F R E E
Vol 35 Feb/Mar No 1 2013
CAMRA members from branches in Greater London pose before setting off to see their MPs
Editorial
Leeds North West and chair of the All London Drinker is published Party Parliamentary Save the Pub group on behalf of the said, “Today has been incredibly pow - London Branches of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale Limited, erful but please carry on what you’re and edited jointly by doing locally… get more people behind Tony Hedger and Mark Davies. this. You are campaigning not only for Tel: 07790 750024. the great British pub, you are campaign - Material for publication should preferably be ing for the nation.” Andrew Griffith, sent by e-mail to [email protected]. the MP for Burton on Trent and chair - Correspondents unable to send letters to the edi - man of the All Party Parliamentary Beer tors electronically may post them to n the parliamentary debate on the Brian Sheridan at 4, Arundel House, Heathfield Ibeer duty escalator, Charlotte Leslie, Group said, “Today we have sent a Road, Croydon CR0 1EZ. the MP for Bristol North West, said that strong message… we love our beer, we Press releases should be sent by email to pubs were a ‘real world’ version of the love our pubs and we’re going to fight [email protected] House of Commons, where people de - to defend them. You can all be very Changes to pubs or beers should be reported to proud that today we have all played our Capital Pubcheck, bate about real things. On 12 Decem - 2 Sandtoft Road, London SE7 7LR or by ber, CAMRA members from all over the part in saving the Great British pub and e-mail to [email protected]. country – some 1,200 of them – left the great British pint.” For publication in April 2013, please send elec - their pubs and travelled by coach and CAMRA’s national chairman Colin tronic documents to the editors no later than Valentine told the rally, “What you have Monday 11 March. train to take the debate to their MPs. There were supporters there from the done has been very special and you pub and brewery trade – and very wel - have made a difference. You’ve brought SUBSCRIPTIONS: £7.00 for mailing of six editions should be sent to Stan Tompkins, come they were – but make no mistake, to Parliament’s and the general public’s 52 Rabbs Mill House, Chiltern View Road, this was CAMRA’s day. It was the attention the nonsense of the duty es - Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB8 2PD (cheques payable largest campaigning event that we have calator” while CAMRA’s chief execu - to CAMRA London). ever organised. More than 300 MPs tive, Mike Benner, added that members were lobbied by constituent CAMRA should be proud and remember the day, ADVERTISING: John Galpin members and one MP said CAMRA had going on to describe the escalator as Tel: 020 3287 2966. created a real buzz in Parliament and ‘economic madness’ which cost jobs, Printed by Cliffe Enterprise, that it was the largest and best organ - Eastbourne, BN22 8TR money and communities. Perhaps the ised lobby that he had seen. pithiest comment came from London’s Views expressed in this publication are thoseof their Although members were provided individual authors and are notnecessarily endorsed by own Duncan Sambrook of Sambrook’s the Editor or theCampaign for Real Ale Limited. with briefing notes, there were people Brewery. He pointed out that there was Advertise in the next there who really knew the situation first no point in brewers making beer if there LONDON DRINKER hand. John Bellinger, chairman of were no pubs to sell it. Amen to that. Our advertising rates are as follows: North Oxfordshire branch, left the pub I helped out at the reception centre Whole page £325 (colour) £260 (mono) trade last April, with the beer tax esca - and was proud to do so. This event Half page £195 (colour), £145 (mono) lator having contributed to making his Quarter page £105 (colour), £80 (mono) took a lot of organising and I would like Phone John Galpin now on business unviable. John commented to congratulate CAMRA National Exec - 020 3287 2966, Mobile 07508 036835 that the lobby was “the greatest oppor - utive members Jackie Parker and Chris - [email protected] tunity, possibly ever, for ordinary people tine Cryne for their efforts. Likewise, to have a positive effect on the decision virtually the whole of CAMRA’s HQ makers of this country, to address his staff who were there doing their bit. ridiculously unfair tax”. Another mem - In this issue Thanks also to Fuller’s, Wychwood, ber, Steve Bury of South Hertfordshire Shepherd Neame and SIBA for provid - Branch diaries 4 branch explained, “I know my MP sup - ports the campaign to scrap the beer ing the beer. News round-up 12 Inevitably, people – not unreasonably Redemption award 20 duty escalator but I want to ask him to canvass other MPs to get them to sup - - will say, yes, very impressive but will Membership form 22 port the Early Day Motion (EDM) 703.” it do any good? I believe that it will. Pubcos and the tie 23 This EDM calls for a review of the eco - Awareness of the situation has been Pub campaigns 24 nomic and social impact of the beer raised substantially and now the likes of Pig’s Ear report 30 duty escalator, which should report Greg Mulholland and Andrew Griffith Little Brew 32 back to the Treasury before the 2013 are no longer lone voices at Westmin - London Brewery Company 36 Budget. ster. Perhaps we may not see any Dark Star presentation 41 CAMRA had set up a reception centre progress in the 2013 budget and repeal - ing the beer duty escalator will not be Letters 42 at the nearby Emmanuel Centre and most lobbyists returned there after see - enough on its own, but change is com - Peter Tonge 44 ing their MPs for a rally and a well- ing. Let’s hope that it isn’t too late for LocAle list 47 earned pint or two. Amongst the too many pubs. Idle Moments 50 speakers were two MPs well known to Crossword 54 CAMRA. Greg Mulholland, the MP for Tony Hedger
3 Branch diaries
elcome to our regular details of London CAMRA contacts and events February – Thu 28 Cider Pub of the Year presentation 2012; see Regional Wwhere branches say what is happening in their areas that might be of in - Events above. terest to drinkers across London. Events for February and March are listed March – Thu 21 All London NW1 Cider pub crawl: (7.30) Lyttelton Arms, 1 below. Meetings and socials are open to all – everyone is welcome to come Camden High St; (8.15) Dublin Castle, 94 Parkway; (8.45) Earl of Camden, along. 55 Parkway; (9.30) Edinboro’ Castle, 57 Mornington Terrace; (10.15) Prince Albert, 163 Royal College St. Quick visits to see what ciders these pubs are LONDON REGIONAL EVENTS selling. All welcome, including ale drinkers! Regional Director: John Cryne, [email protected], 07802 174861 YOUNG MEMBERS GROUP February – Thu 28 (8pm) Cider Pub of the Year presentation 2012. Sussex London co-ordinator Matthew Black, 07786 262798, youngmembers@sel - Arms, Staines Rd, Twickenham. camra.org.uk March – Wed 27 (7.30) London AGM and Liaison Committee (Regional co- Email group: http://groups.google.com/group/london-camra-ym ordination meeting for London Branches). Royal Oak, Tabard St, SE1. Secre - tary: [email protected] BEXLEY Website: www.camralondon.org.uk Rob Archer, [email protected], [email protected] February – Wed 13 (8.30) Mtg. Old Dartfordians Rugby Club, DA5. - Wed LONDON PUBS GROUP 20 (8pm) Blackfen soc. Jolly Fenman, 64-68 Blackfen Rd, Sidcup. - Wed 27 Chair: Jane Jephcote, [email protected], 020 7720 6327 or 07813 (8.30) GBG selection Soc, Furze Wren, 6 Market Pl, Bexleyheath. 739856 March – Wed 13 (8.30) Mtg. Prince of Wales, 13A Woolwich Rd, Belvedere. - February – Sat 23 Daytime crawl of Plumstead, Woolwich and Greenwich: Wed 20 (8pm) Crayford soc. Duke's Head, 53 Crayford High St. (noon) Star, 158 Plumstead Common Rd, SE18; (1pm) Dial Arch, The War - Website: www.camrabexleybranch.org.uk ren, SE18; (2.45) Rose's, 49 Hare St, SE18; (3.45) Pelton Arms, 23-25 Pelton Rd, SE10; (4.30) Yacht, 5 Crane St, SE10; (5pm) Trafalgar, Park Row, SE10; BROMLEY (5.45) Old Brewery, Pepys Bdg, Old Royal Naval College, SE10. Public trans - Stephen Osborn, [email protected]. port may be required at times. All welcome. February – Mon 4 (8pm) Soc, Railway Hotel, Red Lodge Rd, BR4; - Thu 7 March – Wed 13 (7.30) Mtg. Royal Oak, Tabard St, SE1 (upstairs). All (noon) Soc, Battersea Beer Festival. - Tue 12 (8pm) Soc. Shortlands Tavern, CAMRA branches and members interested in pub research and preservation Station Rd, BR2. - Mon 18 (7.30) Fest Planning Mtg. Crown & Anchor, 19 welcome. Park Rd BR1. - Wed 20 Beckenham BR3 crawl. (1pm) Oakhill Tavern, 90 Website: www.londonpubsgroup.org.uk Bromley Rd; then Jolly Woodman, 9 Chancery La; Coach & Horses, Burnhill Rd and 3 others. - Sat 23 (noon) Soc. Orpington Liberal Club Beer & Cider LONDON CIDER GROUP Festival, Station Rd, BR6. - Tue 26 (7.30) Mtg. Queens Head, 25 High St, Ian White, [email protected] or text 07775 973760 (10-4 Mon- Downe BR6. Fri) March – Sat 2 Publicity crawl for Bromley ‘Mad March’ Cider Fest: Part 1
At least 7 Ales, No recorded including Dark music, TV or and LocAles plus 3 machines, large real ciders, Sunner garden, quality Kolsch and Hacker- home cooked pub Pschorr Beers. Plus grub 12-3, Hot ‘Pot’ an ever expanding meals available till range of bottled and 10pm for around KeyKeg beers D¿YHU
‘Maiden Voyage’ Beer Festival February 28th - March 2nd First beer festival in our new expanded hostelry ~ :HOLNHWRVHOOEHHUVIURPWKH¿QHVW%ULWLVKEUHZHUVLQFOXGLQJORWVRI/RF$OHRQHV ~ 48 West Street, Carshalton, Surrey. SM5 2PR t: 020 8240 1255 www.hopecarshalton.co.uk - see ‘beer cam’ for what’s on now
Future festivals: ‘White Rabbit’ 28th - 30th March and ‘Spirit of Albion’ 25th - 27th April
4 Branch diaries
(1pm) Beech Tree, 54 London Rd, Bromley BR1 then several others. Part 2 NORTH LONDON (7pm) Bricklayers Arms, 141 Masons Hill, BR2 then several others. - Sun 3 Social contacts: Stephen Taylor, 07531 006296, Stephen3.Taylor@selex- (1pm) Soc. Grape & Grain Beer Fest, 2 Anerley Hill, Crystal Palace SE19. - es.com; John Adams, 07970 150707 [email protected]. Branch chair - Thu 7 (noon) Soc. London Drinker Beer Fest. - Sat 9 (noon to 11pm) 1st man: Catherine Tonry, 07793 547067, [email protected] Bromley ‘Mad March’ Cider Fest. H G Wells Centre, St Marks Rd BR2. - February – Tue 5 (8pm) LDBF mtg. Vine, 86 Highgate Rd, NW5. - Tue 12 Wed 13 (8.30) ‘Save your Pint’ public meeting jointly organised with Orp - (8pm) Shrove Tuesday soc. North Nineteen, 194-196 Sussex Way, N19. - ington Liberal Club: Speakers Greg Mulholland MP and CAMRA Regional Tue 19 Hoxton N1 soc: (7.30) Electricity Showrooms, 39a Hoxton Sq; Director John Cryne, 7 Station Rd, Orpington BR6. - Sat 16 (1pm) Soc. (8.15) Red Lion, 41 Hoxton St; (9pm) White Horse, 153 Hoxton St; (9.45) Pickhurst, Pickhurst La, West Wickham BR4. - Mon 18 (7.30) Fest plan - Howl at the Moon, 178 Hoxton St. - Tue 26 (8pm) Winter PotS presenta - ning mtg. Crown & Anchor, 19 Park Rd, BR1. - Tue 26 (7.30) Mtg. New tion, Bull, 13 North Hill, N6. Inn, 59 Station Approach, BR2. March – Tue 5 Pre-LDBF Kings Cross soc: (6pm) Boot, 116 Cromer St; Website: www.bromleycamra.org.uk (8.30) Skinners Arms, 114 Judd St; (9.15) McGlynns, 1-5 Whidbourne St; (10pm) Parcel Yard, Kings Cross Stn. - Tue 12 New Members' West Euston CROYDON & SUTTON NW1 soc: (7.30) Green Man, 383 Euston Rd; (8.15) Queens Head & Arti - Peter McGill, 07831 561296, [email protected] choke, 30-32 Albany St; (9pm) Shaker & Company, 119 Hampstead Rd; February – Tue 19 (8.30) Soc. Skylark, 34-36 Southend, Croydon. - Tue (9.30) Crown & Anchor, 137 Drummond St; (10pm) Bree Louise, 69 Cobourg St. - Thu 14 (8pm) Crosse Keys joint soc with ELAC and E&B 26 (8.30) Mtg including GBG selection. Dog & Bull (upstairs bar), 24 Sur - branches. See ELAC entry above. - Tue 19 (8pm) Darts evening, all wel - rey St, Croydon (membership card required to vote). come. Prince Arthur, 49 Brunswick Pl, N1. - Tue 26 (8pm) Mtg. White March – Tue 13 Cheam soc: (8.30) Harrow Inn, 1 High St; (9.15) Claret Hart, 69 Stoke Newington High St, N16. Wine Bar, 33 Broadway. - Wed 20 (8.30) Soc. Lord Napier, 111 Beulah Rd, Website: www.camranorthlondon.org.uk Thornton Heath. - Thu 28 (8.30) Mtg and London Drinker pick-up. Wind - sor Castle (Cottage Rm) 378 Carshalton Rd. RICHMOND & HOUNSLOW website: www.croydoncamra.org.uk Roy Hurry, 020 8570 0643(h), [email protected] February – Tue 26 (8pm) Soc. Sussex Arms, 15 Staines Rd, Twickenham EAST LONDON & CITY TW2. John Pardoe, 07757 772564, [email protected]; Branch telephone March – Thu 14 (8.30) Mtg. Ales & Tails, 29/31 York St, Twickenham 07757 772564 TW1. - Wed 20 (8pm) Hampton pub walk with Kingston & Leatherhead February – Tue 5 (8pm) Final GBG selection mtg. Bow Bells, 116 Bow Rd, Branch. See K&L entry above. E3. - Mon 25 (8pm) Pig’s Ear wash-up mtg. Rose and Crown, (downstairs) Website: www.rhcamra.org.uk 53 Hoe St, Walthamstow E17. - Thu 28 (8pm) Soc. Leyton Orient Sup - porters Club Beer Fest, Oliver Rd, E10. SOUTH EAST LONDON March – Tue 12 (8pm) Mtg. Horseshoe, 24 Clerkenwell Clo, EC1R. - Thu Neil Pettigrew, 07751 898310 (M), [email protected] 14 (8pm) Wetherspoon London Beer Fest joint soc with E&B and NL February – Mon 4 (8pm) Mtg & soc. Draft House (Tasting Rms), 206-208 branches. Crosse Keys, 9 Gracechurch St, EC3V. Tower Bridge Rd, SE1. - Wed 13 (8pm) GBG selection mtg: Ship (upstairs Website: www.pigsear.org.uk rm), 68 Borough Rd, SE1. - Mon 18 East Dulwich SE22 crawl: (7.30) Bishop, 27 Lordship La; (8.15) Draft House, 21 Lordship La; (9pm) East ENFIELD & BARNET Dulwich Tavern, 1 Lordship La; (9.45) Cherry Tree, 31-33 Grove Vale; - Sat Brian Willis, 020 8440 4542 (H), 23 London Overground Extension crawl: (11am) Asparagus, 1-3 Falcon [email protected], branch mobile 07757 Rd, Battersea SW11 (noon) Falcon, 2 St John's Hill, Clapham Jct SW11; 710008 at events. (1pm) King's Head, 100 Clapham Pk Rd, SW4; (2pm) Sun of Camberwell, February – Tue 5 Barnet survey: start (8pm) Lord Nelson, 14 West End 61-63 Coldharbour La, SE5; (3pm) Rye, 31 Peckham Rye, SE15; (4pm) La, EN5. - Thu 7 (from noon) Battersea Beer Fest: see page XX. - Tue 12 N Asylum Tavern, 40-42 Asylum Rd, SE15; (5pm) China Hall, 141 Lower Rd, Finchley survey: start (8.30) Bohemia, 762-764 High Rd, N12. - Wed 20 SE16; (6pm) Surrey Docks, 185 Lower Rd, SE16. - Thu 28 Brockley SE4 Southgate survey: start (8pm) Ye Olde Cherry Tree, 22 The Green, N14 - crawl: (7.30) Brockley Jack, 408-410 Brockley Rd; (8.15) Jam Circus, 330- Wed 27 (8.30) Final 2014 GBG selection mtg. (members only) Old Mitre, 332 Brockley Rd; (9pm) Orchard, 5-7 Harefield Rd; (9.45) Brockley Barge, 58 High St, Barnet EN5 184 Brockley Rd. March – Thu 14 Crosse Keys joint soc with ELAC and NL branches. See March - Mon 4 (8pm) Mtg & soc: All Inn One (Foresters), side bar, 51 Perry Vale, SE23. - Wed 13 Catford SE6 crawl: (7.30) London & Rye, 109 ELAC entry above. - Wed 20 (8.30) Soc. Red Lion, 371 Hertford Rd, En - Rushey Green; (8.15) Goose on the Green, 167 Rushey Green; (9pm) Ram, field EN3. - Thu 28 (8.30) London Drinker pick-up. Cricketers, 19 Chase 7 Winslade Way; (9.45) Catford Bridge Tavern, Station App. - Fri 22 Bor - Side Pl, Enfield EN2. ough Market SE1 early morning crawl: (6am) Market Porter, 9 Stoney St; Website: www.camraenfieldandbarnet.org.uk (9am) Breakfast at Maria's Cafe. - Wed 27 Greenwich SE10 crawl: (7.30) Guildford Arms, 55 Guildford Gro; (8.15) Prince of Greenwich, 55 Royal KINGSTON & LEATHERHEAD Hill; (9pm) Spanish Galleon, 48 Greenwich Church St; (9.45) Admiral Clive Taylor, 020 8949 2099, [email protected] Hardy, 7 College App; (10.30) Greenwich Tavern, 1 King William Walk. February – Thu 7 (1pm) Soc. Battersea Beer Fest. - Wed 13 (8pm) Branch Website: www.selcamra.org.uk AGM, Willoughby Arms, Willoughby Rd, Kingston. - Tue 19 Surbiton ‘High St’ crawl: (8pm) Black Lion, Brighton Rd; (8.45) Victoria; (9.15) SOUTH WEST ESSEX Duke Of York; (9.50) Surbiton Flyer; (10.30) Coronation Hall. - Tue 26 Branch contact: Alan Barker [email protected], 07711 971957 (8pm) GBG selection mtg. Fountain (upstairs), Malden Rd, New Malden. - (M) evenings or weekends only. Wed 27 (8pm) KBF planning mtg. Willoughby Arms, Kingston. Bookings for minibus trips to Graham Platt: 020 8220 0215 (H) March – Tue 5 (8.15) Mtg. Manor, Manor Drive North, Malden Manor. - February – Sat 2 (1pm) Soc, 20th White Cliffs Beer Fest, Maison Dieu Thu 14 Esher crawl: (8pm) Bear, then Albert Arms and Wheatsheaf. - Wed (Town Hall), Biggin St, Dover. By ‘Javelin’ high-speed train at 11.19am 20 Hampton pub walk with R&H Branch: (8pm) Railway Bell; (8.45) from Stratford International (61 mins); DLR from West Ham/Stratford to Worlds End; (9.25) Jolly Coopers, then bus to Kings Arms, Hampton Stratford International. GroupSave train tickets: 4 (or 3) travel for the price Court. - Wed 27 (8pm) KBF planning mtg. Willoughby Arms, Kingston. of 2. - Tue 5 (8.30) Soc. Brave Nelson, 138 Woodman Rd, Warley, CM14. - Website: camrasurrey.org.uk Wed 13 (8.30) Soc. Travellers Friend, 496/498 High Rd, Woodford Green
5
Branch diaries
IG 8. - Tue 19 (8.30) GBG and PotY (Lo n don Area) select ion m tg. Eva (9pm) Railway, 202 Upper Richmond Rd; (9.45) Jolly Gardeners, 61-63 H art, 1128 H igh Rd, Chadwell H eath RM 6 . - Wed 20 (8pm) So c. 14th Lacy Rd; (10.30) Whistle & Flute, 46 Putney High St. Chelm sford Winter Beer Fest, King Edwar d VI Gramm ar S chool , Broom - Website: www.camraswl.org.uk field Rd (new venue, not far fro m Ch e lmsford Rail Stn). - Tue 26 (8.30), GBG and PotY (Essex Area) selection mtg. White Hart, Kings Walk/Argent WATFORD & DISTRICT St, Grays RM17. - Thu 28 (7.30) Soc. 16th Piglet Beer Fest. Leyton Orient Andrew Vaughan, 01923 230104 (H) 07854 988152 (M) Supporters Club, Oliver Rd, Leyto n, E10 . February – Wed 6 (6pm) Battersea Beer Fest, BAC, Lavender Hill, meet at Marc h – Sat 2 (1 1.30) Soc. 4th C happel Winter Beer Fest, East Anglian membership stand every hour on the hour. - Thu 21 Abbots Langley crawl: Rly Muse um, Chappel & Wa kes Coln e, CO6 . NB: free adm issio n for meet (8.30) Royal Oak, Kitters Green. - Tue 26 (8pm) Mtg. Sportsman, C AMRA/E ARM members unti l 5.30 pm. Afte r 5.30pm admissi on i s by pre- Scots Hill, Croxley Green. All members welcome. paid ticket only; book via www.chappelbeerfestival/winter or phone: 01206 March – Wed 6 (6pm) London Drinker Beer Fest, Camden Centre, Bidbor - 242524 between 10am and 4pm daily. - Wed 6 (7.30) Soc. 29th London ough St, meet at products stand every hour on the hour. - Thu 14 (7pm Dri nker B eer Fe st, Camden Centr e, B idborough St, WC1 H . - Tu e 12 (8.30) viewing for 8pm start) Annual breweriana auction. West Herts Sports Club, Soc. Rising Sun, 144 Ongar Rd, Brentw ood CM15. - W ed 20 (8.30) Bra nch Park Ave, Watford. - Wed 20 Rickmansworth crawl: start (8pm) White AGM. White Hart, Kings Walk/Argent Street, Grays RM17. - Thu 28 Bear, Church St. - Tue 26 (8pm) Branch AGM, Estcourt Arms, St. John’s ( 7.30) Soc. D ark Star Mini Be er Fest, L eyton O rient Sup porters Clu b. - Fri 29 (noon) Soc. 8th Planet Thanet Easter Beer Fest, Winter Gdns, Mar - Rd, Watford. Website: www.watfordcamra.org.uk gate. By ‘Javelin’ train at 09.49 from Stratford International (81 mins); DLR fro m West Ham/Stratford to Stratf ord Int ernational. Web site: essex-camra.org.uk/swes sex WEST LONDON Paul Charlton 07835 927357, [email protected]; Social secretary Alasdair Boyd: 020 7930 9871 x 143 (2.30-3.30 and 6-9.30pm Mon-Fri), SOUTH WEST LO NDON Mark Bravery, 020 8540 9183 (H), 07969 807890 (M), [email protected], fax 020 7839 4768 ma rkbravery@bl ueyonder.co.uk . February – Tue 5 W1 Mayfair soc: (7.30) Goat Tavern, 3 Stafford St; Feb ruary – Mon 18 (7.30) Mtg. Country House, 2 -4 Groton Rd, Earlsfie ld (8.30) King’s Head, 10-11 Stafford St; (9.30) Clarence, 4 Dover St. - Wed S W18. - Wed 27 (7.30) GBG sele ction mtg. Battersea Me ss & Music Hall, 13 SW6 surveys: start (7pm) Lloyds/Wetherspoons Oyster Bar, above Ful - 51 Lavender Gd ns, SW11. ham Broadway Stn. - Thu 21 (7pm) Mtg. Gunmakers (upstairs), 33 Ay - March – Su n 1 0 (12.15) Battersea Beer Fest r eview m tg. Le Goth ique, brook St. W1. - Wed 27 W1 soc: (7.30) Queen’s Head, 15 Denman St; Royal Victo ria Patriotic Bdg, John Archer Way, Wandsworth Common (9pm) Crown, 64 Brewer St. SW18. - Wed 20 Putney crawl: (7 .15) Green Man , Put ney He ath SW15 March – Tue 5 W2 soc: (7.30) Leinster Arms, 17 Leinster Terr; (8.30) ( opp bus terminus); (8.15) Fox & Houn ds, 16 7 Uppe r Rich m ond Rd; Mitre, 24 Craven Terr; (9.30) Cleveland Arms, 28 Chilworth St. - Thu 14 SW6 surveys: start (7pm) Pelican, 22 Waterford Rd. - Thu 21 (7pm) Mtg. Harp (upstairs), 47 Chandos Pl, WC2. - Tue 26 W6 soc: (7.30) Plough & Harrow, 120-124 King St; (8.30) Hammersmith Ram, 81 King St; (9.30) William Morris, 2-4 King St. Website: www.westlondon-camra.org.uk
WEST MIDDLESEX John Bush, 07739 105336, [email protected]; Social secretary Jason Lansbury: 07740 288332, [email protected] Social Secretary Jason Lansbury 07740288332,socials@westmiddx- camra.org.uk Website:www.westmiddx-camra.org.uk Electronic copy deadline for the April/May edition: Monday 11 March. Please send entries to [email protected] ARE YOUR DETAILS UP TO DATE? CAMRA is increasingly using e-mail these days. If you are a CAMRA member and you change your e-mail ad- dress please can you remember to let us know. If you log into the CAMRA website as a member you will find that you are able to update your own details di- rectly on-line. Alternatively, please just call CAMRA HQ on 01727 867201. If you subscribe to a branch newsletter that keeps a local mailing list, then please remember that you will need to notify the change to whoever sends out the e-mails separately. Many thanks
6
An early morning special
ere is an interesting initiative from CAMRA’s South East Sharon and the team HLondon Branch. would like to invite you all The Borough Market was historically a vital part of Lon - don’s food supply network. Although it has had a bit of a to their change of focus in recent times, the nearby Market Porter public house still has licensing hours that reflect how things used to be – the pub opens at 6am! All are invited to SE Lon - EASTER don CAMRA’s early morning social there on Friday 22 March. Such things may not last forever. It’s a 6am start with BEER last orders at 8.30am and at 9am the pub closes. It does not serve breakfast so it is planned afterward to go to a nearby café. Sunrise is 5.58am. The address of the Market Porter is FESTIVAL 9 Stoney Street, SE1. Julian Stone Editor’s note: whilst in the area you will find that Youngs have now reopened the original Wheatsheaf in Stoney Street – although probably not at 6.30am! See Capital Pubcheck for full details. AT ROSE’S
Selection of up to 10 ales and cider Relaxed and friendly Open 11-11pm Mon-Sat, 11-6pm Sun
10% DIS COUNT CAM FOR RA ME MBERS
We look forward to seeing you there Daybreak at the Market Porter
8 5th
27th-31st March
THIS YEAR WITH 120 NEW & HARD TO FIND BEERS PLUS YOUR FESTIVAL FAVOURITES FROM 3%-12% ABV. 30 CIDERS & 20 WINES BY THE GLASS.
FESTIVAL FOOD.
LIVE MUSIC FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHT.
4 ION £
3 ISS 1 M
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3
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1
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WEDNESDAY 6-11pm (Preview night, advance ticket only) THURSDAY 1-11PM GOOD FRIDAY 1-11PM SATURDAY 1-11PM EASTER SUNDAY 1-6PM Capita l Pubcheck – update 228
he aim of ‘Capital Pub che ck’ is to share informat ion about thre at a nd the Jam Circus in SE 4 Bro ckley h as closed a fter a the latest happenings on the London pub scene including T fire. new pu b and bar op ening s, nam e chang es, a cquisition s, clo - I nnBr igh ton has adopted ‘D rin k in L ondon’ as the brand sures, notab le changes to beer ranges etc. name f or its London estate. Ba rracu da has become Bra mwell Information is gathered from a varie ty of s ou rces including Pub Co and S &N Pub Company is now Star Pubs & Bars.
London Drinker readers, individual CAMRA members and Young’s have reopened their Wheatsheaf in SE1 Borough branch contacts, breweries, pub operators, landlords etc. If Market following the Thameslink viaduct construction but you would like to contribute to ‘Pubcheck’ please send your two former Young’s pubs, the Castle in SW11 Battersea and news to the address below. the Queen Dowager in Teddington TW11 are closed and
Owing to production constraints it has not been under threat of demolition. Two examples are reported of possible to i nclu de the regular Ca pital Pubc heck pubs convert ed to other uses b ut confusing ly retaining their update in the printed copy of this magazine. Update 228 pub names: the Green Man and French Horn, WC2 and the ha s i n stea d b e e n p ublis hed on o ur w ebsite, Essex Arms, E15, now respectively a French restaurant and a www.cam ralon don.org .uk. The following pa ra grap hs discount shop. More conversions to supermarkets are noted; sum maris e the highl ights. as highlighted in the News round-up, Wetherspoon's have Sm all pub co mp anie s are continuing th eir e xpansion sold the lease of the Ship of Fools in Croydon to Sainsbury's. through out L ondon and more pu bs are tak ing beers fro m London microbreweries. We confirm that the Craft Beer Co The Planning Inspectorate has rejected the appeal against K en singt on & Chelsea’s re fusal o f plan ning pe rmissio n to have taken the leas e of th e Lo rd Wolseley in N1 , Is lin gton. Oak Taverns have acqu ired the lease o f the Black Ho rse in convert the Phene in SW3 Chelsea t o a single fami ly dwelling. F or the muc h loved Wenlo ck Ar ms, N1, it is expe cted that Bar net EN5 and are i n p roces s of installing an in-h ouse b rew - ery. Antic continue their roller-coaster expansion with three the ‘enabling development’ for which Hackney has now grant ed plan ning permission to the new own ers wil l fund the new op en ings rep orted: th e Sun & Doves in SE5 Ca mb er w ell, Blithe Spirit in SW12 Balham and, imminently, the Prove - necessary refurbishment of the ground floor and cellar and nance in SW19 Colliers Wood, and the welcome retention of ensure continued use as a pub. the Catford Bridge Tavern, SE6, which had been under If you would like to report changes to pubs or beers, threat of conversion to a supermarket. H owev er, t he p lease w rite to Capital Pubcheck, 2 Sandtoft Road, Lon- Royal Albert, th eir pub in SE14 New Cross ha s com e under d on SE7 7LR or email: capit alpubcheck@ hotmail.com .
5% discount with CAMRA membership card
An independent off-licence specialising in Real Ales and Ciders, in bottles and on draught Opening hours: Mon closed, Tue-Thur 12-8pm Fri & Sat 10-8pm, Sun 12-6pm
23 West Street, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1BY
Tel: 01306 879877
Email: [email protected] www.cobbettsrealales.co.uk
10 MAKE A NEW DISCOVERY WITH OUR 25 ALES THIS SPRING AVAILABLE FROM MARCH
HERE’S A SNAPSHOT OF OUR SPRING COLLECTION
RUDGATE ILKLEY YORK CHOCOLATE STOUT WIT MARIE
ANDWELL ROOSTERS SPRING MAGIC ASTRO
PEERLESS GREAT HECK ALL AMERICAN IPA TREASURE IPA
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MINIMUM PRICING can. The Government – and perhaps spokesman said, “The safety of test-pur - he Home Secretary, Theresa May, has parts of the medical profession – need chase operations is paramount and dif - Tannounced that the Government is to accept that these people are ill, not ferent tactics are used for operation.” to proceed with its ‘minimum pricing of morally degenerate. There was an inter - Make of that what you will. I wonder if alcohol’ policy, aiming for a unit price of esting letter in the Guardian that sug - the fee paid to the company is the same 45p. I find it very odd that they should gested that the additional income whatever the result of the test have announced this in advance of the generated by the alcohol industry aris - Here is a curious consequence of the court case that the Scottish whisky pro - ing from the minimum price should be story about the Newman Arms in ducers’ trade body is taking against the taken as a levy to fund schemes to help Fitzrovia reported in the last issue. Hav - Scottish Government, the claim being problem drinkers. ing been obliged to employ door staff, that such arrangements break EU com - According to the Publican’s Morning the licensee, Tracy Bird, has found that petition rules. Surely it makes sense to Advertiser, the Government is also con - thefts from the pub have virtually ended wait until the outcome of that action is sulting on simply banning multiple dis - and has described her particular door - known. It may be a separate jurisdic - count off-sales which, to me, would man as a ‘godsend’, praising in particu - tion but it’s the same EU law that is make more sense, along with the ban on lar his relationship with the customers. under consideration and Scottish judges sales below buy-in price. The latter The Council have confirmed that they are unlikely to come to a different deci - should however also include some pro - will not be reviewing the licence, so it sion than English ones. Dare I suggest tection for suppliers who might be pres - appears to have ended well all round. that the Government just wants to be sured into reducing their prices to fund seen to be doing something and will not such deals. LOCAL BREWERY NEWS mind too much if the policy cannot be Some hope that minimum pricing or once, some brewery news from implemented, especially if they can put will help the viability of pubs. Sorry but south of the river! By the time we the best that I can see here is that it will F the blame on the EU? go to press, the Belleville Brewery The move has been welcomed by the not do any harm. The differential be - should be up and running. The brew - health lobby, as you would expect, and tween supermarket and pub prices will ery, located near Wandsworth Common, the usual array of statistics has been still be too great. A start towards closing has been set up by Adrian Thomas and produced, some more convincing than the gap, as advocated forcibly by Tim others. No-one disputes that there is a Martin of J D Wetherspoon in the Ob - eight dads from the nearby Belleville problem. According to a report from server , would be tax equality between Primary School. It has a five barrel the Chief Medical Officer in November, pubs and supermarkets. brew-length system supplied by John deaths from chronic liver disease Meanwhile, what about gaming ma - Trew who has also kitted out the By The amongst under 65-year-olds rose 20% chines in betting shops that can take Horns and Cronx breweries. They are over the period 2000 to 2009 but this £100 from a punter in 20 seconds? Al - planning to specialise in US style beers was because of chronic obesity and un - cohol abuse is not the only social evil but these will be draught and cask con - diagnosed hepatitis as well as alcohol that the country faces. ditioned. In due course the brewery will abuse. According to Dr Mark Porter be open for tastings and sales every Sat - writing in the Times, the real danger is LAW AND ORDER urday from 9.30 to 1pm. If all goes fatty liver disease which is more linked ccording to the Morning Advertiser, well, four of their beers will be available to obesity than alcohol. Athe Plastic Glasses and Bottles at Battersea Beer Festival. Apparently, some of Mrs May’s min - (Mandatory Use) Bill will be having its Truman’s have announced that after isterial colleagues are concerned that second reading on 1 February. This ap - several dead-ends and near misses they minimum pricing will penalise respon - pears to be a Private Member’s bill in - have found a site for their own brewery. sible drinkers from the poorer sections troduced by Ian Lucas, the member for They hope to be in operation at Stour of society whilst Professor Sir Ian Wrexham. Its purpose is to require local Gilmour, chair of the Alcohol Health Al - authorities to impose mandatory use of liance UK, says that “The evidence plastic glasses and bottles in licensed shows us that heavy drinkers and young premises; and for connected purposes. drinkers are more affected by higher al - I had not heard of this before and I will cohol prices than moderate drinkers”. report further. Do you need evidence to back up a The shadow pubs minister, Toby statement of the obvious? Perkins, has taken up the case of a pub - So who benefits? The Government lican who believes that he was the vic - will collect more VAT while the super - tim of a ‘sting’ in an under-age purchase markets will receive additional marginal test. The female test purchaser was in income less any fall-off in sales plus any the company of a much older man savings on promotions, although the which put the member of staff who cost of their discounts is often squeezed served them off her guard. Perkins out of suppliers. The losers are unques - complained to the licensing authority, tionably the people that Mrs May’s col - Derbyshire County Council, who leagues are said to be concerned about. blamed Derbyshire police. Interestingly, Those who are feeding an addiction the police were using a private firm to will, sadly, still get it fed however they carry out the check. A police
12 News round-up
Road in Hac kney W ick by the spr in g, 23 cask con ditioned beer is no t practica l. think that there i s any question of years afte r the ir pr edecess or ce ased Th e beer, wh ich is unfiltere d and unpas - W ethersp oons n eedi ng th e mo ney. brewing a t its Bric k Lane site, still teu rised, ha s been developed f rom a tra - They just appea r to b e ‘sh ufflin g the marked by the iconic chimney. The new ditional English recipe using German pack’ as it were. They have announced plant will have a 40 barrel system. The brewing techniques. plans for £35 million investment which current c ompany wa s f ormed in 201 0 will see 30 new p ubs o pen ing in 2013 by J ames Morg an an d Mic hael- George TA KIN G WHOM FO R FO OLS ? wit h the crea tion of 1,2 00 new jobs. Hemu s who acqu ired the trad ing n ame n the winte r issue of t heir i n-h ouse C hai rman Tim Ma rtin sai d, “We are and brands afte r protrac ted negot iati ons I maga zin e, Wetherspoons are full of l ooking forwar d t o op ening the new from Scott ish & N ewcastle an d subse - p raise for t he Ship of Fools in Croydon. pu bs, many of w hich w ill be in areas que ntly Heineke n. Currentl y their m ain They tell how manager Liz Tuf fey ‘is wher e Wether spoon is n ot yet rep re - bee r, Ru nner , is being brewed by Ever - aiming to turn last year’s des tru ction o f sented . We are also pl eased to be cre at - ards whi le oth er beers have been brew ed her ne ighbourhood into a po sitive f orce, ing so many new jobs, especially during by N ethergat e Brewery in Essex . Th ere with a hands-on approach of hel ping to a recession.” Ex cept in Croydon . . . Mr are p lans t o introduce a po rter, the s tyle reb uild the co mmunity spi rit and l ocal Ma rtin add ed that th ey w oul d have been tha t first brough t the Trum an’s name t o business net work’. Ms Tuffe y was also ope ning a lot m ore pubs if it was not for fame. A brew ery tap , e ither at the br ew - in vi ted by t he West Croydon Co mm u - th e level o f tax and d uty, which h e said ery itself or near by is also on the ni ty Foru m to be amongs t th ose w ho l ed to few er job s, reduced G overn ment agend a... met the P rince of Wales and th e revenue an d mor e sup erm arke ts. Moncada Brewery h as comple ted i ts Duchess of Cornwall when t hey visited W eth ers poons have, not for the first forced mov e into new prem ises, just on e t he area. A nd Wetherspoo ns’ reward fo r tim e, w on priz es in the pub s and wine street away from their previous site, and her efforts? They sold her pub to Sains - bars category of the Loo of the Year the brewing equipment is being in - bury’s. On the next page Wetherspoons awards 2012. stalled. They built up sto cks in pre pa - ask t he q uestion ‘do you know of a ration f or t he hiatus an d so th eir A mber, p roperty that would m ake a great PUB CO N EWS Blonde and B itter beers should have re - Wethe rsp oo n?’ I know of a number of he Llo yds Banking Gro up ha ve sold mained av ailable. T hey will s oon be in - peop le w ho think that 9 -11 Lo ndon Tth e 1,150-st rong Admiral Pubs chain tro duci ng both a po rter and a stout. Road , West Croydon was pretty go od al - to an Am eri can h edge f und, Cerberus Sa mbroo k’s have prod uced a keg read y. Ca pit al. Lloyds inher ited the chain 4.5% ABV pale ale for outlets where Unlike some other pubcos, I don’t when they ‘merged’ with HBOS, who
13 New s round-up
had en ded up ow ning it a s the result of Stanley are not in business to ru n pubs. 7 3 in 201 1/2012. The compan y owns a re-financing deal in 2009. By that time Meanwhile, sales fell by 5% over th e last some 800 pubs which are leased free-of- Admiral, the country’s sixth largest four months of 2012. Th e c ompany t ie an d are m ostl y ‘wet-le d’. That is no t Pubc o, owe d HBOS some £1 billion. said however that this was in line w ith enc oura ging news. HBOS had made a pr ovi si on for a £50 0 its fore casts a nd a return to gro wth next The Barr acud a Pub Co mpan y, n o w million loss whic h Lloyd s have had to year was still expected. Th is is des pite res truc tured as the Bramwell Pu b Co m - accept as p art of th e £200 mil l ion dea l. plans to sell some 400 ‘no n-c ore’ pubs pan y, w ent into administratio n ow ing its Admiral had however repaid some £200 during 2013. creditors £253,000. Most of this was
million of debt to Lloyds, mostly from The Orchid Pub Company has sold unpaid rent. Ironically it owed Waver -
cash generated by the sale of some 800 several pubs to Wetherspoons, includ - ley TBS (see below) nearly £6,000.
pubs. ing the Parsons Barn in Shoeburyness, SSP UK Ltd, who specialise in run -
Adm iral’s execut ive chai rman, Ess ex. This follows a restructuring last ning food and drink concessions at
Jonatha n Pav eley – once o f P unch – sa id year when Deutsche Bank became its travel sites, have opened the second of
tha t the deal reco g nised the company’s principal backer. their Beer House chain at Waterloo.
poten tial and t hat it would “he lp Admi - T op-end bar and restaurant operators The first was at Charing Cross. They
ral de velop the b us iness f urther an d Drake & Morgan are up for sale with are looking to open further outlets at
strengthen its reputation amongst pub both private equity and trade buyers Paddington and Victoria. Their policy licensees as the best tenanted pub group showing an interest. The pric e is e x - as reg ards c ask conditioned beer is un - in the country.” pected to be around £20 to £25 mill ion. clear.
Pu nch ma y well ha ve started to sort The company has recently acquired The Butcher & Barrel Pub Company out their problems. The major financial some new sites and has rec ently an - has put th e l ea seholds of its three gas -
serv ices firm Morga n Stan ley has in - nou n ced plans to expand, so it appears tropubs in Mitcham, Worcester Park creased its shareholding to some 12% – to be a going concern. an d E ps om u p for sale. The pub s are
valued at £76.5 million. This possibly The Wellington Pub Company has available individually or as a package for may have b een in ex change fo r some of had the credit rating of its ‘fixe d rat e aro und £700,000 the bon ds m entioned in the last is sue. note’ bor rowings downgraded by ratings Away from all these big num ber s but The deal boosted Punch’s share value agency Fitch. The reasons given in - jus t as noteworthy for its innov ation , for a while but the long-term implica - cluded increased rent arrears and an in - the Re naissance Pub Co mpa ny were tions are not good. The likes of Morgan creasing number of pub repossessio ns – selli ng Christm as trees fro m th ree of Ye Olde Mitre No.1 Ely Court, between Ely Place and Hatton Garden London EC1N 6SJ 020 7405 4751 CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2013 East London & City Pub of the Year 2006, 2008 and 2010 Historic and Su '%# () )%'nday 9th December From 2-9pm for ourF eannualbru ‘Turningary 1 on1 ttheh Christmas Lights’ TwoSwitch-on weeks (! " ! % " "( isof at our 5pm. most Mince pies,popular port and ales crackers as voted for all by traditional Ale-House ( ,This "" %""%, - ) ' ,!( % *)*#$ "( will alsoour start customers our Christmas Ale Festival London Pride, Adnams Broadside, Wed""%,$ $ *- ,!(nesday 12th December Deuchars IPA, Gales Seafarers and CAMRA beer duty*$- ) %+#' campaign. Opening 10am with choice of Milds, 5 guest ales every week plus a real cider ' %&$ '%# $%%$