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&& CACACASKSKSK FFFORCEORCEORCE No.151 Winter 2009/2010 Another Successful Norwich Beer Festival!
West Norfolk Retrospective Norwich Beer Festival 2009 roundup Norfolk’s True Heritage Pubs part four Music and Beer
Mild Beer styles PLUS NEWS AND REVIEWS
Newsletter of the Norfolk Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:11 Page 2
Chris and Glynis invite you to the Tr af ford Arms 17th Valentine Beer Festival
8th to 14th February 2010 “To drink or not to drink” Raising money for the Hamlet Centre
61 Grove Road, Norwich 01603 628466 www.traffordarms.co.uk email: [email protected] NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:11 Page 3
NORFOLK NIPS | Chairman’s Bits What Recession? ell that’s what we Pubs will participate in the thing that's generally held up thought when we saw Scheme. as a “man's drink”. Maybe the amount of prettier glasses helped. Wcustomers at our Even at this time of the year recent Norwich Beer Festival. we are now asking for nomina - Going back to the recession I It seemed with all our trials tions for the Good Beer Guide know the difficulties our Pub and tribulations with the credit 2011 and all Pubs will be trade is facing and the increase crunch everybody wanted to considered. We of course need in VAT next month won’t help. have a good time. Martin your help with the Pub surveys We must support our Pubs and Ward comments later on the which we know you all enjoy rather than drinking at home outcome of the Beer Festival doing and is essential for the why not visit your local Pub but overall everybody seemed preparation of the Guide. instead otherwise we may lose to have enjoyed themselves. it forever. We certainly did and it was The Cask Ale Report has been very pleasing to see our regular released and is encouraging Finally on behalf of our and new customers. At the news for the Real Ale industry. Branch I would like to wish Beer Festival we launched our I was pleased to note that over you a Merry Christmas and a LocAle Scheme which encour - the last year the number of Happy New Year. ages Pubs to sell beers from women who drink Cask Ale Graham Freeman local Breweries. More details has more than doubled which Chairman Norwich follow and we hope our local is a staggering result for some - & Norfolk CAMRA
All the best from the West Got a
’d like to start by thanking an increase in the amount of short pint? Tim for everything he’s beer festivals, or is this just I’ve If you believe that you have done over the last 9 years, attended more ( 15 this year I been treated unfairly in a pub, I and look forward to his think ). The 2 breweries that club or bar, you should contact Norwich pub crawl on the closed have reopened, Bullbox the Trading Standards service 19th December. and Brancaster. by writing to them at Norfolk As the year comes to an end Yes a good year and I look Trading Standards Service, its time to reflect on what’s forward to the next one. County Hall, Martineau Lane, been a busy year in the west. May you all have a good Norwich, NR1 2UD or faxing Several brewery trips Christmas and get what you them on 01603 222999. including a very enjoyable want (bottles of real ale) or weekend at Belvoir brewery, even a barrel. And have a A wide range of consumer Old Dalby and the pub visits in Happy New Year spent with information and advice is also Melton Mowbray. good company, good ale, in a available online from the We’ve seen Membership good pub. Consumer Direct website at remain steady, attendance at All the best from the west. www.consumerdirect.gov.uk branch meetings double Phil Buffham (buff) ( although we would still like Chairman of West to see more of you), Real ale Norfolk CAMRA sales increase in our area and
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26 St Leonards Road A real gem, Norwich NR1 4BL 01603 618734 well worth a visit.
Eight real ales to choose from, two of Lovely enclosed beer garden with which change regularly. large sheltered smoking area.
Two pooltables upstairs. Only a ten minute walk from the train station and city centre. Pork pies and other light snacks available all day. Open all day from 12 noon everyday.
Hog roast available sundays. Sky Sports and ESPN
We would like to wish all Norfolk Nips readers a Happy Christmas and a prospeous new year.
GaytoTn Rohad, Beaw seSy, Kaings nLynnd PEb32 1EoP y Beer Garden and Play area Function room available
Monday Ample parking is available Karaoke Camping and Caravan pitches available Tuesday Country and Western club Wednesday Opening times : 11:00am till 11:00pm Every day Salsa dancing with Salsa Negra Thursday At the Sandboy we offer a choice of both Quiz and Curry Night traditional food and Thai food. We have an Friday extensive choice of food from Sandwiches, Pub Live Music Classics, Grill, Fish, and Curries. All our food is Saturday Party Night homemade using ingredients sourced locally where Sunday Carvery possible. Our Thai food is cooked by Somphit and Tel: 01553 630527 is also optionally available as a takeaway.
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NORFOLK NIPS | Chairman’s Bits continued
Norwich & Norfolk Branch Tim Spitzer; thanks Chairman: Graham Freeman Tel: 01603 687495 Email: [email protected] Secretary: Carolyn Jones for nine years Tel: 01603 865505 Email: [email protected] Social Secretary: Tim MacDonald branch and Tim has kept Tel. 01603 865505 Email: [email protected] things as smooth and well running as possible…he always West Norfolk Branch seems to plan the Annual Chairman: Phil Buffham Secretary: Ian Bailey Norwich Xmas Crawl at least Contact: Bruce Ward one year in advance so some Tel: 01485 609107 branch members have plenty of Branch websites: time to do a test run, then www.norwichcamra.org.uk another, and another and so on!! www.camra.org.uk/wnorfolk Branch mailing list web page: Tim has been to almost all groups.yahoo.com/group/ n behalf of the West meetings in his 9 year tenure at CAMRA_Norwich Norfolk Branch I would the top and has been a true Published every 3 months like to personally thank stalwart to the branch and by the Norwich, Norfolk & West Tim Spitzer for his last 9 CAMRA as a whole. Phil Buffam Norfolk branches of the Campaign O for Real Ale © N&N CAMRA 2009 years as Branch Chairman!! takes over duties as Branch Norfolk Nips is produced and Indeed he has been our longest Chair so we wish him well in distributed by members of the serving Chairman. He will take his next 10 years!! Finally well branch in their own time. a well earned break off the done Tim “bloody nice bloke” Edited by: committee for the time being Spitzer and why don’t we have Graham Freeman though no doubt he will be a pub crawl to celebrate?…oh & Warren Wordsworth Email: [email protected] back in the thick of things yes I think you’ve already sooner rather than later. 9 years planned one around Chris Lucas has seen a lot of changes in the Cambridge next Spring! Email: [email protected]
Views expressed in Norfolk Nips are not necessarily those Brewery tee’s on tour of the editor or of CAMRA Design & Production: hen that wonderlust over - Daniel Speed - Tamoko Design comes and you fly, drive, Email: [email protected] float, walk, cycle or swim to Distribution: Wfar off (or not so far-off) Norwich and Norfolk District : climes, take your favourite brewery Tony Miles [email protected] shirt with you and send us a snap or West Norfolk District : Ros Harre [email protected] two. Advertising: To start things off here’s a picture For advertising enquiries please of Graham Freeman posing like a contact Chris Shilling on: catalogue model in front of a popular Tel: 01778 421 550 Grecian landmark wearing his Humpty Mobile: 07736 635916 Email: [email protected] Dumpty Brewery t-shirt.
Please email your pictures to [email protected] WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 7 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:11 Page 8
Pub News | NORFOLK NIPS Pub News
The Reindeer on Dereham It has been reported that The Norfolk District Council’s Rural Road Norwich has lost its land - Oxford Stores in Little Wals - Pubs Scrutiny Task group see lord after being open for just ingham has recently closed. http://www.south- 18 days during October. Is this norfolk.gov.uk/pubs a record? It appears that The tenants of The Woods Elgoods are again looking for a End , Bramerton, famous for its new tenant. connection with Billy Bluelight, Brewery and Trade a local character who used to News The Woolpack Muspole challenge boat trippers to a Street Norwich has shut yet race along the riverbank from again. We do not know the Norwich to Great Yarmouth in reason as has The Plough St the 1920s and '30s, are to Reepham Brewery to Close Benedicts Street, Norwich. retire shortly. The owners, Reepham Brewery, one of Bucks based Wellington Pub Norfolk’s oldest surviving The Rosary is closed up for Company have allowed the breweries is about to close this lease sale. tenants to sell it on lease hold autumn. Ted Willems, the with an asking price of owner has been brewing on The Bridge House , on River - £55,000. this Reepham site since1983. side Norwich has now He along with Woodforde’s reopened. (Oct 2009) South Norfolk District Council was one of the only two has recently set up a Rural Pubs independent brewers that The Cottage on Silver Road, Scrutiny Task Group in existed in Norfolk in the early Norwich is due to be reopened response to the many pubs in 1980s when Watneys beers shortly having been purchased their area that are struggling. dominated the area. It was by Mauldons Brewery of As part of this initiative they breweries like this that helped Sudbury. introduced a ‘Pub of the Year’ see off “The Watneys Red competition. The six finalists Revolution” and subsequent Wroxham now has a new pub were: The King’s Head , closure of their King Street called The Wroxham Bistro Hethersett (Northern River Brewery in 1985 which paved and Brewery Tap Valleys), The Countryman , the way for the emergence of It has been described as “a Tasburgh (Tas Valley), The so many micro breweries that venue to showcase Real Ale Pelican , Tacolneston have opened during the last from Norfolk Breweries and (Wymondham and West), two decades giving Norfolk aims to have as broad a range Ferry House , Surlingham such a huge variety of beers of beers as possible available. (Eastern River Valleys) and The which we can enjoy today. There are 10 handpumps and a Cock Inn , Diss (Waveney The breweries brand names purpose built tap room too. Valley). such as ‘Velvet Stout’ and They have also started food etc ‘Rapier Pale Ale’ were much which will expand in time”. The eventual winner of ‘The sought after and popular real South Norfolk Communtity ales winning many awards As reported in last NIPS The Pub of the Year’ award was both locally and nationally. Steampacket in Norwich The Pelican at Tacolneston. He plans to develop his own reopened in September. (For Our congratulations go to engineering business and offer more details see October Friday Esher Maginn at The Pelican. advice to people running micro Five report). breweries. We wish Ted well in For more information on South his future ventures. 8 | WINTER 2009 / 2010 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:11 Page 9
NORFOLK NIPS | Pub News
Humpty Dumpty Brewery launches new beer. Humpty Dumpty Brewery launched their new beer, Swingbridge Stout, abv 4.1%, at this year’s Norwich Beer Festival. This beer is a complex mix of malts and roasted barley that they have been working on for about a year now. It’s relatively low gravity, but it punches above its weight in the flavour department. The beer was very well received by customers at Norwich Beer Festival. Blackfriars brewery visitors centre of a converted courtyard We also called in a couple of The Hop and Hog move in building once used for herring excellent pubs in Yarmouth. Wissey Valley Brewery packing. Now, the only fish The Red Herring has been The Hop and Hog in Downham present are the ones in the listed in the Good Beer Guide Market started life in April this pictures on the walls of the for many years and is as good year as a local produce Shop, shop and visitors centre and as ever, but it was my first visit selling cheeses, vegetables, and the ones we ate for lunch. to the Mariners Tavern and jewellery all from Norfolk. this is also a fine pub with In July they moved Wissey I cannot speak highly enough about six beers available. On Valley Brewery to premises at of the welcome we received at the way back west we called in the rear of the shop and also the brewery and the quality of at a couple of excellent pubs at took on neighbouring premises, the beer that we were Reedham. Both the Lord the front part of which is now encourage to sample. For me, Nelson and the Ship are by The Vegetable Shop . The back of the highlight was the chance the side of the river and you this is being kitted out as a to taste some Audit Ale straight can sit outside watching the premium ale shop. from the cask. At around 8%, boats sail past and the swing this barley wine style beer is bridge open and close. Next year they hope to attract rarely found these days, and We were lucky to have perfect CAMRA members for brewery then normally only in bottles. September weather, and tours and to sample the new This example is brewed to the I cannot remember a nicer range of ales from Iceni and old Lacons recipe, which was Sunday lunchtime. Wissey Valley Breweries. there framed in the brewery. Some readers may recall an Nearer home, we called into article I wrote about this style the Crown at Middleton to News from of beer in a recent edition of find that it was the first night the West Nips, and it was a privilege to for the new owner. It was actually try it. I wasn’t alone in pleasant and popular, with the thinking that it was wonderful promise of excellent food and Last month some of us – one of the visitors took away lots of interesting wine on ventured eastwards to Black - a 2-litre carry out! If you are in display. This does not always friars brewery in Great Yarmouth search out the shop, mean that the same care and Yarmouth. Originally founded which is open throughout the attention has been lavished on in 2004, the brewery now year, except on Sundays. the beer, but in this case I am operates from the ground floor
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M BREW WROXHA ERY TAP Newly launched ALE HOUSE and BEER SHOP Selling a MINIMUM of 50 Beers, ALL from NORFOLK BREWERIES!
Prices from £2.00 to £2.90 per pint
Open 11am – 11pm Mon – Sat (12 Noon – 10.30 pm Sunday)
Coming soon: Wroxham Brewery: own own beers brewed on site Attention all brewers!
If you would like to supply your beers through the Wroxham Brewery Tap please contact us for details: Tel 01603 781952 [email protected]
The Wroxham Brewery tap, Staitheway Rd, The Peninsula, Wroxham, Norfolk NR12 8TH
The City’s favourite local The Ribs A GENUINE FREE HOUSE 9 Cask Ales - 6 Lagers and Local Cider Global Bottled Beers - Award winning Wines Brand new look and hi tech cellar Riverside seating and smoking area Delicious home cooked lunches
Wensum Street, Norwich NR3 1HY Tel: 01603 619517 www.ribsofbeef.co.uk Wishing all our customers a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy 2010. Our thanks for your continued loyal support. Open Christmas Day.
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NORFOLK NIPS | Pub News continued delighted to report that the Wootton Road. No news or a quick return, but this time it Wherry was excellent. This even rumours about the future was much quieter with a good place has all the ingredients to of what should be a very mix of customers and 4 beers be really successful, and we successful pub. On a more on offer. We stayed much wish them all the best. positive note there was a plan - longer than we anticipated and ning application mentioned in would definitely call again. A few miles away, up on the the Lynn News looking to turn Also on the outskirts of Kings coast, the Ship at Brancaster the bed shop close to the south Lynn is the Sandboy at has been closed and has under - gates back into a pub. It was Bawsey. They expressed an gone refurbishment. I believe formerly O’Tools and before interest in receiving some Nips, that it is being run by the same that, the Prince of Wales, so it so we have been along a people as the Crown at East should have a good chance of couple of times. There is a large Rudham and the Kings Head at being accepted. Not sure dining area, but there is plenty Letheringsett. We tried to about the cryptic reference to of room if you just want a check it out in early November, lap dancers though. drink. Three beers were on but it was not yet open. From offer when we called, the food the outside it looks really good, Our trips round and about was good and not too expen - and I guess in concept it will be have taken us to a few of the sive and there seems to be a lot similar to the other pubs in the regions pubs – the beer in the going on, including regular group, with a modern look, Kings Head at Bircham was Salsa sessions. great food and, we hope, good exceptionally good when we beer. Let us know if you get called. From there we thought Maybe the next place to try is there before we do. that we would try the Orange the Red Cat at North Wootton. Tree at Thornham but it was Once a beer guide regular it Out at Terrington St John, the so popular we could not get seems to have drifted out of Woolpack seems to have into the car park. Several favour in recent years, but we settled down under new people have recommended the hear that it has been refurbished ownership. There were three place, so it is one for a repeat and that it could be heading beers on when we visited and visit. Instead we tried the back to its former glory. Let us the staff were friendly and White Horse at Holme Next know what you think. attentive. The food is still good To The Sea. It is off the main value and very tasty. It’s just off road and down in the village. Finally, pubs do great work for the main Lynn to Wisbech I reckon that a lot of people charities. One of our branch Road and worth the detour. drive along the coast road and members is involved with the are unaware of its existence. It Burma Star association and is In Lynn the Wenn’s Hotel is is the first time I have been in very grateful for all the places advertised as under new since it was closed for a while that allow him to put a management. I am getting a due to a fire and it was good to collecting box on the bar. bit old for the Friday night see that it still sold good beer, Some pubs go even further, circuit and so I have not (I think I had Adnams), and organising special fundraising ventured in myself. I was not that it is still a bit more like a events. There are too many to really convinced by the adverts village local compared to some give a full list, but lets hear it in the Lynn News, which prom - of the North Norfolk pubs. for the Cock at Magdalen who ised ‘Ales and Larger’. raised £500 for the ‘Help the Not such good news from the On the way home we Heroes’ appeal and for Cat And Fiddle at East thought we would try the Wimbotsham Chequers who Rudham which has been closed Black Horse at Castle Rising. raised a massive £8000 from for a while and we hear is Last time I was in there was a their Fenman Classic bike show unlikely to reopen. Also still very loud band and a young for a variety of local charities. closed is the New Inn on clientele which did not inspire Jeff Hoyle
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Pub Post Its | NORFOLK NIPS Pub Post-its As always, remember that these post-its are subjective and reflect the personal experience of our correspondents. Please feel free to email your post-its in to [email protected] - and if you really like the pub, why not nominate it for next year’s CAMRA Good Beer Guide?
Feathers, Wymondham - Full and friendly days! You can reach Drayton from Norwich by with lots of pumps and interesting wall bike along Marriott’s Way and it is well worth displays. Elgoods Tickler (£2.30) was excellent. the effort.
Queens Head , Wymondham - just had one Kings Head – Woodton In addition to their pump with London Pride on it, £3 a pint and OK. Greene King Beers this pub has recently had on There was live Premier football on the big screen. Grain Bitter, Buffy’s Blue (on gravity), and Humpty Dumpty Little Sharpie. A pub worth Cross Keys, Wymondham - had an impres - trying if you are in the area. sive eight pumps including Hopback Summer Lightning (£3) delicious. Mayden’s Head, Lynn has been closed for the last week or so. Apparently it has changed hands Windmill, Wymondham – This pub which again but nothing definite known. (Subsequent has recently reopened offers Wolf beers and Tim to the meeting the pub has been seen open). Taylor Landlord (£2.70). With its open log fire, a big fish tank, a Norfolk twister on the ceiling it First & Last, Ormesby - Now has four cask is particularly recommended. ales available, Adnams Broadside, Greene King IPA, and Speckled Hen plus a guest. Kings Head – Shipdham – complete with real fire has Taylor Landlord available. Wenns, Lynn under new management.
Golden Dog – Shipdham - has one real ale Live & Let Live, Lynn available - Wolf Werewolf and also has a real fire. 4 well kept real ales but let down by paintwork needing re-doing. Old Bell - Saham Toney – Has four real ales on with Greene King IPA and Adnams Bitter as Red Cat, North Wootton has reopened after regulars. Occasional guests include London Pride refurbishment. & Palmers Copper Ale. Excellent food available. Globe, Lynn current (Wetherspoon’s) beer The Cock – Drayton serves a range of festival including foreign beers. Ale & service good. Marston’s ales plus guest ales from Woodforde’s and recently they had on Wychwood Hobgoblin Lattice, Lynn same festival, beers & service which was superb. also good.
The Red Lion – Drayton sells a range of Stag, West Acre say they had the first ever Adnams Beers and Courage Directors. public cask of Beeston’s new mild, Squirrel’s Nuts. As the brewery hadn’t one yet, the pub The Bob Carter Leisure Centre – Drayton designed their own pump clip with a predictable usually serves four real ales, that include Green picture of a squirrel. We’ll see if Beeston go with this! King Abbot and IPA plus a local guest from Woodforde’s. They have recently had Humpty Red Lion, Hokwold , currently closed. Dumpty Little Sharpie on which sold out in two 12 | WINTER 2009 / 2010 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:11 Page 13
NORFOLK NIPS | Pub Post Its continued
Sandboy, Bawsey , 3 ales on. Were interested in local breweries. Apparently have already approached Fox.
Globe, Fair Green advertise GK IPA + an ever changing guest.
Rampant Horse, Gayton is apparently up for REAL ALE SHOP sale again. BLOFIELD Crown, Middleton , under new management, Visit the shop at keen on the beer even if he doesn’t drink it Blofield Leisure Centre, 58 Yarmouth Road, himself. It seems he was previously chef at Blofield, Norfolk, NR13 4LQ Fishes, Burnham Market. Or Visit our brewery shop at Dolphin, Thetford doing well, ‘no IPA or Wherry’. 7 Estcourt Road, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR30 4JQ Black Horse, Thetford doing well enough to need more stillage, his 4 pumps are selling too quickly!
Thetford Legion is expecting 4 casks of Adnams Tally Ho by Christmas. Tel: 01493 854484 email: [email protected] Chequers Feltwell is currently closed no infor - www.norfolksquarebrewery.co.uk mation on re-opening has been forthcoming.
The Stag at West Acre had the pleasure recently of being the first pub where Beeston Brewery's new beer, Squirrels Nuts became available.
In response to the piece on The Fat Cat in the autumn edition:
Dear Sir/Madam, I read with interest the pub post its in the Norfolk nips (Autumn 2009). Whilst I accept that one can only judge a pub on the day of the visit I did find the comments on the Fat Cat disgraceful. To say that the pork pie was the highlight of the evening in a pub which Six Real Ales regularly has well over 30 ales on, and more Live Music Every Thursday punters on a wet Tuesday evening than most Lounge & Garden pubs have on a Friday, indicates that the contrib - Seasonal menu utor must exist in an abyss of ignorance, or (formerley the St Andrews Tavern) jealousy! I drink session ales at 3.8% or less and 4 St Andrews Street, Norwich, NR2 4AF there is almost without fail a choice of 5 or 01603 614858 more, most so called ale pubs would be pushed to have 5 ales of any description. Open Midday to Midnight 7 Days A Week Steve Foyster Serving Food until 9pm Monday to Friday
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2nd ALL NORFOLK
3rd and 4th APRIL 2010 OVER 30 NORFOLK ALES & CIDERS AT LAKENHAM-HEWETT RFC - ADMISSION £2.50 OPENING TIMES Saturday 1200 ‘til 2300 Sunday 1200 ‘til 2100
The New Clubhouse BBQ-HOG ROAST Norwich Road LIVE MUSIC Swardeston CAMPING AVAILABLE Norwich NR14 8DU
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NORFOLK NIPS | Words from the West Norfolk Editor October First Friday
large number of beer toilets and there will soon be a In summary, an enjoyable enthusiasts assembled at restaurant operating upstairs. crawl via some varied and The Queen of Iceni on Apart from ourselves workers interesting establishments, but ARiverside to begin this from the nearby television Norfolk beer (Wherry) was month’s exploration of city studio (including an instantly found in only two of the fine hostelries. This large purpose- recognisable sports presenter) pubs, a situation that I am sure built Wetherspoon’s Lloyds No were enjoying the atmosphere local CAMRA members would 1 did not disappoint with a at the bar. like to see rectified in future. keenly priced array of familiar Mont and guest beers on the counter A short walk along the top and all in tip top condition. end of King Street took us to A visit from Wetherspoon’s real ale pricing Kings , (previously Nags Head, policy and close relationship to Tuskers) where the handpumps Wetherspoons CAMRA is well known and with were Adnams (£2.75) and Spit - It was very nice to see the fire (£3.00). A convivial Friday evening’s revellers management team from “The pouring in this made the venue atmosphere had some of us Lattice House” in King’s Lynn turn a fine place to start drinking. involved in conversation with a up at our recent branch meeting. local drinker. They expressed their keeness to Time to move on now, to the address any issues which might Wild Man on Bedford Street, stand in the way of future inclu - one of the few pubs that Tolly sion in the Good Beer Guide . They are taking steps to ensure prob - Cobbold used to own, but now lems encountered in the past with offering other Suffolk beers and for instance speed of service and Wherry. The Abbot (2.90) was beer quality are corrected. excellent, the Wherry Steampacket, Crown Rd according to reports hazy but They also intend to get increas - drinkable. The pub was full of ingly involved in the local The route to the next pub, young people enjoying a Friday community. the newly reopened Steam - night out in the city, and it had We welcomed them and are a very friendly feel to it. packet on Crown Road was very encouraged by their news. across the new Lady Julian Nice to know talking to other footbridge which links Riverside Our final call was to the bar of folk in the pub business as well with King Street and there Cinema City . The beautiful that they do want to know why were fine views along the river mediaeval Suckling Hall and its they do or don’t get into the GBG . on this balmy night. The enclosed flint courtyard are a Steampacket has been refur - wonderful setting to quaff real One publican told me he felt that one failing in the process was bished but still retains an ale. The one beer on offer, that branches very seldom explain from another Suffolk brewer, intimate feel to it and a friendly to publicans who falter, what they welcome was received. Three St Peters is named after the need to do to rectify the situation. hand pumps on the bar builder of the hall Sir Robert Is there a need for some form of (Wherry, Adnams and London Suckling. Some of our party scorecard which the publicans Pride at £2.60) dispensed were lucky to taste the beer (at could ask to see? excellent quality ale. The bar £3.30 a pint) before it ran out, This is a difficult question. area has been expanded others went elsewhere (or What do you think? slightly, the back room is now home to bed!) WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 15 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:11 Page 16
Norfolk CAMRA Branch Calendar | NORFOLK NIPS Norwich CAMRA Branch calendar 15 December - Branch Meeting. The Railway, 5 Feb First Friday 5 Compleat Angler (8pm) North Elmham. 8pm. Coach, Normal pickup then Red Lion (Bishopgate), Bridge House, Ketts times and route. Tavern, Cottage (Silver Road).
19 December – Our traditional Christmas 16 Feb Branch Meeting which will include Crawl of 10 Norwich pubs. 5.00pm Rose (235 voting for GBG 2011. (Please bring membership Queens Road) 5.30 Freemasons Arms 6.00 Kings card if you intend to vote). York Tavern, Norwich Arms 6.45 Horse & Dray 7.30 Queen of Iceni (Lloyds No 1, Riverside) 8.15 Coach & Horses 26 Feb campaigning Coach Trip (destination to (Thorpe Road) 8.45 Rosary Tavern 9.15 Jubilee be arranged) 9.45 Red Lion (Bishopgate) 10.15 Ketts Tavern. 16 March Branch AGM. Only Card carrying 20 December – West Norfolk Christmas Crawl members admitted. Venue Take 5. 8pm. in Norwich. A chance for members from both branches to meet up and socialise. - 1100 Whalebone - 1200 Duke Of Wellington -1245 Coach pick-ups: 6.47pm junc. Southwell Cider Shed -1330 Heath House -1415 Road/Grove Road; 6.55pm junc, Old Palace Cottage -1500 Ketts Tavern - 1545 Road/West End Street; 7.10pm Heartsease Adam & Eve -1630 Wig & Pen -1730 Roundabout, (Harvey Lane side); 7.15pm Ribs Of Beef -1815 The Vine - 1900 Norwich Railway Station, (Thorpe Road bus Belgian Monk - 1945 Queen Of Iceni. stops). Please contact Social Secretary Tim MacDonald E-mail socialsecretary@norwich - 8 Jan 2010 First Friday 5 - Fat Cat (West End camra.org.uk or 01603 865505 in advance if Street) (8pm) then West End Retreat, Black you wish to board the coach on any part of the Horse, Mitre, Garden House. above route.
19 Jan Branch Meeting Lord Nelson, Reedham. For updates on the social calendar check 8pm, Coach normal pick up times and route. www.norwichcamra.org.uk with the full branch events calendar. You do not have to be a 21 Jan “Beers of the Festival” awards. Cottage, member to come on the Branch meetings, Silver Road 8pm. coach trips or the First Friday Five. If not a 29 Jan Campaigning Coach Trip. (destination to member why not attend any of these and if you be arranged) enjoy them then perhaps you may wish to join!
West Norfolk CAMRA Branch calendar
8th December , White Hart, 9th February , Lattice Proposed visit to Masham, Foulden House, Lynn Theakstons & Black Sheep Breweries 19th December , Norwich 9th March , Black Horse, March 26-27-28th 2010 tour starts 11am, The Whale - Thetford (01842 827600) bone
16 | WINTER 2009 / 2010 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:11 Page 17 The Kings Head North Lopham (Near Diss) 400 year old thatched country pub
Real Ales at sensible prices: Woodfordes Wherry & Adnams Bitter plus a rotating guest beer (4% ABV and above) PLUS Aspalls Cyder and a draught keg Mild Home made food, freshly prepared with a selection of Vegetarian and gluten free meals (Served Wednesday to Saturday 12 - 2.30pm & 6pm - 8.30pm and Sunday Lunch 12 noon - 3pm)
Opening Times: Monday 5-11pm Tuesday / Wednesday 11.30am - 3pm and 5pm - 11pm Bee r Ga re Thursday / Friday 11.30am - 3pm and 5pm - 12midnight am rden Fii ple P & all Park Re Saturday 11.30am - 12 midnight ing Sunday 12noon - 10:30pm The Kings Head, 16 The Street, North Lopham, Diss , Norfolk IP22 2NE Tel: 01379 688007
COAST ROAD, WALCOTT, NORFOLK NR12 OPE
Telephone (01692) 650371
FREE HOUSE Proprietor since 1989: STEVE BULLIMORE OPEN FOR FOOD & DRINKS ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, 11am - 11pm Food available all day until 10.30pm 10% off food and drink on production of CAMRA membership card FOUR REAL ALES & CIDER www.lighthouseinn.co.uk
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Norfolk’s True Heritage Pubs 4 | NORFOLK NIPS Woodside, Thorpe St Andrew 9 0 0 2
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The public bar of the Woodside, Thorpe St Andrew, which has hardly changed since it was built in 1956. n my second article in added. The Woodside was built Norfolk Nips I advise readers in 1956 in inter-war style by that the Red Lion, Kenning - Bullards Brewery and it is very ihall, was recently added to little changed, still with its the Part Two of CAMRA’s Crittal windows - it is an amazingly National Inventory of Historic rare survivor. It still retains its Pub Interiors for its rare snug. original plan-form of a lounge, In this issue I am delighted to public bar, smoke-room and advise readers that another off-sales (no longer in use). Norfolk pub has been added to the national list, this time to The room in regular use is the Part One – it is the Woodside, lounge on the right with a Thorpe St Andrew on the east curved original counter which edge of Norwich. Normally, a retains its original Formica top The distinctive 1950s entrance pub needs to be wholly or but, like the walls, has a new to the off sales of the Wood - largely intact since before 1939 frontage of wooden panels side, Thorpe St Andrew. to be included, but pubs built over the original ply ones. This between 1939 and 30 years bar also retains its original The spartan public bar is in the ago and essentially intact since mirrored back fitting with glass middle with a '3' on one of its construction can also be shelves and two lower drawers. two inner doors, original
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NORFOLK NIPS |
counter on a tiled plinth with a evenings. This room has a button leatherette frontage parquet floor, original counter and a black Formica top. The with a panelled front and bar back is of classic late Formica top, bar back with till 50s/early 60s style, as is the drawers and one section of fireplace and there are two fixed seating looks original. sections of corner seating. The Note that most of the doorways public bar tends to only be have two rows of translucent open currently when some glass blocks around them. If customers find the lounge is you want to inspect the rooms getting too noisy and also for on a visit to the pub just ask the meetings of a Reptile Club and the bar staff will show you on 1st Tue of the month. The them. The Woodside is situated far left front door is not at 148 Plumstead Road East, currently in use but leads to an Thorpe St Andrew NR7 9NG. intact separate tiny off-sales The real ale on sale is Greene room with its counter, and also King IPA, but this tends to only The Smoke Room bar fittings at the former pool room which is be during the racing pigeon the Woodside, Thorpe St Andrew currently only used by season. No food. Open from –the style being typical of the members of the local pigeon 11 to 11 (10.30 Sun). Tele - late 1950s. club who meet on Fri. and Sat phone 01603 708918. Kings Arms, Blakeney
his issue has a 1950s left has a red quarry tiled floor, bricks, but the dado panelling theme as I now feature a 1950s style lapped wood is much older as could be the the Kings Arms, Blakeney, counter with a new top, and two long benches. t which is little changed bar back shelving including since it was re-fitted following a ones with 1950s red Formica To the right the lounge bar flood in 1953. Originally three on them. The large brick fire - has more old dado panelling fisherman's cottages, it was place could have some 1950s on the wall, another lapped built in 1760 (note the ‘FH + changes as it contains both 1760’ tiled into the mellow red hand made and machine-made Continued Overleaf Norfolk pantiled roof of the building – the initials ‘FH’ is thought to relate to the builder who fitted it and not ‘Free House’, a modern term). The pub consists of 4 small rooms - the original layout looks like it could have been two rooms with an off-sales hatch situated opposite the front door. Note the plaque on the wall recording the flood level in 1953 - the bar fittings are those installed following the 1953 flood. The public bar on the
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Queen’s Head and Waveney Brewing Company Traditional Village Pub with a brewery producing permanent and seasonal ales on site Large beer garden, traditional games, lunchtime menu and a good selection of real ale, spirits and soft drinks
Listed in the Good Beer Guide every year since 2000.
Station Road, Earsham, Norfolk Tel: (01986) 892623
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NORFOLK NIPS | Heritage Pubs continued
The quarry tiled public bar at the Kings Arms, Blakeney, barely changed since it was refitted in 1953 following a flood. wood counter with a new top, set off from Morston Quay. See more bar back shelves with red the Kings Arms website Formica on some and the old www.blakeneykingsarms.co.uk till drawer. The room has been for more details. combined with another small room to the far right which has The Kings Arms, which has a 1950s brick fireplace. In the been run by the Davies family far corner is the disused phone since 1976, is situated at West - booth which has been listed as gate Street NR25 7NQ close to the smallest art gallery in a pub Blakeney Quay and is open in Britain! Two further small from 11 to 11. Five real ales are rooms to the far left were available - Adnams Best Bitter, brought into pub use in the Marstons Pedigree and Old 1980s. A further ‘Garden Speckled Hen on handpumps; The public bar counter at the Room’ has been added in also Woodfordes Wherry or Kings Arms, Blakeney – a Wood - recent years. It is heartening to Nelsons Revenge and either fordes and an Adnams beer is find a pub in the popular North Adnams Broadside or Explorer always sold direct from the cask. Norfolk coast area that has from casks on the bar. Freshly resisted changes and I can prepared meals are available If you require photographs of thoroughly recommend this from 12 to 2 and 6 to 9; also your pub interior / exterior unspoilt gem. Why not bar meals can be ordered from you can contact Mick on combine a visit with one of the 12 noon to 9.30pm. Accom - 01733 390598 daily (early February / April to modation is available in 7 or email the beginning of November) en-suite rooms. Telephone [email protected] seal-watching trips to the far 01263 740341. to discuss your requirements. end of Blakeney Point which WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 21 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:12 Page 22
Correspondence | NORFOLK NIPS Can our pubs be saved? few months ago I was in a manager organises live music. barkeeper sits on a stool, busy pub in Norwich enjoying with reading the news paper or the music of Lander - In the Netherlands I'm used making a crossword puzzle. Amason. This is quite a to have my beer brought to my With a big sigh the drinks or nice band, so it was not table, often combined with a snacks are sold. Instead of a surprising that it was a bit little bowl of nuts. Sometimes little chat I have heard remarks crowded. The beautiful the barkeeper asks me when like: “I don't know if you are weather helped to make the I enter the bar if I would like worthy to drink my beer”, “Oh public thirsty. When a member the “usual”. Even on the ferry no, not you again!” and “You of the staff of the pub came to between Hook of Holland and are too ugly to drink my beer”. collect the empty glasses from Harwich the waiter walks to my Is this the way to make the our table I asked her if she table when my glass is empty client feel at home and make could bring us full ones in and asks if it needs to be him want to come back? return. She looked at me like refilled. And the barkeeper I had made a very indecent always will make a little chat if Everywhere in the world there proposal. Immediately I he has the time for this. is music or a television to apologised and went to the bar Normally paying is done when watch for guests who don't myself to get new beers for I want to leave, not after have someone to talk to. myself and the other people at receiving every single beer. DVD's are shown sometimes, the table. It shows I'm being trusted. people watch important sport This is all meant to give the matches together. In my I had to think about this feeling of being welcome, that opinion the pub should when I read an article about I feel at home. For this special compete with the living room the amount of pubs that are treatment I'm willing to give a at home. As long as this is not closing down nowadays. A lot tip to the staff. happening there will be an of people blame the govern - increase of pubs closing down. ment for this. It should be On all my travels in Europe A customer who gets up from caused by the high taxes. and the USA I experienced that his chair has a choice: to walk I think this is a bit easy to say. service is a normal thing. But to the bar or to walk out of the In my country the taxes are not in the UK. In Poland I once door. It's up to the staff of the higher and yet less bars have to was in a student bar: they had pub to take that choice away. close definitely. no table service. Yet even here The barkeeper should be a they gave more service than in host. I think pub owners should the UK: when giving a large have a closer look at what their order you get a tray to carry Seeing pubs get closed is business is about. I don't think the glasses to your table. In the such a pity! Most pubs are this is selling beer but serving UK barkeepers are not bothered really a wonderful sight, there beer. The consumers can easily to see you walk to and from the are excellent beers available buy good beer in supermarkets bar a couple of times to get the and I think that by only giving or in off-licences. At home glasses on your table. a little extra effort they can be they drink it whilst entertaining a great place to be! company or watching sports The average barkeeper in the Albert van der Steeg on television or such. In pubs UK stands on a sort of platform there is in most cases nothing behind the bar and looks down extra coming with their drink, literally on the visitors of the except when the owner/ pub. I have witnessed that the
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A11. The A11 crossed the Yare mild or bitter. The only food Return to by a narrow bridge which available was crisps although I frequently held up traffic. think a sandwich may have Norwich been available on request. s I was in Norwich The Red Lion is a very old pub recently, I had the chance dating back to the late 17th And, ah yes, the toilets! after 30 years to revisit century. Eaton village once Outside in the yard was a Ayour splendid Beer boasted no less than six pubs walled open air urinal. It Festival. As one of the small but by the 1960s there were consisted of a wall and drain group of co-founders and just two remaining. The Red and there was a smell. organizers of the first ever Beer Lion and The Cellar House. Festival in Norwich in the late These two pubs served the By 1969 the old Red Lion was seventies, I was interested to village population. However, a no more. Watneys had taken see what had become of our growing population of home over bringing in their bland great plans and hopes at the owners in the area was to keg beer. The interior was time, as I moved shortly after - precipitate many changes. But modernised and consisted of a wards to Germany , where I in 1966 much of the old single large room and one have lived ever since. It was remained. small bar. The floor was really great and I congratulate covered by an industrialised you all on your enormous The Red Lion had three type carpet and gone was the success. I know how very many unequal sized rooms. There old wooden furniture to be people are involved, all giving was a traditional bar at one end replaced with ‘modern’ style unstintingly of their time and and next the “Saloon” and tables and chairs. An indoor energy but it was really worth then a small “Off Licence”. The hygienic toilet completed the it. Thanks for a wonderful bar had a stone floor, sprinkled refurbishment. I think I was just experience and keep up the with sawdust, some benches in time to witness the end of good work – Germany has, and some wooden tables and one era and the beginning of unfortunately, no real equiva - chairs. There was a much used another. lent, so you can imagine the dartboard and games of domi - Norman Wordsworth pleasure as I downed my first noes were often played. “The pint of real ale after so long. Saloon” was a different world. Do any of our readers have Geoff Cheeseman It was more like a smart hotel memories of pubs from lounge covered with a thick yesteryear? If so we would like pile carpet and with comfort - to hear from you. – Ed. able settees, arm chairs and small round tables. In winter The Old (or not the large ornamental fireplace was lit with a roaring log fire. so old) Days At the far end of the building was the “off licence”, a very came to live in Norwich with small room where locals could my wife and son in 1966. buy beer to take home. Some - Our new home was in Eaton times one might see a woman ion the newly created Green - accompanying a man in the ways Estate. At that time there lounge. Very occasionally two were rolling fields that are now women might enter alone. The covered with houses. only women seen in the bar were young students. My local was The Red Lion situated on what was then The pub was then a Steward (before the construction of The & Patteson house and as I Cringleford Bye Pass) the main recall there was just a choice of WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 23 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:12 Page 24
Fantastic Four go to Somerset | NORFOLK NIPS Smashing Spring in Somerset
No tourists in here just friendly locals. Midweek we drove high up in the Mendip Hill's and found another of our finds in the Hunter's Lodge at Priddy. The pebble dashed exterior did not bode well but as we entered we came across a pub which seemingly had not changed for 100 years. Beer straight from the cask once more and the amazing price of just £3.50 for a bowl of faggot and peas!!
Average prices for Somerset he group of 4 (Big Nige, the pubs! Our first find was the were well down compared to Big Kev, Stew and Sharon) Barton Inn at Barton St David. Norfolk at about £2.50 a pint returned to Somerset this We were not sure at first as we and Local Cider was much tpast Spring to see if we could hear loud punters and cheaper at about £2.00. the could relive another week of the Pub Sign was upside cider was also very good. We sun, sand and fabulous Real Ale down!! In we went and what visited Wilkins Cider Farm near and...erm Cider!! We got to our we encountered was a truly Wedmore, and sampled some cottage in the middle of eccentric village local with beer delightful blends of dry and nowhere but too far south of served straight from the barrel! sweet varieties. Stew bought a Glastonbury in good time to do shopping for the week and have a pint down the local Castlebrook Arms in Compton Dundon...what a surprise to find a genuine local with Sharps Doom Bar and Otter bitter...both very drinkable!!
The week started rather wet but got sunnier and warmer as the days went by and so did 24 | WINTER 2009 / 2010 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:12 Page 25
NORFOLK NIPS | Fantastic Four go to Somerset
gallon to take away for a mere we raved about last time was brook Arms was not in the 72 pence a pint!! in general in the Halfway House in guide but was excellent all the Somerset the food prices were Pitney..this time it was a little same as was the Anchor in reasonable and the style much disappointing with the beer Seatown. Oh and on the way less of the pretentious “gastro” not and food not such good back we visited another classic type found so predominantly in quality...hopefully this is a mere Oxfordshire pub - Peyton Arms East Anglia nowadays, and the blip and we will return one day at Stoke Lyne. it would have quality was excellent nearly to find it back to its best. After been rude not to visit and it everywhere. a bracing walk on Brean Down was truly a great end to a great we headed for the Queens week in the west country. Back to the pubs and another Arms at Bleadon....Another classic pub revisited from last find! Absolutely well recom- Nigel Nudds time was Eli’s (Rose & Crown) mended for super atmosphere, at Huish Episcopi. I had just good wholesome food and reopened after extensive superb beer (Butcombe gold West Norfolk Subscription flooding earlier in the year. The and Bath Golden Hare on To receive the next four issues pub is unusual as there is no when visited). of Norfolk Nips and Cask bar making it more as if you Force, send ten 1st class are walking into someone's There were plenty more pubs stamps to Norfolk Nips, house. There are multiple we visited not only in the Good 91 Tennyson Road rooms for nothing but good Beer Guide but ones we visited Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5NG basic chat. Another pub which on the off-chance - The Castle-
The Real Ale Shop Branthill Farm, Wells-next-the-Sea, NORFOLK NR23 1SB ON THE B1105 FAKENHAM- WELLS RD Over 50 bottle conditioned real ales from 15 Norfolk Now selling bottle conditioned beers from brewers who all use The Real Ale Shop in Wells Next The Sea Branthill Farms tel 01328 710810 famous malted barley. Contact us below for trade sales: 01603 279927 TEL: 0 1328 71 0810 [email protected] 3 Pollard Rd, Hainford, www.therealaleshop.co.uk Norwich NR10 3BE
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Packed full of Norfolk’s Finest
Real Ales Brewed and bottled on the premises, Local Cheeses, Chutneys, Glazed Hams, and Local Crafts. Sunday Lunches • Brewery Tours • Beer Festivals • Folk Nights If you like Beer and Food - we’re the place to try The Hop and Hog, No 1 The High Street, Downham Market, Norfolk PE38 9DA 01366 386658 [email protected]
THE VEGETABLE SHOP 1d HIGH STREET DOWNHAM MARKET
Come to the ONLY shop in Downham dedicated to providing REAL ORGANIC FRUIT & VEGETABLES plus a range of Organic Wholefoods,Bread and Eggs.
It’s a UNIQUE EXPERIENCE! Shop: 01366 385523 Mobile: 07967 346551
Ring Ian for details of our forthcoming Vegetarian Feast Nights with music, ciders and beer made with local organic barley! THE ICENI BREWERY For ALL your homebrew needs buy DIRECT from the ICENI BREWERY At 3 Foulden Rd, Ickburgh, Thetford IP26 5HB Tel 01842 878922/ 07949 488113 Or email [email protected] for details NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:12 Page 27
NORFOLK NIPS | LocAle in Norfolk
his year’s Beer Festival saw join this scheme and those uk/locale/locale1.htm Norwich & Norfolk opting to join are being issued CAMRA launch their with the necessary publicity Licensees who wish to join or tLocAle scheme. material that include guidance require more information notes, stickers to display in about the LocAle scheme What is LocAle? their windows and ‘Pump clip please contact: Warren The LocAle scheme is a new Crowners’ which are small Wordsworth, Pubs Officer, initiative that was created by cardboard stickers that land - Norwich & Norfolk Branch. the Nottingham Branch in lords attach to their pump clips 2007 who wanted to support advertising that beer dispensed E-Mail: their remaining brewers through these pumps is [email protected] following the buy out and brewed locally and can be .uk or by post – 16 Grove subsequent closure of Hardy & considered as LocAle. Avenue, Norwich NR1 2QD. Hansons by Greene King. They Warren Wordsworth were quickly followed by York So far the following pubs and Isle of Wight branches. It have signed up to LocAle: West Norfolk CAMRA XMAS Pub Crawl 2009 - Norwich was taken over by CAMRA HQ Saturday 19th December) who has adopted the idea as a Aldborough - Black Boys. National initiative and many Clippesby Hall - Muskett Arms It’s that time of year again, branches have subsequently Cromer - The Cottage. here’s the full schedule. implemented this scheme. Earsham - Queens Head. All welcome, join in at any Filby - Kings Head. point. Food arrangements up Definition of LocAle. Gorleston - Dock Tavern. to the individual. LocAle as defined by Norwich Gt Yarmouth - Red Herring, & Norfolk CAMRA is for a pub St Johns Head. 1100 Whalebone (Magdalen to always stock at least one real Hopton - White Hart. Rd) ale (as defined by CAMRA) Kenninghall - Red Lion. 1200 Duke Of Wellington brewed at a brewery that is no Lyng - Fox & Hounds. (Waterloo Rd) more than 30 miles from door North Elmham - Railway. 1245 Cider Shed (Lawson Rd) to door. North Walsham - Orchard 1330 Heath House (Gertrude Rd) Gardens. 1415 Cottage (Silver Rd) By introducing this scheme Norwich - 1500 Ketts Tavern (Ketts Hill) we will be encouraging pubs to Gardeners/Murderers, Jubilee, 1545 Adam & Eve (Bishopgate) sell local beers which will Ketts Tavern, Kings Head, Rose, 1630 Wig & Pen (Palace Plain) reduce the "beer miles" thus Take 5, Trafford Arms, Vine. 1730 Ribs Of Beef (Wensum St) benefiting the environment. It Reedham - Ferry. 1815 The Vine (Dove St) ensures more variety and diver - Sheringham - Windham Arms. 1900 Belgian Monk (Pottergate) sity to the consumer, and Swardeston - 1945 Queen Of Iceni (Riverside) hence better sales for the pub. Lakenham/Hewitt Rugby Club. Contact; Tim Spitzer The scheme helps sustain the Wroxham - Brewery Tap. (07950)823270. local micro brewers and bene - fits the local economy. For Further information see our Branch Website: Local licensees are invited to http://www.norwichcamra.org.
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6 St Martins Palace Plain, 01603 625891 Norwich NR3 1RN www.thewigandpen.com
This warm and friendly 17th century Freehouse is to the north side of Norwich cathedral. Owned by Craig & Lynne McLaren since 1993. ‘The Wig’ as its affectionately known, has built a reputation for fresh, fast, affordable British cuisine. • Good Alle • Good Food • Heatted smokiing area Sky & ESPN Sportts TV • Latte Niightt Openiing • Reall Fiire
Look out for our Cask For the 13th successive Marque Plaque. year, the Wig & Pen has This guarantees beer quality been included in in the Wig & Pen and the CAMRA’s Good Beer opportunity to Guide . We are very proud TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. of this achievement.
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The Railway Freehouse Station Rd, North Elmham The Mermaid Inn 01362 668300 Church Street, Elsing Dereham,NR20 3EA Tel: 01362637640 Email: [email protected] In the current Good Beer Guide, CAMRA members and Great Pub Food Menu supporters of local microbrewers Try our famous Steak and Kidney Roly Poly with thick beer gravy. We cook our own Ham in real ale, we can't cook it quick enough! REAL ALES • REAL FOOD REAL PUB INFLATION BUSTER MON - FRI ONLY £4.95! Colin & Julie Smith FFrreeeehhoouussee,, RReeaall AAlleess,, RReeaall FFoooodd,, look forward to RReeaall WWeellccoommee!! seeing you! Look us up in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2010 or the CAMRA Good Pub Food Guide. We have internet café facilities!
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Westgate Street, Blakeney, Norfolk NR25 7NQ Tel: 01263 740341
Situated in beautiful Blakeney Recommended by most Good Pub and Food Guides Food Served all Day Lovely en-suite accommodation. Children & Pets Welcome Car Parking • Beer Garden • Dogs welcome OPEN ALL DAY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR www.blakeneykingsarms.co.uk
Pig n Falcon - St Neots ALES TO DATE LIVE MUSIC 198 WED, FRI + SAT FROM 9/4/09
Minimum of NEW SIX CHRISTMAS large heated ALES smoking area on at all times during the festive period! ‘Rock and Ale’ every weekend with up to 16 Ales & ciders from £2 per pint Open 10am (11am Sunday) til’ late Monday -Sunday! www.PignFalcon.co.uk Tel 07951 785678 – New St, St Neots – PE19 1AE
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NORFOLK NIPS | Norwich Beer Festival 32nd Norwich Beer Festival & Beyond
tions during the week, the East Planning for next year's Anglian Cider competition and festival has already started, two categories in the Cham - which leads me nicely into the pion Beer of East Anglia. logo competition. The logo used for the festival is one of I would like thank all my our major marketing points volunteer staff who did a and is the symbol of the tremendous job of keeping our festival, it appears on t-shirts, customers supplied with quality glasses, posters et al. You don't ales and cider, supervised their have to be graphical maestro meanderings around the halls, to enter the competition, all we without them their wouldn't be ask is a design featuring a a Norwich Beer festival. dragon in 4/5 colours and we will do the rest.
The competition is open to ith the dust now everybody and entries should settled on the be sent, either as artwork or a Beer Festival, we computer readable file (most Wcan look back formats accepted, jpeg, tiff, and congratulate pdf, postscript etc, no word ourselves on another docs please!!!). Please send fabulous festival. entries to Beer Festival Logo competition, 8 Pond Road, It was our busiest festival to I would also like to thank, the Horsford, Norfolk NR10 3SW or date, with over 19,000 visitors Hall’s staff who do such a see the branch web site for throughout the week, drinking fantastic job in putting up with further details on submitting well over 60,000 pints of beer, us year after year, the brewers via e-mail. 6,000 pint of cider and and wholesalers who supplied numerous bottles. us with the beer and cider, and Two final things, a big big of course you readers of this thank you to the Branch We recruited our 2,000th esteemed publication who committee for their help during member at the festival, came along and supported us the planning stages and the launched the Branch's Locale in October. dates for next year's festival, scheme, played host to many they are October 25th-30th of the counties brewers and Of course we can't get every - 2010. publicans, raised a few pounds thing right, so if you have any for NARS (Norfolk Accident comments (hopefully positive) p.s Yes, we are still at St Rescue Service) and hopefully about the festival, please get in Andrew's and Blackfriars Halls. had good time. touch, either via NIPS or you will find my contact details on Martin Ward We also held two competi - the branch web site. Festival Organiser
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Mild Beers | NORFOLK NIPS Mild Beers at Norwich Beer Festival
orwich Beer Festival has beer, but it’s nice and clean of three flavours - caramel, always been noted for a and drinks well.” grain, and fruit. Brains certainly wide variety of darker had the caramel and fruit, but Nbeers. Usually I head for Next up was Mill Green it didn’t have much on the the strong stuff - the old ales, Mawkin, 2.9%, from Suffolk. grainy side. stouts and barley wines - but This had a grainy aroma, and this year I joined Des O'Brien of quite a grainy taste, but a thin The next in line, Gravediggers the beer festival's ordering mouthfeel and rather a hoppy Ale from the Church End committee - and a keen mild finish. It was sour, rather than Brewery in Warwickshire, was a drinker - to see what we had in dry - Des called it “almost complete contrast with its very the way of milds. lactic”. We agreed we'd move roasty aroma and flavours; so on rather quickly to the next. much grain it practically tasted ‘Mild’ is often interpreted to of the malting floor. With mean a dark beer around 3.5% Holdens Dark Mild is brewed chocolate and candy tastes, it ABV - but it doesn’t have to be in Dudley, West Midlands, a had a nice clean, sweet finish. light in alcohol (Sarah Hughes traditional home of the mild “A lot of flavour for 3.8%,” Des certainly isn’t, weighing in at style. Lots of toffee apples and said. 6 %!) and it doesn’t actually brown sugar in this mild, with have to be dark, either, though some good nutty flavours and We went on to one of the most examples of the style are. not much at all in the way of stronger milds, Banks & The one indispensable element hops. “Not complex but Taylor’s Black Dragon Mild at of the style is that it must be clean”, Des commented, “but I 4.3%. This was very, very lightly hopped - so it's not bitter. think it could grow on you.” roasty and grainy indeed, but (Later on in the festival, I went to the extent that Des and I In my mind, that makes it a back and had a pint - very both found it unbalanced, with great drink for those who say refreshing and tasty at 3.7%.) its very dry aftertaste - Des they ‘don’t like beer’ - often, commented “It’s a one-trick just drinkers who have been Holt’s Mild comes from pony”. When we dropped right put off traditional English Manchester and is what Des down in gravity to Bateman’s bitters by the higher amount of calls “a 1940s style mild” - a bit Mild at 3%, we were rewarded bittering hops used. thin, fairly heavily hopped for by a much more balanced and the style, with candy aromas but satisfying ale - candy aromas, Magg’s Magnificent Mild, not much residual sugar in the chocolate and grain flavours, from West Berkshire Brewery, taste. We found that while it was sweet, and with a powerfully has a name that makes big a pleasant enough drink at dry finish. “Mr Bateman gets it claims. Would it live up to its 3.2%, but it didn't do very right again,” Des said, though I magnificent billing? We found much for us - “it would be a pity must admit I found the dry it highly drinkable at 3.8%, if people thought all milds were finish left me slightly thirsty... with a big aroma, big palate, a like this”, was Des’s comment. time for another one! teasingly large amount of hops for a mild (just testing the We went on to Brains Dark, Bathams Mild is another West boundaries of the style!), and from Cardiff - with a rather thin Midlands beer, made at Brierly then once the bitterness died mouthfeel at 3.5%, but with Hill, not far from Dudley. What away, a nice caramel aftertaste. lots more fruit. Des believes a contrast with the roasty Des said “It’s not an imposing every mild should have a mix Banks & Taylor brew - this was
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NORFOLK NIPS | Mild Beers
all toffee apples on the nose, creeping in. We both felt it was matters - not the percentage very fruity and sweet, full in too well hopped for a mild, on the pump clip. flavour, and with a nice though. Waveney's East Coast rounded mouthfeel. We scored Mild also, Des thought, wasn't Mild doesn’t only come in the it as highly as the Batemans, quite “true to style”, with a dark variety, though. We had though Des commented, “For candy aroma, roasty and very two very fine light milds at the me, the Batemans is a better dry flavour, and some unfer - festival. Timothy Taylor Golden flavour, but this is very well put mented sugars - “more of a red Best doesn’t use the word together. It’s a classic example beer than a mild”. ‘mild’ on the label, but of a West Midlands Mild - Which left us with two ‘final - nonetheless it’s a light mild, sweet, caramelly, not overly ists’. Elmtree Brewery’s refreshing at 3.5% but full in hopped, and terrifically well Nightlight, last year's beer of mouthfeel and extremely drinkable. balanced and moreish.” the festival, is a mild in the We were both impressed by a Moreish? He enlightened me - tradition of Sarah Hughes - local contribution - Ragged “You always think when you're dark, full, high in alcohol at Robin from Old Chimneys, at drinking a West Midlands mild 5.7%, and very well rounded, Market Weston, Suffolk. This - where’s the next one?” with fruitiness and hops in too weighs in at 3.5% and had The East Anglian style is rather good balance. Really plenty of flavour, quite sweet, different. Des remembers wonderful. with a full mouthfeel, and Bullards - “full of grain and roast refreshing finish. Unfortunately chocolate malts”. So we went But meeting Des’s criteria for we only had one firkin of this on to a number of local ales to a real East Anglian mild was delightful beer - perhaps we see how they captured the spirit The Squirrel’s Nuts from should order more next year? of an East Anglian mild. Beeston Brewery. Toffee and Andrea Kirkby grainy aromas - a real malt-kiln Front Street Festival Mild nose - were followed by the didn't impress us - very sweet, promised nutty flavours and an with burned and vinegary aftertaste of roast chestnuts. All flavours, but almost no of that for only 3.5% alcohol! aftertaste. “Lots of flavour,” “A total contrast to the West Des said, “but not the right Midlands milds,” Des said, “It flavours.” We found Wood - has no residual sweetness - full forde’s Mardlers, at 3.5%, was of grain and roast flavours.” also a little thin, and rather Probably our favourites of the sugary (I have to say I was day, besides Nightlight and disappointed as I have had Squirrel's Nuts, were Batemans, some very nice Mardlers Bathams, Gravediggers Ale, indeed on other occasions, so and Maggs Magnificent Mild. perhaps this wasn't typical). What's interesting about this Square Mild, from Norfolk list is that some of the most Square, also seemed a little successful milds, in our opin - attenuated, and lightweight for ions, were the lightest in 4%, though its apply aroma alcohol; with the honourable and fresh, clean taste made it exception of Nightlight, few thoroughly drinkable. milds over 3.8% made it into On to Wolf's Woild Moild, at our final cut. That just proves 4.8%, with a nice enough that it's the brewer's craft, in aroma and sweet, full taste, squeezing the most flavour out Dark and a bit scary with even a little liquorice of a limited gravity, that really - not like all milds!
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Festival awards | NORFOLK NIPS Beers of the festival 2009
inner of the Gold award in the 'Beer Of The Festival' public Wvoting at the 32nd Norwich Beer Festival was Old Chimneys Red Clover, a 6.0% ABV blended old ale spiced with cloves. Old Chimneys Brewery is based at Market Weston, in North Suffolk.
Silver went to Mauldons Black Adder, a 5.3% dark bitter stout which was aged in oak casks for the festival, and Bronze went to Winter's Golden, a 4.1% hoppy golden ale from Norwich's own Winter's Brewery.
Category winners were: Mild - Gold: Sarah Hughes Ruby Mild (6.0% ABV); Silver: Beeston The Squirrels Nuts (3.5%); Bronze: Waveney Brewery East Coast Mild (3.9%).
Bitter - Gold: Elmtree Burston Cuckoo (3.8%); Silver: West Berkshire Old Father Thames (3.4%); Bronze: Grain Oak (3.8%). Old, Stout & Porter - Gold: Golden Beers - Gold: Winter's Mauldons Black Adder (5.3%); Golden (4.1%); Silver: Horn - Best Bitter - Gold: Waveney Silver: Downton Chocolate beam Lemon Blossom (3.7%); Brewing Welterweight (4.2%); Orange Delight (5.8%); Bronze: Crouch Vale Amarillo Silver: Harviestoun Hoptober Bronze: Humpty Dumpty (5.0%). Fest (4.0%); Bronze: Wood - Reedham Porter (5.4%). forde's Tinseltoes (4.4%). Cider - Rich’s Legbender. Speciality - Gold: Old Chim - Strong Bitter - Gold: Fat Cat neys Red Clover (6.0%); Silver: Perry - Hecks Blakeny Red Perry. Wild Cat (5.0%); Silver: Whitstable Raspberry Wheat Oakham Attila (7.5%); Bronze: (5.2%); Bronze: Opa Hay Foreign Beer - Heller Aecht Green Jack Ripper (8.5%). Wheat (4.2%). Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen. Des O’Brien
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Open all day every day, food is served:- Monday 12-2 12-2 & 6-9 Tuesday to Sunday
Offering four real ales and quality 12-3 Sunday for plated home cooked Sunday lunches with homemade Yorkshire puddings and fresh home-cooked food we are sure vegetables. Booking advised if dining. you will have a great time. Quiz Nights every Wednesday from 8.30pm 17th Century timber beamed pub. A meat raffle is held every Sunday at 4:30 pm. From Norwich & Acle head to Salhouse and at the mini roundabout follow the sign to Wroxham, we are 200yds on the right. ‘Andy Russell finds plenty of appeal with a family outing to EDP Eating out October 2009 BT Openzone available a 17th century pub’ - Tel: 01603 721141 www.salhousebell.co.uk
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Retrospective | NORFOLK NIPS West Norfolk CAMRA Retrospective
s the end of the year visitor facillity and bar/restau - fellow colonials (You know, approaches, I thought it rant, they have big plans and Americans), they provided very would be fun to look deserve to suceed. entertaining company. By the Aback at some of the Melton itself is very beautiful way Craig, when are you things our branch has done and rightly famous for it’s pork gonna write about beer from a during 2009. pies. It also has all it's GBG Transatlantic perspective for us? pubs in one street running We have visited several Brew - towards the railway station you Our third visit was Blackfriars eries both local and a little couldn't really go wrong. in Gt. Yarmouth and was very further afield. Some stayed in the town entertaining once we found it It always strikes me that others are motorhome folk and (ask Tim). I won’t go into detail breweries, much like pubs, are found a home nearby (the as Jeff has already covered this instilled with the personalities council didn’t have time to subject, but the visitor setup is of their brewers. The difference evict them). nicely thought out and the being that exept for those with glass placed in your hand in visitor facillities the only way Later in the year we made a the waiting area never seemed that personality reaches most visit to a brewery in Bury St. to empty for more than 10 of their customers is through Edmunds (No not that one!), seconds! the quality and character of The Old Cannon Brewery situ - their products not just in the ated in the like named pub. We also attempted to visit a flavour but in the style of The brewery plant is partially Nottingham brewery but never pumpclips chosen and, of visible inside the pub and on managed to get a reply from course, the names of the beers! the night of our visit brewing them by phone or email. The underlying principle of had been taking place with the many seems to include a great attendant smells! The brewer We also try to get out and deal of humour, and it's nice to gave us a talk which started about locally for either social or meet people whose products with him checking the coppers campaigning purposes. The you have sampled and see if by lifting himself on his arm first outing was a social at the they match up to your expec - muscles inside only to emerge, Walpole Cross Keys which is tations! peering over the edge again the name both of the pub and like some brewing Gollum, village, Ros organised a walk This year we visited Belvoir thank goodness he didn’t say around the local fens and had Brewery near Melton “My precious”. The brewery is lunch in the carvery. Unfortu - Mowbray, “Belvoir” is run in a very energetic way by nately very shortly after this, pronounced “beaver” and of this extreme sports enthusiast the pub was closed due to the course there were very non PC who may just have invented roof being declared unsafe! “I love beaver” badges for all extreme brewing! The brewery Another pub lost, I hope it (not so popular with female runs a very lively beer festival wasn't my fault it could be bad members!). each year and was in prepera - to be declared a pub Jonah! tion for it. The brewery itself was very We met up with some of We visited The Union Jack at impressive with an excellent Craig’s friends there, being Roydon to award them our
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NORFOLK NIPS | Retrospective
branch POTY 2009, and then Jack. Thanks to the folk at the We are planning an out of later to Whin Hill Cider for the Anvil who furnished me with a area foray to Masham in North presentation of a Regional large bottle of water. Yorkshire to include visits to CAMRA cider award. The Theakston’s and Black Sheep second occasion allowed me to on or about 27th-28th March meet some of our Cider enthu - We occasionally get in a walk 2010. If you would like to join siasts, how they stay sober long before a meeting and both this us contact me by email (on the enough to judge this fruit year were organised by Jim & info panel). Any N&N takers? based biofuel I've no idea! Pete (plus Fred) of Whin Hill Cider one around Burham If this sounds like your sort of During the summer we had a Thorpe and one along the fun come and meet us all at a walk around Roydon and beach and around the banded branch meeting soon. Congham organized by Phil cliffs at Hunstanton. It's Buffham who is normally just amazing how thirsty all these Finally, I would like to wish a Buff like I’m Stig. It was incred - walk makes you! Merry Christmas and Happy ibly hot and due to bad timing As you can see for a small New Year to everbody from all I missed the first leg, a shame branch we get around and of us at West Norfolk CAMRA. as I also missed Phil's carefully have had a lot of fun doing it, researched local history! this of course does not include Have a good one! contacts made distributing We stopped at the Anvil, Nips/Cask Force or our Chris Lucas (Stig) Congham and then made our surveying activities. way to Roydon and the Union
THE ARTICHOK E FREEHOUSE at Broome Up to 8 Real Ales (4 on gravity) 3 Belgian Fruit Beers Outstanding selection of Scottish malt & Irish Whisky
Opening Hours 12pm to 11pm weekdays & Sunday 12pm to 12am Friday & Saturday Closed Mondays (Except Bank Holidays)
Lunchtime Meals 162 Yarmouth Road, Broome, Bungay 12pm to 2.30pm weekdays NR35 2NZ Tel: 01986 893325 12pm to 4pm Sundays Evening Meals On the 580 and 588 Anglia Bus routes 6.30pm to 9pm Weds to Sat (Booking is advisable)
NORFOLK CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2009 Beer garden and ample parking
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He should have The Gatehouse Pub gone to the 391 Dereham Road, Norwich NR5 8QJ EATON COTTAGE, UNTHANK RD, 01603 620340 NORWICH 01603 453048
FOUR REAL ALES Live Music, Friday & Saturday Large garden overlooking the River Wensum Fine Real Ales,lagers,wines and spirits All Sky Sports • A traditional pub OPEN Good covered outside areas • Doggies welcome Mon - Thurs 12-11 “a festival of beers every day” Fri & Sat 12-12 • Sunday 12-11
Visit our Brewery Shop
SURLINGHAM OPENING HOURS Open Saturdays, Mondays ALL DAY, ALL YEAR, EVERY DAY FROM 11am-CLOSE and Tuesdays 11am-4pm FOOD AVAILABLE ALL DAY, FROM 12 TILL 9pm
Picturesque riverside walks, RSPB reserve, On Norwich’s All our bottle conditioned doorstep. Moorings available. Open Fire, Real Ales. beers are available. Good traditional Home Cooked Food, Also 10 & 20L polypins can Main meals from £6.95 be ordered All Functions catered for. Live Music, Quiz Nights. Small Children and Dog friendly. We are also providing space for local artists to hang their work You will receive a Warm and Friendly Welcome so you can usually replenish your taste buds while exercising from Sonia, Andy and All at the Staff at The Ferry your eyeballs!
Ferry Road, Surlingham, Norwich, Norfolk. NR14 7AR Tel: 01508 538659 Email: [email protected] Website: www.surlinghamferryhouse.co.uk
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NORFOLK NIPS | Thetford Real Ale Scene Real Ale Renaissance in Thetford he news from Thetford venue for the most heavily Horse is a free house and has the ancient capital of attended W. Norfolk CAMRA given them a wider choice of South West Norfolk just meeting. They turned the pub beers the response has been Tgets better and better. into an excellent real ale venue superb and the “Horse” is within the limits of the brewery's jumping! (sorry!) They have For several years now the only range of guest beers and booked the Carnegie Rooms in pub worthy of the Good Beer attracted growing numbers of the town to hold a beer fest Guide in the town was The customers. Only being a next May, something already in Albion run by two generations management team they knew the pipeline before their move. of the Middlebrook family since a bid for the lease would see 1969, famous for it's straight - them move on, this occured The Dolphin also continues to forward drinkers pub style and when the manager of the Black sell good real ale, under it's it's consistently good Greene Horse in Thetford put in a new management. King beers. The Albion has succesful bid. now been joined by two So all in all a win win series of potential candidates, The It seemed they would be lost events for real ale enthusiasts Dolphin was taken on by a to the town, but no! In a plot locally and hopefully like the Mother & Son management twist worthy of any soap opera, real renaissance it'll spread to team last year who single having left the brewery, they other local towns because it (double?) handedly revitalised took over the management of really needs to! this one time GBG pub, once a the Black Horse. The Black Chris Lucas
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 39 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:13 Page 40 BAR RELIEF Norwich’s oldest alehouse MANAGEMENT Four Real Ales Aspells Cider & over 50 Malt Whiskies. Food served from 12noon-7pm Monday to Saturday. 12noon-5pm Sunday Overall Winner - Best Floral Public House Your local Bar Relief to cover for Norwich In Bloom Awards your Holidays or Sickness. Personal Licence Holder. Food Hygiene Certificated.
Please Call Brian Mayhew on 01603 301356 or 07714657752 to discuss your requirements
email: [email protected] 17 Bishopgate, Norwich NR3 1RZ 01603 667423 www.brmpubservices.co.uk
Angel Gardens Free House CROMER The Cottage Under same ownership for 21 years Traditional Norfolk Free House Six reasonably priced Real Ales including three guest ales Four Real Ales always available including Woodfordes Wherry, Home Cooked Food • Live Music on Saturdays Greene King IPA and two Beer Garden with heated smoking shelter ever-changing guest ales 2 Bars (with one for Private Hire) Sandwiches always available Ample Car Parking Function rooms for hire Open daily 11am-2.30pm & 5.30pm - 11pm Live music Christmas eve Wishing all our customers a healthy with TERRY ADAMS and prosperous 2010 and New Years eve with DAVIE .J 96 Angel Rd, Norwich NR3 3HT 8 Louden Rd, Cromer NR27 9EF 01603 427490 email: [email protected] (Just 3 mins walk from the Sea) www.norwichinns.com
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NORFOLK NIPS | West Norfolk AGM West Norfolk CAMRA AGM
ur 2009 AGM was held at Narborough After the candidates withdrew, a vote was social club on 13th October 2009. taken under the supervision of the Regional Director. Following a vote Phil Buffham was O elected to chair. This is a synopsis of the main happenings. It was agreed that Tim should continue to Voting for New Committee: chair until the end of this meeting. Two candidates came forward for the post of All other post holders were returned unop - Branch Chairman: Tim Spitzer and Phil posed. All candidates listed below agreed to Buffham. serve in post if elected.
Nominated Seconded Post Holder Chairman Nige Chris Tim Spitzer (not elected) Bruce Tony Phil Buffham (elected) Treasurer Tim Chris Jim Fergusson Secretary Nige Bruce Ian Bailey Membership Secretary Steve Nige Jeff Hoyle Press & Publicity Tim Jim Bruce Ward Press & Publicity Assistant Tim Jim Andrea Briers Pubs Officer Tim Jeff Ian Bailey Pubs Preservation Officer Tim Jeff Andrea Briers Nips Liaison Jeff Bruce Chris Lucas Webmaster Tim Jeff Nigel Nudds Cider Tim Jim Andrea Briers Branch Contact Phil Tony Bruce Ward
Social Secretary: It was agreed to continue without one; Jackie Lucas is OK to continue with a large part of the work but does not wish to hold the post formally. Anything she does not do will continue to be done on an ad hoc basis.
Public Affairs Officer: Nobody came forward for this post.
As you can see the main change was we now have a New Chair, Phil Buffham who ran on a "Winds of Change" ticket hoping to encourage new active members within the branch, increase campaigning and even the holy grail, a beer festival held by the branch.
An interesting year ahead I suspect. Tim has been our Chair for Nine years and was granted a vote of thanks by all present, he will continue as our Norwich pubcrawl guru! Andrea Briers, Regonal Director thanked the branch for it's work in the last year. The election details are reproduced, with thanks, from our Secretary's full minutes.
Chris Lucas WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 41 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:13 Page 42
The Burston Crown Main Rd, Terrington st John, Cambs PE14 7RR Jonj, Frances, Bev and Steve welcome you 01945 881097 to our 16th Century country pub.
Open seven days a week We offer a fine range of gravity fed real ales, excellent bar and restuarant food every day and 12noon -2pm & 6 - 11pm a welcoming, warm atmosphere. Every Thursday evening we have a busker’s night and host live music Serving traditional home cooked food every alternate Sunday. with a weekly specials board and + John Parker Sun Dec 20th – live music with Charlie Harper choice of vegetarian dishes. Christmas Eve – Busker’s Special per AKA Children welcome New Year’s Eve – Beach Party + music by Har details See www.burstoncrown.com for Local real ales from Woods and Woodfordes plus weekly changing guests 01379 741257 [email protected]
Earle Arms Heydon Traditional Norfolk freehouse and restaurant Bookings now Simon and Karen welcome you all being taken to their traditional family pub. for Christmas Great selection of real ales (new Guest ale every Friday) 3 Real Ales always available Fine dining and excellent company Woodfordes Wherry, Adnams Bitter and One Guest Complimentary bottle of Wine with all table reservations 01263 587376 (min 4 persons) Offer available until February 2010. Satnav: NR11 6AD (Just off B1149 Holt - Norwich Rd) www.whitehorsechedgrave.co.uk
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NORFOLK NIPS | Campaigning trip 2009 September County Campaigning Trip 2009
n a clear autumnal extensive green and its two £2.60 and all on top form. evening a group of 14 pubs on opposite sides. The With vinyl playing in the corner CAMRA stalwarts headed Black Boys is a traditional and after spinning the Norfolk Onorth from the city, village pub, dartboard promi - twister on the ceiling the party passing the sadly-closed nent, offering Adnams and GK then indulged in some compet - Erpingham Spread Eagle, on IPA at £2.80 and both in good itive Bull ringing. As our visit the way to our first very form. The Old Red Lion has was so enjoyable our stay was isolated country pub. But the an attractive open fireplace and extended a little which meant car park was full of top-range hundreds of pump clips on the less time in the 2010GBG listed motors, so where had we come ceiling, though tonight only Skeyton Goat , another pub on this beautiful clear and Adnams, GK and our first full of diners. The Spitfire was cloudless night? The Saracens Norfolk beer, Woodforde’s fine and was offered alongside Head at Wolterton was Wherry were available at £2.60. Wherry and Adnams. completely booked for diners but the landlady graciously Onto the A140 now and the On reflection it seems a pulled us our pint of Adnams Alby Horseshoes which, for a shame that Norfolk beers were bitter (£3.10) and ushered us music-loving game-playing not more in evidence on our into the walled garden of this beer enthusiast proved to be charabanc crawl as we have noble brick building where we the highlight of the trip. 20-odd breweries in the pondered the night sky. Some Wherry and Mardlers Mild, county, but well done to all also cast a longing eye over the Nethergate Azzaskunk, the pubs for their welcome. extensive menu. Marston’s Jennings Cumber - Oh, and come back soon the It was time to move onto the land were soon followed by Spread Eagle. village of Aldborough with its Tipples Elm Hill Gold, all at Mont Beer Festival Diary 4 – 6 Feb Chelmsford Winter Beer Festival, Essex 18 -21 Dec Hockering Victoria Beer Festival. County Council Social Club (Triangle Club), Duke St, Chelmsford CM1 1LX Dec18 - 20 The Greyhound at Hickling. Promoted in aid of ‘The Wherry Trust’. Local cask 8 – 14 Feb Trafford Arms, Norwich 17th Valentine ales and ciders available. Beer Festival.
15 - 16 Jan 2010 Ely Winter Beer Festival. 26 -27 Feb Chappel Winter Beer Festival. East Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely CB7 4BB Opening times Fri Anglian Railway Museum, Chappel, Essex. 15 12.00- 22.00 Sat 16 12.00- 18.00. 10 – 12 Mar London Drinker Beer & Cider 20 – 23 Jan CAMRA National Winter Ales Festival, Festival, Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, Sheridan Suite, Oldham Road, Manchester M40 8EA. London, WC1H 9AU. (Close to Kings Cross/St Pancras). 21- 23 Jan 3rd Colchester Winter Ale Festival, Colchester Arts Centre, Open daily 12 noon -11pm 18 – 20 Mar St Neots Booze on the Ouze Beer 21- 23 Jan 14th Cambridge Winter Ale Festival, at Festival. Priory Centre,Priory Lane, St Neots, The University Social Club, Mill Lane. Cambridge, PE19 2BH
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NORFOLK NIPS | Cask Ale on the up “Cask Ale is now a star performer”
he newly published Cask Ale Report: Britain’s National Drink confirms tthat consumption of cask ale is on the increase despite a downturn in the pub trade in general.
The findings of this report revealed that between January and June this year the sales of lagers, wine and spirits were all down while cask ale volume rose by one per cent. Cask ale is outperforming every other beer style and the only beer to report sales growth in the last year. This report states sales of Pubs sold 2.3 million more There are now more brew - cask ale is boosted by a jump in pints of cask ale in the first half eries trading than at any time women drinkers and an of this year than in the same six in the past 60 years. affluent consumer base. months last year. For more information on this Some of the key features 3,000 new pubs put cask ale report consult CAMRA’s highlighted in the report on tap in 12 months to June National website and down - include: this year. load “Cask Ale Report (Oct 2009)” from the site’s home Total number of real ale 400,000 drinkers tried cask ale page. drinkers rose to 8.5 million for the first time in 2008. Mauldons take over Norwich Pub
auldons Brewery based ten ales available. These beers Clive and Sally joined in Sudbury have taken will be sourced from local Mauldons last November to over The Cottage, brewers as well as proven help set up and run our first MSilver Road, Norwich. favourites and will rotate along - pub, The Brewery Tap in The Freehouse will re-open on side the Black Adder Brewery’s Sudbury. They have done a Thursday evening from award winners. fantastic job for us and we feel 7 pm on the 10th December. sure they will be warmly Mauldons owner Steve Sims welcomed back to Norwich. The Cottage has been says he is delighted that Clive completely refurbished and will and Sally Mann have agreed to be run as a real ale pub with manage the Cottage for them.
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 45 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:13 Page 46 The King’s Head KEG FREE HOUSE Open 12.00noon - 11.00pm Monday to Saturday 12.00noon - 10.30pm Sunday Run by enthusiastic drinkers and CAMRA members.
Keg Free Zone 14 Hand Pumps Norfolk Ales and Cider Mild always available Worldwide Bottled Beers Belgian Beers Bar Billiards Television-free rfolk CAMRA No ear Pub of the Y 8 2006 & 200 Dating from the 14th century, the pub has been restored to a Victorian style.
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NORFOLK NIPS | GBG 2011 Good Beer Guide 2011 Nominations s you have probably seen Norwich Franks Bar any new nominations no later in the last two editions of Norwich Micawbers than 31st December 2009. NIPS I have been inviting Norwich With the deadline for nomina - Anominations for possible Murderers/Gardeners tions fast approaches it is now inclusion in the next CAMRA Norwich Nelson the time of year again that I am National Good Beer Guide. The Norwich Rose (Queens Road) asking for volunteers to help number of recommendations Norwich Vine survey for the next CAMRA received so far has been very Old Costessey Bush National Good Beer Guide. If good. Please see below the Reedham Ferry you have surveyed before or revised list of new GBG 2011 Sheringham The Crown are new to GBG surveying and nominations: Stiffkey Red Lion would be prepared to survey Swanton Morley Darbys for The 2011 GBG, please Banham The Banham Barrel Tacolneston Pelican contact me at: Cromer Dolphin Tibenham Greyhound [email protected] Cromer Red Lion Wells-next-the-Sea Edinburgh Gt Yarmouth Oliver Twist Hotel Or by post to: Hempton Bell Wells-next-the-Sea Crown Warren Wordsworth Heydon Earle Arms Wreningham Bird in Hand 16 Grove Avenue, Norwich Holt Kings Head Wymondham Cross Keys NR1 2QD Kenninghall White Horse Lyng Fox & Hounds The deadline is now fast I look forward to hearing from Norwich Arts Centre approaching so please send you!
Mark & Marie offer you a warm welcome to the Fox and Hounds Heacham Home of The Fox Brewery We are a free house specialising in real ales. The first pub in Heacham to be in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide . Alby HorseShoes Inn Freehouse Situated on the A140 Norwich/Cromer Road 4 Real Ales – Home cooked Food Live Music every Tuesday 5 STAR ESTABLISHMENT NNDC “Scores on the Doors” Quiz Night Thursday In the 2010 Good Beer Guide 10th Easter Beer Festival Food Hygiene Rating Friday April 2nd to Monday April 5th HHHHH With Live Music every night Margaret & Richard Rushmer look forward to meeting you See website for details - www.foxbrewery.com Tel: 01485 570345 01263 761378 22 Station Rd, Heacham, Norfolk PE31 7EX www.albyhorseshoes.co.uk OPEN ALL DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK
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Pub Signs | NORFOLK NIPS Norfolk pub sign postcards
aurice Bobbitt of Norwich has always had a deep interest in the art Mof pub signs, particularly Norfolk pub signs. Over the years he has lovingly photographed scores of these signs. Now in association with Classic Prints he has produced a set of 60 postcards depicting different examples of these fascinating illustrations. Particularly now that the traditional pub is under threat, these pictures provide a reminder of the part these ‘community centres’ play in the social history of Norfolk.
The packs of 60 cards are available at £9.00 per set plus Classic Prints of Hingham details. They are also available postage from: email: [email protected] on ebay. or phone 01953 850794 for Nige
A tawny red strong bitter with a malt and fruit aroma. This warming ale has a full bodied soft finish. The London Tavern Free House Church St, Attleborough Tel :01953 457415 Great real ales, fine wines and spirits.
Traditional food served daily, pre-booked evening meals, Sunday roasts and Childrens menu. Meals for large parties up to 30 catered for in our funtion room, choice of set menu’s. Bookings only.
Parking, Disabled facilities, Smokers sheltered garden, and Beer garden. Well behaved dogs on leads welcome. Christenings, Funerals, Intimate Weddings / Civil Ceremonies catered for IN THE GOOD BEER GUIDE 2010
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NORFOLK NIPS | Beer & Music Music & Real Ale
King’s Head Hotel, Beccles, Suffolk Adnams Bitter and Broadside plus special house beer Matilda’s Revenge, brewed by local brewery Opa Hays in honour of the resident ghost, and guest beers.
Every Sunday evening - Red Beans ‘n’ Rice New Orleans Jazz Band
Feathers Hotel, Market Place, Holt Greene King Abbot Ale and IPA
First Friday every month – Lumiere Rouge Ragtime Band
Marsham Arms, nr Hevingham (B1149 Norwich-Holt Road) Adnams Bitter, plus alternating guests including Adnams Broadside and Woodforde’s TRADITIONAL JAZZ 01493 701880 Wherry The Quality Hotel (Filby Acle Recreation Centre, Third Friday every month – Suite), Bowthorpe, Bridewell Lane, Acle Lumiere Rouge Ragtime Band Norwich (off Dereham Real Ales include Adnams Road) Bitter, Theakstons and Tipples Crown Inn, Banningham Fat Cat Bitter is being laid on Redhead (Nr Aylsham) specially for the jazz sessions. Adnams Broadside, Greene Friday 5th March King IPA and Abbot Ale Tuesday 9th February – New Rod Mason and his Hot Five Orleans Z’Hulus. New Orleans (from Germany), including Sunday 21st February (1.30 to style band led by British musi - former local favourite Sean 4.30 pm) - Norfolk Dixieland cian Brian Turnock, now living Moyses on Banjo, celebrating Jazz Band in Belgium, and featuring musi - the band’s 25th anniversary (Phone 01263 733534 for cians from Belgium, Germany, this year. further details) Holland and France. NB. Sessions are now taking Northrepps Cottage Tickets/enquiries – Rod Playford place on Fridays instead of Tues - Country Hotel, Nut Lane, 01362 668576 days. Northrepps (Nr Cromer) Tickets/enquiries – Brian Davis Greene King Abbot Ale and IPA
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Beer & Music | NORFOLK NIPS
Sunday 13th December ( The Buck Inn, The Street, NB. Closed for Christmas break Special Christmas Jazz Carvery Flixton, Suffolk on 23rd and 30th December. from 12.00 – 4.00 pm) – Chris Woodforde’s Mardler’s, Sessions resume Wednesday Wigley’s Phoenix Jazz Quartet. Morland Original and Adnams 6th January. No jazz during January and Bitter are the regulars at February, but monthly Sunday present, but in addition there For further details phone Jazz Carveries resume on are guest beers, and an 01328 863511 or 01362 Sunday 14th March with the increased selection in the 696741 or visit website same band. summer months www.lakeside-jazz-club.co.uk Every Thursday - (Phone 01263 579202 for Sole Bay Jazz Band Keith Chettleburgh further details) MAINSTREAM / George and Dragon, Folk in the East Newton by Castle Acre MODERN JAZZ Elgoods Cambridge plus local (& West) guest beers Green Man, Wroxham Second Tuesday every month – Rackheath ‘The lands like a bog, with rain Black Bowler Hat Jazz Band Woodforde’s Wherry, Adnams upon rain, Wet upon wet upon Bitter and Broadside plus wet, Nine months of Winter & (Also folk music on first guests three months bad weather, and Thursday every month) never a dry day yet, No never a Every Tuesday – Full drying day yet’ (Bewcastle: Bell Inn, Hempton (Nr programme consisting of Maddy Prior / Rick Kemp) Fakenham) various bands and musicians. Woodforde’s Wherry, John For further details, phone So what can drag you out Smiths Cask and guest beers Barbara Capocci on 01603 from a warm house into East 413443, or e-mail Anglia’s winter weather? Of the Second and Fourth Thursday [email protected] regular singer / musician every month – Black Bowler sessions and starting in the city Hat Jazz Band NB. No jazz on 29th December on Tuesday evenings at The and 5th January. Sessions Duke of Wellington Dereham Jazz Society, resume Tuesday 12th January. Waterloo Road, for the von Lakeside Country Club, Krapp Family: they are not a Quarry Lane, Lyng (nr Dereham Jazz Society, Lake - family, no one is called von Dereham) side Country Club, Quarry Krapp but for well played Adnams beers plus guest beers Lane, Lyng (nr Dereham) melodeon, fiddles, pipes & on handpump Adnams beers plus guest beers guitar they take a lot of on handpump beating. Micawbers , Potter - Wednesday 20th January – gate, the Shufflewing sessions Barry Palser’s Selected Six, Every Wednesday – Full are also on a Tuesday evening. including Alan Gresty on programme consisting of On Wednesday the Nelson on Trumpet, Tony Teal (clarinet & various bands and musicians in Nelson Street has a More than sax), Pete Gregory (guitar & varied styles, which usually Folk play/sing-around from banjo), Peter Baker (bass) and includes one ‘traditional’ 20.30 while at the Cider Stu Watcham (drums) session each month (See Shed , Sprowston Road, also on above). Wednesday, you can find the
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NORFOLK NIPS | Beer & Music
Irish Session . Jurnets Bar at Castle Acre) Folk club on the (www.strawbear.org.uk for the Music House, King Street, last Wednesday of the month . more information) on Fridays from 20:00 this is an invited musicians evening that The Alby Horseshoes are on The Norwich Arts Centre includes, rather than being the last Thursday of the month has some goodies for the exclusively, folk music (with with the Cherry Tree at Wick - season with Oyster Band (in the club m’ship available for lewood (the Buffy’s Brewery unlikely event of any tickets regular visitors). Norwich Folk tap) and the Greyhound at being left!) on Saturday Club meets at the White Tibenham, at the same time December 5th, a band I’ve Horse in Trowse on Friday and date. On the 2nd Sunday never heard called Stars of nights. On the 4th of of the month in the afternoon Sunday League on Friday 15th December they have The Joni try the Gatehouse on January and on February 9th Mitchell Project while looking Dereham Road Norwich. the excellent Dervish . to the New Year the guest is Staying with the Sunday, but in Scotland’s finest, Moishe’s Tony Hall on the 15th of the evening, Meet in the Hedge Bagel , have the stage on January and Bill Whaley with run an open session of music Monday 15th and, in March, Dave Fletcher on the 5th of and poetry at the Norwich’s very own Horses February. On Sunday after - Wymondham Feathers , on Brawl (& support) are dragged noons from 14.30 it is worth Town Green, from 20.00 with away from appearances on R3 checking out the Cider Shed 2010 dates of 31st Jan, 28th and the arts section of the for live music in many forms, Feb & 28th March. Guardian on Thursday 4th. including folk, while later on Down in the Waveney valley there is another reason to visit the Geldeston Locks has Finally, and returning to the Nelson for the Sunday December dates on Thursdays December, the Queens Head evening session from c.20.00 with Murphy’s Lore on the 3rd, Wymondham are hosting 17th and 27th, Bric-a-Brac on ‘Christmas with Tallis ’ on There is a basket full of folk- the 10th and a Winter Solstice Sunday 12th (donations based events typically taking Special with Old Glory Molly £1.00+ suggested) whilst back place once (or twice) a month dancers on Monday 21st. in the city the cellar of Take 5 at pubs throughout our area of is the venue on Monday 14th which the following is just a On the subject of dance for Musical Tapas (latin guitar sample: - Kemps Men will be dancing on and songs) plus the Rampant Folk at the Railway (Mondays) the Norwich Lanes from 11.00 Horse Collective with jigs, at the Railway North Elmham on Saturday 12th December polkas airs & reels on flutes and (so that is the Belgium fiddles. The Wisbech Folk Club meet at Monk , the Birdcage & the the Angel Wisbech on Tues - Vine for refreshment) while on If you are hosting a gig, folk days. A session takes place at Boxing Day Saturday 26th they dance session, or some other the Reedcutters at Cantley are joining forces with Fiddle - vaguely effnic sort of event at a on the 1st Wednesday of the sticks (N.West clog dancers) at cask conditioned ale venue month the 2nd Wednesday is the Banningham Crown . why not spread the word via the Burlington Hotel Sher - these pages or even take an ingham while, at the Kings Looking into the New Year advert? Contact mailing Head at Dereham, folk is on Whittlesea Straw Bear festival addresses on Page 3. the 3rd Wednesday of the takes place between Friday & month. Sunday (15th-17th January), Seasonal Solstice Greetings to which seems to be a popular All. The Red Lion in Swaffham is event with certain abstemious the venue for the (former Norwich members! WINTERA U2T0U0M9 N/ 22000190 | 55 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:14 Page 56
DUK Eof WELLINGTON TRADITIONAL REAL ALE HOUSE 14 REAL ALES GRAVITY SERVED available all year round from our glass fronted tap room 6 MORE ALES ON HAND PUMP CAMRA Good Beer Guide Listed Welcoming CAMRA Norfolk Pub REAL FIRE of the Year 2003
Open Monday to Saturday 12noon to 11pm Sundays 12noon to 10.30pm
5 Come and enjoy our Tap Just 1 alk Room with a selection of utes w min e Belgian bottled beers, rom th f e Schneider Weiss, Erdinger Centr City and Dunkel. 91 - 93 WATERLOO ROAD | NORWICH | 01603 441182 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:14 Page 57
NORFOLK NIPS | Real Ale in Mexico On the Trail of Real Ale in Mexico: San Miguel de Allende
an Miguel de Allende, founded in 1542, is perched 6000 feet above Ssea level, near the geographical center of Mexico, in the state of Guanajuato. It’s world famous for its colonial architecture, cobblestone streets and breath-taking views. The historic center is a Mexican national monument, but recently the town, along with the nearby sanctuary of Atotonilco has been accorded the prestigious honour of being named a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Artists, poets, musicians and new craft brewery, located on San Miguel as a child and has students flock to the San the outskirts of town. been traveling back and forth Miguel each year to paint, for the last ten years. His opera - write, perform and study. There Cameron Carroll, and his tion is small scale, he only are, of course, many reasons to father Matthew, started the brews one beer and it’s an visit, but added to the long list brewery less than two years American Pale Ale . It can be is the recently opened ago, in a disused handicraft described as a Sierra Nevada Cerveza de San Miguel , a store. Cameron spent time in style ale, with a fragrant bouquet and moderate hoppi - ness. He uses Golding hops instead of the familiar Cascade hops to produce American Pale ale with an English twist!
If that doesn’t appeal, besides the full bar, there are 7 other beers on draught, three from the Minerva craft brewery, in Guadalajara. Their Colonial is a Kolsch style lager, Vienna is an Oktoberfest style lager and there is Stout , with a strong flavour of toasted barley and Continued Overleaf WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 57 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:14 Page 58
Real Ale in Mexico continued | NORFOLK NIPS
like darkish lager with a robust malty finish. Sol , is a popular Mexican golden lager, with a refreshing taste and mellow flavour.
One can enjoy these real ales, either in the shade of a pepper tree in the enclosed patio, in the pub room, complete with dart board, or in the cozy restaurant. The food is reason - ably priced and many entrees include the home brew as part of the recipe: beer battered blooming onion, fried green tomatoes and battered shrimp. hints of chocolate and coffee. dark Munich Dunkle style with A good paring is the Pale Ale caramel and chocolate flavours with one of their wood-fired Grupo Modelo, one of the and a spicy hop profile. pizzas. two big-boy Mexican brew - eries, provides their M odelo Brewery giant Cerveza www.cervezadesanmiguel.com Especial , a pilsner style and Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma is the popular Negra Modelo , a represented by Indio , an ale- A. Ciurczak The Kings Arms 22 Hall Rd Norwich NR1 3HQ Tel: 01603 766361 5th Annual Haggis Bash Monday 25th January Haggis, Neeps and Tatties washed down with a ‘Wee Dram’ and a wide selection of Scottish Ales! Over 40 Cask Ales personally selected from regional and microbreweries across the UK.
All styles of beer will be available including many Dark Beers and Real Cider. Beers will be served on Hand pump at the bar or on Gravity from “The Shed of Dreams”.
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The Shoulder of Mutton ~ Strumpshaw ~ Fine ales and good food served in a friendly atmosphere Real ales include Adnams Bitter and Broadside plus TWO guest ale (mainly from local breweries)
Food served 12-2pm and 7-9pm (Mon-Sat), 12-2pm Sundays
Pub games include Darts, Pool, Crib and Petanque! Ian and Jenny look forward to welcoming you..
Norwich Rd, Strumpshaw, Norwich NR13 4NT Tel 01603 712274 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:14 Page 60 NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:14 Page 61
The pub with no bar, ales direct from cask. Watch www.nelsonslocal.co.uk for forthcoming events. Tongue twizzling food, and great value. Check our website for Tuesday Lunch QUIZ - 60 questions & a bowl of soup £5.00 Thursday night curry or italian - £8.00 inc. drink voucher Live music every Thursday from 8.45pm. All details on the website. Real fires. Huge garden. Come & visit Nelson’s local. Walsingham Road, Burnham Thorpe Norfolk PE31 8HN 01328 738241
KINGS HEAD HOLT Six brilliantly kept local ales on offer.
Over the past ten months the pub focussed its attention on providing a wide range of well kept local ales for you all to try and thanks to your support we have now offered over a hundred different local guest ales, uncovering some real gems on the way.
Along side this we have been providing locals with their old favourites Woodfordes’ Wherry, Adnams’ Bitter and Adnams’ Broadside and we are proud to announce we have been nominated for the Good Beer Guide.
Come and relax by the fire in our newly refurbished George’s bar where you can grab a cosy booth or just a stool at the bar while you drink your ale and put the world to rights.
Come and try our own real ale ‘King’s Ransom’ exclusive to the king’s head, brewed by Black Friars Brewery.
To find out more you can visit our website http://www.kingsheadholt.org.uk/, give us a call on 01263 712543 , or just come on down and give us a try, you won’t be disappointed! NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:14 Page 62
NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:14 Page 63 The Royal Oak at Poringland
Come and enjoy live music on Friday and Saturday at our EASTER BEER FESTIVAL April 2nd - April 9th Range of 30+ Beers and Ciders available Giant Easter Egg Raffle on sunday for East Anglian Children’s Hospice We Don’t Have a Big Screen TV, Food Or a Juke Box
We do have 17 handpumps, with Real Ale from far and wide, 2 Real Ciders and 2 Real Ales From gravity, a large car park, large beer garden With heated smoking shelter, darts, pool, quizzes And crib.
We hold two beer festivals each year.
The Royal Oak lies at the heart of the community and new customers are always welcome. Come along and get a real welcome from a real pub selling real ale!!!!!! Nick, Delia And The Team would love to see you soon. Norwich And Norfolk Pub Of The Year 2007 Norfolk Pub Of The Year 2007 13 years in the Good Beer Guide! A dream of a pub situated in the village of Poringland on the B1332 road to Bungay. The main bus route from Norwich stops right outside. Contact us on 01508 493734 New email: [email protected] NN#151:Layout 1 07/12/2009 15:14 Page 64
FREEMOUSE 49 West End Street, Norwich NR2 4NA 01603 624364 Beer Pub of the Year GOOD PUB GUIDE 2010 - Winner for the 4th time! Two Times CAMRA National Pub Of The Year (1998 & 2004) Up to THIRTY real ales available all year round FIFTY BOTTLED BEERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD featuring 25 countries, from Mexico to Mongolia, Jamaica to Japan and China to the Czech Republic FIFTEEN DRAUGHT CONTINENTAL BEERS INCLUDING 5 FRUIT BEERS
NOW IN OUR 20TH YEAR! ROLLS STILL 60p TAPPITS & POLYPINS AVAILABLE ALL YEAR! Part of the Oakademy www.fatcatpub.co.uk Scheme of Excellence Fat Cat Brewery at the Cidershed, Norwich 98-100 Lawson Rd, Norwich NR3 4LF 01603 624364 3.8% UP TO 15 REAL ALES INCLUDING THE FAT CAT RANGE: Fat Cat Bitter 4.3% Honey Ale 5.0% Wild Cat LIVE MUSIC & ARTS VENUE 5.5% Marmalade Cat 4.6% 01603 788508 Stout Cat www.cidershednorwich.net