Issue 55 – Winter 2013 FREE – Please take one Magazine of North Oxfordshire Branch of CAMRA A Pub Is For Life … Not Just Christmas The festive season is usually considered a busy time for the pub trade, as Christmas works parties are held, students return home from university and the public in general seem happier to spend their hard-earned cash in the convivial atmosphere of their local. However, the run-up to Christ- mas (when some are saving up for the impending festive spend) and especially the lull which fol- lows New Year are times when local licensees would be more than pleased if drinkers brought custom to their pubs. – but it is still of great concern to save our community pubs for a It’s good to see that the rates that many communities in our number of years now (see posters at which pubs are closing has Branch (and beyond) will lose a above), and it’s worth pondering slowed down a little – from the valuable social asset, and some over some statistics collected in alarming peak of 52 per week in will be left entirely publess. a recent survey to consider just 2009 to a worrying 26 per week CAMRA has run a campaign how valuable an asset a local pub is in people’s lives, and why they Beer On Tap Is Runner-Up need to be saved from closure. • 75% had celebrated a friend’s or We’ve received the good news family birthday in a pub that Beer on Tap is runner-up • 48% had celebrated a life at a in our local CAMRA Region’s wake Magazine of the Year this year. • 48% had had a date The top two from our Region • 42% had celebrated a wedding will be put forward for con- anniversary sideration for the National • 36% had ‘wet a baby’s head Magazine of the Year Award. • and 20% had met their current Beer on Tap has won the partner in a pub national award twice previously, CAMRA chief executive, Mike so it’s good to know that we are still on the right track in the Benner, says: “With more local eyes of the Central Southern Regional CAMRA committee. facilities like community halls Beer on Tap will always rely on income from advertisers (as it is closing around Britain, the run on a not-for-profit basis) and the army of members who col- British pub is, for many, the only lect news, take photos, etc., and do the all-important regular dis- facility the community can use. tribution around the Branch area. A big thank you to all of them. Continued on page 3 Visit the CAMRA North Oxfordshire Branch website – http://www.northoxoncamra.org.uk 2 Beer on Tap – Winter 2013 The Importance Of Pubs In Our Lives Continued from page 1 to rural areas of the UK. It is choose to watch major sports The new research does throw also worth mentioning that 85% events and tournaments, such open the question: where would of beer consumed in Britain is as the forthcoming World Cup. we be celebrating special occa- brewed here, which helps with It is possible to watch it at home sions or meeting our future the national trade balance. with a bottle-conditioned beer, loved ones without the local We see regular entries in Beer but nothing beats a fresh real pub?” on Tap Branch News relating ale from a handpump or straight Pubs are where people social- to pubs donating large sums to from the barrel in the company ise and make connections (as local and national charities. In of your local friends and family. one of the campaign posters on any year, around £100m is raised the front page states, they are for charity by British pubs. Branch Diary places where social networking Unlike shops and other outlets All meetings start 8pm, other events has happened for 1,000 years). selling alcohol for consumption start as shown. Socials contact: Lynn Many offer regular events and at home, pubs offer a super- Baldwin (07790) 118341. activities such as live music, vised, safe drinking environment DECEMBER quizzes, etc., and are also venues and the pub trade takes respon- Sat 21st: Christmas Crawl of where clubs and societies meet sible drinking seriously, spend- Banbury. Start noon, White – all of which add culture and ing millions on schemes such Horse, Banbury purpose to the local community. as Drinkaware, Best Bar None, JANUARY A lot of pubs are now filling Pubwatch and Challenge 21. Mon 13th: Banbury Beer Festival the gap where local community Hopefully, this article shows Planning Meeting, White services have closed, like post just how important the role of Horse, Banbury, 8.15pm offices or shops, and many offer the Great British pub is in our Tues 14th: Committee Meeting, free wifi or even a dedicated lives – and why we need to The Bull, Charlbury (tbc) computer terminal for access to consider it a matter of urgency Mon 20th: GBG pub selection the internet. that pubs are still being lost at meeting Such is the importance of the too high a rate. CAMRA North FEBRUARY pub to the lives of people in the Oxfordshire Branch will con- Mon 3rd: Banbury Beer Festival local community that it is almost tinue to oppose pub closures Planning Meeting, White incidental that they are also the and to help local communities Horse, Banbury, 8.15pm best place to consume the ‘Great campaign to keep their pubs Sat 8th: Minibus tour of POTY British drink’, real ale. According open, but we can all do our bit pubs (see website for details) to trade industry figures, 13 mil- to help by frequenting our local MARCH lion tourists visit British pubs a little more often – even using Mon 3rd: Banbury Beer Festival each year, all of whom want to your pub one additional evening Planning Meeting, White experience the character and tra- per week will help. Horse, Banbury, 8.15pm Mon 17th: Committee Meeting, dition of the genuine British pub, … Which leaves us with the Red Lion, Wendlebury which is unique to our country. last thought of where you might A staggering one billion meals are sold in pubs each year, and CAMRA North Oxon Branch Contact List many offer the only opportunity to buy a wholesome hot meal Email addresses are followed by northoxoncamra.org.uk away from home. This is espe- CHAIRMAN John Bellinger TREASURERS Nick Faulkner & cially important for older local Tel: 07427 677854 chairman@ Simon Whitehead treasurer@ pub-goers in the community VICE-CHAIRMAN MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY who don’t have their own trans- Paul Forrest vicec@ Helen Jones membership@ BRANCH SECRETARY PUBS OFFICER port – and many pubs offer pen- sioners a generous discount. Lynne Baldwin-Kramer Brian Wray pubs@ Tel: 07790 118341 secretary@ BEER FESTIVAL CO-ORDINATOR Pubs are very important to the BEER ON TAP EDITOR Tim Wilkins economy (local and national) as Steve Lympany bot@ YOUNG MEMBERS SECRETARY they inject an average of £80,000 Tel: 07811 667507 Jim Hopcraft young@ into their local economy and BEER ON TAP ADVERTISING WEBMASTERS Martin Batts and pay £66,500 in beer tax every EDITOR Oliver Sladen Geraint Jones webmaster@ year. Around a million people botads@ are employed in the pub and BRANCH CONTACT Trading Standards: Oxfordshire drinks trade nationally, bringing Martin Batts contact@ County Council, Electric Ave, Ferry much-needed local employment Tel: 07854 116408 Hinksey Road, Oxford OX2 0BY Newsletter of CAMRA North Oxfordshire 3 GODDARDS LANE, CHIPPING NORTON OX7 5NP 01608 644717 • www.chequers-pub.com Regular quiz night, live music and other happenings 6 TOP QUALITY ALES FINE WINE DELICIOUS FOOD Our restaurant and barn can be booked for meetings and parties 5% discount on everything for CAMRA members with card Sunday–Wednesday A TRADITIONAL ENGLISH PUB NEXT DOOR TO THE THeatRE 4 Beer on Tap – Winter 2013 Branch News New faces at the Rock of Gibraltar for the guest group. Ken came (from left): Jan Hadland, Jo Oliver up with the trencher, a cob loaf and Gilly Edginton cut in half, hollowed out and filled with a meaty filling which teas from 3–6pm. Beer Eileen served in Viking dress. drinkers are not forgot- Now Ken has extended the ten with up to five real idea with a delicious choice of ales served in excellent fillings to suit all tastes served condition (no keg bitter up on a slate with seasonal veg- is served here). Dogs and etables. It’s a truly unique dining snowy boots are always experience, ideal as a comfort welcome. food for cold winter evenings, Their festive menu especially when complemented is offered throughout with Ken’s excellently kept, December with two gravity-fed Hooky ales. courses for £18.95 and Rose & Crown, Charlbury Rock of Gibraltar, three courses for £22.95, with Enslow Wharf special menus for Christmas Bouyant real ale sales have Day and New Year’s Day. meant that this four-times for- The pub is now run by the mer Branch Pub of the Year has Fisher Brewery Co. from Noke, Red Lion, Cropredy installed an eighth handpump just north of Oxford, which also Not many pubs in our Branch on its bar. Great news for cus- owns the James Street Tavern can boast a history dating back tomers who now have an even and Half Moon in Oxford itself. to the reign of Henry VIII but greater choice of ales over the Run by a group from the brew- landlords Laura & Gary have festive season, and something ery, the pub sells three real ales documented evidence that the which will help to give better with at least one (or occasionally Red Lion was an ale house way distribution of beers between two) Fisher beers available with back in 1514.