Issue30

rhythm and booze Brews, News, Bands & Reviews - Issue 30 - March/April 2015

The Final Whistle

Colin Hodgkinson, co-founder of Nene Valley Railway’s Steamin’ Blues event.

A music event that has brought the cream of blues talent to the region is set to make its final outing. Steamin’ Blues has been held annually at Nene Valley Railway since 2000. Founded by the railway’s General Manager, Hannah Forman, and her brother, internationally renowned bass guitarist Colin

Hodgkinson, the event is coming to an end as Hannah plans to retire next year.

Each year, a fully licensed steam-hauled train picks up passengers from stations along the line, taking them to Wansford, where a marquee, complete with real ale bar, hosts an evening of live music.

Performers over the years

have included Zoot Money, Maggie Bell, Nina Simone’s drummer Paul Robinson and Colin’s Electric Blues Duo. Colin and Hannah promise a great final evening with a respected performer making their stage debut. n For tickets, ring Hannah on 01780 784444 or visit nvr.org.uk

PeTerborough • SouTh LincS • ruTLand • eaST norThanTS

Werrington Centre Staniland Way PE4 6NA Tel: 01733 327696

teN ReAl AleS FRoM £2.00 A PINt

Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year 2014 CAMRA Gold award 2013 Live Satellite Sports n Live Entertainment Happy Hour Mon - Fri 5-7pm

SIx ReAl AleS FRoM £2.60 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 Free Pool - Tuesday nights Cash Quiz - Sunday from 8pm

the rhythm section The North Street Bar, Peterborough now offers music every Thursday, in addition to its Friday and Saturday sessions. Starting at 8pm, the evenings include rock nights from Red Lionz Promotions, an Open Mic night hosted by Jimmy from the High Rollers, and Shindig – a mashed up mix of soul, funk and indie by Eclectic Ballroom DJs Zed and Jim. There are also plans to launch live music showcases, highlighting up and coming local originals bands. For further information, see our listings pages or visit www.northstreetbar.co.uk The organisers of the Willow Festival are looking for bands to play at this year’s event, which takes place on the Embankment, Peterborough on 10-12 July.

Interested parties can apply online via bit.ly/1vQ5Amo BBC Radio 6 Music has become the first digital radio station to gain an audience of more than 2 million.

Controller Bob Shennan, who is also responsible for

Radio 2, began his career at Hereward Radio.

A blue plaque marking Jimi Hendrix’s visit to the region has been unveiled in Spalding.

Organised by Spalding & District Civic society, the plaque attached to the Red Lion Hotel is a record of guitarist’s stay there in May 1967. Hendrix was in the town to play Barbecue 67 – one of the country’s first music festivals, which included Cream, Pink Floyd and the Move on the bill. Sounds Force 5, a local covers act who also performed at the festival are currently celebrating their 50 th anniversary. The night before the unveiling, they shared a stage with the Move once more, with a gig at the Cresset, Bretton. Sound Force Five’s original guitarist, Rob Munton, flew over from Australia especially for the gig and the following night’s performance at the South Holland Centre, Spalding, supporting the Swinging Blues Jeans.

Erasure singer Andy Bell

Andy Bell, second from the right, on Celebrity Mastermind.

was a contestant on Celebrity Mastermind, which was shown on BBC1 on 28 December.

The former King’s School pupil chose Blondie as his specialist subject, coming third with 14 points.

The annual Skool of Rock and Roll – a three-day rock, cider and real ale festival – returns to the Iron Horse Ranch House, Market Deeping on 27-29 March.

Bands include Burning Codes, Iron Fist and the Rocket Dogs with funds going towards Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Woolpack in Stanground is holding a beer festival on 17-19 April. Live music comes from Ian Graham and Kat Moore (Friday, 9pm), the Rocket Dogs (Saturday, 9pm) and Steve Bean who will play classical guitar (Sunday, 4-6pm). On other Sundays, the pub hosts Irish music sessions between 4-7pm.

The Heron, Stanground is also holding a beer festival that weekend (17-18), concentrating on LocAle beers. Live music comes from the Soul Sisters on and the Psych-O-Bombs on Saturday.

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)

Beer Festival

Friday 17 April to Sunday 19 April

Live music: Friday – Ian Graham and Kat Moore (9pm) Saturday – Rocket Dogs (9pm) Sunday – Steve Bean plays Classical Guitar (4-6pm)

Live MuSic

Traditional Irish Music Sessions – Every Sunday, 4-7pm

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

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

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 82 oundLe road, PeTerborough Pe2 9Pa Tel: 01733 565865

Pub News

Peterborough’s floating bar/restaurant, Charters, has a new manager. Martin Race will familiar to many in this area as he’s also had spells at the Goat at Frognall, the Boathouse and most recently the Woodman at Thorpe Wood. Martin’s goal is to “achieve the accolade of best real ale pub in town” – probably a welcome distraction from following his beloved Portsmouth FC. Peterborough CAMRA has awarded their Pub of the Year to the Hand & Heart in Highbury Street, Millfield. This unspoilt back street local also won Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year in 2010 and 2013.

Elland brewery, whose directors are all based in this area, scooped Best in Show at the annual Winter Ales festival in Derby for its wonderful 1872 Porter. This is the third time the 6.5% beer has won the Champion Beer award in five years. It can be enjoyed at the Ploughman, Werrington and the Five Horseshoes, Barholm.

The Argo Lounge now provides a handy refreshment stop in the heart of

the Argo lounge.

the Heron, Stanground.

Peterborough’s shopping land just off Cathedral Square.

Despite no hand pumps, a couple of decent ‘craft keg’ beers were available on our visit, including Loungers Cruiser from Bristol Beer Factory, and Dark Side Stout from Bath Ales.

Rob and Meri Hyde will be celebrating their first year as licensees of the Heron at Stanground with a Spring Beer Festival on 17-18 April, showcasing local breweries and some local talent. They’re clearly doing something right as the pub now boasts an impressive beer range, hosts regular pool tournaments and quiz nights, is looking to enter a darts team and is a proud sponsor of Stanground Sports FC. Regional newspaper publisher Johnston Press announced the results of its inaugural ‘Best Bar 2014’ awards, as voted for by readers. Each local paper had its own winner – the roll of honour is:

Stamford Five Horseshoes, Barholm Peterborough The Crown, Lincoln Road Bourne The Horseshoe, Thurlby Rutland Jinky’s Wine Bar, Oakham Spalding The Ship Albion Sleaford The Red Lion, Ruskington Grantham The Lord Harrowby Fenland The Sportsman, Elm The Stilton Country Club, situated behind the Angel Spice restaurant in the High Street is now a regular pub, renamed the Stilton Tunnels.

The Firkin Ale in North Street, Bourne has been renamed Archie’s Bar (after the oub’s dog). The new licensee is Scott Cartmell (ex Burghley Arms).

Also in Bourne, after a year at the helm of the Anchor, Dawn and Taras are celebrating completion of a Continued over

Pub News (continued) major refurbishment with a party night on 14 March.

Unconfirmed reports suggest that JD Wetherspoon has bought a town centre site in Bourne.

North of Bourne, the scene is less encouraging: The Bull at Rippingale, Robin Hood & Little John at Aslackby (pronounced Aizleby) and the Tally Ho! at Aswarby are all up for sale.

The Grainstore Brewery in Oakham now has a weekly Curry Club each Tuesday.

Oundle’s new riverside restaurant and watering hole, the Tap & Kitchen has reportedly been doing a roaring trade since opening at the end of November. Up to 10 craft/keg beers (“Not the mass produced stuff,” according to owner, Dick Simpson) and real ciders supplement the eight hand pulled beers from its own Nene Valley Brewery. The bar is open for breakfast at weekends from 9am, and live music is being introduced from March.

Up the road in Nassington is another reopened venue, The White Horse. It’s now run by Christie and Gary, who have introduced Steak Nights (Tuesday), Fish Nights (Wednesday). They also have a Charity Casino night on 21 March.

In a bad couple of months for the Deeping area, the Bell on High Street, Deeping St James closed unexpectedly in January, and the former Rose at Frognall has been sold for redevelopment. The lease of

the tap & Kitchen, oundle.

Frognall’s other pub, the Goat is reportedly up for grabs.

Over in Spalding, the Red Lion Hotel now boasts its own Indian/Goan restaurant – the Spice Affair. Lincolnshire Poacher licensee Dave Higgins has reported a huge boost to trade since the pub on Double Street was reborn as a live music venue – see listings in this issue for forthcoming gigs.

To celebrate 40 years as a branch, Fenland CAMRA has commissioned a 4% beer from Sleaford Brewery. At the time of writing it was on sale at the Plough at Horbling, The Eagle in Boston and the Cask in Hand, Holbeach.

Boston Borough Council voted in favour of creating a drink-free zone at a meeting in December. Street drinkers failing to comply face arrest and a fine of up to £500.

Bateman’s has sold the Indian Queen & Three Kings pub in the town and has put the Ship up for sale with www.poyntons.com Lovers of beer and railways (as we are) will probably know of the Rail Ale festival held each May at the Barrow Hill Roundhouse in

Derbyshire. Dubbed the UK’s most atmospheric beer festival, this year’s event will be held on 14-16 May. More than 250 beers will be available, served in the UK’s last working railway roundhouse, against a backdrop of classic steam and diesel locomotives. As well as train rides and live music, this year’s event will be the destination for a special charter train (sponsored by Fuller’s) from London St Pancras, picking up at Luton, Bedford and Kettering.

There’s also a trade session (by invitation only) on the Thursday afternoon. Details at www.railalefestival.com Pubs no more…

Locals in Stanground are campaigning against the conversion of the former Golden Lion pub into an Afghan Community Centre, citing the lack of an Afghan community in the area.

Six years after closure as a pub, Peterborough’s legendary Old Still in Westgate Arcade, is due to reopen in March as an outlet of the Handmade Burger Co.

To celebrate one year as licencees of

the Anchor We’re having a party!

SAtURDAY MARCH 14th We have a lovely local with riverside location, real fire, and a range of 5 real ales including Bourne Particular.

Kick & Rush, a musical comedy trio, will be providing the entertainment from 8pm.

We hope you can join us

tHe ANCHoR, 44 eAStGAte, BoURNe Pe10 9JY

Don’t put your head in the sand – join us at...

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

Winner – Stamford Mercury ‘best bar 2014’

Five horSeShoeS

Barholm, Stamford, Lincs PE9 4RA • 01778 560238

Enjoy a welcoming open fire in a Traditional Ale House open from 4pm week days, 1pm Saturday and 12pm Sundays FreShLy Made PizzaS

wood fired pizza cooked in an authentic the last Saturday and ay Frid ry oven eve 5.30-10pm m Fro th. mon of the

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

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

The Admiralty 66 Trafalgar Square London WC2N 5DS 020 7930 0066 www.admiraltytrafalgar.co.uk Since returning to our screens in 2005, Doctor Who has been produced by BBC Wales. Much of its location filming now takes place in Cardiff and Swansea but, when necessary, scenes are still shot in London. The Day of the Doctor, the 50th anniversary special that aired worldwide on 23 November 2013, was one such story.

In the opening minutes, we saw many familiar landmarks as a helicopter winched the Tardis across London, while Matt Smith’s Doctor dangled helplessly from its doors. The roof of The Admiralty and the Canadian Pacific Building next door were seen as the action

moved to Trafalgar Square.

A Fuller’s house, The Admiralty is a relatively new pub, originally built as a bank and later converted into a restaurant. It’s clear that the interior has been designed with tourists in mind, featuring a nautical theme – apparently based on HMS Victory – with plenty of naval memorabilia on display.

An upstairs dining area is referred to as the ‘Quarter Deck’, while the basement bar, which is accessed by a spiral staircase, complete with rope banister, is the ‘gun deck’. A narrow, wood-lined corridor, which does make you feel like you’re on a ship, leads to the toilets. Given the bad taste on display in this place, it was a surprise to find “ladies” and “gents” on the toilet doors, as opposed to “Wrens” and “Jack Tars”.

The main bar has eight hand

pumps, all of which serve Fuller’s beers (Bengal Lancer was £4.40 a pint), while the keg beers include the company’s Frontier Craft Lager and London Porter, along with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. According to the pub’s website, the ground floor is “popular for its fantastic views of Trafalgar Square” but with a flower box at the bottom of the window and blinds at the top, you can only really see the tops of the National Portrait Gallery, St Martin-in-the-Fields and Nelson on his column – and he’s looking elsewhere.

Being a former bank, the front windows are quite high up, meaning that the chairs have had to follow suit. With nothing to realistically rest your feet on, you’re left – like Matt Smith and the Tardis – dangling in mid air.

raiLroving

WhiTTLeSea

Photo © James Welham

In contrast to recent Railroving articles, we’re bringing things much closer to home this issue, to a historic town with the right amount of watering holes to do in one swoop.

Whittlesey (or Whittlesea, to use its historical name, as the railway still does) is less than 10 minutes by rail and can be reached by Greater Anglia services from Peterborough. A standard day return is £5.10 (£8.10 from Stamford). For those who are interested in such things, the ‘traditional railway’ can still be enjoyed here. The crossing gates are still operated manually, and an attractive Victorian signal box and semaphore signals still stand

guard over the unusually staggered platforms of the station. Enjoy it while you can though – modernisation is imminent.

If you can tear yourself away, the Railway pub is a just a few steps away, though still hadn’t opened when we arrived just after midday. This pub used to be home to its own Pullman carriage (used as a restaurant car) but this had long gone, and of the four hand pumps visible through the window, only one was working. Station Road did not inspire too much as a little further along, the Bricklayers Arms was boarded up, allegedly about to be sacrificed for more housing. By the time we’d got to Childers Social

Club (one real ale) and found it wasn’t open until 4pm, we were beginning to question our judgement.

Salvation came in the form of the local JD Wetherspoon.

The George Hotel in the Market Place is something of a triumph. The transformation of this traditional hotel has been done tastefully, and the real fire, cosy atmosphere (and clean loos) were all very welcome on a very cold day.

This week was an ‘Oakham Ales festival’ so five of Peterborough’s finest were available, alongside the usual Ruddles/Doombar/Pride/ Abbot/Broadside (prices from £1.69) arrangement. Opening time is 8am daily with beers served from 9.

A couple of doors down, Hub’s Place – created after owner Barry Hubbard got lucky on the lottery a few years back, was somewhat quieter. This former solicitors’ office has also been tastefully converted into a pleasant bar (no food) with darts and dominoes, and well kept London Pride and Wherry on hand pump.

From here we decided to take the long walk up to the Straw Bear. This 1970s estate pub must be a good 25-minute walk from the town centre (on Drybread Rd), but with half a dozen real ales on offer, regular live music and a host of team activities available (including Superleague darts), we were keen to check it out. Belhaven Robert Burns, Tydd Piston Bob, Bateman XXXB/Yella Belly/Colonel’s Whiskers and Elgood’s Straw Bear were all available. The free house got its name long before the ancient festival was revived in 1980, and holds a beer festival during Straw Bear weekend.

Apparently it’s hard to get through the door on that particular weekend, and it seems that the pub has healthy support from the sizeable surrounding estate.

Surprising then that local gossip suggests the Straw Bear may be under threat from developers. The imminent departure of the current licensee can only add fuel to that belief.

Returning via the ‘Inner Relief Road’ and High Causeway brings you to the pretty New Crown, which is anything but new. The beamed two-room pub is topped with a thatched roof and presents a very agreeable drinking environment. Licensee Tracy

the George with Hub’s Place to the far right.

Bull only took over in December but has already introduced a new menu (lunch and evenings), and all day opening. Beers included IPA, Doom Bar and a slightly uninspiring Copper Dragon Best. I’d like to revisit this one in a few months as I suspect we weren’t seeing it at its best. The Ram at 16 Delph was due to reopen on 11 February after a period of closure and will be open all day under the ownership of Michelle, Pete and Ben Stead Davis.

The Ivy Leaf social club was also closed at this time of day, but another club – Quinn’s (on Market Street) – was open for business. Though quiet at this time the club, run by Phil Quinn, also licensee of the Boat, is a popular venue for its pool, darts and monthly live entertainment. One real ale is usually on offer. Next to this is the Black Bull, an attractive multi-roomed building with good local support. The Adnams Southwold proved very drinkable and four other beers including Spitfire, Courage Best, IPA and Pedigree were present.

Regular bands, discos and karaoke add to the mix.

We’d left the Boat (on

Ramsey Road) until 4pm as that’s the opening time Monday-Wednesday. Boss Phil Quinn always gives a warm welcome here – he’s keen to talk about his beers and whisky collection. It’s an Elgood’s house, with two spacious rooms and small beer garden and accommodation. Three house beers, Golden Newt, Straw Beer and EP are usually available (the latter in great form on our visit), sometimes supplemented with guest beers. Darts, dominoes and Pétanque are played, and there are regular ‘open-mic’ and acoustic sessions.

Across the road is the Hero of Aliwal, which looks reasonably impressive from the outside, but suffers from erratic opening times and a total lack of real ale. So moving swiftly on, we arrived at the award-winning Letter B on Church Street, run by the characterful Bruce Roan. He operates his pub like a pub should be run, and woe betide anyone who tries to advise him otherwise. With a Peterborough (and Cambridgeshire) Pub of the Year award for 2012 and runner up in 2015, good quality ale is expected, and Bruce certainly delivers.

There’s no food, but four local brews plus a fifth real ale, and up to 10 real ciders are usually on. But why the name Letter B? Well, legend has it that there were so many pubs in the area (once upward of 50), they ran out of ideas. So was there a Letter A? Yes, in Whitmore Street, which operated up to the 1970s and continues as an art gallery bearing the same name. A Letter C was only open briefly, allegedly as a recruitment ploy for the local works of the London Brick Company – clearly an early version of a pop-up pub. The Letter B is open all day at weekends but doesn’t open until 5pm during the week.

That just left time for a swift one at the Falcon Hotel – an attractive 17 th century

Phil Quinn at the Boat. former coaching inn. As well a handy town centre base, this is also popular local with real fires and a couple of decent beers in the shape of Old Speckled Hen and Humpty Dumpty Nord Atlantic. The pub’s open

all day with a full menu available from 12-9pm daily.

From here it’s back through the Market Place and onto Station Road where, if you have time, you can have a cheeky one in Childers or The Railway.

6

Key 1. The Railway 2. The Bricklayers’ Arms 3. Childers 4. The George Hotel 5. Hub’s Place 6. The Straw Bear 7. The New Crown 8. The Ram 9. The Ivy Leaf 10. Quinn’s 11. The Black Bull 12. The Boat 13. Hero of Aliwal 14. Letter B 15. The Falcon

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7

9

10/11

4/5

14 15

713

3 2

12

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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 Love Love

* Official Outlet fOr austendyke ales

OPEN TuESDAy - SuNDAy 12.00- 23.00 1 SHEEP MARKET, SPALDING, LINCOLNSHIRE PE11 1BH

Love

Love

With a great range of delicious real ales, fine wines and fabulous spirits, you’ll feel spoilt for choice. Tuck into a dish from our tantalising menus ranging from our signature stone baked pizzas to our lamb shank pie which uses the lamb from our very own farm!

Love

Flying high With four pubs closing down per day, it is always refreshing to discover that one has reopened. However, after several false starts over the past six years, the residents of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire could have been forgiven for thinking that the Grade II listed Falcon Tavern might never reopen.

That is until Paul Hepworth, owner of Northampton’s traditional The Olde England, stepped in and took on the Falcon’s lease at the end of last year. Various delays with paperwork meant that Paul only had 16 days to prepare the pub for its 22 December reopening. And given the years of decay inflicted on this 16 th century building, Paul and his team certainly had their work cut out. But work they did. Removing ivy from outside, making good the paintwork and repairing the water-damaged floor, the result of a cellar flood earlier in the year.

A large crowd attended the reopening – “Paying us back by coming in their droves,”

according to landlord Stuart Everitt – and the pub has seen a steady stream of drinkers ever since. When I paid a visit at the start of January, Stuart told me that he was getting through two and a half barrels of beer a day. However, with 15 different handpumps, 10 of which offer beers from smaller brewers and all priced between £2 and £3.30 a pint, that figure looks set to rise once word gets around.

As well as catering for the real ale fan, the pub serves craft keg – currently Marston’s Oyster Stout and Revisionist Craft Lager, and Shipyard American Pale Ale – normal and fruit wines, and five different meads. This last one surprised me but Stuart assures me that “they’re selling pretty well”.

You’ll notice that there are no mainstream lagers in that list and neither are there any plans to install televisions, fruit machines or a jukebox with the pub defiantly aimed at those who “like good beer, a sit down and chat.” One concession to the modern world will be Wi-Fi access, which once installed will allow Stuart to update the pub’s Facebook page – a site started by Faye Linnell of the Save the Falcon campaign, a group formed to ensure that the then closed pub was kept in the public eye.

While bigger pub companies would be content with just running repairs to reopen the place, the refurbishment

continues. There are plans to build a kitchen, cellar and three function rooms upstairs, and the removal of modern partitions to expose the original wooden beams.

Once the kitchen is in place, customers will be able to enjoy afternoon meals, made from locally sourced ingredients, while catering will be available for those booking one of the three upstairs function suites.

The final finishing touches to the ground floor will include the hanging of English Civil War pictures and memorabilia, to reflect the pub’s wartime role as a roundhead recruiting station.

Legend has it that local boy Oliver Cromwell even addressed his troops in the market square from an upstairs window.

And given the Cromwell connection, it was apt that I went for a pint of Outlawed from Springhead Brewery.

A decent pint and at only £2.90, even the most hardened puritan would have been tempted.

The Surrealist Sp

david ‘dai’roll pays a visit to Stamford and discovers that sometimes, shove tu

Last year, in anticipation of The Palmerston Arms’ Shove Ha’penny Championships, I wondered if any other pubs played the game. The silence was deafening. And then, an email came in, asking: “Have you ever heard of Pushpenny?” I hadn’t, so decided to go in search of some answers.

Unlike Shove Ha’penny, which uses five pre-decimal halfpennies, Pushpenny is played with three old pennies, which have had the ‘tails’ side

smoothed down. Each pub has its own board and coins, and with no standardisation, there are slight differences. The same goes for the way a coin is pushed, with a player able to use whatever part of their hand they feel comfortable.

Stamford used to have upwards of 30 teams (some say 50+). However pub closures and retirement have reduced that figure to six.

And while there should be six players to a team, a shortage of participants means that

there are now only five to each side. The pubs still taking part are The Jolly Brewer, Lord Burghley, The Hurdler (2) and Blackstones Sports & Social Club (2).

Now believed to be exclusive to Stamford, Pushpenny was also once played in Colchester and the East Sussex towns of Battle and Hastings, where the local darts league is still called The Robertsbridge & District Darts & Push Penny League. Noel Chatwin and

portsman’s Club

urns to push.

Clockwise from left: The Jolly Brewer v Hurdler A. The way a coin is pushed or shoved is up to the player. Pushpenny doyens Noel Chatwin and Ray Graham who now play for Hurdler A. A Queen victoria ‘old head’ and two George v pennies make up the Jolly Brewer’s playing pieces.

Ray Graham who are part of the Hurdler’s A team, remember going to Hastings for a match many years ago.

Both men have been involved in Pushpenny for more than 45 years, having once being part of the team at the longclosed Crown & Woolpack on Scotgate. Talk soon turned to some of the pubs that have pulled out including the demolished Hit or Miss, Drum & Monkey and the Dolphin, which is currently undergoing conversion into flats. “The

Dolphin used to serve beer from jugs, brought up from the cellar,” remembers Noel.

There are several trophies contested each year including the Willoughby Cup, which was originally sponsored by Grimsthorpe Castle’s Willoughby de Eresby family, while a World Championships was founded in 1980. The current World Champion is Derek Robinson of Blackstones’ A team.

Weekly matches take place on a Tuesday. There are spare

boards available and any pub that wants to start a team, or an individual who wants to join an existing one, can forward their enquiry to Dean Perkins at the Jolly Brewer (01780 755141). n A 15-minute documentary, Pushpenny: The Dying Game, is available for download from vimeo.com/12391834 n Looking ahead, this year’s Stilton Cheese Rolling festival will take place on Monday 4 May, so it’s time to get those teams in training.

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by Cardinal Cox

Pub Scrawl

King’s Lynn Literary Festival is to be held over the weekend of 13-15 March at the Town Hall and includes such writers as Jill Dawson, Romesh Gunesekera, Michael Holroyd, Rachel Hore and LaShonda Katrice Barnett. For full details visit the website at www.lynnlitfests.com The Fenland Poet Laureate final will be held at Wisbech Museum on Friday 27 March, starting at 7pm. Always a good night, come along to hear the high quality work.

The deadline for the Stamford Poet Laureate competition is Tuesday 31 March. If you want to apply you need to send a poem together with a brief plan of what you might like to do in your year in post (each typed and no more than one side of A4). You can either hand your entry in at the Arts Centre or email to k.burrows @southkesteven.gov.uk Full details of the competition can be found at www.stamfordartscentre.com Stamford Arts Centre’s popular series of lunchtime literary lectures continues on Tuesday 3 March with Thomas Hardy’s The Woodlanders up for discussion. Then on Tuesday 7 April it will be Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones.

The season continues on Tuesday 5 May with Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. The talks start at 12:30pm and admission is £6.50. Then at 2.30pm they will show a film adaptation of the work in question, tickets

for those are £5.50 Over in Oundle, on Saturday 14 March, Professor Jules Pretty will be talking about his book Edge of Extinction about some of the ancient tribes he has met who live on the very edges of the world, and how they may hold the key to our species survival.

The talk is at St Peter’s Church from 7.30pm, tickets are £7 (£5 concessions) available from the Box Office, 4 New Street (01832 274734) or online at www.oundlefestival.org.uk There will be an open mic night at the Black Horse, Nassington on Thursday 19 March, starting at 8pm, to which poets as well as musicians are more than welcome to offer their talents.

I seldom mention the Peterborough Theological Society but they are having a talk on Poetry and Faith on Wednesday 25 March. The speaker will be Dr Nicola Slee and it will be held at The Friends’ Meeting House on Thorpe Road, Peterborough from 7.30pm.

Tickets are £3. For more information go to http://bit.ly/1DFMrbd Clare Cottage in Helpston is hosting an exhibition about the waterways of the fens until April 16. To check on opening times, go to www.clarecottage.org Internationally regarded poet Wendy Cope will be performing on Sunday 26 April at the Stamford Arts Centre. The evening starts at

7pm and tickets are £14 (£12 cons.). This is the start of this year’s micro-poetry festival that continues on Tuesday 28 April with a performance by Peterborough’s Poets United in the bar. Wednesday 29 (usually the local Pint of Poetry evening) has the final of this year’s Stamford Poet Laureate competition in the main theatre (details of the competition above). Then on Thursday 30 April, members of Pint of Poetry from Peterborough will be performing in the bar. The Stamford Pint of Poetry meets in the bar on the last Wednesday of the month, so 25 March, 27 May etc from 8pm. In the few short years it has been in existence it has proved to be a warm and welcoming open mic night.

The Arts Centre also hosts a Poetry Forum on the Second Monday of the month (9 March, 13 April, 11 May etc) from 6.30 to 8.30pm.

Some advance news, as it is likely to sell-out quickly, Gervase Phinn will be at the Key Theatre on Thursday 7 May. The ever-popular former schools inspector continues to entertain with his tales. Tickets £18.50.

My Words Were Now Written, a book collecting together Cardinal Cox’s work while poet-in-residence at St John the Baptist, Peterborough has gone on sale. Priced £5, it’s available from the church’s gift shop, which is open on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

N ATIONAL TREASURE Spotlighting Britain’s best boozers

The Argyll Arms 18 Argyll Street London W1F 7TP 020 7734 6117 www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/ theargyllarmsoxfordcircuslondon Unusually for this particular feature we’re spotlighting a real gem of a pub that forms part of a large chain. Those familiar with Nicholson’s pubs won’t be put off – and this Grade II listed building rarely fails to impress.

The pub stands immediately opposite ‘exit 8’ from Oxford Circus tube station, which is three stops along the Victoria line from Kings Cross.

Perfectly located for Theatreland and Oxford Street, the Argyll Arms was originally built in 1742 and named after the second Duke of Argyll, whose own pile was situated where

the Palladium now stands. A secret tunnel ran between the two buildings, and the story goes that this was used by the frisky old Duke to meet ladies of the night in the pub.

The building has survived the rampant commercialism in the area, and although relatively unassuming on the outside, the pub is truly spectacular inside – a triumph of mahogany, etched glass and ornate ceilings, with many individual snugs and partitions, and oozes character at every turn. The internal fixtures, crafted in 1895, bear the hallmark of

Victorian eccentricity. It seems the partitions were originally designed to ‘divide the classes’ with ‘steerage’ at the front of the pub, while the gentry enjoyed the relative privacy at the rear. No doubt the Duke had his own special area.

The Argyll has a listing in CAMRA’s National Inventory of historic pub interiors Upstairs is a substantial restaurant area, though food is also served downstairs and outside. Expect to pay West End prices for the beer – a pint will set you back over £4, but the food is reasonable with two breakfasts on offer for a tenner. There’s an extensive range of real ales including all displayed on a proper menu.

The house beer, Nicholson’s Pale Ale, comes from St Austell and is supplemented by a minimum of seven others including Truman’s Runner, London Pride, Doom Bar, guest beers and Welsh landlady Christine Bateman’s own choice, Reverend James from Brain’s. A couple of craft kegs are supplied by the Meantime Brewery in Greenwich.

The pub underwent refurbishment during January, and sports a new floor and furniture.

It can get very busy at certain times of the day, so if you’re heading for a show or a bit of shopping, make sure you allow some extra time.

Chris Shilling

The heron Heron Court, Stanground Peterborough Pe2 8QB 01733 704693

- LocAle accredited - Four real ales on permanently - Live music every weekend - Huge enclosed beer garden - 120” big screen TV - Function room for hire - Quiz every Tuesday

April marks our first year at the pub and we are celebrating all month with LocAle beers. Why not suggest a beer from your favourite local brewery?

Spring Beer Festival 17th and 18th April Live music from The Soul Sisters (17th) and The Psych-O-Bombs (18th)

www.heronpub.co.uk

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 show 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.

LiSTingS

25 February Pool Tournament, Heron, Stanground

27 February Velocity, London Inn, Stamford Subway 77, Golden Fleece, Stamford Leon, Dragon, Werrington Slim Panatella and the Mellow Virginians, Northwick Arms, Ketton Burning Codes’ single launch, Brewery Tap, Peterborough 28 February Karaoke, Black Bull, Whittlesey Albion, Deeping Stage, Market Deeping Revolver, Golden Fleece, Stamford Mighty Mouth Trev, Dragon, Werrington Corduroy, Lincolnshire Poacher, Spalding Filthy Lucre, Crown, Peterborough Let There B/DC, Hole in the Wall, Stamford Antoine Fleuriot, Stone Loach Inn, Market Deeping 01 March Traditional Irish Music Sessions (4-7pm), Woolpack, Stanground The Malingerers, Tap & Kitchen, Oundle Oakham Mic Night, Brewery Tap, Peterborough 02 March Charters Unplugged (8pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Bingo, Mason’s Arms, Bourne 03 March Curry Night, Grainstore, Oakham Quiz/Play Your Cards Right, Heron, Stanground Stacey & Dave’s Open Mic, Dragon, Werrington Open Mic (8pm), Millstone Inn, Barnack 04 March Funhouse Comedy Club (8pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough 05 March Peterborough Big Band, Quality Inn, Thorpe Meadows, Peterborough Live Music Showcase (8pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Phoenix Show Band, Ostrich, Peterborough

06 March The Limit, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Basketcases, Iron Horse, Market Deeping CJ Hatt (9pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Mug Jugglers, Mason’s Arms, Bourne Jake Daniels (Acoustic, 11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Radius 45, Cherry Tree, Woodston Porky Pig, Golden Fleece, Stamford Captain Obvious, Dragon, Werrington Easyersaid, The Ploughman, Werrington Electric Warriors, Crown, Peterborough Northern Soul DJ, Lincolnshire Poacher, Spalding French traditional dance, Northwick Arms, Ketton Revolver, The Carpenters' Arms, Boston Beatroots, Brewery Tap, Peterborough 07 March Betty Swallox, The Pincushion Inn, Wyberton CJ Hatt, Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor Front Cover, Blue Boar, Eye

TBC, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Crossing the Tracks, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Kent Duchaine (10.30pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Pennyless, The Palmerston Arms, Woodston Commitment Brothers, London Inn, Stamford James Doherty, Black Bull, Whittlesey Eclectic Ballroom (DJ Set, 10pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Karaoke, The Heron, Stanground Lizzy on the Loose, Cherry Tree, Woodston Chill Factor, Ostrich, Peterborough Phoenix, Deeping Stage, Market Deeping Grumpy Old Men, Golden Fleece, Stamford The Overdubs, Dragon, Werrington Let There B/DC, Crown, Peterborough Scandinavian traditional dance, Northwick Arms, Ketton Porky Pig, Peacock, Fletton 08 March Stars From Paradise (Rock & Roll Spectacular), Stamford Corn Exchange Traditional Irish Music Sessions (4-7pm), Woolpack, Stanground Up & Atom, The Nelson’s Head, St Ives Ramshackle Serenade (5pm), Cresset, Bretton 10 March Curry Night, Grainstore, Oakham Dean & Co (folk), Mason’s Arms, Bourne Quiz/Play Your Cards Right, Heron, Stanground 11 March The Fureys, Stamford Corn Exchange Open Mic (8pm), Railway Inn, Ramsey 12 March Red Lionz Bands Night (8pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Open Mic night, Crown, Peterborough 13 March Roy Chubby Brown, Stamford Corn Exchange Porky Pig, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Split Whiskers, Iron Horse, Market Deeping CJ Hatt, The Heron, Stanground Martin Harley Band, Stamford Arts Centre Cuttin’ Loose, Mason’s Arms, Bourne New Generation Crash & Burn, London Inn, Stamford Bon & Justin (Acoustic, 11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Easyersaid, Cherry Tree, Woodston

White Spirit, Ostrich, Peterborough Lizzy on the Loose, Golden Fleece, Stamford Another Girl Another Planet, Dragon, Werrington One Eyed Cats, Crown, Peterborough Porky Pig, Swiss, Woodston 14 March DB5, Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor Only Fools & Boycie – an evening with John Challis, Stamford Corn Exchange Hooker, Blue Boar, Eye The Rocket Dogs, Swiss Cottage, Woodston The Malingerers, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Kick & Rush, The Anchor, Bourne The Soundinjectors, The Crown, Sheringham The Lazoons (9.30pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Pennyless, The Ship Inn, Surfleet Leon, London Inn, Stamford Laura J, Black Bull, Whittlesey The Mojo Slide (11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Pandora’s Box, Cherry Tree, Woodston Junk Puppets, Ostrich, Peterborough Children of the Revolution, Deeping Stage, Market Deeping Front Cover, Golden Fleece, Stamford Frankly My Dear (9pm), Burghley Club, Peterborough Grounded, Dragon, Werrington The Relics, Quinn’s, Whittlesey Live, Crown, Peterborough Be Bop A Lulas, Ebeneezer’s, Woodston Radius 45, Palmerston Arms, Woodston Phoenix Show Band, Spalding Services & Social Club 15 March Traditional Irish Music Sessions (4-7pm), Woolpack, Stanground Pennyless (8.30pm), The Cellar Bar @ Stamford Arts Centre Mothers’ Day specials, Golden Pheasant, Etton Ain’t Misbehavin, Crown, Peterborough 17 March St Patricks Day Party – The Callaborators/Feckin Eejits/Carol Kane (4pm), Swiss Cottage, Woodston Curry Night, Grainstore, Oakham St Patrick’s Day celebration – Shades Of Green (from 7.30pm), Golden Pheasant, Etton Quiz/Play Your Cards Right, Heron, Stanground Frumenty Irish set, Crown, Peterborough Open Mic (8.45pm), The Boat Inn, Whittlesey

18 March Open Mic (9pm), Prince Rupert, Newark 19 March Eclectic Ballroom Shindig (8pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Up & Atom, The Taproom, St Ives 20 March The High Rollers, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Whiskey Dick & Rattleshack, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Matt Howard (9.30pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Lesley Curtis (11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Third Stone from the Sun, Cherry Tree, Woodston Captain Obvious, Ostrich, Peterborough Cutting Loose, Golden Fleece, Stamford Harkback, Dragon, Werrington The Rocket Dogs, The Ploughman, Werrington Code Red, Crown, Peterborough Mitchell, Stokes & Lynch, Tobie Norris, Stamford 21 March Vigilantes, The Pincushion Inn, Wyberton The Mistreated, Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor The Steradents, Blue Boar, Eye 101 Proof, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Let There B/DC, Iron Horse, Market Deeping 9 Lives - 10 Year Reunion, The Heron, Stanground The Soundinjectors, The Chameleon, Grantham Maslow, London Inn, Stamford Relics, Black Bull, Whittlesey Otis & Jules (DJ Set, 10pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Deamoniser, Cherry Tree, Woodston Francie Reihill, Ostrich, Peterborough Spirit, Deeping Stage, Market Deeping Overdubs, Golden Fleece, Stamford Code Red, Dragon, Werrington New Generation Crash & Burn, Crown, Peterborough Ramshackle Serenade, Cock Inn, Werrington Antoine Fleuriot, Angel Inn, Yarwell Loose Rocket, The Axe & Cleaver, Boston 22 March Traditional Irish Music Sessions (4-7pm), Woolpack, Stanground Charlotte Ward & Ian Stokes (acoustic, 12.30-3pm), Tobie Norris, Stamford

Situation Vacant Experienced Bar staff required to work 3-4 evenings per week in a friendly village pub. Own transport essential due to hours. Please contact Alison on 01733 222234 or email blue_boar@hotmail.co.uk A traditional English Pub - Good Food, Real Ales, live music and an informal atmosphere to meet, eat and relax.

the Blue Boar

46 High Street, Eye, Peterborough PE6 7UY Tel: 01733 860491

www.blueboarpeterborough.co.uk

The boat inn 2 raMSey road, WhiTTLeSey Pe7 1dr Tel: 01733 202488

Real Ales n Bed & Breakfast n Good Company

CAMRA Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year 2009 Whisky night 2nd Friday of the Month - Selection of 100+ malt and deluxe whiskies Open mic 3rd Tuesday of the month (8.45pm) Acoustic sessions last Friday of the month (8.30pm)

www.theboatuk.com

24 March Curry Night, Grainstore, Oakham Quiz/Play Your Cards Right, Heron, Stanground 25 March Pool Tournament, Heron, Stanground Ramshackle Serenade, Waterton Arms, Deeping St James Open Mic (8pm), Railway Inn, Ramsey 26 March Open Mic (8pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough 27 March Guns 2 Roses/Metallica Reloaded, Stamford Corn Exchange Tiger Club, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Skool of Rock Weekend: Burning Codes, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Charity Quiz Night (8pm), Blue Cow Inn, South Witham The Soundinjectors, London Inn, Stamford Mark Bishop, Mason’s Arms, Bourne Francie Reihill (11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Thunderhead, Cherry Tree, Woodston Hush, Ostrich, Peterborough Children of the Revolution, Golden Fleece, Stamford Rocket 57, Dragon, Werrington Subway 77, Crown, Peterborough Whisky Bar Acoustic Sessions (8.30pm), The Boat Inn, Whittlesey Cuttin' Loose, The Axe & Cleaver, Boston 28 March Pandora’s Box, Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor Saturday Night Bee Gees, Stamford Corn Exchange DB5, Blue Boar, Eye Psych-O-bombs, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Skool of Rock Weekend: Iron Fist, Iron Horse, Market Deeping The 707, The Heron, Stanground Blackout UK (10.30pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Antoine, Mason’s Arms, Bourne Karaoke, Black Bull, Whittlesey Jimmy (High Rollers, 11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Overspill, Ostrich, Peterborough Revolver, Deeping Stage, Market Deeping March to the Grave, Golden Fleece, Stamford Charity Soul Night Out (Motor City Vipers, DJs Joolz and Uncle Funk), The Brewery Tap,

Peterborough One Eyed Cats, The Ploughman, Werrington Mighty Mouth Trev, Dragon, Werrington The Rocket Dogs, Quinn’s, Whittlesey Lizzy On The Loose, Crown, Peterborough Radius 45, King’s Cliffe Ex-Servicemen’s Club Let There B/DC, Cock Inn, Werrington 29 March Traditional Irish Music Sessions (4-7pm), Woolpack, Stanground Skool of Rock Weekend: Rocket Dogs, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Gangsters, London Inn, Stamford Drum Bluey, Cherry Tree, Woodston Charlotte Ward & Ian Stokes (acoustic, 12.30-3pm), Tobie Norris, Stamford 31 March Curry Night, Grainstore, Oakham Quiz/Play Your Cards Right, Heron, Stanground 02 April Barron Knights, Stamford Corn Exchange Red Lionz Bands Night (8pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough 03 April TickinBoxes, Stamford Corn Exchange Blackout UK, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Acoustic Good Friday: Ben and Mark, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Steve Locks’ Alfie Notes Band, The Heron, Stanground Harkback UK, London Inn, Stamford Ben Callanan (acoustic, 11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Lizzie on the Loose, Ostrich, Peterborough Band TBC, Golden Fleece, Stamford New Generation Crash & Burn, Dragon, Werrington The High Rollers, The Ploughman, Werrington Opaque (10.30pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Mega Spring Beer Festival: Children Of The Revolution, Crown, Peterborough Retrolux, Cherry Tree, Woodston Loose Rocket, The Court House, Thrapston Beatroots, Brewery Tap, Peterborough 04 April Emporium, The Pincushion Inn, Wyberton Arc Nation, Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor The Elements, Blue Boar, Eye CJ Hatt, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Betty Swallox, Iron Horse, Market Deeping

The Soundinjectors, The Drayman’s Arms, Spalding Amplified (8.30pm), Golden Pheasant, Etton Nuggets, London Inn, Stamford Eclectic Ballroom (DJ Set, 10pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Band TBC, Ostrich, Peterborough Go With The Flow, Black Bull, Whittlesey Indigo, Deeping Stage, Market Deeping Audio Pirates, Golden Fleece, Stamford Zeb Rootz, Dragon, Werrington The Overdubs, The Ploughman, Werrington Children of the Revolution (10.30pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Mega Spring Beer Festival: Brotherhood’s Roundabout, Crown, Peterborough The Tunnel, Cherry Tree, Woodston Overspill, Angel Inn, Yarwell The Mistreated, The Railway, Whittlesey The Nuggets, London Inn, Stamford 05 April Traditional Irish Music Sessions (4-7pm), Woolpack, Stanground TBC, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Bands Day (3-4 acts including Chill factor and 3rd Stone from the Sun), Deeping Stage, Market Deeping Jimmy Doherty (3pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Mega Spring Beer Festival: M-Tones, Crown, Peterborough Oakham Mic Night, Brewery Tap, Peterborough

Handmade in Castor

www.castorales.co.uk 07828048664

06 April Bingo, Mason’s Arms, Bourne Charters Unplugged (8pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Mega Spring Beer Festival: Steve Bean, Crown, Peterborough 07 April Curry Night, Grainstore, Oakham Quiz/Play Your Cards Right, Heron, Stanground Stacey & Dave’s Open Mic, Dragon, Werrington Open Mic (8pm), Millstone Inn, Barnack 08 April Open Mic (8pm), Railway Inn, Ramsey 09 April Wind In The Willows, Stamford Corn Exchange Live Music Showcase (8pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Open Mic night, Crown, Peterborough

Home of

Castor Ales

6 Guest Ales & Craft Beer Home Cooked Food Lunch/Midweek Evenings Ideal for walkers & dog friendly

beer FeSTivaL - 14th-17th May

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

10 April Cliff Richard & The Shadows Tribute, Stamford Corn Exchange Lesley Curtis Acoustic Trio, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Iron Fist, Dragon, Werrington Claire Martin OBE and Ray Gelato, Stamford Arts Centre CJ Hatt (Acoustic, 11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Frankly My Dear, Ostrich, Peterborough Nine Lives, Golden Fleece, Stamford The Dave Jackson Blues Band (10.30pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough The Overdubs, Crown, Peterborough Sweet Revenge, Cherry Tree, Woodston Cuttin' Loose, The Carpenters' Arms, Boston 11 April The ELO Experience, Stamford Corn Exchange Laurette Evelyn, The Heron, Stanground Revolver, Mason’s Arms, Bourne Hooker, London Inn, Stamford Disco, Black Bull, Whittlesey The Lazoons (11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Band TBC, Ostrich, Peterborough Junk Puppets, Deeping Stage, Market Deeping Wallflowers, Golden Fleece, Stamford Davison, Watson and Gates, Swiss Cottage, Peterborough The 707, Dragon, Werrington The Brays, The Ploughman, Werrington Under_Covered, Crown, Peterborough Walkway, Cherry Tree, Woodston Vintage Stuff, Cock Inn, Werrington 12 April Traditional Irish Music Sessions (4-7pm), Woolpack, Stanground Band TBC, Ostrich, Peterborough Bon Rogers, Crown, Peterborough

17 April Peterborough Big Band, Deeping Leisure Centre, Market Deeping Ian Graham & Kat Moore (9pm), Woolpack, Stanground Acoustic Fridays: Fyzz Wallis and Jules Morgan, Iron Horse, Market Deeping LocAle Beer Festival: The Soul Sisters, The Heron, Stanground Disco, Black Bull, Whittlesey Joe Solo (11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Roadcrew, Golden Fleece, Stamford Captain Obvious (10.30pm), Charters Bar, Peterborough Johnny Cash Tribute show, Crown, Peterborough 101 Proof, Cherry Tree, Woodston Revolver, Swiss Cottage, Woodston The Replicas, Dragon, Werrington 18 April Dukes, The Pincushion Inn, Wyberton The Blues Brothers Experience, Stamford Corn Exchange Stingray, Blue Boar, Eye Sylvester Peat Cutter and the Twilight Boggers, Iron Horse, Market Deeping LocAle Beer Festival: The Psych-O-Bombs, The Heron, Stanground Children of the Revolution, London Inn, Stamford Pulse, Black Bull, Whittlesey Otis & Jules (DJ Set, 10pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough 707 Band, Ostrich, Peterborough Rocket Dogs (9pm), Woolpack, Stanground Antique Rock & Roll, Deeping Stage, Market Deeping Eyes Wide Open, Golden Fleece, Stamford The Expletives, Dragon, Werrington The Guards, The Ploughman, Werrington Grumpy Old Men, Crown, Peterborough Let There B/ DC, Cherry Tree, Woodston The Mistreated, The Angel, Ramsey Spare Parts, King's Cliffe Ex-Servicemen's Club

14 April Curry Night, Grainstore, Oakham Dean & Co (folk), Mason’s Arms, Bourne Quiz/Play Your Cards Right, Heron, Stanground

19 April Steve Bean (4-6pm), Woolpack, Stanground

15 April Open Mic (9pm), Prince Rupert, Newark

21 April Curry Night, Grainstore, Oakham Quiz/Play Your Cards Right, Heron, Stanground Open Mic (8.45pm), The Boat Inn, Whittlesey

16 April Funhouse Comedy Club (8pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough

22 April Open Mic (8pm), Railway Inn, Ramsey

23 April The Vicar Of Dibley, Stamford Corn Exchange Eclectic Ballroom presents Shindig (8pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough St George’s Day music, Crown, Peterborough 24 April Charity Quiz Night (8pm), Blue Cow Inn, South Witham Ferocious Dog, Stamford Arts Centre Sensational Soul Band, London Inn, Stamford Rob & Dave (Children of the Rev, 11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Porky Pig, Ostrich, Peterborough The Returns, Golden Fleece, Stamford Hooker, Dragon, Werrington Tallawah, Crown, Peterborough Chuck Norris Experience, Cherry Tree, Woodston Whisky Bar Acoustic Sessions (8.30pm), The Boat Inn, Whittlesey Radius 45, Solstice, Peterborough Cuttin' Loose, Stone Loach, Market Deeping 25 April The Claimed, Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor Rapture, Blue Boar, Eye El Camino and Front Porch Preachers, Iron Horse, Market Deeping Subway 77, The Heron, Stanground Pennyless, The Five Horseshoes, Barholm Mug Jugglers, Mason’s Arms, Bourne Blackout UK, London Inn, Stamford Karaoke, Black Bull, Whittlesey The Influence, Coalheavers Arms (beerfest), Woodston The Rainmen (11pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Thunderhead, Ostrich, Peterborough Leon, Deeping Stage, Market Deeping Sound Injectors, Golden Fleece, Stamford Mighty Mouth Trev, Dragon, Werrington Children of the Revolution, The Ploughman, Werrington The Veltones, Crown, Peterborough The Expletives, Cherry Tree, Woodston Revolver, The Axe & Cleaver, Boston 26 April Traditional Irish Music Sessions (4-7pm), Woolpack, Stanground 28 April Curry Night, Grainstore, Oakham Quiz/Play Your Cards Right, Heron, Stanground

29 April Pool Tournament, Heron, Stanground 30 April Open Mic (8pm), North Street Bar, Peterborough Open Mic Night, Cherry Tree, Woodston 01 May Under_covered, Dragon, Werrington Beatroots, Brewery Tap, Peterborough 02 May The Tunnel, The Heron, Stanground The Rocket Dogs, Dragon, Werrington Go with the Flow, Quinn’s, Whittlesey Maxwell Hammer & Smith, Grainstore, Oakham One Eyed Cats, William Cecil, Stamford 03 May Oakham Mic Night, Brewery Tap, Peterborough 04 May One Eyed Cats, Golden Pheasant, Etton 08 May Fumi Okiji’s Old Time Jazz Band, Northwick Arms, Ketton

Rhythm & Booze, Issue 30 - March/April 2015 All written material, unless otherwise stated, © Simon Stabler All events are listed free of charge.

To ensure inclusion in the May/June issue, or have any other news included in the magazine, email simonstabler@aol.com by 10 April 2015. 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 Rates (excluding VAT)* TheAdvertising Mistreated, Swiss Cottage, Peterborough £130 - full page £85 - half page £50 - quarter page * Discounts for series bookings.

REvIEWS Mod: From Bebop to Britpop, Britain’s Biggest Youth Movement

By Richard Weight, Vintage Books, softback, £12.99

For most of us, the word ‘Mod’ conjures up images of scooters, sharps suits and scuffles – a short-lived youth cult, soon replaced by another. But Weight believes otherwise, arguing that Mod was the crucible for many of the cults that followed.

In the world of music, Two Tone certainly had the clothes and the ability to meld American and African-Caribbean sounds into something recognisably British, while Britpop had Blur and Pulp, two bands who can be considered the inheritors of the Kinks, and just as original as their forebear.

But I find it hard to accept that Glam Rock was the offspring of Mod, even if David Bowie and Marc Bolan had cut a dash in Italian suits during the early 1960s. And while that side of the book remains open to debate, the author’s other argument that Mod continues to inform art and design does ring true.

Even if you have little interest in clean lines and minimalism, there’s at least one piece of modernism in your home. After all, not only did Sir Terence Conran – a self-confessed Modernist whose green Vespa doubled as Habitat’s original delivery vehicle – introduce the duvet to Britain, he popularised flat pack furniture. At least we now know who to blame.

The Peterborough Book of Days

By Brian Jones, The History Press, softback, £9.99

Although some of my fellow Peterborians believe that nothing ever happens around here, this is a book to prove them wrong.

Offering an ‘on this day’ for every day of the year, the book is packed with snippets from history be they “quirky, eccentric, amusing [or] important”.

As well as domestic issues, such as the installation of the city’s first pelican crossing and the rising cost of journeys by sedan chair are reports of famous visitors to Peterborough. Edward II “called in” to and from his defeat at Bannockburn, while the novelist and US consul Nathaniel Hawthorne was impressed by the west front of the Cathedral.

When Princess Diana paid a visit to Peterborough in the early 1990s – an occasion I remember well, having been made to line-up outside school for an hour in the freezing cold, as she was taken around the building – she lunched at The Haycock Hotel in Wansford. It doesn’t say what she had or her thoughts on the place but I do hope that she had a better time of it than Charles Dickens who was served “a petrified bun of enormous antiquity [by] the lady in the refreshment room” at the railway station who “was very hard on [him]”.

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