What's Doing Issue
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THE MANCHESTER BEER DRINKER'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE en, eo ¥ 4 iz WHITBREAD 50% TRADITIONAL IN NORTH MANCHESTER On 22nd February all the Whitbread pubs in North Manchester were surveyed, 22 out of 40 outlets were serving traditional beer and the beer was well kept in virtually every case. Six pubs near the city centre sold both mild and bitter but there were only 3 outlets for cask conditioned Trophy. The complete list of outlets is: Brick House CB Star & Garter CB Bridge Inn CB Magpie CH Royal George CB,CM Heaton Park CB Mamas CB,CM Farmyard CB,D Red Bull CB,CM Clough CB Hat & Feathers CB Broadway CB Land o'Cakes CB,CM Golden Lion CB Mother Mac's CB,CH Billy Greens CB Crown & Anchor CB,CM,T 53 if Edinburgh Castle 1 Empress cB Cob o'Coal CM Crown & Cushion CB CB = Chesters Bitter; CM = Chesters Mild; T = Trophy; D = Duttons. This picture is very encouraging and it is hoped that the progress will be sustained. Roger Hall BECAUSE OF THE CAMRA A.G.M, COPY DATE FOR NEXT MONTH'S WHAT'S DOING IS 16th MARCH GHOULY HOST The managed house division of Wilsons, Watneys, Grand Met or whatever it was called was the first pub owning group to inflict theme pubs on an unsuspecting public. Remember the Wrecker and the Jules Verne? You'd think they'd have learned their lesson, wouldn't you? Well they haven't. Not to be outdone by the loony Whitbread conversions, the Host Group (for that is this year's name) propose to outhorror the Houses of Horror. With almost 300 pubs from North Wales to Humberside and from Stoke on Trent to the Lake District, Pennine Hosts are in an excellent position to wreak havoc should they wish. The proposals are so outlandish they read like the script of a second rate satirical comedy - but they're real. This is what they want to do - honest, we've not made them up.... THE ENGLISH ALE HOUSE - "everything associated with the traditional English pub." THE BEER FACTORY - "the lowest price beer in the area." ETHNIC THEMED PUB - "a little larger than life." THE LOCAL - "designed to cater for particular ethnic or national groups." THE TAVERN AND THE RESTAURANT - "pubs with food all the time." PUB 80 - "American style bar lounges." PUB 80 PLUS - "the same with many extras." THE PUB SHOP - "hitting back at the off licence." SLOTS OF FUN - "entertainment all day." BAR CAFE - "cosmopolitan style." WHOLEFOOD HEALTH - "health and fitness centres." BARNABYS - "fixed price restaurants.” DRIVE INNS - "fast food restaurants for the motorist." BIG APPLE - "full of sophisticated fun." That's it. Great isn't it? Bruce Cunningham of Pennine Host will be coming to North Manchester's 10th Birthday meeting on March 21st at the Lord Nelson in Ringley, so why not come along and find out whether your local is going to be turned into a licensed amusement arcade or a gymnasium for trendy be-leotarded drunks. Roger Hall BODDINGTONS SURVEY - SOUTH MANCHESTER BRANCH No. 4% Tied pubs in branch area 44 94 | This summary gives the bare Free houses in branch area 3 6 | facts in numerical form. It Surveyed to date ALL 100 | tells how many have what and No Boddingtons bitter 0 - | how much it cost, and it could No Boddingtons mild 16 34 | be called an "Infiltration" Real Oldham bitter 0 - {| survey. In this respect it Real Oldham mild 0 - | gives little cause for concern. a Ei But the detailed comments from Keg/TankKea/Tanpmupalee Oldham mildee Gems | Keg/Tank Oldham bitter € mild 1 2 | CAMRA South Manchester members | gave a very different picture Tied Free - average", "bland", "boring", “Most expensive bitter 58p 63p Ncharacterless", "nondescript", Most expensive mild 55p - | "ordinary", "unimpressive" - Cheapest bitter 52p 58p | these are only some of the Cheapest mild Sip - | uncomplimentary remarks under the heading "Character of Beer". Can this really be the famous Boddingtons? What has happened a to the "distinctive bitter tang" and "appealing nutty flavour"? To be fair, there were some complimentary remarks, but they were by far outnumbered by the uncomplimentary. It was the bitter that got the real drubbing - mild drinkers seemed to be quite impressed by the flavour but (back to the numbers again) there is no mild in one third of the outlets. So what of the future? Strong ale is only a memory, mild outlets are di isappearing,ing, and the the bi bitter eG Philip; Levisoni WHAT'S DOING REAL ALE iN OLDHAM This issue carries the fourth edition of the comprehensive list of Oldham's real ale outlets. In the two years since the last edition, the major event affecting the real ale scene in the borough was Boddingtons! takeover of OB. In 1982 one could only drink OB in OB houses and Boddies in Boddies house. Now, of course, we can sample Boddies (bitter only) in some OB houses and also have the dubious pleasure of drinking OB (keg mild and bitter only) in many Boddies pubs. However, in Oldham itself the arrangement has significantly reversed the previous trend, and the availability of cask beer has improved in the last year. Tt dnes seem unfortunate, thouch, that a switch back to real OB ales has to be accompanied by a blitz on the pubs themselves. There are many ordinary back-street OB houses where a return to cask beer would be welcomed - without recourse to the builders and plastic potted plant suppliers! 100th WHAT'S DOING - THE WINNING NUMBERS As promised last month, a grand draw took place at the February North Manchester branch meeting at the White Swan, Swinton. Mine Host George Fildes drew the following numbers out of the bag: Branch (Reserves) 0814 South Lancs 0565 Rochdale, Oldham, Bury 2408 North Manchester 0890 South Lancs 1266 Trafford & Hulme 0865 South Lancs 0046 Rochdale, Oldham, Bury 2535 North Manchester 0322 Bolton 2405 North Manchester Booby Prize 1400 South M/cr 1824 South Manchester If the first five numbers are unclaimed, then the reserve numbers, in order, will be used as replacements ~ So please claim if you have a reserve number. Claimants should send the copy of What's Doing, which will be returned if you include a s.a.e., to What's Doing Winners, 37 Oaklands Road, Edenfield, Ramsbottom, Bury BLO OLR, giving their names and addresses. If already a CAMRA member, give the month that member- ship is due for renewal. The lucky booby prize winners should also send details of whom they would like to entertain, at their own expense, and where and when this is to take place - to be confirmed by both parties, of course. A list of winners' names will be printed next month. All claims to be made by March 16th. The What's Doing Special Offer, also featured in last month's What's Doing, for CAMRA membership at £5 is still open. Closing date has been extended to March 31st, by popular demand. Please use the form in the Centenary Issue. WHAT'S GOING ON? An application has been made by a Manchester builder to alter the Queens Arms on Red Bank and install a first floor bar. The "For Sale! sign, however, remains on this former Tetley pub. BLACKLEY BOOST The Hilltop on Heaton Park Road is now serving cask conditioned, hand- pumped Tetleys bitter and mild. There are now only three non-real ale pubs in Blackley. TORY ALE Broadbottom Conservative Club in Tameside now sells Tetley bitter and Ind Coope Burton Ale by handpumps. MOONRAKER Lees have reintroduced their draught Moonraker strong ale. From the end of January the beer has been available from: Clayton Arms (Latics Club), Chadderton Spinners Arms, Woodbrook, Springhead (G8G 1984) Albion, Drury Lane, Hollinwood Hare & Hounds, Higginshaw Lane, Royton Gardeners, Grimshaw Lane, Middleton Junction Firwood, Joshua Lane, Middleton Junction ("brewery tap") Lodge Bank Tavern, Bridgeman Street, Bolton Dog & Partridge, Brook Street, Ashton under Lyne STAFF OF LIFE The Staff of Life, Cross Lane, Radcliffe, is soon to serve handpumped Chesters mild in addition to the Castle Eden which is usually in excellent condition. Landlord Geoff Hilton reckons he sells three times more Castle Eden than keg Trophy ~ possibly because customers requesting bitter are asked for their preference, which is a nice change from the usual lunge for the Trophy pump in most Whitbread houses. Our range of hand pumped real ales include Marstons Pedigree, Merrie Monk, Mercian Mild, Owd Rodger (when it’s cold), Boddingtons Bitter. Recent Guest Beers have included Ruddles County, Oldham Bitter, Old Peculier We are renowned for our superb luncheons (hot & cold buffet plus tasty ‘brown-dish’ meals) All served in a Victorian setting. 1 2 ae aes ie! %* Organise an excursion & we'll provide % Wit a room & food if you wish. 12 WARRINGTON ST., ASHTON-G-LYNE. 061-330 6776 LOST LOCAL Newton le Willows’ drinkers got an early Christmas present from their friendly brewers Greenall Whitley when the Oddfellows Arms in Earls- town was closed late last year. The Oddfellows, or Glass Barrel, as it was affectionately known, was a fine example of the old-fashioned corner local, selling good quality traditional beer. Greenalls decided to close the pub when the landlady announced her retirement. It is difficult to understand their thinking (thinking?), as recent housing development in the area would surely have added to the already not inconsiderable local trade. Of course, it goes without saying that Greenalls own the vast majority of pubs in the Newton le Willows district. Recognising that the Oddfellows should not be lost without a fight, a petition of 2,000 signatures was raised and sent to the brewery.