Winter story hour
Yarning at The Vine
The veterans' winter story hour. On winter evenings the open fire at The Vine is lit, the room fills up, and veterans of the British Armed Forces tell stories from their lives, followed by questions from the room. Summer sessions will follow in beer gardens and other spaces.
By the fire
Two or three veterans take turns by the fire, each telling a yarn of about twenty minutes. It might be about a first posting, a hard winter, an old friendship, or the day things went wrong and what came after.
Good company
It isn't a lecture, a parade or a politics lesson. It's good stories told well by people who were there. Rory Hanrahan hosts every session himself, and there's an interval for the bar and kitchen, then questions from the room.
Where it started
The pilot Veterans' Story Hour was held here at The Vine on Monday 14 September 2026. Yarning brings the same spirit to winter evenings in the pub.
Evenings this winter
Dates will be announced here, on our social channels and behind the bar. To hear first, ask at the bar or give us a ring.
Call 01865 862567Run a pub, or a group of pubs, and want a Yarning evening of your own? Rory hosts every session himself, so you don't need to find a host. You don't need an open fire either: a fire adds atmosphere, but any warm, welcoming room will do. Summer sessions will follow in beer gardens and other spaces. Read more about Yarning on the Veterans' Story Hour site.