Templar's Qype profile

Many stars have ended up alone and in retirement homes..Hilda Baker was one .
The Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund was founded in
1908. Brinsworth House was opened in 1911 to care for
members of what was then the variety and music hall
profession.

This is one of the entertainment industries most exclusive
retirement homes for a bit of old star spotting.
This brown-brick building sits back off a main road, belying
the fact that it is actually set within an acre of land.
It was the last home of such notable entertainers as Dame
Thora Hird, Alan Fluff Freeman and Charlie Drake.

One of Brinsworth's last residents was Emily Perry, known as
Pat, who is better still famed for portraying Madge Allsop,
bridesmaid and long-suffering best friend of Dame Edna
Everage.
She made 100 years old I believe.

The rooms are named after famous people who pay a
sponsorship fee to have titles such as The Norman Wisdom
Room or The Brian Conley Room painted on doors.

Staying at Brinsworth costs about £600 per week for a
residential room and £750 for nursing care.
In addition to caring for the 32 residents of Brinsworth
House, the Fund also provides financial help for 300 or so
beneficiaries who are residing in their own homes.
The place costs £1.25m a year to run, and funding comes from several sources, most famously the Royal Variety
Performance, for which Brinsworth House acts as the box
office.

The Red Lion Stevenage is in The Old Town. It is an old building with lots of character and it is quite unexpected to find it is a Rock Pub and rather alternate.

Good beer and live music, of the heavy rock caliber, it can be very packed when a band is playing. (It isn't very big). Don't expect to be able to fight your way though to the loo easily through the dancing crowds.

Only been there in the evening but found a bar stool. Expect to stand though as it is very popular.

Addendum:
I have no idea why I put good beer as it is pretty rough and I have always felt ill afterwards ...maybe it has just gone downhill since I first went.

El Half Moon Hotel & restaurante ha pertenecido a la misma familia por casi 40 años. Cuatro estrellas para las estupendas opciones vegetarianas (en torno a 8 pounds el plato principal) y buena cerveza. Se trata de un edificio histórico de 400 años y es muy atractivo. 3 bares, restaurante, sala de funciones y conferencias, gran terraza, aparcamiento y alojamiento de hotel. Alford tiene fines de semana de artesanía dos veces al año (en vacaciones) y un mercadillo semanal mas las ferias de Navidad. El Moon es un buen sitio para quedarse. Hay habitaciones dobles, individuales, de matrimonio y familiares (una para minusválidos). TV a color, máquinas de té y café, secador, reloj con alarma, plancha y tabla de planchar, teléfono directo y puerto de módem en cada cuarto. Como no me he quedado no puedo hablar de los cuartos.

Le Half Moon Hotel & restaurant appartient à la même famille depuis près de 40 ans. Quatre hôtels pour les supers options végétariennes (compter environ £8 pour un plat principal) et la bonne bière. Il s'agit d'un très beau bâtiment classé, dont l'histoire remonte à environ 400 ans. 3 bars, Restaurant, salle de conférence/réception, grand jardin pour s'assoir avec une bière, parking, et chambres. Alford organise des week-ends d'artisanat deux fois l'an (pendant les jours fériés) et un marché de l'artisanat toutes les semaines, ainsi que des foires à Noël. Le Moon est un bon endroit où séjourner. Il y a des chambres doubles, simples, ainsi que des chambres familiales ou avec lits jumeaux (une des chambres est aussi adaptée aux handicapés). Télévision couleur, nécessaire pour préparer thé et café, sèche-cheveux, réveil, fer et planche à repasser, ligne directe, et prise internet dans toutes les chambres. Je n'y ai pas séjourné donc je ne peux pas décrire les chambres.

The area to the south of High Holborn and to the east of Kingsway is Lincoln’s Inn Field. The area was formerly known as Purse Field and Cup Field. They were used as recreational area for the lawyers from nearby Lincoln’s Inn.

The fields were outside the city. In 1586 Babington and his
13 accomplices were hanged, drawn and quarted in this area. In 1588 2 further executions were carried out here. The area was also a well known place for duels and robberies. A number of attempts were made to build in the area, but the lawyers of Lincoln’s Inn managed to block them until the
1630’s. By 1641 the square had been built, but the fights and executions continued. The square was finally enclosed in 1735.

The original plan was to build over the entire area, but the local lawyers protested, eventually taking their complaint to Parliament where they won.

On the north side of the square stands the Sir John Soane’s Museum. The doorways on the north side of the square are worth noting. At number 3 Ramsey McDonald, the Prime Minister died in 1911. On the west side of the square stands Newcastle House (66) which was built in 1684, the house was rebuilt in 1930. At number 65, built in 1772, William Pitt, the later Prime Minister, had his chambers. Lindsey House, numbers 59 to 60, was built in 1640 probably by Inigo Jones, 57-58 were built much later but in the same style. Number 60 was the home of the Prime Minister Spencer Perceval from 1790-1807. The queens solicitors have their offices at 66. On the south side of the square is the Royal College of Surgeons.

Part of this site used to be Lincoln’s Inn Theatre which first opened its doors in 1660, this was the first theater in London to have a proscenium arch, and to use movable scenery.

At the eastern end of the square is Lincoln’s Inn.