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F R Issue 31 | Winter 2017/18 | www.heartofstaffordshirecamra.org.uk E Beer at HeartE Magazine of the Heart of Staffordshire branch of CAMRA IncoIncorporating Uttoxeter & District subb----bbrrancanch and covering Stafford ••• Stonno e ••• Eccleshaeshallll ••• Penkridge ••• GnGnososaallll ••• and surrounding areas Season's Greetings! Join us for carols, cake and ale Sunday December 17th from 12.00 at the Anchor, High Offley Also in this issue: Help choose our Good Beer Guide entries and Pubs of the Year | Page 16 BranBranchch tritrippss to Derby and Leek | Pages 16, 30 Hilderstone pub re---o-oppeennss | Page 6 and much more... Beer at Heart 31 Monday, 27 November 2017 13:58 page 1 AAAAReRecocommemmendndeded,A,AAPAPicickkofofthethePuPubsbs, , TheTheGoGoododPuPubb Gu Guide’ide’ssStafStaffofordrdshirshireeDiDiningning PuPubb of of the theYeYear.ar.AsAsrerecocommmmenendededdinin: Les: Les RoutRoutieiersrs in inBrBrititaiain;n;WhWhicich?h?GuGuidide.e.FREEHOFREEHOUSUSEE Winter 2017/18 Winner of West Midlands CAMRA Branch Magazine Best Newcomer Award Welcome My motto has always been ‘betterlatethan never’, as my long-suffering family,friends and In this issue colleagueswillattest. So it wasonlyfairthatIwas presentedwith thecertificate for ’s Chair’schat /BranchDiary 5 above-mentioned regionalCAMRA awardamere nine-and-a-half months after theceremonytook Puband Club news 6 place(my invitationgot lost in thepost). Brewery news 9 Pubofthe Season 11 Good Beer Guide &Pubsofthe Year/Carols at theAnchor 13 Campaign news/ Members’weekend 15 Leektrip 16 Pubs on the101 19 Cidertasting 21 Uttoxeter&District news 22 Potteries news 26 TheWestMidlandsRegionalDirectorGary Contactus/Contacting you 29 Timmins—he’sthe oneonthe right—came up to Stoneespecially (thanks Gary), on thenight of our Derby trip 30 Pubofthe Season presentation to theRoyal Exchange. Imustadmit Iwas absolutelychuffed CAMRA gift memberships 31 to getacertificate (at last,something to makethe folksproud) butthe magazine is verymucha teameffort andIam blessedtohavesomereally good writerstocallupon. Beer at Heartispublishedquarterlyby HeartofStaffordshireCAMRA. Ihopethatyou enjoyreading .All Designed and edited by Andrew feedback is welcome, as areideas forarticles, and assistance writingpunning headlines—as youwill Murray. Opinions expressedare those seeIam terrible at it. of theauthorand maynot represent Iwishyou allaverymerryChristmasand aHappy thoseofCAMRA,the local branchor NewYear! editor.Beer at Heartis(c) CAMRALtd. Andy Murray PrintedbyWarwick Printing www.warwickprinting.co.uk Next copy deadline: 12 FEBRUARY 2018 Front coverphoto courtesy of Phil Vickers Issue31|Winter2017/18 | Carefully crafted print range Offering you crisp, balanced, multidimensional print solutions, which are pleasing on the palate and your pocket. l Business Cards l Promotional Flyers / Posters l Menus l Order Forms l Outdoor and Indoor Banners Warwick Printing Company Ltd Caswell Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV31 1QD Tel: 01926 883355 Email: [email protected] www.warwickprinting.co.uk Chair's Chat Branch Diary Welcome to the winter issue of our prize- NB dates and venues are subject to change, winning magazine. Time of log fires, winter so before making a special journey please warming beers and thinking about Pub of the check the diary on our website: Year judging, Good Beer Guide 2019, and next WHATwww.he ISarCAMRAtofstaffordshirecamra.org.uk/diary year’s Beer Festival.I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Frank Bryden to the DECEMBER 2017 committee in the role of Pubs Officer. TUESDAY 5th: BRANCH MEETING - The 2018 edition of the Good Beer Guide has Shrewsbury Arms, Stafford, 8pm. All members recently been released. This is the last to be welcome. edited by renowned beer writer Roger Protz, who has officiated over more than twenty SUNDAY 17th: CAROL SINGING at the ANCHOR, HIGH OFFLEY. For transport editions of the book. The guide features nearly arrangements see page 11. Contact our Social 5000 pubs, and each branch or sub-branch Secretary Kelly for further details on receives an allocation of entries. In our area, as social@heartofstaffordshirecamra.org.uk in probably most others, the quality of pubs is such that there are always some that THURSDAY 21st: Bird in Hand, Stafford 8pm unfortunately have to be disappointed. There - last drink before Christmas! are always changes as new pubs come along, SATURDAY 30th: CAMRA WEST MIDLANDS especially the new generation of micro-pubs, AWARDS, Bartons Arms, Birmingham - Meet excellent landlords change or retire, or the at 10am, Stafford station owners of the premises follow a new business plan. Therefore, please do not assume that, if a JANUARY 2018 pub in our branch area does not feature in the TUESDAY 16th: GOOD BEER GUIDE 2019/ guide, especially if a regular entry in the past, PUBS OF THE YEAR SELECTION MEETING, that there has been a decline in beer quality. It 8pm, venue TBA (check online diary). All is not usually the case. members welcome. The above paragraph emphasizes the THURSDAY 18th: WINTER PUB OF THE importance of completing NBSS scores on a SEASON PRESENTATION - the WOOLPACK, regular basis, as this is potentially the most the Green, Weston, 8pm. All welcome. accurate and effective way of choosing pubs and monitoring quality. It is a year-round FEBRUARY 2018 survey, rather than a point in time. SATURDAY 10th: BRANCH TRIP TO Thanks to all customers at our beer and cider SHREWSBURY- details TBA (check members’ festival who donated their unused beer tokens email/online diary). All welcome. to charity. You raised £320, which will be TUESDAY 13th: GOOD BEER GUIDE 2019 divided between our two nominated charities FINAL SELECTION MEETING, 8pm, venue for this year, the RNLI and House of Bread. TBA (check online diary). All members As this is the last magazine before Christmas, I welcome. would like to wish all our members and readers a Happy Christmas and New Year. SUGGESTIONS FOR SOCIALS? Contact social@heartofstaffordshirecamra.org.uk Neil Butler Chair, Heart of Staffordshire CAMRA Issue 31 | Winter 2017/18 | Pub and Club news STAFFORD STONE The Sun scooped the Public House of the A new venue, Edison’s opened on the high Year award at the Taste of Staffordshire street in early October. ‘A trendy bar selling Awards on Friday 20th October. craft beers’ (the Sentinel), it serves three ever Congratulations to Steve and staff for this -changing real ales, lunch and evening meals well-deserved achievement! and is dog– and family–friendly. It also has a rooftop terrace. Slater’s have just announced that they are intending to open a venue in Stafford. A premises licence has been submitted for a HILDERSTONE former charity shop next to the Butler’s The Roebuck reopened to the pleasant Bell. Best wishes guys—could give a much- surprise of many in October, having been needed shot in the arm to that end of town. bought by Dave and Emma Westwood who run the Vine brewpub in Rugeley.A beer Rob and Paula, who had run the from the Vine will usually feature, along with Shrewsbury Arms since it opened last Draught Bass and a changing guest ale. Dave December, left suddenly in mid-November. and Emma have decided not to compete with It is now being run by Deb from the Coach the excellent food pubs in the locality, & Horses. Meanwhile, the Bird in Hand instead they will focus on providing good has gone from strength to strength since beer and a convivial atmosphere (the newly reopening in July. improved open fireplaces will help with that). This could be a last chance for the The Tap & Spile on Peel Terrace has been Roebuck—please support it if you can! closed and boarded up since September but as we go to press the shutters are off and it WESTON looks like work is being done to prepare for Good news for the Woolpack—we received reopening. Down the road, the Kings Arms this message from local campaigner David is getting refurbished in the new year. Icke: “Just to say thank you to CAMRA and the committee members who initially The Floodgate’s future Tiny Pub Concerts assisted with the application for the ACV for are John Dhal i on 18th December, Kris the pub. I am pleased to say that the Council Dollimore on 15th January, and Chris have approved this and it recognises the Sherburn and Denny Bartley on 23rd April. importance the pub plays in this village. Tickets available from the bar. About 12 months ago the pub was in a bad place and Marston’s weren't really looking GNOSALL after its best interests, things have changed The Royal Oak held a very successful since then and it is back to strength, but the Halloween night with prizes for the best ACV just gives that little bit of security carved pumpkin and the scariest costume. should things change in the future... Thanks The night was made even more special with again!” And to top it all off the Woolpack is the addition of Adnams Ghost Ship on the our Pub of the Season for Winter 2017/18— bar which was in top form and went down please join us for the presentation at 8pm on very nicely. Thursday 18th January. 6 | www.heartofstaffordshirecamra.org.uk Further afield Haberdashers’ Arms, Knighton August Bank Holiday saw the Haberdashers’ host their 71st annual Potato Show. It is thought to be the longest-running uninterrupted show of its kind in Staffordshire, but it’s not all about spuds... Cakes, veg, preserves, wine and flowers are all on show with categories from biggest pumpkin to funniest vegetable, the fun starts when the produce is auctioned off to raise money for local charities. News bites So if you’re proud of your pumpkins or bonkers on baking then you could enter Saracens Head, Weston: undergoing next year. major renovation & refurbishment, Now the dark nights are here the landlady should reopen 30th November Max is putting on her lamp nights, the Star, Penkridge: Ali & Richard Heath electricity is turned off and the oil lamps from the Bell, Haughton took over in are lit making a unique atmosphere.