Oh what a knight!
With less than three weeks to go, Adrian Tierney-Jones finds out how licensees across the land are preparing to make the most of St George's Day
Whether it's having
a themed quiz, calling in the local Morris Men, cooking up a storm with English grub or just decking the front of the pub with bunting and flags — licensees all over England are starting to think about what they should do for 23 April.
St George's Day is a chance for licensees and customers to celebrate their national identity, while hopefully generating business as well. If you are stuck for ideas, here are a few to get you started.
"Every year we have a different theme, last year it was medieval and this year we will have pearly kings and queens. They will be leading a big sing-song, and there will be pie and mash and jellied eels on the menu. I am also making outfits for the staff. We always have all the flags up and there's music playing. I recommend all pubs celebrate St George's Day. I can't understand why more are not involved. I love it."
Lucy Burch at the Elephant Inn, Finchley, London
"We do a St George's beer festival on the nearest weekend. We also put on a St George's night dinner, where we have a five-course gala meal. I come up with a different theme for our beer festivals each time. This time it's a right royal festival, with beers such as St Austell's Black Prince and Shepherd Neame's Bishops Finger."
Steve Herbert at the Old Spot, Dursley, Gloucestershire
"St George's Day usually comes before the Adderbury Day of Dance, which is our busiest day of the year. We put up bunting and there are also two Morris Dancing sides in the town, so they both get involved. We are a traditional pub and our owner, Hook Norton, is brewing 303, named after the year in which St George slayed the dragon. My advice is to go a bit over the top. Every time I put the bunting out, people say how great it is to support an English tradition."
John Bellinger at the Bell, Adderbury, Oxfordshire
"Last year we had the Bombardier bus on the day and we hope to do it again — Wells & Young's is really supportive. St Patrick's Day is massive in the UK, so we should be celebrating our national identity in the same way. We also theme the day around charity fund-raising — helping to support the local air ambulance."
Andrew Pearson at the Greyhound, Milton Masor, Northamptonshire
"We do a beer festival with 18 real ales, whose names are related to the Saint, and live music in a marquee.
I decorate the pub front and put some deals on the real ales. I also have St George turning up and I work closely with Wells & Young's — it sponsors the horse on which George arrives."
Tony Le Beau at the George, Bethersden, Kent
"We have a traditional pub quiz and an English supper menu with a pint of bitter included in the price. We like to throw a bit of a party, it is something I have always done in my pubs, and we have had a good response so far, though I find the older age group is more patriotic."
Steve Hughes at the Millgate, Failsworth, Lancashire
"There are a couple of ideas I am looking at: one would be something I want to fit in with food specials, like maybe a free pint of London Pride; the other is to make a big cardboard model of a dragon and have customers trying to pin the tail on it!"
Kathryn Rolfe at the Shooting Star, Bishopsgate, London
"We get in the local brass band. They play traditional English music and we also put on a traditional Lancashire menu, featuring dishes cooked with JW Lees ales. The brewery sends out posters in the form of English flags and we also promote its own Golden Original Lager."
Steve Nutter at the Lancashire Fold, Middleton, Lancashire
Win a family fun-day with Bombardier
Wells Bombardier has teamed up with the Morning Advertiser to offer readers 10 family tickets to the St George's Day family fun day at Wrest Park, Bedfordshire, on 19 and 20 April.
As the official beer of English Heritage for 2008, Wells Bombardier is supporting all the English Heritage events throughout the country, and the Bedfordshire event is set to be the biggest.
There will be dramatic equestrian displays, falconry, children's theatre and a historic market, along with mischief-making jugglers, and even a real live St George.
Wells Bombardier is also sending out 4,500 St George's Day kits to pubs. Each kit includes a book of two-for-one tickets to English Heritage sites, high-quality hats and traditional flags and bunting.
To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is answer this question:
According to the legend, which animal did St George slay?
A) dragon B) hippo C) sea serpent
Please email your answer and contact details to noli.dinkovski@william-reed.co.uk by 11 April to be included in the draw. Winners will be notified by 14 April.
