ISSUE 124 AUTUMN 2005 FREE FREE FREE

CAMRA HUNTINGDONSHIRE BRANCH

CAMPAIGN TO SAVE RIDLEYS CAMRA has launched a major campaign current holders of the Champion of to fight 's plans to close the Britain Award. 163 year old Ridleys Brewery in Essex. Mike Benner added, “Ridleys has been Greene King intends to close the Ridleys family owned since 1842, excel- Brewery in the autumn following its take- lent local . Greene King should re- over of the Essex company, announced in consider its decision and take steps to sell July. the brewery as a going concern. What will CAMRA claims that the acquisition of happen to popular beers such as Greene Ridleys PLC threatens consumer choice King XX Mild, Tolly Original and the as Greene King's dominance in Essex Ridleys beers? It is difficult to believe that and East Anglia grows. Greene King’s Greene King will continue to brew Ridleys move follows its closures of in IPA for long as it clashes with its own Hertfordshire, Biggleswade and Abingdon IPA." since 1987 and the takeover of Cumbira CAMRA has also hit out at comments brewers Jennings by Wolverhampton & from Ridley's Managing Director, Bob Dudley in June. , who was appointed in April 2005. Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, Following his appointment, Mr Wales said, said, "A new generation of national brew- "The Board and I are delighted with this ers has been created and is a threat to announcement and look forward to the consumer choice. Takeovers rarely lead Ridleys business growing and developing. to benefits for consumers and invariably Ridleys is a good business with some lead to erosion of consumer choice as excellent and dedicated people at the breweries close and beers are axed”. Hartford End Brewery site..." CAMRA is to press Greene King to re- Mr Benner said, "One has to ask the verse its decision to close the Essex question, 'what has changed'?" brewery and attempt to sell it as a going CAMRA is also calling on the Government concern. The industry is experiencing a to reinstate legislation to force brewers surge in demand for breweries that spe- with more than 2000 to allow their cialise in short run craft beers meeting tenants to take a guest beer from a renewed consumer interest in local prod- supplier of their choice. ucts. Ridleys has been brewing Tolly Mr. Benner added, "Greene King should Original since 2002, contract brews show they care about Britain's brewing Greene King XX Mild for Greene King and heritage and attempt to sell the brewery to Pale Island for Kelham Island Brewery, someone who can use it to brew beer."

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real , is a consumer organisation founded in 1971 2 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! OPENING TIMES 124 AUTUMN 2005 3 A LOOK BACK IN TIME 25 YEARS AGO Alexandra Palace in north . Ally In Eaton Socon, Stephenson’s Rocket Pally was destroyed by fire in July 1980, opened and was serving Paines hand- causing major changes of plan for the pump-dispensed XXX and EG. festival, with Haringey council laying on mains drainage, water and electricity for St Neots & District CAMRA held cam- the temporary site. paigning socials at pubs that normally used pressurised gas dispense for their CAMRA gave its approval to ’s cask - the licensees had agreed to new ‘real tank beer’ Queens Ale brewed in serve a cask of direct from the Sheffield. The new unfiltered brew was cask. The Millers Arms at Eaton Socon allowed to settle for 2 days in the 90- provided Greene King IPA and the Hare gallon cellar tanks then popular in north- and Hounds in Eynesbury served Paines ern pubs and clubs, then dispensed with- Dark Mild without the gas. out the use of pressurised gas. After a visit to Sheffield by its technical experts St Neots CAMRA had also successfully CAMRA confirmed that the beer should be introduced real ale into some pubs by free regarded as real ale. loans of its handpumps to licensees. The Plough at Abbotsley had thus been con- CAMRA’s third Bedford of- verted to serving Paines XXX without fered around 40 real ales, including Ship- added gas and in St Neots the Wheat- stones, and Hook Norton. The Potton - sheaf had subsequently obtained its own bershop singers provided entertainment. handpumps for three Greene King beers, Miss Anglia, Delia Moth from Stilton, offi- XX Mild, IPA and Abbot. cially opened extensions to the lounge bar In August 1980 St Neots CAMRA met at at the Black Bull in Brampton. The Black the Riverview, Earith, and a social was Bull was noted for one of the best local held at the Victoria in Huntingdon. Branch pints of Manns IPA. meetings were at the Three Horseshoes Local CAMRA members assisted behind at Longstowe in September and the Black the bar at a beer exhibition at the Lion in Bull in St Ives in October. In October a Ramsey in August 1980 that provided a joint social with North Herts branch was range of 13 real ales, including Fullers held at the Crown at Litlington, which had ESB and Wadworths 6X. recently changed its real draught mild from Greene King’s light mild KK to their What’s Brewing, the CAMRA members’ dark XX Mild. The locals had decided that newspaper, carried an article in its Sep- XX was a much better brew when a cask tember 1980 issue about the ‘forgotten’ was delivered in error instead of KK. historic Lorimer’s Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh and its direct coal fired brewing In Huntingdon, the Market Inn abandoned coppers and Lancashire boilers. All of this the use of air pressure for dispense of its had been spared that year as owners real ales. To the approval of local CAMRA Vaux breweries of Sunderland sold their members, handpumps were installed for other Lorimers brewery in Edinburgh and Stag and Manns IPA. The White its estate of 214 Lorimers pubs in Scot- Hart at Great Staughton had also changed land to Allied Breweries. In 2005 Vaux to handpump-dispensed Manns IPA. and Lorimers no longer exist other than as CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival rose distant memories, but Caledonian thrives, from the ashes as it was held in marquees now producing its excellent cask beers for on the racecourse site below the burnt out Scottish & Newcastle breweries.

4 Read OpeningTimes online: www.huntscamra.org.uk/news A LOOK BACK IN TIME 10 YEARS AGO Smokers’ rights pressure group FOREST CAMRA St Neots branch ran a late sum- hit out at smoking bans in parts of pubs mer trip to Elgood’s brewery at . set aside for families, following no- A Pub of the summer award was pre- smoking conditions in pub children’s cer- sented to the Jester at Ashwell and there tificates imposed by some magistrates. was a joint social with Northampton Scottish & Newcastle owned up to brew- branch at the Woolpack at Cranford St ing a ‘Welsh’ beer in after com- Andrew. Branch meetings were held at plaints from CAMRA’s Clwyd branch over the Pear Tree in Bassingbourn and Kim- ‘Welsh Bitter’, brewed in by bolton White Horse. In October the branch S&N, who announced plans to re-name visited the Queens Head at Needingworth the beer after approaches by Trading for their beer festival. Standards officers. CAMRA reported a government Winter came early to East Anglia as Ad- ‘whitewash’ as Scottish & Newcastle were nams brewed their winter beer for given a green light to take over the UK’s CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival, held Courage breweries from their Australian in August at Olympia. East Anglian drink- owners Fosters. The Department of Trade ers were happy to enjoy some of the spe- and Industry decided not to refer the bid to cial brew supplied to local pubs. the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. Brewers Fullers and Adnams backed CAMRA claimed a victory as pubs in Eng- CAMRA’s condemnation of the use of land and Wales were finally allowed to tight sparklers for dispense of their beers. open throughout Sunday afternoons. But Head brewer Reg Drury said ’Fullers CAMRA continued to push for further re- agree that using a swan-neck and spar- form, including the abolition of standard kler destroys the beer’s natural condition permitted hours for pubs that has finally and reduces the hop character, resulting become a reality in 2005. in a blander product’. And Roger Clayson Ten years ago Peterborough CAMRA of Adnams said ‘lets have Adnams, Wad- attacked the Magic Pub Company for re- worth, Youngs and Fullers served in the naming their Six Bells pub in the city the traditional southern manner. Rat and Parrot. They claimed angry locals Former CAMRA chairman Chris Hutt sold were threatening to use their paint sprays his 13-strong Unicorn Inns chain, includ- to change the name to ‘Prat and Parrot’. ing 7 Newt and Cucumber real ale pubs, The famous London cask ale Charrington to brewers Morlands of Abingdon, Oxford- IPA was axed by brewer Bass after distri- shire for over £12 million. bution of the beer fell to less than 400 In St Albans CAMRA fought off a bid by pubs. The move was described by Ind Coope Retail to turn a medieval grade CAMRA as the latest by Bass in a ‘saga of listed pub, the Boot, into a ‘Scruffy Mur- neglect’ following their closure of the phy’s’ theme bar. A 1500-signature peti- Charrington brewery 20 years earlier. tion resulted in a formal withdrawal by Ind John Adnams retired after 20 years as Coope of their plans for renovations and chairman of Suffolk family brewers Ad- the name change. nams, handing over to Simon Loftus, the third generation of his family to be associ- ated with Adnams.

The OPENING 3 normal waysTIMES in which 124 homebrew AUTUMN can be made 2005 are as follows: 5 PUB AND BREWERY NEWS WILD MILD PUBS Best Bitter as house beers, plus two con- In May a good number of local pubs stantly changing guest beers, recent ex- joined CAMRA’s ‘Make May Mild’ cam- amples being Youngs Special, Jennings paign. The impressive chocolaty cask Crag Rat and Adnams Regatta. Congratu- Greene King XX Mild, brewed by lations are also due, since Tom has re- Ridleys, was spotted at the Berkeley cently been awarded his Cask Marque Arms, Eynesbury. M&B Mild, brewed for certificate. Coors by Highgate brewery, appeared at NEW CAMBS BREWERIES the Samuel Pepys in Huntingdon. A num- New local breweries have been gradually ber of cask milds, including the malty coming on stream to join established Cam- Thwaites Mild, were guested at the bridgeshire brewers City of Cambridge, Greene Man at Colne and their recently Elgoods, Fenland, Milton and Oakham. acquired pub, the Victoria in Huntingdon. Hereward is a small home-based brewery Added to regular stockists the Cock, Hem- in Ely launched in 2003 by Michael Czar- ingford Grey (Elgoods Black Dog), the nobaj who mainly supplies beer festivals. Lord John Russell, St Neots (Batemans Beers have included Bitter (alcohol by nutty Dark Mild), the Waggon & Horses, volume 3.8%), St Ethelreda’s Golden Bit- Steeple Morden and Crown, Litlington ter (4%), Porta (4.2%) and Oatmeal (both Greene King XX Mild), this makes (4.5%). an impressive list of outlets for a style of Cambridge Moonshine brewery was es- real ale that appears to be undergoing a tablished in the city centre last year and local revival. won the ‘beer of the festival’ at CAMRA’s ANCHOR, LITTLE PAXTON 2004 Cambridge beer festival. There are There have been many changes at the plans to move to larger premises; beers Anchor in Little Paxton over the last sev- have included Harvest Moon Mild (brewed eral months. to an original gravity of 1040, abv 3.8%), In February, Mulberry Bitter (og 1040, abv 4%), Winter the pub Moon Stout (og 1044, abv 4.5%), Pigs Ear changed own- Porter (og 1048, abv 4.7%), and Moonrak- ership from ers Golden Ale (og 1050, abv 5%). the Spirit Ufford Brewery opened in Februry 2005 at Group to the Ye Old White Hart in Ufford, near Stam- Globe Pub ford. In addition to the White Hart the Company. beers are available in three other pubs, The owner- the Periwig and the Crown Hotel in Stam- ship change gave Tom and Sue Merritt, ford, and Smiths of Bourne. The beers the publicans of the Anchor, the opportu- include Idle Hour (abv 3.9%) and Offspring nity to change from being tenants to own- (abv 4.5%). ing the lease on the pub, which allows Horseshoes, Offord Darcy—A new small them far greater freedom on how the pub brewery was in the process of opening is run. The key point here for real ale during July at this local pub. The new ven- drinkers is that Tom has more options ture is the inspiration of Tony Gardiner, regarding the beers he can sell. In the one of the owners of the Horseshoes. past his only option was Tetleys Bitter, but Brewmaster 3000 equipment, produced in now he has a wide range of guest beers Canada, has been acquired from a local to choose from. Currently the range is company Brewers World run by Graham Caledonian Deuchars IPA and Courage Steel in Upper Dean, Bedfordshire. Tony

6 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! PUB AND BREWERY NEWS has brought in Neil the Mermaid and has taken the lease at Forrester, an re- the Bridge House, St Neots, and an im- tired ex-Whitbread proved range of well kept real ales is now brewer who lives on offer, as well as and interesting menu in the Offords, to in the fully refurbish restaurant. help get the brew- At Abbotsley the Eight Bells has been ery commissioned. The self contained trading again since March following an plant brews just 9 gallons at a time, with extensive refurbishment after being badly the brewing process taking less than 2 damaged by fire last year while the li- hours. The beer is then fermented in plas- censes Peter and Gill were on holiday in tic vessels for 7 days, before being racked Greece. The work has included improve- into casks or to be served in the ments to the restaurant and a small exten- pubs cellar. Tony and Neil plan to brew a sion to the public bar. wide variety of beers, including a selection of real ales, 2 different , as well as a Fenland brewery’s Sparkling Wit cask smooth beer. Amongst the real ales, took a turn at the Cock, Hem- there are plans for a mild and a stout. ingford Grey, during the early summer. Guest beers from further afield at the There have been other rumours of new Green Man, Colne have included Cottage brewing ventures in the county, and we Southern Bitter, Oldershaw’s Alma’s will bring news when reliably available. Brew, Cropton Moors Bitter and INN BRIEF Youngs Golden Zest. There are new licensees at the George and Dragon in Eaton Socon, the Hyde Park, St Neots and the Crown at Earith, which features Fullers London Pride and Adnams Broadside alongside Greene King IPA. At Southoe the Three Horseshoes has been featuring a guest real ale. The Mad Cat at Pidley has two regularly changing cask beers under its changed ownership. Recently sampled there in good order were Wychwood Prince Albert and Piddle Down Under from the Wyre Piddle brewery in Worcestershire. Min Tarling, former landlady of the White Hart in St Ives, moved to the Mad Cat last Oc- tober after a period outside the local area. New owners at the Mermaid at Ellington are aiming to develop local trade and cask beer is expected to be a major feature. The reliably popular and distinctive Ad- nams Bitter will remain alongside regular guest beers. Meanwhile, Chris Watson has moved from less"ThatOPENING than this 95%House TIMESliquid"; expresses notes 124 thatconcern the AUTUMN Campaiat currentgn proposalsfor 2005 Real Ale, to definethe Trading a pint Standardsof beer as Insti-"not7 A DAY IN THE WISSEY VALLEY Huntingdonshire branch CAMRA mem- fermentable sugars. are chosen bers enjoyed a midsummer festival of from challenger, target, fuggles, phoenix local beer and food laid on by brewer and bramling cross. Late hops are occa- Tony Hook for the branch at the premises sionally added for the last few minutes of of his Wissey Valley brewery close to the boil to provide hop aroma. Stoke Ferry over the border. Beers are bottled from settled casks with Some difficulty for some of us in finding the addition of partly fermented wort – this the somewhat remote premises was soon provides the necessary sugar and overcome and we settled into a delightful for the essential secondary fermentation Saturday afternoon sampling various in bottle which is encouraged by a period draught and bottled real ales, and of storage in a warm room. apple juices made by Tony and fellow Wissey Valley beers are supplied to an craft producers in the Norfolk area. increasingly wide area and Tony is think- Wissey Valley real ales have become well ing of hiring help, as brewing and selling known in our area owing to their regular beers, attending farmers’ markets and appearance at farmers’ markets in St Ives, dealing with brewery administration are Huntingdon and Ramsey. This extends to increasing burdens. Bottled real ales may Norfolk’s farmers’ markets including those be found in shops as far away as the Lake at Fakenham, Wymondham. District, and local regular stockists include And farmers’ markets were Tony’s source the real ale shop at Wells-next-the-Sea for much of the interesting local food that and beer shops in Newmarket and Bury St he had put together for us, from farm- Edmunds. Pubs are also demanding the made pork sausages to ostrich burgers bottled real ales. Cask beer is also being and hand made pickles. supplied to pubs, and Golden Rivet (abv 5.1%) will be on sale at CAMRA’s national The brewing equipment was installed with festival at Olympia this August. help from Brendan Moore at the nearby Iceni brewery and includes clever use of A number of Tony’s beers carry “one of an amazing array of modified second his nicknames”, Captain Grumpy. We hand equipment, from old dairy vessels to sampled ‘Captain Grumpy’s Busted beer casks to parts from redundant pub Flush’ (abv 4.7%), an intensely hopped, beer coolers. And flexibility is a watchword dry pale amber beer. ‘’ (abv 4.5%) here, with some vessels doubling up for was also dry but lighter in colour and in different purposes at different times as body, with a powerful hop aroma from late needed. hops. But Tony regards an effective wort cooler We were also able to sample the cask as essential for quality beers, and his heat beers of the new Tipples brewery set up exchanger was a significant item of ex- by Jason Tipple at Acle, Norfolk. Topper penditure. was a dark roasty brew (abv 4.5%) and Redhead was an impressive well hopped Ingredients are selected in various combi- best bitter (abv 4.2%). nations from five hop varieties and five products to generate Wissey Valleys’ Some members had arranged overnight plethora of ales. Six are regular ales and accommodation and disappeared to ex- there are occasional one-off brews. Optic plore this delightful part of West Norfolk – pale malt has recently replaced maris others made the surprisingly short journey otter and achieves a good extraction of back to Huntingdonshire.

8 Updates to Branch Diary - www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary OPENING TIMES 124 AUTUMN 2005 9 ST IVES BEER FESTIVAL, BOOZE ON THE OUSE FESTIVAL DETAILS FOREIGN BEER This is our 25th ‘Booze on the Ouse’ and The popular foreign beer bar will be sell- the fourteenth held at the St. Ivo Centre, ing a range of Belgian, Dutch, German organised by the Huntingdonshire branch and Czech bottled beers including exam- of the . ples of the most distinctive individualistic REAL ALES beer styles in the world, such as Trappist, lambic and wheat beers. We hope to serve over the course of the festival around 50 real ales from all over AND PERRY the UK, both from the well-established The traditional cider bar will be serving independent breweries and the newer, around 6 taste-bud shattering delecta- smaller micro-breweries. Here is a draft tions. beer list—visit our web site for updates: www.huntscamra.org.uk/festivals. FOOD AND DRINK The St. Ivo Centre will be operating a food MILDS GOLDEN ALES counter selling both hot and cold food at Batemans Dark Mild Breconshire Golden all sessions, Free soft drinks will be avail- E&S Elland First Light Valley Elgoods Black Dog Caledonian Golden Prom- able from the real ale bar for the desig- Grainstore Rutland Pan- ise nated driver of your party. ther Isle of Skye Young Pre- Greene King XX Mild tender CAMRA PRODUCTS STAND Moorhouse Black Cat Jarrow Rivet Catcher Come along and chat to our staff and Triple FFF Pressed Rat Moonshine Moonrakers and Warthog Golden Ale learn about CAMRA, beer brewing and BITTERS Oakham JHB pubs. CAMRA and brewery products will Hereward Bitter Phoenix Arizona be on sale, including sweatshirts, t-shirts Holdens Black Country Wharfedale Folly Gold Bitter OLD ALES/STRONG and polo shirts, as well as books, pens, Marble Bitter MILDS badges and beer mats. Adjacent will be Milton Neptune Bank Top Dark Mild the fabulous ‘Every One’s A Winner’ tom- Thwaites Bitter Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby bola stall. Ufford Idle Hour Mild Wolf Golden Jackal /PORTERS THE WORKERS Woodforde's Wherry Cairngorm Black Gold York Bitter Dark Star Espresso Stout The festival is organised and run by mem- BEST BITTERS WINE bers of CAMRA who are all unpaid volun- Adnams Regatta Orkney Skullsplitter Adnams Flagship SPECIALITY BEERS teers. We always need more helpers so Bath Barnstormer Black Isle Hibernator join at the festival’s CAMRA stand. Harveys Sussex Best Wheat beer Bitter Bridge of Allan He- STAFF NEEDED O'Hanlons Royal Oak feweizen The festival always needs more staff, so if Old Stables Hoppy Dayz Coachhouse Cherry Beer Olde Swan Entire Fenland Sparkling Wit you can help at any session please con- Potton Shambles Bitter Fyfe Weiss Squad tact Andy Shaw (see below) Skinners Betty Stogs Grand Union Wickwar Cotswold Way Porter ADVERTISERS STRONG BITTERS Nethergate Umbel Ale Bullmastiff Son of a Bitch St Peter's Lemon and A 32-page programme will be produced Cropton Yorkshire Moors Ginger Spiced Ale for the festival. Advertising at competitive Bitter Williams Heather Fraoch rates. Reach 3,000+ beer drinkers. Con- Fullers ESB LAGERS tact the Programme Editor for more infor- Harviestoun Ptarmigan Atlas Latitude Randalls Envy Bitter Butts Le Butts mation. Tring Colley's Dog Cains

10 Updates to beer list - www.huntscamra.org.uk/festivals 15th-17th SEPTEMBER, ST IVO CENTRE, ST IVES CONTACT NUMBER Festival Organiser & Programme Editor, Andy Shaw - 01480 355893 – festi- [email protected] CHILDREN AT THE FESTIVAL Whilst lunchtime is the ideal time to bring the family to the festival, we do allow chil- dren into the hall up to 9.00pm in the eve- ning, and we have a separate family area. FESTIVAL VENUE The festival is being held at the Burgess Hall, St. Ivo Centre, Westwood Road, St. Ives – an excellent location and probably one of the finest venues for a beer festival in the country. The Centre on the outskirts 50+ REAL ALES of St. Ives is accessible by good road links from the A1/A14 and buses run from Hun- (over the duration of the Festival) tingdon where there is a main line railway plus cider and foreign beer. connection. OPENING TIMES Thursday 15th 6pm – 10.45pm Friday 16th 12 noon – 3pm 5pm – 10.45pm Saturday 17th All day 12 noon– 10.45pm Entrance including programme: 50p Friday and Saturday Lunchtimes £2.00 Thursday, Friday and Satur- day Evenings (from 7 pm) Happy Hour: Thursday 6-7pm & Friday 5-7pm: Entrance 50p & re- duced price . Families welcome until 9 pm Please Note: No entry or re- admission after 10.30pm Free entry to CAMRA members at all sessions - A good reason to join CAMRA.

OPENING TIMES 124 AUTUMN 2005 11 12 Join 77,000 members of CAMRA and fight for Britain’s beer heritage OPENING TIMES 124 AUTUMN 2005 13 NO SMOKING AT THE THREE HORSESHOES, GRAVELEY On June 1st the Three Horseshoes at The Three Horseshoes has a single open Graveley introduced a ban on smoking plan lounge and a restaurant, as so could throughout the pub. Publican Alfred Bar- not easily accommodate a smoking room. rett introduced the ban as a direct re- Six weeks after the introduction of the sponse to popular demand from his cus- ban, Opening Times visited the Three tomers. The Three Horseshoes is very Horseshoes to find out what the public popular for food and Mr Barrett thought reaction had been to this bold initiative. Mr making the pub no-smoking would be in Barrett was delighted by the results so far. keeping with the food focus of the pub. He admitted that he had lost a small num- None of his staff smoke and Mr Barrett is ber of existing customers, but he had himself a former smoker. Mr Barrett gave gained far more new regular customers his customers a month's notice of the than he had lost, and not just locals. Many smoking ban and has had a lot of praise people from the surrounding area had for his move from his customers already. read the article in the Hunts Post, and he Elsewhere in Cambridgeshire the only was now getting people from Huntingdon pubs previously to introduce total bans on and St Ives regularly visiting the pub. smoking are in Cambridge, where pubs Overall Mr Barrett reported that his busi- like the Free Press and the Cambridge ness had improved, particularly the food Blue have been no-smoking for some trade. “In the past, at busy times at the time. It is thought that the Three Horse- weekend, we were at saturation, because shoes is the first example of a rural pub in the restaurant was full, but people did not Cambridgeshire to ban smoking. want to eat in the lounge because of the smoke, so I can now accommodate far The Government has proposed to bring in more diners”. Mr Barrett also reported an a ban on smoking in pubs that serve food increase in trade on weekday evenings, by 2008. The response by breweries, pub when the pub does various food specials. companies, and individual pub tenants is as yet unclear. JD is in the Most pub who have considered process of making all their pubs no- the idea of going totally no smoking have smoking, 2 years ahead of the Govern- been put off because of fears of loosing a ment’s planned legislation. Some publi- major proportion of their existing custom- cans have expressed concern that a ban ers, but the experiences at the Three on smoking would result in a significant Horseshoes suggests that the opposite reduction in trade. may be true, that pubs that do not intro- duce no smoking areas are keeping non- CAMRA believes that both staff and cus- smokers away. Considering that smokers tomers have a right to enjoy smoke free now are in the minority at only 30% of the environments in pubs, and that as a mini- public, any pub that does not introduce no mum the bar serving area should be no- smoking areas will increasingly be at a smoking. CAMRA also believes that ide- disadvantage. ally smokers should also be allowed to enjoy pubs, and highlights that reintroduc- Taking advantage of this opportunity to ing multiple rooms in pubs would allow the bring back into pubs many non-smokers introduction of smoking rooms. Until the who have given up the pub habit is now 60's and 70's most pubs had multiple the challenge facing Scottish pubs. The rooms, often including a "smoke room", Scottish Parliament has overwhelmingly but most of these pubs were altered to voted to introduce a total ban on smoking create open plan areas. in public places from March 2006.

14 All CAMRA approved beer festivals are listed on www.camra.org.uk CAMRA, OPENING are available TIMES for 124 the home brewer. AUTUMN 2005 15 ROY RIDES GRANSDENS & GAMLINGAY Introduction: This article, I hope, will be the start of a occasional series on interesting bike rides, not necessarily within the Hunts branch boundaries, but which I think might appeal anyone who enjoys having a beer and a pleasant ride around on a bike. This first tour is a circular one starting from St Neots, and passes through the Gransdens and Gamlingay. The origins of this particular route started when I realised that I could not deliver my branch newsletters by car and have drink at the same time, but before I go on, a warning; riding a bike under the influence of alcohol is an offence so you have been come to a junction, take the left towards warned. No riding along the white line Abbotsley. As you get into the village you trying to find your way home! will see the first pub at the top of a small Distance: 27.5 km (17 miles). Can be rise. completed in around 3 hours. The Jolly Abbot, now a free house, was formerly an old James Paine house The Ride: named the Plough. Inside there are three I will start from two points. From the rail- handpumps serving, a house beer, way station, proceed down Station Road, brewed by the local Potton Brewery, towards Cambridge Street. Turn right at called Topknot, and along side this you the first mini roundabout and left at the will usually find Greene King IPA and second, into Cromwell Rd. Head along guest beer. The pub features vegetarian this road for about a mile until you get to food as a specialty. Potton Road on the left hand side. Fortunately, there are still two pubs in this For those starting at the Market Square, small village and the second pub is only a exit the square from the South East corner few hundred yards further on past the into Brook Street, turn right at the Wool- church on the left hand side. pack (Charles Wells), opposite the Church into Berkeley Street over the Hen Brook The Eight Bells is a Greene King tied bridge into Eynesbury, and follow the road house. The round. Go past the Berkeley Arms pub suffered a (Greene King) on the left, and the Hare & serious fire Hounds (Pubmaster) on the right. At the during 2004 next pub, Cambridgeshire Hunter (Charles and was Wells) turn left, into what looks a dead closed for over end road. At the end of the road you need six months, to across Cromwell Road via the pedes- luckily it sur- trian crossing into Potton Road opposite. vived and has now reopened. It has a good range of Head up Potton Road (B1046) and over food on offer and the usual Greene King the railway line. Cycle along until you range of beers to sup.

16 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! ROY RIDES GRANSDENS & GAMLINGAY After leaving the Eight Bells turn left and Cock, also a Greene King pub (what two leave Abbotsley on a long straight road Greene King pubs in one village!!). until you reach a staggered crossroads, The Cock is the oldest building in the vil- here turn right then left towards Great lage having survived the great fire in Gransden. 1600, hence it retains many old and inter- The village now only has one pub, the esting features. Crown & Cushion. This is a former Greene King IPA Charles Wells pub which has been sold to and Abbot are a small pub chain. It still offers Charles usually supple- Wells Eagle and usually another guest mented by a beer. This is a good stop for food if you “Greene King are getting hungry by now. guest ale “. Excel- Exit the pub and turn left towards Little lent food is avail- Grandsen. About a mile further on you able if you are still reach one of the best unspoilt pubs in the hungry. There is a area, the Chequers. colourful patio and large garden with as- sorted animals to keep the kids amused, The Chequers is the 2005 Hunts branch while the adults can enjoy a quite drink. pub of the year and well deserved too. Here you will find at least three beers on Finally, we go to the last pub. It is hard to tap. The house beer is currently Oakham believe, but it is documented that Gamlin- JHB which gay had 52 pubs but sadly only three re- will be an main. The last on the list is the Hardwick excellent Arms, a large pub which dominates the thirst Cross Roads. The pub has much im- quencher proved over the last 6 months and now which you offers. Fullers London Pride and two other will have guest beers. deserved by Now for the worse bit, how to find your now. Stay for way home! At the crossroads take the first one or two and join in on the local gossip. right after a hundred meters or so take a Not too many electronic distractions to be left and follow this road out of Gamlingay found here. into the small hamlet of Gamlingay Cin- Assuming you need to leave, exit the pub ques. Here you will pass the former and continue onward through the village, Greene King pub the Green Man closed in you will come to a right turn signposted to 1980 (check). Shortly after you will arrive Gamlingay, take this road. On the way at a crossroads go straight over (looking you will pass Little Gransden airfield on both ways of course) and follow the road the right hand side, a former WW2 air- and descend down a steep hill, hopefully base, but now is used for light aircraft. getting some speed up for the ascent. The rest of the return is straight forward follow Continue on, and this is now one of the any direction signs to Eynesbury and you best bits as you can freewheel downhill all should not get lost. To make the return the way into Gamlingay. At the church interesting see if you can spot which bit is bear right, past the Greene King owned the old roman road that use to run from Wheatsheaf, stop if you want, but there is Godmanchester to Sandy. more choice further down the road at the Roy Endersby OPENING TIMES 124 AUTUMN 2005 17 EVENTS AND SOCIALS Aug 2005 Greene King Trip Sat 20th Trip to Greene King, Bury St Edmunds. A tour of the brewery has been arranged for CAMRA members and their guests, commencing at 12 noon. Transport may be available. Wed 24th Evening trip to the Peterborough Beer Festival by rail. For current timetables please refer to www.rail.co.uk. Sep 2005 Booze on the Ouse Beer Festival Tues 6th Pre-festival meeting, at the Oliver Cromwell, St Ives (8.30 pm) for all those helping with the St Ives Beer festival. If you would like to help at the festival, please contact Andy Shaw, on 01480 355893. Thurs 15th to Saturday 17th Booze on the Ouse – St Ives Beer Festival, Burgess Hall, St Ivo Centre. Opening Times: Thurs: 6-10.45 pm; Fri 12-3 pm & 5-10.45 pm; Sat 12-10.45 pm. FREE ENTRY to CAMRA members. VOLUNTEERS WELCOME! Thurs 22nd Evening trip to the Letchworth Beer Festival, Plinston Hall, Letchworth by rail. Oct 2005 – Rockingham Brewery Talk / New Members’ Social Tues 4th Open Branch Meeting. Postponed from August, Brian Bosworth of Rockingham Brewery will be joining us at The Cock, Hemingford Grey to talk about how be began brewing. There will also be an opportunity for you to hear about recent activities of the Committee (8.30 pm). Thurs 6th Evening trip to the Bedford Beer Festival, Corn Exchange, Bedford by bus. Fri 14th New members’ social, at Oliver Cromwell, St Ives, for members who joined at the St Ives Beer Festival. A FREE PINT for new members and all those who helped at the Booze on the Ouse festival. Nov 2005 Real Ale Ramble Around St Neots Fri 4th Social around St Neots pubs, starting at the Bridge House at 8.30 pm, moving to Ye Olde Sun at 9.00 pm, The Chequers at 9.30 pm, finishing at the Woolpack at 10.15 pm. Tues 8th Open Committee Meeting, The Grange, Brampton (8.30 pm). Dec 2005 Social Around Huntingdon Pubs Tues 6th Open Committee Meeting, The Rivermill, Eaton Socon (8.30 pm). Fri 16th Social around Huntingdon pubs, starting at the Market Inn at 8.30 pm, moving to the Victoria at 9.00 pm, the Samuel Pepys at 9.45 pm, finishing at the Old Bridge at 10.30 pm. For further information please contact Pete Godfrey, Social Secretary, on 01480 212849 or e-mail: [email protected]. For an up to date listing, log on to: www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary. For current train timetables please refer to www.rail.co.uk.

18 Updates to Branch Diary - www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary WHO TO CONTACT OPENING TIMES Chairman & Newsletter Editor: Andy Opening Times is published by the Hunt- Shaw, (01480) 355893, chair- ingdonshire Branch of CAMRA, the Cam- [email protected] paign for Real Ale (Copyright 2005) All Secretary, Press & Publicity: Paul rights reserved. Moorhouse, (01480) 496247 (h), secre- Views or comments expressed in this [email protected] publication may not necessarily be those Treasurer: Sonia Clarke, (01480) of the Editor or of CAMRA. 355893 (h), [email protected] Contact the Editor Andy Shaw, on: Membership: Margaret Eames, (01480) (01480) 355893, or 385333 (h) [email protected], or Socials: Pete Godfrey, (01480) 212849 13a Peppercorns Lane, Eaton Socon, St (h), [email protected] Neots, PE19 8HL. Pubs Info: Roy Endersby, (01480) To Advertise 413364, [email protected] To place an advert or enquire about our Campaigning: Kathy Hadfield- rate card please contact: Moorhouse, (01480) 496247, cam- [email protected] Neil Richards—01536 358670 [email protected] Deadline for Winter 2005 issue (125) is Friday 14th October 2005.

TRADING STANDARDS

Your local Trading Standards organisation is Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards. If you have any complaints about trading standards issues at local pubs please contact them. They have a role to protect consumers from errors or frauds concerned with qual- ity, description or price of goods, services or facilities and to detect and rectify unfair advertising practices. Contact Cambridgeshire Trading Stan- dards helpdesk on 0845 3030666, or at Trading Standards Division, Sackville House, Sackville Way, Great Cambourne, Cambridgeshire, CB3 6HD. The trading standards web site is www.tradingstandards.gov.uk

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