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Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale December 2014 / January 2015 A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers!
PUB AWARDS FOLLOW THE BEAR GOTTA HAND Merit Award presentations Celebrate this old Fenland IT TO ‘EM and Pub Of the Year plough custom in Whittlesey Bram and Sue from the Hand nominees inside this January. and Heart win Gold Award
ALSO INSIDE PUB & BREWERY NEWS DIARY DATES JOIN CAMRA Both pubs are in the CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2015!
P ETERBOROUGH CAMRA P ETERBOROUGH CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2 01 4 Runner Up PUB OF THE YEAR 2 01 4 & 2 01 1 CAMRA Gold award 2 013 CAMRA Gold award 2 013 Six Real Ales Ten Real Ales from £2.50 a pint from £2.00 a pint Live Sky Sports • Live Entertainment Live Sky Sports • Live Entertainment Happy Hour Monday-Thursday 5-7pm Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5-7pm Cash Quiz every Sunday from 8pm
Price: £10 per ticket. Pre-purchase only, not available on the door. Please buy from the venue. Ask at the bar for more details.
The Ploughman Staniland Way, The Dragon Hodgson Centre, Hodgson Ave Werrington Centre Tel: 01733 327696 PE4 5EG Tel: 01733 578088 Editor’s ramblings | 3 A pub is for life not just for Christmas!
Greetings! Can’t believe it’s nearly that time of year again! IN THIS ISSUE The Festive Season! (I like to Welcome from the editor 3 think all seasons are festive, but Chairman’s corner 5 is that just wishful thinking?) Coalies in Newark 7 At least it’s an excuse, if one is Pub of the Year nominees 8–9 needed, to meet up with Pub news 10 –13 friends/family in your local or meet them at theirs. The dark nights can be off- Brewery news 14 –17 putting, and it’s easy to convince yourself not to Follow the bear 18 –21 venture out, but your local needs you! Disappearing boozers of Stamford 23 –25 I came across an article the other day in A big hand 26 November’s edition of CAMRA’s What’s Brewing , entitled “Drinking Beer is the Healthy Option”. Telford ale trail 29 –31 The article says “drinking beer is good for you and Gig guide 33 that’s official. Supping a pint of beer a day helps Diary dates 35 you live longer, cuts the chance of heart attack by a CAMRA Christmas party 36 third and it’s not going to make you fat, experts at Top tips 37 the European Beer and Health Symposium in Contacts 38 Brussels have found.” They go on to say that moderate beer consumption can be part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Food for thought! Think I’ll go out for a pint even though it is dark and Are you missing out? damp, and mull it over. Merry Christmas and a Get Beer Around Ere delivered to your door! Happy New Year to you all. Cheers. JB For a year (6 issues) send £3.48 for second class or £4.02 for 1st Class or multiples thereof for multiple years. Please send a cheque/PO payable to “Peterborough CAMRA” and your address to:- Daryl Ling, 19 Lidgate Close, Peterborough PE2 7ZA
Editor: Jane Brown Distribution: Beer Around ‘Ere is published [email protected] David Murray by the Peterborough & District [email protected] Published by: Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA Copyright Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale. Proof Reading: © 2014, The Campaign for Bob Melville - 07941 246693 Real Ale Ltd. Produced on behalf of CAMRA by: Printed By: Orchard House Media Ltd Precision Colour Print Ltd Views or comments expressed in this publi - 9a South Street, Crowland, PE6 0AH Haldane, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ cation may not necessarily be those of the Tel: 01733 211933 Editor or of CAMRA. Circulation: 7,000 copies distributed to Magazine Design & Production: pubs, clubs and members throughout the The next issue of Beer Around ‘Ere will be Daniel Speed Peterborough and District CAMRA available on the 29th January . [email protected] Branch area. A digital version of this We must have your stories, news and magazine is available to view and advertisements by 6th January . Please Advertising Sales Manager: download at issuu.com Jane Michelson send your stories and other copy to the [email protected] Main Cover Image: John Moore editor, Jane Brown. Tel: 01733 211410 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE 4 | Please support our advertisers
Huntingdonshire CAMRA Rural Pub of the Year 2014 Opening Times Two Beer Gardens (one V.I.P!) Mon - Thurs: 11am-3pm & 5- 11pm Fri - Sun: Open all day Childrens Bouncy Castle every Sunday throughout the summer Food Served All day Sunday Refurbished Restaurant
BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Chairman’s corner | 5 Chairman’s Co rner Darker nights have descended on us with the inevitable reduction in the number of people going to the pub. It’s a seasonal thing it seems! In the last few years the weeks leading up to the ‘silly season’, Christmas, have been somewhat slack for the pub trade. A few with some enterprising skills do ride the for our Pub of The Year (POTY) and to list their period by enticing customers through their doors, choices for inclusion in the 2016 Good Beer in various ways, whether it is a charity night as Guide. As we have seven contenders this year for recently put on at The Heron in Stanground or, a POTY we expect a good return of votes and a winter ales beer festival. The point I’m trying to close competition. Your nominations for pubs to make is for licensees to make a greater effort and be considered as GBG entries are also of great do something to get customers through the doors, importance. Please note the change of address to rather than just sit and moan about the lack of return voting forms and the deadline date. It drinkers. would be advisable to send them in before the Xmas post rush, or you may prefer to send them As the year draws to an end we can take stock of by email. Only present CAMRA members can how many more pubs we have lost this year. For cast votes and please only list pubs within our example, if you were to go on a pub crawl starting branch area. We would also like to see as many in Woodston/ Fletton heading towards Stan - members as possible to our AGM on the 10th ground, on leaving The Coalheavers in Park St. December at The Brewery Tap. Prior to that and the next pub you would come across would be over one not to forget, our social night on the 6th a mile and a half away, in Stanground. This scene December at The Ploughman, Werrington. is repeated in many parts of the city, where you have to trek well over a mile between pubs. It‘s still It just remains for me to wish you all the very unbelievable that, in many areas of our city, people best compliments of the forthcoming season and do not have a pub within a ten or fifteen minute to look forward to a healthy and happy New Year. walk from their homes. A situation that was unheard Cheers of a few years ago. Our new Pubs Officer John David Murray Temple has been making a vigorous effort in Branch Chairman checking out many of these past and present pubs.
A survey by Dr Ignazio Cabras of Newcastle Award Presentations Business School has come up with several facts that On 19th October a minibus of CAMRA stalwarts show pubs (in particular rural ones), can have a visited Ramsey and Whittlesey to present Jolly high level of complementarity between pubs and Sailor and Letter B with Merit Awards. social events and activities within the community. Bruce receiving his award from They are deemed to be more effective in Dave Murray our branch chairman. promoting community events such as sports matches, charity events and social clubs than other places such as village halls. Nevertheless the most powerful solution for avoiding pub closures would still rely on us as it’s a simple case of use it or lose it, maybe for good. Landlord and Landlady, All our local branch members should have Paul and Louise Craw - received a letter and voting form to cast their votes ford with Dave Murray
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BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Coalheavers’ Gang off to Newark | 7 Coalies in Newark Coalheavers mini trip part one
A very small group of us headed off to Newark Next pub was another recently opened one and recently. None of us had been before, it`s not too based on a Monty Python theme. The Flying far away and we had heard good things about it. Circus only had 3 beers on and one was a Mile - The only down side to the trip was the cost. We stone. There was a Brewster’s beer and one made thought it would be about £15 so didn`t bother especially for them and called Norwegian Blue, getting advance tickets and we were stung for after the famous dead parrot sketch. The pub is £20.20 each for a half hour journey. Newark had full of Monty Python things, pictures and quotes, better be good after paying that amount!! Luckily plus an outside mural depicting the “Romans go it did not disappoint. home” sketch. Beer was ok, but if you like Monty Python you must go. They actually sell cans of Pub number one was The Fox and Crown owned spam! by Castle Rock. Around 10 beers were available here though all were from Castle Rock or Tower. On now to The Castle which was pretty good too, This was not really a problem as we all quite like with half a dozen beers to choose from, a couple of Castle Rock beers. We arrived there about 11.30 local beers, one from Oldershaw’s and even an and the place was full, and it’s a fair sized place. Oakham beer. This is quite a large pub and was There was a coffee morning going on and we were quite busy while we were there. Worth a visit. offered coffee and cake but we didn`t need any, we had beer. Just over the road from The Flying Circus is the superb Just Beer. It does exactly what it says on the label, it only sells cask conditioned ale. No lager, no wine, no spirits and no bottles. It`s a very small place and I imagine if you timed it wrongly you may not get in. Luckily for us it was fairly quiet. There were at least eight beers available and I had only heard of three of them, but the stout I had was superb. In the four years they have been open they have gone through about 2700 beers, 2400 of which were different beers. Quite impressive I think. If you go to Newark, you must visit here. Beer range in the Flying Circus, Newark Pub number two was the recently opened Organ Final pub of the day was the fantastic looking Grinder, owned by the Blue Monkey Brewery. The Prince Rupert, owned by the Thurlby estate and a pub is very similar to The Organ Grinder in sister pub to Stamford`s Tobie Norris. There were Nottingham. Seven beers were on sale, all from 6 beers on but we spent most of the time just Blue Monkey, but with beers as good as theirs you looking around the little rooms, nooks and cran - don`t really need any guest beers. They did say nies. A really great looking pub that is bigger on that they would be having guest beers in the future. the inside than it looks. Another must visit. All in Very quiet when we were there but I`m sure it gets all Newark was really worth going to but I will busier later. Definitely one to visit. So good we book my train tickets in advance next time. stayed for a second pint. Dave Botton
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE Peterborough & District CAMRA
Now is the time for all good drinkers to come to The winner will be put forward to the aid of our classic locals. CAMRA members Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year and possibly it’s your time to vote for Peterborough Pub of the Champion of the Eastern Region and National Year. All of the pubs listed below have been Pub of the Year. So why not go and see why they selected because they have promoted real ale, have been nominated and vote with your throats? continued to serve beer in excellent condition, expanded their customer base and reached out to Mike Blakesley the community.
THE CROWN 8 Duck Street, Elton. PE8 6RQ Listed building on the village green that is pre- 1700. Rebuilt in 1985 after a major fire in stone with thatched roof. Large comfortable bar with beamed ceiling and inglenook fireplace. Separate snug and Orangery restaurant. Four to six real ales normally available. The house beer, Golden Crown Ale, is supplied by Tydd Steam Brewery.
BLUE BELL 39 High Street, Maxey. PE6 9EE This 19th century pub was originally a barn with dark wooden beams and flagstone floors. Large bar with beamed ceiling immediately inside the front door. A smaller room can be found to the left which is decorated with stuffed animals and birds and fishing photographs. The nine real ales available via hand pump always include a beer from Oakham Ales and either Abbeydale Absolu- tion or Fuller’s ESB.
VINE INN 19 Church Street, Market Deeping. PE6 8AN an Small, two-roomed pub which used to be a Victori ak school house. An old limestone building featuring o ear. beams and stone floors. Undercover patio area at r days. Quiz night and open darts board on alternate Sun Functions for up to 120 are possible. Closed in h November 2010. Reopened as a freehouse April 8t 2011 with five handpumps serving beers that often include Hopshackle.
All information from whatpub.com, The Campaign for Real Ale's online pub guide Pub of the Year 2015 nominees | 9 Pub of the Year 2015 Nominees
JOLLY SAILOR 43 Great Whyte, Ramsey. PE26 1HH Grade II listed building that has been a pub for 400 years. The three linked rooms have wooden beams from various stages of time, as the pub was increased in size over the years. Pictures and paintings of old Ramsey adorn the walls. Crib, dominoes and darts played. Five real ales on offer.
LETTER B 53-57 Church Street, Whittlesey. PE7 1DE Two hundred year old local community pub near as town centre with a warm welcome to all visitors. W . called the Bee for a while; now back to the Letter B so Said to be named the Letter B because there were es. many pubs in Whittlesey that they ran out of nam There once was a Letter A and a Letter C. Four regular real ales are always available.
COALHEAVERS ARMS 5 Park Street Woodston, Peterborough. PE2 9BH Small, friendly one roomed back street gem of a local, dating back to the 1850s. Eight hand pumps serving a mix of Milton Brewery beers, including a mild, and regularly changing guests. Real cider and a craft British lager also sold. The only Peterborough pub to be bombed in WWII and exclusive Bomber’s Drop used to be a regular house beer. The large garden is popular in summer and is used for the spring and autumn beer festivals.
HAND & HEART 12 Highbury Street Peterborough. PE1 3BE t Essentially intact since built in 1938, this back stree Pubs. community local is one of Britain’s Real Heritage its Art A “drinking” corridor connects the public bar with The Deco fittings and the rear room served by a hatch. rib, darts public bar features a war memorial and real fire. C rsday of and dominoes played. Cheese club meets last Thu udes one, the month. At least five real ales which always incl often two, house beers from Brewster’s. Pub News First the bad news. I, John Temple, am taking over I believe it dates back to 1741 and was originally this column. In so doing, I am acutely aware of the called the Angel. The original inn has been esteemed literati that have preceded me. So don’t converted into an Indian restaurant and the bar is expect too much. Now the good news. There are still now through the old courtyard and in the rear of some pubs open inside this branch. So equipped with the premises in what clearly were once the stables. my bus pass I shall endeavor to scour the remotest It is a long, brick built building with the original regions and report back to you. Of course it is a oak beams. In fact the only thing that appears to huge area. So please bear with me and don’t hesitate have been structurally altered is the skylight to get in touch if you think you are being left out. halfway along the bar. A pool table and dart board are conveniently tucked away in their own Country matters area, and there is a full size snooker table further to After nearly twenty years, I thought it was time to the back of the premises. The club also boasts a check out Stilton. This delightful little village still mysterious underground tunnel which was recently has four licensed premises. How does this happen? investigated by a local psychic who unfortunately Is it prosperity or tourism? I was soon to find out. failed to make contact with anyone. Surely she My first stop was the Stilton Cheese , a listed should have known this. Licensee Roy Baines nineteenth century building with a central drinking clearly has discovered the right formula, with a real area flanked either side by restaurant facilities. ale selection comprising on this occasion Blue The pub boasts an enticing fresh fish menu with a Monkey BG Sips, Tydd Steam Stargazer and distinct Portuguese tinge to it: crevettes in garlic Castor Stilton United. and piri piri, Cataplana, Vinho Verde. I was severely tempted, but holding steadfastly to my I noticed that a sparkler was placed on the plinth principle of never eating on an empty stomach I supporting the hand pumps. I asked if it was thought it wise to drink some beer first. The house policy to ask for the sparkler to be attached choice here was Adnams Lighthouse and Tim to the nozzle rather than for it to be removed, Taylor’s Landlord. which indeed was the case. This was also the prac - tice in the Talbot Inn and the Stilton Cheese. Further along the road to the sumptuous It seems that we have arrived at a new enlightenment. surroundings of the Bell Hotel . Most readers will be familiar with this food orientated establish - And finally to the Talbot Inn . This is the oldest ment and I was pleased to note the four real ales, pub in the village with records going back to 1530 two of them local: Digfield Fools Nook and and the second oldest building after the church. Bishop’s Farewell. I feel obliged to say, however, Another former a coaching inn, John and Jess that as a dyed-in-the-wool working class lad I felt a Curran have been running it for four years. John bit uncomfortable here, if one knows what one told me that when he took over real ale sales were means. nonexistent. Now he has three hand pumps offering Bombardier, Young’s bitter (his biggest It was therefore with some trepidation that I seller) and a guest ale, on this occasion from Beer approached the Stilton Country Club opposite Studio. All of the beer was in top condition. I was but I needn’t have worried. To begin with there delighted to hear that John has noticed an was a board at the front gate announcing that non increasing number of customers in the 18 -25 age – members were welcome and there was no group turning to real ale so they are obviously problem of getting signed in. The club has a very doing something right. The pub is decidedly biker friendly atmosphere with a policy of welcoming friendly as it also plays host to Peterborough new members. So I joined. Branch Triumph Owners Club. Viewed from the front it is easy to discern the structure of this magnificent old coaching inn.
BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Pub news | 11 John Clare The previous issue of Beer Around ‘Ere carried the news that George Sakkalli, landlord of the Golden Pheasant has applied for a licence for the Exeter Arms in Helpston. I am pleased to be able to confirm that this has now been granted and I met George recently to discuss his plans. He is basing his business plan on that which has been so successful at the Golden Pheasant so the reopening of the pub will provide a major asset to the village. It has been acquired from Enterprise Inns by the John Clare Trust and George will take full management of the business sharing the revenues Up to 4 Real Ales available with the Trust. This is a fitting tribute to the great • Friendly village pub with riverside mooring man as I learned from George that Clare’s body • Large garden • Dogs welcome was actually laid to rest in the adjoining barn Food served: before being buried in St Botolph’s church. Tues to Sun 12 - 2.30pm, Mon to Sat 6pm - 8pm George plans to turn the barn into a kiddie’s club featuring amongst other things Saturday morning LIVE MUSIC pictures. He also plans to incorporate a library, every Sunday 4pm til 7pm and there is even more good news for the villagers with a traditional Irish session band. as he will export the Pheasant’s exquisite cuisine to Instrumental and songs. Instruments include the pub using the same chef. fiddle, mandolin, guitar, flute and lots more. George has taken the astute decision to write a news letter to local residents to allay their fears. The text is Rob and Meri are continuing their excellent available from George@the goldenpheasant.net. stewardship of the Heron and are “chuffed” at The pub will open before Christmas with six hand the way things are going. Plans for the future pumps and will also feature some craft beers. include a new kitchen, a complete overhaul of the cellar including a dedicated python for real ale The Decoy at Milking Nook is now open as the temperature control, and a new plinth on the bar Decoy bar & Indian Restaurant, featuring two to tidy up the hand pump array. They will Oakham ales. continue to concentrate on LocAle beers. On Local news November 1st the pub had a charity music and beerfest with one off brews being supplied by Despite the For Sale sign outside the Golden Lion Bexar, Xtreme, Elland, Mile Tree, and Star (anybody with over £350,000 to spare?) things are amongst others, all in aid of Alzheimer’s Research certainly looking up in Stanground. Major invest - UK. Meri did tell me which bands were on but I ment is going into the Fenman in what is not so seem to have forgotten. much a refurb as a major overhaul. The cellar has already been radically improved and work is Jamie Brown at the Whittle (formerly the currently underway to complete a new kitchen and Whittle Way) is making strenuous efforts to to convert the saloon bar into a restaurant. The promote his real ale policy with a Monday loyalty place is starting to look really classy, and the whole card system which offers a free pint for every six transformation is taking place whilst the pub stays consumed. He has only been there for fifteen open all day every day. I was disappointed that months and the pub went through a major refurb there was no real ale, but there are four hand pumps intact, and I understand that the new last October. He has expanded the real ales proprietor intends to reintroduce it in the future. available from two to four and he tells me that F
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE 12 | Pub news - continued
his custom has increased by about 200%, which this was two o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon. seems to me to be about the right equation. The Imagine then my further elation when landlord, beers available on my visit were a Dark Horse beer Chris Needham, informed me that not only was from north of the border, Red Squirrel Red Dawn the rumour completely untrue, but that Enterprise Mild, for which I was thankful, Jennings Cumber - Inns had only just rejected an offer of £1.4 million land, for which I was equally thankful, and Tim for the site. I found this a very welcoming family Taylor’s Landlord, for which I was truly thankful. orientated business. Three hand pumps featuring Children are welcome in the bar until about 8.30pm. Old Speck, John Smith’s Rough and Doombar. It was the best Doombar I had drunk since one After a tasteful refurb, the Carpenters Arms is o’clock. now under the management of Georgina Springthorpe. Born and bred in Stanground, Not so good news on the Punchbowl which was Georgina was previously licensee at the Golden closed and clearly faces an uncertain future. Any Lion, so she has the perfect pedigree. Which is news on this pub would be appreciated. indeed one of the rotating beers, along with Bombardier, JHB, Spitfire and Tim Taylor’s Just as well that the Green Man is just a few Landlord. The pub boasts four pool teams, two yards away under the enterprising management of football teams, pub games, Tuesday night quiz and Stamford man James Pallash who has turned the live Sky Sports. I would like to wish her good luck pub into a ticker’s paradise. James gets his beer but I really don’t think she needs it. from a distributor who deals directly with the brewers. Beers from Hopcraft, Artisan, Buxton, Stamford trek Anarchy and Scarborough were among the Walking through Stamford is like walking through esoteric delights available on my visit. the corridors of time. Just to get to the Jolly Brewer you have to pass the mound of the Getting back to the “squalor” of the Sheep - medieval castle, now the bus station. Then past the market I felt it mandatory to visit the new 17th century canted bays of St Peter’s Street until Wetherspoons, the Stamford Post . The Post has arriving at Rutland Terrace, a Regency twelve hand pumps, each with a small jar in front development designed to deliver the wealthy from of it containing a small quantity of beer. The bar the “squalor” of the Sheepmarket. And finally past staff told me that this was to indicate to the the Bastion, the only remaining section of the orig - customers the colour of the beer being dispensed inal town wall. A millennium covered in a five from each pump. But I wasn’t going to buy that. minute walk. I was amongst the multitude that It is clearly a strategy to deter scoopers by flocked to Dean’s autumn beer festival, which again attracting their natural predators. was highly successful. No news yet on Dean’s proposed brewery, but this is definitely going ahead It is good to see a new pub opening in an area albeit in a remote location. Dean has promised to where licensed premises are pretty thin on the update us as soon as he has anything concrete. ground. Within a sixty yard radius I counted only five: (Stamford Post, Cosy Club, Golden Fleece, Whilst on this visit I picked up the ugly rumour London Inn, Millstone). And little more than a that the Danish Invader was on the point of stone’s throw away just another four: (Melbourne’s, being razed to the ground. Now I suspect that this Crown Hotel, Periwig, St. Mary’s Vaults). How on was just a typical piece of stereotyping. What else earth do the denizens of this darkness manage any would you expect a Danish Invader to do? But social life? given the level of pub closures the only way to find out was to visit the place. Imagine then my joy Fenland update when I arrived at a pub that was not only still Being possessed of only five digits on each hand I standing but actually busy and full of activity. And am always reluctant to risk venturing into fenland.
BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER / JANUARY 2014-15 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Pub news - continued| 13
But the lure of Whittlesey was too strong, and I am oldest pub in March, I attempted to resolve the glad that it was because the Black Bull was selling matter by visiting the Ship Inn . With records Pedigree and Spitfire at £2.20 a pint. Manager going back to 1682 and the oak beams allegedly Rose Black also runs the delightful New Crown at having been recovered from an old galleon, I the end of the Causeway where the beer is served assume that this august title is now beyond issue. The straight from the cask, and is keeping the Bricklayers pub has been free of tie for the last four years and it is open at least until the Straw Bear Festival. now offering up to five real ales and two ciders.
I noticed that the leasehold for the Ram is up Serious issues for offers in early January, a peculiar time for it to The George in Ramsey Four Foot is under threat change hands since this will also coincide with the with the owners seeking planning permission to Straw Bear. I regret that my principles do not convert the pub into flats. This is the only pub in the allow me to comment on this pagan event, but my village and is clearly a candidate for an ACV. My friend and colleague Mick Slaughter has agreed to esteemed predecessor, Neil Holmes, carried an article shoulder the burden for me (see page 18). in the Issue 176 outlining the value of ACVs and I think it is worth reinforcing his message. He says: My next visit to the town was on the occasion of the long overdue presentation of a Merit Award to “Under the Localism Act 2011, people living in Bruce and Denise at the Letter B . Local micro England can nominate a pub to be listed as an brewer Xtreme was represented amongst the choice Asset of Community Value. Listing your local as of beers, and I was pleased to observe that the an ACV provides communities with the power to entire contingent of the brewery workforce had postpone the sale for up to six months, earning taken the trouble to attend the event. Checking out valuable time to explore options for saving the pub.” the adjoining pubs, I was sorry to see that the Hero of Aliwal was still closed. I suspect that this pub We know of at least two occasions when we were needs to discover a niche market in order to survive informed too late to stop the change of use. So if between the Letter B and the Boat Inn where land - you think your local is in danger, please let us lord Phil is maintaining his commitment to offering know. If we don’t know about it there is nothing real ale to a high standard. I hope to have more we can do. positive information on the future of Whittlesey John Temple Pubs Officer pubs in the next issue. There has been some welcome renaming in Other News March. The Little London Inn has reverted to The Bluebell in Helpston now has it’s own bitter its former name the Men of March . And the “10 Woodgate” brewed by Star Brewery in Market men of March have prevailed again in Stars where Deeping. Originally known as The Bell Inn, the the misguided plan to convert the pub into a bistro Ancient Order of Foresters (Court Forester’s Star) has been abandoned and it is now back to its orig - was founded there in 1841. inal name, the Seven Stars , with a policy of beer first rather than food first. I was alarmed on my way into town that the inn Send us your news! sign for the Coachmakers was still missing but relieved to find that the pub had reopened in July. Calling all landlords and landladies! Had a refurb? It was offering Green King IPA, Abbot, and St. Got a great event on? Started selling a new range Austell Tribute at between £2.20 and £2.50 a pint of ales or cider? Let us know and we will add your and they are in the process of restoring the sign. news to these pages. Just email John Temple at Whilst a debate raged in this bar concerning the [email protected]
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE Brewery News
Blue Bell Elgoods Emma is very positive about the future of bottling North Brink Porter will be at Blue Bell. Bespoke sales to the corporate available for November and bottling market for special events and occasions are will be followed by Reinbeer increasing and sales to the Co-operative are for the festive season. remaining steady. The only beer being bottled is The recent Elgoods/SIBA competition and beer Old Honesty and this will remain the case for the festival was well attended and considered a success foreseeable future. Cask sales are static. by the brewery. Elgoods gained success in the competition with Apple & Vanilla Wheat , Castor Ales Black Eagle , Golden Newt and Warrior It has been a delicate gaining awards in their various classes. balancing act recently trying to keep the local outlets On the pubs front, The Blue Bell , Werrington supplied whilst supplying will reopen on 12th December with new landlady pubs and beer festivals all over the country. Helen Wearby at the helm. Ales on sale will include Hopping Toad appeared at the Rook and Gaskill Cambridge, Golden Newt, a seasonal and London in York, up against a range of Yorkshire’s finest Pride. Will be open all day and for breakfasts. ales. It then headed down south to Farnborough, and then to the deepest west to Falmouth for the Hopshackle Brewery Cornwall (Kernow) Beer Festival. New beer Midas 5.2% is now available and is a golden, malty, fruity beer with a dry finish. Beer is the perfect complement to good causes Hopshackle Christmas beer Jingle 5.2% is also and Castor Ales were very pleased to support the available. A very dark spiced beer which went Heron beer festival in aid of Alzheimer’s Research extremely well last Christmas. Hopshackle’s new UK and Crystal Charity Ball in Spalding in aid of brewery will be installed the first week in March the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. 2015. It is a replica of the existing brewery, to Hopping Toad of course, is forever associated match the retained fermenter and to keep the feel with the Kelly Simmonds Fund raising money for of the old brewery and its sense of tradition and the Respiratory Sleep Study Unit at Papworth history. Hospital. Look out for new brews as winter’s grip tightens and the December festivities take hold. All the new vessels will be clad in pine with an Merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful and pros - antique finish. The existing mezzanine floor is perous New Year to all. Cheers! being retained and the larger mash tun will gravity feed the copper. It will have a maximum brewing Digfield Ales capacity of 13 barrels (468 gallons) compared to Digfield Ales were the existing 4.2 barrels (151.2 gallons) Nigel has delighted with their designed it so that he can brew anything from five Bronze award for Chiffchaff at the Peterborough barrels up to the maximum of 13. Retaining one Beer Festival. The 3.9% amber-gold bitter has of the existing fermenters will allow ‘one-off’ been very well received everywhere including the seasonals and specials like Restoration 9.5% and Nottingham and Falmouth beer festivals. Digfield’s Imperial Stout 9.3%. Xmas ale, Merry Monk 4.8% was brewed back in September, leaving time for the dark malty The existing brewery kit is to be sold and there bitter to develop its full character in the cask before will be no disruption in the supply of beer as stocks the season begins. Digfield ales will again be avail - will be built up. able in polypins during December.
BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Brewery news continued | 15 Kings Cliffe Brewery (KCB) Nene Valley Brewery KCB ales are following on from Brewery Liaison Officer, Bob their success at the Peterborough Melville made a trip out to the Beer Festival with regular appear - brewery in mid-October to ances at pubs in and around Peterborough, plus present Dick and Paul with the appearances at Nottingham and St Ives Festivals. certificates for Bible Black from the 2014 Peter - Throughout December KCB will be supplying their borough Beer Festival. They were very pleased two regular ales 5C and No 10 at a local near you. to receive them and that the trip had been made. The certificates now take pride of place in the Acting on the customer feedback the KCB Pump Brewery Shop. Clip will be modified with the brewery name in full. OBT has now been discontinued and in its place is The first batch of Lone Star , a 3.7% 66 Degrees a sweet and floral 4.6% ale, using amber/red ale, is now out in pubs and another Fuggles, Challenger and East Kent Goldings hops. brew will soon be ready for the Christmas trade. The brew uses Caramalt and there is an orange Mile Tree Brewery flavour from the hops. In late September Mile Tree were very proud to be Bible Black will no longer be brewed in two presented with SIBA Eastern strengths but will only be available at 6.5%. Like Region bronze award for their 1850 Porter 5.3%. the Double JIP reported previously, Bible Their bottle label now sports a bronze medal! Black and Fenland Farmhouse Saison (7.2%) will be available in the Brewery Shop in October saw two brewery tours, the first on 22nd 330 ml bottles. October by Ramsey Young Farmers who sampled a selection of bottled beers. Good fun was had by all! At the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food The second on 28th October by Peterborough and Drink Awards, Nene Valley were runners-up Conservative Club. There was a good turn out and in the New Local Drink of the Year category the visitors sampled Harvest Ale , Autumn Ale , with Big Bang Theory . The team were disap - plus a selection of bottled beers, and a BBQ. A very pointed not to win but, since the winner was a enjoyable evening! cider, they are, technically, the best new beer in the category. In December they will be taking their 'Travellin’ Tavern’ or gazebo to the following events, where This week the brewery are trialling one-way customers will be able to buy individual/ Christmas kegging of their beers to ensure the quality when gift wrapped bottles of ale. transported to some of the far-flung parts of the UK. The beers will still be unfiltered when put 6th Dec - Sacrewell Farm and Activity Centre into the kegs. 7th Dec - March Christmas Market 13th Dec - Ferry Meadows Christmas Fayre Things are definitely gearing up for the opening 14th Dec - Sacrewell Farm and Activity Centre of the Tap & Kitchen on November 24th, so 15th Dec - Wisbech Christmas Market hopefully trading will be in full swing by the time 20th Dec - Sacrewell Farm and Activity Centre you read this article. 21st Dec - Sacrewell Farm and Activity Centre Oakham Ales Not ones to rest on their laurels they are now looking Oakham Ales won a gold and silver to extend their customer supply area further afield. medal in the recent SIBA East (Society of Independent Brewers) Beer Competition. Black Hole Porter won F
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BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Brewery news continued | 17 the top prize in the Porters, Stouts, Old Ales and Tydd Steam Strong Milds category and Bishops Farwell Dr Fox's Cunning picked up the silver medal in Premium Bitters. Linctus 4.4% and Golden These two beers were nominated by sixty-nine Kiwi 4.1% are currently judges and selected from over 150 cask ales available. The autumn seasonal is The Leveller entered into the competition. Black Hole 4.7%, a dark winter beer. Sales to beer festivals are Porter will now go through to the SIBA national strong at the moment with the beers going to finals which take place at ‘Beer X’ in Sheffield in Bedford, Norwich, Nottingham and Falmouth. March 2015. Sales of Barn Ale to the local free trade are robust and the brewery is working at capacity. Black Hole Porter 5.5% is one of the popular beers within Oakham Ales aged and vintage range, Xtreme Ales with big, dark malt flavours and looks almost black The new 2.5 Barrel brewing in colour. It has a sweet, fruity hop taste that equipment has been safely makes this strong porter easy to drink for its transferred and installed comparatively high strength. Bishops Farewell with test brewing scheduled 4.6% is available all year round and is a strong for mid to late November. In the meantime the premium beer dominated by elaborate fruity hop small kit is still running at full capacity with Mike notes with a grainy background and dry finish. and Neil trying to keep up with the ever-growing Adrian Posnett, managing director of Oakham demand. Ales says: “With so many different cask ales to choose from, it’s fantastic to win a gold and silver Nottingham Beer Fest was a great success for the medal at this highly competitive regional beer brewery, all three beers selling out. Beers have competition. We now have the chance to compete been on sale locally at The Vine, Coates, which again, at the national finals next year with our held a War Memorial Charity Weekend which Black Hole Porter .” featured Plum Mild . They have also sold Squab Beer and will have more on soon. The Letter B at The last Oakadamy beer for 2014 will be Forty Whittlesey had Evil Pigeon during their Merit Two 4.2%, featuring 42 different hops. See if you Award Presentation, it went so well can spot them all! it could become a regular! The Dragon in Werrington had Finally 2015 will see the expansion of the Chocolate Plums on at brewery and offices, plus changes to the their annual Halloween Oakademy and vintage beer ranges. Watch this Beer Festival. The space! Ploughman, Werrington had a special beer to cele - Star Brewing Company brate Tracy McLennan’s Star’s latest brew is a traditional stout Birthday (pictured right). Dark Matter 4.4%. They have recently been distributing Simcoe They were proud to support locally, which is one of their “Solus” range of the first ever Knightfest at the Heron in single hop speciality beers. Also planned in this Stanground. Xtreme Ales, with the help of organ - range are single hopped beers using Amarillo and iser Jayne Paul, ran a competition to name the Mount Hood respectively. Black Hole 4.4%, a festival special beer. The winner was Philippa traditional stout was a “one off” special brew for Millard with MusicAle and this was the first beer the recent Knightfest charity beer and music to run out at the festival. festival.
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE Follow The Bear
Many of you will no doubt be looking forward to what is arguably the first beer festival in 2015 - Whittlesey Straw Bear Day on Saturday 10th January where in the town’s pubs you will find over 50 different real ales on sale. You will also be able to sample at least 3 real ales brewed specially for the Straw Bear Festival – Elgoods Straw Beer; Oakham Straw Bear Ale and Tydd Steam Beartown. If you haven’t discovered the delights of Dance Schedule and more information about the Straw Bear Day I hope the following will persuade event can be found on www.strawbear.org.uk. you to put the date in your diary.
36th Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival Between 12 and 12.30 the procession moves from the Market Place down High Causeway to the Ivy The Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival celebrates the Leaf Club. Between 1.30 and 3pm the procession old Fenland plough custom of parading straw can be found in the Church Street / Ramsey Road bears around the town every January and the area and dancers perform both inside and outside activities cover three days. There is also a concert pubs like the Boat, Falcon, Hero of Aliwal and on the evening of Friday 9th January at the Ivy Letter B. Between 3 and 3.30 the procession Leaf Club, a Barn Dance on Saturday evening at arrives in the Market Place for the ‘Grand Finale’ Sir Harry Smith Community College, and at the With the relaxation of the order banning the same venue on Sunday between 12 noon and 2.30 consumption of alcohol in the street between is the Burning of the Bear. 10am and 5pm on Straw Bear Day drinkers can Straw Bear Saturday walk around the town with a pint in their hands (plastic glasses of course but you can bring your On Saturday a procession of at least 250 colourful own solid plastic one such as those issued by York dancers and musicians from all over the country Beer Festival; your pewter tankard is also OK). led by Straw Bears – both adult and junior – sets off at 10.30am from the Manor Leisure Centre Where to find Real Ales and arrives in the Market Place at 10.45am. A number of pubs set up stillages of real ales Between 10.45 and 12 noon the crowds of people inside and outside the pub including: - who fill the Market Place and Market Street Boat, 2 Ramsey Road – up to 10 real ales from (closed to traffic all morning) are entertained by Elgoods and guests outside nearly 40 teams of Morris Dancers, Molly Falcon Hotel, London Street – up to 16 real Dancers, Sword Dancers (Rapper and ales outside Longsword), Appalachian Dancers, Clog Dancers Hero of Aliwal, Church Street – up to 6 real and even a Mummers Play. A programme is avail - ales inside able for a donation and gives an approximate time Hubs Place, 12 Market Place – up to 10 real when and where different dance teams are ales outside performing. It is available on the day or in pubs Ivy Leaf Club , Gracious Street – up to 8 real like the Letter B in the days beforehand. The ales from casks on the bar F BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk 19
Straw Bear festival - continued | 21 Letter B , 53 Church Street – up to 25 real ales 9am but has a restricted menu (and many tables predominately from local micro-breweries and 10 are taken away to get more customers in!); The ciders/perries inside Grasmere Farm catering trailer will be in the car New Crown , High Causeway – up to 15 real park of The Boat all day; Letter B has a Hog ales inside and outside Roast by Fenland Roaster; other pubs will be Quinn’s Bar , 24 Market Street – up to 6 real selling rolls, snacks, soup etc. The Dog in a ales inside Doublet, situated 1½ miles north of the town, is a Railway Inn, 139 Station Road (near Railway pub that does have a full menu all day. Station i.e. 15 minutes walk from town centre) – up to 8 real ales outside Whittlesey by Public Transport Straw Bear pub, 103 Drybread Road - up to BUS 12 real ales and 6 ciders/perries From Peterborough Stagecoach bus 31/33 leaves Queensgate every Other pubs in Whittlesey likely to sell Straw Bear half hour (05 and 35 mins past the hour) – beers and/or extra real ales on Straw Bear Day returning to Peterborough half hourly at 06 and include: - Black Bull, 18 Market Street; Bricklayers 36 from Whittlesey Market Place with the last two Arms, Station Road; Childers Club, 1a Station Road; buses at 17.36 and 18.36. Stagecoach Peterbor - George, 10 Market Place; and Ram, 16 Delph. ough Day Rider is valid on this route. Judds Bus 701 hourly from 9.30 to 17.30 - last buses back to Tips for Real Ale Drinkers Peterborough at 16.30 and 17.30. 1. The George gets very full for most of the day so From March: Stagecoach bus 33 every 2 hours arrive in Whittlesey early and make this your first at 09.25, 11.25 & 13.25 with last bus back to or second visit. March at 19.00 2. Beers on stillages can run out by mid afternoon particularly at Hubs Place and New Crown so visit From Ramsey: Stagecoach bus 31 every 2 hours them early in the day. at 09.01, 11.04 and 13.01 with the last bus back to 3. The Letter B gets very full from 4pm and the Ramsey at 18.30. door may be closed so don’t turn up at 5pm and expect to get in! TRAIN* From Peterborough : Every 2 hours at 09.50 Food in Pubs on Straw Bear Day and 11.50 etc, with last trains back to Peterbor - The Railway Inn is selling full English breakfasts ough at 19.28 and 21.28. from 7am; The Straw Bear pub is selling buffet breakfasts from 7.30am to 12 noon, then basket meals etc. until 7pm; Ivy Leaf Club has bacon From Ely (& March): Every 2 hours at 08.58 rolls etc. from 7.30am; The George sells food from (09.17); 10.58 (11.17) etc. with the last trains back to March & Ely at 19.58 and 21.53. *Please note the railway station is 15 to 20 mins walk from the Market Place.
Don’t Miss This Unique Event A ‘Must Do’ for real ale drinkers. Aim to get to Whittlesey by 10.30am to see the whole event and don’t forget the last buses leave the town at half past six! Mick Slaughter
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Join us and spend some time at our exclusive members bar. We have several activities available including Darts, Snooker, Bingo and our in-house disco.
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Tel: 01778 560238 Barholm, Stamford, Lincs PE9 4RA
A Traditional Ale House with an open fire freshly Six Real Ales with four on rotation 3 Ciders • 2 Lagers • Fine Wine & Spirits made pizzas large beer garden • Pool room cooked in an authentic wood-fired pizza oven Christmas Opening Times 22nd and 23rd Dec 3-11pm, Christmas Eve: 12-11pm, every Friday from Christmas Day: 12-2pm, Boxing Day: 12-11pm 5.30-10pm and the last Saturday of the month from 5.30pm - 9pm
BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER / JANUARY 2014-15 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Disappearing Boozers of Stamford | 23 Disappearing Boozers of Stamford
Often, when I mention in conversation that I live in Stamford, people enthuse “Oh yes, all those great pubs!” Indeed the town has always been known for its many watering holes, but sadly the national rate of closures (up from 16 to 18 a week, I read recently) has affected Stamford just as badly The Victoria on Ryhall Road, now a private dwelling as anywhere else. In the south-western quarter of Auchterlonie but sadly his wife Anne’s illness the town alone we have lost no fewer than ten pubs meant they had to move on. The pub never recov - or clubs in the last couple of decades with a mere ered and is now a beauty salon. In its earlier life as two opening to replace them. Admittedly the two the Reindeer this was the pub that taught me not are the Tobie Norris and Mama Liz;s, both recent to drink Ruddles County at lunchtime. Younger winners of this branch’s Pub Of The Year award readers should be aware that County then was one (so it’s not, quite, all doom and gloom) but my of the premier strong ales in the country, uniquely point is that nine community drinking establish - twice winner of the prestigious International ments (if you don’t count the RAFA club which Brewex Award, and not the thin, Suffolk-brewed metamorphosed into the Norris) have been lost, imitation foisted upon us today. probably forever, and from a personal point of view the saddest thing is that I can remember The General Gordon in Wharf Road, run for drinking in all of them at one time or another... what seemed like decades by the Jakes family during the 60s and 70s, finally fell from grace in The Victoria on Ryhall Road has been a private the early 90s. My football team drank in there house since the 1990s. I went in there one post-match and you could never be sure from one Thursday night as the vanguard on a stag night (in week to the next just who the licensees would be. the days when such events were held a mere two Eventually it closed (rumour had it that a single days before the wedding) and asked for seventeen cellar beam was holding the entire building up) pints of bitter (probably Sam Smith’s Old Brewery only to reopen briefly in the mid-90s as Fat Boys' given that the Vic was a Melbourn's house). The Bar. Finally it was demolished and flats now adorn landlord gave me a look and asked “Is it a stag the site. night?” Resisting the temptation to reply “No, they’re all for me but I’m extremely thirsty so can Cummins (formerly Newage) Social Club, a few you start pouring please” I dully said “Yes”. doors down from the Gordon, closed its doors earlier this year and is to become an IT hub. The O’Brien’s Arms at the top of Brazenose Although no real ale was offered in latter years, Lane was about ten seconds’ walk from my girl - there were two handpumps in use previously and friend's house in the mid-80s, but apart from one the ale was always worth drinking. function it never got my custom. Even in those far- off days the words Watney Mann meant I kept Just across the town bridge, the Anchor closed in walking. The pub is now Stamford School's 2001. Much of its trade at one time came from medical centre. lorry drivers overnighting on the nearby cattle market but when that facility closed the pub The Daniel Lambert (St Leonard’s Street) was a suffered. The landlord and landlady (his domain thriving boozer in the 90s and early 2000s under was the kitchen while she kept the ale in top- former Met police officer and opera buff Tom notch condition) moved on, as I recall, to the F
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BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Disappearing Boozers of Stamford continued
White Swan at Harringworth. The classic Anchor building now wears its Pizza Express logo with a faint air of embarrassment. MONDAYS: REAL ALE AND CIDER CLUB Round the corner the George Tap is now part of TUESDAYS: PIE & PINT NIGHT the George Business Centre to the rear of the WEDNESDAYS: MIDWEEK MADNESS eponymous hotel. I recall it being popular with FRIDAYS: BIG COVER BANDS RAF personnel from Wittering going on leave who SATURDAYS: ANYTHING GOES would buy their tickets from the nearby railway SUNDAYS: ACOUSTIC AFTERNOON station before repairing to the Tap for a pint or + QUIZ NIGHT two of Newcastle Exhibition whilst waiting for the train. The Morgado family ran the pub before DECEMBER DAYS moving on to greater things at the Bull and Swan and the Royal Oak, Duddington. OF CHRISTMAS - A different offer each day! Back across the river, the Dolphin in East Street, which only closed at the end of last year, never Friday 5th Dec - Rock Out really recovered in my opinion from the departure The best rock tribute show of entrepreneurial landlord Mik Maksimovic and Thursday 11th Dec - Open Mic Night his wife Tina at the end of the 90s. It will almost - Christmas party version certainly become a residential property. Friday 12th Dec - Johnny Cash Tribute Free Johny Cash tribute show The Half Moon in Star Lane was briefly busy in the early 90s when Bert and Eileen Murray ran it Saturday 13th Dec- Dr Busker in tandem with the Bull at Deeping, but it had Party sing-a-long and much more been a Chinese restaurant for a number of years Tuesday 16th Dec- School Choir before Domino's Pizza took it over last Christmas. Local school Christmas carol concert In the 1990s I lived in St Paul's Street with the Wednesday 24th Dec Moon, Dolphin and Lord Burghley all within a Christmas Eve Free Party, open to all minute’s walk from my door. Happy daze. JANUARY Also in St Paul’s Street was the RAFA Club, now the Tobie Norris as mentioned earlier. A quirk of NEW YEAR – NEW DRINKS the law, involving an agreement between the ex- A new drink on offer every day! forces association, the police and the licensing Wednesday 7th Jan authority, meant that as long as a member was on Midweek Madness Mega Quiz the premises then the bar could be open. A work colleague of mine was a member and, well, you Saturday 10th Jan 60’s Night of music can guess the rest. and fancy dress Wednesday 28th Meet the (cider) Well-known beer writer Pete Brown calls the pub Brewers – come and chat and taste “the primordial cell of British life” and “the back - Rockin Weekender 30th - 31st bone of social history”. Fine, bold words, but how Including live music from Porky Pig many vertebrae can a backbone lose before it and Children Of The Revolution buckles completely? Alun Thomas 749 Lincoln Rd, New England PE1 3HD Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk thecrownonline 26 |The Hand and Heart A Big Hand for Perfect Beers!
Paul and Sue Brammer (centre) receiving the Gold award for the Hand and Heart.
Late September, nights are drawing in and leaves We also voted for it because it is a REAL pub, falling - but there was still a good crowd in the beer with REAL people both behind the bar and in garden at the Hand and Heart in Highbury Street, front of it – the place is full of characters; Bram is Millfield, Peterborough, when a special presenta - just the loudest of them! Some of those marvel - tion was made to the landlords. lous characters built this beer shed – proving they are a valuable part of a truly good old-fashioned The CAMRA Gold Award was handed to Paul community. The Hand is also a worthy award- Brammer and his wife Susan by two of their nomi - winner because it has such a pleasant garden – nators, Mrs Sally Hooton and Dr Graham Simms. thanks to the landlady – which is perfect for events The presentation was held on the first night of the such as this. Good for you, Sue.” pub’s autumn beer festival – which, as ever, drew the crowds to enjoy the bounties of the garden But The Hand is not just a beacon for discerning beer shed! beer drinkers, it is also a part of our heritage. Little has changed since the 1930s, apart from the name On the stage, handing over the coveted award, over the door and the range of ales on offer. Long nominator Sally Hooton said: “Chris and I voted may it last! for The Hand and Heart because it was long overdue recognition – it has excellent real ale and, Please drink a toast to The Hand, to Bram and as we are former publicans ourselves, we know Sue and to their valiant efforts to keep the doors of how much effort goes into not just putting the this heritage pub open. brown stuff into those glasses, but into making it perfect every time. And it IS perfect every time Sally Hooton here at The Hand, thanks to Bram.
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• Food Served Daily • 12-3pm Monday - Sunday 6-9pm Friday & Saturday
Sky HD and BT showing Football and Rugby
t. 01780 755141 w. jollybrewer.com Foundry Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2PP
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3 real ales, 1 real cider and 6 draught beers Game room, Sky & BT sport Freshly prepared food Tuesday to Sunday. Our garden, bars and restaurants are available for your Wedding, office or birthday party. Christmas Menu now available running 1st - 24th December. Further information available at www.thebluebellpub.com 9 High Street, Easton on the Hill, PE9 3LR. Tel: 01780 763003 Email: [email protected] Find us on Facebook: The Blue Bell
BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk |29 Telford Rail Ale Trail
Saturday 17th May was another great Mick Slaughter Ale Trip. This time we went to Shrop - shire for the Telford Rail Ale Trail, which included, if you wanted, a visit to one of Britain’s Best Real Heritage Pubs, The Bulls Head in Wrockwardine Wood, Telford. White Hart, Shifnal
Must also add that the ladies toilets were so clean, and smelt so sweet, a nice change from some that we visit.
With a heavy heart we caught the next train onwards to Shifnal, where we could visit three pubs and have lunch at The White Hart . First port of call was Odfellows Wine Bar (don’t be Codsall Station put off by the name), Market Street, Shifnal, turn left out of the station and it’s 20 yards along the Our first port of call on a hot sunny Saturday road. There I had Best Odley Bitter BOB 3.8%, (for a change) was Codsall Station . The train again a great beer brewed at The Bell & Talbot, pulled in we got off, and the bar was open, what Bridgnorth. They have a notice about “BOB” beer more could you ask for? Some took a stroll into the as follows: Have you met BOB? Best Odley Bitter village to visit The Bull Hotel , a Marston’s pub, is our own real ale, brewed in tiny batches with and the Crown which sells two guest beers but as great care and increasing level of competence at the sun was out and the beer cold, we stayed put. our little pub in Bridgnorth, the legendary Bell & Holden’s Mild 3.7% drank well and was part of Talbot. Weighing in at a quaffable 3.8% it’s on the the Shropshire CAMRA, Mild in May, for which bar now at just £2.40 a pint so why not give it a you were given a passport plus a stamp for every whirl. Well worth the money. pint of beer you bought and at the end of the month post it in with the chance to win a T-Shirt. Out of the pub and turn right back past the Got the passport and the stamps, but not sure if station where you will come across The White enough to send in! Other beers available at Codsall Hart , where we had booked to have lunch. Mick, Station were, Wood’s Pot of Gold 4.4%, (had one as usual, had phoned the orders through and as of those as well, very nice), Peerless Viking Gold got our beers, the food arrived. There were no 4.6% (my friend Ann had that one). Also available complaints just empty plates. This is a nice pub was Holden’s Bitter 3.9%, Holden’s Special Bitter with lots of small rooms, which you have to go 5.1% and Holden’s Golden Glow 4.4%. All beers through to get outside. Perhaps help is needed if were on hand pumps, well-kept and if only the trip you have had one over the eight. Another Holden’s had stayed there I would have tried them all. Mild and another stamp for the passport. The F Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE 30 | Telford rail ale trail - continued
included Oakham Citra, Inferno and Bishops Farewell and that they would be having a beer festival with the pub next door, Old Fighting Cocks. The pub has lots of pictures of train memorabilia and a notice to say you cannot smoke E-cigarettes at the bar.
We left here (some of us) via a taxi to go to The Bulls Head at Wrockwardine Wood, a Heritage Pub. As we pulled up outside the top of the windows had been boarded up and there was no-one in the bar. For a moment we thought it was closed, but we found the side door open and Kelly the landlady/licensee was very welcoming.
Station Hotel, Oakengates
landlord had a small problem as he had just put the Mild on and the hand pump dropped to bits and he had to do running repairs before they could serve any beer. He managed admirably!
Next visit was into The Plough back towards the station, logically thought out to visiton the way back to the train. Here I found Kelham Island 20th Century Boy 4.8%, and the pump clip was a picture of Marc Bolan. For girls of that era ohhhhhh! Also available were Three Tuns Mild 3.4% and seven others, that after seeing Marc, I could not remember, but the pub is well worth a visit as it is a 17th century Grade II listed building with exposed beams and tiled floors. Have to add here that again the ladies toilet was so clean with pictures by Beryl Cook on the walls. Then a quick six minute walk back to the station, but it is a long, steep, slow slog to get over the bridge to catch the train, please take a little longer than the six minutes especially after lunch and beer! The Bull’s Head, Wrockwardine Wood Train again onto Oakengates, where you will find the golden triangle of three Good Beer Guide pubs – Kelly has been there since 2013 and is trying to get Crown Inn , Old Fighting Cocks and Station the front bar up and running after the windows Hotel - also the Duke of York , all within 10 had bricks thrown through them. This has not yards of one another. I visited The Station Hotel, deterred her and the front bar is magnificent with and had Pictish Brewing Company Summer 4.5%, it’s beautiful tiles. This is an old Victorian pub and also available was Bathams Best Bitter 4.3% plus had a door at the front to the left that the ladies eight others all between 3.8% and 5.2% and cider. would use to enter the pub, where they had their They had a sign up of forthcoming beers, which own small room. Again the tiles around the door
BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Telford rail ale trail - continued | 31
Tiled interior and Ceramic exterior of The Posada, Wolverhampton
entrance outside and the floor tiles were just stun - Along the road is a Weatherspoon’s, The ning. Kelly did not have a landline fitted in the pub William Withering on New Street. I didn’t get but she did pass her number to Mick, so contact time to visit though some of the group did. can be made for future visits. I would advise anyone in the area to go and see this gem. The Another train to Wolverhampton, and then we beer we drank was Shropshire Gold, others were visited The Posada , again a great little old real on in the back bar. heritage pub with a wonderful frontage, I liked this one – it has a rare set of snob screens on the bar Our next stop was the Cock Hotel , Wellington, back and tiled walls. My last pint of the day was again a West Midlands Real Heritage Pub and you Marston’s EPA 3.6%, a good pint, and Ann’s was can see why. The fixtures and fittings are well Lancaster Blonde 4.1%. Other beers available reported in the guide but I was fascinated by a were Backyard Brewhouse Spring 3.6%, Castle picture on the wall which states that the first record Rock Harvest Pale 3.8%, Adnams Southwold of a pub on this site is 1820, and that previous Bitter 3.7% and Punk IPA 5.6% in bottles. landlords had all died between the age of 50 and 52, not a good trade then. In July 1901 you could Some of the group went onto the Lynch Gate stay here and stable your horses for £26-05-00d a Tavern just up the road, a pub created by Black night. Now run by Peter Neal and Jane Elizabeth Country Ales in former offices, but I chose to stay Holland Aider since 1999. Another great pub, with put and watch the end of the F.A. Cup Final. lots of character and worth a stop if in the area. The next train was back to Birmingham and From here we went via a taxi to Pheasant on then to Peterborough and a good day was had by Market Street, our taxi driver had no idea where it all. Thanks again Mick for all your input and was and drove past it ……. but we got there. This knowledge, it was a great day out. is an Everards Project William Pub, and only opened in May 2014 after refurbishment as the All photos by Mick Slaughter. Ironbridge Brewery Tap, so is still very new and nice. Roz Fountain
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE 32 | Please support our advertisers
The Ramblewood Inn ‘The pub in the woods’
All food The all day venue – Open for meals and purchased when snacks 12pm to 9pm daily 50% you spend £25 A conservatory restaurant with food served all OFF day, nooks and crannies in the old stables, outdoor or more seating and extensive parking, plus a selection of Real Ales. Name
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& Spa, The Village, Orton Longueville, Terms and Conditions - Coupon valid only when £25 or more is spent on food, cannot be exchanged for cash, does not apply to spend on drinks Peterborough, PE2 7DN cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, not valid for parties in excess of 8 people. Valid until Thursday 29th January 2015. Excluding 19th - 26th Dec, 31st Dec 2014 and 1st January 2015. Tel: 01733 391111 If you do not wish to receive further promotions please tick here.
For special offers, news and travel directions visit www.traditionalinns.co.uk
BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER / JANUARY 2014-15 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk Live music in a pub near you | 33 Gig guide BREAKING NEWS! Promotion for Jessica Loock the General December Manager of the Brewery Tap. Mon 1st Unplugged Charters Congratulations are in order for Brewery Fri 5th Lenny G Conservative Club Tap Manager Jessica Loock. Jess, a familiar individual and supporter of real ale in the Sat 6th Mark Steele Conservative Club city, has been promoted to Business Phoenix Straw Bear, Whittlesey Performance Manager for the Oaka Group. Overdubs Dragon, Werrington We wish her every success. The High Rollers Charters Santas needed for Charity event! Fri 12th Eric Cloud Conservative Club The Brewery Tap and Charters Bar have joined Rocket Dogs Dragon, Werrington forces with Grasshopper Productions to raise funds Children of the Revolution Charters for Sue Ryder’s Thorpe Hall Hospice Appeal. They Sat 13th In The Red Conservative Club are looking for 200 Santas to join them on their Santa Arc Nation Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor Crawl. The Santa Crawl, taking place on Saturday 13th December, will kick off at 3:30pm from the The Guards Dragon, Werrington Brewery Tap in Westgate, with promotional offers, Groove Cartel Charters live music and fun games along the way, the Santas Fri 19th Hi Definition Conservative Club will move around the city centre visiting several Chuck Norris Experience Charters venues before reaching Charters Bar where music will Children of the Revolution be provided by Groove Cartel. Tickets are £10 per Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor person which will see a proportion going directly to Sat 20th The Business Conservative Club the Sue Ryder Hospice Appeal. Each attendee will Velocity Straw Bear, Whittlesey be provided with a Santa Costume. Ring 01733 315766 for more details. Elvis Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor Hooker Dragon, Werrington The Bluebell Inn Sun 21st Savoy Jazz Conservative Club Wed 24th Mike Nelson Conservative Club Helpston Boobonyx Straw Bear, Whittlesey Are we the only Sat 27th Dale Andrews Conservative Club pub to have two The Guards Straw Bear, Whittlesey different images The 707 Dragon, Werrington on our pub sign? Ultimate Unplugged Charters Wed 31st League of Mentalmen We’re like to think we’re different for other (Ticket Only) Dragon, Werrington reasons too – we’re a proper village local Grounded (Ticket Only) Charters with a really warm welcome to all. We serve great local cask conditioned ales (always a January choice of 4 including “10 Woodgate” which is Fri 9th One Bloke One Mandolin specially brewed just for us.) Straw Bear, Whittlesey Serving fresh, seasonal, locally sourced produce, Sat 10th Pennyless Straw Bear, Whittlesey our menu offers something for everyone. Sat 17th James Edmonds Straw Bear, Whittlesey Sat 31sh Psych-o-bombs Straw Bear, Whittlesey We hope you’ll visit soon.
The Bluebell, Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough PE6 7ED Tel: 01733 252394 Email: [email protected]
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk DECEMBER 2014 / JANUARY 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
Events and beer festivals | 35
Dia ry dates CAMRA meetings and socials
December Saturday 13th 1 bus route into town, taking in Saturday 6th Christmas in the City Crawl. various hostelries en route. CAMRA Christmas Party, The We will be holding our tradi - Ploughman, Werrington, PE4 6NA. tional pub crawl of Peterborough January pubs starting at The Ploughman, Monday 12th at 8.30pm Wednesday 10th at 8.30pm Werrington, PE4 6NA at 10am Branch Committee Meeting, Peterborough Branch AGM, for breakfast. If you require The Solstice, Northminster, Brewery Tap, Peterborough, PE1 breakfast at £5.50, please Peterborough, PE1 1YN. All 2AA. All members welcome, contact Social Secretary John members welcome, please bring please bring membership card. Hunt. We will then follow the No membership card.
Beer Festivals CAMRA and other beer festivals in the coming months
December Wed 3rd – Sat 6th January Tues 2nd -Sat 6th. 13th Harwich and Dovercourt Wed 21st - Sat 24th 31st Pigs Ear Beer and Cider Bay Winter Ale Festival, Manchester Beer & Cider Festival, Round Chapel, 1d Kingsway Hall, Dovercourt. Festival. With over 500 beers, Glenarm Road Hackney E5 50+ real ales, emphasis on dark ciders and perries on offer. For 0PU. 400+ beers. Magnificent and seasonal brews as well as more info please visit: English Heritage restored venue cider, draught and bottled conti - manchesterbeerfestival.org.uk. with seated gallery area. nental beers.
The Jolly Sailor, 43 Great Whyte, Ramsey PE26 1HH
Tel 01487 813388
OPEN ALL DAY EVERY DAY FROM 11am Five Real Ales on permanently FOOD SERVED DAILY Monday to Friday: 12 to 2.30, 6 to 9pm Saturday: 12 to 9pm Sunday: 12 to 4pm FESTIVE MENU’S Menus available for Christmas parties and Christmas Day Booking now being taken!
Sunday 7th December 8pm Karaoke 36 | Come to our Christmas party! CAMRA Christmas Party
Saturday 6th December 2014 at The Ploughman, Festival is our crowning glory each August on the Werrington. Tickets are £5 per person. The Nuggets Embankment. will be performing in the adjoining lounge bar, playing a selection of 60's hits from the Kinks How much does it cost? to Jimi Hendrix. The legendary Christmas Buffet will Membership of CAMRA is £15.50 (direct debit) for once again be available and as always a good selection under 26 and over 60, £23 (direct debit) for Full of ales. This event is for CAMRA Members ONLY Single and £28 (direct debit) for Full Joint Member - To apply for tickets, send your membership no. and a ship. For non-direct debit payments add £2. SAE DL size please with a cheque (made out to Rates increase from January 2015. ‘Peterborough CAMRA’), to 205 High Street, Old Fletton, Peterborough. PE2 8DY. We are hoping to What are the Benefits? provide a low-cost minibus or coach for those on the Well, in Peterborough & District, attendance at the south side of the Nene or in that direction. excellent Christmas Party for starters. We also have the social events throughout the year. There are also Missing the Party? Not a CAMRA free/reduced entrance to not only the Peterborough Member? beer festival but all CAMRA Beer festivals. You want Why not consider membership of CAMRA (The more! How about £20 worth of JD Wetherspoon's Campaign For Real Ale). The Peterborough & vouchers, plus further discounts. What are you District Branch is one of the largest in CAMRA waiting for? Visit www.camra.org.uk. Happy New with over 2,500 members. We are also a very active in Year and I look forward to meeting you in 2015. our Campaign to support Local Pubs, Breweries and Cheers Campaigning for drinker’s rights. We also have a very Mike Blakesley active social calendar and the Peterborough Beer Press Officer The at Maxey Blue Bell Traditional Free House • CAMRA Gold Award Winners 2005 • CAMRA Pub of the Year 2006 • Cambs Pub of the Year 2007 • Now with NINE Real Ales including Fullers ESB and London Pride, at least one Oakham Ale and SIX ever-changing quality guest ales Club & special event buffets on request Real fires in winter, always a friendly welcome!
MERRY XMAS TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS!
High Street, Maxey, Peterborough PE6 9EE Tel: 01778 348182 Top Tips | 37 TOP TIPS Pooper Scooper Put a new angle on scooping. Fed up with short measures? Why not use your pooper scooper? You will find that this sophisticated instrument is perfectly cali - brated for the twenty ounce glass. Simply wrap the open claws of the scooper around the glass and you will instantly see if you have the right quantity of beer.
Recent models even have a beveled edge to accommodate the government’s unholy insis - tence that a pint is now only 19.5 fluid ounces. Enjoy the look of confusion and ther o any o D e any anxiety on the faces of the bar staff as you ers hav read for start making notes. A word of warning. If l hints usefu ing the you happen to have a dog, keep a spare enhanc ng scooper in your pocket to avoid unnecessary drinki ence? incrustation. Ossie Ander experi Over 20 LocAles at Local Beer and Music Fest
The last weekend in September produced a ering over 20 under one roof and serving them all wonderful beer and music festival at the historic in such good condition. I just wish it could be a Hand & Heart in Highbury Street. The event more regular occurrence but unfortunately it only commenced on the Thursday evening with the happens twice yearly at present. The highlight for presentation of a CAMRA Gold Award for the me was, Castor Ales Afterburner , a light hoppy consistent good quality of beer served. beer with the addition of Scotch Bonnet chilli Being the branch LocAle rep, I was more than peppers. There was also an excellent showing from delighted to find over 20 locally brewed cask ales Xtreme Brewery of Turves, one of their 3 offer - of absolutely stunning quality. I visited the event ings a delicious Plum Mild at 4.5%. All of the 3 twice, once on the Thursday evening and again on sold out Xtremely fast, pardon the pun. The only the Sunday afternoon, and I can honestly say that downside is the “Hand” doesn’t always get the I didn’t taste one beer that I disliked. The LocAle support it deserves, those ale-lovers who cannot Campaign is obviously gathering pace as more and venture north of the river without an oxygen mask more breweries are springing up in our area. are truly missing out on some of the best kept beer Which in turn leads to more and more outlets in the area. Which leads us on to the first and fore - stocking a LocAle. This is all wonderful news to most campaign, “Use it or lose it!” real ale lovers and CAMRA supporters alike. Having so many local ales at one independent The landlord may be like Marmite, but the beer festival is, I believe, a first in our area, and can only is great. 10/10 for effort and attention to detail. be good for us all and the local economy. Licensee Dave McLennan and Landlord Bram did a commendable job gath - LocAle Officer
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk DECEMBER / JANUARY 2014-15 | BEER AROUND ERE 38 | CAMRA Contacts Branch Committee Young Members: Kara Williams Elgoods: John Hunt Secretary: Dickie Bird [email protected] 07923 489917 4 Cissbury Ring,Werrington Membership: Bob Melville Hopshackle: Noel Ryland Peterborough, PE4 6QH 07941 246693 07944 869656 01733 574226 (tel & fax) [email protected] 07731 993896 Kings Cliffe Brewery: [email protected] Festival Org: Mike Lane Mike Blakesley 07850 334203 07747 617527 Chairman: David Murray [email protected] 01733 560453 Melbourn: [email protected] LocAle Officer: Dave McLennan Vacant 01733 346059 (h) Nene Valley: Bob Melville Treasurer: Paul Beecham 07854 642773 (m) 07941 246693 01733 311981 [email protected] 07710 008693 Oakham Ales: Dave Allett [email protected] Webmaster: Harry Morten 07966 344417 [email protected] Vice Chair: Matthew Mace Tydd Steam: John Hunt 07809 629241 Brewery Liaison Officers 07923 489917 [email protected] Blue Bell: John Hunt Star Brewing Company: Social Sec: John Hunt 07923 489917 Dave McLennan 07854 642773. 07923 489917 Bexar County Brewery Xtreme Ales: Matt Mace [email protected] & Mile Tree Brewery: 07809 629241 Steve Williams Pubs Officer: John Temple 07756 066503 07905 051 312 Trading Standards [email protected] Castor Ales: Mike Lane 08545 040506 07850 334203 www.consumerdirect.gov.uk Press Officer: Mike Blakesley Check out our website at: 01733 390828 (h) Digfield: Dave Waller www.real-ale.org.uk 07747 617527 (m) 07821 912605 [email protected] Pub Merit Awards & Gold Awards
Does your local pub have excellent beer, friendly staff, a great atmosphere/ community spirit, or have they introduced additional hand pumps? If so nominate them for Gold or Merit Award. The new Merit Award is for pubs that are continuously outstanding, so if you know of a deserving pub within the branch area, please complete the form below indicating Gold or Merit Award and post to the secretary or email nominations to [email protected]. Pub name:
Pub address/town/village:
Reason for award:
Your name:
Your phone number or e-mail address:
Your membership number:
BEER AROUND ERE | DECEMBER / JANUARY 2014-15 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
g m , ree i t a ry st Th B s 1 e At Lea fa 1 rv r ca fo k o e t s! a t h a Ale e 8 t e Real r m n t o ca B a fr S f u ! y el o 5 r rs y e u s .9 v o a 5 e y ch £ lp u ly e m n H as o More than just a Carvery!
A great welcome awaits you at The Farmers, Yaxley. We are famous for our fresh vegetables and great carvery meats, succulent and served with all the trimmings, then finished off with a tantalising hot or cold dessert!
Check out our lunch-time grill menus and our ever- changing specials boards. Put it all together with three fine cask ales and you have the perfect place to enjoy Open Every Day dinner with friends or a family celebration. We have a self -contained function suite which is ideal for parties, 10am - 5.30pm All Day Menu & Coffee Midday - 2:30pm Carvery & Specials Menu weddings and all of life’s celebrations. 5:30pm - LATE Carvery & Grill Menu Sunday Open From 12 Noon - 9pm So if you’ve not been before give us a try and you’ll be All Day Carvery pleasantly surprised. Planning a wedding or special family event?
We have lots of packages available including our new Green Room facility. Please call for further details.
200 Broadway, Yaxley Tel: 01733 244885 Email: [email protected] www.thefarmersyaxley.co.uk