Cheers - Snifter's take on the week

Real ale may grow on trees

Real-ale drinkers are helping to restock dwindling British woodlands. By giving away 665 English oak trees to real-ale drinkers around Britain, Ruddles County Ale and Greene King have helped to create a much-admired new woodland trail in Wherstead, Suffolk. The promotion invites drinkers to send away for free oak trees. The trees are 20-40cm tall but can grow up to 35 metres high.

Where there's a Will there's great publicity

The people's Pop Idol Will Young rocked up at the Pitcher and Piano in Nottingham for a pre-concert snack of burger and chips.

The pub's star-struck staff generously gave Young the burger for free and the chuffed superstar scoffed it down, promising to give the pub a plug at his concert.

And he didn't disappoint them; standing in front of 6,000 people at Nottingham Arena he said: "The Pitcher and Piano gave me a free burger today - not only do I make lots of money, I get free food too!" Thanks, Will!

Big Lol finds curry too hot to handle

Snifter lost all respect for the famous rugby hard man Lawrence Dallaglio when he pitched up in the Magners box for the Wasps v Harlequins game. Initially, Snifter was very impressed that the cider company had laid on an England World Cup winner to meet and greet him but was shocked when big Lol broke into a profuse sweating fit, protesting that his beef madras had too much of a kick. The big man of rugby was forced to retire outside to cool off while iron- stomached Snifter rushed back for seconds.