It’s all over. Sometime after midnight last night, with a great grinding of gears, the Christmas caravan of good will, misrule and Alka Seltzer came to an abrupt stop in a bleak hellscape of leafless trees and muddy snow. A dyspeptic elfin voice on the Tannoy may only now be informing us pitilessly that we have reached our final destination, January. Hope you enjoyed the ride, I certainly did.

As we disembark, blinking in the unforgiving light of the New Year, feeling a bit like Sir Keir does every morning, one is confronted with two familiar choices: Sobriety, temporary or otherwise. Alternatively, punch on through to Spring.

Pleasingly, both are not only possible but joyfully encouraged at the Stoops. If you are kind enough to be reading this you are likely aware of the spectacular array of ‘punching on through’ opportunities at The Stoops, with great foaming flagons of Allsopp’s ale, ‘refreshing’ cocktails as well as of course glasses of aged Madeira and Claret.

Less well known is our wide array of excellent ‘dry’ libations, augmented this January by some quite extraordinary beers from our new friends at Mash Gang. While it has become a truism in 2024 that Guinness Zero is ‘indistinguishable’ from the real thing - and to be fair it is a good effort from our friends in Dublin - Mash Gang beers are not a facsimile of anything else. They are simply excellent beers in their own right, brewed using bleeding edge techniques - which happen to have no alcohol in them.

We are hosting a dinner for Jordan Childs, co-founder on Monday 13th January, if you want to try the beers. A Mash Gang-infused Spiced Lamb Pie (with Suet Crust!) will feature. Three courses with matching Mash Gang beers for £50.  Jordan, who is a larger than life figure to put it mildly, will be there to talk us through the range. Click here to book!

For those who have taken the ‘Punching on Through’ option, Allsopp’s Ales will be proudly added to the offer free of charge.

Otherwise, four prime examples of their wares will be available behind the bar from 3rd January.

_{*Like many NA beers they actually contain 0.5% alcohol, apparently the same as an over-ripe banana.}‍

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^{Blood Oranges and Artichokes - the January Kitchen}

Forget about the melodrama above - we are of course super-excited about the New Year, and chatting with chefs Lorcan and Jake, we have some big reasons to be joyful on the Menu.

Winter Leaves are a pleasure for the eye and the palate (see photo above) and only today we have the first dish of the year involving Blood Orange, a pretty sorbet which will painlessly purge the excesses of December. Soon to follow is Grilled Rabbit with Pancetta and Artichokes!

Back by popular demand is the White Bean Broth, now with Pumpkin and Spring Greens, a cold-weather lunch classic.

For those who would prefer not to notice the advent of January asceticism, there is a terrific steamed Sticky Date Pudding with Toffee Sauce and Iced Cream.

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