A TOAST to hoping the beer is better than the spelling.

This sign-writer's nightmare was spotted at the (H)ead of the River pub on Folly Bridge, St Aldate's.

Workmen told the Oxford Mail that they ran out of the letter 'H' but assured us that a replacement would soon be in its position, and everything would be 'ship shape' when the pub opened after months of anticipation at the end of the month in July 1977.

Named through an Oxford Mail competition, Lewis Fisher's suggestion of naming it after the rowing boat which crosses the finishing line– just east of the pub– first in the university races, was crowned the winner out of 2,700 entries.

His prize? A gallon of whisky.