MMeerrssee yyAAllee CAMRA Liverpool & Districts Magazine Spring 20 11 FREE

Women and Real Ale the Liverpool Way CAMRA 40th

Top 4 Isle of Man News MerseyRAle Page 37

Back copies: merseyale.com www.merseycamra.org.uk Circulation 11,000

email [email protected] Photography Neil Lloyd Nikon D2X www.liontavern.com Welcome to MerseyAle The MerseyAle CAMRA Liverpool and Districts Branch

MerseyAle Editor Lion Tavern John Armstrong 67 Moorfields Liverpool L2 2BP Telephone 0151 236 1734 MerseyAle Contacts The Lion Tavern (Grade II Listed) is Liverpool’s FOOD Comments/news/letters/photos See the board for [email protected] finest Edwardian . It is an extravaganza of selection of good etched glass, carved wood and beautiful tiling. value food from our new MerseyAle Advertising It has a wonderful ornate wood carved bar plus menu two cosy side rooms one with a fantastic Cost - Full page £200 stained glass dome. The Lion Tavern is an QUIZ NIGHT Half page £100 Contact award winning pub serving excellent cask every Tuesday at 9.30pm [email protected] Life begins at Forty. Well that’s Capital of Britain draws visitors conditioned ales, cider and a large selection of what they say and CAMRA is and leaves them in no doubt about the finest malt whiskies. You can also enjoy a BOARD GAME MerseyAle about to put it to the test. the national quality of our pubs. fine selection of tasty food from our new menu. CLUB (back copies on line) CAMRA celebrated 40 years of Second - Bringing new people to Meet every Monday at www.merseyale.com successful campaigning on 16th real ale. 6.00pm March (page 4 and 19). CAMRA needs to introduce the new Liverpool and Districts CAMRA Thanks to the efforts of CAMRA it generations of people to real ale and ACOUSTIC Main Branch Contact can be said that real ale has been to real pubs so as to secure the future HAsuppNly a vDariedP seleUctionM of pPrize S NIGHT Jean Pownceby saved from the threat it faced in the of both. [email protected] 1960s and 70s of imminent Liverpool CAMRA has developed a winning Real Ales (including at least one Second Thursday of the Month 8pm extinction. People Power stopped Bringing New People to Real Ale locally brewed ale) plus hand pulled Cider Contact for Socials and the Big Six Brewers in their tracks. campaign. 8 Coach Trips only CAMRA has since gone on to be Events are being organised to BOB DYLAN SOCIETY Ian MacAdam 07521 741 586 acclaimed as the most successful introduce Women and Real Ale consumer organisation in Europe. (page 11 and 12). It may not be Meets first Thursday of Over 80 Malt CAMRA Branch Chair appreciated that national figures the Month 8.30pm However Forty is a time to look show that it is women who are Geoff Edwards forward not just back Whiskies MEET THE BREWER [email protected] driving real ale growth (page 10). The Lion Tavern has one of the largest Third Thursday of the Whilst the battle for real ale may Running in parallel is a programme Month 8pm Web Sites have been largely won, two new to Introduce Young People to Real selections of malt whisky on battlegrounds now loom large, and POETRY GET Liverpool and Districts Ale. CAMRA needs to build the CAMRA Branch Liverpool CAMRA is rising to the next generation of real ale drinkers. TOGETHER www.merseycamra.org.uk challenge; Liverpool CAMRA has a new Young Fourth Thursday of the First – the Battle for the very Persons officer Chris Flynn who Month 8pm survival of the British pub. is organising the programme Isle of Man CAMRA Branch Around 29 pubs are closing every and can be contacted on V6 Adventure www.isleofmancamra.org.uk week with pubs facing a perfect [email protected] Club storm of economic recession and Meet every Wednesday CAMRA national site The lesson of the last 40 years is clear cheap supermarket alcohol. Yet Real at 8.00pm www.camra.org.uk and applies equally to the next 40 Ale is the unique selling point of the British Pub. Only in the pub can you Don’t Agonise – Organise !! enjoy real ale from the cask. Equally So let’s make a difference. no pubs means no where to drink Don’t delay – Join CAMRA today – real ale. Real Ale is an important page 53. economic advantage for the pub. Cover: CAMRA Womens tasting Liverpool CAMRA has worked hard evening, The Dispensary to promote our pubs. WEEKLY LOCALE Picture by Neil Lloyd • The annual Liverpool Real Ale See Board for future Pubs Festival and Pubs Passport, Real Ales “One of the Hundred The opinions expressed in MerseyAle are not which runs through September and Best Pubs in the necessarily those of the Editor, the CAMRA October, features over 80 real ale Sean and Michael would like to welcome customers country” Liverpool Branch or CAMRA Ltd. pubs. old and new to the Lion Tavern Daily Telegraph • The title Liverpool Real Ale Pubs John Armstrong Editor

PUB OF EXCELLENCE 2009 BEST QUALITY ALE 2006 CASK MARQUE CAMRA NATIONAL INVENTORY PUB 3 Michael Hardman records in his Indian restaurant, we developed a said with wrinkled brow and CAMRA Celebrates 40 book Called to the Bar that; consensus of complaint of the screwed up eyes 'we should get this lousy quality of much of the beer CAMRA business going as a proper Years of Real Ale Success “The first time the four of us came we had drunk. "Too fizzy" said consumer campaign instead of just together was in March 1971, when Mellor. "No character" said buggering about singing We're Now the Battleground Shifts to Saving the British Pub we gathered in on the Makin. "Too dear" said Lees. Only Here for the Ale' " evening before we were due to fly "Tastes sickly" said I." be forced down the throats of the The Battle for Real Ale may off to Ireland on a seven-day Enter the Campaign for the The is nation’s drinkers. have been won but now a boozing holiday organised by Lees. "Almost a year later, our Irish Revitalisation of Ale, soon to be celebrating 40 years of success in All of us were under 25 and fond of holiday now a fond memory, Lees Then four friends from the North new battle looms. The memorably renamed the campaigning for real ale, during a few pints. and I were doing the rounds of West of England Michael Battle for the British Pub. Campaign for Real Ale. The rest is which time it has become pubs in Chester again when Lees Hardman, Graham Lees, Bill history. recognised as Europe’s leading As we traipsed from pub to pub became uncharacteristically Mellor and Jim Makin resolved to Geoff Edwards comments, consumer organisation with over and finally to the compulsory serious. 'You know, Hardman',' he 120,000 members. challenge the loss of Britain’s “The very survival of a great traditional cask beers. The result British institution, the British Pub Now forty years on the battle for was the establishment of the is at stake. Currently pubs are Greg Mulholland congratulates CAMRA real ale may be largely won but the Campaign for the Revitalisation of closing at the rate of 29 per week. new battle ground has shifted to Ale which was soon renamed as Pubs are facing a perfect storm of on 40 years of campaigning the very survival of the British Pub. the more catchy Campaign for Real economic recession and greedy Currently nationwide 29 pubs are Ale. The title Real Ale was born. PubCos who are demanding including guest beer rights and a “We are immensely proud of closing every week and this iconic unrealistically high rents and genuine free of tie option. reaching the grand old age of By 1973 membership had leapt to a forty and not only to have British institution is under threat as charging well over the odds for • Thirdly proper recognition, remarkable 5,000 and the next year survived but to be going from never before. beer. through taxation, of the 1974 it had nearly doubled to 9,000 strength to strength as we battle There is a need for government importance of beer and of pubs. Geoff Edwards Chair of the with the first local Branches action to curb the powers of the to preserve a beer style virtually Liverpool and Districts Branch established. Merseyside CAMRA unique to the . PubCos and to back community Greg commented: which was launched in 1974 branch was set up in January 1974 locals. The Prime Minister claims commented; at a meeting in the Globe pub to be leading a pub friendly “The campaigning work done by “They say that life begins at 40. “It is fair to say that without Cases Street. government. CAMRA says let him Liberal Democrat MP, Chair of the CAMRA has been remarkable We intend to stick to that and to CAMRA real ale, Britain’s The organisation rapidly became prove it.” All-Party Save the Pub Group and and they are rightly regarded as keep on campaigning for what we national drink, would have known for its vigorous long time campaigner for the one of the most successful believe in. disappeared under a tide of fizzy campaigning at both national and A national survey by CAMRA British pub, Greg Mulholland, has consumer campaigns ever in this keg beers which the big brewers local levels. shows that 84% of people believe a congratulated CAMRA, on the country. Without CAMRA, we “Some people say the battle is heavily promoted through the 60s organisations 40th anniversary by would not have the huge variety won and we should wind down. The first edition of the CAMRA pub is as essential to village life as and 70s. CAMRA has been the tabling a Parliamentary Early Day of stunning beer we enjoy in this Not with the assault on well run Good Beer Guide described a shop or post office. most successful example to date of Motion commending them on country. community pubs from both the Watney’s Red Barrel as “avoid like Pubs are central to the social and people power stopping big reaching this milestone and what tax man and the supermarkets the plague,” which after a threat of community life of their local areas business in its tracks and forcing they have achieved in this time. “I am delighted to table a motion continuing. We are in it for the legal action by Watney’s led to a and their closure can rip the heart them to retreat from their “one size out of a community leaving people to ensure that CAMRA receive the long haul.” rewording to “avoid at all costs.” At CAMRA’s annual Parl- fits all” policy.” with nowhere to meet or enjoy acknowledgement they deserve in The inevitable result of this heavy amentary reception, National social activities. Parliament for their sterling work The EDM wording In 1971 real ale looked set for handed censorship by Watney’s Chairman of CAMRA, Colin over the past 40 years, in Congratulates CAMRA, the extinction as brewer after brewer was massive media coverage for Valentine, the Community Pubs campaigning to first save then Campaign for Real Ale, on switched to easy to keep the underdog, CAMRA, and the CAMRA – the Chester Minister, Bob Neill and Greg champion real ale and working to reaching their 40th pasteurised long life fizzy keg beer. campaign was well and truly on its Mulholland MP, all took the Connection preserve the great British pub. Anniversary this year; notes Most notorious was the national way on a tide of national publicity. opportunity to congratulate that CAMRA now has over advertising campaign for Watney’s From a situation in 1971 when There is a common belief that CAMRA members for their “I am delighted that they have no 120,000 individual consumer Keg Red Barrel which looked set to there were 170 breweries by 2010 CAMRA was founded whilst campaigning work and their intention of resting on their members; believes that the that number had rocketed to 767as Michael Hardman, Bill Mellor, successes over the past 40 years. laurels and I know that they will size of their membership Graham Lees, journalists from the the demand for real ale generated At the reception, with Bob Neill continue to lead the fight for real illustrates the continues and Liverpool and areas, an explosion in the number of present, Greg also laid out three beer as a great national drink and growing importance of real ale and Jim Makin who worked for a micro breweries across every part key issues that we must see a result for pubs as the proper place to and well-run pubs within our brewery in , were on communities; welcomes their of Britain. on in 2011; enjoy it and look forward to holiday in Ireland. What is not continuing to work with them in work in speaking up for In Liverpool City Centre there widely realised is that the seeds of • Firstly greater protection for the Save the Pub and Beer Groups community pubs, small were just NINE real ale pubs listed what was to become the Campaign pubs in planning law ensuring in parliament”. brewers and consumer rights; in the 1974 Good Beer Guide whilst for Real Ale were sown in planning permission is required and hopes that their success in the 2011 edition there are 24 , CHESTER during a pub crawl for demolition and change of use. National Chairman of CAMRA, continues. testament to the Real Ale Revival prior to leaving for Ireland. • Secondly reform of the beer tie Colin Valentine, commented: led by CAMRA. 4 5 Yet More New Outlets for Real THE DISPENSARY Ale in Liverpool CAMRA Pub of the Year 2010 The wave of new real ale outlet falling into disrepair and The BierKeller World Beer Bar openings continues, becoming the focus of the Stanley Street/Dale Street corner demonstrating the market Liverpool Echo Stop the Rot City Centre strength of real ale in the city. campaign to save threatened www.liverpoolkeller.com buildings. The building partially The Hub Alehouse and Kitchen collapsed in October 2000 and its Casartelli Building, 12 Hanover future looked bleak, but in Street, City Centre January 2002 it was announced an exact replica of the building was to be built on site. This opened in 2007 with a 34 room apartment hotel on the upper floors. The Hub occupies the whole of the ground floor giving a large open plan space accommodating around 160 people, which is divided into four seating areas, some for eating and some for Special Discount Offer for drinking. There is a mixture of CAMRA Members The Hub is a combination of a bar, seating and table styles. Décor is The Bierkeller is offering a 20 pub, gastropub and restaurant cream with a polished wood floor pence discount on a pint of featuring four hand pumped real and exposed brick walls with real ale and 10 pence on a half ales. Business partners Mark feature cabinets displaying bottled to card carrying CAMRA beers. The ceiling is grey with members on production of the Dispensary - Friend and Steve Slater who own exposed metal ducting CAMRA card. Supporting Local Beers the three Pierre French bistros in the city centre have had backing The L shaped bar features four Special joint BierKeller and from the Royal Bank of to hand pumps serving four real ales Liverpool CAMRA Event launch their new venture the Hub which change every month. Initial Thursday 12th May 8pm in the Casartelli Building at the examples were Lancaster Brewery An evening event for Young John Lewis end of Hanover Street. Amber and Blond, Liverpool People and new CAMRA Organic Brewery beers and members to enjoy a selection The Dispensary provides a varied and The Grade 2 listed Casartelli Greene King Abbott. The bottled of real ales and some live Building is in fact a remarkable beer range is a limited range of acoustic music in the cavern interesting selection of real ales from reconstruction of the original 1760 Usual Suspects world beers. basement room at the structure. The Casartelli building the best Micro Brewers in the country. BierKeller. You will be surprised at the choice There is an extensive range of food, with light bites served 12 to 4.30 and a full This cellar bar opened in July 2010 menu throughout the day, and was one of a wave of new bars A Warm Welcome to the Dispensary (CAMRA which includes dishes such in the city centre making a feature as game and fish pies, of selling real ale. Owners Carolyn Liverpool & Districts Pub of the Year 2010) braised oxtail, pork belly, Russell and Dave Parry are from Pauline, Dave and all their staff steak burgers and Welsh enthusiasts for real ale and are Black steaks. Sunday roasts keen to develop the range on are served 12 to 4.30pm. offer. The BK is free of tie and Breakfasts and Brunch are Carolyn and Dave will take full Handpulls serving served weekends 9am to advantage of being free to choose 2pm. The Hub is already the beers they want to stock. very busy especially Cask Ales for food. Initially the name Bierkeller and takes its name from the Italian the launch publicity may have led 8 family who ran a scientific and traditional Cloudy Cider Opening times are Mon to Weds to the impression that the bar was instrument manufacturing 12 to 11pm; Thurs and Fri 12 to 12; primarily a German lager beers bar RENSHAW STREET, LIVERPOOL business from there. Later it Sats 9am to midnight; Suns 9am rather than also a real ale bar. The became a wine warehouse before to 11. initially slow sales of the real ales (Formerly The Grapes) 0151 709 2160 7 F www.vernonarms.co.uk Welcome to the affected the beer quality, and this • Plans to major on the more also been a great success winning in turn deterred customers from specialist, exciting and harder to the Manchester CAMRA Branch asking for the real ales. obtain Belgian micro brewery Pub of the Season beers, such as De Ranke XX However Carolyn and Dave are bitter, Saison Dupont, St Bernadus Another big attraction is the world Verno nAr ms made of the right real ale stuff and Abt 12, Oud Beersel Gueuze, and beer range which is attractively Cheers from Jimmy and Barbara Monaghan were determined to preserve and La Chouffe. presented in table beer menus The Vernon Arms, Dale Street, Liverpool develop the real ale offering. The beer quality has been attended to • Tuesday features an increasingly and recent tastings have recorded popular quiz night with a prize of Handpumps (4 Ever-changing) a £50 bar tab 6 Events can be checked on the new Regulars: Rev James & Johnnie Handsome website www.liverpoolkeller.com I I Guest Ciders Big screen football The Pi Bar I Belgian bottled beers I Private functions Rose Lane Mossley Hill www.pi- I Food Mon-Thurs 12- catered (Lathom Lounge) roselane.co.uk 7pm, Fri- Sun 12-4pm I 10% student discount Check out Great Meal Deals off food menu with well written tasting notes and “if you liked this try also…” very good standards. Interesting suggestions. Pi is one of few bars The Vernon Arms offers all of the above in a friendly and safe atmosphere plus: beers from micro breweries in Liverpool that offers the Belgian around the country are being beer La Chouffe on draught and Live entertainment Friday and Saturday sourced including the likes of this is proving very popular. Thornbridge, Brew Dog, Opening Times Mon-Thurs 11-11.30pm; Fri & Sat 11.30-2am depending on Blakemere and Liverpool One. In these depressing economic customer demand; Sun 12-11pm Tel: 0151 236 6132 times you are invited to “Keep Another issue being addressed is Calm and Eat More Pies”, the the lack of real ale publicity at the slogan of the Pieminister specialist entrance to the bar. A pavement pie company from who The Refurbished “A” board and a blackboard will supply Pi (geddit?) with a changing announce the names of the guest choice of their pies. Georgian Quarter real ales and at the bar there will For a bar that only opened in Community Pub a board listing the guest ales with November 2010 the Pi Bar is Caledonia tasting notes. New table beer proving to be a real ale runaway menus with tasting notes are success and a breath of fresh air planned for May, plus more visible for Mossley Hill. It has certainly HANDPUMPS promotion of the real ales. struck a chord with the young 4 professionals in the area, such that Taylors Golden Best New developments include; the 40 odd seats in the shop front plus 3 changing Guest Beers from Micro and bar are often at a premium in the • Plans for expansion of the real evenings. There is a well worn Regional Breweries ale offering as sales develop by trail from the entrance to Mossley installing a further two hand Hill station the hundred yards to Live Music pumps, one of which is likely to the door of the Pi bar. feature a real cider. Loose Moose Bluegrass Three real ales are on offer by Pi opening hours have been • A new kitchen which from early hand pump, including the popular extended and are now 11am to April will offer home cooked house beer Tatton Blonde which is late seven days a week. Sundays fortnightly at 8pm dishes such as quality soups, a rarity for Liverpool. The other The question is can Pi extend the casseroles and sandwiches served two beers are changing guests premises by FUNCTION from 12 to approx 8pm from micro breweries 3.141592653589793323846 GOOD VALUE supplemented by a hand pumped recurring to infinity to provide the HOME COOKED ROOM • Live bands playing acoustic real cider. extra seats !! FOOD Available for hire music including a monthly folk night, and a weekly spot for bands Manager Ben Reynolds knows his Train Lime Street Mainline City Catharine Street Tel 0151 708 0235 Open 12 – 11 Sun – Thurs; 12 -12 Fri and Sat from the Liverpool Band Society. beers and how to look after them. Line 10 minutes journey to Mossley Hill. Buses 80,80A,61 Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/caledonialiverpool He comes with the experience of • A fully revised World Beer menu running the sister Pi Bar in and 173. will be introduced in May. Chorlton Manchester which has 8 9 different flavours, complexity and character of Introducing Women to Women Driving flavour. The number of women who drink real ale has DOUBLED from; 630,000 in 2008 To 1.3 million in Real Ale the Liverpool Way Real Ale Growth 2009 conversation and discussion Liverpool CAMRA members, Jean The Cask Report 2009 reveals that women are ASDA Ale Survey driving the growth in real ale sales. Contrary to about the merits of the Pownceby, Jan Sorsby and Helen A survey by ASDA supermarkets shows that sales different beers. Our aim was McCall , pictured left. popular perception that real ale is not a women’s of bottled ales are soaring among younger men to invite women who were drink, the facts are that; The six beers tasted were Salopian and women, with six out of ten men aged 21-34 new to real ale or had never Oracle, Ossett Silver King, • One in six women now drink real ale favouring ale over lager, while a quarter of women tried it before and we George Wright Mark’s Mild, • Women now account for one in six of all real ale prefer a glass of ale over wines and spirits. encouraged them to bring a Cains Bitter, Titanic Compass and drinkers Sales of premium bottled ales are up a remarkable female friend. We also wanted Titanic Plum Porter. • The number of women who have tried real ale 22% amongst shoppers in their 20s and early 30s to give them a favourable has doubled impression that traditional Jean Pownceby comments; • The number who continue to drink it has pubs can be women friendly. “The clear message is that if doubled A full house of 30 women, many of All present commented that the CAMRA wants to bring new • Women are interested in range of beer styles, them new to real ale, acclaimed the event had given them a much more people to real ale then it needs to Liverpool and Districts CAMRA favourable opinion of both real ale go to them with the opportunity Branch “Women and Real Ale and of pubs. An additional spin off to taste real ales in a relaxed Tasting” evening with a sustained was comments that the event friendly environment. If it wants round of applause, having tasted changed their view of CAMRA, to involve more women then it six very different real ales and now seeing it as an active and also needs to arrange social events enjoyed some excellent food. welcoming organisation with that are attractive to women as a something to offer women.” A survey of those present revealed regular part of the Branch social the interesting result that most One of the participants Geraldine programme.” would definitely join CAMRA if Roberts-Stone commented; similar social events attractive to A survey of those present women were organised by the “Everything seemed to go really conducted by CAMRA Member Branch on a quarterly basis. well. It's certainly persuaded me to Zoe Manning* produced The try new things in the pub next interesting results which have time. It was good to see everyone's an important message for opinions noted up in the book for involving women in real ale future reference. Crow ’s Nest It was like women drinkers were •Twenty six of the thirty really being listened to. women said they would join 63 Victoria Rd, Crosby. 0151 924 6953 I enjoyed learning a bit more about CAMRA if the Branch ran Merseyrail - Blundellsands & Crosby station - 10 min walk different beers, and to appreciate quarterly events of this type the taste and appearance outside attractive to women. Four Regular my "comfort zone."” •All said they had thoroughly The event was organised in enjoyed the evening and were partnership with the Liverpool pleased that CAMRA had made Real Ales Pub of the Year the Dispensary a real effort to listen to their and constantly This was the first event in the new whose licensee Pauline Keady opinions. Liverpool CAMRA Branch Williams and husband Dave gave * Read Zoe’s article on next page changing Guest Ales programme of six events through great support. the year entitled Bringing New The pub was Beers from breweries all over the country! People to Real Ale. Further events chosen as it is a are planned aimed at women and The Crow’s Nest is a charming grade II listed leading also for Young People and recently example of how building with a cosy bar, tiny snug and comfortable joined CAMRA members with the a traditional lounge. You’ll enjoy a warm welcome and great aim of encouraging them to pub is women beer in this beautiful old pub. become active in the organisation. friendly and One of the event organisers recognised as Voted Best Community Pub 2004/5 Liverpool CAMRA member Jean safe place for Pownceby said; women to visit. Pub of Excellence 2002/3 The event was Above awards from Liverpool and districts CAMRA. Recommended in the Good Beer Guide “The room was buzzing organised by throughout with social three women 10 11 What Women Want with Real Ale and CAMRA A wild and windy Monday night in February saw the arrival of an unusual crowd in the CAMRA Pub of the Year, The Dispensary, Renshaw Street. Rather than the anoraks and backpacks that we’d usually see squeezing through those bright red doors - like spots caught between two thumbs - this otherwise Dickensian night was transformed by the tinkle of heeled ‘real ale’ in polite conversation. with”, “There’s a stigma attached to a shoes on the polished wooden floor woman drinking a pint” , came the and laughter rang out across the This reporter jumped straight in quick retorts and I was hearing the rainy cobbles. with the big question: “why don’t you drink real ale?” same points again and again. Enter the Women “Sometimes we do” , came the Gulping down another sample, this It was ‘out with the bald and in response from one thirty-something, time of Titanic Compass , I raised with the blonde’, as one regular was “but how are we supposed to choose the issue of presentation. Most of the women that evening said they heard to mumble under his muzzy, one we’ll like every time if we don’t would much prefer the ‘package’ of days later. But seriously, mildly know what to ask for and there are no sexist jokes aside! Isn’t it about time a branded glass and not-so- tasting notes anyway? I’m not going we broke down the stereotypes of surprisingly mentioned that real ale to hold up a bar full of people after real ale drinkers and focused isn’t generally marketed for women. work on a Friday night asking the instead on the reasons why there Turning our thoughts from dark bartender for a description of six are fewer women involved in memories of busty-blondes in rabbit different ales that won’t make any CAMRA than men. Needless to say ears on pump clips and names such sense to me anyway!” that the thirty or so women who as ‘Old Slapper’, we sampled my turned up for our CAMRA tasting favourite beer of the evening- social were not only unstoppably Titanic Plum Porter . Opinions were stylish, but clearly had great taste as as mixed as the tastes of the beers well! So why is it that we see less and I was bewildered when most women in real ale pubs? women came down in favour of the lighter brews, like our final taster, Jean, Jan and Helen, the female Oakhams JHB. organisers of this night of FUN, greeted each new arriver, not only Women Friendly Socials are the with beaming smiles of anticipation, Key for CAMRA but with delicious canapés as well! But whether we preferred the rich After being led to their seats in the fruity porter or the dry hops of the VIP ‘reserved’ section of the pub, pale ales, we all had one thing we This was a good point, although the the women were plied with snacks agreed on: WE WANT MORE tasting evening would allow for an and dips from every angle; it was a SOCIALS! increase in beer vocabulary, I feast. After all, what’s the point in being struggled to think of many real ale in a club if you don’t get the chance Once Pauline and Bar Lord Dave, pubs I frequent that do have tasting to meet the other members? All the the licensees at the Dispensary, had notes for the ales. So how’s a gal women who attended our night of said a few words to get the evening t’know? off to an official start- to the delight high spirits and getting to know of all involved- out came the free Feeling like the pieces of this puzzle each other said that they would beer! where starting to come together I definitely join CAMRA if it meant helped myself to a George Wright regular social events, such as the Survey of Views – Why Don’t You Mark’s Mild and an Ossett Silver tasting evening. Joyce, one of only Drink Real Ale? King and while Jean talked us two CAMRA members to attend Slurping away at my own sample of through the tasting notes I shuffled told us that her husband used to Salopian Oracle , I set out armed round to some more familiar faces say, “ There are only two types of with my notebook to do some and asked them the same question. beer worth drinking, one is real SOUND THE PIBROCH Stanley Street, in full Highland dress, acrobatics round the crowded tables beer, and the other is free beer!” and see if I could uncover the truth “Some of my work-mates think it’s Another first for the Liverpool Beer Festival was the (yes that does include a kilt), followed by Scottish piper Amen sister. about women and that sweet sweet frumpy”, “ I don’t really have a ceremonial walk through the Crypt Concert Room and Gordon Todd from Clackmannanshire. nectar we at CAMRA refer to as group of women to drink real ale Zoe Manning the Beer Hall led by Liverpool CAMRA member Angus The acoustics of the Cryptt proved that the pipes are a Morrison, from the Isle of Lewis and the Delifonseca natural partner for the building. 12 13 Lifetime Achievement

The Richmond is a traditional Award Awarded to Alfie and Jackie family-run pub in the heart of the city centre and has been Buxton and the White Star trading as a pub for over a • One of the first pubs in Liverpool to run its own hundred years. Paddy Golden real ale pubs festival presenting a wide range of 1926 - 2004 beers not at that time seen in the city The regular real ales on Richmond Regular offer are Southport Golden • Maintained the White Star as a champion of real Sands, George Wright and ales in the midst of the lager bars in the Cavern the Famous Draught Bass Quarter. plus 3 rotating • Made the pub a “must visit” experience for the visitor with its vast range of Liverpool historical Guest Ales memorabilia plus the chance to sit in the same seats as the Fab Four used to collect their gig fees. We regularly have Champion Southport Brewery • Having more brass plaques outside than any Golden Sands won the Beer of Britain Winner- Alfie and Derek Coulter other building in Liverpool, recording the Best Bitter category at Caledonian Brewery the Champion Beer of Southport Golden Sands remarkable number of twinning arrangements with Britain Competition The CAMRA Liverpool Beer Festival was the bars and football teams across Europe !!! 2009 on sale prestigious venue for the presentation a very • Featuring the smallest smoking garden in THE RICHMOND 32 WILLIAMSON STREET L1 1EB special Lifetime Achievement Award to mark the Liverpool which is decorated with hand painted . work of one of Liverpool’s leading licensees murals depicting Liverpool scenes. Alfie Buxton licensee of the White Star, Rainford Geoff Edwards Chair of Liverpool and Districts Gardens in the Cavern Quarter for over twenty CAMRA said; years, has been selected for his many contributions “Alfie and the White Star stand out as a beacon of to promoting real ale and real pubs in Liverpool. real ale in the Cavern Quarter and warrant national Ably assisted by his wife Jackie Buxton they have appreciation for how he has developed the pub The Lord Warden is the sister pub built the White Star into a famous Liverpool into a living history of Liverpool life. A visitor could to the famous Richmond pub and institution. has had a complete refurbishment spend hours just looking at the profusion of items The Award, including a Scottish Quaich, a decorating the walls. This is a gem in the heart of inside and out. ceremonial drinking cup, was presented by the Liverpool.” Managing Director of Caledonian Brewery Stephen Crawley, himself an old boy of Birkenhead School and a great fan of Liverpool pubs as being amongst There are 3 hand pumps the best in Britain. serving a variety of Local Stephen Crawley said and Regional Ales “Alfie has done an amazing job in constantly developing the White Star as an iconic traditional Liverpool pub which should be on every visitor’s We are one of the least expensive pubs in itinery. He has a long standing commitment to real Liverpool. So come inside and enjoy a ale, dating from times when real ale was not the good pint in a friendly local atmosphere success story it is today. He has created a classic traditional pub in midst of the “here today gone tomorrow” youth bars in the Cavern Quarter. The The Lord Warden Road interior is a treasure trove of memorabilia, Liverpool photographs and original paintings of Liverpool life and history which would do credit to the new Liverpool Museum” The list of Alfie’s and Jackie’s achievements is impressive. 14 15 BBrreewweerr yynneewwss

Crack of Doom in ? Whist Doom Bar was a pleasant architect Sir Joseph Paxton, who For Sharp’s Now Read Molson standard beer it was the other designed Birkenhead Park, the first Coors !! lesser known Sharp’s beers that public park in Britain, and which stood out as something special and became the model for Central Park Not quite so alluring is it? No it is these that in New York. A copper coloured resonance of Cornish cliffs and may well fall mix of dark mild and blonde beer, coves and seaside. Rather of an by the wayside this is described as a 'very American multi national brewer under a drinkable ale with a complex array better known for its freezing cold national tide of of malt, chocolate and then citrus rice beer rather than real ale. Molson Coor’s overtones'. Having contracted out the brewing Doom Bar. of its once iconic Draught Bass to With funding support from Wirral Sharp’s was founded in 1994 and Marston’s at Burton on Trent and Council and help from Barclay's last year had a turnover of £16.1m, declaring they were now leaving Bank and the Manufacturing producing 70,000 barrels of beer. real ale brewing to those who did it Advisory Service (MAS), best, the Molson Coors empire has CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner investment has been made in decided to gobble up Sharp’s said "Whilst we welcome the fact that equipment, including 220 new ale Brewery in Cornwall for a cool £20 one of the UK's biggest brewers casks from Hereford Casks Ltd and million. This follows Coors one realises that there is a future for real cask washing equipment supplied ale, we regret that they have decided to million pound investment in their by Johnson Brewing & Engineering take this route and buy Sharp's Ltd of . Museum Brewery at Burton on brewery." Trent which brews the famous This will facilitate a 40% increase White Shield and the new Red "What future will there be for Sharp's in production capacity to a total of Shield beers. other beers such as Cornish Coaster 140 nines a week. and Own?" he asked. So what is going on? Throughout the latest expansion The attraction to Coors is project, Peerless was assisted by New Real Ales and Investment immediate access to the British real Wirral Council's business support at Peerless Brewery Birkenhead ale guest ale market by acquiring team, Invest Wirral, which enabled If you have not yet been to our shop in Sharp’s leading national brand not only funding support but also Woolton village, it is well worth a visit! Doom Bar which is the fastest worked closely with the company growing guest ale in London and in helping to develop a business In our quaint old dairy you will find the South East. It is more plan and strategy for growth. debateable whether the lesser over 200 specialist and artisan known Sharp’s beers such as A trainee brewer Mark Powell has Cornish Coaster, Own, Special been taken on supported through cheeses matured on site and Chalkie’s Bite will be the Wirral Council Apprenticeship We have a great range of products to accompany your Birkenhead's Peerless Brewing continued. Company has invested in new Scheme and a Sales Manager is to cheese – fresh bread, olives, chutney, fine wines biscuits brands and equipment and hopes being appointed. The attraction to Sharp’s. and much more to expand the company nationally. We are very proud of our great range of local bottled Well as Mrs Merton famously said The current core real ale portfolio beers including: Liverpool One, Liverpool Organic, to Debbie Magee “What was it The Peerless beer range has been is Red Rocks (5%abv), Triple Wapping, Peerless, Frodsham, Beartown, Southport that attracted you to multi strengthened with the launch of Blond (4.1%abv) and strong ruby brewery, George Wright and more. millionaire Paul Daniels?” two new ales celebrating Wirral's ale Full Whack (6%abv). Twenty million pounds buys a lot local history. For the summer Storr lager will be We also provide gift hampers, deliveries, cheeses for of Cornish Pasties. brewed as a seasonal ale, while weddings and wine and cheese tasting packages. Viking Gold (4.6%abv) is Sharp’s owners made no secret of described as a new 'well balanced further new brews are also You can find us at: the fact they regarded the brewery golden ale', highlighting the planned. 29a Woolton Street L25 5NH, telephone 4283942 as an investment and from day one heritage of the Wirral Peninsula as or Farmers Markets at Woolton, Lark Lane, Neston, had their eye on an exit strategy the 9th century Norse capital of Chester Ales – A New Brewery Mount Pleasant, Waterloo, Southport and a healthy financial gain. Their Britain. Plans are afoot for a new real ale approach emphasised brand brewery in Chester provisionally Visit our website at www.liverpoolcheesecompany.co.uk for more details or check out our Facebook and Twitter pages Paxton's Peculiar (4.1%abv) pays development with Doom bar the named Chester Ales. tribute to acclaimed 19th century prime example. 16 17 RRoossccooee HHeeaadd CAMRA 40 Up 24 Roscoe Street L1 2SX A Double Celebration in Liverpool Tel: 0151 709 4365

www.roscoehead.co.uk

programme broadcast a live interview Carol second left, Margaret from the pub, during which the Roscoe centre with Geoff Edwards Head was described as “a national The Roscoe Head is a true English public and the Roscoe Staff treasure”. Passers by will be in doubt house with lots of character. One of the few about the Roscoe Head’s claim to fame as pubs in Liverpool and indeed Great Britain to Where better to celebrate CAMRA’s 40th Liverpool CAMRA have have survived the onslaught of the super pub Anniversary other than in one of Britain’s provided Carol with an eight chains and remains unspoilt. With a recent Magnificent Seven Pubs. sympathetic refurbishment, which has still foot banner which is now managed to retain its original character, The Roscoe Head, Roscoe Street, is one of only proudly displayed on the The Roscoe Head is a very special SEVEN pubs in the whole of Britain that that have front of the building. watering hostelry. been in EVERY edition of the CAMRA Good Beer For the event the pub was Consisting of two small rooms, a main bar and a Guide since it was decked out inside with a tiny snug, conversation definitely rules at this first published in festive display of balloons establishment, not here will be found a jukebox 1974. or fruit machines, just good beer, traditional provided by the Liverpool food and a warm welcome, all delivered by our Tetley’s Bitter and Jennings Bitter There was another Branch, including large gold friendly and well-trained staff. double when stars displaying both the The Roscoe Head is a town local with customers licensee Carol Ross CAMRA 40th Anniversary from all walks of life, the backroom debates are PLUS 4 was joined by her logo and the Branch Liver bird. The balloons always entertaining whether it be politics or Constantly Changing mother Margaret appeared in the press photos. football on the agenda the banter who was the is always good. The festivities continued with an evening event for licensee before Carol. The Roscoe Head has the CAMRA GUEST BEERS! distinction of having been run by members of the members and same family for over 30 years, which without doubt Roscoe Head Try our delicious home- is a factor regulars, at in the high which both cooked food standards Carol and Geoff set at the served Mon- to Fri 11.30am - 2.30 pm Edwards Chair of pub. the Branch Popular Quiz Night The 40th welcomed on Tuesday, always fun! event everyone and We also have a cribbage night on attracted toasted both Wednesdays much CAMRA’s achievements and the proud record of media the Roscoe Head. There was also a rallying cry that attention, the new battleground is the survival of the British Winner of many awards and the only North West pub to feature in every edition with full page articles in both the Liverpool Echo pub in the face of the many challenges to its of the Good Beer Guide. That’s 37 years of Good Beer Guide entries! and the Daily Post. Radio Merseyside evening news economic future.

18 119 9 MerseyAle news

two progressive rock Anfield is being converted into 60 Roscoe St (corner of Knight St ) L1 9DW 0151 708 6870 themed concerts to the flats. Merseyside region in June this year, along Liverpool Cheese Company in 6Handpumps with their 'real ale & Woolton Village real music' tagline (see Are currently selling a selection of Serving constantly the advert in this issue). local brewery bottled beers, According to promoter including Liverpool Organic changing cask ales Neil Haigh there is a Brewery, George Wright, Peerless, always at least one LocAle from very good link between and Liverpool One Brewery beers. the two; "We put The beers are selling from £3.15 per Liverpool Organic Brewery together a Genesis bottle. tribute concert at Pacific Opening Times; Tunnale at Bears Paw Road Arts Centre 1p m -12.30pm Sun, Mon , Tues, Weds around 18 months ago, and we The Bears Paw on Irvine Street 1pm -1.30am Thurs, Fri, Saturday centred it around two classic Edge Hill now stocks the Liverpool Genesis albums, along with our Organic Brewery bottled beer very own Genesis branded real ale LIVE JAZZ EVERY Tunnale, the latest in the 'Squonk' (which was supplied by LOB series of Liverpool Heroes LocAle Latest SUNDAY NIGHT 10pm -12 Betwixt Brewery of Birkenhead): beers. The beer CAMRA’s LocAle scheme For further details of music and events visit: thegrapesliverpool.co.uk this sold out almost immediately, commemorates promotes real ales brewed within followed not long after by the Joseph a 30 mile radius of the pub, Timothy Taylors Landlord! We Williamson, thereby supporting local brewers think there is nothing better than known as the Mole and reducing environmentally an evening of great rock music in a of Edge Hill for the damaging “beer miles”. fine concert venue along with a network of tunnels decent real ale on tap that you can Look for the LocAle sticker and he had dug under get from a bar set directly opposite pump clips in the pub. the area by men the stage!" So if you like Pubs interested in joining the returning from the progressive rock and real ale then LocAle scheme should contact Napoleonic Wars. it sounds like Pacific Road is the [email protected] The tunnels are place to be this June! still to be fully Liverpool pubs that have joined excavated and are Pub News the LocAle scheme are; so extensive that The Derby Arms in Woolton their full network has yet to be Village Augustus John Roscoe Head discovered. Has been taken over by Eunice Thompson and daughter Kelly Baltic Vernon Arms Members of the Friends formerly at the Carnafon Castle Belvedere Ye Cracke of Williamson’s Tunnels which is still been run by Robbie www.williamsontunnels.com are Blackburn The Carney. They are planning to photographed enjoying a drink of Arms Picturedrome promote the real ales and hope to Tunnale at the Bears Paw after a expand the selection to four. At Brewery Tap digging session at their tunnel site present they are selling Cains and Caledonia Kelly's on Paddington just behind the pub. Bombardier and are planning to Photo copyright of Chris Isles. Dispensary Dispensary regularly change the guest beers. Dr Duncans Cat and Fiddle Readers may be interested to know They are also looking to redecorate that the name Tunnale was a the pub in the near future and look Everyman Stamps suggestion of the MerseyAle forward to establishing it as a Grapes Stamps Too designer Dennis Jones who also popular village local. (Knight St) The Old Bank designed the bottle labels. Lord Warden Philharmonic Closed Pubs Real Rock Real Ale Gardeners Arms Broadgreen and The Lion Hall Specialist concert promoters the Knotty Ash are closed and Richmond Halton Castle UltimateSetlistLive are bringing boarded up. Cabbage Hall 20 21 winners then battling it out to reach home of Sarah Hughes ales. The the final stages of the National heart of this popular pub is the competition. small island servery with hatches Britain’s serving the central corridor, a small, CAMRA's National Pub of the Year cosy snug, and the large main competition is now in its 23rd year. room. It also has a benched tap To view a list of previous winners, room and a family room leading to Top 4 Pubs please visit the CAMRA website at a garden. Cobs are available. Local www.camra.org.uk/potywinners CAMRA Pub of the Year 2008, 2009 and 2010. The strong barley wine CAMRA has announced the true gem situated only a few National Pub of the Year Snowflake is on sale during the yards from Trafalgar Square runners-up: Christmas period.' winner of the National Pub CAMRA of the Year Award along with and the National Gallery, South West © the other three finalists and serving 8 real ales and a wide West Pennines the full list of Britain’s Top selection of real ciders and Salutation, Ham Green, Berkeley, The Taps, Henry Street, Lytham St perries at any one time. The Ham, , GL13 9QH Annes, , FY8 5LE 16 pubs, the winners of the Harp is revered for its high Tel. 01453 810284 Tel. 01253 736226, sixteen Regional Pub of the standards, with judges most www.thetaps.net Year Awards. impressed by the pub's 'Rural free house situated in the outstanding commitment and Severn Valley within walking 'This multi award-winning one- London Pub crowned 'Best in energy towards promoting distance of the Jenner Museum, roomed pub was CAMRA Branch Britain' by CAMRA Britain's national drink. Berkeley Castle and Deer Park. This Pub of The Year 2010, with six First ever London pub to win © CAMRA friendly local sources its beers from varying guest beers including a CAMRA's National Pub of the Year Kimberly Martin, CAMRA's nearby breweries and is popular cask mild. The pub supports the competition. London Regional Director, said: for her cellarmanship skills since with walkers and cyclists. The pub local lifeboat and rugby team, and the 1970's, but recent successes in has two cosy bars, with a log fire much memorabilia is displayed. © CAMRA The WINNER: ‘I never ceased to be impressed or CAMRA's West London Pub of the and a skittle alley/ function room. The landlord is the only person to The Harp, 47 Chandos Place, surprised by the continuing success of Year (2006, 2008, 2010) and London Food is served lunchtimes and win Branch Pub of the Year in two , London, a pub staffed by individuals so Regional Pub of the Year (2010) early evening. There is a child- different pubs. The venue stocks a WC2N 4HS have heralded national acclaim. friendly garden at the front of the regularly changing real cider.' pub. CAMRA Gloucestershire Pub CAMRA has announced that in the On hearing news of her success, of the Year 2010.' year of the organisation's 40th Bridget Walsh said: anniversary, The Harp, Covent Garden, is the first London pub to 'This news came as a complete shock Beacon Hotel, 129 Bilton Street, win its National Pub of the Year but of course we are delighted to be , DY3 1JE competition. named CAMRA's National Pub of the Tel. 01902 883380 Year. We pride ourselves on the range 'This beautifully-restored Victorian In next edition we will feature the CAMRA's National Pub of the Year and quality of our real ale and to be tap house and tower brewery is the other 12 regional winners. CAMRA accolade recognises all the criteria London's first ever National Pub of © that make a great pub, including the Year is a real honour. I would like atmosphere, decor, customer to thank my locals, CAMRA members service, value for money, clientele and particularly my brilliant staff, mix, and most importantly, the who made this a real team effort.' quality of the beer. Government Give Green Duty and VAT equate to 21p a unit or 47p a Julian Hough, CAMRA Pubs pint of 4% beer. However if the cost of The Harp is described in CAMRA's © CAMRA Director, concluded: Light for Supermarkets to production is factored in the floor price Good Beer Guide 2011 as 'a small, should be about 90p a pint. friendly, independent free house passionate about the real ale industry. 'The most impressive aspect of The carry on selling cheap which has become a haven for beer The Harp is a perfect example of how Harp is that it retains its appeal as booze The move will do nothing to relieve the choice, generally including a mild the London cask beer scene is reaching a true local, even though situated pressure on pubs where the price of a pint or porter, Dark Star and London in the tourist heart of the capital. out to new drinkers.' of beer is approaching £3.00. So Micro-brewery seasonal. The What makes a great pub is the The Government's announcement that they will ban below cost selling of alcohol is not supermarkets can carry on selling beer narrow bar is adorned with Bridget Walsh first took on The ability for it to welcome both below the cost of mirrors, theatrical memorabilia Harp as a tenanted pub in 1995 regulars and first time customers quite what it seems, for their definition of and portraits. There is no intrusive (buying the pub outright in 2009) alike and this is something it does "below cost" selling is merely the cost of bottled water. music or TV and a cosy upstairs and went about transforming it to perfection.' excise duty plus VAT. No account is taken of room provides refuge from the into a pub dedicated to real ale, the costs of production and distribution. Iain Loe busy throng.' real cider and real sausages. With Each CAMRA branch votes for more than 40 years experience in their top branch pub. The branch Owned by celebrated real ale the beer and pub industry, Bridget winners are entered into 16 pioneer Bridget Walsh, the pub is a has been winning CAMRA awards regional competitions, with the 16 22 23 saw the first waves of mass unemployment, of Real Music Real Public Spending and power cuts, while the Merseybeat wave had all but ebbed away, the Cavern was about to shut and the Iron Door had Ale Real Pubs slammed for the last time. Dear MerseyAle, All over Britain it was the pub venues that saved For better or for worse, the first time I was paid to us and in turn the musicians, poets and play a music engagement or gig, it was in the performers who saved them as club-land closed. upstairs room of licensed premises. That those premises are now known as the "Ship & Mitre" in From the Spinners' Clubs at Gregson's Well in Dale Street is hugely significant. Islington and the Triton in Paradise Street, O'Connor's Tavern and Ye Cracke, Streets, the The "Mitre", as it was then known, was an White House, the Masonic and Peter Kavanagh's idiosyncratic environment whose downstairs was there has been a long and illustrious tradition of full of eccentric looking patrons were wont to unity between pub venues their patrons and stand up and dance to the Perry Como-playing musicians which has produced such luminaries as juke-box at the proverbial "drop of a hat", about Elvis Costello, Connie Lush, The Icicle Works, as far removed from "Rock & Roll" as could be. It John O'Connell and Charlie Landsborough. was, however a breeding ground for the kind of songwriting folk, acoustic and blues players We take this tradition for granted at our peril. whose sons and daughters now grace the very same venue under the guise of "Nu-Folk". I would like to appeal to all involved in the maintenance of real public houses to remember With these facts in mind I believe it is easy to the contribution of music to the adding of understand my horror at the reaction I witnessed product value which at its best transforms the from a licensee in February this year when I asked consumption of well-kept real ales into an whether there were gigs featuring live music in authentic and deep social, educational and the venue. This elicted a complete dismissal of cultural experience as much part of our cultural the idea including the immortal words, minus the heritage as Shakespeare, maypoles, Morris expetives, "I'd sooner have musicians in here dancers and Merseybeat. giving me money than taking it off me... See any musicians in here? That's the way I like it!," before Let it be our resolution- to give real & live music inviting me to leave which I was most pleased to and musicians a chance in 2011 and let's see a re- do, never having returned since. birth of an attitude and culture which appreciates the value, not the price of the musical symbiosis I felt I was witnessing the demise of the special which has made Liverpool justly famous relationship between music and pub culture throughout the world especially as the city which had served each other well and created council redoubles its efforts to have our city such an important cultural symbiosis since Big Bill designated a "World Music City". Broonzy played the Temple and the Merseysippi Jazz Band and Jacqui and Bridie were resident in Let's be honest, in the austere times ahead, we Wavertree's Coffee House. are going to need each other once again.

The degree of philistinism in evidence during our name & address supplied exchange astonished me. To a well-established songwriter and performer in the city of Liverpool as well as a CAMRA supporter, music teacher and Editor’s note Musicians' Union learning advisor who enjoyed The letter does not mention another factor which contributing to the Cajun music sessions at the has had a great impact on music in pubs – self-same venue under the previous management, Government changes to the music licensing laws the irony was unavoidably depressing. which have greatly increased the cost of having more than one performer. The one performer rule What is crucial to remember is that, without the has also been a factor in the growth of karaoke in upstairs rooms of pubs in the city, the city centre pubs as this has only one “performer” if that is too would have died musically for a generation barely strong a word for the limited talent often on show. five years after its finest hours. The early 1970s

24 25 CAMRA Discount Scheme, Support for Community Pubs St helens CAMRA Pub of The YeAR How does the CAMRA Discount discuss the logistics and Scheme work? participation with the pub owning 2009 company. CAMRA has produced empty- belly posters for pubs to display How do pubs sign up to the behind the bar. This will help scheme? CAMRA members identify that the Real ale pubs can sign up to the pub is participating in the scheme. scheme by clicking here or at the bottom of this page. The pub will These posters have space for the CAMRA has launched a new then be sent a FREE promotional pub to write in the discount they initiative to help drive trade to pack in the post. are offering to CAMRA members community pubs by introducing a Pub licensee / managers and on pints and half pints. Adelle, Amanda & Daryl national, unified real ale discount CAMRA branch officials can also scheme for CAMRA members. order promotional packs by calling The discount is at the discretion of CAMRA Head Office on 01727 A Traditional Plenty of kind pubs across Britain the pub and can be as little or as 867201. Friendly Pub with already offer CAMRA card- large as the pub feels suits their carrying members discounts on the business. a Great real ales they sell. This new scheme BBeeeerr FFeessttiivvaallss Atmosphere, will help these pubs, and hopefully The poster also offers space for the some new pubs, to clearly promote pub to add any Terms and throughout Conditions of the offer or throughout Real Fire Pub Discount Scheme Online additional discounts on items such Database tthhee yyeeaarr and an Ever as accommodation or food. pphhoonnee ffoorr ddeettaaiillss Changing range of Find a discount scheme pub near Real Ale you today. You can search for CAMRA Discount Scheme Pubs on A C AMRA REGIONAL A Runner-up for the CAMRA Which pubs can participate in the www.camra.org.uk Please check Pub of The NATIONAL Pub Of The scheme? with the pubs that the discount YeAR YeAR listed on this spreadsheet are still All real ale pubs can participate in current. Pubs are within their this scheme. rights to change promotions to suit If a pub is not a freehouse, but their business and may not have these offers to CAMRA members 12 handpumps would like to participate, then it is got round to informing CAMRA of resulting in hopefully more trade. Serving Traditional Ales up to the licensee / manager to these changes. Ciders and Perry I 5 draught continental beers I Wide selection CAMRA Discounts in Liverpool Pubs of bottled continental beers BierKeller Stanley Street Dale Street corner I Tuesday - Quiz night 9-30 pm 20 pence discount on pint and 10p on a half of real ale on production of CAMRA I Thursday - Curry and Jazz Night membership card I I Cask Marque Good Beer Guide 2011 Wetherspoons Liverpool pubs EXCEPT the Lime Kiln Concert Square Open Mon - Fri 2-11 Sat, Sun 12-11 20 pence discount on a pint of real ale – not available in addition to the 50p CAMRA national voucher offer. Cooper St. St Helens Tel 01744 751289

26 27 Your Next Station Stop – winning Thornbridge Brewery opened in November 2010. Tap World Beer Bar brewers of Jaipur IPA. On the bar Located in the listed West Lodge of MerseyR Ale MainLine – Your Next Station Stop Sheffield is you will find 10 hand pumps, six of the Station (note the carved the venue which serve Thornbridge beers destination names), it is a stone of the 2011 with the the other four offering temple like building offering eight Both begin with S. Both are in Sowerby Bridge CAMRA changing guest beers. You will see real ales and 150 bottled beers, . Both are in Railway is in a deep river National the full range of Thornbridge beer making it another useful Next Stations. Both are brilliant valley with an Members clips along the back wall – an Station Stop when arriving or conversions of railway properties to important canal Weekend and impressive sight. departing Euston. top notch real ale pubs. Both are on junction AGM Friday scenic rail routes, the Calder Valley overlooked by 15th to The business link up is between line and the Hope Valley line. the hills and the Thornbridge and Bernard Pivo the © Duncan Harris Sunday 17th Both are well worth catching the train impressive April – see Czech brewery which has four of to experience! Wainhouse www.camra.org.uk . Sheffield is its Pilsners on draught, including a Tower. also the location of the Sheffield special seasonal unfiltered They are Sowerby Bridge Jubilee example Nefiltravo Pivo, the only Refreshment Rooms and The Jubilee Tap, a pub located on Platform One of the railway station. location in the UK where it is Sheffield Tap World Beer Bar. Refreshment available. Rooms (JRR) is Anyone who remembers the MerseyRAle - Your Next Station located in the Sheffield Midland station of ten The Tap describes itself as a World Stop - Sowerby Bridge Jubilee remaining wing years ago will be amazed at the Beer Bar and that is borne out by Refreshment Rooms of the former transformation that has been the offering of over 130 Belgian Many people are now familiar with grand station wrought through the extension of bottled beers including Boon At the centre of the small floor the Trans Pennine Stalybridge to building. This Marriage Parfait and Cantillon space is a centrally located square open 12 to 10pm. Sunday opening the concourse into what was the Rail Ale Trail especially was demolished some years ago Gueuze and the full range of green tiled bar with the beer is noon to 10pm. taxi rank, thereby creating a bright since its appearance on the Oz following a fire. Photographs of Trappiste beers. There is also a dispense located behind a copper Clarke and James May television the original station on the walls of The main event is to be found on good range of craft beers from the clad wall at the rear. Around the the JRR are a reminder of what we the long wooden bar at the far end USA including Dog Fish, Goose walls is a shelf for glasses and have lost. The remaining wing has of the room. Island, Brooklyn, Odell and about six stools. The emphasis been sensitively restored in classic There is an impressive array of six Stone. In American craft brewing here is on shoulder to shoulder waiting room style by enthusiastic hand pumps serving a changing style these carry quirky names standing crush loading drinking to licensees Andrew and Chris range of mainly LocAle beers such Arrogant Bastard and Raging get you in the groove for the train Wright. Exterior signing is in the mostly from micros. Andrew and Bitch . Ask for the printed bottle home! The intrepid can climb the distinctive BR North Eastern Chris are true beer enthusiasts beer list and prepare to be unfeasibly steep metal spiral Region tangerine. For those of a keen to showcase quality real ales © Sparklepete impressed. literary leaning Branwell Bronte from the surrounding area. stylish circulation area. The The high quality of the work has worked at the station as At the back frontage has been further series. Fewer will be familiar with been marked by the Sheffield Tap assistant clerk. of the bar is enhanced with a major water the “other” parallel Trans Pennine being the winner of the 2010 A novel feature of the JRR is the an Olive feature with fountains and a 200 rail route the Calder Valley line National Rail Heritage Renovation early morning service of hot drinks Restaurant yard long Wall of Water which from Manchester Victoria to Award sponsored by Modern and breakfasts from the Award 2010 shimmers in the sun. Bradford and the many interesting Railways and presented by Pete Whistlestop Window and also for the Best pubs in the towns en route, The icing on the cake is the Waterman. The blue award plaque from a platform trolley providing a Reason to including Hebden Bridge, Halifax renovation of the disused can be seen on the Tap frontage on service much appreciated by Travel by and Sowerby Bridge. Regretfully refreshment room to create the Platform One morning commuters. Breakfasts Train. No the connecting service from Sheffield Tap World Beer Bar. argument Despite having a door directly onto Liverpool Lime Street (usually The original 1904 features have with that !! Platform One this kind of real ale 00.46 arriving Victoria at 01 49 for been retained especially the fine wall tiling, with a fine Edwardian and world beer line up could onward connection at 02.00) is only The JRR has been entered for a mahogany bar back and marble seriously jeapordise your chances a once an hour all stations number of heritage and railway © Bernt Rostad floor setting off the high vaulted of making your connection! And stopping train. renovation awards. beware. The bar does not have a room. There are three side rooms staircase to the upper room which The Calder Valley pubs trail differs train departure screen! Given the twelve real ale pubs in one of which proudly displays the has seats for about 40 and also the from the Trans Pennine version in Sowerby the JRR helpfully offer an original nameplate from Great The partners who developed the one and only toilet – if you need to that there is only one station where excellent free pub locator map to Western Railway Hall class steam Sheffield Tap have two other bars go then you have been warned! you walk off the train straight into guide you around the town. locomotive Thornbridge Hall. offering the same mix of Real Ales and a pub and that is the Jubilee are available inside the JRR from The Pivni Bar in the centre of York A future edition of Mersey Ale will Which is the clue to the business World Beers; Refreshment Rooms (JRR) at 9.30 (9am on Saturdays) to noon at 6 Patrick Pool YO1 8BB has a feature the full Sowerby Bridge links behind the scheme. The Euston Tap Craft Beer House Sowerby Bridge, a town which with light meals such as pies similar winning formula of real Rail Ale Guide. Thornbridge Hall was the original on the right hand side of the offers no fewer than twelve real available 5 to 7pm with the bar ales and world bottled beers. ale pubs. Photographs © John Myddelton location of the acclaimed award frontage of Euston Station was 28 29 World’s 10 Strongest Beers – Chasing Silly Numbers? At least it is the Top 10 at time of printing! This is rather like the Cold War Arms Race with brewers vying to outdo each other to be top of the silly strength league

Brew Dog set out to Sink the Bismarck with 41% only to The Top 10 World find the ante was upped again Strongest Beers Available at: by Schorschbrau to 43% with 1. ‘t Koelschip Start the Future 60% Grapes (Roscoe Street) L1 Stamps Too, Brook Hotel (Waterloo) their Schorschbock. Brew Dog then planned the End of Cheese (Wallasey Village) Belvedere L7 Everyman Bistro 2. Brew Dog The End of History 55% History (if not also your sense (Hope Street) Roscoe Head, Ship And Mitre , The Font , Pilgrim, and sensibility) with a 3. Schorschbrau Schorschbock 43% Vernon, Ye Cracke, White Star, Philharmonic Hall (Grand Foyer massive 55% only to find Bar) Cat & Fiddle (Bootle) Old Harkers (Chester), Brewery Tap ‘t Koelschip had decided to 4. Brew Dog Sink the Bismarck 41% (Chester) Bridge Inn (Chester), The Angel (Manchester) Start the Future with a stonking 60%. Smithfield Hotel (Manchester), Helter Skelter (Frodsham) Turks 5. Schorschbrau Schorschbock 40%

Head (St Helens) Guest House (Southport) Clarence Hotel (New So What is the Future? Do we really want a 60% 6. Struise Black Damnation VI 39% ) Cock & Pullet (Birkenhead) Old Bank South Road beer at £100 a small bottle which is nearly as (Waterloo) Edinburgh Sandown Lane (Wavertree) strong as whisky and can only be 7. Brew Dog Tactical sipped in small quantities? Surely Nuclear Penguin 32% beer is for drinking not sipping. 8. Mikkeller Henry Black 31.1% Liverpool Organic Brewery supply a varied range of Bottled Conditioned Beers - Does this Beer Race make any Imperial Russian Stout . Kitty Wilkinson . Joseph Williamson more sense the Arms Race? The 9. Schorschbrau Schorschbock 31% . . . Cold War had a word for it – MAD Tunnale William Roscoe Honey Blond Liverpool Pale Ale – Mutually Assured Destruction. 10. Sudstern XXL 27.6% Shipwreck IPA . 24 Carat Gold Available at: Oddbins ( Allerton Rd, Formby, Bromborough ), TC Wines ( Blundellsands ), Liverpool Cheese Co. ( Woolton ), The Waverley ( West Kirby ), Legendary Lancashire Heroes ( Southport ), Inn Beer Shop ( Southport ), Delifonseca ( Stanley St & Dockside ), Source Deli ( Ormskirk ), Mello Mello ( Slater St ) and Little Pizza Kitchen ( Waterloo ).

email: [email protected] www.liverpoolorganicbrewery.com

39 Brasenose Road, Liverpool L20 8HL. 0151 933 9660 31 REAL ALES FESTIVAL 20th-24th April GERMAN BEER The Final Countdown? FESTIVAL 25th-29th May Will the Government Act on the PubCos? BELGIAN BEER FESTIVAL 15th-19th June Last year the Government Amazingly the Brulines equipment LIVERPOOL’S PREMIER warned the PubCos that they falls outside the Weights and FREEHOUSE See website Liverpool & Districts were on probation and that if Measures legislation so legal action theshipandmitre.com for future festivals CAMRAPub of the Year 2009 they have not acted to reform cannot be taken to challenge their policies by June 2011 readings, although a then the Government will Parliamentary Select Committee is 12 ever-changing Real Ales Plus Draught Ciders consider legislation. reviewing this issue.

Largest Selection of Belgian and German So will the Government act and The Brulines issue is another factor Draught and Bottled Beers in Liverpool live up to its claim that it is pub in the case for the Government friendly government? challenging the power that the PubCos have over licensees. Government and MPs after Great Home Cooked Food from the Burning Kitchen formerly stopping its action Power of the PubCos FOOD SERVED FROM 12 - 9pm SEVEN DAYS A WEEK CAMRA withdraws super- against the OFT. • PubCos own over 23,000 of complaint Buffets - Burger Menu online ordering Visit: burningkitchen.co.uk CAMRA’s head of policy and the nation’s 54,818 pubs CAMRA has withdrawn its appeal public affairs Jonathan Mail said it against the Office of Fair Trading’s • Punch and Enterprise Inns was a “legal formality” because the Art Deco ‘Higher Room’ for hire Holds up to 55 people Catering available (OFT) decision not to refer the tie time to lodge a further appeal had Ship & Mitre133 DALE STREET Tel: 0151 236 0859 own 15,000 pubs – a quarter to the Competition Commission. passed. of Britain’s pubs CAMRA says its lobbying for beer tie reform will focus on the • The PubCo beer tie means He said CAMRA was now “absolutely focused” on that their licensees typically the June deadline set by pay an additional £20,000 per the Government for reform of the beer tie to year for their beer take place. He added: “We are Brulines or Wronglines? expecting the Business, Innovation and Skills The Brulines dispense monitoring Committee to announce system (known by licensees as the their follow up enquiry spy in the cellar) is used by PubCos quite soon. We will do a to monitor the sales of draught lot of work in putting beers in each pub to ensure only evidence to them. the approved PubCo supplied “The reality is the beers are being sold and to Pubcos have not met measure volumes. the criteria set down by the Select Committee at Tests by the National Measurement the start of last year.” Office (NMO) have shown that CAMRA claimed that Brulines has an “accuracy rents and beer prices variance” of between minus 5.23% charged by Pubcos were and plus 3.66 for real ales. There is putting tenants out of also a variance for keg beers, albeit business and damaging smaller. These variances impact on choice for customers the licensee and their financial when it launched its lease agreement with the PubCo. “super complaint”

32 33 Death of a Liverpool Legend Murder on Hope Street An Everyman Theatre Production We are about to lose an institution that is a audience with no provision for actors’changing Liverpool Legend in its own Lunchtime. The rooms? Everyman Bistro (EyB) which last year celebrated When times were hard for the arts on Merseyside in In the Everyman its 40th Anniversary is set to close its doors for the 1980s it was the Everyman Bistro that became you find a real Everyman Bistro & Bars the last time at the beginning of July 2011. the economic lifeboat for the Theatre. The partners Within weeks the EyB will be a pile of rubble and in the Bistro, Paddy Byrne, Dave Scott and Tim cross section of The Everyman Bistro was founded Byrne, bought the building thereby keeping the memories as work starts on demolition of the society. In addition almost 40 years ago and turned out Theatre from going dark and possibly closing for to a smattering of Everyman Theatre building which houses the ever. The partners sold the building back to the writers, actors and food that at the time had never been EyB. A new theatre building is planned to be Everyman Theatre Trust three years ago when the directors; seen in Liverpool before. completed by 2013. plans for a new building were confirmed. and quite a few But I hear you say were we not told in the press that Such is the national fame of the Everyman Bistro the new theatre building would include “the iconic academics and We continue to offer some of the best that it would be fair to paraphrase the advert used Everyman Bistro”? students you’ll find food (and best value food) in the for the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, people from all country. We cater for an eclectic range Well the reality is “A great Caff with a not bad Theatre attached”. walks of life that the design of For many people the Bistro is more renowned than getting on of diets and our puddings are the new building the Theatre and captures the artistic bohemian spirit of Liverpool. famously. legendary. The selection of cask ales only provides one third of the space and other beers is stupendous and used by the The loss of a legend has human consequences. The there is cask cider and current Bistro with EyB has remarkably able and loyal staff, who have There’s no dress . insufficient space built the great reputation that the establishment wonderful wines enjoys nationwide, and evidenced by the string of code, no dodgy for a kitchen of similar size and national food wards it has won. Several of the staff door policies but capability. This has over 20 years service. It is the great team effort definitely no louts. Fantastic food means that there that underpins the EyB success and this was Everyone else is FREE may be a room in the new building called the acknowledged by the CAMRA Special Team welcome! served all night Everyman Bistro but it will in no way be the same Achievement Award presented to the Bistro Staff iconic operation we know and love today. The two Team on the occasion of the EYB 40th Anniversary thirds reduction in space and lack of an equivalent in September 2010. The Award is proudly displayed kitchen makes the current level of operation behind the food service counter. uneconomic and impossible to offer a similar range "The Most Bohemian Bar of food. So take your seats ladies and gentlemen for tonight’s performance “Who killed the EyB Liverpool Echo How would the Theatre feel if their brand new in town" building could accommodate only one third of the and why?” Opening hours Monday - Saturday ‘til late

www.everyman.co.uk Function Room Available

5-9 HOPE ST LIVERPOOL L1 9BH 0151 708 9545 35 Island Real Ale Survey I 27 pubs stock a single real ale and percentage of pubs with cask. Okells Bitter Retains I 18 outlets stock three or more Any comment Jersey/Guernsey?!! Dominance of Isle of Man real ales I 26 carry two real ales Okells Mild to Continue plus market. a New Seasonal Porter Thus Okells bitter, which is also A comprehensive all Island cask available in a large number of free The much researched experi- ale survey by the IOM CAMRA houses outside H&B control, is mentations and investigations into Branch has revealed readily standing up to the the fate of Okells that despite an competition, and continues to Mild are explosion of stand the test of time, with 52 complete. It guest ales outlets stocking the cask Okells has been over the past bitter. decided to decade across continue with Island, Okells The survey monitored available the current bitter remains ales in all free at point of entry mild after a the market outlets, from 2nd to 10th Feb.2011, recent upsurge leader by a huge a quiet time of year away from in sales. margin. special events which distort the true ale availability. However as a result of the Very much a session brew, Okells Fifty four distinct ales were experimental brews and tastings, a bitter is a golden coloured beer coming available across Island, with new seasonal/special will also be in with an ABV of 3.7%, with a dry fourteen local ales available from produced in the near future. The hoppy finish. the three on Island breweries, as brew will be of a 4% ABV and will well as forty different guest beers be more of a porter in style. The Head brewer Dr Mike Cowbourne from the UK. UK market place remains a vital reports that the bitter has remained The purpose of the survey was to source of revenue to the brewery, almost unchanged since early collate data as a reference source to and it is felt that the brewery can reference to it in the brewery gauge the state of the market in compete more readily in the UK records in the 1920s. Only two order that it can be accurately with the higher strength beers, so small changes have occurred in compared to future times. this may have had an influence on recent years. When the brewery the decision. The traditional mild moved to its new Kewaigue site (ABV 3.4%) is not exported to U.K. back in 1994, pelletized hops were IOM – the Off Island Capital introduced, as opposed to whole of Real Ale? Upcoming Okells seasonals hops. Secondly, these days in Similar to the rivalry that exists include Spring Ram and Old addition to English hops, cascade between the great City of Skipper due to appear in April and aroma hops are also used, to suit Liverpool and a certain northern May. the modern palate. town at the end of the ship canal, the off islands also often have a Dalby Spook Sighted! Real Ale Island Survey friendly banter with each other. Over at Bushys brewery a series of Results Whilst our colleagues down on the seasonal ales form the Manx Scilly group have a superb cask ale Collection and have themed names Whilst some may argue that the offering for the population size relating to various Manx events, bitter was bound to be dominant (hello Turks Head at the bottom!), people and folklore. when the parent company Heron and over on Lindisfarne they have and Brearley owned such a large One such is Dalby Spook ale, a about one hand pump for every proportion of the Islands outlets, golden ale at 4% abv with a citrusy ten residents, the Isle of Man must the survey does however reveal dry finish. The beer is named after surely have a great claim to the that of the 72 or so cask ale outlets; an elusive creature of legend title, in terms of offering, coverage,

37 F reputedly seen in the Dalby area on The Crosby was once itself subject Ratcliffe ,and Alison Daniels are between Thursday April 7th and Whitehouse had been eliminated the west of the Island around the to closure speculation some years the only staff running the outlet, Sunday April 17th, featuring by The Taps, but only by one of the 1930s, possibly a mongoose or a ago, and was in need of where everyone is on first bitters, porters, and stouts, narrowest of margins possible. So racoon that could talk! The ale lives refurbishment. With a large car name terms. followed by a mild selection the Whitehouse and the IOM came park area suitable for housing during May. within a whisker of being the Peel development it was feared the pub North West Regional Pub of the would be lost, but a massive The Creek in Peel was in need of The Whitehouse , Peel is holding a Year and a possible National investment was made by H&B at pipe work refurbishment, and has festival starting Saturday 16th of Finalist. Another reason for a beer the time, and the pub has thrived elected to take the opportunity to April, and there will be a hog roast festival!! in recent years. install a massive fifteen hand on the Saturday at 4.30pm.There The Falcons Nest , Port Erin will be Okells bitter is always available, pumps. While all will not be used will also be thirty new ales not having a beer festival on Friday usually along with a guest, with a couple of months, although the outside beer festivals, there will be previously seen at the pub plus 13th, Saturday 14th and Sunday often further beers in the busier hand pump is not in a prominent a dramatic increase in beer others. The festival will continue 15th May, featuring at least 25 real months. Food is served daily, with position. offering, with ten pumps being for around a week, or until the beer ales and ciders. There are offers on installed on the front bar and a runs out. The Market Inn A great welcome further five on the back. The pubs accommodation, beers etc. during back to the fold for the Market Inn success is such that it is struggling the weekend. Food will be near Douglas quay and bus station. available. There will be a £1 up to its elusive namesake, and is to serve beer fast enough during The pub stopped stocking cask entrance fee. The Falcon’s Nest is a best described by the new category busy periods, as staff are queuing some five years ago, but now has of an occasional random rather to use the existing pumps. In returned with two well kept ales than seasonal. summer it is hoped to increase to (using vertical stillage ), a Bushys six or so ales, plus real ciders. seasonal, and another guest. Last appearing some four years Already over forty guests have ago, the first sighting this time Island Pub Beer Festival been stocked, in this most round was at The Marine Hotel, the exception of Monday, and there traditional and friendly of pubs. Three beer festivals have been Peel on Feb.5th, but it was spotted are separate bars and other areas announced for April/May. quite widely soon afterwards! for drinkers. The Creek in Peel is planning on Spare a thought for the army of Real Ale Gains having a forty to fifty ale festival travelling beer tickers, looking to This is to be a dual celebration. I sample as many ales as they can Several outlets have once again Firstly, landlord Neil Keig is find. This moreish ale must increased their cask ale offering. celebrating the completion of a represent one of their greatest twenty year tenure at the pub. challenges, (being several hundred Ramsey Congratulations Neil !!! I times rarer than Bosuns Bitter from Secondly there is a celebration of Old Laxey), and had long since The Whitehouse winning a hat vanished by mid March. trick of victories as CAMRA Isle of Man Pub of The Year. new entrant to the growing Real Pub News Ale Pub Festivals on the Island and Unchanged for many years and Incidentally, this year one of the Post and a Pint in Crosby we wish them well with this first with a huge painting of a four National Finalists for Pub of event. In a first for the Isle of Man, traditional market scene above the The Year was The Taps at Lytham. following the closure of the village tiny bar area, The Market is a must In an earlier round of voting The Dave Haliwell post office in Crosby, Heron and for those preferring the older style Brearley has teamed up with Isle of

The Royal George in Ramsey now features at least one guest ale The Plough now has a permanent guest in addition to Okells bitter. This bustling two roomed local is now the only remaining free house of its style to remain on the high Man Post to provide postal street in the Isle of Man. services at The Crosby pub. Postal facilities have been placed in Douglas traditional pubs. The pub keeps the entrance area to the pub, Jaks bar , a large outlet on Douglas long hours, and opens at 9am opposite to the famous motorbike promenade, particularly popular Tuesday to Saturday, with a 10am featured in a glass case at the pub with sports fans watching the large start on Sunday and Monday. Peel entrance. TV screens, has offered real ale for Jayne Devereau (licensee), Dave 38 39 5. An end to restrictive covenants, which can be used to prevent the buyer of a pub from continuing to run the premises as a pub. A consultation into this is to take place and results of that will be published in the summer.

Commenting, Greg Mulholland said:

Protecting "The scant protection currently offered to pubs in our planning laws is nothing short of scandalous. Pubs up Community Pubs and down the country serve their local communities and it is not right that as things stand viable and profitable pubs Greg Mulholland MP, Chair of the turn a pub into a betting shop, pay are being lost with the communities All Party Parliamentary Save the day loan shop, restaurant or cafe they serve having a say on their future Pub Group, has followed up on his without planning permission. Westminster Hall debate on pubs Supermarkets are also deliberately "The Save the Pub Group and planning by writing to targeting pubs to change into welcomes this Government's Community Pubs Minister Bob smaller metro stores. commitment to being a 'pro-pub Neill MP, on behalf of the group, Government. If they however outlining five steps they wish to see 3. A strengthening of local wish to fulfil this commitment it taken, to safeguard to future of planning policies. In 40% of local is important they ensure there is community Pubs. councils planning policies there is adequate protection for pubs no policy in assisting the retention under planning law. With the of community pubs. The group Localism Bill currently making its want to see the introduction of an route through Parliament, it is the independent 'viability test' to perfect opportunity for the ensure that profitable, well used Government to do so pubs do not close, as well as the introduction of a six month "The measures I mention in my letter moratorium, meaning that any pub to the Minister, would give pubs far that is to close permanently is place greater protection, but not stop cases of on the market for six months, to unprofitable and unwanted pubs allow prospective owners to come closing. They would provide a simple forward, and keep the pub running safeguard to ensure that community as a pub. Pubs have the protection they require."

4. The 'community right to buy' Photographs © Michael Jackson 1. Planning laws to be tightened clause, proposed in the Localism to make it harder for developers to Bill, to be strengthened to mean demolish or change the use of a that a community pub, without seeking planning offer to buy a pub, permission. Current laws allow for at market value, a freestanding pub to be must be considered demolished without planning seriously buy the permission or any community current owner, consultation- something the Save Greg calls for the Pub Group believes has to proper support to change. be given to Community Pub 2. The Government should extend Ownership planning control to give councils schemes through the option to require planning the Government's permission prior to change of use, Asset Transfer because as it stands, it is legal to Unit.

41 was covered with sawdust. The Bennett’s Wine and Spirits Bottlers inner sanctum was the Half Moon The Slaughterhouse was owned by Bar which was very much by Bennett’s a North family who invitation only and overseen by the ran a wine and spirit business. head barman Bob. Casks of sherry, port and spirits were lined up behind the bar Famous for Waitress Service dispensed straight from the cask. The draught beers were sold only in halves (you asked politely for “a Auction Shock Liverpool Pubs glass of” ), and were served only by The Liverpool business world was Remembered waitress service. The waitresses shocked at the news that Bennett’s were famed for their efficiency. were to sell the Slaughterhouse at Drinks were brought on a tray and auction. The purchaser was the The Slaughterhouse national Chef and Brewer chain Fenwick Street cash taken with never a mistake. Helen, Winnie, Marie and Mary which was at that time setting up Our Correspondent “The were as famous as the pub. steak house restaurants. Ironic that Bounder” takes us back to the Payment was taken to a teller who having never sold food the 1950s and memories of one of sat at a till high above the throng. Slaughterhouse should become a Liverpool’s most famous pubs, the steak house! The only link with the Slaughterhouse, and its very Beer Straight From the Cask pub history was that the new steak special character. The Slaughterhouse was renowned house sold large schooners of for its gravity served Draught Bass A Businessman’s Pub in the City sherry. Chef and Brewer proceeded and an unusual beer for Liverpool, The Slaughterhouse was very much to ruin the special ambience of the Marston’s Mild. The casks were a businessman’s pub, strictly collar pub and another part of Liverpool kept cool with grass sods laid over and tie. Women were not allowed culture was consigned to history. the barrel and watered with a and opening hours were limited to watering can. business hours 11.30 to 3pm, closed on Sundays. The dark wood There was no question of any food Readers with memories or interior and the many casks cast a being served at the Slaughterhouse. photographs of the Slaughterhouse distinctive almost Dickensian This was a drinks only please send them to period atmosphere, whilst the floor establishment. [email protected]

Real Ale I Real Food I Real

I Music Real Nice People Wonderful early 19th Century Range of six constantly rotating real ales Public House with predominately featuring the best LocAle breweries in the area including Liverpool Organic, Southport, 8Handpumps Serving a varying range Wapping, Allgates, Cambrinus and many others. of Real Ales Plus 2 Organic Ciders Enjoy the best in Real Ales combined with some of REGULARS: CAINS & THWAITES the BEST TAPAS IN LIVERPOOL whilst watching the BEST ENTERTAINMENT LIVERPOOL has to offer ! Food at Ye Cracke First Merseyside CAMRA LocAle Pub NEW MENU Liverpool & District Community Pub of the year 2009 12-3 12-5 Sun 0151 709 4171 Special Student offers available 12-11.30 midnight Fri & Sat Stamps too 99 South Road Waterloo 0151 280 0035 Have a drink in John Lennon’s Old Watering Hole When leaving Waterloo Station turn right and cross the road to get to a real ale pub with a quality of entertainment that matches our ales! 43 Champion Winter Beer of Britain 2011 - Winners List: Overall winners Galloway, Scotland), Bottle Wreck Porter (Hammerpot, West ), Station Porter (Wickwar, Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain - Gloucestershire), Telford Porter (Conwy, Conwy, Entire Stout, Hop Back () Wales) 3 HAND PUMPS Silver - Chocolate , Marble (Manchester) Featuring Bronze - Praetorian Porter , Dow Bridge Stouts category (Leicestershire) CHANGING GUEST Gold - Entire Stout , Hop Back (Wiltshire) BEERS FROM LOCAL Silver - Smokey Joes Black Beer , Hop Star Old Ales and Strong Milds category (Lancashire) BREWERS Gold - Chocolate , Marble (Manchester) Bronze - Nero , Milton () LIVE SPORT Silver - Old Ale , King () KARAOKE TUES NIGHT Bronze - Dark Raven , Beowulf (Staffordshire) Other category finalists - Saint Petersburg THURS, FRI, SAT & SUN - LIVE MUSIC (Thornbridge, ), Sauce of the Niall (Bull Other category finalists - Shefford Old Dark (B&T, Lane, Tyne & Wear), Black Gold (Cairngorm, OUTSIDE SMOKERS COURTYARD ), Father Mike's Dark Ruby (Brunswick, Highlands, Scotland), Zig Zag Stout (Milk Street, REFURBISHED FUNCTION ROOM Derbyshire), Midnight Belle (Leeds, ), ), Welsh Black (Heart of Wales, Powys, TRADITIONAL LOCAL FRIENDLY Highlander (Fyne, Argyll, Scotland), Dark & Wales), Titanic Stout (Titanic, Staffordshire) PUB WITH GREAT ATMOSPHERE, Handsome (Box Steam, Wiltshire), Mwnci Nell GREAT MUSIC AND GREAT ALES (Nant, Conwy, Wales) Barley Wines category LIVE MUSIC Gold - Old Ale , Holden's (West Midlands) WEDNESDAY NIGHT - OPEN MIC NIGHT 4 NIGHTS PER WEEK Porters category Silver - Old Tom , Robinsons (, Cheshire) Gold - Praetorian Porter , Dow Bridge (Leicestershire) Bronze - Hibernator , Black Isle (Ross-shire, Scotland) 43 SOUTH ROAD WATERLOO L22 5PE 0151 928 7020 Silver - Finns Hall Porter , Beowulf (Staffordshire) Bronze - London Porter , Red Squirrel () Other category finalists - Tally Ho! (Adnams, ), Extinction Ale (Darwin, Tyne & Wear), Old Other category finalists - Old Moor Porter (Acorn, 1066 Al e (Goacher's, ), Beast (Exmoor, ), Smoked Porter (Wapping, Somerset), High as a Kite (Heart of Wales, Powys, Merseyside), Black Galloway (Sulwath, Dumfries & Wales)

Winter beer styles: The People’s Porter - A dark, slightly sweetish but hoppy ale Champion Beer made with roasted barley; the successor of 'entire' and predecessor of stout. Porter Visitors to the CAMRA originated in London around 1730, and by the National Winter Ales Festival end of the 18th century was probably the most in Manchester were invited to popular beer in England. vote for their People’s Beer of the Festival. Stout - One of the classic types of ale, a successor in fashion to 'porter'. Usually a very dark, heavy, well-hopped bitter ale, with a dry The winner was Liverpool palate, thick creamy, and a good grainy taste. Organic Brewery Kitty Wilkinson Stout , a great Old Ale - Now virtually synonymous with accolade for relatively 'winter ale'. Most 'old ales' are produced and new brewery. sold for a limited time in the year, usually between November and the end of February. It is reported that on Usually a rich, dark, high-gravity draught ale of receipt of the news a considerable body. Liverpool brewery had Barley Wine - A strong, rich and sweetish ale, won Sir Alex Ferguson usually over 1060 OG, dark in colour, with high complained about the condition and a high hop rate. referee and refused to speak to the media.

44 45 Entirely a Champion congratulate Hop Back brewery on Wines) were entered into the winning CAMRA's national award. final chosen by CAMRA branches This is not only great news for the Entire Stout, and Tasting Panels. brewery but for the beer style brewed by Stout! We hope this will revitalise The Overall Silver went to Hop Back 'real' stout and encourage more Chocolate, brewed by Marble in Brewery, breweries to brew this style of beer Manchester, whilst the Bronze Wiltshire in the future." medal went to Praetorian Porter, won the brewed in Leicestershire by Dow Champion Steve Wright, Hop Back Brewing Bridge brewery. Winter Beer Director and Head Brewer was of Britain elated to hear of the brewery's A panel of beer writers, members Award at the success. He said: of the licensed trade and CAMRA members judged the competition National Winter Ales Festival, "This is obviously fantastic news! at the Sheridan Suite, Manchester Entire Stout has been a very Manchester. The 4.5% abv Stout is described successful beer for the brewery in in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide as both draught and bottle- Victorious at the Winter Ales 'A rich, dark stout with a strong conditioned form and to win this Festival today, Entire Stout and roasted malt flavour and a long, national CAMRA award will only the category Gold winners will sweet and malty aftertaste. A beer encourage more real ale lovers to now be entered into the final of suitable for vegans.' give it a try. We now look forward the Champion Beer of Britain to Champion Beer of Britain Nik Antona, CAMRA Director, competition at the Great British competition in August." praised the Champion Winter Beer Festival, Earls Court, London, in August. beer. He said: 35 beers (9 Porters, 9 Stouts, 9 "I would personally like to Old Ales / Milds and 8 Barley

It takes a Frenchman Superb MerseyAle and to value our pubs Pubs Passport “I came to Liverpool to visit some of the “If there was one thing I’d really pubs around Dale Street. What I did like to import into France it is find was a copy of the local CAMRA the pubs. The social mix you group’s superb magazine MerseyAle find in pubs is something that with a copy of their Liverpool Pubs does not really exist in France.” Passport. This shows 80 plus pubs in FOOD 12-5 TOASTIES full colour with an easy to use map. AND SANDWICHES Francois Fillon Suddenly it opened up another few Prime Minister of France pubs in the area and expanded my pub Free Sunday Buffet plus Traditional crawl considerably.” Singers Open House . Live Music Easy Listening Saturday Nights Monday Save Our Pubs Open Mic Lost With the most recent CGA report highlighting that 29 pubs are Lion Loco still closing every week (thankfully and encouragingly down from the 39 a year ago). CAMRA has to do more than ever to A Community Pub in Following our It’s Just a Sign support local pubs through these difficult times. the Heart of the City feature in the February 2011 We take pride in our edition on the Lion Tavern CAMRA's own research shows that 84% of people believe a pub is as essential to village life as a shop or post office. service and welcome. Moorfields, we received information from a reader Despite their popularity pubs are still under threat and need Table service available Steamboat Willie that the News our help. on request Room lounge at the Lion had for many years a large mural CAMRA is calling on everyone to join the Save Our Pubs painting of the Lion steam campaign to put a stop to the closure of British pubs. Details locomotive on the rear wall. see www.camra.org.uk

46 47 www.wappingbeers.co.uk Save money with advance tickets

Great Tickets for this year's festival are now available to purchase online through See tickets or by calling Baltic Fleet British 0844 412 4640. Beer By purchasing advance day tickets you will Baltic Fleet Beers receive a £2 discount on the door price and will Liverpool’s only Brew Pub - The Home of Festival be able to avoid the main queue on arrival. Wapping Brewery Please note there is a £1 transaction fee per Britain's order. Award Winning Beers biggest beer Advance Day Tickets Winners of Champion festival Beer of Britain Awards £6 (CAMRA members) / £8 (Non-CAMRA 2-6 August 2011 members) All your favourites plus new beers from Wapping and Liverpool One Earls Court, London See tickets hotline: 0844 412 4640 The Great British Advance Season Tickets Stan Shaw, Wapping’s Award Winning Brewer Food Available Beer Festival at Earls £20 (CAMRA members) / £23 (Non- “Best Bowl of Scouse in Court, Britain's CAMRA members) Liverpool” biggest beer festival, once again brings See tickets hotline: 0844 412 4640 The Baltic Fleet Pub and Brewery, Wapping Liverpool together a wide Please note that a season ticket allows opposite the ECHO ARENA range of real ales, the holder entry into the trade ciders, perries and session international beers. Day Tickets (on the door) 2 New Beers Viking Gold 4.6% £8 (CAMRA members) / £10 (Non- Paxton’s Peculiar 4.1% CAMRA members)

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See tickets hotline: 0871 230 5594

Visit: www.camra.org.uk

Members Weekend and AGM 2011 Mild Month Members Weekend (MW) and AGM give you May is Mild Month. Liverpool our members the chance to engage in and Districts CAMRA will be CAMRA's national campaigns and have your celebrating Mild throughout say. It also gives you the opportunity to take May. We will be encouraging part in social attractions such as trips to pubs in the area to stock breweries and outlying pubs, and gives you mild and hopefully hosting the chance to catch up with fellow members some Mild Events. Check over your favourite pint of real ale. out the website This year the MW and AGM will be taking www.merseycamra.org.uk for place in Sheffield at the Octagon Centre, further details. University of Sheffield on 15 - 17 April 2011 . 48 49 Punch Rearrange the WALKS AND REAL ALE 2011 Deckchairs on the Titanic FRIDAY 15th APRIL Calderstones Park, Liverpool. Possibility of a Punch to Sell 2,200 Pub s Hightown to Waterloo Ramble with Optional meal at the end in the Childwall Abbey pub. Cheap and Cheerful Meal. Possibility of Beer calls for the company to default on previous occasions the Spirit Group Festival Attendance Afterwards. 5 miles. WEDNESDAY 17th AUGUST Childwall its loans. has been merged, demerged and “This is a £30 million corporate Meet 2.30pm at the Hightown Hotel near the to Woolton Ramble. 3.5 miles. The walk will finance party on the top deck of the Punch has 6,000 tenanted pubs, of merged again into Punch without railway station where meals are avaialable at just leave from outside the Childwall Fiveways pub at Titanic when attention should be which 550 will be transferred to any discernable benefit. Spirit, and the rest assessed for 6pm. lf you fancy a meal beforehand meet inside focused on urgent engine repairs.” £1 .01. The walk will start about 3.30pm. This is a inclusion in the 2,200 sale. On “The PubCo model doesn’t work. It’s A Punch bondholder, on news that pleasant coastal path walk which ends in at 5pm. In all we will visit 4 pubs as we make our Merseyside there are only 8 financial engineering in the extreme the Punch plan will cost £30 way to Woolton via Gateacre. managed Punch pubs out of the 200 whereby they’ve managed to extract Waterloo where a Beer Festival is taking place at million in corporate fees. across the area, so it is likely many the maximum profit to the detriment Old Christ Church, Waterloo Road. Admission is Punch Taverns is to put 2,200 of its will be sold. of tenants and consumers.” £5. You can probably pay on the door but you SATURDAY 27th AUGUST 6,800 pubs up for sale with 500 to Punch expect that a quarter of the Steve Corbett Fair Pint Campaign may wish to check Calderstones/Woolton Quarry Circular. 4 miles. be sold every year over the next sale pubs will cease to be pubs and This is a brisk walk with the option of a carvery five years. “The so called PubCos are really www.waterloobeerfestival.com to try and get will change to other uses such as property companies and very largely your ticket in advance. afterwards and real ale at The Greenhills in New Punch Chief Executive Ian shops, offices, residential property speculators. Some are Allerton. Meet 1.30pm at the Mansion House, Dyson has announced plans to split properties and even care homes. Free admission to the festival on Sunday 17th playing Monopoly with pubs that Punch in half, with the managed April for those who have bought a ticket for one Calderstones Park, Liverpool. The restructuring will cost Punch pubs to be transferred into a 3,000 mean an awful lot to communities £30 million in corporate fees which of the other sessions. strong “high quality” food led they serve.” has caused concern amongst TUESDAY 30th AUGUST Mossley Hill to business to be called Spirit. Punch Greg Mulholland Lib Dem MP and shareholders (see quote above). faces a £3 billion debt which many Chair of the All Party SATURDAY 14th MAY Gateacre Ramble. 3.8 miles. We will leave commentators believe is Many City institutions question Parliamentary Beer Group and Calderstones/Reynolds Park/Black Wood from outside the Storrsdale pub in Storrsdale Save the Pub campaign. unsustainable and there have been Dyson’s strategy. On three Circular. 4 miles. Road, off Mather Avenue, at 6pm. Call in there This is a brisk walk with the option of a carvery from 5.30pm if you fancy a drink in there afterwards and real ale at the Halfway House on beforehand. En route we will call at The Elephant Woolton Road. Meet 1.30pm at the Mansion in Woolton before making our way to the Black House , Calderstones Park, Liverpool. Bull in Gateacre where there is also the opportunity to have a meal. SUNDAY 5th JUNE Canal Pubs Walk: Maghull to Burscough. 12 miles. Probably four SATURDAY l7th SEPTEMBER Sefton pubs with lunch in one of them. Meet 10am at Coastal Paths Pub Walk. 4.5 miles. Probably Liverpool Central railway station by the booking 5 pubs in the Waterloo and Crosby areas. Meet office. The walk will start from outside Maghull 12 noon outside Waterloo railway station in railway station. South Road.

FRIDAY 8th JULY Calderstones to Childwall More details from Dave Dent on 0151 738 1168 Abbey Ramble . 4 miles. To include (home), 07833590525 (mobile) or at Reynolds Park, Black Wood and Childwall [email protected] Website at Woods. Meet 6pm at the Mansion House , www.liverpoolbriskwalkers.co.uk

50 51 WhTheite Horse Ian & Alane Welcome Patrons Old & New 4 EVER CHANGING CASK ALES Home Made Food with a Changing Seasonal Menu

The White Horse is a traditional English pub, multi-roomed with an intimate atmosphere and plenty of character. The White Horse is regularly in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2 Acrefield Road L25 5JL 0151 428 1862 BTehe lvedere Traditional 2 room Grade II Listed pub situated in the heart of Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter Cask Ales from Local and Regional Brewers Only Liverpool One minut e from Philharmonic Hall outlet for Ideal for pre-show drinks American Anchor Steam The Only Liverpool Pub with Beer Lined Glasses for Cask and on draft European Lagers Higsons is Back! Football Free Zone Come and try it at No Fruit Machines the Belvedere Real Fires Spring is here! Enjoy our Beer Real Conversation Garden area

8 Sugnall Street (off Falkner St), Liverpool

52 53 MerseyAle Credits Liverpool & Districts CAMRA Diary Editor John Armstrong Weds 20th April Branch AGM Election of Committee 8pm [email protected] Ship & Mitre Upstairs Room Dale St. 8pm Layout Design Peel P50 Pub Surveys Dennis W Jones Weds 17th May Branch Get Together 8pm at the (Generally evenings on public transport) [email protected] Excelsior Dale Street for details visit Photographs merseycamra.org.uk Neil Lloyd Weds 15th June Branch Get Together 8pm Gardeners Arms www.neillloydphotography.co.uk Woolton - return coach provided leaving Ship and Mitre Dale To book coach trips phone Street at 7.00pm Ian Macadam on [email protected] Michael Jackson Dennis Jones 07521 741 586 John Armstrong merseycamra.org.uk or email Dave Halliwell [email protected] COACH TRIPS: John Myddleton These offer the chance to visit Saturdays interesting quality real ale pubs or book at 30th April 2011 - Long Itchington Branch Meetings Contributors outside our area with someone Stockport CAMRA Beer Festival Dave Halliwell else doing the driving. The coach Pub festival (Warwickshire) & Pubs Mel James - Henry Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th departs at 10am prompt from 21st May 2011 - West Yokshire The Peel P50 Dave Dent Dale Street outside the Ship and 11th June 2011 - The car can be viewed at the Manx Zoe Manning Mitre and costs £12. Return is Transport Heritage Museum Peel June 2011 Printed by usually between 9-9.30pm. Trips 9th July - Bishops Castle Festival (next to Moore’s Kippers on As usual the Festival will be at Edgeley Park, the home of Printfine, Liverpool are open to non members so bring 3rd September - Shrewsbury the harbour) . Stockport County, 15 minute walk from Stockport station. See www.manxheritage.com 0151 242 0000 a friend along. 8th October - Nottingham www.printfine.co.uk We intend to make an even greater effort than usual (if that is Useful Contacts possible), because this is our Silver Anniversary and we are very optimistic that we can even better the tremendous CAMRA National Office success we had in 2010. So this year we have ; 230 Hatfield Road St Albans • more beer and cider than ever before, 150 beers ciders AL1 4LW and perries www.liverpoolonebrewery.co.uk • great live entertainment lunch and evening [email protected] 01727 867201 ORDER HOTLINE 07948 918740 [email protected] • hot and cold food 82-84 VAUXHALL ROAD www.camra.org.uk • a Special Festival Ale • stalls, souvenir glasses, T-shirts and programmes LIVERPOOL L3 6DL Southport CAMRA Ian Garner 01704 876819 • seating for all in the football stand We are four local lads who have and beer styles. We use only the [email protected] • families welcome until 9.30pm worked in the licensed trade for many finest ingredients for our beers, • free entry all sessions for CAMRA members years. Head Brewer Gary Rice has Fawcetts Malts and Charles Faram www.southportcamra.org.uk • and as usual of course a great atmosphere! spent over ten years as a licensee in Hops to make sure that the end Wirral CAMRA Liverpool managing a number of pubs product is the best that can be. We are again supporting our festival charity, Stockport Dave Hutchinson 01516 440625 and bars including the Baltic Fleet. Cerebral Palsy. We have a number of flagship beers [email protected] It was here under Master Brewer available and we also specialise in Stan Shaw that he honed his “house” beers with the style of beer www.camrawirral.org.uk We open on Thursday 5.30-11, Friday 11.30-3.30 & 5.30-11 and brewing skills. Saturday 11.30-4.30 & 6.30-11 and CAMRA members are free at tailored to the needs of the outlet. Isle of Man Branch Contact The aim of our brewery is to produce all sessions. We have beers available in Cask, Angela Aspin 01624 491613 - hand crafted, high quality ales, beers More information at www.Stockportfestival.org.uk. and lagers. We live for experimen- Bottle and Party Kegs. There is also a mobile 07624 491613 tation and will continue to push chill filtered Real Lager coming soon. [email protected] We also have beer gift packs on sale the boundaries in terms Merseytravel Line of flavours, combinations at our brewery and also in a number of outlets in the City. for public transport times 0151 638 5002 Advertising in MerseyAle 0871 200 22 33 If you wish to place an advertisment you should contact us by email at; www.merseytravel.gov.uk [email protected] sending in your advert design and copy by At Liverpool One we are your local brewers. You will find us welcoming Order hotline is manned all day long for all your beer needs and attachment. Cost is £100 per half page, £200 full page payment in advance. and approachable and with us you will get a personal friendly service. our brewery is open for you to pop in for a cuppa or a swift half. Trading Standards 0151 233 3002

Opinions expressed in the Mersey Ale are not necessarily those of the Editor Liverpool Branch or CAMRA Ltd. 54