Swale AleVol 4 Issue 1 The FREE Magazine of the Swale branch of CAMRA The Campaign for Real Ale PUB CLOSURES IN SWALE Will new legislation help prevent more? he British pub is a unique T institution, but the bad news is that there are increasingly fewer pubs for us to enjoy. 2011 started badly for the Swale area with the closure by Shepherd Neame of The Windmill, London Road, Faversham. Although sold and available for letting as a pub, it is still boarded up. The Wheatsheaf in Newington closed 13th April and is no longer a pub; planning consent allowed change of use from pub to a letting The Sondes Arms agent. Selling Pubs are, of course, businesses; the reason they close is that the of Wales and The Golden Ball, owners are either not making enough Sittingbourne. They are now joined by money or feel they can make more The Globe and Engine Sittingbourne money if the building was used for and The Three Squirrels. Many more another purpose. In many cases after a examples exist in Swale and often they pub closes the building stands empty are indicative of the failings of the pub and boarded up for ages like The Prince company financial model, and when In this issue…. UK and Overseas Pub Visits including: Brussels and London Branch and Brewery News A Look at the first Good Beer Guide 1 Winter Issue 2011 The Old Wine Vaults is a 16th century pub set in the heart of historic Faversham. 75 Preston Street, Faversham 01795 591817 FOUR Cask Ales TWO Cask Ciders Swale Cider Pub of the Year From after work nibbles to Christmas Dinners. Christmas Day Lunch Four Courses with Wine £60 New Years Eve Party £10 including a free Fizz, Buffet and Raffle 20p off a pint of Plum Puddinged with a valid CAMRA card. The pub is open Mon-Sat 11am to 11pm and Sundays pm to 10.30pm. 2 Winter Issue 2011 Pub Closures Continues on page 5 Unfortunately the local community interest failed to find a solution, a tall order in such a short space of time, but there is still hope for the Sondes, and maybe for two other pubs, one formerly in the Shep’s estate, which were being sold and will hopefully reopen soon. The Ship, Sittingbourne was sold at auction and is expected to reopen as a pub/restaurant while the Brown Jug at Upchurch is currently being sold as a pub. The Globe and Engine What can we do about closures? Sittingbourne What is CAMRA doing? Well CAMRA has been active in facing up to the they give up they have tried restrictive closure trend by lobbying against covenants on the sale to prevent closures for some years and raising others having a go. Even more public awareness. Each branch provides surprising to some local drinkers is the information on what is happening locally number closed by Faversham’s own and this information is used in tackling brewery; no doubt part of their the various aspects that cause the planned disposal of small community problem. pubs, seemingly in favour of ‘quality’ CAMRA has just responded to a eating establishments. Government consultation on the impact Recently The Sondes Arms, that imposing restrictive covenants on Selling was suddenly closed by the sale of pubs has on local Shepherd Neame. It was different from communities. This consultation has many others, as a rural pub with taken place as a result of a long-running limited alternatives. The local residents CAMRA campaign, via the Sustainable put up some resistance to save their Communities Act. local. Our Brewery Liaison Officer Bob At the same time CAMRA has asked Shepherd Neame about the been pursuing a campaign for Pub closure and was told:- “The Sondes is Company reform with members not being sold to a developer. We have recently encouraged to contact their invited the local community to express MPs. Recent research shows that tied interest. If the local community do not pubs are twice more likely to close than purchase then I would anticipate ‘free of tie’ pubs. disposal on an existing use basis i.e. as On 18th October CAMRA also a Free House. 3 Winter Issue 2011 Swale Ale © Editorial Winter 2011 Published by the Swale Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. (CAMRA). nother edition of Swale Ale! If you Circulation 800 A read the last copy (summer), you Email: [email protected] might be forgiven for thinking that we Telephone: (01795 538824) Editorial Committee and Contributors: Jeff were shutting up shop. All organisations Waller, Gary Holness, Keir Stanley, Andrew have communication problems and Kitney, Paul Irving, Suzanne Collins obviously we did. As a Branch we must Print Liaison: Simon Ing thank the previous editor for the Advertising: Gary Holness phenomenal amount of work and effort he devoted to the magazine and I am ——————————————— sure he will be pleased that the All Correspondence to: Les Bailey publication continues. 58 Wallers Road Now back to campaigning. The Faversham front article highlights one of the most Kent worrying aspects for the real ale drinker ME13 7PL today; the closure of pubs. At a time ——————————————— when more people are drinking real ales, the number of places available to do so Any opinions expressed within these pages declines in number. As an individual are those of the individual authors only there are many things you can do locally and do not represent those of CAMRA or to help stem the tide of closures but the any of its officials. first thing which will provide you with a The existence of this publication in a voice for consumer choice, is to join particular outlet does not imply an CAMRA! endorsement of it by Swale CAMRA . ——————————————— Printed by: University of Kent Press ——————————————— Branch Details: Chairman: Simon Ing Secretary: Les Bailey Social Secretary: Gary Holness Treasurer: Les Bailey Branch Contact: Les Bailey (01795 538824) www.camra-swale.org.uk 4 Winter Issue 2011 Pub Closures issued a press release to say that they These are some examples but welcomed the proposed new National others and more detail can be found on Planning Policy Framework which is out the CAMRA website. for consultation and particularly the BUT one thing we can all do is following: use our locals, encourage the Landlord The specific instruction for local to have locally sourced real ale and if planning authorities to "plan you are not a member join us. positively for the provision and Remember; the Cask Report research integration of community facilities shows that Britain's 7.8 million real ale (such as local shops, meeting places, drinkers are more than twice as likely public houses and places of as other drinkers to visit the pub once a worship)." week or more. (The Cask Report 2011- The introduction by Councils of 12, written annually by beer writer Pete policies to safeguard community Brown and backed by CAMRA, SIBA, facilities such as pubs. Cask Marque and IFBB) The encouragement of local planning Finally I leave you with the authorities to consider use of Article recent words of Shepherd Neame 4 Directions to require planning Chairman M H Templeman:- “It is permission for the demolition of disappointing to note that the local facilities. Government has so far failed to The application of these policies to recognise the importance of beer and urban as well as rural pubs and all pubs to the economy and the social and pubs, rather than just pubs in local cultural life of the UK.” [JW] centres for the first time. Chairman’s Chat i I’m Simon and I’m the current As much as I would like to go to every H Chairman of the Swale branch of pub in the area, I don’t have the time. CAMRA. I hope you find this free But if everyone who reads this visits only magazine interesting. Take it with you if one other pub, that’s a lot of pubs. you like, pass it on or leave it in the pub Better than that, that’s a lot of beer for someone else to read. Now can I ask tasted. So please if you would for your help? I like good beer, and if recommend a pub and its beer to a you’re in a pub then hopefully so do you. friend, how about telling us as well. CAMRA needs you to tell us if the beer Thanks, is good and tell us if it’s not. Simon Ing 5 Winter Issue 2011 Swale CAMRA Branch Diary Sunday 11th December: Faversham Christmas Pub Crawl starting at the Anchor, Abbey Street at 12 noon. Wednesday 14th December: Open Branch Business Meeting: 7:30pm, Swann and Harlequin. Wednesday 11th January: Open Branch Business Meeting: 7.30pm, The Swan, Teynham. Wednesday 8th February: Open Branch Business Meeting: 7.30pm, The Bear, Faversham. Wednesday 14th March: Open Branch For updates visit our website at: Business meeting: 7.30pm, The Red Lion, Blue http://www.camra-swale.org.uk/ Town, Sheerness. Kent Pub and Brewery News HOPDAEMON: Brewed a beer in divides them up as seasonal and event November called Artic Citra, using citra beers but they are listed in their order of hops, for the Dartford Working Mens appearance) Club. Late Red (4.5%) - w/c 10th October RAMSGATE BREWERY (Gadds): Is 2011 to 23rd March 2012 holding an Open Day on 17th December, Christmas Ale (5.0%): w/c 21st 1- 5pm. November to 23rd December 2011 SHEPHERD NEAME: Christmas Ale Amber Ale (4.5%): - w/c 9th January to (5%) on draught should now be available.