rhythm and booze BACK IN BLACK Food, Booze, Bands & News - Issue 7 - May/June 2011
Saved from the wrecking ball: The Black Swan, Farcet pictured on the day it reopened. A village pub has been saved thanks to the actions of a local businessman. When Enterprise Inns decided to sell The Black Swan, Farcet there were fears that property developers – impressed by the ¾ of an acre of land that surrounds the building – would demolish it for housing.
Thankfully, David Rayner bought the freehold on the pub – the only one in the village – adding to a portfolio that includes Stilton Country Club and The Duck & Drake, Yaxley. Reopened on 15 April following a period of renovation, the public bar has been returned to the right hand
side; a move welcomed by everyone in attendance. Although there were problems in dispensing keg beers during the first session, the four real ales were served in perfect condition; something that landlord Ollie Potkins hopes to capitalise on, by organising a summer beer festival.
Eye-TV The Destructors Media Studies Peterborough’s productive Punks release their first album of 2011. Containing 12-tracks that mix politics and noise with dark humour, the band will have you singing along in no time at all. Out 23 May 2011
“Essential listening for zombies, vampires and punk rock fans alike!” - Art & Soul “Fast paced UK punk rock with a bit of snot and attitude added for good measure.” - TruePunk.com “Like Punk? You’ll like this!” - Suspect Device
BUY ONLINE or as a DOWNLOAD BY MAIL ORDER FROM METALONROCK.TV OR AS A DOWNLOAD FROM iTUNES/7DIGITAL
Old Trafford or bust? - by Standing on the Glebe’s Jamie Jones
Going up? Posh fans celebrate promotion in 2009. Will there be a repeat of this scene in 2011? Spring has well and truly sprung and the world at large starts to come out of the winter fog and feels happier with itself. But for football fans, this is the time when joy and pain sit next to each other at the bar swigging from each others pint. I write this with just five games league games left for Posh, and though my heart says we could still go up automatically, my head says it’s the play-offs. Not a day goes by at the moment without one of my mates sending me a predictions list of results for the rest of the season outlining well that will leave PUFC come the day of reckoning. One day I will point to our proud undefeated record in the play-offs, the next I will worry that it
is always the team that sneaks into the final play-off slot that wins them. Not only that, it is season ticket decision time. I didn’t renew for this season as I was still bloody haunted by the Championship relegation but now with Fergie back, leading us back to the promised land….Christ, I sound like Darragh now. In reality I know I will commit to PUFC again this year, filling the kitchen calendar with glamorous notes like “16th September, - can’t go to your cousin’s wedding as we have Scunthorpe @ home”, and annoying my nearest and dearest along the way. I know that I will get in a mood that will ruin a perfectly good Saturday night out because we conceded a last minute equaliser, or somehow for-
got to defend a corner on a long away trip. Doesn’t sound too appealing does it? It will of course, all seem brighter if we can make it back into the Championship with its nice new stadium and bigger crowds. The thought of another year in League One fills me with almost as much dread as it does George Boyd, but if it happens, it happens. Another pint of Yankee in the Swiss Cottage, sit down, have a moan, and it will all just fade into another year spent watching PUFC. For more of Jamie’s ramblings on PUFC, listen to Standing On The Glebe; the un-official Posh fans podcast can be downloaded for free every Monday from iTunes or www.standingontheglebe.co.uk
The Black Swan 77 Main Street Farcet Peterborough PE7 3DF 01733 243596
A Traditional Village Pub Heated Smoking Area Pool/Darts/Jukebox Real Ales From ÂŁ2.60 Bar Snacks Car Park
A Grand Day Out
Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0T No. 22, currently on loan to the Nene Valley Railway. Photo © Nene Valley Railway Wanting to do something different from the usual Sunday lunchtime trip to the local, while still having the chance to sample some fine ales, I felt that a journey aboard the Nene Valley Railway was in order. Accompanied by Allen, my regular drinking partner, we arrived at the Peterborough NVR station in good time for the first train of the day and went to buy our tickets. To allow the railway to gain its Gift Aid money in advance, it charges £14 for an adult rover ticket, giving the purchaser a £1.50 voucher in return which can be used in the shop, café or aboard the train. Waiting at the platform we heard the unmistakable sound of a steam locomotive; however looking up, I realised it wasn’t No. 73050 City of Peterborough - as the schedule had promised - but the smaller Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0T No. 22. Asking the guard why this was, he
told me that there was a problem with 73050’s boiler that he hoped would be resolved by the following weekend’s mixed traction gala. Aboard the train we sought out The Karl Mayes Bar, which is in a converted brake coach, named in memory an employee who died in his 30s. Serving Barnwell Bitter and March Hare at £2.80 a pint, this is definitely cheaper and tastier than you can find on a main line railway. Despite its name, Wansford station is just under two miles from the village itself so we had to walk along the A1, having got to the other side by crossing the Old Great North Road flyover. After a noisy walk and a fear that we were walking in the wrong direction, we found the sign for Wansford. Turning left and following the road to a junction at the end, we had
arrived in the village; a somewhat grand place with stone built cottages and a boutique selling the latest in Vivienne Westwood. Having needed a mortgage just to buy crisps the last time I was there, we decided against visiting The Haycock Hotel and made The Cross Keys our first port of call. Multi-roomed with low ceilings and Irish memorabilia on the walls, the pub was only serving one ale on our visit, Adnam’s Bitter, however the other pump had previously been offering Broadside. We decided to have lunch at The Paper Mills, which has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment and is now run by Monica King, who like Head Chef Dave Simms was formerly of The Black Horse, Elton. The pub was very busy and we were lucky to find anywhere to sit, (continued on page 9)
by Cardinal Cox
Pub Scrawl
Peterborough Festival starts the weekend of 25/26 June with the history weekend centred around the Cathedral. Expect people in historical costume and Poets United who will be reciting somewhere in the vicinity. During the festival Mark Grist should debut his new one-man show, Shetland Boy, so look out for more information about that. The festival ends the weekend of 9/10 July with events in Central Park, including a poetry tent. Poets United are also aiming to have a poetry trail around the park, as they did in 2008 and 2009. Pint of Poetry, Dash of Drama will be having their regular nights at Charters Bar on Wednesday 11 May and then 8 June. If you want to read, it is best to get there about 8pm as it can get quite busy, the entertainment starts around 8:30pm. Poetry Factory is back after its Christmas Break offering constructive criticism to writers and performers on the third Tuesday of the month at the PCVS building on Lincoln Road (roughly opposite the Geneva Bar). On Tuesday 17 May there is a special guest tutor Tim Clare (so book in advance), admission for that will cost £5. Then on 21 June it is just the usual circle, and admission for that is free. So take a couple of poems, pen and some paper and ring Pete Irving (current Bard of the Fens and last year’s John Clare Poetry Prize winner) on 01733 890537 for full details. Speakeasy is back at the Brewery Tap on Wednesday 25 May at 8pm, admission will be £4. Then on Wednesday 29 June, Speakeasy moves to the Key Theatre Studio for a Peterborough Festival show with headliner (and all-round good bloke) Richard Tyrone Jones. I’ve read at a few of his nights in London and can vouch for his ability. Plus, this night is free, so no excuses. John Clare Cottage in Helpston (next to the Blue Bell pub)
Author and poet Sam Stone will be signing copies of her latest book at Waterstone’s, Bridge Street on Saturday 14 May. Photo © David J Howe should shortly be announcing this year’s subject for the Annual Poetry Prize. For information go to the Clare Cottage website or email events@clarecottage.org Glamorous horror author and poet Sam Stone will be having a signing session at Waterstone’s, Bridge Street on Saturday 14 May. Sam has written the Vampire Gene trilogy and now has her Zombies of New York collection of short stories published. As a bonus, the illustrator for the Zombies book, Russell Morgan – an old friend of Peterborough SF Club - should
also be at the signing session. Poets United will be reading their work at The Wildlife Trust’s Ramsey Heights Countryside Centre (PE26 2RS) on Saturday 14 May as part of the Great Fen Project’s Family Heritage Day. For more details about the day (01487) 710420 or go to the website at: www.greatfen.org.uk/events Poets United meet on the first Tuesday of the month at the PCVS building on Lincoln Road from 8pm. For full details ring Viv on 01733 340560. Peterborough Libraries is hosting
another author event with John Boyne in the John Clare Theatre at the Central Library, Broadway, Peterborough on Thursday 19 May at 1pm. He is the author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which was made into a film, and will be talking about his new book The Absolutionist. Tickets cost £3 (concessions available) from Waterstone’s, Central Library or ringing 01733 864287.
Stamford Arts Centre (which has a nice bar downstairs) is hosting an evening with retired schools inspector Gervase Phinn (pictured) on Thursday 16 June. Check out its website at www.stamfordartscentre.com or ring 01780 763203 for full details. I’ve been asking about reading groups that meet in pubs and I’ve heard about two more. One meets at The Hit or Miss in Stamford on a regular Wednesday while another meets at Smiths in Bourne on Thursdays. If you’ve got more information drop me an email at cardinalcox1@yahoo.co.uk The grandfather of the local poetry scene must be Edward Storey, this issue’s local hero. He was born in Whittlesey and his first collection of poetry North Bank Night was published in 1969. Through the 1970s and 80s he regularly gave talks and ran workshops that inspired many people to write for themselves.In all he has had fourteen books published, many about the fens, which you can probably still find in local libraries. Advance warning for you that this year’s John Clare Festival at Helpston and the TS Eliot Festival at Little Gidding (with special guest Simon Armitage ) are both on the weekend of 9/10 July. Cardinal Cox is an enthusiastic amateur drinker. He would like to say hello to the folks he met at his recent lecture at University Centre Peterborough and the World Book Night give-away at The Rose.
Soapy Pub Scrawl In my regular column I report on the various poetry nights that are on in pubs in and around the city. I started to wonder, in an idle moment, about certain other pubs and what sort of events they might host. The Bull, Ambridge, Borsetshire The Bull is in the rural West Midlands and I couldn’t imagine that there would be enough local poets to justify having a poetry night in this pub. However, if Poetry Please ever went on the road they could broadcast an episode from beneath the oak beams. The Woolpack, Emmerdale, West Yorkshire Again a rural pub, now if the County Council’s Arts and Culture Department were willing to sponsor a tour of two or three poets, I could see this as a venue, with an open mic spot for any locals. Queen Victoria, Albert Square, Walford, London The Square did have its own poet when Gus was writing verse for Sonia so this pub could have become one of the many in London that host poetry nights on an otherwise quiet night early in the week. Rovers Return Inn, Coronation Street, Weatherfield Another urban pub that could, with the right promotion, be a good venue once a month. If Craig Charles cast his mind back far enough he’d remember that he was once a stand-up poet before becoming an actor, now resting as a cab driver. Hollyoaks Village, Chester. It’s no secret that this is my favourite soap opera because it is happy to embrace Romantic concepts (in the eighteenth century meaning of the word). They regularly externalise the feelings of characters through imagination or dream-sequences. They’ve had ghosts/ghost-like interaction. But would they do poetry? Not at The Dog in the Pond, that’s for certain. Not at ChezChez, although they might have when it was The Loft. Remember, Lauren Valentine used to go to Gothic Poetry events with Newt. She might have been able to persuade Calvin to let her do something similar on a weekend afternoon. No, the only place I could imagine poetry happening in this series is in the
SUBar. All those students, it would have to be a full-on poetry slam. They’ve had rappers appear in the series before (and, of course, in the Hollyoaks Music programme) so, yes, over a few rounds, three minutes a time, I could see a poetry slam in the SUBar. Nancy (pictured) as MC? That might be just me.
(continued from page 5) but after ordering a pint of March Hare, from a choice that included Digfield’s Mad Monk and Abbott Ale, we were able to sit down and have a look at the menu. I chose roast leg of English lamb studded with garlic and rosemary, while Allen went for roast leg of Suffolk pork. Priced at £11.95 and £10.95 respectively, the meals cost a little more than a usual pub roast but were certainly worth it; comprising generous and high quality portions of meat and served with broccoli, roasted carrots, potatoes and homemade gravy. Although I was full up, Allen found room for pudding and ordered panettone bread and butter pudding; apparently this one was the best he ever had. Realising the time, we made our way back to Wansford station along Elton Road and onto New Lane in order to avoid having to walk along the A1. Catching the train, we enjoyed another pint of March Hare as we travelled back to Peterborough. Over the next few months there are plenty of activities for all ages at Wansford station. The annual Family Fun Day/Beer Festival takes place on 11 June and offers a wide selection of ales, live music, entertainment and, for those not wanting to travel by train, a free vintage bus service from The Brewery Tap car park. Other events include Steamin’ Blues on 18 June and Thomas’ Father’s Day – where fathers get the chance to drive the “cheeky little engine” on two trips to the tunnel and back – which takes place the following day. For further information on running times, prices and many other events, visit www.nvr.org.uk
No. 73050 City of Peterborough Photo © NVR
REVIEWS
The Red Lion 48 King Street, West Deeping, Peterborough PE6 9HP 01778 347190 Having managed to negotiate a pushchair along the rugged terrain that passes for footpaths between Market Deeping and West Deeping, I was relieved to see that The Red Lion was open and serving lunch. Savouring my pint of Harvest Pale, the future Mrs Stabler and myself perused the expansive menu; spoilt for choice, I went for the “default option” of a Full English Breakfast while she ordered New York Chicken – a chicken breast topped with BBQ sauce, smoked bacon and cheese. After a short wait and a chat with landlord Ged, who’s led an interesting and varied life before taking over the pub, our food arrived and it was time to eat. They certainly didn’t skimp on quality with the Full English Breakfast, offering some of the finest bacon and sausages around - although the black pudding was a little dry for my liking. It was the New York Chicken that won hands down, accompanied by a side order of chips and a salad that had been put together with care; a far cry from the “leftovers” that usually make up a pub salad. Fed and watered we made our way back to Market Deeping, not needing anything else to eat for a good few hours; a testament to the large portions we were served.
Wild Romance Kissy Sell Out (San City High) - out 23 May Dance bands are notoriously slow at putting albums out as The Prodigy, who took seven years to release a follow-up to The Fat of the Land, can testify. So you can imagine my surprise when I heard that Kissy Sell Out was releasing Wild Romance just two years after his debut, Youth. Listening to the new release, I wish he’d followed The Prodigy’s example and spent time developing
his music properly. It’s not that the album is all bad, there are few moments of genius tucked away but too much of it is drowning in a repetitive sea of rave-era pianos, breakbeats and irritating speech samples. Anyone who’s listened to Kissy’s Radio 1 show knows that he has the talent, it’s just a shame that it goes on remixes by other artists as opposed to producing his own material. Liverpool Frankie Goes to Hollywood (ZTT)
Once the hits and the hype had dried up, Frankie Goes To Hollywood travelled the studios of north-western Europe to record their second album, Liverpool. Like many groups at the time, even my beloved Human League, FGTH adopted a rockier edge, which is amplified in opening track, Warriors of the Wasteland. Originally released in 1986, the album has been re-released by ZTT to include an additional CD packed with rare tracks and outtakes accompanied by a booklet containing a commentary from the band. While the original album tracks have the essence of the Frankies, I was surprised how little energy there was considering the harder sound. It’s the studio based jams that are worth a second listen, especially their cover of Bowie’s Suffragette City a song that would have fitted in nicely on debut album, Welcome to the Pleasuredome.
LISTINGS
May
01 One Eyed Cats (TPM) The Lloyd Watson Band (TOI) Monkey Boy (OFF) 06 Cuttin’ Loose (BBI) East Coast (TOI) Slide Under (TCT) Sunset Strip (BBI) The Sound Injectors (TPM) 07 Bar Room Beatles (TDS) Hooker (TPM) Laffing Boy (PWF) Leon (BBI) Porky Pig (TCT) The Influence (TCI) The Nuggets (TLT) 13 Beguiled (TCT) Dead Rabbits (PWF) Retrolux (TOI) Twenty4 (TPM) 14 Crayfish Rockets (BBI) Oak (TDS) One Eyed Cats (PWF) Slide To Open (FSG) Taking Care of Business (TCI) Tunnel (TCT) Twenty4 (TOI)
Frankly My Dear (TOI) Motor City Vipers (TLT) Park Lane (BBI) Slide To Open (TCT) The Guards (FSG) Twenty4 (OFF)
29 The Pigs (TPM) The Replicas (TCT) June 03 Crash’n’Burn Kickback (TOI) 04 Circa ‘73 Dr A’s Blues Consortium (FSG) Grumpy Old Men (TOI) Slide To Open (TCI) Undercover (TPM) 05 Acoustic Affinity (TOI) 10 Taking Care of Business (TOI) The Overdubs (BBI) 11 Karaoke Night (TCI) Porky Pig (FSG) Stealer (TOI) The Returns (TPM) 17Loose Rocket (BBI) Porky Pig (TPM)
15 Elvis Tribute (PWF) 20 Ian Graham & Kat Moore (TOI) The Returns (BBI) 21 Beats Working (TOI) Dwayne & Peter (FSG) Dwight Edwards (SDB) Groove Cartel (TCT) Lee Major (TCI) The Nuggets (BBI) 26 Open Mic (TCT) 27 Monkey Boy (TPM) Porky Pig (TOI) The Returns (TCT) Wayne Mills Disco (BBI) 28 Circa ’73 (TCI)
18 Crash’n’Burn (TCI) Glass Heart (BBI) Swinging The Led (FSG) Children of the Revolution (TOI) 19 Sell Out (TOI) 24 Daffy & The Alien (TCI) 25 Adam Ellis (FSG) Electric Warriors (TPM) Self Preservation Society (TDS) Storm (TOI) The Replicas (TLT)
01733 554890
(FSG) – The Fayre Spot, Rightwell, Bretton, Peterborough PE3 8DX 01733 842518 (OFF) - The Office, Oundle Road, Peterborough PE2 9PA 01733 557248 (PWF) – The Prince of Wales Feathers, 38 Peterborough Road, Castor, Peterborough PE5 7AL 01733 380222 (SDB) – Shakedown Blues @ Castor Village Hall, Peterborough Road, Castor, Peterborough PE5 7AX 01733 380249 * Advanced tickets from www.shakedownblues.co.uk (TCI) – Cock Inn, 1305 Lincoln Road, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6LW 01733 322006 (TCT) – The Cherry Tree, Oundle Road, Peterborough PE2 9PB 01733 703495 (TDS) - The Stage, Market Place, Market Deeping, Peterborough PE6 8EA 01778 343234 (TLT) – The Lime Tree, Paston Lane, Peterborough PE4 6HA 01733 708320 (TOI) – The Ostrich Inn, 17 North Street, Peterborough PE1 2RA 01733 746370 (TPM) – The Ploughman, Staniland Way, Werrington Peterborough PE4 6NA 01733 327696
Key/Contacts (BBI) – Blue Bell Inn, Welland Road, Peterborough PE1 3SA
* All listings given in good faith, Rhythm & Booze cannot be held responsible for any discrepancy.
Rhythm & Booze, Issue 7 - May/June 2011. All written material, unless otherwise stated, © Simon Stabler please send any letters, submissions, material for review and gig listings to simonstabler@aol.com by 15 June This issue is dedicated to the memory of Elisabeth Sladen.
THE PLOUGHMAN
Staniland Way Werrington Peterborough PE4 6NA 01733 327696
Peterborough CAMRA’s
PUB OF THE YEAR 2011! An award winning local with five real ales available from £2 a pint!
nSky Sports nBeer Festival - first weekend in July nHappy Hour Monday - Friday, 5-7pm nLive Music (see the listings page) nMighty Mouth Karaoke every Sunday nFunction room available for hire nJoin The Ploughman’s Facebook group
The Crown Inn 749 Lincoln Road Peterborough PE1 3HD 07516395905 Open: 10:00 - 00:00 Sunday - Wednesday Open: 10:00 - 01:00 Thursday - Saturday
A Pub At The Heart Of Its Community!
nServing quality real ales nDedicated Smoking Patio nWheelchair access at the front nFree pool every Thursday from 6pm nLive poker league Monday & Thursday from 7.30pm nKaraoke (Friday) nSunday Roast - ÂŁ9.90 for three courses nFunction room available for hire