08-Feb-2007 Morning Advertiser - Pub is on target as Prince becomes right royal winner
Bull's eye: Prince Charles proves he is a natural at darts during a visit to the Old Crown in Hesket, Newmarket
Snifter can reveal that Prince Charles is not at all a bad arrows thrower after he triumphed in a doubles game during a visit to the Old Crown in Hesket, Newmarket.
Charlie formed a doubles team with regular Sally Richardson, to beat licensee Malcolm Hawksworth and the pub's darts captain in a race down from 101. "He has a good throwing style and thoroughly enjoyed it," reported Hawksworth.
The Prince first visited the pub three years ago when it became the first co-operative pub in Britain in a scheme led by Pub is the Hub, of which he is patron. "He came to see how we were getting on and we showed him the new kitchen, restaurant and re-equipped brewery. He was very interested in the running of the pub and was very clued up on all the issues."
HRH plumped for a pint of Great Cockup, a 3.3% abv dark porter, from the micro-brewery. "He didn't drink it all but I suppose if he drank everything he was offered he wouldn't get anything done," said Hawksworth.
The serious point behind the Prince's visit was to launch a new Pub is the Hub booklet "Saving Your Village Pub", which features the Old Crown. "He expressed his admiration and delight at what we had all achieved. He was the perfect gentleman."
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