York Brewery members and invited VIPs will be allowed a sneak preview of the latest addition to York's pub scene on Wednesday when The Rook and Gaskill opens its doors in Lawrence Street.

The city brewery's new baby, which is named after the last two unfortunate sheep rustlers to be hanged near Walmgate Bar more than 326 years ago, will then open to the public from Thursday, a few days later than previously planned.

The bar will support 12 hand pumps providing six York Brewery beers from its impressive award-winning range, two Castle Rock ales and four guest beers from around the country.

Posh lagers will also be on tap, including Staropramen and Hoegaarden, as well as bottled beers from around the world - an extension on the Three Legged Mare's Belgium beer speciality selection. What won't be available is music, pool, gaming machines or entry to anyone under the age of 18 - not necessarily a bad thing.

Brewery boss Tony you-owe-me-a-pint-big-guy Thomson said he hoped it will be "a good steady pub", with a varied clientele of regulars, locals, students and visitors.

Sport-loving landlord Vernon Seymour will rule with a rod of iron and a glass of best bitter, and has even influenced the decor which is sport-based with cricket, golf and rugby memorabilia. A small kitchen serving good quality basic pub grub completes the menu.

Brewery members should remember to clutch their cards in their sweaty palms if they want to get in on Wednesday, Tony tells Bar Talk.

- Fossgate's The Blue Bell might be small on space but it's big on action and this week could pretty much command a Bar Talk all to itself.

Regulars may notice two new additions at the bar, a rarity in itself at a city centre stalwart that has kept to it's winning formula long before this beer writer was being put to sleep with sherry in his bottle milk.

Foremost is a traditional beer pump that landlord Jim Hardie has resurrected from the attic, where he found four others, and hopes some of the more engineer-minded drinkers may be able to return to working order. The "Invincible Metron" pump which automatically serves a perfect half or pint with a simple swish of its chrome handle has been returned to its rightful place at the bar.

Jim says former landlady-of-60-years Edith Pinder was probably the last person to use it - indeed a picture to that effect is by the door - and he adds that it may be the only one of its type in the city.

Will it end its days serving lime cordial to ungrateful drinkers, or will it be able to serve a nobler cause: that is to pump beer? Bar Talk will keep you informed.

An original Guinness toucan lamp, with hand-painted shade, has been bought back from the previous pub owners by Jim.

He remains tight-lipped about how much it set him back, but offers from the bar? "I wouldn't accept less than £500," he says.

Meanwhile, charity-minded customers have helped raise almost £6,400 at the tiny hostelry for Lidgett Grove special needs school and the children's unit at York District Hospital.

Most of the cash came in sponsorship for the 240-mile Dick Turpin ride from London to York by the Ales Angels team. The fund was bolstered by three whopping four-figure cheques from superstar Paul Newman, a civil servant and a bookmakers.

Jim says a big thank you to all his generous sponsors for making the bum-numbing grind a lot more bearable.

- Tasty changes are afoot at Leeman Road's stately Junction pub, home of one of York's best value and most celebrated Sunday lunches.

Barbara Armstrong and Ralph Hudson have taken over the reins for the next four to six weeks to see if the pub's flavour is to their liking.

Barbara, who came to UK from Canada 26 years ago, said the business needed a lot of work but promised the Sunday feast will be better than ever.

The couple, who formerly held the catering franchise at the Pike Hills Golf Club, Tadcaster Road, have had plenty of practice in producing quality grub.

Ralph, who trained at the Station Hotel - now known as Le Meridien - and is just down the road, plans an internationally-influenced revised menu.

Mexican fajitas, sweet-and-sour chicken, fish dishes and Ralph's speciality, home-made steak pie with onion sauce, all will feature on a colourful menu.

The full food menu will be served at lunch and dinner time every day.

Barbara said coming back to York had been something of a homecoming and they were looking forward to welcoming some familiar faces.

Bar Talk thinks it's good news that the hostelry's rich history of culinary success will continue, and hopes the couple find a warm welcome.

Updated: 08:42 Saturday, August 03, 2002