opening times Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA Issue 143 the Campaign for Real Ale Summer 2010

Chequers, Little Gransden Pub of the Year

Also inside: Support Plans For Pubs (Page 4) Booze on the Ouse Report (Page 12) CAMRA Discount Scheme (Page 15)

Booze on the Ouse, St Ives Beer Festival Thursday 16—Saturday 18 September 2010 2 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! PUBS OF THE YEAR Chequers, Little Gransden Bob (left), Wendy (right), branch chairman The Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA Kathy Hadfield-Moorhouse and, looking has selected the Chequers, Little Grans- on, Town Crier, Mike Blackburn. den as its Pub of the Year 2010 - the sixth Green Man, Leighton Bromswold time that the Chequers has won the award This year Huntingdonshire CAMRA have in recent years. decided to give a ’highly commended’ CAMRA gives this annual award to the award to the second placed pub in the pub that it judges to provide the widest branch competition, the Green Man, appeal for its combination of good beer, Leighton Bromswold. In the judging, first atmosphere, style, service and value. and second place were separated by the smallest of margins. Bob and Wendy Mitchell have owned and run the Chequers, Little Gransden for 17 The Green Man is a community pub with years and the pub has been in the Mitchell so much to offer. Locals meet for a family since 1950. friendly chat round the bar, families make good use of the separate family room and The cosy public bar with its plain wooden diners come from far and wide to sample seating and open fire is an unaltered gem the excellent food. and there is a choice of two other rooms. There is always a warm welcome from Licensee Toni Hanagan has owned the Bob and Wendy and the village regulars. Green Man since the early 1990's and the pub's reputation is firmly established. The The Chequers truly is a community pub, bank of four handpumps always offers an and the heart and soul of this Cambridge- interesting selection of well kept real ales, shire village. Many of the regulars are and in recent times an increased range of country people who work in agriculture. locally brewed beers has been available. Bob's Son of Sid brewery, which opened Food has also been an important feature in November 2007, continues to go from of the pub, and the addition of chef Bill strength to strength. After more than 2 Bennett (who used to run Bennett's Bistro years Bob's imagination and creativity are at the White Hart, Bythorn) has strength- unchallenged, and he continues to brew a ened the pub's food reputation. steady stream of distinctive beers in a wide variety of styles. Pictured below are Toni Hanagan and branch vice-chairman Richard Harrison. There was a presentation to Wendy and Bob on the opening night of CAMRA’s recent St Neots Beer Festival. Pic- tured are OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 3 NEW SUPPORT PLANS FOR PUBS Pubs Minister John CAMRA has been lobbying hard to en- Healey has an- courage other political parties to unveil nounced a major their policies to support pubs before the package of reforms General Election and it seems likely that to support pubs. other major parties will support reform to The proposals have help the pub trade and licensees. the potential to to- CAMRA’s ‘Beer tally transform the Drinkers and Pub UK pub trade, leading to a free, fair and Goers’ Charter’ was competitive market where consumers will launched at a West- benefit through greater choice, improved minster parliamen- amenity and lower prices. tary reception and The day after the announcement, sent to over 2,000 CAMRA’s Chief Executive, Mike Benner, general election said ‘Yesterday was a fantastic day for candidates. Over CAMRA, real ale drinkers and pub goers.’ 200 candidates signed up to: The government proposals include: • Promote the interests of UK pub goers • Greater protection for pubs under threat of demolition • Champion well-run community pubs

• A ban on restrictive covenants that pre- • Rebalance alcohol taxation to support vent the use of buildings as pubs when beer and pubs sold • Reform the beer tie to deliver a fair deal • Greater flexibility for pubs to diversify by for consumers adding shops and other facilities without the need for planning permission • Support the role of well-run pubs as solutions to alcohol misuse • £1 million government funding for the Before John Healey’s announcement, the ‘Pub is the Hub’ advisory organisation Office of Fair Trading reopened its investi- including seven full time advisors gation of the beer tie and launched an • £3 million to support community pub open consultation following CAMRA’s ownership appeal against the OFT’s rejection of its super-complaint about ‘anticompetitive • Greater freedom for pubs to host live practices’ in the pubs industry. music without a specific licence The BIS Select Committee restated its call • Implementation within one year of the for major reform and urged the Office of recommendations of the recent Busi- Fair Trading to look more carefully at the ness, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select issues involved as it responds to Committee report on pub companies, CAMRA's super-complaint for the second including a new code of practice for pub time. leases, a free of tie option and a guest beer right for tied tenants.

4 Check out local music events at www.huntscamra.org.uk/gigguide A traditional old country pub and restaurant with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Traditional Sunday Lunch. Children’s menu available. Open all day Saturday and Sunday. 4 real cask ales served including Adnams Bitter, Fullers London Pride plus 2 guest ales. Bar Meals are available every day. A la carte menu is served in our restaurant Monday to Saturday. The menu caters for all tastes including vegetarian and any special dietary needs. The Pig and Abbot High Street, Abington Pigotts, Nr. Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 0SD Telephone: 01763 853515 King of the Belgians Hartford

• Three real ales changing weekly • Traditional pub food served Monday-Saturday 11:30-2.30pm, Tues- day-Saturday 5.30-9.30pm, Traditional Big Sunday Roast 12-4pm

• Opening times: Monday-Thursday 11-11, Friday-Saturday 11-12 midnight, Sunday 12-10.30pm 27 Main Street, Hartford, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 1XU. Tel: 01480 52030

OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 5 A LOOK BACK IN TIME 25 YEARS AGO the public interest. Rodney Mann, director Throughout the summer of 1985, CAMRA of Watneys’ Norwich Brewery company continued its campaign of support for claimed that his organisation owned less Blackburn brewer Matthew Brown in its than half of Norfolk’s pubs and said he ‘tooth and nail’ fight against a hostile take- was ‘not worried’ about any referral to the over bid from Scottish and Newcastle. Office of Fair Trading. Norwich Branch’s The bid had been referred to the Monopo- Paul Moorhouse said ‘I think he should be lies and Mergers Commission and as it worried. Some of the licensing areas we continued to hear evidence, CAMRA pro- researched showed a Watney ownership duced badges, posters and banners to of nearly seven out of ten pubs. In terms display its ‘Hands off Matthew Brown’ of prices and pub closures we have a message. In June, 400 CAMRA members sound case of an abuse of monopoly attended a demonstration in Edinburgh. power’. Earlier, a parade of Matthew Brown drays St Neots CAMRA held summer meetings led a rally at the House of Commons at at the Golden Knight, Sapley and the Half which a 5000-signature petition was pre- Moon at Kimbolton. Socials visited pairs of sented to Blackburn MP Jack Straw. The pubs in Somersham (the Windmill and brewery closed in 1991 with production of George), Needing- Matthew Brown brands being relocated to worth (the Queens S&N’s Home Brewery in Nottingham and Head and Chest- on its closure to Mansfield Brewery. nuts) and, to the Mansfield Brewery agreed terms to buy west of Huntingdon, North Country Breweries of Hull for £42 the Mermaid at El- Fox at Catworth million. The Hull brewery was expected to lington and the Fox close. Mansfield Brewery was acquired by at Catworth. A July evening walk around Wolverhampton & Dudley (now Marstons) St Neots began at the Kings Head. in 1999 and closed in 2001. Liverpool brewer St Neots brewers Higsons was taken James Paine over by its Man- bought London- chester neighbour based wholesaler Boddingtons brew- Robert Porter from ery in a £26million brewers Gibbs Mew ‘behind closed of Salisbury. Paines doors’ deal. Hig- pub the Queen Vic- sons’ capacity for toria in St Neots lager production was for sale, but Paines were denying was a main driver rumours that another of their pubs, the for the deal. The Boddington breweries Bell at Sawtry, was to be sold. were sold to Whitbread in 1990 who finally closed the Higsons Stanhope brewery site CAMRA’s Norwich and Norfolk branch shortly thereafter. produced a report claiming that a pubs monopoly in Norfolk was working against

6 CheckSupport out your local local music pub events - don't at give www.huntscamra.or them an excuse tog.uk/gigguide close it! A LOOK BACK IN TIME 10 YEARS AGO ery in Suffolk follow- British brewing ing the retirement of became a global its founder Peter industry as Bel- Mauldon after a gian brewers Interbrew completed a dou- lifetime in the brew- ble swoop ten years ago, snapping up the ing trade. Mauldons brewing operations of Whitbread, then brands, including Bass, for £2.7 billion. This followed the the award winning acquisition of the French Kronenbourg Blackadder, were to be retained. brewery by UK brewers Scottish and New- St Neots CAMRA held summer meetings castle earlier in the year. The Bass take- at the Lord John Russell in St Neots, the over was subject to clearance by regula- White Hart, St Ives and the Prince of tors and this would eventually result in the Wales at Hilton, enforced disposal of parts of the Bass where a plaque was brewing business and its acquisition by awarded to owner US brewer Coors. Robin Doughty for Nick and Susanna 12 consecutive ap- Prince of Wales Steiger transformed pearances in the the Grange Hotel in CAMRA Good Beer Brampton into a Guide. There was a visit to Potton brew- magnet for lovers of ery and a Sunday lunchtime riverside walk good food and beer taking in the Pike and Eel at Needing- following their move worth and the Old Ferry Boat at Holywell. there from the old Bridge Hotel in Hunting- CAMRA launched don. an action plan to try Adnams of South- to save one of Brit- wold axed their ain’ most treasured highly regarded breweries after cask beer Adnams Badger brewers Extra. Old Ale and Hall and Wood- Oyster Stout were house of Dorset also dropped and acquired the re- replaced by the vered Sussex real dark 4.5% ABV ale brewer King and Barnes and an- Fisherman. Ad- nounced the planned closure of the brew- nams were brewing ery. at full capacity and Another brewery closed when the Inn- planning expansion of the brewery to Spired group closed their Ushers brewery boost their annual production capacity in Trowbridge, Wiltshire. Ushers was for- from 66000 to 90000 barrels. merly a part of the Watney brewing em- One of Adnams’ senior managers, Steve pire. Simms, bought the Mauldons microbrew-

OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 7 HALF PINTS Marstons has dition, the excise duty escalator of 2% launched ‘Fast above inflation is to be extended for a Cask’ technology to further two years. extend the availabil- Chancellor Alistair Darling has also said ity of cask beer to that HMRC would be looking at the defini- outlets that have restricted cellar space. tion of cider with the possibility of impos- Casks contain fresh yeast immobilised in ing a higher duty rate on the super a gel. Marstons say this allows it to be strength ‘industrial’ ciders from Septem- served immediately as it does not need ber. time to settle and casks can be moved into place as needed. CAMRA’s Technical The new Draycott Advisory Group believes that whilst the Brewery in Buckden technique may strictly meet CAMRA’s is producing real definition of real ale, there are concerns ales in bottle, in- that beer will not be given time for its fla- cluding a roasty vour to mature after venting, as usually porter, Buckden occurs when conventional cask beer is left Black. A range of to settle and condition in the pub cellar. the beers was on sale at CAMRA’s Potbelly brewery of ‘Booze on the Ouse’ beer festival in St Kettering has pro- Neots in March. duced a special bottled real ale to Admiral Taverns has announced it will be help St Ives cele- selling 200 of its 2000 pub estate. Admiral brate the 900th an- ran into financial problems last year and niversary of the was bailed out by Lloyds Bank in a debt granting of its fair for equity swap. charter by King Carlsberg, the Henry I in 1110. Danish brewer The golden beer, that owns Tetleys brewed to 4.4% alcohol by volume using brewery in Leeds, the single hop variety Styrian Goldings, has announced was produced in a limited edition of 500 that cask Tetleys bottles and was available from Easter at Bitter will be con- the Oliver Cromwell in St Ives and at the tract brewed at Easter medieval market held in St Ives as Marstons brewery a part of the town’s 900th anniversary in Wolverhampton celebrations. There are details of the cele- when the Leeds brations that are running throughout the brewery closes. Lib Dem Leeds MP Greg year in St Ives at www.stives900.co.uk Mulholland has called on beer drinkers in The latest budget brought little joy to beer Leeds to boycott Carlsberg beers in pro- and cider drinkers. Beer duty went up by test at the closure of the Leeds brewery. 2% above the current rate of inflation and CAMRA has also hit out at Carlsberg. Bob cider was hit by a 13% rise in duty. In ad- Stukins, CAMRA Vice Chairman, spoke

8 Contact the editor: [email protected], (01480) 355893 HALF PINTS about the adverse impact of the move to depots as part of their restructuring plans. Wolverhampton on the pub going commu- Three depots will close outright - Park nity in Yorkshire. Royal, Newbury and a C&C in Colchester. Nine others will close but be replaced by Leicestershire brew- stockless transit depots. The distributor, ery Everards pro- which is owned by Heineken, made a loss duced cask Abbaye of £21m in the year to the end of Decem- Blonde (5.5% ABV) ber 2008. for JD Wether- spoon’s ‘World’s Molson Coors’ new Largest International Real Ale Festival’. National Brewery The beer was brewed with the help of Centre in Burton on Belgian brewer Val Dieu. Trent was due to open on May 1. The Mitchells & Butlers, old Bass Museum one of the largest and its microbrew- chains of managed ery were closed by owners Molson Coors pubs, is exiting from last year despite a vigorous local cam- its ‘wet-led’ outlets paign of opposition, supported by to concentrate more CAMRA. Attractions on food-led outlets. at the new centre The number of Har- will include shire vester, Toby horses, a working Carvery and Siz- micro-brewery, beer zling Pub Company outlets could more tastings, bars and than double to 400, 300 and 400 respec- restaurants. tively. Regional brewers may be expected to pick up the wet-led pubs that M&B will BrewDog, the Scottish brewery that has be disposing. attracted attention for both strong and expensive beers, has reclaimed the title of Suffolk brewer Ad- the world's strongest beer from a German nams produced a rival. Sink the Bismarck contains 41% cask Irish Dry Stout alcohol by volume (making it 82 proof). in time for St Pat- After BrewDog re- rick’s Day. This was leased Tactical Nu- the final beer in clear Penguin, a 32% Adnams’ innovative abv beer, German series of world style brewer Schorschbrau cask beers. Mean- followed with Schor- while, in Northern schbock, 40% abv. Ireland, Guinness BrewDog said Sink the have been trialling a new black lager pro- Bismarck would cost duced using roasted barley, late hopping £40 for a 330ml bottle and a lager yeast. and would only be sold Waverley TSB is to axe 200 jobs and 12 online.

OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 9 PUB PIECES The Grade II listed Three Horseshoes at An unusually late happy hour promotion Abbots Ripton is expected to be fully has been noted at the Old Bridge Hotel restored within in Huntingdon – from 9:30-10:30 pm. around two years Whitbread’s Brampton Hut has been following a devas- stocking cask beer from Suffolk brewers tating fire that Adnams. wrecked the old thatched part of the The Cock at Hemingford Grey reinstated pub after embers from the pub’s chimney Potbelly brewery’s popular roasty brew set the thatched roof alight in a freak acci- Beijing Black in early spring this year and dent. Owner Lord de Ramsey has said it was expected to remain until the sum- that a six-figure sum will be needed for the mer. restoration including £40-50,000 for the Greene King’s Bell at Great Paxton has a thatching alone. Most of the newer parts new tenant. of the premises were saved by a firewall installed during a refurbishment prior to In St Neots the the long-awaited reopening of the pub Lord John Russell around five years ago. is again offering three to four cask Real ale has been reinstated at Alcon- beers direct from bury Mill following the cask in addition its reopening with a to other beers on change of licensee; the bar. the products of Wadworths and The King's Head in Thwaites have been St. Neots has been noted here. reported to be for sale freehold follow- The Addison Arms at Glatton is stocking ing earlier reports the award-winning real ales of local brew- that it would reopen ers Digfield. later this year after The White Horse at a major refurbish- Tilbrook was ex- ment planned by pected to become owners Punch Taverns. one of the latest The Plough at Eynesbury is now run by outlets for draught the owners and is now selling real ales. Cromwell Cider and has signed up The Queen Ade- to CAMRA’s Dis- laide at Croydon count Scheme to has been serving a offer a discount to all CAMRA members. real ale specially The Horseshoe Inn at Offord Darcy has brewed for them by also agreed to join the CAMRA Discount Cornish brewer Scheme. See page 15 for more details. Sharps.

10 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! PUB PIECES CAMRA member Neil Titmus has a mobile in a birthday party for licensee John Nunn bar, available for use at functions. He has on Sunday 11th. obtained a personal licence and has The Mad Cat, linked up with Potton Brewery for beer Pidley is having a supplies, to offer a real ale bar at events beer festival on Thu that can include fund raising events for 5th—Mon 9th Aug, charities, parties and any kind of special with 11 real ales event. The mobile pub includes 50 chairs and cider, at £2.50 and tables. Hog roasts can be included as per pint. a part of a package. The Black Bull, Brampton is having a The Woolpack St Neots has had yet an- beer festival Thu other change of management. Pete Butler 5th—Sun 8th Aug, who was temporarily managing the Wool- with 18 real ales, pack for Charles Wells has left, and a new and 4 real ciders. management company has taken over Live music Fri & Sat operating the pub. night and Sunday As summer approaches, a large number lunch. BBQ Fri night of pubs in the area have announced plans and all day Sat. Fireworks Sat night. for beer festivals. Wyboston Lakes is running a beer festi- At the White Horse at Tilbrook , Tilfest val Fri 13th—Sun Real Ale and Music 15th Aug, with a Festival is on 29th- selection of local 31st May. Live Mu- real ales and cider, sic every day, BBQ live music from local and Caribbean bands, and a family cooking. day on Sunday. The Horseshoe Inn, Offord Darcy will be The White Hart, Godmanchester is hold- running a midsum- ing a beer festival mer beer fest on the Thu 12th-Sun 15th Millennium Green, Aug, with local real Offord Darcy on Sat ales and ciders, a 19 th June, featuring hog roast and bar- 8 real ales and real becue, and live mu- cider, with a music festival taking place all sic. day. The Cock at Hemingford Grey has their The Pig ‘n’ Falcon, beer festival Fri St Neots is having 27th—Mon 30th a summer beer fes- Aug, with 25 real tival on Tue 6th-Sun ales, a BBQ, and 11th July, with 30+ live music every beers, culminating night.

OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 11 ‘BOOZE ON THE OUSE’ TRIUMPH The St Neots Beer Festival in March this Blackburn (below), who also announced year was a huge success. 1,330 visitors another special presentation for our enjoyed over 3,900 pints of real ale, over branch Pub of the Year (see page 3). 470 pints of cider, and around 420 bottles of foreign beer. The theme of the festival was local beers and ciders, and the feedback from atten- dees was very positive. Cambridgeshire and its neighbouring counties have many breweries and cider producers but their products are not often seen in our local pubs. Following the festival we hope that more licensees will be asked by their regulars to stock these products. The festival enjoyed some special visitors. On the opening night a group of town Congratulations to Bartrams brewery— councillors attended, led by Town Mayor their speciality honey beer, Bees Knees, Gordon Thorpe. Their objective was to was voted beer of the festival. In second sample all the different mild ales we had place was Dr Buskers Bitter Black from available, and having done so they made the Son of Sid brewery and in third place a special award for Elgoods Black Dog, was Digfield Fools Nook. which they judged was the ‘best mild of the festival’. Below, Councillor Thorpe, Congratulations are also due to Bruce (left), is presenting an award to Bar Man- Collier of Bicester, Oxfordshire who was ager Paul Moorhouse. the winner of our prize draw for those completing our feedback form. He wins a copy of a CAMRA book. Volunteers from our charity for the festival, the local Huntingdonshire group of the Wildlife Trust, did sterling work dishing out glasses, and collected funds in the proc- ess. The St Neots Beer Festival will return in 2011 from the 10th to 12th March . Please make a note in your diary. But you do not have to wait that long for another On Friday night we had a brief but very breathtaking selection of real ales, be- welcome visit by local MP Jonathan Dja- cause the St Ives Beer Festival will take nogly, who is now becoming a regular place on the 16th to 18th of September visitor to Booze on the Ouse. 2010 , at the Burgess Hall, St Ivo Centre, Also on the opening night, the festival was St Ives. See you there!! officially opened by Town Crier Mike

12 Join 110,000 members of CAMRA and fight for Britain’s beer heritage The Three Horseshoes The Green Man Wistow Hunts Gerry, Julia and Nick invite you to CAMRA ‘Highly their traditional village pub. Commended’ Pub of the Adnams Year 2010 Bitter and Broadside Picturesque 16th century village pub, The Green Man serves a choice of cask ales and traditional home • Traditional pub food served 12-2pm cooked meals, by courtesy of Mon-Sat; 12-2.30pm Sun (no roast); 6 'Bennett's'. Together with a sociable -8pm Mon-Sat. friendly atmosphere, and typical pub • Children's menu available. games, we also have a converted • Beer garden. barn for celebration's or meetings. • Pool table and wii sports. • Opening times 12-3 6-11pm Mon- The Avenue, Leighton Bromswold, Fri;12-10pm Sat; 12-4pm Sun. PE28 5AW Mill Rd, Wistow, PE28 2QQ 01480 890238, www.greenmanpub.org (01487) 822270

The King William IV THE SWAN Main Street, Old Weston at Fenstanton Tel: 01832 293400 Food is now REAL ALES and REAL FOOD available on Sunday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm ***** Fish menu available on the Adnams Southwold Bitter 1st Thursday of each month Adnams Broadside ***** Greene King Abbot + Guests Live music most weeks! Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2004 For details please call us on Fish & Chips Wednesday Evening 01480 462467 Restaurant open Friday & Saturday [email protected] evenings & Sunday lunchtimes

OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 13 14 Updates to beer festival details - www.huntscamra.org.uk/festivals CAMRA MEMBERS’ DISCOUNT SCHEME Supporting Community Pubs At the White CAMRA has launched a new initiative to Horse in Til- help drive trade to community pubs by brook , licen- introducing a national, unified real ale see Richard discount scheme for CAMRA members. Binks is offer- ing CAMRA Plenty of pubs across Britain already offer members a CAMRA card-carrying members discounts 5% off their on the real ales they sell. This new bill at the scheme will help these pubs, and hope- White Horse fully some new pubs, to promote these on production of their CAMRA member- offers clearly to CAMRA members, hope- ship card, the discount applying to food as fully resulting in more trade. well as to drinks. The discount is at the discretion of the pub We hope to be reporting on other pubs and can be as little or as large as it feels offering CAMRA member discount suits their business. All pubs selling real schemes in the coming months. Details ale can participate in the scheme. will be included in Opening Times and on Full details of how the scheme works, and a special page on our web site how pub operators can sign up to the www.huntscamra.org.uk/discountscheme. scheme, and pubs already participating, can be found on the CAMRA national website at www.camra.org.uk/ discountscheme. The Addison Arms Locally, two pubs have already signed up Ian & Michelle would love to welcome you to to this scheme. The Addison Arms, where can enjoy the atmosphere of a traditional country pub . The Horseshoe Inn at Offord Darcy has recently launched a VIP card loyalty You can choose from a se- lection of real ales or wine scheme, which rewards regular visitors and sample dishes from our with points for purchases, with accumu- traditional English menu. lated points being exchanged for drinks or Food is served daily, except a meal. Licensee Ian Kennedy’s offer to on Sunday nights when we CAMRA members is double points, that is hold a popular pub quiz CAMRA members that join the Horseshoe where all are welcome. Opening times: VIP club will receive double points on pro- Monday - Saturday 11:30 - 2:30 Food duction of their CAMRA membership card. served 12:00 - 2:00 5:30 - 11:00 Food VIP card holders will get other special served 6.00 - 9.00, Sunday 12:00 - 15.00 offers. See the advert on page 2 for an Food served 12:00 - 2:30 7.00 - 10.30 No example. The Horseshoe Inn is also mak- Food served - Quiz Night. ing the pledge that they will not be know- ingly undersold with in a three mile radius Sawtry Road, Glatton, PE28 5RZ of the pub, which includes all the pubs in 01487 830 410 Buckden, Brampton and Godmanchester. www.addisonarms.co.uk

OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 15 CAMRA MEMBERS’ INVESTMENT CLUB Have you ever wished companies including Black Sheep, Mar- that you owned part of a stons, Greene King, Fullers and Youngs, brewery or one of the together with a few overseas companies many pub chains now in existence? including Duvel Moortgat and the Cantillon Brewery, both in Belgium. The Committee We turn that wish into a reality and, as is actively seeking to increase the Club’s company shareholders, we help to make a involvement with the ever increasing micro- difference to policies introduced by their brewery sector. directors. The fund and the investments are man- We have been investing in breweries since aged by an elected, ten-strong committee 1989 and we have approximately 4,000 that meets on a regular basis to discuss members in the Club. At the end of Febru- the Club’s portfolio, future investments and ary 2010 the fund value stood at £8.67m other matters which may affect the Club. with a unit value of £2.98. The Club has its own web site, You are eligible to join us at the CAMRA www.CMIC.uk.com where you can find Members' Investment Club only if you are a more details, including planned brewery member of CAMRA. You can invest any trips and other events, reports on past vis- amount from £5 to £83 per month with an its and the AGM which is normally held in annual maximum of £1,000. June each year, usually in Beeston, Not- The funds are invested in a wide range of tingham.

16 Find local pub music and other events www.huntscamra.org.uk/gigs The White Horse Tilbrook

Tilfest 2010" The Real Ale and Music Festival of 2010, 29th29th----31st31st May. Live Music every day includ- ing Split Whiskers, Owen Edwards with Redsox, 32/20, Hugh Grundy from the "Zombies", John Verity of the "John Verity Band" and "Argent" and much more. Enjoy fantastic BBQ food and Tradi- tional Caribbean Cooking from Jamaican Chef Jodi Jenny. Plenty for the kids to do including face painting. There will be a Charity Fund Raising Raffle with proceeds going to the MS Society. Large Marquee so don't worry if the weather isn't great. Do not miss this great event. Ring us or email us for a full programme of events over the 3 days.

White Horse, High Street, Tilbrook, Cambridgeshire, PE28 0JP Tel: 01480 860764, www.whitehorsetilbrook.com

OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 17 COMMUNITY PUBS TOUR 2010 As part of CAMRA’s community pubs Horseshoes in Wistow week, the Huntingdonshire branch of to enjoy their Adnams CAMRA organised a coach trip. This took beers. This thatched place on Saturday the 13th of February pub is at the heart of with the aim of visiting some of the more the village of Wistow, far flung pubs on the northern fringes of and once again we the branch area. While we waited for the found the locals very understanding of coach to complete its pickups in St Neots having their pub briefly overrun by an in- and Huntingdon, the St Ives contingent creasingly enthusiastic bunch. slipped into the Floods Tavern for a quick Moving on to the final stretch, we called at half of Elgood’s Greyhound. Surprisingly the Royal Oak in Warboys. For many of given the area that we were touring, this us, this was a first visit since the pub was to be our only encounter with the changed hands last year, and it was Wisbech beers. pleasing to see interesting real ales being Our first stop was the Green Man at served. Our final Leighton Bromswold. Arriving around port of call was our 1pm, we found this friendly rural pub to be pub of the year for very busy with locals as well as some 2009: the Mad Cat travelling rugby fans. In addition to some in Pidley. As ever, well presented beers, a few of us enjoyed Darren and his team gave us a very warm a game or two of Northamptonshire hood welcome and supplied some great beer to skittles and chatting with the locals. finish off the day. Some hot snacks were very welcome by this stage and they kept Moving on a short distance to the Swan at arriving even as we sadly had to rejoin the Old Weston, again we found a pub busy coach for the trip back home! with locals enjoying a lunchtime pint. We enjoyed Oakham and Taylor’s beers in As well as providing a thoroughly enjoy- front of a roaring fire. Leaving Old Wes- able opportunity to visit some great pubs ton, we eventually found our way to the without having to do any driving, this trip Addison Arms at Glatton, and we were showed once again how many great and very glad we did. As well as some deli- welcoming pubs we have in our branch cious sandwiches, we found some inter- area. It was also refreshing to see such a esting beers here, including a house beer variety of small local breweries repre- brewed by Digfield. sented in the pubs that we visited. Most of us managed to visit at least one new, or Next, we ventured just outside the branch rarely visited pub and a good time was area to the Admiral Wells, Holme—a large had by all. Thanks once again for the pub alongside a railway level crossing. warm welcome received at all of the pubs, Inside, there are several high-ceilinged the great beer and the roaring fires. If you rooms each with access to a central bar, are interested in coming on future pub where again we found Digfield beers, as tours, some of which are open to non- well as others from Nethergate and Oak- CAMRA members for a small charge, ham. Moving back into our branch area check our branch diary at once again, we called in at the Three www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary.

18 Booze on the Ouse - www.huntscamra.org.uk/festival for more details YOUNG MEMBERS’ SOCIAL Saturday 6th March 2010 saw the the good cake branch’s first event aimed specifically at range available! Young Members. A small but select group All profits from the of the branch’s young members (and event go to Cam- some of those young at heart) attended bridge Council of the Cambridge RAG Beer Festival – an Voluntary Services event organised by Cambridge Students which supports vol- RAG Appeal but supported by the Cam- untary groups bridge CAMRA branch. across Cambridge. The University Social Club (which also We hope to organ- hosts CAMRA’s successful Winter Ales ise some more festival and Octoberfest) played host to an Young Members Events over the next event featuring 20 real ales and 10 ciders year. Technically a Young Member is 18 over two days. The beer range had a to 30 – but age is a state of mind! Anyone strong regional flavour - highlights includ- wanting more information or to come on ing Wolf Lavender Honey and Cambridge future events should contact Helen Bar- Moonshine’s Chocolate Orange Stout, nard at [email protected]. both of which drank especially well with

OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 19 LOCAL SUPPORT FOR CASK ALE WEEK Cask Ale Week, held The Axe and Compass at Hemingford during the Easter Abbots rotated a range of six cask beers week, included a live during the week from brewers including Twitter real ale tasting Elgoods, Adnams and Brewsters. led nationally by The White Hart at Alconbury Weston CAMRA’s Roger replaced its Easter weekend beer festival Protz, joined by tast- with a week of celebration in conjunction ers on Twitter in their with Cask Ale Week. The emphasis was local pubs. FemAle on locally-brewed real ales and beers Day encouraged voted in for the week by the pub’s regular women drinkers to try cask ale and many customers. During the week there was pubs joined in for celebrations during the also an extended food specials board to week. Cask Ale Week, organised by help keep hunger at bay, including exotic CAMRA, Cask Marque and the brewing burgers. and pubs industry to encourage more drinkers to try real ale, was supported by Greene King also supported Cask Ale numerous local pubs. Week by calling for a national lager am- nesty. In London, Greene King gave out Greene King provided free beer at the Pig cards enabling drinkers to swap their lager ‘n’ Falcon in St Neots to encourage for a free pint of Greene King IPA at a CAMRA members to ‘introduce a friend’ to number of London pubs. cask beer. As well as the friends that 30 CAMRA members brought with them, we Wells & Young’s celebrated Cask Ale made lots of new friends during the eve- Week by launching Young’s London Gold, ning. Pictured below is committee mem- a new permanent Young’s cask beer to ber Sonia Clarke with ‘friends’ Marcin and complement the existing portfolio of Paul. Young’s Bitter and Young’s Special.

To find out about live music events in Huntingdonshire and surrounding areas go to www.huntscamra.org.uk/gigs .

To subscribe to our weekly newsletter send an email to: camragol- Other participants in Cask Ale Week in- [email protected] cluded the Seven Wives in St Ives , with an extension to its usual regularly chang- To submit an event to the guide, send the details to: ing range of real ales, and the White [email protected] Horse at Tilbrook , with cut price real ale or from Charles Wells. (01480) 477118

20 Read Opening Times online: www.huntscamra.org.uk/news JOHN BURR: BREWING EXECUTIVE St Neots man John Burr was a leading The 1960s was a period figure in the UK brewing industry and was of rapid expansion for credited with introducing the bestselling Charrington. Burr was a lager Carling Black Label to England. He key figure in ensuring the rose rapidly through the industry’s ranks rapid success of their and as brewers large and small began to mergers and acquisi- merge in the 1960s and 1970s it fell to him tions. to oversee the smooth expansion of the In 1967 Bass Charring- biggest of them all — Bass Charrington. ton was formed, with John Burr was born in St Neots in 1918. Burr becoming managing After attending Bedford School, he joined director of the brewing and distribution brewers Wells and Winch in Biggleswade company Bass Production, based in Bur- in 1937. In his first week he distinguished ton upon Trent. himself by letting a brew of IPA flow from While there he created the Bass (later the mash tun onto the brewery floor. Coors) Museum of Brewing to house the After the war he returned to the Biggles- records of breweries. wade brewery, and remained there until John Burr, MBE, died on January 18, 1951, when he moved to London brewery 2010, aged 91. (From The Times, Febru- Charrington & Co in the Mile End Road as ary 12, 2010). bottling manager. The Cock at Hemingford Grey Four Real Ales from breweries such as Nethergate, Potbelly, Wolf, Oldershaw, Great Oakley, Milton, and Oakham. Cromwell Cider. Beer Festival – August Bank Holiday: Band every night. Somersham T Band Sunday afternoon. 25 Beers: Top Quality BBQ National and Regional Dining Pub of the Year 2010 (Good Pub Guide) In a continued effort to source all of our produce locally we have adopted a policy of only using breweries for our real ale within a one hour drive. Call 01480 463609 or see website cambscuisine.com OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 21 EVENTS AND SOCIALS May 2010 – Trip to Peterborough Sat 15 th Visit to the pubs of Peterborough, to include the Palmerston Arms, Charters, the Coalheavers, Brewery Tap, and more. Starting in the Drapers Arms at 13:00. The itinerary will be confirmed via the website. Sat 15 th CAMRA will be running a real beer stall at the Huntingdon Communities Festival , on the Godmanchester Recreation Ground, just over the Chinese Bridge, between 12 noon and 18:00. On offer will be 8 real ales and 3 real ciders (all from local breweries and producers) and a selection of continental bottled beers. See the advert on page 19. June 2010 - Trip to Sheffield Tues 8th Open Committee meeting at the Pike and Eel, Needingworth (20:30 pm) Sat 19 th Visit to the pubs of Sheffield including: a trip to the Kelham Island brewery (£5 per head), current and previous CAMRA Pubs of the Year, the Kelham Island Tavern and the Fat Cat , amongst others. Itinerary to be confirmed via the website. Please contact Mel Ellis if you wish to visit the brewery and for further details. July 2010 –Local Tours of Pubs in St Ives, Buckden and Offords Tues 6th Open Committee meeting at the Three Horsehoes, Houghton (20:30 pm) Fri 9 th Local pubs of St Ives. A trip around the pubs of St Ives starting in the Aviator 20:30 / Floods Tavern 21:00 / Nelsons Head 21:30 / Dolphin 21:55 / Oliver Cromwell 22:20. Sat 24 th Visit to pubs of Buckden and the Offords , using the 65 bus and/or a stroll between the villages. Itinerary to be confirmed via the website. August 2010 - Beer festival, The Cock, Hemingford Grey Tues 10 th Open Committee meeting at the Addision Arms, Glatton (20:30 pm) Fri 27 th Beer Festival at the Cock, Hemingford Grey . Entertainment will be provided. Meet at the bar (in the beer garden) at 20:30 pm An up to date listing of social events can also be found at the website: www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary. For more information contact the Social Secretary (see below). WHO TO CONTACT Chairman: Kathy Hadfield-Moorhouse , 01480 496247 (h), chair- [email protected]. Secretary: Helen Barnard, 07866 171176 (m), [email protected] Treasurer: Edric Ellis, 01480 492213 (h), [email protected] Membership: Margaret Eames , 01480 385333 (h) Socials: Melanie Ellis 01480 492213, [email protected] Pubs Info: Roy Endersby , 01480 473364, [email protected] Going Out Live Event Guide: Chris Knowles , 01480 477118 (14:00-22:00)

22 Updates to Branch Diary - www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary TRADING STANDARDS OPENING TIMES Your local Trading Standards organisation Opening Times is published by the is Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA, the Standards. If you have any complaints Campaign for Real Ale (© 2010) All rights about trading standards issues at local reserved. pubs, such as short measure or mislead- Views or comments expressed in this ing product promotion, please contact publication may not necessarily be those them. of the Editor or of CAMRA. They have a role to protect consumers Editor: Andy Shaw , 01480 355893 (h), from errors or frauds concerned with 07802 485449 (m), quality, description or price of goods, [email protected], 13a services or facilities and to detect and Peppercorns Lane, Eaton Socon, St rectify unfair advertising practices. Neots, PE19 8HL. Contact Cambridgeshire Trading To Advertise Standards helpdesk on 08454 040 506, To place an advert or enquire about our or at Trading Standards Division, Sackville rates please contact: House, Sackville Way, Great Cambourne, Neil Richards: 01536 358670 or Cambridgeshire, CB2 6HL. The local [email protected] trading standards web site is Printed by Lodge Printers Ltd Tel 01487 832629 www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/business/ trading/. The national trading standards Deadline for Autumn 2010 issue (144) web site is www.tradingstandards.gov.uk. is Friday 16th July 2010.

THE CHEQUERS 71 Main Road, Little Gransden Tel: 01767 677348 East Anglia CAMRA Pub of the Year 2008 Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2010 Bob and Wendy Mitchell invite you to try their unique unspoilt village local with its own special atmosphere Different Real Ale each week

OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 23 The Royal Oak Darren and Sinead of the Mad Cat, Pidley Interesting range of real ales. Traditional home cooked pub food served daily. Tue-Sat 12-2.30; 6-9, Sunday carvery 12-4. Open all day every day 12 noon—11pm 70 Mill Green, Warboys, PE28 2SB Telephone: 01487 824248 The Mad Cat A warm welcome from Sinead and Darren 2 real ales from local breweries, constantly changing Food available daily. Traditional home cooked pub food. Mon-Sat 12-2.30; 6-9, Sunday carvery 12-4. Beer Festival Thu 5th—Mon 9th August 11 real ales, all at £2.50 per pint, plus real cider . Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2009 High Street, Pidley, PE28 3BX Telephone: 01487 842245, www.madcatinn.co.uk