Bleak Start to 2004 for Pub Landlord

A special report from Chief Editor, Jonathan David Abraham

Marten Bland, licensee of the Five Bells Inn Bridgend, is facing a grim start to the new business year as thirteen of his biggest supping regulars are currently stranded in the Czech Republic's Capital City of Prague.

Part-Time

A New Years Eve trip was organised by local part-time travel operator, Alun Tudor Jones. The party, which included Mr Jones and his wife Angela, 44, flew to Prague from Cardiff Wales Airport on Monday. Unfortunately, the excellent deal Mr Jones had negotiated with airline BMI Baby did not include the return flights home.

Draught Bass

With no money left, the group are now unlikely to be able to return to Wales until the middle of next week at the earliest.

Distraught Mr Bland has been forced this morning to return two barrels of Carling and one each of Draught Bass and Worthington to the Brewery's depot at Pontyclun.

STOP PRESS

Group spokesman, Peter Cunningham, spoke to Mr Bland this morning to assure him that a more established travel operator, 'Tappers Travels', will be used for next year's trip in the hope of avoidance of similar problems. Mr Jones was unavailable for comment.

A retired dancing astronaut-come-builder with cement dust on his boots was senationally banned from the Five Bells yesterday evening.