rhythm and booze Brews, News, Bands & Reviews - Issue 36 - March/April 2016
“I’m still numb, I’m still in shock.”
We spoke to Aladdinsane’s Paul Henderson following the death of his hero David Bowie. Turn to page 8 to read more. 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 Boston’s The Ultraviolet have released a video to promote new single Wake Up Dead. The band who are currently on tour, perform a homecoming gig at The Axe & Cleaver on 1 March, while the video can be viewed online at https://youtu.be/ QITmNMA86TQ The newly renamed Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre celebrated 15 years in January with a rebranding and a special show for invited guests. The subterranean theatre lounge remains, with two real ales usually available, and is available for hire. Forthcoming attractions include Fairport Convention, Hawkwind, Andy Fairweather Lowe and the Fortunes – see listings for full details. Former members of the Harrier squadrons based at RAF Wittering descend on The Green Man, Stamford on Saturday 5 March for their annual gathering. As well as an all day barbecue, Paul Lake will be playing classic and contemporary covers. Christian Smith and the Whistlers launch their album
Hawkwind.
at the Commemoration Hall, Huntingdon on Saturday 9 April. Opening at 7.30pm, support comes from Whittlesey’s Holly and the Boatmen and Oscar Corney. Holly & the Boatmen can also be found at the Festival Fundraiser, held at The Sportsman, Chatteris on 23 April. Other acts on the bill include Abi Miller, Jess Davis, Sophie Frear and Maddison. Spalding’s first Beer & Music Festival takes place at the Castle Sports Complex on 27-29 May. Organised by Spalding Round
Table, 50 real ales will be available at the event with proceeds going to local community projects. Interested bands are asked to contact music organiser Mark le Sage on 07961 521727. Sleaford Live, the town’s annual festival of music and arts is taking place between 29 April and 8 May. Along with a ukulele workshop, and acoustic and jazz nights, are a variety of bands and comedians. Listings and venue information can be found at sleafordlive.co.uk
the Palmerston arms “Oundle Road’s Permanent Beer Festival”
Have you tried our sister pub...?
the oStrIch A Traditional Alehouse in the Heart of the City
caMra gold award Winner 2013 Now stocking LocAles and Craft Ales from Brewdog, Beavertown and Camden
LocAle Pub of the Year Live Music Every Saturday Ukulele Night
- check listings
(Thursdays)
Open All day, Every Day
Vinyl Night (Last Friday of the month)
Quiz Night
(from 12 noon Sunday-Thursday, 11am Friday, Saturday)
(Sundays)
Live Music - check thepalmerstonarms
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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
17 North Street (behind Westgate House) Peterborough PE1 2RA - 01733 746370
Pub News
As predicted, Peterborough’s first micropubs have been announced. John Lawrence of the Crown in Lincoln Road has teamed up to with Camra stalwart Steve Williams to launch at a site “on the edge of town” in the summer. They look likely to be upstaged, however, by Tom Beran and wife Michelle who have run the Coalheavers Arms for the past decade. They have announced their plans to convert a former pharmacy on Westgate to the Bimble Inn – serving four to five real ales, craft kegs, bottles and real ciders. Pies and snacks will also be served. Bexar County brewer Steve Saldana and partner Sean Page have applied to open a “bottle shop and evening bar” in the former Ladbroke’s betting shop on Church Street – a Grade II listed building. The Stoneworks will focus on craft beers, bar snacks, quizzes and gaming. The Northfields pub in St Paul’s Road has also closed and sold for redevelopment, while more positive news concerns the Blue Bell in Dogsthorpe which looks likely to reopen soon after along period of closure. The Decoy Bar and Indian Restaurant at Milking Nook is reported to be up for sale with planning permission for housing Peterborough Camra’s Pub of the Year award goes to the Woolpack in Stanground, The Palmerston Arms in Oundle Road has been awarded LocAle Pub of the Year. Landlord, Simon Benton is now also running the Ostrich in North Street – he’s installing new craft ale lines to complement the exiting five hand
Bert and eileen Murray. pulled beers and cider, and plans a ‘soft launch’ of a new food and wine menu at the end of March. The Letter B in Whittlesey was voted Cider Pub of the Year. Now independently owned, the Peacock in London Road has been regenerated under licencees Amanda and Colin Payne. Popular with fans attending Posh matches at the Abax stadium opposite, the garden is to be enclosed and a third hand pump is to be installed. An increase in live entertainment is proposed. The Asset of Community Value listed Straw Bear in Whittlesey looks likely to reopen as a pub and Indian restaurant. Also in Whittlesey, Elgoods brewery was in the process of selling the Boat in Whittlesey as we went to press. Long-term licensee, Phil Quinn will be staying and plans to extend the range of real ales and ciders. An Easter beer festival is also expected. The closed Hero of Aliwal is up for sale.
Steven and Sheila Shreeve are celebrating 21 years at the Rose and Crown, Thorney in March. Their first ‘Secret Supper Club’ takes place on 30 March. New licensees at the Stilton Cheese in Stilton, David and Nicola Hancock, have announced seven day a week opening from 29 February. Their many years experience in the trade includes a spell at the Red Lion at West Deeping. Bert and Eileen Murray who have run the Bull in Market Deeping for the past 24 years will be retiring at the end of April. Ex-Chelsea and Posh footballer, Bert and his wife previously ran the White Horse and Winning Post pubs in the town as well as the former Half Moon in Stamford. Richard Parrott, currently at the Deeping Stage opposite, will be taking the reins after a possible short closure for redecoration. He plans to increase the food service hours and introduce a tapas option. The Periwig, Stamford has closed but is expected to reopen Continued over
Pub News (continued) possibly under a new guise. Just along Broad Street the Central Nightclub and the downstairs Brownes bar has also closed for refurbishment. The Millstone at Barnack has undergone refurbishment and is open again after a brief period of closure. Charity events are being organised at the pub to raise money for six-year-old local boy Jack Rickard who needs life-changing surgery – details at www.facebook.com /JacksJourney6 JD Wetherspoon’s plans to open an outlet in Bourne appear to have taken a step closer with the recent closure of the Jenny Mays shop adjacent to Wand’s Electrical store, thought to have been purchased by the pub chain last year. The firm has stated that the plans are “under review”. The Robin Hood & Little John at Aslackby is open again, and doing brisk business. The pub includes a large restaurant area, once used a nightclub The Queens Head at Nassington has been sold to Complete Hotels. The company, which has been operating the restaurant at the pub since 2010, is refurbishing the 10 letting rooms. The Blue Bell at Gretton, near Corby is for sale with www.murray.co.uk for £300k with “potential conversion to residential”. Oakham’s Grainstore brewery was featured in BBC’s Victorian Bakers programme in January. Filmed at Sacrewell Mill near Peterborough, the brewer was asked to provide brewer’s yeast for the bread making process. Founder Tony Davis has retired –
son William and partner Peter Atkinson have taken over the business, which has recently been awarded a pub of the season award by Rutland Camra.Yorkshire ales are the theme for The 8th Empingham Cricket Club beer festival (16-20 March). Live music features on the Friday and Saturday. After a £700k makeover by new owner, Amber Taverns, Grantham’s Atrium is expected to reopen in April as an adult orientated “community-centric public house” offering real ales, craft beers and live sport. The keenly awaited micropub, Beerheadz, in Grantham’s Watergate was expected to open on in late February. Residents of Marston have gained asset of community value status for the closed Thorold Arms – £250k needs to be raised to buy the pub. They are being supported by the Plunkett Foundation, which helps rural groups to set up cooperatives. ACV status has been granted to the Springfield Arms and Lord Harrowby in Grantham along with the White Swan, Barrowby and the Five Bells at Claypole. The Thatched Cottage, the last pub in the village of Sutterton, near Boston has closed due to repossession, and the site will be sold. Plans have been submitted
Church Keys, Boston.
to convert the Woadman in Church Road, Boston info five apartments and an extension to house another four. The Jolly Crispin on West Street has had its alcohol license revoked after ‘criminal activity’ at the site. One of Boston’s most historic sites, a 16th century building formerly occupied by Spooky’s in Church Street has reopened as a wine bar. Church Keys will offer evening drinks, daytime meals and live music. Owner Jason Brackenbury has enlisted the help of undergraduates from Nottingham Trent University to help set up the business. Campaigners are hoping to save the iconic Witham Tavern from redevelopment. An ACV application for the pub was previously rejected, but it is believed the campaign group has been offered a chance to buy the pub for £275k. Pubs no more The closed Rose and Crown at Sleaford has been sold, possibly for redevelopment. The long closed Rose at Frognall has also been sold. The former Goodbarn’s Yard in St John’s Street, Peterborough has reopened as Ishtar – a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern influenced restaurant. Chris Shilling
the Woolpack stanground's best Kept secret
a 15 minute walk from the centre of town
Peterborough and district caMra branch Pub of the Year 2016 n Open all day from 12 Noon (Wednesday-Friday, Sunday), 11.30am (Saturday) and 2pm (Monday-Tuesday) n Up to four real ales available n Large riverside beer garden n Food served Monday to Saturday evenings (6-8pm) and Wednesday to Sunday lunctimes n Quiz on Sunday evenings (cash prizes)
LIve MuSIc
3rd April - The Stringlers string quartet (4-6pm) North Street, Stanground, Peterborough Pe2 8JF (01733) 753544
Making the grade
I’m still numb, I’m still in shock,” explains Paul Henderson, lead singer of David Bowie tribute band Aladdinsane, less than a week after the death of his hero. A Bowie fan since the early 1970s, Paul from Orton Longueville was celebrating the life and work of his hero shortly before the tragic news broke. “I found out when I was in Berlin, I’d just played Hansa Studios, where David recorded the Heroes album, at an event to celebrate his birthday and the new album. We had a fabulous time but of course that was short-lived, as my friend received a text, while we were waiting to get the train back to the airport on Monday morning, saying that Bowie had died. The first thing I thought was that it was a hoax but of course as we made the long journey back to England, it
slowly hit me that this was real.” Back in 1993, Paul appeared as Bowie on ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes, a fact not lost on the general public. “The show was recorded about six weeks in advance,” remembers Paul. “I was in Bristol for a Bowie convention the night it went out. As soon as we watched it in the B&B, I came outside for a cigarette. An elderly couple walking a dog went past and I heard them say: ‘That bloke’s just been on Stars in Their Eyes.’” It was Paul’s wife, Tracey, who sent in the application for Stars in Their Eyes. “The wife just said: ‘By the way, I’ve done it’ and my reply was ‘Oh, alright’ and I thought nothing more of it.” A local audition followed, before a second in Manchester, then a call to say he had got on the show. “It was great, Granada
really looked after you. Matthew Kelly was an absolute gem, I thought I was tall but he towered over me. My mother was in the audience. I’d never seen her smile so much. She’s long gone now but I remember it well. It was a great time.” Although his performance of Space Oddity was well received, the winner of the episode was Kenny Rogers sound-alike Pat Cairns. “Do you know what? There was no animosity. We weren’t competing against each other we were all pleased to get there. To get on that show at the time was a hell of an achievement.” His time on Stars in Their Eyes prompted Paul to work harder on his music, writing songs that he would perform with his band Cerulean (“It’s a shade of blue, I took it from the
X-Files”) along with the odd Bowie cover. “In 2001 I was invited to do an acoustic set at The Three Tuns pub in Beckenham where David co-founded the Beckenham Arts Lab in the late 60s. I was sitting there and this guy comes over and starts talking, he said ‘Would you like to use the same guitar Bowie did?’ His name was Mark Carr-Pritchard who had worked with David in the early 70s. He said: ‘I’ll be back in about 20 minutes, I only live round the corner’ and came back with this Espana 12-string guitar, the one David recorded Space Oddity on and on a lot of recordings on The Man Who Sold the World. “So there was me sitting in the same spot Bowie would have, with his guitar, playing the same songs he would’ve at the time, to
some of the people who would have been there in the 1969 period. Now that was bizarre.” Paul met his hero briefly outside Rock City, Nottingham in 1997. “There were only about half a dozen of us, I got his autograph and gave him a tape of my songs. He looked at it, took his shades down, said ‘Ah, thank you very much’ and put it in his jeans pocket. Someone who knows him said ‘He listens to everything people give him’ so who knows if I was able to influence him in any way. “Around 2002, a friend said ‘Why don’t you form a Bowie tribute band?’ and my answer was ‘If I did that, I’d enjoy it too much and everything would go on the backburner’ and that’s been my life for the last 14 years. I will go back to my own
stuff but at the moment it’s difficult to say.” Paul has been inundated with requests to perform at hastily arranged memorial concerts, however at the moment he is concentrating on events that he booked before Bowie’s death. He is planning a memorial show for a performance in St Helens on 6 February and knows that the David Bowie Convention at Derby in May is going to be very emotional. Paul admits to having shed a tear or two over the past week himself and it’s understandable. “Even now it’s still hard to believe that he’s not here, you know, he’s been there all my life.” n For further information on Paul and Aladdinsane, including gig dates and videos visit aladdinsane.co.uk
NOW UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP COME AND ENJOY OUR LARGER RANGE OF REAL ALES AND CIDERS, AND OVER 100 SINGLE MALT WHISKIES
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Whisky night 2nd Friday of the Month
Real Ales n Bed & Breakfast n Good Company
Open mic 3rd Tuesday of the month (8.45pm)
2 raMSey road, WhIttLeSey Pe7 1dr tel: 01733 202488
MINI BEER FESTIVAL
Acoustic sessions last Friday of the month (8.30pm)
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THE JOLLY BREWER Foundry Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2PP
Lincolnshire Pub of the Year 2009 Peterborough & district caMra Pub of the year 2009
the home of baker’s dozen brewing
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O n t h e ( Ti m e ) l a s h A visit to the pubs seen, however briefly, in Doctor Who.
The North Star, 43 Broadway, Ealing, London W5 5JN 020 8579 0863 During the 16-year gap between Sylvester McCoy’s final Doctor Who story and Christopher Eccleston’s first, there were several attempts by fans working at the BBC to revive the show in one form or another – including radio plays starring Jon Pertwee and a mind-bending EastEnders’ crossover for Children in Need. But in November 1990, just under a year after the Doctor and Ace walked off into the sunset, McCoy and Sophie Aldred reprised their roles for an episode of the BBC school’s series Search Out Science. It saw the Doctor as the host of a quiz show called The Ultimate Challenge, asking Ace and K9 (voiced by original artist John Leeson), and spaceman Cedric
questions about Earth and the solar system. Cedric’s scenes were filmed outside The North Star, for the sole reason that it could be shot from the roof of Villier’s House (a BBC office block above Ealing Broadway station) to depict the Tardis materialising mid-air. And like the Doctor’s time space machine, the exterior of the pub is at odds with its interior. Any feeling of it being bigger on this inside is due to everything being ripped out and given a ‘shabby, industrial’ theme or whatever the phrase is these days. Bare brick walls, and mismatching tables make you feel you’ve in a derelict warehouse. The food is too pricey for such poor surroundings (£8.95 for a plain burger) and the menu seems to have an obsession with Korean cuisine. Boasting “the trendiest taps in
Ealing”, this Mitchell & Butler’s pub features keg beers such as Sierra Nevada, Pilsner Urquell, Veltins and… er… Red Stripe and Heineken. Two out of the four hand pumps were in operation on my visit (the pump clips for Broughton Hopopotamus and Cotleigh’s Uncle Sam Hop Burst had been turned round), leaving me with a choice of Sharp’s Doom Bar and St Austell Tribute. I went for the latter, which was £4 for a pint and clearly on the turn. While ‘savouring’ my pint, two retired ladies who, from their conversation, used to work in the area, popped in for lunch. They took a look at the menu before one said, “Come on, let’s go, there must be better pubs down the road.” Indeed there are, and I’m guessing those ladies had a better lunch than I did.
N aTiONaL TREaSURE Spotlighting Britain’s best boozers
The Final Whistle Station Road Southwell Nottinghamshire NG25 0ET 01636 814953 www.finalwhistlepub.co.uk At just 59 miles from Peterborough (46 from Stamford), the minster town of Southwell is easily reached from our neck of the woods and it’s worth making the short detour from the A1 to check this place out. Sadly passenger train services to the town, famous for its all-weather racecourse, ended in the 1960s but the site of the station can still be discerned on the edge of town amid recent development. The original station pub sat
alongside the adjacent railway crossing, and the Newcastle Arms as it was originally known was chosen in 2010 by owner Everards as a good candidate for its Project William treatment.
This is a partnership with local microbreweries to revive a number of hitherto unloved pubs and invest heavily in refurbishment into traditional ale houses. Renamed the Final
Whistle, £250k was spent on the pub to recreate the authentic station inn feel, including turning part of the garden into a mock 1920s station complete with platforms and a short section of track recovered from the original line, and railwayana adorning the walls throughout. Alongside a couple of Everards brews can be found beers from partners Brown Ales and guest beers giving a total of 10 real ales. The family of current licensees, Ollie and Jo Brown, has run the pub for years, and Ollie’s keen to take it to the next level by installing a microbrewery. He’s a keen cellarman, and received an award for Best Kept Cellar (East & West Midlands) while he was running sister pub the Chesterfield Arms in Chesterfield. Father, Dave, founded the Brown Ales business, also operating the Crown at Beeston, the Sir John Borlase in Nottingham and the family brewery at Clay Cross. Well-kept beer is the priority at the Final Whistle, so don’t expect an extensive food menu, however bar snacks are available. Other features include individual drinking areas with alcoves and settles, wood panelling, real fires, traditional pub games, live music (a folk club meets on Thursdays) and a function room. The pub is dog friendly, though not necessarily recommended for small children. The route of the old railway can still be followed, as it’s now a nature trail, popular with walkers. The pub was awarded Newark Camra Pub of the Year in 2015 The Final Whistle opens all day every day from noon until 11.30pm. Quiz nights are held on Tuesdays and Sundays. A bus route runs within 500 metres of the pub from Mansfield and Newark (Stagecoach 28) and also Nottingham (NCT 100). Chris Shilling
The Crown Inn, Uppingham 19 High Street East, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9PY T: 01572 822302
easter beer festival 25th-27th March
Live Music at 3pm Saturday & Sunday
www.thecrownuppingham.co.uk
Good Food, Real Ales, Great Entertainment Join us us for Mother's Day, our easter festivities and new spring menus.
MarCh eveNts – it’s a busy MONth! Mother’s Day treat – sunday 6th March Our sunday roast is as good as ever! Gastropub classics also available. st Patrick’s Day – thurs 17th March the shades of Green strike up again for the Craic with irish classics and other popular tunes. home-made irish stew on the house! easter is early! Good Friday 25th March - sunday 27th March book now for easter specials and easter sunday roast. bank holiday easter Monday 28th March bar and restaurant open all day and live music at 3pm
aPriL eveNts and sPriNG baNk hOLiDay st George’s Day – saturday 23rd april Classic english dishes served and regional real ales abound! the annual spring bank holiday beerfest – Friday 29th april - Mon 2nd May Many local and regional real ales, bbQ, Live music Monday 2nd May – bank holiday fun bbQ, discounted real ales, bouncy castle, live music with the One eyed Cats (2.30pm)! Stop Press – We’re proud to have been included in CAMRA’s 2016 Good Beer Guide (up to 5 local, regional and national real ales) and Tourism South East’s Great Country Pubs Guide!
The Golden Pheasant 1 Main Road, Etton, Peterborough PE6 7DA
Tel: 01733 252387
Email: info@thegoldenpheasant.net www.thegoldenpheasant.net
RAIlRovING NoRwICH (SoUtH) Self styled ‘City of Ale’; Norwich prides itself on its incredible array of great pubs. It’s all a far cry from the Watney’s dominated real ale desert of the 1970s – nowadays there are seemingly good real ale outlets at every turn, and with the city being well spread out and, thankfully, predominantly ‘lo-rise’, it would be an impossible task to do it justice in one day. The excellent annual Trafford Arms Valentine Beer Festival therefore seemed to present a good opportunity for the R&B team to tackle the southern half
of the city. An off peak day return to Norwich from Peterborough is a reasonable £20.90, but as always, an early look at the East Midlands Trains website offered an even better £16 ticket, arriving just after 11am. It’s often a good idea to leave pubs close to the station until last for obvious reasons, but rather than head straight for the town, we took an immediate right turn out of the station along Thorpe Road to take advantage of 11am opening at the Coach & Horses. This is the
home of the Chalk Hill Brewery, launched in 1993, one of the first (now many) microbreweries to spring up in the area. This clean, spacious ale house features wooden floors, real fires and sturdy wooden furniture. Six house beers are available from £2.80, and food is available daily from 12 noon including daily specials from £7.95. The landlord even caters for wannabe graffiti artists by providing chalk and a black board in the gents. At this point a difficult decision had to be made – head back into town or go further the ‘wrong’ way
along Thorpe Road to one of Colin Keatley’s famous Fat Cat venues. We couldn’t resist the temptation, so five minutes later we arrived at the Fat Cat & Canary (formerly the Mustard Pot), now so called due to its close proximity to the home of Norwich City. Despite being slightly before midday, friendly landlord Christian Hodgkinson saw the approaching party and opened up early. He was keen to show off his range of real ales – four from the house Fat Cat Brewery and one guest (Adnams Old) on hand pump, with another four gravity served and a couple of craft beers. The spacious drinking area (big enough to accommodate regular live bands) is complemented by a smaller side room which as well as being used as a poker room, doubles up as an eating area at weekends. There’s a bus from here, which runs every 15 minutes or so back to the station, but Jocky managed to walk it quicker and was already smugly tucking into his pint on the river terrace outside the Compleat Angler just over the river bridge as the rest of the party arrived. Though this two-floored pub has always been
Fat Cat & Canary the most convenient for rail travellers, being a Greene King establishment does not guarantee to please everyone, but we’d heard that the beer range from local breweries had recently improved. Available this day however were beers from Brains, Harviestoun, Taylor Walker and Adnams along with GK. A right turn towards town and following Rose Lane around to the left takes you past the Steam Packet (closed before 4pm, but with one pump displaying Smooth Hoperator from Calvors). Keeping the castle to your right and passing the
Number 12, formerly the Plough (Doombar, Wherry and guest beer), a left turn takes you to the Woolpack (Doombar, Deuchars and GK IPA) on Timber Hill. This pleasant traditional street is the home of the Gardeners Arms, known locally as the Murderers after an event in 1895 when a former cavalryman killed his estranged wife, Milly – the landlady’s daughter. Open from 10am this excellent multi-roomed 17th century pub offers 10 real ales, many from micros and a couple of real ciders. Local breweries are very much in evidence here, and we were treated to good examples from Grain, Winters, Wolf, Woodforde’s and Shortts Farm (Suffolk). Landlord, Philip Cutter, is credited along with co-organiser Dawn Leeder with creating the City of Ale festival – a 10-day celebration of good beer and good hospitality in arguably the UK’s best drinking city. “Things have snowballed since our first event in 2011. We’re already up to 44 pubs partaking this year,” said Phil about the city-wide beer festival. He recently commissioned Woodforde’s to brew a special beer to commemorate the pulling of his millionth pint
during his 28-year career at the pub. A recent addition is a dedicated live music area adorned with posters featuring legendary bands and gigs from the 60s, 70s and 80s (including Spalding’s famous Barbecue 67 event). Live entertainment is offered every weekend, and Thursdays are blues nights. The pub was voted best sports bar nationally and national best ale pub regionally by the Morning Advertiser in 2015. As well as City of Ale week (26 May 26-5 June) a beer festival is held in October to coincide with the Norwich Camra festival. Two right turns out of the Murderers, takes you to the local JD Wetherspoon – The Bell Hotel which sits right next to the castle. Not on first impressions the biggest JDW ever seen with six beers available in the main bar, but a second floor provides another, larger bar area with another half-dozen beers from a more diverse array of breweries such as Stonehenge, Phoenix and St Peter’s – a good opportunity to pause for a (cheap) food break. Following Red Lion Street and St Stephen’s Street, Chapelfield Road is reached – home of the Champion, a traditional street
trafford Arms.
the Gardener’s Arms (Murderers). corner local owned by Bateman’s. As well as the house beers, a tasty Everards Clock Tower was available along with a real cider. The Champion is obviously popular for its live sport, and it was quite a challenge to drag one of our party away from the 60s soul music emanating from the speakers. A short hop form here on St Stephens Road is the 17th century Coachmakers Arms, another quality alehouse. Don’t be fooled by the four hand pumps at the bar – as many as 10 gravity dispensed beers are available, from the likes of Woodforde’s, Wolf and a famous Norwich brand of the past – Bullards – now brewed again in
the city by Redwell Brewery. The pub is open all day every day and is popular for its sports combined with its traditional ambience and real fire. Past the hospital, on to Grove Road and our ultimate(ish) destination – the Trafford Arms. Former Sheriff of Norwich Chris Higgins and his wife Glynis had run the pub for 23 years until last summer, in which time it developed into one of the city’s best loved destinations for drinkers and diners alike. Now in the hands of Nick and Briony De’Ath (who also have the Unthank Arms and the Lawyer in the city), the tradition of a Valentine week beer festival has been maintained, on the face of it to the usual excellent standard. Ten hand pumps provide the usual real ale choices, but in festival week up to 50 more are available in the marquee out back. Beers from breweries as diverse as Loch Ness, Great Orme and Tiny Rebel were being served along with more local brands such as Lacon’s, Golden Triangle and Tombstone all in good form at around £3.50 per pint. The pub is open from 11am every day (10am at weekends). It can be very hard to leave the Trafford Arms, but we were keen to try a couple more pubs on the way back to the station.
The Kings Arms on Hall Road, offers two Bateman beers plus 10 guests and ciders in a no-frills traditional environment (no electronic music, games or machines) but does offer live entertainment, quiz nights and beer festivals. Landlady Karen Fiske formerly ran the Whalebone pub in the north of the city. The pub is open all day and only 10 minutes from Carrow Road, so gets busy on match days as does the Freemasons Arms opposite which also offers a couple of real ales alongside the lagers and bottles. Final call was the Rose
back on Queens Road where another well known local character (and enthusiastic ale fan) Dawn Hopkins has been in charge since 2003. Six to seven well kept beers are usually available, often from micros, plus craft beers, ciders and world beers in bottles. Pub games are popular here as are the burgers from the Music Row Burger Co. Dawn will also be known from her time at the Ketts Tavern (now Virtuoso Craft Brew Pub & Smokehouse) which we’ll be visiting when we
key 1. Coach & Horses 2. Fat Cat & Canary 3. Compleat Angler 4. Steam Packet 5. Number 12 6. Woolpack 7. Gardeners Arms (Murderers) 8. The Bell Hotel 9. The Champion 10. Coachmakers Arms 11. The Trafford Arms 12. Kings Arms 13. Freemasons Arms 14. Rose
1
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3
4
1
8 7
5 6
9 10
11
return to cover the north of the city. A 15-minute walk from the Rose, across Carrow Bridge and along Riverside brings you back to the station. Chris Shilling
12 13
14
Aslackby, Sleaford, Lincs NG34 0HL Tel: 01778 440681
Terry and Nicola look forward to welcoming you to our beautiful 200-year-old country pub and restaurant
enjoy the ambience of our flagstone floors, low beamed rooms and real fires Four real ales (Landlord, Abbot Ale, Harvest Pale and an ever-changing Guest Beer) Home cooked food served lunchtimes and evenings, Midweek special - 2 courses for ÂŁ11.95 Beer Garden - alfresco dining in summer! Large restaurant/function area Dog Friendly Open Monday to Friday 12-3pm (Food 12-2pm) & 5-11pm (Food 6-9pm), Saturday & Sunday 12-11pm (Food 12-9pm) Find us on the main A15 between Bourne and Sleaford
www.robinhoodandlittlejohn.co.uk
by Cardinal Cox
Pub Scrawl
The next King’s Lynn Literature Festival will be held over the weekend of 11-13 March and will include such writers as Patricia Duncker, Sophie Hannah, Simon Mawer, Piers Paul Read, Jonathan Smith, Daisy Waugh and James Wilson. Full details can be found at www.lynnlitfests.com The biannual Stamford Verse Festival will be held 19-24 April and includes Sophie Hannah on Thursday 21 and Mark Grist and Hollie McNish on Friday 22. Other events include a couple of one-man shows, one marking 400 years since Shakespeare’s death (The Shakespeare Delusion, Saturday 23), and one based around the medieval poem Piers Plowman on Sunday 24. Plus writing workshops for children on Saturday afternoon and a poetry walk around the town on Sunday afternoon. Local poet Ron Graves has provided the words for a new CD from local musician David Reid of the Contrast (who have had eight albums released in America). Lovely as Suspicion from ReidGraves is the first joint project from the pair and has fourteen songs on it. Available via CDbaby or via the website www.reidgraves.com it is hopeful a promise of more to come. Dr Jane Mackay continues her series of lunchtime literary talks at Stamford Arts Centre. On Tuesday 1 March it is Macbeth, followed by the 2015 film with Michael Fassbender. Then on Tuesday 5 April the subject is An Inspector Calls followed by the 1954 film starring Alastair Sim. The talks start at 12:30pm and the films start at 2:30pm. Talks are £6.50, the films are £5.50. To
An Inspector Calls. book tickets at Stamford Arts Centre, or ring 01780 763203 or go to stamfordartscentre.com Former TV writer/director/ producer Simon Toyne will be talking about his Sanctus trilogy plus his new book Solomon Creed with his old school teacher (from Deacon’s in Peterborough) Sandra Samwell on Saturday 19 March at St Peter’s Church, Oundle. The talk starts at 7pm and tickets cost £8 (£6 concessions) available from Oundle Box Office, 4 New Street, Oundle (01832 274734) or via www.oundlefestival.org.uk The final for this year’s Fenland Poet Laureate Competition is to be held on Friday 8 April in March Town Hall. Then the final of the Stamford Poet Laureate Competition is to be held at Stamford Arts Centre on Wednesday 20 April as part of the above mentioned Verse Festival. Good luck to all. Novelist and historian Alison Weir will be launching her latest book Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen on Friday 6 May at
Peterborough Cathedral. Tickets for this are £11 (£5.50 under 18s), which includes a glass of wine or a soft drink after the talk, and can be bought from either the Destination Centre on Bridge Street or from the Cathedral shop. This year’s TS Eliot Festival in Little Gidding is planned for 9-10 July. The John Clare Festival in Helpston will take place over the weekend of 15-17 July. Cardinal Cox is currently the Poet-in-Residence of The Dracula Society, work from which forms part of his new ‘spooken’ word show High Stakes that is being previewed ahead of the Stamford Verse Festival on Tuesday 19 April in the Arts Centre bar. His latest collection, Forget Dance, Let’s Art collects eighteen poems inspired by art exhibitions and is available for £4 and his children’s tale Eel-Catcher Fable is £5, both from KT Publications, 16 Fane Close, Stamford PE9 1HG (cheques payable to Kevin Troop).
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LIStIngS
25 February Open Mic Night with Dave (9pm), Cherry Tree, Woodston
26 February Open Acoustic Sessions in the Whisky Bar with Dave & Phil (8.30pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey Hooker, Dragon, Werrington 27 February Dean & Co, Masons Arms, Bourne Ramshackle Serenade, Waterton Arms, Deeping St James Mighty Mouth Trev, Dragon, Werrington Pennyless (12-2pm), Lincoln Drill Hall Boobonyx,Vine, Coates Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough
Vigilantes, Black Bull, Kirton Lazoons (9.30pm), Charters, Peterborough TBC, Golden Fleece, Stamford Fedz, London Inn, Stamford Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Jumpback 45, Ostrich, Peterborough Black Rose, Cherry Tree, Woodston Northern Soul Night, Noel Arms, Langham
06 March Quiz, Masons Arms, Bourne Pub Quiz, (9pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell Jimmy Doherty (3pm), Charters, Peterborough Mighty Mouth Karaoke, Ploughman, Werrington 08 March Razzamajazz, (8.30pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell
28 February Quiz, White Horse, Baston Mighty Mouth Karaoke, Ploughman, Werrington
09 March Acoustic sessions with Steve & Dave (8pm), Railway, Ramsey
01 March Open Acoustic sessions with Claude Domino (8pm), Millstone, Barnack Quiz, Hare & Hounds, Greatford
10 March Open Mic Night with James Edmonds (8.30pm), Crown, Peterborough Bingo, Bull, Rippingale Open Mic Night (8pm), Britannia Inn, Boston
03 March Open mic/acoustic, Blue Cow Inn, South Witham Curry & Quiz Night (ÂŁ2 each, includes curry), Old Coach House, Market Deeping Bingo, Bull, Rippingale Open Mic Night (8pm), Britannia Inn, Boston
11 March Leftovas, Masons Arms, Bourne Antoine Fleuriot, Stone Loach, Market Deeping Genie Lamps, Golden Fleece, Stamford Souled Out, London Inn, Stamford
04 March Karaoke (Nick), Masons Arms, Bourne Cuttin Loose, Axe & Cleaver, Boston Porky Pig, Golden Fleece, Stamford Blackout UK, London Inn, Stamford Tiger Club, Ploughman, Werrington Demoniser, Cherry Tree, Woodston 05 March Banjo - The Legend, Masons Arms, Bourne Ramshackle Serenade, Palmerston Arms, Woodston The Soundinjectors, Stage, Market Deeping Grounded, Dragon, Werrington The Park Lane, Burghley Club, Peterborough
vigilantes.
The Guards, Ploughman, Werrington Spare Parts, Cherry Tree, Woodston 12 March Antoine Fleuriot, Masons Arms, Bourne Revolver, Bull, Rippingale Ramshackle Serenade, Ebeneezers, Woodston The Soundinjectors, Pincushion, Wyberton Phoenix Show Band, Burghley Club, Peterborough Cross Fire, Black Bull, Kirton Stone Pony (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Circa 73, Golden Fleece, Stamford DJ, London Inn, Stamford Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Indigo, Stage, Market Deeping Retrolux, Ostrich, Peterborough Lower Than Bones, Cherry Tree, Woodston 13 March Quiz, White Horse, Baston Pub Quiz, (9pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell Mighty Mouth Karaoke, Ploughman, Werrington 15 March Open Mic Night with Dave & Phil (9pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey Quiz, Hare & Hounds, Greatford 17 March Pennyless (8.30pm), Cellar Bar, Arts Centre, Stamford, Bingo, Bull, Rippingale Open Mic Night (8pm), Britannia Inn, Boston Shades of Green, Golden Pheasant, Etton 18 March DJ Neil, Masons Arms, Bourne Revolver, Jolly Crispin, Lutton TBC, Golden Fleece, Stamford Blackout UK, London Inn, Stamford Lizzie on the Loose, Cherry Tree, Woodston 19 March Skullduggery, Masons Arms, Bourne The Expletives, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Antoine Fleuriot, The Birds, Spalding Overdubs, Dragon, Werrington BRM, Burghley Club, Peterborough Little Big Band, Black Bull, Kirton Pennyless, Folkingham Village Hall The Dizzy Miss Lizzy’s (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Grumpy Old Men, Golden Fleece, Stamford Detourz, London Inn, Stamford
Hooker, Ploughman, Werrington Agi Jarocka. Covernotes, Stage, Market Deeping
Park Lane, Cherry Tree, Woodston Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough 20 March Quiz, Masons Arms, Bourne The Malingerers, (5pm), Tap & Kitchen, Oundle Pub Quiz, (9pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell Mighty Mouth Karaoke, Ploughman, Werrington 21 March Charters Open Mic (8pm), Charters, Peterborough 22 March Antoine Fleuriot, Stone Loach, Market Deeping 23 March Acoustic sessions with Steve & Dave (8pm), Railway, Ramsey 24 March Agi Jarocka (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Bingo, Bull, Rippingale Open Mic Night (8pm), Britannia Inn, Boston Live Stand Up Comedy (ÂŁ10 entry), Goat, Frognall 25 March Mark Bishop, Masons Arms, Bourne Charity Quiz, Blue Cow Inn, South Witham Comedian Mike Lancaster, The Stilton Tunnels Loose Rocket, Axe & Cleaver, Boston Meat Raffle, Priors Oven, Spalding The Soundinjectors, George & Angel, Crowland Open Acoustic Sessions in the Whisky Bar with Dave & Phil (8.30pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey Press, Dragon, Werrington Children Of The Revolution (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Harkback, Golden Fleece, Stamford TBC, London Inn, Stamford Rough Culprits (9pm), Britannia Inn, Boston The Score, Ploughman, Werrington
60s night with DJ Rick Allen & The Nuggets, Brewery Tap, Peterborough One Eyed Cats, Cherry Tree, Woodston 26 March Afterlife, Masons Arms, Bourne Revolver, Golden Fleece, Stamford The Soundinjectors, Ebeneezers, Woodston Mighty Mouth Trev, Dragon, Werrington Souled Out, Burghley Club, Peterborough 101 Proof, Pincushion, Wyberton Evolution, Black Bull, Kirton Flashback Photograph (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Revolver, Golden Fleece, Stamford Nuggets, London Inn, Stamford Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Take Note, Stage, Market Deeping Eclectic Ballroom, Ostrich, Peterborough Brotherhoods Roundabout, Cherry Tree, Woodston 27 March Cuttin Loose, Stage, Market Deeping Quiz, White Horse, Baston BBQ, Priors Oven, Spalding Frankly My Dear, Letter B, Whittlesey Pub Quiz, (9pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell Catatonic, Black Bull, Kirton Pennyless (3pm), Charters, Peterborough Commitment Bros, London Inn, Stamford Jack And The Broken Wonders (9pm), Britannia Inn, Boston Mighty Mouth Karaoke, Ploughman, Werrington Lexie Green & The Indigo Blue (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Outlaw Eagles, Cherry Tree, Woodston Bands Day: Another Girl Another Planet (3pm), Cutting Loose (5pm), Go With The Flow (7pm), Circa 73 (9pm), Stage, Market Deeping Band TBC (3pm), Golden Pheasant, Etton
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Northern SOUL NIGHT - SAT MARCH 5th Open all day everyday from 12 noon Contact Tracie on 07943 137412 Bridge St, Langham, Oakham LE15 7HU
01 April Cuttin’ Loose, Masons Arms, Bourne Hooker, Dragon, Werrington 3rd Stone From the Sun, Burghley Club, Peterborough Whisky Twist, Golden Fleece, Stamford Veltones, London Inn, Stamford The Returns, Ploughman, Werrington Fallen Breaks, Cherry Tree, Woodston 02 April Son of a Gun, Masons Arms, Bourne Ramshackle Serenade, Green Man, Stamford The Nuggets, Dragon, Werrington Children of the Revolution, Burghley Club, Peterborough Local Hero, Black Bull, Kirton Groove Cartell (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Autumn Storm, Golden Fleece, Stamford Overdubs, London Inn, Stamford Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Charity Soul Night (Tickets only, £10pp), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Audios, Stage, Market Deeping Jumpback 45, Ostrich, Peterborough Hooker, Cherry Tree, Woodston
03 April Quiz, Masons Arms, Bourne The Stringlers (4-6pm), Woolpack, Stanground Pub Quiz, (9pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell Bon & Justin (3pm), Charters, Peterborough Mighty Mouth Karaoke, Ploughman, Werrington Oakham Mic Night (6pm - late), Brewery Tap, Peterborough 05 April Open Acoustic sessions with Claude Domino (8pm), Millstone, Barnack 07 April Open mic/acoustic night, Blue Cow Inn, South Witham Bingo, Bull, Rippingale Open Mic Night (8pm), Britannia Inn, Boston 08 April DJ Neil, Masons Arms, Bourne Children of the Revolution, Dragon, Werrington TBC, Golden Fleece, Stamford All Shook Up, Ploughman, Werrington Mistreated, Cherry Tree, Woodston
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april 12th, 26th
09 April Dean & Co, Masons Arms, Bourne Revolver, Anchor, Sutton Bridge The Soundinjectors, Constitutional Club, Spalding, Soul Runners, Burghley Club, Peterborough Crossing The Tracks, Pincushion, Wyberton Tallawah (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Second Chance, Golden Fleece, Stamford New Gen Crash & Burn, London Inn, Stamford Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Boobonyx, Stage, Market Deeping TBC, Cherry Tree, Woodston 10 April Quiz, White Horse, Baston Pub Quiz, (9pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell Mighty Mouth Karaoke, Ploughman, Werrington 12 April Razzamajazz, (8.30pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell Quiz, Hare & Hounds, Greatford 13 April Acoustic sessions with Steve & Dave (8pm), Railway, Ramsey 14 April Open Mic Night with James Edmonds (8.30pm), Crown, Peterborough Bingo, Bull, Rippingale Open Mic Night (8pm), Britannia Inn, Boston 15 April Leftovas, Masons Arms, Bourne Donut (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Subway 77, Golden Fleece, Stamford Sound Injectors, London Inn, Stamford Psych-o-bombs, Cherry Tree, Woodston 16 April Athenry, Burghley Club, Peterborough Pennyless/Paspatou (8pm), Gretton Village Hall Bianca & the Top Cats (9:30pm), Charters, Peterborough Betty Swallox, Golden Fleece, Stamford Tiger Club, London Inn, Stamford One Eyed Cats, Ploughman, Werrington Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Kickback, Stage, Market Deeping Beats Working, Ostrich, Peterborough Sabotage, Cherry Tree, Woodston
17 April Pub Quiz, (9pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell Mighty Mouth Karaoke, Ploughman, Werrington 18 April Charters Open Mic (8pm), Charters, Peterborough 19 April Open Mic Night with Dave & Phil (9pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey 21 April Bingo, Bull, Rippingale Open Mic Night (8pm), Britannia Inn, Boston 22 April Revolver, Masons Arms, Bourne Ramshackle Serenade, Swiss Cottage, Woodston Pennyless (limited seating, booking only), The Wild Heart Cafe, Bourne The High Rollers (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Indigo, Golden Fleece, Stamford TBC, London Inn, Stamford Let There B/DC, Cherry Tree, Woodston 23 April Skullduggery, Masons Arms, Bourne Revolver, Axe & Cleaver Boston The Soundinjectors, Lime Tree, Peterborough Son of a Gun, Burghley Club, Peterborough Genie Lamps, Pincushion, Wyberton Rocket 57 (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Detourz, Golden Fleece, Stamford High Rollers, London Inn, Stamford Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Relics, Stage, Market Deeping One Eyed Cats, Ostrich, Peterborough 101 Proof, Cherry Tree, Woodston 24 April Quiz, White Horse, Baston Pub Quiz, (9pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell Mighty Mouth Karaoke, Ploughman, Werrington 26 April Quiz, Hare & Hounds, Greatford 27 April Acoustic sessions with Steve & Dave (8pm), Railway, Ramsey 28 April Open Mic Night with Dave (9pm), Cherry Tree, Woodston
Musiquizz, (8.30pm), Angel Inn,Yarwell Bingo, Bull, Rippingale Open Mic Night (8pm), Britannia Inn, Boston
Groove Cartel, Cherry Tree, Woodston Beer Festivals 09-12 March - Leicester Beer Festival 2016, Charotar Patidar Samaj, Leicester - 250+ beers, 80 of which are brewed within 25 miles of Leicester city centre, along with 35+ real ciders and parries, authentic Indian curries plus English food. 16-20 March - Empingham CSC 8th Annual Beer Festival, Empingham Cricket and Social Club - Up to 20 ales from Yorkshire, music from the Broken Stones on 18 March and all three Six Nations matches on the big screen on ‘super Saturday’. 25-27 March - Easter Beer Festival, The Crown Inn, Uppingham - Live entertainment during the weekend, eight ales and a couple of ciders.
Black Zeppelin. 29 April Cuttin’ Loose, Masons Arms, Bourne Charity Quiz, Blue Cow Inn, South Witham Meat Raffle, Priors Oven, Spalding Open Acoustic Sessions in the Whisky Bar with Dave & Phil (8.30pm), Boat Inn, Whittlesey CJ Hatt (9.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Just for Kicks, Golden Fleece, Stamford On the Ceiling, London Inn, Stamford The Final Idea (8.30pm), Beer & Bean, Sleaford Some Better Days (9pm), Barge and Bottle, Sleaford The Mojo Slide (10pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Black Zeppelin, Cherry Tree, Woodston 30 April The Soundinjectors, Heron, Stanground Go With the Flow, Burghley Club, Peterborough The Beat, Black Bull, Kirton Pennyless, St Firmin’s Church, Thurlby Lexie Green & the Indigo Blue (10.30pm), Charters, Peterborough Harkback, Golden Fleece, Stamford Children of the Revolution, London Inn, Stamford Some Better Days (7.30pm), Solo Club, Sleaford Winter Wilson (7pm), Sleaford Playhouse CJ Hatt (8pm), Millers Restaurant & Brasserie, Sleaford Retrolux, Ploughman, Werrington Saturday Night Groove (9pm), Brewery Tap, Peterborough Miscellaneous, Stage, Market Deeping Eclectic Ballroom, Ostrich, Peterborough
25-28 March - Spring Ale Festival, Tap & Kitchen, Oundle - A bag full of beers, great food & music. 25-28 March - Easter Beer Festival, Boat Inn, Whittlesey
rhythm & booze, issue 36 - March/april 2016 all written material, unless otherwise stated, © simon stabler all events are listed free of charge. to ensure inclusion in the May/June 2016 issue, or have any other news included in the magazine, email simonstabler@aol.com by 8 april. entry cannot be guaranteed for late submissions. For advertising queries, contact Chris shilling on 01778 421550, 07736 635916 or by email chris@shillingmedia.co.uk
advertising rates 29 April 02 May(excluding – Bank Festival Beer Festival, vat)* Barbecue & Band - Golden Pheasant, Etton
£175 - full page (cover) £140 - full page £90 - half page £50 - quarter page * Discounts for series bookings.
REVIEWS
Carradine’s Cockney Sing-a-long: Live at the Bull & Gate CD, www.carradinescockney singalong.co.uk
In the introduction to this live recording, made at the Bull & Gate in Kentish Town, music hall historian, West End musical director and pianist Tom Carradine tells his audience that there are three distinct elements to the cockney sing-a-long: “Drinking… crazy dancing… and the classic cockney interjection, so if you feel like having a banana, squeeze one in wherever you like.” For an hour, his audience do just that, dancing and singing along to cockney classics such as Roll Out the Barrel and My Old Man (Said Follow the Van), along with songs from musicals and the pop charts. Basing his style on Mrs Mills, Carradine is the perfect host and while he’s clearly no cockney (“I was born in the East End… of Coventry”), he certainly knows his onions. An enjoyable listen, ideal for family parties, I can’t be alone in wanting to catch the sing-a-long live. Argument’s Yard By Attila the Stockbroker, Cherry Red Books, softback, £14.99 Although not as public a figure as John Cooper Clarke, Attila the Stockbroker has done as much, if not more, to make poetry exciting and accessible.
Published to coincide with the 35th anniversary of his debut under this moniker, Attila (the legacy of a job as a bilingual settlements clerk at a stockbroking firm, where a spilt cup of coffee resulted in being told: “You’ve got the manners of Attila the Hun!”), real name John Baine, is justified in calling this autobiography his “life’s work”. His father, Bill, was a veteran of the First World War who made British legal history by being the first man to get a divorce on the grounds of his (first) wife’s mental cruelty. This determination clearly rubbed of on the younger Baine, along with a love of poetry and Brighton & Hove Albion, a team Attila has followed since he was six. Academically bright, Attila took his 11-plus a year early, earning a scholarship to Christ’s Hospital – a school for “the bright sons of the ‘deserving poor’ (how kind!)” But his time at school was tinged with sadness; Bill had just died, aged 69, of a brain tumour and Attila
didn’t want to be parted from mother Muriel, his home and his friends. Bullied by an older boy, Attila fought back and won, vowing to himself “that no one, anywhere, under any circumstances, would ever push me around again. And no one has done, from that day to this.” True to his word, he’s fought the fascists who attacked him on stage, saved his football club from an attack by the money men (proving in the process that football fans DO drink real ale) not to mention his recent treatment for bladder cancer. Despite walking gingerly for a while after the lasers (successfully) did their job, he writes about it humorously and intelligently, just like the remainder of the book. Featuring many of his bestknown poems, along with some more recent pieces, Attila is such a great live performer, that this autobiography could only be bettered if it was available as an audiobook.
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