Long Itchington Brewery Run Single-Handedly by Sunderland University and in Was Called Seven Year Itch (A Trevor Howarth, Long Manchester

FREE The Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84 July - September 2014

PUBS IN LEAMINGTON SPA AND WARWICK THE JUG AND JESTER, THE BENJAMIN SATCHWELL AND THE THOMAS LLOYD Five or more real ales are always available with a selection of local brewers and from around the UK with a least two ‘Real Ale Festivals’ held throughout the year Extensive food menu served daily from 8am- 11pm with a variety of club days and special promotions All with the room to cater for any occasion All with free-wifi

THE JUG AND JESTER THE BENJAMIN THE THOMAS LLOYD 11/13 BATH STREET SATCHWELL 3-7 MARKET PLACE LEAMINGTON SPA 112-114 THE PARADE WARWICK CV31 3HS LEAMINGTON SPA CV34 4SA 01926 331820 CV32 4AQ 01926 475690 01926 883733

2 2 Beer andBeer Ragged and Ragged Staff IssueStaff Issue82 83 The Beer and Ragged Staff Issue No. 84 July 2014 Published by The Heart of Warwickshire In this issue Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, 5 Lammas Walk, Warwick. CV34 4UX. Phone: 01926 403423. Branch diary 4 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.camrahow.org.uk Harbury Beer Festival 5

CAMRA HQ: 230 Hatfield Road, ST. ALBANS, Featured pub - The Talbot 7 Hertfordshire. AL1 4LW. Phone: 01727 867201. Brewery news 9

Printed by Cadman Printers, Unit 7D, Sourcing hops 11 Jenton Road, Sydenham Industrial Estate, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 1SX. Pub news 13 Phone: 01926 423742. Opinions and views expressed in this Long Itchington 14 newsletter are not necessarily official branch or CAMRA policy. All contents, except Around and about 16 otherwise indicated, © copyright CAMRA Heart of Warwickshire 2014. New rules for pub tenants 18 Heart of Warwickshire Branch Committee Pizza and beer 19 Chairman: John Crossling ([email protected]) LocALE 23 Treasurer: Tony Cragg (treasurer@camrahow. org.uk) Social media 26 Secretary: Sally-Jane Downes (secretary@ camrahow.org.uk) Membership Secretary: Robina Griffiths([email protected]) Magazine Editor: Ian Bayliss (editor@ camrahow.org.uk) Press Officer: John Crossling (press@ camrahow.org.uk) Your branch Public Affairs Officer: Robina Griffiths ([email protected]) Pubs Officer and Pub News: David Griffiths ([email protected]) needs you! Cider Officer: Ian Bayliss (cider@camrahow. Come and volunteer at the org.uk) Social Secretary: John Griffiths (events@ Harbury Beer Festival camrahow.org.uk) Webmaster: Dave Wedgbury (webmaster@ Friday 29 and Saturday 30 camrahow.org.uk) Committee Members: Andrew Thomas August To contact by phone, call 07925 633 173 and Contact Chairman: John Crossling leave message stating the contact required. [email protected] Trading Standards Warwickshire County Council Website Advertising rates http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk Phone Trading Standards Headquarters Per single issue (full colour only) Phone: 01926 414040 Oblong (128mm x 41mm) £40.00 Call in person Warwickshire Trading Standards, Old Budbrooke Road, Warwick Quarter page (63mm x 94mm) £40.00 CV35 7DP Half page (128mm x 94mm) £75.00 Full page (128mm x 188mm £140.00 Press date for next issue Discounts will apply for multiple entries. (October 2014) is Monday To advertise please contact [email protected] 1 September. To contact the Heart of Warwickshire Branch call 07925 633 173 www.camrahow.org.uk

July - September 2014 3 Branch Diary All events start at 20.30 unless otherwise stated 01/07/2014 Magazine Moorings Cape of Good Distribution CV31 3NY Hope CV34 5DP 08/07/2014 Country White Lion White Hart Bowling Olde Mint Market Radford CV31 Ufton Green Southam Tavern 1TE CV33 9PJ Southam CV47 0EP Southam CV47 0EP CV41 1PH 15/07/2014 Leamington Newbold Somerville Regency Arms Royal Pug Benjamin Start 20.00 Comyn Arms CV32 4SX CV32 4HN CV32 5BZ Satchwell CV32 4EU CV32 4AQ 22/07/2014 Branch Wild Boar 20.00 Meeting CV34 5BU 29/07/2014 Country Fox & Hen Duck on the The Buck & Harvester Bascote CV47 Pond, Long Bell CV47 9PE 2DN Itchington CV47 9PH CV47 9QJ 05/08/2014 Country New Inn Joseph Arch, The Granville Leopard Norton Barford CV35 Barford CV35 Bishops Tach Lindsey CV35 8EH 8DS CV33 9RN 8JA 12/08/2014 Warwick Woodloes Dun Cow Antelope Kings Head Punch Bowl Tavern CV34 5RH CV34 5RH CV34 4TD CV34 4SS CV34 5RN 19/08/2014 Leamington The Railway Robbin's Well The Avenue Jug & Jester CV31 2DL CV31 3AB CV34 5NE CV31 3AF 26/08/2014 No crawl 29/08/2014 - 30/08/2014 Harbury Beer Festival 02/09/2014 No crawl Post Festival 09/09/2014 Country Montgomery Case is Altered Falcon Hatton Arms of Alamein CV35 7JD CV35 7HA CV35 7JJ CV35 8RT 16/09/2014 Warwick Anchor Leek Saxon Mill Great Western Oak Wotton CV34 5YN CV34 4LJ CV34 4NT CV35 7QX 23/09/2014 Country Great Bell Ladbroke Wharf Inn Black Dog Western, CV47 2BY Fenny CV47 0HF Deppers Compton Bridge CV47 2FE CV47 2ST 30/09/2014 Branch Lounge, 20.00 Meeting Leamington CV32 4AG 07/10/2014 Magazine Porridge Pot Thomas Lloyd, 20.30 Distribution CV34 6RB CV34 4BA

Diary page at http://www.camrahow.org.uk/index.php?p=diary

4 Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84 The 24rd Harbury Beer Festival The 24rd Harbury Beer also celebrating the 40th to Michael Jackson; from Festival is taking place on anniversary of CAMRA in reggae to classic rock. You Friday 29th and Saturday 30th Warwickshire. To mark this have to hear it to believe August at the Village Hall occasion we are asking as it and I really think they organised by the CAMRA many of the local breweries will go down a strum (or - Heart of Warwickshire as possible to produce something like that). branch. a special anniversary ale The food once again will be We will be open from and we will be running a provided by the Village Hall 5.30pm – 11.30pm on the competition to judge the Committee together with Friday evening and from best in advance of the start the Scouts and will provide 11.30am – 4.00pm; and of the festival. pork pies and samosas, hot again 6.00pm – 11.30pm on As usual we will search out dogs, bacon and cheese the Saturday. a wide range of styles and rolls. This year’s Harbury Beer strengths and will hopefully The price for the entry festival will feature beers have something to appeal to package remains at £10 from Brewsters. Beers everyone. to include entrance, glass from all over the country The Hereburgh Morris team programme and some will be drawn together to will be dancing during the beer tokens and there are demonstrate that women Saturday afternoon session extra tokens for CAMRA can brew beer just as well and on Saturday evening members! as the men – some might the musical entertainment Please remember no say better than them – but will be completely different children are allowed inside they have had more practice from anything we have during the evening sessions. as they did all the brewing had before. They are If you would like to be part during medieval times when called the Strumtoopers, of the teamwho work at the men were out working don’t worry you are not the festival please contact the fields. going to be subjected to John Crossling (chairman@ Alongside these, the usual the Star Wars theme all camrahow.org.uk). collection of Warwickshire night. They are a ukulele breweries will be featured. band that play covers of However this year we are everything from the Beatles

Brewster Catherine from Buntingford Brewery will again be providing Harbury with possibly another award winning beer, see page 16

July - September 2014 5 114 years of craft brewed beer

Sadler’s Ales Brewery 7, STOURBRIDGE ROAD, LYE, STOURBRIDGE, DY9 7DG TEL: 01384 895230 [email protected]

Sadlers_A6_PressReady.indd 1 07/03/2014 07:19 How refreshing!

A traditional pub where ordinary folk meet to drink extraordinary beer.

Josie James and her team have fought off the unnecessary desire to ‘up- grade’ or ‘modernise’ in favour of a continuing charm - if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Thus the Woodland Tavern remains unsullied by wine bar graphics or texting bar staff and the commonplace is treated with respect: clean comfortable surroundings, 3 Regent Street Leamington Spa CV32 5HW courteous good humour and BLOODY (01926) 425868 GOOD BEER! Cheers Email: [email protected]

6 Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84 The Talbot - a part of local history We came across it when walking along than life figure by all accounts who many the Grand Union Canal towpath where locals remember with affection and had the we noticed a landmark mural on a side pub for thirty years from 1970. It was not wall. Tucked away down Rushmore Street unusual to call the pub after an incumbent in Leamington Spa, looking more like a as it was earlier known as ‘Mickies’ after terraced house than a hostelry, we discovered Frederick Michael Fathers, landlord from The Talbot, a real, no frills traditional pub 1919 to 1951 during which time it was selling a good range of real ales. owned by Ansells Brewery. Further back in There is a friendly atmosphere here where its history, The Talbot, along with over 120 you can enjoy a game of darts in the bar or other licences in the town, was owned by the relax in the snug. historic Leamington brewery, Lucas and Co. Ltd. The Talbot, first licenced in 1880, boasts the lowest number of licensees in Leamington A Free House since the eighties, The Talbot during its history, with only nine all told, provides real ale enthusiasts with a range of including Nick Ford the current one. guest ales, and often a real cider, all from For many years the pub was affectionately hand pull pumps. known as ‘Hector’s House’ so named for the I encourage you to take a visit and see for landlord, Hector George Ashwood, a larger yourself!

If you would like your local to feature in The Beer and Ragged Staff please send us an article and some pictures to [email protected]

July - September 2014 7 THE OAK 27, Coten End, Warwick Tel 01926 493774 Summer Beer Festival - 2nd - 9th Sept 25 Cask Ales & Ciders from the best micro breweries in Norfolk Music - Sat 2nd Sept “K2 Acoustic” and BBQ 3pm • Five ales always available - probably the best in Warwick! • Sky TV now available - two screens • Food available - all day plus parties/ special events fully catered • New Opening Hours: Mon 3pm-12 ; Tues -Thurs 1pm -12; Friday Saturday & Sunday 12 noon-1am

Be there ..!

8 Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84 Brewery News Church Farm 5 BBL fermenters to cope with Long Itch Brewery The next two speciality beers increased demand. Brewer Trevor Howarth will be ready soon. These are Church Farm is participating released a spring special called Chocolate Stout, 5.5% with in the CAMRA in Coventry & ‘Seven Year Itch’ in early Phoenix hops and Maris Otter Warwickshire 40th anniversary March. It celebrates both his malt and IPA, 5.0% light ale trail - with at least one beer seventh wedding anniversary amber colour with Citra hops available from the Punch Bowl (to Audrey) and the seventh and Maris Otter malt. in Warwick. year of the Long Itchington Also available in bottles only is The Cape of Good Hope, Beer Festival, which attracts Mad Cow at 9%, an amber ale. Warwick, is now a permanent vast numbers of punters to the There are plans for additional outlet - usually one beer six village pubs in May. bottle conditioned beers, a available, sometime two. The beer is a golden ale, 4% Rum and Raisin Stout at 5.6% ABV; the recipe comprises conditioned in Rum casks Slaughterhouse four malts and three American and a Whisky finished porter The Slaughterhouse brewery hop varieties. conditioned in former whisky are very happy to have their puncheon barrels. apprentice Ricky Howells . The brewing kit has been joining them full time. augmented with two additional

The Slaughterhouse Brewery Launch Warwick Old Ale at Reception for Royal Regiment of Fusiliers The Slaughterhouse brewery were honoured to be invited to provide a bar for the Civic reception held to honour the granting of the ‘Freedom of Warwickshire’ to the Second Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. In attendance was the Duke of Kent in his role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment. The brewery used the occasion to give the first official tasting of their ‘Warwick Old Ale’, this the official beer of the Warwick 1100 celebrations is matured in casks for 3 months before being blended with a young beer to produce a 6% dark complex beer. Limited quantities of this beer will be available to the local free trade shortly and a special 7.7% Grand Cru will be exclusively available at this years Harbury beer festival. Speaking after the event, Peter Knell said: “We were honoured to provide the beer for such a wonderful occasion and current Fusiliers as well as Veterans certainly seemed to enjoy it!”

July - September 2014 9

Studley Wheelbarrow Race Sunday 24th August Starts at 12pm at The Bell ~ Pig Roast and BBQ

Studley Beer festival Starts 26th September 12pm

at: REAL ALE Barley Mow The Bell A CHANCE LIVE MUSIC Entaco Club TO WIN AN The Lark FOOD The Railway IPAD MINI The Shakespeare TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY MORRIS DANCERS The Swan The Victoria Works

10 Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84 Sourcing Hops Could Become a Bit of a Bind According to the BBC website (15/5/14) Small producers who rely on last minute brewers could be finding it increasingly hop purchases could miss out. A shortage difficult to source certain hops – especially was experienced in 2007. Panic buying may those from America. be premature but small brewers may need to think further ahead or be ready to tweak The price of hops in the US has doubled their recipes. Perhaps there will be a revival in the last 10 years and it is being driven by of traditional English varieties like fuggles craft beer which has quickly grown to claim and goldings which might be used in greater 8% of the market over there. quantities to produce a new range of striking ales. Craft beers use far more hops than the conventional brews perhaps as much as 6 times as many. A shift has taken place away from bland high yield hops to the aromatic varieties that give the distinctive citrus flavours. There is double trouble as not only are more hops being used but these varieties also have a lower yield.

The balance of hop acreage will be 60:40 in favour of aromatic ones whereas it used to be the other way around to the tune of 70:30. In Addition it takes two years for a hop plant to be productive and with the number of new craft brewers opening up it is going to be a close run thing as to whether hop supply will be able to keep up with demand. It could get difficult as early as next year.

In Europe the price of hops has not increased in the same way as in the USA but many microbreweries are using American hops. Even in the UK if last year’s weather were to be repeated things could get difficult over here. The 2014 crop is pretty much sold out.

July - September 2014 11 12 Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84 If you have any pub news or upcoming festivals please let us know at [email protected] Pub news The Wild Boar Red Lion, Northend – Has re-opened Steve Rowbotham old/new chef has with new management. It is now managed returned to the pub. They are intending to by the team from the White Hart at Ufton. schedule different themed specials nights. They are also introducing monthly cinema Waterside, Leamington Spa – The nights with a different range of films being Tiller Pin has had a refurbishment and name shown on their 100″ screen. The first film change. The pub is now offering 3 real ales shown was “Gravity” which was very well and increased emphasis on food. attended. The pub are starting up a film club Great Western, Depper’s Bridge – to hear what people would like to be shown Has been refurbished and re-opened in May. and to give great deals on these nights. If you are interested in joining please email Two Boats, Long Itchington – [email protected] Re-opened just before the Beer Festival and is serving 4 real ales. The Gamecock - Harbury has recently been taken over by local residents Rob & Boat, Stockton – Re-opened Libby Darlison. Having lived in the village for some twenty years or so they will be Bridge, Napton – Re-opening soon known to many of the local community. Old Post Office, Warwick – Work is They also run a wine merchant business for progressing at this new establishment on both trade and retail with a shop in the same West Street. They will be open soon. village. Royal Pug, Leamington Spa – the The pub currently has two handpulls but the sister hositilery of the Fat Pug is now open. new owners are keen to increase this soon. The landlord, Rob, hopes to add more Townhouse, Leamington Spa – variety and also increase the number of real Has re-opened ales available at any time. Ideally building up to six handpulls with between 4 and 6 on, New Binswood Tavern, Leamington Spa depending on the time of week. – demolished The regular food offering will be based Zetland Arms – Lease for sale around tapas and deli boards, alongside British classics. This will be supported by Bull, Southam – Closed monthly food events and also wine tastings. The pub will be open until 20th July, at which point it will close for a refurb for almost two weeks, reopening on the 2nd August for bank holiday weekend. It is at this point that the menu will also be launched.

The Plough Inn, Warmington The new patio area is ready for enjoying a beer outside in the summer. July - September 2014 13 Long Itchington Brewery Run single-handedly by Sunderland University and in was called Seven Year Itch (a Trevor Howarth, Long Manchester. generously hopped golden Itch Brewery has been The converted barn ale). This was brewed to operating in Long Itchington he brews from is on commemorate the seventh (office) and Offchurch a picturesque farm in year of the Long Itchington (brewery) since January Offchurch which keeps Beer Festival, also Trevor 2013. Trevor originally rare breed sheep; the and Audrey’s seventh hails from Manchester brewery is surrounded by wedding anniversary year! but has been living in the newborn lambs in spring. Trevor likes drinking a wide Midlands for 25 years. After The stainless steel brewing range of ales but particularly an engineering degree at equipment was made likes darker beers full of Birmingham University in Bury by Dave Porter flavour (Youngers’ No.3 he worked in the local car (appropriate appellation is fondly remembered industry (Land Rover / MG if ever there was) with a from his student days in Rover) until the Longbridge capacity of 5.5 brewers Birmingham for example) factory closed in 2005. After barrels (800 litres or around as well as strong and hoppy several years of contract 1400 pints) per brew. He IPAs, and Belgian beers. He work he moved to Long uses British malt and a mix develops his own recipes Itchington in 2011 with his of British, US, European and beer names in a variety wife Audrey in an ‘escape and New Zealand whole of ways, often it can stem to the country’ move, also leaf hops. There are six ales from a conversation over with the aim of setting up in the core line-up ranging a pint or two in one of his a micro-brewery. It took from a 3.5% hoppy blonde, locals in his home village! two years to bring the a session IPA, a honey ale The brewing training has project to fruition, involving made with Warwickshire given him the tools to put searches for suitable honey, a traditional brown a balanced recipe together premises, researching the ale, a porter and a Belgian in a short time, so he can local market, planning style. There’s also a changing very quickly brew a new applications and commercial seasonal special every three special or bespoke brew brewing training courses at months, the last of which when required. For example the winter special Choczilla (a 6.5% chocolate vanilla stout) went from an initial idea over a conversation with a customer for a festival beer, to a commercial brew in a matter of days. The pump clips were designed and printed in parallel and the brew was released to the trade a matter of weeks later once it had

14 Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84 conditioned in the cask. style ale was awarded a silver gmail.com The beer was very well medal in the ‘bottled bitters website www. received and the majority of 5% and over’ category. longitchbrewery.co.uk pubs who bought it came Trevor thinks the future Facebook page www. back for more. If a pub or of micro-brewing could facebook.com/ local independent chain is be massively helped if the pages/Long-Itch- interested in a bespoke brew proposed pubco reform is Brewery/192380704217687 Trevor would be happy to carried out as promised by develop a recipe, name and the government. Currently Long Itch Brewery pump clip to suit. free-houses account for only regular beer listing... Sales have steadily increased 10-15% of pubs, the rest Fiesta 3.5% Hoppy straw/ in the 16 months or so being tied and controlled by blond beer. since starting, with the regional and national pub Light Relief 3.8% Session majority being cask ales companies and breweries. pale ale. to free houses around The micro-brewery boom Honey Trap 4.1% Gold Warwickshire and eight local over the last ten years has with honey sweetness. JD Wetherspoon branches. given the UK a huge variety Backscratcher 4.5% Deals with other breweries of exciting new ales - if they Chestnut brown bitter. and wholesalers are also could sell guest ales to all Dark Side 4.8% A porter taking the beer further pubs rather than just those with a smooth finish. afield to Birmingham, 10-15% of free-houses then Dubbel Trubbel 5.9% Black Country, Shropshire, a lot more ale drinkers could Amber Belgian style beer. Derbyshire, Northants, enjoy a greater variety of Choczilla 6.5% Chocolate- Wiltshire, Bucks, Suffolk, these rewarding beers. vanilla stout. Devon and London. Bottle Brewery contact details: conditioned ales are supplied Tel. 07780-900699 Look out for Trevor’s beers to a number of specialist Unit 5a Manor Farm, as well as our other micro- beer shops; these can also Hunningham Road, breweries in a pub near you. be bought direct from the Offchurch, Warwickshire Support your local pubs, brewery as well as polypins CV33 9AG. support your local breweries! for private parties. email longitchbrewery@ Jeff Biddle. Trevor says his proudest achievement for the brewery was winning two awards within nine months of opening. ‘Dark Side’ porter was awarded the ‘2nd beer of the festival’ at the local CAMRA branch’s annual beer festival in Harbury last August. Then at the annual awards of the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) Midlands region, the ‘Dubbel Trubbel’ Belgian July - September 2014 15 Around and about Trip to Buntingford Brewery First up was the Orange Tree in Baldock. – Harbury Beer Festival 2013 Here we had a buffet whilst the landlord gave us a talk about the pub and the Double Winner! local area. The 330 year old pub had 13 handpumps so there was plenty of choices including a couple of Buntingford beers. The Orange Tree Norton Road, Baldock. SG7 5AW http://whatpub.com/pubs/HEN/42/orange-tree-baldock

North Herts Pub of the Year 2013 The second pub on the mystery tour was the Engineers Arms at Henlow. This pub is the Members of the Heart of Warwickshire Befordshire CAMRA pub of year and had a CAMRA region took a trip out of the region very good choice of beers. to present Buntingford Brewery with their Engineers Arms certificates for Beer of the Festival and 68 High Street, Henlow. SG16 6AA Fastest Selling Beer of the Festival. http://whatpub.com/pubs/BEE/210/engineers-arms-henlow Check out their range at http://buntingfordbrewery.co.uk/ Bedfordshire CAMRA pub of the year 2014 The final mystery pub was an hour’s drive Buntingford will again feature at this year’s away from Henlow. The Olde England Harbury festival as Buntingford’s head Northampton. This was a most unusual pub, brewer is Catherine, a brewster who has more like a Dutch bar. It had a vast selection created the brewery’s most popular recipes of beers with two separate bars. Olde England over the years. 199 Kettering Road, The Mounts, Northampton. NN1 4BP http://whatpub.com/pubs/NTH/413/olde-england- After the brewery visit, we were treated northampton to a mystery pub tour on the way back to Warwickshire.

16 Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84 David Leafe’s Annual London Outing (to Derby!) This year’s annual bellringing/drinking outing organised by David was due to take place in London but the arrangements were derailed somewhat when David discovered that engineering work was being carried out that day. An alternative venue was chosen and seven of us found ourselves on the way to Derby, our alternative destination.

First visit was to St Peter’s church Derby, where we were faced with ringing 3 bells with new ropes on - never an easy job as new ropes tend to be too elastic. Luckily,as the tower captain suggested, we had “no trouble” with this. We rang a quite respectable quarter peal of 1280 changes of Bristol Surprise Major in 45 minutes.

The band was: Charles Hayward 1 David Leafe 5 Philip Sealey 2 John Gwynne 6 Jane Rogers 3 Simon Rogers 7 Ray Sheasby 4 Geoff Randall (c) 8

Following this we moved onto the more serious part of the day – the sampling of new and different beers. David had chosen the Exeter Arms, near the River Derwent, as the lunchtime venue. This turned out to be a small but very popular pub with a couple of small rooms. Here there were several Dancing Duck brewery beers, a small Derby company. We started with Ay Up, a light tasty 3.9 bitter, before moving onto Brown Clough, a 4.0 brown ale. Next came possibly the tastiest beer of the day – a 4.5 stout called Dark Drake, this was followed by Seduction, a 5.2 strong bitter.

We moved on to another pub, walking all of 100 yards to the Brewery Tap, a larger pub with less character than the Exeter, which housed Derby Brewery beers. Here some of us sampled Bright Eyes, a 4.0 light beer, Hop Till You Drop, a 3.9 bitter, Business As Usual, a 4.4 copper bitter and Dashingly Dark, a tasty 4.8 stout.

Once again, David’s organisation was impeccable, as was Phil’s handling of train times and sorting best value tickets, and we are all looking forward now to the 2015 trip to London which will hopefully take place in March next year.

July - September 2014 17 We have just celebrated on May 2nd 2014 our first year of opening. Since May 2013 our customers have seen over 315 Real Ales come through the pumps. With 5 Real Ales available all the time and The Punch Bowl having just been awarded Local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2014 you will be guaranteed a great pint every visit. Pizza and beer - a winning combination What happens if you combine the delights of a summer garden, the smell of wood fired pizza cooking, a respected local brewery & a specialised drinks merchant? You have a new event called Artisan Uncovered where four local companies came together to provide a quite unique experience - right in the heart of Warwick.

For those who don’t know by now, Church Farm Brewery is a family run craft brewery located on the outskirts of Warwick and was established at the end of 2012 after they made the decision to sell their herd of dairy cattle and convert the milking equipment into a microbrewery; the Master Brewer is Sam, who is studying towards an Msc in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University.

The Drinks Room moved to Smith Street last year and concentrated on providing the kind of beer range you wouldn’t find locally; beers from Thornbridge, Bristol Beer Factory and Dark Star were present in the beginning but have now been added to with the likes of London Fields Brewery, Crate and Church Farm itself, amongst many others. Our happy bunch went to two great local pubs, The Punchbowl and The Oak, for a perfect ‘aperritif ’ (or two) before we ambled down to Bread and Co and the sight that greeted us was very welcoming.

The garden of Bread and Co, based mid-way down Smith Street and serves the most delicious cakes, had been transformed with, at one end, the quite marvellous wood-fired oven of local sensation, Spectacular Goat Pizza, and, at the other, the sturdy Church Farm bar, serving a range of their beer.

Turns out that our barman for the evening was Ren, who is one of the brewers of these exceptional beers and, with Ren’s Pride, their IPA and the new Kiwi Wheat Beer, we were very much spoiled for choice; all three were outstanding - showcasing a real passion for brewing.

So, with the vibe very much a nice, chilled out affair, some of our partners and children joined us, creating a nice ambient family affair too, all eating pizza and cake, provided by Bread and Co.

All, in all this was a wonderful event that they are repeating at the end of the month and are hoping to make this a monthly event. If that’s the case, then that’s us sorted every month as we all agreed that, not only was this a success of local business joining forces to create something new, but we’d definitely return if they ever did it again.

July - September 2014 19 Takeaway menu now available

20 Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84 Plans for new rules to help pub tenants struggling to pay rent or beer prices have been unveiled by the government

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has welcomed today’s announcement of plans for a Pubs Adjudicator which will ensure that publicans are treated fairly and will crack down on cases of inflated rents and excessive beer prices charged to publicans.

The new statutory code includes the right to request a rent review after five years and comes after complaints about abuse of the “beer tie”. So-called “tied pubs” are required to buy supplies - often at high prices - from pub companies that own the pubs. The move comes after half of publicans tied to large pub firms said they earned less than the minimum wage. “Far too many landlords feel their income is squeezed by big pub companies. So today we are taking action to make sure they get a fairer deal,” said Business Secretary Vince Cable. The planned reforms include the appointment of an independent adjudicator who will have the power to enforce the code, investigate breaches and impose sanctions, including financial penalties, on pub owners if they fail to comply with the new rules.

CAMRA’s Head of Communications Tom Stainer said: “We are delighted that after our 10 year campaign the Government is now introducing a Pubs Adjudicator to protect the nation’s pubs. With 28 pubs closing a week it is vital that publicans, who are on the frontline of keeping our valued community pubs open, are given protection from heavy handed business practices from the big pubcos.”

“Publicans could see the price they pay for beer fall by up to 60 pence a pint* if the Adjudicator forces the big pubcos to match open market prices. A 60 pence a pint saving would be a huge boost in the battle to keep pubs open and could lead to cheaper pub prices for customers.”

Tenant landlords will have the right to review the information pub companies used to determine a rent increase and tenants of companies that own more than 500 pubs will have the right to request a “parallel free-of-tie rent assessment” to show whether they would be better off independently.

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said it hoped that the new proposals would help tenants get fairer rent assessments.

“The self-regulatory approach hasn’t worked, so these new rules will give fairer treatment for landlords so that they can keep your local pub going strong,” said Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

July - September 2014 21

Heart of Warwickshire CAMRA LocAle - promoting pubs that sell locally-brewed real ale, reducing the number of ‘beer miles’, and supporting local breweries. Licensees - do you have a regular “Local” Real Ale on sale in your pub? If yes, then contact any of the committee, details on page 3 of “Beer & Ragged Staff ”, who will be happy to arrange a visit to discuss the scheme, or log onto www.camrahow.org.uk and look at the LocAle tab for more information. The Heart of Warwickshire scheme recognises pubs which regularly stock at least one real ale which is brewed by a local brewery, one that is within 25 miles’ driving distance. The geographical shape of the Heart of Warwickshire Branch area, means that some breweries are within 25 miles of parts of the branch area and others not. For mor information check out What Pub http://whatpub.com/ Pubs and Clubs Local Beer Village Club,Harbury Hook Norton Antelope, Warwick Slaughterhouse The Wharf, Fenny Compton Hook Norton Fox & Hen, Bascote Heath Hook Norton Cape of Good Hope, Warwick Church End, Hook Norton, Old Pie Factory, Church Farm Woodland Tavern, Leamington Spa Slaughterhouse The Anchor, Leek Wootton Purity, Slaughterhouse, Church End The Talbot, Leamington Spa Byatt’s Red Lion, Northend Purity Harvester, Long Itchington Hook Norton The Antelope Inn, Lighthorne Warwickshire, Wood Farm Market Tavern, Southam Warwickshire The Cricketers, Leamington Spa Slaughterhouse Wild Boar, Warwick Slaughterhouse, Weatheroak, Tunnel, Long Itch White Hart, Ufton Slaughterhouse, Purity The Rose and Crown, Warwick Purity The Oak, Warwick Hook Norton The Old New Inn, Harbury Purity The Case is Altered, Five Ways Old Pie Factory, Slaughterhouse, Church End, Weatheroak, Warwickshire The Green Man Leamington Long Itch The Avenue Leamington Long Itch Benjamin Satchwell Leamington Long Itch Jug & Jester Leamington Long Itch Thomas Lloyd Warwick Long Itch

July - September 2014 23 Good Beer Guide 2014

The latest edition of the Good Beer Guide is now available on online: £10.00 (online members price) £12.99 (non-members price) (£15.99 rrp)

Packed with 4,500 of the best real ale pubs in the UK and information on every real ale brewery currently operating and their key beers.

The Good Beer Guide Mobile is also available on all Apple iDevices and AndroidTM Devices updated with the latest listings from the Good Beer Guide 2014.

24 Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84 Harbury’s only entry in the Constantly changing Good Beer Guide range of beers from Church End, 2009/2010/2011 Slaughterhouse and Purity with 2012/2013/2014 occasional guest beers

July - September 2014 25 Social networking Thank you to all who have liked our Facebook page. The aim of the page is to pass on campaigning news, remind members of our CAMRA HOW Facebook Tuesday pub crawls and other Page at events or pub news in the area of http://www.facebook.com/ interest to the local membership. camraho w

If you are a member or local landlord please share any pub or brewery news or events on the page. Is there a great guest beer available? Has your local been on top form? Are there bands playing? Please also keep us informed on pubs opening or more sadly closing. We will keep you all informed of the CAMRA key campaigns coming up throughout the year, give us a shout if you would like details of how to get involved.

26 Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 84