opening times Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA Issue 143 the Campaign for Real Ale Summer 2010 Chequers, Little Gransden Pub of the Year Also inside: Support Plans For Pubs (Page 4) Booze on the Ouse Report (Page 12) CAMRA Discount Scheme (Page 15) Booze on the Ouse, St Ives Beer Festival Thursday 16—Saturday 18 September 2010 2 Support your local pub - don't give them an excuse to close it! PUBS OF THE YEAR Chequers, Little Gransden Bob (left), Wendy (right), branch chairman The Huntingdonshire Branch of CAMRA Kathy Hadfield-Moorhouse and, looking has selected the Chequers, Little Grans- on, Town Crier, Mike Blackburn. den as its Pub of the Year 2010 - the sixth Green Man, Leighton Bromswold time that the Chequers has won the award This year Huntingdonshire CAMRA have in recent years. decided to give a ’highly commended’ CAMRA gives this annual award to the award to the second placed pub in the pub that it judges to provide the widest branch competition, the Green Man, appeal for its combination of good beer, Leighton Bromswold. In the judging, first atmosphere, style, service and value. and second place were separated by the smallest of margins. Bob and Wendy Mitchell have owned and run the Chequers, Little Gransden for 17 The Green Man is a community pub with years and the pub has been in the Mitchell so much to offer. Locals meet for a family since 1950. friendly chat round the bar, families make good use of the separate family room and The cosy public bar with its plain wooden diners come from far and wide to sample seating and open fire is an unaltered gem the excellent food. and there is a choice of two other rooms. There is always a warm welcome from Licensee Toni Hanagan has owned the Bob and Wendy and the village regulars. Green Man since the early 1990's and the pub's reputation is firmly established. The The Chequers truly is a community pub, bank of four handpumps always offers an and the heart and soul of this Cambridge- interesting selection of well kept real ales, shire village. Many of the regulars are and in recent times an increased range of country people who work in agriculture. locally brewed beers has been available. Bob's Son of Sid brewery, which opened Food has also been an important feature in November 2007, continues to go from of the pub, and the addition of chef Bill strength to strength. After more than 2 Bennett (who used to run Bennett's Bistro years Bob's imagination and creativity are at the White Hart, Bythorn) has strength- unchallenged, and he continues to brew a ened the pub's food reputation. steady stream of distinctive beers in a wide variety of styles. Pictured below are Toni Hanagan and branch vice-chairman Richard Harrison. There was a presentation to Wendy and Bob on the opening night of CAMRA’s recent St Neots Beer Festival. Pic- tured are OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 3 NEW SUPPORT PLANS FOR PUBS Pubs Minister John CAMRA has been lobbying hard to en- Healey has an- courage other political parties to unveil nounced a major their policies to support pubs before the package of reforms General Election and it seems likely that to support pubs. other major parties will support reform to The proposals have help the pub trade and licensees. the potential to to- CAMRA’s ‘Beer tally transform the Drinkers and Pub UK pub trade, leading to a free, fair and Goers’ Charter’ was competitive market where consumers will launched at a West- benefit through greater choice, improved minster parliamen- amenity and lower prices. tary reception and The day after the announcement, sent to over 2,000 CAMRA’s Chief Executive, Mike Benner, general election said ‘Yesterday was a fantastic day for candidates. Over CAMRA, real ale drinkers and pub goers.’ 200 candidates signed up to: The government proposals include: • Promote the interests of UK pub goers • Greater protection for pubs under threat of demolition • Champion well-run community pubs • A ban on restrictive covenants that pre- • Rebalance alcohol taxation to support vent the use of buildings as pubs when beer and pubs sold • Reform the beer tie to deliver a fair deal • Greater flexibility for pubs to diversify by for consumers adding shops and other facilities without the need for planning permission • Support the role of well-run pubs as solutions to alcohol misuse • £1 million government funding for the Before John Healey’s announcement, the ‘Pub is the Hub’ advisory organisation Office of Fair Trading reopened its investi- including seven full time advisors gation of the beer tie and launched an • £3 million to support community pub open consultation following CAMRA’s ownership appeal against the OFT’s rejection of its super-complaint about ‘anticompetitive • Greater freedom for pubs to host live practices’ in the pubs industry. music without a specific licence The BIS Select Committee restated its call • Implementation within one year of the for major reform and urged the Office of recommendations of the recent Busi- Fair Trading to look more carefully at the ness, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Select issues involved as it responds to Committee report on pub companies, CAMRA's super-complaint for the second including a new code of practice for pub time. leases, a free of tie option and a guest beer right for tied tenants. 4 Check out local music events at www.huntscamra.org.uk/gigguide A traditional old country pub and restaurant with a warm and friendly atmosphere. Traditional Sunday Lunch. Children’s menu available. Open all day Saturday and Sunday. 4 real cask ales served including Adnams Bitter, Fullers London Pride plus 2 guest ales. Bar Meals are available every day. A la carte menu is served in our restaurant Monday to Saturday. The menu caters for all tastes including vegetarian and any special dietary needs. The Pig and Abbot High Street, Abington Pigotts, Nr. Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 0SD Telephone: 01763 853515 King of the Belgians Hartford • Three real ales changing weekly • Traditional pub food served Monday-Saturday 11:30-2.30pm, Tues- day-Saturday 5.30-9.30pm, Traditional Big Sunday Roast 12-4pm • Opening times: Monday-Thursday 11-11, Friday-Saturday 11-12 midnight, Sunday 12-10.30pm 27 Main Street, Hartford, Huntingdon, Cambs, PE29 1XU. Tel: 01480 52030 OPENING TIMES 143 SUMMER 2010 5 A LOOK BACK IN TIME 25 YEARS AGO the public interest. Rodney Mann, director Throughout the summer of 1985, CAMRA of Watneys’ Norwich Brewery company continued its campaign of support for claimed that his organisation owned less Blackburn brewer Matthew Brown in its than half of Norfolk’s pubs and said he ‘tooth and nail’ fight against a hostile take- was ‘not worried’ about any referral to the over bid from Scottish and Newcastle. Office of Fair Trading. Norwich Branch’s The bid had been referred to the Monopo- Paul Moorhouse said ‘I think he should be lies and Mergers Commission and as it worried. Some of the licensing areas we continued to hear evidence, CAMRA pro- researched showed a Watney ownership duced badges, posters and banners to of nearly seven out of ten pubs. In terms display its ‘Hands off Matthew Brown’ of prices and pub closures we have a message. In June, 400 CAMRA members sound case of an abuse of monopoly attended a demonstration in Edinburgh. power’. Earlier, a parade of Matthew Brown drays St Neots CAMRA held summer meetings led a rally at the House of Commons at at the Golden Knight, Sapley and the Half which a 5000-signature petition was pre- Moon at Kimbolton. Socials visited pairs of sented to Blackburn MP Jack Straw. The pubs in Somersham (the Windmill and brewery closed in 1991 with production of George), Needing- Matthew Brown brands being relocated to worth (the Queens S&N’s Home Brewery in Nottingham and Head and Chest- on its closure to Mansfield Brewery. nuts) and, to the Mansfield Brewery agreed terms to buy west of Huntingdon, North Country Breweries of Hull for £42 the Mermaid at El- Fox at Catworth million. The Hull brewery was expected to lington and the Fox close. Mansfield Brewery was acquired by at Catworth. A July evening walk around Wolverhampton & Dudley (now Marstons) St Neots began at the Kings Head. in 1999 and closed in 2001. Liverpool brewer St Neots brewers Higsons was taken James Paine over by its Man- bought London- chester neighbour based wholesaler Boddingtons brew- Robert Porter from ery in a £26million brewers Gibbs Mew ‘behind closed of Salisbury. Paines doors’ deal. Hig- pub the Queen Vic- sons’ capacity for toria in St Neots lager production was for sale, but Paines were denying was a main driver rumours that another of their pubs, the for the deal. The Boddington breweries Bell at Sawtry, was to be sold. were sold to Whitbread in 1990 who finally closed the Higsons Stanhope brewery site CAMRA’s Norwich and Norfolk branch shortly thereafter. produced a report claiming that a pubs monopoly in Norfolk was working against 6 CheckSupport out your local local music pub events - don't at give www.huntscamra.or them an excuse tog.uk/gigguide close it! A LOOK BACK IN TIME 10 YEARS AGO ery in Suffolk follow- British brewing ing the retirement of became a global its founder Peter industry as Bel- Mauldon after a gian brewers Interbrew completed a dou- lifetime in the brew- ble swoop ten years ago, snapping up the ing trade. Mauldons brewing operations of Whitbread, then brands, including Bass, for £2.7 billion.