Pump and Tap Tavern (The), Banff

December 1999 - Having dislocated my shoulder off piste in the back bowl of lake Louise on the first day on the mountain (doh!) I had a few days to kill before the real fun could continue. I found the Pump and Tap on the first day of wandering around with my arm in sling. It was a Sunday and old habits dying hard (I lived in Leicester at the time, the home of the original Pump and Tap) a Sunday roast at the Pump and Tap was just the ticket. The staff and owner (was his name Warren? I don’t remember) were the epitomy of congenial hostfulness (is that a word? It is now!), chatting for hours to the lost soul in the sling. The food was great, wonderfully presented wholesome, tasty fare. When my mates came back with tales of kickers and air I convinced them to go back in the evening and the they were sold immediately with the raucous atmosphere. The pool tables got a threapsing (it’s a word – look it up) and I played the best one armed game of my life, the beer and Mike’s hard lemonade flowed long and fast. A great time was had by one and all. We made it our regular haunt (until we reluctantly tore ourselves away from the warm bosom of Alberta). Long live the Pump and Tap! See you Christmas '05