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THe MAGAZINe OF WeST CAMrA AU TUM N 2019 www.westberkscamra.org.uk @WBCAMRA @WBCAMRAcider @UllageBeer @WBCAMRA

Eight Outstanding Community Pubs

Nik Antona, CAMRA’s National Chairman said: ‘Pubs play a significant role in communities across the country, providing a space for local people to meet, helping to Sa tur day tackle loneliness, and having a positive 14th S ept emb er 2 019 impact on the personal wellbeing of NORTH CROFT F IELD S pub-goers.’ 12 n oon O NWARD S pubs rarely win CAMRA awards # but the efforts of Lisa and Louis Ludewig • LIV E MUSIC nr af 19 generated nominations that led to the West • DELICIOUS FOOD Berkshire CAMRA 2019 Community Pub of the Y • OV ER 100 BEERS & CIDERS BU OU R Year award for the Kings Head , Thatcham. • A GREAT LOCAL DA Y OUT Y TS ICKE Since arriving at the former coaching inn with T IN E ONL UE! its large beer garden in October 2018, they have THE QUE BEAT NEY! introduced Scooter meets, Race Nights and a Tug SAVE MO of War contest for charities and held live music, disco and karaoke nights.   See the Kings Head profile on page 7 for more www .ne wbu ryrealale .co.uk /Ne wbu ryRe alAleFe stiv al /Ne wbu ryAleFe st /Ne wbu ryAleFe st details and photos of the sports orientated pub which has teams in local darts and pool leagues. Lisa & Louis - Kings Head, Thatcham This year’s contest restricted nominations to CAMRA and the Three Horseshoes , . Champions 2019: previously unrecognised pubs. However, plenty of Located in Newbury, two of the joint winners West Berkshire Brewery Maggs’ worthy nominations were still received for of the 2018 award, the Cow & Cask micropub and previous winners: The Cottage Inn , Upper Magnificent Mild - Bronze (Mild) - the Old Apprentice , see page 2 were also ineligible this year. CAMRA Central Southern area Qualifying pubs nominated Pub of the Year - The Bell Inn , for the 2019 award included: the Club of the Year - The Club Lamb Inn , Newbury, with darts, pool and crib teams and host of Newbury Jazz Platform; the Rowbarge , , visited by Mikron Theatre Co and the Old Boot Inn , where Andre and Rebecca have organised Kids parties, monthly over 60’s grea t reaso ns Friendship lunches with 10 to jo in CAMRA entertainment and evenings of CAMP AIGN Bec ome a music and sing-alongs. 1 for gr ea t beer , cider and perry 2 BEER EXPERT

Enjo y CAMRA BEER FES TIV ALS GET INV OL VED 3 4 and mak e ne w friends in fr ont of or behind the bar Find the ON OTHER PAGES Save BES T PUBS Swift Halves - Pub, brewery & cider news 2-4 5 YOUR L OC AL 6 IN BRIT AIN Get gr ea t Locale (West of A34) 3 VAL UE FOR DISC OVER 7 8 pub heritage and the Beer & Cider Festivals 4-5 MONEY gr ea t out doors Enjo y gr ea t Cholsey to Woolhampton hike 6 HEAL TH BENEFIT S HA VE YOUR SAY 9 (r eally!) 10 Pub Profile: Kings Head, Thatcham 7 Winchester to Canterbury Tales 8 Wha t’ s y ours? Cask ale in Brussels, WhatPub, Gig Guide 9 Disc over y our r eason CAMRA Books & Membership 10 and join the campaign t oda y: www.camr a. or g.uk /10r easons Boak & Bailey, Curmudgeon columns 11 W Berks & Berks SE CAMRA branches visit Diary Dates, CAMRA Contacts & Festivals 12 Two Cocks Brewery, - 15/6/2019 See page 10 for Membership form

Ullage September - November 2019 1 Swift Halves ■ Since leaving his brewing job at West Berkshire

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Brewery in December, Tom Broadbank has y w t established Delphic Brewing Co in Thatcham. e h C Used brewing n o s i equipment was l A

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sourced from o t o upscaling breweries h White Hart, P and a new conical fermenter was ■ On Saturday 27 July, Branch Chairman Andy ■ In July, West Berkshire Brewery Head Brewer imported from Pinkard led a CAMRA #SummerOfPub ale Will Twomey and Marketing Manager Clare China. amble from the Hatchet Inn, Newbury to the Candy posed with CAMRA London & South East Tom is grateful Dundas Arms, mainly via the canal Area Champion Beer of Britain 2018 Gold for advice on setting towpath and footpaths. There were stops for beer category awards for Maggs’ Magnificent Mild and up from Kevin Brady at the Craven Arms, Enborne and the White Hart, Good Old Boy (Bitter) in front of ‘Dave’ the (Indigenous Hamstead Marshall. More photos from the day Bedford van converted into a mobile bar. Brewery) and the are in the Branch News section of In August, ‘Dave’ brewery now has all westberkscamra.org.uk was parked the other the relevant licences. way round inside The Wheatsheaf Inn, Thatcham will stock a beer Olympia during the from Delphic permanently and a second Great British Beer handpump will sometimes feature a different Festival. Matt was kept Delphic beer. busy inside providing Follow brewery developments on Facebook, service with a smile. Twitter and Instagram (@delphicbrew) Maggs’ Mild went on ■ The Saviour Brewery is at the to win Bronze in ■ Meet up with West Berks CAMRA on White Hart, Hamstead Marshall CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain 2019 (Mild Saturday 16 November (12.30) at the and the Saviour Pennies beer category). Wheatsheaf Inn for a Thatcham ale trail that club usually meets there quarterly The West Berkshire seasonal will include the White Hart and presentation on the first Tuesday of the month. cask ales are No Worries of the Community Pub award to the Kings On Tuesday 1 October , Stella and the Team followed by Dr Hexter’s Healer Head . If Tom Broadbank is free he may join us have organised an extra ‘Big Bash’ from 6pm to in October. No Worries, 3.6% at the Wheatsheaf or allow a visit to Delphic 9pm. This free evening is open to all to meet ABV Australian Pale Ale, is Brewing Co during the afternoon. brewer John Trueman and beer club members brewed with Australian hops to and sample two free casks of Saviour ales while give citrusy and tropical flavours coupled with an Wheatsheaf Inn, Thatcham local musicians the Cover Brothers perform. earthy herbaceousness. Local historian Sue Ellis will also talk about the No longer available all year history of the White Hart Inn, beer and round, Dr Hexter’s Healer is alehouses. saviourwhitehart.co.uk returning for the autumn season. Welcome back to the 5% ABV, well hopped robust ■ The Loungers cafe bar chain was founded in amber ale packed with rich 2002 by three friends in Bedminster, . flavours and marmalade zestiness! There are now over 100 lounges in the UK ■ Brakspear Gravity is the new including Alto Lounge, Caversham and Cobrizo name for Brakspear Bitter Lounge , 12 Northbrook Street, Newbury, which brewed by Marston’s at the opens on 11 September. The international beer

Wychwood Brewery in Witney range includes draught Bath Ales Dark Side stout. m o c using the ‘double drop’ www.thelounges.co.uk . o t o fermentation vessels from the h p h l original Henley brewery. ■ After four years running the Lion in Newbury, i h p .

Kirsty will leave on 9 October. Heather and w w w

■ CAMRA member Chris Reynolds is also quizmaster Kieran will stay on at the Wadworth's : o t

Membership Secretary of West Berks pub but will surely miss Kirsty. o h Ramblers . On Tuesday 29 October at 10am, he P will lead a leisurely 6 mile circular walk from ■ Having run the freehouse in World’s End for The beer garden with rural views is now open via Common seven years, on 20 August, Paul and Tracey outside the West Berkshire Brewery Taproom and and followed by a pub thanked customers and wrote on Kitchen at . See the back page lunch. Meet at car park opposite the Horse & @TheCoachBeedon Facebook page ‘It’s with advertisement for revised opening times. Groom RG7 3RD. heavy hearts that we will be leaving The Coach in Planning permission was also granted for two Contact Chris on 07979 804637 to join this or the coming weeks …’ . separate parking areas for customers and staff. another trial ramble. Tickets for Oktoberwest at the Taproom on 28 www.wberksramblers.org.uk ■ Arkell’s Big Hit returns September sold out well in advance. Over 150 as a seasonal beer for the people (27 teams) attended Ed and Paj’s monthly ■ The newburypubwalks.org.uk website, autumn. The 4.2% ABV quiz night at the Taproom on 31 July. Tickets for updated in June 2019, offers around 50 circular well hopped IPA is dark the quiz on the last Wednesday of the month and walks of 3 - 5 miles from pubs near Newbury amber in colour with brewery tours on 7 September, 5 October and 9 and nine linear walks from pubs on the Kennet citrus and caramel November can be booked by phone 01635 767090 & Avon canal. flavours. or via the online shop. www.wbbrew.com

2 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire ■ New beers from Loddon Brewery ■ Cask Ale Week (19-29 to look out for are: Dragon Quad, September) is organised 4.4% ABV, a session IPA by Cask Marque. Visit quadruple-hopped with Dragon hop caskaleweek.co.uk from Slovenia and Bring the Rain, to get involved and find 4.5% ABV, a New Zealand Pale, details of events and packed with Motueka and competitions. ■ The (previously Wai-iti hops. the Swan Inn), is due to reopen with a new look after a major ■ Quiz dates at the Cow & Cask micropub, Newbury, refurbishment. The large site is are Wednesday 18 September, 16 October and 20 easily reached by the A338 from November. Home Crib league matches will resume Hungerford to Wantage or the road from on Tuesdays from late September. Newbury to , served by Kennections 4 There are now 38 LocAle pubs in our branch bus service. ■ Food from Colline’s Kitchen is now available at serving beer from breweries within 25 miles. The six handpumps for cask ales are fed by the Globe , 148 Bartholomew Street, Newbury. [email protected] new lines from the cellar using a separate route There is a weekly quiz on Sundays at 7pm. See also the LocAle Pubs page on from chilled drink lines. New garden furniture www.westberkscamra.org.uk y

and planting overlook the river Lambourn. l l e

K LocAle Pubs - WEST of A34

Joshua Khan, proprietor of the King Charles e v e

Tavern, Newbury has appointed Georgiana from t The Bell at Boxford Boxford S

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his second pub, the Broad Face, Abingdon as o

t The Blackbird o

General Manager of his third pub. He can also h P The Downgate Hungerford rely on Kevin as chef at the Great Shefford. ■ The Wild Weather Ales brewery shop opening The Eastbury Plough Eastbury hours are amended from those shown in The Five Bells Wickham advertisement below to Mon-Fri 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-2pm. The Fox at Peasemore The shop offers a growler filling service with The John O’Gaunt Inn Hungerford canned beers and merchandise for sale. The Red House Head Brewer JD has recently brewed the UK’s The Tally Ho! first 11% ABV Spruce Tip DIPA. The Weather Station , formerly the Eldon The Three Swans Hotel Hungerford Arms, Reading, is due to open in mid September with 23 taps and 3 hand pumps for a variety of Locally Brewed Real Ale Georgiana, Joshua & Kevin (at Broad face) Wild Weather and guest beers.

Ullage September - November 2019 3 Beer & Cider Festivals

Winners announced at the Great British Beer Festival Supreme Champion Gold – Shere Drop (Best Bitter) Surrey Hills Brewery ■ From Berkshire, Butts Brewery ’s Wild Mild and (Dorking) Binghams Brewery ’s award winning Vanilla Stout ■ On 3 August, Ullage editor, Tim Thomas, were served at the Great British Beer Festival and presented Nick Hex with a CAMRA certificate to Silver – Afghan IPA (Strong Bitter) Grey Trees Brewery (Aberdare, S Wales) both will be available at Newbury Real Ale Festival . thank Nick and Maggie for almost 30 years of Bronze – Citra (Golden) service to the community at the Old Chequers, Oakham Ales (Peterborough) ■ The Catherine Wheel , Newbury is holding a Thatcham and the Castle Inn , . On Other category winners beer festival 5 - 8 September and a ticketed party 5 August a post from them on the pub’s Facebook Ay Up Gold – (Bitter) - Dancing Duck Brewery when the pub reopens after closing for Newbury page thanked customers for their ‘amazing Vanilla Stout (Speciality) - Binghams Real Ale Festival on 14 September. There will be generosity’ on Sunday’s final lunchtime of trading. Brewery Gravediggers (Mild) - Church End extra beers on stillage throughout the Rugby The Castle Inn reopened on 9 August and is now Brewery World Cup (20 Sep - 2 Nov) and for the run by Nathan and Kirsty. The traditional meat Bronze – Maggs’ Magnificent Mild – Halloween beer festival (31 Oct - 2 Nov). raffle, with a draw on Friday evenings, is continuing. West Berkshire Brewery ■ Thanks to Newbury & ■ The Old London Apprentice , Newbury, hosts ■ Andy Parker brewed and supplied Elusive Thatcham Hockey Club for Colin’s music quiz on Tuesday 10 September, 8 Brewing cask and keykeg beers for the Great organising Newbury Real October and 12 November. There’s a comedy British Beer Festival (GBBF). Ale Festival at Northcroft night on Saturday 5 October and Northern Soul The brewery tap yard Fields on Saturday 14 nights with Gilo on Saturday 7 September and 23 (opposite Siren Craft Brew September . Visit the West November. See the Gig guide on page 9 for live tap yard) at Hogwood Berkshire CAMRA stand for information about music events at the OLA. Industrial Estate, beer, cider and pubs. New members joining on A range of Pukka Pies from Leicestershire will Finchampstead is due to open the day get tokens for two free pints. All be on the menu from mid September. on Fridays 14:00 - 18:00 and members can enter a free raffle to win Saturdays 12:00 - 20:00 from CAMRA’s 2020 Good Beer Guide. Get more ■ The Highclere Red House now offers takeaway late September. details and discounted tickets in advance via thin crust pizzas on Tuesday - Friday from 5pm www.elusivebrewing.com www.newburyrealale.co.uk and Saturday from noon with eat-in every ■ Binghams Brewery Wednesday night. The Hampshire bar has opened Vanilla Stout was the ■ The beers from with additional keg beers and lagers from Speciality category Hermitage Brewery Brooklyn, Italy and Sweden to complement real winner at the GBBF. at Newbury Real Ale ales and ciders from the original bar - typically The brewery tap yard at Festival are Wellhouse Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker, Ramsbury Gold and Ruscombe Business Park IPA, Harvest Time, Tutts Clump Traditional Farmhouse Cider. The near Twyford is open on Ambling Home and a bottled beer range includes non-alcoholic lagers. Saturdays 11.30 - 16.30 new one - Date with Destiny. The latter is a www.thehighclereredhouse.com until 28 September and smooth bitter with hints of the exotic from the during December. date syrup added at the end of the boil. It will also binghams.co.uk be available in bottles subsequently from local outlets including Inn at Home, Newbury.

■ Local ciders at Newbury Real Ale Festival include: Green Shed (Wheel Cider, Just Dry & Big Tony), Ciderniks (Combe Raider & Kingston Black), Pang Valley (Berkshire ■ Jeff Evans (on left in photo above) presented a Gold) and Tutts Clump (Reading Gold & Summer Beers event at Inn at Home , Newbury Farmhouse Perry). on 12 July. As it was the shop’s fourth anniversary, Tutts Clump Applejack ice proprietor David Marklew kindly offered the cider uses the fractional freezing group a bonus Saison beer. method to increase the flavour and Future events at Inn at Home include: alcohol content to 19.5% ABV. 6 September: Tutts Clump - Cider & Cheese; Higher rates of duty make it more 13 September: Siren Craft Brew; expensive than traditional cider. tbc: German Beers. www.innathome.co.uk Tim Wale suggests enjoying it as an aperitif like a Brandy. Available ■ The Summer Fox Fest a t the Fox Inn , in screw top bottles from Inn at Hermitage, 6 - 8 September, features real ale, live Home, Newbury. music and a BBQ. www.hermitage-fox.co.uk Tim accepts any surplus apples for Tutts Clump Cider at Travellers Rest Farm, ■ The Wetherspoon autumn real ale festival runs Hungerford Lane, near Stanford Dingley (RG7 from 9 - 20 October in over 800 pubs, including 6JH). Quantities of 25kg and over can be the Hatchet Inn , Newbury. exchanged for cider or apple juice.

4 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire ■ Choko beer festival at Laurence Hall, Cholsey OX10 9PP on ES S TA ER B Saturday 28 September raises funds for African community C V LIS LIE IN H projects and local charities. Live music and over 30 ales and N G ED TS OV 2 N E 00 ciders. Discount for advance tickets. A R 6 TI 1,5 ON 0 www.chokobeerfestival.org.uk W 0 I DE ■ Burghfest charity beer and music festival is held at the Recreation Ground, Common RG7 3EN on 27-28 September with a family funfair and over 40 local ales and PUBLICANS AND B AR ciders. Free admission. www.burghfest.uk MANA GERS, TR Y OUR FULL Y MANA GED ■ A CAMRA discount of over 40% is available for the Ascot Beer Festival REGULAR BEER LINE CLEANING F held in the grandstand of the Queen Anne Enclosure for the racecourse’s REE IN SERVICE ITIAL autumn racing weekend on 4-5 October. Book in advance at ascot.co.uk and CLEAN N quote CAMRA2019. Meet up with Alison Chetwynd and West Berkshire O COM MITME CAMRA members on Friday 4 October at 1pm just past the end of the main NO CO NT NTRA beer serving area (near bar with brewery names T – Z). CT

■ From 11-13 October, Hampshire OctoberFest organised by Destination Basingstoke features food, drinks and live music. Discount for advance tickets. Free admission for CAMRA the 22nd SEVER AL OF OUR CUST OMERS ARE members with card. OXFORD FEA TURED IN THE Meet up with Alison Chetwynd and BEER & CIDER 2019 CAMR A WBCAMRA members on Saturday 12 FESTIVAL 2019 GOOD BEER GUIDE October at the entrance to the Hampshire Hog tent at 1pm. CONT ACT SIMON GRIST TOD AY ■ From 24-26 October, CAMRA 170 real ales FOR Y OUR 130 Thursday and Friday, 40 new, different ales for Saturday festivals at Swindon and Oxford 50 ciders and perries FREE FIRST CLEAN Thursday 24 October 17.00-2 3.00 compete for customers. Both locations Friday 25 October 11.00-2 3.00 Saturday 26 October 11.00-2 2.30 MOB: 07817 950853 (Swindon Steam Railway Museum and Oxford Town Hall OFFICE: 0118 954 0568 Oxford Town Hall) are within walking St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1BX EMAIL: SIMONGRIST CLEARBREW .CO .UK distance of a station. See back page for oxfordbeerfestival.camra.org.uk @oxfordbeerfestival2019 @oxford_beerfest WEB: WWW .CLEARBREW .CO .UK more details. THE OLD LONDON APPRENTICE COTTAGE INN UPPER BUCKLEBURY

We pride ourselves on being a traditional community pub where there’s always a warm welcome from Ken & Caroline

Bingo - :ursday Live bands - Saturday A West Berkshire CAMRA Community Pub Karaoke - Sunday of the Year: 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 & 2018 Families welcome - Outdoor Play Zone Private parties and bu;ets catered for + Paddock with hens, goats & rabbits Private function room for hire Great circular walks from the pub to the Pang valley & Sunday lunches every other Sunday Lounge and separate bar with Sky Sports & BT Sport (check with pub for dates) 5ree Cask Ales including Good Old Boy Four real ales including Harvey’s Sussex Best, Tue-Fri 12-3 & 5-11 Food 12-2 & 6-8.30 Fuller’s London Pride & Wadworth 6X Saturday 12 - late Food 12-2.30 & 6-8.30 CAMRA discount Sunday 12 - 8 Lunch 12 - 3

2 Hambridge Road, Newbury, RG14 5SS | Tel: 01635 41483 26 Broad Lane, Upper Bucklebury RG7 6Q 01635 864544 www.oldlondonapprentice.co.uk www.thecottageinnupperbucklebury.co.uk

Ullage September - November 2019 5 Cholsey to Woolhampton Hike Alan Haselden NEWBURY’S FIRST MICRO PUB Following an early Saturday morning hospitality, the view out to the countryside breakfast meeting at Reading’s Hope Tap, five through the huge windows and the quiet classic friends / colleagues and I boarded the train rock music playing on the jukebox made it a for the short ride to Cholsey to begin another wonderful place to be. There were many other visitors too, including children happily playing, Cow & Cask epic cross-country ale hike over the Berkshire is available for 1 Inches Yard Downs and beyond. mostly in the garden area outside. private hire, and Market Street At mid- given enough notice Newbury afternoon, with we will try very hard RG14 5DP to have “Your breaking cloud and Favourite Micro increasing sunshine, we Brewery Ale” ventured through on the stillage. Although we Highwood Copse to are a “Micro Opening Hours Stanford Dingley for a Pub” we can Mon Closed Tue 5-9 brief stop at the Bull Squeeze, Jimmie, Wed 5-9 Inn. Low ceilings and Squash or Thu 12-2, 5-9 Shoehorn Fri 12-2, 5-10 solid oak beams testify 20-25 persons in Sat All Day 12-10 to the 15th century and make them Sun Closed comfortable. Discount Streatley Warren origin but the smart for CAMRA furniture, fittings We can also card holders In dry yet overcast conditions, we ventured provide a and signage tell of Tel: southwest towards the Ridgeway’s rolling chalk few seats!!! 07517 658071 hills by following sinewy footpaths through a more modern woodland and meadow arriving just short of and extensive noon at The Bell refurbishment. Inn, which greeted Customers can CAMRA Discounts us with its indelible choose from the Members enjoy discounts at centuries-old rustic smaller bar room CAMRA beer festivals, charm. A good to the left, the larger dining area to the right or the extensive Wetherspoon pubs couple of hours were (* with voucher) and pubs below: spent here relaxing rear garden. In addition to ‘Doom Bar’ on cask there was ‘Good Old Boy’ and the 3.7% session : with two successive Hind’s Head four-pint pitchers of bitter we enjoyed - ‘Mister Chubbs’. Brimpton: Indigenous’s 3.4% The final leg of our hike threaded lanes and Three Horseshoes ‘Baldrick’, a footpaths through and the grounds of Berkshire brewed dark mild with upfront hints of Douai Abbey and soon we reached Woolhampton Newbury: Catherine Wheel raisin and a moderate bitter finish. The four other for the canalside pub / restaurant, The Rowbarge, at around 7pm, whilst clouds gathered to dispense Cow & Cask cask ales served were West Berkshire’s 4% ‘Old Gun, Tyler’ and one each from Arkell’s, Loose Cannon Hatchet Inn* and Rebellion. In addition, there were two still King Charles Tavern ciders available from Berkshire’s Tutts Clump and Old London Apprentice four from Lilley’s. Further, we devoured up to a Woolhampton: dozen home-made bread rolls with choice fillings Rowbarge while locals and visitors continued to arrive and boost the hubbub. Although it seemed impossible to top such an experience, nonetheless we Rowbarge festival bar continued our hike from Aldworth towards the tranquillity of Green and its historic odd drops of cool light rain. The 29 cask ales for St Clement’s church. the pub’s Summer Festival were each served from Just beyond, in Yattendon, we called at West handpump and came courtesy of West Berkshire, Berkshire Brewery’s Taproom and fortunately the Three Castles, Timothy Taylor, Revolutions, brewery’s full core range of cask ale was available: Stamps, Milestone, Itchen Valley and Exeter ‘Good Old Boy’, breweries. Further, cider ‘Maharaja IPA’, ‘Mister makers Tutts Clump, Thirsty Chubbs’, ‘Mister Swift’ Farmer, Broadoak and Lilley’s and ‘Maggs Mild’. The provided the 16 different still abundant, lofty premises cider boxes. Between us we may be industrial-like, savoured Revolution’s 4.5% but our round of well porter ‘Clash’, Itchen Valley’s kept 3.4% ‘Maggs Mild’ 3.9% elderflower honey ale along with the staff’s ‘IVBEE’ and Exeter’s 5.1% chocolate stout ‘Darkness’ and found them wholly agreeable, but the team was divided concerning the live rock band bellowing out covers of old songs from bands like The Undertones and Ramones. Evidently the Rowbarge staff had worked hard putting on this festival and there were many cheerful customers both inside the pub and outside in the garden. Overall, it was a fantastic full day out in the Berkshire countryside!

6 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire Pub Profile #67 The Kings Head Thatcham The Kings Head claims to be the oldest pub in Thatcham and is located on the Broadway in the middle of town. It has recently had a complete refurbishment but still retains its air of easy welcome. Being the friendly centre of the community is something that landlady Lisa and her husband Louis, and children Connor and Ollie, strive for and achieve. Lisa, who took over the pub in October 2018, knows the pub of old as her parents spent many hours there when she was a child, so she knows all about the history of the Kings Head and the people who use it as their local, and being a local is exactly what this pub is all about. The Kings Head is open everyday and is regularly used through the week by local tradesmen after work, and by players in the darts and pool teams. On Friday evenings there is often live music. The weekends see more families using the pub especially in good weather when the large beer garden with its outside bar comes into its own. There is also a covered area in the garden with a large screen so you don’t have to choose between sitting in the garden or separate pool table room n

watching your favourite sport. to the rear. There are o t r u

Many fund raising events for Parkinson’s and plenty of seats with a mix B

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Cancer charities are held. These include Scooter of upholstered benches h o J

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Meets on the first Sunday in the month, a and wooden chairs. Two s o t

Garden Party, Tug of War and Darts contests and dart boards are featured, o h Wednesday Quiz nights. The pub’s regulars have one in the Public bar and P also got together to make a Naked Calendar that the other with the pool The Kings Head is to be sold for charity. table, which means that two matches can be 59 Broadway Last October, Thatcham Town Council played at the same time. Sports fans can find TV Thatcham recognised the Kings Head as being the place screens to watch the live action. RG19 3HP where, on 3rd August Two real ales are offered, Purity Mad Goose 1784, the first mail and West Berkshire Good Old Boy. Both beers Telephone: 01635 862145 coach changed have good turnover so nothing goes to waste. horses on the journey Lisa also offers cider and a selection of lagers, Facebook: @thenewkingsheadthatcham between Bristol and craft and keg beers. The Guinness Extra Cold, a London. There is a beer close to her heart, has been awarded a Opening hours blue plaque outside Quality Approved certificate for 2018-19. Monday - Saturday: 12 noon - 12 midnight to commemorate this Although no meals are available, there are bar Sunday: 12 noon - 11.30 pm date. More recently the pub was recognised by Ei snacks including pickled eggs. Group (Enterprise Inns) as a 2019 regional Alison Chetwynd winner for Best Sports Venue. The Kings Head has a Lounge and Public bar either side of the central serving area, there is also a cozy alcove towards the back and a

Above: Lounge bar Right: Public bar

Ullage September - November 2019 7 Winchester to Canterbury - The Snapper & The Scribbler’s Tale David Hatfull (the English country inn and it is easy to imagine Day 11 - Aylesford to Lenham: ‘There is a stop for Snapper) and Ronan Chaucer’s Pilgrims quaffing and quarrelling some liquid refreshment at the Dirty Habit , Hatfull (the within its confines. A relaxing garden with a Hollingbourne, a thirteenth century inn Scribbler) set off running brook beside it is complemented indoors frequented by pilgrims. This provides much from Newbury by a beautiful dining room, in which we enjoyed needed relief before the road ahead which is dry station on Monday 29 tapas and salmon the previous evening. The inn is and dusty.’ July with backpacks, run by South African couple Taz and Jay’. Day 12 – Lenham to Chilham: ‘Dr Ryan Perry camera equipment stops by for dinner and and sturdy walking drinks. He lives in Chilham and works at sticks. After a day in The University of Kent’s Winchester they School of English. Ryan would hike the 138 has agreed to be our miles of the Pilgrims’ Clerk and paints a vivid Way to Canterbury, in twelve stages, lodging picture of Geoffrey in several traditional inns on the way. Chaucer as a working Their intention was to make photographic and writer’. written portraits of contemporary examples of the ‘Eating and drinking in The Woolpack Inn , 29 pilgrims portrayed in 14th century English which houses some portraits of Chaucer’s poet Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales . Pilgrims, the writer has never felt closer.’ These excerpts from Ronan’s daily blog posts mention some inns worth visiting. ‘Chef Jay agrees to be photographed as our Day 1 - Winchester: ‘Walking into the Hyde representative of Chaucer’s Cook. He discusses the Tavern was like stepping back in time. This Egyptian influence behind much of his menu due traditional pub, which hosts regular open mics, to some of the chefs he has employed. Although he writing sessions and folk nights, has been a local is considerably more polite than the Cook (whose establishment since 1860, with original walls that lewd tale is cut short by the shocked Prioress and date back to the 16th century.’ the irate Host) he confesses that his tongue can become somewhat sharper in the kitchen! Our next stop is the bustling village of Shere.’ Day 9 - Limpsfield to Wrotham: ‘Today we passed the county boundary from Surrey into Kent. David,

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‘The landlady, Jan, greeted us and immediately until his family moved s o t began to tell us of the Tavern’s history. She has run to Stafford always feels a o h the pub for the last 11 years and gave us a tour of sense of being home when in Kent….’ P the downstairs music venue and nearby remains ‘The Bull , Wrotham, a 14th century inn, our Day 13 - Chilham to Canterbury: ‘We awake of Hyde Abbey, a building which once rivalled the lodgings for the night, has narrow staircases and in full awareness that this is our final day of Cathedral.’ quiet rooms. It also houses a formidable walking. It is a strange, melancholy feeling and we Day 6 - Albury to Box Hill: ‘The Drummond smokehouse and we dine upon fine pilgrims discuss the way time seems to have passed Arms in the centre of Albury is a quintessential cuisine with an American twist tonight!’ differently to normal during the past fortnight. By walking from inn to inn, time seems to have elapsed more slowly and peacefully.’ ‘We walk the final mile side by side, nearly two weeks since we departed Winchester. The sense of achievement really hits us now and it feels not unlike the day we entered central London three years ago for our 146 mile Shakespeare walk from YATTENDON Stratford-upon-Avon.’ Abeautiful,authenticcountrypubwithroomsoffering: ‘Tomorrow we will attend Sunday Service as Award winning real ales from Ramsbury brewery the final mark of our pilgrimage. The evening is a Stunning, Michelin rated, home cooked food grea t b eer s fr om Delicious Sunday roasts relaxed affair spent at one of Canterbury’s oldest oxf ord shire since 2 003 Amazing orangery and brand-new kitchen, pubs – The Parrot , which is mentioned in The opened Spring 2019 10 luxurious guest bedrooms Canterbury Tales. ’ Glorious walled beer garden Al fresco dining under leafy vine terrace Tucked away down a cobbled street, the 3roaringlogfires historic pub features medieval beams and oak 4privatediningroomsforupto70guests floorboards. There are up to six real ales at the bar. Accreditations include : ‘We are so thankful for all the kind people we Muddy Stilettos – Best Boutique Stay 2018 Alistair Sawday’s Special Places To Stay 2019 have encountered along the pilgrimage and to all The Michelin Guide 2019 those who agreed to be photographed as part of The AA Good Pub Guide 2019 Country & Town House - Great British & Irish Hotels 2019 this project. We will never forget this.’ Look out for a future exhibition of David and THE SQUARE, YATTENDON, BERKSHIRE RG18 0UG TELEPHONE: 01635 201 325 Ronan’s photographic and written portraits. visit u s online EMAIL: [email protected] loddonbre wer y.c om To view all the blog posts visit WWW.ROYALOAKYATTENDON.CO.UK thesnapperthescribbler.home.blog

8 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire Cask ale in Brussels Gig Guide Ace Space , St. Nicolas Road, Newbury. Tickets: Hogan Music, Newbury. www.acespace.org.uk WhatPub is the Go-to website on mobile 28 Sep - Kelly Oliver + Said the Maiden or desktop to find pubs, whether you are a 19 Oct - Charlie Dore with Julian Littman CAMRA member or not. 16 Nov - The August List + Loud Mountains WhatPub (whatpub.com) is also the portal Also Unplugged Open Mic on 1st Friday allowing members to submit beer scores for of month the pubs they visit using the National Beer Newbury Jazz Platform Scoring System (NBSS) as below. FB: @NewburyJazzPlatform 0. No cask ale available at The Lamb , Newbury 1. Poor. Beer that is anything from barely Jazz, featuring Gavin Wilkinson’s house band. drinkable to drinkable with considerable 3rd Wednesday of each month 7.30pm: resentment. 19 Sep, 17 Oct, 21 Nov 2. Average. Competently kept, drinkable pint Entry £2 but doesn’t inspire in any way, not worth The Angel , Woolhampton moving to another pub but you drink the Jazz from 8pm Saturdays beer without really noticing. www.jazzangel.co.uk 3. Good. Good beer in good form. You may 28 Sep - Claire Jones Quintet cancel plans to move to the next pub. You Simon Grist, Jenlain Delcourt & Jody Lecieux 26 Oct - Lea Lyle Quartet want to stay for another pint and may seek 30 Nov - Peter Jones out the beer again. A Brussels Beer City (www.beercity.brussels) The Monument , Newbury - blog post by Eoghan Walsh titled Gulp // Cask 4. Very Good. Excellent beer in excellent Fridays & Saturdays ale comes to Brussels mentions Jenlain condition. 20 Sep - Gary Myles Delcourt and his partner Jody Lecieux 5. Perfect. Probably the best you are ever 21 Sep - Slaughtered On Set opening Gist in December 2017. likely to find. A seasoned drinker will 28 Sep - JJ and the Jukes 5 Oct - JJ & the Jukes Gist (Flemish for yeast) is located at Place award this score very rarely. Members new to beer scoring will be able to 19 Oct - Beatle Juice de la Vieille Halle aux Blés 30, Brussels, facing find great tutoring support at our Branch Open Mic night with Oli Hill on Thursdays a cobbled open space which has a bronze meetings and social events and online: Catherine Wheel , Newbury statue of Jacques Brel. www.camra.org.uk/nbss 23 Oct - Scott Freeman In late June, after a few days in Antwerp for At meetings in January and February, the 6 Nov - Fred Irwin the Beer Passion Weekend beer festival, Ullage West Berkshire branch of CAMRA relies on 20 Nov - Amya-Ray editor Tim Thomas and friends spent three hours collated beer scores to determine which pubs 26 Nov - Doozer McDooze on a warm Sunday afternoon outside Gist are selected for the Good Beer Guide. 4 Dec - Grant Sharkey sampling draught beers from the sixteen taps and Submitting beer scores throughout the Document House , Newbury - Fridays the two hand pumps with swan necks. year is an excellent way of contributing to the 13 Sep - Hooch Campaign while doing something enjoyable. 20 Sep - Faux Fighters 27 Sep - White Monkeys y l If there’s no phone signal, just submit when l e 18 Oct - Roadhouse K

next connected, using desktop or mobile e

v 8 Nov - Toxic e t versions of WhatPub. S

: The Globe , Newbury o t Visit pub, sample ale and score! o Alternate Wednesdays from 3 Sep, 1 Oct, h P 12 Nov - local musicians On our visit the cask ales were Taras Boulba The Newbury , Newbury from Brasserie de la Senne and Heavy Porter from Weekly on Thursdays - Sion Whiley No Science Brasserie, both Brussels based. presents Open Mic night on the roof terrace Before leaving, Tim spoke with Jenlain who Old London Apprentice , Newbury explained that they are able to sell casks of beer 28 Sep - Soultones within three days so that the quality is 19 Oct - Wardour Street maintained. They also check the cask beer 1 Nov - Doolally Experience carefully each day and will not serve it if the 2nd Friday of each month is Folk Night quality has deteriorated. The couple expect to be The White Hart , Thatcham – Saturdays involved with serving cask beer at the BXL 21 Sep - Sub Zero BeerFest in late August. 9 Nov - Monkey Dolls Later on Sunday, after Gist had closed, Tim 23 Nov - No Way Out would meet Jenlain and Jody as customers in 30 Nov - Fubar Moeder Lambic Fontainas. Jenlain had previously Fox Inn , Hermitage worked at this leading Brussels beer bar, 21 Sep - Nicole & the Papas established in 2006. There are six hand pumps 19 Oct - Mudslide Morris & the Revelators half way along the rear wall of the long bar which More pubs with live music: also has 40 taps evenly spaced along the front. One of Newbury’s oldest and finest Inns Originally, these hand pumps were mainly used to Enjo y West Berkshire‘s Good Old Boy Hungerford area : Railway Tavern, serve lambic and kriek but Jenlain introduced And our weekly guest beers from some of the Wheatsheaf some pale ales to this range. areas finest producers Newbury : Stock & Barrel, Nags Head Great Fresh Food served daily Read Tim’s blog posts for more details of Thatcham area : Kings Head, Swan, Belgian breweries, beers and bars on Bath Road, Speen, RG14 1QY Taste of beereurope.blogspot.com (01635) 521152 www.hareandhoundshotel.net

Ullage September - November 2019 9

CAMRA’s best selling Good Beer Guide 2020 is published on 12 September, 2019. The foreword by Professor Brian Cox gives his personal story of the importance of beer and brewing. The Guide includes interesting articles followed by the important listings of pubs by county and the final section with details of breweries and their regular beers. The Branch will have limited copies of the Guide for sale direct to members for £11 at events from 12 September. All CAMRA books can be viewed and ordered online via shop1.camra.org.uk Geographer and environmentalist Bob Steel signed copies of his pub walks books at the Great British Beer Festival on Tuesday 6 August. Apart from a lifelong interest in good beer and good architecture, he is a keen walker, cyclist and organic gardener. Join u p, jo in in, Describing the fully revised third edition of CAMRA’s Peak District pub walks , Bob said jo in the cam pai gn ‘The economic history of the Peak has left us a very rich industrial and transport heritage which Fr om is apparent in the majority of the walks in this as little as * volume. Add to this the variety of plants in the £26.50 different environments and the handsome a y ear . T ha t’s les s than a pint a Includes individuality of the vernacular buildings and you £30 month! Real Ale have a series of fascinating layers which helps to Cider & P erry explain why this is my favourite area of Britain for Vouchers walking. Also the Peaks pubs are thriving, although Pr ot ect the tr aditions of gr ea t British pubs and e verything tha t

there have been some losses, and the beer choice and goes with them b y joining t oda y a t www.camr a. or g.uk /joinup quality has probably never been better. This book is ✂ a celebration of both the fine pubs of the Peak Or ent er y our details and c omplet e the Dir ect Debit f orm belo w and y ou will r ec eiv e District and the enticing landscape.’ 15 months membership f or the pric e of 12 and sa ve £2 on y our membership subscription Alt erna tiv ely y ou can send a cheque pa yable t o C AMRA L td with y our c omplet ed f orm, visit www.camr a. or g.uk /joinup , or call Bob’s four other pub walks books cover 017 27 798440 .* All forms should be addr es sed to Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Ha tfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4L W. London, Edinburgh, Yorkshire and the South Your details: Dir ect Debit Non DD East. Each illustrated book contains detailed Title ...... Surname ...... S...i.n.. gle Membership (UK) £26.50 £28.50 Under 26 Membership £18 £20 walks, featuring pubs along the route that serve For ename( s) ...... Da te of Birth ( dd/ mm/ yyyy) ...... J..o...i.nt Membership £31.50 £33.50 real ale, together with a commentary about the (A t the same addr es s) Addr es s ...... Joint Under 26 Membership £23 £25 local area and history......

...... Pos tcode ...... P..l.e..ase indica te whether y ou Wha t’s Br ewing BEER wish t o r ec eiv e Wha t’s Br ewing By Email B y P os t By Email B y P os t Email addr es s ...... a..n..d.. BEER by email OR pos t:

Da ytime T el ...... C..o..n. c es sionary r ates ar e a vailable only f or Under 26 Memberships. I wish t o join the Campaign f or R eal Ale , and agr ee t o abide b y the Partner ’s Details (if Joint Membership ) Memor andum and Articles of As socia tion which can be f ound on our w ebsit e. Title ...... Surname ...... Signed ...... For ename( s) ...... Da te ...... Da te of Birth ( dd/ mm/ yyyy) ...... Applica tions will be pr oc es sed within 21 da ys.

Ins truction t o y our Bank or Building Society t o pa y b y Dir ect Debit

Please fill in the whole f orm using a ball point pen and send t o: This Guar ant ee should be detached Campaign f or R eal Ale L td. 230 Ha tfield R oad S t. Albans, Herts AL1 4L W and r etained b y the pa yer . Name and full pos tal addr es s of y our Bank or Building Society Servic e User Number The Dir ect Debit To the Manager Ba nk or Building Society 9 26 129 Guar ant ee l This Guar ant ee is o er ed b y all bank s and Addr es s building societies tha t ac cept ins tructions FOR CAMRA OFFICIAL USE ONL Y to pa y b y Dir ect Debits This is not part of the ins truction t o y our Bank or Building Society l If ther e ar e an y changes t o the amount, da te or fr equenc y of y our Dir ect Debit T he Membership Number Campaign f or R eal Ale L td will notify y ou 10 Stand-up comedian James Dowdeswell also Pos tcode working da ys in adv anc e of y our ac count Name being debit ed or as otherwise agr eed. If you r eques t T he Campaign f or R eal Ale signed copies of his CAMRA book, The Pub Name( s) of A ccount Holder Pos tcode Ltd t o c ollect a pa yment, c onfirma tion of the amount and da te will be giv en t o y ou Ins tructions t o y our Bank or Building Society at the time of the r eques t Manifesto (featured in Ullage Winter 2018/19), at l If an err or is made in the pa yment of y our Bank or Building Society A ccount Number Please pa y Campaign F or R eal Ale Limit ed Dir ect Debits fr om the ac count detailed on this ins truction subject t o the Dir ect Debit b y T he Campaign f or R eal the festival. Earlier, James had entertained the saf eguar ds as sur ed b y the Dir ect Debit Guar ant ee . I unders tand Ale L td or y our bank or building society , you ar e entitled t o a full and immedia te tha t this ins truction ma y r emain with Campaign F or R eal Ale refund of the amount paid fr om y our bank Br anch Sort C ode Limit ed and, if so , will be pas sed electr onically t o m y Bank / or building society audience, waiting for the official announcement Building Society . l If y ou r ec eiv e a r efund y ou ar e not Signa tur e( s) entitled t o, y ou mus t pa y it back when of 2019 Champion Beer of Britain winners, with The Campaign R eal Ale L td ask s y ou t o Ref er enc e l You can canc el a Dir ect Debit a t an y time Date tales of his experiences growing up in a pub by simply c ontacting y our bank or building society . W ritt en c onfirma tion ma y be owned by his parents. Bank s and Building Societies ma y not ac cept Dir ect Debit Ins tructions f or some types of ac count. requir ed. Please also notify us.

†Pric e of single membership when pa ying b y Dir ect Debit. * Calls fr om landlines char ged a t s tandar d na tional r ates, c os t ma y v ary fr om mobile ✂ Visit pubmanifesto.camra.org.uk for more phones. Ne w Dir ect Debit members will r ec eiv e a 12 month supply of v ouchers in their firs t 15 months of membership . The da ta y ou pr ovide will be pr oc es sed in ac cor danc e with our priv ac y polic y in ac cor danc e with the Gener al Da ta Pr ot ection R egula tions. information about James and the book.

10 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire mudgeon When is a Two years, two Pub not a Pub? hundred pubs AWARD-WINNING BEER When it’s a bar, of course. While there’s no (July 9, 2019) hand cr aft ed fr om our o wn R amsbury E sta te malt specific legal distinction, the two carry fr om eas y- drinking tr aditional golden ales , Some thoughts on Bristol pubs very different connotations. This is not to say one is better than the other, but they’re to an IPA bur sting with hops or In general, Bristol pubs are good. certainly not interchangeable. However, it’s a smoo th cr aft lag er , They tend to be friendly, even if they don’t notoriously difficult to come up with a our br ewery has a tast e f or always look it. hard-and-fast definition separating one every pala te. They’re extremely varied – hippy hangouts, old from the other. boys boozers, gastropubs, craft beer Beer writer Martyn Cornell has recently exhibitions, backstreet gems, family hangouts, had another stab at it on his Zythophile blog, and so on. where he suggests that a key distinction is that pubs tend to have a bar at right angles to your www.ra msb ur y.co m They mostly have real ale, even those that 01672 541407 might not if they were in any other city. We path when coming in through the entrance reckon we’ve counted three (four if you think door, whereas bars have their counter running ST OCK CL OSE F ARM, ALDBOURNE, WIL TSHIRE, SN8 2NN BrewDog is a pub) that didn’t have anything at along a side wall. all on offer. In general, while you can point to various characteristics that pubs usually have, and bars They’re loyal to local beer, even if there’s no don’t, it’s always possible to come up with single dominant historic city brewery. We are in the exceptions to the rule. Overall, it’s often a case CAMRA Good Your chances of finding Bass, Courage Best, of ‘you know one when you see one’. Beer Guide Butcombe or some other classic bitter are very Pub names usually start with ‘The’, but bar 2019 (11th year high. The likelihood of finding mild is almost names seldom do. Pubs are often specific running) zero. Hoppy beers tend to be hazy, soft and buildings designed for the purpose, while bars sweet. (Not that we’re grumbling but we do tend to be part of a larger building. Pubs make Meals served evenings and lunch times sometimes crave paler, drier beers of the use of the upper floors of the building, while a (except Mondays) northern variety.) bar may be underneath something entirely Closed Sunday evenings different. The licensees of a pub are likely to Traditional Sunday Roast lunches Sparklers, live on the premises, but with a bar they hardly ever do. Bars are often aimed at a specific, En Suite Guest Rooms & in summary identifiable ‘crowd’, while pubs seek a wider Function Room available and more general clientele. And, at least (May 16, 2019) Choice of 3 Cask Ales outside urban centres, pubs often have car ‘Pie and Pudding Club’ parks, but I can’t think of a single bar that [A sparkler is a perforated nozzle attached to every Wednesday! the end of a handpull. Regularly used in the does. A pub retains its identity through West Berks CAMRA Pub North of England but less often in the South.] various changes of ownership, while that of a bar is very much tied up with its current of the Year 2008 and 2015 • Sparklers work best with well-conditioned trading format. beer, bringing some of CO2 out of Some Wetherspoons, particularly those in their more modern design idiom that are The Six Bells, The Green, Beenham suspension to form a denser head, but Reading RG7 5NX Tel: 0118 9713368 leaving plenty in the body of the pint. conversions of former retail units, do very Email: [email protected] much say ‘bar’ rather than ‘pub’, whereas ૽૽૽૽ www.thesixbells.co.uk • But if a beer is low on condition, a sparkler AA Inn others that are in existing pub premises are might well rob it of what little CO2 it has, definitely pubs. However, their general leaving it with a head, but even flatter atmosphere and wide customer mix are very beneath. much those of pubs regardless of their design. • Therefore, sparklers might equally be used And, while their name says otherwise, I’d say to make beer in poor condition look better that the vast majority of micropubs, going by than it is, or to give a beer in good the criteria set out above, are in reality small condition a particular presentation. bars … • But there’s no way for a drinker to know There’s also the vexed question of when a until they taste it. pub actually turns into a restaurant. Most Real Ales • Sparklers may also mute or otherwise affect restaurants obviously aren’t pubs, but quite a Dog & Family Friendly perception of certain flavours and aromas. few have the outward appearance of pubs and Some beers are brewed with this in mind. indeed might once have been one. Strictly • Otherwise, it’s a matter of personal speaking, if anyone can come in and have a preference. drink without needing to buy a meal, it doesn’t qualify as just being a restaurant. However, I’d • So sparklers are neither purely good, nor say there also needs to be a test of whether any purely evil. meaningful number of people actually do, and We’re Boak and Bailey whether non-diners are made to feel welcome. We’re geeks in general, but especially about beer and pubs. We write under the names The Curmudgeon column appears in Jessica Boak and Ray Bailey. We live in Bristol Opening Times , Stockport & South in the UK. We’ve been blogging about beer Manchester CAMRA’s bimonthly magazine. Comments on his articles can be left on the since 2007. 01672 541224 www.boakandbailey.com website curmudgeoncolumns.blogspot.com www.redlionbaydon.co.uk

Ullage September - November 2019 11 West Berkshire CAMRA

Chairman/ Andy Pinkard Membership: Tel 07989 382676 (M) [email protected] [email protected] Secretary : Mike Avery Tel 07918 138612 (M) [email protected] Treasurer : Alison Chetwynd [email protected] Press Officer: Karen Bowen [email protected] Webmaster: Tony Girling - EVENTS [email protected] Pubs Officer: Paul Worsley - T OURS [email protected] Pubs DB/ Kevin Brady Beer Surveys: [email protected] - REAL ALE Ullage Tim Thomas Editorial : [email protected] - CRAFT BEER Ullage Richard Lock Design : [email protected] - SHOP Printing: Clere www.clere.uk.com Local Trading Standards office: Tel 0345 404 0506 Facebook & Twitter: @WBCAMRA - T APRO OM www.westberkscamra.org.uk - KIT CHEN Beer Festival Diary CAMRA run or supported beer festivals provide excellent opportunities for sampling a wide OPENING HOURS range of real ales, from all over the UK and overseas. Here are some of the major and most TUES - SUN | 10AM-11PM accessible festivals for West Berkshire drinkers. MON | 10AM-6PM (Kitchen Close d) See pages 4 & 5 for more festival details. SHOP OPEN D AIL Y 10AM-6PM 4-5 October 13th Ascot Racecourse Beer Festival Ascot Racecourse, Ascot SL5 7JX www.ascotbeerfest.org.uk 01635 7 67090 TAPRO OMANDKIT CHEN@WBBREW .C O.UK 11-13 October 11th Hampshire’s OctoberFest Basingstoke Cricket & Sports Ground Fairfields Road, Basingstoke RG21 3DR WEST BERKSHIRE BREWERY | THE OLD D AIRY | Y ATTEND ON | RG18 OXT www.hampshireoctoberfest.co.uk 24-26 October 22nd Oxford Beer & Cider Festival Oxford Town Hall, St Aldate’s, Oxford OX1 1BX Diary Dates 2019 www.oxfordbeerfestival.camra.org.uk The following is a list of all forthcoming meetings of the West Berkshire branch of CAMRA. Some are ‘social’ 24-26 October meetings, lively and friendly occasions where we enjoy a few beers; others are ‘branch’ meetings, which are 33rd Swindon CAMRA Beer Festival slightly more formal and where we discuss beer and pubs issues. Unless stated, our meetings are open to STEAM Museum, Fire Fly Avenue, all-comers – and new members are particularly welcome! Swindon SN2 2EY Thursday 12 September Friday 4 October Saturday 16 November www.swindon.camra.org.uk West Berkshire Brewery Ascot Beer Festival social Thatcham ale trail 3-7 December Taproom social Details: page 5 Start: Wheatsheaf Inn 36th Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival 7.30pm 1pm Details: page 2 12.30pm Round Chapel, Id Glenarm Road, Hackney, www.pigsear.org.uk Saturday 14 September Saturday 12 October Thursday 12 December Newbury Real Ale Festival social Hampshire’s OctoberFest social Christmas Social & Quiz Meet at CAMRA stand Details: page 5 1pm Old London Apprentice, Details: page 4 Noon - 6pm Newbury 7.30pm Wednesday 16 October Tuesday 1 October Branch meeting 8pm Tuesday 17 December Big Bash (music, history & beer) Hare & Hounds Hotel, Speen Christmas Lunch social White Hart, Hamstead Marshall Hatchet Inn, Newbury 12 noon Design | P rint | W eb Details: page 2 6pm - 9pm Further details on our website: www.westberkscamra.org.uk A unique mix of in house cr eativ e and prin t pr oduc tion

Ullage is published by the West Berkshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and is copyright of CAMRA. The opinions expressed in this publication 10a Arnhem R oad Newbury RG14 5RU are those of the contributor and are not necessarily endorsed by the Production Team or The Campaign for Real Ale. Every effort is made to ensure that +44 (0)1635 43026 cler e.uk.com the information contained in Ullage is correct, but the publishers accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions.

12 The Campaign for Real Ale West Berkshire