AS eagle-eyed Press readers will know, York Brewery is hoping to open a second pub along the lines of Colliergate's Last Drop Inn.

If planners and licensing justices are kind, it could start trading in June next year.

Permission to turn the High Petergate property into a wine bar has already been granted. It is owned by Trevor Ward, the man behind Plunketts restaurant and owner of the building occupied by Caf Concerto, all on High Petergate.

He feels the new pub would "blend in quite nicely".

"I think it's an acceptable alternative to the wine bar. I don't think wine bars work in York all that well anyway."

Like the Last Drop, the pub will sell York Brewery ales, it will not have a jukebox or a fruit machine and its licensee will be James Butler.

But it can't have the same name as the Last Drop. And that's where you come in.

Brewery boss Tony Thomson has wracked his considerable cranium for a suitable moniker without success.

So he's asking for suggestions from Evening Press readers. If you can come up with a name and he chooses it for his new pub, you will win a VIP night, including loadsa free drink, at the boozer's opening night.

Send your ideas, on a postcard, to Chris Titley, Name Game, The Evening Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York YO1 9YN, or at chris.titley@ycp.co.uk

u SUPPLIES of Humbug Bitter may have sold out in a day, but the anti-Christmas spirit of the above-mentioned Last Drop Inn lives on.

Landlord James was asked by Bar Talk if he was running any Christmas festivities at this little drinking hole.

"We are doing nothing," he told us. "And that is special. Christmas overkill has hit York this year and I am determined not to be sucked in by it all.

"Minimal decorations and minimum festive fuss."

Apparently many a punter has shook the cheery landlord by the hand and congratulated him on his decision to leave Christmas to other merrymakers.

"It is a lot of nonsense about nothing," he said while dropping decorations in the Last Drop Bin.

u A FLOOD-DELAYED bonfire night is taking place at the Royal Oak, Hirst Courtney on Christmas Eve.

The normally well-attended event was put back as flooding shut down the village but landlord Steve Whitley has decided to put it back on Christmas Eve.

"Better late than never," he told Bar Talk. "We also have a Boxing Day singalong and a steak day the day after New Year's Eve."

The bonfire, followed by Christmas drinks, will be lit at 7pm followed by a "bit of a party back at the pub".

u SO what else is going on this Yuletide then? Well, at the Jolly Farmers, Leavening, near Malton, it's fancy dress time on New Year's Eve.

But, warns landlord John Parkinson, numbers are strictly limited. He has had to take out an entertainment licence which restricts him to 100 people, most of whom will come from the village.

John and his family have many friends in York, and he is worried they might descend on his wonderful boozer without giving him any notice. Unfortunately they will not get in.

"If anybody's coming from York please let me know in advance," pleads Mr P.

The theme of the fancy dress is comedy personalities from film, stage and TV. John is just waiting for delivery of a yellow hard hat and his Bob The Builder ensemble is complete.

u IN York look out for various Christmas special offers. Edwards on George Hudson Street is discounting double spirits by 50p and doing various two-for-one drinks promotions over the next week. Look out for its Christmas Eve party and the all-night New Year's Eve disco.

O'Neill's is kindly sparing a thought for designated drivers on New Year's Eve, with free soft drinks.

McMillans and Merlins are not doing anything special, figuring that people will pack into these fun pubs anyway over Christmas. But staff are wearing fancy dress, with "the girls in skimpy red dresses with fur lining", according to David at Merlins.

And The Jubilee expects to welcome most of Leeman Road over the next few days for its community celebrations.

Landlady Jeanette Whittaker has organised children's parties and carol singing. On Christmas Day, the pub opens until 3pm, with dads showing off their new sweaters, kids showing off their new toys, and mums taking a well-earned rest from the kitchen.

Then Jeanette, husband Ian and their three children get the place to themselves for their own family Christmas.

And a merry Christmas to all Bar Talk readers from...