Issue47

rhythm and booze iews ds & Rev ews, Ban N s, ew Br

7 4 e u s s I ARY Y/FEBRU JANUAR

2018

n Railroving in Sleaford and Spalding n The Bull, Market Deeping Reopens

Debbie Harry © Chalkie Davies

n The Region’s Biggest Gig Listings

The Fine Art Of Punk & New Wave comes to Peterborough.

Turn to page 3 for more

Peterborough • South LincS • rutLand • eaSt northantS

Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011 & 2014 CAMRA Gold award 2013 & 2016

TEN REAL ALEs FROM £2.00 A PiNT AND FiVE REAL CiDERs Live Satellite Sports n Live Entertainment Happy Hour Mon - Fri 5-7pm

Live Music January

February

Sat 6th - Velocity

Fri 2nd - The Mighty Persuaders

Sat 13th - Last Minute Brigade

Sat 3rd - Tiger Club

Sat 20th - The Returns

Fri 16th - Jimmy Doherty

Fri 26th - Halo

Sat 17th - Tumbling Dice

Sat 27th - Revolver

Fri 23rd - Loose Rocket Sat 24th - Carpark Rendezvous

Werrington Centre, staniland Way, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6NA

the rhythm section

Ian Dury, photographed

by Chalkie Davies, 1978

Photographs of punk and new wave artists such as the Clash, the Damned, Sex Pistols, the Jam, Blondie and the Ramones will be on display in Peterborough for one night only on 2 March. The Fine Art Of Punk & New Wave will see Sycamore MINI on Papyrus Road, Werrington transformed into an art gallery displaying the work of NME photographers Chalkie Davies and Denis O’Regan.

Organised by Off Beat Lounge, as part of a nationwide tour of MINI showrooms, two types of tickets are available; a £29.50 ‘Punk Plus’ VIP ticket allowing early access from 6.30pm for a Q & A session with either Denis O’Regan or Chalkie Davies, a commemorative collector ticket, private viewing of the exhibition, the face value of your Punk Plus ticket redeemable against print

purchases, a commemorative brochure and the opportunity to pre-order and collect prints on the night for personalised signing; the £9.50 standard ticket offers exhibition entry from 7.30pm, a welcome drink, commemorative brochure and commemorative collector ticket.

For further information and ticket ordering details, visit

www.offbeatlounge.co.uk/ artofpunk Chris Helme, the former Seahorses’ frontman, plays the Cellar Bar at Stamford Arts Centre on Friday 26 January.

Graham Fellows plays the venue’s theatre on Friday 9 February and the same evening, the Acoustic Strawbs can be found in the ballroom. Probably Graham Fellows

Continued over

the rhythm section (continued) now best-known for his comic character John Shuttleworth, Fellows will be ditching the leather jacket and fawn slacks to play guitar, talk about Shuttleworth and Jilted John, as well as his two stints in Coronation Street and how George Melly once broke into his bedsit. Tickets for all three concerts are available in advance

from the Stamford Arts Centre Box Office, online at www.stamfordartscentre.com or by calling 01780 763203.

Peterborough “casual bar” Puzzles? will be celebrating its first birthday in January. A weekend of celebrations, called Puzzfest, takes place at the Bridge Street venue on the weekend of 12-14 January.

The Millstone Inn, Barnack will be hosting an Elvis Presley tribute on 27 January.

Featuring singer Alvin Printwhistle, tickets, priced £20 including a meal, are available by popping into the pub or calling 01780 740296.

Pennyless will be playing live on BBC

William Hogarth, Beer Street, 1751. © Leeds Museums and Galleries.

beer: a history of brewing and drinking Britain’s first national drink will be the focus of an exciting new exhibition that opens at Temple Newsam House, Leeds on 24 March.

At a time when water was often contaminated, beer offered a safe and nutritious alternative enjoyed across all social scales.

It was even used to treat a range of ailments and diseases, from jaundice to ‘the King’s Evil’ (a skin disease). At Temple Newsam House in 1749, Ann Scarburgh’s apothecary prescribed her “ingredients

Lincoln on 14 February.

Appearing on the Tom Lane folk programme from 6pm, you can tune in to 94.9 and 104.7FM or online at www.bbc.co.uk/ radiolincolnshire You can also catch the band at a Burns Night supper held at Tallington Lakes on Saturday 27 January. For tickets, call Fred Sandell on 07749 420943.

The definitive David Bowie tribute act, Aladdinsane, will be playing Stamford Corn Exchange on Friday 23 February. Led by previous Rhythm & Booze cover star and Stars in Your Eyes’ contestant Paul Henderson, expect to see and hear Bowie’s music and many incarnations from Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke, into the 80s and beyond. Tickets are available direct from the Stamford Corn Exchange Box Office, by visiting stamfordcornexchange.co.uk or by calling 01780 766455.

for Six Gallons of Beer yr Ladyships”.

The exhibition looks at the significance of beer during the long eighteenth century and reveals aspects of life on Temple Newsam Estate through the eyes of the staff and aristocrats who lived, worked, brewed and drank here.

New stories have been uncovered from the estate archives, including that of female brewer Elizabeth Pease, who provided ale for the estate for over 30 years during the 18th century.

Beer was a key part of celebrations where the estate community came together, from military victories to weddings. When King George recovered from his illness in 1789 Lady Irwin laid on 1366 gallons of ale for her tenants.

Visitors will have the chance to see objects from Leeds’s important collection of ceramics and view areas of the house in a new light. Now a popular area on tours, back in 1869 the cellars were liberally stocked with 3,800 gallons of ale and 2,200 of beer.

Running until 27 October, an exciting programme of events will be on offer throughout the estate, including tasting sessions. More information can be found by visiting leeds.gov.uk/beerexhibition

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Pub News

Princess Anne visits 8 sail, Heckington

Peterborough’s Oakham Ales has rebranded its beer range ahead of celebrating 25 years in 2018.

The changes include redesigned pump clips and tasting notes on its bottled beers. The brewery recently won a grant of £150,000 from the Eastern Agri-tech Growth Initiative to help with its expansion into keg beer production.

After 12 years, David Murray has stepped down as Chairman of Peterborough Camra, handing the baton to Matt Mace.

At the Woolpack in Stanground, Linda Goddard is handing the reins to Ang Burrows and Geoff White as the lease passes back to EI Group (formerly Enterprise Inns). In nearby Woodston, the Swiss Cottage is open again with a couple of real ales available.

The Bull at Market Deeping reopened at the end of November after a major overhaul. The main bar area has been opened out, but there are separate dining areas on both floors and the ‘dugout’ bar

remains. The pub is open for breakfast at 8am, with main meals and light bites served lunchtimes and evenings. The changes have been enthusiastically welcomed and the pub has been busier than for

Former landlord of the Bull, Bert Murray, celebrates the pub’s reopening with current licensee, Richard Parrott

Continued over

Sue and Will look forward to welcoming you at

The CasTle COSY, COuNTRY PuB AND RESTAuRANT, NEWLY REOPENED IN THE PICTuRESQuE VILLAGE OF CASTLE BYTHAM, NEAR STAMFORD

Open all day from 12 noon * Welcoming real fires * Home cooked food served from 12-2pm and 6-9pm * Up to five real ales including Bass, Abbott, guest beers and a real cider The Castle Inn, High St, Castle Bytham, Stamford NG33 4RZ T: 01780 410504 Email: info@castleinnbytham.co.uk www.castleinnbytham.co.uk

The

Blue Bell

at Maxey traditional Free house

CAMRA Gold Award Winners 2010, 2012 & 2014 ·CAMRA Pub of the Year 2006 · Cambs Pub of the Year 2007 Dating back to 1645 the Blue Bell is situated on the main road in the picturesque village of Maxey and is the centre of village social life EIGHT real ales including Fullers London Pride and at least one Oakham Ale, SIX ever-changing guest ales and a multitude of Gins and Rums Club and special event buffets on request. Real fires in Winter

Happy New Year to All Our Customers

high street, Maxey, Peterborough Pe6 9ee Tel: 01778 348182

Pub News (continued) many a year. up the road, the Vine is for sale and looked likely to change hands as we went to press. The Rose & Crown at Thorney is now closed on Tuesdays as well as Mondays during the winter months. On the positive side food bills are discounted Wednesday-Saturday on production of a loyalty card. The Dog in a Doublet at North Bank, which featured on Channel 4’s Four in a Bed in the autumn, has been voted Pub of the Year for the second time by readers of the Peterborough Telegraph.

The Admiral Wells at Holme, near Yaxley now features a stone plaque donated by The Fenland Trust confirming its status as Britain’s lowest pub. Since Whittlesey Mere was drained in the 19th Century, the surrounding

King’s Head, Polebrook

peat has shrunk leaving the area several feet below sea level. The Lion at

nearby Ramsey St Mary’s reopened on 1 December offering real ales and good food, with a function room suitable for weddings and other events.

There are plans for live music and a summer beer festival.

Open daily from 4pm (12 noon weekends) further details on Facebook @thelionramsey The Nags Head at Eastrea, near Whittlesey has a new landlady –

Lorraine Werner is keen to retain a good selection of real ales and regular entertainment.

The restaurant, known as Rainies, offers traditional food, with themed nights planned for the future Supported by the Weldon Brewery, the Shoulder of Mutton in Weldon is thriving – a new opening has been made to link the two properties together, weekends are particularly busy, and attractions for early 2018 include the legendary Dr Busker on 20 January and the first of a series of free beery bus trips to neighbouring areas. The leasehold of the Kings Arms at Polebrook, near Oundle is for sale with Guy Simmonds for £85,000.

Paul and Carole Frith left the Millstone in Stamford in mid-December after poor trading conditions but owner, EI group, has reassured regulars

The Castle, Castle Bytham

The Angel & Royal, Grantham

that the pub will remain open while a new tenant is found.

Carole has moved round the corner to sister pub the Golden Fleece, and Paul has taken on the Bell Inn at Deeping St James. He plans to introduce local beers and a real cider. After several months of closure, the Castle Inn at Castle Bytham reopened on 14 December under the ownership of Will Stanton and Sue Peck. They’ll be offering all day opening and daily food “in the traditional home-cooked style”. Five hand pulled beers and a real cider were available on the opening night.

The Noel Arms at Langham, near Oakham is open again, currently in the hands of former barmaid Tracie Townsend. The Crown at Great Casterton is now serving food at lunchtimes and evenings. The George & Dragon at Seaton has reopened after major refurbishment – now in the hands of Ralph Offer. The

Church Keys, Boston

Three Crowns in Oakham, part of the Steaming Billy chain, has closed and is likely to be converted to flats.

The Princess Royal visited Heckington Windmill, home of the 8 Sail Brewery on 13 October, formally opening the regeneration project – the brewery shop is open daily, except Wednesdays and the bar, Friday- Sunday. The Church Keys in Boston, has received a Best Place to Eat or Drink award at the recent Boston Business Awards. The Barge at Swineshead Bridge has closed and is up for sale. The Granary at Long Sutton reopened in late November after a major refurbishment.

The stonework at the 14th Century Angel & Royal Hotel in Grantham is to be restored by owner Ashdale Hotels after an investigation was instigated by Historic England, concerned by centuries of erosion. The closed Red Lion at nearby Bottesford

has gained ACV (Asset of Community Value) status after locals applied to the local council in a bid to prevent its conversion to housing. The Grantham Beer Festival, held in St Wulfram’s Church in October attracted over 3,000 visitors – Rector, Father Stuart Craddock worked behind the bar with other members of the clergy and declared the venue as available on an annual basis. The Black Dog in the town has received a makeover from owner Marston’s Pubs no more Closed since 2012, the former Plough Inn at now ‘dry’ village of Deeping St Nicholas, may be converted to a combination of housing and a ‘retail facility’. The former Wheatsheaf at Benefield has reportedly been sold for redevelopment as flats. In Oakham, the closed White Lion looks likely to face a similar fate.

The derelict Lamb & Flag at Whaplode was damaged by fire during November – the owner wants to demolish the building and build homes on the site. The long closed Exeter Arms at Helpston has been put up for sale by owner, the John Clare Trust. A proposal to turn the former Towngate Inn in Market Deeping into 29 flats has been approved by South Kesteven District Council. Chris Shilling

N aTioNal Treasure spotlighting Britain’s best boozers

The Three Kings 29 Church End Hanley Castle Worcester WR8 0BL 01684 592686 Standing just off the village green in the sleepy village of Hanley Castle just outside upton upon Severn, the 15th Century Three Kings has been magnet for lovers of the traditional pub for many years.

‘Time warp’ is an expression often used to describe pubs with an old fashioned feel, but this place genuinely is the real deal.

Named after the original owning Kings family, the Grade II listed building was sold during the 17th century to the local

Lechmere estate, and has been run by the Roberts Family since 1911. Currently in the hands of Dave and Sue, they’ve certainly not set out to bring things into the modern age. The first thing we noticed were recently shot

braces of pheasants hanging from the village stocks – “Are these for sale?”, I asked as we wandered into the tiny snug to be greeted by Sue. “Just make a contribution and help yourself,” she replied. The huge inglenook fireplace looks almost out of place in this cosy space, and there’s an amount of clutter that would give minimalist types heart failure.

Three 1950s Gaskell & Chambers hand pumps dispense well kept beers from the local Hobson’s Brewery plus Butcombe Bitter and a real cider (from Weston’s). The beer seems almost an aside as you gaze around the room wondering just how a place like this could still exist in the modern world. “We

knocked through to the other room in the early 1980s,” explained Sue as I craned my neck around the serving hatch. “So, are you busy?” seemed an almost impolite question. “Oh yes”, said Sue, “we have something on most nights – Sunday is music night, Monday is art night, Sir Nicholas (Lechmere) comes every Tuesday to wind the church clock and is joined by the Clock Winding Club, Wednesday is choir and badminton, and the men from the cricket club come on a Thursday.” The pub also receives visitors from all over the country at weekends.

Nell’s Lounge is next door, accessed by going back outside and through a side door. There’s considerably more space here with another inglenook, hop decorated bar with a couple more guest beers, antique settles and a range of reading material along with more local memorabilia. At over 90 years of age, Mr Negus was enjoying his daily pint while playfully extolling the virtues of rival pubs in nearby upton.

Not surprisingly the pub is listed in Camra’s National Inventory of Historical Interiors, winning the local Pub of the Year as recently as 2015, and the National Pub of the Year in 1993. Opening times are 12-3pm and 7-11pm daily (10.30pm on Sundays). Quiz nights are held quarterly, and the annual beer festival is held in November.

Chris Shilling

Willoughby Arms

The

Little Bytham

A 150 year-old beamed traditional stone country inn, situated in the pretty village of Little Bytham between Stamford and Grantham. Originally the booking office and waiting room for Lord Willoughby's private railway, the inn enjoys stunning countryside views from the large beer garden

Open All day from 12 noon

Free House with 6 real ales plus 1 real cider (Cask Marque accredited for 10 years) Tasty Home cooked food served every lunchtime and evening Open Fires 7 four-star letting bedrooms

Station Rd, Little Bytham, Grantham, Lincs NG33 4RA Tel: 01780 410276 www.willoughbyarms.co.uk

the Woolpack stanground's Best Kept secret Peterborough Camra Pub of the Year nNow open all day every day from 12 noon nup to four real ales available nFood served Mon-Sat 12-2pm and 6-8pm, Sunday roast 12-3pm nLarge riverside beer garden nQuiz every Sunday eve (cash prizes) A 15 minute walk from the centre of town

new Year’s eve - 60s, 70s and 80s night bring your own Vinyl! Fancy dress optional Prize for funniest and best

North street, stanground, Peterborough PE2 8HR (01733) 753544

THE LiON ROARs! The Lion at Ramsey St Mary's is open again Opening Hours: 4-11pm Mon-Wed, 12-11pm Fri-Sun

A pub of many parts – Good for locals, good for real ale, good for diners and good for music lovers Bar snacks, bar meals, pub meals and gourmet meals served Function room for 150 for hire Live music events, comedy, drama and "Evenings with" during 2018 Folk and Beer Festival scheduled for June 2018

See our Facebook page for details: @thelionramsey or email Lion-Ramsey@hotmail.com

THE LION, HERNE ROAD, RAMSEY ST MARY'S, HuNTINGDON PE26 2TB

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

Prince of Wales 99-101 Willesden Lane Kilburn London NW6 7SD 020 7624 9161 Opening Doctor Who’s 25th season, 1988’s Remembrance of the Daleks is considered one of the show’s greatest stories and certainly the peak of Sylvester McCoy’s tenure as The Doctor.

Celebrating the programmes origins and adding a whole new layer of intrigue, it brings the Daleks’ civil war to the streets of London 1963 and features a couple of pubs in shot.

I covered the King’s Arms, Waterloo in issue 23 but with the Grade II-listed Hope & Anchor at Hammersmith now used solely as a filming location – it was recently used in

Netflix’s The Crown – it looked as if I’d run out of pubs from this story to visit. Then on the umpteenth rewatch of the DVD, I decided to look at the story’s locations on Google Streetview.

Next to Paddington Old Cemetery, where several scenes in the story are set, is The Prince of Wales. During a fight scene between two human agents for the rival Dalek factions (one of which is played by Grange Hill’s Michael Sheard), it’s possible to spot one of the pub’s pediments, featuring the Prince of Wales’ feathers, and a red-brick chimney. This warranted further investigation and not only does the pub’s external plasterwork include a bas relief bust of the future Edward VII, its etched glass and wood-panelled partitions mean that it is recognised by Camra as “a pub

with a regionally important historic interior”.

As a traditionally Irish part of London, the demand for Guinness means that few pubs in Kilburn serve real ale and the Heineken-owned Prince of Wales is no exception. However, those wanting something better than John Smith’s or Fosters will be relieved to find bottles of Zywiec, Sagres and Theakston Old Peculier in its fridge – the latter a pleasant surprise, especially at £3.50 a bottle.

Although the pub is a little tatty round the edges, it’s a community hub with friendly bar staff who are happy to talk to their customers. The place may not be perfect, just like Remembrance of the Daleks, but like that adventure, it’s plus points make it worth revisiting time and again.

Liam and Pat WeLcome You to

the hurdLer traditionaL StamFord LocaL

Open from 11am every day (till late at weekends)

Large enclosed Beer Garden with children's play equipment (available for hire for parties etc...)

We pride ourselves on our teams: Football (home of Stamford 'Bels'); Rugby (home of Stamford College Old Boys); Darts; Pool; Dominoes; Pushpenny; Crib; Outdoor Skittles - New players always welcome Everards Cask Ales from ÂŁ3, Stella Artois ÂŁ3.90 Fresh Pizzas from Wood-fired Pizza oven every THURSDAY (6-10pm) Saturdays - Live Music and Karaoke - see listings for details Sunday is multi-screen sports day Ample parking, Dog friendly

93, New Cross Rd, Stamford, Lincs PE9 1AL 01780 763428 / email patricia.ennis@hotmail.co.uk

Shaun & Helen welcome you to The Railway, Oakham's premier live music venue.

Bringing acts from far and wide to our dedicated performance space, Platform One @TheRailway.

Full PA & backline available for rehearsal, which we offer free of charge to bands wanting to use the room.

Follow us on Facebook & Twitter, visit www.therailwayoakham.co.uk or check the listings for further information.

Station Road, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6QU Tel: 01572 722015

by Cardinal Cox

Pub Scrawl

This year’s Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival will be over the weekend of 12-14 January. Rose Croft will be telling tales at the Methodist/united Reformed Church on the Saturday, and Poets united (who meet at the Key Theatre on the first Tuesday of the month from 10.30am) will be poeting at the Town Hall.

Peterborough Cathedral’s annual Katharine of Aragon Festival in January includes a talk on Anne Boleyn by historian and novelist Alison Weir on Friday 26 January at the Cathedral.

Then on Saturday 27 Lauren Mackay (also an author and historian) will be talking at the Central Library on Anne Boleyn’s father and brother.

It is about this time of year that word comes out of the annual laureate competitions for both the Fenland and Stamford. Keep your eyes open and good luck.

Regular Charters open mic night What the Thunder Said marks its first Birthday on Monday 8 January. The night is not just for poetry or stand-up, during the first year it has also provided a stage for magicians and an escapologist. Held on the second Monday of the month (so 12 February, 12 March etc) from around 8pm with a £10 bar tab for the most popular act of the evening (decided by vote, so bring your friends). university Centre Peterborough (alongside the Regional College) has re-started its series of literary events and on Thursday 22 February they host an evening with poets Peter Daniels and John Greening. The evening is free (though advisable

Alison Weir

to book a ticket through Eventbrite) and starts at 7pm.

I usually only get to mention Peterborough Theological Society once a year. The meeting on Wednesday 28 February is led

by Rev Canon Bill Croft (priest in charge of Bretton) who will be speaking on The Psalms in Israel’s Faith. The meeting starts at 7.30pm and is held at the Friends Meeting House on Thorpe Road, Peterborough (by Crescent Bridge) and tickets are £4.

As February is LBGTQI History Month, I thought I’d share a footnote that Peterborough played in the life of one poet. James Kirkup (1918-2009) was briefly notorious for his poem The Love That Dares to Speak Its Name, published in Gay News in 1977, that resulted in a successful prosecution for blasphemous libel. James was born and brought up in South Shields but lived around the world, including 30 years in Japan where he taught English Literature at

universities. In 1955 he co-wrote (music was by Roy Teed) upon this Rock, a history of Peterborough Cathedral, as that year they were marking the 1,300th anniversary of the founding of the initial monastery.

I wonder if any older readers of this magazine took part in the production?

The next King’s Lynn Fiction Festival is to be held over the weekend of 16-18 March and will include Peter Benson, Rachel Crowther, Guinevere Glasford and Mark Illis.

Stamford Poetry Festival is coming up in April with Lemn Sissay on Wednesday 11, a play about Dylan Thomas on Thursday 12, Ash Dickinson and Grace Savage on Friday 13 plus Roger McGough (and band) on Saturday 14.

At the end of last year Cardinal Cox appeared in a burlesque night inspired by the Rocky Horror Show, and had a short play performed in Streatham, London.

R AiLROViNG s &s LEAFORD

With easy access from Peterborough by East Midlands Trains, it’s possible to do two towns in a day at a reasonable price. The standard off-peak return fare to Sleaford is £15.80, and you’re free to break your journey as you wish. The last train back from Sleaford is an unreasonably early 16.34, but trains shuttle back and forth between Peterborough and Spalding later and more frequently (last train 21.03) so it’s best to do Sleaford first The 9.35 service arrives at Sleaford at 10.20, and the town is easily reached along Southgate.

Although the nearest pub – the Beer & Bean – is currently closed, a quick left turn into

PALDiNG

Watergate brings you to the Legionnaires Club – not on our original list but worth a look, we thought. A quick press of the door buzzer gained us access to this traditional but large club with an upstairs function room, which had just opened for the day. Regulars were already playing pool, darts and snooker as we ordered the one real ale available – Inferno from Oakham Ales (other regulars it seems are Everards Sunbeam and Old Speckled Hen). It’s £1 for temporary membership, but beer is then available for between £2.65 and £2.95. Across the road the Rose & Crown was also awaiting reopening after a long period of closure, apparently

The former Bass Maltings, sleaford

with a foody theme.

As Southgate becomes Northgate, the JD Wetherspoonowned Packhorse comes into view, an agreeable 18th century coaching inn once known as the Lion Hotel, which always provides a warm welcome and usually appears busy from opening time at 8am. Real ales are usually available at prices from £1.99-£2.49, with guest beers from Hanlon’s, Shepherd Neame and Grantham’s Newby Wyke breweries on our visit.

Further along Northgate, we were afforded another friendly welcome at the Marquis of Granby. Manager Steve Shuckworth was keen to show us his well kept Abbot Ale,

Doom Bar, London Pride and a local guest available from 10.30am at just £2.60 a pint.

Budget price accommodation is available here (from just £42 including breakfast) and there’s a sizeable restaurant/bar (‘Stables’) and car park at the rear – an absolute godsend in this congested town. Part of a group that includes the Beer & Bean, and Electra bars in the town, the pub is popular with sports fans, with Sky and BT Sports events shown on several screens including a large pull-down screen in the restaurant.

Into the Market Square, the Solo Bar is not, as I assumed, anything to do with marital status, but named after the card game which was originally played here. Early birds will like the 9am opening here, but beer lovers may not get too excited over the range of Ruddles, Doom Bar and Bombardier (£3.10). The recently opened Toro restaurant opposite appeared to not be open at lunchtime, so we followed the road around to Carre Street to the Barge & Bottle – styled on the JDW theme with open spaces, and busy with diners enjoying reasonably priced food from 9am. Six beers were offered from Wychwood, Greene

King, Hobsons and Fullers. At the junction of Carre Street and Boston Road, is a former Greene King pub, now a free house – the White Horse. Open all day from 11am, this is a traditional boozer with pool, darts and dominoes teams and monthly live music. Well kept Bombardier available on permanently, with a seasonal Adnams brew and local the Horncastle brewery when we called. Following Boston Road back onto Southgate, the Bull & Dog is also open all day,

but the recently opened Bar 51 (formerly the Grapes) looked more tempting. “Eat Drink and Sleep” is the theme here – the rear of the pub is now a B&B, and the small front bar offers two local real ales (eg Oldershaw and Brewsters) as well as three craft kegs and a couple of ciders.

There was just time before the train to Spalding to dive into the Carre Arms, just beyond the railway crossing on Mareham Lane, but beware – if you go it

4 3

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8

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Key 1. The Legionnaires Club 2. Rose & Crown 3. Packhorse 4. Marquis of Granby 5. Solo Bar 6. Barge & Bottle 7. White Horse 8. Bull & Dog 9. Bar 51 10. Carre Arms

Priors Oven

The White Horse alone and gates come down while you’re in there, you’re effectively cut off from the station access, so you may be waving goodbye to your buddies from the wrong side of the tracks. At room rates from £60, this comfortable Good Beer Guide listed hotel is a handy base if you’re looking to make a stay of it. Three real ales are usually available (local where possible) and there’s live jazz at weekends. If time allows, it’s worth the five-minute walk further along the lane to view the vast former Bass Maltings which dominate the view as you arrive by train. Once the uK’s largest but disused since

1976, the listed buildings still present an impressive site waiting for a decision on their future use.

A swift 20-minute ride to Spalding, and the prospect of two pubs at the end of the station approach soon leads to disappointment – the former Station Gates is now a European supermarket and Mulberry’s at the Chequers is not open during the daytime. A left turn into Sheepmarket soon brings you to the Pied Calf – a popular town centre Greene King house, open from 11am. It’s family friendly and usually busy with diners, but there’s BT and Sky Sports and three decent beers in the shape

After eight years of closure, the former Golden Ball, on the south-eastern edge of Spalding has reopened as the Water’s Edge. Bob Hall and his wife, Mandy, have done much of the work restoring this free house to former glories. The old car park has been built upon, but parking

is available along the riverbank.

Open daily from 12 noon, three real ales are available – London Pride, Landlord and St Austell Tribute, and food will be offered from April. Occasional live music will eventually feature including from the landlord himself, whose repertoire includes Elvis, Sinatra and Jim Reeves. The pub can be found close to the Little London service station at 8 River Bank, Spalding PE11 3AA.

of IPA, London Glory and a seasonal guest. Directly opposite is the Priors Oven – opened in 2013 Lincolnshire’s first micropub, so named due to its shape, the medieval building is reputed to have an underground passage to the former priory, for which it once acted as a correctional facility. A favourite with the local real ale fraternity (and Fenland Camra’s Pub of the Year in 2016) , there’s a single room downstairs with a good range of changing beers mainly from local micros. A spiral staircase leads to an upstairs function room, which has recently been converted to a gin lounge.

Into New Road, Bentley’s (formerly the Bass House), is more of a restaurant these days, so we headed on past the Black Swan, to the Ivy Wall – a former garage and now a rather unassuming JD Wetherspoon house. That said, it’s comfortable and very popular, with the usual variety of cut-price beers and pub grub. Across the road, the Punchbowl did not present a welcoming sight, so we followed Westlode Street, past the Regent Bingo Club to the Ship Albion.

the Geest organisation, this once bustling pub has reinvented itself as a pub/restaurant with a large eating area behind the small front bar. A sister pub to the Old Pheasant at Glaston, near uppingham, it’s still popular, voted best pub by readers of the local newspaper, and offering well-kept Pedigree and Doom Bar. Across bridge over the River Welland in Commercial St, the Moorings (formely the Anchor) has been revitalised by Keir Moore as a pleasant waterside venue with a couple of real ales (from Greene King), complete with decking overlooking the river and, as the name suggests, it’s own mooring facility. It’s open all day from 11.30am, and Keir, formerly at the White Horse, deserves credit for his efforts, receiving an award for business innovation and customer care.

Back towards the town centre and across the river on Double Street, the attractive Lincolnshire Poacher cannot be missed. Once the Saxon King, this spacious multi-roomed pub features attractive décor, real fires, a large restaurant area and live entertainment. The choice of real ales did not however match the surroundings, with just Doom Bar available when we visited.

From here you can see Ye Olde White Horse, just off the Town Bridge – a beautiful Samuel Smith pub dating from the 17th century. Real fires provide a warm welcome, matched by the pleasant staff, and for those on a budget the sole real ale, Old Brewery Bitter, can be enjoyed for a mere £2 per pint.

With time ticking, a brief visit was made to the Lincoln Arms, just across the bridge, ably run Key 1. Pied Calf 2. Priors Oven 3. Bentley’s 4. Black Swan 5. The Ivy Wall 6. Punchbowl 7. Ship Albion

by the Amanda Czura, with darts, pool and crib teams, real ales from Marston’s and filled rolls from just £1 apiece.

Final call was the Red Lion Hotel in the Market Place where we met owner Nigel Wilkins, who was keen to give us the history of the place – famous 50 years ago as the choice of hotel for Jimi Hendrix, in town to perform at the legendary Barbecue ‘67 festival.

Open all day from 9am, this traditional hotel is popular with drinkers, and offers rooms from £60, well-kept beers from Bass, Wells and Greene King. The rear half of the building is now a Goan/Indian restaurant – 1498, The Spice Affair. A fine way to end the day. The station can be reached from there in around five minutes.

Chris Shilling

8. Moorings 9. Lincolnshire Poacher 10.Ye Olde White Horse 11. Lincoln Arms 12 .Red Lion Hotel 7 7

4 3 1 2

5 6

12 9

11

10

8

Photographs Owen Hayward

a Footplate of bacon

Over the years, I have been privileged to eat at places usually out of bounds to the public. I’ve dined in both houses of parliament, ate sausage and mash (and drank more than a few light ales) at the mayor of Peterborough’s table and even enjoyed a buffet at the top of the BT Tower.

But if there’s one dream dining location that has eluded me until now, it’s on the footplate of a steam locomotive, eating breakfast cooked over the coals on a fireman’s shovel. I would think that more breakfasts “on the shovel” have been cooked in preservation than they ever did in the days of main line steam; however Bill Dale, who started his railway career at Stratford Motive Power Depot just prior

to dieselisation, remembers a trick played on him as a young fireman. “One morning, I’d taken some bacon and eggs with me to cook on the shovel. Just as I went to dish them up, my driver increased the blast and they were sucked up through the chimney.”

Bill is chairman of the Epping Ongar Railway Volunteer Society, the group that helps run the six and a half mile long Epping Ongar Railway (EOR), the destination for my footplate fry-up. Once part of the London underground, the gap between the Central Line at Epping and the EOR’s North Weald station is currently bridged by a heritage bus service (there are plans to build a station closer to Epping) on events days but first I paid a

visit to Church’s Butchers on Epping’s High Street for supplies.

Established in 1888, Church’s is renowned for its Old Epping sausage, a pork sausage flavoured with locally grown sage.

Nowadays the mixture is packed

into casings and left to mature for a couple of days but in the past were skinless and featured beef suet in the recipe. I bought 1lb of these, half a dozen eggs and ½lb of unsmoked back bacon – after all, they’d be getting smoked in the loco – and then grabbed a loaf of bread from a nearby bakery before catching the Routemaster to North Weald.

Arriving at the station, which is decorated as it would have been while part of the LNER, I met Alexandra Wilde, one of the many dedicated volunteers, the

person who arranged my culinary excursion. She introduced me to her husband, Bob Gillman, a fireman on the railway and until retirement a signalman on the London underground, who was waiting on the station’s bay road on board Jennifer – the Hudswell Clarke tank engine where breakfast was to be prepared.

A few gulps of sunflower oil were added to the shovel and heated up, before putting half of the sausages on. They cooked really well, if a little longer than expected, and by the end, Bob,

Owen Hayward – editor of the Railway’s Mixed Traffic journal and my photographer for the day – chief mechanical engineer Tony Goulding and I had a sausage sandwich each.

After adding a little more coal, Bob held the shovel out for me to add a couple of rashers of bacon and in they went to cook.

When they were nearly ready, I cracked an egg onto the shovel and when cooked had the first bacon and egg sandwich. In all, it took about an hour to cook all of our ingredients, but then breakfast on the shovel was never meant to cater for large groups.

Saying that, a few years back, staff at the National Railway Museum managed to cook an entire Christmas dinner on a locomotive to say thank you to their volunteers. They wrapped the turkey in foil and roasted it in the smokebox. When it comes to cooking food in this way, the possibilities are endless, and I can’t help thinking that heritage railways are missing a trick on their dining trains.

For further information on the Epping Ongar Railway, which runs a beer festival every July, call 01277 365200. or visit www.eorailway.co.uk

LiStingS

30 December Cosmic Rodney, Golden Fleece, Stamford

31 December New Year’s Eve Party with Piper, Nibbles and Disco, Shoulder of Mutton, Weldon Los Cojones, Grainstore, Oakham New Year’s Eve Party - Tallawah + DJ Alice Johnson (10pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Mark Bishop, Masons Arms, Bourne Matt Bankhurst, Golden Fleece, Stamford 60s, 70s and 80s Night, Woolpack, Stamford 02 January Acoustic Backroom (8pm), Millstone, Barnack Open Mic (8.30pm), Crown, Peterborough 03 January Big Fun Quiz (8pm), Grainstore, Oakham 04 January Voodoo Acoustic (8pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford

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05 January Salmanazar, Stamford Arts Centre Karaoke Night (9pm), Jubilee Garage, Bourne Mug Jugglers, Masons Arms, Bourne No Way Out, Golden Fleece, Stamford Acoustic Night, London Inn, Stamford Guest DJ, The Stage, Market Deeping Revolver, Yard of Ale, Woodston 06 January Limehouse Lizzy, Stamford Corn Exchange Velocity, Ploughman, Werrington Indie Night with DJ Anthony Thornhill (9pm) Charters, Peterborough Saturday Night Groove (9pm) The Brewery Tap, Peterborough Lee Robertshaw, Puzzles?, Peterborough

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Silent Disco (9pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Loose Rocket, Masons Arms, Bourne Eyes Wide Open, Golden Fleece, Stamford Overdubs, London Inn, Stamford Phoenix, The Stage, Market Deeping John Quinn, Yard of Ale, Woodston 07 January Oakham Mic Night (6pm) The Brewery Tap, Peterborough Pennyless with Appalachian Dancers (4-6pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Quiz, Masons Arms, Bourne 08 January Song Writers’ Evening (8pm) Boat, Whittlesey Stacy’s Open Mic (9pm), Blue Bell, Werrington What the Thunder Said! Spoken Word Open Mic (8pm) Charters, Peterborough 10 January Backroom Acoustic Sessions (8pm), Railway, Ramsey Charity Quiz Night (8pm), Bustard Inn, South Rauceby 11 January General Knowledge Quiz (8pm) Charters, Peterborough Live Streamed Open Mic, Puzzles?, Peterborough Quiz, Bar 51, Sleaford 12 January Antoine, Masons Arms, Bourne Blues Club, The Railway, Oakham Cuttin’ Loose, Golden Fleece, Stamford Chuck Norris Experience, London Inn, Stamford Guest DJ, The Stage, Market Deeping PuZZFEST: 1st Birthday Celebrations, Puzzles?, Peterborough Black Rose, Yard of Ale, Woodston 13 January Strawbear After Party (5-7.30pm), Falcon Hotel, Whittlesey Live Band The Audios (9.30pm), Jubilee Garage, Bourne Last Minute Brigade, Ploughman, Werrington What the Funk! (9pm) Charters,

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Tori Lamour + House Of Ghosts + Hot One Two (8.30pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Brothers Grimm, Masons Arms, Bourne Freudian Slippers, The Railway, Oakham Stone Pony, Golden Fleece, Stamford Leon, London Inn, Stamford Crossfire, The Stage, Market Deeping PuZZFEST: 1st Birthday Celebrations, Puzzles?, Peterborough Bowie Charity Night, Yard of Ale, Woodston 14 January Bon Rogers (3pm) Charters, Peterborough Sunday Session: Poor Boy (4pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford PuZZFEST: 1st Birthday Celebrations, Puzzles?, Peterborough 16 January Open Mic Night (8.45pm), Boat, Whittlesey 18 January Psychic Evening (Tickets £7.50, call 01733 203333), Nag’s Head, Eastrea General Knowledge Quiz (8pm) Charters, Peterborough Live Streamed Open Mic, Puzzles?, Peterborough 19 January Vinyl Night (8pm) Charters, Peterborough Jam Root + Nick Corney & the Buzzrats (8.30pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Leftovas, Masons Arms, Bourne Carpark Rendezvous, Golden Fleece, Stamford Open Mic, London Inn, Stamford Guest DJ, The Stage, Market Deeping Retrolux, Yard of Ale, Woodston 20 January Steve Jay, Nag’s Head, Eastrea Bootleg Abba, Stamford Corn Exchange Doctor Busker (8pm), Shoulder of Mutton, Weldon The Returns, Ploughman, Werrington Off The Cuff (Northern, Motown & Classic Soul, 9pm) Charters, Peterborough Saturday Night Groove (9pm) The Brewery Tap, Peterborough Dan Poole, Puzzles?, Peterborough

Dean & Co, Masons Arms, Bourne Charity Race Night, The Railway, Oakham Subway 77, Golden Fleece, Stamford Blackout uK, London Inn, Stamford Hayz, The Stage, Market Deeping 21 January Dave Smith (3pm) Charters, Peterborough Sunday Session: Oakleas Rise (4pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Quiz, Masons Arms, Bourne 22 January Open Mic Taster Session (8pm), Sportsman Bar, Chatteris 24 January Backroom Acoustic Sessions (8pm), Railway, Ramsey 25 January General Knowledge Quiz (8pm) Charters, Peterborough Live Streamed Open Mic, Puzzles?, Peterborough Funhouse Comedy – Christian Reilly (6.15pm), Grainstore, Oakham Burns Night Event, Bar 51, Sleaford 26 January Whisky Bar Acoustic Sessions (8.30pm), Boat, Whittlesey Chris Helme, Stamford Arts Centre (Cellar Bar) Burns Supper Night, Rose & Crown, Thorney Halo, Ploughman, Werrington Third Stone from the Sun (10.30pm) Charters, Peterborough The Brown Stripes Live (10pm) The Brewery Tap, Peterborough Antoine, Masons Arms, Bourne Blues Club, The Railway, Oakham New Gen Crash & Burn (8.45pm), Nag’s Head, Eastrea Little Big Band, Golden Fleece, Stamford DJ, London Inn, Stamford Guest DJ, The Stage, Market Deeping 27 January JLM Karaoke, Nag’s Head, Eastrea Frankie’s Guys: A Celebration of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Stamford Corn Exchange Crossfire (9.30pm), Jubilee Garage, Bourne

Revolver, Ploughman, Werrington Alvin Printwhistle sings Elvis (7.30pm), Millstone Inn Barnack Heavy Crates (9pm) Charters, Peterborough The Get Down (9pm) The Brewery Tap, Peterborough Jimmy Doherty, Puzzles?, Peterborough DJ Neil, Masons Arms, Bourne Jack solo acoustic, The Railway, Oakham JLM Karaoke (8.45pm), Nag’s Head, Eastrea Lost & Sound, Golden Fleece, Stamford Dirty Rumour, London Inn, Stamford Leon, The Stage, Market Deeping 28 January Ian & Kat (3pm) Charters, Peterborough Sunday Session: Helen Smith (4pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Open Mic (3pm), Bar 51, Sleaford 30 January Open Mic (8pm), Blue Boar, Eye 31 January Tony Giles All Stars (8pm), Bustard Inn, South Rauceby 01 February Voodoo Acoustic (8pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford General Knowledge Quiz (8pm) Charters, Peterborough Chantel Mcgregor & Guest, Stamford Corn Exchange Live Streamed Open Mic, Puzzles?, Peterborough Warren Bailey psychic night, Railway, Oakham 02 February Karaoke Night (9pm), Jubilee Garage, Bourne Mighty Persuaders, Ploughman, Werrington Last Minute Brigade (10.30pm) Charters, Peterborough Mark Rowlands, Puzzles?, Peterborough Revolver, Masons Arms, Bourne No Relevance, Golden Fleece, Stamford Acoustic Night, London Inn, Stamford Guest DJ, The Stage, Market Deeping Tammy, Nag’s Head, Eastree 03 February Tiger Club, Ploughman, Werrington

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Indie Night with DJ Anthony Thornhill (9pm) Charters, Peterborough Saturday Night Groove (9pm) The Brewery Tap, Peterborough Steptoe & Son, Stamford Corn Exchange Catatonic, Black Bull, Kirton Meg McPartlin, Puzzles?, Peterborough Dirty Rumour (8.30pm), Grainstore, Oakham Nick Glover, Masons Arms, Bourne Filthy Contact. , The Railway, Oakham Blackout uK, Golden Fleece, Stamford Donuts, London Inn, Stamford Cuttin’ Loose, The Stage, Market Deeping 04 February Jordan Poole (3pm) Charters, Peterborough Oakham Mic (6pm) The Brewery Tap, Peterborough Pennyless (4-6pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford Quiz, Masons Arms, Bourne Keith Luckey (3pm), Frothblowers, Werrington 06 February Acoustic Backroom (8pm), Millstone, Barnack Open Mic (8.30pm), Crown, Peterborough 07 February Quiz Night (8pm), Bustard Inn, South Rauceby Big Fun Quiz (8pm), Grainstore, Oakham 08 February General Knowledge Quiz (8pm) Charters, Peterborough Live Streamed Open Mic, Puzzles?, Peterborough 09 February Graham Fellows: Completely Out of Character, Stamford Arts Centre (Theatre) The Acoustic Strawbs, Stamford Arts Centre (Ballroom) Halo (9.30pm), Jubilee Garage, Bourne Flashback Photograph (10.30pm) Charters, Peterborough Mark Bishop, Masons Arms, Bourne Circa ‘73, Golden Fleece, Stamford Guest DJ, The Stage, Market Deeping 10 February What the Funk! (9pm) Charters, Peterborough Saturday Night Groove (9pm) The Brewery Tap,

Peterborough The ELO Experience, Stamford Corn Exchange Soulstrip, Black Bull, Kirton Jack Little, Puzzles?, Peterborough Splinter Group, Masons Arms, Bourne Late Show, Golden Fleece, Stamford Guards, London Inn, Stamford One for the Road, The Stage, Market Deeping 11 February Jimmy Doherty (3pm) Charters, Peterborough A Tribute to Barry White, Stamford Corn Exchange James Wood, Puzzles?, Peterborough 12 February Song Writers’ Evening (8pm) Boat, Whittlesey Stacy’s Open Mic (9pm), Blue Bell, Werrington What the Thunder Said! (8pm) Charters, Peterborough 14 February Backroom Acoustic Sessions (8pm), Railway, Ramsey Valentine’s Candlelit Dinner, Rose & Crown, Thorney Valentine’s Evening, Bustard Inn, South Rauceby 15 February General Knowledge Quiz (8pm) Charters, Peterborough Live Streamed Open Mic, Puzzles?, Peterborough 16 February Valentine’s Candlelit Dinner, Rose & Crown, Thorney Jimmy Doherty solo acoustic, Ploughman, Werrington Blackout uK (10.30pm) Charters, Peterborough Rich Hall’s Hoedown, Stamford Corn Exchange Tina Wynters, White Horse, Sleaford Leftovas, Masons Arms, Bourne Chuck Norris Experience, Golden Fleece, Stamford Open Mic, London Inn, Stamford Guest DJ, The Stage, Market Deeping The 50s & 60s Spectacular: Gerry & the Pacemakers, Brian Poole’s the Tremeloes,Vanity Fair and Sounds Force 5, Cresset, Bretton

17 February Indigo (9.30pm), Jubilee Garage, Bourne Tumbling Dice, Ploughman, Werrington Off The Cuff (9pm) Charters, Peterborough Saturday Night Groove (9pm) The Brewery Tap, Peterborough Stuck With Nothing, Black Bull, Kirton Loae, Puzzles?, Peterborough Dom Brister, Masons Arms, Bourne Miscellaneous, Golden Fleece, Stamford Halo, London Inn, Stamford Strellies, The Stage, Market Deeping JLM Karaoke, Nag’s Head, Eastrea 18 February Matty Haynes (3pm) Charters, Peterborough Lee Joshua Rose, Puzzles?, Peterborough Quiz, Masons Arms, Bourne 20 February Open Mic Night (8.45pm), Boat, Whittlesey 22 February General Knowledge Quiz (8pm) Charters, Peterborough The Band of the Royal Marines, Stamford Corn Exchange Live Streamed Open Mic, Puzzles?, Peterborough Funhouse Comedy – Gary Delaney (6.15pm), Grainstore, Oakham 23 February Whisky Bar Acoustic Sessions (8.30pm), Boat, Whittlesey Blowzabella, Stamford Arts Centre Loose Rocket, Ploughman, Werrington The Dizzy Miss Lizzys (10.30pm) Charters, Peterborough Aladdinsane, Stamford Corn Exchange Antoine, Masons Arms, Bourne Kickback, Golden Fleece, Stamford Guest DJ, The Stage, Market Deeping 24 February The Eel Grinders, Northwick Arms, Ketton Carpark Rendezvous, Ploughman, Werrington Heavy Crates (9pm) Charters, Peterborough The Get Down (9pm) The Brewery Tap, Peterborough Rocket, Black Bull, Kirton The Tinderbox, Puzzles?, Peterborough

Brothers Grimm, Masons Arms, Bourne Great Pretenders, Golden Fleece, Stamford Hooker, London Inn, Stamford Audios, The Stage, Market Deeping Rock’n’Roll Disco, Nag’s Head, Eastrea 25 February Meg McPartlin (3pm) Charters, Peterborough Tom Wright, Puzzles?, Peterborough Sunday Session: Epigone Jazz (4pm), Mama Liz’s, Stamford 27 February Open Mic (8pm), Blue Boar, Eye 28 February Backroom Acoustic Sessions (8pm), Railway, Ramsey Tony Giles All Stars (8pm), Bustard Inn, South Rauceby 07-10 10th March Leicester Beer Festival 2018, Haymarket Theatre, Leicester - For further details see leicester.camra.org.uk/beer-festivals

Rhythm & Booze, Issue 47 January/February 2018 All written material, unless otherwise stated, © Simon Stabler All events are listed free of charge. To ensure inclusion in the March/April 2018 issue, or have any other news included in the magazine, email simonstabler@aol.com by 9 February. Entry cannot be guaranteed for late submissions.

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

Advertising Rates (excluding VAT)* £190 - full page (cover) £160 - full page £100 - half page £60 - quarter page * Discounts for series bookings.

Thank you to Richard Howes, Tony Shilling, Wally Barnes, David Brown and Cardinal Pete Cox for their help in compiling this issue.

REVIEWS Gin Festival, 17-18 November @ Peterborough Cathedral

The touring Gin Festival, which started in 2013, tours the country bringing gin fuelled wonderment to iconic buildings wherever they go. In return for the price of a ticket, you get a glass waiting for ice and tonic and a guide to the selection on offer, at Peterborough this was 65, plus the extras at the boutique bar, and the cocktails available at the cocktail bar, a few craft beers and three fast food stalls.

To pay for your drinks you top up your wrist band and this is debited at the bars, all gins were £5 (cocktails £10) so no fiddly change to delay the folks dispensing the spirit.

There was also live musical accompaniment and distilleries giving talks about their products (complete with taster samples); I went to the talk given by Bernadette from Tinker Gin of Yorkshire who briefly took us through the history of gin; from Dutch courage, through to gin palaces and the pioneering work of the Sixsmith Brothers.

Later I chatted with the distillers from Two Birds Spirits of Market Harborough and other local-ish gins at the festival included Pinkster from Cambridge and St Giles of Norwich. From further away I had a glass of Kalevala Gin from Finland in honour of my visit

there last summer.

We have to acknowledge that some people will have been upset by the idea of a gin festival being held in the Cathedral.

When I first heard it was to be held there I wondered if it was appropriate. unfortunately the Cathedral is currently strapped for cash (hence the BMW promotion a while back) and I’m sure they would have been suitably recompensed for the hire. Hopefully the 1,500 people at each session behaved appropriately for such a venue; there were plenty of bouncers around to supervise. Peterborough is severely lacking in iconic buildings that might otherwise host this event. They wouldn’t fit upstairs in the Guildhall, the Lido is lacking a roof, Burghley House or Milton Hall are both too far from town centres. And maybe, if people had never been to such a beautiful place, they might come back.

The whole event was very professional, from the introductory talk from the lady who handed me my glass to the efficient service from the stall selling bottles to take away. If there was a gripe it might be that maybe there wasn’t enough toilets (though I hadn’t gone round hunting them out and the only block I visited only had about four women queuing outside. So similar to a beer festival (alcohol being brought to the masses) but different in ways that they could learn from. As I write this they have events planned for London and York in February and Blackpool, Maidstone and Manchester in March (Further details at www.ginfestival.com).

Cardinal Cox

Unusual Pubs By Boot, Bike and Boat

By Bob Barton, Halsgrove, hardback, £16.99 Having already invited us to enjoy hostelries we could visit by train in Unusual Railway Pubs from the same publisher, Bob Barton now extends his search area to another 150 extraordinary licensed premises to visit around Britain, which we can walk, pedal or navigate to.

To try and get us to frequent their particular premises, many pubs are eager to point out their unique selling points and I have visited more than one claiming to be the “smallest pub” including The Nutshell in Bury St Edmunds. Even locating bars in former underground lavatories seems to be a trend today. Inns located by canals and rivers hark back to the need for refreshment in the days of backbreaking toil by workmen and now cater for today's leisure boating folk.

Special mention goes to the Canal House in Nottingham which actually has canal boats inside rather than moored outside, while at Peterborough we can drink at Charters on the River Nene. Cycling or walking between pubs would of course guarantee working up a thirst, though cyclists might well end up pushing their bikes if they got too refreshed. It would be difficult to judge if you’d had too much when faced with The Crooked House at Himley, Staffordshire, where the building tilts at an angle of 15 degrees.

David Brown

The Square Join us at our town centre pub and Thai restaurant (formerly the Stone Loach)

Free Pool Tuesdays w Friendly Welcome w FREE Jukebox Friday & Saturday

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The Mason's Arms Enjoy our welcoming real fire

Live Entertainment 31/12 Mark Bishop 5/1 Mug Jugglers 2/2 Revolver 6/1 Loose Rocket 3/2 Nick Glover 12/1 Antoine 9/2 Mark Bishop 13/1 Brothers Grimm 10/2 Splinter Group 19/1 Leftovas 16/2 Leftovas 20/1 Dean & Co 17/2 Dom Brister 26/1 Antoine 23/2 Antoine 27/1 DJ Neil 24/2 Brothers Grimm

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Visit our sister pub in Spalding The Black Swan, 12 New Street Regular Live music, good beer and a friendly welcome from Sean and the Staff

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