The Compasses, is the 2012 Pub of the Year!

Chelmsford The Birthplace of Radio, in 1912

Admiral’s Park, Rainsford Road, CM1 2PL

Tuesday 10th - Saturday 14th July

• Over 300 Real Ales • Over 100 Real Ciders & Perries • A wide selection of Belgian Beers • Local Wines • Food served all day

www. beerfestival.org.uk

Chelmsford and Mid-Essex Branch of Issue 001 CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale Spring 2012 2 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! Pub of the Year 2012 The Compasses, Littley Green is the Chelmsford and Mid- CAMRA Branch Pub of the Year 2012. The picture on the right shows licensee Joss Ridley (left) being presented with the award by Nev Walker on Thursday 22nd March. To coincide with the pres- entation Joss held an Equi- nox Beer Festival with 7 light beers and 7 dark beers available. Nev said "Joss and his staff have made The Compasses now goes forward to the Compasses a great community pub compete against the other Essex CAMRA that people will go out of their way to Branches' Pubs of the Year for the title of visit". "Essex Pub of The Year".

THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 3 Pub News Reports in Pub News are provided by local dave.stannescastle. Highlights in the next CAMRA members, licensees and Thirsty Times two months readers. Further news of changes at local pubs include Ash is very welcome. Please send news to M a n d r a k e [email protected]. (21st April), We start this report with news that The B l u e s m a n Golden Fleece in the city centre will be Kris Dolli- running a more (28th campaign April) & Nigel Burch & The Flea-Pit Or- t h r o u g h chestra (19th May). There is modern jazz April & from Interplay on the first Friday of each May called month. All events are free entry and start “Proud of at 8.30 pm. You’ll find 4 real ales in this our Ale”. GBG-listed pub. And take a look at the Look out signboard – it was awarded Sign of the for beers Year 2011 by the Inn Sign Society from Adnams, Black Sheep, Brains, Brent- (www.innsignsociety.com). wood, Crouch Vale, Wibblers and many If Jazz is your thing you might want to others. There will be at least 4 and up to 6 know that the Viper at Mill Green had a ales available all the time. Even better very suc- news - CAMRA members get 20% off the cessful 1st price of these ales on production of their Jazz Night card. Look out for “The Only Beer is 6”, in March. brewed by Brentwood in support of Essex So popular Cricketer Graham Napier’s benefit sea- was it that son. the Hot The Fleece has recently been redeco- M u s t a r d rated, with new colours giving the pub a Jazz Quartet will be back at the pub on lighter feel. It is of course also noted for its the first Mondays of both May & June, 7th live music and was named Music Pub of & 4th respectively. The pub also has a the Year 2011 in the Publican Awards. It Folk Night on 23rd April. has also been nominated for Best Venue Now, if you’re a budding musician or in this year’s Panic Awards group and would like somewhere to jam (www.panicawards.com). Voting has now on a Saturday evening the Flitch of Ba- closed and the result will have been an- con at Little nounced by the time you read this. D u n m o w Another contender for Best Venue in could be your those awards is the St Anne’s Castle at first step to , which won the title in 2008, stardom. Give and in 2011 was recognised for its N e i l o r “outstanding contribution to music”. There Theresa a call is a wide selection of music on offer – for and hop on details use www.facebook.com/ the airport bus

4 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! Pub News to our most north-westerly venue. offer as well as 4 changing real ales. And some of the finest accompaniments - pork Something a bit different at the Windmill, pies, Scotch eggs, breakfast balls (you’ll on Monday 23rd April. have to visit to find out!), pickled eggs, P e t e r & pork scratchings, plus more substantial Elaine are meals. I quote from their website – “an hosting a idyllic location 3 miles from the centre of c o c k n e y - Chelmsford”. themed St G e o r g e ’ s Kevin & Christine Harley will be leaving night. All your Chelmsford Cricketers in July after com- favourites – pleting 14 jellied eels, pie, mash & (we hope) liquor! years at Lots of good pig’s ear too. Live music in this Grays the Chas & Dave style. Pearly kings and pub. They queens welcome! previously ran The Next, exciting news of a specialist beer R o u n d bar opening in Chelmsford. The Ale Bush in House, 24-26 Viaduct Road, right by the P u r l e i g h . station, is scheduled to open around mid- The Cricketers featured in the Good Beer April. It will have 12 handpumps serving Guide ten times during their stay and is a beers from around the UK plus 6 more popular pub for CAMRA meetings. There served by gravity. There will also be 15 will be many members sorry to see them carefully-selected imported bottled beers go so call in and wish them a happy retire- and 4 beers on draught from Dinkelacker ment. in Stuttgart - a pilsner, a black beer, a wheat beer and a seasonal. Oh, and cider Congratulations too. Open from 10 am every day, and also to Julie Ben- boasting table service, this is a very wel- nett, owner and come addition to the Chelmsford beer landlady of the scene. Black Bull at . In After all this talk of beer, how many peo- March she cele- ple know we have Essex’s premier cider brated 20 years at provider in our branch area? The Three the pub, and for Elms at one evening all Chignal St drinks were at J a m e s 1992 prices. What n o r m a l l y did a pint cost then? Just £1.30. Happy has an Days! amazing 15 -20 real On to less happy news as Greene King ciders and have been granted planning permission to perries on convert The King’s Head, Braintree into 3

THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 5 Pub News flats, and an outbuilding into 2 further Nethergate and Mighty Oak, with 14 differ- flats. Sad to see this 17th century grade II- ent ales over the weekend. listed pub close. Bakers Arms, Danbury 4th-7th May. 12 As we go to press the Three Horseshoes real ales and 4 real ciders. Live entertain- at Bannister Green is closed and, we ment on Sat, Sun and Mon. Bouncy cas- hear, will remain so for 3 months. This ex- tle, trampoline and toy tent. BBQ and the Ridleys pub with its beautiful village green Bakers Arms renowned Fish & Chips. location was recently put up for sale by Chelmsford, Barista 31st May – 4th Admiral Taverns. We hope for good news June. At his second summer festival land- on this one. lord Dan promises a unique selection of Another grade II-listed pub currently ales & bitters from national brewers and closed is the Willows at Cressing which guest spe- has featured in all four editions of our cials from Recommended Pubs booklet. our local favourites, The Jack & Jenny at Witham is yet an- also a great other pub that is closed, hopefully only selection of while the owners, Brakspear, look for a Belgian and new tenant. This is one of only two Fruit beers. Brakspear pubs in our area, the other With live music and a barbecue. being The Chelmer Inn at Springfield Braintree, King William IV 2nd - 4th Do you want to own a pub? June. Alongside the cask ales and ciders there will be a barbeque and live music. The White Horse, Widford which has been known as the Masons Too Steak Margaretting Tye, White Hart 19th - house since 2006, is now up for sale. 22nd July. An established favourite this one with over 60, and probably nearer 80, Pub Beer Festivals beers, ciders and perries. More details in Now, after the flurry of beer festivals at our next issue. By the way, did you know Easter here are the dates of some upcom- that Liz who ing pub beer festivals: runs the White Hart Chelmsford, White Horse 20th—23rd has another April. The White Horse is holding a beer pub – The festival on St S t a r a t G e o r g e ’ s nearby Ingat- weekend from estone? A Friday until Grays house this one and well worth Monday. They checking out. If you know it from years will be having ago you’ll hardly recognise it after its su- ales from Re- perb refurbishment. d e m p t i o n , Windsor and Eton, Devilfish, Crouch Vale,

6 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 7 Brewery News Brentwood Brewing back in May! Company We have secured planning permission for Having weathered the winter storms, the a new Brewery which will feature a visitor team at the area and a bar, and make visits to the B r e n t wo o d Brewery a much more visitor focussed B r e w i n g event. In the meantime our 'Brewery C o m p a n y Experience days' are still proving very are gearing popular - with many ale enthusiasts as up for a well as licensees attending for the day to g r e a t see how we make the stuff! Further details Summer of are on the website www.brentwood beer and brewing.co.uk which itself will be events! revamped in the very near future! An early mark in your diary must go to the Brentwood Beer & Music Festival being held from 6-8 July at the Brentwood centre, 3 days of live bands combined with a beer festival with over 100 ales for you to sample! See online for details, and camping is available! Think of Glastonbury with Ale (and hopefully without the mud!) Our latest offerings to greet your taste buds include Boston Brown (a Brown Ale brewed using New hops!), a I was in a pub only last week, when the couple of new charity beers - namely strangest thing happened…..a Penguin 'Mikes Marathon' which is supporting blind walked up to the bar and spoke to the physio Mike Conyers in his marathon barman asking 'Have you seen my Dad?' running events, and 'The Only Way is 6' After a brief pause, the Barman replied, celebrating Essex cricketer Graham 'I'm not sure………..what does he look Napier's world record of holding the most like?' The futures bright - the futures Beer! '6's in an innings! Sales of both of these ales will be supporting various charities Mighty Oak Brewery and if you’re stocking the latter then Having reached Graham is available for pub appearances absolute brewing - ask the Brewery office for details! capacity just before We also have 'Essex Lager' currently Christmas Mighty available in bottles. For a real lager and a Oak have now change to mass produced fizz, give it a increased the size try! of their plant to allow for 6 x 15 Watch out for our famous barrel brews per 'Summer Virgin' - she will be week. Sales of

8 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! Brewery News Oscar Wilde floral character and a hint of lemon. are continuing Egg Head 4.3% Blonde, First Gold hop - to increase citrussy, fruity and slightly spicy. and they are now looking at Snap Dragon 3.9% Ruby Ale brewed to bottling some celebrate St George. this champion brew for sale Diamond Liz 4.5% Blonde ale for the Diamond Jubilee in hotels, pubs and farm Felstar Brewery shops. News in from Franco at The Felstar There is new website in the offing, which Brewery at Felsted. He has developed will feature the quirky design from their three new beers, covering a wide artist Paul, who has worked with them spectrum of styles, all of which should from the very beginning of the brewery now be available from the brewery based back in '96. Paul is responsible for at Felsted Vineyard. Look out for the designing their little 'Tommy Cooper' brown tourist signs but ring ahead on chappy who appears on many of their 01245 361504 to see which beers are in pumpclips and in the company logo, he stock. also produces the artwork for their popular monthly specials; Snakes this year, Cars last year etc. New beers in the next couple of months are said by the brewery to be: April: Addled Adder 4.1% An amber best bitter that highlights the exciting new Polish hop variety Junga. The aroma is intense, fruity and hoppy whilst the finish is crisp and refreshing. The first is “Tradition”, a 3,8% abv beer May: Mortal Coil 4.6% Dark Mild for the which as the name suggests a traditional month of May. Full bodied, dry hopped bitter. Those who went to slightly sweet, strong dark mild, Franco's charity day last autumn may well with biscuit and coffee malt have sampled this one. character and a delicate hop Second is “Lightburst” which is a golden aroma. citrusy beer brewed with pale malt and June: Snake In The Glass 3.5% A Citra hops. It is 4%abv and caters for the golden, refreshing light ale, huge demand for this style of beer that is brewed with top quality East certainly attracting the younger end of the Kent Golding and Pilgrim hops market as well as many connoisseurs who that impart a traditional, grassy appreciate this particular American style of hop. Without doubt it will sell fast, so THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 9 Brewery News get to the brewery shop for a bottle or two Chelmsford over the next week or so in before this disappears. the following city centre pubs: Royal Steamer, Barista, Railway Tavern, Golden Finally, Franco also has a new dark beer, Fleece, Orange Tree and the Woolpack. brewed in the style of an old ale, one of Out in the provinces it will be available at his favourite styles of beer. It is a 4,8%abv the Griffin (Danbury), the White Hart Inn (colour) called “Witchcraft” and like all of (Margaretting Tye), the Lion Inn his beers, should be well worth seeking (), the Norton and the Rose & out. Crown (). Enjoy! Wibblers Brewery Highwood Brewery Wibblers brewery has brewed a special Essex and London are now awash with beer to celebrate Chelmsford achieving new breweries starting up all over the city status and guess what they are calling place. However, in the immediate it. environs of Mid Essex we have had only Chelmsford City 4% abv is a session bitter one new start up in the last couple of using three hops, Challenger, First Gold years. and Pilot, which when combined give the Highwood Brewery is a strange set up beer hints of spice and citrus. with much of their beer being offered They are initially be brewing 13 barrels of through Alebox direct as part of Cann Do Chelmsford City but will keep on making it Beers Ltd. They are based at Highwood if the demand is there near Writtle with a 5 barrel plant but their beers are difficult to come by at local Look out for the pump clip depicting three pubs. of the city's landmark buildings Hylands House, Shire Hall and Chelmsford At the moment apparently they brew two Cathedral. You should see it across beers the 3.6%abv light copper coloured Essex IPA and a slightly stronger version, the 3.8%abv White Knight. The occasional barrel of Essex IPA has been available over the past year at the Dog & Gun at Great Leighs and the Fox & Goose at Cooksmill Green out on the A414, but it is not known where you can sample the White Knight. Highwood are planning to launch a new beer in May but we do not know where it may appear locally.

10 Contact the editor: [email protected], (01480) 355893 THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 11 Chelmsford Summer run by members of CAMRA who are all unpaid volunteers. We always need more helpers, so if you can help at any session please contact Derek Beaumont, [email protected], 01245 264128. More Details Please contact Derek Beau- mont, [email protected], 01245 264128. Also visit our web site for updates www.chelmsfordbeerfestival.org.uk. Real Ales This year we are planning to have over 300 real ales with strengths from a bit over 3% up to 11% covering all beer types. The beer list is currently being put together but a LocAle bar will feature Opening Times: Tuesday 10th July - beers from as many Essex breweries as Saturday 14th July, 12 noon-11pm. possible including the two newest, Bishop Nick and Colchester. Non-Essex brewer- Location: Admiral’s Park, Rainsford ies featured should include Harveys, Road, CM1 2PL. Hawkshead (including the excellent Win- How To Get There The festival is only a dermere Gold), and some of the many 10 minutes walk from the town centre. new breweries that have sprung up in The No 51 bus passes the site generally London recently. A number of the more every 30 minutes until 7.30pm. popular beers, such as Hop Back Summer Entrance: FREE to CAMRA members. Lightning and Oakham JHB should be Non members free until 5.30pm. After available for the majority of the festival's 5.30pm, £4 Tuesday to Thursday, £5 Fri- duration. day and Saturday. Join CAMRA at the Real Cider and Perry This year we have event and get your entrance fee refunded. added Cider to our title which reflects its Refundable £3 deposit on Festival Glass if ever growing popularity; our sales of real returned by 11.15pm. cider and perry have grown enormously The Chelmsford Summer Beer and Cider Festival is an established institution in the city and is the premier outdoor event in Chelmsford. The main aim of the festival is to give local beer drinkers the opportunity to taste beers that they will never normally see in the local pubs. A secondary aim is to per- suade local pubs to offer the beers that we are promoting at the festival. Volunteers The festival is organised and

12 Updates to beer festival details - www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk Beer and Cider Festival over the last few years and this year we plan to have over 100 ciders and perries Chelmsford — The Birth- available. place of Radio in 1912 Belgian Beer Podge’s popular Belgian Beer Bar will as always offer a wide selec- Admiral’s Park, tion of distinctive Belgian beers. Rainsford Road, CM1 2PL Wine For wine lovers we have local Essex wine from Felstar. Tue 10th - Sat 14th July Food The food selection is very wide and very good ranging from Tim’s Hopleaf • Over 300 Real Ales BBQ - burgers, sausages (from a local • Over 100 Real Ciders & Perries butcher), Leon’s very tasty vegetarian dishes, a Hog Roast, Nuch’s Thai Kitchen, • A wide selection of Belgian Olives and Things, a Bratwurst stall, and Beers • Local Wines • Food the Cheese and Pie Man. served all day Families On Saturday we have our Fam- www.chelmsfordbeerfestival.org.uk ily Fun Day (until 6pm) with plenty of things for children to do: Funfair including year’s list is a cracker: a giant inflatable slide, children’s rides;  TUE 8pm KiKi - Dynamic rock and face painting; and ice cream. Wrist bands pop covers duo playing classics hits. for unlimited rides are £5. As this year is the Centenary of Radio we  WED 8pm Crossroads - Acoustic hits hope to get a Radio Shack where children from the 50s/60s, Country, Skiffle and of all ages can learn about Radio from its Blues. early days to today and have a go at pre-  THU 8pm In Blue Skies - 5-piece senting on the radio themselves. Chelms- Acoustic Pop band with an energetic ford has always called itself ‘The Birth- upbeat twist. place of Radio’ since Marconi established  FRI 8pm Happy Hour - Top party himself in the town in 1912. band, performing classic tracks and Entertainment Last but not least the en- anthems from the 00's tertainment. We pride ourselves on the quality of the bands we put on and this  SAT 1pm The Lady Killers - New Orleans Jazz Band  SAT 3pm Sloe Gin Blues Rock Band - Blues guitar rock classics  SAT 8pm One Step Behind - UK's premier Madness tribute band. Please respect our neighbours and avoid parking in roads adjacent to the Festival, very limited parking is available in the nearby free car park.

THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 13 Spotlight on Grays Gray & sons were originally brewers and Receiving the award from Mike (left) are maltsters, opening their brewery in Spring- Liz Meers and John Hubbard (centre) field Road (close to the High Street) in from Grays. Also in the picture is Nigel 1828. From 1870 to 1954 they also Sadler representing SIBA – the Society of brewed in Maldon to supply the growing Independent Brewers. number of pubs in that area. They stopped brewing in 1974 but kept their pub estate which, with very few changes, still exists today. Still a family company, they own 50 pubs in Essex, of which 16 are in our local area.

 Boreham: Queens Head  Chelmsford: Cricketers, Endeavour, Fox and Hounds, Oddfellows Arms, Orange Tree, Railway Tavern, Sir Evelyn Wood, Star, United Brethren How about a tour of the Grays pubs in our  : Horse & Groom area, or even all 50 (it has been done). To encourage you we aim to spotlight one of  Hatfield Peverel: Cross Keys their pubs in each issue.  Ingatestone: Star  Mill Green: Cricketers  Springfield: Tulip Podge’s  Writtle: Wheatsheaf The good news for real ale drinkers is that Belgian Grays’ landlords are free to sell any beer which the company can source. Local breweries’ beers are widely available and Beer Tours each month landlords are sent a list of 10 guest beer suggestions from around the Beer & Heritage, country. This means that many Grays 24 – 27 Aug 2012 pubs offer an ever-changing selection of lesser-known beers alongside some es- Abbey Beer Pilgrimage, tablished favourites. 20 – 24 Sept 2012 Grays were recognised for their support Christmas in Bruges, over many years of cask ale and local brewers by a CAMRA special award. The 22 – 26 Dec 2012 presentation, on behalf of all CAMRA Es- sex branches, was made by Mike Woods, www.podgebeer.co.uk Essex Area Organiser, at the recent Ring 01245 354677 for details Chelmsford Winter Beer & Cider Festival. Driving people to drink since 1994

14 Read Thirsty Times online: www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk 65 and Never Been to Chelmsford City For my friend’s 65th birthday we decided for beer in the first and barmaid in the to try somewhere different for a few cele- second. Although we are past scoring bration drinks and where better, we along sexist lines, we are pleased to re- thought, than the new . port that the Barista scored high in both So, following a Wetherspoon’s breakfast, categories and we left, after good conver- we caught the number 59 bus from Har- sation. feeling that the world was good. low and arrived 45 dry minutes later at A decent walk brought us to the Oddfel- Chelmsford bus station. lows Arms where Maldon Gold, Black Whilst quaffing a decent pint of Oxford- Sheep Bitter and Doom Bar were on offer. shire Ales Neck ‘n’ Neck and a Red Fox We certainly enjoyed our rest in the pleas- Mild, respectively we checked our Good ant cov- Beer Guide and the local bus timetable for ered gar- a plan of action- I should add that we were den area merely route planning as our plan of ac- but were tion to sample a good range of decent d i s a p - beers had already been well and truly pointed to decided. Saying goodbye to the much find that improved Railway Tavern, we caught the the beers number 42 bus out to Broomfield and the w e r e Angel. Here, recovering from the bus jour- served a trifle too cold. However, by this ney- it’s funny how even a 15 minute trip time our stomachs were doing the direct- can make you thirsty- we enjoyed the gar- ing and we found ourselves making Weth- den sunshine whilst sipping Brentwood erspoon’s our next call with an enjoyable beers. meal from their Curry Menu. Back centrally, we ventured into Barista An after-dinner stroll took us to the Or- with faces ange Tree where there was an almost too- dropping as tempting choice of 7 beers. Whilst supping not a hand- a lovely pint of Wibbler’s Galaxy, we sadly pump could realised that time was getting on and un- be seen. How- fortunately had to decide to give the ever, our Queen’s Head a miss if we were to meet smiles quickly up with some of the Chelmsford branch returned when members in the Woolpack which is where Gemma, the we headed in the glow of the street lights. young lady So all too soon came the hour when with behind the great regret we had to leave following bar, pointed some good beer and a good crack with out the ceiling the Chelmsford crowd. And on the bus - s u s p e n d e d home we reflected that, whilst the real ale grav- Chelmsford of old always had some de- ity dispense with three beers on offer. We cent pubs, our visit to the new City had old-timers are renowned for having two been a good one! Ivan Bullerwell GBG scoring guidelines- the “B” standing

THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 15 Branch Diary Wednesday 25th April Branch Meeting members. We should arrive back in at The Oddfellows Arms, Springfield Chelmsford (Lower Anchor St) before Road, Chelmsford. No bus to this 11pm. Please book in advance for this meeting, which starts at 8.30pm. All by Sunday 20th May. members welcome. Tuesday 12th June Real Ale Runabout to Tuesday 1st May Real Ale Runabout to Newney Green, Fyfield & Aythorpe Woodham Mortimer, Maldon & Little Roding. Bus departs opposite. Railway Totham. Bus departs opposite Railway Station at 7.30pm, fare £9 members/ Station at 7.30pm, fare £9 members/ OAPS, £10 non-members OAPS, £10 non-members. Wednesday 20th June Branch Meeting Saturday 5th May Mild Crawl of at the Original Plough, Chelmsford. Chelmsford. Our annual (well, apart from An up to date listing of social events can last year when it didn't happen!) 'May is be found on the web site: Mild Month' Crawl around Chelmsford www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk, or contact pubs selling Mild, some selling it the Social Secretary, Brian Debenham, especially for the occasion. Start at the [email protected]. Oddfellows Arms, Springfield Road, Chelmsford with a 12.45pm departure to the next pub. The full schedule is still being organised and full details will be put on the website once confirmed. Wednesday 16th May Branch Meeting at The Compasses, Littley Green, this years Pub of the Year. Bus fare £5 members, £6 non-members. Depart from opposite Railway Station at 8pm. All members welcome. Saturday 26th May Visit to National Collection of Cider & Perry, Firle (optional) & Lewes, hopefully preceded by a brewery visit. The hope is to arrange a brewery visit somewhere on the way to Lewes but at the time of having to go to print the details are still to be confirmed. Updates will be posted on the website. Then onto the Cider Centre via a Lewes drop off for those who don't want to visit, then after an hour or so at the Cider Centre back to Lewes for a while before doing a couple of pubs on the way back. Depart Chelmsford opposite Railway Station 10am, fare £22 members/£24 non-

16 Visit www.chelmsfordcamra.org.uk for up to date details of socials Branch Contacts Thirsty Times Chairman & Essex Brewery News Thirsty Times is published by the Chelms- Chris 'Podge' Pollard, ford and Mid-Essex Branch of CAMRA, [email protected], the Campaign for Real Ale (© 2012) All 01245 354677 rights reserved. Views or comments expressed in this Social Secretary publication may not necessarily be those Brian Debenham, of the Editor or of CAMRA. [email protected], Editor To contribute news or articles con- 01245 600294 / 07905 698161 tact Andy Shaw, 01480 355893 (h), 07802 485449 (m), or Chelmsford & Mid-Essex Pub [email protected]. News, Bryan Grimshaw, To Advertise To place an advert or enquire about our rates please contact: [email protected] Neil Richards, 01536 358670 or Chelmsford CAMRA Beer Festival, [email protected] Derek Beaumont, Printed by Portland Print, Tel 01536 511 555 [email protected], Deadline for Summer 2012 issue (002) 01245 264128 is Thursday 17th May 2012.

THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 17 A LOOK BACK IN TIME 10 YEARS AGO brew following its acquisition of Bass and Whitbread. Coors announced the closure CAMRA challenged Prime Minister Tony by the end of 2002 of its Bass brewery at Blair to bring in full pint legislation for Cape Hill, Birmingham (formerly Mitchells draught beer as Leader of the House and Butlers) with the loss of 320 jobs. Robin Cook described short measure as a ‘clear public scandal’ and pledged the Benskins Bitter, originally brewed in Wat- government to ‘bear down as hard as we ford, was withdrawn in early 2002. Allied can’. Secondary legislation for 100% pints Breweries had had been drafted and was awaiting sign- closed Benskins in off by Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt, but 1972 but had revived the beer as a well- Ms Hewitt announced new plans to en- liked cask beer, brewed for different peri- shrine in law the industry guideline for ods of time at various Allied plants. 95% pints. CAMRA Head of Campaigns Cask Marque, the industry accreditation Mike Benner reacted ‘The Labour Party scheme for qual- has been promising a full pint since 1997 ity of real ales and now appears to be proposing to make served in pubs, it legal to serve a pint that is 5% short’. spread its wings CAMRA surveys had shown that a quarter with a Distribu- of pints fell below the 95% guideline. tors’ Charter for CAMRA feared the closure of many small the real ale sup- breweries and pubs as a result of a gov- ply chain. Stipulations for warehouses to ernment decision to revoke the 1990 Beer adopt the charter included refrigerated Orders, which had enforced restrictions on storage, a rigid stock management policy pub ownership by big brewers and guest and at least 14 days shelf life remaining beer rights for brewery-owned pub chains after delivery to pubs. of more than two thousand pubs. Although no brewers then owned that many pubs, 25 YEARS AGO CAMRA feared that the loss of the beer Batemans was saved after George Bate- orders would encourage brewery take- man and his family trust became sole overs and closures, remove important owners of the Lin- regulation of tie agreements between colnshire brewing brewers and pubs and allow restrictive concern two years covenants to prevent new owners from after George’s operating buildings as pubs. brother and sister John and Helen American brewer Coors were the new Bateman had de- owners of the cided to sell their major parts of combined 60% of the family company. the Bass brew- Batemans Victory Ale was launched in ery business, celebration of the rescue, which CAMRA ordered by the attributed to ‘dogged determination’ to government to retain independence for the brewery on be sold by Inter- the part of chairman George Bateman, 18 To advertise in this newsletter contact Neil on 01536 358670 A LOOK BACK IN TIME who said ‘It took two long hard years, but pansion of its Ruddles brewery in Rutland the process could not be accelerated. It to meet demand was vital to save the beer, the pubs, the for draught Rud- workforce and the local community’. He dles County, which had talked to over twenty companies in they anticipated search of a ‘white knight’, but eventually would be on sale managed to raise funds to buy the com- in two thousand pany outright after securing a realistic Watney pubs by valuation of the business and demonstrat- the end of 1987. ing that the company was developing. Afternoon drinking was brought in 25 CAMRA’s ‘Big 7 in 87’ campaign was years ago by a new law that allowed res- launched as a co-ordinated attack by taurants to serve drinks with meals in the CAMRA and its branches on Britain’s afternoon. This was interpreted as a green seven big brewing groups|: Allied, Bass, light for pubs to serve drinks with meals. Courage, Watney, Whitbread, Scottish & Two real ale microbreweries were set up Newcastle and Greenall Whitley. The in China by Peter Austin’s Ringwood campaign was designed to draw attention Brewery, to bring to forty the number of to threats such as takeovers, local mo- microbreweries supplied to overseas nopolies, beer prices, lager and the threat countries by the Hampshire company. to draught mild. Co-coordinator Steve Parry asked branches to use their news- Paul Moorhouse letters and campaigning events to high- light the worst excesses of the Big Seven brewers and encourage them to ‘mend their ways’. Watneys sold its Edinburgh based Drybor- ough brewery and 155 strong pub chain to Allied Breweries, who closed the brewery with the loss of 29 jobs. A CAMRA delegation visited Vaux brew- ery in Sunderland to protest at the com- pany’s decision to close their Lorimer and Clark production plant in Edinburgh. Mean- while Lorimer and Clark’s general man- ager Dan Kane was finalising a management buyout plan for the Edinburgh brewery. The Watney group announced a £5m ex-

THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 19 HALF PINTS Hackney council Wadworths have appear to have joined other cask saved the re- ale brewers in vered real ale launching a 2.8% pub the Wenlock ABV real ale, to A r m s i n take advantage Shoreditch, North London. The Wenlock of reduced duty was threatened by a plan to demolish and on beers at or below 2.8% which was in- replace it with a block of flats. The council troduced by the government last October. rejected a planning application last au- Wadworths’ new beer, named Small Beer, tumn but the new owners were set to de- is brewed with six malts and three hop molish the pub regardless. The council varieties, and will sell at a typical price of have now extended a conservation area £2.50 a pint – Wadworths are passing on which means that planning permission is the duty relief to their customers. needed for demolition – this appears Somerset brewer Butcombe has set up a unlikely to be granted. website for its Marstons has launched a new monthly bottled beers series of twelve single hop cask ales us- following a dou- ing an international range of hop varieties bling of sales in a including American Citra, French Strissel- year. Butcombe’s spalt, Polish Marynka, New Zealand’s Wai new Recommended Retailer award has -iti and Kohatu and Galaxy from Australia. also been launched to encourage good Some of these hops are produced in small practice in retailing. quantities and there will be limited quanti- Hydes, based at Moss Side, Manchester, ties of the special brews. is planning to shut its brewery and move Minimum pricing for alcohol in Scotland production by the end of this year to a could reduce alcohol consumption, stifle new site with a state of the art brewing competition and make it harder for new plant. Hydes is also selling its free trade entrants to enter the market, according to business to Blackburn brewer Thwaites, the Office of Fair Trading in a submission who will brew some Hydes beers under to the Scottish Government. Minimum licence for a while. Thwaites also plan to pricing was introduced in a Bill by the relocate their brewery – they are selling Scottish parliament last autumn. CAMRA their Blackburn town centre site to Sains- supports minimum pricing as a measure burys and, with the help of the local au- to encourage more responsible drinks thority, looking for a place in the area to consumption on licensed premises and to build a new plant. stop loss-leading promotions in supermar- Pub is the Hub’s latest Local Community kets at below cost price. CAMRA has pro- Services Champions initiative was posed a minimum price of 45p per alcohol launched at the Cornish Arms in St Mer- unit and warns against raising the mini- ryn near Padstow, owned by Rick and Jill mum to a level that would have an ad- Stein. The initiative encourages local verse impact on sensible moderate drink- councils to support pubs to diversify into ers patronising the on or off trade.

20 To advertise in this newsletter contact Neil on 01536 358670 HALF PINTS providing other local services. Pub is the A new ‘schooner’ two thirds of a pint glass Hub was initiated by the Prince of Wales launched as an aid to responsible drinking in 2001 to bring local authorities, local in British pubs appears not to be popular. communities, licensees, pub owners and It was seen as a suitable size for branding breweries together to promote services and expected to fill a per- within rural pubs. ceived demand for a beer volume between a half and Molson Coors promoted its Animée beer a pint. Molson Coors has in January with a three- supplied the glasses but week sampling tour of says interest is very low, locations close to out- and some major managed lets across the UK. pub companies, including Animée is aimed at Wetherspoons and Sprit, have not used women in the 18 to 35 them. CAMRA has agreed that the public age group and is avail- appears to be indifferent to the new glass, able in a choice of crisp but has promoted one third of a pint rose and zesty lemon glasses at its events for a number of flavours as well as a years, and would like to see them adopted clear filtered version. Carlsberg has more widely in the trade provided that launched Eve, a 3.1 per cent beer-style pricing is fair. Paul Moorhouse fruit spritzer for women.

THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 21 22 To advertise in this newsletter contact Neil on 01536 358670 THIRSTY TIMES 001 SPRING 2012 23