Black Sheep is not a Peculier Golden Goose!

     In the news earlier this week, with the report that control of the independent Theakstons' brewery has now passed to the next generation (Morning Advertiser, 2nd October 2011), the family firm is making headlines again by drawing attention to the unfairness of our excise duty rates by revealing that in the last financial year they paid 41% of annual turnover to HMRC (Morning Advertiser, 5th October 2011).

      Having discovered Theakston's Old Peculier back in the mid-seventies at the Anglesea Arms in South Ken, I had tremendous admiration for Paul when he disagreed with the rest of the family - hence "Black Sheep" - and went it alone.

One government after another goes for the perceived easy targets, but how long before the golden udders run dry?

Nanny's told to get stuffed!

At long last a fairly major player in the hospitality industry has had the guts to call into question government interference - this time, the proposed calorie count on all menus - by pointing out that there is certainly no demand for this additional red-tape from customers. Full marks to Sarah Thomas of Orchid for her sensible comments (Morning Advertiser, 19th September 2011).

Let's hope it inspires others to put these half-baked plans under close scrutiny.

The Gastro-pub is dead - long live the pub

Encouraging news from the editor of the Good Food Guide who is ditching the term "Gastro-pub" because it has become so hackneyed in recent years (Morning Advertiser, 6th September 2011). I agree that too many pubs think they are restaurants nowadays and I certainly would welcome a return to proper pub grub like Scotch eggs and home-made pork scratchings. And why is it that you never see a proper cheese board anywhere?

My home-made pork scratchings

Prohibition (2011-style)

I have smoke coming out of my ears at the moment - I must have missed the original news that cigarette vending machines will become illegal in England from the 1st October 2011. Smokefreeaction.org.uk Report.

 This sort of interference in our lives makes me mad enough (ie very angry) to take up cigarettes (if not arms) against the impossibly smug nannies who believe they know better than the rest of us what is good for us.

It was my choice to give up smoking - it should be your choice too!

The ubiquitous Aiden Byrne

"So, Aiden (I have met him: the hand that is typing this has shaken his), just how many stoves can you cook at simultaneously?"

After opening - with a great fanfare - at The Hillbark Hotel in Frankby on the Wirral, this time last year (Caterer, 7th June 2010), Aiden Byrne had parted company with the owners - and most of his team, who elected to stay - by December of the same year. The former Black Horse Hotel - renamed The Collingwood by Ed Atkinson - opened with rather less fanfare; the new manager was "removed from his post" after a couple of weeks, at very short notice. I know this because I had an appointment to see him - made the previous day - but when I arrived, it was to be told he was no longer with the company. Assured, disingenuously, by the man himself that it would not be a wasted trip for me, I will be watching how he fares at Craxton Wood. (Caterer, 16th June 2011)

Don't get me started on who, in their right mind - even if their surname is Macdonald - calls a high-class hotel group after the world's most famous hamburger chain!

The Free Library Public House

There used to a pub in Birkenhead called The Free Library - where it used to stand is now part of The Wirral Globe newspaper building. The vogue in the 1980s - particularly in Whitbread pubs - was to put up bookshelves and load them with fodder bought by the yard. Now, with funding cuts, it looks like more pubs really could become local libraries!
Morning Advertiser, 13th June 2011

"I'll have a Stephen Fry, a Kipling and a pint, please!"

Spontaneous Orgasms in the pub?

In breaking news that Thorntons Chocolates are to take part in a joint venture producing a new chocolate liqueur, I can see lots of "When Harry Met Sally"  moments in a local near you.
Morning Advertiser, 9th May 2011

I'll have to start thinking of a new cocktail to supercede my favourite Screaming Orgasm!