ROVING ROW’S REVIEW beautiful Christmas tree completed the scene. A perfectly-behaved handsome Labrador settled nicely with his owners. The bar has a comfy, old-school pub feel, fairly small but attractively stocked. The ales on offer were Nene Valley’s Dick’s Extraordinary Beer (4.6%), which was my favourite – dark amber, full-bodied and easy on the throat, and Grainstore’s winter ruby red, Three Kings (4.3%) – amber and rather “overbitter”. Emily greeted us warmly and talked us through the ales, which are changed weekly. The choices are very much customer-led, with plenty of useful input from regulars. We had booked a heated outside spot for our lunch, but Emily went over and above to find us a table inside, near the bar. We made our selection from a wide-ranging menu – a tasting plate of warm (yes! And delicious) Scotch eggs with perfect runny yolks, mini pasties with crumbly pastry and hot beef chilli nachos with chunky, succulent beef. Perfect portions, too, for a light lunch. An old family favourite, a visit to Stamford’s Bull and Swan at Burghley was a “must”. It has probably been 40 years since the last time we were there. Our family dined royally in the pub almost every night for a few weeks, courtesy of our insurance company following some subsidence in our house at Barnack, which necessitated a new kitchen. Particularly memorable was the seafood platter, which was on the menu then, and steak and chips – to say nothing of the Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery bitter! All those years later, as we walked in on a gloomy November Saturday afternoon, we were welcomed with cosy candlelit fireplaces and snug dining areas. The pub was buzzing with chatter and music, adorned with classy festive decorations, and a Visit our website for up-to-date news: www.peterborough.camra.org.uk
As we took in our surroundings, we noticed a plaque honouring “The Honourable Order Of Little Bedlam”, which was a drinking club set up in 1864 by the fifth Earl of Exeter from neighbouring Burghley House. The members met at the pub and were all given names of animals ; for instance, the fifth Earl was “Lion” and his brothers William and Charles were “Panther” and “Bull” respectively. Several portraits of the various members can be seen at Burghley House, and they may also have dined at the Bull and Swan, so we were in good company! A thoroughly enjoyable experience, thank you. We will be back soon. Row and Gareth FEBRUARY/MARCH 2022
BEER AROUND ‘ERE
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