Mad Cat, Pidley Pub of the Year

opening times Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA Issue 139 the Campaign for Real Ale Summer 2009 MAD CAT, PIDLEY PUB OF THE YEAR

Also inside: • Market Inn, Huntingdon Most Improved Pub of the Year • May boost for mild ale Booze on the Ouse, St Ives Beer Festival Thu 10—Sat 12 September 2009 2 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! MAY BOOST FOR MILD ALE One change that has re- In St Neots the Lord John Russell stocks sulted from the CAMRA- Batemans Dark Mild, a ruby-black gem of energised revival in real ale a mild from the Lincolnshire brewer. The choice is a tendency for Hyde Park in St Neots and George and pubs to offer potentially Dragon in Eaton Socon are also regular bewildering ranges of real outlets for real mild. ales, often with names that The recently reopened give no clue as to the style Pig n Falcon in New of the beer they designate. Street S Neots regularly Time was when most pubs offers the dark roasty were tied to a local brewer 4.4% abv Beijing Black and offered an unwavering selection of from Kettering’s Pot- just a couple of styles of real ale with un- belly brewery. In Hun- complicated names such as ‘Mild’, ‘Bitter’, tingdon the Market Inn or ‘Best Bitter’. is another popular outlet for Potbelly Beijing Black. But real draught mild remains as a re- freshing and flavoursome low alcohol style Greene King’s deeply satisfying 3% abv of beer that has seen a revival in recent cask mild, XX, is rare, but availability is years. increasing. The Cock at Gamlingay is a great place to enjoy this beer in fine fettle. Most milds are dark but they can range from black to dark brown to pale amber in Son of Sid Muckcart Mild is another roasty colour. Malty and sweetish tones usually brew often on offer at the Chequers, Little dominate the flavour profile and there is Gransden, where it is produced. often a light fruity background, but there Other notable Cambridgeshire-brewed can be defined touches of dark chocolate milds are Milton Brewery’s malty and or roasted flavours from highly kilned roasty Minotaur and the impressive bitter- malts and impressions of liquorice or cara- sweet Black Dog from Elgoods of Wis- mel are not uncommon. bech, sometimes on sale at the Cock at CAMRA runs an annual May mild promo- Hemingford Grey and the Floods Tavern tion to support this great beer style and in St Ives. will be celebrating National Mild Day on The Green Man at Colne is another regu- Saturday 9 May. Huntingdonshire CAMRA lar outlet for real mild and the malty and in particular is keen to point out the local hoppy Tetleys Mild is usually on sale. revival being enjoyed by draught mild and Nearby, the Mad Cat at Pidley is also ex- its drinkers. pected to be offering mild this May. On Friday 15 May two groups of local May is a good time to find draught mild in CAMRA members will be touring pubs local pubs and others are likely to be stocking real cask mild in the pubs around stocking mild in addition to those men- St Neots and St Ives - full details will be tioned here. Just ask for it. Most pubs published in the diary section on serve real draught bitter these days – so www.huntscamra.org.uk when finalised. why not real draught mild?

OPENING TIMES 139 SUMMER 2009 3 PUBS OF THE YEAR The Huntingdonshire Branch people. A sociable bar has a welcoming of CAMRA has selected the open fire, crib and dominoes. A separate Mad Cat in Pidley its branch dining room is popular with villagers and Pub of the Year 2009 . visitors, especially for the Sunday lunch carvery. The food offered is varied, in- CAMRA gives this annual cludes numerous vegetarian options, and award to the pub that it blackboard specials. Most ingredients are judges to provide the widest appeal for its locally sourced, including their meat which combination of good beer, atmosphere, comes from a local farm shop. There is a style, service and value. large garden with a decked patio. The Mad Cat was taken over in July 2007 The pub was jam packed full on an eve- by Darren Tomkins and Sinead Nicholson. ning in March when Huntingdonshire They redecorated the pub and introduced CAMRA visited to present the award. All new food menus with locally sourced in- the regulars turned out to see the presen- gredients and a range of local real ales on tation and there were two birthday parties rotation that quickly began to achieve rec- and a wedding anniversary involving peo- ognition by local beer enthusiasts for their ple from the local community. consistent high quality on dispense. Pictured are left to right, Sinead, Darren In Spring 2008 the Huntingdonshire and Branch Chairman Keith Lawson. Branch of CAMRA recognised the Mad Cat as it’s Most Improved Pub of the Year, acknowledging the significant enhance- ments Darren and Sinead had made in just 6 months. In Summer 2008 the pub was shortlisted for the Huntingdonshire Food and Drink Awards Best Pub. The Mad Cat was one of the first pubs to be accredited in the branch’s Locale scheme, in Autumn 2008. This celebrates pubs that regularly stock beers brewed within 25 miles of the pub. The Mad Cat always has at least one such beer, with Oakham and Elgoods featuring regularly. Darren And Sinead have also achieved membership of Oakham’s exclusive ‘Oakademy of Excellence’, with exclusive guest beers. The Mad Cat is a community local on the edge of the fens in a village that is the home of the Pidley Mountain Rescue Team, a charity supporting local disabled

4 Check out local music events at www.huntscamra.org.uk/gigguide PUBS OF THE YEAR The Market Inn at Hunting- been awarded the branch’s Locale ac- don has won the Most Im- creditation for its well kept local ales. Pot- proved Pub of the Year belly Brewery of Kettering has a regular award for 2009, presented slot, and the superb Beijing Black is a by the Huntingdonshire current regular. Branch of CAMRA. The Market Inn is a busy town centre local in the very heart of Huntingdon, tucked down a alley. The pub was originally created from a series of cottages adjacent to the old Fountain Hotel brewery that used to be situated on the opposite side of the alleyway. The pub retains some well pre- served features dating from the 1930’s including original fireplaces and wood Pictured in the presentation above left to panelling. right are Nicky and Paul Harvey, branch representative Kathy Hadfield Moorhouse, and licensee David Norman.

Over the last two years the enthusiasm of the pub’s management has been self- evident, and the improvements and increase in popularity of the pub are clearly seen. The cask beer range has been boosted by some excellent locally brewed products, and the presentation of the beers is of a consistent high quality. The Market Inn has

OPENING TIMES 139 SUMMER 2009 5 A LOOK BACK IN TIME Summer 1984 saw 25 YEARS AGO the launch of cask Since the late 1990s, York- Flowers IPA by Whit- shire brewers Samuel bread. Their Chelten- Smiths have been known ham brewery re- for producing just one cask placed its cask Whit- beer, the revered Old bread Bitter with the Brewery Bitter. But 25 new beer, which was destined to become years ago they launched a national cask ale brand and eventually two new cask beers, 4X Mild and Tad- survive the demise of Whitbread as a caster Bitter. brewing name. Today it is brewed under licence by independent cask ale brewers A self-cook barbeque was introduced in for brand owners InBev. summer 1984 at James Paine pub the Victoria in Huntingdon. Tenants Ted and Ipswich brewer Tolly Cobbold re-assured Gill Morgan picked up the idea on a Span- CAMRA 25 years ago that it was not pull- ish holiday. Customers were invited to buy ing out of Cambridge after the closure of a steaks and sausages at the bar and cook number of their city pubs. The Foresters, them in the pub garden to enjoy along Locomotive and Dewdrop Inn were all with Paines XXX and EG cask beers. closed and the future of the Station Hotel was under question. National brewers Scottish and Newcastle pulled out of a takeover bid for Cameron’s West Midlands re- of Hartlepool following its referral to the gional brewer Monopolies and Mergers Commission Banks’s moved north after a campaign by CAMRA. with the establishment of a trading Another national brewer, Whitbread, estate in the Man- closed its giant Luton plant 25 years ago chester area in a following a six-week industrial dispute. mixture of acquisi- 300 jobs were lost at the plant, which had tions and new builds. Banks’s was aiming produced keg beers and lagers but no real for an estate of 15-20 pubs in the region ale. by the end of 1985. St Neots CAMRA held a summer social in Also in summer 1984, Salisbury brewer 1984 at Manns pub the Jolly Sailor in Gibbs Mew launched Salisbury Best Bit- Ramsey. There was also a minibus trip to ter, a new cask beer brewed to an original Peterborough and a short pub crawl vis- gravity of 1042. ited the Hardwicke Arms, Arrington and the Queen Adelaide at Croydon. Branch Meanwhile their meetings were held at the Old Ferryboat local rivals Wad- free house at Holywell and Tolly Cobbold worth of Devizes pub, the Red Lion at Kneesworth. At was struggling Great Staughton a branch social visited to cope with Charles Wells pub, the New Tavern and demand for their new 1046 dark premium Manns pub, the White Hart. bitter, Farmers Glory.

6 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! A LOOK BACK IN TIME home of Courage Directors and Courage 10 YEARS AGO Best Bitter. Owners Scottish and Newcas- Green King’s new head brewer Iain Mas- tle announced in May 1999 that the site son experimented with ginseng as an in- would close by the end of the year, and gredient in Old Horny, a seasonal special CAMRA was urging them to sell the plant cask beer for spring 1999. Iain had taken as a going concern. over as head brewer from Alistair Healey, CAMRA’s St Neots branch held its 1999 who had retired after 22 years at Greene summer meetings at the Royal Oak at Hail King and recently won plaudits from all Weston, the Prince of Wales in Hilton and directions for the new 4.3% alcohol Tri- the Chequers, Little Gransden, and visited umph cask bitter and a seasonal cask the City of Cambridge brewery. version of the epic bottled beer Strong Suffolk. Ten years ago, the Cask Marque real ale quality accreditation scheme was planning Breweries Vaux in Sunderland and Wards a network of brewery training courses to in Sheffield closed in July 1999 as owners help licensees improve cellar skills before the Swallow hotels group turned down a their Cask Marque inspections. Greene management buyout bid. Local protests King, a founder member of Cask Marque, included thousands of football fans raising was one of the first breweries to offer its red cards at a home match of Sunderland facilities for the new initiative. Football Club, which was sponsored by Vaux. And Vaux pub tenants mounted a CAMRA in North Bedfordshire was sup- bid to buy their pubs from the Swallow porting villagers in Milton Earnest seeking group in the face of talks with Pubmaster to save their local, the Swan. Greene King as preferred buyer for the 670 pubs. had closed the pub in February 1999 and it was feared that they would sell the site Another legendary cask ale brewer exiting of the large 1930’s roadhouse style pub brewing was Mitchells of Lancaster, which for redevelopment. blamed the national downturn in cask ale sales for its decision to close its brewery CAMRA went on the offensive against in July 1999. In 2009, despite recession- ‘smooth’ nitrokeg beers. Its 1999 confer- ary times having returned, the strategy ence agreed to highlight the negative has been reversed as Mitchells, which has qualities of nitrokeg beers as well as continued in business as a pub chain, pointing out the superior distinctive and have bought the York microbrewery as a varied flavours of real ales. source of its own real les. The well-regarded and pioneering Tap In summer 1999, CAMRA called upon the and Spile chain of managed real ale pubs Office of Fair trading to block a bid by was sold to Enterprise Inns after their hos- national brewer Whitbread for the pub tile takeover bid for owners Century Inns estate of its rival Allied-Domecq, which and its 500-strong pub chain. The future would have given it a 12% share of the of the Tap and Spiles was uncertain be- UK pubs sector. cause of Enterprise’s status as a tenanted pub chain. The pubs were expected to be CAMRA was fighting the planned closure let individually or sold on. of the Courage brewer in Bristol, then the

OPENING TIMES 139 SUMMER 2009 7 HALF PINTS CAMRA has hit out at the government’s downloadable resource material to help rejection of its Chief Medical Officer’s pro- communities combat pub closure plans. posal for minimum unit pricing for alcohol. The forum can be reached by going to An emergency motion at CAMRA’s na- www.camra.org.uk then clicking on tional members’ conference in Eastbourne ‘Forums’. pointed out that the proposal would have CAMRA is urging councils to opt in to the curbed irresponsible alcohol promotions in new Sustainable Communities Act to help supermarkets but would not have affected residents to get government help to sup- prices in well run community pubs, which port vulnerable local amenities such as have the added benefit of a supervised pubs and post offices. Councils must sign environment for alcohol consumption. up by the end of July to use the new pow- CAMRA’s members’ conference also ers. There is more information at called for reduced VAT and duty on www.localworks.org draught beer and cider sold in pubs and Greene King is to roll supported demands for a ban on restric- out its ‘Revolution’ tive covenants being imposed by pub dispense font system companies to prevent pub buildings re- for IPA to two thou- maining as pubs when sold. sand outlets by the Good news for ten- end of the year. The ants of the 145 pubs font, previously used in the Brakspear chain for cask St Edmund is that their pub com- Ale, allows custom- pany is to absorb the ers to choose be- 2% rise in alcohol tween a tight head, duty imposed at the as generally pre- budget last month – ferred on draught part of duty escalator programme an- beer in the North of nounced last year. The increase took the UK, and a loose place from 23 April despite a huge cam- head with a fizzier paign of opposition, ‘Axe the Beer Tax’, taste, as is preferred in the South and supported by CAMRA. traditional for Greene King beers. CAMRA’s Cambridge Branch has ob- In another move, Greene King has an- jected to a planning nounced a proposal to subsidise sales of application to convert Greene King IPA to allow its tenanted the Duke of Argyle pub pubs to sell the beer for £1.99 a pint. in Argyle Street to Meanwhile pub chain housing. Paul Ains- Wetherspoons has worth, Cambridge replaced its 99p a CAMRA’s Pubs Officer said ‘It could be a pint promotion for IPA really valuable community asset’. with a 99p promotion for Greene King’s CAMRA has launched an on-line ‘Save Ruddles Best Bitter. our Pubs’ forum to provide advice and

8 Contact the editor: [email protected], (01480) 355893 HALF PINTS Britain’s small brewers bucked the trend in supporting British beer with a campaign the declining overall UK beer market and entitled ‘Beer Matters’, aimed at ensuring increased their beer sales by 10% over that beer is ‘front of mind for publicans’. the year 2008. The figures, released by The campaign includes guides to better the Small Independent Brewers’ Associa- beer quality for licensees and initiatives to tion, refer to brewers producing less than improve beer promotion. 350 barrels a week. London brewer Full- Oxfordshire brewer ers is advertising its Hook Norton’s cask London Pride real Hooky Bitter is now ale on ITV in the available nationally London and merid- following its addi- ian regions during tion as a permanent breaks in football part of Carlsberg coverage, following UK’s ‘Tapsters’ an earlier campaign Choice’, which pro- two years ago. The vides a range of new promotion will emphasise ingredients regional real ales to Carlsberg’s free trade and quality. customers. Hooky Gold is also available A new beer quality training scheme has occasionally. been introduced by Scottish and Newcas- MPs were due to debate pub ownership tle Pub Enterprises for its new leased pub and the beer tie at the end of April follow- licensees. ing criticism of the tie by MP John Pugh, Cask Titanic Anchor Bitter who was to lead the debate. A parliamen- from the Stoke on Trent tary committee has also been investigat- microbrewery went on ing pub companies but is yet to report. sale in the Strangers’ Bar CAMRA is in favour of retention of the at the House of Commons beer tie as its loss in other countries has in March. led to brewery closures and reduced choice and competition. South Norfolk District Council A new cask ale has launched a brewery, Sam- new ‘Community brook’s, has Pub of the Year’ opened in Wands- award in support worth, the former of its campaign home of the re- to prevent pub closures The council’s gional brewery tourism and leisure team will organise a Youngs. Sam- celebratory event at the winning pub. brook’s 3.8% ses- Councillor Margaret Dewsbury said sion bitter is named Wandle Ale after the "Celebrating community pubs means we river that flows through Wandsworth. can pass on the secrets of their success." Pub trade newspaper The Publican is

OPENING TIMES 139 SUMMER 2009 9 PUB PIECES The Falcon on New increase and offer their customers two Street in St Neots other incentives: 50p off a pint for CAMRA has reopened as the members showing their membership card, Pig n Falcon with a and a 'Local Secrets' loyalty card. This is new range of cask otherwise known as The Cambridge Card, beers from inde- The Huntingdon Card, or The St Neots pendent brewers and is being operated as Card. Using this card allows their custom- a free house under a new relaxed Greene ers to collect points worth 4p for every £1 King tenancy tie arrangement termed spent, effectively reducing the average ‘Independence Pubs’, with local CAMRA price of real ale to £2.25/pint. Points can member and retailer John Nunn at the then be spent at the Horseshoe to buy helm. The Pig n Falcon is offering a wide more ale or food, or at any of over fifty range of beers from local breweries like outlets in Cambridgeshire. The Horseshoe Potbelly, Oakham, and Cambridge Moon- serves Potton Shannon IPA and Fullers shine, as well as local cider from Pickled London Pride and two guests change Pig. It is understood that other local every week; these have recently included Greene King pubs may be offered as ten- Buntingford's Golden Plover and Squad- ancies with similar relaxed beer tie ar- ron 92. rangements. Following serious damage by fire to the During the White Hart at Bythorn , Huntingdonshire recent Local District Council has indicated that listing Pubs Week building consent to demolish would proba- coach tour bly not be granted if requested. CAMRA mem- Opening Times has been receiving more bers called in reports of changes of licensee at pubs at the Pheas- around the area. Peggy, formerly of the ant at Keyston Elephant and Castle, Woodwalton is the to make a spe- new landlady at the White Hart, War- cial presentation, celebrating the fact that boys . There has been a change of man- the Pheasant has been in 10 consecutive ager for Greene King’s holding company editions of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. at the Merry Boys in Eynesbury . The This is a outstanding achievement by the lease of the Wheatsheaf at Eaton Socon licensees of the Pheasant and increas- has been reported to be available, a previ- ingly rare when pubs change hands on an ous incumbent having moved to the ever more frequent basis. Congratulations Wrestlers in St Neots . to owners and managers Jay and Taffeta Scrimshaw. Belatedly, Opening Times can also welcome Kevin and Lucy Whittle, who took In response to the chancellor’s latest beer over the lease of Greene King pub the duty rise, the Horse- Bell at Great Paxton last year, and the shoe Inn and Res- arrival at Ellington Mermaid of a new taurant, Offord landlord and a wider range of cask ales, D’Arcy has decided from the Greene King range. to 'swallow' the duty

10 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! PUB PIECES Greene King’s Windmill at Somersham Pub Beer Festivals has closed again. Last year it closed when The White Horse at the leaseholders pulled out and following Tilbrook is having a the installation of new incumbents shortly real ale and music thereafter it closed earlier this year due to festival Saturday flooding damage. 23rd to Monday 25th An interesting devel- May, featuring 12 opment at the Race- real ales including 6 horse at Catworth locally brewed ales. has been the adver- The Green Man at tising of bottled Colne is putting on a beers and spirits to bank holiday beer take away. festival at the pub on Punch Taverns leases have been adver- Sunday 24th and tised for the Royal Oak in St Ives and the Monday 25th May. Hardwick Arms , Gamlingay . The Cock at Gam- At Stukeley , the Three Horseshoes has lingay is having a reintroduced real ale in the form of John mini beer festival Smiths cask bitter after a number of years Friday 24th to Sun- with no real ale on sale. day 26th July with a range of Greene The historic Lion King seasonal beers plus guest beers. Hotel at Buckden , notable for some The Mad Cat at original features Pidley will celebrate dating back as far as the second anniver- the 15th century, sary of Darren and has been reported to be undergoing reno- Sinead taking over vations to extend the bar area into the the pub, with a beer restaurant. festival running from Thursday 30th July to Sunday 2nd August. Following our report of a notable range of The White Hart at cask beers being Godmanchester will served direct from stage a beer festival the cask at the from Thursday 14th Riverview, Earith, to Sunday 17th Au- Opening Times has gust following the received a report that the Three Horse- success of its first event last August when hoes, Abbots Ripton is now also serving 22 local real ales and 5 local real ciders their entire range of cask beers direct from were on offer. There will again be live the cask. bands, a barbeque and a hog roast.

OPENING TIMES 139 SUMMER 2009 11 The Royal Oak Hail Weston Angie and Ants welcome you to their traditional village pub Youngs Bitter, Wells Eagle IPA and guest beers

• Traditional pub food served Wed-Sat 12-2.30pm; Tue-Sat 6-8.30pm • Sunday Roast served 12-4pm • Large beer garden • Traditional pub games • Opening Times: Mon-Tue 3-11pm, Wed-Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-10.30pm High Street, Hail Weston, PE19 5JW (01480) 472527

The White Horse Tilbrook

Real Ale and Music Festival 23rd to the 25th May. The White Horse Tilbrook launches Live bands across the 23rd and “Tilfest 2009” a three day Real Ale 24th with fantastic local band Joker and Music Festival over the late May featuring Owen Edwards, Split Bank Holiday with charity fundrais- Whiskers, The Ouse Valley Jazz ing events in aid of the MS Society. Band, Midlife Crisis and other acts 12 Real Ales featuring 6 Charles to be announced starting at 3pm Wells and 6 local guest ales with and finishing 11pm. BBQ Food. Charity prize draws with all We would love to see you there! proceeds going to the MS Society.

White Horse, High Street, Tilbrook, Cambridgeshire, PE28 0JP Tel: 01480 860764

12 Join 98,000 members of CAMRA and fight for Britain’s beer heritage THE OLIVER CROMWELL Wellington Street, St. Ives, Cambs. Tel: 01480 465601 Serving six real ales: Beers from Adnams and Oakham plus regularly changing guest beers Enjoy a good pint of traditional ale in traditional surroundings. Reasonably priced lunchtime bar snacks available Mon to Sat

Hunts DC Food & Drink Awards Pub of the Year 2008 Huntingdonshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2006

OPENING TIMES 139 SUMMER 2009 13 King of the Belgians Hartford Three real ales changing weekly Traditional pub food served Tuesday-Saturday 11-2.30pm, 5.30- 9.30pm, Sunday 12-6pm. Traditional big Sunday roast. Opening times: Monday-Thursday 11-3pm, 5-11pm, Fri- day & Saturday 11-12 midnight, Sunday 12-10.30pm. 27 Main Street, Hartford, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 1XU. Tel: 01480 52030

14 Updates to beer festival details - www.huntscamra.org.uk/festivals

THE CHEQUERS 71 Main Road, Little Gransden Tel: 01767 677348 To find out about live music East events in Huntingdonshire and Anglia surrounding areas go to www.huntscamra.org.uk/gigs . CAMRA Pub of To subscribe to our weekly the Year newsletter send an email to: camragol- 2008 [email protected] Bob and Wendy Mitchell To submit an event to the invite you to try their unique guide, send the details to: unspoilt village local with its [email protected] own special atmosphere or (01480) 477118 Different Real Ale each week

Theat Hemingford Cock Grey Four Real Ales from breweries such as Buntingford, Digfield, Earl Soham, Great Oakley, Milton, Nethergate, Oakham, Oldershaw, Potbelly, and Wolf. Also Cromwell Oliver’s Choice Cider. Beer festival 2009: August bank holiday weekend Friday pm to Sunday pm. Local bands, BBQ and 25 real ales. In a continued effort to source all of our produce locally we have adopted a policy of only using breweries for our real ale within a one hour drive. Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2003 Cambridgeshire Dining Pub of the Year 2006/7 & 2007/8 OPENING TIMES 139 SUMMER 2009 15 BREWING IN HUNTINGDONSHIRE ‘Brewers and Brewing in Huntingdonshire The 17th century also saw the establish- — A social and economic history’ by Eve- ment of many local inns, taverns and ale- lyn Lord was published in 2008. This com- houses that still exist today, including prehensive book starts with an outline many coaching inns along the Great North description of the brewing process from Road. The establishment of the breweries the perspective of brewing in centuries of John Day, James Paine and William past. Herbert is described in colourful detail, as are the accounts of famous travellers the It continues with a chronicle of brewing in day such as Daniel Defoe. the middle ages, including an excellent account of the historic St Ives fair. What The book traces the subsequent develop- sets this book apart from the typical cata- ment of all of the county’s breweries dur- logue of brewing history is that the author ing the 18th and 19th centuries, including brings the topic alive and places brewing details of brewing activities and tied pubs. in it’s historical context. Tales of fairs, Evelyn Lord’s book is a good read and not trading between brewers, and alewives a dry reference work, but the depth of her appearing in court for debts paint a clear research makes this an excellent source picture of medieval St Ives. Brewing did book too. not just take place in towns of the size of St Ives. In medieval times each village Published by EAH Press, ISBN 978-0- would have had a number of alewives, 9560384-0-1, price £6.99. often prominent members of their community. In the late medieval period, inns and taverns created greater demand for ale, and brewing started to become a concentrated production activity. The Lion, Buckden and the George, Huntingdon are noted as early inns. The narrative continues with the introduc- tion of hops from Flanders, and the migra- tion from ale to beer, but its probable that such new fangled ideas were not introduced into Huntingdonshire until much later. The licensing of brewing in the 1600’s saw the real commercialisation of the industry, and a large number of town breweries were set up in Huntingdonshire at this time. Common brewers as they were known, typically distributed within a 6 mile radius, clearly nowadays this would meet CAMRA’s criteria for LocAle.

16 Find local pub music and other events www.huntscamra.org.uk/gigs The Mad Cat 2 real ales from local breweries, constantly changing Food available daily. Traditional home cooked pub food. Mon-Sat 12-2.30; 6-9, Sunday carvery 12-4. Beer Festival 30th July—2nd August Beers to include: Elgoods, Oakham, Church End and others, plus three ciders available Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2009

High Street, Pidley, PE28 3BX Telephone: 01487 842245, www.madcatinn.co.uk

Manor House Hotel A traditional old country pub Serving Greene King IPA Plus two other ever changing Real Ales. 130 different Guest Ales over the last year. Full bar snack and restaurant menu. Plus now serving “A new Black Rock menu” Come and cook your own meat or fish on the Hot Rock 20 Chapel Street Alconbury, Cambs, PE28 4DY Telephone: 01480 890423

OPENING TIMES 139 SUMMER 2009 17 ‘BOOZE ON THE OUSE’ SUCCESS The St Neots Beer Festival in March this more licensees will be asked by their year was a huge success, with atten- regulars to stock these products. dances 50% greater than previous events. Congratulations are also due to Paul Rob- 1,440 visitors enjoyed over 3,800 pints of erts of St Neots who was the winner of our real ale, over 400 pints of cider, and prize draw for those completing a feed- around 500 bottles of foreign beer. back form. He wins a copy of CAMRA’s Congratulations to local Digfield brewery book Brew Your Own Real Ale. in Barnwell—their Fool’s Nook was voted Volunteers from our charity for the festival, beer of the festival. In second place was the Huntingdonshire local group of the Cambridge Moonshine Pig's Ear Porter, Wildlife Trust, did sterling work dishing out and in joint third place were Oakham Asy- glasses, and collected funds in the proc- lum, Taylor Best Bitter and Tring Side ess. Pocket for a Toad. The St Neots Beer Festival will return in The theme of the festival was local beers 2010 from the 19th to 21st of February. and ciders, and the feedback from atten- Please make a note in your diary. But you dees was very positive. Cambridgeshire do not have to wait that long for another and its neighbouring counties have many breathtaking selection of real ales, since breweries and cider producers, but their the St Ives Beer Festival will take place on products are not often seen in our local the 10th to 12th of September 2009 pubs. Following the festival we hope that

18 Booze on the Ouse - www.huntscamra.org.uk/festival for more details THE SWAN Main Street, Old Weston Tel: 01832 293400 REAL ALES and REAL FOOD Ticket to imbibe! A great day awaits you and your friends on the Nene Valley Railway on

Sat/Sun 4th & 5th July A superb selection of real ales will be served for your delectation as you roll through the Cambridgeshire Adnams Southwold Bitter countryside. Free parking and hot Adnams Broadside meals in the Greene King Abbot + Guests Turntable Café. Hunts CAMRA Pub of the Year 2004 Fish & Chips Wednesday Evening

Restaurant open Friday & Saturday NVR, Wansford Station, Stibbington (on evenings & Sunday lunchtimes the A1), Nr Peterborough PE8 6LR 01780 784444 www.nvr.org.uk

OPENING TIMES 139 SUMMER 2009 19 20 Read Opening Times online: www.huntscamra.org.uk/news 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 139 SUMMER 2009 21 EVENTS AND SOCIALS May 2009 – Mild Month / Pub tours Tues 12 th Open Committee Meeting, Manchester Arms, St Ives (8.30 pm). Fri 15 th Mild Month – Mild is a lovely beer style and several pubs will be stocking milds during May to coincide with the CAMRA promotion. Tours will be arranged around the pubs of St. Ives and St. Neots that will be selling milds, plus some car tours around local village pubs. These will probably include: St Ives / Pidley, Mad Cat, / Colne, Green Man / Hemingford Grey, Cock / Huntingdon, Market Inn / St Neots, George and Dragon, Hyde Park, Lord John Russell, Pig n Falcon / Little Gransden, Chequers / Gamlingay, Cock. Final details including times will be published in the web site diary a week before the date. June 2009 – Stamford Train Trip Tues 2 nd Open Committee Meeting, Market Inn, Huntingdon, (8.30 pm). Sat 27 th Train trip to Stamford to tour the pubs of the town. St Neots station: 10:15am, Huntingdon station 10:20 am. Starting with a hearty breakfast in the market square we will then tour the pubs of Stamford before catching the return train at 5:59 pm, with a stop at the Brewery Tap/Drapers Arms in Peterborough. July 2009 – Cambridge Pubs Trip Tues 7 th Open Committee Meeting, Pig n Falcon, St Neots (8.30 pm). Sat 18 th Trip to the Pubs of Cambridge . Starting in the Castle, in Castle Hill at 12 noon the group will then tour the some of the vast array of pubs which Cambridge has to offer. Transport via public services. August 2009 Tues 11 th Open Committee Meeting, Three Horseshoes, Abbots Ripton (8.30 pm). An up to date listing of Social Events can also be found at the web site: www.huntscamra.org.uk/diary.

WHO TO CONTACT Chairman: Keith Lawson , 01480 352632 385333 (h) (h), 8 Peate Close, Godmanchester, Hun- Pubs Info: Roy Endersby , (01480) tingdon, Cambs, PE29 2DX. 473364, [email protected] Secretary: Richard Harrison, 01480 Campaigning: Kathy Hadfield- 406987 (h) Moorhouse , (01480) 496247 (h). Treasurer: Edric Ellis, 01480 492213 (h), Going Out Live Event Guide: Chris [email protected] Knowles , 01480 477118 (14:00-22:00). Membership: Margaret Eames , (01480)

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

Your local Trading Standards organisation Opening Times is published by the is Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA, the Standards. If you have any complaints Campaign for Real Ale (Copyright 2008) about trading standards issues at local All rights reserved. pubs, such as short measure or mislead- Views or comments expressed in this ing product promotion, please contact publication may not necessarily be those them. of the Editor or of CAMRA. They have a role to protect consumers Editor: Andy Shaw , 01480 355893 (h), from errors or frauds concerned with 07802 485449 (m), quality, description or price of goods, [email protected], 13a services or facilities and to detect and Peppercorns Lane, Eaton Socon, St rectify unfair advertising practices. Neots, PE19 8HL. Contact Cambridgeshire Trading To Advertise Standards helpdesk on 08454 040 506, To place an advert or enquire about our or at Trading Standards Division, Sackville rates please contact: House, Sackville Way, Great Cambourne, Neil Richards: 01536 358670 or Cambridgeshire, CB2 6HL. The local [email protected] trading standards web site is Printed by Lodge Printers Ltd Tel 01487 832629 www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/business/ trading/. The national trading standards Deadline for Autumn 2009 issue (140) web site is www.tradingstandards.gov.uk. is Friday 17th July 2009.

OPENING TIMES 139 SUMMER 2009 23