Viewpoint: Raising a glass to Maidenhead's pubs

Lack of progress on e-scooter crackdown

Last November Jason Hogg, TVP Chief Constable said in this newspaper that there was going to be a crackdown on the illegal use of e-scooters on streets and pavements.

Perhaps then Mr Hogg can share with us the ‘success’ of this laudable initiative.

Can he tell us how many prosecutions against offenders have been instigated and how many e-scooters have been confiscated as promised by him?

His office refused my FOI request for such formation on the grounds of excessive cost and time taken to collate such data which is seemingly ‘manually recorded’.

Mr Hogg told us last week in his letter (Viewpoint, April 26) that one of his priorities was ‘building trust and confidence amongst our communities’.

This obvious example of lack of transparency and accountability by his office does not bode well for achieving this aim.

RICHARD WORRALL

Godayn Grove

Maidenhead

Raising a glass to our hospitality venues

Whilst sipping a fine glass of sauvignon blanc in a superb wine glass superbly served well chilled in a local hostelry, I am musing how lucky we are in having such diverse hospitality venues in Maidenhead.

My local is the Off the Tap, which is always lively, with a great team, and is superb for watching rugby where you can book your ‘seat’ and watch in comfort!

Then for sport there is the O'Neill's with its digital darts alley, often packed when football is on and serves a lovely glass of NZ wine.

This will be in the right place when the Landing and the old Three building opposite the station are finished.

On my way to shop at Waitrose I often stop for a glass of wine in The Maiden's Head.

An unusual name for a laid back pub, and a good stopping off point which gets lively late on a Friday night.

My local used to be the Rose which I used to frequent on my way home when I finished work at 10pm.

I now feel a little old when I am there late in the evening when other pubs close and there is an influx of younger drinkers.

But still good for an early evening drink.

The Portland Arms I did not know about until I had been in Maidenhead for some time and my wife advised me it was opposite the back door of M&S.

Adjacent to the Friends Meeting House and the United Reform Church, a traditional pub which at one time must have been at the centre of the town.

Now under local residents' control, The Craufurd Arms, is good for a quiet drink without too much interruption – quite an unusual set-up and maybe one that will be repeated in The Boundary Arms.

Probably the furthest of my ‘locals’, The Pond House, has a very wide variety of patrons.

With a quiz night on Thursday and a great music evening Friday, unfortunately often competing with football, which usually is showing one or more screens.

Amazing hunter's chicken!

The Vine is fairly small but on a sunny day is the just right place if you want respite in the garden from shopping on a Saturday or Sunday.

A fair walk for me to the Lord Grenfell sets you up for a great breakfast and it always has a different food option during the week with tapas on Friday.

However, when I want to relax, with no football, no music, the chance to read my Telegraph leisurely with a superb glass of wine from somewhere down under in a sparkling glass I end up in The Windsor Castle.

I have had some amazing conversations here and recently ate here.

Very busy on Fridays for food and has an eclectic clientele, and a well organised team.

And I can roll down the hill from here to home.

We are so lucky to be so served and sorry to those I have not yet visited. Looking forward to trying The Borough, which I have not had a chance to savour yet because of other commitments although I have visited many times in its former guise.

MERVYN BUSTON

East Road

Maidenhead

Friendly and efficient service for COVID jab

Congratulations to the organisor, team, and volunteers at St Mark’s for the very efficient and friendly way they were dealing with COVID jabs on Saturday.

I only went to deliver my sister for hers but they did me and my companion as well, although we had appointments on different days. We were back to Holyport half an hour after her appointment time.

I've always said the problems with the NHS are not at the sharp end!

MIKE WILKEY

Farm Close

Holyport

Homonym horrors and wayward apostrophe’s

Good new’s for Mr’s Haye’s (Advertiser letter’s, April 12) and all your reader’s.

At Ryman (Maidenhead precinct), you can get a “Boxed Stationary Set” for £2.

Good to know we need not chase it around the shop before we can buy it!

Homonyms Rule

An invitation came for me:

"Would you like to join me on the beech -

For a peace of cake and a cup of tee,

And perhaps some chocolate mince each?"

JAY FLYNN

Moneyrow Green

Holyport