Kent Breweries 34 Potting Shed, Hythe 22 Honour the Grain 36 Providence Inne, Sandgate 17 Green Hop Tour 2015 37 Red Lion, Snargate 29

The FREE Magazine of the Ashford, Folkestone & Romney Marsh Branch of CAMRA - The Campaign for Real Ale

Congratulations 30 Years in GBG POTY 2015

Summer 2015 Chairmans Report Welcome to the summer edition of Marsh Mash. Well the Kent & East Sussex Railway Real and Ale and Cider festival was a tremendous success. There was an excellent selection of beer lined up in order of strength. It was mostly sold out along with a significant amount of the cider. I would like to thank the railway and all who volunteered to help during the setting up the racking to serving behind the bar. Without your help we would not be able to run the festival.

I also hope that everyone who attended enjoyed themselves and will hopefully attend again next year. If you would like to be more involved with the festival or Ashford, Folkestone and Romney Marsh CAMRA, please come along to our meetings. The next one being at the Globe, Hythe at 7:30pm on 10th September.

Since the last edition several things have happened within the branch, Stuart and Gilly have left the Guildhall, Doris at the Red Lion Snargate was presented with two awards by Roger Protz, editor of the GBG, one for branch Pub of the Year (POTY) and the other for being in the Good Beer Guide (GBG) for 30 consecutive years.

An enjoyable trip around pubs in the hinterland of Folkestone was fully booked and I believe everybody enjoyed themselves including some colleagues from Dover. Remember you don’t need to be a member to join us on our trips to remote pubs with no regular public transport.

You can always find the latest information on the AFRM website at www.CAMRA-AFRM.org. uk, where there are details about meetings, socials and trips planned for the future.

Thank you for the few who have contributed to this edition, please can we have more articles, snippets to make the editors life easier and to ensure the future of Marsh Mash.

Any questions? you are free to send me an email at [email protected] . Cheers Bob

The Ultimate Recycling

We are all being One of our branch hounded in this day members found and age by local the attached and Councils, National photographed the Government and gents toilet on a visit Environmentalists to to the Famous Royal recycle. Navy Volunteer pub in Bristol.

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 2 Contents Page No. Advertisers Page No. Chairmans Report 2 Berry, Walmer 33 Ultimate Recycling 2 Black Lion, Appledore 40 Local Brewery News 4 Black Horse, Monks Horton 7 Are You Eighteen 6 Blacksmiths Arms, Willesborough 33 Lost Pubs of Ashford 8 Bowl Inn, Hastingleigh 10 Pub News 13 Chambers, Folkestone 32 Boozeletter 18 Chubby Chicken Company 10 Happy Things About Beer 20 Dog House, Smeeth 12 Locale Pubs 21 Drum Inn, Stanford 12 In Search of Soft Drinks 23 George, Bethersden 27 Pub Presentations 24 Harvey’s Brewery, Lewes 25 Are You Drinking Beer or Ale 26 Lanes, Dover 17 Romney Marsh Cricket 28 Lifeboat Inn, Folkestone 31 Good Beer Guide and Beer Scoring 30 Old Dairy Brewery, Tenterden 22 The Chambers 32 OneOneTwo Wines, Hythe 9 Kent Breweries 34 Potting Shed, Hythe 22 Honour The Grain 36 Providence Inne, Sandgate 17 Green Hop Tour 2015 37 Red Lion, Snargate 29

Romney Marsh Brewery, New Romney 3 Rother Valley Brewery, Northiam 20 Shepherd and Crook, Burmarsh 29 Star, Rolvenden 15 Three Mariners, Hythe 15 White Hart, Newenden 17

FRONT COVER Doris Jemison (landlady of the Red Lion Snargate) with daughters Kate and Susan being presented with certificates for being in the Good Beer Guide for 20 consecutive years and our Branch Pub of the Year 2015. (Stephen Szmidt - 25 July 2015)

A selection of fine Romney Marsh ales now available to take away in bottles, 4 pint jugs or (if pre-ordered) 9, 18 & 36 Your beer-tasting notes pint bag in boxes. Come visit can be useful to brewers our newly opened brewery shop. even when they're rude. Call for opening hours on 01797 362333

[email protected]

Unit 7 Jacks Park, Cinque Ports Road, (the notes that is, not the brewers, New Romney, Romney Marsh, Kent, TN28 8AN though they may be subsequently) Hand-reared on the Kent frontier

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 3 Local Brewery News New Brewery on Romney Marsh After 18 months of planning, former Come Dine With Me executive producer Matt Calais realised his ambition of brewing accessible ales on a commercial scale in May when he opened Romney Marsh Brewery, a family-run 12 barrel brewery, based in New Romney. With the slogan ‘Hand-reared on the Kent Frontier’ their three core ales Romney Amber, Romney Golden and Romney Best have been available locally throughout the summer and further afield. Old Dairy Brewery launches Cattle Shed American Pale Ale Having built an established range of award winning traditional beers and relocated last year to a brand new 30 barrel brewery in Tenterden along with a Brewery Shop, the Old Dairy Brewery has now launched the first of a range of new beers for the rapidly developing and exciting craft beer market.

Cattle Shed is an extremely hoppy and delicious American Pale Ale, light in colour with distinctive citrus hop character from a blend of Amarillo, Cascade and Citra hops. At 4.5% abv this is the perfect strength for both flavour and drinkability.

This great new beer was launched at the CAMRA Kent Beer Festival in July and is a available in bottles and kegs.

The beer moves away from their more classic Red Top and Gold Top brands and has its’ own very distinctive and memorable character.

‘The launch of Cattle Shed is an important landmark in Old Dairy Brewery’s six year history and believe this will be a new exciting development for us” said brewery Chairman John Roberts. “The beer is unbelievable, very drinkable and the branding is very memorable and distinctive. It appeals to the new wave of discerning and adventurous craft beer bars and drinkers across the country as well as our current loyal drinkers’

‘We wanted a light coloured beer with a distinctive fresh hop character and by using Amarillo, Citra and Cascade hops we think we have found the perfect balance’ said Head Brewer Glenn Whatman.

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 4 Hop Fuzz Supports the Venetian Fete The Hop Fuzz Brewery, located in West Hythe started brewing only four years ago and is now producing a range of house and specialty beers made from natural products. “The idea of the joint promotion came from Potting Shed owner Peter Dorman, and Daryl Stanford has responded brilliantly by creating Fete Accompli”.

The Venetian Fete, is organized by the not-for-profit Hythe Venetian Fete Society, which takes place every 2 years and was held on Wednesday, August 19. A locally brewed real ale, was especially created to support this year’s Hythe Venetian Fete, and was officially tasted by town dignitaries before it went on sale on pubs across south east Kent in August.

Brand-named Fete Accompli is made from a secret recipe by Daryl Stanford, of the Hop Fuzz Brewery, in conjunction with Peter Dorman landlord of the Potting Shed. The new brew was ceremonially launched at the Potting Shed alehouse in Hythe High Street, on Monday, July 27. Official tasters were the town mayor Cllr Michael Lyons, John Schoner, chairman of the Venetian Fete Society, and Bob Martin branch chairman CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) together with Daryl and Peter. The beer, as are all beers in the Potting Shed, was in The above is a reproduction of an advert excellent condition and for a 4.2% abv was for Master Brew found in the TAPS (the full of flavour with the correct balance of beer magazine) published in Canada that malt and hops for my palate and hopefully I thought would be of interest to Kent will be appreciated by all. drinkers!!!

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 5 Are You Eighteen The scourge of underage drinking – I was left in no doubt whatsoever that I something which most of us in the dim and didn’t know everything! distant past were guilty of. I recall going into a village pub and ordering a half pint of I suspect, that you may have suffered a bitter for the first time when I was fifteen. similar rude awakening in your youth, as indeed have most of us have. It isn’t until The world weary landlady looked at me you see today’s youngsters making the same with something approaching distain and mistakes and cast your mind back over the asked suspiciously: “How old are you”. years that you realise just how naïve and “Eighteen,” I lied through my teeth in the gullible you were at that age. deepest voice I could muster. Indeed, you don’t have to process the I don’t think that for one minute she benefit of half a century of hindsight to do believed me, but, so, just look at presumably, content the contempt in her own mind that with which those she had “done her in their early duty”, so to speak, twenties view she served me sixteen years old. anyway, albeit with a So why then do withering glare. certain members of our despicable Not long after having political class by that time acquired wish to lower long life appreciation the voting age to for ale I suffered my sixteen? first surfeit of beer, and, being all of It can only be sixteen then, decided because they that I was an adult hope to take and so accordingly advantage of knew everything, and the naivety and fuelled by alcohol behaved as I thought vulnerability of youth. As you get older and, befitted my newfound status as master hopefully, world-wise you come to realise of the globe and all its secrets. Not until I that most politicians tell lies to get elected, had arrived home and sneaked off to bed but when you’re an idealistic sixteen year to watch the ceiling spinning around in all old, full of optimism and with a desire to of its cracked and cobwebbed glory, did I change the world for the better, they can begin to suspect that perhaps I don’t know sound oh, so plausible – or at least that everything. is what the devious purveyors of those extravagant and increasingly vacuous The following morning, nursing my first assaults upon the credulity of the electoral hangover whilst wilting ashen-faced under hope! my father’s inquisitive gaze, and recalling, with growing embarrassment, some of my It’s bad enough that adults are groomed childish utterances of the previous evening, for their votes with hollow promises of

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 6 “jam today and nothing to pay”, but when those empty promises are directed at a child electorate whose very innocence The essenTiAL BeeR and gullibility make them prime targets Guide To London for a spin doctors and their black arts, it all becomes quite sick, and is more than The CAMRA electoral paedophilia. Guide To London’s Of course, the unscrupulous vote gamblers, BesT BeeR, desperate to get on to, or stay on, the PuBs & BARs state-funded political gravy train, will flatter (second edition) to deceive, telling the youngsters how wonderfully astute and grownup they are, this fully revised edition of des de Moor’s London beer guide and unfortunately many kids will succumb embraces the huge expansion of to their odious machinations, only to come brewing and beer in our capital. to the slow realisation, in the days and including over 300 pubs, bars weeks after polling day, that they have been and breweries, with helpful listings, full colour photography taken advantage of. and travel tips, this is your Mark Twain once said, “When I was a boy passport to a vibrant new city of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I of beer. Additional features include a history of London as could hardly stand to have the old man a brewing city and sections on the around. But when I was twenty-one, I was brewing process and beer styles. astonished at how much the old man had RRP £12.99 learned in seven years”, Consider that. Members’ price £10.99 Available from www.camra.org.uk/shop Reprint from Derby Drinker.

The Traditional oak-beamedBlack countryHorse pub-restaurant

Idyllic rural setting Ample parking Decking area and family garden Personalised catering for private functions Italian Specialities Sunday lunchtime roasts carved especially for you £9.95

For lunch or dinner reservations call 01303 812182 The Black Horse, Fiddling Lane, Monks Horton Ashford, Kent TN25 6AP www.theblackhorse.uk.com Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 7 Lost Ashford Pubs - email from an ex-pat I am interested in the particular decline all the liquid consumed during the survey, of pubs in Ashford, and have written the would be 67 attached letter. I wonder whether this miles long. could be included in a future publication, Little did as I would be very interested to receive we realise any replies containing the views of local that the members. over-riding statistic The loss of pubs in Ashford would prove to be how “We're heading for Venus and still we stand tall many establishments could survive the ‘cause maybe they've seen us and welcome us following three decades. all” For the third The joy of visiting every pub in the East of time that the county (apart from a few beers) was the evening, the sheer variety we encountered. Some places opening bars were fantastic, but some were pretty awful, of this lyrical and even thirty years ago their survival was masterpiece beyond comprehension, but they all had a spill place in the licensed landscape. Some of my apologetically from the lo-fi speakers in fondest memories involve what would be yet another pub. It is 1986. Rachel Riley, politely termed ‘eccentric’ establishments. Catchphrase, and the M25 are born. The viability of the British pub has been in Meanwhile, three of us are engaged in decline well the arduous task of visiting every pub in beyond East Kent. Every brightly-lit town centre living boozer, every rural inn festooned with horse memory, brasses, and every seaside beer hall. It took resulting 20 months to drink in all 739 hostelries in a loss of lying east of a line drawn from Faversham, numbers through Ashford, to Dungeness. throughout the 20th century. The thirty years leading Every up to 1935 saw a drop in the number of pub was pubs from 99,000 to 77,500, and with recorded exception of a brief period after the second and scored war, there has been an ongoing gradual on toilets, reduction. According to British Beer and Pub beer, Association statistics, the total number of atmosphere pubs in the UK reduced from 67,800 in 1982, and general to 60,100 in 2002 but then plummeted to appeal. 48,000 by 2013. The endeavour generated a good number of statistics, such as a survey area of 1517 I spent my formative years in Ashford, square kilometres, an average time per but moved away from Kent in the late pub of 32.5minutes, and the fact that a 1980’s, now living on the Welsh border. I 3mm diameter drinking straw, filled with occasionally visit, but rarely venture into

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 8 Ashford town centre. I did so recently and, plight of Ashford? apart from the disconcerting feeling of driving the ‘wrong’ way along roads once John Topp ([email protected]) a long term part of the Ashford one-way system, I was CAMRA member, and whose formative struck by drinking years were spent in Kent, but now the massive exiled in the Welsh borders loss of pubs in the town, May 2015 and decided to review Please send your views to us and, if printable, the guide we we will use in a future edition penned in Ed the 80’s to establish how many had closed. At the time of our survey, there were 32 pubs Illustrated Pubs in Ashford town, Kennington and South Willesborough. Despite the re-opening Castle, Castle Street of pubs such as the Golden Ball, Star and Denmark Arms, Canterbury Road Alfred Arms, only 14 of these still exist. Even Wig & Gavel, Bank Street allowing for the new arrivals of the Pheasant The Trumpeter, Somerset Road and the New Chimneys, there are only 16 Victoria, Beaver Road pubs left in the same area. Zodiac, Elwick Road Colt, Kennington Compared with a national average loss of 27% (1987- 2013), Ashford oneonetwo wines has lost 50%. YOUR LOCAL STOCKIST FOR OVER A brief 20 KENTISH ALES, INCLUDING check on CAMRA-APPROVED AND BOTTLE Dover and CONDITIONED BEERS. Canterbury revealed losses of about 30% and 22% respectively for the same period. LOOKING FOR THE LATEST LOCAL BEERS? GET BOTTLES OF ROMNEY MARSH BREWERY‛S AMBER AND GOLDEN ALE HERE. We are all aware of the pressures and BEST BITTER DUE SOON! reasons for the general decline, and I presume KENTISH PIP CIDERS - FULL RANGE NOW some of AVAILABLE, INCLUDING VINTAGE the losses AND “WILD SUMMER” ELDERFLOWER. 10% OFF ANY THREE. can be attributed AND DON‛T FORGET, to the SELECT ANY 12 BOTTLED ALES substantial AND GET 15% OFF. re-re- development of the town, but I’m a bit out 112 High Street, Hythe, CT21 5LE of touch with the area now, and wonder what the locals think about the particular Telephone: 01303 266301

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 9 Suppliers of Quality Chicken & Meat Marinated Chicken a speciality Orders Tel: 01797 361722 www.chubbychicken.co.uk

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 10 Fair deal A Campaign of Two Halves on beer Save t Britain’s ax now! Pubs! Join CAMRA Today Complete the Direct Debit form and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and a fantastic discount on your membership subscription. Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd with your completed form, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus or call 01727 867201. All forms should be addressed to the: Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW. Your Details Direct Debit Non DD Title Surname Single Membership £24 £26 Forename(s) (UK & EU) Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) Joint Membership £29.50 £31.50 (Partner at the same address) Address For Young Member and other concessionary rates please visit www.camra.org.uk or call Postcode 01727 867201. Email address I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and agree to abide by the Memorandum and Tel No(s) Articles of Association Partner’s Details (if Joint Membership) I enclose a cheque for Title Surname Signed Date Forename(s) Applications will be processed within 21 days Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) Email address (if different from main member) 01/15

Campaigning for Pub Goers Enjoying Real Ale & Beer Drinkers & Pubs Join CAMRA today – www.camra.org.uk/joinus

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Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to: This Guarantee should be detached Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road, St.Albans, Herts AL1 4LW and retained by the payer. Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society Service User Number The Direct Debit To eht reganaM knaB ro gnidliuB yteicoS 9261 2 9 Guarantee This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building Address societies that accept instructions to pay by Direct FOR CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE LTD OFFICIAL USE ONLY Debits. This is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society If there are any changes to the amount, date or Membership Number frequency of your Direct Debit The Campaign for Postcode Real Ale Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance Name of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd to collect Name(s) of Account Holder Postcode a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request Instructions to your Bank or Building Society If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Bank or Building Society Account Number Please pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the account Debit by The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd or your bank detailed on this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit or building society, you are entitled to a full and Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign For Real immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank Ale Limited and, if so will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society. or building society Branch Sort Code - If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when The Campaign For Real Ale Ltd Signature(s) asks you to Reference You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply Date contacting your bank or building society.Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

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Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 11 Come and visit our friendly micropub in Evegate Business Park, we have a selection of real ales served straight from the cask.

While you’re here why not take the time to relax and enjoy one of simple good value sandwiches or ploughman’s and watch out for our inspired specials. There’s also a selection of quirky crisps and snacks available at the bar.

[email protected] T: 07568 385 221 www.thedoghousepub.co.uk

Mick and Suzi Bushell Welcome You to THE DRUM INN Pub, Restaurant, Camping & Caravanning Site ~ Stone Street, Stanford North, TN25 6DN

AT DATE FOR THE DIARY We Have • Up to Four Real Ale's at The Drum Inn is a three hundred THE DRUM INN FIREWORK any one Time year old building with many of it's DISPLAY • Home Cooked Food at original features including two Reasonable Prices working fire places that makes for a FRIDAY 6TH NOV • Large Beer Garden relaxing atmosphere. Serving an FROM 6.30 PM • Small Function Room ever changing supply of Award • Occasional Live Music Winning Guest Ales to sample as well as Traditional Fresh Cooked • Camp Site with Facilities Pub Food seven days a week. all AS SAD AS IT MIGHT SEEM • Bike Club on Tuesday CHRISTMAS BOOKINGS clubs and societies welcome. • Folk Club Thursday NOW BEING TAKEN Westernhanger Railway Station is less than one mile away Food Served: Monday to Saturday 12 - 2:30 & 6 - 9:pm Sundays 12 - 4pm & 6 - 8pm Booking Advisable The Drum Inn, Stone Street, Stanford North, Ashford, Kent TN25 6DN Tel 01303 812125 email; [email protected] web; www.thedruminn.com

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 12 Pub News Aldington Frith Charing The Good Intent, which has been closed The Oak, is currently closed, which now for several years has been sold and an means there are no pubs in the centre of the application to Ashford Borough Council village. has been made to convert the pub into residential. Cheriton Although the Cherry Pickers, which was Ashford burnt down earlier this year and the locals The British Volunteer has eventually closed wishing for it to be after several weeks with indifferent opening rebuilt, Shepway hours and has been council has agreed sold. It is rumoured that it should that the new owner be demolished. plans to convert Hopefully a new the pub into flats pub will be built and also build more in its place as there is now only one pub, flats on the car the Royal Cheriton, left trading in the area park. which means an extra half a mile walk each way for the residents. Brenzett A planning application has been submitted Dymchurch to Shepway council to convert the long The City of London was offering a choice closed Fleur de Lis into shops and flats. of 2 beers from Hop Fuzz when I visited in Perhaps an opportunity exists to open a March. The barmaid assured me that the micro pub to provide drinking facilities to pub regularly has beers from the local West the residents of Brenzett again. Hythe Brewery, thus keeping the “beer miles” down. When I was a lad the beer also came Brookland from Hythe, in those days from Mackeson. After a long period of closure the Royal Oak has reopened and selling London Pride and Etchinghill Doom Bar on a recent visit. The New Inn, has eventually reopened as the Gatekeeper in May. The new owners, Eric Challock and Helen Gaskell, who also run the Duke The Chequers, of Cumberland, once a lovely Barham and the village pub Jackdaw, Denton overlooking the have given the pub village green has a refurbishment been converted and now welcome into a house drinkers with up to leaving the nearest pub, the Halfway House 4 cask ales from small breweries across the on the cross roads the only pub for the country. villagers. Unfortunately the Halfway House, as the name implies is a roadhouse majoring on food with little space for a quiet drink and conversation.

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 13 Folkestone On a recent visit 4 national beers in good A welcome break on a fine sunny day is the condition were available. garden of the Red Cow which this summer has a colourful beer garden surrounded Meanwhile Chambers usually has four cask by roses, fuchsia, ales, including geraniums and some from Kent hydrangeas. on offer in a pub Unfortunately the environment with only cask ale on a good menu if a a recent visit was more substantive Sharp’s Doom Bar meal is needed. that is now brewed outside Cornwall. Shepherd Neame have reduced their The East Cliff Tavern and the Lifeboat presence by selling the Richmond Tavern continue to serve an interesting range of which has been converted into 2 flats. cask ales. The East Cliff Tavern has offered in excess of 30 Great Chart different ales It’s all change in the village. Eventually the between June and Swan has reopened as the Swan and Dog August, whilst the by Village Green Restaurants who have Lifeboat continues expanded their estate which also include the to offer beers from Chequers on the Kent and Sussex Green High Halden including Hop Fuzz, Mad Cat and Brighton and the Old Mill Beir. in Kennington. Mainly focusing on After visiting the Compass Alehouse in food all of these Gravesend I crossed the road for a sandwich pubs welcome only to be told that I could have taken a casual drinkers and sell local ale. sandwich in to the pub. On a recent visit The Hoodeners Horse has changed to the Firkin Alehouse I also discovered landlords again, now under the stewardship that sandwiches can be obtained from the of Louis and Craig they intend to move away Sandwich Shop a couple of doors away and from the previous Mexican food and create a consumed in the pub. Worthwhile knowing local village pub with only light lunches and when you are peckish and enjoying the Sunday roasts. beers in the micropub, however I don’t fancy the idea of hot smelling food being Hythe consumed whilst enjoying a good pint of The Globe still sells an excellent pint of beer. Shepherd Neame’s Kent’s Best. I Nicki has settled into the Guildhall and believe that the given the pub a Globe is the only good clean and pub in the branch paint but still area to be selling retaining the same Kent’s Best, it is atmosphere as rumoured that the brewery want to stop Stuart and Gilly brewing in favour of Master Brew. had developed.

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 14 30 High Street, Rolvenden, TN17 4LN T: 01580 241369 E:[email protected] www.starrolvenden.co.uk Lynn, Mick & Yvonne welcome you to our Traditional Pub in the heart of Rolvenden, a perfect retreat with a lovely relaxed atmosphere, and a warming Log Fire. “The Best View of the Windmill” from our Beer Garden. We offer well conditioned Cask Ales which include Harvey’s Best, Harvey’s IPA, Old Dairy Brewery varieties of Top’s, and Guest Ales. And there’s an extensive Wine List specially selected by Harvey’s of Lewes. Home Cooked Food by resident Chef’s Lyn & Yvonne. An extensive Menu to tempt any palette. Sunday Roast’s “Just like Mum’s”, and Yve’s delicious Steak & Ale pies. Show your CAMRA membership and receive A Pie & A Pint for £6.00, or 20p off a Pint The Star is a Family Orientated, Pet Friendly Pub, where well behaved Parents & Grandparents are welcome too!

The Three Mariners, Hythe Traditional Free House, Offering up to Seven Ever Changing Ales and Ciders from around our County Good Beer Guide Live acoustic music every Sunday evening. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 -- Hanks Open mic, last Sunday of each month “Winner” CAMRA Regional Traditional music; sing-along’ ‘play- along’ Seasonal Pub of the Year 2014 last Tuesday of every month. -- “Runner up” CAMRA Regional Fun Quiz night first Tuesday of every month. Pub of the Year 2010, 2011 -- Opening times. Facebook Group: Mondays 4pm till close. Tuesdays – Sunday 12pm till close. The Three Mariners, Hythe

No Food No Juke Box No Fruit Machines No Pool Table No Distractions other than Good Beer, Cider and our award winning barmaids!!

37 Windmill Street, Hythe, Kent CT21 6BH - Telephone: 01303 260406

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 15 Lade (Lydd on Sea) Stowting Another planning application has been The Tiger, one of the first pubs to have been made to Shepway Council to demolish the bought by the Ship after the first villagers, has been application was sold after being rejected. The Ship on the market for is only one of the several years. We 5 Dutch barn style hope that the Tiger pubs built in Kent will continue as a by Style and Winch real ale pub selling local beers and serving in the 1930s and leaves only 2 still active as quality food. pubs. St Mary in the Marsh Lyminge The Star Inn has been sold, “Subject Alicja, having turned round the fortunes to Contract”. Let us hope that the new of the Coach and potential buyers intend to keep the pub Horses left in open with little change. June to further her studies, the pub is Warehorne now in the hands After a considerable period of closure, of Ro and Steve the Woolpack has been reopened by who has been Ramblinns, (who own the Five Bells, working in the pub for some time as the Brabourne and chef and is well known to the regulars. We the Globe in the wish them well in their opportunity of pub Marsh, Rye) under management and hope that they continue the management the good work started by Alicja. of Memo who has previously Sandgate managed the The Providence Inne has reopened after Botolph’s Bridge West Hythe. At the launch a change of in May the pub was offering Romney Marsh ownership and Amber and Tonbridge Rustic so probably sympathetic another LocAle pub for the future. refurbishment selling up to 3 West Hythe & Lympne changing cask ales, Whilst delivering the last edition of Marsh real cider and a Mash, it was selection of interesting bottled beers. interesting to see Look out for a new micropub opening on that some of our the High Street in the near future. Shepway local Enterprise Council have granted a licence to convert inns are being a bit the Dressing Up Box into a pub. more adventurous with their selection Stanford of beers. Dave at After a long period of discussion Mick and Botolph’s Bridge, had Dark Star Hophead Suzie of The Drum have gained approval on offer, and the County Members, Otter from Greene King to sell a local Kentish beer. Bitter. Recently these have been from Old Dairy Brewery. Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 16 Are your membership details up to date?

To check your details, please login to your Debbie & Keith welcome you to CAMRA account at The Lanes where you will nd good www.camra.org.uk selection of Kentish Wines, Ciders and Local Real Ales Once you have provided your email address to CAMRA, we will be able to send you regular emails about our branch activities 15 Worthington Street including meetings, socials, outings and Dover special events and a PDF version of Marsh Mash. CT17 9AQ 07504 258 3320

The Providence Inne The White Hart Under New Ownership and Newly Refurbished A charming 470 year old pub always o ering 4 real ales A Traditional Pub just off the Seafront Delicious Home Cooked Food served 7 days a week offering a range of cask Ales and Bed & Breakfast - 6 en suite rooms - Large Garden Ciders in a friendly setting. Celebrating 12 consecutive years in the Starting September Food available lunchtimes CAMRA Good Beer Guide & some Tues, Weds, Thurs evenings, please phone for full details and bookings. Awarded TripAdvisor Certi cate of Excellence 2013 & 2014 12 to 10.30pm Sunday to Thursday The White Hart, Rye Road, Newenden, Kent TN18 5PN 12 to 12.30am Friday & Saturday Tel: 01797 252166 E: [email protected] 47-49 Sandgate High Street, Sandgate, W: www.thewhitehartnewenden.co.uk Kent, CT20 3AH Tel:- 01303 842266

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 17 The Boozeletter - the precursor of Marsh Mash

When Stuart at the Guildhall was clearing our his CAMRA memorabilia, he found some old GBG’s and several copies of The Boozeletter which was the original Branch magazine first published in June 1983 by the then Ashford and Shepway branch on its ninth birthday. I feel sorry for the editor as it was all hand typed and photocopied, no luxury of desktop publishing in those days.

Deal, Dover, and Sandwich branch joined in with the production and increased circulation of the magazine coverage. Canterbury and Swale branches later joined the compilation and circulation of The Boozeletter potentially making it the first CAMRA magazine in East Kent if not all of Kent.

Unfortunately I only have Issues 1 to 9 with the exception of issue 6 which was published in autumn 1984. Does anybody have other copies that they could let me borrow?

The first edition promoted a folk festival at the now closed Railway Inn, Appledore, the beer tents at Maidstone and Canterbury cricket weeks and the Kent Beer Festival at the Dane John Gardens Canterbury. Also the destruction of several community pubs to make way for the Ashford Ringway.

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 18 There was an article discussing the demise of picture pub signs with just words. It is still going on today depleting the attraction of visual signs in the high street or on the village green. The main providers of cask ale were Shepherd Neame, Whitbread, Watneys and Ind Coope together with a small brewer Hilton Brewery from Gravesend.

The second edition discussed a pub crawl in Folkestone visiting the Clifton Hotel, Bouverie Hotel, Pullman Wine Bar, Lifeboat, Raglan, Happy Frenchman, East Kent Arms, British Lion, Richmond Tavern, and the Railway Bell. The Bouverie Hotel, demolished for the ring road and the Railway Bell, Tesco Express, have been lost to drinkers.

Issue three included a visit report by one of the branch’s stalwarts, Chris Excell, reporting on the Margate pubs after a morning enjoying the rides at the Dreamland amusement park. He visited 7 pubs during the limited opening hours in 1983, but only managed to get 2 acceptable pints of beer. Poor Chris!!1

Spring 1984 saw the fourth edition include the results of a price survey, the results being that the Three Mariners, Shepherd Neame mild at 60p/pint and the Swan Sellindge the most expensive at 92p/pint for Fullers ESB.

The branch celebrated its 10th anniversary in June 1984 at the Railway Appledore, and the Black Bull, Newchurch achieved 10 years consecutive entry in the GBG. Whitbread were attempting to convert the Blacksmiths Arms Willesborough into a carvery. Thank goodness they failed as the pub is now surviving as a community local enjoyed by many today. Tenterden in 1984 had 7 pubs but the Eight Bells, Ye Olde Cellars, and Pedlars Wine Bar which sold four beers have all now closed.

The seventh edition in the winter 1984 welcomed the Deal, Dover and Sandwich branch and a new edition of the Kent Beer Guide was published. Jan Pedersen wrote an interesting article on Ashford breweries which we will update in a future edition. Jim Green, the beery boater from channel Draught, wrote an article on beer along the Belgian coast, and Whitbread Fremlins announced the demise of Tusker and announced a £1million investment in the Faversham brewery.

Jim Green had been on his travels again with a report from Sweden and one of his canal trips in the eighth edition. The thorny question from landlords about GBG selection was discussed and continues today. More CAMRA branches are now using NBSS scores to assist in the GBG selection to resolve some of these issues... Swale and Canterbury Branches joined in writing for Boozeletter, announcing that there were 155 houses in the branch area with 100 selling real ale. Trading Standards in Sheffield took a landlord to court for serving 17fl ozs. of beer instead of a full pint (20fl ozs.) and secured a £400 fine.

Issue 9 which is the latest edition that I have featured two men crying on the cover as a result of Scottish and Newcastle acquiring Matthew Brown, a loss of another family brewery and takeovers of independent breweries continue to this day. There were 2 breweries in Faversham in spring 1986 and 26 out of 28 pubs in Faversham were selling real ale. I wonder whether anybody managed to visit them all in a day and remain sober!

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 19 Happy Things About Beer

Beer keeps your heart healthy

Contrary to belief, beer does not make you fat”

Beer helps you sleep

Beer can help reduce stress and/or anxiety

Beer contains B vitamin and are good for your digestion

Beer is good for your skin

Beer drunk in a pub is a social experience, great for your self esteem

Last but not least, beer is an excellent cold remedy!

KJD0333 RyeBayGuide2015:Layout 4 10/8/15 13:21 Page 25 So go on enjoy that pint

DDS MEMBER

ROTHER VALLEY BREWING COMPANY NORTHIAM

RYE For ALL things commercial CHAMBER OF COMMERCE in Rye and the Rye Bay area visit our website www.ryechamber.org.uk

01580 879546 • [email protected] ROTHER VALLEY BREWERY

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 20

Follow us on Twitter @visitryebay | 25 What is the CAMRA “locale” scheme all about? Well, here are some of the aims and principles of the scheme. CAMRA LocAle is used for promoting pubs that sell locally-brewed real ale, thereby reducing the number of ‘beer miles’ travelled and supporting local breweries. The scheme builds on the growing consumer demand for quality local produce and increased awareness of ‘green’ issues. The benefits of pubs stocking and promoting LocAle are six-fold: 1. Public houses stocking local real ales can increase pub visits 2. Customers can enjoy a greater beer choice and diversity 3. Local Brewers will gain increased sales 4. The Local Economy will benefit as more money is spent and retained locally 5. The Environment due to fewer ‘beer miles’ resulting in less road congestion and pollution 6. Tourism due to the increased sense of local identity and pride – let’s celebrate what makes our locality different.

Below is a list of the pubs that have been accredited and are known to regularly stock local ales brewed within generally 30 miles of the pub and served in good condition. Please let us know whether we have missed any?

Appledore Black Lion Hythe Three Mariners Ashford George Hotel Hythe White Hart Brabourne Lees Blue Anchor Kennington Old Mill Burmarsh Shepherd & Crook Mersham Farriers Arms East Brabourne Five Bells Monks Horton Black Horse Elham Abbots Fireside Newenden White Hart Elham Kings Arms Pluckley Dering Arms Folkestone Chambers Rolvenden Bull Inn Folkestone County Fayre Rolvenden Star Folkestone Firkin Alehouse Sandgate Ship Folkestone Kipps’ Alehouse Shadoxhurst Kings Head Folkestone Lifeboat Smeeth Dog House Folkestone Master Brewer Snargate Red Lion Folkestone Nailbox Stelling Minnis George Inn Hastingleigh Bowl Inn Stowting Tiger Hawkinge White Horse Tenterden White Lion Hotel High Halden Chequers on the Green Tenterden Woolpack Hotel Hythe Britannia Warehorne Woolpack Hythe Globe Inn Wye Barbers Arms Hythe Oneonetwo Wines Wye New Flying Horse Hythe Potting Shed Wye Tickled Trout

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 21 10% off for CAMRA members and Tenterden Loyalty Card holders (This offer is for orders collected direct from the brewery). Brewery Shop open : Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 2pm BRING THIS FLYER ALONG TO THE SHOP, SPEND £10 AND RECEIVE A FREE BOTTLE OF BEER!

FOR SALES: Telephone: 01580 763867 OR email: [email protected] WWW.OLDDAIRYBREWERY.COM OLD DAIRY BREWERY LTD, STATION ROAD, TENTERDEN, KENT. TN30 6HE

Peter and Belinda Welcome You To The Potting Shed Hythe’s Newest Real Ale Bar

Specialising in Local & National Real Ales

Ciders and good quality House Wines

160a High Street, Hythe, CT21 5JR Tel: 07780 877226

For opening times visit www.WhatPub.com

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 22 In Search of Soft Drinks

My normal tipple is real cider or real ale but, for some time last year, I found myself in a position where I couldn’t drink alcoholic drinks. I still wanted to support pubs so , rather than hide in the house, I continued to go out and enjoy life, and I have to admit that it was very interesting to find out how much choice (or more often than not lack of choice) those who visit the pub and need to have soft drinks find available to them.

My experiences varied from one pub (not in Kent) which could only offer a can of Coke to another which offered a range of fresh still apple juices from a local producer but on the whole, most of the non-alcoholic drinks I found were fizzy and tasted more of sugar than anything else. Still water was an alternative to the fizz but, again, there is only so much water you can drink before you get fed up and want something with a bit more taste. Thankfully, at the places where I drink regularly, I’m able to obtain something more interesting such as a still fresh apple juice or an old fashioned type of lemonade with a bit of taste to it.

We are going through a period where many pubs are struggling, a lot of which are in rural districts where someone needs to drive back at the end of the evening and I began to wonder whether, if these pubs were able to offer a more interesting selection of soft drinks, more people may be willing to drive home... It obviously is not the solution to all their problems, however if it gets a few extra people through the door, it could be a step in the right direction.

Reprinted by kind permission of Norfolk Nips

Local Breweries often improve pub takings and reduce beer miles

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 23 Pub Presentations Guildhall Folkestone Red Lion Snargate

Chris Excell, a long-time friend of Stuart and A large crowd attended the presentations Gilly, made the presentation in March for at the Red Lion on 25th July. Presentations their service to serving good quality real ale were made to Doris, one for achieving 30 beer in Folkestone since 1976 initially in the years of continuous entry in the Good Beer Raglan, then Folkestone Sports Club, and Guide (GBG), and the other after being finally the Guildhall. Chris first met Stuart voted as the Branch’s Pub of the Year 2015. and Gilly when he walked into the Raglan in 1976 sporting a tee shirt with hand pumps and the logo “What we want is real ale, not Grotny’s”.

On being confronted with top pressure fonts he ordered a bottle of White Shield East Lancashire CAMRA assembled over 160 and Stuart informed him that hand pumps beers from across the United Kingdom were on order”. Chris returned and has been supporting Stuart and Gilly ever since. covering diverse styles from breweries new

Stuart kept his word and since 1976 they and old for their 2015 Pendle Beer Festival. achieved 21 entries in the Good Beer Guide. Stuart whilst clearing the Guildhall presented the branch with copies of old Being a fine sunny Saturday was a blessing Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter GBG’s and “Boozeletter” the forerunner of in disguise as the crowd that arrived at the was voted Marsh Mash which were gratefully received. pub would have made it extremely difficult for Roger Protz, editor of the GBG, to have ‘Beer of the Festival’ made the presentation within the multi- room pub that is also one of CAMRA’s listed by those attending. heritage pubs. Nothing significant appears to have changed, except the beers, since I The first brew of Harvey’s Best Bitter was drank there in the late 1950’s and it is one of the country’s remaining unspoilt pubs that brewed in June 1955, exactly sixty years ago, has been in the same family for over 100 and it is a source of great pride that it retains years. its standing in an ever changing market. Whist there is not usually food available Kevin, form Turners Fine Foods of Goudhurst provided a good selection of English “The Sussex Beer that’s much revered cheeses for all to enjoy with the excellent We wish Gilly and Stuart well in their well- Goacher’s and Romney Marsh beers that and won outright in Lancashire!” earned retirement, but I suspect we will find were being drunk with gusto by all who then in Folkestone pubs doing the odd bit attended the presentations and stayed to of relief work. enjoy the afternoon.

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 24

PendleBFAd.indd 1 13/04/2015 14:35 East Lancashire CAMRA assembled over 160 beers from across the United Kingdom covering diverse styles from breweries new and old for their 2015 Pendle Beer Festival. Harvey’s Sussex Best Bitter was voted ‘Beer of the Festival’ by those attending.

The first brew of Harvey’s Best Bitter was brewed in June 1955, exactly sixty years ago, and it is a source of great pride that it retains its standing in an ever changing market.

“The Sussex Beer that’s much revered and won outright in Lancashire!”

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 25

PendleBFAd.indd 1 13/04/2015 14:35 Are You Drinking Beer or Ale? Well, provided you’re enjoying it does it of alcoholic strength was more significant matter? Not really – but it’s an interesting since ale was now taxed at four times the and rather complex subject. Both words rate of beer. In 1782 a third beer class was have been around for many years. Beer created so that there was ale, table beer and comes from the Old English beor itself small beer – each taxed at a different rate. derived from the Latin bibere – to drink. Ale The beer tax was abolished in 1830 (malt is also from an Old English word ealu but and hop tax remaining the main forms of originates from the Old Norse ol. duty) so the legal distinction between beer and ale disappeared. However, brewers Originally there was no significant difference started to use “ale” to describe their product between beer and ale – they were different since “beer” had connotations of a weak words for the same thing. During the early inferior product. Middle Ages England was divided into three kingdoms, each with its own language. Of By the 20th century “bitter” had come these, Northumbria and Mercia used “beer” into popular use and “ale” and “beer” were while Wessex used “ale”. King Alfred’s success used more or less interchangeably as the in unifying the country in 886 led to the generic term for the beverage. However, Wessex dialect becoming dominant and beer the meaning of the words has since shifted (the word) seemed to disappear. However, yet again – arguably as a result of CAMRA’s the three dialects continued to be used side success. The current Oxford English by side and, possibly because Mercia was Dictionary says that beer is “an alcoholic geographically central and more likely to be drink made from yeast-fermented malt understood by everyone, eventually Mercian flavoured with hops”. In other words it took over and is the ancestor of the English remains the generic term. For ale the OED we use today. says “any beer other than lager, stout or porter” and then goes on to give an example A consequence of this was that around 1400 of its use as “traditional cask-conditioned “beer” reappeared; though it had of course ales”. We might like to argue with the detail never really been away. This coincided with of this definition, but the OED is on the right the alleged first use of hops in brewing track. and has led many people to suppose that beer is ale with hops. The truth is more So if your beer is an unfiltered living product complicated. Traditionally ales were made drawn directly from the barrel then it’s ale – from the first wort of a mash and beers from and you’ve made an excellent choice! the subsequent re-mash of the same grains. (A bit like re-using tea leaves.) As a result, [Some of the above information has been ale would have a higher alcohol content taken from Home Brewing by Graham and “beer” came to mean a weaker inferior Wheeler, published by CAMRA Books, ISBN product. The weaker beer needed hops as a 1-85249-137-X. This fine book contains a lot preservative to ensure it would keep; ale was of information on various beer types and strong enough to be able to do without. In how to make them, and is available from fact it is likely that hops were used before the Amazon.] 15th century in both beer and ale: the key difference remained their relative strengths. Paul Dixon chairman South Oxfordshire Branch By the middle of the 17th century the issue

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 26 The George Inn AVAILABLE NOW!

 The latest in the popular Real Heritage Pubs series

 High quality colour photographs throughout

 Articles on unique East & West Midlands pub features

 Features over 200 pubs Jo and Dave welcome you to the George Inn across the Midlands A traditional two-bar village local serving ne ales and good home cooked food

CAMRA Member Price £4.99* The number 2 bus route between (RRP £5.99) Ashford and Tenterden stops at The George Bus Stop! WWW.CAMRA.ORG.UK/SHOP Or call 01727 867201 The George Inn

*All orders through the CAMRA Shop are subject to standard postage and packaging The Street, Bethersden, near Ashford costs. Full details can be found at www.camra.org.uk/shop. All prices correct at time of publication but are subject to change. Kent, TN26 3AG Tel: 01233 820235

Please Help Us to Help You

There are over 200 pubs in our branch area and with limited active members we are struggling to regularly visit all of the pubs. Can you please help?

Pub Landlords

If you’re planning a festival or charity event and want to tell us all about them, get in touch and you could feature in a future edition of Marsh Mash and we will add it to the branch website to help publicise it for you. www.camra-afrm.org.uk

Whatpub is becoming the major online pubs website. Can you please check that the information published about your pub is up to date? Please use the link on the website to tell of any changes and we will correct the information for you. www.whatpub.com

Readers

Since Ashford, Folkestone and Romney Marsh are major tourist areas it is important that Whatpub, the major online pub database, is kept up to date for your benefit and also others who do not necessary read Marsh Mash. If you visit a pub in our branch please check that the information is correct, particularly opening hours and meal times.

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 27 Romney Marsh Cricket

It’s that time of year when the sound of leather on willow or, more than likely, the ram gave rise to the game (institution?) of sound of damp sports-men and -women cricket. complaining loudly of the lack of room in the pavilion, can be heard at many places If you haven’t seen a ram, don’t bother with – mostly near pubs . The origins of the google, look at the Dent Brewery website. organised game we know today have been The method of dissuading involved shying well and truly grabbed by the Gentlemen stones or clods of earth, from cover, at the of Hampshire, but the roots of the game back end of the ram. Imagine the preferred can be traced back to the Romney Marsh. A targets, and the rear legs of the ram and lot of the information for this story comes you immediately see the first “wicket”. Now from the usual shepherds source – The man use dogs, and, you met in the because the pub, who’s uncle’s stones would step-sister’s carry the scent first husband of the thrower thought he heard which the dogs someone talking could follow, about….etc. but small boys and small packets of farmhands evidence seem to would attempt establish a theory to retrieve the that I will now stones and clods propound. which missed or bounced off the The Romney ram. They would Marsh is sheep usually be in country; of this adjacent fields so there is little doubt. Any cattle that you that they could might find have probably swum across from duck behind the hedge if necessary – hence the Isles of Oxney and Ebony and still don’t “fielders”. Where and when the use of a bat really fit in with the landscape. The purpose started has been a mystery until a shepherd’s of sheep farming is to provide wool, lamb crook with a wide, flattened lower half and mutton. The first is non lethal, but the was discovered in an antiques emporium other two depend on killing some of your in Hastingleigh. It could only signify that flock. To maintain your flock you need more the shepherd stood guard behind his ram lambs and these are produced by – well, and sought to divert the stones and clods anyway, you need a ram. To obtain the enabling his ram to do his duty. services of a ram, farmers spend appreciable amounts of money so some less than Pub names reflected these nefarious goings- scrupulous farmers would try to dissuade on. The Red Lion was named after a ruse to their neighbours ram from his duties and frighten the stone-throwers (ballers) away thus diminish the size of their neighbour’s from an expensive ram by disguising it with future flock. The method of dissuading the red die and a mane of straw.

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 28 It is possible that a beer was named after this episode called at the time “Monster Brew”.

The Woolpack was named after a method of protecting parts of the ram from harm – an early “box” or “abdominal protector”. After a while, the stone-throwing ceased and the The Shepherd & Crook Marsh Dwellers reverted to a more humane Shear Way, Burmarsh and lucrative pastime – smuggling. Tel:Kent, 01303 TN29 872336 0JJ Family run free house with a warm, friendly atmosphere o ering a choice of well kept ales: Adnams bitter, guest ales and traditional cider Good food served daily (not Tuesday) featuring traditional English dishes, tasty vegetarian options and bar snacks Freshness, quality and value for money with our ingredients sourced from local farmers and grocers, where possible Opening times: Midday - 10pm Monday & Wednesday Closed on Tuesday Midday - 11pm Thursday, Friday & Saturday Midday - 4pm Sunday Cooking times: Midday - 3pm & 6.30 - 9.00pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday Midday - 4pm Sunday

Dogs Welcome The Red Lion, Snargate However the old pastime became more formalised and cricket clubs sprouted up in most parishes. It is surprising how many pubs have the word “Bells” in their name - could this have originally been “bails”? One story of the marsh pubs involves the Bell (Bail?) at Ivychurch.

It is said that the landlord became so fed up with the local cricket side that met in his pub that he sought to “loose” their Situated on the B2080 1 mile from cricketing impedimenta from the storeroom Appledore Station on bus route 11B at the pub. He was interrupted and only managed to get away with one bail. This A classic, unspoilt pub specialising in beers from was not found for many years when a new small independent breweries dispensed by gravity Local cider is always available, no food! landlord took over and found a strangely Real res, marble-topped bar & bare oorboards shaped hard spile in one of the barrels… Unusual pub games and a spacious beer garden Run by the same family for over 100 years Owzatt? Listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide since 1985

Monday - Closed Tuesday to Saturday 12 - 3pm & 7 - 11pm Sunday 12 - 3pm & 7 - 10.30pm Proprietor: Doris Jemison

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 29 Good Beer Guide and Beer Scoring In November we highest scores! You will be deciding may try a beer that which of our isn’t to your normal local pubs will be taste but what you considered for the need to consider is 2017 Good Beer the quality of the Guide. Yes it does beer, how well the seem to be early pub has kept it and but after preparing served it. the short list the It is a simple 0 to 5 pubs are resurveyed point system, with to check that the half points used if details which are your opinion of the held on WhatPub beer falls between are correct. Then two categories. we make our final selection and prepare a draft to be submitted 0 No cask ale to the Regional available co-ordinator who compiles the Kent 1 Poor. Beer is entry. This is then anything from sent to St Albans barely drinkable for the major task to drinkable with of compiling the considerable complete good resentment. Beer guide before being sent for printing. The target is that it 2 Average. Competently kept, drinkable will be available in September in good time pint but doesn’t inspire in any way, not for a Christmas present. worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing. We prepare our shortlist by checking the beer scores submitted by CAMRA members 3 Good. Good beer in good form. You may who have bothered to report on the quality cancel plans to move to the next pub. You of the beer when they visit a pub, not just want to stay for another pint and seek out local members, which helps in not being the beer again. biased by local knowledge or favouritism. So please submit your beer scores regularly 4 Very Good. Excellent beer in excellent to help us make a good selection. condition. You stay put!

So how do I score the quality of the beer? 5 Perfect. Probably the best you are ever You don’t have to be an expert to begin likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award scoring your beer. However, it is not about this score very rarely. your personal favourite beer receiving the

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 30 How do I submit my scores? the beer you are drinking or if you wish to do so once you have entered you should be In order to submit your scores you need to able to click on the arrow in the beer box login to CAMRA’s online pub guide and a drop down list of that brewery’s beers www.whatpub.com either on a computer or should appear. In some cases the beer you by smart phone. Here you will find a list of are drinking may be new or a one off by over 35,000 real ale pubs from all over the the brewery so may not appear on the list, UK. if this is the case you can simply type in the name. Select the correct one click “submit In order to start submitting scores via score” and your score will be entered into Whatpub you need to: the database. It is as simple as that. 1) login. To do this you need your membership number and CAMRA password. An added bonus is that it will keep a record of your scores, so you can look back to see when, where, what you had and how you rated them if you wish.

We regularly monitor the scores to aid the selection of the pubs for the Good Beer Guide.

THE LIFEBOAT 2) You can then search for your pub by name. Be careful here as there are many 42 North Street INN Folkestone, CT19 6AF pubs in the country which share the same Selection of Fine Local and name. My advice is to search by the pub Regional Real Ales name and the town or postcode. The Hot Meals Served 1 to 8pm WhatPub smartphone web page also also Sunday Roasts gives you the option to search for real ale pubs nearby, very useful if you are in an unfamiliar town.

3) Once you have found your pub a “Submit Beer Scores” box will appear on the right hand side of the screen (or on the tab-bar underneath the pub photo if you are using a smart phone)

4) Simply fill in the date and your score then as you begin typing, the brewery name Beer Garden & Harbour Views should automatically appear underneath Telephone: 01303 255310 where you are typing. Enter the name of Just off Folkestone Harbour

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 31 The Chambers, Folkestone The Chambers is at first glance a street The bar stocks five cask ales with always at level Coffee Shop & roasters but by far the least one from Kent and Kentish traditional biggest surprise lies underground where The ciders. The pub has featured in CAMRA's Chambers bar exists. You can either take GBG for many years and is in the current in the great vista of watching Folkestone Good Cider Guide. town life go on around you as you enjoy your freshly roasted and brewed coffee, or The Chambers was voted our CAMRA venture through the coffee shop downstairs branch Pub of the year for 2008 and has to the vast area which is the bar with lots also received Trip Adviser 'Certificate of of seating in large group areas or intimate Excellence' for the last three years. nooks just for two. The pub also runs an annual Easter Ale & The chambers offers a standard menu from Cider Fest, the occasional summer cider Monday to Saturday and offering freshly weekend too! made Mexican cuisine, with a specials board from Tuesday lunch through to Music is a BIG part of Chambers life & we Saturday night presenting the best in local have UK & international artistes every and seasonal dishes. It is advisable to book Thursday night, playing mostly blues, meals to avoid disappointment though not folk & acoustic originals, you'll never be always essential. disappointed with the artistes playing at Chambers. Check out our Facebook for details of up & coming players.

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 32 Blacksmiths Arms 84 The Street, Willesborough, TN24 0NA 01233 623975 www.blacksmithsarmsashford.co.uk

5 Real Ales

Freshly Cooked Food

Terraced Garden

Free Parking

Children’s Play Area

Convenient for William Harvey Hospital

Opening Times Food Served Monday – Thursday 12 noon - 11pm Monday – Saturday 12 – 2.30, 6 -9 Friday & Saturday 12 noon – 12 midnight Sunday 12 – 4 Sunday 12 noon -11.30pm

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 33 Kent Breweries Brewery Contact information Website 12 Bar Brewing Co. 07860 165048 www.12barbrewingco.co.uk 07739 695129 Bexley Brewery 01322 337368 http://bexleybrewery.co.uk Brew Buddies http://brew-buddies.co.uk Canterbury Ales 01227 732541 www.canterbury-ales.co.uk Canterbury Brewers 01227 455899 www.thefoundrycanterbury.co.uk/ canterbury-brewers Caveman Brewery 07769 710665 www.cavemanbrewery.co.uk Four Candles http://thefourcandles.co.uk G2 01233 630277 www.g2brewing.com Goachers 01622 682112 www.goachers.com Goody Ales 01227 361555 www.goodyales.co.uk Hopdaemon Brewery Co Ltd 01795 892078 www.hopdaemon.com Hop Fuzz Brewery 07858 562878 www.hopfuzz.co.uk Isla Vale Alesmiths 01843 292451 http://islavalealesmiths.co.uk Kent Brewery 01634 780037 www.kentbrewery.com Larkins Brewery 01892 870328 www.larkinsbrewery.co.uk Mad Cat Brewery Ltd 07960 263615 www.madcatbrewery.co.uk Maidstone Brewing 01622 757705 Company Millis Brewing Co Ltd 01322 866233 www.millisbrewing.com Musket Brewery 07967 127278 www.musketbrewery.co.uk Nelson Brewery 01634 832828 www.nelsonbrewery.co.uk Old Dairy Brewery 01580 763867 http://olddairybrewery.com Old Forge Brewery 01233 720444 www.thefarriersarms.com/brewery Pig & Porter 01424 893519 http://pigandporter.co.uk Ramsgate Brewery 01843 868453 www.ramsgatebrewery.co.uk Ripple Steam Brewery 07917 037611 http://ripplesteambrewery.co.uk Rockin' Robin Brewery 01622 747106 www.rockinrobinbrewery.co.uk Romney Marsh Brewery 01797 362333 www.romneymarshbrewery.com Shepherd Neame 01795 532206 www.shepherdneame.co.uk Simply Hops 0800 1075073 www.simplyhops.com/about- simply-hops

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 34 Brewery Contact information Website Swan on the Green 01622 812271 www.swan-on-the-green.co.uk Time & Tide 07840 327265 http://timeandtidebrewing.co.uk Tír Dhá Ghlas Brewery 01304 211666 www.cullinsyard.co.uk/brewery Tonbridge Brewery 07962 016286 www.tonbridgebrewery.co.uk Wantsum Brewery 0845 0405980 www.wantsumbrewery.co.uk Westerham Brewery Co. 01732 864427 http://westerhambrewery.co.uk Whitstable Brewery 01622 851007 www.whitstablebrewery.co.uk For more information on Kent Breweries visit www.kentcamra.org.uk/kent/breweries

Good Beer Guide 2016 UK’s Best-Selling Beer & Pub Guide - Edited by Roger Protz

The Good Beer Guide a thing or two about is fully revised and good beer. updated each year and features pubs The unique in Northern Ireland, breweries section Scotland, England, lists every brewery the Isle of Man, & – micro, regional The Channel Islands and national – that that serve the best produces real ale real ale. in the UK, and the beers that they Now in its 43rd brew. edition, this pub guide is completely Tasting notes for independent with the beers, compiled listings based entirely by CAMRA-trained on nomination and tasting teams, are evaluation by CAMRA also included. members. The Good Beer This means you can Guide 2016 is the be sure that every complete book for one of the 4,500 pubs beer lovers and deserves its place, a must-have for and that they all anyone wanting to come recommended experience the UK's by people who know finest pubs. Published 10th September 2015 - www.camra.org.uk/gbg

Price £15.99 rrp (£11.99 + p&p for CAMRA members when ordered on line)

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 35 Honour of a Grain 50th Anniversary of Maris Otter It may seem strange to note the Brewers from 44 different anniversary of a cereal variety, but counties of Britain and 6 countries there’s good reason to celebrate from across the world are each the half century of one particular providing a birthday beer for the barley type. Particularly so given event. “This is the first beer festival the tale of domination, decline, to have all 50 beers brewed with rescue and revival that spans its a single malt variety,” says Mark, extraordinary 50 year history. “As far as we know, it’s also the first While Maris Otter might not be a household birthday party ever to be held in honour of name, it is legendary among a group of craft a grain!” brewers and beer-lovers. Once malted, it becomes the ingredient by which loyalist brewers swear.

Although less than 6% of British beer is produced with Maris Otter malt, nine of the most recent fourteen Champion Beers of To book your tickets, or to see the full list of Britain (64%) participating brewers, visit: are made http://www.h-banham.co.uk/ with Maris Otter. Quite the record for an ingredient. Maris Otter is a low-nitrogen winter barley Most cereal varieties are superseded (sown in the autumn and harvested a few within five or six years. 50 years’ continual weeks before the spring varieties), cross- production is truly exceptional. It is, as Mark bred from Proctor and Pioneer in 1965 by Banham from grain merchants H Banham the Plant Breeding Institute in Cambridge. points out, “well worth commemorating.” Its popularity grew quickly and it dominated So he has joined forces with David Holliday the market throughout the 1970s. However, from Norfolk Brewhouse to create a by the late 80s it had fallen out of favour commemorative beer festival. with many of the larger breweries – and was taken off the NIAB (National Institute of 50 new beers are being created especially Agricultural Botany) recommended list in for the national Maris Otter 50th anniversary 1989. festival in Norwich, 17th – 19th September. Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 36 There was a lot of work to do to re-establish the purity of the strain and the process of “re-selection” played a crucial role. It involved manually picking out the purest stock and using it to start a new breeding cycle.

Despite the snub and the fall in volumes, a number of brewers remained loyal to the breed. They said the malt it produced performed excellently in the mash tun, and the resulting beers had a depth of flavour unmatched by those made with other malts. East Kent Green Hop Brewery This commitment from a small group of Open Day brewers encouraged grain merchants H Saturday 10th October Banham and Robin Appel in their quest to save the variety. Between them, in 1992, the merchants bought the rights to it – and they Once again this year, five of our local are still the sole owners. breweries in East Kent will be opening their doors to the public for tours, music, food and most importantly Kent Green Hop beers on Saturday 10th October

The Breweries are:-

Foundry Brew Pub, Canterbury CT1 2RU

Canterbury Ales, Chartham CT4 7HF

Goody Ales, Herne CT6 7NP

Wantsum Brewery, Hersden CT3 4AL

Ramsgate Brewery, Broadstairs CT10 2YD

There are circular bus services from Broadstairs, Canterbury West, Deal and Herne Bay touring the five breweries.

The timetables are available at:- http://kentgreenhopbeer.com/ eastkentopenday/

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 37 Future Events Visit our website for more information ------www.camra-afrm.org.uk

Branch Meetings CAMRA Beer Festivals For further details on meetings, socials and East Malling Beer Festival beer festivals check out Saturday 5 September WHAT’S BREWING, visit our branch website or CAMRA Street Bar, Faversham Hop Fest join our Yahoo Group Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September (members only). Spa Valley Railway Beer Festival Branch Meetings are Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October normally on a Thursday starting at 19:30

10 September - The Globe, Hythe Other Beer Festivals 12 November - George Hotel, Ashford Branch Meeting & GBG 2017 Nominations The Bowl Inn Beer Festival, Hastingleigh Monday 31 August 14 January - Dering Arms, Pluckley Ashford Rugby Club Beer Festival 11 February - venue TBA Friday 4 & Saturday 5 September GBG 2017 Meeting Six Bells Beer Festival, Woodchurch Social Events - All Welcome Friday 11 to Sunday 13 September Trip to Portsmouth Saturday 19 September Kent Green Hop Beer Fortnight 25th September to 11th October Xmas Expedition to Lewes http://kentgreenhopbeer.com Saturday 28 November

Xmas Dinner - Kings Head, Shadoxhurst TBC Saturday 2 January

Gruut Brew Pub - Ghent

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 38 Marsh Mash Information

Produced by the Ashford, Folkestone and the Editors, CAMRA Ltd. or the Branch. The Romney Marsh Branch of the Campaign for existence of this publication in a particular Real Ale Ltd. (CAMRA) outlet does not imply an endorsement of it by AF&RM CAMRA. Editors: Bob Martin & Keith Johnson Email: [email protected] Advertising Rates Contributors: Bob Martin, Peter Chamberlain, Chris Excel, Michael Line, Keith ¼ page £35.00 Johnson, Stephen Rawlings, Nigel North. ½ page £60.00 Full page £100.00 3000 copies are distributed to pubs locally. Marsh Mash is also available to download in The above prices apply for suitable adverts PDF format from our website and issuu.com. that are provided to us in pdf, ai, png or jpg format. Design services can be provided for Contributions, letters, pub reports and news a one off charge of £50 per advert. are always welcome. Please write to Marsh Mash at: The Cottage, The Green, Saltwood, For more information please visit: Hythe, Kent CT21 4PS, or www.camra-afrm.org.uk/marsh-mash/ Email: [email protected] marsh-mash-advert-information Views expressed are not necessary those of AF&RM Branch Contact Details Branch Contact: Stephen Rawlings [email protected] Tel: 07885 218972 Chairman Bob Martin [email protected] Secretary Michael Line [email protected] Treasurer Stephen Rawlings [email protected] Beer Festival Organiser Graham Hodge [email protected] Pubs Officer Chris Excel [email protected] Cider Representative Mandy Emmett [email protected] Membership Ginny Hodge [email protected] Social Secretary Nigel North [email protected] Magazine Editors Keith Johnson, Bob Martin [email protected] Webmaster Keith Johnson [email protected] Advertising Bob Martin [email protected] Website www.camra-afrm.org.uk Postal Address CAMRA, The Cottage, The Green, Saltwood, Kent CT21 4PS Yahoo Group for branch members http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/AFRM_Camra

Public Transport Contacts National Rail Enquiries: www.nationalrail.co.uk - 0845 748 4950 Local Bus Timetables: www.stagecoachbus.com - 0871 200 2233 CAMRA HQ - 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans AL1 4LW - Telephone: 01727 867201 © Campaign for Real Ale 2015

Marsh Mash Summer 2015 Page 39 The Black Lion Free House Appledore, Kent

Set in this historic village, which can trace its history back to the Viking times Ray and Sandra offer a varied selection of Local Real Ales, an impressive wine list and serving a fantastic local produce in our dishes.

5 Real Ales

Locally reared lamb and freshly caught fish a speciality

Locally sourced home cooked food

Reasonably priced Sandwiches

Famous Hog roasts Bank Holiday Mondays

Opening Times 11.30am–11 pm Mon–Sat, Noon–11pm Sun

Food Served 11.30am-3pm, 6pm-9.30pm Mon-Thurs, 11.30am-9.30pm Fri-Sat, 12am-9pm Sun

15 The Street Appledore Kent TN26 2BU

01233 758 200 Marshwww.blacklion-pub.com Mash Summer 2015 Page 40