NORTH EAST Raise a glass to pubs, people and news from your local FREE ISSUE 19 www.cheersnortheast.co.uk // AprilApril 20122012 OUR MAN IN HAVANA THE VIEW FROM cheersA CUBAN BAR THAT TIME AGAIN NEWCASTLE BEER FESTIVAL NO36 THE BAND PLAYED ON TITANIC SET TO GO DOWN WELL DRY, DRY, DRY DROUGHT, BARLEY AND RISING PRICES BACK TO SCHOOL IT’S RIAN’S GIG BRITISH BEER’S AMERICAN ACCENT INN-SIDE PUBS !// NEWS // IDEAS // OPINION // NEW PUBS // OLD PUBS // BEER FOR LUNCH // BEER FOR TEA // BEER FOR DINNER // PUBS! Cover.indd 1 10/04/2012 18:27 Cheers Mag_CRISPS_Jan12 1/2/12 08:49 Page 1 Jad and I were in the beer garden, making the most of an unseasonably hot summer’s day. The landlord kept a brood of bantams, to which Jad gleefully offered his roast hiden crisps. A bantam clucked appreciatively. “Moments“ umb u s” I observed. “ o you think D o d D that thi makes them cannibal bantams?” retorted Jad. I took a mouthful of Theakyons and paused to think for a later he moment. And a moment after that, as the brewer’s art played hopyicks on my palate. “I’m was feeding not sure about the cannibalism, but they certainly are what they eat” I quipped. “So,” said Jad, “If you are what you eat…and drink, then what does that make the hens you?” I consulted my pint once more, and ruminated. “Are you suggeying, that I am Old and Peculier?” “Well, it had crossed my mind” Jad replied. hiden “Oot as peculiar b a man who feeds hens hiden flavoured crips, I think.” flavoured “Point takeN” said Jad. [[ crisps.” Savour Every Moment. theakstons.co.uk InsideFront.indd 2 10/04/2012 18:28 NORTH EAST Raise a glass to pubs, people and news from your local FREE ISSUE 19 www.cheersnortheast .co.uk // April 2012 Editorial OUR MAN IN HAVANA THE VIEW FROM 01661 844115 cheersA CUBAN BAR THAT TIME AGAIN NEWCASTLE BEER Alastair Gilmour FESTIVAL NO36 THE BAND PLAYED ON [email protected] TITANIC SET TO GO DOWN WELL malsters will reject it. They are very specific on the size and quality of the grain that they want.” want.” that they that they specific on the size and quality of grain specific on the size and quality of grain very very are are it. They it. They will reject will reject malsters malsters mean the which could smaller, are and the grains productive is less the crop “In dry years DRY, DRY, DRY DROUGHT, BARLEY Advertising AND RISING PRICES 01661 844115 BACK TO SCHOOL Gillian Corney As the cover line reads, it’s that time IT’S RIAN’S GIG [email protected] of year again. It’s not only the return of BRITISH BEER’S AMERICAN ACCENT INN-SIDE PUBS !// NEWS // IDEAS// OPINION // NEW PUBS // OLD PUBS// BEER FOR LUNCH the Newcastle Beer Festival which pops // BEER FOR TEA// BEER FOR DINNER Philippa Gibson // PUBS! [email protected] up annually alongside da odils and gambolling lambs, but also the spirit of Cover: Rian Van Nordheim, Alastair Gilmour, editor Brewlab student. See page 16 Website: new beginnings and fresh hope. www.cheersnortheast.co.uk e chancellor of the exchequer did the pub industry no good at all in his Budget, despite calls to scrap the INSIDE Designed & Published by: beer duty escalator, and the announcement of a minimum price for alcohol units was not only a cynical de ection from the economy’s ills, but only added confusion to an industry overburdened by government NEWS interference. 4 Would you like ice Unit One, Bearl Farm with that? But, on to new beginnings. It’s encouraging to see pub investment Stocksfi eld with news of a new opening in Durham – e John Duck – plus the 6 Prince of Wales gives Northumberland royal approval NE43 7AL Northumberland Arms at Felton in Northumberland is under new ownership, as are the Cross Keys Inn at Esh in County Durham and Directors: e Miners Arms in Acomb, Northumberland. FEATURES 10 The worrying times Gary Ramsay ese are pubs that deserve to succeed but will survive only through for farmers and beer [email protected] regular use – you and me both. drinkers that come Jane Pikett Of course, it’s more than just sitting supping a half and munching with a drought [email protected] a pack of dry-roasted; it’s joining in with initiatives such as the 16 Sunderland’s Brandling Villa Sausage and Ale Festival and the Titanic centenary “beer school” has Website: events at Head of Steam group pubs. It’s listening to live music, taking www.offstonepublishing.co.uk an international part in the weekly quiz, and enjoying every level of conversation and reputation – we meet Photography: social interaction that your fellow pub-goer can provide. the latest American Peter Skelton is is the Campaign For Real Ale’s Community Pubs Month, so do student www.photo-psp.co.uk your bit in April – and May and June and… 18 Newcastle Beer Whilst every effort has been made Cheers, Festival celebrates to ensure accuracy, the publisher number 36 this cannot accept responsibility for Alastair Gilmour, editor month omissions and errors. All material in this publication is strictly 20 Cristal clear: The copyright and all rights reserved. drinks scene in DROUGHT AND Havana 10 ABOUT Hosepipe bans and dry PUB WATCH weather forecasts 24 The Newcastle Arms, could have a signifi cant Newcastle effect on the price of our pint, say the barley FUN STUFF growers and maltsters. 31 Blue’s canine A lot of businesses are adventures, Photo Quiz, Pub Quiz and at stake OUR The Pickled Egg SPONSORS Ice time ahead Pub crawl Panda Frog launch The prince and the pint Titanic effort A-Z pub guide Two heads better Charles takes a quaff Brew school Newcastle Our man in 16 Sunderland’s 18 united 20 Havana Brewlab is a magnet The city’s annual Cuba was a place for beer students beer festival has Martin Hammill had Wylam Brewery worldwide. We meet reached its 36th longed to visit – now the latest from San anniversary. It’s a he has and he tells Diego who, despite mammoth logistical us about it. He sets the culture shock, task – all done by the scene of lively is learning fast and volunteers – so nightlife, colonial taking some of here we celebrate its splendour – and big back over there diversity and choice. American cars Intro.indd 3 10/04/2012 18:30 NEWS Want ice with that? Look out for a unique series of pub events to commemorate the sinking of Titanic, 100 years ago pril 2012 celebrates the Customers are given a collector rst and last voyage of RMS card which will be a replica of the actual Titanic – if “celebrates” is boarding pass used on the trip with all the right word for a disaster the beers listed on the back and those Athat claimed 1,514 lives, that is. who sample 12 di erent beers from the e “unsinkable” ship left Belfast on range will get a special Titanic polo shirt, April 7 1912, where it had been built, whilst those sampling a pint of every to pick up passengers in Southampton, one of the 18 beers will get the polo shirt, then on to Cherbourg in France and a Titanic glass and a bottle of a Pier 54, Queenstown in Ireland, before it headed a special beer commemorating Titanic’s out into the Atlantic, west towards New expecting landing berth in New York. Titanic schedule of beers York. And, as we all know, fate collided During the period April 7-14, food will with it in the shape of a whacking great be available based on the menus that April 7: Titanic 1912; White Star; Slipway. iceberg not far o the American coast. were on the ship (modi ed to modern-day April 8: Steerage; First Class To celebrate this important – and tastes), including special puddings that April 9 (noon): Captain Smith most memorable – slice of history, were being served just before the ship sank. April 10 (noon): Maiden Voyage (the actual time Titanic Brewery of Stoke on Trent has Additionally, Tilleys Bar in titanic set sail from Southampton to Cherbourg) produced a series of special beers named Newcastle, which shows lms April 10 (6.30pm): All Aboard (the actual after individual events in the course regularly, will be featuring the lm time Titanic docked in Cherbourg) of the voyage and e Head Of Steam Titanic, of course, as well as other April 11 (as soon as pubs open): Last Porter Call group of pubs (in Newcastle, Gateshead, lms about the fateful voyage. (time of arrival in Queenstown for its fi nal pick-up) Durham and Hudders eld) has entered “We think this may be the most April 11 (1.30pm): Full Steam Ahead (ship weighed into the “centenary spirit” with a well interesting promotion for our customers anchor at this time from Queenstown) thought-out programme. e majority that we have ever put on,” says Ian April 12 Chocolate & Vanilla Stout; Cappuccino Stout; of the company’s pubs is stocking the Taylor, Head of Steam operations and Plum Porter (the three ales are based on items served entire range of Titanic beers available marketing manager. “ is has taken on the menu on the fi nal night of Titanic’s voyage) – some in limited quantities – and an enormous amount of time and April 14 (1.45pm): Lookout (when the fi rst warning of putting them on sale as near as possible e ort to put together and we really ice in the area by SS Amerika was received by Titanic) to exactly 100 years after the calamity.