Cry freedom

Their customers have included opera star Luciano Pavarotti, actor Dennis Waterman and footballer Gordon Strachan.

But this weekend Bill and Sue Embleton are throwing in the bar towel. The genial hosts of the Punch Bowl, Stonegate, are leaving to return to a "normal life".

"We have really enjoyed it," said Sue. "It's just come to the time in our life when we need some time out."

Bill came down to York, his father's home city, from Kilmarnock in Scotland 42 years ago. He fell in love with the place.

"It's such a lovely city. When you go away on holiday it's really nice to come back to, and there's not many places you can turn round and say that about," he said.

He began his career as a butcher with RJ Skelton at Bootham Bar. Together with Sue - they celebrated their silver wedding anniversary in February - Bill started work at the Imperial Hotel in Crichton Avenue.

"It's no longer there, which is quite sad really, because it was a meeting place for that area," he said.

They later took on the Tang Hall Hotel as licensees.

Then came their move into Stonegate, first to the Olde Starre Inn - which they ran alongside the Golden Lion in Church Street for a while - and, five years ago, to the Punch Bowl.

"They have all been an important part of our life," said Bill.

"We have always been passionate about what we have done, and always put our job high up on our list," Sue added.

The couple will not miss the long hours of the pub trade, but they will miss the people. Regulars have become friends.

They have both taken new jobs with more regular hours. This will allow them to spend more time with their four children and four grandchildren, aged five, seven, 11 and 15.

For the first time in two decades, Bill and Sue will have Christmas and New Year off.

Bill, who covered for the Punch Bowl's chef on his days off, has already hung up his apron at the pub. But he intends to do plenty of cooking at home, much to Sue's delight.

When they leave the pub for the last time on Monday, "there will be a little bit of euphoria and a little bit of sadness," he said. "They're all good memories."

Their leaving the trade is a sad loss to York's pub community. Never again will we see Bill dress as Braveheart William Wallace, complete with sword and blue face, storming around the city for the Assize of Ale.

Both Bill and Sue have been good friends of this column over the years and we hope they relish their new freedom.

READERS may remember that two copies of the CAMRA stocking filler The Book Of Beer Knowledge were up for grabs last week and, as ever, the Bar Talk desk has been buried in replies.

We are pleased to announce that the winners are Diane Boldison, of York, and Paul Allinson, of Selby, who correctly answered that the good people of the Czech Republic consume the most beer annually.

They also kindly recommended their favourite pubs in the county, The Fox and Hounds, at West Burton, and The Wheatsheaf, at Burn, respectively. It's always good to know.

The little hardback books will be in the post as soon as possible, folks. Just bear with us while we find some Jiffy bags to put them in that haven't got beer stains on them.

BEER boffins will be delighted to learn that an updated Directory Of York Pubs has been published after overwhelming interest sold the last run out.

The tightly-packed reference book offers a remarkable insight into the changing landscape of the city's hostelries from 1455 to the present day.

With 1,340 entries in total it is a tribute to the diligence and attention to detail of author Hugh Murray.

The new book, which is on sale at bookshops and The Three Cranes, in St Sampson's Square, manages to find space for a handful of new boozers.

They include York Brewery's new business, The Yorkshire Terrier, which will soon open in Stonegate, the refurbished and renamed YO1 in Stonebow, and the renamed Hopgrove, in Malton Road, which has shed its former title of The Stockton on the Forest.

Publisher Mike Race says "People who buy these books are interested in local history. Pubs play an important role in the community.

"It's is also useful for people researching their family histories because there is information about landlords and owners."

But not about lifetime barflies Bar Talk notices...

Yet again, we've got two copies of the book to give away. To be in with a shot, put the answer to the following simple question on a postcard and send it, with your name, address and favourite pub, to: Guzzling Greenwood, Bar Talk, Evening Press, 76-86, Walmgate, York YO1 9YN. Good luck!

Question: Just how many entries appear in the updated Directory of York Pubs 1455 to 2004?

A PUB called the Slug And Lettuce really ought to be a healthy place to dine out. Not many calories in lettuce, of course, and slugs insist on a low-fat, no salt diet (although they are still plump and slow).

So, to live up to its name, the Slug And Lettuce in Back Swinegate, York, has introduced new low salt, low fat dishes such as the tortilla wraps with various fillings, including crispy aromatic duck.

We wish this healthy, hearty initiative well.

Updated: 16:20 Friday, November 05, 2004