FIRST FOOTING - HAPPY 2014 FROM MITHRIL ALES

The first footer, is the first person to enter the house in the New Year and they should also be a bringer of good fortune.

My dad has always carried out this heroic feat. It commences with his ceremonial opening of my front door, an indifferent gaze from the dog who can't be bothered to move from their chair, the throw of some EU approved smokeless coal onto my door mat and then probably cursing why just for a change he couldn't stay in the pub and I carried out this task myself.



For those who want to find out more about First Footing, see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-Foot

For those who want to drink the ale (my dad will be the one leaving the pub as you arrive) get a long to one of the following fine ale houses:

The Old Well, Barnard Castle
The Half Moon, Darlington
The Ship, Middlestone Village
The Red Lion, Cotherstone
The Bridge, Whorlton
The Wheatsheaf, Borrowby
The Voodoo Cafe, Darlington
The Stanwick, Aldbrough St John
The Croft Hotel, Croft On Tees
The Four Alls, Ovington
Glaxo Sports & Social Club, Barnard Castle
The Darlington Snooker Club, Enjoy

Slang var

HOLLY HOPS

NORMALLY I TRY TO WRITE DOWN SOMETHING VAGUELY AMUSING, BUT HOLLY DOESNT REALLY LEND ITSELF TO WITTY BLOGGING.

SO FOR SOME CHRISTMAS CHEER I WAS GOING TO POST  A LINK TO LISTEN TO THE CAROL. UNFORTUNATELY, IT INVOLVED DOWNLOADING A PROGRAMME AND CHANGING YOUR TOOL BAR. (DON'T SAY I DIDN'T TRY)

HOLLY HOPS WENT OUT TO THE FOLLOWING FINE ALE HOUSES:

THE OLD WELL, BARNARD CASTLE
THE COUNTY, AYCLIFFE VILLAGE
THE HALF MOON, DARLINGTON
THE SHIP, MIDDLESTONE VILLAGE
THE BLACK LION, WOLSINGHAM
THE WHEATSHEAF, BORROWBY
THE WHITE SWAN, GILLING WEST
DARLINGTON SNOOKER CLUB, DARLINGTON
THE STANWICK, ALDBROUGH ST JOHN
THE FOUR ALLS, OVINGTON
THE CROFT HOTEL, CROFT ON TEES
GLAXO SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB

ENJOY!

THE HALF MOON AND CRAFTY PINT - DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

THE HALF MOON HAS A NUMBER OF EVENTS ON OVER THE CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR PERIOD:

18.12.13 - OPEN FROM 12-11PM, XMAS QUIZ 8.30PM

20.12.13 - OPEN FROM 12-MIDNIGHT, SCHOOL'S OUT - NORTHERN TAPAS FROM 5PM ONWARDS AND LIVE MUSIC FROM 8.30PM

24.12.13 - OPEN FROM 12-MIDNIGHT, WIN A CASK OF ALE AND CHRISTMAS RAFFLE IN AID OF ST TERESA'S HOSPICE

25.12.13 - OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY FROM 11-2PM

26.12.13 - OPEN BOXING DAY 12-11PM

31.12.13 - OPEN NEW YEARS EVE 12- LATE

WHY NOT POP DOWN, THEY ARE ALSO NOW SERVING THEIR OWN BEERS.

THE WHITE SWAN, GILLING WEST

The White Swan has several events on over Christmas including:

16th December - Quiz - wear Christmas jumpers/outfits - Team Mithril will be out in force, and are putting their Quiz winnings to date towards a meal before the quiz starts.    

20th December - Live Music including carols and seasonal songs

Christmas Eve Party - songs and Christmas Jumpers - prize for best jumper

New Years Eve Party - quiz, pulled pork sandwiches and chilli brisket jackets

Food and drink (including Mithril Ales) served all day

You can keep up to date with events etc by friending their Facebook site, and also more information is available on their website - see below:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/thewhiteswan

or

http://www.thewhiteswan.co/The_White_Swan/Welcome.html

THE CROFT HOTEL, CROFT ON TEES

This photo of The Croft Hotel is courtesy of TripAdvisor

UP THE ROAD AT CROFT, THE CROFT HOTEL, ALSO HAS SOME GREAT DEALS GOING ON OVER CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR INCLUDING CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHTS, CHRISTMAS LUNCHES, SUNDAY LUNCHES AND ALSO NEW YEARS EVE DINNER. IN ADDITION TO SPECIAL OFFERS ON ACCOMMODATION.

WHY NOT POP ALONG TO THEIR WEB PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

http://www.crofthotel.net/events/christmas-2013

I WAS DELIGHTED TO HEAR (ALONG WITH FELLOW LOCAL BREWER, BLACK PAW) IN ISSUE 6 OF THEIR NEWSLETTER THAT MITHRIL ALES AND BLACK PAW WILL BE FEATURED DURING THE HOTEL'S FESTIVE PERIOD, AT A SPECIAL PRICE OF £2.50 PER PINT.

THE STANWICK, ALDBROUGH ST JOHN

FESTIVE SETTINGS IN THE RESTAURANT

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CHRISTMAS PARTY MENU,  CATERING FOR A WALKING OR SHOOTING PARTY OR JUST A FAB SUNDAY LUNCH OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE STANWICK. THE STANWICK IS NOT ONLY MY LOCAL PUB (AND AN EXCELLENT ONE AT THAT)  BUT ALSO A REGULAR STOCKIST OF MITHRIL ALES. 

THERE IS A PARTY MENU AVAILABLE FOR GROUPS OF 8 PLUS, WITH TWO COURSES £15.95 AND THREE £19.95.

AN EARLY BIRD MENU IS ALSO AVAILABLE MONDAY TO FRIDAY FROM 5.30-7PM JUST NOW.

FOR FURTHER DETAILS CALL 01325 374258 OR WHY NOT FRIEND THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH EVENTS:

https://www.facebook.com/stanwick.aldbrough?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/stanwick.aldbrough

DONNER AND BLITZEN

I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT SUGGESTING THAT REINDEER SHOULD DRINK AND DRIVE WHEN ASSISTING SANTA DELIVERING PRESENTS ON CHRISTMAS EVE. BUT, IF THE  ST BERNARD
CAN CARRY A  CASK OF RESTORATIVE BRANDY FOR THE LOST AND BEWILDERED WALKER OR MOUNTAINEER, WHY CAN'T REINDEER CARRY RESTORATIVE ALES FOR THE FRAZZLED PARENT? OR INDEED FOR ANYONE  FRAZZLED IN THE RUN UP TO CHRISTMAS?

IF YOU CAN'T FIND AN OBLIGING REINDEER, WHY NOT POP ALONG TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FINE ALE HOUSES INSTEAD:

THE QUAKERHOUSE, DARLINGTON
THE HALF MOON, DARLINGTON
THE BISHOP BLAIZE, RICHMOND
THE CROWN, MANFIELD
THE BLACK BULL, MELSONBY
THE WHITE SWAN, GILLING WEST
THE BRIDGE, WHORLTON
THE OLD VIC, DARLINGTON
THE STANWICK, ALDBROUGH ST JOHN
THE CROFT HOTEL, CROFT ON TEES
THE FOUR ALLS, OVINGTON
GLAXO SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB

ENJOY!

ALADDIN'S ALE - HE'S BEHIND YOU!

IN KEEPING WITH A MITHRIL ALES TRADITION, THIS ALE HAS BEEN BREWED  AFTER BEING INSPIRED BY DARLINGTON CIVIC THEATRE'S PANTOMINE.

ALADDIN RUNS AT THE THEATRE FROM THE 7TH DECEMBER TO THE 12TH JANUARY 2014.  BOOKING DETAILS CAN BE FOUND ON THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE:

www.darlingtoncivic.co.uk

OR IF PANTO'S NOT YOUR THING, WHY  NOT JUST POP ALONG TO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FINE ALE HOUSES FOR A PINT - ALTHOUGH I CAN'T PROMISE IF YOU RUB A PINT OF MITHRIL ALES THAT YOUR WISHES WILL BE GRANTED!

THE OLD WELL, BARNARD CASTLE
THE BRIDGE, WHORLTON
THE HALF MOON, DARLINGTON
OVINGTON VILLAGE HALL
THE FOUR ALLS, OVINGTON
LORD NELSON, APPLETON WISKE
LARTINGTON HALL
HORSESHOE INN, WEST ROUNTON
PRINCE OF WALES, FOXFIELD
THE STANWICK, ALDBROUGH ST JOHN
THE CROFT HOTEL, CROFT ON TEES
GLAXO SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB, BARNARD CASTLE

ENJOY!

13 MEN - YOU'D HAVE BEEN ON BLOG SOONER HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR INTERNET ISSUES

13 MEN WAS BREWED TO COMMEMORATE THE RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP - UNFORTUNATELY, BUT HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME ISSUES WITH THE INTERNET (FOR A CHANGE) SO NOT BEEN ABLE TO POP THE PUMP CLIP ON BEFORE NOW. IT'S PROBABLY BEEN LONG ENJOYED AT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FINE ALE HOUSES:

A PRIVATE PARTY IN COTHERSTONE
THE OLD WELL, BARNARD CASTLE
THE SHIP, MIDDLESTONE VILLAGE
THE HALF MOON, DARLINGTON
THE RED LION, COTHERSTONE
DALTON VILLAGE HALL
THE GOLDEN LION, OSMOTHERLEY
GLAXO SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB, BARNARD CASTLE
THE STANWICK, ALDBROUGH ST JOHN
THE CROFT HOTEL, CROFT ON TEES
THE FOUR ALLS, OVINGTON

ENJOYED!