Rhythm of the night

The party season is over, and we’re back at work and back to counting down the days until we can go back in to the pub / bar / club guilt-free (or, indeed, with some money in our pockets after the coin-fest that is the festive season – a time when I, personally, treat the bankroll like it’s out of a board game – see also: holiday spends). If you’re in this situation, I’ve compiled a story of a night out using songs.
Feel free to comment with your own additions - there were a lot of tracks that didn't make the cut.

A little weekend whimsy - enjoy!

1)      Jens Lekman – A Man Walks In To A Bar
Starting out slowly and relaxed – that’s the place you want to be in when you’re about to enjoy a ‘beer and a bowl of peanuts’ (to quote Jens), isn’t it? That’s about as far as this song’s lyrics goes in terms of relating to the subject at hand, as ‘the bar turns in to a spaceship and the bartender gives him a haircut’. Turns out it was a joke.

2)      Wham! -  Club Tropicana
After that nice, slow, relaxed start, Club Tropicana is the bar you’ve actually just gone in to, although not very realistic, as apparently all the drinks are free and it sounds as if the weather is nice and it’s full of celebrities.

3)      The Housemartins – Happy Hour
After that dreamland of Club Tropicana where the drinks are free and everyone is famous, we’re a little bit more down to earth with Happy Hour by The Housemartins (you know, Fatboy Slim’s old band). Incidentally, Paul Heaton from The Housemartins / Beautiful South has recently became the landlord of one of my local watering holes.

4)      Stereophonics – The Bartender and the Thief
Anyway, now you’re in the bar and you’re going up to the bar to get your drink, so who do you have to speak to? The bartender of course. Another song that has the right title and little else to do with the general theme (and it’s the best song about a bartender I could think of)

5)      Belle & Sebastian – Dear Catastrophe Waitress
You might have gone to a nice bar or restaurant for your drink, where they come to your table and wait on you hand and foot (what a treat). Naturally, be wary of the catastrophe waitress or your drink could end up all over you (reminds me of the time I worked in a restaurant and dropped a prawn cocktail down a woman’s back, oops).

6)      Rupert Holmes – Escape (The Piña Colada Song)

     Of course, what else are you going to order when you finally decide what to have!? There are loads and loads of songs that feature drinks, so I had to be quite strict in order to not turn it in to a bit of a binge. Also includes one of my favourite lines from a song, ‘I’m not much in to health food, I am in to Champagne.’ 

7)      Brand New – Soco Amaretto Lime
This might be something you’d like to try in the future, if you haven’t already. And I’d dare you to casually say the name of the drink to your bartender or waitress, as if you say it all the time. ‘A Soco, Amaretto, Lime please’ – I can near guarantee that whoever you ask will say ‘pardon?’
This song is the much needed dip that all great setlists need to calm the audience down in preparation for the build-up to the end.

8)      Rihanna – Cheers (Drink To That)
So you’ve got your Pina Colada, you’ve got your Soco Amaretto Lime… Prost! If you’re in Club Tropicana, Rihanna is probably letting her Irish Whiskey sink in. There’s a party at the bar, everybody put your glasses up.

9)      Los Campesinos! – You! Me! Dancing!
This is what usually happens when you’ve had a couple of pina coladas and you’re having a good time (mainly in Club Tropicana, I’d imagine). Incidentally, this song is featured on no less than TWO adverts for beer, and nearly went on more.

10)   Whiskeytown – Bar Lights
Wasn’t sure where this one could be shoehorned in (there was no way I was omitting it, it’s superb), so it’s dedicated to when the lights flash in a loud bar to signify last orders.
“The bar lights and the liquor, and the way all the bottles they shine
Well, I got five more dollars, drink another, you’ll feel fine”
Usually the way you feel at last orders, isn’t it?

11)   Semisonic – Closing Time
The original ode to the bar or club closing! Who hasn’t been to somewhere that’s spun this one as the final song of the evening? Let’s ignore the bit that says
“Closing time, one last call for alcohol so finish your whiskey or beer,
  Closing time, you don't have to go home but you can't stay here.”
As that would ruin the song that’s coming up next. This is the warmer for the stormer that is…

12)   Bluetones – After Hours
I’ve only ever been to one lock-in before, where stopped charging for drinks and essentially started to just use the bar area as their living room. It was brilliant. Unfortunately, it wasn’t anything like the video to this song (have a look if you get a minute).

13)   Vanessa Paradis – Joe Le Taxi
A latecomer to the party, as recommended by our CEO, Jon Collins, if you’re heading home, take a (Joe Le) Taxi. And make sure it’s a legal taxi (Driver & Vehicle Agency for more information). Wouldn’t recommend the taxi driver Vanessa sings about, as I’m sure the lyrics say he likes a sip of Rum (you can check all the facts on drink driving at Drinkaware)

14)   Gomez – Hangover
You probably shouldn’t be going out and drinking so much that you’re waking up with a big head, but if you do, then this one is for you (Drinkaware, for the facts). Another song whose name doesn’t quite match up to the rest of the song, but if you are feeling delicate, Ben Ottewell and Tom Gray’s vocals will soothe you a treat.

15)   Arctic Monkeys – Fluorescent Adolescent
The most tenuous of all these choices, mainly because it includes the line ‘this bloody mary’s lacking the tabasco’. Bloody Mary – featured on Leeds bar ‘Nation of Shopkeepers’ Sunday menu as ‘breakfast of champions’. Amen.

To hear the playlist in full, click here.

Hydes lets loose Racey Rudolph

A festive ale has been launched by Hydes to sit alongside its familiar seasonal brew - Rockin Robin.

Hydes describe Racey Rudolph as ‘a spicy, malty beer.’ It has an abv of 3.5%. The Manchester brewers add that it is ‘full of warming malt winter flavours.’

David Safiruddin, Marketing Director, said: “Craft ales have grown from strength to strength in 2011, and these will be two fabulous beers to close out the year with.”

Both Racey Rudolph and Rockin Robin are on sale throughout the Hydes pub estate.

Hydes is owned and managed as a family business. The brewing side includes a commitment to craft ales.

The Hydes brewing dynasty began in 1863 when Alfred and Ralph Hyde acquired a small brewing concern from their grandfather. Hydes found a home at the Queens Brewery Site, Brooks Bar, in Manchester city centre.

Its other beers include Hydes Original, Amber Smooth, XXXX Strong Ale, Goalden Drop craft ale and a range of others.

Ex Housemartin becomes a landlord

Paul Heaton, famous for singing in The Housemartins and The Beautiful South, must be bracing himself for Happy Hour jokes after his decision to buy a Salford pub.

The singer and songwriter has explained that taking on the Kings Arms is a practical move on his part. He rehearses and records in the room upstairs. In addition, his partner, Zena, will get involved in the theatrical side of the pub’s activities.

Paul has taken the licensing exam but doesn’t plan to run the pub on a day-day basis. He will, though, stamp his identity on the Kings Arms.

Paul told the website Manchester Confidential that the subject of crisps is dear to his heart. He is keen to sell KP, Tyrrells, Seabrook crisps, along with others from small operators. The revival of Seabrook’s Spring Onion flavour is high on his wish list.

Despite bringing his own flavour to the pub’s character, Paul stressed that he would not change any of the pub’s popular and well-established features. Responding to comments on Manchester Confidential, Paul said: “We have no intentions of changing anything other than what we have to. The staff are integral, so they'll stay”

He plans to play gigs at the Kings Arms and last year showed his support for local pubs. His ‘Pedals and Pumps’ tour saw him embark on a 20-day cycling tour, performing at a different pub most nights.

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As a star of The Beautiful South, Paul released a number of songs about pubs and drinking including ‘Old Red Eyes is Back’, ‘Liar’s Bar’and ‘Look What I Found in my Beer’. The Beautiful South split up in 2007, blaming ‘musical similarities’.

www.studiosalford.com

Greene King Discovers new talent

Celebrity Chef Marco Pierre White has, this month, given his support to an apprenticeship scheme, introduced by Greene King.

The Discovery Apprenticeship scheme currently involves almost 700 young people working in Greene King’s pubs and restaurants.

Marco Pierre White helped to officially launch the programme with a cookery masterclass.

The masterclass also celebrated the achievements of some of the first apprentices to qualify. It was attended by eight apprentices, each nominated by their Business Development Managers and Area Chef for Loch Fyne, Chris Stanbrooke.

Chris, a former apprentice himself, said: “To be able to get tips from one of the ‘greats’ like him was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us.”

The scheme has also been praised by Karen Woodward, Divisional Apprenticeship Director at The National Apprenticeship Service (NAS).

She said: “The NAS are delighted to be supporting Greene King and their selected provider, Charnwood Training Group, in their Apprenticeship programme.”

Over 250 employees have completed the apprenticeships and 425 are currently in training. Greene King intends to extend the scheme to cover 1,300 employees in 2012. Around 70% are currently aged 24-years-old or younger.

Jonathan Webster, managing director of Greene King’s Destination Pubs and Restaurants division, said: “Our aim is not just to provide a ‘pub job’ but to offer a clear career path for our employees.”

He added: “We might even develop a future Michelin star rated chef!”

Marco Pierre White started his own training at the Hotel St George in Harrogate. At the age of 33 he was awarded three Michelin Stars.

Vintage Inns nourish poetic imaginations

A well crafted line could lead to a free meal from Vintage Inns, in a competition being judged by former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion.

The national competition is being held to honour Great British country pubs. Each week Sir Andrew will choose one line, from those submitted, to take the poem forwards.

The poem that results will be an accumulation of those winning lines. The opening line is: ‘The muted brilliance of autumn leaves.’

Each week one person will receive a signed copy of one of Sir Andrew’s books along with dinner for four, plus wine, at their local Vintage Inn.

Sir Andrew will also be producing his own verse on the Great British country pubs theme.

Vintage Inns, a Mitchell’s & Butlers pub chain, features ‘real ales, real fires and pub-food as hearty and warming as the welcome.’

There are nearly 200 Vintage Inns throughout the country.

Sir Andrew was Poet Laureate between 1999 and 2009. His sequence of war poems ‘Laurels and Donkeys’ will be featured on BBC Radio 4 over the weekend to honour Remembrance Sunday.

www.vintageinn.co.uk/offer/poetrycompetition/

Adnams adds new recipes to its menu

A new range of condiments is on offer from Adnams, along with the reappearance of its winter warmer Old Ale.

One of the Suffolk brewers and pub owner’s kitchen teams created the recipes for the condiments. Alexese Scott, Adnams’ Cellar & Kitchen Food Buyer, was also closely involved in the development.

Ms Scott said: “We’re incredibly proud to be putting our name on the labels. We will be stocking the full range of products in all of our Cellar & Kitchen stores, online and also in our hotels, and are looking forward to sharing our new offerings with our customers.”

The range uses local ingredients and includes Adnams Tomato Ketchup, Wholegrain Mustard with Broadside, Brown Sauce and Strawberry Jam.

The labels were designed by local artist Clare Curtis. Her coastal illustrations are inspired by Suffolk’s landscapes.

Meanwhile, Adnams 4.1% ABV Old Ale is back to liven up winter. The mild ale style beer is brewed with East Anglian pale ale and Crystal malted barley and Boadicea hops.

Adnams other beers include Ghost Ship, Southwold Bitter, Broadside and Explorer, amongst others.

Hydes and Wychwood offer Halloween treats

New craft beers are on offer from Hydes to mark both Halloween and Bonfire Night.

The Manchester brewer has named its 4.4% ABV Halloween brew Hubble Bubble. Its 4% ABV ‘Guy Fawkes’ beer is called Bright Spark.

Hydes’ Marketing Director David Safiruddin said: “We have always had a great response to our crafted themed beers and in producing these two we aim to further build on that proven success.”

Meanwhile, Wychwood Brewery is making sure that it doesn’t miss out on Halloween fun. The Oxfordshire brewer is holding its own Halloween Fair at Wychwood Brewery on Monday 31^st October. It will include pumpkin carving and other spooky entertainments.

Both Wychwood’s flagship beer, Hobgoblin, and its famous mascot will be lifting spirits at the Bram Stoker International Film Festival in Whitby and the Sneaky Experience in Leeds on 31^st October. The Sneaky Experience will feature ‘ghoulish films’ that will be recreated in ‘stunning detail at a secret location’.

Hydes Brewery was established in 1863. Its brews include Hydes Original, 1863, Amber Smooth, XXXX Strong Ale and others.

Wychwood Brewery officially came into being in 1990 when the Eagle Brewery was renamed Wychwood after the ancient medieval Wychwood Forest which borders Witney.

Wychwood’s beers include Hobgoblin, King Goblin, Wychcraft and others. Its seasonal beer for October is Wizard’s Staff.

www.hydesbrewery.co.uk

www.wychwood.co.uk