that Otway will injure himself at some stage during a performance – he built up a loyal following, repositioning himself as

‘Rock and Roll’s Greatest Failure’ and making his living through merchandise and gigs more than record sales. His fanbase has always been happy to help him celebrate a birthday in style; selling out the Royal Albert Hall for his 40 th , getting him a second hit single for his 50 th and this documentary – complete with Leicester Square premiere – for his 60 th .

Combining archive footage and new interviews with a visit to his old school, where he gives a talk to students on how to survive the music business, we discover how his fans helped him get the single Bunsen Burner to No 9 in the charts in 2002. Had Woolworths not refused to stock it, the single may have reached No 1, but the firm decided not to include him in its chart. According to a spokeswoman, “When we heard the record we didn’t think it would be a hit.” Evidence, according to many, why the firm went under.

An engaging and enthusiastic subject, it’s easy to see why Otway has been able to make a career out of failure.

ONE FOR THE cHRiSTMAS liST! Sniffer loves beer. And Posh.

And women. but his conscience is killing him…

Just Dying to tell by local author Neil Patrick is a funny, sad novel set in Peterborough and the Fens. *Available at £7 99 from Waterstones, Peterborough, and other bookshops, and via Amazon (Kindle version also available). iSbN 978-0-9576083-2-0

CeLebrate C hristMas eve 7pm-midnight, with live music from Lizzy on the Loose OPTION 1 - DINE & rOCK OUT Includes - 2 Course meal + Entertainment £25.00/head Food Served between 7pm – 9pm OPTION 2 - rOCK OUT Entertainment ONLY - £10.00/head Valid from 9pm

CeLebrate neW year’s eve 7pm-late, with live music from rocket Dogs

OPTION 1 - DINE & rOCK OUT Includes - 2 Course meal + Entertainment £25.00/head Food Served between 7pm – 9pm OPTION 2 - rOCK OUT Entertainment ONLY - £10.00/head Valid from 9pm

book noW to avoiD DissaPointMent 2 High Street Market Deeping, Peterborough PE6 8EB info@ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk • www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk

27th to o 30th November 30 + REAL ALES & GUEST CIDERS Opening Night from 5pm

Thursday 27th Matt Howard live Acoustic session from 8.00pm *Thai Street food buffet*

Friday 28th Dave Jackson Blues live from 9.00pm

Saturday 29th Saturday Night Groove hosted by DJ Rick Allen

Restaurant reservations are highly recommended. To book your table please call: 01733 358500

80 Westgate, Peterborough PE1 2AA Tel 01733 358500 www.thebrewery-tap.com

Photo Credit to: Marc Wheatley

Sunday 30th Red Wine Blues live from 8.00pm *2 for ÂŁ10 Sunday menu*