TheMIDSUMMER IN HILLAM – I COULD MURDER A PINT The Cross Keys is open again New business owner Neil Sands told Hillam $ews he was hoping to be pulling pints on Saturday night 23rd June, with ‘Mine Host’ manager Steve at the bar. eil Sands runs the Boot and Shoe, Barkston Ash, where he has been for four and a half years. He has taken The Keys from owners Enterprise Inns and Hillam $ews will be speaking on behalf of all its readers in wishing Neil, his wife Sue and manager Steve a warm welcome to Hillam Square. Neil also runs the Jenny Wren at Beal, the Wheatsheaf and Red Lion in Hambleton and The Commercial, Kippax. The Boot and Shoe has a large following on Twitter, (@boot-and_shoe) and specializes in ‘real ale’ Examples include Old Peculiar, Shepherd Neame and Brown Cow. The pub won a CAMRA pub of the
season award in 2010. The terms under which he has taken the Cross Keys might slightly restrict the choice of ales, but we live in hope. Behind the scenes a lot has been going on and Hillam $ews has been in close touch with an investor who had made offers to buy the Cross Keys and to run it ‘free of tie.’ Hillam $ews in its last issue carried an interview with him together with his letter to the paper. eil Sands told Hillam $ews that food would be available within weeks – reliable ‘pub food’ and Sunday lunches. He has received an award for good beer and food from MP Nigel Adams. Hillam ews has learnt that the potential investor interviewed in Hillam $ews is the owner of the Boot and Shoe and it is his tenant Neil who has pipped him at the post in the race to relaunch the Cross Keys.
Media savvy Ashpal Bhogal was the first British Asian to carry the Olympic torch through Monk Fryston, as well as represent her country at hockey. #AshpalBhogal, who had already visited the school, tweeted “Lovely to see all the schoolchildren out lining Monk Fryston! ”