Beer for breakfast

Dozens of boozers have applied for extended licences to coincide with the big games.

Many are opening at 10am on Sunday June 2 for England v Sweden, and at a bleary-eyed 7am for the Nigeria v England clash on Wednesday June 12.

Our list in the panel is not exhaustive - more licence applications are still in the pipeline.

Licensing officer PC Ashley Fitzhugh said a fair few pubs would also be opening at 7am for the Ireland v Cameroon clash next Saturday. Some have even applied for extensions for such eagerly anticipated matches as Russia v Tunisia.

He will be watching to see how the experiment works, with an eye to possible reforms that will allow pubs to open all hours.

The Cross Keys in Goodramgate is one of those getting the bunting out in preparation for the World Cup games. It boasts two widescreen TVs, two ordinary TVs and, if the weather's nice, two more in the beer garden.

It is putting on a traditional English breakfast for the Nigeria game and assistant manager Ian 'Sven' Severn thinks this will "go down a treat".

As for a few pints at that time in the morning "it depends on how hungover they are from the night before".

Ian himself will not be in the Cross Keys. After four years he's leaving to join the (television-free) Keswick Lodge in the Lake District.

Meanwhile, some pubs are avoiding the whole event, including York Brewery's two, the Black Swan on Peasholme Green and even The Maltings.

The Tanners Moat boozer will be a bolthole for all those who don't care for the tournament, says gaffer Shaun Collinge - a man who detests football so much he goes to watch Leeds United at every opportunity.

His decision has caused Roy Keane-like distress among staff set to work. So has he offered to negotiate, like an enlightened employer?

"B****cks. They get to work while I'm upstairs watching it."

- WHAT a whopper! York's newest pub has already proved to be a heavyweight addition to the city's drinking scene.

Wetherspoon's The Postern Gate has finally opened at the junction of Piccadilly and Fishergate.

And judging by the huge numbers of intrigued drinkers dropping in over the first week it's going to be popular.

The palatial music-free property boasts a long curved bar serving nine ales in total including guest beers and traditional draft favourites.

Pricing is very keen with Yorkshire Terrier at £1.39 and John Smiths at £1.29.

It's been something of a homecoming for York-born pub manager Keith Pidd.

The amenable beer fan, who has been with JD Wetherspoon for six years, said would-be-regulars were already making themselves known.

He's particularly proud of the "sexy" evening lighting which he says creates a comfortable atmosphere for relaxing.

The riverside building is separated into three areas: a family area, a central seated drinking area and a number of cosy booths and is decorated in dark modern colours with lots of chrome.

Drinkers with young children or an artistic pet gorilla may want to consider splashing out on the same garish carpet - spillages from tar to red wine are unlikely to show on this number.

Check down the back of your sofa for change as with prices like these you can probably afford a round...

- ONCE the ball gets rolling these Wetherspoon people have proved themselves to be fast movers.

Micklegate's The Punch Bowl will re-open on May 29 as York's second new Wetherspoon's pub under the watchful eye of manager Andrew Mitchell.

To celebrate that, and the Queen's Golden Jubilee of course, a six-day beer festival has been announced at both venues.

The pubs will be serving up to 30 different ales through the pumps from Thursday May 30 to Tuesday June 4.

Bar Talk has heard prices may be as low as 99p a pint but details have yet to be confirmed.

Brews on offer at the Jubilee Beer Festival will include Caledonian's One's Favourite Boy, Archers' Jubilee years, Titanic's Rule Britannia, Batemans' Jewel in the Crown and Timothy Taylor's Golden Best.

NEWLY-wed landlord Dave Roberts at The Minster Inn told Bar Talk that he's not sure what was more stressful: planning his wedding or the pub's forthcoming beer festival.

When not popping round to the Bootham register office to tie the knot with long-term-love Sally, Dave has been planning a two-day beer extravaganza at the Marygate real ale favourite.

Twelve beers will be on, including Marston's Golden Crown and Thwaites' Lancaster Bomber, at the event between Sunday June 2 and Monday June 3.

When all's finished the loverbirds are off to Turkey to enjoy their honeymoon.

With all these celebrations of beer forthcoming there will be plenty of opportunity to raise our glasses to the happy couple. Congratulations.

Updated: 08:55 Saturday, May 25, 2002