A clear blue dome prevailed over the short hours of December daylight as Pie and Mash Clubbers, full of Advent anticipation, revived their midwinter pie-grimage to Kelly’s Grotto of Grub on Saturday 10th December 2022. The neighbourhood is a confluence of park, canal, habitation old and new, made the more lively by the bustle of Roman Road Market in full festive swing.

Saturday Pie and Mash has not been a regular habit of this club, whose members were surprised by the thronging crowd within Kelly’s white-tiled walls – and the ten-minute tailback stretching out onto the pavement. Behind the counter, it was all hands to the liquor pumps with frequent resupplies from the engine room.

The bunting was in full furl as various colleagues found scattered platter space in the pie parlour.

Harry and Karen ensconced in a pod just behind the counter, with club regular Ray Goldstone and recent addition to the roster, Richard Parry.

A Kelly two-and-one, with a side of stewed eels and the tea service; Yorkshire is your bag.

Having just purchased those all-important Christmas crackers in the market, Goldwater’s mind was at full ease as he assessed the above spread for imminent demolition.

Terry Moore’s toothsome two-and two, set to be washed down with a festive full-fat fizzy drink.

The Saturday fixture availed us of the quality company of Harveys. Your scribe was joined in cosy lack of elbow room by Doug Benford and Colin Price.

Eels stewed and splashed with parsley.

Pielids were golden.

Statto makes the first incision; Harvey rents asunder and plunders the chunder.

Stars of wonder. And custard. The presentation is classic English Tea room.

Two jugluggers prepare for a custard eclipse of the pies.

Pricey’s chosen method of dessert tray traction is an M&S bag-for-life.

Amid the steam and sticky stodge, Terry’s Barbados shirt at least conveyed the notion of a light and refreshing sea breeze.

As the lunchtime rush ebbed, judicious table-shuffling facilitated the tugging of crackers and donning of gossamer-thin paper crowns. . .

Kelly’s decked hall and tiles were soon reverberating to resonant renditions of the Club’s specially prepared pie and mash carols.

The stripe-smocked staff took the din sportingly in the spirit of the season, and of goodwill to all punters – even the crazy ones.

[Far right] Not the current tariff. The denari need something like a factor of 50 to elevate them to today’s figures, but the relative values are about the same.

Bow janglers

Leaving the Roman, we paused on the corner at the address formerly known as 1 Three Colt Street for a swift libation in The Albert . . .

. . . before the park gates closed, and the long winter night set in.

St@