Another Sunday, another Bowgie Christmas Cracker!

According to the source of all knowledge (namely wikipedia) Tom Smith invented crackers in 1847.

little did he know that the gimmick he created to sell his bonbon sweets would become a must at every christmas dinner table in the land. Now at this point we want to make it clear that we are in no way undermining the greatness of crackers.  167 years ago we appreciate that anyone pulling a cracker would be filled with awe. they would hear a bang and receive a surprise - the likes of which they had never seen before.

Fast forward to Christmas 2014 and we have to say that the thought of receiving another pack of mini screwdrivers and waiting to hear the punchline of a truly terrible joke does not inspire awe. At all. (we like the hats though)

So this year at The Bowgie Inn, Crantock we have come up with our own version of Christmas Crackers.

On Advent Sundays throughout December we’re giving away a treat to rival the contents of any cracker when you order a turkey or veggie roast dinner with our Christmas Crackers Promotion.

On Sunday the 7th of December you enjoyed a free Christmas Pud and this Sunday the 14th of December you can choose either a mulled wine or cider on us 

And what’s in store on 21st December? We’ll keep that one a surprise. For now at least.

So enjoy a real Christmas Cracker that even Tom Smith himself would approve of with The Bowgie’s Christmas Crackers!

The Star of the Christmas Play

This blog is for anyone that has ever attended a School Christmas Play.

You await the announcement of the parts with baited breath. The mothers on the playground are weighing up the competition for the lead roles with questions like ‘ Has little Johnny recovered after his virus last week? You don’t want him over doing it else he will be ill again for Christmas’. We all know that she is hoping little Johnny won’t be up to singing the solo because her son is the backup choice.

Anyway, despite the fierce competition and underhand tactics you still have your fingers crossed your child will get a lead role.

They don’t.

They get ‘Goat number 4’

Once the disappointment subsides you decide that this is going to be the best enactment of a goat anyone has ever seen… they even have to say ‘I’m a hungry goat’ so at least it’s a speaking part.

You set to work with needles, thread, fake fur, felt and wool and try to create the fantastic costume you have in your mind… after a few late nights in front of the sewing machine you decide that a brown jumper and stick on ears will have to do instead.

When the day comes you are too late to get a seat. As you stand at the back you strain to see your little goat, who has typically been stood behind a child dressed as a christmas tree so you only manage to catch a glimpse of them whenever the tree sways to the left.

They step up to read their line just as you bend down to your bag to switch off your phone that is ringing. Goat Number 4 delivers their line so fast that by the time you push silent and stand back up, it’s over.

Never mind. 

At the Bowgie Inn Crantock we know just how important your little star is (or should we say goat).

That's why our children’s menu is crammed with plenty of choices to fill up their tum post-performance. Be they a sausage or fish finger type of kid, we have the perfect option.

With food served all day weekends and between 11 and 3 and again from 5pm week days, there’s plenty of time to drop in for a pint, blackcurrant squash and a burger.

It’s also a good place to plan your strategy for getting the lead in next year’s play…

The Bowgie Christmas Crackers

At The Bowgie Inn, Crantock, we’re impatient.

we’re the kind of people who skip past the first few songs on our Christmas CD to get to our favourite track.

We’re the kind of people that open advent calendar doors earlier than your supposed to.

And yes, we are the kind of people who peel open a bit of wrapping paper to seek a peek at what’s inside.

We can’t help it. We just don’t see why you should have to wait to enjoy a treat. 

That’s why we aren’t waiting until Christmas Day to treat all our lovely Customers. On Advent Sundays throughout December you can enjoy a special little treat when you order a turkey or veggie roast dinner with our Christmas Crackers Promotion.

On Sunday the 7th of December you can enjoy free Christmas Pud!

On Sunday the 14th December you can choose either a mulled wine or cider on us 

And what’s in store on 21st December? We’ll keep that one a surprise. For now at least.

The Bowgie’s Christmas Crackers… because being impatient can be a good thing!

Christmas Jam Night Tomorrow!

Christmas Jam Night

Tomorrow Night it’s our Christmas Jam Night.

Melting Pot Jam Nights at the Bowgie Inn, Crantock, have become somewhat of an institution because of all the fantastic Musicians who join us and Gerry Gillard for a jam throughout the year. So we’d like to give a great big ‘festive fanks' (or ‘thestive thanks’ if you prefer) to those talented individuals who make the melting pot so special.

This Thursday’s Jam Night is going to have a christmas feel with a festive buffet and a free drink on arrival. It’s just the Bowgie’s way of saying Happy Christmas! Seasonal attire is optional but totally encouraged, so be a sport and dig out that santa tie and that reindeer jumper.

Jam Night is popular because all genres, all ages and all instruments are melted together to make for wonderfully laid back evening of music with something to get every toe tapping. All the professional equipment is provided including drums, acoustic and electric guitars, bass, piano, amps, PA and mics. so if you can strum a tune, hold a note, tinkle the ivories and so on,  get yourself down to the Bowgie and share your festive favourites in our jam session . Don’t worry if you’re not musical -there’s always lots of people who come to listen, drink, dance and be merry!

But musicians take note; We wish to make it known that if we don’t hear any Chris Rea tomorrow night we will be disappointed…we’re also secretly hoping for a spot of George Michael too, but Shhh, don’t tell anyone!

Funny Cocktails

We love a cocktail. We also love cocktails dresses and cocktail sausages but that’s a separate blog entirely.

The best thing about cocktails (apart from the little umbrellas) is the names.

The word ‘cocktail’ is itself bizarre, so it makes sense to keep the strangeness flowing with names like Fuzzy Naval, Sex on the Beach and Woo Woo. 

However, we’ve noticed that many people stick to what they know and feel that asking for a jug of pimms is a safe bet. 

That is true, but come on people! Live a little! Make it a Turbo Pimms at least.

We understand that you may have been somewhere and ordered an exotic sounding cocktail. You’ve watched the bar tender prepare it as if he were performing a ballet. You’ve excitedly watched as the freshly shaken liquid is poured slowly over ice and handed to you… then you’ve sipped it and… URGH! disgusting!

We’ve made sure that our cocktail menu only has nice cocktails on it, so choosing a good one is fool-proof! Although we understand your caution, we advise you throw that caution to the wind and next time you are ordering at the bar and go for something you’ve never tried before like a Caribbean Mule or a Cuba Libre. Need a bit of a pick me up? The Honey Jack Enigiser may be what you’ve been missing.

The world of cocktails is full of exciting combinations just waiting to be discovered and the Bowgie Inn Crantock is the perfect place to discover a new tipple... or two.

                                

James Bond Theme Night for Cornwall Hospice Care

Every man wishes he was a smooth as James Bond. No matter how much he denies it, he has at some point posed with his fingers in a pistol shape, he has watched his reflection in the bathroom mirror and tried to  raising one eyebrow like Sean Connery. He has practised a smouldering ‘Roger Moore’ look and he has even considered buying a pair of those blue swimming trunks that Daniel Craig wore so well.

However, bond does raise some questions as well as eyebrows.

For instance, how did Roger Moore manage to pull so many fit birds with that chest wig? How did such an Connery manage such daring stunts in such a restrictive suit, particularly by 1971 in ‘Diamonds are Forever’ when he was carrying a few extra pounds? Why do people forget George Lazenby and Timothy Dalton? Why doesn’t Bond ever realise that the sexy lady is a baddie?

The answer to all these questions is Mojo.

Thats the best thing about Bond. He proves that with the right suit and the right attitude any man can achieve any thing.

So on Saturday the 13th December we’re giving everyone the chance to channel their inner Bond, villain or bond girl right here at the Bowgie Inn Crantock in support of Cornwall Hospice Care.

Our Bond themed fancy dress evening includes live music from Cool as **** Blues and Funk with Bond events, food and activities to thrill and excite.

So shake it, stir it, do whatever you fancy! Tickets are £25 pp with discounts for group bookings of 10 or more.

Book your table now on 01637 830363                            

Project Lightning is Underway!

We all get old, it’s an unfortunate by-product of living. 

Stuff also gets old. 

Beautiful things that were once much loved are forgotten with time. Extraordinary feats of engineering gather dust and rust as the years go by.

But time doesn’t erode the memories of greatness which is why when we saw the old F6 Lightning Jet cockpit around 15 years ago we had to buy it.

It was our way of saving a piece of history. The F6 Lightning XR747 was first and last British-built, supersonic fighter and interceptor. there were only ever a handful of this specific jet ever built and in the skies of the cold war, it was potent symbol of power. The F6 was ready for action with just a few minutes notice and could reach exceptional heights at record speed.

It’s airborne agility was something we were always in awe of and it’s preservation was something we were extremely passionate about.

That’s why it took us so long to decide what to do with our cockpit! Other opportunities arose over the years but nothing that was quite right. However, that all changed when we heard from the 20 Sqn which is part of the Devon and Somerset Wing Air Training Corps.

Having recently moved to their new Headquarters in Victoria Park, Bideford, with 24 keen young cadets and a team of dedicated staff we had 

finally found people who shared our passion.

It seemed like the perfect time to embark on an exciting project so 20 Sqn have moved the cockpit to their premises and have already began a substantial restoration project. They are meticulously polishing, cleaning and fixing, and they may even succeed in powering up the cockpit!

You can follow their progress here https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Lightning/322842821231430  and as you can see from their pictures, just a couple of weeks into the project and it’s looking better already.

We cannot wait to see how this project unfolds and we will keep you up-dated with any news and developments.