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Pub Guide

Opening Times

Issue 133 Winter 2007

Download a copy of Opening Times 133 as a PDF file - 2.9 MB

PUB PIECES

St Ives night clubs have been taking on the running of pubs. Following a lead set by the LEL club in their proprietorship of the Robin Hood, the Music Box is reported to have taken the lease of the Royal Oak, previously one of the Spirit Group chain of managed houses sold to Punch Taverns, which runs a chain of leased pubs. Work has begun to improve décor both inside and outside this historic pub.

Also in St Ives, there is a new licensee at the Aviator, and good reports have been received of the real ales there.

The Mad Cat at Pidley has been sold and the pub is proving popular under the management of the new owners, who have been busy organising various events at the pub, including a real ale festival.

The Crown at Broughton is on the market freehold at a guide price of £550000.

At Warboys, new licensees at the Royal Oak have made various improvements to create a more family-orientated pub and have shown considerable enthusiasm for cask ales.

Leases are available for the King William IV in Fenstanton and the Wheatsheaf in Eaton Socon.

Kisby’s Hut at Papworth Everard has been converted to an Indian restaurant. At Eltisley, a new manager is in place at the Leeds Arms. At Buckden, the Lion is now reported to be under the ownership of Churchill Taverns. The Three Horseshoes at Southoe has been closed by the owner and licensee.

Bedford brewers Charles Wells are looking for entrepreneurs to take leases of pubs to be run as free-house style real ale pubs along similar lines to the recently reopened Bedford Arms in Bedford. St Neots pub the Globe has been earmarked for this and the lease is currently available.

The Green Man at Leighton Bromswold has taken on a new chef, Bill Bennett, formerly from the White Hart at Bythorn.

The Pheasant at Keyston won the ‘Best Pub’ award in the Huntingdonshire Food and Drink Awards run by the Hunts Post, in conjunction with the Huntingdonshire Food and Drink Festival last September. The ‘best pub’ award was sponsored and judged by CAMRA Huntingdonshire branch, who judged the Pheasant to be the best of the pubs entered for its well kept local real ales, as well as having the best wine list and the best food.

At Kimbolton the Saddle has reported that they are to install a new stillage for real ales after a period of the using upright dispense system for cask ales.

The property pages of a local newspaper have reported a survey which found that the presence of a nearby pub as an amenity for residents could add up to 10% to the value of a country home.

A unique pub at Foulness Island, Essex, the George and Dragon, is reportedly under threat from a rent increase proposed by its owners, the Ministry of Defence. This unspoilt and very basic pub serves a small resident community on the island, which is owned by the military. The George and Dragon serves real ales, and may only be visited by making prior arrangements with the pub and providing a list of names in order to pass the security gate to gain access to the island.