LEISURE: Beer is blessed as the Crown Inn starts a new lease of life with Matt and Sarah

ILMINSTER vicar, Rev Nigel Done, was on hand to “bless the beer” at the official opening of the Crown Inn under the new management duo of Matt Sainsbury and Sarah Downton.

Rev Done, of The Minster, championed the beer and gave it his ecclesiastical tasting – we mean blessing – before wishing Matt and Sarah the very best of luck for the future at the Crown Inn and flicking the ale over on-looking and unsuspecting customers.

Matt and Sarah certainly had an official thumbs-up at the opening on Friday (December 1, 2017) as the Mayor of Ilminster, Cllr Val Keitch, and the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Julie Fowler, were also in attendance to offer their support.

And Ilminster’s town crier Andrew Fox was on hand to sample the ale to make sure it was fit for consumption – a ritual which was once, back in the day, a part of the town crier’s responsibilities.

Andrew wielded his mighty bell and bellowed to Matt behind the bar – “bring forth a pint of your finest ale that I might drink and taste and judge its quality.”

He then tasted the beer and gave it his approval and presented Matt with a sprig of evergreen to pin above the pub’s door in West Street to tell visitors that it was a “fine drinking establishment.”

And so after having the blessing of the local vicar, Mayor and Deputy Mayor, plus the town crier, the line-up was complete when Elvis himself (aka well-known King of Rock and Roll tribute act Barry Paull) turned up to entertain the Crown Inn punters.

Matt and Sarah would like to thank everyone who attended the official opening night and for their best wishes and words of encouragement.

They are now looking forward to a busy opening few weeks with the Christmas countdown well and truly on.

PHOTO – TOP: New Crown Inn management duo Sarah Downton and Matt Sainsbury, far left, with (from left) Ilminster Mayor, Cllr Val Keitch; Ilminster vicar Rev Nigel Done; Ilminster’s town crier escort Julie Fox and town crier Andrew Fox.

PHOTO - ABOVE LEFT: Ilminster town crier Andrew Fox samples the beer at the Crown Inn.

PHOTO - ABOVE RIGHT: Matt Sainsbury and Sarah Downton are looking forward to life at the Crown Inn.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Ilminster vicar, Rev Nigel Done, blesses the beer at the Crown Inn.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Crown Inn landlord Matt Sainsbury with Ilminster town crier Andrew Fox and escort Julie Fox. Matt is seen with a sprig of evergreen which had just been presented to him by the town crier to signify that the Crown Inn was a "fine drinking establishment."

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Leisure.