OK it’s not quite the Duran Duran “classic”, but it’s what came to mind arriving in Warboys so I’m using it.
The Durannies, of course, inspired other pub blog titles including “New Spoons on Monday“, “Notorious (opening times)” and “Girls on Film (Angry Babe remix)”.
They haven’t made a great record since 1993, which is possibly the year I made my last and only trip to Warboys, and even that would have been to play golf at Pidley with Dad.
Warboys is enigmatic, so my heart leapt with joy when the new Guide stuck the Royal Oak in the good book.
Is it smart, dull, outer Huntingdon, or scary Ramsey overspill ? Obviously Simon would rather it had a Ramsey vibe, and it almost did.
The witches on the village sign, taking cover from that Messerschmitt I think, should serve as a warning.
Sadly, Warboys has little to detain the determined tourist on his way to Chatteris or that GBG pub below sea level, but isn’t it great to see a Proper Pub in the Guide ?
It’s all happening at the Royal Oak this month,
just as it was in November 1980 when Miss Anglia was about to pull the first pint in the new lounge (Miss Huntingdonshire was unavailable).
Manns IPA was the sole real ale 43 years ago. Which cutting-edge cask greets locals and tickers today ?
Hoorah !
I near tripped over the pub dog in my excitement.
It’s a cool, solid Pride (NBSS 3), but everyone else is on Madri, which I guess is the new Phipps IPA.
The landlord, a jolly chap, is taken aback by the number of visitors and does some emergency table rearrangement, and I suddenly realise I’m the only lone drinker, hogging a table, and sup up.
A cheery pub, full of laughter and Halloween preparation.
And in the Spar a nice man is desperate to help me find the chocolate I suddenly need. “No problem, boss” he booms.
What lovely people.
retiredmartin 
Warboys? Streuth!
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Never been to Streuth. Sounds edgy.
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From Warpigs to Warboys, though I haven’t actually got there yet. Love that framed poster from the 1980 redevelopment, especially suppliers of the ‘table video’, bet it was Space Invaders. They had to drink Mann’s IPA so it would have been a welcome diversion.
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Good call, almost certainly Space Invaders, played that in Majorca 76.
Not unlucky enough to actually drink Mann’s, though I’ve always liked their pub signage, from Hunts up to the mysterious Crowland.
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I askd nicel and wa alowe to handle ST Guthlac
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I asked nicely and was allowed to handle St Guthlacs skull on my visit to the abbey in Crowland
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I asked nicely and was allowed to handle St Guthlacs Skull on my visit to Crowland Abbey
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Did you ask St Guthlac personally ?
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The Skull was found buried in the Abbey Grounds in the 19th Century and has an axe wound
Carbon dated to the 9th Century so even if not Guthlac himself likely to be an abbey monk who was murdered by a marauding Dane
Guthlac is not an official saint in the Anglican or Catholic c church but is in the Orthodox churches so Crowland does get some pilgrimage trade from Greece Balkans etc
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I should think so after the third time.
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There is a mysterious feel about Crowland
A workaday Fenland village but the ancient statues on the bridge and half ruined Abbey seem to give it a link to a distant past.
It would make a great setting for a Folk Horror film
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You mean with a Peter Paul and Mary axis?
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A proper pub in the GBG – whatever next?
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