The May Market is on Sunday 19th from 10 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. in the Village Hall. There will be Good Food Stalls providing homemade pies and pastries, pickles, chutneys, jams and local honey. Also freshly made fish pate, delicious rolls, ciabatta and foccacia, ‘homegrown’ sausages and bacon plus cloudy apple juice in different varieties and fruit and veg. in season – weather permitting!
Non Food Stalls this month include plants and seeds, a pottery stall with all manner of decorated plates, bowls, mugs etc., and Doozle will be returning with skin care items made from 100% natural ingredients. Liz will have her handmade dog biscuits and, as well, we will have a new stall with unique hand-painted cards and stationery to buy or order for every social event imaginable.
Finally we have our ever popular book stall where you can either buy or exchange books for both adults and children, a tombola, ‘made to order’ bacon butties, tea and filter coffee, plus the chance to chat!
LOCAL INKPEN HONEY FOR SALE
Despite the theft of our sign, Local Inkpen Honey is still for sale – jars and cut comb from “Caeglas”, Inkpen Common. Tel. Inkpen 668605.
THE CROWN AND GARTER
Gill Hern writes: “Well at last the weather is starting to improve. So let’s hope for a good Summer. And for May, remember that we are fully open for both Bank Holiday Mondays for which food booking are now being taken.
The West Berkshire Beer Tasting Evening was well attended with a fun spot, the hop quiz and lots of samples and prizes. The ‘good taste bud’ winner was Jane Glitz with Vince Long in second place. Beers which were on offer included Dr Hexter’s Healer and Wedding Ale, Man Splicer Rye and a pale ale. We were also able to sample the West Berks New Pils lager which will be available from May onwards. Also the evening of wine tasting in conjunction with Caviste was very well attended with many enjoying a supper afterwards. Our thanks go to everyone who supported our events and to those who organized them. Our next Quiz Night is on Sunday 26th May from 8.00p.m. with teams of four. All proceeds go to Inkpen School.
Finally we are pleased to announce that the Crown and Garter has been awarded Four Stars by the AA and also a Dinner Award for the quality of our food. And if you are thinking of treating Dad for lunch on Fathers Day, which is on Sunday 16th June, we now taking bookings.”
THE SWAN INN
“What a relief – the sun has come out! Customers were eating hot meals on the terraces on Saturday (20th April). Long may it last. The garden is also open for drinking in the sunshine. Our spring menus can be seen on the website www.theswaninn-organics.co.uk with lighter options and some new ideas. We have been awarded 5 Star Silver Hygiene status by West Berkshire Council. We are particularly pleased as it is very hard to achieve for an integrated food business dealing with carcasses of raw meat as well as running a commercial kitchen. As a consequence we have been invited to join the list of ‘Eat Out, Eat Well’ venues in West Berkshire. On the drink front Cheddar Mild is back on the pumps for summer; no taste of cheese though – it’s the location of the brewery run by a friend of Chris Butts.
The shop has a good stock of everything you need for a barbeque – organic burgers, steaks, sausages, beer, wine and cider - as well as ready meals for a quiet, lazy night in. We remain open for Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week and all day for Drinks Saturday, Sunday and the two May Bank Holiday Mondays, the 6th and 27tth. And please book for Roasts on Sundays.
Quiz Nights are on Thursdays 9th and 23rd May with burgers and chips at half time and the organic Beef Raffle. Darts Nights are on Thursdays 2nd and 16th May. And finally, please remember we have ten luxury bedrooms, a 40 seater room for conferences or for smaller meetings, and we take exclusive bookings for wedding breakfasts or celebration lunches/dinners in the Cygnet Restaurant for up to 30/35 covers. Cheers. Mary and Bernard.”
Farm-Assured Local Lamb and Beef
Simon and Jonathan Bastable have been farming in Inkpen and surrounding parishes since the late 1970's, following on from their father who was the estate manager on Kirby Estate. They now rent about 1400 acres of land streching from Shalbourne in the west to East Woodhay in the east. They have sheep, beef cattle and arable crops and have also recently acquired organic ewes and a small organic beef herd.
Their farm-assured local lamb and beef is available to buy direct from them in half lamb boxes and 15kg boxes of beef. It is hung for flavour and tenderness and butchered into traditional cuts and joints ready for the oven or freezer.
Visit www.bastablebrothers.co.uk or telephone jonathan on 07785 717866 for more information.
