[lettie]

I'm glad that we will be in the Stag. I've had my fill of New Year celebrations spent in the town centre and it is always a real anti-climax. The doorstaff in the pubs are always shaking their buckets for money, supposedly for charity but I know for a fact that the only charity that benefits is the bouncers and bar staff benevolent fund. The pubs are packed and the queues to get into them for the sake of a lousy watered down drink are ridiculous. I once had the pleasure of a draught half of Strongbow in one of our town centre pubs which resembled water and tasted like fizzy water. I complained and asked to see the landlord who, when threatened with trading standards, became most amenable and provided me with an untampered with bottled Strongbow free of charge.

For a change I will be somewhere friendly with decent beers, and I can't wait.....