MerseyAle Razzle Dazzles You The MerseyAle Welcome to MerseyAle CAMRA Liverpool and Districts Branch and ManxAle MerseyAle Editor John Armstrong 67 Moorfields Liverpool L2 2BP Tel: 0151 236 1734 MerseyAle Contacts Comments/news/letters/photos [email protected]

MerseyAle Advertising HANDPUMPS Cost - Full page £200 Half page £100 supply a varied selection of prize Contact winning Real Ales (including at least one locally [email protected] Just like the Mersey Ferry, We bring the Anniversary to a 8 Snowdrop, in its new first world conclusion by asking one of the FOOD brewed ale) plus hand pulled Cider MerseyAle - Read online at war livery designed by artist Peter Branch Founder Members and See the board for www.merseyale.com selection of good Blake (of Sergeant Pepper album former Editor of Mersey Drinker, value food Liverpool and Districts CAMRA cover fame), let MerseyAle Razzle Ian MacMillan, to offer his Main Branch Contact Dazzle you with news and personal reflections by Looking Over 80 opinion on real ale and pub Forward and Back over 40 Years of Jean Pownceby QUIZ NIGHT [email protected] issues locally and nationally. Campaigning and the Challenges every Tuesday at 9.30pm Malt Whiskies Pubs of the Year for the Future – see pages 6-11 Contact for Coach trips only We bring you the result of the Big Brewers Takeover The Lion Tavern has one of the largest selections Ian Macadam 07521 741 586 Liverpool CAMRA Pub of the Year We consider how the Big Brewers of malt whisky on Merseyside ACOUSTIC by email Competition (page 5) plus the are moving into the ‘craft beer’ NIGHT [email protected] contenders for Merseyside Pub of market with the takeover of Second Thursday of the the Year (page 27). There is report Meantime Brewery by SAB Miller, The Lion Tavern (Grade II Listed) is Liverpool’s finest Edwardian Liverpool Branch Chair Month 8pm of new real ale outlets in our Pub the World’s second biggest Pub. It is an extravaganza of etched glass, carved wood and Sonia James-Henry News (pages 15 and 17) and in brewer. We review the latest beautiful tiling. It has a wonderful ornate wood carved bar plus two [email protected] cosy side rooms one with a fantastic stained glass dome. The Lion MerseyRAle (page 49). There is a developments with the proposed Tavern is an award winning pub serving excellent cask conditioned BOB DYLAN Web Sites Guide to Locale and Where to Cains Brewery Village ales, cider and a large selection of the finest malt whiskies. You can SOCIETY Liverpool and Districts Find It in Liverpool on pages 12-13 development proposal (page 25). also enjoy a fine selection of tasty food from our food menu . Meets first Thursday of the CAMRA Branch We bring you a review of the Pen Join Us Month 8.30pm www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk Factory and its Once and Future CAMRA relies on its members wwwfacebook.com King six months on from its and the contribution they make to /CAMRAliverpool opening. Has the Sword been its activities. So why not come pulled from the Stone? (read along to one of the Get Togethers OCCASIONAL @LiverpoolCAMRA QR Codes page 54 pages 44-47). and the new Last Thursday Meet MEET THE BREWER Activating Members Ups to find out what is happening EVENTS Isle of Man CAMRA Branch CAMRA is keen to activate new and to enjoy a real ale evening on third Thursdays of the www.isleofmancamra.org.uk members and a recent survey has (see page 54 for the Diary). Month 8pm shown that 24% of non- active CAMRA Coach Trips are listed on CAMRA national site members over 60 are interested Page 51 and any new member www.camra.org.uk in volunteering to assist CAMRA joining CAMRA and the Liverpool POETRY GET activities, including those who Branch can claim a free coach trip TOGETHER are coming up to retirement. and then as a member will save £3 Fourth Thursday of the If this is of interest to you then on the price of any future trips. Month 8pm see page 31. It pays to join CAMRA! Why not visit our Cover Artwork by Dennis Jones Sister pub, the Cross WEEKLY LOCALE Let MerseyAle 40th Anniversary Keys, just a few See Board for future Razzle Dazzle You This last year has been the 40th minutes walk away? Real Ales V6 Adventure Anniversary of the founding of Club Merseyside CAMRA in the Globe, Meet every Wednesday Cases Street, in Liverpool, and a John “One of the Hundred Best Pubs in the country” at 8.00pm The opinions expressed in MerseyAle number of celebratory events are not necessarily those of the Editor, have run throughout the year. Armstrong Daily Telegraph the CAMRA Liverpool Branch or Editor CAMRA Ltd. PUB OF EXCELLENCE CASK MARQUE CAMRA NATIONAL INVENTORY PUB 3 micropub. The principles behind covers general CAMRA principles. Does The Pigeon Flies micropubs are well known and it support and promote our values? Is Home First Again include a commitment to cask beer cask beer actively promoted? and real cider and being a focal point Good Value. Not just the drinks price but Liverpool Pigeon Wins for the community. Some micropubs have you had a good experience after Liverpool CAMRA Pub of the also provide a range of bottled beers investing time and effort seeking out this Year for Second Year Running and simple snacks. pub? Would you go again? Before presenting the award Andre The Liverpool Pigeon Micropub at 14 Liverpool & Districts CAMRA are Fu, (Liverpool CAMRA Pub of the Endbutt Lane Crosby L23 0TR has happy to say that The Liverpool Year Competition Co-ordinator), won the Liverpool CAMRA Pub of Pigeon scored highly on all of these outlined the procedure for choosing the Year Award for the second year in criteria and are pleased to present Pat the Pub of The Year. CAMRA succession. Tony Morgan reports on and Jacky Moore, and their staff Paul members nominate pubs for the the Award Presentation Event held at and Gaz, with the Liverpool CAMRA award. Of those nominations three the Pigeon. Pub of The Year award for 2015. Sonia city centre venues and two suburban James-Henry (Chair of Liverpool ones are shortlisted. A team of judges Branch) said, is assembled, (though no judge “The Liverpool Pigeon is a knows who their fellow judges are), deserving winner of this award as it who then go away to survey the pubs. clearly conforms to all the selection Andre noted, “although beer quality is the main factor in choosing the winner each pub is also scored on a number of other criteria.” These are: Atmosphere, style, and décor. How does the pub “feel”, is it a nice place to be? Service and Welcome. Prompt, efficient, Wednesday 29th April saw the and friendly service? Are you treated as Sonia - Liverpool CAMRA Chair [right] 14 Endbutt Lane, Crosby, L23 0TR MicroPub presentation of Liverpool & Districts a human being, rather than just a source with Pat and Jacky CAMRA Pub of The Year (PoTY) of revenue? award which for a second successive points and scored highly over the iginal micro pub. Community Focus. Does the pub feel Liverpool Pigeon is Merseyside’s or year goes to The Liverpool Pigeon in like it is a vital part of the community? Is other pubs nominated.” We opened October 2013 and celebrate the fantastic beers Crosby. CAMRA members joined there a good mix of customers and do In reply, Jacky Moore said, we have in the North-West by showcasing beers around the around 30 customers to celebrate this you feel comfortable being there? “It was a surprise to discover that we achievement by Merseyside’s first Sympathy with CAMRA aims. This had won this award for the second year. region and further afield. We would like to thank all our visitors n who have been here this year. The pub Small single roomed establishment has exceeded all our expectations but n Sells real (not fizzy) cider this is due to Pat and the hard work and n No spirits/alco-pops or keg products dedication he puts in to ensure that the n Shuns national or multi-national products quality of the beer he serves is excellent.” n No tv, juke box or gaming machines We agree, long may the Pigeon fly! n Conversation as entertainment Tony Morgan n Small range of beer snacks Getting There Liverpool CAMRA Pub of Bus – From Queen Square Liverpool X2 and 47 and from Victoria Street 54 the Year 2014 and 2015 5 Handpumps Walk – 25 minutes from Waterloo www.liverpoolpigeon.co.uk Serving cask conditioned ales Merseyrail Station

Liverpool Pigeon Opening Hours Tues - Fri 4 - 9 Sat 12 - 9 Sun 12 - 5 Buses: X2, and 47 from Queen Sq L’pool Andre Fu Liverpool CAMRA Pub of the Year Competition Co-ordinator Tues-Fri 4-9 Sat 12-9 Sun 12-5 Closed Monday and 54 from Victoria St L’pool with Jacky and Pat Closed Monday

4 5 What's more, we could prove it, to only a couple of beers from only because we'd published, and three brewers ! publicised our research in "JARS", the FORTY first Merseyside Guide to Real Ale, Moreover, many districts (Allerton, 40 pages long and selling for 25p Childwall, Kirkby, Speke, Netherley, (five bob in old money) in selected chunks of Aigburth, Bootle, pubs, local bookshops and tourist Netherton, Bootle and Sefton, plus offices. Our local campaign had vast swathes of the Wirral) were YEARS ON taken a first tentative step we had permanently real ale free. Happy some reflections on 40 years of Liverpool our evidence base and - now we you might be then if Tetley The wake-up call was the discovery needed to build on this, to develop a (sometimes Walker) or Higsons CAMRA campaigning by Ian Macmillan that suddenly in the mid-60s we strategic campaign. Bitter, or their less available milds, couldn't find any pubs selling our were your tipple. There were few FROM LITTLE beloved Newcastle Exhibition any Or to paraphrase Marx, [Introduction I knew who swore by (rather than visiting personally hundreds of more - Scottish and Newcastle to The German Ideology, 1845], at) the Wilderspool products of ACORNS…………….. pubs, investigating and sampling Breweries had killed it off and having produced a snapshot of the Greenalls and fewer still knew that That back room at the Globe is tiny. their beers. In his little notebooks replaced it with something called local real ale scene, the point was particular brewery added flaked The sledgehammers were barely still were recorded copious comments on Starbright, which didn't taste nearly now to interpret it, then to go maize and rice flour, as I recollect, to on the ruthless Beeching-inspired serving methods, type of pub, room as good. No longer was the Blue Star political and change it. the brewing process. The tasteful demolition of the fine baroque layout, socio-economic clientele mix, a shining, guiding light. Greenalls real ales came from their sandstone frontage and magnificent food availabilty etc. with the same The "JARS" picture perhaps appeared Wem Brewery in Salop (controlled by single-span train shed of Cheshire meticulous detail as he had applied Yet only when "four guys and a shoe- somewhat upbeat - it looked like the Whitley side of the family) and Lines' Liverpool Central (High earlier in life to steam train spotting, box" organised nationally to form between a quarter and a third of local were always denied to Merseyside Level) station – its twin in plane-spotting, traditional folk CAMRA and grab some media pubs still sold some sort of real ale, (save at our beer festivals), as they In January 2014 Liverpool music and sea shanties. coverage from 1971, did we awaken so the label "real ale desert" couldn't were to the large numbers CAMRA celebrated Forty Years of Remarkably, ten years earlier Tony to the revolutionary slaughter which apply (unlike the huge chunks of of Greenall pubs in Chester/ and I could have been seen quaffing the "Big Six" brewery conglomerates Campaigning since the night of Wales, Scotland, Ulster and many Cheshire/North Wales. Higsons, Threlfalls and later 18th January 1974 when the areas in England by now identified Whitbreads interchangeably with by CAMRA in its annual Good Beer Evolving, Dynamic, Merseyside Branch of CAMRA was Double Diamond when in Liverpool. Guide and other local guides). You Campaigning: formed in the back room of the Or draught Newcastle Exhibition had to dig a little to discover that MERSEY DRINKER Globe, Cases Street, (then a interchangeably with (pint) bottled locally things were far, far worse the However good they are as Newcastle Brown, or Newcastle choice of real ales was limited to little Higsons pub). In 1974 CAMRA documents of record telling people Amber, when plane-spotting at more than a dozen, supplied by even had been formed by four friends where to drink real ale -- local beer Woolsington in the North-East, or fewer brewers, via their tied pubs. guides, without comment and who met in Chester en route to a visiting folk clubs at the Bridge, There were hardly any genuine free Manchester is now the GMex interpretation, have limited value. holiday in Ireland and fell to Exhibition Centre, how Liverpool Newcastle, at Birtley, or at the houses. talking about the decline in the Lampglass Club by the Miners' had been inflicting on well- They are static snapshots needing must regret the over hasty regular updating, or else they Welfare in Ashington. Taste was the loved beers, brewing and pubs The big brewer Allied/Tetley standards and taste of British Beer. demolition - as the few met in 1974 become history. Moreover, their thing then: we had little developed everywhere. It quickly became clear supplied the only real ale to Forty years on the organisation to talk about this new thing "real strategic and pedagogic relevance is knowledge of cask/keg beer that passivity was not an option --- almost half the real ale pubs formed by those four guys is ale", and maybe more…… confined to those likely to buy or differences, gasification, processing nothing less than an organised we'd identified, with Higsons But, less than a year on, hundreds of read them, though this may be regarded as the most effective and marketing techniques. fightback was needed. supplying a further 57 and Greenalls pubs in Liverpool, Wirral, Southport, supplemented by media coverage. consumer organisation in Europe South and West Lancs. had a further thirty - i.e. in 84% of our and has a membership of 171,065. been surveyed/visited, assessed, I knew I disliked Bents' ales (except Our first "real ale" pubs the choice was limited F Will you be the next to join and take catalogued and measured against an for their Red Label Stout) --- I didn't lament when Bass gobbled them local pub the total membership to 172,000? agreed national definition of real ale. This was the sound basis, we up and subsequently closed guide and 84% of our "real ale" pubs the choice Various celebratory events have their Liverpool brewery. thought, on which we could Jars was limited to only a couple of beers been held by Liverpool CAMRA formulate and prosecute with Why should I when throughout 2014 – see details at fervour a publicity and education I'd already dis- afterwards covered a taste for from only three brewers ! end of this feature. To mark the campaign, educating local public By late 1975 we'd draught Bass ? and opinion-formers to what was identified 215 "real ale" pubs in end of the Forty Year Celebration, We did notice happening, what was at risk, naming the area covered by what was then MerseyAle (the successor to Mersey those huge beer and shaming the nasties and spelling CAMRA Merseyside 148 in Drinker), asked one of the founder tankers which had out the alternatives. Liverpool postal districts 1 - 25, 16 in begun to replace members of the Merseyside Wirral, and the remainder further Our inspiration and directing force the old drays, CAMRA Branch, Ian Macmillan, afield in places like Southport, for that ground-breaking early delivering Whitbread to offer his personal thoughts on Ormskirk, St.Helens, Prescot, research was my great friend Tony Tankard and Trophy bitter to Huyton and Rainhill, Maghull and Forty Years of Campaigning for Wilson (Molyneux), sadly missed Threlfalls pubs, yet somehow it Lydiate and the supervening former Real Ale and the Challenges for the since his too early death in 2004. He didn't register. became a super "pub-spotter", West and South Lancashire Future. countryside. 6 7 Despite "JARS" running to several Denbighshire and Flintshire and in demonstrate to Merseysiders the editions, each selling a couple of Manchester and Salford - where real range, tastes and contrasts in real thousand copies or more, we needed FORTY YEARS ON FORTY ale enthusiasts who are also beers then unobtainable locally. So, a more regular, popular, medium continued transport enthusiasts devise and prizewinning Tim Taylors' beers to advance dynamic real ale plan pub itineraries, then hire in from Keighley took off precisely campaigning. YEARS ON buses operating to a fixed timetable. because they were so different from continued En route licensees guarantee to bring Tetleys from Dallam. And Greenall Our newspaper “MERSEY in interesting guest beers for the Wem ales could be savoured and DRINKER " largely filled event. appreciated alongside their "bog that gap. MORE DYNAMIC standard" cousins from Wilderspool. Real ale pub and brewery news, Real ale foodie festivals are now Even Bass Charrington nondescripts accompanied by analysis and CAMPAIGNING: happening in castles (Ludlow). And like Brew Ten from Tadcaster or intelligent commentary, was the real ale steam happenings are now Brew XI from Cape Hill could be staple of each monthly (later bi- common on preserved railways measured against their more tasteful monthly) edition. For 5p, rising to REAL ALE (Severn Valley, East Lancs. cousins from within the Bass Empire 15p by the time I retired as editor in Llangollen), or at engine and like Springfield Bitter from the mid-1980s, you got both local carriage sheds (Staveley Barrow Wolverhampton, Stones Bitter from and select national developments, FESTIVALS Hill, Crewe Heritage Centre, Sheffield, or the delicious Highgate together with pub and brewery Oxenhope). Some enterprising Mild from Walsall. history, and explanatory articles on commercial train operators real ale brewing, ingredients, (Northern South-West Trains, First We sought also to bring in beers dispense methods. We developed Great Western) have jumped on the from breweries who had a unique items like the entertaining bandwagon, enlisting CAMRA range - like the splendid Yorkshire "Bogbrush" Pub Graffiti Comp- support to establish "rail ale trails", Clubs, which boasted seven or eight etition, where the sage offered beer whereby groups and individuals use prizes each issue for the best graffiti normal timetabled trains to visit real scraped from pub (sometimes train) ale pubs in former railway premises lavatory walls. on, or adjacent to, their stations.

Beer Festivals as The earliest (1975) editions of already outstripping supply, we then "MERSEY DRINKER" were printed moved the printing to Merseyside Campaigning – NOT in my attic on my ancient roneo Aero Enthusiasts' offset -litho machine. We ran off (with great facilities at (the old) Speke Airport. Maximising Profit Today, real ale festivals are seen as difficulty !) 1000 copies per issue All of this is, no doubt, mostly to the before the skins began to It sold in some 40 pubs and other major fundraisers, cash cows even, as well as acting as major alternative good, generating (mostly) positive disintegrate. Since demand was outlets and circulation had reached publicity. But it's a long way from The stress was on building wide approximately 2500 social events for the general public. bitters, milds and old ales brewed CAMRA itself does them in the very specific campaigning focus exclusively for the workingmens' audience appeal - we deliberately copies by the time I CAMRA Merseyside envisaged for eschewed cosy self-congratulation handed over the reins hundreds, all over Britain, in a clubs, but which was already multiplicity of different venues - beer festivals in the mid-1970s. suffering sales decline because of (in words and pictures), declined to of production. But its Yes, we did want to bring real ales cover esoteric, non-newsy CAMRA influence extended there are often half a dozen to choose changed socio-economic mix in their from on every week of the year. They before a wider public. But, supply area and inability to match social happenings, and (especially) much further than this more importantly, we needed to personalities. - we posted regular come in all different sizes and the loans offered by the big brewers. copies to interested settings - in parish, village and civic F The sham of "editing by committee", local and national halls; in pubs with outside or any form of content vetting by media, as well as to marquees; in football, cricket and local CAMRA apparatchiks was brewers and other cycling grounds with capacities well and truly rejected. We leaned opinion-formers, and between 100 and several thousand toward free speech, unless there was a prepaid each session. They're all at it now: defamatory or insulting, and insisted subscription list of 50. social and rugby clubs, round tables, all published material was signed Ian Macmillan with current SIBA (the Small Independent and clearly attributed. MerseyAle editor John Armstrong Breweries Association), and many F individual pubs, breweries and pub groups (e.g. Wetherspoons).

Some very innovative festivals take place simultaneously in groups of linked pubs - witness the highly successful "Bus to the Pub" events, which have become regular fixtures in Lakeland, in West Lancs; in 8 9 FORTY YEARS ON I can't wait for Roger's latest book, Someone argued the major push unusual if CAMRA didn't have a few part 2 continued Britain's Beer Revolution (geddit ?), factor for the exponential rise of jobsworths lurking below the where he conducts an in-depth CAMRA joiners would likely be surface, but there's surely a principle There were others, like Hartleys public order considerations. But, in probe of changing style preferences found not unadjacent to the of common sense here - we're of Ulverston, the Black Country reality, only one (that at Aintree Looking back and of real ale brewers and public, Wetherspoon freebie voucher offer, supposed to be about beer independents like Simpkiss, Racecourse) made a small loss, looking forward examining the IPA, porter and stout worth £20 when you joined - or over campaigning, not territorial swaps Bathams, Holdens, Scottish indep- largely because punters were 80% of the £24 membership fee. So i.e. if it works already, don't try 0endent Belhaven of Dunbar (now probably put off by the distance and CAMRA Books what would be the effect, another fixing it. It almost reminds me of the wag asked, if JDW were suddenly to bedroom tax. Ugh ! part of Greene King) and the unique bad weather. All the others I led This is surely one of the real ale withdraw from their offer ? At a time Traquair House, personally as Coordinator (Everyman Theatre, movement's most resounding when the number of St.Albans HQ supervised by the Laird of Traquair University Catholic Chaplaincy (2), successes. In the 1970s I recall staff has never been higher (north of Finally - A Personal from his Innerleithen, Borders home. Albert Dock, Sandon Dock, meeting after meeting at regional 45, at the last count), how might they University Students' Union, Adelphi and national level where it was Regret We made special efforts to exhibit be affected? It makes you think, Hotel (2), St.George’s Hotel made debated whether there would ever One of my greatest regrets after 40 and sell threatened beers (already doesn't it ? only produced in low volume or money - indeed, many were sellouts, be enough material beyond the years in CAMRA, at all levels, is to which might be discontinued after a though we never ran out of beer ! requirements for the national Good find some branches still trying to possible takeover), in the hope that Beer Guide (established 1974) to What Pub? – A charge CAMRA members an entry greater public awareness may help Looking back, one would have loved enable CAMRA to publish anything Landmark Success fee to their beer festivals. This is to save them. to have had just a few more small else - especially after the sales flop of usually unnecessary, not to mention brewers like Oakham, Thornbridge, Real Ale on the Waterways (heavily Another landmark success story highly morally dubious, There used Liverpool Real Ale Hawkshead, Ossett, Roosters, Elland remaindered, despite it being a today is surely the superb, and long- to be an unofficial understanding or Fernandes to choose from - not splendid well-designed and well- anticipated, What Pub ? database that the membership fee covered illustrated book). website. It now has such good local beer festivals, though Exhibitions to mention all the wonderful resurgence among others. Maybe we coverage and such growing detail as obviously not national ones, Unlike many beer festivals today, new American, NZ, should kill off that dreadful coffee- to almost render local beer guides especially as everyone must pay for perhaps, our early efforts were Slovenian and other table pile of self-serving waffle, redundant. But why do so many their beer anyway. certainly NOT aimed at profit hop varieties which CAMRA’s ‘Beer’ magazine, so local CAMRA branches fail to record maximisation - we weren't even sure have enabled the that we can publish even more the ownership of pubs, when that Ian MacMillan they'd generate a surplus at all after greatly increased worthwhile books ? A Founder Member of Merseyside meeting overheads, but felt that, diversity of today's brews. However, I'm CAMRA in 1974 and long time Editor within reason, our other The Wetherspoon of Mersey Drinker campaigning objectives were of proud we enabled a greater significance. Indeed, our few thousand people Voucher Offer early festivals weren't styled to sample on Celebrations for "festivals" at all, but rather "real ale Merseyside, via our detail alone can make such a exhibitions" - we thought the term beer festivals, the difference when planning itineraries. 40 Years of Liverpool 'festival' was a bit too ambitious and fine beers of those And why are the public transport might prejudice the granting of a many brewers no CAMRA notes so shabby, and walking routes licence if it suggested negative longer with us. from bus stops hardly ever given ? Campaigning

How pleasing then that, forty years As West Pennines Regional Read about the Celebration on, not only does the national guide Organiser in the mid-70s I spent Events on line in MerseyAle still go from strength-to strength, but much time haggling over CAMRA CAMRA Books, as an in-house branch boundaries and trying to back issues on publishing subsidiary, has by now amicably resolve disputes. There www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk hundreds of fine books to its credit, was some excuse back then since Spring 2014 edition – ranging from local guides, to pub branch boundaries hadn't been ‘Liverpool CAMRA Celebrates firmed up in many parts of the walks, to European and USA guides, 40 Years of Success Fighting and including the best-selling 300 nation and there were some new Beers to Try Before You Die ! And all branches being formed. Not so for Real Ale’ – pages 9 to 15 this is largely down to genial guru At one of those recent gatherings of today. Summer 2014 edition – (and stickler for detail) Roger Protz, CAMRA grandees, which the Special 40th Anniversary supported by a fine cast of expert politically correct call The CAMRA Now news has reached me of an Event – ‘Bob Thurlow Goes writers and editors. Who would Pioneers (but others refer to, less almighty "tinkering" proposed for “Inn Liverpool” – pages 11 have thought in the 1970s that a politely, as t'owl farts !), one major Greater Manchester, in which the former editor (and occasional conversational topic was the current well-respected and long-established to 12 streetseller at rallies, if I recall) of membership total - now 171,000 odd North Manchester Branch - which Winter 2014 edition – Socialist Worker would end-up and rising, I believe, the reasons has covered a sizeable chunk of ‘Memories of CAMRA in the producing such collective goodies why, and what implications there central Manchester, alongside most 70s’ – pages 46 and 47 for the cause of real ale ? might be for CAMRA if it suddenly of Salford, for donkey's years - looks started to decline in these austere set to be all but 'rationalised' out of F times. existence. It would indeed be

10 11 Elephant, 1 Woolton Street, Philharmonic Dining Rooms , - What Is It Where Woolton, L25 5NH 36 Hope Street,L1 9BX Excelsior, 121-123 Dale Street, Pumphouse, The L2 2JH Colonnades, Albert Dock, and Where to Find Fall Well, Roe Street, L1 1LS L3 4AN Flanagan's Apple, Mathew Queen's PictureHouse, LocAle in Street, L2 6RE 47 South Rd,Waterloo, L22 5PE Can You Find It ? Flute, 35 Hardman Street, Raven, 72-74 Walton Vale, CAMRA LocAle is an initiative only in the Nottingham area, it has n That accreditation can be Liverpool L1 9AS Walton, L9 2BU subsequently been rolled out withdrawn at any time at the Font, Unit 3, Arrad Street, Rhubarb, 27-29 Lark Lane, that promotes pubs stocking Abbey, 85-89 Hanover Street, nationally, more and more discretion of the local CAMRA L7 7JE Aigburth, L17 8UW locally brewed real ale. The L1 3DZ scheme builds on a growing branches have now signed up and Branch . Frank Hornby, 38 Eastway, Richard John Blackler, 1-2, n Baltic Fleet, 33 Wapping, Maghull, L31 6BR Charlotte Row, L1 1HU consumer demand for quality it has been re-branded to CAMRA That should accreditation be LocAle . withdrawn, or should the licensee L1 8DQ Gardeners Arms, 101 Vale Richmond Pub & Hotel, 32 local produce and an increased withdraw from the scheme, all Barkers Brewery, Archway Road, Woolton, L25 7RW Williamson Street, L1 1EB awareness of 'green' issues. The Liverpool & Districts branch publicity material must be Road,Huyton, L36 9UJ currently has over 45 pubs signed Gold Balance, 6-10 Newton Richmond Tavern, 23a removed from the pub and the Belvedere, 8 Sugnall Street, The LocAle scheme was created by up to the scheme. You will find Gardens, Kirkby, L32 8RR Church Rd, Wavertree,L15 9EA licensee must cease using the L7 7EB the Nottingham Branch in 2007. that participating pubs will display Grapes, 60 Roscoe Street, L1 Scotch Piper, Southport CAMRA LocAle logo. Bier, 52 Lark Lane, The catalyst was the buy out and appropriate stickers in windows 9DW Road, Lydiate, L31 4HD subsequent closure of Hardy & and doors,visible from outside. Once satisfied that the pub meets Aigburth,L17 8UU Hope & Anchor, Maryland Sefton Arms, 1 Mill Lane, Hansons by Greene King. They Before displaying any CAMRA the above criteria, I will provide Blackburne Pub & Eatery, Street, L1 9DE West Derby, L12 7HX then started brewing various H&H LocAle publicity material, a pub posters, window stickers, leaflets 24 Catharine Street, L8 7NL Hub , 16 Hanover Street, Ship & Mitre, 133 Dale Street, beers at Bury St. Edmunds and must be awarded accreditation by and pump clip toppers as well as Blues Bar, 21-23 Moor Lane, L1 4AA L2 2JH transporting it all the way back to listing the pub on the LocAle the CAMRA Branch via the LocAle Crosby, L23 2SE James Monro, 69 Tithebarn Sphinx, 160 Mount Nottingham. This led to thinking page on the Branch website Co-ordinator. Accreditation is at Bridewell, 1 Campbell Square, Street, L2 2EN Pleasant,University, L3 5TR about the miles that the beer was the sole discretion of the Branch www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk , L1 5FB travelling. Hence, the phrase, Jawbone Tavern, 12 Stamps Bar, 5 Crown and subject to the licensee which shows all the LocAle pubs in Caledonia, 22 Caledonia "Beer Miles," was coined. our area. Pubs can also elect to Litherland Road.,Bootle, Buildings, Crosby, L23 5SR agreeing to the following: Street, L7 7DX have a dedicated LocAle certificate L20 3BZ Stamps Too, 99 South Road, To be Locale accredited, a pub Cat & Fiddle, St Martin's n The award applies for the produced specifically for them at Lime Kiln, Fleet Street, Waterloo, L22 0LR should stock at least one real ale, current year only, so, if a licensee no cost. House, Bootle, L20 3LG L1 4NR Thomas Frost, 77-187 Walton brewed at a brewery no more than gets the award in 2015, they have Cavern Pub, 5 Mathew Lion Tavern, 67 Moorfields, Road, Kirkdale, L4 4AJ 30 miles from door-to-door via the So if you are a licensee who can to be re-accredited to get the Street,L2 6RE L2 2BP Vernon Arms, 69 Dale Street, shortest road route (this may vary award in 2016. satisfy our LocAle 2015 criteria, Childwall Fiveways, then please contact me via Liver, 137 South Road, L2 2HJ in other CAMRA branch areas) and n That they will endeavour to 179 Queens Drive, L15 6XS [email protected] or, Waterloo, L22 0LT Victoria Cross , 1-3 Sir Thomas the ale must have a locale identity. ensure at least one locally brewed Clove Hitch, 23 Hope Street, Therefore, we would not expect an if you drink in a pub which you Liverpool Pigeon, 14 Endbutt Street, L1 6BW real ale, as defined by the local L1 9BQ ale that is associated with London think would also qualify, please Lane, Crosby, L23 0TR Volunteer Canteen, 45 East CAMRA branch, is on sale Cobden, 89 Quarry Street, to be LocAle in Liverpool, even regularly (though exception can bring this article to the licensee's Masonic, 35 Gladstone Road, Street, Waterloo, L22 8QR Woolton, L25 6HA if it's contract-brewed locally. be made if, on random checks, the attention. Garston, L19 1RR Welkin, 7 Whitechapel, Cross Keys, 13 Earle Street, Encouraging pubs to sell local beer pub has been exceptionally busy André Fu Merton Inn, 42 Merton Road, L1 6DS reduces the "beer miles" thus and the LocAle beer is not ready to Liverpool & Districts CAMRA L3 9NS Bootle, L20 3BW White Horse, 2 Acrefield benefiting the environment. serve or if the pub is running a LocAle Co-ordinator Dispensary, 87 Renshaw St, Navigator, 694 Queens Road, Woolton,L25 5JL L1 2SP n It ensures more variety and beer festival). Drive,Old Swan, L13 5UH Willowbank, 329 Smithdown diversity to the consumer and, n Only real ale, as defined by Old Bank, 34 South Road, Road, Wavertree, L15 3JA hence, better sales for the pub. CAMRA, can be promoted as a Waterloo, L22 5PE Yates's, 1 Queens Square, n It helps sustain the local micro CAMRA LocAle. Pen Factory, 13 Hope Street, L1 1RH brewers. n Most importantly, the beer must L1 9BQ Ye Hole in Ye Wall, 4 Hackins be consistently served in good n It benefits the local economy. Hey, L2 2AW Though initially the scheme was condition.

12 13 New Real Ale Outlets Liverpool are available should the draught run Crosby and Waterloo City Centre out. The bar is open to the public Blues Bar , on the pedestrian area of At the refurbished Liverpool Guild whenever the Hall is open. It closes Moor Lane in Crosby is serving of Students at the top of Brownlow at 5.30pm on evenings when there is guest ales, often supplied by not a performance. Liverpool Craft and other small breweries. Another new outlet for real ale is the Hope & Anchor on Maryland The Marine, at the river end of Street, basically behind its sister South Road in Waterloo, has been pub, the Flute on Hardman Street. rebranded as a Champs Sports Bar Six craft keg fonts have been joined & Grill , and is as it says on the tin. by three hand pumps. Like its Real ale is available, though, usually neighbour a mix of national brands supplied by Liverpool Organic. and locales will be served. A Hill close to the Augustus John, the sheltered courtyard to the rear will South Liverpool Sphinx bar is selling real ale. House Que Pasa Cantania on Lark Lane is beer is Sphinx , a 4.3% blonde beer, now serving beers from different brewed by Melwood . A second breweries rather than just those pump serves a guest beer, usually from Liverpool Organic. Beers from either another Melwood beer, or one smaller breweries across the North from the Marstons Group. West and North Wales have Hopefully this will encourage the featured. There is normally only one students to start drinking cask ale. beer on at a time. At the beginning of May Love Lane from Liverpool The new Wetherspoon pub at Lime Craft was available. Street station is to be appropriately be a good place to sup ale when the On the same day Bier Lark Lane had called the North Western , the same weather is warmer. Liverpool Craft’s new wheat beer, as the hotel of the same name that originally occupied the building. A Liverpool City Centre lot of work is needed to convert the Bier on Newington, like its sister listed building to the company’s pub on Lark Lane, is now regularly standards. It was due to open at the selling beers from Liverpool Craft end of June, but the latest date is Brewery , a welcome addition to the reported as 7th July. I hear a further range of beers. city centre Wetherspoon outlet could follow. The Clove Hitch on Hope Street has had some new beer lines fitted, so Hand pumps have been fitted in the the beers on at the upstairs bar need bar at the Philharmonic Hall . Beer not now be the same as those Fox Cub , available. RhuBARb also is supplied by Liverpool Organic . downstairs in the 23 club . featured a Liverpool Craft beer, this I have been told that because there is time Quokka . Three lovely pints The former Black Horse & Rainbow from one of our local breweries. brew pub on Berry Street that became the Metropolitan for a A Stonegate pub , well used by period, reopened in March as the students, is the Brookhouse on Red Door after being closed for a Smithdown Road in Wavertree. number of years. Unfortunately Unfortunately real ale has not been there is no sign of real ale. available here on my recent visits. No real ale was available at the The Masonic in Garston is often Everyman Bistro on my recent visits having beers supplied by Liverpool despite the four hand pumps on the Organic Brewery . As LOB do beer not a suitable cellar for the beer to be bar. One real ale, the Everyman Ale , swaps, you will often find beers conditioned at the Hall, it comes does sometimes appear when a play from many other breweries are also pre-conditioned from the brewery. is on in the Theatre. available. This means that demand could I have not seen Sals on Renshaw outstrip the limited supply. Bottles Street open since the New Year. F 14 15 RRoossccooee HHeeaadd The Elephant Pub & Bakehouse in What Pub as serving real ale, has bringing up all the pubs in the CAMRA Liverpool & Districts PUB of the YEAR 2012 Woolton has been featuring beers now closed. Aigburth area. Using a portable from Mad Hatter brewery during device you can put in the score March and April. Look out for CAMRA Member Discounts while you are actually drinking the similar features in the future. The Lion Tavern, Moorfields, has beer. On some devices there is an withdrawn its 10 pence a pint ‘nearby pubs’ icon in the top right The Argosy , airside on level three CAMRA discount due to misuse by corner and all the pubs in the area some customers. will be listed for you to select the pub you are in. The Abbey on Hanover Street is the only Merseyside outlet for Parity On the desktop version of the site Bars. The pub continues to offer a the scoring box is on the right and good variety of beers, with a good on the mobile version you select discount for CAMRA members, the beer scoring tab. Select a score which is clearly advertised inside using the drop down list from 0 and out. (no real ale) to 5 (perfect). Most scores are likely to be between 2 www.roscoehead.co.uk (average) and 4 (very good). If you at Liverpool Airport has closed wish you can add the name of the at the end of its lease. The other brewery and the beer. Just typing outlet downstairs on level two, the first three letters in the Wetherspoon Express, remains brewery box usually brings up the open and is to be expanded. brewery for you to select. When Hopefully this will allow for the you then click in the beer box, a provision of cask ale. Previously drop down listing all that pre-conditioned bright beer brewery’s regular beers will specially supplied by George appear for selection. Wright has been sold here. Pub News by Tony Williams

CONSTANTLY Other Areas Beer Scoring CHANGING The Brunel towards the west end of Beer scoring has never been so Breck Road has closed. This pub The Roscoe Head is a true English easy. For a pub to appear in the GUEST BEERS served real ale for a period recently, Good Beer Guide (GBG) there is a public house with lots of character. 6 but sales proved disappointing. The need for it to be well scored licensee is reported to have moved One of the few pubs in Liverpool Try our delicious home-cooked food regularly by a number of different and indeed Great Britain to have to the George further along the CAMRA members. If you have a served Mon- to Fri 11.30am - 2.30 pm road, at the junction with Oakfield computer or smart phone you can survived the onslaught of the super Road. Perhaps a larger pub could pub chains and remains unspoilt. connect to www.whatpub.com. QUIZ NIGHT support real ale. Once logged in via your The Roscoe Head is a very special Not far away, the Oakfield , has Tuesday Commencing 9.30pm - membership number and your watering hostelry. reopened after being closed for a postcode without the gap as the max 4 players to a team few years. Unfortunately, this password, you remain logged in former Walker’s pub, did not have The Roscoe Head is a town local FREE BUFFET on your device, so you do not have hand pumps on its first match day. to log back in the next time. with customers from all walks of PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT FOR CASH PRIZES The more people who score, the The Picture Drome on Kensington life, the backroom debates are Tuesday night after quiz Once on the website it is easy to better the system is. In the past always entertaining whether it be has had some beers from smaller search for the pub by starting to some pubs, especially those away politics or football on the agenda breweries again recently. The prices type in the name. An outlet such from the city centre, have not CRIBBAGE NIGHT are on par with those charged when the banter is always good. as the Kazimier appears after you made it into the GBG as not Every Wednesday Evening the pub was a Wetherspoon outlet, have typed K.A.Z. For a more enough different people but the largest discounts are only on common name such as the Crown submitted scores. If you have not Winner of many awards and one of only SEVEN pubs to feature in every edition pints. you would have to add the place as taken part before, please become of the Good Beer Guide. Over 40 years of Good Beer Guide entries! well. Alternatively, you can enter a scorer to ensure no pub misses The Fairfield Arms on Prescot part of the postcode, with ‘L17’ out in the future. 24 Roscoe Street L1 2SX Tel: 0151 709 4365 Road, which had been listed on

16 17 MerseyAle The Cider News Four Out of Five British the EU’s demand that a new tax of Belvedere Cider Makers Under Threat up to £2,700 is imposed on very small cider producers. Traditional 2 room community pub Due to EU Tax Chang e The European Union (EU) is White Jersey was described by Grade II Listed situated in the heart of MerseyAle was one of the first proposing to ban the UK’s small judges as being ‘fruity' and ‘easy Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter. Winner publications to bring news that cider producer duty exemption. drinking', with ‘a slight sweetness of CAMRA pub of culture 2011 the European Commission was This exemption supports very small balanced by an excellent tang', and having ‘balance without too much Cask Ales from Local and intending to introduce duty cider makers, such as hobbyists or changes that were likely to lead to farm-gate producers, for whom acidity'. Janet's Jungle Juice was Regional Brewers the closure of four out of five small such small scale production is an described as having a ‘mature and One minut e from Philharmonic Hall cider and perry producers in Britain. integral part of rural culture. woody aroma' with ‘an initial Ideal for pre-show drinks The Spring 2015 edition reported on The proposed action would see very pages 21 and 23 that; small cider producers landed with a The Only Liverpool Pub with ‘At the beginning of March the tax bill of up to £2,700 each and Lined Glasses for Cask and European Commission demanded every year. European Lagers that the British government do away Large Selection of Gins available at the with a duty exemption worth £2,500 We call on the Government to Football Free Zone to small-scale producers of cider No Fruit Machines reject the EU’s request and Real Fires put UK cider producers and Real Conversation consumers first. sweetness and a smooth finish', and Food Available Sign the Petition today at – a ‘full mouthfeel with a resinous https://you.38degrees.org.uk aroma'. /petitions/protect-small-cider- The winner of the Perry Gold medal 8 Sugnall Street (off Falkner St), Liverpool producers-1 was Two Trees Perry by Gwynt y Ddraig (meaning ‘dragon's breath' Cider Champions 2015 in Welsh) which the judges described as being ‘initially sweet From Orgasmic Cider, to Janet’s with a refreshing, dry aftertaste', Jungle Juice and Dragon’s Breath: ‘complex yet well balanced, with a and perry. Under the exemption, CAMRA Names the UK’s Best introduced in 1976, cider-makers Ciders and Perries who produce fewer than 70 CAMRA announced the winners of hectolitres a year – about 12,000 British and Foreign Bottled Beers its National pints – do not have to pay duty. The Cider and Perry National Association of Cider Championships Makers calculates that this accounts At the last count we had over at the Reading for about 80% of the UK’s 480 cider- Beer and Cider makers.’ Festival. The 280 British Ales. Plus Belgian, We also urged you to sign the Winners were; poached pear flavour and aroma' online petition launched by 38 German and Italian Beers Cider with a ‘slowly developing finish'. Degrees and the CAMRA Selling beers from all the North West Breweries, GOLD (joint) – White Jersey, The competition featured ciders National Cider Co-ordinator, the Lake District and more. Orgasmic Cider Company and perries from across the UK, Angela Briers. Extensive Foreign bottled beer selection. GOLD (joint) – Janet's Jungle Juice, with each cider and perry judged on We are pleased to say that the West Croft its individual taste, aroma, flavour, Including American, Polish and Australian. Our petition has taken off, already BRONZE – Medium, Three Cats after-taste and overall appeal. The bottled beer range is constantly changing and achieving 20,316 signatories with a top awards were selected by a expanding. Come in and have beer browse! target of 25,000. So please sign the Perry specially chosen panel of petition today and help reach the GOLD – Two Trees Perry, Gwynt y experienced judges, drinks writers target of 25,000, in the campaign to Ddraig and CAMRA members. save the small producers. The Steve Layton of Orgasmic Cider Mini Kegs n Spirits n Liverpool Gin n Ciders SILVER – Snowy Owl, Raglan Cider petition says; Company, had this to say on hearing Mill his cider had taken the top spot, BRONZE – Perry, Snails Bank Open Wednesday - Sunday 1pm-7pm Sat 10am -7pm Tel: 0151 949 1834 To: The Chancellor of the "We're very proud of this single The joint winners of the Cider Gold Exchequer, HM Treasury blend [variety] cider - we grow the medal were; White Jersey by 59 College Road Crosby L23 0RL @crosbybeershop We call on the UK Government to apples, we produce the cider, we do Orgasmic and Janet's Jungle Juice continue to support the cider sector everything - so to me this is a great by West Croft. and consumer choice by rejecting achievement, as it lets me know our

18 19 The MerseyAle Cider News contd cider is enjoyable to drink by increasingly difficult. With a set of Globe everybody on this top judging truly excellent drinks available this panel. We're very proud to win and year at the festival, and a The Globe is a small, very cosy traditional two roomed local OVER this is a massive achievement. competition which was very tight right until the final judging we are opposite Central Station and close to main shopping area. Andrea Briers It is a very lively pub and is popular with both locals and confident these ciders and perries visitors alike. Watch out for the sloping floor! can truly be known as the best in CAMRA Celebrates 27 Years of Britain." Campaigning for Real Cider Opening times 11am -11pm . Reading CAMRA Beer and Cider and Perry Sunday 12-10.30 Festival served over 550 beers, plus 2015 will see CAMRA celebrating Telephone 0151 707 0067 CAMRA Merseyside’s 150 ciders and perries (from over its 27 record of promoting real inaugaural meeting 100 producers), plus a selection of took place here over cider and perry, thereby saving a 40 years ago in 1974 foreign beers, English wines and British national drink from what mead. looked like the threat of extinction ‘Real cider' is a term used to as the large cider producers Andrea Briers, CAMRA National describe traditional cider made aggressively marketed national Cider and Perry Committee from freshly pressed apples. brands made from concentrates Chairman, commented on the Served still rather than force and with added carbonation. quality and diversity of entries: carbonated, real cider is Watch out for Celebration events "The quality and variety of real unpasteurised and unfiltered to and the October Cider Month 5 cider and perry is increasing year- produce a truly natural and campaign. on-year, making our job as judges delicious alcoholic drink. Handpumps 17 CASES STREET L11HW 20

OUR AWARD WINNING CIDER RANGE

Rosie’s Triple D Rosie’s Black Rosie’s Wicked Rosie’s Cider Shop Cider Bart Wasp - Medium Available dry, medium or Sweet Cider Sweetness Cider Open weekdays from 10am Open weekends from 9am sweet Bottled and in Bottled or Draught Bottled or Draught medium or dry in 6.6% abv 7.0% abv Draught 6.4% abv WINNER OF Rosie’s Perfect “CIDER OF THE Pear Perry Rosie’s Oak MerseyAle has a print run of 11,000 copies Rosie’s Award Winning FESTIVAL” Medium Sweet MerseyAle Ciders. Matured Dry AT THE Perry circulation estimated at 40,000. It is an ideal and Pressed and fermented here Scrumpy - LIVERPOOL in Llandegla since 2005 2012 BEER Bottled or Draughtt ADVERTISING cost efficient way of keeping your pub and its ‘MADE IN WALES’ Only available in 6.0% abv Draught FESTIVAL events in the pubgoers mind (advertising is Rosie’s Triple D Cider If you wish to place an business expense). Whether it’s your choice of Dafarn Dywyrch, advertisment you should real ales, your food, your prices or your social Llandegla, Wrexham, contact us by email at; scene like quiz nights, beer festivals, sports TV, Rosie’s DM4 and pub games - let people know you are there. Denbighshire LL11 3BA Cider (not Cidre) [email protected] you T: 01978 790222 Available lightly can send in your advert design and M: 07812 500513 carbonated in MerseyAle has an experienced graphic designer E: [email protected] 500ml bottles, Situated at the North end of the Horseshoe Pass, at the copy by attachment, or ask us about medium or sweet. roundabout where the A542 intersects the A5104 Chester/Corwen who can produce you an excellent ad if you www.rosiescider.co.uk 6.0% abv road. The A525 runs past us half a mile to the North. design. can’t produce your own (the artwork design is Available for Pubs, (Bags in Boxes) and Shops/Delis (Bottled Cider Range) Cost is £100 per half page, £200 full free - you only pay for the page space. See left) You are welcome to call at the farm to taste and buy our Ciders and Perry page payment in advance.

20 21 MerseyAle Hand pulls with ever 6 changing Cask Ales Brewer ynews 11 Craft Lines including WEST BEERS and craft Chicago’s beloved brewery, micro brewers from Italy and Spain Big Brewers Goose Island, was bought by Anheuser-Busch which owns Wide range of keg, bottled and Bud, for $38.8m (£24.6m) and in bag in the box REAL CIDER Move to Take 2013 Boulevard Brewing was sold to Belgium-based brewery BOTTLES AND CANS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD Meantime IPA, London Lager, Duvel Moorgat, prompting fans Over Craft London Pale Ale and London of the Kansas-based brewery to Opening hours 12.00 till 11.00 every day Porter. It was founded in 1999 by launch a passionate (but Food served Mon - Sat 12 - 6pm Beer brewer Alastair Hook in a flat in ultimately fruitless) social media Cold pies available at all times Greenwich and now operates campaign. In Britain brewers Meantime Brewery Sells from a modern 120,000 Quiz Night Every Tuesday from 8.00 such as Greene King and to World’s Second hectolitre brewery in Greenwich Thwaites have launched ‘craft Meet the Brewer nights on Weds Biggest Brewer and operates two pubs, the beer’ ranges. TITHEBARN STREET LIVERPOOL @jamesmonropub Greenwich Union and the 0151 236 6299 Old Brewery bar. Meantime Craft beer is attractive to the big brewers because it has established a premium price level with high profit margins. Prices are considerably higher than for real ales. The combination of high profit margins and a rapidly growing market is attracting the big brewers. Nick and the staff welcome you to the famous Swan with its unique atmosphere As many commentators, including MerseyAle, predicted, and great range of fine cask ales. the big brewers are moving Best Rockers jukebox in town! rapidly into the expanding Craft increased production by 58% last Beer market. The latest move Always available: year as demand for craft beers sees craft brewer Meantime of increased. In comparison the PHOENIX WOBBLY BOB - HOPSACK Greenwich London selling to overall UK beer market grew by SAB Miller, the world’s second Plus ROSIES TRIPLE D CIDER 1% in 2014. It is clear why the big biggest brewer, for an brewers are keen to muscle in on undisclosed sum. PLUS A GREAT SELECTION OF GUEST BEERS craft beer. FROM A WIDE RANGE OF BREWERIES SAB Miller, a merger of South Craft beer is becoming big Large stock of Belgian Bottled Beers African Breweries and Miller of business, which means the big the USA, has 150 different beer brewers want a piece of the OPEN UNTIL 1am THURSDAY - brands worldwide, including action. In the United States the 2am FRIDAY and SATURDAY Fosters, Peroni, Miller Lite, home of the craft beer boom, Castle Lager and Pilsner Urquell. The takeovers also expose the several respected micro- Meantime is one of the leading fundamental problem that there breweries have been bought-out 3 FLOORS - FAMOUS HEAVY ROCK JUKEBOX - FREE WI FI craft brewers in Britain is no agreed definition of ‘craft in recent years. In 2011 86 Wood Street Liverpool Tel 0151 709 5281 producing beers such as beer’ and thus it is virtually F 22 23 MerseyAle Brewer ynews contd

impossible to rule out anyone and bar (see MerseyAle Spring concentrate on craft beers and who claims to be producing a 2013 pages 12 and 13) could have lager production for sale in the craft beer. In the USA the been called in for examination by UK and export to countries Brewers’ Association defines a the Secretary of State for Local including the USA, Sweden, craft brewer as one that is small, Government because of its scale. Italy, China and Taiwan. Cains independent and traditional, but But the government has decided went on record that they the wave of takeovers of there is no need for the Planning intended to open the craft established craft brewers by big Inspectorate to assess the brewery in time for the brewers is making that an scheme. International Festival of Business Liverpool CAMRA Pub Liverpool CAMRA increasingly hard line to hold. The 60,000 sq ft complex could in which took place in June last The boss of London’s Meantime theory be completed by summer year (MerseyAle Autumn 2014 of the Year PUB OF Brewing Company has defended 2016, but Cains have yet to find page 43 and Winter 2014 page 2010 and 2011 EXCELLENCE 2014 the independent beer maker’s partners for the development 25), but the brewery has still not decision to sell out to SAB Miller. and the necessary finance for the materialised. Nick Miller, Meantime’s chief scheme. CAMRA member Dave Jones executive, said the craft tag was Liverpool City Council had objected to the planning increasingly redundant and that previously granted planning permission on the grounds that selling to the world’s second- permission on condition that a Liverpool City Council had biggest brewer would not harm craft beer brewery plant be waived an expected contribution the company’s reputation, built installed and up and running of £800,000 from Cains in Section up over 16 years as a standalone before the rest of the £50 million 106 Planning Gain and had producer. development could go ahead. accepted just £400,000 compared Cains closed its Stanhope Street with the £1.2 million initially “I think the term ‘craft’ will Brewery and had announced an estimated. Dave claimed this disappear. It will become the intention to build a small craft was an unwarranted £800,000 norm that we have craft beer brewery on the site which would subsidy to Cains (see MerseyAle whether the brewer is big or Spring 2014 pages 21 to 23). small. If you stay true to what you believe in, which is high quality premium beers... I think A Warm Welcome to the Dispensary (CAMRA Liverpool & Districts Pub the drinker will welcome that.” of the Year 2010 and 2011) from Pauline, Dave and all their staff While Meantime is one of the first craft brewers in Britain to Good Beer Guide singles out “the landlord’s impeccable lose its independence, it almost attention to beer quality”. certainly won’t be the last. No Government Up Planning Inquiry into to Cains Brewery BEERS Village Development Availab8le at any one time kept in superb condition Proposal The Dispensary provides a varied and interesting selection The government has decided not of real ales from the best Micro Brewers in the country. You will be surprised at the choice to hold a public inquiry into the planned £50 million Cains Brewery Village. RENSHAW STREET, LIVERPOOL The bid to create a craft brewery (Formerly The Grapes) 0151 709 2160 along with apartments, a boutique hotel, market, cinema

24 25 Pubs of the Year 2015 CAMRA Merseyside Region

CAMRA Branches across the Merseyside region have Wonderful early 19th Century been judging and awarding Pub of the Year Awards for their Branch pubs. The results for each Branch are Public House with given below. The winners will then go forward for judging as the overall Merseyside Region CAMRA Pub 6Handpumps of the Year. For the last two years the Regional Winner Serving a varying range has been the Freshfield. Will they make it a hat trick in 2016? Judging is underway now and the results will of Real Ales Plus a Real Cider be printed in the next edition of MerseyAle. REGULAR ALE THWAITES Liverpool and Districts CAMRA Branch “HUNDRED BEST The Winner is The Liverpool Pigeon PUBS in the COUNTRY” (see separate article). 0151 709 4171 The Runners Up and awarded Pubs of Excellence and 12-11.30 midnight Fri & Sat 2010 2011 Daily Telegraph listed in no particular order are;

Have a drink in John Lennon’s Old Watering Hole The Lime Kiln (City Centre); Pi (Mossley Hill); The Ship & Mitre (City Centre); and the Dispensary (City Centre)

Wirral CAMRA Branch The Winner is Gallaghers in Birkenhead. The three other pubs in the final judging were all highly commended by the judging panel -

they were the Stage Door Tap at the Queen’s Royal (New Brighton); the West Kirby Spitting Feathers Tap and the Harp in Little Neston.

Southport CAMRA Branch The Winner is The Freshfield in Freshfield

St Helens CAMRA Branch The Winner is the Cricketers Arms St Helens Town Centre

Runner Up The Turk’s Head St Helens Town Centre Third Place The Phoenix St Helens Town Centre

St Helens CAMRA Branch has also been Judging for their Cider Pub of the Year A panel of cider experts have visited and graded the pubs selling real cider

The Winner of Cider Pub of the Year is; The Cricketers Arms, St Helens Town Centre Runner Up - The Junction , Rainford Third - The Glasshouse , St Helens Town Centre

26 27 In the Spring 2015 edition of MerseyAle, the Editor introduced you to Angus area, thereby achieving a more Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. Wapping beers have been brewed Morrison, the new brewer at Wapping Brewery. Angus took over the brewer’s stable temperature for the His weekly work routine is; without using finings and Angus fermenting beer. Monday - cask washing, racking intends to make this the regular mantle from Stan ’the Man’ Shaw in April 2014, having spent twelve months Angus is keen to move to using wet beer and bottling beers practice with all the Wapping beers. with Stan and learning the brewing ropes. The first article described his yeast and to developing his own Tuesday and Wednesday - Brewing So not only is Wapping brewing in journey from life in Seilebost on Harris in the Outer Hebrides to Wapping yeast strain. Currently Thursday and Friday - sales and good hands with Angus, but we can Wapping uses Nottingham ale yeast admin including returns to HMRC all look forward to some exciting the subterranean brewery under the Baltic Fleet, a progress which gives a neutral flavour to developments both at the brewery the beer. and on the bar at the Baltic Fleet – ANGUS driven by Angus’s passion for producing quality food and drink, To develop the yeast and to check A Message to Liverpool’s Only Brew Pub. especially beer. You can always tell when brewing is underway closely on the ingredients and the John Armstrong as the ‘periscope’ chimney rises from the depths to poke above beers he plans to set up a small CAMRA – the pavement. In this second part of the interview, the Editor laboratory. Angus has a Chemistry degree from Dundee Abertay Campaign on reports on Angus’s future plans for the Wapping beers and University and has previously Four the brewery. Beer Quality in Pubs Seasons in Angus believes that CAMRA should focus on promoting an impro- One Day CONTINUED from last issue vement in the beer quality in many pubs. He describes The Baltic Fleet how frustrating it is for A much awaited favourite is the Spring Ale brewed to complete the and Wapping a brewer to find his seasonal Damson Stout (8.7%), much awaited Four Seasons line up. beers served in less Brewery which Stan Shaw introduced some Also look out for Baltic Triangle IPA than good condition years ago following a bumper (7.2%), a strong classic IPA. For worked a Laboratory Technician, due to poor cellaring Sail On national harvest of damsons. Fans those who remember Stan Shaw’s experience which will be very and serving skills at Liverpool CAMRA Get of the subtly flavoured Damson 9% Passage to Liverpool IPA , valuable in setting up his own the pub. He feels too Together Meets the Brewer Stout will be pleased to hear that brewed as the Liverpool CAMRA small lab. many pubs are giving real ale and Angus Morrison and Enjoys Angus intends to brew it twice a Beer Festival Special, they may need Important improvements have been breweries a bad name because the Four Seasons in One Day year rather than just the once. to beware that the Baltic Triangle made to the cellar of the Baltic Fleet. pub staff are not capable of keeping Looking back to a week when Another seasonal which is much does not become the Bermuda The cellar is now fully temperature and serving a good quality pint. the Isle of Man ferry struggled awaited is the Wapping Winter Ale. Triangle after a few pints or many. controlled at 11C and Angus does There needs to be a much greater to leave port it was reassuring This also appears as Vintage Winter the venting and tapping for all the emphasis on helping pubs serve that Liverpool’s only brew Ale from casks that have been kept Angus’s Favourite Wapping beers served in the Baltic Fleet bar. cask beer at better beer quality, and pub was firing on all to mature for a year, a practice Beer Three tier stillaging has been CAMRA should take a lead on this. cylinders. When Stan Shaw which Angus intends to continue. With so many great beers in the Developing the Wapping Beer installed to provide more space and hung up his hops for the final Stout is a hallmark beer of Wapping Wapping Brew Book what is Angus’s Range enable a wider range of cask beers time one could be forgiven brewery, with Wapping Stout favourite Wapping beer? The Hate Finings – Love Beer Angus began by reading through to be served on the bar. for thinking the ship might having been a CAMRA Champion answer is a beer last brewed some Angus joked that ‘Hate Finings – the entire Wapping Brew Book, Wapping will continue to bottle founder but not a bit of it. Beer of Britain Category Award time ago, Perch Rock , which is Love Beer’ should appear on all which lists over a decade of brews, some of their beers, but Angus Following his instructions brewed with Belgian yeast to give a Wapping Brewery T shirts. carefully checking all the many beer Winner , together with the Wapping describes bottling as ‘a pain’. He is from the Master, Captain distinctive taste. Angus is keen to recipes – and in the case of Smoked Porter , a beer which was a looking at ways of improving the Angus Morrison donned his re-introduce Perch Rock to the line Wapping that is a lot of different, winner at the CAMRA National process so as to offer a wider range sou’wester and immediately up, so an early appearance is on (and award winning), beers. Winter Ales Festival . The latter is of Wapping beers in bottle. set about imprinting his own the cards. Angus quickly introduced his own Ironically given his previous career mark on the subterranean Angus commented that there had distinctive stamp to the beers by as Maitre d’ at the Delifonseca brewery. only ever been one beer he had introducing a new range based, restaurant in Stanley Street, he is Liverpool and Districts Branch drunk which he would describe as appropriately for a proud son of the now brewing their bottled house arranged for Angus to bring ‘disgusting’. This was at a Scottish Outer Hebrides, on the Scottish beer ‘Heart of Gold’. us up to speed and talk about Beer Festival and was called Black shilling system of payment for beer some of his ideas for the Pudding Beer. The brewer had custom duty. The range features a future. In an entertaining talk managed to ruin both the black Weekly Work Routine 60 shilling (3.5%), a 70 shilling (3.7%) to CAMRA members and pudding and the beer – some Perhaps fortunately, Angus enjoys which has become a regular others keen to learn what achievement! the opportunity to work alone and Wapping beer, plus an 80 shilling be captain of his own ship, Angus is a fan of unfined beer as he went on in the bowels of the (4.2%) which is brewed in the more believes not adding finings give a building Angus explained his brewed with Bamberg Malt to give Developing the Wapping undertaking the full range of tasks malty Scottish style. fuller flavour beer. Not using passion for brewing and his the distinctive lightly smoked Brewery in running a brewery, from buying Angus has also been experimenting finings, which usually are made approach to the creation of flavour. Plans are in hand to rearrange the the ingredients, through the with rye beers, including Rye Smile from the swim bladders of fish, also tasty new beers. Angus is keen to experiment with brewery by moving the fermenters brewing, to the sales and even the a 4% pale ale and Autumn Rye. makes the beers suitable for Vegans new beers, including the new into what is now the cask storage final stage of accounting for the beer duty payments to Her and Vegetarians. A number of F

28 29 All Four Seasons Notable was a decision to complete the four seasons by The Four Seasons in One Day adding “spring” and “autumn” to contd the portfolio of Wapping beers; including the ever popular "Liverpool One Bridewell is THE “summer” (well, actually it’s always summer in the Baltic) and “winter” destination venue set in a truly (just the thing when it’s a bit chilly unique and Grade II listed, 1850s- outside). Talking about “spring” he built former gaol and police station described how a bewildering in the heart of this magnificent city. quantity of blood oranges from a local supplier plus black pepper Our heritage points to visits from some iconic guests had gone into the including Charles Dickens (employed for a day here “spring” to give it its in 1860, as a Special Constable to research a book), Frankie Goes to Hollywood (who rehearsed here in characteristically rich the early 1980s and wrote most of their hits in one of but sharp saison our cells) and Dame Joan Bakewell (who launched her flavour at a healthy most recent book here) to name but a few. Come and 5.2%. take your seat in an original 1850 cell, and enjoy a Now there are four both sourced from Alchemy. In a previous incarnation wonderful pint and a bowl of scouse...we promise not seasons in one Somerset by Angus. these were always one of the to lock you up!" evening all the year Food at the Baltic Fleet highlights of the weekend and I round, whatever the While all of this was going can imagine them being popular weather! Judging by on pub owner Simon Holt with the perfect accompaniment 'The Governor' social media gossip a SIMON took time out from his of one or more of Angus’s beers. good time was had by busy schedule to explain Don’t ask me which one; I’ll leave (3.8%), by Marco Pierre White, and all sampling not only the new “big how it was full steam ahead on the that with Angus or maybe check brewed by JW Lees, is a firm favourite four”, but also a couple of other catering front with the recent the weather forecast! with our customers. It's a wonderful caramel tasty brews, plus a traditional cider reintroduction of Sunday roasts coloured session ale, and is so popular that and an interesting cider brandy, supplied by local café-restaurant Geoff Edwards it's a permanent feature at Liverpool One Bridewell, and priced at just £2 .40 a pint Activating CAMRA Members 24% of non-active members over 60 are willing to volunteer for CAMRA The CAMRA National Members Weekend and AGM held in Nottingham in April We also have three other hand pulls with a regularly changing selection of well-kept real ales from various passed the following motion; North West brewers such as Liverpool Organic, ‘This Conference notes that the recent survey of CAMRA members showed that 24 per cent of the non active members over 60 were willing to volunteer for CAMRA, and around 3 per cent of non-active members said they Melwood Brewery and Lancaster Brewery. would be willing to volunteer when they retire. Therefore this Conference instructs CAMRA branches to take a Great brews, at a great price. As well as great cask positive approach to these people by contacting them and giving them examples as to how they might contribute ales we have a broad range to the Campaign.’ of specialist spirits and a fantastic wine list. Christine Cryne, CAMRA National Executive member, commented that this approach could lead to an Great food is a must and is available from additional 10,000 members becoming active with CAMRA branches. She urged branches to think differently 12 every day. Our menus change seasonally, we and identify ways of engaging with and activating the 24% of non active members over 60. Engaging them in do a fantastic Sunday Roast, and a varied Lunch branch activities such as magazine distribution, local beer festivals and Menu. All this and the best Scouse in town! pub surveys would be a real boost for many local branches. She pointed out the value in contacting those about to come up to retirement, many of whom are looking for new volunteering opportunities. This was an opportunity not to be missed. The Official Organiser of the CAMRA National Members Weekends, Neil Leeson, pointed out at a meeting in Liverpool to prepare for the 2016 Members Weekend, that in his experience over the last twenty plus years it was the older members who could be relied on to do the many 1 Campbell Square Argyle St. L1 5FB tasks associated with organising and delivering the Tel: 0151 709 7000 Members Weekends.

31 From Dave Halliwell MerseyAle Isle of Man Correspondent The Island of Real Ale Now It’s 100% Real ! No need to ask if it’s through the pub window to try and spot a hand pump indicating real cask - it is! ale-there will be one for certain! After many years of campaigning Mersey Ale wishes The Viking well, the Isle of Man has at last achieved after many years of friendly banter full 100% cask ale availability on the subject! across the whole of the traditional pub estate on lsland. This is truly The Bay Hotel Port Erin exceptional, far outstripping real ale availability in other Wins CAMRA Isle of jurisdictions across the British Isles Man Cider Pub of the and is a unique local brewing For the last half dozen years, the Year industry marketing point for the Island has been tantalisingly close With over forty nine ciders and Isle of Man in general. CAMRA to 100% real ale availability in perries selling out at the 2015 Isle of hopes the ‘100% Real’ unique traditional pubs, with only a couple Man CAMRA Beer Festival, and selling proposition will attract of free houses and four or five over a dozen pubs stocking cider more visitors to the Island, Heron & Brearley (H&B) pubs not during the year, the local CAMRA supported by other campaigning stocking real ale. Then a couple of group decided that the time was by IOM CAMRA and the CAMRA years ago there was a sustained right to hold an annual IOM Cider Beer Festival at the Villa Marina. effort by H&B during Steve Pub of the Year competition. Voting Pickett’s temporary tenure with took place from a shortlist of all The final pub to add to the now Okells to provide cask across the year round stockists, and The Bay complete100% Real Island list is entire estate, by putting real ale into O’Donnell’s, Douglas, and the nearby Sam’s Bar . Finally The Royal in Peel and the Bowling Green in Douglas received real ale. At the same time the freehouse Baltic Inn in Foxdale converted very successfully to cask, leaving just The Viking, which has now followed suit, making it 100% on Island. Hotel in Port Erin was voted as the worthy winner. The Bay, set in a This is in addition to several hotel magnificent location on Port Erin The Viking, Castletown, which by bars and wine bars returning to seafront, has for some time stocked early April was stocking ale from cask, such as the HQ Bar, the four ciders and perries, often the Hooded Ram brewery. Wellbeck and the Ascot hotels and increasing the range in the busy Originally built at the end of the Jak’s in Douglas. In every case to summer months. At the time of 19th century in only ninety days, date where there has been no visit, this pub with links to Bushys, the pub, (initially named the change of venue format, cask has was stocking three ciders and one Castletown Hotel), sits adjacent to been sustained medium term or perry, all from the Weston’s stable, the Castletown Steam Railway increased -something that only namely, Family Reserve (5%), station and opposite The Sidings happens when there is financial Country Perry (4.5%), Old Rosie pub, which has been a long time viability, demand, and sales. No (7.35%) and Rosie’s Pig (4.8%), cask ale stalwart and CAMRA longer does the Isle of Man real ale all at £3.30 a pint, (aside from the Awards winner. visitor have to peer suspiciously much stronger Old Rosie at £3.80).

33 F It is believed that the Bay is the The Pub Walks of only regular stockist of a perry on Island, and congratulations go to Douglas - Tours Commence the pub in winning the award. plus Commemorative Book These are now Largest Number of operational for the summer Hand Pumps on Island - months. Those The Prospect, Douglas going on the As Mersey Ale goes to print a total walk get a of fourteen hand pumps have been detailed and in the painting over the bar. installed in The Prospect, Douglas. stylish booklet Above the bar, there has for many There has always been room for describing the years been a traditional painting one huge cask ale venue pub in the history of the of a Market scene, produced pubs on route, with illustrations by one of the locals . and photographs. Although This was switched earlier in the sponsored by Heron & Brearley the year, uncovering another 1962 book is written and illustrated painting of Douglas Bay and the independently by the tour guide classic Steam Packet steamers of John Cojeen, thereby providing a the era, a painting not glimpsed for superb memento of the walk many years. However, another especially for those who are painting featuring another market visiting the Island. scene has since replaced that, produced by another local central Douglas area, as has long Old Market Grog customer, Jack McCarthy. been proven in both Peel and Castletown with the exemplary Returns. Whitehouse and the Sidings. Now In a tie in with Bushys, The Old Dalby Spook Sightings! H&B have taken the plunge, and Market Inn, near the Quayside and And finally there have been have chosen The Prospect as the bus station in Douglas will once multiple return sightings of the Douglas pub to develop as a again have a unique house beer for Dalby Spook, in the shape of a magnet for real ale choice. TT. Old Market Grog at 4.2%, will Bushys random be produced in limited quantities, occasional The Baltic Inn, Foxdale with only beer 180 named Is under new management and on gallons after the a recent visit it was confirmed they available cheeky will continue to stock cask ale in this year. talking this most traditional of community The mongoose pubs. New signage and cellar work Market of legend have been under way, with a Inn is a from the 1930’s, facility for a new hand pump line popular which evaded the best efforts at being installed. A further update venue for that time of National UK will follow in MerseyAle as the visiting newspapers to track it down. The year progresses, but rest assured bike fans, Spook put in an appearance at the the traditional charm of the outlet so the CAMRA Isle of Man Beer Festival, is safe in the hands of the new Grog will soon sell out during the as well as featuring in pubs around incumbents. busy TT motorbike race period. TT the Island. However, one eagle shirts will be produced celebrating eyed Villa Marina beer festival goer the beer, with proceeds going from Across reported spotting the towards the Southern 100 motor - creature south of the Watford Gap bike races helicopter support fund. in the U.K., this time at a beer This smallest pub on Island still festival in that area - thought to be manages to retain immense a first for the Spook! community focus and backing, and has raised a staggering £9,850 for Dave Halliwell the fund in recent years, whilst also MerseyAle Isle of Man Correspondent donating £2,000 to the hyperbaric chamber in Douglas. Frequenters IOM Beer Festival special report of the pub will also notice a change overleaf F

34 35 Isle of Man CAMRA Beer Festival 2015 - Special Report 400 Plus Visit Festival From Across Fourth Festival Sets Record Festival and its value to the economy of the Island. Attendance of over 3,000 This figure is a substantial increase over the 187 achieved in 2014, reflecting the growing profile of the The Fourth Isle of Man CAMRA Beer Festival moved Festival. for 2015 to a new larger venue at the Villa Marina, centrally located on Douglas promenade. Such had Bill Smith, CAMRA IOM Organiser of the Festival been the success of the Festival that the original commented; venue at the Masonic Hall had been outgrown. The Bill Smith “The Villa venue meant we MerseyAle Editor, who visited for the three days of the could accommodate three Festival, and IOM Correspondent Dave Halliwell, times the number of people we could at the Masonic Hall. To achieve over 3,000 visitors shows how much of a draw the CAMRA Festival now is and the new central location is convenient for access by public transport across the Island.”

Bill’s talents extend further than just organising. As a qualified engineer he designed both the new bar and the stillaging used for the Festival, the latter being constructed by apprentices at the Steam Packet Workshops.

bring you a Special Report on the Event. The Festival was opened by the Island’s Lieutenant Governor Adam Wood. Appropriately, given this is The Gods must have a downer on CAMRA at the Villa his final year in office, this was a reprise of his Marina. In 2010, the very successful CAMRA National opening of the First IOM CAMRA Beer Festival held at Members Weekend held at the Villa, was hit by the the Masonic Hall in 2012 . He showed a keen interest Icelandic volcano eruption and subsequent ash cloud, which caused the cancellation of all UK air flights for nearly a week. Delegates had to switch to the Steam Packet to return home. In 2015 it was the turn of Manannan, the Manx God of the Sea, to breathe trouble into the Steam Packet fast craft named after him. Propulsion damage meant a week of sailing cancellations, turning a two and half hour crossing from Liverpool into an eight hour marathon via coach and the Ben my Chree from Heysham. Despite this major obstacle, over 400 people from Across made it to the Villa for the IOM CAMRA Beer Bill and Lietenant Governor Adam Wood Festival – a demonstration of the pulling power of this F 36 37 in the beers, having asked for an advance copy of the staff, quite rightly did their job in using their Programme, and on arrival had his own hand written Friday Night at the professional experience and expertise to react swiftly list of beers he wanted to try. to the congestion by controlling safely the flow rate of festival goers into the bar, but this did have the knock He served the first pint of Festival - on slowing down effect for those still trying to enter the Festival, the Festival the venue, and those returning to the bar areas for a Special ‘Joey’s’ brewed by a Review by Dave Halliwell Regrettably a queuing problem occurred on the early further drink. Bushys to support the part of Friday evening. It had been hoped that moving Joey Dunlop Foundation The bar area used has been questioned by some as charity, appropriately opposed to using the larger The Royal Hall. However, handed to the seventeen the bar area was previously used very successfully for attracting many followers. The use of the Hall meant times Side Car Champion a CAMRA National Members Weekend in April 2010, that the music was in a separate area and did not when up to a thousand people from the U.K. attended intrude on the main bar and seating areas, so the venue. This is an event that CAMRA Isle of Man is everyone was happy. hoping to return to the Island in a few years’ time Beer wise there were 132 different beers compared (minus the ash cloud of course). Whilst the bar was with the 60 of the First Festival. Joey’s was the Festival adequate for the vast majority of the opening hours, it Special, whilst the strongest was Hooded Ram proved not to be for the early Friday evening surge. CowKiller , a double IPA at 9.2%. There was an The third issue was that a much larger number of exceptionally fine range of 49 real ciders and perries people than expected stayed on into the evening, organised by Kevin Garrad, CAMRA IOM Cider thereby slowing access for those arriving after work. It Officer, which provided an excellent insight into a Lietenant Governor Adam Wood and had been thought during the planning stages that drink which is becoming increasingly popular on Dave Molyneux to the larger venue would eliminate the problem closing the large multi -roomed venue for a short Island. almost entirely, but on this first run at the prestigious period around Friday teatime would have been rider Dave Molyneux . A noteworthy feature was the Young(er) Members Villa Marina venue, this was not so, and the CAMRA impractical This was also the Bar which was staffed by young CAMRA members organisers acknowledge the frustration this caused Festival chosen charity, In summary, plans are underway to move the bar area and offered a range of to all. with a total of £866 unusual beers. The for future events, specifically for the Friday early raised by IOM There has been some subsequent speculation as to festival as a whole evening crowd surge, and by late April a meeting had CAMRA, £450 raised by the cause of the problem, but MerseyAle was on site, required around 60 already taken place to this effect. Context is important the Charity’s own stall joining with those in the entrance queue to volunteers per session. and the event was without doubt a huge success at the Festival plus the experience the problems first hand, and therefore demand wise and in terms of showcasing the Island proceeds of 10 pence Bushys sponsored the able to comment accurately. and local brewing industry, especially to the hundreds per pint from Bushys for every pint of Joey’s sold on Festival glasses which The problem was essentially threefold. of visitors from the U.K. and the bulk of the 3000 Island. had a very attractive attendees over the three days. All involved do logo design, whilst Firstly, as is common with all large events and beer The biking theme extended to the entertainment acknowledge the difficulties on early Friday evening Hooded Ram spon- festivals in the U.K., queues developed outside the stage in the main Royal Hall theatre, where a side car and the disappoint- sored the Staff shirts. venue around the peak early evening Friday slot. This ment they caused for a was much larger than anticipated, and exceeded all not insignificant number There was a vote for Beers of Festival with the result; predictions from previous years, by some margin. of festival goers. 1. Hooded Ram Black Pearl, 2. Hooded Ram Little This in itself would have still been manageable in a The vast bulk of King Louis IPA, 3. Scottish Borders Lemondrop short time frame, as planned, and as is common to these attendees, showed (2.8%) many large events. considerable patience, which the CAMRA There was also a vote for Ciders/Perries of Festival: However a second issue occurred once in the venue. organisers acknow- Result 1. Rathay's Old Goat, 2. Double Vision Initially on entering a beer festival, imbibers tend to ledge and appreciate. Impeared Vision, 3. Manx Cider Company Jenny linger around the bar area for some time, perhaps an Layback hour or two, investigating and sampling what is on raced by the oldest crew of Nigel Smith and Chris offer, before later on moving around the venue to Dave Halliwell So overall a great step forward for the 2015 Festival MerseyAle IOM McGahan, himself a Manx Grand Prix solo winner, explore music, seating, food, and games areas etc. Lietenant Governor both on Island and in attracting visitors from Across. was on display. The Festival was notable for the This occurred in the normal fashion, but the bar areas Adam Wood Correspondent And then came The Friday Night Surge …….. continuous live music from local bands, with no less subsequently became congested. The Villa event than twelve bands appearing over the three days, John Armstrong MerseyAle Editor 38 39 Beer Festivals General Election- Check Website Holding Them for latest Beer Festivals at the to Account Ship & Mitre 1. Back action to support well LIVERPOOL’S PREMIER FREEHOUSE theshipandmitre.com run community pubs by: • Ensuring pubs are better protected in the planning system EVER CHANGING REAL ALES + DRAUGHT CIDERS Conservative 331 Winter 2014 edition pages 4 and 5 . • Ensuring that large pub 15 The Ship and Mitre has the largest selection of Belgian and German Draught and Bottled Beers in Liverpool He held off a challenge from companies treat publicans fairly (overall majority 12) Labour to win his seat with a Labour 232; SNP 56; Liberal reduced majority of 2,907 in a 70% 2. Celebrate and promote Democrat 8; Democratic turnout. Britain’s real ale breweries by: Quality Pub Food Unionist 8; Sinn Fein 4; Social Another Lib Dem to hold on was • Retaining discounted duty cooked to order including Gourmet Burgers, Wraps, Democratic and Labour Party 3; John Pugh in Southport with a rates for small brewers Scouse, Tapas style dishes Ulster Unionist 2; Plaid Cymru reduced majority of 1,322 in a • Ensuring that beer duty is set 3; Green Party 1; UKIP 1. 5.38% swing from Lib Dem to at a level that supports UK Food served from 12-9 daily Conservative. brewing The result of the General Election The one Merseyside MP to VOTE 3. Represent the interests of confounded all the commentators, AGAINST the PubCo reform pub goers and beer drinkers Monday Darts - Wednesday Scouse on the House (from 6pm) Thursday - Quiz Night pollsters and the politicians amendment, Esther McVey, by: themselves. The widely Conservative MP for Wirral West, • Supporting consumer choice anticipated ‘closest General and Minister of State for Art Deco ‘Higher Room’ for hire Holds up to 55 people Catering available and the rights of consumers to Election in decades’ turned out to Employment in the Coalition fair treatment Ship & Mitre133 DALE STREET Tel: 0151 236 0859 be an outright Conservative Government, LOST her seat to majority. The Conservatives now Labour’s Margaret Greenwood by have a majority of 12 and David 417 votes, with a swing of 3.5% CAMRA will be keeping the Cameron has made it clear from Conservative to Labour in a pressure on our elected rep- he intends to implement the high turnout of 75.9% . resentatives so that our aims and Conservative election manifesto in The new Employment Secretary objectives are highlighted. In the full. who will have a lead responsibility run-up to the election CAMRA The wipe out for the pub and brewing industries, asked candidates to support pubs of many Liberal including the issue of the PubCos, and real ale by asking them to Democrats, down is Savid Javid , Conservative MP pledge to do the following if for Bromsgrove. He was Culture from 57 to just 8, elected: Secretary in the Coalition Two Shops: The City Centre and West Kirby included the 670 candidates supported a similar Government and before entering former Business pledge before the 2010 General Parliament was a successful City Secretary in the Election. For the 2015 Election banker. Over 400 products and growing Coalition this rose substantially with 1,162 During the Election CAMRA Government, Vince Cable , who candidates supporting the CAMRA Large selection of ciders lobbied all candidates to request introduced the Bill for reform of the Election Manifesto, including 12 of PubCos. He lost his seat in OPEN SUNDAYS those competing for Merseyside Changing range of British, Belgian, German, Twickenham in an 11.79% swing seats. USA and other World Beers from Liberal Democrat to Liverpool and District CAMRA Conservative. will contact the successful local Always new arrivals. We welcome suggestions One of the few Lib Dems to hold on candidates to remind them about 10% for beers to stock was Greg Mulholland in Leeds the pledge they made about pubs North West, who had led the long and real ale. Discount City Centre 45A Whitechapel L1 6DT and successful campaign to reform that they support the CAMRA Election Manifesto. Tony Morgan, Opening hours; 10 to 6pm Monday to Saturday. Sundays 11 to 5pm the PubCos and is Chair of the Save What Next ? for CAMRA the Pub Group . He introduced the Public Affairs Officer for Liverpool MEMBERS and GRANGE RD WEST KIRBY (opp station) amendment that introduced new and Districts CAMRA Branch CAMRA will continue to campaign rights for the tenants of the reports on the lobbying and on the for cuts in beer and cider duty as please show card 10-8pm Monday - Saturday, 12-6pm Sun PubCos, inflicting the first next steps CAMRA will be taking outlined in Pledge 2 above. Both Coalition Government defeat on to hold MPs to account. Tony were cut in the 2015 budget and one of its own bills See MerseyAle writes; attracted lots of headlines but it 40 41 F www.vernonarms.co.uk Welcome to the applies to all beer and cider It is no good having low duty rates permission provided the pub in production, not just real ale and on cask beer and cider if there are question is outside a conservation real cider. no pubs to drink it in so we need to area and not a “listed building.” What is probably more important get our elected representatives - Pubs listed as Assets of Verno nAr ms is the Small Breweries’ Relief MPs and local councillors - to Community Value (AVCs) will Scheme introduced in 2002. This make changes to planning law. now be subject to a full planning Cheers from Jimmy and Barbara Monaghan allows small brewers (annual Currently many valued pubs are application should the owner wish The Vernon Arms, Dale Street, Liverpool production < 60,000 hectolitres or being lost as a result of weak to demolish or convert the pub into 1,319,815.5 gallons) to a reduced planning rules that allow pubs to an alternative use but those pubs duty rate on a sliding scale. be converted into convenience without this listing are still at risk. Handpumps (4 Ever-changing) Brewers producing less than 5,000 stores and a range of other uses The planning rules need to be 6 hectolitres (109,985 gallons) per without any planning application strengthened so that planning Regulars: Rev James & Johnnie Handsome year get a 50% reduction in duty. being made. The planning rules permission is always required This probably has a greater effect affecting pubs need to be before any pub can be demolished. I Guest Ciders I Big screen football on keeping the prices of some cask strengthened to ensure that I Belgian bottled beers I Private functions beers low than the much publicised planning permission is required Tony Morgan, I 1p reduction in excise duty. It before pubs can be converted to Public Affairs Officer, Food Mon-Thurs 12- catered (Lathom Lounge) also allows microbreweries some any other use. Liverpool & Districts CAMRA 7pm, Fri- Sun 12-4pm I 10% student discount advantages when starting out and The current planning system also Check out Great Meal Deals off food menu competing with larger regional means that it is possible for brewers. We need to ensure our developers to demolish free- politicians keep this Relief Scheme standing pubs without planning The Vernon Arms offers all of the above in a friendly and safe atmosphere plus: in place. Live entertainment Friday and Saturday Your Merseyside MPs Opening Times Mon-Thurs 11-11.30pm; Fri & Sat 11.30-2am depending on customer demand; Sun 12-11pm Tel: 0151 236 6132 Apart from John Pugh in Southport who is Lib Dem, all the Merseyside MPs are Labour. They can be contacted by post at (name of MP), House of “many valued pubs are being lost as a Commons, London SW1A 1AA and by email at the addresses result of weak planning rules” listed below;

60 Roscoe St (corner of Knight St ) L1 9DW 0151 708 6870 Field, Frank Labour Party Birkenhead [email protected] Dowd, Peter Labour Party Bootle [email protected] 9Handpumps Eagle, Maria Labour Party Garston and Halewood [email protected] Serving constantly Howarth, George Labour Party Knowsley [email protected] changing cask ales Ellman, Louise Labour Party Liverpool, Riverside [email protected] Rotheram, Steve Labour Party Liverpool, Walton [email protected] always at least one LocAle from Berger, Luciana Labour Party Liverpool, Wavertree [email protected] Liverpool Organic Brewery Twigg, Stephen Labour Party Liverpool, West Derby [email protected] Opening Times; Esterson, Bill Labour Party Sefton Central [email protected] 1p m -12.30pm Sun, Mon , Tues, Weds 1pm -1.30am Thurs, Fri, Saturday Pugh, John Liberal Dem Southport [email protected] McGinn, Conor Labour Party St Helens North [email protected] LIVE JAZZ EVERY Rimmer, Marie Labour Party St Helens S and Whiston [email protected] SUNDAY NIGHT 10pm -12 Eagle, Angela Labour Party Wallasey [email protected] For further details of music and events visit: thegrapesliverpool.co.uk McGovern, Alison Labour Party Wirral South [email protected] Greenwood, Margaret Labour Party Wirral West [email protected]

42 43 The décor is stark minimalist that Paddy has drawn to the attention of the staff, so grey and white relieved by areas feel able to ask for a top up. The Once and Future King of exposed brick work and There is a carefully judged wine list plus an array of warmed by splashes of yellow fine Cognacs lined up behind the bar. A new and orange. A feature has been feature is cocktails and fruit mocktails served with a The Pen Factory made of silver metal ducting sense of theatre and panache. and coloured pipework. One Attention has been paid to offering a wide range of end of the space has orange and specialist teas and coffees, all carefully brewed at Hope Street yellow sofas, tables and chairs the correct temperature and clearly attracting a in the centre of the room and at keen clientele. the far end the very orange open kitchen and servery draws the eye. The Food and the Menu In contrast with the original subterranean Bistro, there is lots of natural light from the large windows, Devotees of with doors leading out on to the sun trap courtyard the original now ready for summer drinking and eating al fresco. Bistro A wood burning fire that impersonates a flat screen will be del- television provides warmth and a focal point. ighted to The long bar runs the length of the side of the room find that the providing a visible focus when you enter impossibly The building is owned by Paddy and was previously Rob and Tim tall figure used as an annexe to the then Everyman Theatre. The new place has a buzz about it, and from of award opening has been busy throughout the winning Tom Gill is the Head Chef, having joined Paddy Byrne It was home to the Everyman Youth Theatre, a rehearsal day, including attracting a significant number of with Paddy in this new venture. With Tom you space, the younger people. The one down side is the noise know the food will be created with style, When you have been in the eyes of wardrobe level when full, caused by the sound reflecting off imagination and care. department, the hard surfaces such that group conversation can The manager at the Pen Factory is Rob Mawdsley many people, a ‘Legend in Your Own theatre be difficult at busy times. who takes a keen interest in building relationship Lunchtime’ and ‘King of Hope Street’ offices and an You can go directly to the bar for service, or the with customers as well as ensuring the place runs friendly helpful young staff in their Breton style smoothly. for over forty years, it takes some area where the theatre white T shirts with blue stripes, will come to you Another noticeable change from the Bistro days is courage to start again from scratch sets could be and provide table service for both food and drinks. the issuing of a printed menu rather than the use of stylishly written chalk boards. The menus provide a with a different venture immediately built. At The Bar minimalist description of the food – one liners next door to the site of your great without information on ingredients or the naming Different Yet the Same On the real ale front triumph. of the local ‘food hero’ suppliers which was a The interior may be very different from the original the good news is positive and helpful feature of the chalk boards. That is what Paddy Byrne the former owner of the Bistro, yet the same signature combination of good that there are six Curious for a place that has been a proud champion legendary Everyman Bistro has done by opening his food and drink served in a bohemian environment, hand pumps grouped of fresh local produce and proper cooking. new venture the Pen Factory on Hope Street has been retained and re-invented for the 2010s. As prominently in the The Pen Factory web site describes the menu as adjacent to the newly built Everyman Theatre. They with the Bistro the vibe is relaxed with customers centre of the bar “equally designed for a swift lunch, leisurely say ‘Never Go Back’, as many football managers will welcome to linger and spend as much a or as little as offering a changing evening meal or a drink with friends. The team are attest – are you listening Howard? So have Paddy they want, eat or drink or not, work at the tables, range of guest old hands at providing a sociable space where good and the Pen Factory proved the old adage wrong? hold informal meetings, discuss, debate, be alone or beers from a wide company, good food and interesting drinks MerseyAle has been monitoring their progress since in a group. range of breweries, are found.” the opening in December 2014 and now here is the including local and verdict. micro brewers. The Once you have sumo wrestled the curiously pricing strategy is by anonymous heavy sliding door open, you see the strength, with beers up Pen Factory interior laid out below you along with its to 4% at £3; up to 4.5% enticing outdoor courtyard at £3.20; up to 5% at £3.60 and over 5% at £4. There seating area. The interior is is always a session beer below 4% and a real cider. deliberately a break away One thing to watch out for is to check that the staff from the style of the former do charge you the correct price for the beer, given Everyman Bistro. The long, that there is usually a wide range of different high, rectangular space strengths on sale and on several of our test visits could be described as mistakes did occur. An additional item to watch for distressed industrial is that pints are topped up, as in early visits this was warehouse chic, or a case of works canteen meets not always the case and is a particular issue with the floor of multi storey car park. Whatever - It works. table service. Serving short measure is a matter F 44 45 Opening times Tuesday to Saturday: 11am - 12 midnight. Food served noon to 10pm Closed Sunday and Monday

Pen Factory 13 Hope Street Liverpool L1 9BQ [email protected] From The Last Post to Reveille When the plaintiff strains of the Last Post, played by Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra trumpeter Smaller Tastes and Larger Brendan Ball, echoed around the Everyman Bistro at 2am on Sunday 3rd July 2011, leaving not a dry eye in Plates the house (but many happy people who had queued The menu is designed to offer a wide choice of for hours to be there for the last night events), few ‘smaller plates’ which can be mixed and matched, present thought another legend would rise from the plus a choice of around six larger meals at around impending demolition. £10 to £13. Prices are comparatively rather higher Well one is rising next door to the old – and one that than in the original Bistro. is boldly different. The smaller tastes include; So All Hail to the Once and Future King, who has The ever popular home made Soup and Bread at £4, again successfully pulled the Sword from the Stone. a variety of Quiches £5, Babaganoush, Southport Potted Shrimps, Humus and Bread, Greek Beans and John Armstrong Cheese, Pig Cheeks and Puy Lentils, and I kid you not, a Cheese and Onion Crisps Butty at a rather questionable £4 a go. Another feature is the £9 Boards of assorted items with ones designed for Beer, Wine and Vegetarian. The Beer Board includes Scotch Egg, Ham, Mrs Kirkhams Lancashire Cheese, Olives, Conichous and Bread The popular Salad Choice is back to the delight of many, although the range of salads is rather smaller and are no longer on view at a counter as in the original Bistro. Larger plates echo the changing menu of the original Everyman Bistro, with such as Partridge and Puy Lentils, Bullfighters’ Casserole, Pork and crackling, and usually a fish dish examples of the work of Tom Gill and the kitchen team. The food is freshly cooked to order in the open kitchen and brought to your table by the staff 'Awards are great, but the real reward is the quiet satisfaction of a clean plate' -

Paddy Byrne

47 Wigan Goes Electric and Grange Road opened in 2015. also Micro Formerly the Rock Lobster bar, the Electric trains commenced running premises have had a thorough between Liverpool Lime Street and refresh under the management of Wigan North Western from 17th the Irby Mill pub, emerging in a May (only six months later than black and silver colour scheme planned but hey ho) with three with the legend ‘Cask, Craft, Wine’. Northern Rail trains per hour, The long bar features six hand whilst in the last year Wigan has pumps serving a changing range of seen a boom in micro pubs with no real ales, often including Peerless , less than four opening since August and Purple Moose and a stout, 2014. These are; range drawing on the brewery Wigan Central – appropriately swaps arranged by Spitting named after a former station and Feathers so some unusual beers located under the railway arches in appear. There is always a changing Arch No 1 Queen Street by Wigan real cider. Live music often features Wallgate Station, the interior on Saturday evenings. follows a railway theme and the The West Kirby Round now consists of nine real ale pubs, plus a bar /restaurant with a wide range of bottled conditioned beers and a plus regulars such as Thwaites specialist beer shop. See feature in Wainwright and Lancaster Bomber. MerseyAle Summer 2014. There are three flat TV screens used to show Sky sport. Note the poster The Pigeon and The Falcon The from the urstwhile Birkenhead Liverpool Pigeon Meets Brewery with its ‘Peerless Ales’ Birkenhead’s Gallagher’s Falcon’s pub is run by the local Prospect slogan. Bar Snacks including a Nest Brewery. There are seven hand range of hot Pieminister Pies at Both the Liverpool Pigeon and pumps with two offering prospect £5.45, plus Pate and Cheese Boards Gallagher’s in Birkenhead have Caledonia beers and the rest guests. Real won their CAMRA Branch Pub of Refurbished Georgian Quarter Community Pub ciders are a feature with up to four the Year Award and are now in the on offer. final of the Merseyside Pub of the Doc’s Symposium, Mesnes Street. Year – see pages 27. So what is the Very much micro it has room for connection between a Pigeon and a HANDPUMPS about thirty customers but offers Falcon? dispensing beer from local and other micro breweries four real ales plus a deli counter. It Our Isle of Man readers will be was Wigan CAMRA pub of the familiar with the Falcon’s Nest 5 Season Winter 2014. GBG listed hotel in Port Erin, but Live Music - Real Ale Blundell’s Café Bar, 90 Wigan may not realise that the 2015 Wirral Lane. Four Real Ales. CAMRA Pub of the Year, are available. Opening times are Albion Ale House, 12 High Street, Gallagher’s, has its own Falcons - Great Food Monday to Thursday from 4pm; Standish. A short bus ride from Nest in the beer garden at the rear Saturday and Sunday from noon. Live music every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday Wigan centre it has eight of the pub. A Peregrine Falcon nests in the tower at the nearby handpumps and offers two real The West Kirby Tap Was in the final Hamilton Square Merseyrail Opening Hours Sun-Thurs 12-12, Fri & Sat 12-1. ciders. four of the Wirral CAMRA Pub of station and has raised its young. Wirral Wanderings the Year 2015 and was Winner of Meals Served Mon - Fri 5-9, Sat & Sun 12-6. The tower is visible from The West Kirby Round Just Got Wirral CAMRA Pub of the Season Gallagher’s beer garden and Bigger FUNCTION ROOM AVAILABLE FOR HIRE Summer 2014. It is a dog friendly naturalist, birdwatcher and TV New Real Ale Outlet - The Abbey pub. It no longer doing hot food Goodie, Bill Oddy, has been to the Grange Road Find us on twitter @thecaledonia and Contact Laura at: but is offering mixed cold platter pub to see this unusual visitor. Handily placed adjacent to the www.facebook.co.uk/caledonialiverpool [email protected] boards, including Spanish, Italian, So now it is Pigeon versus Falcon West Kirby Tap and West Kirby British, and Cheese selection. The for Merseyside Pub of the Year. Catharine Street Liverpool Telephone: 0151 708 0235 Merseyrail station, the Abbey on eight hand pumps serve a changing 48 49 CAMRA Books

CAMRA Books is the publishing arm of the to publish many other successful titles including Campaign for Real Ale. We publish books on beer, Good Beer Guides to countries including Belgium The Central is a listed pubs, brewing and beer tourism. We published and the West Coast USA, the ever-popular Good CASK ALES the first Good Beer Guide in 1974, and this annual Bottled Beer Guide - now in its 7th edition - our Traditional Pub 4 AVAILABLE title - soon to reach its 40th edition - has since Pub Walks guidebook series, highly illustrated opposite gone on to become the UK's best-selling beer and standalone titles such as Cider, more specialist Central Station pub guide with a print edition, mobile app and titles like Brew Your Own British Real Ale, and our e-book now available. Since then we have gone on best-selling 300 Beers to Try Before You Die! with Four Real Ales Our title list continues to grow available with a 20p with over 30 books in print and discount for CAMRA exciting new titles being added to card holders. our list all the time. Our books are available for customers to Look out for our mirrored purchase direct in the CAMRA walls and dome ceiling. Shop and are distributed to We show all sky sports with booksellers around the UK and BT sports plus at the races beyond. Stockist include Amazon, and racing uk. Waterstones, Play, WH Smiths & 31 Ranelagh Street Liverpool L1 1JP many more. Telephone 0151 709 1218 To find out more simply visit www.camra.org.uk/camra-books

Any non-member considering 10th October – Nottingham Liverpool CAMRA coming on a CAMRA coach 14th November – Destination to be announced trip can save £15. Coach Trips Coach Trips depart at 10am from opposite the Ship and Mitre, Dale Coach trips are run every month to FREE COACH TRIP Street, and return there around 9pm. a variety of destinations. Anybody who joins CAMRA for Coach Trips depart at 10am the first time and affiliates to the Cost is £12 for CAMRA members, from opposite the Ship and Liverpool & Districts branch, will £15 for non members – so it pays to be offered a free seat on a future join CAMRA! Mitre, Dale Street, and branch coach trip. Check Liverpool Check www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk return there around 9pm. CAMRA website for details coach trips page for updates Cost is £12 for CAMRA 13th June - Rotherham including the members, £15 for non Chantry Brewery & Worksop members – so it pays to join £12 CAMRA Members CAMRA! 11th July - Bishops Castle, Clun and Wistanstow. People can stay all day in For full details of upcoming trips Bishops Castle if they wish for the and how to book please check out Pubs Festival. the coach trip page on the branch website. 8th August - Pubs in North www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk Derbyshire finishing in Chesterfield.

The page is updated after the 1st of 5th September - West Cumbria. each month with details of the next Coniston, Broughton & Foxfield. trip being launched.

50 51 www.thequeensroyal.co.uk 0151 691 0101 / TheQueensRoyal The Queen’s Royal - New Brighton Waterfront - Wirral - CH45 2JT

52 53 MerseyAle Liverpool CAMRA Branch Diary Credits Sunday 7th June - Merseyrail Southport Line Pub Crawl – 11.23 train Editor from Liverpool Central Station ; meet outside the MtoGo booking office shop from 11am. John Armstrong [email protected] Thursday 11th June - LocAle Pale Ale Trail - Meet Caledonia, Catharine Street, Liverpool, 7.15pm. Then Blackburne Arms, Pen Factory, Flute, Layout Design Dennis W Jones Grapes (Knight Street), Lime Kiln. Wednesday 17th June - Special Branch Meeting re future Liverpool Photographs CAMRA Beer Festivals. Meet in Sphinx Bar, Liverpool University Guild of Neil Lloyd www.neilloydphotography.co.uk Students, 160 Mount Pleasant (close to Augustus John pub) at 7.30pm. Dennis Jones Thursday 25th June - Last Thursday Meet Up - Lime Kiln, Concert Dave Halliwell Square, Liverpool City Centre from 7.30pm. Matt Mosur Wednesday 15th July - Branch Get Together - Coffee House, Church John Armstrong Road, Wavertree – 8pm. Join us for an ‘out of town’ evening in this splendid ornate Victorian pub. Numerous buses from all directions Contributors - 62, 68, 78, 79, 79C plus Halton 14 & 61. Andre Fu Saturday 18th July - Inter-Branch Crown Green Bowls Match. A joint Dave Halliwell social event organised by St Helens CAMRA - start 1pm. The Brown Ian MacMillan Edge, Nutgrove – on main road between Rainhill and St Helens. Nearest Tony Morgan station Thatto Heath, on Wigan line from Lime St Main Line Station. Tony Williams Or bus 10A from L’pool City Centre. Thursday 30th July - Last Thursday Meet Up at Liverpool Organic Beer Southport CAMRA Festival at St Luke’s (bombed-out) Church. You need to buy your festival Ian Garner 01704 876819 tickets in normal way through EventBrite, but meet up as group outside [email protected] www.southportcamra.org.uk entrance at 7pm. Wednesday 19th August - Branch Get Together - meet Childwall Wirral CAMRA Fiveways Wetherspoons at 6pm (5pm if want to eat there beforehand) Dave Hutchinson 01516 440625 for Pub Walk to Woolton - the scenic route – in conjunction with [email protected] Liverpool Brisk Walkers and in commemoration of their founder www.wirralcamra.co.uk Dave Dent. Isle of Man Branch Contact Thursday 27th August - Last Thursday Meet Up – Vernon Arms, Dale Angela Aspin 01624 491613 - Street, from 7.30pm. mobile 07624 491613 Saturday 29th August - Wigan Walk Around - 11.28 am train from Lime [email protected] Street Main Line Station. Meet opposite ticket windows from 11am. See website www.liverpoolcamra.org.uk for updates Trading Standards 0151 233 3002

liverpoolcamra.org.uk Printed by Printfine, Liverpool 0151 242 0000 www.printfine.co.uk whatpub.com Pubs featured on this website have been independently added and updated by thousands of CAMRA volunteers and Liverpool includes over 96% of Britain's real ale MerseyAle CAMRA pubs. Enjoy!

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