Syndicated news from the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn, NE Wales. http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org Sat, 22 Nov 2008 09:08:59 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/images/M_images/favicon.ico http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org Syndicated news from the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn, NE Wales. http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/1/41/ Built in the mid 1700s at the crossroads of two old coaching routes, the Blue Bell Inn is purportedly named after a local privateer’s boat the Blue Bell. Legend has it that he was later caught and hanged for his piracy and is thought to be buried a few hundred yards away in the cemetery next to Halkyn Castle. How to find us (images/stories/PDFs/Blue%20Bell%20Inn%20-%20How%20to%20find%20us.pdf). We are an independent, family run, award winning freehouse, we've scooped three major prizes this year - Regional Pub of the Year [North Wales, Cheshire Merseyside], Vale of Clwyd Branch CAMRA Pub of the Year and CAMRA Branch Cider Pub of the Year (http://www.valeofclwydcamra.org.uk/), we are also runner-up Flintshire Evening Leader Pub of the Year 2008.  At 850 feet we are near the top of Halkyn Mountain with spectacular 70 mile views over the Dee Mersey rivers, the distant Cumbrian mountains Pennine hills. events (images/stories/PDFs/Blue%20Bell%20Inn%2C%20Halkyn%20-%20Events.pdf) list we are enjoyed by walkers, riders, cyclists, folk jazz musicians, game players and locals alike. Our award winning walk can be downloaded from here (images/stories/Walks/Blue%20Bell%20Inn%20Walk%20One.pdf) and you can use our free wireless internet to stay in touch. Real fires in winter add to the warm welcome. We’ve had hundreds of different cask ales to date and our own local Welsh brewed Blue Bell Bitter is always on along with other regularly changing real ales, ciders and perrys - we even make our own Rosie's Blue Bell Cider. You will find us in the Good Pub, Cider and Beer Guides and we have a Cask Marque for quality, in fact we are one of the highest scoring cask marque pubs in the UK! We also have a good selection of great wines from around the world, a large range of soft dinks, FairTrade tea’s, coffee’s and hot chocolate. Our food is a mixture of locally sourced, home-made and traditional meals ranging from lighter bites to those that challenge the hungry. News - Latest Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/940/ (http://www.21topdogwalks.co.uk/common_code/topdog_vote_walk.asp?id=38) We've been shortlisted - please vote for us here (http://www.21topdogwalks.co.uk/common_code/topdog_vote_walk.asp?id=38) for the competiton by Hills Pet Nutrition (http://www.21topdogwalks.co.uk/common_code/topdog_vote_walk.asp?id=38) and get the chance to enter their prize draw to win a year's supply of Hill's Science Plan! The benefits of a good walk with your canine companion are endless - from warding off depression and managing weight problems to increasing your chances of meeting Mr or Miss Right. And they're just as great for your pooch too - twice a day walkies will help reduce canine obesity (http://www.21topdogwalks.co.uk/weight_management/weight_management.asp) and related conditions including heart disease, arthritis (http://www.21topdogwalks.co.uk/joint_care/joint_care.asp), breathing difficulties and diabetes. You can now vote for your favourite walk (http://www.21topdogwalks.co.uk/common_code/topdog_vote_walk.asp?id=38) on the 2008 shortlist - you may even win a year's supply of Hill's Science Plan dog food! The voting stage and prize draw closes on 30th November 2008. Newsflashes - Newsflash Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/635/41/ Quiz Night every Wednesday at 8:30pm through the winter. You may recall that we don't charge for the quiz but we do ask for a donation to our favourite cause, this year it is to raise funds to support our Halkyn Pensioners Christmas Party to be held here in at the Blue Bell Inn in December. The quiz comprises several rounds of general knowledge interspersed with a bit of fun guessing  with our novelty quiz where this week you will be trying to unravel town names. Winners receive a jug of beer (or something similar) and a good time is had by all.  Quiz night continues until April where we plan to restart ever our popular Wednesday evening walks. Have you ever run a pub quiz? Would you be interested in running the Wednesday quiz at the Blue Bell Inn? If you are interested then let me know over the bar or drop me a line (mailto:Steve@BlueBell.uk.eu.org?subject=I%20would%20like%20to%20find%20out%20more%20about%20running%20your%20quiz%20night body=Dear%20Steve,%0A%0AI%20am%20interested%20in%20running%20your%20quiz,%20could%20you%20give%20me%20some%20more%20details%20please.%0A%0AI%20have/have%20no%20previous%20experience...). Steve News - Latest Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/674/41/ There's Trad Jazz here every Sunday at the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn, with the mellow sounds of Mad Ed's Hot Five who bring a great mix of humour with superb musicianship. Don't miss them this week as they entertain both us and themselves with such verve and vigour that you'll get withdrawal symptoms if you miss them! Mad Ed's hot Five are in full force most weeks with double bassist YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVemstGR_kU feature=related)) on trumpet flugelhorn, Tom the Doc Rippeth on trombone wagnerian horns and Carol Horle keeping a sense of decorum with her georgous voice and clarinet. You'll see from the pictures that they are ably supported by a range of fantastic subs who give us a lovely and varing mix of sounds. More info from the Evening Leader (http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/the-guide/Hot-jazz-on-an-autumn.3437251.jp) . All are welcome to enjoy the entertainment our range of cask ales real ciders (mambots/editors/mambots/editors/content/blogsection/4/9/) and we hope you have fun joining in with Mad Ed's happy band of jazzers. Don't forget to look out for our new Jazz Links (component/option,com_weblinks/catid,48/Itemid,23/) pages as they're growing all the time! We've joined myspace.com (http://www.myspace.com/blue_bell_inn) have you? News - Music News Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/428/41/ We have acoustic music here on the last Thursday of the month amply hosted by the award winning Paul Reaney (http://www.myspace.com/nestonboy). Next one Thursday 4th December! Paul’s acoustic and folk performances are proving very popular as they can leap from heart rending story songs to moments of complete daftness with a side order of cheeky Scouse wit. He would very much welcome your company to come and join him playing acoustic music. While there are no hard and fast rules here, the acoustic music at the Blue Bell Inn follows the style of Country, Bluegrass, Folk, Roots Blues and of course floor singers are very welcome too. It's usually an informal session with occasional guests so bring your instruments, voices, or just your ears. Turn up and join in if you want to perform, songs, music, poetry, monologues, anything legal, safe entertaining. All welcome, any abilities. Click on Read More (content/view/428/41/#Paul) to find out more about Paul. (http://www.thecrookedspirits.co.uk/)Graeme Michael are The Crooked Spirits. They are a duo of local singer songwriters who will be performing an acoustic set of their original melodic songs on the 1st Saturday each month with electric guitars and keyboards but ohh so mellow, you can still have a conversation without shouting and enjoy some lovely music at the same time! Next one Saturday 6th December. Before meeting and forming The Crooked Spirits, Graeme and Michael had a long history of playing in various bands, session work, record deals, festivals, touring all over the UK and even a spot of TV. Their influences include The Divine Comedy, The Smiths and Eels. Check out their latest video here (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.showvids friendID=254615839 n=254615839 MyToken=8208fd38-5fd3-43a6-9b03-979e04279c0e)! Click on Read More (content/view/428/41/#Crooked) to find out more about The Crooked Spirits. The Rantin' Dogs - a fantastic sounding folk quartet, Steve, Dugie, Mark Michael would like to let you know that they rehearse and play here every 2nd Monday each month from 9ish, playing traditional acoustic folk with a celtic leaning. Check out where they got their unusual name from here (http://www.worldburnsclub.com/poems/translations/507.htm) cos there's no ranting with this group, like all the music here at the Blue Bell Inn, it's a lovely sound. Next one Monday 7th December. All are welcome to enjoy the entertainment our cask ales and real ciders (content/blogsection/4/9/). We hope you have fun join in, even if you can only manage the choruses! Check out our Folk Links (component/option,com_weblinks/catid,41/Itemid,23/) for more information. We've joined myspace.com (http://www.myspace.com/blue_bell_inn), have you? News - Music News Fri, 21 Nov 2008 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/959/41/ We have a champion and the final was played by two girls who between them knocked out all the opposition! Who said it was a boys game? 56 conkers were entered (with a number of side contests being played) but Lana Edwards of Lixwm conkered the novice player Pam McIntee in a thrilling final leaving Lana with her unmarked 39er and Pam's pride and joy in bits on the deck!  [Please email any pictures you have to us here (mailto:Steve@BlueBell.uk.eu.org?subject=Conker%20Championship%20Pictures)]. Why did we do it... During another hilarious Friday teatime discussion the subject turned to school playground games and went something like this, [Him] conkers, [Her] sorry? [Him] Have you ever played conkers, [Her] No I've never played conkers, but I've played tennis .  Clearly something was lacking in The Girl's education (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jul/18/schoolsports.politics), especially as conkers have just been voted the greatest playground game (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2637838/Conkers-voted-greatest-playground-game.html). So here we were with our own, just for fun, conker championships to enlighten the inexperienced and raise funds for a worthy cause; the Halkyn Pensioners Christmas Party. Click READ MORE (content/view/959/41/) for a risk assessment, a players video, our rules (images/stories/PDFs/Conkers%20et%20al.pdf) and here (http://www.mousebreaker.com/games/battlingconkers/play.php) for an on-line practice session. We couldn't just leave it at conkers so we had hopscotch (http://www.streetplay.com/rulesheets/hopscotch/), skipping (http://www.funandgames.org/games_skipping.htm), jacks (http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/studentssite/playgroundgames.htm#11), and other games happening just for fun too. News - Latest Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/927/41/ STOP PRESS: The first of our new walks is ready to test! Check out MyFavouritePubWalks.com (http://www.myfavouritepubwalks.com/competition)! We are building a new series of walk leaflets, reworking the first walk leaflet above and creating a second and third leaflet. We are making early versions of them available to you for testing so do please feed back any errors or omissions you have here (mailto:Steve@BlueBell.uk.eu.org?subject=Corrections%20to%20Walk%20Two%20-%20Woods,%20Buffalo%20 %20Hill%20Forts). We are hoping that the final versions of the walks will be in a foldable pocket sized A3 leaflet with lots more information available than our first leaflet. The first walk will be called Walk One - Halkyns Four Peaks and is a reworking of the original circular walk of 5.75 miles (download the original walk from here (content/view/377/41/)). The second walk (this walk) will be a shorter circular walk of around 3.5 miles called READ MORE (content/view/377/41/), we'll add the basic text and bird lists as soon as we can. We'll also try to include as much of interest as we can make the leaflets available online in hardcopy from the Blue Bell Inn. News - Walking News Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/939/41/ STOP PRESS: The second of our new walks is ready to test! Check out MyFavouritePubWalks.com (http://www.myfavouritepubwalks.com/competition)! We are building a new series of walk leaflets, reworking the first walk leaflet above and creating a second and third leaflet. We are making early versions of them available to you for testing so do please feed back any errors or omissions you have here (mailto:Steve@BlueBell.uk.eu.org?subject=Corrections%20to%20Walk%20Three%20-%20Lime%20Kilns%20 %20Quarries). We are hoping that the final versions of the walks will be in a foldable pocket sized A3 leaflet with lots more information available than our first leaflet. The first walk will be called Walk One - Halkyns Four Peaks and is a reworking of the original circular walk of 5.75 miles (download the original walk from here (content/view/377/41/)). The second walk will be a shorter circular walk of around 3.5 miles called READ MORE (content/view/377/41/), we'll add the basic text and bird lists as soon as we can. We'll also try to include as much of interest as we can make the leaflets available online in hardcopy from the Blue Bell Inn. News - Walking News Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/904/41/ (Alastair%20Darling%20Barred%21) I can't believe it, can you? To put up alcohol duty when year on year revenue into the exchequer from beer, wine spirits has decreased to the treasury each time they put it up seems ludicrous! We've had to put our prices up - the first time in over a year and we've done our best to minimise them too. If that Darling man drops in, let him know he isn't welcome would you? There is an Alastair Darling: Your Barred facebook group here (Alastair%20Darling%20Barred%21) if you fancy shouting at him too and if you feel like emailing him try his address here darlinga@parliament.uk (mailto:darlinga@parliament.uk?subject=Hands%20off%20our%20pubs%21). Don't forget to sign our petition to ask him to drop the duty tax hikes planned for the future. News - Latest Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:47:36 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/377/41/ Holywell Ramblers (http://www.holywellramblers.org.uk/)), , Walkabout Flintshire and other groups to help you take your own self-guided walks on Halkyn Mountain. The first leaflet is available now so press the image to the right to see our first route which is a circular walk of up to 5.75 miles in PDF (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF) format. This walk gained the prestigous title of one of the top ten walks in the UK with MyFavouritePubWalks.com (http://www.myfavouritepubwalks.com/competition) ! (http://www.myfavouritepubwalks.com/competition)We are building a new series of walk leaflets, reworking the first above and creating a second and third leaflet. We will make early versions of it available to you as soon as we can. The first walk will be called Walk One - Halkyns Four Peaks and is a reworking of the original circular walk of 5.75 miles. The second walk will be a shorter circular walk of around 3.5 miles called READ MORE (content/view/377/41/), we'll add the basic text and bird lists as soon as we can. We'll also try to include as much of interest as we can make the leaflets available online in hardcopy from the Blue Bell Inn. News - Walking News Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/636/41/ Jeannette is launching a regular games night on a Tuesday evening to raise funds for our Halkyn Pensioners Christmas Party. The first night will be a whist night held on Tuesday, September 11tth. We've just increased the number of games available to play by adults at the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn and we plan on making Tuesday evenings the big night out for games enthusiasts but they will be available most of the time we are open, just ask if you can't find them. We have quite a few games available from: Whist (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Whist oldid=152719605), Beetle (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beetle_%28game%29 oldid=110103779), Backgammon (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Backgammon oldid=88564452), Chess (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chess oldid=89312158), Go (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Go_%28board_game%29 oldid=89404882), Labyrinth (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amazing_Labyrinth oldid=82008140), Scrabble (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scrabble oldid=88835382), Abalone (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Abalone_%28board_game%29 oldid=88894248), Mancala (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mancala oldid=88395779), Shut-the-box (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shut_the_Box oldid=81023885), Battleships (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battleship_%28game%29 oldid=99621647), Cluedo (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cluedo oldid=98086023), Monopoly (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Monopoly_%28game%29 oldid=99569664), Mid-Life Crisis (http://www.boardgamespeak.net/game/7422), Connect4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Connect_Four oldid=99712148), Cards (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Card_game oldid=89117689), Cribbage (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cribbage oldid=89216332), Dice (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dice_game oldid=86418873), Dominos (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dominoes oldid=89358272), Darts (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Darts oldid=88843824) and Pool (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eight-ball oldid=88994409) (UK version) to name but a few (well OK, that's all of them so far, but we'll be adding more as we find them). Dice, cards, ha'pennys, noddy board (for cribbage) and a few other items are behind the bar so please ask if you can't find them. Steve News - Latest Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/650/41/ We thought you might enjoy seeing (assuming it works) where you are in relation to us! here (component/option,com_weblinks/catid,29/Itemid,23/) and try the Map24 (http://mail.map24.com/bluebellinn)route planner. News - Latest Sat, 27 Jan 2007 11:29:47 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/648/41/ (http://www.pubsweek.org/) We thought we would bring the internet community together for Community Pubs Week (http://www.pubsweek.org/) which ran again this year in February. Have you ever wondered how a Zulu would say cheers (it's oggy wawa) or the same in Azerbaihjan (afiyæt oslun)? After an extensive search across the internet we can bring you the boozers lexicon of cheers or words to that effect! Click on a letter and it'll take you to the first entry begining with that letter or press READ MORE (content/view/648/41/) to have a browse: A (content/view/648/41/#A) B (content/view/648/41/#B) C (content/view/648/41/#C) D (content/view/648/41/#D) E (content/view/648/41/#E) F (content/view/648/41/#F) G (content/view/648/41/#G) H (content/view/648/41/#H) I (content/view/648/41/#I) J (content/view/648/41/#J) K (content/view/648/41/#K) L (content/view/648/41/#L) M (content/view/648/41/#M) N (content/view/648/41/#N) O (content/view/648/41/#O) P (content/view/648/41/#P) Q (content/view/648/41/#Q) R (content/view/648/41/#R) S (content/view/648/41/#S) T (content/view/648/41/#T) U (content/view/648/41/#U) V (content/view/648/41/#V) W (content/view/648/41/#W) X (#http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/648/41/X) Y (content/view/648/41/#Y) Z (content/view/648/41/#Z). If you have any you can add then do so by emailing me (mailto:Steve@BlueBell.uk.eu.org?subject=A%20new%20word%20for%20the%20boozers%20lexicon%20of%20cheers%20or%20words%20to%20that%20effect%21) or adding an account (we don't like spam either so your email address will be safe with us) to submit comments, web links or your own joke or news items and events, or pop down to the Blue Bell Inn, Halkyn to share them, enjoy great company and have a good time. News - Jokers Corner Sat, 05 May 2007 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/769/41/ You've no doubt noticed that we've put up some wood-framed pictures by our local Holywell craftsman Ian Pickstock from the Living Galleries (http://www.coetirclwyd.co.uk/English/living-bluebell.asp) project. Here is some information about them... Its aim is to help existing and new woodland businesses to make best use of woodlands in rural Denbighshire and rural Flintshire in North East Wales. It will do this by providing a test-bed and showcase for new ways of using the woodlands and marketing wood products, which will help protect the woodlands for the future. The project will focus on ancient semi-natural woodlands and ancient woodland sites. In doing so it will raise awareness of the economic, natural, cultural and historic importance of these woodlands. Ian Pickstock (Bizarre (http://www.bizarrefurniture.co.uk/) Furniture Picture Framing) has crafted some georgeous frames containing pictures of some local scenes over the last century. Ian is a qualified carpenter and joiner who works using traditional methods to create both traditional and contemporary pieces of furniture. He studied Carpentry and Joinery at Yale College, Centre of Excellence where he was awarded student of the year 1997 and winner of the Henkel Award 1998. News - Latest Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/710/41/ (images/stories/PDFs/The%20Story%20of%20Halkyn%20Mountain.pdf) (images/stories/PDFs/Exploring%20Halkyn%20Mountain.pdf) The Story of Halkyn Mountain is now available in PDF (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html) format from here (images/stories/PDFs/The%20Story%20of%20Halkyn%20Mountain.pdf). The leaflet provides a great map painted from arial photogaphs and annotated with lots of interesting facts, a time-line so you can see what happened up here over the many thousands of years Halkyn Mountain has been inhabited and a view of the underground works that have made this place so strategically important since roman times. We've also got a pictorial poster based on the central painting in our notice board and within the pub in PDF format here (images/stories/PDFs/Exploring%20Halkyn%20Mountain.pdf). This poster will give you a good view of what to expect to find on the mountain. Steve News - Latest Thu, 10 May 2007 13:53:26 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/16/41/ The Blue Bell Inn gets tested every six months and we're in our fourth year. With so many 100% scores this makes us equal ranking as a top six Cask Marque scoring pub in the UK! Cask Marque (http://www.cask-marque.co.uk/) is an independent organisation that serves to promote cask ale. Cask Marque stands for: Excellence in the service of cask ale. Awarded to the licensee rather than to the pub. Jointly funded by brewers and retailers. Inspections made twice a year. News - Latest Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/478/41/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/ilovewales/pages/pubs.shtml) The BBC NE Wales web site (http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/ilovewales/pages/pubs.shtml) are trying to locate your favourite pub. Enter your pub here (http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/sites/ilovewales/pages/pubs.shtml) (go to the bottom of the page) and if it is the Blue Bell Inn, so much the better! Steve News - Latest Fri, 06 Oct 2006 07:59:06 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/280/41/ (http://www.jiwire.com/wi-fi-wireless-hotspot-halkyn-gb-blue-bell-inn-1194881.htm) The Blue Bell Inn has launched a free wireless broadband capability. It should enable you to stay in touch via the internet and enjoy our great real ales and ciders at the same time. To search for wireless hot-spots please check out this link (http://www.jiwire.com/wi-fi-wireless-hotspot-halkyn-gb-blue-bell-inn-1194881.htm). For more links on how this site was all put together check out this news item (content/view/246/2/). Read on for more technical gubbins... News - Latest Wed, 21 Dec 2005 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/955/ We're members of the Motorhome Stopover Club - click the link for more info. (http://www.motorhomestopover.co.uk/) Newsflashes - Newsflash Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:09:11 +0100 http://www.bluebell.uk.eu.org/content/view/56/41/ (http://www.camra.org.uk)The Blue Bell Inn is in the Good Beer Guide 2008 The GBG is the longest established and most highly respected guide to the best beer and pubs in the UK and celebrates its 35th edition with over 4,500 pubs listed and once again we are one of them - now for our 4th year running! Check out what's on now here (mambots/editors/tinymce/index.php?option=com_content task=blogsection id=4 Itemid=9)! (http://www.camra.org.uk) (http://www.camra.org.uk) (http://www.camra.org.uk) News - Latest Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 +0100