MUCH to the relief of regulars, Walmgate residents and Evening Press journalists, the Spread Eagle seems to be returning to its former glory.

After a fast refurb, the popular boozer is back in business in time for a Christmas rush landlord Ian Taylor can't wait to accommodate.

Cleaned-up, spruced-up and full-up, The Spread is back in action - and with tankards. Bank's Original is £1.54, served in a big-handled pint glass.

One improvement is its over all look: the re-upholstered seats, new tables, carpets in the front room and the clean and fresh feel of the place.

Extending the dreaded hatch into a bar is another plus, giving more room for service and less reason for customers to argue.

Another breath of fresh air is huge licensee Ian Taylor.

The pub can perhaps be seen as a bit of a Manchester City. Good a long time ago, it fell into the lower divisions because of a few questionable management decisions, but is now poised to return to its former glory under the stewardship of a talented boss.

Ian is keen to attract back the regulars and seems willing to do "whatever it takes" to get the pub back into the Premiership of York drinking establishments.

The more traditional drinkers among us may bemoan the loss of a partition between the two back rooms, and the non-smoking rules that apply to one of them may not be popular.

But smoke-free areas are a necessity, especially if food is to be encouraged, so we shouldn't moan too much - and the widening of the partition brightens up what were reasonable dingy rooms.

And Bar Talk was delighted by receipts printed white on black, a creative and stylish addition to any expense account.

These improvements to what was an already decent boozer is not bad at all.

Bar Talk, based next door to the Spread, is as keen as anyone to see the place succeed.

u WHILE we're on Walmgate, may we add what a nice pub the Five Lions is. No refurb, no particular news, but Bar Talk has been drinking in there recently, and it is warm and friendly and quiet and rather nice all round. Oh and they do lovely sandwiches.

u IT'S nice to see that even in the year 2000 people still keep their promises.

A friend of Bar Talk spent his birthday celebrating with a quick lunch at the Flying Legends on Clifton Moor, York. Unfortunately the lunch proved not to be as quick as expected. It was a good 25 minutes before his Hawaiian burger arrived at the table.

As any good consumer should, immediately after finishing his sumptuous meal he went straight to the food counter and complained that the feast had not arrived within the "15 minutes big promise" time. The more than helpful floor manager, Paula, had no hesitation in taking the young man's details with "a promise" that his compensatory £5 voucher would be in the post forthwith. He left the pub happy, full and content in the knowledge that the pub staff had done their best for him.

A happy birthday all round.