opening times Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA, Issue 130 the Campaign for Real Ale Spring 2007

St Neots Pub of the Beer Year Festival

Also inside: Half Pints Local pub and brewery news A look back in time

THE CHEQUERS 71 Main Road Little Gransden Tel: 01767 677348 Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2005, 2006 & 2007

Bob and Wendy Mitchell invite you to try their uni que unspoilt village local with its own s pecial atmos phere Different Real Ale each

THE SWAN THE GRANGE Main Street, Old Weston Tel: 01832 293400 REAL ALES and REAL FOOD * HOTEL*RESTAURANT*BAR* * AWARD WINNING FOOD *

* FINE WINES & REAL ALES * * PRIVATE DINING ROOM *

* EN_SUITE BEDROOMS *

* CIVIL CEREMONY WEDDINGS * Adnams Southwold Bitter Adnams Broadside * MEETING FACILITIES *

Greene King Abbot + Guests * CONVENIENT LOCATION * Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2004 Fish & Chips Wednesday Evening 115 HIGH STREET, BRAMPTON, Restaurant open Friday & Saturday CAMBS evenings & Sunday lunchtimes TEL: 01480 459516 2 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! Pub of the Year Chequers, Little Gransden which he, numerous pub regulars and CAMRA visitors took part in The cosy public bar with its plain wooden seating and open fire is an unaltered gem and there is a choice of two other rooms. There is always a warm welcome at this f amily run pub, from Bob and Wendy and the village regulars. The Chequers truly is a community pub, and the heart and soul of this Cambridge- shire village. Many of the regulars are The Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA country people who work in agriculture. has this y ear selected the Chequers, Little Gransden to be awarded Pub of the Year The Chequers is also very much a family 2007. This means a hat trick for the Che- business. As well as Bob and Wendy, quers, having won the award three years their son’s Andy and David, and David’s in a row. partner Nicola are all involved in running the pub. Bob hopes that he will one day CAMRA gives this annual award to the pass this pub onto the next generation. pub that it judges to provide the widest appeal f or its combination of good beer, Bob plans to open a brewery at the Che- atmosphere, style, service and value. quers. This would be the first operating brewery within the branch area since Bob and Wendy Mitchell have owned and James Paine closed in the 1990’s. Much run the Chequers, Little Gransden for 13 of the infrastructure work has been com- y ears and the pub has been in the Mitchell pleted, and the next critical step is f or Bob f amily since 1950. to acquire the brewing equipment. He’s Bob has a passion for real ale. Check out not in any hurry—he knows what he’s all the beer festival glasses - a sign of a looking for and will bide his time until the true enthusiast. As well as the house beer right kit comes available, but given Bob’s Oakham JHB, at least one unusual guest commitment to quality real ale, it will un- beer is always available (on special occa- doubtedly be worth waiting for. sions as many as 6 real ales are avail- There was a presentation of a framed able). certificate to licensees Wendy and Bob Bob also has a passion for good food. Mitchell on the occasion of the branch’s Friday night is fish night at the Chequers, post Christmas party in January. Pictured and on a recent visit, Bob had organised a are Wendy and Nicola, with Branch Chair- home made Cornish pasty competition man Andy Shaw.

OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 3 Most Improved Pub of the Year Lord John Russell, St Neots This y ear the Hunting- Since September the Lord John Russell donshire Branch of has gone from strength to strength. Chas CAMRA has introduced now off ers 4-5 real ales, 3 on handpump, a new annual award, and 2 direct from the cask in the cellar, ”Most Improved Pub of and because he carefully chooses the the Year”. The branch right cask size (and Batemans offer many had no hesitation in of their beers in 4.5 gallon “pins”), the s elec t ing the Lord J ohn beer is always superb. As well as Bate- Russell in St Neots. mans standards Mild, XB and Salem Por- ter, there is usually a Batemans seasonal The contrast between this pub now and beer, and a constantly changing guest f ive months ago is huge. Then the Lord beer. John Russell was being run by a tempo- rary manager put in place by the pub’s The pub games teams are all active owners Batemans. They were having diffi- again, and the pub positively hums with culty finding a permanent tenant and it the conversation of the regulars most eve- was clear to the regulars that the pub nings. Tthe “Lord John” is first and fore- needed a landlord who would put the Lord most a community pub, used by local peo- John Russell back on track. There was no ple on a regular basis, where people feel f ood, availability of real ale was inconsis- as comfortable as they do in their own tent, interest in the darts and other pub living rooms. This all requires the right sort games teams had declined and most of of publicans - the sort who regard the pub the regulars had moved “down the road”. as their home as well. The Lord John Rus- sell is certainly home to Chas and Jane, Within weeks of the arrival of Chas and who recently got married in October. Jane Smith in late summer, major changes had taken place. Chas had a Pictured at the presentation of a framed regular range of Batemans Dark Mild and certificate are, from left, Chas, Jane and XB sorted out and the beer was in good Pete Godfrey, Branch Social Secretary. condition. Jane had worked out an inter- esting good value menu, with specials targeted at the residents of the retired peoples home next door. Neither Chas nor Jane has any previous experience in the pub trade. Jane was the manager of a clothing store and Chas had just retired after thirty years in the police f orce. But they both attended a Batemans training course, and are committed to pro- viding a quality service to customers.

4 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! Lord John Russell 25 Russell Street, St Neots 01480 406330

Hunts CAMRA Most Improved Pub 2007

5 Real Ales including Batemans Mild, XB and Salem Porter, plus 2 guest beers. Food served daily, weekly specials and Sunday Roast.

THE OLIVER CROMWELL Wellington Street, St. Ives, Cambs. Tel: 01480 465601 Serving six real ales: Adnams Bitter plus regularly changing guest beers No smoking bar

Enjoy a good pint of traditional ale in traditional surroundings. Reasonably priced lunchtime bar snacks available Mon to Sat

OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 5 A LOOK BACK IN TIME 25 YEARS AGO CAMRA set up campaigns against the Mickles, named after the two partners who policies of a number of large UK brewers, had originally set up the venture, Mick most of which no longer brew in 2007. Birch (later to become a long standing Greenall Whitley were targeted for their stalwart of St Neots CAMRA, and still in- expansionist ambitions f ollowing their v olved at the Booze on the Ouse festi- takeover of the Shipstones brewery in v als), and Les Kent. Birch Bitter was its Nottingham. Whitbread were to be the main product. Another brewery, Coney subject of campaigns against their high Hall, had been set up in Luton by the sec- prices, brewery closures and pub clo- retary of the students’ union at Luton Col- sures, and Courage were criticised for lege, and supplied the union bar and two stopping real ale production at their Lon- other outlets in town with Coney Hall Bit- don and Reading plants. Meanwhile Man- ter. chester brewers Boddingtons were under In a report that CAMRA insisted was not f ire for their takeover of the neighbouring an April fool’s joke, in April 1982 the Milk Oldham Brewery. Marketing Board was said to be launching St Neots branch of CAMRA met at the draught milk in thirty pubs in the south Kings Head in St Neots and the Royal Midlands. Newly developed milk dispens- Oak in St Ives. There were socials at the ers were used to serve milk at 40p a pint, Black Bull, Godmanchester and the Axe then about double the price of cartons of and Com- milk in shops. pass in Hem- Wolverhampton and Dudley, the Banks’s ingf ord Ab- brewing company was building up a stake bots. The in Birmingham brewers Davenports. But branch An- f inance director Robert Houle attempted to nual General reassure CAMRA that this was ‘purely Meeting was Axe and Compass def ensive’, adding ‘We would not like them held in April to be taken over by someone else’. The 1982 at the move did not save Davenports, but Cannon in St Neots. Greenall Whitley of Warrington were the Trumans, part of the Watney, Mann and ev entual successf ul predators and closed Truman brewing empire, launched two the brewery. more real ales alongside Truman Bitter, Another eventual victim of Greenall’s take- which had already replaced their first re- ov er ambitions was Simpkiss in the Black entry into the real ale scene, Tap Bitter. Country. In 1982 CAMRA reported that The new beers were Truman Prize Mild Simpkiss was determined to remain and Best Bitter. ‘fiercely independent’. They had replaced CAMRA reported on two microbreweries their cask mild with keg mild from North making inroads in and around the then Country Brewery in Hull, but announced Whitbread dominated brewing town of that they would brew their cask Old Ale all Luton. The larger of the two, at Lilley was the y ear round.

6 Support your local pub - don’t giv e them an excuse to close it! A LOOK BACK IN TIME 10 YEARS AGO A CAMRA survey found that nearly two St Neots CAMRA met at the Old Sun in St thirds of local councils had no policy in Neots and the Nelson’s Head in St Ives. their local plan to prevent pub closures. Socials visited pubs in Kimbolton, Arring- Chelmsford was held up as a model with ton and Croydon. There was also a joint its policy that changes of use of rural pubs social with Peterborough branch at the would not be permitted unless non- Bell, Stilton. viability could be demonstrated. Hunting- Campaigners in Leatherhead and War- donshire District Council subsequently rington, backed by CAMRA, won battles to adopted a policy to protect rural pubs. prev ent national brewers Allied Domecq Fenland Brewery was started up in Febru- from converting historic pubs the Running ary 1997 at Chatteris by research chemist Horse at Leatherhead and the Barley Mow Rob Thomas. The Three Horseshoes at in Warrington into ‘Firkin’ theme pubs. Ramsey was one of the first outlets for Both proposals were rejected by council Fenland Brewery Bitter and Doctor’s Or- planners. ders. Meanwhile Deeping Ales was set up The White at Market Deeping by CAMRA members Hart in St Keith and Jayne Emmerson. Iv es re- CAMRA launched its manifesto for the opened impending general election with calls for after refur- f ull pints, to keep tied houses and restrict bishment. pub closures and theming, and to reject CAMRA more brewery mergers and any change to applauded White Hart the guest beer law to include lagers. the reten- tion of its character and historic layout. Sev enteen winter ales were on sale at the third St Neots winter ales festival, includ- CAMRA Chairman John Cryne was ing Harveys Christmas Ale (8.1%abv), named by the licensee newspaper along- Elgoods Wenceslas Archers Marley’s side chairmen and chief executives of Ghost (both 7.5%), and hot mulled ale. major British brewers as one of thirteen ‘trade titans’ who would be the most influ- In February 1997 CAMRA declared ential players in the drinks trade in 1997. ‘official’ tasting results showing that tight sparklers knock the flavour out of your The Crown at Eaton Socon was on the pint. A panel of twelve tasters in Warwick, market f or £280,000 freehold. including the mayor and his official beer Norfolk community locals were given a taster, tasted Woodforde’s Wherry and shot in the arm by South Norfolk council in Rooster Special served with and without a new proposal to include village pubs in a the offending nozzle. Ten correctly identi- network of council advice shops, staffed f ied the sparkler-served beer and most f or two hours a week by council officials. agreed that the beer was better without the sparkler.

OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 7 HALF PINTS Bedf ord brewers Regional brewers are lobbying the gov- Wells and ernment to change beer duty rules. A Youngs hav e group of twenty brewers are asking for a acquired the rev iew of progressive beer duty, intro- Courage brands duced in 2002 to encourage competition f rom Scottish and small brewers by giving tax relief to and Newcastle, brewers producing less than 5000 hectoli- including cask tres a year. The regionals believe this Directors and unf airly penalises small and medium sized Best Bitter. The brewers producing more than this, and are annual produc- looking for a more level playing field. tion of Wells and Brewer Coors is launching a new wheat Youngs, set up beer in the UK under its Grolsch brand af t er t he am algam at ion of t he brewing name. Grolsch Weizen is a 5.3% wheat interests of Bedford’s Charles Wells and beer, brewed in Holland in the German London brewer Youngs, is expected to weiss beer sty le. Coors expect this differ- reach half a million barrels following the ence to provide a boost in competition deal. The Courage brands will contribute with rival InBev’s leading Hoegaarden 100,000 barrels to this. S&N’s Tadcaster wheat beer brand, which is in the Belgian brewery , which has produced Courage white beer style. Grolsch Weizen will be ales since the closure of the Courage sold in swing top bottles and on draught Bristol brewery, will now concentrate on with a matching branded glass. And like S&N’s core brands, with John Smiths be- Hoegaarden, ing the only cask brand produced there. it contains a London brewers y east sedi- Fullers are look- ment with ing at further pouring in- possible acquisi- structions f or tions of family the bottled brewing compa- version to nies, following prov ide the their £83 million vital cloudy takeov er of appearance, Hampshire brew- characteristic ers Gales and of wheat closure of their brewery last year. Gales beer. contributed to a 35% increase in 6- monthly turnover last year for the brewers

of London Pride.

You Really Want to Hurt Me? 7. Holiday; 8. Fire; 9. Bring it all Back; 10. Careless Whisper. Whisper. Careless 10. Back; all it Bring 9. Fire; 8. Holiday; 7. Me? Hurt to Want Really You Answers: 1. Heartbreak Hotel; 2. Love Me Do; 3. Come On; 4. Seven Seas of Rhye; 5. Reason to Believe; 6. Do Do 6. Believe; to Reason 5. Rhye; of Seas Seven 4. On; Come 3. Do; Me Love 2. Hotel; Heartbreak 1. Answers:

8 Contact the editor: new [email protected], (01480) 355893 The Woolpack THE WHITE HART 35 Church Street, St Neots Alconbury Weston TEL: 01480 890331

• Four Real Ales - i ncludi ng tw o alterna ti ng gues t ales. • Good Food - Served dai ly lunch ti mes and ev eni ngs. Eagle IPA and Youngs Bitter • Outsi de Bar Faci li ties - plus 4 regularly changing guest ales. Avai lable for any occasi on, Home cooked food served Monday - Satur- draught beers and reason- day 12 till 8, Sunday Lunch served 12 - 3 able rates. Live Entertainment monthly Quiz every Sunday night Children and Dogs welcome Jaq Pearce & Kim Sewell Tel: 01480 212030 welcome you to a E-mail - [email protected] traditional country pub .

The smartest place to drink Real Ales. Cask Marque approved, log fire, 20 wines by the glass. 24 unique and luxurious bedrooms. Restaurant and snacks available.

The Old Bridge Hotel, 1 High St, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 3TQ Tel: 01480 424300 e-mail: [email protected] www.huntsbridge.co.uk

OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 9 LOCAL PUB & BREWERY NEWS

Impending changes of licensee have been A year after a major extension at the reported for the Vi n e at Buckden and Windmill, Somersham, this increasingly Greene King leased pubs the Bell at popular pub has re-opened after a short Great Paxton and the Cock in Gamlin- closure to provide a further enlargement gay. of the accommodation for diners. Two local pubs that have been closed for Tony Ogle and Marie Ward have leased some time are The Tavern on the Green the Victoria, Huntingdon. Tony is a local at Abbotsley and the Horse and Groom man, and the Victoria was his local for at Thrift, near Royston. many years, and he is looking to get the pub back to being a community pub. Two other pubs remaining closed are the Bell at Eaton Socon, where Charles Prev ious leaseholders, Phil Beer and his Wells have been looking for an entrepre- partner Teresa are running the Cherry neur to take over the lease, and the Old Tree at Haddenham, where they are re- Falcon in St Neots, s et to be redev eloped taining the lease, and are planning to and expected not to remain as a pub, al- move to run a golf club in the “West Coun- though a restaurant could be a part of the try”. new f acilities there. A correction to a report on the George The Mad Cat at Pidley has been reported Spaldwick in the last edition. This pub is to be for sale freehold. no longer part of the Spirit Group, but has been sold to Punch Taverns, and leased Batemans pub the White Hart at Great to the George Partnership, which com- Staughton has undergone some altera- prises Louise and Mark Smith with Nick tions and introduced a new food opera- Thoday (chef). The pub is now being run tion. The old games room at the back of more as a village pub, with events like the pub has been converted into a restau- quiz nights. rant with a modern decorative theme, and the front bar has been converted into a A fire recently caused serious damage to small games room. the interior of the Bridge House, St Neots, while it was closed for refurbish- The Wheatsheaf at Gamlingay is am ong ment. The fire started in the boathouse, a number of pubs being sold by Greene but soon spread to all parts of the pub. King. Chris Watson, who used to run the Bridge A leasing company has been running the House, has recently taken over operations George and Dragon, Eaton Socon for at the Eaton Oak, Eaton Ford. some months whilst Greene King has been looking for a long term tenant. The Ufford Brewery at the White Hart, Uff ord, near Peterborough is planning to The Chequers, Eynesbury has been expand brewing operations. With an in- leased by the owners, and the range of creasing number of regular free trade ac- real ales has been reduced to one hand- counts, they are running out of capacity. pump.

10 Support your local pub - don’t giv e them an excuse to close it! CUT PRICED LAGER

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMR A) is the supermarket door and then drink in a calling for a stop to irresponsible alco- completely unsupervised and unsafe envi- hol promotion as supermarkets sell ronment. They can give beer to under-age lager for just 5p more than a pint of drinkers who do not know their limits but bottled water. pour premium-strength lager down their throats all night. This is in stark contrast to A survey by CAMRA revealed that in adults enjoying a drink in a pub which is some supermarkets Fosters and Carls- regulated by law as to who they can and berg was available for the equivalent of cannot serve.” just 54p a pint – or 16p before tax. CAMRA, members of parliament, trade “Something has to be done now to make press and pub industry chiefs are calling supermarkets realise the damage these f or urgent action to prevent promotions promotions can cause.” that serve to exacerbate the problem of MP John Grogan of the All Party Parlia- binge drinking. mentary Beer Group has tabled an Early CAMRA Chief Executive Mike Benner Day Motion urging supermarkets and off- said: “The ridiculous practice of the major licences to follow the example of pubs, act supermarkets selling alcohol below cost to to end irresponsible drinks promotions, out-price each other is reckless, irrespon- and not to use alcohol as a loss leader on sible and dangerous. To put it in perspec- their premises. CAMRA is urging consum- tive some bottled water in the supermar- ers to lobby their MP to sign Early Day ket costs 49p a pint and water is not sub- Motion 495 and make supermarkets take ject to excise duty as alcohol is.” their social responsibilities more seri- ously. 41 MP’s have signed the motion so CAMRA believes that irresponsible drinks far. promotions in the off trade are a major cause of binge-drinking incidents, yet it is Mike Benner concluded: “These promo- licensed premises that suffer the fallout tions are unsustainable, but while they are while supermarkets continue with impu- allowed to continue unchecked they are nity . doing irreparable damage to the licensed trade. A pub is still the best place to enjoy Mike Benner continued: “Pubs often come a sociable and sensible drink with friends.” under unjustified attack for encouraging binge-drinking, yet the industry has com- Bef ore Christmas 2006 CAMRA carried mitted itself to curb irresponsible drinking out a survey of drinks promotions in major and cheap alcohol promotions in recent supermarkets. Examples: y ears. This hard work is undermined by • Sainsbury’s selling Carling for 54p a pint supermarkets selling enormous quantities (£9.99 f or 24x440ml c ans). T he excise dut y on of alcohol at prices that simply cannot be a 4% beer is around 30p, and VAT is 8p. justified. • Morrison’s: Selling Grolsch £16 for 40x300ml. (76p a pi nt). “An 18-year-old is free to take advantage • Tesco: Selling Budweiser £9.98 for 20x300ml of these ludicrous beer prices, walk out (95p a pi nt).

OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 11 12 Join 80,000 members of CAMRA and fight for Britain’s beer heritage Join CAMRA today... Do you think it is right that at least 26 pubs are closing every month? Join CAMRA today to help make a difference!

At least 26 pubs close every month. and become more viable. • Working with many local communities to CAMRA is acting through initiatives such save hundreds of community pubs from as the Community Pubs Foundation – closure. www.community pubs.org - and Pub is the • Organising over 150 beer festivals a Hub – www.pubisthehub.org.uk – to stop y ear including the Great British Beer unnecessary pub closures. Festival, which saw over 66,000 people 9 out of 10 pints served contain less visit this year at Earls Court. than 100% liquid. • Having over 5,000 volunteers who give up their time to survey pubs, work at Consumers lose over a million pounds a day due to short measure! We are lobby- beer f estivals and actively campaign for real ale and pubs. ing the Government to change the law so y ou get what you pay for – a full pint every To read about more of CAMR A’s suc- time. cesses please visit www.camra.org.uk If you care about these issues and would 6 out of 10 pubs are prevented from serving a guest beer of their choice. like to help make a difference then join CAMRA today! For less than £1.70 a Most pubs can only stock beers brought month you can help to campaign for qual- from the brewery or pub company to which ity real ale and good pubs. As a member they are tied. CAMRA is campaigning for y ou will also receive the following: the introduction of a guest beer law, which will giv e all licensees the right to serve a • A monthly colour newspaper informing guest beer of their choice. y ou on beer and pub news and detailing ev ents and beer festival around the CAMRA has over 84,000 discerning mem- country bers and there are now more than 600 real • Reduced entry prices to over 150 beer ale breweries brewing over 2,500 different f estivals, including the Great British Beer v arieties of real ale in Britain. Festival. CAMR A achievements: • Chance to join CAMRA / Brewery Com- plimentary Clubs that are exclusive to • We have had many successes over the CAMRA members. These clubs offer y ears which include: members a variety of promotions includ- • Being instrumental in allowing pubs to ing f ree pint vouchers, brewery trips, open longer to suit the local community. competitions and merchandise offers. • Running a powerful campaign that • Discounts on CAMRA books including helped the introduction of small brewers’ the Good Beer Guide relief which enabled many small brewer- • Plus much more – see ies to invest money into their operations www.camra.org.uk/joinus To join today, complete the necessary information on page 12 of this CAMRA newsletter, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus or call our HQ on 01727 867201. OPENING TIMES 129 WINTER 2006 13 CIDER: THE BEST IN THE EAST PART II: BOTTLED CIDER

Following on from the successful launch The judging of CAMRA’s East Anglian Cider Competi- will take place tion at Norwich Beer Festival last year, the on Tuesday search is now on for the best bottled cider 22nd May in East Anglia. 2007 at Cam- bridge Beer All producers within CAMRA’s East An- Festival on glian region (Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Jesus Green. , Hertfordshire or Bedford- shire) are eligible to enter. As with the Plans are also East Anglian Cider competition, entries underway f or must be produced in a traditional way (i.e. the East Anglian Cider Competition 2007 made from freshly pressed apples and not f or draught products. Watch out f or more micro-filtered, pasteurised or artificially inf ormation later in the year. carbonated). Producers can enter two of Andrea Briers—Regional Cider Co- their products. ordinator – East Anglia

East Anglian Bottled Cider Competition East Anglian Cider Producers are invited to enter our inaugural East Anglian Bottled Cider Competition. Judging will take place at CAMRA’s Cambridge Beer Festival at Jesus Green on Tues day 22nd May 2007. Producers can enter 2 ciders into the competition. Please indicat e below the name of the prod- ucts you would like to enter

Cider (1) …………………………….. Cider (2)……………………………...

Producers Name:- …………………………………………………………………...

Address:-………………………………….…………………………………………..

………………………………….……………………………………………………...

Phone No.:- …………………… E-Mail (if available):- ………………….………

• All cider must be produced in C AMRA’s East Anglian r egion. • All products must be real, i. e. made from fres hly press ed apples and not artificially carbon- ated, mi cro-filtered or p asteur ised . • A mini mum of 3 pints of each product mus t be pr ovided f or competition pur poses . Pr oduc ers are responsibl e f or deli ver y of t heir own cider. If you have any queries pl eas e contac t:- Andrea Briers (Norfol k) 01553 766904 Susan Brook (Hertfor dshire) 01462 630663 Forms should be returned to Andrea Briers, 7 George Street, King’s Lynn, Norfol k, PE30 2AQ by the 1st April 2007.

14 Updates to festival details - www.huntscamra.org.uk/festivals OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 15 Champion Winter Beer of Britain “Ripper” from Green Jack Brewery in Suffolk voted best winter beer in the land! Green Jack Brewery’s Ripper was named Porter - A dark, slightly sweetish but as the supreme Champion Winter Beer of hoppy ale; the successor of 'entire' and Britain 2007 by a panel of judges at predecessor of stout. Porter originated in CAMRA's National Winter Ales Festival in London around 1730, and by the end of Manchester. the 18th century was probably the most popular beer in . The 8.5% abv barley wine was described as “A light coloured beer brewed as a Old Ale - Now virtually sy nonymous with homage to Belgian trappist ales, with 'winter ale'. Most 'old ales' are produced sweet notes and a strong hoppy flavour.” and sold for a limited time of the year, usually between November and the end of At the announcement, Steve Prescott, February. Usually a rich, dark, high-gravity Organiser of the National Winter Ales Fes- draught ale of considerable body. tival congratulated Green Jack on its vic- tory. He said, "It’s great to see a barley Barley Wine - a strong, rich and sweetish wine win the competition yet again. I sin- ale, usually over 1060 OG, with high con- cerely hope people will be inspired to try dition and a high hop rate. this fantastic beer sty le on the back of Green Jack’s victory.” SUPREME CHAMPIONS • Gold – Green Jack, Ripper On hearing the news, Green Jack Head • Silv er – Fuller’s, London Porter Brewer Tim Dunford said: “This is abso- lutely incredible. All my life it has been my • Bronze – Orkney, Skullsplitter ambition to win a national award for my CATEGORY WINNERS beers and I can’t believe it has hap- Old Ales & Strong Mild Category pened.” • Gold – B&T, Black Dragon Mild The Silv er award went to Fuller’s London • Silv er – Orkney, Dark Island Porter and the Bronze to Orkney • Bronze – Rudgate, Ruby Mild Skullsplitter. Stouts & Porters • Gold – Fuller’s, London Porter Descriptions taken from CAMRA’s • Silv er – Cairngorm, Black Gold 'Dictionary of Beer': • Bronze – St Peter’s, Old Style Porter Stout - One of the classic ty pes of ale, a Barley Wines successor in fashion to 'porter'. Usually a • Gold – Orkney, Skullsplitter v ery dark, heavy, bitter ale, with a dry • Silv er – Green Jack, Ripper palate, thick creamy head, and a good • Bronze – Durham, Benedictus grainy taste.

Green Jack “Ripper” and many other of these award winners will be available at the St Neots Beer Festival 1st-3rd of March.

16 Support your local pub - don’t giv e them an excuse to close it! OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 17 FANCY A GUEST BEER?

Whilst Greene King beers may be the managed pubs to offer a guest beer, other most popular beers in local tied and “free” than from a very restricted list—a list that houses (are you sure about this? - Ed), often comprises no more than beers from Greene King have been creating a storm the breweries of Ruddles, Morlands, and down on the south coast. Some years Ridleys. And where are these “guest” ago, Greene King took over a small pub beers brewed? Oh yes, Bury St Ed- chain called Beards, all of whose pubs munds—because these are brews sold the revered Sussex Best Bitter from “adopted” in Greene King takeovers over Harveys of Lewes. Such was the popular- the last 10 years. Your local pub might ity of this fine ale (runner up in the 2006 soon be stocking Hardys and Hansons Champion Beer of Britain contest) that the beers—the latest pubs were allowed to keep selling it. Greene King take- ov er. Then again, Ov er the years however, it might not, be- Greene King have re- cause availability solved an of these beers in “inc ons ist ency ”, and a given area is “persuaded” ex-Beards down to Greene licensees to remove the King’s control. Harveys, the last bastion being the renowned Lewes Arms in Lewes itself, a stones throw from the Harveys brewery . This is a fantastic community the pub, home to dozens of clubs and socie- Saddle ties and all kinds of eccentric events such as the World Pea Throwing Champion- ships. The regulars love their Harveys, so Greene King’s recent decision that sup- plies must cease has resulted in a furious protest, including a petition signed by the local MP and over a thousand others. The increasingly-monopolistic Greene King Sunday Lunch 12:00 - 2:30 (see article on pub signs) were, at the time of writing, refusing to back down. 2 course meal £9.95 Some locals are now staging a boycott and there are amusing stories surrounding 3 course meal £12.95 ev ent s at the pub at http:// www.le wesarms.org.uk/. Please book in advance tel: 01480 860408 The root issue of this David and Goliath

battle in Lewes is familiar to pub users in The Saddle, 26 High St, Kimbolton Cambridgeshire, namely Greene King’s www.arneillleisure.com reluctance to allow their tenanted and

18 Support your local pub - don’t giv e them an excuse to close it! A traditional old country pub and restaurant with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Traditional Sunday Lunch. Children’s menu available. Open all day Saturday and Sunday. 4 real cask ales served including Adnams Bitter, Fullers London Pride plus 2 guest ales. Bar Meals are available every day. A la carte menu is served in our restaurant Monday to Saturday. The menu caters for all tastes including vegetarian and any special dietary needs. The Pig and Abbot High Street, Abington Pigotts, Nr. Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 0SD Telephone: 01763 853515 OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 19 NOT ‘ALF POP PICKERS A small but perfectly formed band of Ev eryone had an enjoyable evening with mods, rockers, folkies, hippies, beatniks plenty of beer breaks between the rounds. and beardos gathered at the Rivermill Tav- Thanks to Keith Lawson for organising the ern on November 18th last year to test event and to the Rivermill Tavern for the their knowledge of all things musical. use of their family room f or the evening. Quizmaster “DJ Keith“ bombarded the Hopefully we can repeat the event in the teams with fifty years of musical trivia, f uture when more members will turn out. f aces, rock, opera, classical, intros, end- Fancy an argument in the pub? Try these ings and plenty of bits in the middle. brainteasers f or your very own pop quiz Something for everyone we thought, but (Answers on page 8). With which songs without a round of questions about Ba- did these recording artists have their first roque Gregorian chants, some people UK hit singles? were struggling from the beginning. Andy Shaw and Sonia Clarke battled bravely 1. Elv is Presley 6. Culture Club into the wooden spoon position in the face 2. The Beatles 7. Madonna of an onslaught from Roy Enderby’s hand 3. The Rolling 8. U2 picked squad which had the perfect blend Stones 9. S Club 7 of trendy y outh, Woodstock v eterans and 4. Queen 10. George Michael classically trained pianists and they came 5. Rod Stewart out as “Top of the Eaton Socon Pops”. SIGN OF THE TIMES We sadly live CAMRA will be taking this up with the in an age local planning authorities. For listed build- where the ings, consent is required to change signs blandly corpo- and we’ll be checking that this has been rate increas- obtained. With other buildings, the con- ingly triumphs trols are less stringent but action using the ov er the indi- Adv ertisement Consent Regulations may vidualistic. A be possible, especially if the local council small but sig- is sympathetic. nif icant exam- Something we can all do, if we hate these ple of this can be found outside an in- signs, is write to Greene King and tell creasing number of Greene King pubs, them, so we urge our readers to do so. where the original pub sign, usually a pic- Please share your views with Rooney ture related to the name of the pub, and Anand, Chief Executive, Greene King plc, often of significance to local history, has Westgate Brewery, Bury St Edmunds, been replaced by the deeply boring stan- IP33 1QT. dardised GK sign comprising just the brewery logo and the pub name.

20 Read Opening Times online: www.huntscamra.org.uk/news Community Pubs Week 17-24 February Join us on Saturday 17th February for a tour of community pubs!

To celebrate Community Pubs Week, we 1:30 St Ives - White Hart, Market Hill hav e organised a trip round 7 rural com- 1:45 Huntingdon - lay-by next to Walden Grove, Huntingdon ring road munity pubs in south west Cambridge- 2:00 St Neots - Corner House, Mar ket Square shire on the afternoon of Saturday 17th 2:15-2:45 Coc k, Gamlingay February. The coach trip will pick up from 3:00-3:30 Waggon and Horses, Steepl e Mor- St Ives, Huntingdon and St Neots, and is den 3:35-4:05 Pig and Abbot , A bington Pigotts free to CAMRA members with a £5 charge 4:15-4:45 Q ueen Adelaide, Croydon to non-members. To book your place, 4:50-5:20 Hardwic k Ar ms, Arrington contact Pete Godfrey, Social Secretary, 5:25-5:55 Red House, Longstowe on 01480 212849 or e-mail: so- 6:00-6:45 Chequers, Little Grans den 7:00 drop off at St Neots [email protected]. Check what 7:15 drop off at Huntingdon ev ents are going on in your pub! 7:30 drop off at S t I ves

OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 21 28th BOOZE ON THE OUSE

independent breweries and the newer, smaller micro-breweries. These will in- clude a number of award winning “winter” ales (see page xx). FOREIGN BEER The popular f oreign beer bar will be sell- ing a range of Belgian, Dutch, German, and Czech bottled beers including exam- ples of the most distinctive individualistic beer sty les in the world, such as Trappist, lambic and wheat beers. CIDER AND PERRY The traditional cider bar will be serving a wide selection of tasty traditional cider & perry. OPENING TIMES Thursday 6pm–10.45pm FEATURES VENUE Friday 12 noon–3pm; 5pm–10.45pm Saturday All day; 12 noon–10.45pm. The festival is being held at the Priory Entrance Including programme: Centre, close to the Market Square, in the Thursday - £1 6-7pm; £2 after 7pm centre of St Neots. Friday - 12noon-3pm - free entrance! FOOD AND DRINK Friday - £1 5-7pm; £2 after 7pm A variety of hot and cold food will be avail- Saturday - £1 12noon-10.30pm. able at all sessions. Free soft drinks will Happy Hour be available from the real ale bar for the Thursday 6-7pm & Friday 5-7pm: En- designated driver of your party. trance £1 & reduced price draught beer. CAMRA PRODUCTS STAND Families welcome until 9pm. Come along and chat to our staff to learn Please note: No entry or re-admission about CAMRA, beer brewing and pubs. after 10.30pm. CAMRA and brewery products will be on Free entrance to CAMRA members at all sale, including sweatshirts, t-shirts and sessions - a good reason to join CAMRA! polo shirts, as well as books, pens, No smoking in main hall. badges and beer mats. Adjacent will be the fabulous 'Every One's A Winner' tom- BEERS bola stall. R E AL AL E S CHILDREN AT THE FESTIVAL We hope to serve over the course of the Whilst lunchtime is the ideal time to bring f estival around 48 real ales from all over the family to the festival, we do allow chil- the UK, both from the well-established dren into the hall up to 9pm in the eve-

22 Updates to Branch Diary - www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary ST NEOTS BEER FESTIVAL ning. Thursday 1st – MILDS • Old Bear Goldi- • Buntingf ord Par- locks 4.5% Saturday 3rd geter • Potton Gold 4.1% • Castle Rock Black • Roost ers Special March 2007 Gold 3.9% • Robinsons H att ers • Ufford White Hart Dark Mild 3.8% Priory Centre • Taylors Dark Mild •STRONG BITT ERS BITTERS • Adnams Broadsi de St. Neots • Fenl and Rabbit • Digfield March Poacher Hare 45+ REAL ALES • Hydes 1863 Clas- • Grainst ore Rutl and (over the duration of the Festival) sic Beast • Marston Moor • Harvi est oun Ptar- Plus Cider and Rupert’s Rout migan • Milton N ept une • Phoeni x Wes t Bottled Foreign Beer • Okells Bitter Coast IP A • Osset t Bl ac k Bull SPECIALITY Bitter BEERS OTHER DETAILS BEST BITTERS • Coac h Hous e Fruit THE WORKERS • Brecons hire Brec k- Beer nock Best • Grand U nion Cen- The f estival is organised and run by mem- • Bus hys Old Bus hy tennial Honey Ale bers of CAMRA who are all unpaid volun- Tail • Hadrian and Border teers. We always need more helpers so • Cambridge Moon- Ginger B eer join at the festival's CAMRA stand. shine Mul berr y • Little V alley H eb- Whale Bitt er den’s Wheat STAFF NEEDED • Copper Drag on • Nethergate Umbel If you can help at any session please con- Challenger I PA Magna tact Andy Shaw (see below). • Dark Star Best • Three Rivers Crys- Bitter tal Wheat CONTACT NUMBER • Elgood’s Pageant OLD ALES/ Branch Chairman, Festival Organiser, Ale STRONG MILDS • Inver almond T hrap- • B&T Blac k Dragon Newsletter & Festival Programme Editor, pledouser • Rudgat e R uby Mild Andy Shaw - 01480 355893 - festi- • Sharp’s Atlantic • Orkney Dar k Island v [email protected]. IPA • Sarah H ughes' GOL DEN AL ES Dark Ruby Mild Also visit our Web Site for updates • Arran Blonde 5% POR TER S/ STOU TS www.huntscamra.org.uk/f estivals • Buntingf ord Silence • Cairngorm Black ADVERTISERS 5.2% Gold • Crouch Vale • Elland 1872 Porter A 32-page programme will be produced Brewer's G old 4% • Mauldon Bl ac k f or t he f es t iv al. Adv ert is ing at com pet it iv e • Hook Norton Hooky Adder rates. Reach 3,000+ beer drinkers. Con- Gold 4. 1% • Tomas Watkin tact the Programme Editor for more infor- • Hopbac k S ummer Merlin Stout Lightning 5% BARLEY WINE mation. • Kelham Island • Green J ac k Ri pper Kelham Gold 3.8% OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 23 CAMRA launch Cyclops

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, re- To help consumers understand how the cently unveiled a new phase of the Cy- actual scheme works, and where to look clops campaign for licensees and their f or material, CAMRA has produced a Cy- customers, which aims to demystify the clops information leaflet which it hopes will complexities of real ale. increase real ale sales for all the brewer- ies participating in Cyclops. The leaflet will Initially launched by Everards Brewery in be distributed to thousands of pubs across March 2006, Cyclops was embraced by Britain by CAMRA members. CAMRA and launched industry-wide with 14 brewery partners last August, after David Bremner, Head of Marketing for CAMRA commissioned research revealed Ev erards and the inspiration behind Cy- that 1 in 3 adults thought a universal clops, said: “CAMRA’s new Cyclops leaf- scheme which simplified real ale would let, and more breweries supporting the encourage them to try more real ale. scheme, will help to increase the con- sumer awareness of this initiative and “We were delighted with the initial 14 lead to more people understanding and breweries that signed up as Cyclops part- drinking real ale.” ners in August 2006 as they own pubs and distribute beer across the whole of Tony Jerome explained “It is important Britain. This now means Cyclops is a uni- that we now promote Cyclops to licensees v ersal real ale tasting scheme that can be and consumers as there is a lot of support dev eloped to play its part in increasing from the real ale industry for this initiative real ale sales nationally.” said Tony and it is vital to keep the impetus of this Jerome, CAMRA’s Senior Marketing Man- campaign going. As some of the Cyclops ager. partners Point of Sale material hasn’t been completed yet, we thought it would “Cyclops uses easy to understand de- be important to develop some Cyclops scriptions and distinctive eye, nose and templates that will allow licensees to pro- mouth symbols to help inform and edu- duce their own Cyclops Point of Sale ma- cate occasional or new real ale drinkers of terial such as posters, leaflets and table- what different beers look, smell and taste toppers to help promote the real ales they like before they even try or buy a beer. hav e on sale in Cyclops format.” Cyclops also promotes the sty le and strength of the beer and gives each real Licensees can now visit the Cyclops web- ale a score out of five for how bitter and site www.camra.org.uk/cyclops, select the sweet the beer is.” real ale tasting notes and logos for the beers that they have on sale in their pubs Since the initial launch at the Great British and drop them into the template. These Beer Festival last August, Cyclops contin- can then be printed off and displayed as ues to build on its success with interest posters around the pub or used as beer from a further 25 breweries who are look- menus on the tables. There is even space ing to participate within the next few on the templates to add beer prices, pub months. f ood that matches the beer or history on the brewery.

24 Updates to Branch Diary - www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary CAMRA launch Cyclops

Jerome continued, “There has been a Jerome concluded, “Within the next few large number of pubs that have contacted months we hope to have a directory of CAMRA in the last year telling us that they hundreds of Cyclops tasting notes on the would like to promote their real ales but do website for licensees to use and promote not know how to. These Word templates to their customers. We also hope that that have been created will be accessible more breweries will be added to the on- to most licensees that own a PC. The line order form so licensees can order templates will allow licensees to create prof essionally designed Cyclops market- their own Cyclops material and promote ing material direct from the Cyclops brew- their own range of real ales to their cus- ery partners.” tomers. Hopefully this will encourage Breweries that would like to sign up to pubs to become more marketing led and Cyclops, can either visit help see their real ale sales increase.” www.camra.org.uk/cy clops or email Licensees will also be able to order Cy- [email protected] to request a clops Point of Sale material such as post- Cyclops promotional pack. ers, beer mats, tasting cards, leaflets etc direct from breweries that have already produced their material by visiting www.camra.org.uk/cyclops

Theat Hemingford Cock Grey

● Woodfordes Wherry ● Earl Soham Victoria Bitter ● Two other beers rotated between breweries such as Potbelly, Nethergate, Wolf, Milton and Fenland. The Beer Festival this year is during the May Bank Holiday Weekend 25th – 28th, Friday night to Monday Lunch. Live music every evening. 20 real ales to choose from and our homemade sausages. Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2003 Cambridgeshire Dining Pub of the Year 2006 & 2007

OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 25 EVENTS AND SOCIALS February 2007-Community Pubs Week 17 – 24 February Sat 17th Community Pubs Tour Free coach tour for CAMRA members around the village community pubs of South St Neots. (1:30 – 7:30) Gamlingay, , Abington Pigotts, Croydon, Arrington, Longstowe, Little Gransden. Pick-ups in St Ives, Huntingdon and St Neots and then return. March 2007-St Neots Beer Festival Thu 1st to Sat 3rd St Neots Beer Festival – Priory Centre, St Neots. Opening Times: Thurs: 6-10.45 pm; Fri 12-3 pm & 5-10.45 pm; Sat 12-10.45 pm. FREE ENTRY to CAMRA members. VOLUNTEERS WELCOME Fri 23rd New members’ social, Lord John Russell, St Neots (8. 30 pm ) f or members who joined at the St Neots Beer Festival. A FREE PINT for new members and all those who helped at the Booze on the Ouse festival. April 2007-Annual General Meeting Tues 17th Annual General Meeting, The Anchor, Little Paxton (8.30 pm). Fri 27th Local pubs of Eaton Socon, White Horse 8:30 / Wheatsheaf 9:00 / Old Sun - Waggon & Horses 9:30 / Millers Arms 10:00 / Rivermill Tavern 10:30. May 2007-Cambridge Beer Festival Tues 8th Open Committee Meeting, Three Horseshoes, Abbots Ripton, (8.30 pm). Wed 23rd Visit to the Cambridge Beer Festival, Jesus Green (7:30pm - Foreign beer counter). County bus services from Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots. June 2007-London Pubs Tour Tues 5th Open Committee Meeting, Dragoon, Brampton (8.30 pm). Sat 16th London Pubs Tour. Travelling down by train to tour the pubs of inner London in conjunction with the London Pubs Group. Returning late ev ening. For further information contact Pete Godfrey, Social Secretary (see below). WHO TO CONTACT Chairman & Newsletter Editor: Andy Membership: Margaret Eames, (01480) Shaw, 01480 355893 (h), 07802 485449 385333 (h) (m), [email protected], 13a Socials: Pete Godfrey, (01480) 212849 Peppercorns Lane, Eaton Socon, St (h), [email protected] Neots, PE19 8HL Pubs Info: Roy Endersby, (01480) Secretary, Press & Publicity: Paul 473364, [email protected] Moorhouse, (01480) 496247 (h) Campaigning: Kathy Hadfield- Treasurer: Sonia Clarke, (01480) Moorhouse, (01480) 496247 (h). 355893 (h), [email protected]

26 Updates to Branch Diary - www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary TRADING STANDARDS OPENING TIMES Your local Trading Standards organisation Opening Times is published by the Hunt- is Cambridgeshire County Council Trading ingdonshire Branch of CAMRA, the Cam- Standards. If y ou have any complaints paign f or Real Ale (Copyright 2007) All about trading standards issues at local rights reserved. pubs please contact them. Views or comments expressed in this They have a role to protect consumers publication may not necessarily be those from errors or frauds concerned with qual- of the Editor or of CAMRA. ity , description or price of goods, services To contact the Editor Andy Shaw, see or facilities and to detect and rectify unfair “Who to Contact” opposite. adv ertising practices. To Advertise Contact Cambridgeshire Trading Stan- To place an advert or enquire about our dards helpdesk on 08454 040 506, or at rates please contact: Trading Standards Division, Sackv ille House, Sackville Way, Great Cambourne, Neil Richards: 01536 358670 or Cambridgeshire, CB3 6HD. The local trad- [email protected] ing standards web site is www.cam bridges hire. gov .uk/business/ Deadline for Summer 2007 issue (131) trading/. The national trading standards is Friday 20th April 2007. web site is www.tradingstandards.gov.uk.

The Open: Monday-Thursday 12-2.30, 5-11pm Queens 12-2.30, 5-12.30 Friday 12-12.30 Saturday Head 12-10.30pm Sunday Real ales: Greene King IPA, 30 High Street Morland Old Speckled Hen, Oakham JHB and guest beers Needingworth Home cooked pub food PE27 4SA available daily. Traditional Sunday Lunch. 01480 463946 (no food Sunday evening)

OPENING TIMES 130 SPRING 2007 27