Main content starts here, tab to start navigating

March's Newsletter

We're Marching on into Springtime



St Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day in a British Pub? - A Lesson in Irony, Guinness, and Old Rivalries

Ah, St. Patrick’s Day—the one time of the year when even the most distant 1/16th Irish ancestry is worn like a badge of honor, Guinness sales skyrocket, and everyone suddenly has strong opinions about the correct shade of green. But what happens when you take this gloriously Irish celebration and plop it down in a good old-fashioned British pub? Oh, the irony is almost as rich as a properly poured pint of stout.

But of course, this is America, and we'll celebrate with the rest.

Stay tuned to our social media for our Saint Patrick's Day specials and be sure to enjoy the entertainment!


Loudoun Irish Players

This month, the Irish Loudoun Player's will be joining us for three Mondays this March: the 10th, 17th, 24th! They'll be joining us for an extra session this month on Monday, March 17th - Saint Patrick's Day!


Dining for Dollars - Madison Choir

This month we have the pleasure to announce a Dining for Dollars for the Madison High School Choir! 

Come join us for an evening fueled by song & entertainment from the lovely MadChoir program! Proceeds of the dinner's sales on Thursday, March 20th will directly go to support MadChoir. The dinner will begin at 6pm, and the students Open Mic/Karaoke will run from 7pm-9pm.

This a great way to get involved in your local community and give back to the schools!

Mark your calendars!



Pie of the Month

Chicken Braemar

You've asked for more so, we're giving it to you!

Creamy chicken thighs, smoky bacon, black pudding (go on, be brave) and a rich black pepper whisky cream sauce all wrapped in our house crust - You can't go wrong!

That's right, the Chicken Braemar Pie is sticking around for one more month! We've tweaked it just a bit- Creamier, tastier, better than ever! 

We aim to please here at the Hawk & Griffin and we've been loving your feedback.


Taylors of Harrogate Tea

If you haven't noticed yet; your tastebuds will. The Hawk & Griffin has up’ed our tea game! The English are a nation of proper tea drinkers and won’t settle for anything less than a really satisfying brew. With that being said, we are bringing you the very best. Our Earl Grey and Green tea offerings are now from Taylor’s of Harrogate. 

Our regular British Black Tea is now “Yorkshire Tea” also from Taylor’s. Subtle though the differences may be, the Yorkshire is a step up in it's rich depth, and robust smoothness.

 This 4th generation tea company founded in 1886 in Harrogate is still privately owned and prides itself on making the highest quality teas.


Enjoy a cup or two (or four) served from a Brown Betty teapot for a true British tea experience. Read more about Taylor’s dedication to quality and ethically sourced teas on their website.

The Brown Betty and Taylor's

A Brew-tiful combination

If teapots had a royal family, the Brown Betty would be the reigning monarch— A humble, sturdy, absolutely iconic teapot to brew a proper British cuppa. Born in the 17th century, made famous from the red clay from Stoke-on-Trent, this little brown beauty became the household staple for its ability to keep tea hotter for longer and steep the tea to perfection, thanks to its round belly.

And when paired with Taylor’s of Harrogate? Pure brewed magic. The Brown Betty lets those rich, Yorkshire-blended leaves steep just right, giving you a strong, no-nonsense taste every time.

So, if you’re after tea done properly, stick with tradition. Embrace the Brown Betty; It’s been doing the job for over 300 years— and who are we to argue?





Theakston's Old Peculiar

Oh boy, do we have a treat for you!

We are happy to announce that H&G is the first pub in Virginia to serve Theakston’s Old Peculier since its return to USA after a 10 year hiatus. (It wasn't an easy feat, either, mind you.) Our resident Beer Aficionado, Euan, has worked around the clock to make sure this legend of an ale made it into our hands first.

Brewed since 1890’s, Old Peculier is the most well-known and loved offering from Theakston’s brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire, England. Holding many awards including CAMRA’s Champion Winter Beer of Britain, this is one of the most highly regarded beers in England. An old recipe, made in a traditional way with the finest ingredients, it'll bring a taste of nostalgia in every sip. It’s a full-bodied, rich and smooth ale to rival that of even Guinness. Famous for its sultry deep ruby colour and treacle-toffee and date flavours, you can also find notes of cherry and banana. 

It is incredibly drinkable and at 5.6% ABV (strong by British standards) it was even once known as "Yorkshires Lunatic Broth." 

This is a legendary ale that still holds up it's namesake, even in today's day and age - Let’s hope it’s here to stay on this side of the pond. With just a keg to begin with, and more on the way, don't miss out on this opportunity here with us.



Spring & Summer cocktails are on the way!

Keep an eye out for our new cocktail list, our team is working hard to bring you the newest selection of hand-crafted and unique offerings perfectly tailored for the hotter weather!


Sports & The Weekend



6Nations Rugby: The Final Countdown

There are just two rounds of the 2025 Six Nations remaining and the title race has taken shape with three teams still harbouring realistic ambitions of lifting the final trophy on March 15th.

Ireland are hunting history as they look to secure their first ever outright Six Nations Grand Slam and are still on track for their fifth 6Nations title over all

France still appear to be their closest challengers, especially with a monumental game between the sides lined up for round four in Dublin, potentially stealing Irelands dreams of a grand slam.

It was a day to remember for England who ended their four-match losing streak against Scotland in round 3 to keep alive their Six Nations title hopes, and Scotland must be disappointed as they came within a kick of five wins in a row against their English rivals. The incredibly dramatic wins for England over France and then Scotland have ignited their hopes of the potential for their first Six Nations crown since the Covid-interrupted 2020 edition.

Round four will take place on 9 and 10 March

The final round will be held on 16 March and will feature the three final Six Nations matches. The tournament will conclude at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu and will feature a battle between old rivals, France and England.

Who will win the cup and ultimate Rugby Glory? Find out with us at the Hawk & Griffin.



Carabao Cup Final : Newcastle vs Liverpool aka Geordies v Scousers

Mark Your Calendars! Sunday, March 16th

Liverpool will take on Newcastle in the 2025 Carabao Cup final!

 Liverpool are the defending champions and 10 time winners. Newcastle have not won a major trophy since their 1955 win of the FA Cup, although they were finalists in this competition two years ago when they lost to Manchester United. 

Newcastle United, the runners-up in 1976 and 2023, as most of their fans know are striving to end a trophy drought stretching back to 1969.

Come and catch this scintillating match-up Sunday March 16th, starting at 11:30am!



Euan's Corner (Tom's Corner Takeover)

Anyways, I guess it's my turn now....

I was found as a baby under a Brussels sprout plant. This would have been in a cottage garden, somewhere near Elveden, England (between Cambridge and Norwich or near RAF Lakenheath). At least that’s what my parents told me growing up. A few years after my younger brother was born we moved up North to Leeds which is where I spent most of my youth. After completing a degree in physics, a stint as a lubrication engineer and a dog food taster I found a job as a chocolate scientist at Nestle in York. This was as fun a job as you can imagine. In fact more so, except for the oompa loompa, he was a grump. 



It was as a Senior chocolate scientist (yes, I was bloody good at this job and they promoted me to senior status) where I met my wife, Kate, who was on secondment abroad from Nestle USA. We bought a house together in York but she was eventually asked to move back to the states (Southern California). It was at this point my Mum told Kate I was actually conceived at a Pink Floyd concert. I will assume it was with my Dad and not Dave Gilmour. This bit of news also allowed me to enjoy my Brussels a bit more. 


California is very different from England. Like another planet. It took me some time to get used to it. Don't get me wrong, Pasadena is a pretty city, the weather was great, and we had a 50-foot avocado tree. Guacamole every day! I missed British pubs; I missed British beer, and I missed my mates.  But it was a hard adjustment being so far from everything I knew. I started brewing beer in earnest, built a pub shed in the back garden and new mates came in. We lived in an incredible neighbourhood with some incredible people (maybe one or two utter wankers) and I became quite attached. Then one day roughly eighteen years after we moved to California, Nestle once again asked us to move. Fudge!


Had to start again - I set up my little brewery in the back garden, started brewing again and renovated the basement putting in a wood burner and of course some beer taps. It wasn't the same. After a year or so we even contemplated moving to Middleburg to be within walking distance of a pub. And then I found the Hawk & Griffin. They had a red phone booth, fish and chips, real football and…hand pulled beers. It felt right. However, the cask beers were often well…not up to par and I may have brought my own beers to the pub (there’s another story in here somewhere). Eventually Tom acquiesced and asked (begged) me to come aboard which I gladly did. The cask beers are now outstanding and haven’t regretted it yet. 




Cheers!