Celebrating the Real Ale Scene in Sussex Drinker Spring 2016 Free

NATIONAL FINALIST

PUBLISHED AND FINANCED BY THE SUSSEX BRANCHES OF THE ALBATROSS RAFA CLUB CAMPAIGN FOR BEXHILL-ON-SEA REAL ALE 2 Contact Information

Sussex Branches of CAMRA Surrey & Sussex Regional Director: Chris Stringer, 01403 270505 (Horsham) [email protected] Sussex Area Organiser: Peter Page-Mitchell, 01424 422128 (St. Leonards-on-Sea) [email protected] Beer Festival: Corn Exchange, 17-19 March 2016 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016. No. 85 POTY: Tower, St Leonards-on-Sea COTY: Albatross RAFA Club, Bexhill-On-Sea Circulation 13,250 Published by Sussex Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale Western Sussex Editor: Max Malkin, 01243 828394 The Quaffer Email: [email protected] [email protected] Advertising: www.westernsussexcamra.org.uk Neil Richards MBE Email: [email protected] Beer Festival: Yapton, 13-15 May 2016 www.matelotmarketing.co.uk POTY: Inglenook, Nyetimber Tel: 01536 358670 Mobile: 07710 281381 Next Publication Date: Arun & Adur 5 May. Copy by 21 March Nigel Watson, 07555 167804 Copy Submissions: [email protected] The Editor invites submissions that www.aaa-camra.org.uk celebrate the real ale scene in Sussex. Worthing, Oct 2016 Please keep to a maximum of 700 words. Beer Festival: Please use plain text or Word files. POTY: Parsonage Bar & Restaurant, Tarring Please send good quality pictures separately, preferably in JPG format. North Sussex Standard Disclaimer: Roy Bray, 07833 205901 Views expressed in this magazine are those of the individual [email protected] authors and not necessarily supported by the editor or CAMRA. www.northsussexcamra.org.uk All content © Sussex Branches of CAMRA Beer Festival: Equinox, 5-6 March 2016 Your local Trading Standards Offices are: POTY: White Horse, Maplehurst : St Mary’s House, 52 St Leonards Road, Brighton & , East Sussex, BN21 3UU John Kirkland, 01293 519844 Tel: 01323 418200 Fax: 01323 418227 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Website: www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk www.brightoncamra.org.uk West Sussex: Beer Festival: South Downs, , 17-18 June 2016 Details of all complaints are passed to POTY: Brewers Arms, Lewes West Sussex Trading Standards Service by CACS Citizens Advice Consumer Service South East Sussex Tel: 03454 040506 Phil Cozens, 01323 460822 Website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index /getadvice/consumer_service.htm [email protected] North East Sussex Sub Branch Brighton & : Bartholomew House, Bartholomew Square, John Packer, 07841 669096 Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1JP [email protected] Tel: 01273 292523; Fax: 01273 292524 Email: [email protected] www.southeast-sussex-camra.com Website: www.brighton-hove.gov.uk : Eastbourne, 6-8 Oct 2016 Beer Festival Campaign for Real Ale Ltd POTY: Tower, St Leonards-on-Sea 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW COTY: Albatross RAFA Club, Bexhill-On-Sea Tel: 01727 867201 Fax: 01727 867670 Website: www.camra.org.uk

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 3 South East Sussex Branch Pub and Club Awards, 2015 South East Sussex Branch Pub and Club Awards, 2015 Community Pub of the Year. The presentation photographs featured in the autumn and winter issues.

As depicted on our cover for this spring issue, the South East Sussex Branch Club of the Year, the Albatross RAFA Club in Bexhill-on-Sea, has made it through the various rounds of the competition to reach the National Final (see also What’s Brewing, January 2016, p. 3). The outcome will not be known until later in the Other first-time award recipients were Andy spring so it will be for a future edition of the and Jo Plumbley of the Crown, Eastbourne, for Sussex Drinker to report on its progress in more the LocAle Pub of Year. The picture above detail. Whatever happens, it is now one of the shows Andy (in grey) receiving the award from top four clubs in the country and the steward, Peter Adams. Karen Pelham, and the staff deserve hearty congratulations.

The Country Pub of the Year award went to the Robin Hood, . This pub has been a regular recipient of branch awards since it was the Branch Pub of the Year in 2012. The Branch Pub of the Year, the Tower, St. landlord, D’Arcy, insisted that all his staff Leonards-on-Sea, made it a stage further to should be packed behind the bar for the award, become Sussex Pub of the Year, before as the picture above shows. narrowly losing out to the Surrey Pub of the Year in the next round. Again, congratulations As well as sending our congratulations, South are due to all at the pub, in particular to landlady East Sussex branch members would like to Louisa Gover. This was the first time the pub thank all of the pubs for their fantastic reception gained a CAMRA award, yet ended up with and hospitality when we visited to make the four! As well as the two already mentioned, it awards. was the branch Cider Pub of the Year and the

4 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 5 Contributors: Peter Adams, Bob Atkins, Allen Bartram, Graham Bean, David Cowley, Stuart Elms, Robin Hill, Mike Jacomb, Max Malkin, Keith Milborrow, Peter Mitchell, Steve Obey, John Packer, Jason Philips, Peter Page-Mitchell, Peter Spooner, Mark Tester, Michael Verrall, Tim Walker, Philip Wildsmith and the Ed.

News of new developments and updates on the Man APA was recently sampled in good Sussex pub scene will be gratefully received by condition and at a very reasonable price of the Editor for consideration in Scratchings. The £3.40. The pub also sells beers in three third- standard disclaimer on p. 3 applies to all items. pints.

■■ BARNS GREEN A planning application was submitted by A new licensee Burger King to convert the disused ex-pub took over the under Clarendon Mansions at the seafront end Queens Head of East Street and was met with an opposing during the latter petition of nearly 12,000 part of last year signatures. A and has become crowdfunding project free of tie from has since been launched Enterprise-listed beers. Available on an early to open a craft beer pub, January visit were Fuller’s London Pride, Long the Bison Arms, on the Man Best Bitter, Shepherd Neame Spitfire and site. The team at the St. Austell Proper Job, the latter sampled in Bison Beer Crafthouse very good condition. It is intended to rotate shop are behind the some of the beers. The pub was fairly busy and venture. For more the atmosphere friendly and congenial. Beer is information and an £4 per pint and free WI Fi is available. Investor Pack, visit www.thebisonarms.co.uk.

■■ BLACKBOYS A recent visit to the Kemp Town area revealed The beer is well kept at the Blackboys and this the Round Georges to be serving four Sussex Harveys house has a good range. The pub Ales: Harveys Best, Arundel Sussex Gold, works for foodies and beer drinkers alike. APA and Gun Extra Pale. The Saint George’s Inn offered Franklins English Garden ■■ BOGNOR REGIS and two regional brewery beers. The Bristol Jamie Boyle, formerly of the Four Chesnuts Bar was selling Sharp’s Doom Bar, Harveys (Branch POTY 2007) and later of the Bull, Best and Dark Star Hophead; the latter (£4.00 a Chichester, took over late last year at the pint) was in good condition and going down Waverley (Young’s). He is now intending to well with the regulars. source some guest beers.

■■ BRIGHTON A planning application has been received to The Crown and convert the Freshfield Inn to two buildings of Anchor, Preston eight flats. An ACV application has been Road, is a Punch completed. outlet that offers ■■ CHARLTON three Long Man The National Heritage List for has beers alongside updated details of four buildings to recognise Black Sheep their historic links to the Women’s Institute to Bitter and Sharp’s Doom Bar. A pint of Long 6 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 7 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued mark last year’s centenary of that organisation. Hawkshead, Highland and Thornbridge. It is One of the four is the Fox Goes Free (formerly hoped that lunches and evening meals will be the Fox Inn). The first meeting of the WI in available again by the time you read this. England took place there, in the backroom known as the Hat Rack Bar on 9 November At the other end of town, just a short walk from 1915. The landlady of the time, Mrs Laishley, the railway station is the Wheatsheaf was a founder member of the Institute. (Harveys). Up to five ales are available, including Dark Mild. ■■ CHICHESTER Although Chichester District Council’s The White Hart Planning Committee turned down an on the Green, application for a change of use of the former St formerly the Pancras Antiques Shop to the Old Antique White Hart, has Brewery micro pub (as reported in our winter reopened issue), the applicant, Mr Lawrence Keen, has following a ten- launched an appeal after the Council’s Alcohol month closure. and Licensing Sub-Committee granted him a It is now owned by the Stonegate Pub license for the venture. The Western Sussex Company, which has spent £500K refurbishing CAMRA branch pledged its support for local the building to a high standard. There are five resident Mr Keen, who also runs four pubs in rotating beers. In December, these included London. Adnams Ghost Ship and Dark Star Hophead. Food is available from 10am to 10pm. What was once Wests and before that the Slurping Toad is now the Duke and Rye and ■■ EAST ASHLING operated by Marston’s. Of the three hand As a replacement for the ubiquitous Sharp’s pumps, two have been in use dispensing Doom Bar, the Horse and Groom now features Ringwood and Wychwood beers. Beer quality a beer from the excellent Vibrant Forest was decent and prices competitive. brewery. ■ EAST GRINSTEAD By the station, the Globe is currently (mid- ■ January) closed, clad in scaffolding and with its The North exterior signage erased. A peek through the Sussex area now windows shows an extensive refurbishment in has its first progress. micro pub, the Open Arms. It ■■ was converted The Cooper’s Arms continues to offer an from a former printer cartridge shop in Railway interesting range of ales. Dark Star provide the Approach, ideally situated for public transport regulars, although seasonal offerings from with a bus stop outside and a two-minute walk Harveys appear occasionally. From further to the station. The owners are John and Nick. afield, Moor brewery beers prove popular, John has been a licensee for twenty-seven along with a range of their bottled products. years, the last eight being at the Barley Mow, There are also beers from the smaller London Tandridge, Surrey. They plan to have mainly, micro breweries. Brewers noted during recent but not exclusively, cask beers from the South visits include Bristol Beer Factory, Harbour, East. So far seen have been Long Man Best,

8 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 9 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued

Dark Star Hophead, Legless regular beers, with the guest ales usually Rambler, Hogs Back Advent, and Open Arms coming from other local-ish brewers, such as Bitter brewed by Turners. Waiting in the wings Pig & Porter and Westerham. The same regular were three from High . The ales will be beers are also stocked further up the road in complemented with some wines and a range of Upper at theGallipot , with a guest ale bottled beers. Cold bar snacks and coffee are usually available. beers are popular also available. there.

■■ ELMER ■■ Andy Fox is the new manager at the Cabin. The The Clown in Russell Street, just off Queens core beers remain Courage Best and Sharp’s Road, has been serving Titanic Plum Porter in Doom Bar, but he is looking to replace the latter excellent condition as well as the regular with something more interesting. Two guest Wychwood Hobgoblin. The pub is one of the beers are also served from regional breweries; few outlets for top-quality real ale in the town at the time of visiting the beer sampled was centre. Wadworth Swordfish, with Black Sheep Bitter being replaced by Exmoor Ale. By the time you The Albion, read this Andy will probably have an Arundel formerly the beer on permanently as he seeking to obtain Royal Albion, LocAle accreditation. Beer quality is very good George Street, and prices are decent. has been tastefully ■■ ERIDGE refurbished with The Huntsman has received the Hall and many Woodhouse Public House of the Year Award. improvements, including a stage for live music, This is the Dorset brewery’s most coveted beautifully designed bar tops and stylish award by its estate of around 240 pubs. Their furniture. It has kept its traditional ambience as judges particularly commented on the pub’s an ex-William Younger house complete with commitment to innovation, growth, the old tartan panels. There are six hand pumps, and community and their beer quality. This thriving food is coming when the refurbishment of the community local is also right next door to the kitchen is complete. Beers from Dark Star, steam Spa Valley Railway. Harveys, Timothy Taylor and Theakston, plus Heck’s Farmhouse Cider and Farmhouse Perry ■■ FAYGATE are served. A consortium of former customers has bought the Frog and Nightgown. Renovation work is The Old Town currently in progress with a view to soon has a plethora of reopening. quality real ale establishments. ■■ HARTFIELD The Stag has It is sad to report that the Hay Waggon Inn, reopened under which closed last February, has been sold and new will not reopen as a pub. Nevertheless, the management close-by Anchor continues to offer well kept and has a new kitchen, and so is now doing food Harveys Best and Larkins Traditional as their alongside the Shepherd Neame ales. Beer

10 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 11 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued quality is good but opening hours have been cut notice up for several weeks but there do not so check before you go. Both the Dolphin and appear to be any takers so far. the Jenny Lind continue to stand out for quality and variety. The FILO strong winter ale ■■ LITTLEHAMPTON was exceptionally good this year at the First In Kevin Jenkins of the Littlehampton Brewery Last Out, while Fuller’s ESB in the Cinque has relinquished the Crown Inn, which is now Ports is again getting back to its best. The under new ownership and management. Kevin Crown still serves a selection of local ales and is now concentrating on the Tap & Barrel gets busy with diners. brewpub and the Contented Pig café bar. ■ LOWER BEEDING ■■ HAYWARDS HEATH ■ New Dark Star bar, the Lockhart Tavern will The Plough continues to perform well as a free open early in the year at 41 The Broadway. house and there are four ales available, all Guest ales will be local heroes like Top Notch usually from local brewers. A large stuffed and Downland to name but a few. There will be badger on show in a display case serves as a a wall of interesting keg beers and wines and reminder of the pub’s previous owners. spirits. A simple but delicious menu will have ■■ MILLAND the freshest ingredients all prepared onsite. The Rising Sun has won the coveted Griffin ■■ HOOE Trophy, Fuller’s internal POTY competition. After more than The award is well worth winning because as a year with new well as the trophy itself, it comes with a £5,000 tenants, the Red holiday, a staff party and an engraved plaque. Lion has added ■■ ORE a guest ale to the Millis Gravesend Guzzler is a regular guest regular Harveys beer at the Old King John, a free house in the Sussex Best. On village. Harveys Sussex Best Bitter is the house a recent visit, beer. West Berkshire Mr Chubb’s ■■ RIDGEWOOD Lunchtime The Bitter was in Brickmakers good form. Arms is now a free house selling Harveys ■■ HORSHAM Best and Isfield Dark Star will open the Anchor Tap at 16 East Flapjack. Street early in the year. The site had previously traded as, variously, a coffee shop and a shoe ■■ RINGMER shop but was built in 1898 as the tap bar of the After an extensive refurbishment, the Anchor Anchor Hotel. It was at this tap that a Horsham reopened in early December under the same Branch of CAMRA was formed in January management as Plough and Harrow, Litlington. 1975, later to be merged into the current branch. Six hand pumps serve mainly Long Man beers, plus one guest ale from a national brewery. The Tanners Arms has had a To Let or For Sale

12 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued

■■ ■■ WEST CHILTINGTON The new The Five Bells, Smock Alley, continues to offer landlords at an interesting selection of ales and is another the King’s regular outlet for mild. A recent visit one Arms have Saturday found the rarely seen (in this part of revived trade. the world) Jennings Mild on sale, together with This brews from Teignworthy and Tring breweries. welcoming village inn has ■■ WORTHING three beers on offer in good order, with a good The Castle Inn is closed at the time of reporting chance of more in the future. but has been taken on by Nigel Watson of Anchored in Worthing who aims to reopen it in ■■ ST LEONARDS ON SEA late-January. His plans are for it to remain a The St Leonard had stronger beers on during a proper pub, serving a good range of local and recent visit, with two from local brewery other real ales and ciders. The hugely successful Franklins. open mic nights will carry on uninterrupted. An ‘as and when’ performance space will be ■■ TURNERS HILL constructed for experimental and alternative Recent visits shows and the venue has been registered with to the Red the 2016 Brighton Fringe Festival. Lion (Harveys) Alehouse & have found Kitchen has up to six a new beers manager, available, Richard, ex- including three dark offerings and quality licensee at remains good. It is nice to see Dark Mild the Thomas available all year round. Sunday lunches prove a Becket, very popular and it is advisable to pre-book for and is these. brewing weekly. ■■ The Alma A recent (Harveys) in visit to the Grand Road is a bit of Victorian an oasis in this Hotel, opposite the station, found them selling town. Four two beers from the nearby Alehouse & Kitchen Harveys beers micro brewery, both establishments being in the are available, including Dark Mild, so it was same ownership. nice to see it available in December, with Old Ale and Christmas Ale alongside. All were in very good condition. A real cider is also available on hand pump.

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 13 Bus to the Pub

The Sussex Bus to the Pub Group Join us on our travels!

The Sussex Bus to the Pub group (BttP) February has been running since May 2009 and Wednesday 3 Emsworth, Bosham & now attracts participants from many Chichester; Meet Pete B at Chi bus station for areas of our fine county, so if you too 11.42 St’coach 700 to Coal Exchange (GBG). would enjoy visiting different pubs with Return to Bosham roundabout at 13.50 or 14.10 fine ales and informal convivial for White Swan, then catch Stagecoach 56 at company without the constraints of the 15.00 to Old Town for Anchor Bleu. Return to car, then BttP may just appeal! Chichester for city centre pubs on Stagecoach 56 Itineraries and the number of pubs at 16.45. visited vary but often it is possible for Monday 8 East Dean & Eastbourne; 10.30 participants to dip in or out of a trip to B&H 12x from Churchill Sq. to Tiger Inn (GBG) suit. Often there is a short paved or then 12.56 bus to Old Town to meet John J for metalled road walk from the nearest bus Crown (GBG) & Lamb. stop to the pub. If it is more than an half ; mile then we will show an approximate Wednesday 17 Billingshurst & Horsham Either meet Dave O at Sth St Worthing for 10.27 distance and if it is across footpaths Metro 23 to Washington for 11.12 Compass 100 which could be muddy or uneven, then to Billingshurst for Kings Head. OR 11.03 train you will also see a walking boot from Barnham. Buses dept Billingshurst for symbol. Horsham hourly at 58 past the hour for Malt With so many good pubs struggling to Shovel (GBG). survive in the current economic climate Thursday 25 Around Lewes; 10.55 B&H 28 and County Council budget cuts from Churchill Sq. to Lewes. Meet at Brewers threatening the subsidised bus services Arms (GBG) then onwards to other town pubs inc that serve many rural communities, join Gardeners and Snowdrop (both GBG). us in ‘supporting them’. March Local Bus timetables can be found at: Brighton & Hove www.buses.co.uk Thursday 3 Easebourne, Henley & Compass Bus www.compass-travel.co.uk Midhurst; Meet Pete B at Chichester bus station Emsworth www.emsworthanddistrict.co.uk for 11.14 Stagecoach 60 to Midhurst bus stand, Metrobus www.metrobus.co.uk then 12.30 Stagecoach 1 (or 0.8 mile pavement Seaford & Dist. www.journeysolutions.co.uk walk) to Easebourne for White Horse (GK). Short Stagecoach www.stagecoachbus.com/south Sussex Bus www.thesussexbus.com road walk through to A286 Stagecoach 70 to www.cuckmerebuses.org.uk Henley for Duke of Cumberland (GBG). Return to Midhurst for Swan (GBG) or Wheatsheaf (Badger) Some of you reading this may also be then return to Chichester via Stagecoach 60 interested in Pete Brown’s bi-monthly every half hour up to 19.05. Trains to London Pubs (TTLP) group Friday 11 Ferring & Worthing; 11.02 (see the Diary Dates). Stagecoach 700 from Worthing Marine Parade to

14 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 Bus to the Pub

Henty Arms and Tudor Close returning to for 12.30 Compass 121 to Horns Lodge (GBG). Worthing for Anchored micro pub. Option of getting an earlier 28 and meeting at JHT Wednesday 16 Around Chichester; Meet at Lewes (GBG). Then onward to Crown at Max at Chi bus station for 11.44 St’coach 60 to Newick (GBG) return, via Lewes. Bell Inn (Enterprise – 3 changing beers ) then very short walk to Rainbow (3 changing beers). Short May walk to Chichester Inn (GBG) Bring CAMRA ; Meet from 11.30 in membership cards. Then Stagecoach 700 to Thursday 5 Westbourne Dolphin & Anchor at Chichester (GBG) then market and Eastgate Inn (GBG) in Hornet. Short catch 13.09 Emsworth & District 54 to walk to Dolphin & Anchor or/and Belle Isle (both Westbourne for Stags Head (GBG). Then walk GBG). either 1.2 miles path, muddy if wet OR 1.5 miles Wednesday 23 Seaford & Newhaven; 10.30 pavement to Emsworth for Railway Tavern. Option B&H 12x to Seaford Library for Plough and of going to Sussex Brewery at Hermitage Wellington (GBG), returning to Newhaven for Jolly afterwards. Return to Chichester via Stagecoach Boatman and Hope Inn (GBG). 700 every 20 minutes until 18.30. Thursday 31 Horsted Keynes & Danehill; Monday 9 Offham, Plumpton & Wivelsfield; 11.15 Metrobus 270 from Churchill Sq Brighton, 10.45 B&H 29 from Churchill Sq Brighton to for Green Man and onward to Coach & Horses, Lewes bus station. 11.35 Compass 122 to Danehill (GBG). Option for going on to the new Blacksmiths Arms. Then 13.09 Compass 167 to micro pub Open Arms at East Grinstead. Half Moon. Then 14.51 Compass 166 to Cock at Wivelsfield Green (GBG). Return either 16.03 April Compass 166 south bound to Lewes or 16.28 Compass 166 north bound to Haywards Heath. Thursday 7 Horsham and follow the Metrobus 23 route to Dial Post; 10.27 Wednesday 18 West Chiltington & Metrobus 23 from Worthing Pier to Horsham and Thakeham; 11.05 Stagecoach 1 from South St. meet in the Malt Shovel (GBG) at noon then Worthing to Roundabout Lane for Five Bells at return on the 13.09 to the Crown at Dial Post Smock Alley (GBG). Then 1.5 mile footpath walk (GBG) followed by a later bus to the Red Lion at muddy if wet to White Lion, Thakeham, return via Ashington. Ashington 1.7 mile (mainly) road walk for Red Lion, then return to Worthing on Metro 23. Friday 15 Hastings Old Town; 10.32 train from Brighton to Hastings. Walk (20 minutes) to Jenny Please be aware that, due to this Lind and then on to Crown and Dolphin (all programme being planned months in GBG). advance, bus time tables could be changed or, worse still, cut completely by the time Thursday 21 Dell Quay & Wittering; Meet any trip actually takes place. All members Pete B at Chichester bus station (front lay-by on the mailing list will be notified of any opposite rail station) for 11.16 Stagecoach 53 to changes as soon as I know about them. It is Dell Quay Road. Half mile road walk to Crown & for this reason that it is in your best interest Anchor. Return to bus stop for S/C 53 to Shipton to join the mailing list at: beermatsRus. Green for Lamb and on to East Wittering for [email protected], alternatively Shore (GBG). Then return to Chichester – buses phone Max on 01243 828394. run every 15 minutes until 17.22 after that time every half hour. Thursday 28 Chailey & Newick; 11.25 B&H 28 from Churchill Sq Brighton to Lewes bus station

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 15 Bru News

Ford, 01903 733111. www.arundelbrewery.co.uk The 5.0% festive brew, Red Nose, made its annual appearance in December, this time flavoured with hops grown by local gardeners. It was followed by the 10% cask- conditioned Barley Wine Ale, one of the new ‘Sussex Craft’ range, Information here is mostly supplied allowing the company to explore by the named Brewery Liaison more unusual styles with a view to Officer. The Brewery Liaison moving any successes into the ‘core’ Coordinator for London & South range. This core range has been East Area is Peter Page-Mitchell. expanded by the addition of Smokehouse Porter (6.0%), which 1648 sold well nationally in the East Hoathly, 01825 840830. Wetherspoon autumn festival. It also www.1648brewing.co.uk represents the company’s first foray Ruby Mild (3.6%), Three Threads into canned beer, and the cans sold (4.4%) and Saint George’s Ale extremely well from the moment (4.5%) are available in the spring. Also they arrived in the brewery shop. The back for the hay fever sufferers will Jason Phillips next seasonal and special brews in be Bee Head (4.6%). Remember to trade are Winter Knights (4.9%, try the ‘Sussex Ale’ Chutney and ADUR dark), Pickled Mouse (4.1%, tawny) Mustard made with 1648 beer. Steyning, 01903 867614. and Sussex Giant (5.0%, amber). Brewery tours are back this year at www.adurbrewery.com Jeff Vinter no charge; food and drink can be Christmas sales have gone very well purchased in the brewery tap, the and the beers can be found at local BALLARD’S King’s Head. For details and to book farmers’ markets on a regular basis, Nyewood, 01730 821362. please phone the office on 01825 as well as in pubs in the region. The www.ballards-brewery.co.uk 880044. cooperative is constantly on the As 2015 ended the 35th anniversary David Platt lookout for new members. Contact of brewing, both draft and bottled us for more information in becoming beer continue to sell well. January 360° an active member. 2016 also commemorates Fran’s Sheffield Park, 01825 722375. Nigel Watson 35th year as brewer, Well done that www.360degreebrewing.com man! Another very enjoyable A successful run of supplying beers ALEHOUSE & KITCHEN Ballard’s Walk saw a few spots of rain, to Indigo pubs in Brighton has Worthing, 01903 238392. the weather otherwise unseasonably reached a natural end and a deal has The brewpub is under new warm. Thanks go to everyone been secured with another Brighton management. Brewing is taking place involved in making it a special day out. Pubco. The brewery will occupy new every Wednesday and a wide variety The year’s winter brew was the premises early in 2016, continuing to of new and seasonal beers is topically named Pagoda Power produce its regular and seasonal currently offered including the (8.5%) in reference to the Chinese range. Current seasonal Oatmeal intriguing Black Russian. Proving investment in UK electricity Stout #45 will be replaced in the very popular are the ‘Spend a day generation. The bottled bitter spring by Single Hop Pale Ale #41. with the Brewer’ packages; at £25, Worthing Southern Pavilion was All cask beers are available in 500ml including lunch, these offer great well received and is on its second bottles; seasonal beers are available value for anyone interested in seeing brew. bottle-conditioned rather than the process through from start to Barry Woodward filtered. New beers for distribution in finish. kegs and 330ml cans are Project Tim Walker BARTLEBY’S Gemini (4.3%), Apollo IPA (5.6%) Brighton, 01273 275012 / 07518 and Mercury Seven (5.2%). ARUNDEL 485342.

16 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 Bru News www.bartlebysbrewery.com at the Spa Valley Railway Beer Festival also be available in bottles. The new A six-month contract with Drink In in October. The award will be Provision, aged on gooseberries, is Brighton began at the end of presented at the brewery in available in bottles and keg. Planning October, so Bartleby’s beers should February. Two new beers have been permission has been applied for to still be appearing in that Pubco estate added to the range: Tip Top is a full- restore the adjacent barn to provide by the time you read this. bodied session ale at 3.2%; Imperial extra storage and perhaps space for BLO TBC Stout is a limited edition brew of small experimental brews. A Herriot 6.8%, produced in five cask batches Watt University-trained third brewer BEACHY HEAD and matured for at least sixteen is due to join in the New Year. East Dean, 01323 423313. weeks to bring out its complexity, Ruth Anderson www.beachyhead.org.uk including a touch of real chocolate. Although bottling has ceased, the Most will be released in 330ml and CROOKED BROOK remaining bottles are to be filled with 500ml bottles. Plans to increase the Unit 5 Woodside Service Station, the Famous Christmas Ale. The size of the plant are back on the Copthorne Road, Copthorne, West success of Parson’s Porter means it agenda as more pubs take the beers Sussex RH10 3PD. will probably be brewed to the spring on a permanent pump. Former owner Mr Simon Howard and perhaps the summer. John Packer has sold the brewery to Mr Simon Tony Harman Dismorr and Mr Juha Nakari. Some BRICK HOUSE expansion as regards to fermenters BEDLAM Patcham, Brighton, 07708 384604. etc. is planned in the current Albourne, 01273 978015. [email protected] premises. Meanwhile, brewing of www.bedlambrewery.co.uk From November, Brick House beers APAs, bitters and, most recently, a The brewery continues with its will normally be available only in the smoky winter porter is taking place expansion, hoped to be completed by Long Man of Wilmington, Patcham, at least once a week for firkins and the end of 2016. Business continues and from Quaff off-licence, Fiveways, key kegs. 3 Heads Pale Ale sold out to grow. Three times as much beer is Brighton. the second quickest at the Redhill being produced than at this time last BLO TBC Beer Festival. year. The new bottled range of ales BLO TBC has been introduced and more of the BRIGHTON BIER cask ale is being poured than ever Brighton, 01273 567374 / 07515 DARK STAR before, with over sixty new accounts 956976. Partridge Green, 01403 713085. since the start of last summer. There www.brightonbier.com www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk have been several successful brewery The range of beers and dispense Antares is a red super giant, not as tours, ‘Meet the Brewer’ sessions, methods will continue to expand massive as some but still powerful and the hosting of Homebrew during 2016. The first two months enough to light up the evening. The Brighton. will be marked by a couple of exciting star that goes by the same name is Peter Mitchell collaboration brews, the first with also pretty impressive but Dark Star’s Minoh Beer from Japan, arguably the Antares is a hop-filled red ale using BEER ME most award-winning brewery in Asia the dark mellow Munich malt and the Eastbourne, 01323 729967. with a multitude of major bite of Southern Cross hops. In its www.beermebrewery.com international successes behind them. small way Dark Star are trying to The new Christmas Ale (7.8%) was BLO TBC combat the colour prejudice among very well accepted and will be the unenlightened beer lover by available until March. It is now hoped BURNING SKY proving that darker beers don’t have to always provide a seasonal beer Firle, 01273 858080. to be ‘heavy’, ‘sweet’ or stupefyingly throughout the year. www.burningskybeer.com strong. Meanwhile, keep a watch out Scott O’Rourke The automatic bottling machine will for a special run of dry hopped be up and running by the time you Hophead, and a short return BLACK CAT read this, enabling the new bottling of appearance of Six Hop. Palehouse Common, Framfield, Monolith to be available. Clive Watson 01825 840879. Anniversaire, Flanders Red (aged www.blackcat-brewery.com for two years in wood) and Cuvee DOWNLANDS Original won ‘Beer of the Festival’ Reserve (aged in lambic barrels) will Small Dole, 01273 495596.

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 17 Bru News www.downlandsbrewery.com Bexhill, 01424 731066. Paul Free Black Seven Four is the new 7.4% www.franklinsbrewery.co.uk dangerously-drinkable strong and December saw the launch of GREYHOUND dark malty ale. It will be made in small Pavilion 35, a brew exclusively for Smock Alley, West Chiltington, 07973 batches and be available over a the De La Warr Pavilion to 625510. longer selling period than its commemorate their 80th www.greyhoundbrewery.co.uk predecessor, Pyecombe All Ye anniversary. The beer will feature Sales continue to grow and the Faithful, now dropped from the throughout the whole year of conditioning tanks have been line-up. There are plans for other celebration that is planned. Another extended to increase to a 7-bbl changes to the beer range, some of new beer already well received is operation. More casks have been which will hopefully be ready by Explorer, 4.7% red rye. The purchased and the chilled storage March in time for the Sussex Pudding Stout recipe is tweaked to area enlarged. Production of bottle- CAMRA Branches Beer & Cider give a new and improved version for conditioned ales has also increased; Festival. the winter. There will be the arrival of these are available through Hennings Roger Coton a brand new concept in January and wine merchants. The experimental the beers once more available in green hop pale On Target (3.8%) FILO bottle. Citra IPA, Smoked Chili has been well received. The brewery Hastings, 01424 420212. Porter and Mama Knows Best will to continue to produce their www.filobrewing.co.uk will be the first three bottled beers, four core beers - Blonde Bird The Christmas brew Our Auld Ale with another few to follow soon (3.9%), Amber Eyes (4.2%), Good (6.5%) and other seasonal beers after. Extensive work on the barn will Ordinary (3.8%), B-46 (4.6%) - with Cardinal (4.6%) and Churches begin around March in order to plans to develop another one or two Pale will be making a welcome accommodate the new brew kit that ready for the spring/summer and also return for the colder months, while is on order. to start work on a porter. regulars Crofters, Gold and Old Mac McCutcheon Ray Pilkington Town Tom remain as popular as ever. GOLDMARK GRIBBLE Bill Turner Poling, 01903 297838 / 07900 The Gribble Inn, Oving, 01243 555415. 786893. FIREBIRD www.goldmarks.co.uk www.gribbleinn.co.uk Rudgwick, 01403 823180. Sales continue to increase as the With the main pub now fully www.firebirdbrewing.co.uk brewery takes on more customers. functional the Brewery Tap is now All fermenters are now in full Three new beers will be available in available for functions, with its own production, while a new bottle the spring, including a Barley Wine bar. There are plans in the very near labelling machine and upgraded and a German Bock. Mark has set up future to have a small bottling plant filtration system has speeded up a new weekly blog to help home on site to cover the full range of bottle and keg beer production. The brewers and give an insight into beers brewed. There are now seven brewery now has three full-time and micro breweries. beers available: Gribble Ale, 4.1%; four part-time staff to deal with the Jim Waterston Fuzzy Duck, 4.3%; Pigs Ear, 5.8%; increased capacity. To compliment Plucking Pheasant, 5.2%; Reg`s the well-stocked shop the brewery GOLDSTONE Tipple, 4.8%; Sussex Quad bar is now fully functional. A very Ditchling, 01444 257053. Hopper, 4.0%; Wobbler, 7.2%. successful Winter Brew Festival was www.goldstonebrewery.co.uk Chris Wright held at the end of November. The Complimenting the standard East next brewery function will be a St Slope Ale, a special autumn/winter GUN Patrick’s Day celebration (a couple of brew for the East Slope Bar at the Heathfield, 01323 700200 / 07900 days late) on Saturday 19 March. Sussex University Students’ Union 683355. Details of opening times and events was Ginger Beard. This golden- www.gunbrewery.co.uk are on the website and Facebook coloured ale featured root ginger, The brewery made a memorable page @FirebirdBrewing. cloves, cinnamon and chilies in its debut at the Eastbourne Beer Festival Roger Tofts 4.8% recipe. The brewery continues when Zamzama IPA won the to expand with new plant delivered Sussex Micro Beer of the Festival FRANKLINS in November. Award and Parabellum Milk Stout

18 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 Bru News came second in the same category. A from November 2015 until spring Thoughts are now turning to possible limited edition beer, Smoked Rye 2016, by which time they will be back new beers and future festivals. (4.7%), is now available. All the regular using a bigger brew kit. Jonathan Samways cask beers can be bought direct from Peter Page-Mitchell the brewery in pins, mini-kegs, bottles HOP YARD and cans. Sales continue to grow, with HEATHEN , 07769 313410. an increasing number of pubs and off- Haywards Heath, 01444 456217 / www.hopyardbrewing.co.uk licences from Worthing (Selden 07825 429428. The brewery is currently (January) Arms, Anchored in Worthing, Corner www.heathenbrewers.co.uk closed for renovations. The team House) to Tunbridge Wells (Bedford, The brewery recently produced a hope to be back by spring 2016. In Pantiles Tap, Ragged Trousers) sherry-like 7.0% beer, brewed with the meantime, follow the progress of featuring their beers. black treacle, cocoa nibs, Greek the building work on their Facebook Steve Obey honey and figs grown by the and Instagram pages. brewster’s family in Puglia, Southern BLO TBC HAMMERPOT Italy. Sadly, stocks were very limited Poling, 01903 883338. and it was only available from its HURST www.hammerpot-brewery.co.uk home at the Grape and Grain off- Hurstpierpoint, 07866 438953. A good year at the Vinery was capped licence and deli. Other bottle- www.hurstbrewery.co.uk by the best fourth quarter for many conditioned Heathen beers can also Old Acquaintance (6.5%, old ale) years. The 10th anniversary be found there. They will continue to will be a seasonal brew, made in small celebrations were curtailed by site experiment and expand on their batches as a luxury addition to the work but will continue into 2016. brews in 2016. core range. Prompted by increasing Some revisions to the beer list will be Ruth Anderson demand, the ales are now available in announced shortly as well, with a 500ml bottles in addition to the rebooted Shooting Star coming on HEPWORTH current cask products. A new bottling stream amongst other changes. Horsham, 01403 269696. plant has been set up. Tim Walker www.hepworthbrewery.co.uk Steve Floor Construction of the new brewery at HARVEYS the Brindsbury site is well under way, ISFIELD Lewes, 01273 480209. and it is expected the buildings will Framfield, 01825 750633 / 07803 www.harveys.org.uk be handed over for fitting out in late 716758. Harveys have acquired another February, with the move taking place www.isfieldbrewing.co.uk London pub, the Phoenix in in late spring. Seven out of eight keg Sales of the darker brews have Stockwell. Work will continue in the and bottled beers are now gluten- reached an all-time high; three times New Year on the kegging plant free, the main exception being the amount of Flapjack was brewed followed by essential repairs to the Conqueror Stout. Details of in 2015 compared to the same micro brewery. The last quarter of allergens are available on the website. period last year, while sales of Toad 2015 saw another Beer of the Chris Stringer in the Ale were also up. Five-litre Festival award when Prince of mini-cask retail sales have doubled, Denmark took the Eastbourne title HIGH WEALD and Ethel Red ruby ale, at its new in October. The new website is now East Grinstead, 07836 291430. strength of 4.4% (previously 4.2%), is live and offers a wide range of www.highwealdbrewery.co.uk proving to be very popular. The new features including an interactive The rebranded bottles of labelling is now rolling out to farm 360-degree tour of the Brewery Chronicle, Greenstede and shops and off-licenses across the Shop and an informative ‘behind the Charcoal Burner are proving very county. Experimental work is scenes’ video about what goes into a popular and becoming available more underway on a number of new brews, pint of Best Bitter. widely though off-licences and similar with a new ale due for release in early Jack Wilkinson outlets, though usually not now in 2016. bottle-conditioned form. Cask sales John Packer HASTINGS at local and other free houses have St Leonards-on-Sea, 01424 572050. also been doing well, and all three KILN www.hastingsbrewery.co.uk beers have featured at the new East Burgess Hill, 07800 556729. The company has paused production Grinstead micro pub, the Open Arms. www.thekilnbrewery.co.uk

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 1919 Bru News

Broadwalk Pale (4.5%) made a Brewer’ sessions over the last few food and drink discounts, special November appearance in cask at the months. Recent examples were with members’ evenings and summer Burgess Hill Inn (a.k.a. the Top 360° and Dark Star. See the website BBQs. House). New smoked beer, Bricks for future events. BLO TBC and Porter, a combination of seven Ruth Anderson malts and a single English hop, is now LONG MAN available bottled; the bottled beers LANGHAM Litlington, 01323 871850 / are now appearing in Bison Beer Lodsworth, 01798 860861. 07976 777992. Crafthouse, Brighton. www.langhambrewery.co.uk www.longmanbrewery.com Paul Free Busy times up at Lodsworth where The launch of the festive Inn the shop was full in the lead up to Keeper (4.8%) was very successful; KING BEER Christmas. Christmas Cracker it will definitely be returning next Horsham, 01403 272102. (4.5%) has sold well again, a lovely Christmas. Two favourites will return www.kingbeer.co.uk recipe this year using spice and a from February: Sussex Pride (4.5%) Jordan Mower is joining in the New plum addition. Decennium (4.0%) for a three month run, and Number Year as brewer, having had success was the tenth year of brewing a Eight, for the Six Nations during with his own brand, UnBarred. Look special; it sold very well requiring February and March. out for some new beers in 2016, four brews to be made, yum yum! Scott O’Rourke along with further brewery Triple XXX (4.4% dark chocolate renovations and expansions. malty winter mild ale) will be NAKED Mike Head available through the coming months. Lancing, 01903 791230. There are plans to increase the www.nakedbeerco.co.uk KISSINGATE brewing capacity soon. A Russian Imperial Stout at 11.0% Lower Beeding, 01403 891335 / Peter Luff was brewed in December and sold in 07909 975664. bottles and cask. www.kissingate.co.uk LISTER’S Phil Boiling Powder Blue Porter won best Ford, 01903 885950 / 07775 853412. beer at the Redhill Beer Festival. Old www.listersbrewery.com OLD TREE (4.2%) has now been released after Joining Best Bitter and Special Ale Brighton, 07413 064346. nearly two years on the ‘to do list’. are recent additions Golden Ale, www.oldtreebrewery.com Murder of Crows (10%, barley light and refreshing with rounded Produced at the end of December wine) is still being brewed in small citrus notes, and Limehouse was the firstSilo Ale; made from all batches and has made rare Porter, 4.1% with hints of coffee and English hops, this very smooth, fruity, appearances at the Pigs Ear Beer molasses. All four are regularly dark-amber drop is available from the Festival and the Hope in Carshalton available in Sussex, Surrey, Hampshire Silo restaurant, Brighton. Dark Beers Festival. There are now and London, with the porter Andrew Coleman seven bottled beers in the range, all especially popular in the East End, the available to buy direct from the area that inspired is name. The PELLS BREWING CO-OP brewery. The brewery continues to brewery has recently added a The Elephant and Castle, Lewes, host a variety of themed events and number of local Wetherspoon pubs 01273 473797. there are many planned for the New to its customer list. This year will see www.pellsbrewingcoop.org Year. Details are on the website further beer development, expansion The Christmas charity tasting raised ‘events’ page. of the brewery and increasing £400 for St. Peter and St. James and Roy Bray availability of all four beers in cask the Salvation Army. The team is and bottle format. looking to increase production with LAINE Glenn Johnson their new kit and will be trying out The North Laine, Brighton, 01273 some new recipes. They are brewing 683666. Littlehampton a barrel of new beer for the Yapton www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk/north-laine Littlehampton, 01903 715111. Beerex and if people do want any The Christmas beer previewed in the www.littlehamptonbrewery.co.uk casks for festivals etc. the team last issue was released as Pudding A Brewery Club is to be launched require a couple of months notice to Porter (5.4%). The brewery has been early in the New Year. At £10 to join, produce these as everything is running a number of joint ‘Meet the the benefits of membership include otherwise bottled.

20 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 Bru News

BLO TBC THREE LEGS will be supplied for the Sussex Brede, 07783 973161 CAMRA Branches Beer & Cider PIN UP www.thethreelegs.co.uk Festival. Southwick, 01273 411127. [email protected] Keith Newell www.pinupbrewingco.com Dark is now available in cask. The The new Winter Stick (5.4%, IPA recipe is being changed to an TURNERS amber-orange English bitter) has had American style. Gold, 3.8% session Ringmer, 08456 892689 / 07896 an excellent reception across both ale, is a new addition. Ten local pubs 598172. London and Brighton and has proved are now being supplied. The brewery www.turnersbrewery.com extremely popular. The brewery consequently remains very busy with The brewery continues to sell a core expansion is well under way with the the enlarged, 4-barrel plant in full range of eight beers in cask across new mezzanine floor almost in and a production and brewing twice a the South East. Strong feedback has larger boil pot on its way. Production week. Two more fermenters will be received from publicans on the is increasing and it is planned to start added early this year. The on-site greatly improved quality and kegging and bottling in-house. shop is doing well: opening times are consistency of the beers. Adrian Towler 10am to 6pm Friday and Saturday; Jason Phillips variable Tuesday to Thursday (please RECTORY phone ahead to confirm); closed UNBARRED Streat, 01273 890570. Sunday and Monday. 1-litre glass Hove, 07850 070471. Although still not brewing, the flagons, refilled as many times as www.unbarredbrewery.com Reverend Godfrey hopes to have needed, are available for all cask- Although Jordan Mower has joined some positive news early in the New conditioned beers, only at the King Beer as Brewer and Product Year. brewery. All beers are available bottle Ambassador, his UnBarred venture Jack Wilkinson conditioned in 330cl or 500cl sizes. will carry on for the time being on an Bottles are also sold at both Bison evenings and weekends basis. RIVERSIDE Beer Crafthouse and 21 Wines, BLO TBC Unit 6, Beeding Court Business Park, Brighton. Shoreham Road, Upper Beeding, Peter Harrison WELTONS West Sussex, BN44 3TN, 01903 Horsham, 01403 242901. 898030. TOP NOTCH www.weltonsbeer.co.uk www.riversidebreweryltd.co.uk Haywards Heath, 07963 829368. There will be monthly beer festivals This new 5-barrel brewery was www.topnotchbrewing.co.uk at the brewery every last Friday of founded by Keith Kempton, Mike Going down well was the one-off the month, often with Morris dancing Rice and Roger Paxton. Beers are cask special for the Rowfant Winter and brewery-priced beer. If these Tubbers’ Tipple (5.6% premium Beer Festival, Old Nutter (5.8%, old prove popular then the brewery may bitter), Sneaky Steamer (5.1% ale, roasty with Fuggles). #Bonzer open more weekends. Follow the hoppy) Beeding Best Bitter (4.2%) (5.9%, dark IPA) is now on general brewery on Twitter @ and Steyning Stinker (4.0% release in 500ml bottles, available at weltonsbrewery or see website for smoked beer). South Downs Cellars, Lindfield and details. Broadwood Wassail was the Grape and Grain, Haywards brewed for the January Wassailling at ROTHER VALLEY Heath. Work begins in the New Year the White Horse, Maplehurst. Beers , 01797 252922 / 07798 on 1841 Honey Porter, a to be brewed for the Rugby Six 877551. collaboration with Heathen Brewers Nations in February will include www.rothervalleybrewery.co.uk for the 175th anniversary of the Tipperaray Black IPA (4.2%) New beer Keyworth (4.5%, blonde) Haywards Heath railway and Scotch Ale in 80 Schillings style, Le has been brewed with a revived hop produced in association with Coq in Old Cocky style, Golden Taf from the early 20th century. Haywards Heath Town Team and lager, Azuri Gold (5.0%) and Keyworth’s Early was a popular hop Railway Station. It will be available English Pride (3.8%). March beers used by Guinness. The citrus floral throughout 2016 in limited cask and include Equinox (4.3%), Here flavour is well suited to modern bottles. Following a successful trial in Comes The Sun, Hopburst (5.0%), tastes. August at a private function at Quatre Bras (4.6%) and Twelve Dawn Lincoln Haywards Heath Golf Club, a special Trees Saison (6.5%). edition Elderflower Hop Festival Nigel Bullen

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 2121 Cider House Notes CIDER HOUSE NOTES

A Bit of a Barny issue of the Sussex Drinker will not be in your A short tale of woe, and hands until after the event, so here is a picture the start of a new life of for you to see it for yourself. cider making in a new barn, for John Wassail! Batcheldor of JB Cider, Jackie Johnson Maplehurst. Having Cider & Perry Rep, Brighton & South Downs been forced to move Branch house in 2015 due to family quarrels, John Presentation to Village Green had to give up a third of Cider Co, winners of the Surrey & his orchard space and his old Cider Barn as well Sussex Regional Cider as his home. Luckily, he found another place to Competition live in the village, and his neighbour, who runs On Sunday 25 a garden nursery business and just happened to October, four already own the land on which the rest of his intrepid cider orchard was growing, allowed him to build a drinkers - the new Cider Barn on that land. current and ex- Regional Cider And so a new Cider Barn has arisen over the Coordinators last few months, built by John with much help and their from his friends, and is looking magnificent, if partners - spent slightly unfinished on the back wall. The timber several hours at the “cider barn” in Turners Hill frame was all lovingly handmade by one of his helping Ben and Jack press their apples for the oldest friends, a talented builder and carpenter, next batch of Village Green cider, and presented and then clad in timber as well, with reused them with their certificate for winning the windows, and Regional Cider Competition in March. the crowning glory of a Very messy and hard work, but worth it for the weathervane prospect of a tub of the cider when it is ready in showing an March, and we were also given some freshly angler with a pressed apple juice to take away. Ben and Jack silver fish were both informative and entertaining, and dangling on his rod (one of John’s passions is Ben’s parents fishing). All the old cider making equipment also helped out has been rescued from the old barn, and by providing us installed in the new one, and the floor is hard- with a barbecue packed earth (clay!) with gravel on top. lunch (the dog also tried to join Everyone will be able to view it for themselves in!). at the Wassail on 2 January; unfortunately, this

22 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 CIDER PRODUCERS OF SURREY AND SUSSEX – CAMRA NEEDS YOU! QUESTION: WHAT’S THE BEST CIDER IN OUR AREA? ANSWER: WE DON’T YET KNOW, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIND OUT, SO PLEASE ENTER YOUR CIDER INTO THE SURREY & SUSSEX REGIONAL CIDER COMPETITION TO BE JUDGED ON SATURDAY 19 MARCH 2016 AT THE SUSSEX BRANCHES BEER AND CIDER FESTIVAL (17-19 MARCH 2016) AT BRIGHTON CORN EXCHANGE. For this competition, any traditional (i.e. made from freshly pressed apples and not micro- filtered, pasteurised or artificially carbonated) cider produced in Surrey or Sussex is eligible. Only one cider per producer will be judged, so makers are asked to nominate which of their ciders is entered. Producers need to be able to provide at least a 10-litre box, for although we only need a small amount for judging, the ciders will all be on the Cider Bar from Thursday 17 March to the end of the Festival, and the public will want to drink the winning cider and other entries after the final judging! To enter your own, or nominate a cider, please contact Jackie Johnson, email: [email protected], tel: 01273 202730.

Known locally as Ypres Castle Inn Wipers this 17th century pub offers five Gungarden real ales and locally Rye produced food. East Sussex Nestled behind Ypres TN31 7HH Castle the pub is ideally located to enjoy the 01797 223248 surrounding views from www.yprescastleinn.co.uk the pretty beer garden. Live music is provided every Friday & Sunday night.

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 23 List Your Local

The four page insert in the centerfold of this edition of List Your Local! Sussex Drinker (opposite) was economically viable, e.g. where there is a high included in a recent mailing of concentration of pubs in an area of limited What’s Brewing to every population. In these situations, the pubs which CAMRA member to give survive will obviously be those which are the them the opportunity to most creative and inovatitive and seek to fully register their own “local” as meet the needs of their customers. an Accet of Community Value (ACV). We would like to offer the same opportunity to all Far too many pubs are closing which are in readers of Sussex Drinker. every way economically viable as pubs, but the pressure to close these pubs and convert them to Over 1,200 pubs have now been registered as some other use, e.g. as residential dwellings, is ACVs, and this is a very good start, but it is not simply because as financial assets these enough and many pubs which should remain properties have a far greater value as something open that are at threat of closure. You can other than a pub. It is in these cases that download the full list of pubs registered as registration as an ACV is most critical. We are ACVs using www.camra.org.uk/ACV-List. still seeing over 1,500 pubs permanently close every year. If this continues, in 10 years time CAMRA accepts that not all pubs can be saved there will only be 35,000 pubs compared with from closure, and perhaps not all pubs should 50,000 currently. The time to act is now. be saved. Some pubs are simply not

24 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 25 26 27 28 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 29 Diary Dates

CAMRA EVENTS IN BOLD. For FREE inclusion in this column, contact the Editor; for PAID advertisements contact Neil Richards. Copy-by date and contact details on p. 3. Feb 17-20 CAMRA NATIONAL Sultan, whose brewery may or may not be WINTER ALES FESTIVAL, Roundhouse, operating. Other targets TBA. To be included Pride Park, Derby, DE24 8JE, www.nwaf.org. on mailout list contact Pete Brown, 01243 uk 552908, [email protected]

Feb 19-20 GOSPORT WINTERFEST Mar 11-13 Sussex Spring Ale Showcase, XXIV, Thorngate Halls, Bury Road, Gosport, Fri-Sat evening, Sat-Sun daytime, a new event Hants, PO12 3PX, www. at Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre, portsmouthcamrabeerfestivals.co.uk/gosport- Station Road, Amberley, BN18 9LT, www. winterfest.html aleatamberley.co.uk

Feb 25-27 Petersfield Beer & Cider Mar 17-19 26th SUSSEX CAMRA Festival, Festival Hall, Heath Road, BRANCHES BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL, Petersfield, Hants, GU31 4EA, 01730 264182, Brighton Corn Exchange, Church Street, www.petersfieldfest.com Brighton, BN1 1UE, 07450 656148, www. sussexbeerfestival.co.uk Feb 26-28 Rose in June Winter Beer Festival, 10 ales and 6 ciders, 102 Milton Mar 19 Firebird Brewery Function; a St Road, Portsmouth, PO3 6AR, 023 9282 4191, Patrick’s Day celebration, Old Rudgwick www.theroseinjune.co.uk Brickworks, Lynwick Street, Rudgwick, RH12 3UW, 01403 823180, www. Feb 26-28 Stanley Arms Beer Festival, 47 firebirdbrewing.co.uk Wolseley Road, Portslade, BN41 1SS, 01273 430234, www.thestanley.com Mar 25-28 Victoria Inn Easter Beer Festival, 27 Latimer Road, Eastbourne, BN22 Mar 5-6 3rd CAMRA SPRING 7BU, 01323 722673, www. EQUINOX FESTIVAL, Drill Hall, Denne victoriaeastbourne.co.uk Road, Horsham, RH12 1JF, www. northsussexcamra.org.uk, camra.equinox@ Apr 1-2 Southsea Beerex, Fri 6-11pm, Sat gmail.com 12noon-5pm, 6-11pm, Wedgewood Rooms, 147b Albert Road, Southsea, Hants, PO4 0JW, Mar 4-6 Prestonville Arms Spring Beer 023 9286 3911, www.wedgewoodrooms.co. Festival, 12noon-midnight every day with 15 uk/WhatsOn/SouthseaBeerex.aspx ales plus cider, 64 Hamilton Road, Brighton, BN1 5DN, 01273 701007, www. Apr 1-3 CAMRA MEMBERS’ theprestonvillearms.co.uk WEEKEND & AGM, Liverpool Guild of Students, Mountford Hall, Mount Pleasant, Mar 10 Train to London Pubs, TTLP28. To Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 5TR, www. the Wimbledon area, SW19, hopefully to visit camraagm.org.uk the new Wimbledon Brewery Tap, plus the

30 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 Diary Dates

Apr 9-10 Arun Yacht Club Beer Festival, Rally, Beer Tent Event, Highbridge Farm, Beer Tent Event, Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-4pm, Highbridge Road, Eastleigh, Hants, SO50 free entry, all welcome; Riverside West, 6HN, 07778 551352, www.ale-inatent.co.uk Littlehampton, BN17 5DL, 07778 551352, www.arunyc.co.uk, www.ale-inatent.co.uk May 20 Train to London Pubs, TTLP29. To South London, possibly to visit some of the Apr 15-17 Victoria Inn Spring Beer growing list of Late Knights Brewery bars/ Festival, West Marden, PO18 9EN, 02392 pubs, plus others TBA. To be included on 631330, www.victoriainnwestmarden.co.uk mailout list contact Pete Brown, 01243 552908, [email protected] Apr 16 SUSSEX CAMRA BRANCHES LIAISON MEETING, New Inn, 5 Norfolk May 27-29 Beer & Cider by the Sea, Street, Littlehampton, BN17 5PL Western Lawns, Eastbourne, BN21 4UH, 01323 412000, www.visiteastbourne.com/ Apr 22-24 St George’s Day Beer Festival, events/beerandciderbythesea.aspx Beer Tent Event, George & Dragon, 1 High Street, Tarring, Worthing, BN14 7NN, 07778 June 4-5 Floral Fringe Fair, Beer Tent 551352, www.ale-inatent.co.uk Event, Knepp Castle, West Grinstead, RH13 8LJ, 07778 551352, www.ale-inatent.co.uk April 22-24 St George’s Day Mini-Beer Festival, The Bevy, 50 Hillside, Brighton, June 17-18 20th SOUTH DOWNS BN2 4TF, 01273 281009, www.thebevy.co.uk BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL, Lewes Town Hall, BN7 2Q5, www.brightoncamra.org.uk Apr 28-May 2 Beltane Beer Festival, Duke of Wellington, 368 Brighton Road, Shoreham- June 25 Horsham Cricket Club Beer & by-Sea, BN43 6RE, 01273 441297, www. Music Festival; a beer festival combined with dukeofwellingtonbrewhouse.co.uk music from top tribute groups, local derby Sussex Premier League cricket, and food; Apr 29-May 2 Anchor Inn 5th Annual Bank Horsham Sports Club, Cricketfield Road, Holiday Beer and Cider festival, with live Horsham, RH12 1TE, 01403 254628, www. music and (if fine) BBQ; Church Street, horshamsportsclub.com Hartfield, TN7 4AG, 01892 770424, www. anchorhartfield.com June 25-26 Dene Steam Rally, Beer Tent Event, Starter Gate Farm, Charlwood Lane, May 13-15 27th YAPTON BEEREX, Monkwood, Ropley, Hants, SO24 0HA, Yapton & Ford Village Hall, BN18 0ET, see 07778 551352, www.ale-inatent.co.uk back page advert and www. westernsussexcamra.org.uk July 31 Sadcase Car Show, Beer Tent Event, Storrington Recreation Ground, Storrington, May 14 Kissingate Brewery Spring Festival, RH20 4HJ, 07778 551352, www.ale-inatent. 11am-8pm, Pole Barn, Church Lane Farm co.uk Estate, Lower Beeding, RH13 6LU, 01403 891335, www.kissingate.co.uk Aug 9-13 GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL, Olympia, London, W14 8UX, May 14-15 Bill Target Memorial Steam 0844 412 4640, www.gbbf.org.uk

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 31 Spotlight on Breweries

The Empire Expands assigned a colour and asked to brew a beer As reported in the loosely based around that colour. Burning Sky Sussex Pub Scratchings has been paired with Liberty Brewing Co. and section of this issue, the their colour is orange. They will also be doing a Dark Star empire has collaboration brew with the Italian Birra del now established soon- Borgo brewery. to-open outposts in both Haywards Heath and Faithful to the Last Horsham with the After the team at Downlands brewery made the opening of the Lockhart Tavern and the Anchor decision to drop Pyecombe All Ye Faithful from Tap respectively. James from the brewery their line-up, assures us the new pubs will be worth visiting: the beer “First and foremost we want to establish these promptly as genuine free houses. As with the Evening won Silver in Star, you will be able to enjoy a great range of the London beers from some great breweries, and a few of and South ours thrown in for good measure. Much like our Eastern ‘strategy’ for brewing beers that we want to Region Champion Beer of Britain Competition. drink, we’ll be creating pubs we want to drink The Brighton & South Downs Branch recently in - we hope you’ll join us”. awarded the certificate to the brewery, during which visit they were able to sample the Orange Skies winning beer’s successor, Black Seven Four. Burning Sky brewery has been invited to be one of seven UK breweries Old Prentonian to take part in the Al is still brewing on a temporary International Rainbow basis from home, but should Project, which started move his Old Prentonian Brewery in 2013. Each brewery is paired with a foreign in January into new premises in brewery - this year from New Zealand - Worthing. The regular beers will include ‘Ello Treacle Stowt and 32 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 Spotlight on Breweries

Smokey Joe Ale, while a dry-hopped light ale is under development.

New Brus Ashdown Ales is a new brewery to start small- scale production over Christmas with beer 17th century coaching inn available in in a historic market town The Bull Inn bottles and casks from mid-January 2016. They En-suite bed and breakfast 27 High Street will initially be utilising spare capacity at an accommodation Battle existing brewery. The Lazy Lizard Beer Selection of real ales East Sussex including beers from local TN33 0EA Company has its registered office in breweries and is currently brewing at Naked Good home made food from 01424 775171 locally sourced suppliers [email protected] www Brewery, Lancing. Two Tribes was launched on thebullinnbattle.co.uk Themed food nights 23 March 2015, operating from the Jubilee Open: Live Music, jamming Mon-Thu 11-11.30pm estate, Foundry Lane, Horsham, with the same sessions, check www Fri & Sat 11-12.30am post code and phone number as King Beer. for details Sun 11-10.30pm

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 33 Beer Me

The Beer Me Brewery was launched in Beer Me! 2014 in the basement of the Belgian Café, Eastbourne. It opening was the culmination of a three-year project for Café owner Greg Corona and brewer Damien Dudon (see right), who built on ten years experience in the catering industry and were inspired by a trip to Columbia where they experienced at first hand some of the new micro breweries in that South American country. Having taken brewing training in Belgium, they attended a Dave Porter course. Their 2.5-barrel plant was also a Dave Porter installation on

which, in December 2014, they test-brewed both Blonde and Dubbel. These, alongside their other continental-style beers are served at the café direct from the brewery, hence the choice of name, Beer Me.

Beer Me Brewery, The Belgian Café, 11-23 Grand Parade, Eastbourne, BN21 3YN, 01323 729967,www.beermebrewery.com

34 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 The Crown Family friendly community pub in the heart of Eastbourne Old Town. Large enclosed rear garden and children’s play area. Six real ales: Harveys Sussex Best Bitter, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Wadworth 6X, Young’s Special Easter Beer Festival and two guest beers. 24th – 28th March Open Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Live music and 20+ ales Fri & Sat 11am-midnight, Free festival t-shirt for CAMRA members Sun 12 noon-11pm. South East Sussex LocAle Pub of the Year 2015 22 Crown Street, Old Town, Eastbourne, BN21 1PB, (01323) 724654

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 35 Mad March Pub Quiz Challenge

The Mad March Pub Quiz Challenge is simplicity itself. MAD MARCH During the month of March, the MMPQ challenge. Pubs have found they have pubs across East and West more customers on Charity Quiz nights. The closer Sussex are asked to support involvement between members of the local Friends of Sussex Hospices community and the pub provides positive PR. (FSH), a charity that champions Many pubs have already expressed interest in and supports the work of all twelve hospice care taking part once again and the word is getting providers across the county. The challenge has around as pubs and clubs are now approaching the gone from strength to strength and 2016 will be its charity. Al Murray, the pub third year. In 2015 over 100 pubs took up the landlord, will again endorse challenge and held auctions, ran raffles and MMPQ in 2016, and in his words: organised quizzes, with one quizmaster even “The Mad March Pub Quiz having a sponsored haircut! There was a quiz every Challenge is a TOP NOTCH idea evening of the month and multiple quizzes on some and I urge you to support it in nights. In 2014 the challenge raised £10,000, and whatever way you can to raise FSH is seeking to surpass the 2015 total of £19,000. money for Sussex Hospices.” As FSH is run entirely by volunteers, every pound To get involved, and for more information, contact raised goes to the hospice care providers. Patricia Evans, MMPQ Event Director; tel: 07837 FSH can supply posters, flyers, and beer mats. It 130688; email: patricia.evans@ will promote your quiz through social media, post friendsofsussexhospices.org.uk. it on its website and the local press will be backing

36 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 37 History and Heritage The Grenadier,

The Harvey Hoppers’ Handbook, a 1990s guide to the pubs on the Harvey Hop, states that the Grenadier Hotel dates back to the Napoleonic Wars, when it “was originally known as the British Grenadier and served to quench the thirsts of the soldiers garrisoned in the barracks which once stood nearby.” The existing bearing beam once divided the two rooms. The premises, however, are the result of a 1910 original bar back and counter remains but the rebuilding with later additions including a latter has newer panels on the front. The internal parapet. It is of two storeys in redbrick with door with the sign ‘Saloon Bar and Toilets’ leads attractive decorative stonework elements in the first to a small lobby with what appears to have rusticated pilasters and the arches above the once been an off sales; or perhaps this was the ground floor doors and windows. entrance and serving hatch for the hotel residents. The large right side room has a ‘Saloon Bar’ etched panel in both exterior and inner doors. The bar counter is the original with replacement front panels that match the dado panelling on the walls, some of which has covered up an old fireplace. This room has been combined with a former sitting room at the rear where there is another small hatch/doorway for service.

These bear the names Private Bar, Public Bar and Saloon Bar in scrolled relief above the windows with H&S (Harvey & Son) over the doors. Room names also survive on a number of etched windows and door glass.

The present bar on the left is a combination of the old Private and Public Bars. The Toad in the Hole game is played here. Fixed seating now blocks off the Public Bar door where the load-

38 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 WILKES HEAD Church Lane, Eastergate, West Sussex, PO20 3UT Tel: 01243 543380 www.wilkesheadeastergate.co.uk Ÿ Historic 17th century Inn Ÿ 20 minute walk (1.3 miles) from Barnham mainline station Six Ales always on tap Ÿ In the Good Beer Guide Cask Marque Approved Ÿ Secluded beer garden Open Every Day All Day. Food 12-2.30, 6.30-8.30. Sussex CAMRA Pub of the Year 2014

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 39 Save Your Pub

The fate of two Brighton pubs that have previously been the subject of this feature is Brighton Update now confirmed. From a CAMRA point of view it is very disappointing that neither has been saved as a real ale pub. The silver(-ish) lining in the cloud is that they have at least been retained for community use instead of becoming the offices and flats they were originally destined to be.

Meanwhile, the Rose Hill Tavern Action Group seemingly did not raise enough capital to purchase this pub in Rose Hill Terrace, off London Road. The Independent (Friday 18 December) reports that the property has been bought by an unnamed Brighton couple who aim to turn the closed tavern into a community arts hub. The buyers The Horse and Groom, Islingword Road, issued the following statement: “We are keen to Hanover, was taken over by Majid Bensliman, set up arts studios and a recording studio in the owner and chef of the Blue Man in Queen’s cellar, and the ground floor space we will keep Road, and reopened in December as the Village. as flexible space for a variety of creative and It is a community-focused fully-licensed café community uses, for instance, we run a regular bar, serving food and drink from 12noon-11pm extended artists residency programme in France (midnight Friday and Saturday), including and would like a space in the UK to run some of tapas, breakfasts, dinners, coffee, cakes, teas those activities. We would like to put on events, and alcohol, including craft keg and bottled exhibitions, performances, live music and British and Belgian beer with prices ranging community activities. We would run a variety from £4 to £5. of creative workshops. We belong to an extended local network of artists, musicians, There is free wi-fi, disabled access and photographers, creative workshop leaders and amenities and a changing station for families performers and we would like to set up a space with babies. Live events will take place on a that can help contribute to the configuration of regular basis such as music, comedy and the London Road area.” spoken word, while the soundproofed performance space can also be booked for Both pubs were the result of a 1930s private events. Those over 65 get a 15% remodelling by architect Stavers Hessell discount while students and NHS staff get 10% Tiltman for the Portsmouth and Brighton off. See www.villagebrighton.com. United Breweries. Both were listed last year as Assets of Community Value.

40 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 41 42 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 Brighton & South Downs Branch Beer Festival Report 2000 Members Milestone Victoria Inn, West Marden The Brighton & South Downs The second annual Festival of Christmas Ales branch are pleased to announce at the Victoria Inn, West Marden was very well that their membership now received. Members of the local CAMRA branch stands at 2000. Formed on 13 turned up very early September 1974, their branch on the second day; numbers steadily grew in response to what was lovely to see them, in the early years a very limited choice of beer. although I’m not But “due to the resurgence of real ale and the sure that they all demand from discerning drinkers for quality enjoyed wearing the beer, branch membership has accelerated over Santa Hats! the past few years” said Keith Newell, Branch Chairman and Membership Secretary. Andy The festival got off to a great start on the Friday and Julie McNamee from Lewes joined as joint with Downlands members bringing the branch to the 2000 Generic Festive Pun number. And the rate by which people are being the favourite joining CAMRA shows no sign of slowing of the day. The down as national membership nears 175,000. Christmas Jumper Competition was Peter Mitchell well supported. Brighton & South Downs Branch The final day saw the Prize Olde Mummers perform and they managed to consume plenty of ale.

We are a country pub situated The Sussex Oak The overall Ale of deep in the heart of Sussex. Here you will find a large 2 Church Street the Festival was a selection of local and national close run thing ales on 8 hand pumps. Warnham Nr Horsham between Ballard’s We have an extensive food Pagoda Power, menu prepared from fresh RH12 3QW local ingredients. 8.5%, and Langham Fresh local food served Christmas Cracker, 4.5%. We are now looking all day Friday to Sunday, forward to our Spring Beer Festival, which runs and lunch and dinner from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 April. As always, Monday to Thursday. we are open to suggestions for ales people

In the CAMRA would like to see and can provide transport to 2016 Good Beer Guide and from Emsworth and Rowlands Castle and CAMRA Good Pub stations by prior arrangement. Food Guide Large Garden and field. Celebrating 12 years in the Good Beer Guide Toby Morgan Come and celebrate Great Beer in front of a Roaring Fire Victoria Inn Landlord 01403 265028 The-Sussex-Oak-at-Wareham

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 43 Homebrew Brighton

Homebrew Brighton is Brighton’s brew club, a community of home-brewers. Come along if Love beer? you are interested in learning how to start or improve your brewing, tasting and sharing great Make beer! beers, and having a great time. At the moment I Brighton but as we open up more we will be am the primary organiser but I hope to keep moving further afield. Keep an eye on the getting more people on board so that we can get website, Facebook, Twitter and the mailing list some more interesting collaborative group for news about the weekly meets. work going. www.homebrewbrighton.co.uk We have been a group on Facebook since Twitter@brewbrighton autumn 2013 and have been meeting monthly Facebook: groups/homebrewbrighton since October 2014. Meetings generally rotate between a few of the craft beer scene pubs in James Torr

LocAle ACV Additions The following accreditations are additions to The following pubs have since been added to the lists published in previous issues: the list of Assets of Community Value published in the previous issue: Eastbourne: London and County; : Barley Mow. Dew Drop Inn, 96 Wick Street, Wick, Littlehampton, BN17 7JS LocAle - the local branch initiative that became a national campaign – has its own Independent, 95 Queen’s Park Road, symbol in the GBG. Ask your local publican Brighton, BN2 0GH to source any of the superb range of beers Lamb Inn, 144 Pagham Road, Nyetimber, available within thirty miles of their pub from Bognor Regis, PO21 4NJ the Sussex breweries listed in Bru News. Pubs Maypole Inn, Maypole Lane, Yapton, BN18 closer to the Sussex border will naturally be 0DP able to source beers from any of the Richard Cobden, 2 Cobden Road, Worthing, qualifying breweries in east Hants, south BN11 4BD Surrey or west as appropriate to gain White Horse, Albourne Road, Hurstpierpoint, LocAle accreditation. BN6 9SP 44 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 45 Books on Sussex Pubs Books on Sussex Pubs 1750-1950, has now gone into its second edition, ISBN 978 0 9562 9178 3, price £13.99. At 286 pages, this fascinating and informative history of thirty-three Rye pubs also includes a register of licensees and research into the Rye Temperance Movement. Also in its second edition by the same author is The Swan, Hastings 1523-1943, ISBN 978 0 9562 9176 9, price £8.50. This is a 120 page history of the Your editor’s new book, Brighton Pubs, is due famous Hastings pub destroyed by enemy out by mid-March from Amberley Publishing action in the Second World War. It was way of Stroud, Gloucestershire, ISBN 978 1 4456 back in the Winter 2009 issue of the Sussex 4993 1 (Print) and 978 1 4456 4994 8 (ebook), Drinker that this editor ran a review of David’s price £14.99. At 96 pages with 93 photographs book, The Pubs of Hastings & St Leonards and illustrations, it features histories of forty- 1800-2000. This is now in its third edition, five of the city’s pubs, still open to visit at the including new research. Seventy-two pubs are time of completing the book. They fit into a featured, past and present in its 332 pages, series of five walks, each with its own chapter, which include 200 photographs and starting with a map and covering a different illustrations - ISBN 978 0 9562 9177 6, price area of Brighton. All the pubs are in some way £13.99. Finally, David’s Register of Licensees notable, whether by heritage or architecture, a for Hastings & St Leonards 1500-2000, is now setting for events, or association with people. in its second edition, ISBN 978 0 9562 9752, For those who were familiar with my free pub price £8.50. At fanzine, The Quaffer, this book reads like one 138 pages, it big Quaffer but with photographs. It tells a tale contains some of wagers, inquests, killings, hauntings, 4,400 names. It is conjoined twins, architects, froth blowers, the only listing of family publican dynasties, and two dogs – one 341 public very lucky, the other a trickster. Brighton Pubs houses in the by David Muggleton is available to pre-order at town and is a a special price of £13.49 from www.amberley- useful reference books.com/brighton-pubs.html. for family A new book by David and Lynda Russell, historians, pub published September 2015, is The Pubs of historians and Lewes, East Sussex 1550-2000, ISBN 978 0 genealogists. 9562 9179 0, price £14.99, featuring histories of fifty pubs and beer houses plus a register of licensees. At 322 pages it includes 186 All of the books can be purchased by Pay Pal photographs and illustrations. Meanwhile, from www.hastingspubhistory.com. Otherwise David’s book, The Pubs of Rye, East Sussex email: [email protected].

46 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2016 The Stonemasons Inn PUBLIC HOUSE . DINING . ACCOMMODATION A warm welcome always awaits you An ever changing range at this lovely 17th century Inn of five cask conditioned Five Bells Local seasonal menu ales that always includes Smock Alley one mild, one session Real Ales bitter, two best bitters West Chiltington (Cask Marque Award & featured in CAMRA Best Beer Guide 2015) and one strong bitter. West Sussex Plus one changing craft Good Wine Cellar Roaring log fires keg beer, Hacker Pschorr RH20 2QX Comfortable en-suite accommodation genuine Munich lager, 01798 812143 and Westons Old Rosie Cider on gravity. Homemade traditional food, plus 5 en suite bedrooms. All of this in a very Opening hours: Mon-Sat noon-11pm, Sun noon-6pm traditional pub! North Street, Petworth GU28 9NL • 01798 342510 www.thefivebellsinn.com [email protected] www.thestonemasonsinn.co.uk

47 Letters

Dear Editor Brighton sells a lot of real ale, yet J D As a long time advocate of the potential benefits Wetherpoon seem to think American beer in cans of sub branches, I was delighted to read in the is craft beer. In Australia (and probably the USA) winter issue that the South East Sussex branch the ‘craft beer’ term is widely used, although has established a North East Sussex sub branch. many Oz beers can in no way be considered real National membership of CAMRA continues to ale. Another term which I think needs defining is grow, mainly through recruitment at beer ‘beer festival’. I expect a beer festival normally festivals. Yet ‘activating’ more of those new to be a two or three-day event held in a members to participate in the important areas of moderately large hall (or a function room or our branch organisation and campaigning - other marquee if on pub premises) with a large choice than helping at the local beer festival - can be a of drinks available to appeal to real ale and cider real challenge, one that can, however, be met, at drinkers. I am increasingly finding the term least in part, by the establishment of sub applied to pubs where (say) they normally serve branches. three regular real ales and one guest from the bar, but for a period of (say) a month this is turned Other examples where having sub branches around to three frequently changing guest beers could be beneficial include the annual surveys for with just one regular available. On such the Good Beer Guide (GBG), and the branch, occasions you are not solely in the company of county and regional Pub of the Year (PotY) other real ale and cider enthusiasts because many competitions where participating numbers are people are in the pub for a variety of other often lower than a decade ago. It is also the case reasons – to drink Fosters, wine and dine or that – with a significant percentage of members watch Sky TV! Also, I am not quite sure how the living in the main urbanised areas – getting to current J D Wetherpoon ‘beer festival’ [a local rural pubs, many of which have a limited bus not the national event] substantially differs from service, if any, presents yet another challenge. their normal real ale and cider offerings. The creation of sub branches thus has the Keith Milborrow potential to ‘activate’ more members in outlying areas or even urban areas away from the core. Ed’s reply: in the UK at least, there is no Whilst each sub branch remains a part of the definition of Craft Beer. It is a wholly parent branch, it can agree with the parent on a meaningless term. structure that will best enable local members to Dear Editor take responsibility locally for ‘looking after’ I propose a MOTION from the Jolly Tanners, local pubs and breweries. This then provides Staplefield. This house thinks that CAMRA HQ invaluable feedback to the parent branch – is too cosy with the J D Wetherspoon empire. The together with CAMRA regionally and nationally £20 of vouchers ‘subsidy’ to all CAMRA – and crucially gives local members the members is surely nothing but a bribe to make opportunity for a real voice in the campaign! the noble CAMRA organisation quiescent to the Food for thought? fact that J D Wetherspoon has been responsible Stuart Elms for closing more pubs than it has opened. Tarring Would any readers care to support or contest this Dear Editor motion? Is there a definition of what constitutes ‘craft Yours contentiously beer’? The Craft Beer Co. in Upper North Street, Chris Brazier

48 49 The Stags Head We are pleased to announce our next Beer Festival 16 Beers & 4 Bands in 3 Days 8th, 9th & 10th April

On the Number 1 Bus Route 35/37 High Street, Portslade Old Village, BN41 2LH, 07929 096845 [email protected] follow us on Facebook - The Stags Head pub, Portslade

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