SEE YOU AT HOVE

PUBLISHED AND FINANCED BY THE SUSSEX BRANCHES OF THE 28 February to 2 March CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

Contact Information

South East Sussex Phil Cozens, 01323 460822 [email protected] www.southeast-sussex-camra.com Beer Festival: Eastbourne, October 2013 POTY: Robin Hood, Icklesham COTY: Albatross R.A.F.A. Club, Bexhill-On-Sea Sussex Branches of CAMRA Surrey & Sussex Regional Director: Chris Stringer, 01403 270505 (Horsham) Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013. No. 73

[email protected] Circulation 12,500 Sussex Area Organiser: Published by Sussex Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale

Peter Page-Mitchell, 01424 422128 Editor: (St. Leonards-on-Sea) The Quaffer Email: [email protected] [email protected] Beer Festival: Hove, 28 Feb – 2 Mar 2013 Advertising: Neil Richards MBE Email: [email protected] POTY: Wilkes Head, Eastergate Tel: 01536 358670 Mobile: 07710 281381

Western Sussex Next Publication Date: 9 May. Copy by 28 March Max Malkin, 01243 828394 [email protected] Copy Submissions: The Editor invites submissions that www.westernsussexcamra.org.uk celebrate the real ale scene in Sussex. Beer Festival: Yapton, 17-19 May 2013 Please keep to a maximum of 700 words. Please use plain text or Word files. POTY: Wilkes Head, Eastergate Please send good quality pictures separately, preferably in JPG format.

Arun & Adur Standard Disclaimer: Jerry Marchant, 01903 214020 Views expressed in this magazine are those of the individual authors and not necessarily supported by the editor or CAMRA. [email protected] All content © Sussex Branches of CAMRA www.aaa-camra.org.uk Your local Trading Standards Offices are: Beer Festival: Worthing, 18-19 Oct 2013 POTY: Sportsman, Amberley East Sussex: St Mary’s House, 52 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 3UU North Sussex Telephone: 01323 418200 Fax: 01323 418227 Email: [email protected] Nigel Bullen, 07791 872289 Website: www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk [email protected] www.northsussexcamra.org.uk West Sussex: Centenary House, Durrington Lane, Beer Festival: Ardingly Vintage Vehicle Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 2QB Tel: 01903 839749; Fax: 01903 839743 Show, 13-14 July 2013 Email: [email protected] POTY: Swan, Crawley www.westsussex/gov.uk/tradingstandards

Brighton & Hove: Brighton & South Downs Bartholomew House, Bartholomew Square, John Kirkland, 01293 519844 Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1JP Tel: 01273 292523; Fax: 01273 292524 [email protected] Email: [email protected] www.brightoncamra.org.uk Website: www.brighton-hove.gov.uk

Beer Festival: Lewes, 21-22 June 2013 Campaign for Real Ale Ltd 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW POTY: Brewers Arms, Lewes Tel: 01727 867201 Fax: 01727 867670 Website: www.camra.org.uk

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 3 Sussex Beer Festival 2013 23rd SUSSEX CAMRA BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL HOVE CENTRE, HOVE, 28 FEBRUARY – 2 MARCH 2013 s the demand ham Arms, Shoreham-by-Sea; Selden for real ale Arms, Worthing. To apply by post send a 9 A shows no sign x 4 SAE to SCBCF 16 Connell Drive, of slowing down there will be a record Woodingdean Brighton BN2 6RT, stating number of beers, nearly 240, on sale at the which session tickets are for and make 23rd Sussex Beer and Cider Festival, from cheques payable to CAMRA Sussex Beer 28 February to 2 March at Hove Town Festival. Hall. An excellent selection of ciders, per- ... there will be a record ries, country wines and bottled beers from number of beers on sale both Britain and abroad will be available. Tickets for the festival always sell very The downstairs LocAle bar will only be quickly so to avoid disappointment on the selling beers from Sussex breweries. day it is advisable to buy tickets for all the The festival sessions with ticket prices are:- sessions. The ticket price includes a festival programme and for CAMRA members £2 Thursday evening 5pm – 11pm £5 worth of beer tokens on production of their Friday lunchtime 11am – 3pm £4 membership card. On Saturday night half Friday evening 5pm – 11pm £8 price admission will be available to stu- Saturday lunchtime 11am – 3pm £5 dents buying tickets on the door on produc- Saturday evening 5pm – 10pm £6 (£3 tion of a Students Union card. If you look concessions) under 25 please bring ID. Tickets will be on sale from 14 January The entertainment on Saturday night will until 22 February from the Brighton Centre be provided by the Sex Pirates. This year (booking fee applies for online or telephone the festival charity is Dolphin House based orders), Evening Star, Sir Charles Napier, in Brighton. The Hove Centre has full dis- Brighton; Beer Essentials, Horsham; Bell, abled facilities and is well served by public Hove; Gardener’s Arms, Lewes; Bucking- transport. Anybody interested in helping out at the festival or with organising it be- forehand, please get in touch to find out more. For further information go to www.sussexbeerfestival.co.uk or call 07450 656148 or email [email protected]. Ingrid Sharp Festival Organiser

4 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 5 Contributors: Peter Adams, Ross Andrews, Allen Bartram, Dave Chapman, Stuart Elms, Steve Floor, Rex Gibbons, Adrian Heft, John Jasper, Penny Kift, Max Malkin, Jerry Marchant, Alexis Monroe, Peter Page-Mitchell, Michele Preston, Mark Robinson, Spud Tate, Mike Toynbee, Philip Wildsmith and the Ed.

While the Sussex Branches of CAMRA are  BATTLE pleased to acknowledge the following news The Bull Inn in the High Street is a free items, the Scratchings section does not con- house with beers in excellent condition stitute an exclusive list of officially recom- from local micro breweries Franklin’s, mended pubs, nor does it consist of critical Rother Valley and Old Dairy. At Lower customer reviews. News of new develop- Lake in the southern part of town, the ments and updates on the Sussex pub scene Chequers has changed hands and is now will be gratefully received by the Editor for with an improved beer range including, consideration in Scratchings. The standard from another local micro, Westerham. disclaimer on p. 3 applies to all items.  BERWICK Next to the railway station, the Berwick  ANGMERING Inn has been purchased by a local Worthing Rugby Football Club plays at businessman. Two beers are now on hand Roundstone Lane, Angmering. A regular pump, one from the nearby Long Man supporter of their National League 2 South brewery, the other Wychwood Hobgoblin. ‘Raiders’ team, with some of her family, Down in the village, the Cricketers’ Arms friends and customers, is Michele Preston continues to be popular. This flint cottage- of the Selden Arms. Michele has recently style pub serves a range of beers from started to help the club expand their range Harveys by gravity from the tap room be- and choice of ales on match days with a hind the bar. selection of local beers sourced from the likes of Arundel, Downlands, Oakleaf and  BILSHAM Flack Manor, all of which have been Depressing news is that Punch Taverns and enthusiastically received. In the planning the developer have won their appeal against stage is a summer beer festival to be held at Arun District Council’s refusal of a the club in conjunction with a family week- planning application to demolish the Lamb end and Mini Sevens tournament. Inn and build fourteen houses on the site. We expect Punch to conclude the sale to  AMBERLEY the developer immediately and for the pub An appeal has been lodged by the owner of to close for last time and be demolished the Black Horse against Horsham District shortly thereafter. Council’s decision to refuse a change of use to the premises. The Black Horse  BOGNOR REGIS Action Group is most grateful for all the The freehold of generous help it has received from other the Claremont publicans in putting together its is for sale. comprehensive business plan. The plan Tucked away demonstrates that continuing use as a pub off West Street, would appear to be viable. The appeal takes this is a very place in Horsham on 27 March. decent locals’ pub with two

traditional bars. It only requires a keen

6 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 owner to install a couple of real ales and  DUNCTON keep them in good condition. An early January visit to the Cricketers  BRIGHTON found King Horsham Best, Downlands Following the Truleigh Gold and Triple fff Moondance departure of plus Thatchers Cider. Chris and Gill,  EASTBOURNE the Greys The number of ales at the Dolphin has in- continues under creased to the lease owner- three; the ship of Nathan two regu- Wright from the lars are ‘Geese’ directly over the road. Mark Harveys Robinson, manager of the Greys for the Best and past five years, has been retained to keep Brakspear the pub free of undesirable changes. The Oxford Belgian beers have been secured; a new Gold; the menu is now available from a chef third beer alternates between Dark Star and producing tapas-style food; and a rotating Hastings breweries. guest-ale has been added to the two regu- After the Harveys house and lars, Harveys Best and Timothy Taylor once Branch Pub of the Year, Landlord. Live music is also a component the Hurst Arms, went down to part of the identity of the pub and that the one ale in the summer, re- should be back by the time you read this. cent visits have seen a choice of The Prince Albert near the three. railway station has six hand  pumps, four for Sussex beers EAST HOATHLY The Harveys tied house, the Foresters and two for guest ales. Arms has a new tenant, Julian Plummer, Quality is good and the pub previously of the GBG-listed Anchor Inn, usually very busy. Ringmer, who maintains a number of ales  BURGESS HILL in good condition. The four available dur- A December ‘Bus to the Pub’ visit to the ing a Christmas visit were Best Bitter, LocAle accredited Quench Bar found four Mild, Old Ale and the award-winning hand pumps dispensing the regular Harveys Christmas Ale. Bitter but also Kent Brewery KGB and  Cobnut plus Downland Three Rings. All GODDARDS GREEN The Sportsman is advertising on its web- cost £3.30 apart from Downlands Pye- site a 34p discount on a pint of real ale for combe All Ye Faithful at 7.4%, which was card-carrying CAMRA members: being delivered by the brewer as the BttP www.thesportsmanpub.com/Ales-and- contingent imbibed at the bar. Lagers.html  CRAWLEY  The anticipated return of cask ale to the HASTINGS The General Havelock now offers a menu Black Dog, as previewed in the autumn and the beer range continues to be very 2012 issue, has unfortunately not been real- good. ised and the licensee has now left the pub.

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 7 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued

The White Rock remains a must for Sus-  HEATHFIELD sex beers: Rock Star, a joint effort from The Prince of Wales at the junction of Dark Star and Magic Rock, was a real find. Station Road and Hailsham Road has new Hastings management who took over in November. Blonde has They have improved the range and quality been on in of the ales with three beers currently on both the hand pump: Harveys Best, Long Man Dripping Blonde plus Wells and Young’s Courage Well and Directors. The 51 Stagecoach bus stops Frank’s right outside the pub, which is a couple of Front Frank’s Front Room hundred yards from the start of the Cuckoo Room, Trail. while real ale drinkers are flocking to the  Jenny HORAM The May Garland has reopened under new Lind, now management. There is real ale from Har- a free veys and the landlord is also trying local house with Hastings micro breweries. Blonde,  HORSHAM Hastings Long Man Sussex Pride now sits alongside Porter or the long-standing Dark Star Hophead at the Jenny Lind Pale Ale and three other beers on, the choice and quality excellent. The Dolphin and the First In Last Out, regular GBG entries, GBG-listed Piries Bar, where card- remain superb. carrying CAMRA members are offered As a correction 10% discount on pints and half pints of real to and retraction ale, valid throughout 2013. The Lynd of the report in Cross (Wetherspoon) is now fully LocAle the last issue, the accredited and displaying the promotional Lord Nelson, in pump crowns on King beers. Twenty-five the Old Town, is Sussex Drinkers left there for the first time very much open were snapped up by eager punters within and trading and, one week! Enterprise Inns continue to ad- indeed, is for the vertise the lease of the Malt Shovel. most part the First In Last Out local fishermen’s  HOVE favourite haunt during the day. Courage The Palmeira is offering 10% discount on Directors and Best are very popular. The both pints and halves of real ale on produc- self-styled ‘Chess Club’ plays their chosen tion of a valid CAMRA membership card. game on a Wednesday while Thursday is A late-December visit found Harveys Best, the night the locals come down to play Fuller’s London Pride, Sharp’s Doom Bar Shove ha’ penny until midnight. and a seasonal guest from Adnams in very

8 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued good condition. been in evidence! The Tower remains popular with real ale drinkers and is plan-  NEWHAVEN The Hope Inn continues to impress. This ning a beer festival in the New Year. riverside  SOUTH CHAILEY pub is now The Horns Lodge is up for sale. After four offering and a half three regu- years at larly their award changing -winning guest beers free house, as well as Mike and Thatchers Heritage cider on hand pump. Linda Breweries represented over Christmas in- Lethem cluded Harveys, Batemans and Brains. have decided it is time to move on. We will be sad to see them go but wish them well.  RYE The Queen’s Head has reopened after a Until the pub is sold it is business as usual. short interlude with two beers from the  SOUTH HARTING Caledonian brewery. The new licensees It is sad to report that a proposal for a also run the nearby Standard Inn. change of use from drinking establishment to dwelling house has been made for the  SALEHURST The Halt remains superb for range and Ship Inn, not so long ago a GBG-regular. quality of  STONE CROSS (PEVENSEY) beers, often The Harveys tied house, the Red Lion, from local changed tenancy few months ago; Ron and breweries. his team have made great improvements The Mexican with three ales available in very good con- Movember dition. A new chef also started at the night was a change-over and the food is of good quality huge success. and price.  ST LEONARDS-ON-SEA  TWO MILE ASH The St Leonard continues to build up trade The Bax Castle reopened on Thursday 6 and its ever-changing range of beers often December after refurbishment and is now features local breweries such as Hastings serving Wychwood Hobgoblin and Ring- and Rother Valley. The Wed to Sat opening wood Best Bitter. The new licensee is hop- times published in the last issue should ing to negotiate with Marston’s the provi- have read 5-11pm. A beer festival is being sion of a local ale. The Sussex Drinker is planned, possibly in February. The Drip- once more available there. ping Spring welcomes back Robin and  WARTLING Joan Young who, when last here, restored Since its reopening, the Lamb Inn has the fortunes of the pub back to its glory served three beers, mostly from Harveys, days of 2000. Locals are being asked for including seasonal offerings, but Turners their favourite beers as it is anticipated that was found on one visit. All reports indicate Robin will have a much fuller list of brew- good quality. eries available. Joan’s cooking has already

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 9 Sussex Pub Scratchings — continued

 WILLINGDON Arms, the Royal Standard and the Stag New management at the Red Lion has Inn - had been doubled the selected to number of have a special, ales at this temporary Hall and guest beer Woodhouse/ brewed for Royal Standard Badger pub them on the from two to Pilot micro four. With plant at the Faversham- this, plus redecoration and a new food based brewery. Landla- menu, the pub seems busier. dies were invited to choose the strength and  WORTHING (TARRING) style of the beer, travel Regulars at the cosy and increasingly well- to the brewery and help regarded Parsonage Bar enjoyed during with the brewing. Each December a veritable feast of seasonal dark pub then had four casks delivered with beers, viz. Harveys Old Ale and Christmas pump clips to their individual choice and Ale; Downland Devils Dyke Porter and the beer was in the pubs week-commencing Pyecombe All Ye Faithful, in addition to 19 November. the regular Young’s Bitter and Harveys Best, all of which bodes well for 2013. The Hastings Arms had Across the road, Arundel Old Ale was South Downs Premium found at the George & Dragon, while the Ale, the Royal Standard Vine Inn held an ale and cider festival in had Standard Man early January. Brew and the Stag Inn had Black Sal. All were  YAPTON a 4.0% slightly-dark All change at the Maypole Inn where out- bitter, with good hop going licen- Hastings Arms bitterness. Pubs and see Kelly locals were really Townshend pleased with this beer. It held her was also noted that leaving do guest beers from Red on New Squirrel, York and Year’s Eve. Acorn Breweries were We wish also on in more than one Kelly, husband Stuart and family all the of these pubs. best for the future. We also welcome new licensee Wendy Parker and her family and Grateful thanks to Michael DeFroand at the wish them every success in their new ven- Shepherd ture. Neame Press Office for sup-  SPECIAL SHEPS’ SCRATCHINGS plying the pump Shepherd Neame own several pubs in clip images. Hastings Old Town so it was of much interest that three of them - the Hastings Stag Inn

10 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 11 Bus to the Pub

12 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Bus to the Pub

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 13 BttP: Spa Valley Railway Beer Festival 2012

board the next train with half-finished pint in hand, then finish it on board and either purchase more beer on the train or alight at Groombridge, or the western terminus at Eridge, and find a further selection of beers waiting on the platform. A common system t is quite unusual for the BttP (Bus to of beer tokens was in operation throughout, the Pub) Group to be out and about on with all the station booking offices on the I a Saturday, as we like to take advan- line ready to sell you more. tage of the less-crowded pubs and (sometimes) more frequent buses during A look at the programme revealed a list of mid-week. On 20 October, however, we almost fifty beers of which only four were made an exception as we boarded a 29 bus not from either Sussex or Kent, a testament in Brighton en route to the Spa Valley Rail- to the huge way, a standard-gauge preserved line that range of small straddles the Kent border in the north-east breweries that corner of Sussex. are now operat- ing in our part The 29 must be one of Brighton & Hove’s of England. An longest routes, serving Falmer, Lewes, added attraction Uckfield and Crowborough on its way to was the considerable number of Green-Hop Tunbridge Wells. Nonetheless it runs at a beers that were on sale, indicated by a spe- creditable half-hourly interval through most cial symbol on the cask-end labels. The of the day, Monday to Saturday. After a majority of them had been brewed for the journey of 1hr 45mins we piled out at Green Hop Beer Fortnight (http:// Sainsbury’s Tunbridge Wells, more than kentgreenhopbeer.com/) organised by the ready for a pint, and quickly found the Spa Kent breweries for the Canterbury Food & Valley’s Tunbridge Wells West station Drink Festival in September. As a con- across the car park. The main venue for the firmed Hop Freak I was really enjoying Beer Festival was these, and I hope that this is an idea that in the Loco Shed will take root and spread across Sussex in just next to the future years. platform, where we could gaze at In between sups of good beer I was enjoy- coaching stock and ing the Railway, too: I never thought I a simmering tank would get misty loco while supping our beer. -eyed over a Diesel loco, but This was a new festival for me, as it is our train for the jointly organised by West Kent Branch of day (it was des- CAMRA and so does not appear on the ignated a Diesel Sussex Branches calendar, but as I was Day) was soon to discover it is a great event with a topped-and-tailed by an English Electric fine selection of (mainly) local beers spread type 3 and an old BRC&W type 3, known over the entire length of the line and also in the south as a ‘Crompton’. The sight and available on the trains. It was quite possible sound of the latter’s big Sulzer straight- to purchase a pint at Tunbridge Wells,

14 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 BttP: Pub of the Year eight engine took me right back to a former uring 2012 the intrepid Sussex Bus life on the Railway, although at that time I to the Pub group (BttP) visited was more used to a different ‘Crompton’, D some 122 + pubs throughout the the Midland Region’s pet name for the ear- county, several more than once or twice, as lier type 4 ‘Peaks’, later known as classes well as sneaking over the border into Kent 44 and 45. Both locos were working hard, to visit the Red Lion at Snargate - listed on each in turn hauling the other in ‘idling’ the CAMRA National Inventory of Heri- mode at the back of the crowded five-coach tage Pubs - and the Spa Valley Railway. train, according to direction of travel. Now in its third year our Pub of the Year All in all it was great day out, and this is 2012 voting featured some 36 of those pubs one Beer Festival I do not intend to miss in visited with only four points separating the 2013, assuming that the format stays the top three. The top ten are as follows: same. This was a perfect combination of 1. Ship Inn, Whitemans Green trains and beer that together made up the longest (and most interesting?) ‘pub’ so far 2. Wilkes Head, Eastergate featured on the BttP programme! 3. Royal Oak, Friday Street Photos and logo used by kind permission of 4. Snowdrop Inn, Lewes Spa Valley Railway. 5. Brewers Arms, Lewes Pete Brown Western Sussex Branch 6. Horns Lodge, South Chailey 7. Duke of Wellington, Shoreham-by-Sea 8. Five Bells, West Chiltington 9. Coopers Arms, Crowborough 10. Neptune, Hove The dates for the presentations to Bill & Vicky Parke at the Ship and Trevor Brown & his partner Sonia at the Wilkes Head are Friday 8 March and Friday 12 April respec- tively. Stuart Elms & Mike Jacomb

Ship Inn, Whitemans Green

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 15 Bru News

and the Spy Glass, Worthing. The Quaffer ARUNDEL Ford, nr Arundel, 01903 733111. www.arundelbrewery.co.uk The brewery is pleased with progress during 2012. Information here is mostly Draught Arundel Special supplied by the Brewery Bitter has metamorphosed Liaison Officers named at the into Heritage IPA - an end of each report. The evolutionary development, Brewery Liaison Coordinator but with more emphasis on for Sussex, Kent and Surrey the hops; the changes have is Peter Page-Mitchell. gone down well in the trade and boosted sales. The 1648 seasonal Old Ale has been The Kings Head, East selling well, while Old Hoathly, 01825 840830. Scrooge is set to follow suit www.1648brewing.co.uk anticipated that all core throughout December, with Laughing Frog will remain beers will be available over Wetherspoon having ordered on due to popular demand. the coming months. The 600 firkins. Business Extra Saint George will be brewery relies on the hard volumes have kept the older brewed this year after work of its members to brew, dray (earmarked for Valhalla) running short in 2012. The bottle, cask and deliver the on the road, and the brewery brewery has secured the Old beers to pubs and off- continues to expand its sales Forge, opposite the licences, mainly in the area, especially northwards. premises, and transformed it Brighton area. Adur beers Jeff Vinter into a new cool room will be available at the providing twice the size Stanley Arms Beer Festival, BALDY capacity to cope with Portslade, 8 to 10 February. Parham House, Storrington increasing demand. A new BLO TBC 07718 641195. website will be up and www.thebaldybrewery.co.uk running soon. ANCHOR SPRINGS Since moving to Parham David Platt Littlehampton, 01903 719086. House the brewery is now Brewing of Undercurrent supplying many of the local ADUR (4.2%) and Yard Arm (4.3%) pubs. Main core ales are Steyning, 01903 867614. has been suspended. The Brewers Best (Bitter, 3.8%), www.adurbrewery.co.uk permanent core range is now S.S.B. Sussex Special Sales over Christmas were IPA (4.0%), Worthing Best Bitter (Premium 5.4%), very good on core beers (4.0%), Mild (3.8%), Blonde Bombshell (Blonde Velocity, Ropetackle Gold, Mothers Ruin (6.0%), Ale, 4.7%), Fiery Black William Stout, Hornblower (4.5%), Riptide Redhead (Ruby Ale, 4.2%), Hoptoken Amarillo and (4.1%), and L.A. Gold Southwater Gold (Golden Merry Andrew, while also (3.7%). Also currently Ale, 4.5%), Shotgun (Stout, doing well is the 9.2% winter brewed is the seasonal 4.0%), Hops Save The warmer, Very Merry porter Black Pearl (5.2%). Queen (Indian Pale Ale, Andrew. New beer Steyning The last five named beers 4.7%), Kiln Dust (Porter, Special, a 5.5% strong bitter, are also available in bottle- 5.0%), Sussex XX Superior has been very well received conditioned form. Permanent Mild (5.4 %), Sussex Mild and another batch is outlets are the brewery tap, (3.5%), Wedding ESB (Extra currently in production. It is the Crown, Littlehampton, Special Bitter, 4.2%),

16 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Bru News

Cheeky Porter (Sweet and The year 2013 will see a beers. Smooth Porter, 5.0%). It is number of new beers Peter Mitchell hoped to have available soon including a replacement a selection of bottled ales in (rather than re-tweaking) for BLACK CAT various outlets, to include a Thunderbolt. This was a Groombridge, 07948 387718. limited edition (9.0%) good traditional English bitter Despite going part-time with Matrons Porter - for but the name perhaps led his airline job, Marcus can medicinal purposes of people to expect a hopfest. supply only five pubs on a course! You may find bottled Some more casks are regular basis due to limited Bombay Gold, an Indian coming; KeyKegs will be capacity, although he Pale Ale (4.7%), available in used to broaden the market probably could supply more some Indian restaurants in beyond the local area; and it beer in winter. Tempted to the area. is also planned to use expand further he recently Ray Pilkington ECasks to hopefully engage looked at an industrial unit some distributor-led sales. but this would be a big step to BALLARD’S Peter Mitchell take with the airline job still Nyewood, 01730 821362. ongoing. Regular suppliers www.ballardsbrewery.org.uk BEACHY HEAD are the Coopers Arms, Another successful year at East Dean, 01323 733603. Crowborough; Hay Waggon, Ballard’s closed with the 25th www.beachyhead.org.uk Hartfield; Spotted Dog, annual Beer Walk. Excellent Brewery sales in 2012 were Smarts Hill; Nevill Crest & weather and the return of the considerably higher than the Gun, Eridge Green; and popular The Prize Old previous year. Brewing more recently, the Crown, Mummers helped to ensure frequently or increasing Groombridge. Due to one of the best turnouts for capacity is being considered transport problems, Marcus some years, with for 2013. The Famous has switched his Maris Otter approximately 350 walkers. Christmas Ale was brewed malt supplier from his This year’s ‘Old Bounder’ twice and has flown out of favoured traditional floor- walk offering was In the the door. Bottled Legless malted Warminster Maltings Drink. Pitched just below the Rambler sold particularly to Muntons, which is quite a tax threshold at 7.4%, it was well in the pre-Christmas bit cheaper. delicious with barley sugar period. David Moore sweetness at the front of the Tony Harman BRIGHTON BIER CO palate followed by a long, dry The Hand in Hand, Brighton, hoppy finish. All the local BEDLAM 01273 699595. pubs benefited from the Albourne, 07955 684041. The ales will hopefully be event - although sadly no www.bedlambrewery.co.uk Bedlam Best Bitter (4.0%) is distributed regionally this year longer on the list was the through a local distributor (closed) Ship, South Harting the newest ale on the market, on sale around Sussex and called WithSoul. Please - and Carola will be making a contact Gary if interested at donation from the proceeds Surrey. Hoppy Golden Ale (4.2%) is now available as a [email protected]. to this year’s chosen charity, Jim Hawkins Huntingdon’s Disease bottle-conditioned beer. Association. Thanks to Pete Brewed as a traditional DARK STAR English session bitter, it has Brown for arranging coach Partridge Green, 01403 a good balance of American transport, and to the local 713085. Summit and Cluster hops Scouts for bacon www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk gently added late in the boil, sandwiches. Perhaps for the first and a touch of roasted barley Barry Woodward Christmas ever, Dark Star to give it an inviting copper was prepared for the festive colour. South Downs Cellars, BASELINE season. This was because Hurstpierpoint, are selling Small Dole, 01903 879111. the four new 45-bbl both draught and bottled www.baselinebrewing.co.uk fermenting vessels,

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 17 Bru News - continued

purchased and fitted in and hoppy. Red Spider Rye premises for this splendid readiness for the demand (5.4%) will hopefully be the new brewery. Exciting times from spring 2013 onwards, first of a number of brews for ahead! Finally, Franklin’s is were brought into service a new events company called pleased to announce its early and shoehorned into Pig and Porter. A involvement on 22-23 March the far end of the brewery, collaboration with Waen in Ale & Arty, a charity-raising the last remaining space. The Brewery led to Sick and beer festival held in annual ‘what shall we brew Twisted, a coconut stout, conjunction with the local next year?’ argument has being brewed in Wales, with Rotary Club at the De La been had, and the 2013 beer Waen Down, a coffee stout, Warr Pavilion, Bexhill. list has been agreed, without due to be brewed in Sussex. Mac McCutcheon the need for Ban Ki-moon to Other swapping/distribution intervene (copies available arrangements are in place FULL MOON from stockists county-wide). with Hastings Brewery and Catsfield, 07832 220745. Dark Star’s love of the absurd Kent Brewery. www.fullmoonbrewery.co.uk shines through in the printed Roger Coton Sales are steady but are tasting notes with a hint that perhaps less than usual perhaps Leonardo De Vinci FILO because a rebrand will soon could have been a brewer Hastings, 01424 425079. happen, following which there back in the days when art www.filobrewing.co.uk will be an advertising met science. The new Following the brewery’s 2011 campaign to kick-start things, permanent beer is a dark expansion into new premises, so watch out for the ads. bitter with the overly 2012 was an exciting year Extra vessels are being pretentious title of The Art of with FILO beers finding their installed to allow more beer Darkness; at 3.5% it is way into a number of local to be held for bottling, hoped that Darkness (for pubs. A few special brews to another new initiative. As this short) will challenge any mark various local events will necessitate rearranging remaining colour prejudice supplemented the regulars the brewery, it is hoped this among ale lovers that believe Churches Pale Ale, will be begin before March that dark = heavy. Monthly Crofters, Gold and Old 2013. specials for the first quarter of Town Tom. We look forward Peter Harrison 2013 are Hophead Galaxy, a to seeing what 2013 will single hop variant of their bring! GRIBBLE most popular beer (January) Bill Turner The Gribble Inn, Oving, nr and old favourites Sussex Chichester, 01243 786893. Extra Stout (February) and FRANKLIN’S www.gribbleinn.co.uk Six Hop (March). Bexhill, 01424 731066. The Christmas special was Stuart Elms www.franklinsbrewery.co.uk Wobbler, well received at Following the success of 7.6%. Gribble beers are now DOWNLANDS 2012, which saw the brewery distributed locally and as far Small Dole, 01273 495596. under new ownership and the as Dorking. The pub is now www.downlandsbrewery.com launch of three new beers, home to the Oving Village After the Christmas ale, the year begins with a new General Store. Planning Pyecombe All Ye Faithful (as yet unnamed) best bitter permission to extend the (7.4%), sold out in double and it is intended to brewery, to include a bottling quick time, a second compliment the range further plant, has been received. seasonal ale was produced, by adding another brand-new Watch this space. Christmas Pud (5.0%), beer every couple of months. Chris Wright which sold four times the Bottle-conditioned ales expected amount. The next covering the full range will be HAMMERPOT planned is a spring seasonal, available very soon. Poling, nr Arundel, 01903 provisionally called Whapple Franklin’s are also looking to 883338. Way, due to be 4.4%, light invest in a new brew house www.hammerpot-brewery.co.uk and are seeking suitable The year 2012 will be

18 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Bru News - continued remembered as a difficult one bottle gift packs were summer 2012 with the (3.9%) for trading, but with some especially popular when sold light-coloured, hoppy Hurst highlights: most notably, the with an etched Hastings 700 Summer Ale, brewed to supply of beers to Asda and Brewery logo pint glass. This mark both the 700th the Brighton Dome, draught is the first time that the anniversary of the granting of Bottle Wreck Porter brewery has sold their beer in a charter for the village’s St. scooping Gold in the National bottles and they proved very Lawrence fair and the 150th Winter Ales Festival and the popular. The new T-Shirts anniversary of the opening of bottled version taking Bronze also sold well. The New Year the original Hurstpierpoint in the SIBA South East will see Hastings Brewery Brewery in Cuckfield Road. Region Competition. We will Handmade Real Ale, a small The (4.2%) winter brew, be sharing with you a number run of limited-edition beers. A Founders Best Bitter, so of new and exciting mild and a stout are going to called after the founder of the developments as the year be available from January in original Hurst Brewery, unfolds. Here’s to a better both bottles and minicasks. George Saltmarsh, is light- and brighter year in 2013. Peter Page-Mitchell coloured with a rounded Tim Walker malty taste and subtle HEPWORTH caramel flavours. Available at HARVEYS Horsham, 01403 269696. the White Horse brewery tap, Lewes, 01273 480209. www.thebeerstation.co.uk the beer will also appear in www.harveys.org.uk The 2.5% ale previously other local Sussex pubs and, Harveys have renamed their known as Olympian has been hopefully, at some new, Lewes pub acquisition, renamed The Games. It sold forthcoming local beer Rights of Man (formerly very well when first festivals. Lincolns, originally the introduced last year, and will Steve Floor Rainbow). It has been given now be a regular part of the a complete makeover to portfolio. The SIBA ‘Beer Ex’ ISFIELD create a traditional ale house will be held this year at Framfield, 01825 750633 / with cosy old fashioned Sheffield and will include a 07803 716758. booths and wood panelling. beer festival. Pullman cask [email protected] No new developments on the ale, plus Conqueror Stout, Straw Blond (4.1%) is beer front, but seasonal ales and Blonde lager in keg form proving the company’s best to take us up to the next are all being entered. seller, closely followed by issue will be Kiss (February, Hepworth won the gold Toad in the Ale (4.8%). This 4.8%), Porter (March, 4.8%), medal last year for their cask was reflected at the Georgian Dragon (April, version of Conqueror Stout. brewery’s debut at the 4.7%), Olympia (April to Andy feels that bottled beer Eastbourne Beer Festival, September, 4.2%) and Knots and lager will fuel growth for where Straw Blond was of May (May, 3.0%). Hepworth this year. virtually sold out at the start Jack Wilkinson John Keller of the final session, Toad in the Ale sold out soon after HASTINGS HURST and Imperial Pale Ale St Leonards-on-Sea, 01424 Western Road, (4.2%) lasted no more than 205437. Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex, half way through that www.hastingsbrewery.co.uk BN6 9SP, 07866 438953. session. Flapjack (5.3%), a The brewery had great www.hurstbrewery.co.uk seasonal oatmeal stout, was success selling 500ml bottles [email protected] launched in December and and 5-litre (eight and a half The outhouse on the Western has generated plenty of pint) minicasks of Best Road side of the White Horse interest. Isfield beers are now Bitter, Blonde, HPA and pub has been refurbished as distributed more widely by W. Porter at the Christmas a 4-barrel brewery. J. Armstrong of East Market in Priory Meadow, Hurstpierpoint Brewing Grinstead, but enquiries and Hastings. The three and four- Company was launched in orders are still welcome at

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 19 Bru News - continued

[email protected] Diamond Business Awards. Eating Co. in both Brighton Peter Adams Also won by the brewery was and Lewes. a number of certificates and Jason Phillips KEMPTOWN awards for their beers at The Hand in Hand, Brighton, festivals around the country. LANGHAM 01273 699595. The annual SpringFest will be Lodsworth, Petworth, 01798 www.kemptownbrewery.com held at the brewery in May; 860861. Red (Amber Ale, 4.5%) is details will be posted to the www.langhambrewery.co.uk back on at the brew pub website. Busy times up at Lodsworth alongside Black (Chocolate with lots of beer sold at the Winter Ale 4.5%) and Gold. The recent investment in two brewery shop on the run up Jim Hawkins brand-new fermentation to Christmas and the New vessels brings the total Year. Very popular again in KING brewing capacity to 24-bbl. 2012 was Christmas Horsham, 01403 272102. This will help keep up orders Cracker, 4.5%, tawny- www.kingbeer.co.uk for best sellers Black Cherry coloured with added plum By now, many of you will Mild, Storyteller and and a spicy finish - one more have had a chance to sample Chennai IPA, while enabling brew may take place in early the wonderful return of larger scale brewing of rare January. The next seasonal Festive. If not, the even beers Six Crows, Stout beer will be the 4.4% mild, better news is that Ian and ‘Extreme’ and Mary’s Ruby Triple XXX, due out at the the team will be brewing it all Mild. These will be more end of January .The brewery year round. Not only are the widely available to free now has a 70-litre test brew beers winning awards, but so houses in the further reaches kit for trying new recipes: a is the team. Orla Lambe, of Sussex, Surrey, low strength (2.8%) very Marketing Director and co- Hampshire and Kent. New on hoppy Hip-Hop was great! owner, has won the “Success the Christmas bar was The brew in the fermenter as Story of the Year” award at ToffeeCog (5.5%), which of mid-January is a dark IPA the Sussex Woman of the received great reviews; it is style at about 6.0%. Due out Year Awards 2012. In also planned to brew it on a for the spring equinox will be addition to Old Ale through to larger scale. Flor-Ale, at 3.8%, using March, the seasonal ales for Roy Bray Cascade plus other high February will again be IPA, alpha value hops. Scrummy and Five KITCHEN GARDEN Peter Luff Generations, followed by Sheffield Park, 01825 Market Porter in March, and 790775. LONG MAN Cascade and Spring Ale in www.kitchengardenbrewery.co.uk. Litlington, 07976 777992. April. The brewery continues to www.longmanbrewery.com Mike Head develop new beers whilst [email protected] attempting to meet demand Long Blonde is now KISSINGATE for their existing range. The available in bottles, from Lower Beeding, 07909 seasonal Red Robin sold out various pubs and outlets 975664. within weeks and another across Kent and Sussex, at www.kissingate.co.uk batch is due soon. Honey an increased ABV of 4.1%; 2012 was a successful and Ale (4.0%) is now available; bitterness and aroma have busy year for the brewery. made with locally sourced been upped accordingly. Eight CAMRA branches honey this is an excellent American Pale Ale (4.8%) visited over the year, plus new addition to the line up. and Best Bitter (4.0%) will dozens of clubs, companies Feedback on the (4.7%) be available in bottles by and societies, all of whom Vintner’s has been very early February. Also look out were met with excellent food positive, so try some before for a brand new seasonal and hospitality. The “Best they all go! Additional outlets recipe, already being trialed New Business Award” was to report are the Sloop, for a spring launch! received at the Gatwick Scaynes Hill and the Real Scott O’Rourke

20 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Bru News - continued

NORTH LAINE the micro-brewery. Rectory January. To celebrate 2013 a The North Laine, 27 will retain Streat Hill Farm at few more recipes will be Gloucester Place, Brighton, the moment with the developed soon, including a BN1 4AA, 01273 683666 possibility of some new pale ale, an English/ www.drinkinbrighton.co.uk/north-laine improvements being made to Sussex dark ale and an [email protected] the site; the premises were exciting wheat beer. Turners The 5-barrel plant is also used for the brewing of would like to thank all of their supplying only the brewpub. the Stanley Craft Ales. All customers who have placed So far produced has been Saint’s Tipple (4.5%) and their faith in the beers and Porter (first beer launched, Old Ale (5.0%) have been keep coming back for more 4.6%), IPA (using Columbus provisionally ordered for the and more! Here’s also to a hops, 5.0%), and Silent 23rd Sussex CAMRA Beer & successful 2013 to all their Night (Christmas ale, 6.9%). Cider Festival. Christmas new and existing landlords. The latest is the amber ale Ale (5.0%) was renamed Ale Ruth Anderson (as yet unnamed, 4.0%). St Thomas (after St Thomas Doug Wooding a Becket) for the post- WELTON’S Christmas period. Horsham, 01403 242901. PIN UP Paul Free www.weltonsbeer.co.uk. Stone Cross, Crowborough, Welton’s had a busy end to 01892 611411 ROTHER VALLEY the year despite some pubs www.pinupbeers.com Northiam, 01797 252922. not doing so well. JD Milk Stout featured on three This summer will see the Wetherspoon remains a of the main bars at Winter 20th anniversary of the major customer and the Wonderland in Hyde Park. brewery. Some special beers brewery supplied 360 casks Good to see an English beer will be brewed for the for their autumn festival! The at this German-style festival celebrations. Watch this George & Dragon, Dragons that more than a million space. Green and the White Horse, people pass through over Dawn Lincoln Maplehurst are good outlets Christmas. It was also the for Welton’s beers, which can first time that a cask ale has TURNERS also be found in some Spirit featured at this event and Ringmer, 07710 581042 / pubs. Beers in February for both sales and feedback 08456 892689. the Six Nations will include were very good. All the ales www.turnersbrewery.com Johnny English, Le Coq, appeared at the Model [email protected] Azzurri, Molly Mallone Irish The brewery had a very busy Engineering & Modelling Stout, Triple Crown and two 2012, developing four Exhibition, 18-20 January, new beers, Golden Taff, and recipes, all of which have held at the Alexandra Palace, a citrus beer called Ginger proved popular and well where the brewery had its Beard. Look out for a brown received. The premises own bar in the great hall. ale/wheat beer (!) called licence is now in place, the BLO TBC Black Water Snake, brewed beers are accredited by for the Chinese New Year. RECTORY Cyclops and approved by the You can now tweet the Streat, 01273 890570. SIBA DDS, so the beer range brewer (if you dare!) on Arguably the most important can be offered to a number of twitter @weltonsbrewery for news of last year is the groups; the products are some interesting news and collaboration between available via the brewery’s opinions! You can also meet Rectory and Harveys that online ordering system to the the brewer at the Stout sees Godfrey Broster retail market and are ideal for brewing on the Harveys parties, weddings and all sort House, Horsham during the micro-plant. Godfrey and of celebrations where It’s Day of Dance festival in May. Miles Jenner are clearly Time for a Turners. New Nigel Bullen enjoying working together bottling equipment is arriving and there are plans to sort a from the USA and bottles will 2013 brewing calendar for be available from the end of

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 21 Cider and Perry CIDER HOUSE NOTES At one of our recent branch (Brighton & Howling. South Downs) socials, I was handed details Here followeth a brief history lesson: of a book which sounded interesting – Ap- ples and Orchards in Sussex - so I duly Wassailing is first recorded at Fordwich, ordered and received a copy of it. Trawling Kent, in 1585, and reappears in Devon in through it I found references to cider and the 1630s, mentioned in a poem by Robert wassails, which inspired me to research Herrick: more on the local Sussex version of was- sailing – Apple-Howling or Youling, or “Wassail the trees, that they may bear Yuling (origin lost in the mists of time). You many a plum, and many a pear…” It appears to feature again in the diary of a As most of you know by now, the more Sussex parson in 1670 and is frequently commonly known celebration of wassailing recorded thereafter, including an article in traditionally takes place on the West Sussex Gazette, 1906, which re- Twelfth Night, which is on or about 5 or 17 January ported that Mr Richard ‘Spratty’ Knight (depending on whether you had led the Duncton Gang for fifty-four years, dressed in rainbow-ragged costume follow the Julian or Gre- gorian calendar), and in- and heading a procession of villagers, volves a night-time visit to “carrying horns and such lowly musical an orchard, making a types as bits of gas piping.” ‘hullabaloo’ to dispel evil spirits, anointing apple trees with cider and singing wassail The term Apple-Howling appears in Brand songs to ensure a good apple crop the next and Ellis’s Popular Antiquities of Great season. Britain, with a mention in vol. 1, p.12: Of some Sussex wassails, that at Old Mill “…in several counties, the custom of apple Farm, Bolney, -howling (or Yuling) … is still in obser- is led by Mor- vance. A troop of boys go round the or- ris dancers and chards in Sussex, Devonshire and other revellers carry- parts and forming a ring about the trees, ing burning they repeat these doggerel lines: torches, and Standfast root, bear well top equipped with Pray God send us a good howling crop saucepan lids Every twig, apples big: and trumpets to make that ‘hullabaloo’, and Every bough, apples enou: the Maplehurst wassail involves firing off a Hats full, caps full, shotgun, too - enough noise to drive off any Full quarters sacks full.” demons present! So with all this noise, in- cluding shouting on the part of the revel- So really, in conclusion, there’s no differ- lers, it’s no wonder that in this part of the ence between a wassail and an Apple- country at least it is known as Apple- Howling – except, perhaps, that the latter is noisier. They both serve the same purpose,

22 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013

Cider and Perry to scare away evil spirits and encourage a References: good apple crop in the forthcoming year. Brian Short, with Peter May, Gail Vines Oh, and to return to that book that I men- and Anne-Marie Bur (2012), Apples and tioned at the beginning: Orchards in Sussex, Lewes: Action in Ru- ral Sussex and Brighton Permaculture Apples and Orchards in Sussex is an excel- Trust. lent book to guide you through the different William Carew Hazlitt, ‘Faith and Folklore types of Sussex apples – a Dictionary of National Beliefs, Super- and where they are stitions and Popular Customs, Past and grown, with an in-depth Current …’ forming a new edition of John history of apple-growing Brand and Henry Ellis (1905), The Popular in the county, but don’t Antiquities of Great Britain, 2 vols. Lon- expect any great empha- don: Reeves and Turner. sis on cider. The book just describes what it Jackie Johnson says on the cover, with some reference to Surrey and Sussex cider and cidermakers, but not dwelling on Regional Cider them. Beautifully presented and re- Coordinator searched; shame about the misspelling of John Batcheldor’s name, though. CIDER PRODUCERS OF SURREY AND SUSSEX – CAMRA NEEDS YOU! QUESTION: WHAT’S THE BEST CIDER IN OUR AREA? ANSWER: WE DON’T YET KNOW, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO FIND OUT, SO PLEASE ENTER YOUR CIDER INTO THE SURREY & SUSSEX REGIONAL CIDER COMPETITION TO BE JUDGED AT THE SUSSEX BRANCHES BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL, HOVE, 28 FEB TO 2 MAR 2013 For this competition, any traditional (i.e. made from freshly-pressed apples and not micro-filtered, pasteurised or artificially carbonated) cider produced in Surrey or Sussex is eligible. Only one cider per producer will be judged, so makers are asked to nominate which of their ciders is entered. Producers need to be able to provide at least a 10-litre box on the day, as although we only need a small amount for judging, the public will want to drink the win- ning cider and other entries after the final judging! To enter your own, or nominate a cider, please contact direct the Regional Cider Coordinator – Jackie Johnson, Email: [email protected] Tel. 01273 202730.

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 23 24 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Club of the Year The Albatross, Bexhill is South East Sussex Club of the Year

The club has a changing range of excel- lent guest beers and CAMRA members can visit on production of their member- ship cards.

On Tuesday 20 November the South East Sussex branch presented their Club of the Year award to the seafront Albatross (R.A.F.A.) Club, Bexhill-on-Sea. From left to right in photograph are Phil Cozens, Peter Adams (Branch Vice- Chair and Chair, respectively), Club Steward Geoff Wentworth and members of his Bar Team.

What better way to enjoy the Six Nations than with a pint of Best traditional Sussex Ale???

Visit the brewery and choose from our full range of popular traditional ales in 2, 4, 9, 18 and 36 pint containers . Please ring in advance to avoid disappoint- ment. Open Monday to Saturday. 01798 860 861 • 07789112559 07786215908• 07795233480 The Old Granary, Langham Lane, Lodsworth, West Sussex GU27 9BU www.langhambrewery.co.uk

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 25 26 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Diary Dates

BEER FESTIVALS AND OTHER DELIGHTS CAMRA EVENTS IN BOLD. For FREE inclusion in this column, contact the Editor; for PAID advertisements contact Neil Richards. Copy-by date and contact details on p. 3.

Feb 8-10 Stanley Arms Winter Beer Tarring, Worthing, 07778 551352, Festival, 47 Wolseley Road, Portslade, [email protected] 01273 430234, www.thestanley.com May 2-6 FILO May Day Beer Festival Feb 22-23 Ropetackle Centre Beer (also Hastings Jack in the Green weekend), Festival, Little High Street, Shoreham-by- First In Last Out, 14-15 High Street, Old Sea, 01273 464440, Town, Hastings, 01424 425079, www.ropetacklecentre.co.uk www.thefilo.co.uk

Feb 28-Mar 2 23rd SUSSEX May 17-19 24thYAPTON BEEREX, BRANCHES BEER & CIDER Yapton and Ford Village Hall, see back FESTIVAL, Hove Centre, Norton Road, page advert and Hove, see p. 5 article and www.westernsussexcamra.org.uk www.sussexbeerfestival.co.uk May 19 Beer Tent Event, Brinsbury Show Mar 21 Train to London Pubs, TTLP10, & Country Fayre, Pulborough, 11am-4pm, north London, e.g. Islington, plus any parts 07778 551352, [email protected] not visited or beers not found from the May 24 Train to London Pubs, TTLP11, Hackney area on TTLP9; further details further details from Pete Brown, 01243 from Pete Brown, 01243 552908, 552908, [email protected] [email protected] May 25 Spin Up in a Brewery, Dark Star Mar 22-23 Ale & Arty, beer festival, De Brewery, 22 Star Road, Partridge Green, La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, raising money for various charities, tickets from 01424 01403 713085, www.darkstarbrewing.co.uk 229111, www.DLWP.com May 26 Beer Tent Event, Shoreham Dogs Trust Open Day, Adur Recreation Ground, Mar 28-Apr 1 FILO Easter Beer Shoreham-by-Sea, 07778 551352, Festival, First In Last Out, 14-15 High Street, Old Town, Hastings, 01424 425079, [email protected] www.thefilo.co.uk June 1-2 Beer Tent Event, Floral Fringe Fair, Knepp Castle, East Grinstead, 10am- Apr 13 Sussex Branches Liaison Meeting, Brewery Shades, 85 High Street, Crawley, 5pm, 07778 551352, [email protected] 01293 514105 June 8 Beer Tent Event, Arun Yacht Club Mini Beer Festival, Riverside West, Apr 19-21 CAMRA MEMBERS’ Littlehampton, 12noon-11pm, 07778 WEEKEND & AGM, St Andrew’s & Blackfriars Halls, Norwich, 551352, [email protected] www.camraagm.org.uk June 21-22 17th SOUTH DOWNS BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL, Lewes Apr 19-21 Beer Tent Event, St George’s Day Beer Festival, George & Dragon, Town Hall, www.brightoncamra.org.uk

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 27 28 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Western Sussex Presents estern Sussex Branch Chair, Philip Wildsmith, was busy WESTERN SUSSEX W making presentations to brewer- PRESENTS … ies following the branch’s 23rd Yapton Beerex, last May. Eleven members in total Eleven (yes, really!) members then visited visited Surrey Hills Brewery, Dorking, on the nearby Langham Brewery, Lodsworth, 18 August to on 17 Novem- see Philip ber to make the (pictured right) other joint present a cer- award for the tificate for the inaugural Lo- Inaugural Lo- cAle of the Fes- cAle of the tival, for Flor- Festival award Ale (3.8%). for Greensand IPA (The award was won Lesley Foulkes is pictured receiving the jointly with Langham Brewery). certificate from Philip. Our back page for this issue advertises the 24th Yapton On 22 September, eleven (again) members Beerex, due to be held from 17-19 May at visited Brodie’s Brewery at the King Wil- the usual venue of Yapton & Ford Village liam the Fourth, Leyton, London E10, for Hall. Which breweries will the Western the presentation Sussex branch be visiting to present their of the certifi- awards this year, we wonder? cate for the Beer of the Festival award for Citra (3.2%) to James Brodie (pictured in orange). James and Lizzie, sibling brewer and brewster, then conducted a tour of the brewery. The visit was arranged by Brew- ery Liaison Officer Marion Robbens of the East London & City branch (ELAC). Marion and other members of ELAC then took the Sussex contingent on a tour of East London Brewing Co and London Fields Brewery - two of the new wave of breweries springing up in and around Hackney, in the East End of London. This was followed by a tour of some of the best pubs in the area. Western Sussex branch are looking for an opportunity to recipro- cate the kind help of Marion and the ELAC by arranging for them to tour some local Sussex breweries sometime in the New Year.

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 29 Spotlight on Breweries

Kings Festive Princely Beer WJ King brings back the taste of a bygone Harveys Prince of Denmark, a strong, dark era with the launch of beer of great Kings Festive. The inspi- complexity and ration came from Festive depth, not only Ale that was originally won a Gold brewed by King & Barnes Medal but was to celebrate the Festival named ‘Supreme of Britain in 1951. Kings Champion’ at the Festive (4.7%) was made 2012 Interna- permanently available tional Beer Chal- from mid-November in pubs all across the lenge. The beer South East of England to be enjoyed once was previous again. Full-bodied with distinct vinous fruit winner of the flavours reminiscent of plump raisins and International currants, it is a deep red copper colour with Beer Challenge a fine creamy head. There is a deliciously Best Stout/Porter Trophy 2009, Gold rich, smooth mouthfeel and some great Medal 2009 and 2010. Harveys were the lacing on the glass. only British Brewery this time to receive three gold awards from the judging panel: Marketing Director Orla Lambe com- the two others were for Old Ale and Impe- mented: “the original Festive Ale is proba- rial Double Extra Stout. Head Brewer bly the beer most talked about when cus- Miles Jenner said: tomers visit our brewery when they remi- “This is a tremen- nisce about bygone days and I believe this dous achievement new Kings Festive will be a very welcome for our entire sight on the bar from loyal fans of WJ King workforce. Al- and equally a great beer for newcomers to though we look no the ale market.” Ian Burgess, Head Brewer further than satisfy- said that “this classic English premium ale ing our local mar- with mild-tempered bitterness uses only the ket, it is good to finest of local hops and malt. We are very know that we can compete on an interna- pleased with this result of a retake on an tional stage.” old favourite.”

30 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Spotlight on Breweries

Star News is a great county to be based in. I grew up Dark Star was unable to make it to the Na- loving the beers from Harveys and King & tional Champion Beer of Britain awards Barnes, who set the standard for quality lunch in Burton-on-Trent so the certificates throughout the whole county. Our recent were finally presented to them on Saturday expansion will mean that we can start to consider supplying more customers throughout the south east without losing touch with our long standing regulars, some of which have been with us ever since our early days of producing a barrel or two out of the cellar of the Evening Star pub, Brighton. It was a hobby then and it remains so now - just a rather bigger train set!” 2013 looks like being a busy year for the brewery as along with increased capacity, 15 December by Regional Director Chris they will be continuing their close relation- Stringer. Chris, pictured in bright blue, has ship with cyclists through their Spin Up in with him, from left to right, Head Brewer a Brewery on 25 May, while Hopfest, a Mark Tranter, Chairman Peter Halliday and celebration of beer, music and fun returns Director Rob Jones. APA won gold in the on 27-29 September. Golden Ales category, Festival gold in the Strong Bitters category while APA also took bronze in the final Supreme Champion judging. The presentation picture in the winter issue was for the awards made at the London & South East Regional stage of the judging. To cope with the increasing demand for its

wide range of beers Dark Star has in- creased its brewing capacity by 50%. Dark Star MD, Paul Reed (pictured) said, “It’s a great time to be a craft brewer and Sussex

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 31 32 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Ballard’s Beer Walk charity walk is held annu- BALLARD’S BEER A ally on the WALK first Sunday of Decem- ber from Ballard’s Thanks to an early morning frost the Brewery, Nyewood, to ‘going’ across the launch the new beer in fields was firm on the ‘Old Bounder’ the surface and series. This year we certainly far better were blessed with fine weather - blue skies, than if the walk sunny and warm (for December!). A multi- had taken place a tude, a throng – well, hundreds – assem- week earlier. All bled in the brew- the pubs on the route had made a special ery yard to sample effort to make the walkers welcome and this year’s ‘Old some cracking ales were sampled. Follow- Bounder’ - In the ing the walk Drink, at 7.4% a proper those on complex and very the Western fine winter ale. I Sussex coach am not alone in thinking that the enforced repaired to the reduction in ABV (to avoid the punitive White Horse, duty on beers above 7.5%) has led to an Rogate, for improvement in the ‘Old Bounder’. Previ- some Harveys Christmas Ale and thence to ous beers in the series really needed laying- the Coach & Horses, Compton, for ‘one-for down for a long time before reaching ma- -the-road’. Arun & Adur branch also sent a turity and were, in consequence, too young mini-bus, as did when launched. Chichester Hockey Club (They We were treated to a play put on by The claimed it was a Prize Old Mummers fire engine but it (www.prizeoldmummers.weebly.com) in had Selsey Com- which, I am munity Bus embla- happy to report, zoned along the side!) St George again triumphed over This year’s charity is the Huntingdon’s a Dragon, a Disease Association, Sussex Branch, and Frenchman and judging by the efforts being made by the the Devil as- drinkers at the brewery they should receive sisted by the Doctor and a comely wench of a very respectable sum! Grateful thanks to uncertain age and VERY uncertain virtue! Pete Brown and Chris Bleach for the pho- They were followed by a trio of Bagpipe tos. players (research among the audience Cheers! failed to agree on an appropriate collective noun!) (Ed’s note – I believe a small num- Philip Wildsmith ber is a Poverty of Pipers, more being a Western Sussex Branch Chair Skirl or March).

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 33 Obituary It is with regret that the North Sussex branch learned of the death on New Year’s Day of Janet Reynolds, licensee and owner of The Frog & Nightgown, Faygate, near Horsham. The pub was originally the Royal Oak where there was only a licence to sell bottled beer (King & Barnes) from what was the front par- lour. This was frequented by walkers and cy- clists. The pub was bought by Jim Reynolds, an ex-Bomber Pilot twice awarded the Distin- guished Flying Cross. Jim renamed the pub the Frog and Nightgown and installed three hand pumps. He died in March 2012 but the pub Local ales, guest ales (four in total). remained a local icon with the atmosphere of Good selection of single malt whisky drinking in the front parlour retained. It was possible to play vinyl records on a turntable in and locally sourced produce for our the bar. It attracted a very loyal and local clien- extensive menu tele who donated funds to replace the pub sign. Food midday-9pm every day At the time of writing North Sussex do not Free WIFI spot. Surf the web while know what will be the future of the Frog & having a drink. Nightgown. We very much hope that it will continue as a pub with a unique character. 45 High Street, Arundel, BN18 9AG

Allen Bartram Tel 01903 882214 North Sussex Branch Chair www.redlionarundel.com

34 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Nostalgic Memories

Dear Editor John Keller’s article in the winter issue about the Red Lion, Turners Hill, and the birth of CAMRA in Sussex, stirred some nostalgic memories of my own. I joined CAMRA in 1974 and, as I then lived in Worthing, my nearest branch was Midhurst. They met monthly on Sunday lunchtime and their Chairman was an amia- ble fellow called David Carmichael who worked in the Patent Office in London. An- other regular attendee was Frank Ballie who had then recently published The Beer Drinker’s Companion, a very useful refer- ence work in the early days of the Cam- paign. The meetings were nearly always held in a Gale’s or a King & Barnes pub and so there was little need to ensure much active cam- paigning in that area. This and the fact than a sizeable number of attendees worked for BT in Brighton, a real ale desert at the time, meant it was felt a new branch should be set up to meet the needs of members in and around Worthing and Brighton. A sounding meeting was held in the Shades Bar of the Royal Pavilion Hotel, chosen as one of the few places that sold real ale (Bass) in Brighton. Over a hundred mem- bers turned up, as a result of which the Brighton & South Downs Branch was formed. A recent visit to the city left me amazed at how far real ale has come since those days, not only in the variety of brew- eries represented but the range of places to sample them. It is always a great day out for us out-of-towners. Best wishes Ian Mihell ….flowing only at East Dorset Branch THE BULL’S HEAD Ed’s footnote: I am grateful to Alison Saville for the Brighton and South Downs @ Boreham Street BN27 4SG Branch bulletin from 1977 that made such a fitting accompaniment to this letter. from February 16th

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 35 Inn Focus

n their home town of Lewes, Harveys Rights of Man I have opened their latest pub, Rights of Man. Named after the 1791 work by one-time Lewes resident Tom Paine, in which he re- sponded to his friend Edmund Burke’s attack on the French to sit if and when we get any decent Revolution, it currently consists of the front weather. Access to the roof garden is via bar (that is, the one opening onto the High the staircase in the front bar. It was ex- Street) of the pub previously named Lin- pected that the ‘second’ pub would open colns Bar but much better known in its mid-2013; both of the new pubs will also original guise as the Rainbow. share a common kitchen. Miles Jenner of Harveys said it was nice to Rights of Man, 179 High Street, Lewes, once more have a presence in the High Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1YE: tel. 01273 Street of Lewes, as the last Harveys’ pub to 486894. operate there was the Unicorn, situated Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, adjacent to the White Hart Hotel and closed 12noon - 11pm. Closed Sundays as we go around 1910. Mr Jenner also said that, by to press but this may change, so please en- coincidence, the wooden panelling and quire. screens in the Rights of Man were a reflec- tion of the décor of the pub when he and Paul Free and Jack Wilkinson his father, Tony Jenner, would have lunch Brighton & South Downs Branch there in the 1960s. The look of the new pub is very much down to Hamish Elder, Joint 2012 MD and Chairman, and Geoff Denne, Tied The following are changes to the composite Estate Manager. 2012 list published in the previous issue: Although it will share the same name, the Additions - Alfriston: Star Inn; Bells Yew Green: Brecknock Arms; Eastbourne: Bucca- rear bar of the building will be a separate neer; East Wittering: Shore Inn; Horsham: pub with its own character and the only Lynd Cross; Pevensey: Smugglers; Rye: Ypres entrance to this separate Castle: Shoreham-By-Sea: Royal Sovereign; pub would be via an en- St Leonards-On-Sea: Horse & Groom; St Leo- nard; Wilmington: Giant’s Rest. trance from Pope’s Pas- Deletion - St Leonards-On-Sea: Silverhill Tav- sage, which links the High ern (closed) Street and Castle Ditch LocAle - the local branch initiative that became Lane. It will, however, be a national campaign – has its own symbol in the possible to have access GBG 2013. Ask your local publican to source from the back to the front any of the superb range of beers available because, at first at least, within 30 miles of their pub from the Sussex breweries listed in Bru News. Pubs closer to the there will be only one set of toilets! There Sussex border will naturally be able to source is also a roof terrace, which will be laid beers from any of the qualifying breweries in with Astroturf to provide a pleasant place east Hants, south Surrey or west Kent as ap- propriate to gain LocAle accreditation.

36 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 37 38 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013

Wilkes Head, Eastergate is Surrey & Sussex Regional Pub of the Year ur winter throng and not only put on a wonderful issue fea- selection of beers for all to try but also O tured the provided a very welcome hot buffet for CAMRA Sussex Pub the occasion. Heartiest congratulations to of the Year award one of the sixteen premier pubs in the made to the Wilkes country! Head, Eastergate. This superb village local has also been voted 2012 Surrey & Sussex Regional POTY; and so it was that on Saturday 24 November over thirty members attended the regional award presentation made by Chris Stringer, Re- gional Director (pictured far left) to land- lord Trevor Brown and his staff. Trevor opened an hour early to cope with the

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 39 History and Heritage Editor’s Introduction I was contacted by Lewis Whitby, a Brigh- LOST PUBS OF ton & South Downs branch member, who had rediscovered some old photos of eleven SOUTHWICK Southwick Pubs that had since been demol- ished. They were given to Lewis by a friend some years ago and he obtained them from his brother-in-law Ted Heas- man, a reputable local historian and collec- tor of old photos. Lewis would like to share the memories rekindled by this find with all Sussex Drinker readers, particularly those too young perhaps to remember these pubs, while the photos may also provide some nostalgia for the not-so-young readers who may well remember them (or at least some of them – like Lewis). The approximate position of each pub is located on a repro- duced section of a 1962 map of the area - a time when some, or the ruins of some were still standing. All photos were provided by Ted Heasman, as were the descriptions, with inserts on the breweries by the editor and grateful acknowledgement to Loz As- lett whose own two-part series ‘The Pubs of Southwick Past and Present’ appeared in Sussex Drinker, issues 12 and 13, in 1998. ish the whole of the north side and most of Southwick Reconstruction the south side of Albion Street, together Southwick is situated on the South Coast of with some of the side streets. Construction West Sussex between Hove and Shoreham- of the new Southwick Square shopping by-Sea. Separated from the seafront by a centre began in 1961 and many Albion canal and a foreshore strip of land, access Street businesses were transferred to the to the beach, canal and locks of the Port of Square when it was finally completed in Shoreham is via slip roads off Albion 1963. Albion Street (A259) was never wid- Street (A259). Most of the lost pubs fea- ened as planned; the Upper Brighton Road tured here were south of the railway line (A27) was widened instead. The Schooner along Albion Street or in the adjoining side was the only pub to survive the early-1960s roads, and had names reflecting South- Albion Street mass demolition and the Pilot wick’s association with shipbuilding, sea- was the only one built - in 1970 in Station faring and the railway. As part of the pro- Road - to replace all those that were lost. posed post-war redevelopment of South- The Lost Pubs wick it was decided to widen the A259 into a dual carriageway and in 1958 a compul- 1. We start with the most northerly pub, the sory purchase order was obtained to demol- Windmill Inn. Our photo shows the origi-

40 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 History and Heritage nal pub of this name on the north side of Inn at 1 Adur Terrace was near the Mission the Old to Seamen, Shore- between ham Grange Road. It Road and was built Kingston c. 1860, Lane. Built last li- c. 1860, it censed in was ac- 1935 and demolished in the early 1970s quired in 1899 by Tamplins from the West after use as a fish shop. Following road- Street Brewery, Brighton. Our photo shows widening, the second pub was built in 1937 it with a 1930s tiled frontage to the ground by the Kemp Town Brewery at 180 Old floor and entrances to a Saloon Bar, Public Shoreham Road, now the A270, diagonally Bar and Bottle & Jug Department. The opposite the first pub and on the east side building may have survived until the early of the junction with Roman Road (bottom- 1970s but the rest of Adur Terrace was left in photo). This second pub was finally demolished the previous decade. demolished and replaced with residential 4. Moving eastwards, the Victory Inn development in 2010. stood at 80 2. Moving south-west on our map locates Albion the Cricketers Inn, 18 The Green. There Street, on have also the south been two side about pubs of thirty yards this name. west of The first Grange Road. Originally called the Anchor, was built it had been a Tamplins house since 1828. sometime The pub was not in the redevelopment area prior to but suffered structural damage soon after a 1855 at a site then adjacent to the Co-Op sewer trench was dug close by. The pub Dairy. Our photo shows the fascia advertis- foundations became unstable and cracks ing celebrated Rock Ales, which dates it to appeared in the walls and on the relief before 1927/8 when this Brighton brewery panel of the ship shown in the photo. After was acquired by Portsmouth and Brighton being closed for safety reasons, the pub United Breweries. Brickwoods had become stood propped-up and empty for several the owners by the time Cricketers was de- years before being demolished c. 1960. molished in 1963. The new pub opened a 5. The Railway Tavern was at 77 Albion year later, built further back from the road. Street, on the north side, adjacent to a ga- Its first landlord was Wally Pack, a middle- rage, between Grange Road and Lock weight boxing champion who displayed his Road. It was built in the early-Victorian trophies in a glass case next to the bar. period when the rail station ticket office 3. Our most westerly pub was at the eastern was on the western end of the platform and end of a long terrace of houses on the north could be accessed from the west side of the side of Albion Street. The Mariners Arms pub, which probably accounts for the hotel

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 41 History and Heritage accommodation the British Army’s Expeditionary Force to we see adver- Abyssinia, the pub was locally known as tised in our “Sally Potts”, after a long-serving landlady. photo. Owners It was built in 1868, acquired by Tamplins Abbey & Sons, from Kidd & Hotblack in 1926, but was a later the Kemp Watneys house when demolished in 1962. Town Brewery, 8. The Sea House stood at 97 Albion sold the pub in Street, on the north 1940 and the side between Lock property became Road and Station offices before Road. It was set back being demol- from the buildings on ished c. 1963. either side and had a 6. The Commercial Inn was at 81 Albion small forecourt with Street on a low brick wall. the north Built prior to 1855 it side at the was until 1870 called west cor- the Seahorse. When ner with demolished c. 1962 it Lock was a Brickwoods house. The last landlord Road. was Waldo Humphries, who later had pubs Built in in Portslade. the 1860s, it was owned by Tamplins from 9. The Shipwrights Arms was at 107 Al- 1896. Our photo shows the Saloon Bar bion Street, opposite the Town Hall. The along the Lock Road side and 1930s tiling Public Bar was accessed from Albion on the ground floor. The pub was part de- Street and the door to the Saloon Bar was molished between 1962 and 1964; the shell on Rock Road. Our photo shows it when it was finally demolished in 1970. also had a 7. The Sir Robert Napier was a beer corner house (no entrance wine or spirits and was license) at 2 advertis- Lock Road, ing Wor- near the junc- thington’s tion of Albion Pale and Street. It stood Strong Ales and Bass. It was a Kemp Town at the south end of the terrace that made up Brewery pub by the early 1930s and was the east side of Lock Road. Along that ele- demolished in 1962. vation was a north door to a Public Bar and 10. The Sawyers Arms at 20 Albion Street a south door to a Private Bar. Around the was on the south side within a parade of side was a Bottle & Jug Department and, shops, east of the lock approach road. It beyond that, the Saloon Bar (the arrow sign started life as a beer house, possibly in pointing to which can be seen in our 1859 and was later owned by the Rock photo). Although named after the leader of Brewery. It was two storeys at the front,

42 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 History and Heritage three at the back and had a single narrow acquired in 1892 by Tamplins from the bar. Behind Albion the pub was Brewery, a sawpit in Brighton. a ship- It was builder’s known as yard, which the Joiners probably Arms until accounts 1899, for the pub’s name. It closed as a pub in when the rail station ticket office was 1922 and in 1925 became a receiving office moved to the eastern end of the platform. for the Star Model Laundry. Our photo The Hotel was another casualty of the early shows it owned by Sussex Industrial -1960s demolitions. Chemicals before being demolished in the That concludes our look at these lost pubs. early 1960s. The current situation is that Southwick has 11. The Station Hotel was on the north four pubs open and trading – the Romans, east corner of Station Road. Its north side Cricketers, Ship and the Schooner – plus facing the railway arch had two doors, the real ale at the Pebbles Bar and Restaurant, easterly one for the Bottle & Jug Depart- but the Pilot is closed, empty and covered ment, the one close to the corner was the with Estate Agents boards. A planning ap- Public Bar, while the door on Station Road plication has been lodged to build flats on was to the Saloon Bar. Built c. 1877, it was the site.

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 43 Worthing Beer Festival

e knew things Worthing Beer W would be Festival 16 different this time, with Peter Thompson passing away, our We thought a fresh approach was needed Chairman Bruce Bird for the music on Saturday night, so instead in hospital and festi- of old fogey rock-cover bands, we went for val stalwarts Del local up- Sisson and Chris and- Jones recovering coming from serious operations, but we were not young allowed to dwell on any regrets. 2012 bands. This proved to be one of our most successful proved festivals, with over 1200 people piling very popu- through over the two days. The range of lar as they seventy-five beers and ciders was eagerly brought put away - the ciders embarrassingly disap- their friends along and the average age of peared around eight o’clock Saturday the audience considerably dropped. Some night! This was the first time our new of them even drank the beers! With the stillage system had been used at Worthing increase in consumers, staffing levels just and it was a great success: easy to put up about coped and so a big thank-you to all and dismantle and with no complaints (bar the volunteers who worked so hard to make one) regarding serving levels. the festival such a success. Friday night was once again charity night On the beer side of things, our featured and we managed to raise £776 for Wor- region was London, Essex and Hertford- thing Boys’ Club, including £26 for a Bog- shire, these beers proving to be very popu- garts t-shirt. Pictured are Worthing Festival lar with our more discerning drinkers. One staff, Ray and Debbi Pilkington (front-left) of the first beers to go, however, was the and my good self (right) presenting Nikki new, Sussex-brewed, Goldmarks Liquid Gold. Mark Lehmann, owner-brewer of Goldmarks, was working behind the bar on Friday night. Beer of the Festival was Crouch Vale Yakima Gold, followed by Redemption Big Chief and Kent Going for Gold. St Paul’s is proving to be a popular Worthing venue and we look forward to another successful festival on 18-19 Octo- ber 2013, when our featured region will be Cumbria. Roy Bond Worthing Beer Festival 16 Organiser Holdaway and boys with their cheque.

44 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Eastbourne Beer Festival

he 10th annual Eastbourne Beer Festival was held Eastbourne T from 4 to 6 October at the Beer Festival 10 superb venue of the town’s ele- gant Winter Garden. The overall The overall Beer of the Festival was Fyne attendance over the four sessions Ales Jarl. Sussex Microbrewery Beer of the dropped slightly in 2012 com- Festival (sponsored by Harveys of Lewes) pared to the previous year, from was Beachy Head The Famous Christmas 4532 to 4394. The consumption of 3.0 pints Ale. Beer of the Festival Sussex Exemption per head was similar, so there was a corre- (sponsored by H.T. White) was Thorn- spondingly slight drop in beer sales from bridge Jaipur IPA. Congratulations to all. A 86% to 84%. 159 dif- London & South East Region Champion ferent ales were on Beer of Britain heat was once again held at offer, of which 89 had the festival, this time for the beer style of not been found at the Dark Mild. It was pleasing to see a Sussex 2011 festival, which beer triumph when Harveys Dark Mild still left 70 old favour- finished a clear winner over five other en- ites for regulars to enjoy. The proportion of trants, all of which had been voted for by Sussex beers rose because the number of CAMRA members across the area. Sussex breweries had increased and many Peter Adams were producing a greater range. Several South East Sussex Branch Chair were among the fastest sellers.

LocAle Beer Festival Easter Weekend check website for details

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 45 46 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 CAMRA’s Mass Lobby of Parliament, 12 December 2012 s you may have heard, CAMRA is fighting hard to persuade the Gov- Save Your Pint! A ernment to abandon their Beer Duty Escalator which automatically, year dreadful loss of pubs, even though he per- by year, increases the duty on beer by 2% sonally is now teetotal (for medical rea- above the rate of inflation. This cruel and sons); but also iniquitous tax has since 2008 caused beer that he recog- duty to increase by 43% to the point where nises the need at least £1 from each £3 pint now goes to for the govern- the government. ment to raise revenue where In response to a call from the CAMRA it can. National Executive for members to talk to their MPs in a Mass Lobby on Wednesday CAMRA believes that the government (and 12 December, a the country) would be better off overall if small delegation the Escalator were to be scrapped, and Nick of Western Sus- agreed to study the background information sex Branch cited by CAMRA that supports this asser- members set out tion. for central Lon- After our meeting we returned to the don. We had nearby rally to hear rousing speeches by planned to arrive at the rallying point be- various personalities, including several tween 1 and 2pm but thanks to disruption MPs. The day on the railways, caused by ice on the third was declared a rail, at 2pm we were just pulling into Vic- success, with toria, well over an hour late! A dash to over 1,200 Westminster resulted in the arrival in the delegates trav- Central Lobby of the House of a sweaty elling from all wreck in no fit state to talk to anyone, but corners of Brit- at least I had made it in time for my ap- ain to lobby over 300 MPs and make it pointment with Nick Herbert MP, with a quite clear that the Beer Duty Escalator few minutes to spare. should be scrapped. Our evening, however, There were three of us to see Nick Herbert was not so successful – 5.15pm on a week- at 3pm, and we were made very welcome. day a fortnight before Christmas is a bad In the absence time to try to get into a central London pub, of a meeting and our attempts to find room in any of room space we several nearby completely failed. We ended were shown to up squeezing into a Wetherspoons near the House of Victoria. Never mind, the main objective of Commons café, the day had been achieved, and is it possi- which in sum- ble that 12/12/12 will go down in the his- mer months opens on to the riverside ter- tory of CAMRA as the day we turned the race. Having been supplied with coffee we tide? We can only keep our fingers crossed began a long and interesting exchange of on that. views with Nick, who said that he is en- Pete Brown tirely behind us in trying to stop the current Western Sussex Branch Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 47 48 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 The English Guys ack in September, Philip Wildsmith, Pete Brown and my good self, Dave The English Guys B Chapman, all of the Western Sussex We told her about the Sussex Drinker and Branch, and in the company of another said that if she sent us the cartoon, we would CAMRA friend from Bath, were engaged in a see if it could be included in a forthcoming serious ten-day beer tour of the American issue. By now, Em will be working in an East north-west. We were drinking IPAs in a Coast brewery and would be positively de- rather splendid little tap-house, the 16 Tons, lighted to receive a copy of the Sussex in Eugene, Oregon, when the knowledgeable Drinker featuring one of her cartoons; she young lady behind the bar, Emily ‘Em’ Sau- would also probably be able to provide a link ter, revealed in conversation that she was a to the magazine on her website. Ed’s note: I beer cartoonist. Em took a photo of us four am delighted to feature Em’s splendid car- English guys, with a view to using our ap- toon of our intrepid English guys. More beer proximate likenesses in a cartoon. cartoons by Em can be found at www.pintsandpanels.com Dave Chapman Western Sussex Branch

In Appreciation of Angus everal Arun & Adur Branch mem- bers recently attended an informal S gathering at the Snooty Fox - the bar at the Findon Manor Hotel - to present a certificate to long-serving licensee, An- gus Charlton, who was about to depart for pastures new, albeit not that far away. The certificate expressed the branch’s appreciation of Angus’s skills and efforts in ensuring that the beers on sale at the Snooty Fox had been of a consistently high enough standard to merit continuous Photo shows Angus (left) receiving entry in the GBG from 2003 through to his certificate from branch member 2013. Allan Moores.

Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 49

THE CROWN AT TURNERS HILL EAST STREET, TURNERS HILL RH10 4PT 01342 715218 www.thecrownturnershill.co.uk SPRING BEER FESTIVAL Fri 19th – Sun 28th APRIL 14 LOCAL REAL ALES

50 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 Sussex Drinker: Spring 2013 51