EGON TOASTE's Wassailled Hostelries Guide
2000
Wherein Egon Toaste and his trusty navigator Arthur Boutfayse attempt to recount the travels and travailles of many evenings progress from hostelry to hostelry. There is a key - see below
STORTFOLK HOMEPAGE or BBT Site
TOUR (& Rough Location) | SIGN of the HOUSE | Notes & Ratings |
A11 Tour: | 15th December | £240.62 in the hat |
Elsenham | The Crown | MMM,SBSB,JJJ - one of our favourites. |
Henham | The Cock | MM,SBSB |
Newport | The Coach & Horses | MM,SBSB,J - lots of diners all having an Excellent Time, as last year. |
Quendon | The Chequers | MMM,SBSB,J |
Debden | White Hart | SB,J - Jacqs learns that "thank you" is almost the same in Ukrainian as Czech. Handy information when in N. Eseex ..... |
Debden | Plough | M,SB |
Widdington | Fleur de Lys | SB,J Good fun - live band |
Rickling Green | Cricketers | Out of time in 2000 - sorry about that, it's a good place for a decent wet .... |
Hatfield Heath Tour: | 16th December | £312.75 in the hat - Sincere Apologies to Tory Clank BBT, Wass. (failed) for the utterly negligent communication system which left him wandering lonely as a clod in the bitter chills of winter whist we disported ourselves before many a crackling log and warm barmaid ....... |
HATFIELD BROAD OAK | The Cock | N,MM - Beer still very well kept - lots of real choice. |
Dukes Head | MMM,SBSB, | |
HATFIELD HEATH | Thatchers | SBSBSB,MM,JJ |
Stag | M,SB | |
White Horse | M,SB | |
Countryman Restaurant | MMM,J - Poplular dining-out spot with good reason. | |
Hallingbury | Sutton Arms | JJ,SBSB,MM - Diners in back room were in no pain. |
George | SBSB,MMM. | |
SHEERING | Crown, free house | MM,SBSB,J - Always get a good pint of Adnams in here. |
Cock free house | SBSB,MM, | |
MANUDEN TOUR | 20th December | £180.45 in the hat |
Manuden | Yew Tree Inn | SBSB,MM,J |
Clavering | Cricketers | MMM,SBSB,J - famed for dinners. Busy but friendly |
Fox & Hounds | MM,SBSB,J | |
Brent Pelham | Black Horse | MM,SB,J |
Stocking Pelham | Cock | SBSB - very popular. |
Albury | Catherine Wheel | MM,SB,J |
Hazel End | Three Horseshoes | K,SBSB,MM,J |
ASH VALE - | 21st December | £189 in in the hat |
Wareside | Chequers | K,MM,SBSB - home pub for the Ashvale Longsword |
White Horse | M,SB | |
Widford | The Bell | SB,M,J |
Green Man | M,SBSB,J | |
Much Hadham | Jolly Waggoners | Refused Entry, but our thanks to the guest who came out and put pennies in Jacqui's pot regardless. |
Crown | J,SBSB,M - | |
Bulls Head | MM,SBSB,JJ - refurbished since last year & now a pubmaster. Looking good! | |
Little Hadham | Nags Head | MMM,SB |
Standon | Bell | Ran out of time - back next year! |
Star | J,M,SB | |
Puckeridge | Crown & Falcon | M,SBSB |
SAWBRIDGEWORTH | 22nd December | £236.57 in the hat |
West Road | Three Horseshoes | SB,M |
High Wych | Rising Sun | N,KKK - world-renowned ! |
Sawbo City | Half Moon | SB, MM - lovely little pub with a great atmosphere |
Hand & Crown | MM,SBSB,J - favourite stop for a wet. | |
Bell | SB,KKK,J - Ridleys Tiddley in nice order. Heaving. | |
Market House | SB,SB,MMM,J- good place for a meal out. Cordon Bleu Restaurant. | |
King William IV | SB,SB,M - | |
Queen's Head | SB,M - very friendly | |
George IV | SB,SB,KKK - | |
Good Intent | SBSB,M - nice pub for a good pint. | |
The Gate | SBSBSB,J - Good Ale ! Nearly a Nigel ! |
KEY to the ratings: - Hostelries may qualify under more than one heading. All hostelries wassailled are deemed to be good & sufficient places of rest, recreation and enjoyment. Ratings are for especial competence in one or more areas.
Sad to report, there are some establishments where we have been denied the Comfort of the House. They will not generally be embarassed by being asked again.
Ratings are entirely at the discretion of the Association and can be altered at Will, provided he shows up. Landlords who feel they have been unfairly graded should appeal formally to the Grand Court of the Wassail Branch, enclosing grounds for appeal on a postcard, together with a stamped & addressed barrel of best.
M (= Macs)
M : Good Food. Bar Snacks. Egg & Chips done. MM: LOTS of food. All very tasty. MMM: Aroma of Good Roast Beef, Australian-grade steaks or home-made pie. Array of Dangerous Puddings &/or Throwing Trifles in cabinet. MMMM: Groaning Board. Fly-button damage to ceiling. Mr Creosote ate here.
J (=Jacquis)
J: More than usually Friendly or own parrot. JJ: Chat-up merchants JJJ: Made coffee, told jokes, made all the ladies giggle & blush. Don't smoke over you. JJJJ: Royal Liberty Morris. All maidens carried lustily away.
K (=Kevins)
K: Folkies KK: Singing tolerated & joined in with KKK: Jams encouraged and/or landlord posesses Goaty Voice & will use it. KKKK: Tour continued without Real Folkies, who now live there permanently.
SB (=Suggers-Brain)
SB - Good Ale. Awarded as standard. We wouldn't grace any establishment where it wasn't. SBSB - Exceptionally Good Ale, or a fine cellar. SBSBSB - Very Good Ale at reasonable cost in convivial surroundings. SBSBSBBSSSBBBSSSSS - More than SBSB. Almost impossible to enunciate. See N below
N (=Nigel)
A Nigel indicates the prescence of the rarest and very finest Real English Ale. A Hero of a Cellarman. And proper facilities in which to savour the brew. Only one Nigel is ever awarded (per pub), as there is only one Nigel.
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