Summer 2013 FREE – Please Take One
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Issue 53 – Summer 2013 FREE – Please take one Newsletter of North Oxfordshire Branch of CAMRA A Successful 13th Festival The thirteenth Banbury Beer and see us out with his char- Festival was certainly a festival ismatic set of popular classics of fine ales with over 80 being with a few alternative foot- delivered and ready to drink stompers thrown in. New to during the three days as well the festival this year was RD as 20 ciders and perries and Walker of Moreton-in-Marsh a selection of fruit wines. It sup along to. Friday was who did the catering and the was a slow start to proceedings busy, but not compared high quality offerings were well as the weather seemed to put to recent years, though there received, especially the pig roast people off, but on Friday even- was still a big crowd in and a on Friday. ing the crowds returned and we good buzz. Saturday lunchtime Also new this year were fruit were blown away by the turn out the hall rocked to The Heist, and wines which proved a hit along- on Saturday with many drinkers with drinkers packing in despite side festival favourite ciders enjoying the live music, if not the weather which threatened, which again sold well and includ- the weather. An encouraging 19 but never delivered, a torrential ed a couple of Cumbrian ciders new members signed up to join downpour. The evening saw Pete to complement the Cumbrian CAMRA during the festival, we Watkins overload the electrics Continued on page 3 look forward to seeing them at some of the socials and perhaps Chequers, Chipping Norton is even the helpers trip, more of which later. Branch Pub Of The Year 2013 With doubts over whether the festival would happen this year it was good to see the people of North Oxfordshire vote with their feet and support the event, ably assisted by many from all over the country. Customers from as far as Blackpool, Preston, Cambridge, Southampton and Sheffield joined in the fun with many staying overnight, or mak- ing a weekend of it, in the local hotels and guesthouses. However with joint organizers Jerry and Steve standing down there is an air of deja-vu with the festival needing an organizer for the 14th to go ahead. Voting for the North Oxon a Branch meeting held at The Thursday night was reason- CAMRA Pub of the Year 2013 Bell in Banbury on Saturday ably busy, with the excellent took place earlier this year 16th March. The finalists were Reverend Ferriday providing and completed forms were The Bell, Lower Heyford; The the background music with submitted in sealed envelopes, Chequers, Chipping Norton; their blues rock for drinkers to to be opened and counted at Continued on page 3 Visit the CAMRA North Oxfordshire Branch website – http://www.northoxoncamra.org.uk 2 Beer on Tap – Summer 2013 A Successful 13th Banbury Festival Continued from page 1 theme for the beers. Because of the difficulties in getting beer from the top end of the country 17 of the beers from smaller breweries were collected and returned by members of the Branch from the Watermill brewery and pub near Kendal. It was certainly a trip that was made worthwhile by the qual- ity of those beers one of which was the standout winner of the beer of festival vote. Hardknott Azimuth polled twice the number of votes as its nearest competitor and a presentation will be organized later in the The helpers trip, which is free to as far as Burton on Trent with year at the brewery in Millom. those who helped, will only go a visit to the National Brewery Centre on the 28th September. Then some time in the excel- Chequers Is Our POTY 2013 lent hostelries of Burton before we head back to Banbury with Continued from page 1 come into the pub to enjoy our a stop or two on the way home The Crown, Church Enstone; beers!” to sample somewhere new! You the Mill, Banbury; the Rose & John arranged for members of don’t need to have helped at the Crown, Charlbury and the Tite another Branch to also judge the festival to come along, please Inn, Chadlington. finalists, with the Chequers also contact the committee to regis- The final voting was close, being their top pub, confirming ter your interest. reflecting the extremely high that when it comes to decent Thanks go to all who helped standards you’d expect from the cask ale, CAMRA members and especially those who helped top six pubs in North Oxon. know their stuff! He told Beer on to collect and return the casks The initial count showed a Tap: “Jim should be very satis- as well as those who gave their clear winner and, despite four fied that not only has he won time to ensure the beers were forms being later declared spoilt the most prestigious award at served with good humour, in top because they didn’t have the CAMRA branch level but in the condition, especially those who membership numbers or signa- process has seen off some very joined us for the first time. I tures of those submitting them, strong competition!” hope we’ll see you all next year! the winner was declared by the committee to be the Chequers at Chipping Norton. CAMRA North Oxon Branch Contact List Run by landlord Jim Hopcraft, Email addresses are followed by northoxfordshirecamra.org.uk a Fullers’ Master Cellarman, CHAIRMAN John Bellinger BRANCH CONTACT the Chequers is proud to serve Tel: 07427 677854 chairman@ Martin Batts contact@ its Cask Marque accredited VICE-CHAIRMAN Tel: 07854 116408 ale and this latest achievement Paul Forrest vicec@ PUBS OFFICER underlines the effort put in to BRANCH SECRETARY Brian Wray pubs@ serving the perfect pint. Jim Lynne Baldwin-Kramer PRESS & PUBLICITY CONTACT was delighted to accept the Tel: 07790 118341 secretary@ Tim Wilkins press@ award from Branch Chairman TREASURER Nick Faulkner YOUNG MEMBERS SECRETARY John Bellinger at a presentation treasurer@ Jim Hopcraft young@ attended by Chequers regulars WEBMASTERS BEER ON TAP EDITOR Martin Batts and and CAMRA members from Steve Lympany bot@ Geraint Jones webmaster@ all over the county and said: Tel: 07811 667507 “I’d like to thank all the Trading Standards: Oxfordshire MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY County Council, Electric Ave, Ferry CAMRA members who voted Helen Jones membership@ Hinksey Road, Oxford OX2 0BY for us and for all the people that Newsletter of CAMRA North Oxfordshire 3 Beer On Tap Survey And Beer This event is expected to Writers Workshop prove very popular and places In response to an article that Contact Branch Chairman John will be available on a first come appeared in the last edition of Bellinger to arrange for a North first served basis, with North Beer on Tap (Issue 52), we are Oxfordshire CAMRA approved Oxon Members having first carrying out an online survey to independent surveyor to contact refusal by applying before end of find the views of all our read- you at a time that is convenient June, after which time members ers, not just CAMRA members, to you. from other branches may apply. on what they think about our The survey will close on To help us ensure we fill all Branch magazine and what Thurs-day 29th August, after places a deposit of ten pounds changes, if any, they would like which time the results will will be charged, which will be to see. be analysed and used to plan refundable on attendance! To As an incentive to take part, a Members’ Beer Writers take advantage of this unique we are entering everyone who Workshop. opportunity to be part of the takes part in the survey into a The workshop will be held future of Beer on Tap contact free draw for the chance to win on Saturday 9th November in John Bellinger, NOW! a case of Fullers’ bottled beers the boardroom of the Hook courtesy of our Branch Pub Norton Brewery – courtesy of Please take the time to have your of the Year, the Chequers at James Clark, Managing Director, say on the future of Beer on Tap at Chipping Norton. Brewing – and will feature guest www.surveymonkey.com/s/ You can take part in the speakers Tom Stainer, Editor of beerontap survey by logging in to www. CAMRA’s Beer magazine and and if you would like to attend this surveymonkey.com/s/beerontap What’s Brewing newspaper, along special Beer Writers’ Workshop – to give us your opinion or, if with Tim Hampson, freelance book up as soon as possible to make you prefer, you can request to journalist and Chairman of the sure you get a place complete the survey by phone. British Guild of Beer Writers. 4 Beer on Tap – Summer 2013 Branch News The Fox, Westcott Barton Congratulations to Jerome & Stacey from the Horse & Groom, Caulcott who More shock news as Tony & tied the knot in May. Photo: Carol Malin Jacqui left the pub mid-May after failing to make it pay after re-opening at the end of January, dominoes all represented full story on page 14. Then with quiz nights planned within a week the Fox re-opened for Wednesdays and poker with Brian and Kaye at the helm. nights on Thursday. With over 30 years of experience The Fox is still a proper of running pubs they have made pub with both children a good start to their tenure. and dogs welcome as well The exterior of the pub has as anyone else, especially been redecorated and other than if you like good beer! The Festival over the weekend of that they are leaving things pret- decision on the beer festival on 12th to 14th July.