Cambridge & District Branch Newsletter Issue 360 Spring 2013

Celebrate Community Pubs Month by taking part in the CAMRA Ale Trail 2 ALE360 Spring 2013

Branch Diary Pub News Don't forget that all Branch members are very welcome to attend the monthly business meetings. Those upcoming are (all 8pm) Great news from the White Swan at Con- ington. It Fri 5-Apr : 12:30, Community Pubs Month has just launch, Plough & Fleece, Horningsea been Tue 9-Apr : 8:00, Open Branch Meeting, bought by Cambridge Brewhouse, King Street The Con- ington Pub Tue 16-Apr : 8:00, Awards Evening, Hopbine, Company. Fair Street Previously Tue 14-May : 8:00, Open Branch Meeting, tied to Greene King, The White Swan will Maypole, Portugal Place become a Free house on 7th March. In an e Mon 20-May - Sat 25-May : 40th Cambridge -mail I received from Gill Fordham Coning- Festival ton Pub Co is described as “ …a company set up by Coningtonians, directed by Con- Tue 11-Jun : 8:00, Open Branch Meeting, ingtonians, for the benefit of the Conington Three Tuns, Gt. Abington community and the local area”. Tenants Sarah Jane and Chris Cole will remain in Trading Standards place. Their ambition is to offer a variety of If you have a complaint about any unfair trad- guest , including those from local ing practice, such as short measure or mis- leading product promotion, contact breweries, straight from the cask. Future Cambridgeshire Trading Standards at: renovations are expected but will be firmly Trading Standards directed towards the traditional pub look. Cambridgeshire County Council The company held a celebratory opening on PO Box 450, Cambridge City, CB3 6ZR the evening of March 15th. Tel: 08454 04 05 06 email: [email protected] Sharon Crossley, landlady of The Black Copyright CAMRA Cambridge & District Horse Inn Branch 2013. All rights reserved. at Swaff- ALE is published by the Cambridge & Dis- ham Bul- trict Branch of the Campaign for . beck has The views expressed are not necessarily asked me to remind those of CAMRA Ltd or its Branches. you that the Edited by Will Smith, 32 Lovell Road, Black Cambridge, CB4 2QR. Horse has a Casque Mark recommenda- email: [email protected] tion, serves 6 real ales and has a roaring log fire. Sounds good to me. To Advertise The fight to save Cambridge pubs goes on. To place an advert or enquire about our The Penny Ferry, Chesterton remains rate card please contact: under threat despite efforts from Cambridge CAMRA and local heritage groups to en- Neil Richards—01536 358670 sure its future as a pub. [email protected]

Spring 2013 ALE360 3 Pub News Continued... The Dog and Pheasant, also in Chester- Chinese take away we reported in the last ton, has been demolished. Challenges were issue. raised against demolition (all be it after the Helen, in The Sun, Waterbeach, has told demolition had taken place) but were under- us that they have just had a fourth hand mined by the Beer and Pub Association, pump in- (BBPA) whose demand for a judicial review stalled. against the Cambridge City Council’s policy The plan is for protection of pubs has weakened the to sell strength of that policy, and therefore the Wood- argument to have another pub built on the fordes, site. , CAMRA is asking members to contact local and a SIBA MPs to demand that they support Julian recommended beer. The Sun has installed Huppert’s Early Day Motion censuring the a new garden complete with patio heater. BBPA’s action. According to Mr Huppert the They are to host a music festival 3rd- 6th BBPA, who purport to be supporters of the May. pub trade, should “start to work with local Susie and Matt at the Earl of Beacons- communities to support viable pubs.” field, Mill Road Cam- Some good news in Chesterton though, bridge, are making a with Milton Brewery announcing the open- determined effort to ing of The Haymakers mid to late April. improve the quality of the real ales on offer. The Unicorn in Cherry Hinton is still look- House ales are Wood- ing for a forde Wherry, and buyer, Growler , and two though the pumps will serve ales 295,000 from the Punch Finest pounds Cask list. asking price might seem I recently attended a Well’s and Young tast- over the top ing evening in for such a small property. Other pubs for The Dobbler’s sale in the area include The Chequers Cot- Inn, Sturton tenham, 290,000, and the Rupert Brooke, Street (a must if Grantchester, no price given. you want to watch live TV) I hear that the Bird in Hand, Newmarket and am happy Road, Cambridge is to say the Young’s Double Chocolate set to become the is still to my mind a premium beer. Brunswick Arms, a dining and drinking Good things happening to the Longbow pub, and a far cry Stapleford. Re-named The Three Horse- from the rumoured shoes, it has been taken over by Terri and

4 ALE360 Spring 2013 Jethro of number of the Cam- events includ- bridge ing a Spring Blue. 8 Beer Festival hand featuring Gold pumps with and Blonde, the custom- Mild and Fruit ary atten- beers, and 7 varieties of cider (April 24th – tion to variety and quality we have come to 1st May). We are also promised free music, expect from these real ale champions, who meet the brewer evenings and Morris Danc- have commissioned Oakham brewery to ing! create a new real ale, Cambridge Blue 3k Took a trip out to The Bank, Willingham, (4.2%) to celebrate their 3000th real ale on a Saturday afternoon only to find it since moving to The Blue. closed – my fault - I should do my research! Chatting with James at The St Radegund I Readers should note that the pub adver- found out tises opening hours as “From 5.30” and is that his closed on Sundays. I had to console myself love of ci- with a pint of Adnams Old (4.1%) in The der has not Red Lion, waned. He Histon – has re- who by the cently in- way also do creased the a lovely number of cider pumps in the smallest pub chicken in Cambridge from 1 to 4, a move that will baguette be much appreciated by Cambridge cider (last orders drinkers. for food 2.30pm). Barry from the Red Lion, Swaffham Prior Following on a theme Ali cycled out to The has asked Carpenter’s Arms, Great Wilbraham late me to men- in February with the intention of tasting their tion their home brewed beer, only to find that due to forthcoming popular demand they had run out. A review Beer Festi- of this pub will be in the next issue of ALE, val 24th along with an expose of Ali’s trip. and 25th And finally, The Cambridge Brewhouse, May, and King Street The Tivoli, Chesterton Road is starting a opened it’s festival on 3rd April. doors in early Sorry to hear that the current tenants of the February. A Clarendon Arms, Clarendon Street have traditional pub handed back the keys to – as they put it – with the added Greede King. attraction of good food – and a brewery! As I write the The Mill, Mill Lane, will be celebrating first Cambridge Brew House beers to be CAMRA Community Pubs Month with a brewed in Cambridge are being brewed…

Spring 2013 ALE360 5 6 ALE360 Spring 2013 The White Swan The Red Lion Swaffham Prior Sarah and Chris invite you to visit the White Swan in the Village of Conington just off the A14 and try the Real Ales including a Weekly Guest Ale. Bar Snack menu 12 till 2:30pm. Barry & Jo are hosting the first of hopefully many beer th Pub food Menu and Special Board in the festivals here at The Red Lion on 24 & 25 May evenings served Wednesday to Saturday Starting with 9 Real Ales & 2 Weston Ciders plus 4 6 till 9pm all freshly cooked. more Ales on the bar from around the country Traditional Sunday Roast every Sunday Looking to have Live music and Food available in our large served 12 till 2:30pm. beer garden at the rear on the Saturday night 25th May … weather permitted. If not it will go ahead inside the pub. Table Booking form online or Telephone. Some stalls will be set up from local charities and the Families are welcome. scouts group on the Friday 24th May th Large Beer Garden also a big outside play Starting Friday 24 May 12.00 midday till late. area for the children, Every one welcome as Free Wi-fi. Dogs welcome. our goal is to put The Red Lion back on the Elsworth Road Conington CB23 4LN grid for the community of Swaffham Prior with real Tel: 01954 267251 food and great beers. www.whiteswanconington.com the mill CAMBRIDGE FREE HOUSE We have 8 handpulls from which we serve a range of local Real Ales. We are part of CAMRA's LocAle campaign so we promise to always have beer avail- able from within a 20 mile radius. We’re always rotating our ales and we have had beers from local and East Anglian breweries and many others, including Black Bar, Fellows, Lord Conrads, Milton and Moonshine.

PERFECT LOCATION DELICIOUS FRESH FOOD GREAT LOCAL ALES We are close to the city centre Enjoy our locally sourced, home- We are extremely proud to offer on the beautiful river Cam next cooked menu of delicious a tempting selection of fine to two punting stations. Boast- traditional British pub food which local real ales and other craft ing wonderful views this cosy is perfect for lighter snacks or beers, as well as an interesting and charming pub is the perfect long relaxed meals with friends. wine list for you to enjoy. spot to meet, eat or relax.

Tel: 01223 311829 Email: [email protected] 14, Mill Lane, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1RX

Spring 2013 ALE360 7 A New Dog ... Rob Flanagan, Growler Brewery brand is the latest ongoing Managing Di- change, and was partially introduced in rector of August 2012. Growler (aka The logo still features the iconic Nethergate Nethergate) bulldog, but he is less aggressive looking Brewery ex- than the original. The pump clip designs are plained as I sat simple and eye catching, aimed one sus- sipping a pint of pects at attracting younger customers, but Growler Bitter in effective, as they always seem to draw the The Mill, Mill eye... Lane. He and fellow ex- Looking at the list of directors it appears to Adnams em- me that their experience appears to be ployee Cheryl mainly associated with the sales or promo- Bullen had agreed to meet and tell me tion side of the industry. Nethergate is a about Nethergate’s steady metamorphosis brewery famous for producing traditionally into the new Growler Brewery. Rob, previ- crafted beers that are full of flavour. I had to ously Adnams Director of Sales and Mar- ask: Will the quality suffer? Will short cuts keting, together with four colleagues, be taken and recipes change? bought Nethergate Brewery in 2010. Cheryl, who was the head of Adnams Cus- “We haven’t tomer Services, has taken on a similar role in this new venture. It says a lot for her hard changed any of the work that practically every free house or recipes. We’re not pub with an available pump free of tie in the Cambridge CAMRA district appears to have allowed to and I at least one Growler or Nethergate pump clip on show. wouldn’t.” Perhaps this is the reason that the brewery Rob’s reply was an emphatic “No!”. Yes, he reported a 30% growth in business in the admitted that the drive of the business is to year 2010 -2011? Yes, of course it is - but become more commercially successful. For the wealth of brewery experience that the example, the brewery makes no secret of new management team have brought to the increasing bottled beer sales to large super- business must have helped too. market chains. But, he assured me, beer Apart from Rob, there are two directors who quality will remain a top priority and as high previously held senior positions in Adnams, as ever. “Our head brewer Paul Gower and and a fourth, Rupert Thomson, was once his team have over 20 years experience in owner of Wychwood Brewery. . Paul has also been consulting with ex head brewer and founder Ian Hornsey; Over two years the team has gradually in- both to explore the possibility of brewing troduced changes, one of which, a change new ales and to help maintain the quality of to brewing schedules, has increased pro- those we are brewing now. We unofficially duction by 50%. The introduction of the

8 ALE360 Spring 2013 with all the Old Tricks call the IPA “Ian and Paul’s Ale”. Described in ALE 287 ( Spring1997) as “a glorious example of the brewer's craft, “We still have Ian’s tasting notes and the beautifully balanced, packed with flavour original recipe’s. One of the stipulations and topped off with an enormously long made by Ian and his partner Dick Burge bitter finish...” Nethergate Bitter was voted when we bought the business was that we best beer in its category for three years couldn’t change them.” running at the Cambridge Beer Festival, And if awards are anything to go by I think and once as overall champion. It was the we can take him at his word. Old Growler Champion Beer of East Anglia in 1996. was the CAMRA Champion of East For many years the brewery remained a Anglia in 2011, and Three Point - Nine, now one beer business, but public demand re- rebranded as Growler Bitter was awarded quired a stronger beer and Old Growler SIBA East of Champion Bitter in Porter (5%) was introduced, once again the same year. Growler Bitter is now the brewed using an old English recipe, and brewery’s leading brand. shortly afterwards in 1990 an IPA (3.5%) In 2012 the Brewery was the winner of the ( which at the time stood for “Ian’s Personal Good Pub Guide Brewery of the year Ale”) was created, at first, to satisfy an or- award, and according to Rob they are the der from a local pub chain, but then becom- smallest brewery ever to win it. ing a regular brew, and a stock beer. He and his fellow directors must be doing Ian’s passion for traditional ingredients then something right... saw him introduce the hitherto forgotten traditional ingredient of coriander and creat- ************************************************** ing Umbel Magna Porter(5%) and Umbel Nethergate Brewery and Ale (3.8%) creating a spicy edge to the beer and even more success for the brewery. CAMRA - a short history. The Nethergate Brewery has had a long As sales grew it became evident that the association with Cambridge CAMRA and brewery at Clare was becoming too small to with the Cambridge Summer Beer Festival. cope and in ALE 318 (2005) it was reported that the Nethergate brewery had moved just Ian Hornsey, founder, and head brewer across the border (but still close to the River from 1986 until 2010 was an active member Stour) to Pentlow, Essex, where the larger of CAMRA, and a teacher at the then Cam- premises offered a potential increased ca- bridge Technical College when back in the pacity from 80 to 200 barrels a week. early 1980’s he announced his intention to create a new brewery which would brew The Brewery was brought out in 2010, and beers using traditional recipes. is currently being rebranded as Old Growler Brewery, Nethergate, Essex. Rob In 1986, he and his business partner Dick Flanagan, managing director, would like to Burge began brewing their first first ale, re- associate the brewery and CAMRA and Best Bitter (4.0%) following a recipe from would welcome suggestions for new beers, Yorkshire, in a converted garage in the or any feedback on current beers we would beautiful Suffolk village of Clare, close to like to make. the River Stour.

Spring 2013 ALE360 9

The Cambridge & District CAMRA Ale Trails

What They Are Our three Ale Trails aim to encourage local drinkers to visit local pubs, especially ones they might not know. The Trails connect to our April Community Pubs Month, though they don't need to be completed until the end of May. Two Trails concentrate on pubs which (usually) sell locally brewed beers (which we call LocAles), whilst the third covers pubs which are excellent community pubs.

How It Works 1. Order a pint or half of real ale (a LocAle if available) in a participating pub and ask to have your form stamped. 2. Collect at least twelve stamps on a Trail to qualify for the prize of a T-shirt. There are different coloured shirts for each Trail, so you can enter one, two or three forms as you wish. 3. Send your entry, by 31 May, to Ale Trails, 32 Lovell Road, Cambridge, CB4 2QR or hand your form(s) in at the Membership Stand at the Cambridge Beer Festival. 4. Anyone visiting all the pubs on all the Trails will go into a draw for a very special prize. 5. In addition to taking part in these trails, you might wish to score your beers at the National Beer Scoring System. - go to www.beerscoring.org.uk.

Public Transport Most pubs on the Trails are accessible by public transport, though buses are few and far be- tween to some of the rural pubs. For details, visit our website at www.cambridge-camra.org.uk Please don’t drink and drive. 1 LocAle Trail

Carlton Arms, White Swan, Carlton Way Quy

Cambridge Blue, Emperor, Gwydir Street Hills Road

Chestnut Tree, Maypole, West Wratting Park Street

Crown, Live and let Live, Linton Mawson Road

Green man, The Bank, Grantchester Willingham

Flying Pig, Black Horse, Hills Road Rampton

The Mill, White Horse, Mill Lane Swavesey

My favourite beer was ...... in ......

My Name ......

Address & Postcode ......

...... Email ......

T-Shirt Size (Please circle) XXL XL L M S

I would like to collect my T-Shirt from (name of pub) ......

2 LocAle Trail

Three Blackbirds, Hopbine, Woodditton Fair Street

Tickell Arms, The Empress, Whittlesford Thoday Street

The Brew House, St Radegund, King St King Street

Jolly Brewers, Dykes End, Milton Reach

Devonshire Arms, Red Lion, Devonshire Road Histon

The Alexandra Arms, The Geldart, Gwydir street Ainsworth Street

The Three Horseshoes, Carpenters Arms, Stapleford Great Wilbraham

My favourite beer was ...... in ......

My Name ......

Address & Postcode ......

...... Email ......

T-Shirt Size (Please circle) XXL XL L M S

I would like to collect my T-Shirt from (name of pub) ......

3 Community Trail Plough and Fleece, Bees in the Wall, Horningsea Whittlesford

Green Man, Queens Head, Thriplow Newton

Ickleton Lion, Six Bells, Ickleton Fulbourn

Plough, Red Lion, Duxford Swaffham Prior

Elm Tree, Castle Inn, Orchard Street. Castle Hill

The Boot, Champion of the Dullingham Thames, King Street

The Blue Ball, The Free Press, Grantchester Prospect Row

The Sun, Kingston Arms, Waterbeach Kingston Street

My favourite beer was ...... in ......

My Name ......

Address & Postcode ......

...... Email ......

T-Shirt Size (Please circle) XXL XL L M S

I would like to collect my T-Shirt from (name of pub) ...... Good Food, Real Ales and Fine Wines

Home cooked food served daily 12-2, 6-9 Sunday Roasts 12-4 Wednesday Sausage & Mash £1.95 and Quiz Live Music every weekend (No Karaoke or Discos!)

2 High St, Great Shelford, Cambs, CB22 5EH Tel 01223 847986 [email protected] www.theploughshelford.co.uk Find us on Facebook

Spring 2013 ALE360 15 CAMRA Lobbies Parliament A cold December Wednesday saw CAMRA through Westminster Hall we progressed to step up their campaign against the Beer Tax the Central Lobby to await our MPs. Two Escalator. Since being introduced in 2008 the members from Cambridge Branch met out- escalator has raised beer duty by 2% above side the committee rooms with Julian Huppert inflation every year. Combined with the in- who was, as usual, very supportive. Our dis- crease in VAT to 20%, taxation on beer has cussions ranged over various pub related risen by 42% in the last three years and now issues. Another Cambridge Branch member accounts for £1 of the price of a pint in a pub. had a longer wait before Andrew Lansley, MP It has been a contributory factor in the 30% for Cambridgeshire South, came out for a drop in pub beer sales in the last 6 years, brief meeting. during which time 7,000 pubs have perma- Lobbying completed, CAMRA members met nently closed, and threatens the 1 million jobs up in nearby Emmanuel Hall for refreshment beer supports. Claims that the Government and stirring words of encouragement from has no choice but to proceed with inherited supportive MPs, CAMRA officers, brewers fiscal measures is misleading. Despite a 5% and publicans. The day was heralded a suc- increase in duty in the 2012 budget, revenue cess. MPs and Parliamentary workers had from beer duty fell between April and Decem- been impressed by our numbers, arguments, ber compared with the same period in 2011. good humour and organisation. Certainly we On 12th December over 1,000 CAMRA mem- felt empowered. But was it really a success? I bers from across the country descended on guess we won’t really know until 20th March parliament to lobby their MPs. Good organisa- when the chancellor presents the 2013 tion ensured that the queues at security, al- budget... though long, were manageable. Entering Ali Cook

16 Spring 2013

The Bell at Panfield THE CHEQUERS Traditional pub, 71 Main Road, Little Gransden with real beams, Tel: 01767 677348 real log fire, and traditional Bob and Wendy Mitchell invite you to try pub food. their unique unspoilt village local with its own special atmosphere Beer Festival Celebrating 60 years as a family run pub Friday 31st May - Sunday 2nd June Home of Son of Sid Brewery Live music all weekend in a marquee Village fete Saturday lunch Hunts Food all weekend including BBQ CAMRA Pub of the Camping facilities available (phone to book) Year Open: 11.30am-11pm Mon-Thu, 11.30am- 2011 12.30pm Fri & Sat, 11.30am-10.30pm Sun 37 Kynaston Road, Panfield CAMRA Braintree, CM7 5AQ East Anglia www.panfieldbell.co.uk Pub of the 01376-324641 Year 2008

Spring 2013 ALE360 Ping Pong n Pints Last Summer, athletes from all over the and crisp. NCI is also handily positioned for planet assembled in Britain for a great a nip around the corner to Bacchanalia, a sporting festival. However, at these events, renowned off license with an unparalleled due to the corporate lure of fizzy lagerbeer, stock. the organizers did not serve our national Cambridge TTC have played in many ven- ale. Fred Laband gives us a guide of where ues, and for the last 2 years have hosted we can see sport locally with real ale. matches in Stow-cum-Quy Village Hall. ------Why play so far out of the city? Simple, 50 yards away is the Cambridge Table Tennis League started as excellent White early as the 1930s with hundreds of teams Swan. This pub has playing all over the county. In around 10 4 hand pumps. divisions, teams were fielded by Fulbourn Regulars include Hospital, the Conservatives and Chivers. Adnams Southwold The RAF at Oakington and Waterbeach Bitter, Woodforde’s Wherry and Oakham’s were once avid players and there was even JHB and the fourth always has a local ale. a team that played on the top floor of the The last guest I had was “Brew 09”(Black Guildhall. Research reveals that there was Light Blonde 4 %)which was delivered by also a team in the 1940s entitled “The bike from the Black Bar Brewery of Harston. Dreadnoughts”, but their origin remains a (I find the numbering of these beers rather mystery… confusing, but I suppose that some people In all this time, players of all ages and back- find ‘pushes’ or ‘anti-spin pimples’ bewilder- grounds have been brought together to pelt ing too.) The pub has a growing reputation a 2.7g celluloid ball back and forth for hours for food; the puddings are medal-worthy. on end. Impington TTC play their matches at Today there are only 4 divisions left com- Impington VC which, being a school, of prising approximately 40 teams. In a similar course does not have real ale, but the time the number of pubs in the area has neighbouring area has a superb choice of also roughly halved (to around 100). Num- pubs. In fact Histon and Impington buck the bers have dropped but nobody could argue trend in terms of beer and table tennis, as that real ale or table tennis is dead. numbers of pubs and players remains Table tennis and real ale can be found at strong. My favourite many venues; here are some of them: pub here is The NCI are one of Cambridge’s oldest teams Red Lion (I love and they are based in Holland Street. The staring at the brew- trophy cabinet above the bar is huge and eriana hanging from the ceiling for inspira- full of shining reminders of past glories. tion); there are 7 hand pumps featuring the They have several teams of mixed ever present Oscar Wilde Mild (3.7%). strengths from Division 1 to 3 and the same The Railway Vue at the other end of town can be said of their beers. They have 2 is definitely also one to look out for. After guest beers available; I went for an excel- reading ALE magazine’s issue 355, I de- lent St Austell’s Tribute (4.2%); very clear cided to make a prematch visit. I saw St.

18 Spring 2013 Austell’s Tribute, Green King IPA and farmers markets, regular ballroom dancing Oahkam’s JHB on tap. I had a pint of lessons and of course table tennis. The bar Woodforde’s Wherry (3.8%) which is also a itself now has 4 handpumps, 2 of which are favourite here. The evening food was fairly Charles Wells/Youngs beers. The third basic. However, my fishcakes were crispy pump tends to have an Oakham Brewery and tasty and with a crunchy side salad beer, and the fourth also offers something were very reasonably priced indeed at 2 interesting. On my last visit I enjoyed the meals for £7.50. rich Ketts Rebellion from Woodfordes Brew- ery in Norfolk. This beer was very bitter and In the village of Over, ping pong is played in seemed much stronger than the advertised the Community Centre. This venue may not 4.3%. Not far away is The Six Bells with 6 appear in many ALE magazines, but always handpumps; on my last trip, their Adnams serves quality table tennis and beer. When- Bitter (3.7%) was fantastic. ever we play there, we always seem to en- counter fog or snow, or the A14 is shut. On So there we have it. To find and/or contact arrival, Elgoods or Woodfordes beers are your local table tennis club, a good starting often available to calm the frayed nerves! point is the website ww.tabletennis365.com/ Elgood’s Cambridge Bitter (3.8%) was in cambridge. Next time you fancy coming top form on my last visit. This centre even along to see (or play) sport with real ale had its own beer festival in the summer. why not visit one of the above venues. If only the worldwide games at E20 2ST in A super venue for table tennis and beer is August 2012 had provided the same… the Townley Hall in Fulbourn. This is part of the thriving Fulbourn Centre which boasts THE ICKLETON LION Traditional WEEKEND EASTER SPECIALS Sunday WEEKEND 6 real ales at all times, 2 constantly Roast on Easter 12 noon - 4pm Facebook Sunday changing guests, plus 1 real cider £11.95 2 Courses every £14.95 3 Courses Lunch menu Bookings required to Thursday avoid disappointment evening available Great home cooked food (local ‘Game’ a speciality) OUTDOOR CATERING Come and join us on the AVAILABLE 28th July for the London - and bar snacks hog roast, bar , bbq - no Cambridge Charity bike ride size too small or big - in aid of Breakthrough Cancer 2nd Annual Beer Festival enquiries please call Please sign up at the bar 01799 530269 2nd - 6th May Large Beer Garden and we are a dog friendly pub. Come and join us. Beer Garden for hire for those summer days that are upon us!

The Ickleton Lion, 9 Abbey Street, Ickleton, Saffron Walden, Essex CB10 1SS Tel: 01799 530269 Email:[email protected] www.theickletonlion.co.uk Follow us on facebook for more details - the ickleton lion

Spring 2013 ALE360 What do you do ... with a redundant bank?

Well-You could turn it into another tax- appears to be to offer the greatest choice of exempt coffee chain ... or, you could available beers to the public without ties to open another LLoydaspoons Breweries. But what if it’s a village bank barely big The first time I visited there were only two enough for Two Tellers and six custom- beers available, Adnams Broadside (4.7%) ers? and American IPA (4.8%), both in superb condition. Well if you are the Postmaster in Willing- ham near Cambridge you turn it into the I was told that the reduced selection was area’s first Micro Pub! due to the good villagers of Willingham see- ing off 5 different casks of Ale the previous night! A little investigation revealed the evi- dence- 12 empty casks awaiting collection at the back of the premises! On my next visit to The Bank there were four ales available, the Adnams Sole Star (2.7%) and Milton Pegasus (4.1%) that I sampled were, as I have come to expect, on top form. Quietly working on the stillage ready for the next session were Black Sheep and Everard’s Old Flame. Chris Warren always thought running a pub The Bank is situated on High Street, Wil- might be a good thing to do between clos- lingham ing the blinds at the Post Office at 5.30pm CB24 5ES and letting in the postmen at 5am, so when and is ap- Lloyds Bank decided to give up the bank in proximately Willingham, wheels started turning in real 5 miles ale lover Chris’s mind and the “What if?” north off the scenario slowly turned to “Why not?” and A14 at Bar The Bank moved from imagination to hard Hill, it is bricks and mortar. also easily walkable from Longstanton With the help of Wife Linda designing and Guided Busway. planning the customer side of things, and The Bank is open from 6pm to 10pm on opening just before Christmas 2012, The Tuesdays, 5.30pm to 10pm Wednesdays Bank offers a selection of real ales served and Thursdays to Saturdays 5.30 to 11pm. straight from the cask behind the bar in excellent condition. For more details call Chris or Linda at The Bank on 01954 260331 The range on offer varies from week to week and often day to day as the policy D.T.E. Clowne January 2013

20 Spring 2013 Tucking Inn - Will’s Foodie Page

Ady Hill, one of the seven Milton villagers 10 x button mushrooms cut into quarters who clubbed together to save The Jolly 1/2 pint of Milton Pegasus Brewers pub, sent me this recipe created by 1/4 pint of double cream or sour cream The Brewers’ Head Chef, Steve Goddard. 1 x tablespoon of mustard grain Salt and pepper to taste Situated at the north end of the village, this 1 x teaspoon of Paprika (optional) wonderful pub serves locale beer and offers In a good cast iron pan or wok add a table- a combination of a community atmosphere spoon of oil, when lightly smoking add the accompanied by a dining experience which steak strips and diced onion. is a little bit special. The beers should be in Keep stirring until the meat is browned on tip top condition. Ady and his colleagues all sides, add the Milton Pegasus and re- have recently successfully completed a duce by half, once reduced add the mustard Greene King cellar management course. grain, seasoning. Beef and Milton Add double cream/sour cream and quar- Pegasus Stroganoff tered button mushrooms. Reduce the sauce For 4 persons a little to a thick consistency and add the paprika if you like. 1/2 kilo good cut of steak (fillet, sirloin or rump) cut into thin strips Check your seasoning and serve on fluffy 1 x large onion, diced boiled rice.

Spring 2013 ALE360 Our 3,000th beer Oakham 3K, brewed especially for the pub, is now available Different Real Ales sold from 17.10.07 3000

22 Spring 2013 Spring 2013 ALE360