Lost tortoiseshell cat Pecham Rye/The Gardens

Let's not forget this is the lowest level of local politics. If McCash really thought his defection could trash the Labour Party nationally, and it was loaded with invective and exhibitionism, then that's pretty much the definition of a "hissy fit"! Scooping the Green nomination for DaWN constituency is also going to be a lot harder for a Marxist arriviste than you suggest. There may be a wave of new, younger Polanski-ites that have joined the Green Party of E&W recently, but it's the long-standing, often retired members of the Party that tend to participate in candidate interview panels and bother voting in selections...

They've had 26 years or so of trading, and if anyone deserves decent retirement... In my view they're going out at the top. It's clearly being sold, assuming it all goes through as a very more more than just a going concern. 

I had heard this was on the cards a while ago, sad, the end of an era, but well done Rod and Tim for stewarding a beacon of excellence for so many years.    

Both your hopes will be fine, I think. Our waitress will stay on. The downstairs is getting refurbished, and the bar area enlarged, presumably by removing that awkward little 'lobby' by the loos.