Celebrate.....Thanksgiving

 A fridgeful of bottles​

Right through from 11am on Thursday 27 November to 11 pm on 30 November 2014, the Bunch of Grapes, in Pontypridd, the brewery tap for Otley Brewing Company, hosts its annual Thanksgiving festival, showcasing high quality American-style food, drink and music. Awarded the title of AA Pub of the Year for Wales 2014-15, the thriving venue will offer themed bar snacks, including tortilla chips with Alabama white barbecue sauce (£2); starters such as Maryland crab cake (£5); mains including Texas chunky turkey chilli with buttermilk cornbread (£12), plus desserts such as Kentucky Bourbon chocolate and walnut pie with cream cheese ice cream (£5.50). 　As well as four draught US beers, all eight real ale hand-pumps will have British ales featuring American hops.

"The fridge will be full of bottles of American-style real ales from around the UK," says manager Gareth Hutt, "with US cocktails on Friday and Saturday nights." Friday sees Kitty’s Trio performing swing and jazz dance tunes, while on Saturday The Garth Mountain Boys (pictured) – named, in the American bluegrass tradition, after a nearby mountain, or in their case Garth Hill, just north of Cardiff – bring their foot-stomping bluegrass during their "world tour" of Ponty and beyond.

Pilgrims’ progress​

Plymouth in Devon holds lively annual Thanksgiving celebrations on 27 November to mark the departure of the Mayflower for the New World in the autumn of 1620 carrying 102 passengers, collectively known as pilgrims. The event’s publicity attracts hundreds of visitors to Plymouth’s Barbican Waterfront area, significantly benefiting pubs such as the Ship, owned by St Austell and this year’s South West regional winner in the Great British Pub Awards Best Managed Pub category. Manager Anthony Plum says: "We firmly believe that partnership is the way forward in events such as Thanksgiving – being included in the annual event publicity boosts awareness of the Ship as a community-focused pub that takes its locals, visitors and traditions seriously."

Crossing the Pond​

Close to The American School in west London, the Truscott Arms, run by Texan-born MJ Fishwick and her husband　Andrew, has a loyal Thanksgiving following, with guests especially keen on their hosts’ insistence on large platters, served　right through from midday until the last sitting at 9.30pm.　

"The whole point is to make guests feel at home," says MJ. "There is a starter, and after that all our food is provided in　serving dishes on the table. It’s a terrific feast for £40 per adult and £20 per child. We want　everyone to relax, enoy time with friends or family and stay as long as they like. Our　previous Thanksgiving celebrations have sold out, so　advance booking is essential."

Around 250 guests will tuck in to butternut bisque and Cheddar biscuits, roast turkey with cornbread, bacon, leek and　pecan stuffing; green bean casserole; whipped sweet potatoes with caramelised apples;　creamy corn, cranberry maple　jelly, and
gravy.　Three pies are on offer – pecan, pumpkin and cinnamon cream – and　diners are welcome to choose more than one. Upstairs after the food, the Denbury Room will have a 3m screen and 7.1　Surround Sound to show the National Football League action. Guests are welcome to reserve a table or lean up against　the bar to watch.