The Portcullis Arms 2006 confirmed the conceived wisdom that we are the Host with the most. A record number of gate crashers were turned away by our security system, otherwise known as Big Dave, as the bona fide guests quaffed and scoffed to their hearts' content.

One of our distinguished clients asked me if we would ever want to go back to the old Infosec stand in the hall at Olympia. There are times when I miss the main exhibition, standing all day explaining to teenage nerds that we don't have any cheap pens or spot cream to give away but when I way it all up, I'll live without it.

Happily, the Portcullis Arms is as much a part of Infosec as the show itself and we would certainly disappoint a lot of people if we decided to do away with it and opt for offering people marketing literature instead of beer and beef pie.

In 2005 you may recall that I headed up a Portcullis band and backed by Andy on keyboards and Marty on guitar we put together a lunch time concert made up of songs designed to simultaneously amuse and offend. Sadly, we were not able to repeat this performance, principally because none of us could remember the words and I was arrested for wearing shorts and a vest in a built up area. So this year's entertainment was provided by a mind reader or Psychological Magician as they are now called. His ability to unnerve the coolest of cucumbers by extracting information from them that they had no intention of imparting, had some people wondering how much they give away unintentionally at work.

My English nieces - three of our country's finest roses - who were on hand to offer a nibble and get rid of the evidence, proved more than popular, so much so that they have now left agricultural college to pursue careers in show business. However they will be back to help their uncle again next year.

The Pub has done so well that there is now enough money in the kitty to pay for a major refurbishment in purple and chrome. So I hope to see all the A-list people there next year when we swing open the doors again and extend a warm hand of friendship from the 24th to the 26th of April.

Yours forever

Clive Room - Marketing Manager to the Stars.