BAR Talk is nothing if not generous. This week, we have teamed up with the John Barras pub group to give away £140 of top notch nosh at the excellent Ainsty.

The Ainsty has long been a landmark on Boroughbridge Road, York.

Earlier this year, it was given a £90,000 refurbishment. And to celebrate, managers Alan Willdigg and Andrea Briggs are offering seven meals for two people to the value of £20 (drinks not included).

The pair have been at the helm for more than two years, and they and the regulars are delighted with the new look.

"It's fantastic. It's going really well," said Andrea.

Today, the pub will have been completely packed. All eyes were turned to its two big and two small screens, as England attempted to qualify for the World Cup by defeating Greece.

The pub goes to town for big football occasions, and Andrea will never forget the night when Germany were beaten 5-1 by England (who will?).

"That was absolutely phenomenal. There was a brilliant atmosphere. We decorated the bar in England colours and all the staff dressed up."

But some of the Ainsty regulars will be elsewhere today. This weekend they have gone on the pub's first outing, all the way to Paris.

"If it's successful, we might organise another one in Dublin. It's a way to really get to know your customers," says Andrea.

Anyway, back to food. The Ainsty boasts a brand new menu, packed full of delicious value-for-money meals from simple classics such as fish and chips and steak and ale pie through to belly-busting meals such as the mixed grill and Barras brunch.

- TV'S own Shaun Collinge is still making personal appearances at his boozer, The Maltings, Tanners Moat, York. In between giving Ally McCoist marital advice on ITV's The Premiership, Uncle Fester has organised the boozer's ninth anniversary beer festival.

This fest is dedicated to bar and doorman Woody, who returns to New Zealand in November. Good luck, big fella.

As always, Shaun has secured some rare and exotic brews: for example, Tamantha The Knackered (ABV six per cent, from Dewsbury's Anglo-Dutch Brewery); God's Wallop (five per cent, Fat Gods, Evesham); Bumble Hole (5.2 per cent, Olde Swan, Dudley); and Two Harleys (4.8 per cent, from biker brewery Sarah's Hop House, Warrington).

Mr Collinge suggested that an ale called Ginger Whinger might have been named after Bar Talk's Joshua Titley; a scurrilous remark as everyone knows he is strawberry blond.

The festival starts tomorrow and runs until Tuesday.

- MARK Reid the beer-drinking author of the Inn Way walking books, is en route to raising a lot of cash for charity this month.

Mark is inviting serfs, knights and damsels to take part in his Great 'Holy Grail' Trail around York to boost the funds of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

He has devised two treasure hunts, the Templars Search (takes about four hours) and the Family Fun version (about two hours). They take place on Saturday, October 20.

All competitors over 18 get a free bottle of Monty Python's Holy Grail Ale from Black Sheep Brewery.

Harrogate-based Mark had planned a Yorkshire Square Walk in the Dales, but foot and mouth scuppered that.

"We have actually got a Holy Grail," he insists. "Not the Holy Grail but a Holy Grail."

Teams are needed to rise to the challenge of finding the treasure after solving cryptic clues. Registration costs £2 per adult, £5 per family, and participants are asked to seek sponsors.

Forms are available from the Marie Curie premises in Walmgate, York, or by phoning 01257 453218.

- TALKING of Black Sheep, Bar Talk was at the Masham Sheep Fair this time last week. The lack of livestock was made up for by the weird and wonderful sheep exhibits built by all and sundry.

Naturally, our favourite was the brewery entry, where visitors were invited to insert their arms into the back of a large, square black sheep to find a beer pump with which to pour themselves a free glass of the scrumptious beer.

Bottoms up!