Pub of the Year 2008?
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BAE 139:BAE128_final 25/1/08 08:44 Page 1 139 February - March 2008 FREE, PLEASE TAKE ONE PUB OF THE YEAR 2008? ...answer revealed inside BAE 139:BAE128_final 25/1/08 08:44 Page 2 BAE 139:BAE128_final 25/1/08 08:44 Page 3 CPW CAMRA’s Community Pubs Week Saturday 16th to Saturday 23rd February 2008 CAMRA research has shown that 56 pubs If you think your local would benefit from are closing in Britain each month, and thou - Community Pubs Week, you can “adopt” sands more face an uncertain future. The that pub and encourage them to run events. majority of these pubs are not high street Go to www.pubsweek.org and order an chain bars or theme pubs, but community information pack. pubs, recognised as important amenities for local people. The local pub, after all, is often Licensees that would like to get involved the heart of the community. with Community Pubs Week can also list what events they will be running for free on After four years of running National Pubs www.pubsweek.org. Week, in 2007 CAMRA changed the focus of the event to reflect the need to retain (Various articles in this edition of BAE pubs that serve the community. Nothing can highlight the current threat to our local match the British pub for its service and community pubs, and sadly, news of those that atmosphere. Yet pressures from deep dis - have closed since last year’s event. The area counting of alcohol in supermarkets, massive covered by the Peterborough & District Branch levels of tax on beer in the UK, and of CAMRA is quite vast; with many isolated Skyrocketing property prices, have seen the rural pubs among the almost 500 we need to traditional British pub under more threat keep an eye on. We urgently need more than ever before. volunteers in these areas to report regularly with news of events happening on their own CAMRA is issuing a call to action for all ‘doorstep’, such that the branch can take the those who want to secure a future for their relevant action before it’s too late! local. By rallying behind your community pub between February 16th and 23rd, you With most of the present committee based in will be showing your support for the Peterborough and Werrington, an excellent irreplaceable backbone of British life. method of achieving this could be to set up a In 2008 Community Pubs Week will sub-branch to represent a specific area, complement a range of CAMRA-led initia - especially in the rural areas on the peripheries tives, and celebrate and promote all of the entire branch area. Any parties interest - community pubs – not just village locals, but ed in going down this route should contact our urban gems too. branch secretary, Harry Morten, for further details. – Ed) www.real-ale.org.uk 3 BAE 139:BAE128_final 25/1/08 08:44 Page 4 BAE 139:BAE128_final 25/1/08 08:44 Page 5 CHAIRMAN’S CORNER Thoughts of Chairman Murray Now that we have all hotel remaining as part of it. Cynically our got the festive season city fathers have made the closing date for over and done with, responses to the first consultation, January it’s time to come 4th, well before this publications appearance. back to reality. Were they hoping we would all be so full of During the last few Xmas cheer that nobody would notice it weeks we have learnt slipping through? of yet more plans for the destruction of yet We are continually told that all the new plans more of our local pubs and watering venues. for the modernisation of our city, are for our benefit, yet I’ve not heard one word from The Royal Oak in Walton, Peterborough any official whether some of it meets our would appear to be under threat from approval. Then again would anybody listen demolition, to make way for an entrance to to any real concerns if it meant jeopardising the proposed building of new houses on the some of the business tax that will pour into land to the rear of the pub. This is a similar the council coffers? Before some of you rush scenario that we had for the demolition of to your PCs to voice objections to my opin - the Cherry Tree in Oundle Road. That was ions, I’ve heard them all before. I’m not given originally as the reason for flattening against progress, but I do not agree that the pub. New proposals mean the saving of redevelopment should come at the expense the Cherry Tree, but knocking down the of losing our entire heritage and some of our function room and rebuilding it on the other finest old buildings. side of the pub. The Royal Oak has only got a narrow entrance to the car park at the rear, On a completely different matter, I have so access is limited. If these new plans go been a bit disappointed by our response ahead the pub would very likely be demol - received from our Wisbech area asking for ished to make a wider access to the new help in distributing our newsletter. As at this dwellings. time, only one person has contacted me vol - unteering to help us with the distribution of Another threat to one of our few remaining BAE, and he has to run his pub as well! My historical buildings, concerns the much grateful thanks to Steve Knight, of the trumpeted new development around Bowling Green pub for his kind offer. Peterborough railway station. The local press Incidentally Steve who only moved to and some of our city councillors have gone Wisbech recently has wasted no time in to great lengths, trying to convince us that re-introducing real ale back into the pub. the new station complex would not be The Elgoods owned pub now has up to four complete, without the redevelopment of the cask ales on offer for the first time in seven station approaches. Yes I agree that some years. So come on Wisbech real ale drinkers, areas of that quarter do need a facelift, but and give Steve a hand with the newsletter not at the expense of one of our only distribution around your own town. Victorian railway buildings still standing. That’s all for now folks. I refer to The Great Northern Hotel opposite the station. A very fine example of Cheers railway architecture of that era, the plans for remodelling the area do not mention the David Murray www.real-ale.org.uk 5 BAE 139:BAE128_final 25/1/08 08:44 Page 6 DIARY DATES area, Sheffield. Travel by train; meet at sta - Diary Dates tion at 8am, returning for 9.30pm. Contact Bram for details. JANUARY MARCH HOP Award Presentation at the Wed 30th Sat 8th Heritage Pubs Trip by train to Admiral Wells, Holme. Bus departs Brewery Newcastle & South Shields, contact Mick Tap 7.30pm returning by 11pm, cost £5 Slaughter for details. Tue 11th Gold Award Presentation at the FEBRUARY Royal Oak, Walton 8.30pm. (use local buses) Heritage Pubs Trip by train to Sat 2nd Sat 15th Historic Pubs of Stamford, a Wakefield, contact Mick Slaughter for details. guided tour given by Steve Williams. Meet Wed 13th Branch Pub of the Year at Peterborough Railway Station for Presentation to the Tobie Norris, Stamford. 11.30am or Stamford at 12.10pm. (Travel by Bus departs Brewery Tap 7.30pm returning train using Group Save tickets, so cost depend - for 11pm, cost £5. ent on the number of people attending) Mon 17th Celebrate St Patricks Day with a Community Pubs Week Events pie night at the Plough, Greetham. Bus Sat 16th North Northants Village Pub departs Brewery tap 7.30pm, returning by Crawl by bus, departing Brewery Tap at 11pm. Cost £11 to include a ‘themed’ meal. 3pm and returning by 10pm. Cost £15 to Wed 19th Branch Committee Meeting at include hot buffet. the Blue Bell, Werrington, 8.30pm. Sun 17th CPW Themed quiz at the Palmerston Arms, 9pm start, £2 team of 4, spe - APRIL cial priced beer offers & Young Members Event. Wed 2nd Campaigning Crawl of March Mon 18th Branch Committee Meeting at Pubs. Bus departs Brewery Tap 7.30pm, the Hand & Heart, Highbury St, 8.30pm. returning for 11pm, cost £5. “Blue Bell’s Day”. Bus tour of Sat 23rd Fri 18th – Sun 20th CAMRA Members pubs in our Branch Area called the Blue Weekend & AGM, Cardiff. Bell. Bus departs Brewery Tap at 1pm Tue 22nd Branch Committee Meeting at returning at 10pm, cost tbc. the Drapers Arms, Cowgate, 8.30pm. Sat 23rd Tour of award winning & popular community pubs in the Upper Don Valley PLEASE BOOK EARLY FOR TRIPS TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT John Hunt is on 01406 330453 Mick Slaughter is on 01733 390598 Bram is on 07922 604988 Full details of all meetings and socials are posted on our website as soon as details are known. It’s the best way to ensure that you do not miss out. 6 [email protected] BAE 139:BAE128_final 25/1/08 08:44 Page 7 DIARY DATES Selected Beer Festivals (CAMRA Festivals shown in bold) The Black Swan A family-run village pub offering good food and JANUARY drinks including 3 changing real ales. With a new patio area and large beer garden next to the river. Thu 31st - Sat 2nd Magpies Beer Festival, at Notts County FC, Meadow Lane, Nottingham, approx 50 ales. Lunchtime & Silly Steak evening meals Night Tues,Wed, FEBRUARY Tues, Thurs Thurs, Fri, & Sat Fri 8th – Sun 10th Out of the Vaults Beer Sat & Sun Festival, King St, Leicester, approx 35 ales.