BEER at HEART Newsletter of the Heart of Staffordshire Branch of CAMRA Issue 13 Summer 2012 This magazine is FREE, but if you take a copy why not make a donation to the pub’s charity collection 5th Stafford Beer Festival nd th 2 – 4 August 2012 Blessed William Howard School. Planning the 5th Stafford Beer Festival Watch this Staffordspace for further details Full details inside this issue. (pages 17—21) Is your local in danger of closing? If so here is a handy checklist of things to do: Contact councillors Contact your MP Contact your planning authority Start a petition Establish an email action group Send a press release Hold a local meeting Set up an action group- Set up a group to co-ordinate the cam- paign Start a letter writing campaign Collate facts to support the case Publish a newspaper Run a local survey Contact local media Enlist local celebrities Find out if the pub is a listed building Beer at Heart is published by the Heart of Staffordshire Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). © CAMRA unless otherwise stated. The views expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent those of CAMRA, the Heart of Staffordshire Branch or the Editor Comments, articles, letters etc; Contact the Editor at [email protected] or phone Julie on 07779 618438 Beer at Heart Advertising: Mike Harker 2 Herons Close Stafford ST17 4UF Mobile: 0771 747 3935 [email protected] If you would like a copy of this magazine posted to you 4 times a year please send £3 to Mike Harker at the above address along with your details. Trading Standards telephone 08453 303313 2 Editorial So the Beer Festival is almost upon us, and this year this edition of Beer at Heart will also act as a programme for the festival. So if you are reading it whilst you are there then I trust you are having a good time and enjoying our great range of beer, ciders, perries and country wines! For those of you reading this before the festival then in the centre pages are the current beer, cider and perries lists, alt- hough these are always subject to change as we do not always get what was prom- ised, so often have to make changes when the Beer arrives, there will be up to date lists at the festival. I must just make mention to our many volunteers and sponsors. We would not be able to manage without either as they both help to make things work as (hopefully) they should. Talking of volunteers, all the staff behind the bars, and elsewhere are also volunteers and we value their time and effort A couple of other local beer festivals that are on during the summer include the The Sun Inn (our pub of the year) and The Horse and Jockey in Penkridge, both of whom have beer festivals on the August Bank Holiday weekend. News The Haberdasher’s Arms Knighton The Habadasher’s Arms will be holding their an- nual Potato Club Show on the August Bank Holi- day weekend ( 25,26,27 August). Also look out for their Lamp Nights, when they switch back to Oil Lamps which are much more atmospheric than electric lighting and worth mak- ing the trip to Knighton for. To find out exact dates go to their website www.haberdashersarms.com The picture is of some of the oil lamps, more on their website. 3 Pub of the Year The Sun Inn Stafford The Sun has now been open for three years and has gone from strength to strength, while continuing to develop and improve. Considering that prior to purchase by Titanic the site was deemed ’unviable’ by various ‘experts’ and organisations after its previous chequered history since the turn of the century. Details can be found in my earlier article in BAH issue 8 when it became Pub of the Month. Friday and Saturday nights are very busy and surprisingly even Sunday nights have outstripped all expectations. The rear patio drinking and smoking area has been completed together with tidying the car park. The view from this area should be changing soon with the redevelopment of this corner of Stafford Town Centre. A number of Beer festivals have been held and last August saw a shuttle mini bus ferrying drinkers between The Sun and sister pub The Royal Exchange in Stone. The post Easter Festival 2012 featured The Whole Fleet of Titanic beers and a number of special brews commemorating 100 years of the fateful night when The Titanic sank in the Atlantic. Another August Bank holiday festival is to be held in 2012 from Friday 24th until Monday 27th, during the late afternoon/early evening of Saturday 25 August the presentation will be made to The Sun as H.o.S. Branch CAMRA Pub of the Year. Everyone is invited !!! 4 5 Cider Pub of the Year The Swan Inn Stone The Swan at Stone needs no introduction to real ale drinkers having been a consistent entry in the Good Beer Guide over the years and it is one of the gems within Staffordshire for the Cider drinkers. This award has been given in its second year and adds to the range of trophies won by the pub. Jeff and Barrie decided to develop the idea of selling real cider about 3 years ago, after customers moaned and groaned about the standard mass produced ciders usually available within most pubs, although The Swan had regularly sold Thatcher’s and Black Rat following increasing requests from customers. The Cider and Perry had also been selling exceptionally well at the annual Beer festivals with the numbers available increasing year on year. So a space was found behind the small bar and a cider fridge was installed, with 4 tubs and a small selection of real ciders in bottles to tempt the cider drinker. [Although most of the bottles are kept in the cellar Black Rat is usually available alongside Broadoak Perry, Black Dragon and Saxon ciders making up the other 3 spaces. Future products are usually at the customers suggestions so come on you cider drinkers make a suggestion of one you have enjoyed elsewhere and maybe it will appear here for the rest of us cider drinkers to try! Obtaining and sourcing the unusual ciders and perries can be a chal- lenge but Leatherbritches Brewery in Ashbourne is a great help in relation to this. The trophy will be awarded on Thursday 12th July 2012 during the an- nual 9 day Swan Beer and Cider Festival. The theme for this year is Wales and there is expected to be about 20 ciders from The Principality Jeff and Barrie welcome the continuing interest in real ciders and perries and are pleased to be recognised with this award. So don’t forget to check out the cider fridge on your next visit to The Swan. On my last visit I heard that there was the possibility of a cider week- end later in the year. 6 7 Club of the Year Derrington Social Club The village of Derrington is situated about 2.5 miles west of Stafford Town Cen- tre, in the shade of Stafford Castle. The millennium trail runs through the village, which also has a millennium garden. The club is situated behind the village hall [1932], in the centre of the village and was officially opened on 22nd May 1982. When we visited balloons and steamers abounded for the 30th Birthday celebrations. The modern building offers a com- fortable lounge with bar together with a rear snooker room having 2 tables. There is a small car park to the rear of the site. Sliding doors between the lounge and original hall can be opened to create a large open area for functions, dances, film shows, Zumba classes and drama presentations along with numerous other things. The building is the main community facility within the village which also functions as the village shop and post office 3 days a week in conjunction with a coffee shop run by the local Women’s Institute . One wall of the lounge is an ever changing gallery of local Artist works, some of which are available to be purchased. The club is non-profit making, all money is re-invested in the building, for repairs and upgrading or the purchase of new fa- cilities. Real Ale sales have developed from small beginnings ( Greenall Whitley at 50p a pint, served by volunteers ) over the last few years, and there are now 3 hand pulls on the bar with regularly changing ales from all areas. Sharps Doom Bar and Holden’s Golden Glow are confirmed favourites. Card carrying Camra members are most welcome, as are casual guests. Howev- er there are some celebration discounts on the membership this year. The club of the year presentation will be made at the Social Club on Saturday 11th August at 8-8.30 pm. Everybody most welcome. Normal opening times :- Mon - Thurs 18.00 - 23.30, Fri 17.00 - 23.30, Sat 14.00 - 23.30, Sun 12.00 - 23.00, or see club website for other information. 8 NB THE LAMB INN THE RAILWAY INN BROAD EYE CASTLE STREET STAFFORD STAFFORD 01785-603902 01785 607057 Traditional Public House offering Award Tradition Public House Winning Cask Ales Bass, London Pride, and rotating guest ales (Bombardier, London Pride, and two Guest Ales from the Finest Cask Range) Sky Sports Beer Garden Cask Marque Accredited Relaxed friendly atmosphere Car parking Available Close to the Railway Station Local to Public transport, Town Centre Amenities and Lorry Park Opening Times: Sporting Events Covered (3 TVs) Monday—Thursday 5—close Relaxed Friendly atmosphere Friday—Sunday 12—close Welcoming Customers Old and New Also try our other Pub—The Railway in Also try our other Pub Castle Street The Lamb Inn Broad Eye ROYAL OAK The Anchor High Street Church Eaton High Offley ST20 0AJ 01785 823078 www.royaloakchurcheaton.co.uk Very Advanced Notice.