theleicesterdrinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk FREE Issue 99 June / July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch Circulation 5,000 throughout Leicestershire & Rutland
Leicester Beer Festival 2015 Belvoir Brewery Turns 20! p6 www.leicestercamra.org.uk
Trip to Bolton & Wigan Burton Overy, Illston on Facebook/leicestercamra p12 the Hill & Billesdon p24 @LeicesterCAMRA 11 - 14 MARCH CHAROTAR PATIDAR SAMAJ, BAY STREET, LEICESTER
LEICESTER BEER FESTIVAL 2015
1 Leicester Beer Festival Special Report From p15
INSIDE Tim Webb on Craft Beer ...... p4-5
Leicester CAMRA Wins Council Award. . . . p7
Pub of the Year ...... p9
Czech Beer Trip ...... from p19
1852 Wins May Pub of the Month. . . . p22 Facebook/leicestercamra @LeicesterCAMRA CAMRA Card Discounts ...... p30 Designed & Printed by AnchorPrint · www.anchorprint.co.uk EDITOR Rob Macardle Please send contributions to [email protected] FROM THE EDITOR Website: www.leicestercamra.org.uk Welcome to the June/July edition of Facebook: Leicester Campaign for Real Ale The Leicester Drinker. The Drinker welcomes letters, news, views and articles It’s been a busy time of late for many within the for possible publication. Please keep it brief and to the branch. With the aftermath of the Beer Festival, point and supply your name and address (this will the Mild in May trail, Pub of the Month and Pub of only be published with your permission). The opinions the Year celebrations and a shiny new certificate expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of presented by the City of Leicester (details on page the Editor, Leicester Branch, or CAMRA. 7) hardly a week has gone by without something to do. If you are a CAMRA member (or prospective ADVERTISING RATES 1 member) and would like to help in some way (and /6 page £ 35 + VAT 1 some jobs only require an hour or so a month) please /4 page £ 50 + VAT 1 /3 page £ 66 + VAT contact Shawn Collier ([email protected]) 1 /2 page £ 85 + VAT Pressure of space means that several items have 1 page £160 + VAT again had to be held over, but we are hoping to be Back Page £190 + VAT in a position to have a few extra pages available for Series Discounts available on 1/4 page and above what will be our 100th issue. In addition to a few VAT Registration Number: 102 0964 57 special features I’m currently trawling the archives CAMRA Recommends that if you are in any way for articles that deserve a “second outing” but dissatisfied with the measure of your pint in any of would be more than grateful to hear from Leicestershire & Rutland’s pubs, contact the Trading anybody who has reminiscences or stories to share Standards. Details below. regarding all things beer-related in Leicester. • City of Leicester Council has now moved from Please contact me via e-mail in the first instance. New Walk. All Weights & Measures enquiries should ([email protected]) R.M. be referred to Citizens Advice 03454040506 or www.citizensadvice.org.uk • Leicestershire County Council 2000, E-mail: [email protected] • Rutland County Council Offices, Catmose, ADVERTISE IN THE Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP. LEICESTER DRINKER! • Trading Standards are part of Environmental With a circulation of 5,000 and an estimated Health. All initial enquiries to Rutland County Council can be made through the customer readership of three times that number, services team. 01572 722577 The Drinker reaches licensees and pubgoers alike and is available free of charge in almost Leicester CAMRA makes every effort to publish the Leicester Drinker on time, however sometimes due to 200 outlets. The newsletter is published every lack of copy being received it may be a few days later two months by The Campaign for Real Ale, than advertised. Leicester CAMRA cannot accept any prices to advertise start from £35 plus VAT. responsibility for advertisements taken that feature Contact [email protected] in a dated event that has occurred before publication is the first instance. published. Postal Copies can be obtained from S. Collier on 07504 829830 LEICESTER DRINKER ADVERTISING/COPY DEADLINES 2015 or email: [email protected] 16 South Drive, Leicester LE5 1AN Recommended Absolute (Please supply stamps) LD100 Aug/Sep 15/07/2015 22/07/2015 www.camra.org.uk LD101 Oct/Nov 09/09/2015 16/09/2015 LD102 Dec/Jan 11/11/2015 18/11/2015
2 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 3 and 50p off a pint in some pubs . The basic rule of WE HAVE TO ‘adapt or die’ is deemed irrelevant . Uniquely among beer consumer groups it fails to promote or campaign for better beer, preferring to TALK ABOUT favour one tightly defined sub-type . A beer group that promotes a rival and unrelated drink, cider, but CRAFT BEER cannot extend such favours to other beer styles, has a problem . Beware of aliens None of this would matter were CAMRA not in This is the last of four articles by prize-winning danger of alienating the new generation of beer beer writer Tim Webb, author of The World Atlas of enthusiasts, who fail to see how Greene King IPA Beer, Pocket Beer Book, Good Beer Guide Belgium, could possibly be considered superior to Punk IPA . LambicLand and others, in which he traces the It annoys many older supporters too, who wince progress of beer in the last 40 years; debunks some at statements on the nature of beer from senior myths about British brewing; picks out those parts or long-standing members who clearly know little of beer-making that create flavour; and challenges about their subject beyond spouting the dodgy CAMRA to retake its vow to improve beer in clichés of a bygone time . Britain . All four can be found on the website This is not entirely their fault . CAMRA nationally www .booksaboutbeer com. has de-prioritised beer knowledge and does little to encourage or enable members to discover and explore Part 4: Ensuring the future brewing beyond its narrow focus . The absence of In CAMRA’s early days, enjoying good beer meant understanding and expertise about beer, even in the knowing a lot about where to find it and a little about organisation’s higher echelons can be staggering . what it was . Beer drawn straight from a cask or Adapt or die pulled by hand to the bar was great; while that which came twinkling from a flick-switch fount was rubbish . “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, Electric pumps challenged our certainty, so had to go . nor the most intelligent .... it is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Charles Darwin That world disappeared, as all worlds do in time . Nowadays the eight pubs that lie within easy cycling The concept of craft beer came in part from the distance of my village home serve more cask ales typewriters of St Albans . It changed the nature of than I would have found in the whole million-strong commercial brewing globally . The idea that today’s city of Birmingham when younger . craft beer lovers have interests opposed to those of yesterday’s real ale campaigners is crackpot and Back then, ‘foreign beer’ meant one of a dozen needs exposing as such . CAMRA must talk about industrial lagers, few of which were imported . craft beer . Nowadays I can have over 3000 beers from round the world delivered to my door within a couple of Whatever ‘good beer’ should mean in 21st century days, most brewed to sound artisan principles . Britain, it is not a debate about cask versus keg . It is about flavour, diversity of styles and independent This has been an unimaginably impressive revolution . ownership, just like it has always been . A word from our sponsors Because of my generation’s efforts to save beer, So how does Britain’s beer consumer group react to today’s beer drinkers inherited a far better world of this extraordinary progress? opportunities . As such, they will form their opinions It deigns to be “not against” it . Support is based on today’s possibilities, not out-dated not forthcoming and it is happy to stand back assumptions . Old CAMRA must understand that or while older members who should know better it will become irrelevant to the future of brewing in make up facts to justify attacking the new and the UK . exciting . Meanwhile its annual flagshipGood The Campaign must grow with its times and Beer Guide is barred from mentioning many of extend its influence beyond the traditional pub Britain’s best beers . From a Government-approved sector, which is contracting . The growth area for ‘superconsumer’ this feels a tad cliquey . interesting beer is off sales, new-style cafés, hotels The excuse is that CAMRA’s membership continues and restaurants – or the places where decision to grow – benefits include free entry to beer festivals makers encounter beer, if you prefer . To influence
4 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch here CAMRA must roll back from its cask obsession CAMRA to talk about craft beer, British brewing and renew its vows to make beer better . has fallen far behind its less established rivals . Heartfelt opinion must start to be informed by Its export performance is pathetic and is likely to understanding . A basic level CAMRA activist should remain so unless it recaptures past greatness, with know how beer comes to taste the way it does and or without CAMRA support . how different types of good beer are best made . Light ales polluted by fruit syrup, poor imitations of And whatever expertise senior activists may have better-made foreign styles and old names revived to they should know what is happening in the wider fig leaf mediocrity simply will not cut it with modern world of well-made beer . beer lovers . They expect and can get far better . Final plea Artisan brewing in Britain is about to reach a place where it will do just fine without CAMRA . I am And please do something about that title! not so sure that CAMRA will do well unless it can Books from consumer groups should reflect what accept and celebrate the new beer buzz, counselling they are in their title . CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide caution by all means and remaining sceptical of Belgium rates every beer and brewery in that snappily dressed men talking brand, but always country, outlines its national beer styles and lists the ALWAYS onside with better beer and praising every beeriest cafés, shops, tourist attractions and events . effort to create and promote it . Its UK equivalent is a collection of Branch members’ favourite pubs, with a beer and brewery section in Tim Webb served on CAMRA’s National Executive which 80% of those listed are occasional light ales . for seven years, running the Great British Beer If it were the Guide to Cask Ale Pubs, fair enough but Festival for the first two, then heading up publicity it ain’t . Please liberate its editorial team to make it be and publications. He has since written numerous what it sounds like it is, before somebody complains . best selling beer books, thus far translated into nine languages. In his spare time he runs a small The bottom line publishing company and booksellers “The difficulty lies not so much in developing new ideas (www.booksaboutbeer.com). as in escaping from old ones.” John Maynard Keynes Part of the collection Pieces for Nowhere . In the fifteen years since my first efforts to get © copyright Tim Webb 2014
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 5 BREWERY NEWS
The big brewery news this time around is anniversaries. Whilst Langton (langtonbrewery.co.uk) celebrate their tenth with a beer LOCAL BREWERY WEBSITES festival in July, Belvoir (belvoirbrewery.co.uk) had their festivities in Charnwood charnwoodbrewery.co.uk April (see below). Barrowden (exeterarmsrutland.co.uk) sees Martin Dow Bridge dowbridgebrewery.co.uk Allsop rack up 10 years at the brewery in June. Everards (everards.co.uk) Elliswood theelliswoodbrewery.co.uk celebrated Gas Dog gasdogbrewery.co.uk St George’s Day with Golden Duck goldenduckbrewery.com a novel promotion, Grainstore grainstorebrewery.com whereby anybody Great Central gcbrewery.co.uk named George, Long Lane See Golden Duck Georgina or any other Parish n/a derivative name could Pig Pub piginmuck.com/brewery claim a free bottle of Q Brewery qbrewery.co.uk Tiger on April 23rd. Ex Tigers player Shardlow n/a George Chuter was Très Bien tresbienbrewery.com conveniently on hand to assist. BELVOIR BREWERY 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – History Repeated April 2015 marked the 20th Anniversary of Belvoir Brewery which was celebrated in grand style by turning back the clock and repeating the events of the original launch that took place in the Old Kitchen at Belvoir Castle June 1995. As then, samples of local cheese and pork pie were also available for tasting courtesy of nearby Long Clawson Dairy and Brockleby Pies. Brewery Founder and Managing Director Colin Brown welcomed guests that included who started his brewing career with T&R Theakston and J shareholders, staff, customers, local CAMRA organisations and Shipstone, gave a short speech thanking all those that had suppliers to an Anniversary Tasting Ceremony where they were contributed over the years in helping Belvoir Brewery become treated to the full range of casks beers from the brewery in the success it is today. Back in 1995 the plan was to build the addition to a special brew to mark the occasion – Celebration brewery inside the castle where there had been a brewery Day 4.5% abv, a full flavoured smooth chestnut beer based many years before, but it was thwarted by logistical building on the very first beer brewed in 1995. As before The Duke of and services issues and so elected to settle in Old Dalby Rutland made an appearance to endorse proceedings. Colin, where it inhabits a purpose built brewery and visitor centre.
For the 99th edition of The Leicester Drinker, this item seemed appropriate. AUSTIN BEERWORKS, who style themselves as “an owner- operated Texas brewery hell-bent on excellence” recently produced the “world’s first and only 99-pack”. Each limited-edition seven-foot long case contained 12 fl.oz cans of Peacemaker Anytime Ale and retailed at $99.99 (£66 approx).
6 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch PUB NEWS BEER MISCELLANY The new manager at the Parcel Yard is supportive of The Old Swan in Kibworth Beauchamp had its CAMRA and, as with The Western, a membership card licence temporarily suspended for several weeks by gives you the same discounts as a Billy Card. The Kaffir Harborough District Council as a result of a police (Whetstone) is under new management; Ashley and Linzi request following an incident on April 17 in High Street have a commitment to Real Ale and are currently offering where a local man in his early 20s was stabbed and had Greene King IPA, Hooky, Doombar and Adnams. to attend Kettering General Hospital for treatment. Only BARS – PROS recently re-opened under new management, licensee Guy Oliver said he was unhappy about the decision and The Bell Fountain, Wigston is has now re-opened after that the pub was losing money fast. He said: “Five thugs refurbishment. Part of the Fayre & Square Group, it is now called The Two Steeples and offers two real ales. came over from Leicester and caused a lot of trouble Wills Bar has now re-opened as a Brewdog outlet. The on a Friday night. We made them leave and they application for development at the John O’Gaunt on pulled knives so we shut the doors.” Mr Oliver said he’d Somerset Avenue was withdrawn in December. As no consulted lawyers and had turned away 35 diners on further applications have been submitted there is hope of one night alone. It is not the first time the pub has had a reprieve. As we went to press news also of a prospective to close through attracting young drinkers from outside pub opening in Stoneygate where a planning application the village but hopes that things would improve after has been made for a shop to become a micropub. the new licensee took over were sadly dashed. BARS – CONS Pub News relies greatly on input from the public and the There’s a new application for the Joiners Arms, Sanvey trade. CAMRA members will generally visit premises with Gate: 20150626 - CHANGE OF USE FROM PUBLIC HOUSE an existing real ale commitment so information on new (CLASS A4) TO HOUSE IN MULTIPLE OCCUPATION (CLASS stockists and outlets is particularly welcome. Thanks on C4). As the building work already appears to have been this occasion to Philip Tiplady, Steve Peck, Jim Reay & done, some investigation appears to be necessary. Shawn Collier. CITY RECOGNITION FOR LEICESTER CAMRA
On Wednesday 25th March the Leicester branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), including the beer festival organising committee were invited to attend Leicester Town Hall to receive an Honoured Citizen Award by Lord Mayor, Councillor John Thomas. The branch and beer festival committee were nominated by deputy city mayor, Councillor Rory Palmer, a CAMRA member. Coun. Palmer’s nomination said: “The Leicester branch of CAMRA is an active and well organised local community organisation, working to protect the city’s pubs, an important part of our heritage, and celebrating the contribution of pubs to the city’s economy and heritage.” “The branch recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. On this basis it would be fitting if the branch and the beer festival organising committee could be recognised by the Lord Mayor’s Honoured Citizen award. The…branch has made an important contribution to the community for 40 years [and] has run important campaigns on protecting and supporting local community pubs. The popular Leicester Beer Festival...is firmly established on the city’s calendar and is organised entirely by volunteers. This year’s festival was another great success and I am pleased that the Lord Mayor is recognising the hard work and dedication of the local CAMRA branch.” Branch chairman Keith Williams said: “It’s nice to be honoured and Rory supports what we do, he worked at the beer festival for a few hours…a lot of effort goes into the festival. We are all very pleased about getting something for the hard work we do.”
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 7 The Stamford Arms, Groby 10% CAMRA DISCOUNT ON ALL CASK ALES
• New Play Area for Under 12s • Family Garden • Tuck Shop • No Smoking Area
• 5 Star Accommodation • Available for Bed & Breakfast • WiFi • Holiday Lets Available
• Thursday – Sunday 25th – 28th June • 20 Cask Ales • 6 Real Ciders • Music & Barbeque
• Shires Magazine Pub of the Year • CAMRA Pub of the Month February 2015 • 7 Cask Ales & Cider Always Available • Food Served from 11am - 9pm
8 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch PUB OF THE YEAR 2015
Keith Williams (l) presents Adrian Walker of LOROS with CAMRA’s cheque
John Davis (l) & Matt Hopley (r) with The City Pub of the Year and Overall Pub of the Year Certificates respectively
147 members (approximately 8.3% of those eligible) voted for 68 pubs SAMARITANS across the City and the County and BEER CHEESE AND it was the King’s Head, King Street, CIDER FESTIVAL that was victorious for the first time. The presentation was made on Friday, 8th May and was well attended by regulars 31 STJULY – 2 NDAUGUST Organised by Friends of The Samaritans and CAMRA members alike, many taking in aid of Leicestershire and Rutland Samaritans
the opportunity to combine their visit with Fri 31 st July 12 noon -11 pm their Mild Trail “duties”. Run by John Davis Sat 1 st Aug 11 am – 11 pm and Matt Hopley, the Black Country Ales Sun 2 nd Aug 12 noon – 3 pm
pub is always welcoming and the boys Beer, Cider, Perry and Wine Cheeses, Pork Pies, Samosas, Handmade Bread put on a super spread of sandwiches, Great music at all sessions
samosas and other goodies in celebration. £2.50 Entry on door + £2.50 Glass deposit (refundable)
Both John and Matt were clearly delighted Anne Elizabeth Theatre Arts with their awards and “a good time was Church Road, Aylestone, Leicester. had by all”. LE2 8LB Directions: Buses No 84, 84a, 85, 87 from City to junction of Aylestone Rd & Wigston Lane
Also on hand was Adrian Walker of DO YOU FANCY SPONSORING A CASK, BOX OF CIDER, WINE, FOOD??? CONTACT: Lance Sullen 07973 221938 LOROS to receive a cheque from Branch email: [email protected] Chairman Keith Williams for £478.69, being the money raised from the Leicester http://www.facebook.com/SamsFriendsBeerFestival Beer Festival collection buckets. twitter-SamsBeerFest
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 9 Brunswick A5 Landscape Advert April 2015_Layout 1 09/04/2015 17:15 Page 1
SW UN IC R K B
B
Y R
R The
N N E E
W W A A
P P
I I
N N
M M
G G O O
C C Brunswick Inn and Brewery The Brunswick offers: • Derby CAMRA Cider & Perry Pub of the Year 2015 Award-winning ale • 16 Cask Ales O.G. ABV from Derby’s O.G. ABV O.G. ABV 1045 4.3% 1042 4.2% 1047 4.7% • 16 Real Ciders & Perry ROCKET oldest brewery Keep a look out for our exciting new • BBQ Saturday's from June seasonal ales created by James, if you • NEW Beer Terrace Now Open would like to know more, he would love you to pop in for a chat or give • Brunswick Hop Garden him a call! For orders and enquiries
O.G. ABV O.G. ABV O.G. ABV • Brunswick Club Card Scheme 1040 4% 1058 6% 1038 3.6% call 01332 410055 or email: [email protected] • Camra Discount with Membership Card Regular regional deliveries available • LIVE Music: Jazz Night Every Thursday Bottle conditioned beers available • Derby Camra City Pub of the Year 2015 - Finalist New for 2015, single hop range - Call for details • Food Served: Monday to Saturday 11.30am - 2.30pm Straight off the train in Derby - perfect! Wednesday to Friday 5.30pm - 8pm & Sunday 12noon - 3pm Why go anywhere else?
[email protected] or [email protected] • www.brunswickbrewingcompany.co.uk & www.brunswickderby.com The Brunswick, 1 Railway Terrace, Derby, DE1 2RU • For all enquiries please call: 01332 290677
10 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch The Campaign for Real Ale also campaigns for Real Cider & Perry. This is Susan Shirley’s most recent report. A TRIP TO A CIDER DEVON CIDER BAR SCENE When an unexpected opportunity to make a flying visit to Newton Abbot arose, my first thought was the Maltings beer festival. The second was: Cider bar! There used to be hundreds but now there are only four of the old style cider houses that sold cider and only cider. One of those is the Olde Cider Bar in East Street. Co., from wooden barrels behind the bar, which hold 40 There was plenty to be seen from the train to whet gallons. The choice is dry or sweet, with other smaller my appetite for a taste of the South West. April brings containers of Thatchers “diesel” and guest ciders, the fruit blossom, and in Gloucestershire the perry together with small tubs of fruit wines. There is a small pear trees were a mass of white flowers. Passing TV, but no music. Food available consists of bread and the remains of old neglected orchards, it was easy cheese or pasties. There are hard wooden benches and to spot them, towering over apple trees hung with a few chairs, and a concrete floor. The yard outside mistletoe. I saw the first apple tree in full blossom in at the back has a smoking shelter, the most recent Bristol. Approaching Exeter, the old sign advertising innovation. It has been in the same family for 85 years. Whiteway’s cider is long gone, but the Exeter Brewery Half a pint of Sam’s Dry (£ 2.40 a pint) and I sit waiting next to the railway is a new and welcome sight, for my companions. The bar, at half past five on a before our arrival at Newton Abbot Friday, is busy, but not too crowded, with the usual The beer festival, held annually at Tuckers Maltings, friendly mixture of locals and visitors. Paul rings to is organised by the South West region of SIBA, the say could I get the round in as they are on their way, Society of Independent Brewers. This year there was and as I wait at the bar I have the chance to read a choice of over 260 beers, more than enough for a the board showing the guest ciders. Sticklepath is couple of days, but we also planned to see friends one I haven’t seen before, so I try a half. It is a typical in town for the Friday sessions, and have a couple of Devon cider, pale yellow, very clear, and easy to drink. ciders. The festival closed for an hour at the end of A little more tannin than the Sam’s, but similar in the afternoon, and there was only one place to go. character. A later search of Google fails to produce Up through the town to East Street, a long road lined any details, alas. with nineteenth century houses, plastered and painted Further along East Street is The Teign Cellars, a very in pale pastel colours, to the one with the large mural pleasant modern bar, with a superb range of draught on the side, showing a Victorian social outing in a horse and bottled beers, and a large selection of ciders. I drawn cart, and advertising Scrumpy from the Wood. try half a pint of Hunt’s, very nice, but nowhere near The Olde Cider Bar has changed little since my first as cheap as the Sam’s, and one of my friends opts for visit over twenty years ago. No beer, lager or spirits are a craft beer. With time running short, a visit to the sold. The cider is mainly Sam’s from Winkleigh Cider adjoining bottle shop has to wait for another day.
A pint of Diesel! Interior views of the Olde Cider Bar
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 11 BOLTON & WIGANJohn Spencer TRIP - 11th April 2015
Forty-six intrepid souls arrived at St Margaret’s Bus Station on a dull and rainy Grand National Day. For some, like me, it was a free trip “thank you” for working at Leicester Beer Festival. First up was Bolton, to take in their Beer Festival at the UKRANIAN SOCIAL CLUB, which is also a GBG listed “pub”, staying for an hour before the coach moved into Bolton town centre for some of the town’s pubs. The festival was extremely pleasant and I consumed three halves of very good (new) beers, being Wild Beer Millionaire, Magic Rock Retrospect and Angel Tainted Love; a good start to my day. Also enjoyed was being taken into the “pub” part of the venue and I felt it a Ukranian Social Club shame that this was not included within the festival itself. Anyway before the hour had elapsed I set out on foot to THE ALMA INN, much nearer than the twenty-minute walk I had been led to believe. Upon entering I was taken by the fact that I was the only customer in this obvious “rocker” pub (me an old “Mod” as well!). The memorabilia was “interesting” and the Jennings Cumberland was also very good; a tawny hoppy beer with a dry aftertaste. Three others then arrived but I moved on to the SPINNING MULE, which turned out to be a ’Spoons (and not one I liked much). The Elland Nettle Thrasher, a grainy, amber-coloured, beer, was just good. I didn’t stay long and moved across Nelson The Barristers Square (whose statue was not in fact of Nelson – not that I expected a column!!) to the DRAGONFLY, which looked just like a “Spoons” but wasn’t. I thought I had gone out of the frying pan into the fire, but at least the beer was slightly better, a Moorhouse White Witch, almost very good. Next was one I was looking forward to, THE BARRISTERS, a much better pub with a lovely Bank Top Flat Cap, an amber ale with a good finish of fruit malt and bitterness. Here I met up with more on our trip to be told a tale of The Old Man & Scythe
12 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch way. To say he was not impressed with being left behind is perhaps an understatement. Close by was HOGARTHS, home to Hogarths Brewery. Here, for just £1.95, I could have 3 third pint glasses of their three excellent beers on tap; Beer Street; Enraged Musician (Graeme Malen, sunning himself in Thailand, would be enraged to miss that) and Industry & Idleness. Seeing how cheap the beer is in this part of the world my cousin exclaimed he might move there! Next up was the HEN & CHICKENS where I The Anvil enjoyed a Lancaster Admiral Arch, another very good beer and an even better Edge Black, Black Port. Here I aborted trying to get around other pubs on my list and headed off to where we were to meet the coach, for the next part of the day in Wigan. We had been joined by a couple of Wigan Camra members, cadging a lift, but a mine of information as to where to head for in their town. Suitably rehydrated my first port of call was the ANVIL, a popular town centre pub close to the Bus Station. A Plain Ales Incognito Port Stout and AllGates All Black were both good, a promising start to Wigan! At the RAVEN, a restored 19th century hotel with traditional décor, I had an AllGates Old Boston, which I did mark down to an almost very good ale. Now beginning to feel the worst for wear, I foreshortened my planning to head to WIGAN CENTRAL, in the railway arches below Wigan North Western Station, where I found a goodly The Raven crowd of Leicester Camra trippers and my final beer, another very good Deeply Vale, Deeply Red. On the journey home the winners of our National sweepstake were announced, so a certain gentleman having been left behind Steve Bateman, Carl Bradshaw and John by the coach when it set out from the “Club”. Arthur had a pretty cheap day out! My horse Oops! I was to hear more of this later (as was 16th. indeed did everyone else). Thanks, as ever to organizer Gary and our Nearby was the super OLD MAN & SCYTHE, regular coach driver, Mick. allegedly the 4th oldest pub in the country. Here I revisited a Robinsons Dizzy Blond, another good beer. I also bumped into our The next scheduled trip is to illustrious chairman Keith, who told me more Harrogate & Knaresborough in June. of the story, but in a much more animated
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 13 LIVERPOOL CAMRA VISIT LEICESTER
On the very same day that “Yes, we had a great day, thanks, and A quick thank you! took advantage of The Pub’s generosity – our local members were “I visited the Tom Hoskins, Slug & many thanks for organising that. Even the Lettuce, Sir Robert Peel, King’s Head, Pub heading to the North West weather was kind! Aside from The Pub, I (excellent hospitality and beer), Marquis to sample the delights visited the Black Horse, with the very nice Wellington, High Cross & Salmon. Not new roof terrace, The Western, Sir Robert one less than a good pint in any of them, of Wigan and Bolton, Peel, Swan & Rushes, King’s Head, Criterion, although personally I have never been Liverpool CAMRA had a and finished in the Salmon – not a bad a fan of Everard’s beers. I also visited the Abbey Pumping Station which was a trip organised to Leicester. pint to be had anywhere, and such warm welcomes. The Cathedral was closed, very interesting hidden gem of a place though, so couldn’t see Himself...” and obviously missed by many people Armed with copies of heading for the National Space Centre. the Ale Trail they had an Matt Valentine “I did a number of your other pubs last enjoyable day out in the “We had an excellent day in Leicester time I was in Leicester in 2011., so only sunshine and visited many yesterday. The beer was excellent. I missed a couple of pubs on the western visited only a fraction of the pubs, namely outskirts of the city. I thought the Tom of the City’s pubs. The Pub Salmon, Globe, Criterion, Swan & Rushes, Hoskins was very good and could see provided a buffet that The Pub, King’s Head and Parcel Yard. We why it was chosen in the 1980s as a “Classic Pub”. The barmaid in the Sir was well received and the met a number of your branch members and other real ale drinkers. Please pass our Robert Peel was particularly friendly and following are just a few of thanks to The Pub for their hospitality.” helpful.” their comments Tony David Williams
14 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch March 11th – 14th LEICESTER BEER FESTIVAL 2015 Following significant changes behind the scenes, and consequent delays at the planning stage, the Festival was again a great success. Attendance was slightly down, but visitors ate and drank more with many beers sold out by Friday evening. For the first time there was music (provided by Stuart Daniel Rowe and Ian Lovell on the Saturday) and the Festival glasses all but sold out. Renewals and T-shirt sales kept the Membership Stand busy and the broad-brush XV theme was embraced by brewers and visitors alike with festival beers and fancy dress clothing in evidence. The media were highly supportive and social media came into significant play for the first time. Rather than sing our own praises, here are just some of the comments we received. R .M .
declanmc Superb #leicesterbeerfestival So many excellent ales and beers to choose from. Work tomorrow may be slightly difficult though... #beer #leicester #craft #camra #ale #beer #craftbeer
Andy Humpherson @DinkyHump Leicester, England Researching various types of liquid @ #leicbeerfest15
George Kerr @georgekerr92 The food #LeicBeerFest15 is unbelievable!
Deli flavour @Deliflavour #LeicesterBeerFestival is well worth checking out, massive selection. Queues round the block tonight! Great work @LeicesterCAMRA ��� ›› continued on pg 16
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 15 Colin Hall @Ultra_Fox Excellent atmosphere - as always - at #Leicester Beer Festival. Encouraged by numbers of young people here in support of #leicbeerfest15.
Deputy Mayor Rory Palmer (left) did a stint behind the bar at the Festival and got to meet a former Chancellor Tim @TimFilbert Great work by @LeicesterCAMRA volunteers at the sensationally successful Leicester @CAMRA_ A Jacobite Rebellion in the Official beer festival #leicbeerfest15. offing? Remembering 1715 Nick Holden @nick4glengate @RogerProtzBeer @LeicesterCAMRA @CAMRA_Official Très Bien Brewery Seems a shame to just view the beers. @tresbienbrewery Sounds like my beers have sold out at Roger Protz @LeicesterCAMRA #leicbeerfest15
@RogerProtzBeer but head down anyway because there’s @nick4glengate plenty of amazing others.... Viewing with my palate! Big crowd, great beers and superb curry. Heaven!
A healthy queue of enthusiasts early on Friday evening
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition… 16 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch Simon Kelly @Opotopo @nick4glengate the waen just a feeling was exceptional. Only made one day - must invest more time next year!
Dave Huddart’s section of the bar sold out impressively quickly, except for the Cucumber concoction
Simon Kelly @Opotopo Big thanks to @ LeicesterCAMRA for organising #leicsbeerfest15. Cracking event. Great hosts. #lifeistooshort forrubbishbeer The wines and bottled beers sold well
Mark Shirley @RFCider Cardinal Wolsey, I presume? It’s not all beer at #leicbeerfest15. There’s friendly and helpful staff too. And cider & perry of course... Wayne Kelly @MrKelly2u Nick Holden @nick4glengate Great time at #leicbeerfest15 Needs a @Opotopo bigger venue though! Had so many great beers over last three nights at #leicbeerfest15, Blue Monkey and Hopcraft also favourites last night. Yours?
Great Food Club @greatfoodmag @LincolnGBrewing Spring Green hitting the spot - the usual high quality #leicesterbeerfest15 Impressively busy at #leicesterbeerfest15 - next stop “By the Rivers” front man Nile Barrow and @everardstiger pop up pub girlfriend Lauren took the opportunity to sign up as new CAMRA members
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 17 As we went to press we received sad news of Clive Pitcher’s CLIVE sudden death. Known around the city as “Big Clive” he was for many years the doorman at the Leicester Beer Festival including PITCHER the most recent. As soon as more information is available we will post it on the website and our Facebook page. R.M.
18 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch
ChrisA Pivo Adventure Greenwood In and around Brno, Summer 2014 I am a big fan of the Czech Republic. Many tourists just visit Prague and a few other main attractions, such as Cesky Krumlov. There are, however, many other places worth visiting. Another attraction is the beer (pivo) and the Czechs consume more beer per head than any other country in the world. There has been an explosion of new micro and regional breweries (pivovars) throughout the country and I spent a really enjoyable part of my summer holidays Brno Tower travelling, sightseeing and drinking.
I planned this trip using the websites Ratebeer, of beers here including the Jihlavsky Grand 18 which Beerme and IDOS, a really good site with all train reminded me a bit of a good Duvel. Just across the and bus schedules for the whole country. main square is the Café Etage. This trendy bar had even better views of the square and a “special” Jezek There are quite a few beer styles in the Czech Alt. Well, to me it wasn’t an Alt beer! It was a decent Republic. Svetle is light / pale, cerny or tmavy wheat beer, with lemon and banana notes and pear are dark, polotmave is mid brown, psenicne is a drop acidity on the tongue. wheat beer and kvasnicove means unpasteurised. Some breweries make quite a few fruit beers with It was soon time to head to the bus station to catch blueberries popular. The strength of Czech beer is the bus to Trebic, a town with a rambling UNESCO usually given in degrees. A 10 is around 4%, a 12 listed Jewish quarter, an atmospheric Jewish around 5%, a 14 up to 6%. graveyard and two impressive churches. Not far from the cathedral and tourist info is the Urban, One Monday morning I set off from Prague Florenc Podklasterni Pivovar. Two indoor drinking areas and bus station for Jihlava, a pretty town with sections plenty of seating outside and a showroom of classic of the medieval wall still standing, an impressive Jaguars (the cars not the animals). With a choice of six gateway, a few old churches and an attractive main beers, the Urban Svetle Lezak 11 was sweet and malty, square (Masarykovo Namesti). Here, you will find the the Svetle 10 had some lemony notes and the Svetle Radnice Restaurant, an upmarket place with vaulted Lezak 12 was a pleasant full bodied bittersweet pivo. brickwork, historical murals and outside seating with Next up was the Polotmave 13 which reminded me of nice views. I tried three beers from the micro there a fuller bodied Bateman’s Choccy Biscuit beer. There with the aid of a helpful waiter with good English. was cocoa powder in the nose, quite a few malts, with Like many Czech micros, the pivos were unfiltered / a cocoa and chocolate malt finish. A Psenicny Special unpasteurised. The Svetle Lezak was nicely balanced Kaplan was sampled next. It had a pleasant perfume with malt, yeast and some bitterness in the nose, followed by an initial taste of cloves and hops finish. The Zikmund Polotmave had a pronounced and pine needle notes. The finish was very dry and nutty finish and the Zuzana Boruvkova was full of astringent. I left the best until last. The Cornell I.P.A. had a lovely hoppy nose, followed by a gob full of hops blueberries with an astringent finish. I managed to and a long, dry, bitter, astringent finish. find their E-I.P.A in a bar in Prague; a lovely hoppy beer. On many previous visits to Jjihlava, I’ve visited My final bus journey was to Brno, Czech Republic’s the Jezek brewery tap, an impressive beer hall with second largest city. The place has a Minority a massive beer garden. You will find a large selection ›› continued on pg 20
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 19 ›› from pg 19 Church with a beautiful interior and a large castle favourite dark beers on the trip. There was time to and an attractive cathedral both with good views head into central Slavkov to have a look around the overlooking the city. I stayed in a really friendly hostel pink zamek (chateau) with its extensive gardens, called Ruta and had time to walk into the centre to before returning by bus to Brno. visit two bars. The large, smoky Vegas Club on Milady Brno is very good for bars and a choice of different Horakove 1a is an old favourite, not for the offhand breweries’ beers. On Frantiskanska 17, I found the staff, but the good quality, cheap beer; the beer modern, ugly bar called Charlie’s Square, with its board outside is usually wrong! They tend to have one own beer, Charlie’s Beer, a simple bitter with Poutnik, Vyskov and Policka beers. The Poutnik Double pine needles on the tongue and a very bitter finish. Chlem (hopped) was as flavoursome and refreshing They also had beers by Tambor and Lucky Basterd! as ever! It’s not far to Lidika Street where at number 10 you’ll find the grungy rock bar and free house It was soon time to head out of the centre on the Ochutnavkova Pivnice. I chose a Primavera I.P.A by number 8 tram (catch it opposite the train station). Kalenecker Pivovar from the eight beers on tap. It You get off at the Kotlanova stop and walk up to started with strawberry jam notes, later developing the shops where you find the Lisensky Domaci into another hoppy monster. To finish, I drank a Pivovar. The brewster was busy at her art in the pub Matuska Psenice, quite bitter for a wheat beer, but and the outside drinking area filled with families with the usual cloves like taste, wheat and fruit. and young people. There was a nice atmosphere, with chatter and laughter. There were 7 beers on, many containing fruit. I started with the Cerne 11, a really tasty dark pivo, with cold coffee and malt flavours and a pleasant finish of coffee and some choc malt. The Morvan and Horkejl were both pale 11 degree beers. Both had a sweet, malty start, but the Horkejl had a drier, bitter and more refreshing finish. The Psenice was a typical wheat beer, with cloves, lemon and pine needle notes. The Lezoun was an odd one! It started really sweet, then a pear drop acidity, then cough medicine and butterscotch finish. Well guess what fruit the Limetka had in it? A strong, lime flavoured beer with a massive lime nose and a refreshing dry, bitter lime finish. The regular tram took me back to the centre for a few more beers. Not far from the impressive Next morning I caught one of the many buses cathedral, on Starobrneska, is the Restaurace U from Brno to Slavkov U Brna, near to the Austerlitz Trech Certu, an Oslavany/Bractice pub with 4 of battlefield, where Napoleon’s army won a major their beers and guests. The attractive brick pub and victory. The town is also the home of the Slavkovsky outside drinking area were very busy. Bratice 10 had Pivovar. From the bus station, go up the main road a very malty start with some bitterness in the finish. and take a right onto Polni to the end, turn left then A little wander took me onto Jakubske Street and the right until U Mylna. It’s signposted a few times. classic Pegas brewpub. It’s a rambling, dark wood The brew tap/ restaurant was light and airy, with panelled place with some good quality ales. The lots of wood and a conservatory. The brewer was dark beer is very good. However, a new beer took my busy at his craft. The Slavakovsky Desikta started fancy that night, the English I.P.A. Their measures are with a bitter bite, becoming more malty later. The different and I had a 0.6l of this lovely beer. It started Slavkovska Dvanackta had some malt, becoming with a soft and gentle hop flavour, developing into very dry with a long lasting, bitter, hoppy, astringent a real mouth full of English hops (Goldings and finish. I sampled the Slavkovske Bile, which had Fuggles?), which grew into a massive hopfest in your a nice nose of yeast, fruit and cloves, followed by mouth and a bitter, dry astringent finish. Lovely. flavours of banana, cloves, pine needles and a pear drop acidity on the tongue. My final beer here was My final call of the night was a return to a really good dark beer, the Kancler 13. There was a Ochutnavkov Pivnice. Lots of Motorhead on the lot of chocolate malt amongst other malts, leading sound system and some new pivos; good stuff. I to a pleasing dark chocolate, bitter finish: One of my tried a Falkon Zeppelin Pale. It had a good, hoppy
20 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch nose and bitter, pine needle tastes on the tongue (it’s just off the main square). A relaxed pub with with a very long hoppy, bitter finish. Just time to get a pulpit near the bar! This place had a really good a Flying Cloud I.P.A. by Vysoky Chlumec / Lobkowicz choice of micros from all around the country. The down my neck before returning to my hostel. Its unfiltered Lezak 12, from the very good Beskydysky nice fruitiness was followed by that long bitter, Pivovar was a nice balance of malt and hops. The astringent finish that seems to characterize the Sovicek Upupa I.P.L was fruity, with a long bitter new breed of Czech beers. finish. My final pivo was the excellent Cerne 13 by the Moravsky Zizkov Pivovar with a smell of cocoa powder and coffee, flavours of cold coffee and dark chocolate and a lovely stout like bitterness. Veveri street, one of the main streets out of the city, has many bars. I chanced upon the basement jazz bar called Al Capone. The place had 3 beers by the Ohrada Vesnicky Pivovar. I was the only customer! The friendly barman served me a sweet and malty Bejcek 11, a nutty and malty Pacholek Polotmave that developed some bitterness to balance it. The Psenica was another of those banana and clove tasting wheat beers with acidic, pear drops on the tongue. On the way back to my hostel, I revisited Ochutnavkov Pivnice for an unfiltered version of the Pegas Brewpub, Brno Primator 11. This was a real mixture of yeastiness, sweet malt, then a really long bitter finish which lasted for a long time after I had finished it! The next day was a mix of sightseeing and drinking. There are regular buses from Brno bus station Next I was off to Olomouc, but that’s another story... to the pretty town of Kromeriz. Kromeriz has an impressive zamec (chateau), attractive public gardens and some lovely churches, especially Sv. Jan Krtitel, which has really colourful ceiling MayDavid Ltd paintings. The main square, Velke Namesti has plenty of interesting, historical buildings and at least two good pubs, both with outside seating to Electrical Contractors to admire the view whilst supping a beer. Domestic, Commercial My first port of call was the Hanacke Senk, selling 2 beers from the Breclav Zamecky Pivovar. The and Licensed Clients. Podluzan 11 was a pleasant, simple bitter with some grapefruit notes in the finish. Very refreshing on a hot day. The Kanec 12 had a slightly sour start Installation work carried out on all (it was fresh on, so wasn’t on the turn) but soon types of property. developed into a really grapefruity tasting pivo. Fire Alarms. Just across the square is the brewpub Cerny Orel, a Emergency Lighting. lovely old, brick vaulted building. There were tasting notes in English for the 4 beers they had on. There Fault Finding. were 2 polotmaves, a very malty 2.8% one and a full- Full Inspection and Testing service. bodied 12 degree one with nutty notes and a little bitterness in the finish. The Svetle had a big malty start but quite a lot of bitterness, on the tongue, Reliable & Friendly service. in the finish. The psenice had a pleasant smell of Mobile: banana and clove. It started malty and sweet, 07875484190 developing a pear drop like finish on the tongue. Landline: 01162776847 Back in Brno, I found Zelena Kocka on Dvorakova www.maydavid.co.uk
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 21 April 2015 - The 1852 PUB OF THE MONTH Brewery Company
ebruary’s Leicester City v Chelsea game Steve and Marilyn have been running the 1852 was postponed and subsequently since 1990 and in May this year they will have Frescheduled for the same night as our purveyed Real Ale here for 25 years. This is their Pub of the Month second pub, having formerly been licensees of presentation. The Chequers at Quorn. Marilyn was working in The game was hospitality prior to this whilst Steve had spent televised so, twelve years in the Royal Navy. This pub was as a large part erected between 1871 & 1881, along with the of the 1852s adjacent terrace of twenty cottages, for railway clientele is made workers. Formerly known as The Railway Hotel up of football it is just across the road from Wigston Magna supporters who Railway Station, which closed in 1968. The view their game cottages and 1852 now constitute The Midland of choice on the Cottages Conservation Area. Station Road big screen, we originally crossed the railway line at a level- were guaranteed a crossing close to the hotel until in 1901 a bridge good crowd, with the presentation scheduled was constructed effectively by-passing the for half time. hotel with a steep embankment between the old and new roads. The bridge became known locally as the Spion Kop, named after the hill BEER FESTIVAL around which the notorious Boer War battle was fought that year. In the 1920s it ceased to be a hotel, becoming a public house, and eventually Shipstone’s Brewery became the owners. When Greenalls bought them out in 1980, they renamed the pub The 1852 Brewery Company in deference to the date Shipstone’s Brewery first opened. Unusually these days, the 1852 relies solely on wet trade apart from very reasonably priced filled cobs. THE MALT SHOVEL, BARKBY It mainly consists of a large public bar, with 31st July 5pm-11pm seating areas on several levels and a pool room 1st August 2pm-11pm annex to the rear which has one wall completely clad with wooden Shipstone’s beer crates. To 16 LOCAL ALES INCLUDING: the rear is an enclosed garden with picnic tables Q, CHARNWOOD, ELLISWOOD, and two timber summer houses. Available real GUNDOG, POTBELLY, PARISH, ales on the night were the regulars: Adnams BELVOIR, LANGTON & OAKHAM Southwold Bitter and Ringwood Bitter re-badged as the House Beer “Beards Welcome”. The guest LIVE MUSIC • BBQ ALL WEEKEND ale was Courage Directors.
22 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch A5.Enjoyment.ad:Layout 2 20/12/13 09:22 Page 1
If you’d like to enjoy the freedom of running your own pub, our job is to supply all the help and components you need. Your job is to craft a great pub that delivers joy to your customers, and build a great life for yourself.
Can you picture a great future with Everards? To find out more, contact us today
Call: 0800 056 4111 or visit: www.everards.co.uk
@EverardsTiger facebook.com/everards JIM’S JAUNT Burton Overy, The Bell, Burton Overy Illston on the Hill within the civil parish Burton Overy though & Billesdon by Jim Reay a good mile out from the village centre. After walking a short distance in the same This jaunt started on a Saturday morning direction as the bus was travelling I turned by boarding an Arriva X3 bus from St. left into Mayns Road towards the village. Margaret’s Bus Station. I alighted just past Entering Burton Overy proper, I kept straight Engelbert Humperdinck’s residence on on and The Bell was soon in view ahead to London Road at the top of the hill leaving the left side of the road. Great Glen, adjacent to Paws Boarding The history of Burton Overy certainly goes back to Kennels, at the bus-stop defined as adjacent Norman times, and probably beyond. Throughout to Mayns Road. This bus stop is actually time it has had several names. In the Domesday THE BELL INN GUMLEY A Traditional Country Pub 2ND ANNUAL BEER FESTIVAL Friday 3rd July to Sunday 5th July
Live Music Friday and Saturday Night from 9.00pm Featuring Mr Willie Hart with Special Guest Greg Pearle 12 Real Ales, Sunday – Live Jazz in the Garden from 2.00pm 4 Ciders & Perry Serving food all day in restaurant and garden Also serving hot pulled pork and apple baps List of Beers and Ciders on website: Why not make a day of it on Sunday the 5th and www.thebellinn visit Gumley Open Gardens open from 11-5.00 gumley.co.uk
24 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch Book (1086) it is called Burtone and listed amongst the lands given to Hugh de Grandmesnil by the King. In the 12th century Leicestershire Survey it is called Bicton, and in the 13th century appeared as Burton Noveray. After the enclosure act much land in the parish seems to have been used as pasture and a description of 1790 mentions the opulent graziers living there. In the early 19th century industry was for a time important at Burton Overy. Those engaged in trade and industry were probably employed chiefly in framework knitting, for in 1844 there were 20 stocking frames in the village. Hosiery manufacture at Burton does not seem ever to have developed into a factory industry, and the village was without industry of any kind during the 20th century: It was designated as a Conservation Village in 1974. The Bell was built in 1933 as a reincarnation of the original Bell Public House, which was situated in Bell Lane, and subsequently sub-divided into two private Former Sun Inn & Post Office dwellings known as White Cottage and Bell Cottage. The principal L-shaped room consists of two Pierrepoint wasn’t known to drink here the thick contrasting areas. The larger part, to the front, has rope is probably in homage to the local tug-of-war oak panel clad walls, genuine leaded light windows team depicted in a couple of wall pictures. A former and tables laid for dining and is reminiscent of a skittles long alley to the rear is now a bookable lounge bar, whilst the smaller rearward area is restaurant/function room with windows overlooking more like a public bar with bare floorboards, a darts the lawned garden and a patio furnished with picnic board and a thick rope suspended from an exposed tables. Available Real Ales were Timothy Taylor hefty pseudo (but realistic) ceiling joist. As Albert Landlord and Langton Inclined Plane. From The Bell I took the road directly opposite sign-posted Carlton Curlieu and Illston, ignoring the distance indicated, as the way I was going was off road and far nearer. After passing the cattle grid I followed the Public Footpath signposted diagonally across the field to my left. When the footpath re-joined the road I turned left by another cattle grid and immediately right through a handgate following the Public Footpath sign to Illston on the Hill. Following the yellow way marker posts the path eventually came to and crossed a metalled section of the Roman Road known as Gartree Road near to the driveway of Illston Grange. I took the footpath Illston Grange - the stable block signposted to the right of the driveway and followed it uphill with Illston Grange to my left. This large Victorian house of red brick with stone dressings and Swithland slate roof was built c.1860 principally as a hunting box for Col. J. W. Baillie, who, until 1895, was Colonel Commanding the Leicestershire Yeomanry. To one side it had a large stable block with a central clock tower. Following the death of the Colonel’s heir in 1927, the house was demolished, being deemed surplus to family requirements. The fine Illston Manor House ›› continued on pg 26
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 25 ›› from pg 25 example of a hunting box Stable-block has been left standing and is now a Grade II listed building and an acknowledgment of the area’s great importance for the Leicestershire foxhunting tradition, now used as riding stables. On reaching the top of the hill Illston church tower came into view. The village is a very old one. Originally a Saxon settlement, it was mentioned in the Domesday Book but is now a conservation village inhabited in the main by commuters. Eventually the footpath emerged at the bottom cul-de sac of Main Street. It wasn’t always a dead-end, being once part of an The Queens Head, Billesden ancient trackway, twice as old as the Roman Gartree Road. The first building I encountered to my right was the Grade II listed 17th century Illston Manor House which is much bigger than first appears as only a small part of it can be viewed from the road. Former inhabitation by the once locally influential Needham family is evident over the front door by a carved stone tablet carrying the family’s coat of arms. Flanking this, a string course either side is inscribed, M.H. 1794 recalling when a Mary Heard bought and partly rebuilt the house. There were once two inns along this road, the long gone Sun Inn which became a dwelling house following an interim period as a Post Office, and my next destination, The Fox & Goose, slightly more than a furlong ahead of me to the left side of the road. This unique gem of a pub is unscathed by the passing of time. Its many artifacts include animal traps, farming implements, various taxidermy The New Greyhound, Billesden exhibits, pictures of hunting scenes, as well as a number of cartoons by local resident Ed McLachlan opposite which is the former Sun Inn. I took the left (Private Eye, Punch, etc.). In 1997 when major fork at top of road and straight on out of the village structural work was undertaken, photographs were indicated Three Gates by the 1st signpost and Gated taken before work began to ensure that each item Road to Billesdon by the nearby 2nd signpost. Near could be put back in its exact same place. When to this road’s 2nd cattle grid I passed two houses Main Street was still part of an ancient trackway to my left followed shortly by a really large house drovers sought their pleasures at The Fox & Goose. known as The Ashlands. This stone mansion was In those bygone times, according to the present built in the mid-19th century Tudor style completed Landlord, the pub was renowned as a drovers retreat in 1867 as another hunting box with extensive and whore house but he asserts that he rarely sees stabling. Billesdon was soon visible in the distance, the drovers these days. The pub also hosts the across the fields diagonally to my left. I followed the annual onion growing competition, Onion Sunday, by bridle path in that direction by initially walking with which local charities benefit by thousands of pounds the hedgerow close to my left for a short way until from the proceeds. Comprising of a public bar and a reaching a handgate to my left at which point the lounge bar, outside there is a block paved patio with bridleway was clear to follow diagonally across fields garden furniture and various planters. Available Real to my right. Approaching Billesdon the bridle path Ales were Burton Bridge Burton Ale, Everards Beacon (identified by a blue directional arrow on the yellow and Tiger. way-marker post), veers to the left whilst a public footpath (as indicated by a yellow directional arrow) Leaving The Fox & Goose I turned left up Main Street carries straight on. I followed the latter and where soon passing St. Michael & All Angels Church, almost the footpath split when entering the village I took
26 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch the one to the left that emerged into Vicarage Close, opposite side of the Market Place was known as the from a jitty between houses. I turned right into Old Greyhound which ceased to be licensed in 1916. the close, followed it round to the left then turned Now a private dwelling house, a plaque on the front right into Gaulby Road then left into Church Street. wall betrays its former identity. National census I followed Church Street round to the left past the records and entries in Kellys Directories indicate that Old School Building and St. John the Baptist Church both the Old & New Greyhounds were trading at where the road veered right and I fairly soon arrived the same time for at least half a century. The New at The Queens Head on the left side of the road. Greyhound consists of an L-shaped public bar with an opening to the dining room on one side. To the Billesdon has existed for over a thousand years rear is a games room with a pool table and darts mainly as an agricultural based community. The board. A back garden has paved and lawned areas name means ‘Bill’s Hill’ and was first applied by the furnished with picnic tables. Available Real Ales were early Anglian settlers to the prominent hill nearby. Marston’s Pedigree and Burton Bitter plus a house The burial site there yielded three Saxon brooches beer called Greyhound Best (re-badged Ringwood now in the Leicester Jewry Wall Museum collection. Best Bitter). The village appears in the Domesday Book as Billesdone. There were around a dozen pubs and This was a really pleasant rural ramble linking beer houses in the village in the mid-19th century. three delightful villages and four fine pubs with The most recent closure in 1999 was The White Hart ten different real ales available. The route afforded on Leicester Road, built as a coaching inn to service some splendid views across open countryside as road traffic before 1800. The daily stagecoach well as several interesting buildings to see. There’s a between Leicester and Stamford stopped here night timber bus shelter just outside The New Greyhound and morning for a change of horses. This pub’s claim where I caught a Centrebus 747 bus to begin my to fame was that in the 1960’s it was reputed to be journey home. the first hostelry to serve chicken & chips in a basket Cheers, before this repast became so popular elsewhere. Nowadays almost the entire Village is designated as Jim Reay a Conservation Area. The Queens Head is a grade II listed building which was originally a dwelling house, but has been selling THE drinks now for over 200 years. It was part of The Ruddles estate until 1978 when Everards acquired CHANDLERS their 24 pubs for the grand sum of £730,000. Subsequently we’ve seen the well- documented ARMS appalling demise of Ruddles’ Langham based Brewery which lost its independence, through SHEARSBY takeover, in 1986, several subsequent takeovers 0116 247 8384 and eventual closure in 1999. The pub’s ground floor consists of a public bar and a lounge bar Country Pub of the Year with a conservatory and a staircase leading to 2009 - 2015 a restaurant/function room on the first floor. Batemans XXXB and the Everards trio Beacon, Tiger and Original were available. Home cooked food served I turned left from The Queens Head, along Church six days a week Street and very soon came to The New Greyhound on the corner at the end of the road. Before the Billesdon bypass was opened in 1986 the busy 7th ANNUAL BEER FESTIVAL A47 road passed in front of this pub but now the JULY 2 – 5 setting is far more tranquil. Records show that this ST pub has been called The New Greyhound since the 1 NIGHT TASTING SESSION £12 1840’s although a gable-end date-stone indicates this building was erected in 1801. Preceding this www.chandlersatshearsby.co.uk establishment, a three storey building on the
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 27 FESTIVAL DIARY SAT 6 – SUN 7 JUNE CHARNWOOD CIDER THU 2 – SUN 5 JULY 7TH ANNUAL BEER FESTIVAL FESTIVAL – CHARNWOOD CIDERY PLUS OTHER LOCAL - CHANDLERS ARMS, SHEARSBY – 1ST NIGHT TASTING PRODUCERS – A DOZEN CIDERS IN ALL. NEWTOWN SESSION £12 , DETAILS AT WWW.CHANDLERSATSHEARSBY. LINFORD SUNDAY SCHOOL HALL, BRADGATE ROAD, CO.UK (SEE AD ON PAGE 27) LEICESTER LE6 0HB FURTHER DETAILS FROM FRI 3 – SUN 5 JULY LANGTON BREWERY 10TH [email protected] ANNIVERSARY BEER FESTIVAL – GRANGE FARM, FRI 12 – SUN 14 JUNE BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL - WELHAM ROAD, THORPE LANGTON, LE16 7TU. FEATURING SYSTON & DISTRICT SOCIAL CLUB, HIGH ST, SYSTON, LE7 CUMBRIAN MICRO BREWERIES. (SEE AD ON PAGE 3) WWW. 1GP. 25 ALES & CIDERS (SEE AD ON PAGE 15) LANGTONBREWERY.CO.UK FRI 19 – SUN 21 JUNE BEER FESTIVAL - DOG & GUN FRI 3 – SUN 5 JULY BEER FESTIVAL - THE BELL (GUMLEY) (KEYHAM), REAL ALES, BARBECUE, LIVE MUSIC (SEE AD ON REAL ALES, BARBECUE, LIVE MUSIC (SEE AD ON PAGE 24) PAGE 20) FRI 24 – SUN 26 JULY MARKET BOSWORTH RAIL FRI 19 – SAT 20 JUNE NUNEATON & BEDWORTH CAMRA ALE BEER FESTIVAL – IN ASSOCIATION WITH HINCKLEY THIRST & LAST FESTIVAL - CO-OP SOCIAL CLUB, DUGDALE CAMRA – RAIL, ALE, FOOD, MORRIS DANCING AND STREET, NUNEATON, CV11 5QJ – 40 ALES, CIDERS & PERRIES, ENTERTAINMENT. (SEE WEBSITE FOR DETAILS) FOOD & ENTERTAINMENT WWW.NUNEATON.CAMRA.ORG.UK FRI 31 JUL – SUN 2 AUG LOCALE FESTIVAL – MALT THU 25 – SUN 28 JUNE STAMFORD ARMS, GROBY – SHOVEL, BARKBY – 16 LOCAL BEERS PLUS NORMAL 20 ALES, 6 CIDERS, MUSIC & BARBEQUE (SEE AD PAGE 8) THWAITES RANGE (SEE AD ON PAGE 22) THUR 2 – SAT 4 JULY AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE FRI 31 JUL – SUN 2 AUG SAMARITANS BEER, CHEESE FESTIVAL – CRITERION - US BOTTLED BEERS, BOURBON & & CIDER FESTIVAL – ANNE ELIZABETH THEATRE ARTS, BURGERS (SEE AD PAGE 5) CHURCH ROAD, AYLESTONE, LE2 8LB (SEE AD ON PAGE 9) ALSO – SWAN & RUSHES – 3 FORTHCOMING FESTIVALS – SEE AD ON PAGE 29 (OPPOSITE)
‘Lease or buy backed up by our optional premium care package protecting your investment with on-site service and support. Enquire for details’
* LEICESTERSHIRE ONLY ** LEASE RENTAL - STOCK SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY
28 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch Leicester CAMRA Branch Diary 2015 JUNE SAT 20TH WED 29TH Trip to Harrogate and Knaresborough . WED 3RD Skittles Match – Leicester CAMRA (Contact Gary for details) . Branch Meeting – Syston v Everards Brewery Staff, Black Social Club 7 .30pm WED 24TH Dog, 23 London Road, Oadby . Pub of The Month – Black Dog, 23 LE2 5DL 7 .30pm – contact Keith WED 10TH London Road, Oadby . LE2 5DL . Williams if you wish to play . Country Pub of the Year – Presentation approx 9 .00pm . The Chandlers Arms, Transport by Arriva Bus . AUGUST Shearsby LE17 6PL . SAT 1ST Presentation approx 9 .00pm . JULY Trip to the Cotswolds WED 1ST (Contact Gary for details) SAT 13TH Branch Meeting – The Leicester City Pub Survey Highcross, High St . 7 .30pm WED 4TH (Contact Philip Tiplady) Branch Meeting – WED 22ND Oadby Royal British Legion – Admin base The Pub Committee Meeting – The (provisional start 19 .00hrs – Royal Standard, Charles (t .b .c ). 7 .30pm check website for details) Street, (t .b .c ). 8 .00pm
NOTES Branch Contact: K Williams: 07989 272717 keithedmundwilliams@yahoo .co .uk or: chairman@leicestercamra .org .uk 86 Bonchurch Street, Leicester LE3 5EE For Saturday and Sunday trips: Gary Akiens: 07815 825039 or e-mail: socials@leicestercamra .org .uk For a fully up to date Branch Diary, please visit www.leicestercamra.org.uk and click on the Diary page .
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 29 CAMRA discounts available locally (New additions in bold)
All locations are in Leicester unless indicated in brackets. Information given in good faith and liable to change. Some discounts may be modified or restricted where special promotions are on offer. Black Horse, Aylestone CAMRA discounts/privileges for specific events Bull’s Head (Blaby) 20p/pint The Castle Hotel (Kirby Muxloe) 10% discount on Cask Ales Crown (Anstey) 10% off Cask Ales Dog & Gun (Keyham) 30p/pint on real ales Exchange, Rutland Street 10% off Cask Ales, Ciders & selected items The Friary, Hotel Street 10% off real ales Glenhills Sports & Social (Glen Parva) Temporary Visitor Membership for 50p with CAMRA card Globe, 43 Silver Street 30p/pint Golden Shield (Fleckney) 20p off Real Ales Hind, London Road 10p off Cask Ales Malt Shovel (Barkby) 20p/pint on Real Ales & Trad Cider Marquis Wellington, London Road 10% Narborough Arms (Narborough) 10% off Cask Ales & Ciders Old Horse, 198 London Road 10% Plough (Littlethorpe) 10% The Pub 50p off Cask Ales on Mondays Queen of Bradgate, High Street 10% discount on Cask Ales Queen Victoria (Syston) 20p off Guest Ales Red Lion (Gilmorton) 30p/pint Red Lion Inn (Rothley) 20p/pint & 10p/half Rose & Crown (Houghton on the Hill) 20p/pint Royal Standard 10% off Cask Ales Rutland & Derby, Millstone Lane Real Ales charged at £3 Sir Robert Peel, Jarrom Street 10p/pint off Guest Ales Slug & Lettuce, Market Street 10% Stamford Arms, Groby 10% off Cask Ales Syston Social Club (Syston) Temporary Visitor Membership with CAMRA card Winstanley (Braunstone Town) 20p/pint off guest ales W - Corn Exchange, Market Square standard 50p vouchers accepted and 20% off food W - Highcross. High Street standard 50p vouchers accepted and 20% off food W - Lord Keeper of the Great Seal (Oadby) standard 50p vouchers accepted only W - Last Plantagenet, Granby Street standard 50p vouchers accepted and 20% off food W - Sugar Loaf (Market Harborough) standard 50p vouchers accepted and 20% off food W - White House (Scraptoft) standard 50p vouchers accepted only W - William Wygston (Wigston) standard 50p vouchers accepted only The Yews (Great Glen) 10% discount on Cask Ales W prefix denotes Wetherspoon outlets accepting CAMRA vouchers. One voucher per visit rule generally enforced. Non-CAMRA loyalty card schemes available to all customers: Black Horse, Aylestone “Cheaper by the dozen” - £5 voucher on collecting 12 stamps. Chandlers Arms (Shearsby) 1 for 10 loyalty card Exchange, Rutland Street £2.50 card gives a range of 10% discounts The Friary, Hotel Street “Love Cask Ale” - every 7th pint free The Pub, New Walk 1 for 10 loyalty card Queen of Bradgate, High Street 1 for 10 loyalty card Sir Robert Peel, Jarrom Street 50p card, Visit www.sirrobertpeelleicester.co.uk for details The Steamin’ Billy Card £ 2 card gives various discounts. Details at www.steamin-billy.co.uk
30 June - July 2015 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch F A Campaign of Two Halves air dea on beer 7EZI l t &VMXEMR W ax no 4YFW w! 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) 01/1506/15 Campaigning for Pub Goers Enjoying Real Ale & Beer Drinkers & Pubs Join CAMRA today – www.camra.org.uk/joinus
Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit
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 the Manager Bank or Building Society Guarantee 9261 2 9 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 Please pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the account Bank or Building Society Account Number 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.
Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.
The Leicester Drinker www.leicestercamra.org.uk 31 Tiger Hops Advert 210 x 148 Portrait.qxp_Layout 1 07/05/2015 10:26 Page 1 Brewed with 100% British ingredients
everards.co.uk facebook.com/Everards @EverardsTiger