MMe e r r s s e e yyAAl l e e CAMRA & Districts Magazine F e b ru a ry /M a rch 2011 F R E E

Real Ale on a Roll GBM Great Beer Matey! Get Your Kicks on Route 106 The Most Bizarre Bar in the World?

Isle of Man News Page 36

Back copies: merseyale.com www.merseycamra.org.uk Circulation 11,000 email [email protected] Photograph Neil Lloyd Nikon D2X T h e w w w . l i o n t a v e rn . c o m MerseyAle Welcome to the New CA M RA Liverpool and Distri cts Bra n c h Year MerseyAle MerseyAle Editor Lion Tave rn John Armstrong 67 Moorfields Liverpool L2 2BP Telephone 0151 236 1734 FOOD MerseyAle Contacts The Lion Tavern (Grade II Listed) is Liverpool’s Comments/news/letters/photos See the board for [email protected] finest Edwardian . It is an extravaganza of selection of good etched glass, carved wood and beautiful tiling. value food from our new MerseyAle Advertising It has a wonderful ornate wood carved bar plus menu Cost - Full page £200 two cosy side rooms one with a fantastic Half page £100 stained glass dome. The Lion Tavern is an QUIZ NIGHT every Tuesday Contact award winning pub serving excellent cask at 9.30pm [email protected] conditioned ales, cider and a large selection of the finest malt whiskies. You can also enjoy a BOARD GAME MerseyAle fine selection of tasty food from our new menu. CLUB (back copies on line) www.merseyale.com Meet every Monday at A New Year and New being the annual five week CAMRA 6.00pm Liverpool Real Ale Festival and Liverpool and Districts CAMRA Challenges Pubs Passport, the “Use it or Lose ACOUSTIC Main Branch Contact H A N D P U M P S With the nation facing the i t ” beer mat campaign, and the Jean Pownceby NIGHT economic equivalent of a Shock LocAle scheme to support local supply a varied selection of prize [email protected] Second Thursday of the and Awe attack on go ve r n m e n t breweries thereby saving local jobs winning Real Ales (including at least one Month 8pm spending and jobs, we wait to see and cutting unnecessary “ b e e r locally brewed ale) plus hand pulled Cider Contact for Socials and the impact the cuts will have on the miles.”For 2011 CAMRA is planning 8 Coach Trips only an exciting programme of events to BOB DYLAN future of our pubs and breweries. Ian MacAdam 07521 741 586 The new M i n i s ter for Pu b s B o b bring new people to real ale - watch SOCIETY for details. Meets first Thursday of Neill MP (page 17) will cert a i n ly O ver 80 Malt CAMRA Branch Chair have a job on his hands as the pubs the Month 8.30pm Good news is that there are no Geoff Edwards trade faces unparelleld economic fewer than seven new or reopened W h i s k i e s MEET THE BREWER [email protected] c h a l l e n ges, whilst the Prime real ale outlets across the city The Lion Ta v e rn has one of the larg e s t Third Thursday of the Minister’s claim to be leading a Pub (page 9) Month 8pm St Helens Branch Contact Friendly Government (page 17) will selections of malt whisky on Mike Barber be put severely to the test. The pub has a very special part in Liverpool life and culture. POETRY GET [email protected] TOGETHER If you need a reminder of what we stand to lose then a perusal of This is why Liverpool can lay claim Fourth Thursday of the Web Sites to be the Real Ale Pubs Capital of Month 8pm Closing T i m e ( p a ge 24) will Liverpool and Districts enlighten you. This book contains Britain. CAMRA Branch V6 Adventure 80 photographs of Liverpool pubs A bar of a very different type is www.merseycamra.org.uk that have closed. It poses featured in our occasional Belgium Club questions such as “Is the British Meet every Wednesday series (page 30). The Most Bizarre St Helens CAMRA Branch pub an institution whose time has at 8.00pm www.sthelenscamra.org.uk Bar in the World? We leave you to s p ring p a s s e d ? ” is the pub “Breathing judge! its last?” Isle of Man CAMRA Branch Our message for 2011 is simple. a l e www.isleofmancamra.org.uk Liverpool CAMRA sides with Dylan Visit the pub, support real ale and Thomas who urges us to “R a ge , CAMRA national site then turn to page 51 and join Rage against the dying of the light. fe st i va l www.camra.org.uk CAMRA today!! Do not go gently into that good Thurs 31st March - Cover: CAMRA Warming the Cockles n i g h t .” As pub goers and of the Real Ale Heart campaigners we all need to fight for W E E K LY LO CA L E Weds 6th April Zoe Manning at the Belvedere our pubs and not be fatalistic about See Board for future Sugnall Street their prospects. Real Ales “One of the Hundre d Picture by Neil Lloyd Best Pubs in the Liverpool CAMRA has consistently Sean and Michael would like to we l come customers co u n t ry ” The opinions expressed in MerseyAle are not promoted our pubs, ex a m p l e s necessarily those of the Editor, the CAMRA old and new to the Lion Tave r n Daily Te l e g r a p h Liverpool Branch or CAMRA Ltd. John Armstrong Editor

PUB OF EXCELLENCE 2009 BEST QUA L I TY ALE 2006 CASK MARQUE CA M RA NAT I ONAL INVENTO RY PUB 3 were tasted, with one clearly emerging as the just one ticket and those who queued to a favourite and very close to the bitterness of the maximum of four. original Higson’s but without the How the Tickets Sold - Another Festival sulphurous nose. Hopefully this Ticket Sell Out Liverpool version will be the one appearing Doors opened at 0945 at Liverpool Beer Festival. 2011 Beer Festival Friday night sold out 1019 with the last ticket Liverpool Organic Brewery have being sold to a person who reported they had been Th u r s d a y 24th to Saturday 26th Feb r u a r y also produced a new Imperial queuing from 0830. Russian Stout 8.1% abv and Saturday lunch sold out 1029 with the last ticket sponsorship will Joseph Williamson “Tunnale” being sold to a person who reported they had been be the use of 4.1% abv expanding their range queuing from 0855. “beer swaps” of bottle conditioned beers. with other micro Saturday evening sold out 1040 with the last ticket breweries. being sold to a person who reported they had been Freezing Temperatures Don’t Deter the Around 40 beers queuing from 0930. Ticket Queue may be sourced The Festival queue on Saturday 4th December Friday lunch sold out 1051 with the last ticket in this way and it was not deterred by freezing temperatures. being sold to a person who reported they had been will be The first people arrived at 6.30 am and by 8pm queuing from 0945. interesting to monitor the outcome. the queue stretched hundreds of yards down Thursday sold out 1051 with the last ticket being Back to the Future with the Mount Pleasant. sold to a person who reported they had been Launch of Higson’s Bitter In order to increase the availability of tickets for queuing from 0945. those who queued, CAMRA members ordering The main event at under the Priority Order scheme were limited to The first person in the queue arrived at 6.30 am the Festival will be the launch of the new Higson’s Bitter to be brewed by the Liverpool Organic Brewery at Bank Hall Bootle. Test brews were trialled at a tasting in November. Two contrasting versions

Liverpool Organic Brewery is sponsoring the 31st Liverpool 2011 Beer Festival which will once again be held in the unique setting of the Crypt at the Metropolitan Catholic Cathedral making it the Only Beer Festival in the World to be held in a Cathedral.

Yet again the tickets were an instant sell out.

Over 230 real ales and 30 plus ciders and perries will be on sale accompanied by Real Food from the Everyman Bistro. A new feature of the LOB A welcome brew for the patient queue

4 5 THE DISPENSARY Me r s e y A l e news CA M RA Pub of the Year 2010 t roubled period with fire bomb and Jennings Cumberland Pu b news attacks which could have having been seen and enjoyed. BEER FESTIVAL d e s t royed the magnificent tiled The pub has had a full repaint and Seven New Liverpool interior and recently the departure refresh. This former Boddingtons Thursday Feb 24th-27th 2011 Real Ale Outlets – Real Ale of the licensee. The pub is to on a Roll reopen with a new licensee. See Feature Page 9 Coach and Horses Woolton The Coburg Stanhope Stre e t C u r rently closed, a planning Introduces Real Ale application has been made to Real Ale has appeared at the convert it into a children’s nursery. C o b u rg in the form of F u l l e r’s Pride. The pub is just 200 Lion’s Upside Down Christmas yards from the Cains Brewery Tap, The Lion Tavern Moorfields offered customers an upside down view of Christmas Decorations, fulfilling the promise to have the most striking pub decorations in pub has an array of six hand Liverpool. Centre piece was an pumps so there is plenty of scope upside down Christmas Tre e for expanding the range! suspended from the large stained Seen written on the pub wall – BEERS Dispensary - 4040 BEERS “Marriage is the only war where one Supporting Local Beers sleeps with the enemy.”

OOVERVER 44 DDAYAYS!S! which makes a mini real ale pub Boom in British Brew Pubs tour a possibility. From just 4 to 136 There are now 136 brew pubs in Lined Glasses at Belvedere Britain brewing real ale on the Sugnall Street The Dispensary provides a va ried and The Belvedere continues with its i n te re s ting selection of real ales fro m programme of enhancing the pub. The latest development is the the best Micro Bre wers in the co u n t ry. introduction of lined glasses both You will be surprised at the choice pint and half pint to ensure customers receive a full measure. The Belvedere is the only pub in Liverpool to provide lined glasses A Warm Welcome to the Dispensary (CA M RA premises. Liverpool has one brew Prince Arthur Rice Lane pub, the Baltic Fleet which has the L i verpool & Distr i c ts Pu b of the Year 2010) glass dome in the back ro o m . Wapping Brewery in the cellar. from Pa u l i n e , D ave and all their st a ff Matching golden garlands By way of contrast in 1971 when decorated the bar. CAMRA was founded there were Will Easter bring a giant upside just FOUR brew pubs surviving in down golden Easter egg Britain. They became a real ale Handpulls servi n g suspended from the dome? pilgrimage as people sought them out before their feared demise. Cask Ales St Helens Prince Alfred They were the All Nations This pub opposite St Helens Madeley Staffordshire, The Blue 10 Central station has returned to the Anchor Helston , Three and tra d i tional Cloudy Cider real ale fold serving a changing Tuns Bishop Castle and R E N S H AW ST R E E T, LIVERPOOL This Grade 2 listed CAMRA guest ale mainly at weekends, with Ma Pardoes the Swan Netherton National Inventory pub has had a Titanic, Lancaster Blond, Abbott, . More news page 23 ( Fo rm e rly The Grapes) 0151 709 2160 7 Wel c ome to the www.vernonarms.co.uk VernonArms REAL ALE ON A R LL Cheers from Jimmy and Barbara Monaghan Seven Up!! Liverpool on a Real Ale Roll The Vernon Arms, Dale Street, Liverpool With buses there are none for ages and then three turn up Handpumps (4 Eve r- c h a n g i n g ) at once. With Liverpool Real Ale pubs and bars no fewer 6 than SEVEN have turned up at once. And these come hot on the heels Regulars: Rev James & Johnnie Handsome of three openings a few months ago – the Lord Warden London Road, The Bierkeller World Beer Bar Stanley Street and the Storm Warning ■ Guest Ciders ■ Big screen football No wonder Liverpool can claim to be the Real Ale Pubs Capital of Britain. ■ Belgian bottled beers ■ Private functions ■ Food Mon-Thurs 12- catered (Lathom Lounge) Pi Rose Lane Mossley Hill in Rose Lane also avoids the ban 7pm, Fri- Sun 12-4pm ■ 10% student discount A new real ale bar has opened on f e a t u re regularly it being so on yet more bars opening on Rose Lane Mossley Hill, a welcome local) and Phoenix. Allerton Road. Check out Great Meal Deals off food menu addition to real ale in the Liverpool Alongside the real ales we have a large and eclectic range of 8 Mossley Hill can now offer a real suburbs. This is a new style real ale trail featuring the Pi and the ale bar located in a former shop draught beers and over 60 The Vernon Arms offers all of the above in a friendly and safe atmosphere plus: Rose of Mossley which sells Tetley front it features modern wooden bottled beers from all over the Bitter on Rose Lane (by the tables and chairs and a rear bar world. Live entertainment Friday and Saturday station), the S t o r r s d a l e a five with a prominent array of four We also serve delicious Pie minute walk along Storrsdale Road Opening Times Mon-Thurs 11-11.30pm; Fri & Sat 11.30-2am depending on hand pumps. Behind the bar is a Minister Pies right through till and a further fifteen minute walk customer demand; Sun 12-11pm Tel: 0151 236 6132 display of bottled world beers. 11pm every night. away the Greenhills Carvery on Booker Avenue. Manager Ben Reynolds provided We currently open at 11am till this background information; late, 7 days.” Pi is just 100 yards from Mossley The Hill Station (10 mins journey time Refurbished “Pi 106 Rose Lane L18 8AG is to Lime Street City Line) – walk out Georgian Quarter our second bar. We opened Pi of entrance straight ahead up Rose Ca l e d o n i a Community Pub (Chorlton) in in Lane past the LAfitness sign and it 2007. Our Manchester outlet has is on the left in the row of shops. It been included the two most is on the 80, 80A, 61 and 173 bus recent Good Beer Guides, was routes HA N D P U M P S awarded "Pub of the Season" by Web site www.pi-roselane.co.uk 4 our local CAMRA branch for Taylors Golden Best spring 2010 and has pro v e d The Officers Mess very popular. Another new world beer bar plus 3 changing Guest Beers from Micro and offering real ale has opened at 9 The new Mossley Hill venture is Regional Breweries Pi is an area in which they should Victoria Street next to Pizza very much in the same vein. We do well as none of the many café E x p ress near the junction with have four handpumps, three of L i ve Music bars offers real ale and world North John Street. Previously the which are real ale whilst the beers. Ben is a beer enthusiast and Beaconsfield, the semi basement other is a rotating guest real Loose Moose Bluegrass this is reflected in the quality and cider/perry. range of the beers. Each table has a Sundays fortnightly at 8pm. We've chosen Tatton Blonde as beer menu which contains well our regular ale, along with two Feb 6th & 20th, Mar 6th & 20th. written tasting notes and guidance guest pumps which will rotate to beer styles. The list currently on a barrel by barrel basis, from has 22 Belgian beers including GOOD VA LU E F U N C T I ON various North West breweries t h ree Trappist monasteries and many of whom already make H OM E CO O K E D RO OM Maredsous and Vedett. regular appearances in Pi F O O D Available for hire Pi is close to the Liverpool (Chorlton). We opened with University Halls of Residence and o fferings from Liverpool C a t h a rine Street Tel 0151 708 0235 Open 12 – 11 Sun – Thurs; 12 -12 Fri and Sat the area has an aff l u e n t O rganic (whom we plan to Find us on Fa cebook www. f a ce b o o k . co m / ca l e d o n i a l ive r p o o l professional population. Locating bar has seating on two levels and a long bar with 5 handpumps,

8 9 F although initially just two real ales completed in just four weeks to Tavern on the Green Down the Lane and Up with the Lark have been on offer usually Black enable a pre Christmas opening. Three Real Ale outlets Sheep and a guest such as Young’s The end result is the restoration of on Lark Lane Bitter or a Liverpool Organic a comfortable traditional pub Combine a walk in Sefton Park beer. On the wall by the bar there ambience, with polished wood with a visit to the expanding is a long list of around 50 World floors and panelling set off by a number of outlets for Real Ale on Bottled beers including around 20 restful brown, gold and cre a m the vibrant Lark Lane with its Belgian beers. colour scheme. The walls display a many restaurants and bars. large number of black and white The Albert Behind the bar is a produce map photographs of old Liverpool. The A classic multi room pub built for identifying where the ingredients Stork Hotel and the flower market for the extensive menu are in Queens Square, Central Station, s o u rced. Food includes Pub the Liverpool Overhead Railway Classics such as steak and ale pie, and many more. fish and chips, pies from the Tavern on the Green The pub retains the pre v i o u s L a n c a s h i re Pie Company, meat 8/9 Kenyons Steps Liverpool One The Tavern could be attractive to layout with the U shaped lounge from the Isle of Man and , Tavern on the Green opened in those seeking a café bar in and a more secluded back room grilled fish, burgers and grills. December on the Liverpool ONE Liverpool One rather than a full accessed through two opened up Light bites include mussels and a Rigbys and the Lady of Mann all Leisure Terrace. It is a combination blown restaurant. Additionally it is doorways. The rear bar counter pint of prawns. making for an excellent of a real ale and world beer bar, a the only real ale outlet within the has an array of six hand pups perambulation. wine bar, and a café bar offering a complex, and is usefully located whilst the front bar counter There are booth tables around the A interesting connection between range of light bite food such as opposite the Odeon The Beehive walls with wooden tables and has three. the recently opened Pi Bar and the soup and flat breads, coffee and Paradise Street and the Baltic Fleet Robert Cain at the same time as the chairs in the centre of the room. Excelsior is that they both sell The intention is to have at least six specialist teas. There are thre e Wapping are other real ale pubs on Philharmonic Hotel Hope Stre e t T h e re is a large screen TV pieminister pies from . real ales sourced from the Punch hand pulls offering Black Sheep the edge of Liverpool One. and for many years featuring a first and music. The walls display Having been appalled by the Finest Cask list, with discussions beers, Bitter, Gold and Ale. There floor snooker room which was breweriana including stone bottles indifferent quality of commercial The company press release states; under way to agree the sourcing of is a black board with the range of used by World Champion A l e x and adverts for Hoskins, Burton British pies, Jon Simon and Tristan "The Tavern on the Green name is a wider range. Deuchars IPA and about 50 bottled World Beers Higgins. Ale and Ind Coope Nourishing Hogg set up Pieminister in 2004 to homage to the legendary venue of Taylor’s Landlord are likely to be which includes around 20 Belgian An impressive array of twelve Stout. make “ a really good pie made the same name that until recently regulars with the other four beers. hand pumps offering a changing from proper stuff . ” Their first graced Manhattan’s Central Park. changing regularly. range. Excelsior Ready to Excel Again shop opened in Bristol, followed The staff appeared uncertain how Located right at the heart of NYC’s The Lodge Ale House and Food is served 12- 8 Mon – Fri; 12- by a stall at London’s Boro u g h to serve the real ale with one famous patch of green belt, the Kitchen (former the Masonic) 6 Sats and 12-5 Suns. There are two Market. They now sell nationwide commenting "I’m not very good Tavern was a New institution Tied to S&N with 5 hand pumps menus, one for pub food such as including at Glastonbury Festival for 75 years before closing in 2009. offering beers from the S&N stable. wraps, baguettes and burgers and and another thirty Festivals The original Tavern was famous Only one real ale was available the other for a range of up to 10 around the country. for its romantic fairy lights and pies from Pieminister of Bristol. the eclectic mix of fabulous frilly when visited on Sunday 16th Jan, John Smiths These are £6 for pie and gravy with The current range features ten lampshades that hung from its mash and pies an additional £1 different pies with unusual fillings ceilings." Rhubarb This is a Pub free from ties and at the moment has 2 hand each. The menu proudly proclaims which use quality ingre d i e n t s Opening Times are; Monday — pumps offering Ringwood and a Pie and a Pint but beware the pint including free range meat. The Friday: 10am - 12am; Saturd a y : Thwaites. is NOT included in the £6 price. pastry is shortcrust for the base 10am — late; Sun: 10am - 12am and vegetarian suet for the casing. Licensee Matt is keen to promote These are proper pies not a stew with beer." You do wonder and develop the real ale offering. with a hat on as you get in most whether the real ale will long He reports that real ale sales have pubs. remain a feature. been going so well at his other pub A welcome return to the real ale the Cross Keys that he is installing Readers will be familiar with The bar is easy to spot on account fold for the Excelsior Dale Street, a third hand pump. MerseyAle’s campaign to get more of the large black wooden which reopened on Monday 13th pubs to serve quality real food pyramids outside. It has full height December, (no superstitions here!), Many readers will be aware that alongside the real ales, so PI and glass windows with a long bar on after a lengthy period of closure. the Excelsior is next to the Ship and the Excelsior are to be one wall and booth seating along Matt Braddon licensee of the Cross Mitre so it will be interesting to see congratulated. the other. The Lshaped space has Keys has also taken on this Punch how trade develops. The Excelsior wooden tables and seats down the Tavern pub with the intention of is a welcome addition to the Dale As pieminister’s slogan says; centre and a seating area with easy restoring its reputation as a quality Street Real Pub Trail with the Ship When a bag of nuts won’t do, chairs at the far end. An attraction pub with a good range of real ales. and Mitre, Excelsior, Ve r n o n , grab a pieminister pie. will be the two large terrace seating A twelve week renovation and arguably the Poste House just off a reas which will be popular redecorating project was on Cumberland Street, the Vernon, Keep Calm and Eat More Pies in summer.

10 11 many rooms has its different size year in the New Build or and character, so there is CAMRA's Joe Goodwin Award ’s something for everyone. As an categories. example of turning a large and Steven Parissien concluded, "This highly significant rural building Brewery Tap year's winners comprise of a wide into a thriving real ale gastropub range of fine old building which it serves as a splendid role- have been rescued - often in the model”. Wins Top nick of time - from years of English Heritage Conservation shameful neglect, and which Awards category and Conversion to have been restored to a Pub Use category deservedly central place at the The Brewery Tap Lower Bridge The Trent Navigation Inn, judges, said: heart of the local community. All Winner - The Brewery Tap, of our winners have been Street Chester has won three top was 'Highly "CAMRA's National Pub Design Chester transformed into vibrant and CAMRA Awards. The Spitting Commended' in the Awards have always championed successful pubs without the Feathers Brewery pub has won 'Refurbishment' category the pressing need to preserve investment of the vast wads of the CAMRA Regional Pub of the Three pubs were 'Commended' and enhance our invaluable cash which less enlightened Year Award for Merseyside, for their design work – historic pub stock, which does so owners still seem to find and , plus much to shape and define our available for ill-judged and short- also two CAMRA National Pub environment. Pubs give us a term restorations." Design Awards, the English sense of identity, of belonging Heritage Conservation Award and of continuity in an ever- The March 2009 edition of and the Conversion to changing, fiscally-stringent world. Brewery Tap Mersey Ale carried a double page Pub Use Award. They are an inexpensive as well photo feature on the Brewery The are made as an invaluable resource." Tap entitled “In the footsteps of a by CAMRA in association with Brewery Tap King”.View article on English Heritage and the The List of Winners www.merseyale.com Victorian Society. Refurbishment category The Castle Bar, Cockermouth Winner - Sutton Hall, CAMRA's 2009 National Pub and Dyneley Arms, Otley in the Macclesfield Design Award winners include 'Refurbishment' category Highly Commended - Trent a former family home of Lord The Midnight Bell, Holbeck in Navigation Inn, Nottingham Lucan and a building where the 'Conversion to Pub Use' Commended - Castle Bar, King Charles I resided during category. Cockermouth and Dyneley Arms, the Civil War! Otley John Thomas Two pubs were singled out as The Pub Design Award judges (Pub Manager) 'winners' by the judges. report Matthew Walley (MD) Leanne Wallis on Sutton Hall: (Deputy Manager) The Sutton Hall, Macclesfield Midnight Bell “Sutton Hall is a fine the Battle of Rowton won the 'Refurbishment' The Pub Design Award judges seventeenth-century building Moor took place category report on The Brewery Tap: with a timber-framing, stone close to the city, a “The Brewery Tap is a remarkable walls and herringbone decisive battle in building. Designated Grade II brickwork. Listed Grade II, it was the Civil War”. the birthplace of the famous listing* - so in the top ten per Elizabethan chronicler Ralph cent of Britain's invaluable listed Commended Holinshed and, more recently, building stock - it started life as a (Conversion to CAMRA's National Pub Design the family home of the notorious medieval townhouse, with an Pub Use Awards began in 1983, and over Earls of Lucan. undercroft at street level and a category) - The the years has remained dedicated two-storey-height great hall on Midnight Bell, The important old house had to championing pubs showing the first floor, and Holbeck been sympathetically treated by vision, imagination and a level of metamorphosed into shops, a The Brewery Tap, Chester won Brunning and Price, and its Unfortunately due restraint in their design. school, a meeting hall, a cafe and both the 'English Heritage history painstakingly researched a Pizza Express before converting to the discretion Conservation' category and the Dr Steven Parissien, an before work began. The Victorian into a pub. King Charles I stayed of the judges, no 'Conversion to Pub Use' architectural historian, author, room plan has, encouragingly, in this building from 23rd-26th awards were category. and one of the competition been retained: thus each of the September 1645 at which time presented this 12 13 It’s a Sign

Wonderful early 19th Century Lion Tavern Public House with 8 Handpumps Moorfields Serving a varying range Lion is owned by the Museums of Merseyside of Real Ales and is set to be the centre piece exhibit at the REGULARS: CAINS & THWAITES new X Fighter design Museum of Liverpool at the Plus Pier Head which opens in 2011. Old Lion New licensees of the Lion, Sean and Mike, are 2 Organic Sign planning a major celebration of the Lion’s return 0151 709 4171 C i d e r s 12-11.30 midnight Fri & S a t to Liverpool. You can learn a lot about your local area from the Have a drink in John Lennon’s Old Watering Hole pub signs. This par ticularly true in Liverpool The pub sign had weathered badly and in 2009 where many pubs have names and signs MerseyAle designer Dennis Jones digitally associated with the history of the city. Mersey renovated the sign for the previous licensee Ale is running an occasional series on pub signs. John O’Dowd, but the sign was never printed. The If you know of a sign that should be featured Surprisingly given the imminent return of the please contact [email protected] Lion to Liverpool Museum, Sean and Mike decided to change the sign from the image of Cr o w ’s Ne s t The Lion is not named after the King of the the locomotive to a plain 63 Victoria Rd, Cro s b y. 0151 924 6953 Jungle but rather a world famous Liverpool design with the pub name. locomotive which operated the Liverpool to Merseyrail - Blundellsands & Crosby station - 10 min walk Manchester railway, the first Inter City passenger railway in the world. The Lion LMR 57 was one Four Regular of two 0-4-2 locos built in 1838, the other loco was named Tiger, to haul freight on the LMR. Real Ales The locomotive came to world attention when it and con s ta n t ly starred as the Titfield Thunderbolt, the 1953 changing Guest Ales Ealing Studios film of the same name. Beers from breweries all over the country! In 1930 the Lion commemorated the 100th Anniversary of the Liverpool and Manchester The Crow ’s Nest is a charming grade II liste d building with a cosy bar, ti ny snug and co m fo rta b l e Railway by steaming on a short length of l o u n ge. Yo u ’ll enjoy a wa rm we l come and gre a t specially laid line at the Mystery in Wavertee beer in this beautiful old pub. Playground alongside the LMS Liverpool to London line. In 1979 Lion was again centre stage Voted Best Community Pub 2004/5 commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Pub of Excellence 2002/3 Rainhill Trials. It starred in the grand cavalcade A b ove awards from Liverpool and distri cts CA M RA. Re commended in the Good Beer Guide of trains, later steaming to Steamport at New Lion Southport for public display and short runs. Sign

15 sign Early Day Motion 210 calling CAMRA for Government action to support w e l l - run community pubs. This EDM is now the most popular in Lobbying Parliament having attracted 238 MP signatures. CAMRAalso wrote Secures to the Prime Minister after the general election asking him to appoint a dedicated Pubs Minister Minister to work with all re l e v a n t for Pubs Government departments. Paddy Golden The new Pubs Minister Bob Neill 1926 - 2004 Pressure applied by CAMRA on MP said: Richmond Regular MPs and the Government has led the Government to appoint Bob "The local pub is a great British Neill Conservative MP for Bromley institution and the social heartbeat of and Chislehurst, currently a life in our towns and villages, bringing Minister in the Department of people together and stre n g t h e n i n g Communities and Local community relationships. hear more from publicans over the Government, as Minister coming months about what more the "As Minister with responsibility for responsible for community pubs - Government can do to protect the local pubs, I am determined to protect the giving him the same status as pub." valuable role pubs play and help them Labour's John Healey had before to thrive. As part of our commitment C A M R A will be urging Bob the General Election. we are giving residents the power to Neill to ensure that the This is a great victory for the 2000 take over local pubs that are threatened Government adopts a joined-up C A M R A members who have with closure, and working with the approach in protecting and e n s u red pubs remain a political sector to make sure expert advice is promoting well-run community priority by lobbying their MPs to available to support them. I'm keen to pubs.

PM Promises Pub- The Richmond is a traditional family- Southport Brewery run pub in the heart of the city Golden Sands won the centre and has been trading as a Best Bitter category at Friendly Government pub for over a hundred years. the Champion Beer of Britain Competition The Prime Minister, David Cameron, used Parliamentary 2009 The regular real ales on Question Time to speak of his big support for pubs and his offer are Southport Golden wish to deliver a "pub-friendly Government". This commitment from the Prime Ministers follows his recent Sands, George Wright and decision to appoint a Community Pubs Minister following a the Famous Draught Bass high profile CAMRAcampaign.

plus 3 rotating The Government's support for pubs is already demonstrated by Guest Ales plans to ban below cost alcohol sales in the off trade and introducing a community right to buy for pubs under threat of We regularly have being lost. Champion Beer of CAMRA will be pressing the Prime Minister and the Britain Winner- Community Pubs Minister to continue their support for pubs Southport Golden by backing the CAMRAsupported Protection of Local Services Sands on sale (Planning) Bill. This Bill will give Councils' powers to close planning law loopholes which developers use to demolish or convert a pub without the need for planning permission. THE RICHMOND 32 WILLIAMSON STREET L1 1 E B Jonathan Mail CAMRA

17 RRoscoeoscoe HeadHead GET YOUR KICKS 2 4 R o s c oe Street L1 2SX Tel: 0151 709 4365 ON ROUTE 106!

w w w. ro s co e h e a d . co . u k call is the GBG listed Cheshire during our festivals. An Cheese in Wallasey Village, apartment block and a hole in opening hours are 12-11. The the ground are no compensation. Cheese is a LocAle pub with beers from Liverpool Organic & As an alternative, on leaving the Brimstage Cheese either catch the next bus (65 mins time) or walk along The Real Ale Mole has been quite Wallasey Village to the Farmers clever here as, to ensure we Arms, which has 5-6 real ales For anyone who visited the New don’t get too smashed on our from regional or national Pubs Festivals and crawl, he has made the departure breweries. Go on to Grove Road wishes to retrace their steps, times every 65 minutes - a bit of where there is a bus stop there is a little known bus route enforced mathematics when opposite the Nelson, which 106 provided by Merseytravel vacating a pub to catch your next usually has a slightly more that can be quite an enter taining bus certainly ensures some interesting beer selection but method of doing so. The route degree of sobriety! It is again from mainly regional The Roscoe Head is a true English public has been laid out to provide local recommended to have a copy of breweries. Then catch the bus house with lots of character. One of the few residents, particularly the the timetable with you anyway as opposite to Warren pubs in Liverpool and indeed Great Britain to elderly, with the means of there is a bit of walking involved Drive/Portland Street, as above. have survived the onslaught of the super pub accessing shops & businesses to reach some pubs. With the chains and remains unspoilt. With a recent from areas of New Brighton that sympathetic refurbishment, which has still convoluted route it can On the Banks of the Royal are notoriously hilly but, who managed to retain its original character, sometimes be easier to go to a knows, perhaps a Real Ale Mole Blue Mersey The Roscoe Head is a very special further stop than retrace your within Merseytravel also had watering hostelry. steps. Consisting of two small rooms, a main bar and a their eye on the local pub scene when planning the route!? tiny snug, conversation definitely rules at this Into the New Brighton There are no fewer than NINE establishment, not here will be found a jukebox Bermuda Triangle or fruit machines, just good beer, traditional real ale pubs en route! The next bus will take you via food and a warm welcome, all delivered by our Te tl ey’s Bitter and Jennings Bitter Wallasey Village and Grove Road friendly and well-trained staff. This is a circular route, with The Roscoe Head is a town local with customers buses travelling both clockwise from all walks of life, the backroom debates are PLUS 4 and anti-clockwise, complicated always entertaining whether it be politics or C o n s ta n tly Changing by them disappearing off to football on the agenda the banter Moreton after completing their If you just fancy a quick one in is always good. initial circuit! the ’Clary’, a gentle walk G U E ST BEERS! downhill to the promenade (ok, Liscard to the Cheshire Cheese you may need ropes & climbing boots - I did say New Brighton is Try our delicious home- hilly!) and a right turn will lead to co o ked food the Queens Royal which is again a LocAle pub and GBG listed. s e rved Mon- to Fri 11.30am - 2.30 pm into Warren Drive New Brighton. This has beers from Brimstage, Alight here alongside the railway Weetwood, Liverpool One & Popular Quiz Night at the junction with Portland often an exotic from Hawkshead on Tu e s d a y, always fun! Street, take a right uphill 50 yards of the Lake District. The Queens We also have a cribbage night on and look to your right along Royal was featured in the Nov 07 Albion Street to the GBG listed MerseyAle. We d n e s d a y s Clarence. Beers are from Catch the 12.15 bus from the Weetwood, Youngs plus a Catch your breath and a later bus centre of Liscard, at the Liscard changing Guest. This is where from Victoria Road at its junction Winner of many awards and the only North West pub to feature in every edition Crescent opposite the rear of the Albion and Hotel Victoria with Rowson Street and it is only MacDonalds. Your first port of of the Good Beer Guide. That’s 37 years of Good Beer Guide entries! made up a real ale ’triangle’ 5 minutes run to Magazine Brow. 19 F and Magazine Lane (known NINE 106 Pubs locally as Strouds Corner), where So, to recap, the 106 will drop the GBG listed Telegraph is you more or less outside the located 200 yards along Mount Cheshire Cheese, Farmers Arms, Pleasant Road. The GBG listed Nelson, Pilot Boat & Magazine, Stanleys Cask is 100 yards away with a very short walk to the Clarence and just a little bit 60 Roscoe St (c o rner of Knight St) L1 9DW 0151 708 687 0 further to reach the Queens Royal, Telegraph and Stanleys Cask. That’s all 6 GBG pubs in 6Handpumps Wallasey/New Brighton plus the best of the rest making NINE Serving constantly Here the bus stop is conveniently in total. located midway between the It’s a bit of fun planning the trip, changing cask ales GBG listed Magazine and the and you’re as well arming Pilot Boat. always at least one LocAle from yourself with a 106 timetable and Liverpool Organic Brewery The Magazine has 5 real ales on a local A-Z road atlas because the bus route is a tad crazy and New tap including a couple of along Rake Lane. Both pubs have Opening T i m e s ; Brighton is rather hilly to say LocAles, whilst the Pilot Boat has 5 real ales from mainly regional 1 pm -12.30pm Sun, Mo n, Tues, We d s the least. 3 regional beers. or well established smaller 1 p m -1.30am Thurs, Fri, Saturday Around Stroud’s Corner breweries. The Sandridge is also So Get you Kicks on Route 106 Again as an alternative, you could located just off this road junction the modern day equivalent of the LIVE JAZZ EVERY catch any of route 410, 432 or 433 and usually has one real ale. fondly remembered New SUNDAY NIGHT 10pm-12 buses from the Kings Parade From here walk back down Brighton Pubs Real Ale Festivals promenade, by walking back Magazine Lane & either catch the - ENJOY! For further details of music and events visit: thegra p e s l ive r p o o l . co . u k from the Queens Royal, alighting 106 or carry on walking to the Bob Lockhart at the junction of Rowson Street Magazine and the Pilot Boat. Organiser of the New Brighton Pubs Festivals

Tax Cut for Low Strength Beers a Boost for Pub-Goers

Results of Government Review lower strength beer option in pubs. Current EU of Alcohol Tax rules mean that the UK Government can only reduce duty on low strength beers at or below ln November the Government 2.8%. These rules are under review and announced the outcome of its CAMRA held a meeting with the European Alcohol Taxation review. Commission in early December to push for the 2.8% abv cap to be increased, potentially As part of this, the Government is to up to 3.5% abv. introduce a reduced rate of excise Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive said: duty for beers at or below 2.8% 'News that tax will be increased on beers abv, but will increase tax on beers above 7.5% abv is disappointing. However above 7.5% abv. CAMRA will be we are pleased that this widely expected pushing for a duty reduction of at increase will be counterbalanced by a tax least 50% for these low strength cut on low strength beers. Reduced tax beers. on low strength beers is good news for This decision follows a campaign pub goers at a time when 29 pubs are launched by CAMRA in 2009 at the closing every week. This move will Great British Beer Festival when incentivise brewers to invest in producing research was published showing that new low strength real ales packed full 55% of all drinkers support a of flavour. "

20 21 what real ale has done for a large East A n g l i a - Odd One Out, & Northern Ire l a n d - Cider and Perry number of pubs in the past, drive Colchester, Blackfriars, Inverness m o re trade into pubs in these - Arkwright Arms, South & - Bunch of Pubs of the Year tough economic times." S u t t o n - c u m - D u c k m a n t o n , Grapes, Pontypridd (also a CAMRA has also announced the Finalist in the National G reater London - S o u t h a m p t o n Double Header Best Cider & Perry Pubs for each competition) Arms, Kentish Town South West - Orchard, Bristol Appropriately for a pub next to a region: G reater Manchester - C h e s h i r e & - Crossways Inn, railway station and a signal box Appleton Thorn Village Hall in Ring, Hyde Churt, Surrey the Prince of Wales at Foxfield C h e s h i re is the winner of the K e n t - B e r r y, Walmer (also a & Channels Isles- Florence has been voted a Merseyside Cheshire and North Finalist in the National Arms, Southsea double header in the CAMRA Wales Regional Award competition) West Midlands - Coopers Tavern, Cider Pub of the Year Aw a r d Merseyside, Cheshire & North The 16 Regional Cider & Perry Burton-on-Trent together with the Hop and Vine Wales - Appleton Thorn Village Pubs of the Year are as follows: West Pennines - Prince of Wales, in Hull. Hall, Appleton Thorn, Cheshire Foxfield, Cumbria Central Southern - Rising Sun, North East - Cumberland Arms, Already renowned for its real ale - Hop & Vine, Hull A re c o rd 120 nominations were Both are very worthy winners of Berkhamsted, Byker, Tyne & Wear and its Foxfield and Ti g e r t o p s made for the sixth National Cider the national award." breweries, the Good Beer Guide & Perry Pub of the Year contest. listed PoW has now won national CAMRA's Competition Organiser Andrea Briers, CAMRA's Cider & recognition for its commitment to Sarah Newson said, Perry Campaigning Chair feels The beer range has yet to be cider. The Prince of Wales has sold "We judge the nominated pubs in MerseyAle Pub and finalised but there are plans for more than 50 different ciders and offering real cider and perry could a similar way to CAMRA's play its part in helping pubs survive three; perries in the last 12 months. A house beer for the Hop Vine; National Pub of the Ye a r in these tough times for the pub Brewery Newsextra plus a very hoppy 3.8% blond Licensees Stuart and Linda competition but with an emphasis industry. Arkles (formerly The Royal), Wetherspoon expansion cont- on the promotion of real cider and Johnson were given a special She said, "With almost 40 pubs Arkells Lane/Anfield Road inues locally with this new pub on perry and having enthusiastic achievement award at the CAMRA closing every month, pubs need to This Greene King pub has been Archway Road L36 9UJ a short staff who knows what's real and National Members Weekend and look at a variety of different ways offering real ales such as GK IPA, walk from Huyton rail and bus what's not." AGM held in April in Douglas Isle to diff e rentiate themselves fro m Abbott and Ruddles. Handy for stations. of Man for commitment in those of a Red Persuasion on the promoting real ale beer styles way to the Court of King Kenny. Burtonwood Village Real Ales The Bridge Phipps Lane now has Stuart Johnson, Licensee of the Fly for Breakfasts rotating guest real ales fro m Prince of Wales said, The Fly in the Loaf Hardman breweries in the Marston’s group. "We are amazed that a pub in The Elm Tr e e Phipps Lane/ Street now does breakfasts daily session beer; plus a darker Cumbria has won this national Chapel Lane corner has except on Mondays. L and L stronger beer of 5.4% award for real cider and perry! introduced real ale and is offering catering who run the well The brewery has a Quaffers Both real cider and real perry play M a r s t o n ’s Pedigree and regarded food operation at the Fly Club and a website a major role in the success of our Mansfield Cask. introduced the breakfast option in w w w. b o u r s c o u g h b re w e r y. c o . u k pub and we are extremely pleased D e c e m b e r. It features quality and is a short walk fro m to be jointly crowned National New Burscough Brewery i n g redients with Cumberland Burscough Junction on the Cider Pub of the Year with the The number of local bre w e r i e s sausage, back bacon, field Ormskirk to Preston rail line. Hop & Vine in Hull." mushrooms and eggs. further increased when the Burscough Brewery Company Abbey, Hanover Street The Hop and Vine in Hull is the Jolly Miller West Derby opened with its first brew on Seving up to 5 real ales Including other double header. In the last Has increased the range of real November 30th 2010. The Sharp’s and Wychwood. Weekly year the Hop & Vine has served 63 ales with up to 3 now available. b rewery is in the courtyard specials are available for £1.50 (at different ciders and perries. building of the Hop Vine pub in JD Wetherspoon Fall Well the centre of Burscough (featured time of going to press) Stewart Campbell, Licensee of the Queens Square Liverpool in MerseyAle Spring 2010 McCartney’s Bar (Hanover Hotel) Hop & Vine said, Positive reports about the edition). Licensee Mike Coombe Sarah continued, "We had some Serving one real ale at the "We were delighted to hear that the others in the area. Real cider improved range and quality of and Andy Brocken are the very good entries this year but it moment Deuchars IPA. we are joint winners of CAMRA's and perry has been growing in real ale promoted by an partners in the business. was impossible to separate the National Cider Pub of the Year. popularity at CAMRA b e e r enthusiastic manager. The 4 barrel plant was bought two winners. The Prince of Wales Saddle Bar, Dale Street Our successful business plan is festivals in recent years and we from Oban Ales who had bought and the Hop & Vine are doing a Deuchars IPA simple - Real Cider, Real Perry, now have a huge demand for these New JD Wetherspoon Pub it in 2009 from the Black Also serving on fantastic job raising the profile of Real Ale and Real Food!" The Barker’s Brewery to open in Mountain Brewery Llangadog handpump. A long time since the real cider and perry and offering drinks. Offering consumers a range Huyton. . Saddle has used it’s handpumps! consumers a fine choice at the bar. of real cider and perry could, like

22 23 Hope Street Cider Ciders that are Festival 2010 NOT Real Closing-Time Liverpool CAMRA celebrated cider month in Below is a list of the most October by working in partnership with the Everyman Bistro Hope Street and the common ciders that CAMRA Is the British Pub “Breathing it’s Last” Belvedere Sugnall Street to offer a two does not recognise as being real: venue two week long Real Cider and Perry Please note that this list is not necessarily Festival. For the second year running complete. Closing Time is a thought Industrial Revolution replaced.” CAMRA cider expert Steve Berks sourced 30 provoking book. It provides an “It may not be a pleasant stor y rare artisan ciders and perries, making this important and plaintive The most common reasons a cider or perry but it conveys a truth that reflects the most impressive range ever seen in photographic record of the pubs is not considered to be real are that it is not just on Liverpool but much of Liverpool outside of the Liverpool Beer Liverpool is losing, showing many carbonated, pasteurised, micro-filtered, or Festival. fine abandoned pubs standing concentrate juice has been used. gaunt in a devastated landscape. As author Kevin Casey comments; “An epoch or a civilisation • Addlestones • Kopparberg • Stowford Press cannot be prevented from “My idea was to be as impartial as • Aspall • Magners • Strongbow breathing its last. A natural possible and to show the harsh • Brothers • Merrydown • Taunton process that happens to all reality, and not overly romanticise • Bulmers • Rattler • Thatchers Gold flesh and all human the images. I’d like people to • Diamond White • Rekorderlig • Thistly Cross Cider manifestations cannot be appreciate them now. But I also • Dry Blackthorn • Samuel Smith's • Westons Ice arrested. You can only think that they might have greater • Gaymer's • Saxon • Woodpecker wring your hands and utter emphasis in ten. twenty, thirty • Jacques • Scrumpy Jack • 'any cider with fruit flavour a beautiful swan song.” years time, when the majority of • K Cider • St Helier added' Renee Winegarten the buildings will not be standing anymore at least as pubs.” Quoted in the article by Kenn Taylor in Closing In addition to the 80 full page Time photographs of pubs there are three articles, including one The Oakfield entitled Closing Time by Kenn “Do not go gentle into that Taylor, a writer who lives in good night the UK. These dead pubs are Liverpool specialising in culture, Old age should burn and rave simply the most prominent community and regeneration. He at close of day examples of dying communities, a takes a pessimistic view of the Rage, rage against the dying of dying culture even. Liverpool future of the pub. the light” might be the focus for Kevin The book poses the question Casey’s photographs but this city Dylan Thomas 1952 whether the British Pub is is merely at the extreme end of a “Breathing it’s Last” as reflected national phenomenon.” in the quote above from A Publess Future? Winegarten, and is now set to “Fifty years ago in cramped disappear along with the dying family filled houses with no communities and a dying way of central heating and limited home life. Should we be resigned to entertainment, the pub was one the disappearance of the British of the few escapes for many. pub as Winegarten suggests, or Now, why go to the pub when should we as campaigners for the you can buy cheap alcohol from pub take Dylan Thomas’s words the supermarket, relax on your to heart and “Not go quietly into sofa, watch the match on your that good night, Rage, rage own big screen television or play against the dying of the light”? computer games in the comfort In Kenn’s view the pub is part of of your own home for as late as a culture whose time has now you want.” passed The result is the boarded up and “a culture now gone that will be abandoned pubs captured in Ken Seaforth Arms as much a memory as the rural Casey’s eighty photographs. and agricultural Britain that the 24 24 F Remember the City of faded grandeur reflecting the Change and Challenge – fine original architecture. oops Demolition? The Cameras Surprisingly Kenn makes only Kevin initially used a large 5x4 passing reference to the large format film camera impact of Liverpool Planning producing slides which then St Helens CAMRA Department who in pursuit cost £3 to £4 each to print, PUB OF THE YEAR of the brave new 60’s slogan which was proving expensive. of Liverpool “City of Change He then switched to digital 2009 and Challenge”proceeded with a Sony A900 camera. In to demolish whole total he took photographs of communities. This prompted 100 closed pubs, 80 of which protestors to give it the title appear in the book of “City of Change and Demolition”. The pub was The Pub Connection often the only building left Kevin comes from a pub standing as its customers family who have been The Angel were shipped out of the city involved in running pubs for to locations such as Runcorn, 30 odd years including the Barlow Arms (the Dark Adelle, Amanda & Daryl Winsford and Skelmersdale New Towns. house) on Westminster Road and were the final licensees CAMRA receives several A Traditional at the Legs of Mann on Lime mentions for its work in Street. highlighting the economic Friendly Pub with “There’s also a link to my challenges facing the pub family.We’ve had quite a few a Great including the financial pubs over a 25 to 30 year demands made by the BeerBeer FestivalsFestivals Atmosphere, period, so I feel a bit of a link PubCos. Also referenced is to them.” throughoutthroughout Real Fire CAMRA’s work through the year and an Ever initiatives such as Save the Exhibitions the year Pub and Liverpool CAMRA’s A selection of the phonephone forfor detailsdetails Changing range of promotion of Liverpool as a photographs will be on centre for Beer and Pubs display for a month from 12 Real Ale Tourism which has benefited January at the RIBA Wood City Centre pubs in Street. They may also be particular. displayed at the CAMRA A CAMRA REGIONAL A Runner-up for the CAMRA The Photographs Liverpool Beer Festival at the PUB OF THE YEAR Kevin Casey is a fan of the Crypt in February. Closing Time also has a Dusseldorf Bernd and Hilla Farnworth Arms Becher School of website www.CTL.co.uk and a Facebook page photography, which uses a 12 handpumps strict geometrical grid format. Kevin is a member of the Red Kevin adopted a slightly more Wire arts group which S e rving Tra d i tional Ales relaxed style and used full currently has an exhibition at colour, yet one which the Lion Tavern Moorfields. Ciders and Pe r ry presents the buildings in a Closing Time is published ■ 5 draught continental beers ■ Wide selection uniform portrait format so by Bluecoat Press at a very the viewer can see the good value price of £8.99 comparisons and contrasts of bottled continental beers ISBN 978 19044 38854 between the pubs. There is ■ Tuesday - Quiz night 9-30 p.m. consistent use of long Closing Time Figures foregrounds which depict the .Over 80% of pub closures ■ Thursday - Curry and Jazz Night surrounding desolation, are in urban areas. .Over 6,000 pubs have shut ■ Cask Marque ■ Good Beer Guide 2011 adding a feeling of melancholy and .down since 2005 Open Mon - Fri 2-11 Sat, Sun 12-11 abandonment. Yet many of Currently 39 pubs a week the pubs retain a façade of are closing Cooper St. St Helens Tel 01744 751289 Old Bill 27 Thursday 14th April - Sunday 17th April Available at: Old Christ Church Waterloo Road Merseyside L22 1RF Grapes (Roscoe Street) L1 Stamps Too, Brook Hotel (Waterloo) Cheshire Cheese (Wallasey Village) Belvedere L7 Everyman Bistro (Hope Street) Roscoe Head, ADMISSION by ticket Ship And Mitre, The Font, Pilgrim, Vernon, Ye Cracke, or on the door £5 White Star, Philharmonic Hall (Grand Foyer Bar) Cat & Tickets will also be Fiddle (Bootle) Old Harkers (Chester), Brewery Tap available online (Chester) Bridge Inn (Chester), The Angel (Manchester) and from selected Smithfield Hotel (Manchester), Helter Skelter (Frodsham) Pubs Turks Head (St Helens) Guest House (Southport) (see website Clarence Hotel (New Brighton) Cock & Pullet for details) (Birkenhead) Old Bank South Road (Waterloo) Sandown Lane (Wavertree)

Liverpool Organic Brewery supply a varied SESSION TIMES: range of Bottled Conditioned Beers - Thursday 14th...... 6pm - 10:30pm Imperial Russian Stout . Kitty Wilkinson . Joseph Friday 15th...... 12 noon - 4:30pm Friday 15th...... 6pm - 10:30pm Williamson Tunnale . William Roscoe . Honey Blond Saturday 16th...... 12 noon - 4:30pm Liverpool Pale Ale . Shipwreck IPA . 24 Carat Gold Saturday 16th...... 6pm - 10:30pm Available at: Oddbins (Allerton Rd, Formby, Bromborough), TC Wines (Blundellsands), Sunday 17th...... 1pm - 4pm Liverpool Cheese Co. (Woolton), The Waverley (West Kirby), Legendary (Sunday- Free admission to other session Heroes (Southport), Inn Beer Shop (Southport), Delifonseca (Stanley St & Dockside), ticket holders or £5 on the door) Source Deli (Ormskirk), Mello Mello (Slater St) and Little Pizza Kitchen (Waterloo).

email: [email protected] www.liverpoolorganicbrewery.com

39 Brasenose Road, Liverpool L20 8HL. 0151 933 9660 T i c kets will also be on sale at the Livepool Beer Fe s tival Feb 24th - 26th may be the proprietor lounging the bicycles leaned against the WhereWhere in a deck chair outside the door. wall), which is off the riverside Kranlei on the opposite side of Surprisingly the bar has its own the river to the well known SurrealismSurrealism website, tvelootje.mine.nu which Waterhuis. contains a photo gallery and a MeetsMeets BeerBeer,, visitors comments book. The So is this the most bizarre bar in BicyclesBicycles bar is on Kalverstag (look out for the world? Views invited! andand JunkJunk MerseyAle continues the occasional series on Belgian beers and bars by taking you to the Most Bizarre Bar in the World MerseyAle Belgium

Series No4 appears to be a somewhat pricey 5 euro. It certainly makes adding The Bicycle Bar Ghent – out the proprietor Lieven De Vos variety including Pater Lieven, up easier! and order a beer you may find Saint Bernadus Abt 12 and the Most Bizarre Bar in that a little illumination is shed Rochefort. Opening hours are equally the World? on the subject if he lights the eccentric. It is a case of “When row of four candles in an ornate Then the glasses, or rather the it’s open it’s open, when it’s The World’s only Suspend all sense of reality candelabra on the table. And lack of them. No specially closed (which is often) it is licenced skip when you enter ‘tVelootje, the then there is the beer. shaped glass for every beer closed. A clue to it being open Bicycle Bar in Ghent. Brush here! Indeed no glasses at all! aside the heavy curtain that A Beer Pot Luck The expectation is that you drink covers the doorway into this No beer list here. A request for from the bottle although bicycle repair shop (itself a clue a beer will be met by the requests for a glass are that this is no normal Belgian proprietor appearing with a pot sometimes rewarded with a bar) and enter into a parallel luck beer of his choice. You tumbler. Winter Ales in Buy the Good universe where all normal bar peer in the gloom to see what it the Round rules are suspended. Spike says on the label. Fortunately Then there is the price list or Beer Guide Milligan at his most eccentric the beers that appear are rather the lack of one. Whatever The Derby Winter Ales would be hard pushed to generally of the more interesting the beer you are given the price Festival is on the move from conceive of anything like the the Derby Assembly Rooms to 2011 today Bicycle Bar. a new atmospheric venue in the Roundhouse on Pride Edited by Roger This is where surrealism meets Park, two minutes walk from beer, bicycles and junk in an all Protz Derby Station. This was the encompassing gloom. Junk and first railway Roundhouse in £10.00* (online members price) more junk piles the floor to the the World built in 1893 by the £12.99* (online non-members price) ceiling, married with stacks of North Midland Railway and firewood ready to feed the open Buy direct from CAMRArather than subsequently used by the LMS fire. A variety of religious other retailers and we make more statues overlook the scene. Yes and BR for stabling profit which we invest directly into and various bicycles hang from locomotives. In 2009 it was campaigning for real ale, community the ceiling, so mind your head! refurbished as an events pubs and drinkers' rights. Hard to discern if there is even venue by Derby College. anywhere to sit down until The Festival runs 24 – 26th through the gloom you locate a February with a wide range of wooden bench and a couple of winter ales including LocAles Good Beer Guide Mobile App tables hemmed in by the junk. from around 38 breweries. Visit www.camra.org.uk for details If you pluck up courage to seek

30 31 100 REAL ALES FESTIVAL 16th - 20th Feb Fast Cask Put to the Fast Show Test BELGIAN BEER & In the Autumn MerseyAle we described the new BRITISH CIDER FEST Marston’s fast cask system which uses “beads” to 23rd - 27th March attach to the yeast in the cask enabling it to drop REAL ALE FESTIVAL bright instantly. We reported that it was being 20th - 24th April trialled on its trains by Chiltern to demonstrate that Fastcask could cope with the onboard L I V E R P O O L’S PREMIER movement and vibration. F R E E H OU S E See website Liverpool & Districts Well MerseyAle had to see for ourselves. t h e s h i p a n d m i t re . co m for future festivals CAMRAPub of the Year 2 0 0 9 Two licensees John O’Dowd at the Belvedere and John Slide the Stanley Arms at Huyton obliged with demonstrations. 1 2 eve r-changing Real Ales Plus Draught Ciders At the Belvedere Sugnall Street the cask was given a vigorous role around the cellar floor and was then La r gest Selection of Belgian and Germ a n immediately vented and put on sale. The beer in D raught and Bottled Beers in Live r p o o l the glass was completely clear. On tasting the opinion was that whilst pleasant it lacked depth of flavour and the condition was rather dull. Leaving G reat Home Cooked Food from the Burning Kitchen the cask to breathe for an hour or so improved the Open 10 am (for Breakfast 10 -12) 12pm - 2pm & 5pm - 9pm daily - depth of flavour. So the verdict was that Fast Cask lives up to its name in clearing, but for best flavour B u ffets - Burger Menu online ordering V i s i t : b u r n i n g k i t c h e n . c o . u k it does need to be left to breathe for an hour or so. Art Deco ‘Higher Room’ for hire Holds up to 55 people Catering available At the Stanley Arms Huyton correspondent Bob Taylor was invited by Manager John Slide to a “A minute or two later we were drinking a Ship & Mitre133 DALE STREET Tel: 0151 236 0859 demonstration of how quickly Fastcask settled. beautiful clear pint Marston's EPA (English Pale Ale), blonde in colour and full of citrus hoppy Bob comments; flavours. “We’d both waited with anticipation for what Does it have a future? Well I certainly believe it seemed like an eternity for this new wonder of the has. A day or two later I was back in The Stanley cask ale trade. What followed was nothing short of tasting the EPA to see if it was still as refreshing as fascinating. The times alongside these photos are for before. The answer was a definite yes and, if real, which adds to the wonderment of what anything, it was slightly improved. It was a pleasure followed…” to see it for real and I will be looking out for the other 'Fastcasks' available – Wychwood's Hobgoblin and another Marston brew, the famous Pedigree.” The Fast Cask System The system is the brainchild of Richard Westwood, Marston's Director of Brewing. It was developed using a special yeast that works to allow the beer to drop 'bright' very quickly indeed.

4.45pm Vented & Tapped 4.47pm Piped up Fast Cask is clearly a means of putting real ale into locations where conventional casks and stillaging are not feasible options. Indeed you can leave the cask vertical if there is no stillaging. However how do you know whether your Marston’s beer is being served from Fast Cask or a conventional cask? There is no point of sale information. So what if Marston’s decide to put all their beers into Fast Casks for sake of ease of management in the cellar? How would we know? Wasn’t that where CAMRA came in during 1971 to challenge the easy to keep lazy landlord keg revolution? As Private 4.50pm Pulled through 4.53pm Settling! Eye would say, “We should be told!”. 33 BBr r e e w w e e r r yynewsnews

to £75,000 a month in the The Birkenhead bre w e r’ s second year. inaugural year has been marked with an award from SIBA ( t h e S u d a rghara commented that “In Year Three we do believe we can hit break even point. The movement is going in the right direction. It is based on driving down costs.” The accounts also revealed that the In the Everyman Everyman Bistro & Bars Material Uncertainty B rothers had paid themselves you find a real Over Future of RC £ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 over the twenty four cross section of The Everyman Bistro was founded Brewery company month period, despite the fact that society. In addition almost 40 years ago and turned out the company made a loss of £2.8 to a smattering of The Daily Post on Wednesday 15th m i l l i o n. This follows their December ran a two page Business writers, actors and food that at the time had never been p revious pattern in the former seen in Liverpool before. News feature on the future company pre administration when directors; prospects for Cains. in 2007 the brothers paid Society of Independent Brewers). and quite a few The RC (Robert Cains) Bre w e r y themselves £763,000 at a time that Traditional pale ale Full Whack academics and We continue to offer some of the best Company had announced the then company was making a (6%abv) scooped a silver award in students you’ll find accounts covering the last twenty pre tax loss of £2.8 million, (funny the strong ales category of the SIBA food (and best value food) in the Great Northern Beer Festival, just people from all four and a half months which how that number keeps recurring) country. We cater for an eclectic range in time to celebrate one year in walks of life showed a loss of £2.8 million, the of diets and our puddings are period since the Dusanj brothers business on November 1. getting on Cains in SIBA represents several hundred of bought the company back from the legendary. The selection of cask ales Numbers the UK’s burgeoning ranks of craft famously. administrator for £103,750. and other beers is stupendous and b rewers and the north is the Auditors Mazars warned of; society’s largest region, with more there is cask cider and "Material uncertainty which may cast than 100 brewery members. At the There’s no dress wonderful wines. doubt about the company's ability to Manchester festival 282 cask- code, no dodgy continue as a going concern." conditioned and 120 bottled ales door policies but were judged. Full Whack is brewed ■ Cains has accumulated definitely no louts. To keep in business the company with English Fuggles and First Fantastic food was reliant on an invoice discount Gold hops and takes its name from Everyone else is Losses of £2.8 million served all night FREE facility with Bibby Financial the phrase used by Liverpool welcome! Services and the credit allowed by ■ Cains is Losing £75,000 sailors in the 19th century to suppliers. The company a month demand their full rations – hence acknowledges that “there is the term ‘whacker'. pressure on its cash flow.” ■ £500,000 is the amount 104,930 "The Most Bohemian Bar Joint Managing Dire c t o r s the Brothers paid That is the number of bottles of Sudarghara and Ashmail Dusanj themselves over last Cains Export Lager, Mild and had carried out a financial review in town" Liverpool Echo 2 years Bitter that is being exported for the which maintained that the brewery first time to the USA. Boston based could become profitable “within First Birthday Present is the Win – It – Too placed the order Opening hours the foreseeable future, trading after hearing Cains presentation at within its available facilities with Full Whack the National Beer Wholesalers the support of its suppliers.” Monday - Saturday ‘til late A top brewing award has brought Association trade show in Las The rate of losses has halved from a happy first birthday for the Vegas. Cains also exports to www.everyman.co.uk £150,000 a month in the first year Wirral’s Peerless Brewery. Denmark, China and the Republic of Ireland. Fu n ction Room Ava i l a b l e Continued on page 43

5-9 HOPE ST LIVERPOOL L1 9BH 0151 708 9545 35 The Sidings, and Gluepot, as well and airports. On arriving at one Tourism Awards as features on The Ship, Union, large cask ale pub in Douglas over The Isle of Mans Department of and George pubs in the town Christmas, it was noted that only To u r i s m , each year holds an centre. Bushys Ales were on offer, with no a w a rds ceremony to re c o g n i s e guest availability. The landlord leaders in the industry, based on reported that guests from the U.K. recommendations received. appeared to have arrived in a too cold condition, and so extra work was needed to prepare them for The Sidings changes hands Bank Holiday. The Isle of Man The local CAMRA group would sale, leaving the LocAles with an parliament is the longest running like to thank Dave Quayle and advantage. On some days of the The main pub news this quarter is in the world on a continuous basis his father in law for a superb freeze, many of the Islands vital the change of licensee at The and Tynwald Day is a key date in effort over the years and wish supplies were trapped in depots in Sidings pub in Castletown. the parliamentary process. them well for the future. the UK or at one stage on the M6 overnight, missing the overnight One of only two Island pubs to IOMCAMRA News boat. consistently carry ten ales during The Sidings was subject of a special f e a t u re in MerseyAle in the all seasons of the year, the tenure of The local Isle of Man CAMRA In another positive sign for LocAle, MerseyAle is delighted to report Summer 2008 issue page 35,which landlord Dave Quayle has come to group has been very active over The Woodbourne Hotel, Douglas that The HQ bar, (Douglas) won can be accessed online via a link an end after a superb trailblazing the last quarter, and as well as featured as many as five Okells the category for offering The Best with the Isle of Man CAMRA 13 years at the pub. The lease has holding their AGM at the b rews around Christmas, Customer Service. website at www.isleofmancamra. now passed to Dave Sayle, successful Rovers Return including as well as the bitter and The HQ-hugely wordpress.com and www.mersey who in December was oper- (Douglas) inaugural beer festival mild, the award winning A l t , popular late ating the Tynwald Inn at ale.com in November, there were two visits into the night St Johns. to Okells brewery, where efforts by many who Reflecting on his time at the pub, attended the During his time at The Sidings, David felt that contrary to former Okells Brewery C A M R A Dave Quayle initially, along with perceptions elsewhere, he thought N a t i o n a l his father in law, immediately that over time the smoking ban M e m b e r s increased the beer range to ten, and had made little diff e rence to Weekend in in both 2002 and 2005 the Sidings drinking patterns, and that at this E l s e w h e re, and further north in Douglas in A p r i l was Isle of Man CAMRA’s Pub of location the balance between types Ramsey, The Commercial did not 2010, is a rare stockist of The Ye a r. The first regular beer of drinkers had not varied much. manage to open in time for the the Old Laxey Brewing festival on Island was established, He had not noticed a large increase busy Christmas season, but is Company’s Bosun Bitter originally featuring 52 beers. This in the numbers of female real ale expected to open soon. (ABV 3.8%). was no mean feat when viewing drinkers. However, he did have a In another category, The Best Event the compact size of the cellar, The Isle of Man as did the U.K. feeling that the price of going out of The Year awards, CAMRA itself where vertical stillage is used to fit suffered greatly due to the snow to the pub generally was starting to was one of the three finalists, and in the casks. (As an aside continue to be made to revive and p re-Christmas, and many pubs was particularly commended b y MerseyAle would be interested to have a real impact on drinking revamp the Okells mild. A firm w e re quiet as revellers found the judging panel for bringing and know if any patterns. This comment seems to decision on the future of the mild is difficulty in moving around due to i n t roducing new tourists and others on be in line with a number of senior expected in 2011. heavy snow fall, and treacherous visitors to the Island. The event island use l a n d l o rds’ anecdotal re m a r k s roads. Large numbers of Christmas Okells Red, and St Nicks the ceremony was attended by local this rare about the industry on Island at Castletown party bookings were cancelled, December seasonal at 4.5% ABV. Branch Chairman Charles Miller, s t i l l a g e present, and is why CAMRA is In addition the local CAMRA having a severe effect on some This is encouraging to see, from a and Branch Contact Angela Aspin, m e t h o d - c u r rently lobbying so hard on group held a Christmas social, for outlets. However, some larg e small brewer, in terms. on behalf of CAMRA. Credit for s l i g h t l y areas such as beer taxation, cheap the first time outside Douglas. This corporate groups have rescheduled Travelling throughout the The this one must go to the elements of m o r e supermarket alcohol offers, and was a well attended trip around for January, so it is to be hoped that British Isles there remains much the CAMR HQ team who voted wasteful of Castletown, where the mix of five this boosts trade at this pub preservation. variability in accessing a good originally to hold the event ale than real ale pubs, four of them stocking traditionally quiet time of year on range of local ales. For example, in ‘offshore’(a risk that paid off) and u s u a l The mantle now passes to Dave more than one ale, makes for a Island, when very few tourists Cornwall several offerings from St to Neil Leeson (CAMRA H Q m e t h o d s , Sayle, and although a hard act to pleasant and unhurried day/ are around. Austell brewery are fre q u e n t l y Members Weekend & A G M but as The f o l l o w, the reputation of The evening out wandering the narrow available in the same pub, as is organiser) in particular, as well as Sidings has Sidings is firmly established, both s t reets of the historic town Local ale (LocAle) beats the big freeze! Brains in the area, but in all those that gave their time to shown, no barrier that cannot be on Island and now throughout the dominated by the well preserved areas such as Blackburn(home to supporting the event-and for overcome). Tynwald week (July) is British Isles, where real ale castle. A separate feature on the Supply lines to island communities Thwaites) and Douglas with Okells persevering in getting to the Island the traditional time when the beer drinkers arriving at the nearby towns pubs is in the planning are not just about the reliability of it has been more difficult in the when the ash cloud struck at short festival is held. In the Isle of Man Ronaldsway airport, almost view stages, and will provide an update plane or boat arrivals, but quite past to access a good range of the notice! Tynwald Day is the equivalent of a the pub as an obligatory stop. on the new tenancies at often transport links to the ports one brewers beers at the same time. Dave Halliwell

36 37 regular venue for gigs. On a had brewed for the Firkin pub Mischief (4.3%) : light brown larger scale the Bushy Big Wheel chain. hoppy ale GBM Great Beer Matey! Blues Festival held at Laxey is now He was succeeded by York- Classic (4.3%) : darker occasional a major annual weekend long shireman Ian Caines who had bitter music event. worked at Clark’s Brewery in Celebrate Twenty Five Wakefield. Buggane (4.4%) : pale malty The Bay Festival at Port Erin offers seasonal bitter a mixture of beach happenings, Current brewer is Neil “Curly” Years of Brewing games and music all focused on Convery who himself is Hop-Tu-Naa (4.4%) : deep red- the Bushy Bay Hotel. celebrating 21 years at the Bushy brown rich malty ale mash tun. Initially he brewed Piston Brew (4.5 %) : light & malty An imaginative public transport with Ian Caines but since 1994 Distinctive Image and Design established TT special ale 25 years ago in January 1986 and pubs promotion was the Curly has been the Master Bushy’s is now established as one the distinctive Martin Brunnschweiler was Bushy’s MER Tram offer. Launched Brewer. Festival Ale (4.5%) : malty brew for of the most distinctive and house style bending over a hot mash tun in at Derby Castle by Minister David The new Mount Murray brewery April Food Week instantly recognisable brands on until his Cretney, the offer combined use the cellars of the first Bushy’s was opened in 1990 Old Seadog (4.5 %) : pale autumn the Isle of Man. untimely of the MER to reach pubs selling pub in Victoria Street Douglas death in 2007. offering {aka Helmsman} A series of clever designs have Bushys, where your tram ticket Distinctive Beers brewing his inaugral pint of gained you a discount on Old Shunter (4.5 %) : Steam built up a consistent and (that Distinctive Promotion and The Bushy’s beer range is Old Bushy Tail. The rest as your pint. Railwaymen's smokey Ale word again!) quirky brand image. Advertising extensive and offers a variety of they say is history. The black and white fox logo, the Bushy’s has built a formidable Another form of advertising on styles; Humbug (5.0%) : Pre-Xmas winter reputation for promotion and the move is the Bushy Bottle Cars. warmer MerseyAle is always up for a party, Old Bushy Tail (4.7 %) The beer advertising which has put the Not just one but THREE Citroen especially a Silver Jubilee, so we which started it all. Reddish Lovely Jubbely Xmas Ale (5.2 %) brand centre stage in Island life. present an appreciation of coloured rich full bodied malty Rich & dark Bushy’s, its beers its pubs and its The best known promotion has brew Triskelion (4%) pale hoppy bitter special image and Isle of Man been the Bushy association with Manx Export Bitter (3.8 %) The Gibralter Barbary Beer (4.4%) identity. motor bike racing. The Bushy TT best selling beer. Bitter with well Sold on the Rock in partnership As they say “Good Beer stickers are an eagerly awaited balanced malt and hops. with importer Lewis Stagnetto. Matey!” annual event. The TT Bushy Beer Brewed using hops grown at Tent on the Douglas Promenade is Ruby 1874 Mild (3.4 %) a classic Alameida Botanic Gardens. What’s In a Name? as well known worldwide as are malty fruity Northern ruby style Bushy’s - The Only Fox on the Isle the Mountain Road, Ramsey mild. Seasonals GBM international car plate re Hairpin and the Sulby Straight. of Man! Castletown Bitter (3.5 %) Brewed Bramble (4.4 %) Brewed using badged as Great Beer Matey, and For many bikers The Bushy Beer The Isle of Man is famous for not to the original recipe of the blackberries picked at the the slogan Ale of Man, are all 2CV cars were converted into the having any foxes (or snakes, or closed and lamented Castletown brewery site creating a subtle memorable examples. famous bottle shape which can badgers, or squirrels, or moles). Brewery. Light hoppy refreshing fruity beer which is such a The name Bushy’s came from the regularly be seen around the Another popular promotion has bitter. favourite with a staff member on décor of Martin’s first pub in Island roads. As reported in been the large range of black and the MER that he is now known by Victoria Street which had a Mersey Ale Summer 2010 one of Shuttleworth Snap (4%) George white stickers which crop up in the same name! profusion of stuffed foxes on the bottle cars was selected for Formby would approve of this many locations and are a “must display. display at the famous Beaulieu very hoppy IPA style beer collect” for many visitors. Bushy’s Oyster Stout (4.2 %) Motor Museum as part of the The black and white images also Summer Ale (3.6 %) : pale, thin Brewed with real oysters. So Bushy’s can claim to be the “Promotion”- innovative vehicles appear on the wide range of and grainy Described by the Beer Hunter only fox on the Isle of Man! exhibition. Quite an accolade. Michael Jackson as a classic. Tshirts and merchandise available Manannan's Cloak (3.8 %) : pale In One Word – Distinctive. from the Promenade Tshirts shop Distinctive Brewing Much sort after when it appears. version of Export Or in Two Words – Distinctive in Douglas. The first brews were done by and Quirky Martin using a one barrel capacity Pure Gold (4.0%) : single hop Specials Who else would have a Dr Who The memorable Bushy’s designs brewing “kettle”which can still be variety ale Steam 125 – brewed for the 125th Tardis, a red telephone box, a are the inspired work of the late seen at the Mount Murray Anniversary of the Isle of Man Tent IS the TT, being the centre Golden Oldie (4.0%) : smooth model railway running around the John Herdman. Here we have brewery. As demand grew this Steam Railway piece of the many evening events hoppy bitter curtain rail in the bar and ex another Liverpool connection. was increased to a 3 barrel plant G – MIMA – brewed for 25th on the promenade. Liverpool Atlantean bus acting as (In passing has anyone ever heard by the high tech expedient of Celtibration (4.0 %) : pale grainy Anniversary of Manx Airlines of a Heysham connection !! JD Wetherspoon Festival beers – a roving bar? Bushy’s of course! The Hairy Bikers have also made adding some big buckets! spring ale (aka Treskellion) Thought not!) Bushy’s regularly brew specials for Distinctive – Yes. Quirky – Yes. regular appearances at Bushy’s Manx born John trained at Faerie Bridge (4.1%) : sweet and the Wetherspoon festivals. There is a sense of fun in Bay Hotel Port Erin promoting But as the website states, “Martin Liverpool Art College, an hoppy special ale everything that Bushy’s do. When Manx produce especially could only bluff his way for so An interesting observation is that establishment also briefly the long”!!! Bushy’s started up back in 1984 queenies and real ale. Wanderer (4.1%) : seasonal bitter the darker stronger beers such as they brought a breath of fresh air alma mater of a certain John Old Bushy Tail do not sell well in Lennon. John Herdman did all the Another Bushy passion is live to the pub and brewing scene on A “proper brewer” was brought Manx Pride (4.3%) : mid-brown Douglas where people prefer the designs for Bushy’s and music. The Rovers Return is a in, Davey Jones a Londoner who the Island. bitter less strong lighter bitters. 38 39 F then partner to open their first the first time since the two world Awards pub in Victoria Street Douglas, wars. The loss of TT business (the former Zhivago’s Bar seriously impacts on Bushy’s and Over the years Bushy’s has won previously Yate’s Wine Lodge). demonstrates the risk of being a number of awards for its They name it Bushy’s Bar, but overly dependant on one major beers and pubs including; initially trade is quiet annual event. Bushy’s Beers Awards January 1986 A one barrel brew December 2001 The Bay Hotel 1997 Belfast CAMRA Runner up plant is installed in the cellar of Port Erin is bought after ten years Bushy’s Bar brewing Old Bushy of closure. The lady owner would - Old Bushy Tail. Tail. Business takes off – more only sell to a Manx person – 2005 Battersea CAMRA Beer of beers are added to the range. Martin apparently now meets the the Festival - Ruby Mild. 1986 Okells take over and close 2006 SIBA West - Gold Awards Castletown Brewery, leading to for Ruby Mild and opportunities for Bushys in the Shuttleworth Snap free trade. 2008 SIBA North - Silver award 1990 Demand grows to such an for Ruby Mild extent that a new brewery at Mount Murray is opened with 24th CAMRA Festival Michael Jackson the Beer Hunter Gold Award for Ruby Mild

Isle of Man Pub of the Year Awards 2004 The Bay Hotel Port Erin wins Isle of Man CAMRA Pub of the Year Award Michael 2010 Bushy’s Double – the Jackson criteria! The Bay becomes a with the Rovers Return Douglas and the Bushys Bushy’s tenancy after a massive Bay Hotel Port Erin win crowd refurbishment. Runners Up POTY Award cutting the tape. He describes 2003 The Commercial Ramsey Bushy’s Oyster Stout as a “World becames a Bushy’s tenancy the Distinctive Pubs – Bushy People Class beer” Ellan Vannin. It closed in 2009 but The Bushy pubs have a distinctive is scheduled to reopen in 2011 as style which can best be described 1990 November The Duck’s Nest a free house majoring on the as Bohemian, attracting the Castletown becomes a Bushy’s Bushy’s range. alternative IOM beer and live tenancy and is renamed the music afficionados. Always lively Siding’s to mark its location next 2004 The Bay Hotel Port Erin wins there is a vibe to a Bushy pub. to Castletown IMR Steam Railway Isle of Man CAMRA Pub of the Indeed it is true to say that the Station. Year Award Bushy Pubs have Bushy People 1998 The former Albion in 2010 The Bushy’s Double – The who enjoy the special atmosphere Douglas is bought from Isle of of the pubs and the Bushy name Rovers Return Douglas and the Man breweries when the takeover Bay Hotel Port Erin both win Isle and image. Oh, and yes they of Castletown Brewery by Okells enjoy real ale! leads to the sell off of around 20 Martin Brunnschweiler – The pubs. The new pub becomes the Understatement of the Year Rovers Return complete with a “Originally I only came over for Shrine to Blackburn Rovers FC. a weekend to help my sister January 1998 Lease on Nicky and her then partner get Victoria/Bushy Brew pub expires started, but somehow I stayed and it closes as a pub and as an Rovers Return gang on a bit longer” Island institution, leaving many of its Bushy People in search of a 30 years longer!! pub. Most migrate to the Rovers of Man CAMRA Pub of the Year Bushy’s Timeline Return. Runner Up Award October 1984 Martin comes to June 2001 The TT is cancelled due 2011 Twenty Five Years of Bushy’s IOM to help sister Nicky and her to Foot and Mouth disease fears, Brewing is celebrated.

41 Br e w e r ynews contd from page 35 Joule’s Pale Ale - an Awayday a number of seasonal beers plus a Pub meals now account for 40% of Return 36 Years On stronger version of the bitter called Marston’s sales, up from 28% in Joule’s the famed and lamented John Willie which is rarely seen in 2005. Potteries and Staffordshire real ale Liverpool. Marston’s owns Banks (Wo l v e r- hampton and Dudley), Jennings, which was originally brewed in Lees is introducing a new range of Wychwood and Ringwood Stone before the rapacious seasonal Round the World beers breweries. takeover by Bass Charrington in alongside its established pro - the 70s, has returned. It is now gramme of seasonal beers. b rewed in the centre of Market Drayton behind the Red Lion Inn. The Brewery is a fascinating The water there is of a special combination of the old traditional quality similar to that in Stone, and and the stainless steel new. The previously was bottled as mineral water for British Airways. B rewer Alan Goodall has been Marston’s Burton on Trent brewery advised by Joule’s last bre w e r contract brews Draught Bass Anthony Healey, who reckons that for Coor’s the mineral water has helped to achieve a true match of flavour Rooney in Bollywood with the original Joule’s. Greene King CEO Rooney Anand reports that the Bollywood Bad B rewhouse has had new equipment shoehorned into very tight spaces. In effect it is now two parallel breweries in the one building. A lager brewery with the new equipment brewing for Carlsberg, alongside the original real ale brewery for Lees. Wooden ladders still connect the five floors Lees is the only brewery in Britain other than Carling’s own plant in Northampton, that is licensed to Old Joules bottle label Boy Burger has helped drive an brew Carling lager. ■ ■ 8.5% growth in GK’s food sales. Joule’s Pale Ale went on sale on Real Ale Real Food Real Readers may recall the famous P re tax profits rose 17% to 25th October 2010, exactly 36 years John Willie Lees advert utilising £73 million. ■ to the very day since the last brew Music Real Nice People the Test Match Special Food sales now account for 39% of at Stone in 1974. A s o b e r i n g commentary of the late Brian all GK sales Range of six constantly rotating real ales reflection is that in 1974 a pint Johnston which left many listeners GK has 2,500 pubs. p re d o m i n a t e ly featuring the best LocAle was 15p. and the commentary team in tears b reweries in the area including Joule’s are buying their own pubs of laughter. Brewing Up a Social Enterprise a round Staff o rd s h i re. You can L i verpool Org a n i c, S o u t h p o rt , A new brewery with a difference is enjoy a pint at the re c e n t l y Wa p p i n g , A l l g at e s , C a m b r i n u s “The bow l e r’s Holding, the set to open in Runcorn during purchased Glebe in Glebe Street and many others. batman’s Willie” March. Norton Brewing is a social Stoke upon Trent close to Stoke enterprise venture set up at the at Station. Train from Liverpool to Enjoy the best in Real Ales combined with some of Marston’s F Plan Norton Priory heritage site by the then East Midlands Trains Food, Families, Females, Forty to Social Services Department with the BEST TAPAS IN LIVERPOOL whilst watching the to Stoke. Fifty Somethings the intention to pro v i d e BEST ENTERTAINMENT LIVERPOOL has to offer ! These are the targets for Marston’s employment and training John Willie Lees Middleton First Merseyside CAMRA LocAle Pub F Plan designed to further boost opportunities for people with profits which rose 4.6% in the last Liverpool & District Community Pub of the year 2009 Lees is a family brewer that is learning difficulties. They will showing the way to develop its 12 months helped by growth in work at the two and a half barrel profile and its beers. Over the last sales of premium real ales. brewing plant producing IPA style Stamps too 99 South Road Waterloo few years the company has Marston’s owns 2,158 tenanted and beers in the 4% to 5% range for sale L22 0LR 0151 280 0035 expanded its beer range to include managed pubs across Britain to pubs and other outlets. When leaving Waterloo Station turn right and cross the road to get to a real ale pub with a quality of entertainment that matches our ales! 43 657 Lord Street Southport PR9 0AW Te l : 01704 533054 3 HAND PUMPS Featuring 3 0 0 P l u s CHANGING GUEST BEERS FROM LOCAL Bottled Beers BREWERS LIVE SPORT Great Choice of over 300 British, KARAOKE TUES NIGHT German and Belgian Beers THURS, FRI, SAT & SUN - LIVE MUSIC including bottled conditioned, to take away or drink in. OUTSIDE SMOKERS COURTYARD Southport Brewery hand pumped Cask Ale REFURBISHED FUNCTION ROOM at Weekends TRADITIONAL LOCAL FRIENDLY PUB Enjoy a beer in the café area, plus pavement license WITH GREAT ATMOSPHERE, GREAT MUSIC Plus Snacks Menu, Coffees,Teas, cream cakes, afternoon teas AND GREAT ALES LIVE MUSIC Gift Packs, Glasses, Gift Vouchers make ideal gifts 4 NIGHTS PER W E E K W E D N E S DAY NIGHT - OPEN MIC NIGHT Tuesday to Saturday 11am to 7pm 43 SOUTH ROAD WATERLOO L22 5PE 0151 928 7020 Sunday and Monday 12 noon to 7pm End of Lord Street shops opposite Farm Foods roundabout

MerseyAle Read 50p minimum Back Copies on Line price per unit at:

Local councils are moving towards introducing a www.merseyale.com minimum price per unit of alcohol. 2007 - 2011 Wirral was first to introduce an on line questionnaire on alcohol pricing, and is now being All editions on line followed by Liverpool, Sefton, Knowsley and Halton. Manchester is expected to move soon to Note that the branch website impose a 50p a unit minimum price. www.merseycamra.org.uk The effects would be felt most in supermarkets and the off trade as in the main pubs already charge only displays the current edition more than 50p a unit. A six pack of off sales lager Facebook pages: would rise to at least £6, a bottle of wine to £4.50, a CAMRA Liverpool and Districts two litre bottle of cider to £5.50 and a 70cl bottle of Liverpool Beer festivals whisky to £14. The decision on implementation would be taken at a Mersey City Region level.

44 45 PubCo Business Model Implodes Biggest Upheaval in Britain’s Pub Scene?

The PubCos that dominate the opportunity to obtain the 6,000 the company financially and also British pub scene are in deep tenanted pubs at a give away price morally. trouble. Their business model is as Punch struggle with their £3.1 Greg commented: imploding under a massive weight billion debt. "It is simply obscene that Ted Tuppen of debt which is now due for and his cronies are being paid huge repayment or renegotiation. and increased amounts of money, Both Punch Taverns (£3.1 billion considering that Enterprise remains in debt) and Enterprise (£3.5 billion billions of pounds of debt and that they debt) are under pressure from all are closing pubs up and down the sides to reduce the debt. country. Each time this is the end of a Institutional investors are urging small business and each time the loss Punch to default on the debt and of a pub for a community.” hand the 6,000 tenanted pubs that "There are few people who believe that Private equity group CVC has been were used to underwrite the debt Enterprise Inns are anything but a in talks with Punch adviser over to the banks. property company, whose discredited Goldman Sachs regards a bid, but business model is based on Investors are urging Punch to competition is coming from other u n regulated rents and excessive dispose of the tenanted pubs and equity groups including TDG p roduct prices. This announcement to concentrate on the 800 managed Capital which was a major investor will sicken many Enterprise Inns pubs which are more profitable. in Punch prior to it floating in 2002. Punch made a £160 million loss in tenants and former tenants and will anger all those communities who have the last financial year. Ted Tuppen at the Trough seen Enterprise shut local pubs, to suit The Punch share price has dropped Enterprise Inns PubCo under their own needs, with the community by 95% in three years from £11.50 Parliamentary Fire having no say.” in January 2007 to just 6 6 p i n Liberal Democrat MP, G r e g "It is high time that the Government December 2010. The pro p e r t y Mulholland, tabled an Early Day woke up to the simple fact that the Beer value of the pubs has fallen Motion (EDM), condemning Orders were a disaster, concentrating by 40%. reports that senior Enterprise Inns pub ownership in the hands of a few FOOD 12-5 TOASTIES The debts are known as A and B personnel are receiving excessive large property companies.” remuneration and bonus packages. and Punch is spending £45 million "For the sake of the future of the AND SANDWICHES a year servicing them. Paul British pub, we need to see thousands Free Sunday Buffet plus Traditional Hickman analyst at Peel Hunt of pubs back in the hands of small well commented; Singers Open House . Live Music Easy run companies, small breweries and “It is quite clear that the bond local people who are connected to their Listening Saturday Nights Monday structure that finances most of pubs and committed to supporting the tenancies is unsustainable. them" Open Mic We believe the preferable outcome is to allow the A and B Enterprise “Insensitive” securitisations to default.” "These increased earnings are A Community Pub in excessive and insensitive This would trigger the gre a t e s t especially given that Enterprise the Heart of the City upheaval in the British pub scene Inns have reported a 5% decline in We take pride in our since the Beer Orders. net income per pub since the last Punch Taverns – the Sharks financial year and that these service and welcome. payments come in the same year Gather Table service available He tabled the EDM amidst reports that saw Enterprise fined just Equity Groups Plan Bids that some of the top bosses at the £300,000 for the death of a tenant on request company have received huge Punch Taverns is increasingly the as a result of the negligent health i n c reases in yearly earnings, subject of audacious bids fro m and safety standards of despite the dismal performance of private equity groups who see an Enterprise Inns." F 47 OFT Fails to Act PubCos Driving Licensees Out The inaction of the OFT, whose of Business responsibility is to ensure markets work well for consumers, is all the "The OFT's own analysis more remarkable given that the recognises that tied pub landlords Commons Business Select on average pay around £20,000 Committee and the Government more for their beer every year as a recognise that a competition result of being tied and unable to problem exists and are working to purchase beer on the open market. find a fair solution. CAMRA, unlike the OFT, recognises that higher costs Welcome To The Strickland Arms " A 51% rise in earning for Mike Benner, CAMRA imposed upon tied pub landlords Enterprise Inns Chief Executive will inevitably be passed onto Anton Flaherty, originally from Long Lane,Fazakerley and his f rom £811,000 to £1,223,000 Chief Executive, said: consumers through higher prices, wife Penny took over 3 years ago & welcome you to including a performance re l a t e d under investment and pub The Strickland Arms. bonus of £558,000, is unjustified closures." The Strickland Arms is a pub of character and distinction at the heart considering the company's profits of the village community.We are a Traditional Country Inn basking in a are down by over £200m from the The Value of Community Pubs warm relaxed atmosphere with Real Fires,Cask Ales on Tap, Fine Wines p revious financial year and has and serving homemade food in our Dining Room.We have a secluded estimated debts of around £3.5bn. D r. Rick Muir, author of the rear garden and a dry-stone walled terraced front with an abundant Institute for Public Policy This means large amounts of display of flowers. Research (ippr) groundbreaking money taken from community 'Pubs and Places' Report said: Our 3 Star Bed and Breakfast Accommodation pubs to service this debt which is a Comprises of 2 Rooms offered as 2 Double Rooms OR as 2 t h reat to the survival of many "ippr research shows community Twin Rooms,both En-suite. Tel: 01931 712238 to pubs. This as another example of pubs are not just places to drink, Our Rooms have recently been refurbished to 3 Star rating whilst make a reservation. Enterprise Inns management but are also places where people retaining some features and character of its previous use as a Barn. meet friends and neighbours and putting their own greed before the "CAMRA's initial reaction to the where local clubs hold meetings needs of their tenants and the pubs OFT's decision is that it is based Website www. t h e s t r i c k l a n d a r m s . c o.uk Email: s t r i c k l a n d a r m s p e n r i t h @ h o t m a i l . c o. u k and events. Community pubs are they own. on a blinkered and selective The concentration of thousands of consideration of the evidence. pubs in the hands of distant and The OFT has squandered an hugely indebted pro p e r t y opportunity to support a companies is a threat to the future p rocess of industry self of pubs. regulation to impro v e competition and benefit The EDM calls upon the consumers. Today's OFT Government to adhere to the decision does nothing to change timetable for reform including the fact that the Business retaining the option of a referral to Secretary,Vince Cable MP, has the Competition Commission in publicly stated that the pub June 2011." companies are on probation and PubCo Beer Tie – the Fight that they will face legislative Goes On action if they fail to reform by CAMRA vows to keep up June 2011." pressure to secure reform of the "The OFT recognises the beer tie concerns of tied pub landlords "Blinkered" OFT fails to tackle Pub but has failed to recognise the Company abuses impact of these on consumers. It is extraordinary that the OFT C A M R A is continuing its appears to have dismissed as Prince Arthur Rice Lane campaign to secure reform of the irrelevant the treatment of tied beer tie despite the October pub landlords by the large pub the embodiment of the "big announcement by the OFT, Office companies. A balanced and fair society" principle yet many risk of Fair Trading, that it will take no relationship between tied pub being squeezed to death as a result action. This is despite considerable l a n d l o rds and the large pub of restricted competition. The OFT evidence providing re a s o n a b l e companies is crucial to ensuring has failed to stand up for g rounds to suspect anti- the pub market works well for individual pub landlords and competitive behaviour by the large consumers." ultimately it will be consumers pub companies. who suffer as yet more pubs close." 49 Baltic Fleet

B a l tic Fleet Beers JOIN CAMRA BY DIRECT DEBIT AND GET Liverpool’s only Brew Pub - 3 MONTHS FREE MEMBERSHIP The Home of Wapping Brewery Fill in the form below and send with a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd, or for THREE MONTHS FREE MEMBERSHIP (for those renewing or joining by Direct Debit) complete the Direct Debit Award Winning Beers Form. All forms should be addressed to Membership Secretary, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW. Or you can join Winners of Champion online at www.camra.org.uk Beer of Britain Awards Title ...... Surname ...... Forename(s) ......

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)...... Baltic Fleet Address ...... Please tick as applicabl e ...... Single Membership Direct Debit Non DD ■ ■ BEER FESTIVAL ...... Postcode ...... (UK & EU) £ 2 0 £ 2 2 BEERThursday 17thFESTIV to Monday 21st MarchAL Email address...... Joint Membership (Pa r tner at same address) £ 2 5 ■ £ 2 7 ■ Tel No (s) ...... For Young Member and concessionary rates please visit Partner’s Details (if joint membership) w w w. c a m r a . o r g . u kor call 01727 867201

Stan Shaw, Wapping’s Award Winning Brewer Title ...... Surname ...... I wish to join the , and agree to abide by 30 beers the Memorandum and Articles of Association. Forename(s) ...... I enclose a cheque for ......

All your favourites plus new beers Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)...... Signed ...... Date ...... from Wapping and Liverpool One www.wappingbeers.co.uk INSTRUCTION TO YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY TO PAY DIRECT DEBIT Originator’s IdentificationNumber 9 2 6 1 2 9 Please fill in using ballpoint pen and send to: The Campaign for Real A l e Saturday 19th March is Live Music Night Ltd 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts. L1 4LW The Direct Debit 1.Name and full postal address of your Bank / Building Society Guarantee Open Mic Nights with SITZY & JONATHON every other Weds - PA Supplied FORCAMRAOFFICIALUSEONLY (This guarantee should be This is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society To:The Manager ...... Bank or Building Society detached & retained by the payer) Weds Feb 9th and 23rd March 9th and 23rd Membership Number...... Address: ...... I This Guarantee is offered by Name...... all Banks and Building Societies that take part in the Postcode...... Direct Debit Scheme. The Postcode...... efficiency and security of the Scheme is monitored and Baltic Fleet Food 2.Name(s) of account holder(s) protected by your own Bank or Building Society. 6.Instruction to your Bank or Building Society Great Food served Daily I If the amounts to be paid or Please pay The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd Direct Debits from the the payment dates change, The Campaign for Real Ale account detailed in this Instruction subject to safeguards assured by Ltd will notify you 10 working Best Bowl of Scouse in Liverpool the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may days in advance of your 3.Branch Sort Code remain with The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd and, if so, details will be account being debited or as otherwise agreed. passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society. Enquiries and Bookings 0151 709 3116 I If an error is made by The 4.Bank or Building Society account number Campaign for Real Ale Ltd or your Bank or Building Society, Signature: ...... you are guaranteed a full The Baltic Fleet Pub and Bre we ry, Wa pping Live r p o o l immediate refund from your branch of the amount paid. o pp o s i te the ECHO ARENA 5.Reference Number (office use only) Date:...... I You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by writing to your Visit us on on Fa cebook and Twi tte r Bank or Building Society. Please also send a copy of Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit instructions for some types of accounts. your letter to us. 51 How will You Get to the Pub? Coalition Government Comprehensive Spending Review Hits Public Transport

Rail- 30% The Amount Rail Fares are Bus- 20% Cut in Bus Fuel Grant Peel P50 Pub Surveys set to Rise by 2015 Withdrawal of the Rural Bus Grant (Generally evenings on public transport) for details visit From 2012 Rail fares to rise annually by Rural bus services face cuts and fares m e r s e y c a m r a . o rg . u k inflation plus 3% increases To book coach trips phone Ian Macadam on Merseytravel Support the Campaign for Two Thirds - the government cut in the Better Transport Fair Fares NOW 07521 741 586 block grant to Merseytravel. or email Cut Down from £17 million to Want Cheaper, Simpler, Fairer s o c i a l @ m e r s e y c a m r a . o rg . u k Train Fares? These offer the chance to visit just £5.7 million i n t e resting quality real ale pubs or book at Fed up paying the Highest Train Fares C O A C H TRIPS: Saturdays Branch Meetings “Never in our most pessimistic forecasts did outside our area with someone 19th March 2011 Leicester City Centre we anticipate such a crippling and savage cut. in Europe? else doing the driving. The coach It will be difficult enough to maintain and The Campaign for Better Transport has departs at 10am prompt fro m 30th April 2011 Long Itchington The Peel P50 Dale Street outside the Ship and operate what we have, let alone think about launched a national campaign for Fairer Fares Pub festival (Warwickshire) & Pubs The car can be viewed at the Manx improvements.” and is asking people to sign up in support on M i t re and costs £12. Return is Transport Heritage Museum Peel Councillor Mark Dowd - Chairman Merseytravel www.bettertransport.org.uk usually between 9-9.30pm. Tr i p s 21st May 2011 West Yokshire (next to Moore’s Kippers on the harbour). a re open to non members so bring 11th June 2011 Cumbria See www.manxheritage.com a friend along.

Th e www.liverpoolonebrewery.co.uk [email protected] ORDER HOTLINE 07948 918740 Belvedere 82-84 VAUXHALL ROA D Traditional 2 room Grade II Listed LIVERPOOL L3 6DL pub situated in the heart of Liverpool’s Georgian Quarter We are four local lads who have and beer styles. We use only the worked in the licensed trade for many finest ingredients for our beers, Cask Ales from Lo cal and years. Head Brewer Gary Rice has Fawcetts Malts and Charles Faram Regional Bre we r s spent over ten years as a licensee in Hops to make sure that the end O n ly Live r p o o l Liverpool managing a number of pubs product is the best that can be. One minute from Philharmonic Hall o u tlet fo r and bars including the Baltic Fleet. A m e ri ca n We have a number of flagship beers Ideal for pre - s h ow dri n k s It was here under Master Brewer available and we also specialise in Anchor Ste a m Stan Shaw that he honed his B e e r “house”beers with the style of beer The Only Liverpool Pub wi t h brewing skills. tailored to the needs of the outlet. Lined Glasses for Cask and on dra ft The aim of our brewery is to produce E u ropean Lage r s hand crafted, high quality ales, beers We have beers available in Cask, and lagers. We live for experimen- Bottle and Party Kegs. There is also a February Pop-Up - Rare and Football Free Zone tation and will continue to push chill filtered Real Lager coming soon. We also have beer gift packs on sale exclusive Bourbons from Heaven the boundaries in terms No Fruit Machines of flavours, combinations at our brewery and also in a number Hill, Evan Williams and of outlets in the City. Elijah Craig Real Fire s March Pop-Up - Finest Irish Malts Real Conversation At Liverpool One we are your local bre wers. You will find us we l co m i n g Order hotline is manned all day long for all your beer needs and and app roachable and with us you will get a personal fri e n d ly servi ce. our brewery is open for you to pop in for a cuppa or a swift half. 8 S u g n a l l S t r e e t ( o f f F a l k n e r S t ) , L i v e r p o o l

52 53 MerseyAle Credits It Was 40 Years Ago Editor John Armstrong Today Sergeant [email protected] CAMRATaught the Layout Design Dennis W Jones Band to Play [email protected] CAMRA at 40 UP Photographs Neil Lloyd 16th March 1971 – CAMRA was formed by four www.neillloydphotography.co.uk determined individuals who resolved to challenge why [email protected] Dennis W Jones the draught beer they loved was disappearing under the When CAMRA first started, social Facebook pages that might be of interest, John Armstrong tide of fizzy keg beer that was sweeping the pubs of networking involved a group of people mainly local pubs and breweries. Join Dave Halliwell 70s Britain. getting together in a pub. However, with their pages and again you will be kept up John Houghton the invention of the internet and more to date with news and events. Little did they know that the fledging campaign was to recently ‘myspace’, ‘facebook’ and Contributors go on to not only save real ale from oblivion, but was Another page worth joining is ‘Liverpool ‘twitter’, social networking has taken on a Dave Halliwell also to become the most successful consumer campaign whole new meaning. We do have the Beer Festivals’ especially useful for Bob Lockhart award winning MerseyAle which keeps keeping up to date with our own festival. Mel James - Henry organisation in Europe with over 110,000 members. you up to date with news and campaigns. This page also has some excellent photos. Bob Taylor There is also the internet on which you There is also a LaDs Beer Scoring Page, Jonathan Mail can find our own branch’s web pages, open to CAMRA members who score Printed by almost every brewery and a large number beers in and around Liverpool. A good Printfine, Liverpool of pubs. However, keeping in touch with Liverpool Branch Diary place to discuss beer scoring but not to 0151 242 0000 what’s happening, often involves use to record your beer scores – use www.printfine.co.uk Liverpool Beer Festival Thursday 24th to checking out lots of web pages www.merseycamra.org.uk for that individually. Often you can sign up to purpose. Useful Contacts Saturday 26th February email updates, but then your inbox Advance Ticket Only quickly becomes full. To keep in touch with national campaigns CAMRA National Office there is the CAMRA page 230 Hatfield Road Branch Get Together Wednesday 16th March 8pm Wouldn’t it be good to have a site that St Albans St Helens & Districts CAMRA also has allows you to get all the information you AL1 4LW Meet at Roscoe Head Roscoe Street – the only pub in their own page need in one place? Updates from your 01727 867201 the whole of the North West to have been in EVERY favourite breweries, event details from So PLEASE join to keep in touch with [email protected] edition of the Good Beer Guide your favourite pubs, news of CAMRA what’s happening. To find and join any of www.camra.org.uk events. Well, now with ‘Facebook’ this is these pages on facebook just type the Southport CAMRA Branch Annual General Meeting and possible. name of the page, shown above in bold, Ian Garner 01704 876819 Get Together in the ‘Search’ box.. Then, depending on [email protected] Once you have a Facebook account a the type of group or organisation, you Wednesday 20th April 8pm Ship and Mitre Dale Street whole new community will open up to www.southportcamra.org.uk can either click ‘join’ ‘like’or ‘add as upstairs room you. One page worth joining is ‘CAMRA friend’. Wirral CAMRA Liverpool and District’. This will keep you Dave Hutchinson 01516 440625 Come along and have your say about the work of up to date with events, such as the next And unlike ‘friends,’ events and [email protected] Liverpool CAMRA Branch now and for the coming year. organisations that use ‘join’or ‘like’ branch get together, pub crawls etc. You www.camrawirral.org.uk CANNOT see any of your personal can indicate your attendance (or non- See Page 53 for CAMRA Coach Trips information. Isle of Man Branch Contact attendance), upload photos and discuss Mel James-Henry Angela Aspin 01624 491613 - the event. You can also share any news LAD Campaigns Co-ordinator mobile 07624 491613 you have. There are also links to other [email protected] [email protected] merseycamra.org.uk Merseytravel Line for public transport times 0151 638 5002 Advertising in MerseyAle 0871 200 22 33 If you wish to place an advertisment you should contact us by email at; www.merseytravel.gov.uk [email protected] sending in your advert design and copy by attachment. Cost is £100 per half page, £200 full page payment in advance. Trading Standards 0151 233 3002

Opinions expressed in the Mersey Ale are not necessarily those of the Editor Liverpool Branch or CAMRA Ltd.