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From the Newark & Grantham branches of Campaign for Real Ale newarkcamra.org.uk & granthamcamra.org.uk BEER PRESS GUTTERFOR DISCERNING BEER DRINKERS ISSUE 50 Jan-Mar 2013 Celebrating Our 50th Edition! Golden Jubilee Edition BGP | Issue 50 newarkcamra.org.uk & granthamcamra.org.uk 2 a £7000 refurbishment serving John Smiths and Pedigree. (Sadly, the next time the building reopens THE BEER its doors it will be to a block of apartments.) By Issue 4 the newsletter had expanded to 8 pages and was printed on coloured paper. This issue GUTTER PRESS promoted the fi rst ever Newark Beer Festival, to be held on 24th to 26th May 1996 in the Castle Grounds. REACHES 50 The fi ve advertisers included the Wheatsheaf and Springhead Brewery. By the end of 1996 we had learned of the reopening of the Swan and Salmon after n the early months of 1995, members of CAMRA refurbishment (“pricey beers” were reported) along Newark Branch (then 3 years old) decided to join with a brand new pub – the Lord Ted, named after Ted Ithe growing trend of branches who wanted to Bishop, the local MP from 1964 to 1979, who had spread the real ale message and produce their own become Lord Bishopston. In December magistrates newsletter, with the aims of keeping all local drinkers agreed to the relicensing of the Fox and Crown. abreast of news within the brewing industry and A gap in production then ensued, with the next informing them of CAMRA activities. The newsletter, edition being published in July ’97 under the new produced by the fi rst Editor, Chris Constantine, was editorship of “Philthy” Phil Ayling, a CAMRA stalwart a simple four page black and white leafl et. For a trip and still the branch’s webmaster alongside his day down memory lane, please turn to the centre pages job as a partner in Just Beer Micropub. Phil reported where it’s reproduced in its entirety. that ten branch members (the “Camraftas”) had gone Now we’ve reached our “golden” edition, it’s white water rafting in aid of a leprosy charity and Malc probably time to reminisce about the 17 years which Scrimshaw reviewed the Rat and Parrot in Lincoln. have passed since Issue 1, in terms of the magazine Due to space limitations we need to “fast forward” itself and what’s changed on the local real ale scene. a bit here. 1998 saw regular contributions continue That fi rst issue reported that the town’s Home from Boob Boozley and Blodwin. Newark Pub of the Brewery was under threat of closure by Scottish and Season awards went to the Woolpack and the Horse Newcastle, which of course, turned out to be the case. and Gears, and Paul Ruthven started a new series of On the plus side Maypole Brewery was only ten weeks articles reviewing some of our fi nest locals, with a visit old and was doing well – it’s good to see that’s still to the Cross Keys at Upton. the case too! The newsletter carried just one advert, Everything seemed to go quiet for a while, with for a “Booze and Blues” Festival at the Mail Coach, a gap in publication until issue 12 in December ’99 sadly no longer with us. In issue two we learned that and then issue 13 was the fi rst in the new millennium the Pack Horse in Albert Street had reopened after and offered free (yes free) beer to CAMRA members BGP is published by the Newark-on-Trent & Grantham branches of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). The Newark & Grantham Branches of CAMRA strive Avenue, Newark-on-Trent, NG24 4BE. to increase consumer choice of real ale by objecting To reach a high proportion of discerning imbibers to pub closures and championing high standards of across East Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire, customer service in the area’s public houses. We contact our advertising team at Capital Media on support our local breweries by promoting the diversity 01636 302 302. they bring to the bar. An electronic version of this publication is available for Newark and Grantham CAMRA also bring national download from the Newark CAMRA web site, where issues such as tax and opening hours to local you will also fi nd more information on local real ale attention. Importantly, we are a social group of topics and unabridged versions of pieces that have likeminded drinkers of all ages and walks of life. appeared on these pages. Point your web browser to: Anyone is welcome to attend our meetings, details of www.newarkcamra.org.uk which can be found elsewhere in this issue. Opinions expressed within BGP are not necessarily BGP welcomes local-interest beer related articles and those of the editorial staff or CAMRA at a local or letters for publication. All material should be sent to national level. [email protected] or 18 Harewood BGP | Issue 50 newarkcamra.org.uk & granthamcamra.org.uk 3 attending the 5th CAMRA Beer festival. It was from AGM. Webmaster Phil Ayling declared himself “well new brewery Poachers, and was specially brewed for chuffed”. the Festival. Harry Constantine had to step down as Editor in The year 2001 saw the BGP promoting CAMRA’s 2006, and in November of that year “Philthy” once campaigns to save rural pubs, and traditional pub again took up the reins in what proved to be a four names, mentioning our very own Queen’s Head, year tenure, following his previous 5-year stint. Also which by that time had become the Hobgoblin. at that time, the Branch decided to “outsource” the The big new CAMRA Campaign of 2002 was magazine, so that a third party (at that time Matelot) fighting the Government’s decision to revoke the Beer took responsibility for production and obtaining Orders, which ran alongside its “full pint” campaign. advertising revenue. On a local level BGP reported that Kenny and Fran In February of 2007, Phil reported on what has Munro had left the Great Northern Inn at Carlton been an ongoing problem, now very much back in on Trent and taken over the Square and Compass the news again – that of irresponsible beer prices at Normanton. In addition Kenny had acquired the in supermarkets. Later that year it was reported Maypole Brewery at Eakring, where founder Newark that Springhead Brewery (then based in Sutton on CAMRA member Rob Neil was Head Brewer. Trent), had been badly affected by flooding and had “Philthy” gave up the editorship in December been forced to brew under contract with Robinsons, 2002, and it was taken over by Harry Constantine, Cheddar and Grafton breweries. In a double blow who did a bit of a “rebrand”, particularly on the title for the company the Bramley Apple had also been banner, which was to stay until 2009. In February flooded out and closed for 10 days. 2004 Harry also introduced his “They liked a Pint” In May 2008, the BGP said goodbye to the Turk’s cartoons to the BGP. The first (intriguingly numbered Head and congratulated the Castle and Falcon on 23) was of Mother Theresa enjoying a glass of being voted Branch Pub of the Year. Later that year Dorothy Goodbody Wholesome Stout. the BGP led with the story of more pub closures but Only a few years and 31 issues to go now! Let’s also welcomed Tony and Heidi Yale to the Castle and draw breath and reflect on advertising. Without our noted that the Woolpack had been sold to farmer advertisers there would be no Beer Gutter Press, turned pub owner Michael Thurlby who according to of course. It is thanks to them that funds are Steve Darke, “combines Emmerdale Farm with Grand available to produce up to four thousand magazines Designs”. on a quarterly basis. From humble beginnings the Issue 36, (February 2009) contained the Beer List advertising income has grown to allow for a glossy, for the first ever Newark Winter Beer Festival, offering professionally produced magazine. Advertisers come 40 beers and 7 ciders and perries. In July 2009 it and go of course, as do the pubs and breweries. In was reported that CAMRA had hit the 100,000 the first few years adverts were placed by Springhead membership milestone, and more importantly we Brewery, The Old Coach House, and The Fox and were invited to support Talk like a Pirate Day by Cap’n Crown, among many others. It’s good to see them Philthy Fugpig. still with us today, which suggests that advertising Issue 39, in November 2009, saw a new pays, as they say! masthead for the magazine, and a new name – Beer A small but deserved mention must also go the Getting Publicity. It seems certain people at HQ had fiendishly difficult quizzes that have been set over taken exception to the old title and suggested a the years by our contributors and to the trivia articles change, which was duly made (luckily commonsense which have sometimes lightened the reporting of pub has since prevailed and we’re back to the wit of the closures and government legislation (or lack of). old title). Back to the time machine. In September 2005, In Phil Ayling’s last edition in January 2010 he we reported that 4000 visitors had drunk the Newark reported that the Hearty Goodfellow had been voted Beer Festival dry and that Stuart Young was stepping Pub of the Year. Also in that edition “Philk” reported down as Chairman of the Branch. “Bobcat” wrote an on plans for a new business venture in town – a informative article on Lakeland brewpubs and Duncan “micropub”, of which there were only two in existence Neil wrote one of his regular “pub rock” features.