Vol 27 No.5 October November 2005 Agriculture Ministers' Summit. See
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October November Vol 27 2005 No.5 Agriculture ministers’ summit. See page 7. London Drinker is published by Mike Editorial Hammersley on behalf of the London Branches of CAMRA, the Campaign WHAT HAVE WE THE RIGHT TO EXPECT? for Real Ale Limited, and edited by Geoff Strawbridge. hilst not ignoring the terrible events that occurred later that week, the Material for publication should Wtakeover of Ridleys by Greene King left me thinking and these preferably be sent by e-mail to thoughts have been reinforced by GK’s subsequent take-over of Belhaven [email protected]. Brewery. Press releases and letters by post should be sent to Tony Hedger, We place great importance on tradition in connection with cask conditioned 7 The Square, Peabody Estate, Fulham ale. We need to get it in context however. I think that most of us would Palace Road, London W6 9PX not object to ‘technical’ improvements such as the replacement of copper Changes to pubs or beers should be brewing vessels, however nice they look, with stainless steel, it being that reported to Capital Pubcheck, much easier to keep clean and thus maintain quality. Where tradition is 2 Sandtoft Road, London SE7 7LR important is in beer styles and recipes. For ‘traditional’ here you could or by e-mail to [email protected]. substitute ‘local’. With all due respect to the many excellent small breweries For publication in December 2005, that have sprung up in the last twenty years or so, it is the long-established please send electronic documents to the regional breweries, often family-owned, who are the custodians of our Editor no later than Wednesday 16th British beer tradition. November. Thankfully, many of these companies respect their heritage. Anyone who SUBSCRIPTIONS: £3.00 for mailing of 6 editions should be sent to Stan has had the privilege – and that is the correct word – of being guided around Tompkins, 52 Rabbs Mill House, Harvey’s Brewery by Miles Jenner will know that the tradition of their Chiltern View Road, Uxbridge, distinctive beers from the South Downs hoplands is in safe hands. Some Middlesex, UB8 2PD (cheques payable however are powerless whilst others simply do not have the commitment. to CAMRA London). For the former, I think back to Charles Eld, the managing director of ADVERTISING: Peter Tonge: Morrells, another true enthusiast, whose brewery was sold from Tel: 020-8300 7693. Printed by Cliffe Enterprise, underneath him because the other shareholders preferred the quick Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2RJ financial fix that came with selling the brewery site rather than a steady dividend over the coming years. For the latter, think of Ridley’s. I recall seeing one report that described the Chairman of Ridley’s as ‘Monaco- based’ which probably says it all. I would guess that the owners really did In This Issue not have any personal involvement in the business and were happy to sell Cider and perry 5 out when a good offer came along. I suspect that with Belhaven, it was also a case of an offer too good to refuse. News round-up 7 In fairness, we must acknowledge that we are touching on people’s private New guides 17 affairs here and if they legitimately own an asset, whether they created it or London for free 23 inherited it, they are free to dispose of it as they see fit. Similarly, those in charge of PLCs have a legal duty to obtain the best return on capital for Letters 25 their shareholders, whoever those shareholders may be and whatever their motives. Branch Diary 28 All well and good but with take-overs such as Jennings and Ridleys we have Cask Marque 31 lost distinctive local beers. Where a takeover is contested, CAMRA has a Capital Pubcheck 32 way in for campaigning but where it is not, sadly, the breweries are not going to pay much attention to our protests. Where we have our doubts, Membership form 33 our campaigning should include making sure that those involved fully Roberts ramble 38 understand the value of what they own in terms other than hard cash. With those brewery-owners who do care, we should make sure that they know Idle Moments 43 Crossword 46 Views expressed in this publication are those of their individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor or the Campaign for Real Ale Limited. 3 Editorial THE MEDWAY that they have our support. There are practical measures as well. CAMRA has EER ESTIVAL called on Greene King to make the Ridley’s brewery B F available as a going concern rather than close it. Perhaps also, if a brewery is to close following a October 28, 29 & 30 take-over and its new owner does not want to adopt The Stanley Ballroom its brands under the new owner’s name, it should be asked to offer them and the recipes to other local Chatham breweries. I know that it will not be the original product but it must be better than the alternative. More than 50 cask conditioned Keep the beer in our locals local. Tony Hedger ales from ‘north of Watford’ plus cider and 30 Belgian beers. Advertise in the next £2.50 entrance including LONDON DRINKER festival glass - just £1.50 for Our advertising rates are as follows: Whole page £260 (colour) £220 (mono), CAMRA members. Half page £150 (colour) £110 (mono), SPONSORED BY THE FROG &TOAD Quarter page £80 (colour) £55 (mono), GILLINGHAM Phone Peter Tonge now 01634 852231 on 020 8300 7693 128 High Street The Magpie & Crown Brentford, Middx Tel: 020 8560 4570 u Only 30 minutes from main line Waterloo u 4 ever-changing guest ales from £2.10 u 3 traditional ciders & the occasional perry u Foreign bottled beers selection u Food is back Thai menu Mon - Sat Trad Sunday roast u Draught Budvar, Hoegaarden, Paulaner Münchener Lager & Bavarian Wheat Beer u Quiz Night Thursday u Bar billiards u Cycle rack u 2005 Good Beer Guide u Beers from Grand Union and Twickenham Breweries AT THE TIME OF THIS ADVERTISEMENT WE HAVE SERVED 1445 1492 DIFFERENT BEERS Coming soon our 10th Anniversary Celebrations Steve and the staff look forward Watch this space to seeing you soon 4 Cider and Perry Month re we sitting comfortably? I want to tell you a There are more, I am sure, who occasionally have a Astory. Once upon a time not so very long ago cider, some just at their Beer Festivals. If there are there was a group of like minded people who cared others out there, please let me know via the address about what they consumed. In fact it was only in below. We are not interested in which pubs sell 1983 that Common Ground was formed. And what Strongbow, Dry Blackthorn, Magners and the like - a lot they have achieved in just a few years. these at best can only be described as apple based Common Ground have helped save many orchards products - just real ciders and perries. (See the and advised and contributed to the planting of many CAMRA web-site for definitions!). more, in particular Community Orchards. Part of Then of course there are all the CAMRA festivals their evangelising for the humble apple was the where you can be guaranteed a good selection. organising of Apple Day, the first of which was held There are two local Beer and Cider Festivals being at Covent Garden on the 21 October 1990, held during October. The first is Wallington, ably expanding to over 50 events in 1991 and now with run by CAMRA Croydon and Sutton branch, which events, open days, orchard tours, fruit identification runs from 13 to 15 October and has ten ciders and days etc, etc, up and down the length of the nation. perries. The following week, from 20 to 22 October, Who, for instance, hasn’t been to a Farmers’ Market? is Twickenham Beer and The first of these was held in Cider Festival, where there September and October 1997 will be six perries and seven when Bath City Council held or eight ciders. As a special three markets to support Apple treat, a locally produced Day which is now celebrated on cider, which won cider of the 21 October every year. festival in 2004, will be In 2003, following Common available in very limited Ground’s lead, CAMRA quantities. There are only 10 established October as its own gallons left, so attend early to Cider and Perry Month. avoid disappointment. I CAMRA declared its interest in must admit a vested interest cider and perry many years ago in this as Hounslow Cider and has its own dedicated special interest group Co-operative is my cider and Twickenham is my APPLE, the Apple and Pear Liaison Executive. branch festival. APPLE meets on a regular basis to ensure that On 29 and 30 October I shall be holding a cider and CAMRA values regarding quality, choice and value possibly a perry making weekend at the Red Lion, for money are upheld for the consumer with regard Linkfield Road, Isleworth. So, if you have, or can to cider and perry. CAMRA is kept up to date on get hold of any spare apples or pears, be they news of producers and outlets through a network of windfalls, freshly shaken down or picked, please regional representatives, who in turn are members of bring them along over the weekend and we will put their local CAMRA branches. Despite this the them to good use. There will also be a “longest apple impact of CAMRA with respect to cider and perry is peel” competition open to everyone.