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Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale February / March 2015

The ‘Hand’ wins POTY for 2015!

BERMONDSEY REVISITED WHAT’S IN A NAME COALIES ON TOUR John Temple suggests a sea Kings Cliffe Brewery pays The Coalheavers Arms change occurring in the homage to 20th Fighter Group gang visit Ely brewing industry with commemorative porter

ALSO INSIDE PUB & BREWERY NEWS DIARY DATES JOIN CAMRA Both pubs are in the CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2015!

P ETERBOROUGH CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2 01 4 & 2 01 1 CAMRA Gold award 2 013 P ETERBOROUGH CAMRA Ten Real Ales PUB OF THE YEAR 2 01 4 Runner Up from £2.00 a pint CAMRA Gold award 2 013 Permanent range Six Real Ales of ales from £2.50 a pint Proud supporter Four Real Ciders of Live Sky Sports Live Sky Sports Live Entertainment Live Entertainment Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5-7pm Cash Quiz every Sunday from 8pm

The Ploughman Staniland Way, The Dragon Hodgson Centre, Hodgson Ave Werrington Centre Tel: 01733 327696 PE4 5EG Tel: 01733 578088 Editor’s ramblings | 3 New year, new beers and new awards

Greetings! Even though the festive season is just a distant IN THIS ISSUE memory, I hope it was a good Welcome from the editor 3 one! Pub of the Year has been Chairman’s corner 5 decided, Straw Bear has been Pub news 7–11 and gone, so what next? New Year, time to look forward. Pub of the Year 2015 13 Brewery news 14 –17 Firstly, this year there are two new, additional Farewell Stella 17 branch awards, to go alongside “Pub of the Year”. There will now be a branch “Cider Pub of the Bermondsey mile revisited 18 –21 Year” and a “LocAle Pub of the Year”. Pubs Coalies in Ely 23 within the branch that permanently stock a real What’s in a name 25 cider or are LocAle accredited are eligible for these CAMRA’s NWAF 2015 26 awards. For more information check website the www.real-ale.org.uk or CAMRA Diary dates 27 Facebook page. Membership matters 28 Join CAMRA 29 Secondly, having a read through brewery news I can Contacts 30 see that there are some new beers on the horizon, plus the re-brewing of old favourites. So I would urge you Pub merit and gold awards 30 to have a look at the brewery news page and see if anything takes your fancy and of course, give it a try! Are you missing out? Hopefully this year will see fewer pubs in the area Get Beer Around Ere delivered to your door! closing their doors. Ideally, of course, none at all. For a year (6 issues) send £3.48 for second class or £4.02 for 1st Class or multiples thereof for multiple years. Please send a cheque/PO payable to “Peterborough CAMRA” and Wishful thinking? Cheers. JB your address to:- Daryl Ling, 19 Lidgate Close, Peterborough PE2 7ZA

Editor: Jane Brown Distribution: Beer Around ‘Ere is published [email protected] David Murray by the Peterborough & District [email protected] Branch of CAMRA Copyright Published by: Peterborough & District © 2015, The Campaign for Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale. Proof Reading: Bob Melville - 07941 246693 Real Ale Ltd. Produced on behalf of CAMRA by: Printed By: Orchard House Media Ltd Precision Colour Print Ltd Views or comments expressed in this publi - Suite 30 Eventus, Sunderland Rd, Haldane, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ cation may not necessarily be those of the Market Deeping. Tel: 01778 382758 Editor or of CAMRA. Circulation: 7,000 copies distributed to Magazine Design & Production: pubs, clubs and members throughout the The next issue of Beer Around ‘Ere will be Daniel Speed Peterborough and District CAMRA available on the 20th March . [email protected] Branch area. A digital version of this magazine is available to view and We must have your stories, news and Advertising Sales Manager: download at issuu.com advertisements by 1st March . Please send Jane Michelson your stories and other copy to the editor, Cover Image: The Hand & Heart, Peter - [email protected] Jane Brown. borough Branch Pub of the Year 2015 Tel: 01778 382718

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE

Chairman’s corner | 5 Chairman’s Co rner

First a belated Happy New Year to all our readers. Also I’m pleased to report that CAMRA scored another historic victory at the end of last year.

After ten years of campaigning by CAMRA, MPs As this is an election year we will be getting the of all parties voted for tenants of the large pubcos usual bout of promises from our prospective MPs. to have a market rent only option (MRO) and they We would hope that the present government will won! The MPs were backing a CAMRA supported continue to support our drinks industry in their last amendment at the Report Stage for Small Business, budget before the election. One local brewery, Enterprise and Employment Bill, which allows tied regrettably, has jumped ahead and announced tenants of companies with more than 500 pubs to price rises from February before any budget have their rent reviewed independently. It would changes. We would hope not to see any duty also give tenants the option of being able to buy increases this year, if the powers that be are sincere beer at competitive prices in an open market, with in carrying out the reforms already mentioned. the possibility of beer prices in their pubs being reduced. The Chief Executive of CAMRA, Tim We must congratulate our new Pub of the Year, Page, thanked the 8000 plus CAMRA members The Hand and Heart, in Millfield, Peterborough, who lobbied their MPs to help make this happen. for coming out top in the vote that took place at the end of last year. Bram and wife Sue have CAMRA is now hoping the vote which should be continued to fight a long battle to keep the pub accepted by MPs will become law in the very near running in an area that has, over the last few years, future and the legislation will be finalised by the seen the closure of many a pub. A time and date for forthcoming General Election. This latest success the presentation will be announced in the near future. follows on from CAMRA’s victory two years ago in persuading the government to scrap the destruc - I've had to rush this report due to being out of tive Beer Escalator. the country in recent weeks. Two weeks in Spain to see in the New Year was a new experience which I So what does this mean for our under pressure can recommend. Although a decent beer was hard licensees? If the Bill becomes law (and we see no to find we did discover an excellent Belhaven Stout reason why it should not) then it will give them at 7% in one British run bar. The licensee even more flexibility in choosing a better business took a couple of bottles from the store to make the relationship with their pub company and a fairer ice cold ones in the fridge more palatable. We did share of their profits. What about us drinkers I return another day. hear you cry? Well, with a fairer share of running their business publicans may choose to pass on any Our holiday was only marred by some sad news. savings to customers, or invest in the business and As we were about to pass through the airport on improve the pub. In both of these scenarios the our last day I received a phone call from our customer benefits. Will it mean more pubs closing? Webmaster, Harry Morton, saying that his wife, It should stop the continuing loss of pubs by the Stella, had passed away the previous night. Our pubcos by encouraging investment and, a fairer tie condolences go to Harry and all the family for would attract high quality licensees to run prof - their sudden loss. itable pubs. We can but wait and see and hope that That’s it for now folks. these reforms happen sooner rather than later. David Murray Branch Chairman

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Matt and Emma welcome you to the

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BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Pub news | 7 Pub News

Well I said I would scour the remotest regions and regenerating this pub and he is the most congenial you cannot get much more remote than Weldon. of hosts. He features home- made Serbian food on That is, of course unless you live there, in which his menu and if you are lucky he will give you a case it is right on your doorstep. My target was the taste of his own red wine made from the Shoulder of Mutton where I heard they had Montepulciano grape. I would definitely recom - recently opened a new micro brewery. mend this pub. Weldon can be reached by a 40 minute ride on the X4 bus from Peterborough bus Although steadily expanding, Weldon is still station. technically a village, as established by its exquisite thirteenth century St. Mary’s church. Lured by an Whilst there you might want to call into the arc of spent tree trunks, now standing erect like George , another historic coaching inn where the Corinthian columns, I decided to take this route to courtyard has been annexed into part of the the pub. Imagine then my astonishment as I was restaurant. They have two real ales, JHB and greeted by the incongruous sight of a cupola Doombar, rotating to ensure good condition. This mounted on the perfectly preserved Norman pub claims to date back to the eighteenth century. tower! How was I to know that some prophetic soul had anticipated that the local brewer would Just along the road is the Woolpack . I suspect name a beer after it some eight hundred years in that it dates back to the same period, although the future? nobody in the pub could tell me. It is a friendly, family run pub, with a cosy, stone built main bar For that is indeed the name of one of the four warmed by an open fire. Beers available were regular beers brewed by Graham Moorhouse (no Castle Rock Harvest Pale and a guest from the relation) in the cellar of the pub. The others are Purity stable. Another feature of the pub is the Windmill and Dragline, both at 3.9 ABV, and a authentic oak beams in which are lodged several delectable dark, malty beer called Rosie’s Sweat coins dating back to the war. A local informed me Box at 4.2. Veterans of the Second World War that they were good luck tokens placed there by will be familiar with the name of Rosie the Riveter the pilots flying from Deenesthorpe. I wonder how who was used as a recruitment figure for the facto - many of them made it back. ries producing warplanes. All of the beers from the brewery are named after local landmarks and I Oundle outing assume that this name is intended to reinforce the It is always good news when a new pub opens and connection with the local Deenesthorpe airstrip, even better when it fits the description of a which was the home of a USAAF bombardment micropub (see page 18). The Tap & Kitchen , squadron. brewery tap of the excellent Nene Valley Brewery , opened on the 24th November. It is a refurbished Graham has a two firkin plant and rolls his beers wharf side warehouse in which the proprietors out in firkins and pins. Knowing that they are have succeeded in recreating its industrial revolu - relatively expensive, I asked him why he used pins. tion ethos: chrome and wood, cogs and wheels. He said that quite simply landlord, Bogdan, refuses The pub has eight hand pumps dispensing most of to sell beer that is not in top condition and he the NVB range and plans guests in the future. needs to reduce wastage. If the beer goes stale he They also serve craft beers and craft ciders from just tips it. across the country and beyond. Surrounded as we often are nowadays by a sea of citrus, it is grati - Bogdan Vugnovic is the man responsible for fying to find a new brewery featuring F Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE 8 | Pub news - continued

traditional beer styles: Dark Horse, Lone Star, pleased to be able to report that Enterprise at the Starless Stout, DXB; ruby, amber, brown, and time of writing were interviewing prospective new Bible Black; PBF champion beer! managers. Oundle can also be reached on the X4. It is high time that this bus was nominated for a Whilst in Oundle I thought I should check out gold award. the Angel , as the last time I was here it was pretty run down with no drinkable beer. For the past year Stamford strut it has been run by Dave and Wendy Cook, and the Similar concerns about closure surrounded the transformation is remarkable. Kings Head in Stamford. The problem with the No real ale when they took over, now they have up rumour mill is that it spreads so wildly that the to four. But the most impressive thing is that they only way to be sure is to visit the place itself. The have recreated the pub in their own idiom, pub is now under the enterprising management of bringing in their own antique furniture and David Waycot. David has extended the real ale creating the ambience of a rustic cottage. The use range from three to five, mainly from the Marston of this furniture is ably supervised by their six cats, portfolio. He has also opened the courtyard, but don’t count on getting a seat on the most which provides a wall-surrounded refuge seating comfortable settee as this is normally comman - about 30 customers and will provide an attractive deered by a local Labrador. It is truly a pub where venue for the warmer months. The Kings Head is you would feel comfortable enough to take your the oldest pub in Stamford, dating back to 1602. shoes off. I fondly imagine that it was built for the masons who worked on the adjoining St. Michael’s church Dave and Wendy informed me that on a recent when it was rebuilt about the same time, as the pilgrimage to Great Walsingham they were incul - masons, quite rightly, would never work without cated into Paul Stretton’s famous, award winning their beer. Are there any local historians who can pies and in the New Year they intend to introduce confirm this? three varieties: meat, fish and vegetable. The pub also has a weekly beer raffle where complete The Hole in the Wall has reinvented itself as impartiality is ensured by allowing one of the cats the Groovy Club , which I suspect is the name to pick the winning ticket. envisaged for it by John Clare when he drank there as a young man. Alun Thomas has informed me No visit to Oundle would be complete without a that this and the Millstone now only open at visit to the magnificent Ship Inn . Veterans of the weekends. branch will know that this pub has been in the Langridge family for thirty years. The whole pub Bourne again has now been redecorated and there have been I am referring specifically to the Golden Lion significant structural changes. The snug has been which has been discarded by Sam Smiths and is moved forward to allow easier access to the about to be born again under the ownership of kitchen. It is still there but it is smaller. The Mark Richardson of White Horse (Baston) fame. changes have been designed sensitively and they Apparently this fine old pub needs a lot of work, have by no means altered the character of the and if the refit is modeled on the lines of the place, with of course the magnificent Grade 2 White Horse, we can expect a major upgrade. listed fireplace still intact. I am sure this will be a Is this the oldest pub in Bourne? I suspect its great comfort to all those who are in the habit of antiquity could be challenged by the Masons inspecting their inglenook. Arms . Nobody in this pub could tell me the date of its origin, but one customer informed me that The Oundle jungle drums were decidedly offbeat there has been an inn on the site since the eleventh with their message on the George allegedly on the century. I can normally date a pub by the height point of being swallowed up by Tesco. I am of the oak beams and the number of times that I

BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Pub news - continued | 9 bang my head on them, and I never come out of my sanity, prior to which most of this article was this pub without a headache. Whether it is this or written. This is only one of two pubs that I am Courage Directors at £2.70 a pint I am not quite aware of (the other is the Coalheavers Arms in sure. This is an excellent community pub with a Woodston) that uses oversize glasses. Such is my very warm atmosphere. Grade 2 listed, it was joint frustration with this fact that I have taken to second in the Pub Bars and Stars (formerly Scot - wearing a pair myself. tish Porridge) community pub of the year. They also serve Deuchars IPA and London Pride and In the last issue I mentioned that the Little landlord, Johnny Parr, is very meticulous about London Inn in March has reverted to its original the quality of his beer. name of the Men of March . I have since had the opportunity to visit the pub and meet the new The Anchor in Eastgate has extended it real ale landlord and landlady Keith and Jo Foosey. The range from 3 to 6 and on my last visit had two pub has been brightened up with a major refurb beers from the Dancing Duck brewery in Derby; and has a great family atmosphere. When they one of these a special brew for The Anchor, and took over nobody was drinking the draught beer. another for The Hand & Heart, one of two pubs Now they have up to four from the Marston’s port - that licensees Dawn and Taras own in Nottingham folio: Banks Bitter £2.45, Pedigree £2.79, Hobgoblin Gold £2.84. The curse of Fenland I knew it would come back to haunt me. Probably The Three Tuns in Doddington has reopened because I failed to attend the Straw Bear Festival. with a major refurb and four real ales. It is always Planning permission has been granted to turn the cheering when a pub reopens after being closed for Bricklayers Arms in Whittlesey into housing, a couple of years, and new landlord, Robin and Rose Black is retiring due to the ill health of Leonard, has big plans for the place. These her husband. I am sure all her customers will join include a new kitchen with real homemade food, me in wishing them all the best in the future. and a beer garden. Children are always welcome.

A similar aura of doom settled upon me in Around town Ramsey. The occasion was the presentation of a The scarcity of pubs in the Lincoln Road area has Gold Award to the Jolly Sailor, as reported in the scarcely diminished the high esteem in which they last issue. The photographer present on the occa - are held. The Crown has recently received the sion told me that he was working for the Ramsey Evening Telegraph Best Bar in the City award. Informer. I was deeply troubled by this terrifying news as I had only just been told by some of the On New Year’s Day, John Lawrence handed the elderly patrons of the pub that the said person, keys over to head barman Peter Turnbull, who will Josef Jakobs, was the last man to be executed at continue his policy of providing an extensive range the Tower of London as long ago as 1941. I have of real ale, cider and bottled beers. Fullers had many sleepless nights since. London Pride, Elland Ell’s Bells, Wolf 2015 and an outstanding pint of Lacon’s Falcon were available Fortunately salvation was near at hand. I was on my last visit. acting on a recommendation to visit the Railway , where landlord Keith Golightly has created a real Despite their continuing fight against demo - ale haven featuring on this occasion Woodford graphic adversity and a plethora of surrounding Wherry, Green King Abbot, Grainstore and a off licences, and in the face of some outstanding constantly changing guest. Where also Keith has opposition, Bram and Sue managed to pull off the rechristened a certain product normally known as Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year award at J*** S****’s Smooth as “the antichrist”. This was the Hand & Heart . Congratulations. A full the turning point and did a great deal to restore report will appear in the next issue. F Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE 10 | Please support our advertisers

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BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Pub news | 11

December 17th saw the opening of the Argo jewels in the Oundle Road crown, the Palmer - Lounge in Bridge Street. The Argo is a good ston Arms . Simon Benton informs me that he example of a current trend towards bar restaurants. will officially take over the lease on February 2nd We may not like this concept but I think it is a and he is planning a winter dark beer festival from major asset for an otherwise barren city centre. January 27th to 31st. As far as I am concerned It is part of the Loungers group which does not there is a beer festival in this pub every day of the have a real ale policy at the moment, but its sister week, with up to twelve real ales constantly avail - company – Cosy Club – most certainly does, so able along with a wide range of ciders. why don’t we all go in there and ask for it? My commitment to complete impartiality The Woodston loop prevents me from mentioning my own local, the Natives of the north who do not suffer from Coalheavers Arms , in Park Street. hydrophobia might occasionally consider crossing the water to Woodston, where at least they can To complete the loop we have the Peacock , the have a decent pub crawl. only thatched roof pub in the city. Predominantly a music pub, it is currently offering Sharpe’s Any such crawl should inevitably start at Doombar at £2.60 a pint. It is now a family run pub Charters . For those who are not familiar with the and licensee Cherie Burkett, who has considerably area, it is a converted Rhine barge moored on the improved the ambience since taking over in July, south bank of the Nene adjacent to the town has told me she is planning a beer festival in the bridge. I have had some indifferent reports on the spring. I will keep you updated on this event. range of guest beers available since Stuart Wright left, but proprietor Paul Hook has managed to Serious issues procure the services of new manager Martin Race I trust that readers will appreciate that all of the and things are really looking up. At the moment information contained above was accurate at the the barge is offering four Oakham and four guests. time of writing. However, such is the dynamic of Martin intends to introduce a policy of supporting the pub market that this article is out of date as local micros including Hopshackle, Star, soon as it is written. In consideration of this fact, Kingscliffe, Nene Valley, Tydd Steam and Grain - and in order to protect myself against mischievous store. The Easter beer festival is scheduled for accusations, I shall in future be writing under a April 3rd – 6th, and he has made the astute pseudonym. decision to rack the beers inside, thus avoiding the sharp change in temperature that has often Keep it quiet. affected the beer in the past. I will keep you John Temple Pubs Officer posted on this important event. I stand to be corrected, but I believe that this is the only bar in Peterborough to be “listed” before it appeared in the Good Beer Guide .

Around the corner into Oundle Road and we have four pubs within a few minutes of each other: The Cherry Tree where you will find Tim Send us your news! Taylor’s Landlord and Oakham Inferno plus two guests (Cottage and Tydd Steam on my last visit); Calling all landlords and landladies! Had a refurb? the Swiss Cottage where Roosters Yankee and Got a great event on? Started selling a new range Sharps Doombar are constantly on tap along with of ales or cider? Let us know and we will add your a guest; the New Inn which is currently offering news to these pages. Just email John Temple at Grainstore Osprey, and, of course, one of the [email protected]

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BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Pub Of The Year 2015

Peterborough & District CAMRA are pleased to 2004 Coalheavers Arms, Peterborough announce that The Hand & Heart has been voted Branch Pub of the Year 2015 by local CAMRA Peterborough & District CAMRA congratulate the members. staff at The Hand & Heart on their achievement. Presentation date to be confirmed. Each year end Peterborough & District CAMRA poll all their members for Pub of The Year. This is If you have not been to The Hand & Heart out of a shortlist of pubs that had been awarded a please make a point of visiting. Not only does it Merit or Gold award during that year. See issue have a good selection of ales and lagers, but it 180 for this years contenders. has an historic pub interior of national importance (1930’s Art Deco) and is listed on the CAMRA The clear winner voted by branch members was National Register. the Hand & Heart, 12 Highbury Street, Peterborough. Peterborough CAMRA run Award Schemes throughout the year to recognise pubs that have Previous winners of this prestigious award are:- demonstrated their commitment to provide good 2014 The Ploughman, Werrington (2nd Award) service and great beer. 2013 The Queen’s Head, Bulwick 2012 The Letter B, Whittlesey All pub awards are nominated by CAMRA 2011 Ploughman, Werrington members who submit their recommendations via 2010 Mama Liz’s, Stamford the form in our Branch Magazine, Beer Around 2009 Jolly Brewer, Stamford ‘Ere (BAE), or via email to the Secretary 2008 Tobie Norris, Stamford [email protected] 2007 Drapers Arms, Peterborough 2006 Blue Bell, Maxey Mike Blakesley Press Officer 2005 Palmerston Arms, Peterborough

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE Brewery News Bexar County Brewery Castor Ales 2015 looks to be a year of change Dark Side of the Comet for Bexar County Brewery. The proved to be a popular addi - previous two years were used to tion to our range of beers. explore different styles and taste The beer was conceived profiles that would push the enve - before the amazing achievement of the European lope and challenge beer drinkers. Ok, so it seems Space Agency’s Rosetta Mission to land the Philae that not that much is going to change this Lander on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko year...except the approach. This year there will on 12th November 2014. The name of the beer still be innovation and collaboration, but many of captured the moment and seemed a perfect oppor - the old recipes devised over the last year will be tunity to celebrate the scientific achievement of the revisited. Expect to see a number of beers being human race. re-brewed this year such as Papa Steve, San Jacinto, Vaquero, I Am Not A Fruit Beer and As a dark beer, it cries out to be defined because La Perla Negra en Fuego . beer enthusiasts love to argue over what separates a porter from a stout. I think people agree that The first beers released this year included a there is a difference, but nobody can agree what coffee stout and the beginning of a series of beers the difference is. It may simply be that originally a that will run throughout the year called stout was a stronger version of a porter. Today, “Anything Gose” (a range of salty soured wheat however, the difference is probably whatever you beers that have the same malt bill but different want it to be. additions are added in secondary). Dark Side of the Comet contains pale malt, Bexar County Brewery beers have also finally caramalt, crystal malt, chocolate malt, black malt, found two regular spots in Peterborough. Cask roasted malt and oats and the hop additions are beers can often be found at the Drapers Arms and generous. So try it and make up your own mind. bottles are normally at the Coalheavers Arms. It is available in the usual outlets and in bottles. Beers Festivals still play a major role with the brewery, with it showing at great national festivals The Philae Lander is currently languishing such as Cambridge Winter, Colchester, and Ely silently on the ‘dark side’ of the comet, but as the Winter along with smaller local festivals such as comet moves ever closer to the sun over the next Straw Bear. few months, scientists are optimistic that the increased solar energy will stir it into life again and In other news, it is time to say goodbye to the that will surely be an event to celebrate with a new original Brewery Liaison Officer (BLO) for Bexar beer. Raise your glasses and celebrate with Castor County Brewery, Mr Steve Williams. He served Ales. Cheers! his time well and will be sorely missed, but unfor - tunately his commitments to the Peterborough Digfield Ales Beer Fest and his dedication to the Pub History 2014 was a year of Society have forced him to retire from the role of sustained growth of BLO for Bexar County Brewery. sales in an expanding market, helped by invest - ment in a larger delivery vehicle and bigger stock With sad news comes good news though, Mr of casks. Digfield expanded their sales areas and Dave Botton has graciously stepped up to the posi - now have regular outlets in and around tion of BLO. He has been a long-time friend to Northampton and Bedfordshire. Along with larger the brewery and is on a constant quest to find sales area they have supplied beers to many beer great new innovative beer, in other words, a perfect festivals. Chiff Chaff an amber/gold bitter at match for the brewery.

BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Brewery news continued | 15

3.9% which was brewed for the first time in June and Mile Tree Brewery which won the Bronze Award at this year’s PBF, was Mile Tree continue to open well received at both Nottingham and Falmouth beer up new markets for their festivals. Merry Monk their festive version of Mad ales through the use of Monk was brewed for Christmas/New Year season. their Travellin’ Tavern. The Tavern has proved very popular at the many Christmas Markets This year Paul and Mike are hoping to develop where sales of 1850 Porter and Reclamation more new beers as and when time allows. exceeded demand. Richard and Karen will now concentrate on bottling more of their ales in Elgoods readiness for the regular farmer’s markets being Straw Beer is still available held in Ely and Peterborough throughout spring. and the seasonal beer for Bottled beer is available for purchase online from February will be an Evolution The Ale Room. beer called Eros at 4%. The beers have also been appearing in cask February will also see the launch of bottled, fruit form in some outlets new to the brewery flavoured, Lambic beer at the Craft Beer Rising including:- Prince Albert, Ely; The Black Bear, festival in London. The beer will be called Coolship Walsoken, Wisbech; Tharp Arms, Chippenham, and has been flavoured with blackberries and rasp - Ely; Oliver Twist, Guyhirn berries. March will see the return of Goatbusters as the seasonal beer. This is a 3.9% session ale. Their beers will also be showcased at the forth - coming Ely Winter Beer Festival. On the pub front, The Bell Inn at Murrow has had new tenants since 6th January. Finally, Brewery Tours Nene Valley Brewery recommence on the 28th April with the visitor centre The Brewery had a good and gardens being open to the public. See the Christmas with increased sales brewery website for further details. from the shop and into pubs. The Tap & Kitchen is also Kings Cliffe Brewery (KCB) doing rather well with 75 of 90 KCB have brewed a commemo - covers pre-booked for the evening of Friday 9th rative beer (see page 25) KCB January. There are tentative (at the moment) P51 which is a traditional plans to extend the rear of all of the units in the English porter ABV 5.1% and dark ruby in colour. brewery block (Gorilla Firm Cycling and Trek Kits It has been brewed using an 1896 recipe and outdoors shop included) with the brewery utilising refined for the modern palate. the additional space to increase the number of fermentation vessels and add cask storage. Roasted and chocolate malts give a smooth and distinctive roast malt and fruit feature to the palate. Nene Valley have been invited to the The finish is very lightly hopped with a hint of bitter Cambridge Winter Ales Festival from 22nd to chocolate lingering. 24th January where they will be showcasing 4 beers including Bible Black and Dark Horse . KCB P51 will be available from February. Please Hunts CAMRA visited recently to present the ask for it at your local. Bottles and mini-kegs of P51 brewery with the Beer of the Festival Award from will be available from the brewery in March 2015. Booze on the Ouse St Ives Beer Festival 2014 for All of KCB ales will be showcasing at the Cambridge Bible Black. Winter Ales Festival 22nd – 24th January 2015 and the Colchester Winter Ales Festival 28th – 31st The brewery will once again be represented at January 2015. Craft Beer Rising, in London, from 19th to 22nd February. There are plans for a number of F Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE 16 | Please support our advertisers

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t. 01780 755141 w. jollybrewer.com Foundry Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2PP Brewery news continued | 17 new beers in 2015 including a citrus saison and Xtreme Ales another version of Double JIP, this time at 9.9%. Things at the brewery continue to grow at a good pace. Brewing Oakham Ales has now stepped up to a full 2014 was a record year for Oakham brew once a week on the new big kit and brews on Ales with total beer production the smaller kit for one off festival specials when approximately 24,000 brewer’s barrels needed. The brewery has received a brand new (36 gallons) up a sprightly 15% on 2013. Perennial cask washer with a new batch of casks on the way favourite J.H.B . still tops the charts for beer sales to keep up with demand. accounting for roughly 40% of production. As the message gets clearer that they do brew other beers The Straw Bear Festival, in Whittlesey, was a sales of Citra are rapidly on the increase. Some of huge success for the brewery. A total of 15 casks this possibly due to the silver medal success in the were sold to various pubs around the town, with Champion Beer of Britain 2014. The Letter B doing a fantastic job of promoting our Straw Bear Festival beer, Dancing Pigeon . Ten per cent of beer sold is now bottled with supermarket sales on the up. Two per cent of Mike and Neil had the pleasure of helping out bottle sales go abroad with hotspots Scandinavia and serving on The ‘Grufton’ Real Ale bar at the and Eastern Europe. Both are rapidly growing Letter B, which also had our Winter Warmer markets and Italy with its new found thirst for and Funky Pigeon beers and which sold out Green Devil , not ‘a like a mama used to drink!’ early on. For this year there will be some changes to the seasonal and Oakademy of Excellence beers. There will be twelve beers in total with six new Oakademy beers alternating with six seasonals. Farewell Stella January sees the start of the Oakademy beers for It is with great sadness that we have to report the 2015 with The Opportunist a 4.1% Oatmeal death of another of our long-standing members. Stout, followed in March by The Racketeer a Stella Morton, wife of Harry, our Webmaster, 5% beer bursting with Kiwi hops. Good feedback passed away suddenly on the 9th of January at her from Dolphin Dance last year means a February home in Torremolinos near Malaga in Spain. She return for this straw coloured beer with German had been in poor health since just before hops. Mompesson’s Gold will also be around in Christmas when she was confined to a wheelchair. the early part of the year as an addition to the My wife and I visited the couple twice during our aged and vintage range. recent New Year holiday. Tydd Steam Although Stella was never a ‘leading member’ or The recent return of held any committee position, she did help on many Piston Bob was a success occasions at the Peterborough Beer Festival, along with the batch selling out with her daughters. She also assisted Harry in quickly, as did the Christmas beer Yooligan . some of his duties when he was our Branch Secre - Beartown returned for the Whittlesey Straw tary. When they retired they took the decision to Bear Festival and has sold very well. live in Spain in the Malaga area. Harry informed Cock is now being brewed as the latest offering me of Stella’s death as we were about to leave from the brewery's occasional portfolio. Malaga airport to return to the UK. We send our Sales have been very good lately with a successful condolences, and our thoughts are with Harry and Christmas period and the brewery is continuing in family. Rest in peace, Stella. much the same vein as last year. There are no new beers in the pipeline at the David Murray moment.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE Anspach & Hobday’s entrace, with the Shard in the background

The Bermondsey Mile Revisited

A recent edition of The Morning Advertiser has First let us understand a plain fact. The law is published an article on the growth of a phenom - about to change as a result of action taken by the enon now referred to as the micropub movement. elected representatives of the pub chains’ In it the founder of the movement, Martin Hiller, customers and potential customers. Now let us predicts that there will be over a hundred of these understand another plain fact. As the nature of establishments open by the end of the year. Mr. the brewing industry is radically changing as small Hiller goes on to state that “regular pubs are going brewers grab more of the market, so is the nature downhill”. of the drinking venue. Cask Matters have recently reported that there are now 1472 brewers in Now I am not sure what a “regular” pub is, but I Britain. So where do they sell? Surely they cannot can see that there is a distinction to be made all thrive on beer festivals? And with the opening between a micropub and the wide variety of pubs up of guest beer options under the proposed statu - and hotels that we have traditionally drunk in. tory code, what difference will this make to the And whereas in the recent past we have become pub industry? accustomed to a new microbrewery being attached to an established pub, what now seems to be I should like to make the tentative suggestion that happening is that licensed premises are beginning there is a sea change occurring in the beer industry to be attached to new microbreweries (see Tap & in this country parallel to that which occurred in Kitchen, Pub news). Many will say that this move - the 1830s, when the country was faced with a ment takes its inspiration from the craft beer problem of gin consumption amongst the lower movement in the United States. But it is just as classes. To counter this problem the government likely that it is driven by a changing customer base of the time passed the Beer Act, a piece of legisla - and a changing expectation of what a pub should tion which had the effect of promoting the provide. With the current proposed reform of the development of a type of drinking establishment tied pub system and pub chains clamouring to which became the prototype of the modern town threaten more closures, perhaps it is time to pub. The Act allowed the acquisition of a license reassess the situation. to sell beer in private houses and within 8 years of its introduction 46,000 beer houses were estab -

BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Bermondsey Mile revisited | 19 lished, some of them brewing on site. In super - a showcase for his beers. What then was his seding the number of traditional taverns they market? He explained that craft brewers were clearly had a massive impact on the commercial exploring all kinds of markets and his beers are landscape. currently available at the Tate Modern, the National Theatre and in an exclusive restaurant in Inspired by Dave Botton’s pioneering article in the Tower of London! Issue 178, I thought that the ideal place to test out this theory was the Bermondsey Mile, otherwise I turned the corner into the Partizan brewery known as the craft beer pilgrimage. For what we where the premises are much smaller and there is have on the Mile is a series of microbrewers who clearly no room to expand. The beer was again have managed to secure a retail license for their excellent and the venue well supported. Partizan, products and have attracted what amounts to a like virtually all of the premises on the Mile, is cult following of beer drinkers. built into the arch of the overhead railway, which itself imparts a certain architectural attraction. Keen to investigate the commercial background Beer and railways seem to go together as naturally to this unique drinking phenomenon, I contacted as bubble and squeak. Daniel Lowe of Fourpure and arranged to meet him on a Saturday afternoon at his brewery in I arrived at the Kernel too late - you need to get South Bermondsey. It is situated in an industrial there before 2.00p.m if you want to taste their estate and difficult to find, but once inside the beer. I was, however, cordially welcomed by one of ambience changes. Surrounded by fermenting their employees, Chun Lee, who told me that they and conditioning vessels with ample seating room had a “market style of trading”. I did not quite for his many visitors, I put several questions to understand what this meant until Chun told me Daniel which he was only too pleased to answer. that his full time job was in Borough Market. It He and his brother Tom had acquired their kit seems then that the remarkable ambience of this from the Purity Brewery Company after their market is now spreading deep into Bermondsey recent expansion. They have a brew length of 23 and having a significant impact on the culture of barrels and a fermentation and conditioning the Mile. period of 21 days! Although some of the people I had spoken to I was also keenly interested in the licensing issues. professed to have no plans to expand, many of They have a license to sell beer for 7 days a week them had the facilities to do so. At the moment until 11.00 pm, although they have no plans at the microbrewers in this country only claim 1.7 % of moment to open other than Saturdays. Daniel the total beer market, whilst in the U.S. this runs to told me that he had received enormous support 11%. The overwhelming impression I was getting from the Southwark licensing authorities and from on this trip was that given the quality of the local trading standards, with whom he has acted in product and its growing popularity, there are big an advisory capacity. Both of these have used his market opportunities here and it is only a matter of premises for social events, which indicates that time before they are exploited. there is a substantial amount of community support and activity in the area and goes some way I was delighted therefore to find my view vindi - to explaining why it is so successful in attracting cated the closer I got to London Bridge. My next new brewers. stop was the Bottle Shop in Druid Street. This business started as a retail shop in Canterbury. As a working brewery, did they have plans to It was born out of proprietor Andrew Morgan’s expand this as a viable retail outlet? Daniel was personal love for beer and I am so glad he has quite adamant that he had no intent ion of decided to share it. He and his partners have creating a bar but preferred to regard the facility as been in possession of the current premises for F Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE 20 | Bermondsey Mile revisited - continued

just over eight months. Four months ago they installed a mezzanine floor (do you see what I mean about potential?) and this has provided an extensive and comfortable drinking area. Most of their business is still wholesale, but they have created a drinking establishment with a real buzz to it.

I spoke to events manager Laura Hunter who clearly shares Andrew’s passion and was, thank - fully, most enthusiastic about this article. Laura arranges bi-weekly tasting events and has opened the premises to events rented out to the public. Laura also mentioned that they are starting to forge relationships with other brewers, which I am pleased to say reinforces my long held view that pubs and breweries flourish better in clusters than they do in isolation.

In Anspach & Hobday (virtually next door) I had the good fortune to speak to one of the brewers, Paul Anspach, who also spoke about the high level of co-operation amongst the local brewers. He told me they had plans to expand the brewery into bigger premises and retain the current site as a drinking venue with an experi - mental two and a half barrel plant.

I have spoken a great deal about the premises and very little about the beer, as this was more than adequately covered by Dave Botton. I would, however, like to mention an 8.5 ABV bottle conditioned dark beer called 1204 Tradi - tional barrel aged porter from Beer by Numbers. It was deep and sweet with a perfect balance between the black malts and the roasted barley.

The label on the back of the bottle carried the following useful instructions: “Store this bottle upright and pour gently into the glass leaving the sediment behind”. Of course there is nothing new about bottle conditioned beer and this piece of advice reminded me of an article on Worthington White Shield written by the late Richard Boston, who did so much to promote CAMRA in its early days.

BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Bermondsey Mile revisited - continued | 21

Now Worthington White Shield, as every reception of the proposed new law. Will the pub schoolboy knows, should be poured with the bottle companies start to produce new business plans and and the glass virtually level with each other. The explore the opportunities to encourage investment, glass should then be gently lowered, ensuring that as suggested in What’s Brewing? Or will they the beer is poured with perfect clarity and the sedi - revert to type and cast a cloud over the industry by ment stays in the bottle. After pursuing this ritual, threatening even more pub closures. Boston would then promptly pour the sediment into the glass. He did this, he said, for three It was Shelley who said that there are periods in reasons. First it made pouring the beer an art in our history when “the cloud discharges its itself. Second he preferred the taste. But most collected lightning”. If I was a pubco I think I importantly he loved the look of consternation on should be reaching for my umbrella. the faces of the people watching him. John Temple By this time I was suffering from multiple vision as I seemed to be seeing faces I had seen further along the mile. This affliction was so severe that I almost missed my last stop, recently opened by the Southwark Brewing Company . I spoke to head brewer Andy Nichol who told me that the Brewery was the brain child of Peter Jackson. Peter is a retired consultant with 30 years experi - ence in sales and marketing. So my obvious first question was what made them choose Southwark? Their researches revealed that the London Bridge area was precisely what they were looking for: up and coming, hybrid and with a rich tradition in beer and brewing. Hops from Kent were tradition - ally delivered to London Bridge (something I The Jolly Sailor, 43 Great Whyte, should have known) and it is the home of the Hop Ramsey PE26 1HH Exchange, a building dating back to the 1860s. There are several free houses in the area which Tel 01487 813388 they have identified as their key market. The brewery is a ten barrel plant and all the beers are OPEN ALL DAY EVERY DAY FROM 11am conditioned in the cask. They brew three days a Five Real Ales on permanently week, currently have a retail license for Thursday, Friday and Saturday and have plans to open a FOOD SERVED DAILY brew pub. It is precisely the kind of new brewing venture that will benefit from the new business Monday to Friday: 12 to 2.30, 6 to 9pm relationship that will develop from the MRO Saturday: 12 to 9pm Sunday: 12 to 4pm option. Sunday 1st December I began this article by suggesting that there is a 8pm Karaoke radical change in the nature of our drinking Look out for venues and that the Bermondsey Mile would be our special the ideal location to test it out. I also challenged Valentine’s Menu Mr. Hiller’s assumption that the traditional pub is Booking now in decline. I am now left with the uncomfortable being taken! feeling that this theory has yet to be tested by the

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BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Coalheavers on tour | 23

Pub three was The West End House , an old, low-beamed pub with four or five beers on. The low beams are very low, so, if you are six feet tall or over, be very careful. Draught Bass was avail - able which I haven’t seen for a long time, alongside Sharp`s Doom bar, Purity Gold and Adnams Ghost Ship.

Our next pub was The Townhouse which has been a good beer guide entrant for many years. This was quite a large pub with a separate eating area. 8 hand pumps awaited us with beers such as Nethergate Suffolk County, Cliff Quay Clipper, Brighton Bier Fall Guy and Milton Tiki. The beers here were £3.40 a pint, but card carrying Coalies in Ely CAMRA members got a 20p discount. All the beers in here were in very good nick. This Coalheavers mini trip took us to Ely. Maybe not a place you would normally associate with a Pub five was not really a pub but a deli that sold large choice of beers, but we did pretty well. The great looking food and had a menu of well over ticket was £11.90 which is a bit steep for a 25 100 bottled beers. It is called 3At3 . These were not minute journey but you can book in advance your run of the mill beers! I had never come across which will bring the price down a bit and group most of them and virtually all were local beers, save tickets will knock a pound or two off. apart from the beers under the heading “Rare Spanish Beers”. I had never heard of 3At3 but was The day’s first pub was The Fountain , an advised to pay a visit. The prices were not too bad Adnams pub with three Adnams beers and a considering the beers were all bottled and we were couple of guests including Purity Mad Goose in Ely. One of our group had a Black Widow which I had and really enjoyed. The pub was fairly Reserve at 12% for £6.95. It was lovely. If you go quiet but then we were there at midday. to Ely you must find 3At3.

The next pub we came to was a Greene King Final pub of the day was The Liberty Belle . pub, The Prince Albert . We just walked straight A fairly recent addition to the Ely pub scene, this past as we don’t drink Greene King beer! was a great little pub with 7 beers waiting for us. Again, all the beers were fairly local with Newby However, as we passed, I noticed a sign saying Wyke Kingston Topaz, Grain Porter (fantastic), nine beers available and was pretty sure Greene Jo C’s Norfolk Kiwi and Wolf Mild. There are no King do not do nine beers so they must have some pumps here, you just place your order at the bar, guests, they did. Alongside four of their own beers pay and the chap goes out the back and pours the were Tim Taylors Landlord, Skinners Cornish beer straight from the cask and then brings it to Knocker, Hogs Back TEA, and Milton Sparta, all your table. Great. of which were really good but were all £3.90 per pint. Sparta is always on in The Coalies and is That was the end of our trip to Ely and I was only £2.90! Nevertheless the pub was very busy pleasantly surprised. Definitely worth a visit and worth a visit. especially if you go to the Ely Beer Festival or the winter festival. Dave Botton

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On 26 August 1943, the 20th Fighter Group What’s in arrived from March AAF . Aircraft of the 20th were identified by black and white stripes along their cowlings and tails. The 20th became a name? known as the “Loco Group” because of its numerous and successful attacks on locomotives. 2015 will see the 70th anniversary of the end of Aircraft from the 20th flew patrols over the English World War II. To mark this occasion and also Channel during D-Day in June 1944, and recognise the support and sacrifice made by the supported the invasion force later that month by USAAF 8th Air Force a Northamptonshire escorting bombers that struck forbidden targets in brewery Kings Cliffe Brewery has produced a style , Belgium, and the . The 20th of beer that would have been available in 1945. FG converted to North American P51 Mustangs in The Kings Cliffe Brewery is located less than a July 1944 and continued to fly escort and fighter- mile from the end of the runway at RAF Kings bomber missions as the enemy retreated across Cliffe or USAAF Station 367 as it was known to France to the Siegfried Line. The group participated in the airborne attack on the Netherlands in September 1944, and escorted bombers to and struck rail lines, trains, vehicles, barges, power stations, and other targets in and beyond the Siegfried Line. The unit took part in the by escorting bombers to the battle area. Flew patrols to support the airborne attack across the Rhine in March 1945, and carried out escort and fighter-bomber missions. The USAAF departed RAF Kings Cliffe in October 1945. Jack M Ilfrey North American P51D Mustang HAPPY JACKS GO BUGGY 1942 - 1944 Kings Cliffe Kings Cliffe Brewery’s commemora - tive beer, a porter called P51 pays US Army Air Force personnel. The Airfield homage to the North American was constructed in December 1942. It was P51D Mustangs operated by the the most northerly and furthest west of all 20th Fighter Group. KCB P51 is a fighter stations. It was in collaboration between Jez O’Neil the 1st Air Division heavy bomber base area KCB Owner and David Smith a and more than fifty miles west of any other home brewer from . fighter airfield.

Major Jack Ilfrey Working from an 1896 recipe found in 31 July 1918 - October 15, an old book in Cambridge, the new beer has been 2004 brewed to suit a modern tastes and local water. After the ABV was checked, the porter came out at Promoted to Captain, in March 5.1% which dovetailed nicely with the name Porter 1944 he went back to combat in 5.1. Another homage is paid to the 20th Fighter as commander of the Group on the pump clip as the P is Black with a , 20th white outline which were the identifying colours Fighter Group, based at RAF for the squadrons aircraft. Kings Cliffe. Aerial Victories: 7.5 confirmed and 2 damaged. (ACE). Medals: Silver Star, Distin - Mike Blakesley guished Flying Cross with 5 OLC's and the Air KCB Brewery Liaison Officer Medal with 13 OLC's. 26 | CAMRA NWAF 2015 CAMRA’s National Winter Ales Festival 2015

Where: The Roundhouse, Derby, DE24 8JE of beer (porters, stouts, old ales/strong milds and When: Open from Wednesday 11th – Saturday barley wine/strong old ales) being gathered from 14th February 2015 across the UK to be judged and a winner declared. Though the festival itself has lots of pale beers and In 2015 CAMRA’s flagship National Winter Ales golden ales to choose from too. Festival will return to Derby for the second year running, with over 400 beers available the Festival The website www.nwaf.org.uk will be updated will showcase some of the very best ales, ciders, regularly with details of admission prices, live perries, bottled world beers and mead in 3 sepa - entertainment, tutored tastings and special hotel rate areas. rates thanks to our partners at www.visitderby.co.uk. There are no advance Located beside the Pride Park exit of Derby tickets as this is a pay on the door event. Well Railway Station (just 93 minutes from London) behaved and supervised under 18s are welcomed Derby’s historic Roundhouse could not be in a until 19:00 each evening, after which they must more convenient location. leave due to a licencing requirement.

Four Brewery Bars have been agreed: multi award The feedback from 2014 revealed that our winning Blue Monkey from Nottingham; innova - customers loved the building, the beer quality and tive North Star from Derbyshire both in the Main selection as well as the hot and cold food which Hall, Derby’s very own Brunswick Brewing was available. So why not join them and come Company in the Music Marquee and Yorkshire’s and see Derby at its beery best!! shinning gem Brass Castle in the Carriage Room. Cheers! The National Winter Ales Festival is home to CAMRA’s prestigious Champion Winter Beer of Gillian Hough Britain Competition which sees the 4 winter styles Organiser National Winter Ales Festival Diary dates | 27

Dia ry dates CAMRA meetings, socials and beer festivals in the coming months

January February March Fri 30th - Sat 31st Tuesday 17th Committee Tuesday 10th Committee 6th CAMRA Elysian Winter meeting The Cherry Tree, meeting The Blue Bell, Beer Festival. Woodston PE2 9PB. 8.30pm. Werrington. PE4 6RU. 8.30pm. Venue: Maltings Ship Lane Ely. All branch members welcome, All branch members welcome, Location is next to the river please bring membership card. please bring membership card. approximately 5 minute’s walk from Ely railway station. Monday 23rd Pie Night at Wednesday 11th - Friday Opening hours: Friday 10:30 to Letter B, Whittlesey. Depart 13th - 31st London Drinker 22:00 Saturday 11:00 to 20:00. Brewery Tap at 7pm return by Beer And Cider Festival There will be 70 beers on 11pm. Cost: £16 (transport Camden Centre Bidborough including a bar run by Ely’s very +meal). Please contact Social Street London WC1H 9AU. own 3 Blind Mice brewery. Secretary John Hunt to book 150 real ales imported beers There will also be 14-16 ciders. places. (including American beers) ciders Gig guide and perries.

February Fri 20th Mainstreet Charters, City Centre Mon 2nd Unplugged Charters, City Centre Sat 21st Mistreated Prince of Wales F, Castor Fri 6th Code Red Fayre Spot, Bretton Sat 28th Pandora’s Box Prince of Wales F, Castor Mind the Gap Swiss Cottage, Woodston Revolver Stone Loach, Market Deeping Sat 7th Frankly My Dear Swiss Cottage, Woodston The Recruits Charters, City Centre The Expletives Ploughman, Werrington Redemption Prince of Wales F, Castor Wed 11th Pint of Poetry & a Dash of Drama Charters, City Centre Fri 13th Children of the Revolution 29 North Street, Stanground PE2 8HR. Palmerston Arms,Oundle Rd Tel: 01733 753544 Cuttin’ Loose Swiss Cottage, Woodston Friendly village pub with riverside mooring. Sat 14th Hooker Cook Inn, Werrington Radius 45 Ploughman, Werrington Up to 4 Real Ales available Sat 21st Doghouse Prince of Wales F, Castor Large Garden • Dogs Welcome Dave Ellis Blues Charters, City Centre Sat 28th Greg McDonald Prince of Wales F, Castor BT Sport Dizzy Miss Lizzy’s Charters, City Centre Food Served: March Tues to Sun 12 - 2.30pm Mon to Sat 6pm - 8pm Mon 2nd Unplugged Charters, City Centre Sat 7th CJ Hatt Prince of Wales F, Castor Sat 14th DB5 Prince of Wales F, Castor BEER FESTIVAL The Lazoons Charters, City Centre FRI 17 APRIL - SUN 19 APRIL

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE 28 | Membership Matters

Are you one of those people for whom friends and value for money. Even so, I’m just so glad that I family find it difficult to buy gifts? Did you receive became a Life Member when it only cost around underwear and socks for Christmas again? Do you £100 to do so. have a “special” birthday this year? If you have answered “Yes” to any one of these questions then Go on! Join the country’s most successful maybe it's time to ask for CAMRA Membership, or consumer organisation (with 168,553 members at an upgrade to CAMRA Life Membership, as a gift. the time of writing). You know it makes sense! Bob Melville Membership rates for Full Single Members start at £24.00 and concessions (under 26 or over 60) start at £16.50. (See advert on page 29). Life membership is somewhat more expensive starting at £432 for Full Life Membership and £297 for Over 60 Life Membership. With all of the benefits accruing to CAMRA Members (www.camra.org.uk/benefits) it represents excellent

BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

30 | CAMRA Contacts Branch Committee Young Members: Kara Williams Hopshackle: Noel Ryland Secretary: Dickie Bird [email protected] 07944 869656 4 Cissbury Ring,Werrington Membership: Bob Melville Kings Cliffe Brewery: Peterborough, PE4 6QH 07941 246693 Mike Blakesley 01733 574226 (tel & fax) [email protected] 07747 617527 07731 993896 [email protected] Festival Org: Mike Lane Melbourn: 07850 334203 Vacant Chairman: David Murray [email protected] 01733 560453 Mile Tree Brewery: [email protected] LocAle Officer: Dave McLennan Steve Williams 01733 346059 (h) 07756 066503 Treasurer: Paul Beecham 07854 642773 (m) Nene Valley: Bob Melville 01733 311981 [email protected] 07710 008693 07941 246693 [email protected] Webmaster: Harry Morten Oakham Ales: Dave Allett [email protected] 07966 344417 Vice Chair: Matthew Mace 07809 629241 Brewery Liaison Officers Tydd Steam: John Hunt [email protected] Blue Bell: John Hunt 07923 489917 Social Sec: John Hunt 07923 489917 Shoulder of Mutton Brewery: 07923 489917 Bexar County Brewery: John Temple [email protected] Dave Botton 07905 051 312 Pubs Officer: John Temple 01733 345475 Star Brewing Company: 07905 051 312 Castor Ales: Mike Lane Dave McLennan - 07854642773 [email protected] 07850 334203 Xtreme Ales: Matt Mace Press Officer: Mike Blakesley Digfield: Dave Waller 07809 629241 01733 390828 (h) 07821 912605 Trading Standards 07747 617527 (m) Elgoods: John Hunt 08545 040506 [email protected] 07923 489917 www.consumerdirect.gov.uk Check out our website at: www.real-ale.org.uk Pub Merit Awards & Gold Awards

Does your local pub have excellent beer, friendly staff, a great atmosphere/ community spirit, or have they introduced additional hand pumps? If so nominate them for Gold or Merit Award. The new Merit Award is for pubs that are continuously outstanding, so if you know of a deserving pub within the branch area, please complete the form below indicating Gold or Merit Award and post to the secretary or email nominations to [email protected]. Pub name:

Pub address/town/village:

Reason for award:

Your name:

Your phone number or e-mail address:

Your membership number:

g m , ree i t a ry st Th B s 1 e At Lea fa 1 rv r ca fo k o e t s! a t h a Ale e 8 t e Real r m n t o ca B a fr S f u ! y el o 5 r rs y e u s .9 v o a 5 e y ch £ lp u ly e m n H as o More than just a Carvery!

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Check out our lunch-time grill menus and our ever- changing specials boards. Put it all together with three fine cask ales and you have the perfect place to enjoy Open Every Day dinner with friends or a family celebration. We have a self-contained function suite which is ideal for parties, 10am - 5.30pm All Day Menu & Coffee Midday - 2:30pm Carvery & Specials Menu weddings and all of life’s celebrations. 5:30pm - LATE Carvery & Grill Menu Sunday Open From 12 Noon - 9pm So if you’ve not been before give us a try and you’ll be All Day Carvery pleasantly surprised. Planning a wedding or special family event?

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