THE Junction has reached a crossroads. Tenants Paul Wheadon and Kati Turner have worked wonders with the Leeman Road pub (at the junction with Carleton Street), and now they want to take it forward with the support of local people.

The couple, owners of the Ambience Caf Bar on Gillygate, took over The Junction last October. They had previously run a bikers' boozer in Hull, and been relief managers for Sam Smith's. Before daughter Polly was born, three-and-a-half years ago, they decided to get out of the licensed trade.

But Paul and Kati missed it. So they took on the challenge of reviving The Junction after it had been through an unhappy few weeks in the hands of temporary managers.

Since then, they have reconfigured the historic building - part of which was once used as a foundry for the railway industry, before the building became a working men's club.

At the front, is a railway-themed snug (Paul was a joiner with the carriageworks in a previous life), serving John Smith's and complete with pool table and a big-screen. Out back is the large lounge, a family and food room in the day with a non-smoking area.

The lounge is decorated by some wonderful, colourful paintings. They could sell them for a fortune to modern art collectors who would have no idea they were the work of Polly, and children of bar managers Greg and Claire Bell.

Food is served in the lounge until 2.30pm and the Sunday carvery offers four roasts until 3.30pm.

At night it is often rocking as The Junction has established itself as one of York's best live music venues.

There is a stage and a new dancefloor. Big recent gigs included performances by The Yards and Huge.

Paul and Kati are very keen to promote new talent, and are considering turning the lounge "dry" for nights when young bands are playing.

The pub also hosts the Savaged dance and light show and Northern Soul nights - "bring your talc!" says Paul. For more details see the new website www.thejunction@yoursurf.net

Next up is a new beer garden and a still more child-friendly lounge, perhaps with a giant Connect 4 set and other games.

Bar Talk visited The Junction on its opening night nearly nine years ago and we're delighted to see it is thriving once again. It's only two minutes from the Railway Museum, so give it a go.

RURAL traditionalists are heard to bemoan how Emmerdale has nothing much to do with farming these days. But from now on Emmerdale will feature sheep prominently. There'll be one on every bottle.

That's because Emmerdale is the new beer from Black Sheep brewery.

The Masham outfit has long had an association with the soap, through charity cricket matches with the cast.

"We've been playing cricket and football against each other for several years now, so a liquid partnership between Black Sheep Brewery and Emmerdale was the obvious choice," said Black Sheep boss Paul Theakston.

Now that relationship can be toasted in the golden ale, which is five per cent ABV and boasts a dry and bitter finish.

The beer was launched by Paul and actor Patrick Mower, aka Emmerdale's Rodney Blackstock, behind the bar of The Woolpack.

It is available in bottled form from Tesco. Then the draught beer goes to Black Sheep-supplied pubs from July.

FOR all our highbrow readers, news reaches us that Cherie Federico, editor of Aesthetica: A Review of Contemporary Artists is hosting a curry, open-mic, poetry, and music night at the Three Legged Mare, High Petergate, on Tuesday.

"It is going to be a great night," says Cherie. "The music will range from new-age trombone playing to acoustic guitar sounds."

CONGRATULATIONS to the Appletree Country Inn, in Marton, near Pickering, which was highly commended in the category of Customer Service Pub of the Year in the Publican awards last month. Co-proprietor Melanie Thornton came home with the title Businesswoman of the Year.

And good luck to two York pubs which are shortlisted in the Laurel Pub Group's League of Champions Awards.

From a field of more than 600 pubs nationwide, publican Craig Smith at the Casa bar on Ousegate has been shortlisted in the Event Marketing category. And Barry Sargent, food manager at the Hogshead on Lendal, is up for the Champion Food Manager award.

The awards ceremony is in London on April 28.

Updated: 08:49 Saturday, April 12, 2003