The Orange Tree, Baldock

05/07/2026

Thanks so much to Steve Mays for a fantastic afternoon of music - just about every genre covered!

Next week it’s Kevin Thompson’s turn! Make sure you bring your bucket hat, whistle, big fish, small fish, cardboard box and Lucozade!

05/07/2026

LP6, and one of the greatest albums ever released - it’s surprising that we’ve not played it on a Sunday so far!

It’s the absolute classic “What’s Going On”, released in 1971 by Marvin Gaye. We’re playing side 2.

05/07/2026

Next up, number 3, and its AC⚡️DC’s 1976 belter “Dirty Deeds Done Cheap”. Side 2. Turn it up!

05/07/2026

LP2, Side 1 of Linton Kwesi Johnson’s 1978 album “Dread Beat an’ Blood”. Proper British activist reggae! Amazing!

05/07/2026

And like the British Grand Prix we’re off for Vinyl Sunday - Steve Mays!

Opening with David Bowie’s 1975 release “Young Americans”. Playing Side 1.

05/07/2026

All set up ready for Vinyl Sunday - Steve Mays at 4pm, but as one of the “nicer” TV companies has seemed to allow the British Grand Prix to be free-to-air we’ll be showing that on the big screen in the other side of the pub too! Race seats 3pm, prancing about in the pits from 1.30.

What joy!

14/06/2026

Thank you so much Nigel Dickerson for a storming and rocking Vinyl Sunday - Nigel Dickerson afternoon!

Fabulous stuff!

14/06/2026

All set up ready for Vinyl Sunday - Nigel Dickerson at 4pm today!

12/06/2026

What a cracking line-up of beers await you at your CAMRA Hertfordshire County Pub of the Year 2026!

First up a super-rare collaboration brew by Titanic Brewery and Batemans Brewery, “Wainfleet” a 4.5% modern amber ale that is very pleasant indeed!

Then from Black Country Ales a golden 4.5% English IPA, Jubilee IPA, well balanced and easy drinking for its strength.

From our friends at Burton Bridge Brewery we have their classic Bridge Bitter. 4.2% proper beery-beer!

From Buntingford Brewery the ever reliable Twitchell is on their pump. 3.8% malty golden bitter.

On the guest Indie key keg line is Level-Up American Red from Elusive Brewing, caramelly and full bodied.

Plus the classic usuals, Brewsters Brewery Hophead, Tring Brewery Mansion Mild, Titanic Plum Porter, and Greene King Brewery IPA and Abbot Ale.

Marvellous!

11/06/2026

When I’ve got time to convert it from the pen drawings I was showing Chris Hinchliff MP I’ll post them here!

Great to talk to him, he “gets” the business rates issue (get rid of them and stick a 1% turnover tax on literally every business I say!), and I hope he understands the plight of small, independent pub businesses like mine - as we are the ones most under threat at this time.

Huge congratulations to The Orange Tree, Baldock on being named CAMRA Hertfordshire County Pub of the Year 2026, a brilliant and well deserved achievement.

I had a good catch up with landlord Rob Scahill at the Hitchin Beer Festival last Friday, where we spoke about what makes pubs like The Orange Tree so special. Not just great beer, but a business at the heart of its community.

We also discussed the challenges local pubs face and making sure their voices are properly heard.

In Parliament I am pushing for business rates to be scrapped and replaced with a fairer system that sees online retail giants paying more, as well as urgent support for pubs with their energy bills.

Award winning pubs like The Orange Tree are the beating heart of our communities and I will keep pushing for the policies they need to thrive.

Photo credit to Fade to Gray Photography