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"Ah,
beer:
the cause of life's problems and the solution to them" Homer
SOFA travels by various means (often on foot or by cycle, bus or train but rarely car) to various locations (usually pubs in North Herts) at various times (but always Friday pm) with the objective of imbibing fresh air and conviviality - without worrying too much about the rest of the day. It is available for anyone to relax in. An interest in Stevenage Hockey Club will assist enjoyment.
35th SOFA 23rd DECEMBER 2005 - Lunch in Willian then a walk to Graveley and on to Stevenage
34th SOFA 25th NOVEMBER 2005 - our most northerly SOFA takes us to Cambridge where the selection is excellent. We enjoy THE LIVE AND LET LIVE (top marks), THE CAMBRIDGE BLUE (for lunch), THE CASTLE (less so) and THE PICKERILL
33rd SOFA 21st OCTOBER 2005 - another successful visit to London that took in Mayfair, Whitehall and The Strand.
32nd SOFA 30th SEPTEMBER 2005 - the original plan to raid the St Albans beer festival fell in tatters when this month's guide looked in his diary. Walked from Welham Green to THE CROOKED BILLET at Colney Heath and then back to a few house in Hatfield
31st SOFA 26th AUGUST 2005 - from Stevenage to THE CRICKETERS at Weston and then a walk to the annual beer festival at THE OLD WHITE HORSE Baldock
30th SOFA 22nd JULY 2005 - a roundabout walk from Welwyn North to THE WHITE HORSE in Welwyn and then a pleasant stroll to the LYTTON ARMS in Old Knebworth
29th SOFA 17th JUNE 2005 - Another SOFA Special in sad circumstances. After Geoff's funeral to one of his favourites THE MARQUIS OF LORNE and then to STEVENAGE CRICKET CLUB. IPA all the way in honour of a much loved SHC man. Very well attended and great to see the Hughes brothers, Nads, Winny and Fergy. 23 made it to the Taj.
28th SOFA 13th MAY 2005 - An exceptional SOFA special in London with neither pubs nor beers a disappointment - THE RUGBY TAVERN in Bloomsbury, THE SEVEN STARS in Holborn, THE MARKET PORTER in Southwark, THE SHIP in the City, THE OLD DOCTOR BUTLER'S HEAD in Moorgate and the unique JERUSALEM TAVERN in Clerkenwell.
27th SOFA 22nd APRIL 2005 - From Stevenage to SOFA favourite THE RED LION in Preston and then a very pleasant walk to THE STRATHMORE ARMS for a beer festival followed by a sneaky lift to SHC for a couple of pints
26th SOFA 18th MARCH 2005 - From Stevenage to THE BULL at Gosmore and THE COOPER'S ARMS at Hitchin before sampling a few ales at THE HITCHIN BEER FESTIVAL.
25th SOFA 25th FEBRUARY 2005 - From Stevenage to THE CRICKETERS at Weston and then to Baldock for the below par GEORGE IV, BOOT and WHITE LION and the excellent COCK, before scrounging a lift to Letchworth for a Chinese.
24th SOFA 21st JANUARY 2005 - From WGC station to THE RED LION and THE WAGGONERS at Ayot Green and then on to Lemsford for the slightly disappointing duo THE SUN and THE LONG AND SHORT ARM. Back to WGC for the even more disappointing DOCTOR'S TONIC or somesuch.
23rd SOFA 31st DECEMBER 2004 - Texas becomes the first SOFA dog joining us from The Skipper's Gaff in Knebworth to THE TILBURY, Datchworth, the outrageous farmyard known as THE ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN, Rabley Heath and THE LYTTON ARMS, Old Knebworth.
22nd SOFA 19th NOVEMBER 2004 - From Arlesey to THE ENGINEERS ARMS at Henlow for a selection of good beers but disappointing food. Tried Stotfold but it was closed. Walked on to THE ENGINE at Baldock and the excellent COCK in the same town.
21st SOFA 22nd OCTOBER 2004 - After a groundbreaking SOFA special with copious helpings of women, young people and smokers (in order to provide a cross section of the community you understand) the world has it's most comprehensive and scientific study of the quality and price of IPA served by the B197 in Stevenage. See SOFA Survey for results summary.
20th SOFA 24th SEPTEMBER 2004 - From Welham Green station to SOFA favourite THE WOODMAN at WILDHILL for some Good Ole Boy and What The Fox's That then through the woods to NORTHAW and THE TWO BREWERS finally to THE CHEQUERS in Potters Bar
19th SOFA: 27 AUGUST 2004 - in one of our most ambitious ventures yet we start from Biggleswade and take in a delightful couple of pints at THE COCK at Broom, a smoky pint at THE WRESTLERS in LANGFORD, an awful pint at a shameful, nameless pub in STOTFOLD and finally walk on to the excellent OLD WHITE HORSE BEER FESTIVAL in Baldock
18th SOFA: 6 AUGUST 2004 a SOFA SPECIAL to support THE STEVENAGE CRICKET GROUND SOCIAL CLUB BEER FESTIVAL was unashamedly exerciseless (save for the admirable Hutch who walked from Letchworth) but well supported by a wide selection of 5s and a Skipper who stayed from beginning to end.
17th SOFA: 9 JULY 2004 - another fairly lightweight biking SOFA back to THE THREE HORSESHOES at WILLIAN and then looking for Steve Nye at THE FOX in the same village.
16th SOFA: 25 JUNE 2004 a bike ride to SOFA's recommended ham, egg & chips vendor THE STRATHMORE ARMS, ST PAULS WALDEN and from there back to THE LYTTON ARMS at OLD KNEBWORTH
15th SOFA: 28 MAY 2004 - excellent weather and some very good beers. Walking to THE RED LION at PRESTON (Mauldon Gold was praised highly), then on to THE BULL at GOSMORE, THE WINDMILL at CHARLTON and THE KINGS ARMS in HITCHIN (for the rarely found Deuchars) where we chickened out and hailed a taxi.
14th SOFA: 16 APRIL 2004 - a long day started from Hatfield Station and a walk to the excellent WOODMAN at WILDHILL (good selection of ales, we will be back there) on to the less appealing 5 HORSESHOES at LITTLE BERKHAMSTED, the friendly and helpful BAKERS ARMS at BAYFORD, a train to the disappointing BARGE at HERTFORD, then a train back to STEVENAGE for a pint with Dave Gray, another at THE CHEQUERS, yet more at THE MARQUIS OF LORNE and finally some sustenance at THE GATE OF INDIA. A good day.
13th SOFA: 26 MAR 2004 - a short walk from Stevenage to THE LYTTON ARMS beer festival where we managed to try a wide selection, and various shades, of ale. A good, lazy day.
12th SOFA: 27 FEB 2004 - CYCLING from Stevenage a small band made it to THE JOLLY WAGGONERS at ARDELEY, THE BOOT at DANE END and THE CHEQUERS at BRAGBURY END.
11th SOFA: 16 JAN 2004 - from BROOKMANS PARK Rail Station vaulting streams to the deserted QUEENS HEAD, where Bananaman made an appearance, lunch at THE CROOKED BILLETT, Colney Heath (Cocky's sister was not there for once). Then a short walk on to Smallford for a couple at THE THREE HORSESHOES and a lift home from Sebby.
10th SOFA: 19 DEC 2003 - A SOFA Phil's Birthday Special. A walk from Baldock to THE RED LION and THE CRICKETERS, both WESTON, followed by THE WAGON & HORSES and THE GEORGE & DRAGON at Graveley.
9th SOFA: 5 DEC 2003 - THE ROSE & CROWN and PLUME OF FEATHERS, both TEWIN followed by THE PLOUGH and THE TILBURY, both DATCHWORTH, provided a relaxing afternoon.
8th SOFA: 24 OCT 2003 - A stroll from Stevenage to THE STRATHMORE ARMS, ST PAULS WALDEN followed by a pleasant, sunny walk to THE PLOUGH at LEA GREEN and onward to THE RED LION at PRESTON.
7th SOFA: 11 OCT 2003 - A SOFA special - WETHERSPOONS, STANSTEAD, overpriced and disappointing, and JOEYS, GAU-ALGESHEIM, great value - he wouldn't let us pay - and good company. The rest is a blur.
6th SOFA: 5 SEPT 2003 - THE HERMIT OF REDCOATS, TITMORE GREEN, after a walk from Stevenage, THE WAGON & HORSES, Graveley, THE GRANBY, THE TWO DIAMONDS and THE STANDING ORDER provided a good warm-up for the umpires curry evening.
5th SOFA: 1 AUG 2003 - THE THREE HORSESHOES, WILLIAN acceptable food, fine IPA and provocative conversation kept us around one table for the whole afternoon.
4th SOFA: 6 JUNE 2003 - THE STRATHMORE ARMS, ST PAUL'S WALDEN and THE BULL, WHITWELL - excellent turnout and interesting beer after damp walk.
3rd SOFA: 11 APRIL 2003 - THE LORDSHIP ARMS, Nr BENINGTON and THE PIG & WHISTLE, ASTON - disappointing turnout but Steve Nye served a few good pints.
2nd SOFA: 15 MARCH 2003 - THE GREEN MAN, GREAT WYMONDLEY and THE PLUME & FEATHERS, LITTLE WYMONDLEY - another sunny day, improved attendance and bargain grub.
1st SOFA: 14 FEBRUARY 2003 - THE ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN, RABLEYHEATH and THE LYTTON ARMS, OLD KNEBWORTH - a sunny, successful and pleasant day.