The Border Hotel, Kirk Yetholm Retains Pub of the Year Title
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MAGAZINE FOR THE EDI NBU LAND RGH & S.E. SCOT Issue 55 CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE FREE Summer 2010 The Border Hotel, Kirk Yetholm retains Pub of the Year title The overall winner of our mainly for our staff and also branch Pub of the Year is our loyal customers who again the Border Hotel at have supported us despite Kirk Yetholm, adding this experiencing the worst year’s title to last year’s winter weather we have had victory. Not only did it beat for many years. I’m sure three contestants to clinch it will encourage people this main award but it also to come to this lovely part won the Borders Area title, of the world and to enjoy just pipping The Craw Inn at the many attributes of the Auchencrow to that title. Borders”. CAMRA’s Pub of the Year co- The hotel will now join ordinator, Ken Finland, said the winners from all other “Yet again the Border Hotel CAMRA branches to find a impressed with the quality of Scotland & Northern Ireland its beers plus the excellent Margaret & Philip Blackburn receive their award certificates overall winner and that hospitality provided by its from Ken Finland. winner will go forward to enthusiastic landlords, Philip the national final. We wish and Margaret Blackburn and Philip and Margaret further success in this competition. their friendly staff. It’s great to see a rural pub with a Lying in the valley of the Bowmont Water, this 260 year strong community focus getting the credit it deserves, old coaching inn is the focal point of the village and especially after the difficulties of operating throughout a favourite stopping place for those walking both the a winter of atrocious weather”. Pennine Way and the St Cuthbert’s Way. Its neighbour, Margaret Blackburn said “We were delighted and very Town Yetholm is a mere quarter of a mile away and Kelso surprised to win this prestigious award last year, but to just seven miles. win it again is like a dream come true. This award is See page 3 for our branch area winners. In this issue: The Interview Interview with New Edinburgh Pub Walks guide CAMRA’s new Scottish Real Ale Festival 24-26 June Pubs news chairman LocAle update Colin Valentine Local heroes on page 5. World’s strongest beer History of the beer can CAMRA Charter Pints of View is read by 19,000 drinkers What is perry? Are the large pubcos getting the message? in Edinburgh, Lothians and the Borders www.camra.org.uk www.edinburghcamra.co.uk Pints of View is the newsletter of the Edinburgh and South- East Scotland Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale. Editorial EDITOR Di Willis et us hope by the time you are enjoying this issue Lthat summer has come! It’s been a long hard 10b Cumberland Street winter for us all. Our pubs – particularly those in Edinburgh EH3 6SA rural areas – suffered severely, some unable to get [email protected] customers to their doors for days on end because of the snow. It’s important therefore that we give ADVERTISING/ASST EDITOR maximum support to them all now. On the bright side, Fred Chrystal real ale continues to flourish with more and more North Cottage, Begbie pubs increasing their number of hand pumps. Cask Report author Pete Brown says, “Cask’s reinvention Haddington EH41 4HQ is impressive by any measure. It isn’t just socially 01620 824609 acceptable to drink cask beer now, it’s positively [email protected] cool.” And more female drinkers are not only going to pubs but also drinking real ale. The Bittersweet BRANCH SECRETARY Partnership publishes an interesting survey on how Jim Darroch to attract even more women into community pubs. [email protected] Read it at www.bittersweetpartnership.com And so the first appeal against a licensing board’s Views expressed in Pints of View are not necessarily those interpretation of the Scottish Licensing Act 2005 has of Edinburgh and South East Scotland branch of CAMRA, the been launched (see page ?). We’re all waiting to learn editor or the publishers. While every effort is made to ensure the outcome that hopefully regardless of which way it the accuracy of the information contained in Pints of View, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions. goes will dispel the current uncertainties surrounding Pints of View accepts advertisements on condition that their promotions. Staying on results, the election threw up inclusion does not necessarily imply an endorsement or a “status quo” outcome in Scotland. Not so south of approval of content. the Border and results there mean Scotland may hold The editor reserves the right to edit contributions sent for some trump cards when it comes to the inevitable publication. All marks and copyright acknowledged. “horse trading”. Whether pubs, breweries and we the customers will glean any benefits remains to be seen. From all accounts, whatever party rules, we are in for severe cost cuttings. Hopefully we can all still support our pubs and enjoy the beer we all love. The New Inn Finally, we say hearty congratulations to our own Bar, Restaurant, Beer Garden Colin Valentine on getting the top post in CAMRA – Two Cask Ales always available it’s as good a feeling as Motherwell winning the league, eh Colin – well almost!! Seriously though, Real Ales, Real Fire, Great Food with an ever increasing workload and an even greater Fair Trade Coffee and Tea national exposure, it is looking inevitable that Colin Open daily from 10am for coffee will stand down as our branch chair. However we Lunches and Evening meals served hope that he will find time to continue to offer his Small parties & functions catered for considerable wealth of experience to the branch. Bridge Street, Coldingham, Berwickshire TD14 5NG Read our interview with Colin on page 5. Tel:01890 771315 email: [email protected] See you at the Scottish Real Ale Festival. www.thenewinncoldingham.co.uk Di & Fred The Avenue Restaurant Trading Standards Offices At the Victoria Inn Borders St Dunstans, High Street, Melrose, TD6 9RU Haddington’s new quality 01896 823924 East Lothian restaurant and bar Council Offices, Court Street, Haddington 01620 827365 Open daily for lunches and dinners West Lothian Fine wines and two regularly changing real ales Almondvale Boulevard, Livingston 01506 776410 Five new en-suite bedrooms Edinburgh Chesser House, 500 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh 9 Court Street, Haddington 0131 529 3030 East Lothian EH41 3JD – 01620 823 332 Midlothian www.theavenuerestaurant.co.uk 8 Lothian Road, Dalkeith, Midlothian 0131 270 7500 2 www.camra.org.uk www.edinburghcamra.co.uk Thoughts on last year’s Scottish Real Ale Festival Readers of our winter issue will recall how we were singing the praises of last year’s Scottish Real Ale Festival held in the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. Almost 130 beers from over 30 Scottish breweries quenched the thirst of 3000 drinkers. This year’s Festival – same venue, from 24–26 June – is expected to be every bit as popular. Apart from the seventy volunteers who make it all happen, few will appreciate the planning and preparation involved in running a beer festival. Firstly, there is getting the right venue, then ordering the beer, ensuring there is enough staff to run the event, organising the catering, the products’ stall and also the entertainment. So, as you’re enjoying the beers, raise a glass to the volunteers who make it all possible. Read more about the Festival at www.scottishbeerfestival. org.uk including a picture gallery following the set- up through to take-down at last years festival. See page 19 for further information on this years festival and a list of the sponsors. Edinburgh’s local independent brewery offers a great range of premium cask and bottled beers - 5L mini-casks great for gifts especially with our personalised label service as well as 36 pint & 72 pint firkins for parties and larger celebrations. Special Offer with this advert! FREE 1litre bottle of bright beer with all purchases over £5. Offer valid until end July 10. New Stewart’s Dopplebock This is a genuine incarnation of the famous German style of strong, dark lager. 7% abv Available now in the brewery shop. Brewery Shop Opening Hours Follow us on Twitter: @stewartbrewing Mon - Thurs Facebook Group: Stewart Brewing 10.00 - 17.00 Fridays www.stewartbrewing.co.uk 10.00 - 17.45 0131 440 2442 3 I The Cross Keys Inn Ettrickbridge, Nr Selkirk. Tel: 01750 52224 www.camra.org.uk www.edinburghcamra.co.uk Taylor Landlord, you’ll find five guest ales which invariably include some from small independent breweries and micro Local heroes breweries throughout Britain. s featured on our cover, our Branch Pub of the Year Award The Regent occupies the corner site of a tenement block. Its went to the Border Hotel at Kirk Yetholm for the second variety of comfortable seating makes it a good pub in which to Ayear running. Runner up and also winner relax. Along with its regular Deuchars IPA, it has of the Lothians area title was the Volunteer two guest pumps plus Weston’s Old Rosie cider. Arms (Stagg’s) at Musselburgh. Lying behind the The Area Runners up were: Brunton Theatre, Stagg’s is a very traditional Edinburgh – Tass in the Royal Mile. It has Tass 80/- public bar with a dark wood counter and walls and Deuchars IPA as its regular ales and two guests lined with old brewery mirrors. A cosy little snug featuring mainly Scottish beers. leads off and there is a lounge to the back as The Lothians – Prestoungrange Gothenburg in well as a small outside drinking area.