Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA Issue 131 the Campaign for Real Summer 2007

Full Pint Take It To Petition The Top

Also inside: invasion of Mild makes a May smoke-free comeback Roy Rides South A tale of two Masham breweries Half Pints Local and brewery A look back in time news

THE CHEQUERS 71 Main Road Little Gransden Tel: 01767 677348 Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2005, 2006 & 2007

Bob and Wendy Mitchell invite you to try their unique unspoilt village local with its own special atmosphere Different Real Ale each

THE SWAN Main Street, Old Weston Tel: 01832 293400 REAL and REAL FOOD

Adnams Southwold Broadside Greene King Abbot + Guests Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2004 Fish & Chips Wednesday Evening Restaurant open Friday & Saturday evenings & Sunday lunchtimes

2 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! Take it to the Top Sign CAMRA’s Full Pints Petition. It is not just real ale drinkers that get regu- larly mugged at their local. Lager and Pub customers were robbed of £481 mil- Guinness drinkers also suffer from short lion in 2006. drinkers are being measure. Pub managers are often under mugged of £1.3m a day! How and why are pressure from their bosses to squeeze these crimes against beer drinkers hap- extra pints from their casks and kegs. The pening? The answer – short measure. training manuals of some pub companies Recent CAMRA surveys of local authori- advise licensees to serve 95% pints. ties’ trading standards departments have The current code of practice issued by the revealed that 26.6% of all pints are served trade body The British Beer and Pub As- over 5% short. And the worst example sociation recommends that its members found by officers was 13% short. serve a 95% pint to customers but advise CAMRA is calling on the Government to that if they ask for a top up it should be stop this legalised robbery. 76% of pub given with good grace. But when was the goers want the Government to stick to its last time you shopped for a kilo of pota- promise, made in 1997, to ensure that toes or a dozen eggs and had to ask the drinkers get a full pint. Since Labour made shop keeper to give you more because that promise beer drinkers have lost an they had originally given you short meas- estimated £4.5 billion. ure? CAMRA’s chief executive Mike Benner So let’s end this short measure disgrace. said” It is a disgrace that up to a quarter of Go to www.takeittothetop.co.uk and sign all pints served in the UK are less than up to the petition. 95% liquid when customers are paying for a full pint. The inaction of the Labour gov- ernment in allowing this unfair practice to continue has cost beer drinkers billions of pounds”. CAMRA is launching a national petition calling on Government to define a pint of beer as a pint of beer and to require licen- sees to endeavour to serve a full pint every time. Beer drinkers can sign up by clicking on the web site www.takeittothetop.co.uk. CAMRA has also produced eye catching posters and petition cards that drinkers can sign and return for the PM’s attention. Credit card sized short measure cards are available so drinkers can check by how much they are being short changed.

OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 3 Tony & Tee welcome you to YOUR LOCAL ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR YOUR ENTIRE BAR AND JANITORIAL NEEDS. THE VICTORIA

Three Real Ales Opening hours: 11am-3pm, 5pm-11pm Monday to Thurs- day 11am-12pm Friday & Saturday Tel: 01582 737233 Restaurant opening hours Email: [email protected] with our resident Chef Scot Martin 12noon-2.30pm & 6pm till late Glassware Cleaning Chemicals A warm, friendly face will always be Optics Cleaning Accessories happy to see you Bar Sundries Toilet Paper Crockery Refuse Sacks Bed & Breakfast available Cutlery Personalised Work-wear Napkins Disposable Glasses

Upgrade your washrooms for free!

We Offer Free, Modern, Colour Coded Toilet Paper & Hand Towel 01480 453899 Dispensers with Free Fitting

THE OLIVER CROMWELL Wellington Street, St. Ives, Cambs. Tel: 01480 465601 Serving six real ales: Adnams Bitter plus regularly changing guest No smoking bar

Enjoy a good pint of traditional ale in traditional surroundings. Reasonably priced lunchtime bar snacks available Mon to Sat

Huntingdonshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2006

4 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! REAL ALE INVASION OF SMOKE-FREE PUBS CAMRA is urging publicans to prepare for England and Wales expect to visit pubs a boost in demand for real ales following more often and 840000 people who never the banning of smoking in all pubs in Eng- go to pubs said they will do after the ban. land from 1 July this year. And 68% of smokers said the ban will not affect their pub going habits, with only 3% And pub goers will now be able to savour of adults saying that they would not visit the flavour of real cask ales as the fog of pubs as a result of the ban. tobacco smoke is finally blown out of pubs and bars throughout the UK. Paul Moorhouse continued: ‘We expect a minority of smokers to be put off going to In Wales, CAMRA reported a boost in the pub. But this will be offset by more use demand for real ale after the earlier ban of of pubs by others who will welcome the smoking there from 1 April. smoke-free environment. And with over CAMRA research has indicated that two thirds of real ale drinkers being non- smokers are typically lager drinkers – of smokers, we expect it to be real ale that 1500 adults surveyed in England and will benefit the most from this new trade. Wales, only 25% of real ale drinkers Any pubs that do not offer real ale are smoked, but 43% of lager drinkers were encouraged to stock one to attract this smokers. new clientele.’ Locally, voluntary smoking bans have already been successfully introduced in a number of pubs, including the Three Horseshoes at Graveley, the Cock at Hemingford Grey, and in Somersham, the The Windmill Windmill and Rose and Crown. Hunting- Somersham donshire CAMRA’s press officer Paul Moorhouse expects to see many similar “Where food success stories. ‘We are expecting an is our invasion of pubs by real ale drinkers who passion” will be keen to savour the flavours of cask beers in smoke free environments. It is • Open all day every • Perhaps even dine much easier to appreciate and enjoy the day. alfresco on our various flavours of different real ales in • We now serve heated patio!!!! meals 12 - 8.30pm • New conservatory smoke-free pubs’ on Sundays. restaurant. • New Summer menu • Look out for And a smoke ban has been good for busi- available. forthcoming ness at Hook Norton pub the Marston Inn • Come and relax and events throughout in Oxfordshire. Licensee Nigel Davies enjoy a drink in our the Summer. said: ‘Half of our regulars who smoked lovely garden. have given up, including one who had A great warm welcome, friendly service been smoking for over 50 years – and the and excellent varied menu!!! rest still come to the pub.’ St Ives Road, Somersham, PE28 3ET The research also indicated that after the 01487 840328 smoking ban over 6 million pub goers in www.thewindmillsomersham.co.uk

OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 5 A LOOK BACK IN TIME 25 YEARS AGO National brewers Watneys brought real Bell is currently closed with an uncertain ale back into more of their trading areas. future. Cask Websters Yorkshire bitter arrived in One of the last remaining UK brewers pro- Sussex and Ushers Best Bitter was intro- ducing no cask beers, Mansfield brewery, duced in Hampshire. returned to the real ale fold after producing CAMRA’s Norwich Branch published the only brewery-conditioned beers for ten first issue of its branch newsletter ‘Norfolk years. Four XXXX, cask-conditioned ale Nips’, with mixed news of many Watney with an original gravity of 1045, was pubs in Norfolk stocking cask Websters in launched in 14 pubs in the East Midlands. place of the threatened local-brewed real CAMRA Investments, the chain of model ale Norwich Castle. The news of the arri- real ale free houses set up by CAMRA but val of cask Websters from Yorkshire was run independently, looked likely to change also dampened by reports of a processed its name at the request of CAMRA’s An- keg version of Websters confusingly being nual General Meeting, to avoid confusion marketed in the area. with the campaign. The European Commission banned brew- CAMRA feared for the future of cask beers ery ties on wines and spirits, but backed from Oldham Brewery following its take- down from a ban on beer ties. CAMRA over by neighbour Boddingtons, then an had been lobbying for improved choice independent regional brewer. Boddingtons and hoped that pub tenants would at least was to survive for another two decades be given the right to buy bottled beer from but was eventually taken over by Whit- brewers of their choice. CAMRA pledged bread and subsequently closed by new to continue pressing for what eventually owners, the global brewer InBev. became known as a guest beer right for tenants. In June 1982 CAMRA celebrated 10 years of publishing its members’ newspaper St Neots CAMRA met at Kisby’s Hut, Pap- ‘What’s ’. The first two page issue worth, the Bell at Eaton Socon and the in 1972 had brought news of CAMRA fact- Globe in St Neots and Bassingbourn’s red finding inspections of London breweries Lion. A social was held at the Axe and owned by Youngs and Guinness to dis- Compasses in Hemingford Abbots. The cover ‘the difference in production of true draught ale and keg’. There had also been news of a ‘CAMRA list’ of pubs serving high quality beer, to be available to mem- bers only at a price of 25p. National brewer Whitbread’s ‘brewery tour of destruction’, as CAMRA put it, rolled on, with announcements of closures of their plants in Liverpool and Leeds, bringing their brewery closures since June 1981 to six. Bell at Eaton Socon 6 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! A LOOK BACK IN TIME 10 YEARS AGO The summer of 1997 saw a victory for careful layout, large no-smoking areas, a CAMRA in heading off a threat to the clean glass for every drink and good ac- Guest Beer Law, which gave tenants of cess for disabled people, as well as its pubs owned by big brewers the right to well kept range of stock a guest real ale from another beers. brewer. The European Commission had CAMRA’s rising complained that the law discriminated membership topped against foreign imports and wanted keg 50000. In 2007 beer and lager to be allowed as alterna- CAMRA has over tives to a cask ale. British MPs and MEPs 85000 members. supported CAMRA and the commission accepted Britain’s case for the guest cask Adnams of Suffolk ale. launched a new summer ale Regatta, a pale 4.3% ale designed to compete with St Neots beers such as Woodforde’s Great East- CAMRA met at ern. Regatta has remained as a popular the Queens cask ale produced every summer. Head at Need- ingworth, the Crouch Vale brewery of Essex won the Blue Ball in St National Hop Association’s ‘Beauty of Queens Head, Needingworth Neots and the Hops' award for its single varietal hop Nelson’s Head cask beer First Gold, brewed with the hop in St Ives. There was a joint social with variety of the same name. Peterborough branch at the Bell Inn, Stil- A CAMRA seminar on the Future of the ton, a walk around Huntingdon pubs and a Rural Pub cited rigid planning laws as a minibus trip to pubs along the A14 west of major enemy of the British pub and re- Huntingdon. solved to produce guidance for publicans CAMRA urged the new Labour govern- facing closure. Speakers at the seminar, ment to block the proposed merger of two hosted by St Peters brewery in Suffolk, national brewing groups, Bass and Carls- included Kathy Hadfield, chairman of berg-Tetley. CAMRA’s Pubs Group, St Albans chief planner Peter Lerner, Bernard Segrave- Labour’s new Consumer Affairs Minister Daly of Adnams and Tony Dadaoun of the Nigel Griffiths backed full pints for pub Rural Development Commission. customers, saying that he had ‘been call- ing for a change in the law for a very long Camerons brewery of Hartlepool won time’ CAMRA’s Dan Kane Award for technical innovations in brewing. They won the CAMRA’s’ Peterborough branch intro- award for bringing back original Camerons duced its Gold Award scheme for its local recipes and investments in the brewing pubs ‘doing something positive’ for local process following their takeover by Wol- people. The first of the regular awards verhampton and Dudley Breweries. went to the College Arms in the city for its natural interior construction materials,

OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 7 HALF PINTS Following complaints over their new cor- only available in restaurants in the UK but porate pub signs, Greene King plan to the new deal is expected to see the brand replace them over the next few years with become much more visible in pubs. more traditional pictorial pub signs illus- Meanwhile, in Japan, a milk beer has trating each pub individually, and carrying been launched by brewers Abashiri. The a less prominent Greene King logo. The beer, Bilk, has been reported to be made new offending signs had been installed from as much as 30% milk, in a move mainly at pubs with little existing Greene aimed at using up surplus milk from local King signage, such as the George Hotel in dairy farms. Huntingdon, acquired as a part of the Old English Inns chain. Adnams is to open new branches of its wine Cellar and Kitchen Stores in Stam- Scottish and Newcastle have assured ford, Norwich, Halesworth and Saffron their investors that it is business as usual, Walden to add to its existing chain of despite takeover speculation. S&N have stores at Southwold, Woodbridge and denied that they are in discussions with Holkham in North Norfolk. any bidder despite reports of talks with SABMiller and Diageo and interest from The cask beer Morland Tanner’s Jack is Danish brewer Carlsberg, already the appearing as a regular beer in local owner of the UK’s Tetleys brewery. In line Greene King pubs, including the King Wil- with the other global brewers operating in liam IV in Fenstanton. Although Tanner’s the UK, S&N appear to following a strat- Jack was once brewed by Morlands of egy of withdrawal from the cask beer mar- Abingdon before its take over and closure ket. John Smiths Bitter is their only cask by Greene King, it is good to see an hon- beer following their recent disposal of the est labelling policy – the pump clips Courage cask brands to Wells and clearly state ‘brewed in Bury St Edmunds’. Youngs of Bedford. Local cask beers won prizes in the Na- Harveys cask beers have returned to tional Beer competition run by the Small Greene King’s Lewes Arms in Lewes, Independent Brewers Association. Milton Sussex, following an outcry at their re- brewery carried off a silver category moval. Greene King have admitted that award for Mammon and Bedfordshire they underestimated the level of local feel- brewers B&T and Potton won bronze for ing about Harveys beer at the pub, for- Edwin Taylor Stout and Pride of Potton merly a member of the Beard’s chain, all respectively. Potbelly of Kettering won of which sold only Harveys beers for many the overall bronze prize for Crazy Daze years. The ‘Friends of the Lewes Arms’ (5.5% alcohol by volume). group, which had mounted a vigorous The St Neots Breweriana Bash is being campaign, including a boycott, won praise held on Sat 16th June at the Bull’s Head, from their local MP but are now happy to 96 Cambridge Street, St Neots starting at have returned to the pub to drink Harveys. 12 noon. Turn up on the day and buy, Japanese lager Sapporo is set to be trade or sell items of unwanted beer and launched into UK pubs in 650ml cans, brewery memorabilia. Contact Maxine following a new distribution deal with im- Chantry, Tel: 01480 381030 or email porters SDB. Sapporo has been mainly [email protected]. 8 Contact the editor: [email protected], (01480) 355893 The Dragoon Brampton the Charles Wells Pub of the Year 2003 Saddle Open all day every day, families are welcome • Cask Marque approved real ales, Wells Eagle and Bombardier plus two guest ales changing weekly, good selection of wines and spirits. • Food served daily lunch times and evenings, Sunday Lunch served from 12.00 noon all after- noon (No food service Sunday night). Sunday Lunch 12:00 - 2:30 • Senior citizens Menu Monday to Friday special inclusive price. • Children’s menu. 2 course meal £9.95 • ?? Quiz night every Monday 8.30pm—come and 3 course meal £12.95 test your knowledge • Pub bar games—Pool, darts, cards etc. Please book in advance • Live Entertainment—call us for details tel: 01480 860408 18 Buckden Road, Brampton, PE28 4PS Tel 01480 453510, Fax 01480 456587 The Saddle, 26 High St, Kimbolton Email [email protected] www.arneillleisure.com www.thedragoon.co.uk

A traditional old country pub and restaurant with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Traditional Sunday Lunch. Children’s menu available. Open all day Saturday and Sunday. 4 real cask ales served including Adnams Bitter, Fullers London Pride plus 2 guest ales. Bar Meals are available every day. A la carte menu is served in our restaurant Monday to Saturday. The menu caters for all tastes including vegetarian and any special dietary needs. The Pig and Abbot High Street, Abington Pigotts, Nr. Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 0SD Telephone: 01763 853515 OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 9 LOCAL PUB & BREWERY NEWS The latest Cambridgeshire brewery has At Brampton, the Grange Hotel has been on stream since late last year. The closed its bar and restaurant following the Kilderkin Brewery in Impington sale of the business by Nick and (www.kilderkin.co.uk) is producing one Susannah Steiger. The Grange is continu- beer - Kilderkin Double, in the Belgian ing to operate as an eight-room hotel. Abbey style. All the production is sold in New licensees have taken over at the bottles through local farmers markets and Three Horseshoes at Graveley and the the bar of the Regent Hotel in Regent Vine in Buckden. At the Vine, Black Street, Cambridge. The beer may be Sheep Best Bitter and Fullers London available in cask at CAMRA’s Cambridge Pride are regular cask beers.. , at Jesus Green from May Following CAMRA’s successful first Com- 21-26. munity Pubs Week in February, CAMRA Another good outlet for local bottled beer is sponsoring a new Community Pub is the Three Horseshoes at Madingley. Award in Cambridgeshire. The Commu- Four bottle-conditioned ales from the City nity Pub of the Year Award will be a part of Cambridge brewery are offered here, of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as well as Adnams Bitter and a guest cask Community Life Awards 2007, organised beer, plus excellent food. CAMRA would by Cambridgeshire ACRE (Action with like to see more local pubs stocking real Communities in Rural England). The pub ale in bottle. Their long shelf life means award is being jointly run by ACRE and that a wide range can be offered without the four CAMRA branches in the county compromising quality. and the most important pub to its local Huntsbridge, based at the Old Bridge community life will be judged over the Hotel in Huntingdon, has disposed of its summer. The award will be presented at a chain of pub- prestigious event in September at the St restaurant Ivo Centre along with numerous other businesses. category awards for people, activities and The Old Bridge facilities in communities around Cam- is to continue bridgeshire. to operate un- Since acquiring the Horseshoe in Offord der its existing Darcy last summer, owner Ian & chef Old Bridge, Huntingdon ownership and Richard Kennedy have made major managing director John Hoskins, with changes, including redecoration inside plans to add a wine shop at the hotel. The and out. They regularly keep Scottish real Falcon at Fotheringay has been sold and ale ‘Ossian’s Ale' from Inveralmond Brew- the businesses at the Pheasant, Keyston ery in Perth, and Fullers London Pride. and the Three Horseshoes at Madingley Typical guest have been taken over by the restaurateurs real ales are who have been running them under the Potton Village Huntsbridge banner. The high standards Bike and Gold of food, wine and real ales are expected and Shepherd to continue as before. Neame Spit- fire, and there Horseshoe, Offord Darcy 10 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! LOCAL PUB & BREWERY NEWS are beers from Batemans and Greene available. Steve wants to re-establish the King. The garden has a kids' play area Leeds Arms as a community village pub, and plenty of seating. There is an ‘a la and will be organising pub games teams carte’ menu lunchtime and evening and a and quiz nights to encourage the locals Sunday carvery (booking advised). The back into the pub. Horseshoe is planning a local beer festival The Marsala Indian Restaurant in Bramp- later in the summer. An external smokers' ton is being converted back into a pub, area in the back garden is planned. and renamed as the Harrier, the name of The new licensee at the Leeds Arms at this community village pub before it was Eltisley is Steve Kingston, a Manager for converted into a restaurant. Real ale had On Tap Pubs Limited, who have leased been re-introduced here some months this pub from Charles Wells. The previous ago, and the old public bar converted licensees policy of stocking a good range back to it’s original purpose, and now the of real ales will lounge is also continue, with reverting, indi- Wells Eagle cating that the IPA, Youngs people of Special and Brampton have two guest need of a local beers being pub. Leeds Arms, Eltisley Harrier, Brampton

OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 11 12 Join 80,000 members of CAMRA and fight for Britain’s beer heritage CAMRA LAUNCHES BEER CLUB CAMRA LAUNCHES BEER CLUB TO products). We believe that this it is the INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF BEER next best thing to cask ale that you enjoy STYLES at the pub. The club aims to make avail- CAMRA is delighted to announce the able beers that might have not previously launch of the CAMRA Beer Club – a new or easily have been available in bottle- scheme that will deliver a case of 20-top conditioned form. quality bottled real ales direct to your door By increasing people's knowledge, and by for just £39.99 a month plus postage and widening their awareness of different beer packing. styles, we hope that they may also have This new initiative is a major step forward the confidence to try different styles of in our promotion of real ale in a bottle and cask ales at the pub.” in offering greater benefits to CAMRA Many of the beers selected will be previ- members. ous CAMRA award winners or champion As a member of the CAMRA Beer Club beers. you will discover and enjoy a whole range Each case is hand picked by a panel of of specialist beers that are currently not experts from both CAMRA and our part- widely available in supermarkets or pubs. ners the Beer Club of Britain. We ensure Every British beer included is bottle- beers are of the highest quality by having conditioned and some collections will fea- brewing experts on hand to advise. ture authentic ‘World Explorer’ beers. It’s Beers are selected for consistency, quality a great way to expand your knowledge of and diversity. In the future there will be beer! opportunities for Beer Club members to Every three months the CAMRA Beer make their own personal recommenda- Club will put together a collection of five tions to the Club. different beers (four bottles of each). You As a member of the CAMRA Beer Club will also receive tasting notes written by you will receive details of the latest selec- our resident and guest experts. tion. If you decide to accept it you need do All those chosen will be high-quality ex- nothing more – delivery to your door is amples of their type, will have distinctive automatic. Of course, you’re not obliged to character, and will come from brewers take any of the cases. You can ‘miss’ as who are committed to diversity and qual- many cases as you like, or if you decide ity. the CAMRA Beer Club is not for you, you CAMRA Chief Executive Mike Benner can cancel at any time - just tell us. said: “CAMRA would always prefer that You can order with complete confidence people enjoy cask ale at the pub. How- because every bottle is covered by our ever we also accept there any many occa- full, money-back guarantee. sions when people do drink at home. In Non CAMRA members can join the these instances we would prefer that peo- CAMRA Beer Club for £44.95 (plus p&p). ple drink real ale in a bottle rather than For more information on how the beer canned beer products. club works, to place an order, or view our "CAMRA's policy is also to promote real current case, visit ale in a bottle (British bottle-conditioned www.camrabeerclub.co.uk .

OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 13 ROY RIDES SOUTH Introduction: faced and easily distinguished. It’s been a while since the last Roy’s ride. The pub has a reputation for food and My winter hibernation is over and, now there is plenty of evidence when entering that spring has sprung, it’s time to get on the bar. There are backboard specials and the road again. After looking at the map I a couple of dining areas, including a con- decided that it was time to visit the south- servatory.A typical range of real ales is ern part of the branch area. Problem be- Everards Sunchaser, Adnams Bitter and ing it’s a long way there and back. Time to Broadside and Morlands Old Speckled use the rail network again, but where to Hen. start and finish? On leaving the pub turn left. Interestingly, An ordnance survey map is handy for this area is not actually Ashwell village, working out gradient profiles to determine but Odsey. Ashwell Village could be the best starting point. After some check- reached by turning left after a few hundred ing it is clear that Ashwell provides the metres, but that’s for another time. So for best profile, being at the highest point of now, put your feet up and coast downhill the journey. Rather than return to St Neot- into Steeple Morden. The Waggon and sand adding another 10 miles to the trip, Horses (2.5 an excursion into the East Beds CAMRA miles) is the branch area seems more appropriate, last of eight finishing in my old home town of Sandy. pubs that once Trains to Ashwell from St Neots or Hun- graced the tingdon involve a change at Hitchin. Ash- village. It is well only has 1 train an hour, so check easily found your times to avoid a long wait at Hitchin. opposite the The 11:51 arrival is perfect for opening village church. time. The pub has many facilities, including a Distance: 15 miles. (From Ashwell rail- large garden, which can accommodate way station to Sandy railway station) The camping and caravans. Check out their ride should take around 4 hours, depend- web site for the full list: ing on how many pubs you visit and how www.waggonandhorsessteeplemorden.co long you stay in each. .uk. The Ride: The first pub can be found on The Waggon & Horses is a rare outlet for exiting Ashwell station. So it’s time for a Greene King XX Dark Mild and it’s always beer before the ride starts. The Jester is worth coming here to sample one of the most southerly pub in our branch area. Greene King’s better beers. The mild is It has been accompanied by IPA and a beer from the extended over recently acquired Hardy and Hanson beer the years to range, Olde Trip. include accom- Back to the bikes and continue into the modation, but village along Hay Street to a turning on the original the left signposted Guilden Morden. Fol- building is flint low this road until you reach the Edward 14 Updates to festival details - www.huntscamra.org.uk/festivals ROY RIDES SOUTH VII (3.7 miles). Again, it’s opposite the (7.0 miles), village church. another This is very Greene King much a locals' pub which pub, with dates from the plenty going 16th Century on. The land- and features lord even runs plenty of oak the village beams, a large garden plus IPA and Ab- shop next door, which was added when bot Ale. the only shop in the village closed a few On leaving the pub turn left and continue years ago. Beers on offer are Greene to Potton. After a moderate climb, it’s King IPA and Courage Best Bitter. generally a downhill ride. The Rising Sun Guilden Morden has two pubs - some- in Everton Street (10 miles) is one of six thing that’s becoming quite rare for small pubs in Potton villages. Take the road opposite the Ed- and was a free ward VII (Church Street) then turn left into house until a the High Street. A few hundred metres few years ago further on Is the Three Tuns (4.1 miles), a when Charles two bar pub with a restaurant in the old Wells pur- lounge. The pub is much improved over chased it. Pre- recent years viously two and features bars, the pub has been extended and an extensive opened up and features a 60 foot well in menu. Being a the bar! Eagle IPA, Bombardier, Youngs Greene King Waggledance and St Austell Tribute are pub, the real on sale. ales are house The Old Coach House Hotel in the Mar- beers - IPA, ket Square is a large grade II listed 17th Abbot and usually a . Century coach- A rare feature of the pub is ing inn, a Good the old jug & bottle entrance Beer Guide as you enter, displaying the entry and an name of former brewery unofficial brew- Simpsons of Baldock, who ery tap for the once owned the pub. Potton brew- ery. Shannon Retrace your route, but instead of going IPA and a seasonal beer from Potton are up Church Street, carry on along Pound stocked and typically three others, such Green until you reach the junction with as Oakham JHB, Woodforde’s Wherry Fox Hill Road. Continue on this road until and Robinson’s Old Stockport. Lunches you reach the crossroads with the B1042. and evening meals are provided. It is hard Go straight across and into Wrestling- work to tear yourself away from such a worth. A little further on is the Chequers OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 15 16 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! ROY RIDES SOUTH good choice of beer, but there are still Sandy. On leaving Potton it’s downhill into more pubs. Deepdale. On the right hand side is a closed pub, formerly the Locomotive, with The Royal Oak is in Biggleswade Road, an old railway and is the oldest pub in Potton. It has a signal still to be heavily seen outside beamed inte- the building. rior, most of It’s a bit of a which was climb out of opened up and Deepdale but uncovered in it's back on the the early 70’s. level towards Sandy. An extension was made into the adjacent cottage at the On the way you will pass the RSPB HQ same time. Before this was done it must on your left hand side. Stop and have a have been one of the worst ever exam- look at the shop if you have time. One ples of a 1950s formica cover up with more downhill charge, over the railway original beams and features hidden be- bridge and into Sandy. You can either call hind wallpaper and false boarding. Two it a day at the railway station or continue Greene King beers are available here. down the High Street - there are a few more pubs worth visiting. On leaving the Royal Oak return to Station Road and turn left. As you pass the Red The Sir William Peel (13.8 miles) was Lion, the old previously Potton railway named the station is Lord Nelson across the and more re- road, still cently the showing a little home of the of its former Old Stables glory - but Brewery, which sadly no trains. sadly closed a year ago. Two beers worth a try on my last visit were Nethergate Bar Further on the Brickmakers Arms is an- Fly and Mighty Oak's Simply the Best. No other Good food here, but there is a fish and chip Beer Guide shop on one side of the pub and a curry pub - a former restaurant the other. Greene King pub that has Continue down been turned the High Street into a success- to the Market ful family-run Square. Turn free house. Jennings Cumberland Ale is right and past worth a try. the Lord Robert into The final leg of the journey leads to Cambridge OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 17 THE BRIDGE HOUSE A charming 16th century riverside bar & restaurant, where you can enjoy picturesque views of the Great Ouse. Recently refurbished we provide the ideal location for many occasions; a simple snack, a special lunch or a romantic evening celebration. Group bookings are also welcome.

• Traditional Bar & Lounge • Snack Menu Available • Al Fresco Riverside Bar & Terrace • 4 Real Ales • Air Conditioned A La Carte • A wide variety of food & drinks Restaurant available all day

THE ONLY RIVERSIDE BAR IN ST NEOTS!! Market Square, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, PE19 2AP. Telephone: 01480 472044 Email: [email protected], Website: www.bridgehouse.org.uk 18 Support your local pub - don’t give them an excuse to close it! ROY RIDES SOUTH Road. The Queen’s Head (14.0 miles) lounge boasting a large Inglenook fire- still shows Greene King signage, but has place, Children are welcome here. The recently been acquired by Admiral Tav- garden features various animals, a chil- erns. It’s a great locals' pub and still re- dren’s play area, and a petanque pitch. tains many splendid older features, nota- Potton bly the bench seating in the bar. The pub Old Coach House has been extended over the years and 12 Market Square, SG19 2NP now has a number of cosy drinking areas. (01767) 260221 I have a particular soft spot for this pub, www.pottoncoachhouse.co.uk as it’s only a hundred metres from my 12-2.30, 5-11; 12-11 Sun childhood home. Yet in the past I walked Adnams Bitter; Potton Shambles, Shan- past it many times, not realising that it non; guest beers [H] served real ale. Three real ales are from Large Georgian coaching inn facing the Greene King, including Hardy and Han- market square. The tap for local brewery son’s Olde Trip and a seasonal beer. Potton, the pub is known to regulars as Back to the railway station and time be- the Shambles—also the name of one of fore the train for a quick half in the nearby Potton’s ales. Recently redecorated, it has Bell - another Greene King house and a large front bar, a smaller bar and dining very much a locals' pub. It also happens area at the rear, and a restaurant. to be the first pub that I ever had a beer Potton in. (No - I won’t tell you how old I was). A Bricklayers Arms fitting end to a great trip down memory 1 Newtown, SG19 2GH lane. (01767) 262332 Roy Endersby www.thebricklayerspotton.co.uk 12-11 (12.30am Fri & Sat); 12-11 Sun The Pubs: Adnams Broadside; Greene King IPA, Steeple Morden Abbot [H] Waggon and Horses Recently refurbished locals’ pub with a (19 Church Street, SG8 0NJ) large bar and garden with a welcoming (01763) 852829 atmosphere. Three real ales are served [email protected] with pride by the landlord. Pub games www.waggonandhorsessteeplemorden.co include darts and a petanque team has .uk recently been formed. 12-3, 7-11 Mon-Fri; 12-11 Sat; 12-10.30 Sandy Sun Sir William Peel Greene King XX Dark Mild, IPA, Speckled 39 High Street, SG19 1AG Hen [H] (01767) 680607 Deep in the heart of the South Cam- 11-11; 12-10.30 Sun bridgeshire rambling countryside this tra- Everards Beacon; guest beers [H] ditional 300-year-old country pub in the Traditional pub with a single U-shaped centre of the village pub makes a welcom- bar, which can be smoky at times. Two ing retreat. The public bar has a tiled and guest beers, from micro-breweries, wood floor. Turn right through to a cosy change often. OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 19 A TALE OF TWO BREWERIES What is better than a brewery visit? That’s rels a week. easy – two brewery visits on the same The brewery day! Based on the success of the Hunts was based on branch’s recent visit to Masham, we may the buildings of have established a branch precedent! the old On a wintry weekend in February, a cou- Lightfoot brew- ple of dozen branch members trekked up ery, bought by the A1 to North Yorkshire. Our destination Theakstons in 1919, but which had not was the location of two important names been used for many years when Paul in UK brewing – Theakstons and Black Theakston took it over in 1992. The new Sheep. My own Friday evening journey brew house is in the old maltings and has included driving through a blizzard – (such its own artesian well. dedication) – and we were relieved to Black Sheep beers are made with Maris arrive in Masham and head to the Theak- Otter barley. 2,000 tons per year is sup- stons brewery tap – the GBG listed White plied under contract from local farmers, , Bear – for some hot food and delicious and mostly malted by Forcetts, with some ale. by Simpsons. Pale, crystal and chocolate Saturday morning at 11am found us out- malt are all used. Hops are supplied from side Black Sheep Brewery, founded 15 Hereford and Worcester, including Fug- years ago when the Theakston family gles, Goldings, Challenger, and Progress. decided to sell the old family firm of T & R The yeast strain is over 100 years old – Theakston Ltd to Scottish and Newcastle, source unknown! and Paul Theakston chose a different path Black Sheep primarily uses Yorkshire from becoming an S&N executive. Squares for fermentation, a system similar Since then Black Sheep has grown into a to the Burton Union system in that the major brewery and invested £5.5m in the fermentation last 2 years, including a new £1.5m brew vessel is in two house. This has doubled brewing capacity halves. Fer- from 100 to 200 barrels. A new fermenting menting beer, room has a capacity of 900 barrels and is or wort, is totally auto- pumped from mated. £1m the bottom half has been spent of the vessel putting a lot of through a spout into the top half. This aer- unsightly appa- ates the wort to give the ratus under- yeast vital oxygen. The ground, includ- wort returns to the bot- ing effluent and tom half via an “organ oil tanks. This pipe”. Most of these very compact vessels are made from brewery is cur- stainless steel, but rently produc- Black Sheep has a ing 1,400 bar- small number of the 20 Read Opening Times online: www.huntscamra.org.uk/news A TALE OF TWO BREWERIES traditional Yorkshire Squares made from 2 ety of vessels inch thick Welsh slate, acquired from Dar- including open ley of Thorne and Hardys and Hanson of squares and Kimberley. The Yorkshire Square system two slate was invented by Timothy Bentley and the squares, al- only other brewery still using it is Samuel though these Smith of Tadcaster. no longer oper- ate using the The cask frequent rousing and aerating process washer and employed at Black Sheep. filler is unique and was in- Three new conical fermentation vessels stalled by the have recently increased capacity to inventor. It is 75,000 barrels per annum. Best Bitter is capable of han- currently produced under license by John dling 200 casks Smith at Tadcaster, with all other beers in 4 hours in one automatic process. being brewed at Masham. Theakston beers are bottled by Marston PLC in Wol- After lunch at the visitors centre and a verhampton. chance to sample the beers, we walked briskly a few hundred yards to the Theak- Theakston is ston brewery for our 2pm trip. famous for its cooperage, Theakston is a tower brewery, and in the and 50 past barley and hops were lifted to the top wooden casks of the tower by a sack lift driven by a are still used to steam driven beam engine that is now in a supply local Bradford industrial museum. The steam pubs. engine also powered the grist mill, which dates from 1911 and has been in the In the visitors' centre, where we sampled brewery since 1926. all the ales, we saw an interesting “puzzle” – the wooden staves of a cask which visi- Like Black Sheep, malt comes from For- tors can attempt to assemble – a task that cetts and Simpson. Six varieties of hops no doubt gets a lot more difficult after a are used: Target, Challenger, Fuggles, few pints of Old Peculier! Bramling, Goldings and Progress. The remainder of the afternoon and eve- The brewery's artesian well is not used ning was happily spent in Masham’s many because of the risk from agricultural ni- excellent pubs, including the Kings Head trates. The 80- Hotel on the barrel cast iron Market Square, mash tun dates and a return from 1879 and trip to the is used for White Bear. three brews a day. Fermenta- tion is in a vari- OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 21 Crown & Cushion 2 West Street, Great Gransden 01767 677214

A great family village pub 16th Century Restaurant and Freehouse Four Real Ales: Worthington Cask, Fullers London Pride, Taylors We can make your special occasion Landlord, plus a Potton guest beer. one to remember Open 12noon-11pm daily. Two constantly changing Traditional home made pub food guest beers served 12-8.30pm daily. Fish & 10:30‐2:30; 7:00‐11:00 Monday‐Saturday Chip take away every Wednesday. St Mary’s Street, Eynesbury Live music (Rock & Blues) on Thu, (01480) 472116 Jazz on first Wed of every month. www.thechequers.co.uk

Theat Hemingford Cock Grey

Four Real Ales from breweries such as Nethergate, Pot Belly, Wolf, Earl Soham, Milton, Fenland (local brewery policy)

The Beer Festival this year is during the May Bank Holiday Weekend 25th – 28th, Friday night to Monday Lunch. Live music every evening. 20 real ales to choose from and our homemade sausages. Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2003 Cambridgeshire Dining Pub of the Year 2006 & 2007

22 Updates to Branch Diary - www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary MILD MAKES A MAY COMEBACK Previous medal winners in the Champion taking this beer. Beer of Britain Mild Category are being May has been designated celebrated by The as Mild Month by CAMRA (CAMRA) to mark the resurgence of this and the consumer organisa- delicious beer style. tion is urging beer lovers to CAMRA has developed a map of the UK seek out milds in their local which shows 11 previous medal winners pubs and rediscover this wonderfully fla- in the national Champion Mild Category, voursome beer. Mild can usually be found as well as six highly recommended milds, in more pubs in Huntingdonshire during so drinkers can find out where their near- May, so seek it out and let us know what est recommended mild is brewed and ask you find. for it at their local. Mild was once Britain’s most popular style Mild is one of the most tra- of real ale, but has fallen out of fashion in ditional beer styles, and is favour of other beers. However there are enjoying a revival in today’s still many brewers who are enthusiastic real ale market. Varying about the future of Mild and CAMRA is from black to brown to am- dedicated to making sure their beers get ber in colour, it is less the credit they deserve. hopped than bitters and is lower in calo- View the map or download it at ries than most beers. But milds have dis- www.camra.org.uk/mildmap tinctive and impressive flavours, often with a light roast malt or liquorice character or nutty flavours. Paler milds often have a Lord John Russell gentle hoppy and fruity character. 25 Russell Street, St Neots But despite finding favour among brewer- 01480 406330 ies and real-ale drinkers, Mild can be diffi- cult to find at the handpump in many parts of the country. Hunts CAMRA In Huntingdonshire the Lord John Russell on Russell Most Street stocks Batemans Improved Dark Mild with its fruity and Pub 2007 roasted nut character. The Wheatsheaf on Great North Road in Eaton Socon always stocks a real 5 Real Ales including Batemans mild, often the dry and liquorice flavoured Mild, XB and Salem Porter, Black Dog from Elgoods brewery at Wis- plus 2 guest beers. bech. Greene King's excellent XX Dark Mild can Food served daily, be found at the Waggon and Horses in weekly specials and Steeple Morden, and CAMRA would like Sunday Roast. to see more local Greene King houses OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 23 Thu 13th-Sat 15th September 2007 BEER St Ivo Centre St Ives Huntingdonshire Branch FESTIVAL 55+ REAL ALES Booze on the Ouse (over the duration of the festival) Cider and bottled foreign beer

Opening Times: Thu 6pm-10.45pm, Fri 5pm- 10.45pm, Sat all day from 12am-10.45pm Entry (including programme): £2.00 Thursday & Friday evenings (from 7pm) £1.00 All other sessions incl Saturday evening CAMRA members free entry to all sessions Happy Hour Thursday 6-7pm and Friday 5-7pm: Entrance £1.00 and reduced price draught beer

CAMRA stall Soft drinks, wines Free soft drinks for Bar snacks at and tombola and spirits bar designated drivers all sessions

24 Booze on the Ouse - www.huntscamra.org.uk/festival for more details OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 25 EVENTS AND SOCIALS May 2007-Cambridge Beer Festival Wed 23rd Visit to the Cambridge Beer Festival, Jesus Green (meet at Foreign beer counter at 7:30pm). County bus services from Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots. June 2007-London Pubs Tour Tue 5th Open Committee Meeting, Dragoon, Brampton (8.30 pm). Sat 16th London Pubs Tour. Travelling down by train to tour the pubs of inner London in conjunction with the London Pubs Group. Returning late evening. July 2007 – Tour of St Ives Pubs Tue 10th Open Committee Meeting, The Old Bridge, Huntingdon, (8.30 pm). Fri 20th Local pubs of St Ives. A trip around the pubs of St Ives starting in the Floods Tavern 8:30 / Nelsons Head 9:15 / Dolphin 9:45 / Oliver Cromwell 10:15. August 2007 – Peterborough Beer Festival Tue 14th Open Committee Meeting, The Horseshoe Inn, Offord Darcy, (8.30 pm). Thu 23rd Evening trip to Peterborough Beer Festival (Trains from St Neots and Huntingdon). Meet at Tombola at 8 pm. September 2007 – Booze on the Ouse Beer Festival Tue 4th Pre-festival meeting, at the Oliver Cromwell, St Ives (8.30 pm) for all those helping with the St Ives Beer festival. If you would like to help at the festival, please contact Andy Shaw, on 01480 355893. Thu 13th to Sat 15th Booze on the Ouse – St Ives Beer Festival, Burgess Hall, St Ivo Centre. Opening Times: Thurs: 6-10.45 pm; Fri 5-10.45 pm; Sat 12-10.45 pm. FREE ENTRY to CAMRA members. VOLUNTEERS WELCOME!

For further information contact Pete Godfrey, Social Secretary (see below). WHO TO CONTACT Chairman & Newsletter Editor: Andy Membership: Margaret Eames, (01480) Shaw, 01480 355893 (h), 07802 485449 385333 (h) (m), [email protected], 13a Socials: Pete Godfrey, (01480) 212849 Peppercorns Lane, Eaton Socon, St (h), [email protected] Neots, PE19 8HL Pubs Info: Roy Endersby, (01480) Secretary, Press & Publicity: Paul 473364, [email protected] Moorhouse, (01480) 496247 (h) Campaigning: Kathy Hadfield- Treasurer: Graham Mulchinock, (01480) Moorhouse, (01480) 496247 (h). 474472 (h), [email protected]

26 Updates to Branch Diary - www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary TRADING STANDARDS OPENING TIMES

Your local Trading Standards organisation Opening Times is published by the Hunt- is Cambridgeshire County Council Trading ingdonshire Branch of CAMRA, the Cam- Standards. If you have any complaints paign for Real Ale (Copyright 2007) All about trading standards issues at local rights reserved. pubs please contact them. Views or comments expressed in this They have a role to protect consumers publication may not necessarily be those from errors or frauds concerned with qual- of the Editor or of CAMRA. ity, description or price of goods, services To contact the Editor Andy Shaw, see or facilities and to detect and rectify unfair “Who to Contact” opposite. advertising practices. To Advertise Contact Cambridgeshire Trading Stan- To place an advert or enquire about our dards helpdesk on 08454 040 506, or at rates please contact: Trading Standards Division, Sackville Neil Richards: 01536 358670 or House, Sackville Way, Great Cambourne, [email protected] Cambridgeshire, CB3 6HD. The local trad- ing standards web site is Deadline for Winter 2007 issue (132) is www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/business/ Friday 18th July 2007. trading/. The national trading standards web site is www.tradingstandards.gov.uk.

The Open: Monday-Thursday 12-2.30, 5-11pm Queens 12-2.30, 5-12.30 Friday 12-12.30 Saturday Head 12-10.30pm Sunday Real ales: Greene King IPA, 30 High Street Morland , Oakham JHB and guest beers Needingworth Home cooked pub food PE27 4SA available daily. Traditional Sunday Lunch. 01480 463946 (no food Sunday evening)

OPENING TIMES 131 SUMMER 2007 27