STAFF at the Slug And Lettuce dramatically pulled the plug on a free booze session held to mark a major re-fit at the York bar.

Thirsty VIPs rolled up in eager anticipation after being invited for complimentary drinks last Friday.

But after swilling a glass of champagne and two pints of lager, Bar Talk was cruelly stopped in its slightly tipsy tracks when Slug staff - possibly fearing stocks could run dry - told us we'd had enough.

Apparently, for free drinks between 5 and 7pm, read a small glass of champers and a complimentary pint.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Bar Talk's abridged freeloading aside, organisers considered the night a great success.

"We have had a very positive response from customers on both the new look bar and the food," said a spokeswoman.

- IT is possible to walk and drink beer at the same time, and Harrogate scribe Mark Reid is the living proof. This smart fella has managed to make a living from walking through England's best countryside and drinking at Black Sheep pubs.

His Inn Way... guides to the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors have proved popular. And now he has moved north, bringing out the Inn Way... to Northumberland (£7.95, all good bookshops, bad bookshops and run-of-the-mill bookshops).

The book charts a 94-mile circular walk through the Northumberland via 48 of its finest country pubs.

What a day out that would be.

Said Mark: "We must ensure that this region is looked after now in a positive and sustainable way so that it is passed on to the next generation in good working order."

And to support his point, Mark is donating a percentage of the profit from the sale of his book to conservation projects within Northumberland National Park.

- REGULARS at the Maltings in York were in a flap last Monday night - when a bat flew in the bar.

Gaffer Shaun Collinge said it seemed to get its bearings once the blues guitarist stopped playing. He thinks the music had interfered with the confused creature's radar.

It then left, without even sampling the multi-award-winning alehouse's beer. Batty.

Updated: 16:17 Friday, May 07, 2004