181 Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale
February / March 2015
The ‘Hand’ wins POTY for 2015!
BERMONDSEY REVISITED
WHAT’S IN A NAME
COALIES ON TOUR
John Temple suggests a sea change occurring in the brewing industry
Kings Cliffe Brewery pays homage to 20th Fighter Group with commemorative porter
The Coalheavers Arms gang visit Ely
ALSO INSIDE PUB & BREWERY NEWS
DIARY DATES
JOIN CAMRA
Both pubs are in the CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2015!
PETERBOROUGH CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2014 & 2011
CAMRA Gold award 2013
Ten Real Ales from £2.00 a pint
PETERBOROUGH CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2014 Runner Up
CAMRA Gold award 2013
Six Real Ales Permanent range from £2.50 a pint of ales Four Real Ciders
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Editor’s ramblings | 3
New year, new beers and new awards Greetings! Even though the festive season is just a distant memory, I hope it was a good one! Pub of the Year has been decided, Straw Bear has been and gone, so what next? New Year, time to look forward. Firstly, this year there are two new, additional branch awards, to go alongside “Pub of the Year”. There will now be a branch “Cider Pub of the Year” and a “LocAle Pub of the Year”. Pubs within the branch that permanently stock a real cider or are LocAle accredited are eligible for these awards. For more information check website the www.real-ale.org.uk or Peterborough CAMRA Facebook page. Secondly, having a read through brewery news I can see that there are some new beers on the horizon, plus the re-brewing of old favourites. So I would urge you to have a look at the brewery news page and see if anything takes your fancy and of course, give it a try! Hopefully this year will see fewer pubs in the area closing their doors. Ideally, of course, none at all. Wishful thinking? Cheers. JB
Editor: Jane Brown bae-editor@real-ale.org.uk
Published by: Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.
Produced on behalf of CAMRA by: Orchard House Media Ltd Suite 30 Eventus, Sunderland Rd, Market Deeping. Tel: 01778 382758
Magazine Design & Production: Daniel Speed daniel.speed@orchardhousemedia.co.uk
Advertising Sales Manager: Jane Michelson jane@orchardhousemedia.co.uk Tel: 01778 382718
IN THIS ISSUE Welcome from the editor 3 Chairman’s corner 5 Pub news 7–11 Pub of the Year 2015 13 Brewery news 14–17 Farewell Stella 17 Bermondsey mile revisited 18–21 Coalies in Ely 23 What’s in a name 25 CAMRA’s NWAF 2015 26 Diary dates 27 Membership matters 28 Join CAMRA 29 Contacts 30 Pub merit and gold awards 30
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Circulation: 7,000 copies distributed to pubs, clubs and members throughout the Peterborough and District CAMRA Branch area. A digital version of this magazine is available to view and download at issuu.com
Cover Image: The Hand & Heart, Peterborough Branch Pub of the Year 2015
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Beer Around ‘Ere is published by the Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA Copyright © 2015, The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. Views or comments expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of the Editor or of CAMRA. The next issue of Beer Around ‘Ere will be available on the 20th March. We must have your stories, news and advertisements by 1st March. Please send your stories and other copy to the editor, Jane Brown.
February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
Chairman’s corner |5
Chairman’s Corner
First a belated Happy New Year to all our readers. Also I’m pleased to report that CAMRA scored another historic victory at the end of last year.
After ten years of campaigning by CAMRA, MPs of all parties voted for tenants of the large pubcos to have a market rent only option (MRO) and they won! The MPs were backing a CAMRA supported amendment at the Report Stage for Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill, which allows tied tenants of companies with more than 500 pubs to have their rent reviewed independently. It would also give tenants the option of being able to buy beer at competitive prices in an open market, with the possibility of beer prices in their pubs being reduced. The Chief Executive of CAMRA, Tim Page, thanked the 8000 plus CAMRA members who lobbied their MPs to help make this happen. CAMRA is now hoping the vote which should be accepted by MPs will become law in the very near future and the legislation will be finalised by the forthcoming General Election. This latest success follows on from CAMRA’s victory two years ago in persuading the government to scrap the destructive Beer Escalator. So what does this mean for our under pressure licensees? If the Bill becomes law (and we see no reason why it should not) then it will give them more flexibility in choosing a better business relationship with their pub company and a fairer share of their profits. What about us drinkers I hear you cry? Well, with a fairer share of running their business publicans may choose to pass on any savings to customers, or invest in the business and improve the pub. In both of these scenarios the customer benefits. Will it mean more pubs closing? It should stop the continuing loss of pubs by the pubcos by encouraging investment and, a fairer tie would attract high quality licensees to run profitable pubs. We can but wait and see and hope that these reforms happen sooner rather than later.
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As this is an election year we will be getting the usual bout of promises from our prospective MPs. We would hope that the present government will continue to support our drinks industry in their last budget before the election. One local brewery, regrettably, has jumped ahead and announced price rises from February before any budget changes. We would hope not to see any duty increases this year, if the powers that be are sincere in carrying out the reforms already mentioned. We must congratulate our new Pub of the Year, The Hand and Heart, in Millfield, Peterborough, for coming out top in the vote that took place at the end of last year. Bram and wife Sue have continued to fight a long battle to keep the pub running in an area that has, over the last few years, seen the closure of many a pub. A time and date for the presentation will be announced in the near future. I've had to rush this report due to being out of the country in recent weeks. Two weeks in Spain to see in the New Year was a new experience which I can recommend. Although a decent beer was hard to find we did discover an excellent Belhaven Stout at 7% in one British run bar. The licensee even took a couple of bottles from the store to make the ice cold ones in the fridge more palatable. We did return another day. Our holiday was only marred by some sad news. As we were about to pass through the airport on our last day I received a phone call from our Webmaster, Harry Morton, saying that his wife, Stella, had passed away the previous night. Our condolences go to Harry and all the family for their sudden loss. That’s it for now folks. David Murray Branch Chairman February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
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Pub news |7
Pub News Well I said I would scour the remotest regions and you cannot get much more remote than Weldon. That is, of course unless you live there, in which case it is right on your doorstep. My target was the Shoulder of Mutton where I heard they had recently opened a new micro brewery. Although steadily expanding, Weldon is still technically a village, as established by its exquisite thirteenth century St. Mary’s church. Lured by an arc of spent tree trunks, now standing erect like Corinthian columns, I decided to take this route to the pub. Imagine then my astonishment as I was greeted by the incongruous sight of a cupola mounted on the perfectly preserved Norman tower! How was I to know that some prophetic soul had anticipated that the local brewer would name a beer after it some eight hundred years in the future? For that is indeed the name of one of the four regular beers brewed by Graham Moorhouse (no relation) in the cellar of the pub. The others are Windmill and Dragline, both at 3.9 ABV, and a delectable dark, malty beer called Rosie’s Sweat Box at 4.2. Veterans of the Second World War will be familiar with the name of Rosie the Riveter who was used as a recruitment figure for the factories producing warplanes. All of the beers from the brewery are named after local landmarks and I assume that this name is intended to reinforce the connection with the local Deenesthorpe airstrip, which was the home of a USAAF bombardment squadron. Graham has a two firkin plant and rolls his beers out in firkins and pins. Knowing that they are relatively expensive, I asked him why he used pins. He said that quite simply landlord, Bogdan, refuses to sell beer that is not in top condition and he needs to reduce wastage. If the beer goes stale he just tips it. Bogdan Vugnovic is the man responsible for Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
regenerating this pub and he is the most congenial of hosts. He features home- made Serbian food on his menu and if you are lucky he will give you a taste of his own red wine made from the Montepulciano grape. I would definitely recommend this pub. Weldon can be reached by a 40 minute ride on the X4 bus from Peterborough bus station. Whilst there you might want to call into the George, another historic coaching inn where the courtyard has been annexed into part of the restaurant. They have two real ales, JHB and Doombar, rotating to ensure good condition. This pub claims to date back to the eighteenth century. Just along the road is the Woolpack. I suspect that it dates back to the same period, although nobody in the pub could tell me. It is a friendly, family run pub, with a cosy, stone built main bar warmed by an open fire. Beers available were Castle Rock Harvest Pale and a guest from the Purity stable. Another feature of the pub is the authentic oak beams in which are lodged several coins dating back to the war. A local informed me that they were good luck tokens placed there by the pilots flying from Deenesthorpe. I wonder how many of them made it back. Oundle outing It is always good news when a new pub opens and even better when it fits the description of a micropub (see page 18). The Tap & Kitchen, brewery tap of the excellent Nene Valley Brewery, opened on the 24th November. It is a refurbished wharf side warehouse in which the proprietors have succeeded in recreating its industrial revolution ethos: chrome and wood, cogs and wheels. The pub has eight hand pumps dispensing most of the NVB range and plans guests in the future. They also serve craft beers and craft ciders from across the country and beyond. Surrounded as we often are nowadays by a sea of citrus, it is gratifying to find a new brewery featuring
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February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
8 | Pub news - continued
traditional beer styles: Dark Horse, Lone Star, Starless Stout, DXB; ruby, amber, brown, and Bible Black; PBF champion beer! Whilst in Oundle I thought I should check out the Angel, as the last time I was here it was pretty run down with no drinkable beer. For the past year it has been run by Dave and Wendy Cook, and the transformation is remarkable. No real ale when they took over, now they have up to four. But the most impressive thing is that they have recreated the pub in their own idiom, bringing in their own antique furniture and creating the ambience of a rustic cottage. The use of this furniture is ably supervised by their six cats, but don’t count on getting a seat on the most comfortable settee as this is normally commandeered by a local Labrador. It is truly a pub where you would feel comfortable enough to take your shoes off. Dave and Wendy informed me that on a recent pilgrimage to Great Walsingham they were inculcated into Paul Stretton’s famous, award winning pies and in the New Year they intend to introduce three varieties: meat, fish and vegetable. The pub also has a weekly beer raffle where complete impartiality is ensured by allowing one of the cats to pick the winning ticket. No visit to Oundle would be complete without a visit to the magnificent Ship Inn. Veterans of the branch will know that this pub has been in the Langridge family for thirty years. The whole pub has now been redecorated and there have been significant structural changes. The snug has been moved forward to allow easier access to the kitchen. It is still there but it is smaller. The changes have been designed sensitively and they have by no means altered the character of the place, with of course the magnificent Grade 2 listed fireplace still intact. I am sure this will be a great comfort to all those who are in the habit of inspecting their inglenook. The Oundle jungle drums were decidedly offbeat with their message on the George allegedly on the point of being swallowed up by Tesco. I am BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015
pleased to be able to report that Enterprise at the time of writing were interviewing prospective new managers. Oundle can also be reached on the X4. It is high time that this bus was nominated for a gold award. Stamford strut Similar concerns about closure surrounded the Kings Head in Stamford. The problem with the rumour mill is that it spreads so wildly that the only way to be sure is to visit the place itself. The pub is now under the enterprising management of David Waycot. David has extended the real ale range from three to five, mainly from the Marston portfolio. He has also opened the courtyard, which provides a wall-surrounded refuge seating about 30 customers and will provide an attractive venue for the warmer months. The Kings Head is the oldest pub in Stamford, dating back to 1602. I fondly imagine that it was built for the masons who worked on the adjoining St. Michael’s church when it was rebuilt about the same time, as the masons, quite rightly, would never work without their beer. Are there any local historians who can confirm this? The Hole in the Wall has reinvented itself as the Groovy Club, which I suspect is the name envisaged for it by John Clare when he drank there as a young man. Alun Thomas has informed me that this and the Millstone now only open at weekends. Bourne again I am referring specifically to the Golden Lion which has been discarded by Sam Smiths and is about to be born again under the ownership of Mark Richardson of White Horse (Baston) fame. Apparently this fine old pub needs a lot of work, and if the refit is modeled on the lines of the White Horse, we can expect a major upgrade. Is this the oldest pub in Bourne? I suspect its antiquity could be challenged by the Masons Arms. Nobody in this pub could tell me the date of its origin, but one customer informed me that there has been an inn on the site since the eleventh century. I can normally date a pub by the height of the oak beams and the number of times that I Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Pub news - continued |9
bang my head on them, and I never come out of this pub without a headache. Whether it is this or Courage Directors at £2.70 a pint I am not quite sure. This is an excellent community pub with a very warm atmosphere. Grade 2 listed, it was joint second in the Pub Bars and Stars (formerly Scottish Porridge) community pub of the year. They also serve Deuchars IPA and London Pride and landlord, Johnny Parr, is very meticulous about the quality of his beer. The Anchor in Eastgate has extended it real ale range from 3 to 6 and on my last visit had two beers from the Dancing Duck brewery in Derby; one of these a special brew for The Anchor, and another for The Hand & Heart, one of two pubs that licensees Dawn and Taras own in Nottingham The curse of Fenland I knew it would come back to haunt me. Probably because I failed to attend the Straw Bear Festival. Planning permission has been granted to turn the Bricklayers Arms in Whittlesey into housing, and Rose Black is retiring due to the ill health of her husband. I am sure all her customers will join me in wishing them all the best in the future. A similar aura of doom settled upon me in Ramsey. The occasion was the presentation of a Gold Award to the Jolly Sailor, as reported in the last issue. The photographer present on the occasion told me that he was working for the Ramsey Informer. I was deeply troubled by this terrifying news as I had only just been told by some of the elderly patrons of the pub that the said person, Josef Jakobs, was the last man to be executed at the Tower of London as long ago as 1941. I have had many sleepless nights since. Fortunately salvation was near at hand. I was acting on a recommendation to visit the Railway, where landlord Keith Golightly has created a real ale haven featuring on this occasion Woodford Wherry, Green King Abbot, Grainstore and a constantly changing guest. Where also Keith has rechristened a certain product normally known as J*** S****’s Smooth as “the antichrist”. This was the turning point and did a great deal to restore Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
my sanity, prior to which most of this article was written. This is only one of two pubs that I am aware of (the other is the Coalheavers Arms in Woodston) that uses oversize glasses. Such is my frustration with this fact that I have taken to wearing a pair myself. In the last issue I mentioned that the Little London Inn in March has reverted to its original name of the Men of March. I have since had the opportunity to visit the pub and meet the new landlord and landlady Keith and Jo Foosey. The pub has been brightened up with a major refurb and has a great family atmosphere. When they took over nobody was drinking the draught beer. Now they have up to four from the Marston’s portfolio: Banks Bitter £2.45, Pedigree £2.79, Hobgoblin Gold £2.84. The Three Tuns in Doddington has reopened with a major refurb and four real ales. It is always cheering when a pub reopens after being closed for a couple of years, and new landlord, Robin Leonard, has big plans for the place. These include a new kitchen with real homemade food, and a beer garden. Children are always welcome. Around town The scarcity of pubs in the Lincoln Road area has scarcely diminished the high esteem in which they are held. The Crown has recently received the Evening Telegraph Best Bar in the City award. On New Year’s Day, John Lawrence handed the keys over to head barman Peter Turnbull, who will continue his policy of providing an extensive range of real ale, cider and bottled beers. Fullers London Pride, Elland Ell’s Bells, Wolf 2015 and an outstanding pint of Lacon’s Falcon were available on my last visit. Despite their continuing fight against demographic adversity and a plethora of surrounding off licences, and in the face of some outstanding opposition, Bram and Sue managed to pull off the Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year award at the Hand & Heart. Congratulations. A full report will appear in the next issue.
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February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
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December 17th saw the opening of the Argo Lounge in Bridge Street. The Argo is a good example of a current trend towards bar restaurants. We may not like this concept but I think it is a major asset for an otherwise barren city centre. It is part of the Loungers group which does not have a real ale policy at the moment, but its sister company – Cosy Club – most certainly does, so why don’t we all go in there and ask for it? The Woodston loop Natives of the north who do not suffer from hydrophobia might occasionally consider crossing the water to Woodston, where at least they can have a decent pub crawl. Any such crawl should inevitably start at Charters. For those who are not familiar with the area, it is a converted Rhine barge moored on the south bank of the Nene adjacent to the town bridge. I have had some indifferent reports on the range of guest beers available since Stuart Wright left, but proprietor Paul Hook has managed to procure the services of new manager Martin Race and things are really looking up. At the moment the barge is offering four Oakham and four guests. Martin intends to introduce a policy of supporting local micros including Hopshackle, Star, Kingscliffe, Nene Valley, Tydd Steam and Grainstore. The Easter beer festival is scheduled for April 3rd – 6th, and he has made the astute decision to rack the beers inside, thus avoiding the sharp change in temperature that has often affected the beer in the past. I will keep you posted on this important event. I stand to be corrected, but I believe that this is the only bar in Peterborough to be “listed” before it appeared in the Good Beer Guide. Around the corner into Oundle Road and we have four pubs within a few minutes of each other: The Cherry Tree where you will find Tim Taylor’s Landlord and Oakham Inferno plus two guests (Cottage and Tydd Steam on my last visit); the Swiss Cottage where Roosters Yankee and Sharps Doombar are constantly on tap along with a guest; the New Inn which is currently offering Grainstore Osprey, and, of course, one of the Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Pub news |11
jewels in the Oundle Road crown, the Palmerston Arms. Simon Benton informs me that he will officially take over the lease on February 2nd and he is planning a winter dark beer festival from January 27th to 31st. As far as I am concerned there is a beer festival in this pub every day of the week, with up to twelve real ales constantly available along with a wide range of ciders. My commitment to complete impartiality prevents me from mentioning my own local, the Coalheavers Arms, in Park Street.
To complete the loop we have the Peacock, the only thatched roof pub in the city. Predominantly a music pub, it is currently offering Sharpe’s Doombar at £2.60 a pint. It is now a family run pub and licensee Cherie Burkett, who has considerably improved the ambience since taking over in July, has told me she is planning a beer festival in the spring. I will keep you updated on this event. Serious issues I trust that readers will appreciate that all of the information contained above was accurate at the time of writing. However, such is the dynamic of the pub market that this article is out of date as soon as it is written. In consideration of this fact, and in order to protect myself against mischievous accusations, I shall in future be writing under a pseudonym. Keep it quiet. John Temple Pubs Officer
Send us your news! Calling all landlords and landladies! Had a refurb? Got a great event on? Started selling a new range of ales or cider? Let us know and we will add your news to these pages. Just email John Temple at pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
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BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015
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Pub Of The Year 2015
Peterborough & District CAMRA are pleased to announce that The Hand & Heart has been voted Branch Pub of the Year 2015 by local CAMRA members. Each year end Peterborough & District CAMRA poll all their members for Pub of The Year. This is out of a shortlist of pubs that had been awarded a Merit or Gold award during that year. See issue 180 for this years contenders. The clear winner voted by branch members was the Hand & Heart, 12 Highbury Street, Peterborough. Previous winners of this prestigious award are:2014 The Ploughman, Werrington (2nd Award) 2013 The Queen’s Head, Bulwick 2012 The Letter B, Whittlesey 2011 Ploughman, Werrington 2010 Mama Liz’s, Stamford 2009 Jolly Brewer, Stamford 2008 Tobie Norris, Stamford 2007 Drapers Arms, Peterborough 2006 Blue Bell, Maxey 2005 Palmerston Arms, Peterborough Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
2004 Coalheavers Arms, Peterborough Peterborough & District CAMRA congratulate the staff at The Hand & Heart on their achievement. Presentation date to be confirmed. If you have not been to The Hand & Heart please make a point of visiting. Not only does it have a good selection of ales and lagers, but it has an historic pub interior of national importance (1930’s Art Deco) and is listed on the CAMRA National Register. Peterborough CAMRA run Award Schemes throughout the year to recognise pubs that have demonstrated their commitment to provide good service and great beer. All pub awards are nominated by CAMRA members who submit their recommendations via the form in our Branch Magazine, Beer Around ‘Ere (BAE), or via email to the Secretary info@peterborough-camra.org.uk Mike Blakesley Press Officer
February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
Brewery News Bexar County Brewery 2015 looks to be a year of change for Bexar County Brewery. The previous two years were used to explore different styles and taste profiles that would push the envelope and challenge beer drinkers. Ok, so it seems that not that much is going to change this year...except the approach. This year there will still be innovation and collaboration, but many of the old recipes devised over the last year will be revisited. Expect to see a number of beers being re-brewed this year such as Papa Steve, San Jacinto, Vaquero, I Am Not A Fruit Beer and La Perla Negra en Fuego. The first beers released this year included a coffee stout and the beginning of a series of beers that will run throughout the year called “Anything Gose” (a range of salty soured wheat beers that have the same malt bill but different additions are added in secondary). Bexar County Brewery beers have also finally found two regular spots in Peterborough. Cask beers can often be found at the Drapers Arms and bottles are normally at the Coalheavers Arms. Beers Festivals still play a major role with the brewery, with it showing at great national festivals such as Cambridge Winter, Colchester, and Ely Winter along with smaller local festivals such as Straw Bear. In other news, it is time to say goodbye to the original Brewery Liaison Officer (BLO) for Bexar County Brewery, Mr Steve Williams. He served his time well and will be sorely missed, but unfortunately his commitments to the Peterborough Beer Fest and his dedication to the Pub History Society have forced him to retire from the role of BLO for Bexar County Brewery.
With sad news comes good news though, Mr Dave Botton has graciously stepped up to the position of BLO. He has been a long-time friend to the brewery and is on a constant quest to find great new innovative beer, in other words, a perfect match for the brewery. BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015
Castor Ales Dark Side of the Comet proved to be a popular addition to our range of beers. The beer was conceived before the amazing achievement of the European Space Agency’s Rosetta Mission to land the Philae Lander on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on 12th November 2014. The name of the beer captured the moment and seemed a perfect opportunity to celebrate the scientific achievement of the human race. As a dark beer, it cries out to be defined because beer enthusiasts love to argue over what separates a porter from a stout. I think people agree that there is a difference, but nobody can agree what the difference is. It may simply be that originally a stout was a stronger version of a porter. Today, however, the difference is probably whatever you want it to be. Dark Side of the Comet contains pale malt, caramalt, crystal malt, chocolate malt, black malt, roasted malt and oats and the hop additions are generous. So try it and make up your own mind. It is available in the usual outlets and in bottles. The Philae Lander is currently languishing silently on the ‘dark side’ of the comet, but as the comet moves ever closer to the sun over the next few months, scientists are optimistic that the increased solar energy will stir it into life again and that will surely be an event to celebrate with a new beer. Raise your glasses and celebrate with Castor Ales. Cheers! Digfield Ales 2014 was a year of sustained growth of sales in an expanding market, helped by investment in a larger delivery vehicle and bigger stock of casks. Digfield expanded their sales areas and now have regular outlets in and around Northampton and Bedfordshire. Along with larger sales area they have supplied beers to many beer festivals. Chiff Chaff an amber/gold bitter at Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
3.9% which was brewed for the first time in June and which won the Bronze Award at this year’s PBF, was well received at both Nottingham and Falmouth beer festivals. Merry Monk their festive version of Mad Monk was brewed for Christmas/New Year season. This year Paul and Mike are hoping to develop more new beers as and when time allows. Elgoods Straw Beer is still available and the seasonal beer for February will be an Evolution beer called Eros at 4%. February will also see the launch of bottled, fruit flavoured, Lambic beer at the Craft Beer Rising festival in London. The beer will be called Coolship and has been flavoured with blackberries and raspberries. March will see the return of Goatbusters as the seasonal beer. This is a 3.9% session ale. On the pub front, The Bell Inn at Murrow has had new tenants since 6th January. Finally, Brewery Tours recommence on the 28th April with the visitor centre and gardens being open to the public. See the brewery website for further details. Kings Cliffe Brewery (KCB) KCB have brewed a commemorative beer (see page 25) KCB P51 which is a traditional English porter ABV 5.1% and dark ruby in colour. It has been brewed using an 1896 recipe and refined for the modern palate. Roasted and chocolate malts give a smooth and distinctive roast malt and fruit feature to the palate. The finish is very lightly hopped with a hint of bitter chocolate lingering. KCB P51 will be available from February. Please ask for it at your local. Bottles and mini-kegs of P51 will be available from the brewery in March 2015. All of KCB ales will be showcasing at the Cambridge Winter Ales Festival 22nd – 24th January 2015 and the Colchester Winter Ales Festival 28th – 31st January 2015.
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Brewery news continued |15
Mile Tree Brewery Mile Tree continue to open up new markets for their ales through the use of their Travellin’ Tavern. The Tavern has proved very popular at the many Christmas Markets where sales of 1850 Porter and Reclamation exceeded demand. Richard and Karen will now concentrate on bottling more of their ales in readiness for the regular farmer’s markets being held in Ely and Peterborough throughout spring. Bottled beer is available for purchase online from The Ale Room. The beers have also been appearing in cask form in some outlets new to the brewery including:- Prince Albert, Ely; The Black Bear, Walsoken, Wisbech; Tharp Arms, Chippenham, Ely; Oliver Twist, Guyhirn Their beers will also be showcased at the forthcoming Ely Winter Beer Festival. Nene Valley Brewery The Brewery had a good Christmas with increased sales from the shop and into pubs. The Tap & Kitchen is also doing rather well with 75 of 90 covers pre-booked for the evening of Friday 9th January. There are tentative (at the moment) plans to extend the rear of all of the units in the brewery block (Gorilla Firm Cycling and Trek Kits outdoors shop included) with the brewery utilising the additional space to increase the number of fermentation vessels and add cask storage. Nene Valley have been invited to the Cambridge Winter Ales Festival from 22nd to 24th January where they will be showcasing 4 beers including Bible Black and Dark Horse. Hunts CAMRA visited recently to present the brewery with the Beer of the Festival Award from Booze on the Ouse St Ives Beer Festival 2014 for Bible Black. The brewery will once again be represented at Craft Beer Rising, in London, from 19th to 22nd February. There are plans for a number of
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February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
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Glyn and Alan would like to welcome you to their old fashioned community pub. Serving a family friendly menu full of pub classics with ingredients sourced, where possible, from local suppliers. We offer a great range of two permanent and two changing guest real ales alongside two real ciders.
Now taking bookings for Mothers Day
Please call 01572 822302 for details We also offer 3 Star AA rated accommodation.
For further information on live events or for room reservations please call 01572 822302 14 High St East, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9PY
• Food Served Daily • 12-3pm Monday - Sunday 6-9pm Friday & Saturday Sky HD and BT showing Football and Rugby t. 01780 755141 w. jollybrewer.com Foundry Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2PP
new beers in 2015 including a citrus saison and another version of Double JIP, this time at 9.9%. Oakham Ales 2014 was a record year for Oakham Ales with total beer production approximately 24,000 brewer’s barrels (36 gallons) up a sprightly 15% on 2013. Perennial favourite J.H.B. still tops the charts for beer sales accounting for roughly 40% of production. As the message gets clearer that they do brew other beers sales of Citra are rapidly on the increase. Some of this possibly due to the silver medal success in the Champion Beer of Britain 2014.
Ten per cent of beer sold is now bottled with supermarket sales on the up. Two per cent of bottle sales go abroad with hotspots Scandinavia and Eastern Europe. Both are rapidly growing markets and Italy with its new found thirst for Green Devil, not ‘a like a mama used to drink!’
For this year there will be some changes to the seasonal and Oakademy of Excellence beers. There will be twelve beers in total with six new Oakademy beers alternating with six seasonals. January sees the start of the Oakademy beers for 2015 with The Opportunist a 4.1% Oatmeal Stout, followed in March by The Racketeer a 5% beer bursting with Kiwi hops. Good feedback from Dolphin Dance last year means a February return for this straw coloured beer with German hops. Mompesson’s Gold will also be around in the early part of the year as an addition to the aged and vintage range. Tydd Steam The recent return of Piston Bob was a success with the batch selling out quickly, as did the Christmas beer Yooligan. Beartown returned for the Whittlesey Straw Bear Festival and has sold very well. Cock is now being brewed as the latest offering from the brewery's occasional portfolio. Sales have been very good lately with a successful Christmas period and the brewery is continuing in much the same vein as last year. There are no new beers in the pipeline at the moment. Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Brewery news continued |17
Xtreme Ales Things at the brewery continue to grow at a good pace. Brewing has now stepped up to a full brew once a week on the new big kit and brews on the smaller kit for one off festival specials when needed. The brewery has received a brand new cask washer with a new batch of casks on the way to keep up with demand. The Straw Bear Festival, in Whittlesey, was a huge success for the brewery. A total of 15 casks were sold to various pubs around the town, with The Letter B doing a fantastic job of promoting our Straw Bear Festival beer, Dancing Pigeon. Mike and Neil had the pleasure of helping out and serving on The ‘Grufton’ Real Ale bar at the Letter B, which also had our Winter Warmer and Funky Pigeon beers and which sold out early on.
Farewell Stella
It is with great sadness that we have to report the death of another of our long-standing members. Stella Morton, wife of Harry, our Webmaster, passed away suddenly on the 9th of January at her home in Torremolinos near Malaga in Spain. She had been in poor health since just before Christmas when she was confined to a wheelchair. My wife and I visited the couple twice during our recent New Year holiday. Although Stella was never a ‘leading member’ or held any committee position, she did help on many occasions at the Peterborough Beer Festival, along with her daughters. She also assisted Harry in some of his duties when he was our Branch Secretary. When they retired they took the decision to live in Spain in the Malaga area. Harry informed me of Stella’s death as we were about to leave Malaga airport to return to the UK. We send our condolences, and our thoughts are with Harry and family. Rest in peace, Stella. David Murray February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
Anspach & Hobday’s entrace, with the Shard in the background
The Bermondsey Mile Revisited A recent edition of The Morning Advertiser has published an article on the growth of a phenomenon now referred to as the micropub movement. In it the founder of the movement, Martin Hiller, predicts that there will be over a hundred of these establishments open by the end of the year. Mr. Hiller goes on to state that “regular pubs are going downhill”. Now I am not sure what a “regular” pub is, but I can see that there is a distinction to be made between a micropub and the wide variety of pubs and hotels that we have traditionally drunk in. And whereas in the recent past we have become accustomed to a new microbrewery being attached to an established pub, what now seems to be happening is that licensed premises are beginning to be attached to new microbreweries (see Tap & Kitchen, Pub news). Many will say that this movement takes its inspiration from the craft beer movement in the United States. But it is just as likely that it is driven by a changing customer base and a changing expectation of what a pub should provide. With the current proposed reform of the tied pub system and pub chains clamouring to threaten more closures, perhaps it is time to reassess the situation.
BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015
First let us understand a plain fact. The law is about to change as a result of action taken by the elected representatives of the pub chains’ customers and potential customers. Now let us understand another plain fact. As the nature of the brewing industry is radically changing as small brewers grab more of the market, so is the nature of the drinking venue. Cask Matters have recently reported that there are now 1472 brewers in Britain. So where do they sell? Surely they cannot all thrive on beer festivals? And with the opening up of guest beer options under the proposed statutory code, what difference will this make to the pub industry? I should like to make the tentative suggestion that there is a sea change occurring in the beer industry in this country parallel to that which occurred in the 1830s, when the country was faced with a problem of gin consumption amongst the lower classes. To counter this problem the government of the time passed the Beer Act, a piece of legislation which had the effect of promoting the development of a type of drinking establishment which became the prototype of the modern town pub. The Act allowed the acquisition of a license to sell beer in private houses and within 8 years of its introduction 46,000 beer houses were estabVisit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Bermondsey Mile revisited |19
lished, some of them brewing on site. In superseding the number of traditional taverns they clearly had a massive impact on the commercial landscape. Inspired by Dave Botton’s pioneering article in Issue 178, I thought that the ideal place to test out this theory was the Bermondsey Mile, otherwise known as the craft beer pilgrimage. For what we have on the Mile is a series of microbrewers who have managed to secure a retail license for their products and have attracted what amounts to a cult following of beer drinkers. Keen to investigate the commercial background to this unique drinking phenomenon, I contacted Daniel Lowe of Fourpure and arranged to meet him on a Saturday afternoon at his brewery in South Bermondsey. It is situated in an industrial estate and difficult to find, but once inside the ambience changes. Surrounded by fermenting and conditioning vessels with ample seating room for his many visitors, I put several questions to Daniel which he was only too pleased to answer. He and his brother Tom had acquired their kit from the Purity Brewery Company after their recent expansion. They have a brew length of 23 barrels and a fermentation and conditioning period of 21 days! I was also keenly interested in the licensing issues. They have a license to sell beer for 7 days a week until 11.00 pm, although they have no plans at the moment to open other than Saturdays. Daniel told me that he had received enormous support from the Southwark licensing authorities and from local trading standards, with whom he has acted in an advisory capacity. Both of these have used his premises for social events, which indicates that there is a substantial amount of community support and activity in the area and goes some way to explaining why it is so successful in attracting new brewers. As a working brewery, did they have plans to expand this as a viable retail outlet? Daniel was quite adamant that he had no intent ion of creating a bar but preferred to regard the facility as Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
a showcase for his beers. What then was his market? He explained that craft brewers were exploring all kinds of markets and his beers are currently available at the Tate Modern, the National Theatre and in an exclusive restaurant in the Tower of London! I turned the corner into the Partizan brewery where the premises are much smaller and there is clearly no room to expand. The beer was again excellent and the venue well supported. Partizan, like virtually all of the premises on the Mile, is built into the arch of the overhead railway, which itself imparts a certain architectural attraction. Beer and railways seem to go together as naturally as bubble and squeak. I arrived at the Kernel too late - you need to get there before 2.00p.m if you want to taste their beer. I was, however, cordially welcomed by one of their employees, Chun Lee, who told me that they had a “market style of trading”. I did not quite understand what this meant until Chun told me that his full time job was in Borough Market. It seems then that the remarkable ambience of this market is now spreading deep into Bermondsey and having a significant impact on the culture of the Mile. Although some of the people I had spoken to professed to have no plans to expand, many of them had the facilities to do so. At the moment microbrewers in this country only claim 1.7 % of the total beer market, whilst in the U.S. this runs to 11%. The overwhelming impression I was getting on this trip was that given the quality of the product and its growing popularity, there are big market opportunities here and it is only a matter of time before they are exploited. I was delighted therefore to find my view vindicated the closer I got to London Bridge. My next stop was the Bottle Shop in Druid Street. This business started as a retail shop in Canterbury. It was born out of proprietor Andrew Morgan’s personal love for beer and I am so glad he has decided to share it. He and his partners have been in possession of the current premises for
F
February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
20 | Bermondsey Mile revisited - continued
just over eight months. Four months ago they installed a mezzanine floor (do you see what I mean about potential?) and this has provided an extensive and comfortable drinking area. Most of their business is still wholesale, but they have created a drinking establishment with a real buzz to it. I spoke to events manager Laura Hunter who clearly shares Andrew’s passion and was, thankfully, most enthusiastic about this article. Laura arranges bi-weekly tasting events and has opened the premises to events rented out to the public. Laura also mentioned that they are starting to forge relationships with other brewers, which I am pleased to say reinforces my long held view that pubs and breweries flourish better in clusters than they do in isolation. In Anspach & Hobday (virtually next door) I had the good fortune to speak to one of the brewers, Paul Anspach, who also spoke about the high level of co-operation amongst the local brewers. He told me they had plans to expand the brewery into bigger premises and retain the current site as a drinking venue with an experimental two and a half barrel plant. I have spoken a great deal about the premises and very little about the beer, as this was more than adequately covered by Dave Botton. I would, however, like to mention an 8.5 ABV bottle conditioned dark beer called 1204 Traditional barrel aged porter from Beer by Numbers. It was deep and sweet with a perfect balance between the black malts and the roasted barley. The label on the back of the bottle carried the following useful instructions: “Store this bottle upright and pour gently into the glass leaving the sediment behind�. Of course there is nothing new about bottle conditioned beer and this piece of advice reminded me of an article on Worthington White Shield written by the late Richard Boston, who did so much to promote CAMRA in its early days.
BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Bermondsey Mile revisited - continued |21
Now Worthington White Shield, as every schoolboy knows, should be poured with the bottle and the glass virtually level with each other. The glass should then be gently lowered, ensuring that the beer is poured with perfect clarity and the sediment stays in the bottle. After pursuing this ritual, Boston would then promptly pour the sediment into the glass. He did this, he said, for three reasons. First it made pouring the beer an art in itself. Second he preferred the taste. But most importantly he loved the look of consternation on the faces of the people watching him. By this time I was suffering from multiple vision as I seemed to be seeing faces I had seen further along the mile. This affliction was so severe that I almost missed my last stop, recently opened by the Southwark Brewing Company. I spoke to head brewer Andy Nichol who told me that the Brewery was the brain child of Peter Jackson. Peter is a retired consultant with 30 years experience in sales and marketing. So my obvious first question was what made them choose Southwark? Their researches revealed that the London Bridge area was precisely what they were looking for: up and coming, hybrid and with a rich tradition in beer and brewing. Hops from Kent were traditionally delivered to London Bridge (something I should have known) and it is the home of the Hop Exchange, a building dating back to the 1860s. There are several free houses in the area which they have identified as their key market. The brewery is a ten barrel plant and all the beers are conditioned in the cask. They brew three days a week, currently have a retail license for Thursday, Friday and Saturday and have plans to open a brew pub. It is precisely the kind of new brewing venture that will benefit from the new business relationship that will develop from the MRO option. I began this article by suggesting that there is a radical change in the nature of our drinking venues and that the Bermondsey Mile would be the ideal location to test it out. I also challenged Mr. Hiller’s assumption that the traditional pub is in decline. I am now left with the uncomfortable feeling that this theory has yet to be tested by the Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
reception of the proposed new law. Will the pub companies start to produce new business plans and explore the opportunities to encourage investment, as suggested in What’s Brewing? Or will they revert to type and cast a cloud over the industry by threatening even more pub closures. It was Shelley who said that there are periods in our history when “the cloud discharges its collected lightning”. If I was a pubco I think I should be reaching for my umbrella. John Temple
The Jolly Sailor, 43 Great Whyte, Ramsey PE26 1HH Tel 01487 813388
OPEN ALL DAY EVERY DAY FROM 11am Five Real Ales on permanently
FOOD SERVED DAILY Monday to Friday: 12 to 2.30, 6 to 9pm Saturday: 12 to 9pm Sunday: 12 to 4pm Sunday 1st December 8pm Karaoke
Look out for our special Valentine’s Menu Booking now being taken! February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
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3 real ales, 1 real cider and 6 draught beers Game room, Sky & BT sport Freshly prepared food Tuesday to Sunday. Our garden, bars and restaurants are available for your Wedding, office or birthday party.
Celebrate St Valentine with us! Wednesday 11th to Saturday 14th 3 courses + coffee set menu £15.00 each
All Six Nations rugby matches showing 4 pint Ale Pitcher £10 every day any time.
Monthly Open Mic night 9 High Street, Easton on the Hill, PE9 3LR. Tel: 01780 763003 Email: info@thebluebellpub.com Find us on Facebook: The Blue Bell
The Angel OUNDLE
4 ST OSYTH’S LANE • OUNDLE • PE8 4BG• 01832 273747 w w w. a n g e l o u n d l e . c o . u k
BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Coalheavers on tour |23
Pub three was The West End House, an old, low-beamed pub with four or five beers on. The low beams are very low, so, if you are six feet tall or over, be very careful. Draught Bass was available which I haven’t seen for a long time, alongside Sharp`s Doom bar, Purity Gold and Adnams Ghost Ship.
Coalies in Ely
This Coalheavers mini trip took us to Ely. Maybe not a place you would normally associate with a large choice of beers, but we did pretty well. The ticket was £11.90 which is a bit steep for a 25 minute journey but you can book in advance which will bring the price down a bit and group save tickets will knock a pound or two off. The day’s first pub was The Fountain, an Adnams pub with three Adnams beers and a couple of guests including Purity Mad Goose which I had and really enjoyed. The pub was fairly quiet but then we were there at midday. The next pub we came to was a Greene King pub, The Prince Albert. We just walked straight past as we don’t drink Greene King beer! However, as we passed, I noticed a sign saying nine beers available and was pretty sure Greene King do not do nine beers so they must have some guests, they did. Alongside four of their own beers were Tim Taylors Landlord, Skinners Cornish Knocker, Hogs Back TEA, and Milton Sparta, all of which were really good but were all £3.90 per pint. Sparta is always on in The Coalies and is only £2.90! Nevertheless the pub was very busy and worth a visit.
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Our next pub was The Townhouse which has been a good beer guide entrant for many years. This was quite a large pub with a separate eating area. 8 hand pumps awaited us with beers such as Nethergate Suffolk County, Cliff Quay Clipper, Brighton Bier Fall Guy and Milton Tiki. The beers here were £3.40 a pint, but card carrying CAMRA members got a 20p discount. All the beers in here were in very good nick. Pub five was not really a pub but a deli that sold great looking food and had a menu of well over 100 bottled beers. It is called 3At3. These were not your run of the mill beers! I had never come across most of them and virtually all were local beers, apart from the beers under the heading “Rare Spanish Beers”. I had never heard of 3At3 but was advised to pay a visit. The prices were not too bad considering the beers were all bottled and we were in Ely. One of our group had a Black Widow Reserve at 12% for £6.95. It was lovely. If you go to Ely you must find 3At3. Final pub of the day was The Liberty Belle. A fairly recent addition to the Ely pub scene, this was a great little pub with 7 beers waiting for us. Again, all the beers were fairly local with Newby Wyke Kingston Topaz, Grain Porter (fantastic), Jo C’s Norfolk Kiwi and Wolf Mild. There are no pumps here, you just place your order at the bar, pay and the chap goes out the back and pours the beer straight from the cask and then brings it to your table. Great. That was the end of our trip to Ely and I was pleasantly surprised. Definitely worth a visit especially if you go to the Ely Beer Festival or the winter festival. Dave Botton
February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
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The Rose & Crown in March
Easter Beerfest
Friday 3rd – Monday 6th April 2015
20+ Real Ales and Real Ciders
PUB OPENING HOURS Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 12noon-midnight Monday: 12noon-11pm
LIVE MUSIC
(Sat & Sun Evenings)
Pub food served 12noon-8pm
41 St Peters Road, March, PE15 9NA
Tel: 01354 652077
www.theroseandcrownmarch.co.uk
PALMERSTON ARMS 82 Oundle Rd www.palmerston-arms.co.uk
14 Ever-changing, gravity fed real ales Wood burner for winter
VINYL NIGHT Bring down your favourite records Check Facebook for next event
UKELELE NIGHT Every Thursday from 7.30pm
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Opening Times Mon - Thurs 3-12pm Fri and Sat 12 - midnight Sun 12-11.30pm
For information on live entertainment go to:
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from 4pm BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
New beer from Kings Cliffe Brewery |25
What’s in a name?
2015 will see the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. To mark this occasion and also recognise the support and sacrifice made by the USAAF 8th Air Force a Northamptonshire brewery Kings Cliffe Brewery has produced a style of beer that would have been available in 1945. The Kings Cliffe Brewery is located less than a mile from the end of the runway at RAF Kings Cliffe or USAAF Station 367 as it was known to
Jack M Ilfrey North American P51D Mustang HAPPY JACKS GO BUGGY 1942 - 1944 Kings Cliffe US Army Air Force personnel. The Airfield was constructed in December 1942. It was the most northerly and furthest west of all Eighth Air Force fighter stations. It was in the 1st Air Division heavy bomber base area and more than fifty miles west of any other fighter airfield. Major Jack Ilfrey 31 July 1918 - October 15, 2004 Promoted to Captain, in March 1944 he went back to combat in England as commander of the 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group, based at RAF Kings Cliffe. Aerial Victories: 7.5 confirmed and 2 damaged. (ACE). Medals: Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 5 OLC's and the Air Medal with 13 OLC's.
On 26 August 1943, the 20th Fighter Group arrived from March AAF California. Aircraft of the 20th were identified by black and white stripes along their cowlings and tails. The 20th became known as the “Loco Group” because of its numerous and successful attacks on locomotives. Aircraft from the 20th flew patrols over the English Channel during D-Day in June 1944, and supported the invasion force later that month by escorting bombers that struck forbidden targets in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The 20th FG converted to North American P51 Mustangs in July 1944 and continued to fly escort and fighterbomber missions as the enemy retreated across France to the Siegfried Line. The group participated in the airborne attack on the Netherlands in September 1944, and escorted bombers to Germany and struck rail lines, trains, vehicles, barges, power stations, and other targets in and beyond the Siegfried Line. The unit took part in the Battle of the Bulge by escorting bombers to the battle area. Flew patrols to support the airborne attack across the Rhine in March 1945, and carried out escort and fighter-bomber missions. The USAAF departed RAF Kings Cliffe in October 1945. Kings Cliffe Brewery’s commemorative beer, a porter called P51 pays homage to the North American P51D Mustangs operated by the 20th Fighter Group. KCB P51 is a collaboration between Jez O’Neil KCB Owner and David Smith a home brewer from Cambridgeshire. Working from an 1896 recipe found in an old book in Cambridge, the new beer has been brewed to suit a modern tastes and local water. After the ABV was checked, the porter came out at 5.1% which dovetailed nicely with the name Porter 5.1. Another homage is paid to the 20th Fighter Group on the pump clip as the P is Black with a white outline which were the identifying colours for the squadrons aircraft. Mike Blakesley KCB Brewery Liaison Officer
26 | CAMRA NWAF 2015
CAMRA’s National Winter Ales Festival 2015 Where: The Roundhouse, Derby, DE24 8JE When: Open from Wednesday 11th – Saturday 14th February 2015 In 2015 CAMRA’s flagship National Winter Ales Festival will return to Derby for the second year running, with over 400 beers available the Festival will showcase some of the very best ales, ciders, perries, bottled world beers and mead in 3 separate areas. Located beside the Pride Park exit of Derby Railway Station (just 93 minutes from London) Derby’s historic Roundhouse could not be in a more convenient location. Four Brewery Bars have been agreed: multi award winning Blue Monkey from Nottingham; innovative North Star from Derbyshire both in the Main Hall, Derby’s very own Brunswick Brewing Company in the Music Marquee and Yorkshire’s shinning gem Brass Castle in the Carriage Room. The National Winter Ales Festival is home to CAMRA’s prestigious Champion Winter Beer of Britain Competition which sees the 4 winter styles
of beer (porters, stouts, old ales/strong milds and barley wine/strong old ales) being gathered from across the UK to be judged and a winner declared. Though the festival itself has lots of pale beers and golden ales to choose from too. The website www.nwaf.org.uk will be updated regularly with details of admission prices, live entertainment, tutored tastings and special hotel rates thanks to our partners at www.visitderby.co.uk. There are no advance tickets as this is a pay on the door event. Well behaved and supervised under 18s are welcomed until 19:00 each evening, after which they must leave due to a licencing requirement. The feedback from 2014 revealed that our customers loved the building, the beer quality and selection as well as the hot and cold food which was available. So why not join them and come and see Derby at its beery best!! Cheers! Gillian Hough Organiser National Winter Ales Festival
Diary dates |27
Diary dates January
Fri 30th - Sat 31st 6th CAMRA Elysian Winter Beer Festival. Venue: Maltings Ship Lane Ely. Location is next to the river approximately 5 minute’s walk from Ely railway station. Opening hours: Friday 10:30 to 22:00 Saturday 11:00 to 20:00. There will be 70 beers on including a bar run by Ely’s very own 3 Blind Mice brewery. There will also be 14-16 ciders.
CAMRA meetings, socials and beer festivals in the coming months
February
Tuesday 17th Committee meeting The Cherry Tree, Woodston PE2 9PB. 8.30pm. All branch members welcome, please bring membership card.
March
Monday 23rd Pie Night at Letter B, Whittlesey. Depart Brewery Tap at 7pm return by 11pm. Cost: £16 (transport +meal). Please contact Social Secretary John Hunt to book places.
Wednesday 11th - Friday 13th - 31st London Drinker Beer And Cider Festival Camden Centre Bidborough Street London WC1H 9AU. 150 real ales imported beers (including American beers) ciders and perries.
Gig guide February Mon 2nd Unplugged Charters, City Centre Fri 6th Code Red Fayre Spot, Bretton Mind the Gap Swiss Cottage, Woodston Revolver Stone Loach, Market Deeping Sat 7th Frankly My Dear Swiss Cottage, Woodston The Recruits Charters, City Centre The Expletives Ploughman, Werrington Redemption Prince of Wales F, Castor Wed 11th Pint of Poetry & a Dash of Drama Charters, City Centre Fri 13th Children of the Revolution Palmerston Arms,Oundle Rd
Cuttin’ Loose Swiss Cottage, Woodston Sat 14th Hooker Cook Inn, Werrington Radius 45 Ploughman, Werrington Sat 21st Doghouse Prince of Wales F, Castor Dave Ellis Blues Charters, City Centre Sat 28th Greg McDonald Prince of Wales F, Castor Dizzy Miss Lizzy’s Charters, City Centre
March Mon 2nd Unplugged Charters, City Centre Sat 7th CJ Hatt Prince of Wales F, Castor Sat 14th DB5 Prince of Wales F, Castor The Lazoons Charters, City Centre
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Tuesday 10th Committee meeting The Blue Bell, Werrington. PE4 6RU. 8.30pm. All branch members welcome, please bring membership card.
Fri 20th Mainstreet Charters, City Centre Sat 21st Mistreated Prince of Wales F, Castor Sat 28th Pandora’s Box Prince of Wales F, Castor
29 North Street, Stanground PE2 8HR. Tel: 01733 753544 Friendly village pub with riverside mooring.
Up to 4 Real Ales available Large Garden • Dogs Welcome BT Sport Food Served: Tues to Sun 12 - 2.30pm Mon to Sat 6pm - 8pm
BEER FESTIVAL FRI 17 APRIL - SUN 19 APRIL
February / March 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
28 |
Membership Matters Are you one of those people for whom friends and family find it difficult to buy gifts? Did you receive underwear and socks for Christmas again? Do you have a “special” birthday this year? If you have answered “Yes” to any one of these questions then maybe it's time to ask for CAMRA Membership, or an upgrade to CAMRA Life Membership, as a gift. Membership rates for Full Single Members start at £24.00 and concessions (under 26 or over 60) start at £16.50. (See advert on page 29). Life membership is somewhat more expensive starting at £432 for Full Life Membership and £297 for Over 60 Life Membership. With all of the benefits accruing to CAMRA Members (www.camra.org.uk/benefits) it represents excellent
BEER AROUND ERE | February / March 2015
value for money. Even so, I’m just so glad that I became a Life Member when it only cost around £100 to do so. Go on! Join the country’s most successful consumer organisation (with 168,553 members at the time of writing). You know it makes sense! Bob Melville
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
30 | CAMRA Contacts Branch Committee Secretary: Dickie Bird 4 Cissbury Ring,Werrington Peterborough, PE4 6QH 01733 574226 (tel & fax) 07731 993896 info@real-ale.org.uk
Chairman: David Murray 01733 560453 chairman@real-ale.org.uk
Treasurer: Paul Beecham 01733 311981 07710 008693 treasurer@real-ale.org.uk
Vice Chair: Matthew Mace 07809 629241 vice-chair@real-ale.org.uk Social Sec: John Hunt 07923 489917 social-sec@real-ale.org.uk
Pubs Officer: John Temple 07905 051 312 pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk
Press Officer: Mike Blakesley 01733 390828 (h) 07747 617527 (m) press-officer@real-ale.org.uk
Young Members: Kara Williams young-members@real-ale.org.uk
Membership: Bob Melville 07941 246693 membership@real-ale.org.uk
Festival Org: Mike Lane 07850 334203 festival-organiser@real-ale.org.uk
LocAle Officer: Dave McLennan 01733 346059 (h) 07854 642773 (m) locale@real-ale.org.uk Webmaster: Harry Morten webmaster@real-ale.org.uk
Brewery Liaison Officers Blue Bell: John Hunt 07923 489917 Bexar County Brewery: Dave Botton 01733 345475 Castor Ales: Mike Lane 07850 334203 Digfield: Dave Waller 07821 912605 Elgoods: John Hunt 07923 489917
Hopshackle: Noel Ryland 07944 869656
Kings Cliffe Brewery: Mike Blakesley 07747 617527 Melbourn: Vacant
Mile Tree Brewery: Steve Williams 07756 066503
Nene Valley: Bob Melville 07941 246693
Oakham Ales: Dave Allett 07966 344417 Tydd Steam: John Hunt 07923 489917
Shoulder of Mutton Brewery: John Temple 07905 051 312 Star Brewing Company: Dave McLennan - 07854642773 Xtreme Ales: Matt Mace 07809 629241
Trading Standards
08545 040506 www.consumerdirect.gov.uk Check out our website at: www.real-ale.org.uk
Pub Merit Awards & Gold Awards Does your local pub have excellent beer, friendly staff, a great atmosphere/ community spirit, or have they introduced additional hand pumps? If so nominate them for Gold or Merit Award. The new Merit Award is for pubs that are continuously outstanding, so if you know of a deserving pub within the branch area, please complete the form below indicating Gold or Merit Award and post to the secretary or email nominations to info@real-ale.org.uk. Pub name: Pub address/town/village: Reason for award: Your name: Your phone number or e-mail address: Your membership number:
Big kfasot 11am rB eaSat 8 t ! ry 95
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More than just a Carvery! A great welcome awaits you at The Farmers, Yaxley. We are famous for our fresh vegetables and great carvery meats, succulent and served with all the trimmings, then finished off with a tantalising hot or cold dessert!
Open Every Day 10am - 5.30pm All Day Menu & Coffee Midday - 2:30pm Carvery & Specials Menu 5:30pm - LATE Carvery & Grill Menu Sunday Open From 12 Noon - 9pm All Day Carvery
Check out our lunch-time grill menus and our everchanging specials boards. Put it all together with three fine cask ales and you have the perfect place to enjoy dinner with friends or a family celebration. We have a self-contained function suite which is ideal for parties, weddings and all of life’s celebrations. So if you’ve not been before give us a try and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Planning a wedding or special family event? We have lots of packages available including our new Green Room facility. Please call for further details. 200 Broadway, Yaxley Tel: 01733 244885 Email: thefarmers@btconnect.com
www.thefarmersyaxley.co.uk