Celebrating the Real Ale Scene in Sussex Sussex Drinker Spring 2019 Free

29th Sussex Beer & Cider Festival 22nd – 23rd March 2019

PUBLISHED AND FINANCED BY THE SUSSEX BRANCHES Brighton Racecourse, OF THE Freshfield Road, CAMPAIGN FOR Brighton BN2 9XZ REAL ALE

29th Sussex Beer & Cider Festival

We are off again for the Sussex CAMRA Advance tickets are now available until Branches 2019 Festival. Saturday 16 March from the following outlets: Evening Star, Brighton; Gardener’s The 29th Sussex Branches Beer & Cider Arms and Brewers Arms, Lewes; Duke of Festival will be at Brighton Racecourse, Wellington, Shoreham-by-Sea; Selden Freshfield Road, Brighton BN2 9XZ on Arms, Worthing; Beer Essentials, Horsham; Friday 22 and Saturday 23 March 2019. Eagle, Eastbourne; Tower, St. Leonards and There will be Brewery Shade, Crawley. 140+ real ales For postal sales, please state which available plus an session(s) you require, enclose a 9x4 SAE excellent with your cheque, made payable to “Sussex selection of real CAMRA Beer & Cider Festival” and send to ciders and SBB&CF Ticket Sales, 16 Connell Drive, perries. A variety Woodingdean, Brighton, BN2 6RT. Postal of food will be on Sales will be available until 16 March, but no sale, including vegetarian and vegan refunds will be processed after 13 March options. Crisps, nuts etc. and soft drinks will 2019 be on sale at the Products stand. All bars will operate a token system. Token As always, all the beer will be cooled refunds will be given only before ‘time’ is throughout the festival. This means that it called at the bar. Surplus tokens may be should be in consistent excellent condition. deposited in the charity box and will be Opening times and prices: - passed on to our Festival Charity, Sussex Friday 11.00am – 3.00pm £6 Heart. 5.00pm - 10.00pm £8 Brighton & Hove buses 2 and 22 from Saturday 11.00am – 8.00pm £5 Churchill Square stop very close to the NUS Card Holders £3 after 3.00pm (Door venue; bus 2 in Freshfield Road and 22 at only, no advance sales) the top of Elm Grove/corner of Freshfield If you are lucky Road; people arriving in Brighton by train enough to look may use the PlusBus facility with their rail under 25 years ticket. old, please bring The venue is fully wheelchair accessible. photo ID and note that you For more information, see the festival must be over 18 website www.sussexbeerfestival.co.uk. to gain If you would like to volunteer to work at the admission. Tickets for each session will be festival and have not done so in the past, available on the door. The ticket price please see the website includes a souvenir glass and programme. www.sussexbeerfestival.co.uk Card-carrying CAMRA members can also obtain £2 worth of beer tokens at the All enquiries to: CAMRA membership stand. If you join [email protected] or CAMRA on the day, you will also receive 07450 656148. Twitter @SussexBeerFest tokens valid for two pints and a copy of the

Good Beer Guide. Please bear in mind that Peter Mitchell Publicity Officer for the popular beers sell very quickly, and, as it Sussex Beer & Cider Festival takes at least 48 hours for beers to settle, cannot be replaced once sold out.

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 3 News of new developments and updates on Christmas. An extension is to be added to the Sussex pub scene will be gratefully create more space for diners. received by the Editor for consideration in Scratchings. The standard disclaimer on ■■ BREDE p46 applies to all items. The Red Lion is under new management and the food is as popular as ever. Three ■■ AMBERLEY beers are served, Harvey’s Sussex Best, one The Black Horse reopened on the 2nd from Greene King and the other a local December after a major refurbishment and beer. Rother Valley was the third brewery several years of represented on a recent visit. closure. It’s bar manager Johnny ■■ BRIGHTON Robinson is keen The Cobden Arms in Cobden Road, to welcome Brighton, is the proud owner of the title drinkers with, Argus Pub of the Year 2018 after topping initially, three the polls. It received a total of 1,993 votes cask ales on; from loyal customers. The pub was taken Langham Hip Hop over two years ago by Andrea and Shaun will be the ‘house Manthorpe who were previously at the beer’ branded as Hikers Rest, they said that most of their Amberley Bitter, one customers do not come from the or two beers from surrounding area – something they are Arundel, possibly trying to change. Black Stallion or At the Great Eastern, Trafalgar Court Castle and Young’s (Corner of Trafalgar St); Ei Group, the pub’s Bitter. owner is looking to take back the pub from its current leaseholder, the small pub ■■ ASHINGTON company Pleisure. The pub regulars are The Red Lion recently had Purity Goose on fearful that the pub might lose its as a guest. atmosphere in the change. An online ■■ ASHURSTWOOD petition on Change.org has been started by The Maypole continues to sell a good pint drinks writer Andy Burnyeat, this aims to of Harvey’s Sussex Best, plus a couple of demonstrate the scale of public support regularly changing guest ales. Old Dairy and convince the owners to renew the Blue Top was noted (and tried) on a recent lease. Ei Group are also looking to take back visit and found to be in very good nick. The the Saint James in St James’s Street and pub also now has a café, which is open the Office in Sydney Street. Mondays to Fridays 8.30 a.m to 3 p.m, on Following their move into Brighton, Holler Saturdays this is 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Good value Brewery have opened a tap room in Elder food is available, including full English Place, off London Road.Holler Brewery & breakfasts, filled rolls are also available to Taproom is open from 4pm Monday – eat in or take away. Thursday and from 12 noon Friday, Saturday Just off the A22, work has started on and Sunday. Holler have teamed up with renovating the long-closed Three Crowns, Fatto a Mano to offer pizzas to taproom with scaffolding appearing before patrons.

4 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019

Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued

■■ BURWASH WEALD ■■ CROWBOROUGH The Wheel Inn closed suddenly in The Cooper’s Arms in the St John’s district December. of Crowborough continues to provide some interesting guest beers. On a recent visit ■■ COCKING Engineer’s Christmas Special and Bristol Many months ago the Bluebell ceased Beer Factory’s Milk Stout were both trading and was considered lost to the pub sampled and found to be in fine form. Also world and the word was that it would available were beers from Burning Sky as become a residential property. A local well as the ever-present Harvey’s Best group have now signed a written Bitter. agreement with the owner to retain the building as a pub. They have already ■■ EASTBOURNE secured some funding but obviously Bottle Grove, require a lot more. Contact has been made a ‘Cafe and with the Plunkett Foundation. Craft Beer Specialist’ in ■■ COOKSBRIDGE Grove Road, The Rainbow in Cooksbridge has been re- opened last opened by a company called Revived Inns. year, 2018. They were selling Harvey’s Best, Old and Greg, the Long Man Blonde when last visited. keen owner, ■■ COOLHAM not only offers a wide range of bottled We hear that the lessee of the Selsey Arms beers for sale but also serves around four has dispensed with Doom Bar and now has local KeyKeg beers, as well as four, on Harvey’s Best, one from Long Man and sometimes five, local real ciders from Purity Goose; all now sourced in pins to Ascension in Hurst Green. maintain quality. Buskers Bar, mentioned in the previous ■■ CRAWLEY issue, now has two real ales regularly on offer; Purity Brewery has proved popular The Moonraker, an Ei Group pub near Three Bridges station in Crawley has re-opened and one beer is always from there with the after a short closure with new licencees. other changing. Tony and Louise ran the pub many years A local branch member was surprised to ago and have already re-introduced hand find himself paying £4.60 for a pint of pumps selling Fullers London Pride, which Harvey’s Old in the Eastbourne Council when tasted was in top condition and also owned Stage Door. serve Sharp’s Doom Bar. The pub has new furniture giving it a welcoming feel. The ■■ EAST GRINSTEAD pool table has gone but sports will still be There are several pubs in the town and a shown on TV. It is hoped that the pub will random selection were visited in the weeks have B&B accommodation and will serve leading up to Christmas. food in the near future. The Ship Inn (Youngs) offers three of their brews, with Harvey’s Sussex Best and The owner of the Royal Oak in Crawley St.Austell Tribute as permanent guest ales. Down has submitted plans for nine flats and a pub to be built on the existing site whilst The Crown is a popular food outlet with retaining the pub, which will re-open with three well-kept ales available. dining facilities. The pub has been closed Just around the corner from there can be for several years. found the Sportsman, a small wet-led pub, which offers Harvey’s Sussex Best direct

6 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019

Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued from the cask. three days a week from 12 noon, closing at The Ounce & Ivy Bush (Wetherspoons) 6.30 pm on Thursdays or 8 pm on Friday regularly has High Weald beers available, and Saturday. The brewery is on the Kent plus a guest or two. Broadoak Perry was and Sussex border, less than a mile north recently available as well. from Flimwell, just off the A21. Down towards the railway station, the Open ■■ HASTINGS Arms continues to have up to five ales A friendly micropub, Twelve Hundred available, a mixture of local and some from Postcards, opened in Queens Road in further afield. Real cider is also available. November, to the delight of many Real Ale enthusiasts. On the outskirts of town can be found Old It’s so named Dunnings Mill (Harvey’s), which has IPA and Sussex Best available, plus a couple of as 1200 saucy seasonal ales. It was good to see Christmas French Ale on sale during the festive period, postcards together with Old Ale. were destroyed by ■■ FIVE ASH DOWN the The Pig & Butcher has undergone authorities in something of a transformation. The cosy 1906 after the owner of a sweet shop here two bar local was caught secretly selling them under the has been counter. At least three ever-changing real redecorated ales, including from Sussex breweries, are and now served from a cool room at the rear, as well features as three ciders and numerous bottles and Harvey’s cans. seasonal The Palace is under new management, beers and Old being run by a former employee of the Ale alongside nearby Jenny Lind, who hopes to increase their regular, the beer selection gradually in a similar way Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter. as happened in the past at the latter pub, ■■ FLIMWELL from the current base of one real ale. A taproom, with indoor and outside ■■ HEATHFIELD seating, The Heathfield Tavern suddenly closed in opened at the December. Cellar Head Brewery in ■■ HORSHAM late It’s been nearly one year since the Kings December Arms reopened as a free house. It continues offering four to support local brewers with Brolly, of the Chapeau and Welton’s products all brewery’s beers, two straight from the cask regularly available. Some interesting and and two on handpump. Local and European rarely seen beers from some of the larger wines and soft drinks are also available. As independent brewers can be found in here it’s on higher ground you can admire the too, so it’s worth a walk down the Bishopric rural views, and could combine a visit with a to visit it. Just around the corner, the Malt country walk as public footpaths lead down Shovel still has a good selection available to Bewl Water, nearby. The taproom is open flowing through the six handpumps. These

8 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 The Spotted Cow 1 High Street, Angmering West Sussex, BN16 4AW 01903 783919 Laura, Justin and the team offer a Open: Mon-Thu 11-3, 5.30-11 warm welcome to customers new and Fri-Sat 11-12 Sun 12-10.30 old at our traditional country pub serving home cooked fresh food. Meals: Mon-Sat 12-2, 6-9 We offer six real ales on tap. Sun 12-5 Large garden. Cosy bar area with log burners for the winter months. Under new ownership.

thespottedcowangmering www.spottedcowangmering.co.uk [email protected]

The Foresters Arms Graffham

Welcome to The Foresters Arms Come in and relax. We have comfortable rooms, a beautiful garden, delicious food and great beer. We offer three rotating guest real ales sourced from local breweries. Open: Mon closed; Tue-Sat 11am-11pm; Sun 12pm-7pm

The Foresters Arms, The Street, Graffham, Petworth, GU28 0QA 01798 867386 forestersarms-pub.co.uk Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued are usually from local Sussex and Surrey Long Man Brewery’s Long Blonde. Expect brewers, although occasionally one from to see Long Man Brewery’s American Pale further afield makes an appearance, so Ale back on soon according to the new worth visiting. manager plus a dark beer. The Long Blonde was in very good condition. New food menu The Lynd Cross (Wetherspoons) had a too. couple of Andwell beers available when visited between Christmas and New Year, ■■ NUTBOURNE including their Porter. On a recent visit the Rising Sun unusually Despite all the redevelopment work taking had on only Fuller’s London Pride and Goldmark Liquid Gold. place in Pirie’s Place, Pirie’s Bar continues to offer three beers, although a cider was ■■ PETT LEVEL noted on handpump recently. Burning Sky Just a few Plateau is a regular beer in here. days before In East Street, the Anchor Tap continues to the thrive, now as a free house with six regularly Smuggler’s changing beers available. You’ll still find planning Dark Star beers available, but a random visit application can produce some interesting ales, some was due to be from Sussex, but also from further afield. considered The Kissingate Murder Of Crows was a by Rother Council’s Planning Committee welcome sight during the festive period. the application was withdrawn. The proposal was for demolition of the pub, as ■■ HOVE reported in the last edition. It looked The Foghorn micropub has opened at 55 increasingly unlikely that the application Boundary Road, close to the junction with would succeed due to a negative planning New Church Road. Recently reported to be officer’s report and a lot of local opposition. selling cask ales from Burning Sky, There’s speculation that the building is now Downlands, Gun and Holler. Opening hours being sold to someone who wants to run it are Mon closed; Tue–Thu 12noon–2pm, as a pub. 5pm-9.30pm; Fri & Sat 12 noon–11pm; Sun 12noon–5 pm (Free cheese!). ■■ PORTSLADE The new owners of the Stanley Arms, ■■ LEWES Wolseley Road, Ashley Grout and Elizabeth The Kings Boucher, have been talking about changes Head (closed to the the pub that they have taken over since and re-opened on 9th November. Some February this refurbishment has been done, but they year) re- wanted to keep the pub very much how it opened on was before. The free house specialises in 26th October real ales from the surrounding areas and having been when visited had three beers on sale from taken over by Long Man brewery and one from Revived Inns Ltd. Other than a lick or two of Downlands. Ashley said that the sense of paint the interior is pretty much unchanged community was the main thing they wanted from before its closure in February. There is to keep. one regular beer, Harvey’s Best plus 2 guest beers which at the time of visiting at the ■■ PULBOROUGH weekend are Fuller’s London Pride and The White Horse in Mare Hill is a Fuller’s

10 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued house that has rarely seen any of that several years brewer’s interesting seasonal beers, so of closure. recently we were pleasantly surprised to The pub is find Red Fox rather than Dark Star Hophead locally owned that is now widely available to all of their and will Sussex pubs. welcome drinkers, ■■ ST LEONARDS ON SEA locals and Gary of the walkers as Dripping Spring well as diners. Bar manager, Billy Lewis Alehouse Bowker, was previously at the Fisherman’s reported that he Joy, Siddlesham. En suite accommodation is to hold his first is also available. Beer Festival at Easter; so be ■■ THAKEHAM sure to visit this At the White Lion usually a dark beer can once award-winning pub on 19th-22nd be found with Daleside Winters Stay April. recently found. Jamie, landlord of the North Star in ■■ TURNERS HILL Clarence Road, now expects to be ‘Free of The Red Lion (Harvey’s) continues to have Tie’ early this year. He has been working on six different Lewes brews available, the this for many months, if not years. Dark Mild being available all year round. The Tower are holding their second Beer Dark beers are very popular in here and the Festival on 22nd-24th February 2019. Last Christmas Ale was much appreciated by year’s was a huge success so lovers of real the customers. ale and real cider are promised a real treat. The Crown has three ales available, the Adnams Lighthouse was in good form on a ■■ SHOREHAM recent visit. The pub continues to host beer The Buckingham Arms reopened on the festivals, so check their website for any that 3rd of November after a major refit. The are coming up. more spacious bar area offers seven ales on handpump five regulars & two guests, the ■■ UCKFIELD guests being Harvey’s Bonfire Boy and Well worth Bedlam Porter on my visit. N.B Food is no a visit longer available. when in Uckfield is ■■ STOPHAM the Alma It might appear that the third hand pump at Arms, a the White Hart had during the summer Harvey’s been used for cider but at present it is again tied house. having a guest beer from Langham. A recent ■■ SUTTON visit found The White Horse four beers on offer from the Harvey’s range, reopened on 1st Sussex Best Bitter, Old Ale, Dark Mild and December, again after Christmas Ale (7.5%). The Christmas Ale extensive was found to be in especially good refurbishment condition. throughout and

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 11 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued

The Station, as The Castle Ale House has on three or four the name rotating ales from the likes of Long Man, implies, is Downland and other LocAles whilst opposite the Hopback Summer Lightning has been railway station, noted. Its owner, Steve Bennett, recently and is a Greene sold the freehold of the Stanley Arms, King tied house Fishersgate, so may well be more ‘hands that usually on’. (He also has the popular Stanley Ale offers some interesting guest beers. House run by his son Stephen that is to be Timothy Taylor’s Landlord was enjoyed on a found in a small precinct just north of recent visit. Lancing Station) ■■ WEST CHILTINGTON The Corner House continues to be one of The Queens Head recently had on, the most popular pubs in town and being alongside Harvey’s Best, guest beers free of tie has four well kept ales from the Skinners, Betty Stogs and one from likes of Burning Sky, Harvey’s, Langham & Robinson’s. Gun ■■ WORTHING The Egremont has Dark Star Hophead and The new signage at Anchored in Worthing / or APA, Harvey’s Best and Old plus two was house beers brewed by Goldmark. completed At the nearby Swan, we hear the Punch just in time lease is about to change hands! for Christmas. Once again In Tarring Village the George & Dragon has Nigel and Harvey’s Best, Hopback Summer Lightning, Debbie opt Longman for the Old Man, extraordinary Abbot & rather than the bland corporate style pub Doombar. signage, and engaged local artists, Sophie To the and Evie, students at Northbrook College in delight of Worthing, to do the job after putting it out local to competitive and artistic tender. residents, at the turn of the year, lessee Linda Shiel, has Anchored in Worthing continues to serve had put back the pub sign in its historic exclusively Sussex brewed cask ales and place hanging over the High Street. real ciders, Sussex made wines and soft drinks and serves the premier English Beer no Evil is Vermouth, Rosso by Bolney Estate. a new craft Anchored in Worthing frequently hosts Bottle Shop & events away from the pub with their Taproom – run awaydays proving very popular with the by Gemma locals, and their community activities and Clegg & meals always well attended. Gareth Harries - situated east The former and short lived Ale House & of the Kitchen - also Bar 10 and Church - is just Egremont in now being re-branded as the Alehouse Brighton Craft Bar. Road.

12 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued Save Your Pub

Each of the four earliest micropubs – Dyke Pub, Brighton Latest Anchored, Brooksteed Alehouse, Green In August 2018 the owners chose to sell to Man Ale & Cider House and Georgi Fin Lan Estates Property Company, for £1.05M. continue to The ground floor had been leased to a thrive. A continental grocery outlet, but they recent withdrew at the last minute. newcomer is The ACV (Asset of Community Value) the Old Bike lapsed when the property was sold, but the Store – Save The Dyke Pub group have reapplied situated and are awaiting results. opposite the Egremont in The ground floor is currently empty, in a Brighton poor state of repair and rather haphazardly Road – that divided into two units. The Save The Dyke has three Pub group have met with one of the new changing cask ales and craft beers. owners and are in communication with him and he is aware of the appetite there is for a Just as copy for this edition was about to be community pub. The owners are applying submitted, we learnt that a planning to change the A1 (retail) planning use. The application for yet another micropub – the building will take a considerable amount of Fox & Finch at premises at 8 Littlehampton money to bring to back to a useable pub, Road, Tarring - had been submitted by Jo & the poor state of the electrics being just Mike Saveen, a well-known local couple, as one component that will need replacing. Jo has worked at Brooksteed for some time Paul Free and Mike works at Georgi Fin. Canned craft beers, with their exotic and eye catching labels, are now growing a significant slice of the drinks market, so the Bottle & Jug Dept, associated with and nearby to the Brooksteed Alehouse, is well worth a visit to see the ever changing section that partner Tom Flint offers.

The Hampden Arms Newhaven’s Secret Pub Hidden away on the hill above Newhaven, The Hampden boasts a log fire in the winter and a beautiful garden in the summer

Currently undergoing major refurbishment, One Regular Ale Home-Cooked food and a including a micro - brewery, the former One Guest Ale Sunday Roast. Beechwood Hall Hotel in Wykeham Road Variety of Spirits & Wines Dogs & Children Welcome (above), will, in a few months’ time, reopen Live Music Monthly Quiz Nights. as the latest Ale House & Kitchen in West Sussex. Heighton Road, South Heighton, BN9 0JJ - 01273514529

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 13 Bus to the Pub

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

The Sussex Bus to the Pub group (BttP) has session meet from 11am onwards. been running since May 2009 and attracts Thursday 28th 99 Mystery Tour; Meet participants from many areas of the county, so Chichester West St bus stop (opp Cathedral) for if you enjoy visiting different pubs with fine ales 10.45 Compass 99 (variable-route bus). Route and informal convivial company without the to be confirmed minimum 6 days before constraints of the car, then BttP may just travel. appeal! Itineraries and the number of pubs visited vary but often it is possible for April participants to dip in or out of a trip to suit. Friday 5th Portslade & Hove; Meet noon at Please see our page on the Sussex branches Railway Inn then short walk to Foghorn (new website sussex.camra.org.uk/BttP for more Micro Pub) later catch B&H 49 to Westbourne. details. Some of you reading this may also be Wednesday 10th Lancing & Sompting; Meet interested in Pete Brown’s bi-monthly Trains to New Sussex Hotel at noon, then short walk to London Pubs (TTLP) group (see the Diary Stanley Ale House. Later on catch Compass 7 Dates). (hourly) for Marquis of Granby and Gardeners Arms. February Thursday 18th Fernhurst & Henley; Catch 10.43 Stagecoach 60 from Chichester bus Friday 8th Seaford; Meet noon at Steamworks station to Midhurst bus station then 12.00 then on to Old Boot and Wellington. Option of Stagecoach 70 for Red Lion. Then 13.45 S/C 70 stopping off at Newhaven for Jolly Boatman on for Kings Arms. Later road walk to Duke of the way back. Cumberland. Thursday 14th Findon & Broadwater; Catch

11.35 Stagecoach 1 from Worthing South St for Wednesday 24th Lindfield, Danehill & East ; Catch 11.24 Metrobus 270 from HH Village House and Gun. Later return to Worthing Grinstead Perrymount for Red Lion or Stand Up Inn. Then via Broadwater for Cricketers. 12.29 Metro 270 for Coach & Horses. Then 13.35 Bosham; Catch 11.47 Stagecoach Friday 22nd Metro 270 for Engine Room and Open Arms 56 from Chichester bus station for Berkeley (both Micro Pubs). Arms. Later short walk to Anchor Bleu. Then either 14.00 or 15.20 to White Swan (on A259) May Please note change of date. Wednesday 1st Dell Quay & Witterings; Catch Wednesday 27th Cuckfield & Haywards 11.31 Stagecoach 52 from Chichester bus station Heath; Catch 11.09 Metrobus 271 from HH (opp Foundry pub) then half a mile road walk Perrymount for Talbot and Rose & Crown. for Crown & Anchor. Later r/t to bus stop for Return to HH on 13.41 Compass 33 for Savannah Stagecoach 53 to Old House at Home (WW), and Lockhart. later onwards to Shore Inn (EW). Thursday 9th West Chiltington & Storrington; March Catch 11.05 Stagecoach 1 from Worthing South Hove & Brighton; Meet noon at Friday 8th St to Storrington bus station for 12.12 Compass Neptune then bus to Brighton Beer Dispensary 74 for Queens Head. Then either 13.31 & short and others. walk or 20 minute road walk to Five Bells. Later Friday 15th Angmering; Catch 11.32 return to Storrington for Moon. Stagecoach 9 from Worthing Marine Parade (stop D) to Spotted Cow. Then return to For any queries on the above trips either send Worthing for various Micro Pubs. The bus an email to [email protected] or service is hourly. phone me on 01243 828394. Friday 22nd Sussex Branches Beer & Cider Festival at Brighton Racecourse; Lunchtime 14 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 The White Dog Inn Village Street Ewhurst Green Welcome to The White Dog Inn. Robertsbridge A traditional family run village inn – East Sussex enjoyed by visitors and regulars alike – and TN32 5TD always offering a warm, inviting and friendly atmosphere. Open: Mon-Fri 12-11.00pm, Sat 12-11.30pm, Sun 12-11pm The White Dog Inn has something for Meals served: Mon-Fri 12-2, 6.30-9, everyone, whether it’s a quiet drink by the Sat 12-2.30, 6.30-9.30, open fire, a lazy day in our garden with the Sun 12-2.45, 6.30-9 children or some superb pub food. We are a family run country pub 01580 830264 overlooking Bodiam Castle offering B&B www.thewhitedogewhurst.co.uk en-suite accommodation, tipi camping, thewhitedoginn tipi marquee weddings, functions, local thewhitedogpub ales, local produce, and outside pizza oven.

Winner of the ‘Muddy Stilettos’ Pub of the Year award 2017 Bru News

deep mouthfeel, low bitterness, and light biscuit malt.’ BLO John Quick ADUR Steyning, 01903 867614 www.adurbrewery.com, [email protected] Information here is generally BLO Nigel Watson supplied by the Brewery Liaison Officers (BLO) named ARUNDEL at the end of each report. Ford, nr Arundel, 01903 733111 Where percentages are www.arundelbrewery.co.uk shown after beer names, this Arundel is now fully focussed is the alcohol by volume, on the brewhouse project (ABV). The Brewery Liaison which is at the stage where Coordinator for the South the look and feel of the place East area is Peter Page- is taking shape, as the Mitchell. This report is Crossbush site is being fitted compiled and edited by Peter out. Good progress has been www.360degreebrewing.com made so everything is on Adams, Deputy Brewery BLO Jason Phillips Liaison Coordinator for schedule for an opening in Sussex. 81 ARTISAN March. You can follow the Lavant project on social media at @ 1648 BLO tbc thebrewhouseprojectarundel East Hoathly, 01825 840830 as well as on the website www.1648brewing.co.uk ABYSS www.brewhouseproject.co.uk. With the arrival of spring, we Framfield, 01825 840561, Two new beers are planned to have a new brew on the block 07919 445345 coincide with the opening of called La Brunette (4.2%) This small two-man brewery the brewhouse. There will be alongside the very popular continues to enjoy Arundel’s most fruity and St. George Ale (4.5%), which considerable success and most ‘pillowy’ yet, an 8% is a full bodied, chestnut much effort is expended in NEIPA in 330ml cans, as well coloured, English ale. meeting the demand for its as version 2 of Fruity AF. This Chocolate Orange Ale (3.6%) products. Superfuzz IPA latest version will combine is also back after last years (5.6%), mentioned in the last mandarin and guava to success and you will also find report, has been added to the delicious effect. Sacred Solstice (4.3%) - light range of beers produced BLO Glenn Johnson and spicy and the award throughout the year. Like all winning Bee Head (4.6%),- Abyss beers, it is only BATTLE golden ale with a hint of available in KeyKeg or cans at Battle, 01424 772838 Sussex Downs honey. Also on the moment but the intention [email protected] offer will be regular beers remains to produce cask The Christmas period proved Hop Pocket (3.7%), Triple beers in the future as the a very busy time for the Champion (4.0%), Signature business develops. A new brewery and tap room. The (4.4%) and Laughing Frog beer is New English IPA Winter Spiced Ale, a deep (5.2%). (4.7%) which only uses hops tawny ale offering a subtle BLO David Platt from the UK and is described spiciness reminiscent of dried as having a ‘grapefruit, pine fruits, and a full bodied 360 DEGREE and marmalade aroma, soft Russian Imperial Stout with Sheffield Park, 01825 722375 big coffee, chocolate and

16 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019

Bru News roast flavours is proving www.thebelgiancafe.co.uk have been discussed for 2019 popular and tastes stunning. Beer Me brewery this month and will be announced as Looking ahead, 2019 is a very embarked on its first barrel they are confirmed. exciting new era for the aged beer project. A 250 litre Brew Studio continues to brewery as the head brewer is Jack Daniels oak barrel is now work closely with Brolly now full time. This will allow filled withBelgian Trippel. Brewing, Battle Brewery and an increase in production and The new take away bottle Greyhound Brewery to bring extend the reach of their system, direct from the tap, is exciting yet approachable beers throughout East Sussex proving very popular in the real ales to Sussex drinkers. and beyond. A new range of café. With the addition of beer styles is planned for BLO Scott O’Rourke pressurised tanks early in launch. 2019, Brew Studio should be At the end of February, the BESTENS able to break into the keg Brewery will be celebrating Lower Beeding, 01403 market too. their second birthday. A 892556 BLO Lee Argent number of events are planned www.bestensbrewery.co.uk all aimed at thanking their The brewery is planning to BREWHOUSE & KITCHEN customers for their support increase capacity in the next Horsham, 01403 788140, over the last couple of years. few months by adding more horsham@ BLO Mac McCutcheon fermenting vessels. There are brewhouseandkitchen.com also plans to start brewing an BLO tbc BEDLAM ‘Icon’ range of beers in the Ditchling, 07955 684041 spring. These will be limited BREWING BROTHERS www.bedlambrewery.co.uk release beers dedicated to Hastings Hibernation, their seasonal individuals and places that www.brewingbrothers.org ale, concluded a busy and have been an inspiration to Brewing Brothers have now successful end to the year for the brewery throughout its brewed their 100th beer, a Bedlam Brewery. They are development. They will be mighty Imperial Coffee Stout working towards an eventful released in for 440ml cans (7.7%) made in collaboration calendar throughout 2019, and KeyKeg. There are with Hastings independent with the launch of two new currently plans for a DIPA, coffee roastery, Roar Gill. The brews early in the year, an NEIPA & Hefeweizen in the beer will be available in keg exciting smoked coffee range. and go on sale at the Imperial porter in collaboration with The brewery is also looking to from mid-January. local Redroaster Coffee and do some collaborations with Hibiscus Pale (5% Mosaic) then they are marking the Six other breweries. and Muse Black IPA (5.2% Nations Championship with a BLO John Goodsell flavoured with sloes) have beer to celebrate the been added to the changing tournament. The launch night BREW STUDIO range of seven core ales was at The Duke of Sompting, 07980 978350 available in either cask or keg. Wellington Pub in Shoreham www.facebook.com/ The highly rated Half Man on 22nd January. Since daBrewStudio/ Half Brother APA (4.7%) joining Bedlam as Head 2019 will be a big year for remains a top seller at the Brewer, Steve Munro has been Brew Studio with two new burger chain ‘Half Man Half working hard on new recipes, beers planned for release in Burger’ and the Marley’s expect to see some tasty new early spring, a 4.2% SIPA and Stout (4.2%) can be found on brews this year. a 5.2% Double Oat Stout. a regular basis at The Crown, BLO Peter Mitchell Following a very successful Hastings. collaboration brew with Hand The brewing experience BEER.ME Brew to produce a 5.2% DDH planned for 2019 has been Eastbourne, Belgian Café, pale with 17g per litre dry hop, cancelled because of 01323 729967 Several collaboration brews pressure of work.

18 SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: SpringSpring 20192019 18 The Crown Family friendly community pub in the heart of Eastbourne Old Town. Large enclosed rear garden. Six real ales: Dark Star Hophead, Harveys Sussex Best Bitter, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Young’s Special and two guest beers. Open Mon-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri & Sat 11am-midnight, Sun 12 noon-11pm. CAMRA award winning pub Easter Beer Festival (Runner Up Pub of the Year 2017, Community Pub of the Year 2016, Thu 18th – Mon 22nd April and LocAle Pub of the Year 2015) Real Ales - Live music 22 Crown Street, Old Town, Eastbourne, BN21 1PB, (01323) 724654 Bru News

BLO Robin Hill Tranter and his team. They CHAPEAU BREWING continue to invest heavily in Horsham BRICK HOUSE the areas that they wish to Brewing of their core beer Patcham, Brighton, 07708 grow, particularly their continues. Visitors to the 384604 bottled beers. Early January brewery bar were treated to [email protected] saw the mashing in of their different limited edition dark BLO Paul Free first coolship brew of 2019. beers each Friday of BRIGHTON BIER Their core cask ales, Plateau December, Col Beans (5.5%) and , continue to sell www.brightonbier.com Aurora coffee brown ale,Bonk extremely well and are Brighton Bierhaus at 161 (10.5%) double mashed stout, welcome sights among the Edward Street, Brighton, and Just Desserts (7.5%) pump clips on bars lucky (www.brightonbierhaus.pub), tiramisu stout. enough to stock their ales. the brewery tap for Brighton BLO Paul Sanders BLO Ian Hodge Bier has recently installed DARK STAR four more lines taking their CELLAR HEAD Partridge Green, 01403 total number of draught Flimwell, 07391 557407. 713085. beers and ciders to 23. The www.cellarheadbrewing.com www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk new lines will be It has been an eventful end to A new canning line was predominantly used for 2018 and a bright start to commissioned in the brewery draught Belgian beers. 2019 for the now maturing in January, so expect a wide BLO Peter Mitchell micro-brewery on the Sussex range of canned beers during BROLLY / Kent border. and beyond 2019. Having The move to their new Lowfold Far, Wisborough their own kit means that they brewing facility in Flimwell Green can be as fanatical about the has opened up opportunities Brolly has a new core beer, a quality of the canning with increased brewing milk stout Little Pearl (3.5%). process as they are about the capacity and the exciting A triple-chocolate version of brewing process. For those addition of indoor and it has been brewed for the not into canned beer, they are outdoor space to have beer CAMRA Spring Equinox Beer looking at a new Barrel themed events. They have Festival. Ageing room, hopefully to be already opened up a tap- Major plans for the brewery installed by late spring. There room which is open 12 – are being made, to be is a new cold store and bar 6:30pm Thursdays and 12 - revealed in due course. There area within the brewery that 8pm on Fridays and will continue to be many will help host events without Saturdays, which has already specials across the year. relying on a mobile beer proved a draw for people There are also plans to brew solution. Also, in a nod to the wanting to enjoy good quality and bottle some Imperial past, they are going back to beers over a chat with other Stouts. Mad C.O.W. will be publishing a list of the beers drinkers and the owners. brewed for a summer beer planned ahead of time to help Regular beer themed events festival, the last brew caught pubs plan what they would are planned to be held in the fire so hopefully things will go like, this will be out in early coming months. better this time! February; there will be some The beers themselves are a BLO John Goodsell one-off surprise brews along core range of six, including a the way too. The brewery is BURNING SKY session bitter and ever 25 years old this year, so there Firle, 01273 858080. changing single hop ale, will be a number of exciting www.burningskybeer.com supplemented by seasonal collaboration projects to The delightfully positioned and selected extra brews. mark the anniversary. The brewery continues to thrive BLO Barry Blewitt Yard Party in June has already under the hands of Mark sold out, sorry if you did not

2020 SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: SpringSpring 20192019

Bru News get a ticket. available, starting in March GOLDMARK BLO Clive Watson 2019. In addition, two beers Poling, nr Arundel, 07900 from the range will be 555415 / 01903 297838. STOP PRESS - FULLER’S guesting at The Royal Oak in goldmarks.co.uk Fuller’s to sell beer business Tunbridge Wells on an The brewery is now open on for £250m. occasional basis. Fridays for the purchase of Brewer Fuller’s is to sell its BLO Richard Saunders draught beers, which will be entire beer business to available in two litre Japanese firm Asahi in a deal FILO recyclable containers. A new which values the division at Hastings, 01424 420212. vegan range of bottle £250 million. filobrewing.co.uk conditioned beers has also The deal - which also involves Nothing new to report, FILO’s been introduced to a strategic alliance between regular beers remain popular complement the existing London-based Fuller’s and in pubs in Sussex and Kent. range. Asahi - was announced in a BLO Bill Turner Spring seasonal beers are statement to the stock FIREBIRD Gold Bunny (4%), a pale ale market on Friday 25th with equinox hops, the award January. Horsham, 01403 823180 firebirdbrewing.com winning Ebony Mild (3.5%) The sale includes Fuller’s and Wah Wah IPA (5%), a other drinks operations, November and December were very busy and the New hoppy IPA. Cornish Orchards, Dark Star BLO Jim Waterston Brewing and Nectar Imports. Year has started well. Work Ethic the New England IPA is GOOD THINGS DOWNLANDS now available in 440ml cans West Hoathly Small Dole, 01273 495596. as well as keg. Festive 51 (the goodthingsbrewing.co.uk downlandsbrewery.com tribute to King and Barnes BLO tbc A single hopped variant of Festive), has done so well on the ever popular Best has draft that it is launching in GOODWOOD been brewed and will be the 500ml bottle. Pulborough first cask special to be The bar and shop continue to BLO tbc released in 2019. be busy. The shop has BLO Peter Mitchell undergone a refurbishment GREYHOUND and we now have a ten tap, Smock Alley, West ENGINEER tap wall, for dispensing take Chiltington, 01798 815822 High Hurstwood, 07841 home cask and craft keg beer greyhoundbrewery.co.uk 669096 into growlers. The bar area is f:greyhound brewery theengineerbrewery.co.uk available for private hire on t:@greyhoundbrew [email protected] Saturday evenings. Just before Christmas The Hurstwood continues to The new website is constantly Greyhound had its final mini offer one of Engineer’s beers updated with news and beer beer festival of the year (The on a rotating basis and in information. Big Christmas Jumper!) addition holds a ‘Beer in the BLO John Goodsell which was very well attended. Pub’ night on the first The team would like to thank Monday of the month with FRANKLINS everyone who supported the two of their beers usually on Ringmer, 01273 814447. event. The next event is on tap. Further to one of The franklinsbrewery.co.uk Good Friday (19th April) Engineer’s beers featuring The brewers are working hard which is another open day regularly, The Cooper’s Arms on recipe development and and Big Hat day for Easter in Crowborough will be will be releasing monthly Bonnets. As well as holding Tap Takeover events seasonal beers in cask and Greyhound beer there will be on the last Saturday of each keg. a great selection of guest ales month with four beers BLO Mac McCutcheon and ciders too.

2222 SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: SpringSpring 20192019

Bru News

In November they introduced HAMMERPOT have become vacant with their first beer/chocolate Poling, nr Arundel, 01903 little or no interest from collaboration, Mountweazel 883338 potential tenants. Harvey’s Stout (7.5%) combined with hammerpot-brewery.co.uk has adjusted to current chocolate by MooCoco of BLO Rob Gowland conditions, seeking solutions Storrington. that will assist with their BLO Roger Kille HAND BREW continued success. Brighton, 07508 814541 January saw the end of an era GRIBBLE handbrewpub.com with Frank Taylor and John The Gribble Inn, Oving, nr The end of December saw the Porteous retire from the Chichester, 01243 786893 completion of the brewery Royal Oak in Tabard Street, gribbleinn.co.uk upgrade and expansion London, after holding the Sales of Santa’s Sack, both works at the Hand in Hand tenancy for twenty years. cask and bottles went well with the commissioning of a During this time, they have over the Christmas period. new chilling system to supply created a legend in their own Lazy Buzzard will now sub zero glycol to control the lifetime and established a replace Pheasant Plucker as a temperature in the brewery’s strong reputation for Harvey’s regular offering from now on. six tanks. This will allow beers in London, with plenty BLO Chris Wright pilsner, lagered properly at of visitors from Sussex. nought degrees for 5 weeks, GUN In all, 2018 saw their beers to be produced year round receiving no less than 24 Gun Hill, Heathfield, 01323 and initially only sold in the awards at international and 700200 Hand and the Black Dove in national competitions, [email protected] Kemptown. including six Gold Medals. The brewery remains very The newest beer release in Their Low Alcohol Old Ale busy with all of its beers January was an ESB, Yeah has been featured in the much in demand. To help Boiii (5.4%), brewed using Independent’s ten best keep pace with sales, October Mount Hood hops from the alcohol-free beers. saw two new assistant brewer’s family hop farm near At the time of writing, the brewers join the team. This Whistler, Canada. It was ever popular Old Ale remains will allow the former Beachy brewed by the brewer’s widely available with Kiss to Head brewery kit to be used brother who runs the farm come in February and Porter more frequently to brew while on an annual visit. in March. specials - the first that will be BLO Peter Mitchell Work to enhance the visitor made available from the new experience at the brewery year will be Amber IPA HARVEY’S continues. (6.0%); the multi award Lewes, 01273 480209. BLO Ian Hodge winning Imperial Whisky harveys.org.uk Stout (7.4%) has also been An extremely busy festive HEATHEN brewed again and is available period included brewing on Haywards Heath, 07825 in cans via the brewery Christmas Eve. They continue 429428 website. to adapt to the changing heathenbrewers.co.uk After extensive test brewing, nature of the industry. Seven 2019 is already shaping up to a new beer, Numb Angel pubs are now under be an exciting year for the Lager (4.0%)-has been management and others will brewery as they prefect a released and is now available follow. While some traditional selection of Sour and Brett from the brewery both in keg tenancies have continued (wild yeast) beers, probably and cans. The beer is proving under their resourceful due for release in 2020. Their very popular indeed and can operators and retained the beers will be found most already be found in several public support that makes regularly at the Lockhart outlets on a permanent basis. the business viable, others Tavern, Haywards Heath and BLO Steve Obey

24 SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: SpringSpring 20192019

Bru News for takeaway purchases the a good range of 5 litre mini increasing demand for Grape & Grain wine kegs for takeaway beer, over Kissingate bottled beers. Ten merchant/deli. Christmas these sold very different varieties are BLO Paul Free well, so expect many more available direct from the take home beers from the brewery shop and just HEPWORTH taproom. recently from a few selected Pulborough, 01403 269696 BLO Jamie Cooper outlets. Cask beer production hepworthbrewery.co.uk has increased too with the BLO tbc HURST stronger double mashed Hurstpierpoint HIGH WEALD beers such as Lazy 10 Pale Since taking over the and (10%) East Grinstead, 07836 291430 Murder of Crows business late 2017, former seen more often at beer [email protected] head brewer Duncan and his festivals and served from the There is not much new to wife Fleur have brought the pump in free houses. report although things at original core Hurst range Re-brews such as High Weald have been busy Nooksack back to the market in both (5.0%), with the regular beers. For APA Mandarina Red cask and bottle. IPA (4.8%), Chocolate & the winter, much Charcoal Exciting plans for 2019 Vanilla Oatmeal Stout (4.8%) Burner has gone out with include new recipes currently and (4.5%) some distributed as far away Old Tale Porter under development and a have all been received well. as Glasgow. The main effort further expansion of the Core beers continue to has been work on the new delivery area across the dominate the brewing ‘Engine Room’ brewery tap whole of Sussex. schedule. Kissingate’s quirky and bar in East Grinstead and BLO Steve Floor taproom continues to be a this is moving slowly forward. popular destination for the It is hoped to be open during KILN local community and those February but a firm date is Burgess Hill, 07800 556729 from further afield. not set at the time of going to thekilnbrewery.co.uk Kissingate’s Spring Festival press, please check the Kiln are producing cask beers, will be held on Saturday 4th Facebook page for news. but are no longer sticking to May from 11am to 9pm, no BLO Jonathan Samways their core range. They hope tickets required. Details of all to have SIPA (4%) available at events can be found on the HOLLER the Sussex Branches Beer & brewery website ‘Events’ Brighton, 01273 894563 Cider Festival. Their beer page. hollerboysbrewery.co.uk range is available on Eebria. BLO Roy Bray Holler now has a taproom BLO Paul Free attached to the new brewery which is open normal pub KISSINGATE LAINE The North Laine, Brighton, hours. Lower Beeding, 01403 01273 683666. There will be several new 891335. drinkinbrighton.co.uk/north- beers coming out over the kissingate.co.uk laine next three months. A new Kissingate’s Christmas small batch range called the Festival was very well BLO Billy Tipping Guinea Pig Series has been attended despite some very LANGHAM developed, in both cask and wet and cold weather on the Lodsworth, Petworth, 01798 keg. The new seasonal Red day. There were 14 beers 860861. Rye Ale, is a traditional ale available on the day including langhambrewery.co.uk with UK hops. A collaboration an excellent guest beer from The brewery is pleased with beer with Unbarred Brewery Arbor Brewery Why Kick a the recently installed new was a cloudy and fruity beer Moo Cow (5.5%). The 20BBL Conical FV, but is sad using acidulated malts for a brewery team are working to say goodbye to the flat sharp edge. They now stock hard to keep up with ever bottomed fermenter. This will

2626 SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: SpringSpring 20192019

Bru News mean more even hoppier brewing company. We are still MISSING LINK brews, and soon a venture searching for a site for the West Hoathly into canning. By popular new brewery. missinglinkbrewing.com demand the award winning BLO Tom Priestley BLO tbc unfined Saison will be LONG MAN OLD TREE available from 1st March for a Litlington, 01323 871850 / Brighton, 07413 064346 limited period. The brewery 07976 777992. Old Tree continue to brew raised £2,409 towards the longmanbrewery.com their low alcohol kombucha, South Downs National Park’s The new brewery shop and kefir and kvass from ‘Mend our Way Initiative’ from tasting room opened in rosemary, apples, green tea, its Live@Langhams Music December and is proving very rosehip, beet and turmeric. In and Beer Gigs and sales of popular. The plans for 2019 they want to create South Downs Bottled Best brewery tours and tastings meaningful paid jobs in the Bitter. The next Live@ are on course to start this field of ecological restoration Langhams is on 20th April, spring. The newest Small by brewing to support this 7-11pm, live music, fish and Batch beer, Table Beer work and practicing chips and a wide selection of (2.5%), a session pale brewed community land regeneration ale. with oatmeal and dry hopped (with brewery compost, BLO Pete Luff with Citra and Amarillo hops edible hedgerows and Drink LISTER’S for an ABV defying its flavour Forest Gardens). They have Ford, 07775 853412 and aroma profile, was big plans to start writing up Lister’s continues with its launched in January to a all their experience in five popular core range of beers. great reception. Later this years of botanical brewing to As well as its distribution year four new cask beers are: create a fermentation and depot in Southport they a Session NEIPA, Single Hop forest gardening Wikipedia to continue to supply many Pale, New World IPA, and a be the nucleus to grow Old premises up and down the Bavarian style Märzen. Tree into a global, but a country. Lister’s is also now BLO Scott O’Rourke decentralised, seasonal and supplying beer to Butcombe LOST & FOUND small batch networked nano- and Titanic Breweries and brewery. BLO tbc continues to grow with BLO Andrew Coleman LOST PIER exciting plans for expansion PIN UP in the coming year. BLO tbc Southwick, 01273 411127 BLO Glenn Johnson LOUD SHIRT BEER pinupbrewingco.com LITTLE MONSTER Brighton, 07901 856436 The brewery goes from Tillington, Petworth loudshirtbeer.co.uk; strength to strength and had They are now one year old f, t, i: @loudshirtbeer a very successful Christmas and had a great 2018 with Their latest beers are and New Year season. eight collaborations. The Hypnosis Pale and BLO Adrian Towler brand has been built and Mesmerise Rye in cask, plus a POLARITY many people are starting to couple of keg beers. Worthing, 07872 105300 take interest in what is being They now have a full premises polaritybrewing.co.uk done; the brewery offers licence, the tap room will be Polarity are now thanks for all the support. open every Saturday (March concentrating on small batch Contract brewing should to October) from 4pm to brews, using the highest start at the end of January 11pm and brewery tours and quality ingredients to create and then a launch of two new tastings can be organised. their delicious beers, so look beers in March. BLO Keith Newell out for some exclusive beers Collaborations will carry on, in 2019. the first one is with Southsea BLO Gemma Mackay

2828 SussexSussex Drinker:Drinker: SpringSpring 20192019 Bru News

RECTORY beer this year which involves brewed with the same malt Streat, 01273 890570 using their mersault barrels, bill, but each using a different BLO Paul Free news on this next time. The hop during the boil, steep and brewery bar continues to be fermentation. Over the RIVERSIDE ever popular, even during the weekend of 18th/19th Upper Beeding, 01903 winter months. The Imperial January all three casks were 898030 Stout matured in malt whisky tapped at the same time so riversidebreweryltd.co.uk barrels has sold very well, that customers could After a major scare with the with only a few left of the compare each blend. company building our original 900. BLO Peter Mitchell canning machine, we are BLO Peter Harrison back on track and hope to be WELTONS canning beers from mid TOP NOTCH Horsham, 01403 242901. February. Haywards Heath, 07963 weltonsbeer.co.uk 2018 saw a very successful 829368 Weltons are busy with new collaboration with the team topnotchbrewing.co.uk ideas. Look out for a aiming to save the control Top Notch is not currently traditional copper/brown IPA tower from RAF Tangmere, brewing due to a personal at 3.2%. Red Rose Mild (4.9%) see www.facebook.com/ health issue. It hopes to be will be back along with Six tangmeretower/. back later in the year with Nations IPA (4.0%) and the For 2019 we will be some new exciting beers and full range of rugby themed collaborating with Care for some old favourites. beers. Veterans, www. BLO Keith Newell Regular pubs supplied careforveterans.org.uk, and include the White Horse at will be producing a craft lager TWO TRIBES Maplehurst, the Holbrook yet to be named, suggestions Horsham, 01403 272102 Club and the Anchor in welcome. twotribesbrewing.com, Horsham, Anchored micro BLO Ian Bolt [email protected] pub in Worthing and the Old BLO tbc Star Ale & Cider House in ROTHER VALLEY Shoreham. Northiam, 01797 252922 / UNBARRED Weltons beers are selling 07798 877551. Hove, 07850 070471 further afield at the Market rothervalleybrewery.co.uk unbarredbrewery.com, Porter and the Rake at [email protected] [email protected] Borough, by London Bridge. Sales of Blues, both cask and BLO tbc Bottled beers are also selling bottle are already higher than well, Old Harry and last winter and look set to VINE Churchillian in particular. continue until spring. Copper Tarring, 01903 201121 First Friday of the month is Ale is being re-branded to New beers are arriving in drinking night at the brewery Copper Owl in 2019, with the 2019, with the range changing where bottles of Dr French’s local Richard Stone regularly; expect small Old Remedy are often sold. producing a classic new batches of tasty brews. BLO Nigel Bullen pump-clip. BLO Gemma Mackay BLO Dawn Lincoln (Brewery at the) THREE LEGS WATCHMAKER’S ARMS Brede, 07939 997622 Hove, 01273776307 thethreelegs.co.uk The brewery held a US hop [email protected] showcase in January It is hoped to start an ever featuring Chinook, Citra and evolving farmhouse style Cascade, three session pales

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 29 History and Heritage

Time for an Amendment To err is to be human but it is important to correct even small factual mistakes before they attain the status of asserted truths. Two such apparent inaccuracies regarding dates appear in the 2019 Good Beer Guide in relation to West Sussex. The more perplexing of the two as to the reason for its origin is in the brewery section on p. 814. It is the statement that the 5-barrel plant at the Gribble Inn brewpub in Oving, near Chichester was established in 1980. The brewery in the inn yard was actually opened in autumn 1991 at the suggestion of then The second error regarding a date in this leaseholders Hall & Woodhouse. Certainly year’s guide appears on p. 469 in the entry there was a previous Gribble Brewery but on the Dolphin & Anchor, Chichester. It is this commenced in the summer of 1987 and the statement that the once separate hotels seemingly at Madam Green Farm, home of - the Dolphin and the Anchor – were Gribble Inn owner Peter Hague. This first combined in 1910. I am reliably informed Oving venture supplied Gribble beers to the that a significant section of the Chichester inn for the approximate two years of its Local History Society continue to assert the operation. The ‘Gribble Ale’ that had accuracy of this claim and it is repeated in a formerly been sold over the counter was recent Heritage Trail pamphlet produced by evidently brewed elsewhere for the inn. the Chichester Society on the city’s That Peter Hague is said to have converted hostelries. The original source appears to Rose Gribble’s cottage into an inn in 1980 be no less an authority than the late Francis perhaps explains the choice of year for the Steer, former archivist to the Dean & mix-up but not why it occurred in the first Chapter of Chichester Cathedral and to the place. A clue lies in the Good Beer Guide. Duke of Norfolk. The 1910 date appears in From 1995-2002 its brewery section no his 1961 publication on the Dolphin & longer provided a date for the Anchor Hotel in the Chichester Papers commencement of the Gribble Brewery, but series, yet the footnote for the entry is with the re-inclusion of this information unhelpful on the matter and a 1936 from the 2003 edition onwards the pamphlet on the hotel published by its then confusions begin to manifest themselves owners Trust Houses Ltd. is silent on any until the first citing of the year 1980 in the date for the merger. 2011 edition - a claim repeated ever since. The evidence regarding the periods of 1987- That the 1910 claim is more than just 89 and 1991 onwards is nonetheless doubtful should be evident from an advert incontrovertible, complied from newspaper (pictured right) in Kelly’s Sussex Directory reports of the time plus pub guides and of 1918 for the still singular-titled Dolphin independently researched books on Hotel. It is possible that Steer’s date of 1910 brewing. No reference to a Gribble Brewery was a typo for an intended 1918, for this is can be traced prior to 1987. Yet perhaps the the alterative year for the merger of the two best arbiters are the earlier editions of the hotels as argued by other members of the Good Beer Guide itself, then more accurate local history society. We should, however, on the matter (e.g. 1989, p. 44; 1993, p. 491). be cautious because 1918 might have been Hopefully, future editions can once again be the year when the two hotels merely came so. under the same ownership. An entry of 17

3030 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 History and Heritage

May 1919 in the licensing register records investment and, although it is completely the takeover of the Dolphin by Trust Houses understandable that the error arose from Ltd., an earlier scion of which had acquired nothing more than the reassertion of the Anchor by April 1907. Nonetheless, the received local wisdom, it would be even two hotels were still issued with separate wiser not to repeat in future editions what licenses in 1921, although by now held by appears to be information with little, if any, the same manager. The phrase “Dolphin & basis in fact. If any reader can direct me to Anchor” alongside “altered to one licence” any further documentary evidence in does not appear in the licensing register regard to the above debate, I’d be most until 4 February 1922, this also being the grateful. first year in which Kelly’s Sussex Directory In the meantime - in what is nothing more lists the hotel as combined. than a shameless plug for my last book - That J D Wetherspoon, current owners of they can find more details about the history the Dolphin & Anchor, repeat the date of of the Dolphin & Anchor in Chichester Pubs 1910 in their publicity material and even on (2017, Amberley Publications of Stroud). It the pub menus means that they are unlikely is stocked at the Chichester branch of to revise their opinion. CAMRA has no such Waterstones bookshop, which fittingly occupies a section of the original Dolphin Hotel. David Muggleton

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 31 Pressing News PRESSING NEWS

Wassail again we search for the best pubs for cider. While you are scouting your branch pub of the year or you know of a pub selling great real cider in good condition encourage your branch to consider it for the 2019 competition. Nominations for Branch Cider Pub of the Year need to be submitted to me by branches by 12th March so they can tell me! Don’t forget that there will be a selection of Sussex and Surrey ciders and perries at the Sussex Branches Beer and Cider Festival at the Racecourse, Brighton 22-23rd March 2019. Credit: David Belton Paul Sanders Regional Cider Coordinator And I missed it, but many at JB did not. My spies tell me that the Wassail in Maplehurst, which started at the White Horse, resulted in the pub being full on the return. I hope you all enjoyed the evening, and thank you for both supporting a cider maker and a local pub. If you are going to run a Wassail next January, and would like more people to attend please let me know by August so I An ever changing range can hit our publication schedule. of five cask conditioned Five Bells ales that always includes Smock Alley Co-ordinator ramblings one mild, one session West Chiltington Rebranding, yes it happens in the cider bitter, two best bitters world. Over the last few months and one strong bitter. West Sussex RH20 2QX Wobblegate have been rebranding their Plus one changing craft products to provide separate identities for keg beer, Hacker Pschorr 01798 812143 the cider / packaged products and their genuine Munich lager, Arun & Adur fruit juice products. You will now find their and Lilleys Gladiator CAMRA Country cider on gravity. cider branded as Wobblypress, and their Pub of the Year packaged products (bottles and cans) as Homemade traditional Eden. food, plus 5 en suite 2016 bedrooms. Seasonal Reminder All of this in a very 2017 The Cider pub of the year (CPoty) traditional pub! 2018 competition is now in its 15th year, and www.thefivebellsinn.com

32 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 Beer Writer of the Year 2018

Local Beer Writer Wins Top Award pub writing, and also to see the growing Brighton-based media interest in the subject.” beer writer, “Everyone who received an award or a broadcaster and commendation should be extremely proud; founder of Brighton they really are the cream of British beer & Hove Beer Week, writing in 2018 and we wish them all success Emma Inch, has in their future career communicating about been named Beer beer and pubs.” Writer of the Year 2018 at the British Tierney-Jones was joined on the judging Guild of Beer panel by Amy Bryant, food editor at The Writers’ annual Telegraph; James Cuthbertson, MD of Dark awards ceremony, staged in London in Star Brewery and founder of the Beer & December. Cider Marketing Awards; Stu McKinlay, co- founder of Yeastie Boys; Jenn Merrick, Beer Writer of the Year is the top award in founder of Earth Station Brewery; Mark the Guild’s annual competition for writing Taylor, Bristol-based food and drink writer, about beer and pubs, which this year and Zoe Wood, retail correspondent at The received more than 140 entries across nine Guardian. categories. Inch also won two category awards – National Media and Online The Guild’s Brewer of the Year title, Communication – on her way to the top presented at the same time as those for prize. writing, was this year shared for the first time by two candidates who drew level in a Inch is the creator and presenter of poll of Guild members: John Keeling, Fermentation Beer & Brewing Radio, which recently retired from Fuller’s, and Jaega has been broadcast monthly on Brighton’s Wise, head brewer at Wild Card Brewery. Radio Reverb for the past three years. She has written for a number of national and The winners were announced at the Guild’s international publications, judges regularly annual dinner held at the Chelsea Harbour at beer competitions and this summer Hotel. Guests enjoyed a four-course dinner, established the first Brighton & Hove Beer with each dish accompanied by a specially Week. selected beer: Chalky’s Bite from Sharp’s; Fourpure’s Oatmeal Stout; Hopopolata Inch said, “I feel incredibly honoured to from Marble Brewery; Hogs Back Brewery’s receive this award - it was totally OTT and Dark Island Reserve from Orkney unexpected! The beer scene is thriving Brewery. Beers from the Award’s across the UK in general, and in this region sponsoring brewers – Adnams, Fuller’s, in particular. I’m looking forward to writing Greene King, Heineken and St Austell about - and tasting, of course – lots more Brewery - were enjoyed before and after wonderful beer over the coming year!” dinner. Adrian Tierney-Jones, chair of judges this Heineken Award for Best Beer year after taking the Beer Writer of the Year Communicator - Online Winner: Emma title in 2017, said, “All the judges found it Inch exceptionally hard to choose the winners Greene King Award for Best Beer Writer - and runners up from the very strong field of National Media Winner: Emma Inch entries received this year. As someone who The Michael Jackson Gold Tankard for has written about beer for 20 years, it is Beer Writer of the Year 2018 Emma Inch heartening to see the impressive levels of knowledge, energy and passion in beer and

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 33 Branch Awards

South East Sussex Branch Awards South East Sussex Branch Brewery and Pub Awards for 2018 were completed by three further pub awards toward the end of the year. At the end of October, another presentation as Country Pub of the Year was made to the Tiger Inn at East Dean; the pub has won this award for the third consecutive year. With an attractive range of six real ales on offer, including several LocAles, and real cider too, it has one of the best ranges of the rural pubs in the branch area and outdoes a good number of urban pubs too. The picture above shows chief steward Karen accepting the award from Peter the The picture below shows Branch Chair Branch Chair, to his left is CAMRA member Peter Adams presenting the certificate to and Club Vice Chair Martyn and next to him pub manager Rebecca Vasey at the end of is Sussex Area Organiser Peter, holding the October. beer. The Tower in St Leonards had been the Branch Pub of the Year in 2015, 2016 and 2017, additionally making it to Sussex Pub of the Year in 2015. It was runner up in 2018 by the slimmest of margins, as it was recognised by the Branch as a welcoming pub continuing to offer an excellent standard of beer and cider at competitive prices. The presentation was made just before Christmas in a packed bar, the picture below shows the Branch Chair handing over the award to licensee Louisa.

It had been intended that a senior CAMRA person would present the Albatross Club in Bexhill with its certificate as runner up in the National Club of the Year competition for the previous year at the same time as the presentation of our Branch award for this year, but due to illness this did not happen. So belatedly another date was fixed and in mid November the Branch Chair made the presentation with the Area Organiser in attendance.

34 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 Branch Awards

Kissingate wins the Bev Robbins Shield (Twice!) Gary Lucas from Kissingate was invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Brighton & South Downs branch in November to receive one shield and two certificates! Bev Robbins first became known to most of the local CAMRA members with his involvement with the Eagle, Gloucester Road, Brighton, and then in 1986 Bev and Brenda took over The Hand in Hand, which was voted Brighton & South Downs CAMRA Branch ‘Pub of The Year’ in 1995. deferred, therefore Gary received a He was a longstanding member of CAMRA, certificate for 2017 (Murder of Crows) and and he was also the longest-serving one for 2018 (Blue Murder). chairman of the Sussex Society of Licensed The pictures show the presentations being Victuallers, spending about seven years at made by Paul Free, Secretary of the the helm, fighting to preserve the Brighton & South Downs branch. traditional pubs in the county. To commemorate his services to Real Ale, the Brighton & South Downs branch of CAMRA decided in 2007 to award a Trophy to the Sussex Brewery that scores the most votes for a single beer in the competition named after him at Sussex Beer & Cider Festival.

16th Anniversary of The Jolly Tanners Beer Fest Friday 3rd May – Monday 6th May Music Friday, Saturday Night & Sunday Afternoon Amazing FOOD Served all weekend 25 Beers & Ciders from £4.00 Kissingate managed to win the award in The Jolly Tanners, Handcross Road, RH17 6EF both 2017 & 2018, but due to difficulties in arranging the presentation it had to be 01444 400 335

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 35 Branch Trips

North Sussex Branch on Tour (Again) amongst others. In the last few years, there has been an We spent just over an hour here, before increase in the number of micropubs walking around the corner to catch a bus opening throughout the country. The first for the short journey to Crayford, where we one opened in 2005, which was the were to visit Butchers Arms in Herne, Kent. Since then the Penny that county has seen a steady growth in the Farthing (3A number of these establishments and they Waterside). seem to be performing well. This Within the North Sussex Branch, there is micropub had currently just one, the Open Arms in East opened in Grinstead, although that town will have 2014 in a gained a second one by the time you’re former reading this. Credit Andy Wheeler bicycle shop; it would have been an even shorter distance It had been suggested several months ago, to the pub, had our tour guide (Taffy) that the North Sussex Branch could selected a bus stop closer to the pub. organise a trip to visit some micropubs in Anyway, after much muttering about the North-West Kent and by purchasing a loss of valuable drinking time, we settled travelcard, it could include both train and into what is obviously a very popular and bus travel. As your scribe originates from much-appreciated establishment. This isn’t Dartford, I suggested that it would be a surprising, as it’s a bit of an oasis for real ale good starting point for a tour, as there are drinkers in the area. Up to six ales are several micropubs within a short distance of available in this friendly and well-run pub, the town. together with a few ciders. We found On the second Saturday in November, a ourselves chatting to a couple on the next small group arrived in Dartford and met up table, who hailed from Worthing (Hello if in the Flying Boat, which is a Wetherpoons you’re reading this!). establishment. All too soon, it was time to move on to our We spent an hour in here, sampling a couple third micropub of the day, so we caught a of beers from Whitstable Brewers, before bus and after the customary hike from the walking the short distance to our first port bus stop, we found ourselves in Barnehurst, of call, the which is where I spent the first six years of Dartford Jug my life. Until April 2018, the only pub here (8 Market had been the Red Barn, itself an interesting Street). building dating from 1936 and originally a Formerly a Toby House. It has a bit of history, as it was restaurant, here that the British Trad Jazz revival this had started in the 1940s. In my formative years, reopened as a it was also of interest to me as a source of micropub in income, as I recall being aged around four early 2018, it’s quite spacious and has years old, sneaking round the back with one plenty of seating. There was an interesting of my siblings to nick empty lemonade selection of thirteen cask ales to choose bottles, to take to the off-licence across the from. The local ones were from Goachers road to claim back the deposits. I do and the Kent Brewery, those from further remember nearly getting caught once, with afield, included brews from Ainsty, Bad the landlord bellowing at us from an Seed, Great Heck, Kettlesmith and Tempest, upstairs window.

36 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 Branch Trips

Anyway, I road to a bus digress, we stop, to travel were here to up to Welling visit the Bird for our last & Barrel (100 stop. This was Barnehurst the Door Road), which Hinge (11 is also the Welling High Bexley Street), the first micropub to open in Credit Alan Bartlett Brewery Tap. Greater London in 2013, in a former A compact establishment, offering up to electrical wholesale shop. There are just the three Bexley ales, together with a guest three ales here, all well-kept and one from beer. From what I recall, it might have been Squawk Brewery was a bit of a rarity. a dry cleaners at one time, but prior to Another friendly pub, but by this time, the conversion was a tropical fish shop. My first pub crawl was approaching the nine-hour home was just two doors away, but is now a mark, so we reluctantly decided to call it a kebab shop. We spent an hour or so in the day and so headed back to the station, to pub, before departing to catch a train to catch a train back into London to get home. Bexleyheath, which is only a couple of It was a good day out and we look forward minutes up the line. On leaving the station, to organising another trip next year to there was a bit of confusion while walking some different pubs. Thanks go to Thomas down the road, as Tour Guide Taffy who was Black for providing the photos. following us wanted to know where we Peter Spooner were going. We told him we were going to the pub, which is when he told us we were going in the wrong direction. After more muttering about the further loss of valuable drinking time, we eventually arrived at our fourth micropub, the Kentish Belle Ale House & Gin Palace (8 Credit Nicholas Hair Pickford Lane), another recent opening and again quite spacious with plenty of seating. We got stuck in here due to the torrential rain, but it did give us a chance to sample some of the nine ales available, just two of which came from Kent breweries, the rest from small brewers from around the country. There are also some ciders on offer, plus keg, bottled and canned products. After a much longer than planned visit, the rain had eased off and we headed down the

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 37 Branch Trips

Battle Organic Cider an award as a finalist at the National Fruit A small group of South East Sussex Branch Show Cider Competition 2018. At members was invited to Battle Organic Christmas they branched out to create a Cider’s premises which are located in the seasonal ‘MerryToffee Apple’ mulled’ cider, next parish, the small village of Mountfield. and the visiting branch members had a We were treated to a variety of tastings and sample of this excellent winter warmer at had an interesting talk about their story to 6.3% ABV. date and the different ciders made and the The brothers commented that many people way they are blended. The cider makers are are used to commercial ciders, which can two brothers, Matt and Jeremy Eldridge, contain as little as 35% apple juice, so we with over a decade of experience of using find that when they taste 100% juice traditional methods. They take local products they are amazed at the organically-grown apples to press, leaving complexity and depth of flavour, even those the pressed juice to ferment naturally, in who are initially sceptical. They are now French oak wine barrels. Nothing is added, selling in local pubs, clubs, the nearby there are no artificial flavourings, agents, Battle Brewery Bar, several restaurants, sweeteners nor yeast. Instead, the cider is village shops, garden centres and ‘wild yeast’ fermented, then racked and delicatessens throughout the area. 2018’s returned to the barrel to mature before production target was 6000 litres, this year blending to create the best flavour. they aim for 16000 litres, and increasing The Eldridge’s started making cider in from that Battle in September 2016 with a very small in future. batch (100 litres) created for the local The medieval fayre, but they soon realised that pictures the high quality of the fruit plus the show traditional approach to production was (left) the more popular than expected, and the whole group batch was sold out within a few hours. They with quickly scaled up the idea, in 2017 they brothers purchased two wine barrels, and diversified Matt on the far left and Jeremy far right and to create ‘Early Press’ cider. This makes (below) tasting in progress with Branch quick work of the first apples of the season, Cider Rep, Phil Packham, in mid swig. which are typically the Discoveries and Peter Adams Grenadiers. They press in August, and the South East Sussex Branch fermentation progresses faster than autumn ciders as the weather is still warmer, meaning the cider is ready to drink as early as October; because the sugar levels in the fruit are lower, it has less alcohol. In 2017 they started in earnest, producing 1100 litres, which sold out in three months, and since then they have grown once more, with 5000 litres produced in 2018, moving premises, acquired more barrels and bottling for the first time. Their ‘Elstar’ cider, which uses up to nine different mid to late season varieties of apple and ferments slowly over the winter was nominated for

38 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 Branch Trips

Zythos Beer Festival in Belgium Four of us travelled by car, Dover- The beauty of Leuven is that it’s a brewing Dunkerque, and stayed at the Ibis Centrum. town. OK, it’s Stella Artois, but that’s not the Adrian Towler worst beer in the world and actually there Brighton & South Downs Branch was no Stella on offer at the Festival. Not sure what that means but I would guess a Photo: lot of Stella employees and related Not a suppliers were there, drinking and enjoying church the amazing choice. but Leuven’s First thing to point out: your glass is small – OTT a tiny Wellington of 10 cl – yes, about 1/6 of Town a pint! How can you enjoy a beer festival like Hall, that? The 88 stands are all representing with no different breweries and some of the beers less than are being served from bottles. Actually you 236 could replicate this by a few friends going statues to a Belgian beer bar in the UK and just on it! buying a bottle to share between four or five. Then have a few more and, after a pleasant evening making notes... why go to Leuven? Well it really is a great experience – even though it’s in a massive sports hall on the edge of town. The choice is mindblowing (over 500 beers) and you can chat, in English, to loads of people from different countries and to brewers behind the bars. The 72 page programme, in English, has touches of Belgian humour with tasting notes like ”Taste: Sweet Jesus” and We are a country pub The Sussex Oak “Aftertaste: Like your ex (bitter)”. situated deep in the heart of Sussex. Here you will find a 2 Church Street Another point is this: you can leave after a large selection of local and few hours not being rat-arsed (sorry, did I national ales on 8 hand Warnham just say rat-arsed? I meant to say ’a bit pumps. Nr Horsham drunk’). Yes, sober enough to return to We have an extensive food Leuven and relax in a bar or cafe in town, menu prepared from fresh RH12 3QW local ingredients. enjoying Belgian food, before falling into a Fresh local food served deep sleep. Also, if you never go anywhere, lunch and dinner how can you appreciate returning home? Monday to Sunday. If you get the chance, the 2019 one is April In the CAMRA 27 & 28 (Sat–Sun). A tip: the clean and 2018 Good Beer Guide simple Ibis Budget Hotel is next to Leuven and CAMRA Good Pub station, and that is where the free shuttle Food Guide Large Garden and field. buses run from. Celebrating 16 years in the Good Beer Guide Leuven is lovely; give it a go. Come and celebrate Great Beer in front of our roaring log fire 01403 265028 The-Sussex-Oak-at-Warnham

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 39 LocAle

LocAle Pubs in Sussex Quench Bar & Kitchen, Burgess Shepherd & Dog, Fulking CAMRA LocAle is an Hill New Inn, Hadlow Down accreditation scheme to promote George at Burpham, Burpham George Hotel, Hailsham pubs that sell locally-brewed real Squire & Horse, Bury Grenadier Hotel, Hailsham ale. White Hart, Buxted King’s Head, Hailsham Full details can be found at Black Horse Inn, Byworth Anglesey Arms, Halnaker sussex.camra.org.uk/locale. Half Moon Inn, Cade Street Red Lion, Handcross Below is a list of all of the 227 Owl, Camber Royal Oak, Handcross pubs in Sussex which are LocAle Red Lion, Chelwood Gate Anchor Inn, Hartfield accredited. Chichester Inn, Chichester Albion, Hastings Dolphin & Anchor, Chichester Crown, Hastings Sir Roger Tichborne, Alfold Bars Rainbow, Chichester Dolphin, Hastings Olde Smugglers Inn, Alfriston Six Bells, Chiddingly First In Last Out, Hastings Bridge Inn, Amberley Coach & Horses, Compton Jenny Lind, Hastings Sportsman, Amberley Hare & Hounds, Cowfold White Rock Hotel, Hastings Lamb, Angmering Brewery Shades, Crawley Duke of Cumberland, Henley Spotted Cow, Angmering Frogshole Farm, Crawley Hurstwood, High Hurstwood Worthing Rugby Club, Boar’s Head Inn, Crowborough Anchor Hotel, Horsham Angmering Bricklayers Arms, Crowborough Anchor Tap, Horsham Arundel Brewery Shop, Arundel Cooper’s Arms, Crowborough Beer Essentials, Horsham King’s Arms, Arundel Wheatsheaf, Crowborough Kings Arms, Horsham Maypole, Ashurstwood Plough Inn, Crowhurst Lynd Cross, Horsham Royal Oak, Barcombe Coach & Horses, Danehill Malt Shovel, Horsham Queens Head, Barns Green Crown Inn, Dial Post Piries Bar, Horsham Battle Brewery Bar, Battle George & Dragon, Dragons Green Cliftonville Inn, Hove Bull Inn, Battle Cricketers, Duncton Neptune Inn, Hove Squirrel, Battle George, Eartham Poacher, Hurstpierpoint Albatross Club (RAFA), Bexhill Horse & Groom, East Ashling Queen’s Head, Icklesham on Sea Star & Garter, East Dean Laughing Fish, Isfield Kings Head, Billingshurst Tiger Inn, East Dean Eight Bells, Jevington Blackboys Inn, Blackboys Open Arms, East Grinstead Owl, Kingsfold White Horse Inn, Bodle Street Ounce & Ivy Bush, East Grinstead Half Moon, Kirdford Green Sportsman, East Grinstead Lamb Inn, Lambs Green Hatter’s Inn, Bognor Regis King’s Head, East Hoathly New Sussex Hotel, Lancing Bolney Stage, Bolney Clockhouse Bar, East Preston Stanley Ale House, Lancing Eight Bells, Bolney Shore, East Wittering Roebuck Inn, Laughton Bull’s Head, Boreham Street Crown, Eastbourne Brewers Arms, Lewes White Swan, Bosham Dolphin, Eastbourne Dorset, Lewes Castle Inn Hotel, Bramber Eagle, Eastbourne Elephant & Castle, Lewes Three Legs Brewery Bar, Brede Hurst Arms, Eastbourne Gardener’s Arms, Lewes Admiral, Brighton Lamb Inn, Eastbourne John Harvey Tavern, Lewes Battle of Trafalgar, Brighton London & County, Eastbourne Lewes Constitutional Club, Lewes Colonnade Bar, Brighton Pilot, Eastbourne Rights of Man, Lewes Constant Service, Brighton Ship Inn, Eastbourne Snowdrop Inn, Lewes Evening Star, Brighton Victoria Hotel, Eastbourne Plough & Harrow, Litlington Greys, Brighton Wilkes’ Head, Eastergate Steam Packet, Littlehampton Hand in Hand, Brighton White Dog Inn, Ewhurst Green Plough, Lower Beeding Hanover, Brighton Swan Inn, Falmer White Horse, Maplehurst Haus on the Hill, Brighton Frog & Nightgown, Faygate Runt in Tun, Maynards Green Mitre Tavern, Brighton Old Barn, Felpham Swan, Midhurst Prince Albert, Brighton Henty Arms, Ferring Black Fox, Milland Pump House, Brighton Griffin Inn, Fletching Sussex Ox, Milton Street Reservoir, Brighton Brambletye Hotel, Forest Row Crown Inn, Newick Shortt’s Bar Brighton, Brighton Hop Yard Brewing Co, Forest Rising Sun, Nutbourne Victory Inn, Brighton Row Black Horse Inn, Nuthurst Broadbridge Heath Village Hare & Hounds, Framfield Gribble Inn, Oving Centre, Broadbridge Heath Abergavenny Arms Hotel, Frant Inglenook, Pagham

40 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 LocAle

Partridge, Partridge Green Barley Mow, Selmeston Half Moon, Warninglid Last Drop, Petworth Crab Pot, Selsey Five Bells, West Chiltington Stonemasons Inn, Petworth Seal, Selsey Queens Head, West Chiltington Royal Oak & Castle Inn, Pevensey Fox Eating & Drinking House, Cat, West Hoathly Half Moon Inn, Plumpton Sharpthorne Victoria, West Marden Dinkum, Polegate Bessemer Arms, Sheffield Park Stag’s Head, Westbourne Mile Oak Inn, Portslade Station New Inn, Westfield Anchor Inn, Ringmer Countryman, Shipley Heron, Westham Cock Inn, Ringmer Duke of Wellington, Shoreham- Three Crowns, Wisborough George, Robertsbridge by-Sea Green King’s Arms, Rotherfield Royal Sovereign, Shoreham-by- Dorset Arms, Withyham Olde Black Horse, Rottingdean Sea Cock Inn, Wivelsfield Green Queen Victoria, Rottingdean Gardener’s Arms, Sompting Alexandra, Worthing Chequers Inn, Rowhook Horns Lodge, South Chailey Anchored in Worthing, Worthing Kings Head, Rudgwick Hen & Chicken, Southwater Beach House Cafe & Bar, Plough & Attic Rooms, Rusper Horse & Groom, St. Leonards on Worthing Windmill, Rustington Sea Brooksteed Alehouse, Worthing Ship Inn, Rye St. Leonard, St. Leonards on Sea Corner House, Worthing Standard Inn, Rye Jolly Tanners, Staplefield Egremont, Worthing Waterworks, Rye Chequer Inn, Steyning Green Man Ale & Cider House, Ypres Castle Inn, Rye Norfolk Arms Hotel, Steyning Worthing Salehurst Halt, Salehurst Red Lion, Stone Cross Hare & Hounds, Worthing Sloop Inn, Scaynes Hill Hare & Hounds, Stoughton Parsonage Bar & Restaurant, Cinque Ports, Seaford Red Lion, Turners Hill Worthing Old Plough, Seaford Alma Arms, Uckfield Richard Cobden, Worthing Wellington Pub & Bed & Gallipot Inn, Upper Hartfield Maypole, Yapton Breakfast, Seaford Barley Mow, Walderton Queen’s Head, Sedlescombe Sussex Oak, Warnham

You Can Holler All You Like! their Brighton The Holler Boys have grown up – and are enterprise. not ‘Boys’ any more! So ‘Holler’ has a The toilets are sparkling new brewery in central Brighton experimental and the attached Taproom is open normal too. Pizzas pub hours (19 Elder Place, BN1 4GF). It’s as are available good as anything you’d come across in from a nearby Australia or the USA. Some may say £4.50 a take-away. pint is steep but it’s for everything – Excellent it is Holler: The brewery adjoins The including an and we think Taproom. 8.7% Baltic it might Porter (a appear in the next Good Beer Guide. Four ‘Guinea Pig’/ cask and four tasty keg beers on, a cider or experimental two, cans and bottles, what’s not to like and brew) the day you’re not going to get an indifferent pint I was there. direct from the brewery, are you? The And it’s £2.50 Brighton CAMRA Branch have their a half, so be Thursday Night Social there on 2nd May so Not the new Brighton tram, or warned. why not join them. an aviary… but Holler’s outside Clearly, to sell drinking area by night. Adrian Towler direct from Brighton & South Downs Branch the brewery at these pub prices is a big mark-up but good luck to them; they need to recoup the substantial investment in Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 41 Diary Dates

CAMRA EVENTS IN BOLD. For FREE inclusion in this column, contact the Editor; for PAID advertisements contact Neil Richards. Copy-by date and contact details on the contacts page. For up to date information on beer festivals and other beer and cider related events in Sussex, please visit the Sussex Branches website, sussex.camra.org.uk/festivals. 22-24 Feb The Tower, London Road, St 24-25 May Southwick Beer, Cider & Music Leonards on Sea, Beer and Cider Festival, Festival, see page 23. around 16 ales and eight real ciders, from 11am 24-26 May 2019 South East Sussex Branch each day, 01424 721773 Eastbourne Beer and Cider Festival by the 1-2 Mar 6th CAMRA Spring Equinox Sea, Western Lawns Eastbourne. 60 Ales plus Festival, Horsham Drill Hall, Horsham. Over 30 Ciders and Perrys. Details and tickets www. 50 real beers and a good selection of cider and eastbournebeerfestival.co.uk 01323 410611 perry. Tickets for the Friday 6-10pm session are 25 May Third Adur Valley Beer Walk. Just £6, Saturday 11:30-4.30pm session £7 and start at one of the two breweries, Riverside or Saturday 6:30-10pm £4. Your entry fee Adur, which will be open from noon to 6pm includes a souvenir glass and a free pint for then walk from one to the other, passing up to card-carrying CAMRA members. As well as seven local pubs. The No.2 bus to Steyning being able to purchase tickets in Horsham stops outside Riverside. Footpath info will be from Beer Essentials, the Malt Shovel and the on leaflets at breweries & pubs and Anchor Tap, they will also be available online at www.brightoncamra.org.uk nearer the time. www.northsussex.camra.org.uk/equinox. Online sales will be subject to a small booking 26 May Launch Night for the 26th Brighton & fee. For more info, including a beer list in due South Downs summer Ale Trail. From 7.30pm course, contact: [email protected], or at a pub to be announced; please note the date www.northsussex.camra.org.uk, or facebook @ and see next Sussex Drinker. Free buffet, northsussexcamrabranch, or twitter @ excellent beers, free Ale Trail Passports! camraequinox. 31 May - 2 Jun Glastonwick 2019, Church 8-10 Mar Dark Festival, Gardener’s Arms, Farm, Coombes (north of Shoreham). 75 Lewes. See page 23 for more details. mainly unusual real ales, farmhouse cider, perry, and kombucha. Live music all weekend Train to London Pubs – TTLP46: To 14 Mar (there is a quiet room for just conversation). the Croydon area of South London, to visit the Free shuttle bus from and to Shoreham, with a Cronx Brewery Tap, the Radius Arms Micropub daily journey from and to Brighton. Full details and various others via the Tramlink, including at www.cask-ale.co.uk/beerfestival.html possibly the Hope, Carshalton. To be included on mailing list contact Pete Brown, 31 May Train to London Pubs – TTLP47: An [email protected] investigation of the growing number of Big Smoke Brew Co pubs in the Southwest corner 29th CAMRA Sussex Branches 22-23 Mar of London, plus perhaps others in the Beer and Cider Festival. Brighton Racecourse, Twickenham and Kingston areas. To be Brighton. See page 3. included on mailing list contact Pete Brown, 29-31 Mar Bognor Beer Fest, the Gordon [email protected] Centre, Bognor Regis, PO21 1DW 14-16 Jun The Steam Packet, Littlehampton 18-22 Apr Easter Beer Festival, Crown, Beer and Sausage Festival. 20+ ales, craft Eastbourne. See page 19. beers and ciders. 54 River Road, Littlehampton, BN17 5BZ. See page 19. 19-22 Apr The Dripping Spring Alehouse, Tower Road, St Leonards on Sea, Easter Beer 21-22 Jun 23rd South Downs Beer & Cider Festival (Good Friday to Easter Monday) Festival, Old Corn & Hop & Corn Exchange, Lewes Town Hall, Lewes.

42 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 Obituary

Chris Stringer 1959 -2019 many years. His role as Regional Director took up a lot of his time and involved much travelling to meetings in the two counties but also nationally. He enjoyed meeting CAMRA members and could often be found propping up a bar discussing the topics of the day with a smile on his face, and a beer or a cider/perry in his hand. A lot of the work which he did you will hear little of, as it was on conference procedures committee, amongst others, where his keen mind was exercised in protecting the rights of grassroots members from unwitting changes to the campaign’s rules, and campaigning for equal rights. Members will remember Chris being very helpful, notably when the CAMRA members weekend and AGM came to Eastbourne in 2009. He was always available for advice, but was not one for regimentation; better a brief meeting and to sort the issues out over a pint. This was probably no better seen as when he was asked the Credit: Glyn Baker difference between a formal CAMRA meeting and a social when his It was with great sadness that we learned of reply was, “you can get away with a lounge the sudden death of Chris Stringer in suit at a social”. January. Chris was a very committed and active member of CAMRA, probably best Chris leaves behind his wife Penny, who known as Regional Director for Surrey and originally enrolled him in the Campaign Sussex. nearly 30 years ago. He will also be greatly missed by his friends and colleagues in He also held other roles, notably assisting at North Sussex and the rest of the Campaign. festivals including the Great British Beer festival as cider bar manager, Sussex Let’s raise a glass to Chris. Cheers mate. Branches Beer & Cider Festival, North Paul Sanders Sussex’s Equinox and Ardingly festivals. He North Sussex Branch was also BLO for Hepworth’s Brewery for

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 43 CAMRA Branch Socials

All CAMRA branches organise socials, more details. typically in good local pubs, and these events are open to all and not just CAMRA South East Sussex members. Please join us and enjoy a few Tue 12 Feb - Polegate: Olde Smugglers Inn, tasty beers and some interesting then Dinkum conversation. Tue 19 Feb - St. Leonards: Tower, then North Star Arun & Adur Tue 26 Feb - Eastbourne : Hurst Arms then Contact [email protected] Crown or see aaa.camra.org.uk/socials.html. Tues 26 Mar - Hailsham: King’s Head, then George Hotel, then Grenadier Brighton & South Downs Tue 9 Apr - Hastings: 1200 Postcards, then First pub 7.30pm to about 8.30pm. Second Albion, then John Logie Baird pub 9pm to 10pm. See southeastsussex.camra.org.uk/diary for Thu 7 Feb - Seaford: White Lion Hotel, then more details. Steamworks micropub at the station. Thu 14 Feb - Brighton: Constant Service Western Sussex then Cobden Arms and/or Reservoir. Contact [email protected] Thu 28 Feb - Burgess Hill: Watermill Inn, or see westernsussexcamra.org.uk. then Quench Bar (Burgess Hill station) and/ or Six Gold Martlets. Thu 7 Mar - Rottingdean: Black Horse then Queen Vic. Thu 14 Mar - Brighton: Craft Beer Co. then Beer Dispensary. Thu 21 Mar - Hove: Neptune then Cliftonville Inn. Thu 4 Apr - Hove: Bees Mouth then Robin Hood. Thu 11 Apr - Newhaven: Ark then Jolly Boatman. Thu 18 Apr - Shoreham: Amsterdam then Red Lion. See brightoncamra.org.uk/EventsList.html for more details. North Sussex See northsussex.camra.org.uk/events. North East Sussex Wed 20 Feb - Frant: Abergavenny Arms, then George, then Brecknock Arms, Bells Yew Green Wed 20 Mar - Peacock, Shortbridge, Chequers Inn, Maresfield & Foresters Arms, Fairwarp Wed 17 Apr - Five Ashes Inn, Five Ashes, Mark Cross Inn, Mark Cross & Kings Arms, Rotherfield. See northeastsussex.camra.org.uk/diary for

44 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019

Contact Information

Sussex Branches of CAMRA Surrey & Sussex Regional Director: [email protected] Sussex Area Organiser: Peter Page-Mitchell, 01424 422128, (St. Leonards-on-Sea), [email protected] Website: sussex.camra.org.uk Beer Festival: Brighton Racecourse, 22-23 March 2019 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019. No. 97 *PotY: TBD, *CotY: TBD Arun & Adur Circulation 13,000 Pete Barlow, 07902 166071, Published by Sussex Branches of [email protected], the Campaign for Real Ale www.aaa.camra.org.uk Editor: Beer Festival: Worthing, Oct 2019 Andy Shaw PotY: Green Man, Worthing; CPotY: Green Man, Email: [email protected] Worthing; COTY None Brighton & South Downs Advertising: John Kirkland, 01293 519844 Neil Richards MBE [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.brightoncamra.org.uk www.matelotmarketing.co.uk Beer Festival: South Downs, 21-22 June 2019 Tel: 01536 358670 Mobile: 07710 281381 PotY: Brewers Arms, Lewes; CPotY: Old Star, Next Publication Date: 4th May 2019 Shoreham; CotY: None Copy: First call 1st April; North Sussex copy deadline 15th April Paul Sanders, 07778 035971 [email protected] Copy Submissions: www.northsussex.camra.org.uk The Editor invites submissions that celebrate Beer Festival: Equinox, 1-2 March 2019 the real ale scene in Sussex. Please keep to a PotY: White Horse, Maplehurst; CPotY: Brewery maximum of 700 words. Please use plain text Shades, Crawley; CotY: None or Word files. Please send good quality North East Sussex pictures separately, preferably in JPG format. (Sub Branch of South East Sussex) John Packer, 07841 669096, Standard Disclaimer: [email protected] Views expressed in this magazine are those of www.northeastsussex.camra.org.uk the individual authors and not necessarily PotY: King’s Arms, Rotherfield; supported by the editor or CAMRA. CPotY: King’s Head, East Hoathly; CotY: None All content © Sussex Branches of CAMRA South East Sussex For Consumer Advice: Phil Cozens, 01323 460822 If you have a complaint about goods or [email protected] services, please contact Citizens Advice for www.southeast-sussex-camra.com information and advice: Beer Festival: Eastbourne, 24-26 May 2019 PotY: Standard Inn, Rye; CPotY: George, Hailsham; Visit the Citizens Advice Website CotY: Albatross RAFA Club, Bexhill-on-Sea www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/ Western Sussex Or you can call the Citizens Advice consumer Max Malkin, 01243 828394 helpline on 03454 04 05 06 [email protected] Please note: National Trading Standards www.westernsussexcamra.org.uk cannot help members of the public with Beer Festival: Yapton, 17-19 May 2019 specific complaints or advice about goods, PotY: Crab Pot, Selsey; CPotY: None; CotY: None services or specific businesses. Campaign for Real Ale Ltd *PotY: Pub of the Year; CPotY: Cider Pub of the 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW Year; CotY: Club of the Year Tel: 01727 867201 Fax: 01727 867670 Website: www.camra.org.uk

46 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2019 BEERBEER &&CIDER CIDER E BY TH SEA

24 - 26 MAY Real, local & award-winning ales Ciders & perries, wine & cocktails + live music Fri 4pm - 10pm Sat 11am - 4pm & 5pm - 10pm Sun 12pm - 7pm Tickets Western Lawns selling fast! TICKETS 01323 410611 EastbourneBeerFestival.co.uk