Spring 2015 the FREE Please Take One tippler The magazine of the Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale

©The Campaign for Real Ale 2015. Opinions expressed need not represent those of CAMRA Ltd or its officials

tipplerthe The magazine of the Gloucestershire Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale

©The Campaign for Real Ale 2015. Opinions expressed need not represent those of CAMRA Ltd or its officials

More of the Black Country page 24 contents: Festival News Pull-out section page 25 Letters to the Editor page 4 View from the Glos. Brewhouse page 33 Obituaries page 6 Donnington: 150 years page 34 News page 8 Brewery News page 38 The Hunter’s Column page 10 CAMRA’s Manifesto page 42 Pubs & Clubs of the Year page 14 Hook Norton Prize Wordsearch page 48 News page 18 What’s Coming Up? page 52

View from the Uley Brewhouse page 19 CAMRA contacts page 53 Bath Taps page 22 Front cover: The delightful Donnington Brewery CONTRIBUTION DEADLINES: THIRD FRIDAY OF FEBRUARY, MAY, AUGUST AND NOVEMBER have you any pub news? More details are posted regularly on the Facebook group 'Gloucestershire Pubs', an ideal forum to keep other people informed of the latest pub developments in the county. We value feedback and news from around the county, so, if you’ve got something to say, want to make a contribution, compliment or criticise, then get in touch: The Editor, The Tippler, 23 Theocs Close, , Glos. GL20 5TX [email protected] 01684 439767 3

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk for goodness LETTERS sake jeremy, can’t we just send an email like to the all those FRIGHTFULLY modern chaps? EDITOR

Some of us old codgers are still happy to use the services of the Royal Mail, and we actively encourage all forms of (preferably printable!) communication. So get writing and get your news, views and comments published!

[email protected] The Editor, The Tippler, 23 Theocs Close, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. GL20 5TX

Dear Chris, new consumers encouraged to try it”. So not sure quite what has happened. Happy New Year! Anyhow perhaps a correction could be made in the next edition that explains we were referring to Having finally had a chance to dip into the latest the Capital of , as opposed to Tippler we noticed an edit on our article (page 40) the Cotswolds as a whole. that could give the impression something else was meant. Cheers and thank you for all the coverage we The sentence: “We wanted to bring back have had in the Tippler; it is appreciated and is a to the Cotswolds and see if we could encourage UK great publication. consumers to be a little more adventurous” Should have read: Lucy & Colin

“We wanted to bring back brewing to the Capital of the Cotswolds and see if we could encourage UK Chris replies: beer consumers to be a little more adventurous” Many thanks for clearing that up. To save you If noticed, I think some of the local Cotswolds worrying, and it was a self-effacing letter that microbreweries might raise an eyebrow or two as was really appreciated, I have had no complaints they were already brewing some excellent tasting at all. before we came along. In Cirencester, however, I guess it’s simply because the brewers in the the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’ there were no micro- county are a friendly bunch of people (and who breweries at the time; although this is not the case wouldn’t be brewing beer? It could be worse!). anymore! On a slightly serious note, sometimes, in The final media release I saw had cut out the order to ensure that the magazine has a ‘flow’ mention of the Cotswolds altogether and read: “We to it, I just can’t fit everything in without a bit of wanted to see if UK beer consumers could be equally adventurous and challenge jiggery-pokery and on this occasion, your feature their taste-buds more. We’d also like to see was the recipient of the editor’s blue pencil. 4

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk LETTERS Currently, we don't organise a Beer Festival ,but we do support the Littledean Real Ale Festival which is scheduled to take place over the Easter Bank to the Holiday, 3rd - 6th April, 2015. This is the fifth Littledean Real Ale Festival being held at The Belfry Hotel, from 12.00pm - 12.00am Friday and EDITOR Saturday and 12.00pm - 11.00pm Sunday and Dear Chris, Monday. Amazingly it’s a FREE entry, with no glass to buy and complementary Bread and Cheese We'd also like to promote the Forest of Dean for those who are enjoying the Ale. The Monday (FoD) CAMRA through the Tippler to try and get evening will be FoD CAMRA night and I will be more people interested in the superb rich heritage of serving the Ale. pubs, breweries, ciders and perries that we have in the region. Cheers FoD CAMRA is a sub-branch of Gloucestershire Andy. CAMRA and are looking for interested parties to come and enjoy real ale with us in the Forest. We I’m Andrew Tubb (Andy) and you can contact me hold regular meetings (known as Jolly's, or is that @ [email protected] Jollies?) on the second Thursday of the month at or Tel : 01594822381 and also you can find out more different local ale pubs. We have a lot of socialising on the events page towards the back of the to get through and organise trips/pub crawls as well. Tippler. pub news in brief. . . Jerry Ward Good news as Samuel Smiths Brewery roll-out difficulties. The beauty of the café lies in its interior. their programme to serve cask ale in their pubs. Expensively refurbished, to all ends it looks like a Three of our expensively refurbished and maintained tastefully fitted out pub with bar, now serving counter, pubs will benefit by serving at least on real ale. still in place. Accommodation is offered and who ’s Robert Raike’s House and The Old knows, one day someone with a vision may once Crown together with The Mill in Withington will again serve ales at a modern White Horse. benefit and the move will encourage more visitors The closed King’s Head at Norton has since to these historic buildings. It’s taken a long time for being bought by New Dawn Developments and had Sam Smiths to make this move, and congratulations planning permission obtained for houses on part of are finally due. the car park, and in December on the beer garden. News of three of our lost pubs. The former The King’s Head Community Pub Group have been Starting Gate at Hardwicke recently opened as a unable to secure pledges enough to purchase the One-Stop convenience store (Tesco owned) taking pub and currently New Dawn say they could open advantage of the planning loophole whereby pubs it themselves (?) or would like to hear from anyone can be converted to shops without the need for interested in joining them in a commercial enterprise. change of use! CAMRA now campaigns to close News of the historic listed market place Red Lion this planning loophole and help save community Inn in , seemed positive when bought pubs. from pubco Punch by the incumbent tenants. However Meanwhile at Cainscross, , the well sited change of use from pub to domestic was quickly former White Horse pub, bought privately from applied for. Subsequently rejected by Cotswold pubco Admiral Taverns in 2010, has just relaunched District Council in December the pub remained as the ‘fresh ground’ café. A social enterprise closed in January and no doubt change of partnership with The Brandon Trust, the café use will be sought again with the business provides work experience for adults with learning quoted as unviable ! 5

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk OBITUARY David William Gardner (Scraggy) 1953 - 2014

Not many people knew David by his Christian name; most knew him as Scraggy the chimney sweep. Sadly Scraggy drowned in the Canal on the 20th December 2014 at the age of 61. Scraggy was a member of CAMRA; his membership card had one name on it Scraggy! He was a great character; he would often join in with CAMRA pub-crawls and after a few pints would entertain us by singing local folk songs in his dulcet Gloucestershire tone. His funeral in St Mary’s Church Wotton-Under-Edge on 20th January was very well attended, the large church was packed with people of all walks of life, and such was the influence this wonderful man had on so many people. His eulogy was read by his sister Kay, here follows an edited version of the eulogy: “Many of you here may only have known David in later years as Scraggy the Sweep. Some of you have been lucky to know him much longer. I will attempt to paint a picture of the man as seen through the eyes of his little sister. My adorable, infuriating big brother, with the Beatles haircut, the hippy beard, or the silly hat. “Born 29th January 1953, as soon as David could walk he was off into the Tresham Valley exploring the local countryside and watching the wildlife. Mum and Dad gave him a wooden toy with bells so that they could find him. “By the time I came along my brothers David and Michael were lively boys and a kid sister would be the last thing they wanted to entertain. However, they would spend hours with me, playing music and singing, or pushing me around in a George Hensley grocery box. Later, my brothers would carry me on bicycles and latterly motorbikes. David would often take me on long walks in the valley, when I protested tiredness he would carry me home. “Growing up around David was like being in a Gerald Durrell book, we would find newts, frogs and bring them home in our wellies. I even had to share my pram with an orphan squirrel called Squeak who David brought home before I was due. Squeak survived for some years and would hurtle up the curtains and terrorise the cat. Squeak would also join David and I on walks through the valley in a dray in David’s jersey! “At senior school, the two brothers were separated, Michael went to grammar school, his love of animals, was David went to secondary modern, only matched by his love of and this was down to character rather than academic ability. David would fellow man, he could get on prefer to spend time in the woods, his with anyone regardless of age, first school achievement was to“ score race, class or 99/100 for bird recognition. David was offered his dream job at Zoo, unfortunately the wages religion. were not sufficient to pay for his accommodation in Bristol, so David worked on the farm and picked hops and apples in Herefordshire. “David was restless to see the world and its wildlife, with a fiver in his pocket he set off and ended “ up in Greece. In Greece, he slept in the goat shed, drinking fresh milk for breakfast, helping the elderly owner whose shoes were made of used car tyres. “Next stop: the Holy Lands, and a job picking oranges in a Kibbutz and befriending Bedouins to explore ancient relics. In the early 1970s when war broke out, he stayed with the people regardless of advice that all Europeans should leave; he spent his time looking after children in air raid shelters. He never lost interest in the Middle East and would often spend time listening to Al Jazeera. “David returned home from this adventure with a Danish Girl, Tove, who spent a happy summer in

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk the family home in Tresham. When Tove’s father became ill, he travelled with her to Denmark to help on the family dairy farm. He spent 10 years there becoming fluent in Danish and Swedish, to the extent he had to show his passport to prove his nationality. “During his time in Sweden, he worked with the elderly, some with severe mental health issues. One formidable woman refused to go outdoors for over 20 years, despite her size and protests he got her into a wheelchair and into the fresh air to enjoy the pleasure of nature, she never looked back. “After buying his dream cottage in Hillesley, David had itchy feet and travelled to India and Nepal, where he found himself by the Ganges among beggars, outcasts and lepers, as an act of kindness he would roll them cigarettes. “In Nepal he stayed with the locals, living in their Huts with the yaks and enjoying climbing the Himalayas, enjoying the staggering views despite altitude sickness. “David returned home met and married Ali and a family followed, with them he passed on his knowledge of nature and farming. To support his family ‘Scraggy the Sweep’ was born, he enjoyed the interaction with a wide range of people he met sweeping their chimneys. “Life did not always run smoothly for David, often people would take advantage of his over-generous nature, but he would not bear a grudge. There are not many people who enjoy a drink in Gloucestershire pubs, that did not know David and he knew all the pubs and lots of people. “A truly kind and considerate man, who is greatly missed.”

All CAMRA members who knew him will raise a glass in his memory.

OBITUARY John Edward Barnard 1928-2014

It is with much sadness that we report the passing of John Barnard of the Red Lion at Ampney St Peter. John died peacefully on Sunday 7th December aged 86 years.

Anyone who had the privilege of meeting John at the Red Lion will remember him as a true gentleman who treated all his customers as his friends, no matter how infrequently they visited the pub. Moreover he had the gift of remembering your name so you immediately felt at home in his company. Visiting the Red Lion was one of life's real pleasures. John bought the pub from Whitbread in 1975 and realised that the traditional interior of the roadside inn was something special that was worth preserving, resisting the urge for modernisation that ripped the heart out of so many pubs. The Red Lion deservedly gained an entry into the CAMRA National Inventory of Pub Interiors of Outstanding Historic Interest. John served his customers from behind a wooden bench as, uniquely, the Red Lion had no bar area. Beer was drawn from a couple of hand-pumps set against the back wall in the corner of the room. Furniture consisted of one table with benches and a window seat used for seating. Across the central corridor, which had a hatch for service and off sales , was a second room which was used when the main bar was busy. When John celebrated his 80th Birthday on 18th September 2008 a representative from Timothy Taylor's brewery in Keighley came specifically to see John at the Red Lion to commend him on the consistent quality of his 'Landlord' ale which was considered by the brewery to be one of the best kept pints outside of their Yorkshire trading area. John is survived by his wife Sylvia and daughters Caroline and Mary.

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk pub news

This May, the Beaufort Arms, , has maintained its second AA Rosette for food for , will be celebrating an amazing the fourth consecutive year, showing commendable 20 years in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide - without consistency. a break. Perhaps uniquely, this has been achieved To complement the food, owner/brewer, Jim, within two different CAMRA branches and along the has tweaked the recipe and is really happy with way the pub has received several CAMRA awards, YPA (Yubby Pale Ale) which joins Yubby bitter culminating in the Gloucestershire CAMRA Pub of and Yawnie, our own craft ales. So happy with the the Year accolade in 2004. After all of these years, results, they are now wholesaling their beers to pubs they’re now going to mount their first mini-Beer (never to supermarkets!). Anyone after information Festival. To help commemorate this achievement, should contact [email protected]. all card carrying Bristol and Gloucestershire CAMRA The awards at the ‘Yubby’ are certainly no fluke, members will be entitled to a discount of 50p a pint as their sister pub, The Killingworth Castle in during the festival period. Wootton by Woodstock, has just won The Landlord Mark Steeds commented: Mail’s ‘Pub of the Year’ after last year winning “To all of our friends past and present, please ‘Restaurant of the Year’ in the same awards. As you come along on May 1st, 2nd and 3rd and help make can imagine, owner Claire reckons she is: “Really it go with a swing.” chuffed to bits.”

We just heard that The Ebrington Arms’ owners, The Little Thatch, now offers a host Jim and Claire, have just celebrated their ‘Pub of goodies for real ale enthusiasts with up to three Anniversary’ on January 18th, and are now into their real ales always on tap, with Bath Ales’ Gem and 9th year at the pub. Hook Norton’s Greedy Goose proving particularly To add to the celebrations, the Ebrington Arms popular of late. The pub is concentrating on local pub news wanting to move the bar and he comments on the work: “I am very pleased with the result. It’s a lot more practical behind, and spacious in front, with more traditional character. Regulars have compared it to the 12 Bells in Cirencester when Bob Ashley had it, in layout and atmosphere.

suppliers and is eager to attract more local brewers to further improve its real-ale credentials. It also offers American craft beer, traditional ciders and a range of spirits. From March they will supplement the cask offerings by having a bottle menu of “Ale drinkers were specially selected real ales, ciders and lagers from relieved that the six brewers within a short distance from their premises. pump Worthside beer Along with all of these benefits, they also have engine has been a new Sunday menu that will be the perfect partner retained, at some cost to my back, as the solid brass for your pint, with meals and drinks served either in and mahogany construction are not light. We still the restaurant full of old-world charm, or the cosy offer some of the best local ales and ciders in town, wood-panelled bar area complete with a warming having served a few hundred varieties over the last fire for customers’ comfort. Menus are updated few years. Pump clips festoon the ceiling beams. every week depending on the availability of seasonal Unlike some recent refits we still have space at the produce, and always include a number of hot and bar for drinkers. cold starters, meat, fish and vegetable mains of local “The menu, after four years of Thai chefs provenance and seasonal character. changed in 2014 when the head chef returned to Hot off the press is the news that they have Thailand and has been developed into a proper, also started a ‘Pie Night’ on Thursdays, serving traditional pub offering, with the help of the late great renowned pies from ‘Plenty - purveyors of delectable Justin Ashley.” pies’. Check out our Facebook page or find out more at www.thelittlethatch.co.uk or drop in at 141 Bristol The Star Inn, Road, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 4PQ. Wotton-under-Edge has new owners. Over the winter, improvement works have been On Monday 26th January, the going on apace at the Waggon and Horses, Cirencester. Wickwar Brewery The bar location dated back to a time when the took ownership of this pub was split into snug and lounge, the walls had fantastic traditional been removed long ago, more dining space added free house in the town of Wotton-under-Edge, which and the bar location no longer made sense. With the is only a few miles away from their brewing site in bar right at the doorway, customers having to climb Wickwar. over those already stood at the bar, though there Lita Ralston is delighted to continue as manager, were a few that enjoyed that sort of intimate contact. providing great customer service and well looked For those visiting the town on the ale trail the pub’s after ales. To complement Wickwar’s own character B&B rooms are still very popular. excellent ales, the pub will continue to For some time Landlord, David Fulcher, has been provide Butcombe bitter and guest ales. 9

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THE HUNTER’S COLUMN

Our intrepid hero heads off darn the East End (gor blimey guv’nor) to get himself acquainted with the meaning of life, speaking of which, I couldn’t help wondering if he managed to swag himself some right lairy jeckyls to go with the new T-shirt?... The Answer To Everything a book of 1880 by D.W. Barrett, called Life & Work among Navvies, where one of the said navvies goes Let’s face it, sometimes alcohol is the answer. off for “a tiddley wink of pig’s ear”. I’d never heard You can try other things – yoga; yogic flying (if it’s “tiddley wink” used for ‘a drink’ either. “Gone for a good enough for George Harrison); yoghurt; yodelling; Burton” was our pitch on it yachting; Yugoslavia (too late mate!); yak milk; The Punk Pig on the posters and front page yakety sax; yakety yak (don’t talk back); yin and of the programme had his ear pierced or tagged even yang. Y not? But nothing else seems to fit. maybe; although I didn’t spot any tattoos. He looked We were at the 31st Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival like a thing of nightmares (and probably thought the in the Grade II* listed Round Chapel, off Lower same about me); this boar was from the dark side Clapton (no sign of abstinent Eric) Road, Hackney, of the forest and was stood upright, gripping tightly, organised (although nobody actually played the with his right, front trotter a beer pump, serving “666 magnificent, piped instrument that dominates the The Number Of The Yeast”. 400 beers were advertised, interior) by CAMRA’s East London and City Branch. with 230 in casks, accompanied by a large bottled The festival takes its name from the old cockney beer section. One in four of the 50+ new breweries rhyming slang for beer – pig’s ear. I must admit I’d in London are located in the east of the city. The seen it advertised in What’s Brewing over the years festival featured 27 London breweries, who between and thought to myself that one day I’d make the them supplied 65 ales. Anspach & Hobday of effort. We’ve always been big fans of pork scratchings Bermondsey brew The Stout Porter, excellent at and were a little surprised that it wasn’t being held 8.5%, with close neighbours, Brew By Numbers, in the Black Country, where the best are made. offering two 03/03 Porters, both at 6.9 %. Bullfinch My sister-in-law hails from ‘darn sarf’ and on being was yet another Bermondsey brewer, although none introduced to scratchings, managed to pull from the of them had named a brew after ‘The Bermondsey bag a big, hairy nipple. They do say that you can Boy’ himself, Tommy Steele. By The Horns did a eat everything on a pig except the squeal. It put her lovely Lambeth Walk 5.1% and East London proved off for life. It eventually dawned on me that we’d got that flattery gets you everywhere by serving up a the wrong end of the stick, but I still wondered why Pig’s Ear Christmas Ale 4.5% with nutmeg, cinnamon the festival was so called. Was it named after a local and ginger. Anybody remember when beer used pub or did they make such a mess of organising it to taste like beer? How about Hackney’s Calypso/El that they decided to own up? “Cor blimey Nellie, wiv Dorado 4.6%, a fruity, juicy, tropical Pacific Pale Ale, made a right pig’s ear ou’a that one!” All was revealed with melon, lychee, peaches and lime hanging off a on the branch’s website. Pig’s ear is cockney rhyming medium malt body. I lieth not. I bet that’s the first slang for beer and had been around for a Pacific Pale Ale that you’ve heard of; it certainly was long time. Well so have I, but I’d never for me. Laines of Hackney denounced the Bourgeois 10 heard of it. The phrase does appear in Scum at 7.0% and prophesied a Red Empire at 5.2%;

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk whilst Hackney-ed London Fields produced 3 Weiss Monkeys, plus “From the gates of hell we bring you Gyle 666, a smoked chipotle, habanero, spiced ale at 6.66%. To be unleashed on all sinners.” Count me in then. Situated directly beneath the “King of Instruments” was my favourite tee shirt company, Smart T’s, who have made me laugh many a time, with their witty slogans, at various beer festivals, including Worcester. Oliver Reed was well represented and, following his sensational, cinematic adventures in the ‘Tipple of Doom’, was declared to be ‘Lost in Action’ or was it all just “Pub Fiction”? “Now, here’s a funny thing”, to slightly misquote local (Brighton actually) comic Max Miller. It turns out that Ernie, the Joint CEO/ Stall Holder of Smart T’s (on their website the company name is printed over some coloured sweets, geddit?), not only hailed from nearby Dartford, but was an ex-Dartford Grammar School boy at the same time as our own most venerated and punctilious (How’s My Punctuation? Call 0800- !”*’?) editor. He also confirmed the story that some of the text books at the school still contained the ‘autograph’ of young Michael Jagger, who had attended a few years prior. Both Ernie & Ed were leading lights, during the school’s mock elections, in the not-to-be-taken-too-seriously Fancy Dress Party, which trounced all opposition on the day. (It went on to contest real council and general elections - Ed.) Warms the cockles of the heart, does it not? My better half and I had had a couple of halves by then; Christmas was coming; a few presents were still required, so we ended up walking away with an armful. My favourite had a completed ‘Hang The Man’ drawing, over the letters ALC_H_L and the slogan, “Sometimes Alcohol IS The Answer”. I’ll drink to that. The 'unter this publication is edited, designed and created by

CHARISMATIC MARKETING LIMITED To find out about our design, advertising, sales and promotional literature services, and how we can help your local business call Chris on 01684 439767 [email protected] 11 NEWS FROM NORTH COTSWOLD BRANCH

SOCIAL DIARY BUSINESS DIARY

14th March - Skittles vs Shakespeare 2nd April - AGM Kings Head, Branch Coach & Horses Harvington Bledington ssaaVVoouurr tHtHee 20th June – Day out to Swindon GBG pubs. FINesFINestt alealess FFroroMM tHtHee MONTHLY PUB WALKS We have continued our programme of monthly pub walks which have been well supported and we plan the pprreessccootttt BrewerBrewerYY following Saturday walks (4 to 5 miles) meet at 10.30 am.

1st March - No 58 Great Western Arms, Blockley 4th April 2015 - No 59 Bugatti Inn Gretton 2nd May 2015 - No 60 Norman Knight Whichford- Joint Camra event

THREE BEER FESTIVALS 2015

16th/17th May - 7th Ale & Steam Spring Weekend - GWR Winchcome/Toddington Stations 8/9th August - 2nd Ale & Steam Summer Weekend - GWR /Toddington Stations 11th/12th Sept. - 8th Moreton Beer Festival - Moreton Cricket Ground.

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Prescott A5 Adverts.indd 3 10/04/2014 08:46 SALLYI FORTH FIRST HAILTHE CONQUERING HERO

THE NATIONAL PUB OF THE YEAR (POTY) Huge congratulations to Peter and Claire Tiley other sub-branches, winning the accolade of at the wonderful Salutation Inn at Ham, who have Gloucestershire CAMRA POTY back in the early deservedly won the highest accolade that the spring. Campaign for Real Ale can award; namely, The next hurdle was going up against the other branch nominations from the northern half of the National Pub of the Year for 2015. South West Region; with great pubs from Bath, Bristol, North Cotswolds, Swindon and North West A winning combination of interesting, superbly being judged against it. Winning the vote kept real ales, a growing range of ciders and perries, from the Northern region award meant it was then allied to a refreshing enthusiasm for community-based judged against the best candidate from the southern events and interesting food nights, have all played half, the lovely Star Inn at Vogue, Cornwell. their part in putting this lovely, lively pub on the map. Winning this regional CAMRA award was itself The ability of their (very supportive) locals to tolerate a fine and worthy tribute to the hard work that this the constant stream of random strangers and assorted lovely, dexterous couple, and their wonderful staff, oddballs (some of whom will keep returning), having have put into running such a fine establishment. that odd half of shandy or two, too often, obviously They then went forward to the Super Regional round helps. That said, the real fire, well trained, friendly, of judging, where they were up against the best attentive staff and the tolerance shown to families pubs in the Welsh, Central Southern and Wessex and pets didn't exactly hinder their chances either. CAMRA Regions for the Super Regional title. We Well done once again. were delighted to hear that they triumphed here as Making it through the judging criteria has been a well, and a lot of good folk were on tenterhooks for long process for this lovely hostelry, starting way quite a while as the end of January approached. back in early 2014 when the Dursley Sub-branch Congratulations once again to all involved, their of CAMRA made it their POTY. regular customers and locals included. Due to the unique way Gloucestershire CAMRA is structured, this pub then went Andrew Frape 14 up against the best pubs from each of the Chairman, Gloucestershire branch of CAMRA.

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk CHELTENHAM POTY This year Cheltenham CAMRA decided that, instead of simply announcing the winner for Club and Pub of the Year, we would announce the winner and two runners-up. The reason is to give recognition to those pubs, landlords and staff who were close to the top prize, and to encourage everyone to put that little bit more in to get to the top. Sandford Park Alehouse - Pub of the Year Cheltenham Motor Club - Club of the Year

The Cheltenham Pub of the Year award for 2015 The Cheltenham Club of the Year award for 2015 goes to the Sandford Park Alehouse. Winner of the goes to Cheltenham Motor Club. As 2013 National Pub of the Year award in 2014, the High Street pub CAMRA Club of the Year and currently the only opened in April 2013. In that time Grant Cook Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, South West Region, and his team have built a strong reputation for Super Regional and on the shortlist (final four) quality and choice – the number of different draught for the 2015 National Club of the Year, this is not real ales served has just passed 1,000. In addition unexpected. there are 16 craft keg ales, 80 bottled beers, good CMC club steward, Neil Way, continues to source food, bar billiards and a beer garden next to the river. and serve a range of exciting and unusual beers. Runners-up are the Jolly Brewmaster and the The club, in Upper Park Street, is very welcoming to Royal Union. The Jolly Brewmaster is a multiple past CAMRA members. winner of this award and is the current Cheltenham Our runners-up are the Charlton Kings Club and St. Cider & Perry Pub of the Year. The Royal Union, a Stephen's Sports & Social Club. Both clubs serve a winner of a Pub of the Season award, continues to changing line-up of generally south-west real ales impress with a selection of great beers and themed and the Charlton Kings Club hold a popular beer beer festivals, like the week-long Welsh Beer Festival. festival every November.

Cirencester's Pub of the Year is the Royal Oak in CIRENCESTER POTY , which, following a wonderfully sympathetic restoration, overseen by owners Kate Lewis and Chris York; has gained a reputation as a cracking freehouse and dining room, serving well-kept regional and guest real ales (and good quality organic food). Fans of wood and stone will relish the decor and design details used.

This dog-friendly, family credit: Ayalem Photography friendly locals pub is a fun and interesting place to visit, although the quiz and party nights can appear rather hectic at first glance. Stroud Tom Long, Bath Gem and a vegan friendly offering from Moor are always available, plus two guest ales and an offering from Severn Cider. The spacious garden hosts several small music festivals over the summer, and their six en suite rooms have helped this lovely pub become the winner of the best pub with rooms award in Sawday's Pubs and Inns of and . 15 FOREST OF DEAN POTY After much deliberation the Forest of Dean members decided that The Rising Sun at Woolaston Common is their Pub Of The Year for 2015. Emerging victorious from a list of nine candidates with last year’s winner The Red Hart at Blaisdon coming a close and along with the home cooked food, this second. makes the Rising Sun a really enjoyable The pub location is a bit out experience. of the way, but worth the effort To the delight of the more traditional when you get there, there is amongst us, the pub has no pool table, a friendly atmosphere and a darts or jukebox, so with only piped warm welcome from Maria, John and their staff, all background music you are encouraged to engage in of whom have a good knowledge of real ale. There conversation. (Will that catch on? - Ed.) are two regularly available and a changing guest There's a good garden area with country views and ale. The ale prices and ABV are clearly displayed, dogs are welcome. GLOUCESTER POTY The Pelican Inn - Pub of the Year

Nestled in St Mary’s Street, just behind the Cathedral, sits the Pelican Inn. Landlord Mike Hall has transformed the pub since Wye Valley Brewery opened it in 2012. There is a belief that the Gala Club - Club of the Year pub contains original The Gala Club in Fairmile Gardens, timbers from was set up as a social club for a number the Golden of public sector organisations. Over the Hind, Drake’s years many of those organisations have flagship, true become privatised but the Gala Club or not, the pub continues. The club has two skittle alleys has a long and a number of organisations use the history of club for meetings. CAMRA members are selling ale in Gloucester. Most of the beers on offer welcome (with card), and the stewards, Neil and are Wye Valley and Dorothy Goodbody, Maria Hiley usually have on offer three real ales, but there are regular guest appearances recent offerings have included Timothy Taylor 16 from other well known breweries. Boltmaker and Moorhouses Blond Witch.

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk STROUD POTY The Ale House

Stroud CAMRA members voted The Ale House in Stroud as Pub of the Year for 2015. It was also Pub of the Year last year. This is the first time members have ever chosen the same pub twice, let alone two years running. So that's quite an accolade. This will come as no surprise to anyone who has visited the pub. An ever-changing selection of nine beers on handpull run the gamut of styles, colours and strengths, from regulars like the Dark Star Hophead (3.5%) all the way up to Oakham, The Kraken Wakes (6.8%) - a Black IPA. Local ales from Stroud and Cotswold Lion breweries are always available, supplemented by an adventurous and catholic range of guests from breweries like Brass Castle, Burning Sky, Downton, Mallinsons and Marble (to name just a few). A cider and perry are always available. The Ale House occupies magnificent premises - a grade-II listed building built in 1837 for the Poor Law Guardians. It is far and away the finest pub interior in Stroud and, unusually for a town centre pub, boasts a blazing log fire in winter. TEWKESBURY POTY The White Bear - Pub of the Year

Situated on the north-western edge of Tewkesbury town centre on the Bredon Road and became famous in 2007 when during the floods it quite literally went under water. The pub has been under the management of Darren Matthews for a little over a year now during in which time he has served an increasingly varied range of excellently kept beers over five hand- pumps . Regulars are the ubiquitous Doombar and Sadlers Peaky Blinder with three regularly changing guests from smaller and local breweries. Real cider is a big draw here with a range of Thatchers ciders as well as three guest traditional ciders and a perry This is a good-value, family-run pub that attracts a varied and very friendly clientèle.

Royal British Legion - Club of the Year

This year, The Legion is celebrating its 60th birthday in an interesting building formerly known as The Mason’s Arms, The Legion is very comfortable multi-room club with a very well kept snooker table. Wendy and Tony Parry are the current stewards and have worked hard to make Real Ale central their offering and they were instrumental in Moles Brewery brewing “Hoppy Poppy” which bolster the Poppy Fund. The Legion has three pumps with up to two in use at any one time with a constantly changing beer on offer. 17

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk NEWS FROM THE CHELTENHAM BRANCH

Planning for the first “As it is August we hope to have the terrace and Cheltenham CAMRA grass area to the side of the Town Hall available Real Ale Festival is well as our outdoor area. We expect to attract up to underway, with Cheltenham 1,000 people at any one time, and with that number Town Hall booked for the attending we will need a lot of volunteers. If any 14th and 15th of August 2015. CAMRA members can help, there is an online and The beer selection panel has started work, aiming downloadable form on the staffing section of the to balance beer styles and strengths to come up festival website. We’d love to see you there. with a list as varied as the tastes of the eager real “Meanwhile we are strengthening our expertise ale, cider and perry drinkers. If anyone would like to internally so that we can run the best festival we request any specific beers, then this can be done can. Two members have attended week-long online at: training courses at the Manchester and Derby Beer http://www.cheltenhamcamra.org.uk/craf/beercider.php Festivals, and four more are booked onto a one-day The panel also hope to persuade brewers to create cooling course at St Albans.” ‘Festival Specials’ to celebrate the first Cheltenham CAMRA Real Ale Festival. We will feature well over Tickets for the festival will cost £6, including a 100 beers, ciders and perries. festival glass. Card-carrying CAMRA members will Grant Cook, licensee of the Sandford Park Alehouse receive £3 worth of beer tokens on the house. and Chair of the Festival Planning Committee, said: There will be three sessions. Friday will be from “Cheltenham is a festival town, so we thought it Noon to 11.00pm, with a quiet session until late high-time we held an official CAMRA real ale festival. afternoon. Saturday will have two sessions, Noon to The Town Hall is the ideal venue. The main hall is a 4.00pm and 6.00pm to 11.00pm. Advance tickets will lovely space and there are plenty of side rooms for be available, for all sessions, online from the festival seating and entertainment. website in the spring, so keep visiting.

An independent true free house in central Cheltenham. 20 High Street, GL50 1DZ. ! ! Tel 01242 574517. ! www.spalehouse.co.uk ! ! ! • •CheltenhamCheltenham CAMRA CAMRA Pub OfPub The Of YearThe Year 2014 2014 • •10 Hand-pulled10 Hand-pulled ales ales and and ciders ciders – – no no nationals! nationals! • Over 600 different real ales since April 2013 • •Over 161,000 taps differentfeaturing Belgian real ales & Germansince April imports 2013 + craft keg • •16 tapsOver featuring 80 superb Belgian bottled beers& German – many imports BC + craft keg • Large garden at rear • •Over Stylish80 superb and comfortable bottled beers – many BC • •LargeGreat garden food at at theprices rear you’ll like • CAMRA discount on Mondays • •StylishCIDER and comfortable& CHEESE FESTIVAL AUGUST 15/16 from 5pm Fri. • Great food at prices you’ll like view from the uley brewhouse In the first of two very different Views from the Brewhouse, Chas Wright, owner, founder and driving force behind Uley Brewery, shares his thoughts on 30 years of beer, brewers, brewing, pubs, paradise and life in general...

Thoughts on Uley Brewery Heroes. the grist case in the roof into the warm spring By Chas Wright water in the mash tun on the first floor. The wort runs into the copper below. It is boiled with Hereford I have always loved the feel and the history of old hops and then collected in the FVs, and fermented buildings, especially breweries. with a yeast strain given to us by John Payne from Smiles Brewery nearly thirty years ago. The beer is casked and conditioned in our long low cellars, which were built in the reign of William IV. On March 1st 1985, we brewed our first Uley Bitter. We did a bit of tweaking and fine tuning, and we have been brewing to the same recipe ever since. Another hero was Simon Whitmore at Butcombe Brewery who brewed just the one beer, and brewed

Above: The Prices Brewery in 1844. Right: Chas and Claude Arkell at Donnington

Forty years ago I sat in Claude Arkell’s office in Donnington Brewery drinking cups of tea with Paul Theakston. Little did I think that ten years later Mr Arkell would come down to the semi-derelict Prices Brewery in Uley and give very sound advice on how to rebuild it. He even sold me a malt mill for it very well. We intended to do the same with Uley £30, and kept an avuncular eye on our fortunes Bitter...However, we were asked to provide a one-off for many years. “Keep it local”, he said, “don’t deal Strong Ale for the 1985 Frocester Beer Festival, with wholesalers.” I winced, I’d been responsible for which we called Old Spot Ale. Silly name for a beer, introducing Theakstons into the South West in the some said. Seventies, but the advice was sound. He was the We had a few nines left over, so we sent them down chief of my heroes. to The Great Western Beer Festival in Bristol, where we won First Prize, beating Wadworths and Eldridge Pope. The Brewery We were pestered by the Press and publicans, and We took over the shell of the Old Brewery in had to re-create this one-off brew, which has now the winter of 1984, and made our own vessels in been with us for the last twenty-nine and a a friend’s fabricating shop in Gloucester. We built half years. Other beers have followed, rods a tower brewery, with Tucker’s Malt dropping from for our own backs! We had to build two 19

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk view from the uley brewhouse

Bavarian style Below Left: The mash tun. fermenters Centre: The yeast head. and enlarge Top: Hirsute Ric Sainty and Chas in 1986. the copper to cope with and new, yes, and you at the Red Lion in , demand. welcome back to the fold!

The The Beers Brewers The beers speak for themselves, without tasting At Uley we have a life notes, and here is the list: style. Ken Lush relates how when he came to Uley as the Director of the Prema Art Centre in 1993 he discovered Uley Bitter in The Old Crown, and declared, “Et in Arcadia ego!” (for those of us who are not Latin, Greek and classics scholars, Ken wasn’t referring to the seventeenth century painting by Il Guernico, but declaring his delight: “And I am in Arcadia (paradise)!” - Ed.) In 1996 he joined the brewery, and is now Head Brewer, Uley Bitter 4% supported by Stu ‘the brew’ Crawshaw and Jody Laurie Lee’s Bitter 4.5% Veale. Ken plays bass and Jody plays harmonica Old Spot Prize Strong Ale 5% with the legendary blues and rock band Short Elbow. Pigs Ear Strong Beer 5% Chas just sits in pubs and plays concertinas. Old Ric 4.5%

The Pubs We have brewed the House Beer of the Old Spot We could brew the best beer in the world, which we Inn, Dursley for twenty years. It is a fitting memorial do quite often, but it is all cask conditioned and must to Ric Sainty, the late landlord, a legend in the revival be looked after by real publicans. We are jealous of Real Pubs. The Old Spot Inn was voted Best Pub of our reputation, and we avoid the world of beer In Great Britain by CAMRA in 2008. tickers’ guest ales and supply only real pubs that look We are hard pressed for brewing capacity, but after their beer. every Spring Ken celebrates with a brew of Gilt It would be rather Edge 4.5%, which like our Harvest Special 4.5%, invidious to pick out discovered Uley Bitter in made with green hops any of our customers, He in early September, but we can safely name the Old Crown, and declared, is usually spoken some of those who have for before it is been with us for 20 “or 30 “Et in Arcadia ego!” brewed! Every years, such as the Edgemoor Inn, Edge; The Fleece few years we brew at Bretforton; George Inn, Newmarket; Old Crown, a Pigor Mortis 6.5%, Uley; The Old Spot Inn, Dursley; The Portcullis, and we’ll probably have one this Christmas. Keep Tormarton; Tudor Arms, ; The Weighbridge, your eyes peeled. Avening; The Woolpack Inn, Slad; The There will be a special brew of“ Severn Boar to Woolpack, Stonehouse, to name but a few. celebrate Thirty Years of Uley Beers when we have 20 Apologies to all our other customers, old a chance. Oh for those halcyon days of just one beer!

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk

PLUMBING MAD JOHN PICKLES TAKES A TRIP TO CHECK OUT SOME BATH TAPS...

The beautifully preserved John Pickles and some Cheltenham chums indulge in some spa wars as they decide to plumb the depths, immersing themselves in the murky waters that make up Bath’s real ale pubs...

On Saturday the 22nd November last year, on a We then moved on to the Star Inn. This was a cold, clear day, 15 members of Cheltenham CAMRA busy, but cosy pub with a bar area and four small rendezvoused at the station to spend a day visiting a wood panelled rooms. We had a choice of Bellringer, selection of pubs in the city of Bath. Abbot, Bombardier and Navigation, plus Bass on After an uneventful, but crowded journey, via gravity at the back of the bar. I enjoyed a glass of Bristol Temple Meads, we arrived and headed to our Navigation. first port of call, Le Coeur de Lion. This cosy little pub is located in a passageway in the city centre surrounded by shops and cafes. Having’ ‘taking over’ the place we enjoyed the ales on offer. I tried XT8, a subtle bitter with a lingering finish, and Oh Mr Porter, a dark smooth ale. They also had Bellringer and Pride too.

The latter pub is in a quieter location in the City, but our next hostelry, The Bell, was in a much busier area. On entering you find yourself in a long room with the bar down to your right and the main seating area up some steps to the left. This place had the best selection so far, featuring seven ales:

We then sauntered over ‘The World Famous Pulteney Bridge’, as you are told MANY times when you have guided tour of the City! (Blimey, I’d never heard of it - Ed.) heading for, coincidentally, The Pultenay Arms! I was disappointed with the selection available...only Otter and Butcombe Gold were worthy of note, but neither were particularly good. Being close Butcombe Bitter, Summer Lightning, Gem, Otter, to ‘The Rec’, Bath rugby ground it wasn’t surprising Bellringer plus the two I tried, Stonehenge Danish that much of the decor was rugby related... Dynamite and Celt Experience Brigid Fire. Both pity the ales weren’t ‘Premiership’ quality! were in excellent condition with great flavours. 22

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk This is a real ‘community’ pub as the walls are kept and tasty. I regretted not waiting to eat until plastered with ad’s and posters promoting local I got here as the food I saw being served looked companies, activities and events. yummy. Next time! I had to catch a train, so I missed visiting the Bath Brew House. I have it on good authority (cheers Ian!) that there were six ales on, including two from the onsite St James Brewery, Emperor and Gladiator (there was no sign of Commodus or Maximus!). Obviously a place to Our fifth destination, The Raven, was include in any right in the centre of the City, amongst itinerary! all the main shopping streets. It was very A most busy, but this added to the ambiance of enjoyable day the place. We managed to find seats on out...good both floors...the beers were the same. My company and a choices were Raven’s Gold and Hogfather from the great selection of ales of varying quality. Orchard Pig Brewery. Both were really good, well Very much worth a visit. More PUBS OF THE BLACK COUNTRY

As always it was entertaining to read about one Wem house, but was up for auction in February of Geoff's forays, particularly the latest one, to the last year. Who knows what it is now. We also got to Black Country. Having lived in Birmingham for three the Jolly Crispin when it was still a busy Simpkiss years in the 1970s this brought back memories of House and managed a few pints there before visiting my own trips to this area to sample the delights of Batham’s Brewery and getting a barrel of bitter for the pubs, bars, beers and the people drinking in a party later that week. It was a some years later them. Fortunately at that time one of my friends before I returned to the The Vine (Bull and Bladder) was an avid real ale man and was and took a few photos both inside and attempting to wean me (and a few outside, and the White Swan. others) off the ever present Tartan and I've not been back to Ma Pardoe’s, but Watney’s Red Barrel. I did venture to for some years now but after reading try a few of Birmingham's other offerings - about Geoff's visit it might just prod me M&B Brew XI was by far the worst into following the trail he has blazed. and largely avoided - it might have been brewed for "Men of the Tim Barber Midlands" but it certainly wasn't for a Lancashire lad. Ansells (I passed the brewery at Aston Cross every day) was bearable and the best by far was Davenports and Springfield Bitter not far behind. Visits to the Dudley area usually started with Ma Pardoe’s - not the Old Swan in Netherton, but the White Swan on Holland Street in Dudley. This was their other tied house which did also sell other beers. You had to make a point of asking for the home brew to get Pardoe's Bitter from a tap under the counter. I believe that the pub was sold at 24 some time in the 1980s and became a

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk FESTIVAL

FromNEWS Around The County (and a little bit further) your 8 page pull out guide www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk

North Cotswold CAMRA & GWR 7th SPRING ALE & STEAM WEEKEND 16th & 17th May 2015 10:30 to 1900 (Sat) to 17.00*(Sun)

at Winchcombe & Toddington Stations 32 Beers total–12 at Toddington (Devon) Hot & Cold Food with Soft Drinks

CAMPING near station at Winchcombe Come by Train:

Cheltenham Racecourse 1st train leaves at 10:55 www.northcotswoldcamra.org.uk last return is 1900 (Saturday) 1700 (Sunday) Regular trains from Toddington run throughout the day. See timetable on GWR Website. A train ticket on the day is required

or you need a platform ticket for entry.

Plenty of car parking at Toddington * North Cotswold CAMRA & GWR 2nd Summer ALE & STEAM WEEKEND

8th & 9th AUGUST 2015 10:30 to 1900 (Sat) to 17.00*(Sun)

at Winchcombe & Toddington Stations 32 Beers total–12 at Toddington Hot & Cold Food with Soft Drinks

CAMPING near station at Winchcombe

Come by Train: www.northcotswoldcamra.org.uk Cheltenham Racecourse 1st train leaves at 10:55 last return is 1900 (Saturday) 1700 (Sunday) Regular trains from Toddington run throughout the day. See timetable on GWR Website. A train ticket on the day is required

or you need a platform ticket for entry.

Plenty of car parking at Toddington *

view from the gloucester brewhouse

A word on ‘craft beer’ (the phrase not the actual We brew with our hands, that is to say the extent beer). of automation in the brewery is in the form of a You can’t move for ‘craft beer’ these days and few heating elements and a couple of pumps. We not being a legally protected term, anybody can brew in small batches of 40 casks at a time. We are claim their beer as craft. This of course may lead to unashamedly embracing the use of new, exciting dilution of the term as conveying any particular set ingredients to allow us to explore full and complex of standards. Plus you have the added complication flavours in our brews. And maybe most importantly of some people thinking that this is a flash in the pan of all, everybody who works here brews beer. term that is pulling us away from the great brewing So, is ‘craft beer’ good or bad? I wouldn’t be heritage we have in the U.K. presumptuous enough to tell you that you should So why you may ask, do we continue to use the drink beer just because it says it is craft. However, term? I would be presumptuous enough to tell you that Well, rather than just giving up and giving it to plenty of small breweries are making fantastic beer certain huge international brewing corporations who that is modern, relevant, interesting and handcrafted use it purely as a marketing buzzword, we continue and that you should try them. Don’t assume that to use it to remind ourselves of why we love our beer ‘craft beer’ just means a North American style pale and why we want to share it, namely the following ale with hops, hops and more hops. reasons: We are a truly independent brewery, there is Jared Brown no one behind us telling us what we should brew. Owner, Gloucester Brewery

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk donnington

150 years: the

Thomas Arkell bought the beautiful 13th century will have no difficulty in identifying one very close to Donnington Mill near Stow on the Wold in 1827, home - at Donnington, sitting in a gentle curve just which had previously been used for both milling corn off the Tewkesbury to Stow road, so that travellers and wool manufacture. In 1865 Thomas and his catch a glimpse of the clear blue mill pond formed nephew Richard Iles Arkell converted the mill to a from the waters that make this local beer." It is brewery. Richard realised that the pure water of the interesting that Harriet uses the phrase 'real beer' as River Dickler was perfect for brewing beer and the this was written in the early days of the Campaign mill race and water wheels could provide power to For Real Ale. the brewery. Thus, 2015 marks the 150th anniversary In fact the 1974 CAMRA Good Beer Guide of the Donnington Brewery. Moreover, after all those listed six Donnington pubs - the Coach & Horses, years it is still run by the Arkell family. Traditional Ganborough; Fox Inn, Great Barrington; Halfway values have been brought forward into the 21st House, Kineton; Merrymouth Inn, Fifield (Oxon); century but the passage of time has essentially kept Queens Head, Stow on the Wold and the Plough at the brewery unchanged. Ford. The map in the Good Beer Guide illustrating Nearly 40 years ago in May 1975 there was an the location of the real ale pubs in Gloucestershire article in 'Cotswold Life' written by Harriet Daniels showed a bias towards of the north east of the county entitled 'The Old-Fashioned Brewery'. Subtitled where the Donnington pubs were located. To put "Everyone, it seems, wants to things in perspective there were no Good Beer Guide run a Donnington pub", it detailed the history of the passage of time brewery up to that date when the there were 17 tied pubs. Harriet has essentially kept the began the article with the observation: "It would be interesting to know how brewery many breweries there are which are“ unchanged considered so attractive that a picture of the building is used as a beer mat! pubs listed at all in the Cheltenham and Gloucestershire 34 Enthusiasts for real beer in the Cotswolds conurbation. Unlike today, where there are around “ www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk 20 active breweries in the county, the only serious few years has seen the introduction of a new 'core' competition in the early 1970’s came from the beer to its portfolio -the delicious 4% ABV Donnington Whitbread brewery in Cheltenham with its one Gold - and even the acquisition of two new pubs. solitary real ale - West Country PA. Little wonder Two of the regular beers, BB and SBA, have their then that the Donnington Brewery now enjoys own pedigree having been brewed at the Donnington legendary status and their delicious Cotswold ales Brewery for more than fifty years. BB is a pleasant are held in high esteem by beer drinkers from near 3.6% amber bitter with a slight hop aroma, a good and far. balance of malt and hops in the mouth and a bitter In 1952, after his service in the Royal Air Force, aftertaste. SBA, a stronger 4.4% premium beer, has Claude Arkell inherited the Donnington Brewery malt dominating over bitterness , with a hint of fruit from his father Herbert. Claude ran the brewery for and a dry malty finish. Donnington Gold is described 55 years until he sadly died in June 2007, aged 89. as a golden ale with a citrus flavour followed by a The brewery was bequeathed to cousin Peter Arkell rounded malt finish. and his son James of the Kingsdown Brewery in Whilst having a spring clean in May 2011 an old Swindon. Peter and Claude were friends in the RAF brewing book was discovered which detailed the and shared their love of fishing and brewing. Peter very first brew that Richard Arkell made on May 27th Arkell has since passed away leaving James as 1865. The replicated beer was called Founders Ale owner. James learnt the art of brewing at Donnington and was very similar to a contemporary golden beer, in the 1970's so when he took over from Claude he a 4% brew with a strong Austrian style hop flavour said "it was like coming home!" James Arkell's son, derived from the Willamotte and English Goldings John, has now joined the business and the last hops. The finest Maris Otter malt was used and the beer was an instant success - the first 'new' ale that Donnington had brewed for a very 150 years: the cotswold way everyone, it seems, long time. James said: "Inside the brewery is very similar. We stood on wants to run a the pretty much the same spot to brew and taste the beer as Richard would Donnington have done, probably using some of “ pub the same equipment too. “

“...the clear blue mill pond formed from the waters that make this local beer." donnington 150 years: the cotswold way The best things never change.” Founders Ale and Richard Tonge is the drayman. Andy Driver is proved so popular that it was brewed again. There the cellarman supported by Michael Pheasey. Roger have been other occasional brews including a Dearman has the role of manager. A special luscious stout called Black Swan and last Spring a mention must be given to nonagenarian Val Teale beer called Life Sentence was brewed which was who still works on a part time basis at the brewery. bittered with Admiral hops. Diamond Queen was Val is a true gentleman who started working at the bottled in 2012 for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee brewery in 1983 after running the Mount Inn at Stanton year. A celebratory beer will be brewed for the and ran the administrative side for many years. sesquicentennial year - a beer flavoured with honey After 150 years of trading the Donnington Brewery is in the planning stages. remains true to its core values of tradition and has In 2010 Donnington Brewery was voted 'Best an enviable reputation when it comes to looking after Small Brewery' by the Good Pub Guide. The 21st its tenants in its tied houses. The observation made century has also seen the acquisition of two new by Harriet Daniels in 1975 that 'Everyone, it seems, pubs - the White Bear at Shipton on Stour in wants to run a Donnington pub' still has relevance Warwickshire and the Red Lion at Castle Eaton in today particularly when compared to the less Wiltshire. These new tied houses bring the total back fortunate publicans employed by the larger up to 17 joining the portfolio of pubs that include avaricious Pub Co's. such well known pubs like the Queens Head at Stow Donnington Brewery are acting as sponsors at and the New Inn at Willersley that have been in the the Cotswold Beer Festival at Postlip Hall this year, estate since the brewery was first established 150 for which Gloucestershire CAMRA are extremely years ago. grateful. A small number of staff are employed at the Donnington brewery. Phil Janka is the head brewer Geoff Sandles

CAMRA National Pub of theYear 2007 CAMRA Gloucestershire Pub of the Year 2013 Excellent Home Cooked Food Served at Lunchtimes Cosy Log Fires for the Winter...Secluded Garden for the Summer dog Wide Range of Guest Ales Always Available T.01453 542870 enquiries @old spot inn.co.uk or visit. www. old spot inn. co. uk scan me... VISIT OUR SISTER PUB: THE OLD BADGER INN, EASTINGTON The Old Spot Inn . Hill Road . Dursley . Glos . Gl11 4JQ CAMRAFOOD enthusiast FOR THOUGHT and all round good egg, our eponymous friend Steve Knibbs dips his pen and enters the gastronomic sensual overload that is the world of ‘food matching’...

The heady days of sophistication used to involve beers would be great. It offers diners choice, promotes a prawn cocktail, well-done steak with chips and Gloucestershire and supports the brewers too. It's onion rings finished off with Black Forest Gateaux. something that we, as lovers of decent ale, should The sophistication was suitably enhanced when you try and promote more. Maybe there's some treated yourself to a classy bottle of Liebfraumilch to campaigning to be done? But at its simplest level, accompany the culinary delights. Then, as we grew having a chat to the owner of the restaurant you to realise that this actually tasted rubbish, those always go to to encourage them to try local beer too. of us that wanted beer were often disappointed by See how it goes. They might be surprised how filling the selection. Sadly, it's a trend that's still repeated this gap in the market could work for them. today. A lot of restaurants, especially the chains, will offer expensive 330ml bottles of ‘premium’ lager Steve Knibbs with a fancy name that's pretty fizzy and makes you Steve is the Gloucestershire reporter for BBC TV’s bloated as you tuck into your food. Points West. I get really disappointed by this and surprised that in the current golden age of ale and the beer P.S. On a non-food, but beer related note I recently revolution we aren't offered a decent beer alongside spent a week in Cumbria and several pubs were the ‘chilled to disguise the taste’ fizzy stuff. Some doing the triple-tasters (see pic). The idea being you restaurants are taking the hint, but in my experience can taste a third of a pint of three different beers for they tend to pick cheaper high-volume beers seen in the same price as a pint. It's a fantastic idea and I'm supermarkets which, for me, never cut the mustard. sure many Gloucestershire pubs are doing it. Except I have beer friends (not that I categorise my I haven't found one yet! So let me know, via The friends into groups) who pontificate about how fabulous Tippler or @knibbsey on Twitter, if you know of one. beer and food matching is. It's a growing trend If you're a landlord and not doing this then why not and one which I can absolute see the point in. So give it a try? my beef about beer in restaurants is that we should encourage them to be more adventurous. The range of ales and craft beers that could add to the experience of good food is exceptional. It just takes a little work. OK, there is an argument that this is making it all a bit too poncy and thinking too deeply about having a beer, but we should have the same offer when we go to a decent restaurant that we get when we go to a decent pub. A lot of independent and, to their credit, many of the chains promote food miles and their use of local produce. Your steak has only travelled 6 miles from field to plate etc. But there are still those restaurants who then serve imported lager. What about the beer? Even putting he food matching aside just serving up a range of Gloucestershire

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk LISTEN CHRIS, I’VE GOT SOME NEWS FOR YOU...

straight from the horse’s mouth... brewery news

Well over 400 railway closed station. The working ‘N Gauge’ scale model enthusiasts and members of the station and historic 1860’s brewhouse were a of the public journeyed to hit with all that saw it. the past at the Wickwar Barry Fortin, from Wickwar Brewing Company, Brewing Company open who was responsible for organising the event said: day. The event took place “We had a fantastic turnout at the brewery to on Saturday 24th January support the unveiling of Farnham and District’s Model at the Old Brewery, Station road, in Wickwar, where a working scale model showing the Wickwar train station as it would have looked 50 years ago was on display for visitors to enjoy. Crowds of people attended the open day, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the last passenger train leaving the now

Railway, that includes our heritage brewery. It was great to welcome over 400 people of all ages into the brewery to enjoy the model and also learn how we brew our ales.” Brewers were on hand throughout the day answering questions and

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk straight from the horse’s mouth...

brewery news educating the public about the brewing process and should now be available in their four Gloucestershire history of their site. Wickwar have also produced a pubs - the Mill Inn at Withington, Robert Raikes commemorative ale called ‘Last Train’ for visitors to House and Old Crown in Gloucester, and the Circus sample, or buy during the day. Mr Fortin added: Bar in Cheltenham. The 4% ABV Old Brewery Bitter “Due to its success, we are extremely keen to is described in the Good Beer Guide thus: 'Malt continue holding events such as this at the Brewery dominated the aroma, with an initial burst of malt, in the near future, and urge the local community to hops and fruit in the taste, which is sustained in the keep an eye out for future events.” aftertaste.' Moreover, it represents excellent value for money and should be around £2.50 a pint! Wickwar Brewing Companies 25th Anniversary The Summer 2011 On a separate note, this year will see Wickwar edition of the Tippler had Brewing Companies 25th Anniversary, since the a lengthy article lamenting company started in the Old Cooperage in 1990. the non-availability of There will be a number of offers and events throughout traditional Samuel Smith's the year, and we will endeavour to inform you of all ales in their local pubs. It of them. was pointed out that the managerial decision was questionable given the fact that one of their Excitement is mounting as it has been confirmed, after a long wait, that Sam Smith is finally going to appear in several Gloucestershire pubs. This is not the young English singer and songwriter, who has had several chart topping hits during the last few years, but Samuel Smith Old Brewery Bitter (OBB). The reintroduction of real ale into Sam Smith's tied houses in Newport - the Olde Murenger House houses in the county has been achieved after a long - had gained an entry in the Good Beer Guide on and concerted campaign directed towards brewery the strength of the quality of their OBB! However, owner Humphrey Smith who has previously resolutely now that discrepancy has been eradicated with refused to supply OBB in traditional wooden casks changes to delivery from brewery to pub, we can, at to the area over claims that quality is compromised long last, fully appreciate the picturesque Mill Inn at when the ale travels so far from its Yorkshire heartland. Withington and marvel in the architectural splendour Another reason cited for the non-availability of OBB of the Robert Raikes House in Southgate Street, were delivery schedules from Tadcaster, home of Gloucester. Samuel Smith since 1758. It was claimed these The present delivery schedules may possibly were too infrequent to enable the satisfactory rotation revert back to a less frequent time scale if the sales of Old Brewery Bitter in the cellar to maintain a of cask OBB are not considered to be economically consistent quality control. viable. It's been over 20 years since Sam Smith's A move to weekly delivery schedules in the local cask ales were last regularly available in trading area seems to have heralded a welcome Gloucestershire. Let's hope that they are change of heart at Yorkshire's Oldest Brewery. OBB now here to stay. 39

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk straight from the horse’s mouth...MORE... brewery news

I caught up with Bev Booth, The bar will also have 10 keg lines, all dedicated to Company Secretary of the exhibiting the finest in real keg conditioned beers. brewery who are investing Again our own beers will feature alongside high heavily in premises and products. Bev comments: quality U.K. keg conditioned beers, European lagers “There a lot going on at Gloucester Brewery this and other esteemed world beers, keeping your year. So I would like to start with a big thank you to fingers on the pulse. all our customers new and old(er). “Another fantastic aspect of the bar will be the “We are moving site a few hundred metres into 100 litre nano brew-plant, on which we will regularly the old malt-house on the Gloucester Docks (how be brewing ultra-small batches of one off beers, fitting). The building was in a pretty bad state of repair, ranging from established styles to more avant-garde but we saw the potential and are currently pouring creations. These will be available exclusively from tenderness and love (and a fair bit of cement) into it. our bar. It is a fantastic grade II listed building with a sack-full “We will also be serving a handpicked selection of character, especially the main entrance which will of local cheeses and artisan charcuterie, to complement be transformed into a bottle shop and visitor’s centre our beers. with plenty of information about us, about brewing “After much debate on how we should fit out the and about beer in general. bar we have settled on a modern warm interior design. “Don’t worry, our existing brew site will not be Do we want to be up to date with the new and future abandoned! It will be converted into Gloucester’s developments to Gloucester and relevant with regards first and premier craft beer bar. TANK. There’ll be to our location? Of course we do. at least eight hand pumps serving cask conditioned “So if you would like to drink some modern, real ales, both our own brews and carefully selected relevant, interesting and handcrafted beers then one guest beers. Showcasing the best that the U.K. has place you could go would be TANK on the Gloucester to offer, keeping us firmly in our roots. Docks, opening Spring 2015.” SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BREWERS... Do your bit for the breweries in the county and support them by asking for their beers, bottles and ales. Here’s a list of the county’s brewers:

Battledown Cotswold Spring Halfpenny Stroud (Cheltenham) () () (Stroud) 01242 693409 01454 323088 01367 252198 01453 887122 07891 995878 Bespoke Brewing Donnington Hillside () (Stow-on-the-Wold) (Longhope) Terrace 01594 546557 01451 830603 01452 830222 (Aylburton) 01594 840100 Ciren Ales Force 07942 205947 (Cirencester) (Cirencester) (Nailsworth) 01285 652230 07532 097050 01453 835715 Uley (Uley) Corinium Ales Freeminer Prescott 01453 860120 (Cirencester) () (Cheltenham) 07716 826467 01594 827989 07526 934866 Whittington’s () Cotswold Gloucester Severn Vale 01531 890223 (Bourton-on-the-Water) (Gloucester) (Cam) 01451 824488 01452 690541 01453 547550 Wickwar (Wickwar) Cotswold Lion Goffs Stanway 01454 292000 (Coberley) (Winchcombe) (Stanway) 01242 870164 01242 603383 01386 584320 Beer and pubs are close to the hearts of many millions of voters. CAMRA is asking General Election candidates to pledge their support for Britain's pub goers and beer drinkers by committing to do the following if elected:

Back action to support well-run community pubs by:

• ensuring pubs are better protected in the planning system • ensuring large pub companies treat publicans fairly

Celebrate and promote Britain's 1,150 real ale breweries by:

• ensuring that beer duty is set at a level that supports UK brewing • retaining discounted duty rates for small brewers

Represent the interests of pub goers and beer drinkers by:

• supporting consumer choice and the rights of consumers to fair treatment

CAMRA has set up a web page where you can read the full Manifesto and see which election candidates have signed up so far. You can also find contact details to lobby candidates in your constituency. Go to:

http://ge2015.camra.org.uk/

In Gloucestershire we have written to as many of the candidates standing in our six constituencies as we were able to find contact details for – 30 in total – and asked them where they stand on the issues raised in the CAMRA Manifesto. We have pressed them to sign up via the above CAMRA website and 10 of them have done so. We also offered all of them the opportunity to make brief statement (of support or otherwise!) which we would publish in full in this magazine. Some candidates told us that their party has rules against them signing ‘pledges’, however all the major parties have candidates who have signed up, if not in Gloucestershire then elsewhere in the country. No-one would claim that this is a binding promise but it is a declaration that the candidate if elected will be sympathetic to the aims of CAMRA and 42 help wherever possible.

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk Here are the results. If a candidate in your constituency is not mentioned then you can assume that, as of going to press, they had neither signed up to the Manifesto nor given us a comment to use. The Manifesto is open for signature right up until the General Election in May so if a candidate you support is missing please feel free to lobby him or her encouraging them to sign.

43

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk MANIFESTO FOR PUBS

Planning – Change of Use (England) Hundreds of pubs are being lost as a result of weak planning rules that allow pubs to be converted into convenience stores, estate agents and a range of other uses without any planning application being MANIFESTO FOR REAL ALE made. The planning rules affecting pubs need to be strengthened to ensure that planning permission Beer Duty is required before pubs can be converted to any The decision to scrap the beer duty escalator and to other use. cut beer duty in Budgets 2013 and 2014 has given the beer sector a huge boost. It has helped keep Planning – Demolition (England) the cost of a pint down creating jobs and increasing Currently it is possible for developers to demolish other tax revenues. Serious consideration should freestanding pubs without planning permission be given to a beer duty freeze for the whole of provided the pub in question is outside a conservation the next Parliament. area and unlisted. The planning rules need to be strengthened so that planning permission is Small Breweries’ Relief always required before a pub can be demolished. Britain’s smallest breweries pay 50% less beer duty than large breweries in recognition of the higher Pubco Reform (England and Wales) costs associated with small scale production. This The Government is working to establish a much tax concession has been key to the number of small needed Statutory Code and Adjudicator to support brewers in the UK trebling to over 1,150 over the last tied publicans. CAMRA believes that the proposed decade. Small Breweries’ Relief should be retained Statutory Code should be strengthened to allow to support the continued growth of small local publicans tied to large companies guest beer rights breweries. and the choice of paying a higher rent in exchange for being free to buy beer on the open market. These EU Excise Duty Directive changes will help ensure that tied publicans are not The European Union imposes restrictions on how squeezed out of business by rents and wholesale alcohol can be taxed by national Governments. beer prices set at artificially high levels. The new These restrictions mean that beer sold in pubs and Statutory Code should include guest beer and supermarkets must be taxed at the same rate and market rent only options for tied publicans. that reduced duty on low strength beers can only be applied to beers at or below 2.8% ABV in alcoholic Licensing Law (England and Wales) strength. The UK Government should renegotiate Allowing well run pubs to open later than 11pm has the EU Excise Duty Directive so it is possible given consumers greater freedom and helped to charge a preferential rate of duty on draught support the profitability of pubs. The freedoms of the beer sold in pubs and enable reduced duty on 2003 Licensing Act should be retained to ensure low strength beers to apply up to 3.5% ABV in consumers continue to enjoy greater choice. strength.

Standing up for Consumers Real Cider Consumer protection regulations are important to Cider makers who produce less than 7,000 litres protect consumers. CAMRA would like to see a year are exempt from paying alcohol duty which action to ensure an end to the practice enables small scale production to flourish. The of serving short measures and to ensure existing duty exemption for small cider producers 44 pricing information is clearly displayed. must be retained.

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk

CAMRA LocAle is an initiative that promotes pubs that endeavour to always stock at least one locally brewed real ale, and importantly, kept in a consistently good condition. Our definition of ‘local’ is a beer that is either brewed in the county, or within 30 miles of the pub. Only one of the ales need be local to qualify. If your local isn’t part of the scheme ask the landlord or landlady why not. If they’re interested in joining the scheme, then please get in touch with us and we’ll take it from there. The list below, in order of city, town or village has ongoing updates, new additions are highlighted in magenta.

Alderton Gardeners Arms Eight Bells Amberley Amberley Inn Noel Arms Black Horse Cirencester Bees Knees Arlingham The Red Lion Corinium Hotel Ashleworth Boat Marlborough Arms Avening Bell Twelve Bells Queen Matilda Waggon & Horses Barnsley Village Pub Clearwell Lamb Blaisdon Red Hart Clifford’s Mesne Yew Tree Black Horse Blockley Great Western Arms Cranham Royal William Bourton-on-the-Hill Horse & Groom Didmarton King’s Arms Bourton-on-the-Water Mousetrap Dursley Old Spot Bream Rising Sun Eastington Old Badger Brimscombe Ship Inn Ebrington Ebrington Arms Broad Campden Bakers Arms Edge Edgemoor Inn Fox Inn Broadwell Elkstone Highwayman Inn Brockhampton Craven Arms Elmstone Hardwicke Gloucester Old Spot Brookend Lammastide Forthampton Lower Lode Inn Cashes Green Prince of Wales Frampton Mansell Crown Inn Cerney Wick Crown Frampton-on-Severn Three Horseshoes Charfield Pear Tree France Lynch Kings Head Charlton Kings Royal Gloucester Cross Keys Cheltenham Adam & Eve Dick Whittington Beehive Inn Fountain Cheltenham Motor Club New Inn Exmouth Arms Pelican Hewlett Arms Water Poet Jolly Brewmaster York Kemble Brewery Inn Gotherington Shutter Inn Moon Under Water Great Barrington Fox Inn Old Restoration Gretton Royal Oak Retreat Guiting Power Hollow Bottom Royal Union Ham Salutation Inn Slug & Lettuce Hawkesbury Upton Beaufort Arms Somerset Arms Hillesley The Fleece St Stephens Club 46

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk Horsley The Hog Stanton Mount Kemble Tavern Inn Stonehouse Woolpack Thames Head Inn Stroud Ale House Kempsford George Inn British Oak Kineton Halfway House Clothiers Arms Lechlade Crown Inn Crown & Sceptre Riverside Inn Imperial Hotel Swan Prince Albert Leighterton Royal Oak Queen Victoria Mickleton Butchers Arms The Retreat Old Lodge Inn Tetbury Priory Inn Hotel Weighbridge Inn Royal Oak Severn Bore Snooty Fox Miserden Carpenters Arms The Ormond Moreton-in-Marsh Bell Inn Tewkesbury Nottingham Arms Redsedale Arms Olde Black Bear Nailsworth Britannia Royal Hop Pole Village Inn Theoc House Black Horse Tudor House Hotel Nettleton Bottom Golden Heart Inn White Bear Newent Cobblers The Camp Fostons Ash George Hotel Toddington Pheasant Inn Newmarket George Inn Todenham Farriers Arms Newnham Railway Tormarton Major’s Retreat North Cerney Bathurst Arms Twyning Village Inn North Nibley Black Horse Uley Old Crown Oddington Horse & Groom Upper Soudley White Horse Royal Oak Waterley Bottom New Inn Poulton Falcon Westonbirt Hare & Hounds Randwick Vine Tree Inn Whiteshill Star Ruardean The Malt Shovel Wickwar Buthay Sapperton The Bell Wickwar Social Club Shipton Moyne Cat & Custard Pot Woodchester Ram Inn Shurdington The Bell Royal Oak Siddington Greyhound The Old Fleece Slad Woolpack Wotton Under Edge Falcon Inn Slimbridge Tudor Arms Royal Oak Snowshill Snowshill Arms Star Somerford Keynes Bakers Arms Inn Swan Hotel South Cerney Old George Inn have you any pub news? More details are posted regularly on the Facebook group 'Gloucestershire Pubs', an ideal forum to keep other people informed of the latest pub developments in the county. 47

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk WORDSEARCH

We’re delighted to announce that The Tippler has teamed up with Hook Norton Breweries to provide the prizes to our increasingly popular wordsearch. This issue we have four brewery tour tickets for this fascinating brewery set in the beautiful village of Hook Norton.

Can you find the breweries and ales listed in the grid, reading across, down, or diagonally, forwards or back?

When you have found all the words, the remaining unused letters spell out an appropriate message.

Get your answers in ASAP to [email protected] Find in the grid breweries and ales from Gloucestershire. Unused letters spell an appropriateand win message. on of FOUR BREWERY TOUR tickets available to lucky winners. N N A I L S W O R T H E Y Amber Nailsworth The best things O E P B E S P O K E S N E Arkells Otter T R R A W J R O I N L I L Battledown Prancer G I E T I E E C A M L T U N C S T C S C A M B E R S Bespoke Prescott in life are three I T C L K T N E R A K E F Ciren Sharps N E O E E A A S E A R B F Corinium Stanway N R T D D N R D H L A I O Donnington Stroud O R T O B W P O U A F L G Visitor Centre open Mon - Sat 9.30am - 4.30pm all year round D A E W R A N D N O R S A Fleece Terrace www. hooky.co.uk e: [email protected] V C R N E Y E R E V R P A Goffs Uley twitter.com/hookybrewery L E R A W K C I W A U T S Guvnor Wicked Brew facebook.com/hooknortonbrewery HANDCRAFTED BEERS FROM THE L M U I N I R O C E S G S Libertine Wickwar The Brewery, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, OX15 5NY 01608 730384 COTSWOLD HILLS SINCE 1849 The best things in life are three

Visitor Centre open Mon - Sat 9.30am - 4.30pm all year round www. hooky.co.uk e: [email protected] twitter.com/hookybrewery facebook.com/hooknortonbrewery HANDCRAFTED BEERS FROM THE The Brewery, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, OX15 5NY 01608 730384 COTSWOLD HILLS SINCE 1849 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: Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. A Campaign of Two Halves 230 Hatfield Road, St.Albans, Herts AL1 4LW Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society F To the Manager Bank or Building Society air dea on beer Address l tax n ow! Postcode Save Name(s) of Account Holder Britain’s Pubs! Bank or Building Society Account Number Branch Sort Code Join CAMRA Today Reference Complete the Direct Debit form opposite and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and a fantastic discount on your membership subscription. Service User Number 9261 2 9 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. FOR CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE LTD OFFICIAL USE ONLY This is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society Your Details Direct Debit Non DD Membership Number Title Surname Single Membership £24 £26 Name Postcode Forename(s) (UK & EU) Instructions to your Bank or Building Society Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) Please pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the account detailed on this Joint Membership £29.50 £31.50 instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign For Real Ale Limited and, if so will be passed electronically Address (Partner at the same address) to my Bank/Building Society. Signature(s) Date For Young Member and other concessionary rates please visit Postcode www.camra.org.uk or call 01727 867201. Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account. Email address I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and agree to abide by This Guarantee should be detached and retained by the payer. the Memorandum and Articles of Association Tel No(s) I enclose a cheque for The Direct Debit Guarantee Partner’s Details (if Joint Membership) Signed Date • This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay by Direct Debits. Title Surname • If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit The Campaign for Applications will be processed within 21 days Real Ale Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation Forename(s) of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request • If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd or your Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society - If you receive a refund you are not entitled to,you must pay it back when The Campaign For Email address (if different from main member) 01/15 Real Ale Ltd asks you to • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society.Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us. 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: Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. A Campaign of Two Halves 230 Hatfield Road, St.Albans, Herts AL1 4LW Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society F To the Manager Bank or Building Society air dea on beer Address l tax no w! Postcode Save Name(s) of Account Holder Britain’s Pubs! Bank or Building Society Account Number Branch Sort Code Join CAMRA Today Reference Complete the Direct Debit form opposite and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and a fantastic discount on your membership subscription. Service User Number 9261 2 9 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. FOR CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE LTD OFFICIAL USE ONLY This is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society Your Details Direct Debit Non DD Membership Number Title Surname Single Membership £24 £26 Name Postcode Forename(s) (UK & EU) Instructions to your Bank or Building Society Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) Please pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the account detailed on this Joint Membership £29.50 £31.50 instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign For Real Ale Limited and, if so will be passed electronically Address (Partner at the same address) to my Bank/Building Society. Signature(s) Date For Young Member and other concessionary rates please visit Postcode www.camra.org.uk or call 01727 867201. Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account. Email address I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and agree to abide by This Guarantee should be detached and retained by the payer. the Memorandum and Articles of Association Tel No(s) I enclose a cheque for The Direct Debit Guarantee Partner’s Details (if Joint Membership) Signed Date • This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay by Direct Debits. Title Surname • If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit The Campaign for Applications will be processed within 21 days Real Ale Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation Forename(s) of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request • If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd or your Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society - If you receive a refund you are not entitled to,you must pay it back when The Campaign For Email address (if different from main member) 01/15 Real Ale Ltd asks you to • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society.Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us. Campaigning for Pub Goers Enjoying Real Ale & Beer Drinkers & Pubs Join CAMRA today – www.camra.org.uk/joinus events: what’s coming up Gloucestershire Branch Committee Meetings

5th May 8.00 pm - Royal Hop Pole, Tewkesbury GL20 5RS

Cheltenham Branch - Email: [email protected] Meetings on second Wednesday or Thursday of the month at 8.00 pm. Call: Veronica Emary 01242 244397

16th March 7.30 pm - Business meeting - Quaich 8th April 8.00 pm - Social - start Kings Head, Bishops Cleeve 13th April 7.30 pm - Business meeting - Royal Union 14th May 6.50 pm - 41 bus to Tewkesbury, social - start Hop Pole 26th May 7.30 pm - Business meeting, Plough, Prestbury,

Cirencester Sub - Branch - Email: [email protected] Meetings on second Tuesday of the month at 8.00 pm. Call: Rob Tough on 01285 851194 10th March 8.00 pm - Bathurst Arms, continuing to the Cheltenham Motor Club, Strand, and Sandford Park Alehouse. 14th April 8.00 pm - Mystery bus trip to somewhere starting with a B and ending in ristol. 12th May 8.00 pm - Swanning around at the Swan, Bibury, the Swan, Southrop, the Swan, Faringdon and Swan, Swinbrook 9th June 8.00 pm - Cycling evening starting at the Royal Oak, Tetbury, Whole Hog , Potting Shed, Crudwell and the Bakers Arms, Somerford Keynes.

Dursley Sub - Branch - Email: [email protected] Meetings on last Tuesday of the month at 8.00 pm. Call: Chris Arrowsmith on 01453 548991

Forest of Dean Sub - Branch - Email: [email protected] Meetings on second Tuesday of the month at 8.00 pm. Call: Andy Tubb on 01594 822381 12th March 8.00 pm - at The George Inn, Aylburton 9th April 8.00 pm - at The Globe Inn, Alvington 14th May 8.00 pm - at The Malt Shovel, Ruardean 1th June 8.00 pm - at Royal Spring Inn, Lydbrook

Gloucester Sub - Branch - Email: [email protected] Meetings on second Wednesday of the month at 8.00 pm. Where bookings are essential or for further details please contact Margaret on 01452 551400; by email on [email protected] or visit the website www. camraingloucester.org.uk 11th March 8.00 pm - Social meet at the King Teddy, moving to Greyhound 27th March 6.30 pm - Minibus to Worcestershire. Bookings essential. 15th April 8.00 pm - Social meeting. Start at the Dick Whittington and see where we end up! 24/25th April 11.30 am - 3rd Camra Gloucester Beer and Cider Festival at Blackfriars Priory. 11.30 am - 23.00 pm both days. Tickets on the door, admission £6 to include festival glass. CAMRA members wishing to volunteer will be most welcome. 2nd May 12.00 am - Meet at the Bank House Cheltenham, then on the A bus to Prestbury for a wander around the village pubs 13th May 8.00 pm - Social meeting. The Imperial and beyond! 29th May 6.30 pm - Minibus trip via Wainlodes and out to the Boat. Bookings required 6th June TBC - Pauntley Beer Festival by charabanc! Trip in conjunction with the Stroud RE Bus group. Bookings will be essential. 10th June 8.00 pm - Social meeting – the Fountain Inn, a nice summer location! 26th June TBC - Please check the website for details

Stroud Sub - Branch - Email: [email protected] Meetings on third or fourth Tuesday of the month at 8.00 pm. Call: Andy Burston on 01453 882410 Anyone interested in Stroud meetings should contact us by email on [email protected] and ask to be added to our email list.

Tewkesbury Sub - Branch - Email: [email protected] Meetings on third Thursday of the month at 8.00 pm. Call: Steve Kisby on 01684 295466 19th March 8.00 pm - Social - Lower Lode, Yew Tree, The Boat 16th April 8.00 pm - Social - The George, Swan at Staunton Cross, Royal Exchange 7th May 8.00 pm - Business - AGM - The Tudor House Hotel 9th May TBC - Trip - Ludlow Spring Festival (SIBA Wales & West Fest) 14th May 8.00 pm - Social - Tewkesbury town walk with Cheltenham CAMRA (Hop Pole, Berkeley, Nottingham, 52 Tudor House, White Bear)

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk Cheltenham CAMRA Branch Officers and Committee

Chair Press Officer Veronica Emary - 01242 244397 Tony Lucas [email protected] [email protected]

Secretary and Branch Contact Membership Chris Chadwick Rob Coldwell [email protected] [email protected] News Letter Social Secretary Ian Scott Roger Merrett [email protected] [email protected] Webmaster Treasurer Chris Martin Grant Cook [email protected] [email protected] Young Members’ Contact Alistair Kerr Pubs Officer [email protected] John Crossley [email protected] Committee Members Leigh Norwood Clubs Officer [email protected] Andy Forbes John Pickles [email protected] [email protected] www.cheltenhamcamra.org.uk facebook/twitter details: CAMRACheltenham@CheltenhamCAMRA

North Cotswold CAMRA Branch Officers and Committee

Chairman and Festivals Director Young Members Officer: Roger Price Nick Avery [email protected] 6 Greenlake Close, Bourton on the Water 01451 822602 GL54 2PR 01451 810305 Social Secretary and Webmaster: 07850 429630 Peter Rowe (Bourton on the Water) [email protected] [email protected]

Secretary: Beer Festivals Coordinator: Jonathan Sankson – (Bourton on the Water) Martyn Herbert (Exmouth) 01451 821513 07760 134866 [email protected] [email protected]

Treasurer: BLO Cotswold Brewing Co.: Dawn Harrison (Bourton on the Water) Peter Rowe (Bourton on the Water) 01451 822410 [email protected] [email protected] BLO Donnington Brewery: Membership Secretary: Dick Harrison (Bourton on the Water) Garry Hayward (Winchcombe) 01451 822410 01242 621140 [email protected] [email protected] BLO Goffs Brewery: Pubs Officer and Good Beer Guide Co-ordinator: John Stocks (Toddington) Phillip Ellis (Bourton on the Water) 01242 620442 01451 822524 [email protected] [email protected] BLO Stanway Brewery: Media Officer: Garry Hayward (Winchcombe) Martyn Herbert (Exmouth) 01242 621140 07760 134866 [email protected] [email protected] 53 www.northcotswoldcamra.org.uk Gloucestershire Branch Elected Committee Members

Position Name, address and contact details

Chairman Andrew Frape Sunnybank, Cheltenham Rd., Bagendon, Cirencester, GL7 7BH 07941 670371 [email protected]

Vice Chairman Mike Bristow [email protected]

Branch Secretary Steve Kisby 01684 295466 Branch Contact [email protected] [email protected]

Treasurer Patrick Phair 01242 527068 [email protected]

Membership Secretary Ali Turner 07825 565943 [email protected]

Tasting Panel Chair Trevor Carter 07717 841233 [email protected]

Webmaster John Barrett 01242 239785 [email protected]

Public Affairs Officer Martin Parker 01242 252085 [email protected]

Young Members Contact Currently vacant

Newsletter Editor Chris Leibbrandt 01684 439767 [email protected]

TRADING STANDARD DEPARTMENT Gloucestershire Trading Standards, Hillfield House, Denmark Rd., Gloucester. GL1 3LD Telephone: 01452 426201 email: [email protected] 54

www.gloucestershirecamra.org.uk 0035 Cotswold Advert OL AW.pdf 1 22/11/2013 14:40

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ABV 4.0% vol ABV 4.2% vol ABV 4.6% vol

BUXOM, FRAGRANT AND Cantankerously crisp SUITABLY dark, stout and GOLDEN, BURSTING WITH and chestnutty with robust, with a commanding STRAW AND SUNSHINE a subTLe hoppy finish malty fruitiness WYE’S WORDS No. 2

PINT OF BUTTY AT NIGHT, “ FESTIVE DELIGHT ”

Winter evenings and Christmas get-togethers are perfect for sharing good times with friends and family. But no festive gathering would be complete without our ‘little friend’ Butty Bach – a smooth, satisfying premium ale brewed using locally grown Fuggles, Goldings and Bramling Cross hops. 4.5% ABV

facebook.com/wyevalleybrewery @wyevalleybrew Find gifts for real ale-loving friends at www.WyeValleyBrewery.co.uk SHARE OUR TASTE FOR REAL LIFE