The Shed is currently Hovingham Village Hall – where you might see a Brownies Talent Show or the Ryedale Young Farmers doing their stuff. But the Shed turns up some great acts, including Gwyneth Herbert, who did two sets of her own numbers mostly from her new CD Ghosts. Some powerful songs, vivaciously presented. Only drawback was that the bar had run out of Shed Bitter by half time.
Some weeks ago now, but such a treat to live in a place where you can walk across town to a pub and spend an evening listening to one of Britiain’s finest folk musicians in a small room. And such a friendly, informal but thoroughly professional approach.
To mourn the demise of the Agar Arms at Warthill – not as a pub, it’s still there and open, but as one of the best steak houses in the area – and it was for nearly 30 years to my personal knowledge. However, a recent cycle ride out through the early Spring countryside to this delightfully situated hostelry by the village duck-pond revealed a menu consisting only of standard pub food – not a steak in sight. The food was adequate – microwaved and hot and good size portions – but the old days are gone. The Fox at nearby STockton-on-the-Forest may be a more acceptable food alternative.