7th June 2007

Butchers Arms blows away the smoking blues

England’s smoking ban in public places being introduced on Sunday, 1 July will be music to the ears of customers at the Hook Norton pub the Butchers Arms in King’s Sutton, Northamptonshire, nr Banbury.

Licensees Alan & Julie Newman have hired local musician Billy John to play for the customers on the first night of the ban.

“I want to show to my customers, that banning smoking does not mean they will not have a good time in their local in the company of their friends,” said Alan Newman.

“So rather than holding a cigarette they can clap and tap their hands and fingers in time to the music,” he said. “The Butchers Arms is King’s Sutton best pub and the end of smoking in pubs presents us with a once in a lifetime opportunity to encourage even more locals to come and find out what a proper pub selling proper beer is really like.

” Billy John will be playing a selection of music from the 1950s to the 1980s. Alan & Julie Newman have recently taken over the Butchers Arms – food is now back on the menu. With home-cooked chilli and curry proving very popular with customers.

Many people prefer to eat their Sunday lunch at the pub, rather than having the hassle of preparing it at home. “We are a village pub and one of our must popular lunchtimes is when we do a special lunch for senior citizens for only £3.95,” said Julie Newman. There is no separate Children’s menu, but smaller portions of all meals are available for children, at reduced prices. Alan is a member of the Campaign for Real Ale and he is determined that the Butchers Arms should once again be listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

The pub regularly stocks four Hook Norton beers as well as a guest beer from another brewer. “We are a proper pub, selling proper beer,” said Alan. “I want to get people back to drinking real ale and I already persuaded two of my customers who drank cider to give real ale a go.

” The pubs most popular real ale is Hooky Dark. The couple have invested in new benches and tables for customers to enjoy in the relaxing garden. There is an aviary, which includes budgies, canaries, cockatiels to delight younger visitors.

Alan & Julie Newman
Butchers Arms
Whittall Street,
King's Sutton,
Oxon,
OX17 3RD
Phone: 01295 810898