Despite the news blog being beset by technical problems, Patrick Barkham is still going strong in Dorset as he embraces 24-hour drinking:
It's 12.20pm in the Railway hotel in Blandford Forum. Round the clock drinking is all very well, but what about the eating? That's the hot topic amongst the 40 locals and myself, road testing the new drinking laws in Dorset.
Licensing history, when it was made at midnight, was inauspicious. While the landlord did his best, toasting the licensing revolution with half a pint of Badger's, the first punter to buy a drink at one second past midnight chose a special offer £2 pint of XXXX. "It doesn't taste any different but it's enjoyable," said Adrian Wheeler, 43.
So the big debate is what do you eat when it gets this late? A curry is certainly a good idea for an all-night drinking session as following my chicken jalfrezi, I'm as sober as a judge. The Railway hotel is doing its best to encourage similarly responsible drinking. "Cheers, here's to the new licensing law," said Nigel Jones, the landlord. "And don't forget the kitchen is now serving food."
Mr Jones sounded rather hopeful. Nobody seemed to be listening.
