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Seems to have been a while since I've called in here, so I thought I might just spread the word about a notable pub I happened across this week as we head north up the Oxford and the Coventry towards the Shroppie. Rugby centre is a bit of a way from the popular Bridge 58/59 moorings, and the adjacent Harvester isn't everyone's go to hostelry, but there's a place well worth a stroll in Albert Square, just beyond the station. The Seven Stars serves a good range of cask ales and ciders (as well as a few of the usual suspects), which is enough of a draw in itself for many, but if you like a good scotch egg on occasion you need look no further. Proper home made on the premises, soft yolks obviously, and flavours including traditional, chili and garlic, and chorizo. I can vouch for the first two. I can also vouch for their cobs, made with proper home made on the premises bread. We were beyond the 12-2pm lunch hours, but landlord Graham had no hesitation making up fresh cobs so we can also attest to the ham (cured on the premises) and onion as well as a cheese and onion cob both being noteworthy. Drinks are your own taste, but the hoppy pale bitter I'm rather partial to was very well represented by a couple of "Platinum Blondes" from Coventry's Byatts brewery not far down the road. You can Google the place as well as me to see the rest of what's on offer (charity work, rugby, music, etc) but if you have a liking for a proper pub, run by a proper host of a landlord with excellent food and drink as a starting point, you could do a lot worse than wearing the dog"s claws down a bit on the pavement that leads to this outstanding establishment. He'll be welcome too. @mrsmelly wouldn't like the place because of how shiny ex Royal Navy chef (he says cook) Graham keeps his brasswork, but otherwise I'm pretty sure that any good landlord and many of us would recognise this fine, welcoming local pub as a bit of a gem.

We dont have a dog now but I know many boaters do so I thought I would start a thread to list Dog friendly pubs . The Barley Mow at Upper Heyford is dog friendly they even had a bowl of water on the floor in the bar. The also do good human food. The Boat at Thrupp is also quite happy to have dogs in the bar.

Hi . I have just bought a cabin cruiser and am sailing it to Liverpool from the K&A,I have no idea about electrics /engines etc my mate travelling with me for a few days has helped me get through the caen hills locks,[[ he drove , I locked, and I ache badly now, however ]] anyway he knows a little about elecs, it had an invertor1500 on it but wasnt connected up properly and also a paloma heater. The paloma heater pissed water out of the bottom of it so have shut that down and isolated it.Water gets boiling off the engine anyway, so dont know why you would have this fitted.The boat has 240v plugs for shoreline hookup[[although does not have the extension cable]]. Anyway woke up this morning and batteries completely flat, so mate has gone to get a genny to start battery[,[he has one in his car back at cain hill]] So he has completely disconnected the inverter and the heater, so when batteries are charged we will be on our way, if anyone has any comments or advice on this and not to technical I would be interested, however I need to get to great bedwyn to meet my g/f on saturday is the cross keys in great bedwyn still open for hern to wait in. I think when I get to newbury might try and book it in for someone to sort boat electrics out properly, the inverter and heater seems a waste in this size boat so wonder why they were put in there all new and unused. Cheers for any comments

Planning trip to Chester and was wondering about mooring near the Shady Oak , possibly a few jars (would be rude not to!), or ploughing on to Chester for the night. Has anyone been recently? I know their evening opening hrs are limited, but is the beer / food ok?