Issue34|Autumn 2018 |www.heartofstaffordshirecamra.org.uk West Midlands CAMRABranchMagazineofthe Year 2017 Magazine of theHeart of StaffordshirebranchofCAMRA Incorporating Uttoxeter &Districtsub-branch andcovering Stafford x Stone x Eccleshall x Penkridge x Gnosall x andsurrounding areas Autumn 2018 Winner of West Midlands CAMRA Branch Magazine of the Year 2017 Welcome from the Editor For many of us, this summer was dominated by the football World Cup, which often involved In this issue going to a pub to watch it. My favourite moment was whilst watching the England v Sweden Chair’s chat / Branch Diary 5 quarter final at Lymestone Brewery, where two projectors in two separate spaces had been set up Pub and Club news 6 to cope with demand. Half an hour into the first Champion pubs 9 half we heard an enormous cheer go up in the other room for no apparent reason. It only Brewery news 10 became clear a few seconds later, when England Pubs on the 101 13 scored, that our room was watching the match on a bit of a time lag! Young Members Forum 14 Some pubs— the ones with no TV—became a Breweriana 17 haven for those that don’t like footy. (Each to Beer & Cider Festival review 18 their own.) Some pubs will have done well from the summer of football and fine weather and some Good Beer Guide Belgium 21 will be glad to see the back of it, hoping that the ‘Doing the 19’ nights drawing in and cooler temperatures will 22 lead more of us to seek sanctuary in the warm Uttoxeter & District news 24 confines of a cosy pub. Potteries news 29 Which brings us to Autumn, and in this ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ when the apples Brewery news extra 31 and pears become ripe for the picking, it is a pity Contact us / Contacting you 33 that there is once again no article on cider or perry in this mag. If you fancy becoming our Lost pubs 34 ‘Cider Correspondent’ please do get in touch. Join CAMRA 35 Andy Murray [email protected] Cover photo courtesy of Phil Vickers Beer at Heart is published quarterly by Heart of Staffordshire CAMRA. Designed and edited by Andrew Murray. Opinions expressed are those of the author and may not represent those of CAMRA, the local branch or editor. Beer at Heart is (c) CAMRA Ltd. Printed by Warwick Printing www.warwickprinting.co.uk Next copy deadline: 15th NOVEMBER 2018 ADVERTISING RATES ON PAGE 15 Issue 34 | Autumn 2018 | THEGREYHOUND CAMRAbranchPub of the Season Autumn 2018 In the CAMRAGoodBeer Guideevery yearsince2005 8RealAlesavailable,including adarkbeer 30 gins availablewithchoiceofFever-Treetonics Quiz nights Tuesday andSunday (entry just £1 perteam) Sky &BTSports Card payments accepted Opening times: 4pm—11:30pmMon-Thu 4pm—12midnightFri 12noon—12midnightSat 12noon—11pmSun TheGreyhound County Road, Stafford ST16 2PUTel:01785 222432 Steveand Bonita look forwardtoyour visit Chair's Chat Branch Diary Welcome to the Autumn edition of the NB dates and venues are subject to change, award winning Beer at Heart magazine. so before making a special journey please Our branch committee has had a bit of a check the diary on our website: change after the recent AGM, a new Chairman www.heartofstaffordshirecamra.org.uk/diary WHAT IS CAMRA has been installed giving Neil Butler a break from the day-to-day running of the branch. SEPTEMBER Our long-serving Secretary Phil Vickers also TUESDAY 11th: BRANCH MEETING stood down at the AGM. I’d like to record my The ROYAL OAK, Church Eaton, 8pm. All CAMRA members welcome. thanks to Neil and Phil for their hard work for the branch over the years. I’m pleased to say THURSDAY 27th: PUB OF THE SEASON that they’ll both be continuing on the PRESENTATION. The GREYHOUND, committee in a general capacity. County Rd, Stafford, 8pm. All welcome. This magazine will go out after our Beer Festival which was a success in many ways OCTOBER apart from the weather on Saturday; good SATURDAY 13th: OKTOBERFEST at Slater’s choices of beer, excellent music, a venture into Brewery, St Albans Rd, Stafford, 7.30pm. the Gin world and the usual cider and wine Tickets only—book on www.slatersales.co.uk bars kept the clientele happy. SATURDAY 27th: LICHFIELD CRAWL A lot of hard work has been put in again this Train from Stone 11.36am/Stafford 11.55am year by many people, under the head organiser (change at Lich Trent Valley). All welcome. Paul Hewitt, who through many trials put together a balanced festival with something for NOVEMBER everyone. SATURDAY 10th: STOKE BEER FESTIVAL If you are an existing member of CAMRA, or Train from Stafford 11.42am/Stone 11.50am. newly joined, please consider coming along to All welcome. the branch meetings to have your say. Contrary to popular belief the committee WEDNESDAY 21st: QUIZ at SPITTAL BROOK welcome fresh ideas, and members, who want Lichfield Rd, Stafford. 8pm. All welcome. to have some input into CAMRA, the social outings and assistance with new ideas for local DECEMBER pubs and clubs. SATURDAY 1st: DUDLEY WINTER ALES We are all volunteers and if you think that you FESTIVAL - Train from Stafford 10.40am (to could add to the branch then let us know, our Coseley, then bus to Dudley). All welcome. contact details are on page 33 of this magazine. SUNDAY 23rd: CAROL SINGING at the ANCHOR, High Offley. 12 for 12.30pm. All Frank Bryden welcome—more details in next issue. Chair, Heart of Staffordshire CAMRA SUGGESTIONS FOR SOCIALS? Contact social@heartofstaffordshirecamra.org.uk Issue 34 | Autumn 2018 | Pub and Club news STAFFORD Following nine months of closure and a friendly corner local comprising a comfy bar major refurb the Spittal Brook reopened and a double room lounge area with wood on 23rd August. For opening weekend the and stained glass panelling. The licensee’s beers were all from the Marston's stable aim is to provide a comfortable zone for one although this could change. Quiz night is and all. The food menu will include pizza Wednesday (as it was traditionally), games and artisan breads. Very music orientated, as Monday, music on Tuesday. The kitchen is the staff are all talented; open mic Thurs, expected to be up-and-running by mid- ukulele club and live music weekends. The September. This Punch Tavern is being run Bridge is a short walk from the rail station by Tim and Janet, formerly of Ye Olde and bus stops. Regular beers are Sharps Rose & Crown on Market Street, which is Doombar & St Austell Proper Job and one now being managed by a fine chap called changing beer; typically London Pride or Ian, who used to run another Joule’s house Greene King IPA. Old Rosie and/or Orchard in the Potteries. Heart of Staffordshire Pig cider are available on hand-pull. CAMRA wish them all the best. The Market Vaults has new management and taking on board customer feedback is still doing gourmet burgers, jam night etc. The Bear Grill has reverted to the Bear and is due to reopen on 28th September. Stafford Rangers Football Club bar is now open to all, no membership required. Future events include an Oktoberfest (22nd September), Bryan Adams tribute act (29th Sept) and a Comedy night (19th October). The Bridge, Stone Joule’s Brewery has lodged plans with the The Greyhound will be our Autumn Pub of council to transform part of the original the Season. Please join us for the award Joule’s warehouse in Stone into a ‘flagship presentation on Thursday 27th September taphouse’. The site at Crown Wharf was from 8pm. established in 1779 but closed in 1974 and the brewery demolished. HAUGHTON The Bell reopened in June, giving the ECCLESHALL village two pubs again; the Shropshire Inn Bent’s Brew House launched EFestival, recently gained Cask Marque status. Eccleshall’s inaugural music festival, over August bank holiday weekend. The majority STONE of the festival was hosted at the Little The Bridge (formerly Langtry's) reopened George, which celebrated its first birthday mid-August after an extensive refurb.A on 28th July. Happy Birthday George! 6 | www.heartofstaffordshirecamra.org.uk HIXON The planning decision on the Green Man is expected to be made in Sep- tember. The local group who got the pub listed as an Asset of Community Value are holding meetings to see if a bid can be submitted to buy the pub, to prevent it being demolished and replaced with a Co-Op store. ANYPLACE Anypub PENKRIDGE Landlords! Your pub news could The Boat was our Summer Pub of the Season. have been here. Drop me a line Pictured above are Heart of Staffordshire with short snippets about your CAMRA Chairman Frank Bryden [2nd left], upcoming events, real ale presenting the award to pub staff George promotions, beer festivals etc. Scott, Ash Green, Mike Stevens and Will Kerry on a scorchio Thursday evening in July. We are the Champions! The Swan Inn, Stone We were delighted to award Geoff Blundell with the Pub of the Year trophy and Cider shield on the opening night of the Swan’s 20th Beer Festival in early July. Pictured with Geoff are [from left] Heart of Staffordshire branch Chair Frank Bryden,Geoff’s wife Helen, pub manager Alexandra Hemmings and cellar man Kevin Keeling. See what’s coming up on at the Swan on page 23. The Green Man, Milwich Rod Webb was also presented with two awards by the branch recently. As well as Rural Pub of the Year, the Green Man has achieved the rare distinction of appearing in 25 consecutive years of the Good Beer Guide.