FREE DWA E Y M Belly Summer 2019 Issue 84

The FREE magazine issued by the Branch of CAMRA

ON THE RIGHT TRACK FOR SUCCESS

FIND OUT THE WINNERS OF THE 2019 MEDWAY CAMRA BRANCH AWARDS

www.medway.camra.org.uk

Medway CAMRA @medwayCamra 22 STATION ROAD, STROOD

Regular Live Music Pool League & Table Real change weekly Live Sports on 5 HD Screens Premium , wines & spirits Beer Garden with heated Smoking Shelter Children & Dog friendly Open 7 days a week www.facebook.com/steampacketpub 22 STATION ROAD, STROOD, , ME2 4BG, 01634 718195 MEDWAY BEER BELLY No. 84 SUMMER 2019 Published Quarterly by the Medway Branch of the Campaign for Real Ltd. (CAMRA). Circulation - 2,250 © 2019 Medway CAMRA. CONTENTS Editor: Ben Gurney E-Mail: [email protected] Index / Branch Details ...... 3

All contributions to this magazine are Editorial ...... 4 made on a voluntary basis. Branch Diary / Pub Events and Beer Festivals...... 5 Views expressed by contributors and Pub News ...... 7 advertisers do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, CAMRA or any of its officials. Update / Member Discounts...... 8

Branch Details: Medway CAMRA Branch Awards 2019 ...... 10 Chairman: Tony Page Secretary: Tony Smith Wandering on Wight ...... 13 Treasurer: Kae Mendham Branch Social Meeting Round-up...... 14 Membership Secretary: Ian Howard Branch Contact: Wayne Coveney Drinking in Vilnius...... 17 e-mail: [email protected] The New Pubs of Rochester...... 21 Trading Standards Office It’s The Beer Talking...... 22 If you want to contact the Trading Standards Office, perhaps to report a short Crossword...... 23 measure, or a pub not displaying a price list etc, they can be reached at :- Spitfire Dave ...... 25 Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Where To Obtain Your Beer Belly ...... 27 Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TR Telephone: 01634 333555 [email protected]

CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St. Albans AL1 4LW Telephone: 01727 867201 ADVERTISERS Fax: 01727 867670 Website: www.camra.org.uk Angel, Rainham...... 22

CAMRA ...... 24 Cover illustration Dead Pigeon, Rochester ...... 28 10:50 From Victoria Frog and Toad, Gillingham ...... 9 Original Image Credit: WhatPub.com Gin & Tap Room, Gillingham ...... 11

Graphic Design by Great British Beer Festival 2019 ...... 26 Ben Gurney Kings Arms, Upper Upnor ...... 19 Musket ...... 6 Copy Deadline for issue 85: Nelson Brewery ...... 9 Monday 5th August 2019 RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees, Rochester...... 12 Steampacket, Strood ...... 2 Thomas Waghorn, Chatham ...... 16 Three Tuns, Lower Halstow ...... 20 Who’d Ha Thought It, Rochester ...... 16

3 EDITORIAL

The summer is here, so it is time for the Medway Beer Belly to come out of its hibernation and step once more into the beer garden. It’s been a while - we want as much user-generated content as since the last possible! issue, but whilst the Medway Beer Of course the highlight of the ‘Summer of Belly may have Pub’ will be the ‘Beer Day Britain’ event on been in a state Saturday June 15th. ‘Beer Day Britain’ is an of torpor, the annual celebration for all beer lovers and it Campaign for celebrates all beer including traditional ales, Real Ale never limited edition craft beer and everything in sleeps. between no matter where it is brewed or who owns the company. CAMRA has designated this June 15th is significant because that is also summer as the the date Magna Carta was sealed in 1215. The ‘Summer of Pub’. great charter mentions ale in Article 35: A play on ‘Summer of Love’, the campaign ‘Let there be throughout our kingdom a single aims to rely on positive, feel-good vibes to measure for wine and a single measure for ale remind people why they love their local. and a single measure for corn…..’ Up and down the country CAMRA will be working with licensees create opportunities to Ale was so head down to the pub to boost the trade and important in demonstrate the overwhelming support for England in our nation’s pubs. 1215 that it was cited in one As a CAMRA member you can help by of the most speaking to your local pub about the significant campaign and ask them to put on events, legal such as screening the Women’s World Cup documents in or hosting a celebratory comedy night. These history. Today events can then be listed on the CAMRA beer and pubs are still central to British life ‘Summer of Pub’ website and promoted on and seven out of 10 drinks sold in a pub are social media if they contact summerofpub@ beer. camra.org.uk The hope is that wherever you are at 7pm You are also on June 15th, you’ll join with millions of encouraged to people across the country to raise a glass, say take photos or ‘Cheers to Beer’ and post a message on social MME videos when media with the hashtag #CheersToBeer. U R socialising at S the pub over Remember, Summer of Pub runs right the Summer throughout the summer O and put it so you have plenty of F P U B on social time to get involved. I media with hope you have a great the hashtag time and I’ll speak to you #summerofpub again in the Autumn. 4 MEDWAY CAMRA - BRANCH DIARY

Anyone is welcome to join us at any of our varied socials and trips. Any changes will be shown in “What’s Brewing” or on our Website: www.medway.camra.org.uk Thur 24th Apr: Faversham Social - 7pm. Tue 4th June: Medway CAMRA Open Business Meeting at the Bear Inn, 3 Market Place, Meeting - 8pm. Kings Head Hotel, 58 High Faversham, ME13 7AG for 7pm, then on to Street, Rochester, ME1 1LD. All members Furlongs, Corner Tap and the Elephant. welcome to attend.

Sat 18th May: Kent CAMRA Regional OBM - Fri 14th June: Rochester Social - 7pm. Meeting 11:30am. Bradstow Mill, High Street, Broadstairs at the Coopers Arms, 10 St. Margarets Street, CT10 1NG. All members welcome to attend. Rochester, ME1 1TL at 7pm, then Who’d Ha thought It, Good Intent, Man of Kent and Sat 25th May: Sheppey Micro Tour - 3:45pm. Golden Lion. Meeting at Queenborough Rail Station 3:45pm, then a bus to the Heritage, 17-19 Minster Sat 6th Jul: Kent CAMRA Regional OBM - Road, Halfway, Sheppey, Sheerness, ME12 3JE 11:30am. Sturdee Club, Gillingham ME7 2HN. All followed by the Flying Sheep and A Y’s Man, members welcome to attend. finishing at the Admiral’s Arm.

PUB EVENTS AND BEER FESTIVALS

Fri 19th Apr - Sat 20th Apr: 14th CAMRA Fri 24th May - Sun 26th May: Crabble Corn Thanet Easter Beer & Cider Festival - Winter Mill Beer & Cider Festival - Crabble Corn Mill, Gardens, Fort Cres, Margate CT9 1HX. Further Lower Road, River, Dover, Kent, CT17 0UY. details @ www.thanet-camra.org.uk Further details @ https://www.facebook.com/ events/294394324506440/ Mon 6th May: Kentish Beer Festival & Family Fun Day 2019 - Priestfield Stadium, Fri 15th Jun - Sat 16th Jun: 11th CAMRA Real Redfern Ave, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 4DD. Ale & Cider Festival at The Kent & East Sussex Further details @ https://www.facebook.com/ Railway- Tenterden Town Station, Station events/358387891445808/ Road, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6HE. Further details @ www.camra-afrm.org.uk Thurs 9th May - Sat 1th May: 14th CAMRA Bexley Beer Festival - Old Dartfordians, War Fri 21st Jun - Sat 22nd Jun: The Oast Beer & Memorial Clubhouse, Bourne Road, Bexley, Music Festival 2019 - The Oast, Granary Close, Kent, DA5 1LW. Further details @ www.bexley. Rainham, Kent, ME8 7SG. Further details @ camra.org.uk www.facebook.com/oastfestival

Fri 24th May - Mon 27th May: Waggon Thur 18th Jul - Sat 20th Jul: 45th CAMRA At Hale Beer Festival - Waggon At Hale, Kent Beer Festival - Canterbury Rugby 179 Capstone Road, Chatham, ME5 7PP. Club, Merton Lane North, Nackington Road, Further details @ www.waggonathale.com/ Canterbury, CT4 7AZ. Further details @ https:// forthcoming-events www.facebook.com/CAMRA-Kent-Beer- Festival-988285844531180/

5

MEDWAY PUB NEWS

Railway, Rainham: Local press reports that Royal Oak, Frindsbury: After a second work on Medway’s newest Wetherspoon’s buyer pulling out, it was reported in is due to start on April 8th with a projected early April that the current owners of the opening date of September 24th. property have put it up for auction. The guide price is almost double what was paid Beacon Court, Gillingham: Closed since for the building a few years ago, which summer 2016, demolition work finally begun would seem to make it unlikely that it will in March. The site is destined to become be purchased for use as a pub. housing, although allegedly the curved front age of the original building will be retained. Dead Pigeon, Rochester: After a short period of refurbishment, the former RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees, Rochester: Northern Seaman took flight under new Rochester’s 3rd micropub opened to the management as the Dead Pigeon on public on September 15th 2018. October 19th 2018.

Butcher’s Block, Burham: It was announced Queens Head, Wigmore: Following the that the pub had won in two categories of closure of the Harvester at this premises, the 15th ‘ of Kent’ awards. They have it reopened as an Ember Inn on February been recognized with the ‘Excellence Award 9th. Touted initially as the ‘Medway Arms’, for Customer Service’ as well as being named the original name was reinstated after the ‘Kent Dining Pub of the Year’. vociferous feedback from local residents.

Hen & Chickens, Luton: This premises was Gardeners Arms, Higham: Reopened reported to have closed its doors in January. on September 24th 2018 under new The Ei group (formerly known as Enterprise management following a short period of Inns) are currently advertising for a new closure. publican to take over the business. Flippin’ Frog, Rochester: It was announced Northern Seaman, Rochester: Closed that from March 15th the micropub will suddenly on 14th June 2018. This also saw the only be open on Fridays, Saturdays and end of the fledgling ‘Below Decks’ brewery Sundays for the foreseeable future. which had previously been reported on in this magazine. Britannia Bar Cafe, Rochester: After 19 years the pub closed their doors for the General at Sea, Chatham: This Shepherd final time on April 26th. A firm supporter Neame pub undertook a refurbishment of the Medway Beer Belly, we send best throughout 2018, with the newly painted wishes to long-standing landlord John outside making a debut in the August. Baker in his retirement. Thanks to the various Medway CAMRA members and others who have supplied the above information. If you have any pub news, please let us know (details on Page 3) . If you are a real ale pub landlord, please let us know of changes to your pub. We rely on people contacting us with information. All news was believed to be correct at the time of publication - changes may have occurred since. 7 BREWERIES UPDATE

brewery, it has been revealed that they NELSON will opening their bar area at the Chatham It certainly has been a Dockyard Monday - Thursday 12 - 2pm, Fridays busy few months for the 12 - 7pm and Saturdays 1 - 6pm. Nelson brewery, with February seeing a range RUNNING MAN of beers inspired by the RBS Six Nations Rugby. After spending some years practising their These were Flankers craft, the Chatham based Running Man Brewery Away (4% ABV), a dark is now officially the 2nd operating commercial golden with a hop brewery in the Medway towns. twist, Scrum Half (4% ABV), a golden best Proving that this is a marathon and not a bitter and Prop-Per sprint, their focus is on creating small batches of casks that are big in flavour. So far their Credit: Nelson Brewery (4.3% ABV), a hoppy pale ale. products have been spotted being served at the Frog & Toad, Also making a welcome return in late February Gillingham, the Past was the ever popular Dogwatch (ABV & Present, Gillingham 4.5%), a traditionally dark stout, with a and the King George V, chocolatey malt and bitter hop flavour. Brompton.

Towards the end of March it was announced One of their most that Press Gang (ABV 4.3%), a pale ale with a recent brews available hoppy punch derived from citra, centenniel and was Some Might amarillo was now available. It promises to Say (ABV 4.7%), be an easy drinking pale ale for any occasion! an unfiltered and unpasteurised double For those wishing to sample a range of both dry hopped mosaic cask ale and keg products from the Nelson pale ale. Brompton Credit: King George V,

MEDWAY CAMRA DISCOUNT LIST

Here is the list of pubs and clubs in the Medway area that offer discounted pints to any card carrying CAMRA member. The discount applies to whole pints of real ale only. If you know of any other hostelries offering similar discounts, please e-mail us. White Horse, Borstal - 10% discount from the price of a pint. Command House, Chatham - 20p off a pint. Prince of Wales, Chatham - 10% discount from the price of a pint, plus every Tuesday all real ales are £1.75 a pint. ‘Ale Collectors Card’ scheme also available to all customers. Thomas Waghorn, Chatham - 50p off a pint with a CAMRA Wetherspoons voucher. Past & Present, Gillingham - 20p off a pint and 10p off a half Monday to Wednesday. Three Sisters, Rainham - 20p off a pint Golden Lion, Rochester - 50p off a pint with a CAMRA Wetherspoons voucher. Oak, Walderslade - 10% discount from the price of a pint. Queens Head, Wigmore - 20p off a pint and all ales at £2.49 a pint on a Monday. 8

MEDWAY CAMRA BRANCH AWARDS 2019

Following the voting meeting on January 27th at the Frog and Toad, Gillingham, the pubs and clubs listed below were declared winners.

Thank you to all the members who took the time to vote and congratulations from 15 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5TP Medway CAMRA to all involved.

PUB OF THE YEAR 10:50 From Victoria Rear of 37 North Street, Strood, ME2 4JJ 1st

nd 2 Runner-up: Past & Present, Gillingham

CIDER PUB OF THE YEAR Past & Present , Crafted Ales, Cider & Spirits 2 Skinner Street, 40 + Gins Gillingham, st ME7 1HD 1 Opening Times

Thursday: 16.00 to 22.00 nd 2 Runner-up: Will Adams, Gillingham Friday: 16.00 to 23.00

Images on this page credit: WhatPub.com Saturday: 14.00 to 23.00 Each venue will be awarded with a certificate. Please check the Medway CAMRA website for details of the presentations. Sunday: 14.00 to 19.00 10 15 Canterbury Street, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 5TP

40 + Gins, Crafted Ales, Cider & Spirits Opening Times

Thursday: 16.00 to 22.00 Friday: 16.00 to 23.00 Saturday: 14.00 to 23.00 Sunday: 14.00 to 19.00 RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees 352 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1DJ

Opening Hours:

Monday: 16:30 - 22:00 Tuesday: 16:30 - 22:00 Wednesday: 16:30 - 22:00 Thursday: 16:30 - 22:00 Friday: 14:00 - 23:00 Saturday: 12:00 - 23:00 Sunday: 16:00 - 22:00

Times given above are for guidance only and may subsequently change periodically.

Last orders will be called 20 minutes before closing time. Real Ale Makes Sense www.facebook.com/ramsinrochester WANDERINGS ON WIGHT Credit:Pixabay

James Whiteoak gives an insight into the pubs and real ale he found while visiting the Isle of Wight. Last April, while holidaying in the Isle of steep stone steps. Fortunately, however, there Wight with a crowd of friends with whom I was a hand rail. This pub, which had been a had crossed over to the island by coach and runner up in the local CAMRA Pub of the Year ferry, I decided to revisit some pubs and visit competition had three ales – all served by new ones. As on previous visits to the island, gravity – on offer. I had a pint ofDB One Best we stayed at a hotel in Sandown and were Bitter at 4.2% ABV from Dorking Brewery. fortunate in that the Good Beer Guide listed Castle Inn was a mere 15 minutes walk from the While on the island I also revisited S Fowler hotel. I made two visits to this establishment & Co – the Wetherspoons in Union Street in RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees which is both welcoming to its locals and Ryde. This Good Beer Guide listed pub and strangers but which is also dog friendly. The supporter of Locale is in a former Draper’s 352 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1DJ interior of this back street pub just behind shop. I had a pint of Islander at 4% ABV from the High Street, which also has a multi award Yates’ Brewery. To get to this pub entailed winning garden to its rear, was decorated with some strenuous activity on my part as it was at a suit of armour, shields, swords, battle axes the top of a steep hill. and other devilish medieval weapons. Apart Opening Hours: from a dart board in one corner of the bar The last two pubs I visited on the Isle of there was also a ghoulish theme to some of the Wight were in the delightful little town of exhibits as celebrating Halloween is a big event Yarmouth with its castle and ferry port. Much at this pub. Six real ales were on offer, but of central Yarmouth dates from the late Tudor having travelled from Kent I decided to give times as French raiders had set the town Monday: 16:30 - 22:00 the Shepherd Neame Spitfire a miss. Instead, on fire in 1543. The first pub I entered was I had a rich dark beer akin to a the beamed 16th Century and Good Beer called Yule Be Sorry at 7.2% ABV. Guide listed King’s Head which also had low Tuesday: 16:30 - 22:00 ceilings. People can wait there for the ferry to On our first full day on the island we stopped Lymington and I had a pint of Upham’s Punter Wednesday: 16:30 - 22:00 for a late lunch in Newport, the island’s capital Best Bitter at 4% ABV to help wash down after a morning out on the Isle of Wight steam some Whitebait. railway. Many from our group joined me in Thursday: 16:30 - 22:00 lunching in the town’s Wetherspoons pub – The final pub I visited in Yarmouth was the The Man in the Moon which is in a tastefully Bugle Inn. This sprawling establishment Friday: 14:00 - 23:00 altered de-consecrated church just off the with wood beams had a number of separate High Street. Apparently, the reason why so drinking areas and had, in its time, been a many of the pubs in this chain have the word coaching inn. It also had a large open-air Saturday: 12:00 - 23:00 Moon in their name stems from an article drinking area at its rear. I had a pint of Ale of by the celebrated author George Orwell of Wight – a lovely session bitter at 3.7% ABV “1984” and “Animal Farm” fame. The article in from Goddards Brewery. Sunday: 16:00 - 22:00 question was published in the London Evening News many moons ago and talked about After four nights my stay on the island had Times given above are for guidance only an ideal but imaginary pub called the Moon come to an end. I hope, however, that it will and may subsequently change periodically. Under Water where good beer was served not be my last. This is not least because I but there was no entertainment. I had a pint wish to visit the island’s other eighteen Good of Fuggle De Dum – a strong ale at 4.8% Beer Guide listed pubs some of which are on Last orders will be called ABV from Goddards Brewery. After lunch I its coast and others in villages in the island’s 20 minutes before closing time. strolled round the corner to Holyrood Street lovely rural interior. Top of my list and probably – a short walk down from the town’s Visitor saved for a hot and sunny and dry summer’s Centre and popped into the Good Beer Guide day will be the Culver Haven Inn on Culver listed Newport Ale House. Access to this small Down which apart from its beer, is also noted Real Ale Makes Sense single room bar, decorated with a multitude for its stunning views of Sandown Bay and of assorted beer mats, was by a series of fairly Bembridge Harbour. www.facebook.com/ramsinrochester 13 BRANCH SOCIAL MEETINGS

Medway CAMRA social secretary, Tony Smith, reviews some of the branch social events that took place in spring/summer 2018

Since the last Beer Belly was published, the Plumber’s Arms. This is a Greene King pub, Medway Branch of CAMRA has been busy with but also serves guest ales and has its place in a packed itinerary of branch socials. history for being the pub that, over 40 years ago, a distressed Lady Lucan took refuge Our first attempt at a walk from Rochester in having just discovered the body of her High Street to Chatham on 1st March 2018 children’s nanny. Britannia Bar Cafe was only attended by Then on Star Tavern four intrepid to the Star souls due to Tavern in heavy snow, Belgravia, but was more the first of successful our GBG when we pubs, and attempted considered it again a by most few weeks of us to be later. We the best we started at the visited. A fine Fuller’s pub tucked in a mews Credit: Marcus Judge Flippin’ Frog behind the Germany Embassy and reputed which was heaving due to another function, to be where the Great Train Robbery was so after a quick pint we moved on to the more planned, although I am not sure why a gang spacious Britannia Bar Café, then next door to of south east London villains would meet in the Northern Seaman. It’s sad to report that Belgravia. On next to the Cask and Glass and now in spring 2019, the latter two venues have the Phoenix. The former being a very small since closed (with the Northern Seaman being Buckingham Arms Shepherd Neame replaced by the Dead Pigeon). The itinerary pub and the latter gave us a choice of finishing the evening at the a trendy free Prince of Wales and/or the Thomas Waghorn, house where I can but the former was also enjoying a busy now claim to have night, so we settled for the Weatherspoon’s bought my first £5 opposite. I think I can say that we didn’t have a pint! bad pint in any of the pubs. The second On 17th March 2018 a group of 16 members London pub to ventured by train to London with the intention have featured of visiting the two pubs in the capital that in every GBG is have featured in every addition of the Good the Buckingham Beer Guide. Of course, we were hardly likely to Arms, opposite settle for just two pubs, so we started in the Wellington 14 Barracks. Much changed since my first visit in stopping at the Mackland Arms on the way. 1974, but still deserving of its place, with a good range of Young’s ales and a couple of guests. A much smaller group attended our next This was meant to be the conclusion of our social in June, with most of us being on tour, but of course thirsts had not quite been unfamiliar territory with our bus excursion quenched. So we set of for the Sanctuary, a on the 191 route to the Hoo Peninsula. First nearby Fuller’s pub, then the Feathers, next to stop was the Fenn Bell, a Shepherd Neame New Scotland Yard, before making our way back house possibly unique in having its own zoo. to Victoria. Plenty of exotic animals to see, but nothing large enough to worry the locals should they Our April 2018 ramble was back on the more escape. Next up was the Nag’s Head in Lower familiar territory of the west end of Rochester, Stoke, where we received a warm welcome at starting at the town’s oldest pub, the Cooper’s a fine looking pub which was not very busy as Arms. Being early evening, there were a few it was mid-afternoon. people enjoying an after work pint of well-kept The Coopers Arms ale. Then on to There were a few more people about when the Who’d Ha we reached our furthest point, the Hogarth Thought It for Inn in Grain Village. This is an ancient two-bar equally good pub with a restaurant at the back that enjoys ale and a warm a good reputation. The longest of our bus welcome on journeys then took us to High Halstow and the a busy darts Red Dog. This is another old village pub that night. Our next was just getting busy in the early evening with destination three beers on offer, all from the Tonbridge was the Good Brewery. A short ride from there took us to Intent where we were also well received and the Five Bells in Hoo. Only one cask ale on the complimentary cheese and biscuits were offer, but it was in excellent condition and most welcome. There was just time to finish the there are plans to introduce another. Some of evening with a couple of pints from the selection our number then sought out the Chequers, but of ales from Kent breweries at the Man of Kent I was in need of food and headed home. and enjoy the visiting Australian folk band. If you are Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence On 26 May 2018, we were greeted with superb a cricket late spring weather when we started our country fan there is ramble at the Three Tuns in Lower Halstow. Their not a finer excellent garden was enjoyed, along with the ale occasion and food, by a possible record attendance of 26 than the members, one infant and two dogs. The walk Canterbury to Upchurch enabled us to build up a thirst and Cricket make our stop at the Crown necessary as well Festival, as welcome. It was all downhill after that (the which is terrain not the beer) as we made our way to made all the the Brown Jug for some excellent Harvey’s and finer with the local CAMRA branch having its other ales. own marquee. Seven of us made a visit on 22 July 2018 for the first day of Kent’s County We were then The Three Sisters Championship game with Leicestershire. A off to theThree good day was had by all, but it has to be noted Sisters, with that we made a better job of drinking ale than some enjoying Kent did of batting. a detour around an orchard on That gives you a flavour of what we were the way. After up to this time last year. Everybody who a quick stop at attended these branch events seemed to enjoy the Angel, most themselves and we hope will join us again on made their way other occasions. If you’ve read this and would back to Rainham like to join us too, please check the branch station, with a diary on page 5 or on our website for future few hardy souls socials and we will look forward to seeing you. 15

DRINKING IN VILNIUS Credit:Mick Allen

Mick Allen takes us along on his whistle-stop tour of the ex-USSR Baltic States, allowing three nights in each of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, all of which gained independence in 1991.

This article describes the drinking scene in g. 9. A Būsi Trečias Vilnius, added to the UNESCO World Heritage selection of List in 1994. To help find your way around the 17 Lithuanian Tourist Information Centres all provide free, and foreign detailed maps of the maze of small narrow beers were streets. I have omitted hours of business, as available on these vary with season. draught: I plumped for Having arrived in Vilnius at around midnight a Danish/ (it’s a 2½ hour flight from the UK, and it’s GMT Lithuanian Credit: Mick Allen +2), there was no time for drinking. All of the collaboration pubs I mention are accessible without the use Herslev/Sakiškių Dark Smoked , brewed of public transport and the beers were all in about 12 miles to the north of Vilnius. A the €3-4 range for ½ litre. break was taken here for a bus trip out to the 327m high Television Tower, with a revolving Craft and Draft The first restaurant and observation deck (something port of call you used to be able to visit at the BT Tower was Craft in London until it was closed in 1981!), at 165m and Draft, offering extensive views towards Vilnius. The located at final visit of Gedimino the day was to pr. 5, and Vilniaus Alus opened in at Pilies g. 6, 2016, this and if you can Credit: Mick Allen cellar bar find this place first time, microbrewery has 6 of its own ales, and a you’ve done selection of others. The Light and very well. It’s Seasonal Brew (Red Ale) were sampled. tucked up Food was also available. On to Būsi Trečias through an after this, close by at Totorių g. 18. Again the arch off Pilies g. 6, and the beer of choice in choices were a Light and a Dark Lager, both here was Armeniukas Brewery Tamsusis 666, a home brewed in this cellar bar, priced at €3 dark red brown ale. for ½ litre. After a quick look around the small brewery here, just around the corner from here The next morning was an early start for the is Nisha Craft Capital, at Stuokos-Gucevičiaus train out to Trakai, as missing the 07.50 meant 17 Trakai Castle This bar has many different Lithuanian bottled beers and a microbrewery at the rear. On each table is a metered pouring tap, connected to one of the vessels in the microbrewery. On this occasion the beer on the tap was a Munich Lager. I opted for a tasty Hemp beer from one of the taps on the bar. The last three Credit: Mick Allen bars of the day were the Monstro Pizza Bar, a four hour wait for the next train. Although Etmonų Špunka and Prohibicija. All of these the trains here run on time, there seems to bars can be accessed from Arklių g. 6. It’s a be no rhyme or reason to the timings, but for strange set up here, as all three places share €3.20 for a round trip of over thirty miles, one a common The Pub Leiciai can’t complain. The castle at Trakai is a major central tourist destination. A couple of hundred years area, where ago it resembled something like a dilapidated you can Fountains Abbey, but has now been fully take your restored rebuilt, something that English Heritage drinks and would have frowned upon in the UK. Very little food from in the way of drinking experiences here, so back any bar. I to Vilnius. finished here nicely Credit: Mick Allen The first bar Saviciaus Spunka with a of the day was pizza and a the original 200ml each paddle of Sori Brewery (Estonia) Špunka bar. Coffee Gorilla Baltic , Sakiškių Brewery The name is a (Lithuania) Neipaand Milk Stout, Kuro good selling Aparatūra (Lithuania) Nemiegose Pareigose point, but it’s and Pinta Brewery (Poland) Oto Mata IPA. pronounced ‘Shpoonka’, for The next day there was time in the morning anyone who Credit: Mick Allen before our coach to Riga to visit a couple more wondered. bars. The first wasThe Pub Leičiai , located Located at Užupio g. 9, it’s a local’s bar off the opposite Leičių Bravoras at Stiklių g. 4, also tourist route serving beers from the Dundulis offers beers from Leičių Bravoras, and a nice Brewery. I had the Gutstoutas Stout. Next it Black IPA was the order of the day. The final was off to another bar from the chain (there are pub of the morning was a little place that we 3), Savičiaus Špunka, at Savičiaus g. 9. With 12 had discovered the previous night. Šnekutis ales on tap, I got chatting to the barman, Benas, is to be found at Šv. Stepono g. 8. A nice café and persuaded him to serve me 3 beers from the bar serving a range of 11 beers, I selected the list in smaller measures - Lipčius, Kurko Keptinis, Dundulis Gutstoutas Stout to wash down the and Publijus Palemonas Baltic Porter (warned rather unappetising dish of pig’s ears, which by Benas that the abv of this one was more I’d been threatening to try. If I can give any likely to be 8% and not the stated 7.2%), all by advice, don’t be tempted! the Dundulis Leiciu Bravoras Brewery. This bar had Snekutis been open a year. Upon leaving, Benas told me the beers were gratis, but I insisted Credit: Mick Allen Credit: Mick Allen on paying, nonetheless. Off to Riga next…… Leaving here, and just the other side of the square at Stiklių g. 5, I found Leičių Bravoras. 18

Traditional Kentish Country Inn Quality food prepared daily from the finest local produce served in a warm and friendly atmosphere .

Kentish Beer & Ciders always available.

The Street, Lower Halstow, Sittingbourne, Kent. ME9 7DY 01795 842840 [email protected] www.thethreetunsrestaurant.co.uk THE NEW PUBS OF ROCHESTER

The stretch of the High Street between Chatham and Rochester has become a destination for real ale drinkers in recent years. The Medway Beer Belly spoke to both Richard Collins of ‘RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees’ and Thomas Mudge of the ‘Dead Pigeon’ shortly after they opened last year to find out some background to their businesses.

RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees The Dead Pigeon

What made you decide to open a Micropub? Why did you want to take over the premises from the former Northern Seaman? A change of life situation happened three years ago which meant I couldn’t continue in It’s been something that myself and Jamie construction, so I had to look for a new career. have always talked about. We’ve both enjoyed Traditional Kentish It was decided that myself and another chap going to micropubs and I’ve always loved ale. would open one up; we’d found a property, we Jamie went to Singapore and saw these little both liked beer and we thought we’d give it a bars showing a bit of football, doing some Country Inn go. food, doing some beer and we thought there was nowhere independent like that in Medway. Quality food prepared daily What’s the story behind the name of your micropub? Something I always get asked is ‘why is it from the finest local produce called the Dead Pigeon?’ The RAMS stands for ‘Real Ale Makes Sense’. served in a warm and 12 degrees is the temperature you have to When myself and Jamie came to look around keep the beer at, we couldn’t see the name we found a dead pigeon in the basement with friendly atmosphere . being used anywhere else so that was what chalk drawn around it, surrounded by candles, we chose. with a sign saying ‘rest in peace Dave’. We were wondering what it was all about, so Kentish Beer & Ciders Where will you be sourcing your real ale Jamie went home and looking up the meaning from? of a dead pigeon. Apparently it’s a sign of new always available. beginnings, so it seemed like a good name for I’m hoping to get a wide and varied range of the pub. beers. I’m hoping to get beers that people may not have seen or tried before and I will What breweries have you had in so far? obviously be sourcing from Kent brewers. We’ve had beers from Wantsum, Mad Cat, How has business been so far? Angels & Demons, Canterbury Ales and Hop Fuzz. We’re spoilt for choice for nice beers It’s been very pleasantly pleasing. Everything The Street, Lower Halstow, has worked as it should do and the comments What are your plans for your food offering? Sittingbourne, Kent. we have been getting shows us we are ME9 7DY providing the right kind of thing that people We’re starting with a pint and pie offer and wanted. Now we’ve got to keep building on it then when we’ve sorted out our kitchen 01795 842840 and see where it goes. we’ll expand our food offering to include [email protected] homemade pizzas and other things. www.thethreetunsrestaurant.co.uk 21 IT’S THE BEER TALKING

Author Ian Clayton gives us the background to his latest book.

Wherever I have lived, I like a boxful of dominoes through more than have never been more than a half a century of backstreet boozing all over stone’s throw from a local pub. the world in that rare old haunt we call the My new book It’s The Beer public house. In a time when local pubs are Talking: Adventures in Public closing down at an alarming rate, the book is a Houses came out at the end bit of a call to treasure them. I say this because of February. I suppose the title I believe that pubs are like libraries. More than tells you most of what you any other buildings near where we live, they need to know about what is are storehouses of our communal knowledge. inside its covers. Yes it’s about At times snapshots of our neighbourhood, beer and pubs and because at other times a refuge from what’s going on it’s a memoir, it’s about what I’ve got up to in outside, but always somewhere familiar and ale houses over the years. I hope it’s funny. I welcoming. I love the pub most of all, because wanted to write a comedy, so it would be a bit that is where over the years I have found a lot of a bugger if it didn’t make folk laugh. There of friendship. Come to think of it, It’s The Beer are one or two sad bits in it as well, because Talking is a book about friendship. As a matter even in pubs, life isn’t always funny ha ha. Like of fact, all of my books are about friendship. my other writing, it is based on memories and If you like books about beer, pubs, fun and emotions and characters I have known. Most of friendship, you might want to give it a try. it is true, some bits are made up and the rest, well, if it isn’t true, it ought to be! It’s The Beer Talking: Adventures in Public Houses was published by Route on 28th The book starts with my first taste of beer, in February 2019. For more details visit a smoke-filled working men’s club, then rattles www.route-online.com C R O S S W O R D

ACROSS DOWN

1 Profit from a gin cocktail (4) 1 The mix of malt and other cereals that with 4 Brew that won’t give you a buzz (5) liquor forms the mash (5) 7 New bride’s bits and pieces (6) 2 Croupier’s introduction, Maybe, is perfect 10 Cornish brewery that knows how to do a (5) Proper Job (9) 3 Nasty sounding container (4) 13 A member of the hemp family and a 5 Leading characters in the ‘Casebook Of relative of the stinging nettle (3) Sherlock Holmes’ hit on the head (4) 15 Cricketer awarded the title of ‘Beer Drinker 6 Beer cocktail made from beer, gin, sugar of the Year’ in 2001 (6,5) and eggs (4) 18 Adding new sugars to a beer during 8 Lifesaver, for short (3) packaging to encourage fermentation (7) 9 Chocolate sandwich cookie (4) 20 Name of the fictional brewery from 11 An ascetic or yogi who has been initiated Midsommer Murders (7) into a religious monastic order (5) 22 Former name of the Will Adams pub in 12 Comics legend; passed away in November Gillingham (5,5) 2018 (3) 27 Imperial equal to a third 14 Deserved consequence (5) of a pint (3) 16 Parcelforce alternative (3) 29 Famous Adnams beer first brewed in 1972 17 Style of sweatshirt (5) (9) 19 Fuelling concern, in brief (3) 31 Just for a start, there are these layers 21 Put away the Ashes won, it’s said (5) involved! (6) 23 There’s nothing under cover, but one may 32 Gillingham pub, closed in March 2016, bathe here (4) which hosted Ellie Goulding at the start of 24 A short twelve months in Scotland (3) her career (5) 25 It may be light-emitting (5) 33 Fuller’s beer awarded the title of 26 Fix, as a voice-over (5) ‘Champion Beer of Britain’ in 1985 (3) 27 Are we sitting comfortably Floyd? (4) 28 Fruit found at a perry conference (4) 29 Traditional cask size that stores 108 gallons (4) 30 native to Düsseldorf (3) 23 Join up, join in, join the campaign From as little as Protect the traditions of great † £25 British pubs and everything that a year. That’s less than a pint a goes with them by joining today

month! at www.camra.org.uk/joinup ✂

Or enter your details and complete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and save £2 on your membership subscription

Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd with your completed form, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus, or call 01727 798440.* All forms should be addressed to Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW. Your details: Direct Debit Non DD Single Membership £25 Title ...... Surname ...... £27 (UK) Forename(s) ...... Joint Membership £30 £32 Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) ...... (Partner at the same address) Address ...... For concessionary rates please visit ...... www.camra.org.uk or call 01727 798440...... Postcode ...... I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and Email address ...... agree to abide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association which can be found Daytime Tel ...... on our website. Partner’s Details (if Joint Membership) Title ...... Surname ...... Signed ......

Forename(s) ...... Date ......

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) ...... Applications will be processed within 21 days.

Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit This Guarantee should be detached Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to: and retained by the payer. Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road St. Albans, Herts AL1 4LW The Direct Debit Guarantee Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society Service User Number l This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept To the Manager Bank or Building Society 926129 instructions to pay by Direct Debits l If there are any changes to the amount, Address FOR CAMRA OFFICIAL USE ONLY date or frequency of your Direct Debit This is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your Membership Number account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request The Campaign Postcode Name for Real Ale Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date Name(s) of Account Holder Postcode will be given to you at the time of the request Instructions to your Bank or Building Society l If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by The Campaign Bank or Building Society Account Number Please pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the account detailed on this instruction subject to for Real Ale Ltd or your bank or the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I building society, you are entitled to understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or Branch Sort Code For Real Ale Limited and, if so, will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society. building society l If you receive a refund you are not Signature(s) entitled to, you must pay it back Reference when The Campaign Real Ale Ltd asks you to Date l You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account. may be required. Please also notify us.

†Price of single membership when paying by Direct Debit. *Calls from landlines charged at local rates, cost may vary from mobile phones.

New Direct Debit members will receive a 12 month supply of vouchers in their first 15 months of membership. ✂

A5 Advert - Branch Mag.indd 1 21/09/2017 15:13 Join up, join in, Hello! I haven’t seen you behind the bar in here before

Yes, this join the campaign afternoon is the first From time I’ve ever as little as Protect the traditions of great worked behind † £25 British pubs and everything that a bar a year. That’s less than a pint a goes with them by joining today

month! at www.camra.org.uk/joinup ✂

Or enter your details and complete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and save £2 on your membership subscription

Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd with your completed form, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus, or call 01727 798440.* All forms should be addressed to Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW. Your details: Direct Debit Non DD Single Membership £25 Could I please Crikey! That’s Title ...... Surname ...... £27 (UK) have a pint of cheap! In that case Forename(s) ...... that excellent I’ll have the rib-eye Joint Membership £30 £32 Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) ...... Ruby Mild that steak special As (Partner at the same address) came on last well. How much Address ...... For concessionary rates please visit night? is that? ...... www.camra.org.uk or call 01727 798440...... Postcode ...... I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and Email address ...... agree to abide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association which can be found Certainly sir! A good Daytime Tel ...... on our website. That’ll be 10p. choice sir! Partner’s Details (if Joint Membership) That’ll be £1. Title ...... Surname ...... Signed ......

Forename(s) ...... Date ......

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) ...... Applications will be processed within 21 days.

Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit This Guarantee should be detached Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to: and retained by the payer. Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road St. Albans, Herts AL1 4LW The Direct Debit Guarantee Hang on a minute! I’m sure The same thing I’m doing Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society Service User Number l This Guarantee is offered by all banks you’ve got these prices all wrong.... I and building societies that accept to his business! To the Manager Bank or Building Society 926129 instructions to pay by Direct Debits want a word with landlord Bill l If there are any changes to the amount, Address FOR CAMRA OFFICIAL USE ONLY date or frequency of your Direct Debit This is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your I’m sorry, but Membership Number account being debited or as otherwise he’s out with my wife at agreed. If you request The Campaign Postcode Name for Real Ale Ltd to collect a payment, the moment. confirmation of the amount and date Name(s) of Account Holder Postcode will be given to you at the time of the request Instructions to your Bank or Building Society l If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by The Campaign Bank or Building Society Account Number Please pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the account detailed on this instruction subject to for Real Ale Ltd or your bank or the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I building society, you are entitled to understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or Branch Sort Code For Real Ale Limited and, if so, will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society. building society l If you receive a refund you are not Signature(s) entitled to, you must pay it back Reference when The Campaign Real Ale Ltd What is he asks you to Date doing with l You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank your wife!? or building society. Written confirmation Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account. may be required. Please also notify us.

†Price of single membership when paying by Direct Debit. *Calls from landlines charged at local rates, cost may vary from mobile phones. New Direct Debit members will receive a 12 month supply of vouchers in their first 15 months of membership. ✂ 25

A5 Advert - Branch Mag.indd 1 21/09/2017 15:13 The live beer

Supporting your local 6-10experience August • Olympia London Breweries This year the Great British Beer Festival takes you on a journey from the smallest seed to the perfect pint! Experience the natural magic of grain to glass, while enjoying live music, fabulous food and more… Book your tickets today gbbf.org.uk

PLUS Cider & Perry • NEW Wine & Gin Bar • Music • Street Food NEW International Beer Festival • Entertainment • NEW Beer Discovery Zone

WHERE TO OBTAIN YOUR BELLY

THE FOLLOWING OUTLETS ALL RECEIVE THE MEDWAY BEER BELLY - IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST, PLEASE E-MAIL US. Allhallows Napier Arms Rose Fenn Bell Past & Present Three Mariners Wouldham Scruffy Duck Three Sisters Medway Inn Borstal Ship United Services Club White Horse Sturdee Avenue WM Club White Horse Off Licences Medway Marina Upper Con. Club Ace Wines, Strood Will Adams Rochester Burham Britannia Bar Cafe OUTSIDE MEDWAY Windmill Halling Coopers’ Arms Five Bells Crown Dartford Bredhurst Homeward Bound Dead Pigeon Dartford WM Club Bell Eagle Hempstead Flippin’ Frog Faversham Brompton Flying Saucer Golden Lion Elephant King George V Good Intent Phoenix Higham Granville Arms Railway Chatham Sir John Falstaff Kings Head Command House Stonehorse Man of Kent Gravesend Nelson Brewery Medway Rugby Club Compass Ale House Prince of Wales High Halstow RAMS Micropub 12 Degrees Jolly Drayman Ship & Trades Red Dog Two Brewers Three Daws The live beer Thomas Waghorn Who’d Ha Thought It Waggon at Hale Isle of Grain Lower Halstow Hogarth Strood Three Tuns Cliffe & Cliffe Woods Sportsman Six Bells Hoo Steampacket Maidstone Supporting Cliffe Woods Social Club Hoo Institute Three Crutches Cellars Ale House your local 6-10experience August • Olympia London Windmill 10:50 from Victoria Flower Pot Breweries Cooling Fishermans Arms This year the Great British Beer Festival takes Horseshoe & Castle Lidsing Lower Stoke Rifle Volunteers Harrow Nags Head Thirsty Pig you on a journey from the smallest seed to the Cuxton perfect pint! Experience the natural magic of White Hart Rainham Upnor Sittingbourne Angel Kings Arms Donna’s Ale House grain to glass, while enjoying live music, Gillingham Concorde Ship Paper Mill fabulous food and more… Canterbury Tales Dewdrop Fountain of Ale Conservative Club Green Lion Walderslade Three Hats Cricketers Hales & Moore Fish Bar Oak Book your tickets today Frog & Toad Mackland Arms Upchurch Hastings Arms Prince of Ales Wigmore Brown Jug Monarch Rainham Social Club Smallholders Club gbbf.org.uk Gillingham, Higham, Rochester & Twydall Libraries Visitor’s Information Centre - Rochester Medway Archives Centre - Strood

ADVERTISE WITH “THE MEDWAY CAMRA HAS HAVING TROUBLE MEDWAY BEER BELLY” GETTING HOLD OF YOUR An advertisement in the “The Medway 661 MEMBERS “MEDWAY BEER BELLY”? Beer Belly” runs for three months and reaches a minimum of 2250 readers. Medway CAMRA are not It is available on subscription responsible for the content of 4 x 1st class stamps to: FULL HALF 1/4 or accuracy of any published MBB Subscriptions c/o PAGE adverts or articles 118 Gillingham Road, PAGE PAGE Gillingham, PLUS Cider & Perry • NEW Wine & Gin Bar • Music • Street Food £75 £45 £30 Copy deadline for next issue: Kent, ME7 4ER NEW International Beer Festival • Entertainment • NEW Beer Discovery Zone Monday 5th August 2019 E-mail: [email protected] 39 ad pi e de geo Th n

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