FREE DRINKERDRINKER Volume 40 No. 3 June/July 2018 By Royal Appointment (see page 41) ING A EW W R A R B F D O W S I R N A N E I N Y G 0 3 Cheers! Time Out - Londons Best Community Pub Th e Sultan - 78 Norman Road, Wimbledon. London, SW19 1BT www.hopback.co.uk Editorial London Drinker is published on behalf of the goers. We clearly can’t expect to do Greater London branches of CAMRA, the so but in so far as we campaign to Campaign for Real Ale, and is edited by Tony keep pubs open and financially viable, Hedger. It is printed by Cliffe Enterprise, Eastbourne, BN22 8TR. this will have beneficial consequences CAMRA is a not-for-profit company limited by for everyone who loves our pubs just guarantee and registered in England; DRINKERDRINKER as much as we do. company no. 1270286. Registered office: I have however been concerned at 230 Hatfield Road, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 4LW. the reporting of what happened at the AGM and conference which has Material for publication, including press releases, should preferably be sent by veered wildly from the fanciful to e-mail to [email protected]. simply plainly wrong. I don’t think that The deadline for the next edition, SO WHERE DO WE this is so-called ‘fake news’; in most August/September is Sunday 8 July GO FROM HERE? cases simply poor uninformed All contributions to this magazine are made on a s I have said often and make no journalism, although some of what voluntary basis. Aapologies for repeating it, London appeared on ‘social media’ may have To advertise in London Drinker, contact Drinker is not a magazine for CAMRA been otherwise. I hope that I have John Galpin on 020 3287 2966 activists; it is written by them for helped to clarify matters. or mobile 07508 036835; Obviously much of our high profile E-Mail: [email protected]. the information, education and Prices: whole page £345 colour or entertainment of pub goers in general campaigning is carried out by £275 mono; half-page £210 colour or £155 and non-active CAMRA members in CAMRA’s national executive and mono; quarter-page £115 colour or £90 mono. the hope of recruiting and activating committees supported by staff from The views expressed in this magazine are those of them respectively. That said, any CAMRA’s office but let us not forget their individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the editor or CAMRA. CAMRA member who is reading this that CAMRA is essentially a grass roots organisation and that that is where its © copyright the London branches of the magazine while sitting in a pub Campaign for Real Ale; all rights reserved. drinking cask conditioned beer is, in strength lies. Most of what we do is Subscriptions: please send either £9 for the my view, campaigning. Carry on! carried out by volunteers at branch or mailing of six editions or £17 for 12 editions to Consequently I do not generally regional level. These are all groups of Stan Tompkins, 52 Rabbs Mill House, Chiltern report on what I regard to be CAMRA highly individual people who will View Road, Uxbridge, Middx UB8 2PD. Please make cheques payable to CAMRA London Area. internal politics. I am however making approach different situations in their These prices apply to UK mail addresses only. To an exception here and I ought to make own way, albeit within the guidelines arrange for copies to be sent overseas, please it clear that some of this is my personal of the AoA as above and CAMRA’s rule contact us. opinion. I write this having returned book, the Internal Policy Document. from CAMRA’s Members’ Weekend Some have more active members than CONTENTS (AGM and conference) which, given all others so can do more. Different Branch diaries 7 the hype, was (mostly) not as bad an branches can have different priorities, CAMRA news and events 12 experience as I was expecting. In the sometimes forced on them by that lack Champion Beer of London 14 panel overleaf you will find CAMRA’s of active volunteers. Some may see News and views 16 revised Articles of Association (AoA). this as a weakness. I don’t; for good GBBF rocks! 19 From these you will see that, in truth, or bad (in other people’s eyes), this is London’s most loved pub 20 not much has changed; they have just who we are. If you want to change us National Pub Design Awards 2017 22 been updated to match how CAMRA then pay your subscription and Trip around Bristol’s breweries 24 has developed, such as pub become active in your local branch. Trade news 26 preservation and health campaigning. Anyone who drinks anything other Charity corner 30 than real ale would be Ealing Beer Festival 32 I would be surprised if any reader, let Hop Stuff Bewery – the interview 34 alone member, could find anything to welcome to join CAMRA, although I Brewery news 36 object to here. So are we still the can’t give them a reason as to why Focus on pubs 38 campaign for real ale? I say yes and so they should do so. You may be Royal Warrant for Windsor & Eton 41 did outgoing national chairman Colin surprised to find yourselves among WhatPub update 26 42 Valentine in his parting address. people who primarily like nothing Book reviews 48 The only clause that was rejected better than to sit in a good pub Hook, line and sinker . 48 read ‘to act as the voice and represent enjoying a good beer. That said, Idle Moments 50 the interests of all pub-goers and beer, while acknowledging the pressures Letters 51 cider and perry drinkers.’ Let’s be that they are under, we should Tottenham Real Ale Revival Crawl 52 honest; it would have been a huge, always remember that in the LocAle scheme 53 almost arrogant, presumption for first instance it is down to pub Crossword 54 CAMRA to claim to represent all pub landlords to consistently serve up 3 Editorial decent pints of beer and CAMRA to do whatever they can to help. CAMRA’S ARTICLES OF We need to get things into perspective. CAMRA will not ASSOCIATION find a cure for cancer. It will not find justice for the poor his is not the full set of Articles of Association. I have and dispossessed. It will not promote peace in the world. included only the ones that apply to campaigning Those were not the aims for which it was set up. It was set T rather than company administration. up so that those of us who enjoy a certain type of beer can 2. The objects for which CAMRA is established are: continue to enjoy it, in all its rich variety. We do not tell 2(a) to secure the long term future of real ale, real cider anyone else what to drink; we never have and never will. and real perry by increasing their quality, At most, we would just prefer that they did it in a pub. availability and popularity; CAMRA is accountable only to its members. I feel that the 2(b) to promote and protect pubs and clubs as social pressure on us to change came from outside and often from centres and part of the UKʼs cultural heritage; those who had their own agendas. I don’t understand why 2(c) to increase recognition of the benefits of those who don’t drink, brew and/or sell cask-conditioned responsible, moderate social drinking; beer seem so much to want our endorsement and, much 2(d) to play a leading role in the provision of as they are entitled to their opinion, it’s not for them to information, education and training to all those dictate to us. If we don’t want to change why should we? with an interest in beer, cider and perry of any I’m happy that all the wonderful (mostly!) and diversely type; talented people that I have met over my thirty odd years 2(e) to ensure where possible that producers and of active membership know what we need to do to be retailers of beer, cider and perry act in the best relevant and will know when the time comes to change. I interests of the consumer. repeat: we are the Campaign for Real Ale and campaigning 3(a) CAMRA is formed as an independent, volunteer for real ale is what we always have done and will continue led, non-party political body to pursue its so to do. objectives. In passing, I recommend Coventry for a day out (only 60 3(b) CAMRA will operate in a transparent, inclusive, to 80 minutes from London) or a longer break. enthusiastic and welcoming manner, at all levels. Tony Hedger Ye Olde Mitre No. 1 Ely Court, between Ely Place and Hatton Garden, London EC1N 6SJ Tel: 020 7405 4751 Historic and Traditional Ale-House Love wine but don’t know the difference between a Pinot Noir and Rioja? Then join us for an informal wine evening with our in-house wine expert Check out what’s on at: yeoldmitreholborn.co.uk BRITAIN’S BEST REAL HERITAGE PUB GUIDE 2017 MASTER CELLARMAN 2016 East London & City Pub of the Year 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2014 SPBW London Pub of the Year 2013 CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2018 4 M@TwickenhamAles EXTRA PALE, WITH THE ZING OF CITRA AND DELTA HOPS THE ESSENCE OF SUMMER Twickenham-昀ne-ales.co.uk 020 8241 1825 Branch diaries elcome to our regular details of London CAMRA birthday crawl: (12pm) Kentish Belle, 8 Pickford La, Wcontacts and events, where branches say what is Bexleyheath DA7 4QW, then 8 or 9 others.