Kick-start for carbon credit market after loose rules agreed at COP29WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. People are also reading... Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Flight nightmare? Here's how to get compensated Flight nightmare? Here's how to get compensated "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Lost Luggage Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Delayed/Cancelled Flights Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Flight Compensation in the U.S. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." Flight Compensation in Canada The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Bumped Off the Flight Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. 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Liturgy of the Word — 1 Sm. 1:20-22, 24-28; Ps. 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10; 1 Jn. 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk. 2:41-52. 1 . The Feast falls on the first Sunday after Christmas. It was formally instituted in 1921 by Pope Benedict XV, and was originally celebrated after Epiphany. In 1969, it was moved to the Sunday after Christmas, bringing it within the Christmas season. Although there are major feast days dedicated to each member of the Holy Family — Jesus, Mary, and Joseph — the Feast of the Holy Family commemorates their life together. The celebration focuses on religious family life. In eastern Christianity, the Coptic Church has celebrated the feast for the Holy Family from early times, because of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. But in the West, the feast of the Holy Family as a group did not arise until the 17th century, with St. François de Laval, the 1st Bishop of New France (Canada). 2. The Gospels speak little of the Holy Family in the years before Jesus’ public ministry. Matthew and Luke narrate the episodes of this period of Christ’s life, namely, his circumcision and later Presentation, the flight to Egypt, the return to Nazareth, and the Finding in the Temple. Luke narrates that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus with them on the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The Holy Family was apparently observant of Jewish religious laws and practices. 3. The primary purpose of the feast is to present the Holy Family of Nazareth as a model for Christian families. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The hidden life at Nazareth allows everyone to enter into fellowship with Jesus by the most ordinary events of daily life” (CCC, 533). Pope Paul VI said that Nazareth teaches us “the meaning of family life, its harmony of love, its simplicity and austere beauty, its sacred and inviolable character.” Today, these lessons are more than necessary, when family values and structures around the world are crumbling under the influence of the sexual revolution. Parents juggle careers, children navigate the distractions of digital technology, and family conversation is disappearing. Hence, Pope Francis reminds us that families, even if imperfect, “should always be places where love, forgiveness, and joy thrive.” Families are, and will always be, sacred spaces where God’s grace can turn hardship into hope. They are sanctuaries of life and love, and reflect God’s love for mothers, fathers, and children. 4. 1st Reading, 1 Sm. 1:20-22, 24-28 — The birth of Samuel. Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Penninah. Unlike Penninah, Hannah had no children. Penninah scorned her for being barren. The family would regularly go to the sacred shrine of Shiloh and offer sacrifices to the Lord. Hannah would cry her heart to the Lord for a child. She vowed to offer a male-child to the Lord. The priest, Eli, overheard her prayer and told her, “May the Lord grant your request.” And the Lord, indeed, granted her request. She gave birth to her son, Samuel. When Samuel was weaned, she fulfilled her vow and offered Samuel to the Lord. 5. Resp. Ps. 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10 — “How lovely your dwelling, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns and pines for the courts of the Lord. My heart and flesh cry out for the living God” (vv. 2-3). “Blessed are those who dwell in your house! They never cease to praise you. Blessed the man who finds refuge in you, in their hearts are pilgrim roads” (vv. 5-6). “Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer.... look upon the face of your anointed” (vv. 9-10). The last two verses could well be Hannah’s plea for a son; the blessed and “lovely” dwelling place of God could allude to the dwelling place of the Holy Family in Nazareth. 6. 2nd Reading, 1 Jn. 3:1-2, 21-24 — “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.... Beloved, we are God’s children now” (vv. 1-2). “We have confidence” in him, “and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us” (vv. 21-24). The greatest gift of God’s love for us is the gift of his Son — the Christmas theme. Jesus has made us true children of God. It is imperative then to live virtuous lives in imitation of Jesus. 7. Gospel, Lk. 2:41-52 — The Boy Jesus in the Temple. At 12 years old, Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph, go up to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover. But on their return, Jesus remains in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph, look around for a day among their relatives and acquaintances to find him. Not finding him, they return to Jerusalem. After three days, they find him in the temple listening to the teachers and asking them questions (vv. 41-46) “And all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers” (v. 47). His parents are astonished and tell him that they had been looking for him “with great anxiety” (v. 48). He replies, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” (v. 49). But they do not understand what he said to them. He returns to Nazareth with them, “and was obedient to them.” Mary “kept all these things in her heart” (vv. 50-51). “And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man” (v. 52). 8. Here we see the home of the Holy Family as a sanctuary of love, where Mary and Joseph teach Jesus the virtues of love and obedience, They teach him by example to follow the religious devotions and practices of the Old Law. He intimates to Mary and Joseph that the God who dwells in the Temple is his own Father and he is God’s own Son. 9. Prayer — O God, you give us the shining example of the Holy Family. Graciously grant that we may imitate Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in practicing the virtues of family life and the bonds of charity, so that we may delight one day in the rewards of eternal life. This we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Collect of today’s Mass). Prayers, best wishes, God bless!

Former Kentucky wide receiver Dane Key, one of the top offensive players in the transfer portal, announced on social media Tuesday that he will transfer to Nebraska. Key posted a photo of himself in a Nebraska uniform wearing the No. 6 he wore at Kentucky. The simple post contained the letters "GBR," short for "Go Big Red," with an emoji heart. Key led Kentucky this past season with 47 receptions for 715 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games as the Wildcats finished 4-8. In three seasons, the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has 126 receptions for 1,870 yards and 14 TDs in 38 games (35 starts). Key has one season of eligibility remaining after he was a four-star recruit in the class of 2022. --Field Level MediaWASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!STEPPING through the doors of the UK's strictest pub offers an instant trip back in time - before punters paid more attention to their texts than fellow drinkers. Kevin Moran, 84, landlord of The Nag’s Head on Kinnerton Street in London for about 42 years, operates a strict no phones policy. Advertisement 8 I visited the UK's strictest pub, it was no disappointment and everyone loves it Credit: doug seeburg 8 War memorabilia covers every inch of the walls in the Nag's Head Credit: doug seeburg 8 Customers cannot use mobile phones inside the pub but they can buy vapes and cigarettes Credit: doug seeburg No children are allowed through the doors, and apparently hogging the fire is deemed a bar-worthy offence. Other strict rules include no coats draped on chairs, no swearing, and no turning up drunk. With just a sip left of my pint, Kevin told me I was hogging the fire, despite the fact he too was standing in front of its warming flame. He added that it was normal to receive a telling off for hogging the fire for too long as he grew up alongside his six brothers. Advertisement READ MORE ON UK NEWS MURDER PROBE Third man arrested over X-mas 'murder' of dad who was hit by car outside pub DRINK IT IN Best fish and chips with a view and beach pubs in Wales chosen by Sun readers In the lead up to being invited to leave, I'd had a somewhat pleasant time in The Nag's Head. Aside from the £15 minimum card machine spend, that is, which meant a trip to the nearby ATM. The day before my visit, I phoned Kevin to ask if the rumours he was the UK's strictest landlord were true. He grumbled: “So what are you calling me for then?" and hung up the phone. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking 999 DRAMA Blaze engulfs Scots shop as fire crews scramble to scene and flats evacuated PARKING MAD AA reveals Scots shopping centre one of the worst in the UK for parking charges SUSPECT NICKED Man arrested and charged over 'crossbow disturbance' in busy Scots street AIR CARNAGE ‘Berserk’ plane passenger tied up with SEATBELTS after trying to smash window The Nag's Head, down a quiet, picturesque road, was once a boozer for the stable hands and footmen who worked nearby. Built around the 1800s it received a resurgence in the 1950s. On either side of the pub's front room are two narrow wooden staircases. One leading to an upstairs bar, while another leads down into another seating area. I greeted Kevin and after some negotiations, which included being told to put my phone away, I asked about the collection of beers on tap. Advertisement He pointed to each beer and bellowed "Lager. Lager. Ale. Guinness." and so on. I thanked him for his generous explanation and ordered his finest IPA. 8 Kevin Moran behind the bar of The Nag's Head in 2022 Credit: Ian Whittaker 8 Kevin standing outside his beloved pub Credit: ian whittaker Advertisement 8 Kinnerton Street is in the district of Belgravia Credit: doug seeburg 8 The area as once occupied by animals, servants, shopkeepers and tradesmen who served their richer neighbours Credit: doug seeburg Then I was warned cash wasn't an option, with the card machine boasting a hefty minimum spend. Kevin explained he chooses the beers on tap and then passed me a beer guide which he features in. Advertisement He was kind enough to let me sit at my table with it. In my cosy corner near the fire, Kevin pointed to a hook for me to hang my coat, politely, I would add. But this wasn't the same reception I saw another customer receive. Looking around, it’s clear to see the pub is Kevin’s pride and joy - with war memorabilia covering every inch of the walls. Advertisement In reference to a TripAdvisor review, I asked Kevin why children aren’t allowed in. He produced a loud wailing sound and said “no one wants to hear that”. Kevin then took a small glass of stout to the fire and watched the room omnisciently. He isn’t just a pub landlord, whether you like it or not, he is part of the furniture. Advertisement Although there was only a handful of customers, conversations felt open to the floor, with Kevin chipping in occasionally. Be it to remind you of a rule or to provide you with a coin to try one of his vintage coin-operated arcade games. You could spend hours in this pub, studying each picture, medal, and ornament which Kevin can provide a whole backstory for. But it's not for everyone. Advertisement If you’re looking for a family friendly boozer, to speak privately with a friend, or even to sip a pint while scrolling on social media, it's not for you. This is Kevin's pub and Kevin's rules. As a former squaddie, he told The Sun: "I was a miner in Durham aged 14 and we used to to to pubs and working men's clubs where you weren't interrupted by people on phones." He adds that phones could be an "invasion of privacy" for his customers, especially if pictures are taken. Advertisement There are exceptions, with tourists usually allowed to take photos if they ask, but it's up to Kevin if he lets them. He said: "I make the rules and I don't have to give you a reason. It's my rules and my pub." Learned from his Army days, stationed in Germany and Scandinavia during the Cold War, he finds discipline lacking from many modern punters. He said: "Coming in drunk I think is ridiculous... discipline is worse today than when I went into the pub game 50 years ago." Advertisement Another reason is carrying on the tradition of the "real English pub" because, having travelled the world, he knows "you don't get them anywhere else". He loves that The Nag's Head is "still a pub", in contrast to its chain-owned competitors. The publican said: "It's about independence. I think I've done well to achieve that in central London. "You go to Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and the pubs are all big company owned so you get the same thing. There's nobody who tells you that you're a bit ugly or that you're a handsome sod." Advertisement Kevin says he won’t be retiring any time soon. He mentioned his sons, so perhaps he’ll pass the mantle to them at some point. Kevin Moran's rules in full No phones No children £15 minimum card spend but prefers cash No swearing No turning up drunk Hang your coat on the hooks provided After I left the pub, I spoke with a few customers. Karl and Leigh, visiting from Kent, had been drinking while I was in the pub - I'd spotted Kevin tell the couple to hang their coats up. Advertisement Leigh said: “I put my coat on the table and he told me to put it on the hook. But I think he’s [Kevin] very old school, very very old school.” Karl said: “Same, if you put your coat on the stool, you have to put it on the hook. He’s an old man isn’t he, he’s stuck in his ways.” But the couple would gladly visit again. Two brothers, visiting from Scotland, shared what they thought. Advertisement David said: “My brother took his phone out and he wasn’t very happy about that but apart from that it’s a nice, normal pub, it’s quite quiet and yeah it’s just a nice place. “Probably quite unusual nowadays, with the phone thing, and there’s no TV but it’s good though, I enjoyed it.” “We’re just visiting London for a couple of days and someone told us about it. It’s a nice pub, I’d definitely go back.” Later on in the evening, I came across The Nag’s Head’s neighbours. Advertisement Emma, who works next door, said: “We have a good relationship with the pub owners and we’ll definitely go in and have a few drinks on a Friday and a Thursday evening usually. “But we just respect and appreciate the fact they have the rules and we adhere to them. “I haven’t had a negative experience there. Everyone’s really friendly, we often hear chit chats outside because we’re just next door, but it’s all good.” Meanwhile, standing just outside the pub were two happy customers. Advertisement Ella, from Blackpool said: “I’m a northerner and I love it. I think it's so cute but we have a Nag’s Head in Manchester - rough and ready, this is very cute and quaint. The guy is lovely." While Imi, a local, said: “The no phones thing I see and I actually think it’s a really good idea.” Read more on the Scottish Sun 'DISGUSTING' Festive fly-tippers slammed for dumping mountains of rubbish at Scots Asda GHOST TOWN Former Scots shopping hotspot 'decaying' as multimillion pound revamp ‘failing’ Ella added: “I respect the no phones thing because people are trying to enjoy the environment and obviously you being on your phone isn’t very sociable.” And Imi laughed: “I like it, I think it’s a good thing to enforce and there’s so many pubs in London, if you don’t like it, go somewhere else.” Advertisement 8 I would happily revisit The Nag's Head Credit: doug seeburg