Pints of View Autumn 2016
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Pints Of View Autumn 2016 300 year old pub re-opens Free: please read here or take away 1 CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE 230 Hatfield Road,St Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW Telephone: 01727 867201. www.camra.org.uk Forthcoming Events Branch Meetings: 12th September: Cottage Inn, Wellington 10th October: Kildare Lodge, Minehead 14th November: Firehouse, Curry Rivel 12th December: Brewers Arms South Petherton (Christmas Social) WEBSITE:- www.somerset.camra.org.uk Branch Chairman Mick Cleveland: [email protected] Branch Contact & Secretary: Katie Redgate 01823 279962. [email protected] Vice Chairman: Kevin Woodley 01823 431872 Social Secretary & Whats Brewing Contact: John Hesketh 01278 663764 Branch Treasurer: Lyn Heapy [email protected] Membership Secretary: Stephen Walker 01823 413988 Discounts, Loc-Ale and Real Cider Promotion & Apple/Perry Officer: Steve Hawkins [email protected] Public Transport: Phil Emond [email protected] Pub Protection Officer: Barrie Childs 01823 323642 Pubs Officer & What Pub: Andy Jones [email protected] Branch Website; colin.heapy@ yahoo.com Newsletter: Paul Davey [email protected]. 01935 329975 Pints of View Somerset Pints of View is published by the Somerset Branch of the Campaign For Real Ale Ltd. (CAMRA) The views expressed therein are not, necessarily, those of either the Campaign or the Editor. Contributions/Letters are always welcome. Advertising Advertising Rates: Full Page £90; Half Page £55; Quarter Page £25. Repeat advertisements are reduced by 10%. For more information contact Paul Davey by e mail or telephone as above. Copy should be JPG or PDF. Advertisement updates are the responsibility of the advertiser 2 Pints Of View Somerset Pints of view is published in February, May, August and November. Pints Of View has a print run of 3,000 and is distributed to some 160 pubs and clubs around Somerset plus a few outside our borders. The final copy date for the next edition is October 25th Printed by Character Graphics 56-58 Station Road, TAUNTON TA1 1NS Inside Page 5 North Devon Pub Trip. Page 6 Watchet - Salisbury Page 11 Buses to Somerset Pubs Page 16 Shetland Islands Beer Page 19 Chairman’s Chat Page 21 Burnham Beer Festival Page 23 Exmoor Gold Turns 30 Page 25 Kings Head Merriott Page 26 Pub News Page 28 CAMRA Beer Festival Page 31 Musings. You may remember that the Brewers Arms were running a knockout cup. We left it at the quarter final stage. The green ones went through:- Potholer Vs Gem Landlord Vs Bombardier Yellowhammer Vs Reverend James Directors Vs Jail Ale Semi Final:- Potholer Vs Directors Landlord Vs Reverend James Final:- Landlord Vs Directors Yes one of our leading real ale pubs and the choice of the Patrons was 3 4 North Devon Pub Trip On Saturday 4th June North Devon arranged a great day out to visit 8 of their branch pubs. Arriving at Exeter St David's by 11.00 a coach then took us to Sticklepath where 2 mini buses travelled between the pubs all day until 18.00hrs so you could visit them all. The first 2 in Sticklepath Devonshire Inn and Taw River Inn are nearly opposite each other. As it was a fine warm sunny day we walked to the 2 in South Zeal which were about 25min away: Kings Arms and Oxenham Arms. Mini Bus was the order for the rest of the day to The Post Inn at Whiddon Down (Landlord formally at Bird in Hand at Bishops Lydeard) 3 miles away, then after a very long wait of an hour and ten minuets, (we don't know why!) we were off to the Railway Inn at North Tawton, 5 miles this time. Red Lion at Exbourne another 5 miles and finally The Tors Belstone the longest gap between two pubs at 8 miles, then a short ride back to our coach at Sticklepath, Exeter St David's and home after a very enjoyable day. A lot of hard work must have gone into this event which North Devon Branch must be congratulated for their efforts. All pubs have a great feeling of the local community and its worth visiting again and wander the wonderful villages they are situated in. No I wont tell you the best one as all have unique attraction of there own, friendly staff, good food, great locations, I will let you decide. All the pubs had breweries donate a Kilderkin for the event and all money taken went to charity at a £1.00 to £1.50 a pint!! Amazingly for such rural pubs 6 are on bus routes, the two that are not are at Belston and Exbourne. All with Stagecoach South West as operator, with 5 on one route!! Should you wish to visit:- From Exeter, Whiddon Cross stop by pub, South Zeal alight at cross road and 10min walk, Sicklepath buses stop outside both pubs, on service 6A which operates daily, Exeter/Oakhampton. North Tawton. 10min walk from main road on service 5A again Exeter/Oakhampton. In Exeter both services operate from Bus Station to St David's via eastern exit from Central Station. Trust me it will be worth the effort. Phil Emond. 5 SALISBURY It is the 30thof April and at 10.00am a twenty nine seater Coach leaves Watchet for the “Star Inn's” Sixty seventh Pub Tour. After two hours we reach our destination: Salisbury. The first stop is the Market Inn where Hop Back Summer Lightning, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Doom Bar are on offer. All at £ 4.00 a pint. We sit outside and watch everyone shopping away at one very large market. I finish my Landlord and we head for The Haunch of Venison in Minster Street where Hop Back Summer Lightning, G.F.B. and Courage Best are on sale. This is reputably one of the oldest buildings in Salisbury. We go up a small flight of stairs into a room with a hand in a glass case. It was supposedly cut off some poor chap caught cheating at cards. After a pint of G.F.B. we wander round to New Street where we find the New Inn, this is a Badger Pub selling Daring Driver, First Call and Tanglefoot. I have a Daring Driver as I have not had it before. We then move on just down the road to the Wig and Quill which is a Wadworth Pub. They have on Swordfish, 6X, Horizon and I.P.A. I try a Swordfish. This pub is a lot bigger than it looks on the outside. Its time to move on and we head for The Queens Arms in Ivy Street. This pub has the oldest continuous licence in 6 Salisbury. On the pumps they have Old Speckled Hen and, from Flack Manor, Catcher and Double. I have a Catcher in this very friendly locals’ pub. After a good chat and laugh with some of the punters we head for the Pheasant Inn but on the way the heavens decide to open so we dive into the Red Lion Hotel in Milford Street. Marstons Help for Heroes, Banks Bitter and Ringwood Best on sale. I have a Ringwood as I was their relief manager for two and a half years. There is a wedding going on in a large room at the back attended by some very dolled up attractive young ladies. The shower outside soon passes so it is on to the Pheasant Inn in Salt Lane. This building dates back to 1638 and the first recorded licencee was John Fort in 1743. They offer Timothy Taylor Landlord, Green King I.P.A. and , the one we go for, Whistable Bay Pale Ale by Shepherd Neame. Its then on to our last pub, The Royal George in Bedwin Street. Sharpes Doom Bar,Hopback G.B.F. and Ringwood Best are the three beers on tap and its Ringwood for me. Time has caught up with us so its back to the Coach Park by the River Avon in Castle Street. We dive into a fish and chip shop on the way to help soak up the beer. I announce that we will stop in Taunton on the way back for a comfort break. We have a couple of weak bladders on board so we have to stop in Mere on the way. We then stop at the Wyvern Club to see them lift the Somerset Club of the Year before heading back to Watchet after a very pleasant day out. ‘Till number 68 Tour – keep propping up the bar. Mick Cleveland The Wyvern Club in Taunton are presented with their ‘Club of the Year’ certificate by outgoing Chairman Phil Emond. 7 8 SOMERSET CAMRA REAL ALE AND CIDER FESTIVAL 2016 It is with regret that we have to announce that the Somerset CAMRA Real Ale and Cider Festival will not take place in Vivary Park, Taunton, as we were hoping and planning for this year. Due to circumstances beyond our control we were unable to obtain the necessary permissions in an acceptable time frame. We are still working with Taunton Deane Borough Council and planning to hold the festival in 2017. This will give us more time to plan the festival, and it should be better than ever. We are working towards holding a small festival in September 2016. Please watch the WEBSITE for further news. Breaking news as we go to press please turn to page 28. Thanks you all for bearing with us. Somerset CAMRA 9 10 BUSES TO THE PUBS in SOMERSET BRANCH Part 2 For a current Time Table 8th May 2016 please visit the Buses of Somerset Travel Shop at Taunton Bus Station or contact me by phone or email.