Wheatsheaf,

Solway Branch of CAMRA Summer 2014 the Black Lion Hethersgill CA6 6EH 01228-675318 Black Lion Beer Festival 22nd – 25th August inclusive, open 12 noon – 12 midnight 12+ Real Ales, 2+ ciders plus standard bar 11 Live Bands over the four days Camping 50 yards from the Pub Free admission to Beer Festival Food available Ring Stephen on 01228-675318 for details

The Blacksmiths Arms offers all the hospitality and comforts of a traditional Country Inn. Enjoy tasty meals served in our bar lounges or linger over dinner in our well appointed restaurant. Two regular real ales (Yates Bitter & Black Sheep) and two local ales from the Geltsdale Brewery in Brampton. Open daily 12-3, 6-11. The Jackson family extend their warm hospitality to all who frequent the Blacksmith's Arms.

Talkin, Brampton, , CA8 1LE 016977 3452 [email protected] www.blacksmithstalkin.co.uk Summer Pub of the Season 2008. Their commendable outlook is that the local area support them so they do their bit by using and selling local produce when- ever possible. The "Wheaty" usually has three real ales on sale. Corby Ale from Cum- berland Breweries is Wheatsheaf Inn, Wetheral a regular, with 2 changing guest real ales Congratulations to Lynne & Graham from other Cumbrian breweries. Watt, staff and "regulars" at the Wheatsheaf Please join us for the award presenta- for winning our Pub of the Season award for tion at 10pm on 11 July, 2014. the second time! Opening times are 12-11:30 Sun-Thurs and In selecting the Wheatsheaf, a number of 12-12 Fri and Sat. Food is served 12-2:30 our members commented on the friendly, and 5:45 to 8:30 each day except Monday relaxing atmosphere at the pub as well as and Tuesday the excellent quality of the real ales. The "Wheaty" is an attrac- tive, tradition- al inn. It’s a cosy pub with a friendly atmosphere where drink- ers and din- ers mingle and socialise. Outside there's an excellent beer garden. Dogs and Children are allowed but must be kept under control The “Wheaty” offers good value whether it’s their excellent homemade food or their rea- sonably priced range of real ales. Lynne and Graham have done an ex- cellent job since taking over the "Wheaty" in October

Ale Tales Summer 2014 3 Bar Fly Pub News If you are aware Street, . Very surprisingly it doesn't of any changes sell real ale, unlike other recently opened taking place in a (and planned) bars in the area. pub in our area Dog Beck Inn, Penrith, a then please let us new Wetherspoons pub, is know. Bar Fly is due to open in July. good but it is hard getting around over 150 outlets, even with wings! See Branch Contact for details of how to keep in touch. Solway Solway CAMRA wish Harry and Pat Ross, CAMRA has who ran the Howard Arms, Carlisle for over written in 30 years, a very long and happy retirement. support of It may be hard to imagine now, but when planning they took over the Howard it was a permission struggling pub with a bit of a "reputation". for the Moo Hard work and good humour, hospitality and Bar on management soon Devonshire turned it into the Street. We have heard that a very large one of the most number of handpumps are planned. Bar Fly popular pubs in the is keeping everything crossed, even his city. Welcome to wings! Stuart and Diane Marshall (who have Bar Fly has a hard act to follow) heard that at the Howard the Gosling Arms. Bridge, Carlisle is Work is underway on the new beer garden giving at the CAMRA William members a Rufus, 10% Carlisle. discount. This includes the The demolition of Greyhound, the derelict Platform One bar. The beer Burgh by garden is due to open sometime in August. Sands is Let's hope we get the weather to use it! due to change The Jovial management Sailor, Carlisle sometime in has reopened August. and sells Theakston Best Congratulations to the George & Bitter. Dragon, Dent on winning the 2014 West Pennines Cider Pub of the Year (CPotY). Our branch didn't select a CPotY this time, McQueens has opened on Devonshire but hopefully our new branch cider officer will help with the selection for 2015.

4 Get updates to our branch diary online: www.solwaycamra.org.uk Bar Fly What’s Brewing Carlisle Brewing Flaxen and Magic Number are now available through the SIBA lists and Spun Gold will soon be as well, this will open up more outlets. Breweries Our condolences go to the family and friends of brewery chairman, Lord Ballyedmond, who The Plough Inn, Wreay is offering a discount was killed in a on their real ales for CAMRA members on helicopter crash in Norfolk earlier this year. production of their membership card. The brewery will continue to trade as It was good to meet normal. the new publicans Derwent at the Fox Inn, Brewery Ousby on a recent After the Ale Trail social. successful Hesket Newmarket launch of Marshall Stout, Mark, the brewer, Haystacks and Timothy Taylors Landlord has decided to experiment with brewing were on sale. more dark beers. This will include a special Our City Pub of the Year, the Kings Head, Port Stout this winter. Carlisle, recently announced their "2014 Geltsdale Brewery Courtyard Live" Thursday evening music Geltsdale seasonal real events running from late May to mid August. ales are proving very Our Pub of the Year, the Fetherston Arms, popular with Snö Kirkoswald, holds their annual beer winning the best pale festival from 4th to 6th July. beer at Bolton Beer Festival in April. Fiona Just outside our branch area, the Crown, plans to develop a couple of new ones over Eamont Bridge, is running a beer festival the summer. on 18-20 July. Hesket Newmarket The Black Lion, Hethersgill is running a beer Brewery Two new festival from 22-25 August. There will be beers have been over twelve real added to their list. ales, ciders and These are: Brim Fell perries and eleven and Elder Daze. Both bands. Breweries have been selling well will include with 60 firkins of Elder Daze going in just a Allendale, Carlisle, Cumberland, Derwent month! and Geltsdale. TBA campsite 50 yards from For pub and brewery news updates visit the pub and an eight seater taxi on call for our Facebook page: facebook.com/ those travelling further afield. Open noon to solway.camra. If you find out any 1am Fri-Sun and noon to 11pm Mon. changes to real ale outlets, please let our branch contact know so Bar Fly can update The Sportsman, Laversdale has re-opened. others. Cheers! More details in the next edition.

Ale Tales Summer 2014 5 Solway Real Ale of the Year As regular readers and visitors to our annual In the photograph beer festival will know, each year Solway in the left, the CAMRA makes an award for the best local award for the 2013 real ale of the year selected from the Solway Real Ale of breweries in our branch area. the Year is presented to John As our branch once again includes part of Mitchell of Yates southern Scotland, we have added beers Brewery for Sun from Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire Goddess. this time. Note: if you don't To keep the ballot paper to a manageable have computer size(!), each of our Brewery Liaison Officers access, you may has selected two real ales from "their" vote by phoning the Branch Vice- brewery. Only beers brewed all year round Chairman, Paul Claringbold, and quoting have been considered for the award. your beer, name, membership number and This year we are again using "Ale Tales" to post code. Details can be found on page ask CAMRA members living in the Solway 15. branch area to vote for this year's award. Votes received after 31 Aug or any not We will also be contacting members by containing the required information cannot email to invite them to vote. be included. To vote, please select one beer from the list below and email your selection (by no later than 31 August 2014) to: [email protected] including with your name, membership number and postcode. (See note below) Andrews Ales: Cummertrees Pale Ale and Into the Darkness. Carlisle: Flaxen and Oatmeal Stout. Cumberland: Corby Fox and Corby Noir Peter and Denise Derwent: Pale Ale and Tommy Legs invite you enjoy a The Fox Inn drink next to our real Ousby, CA10 1QA Geltsdale: Cold Fell and Hell Beck log fire. 01768 881374 Hesket Newmarket: Brim Fell and Doris Enjoy a traditional Great Food 90th Birthday Ale pub meal and a nice glass of wine or one Three Real Ales Sulwath: Black Galloway and Solway of our real ales. Selection of Wines Mist Real Fire The Fox Inn is Pub Games Yates: Bitter and Golden Ale. nestled beneath Dog Friendly Cross Fell, the Thank you for taking part in this award. The highest point in the thefoxinn.ousby winner will be announced and the award Pennines. thefoxinnousby presented at the Carlisle Beer Festival on Friday 30th October during the afternoon [email protected] session. www.thefoxousby.co.uk

6 To advertise in this newsletter contact Neil on 01536 358670 2014 Carlisle Beer Festival Thu Oct 30th to Sat Nov 1st Our rates are as follows: cask Hallmark Hotel, Carlisle sponsorship £30 and programme We hope you'll be pleased to read that an adverts: 1/4 organising committee is working hard to page £35,1/2 bring you another brilliant beer festival in the page £55 and full superb ballroom at the Hallmark Hotel next page £100. to the railway station. Each sponsor/advertiser will receive 2 free We will, again, admission tickets to all sessions plus a cou- have over 50 real ple of free pints. ales, ciders and We will be writing to perries available. branch members soon It is, of course, a asking for volunteers to wee bit early to help set up and run the say exactly what Festival. Many thanks to these might be! those members who have We will, as usual, have a selection of Cum- helped make the Festival brian beers, but this time we will probably be possible over a number of looking further away for most of the real ales years. on offer. More details in the autumn edition! One excellent piece of news is that Richard Weir will be our beer manager again this year. In recent Hesket Newmarket Brewery Ltd years Richard has done an Old Crown Barn, Hesket Newmarket, amazing job of searching Cumbria CA7 8JG Tel: 016974 78066 [email protected] out a superb range of beer styles and we're sure he'll rise to the challenge again. Black Sail, Beer of the Year 2012, Best of the Best, awarded For real cider and perry drinkers, our new by Solway CAMRA branch cider officer, Chris Harrison, will guide us to an even better selection this time. We have also agreed to increase the range of ciders. The branch is grateful for offers from Sandy Williamson of the Drovers Rest, Monkhill and Mike Vose of the Kings Head, Carlisle to help with cellar work setting up the Festi- val. The Beer Festival is only possible thanks to the support of our sponsors, advertisers and volunteers. Why not publicise your business or celebrate a birthday by sponsoring the Festival?

Ale Tales Summer 2014 7 Long and Winding Road! Cumbria Pub of the Year 2014 meal was had by some as it was now getting late in the day, so time for a pint rd Saturday, 3 May saw members of Solway and then onward and homeward. CAMRA once again let loose on the long and winding roads of Cumbria to try and find At last after a 10-11 hour day we were back the best pub out of the five nominated from home and looking forward to a nice rest the Cumbria branches. and recover from the tiring journey. If this has whet appetite or you sense of As we had all visited our adventure, why not come on one of our Ale own branch Pub of the Trail trips and what it is all about for Year, the Fetherston Arms, yourself? Most of our trips don't last 11 Kirkoswald, only a hours! fortnight earlier, it was decided to sample the delights of the other A few weeks later, I attended a West branches. Pennines branches meeting. Someone from Lancashire suggested we needed to Due to the long distances visit each of the other branches pubs at involved, we left early. So, at least twice! Obviously Lancashire is a lot 10am, the intrepid travellers more compact than Cumbria! piled into the minibus and set off towards Boot in The winner of the Cumbria Pub of the Year Eskdale for the Brook House Inn, our first 2014 was recently announced as the call. Prince of Wales, Foxfield. After what seemed like hours being stuck Paul Claringbold behind various slow vehicles we arrived and enjoyed a welcome but all too short visit. Eden Brewery Some took lunch, but we were here for the beer after all! Then a comparatively short trip to the Prince of Wales, Foxfield where we enjoyed more beer (and a Image Copyright calflier001. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Licence. break from the bus). Thirst quenching real ale crafted in Cumbria After a pint we set off again for the Yorkshire Dales, but still in Cumbria! A visit to the George and Dragon at Dent where as well as beer, some excellent cider was tried. (Editor: it's just been announced that the George and Dragon has won the CAMRA West Pennines 2014 Cider Pub of the Year). Once again, after another Eden Brewery, Brougham Hall, all too brief stop, we set off Brougham, Penrith, CA10 2DE for Appleby and our last Call 01768 210565 stop for the day at the [email protected] Midland Hotel. Another

8 Seek out LocAles in your local pubs. Support your local breweries. With "friends" like these ... ery was eventually closed, and with it went over 200 years of brewing history! A few years later the Workington brew- ery was also closed by S&N, leaving Jen- nings of Cockermouth and Hartleys of Ul- verston (owned by Robinsons since 1982 and closed in 1994) as the last of Cumbria's larger, traditional breweries still operating.

Image Copyright Chris Allen. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 It wasn't, thankfully, all doom and gloom. Generic Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. One iconic brewery was soon to close, but, By far the dominant issue facing the North late in 1986, a new small brewery, Yates, Cumbria branch of CAMRA in 1987 was the started brewing at Westnewton near planned closure of the historic Carlisle brew- Aspatria. Late in 1987, the Cumbria ery. Owners Matthew Brown of Blackburn, branches of CAMRA named Yates, who had acquired Theakstons two years "Independent Brewer of the Year. earlier, announced this in late 1986. In the late 80s, the future of brewing in This was disastrous news for our branch Cumbria looked bleak. None of us could and for all real ale drinkers. We had seen foresee the great sea change that would other towns and cities lose their breweries come through the emergence of microbrew- as a result of the rash of takeovers during eries across the county (and country). the 1970s and 80s, and now it was about to happen to our own much-loved former State Management brewery. At that time, Matthew Brown was also in- volved in a major takeover threat from Scot- tish & Newcastle Breweries (S&N). The pro- cess had been delayed by a referral to the Monopolies & Mergers Commission. "Matties" (as they were known) had enlisted CAMRA support in their fight the takeover bid warning CAMRA that S&N would close both of their two Cumbrian breweries (the other being the John Peel Brewery in Work- ington). So it was felt that Matties had done the dirty on Carlisle (and indeed on CAMRA) by plan- Spinners Arms, Cummersdale ning this brewery closure all on their own ahead of S&N's takeover! Angry at this In 2013, brewing at long last returned to treachery, the North Cumbria branch organ- Carlisle with the opening of the Carlisle ised a protest march against the planned Brewing Company at the Spinners Arms, closure. This was supported by local politi- Cummersdale on the outskirts of the city. cians, local drinkers and by CAMRA mem- bers from all over the country, with the event George Miller receiving a lot of media coverage. Alas, all our efforts were in vain as the brew-

Ale Tales Summer 2014 9 This is the Modern World

Over the last couple of years, Devonshire So, what’s not to like? These are all nice Street, Carlisle has become a popular place bars and I enjoy visiting them, they have a to drink. Where once, there was just The good atmosphere and have widened the Friars Tavern (a huge favourite of mine), scope of places to go, on a night out in the you can now choose from four modern bars. city. However, for what is supposed to be the most reasonably-priced part of the Three of these four country for real ale, £3.50-£3.60 a pint is offer cask ale, with very over the top, for beer that is produced The Thin White Duke between five and twenty miles away. (The Friars, as was) Yes, I under- having at least one of stand that these its two handpumps in are prime city use. Three cask ales centre locations. are on offer in Eaten By Monsters, just By the same token, they aren’t down the street and, Thin White Duke sprawling mega- across the road, a Hell Below pubs, with mass- handpump has recently been installed in es of floor space, in the middle of a teeming Hell Below & Co. metropolis like Manchester, Newcastle or Now, I’m always Edinburgh, for example, where cask beer pleased to see prices in some of the exceptional beer bars more real ale those cities have to offer, is often cheaper outlets. You will than here! Given that they also offer an usually find a immense range of beers from some of the Geltsdale beer in finest U.K. independent brewers around The Duke and a (Thornbridge, Magic Rock, Tiny Rebel, Eaten By Monsters Geltsdale and Hopcraft, Anarchy, Marble, to name but a Cumberland beer in Eaten by Monsters, very small handful) and factor in an amaz- alongside the fairly permanent Timothy Tay- ing bottle and draught range of foreign and lor Landlord. Hell Below has had a selection U.S. beers, it’s been a disappointment that from our local breweries and also offers the beer revolution I hoped might be kick bottled real ales from Hesket Newmarket started in Carlisle, has ended up as a bit of and Scottish Borders breweries. a missed opportunity. These bars have been deservedly popular Don’t get me wrong, I’m really happy that from the moment they opened and appeal to our Devonshire Street bars have embraced a wide market in offering not only cask ale, cask ale, I will continue to drink in them and but also a selec- I will always support our local brewers, but tion of beers from sometimes a little wider casting of the beer Europe and the net would be very welcome. USA in bottle and on tap (we’ll not As I write, the local paper reports that the owner of Penrith’s ‘Moo Bar’ is looking to go into the whole ‘craft’ beer de- open a Carlisle outlet on Devonshire Street. This is very welcome news and, hopefully, Eaten By Monsters bate here), a will vastly increase the choice of cask beer large number of cocktails, numerous varie- ties of gin and innovative food menus. available in our fair city. Andrew James

10 Updates to beer festival details - www.solwaycamra.org.uk Ale Tales BEER FESTIVALS Ale Tales is published by the Solway Branch of 4-6 Jul Kirkoswald Beer Festival at the CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale (© 2014) All Fetherson Arms, Crown and Village Hall. rights reserved. Please check with Fetherston Arms for Views or comments expressed in this publication more details. may not necessarily be those of the Editor or of CAMRA. 17-20 Jul Hawkshead Brewery Summer Beer Festival, Beer Hall, Staveley, To Advertise To place an advert or enquire about our rates please contact: 12-16 Aug CAMRA Great British Beer Neil Richards, 01536 358670 or Festival at Olympia, . [email protected] 22-25 Aug Black Lion, Hethersgill Beer Printed by Portland Print, Tel 01536 511 555 Festival. Deadline for Autumn 2014 issue is 4-6 Sep Furness CAMRA Beer Festival 1st September 2014. Coronation Hall, Ulverston. Branch Contacts 27-28 Sep West Cumbria CAMRA Beer Paul Claringbold, Vice-Chairman, Beer Festival Festival (at the Taste of Cumbria Festival). Organiser and Social Secretary Tel 01228 593253 8-11 Oct Westmorland CAMRA Beer Fes- E-mail: [email protected] tival Kendal Town Hall. Website: www.solwaycamra.org.uk Facebook: facebook.com/solway.camra 30 Oct - 1 Nov 2014 - Carlisle Beer Festival at the Hallmark Hotel, Branch Diary Court Sq, Carlisle (next to the railway sta- MEETINGS tion). Business includes: local breweries & pubs news, pub awards, beer festivals, socials, etc. Read Ale about it! Find “Ale Tales” in the following real ale pubs: Abbeytown, Mon 21 Jul - 8pm @ Blue Bell, Annan. Wheatsheaf; Aikton, Aikton Arms; Alston, Angel, Cumberland, Bus: The Crescent 6:50pm, Stanwix 7pm. Nent House Hotel, Turks Head; Armathwaite, Dukes Head, Fox & Pheasant; Blencow, Clickham Inn; Bolton Low Houses, Odd- Mon 18 Aug - 8pm @ Linton Holme, Car- fellows, Bowness on Solway, Kings Ams; Bowscar, Stoneybeck Inn; Brampton, Brasserie 23, Geltsdale Brewery, Golf Club, lisle. Howard Arms, Shoulder of Mutton; Broadfield, Crown; Burgh by Mon 29 Sep - 8pm @ Spinners Arms, Cum- Sands, Greyhound; Caldbeck, Oddfellows; Carlisle Rugby Club, Beehive, Boardroom, Coach & Horses, Crown (Stanwix), Crown mersdale. Bus: Stanwix 7.20pm, The Cres- & Thistle, Gosling Bridge, Griffin, Hour Glass, Joiners Arms, cent 7.30pm, then Westmorland St. King’s Head, Linton Holme, Redfern, Spinners Arms, Sports- man, William Rufus, Woodrow Wilson; Castle Carrock, Duke of Cumberland; Crosby on Eden, Stag; Culgaith, Black Swan; SOCIALS , Lowther; Cumwhitton, Pheasant; Curthwaite, Bus to socials from The Crescent 7.30pm unless stated Royal Oak; Dalston, Blue Bell, Bridge End; Eamont Bridge, Beehive; Faugh, String of Horses; Glasson, Highland Laddie; otherwise. Places must be booked with Paul in advance. Great Corby, Corby Bridge, Queen Inn; Great Orton, Wellington; Great Salkeld, Highland Drove; Greystoke, Boot & Shoe; Hall- Sat 5 July - Afternoon Ale Trail in Carlisle bankgate, Belted Will; Hayton, Lane End, Stone; Hesket New- market, Old Crown; Hethersgill, Black Lion; Ireby, Lion; Irthing- meet 2pm at the Griffin. Please check web- ton, Salutation; Kirkoswald, Crown, Fetherston; Langwathby, site for updates. Shepherds; Laversdale, Sportsman; Lazonby, Joiners, Midland; Little Corby, Haywain; Longtown, Graham Arms; Low Hesket, Fri 11 July -- Pub of the Season Ale Trail Rose & Crown; Monkhill, Drovers Rest; Mungrisdale, Mill Inn; Nenthead, Miners; Newbiggin, Blue Bell; Oulton, Bird in Hand; social finishing at the Wheatsheaf, Wetheral Penrith, Agricultural, Board & Elbow, Cross Keys, Druids, for the award presentation. Foundry 34, General Wolfe, George, Lowther, Moo Bar, North Lakes Hotel, Robin Hood, Royal; Penruddock, Herdwick; Pen- Fri 15 Aug - Pennines Ale Trail social. Bus: ton, Bridge; Port Carlisle, Hope & Anchor; Red Dial, Sun; Stanwix 6:50pm, The Crescent 7pm. Rockcliffe, Crown & Thistle; Ruleholme, Golden Fleece; Scotby, Royal Oak; Sebergham, Sour Nook; Skelton, Dog & Gun; Silloth, Fri 26 Sep - A66 Ale Trail social. Bus: Albion, Golf Hotel; Talkin, Blacksmiths Arms; Thursby, Ship; Troutbeck, Sportsman; Uldale, Snooty Fox; Warwick, Queens; Stanwix 6:50pm, The Crescent 7pm Wetheral, Crown, Wheatsheaf; Wigton, Black-a-Moor, Hare & Hounds, Throstles Nest; Wreay, Plough.

Autumn “Ale Tales” out in October

Ale Tales Summer 2014 11 PRINCE OF WALES Foxfield, Broughton in Furness, Cumbria Tel: 01229 716238 Four en-suite B&B rooms Mitchell, plus sitting room and breakfast room Michaela, Alan & Staff Welcome One night bookings accepted all Old & New £34 Single Rooms, £52 Double Rooms Customers (Discount for CAMRA Members - 2 Real Ales and 1 Food Served £30 Single, £46 Double) Guest available Tue-Sat 12-9 & Sun 12-8 The Duddon Valley & Black Coombe are on Range of beers and Pool  Darts  Poker the doorstep and only 10 miles from Coniston wines and spirits Games Machines with 6 more real ale pubs close by New summer menu Jukebox  Open Fire Big Screen TV CAMRA Beer Style Promotion Takeaways available Pub of the Year 2010 Joint Winner CAMRA National Great Cider Pub of the Year 2010 Atmosphere CAMRA Cumbria Pub of the Year 2014 Great Local www.princeofwalesfoxfield.co.uk

The Fetherston Arms Kirkoswald 4 hand pulled real ales and hand pulled cider

Great home cooked food Open Mon-Fri 4pm-midnight, Sat-Sun 12 noon-midnight. Food served everyday (except Mon & Tue) 20 minute walk from Lazonby train station We look forward to welcoming you The Square, Kirkoswald, CA10 1DQ 01768 898284