NewsBeat

How York poetry group Say Owt has grown – and grown

Published

2 hours ago

26 April 2026

How York poetry group Say Owt has grown - and grown

“Jaws do drop. People leave quite wide-eyed … the best compliment we can get is someone going, ‘I didn’t know poetry could be like this.’”

Say Owt artistic director, Henry Raby, is recalling the reaction to the group’s poetry slam nights, held twice yearly at the Crescent.

One-hundred poetry loving fans gathered at the latest slam, on Friday, April 17, for a night of friendly competition.

Each poet has three minutes to perform. They are then scored by randomly selected audience members – and the poet with the most points wins.

Henry Raby on stage (Image: Charlie Kirkpatrick/Kirkpatrick Photography)

It’s a “unique” but “lively” evening, Henry says, and a chance to get people talking.

And “as much as it is electric and noisy” – it’s also a safe space to try performing for the first time, Henry adds.

Topics vary – from personal, heartfelt stories to lively political pieces – but they all “get people discussing”, Henry says. “It really grabs an audience.”

“Our slams are on Friday nights at the moment – so we have to deliver a Friday night out, or we’re not doing our jobs properly,” says Say Owt’s associate artist and creative director, Hannah Davies.

“At one slam,” adds Henry, “we had ladies in the toilet putting on their makeup because a poetry gig was the start of their night out

“They were opening with, let’s get down to the slam – then we’re going to hit York.

“That’s what we want it to be – part of your night out.”

Bram David Jarman (Jarmouse), Hannah Davies, Henry Radby, Stu Freestone and rapper Testament at Say Owt’s 10th birthday bash (Image: Supplied)

Henry, 37, who founded the group with Stu Freestone, has seen Say Owt grow from its first location at the 100-capacity Basement, below the City Screen cinema off Coney Street, to the 300-capacity Crescent. The group also hosts gigs at Theatre@41 Monkgate and at the Bluebird Bakery in Acomb.

The venues have grown in size and guest poets now include renowned names, but the group’s ethos remains the same, says Henry. “[The gigs] are lively, fun – it’s a bit raucous and a bit silly.

Say Owt guest poet Maureen Onwunali (Image: Supplied)

“We’re trying to defuse any sense that poetry has barriers or is stuffy or boring. It’s got to be very immediate.”

Henry, from Foxwood in York and now living in Leeds, puts Say Owt’s success – and York’s “robust” poetry scene – down to the diverse voices in the city.

It was punk – particularly the punk poet John Cooper Clarke – who inspired Henry to start performing poetry.

John Cooper Clarke (Image: PA)

Henry liked performing, but not acting – and “couldn’t work out what performing was without the acting”, he says. “Then I saw John Cooper Clarke at a GCSE poetry event and went, ‘Oh right, that’s it’ … That punk attitude of just getting up and doing it. It’s quite DIY and it’s putting your heart on your sleeve.

“It’s exactly what I love about poetry – you don’t even need a guitar.”

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No poets are the same – particularly in York, Henry says. “They either want to tell really personal, heartfelt stories about themselves and say something really important.

“Or they want to raise the rafters with something political. Or they want to just make people laugh and put a smile on their faces.”

A community has grown around the poetry nights, Hannah adds. “We’ve had couples meet and get together at our poetry nights.

“Friendships have formed. We’ve got a core of really loyal customers and audience members who come back.”

‘My journey into poetry came out of frustration’

Hannah’s first poetry performance was at a Say Owt slam – and followed her background in theatre.

“I started as an actor and then was a playwright and a single mum,” says Hannah, 47, from Fulford in York and now living in Saltburn. “My journey into poetry came out of frustration about how the theatre world wasn’t really serving me, and about where my life was at the time.

“I had these acting skills and these writing skills. I just thought, let’s write something for me to perform. Because no one can say no. I can just go and do it.”

And she did. “My first ever slam poem I did was at Say Owt. Then I became a Say Owt fan girl.”

Hannah Davies on stage (Image: Supplied)

“It’s liberating to go and say what you actually think about things on a stage,” Hannah says, but admits that performing for the first time was “absolutely terrifying”.

Hannah has continued to perform poetry and is now preparing to support World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker at the Theatre Royal on June 17, presented by Say Owt.

“I’m really excited to get on that stage and have a little taste of what it feels like to be Harry Baker,” Hannah says.

“But we’ll treat it like it’s a gig in the back of a pub,” says Henry. “I don’t want it to feel like a formal show at the Theatre Royal.”

Say Owt holds its Bad Betty showcase at Rise Up at the Bluebird Bakery in Acomb on Wednesday (April 29).
Harry Baker takes to the stage at the Theatre Royal on June 17.
And Hannah Davies will be performing The Ballad of Blea Wyke at the Bluebird Bakery in Acomb on July 10, and at Helmsley Arts Centre on July 17.
For more gigs, information and tickets, visit www.sayowt.co.uk/upcoming-events.html

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The Epsom rape crime that never happened

Published

5 minutes ago

26 April 2026

NewsAdmin

The Epsom rape crime that never happened

Misinformation about the Epsom incident began to circulate online, with many accounts on social media making false suggestions the suspects were asylum seekers or migrants. Others commented that they were distressed by reports of such a serious crime taking place in their local area, and expressed support for the alleged victim.

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LK Bennett closes all stores after entering administration

Published

12 minutes ago

26 April 2026

NewsAdmin

LK Bennett closes all stores after entering administration

LK Bennett, founded back in the 90s, entered administration in January, with John Noon and Mark Firmin of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP appointed joint administrators.

Immediately following their appointment, the LK Bennett brand and related intellectual property were sold to US firm Gordon Brothers, which also owns Laura Ashley and Poundland.

However, LK Bennett’s nine stand-alone and 13 concession stores were not included in the deal, leaving them at risk of closing.

Its website explains: “The LK Bennett stores were not included in the transaction and continue to trade under the Administration.”

All LK Bennett stores “are now closed”

All LK Bennett stores have now closed, according to the retailer’s website.

In an Instagram post on Saturday (April 25), the fashion retailer said: “We’re nearly at the end.

“With only 2 days remaining, tomorrow is your last moment to shop our collections in-store with everything up to 90% off.”

“Our boutiques will remain open today as long as stock lasts, but once it’s gone, our doors will close.”

But it appears all stock has been sold, as the LK Bennett website reads: “Website and stores are now closed.”

Full list of LK Bennett stores

The full list of LK Bennett stores that have closed is:

Stand-alone stores

Lower Guildhall Mall (Bluewater)
Canary Wharf (London)
Eastgate Square Shopping Centre (Chester)
Duke of York Square (London)
Harrogate
Knightsbridge (London)
New Bond Street (London)
Richmond
White City Westfield (London)

Concession stores

Arnotts (Dublin)
The Bentall Centre (Kingston upon Thames)
Brown Thomas (Dublin)
De Gruchy (Jersey)
Hoopers (Tunbridge Wells)
Hoopers (Wilmslow)
Jarrold (Norwich)
John Lewis (Edinburgh)
John Lewis (High Wycombe)
John Lewis – Oxford Street (London)
John Lewis (Manchester)
John Lewis (Oxford)
John Lewis (Cheadle)

‘Very sad day’ – shoppers react to closure of LK Bennett stores

Shoppers were quick to react to the closure of the remaining LK Bennett stores, taking to the Instagram post to share their thoughts.

One person commented: “Very sad day indeed. I will miss the lovely collection and the staff who was always attentive no matter which boutique you shopped.”

Another added: “Very sad day for the high street and more importantly the staff who have worked their shoes! Off- good luck to all of you.”

Other major UK companies that have closed or entered administration in 2026

It has been a tough start to 2026 for the UK high street, with a wide range of businesses entering administration or closing down.

Major high street retailers have been forced to close stores, including:

Several other retailers have fallen into administration, including:

Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have closed in 2026:

EcoJet Airlines, billed as “the world’s first Electric Airline”, also entered liquidation after just three years, resulting in the cancellation of all planned flights.

What has a nose, wings and runs off of hydrogen? Ecojet 😎 pic.twitter.com/y8QGiBdFe2
— ecotricity (@ecotricity) July 17, 2023

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out over the coming months after being acquired by InPost.

It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It’s not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Are you saddened by the closure of all LK Bennett stores? Let us know in the comments below.

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North East place names that confuse drivers and sat navs

Published

18 minutes ago

26 April 2026

NewsAdmin

North East place names that confuse drivers and sat navs

But if you’re looking at the region on a map, you’d be forgiven for doing a double take or getting a sense of de ja vu, as some towns share names or are awkwardly similar.

If you don’t know your Stanley and Crook from your Stanley Crook, or your Easington from your Easington, you could easily end up in the wrong place.

Last month the Echo told how a Barcelona fan heading to his side’s Champions League clash at St James Park in Newcastle was left red-faced after turning up at the stadium of the same name in Exeter.

But within the region there are plenty of names which could leave tourists, or locals, making a similar error.

Stanley, Crook and Stanley Crook

Stanley in North West Durham and Crook are almost a half-hour drive further south.

But Stanley Crook is its own village in itself, just north of Crook itself.

Miss a comma in a text and your mates could be waiting in the wrong pit village, wondering which Stanley you’re in.

Elwick and Elswick

Elwick is the quiet village just outside Hartlepool, while Elswick sits on the banks of the Tyne in west Newcastle.

One wrong vowel and you’ve swapped country lanes for city dual carriageways.

Easington

If you key Easington into your sat nav, make sure you check twice where you’re heading.

There’s one by Peterlee and another near Saltburn, and picking the wrong one can leave you 25 miles out, staring at the sea and thinking, “that cliff definitely wasn’t here last time.”

Newbiggin

Head for the coast and you’ve got Newbiggin‑by‑the‑Sea in Northumberland with its chips, promenade and sea air, versus Newbiggin Hall in west Newcastle, which is very much not a seaside resort, however optimistic you are with your bucket and spade.

Hemlington and Helmington Row

Head to Middlesbrough and you’ll find Hemlington with its lake and housing estates.

But be careful not to make a typo and mix up the M and L, as you’d find yourself heading to Helmington Row near Crook.

The Trimdons

If you’re looking for an East Durham pit village with Trimdon in the name, make sure you get the right out.

Trimdon, Trimdon Station, and Trimdon Colliery all lie so close together they’re often dubbed “the Trimdons”.

Bowes

If you’re looking for Bowes in Teesdale, a pretty village with an old castle, you’ll want to make sure you aren’t heading towards Gateshead and the Bowes Incline, near the Angel of the North.

Hetton-le-Hole and Hutton-le-Hole

Even your tongue can get tied with Hetton‑le‑Hole in Sunderland and Hutton‑le‑Hole over in North Yorkshire.

One misplaced vowel and you’re a national park away from where you planned to be.

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Donald Trump dinner shooting as gunman armed with ‘multiple weapons’ opens fire

Published

25 minutes ago

26 April 2026

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The US President described the shooter as a ‘lone wolf whack job’ while posting footage from the event online.

08:44, 26 Apr 2026Updated 08:47, 26 Apr 2026

A gunman carrying “multiple weapons” attempted to storm a Washington dinner attended by Donald Trump on Saturday night. The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner descended into chaos as the US President, who had previously been the target of an assassination attempt, was swiftly evacuated by Secret Service agents.

One officer, who was shot but protected by his bulletproof vest, was hospitalised. The suspect, who was allegedly armed with a shotgun and handgun, has since been identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen from Torrance, California.

It is understood that he was a guest at the Washington Hilton hotel, where the event was being held. As reported by the Mirror, Allen faces charges including assaulting an officer with a dangerous weapon.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has announced that additional charges will be filed.

Trump addressed the media following the shooting and posted images on his Truth Social platform of the suspected shooter handcuffed on the ground.

The President stated: “My impression is he was a lone wolf whack job. These are crazy people.”

Trump praised the work of the Secret Service, adding that the suspected gunman was not close to breaching the ballroom where he was seated on stage at the time of the incident.

He continued: “I saw a room that was just totally unified. It was, in one way, very beautiful, a very beautiful thing. To see a man charge a security checkpoint armed with multiple weapons, and he was taken down by some very brave members of the Secret Service, and they acted very quickly.”

He added: “It is always shocking when something like this happens.” Washington mayor Muriel Bowser stated she had “no reason” to believe anyone else was involved.

Mr Blanche said: “Tonight you saw the very worst and the very best of this country. You saw the very worst by the actions of that coward… but you also saw the very best because you saw law enforcement do exactly what they’re supposed to do. I promise you justice will be served.”

Trump added that the event would be rescheduled in the next 30 days. The Washington Hilton has been the site of a previous attempted presidential assassination when then president Ronald Reagan was shot by John Hinckley Jr outside the hotel in 1981. This led to security being heightened at the property.

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Donald Trump shares shocking footage of White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting

Published

35 minutes ago

26 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, has been identified as the suspect who was armed with guns and knives when he stormed the Washington Hilton on Saturday night.

Stunning footage shared by Donald Trump has shown the moment a suspect was seen dashing through the hotel lobby at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner before he was taken down by secret service agents.

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, has been identified as the suspect who was armed with guns and knives when he stormed the Washington Hilton on Saturday night.

Video posted by the US President on his Truth Social platform showed the suspect running past security barricades as Secret Service agents ran towards him. Officials said that one officer was shot in a bullet-resistant vest but is recovering.

Police confirmed the gunman was tackled to the ground and was not injured, but was being evaluated at a hospital. Allen, from Torrance, California, has been arrested and he is facing two firearm-related charges, including a count of assaulting an officer with a deadly weapon.

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As reported by the Mirror, the suspect – who officials said was a guest at the Washington Hilton where the dinner was being held – has been taken into custody and is expected in court Monday.

Officers believe he opened fire and acted alone but did not say who was his intended target or describe a motive. Trump appeared to agree, describing him as a “lone wolf whack job” at a press conference afterwards.

The US President was uninjured and was rushed off the stage. Secret Service agents, including the heavily-armed counter assault team, swarmed the stage after the incident.

Vice President JD Vance was removed from the room first, while agents initially covered Trump in place, before escorting him and First Lady Melania Trump from the room. Trump briefly stumbled on his way offstage before being assisted by his security detail.

He was held for some time in the secure presidential suite at the hotel as the president and organisers initially sought to resume the event — hotel staff refolded napkins and refilled water glasses, and aides adjusted the teleprompter for the president — before Trump was returned to the White House on the advice of the Secret Service.

“When you’re impactful, they go after you. When you’re not impactful, they leave you alone,” Trump, still in his tuxedo, said at the White House two hours later. “They seem to think he was a lone wolf.”

The shooting unfolded just outside the vast subterranean ballroom holding thousands of dinner guests, disrupting minutes after it began an annual event meant to honour journalism and the First Amendment that was being especially scrutinised this year because it was the first time since Trump became President that he had attended.

The President told reporters later that he hoped the event would be rescheduled within 30 days, though the fact that an armed man was able to rush toward the ballroom raised instant questions about security precautions at an event attended each year by senior government officials.

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‘I watched Paul Pogba’s Monaco nightmare up close – the worst case scenario has happened’

Published

43 minutes ago

26 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has had a debut season to forget in Ligue 1

Paul Pogba’s comeback campaign at Monaco was supposed to be the redemption arc for one of football’s modern greats. Instead, it’s quickly fizzling out as the latest disappointing chapter since the World Cup-winner left Manchester United in 2022.

From deflating second spells with United and Juventus to even greater disappointment serving an 18-month suspension for a doping offence he insists was not intentional, recent years have not been kind to Pogba. And the sad truth is the 33-year-old’s best days may be long behind him.

An injury-ravaged debut year on the French Riviera is testament to that, with Pogba having played only 57 minutes in five appearances for Monaco approaching the season’s finish line. And French football expert Tom Williams believes another move lies on the horizon after failing to flourish in Fontvieille.

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“Yes, unfortunately,” he told MEN Sport when asked to assess Pogba’s comeback season after two years without competitive minutes. “From what we’ve seen, he is the same player. He still moves around the pitch in the same way. He has the authority that he always had. He has the same technical dexterity on the ball. He can still fly a perfectly weighted 60-yard diagonal pass.

“He just can’t get around the pitch anything like he used to be able to. Unfortunately, since the start of the season, he’s not been able to do it for more than 20 minutes at a time. Despite the fact that he has literally had nothing to do but just try to get fit.

“Again, I don’t know what the long-term solution is, if there is one, but it’s hard to have any real faith in his ability to come back from this in any durable way. Because he’s had the best part of nine months to have a go at it and it just hasn’t worked.”

Pogba’s latest contribution was a six-minute cameo off the bench in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Toulouse. The midfielder replaced Simon Adingra at 2-1 up in a bid to shore things up and get the result over the line, only for Sebastien Pocognoli’s side to wilt once again and lose vital ground in the European qualification race.

Although contracted until the summer of 2027, Pogba’s chances of staying at the Stade Louis II beyond this season could depend on which competition they find themselves in next term (if any). And his chances of seeing out a second campaign look that much slimmer if they fail to qualify for Europe at all, an increasingly plausible outcome at this rate.

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What was teased as the renaissance of France’s former prodigal son has instead illustrated Father Time’s hand in the matter. At 33, other creative midfielders often remodel their game to account for what their legs no longer can; Pogba would at this point be overjoyed just to get a 90-minute performance on the board.

Les Monegasques could truly do with him, too, in their efforts to secure Champions League qualification for next season. The reality, however, is that what started out as a potential dream acquisition is looking more like a nightmare by the week.

Williams continued: “I imagine if Monaco had drawn up a set of potential scenarios at the beginning of the season, in terms of how much football he might be able to play and how much he might be able to contribute, the season that he’s been able to produce so far would have been pretty much the absolute minimal expectation.

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“Things have basically gone as badly as they could have done on the injury front. I guess it could [be seen as] a complete whitewash of a season [regarding Pogba’s situation].”

It’s important to note the high regard in which Monaco’s supporters held the player, and which they largely still do. Williams stressed that the fanbase welcomed Pogba, who remains United’s record signing, as one of their own, and he’s still very well received.

While others might be blamed for a lack of fitness, Pogba still inspires candour, particularly from young supporters. Even opposition fans have found it in them to show the player love; Pogba is, after all, a French icon due to his previous exploits and was one of the faces of that 2018 World Cup win.

But the harsher reality is the Monaco experiment “just hasn’t worked out,” in Williams’ words. Another move may well beckon this summer, but that only raises more questions about who will take on a pricey yet depreciating asset with so little promise of a return on investment.

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Woman arrested after children aged 1 and 3 die in Wolverhampton house fire | News UK

Published

50 minutes ago

26 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Woman arrested after children aged 1 and 3 die in Wolverhampton house fire | News UK

Officers were called to Mason Street at about 8.30pm on Friday along with the West Midlands Fire Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service, West Midlands Police said (Picture: Matthew Cooper/PA Wire)

A woman has been arrested after two young children died in a house fire on Friday night.

The woman, in her 30s, was taken into custody as police investigated the fire which killed two boys aged one and three.

Another two children and a woman made it outside the house before firefighters arrived.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said on Saturday afternoon: ‘We have detained a woman following a fatal house fire in Wolverhampton yesterday evening.

NewsBeat

How to watch Chelsea FC vs Leeds: TV channel and live stream for FA Cup semi-final today

Published

58 minutes ago

26 April 2026

NewsAdmin

How to watch Chelsea FC vs Leeds: TV channel and live stream for FA Cup semi-final today

Chelsea will hope to breathe new life into their fading campaign by pipping Leeds to an FA Cup final berth this afternoon.

He inherits a Chelsea side which has lost seven of its last eight matches, the only respite coming against League One relegation candidates Port Vale in this very competition.

As they continue to slide down the Premier League, an FA Cup win may soon be their most realistic avenue to qualify for Europe next season.

Leeds, meanwhile, are in fine late-season form, with recent defeats of Manchester United and Wolves putting plenty of breathing space between them and the relegation zone.

Daniel Farke has guided the team to its first semi-final since 1987, and will hope to secure a first trip to the final since they finished as runners-up in 1973.

How to watch Chelsea vs Leeds

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 2pm BST ahead of a 3pm kick-off.

Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Dom Smith at Wembley.

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Thatched gastropub in Cambridgeshire village looking for new tenants

Published

1 hour ago

26 April 2026

NewsAdmin

The venue is described as a “traditional country pub” with an “olde world feel”

A stunning gastropub in a Cambridgeshire village is looking for new tenants. The John Barleycorn in Duxford, is one of two pubs in the area and is a popular spot among the locals.

The venue is listed by pub company Greene King, who describe it as a “traditional country pub which is full of character and charm”. They added: “It is a thatched pub with an olde world feel and is perfect for lunch and evening dining.”

Duxford is situated around 10 miles south of Cambridge and is widely known for its Imperial War Museum which hosts historic air shows. It is made up of many pretty houses as well as local amenities including a shop, a community centre with a park and a café.

Suitable applicants are described as experienced operators who can drive food and drink sales at the pub. Applicants should also “build relationships with the locals and become a community champion”, according to the British pub and brewing company. Additionally, Greene King believes it would also be useful for the new partner to have experience in dealing with a small number of letting rooms.

The weekly rent for the tenant agreement is listed at £769 adding up to £40,000 annually. The estimated annual turnover is expected to reach £528,992, according to Greene King.

The listing said: “The pub offers a mixed offering, split in favour of drinks sales at approximately 50 percent, with food and accommodation making up the rest of the sales mix. The pub lends itself to a quality food offering at both lunchtime and in the evenings, however for the locals entertainment and pub games are still something that is in demand.”

The property is available to view on the Greene King website. To see the full listing, click here.

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Eating Out review at The Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm

Published

1 hour ago

26 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Eating Out review at The Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm

On the edge of Yarm, a new development is going up called “the Cornfields”. It sounds enticingly rural although there are no fields left in the Yarm area that can ever again be a blaze of golden wheat because every one of them has had roads laid across it and houses built upon it.

The Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm (Image: Chris Lloyd)

About a mile down the A67 from The Cornfields is The Tack Room, which is genuinely rural and once was a tack room. It is tacked onto the side of an extremely functional agricultural hangar in which an indoor riding school operates. To reach The Tack Room, you have to walk through the school viewing area where clouds of dust waft up as the horses trot by.

Entrance to The Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm (Image: Chris Lloyd)

To my wife, Petra, a horse lover, these are the most exciting sights and smells in the world. I, though, am very allergic to horses, partly because of the effect they have on my eyes and lungs, and partly because of the effect they have had on our bank account over the years.

The Tack Room, though, has been turned out very nicely. Festoons of colourful plastic flowers give it a smart feel, although it is noisy.

The specials board overlooking the indoor riding school at the Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm (Image: Chris Lloyd)

There is a row of stools so that proud parents can have a coffee and cake while watching their daughters pilot their pony around the school, and there are covers for about 50 lunchtime diners – it is open from 9am to 4pm, closed on Mondays, but it is doing themed evenings on a Friday.

It was busy. We’d been advised to book for our Saturday lunchtime, and there was no room to accommodate the lady who had arranged to meet three friends there without securing a table.

The menu was short but surprisingly sophisticated for a riding school. There were four sandwiches – from Isle of Wight Heritage Tomato and Pesto to Shorthorn steak and homemade chimichurri – for between £12.95 and £14.95, and there were 10 main dishes, from soup (cauliflower velouté) to salad to a souffle, a pie, a burger and fish and chips, ranging from £7.95 to £19.95.

If I had been really brave, I would have gone for sardines on toast with fennel and rhubarb slaw (£15.95) from the specials blackboard.

As soon as we had placed our orders, Petra rushed off to look at horses doing horsey things which meant I was left to read the wall display about Thomas Bates, the great shorthorn cattle breeder from Kirklevington in the 1830s. Also on the walls were pleas to “back British farming” and to “drink Hawkstone”, which is Jeremy Clarkson’s beer.

Fittingly for such a pro-farming place, the meat was front and centre of the dishes myself and my son, Theo, had ordered.

Coronation chicken at The Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm (Image: Chris Lloyd)

He had the Coronation Chicken (£18.95), a great piece of free range breast, its white, juicy meat gleaming against the darker curried coating. It sat on a very moist bed of curried butter and raita, and he had some (very good) chips. The menu suggested there should be some greenery in the form of spinach, but none arrived.

Pork Loin at The Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm (Image: Chris Lloyd)

I had the even larger Pork Loin (£19.95) – it was so big and thick that, with its bone sticking out to be used a handle, it could have been an offensive weapon.

Free range, it came with sauteed potatoes and a pineapple salsa, which gave pinpricks of juicy sweet explosions with every mouthful. Like the chicken, it was perfectly cooked but, like the chicken, it could have done with a proper vegetable element.

We quickly got a bowl of house salad (£5) to share, and set to work – there were very generous amounts of meat to be eaten.

Coronation Cauliflower salad at The Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm (Image: Chris Lloyd)

Meanwhile, Petra was purring over her Coronation Cauliflower, Chickpea and Couscous Salad (£13.95) from the specials board. The cauliflower had the same distinctive coronation curry flavour – no heat – as Theo’s chicken, and amid the lettuce, cucumber, onion, chickpeas and giant couscous there were hidden raisins which gave it an additional twist. With a dollop of raita on top, this was a very successful dish – and good value.

Rocky Road at The Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm (Image: Chris Lloyd)

For dessert, there were plenty of scones and cakes (about £4.85). Theo went for a rocky road with giant marshmallows sticking out of it, Petra had a large piece of carrot cake while I had a pear and raspberry frangipane, the latter two being served with pouring cream. They were very good.

Frangipane at The Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm (Image: Chris Lloyd)

The coffee was probably better, and a note of praise for the tapwater. In some places, it is grudgingly served, but here it came in a chilled carafe with glasses full of ice and a slice of lemon.

And a note about the atmosphere: by the end of my cakes, my nose, eyes and lungs were in need of some fresh, horse-free air. Next time I shall prepare with an antihistamine tablet because The Tack Room would be worth going back to.

The Tack Room, Kirklevington, near Yarm (Image: Chris Lloyd)