Chairman
ADRIAN SMITH
t: 07495 448555
e: chairman@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
Membership Secretary
POST VACANT
e: membership@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
Treasurer
DAVE WOOLCOCK
e: treasurer@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
Secretary & Webmaster
GORDON SMALL
t: 01772 746118
e: secretary@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
Pubs Officer
RICHARD LANGFORD
t: 07974 799224
e: pubsofficer@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
Pub Protection Officer
POST VACANT
e: pubprotection@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
Cider Officer
EDD FLETCHER
e: cider@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
Social Media Officer
STEWART GRIEVE
e: socialmedia@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
As I write this welcome, in the early days of February, the world outside my window is dull and cold and windy – a typical day for this time of year. However, amidst the gloom, there are new shoots on the bushes and bulbs pushing their way through the soil – all signs of brighter times ahead. Let us hope the same is true in the beer world.
The news from our area is, once again, a rather mixed bag. Set against the closure of one of our local breweries and news of 2 micropubs under threat (one closed and one concerned that they will be gone by the time you read this), we have more positive signs with new outlets opening and a wellrespected brewery resurrected and moved into our area. All these developments will be covered elsewhere in the magazine, but they confirm what we expected, that the local drinking scene is likely to be unsettled for some time to come.
Recently in the news there have been reports that Wetherspoons are disposing of 39 of their pubs – fortunately none in our area, but one of the Southport ones is scheduled to close. Hot on the heels of this, Stonegate have announced that they plan to sell off 1,000 of their 4.500 strong pub portfolio. They hope to raise £800m, which will go some way towards their estimated £2.6bn borrowings. Yes, £2.6bn. The problem with most of the big pub operators is that the whole empire is built on unsustainable debt, which inevitably leads to sell-offs of this nature. Just who is going to be able to afford to buy this pub portfolio is unclear, but it seems certain that whoever does end up with them (assuming of course that
they remain as pubs) will continue with the business model employed by the large pubcos – namely squeeze their tenants for every penny they can get, squeeze their suppliers to get the lowest prices and deliver to the customer a dumbed down pub experience. Is it any wonder that the pubs that are doing well (some even thriving) in these difficult times, are the true independent operators, delivering their own, quirky, individual pub experience? Enjoy them while you can.
As ever, if you have any thoughts, comments or feedback (about Ale Cry, the local branch or CAMRA nationally) please get in touch with us via email, you will find a contact list in this magazine, or better still, come along to one of our forthcoming meetings or events. Please also remember to visit our website www.centrallancs. camra.org.uk for all the latest information and local news and if you are on Facebook, please search for CAMRA Central Lancs and like our page. In addition, you can now follow us on Twitter, search for CAMRA Central Lancs.
We also produce a monthly newsletter which is emailed to Branch members on the 1st of each month. If you are not receiving this, it might be because we do not have an up to date email address for you or perhaps because your membership options need changing. Please go to https://camra.org.uk log in and go to edit membership details/ marketing preferences in the members area to amend your details and options.
Kind Regards
ADRIAN SMITH Branch ChairmanAle Cry Editor
ADRIAN SMITH
t: 07495 448555
e: editor@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
Social Secretary
POST VACANT
e: social@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
Young Members
POST VACANT
e: youngmembers@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk @CAMRA_CentLancs
CAMRA Central Lancashire Branch camra_central.lancs
All material copyright © Central Lancs CAMRA No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this magazine are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor, Branch Committee or CAMRA nationally. Central Lancs CAMRA accepts no liability in relation to any advertisement or article and recommends the reader make their own enquiries. It should also be noted that inclusion of an advertisement in this magazine should not be deemed an endorsement of quality by Central Lancs CAMRA.
Design & Layout: Stewart Grieve Design Ltd
e: stew@stewartgrieve.co.uk
www.stewartgrieve.co.uk
Printed by: Printplus, Cocker Avenue, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 8JU
t: 01253 299620
www.printplusgroup.com
SUNDAY NIGHT QUIZ WITH CASH JACKPOT
Serving breakfasts, lunchtime specials and all traditional pub food. Also sandwiches, salads and delicious home made pies.
Private area available for Parties and Functions
• 7 Handpumps revolving up to 25 cask ales including many local brewers each week
• Sky/BT showing all major sporting events
• New enlarged covered and heated outdoor area with large screen TV
• Live music – 1st Saturday of the month
• Real fire
Preston Railway Station 01772 828519
• Included in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide
• Upto 20 gins on our new gin menu
• Live train arrival and departure times shown
Every year CAMRA runs a national Pub of the Year (POTY) competition, with the overall winner announced in January. This competition starts the previous spring with the announcement of the individual winners for each branch.
Last year we took the decision that the branch competition would be run on the same guidelines as the national one, using the same judging criteria. During the year we have asked members to nominate the pubs that should be under consideration for the award, and from those nominations drew up a shortlist of nine pubs that were visited by committee members and scored against the following criteria:
• Quality and condition of product
• Promotion and knowledge of product
• Cleanliness and staff hygiene
• Service, welcome and offering
• Style, Decor and Furnishing
• Community Focus and Atmosphere
• Sympathy with CAMRA aims
• Overall Impression and Value
The nine pubs that were chosen for the shortlist were: BLACK HORSE (Preston), CONTINENTAL (Preston), GUILD ALE HOUSE (Preston), MALT ‘N’ HOPS (Chorley), MARKET ALE HOUSE (Leyland), MASONS ARMS (Chorley), MOORBROOK (Preston), RED LION (Wheelton), and SHEPHERDS’ HALL ALE HOUSE (Chorley).
When we ran this competition last year, there was a clear winner, with all but one of the judges selecting the same pub as winner. This year we had a greater variation of opinion and the result was in doubt until the last score was in, with the BLACK HORSE winning (if you will pardon the racing pun) by a nose from the MALT ‘N’ HOPS
The BLACK HORSE was the last winner of our George Lee Memorial Trophy in 2020, when, due to COVID, it never had the chance to compete in the national Pub of the Year competition. It was runner-up last year, so the award is well merited.
The presentation was held on 26th January. The pub was packed with staff and their family, locals and branch members, as well as representatives from Robinsons brewery; David Bremner (Director of Marketing)
Cordelia Robinson (Licensee Enagement Manager), and Helen Brierley & Ian Shilling (Business Development Managers). Talking to them during the course of the evening, it seemed they were as pleased with the award as the pub was. It is quite unusual for a pub that is tied to a major brewery to win a branch POTY, but of course this is no runof-the-mill tied pub. Going back in time, the pub was owned by Kay’s Atlas Brewery of Ardwick, who were taken over by Robinsons in 1929. The pub is designated as an Ale Shrine and is one of only 7 of the brewery’s pubs allowed to sell guest ales.
In the early days of CAMRA, there were many parts of the country where finding real ale was a challenge, although not so much in the north-west. Robinsons were very much a ‘friend of CAMRA’ with virtually all their pubs selling real ale. The brewery gave their tenants great support during the periods of lockdown, and Dan Taylor from the Black Horse is full of praise for the way they helped.
During the 1960s and 70s, many of the bigger brewers modernised their pub estate, ripping out old fixtures and turning their pubs into one large room. It certainly made them easier to run, but just imagine what we would have lost had the brewery decided to do this here! During the presentation, the branch thanked the brewery for all of these things and Dan and his team for their commitment to both the pub and to real ale.
Some pubs win branch awards and make little of them. You cannot miss the fact the this is our Pub of the Year, with two large banners outside and the awards proudly displayed behind the bar for all to see. Congratulations to Dan Taylor and his team for their stewardship of this great pub, which now goes forward into the next round of judging where it will come up against the other Lancashire branch winners. We wish them well.
ADRIAN SMITHThis ramble, for a change, does not involve a train journey, although in a parallel universe, the railway line to Longridge would not have closed in the 1930s, but some far-sighted being would have said ‘a light railway or tramway would be ideal on this route, seeing how many houses would be built in the future’. Unfortunately, this does not happen in real life, the houses have been built (and even more will be built) on this busy road between Preston and Longridge, resulting in the Number 1 Stagecoach bus to Longridge being one of the best services in this area, making the ramble an easily achieved one.
Our local branch recently had a day out there, visiting the centre of the town, which is in our branch area, but may not be visited as much as it should be. There is an excellent selection of real ale outlets, selling a wide range of different beers from all over, and it is well worth spending a day or evening trying them.
The bus from Preston drops you off on the middle of Berry Lane, the main street. We decided to start at the top of the street and work our way down, but you could do it in reverse, depending on the day of the week and pub opening times. We went on a Saturday afternoon when all the pubs should be open by noon. Starting at the top then, we have the DOG INN, a large traditional pub with great views overlooking the Ribble Valley from the rear patio. Recently refurbished to a high standard, it has roaring fires in winter and sun terraces in summer. Five handpumps dispense an ever changing range of beers, usually from local breweries. Unfortunately for us, on the day we went in, they were still cleaning all the pumps, because they had had a busy Friday night, so we had to wait a while for the beer to be available. Once they started to arrive, there were three Bowland beers, Pheasant Plucker, Gold and Raven Red, plus Lancaster Victory. The pub is closed Monday and Tuesday, but opens at noon all other days, closing at 11pm Wed/Thurs, 12 Fri/Sat and 10pm Sun. Food is available
12–2.30, 5.30–8 Wed/Thurs, 12–4, 5.30–9 Fri/ Sat. There is no food service on Sundays. Just down from the Dog, on the left is the DURHAM OX, a friendly traditional pub that serves up to three real ales from the Star Inns list. On our visit there was Marston’s Pedigree and Banks’s Sunbeam It also has a garden to the rear, and shows Sports TV. Food consists of local pies kept in a heated cabinet behind the bar, pickled eggs, crisps and nuts. It does not open until 4pm during the week, closing at midnight, but is open at noon until 1am Sat/Sun.
Moving on down Berry Lane, the next watering hole is LONGRIDGE CONSERVATIVE CLUB on the same side of the road. Don’t be put off by the name,
seasonal special at 4.8%. The club is large open plan at the front with a large well used games room at the back, and a beer garden to the rear. During the week it is open 2.30–11pm with noon–11 Sat and 1pm–11 Sun.
Going on from here, you next come to the TOWNELEY ARMS on the left, where the old railway had its terminus at the station behind. Another large traditional pub with a garden and parking available
for inside you will find a welcoming atmosphere. Nobody asks about your political leanings and you do not need to be a member. You pay a little bit extra for your beer, but it is still reasonably cheap. Four real ales are available, with Wainwright as a permanent plus three changing guests, which on our visit were Banks’s Mild, Courage Directors and Lancaster Motueka a
plus home cooked meals and Sports TV, it was one of the last pubs in our area that sold traditional Tetley Bitter. Nowadays it has usually up to three real ales on sale, with Wainwright and Doom Bar as permanent beers and one changing guest. Unfortunately, no real ale was available for us, because ‘they had had a busy night last night’ I don’t know if this is a regular occurrence, running out of beer, but we quickly left. The Towneley opens at 11am all days; closing at midnight Mon–Thurs 1am Fri/Sat and 11.30pm Sun. Meal times are 11–8pm Mon-Sat, 11–6pm Sun.
Lucky for us, the next pub is more or less just over the road, the TAP & VENT Opening in 2016, the Tap was Longridge’s first micro pub. Situated in a row of shops on Towneley Parade this small and understandably very busy pub has a welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Four handpumps serve a changing selection of cask ales, which on our visit consisted of a Bowland beer of 3.9%, Lancaster Chinook (4.2%), Timothy Taylor’s Landlord (4.3%) and Kirby Lonsdale Monumental (4.5%). There is also a range of keg and craft ales and wines plus a large range of gins. Conversation
rules in this genuine free house. It opens 4–8 Mon, 4–9 Tues, 4–10 Wed/Thurs, 3.30–10.30 Fri, 2–10.30 Sat and 2–10 Sunday.
Coming out of the Tap and turning right, you soon see on the other side of the road our next bar, APPLEJACKS, a friendly micropub situated in a former greengrocers shop, which has been tastefully converted to a bar that now includes an upstairs function room holding up to 30 persons with its own bar. The main bar was deservedly very busy, with four real ales on the go and on the day these were two beers from Reedley Hallows (Filly Close Blonde 3.9%, and New Zealand Pale 4.9%) and two from Bowness Bay (Swan Blonde 4% and Fell Runner 4.1%). Opening times for the bar are 11–11 all days except Monday when it is 5–10 and Sunday noon–10.30. There is a 50p a pint discount on real ales for CAMRA members, just remember to take your membership card.
From here, go down to the roundabout, where you will see the FORREST ARMS, a
one-time winner of the George Lee Trophy for selling a large range of ever changing unusual real ales. Thus, it was a shame to find only one real ale in Moorhouse’s Pride of Pendle on sale. The pub has an unusual circular bar with several rooms and areas off and a garden. Sports TV is available. It opens 6–11 Mon–Thurs, 6–12 Fri, noon–12 Sat and noon–11pm Sun.
Exiting here turn right and go down Derby Road passing the late lamented Hoppy Days which closed earlier this year. It opened in 2016 and quickly gained a reputation for the quality of its range of changing guest ales, culminating in it winning the George Lee Trophy in 2017/18. It closed in January 2023 and what Peace is doing now we do not know, but we wish her well. Continue past the Thwaites tied house the BULL & ROYAL, which sadly, like a lot of Thwaites pubs, no longer sells real ales, to reach St Wilfrid’s church on the right, down the side of which you will see the ST. WILFRID’S TERRACE MEMBERS CLUB. Like the Conservative club earlier, it does not turn away non-members, just charges them that little bit more. We were welcomed and found the club spacious and warm with friendly bar staff and customers. What was even more attractive was the range of four real ales on the bar, which are ever-changing. On this visit we could choose from Moorhouses Premier at 3.7% Bowland Goal’d, a special, brewed for the World Cup
at 3.8%, Moorhouses Squink, a no nonsense stout at 4.5%, and Lancaster Kaleidoscope, a pale hoppy 4.7% beer. The club opens at 4pm Mon–Fri (11am Sat/Sun) closing at 11.15 Mon/Tues, 11.30 Wed/Thurs and 11.45 other nights. By then most of us had had enough and were ready to go home, so we went to the nearest bus stop which was back past Hoppy Days on the other side of the road. Everybody agreed it had been a good day out and said they would do it again.
If you want to enjoy this ramble catch the No1 bus at Preston Bus Station (stand 31) and just ask for Longridge. Monday to Saturday there is a bus every 10 minutes up to about 6pm, after which it becomes a half hourly service from 18.25 with the last bus back to Preston leaving Longridge at 23.54 from the Post Office. On Sundays it is half hourly during the day and hourly at night with the last bus back to Preston at 23.24. You can download a timetable from Stagecoach.
PAUL RILEYThis being the 50th year of CAMRA Central Lancashire branch, I am again looking back at the local pub scene in the early years of the branch’s history.
In those days almost all the pubs in the branch area were tied houses selling the products of just one particular brewery. Leaving aside the ‘big six’ brewing companies, in the 1970s the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch area contained pubs owned by a good selection of independent breweries. Matthew Brown easily had the greatest number of pubs, but there were also plenty of pubs owned by Thwaites, Boddingtons, and Greenall Whitley, while Burtonwood, Higsons, Robinsons, Samuel Smiths, Vaux, and Yates & Jackson were also represented in smaller numbers. For good measure, and not too far away from the branch boundaries, there were also pubs tied to Hartleys, Holts, Hydes, Lees, Mitchells, and Oldham.
All these breweries produced their own beermats, and some seemed to take it as a challenge to produce beermats that were the most memorable or the most eye catching in promoting the consumption of their products. This was a time when lagers and keg beers were being heavily promoted,
but still there were plenty of beermats that were produced to publicise the qualities of a brewery’s cask beers.
The most prolific beermat producers were GREENALL WHITLEY. Over a number of years they continued to churn out an endless supply of humorous beermats. Often these beermats contained two corny cartoon jokes, with one being printed on either side of the mat. Some of these jokes may now be looked on as being politically incorrect, but most were just cringeworthy harmless fun. Another amusing series of their beermats featured cartoons by Bill Tidy – famous for creating What’s Brewing’s Kegbuster, but also a friend to our branch as the cover artist for two Real Ale Guides that were produced.
Also featuring on their beermats was the idea of a utopian ‘Greenall Whitley land’ where drinkers could go for their fill of Greenall Whitley beers. The phrases ‘Smile please, you’re in Greenall Whitley land’ and ‘It’s Local Time in Greenall Whitley land’ later gave way to the unforgettable ‘I wish I was in Greenall Whitley land’, which as a song was heavily advertised on television.
HIGSONS were another brewery to produce several series of humorous beermats. They came up with a great
concept, producing beermats featuring a colourful set of Merseyside characters like Ann Field – a Liverpool FC supporter, Pierre Head – a French balladeer, Wallace E Tunnel – the human mole who built the second Mersey Tunnel, and those feared bottle snatchers Birk ‘n’ Head. I always wondered what similar characters we could find in the Central Lancashire branch area – what about Bamber Bridge – a rejected presenter of University Challenge; Chi Ping – a Chinese restaurant owner; or Friar Gate – a monk who frequents the local Wetherspoons pub. Perhaps there should be a prize of a free subscription to Ale Cry for anyone who can come up with anything better?
Another clever idea thought up by Higsons was to have beermats that featured made-up Higson words. Examples of this were – Higsomnia, when you can’t sleep without a glass of Higsons; Hignorant –someone who has never tried their beers; and Higscursion – the name given to a Higsons pub trip.
In contrast ROBINSONS were usually more serious in their outlook, for many years producing beermats that featured pub signs from their 300 plus tied house estate. There always seemed to be plenty
of beermats around featuring their pubs in Cheshire, Derbyshire, and North Wales, but I never saw any featuring the pubs in our area. Whether or not they did ever produce beermats for the Black Horse in Preston, or the Myerscough at Balderstone, I don’t know.
Another set of beermats found in Robinsons pubs followed the theme ‘pure poetry’. This consisted of a collection of poems, some serious but most humorous, that had been sent in by their customers, usually expressing their liking for a particular Robinsons pub.
Not all breweries were quite as adventurous as Greenall Whitley, Higsons, and Robinsons. Over the years THWAITES beermats did not tend to change a great deal, with Thwaites Mild and Thwaites Bitter often being presented to the beer drinker as their two choices printed on opposite sides of a beermat. For a time they used the phrase ‘Thwaiting has its rewards’, with
fictional sportsmen like cricketer ‘Batty’ Bates being pictured opting for a pint of Thwaites beer after his latest triumph.
Similarly BODDINGTONS (while an independent brewery) were also usually content to produce plain looking beermats containing just the name of the brewery or the name of one of their beers. In later years they followed the Higsons and Thwaites line, producing beermats that utilised a play on words, examples of this being – Boddy language; the name on everyboddy’s lips; and have you got someboddy in mind?
With MATTHEW BROWN pubs being thick on the ground in the branch area, their beermats were those most often to be encountered by local drinkers. Known by everyone as Lions, they made use of this on some of their beermats, with references to there being a ‘Lion reserve’ or that you were now in ‘Lion country’. Unfortunately this stance didn’t keep the big-game
hunters away, with Scottish & Newcastle eventually going on to slay all the Lions in the branch area.
I have deliberately not said anything about the beermats that were produced to publicise lagers. There were certainly plenty of beermats promoting them – but who now remembers Einhorn (produced by Robinsons), Grunhalle (produced by Greenall Whitley), Slalom (produced by Matthew Brown), and Stein (produced by Thwaites)?
CAMRA members may look back on the mid-to-late 1970s as a time when the organisation came into its own to fight back against the takeover of keg beers and lagers in our pubs. No doubt beermat collectors will probably look back on those same years as the golden age of beermat collecting when there was such a great range of beermats to be found in pubs.
GORDON SMALL
There have been a number of awards made in recent weeks, so this is a good place to do a round-up and let you know about them.
Our major award is the Pub of the Year and this is covered fully elsewhere in the magazine. THE BLACK HORSE won by a very narrow margin with the MALT ‘N’ HOPS in Chorley coming in second. We decided that this year we would award a runner-up certificate for this and will continue to do so in future years. For a few years now we have given a special award to pubs that have reached a significant milestone for consecutive appearances in the Good Beer Guide. Named after a former Branch Chairman, Dave Linley, this award has previously
been awarded to the ANCHOR (Lostock Hall), the BLACK BULL (Penwortham) and the CONTINENTAL (Preston) for having reached 10 years in the guide. This year the WHEATSHEAF (Croston) is added to the list of 10 year veterans. This pub manages to combine a smart village local, food outlet and great beer pub into one. This is all the more surprising in that this is pubco owned (and also prone to flooding), so it is great credit to Jon Lilley and his team for the consistency of beer quality that has seen this pub remain in the guide. Even more remarkably, the SPINNERS ARMS (Bottom Spinners) in Adlington has reached the milestone of 20 years.
The current licensee, Suzan Christopher, has been in charge since 2015, having been bar manager for some years previously. This is very much a drinker’s pub, with a snack food menu, but a good range of beers that are always in great condition have kept this pub front and centre when it comes to this part of the branch area.
A new award has been introduced this year, and while we haven’t announced it officially, you may already have spotted something on individual pubs social media
pages. The new Certificate of Excellence is awarded for outstanding beer quality, to the top five pubs and judged purely on beer scores from CAMRA members. There is a requirement for at least 20 scores from 10 or more individuals, so it is important to score your beers. The five winners for 2023 are
BLACK HORSE (Preston)
MASONS ARMS (Chorley)
OLD POST OFFICE (Adlington)
PLUG & TAPS (Preston)
RED LION (Wheelton)
Finally, back in the summer, the CROSTON SPORTS CLUB became the Lancashire branches Club of the Year. Unfortunately, due to problems outside our control, we only got hold of the certificate in the New Year, so the presentation was much delayed and low key, but well done to Lisa and her team.
It has been a busy few weeks getting all the certificates into the pubs, and thoughts now turn to the 2023 awards. Over the next few months we will be deciding on our Cider Pub of the Year, Most Improved Pub and Best New Real Ale outlet, so if you have any suggestions for candidates we should be considering, please get in touch and let us know.
ADRIAN SMITH
The Window Cleaner, The Bakers and The Bath Bomb Maker… …now this may seem an unusual partnership of occupations, but it’s the one behind Chorley’s latest pub venture and brings together a wide variety of local expertise and ideas that will undoubtedly make ‘Baaa 38’ an integral part of the town’s ever-growing and thriving pub scene.
When chatting to my window cleaner Clive Robinson back in 2022, he was rather sheepish about his future plans, but was passionate about opening a bar, one of his long-term ambitions, although at the time, it’s fair to say, details were fairly woolly!
This story really starts with the building, no.38 Market Street, one of the oldest retail properties in the town centre, which dates back to at least the 1700s, and is one that’s packed with character and history. Over the years it has played host to a wide range of businesses, and during the 19th and early 20th century it was home to various clothing businesses, including a silk draper, boot and shoemaker, milliner, ladies’ outfitter and a wool and knitwear shop, and it’s from there that the pub’s name is derived. This is a photo of the building when it was home to ‘M Alston’ in the early 1900s.
Margaret Alston was born in Chorley on Eaves Lane in 1882 and was something of an entrepreneur, setting up her own business as a hatter and milliner in the early 1900s. She married Harold Stansfield in 1910, a surveyor who worked for Chorley Council but it’s her own family history that makes her such a good omen for Baaa 38. In 1891 she was living at the Red Lion Hotel at 8, Market Street, one of Chorley’s most important coaching inns where her father William was the landlord; her brother James followed in his father’s footsteps and went on to run the Horse & Jockey Hotel in Mansfield.
More recently the building has tended to lean toward the catering and hospitality sector and over the past 50 years has been the Thai Smile Restaurant (1970s), Pickwick Coffee House (1980s), Parmesan & Pepper Restaurant (2000s), Skewers Restaurant (2015) and finally Cakes by Ruth, so it seems rather fitting that it’s now become a bar for the very first time.
Ruth and Andy Poar are the brains behind Cakes by Ruth, which in recent years has seen great success, the business expanding and rebranding as Eat my Logo. This has seen them relocate several times to larger premises, taking in No.38 along the way and when Clive mentioned to Andy and Ruth a while back that he would be interested in taking on the lease when it next became available, this sparked up the conversation and unveiled a common dream to run their own pub.
So, the partnership was formed and ably assisted by Clive’s wife Michaela, who is an interior designer by trade and bath bomb maker par-excellence, the foundations were in place, and over the last few
months they have been working hard to get the pub ready for opening in 2023.
The big day arrived on Thursday 2nd February as the doors opened to the public for the first time. Clive & Michaela‘s daughter Meg is managing the pub and brings with her a wealth of experience, having worked at the White Bull on Market Street for a number of years as assistant manager and she will undoubtedly bring further ideas to the venue. There are up to three cask ales on handpump sourced predominantly from local breweries alongside a wide selection of other drinks including gins, fine wines and craft beers to suit all tastes. Occasional live music and other events are also planned although this promises to be a bar where good old-fashioned conversation is key.
My advice is to pop into Baaa 38 and see what it’s all about for yourselves.
We wish them the very best of luck in their new venture!
RICHARD LANGFORDFULWOOD & BROUGHTON CRICKET CLUB
Tel: 01772 863003 @FandBCC
Cordially invite you to
Quality local and regional cask ale, cider, and continental lager Artisan spirits and Prosecco bar
FRIDAY 28 APRIL 6.00 – 11.00PM
SATURDAY 29 APRIL 12.00 – 11.00PM
SUNDAY 30 APRIL 12.00 – 10 30PM
Enjoy your great beer, delicious food, excellent choice of artisan spirits & chilled prosecco, exciting cricket and the sunshine
SATURDAY: F&BCC 1ST XI v PENRITH CC
SUNDAY: F&BCC v LYTHAM CC
Lane MANY
Junction
Our pub of the season for Spring 2023 is the Orchard Bar, located at the corner of the historic Grade ll listed covered market in the city centre. As the weather improves and our minds turn to the days when we can enjoy our drinks sat in the sun, we can look forward to sitting on the benches outside in addition to the inside seating, sampling the ever-changing range of cask ales and real ciders plus up to ten craft beers. There is also a range of gins for those who want something stronger.
The sister pub of the Guild Ale House round the corner on Lancaster Road, it was opened in early March 2018 by Gary Quinn and partner Jane, and it has proved a popular addition to the real ale scene. Partly constructed and decorated with wood recycled from the old market trestle boards, plus lots of modern glass, it has been extended with additional seating under the canopy of the outdoor market. On nights when live music features, seating expands further into the market area and it attracts plenty of people who enjoy live music and good ale.
Two or three ever-changing real ales from small breweries and micros are on the bar and several days a week you might be lucky to be served by a living legend, in the embodiment of Preston North End’s mascot, the Deepdale Duck himself, Simon Nash. Sadly missing from Deepdale due to health concerns at the moment, I know he is greatly missed by the faithful, who appreciate the encouragement he gives to the team on match days.
No food is served, but like at the Guild, you are welcome to bring your own food in and consume on the premises. There are many food outlets on the neighbouring market.
The bar is closed on Mondays, opening all other days at noon, closing at 9.30pm Tues–Thurs, 11pm Fri/Sat and 10pm Sunday.
The award will be presented on Thursday 20th April at 8pm.
PAUL RILEY SIMON NASH AKA DEEPDALE DUCKFree wifi
Dog friendly
196 Blackburn Rd, Wheelton PR6 8EUU
A warm and friendly atmosphere with great beers, wines & spirits.
CAMRA pub of the season - Autumn 2021
8 hand pumps. large range of Gins food served 7 days a week
Sky & BT sports
Live music
Real fire
CENTRAL LANCSBRANCH P UBOF THEYE RA2022
Beer garden Car park
CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2022
CAMRA pub of the season - Autumn 2021
CAMRA pub of the season - Autumn 2021
This issue’s walk sees us up at the north end of the branch area, just north of Preston in the villages of Woodplumpton and Catforth and is a relatively easy, flexible route taking in one of the area’s newest arrivals on the pub scene and one of the oldest; both are dog-friendly establishments. Due to limited opening hours, if you want to visit both pubs this is a walk for the weekend.
Distance: 5 miles (walking boots/shoes are advisable)
OS Map: Explorer 286 Blackpool & Preston
farm buildings take the footpath to your left. 2
The Galley, located at the Swillbrook Boatyard on Catforth Road opened in May 2022 and is an extension of the boatyard business, a canalside café bar located on the banks of the Lancaster Canal. For those of you who know the area, this used to be the Jolly Roger Tea Shop. There are four handpumps with local cask ales being sourced mainly from Rock Solid Brewery in Blackpool together with a range of craft ales, European lagers, wine and gins. Food is also served (described as light bites). This is a lovely, relaxed and friendly bar in a picturesque setting open Friday to Sunday during the SpringAutumn months. It is due to reopen on 3rd March and will open just on a Friday initially so best to check ahead to avoid disappointment.
The Wheatsheaf at Woodplumpton has been open for business since the 1700s and lies at the heart of the village. It’s a great community pub and as you’d expect, full of character with low ceilings, an open fire, exposed beams and a partly flagged floor. Good food is served along with traditional cask ales, and in the summer, there is a lovely beer garden in which to relax after a gentle stroll.
Best foot forward then…this walk can realistically be started from either Catforth, Woodplumpton or the Swillbrook Boatyard. I started off in Catforth parking opposite the village hall on the main road in the layby. For those travelling by public transport, the bus stop is just few yards up the road (no.74 Preston to
Blackpool bus, which offers a half hourly service most days and hourly on a Sunday).
Walk along the pavement past the bus stop and School Lane on your right and continue for a short distance. On your right you’ll pass Red Lion Barn and Red Lion Farm;
Climb over the stile and to your right you can see an owl box, and to the left another stile, which you cross, then head down towards the farm where the path takes you around the back and onto the farm drive through a gap in the hedge. Turn right and this then leads you
continue walking until you find a public footpath sign on your left just before the junction with Bay Horse Lane. 1
Cross the stile and walk across the field keeping the hedge and brook on your left. The path soon turns to the left and leads you to a narrow country road called Benson Lane. Walk straight ahead and along the lane until a farm track leads off to the right just after a short row of old brick-built houses.
Take the track walking past a dog agility training area on your left, and just a couple of yards before the
up to a hump-back bridge over the Lancaster canal. 3
Once on the towpath, turn to the left and follow the path until you reach Swillbrook Boatyard and the Galley.
Just on the road above Swillbrook Bridge, opposite the entrance to the boatyard you’ll see an old stone residence, once the home of the Red Lion Inn now called Red Lion Cottage. 4
At this point you have a choice, so it would be worthwhile popping into the Galley for some liquid refreshment at the very least
whilst you make up your mind. Afterwards, either continue along the canal to the next bridge and go right towards the farm and Whinneyfield Lane, or get off the canal at the bridge by the Galley, cross over to the other side and walk along Rosemary Lane for a short distance until you get to the junction with Crown Lane. Turn left following the public footpath sign and walk along to the end, where you’ll find yourself in a farmyard. Go through the gate in front of you and go straight ahead across the field, through a further metal gate and head down to Woodplumpton Brook where there’s a wooden bridge in the left corner. Cross over and follow the farm track to the left heading up towards two large houses and the farm beyond. A short distance along you’ll see a footpath/track joining from the left (*take note, as this is the return route back to Catforth).
Walk on between the buildings bearing right onto Whinneyfield Lane. This then leads you into the village of Woodplumpton. At the junction, turn right and follow the road to the Wheatsheaf.
Back in the 19 th century there used to be another pub in the village in a row of cottages where the pub’s car park now is…it was called the Red Lion, the sign clearly visible on the postcard image.
After replenishing your energy
supplies and quenching your thirst, head back the way you came along Whinneyfield Lane 5 until you reach the footpath branching off to the right, which you should take, heading back to the Lancaster Canal. Within a short distance you’ll cross the canal. Continue across the field (not on the farm track to your right) and cross the rickety bridge over the brook. 6 Look across the field and you’ll see some
large farm buildings in the distance. Head towards them and as you get nearer, you’ll see a wood footbridge to the left. Walk over and the path will lead you out onto School Lane.
Turn left onto School Lane and return to the junction with Catforth Road, where you’ll find your vehicle and the bus stop. This is a lovely rural walk in an area many aren’t so familiar with but well worth a visit.
RICHARD LANGFORD
CATFORTH ROAD
For a town of its size, Chorley has a better selection of pubs and a wider range of beers than most places. Last year, over the St George’s Day weekend we held the first Chorley Pub Festival. It was a great success, so we decided to do it again this year.
Rather than having a beer festival with loads of beers crammed into one location, we have loads of beer spread across 14 pubs in the town centre. We have traditional pubs, micropubs, cafe bars, brewery taps and craft ale bars – in short, whatever your preference, there is something for everyone. Most of these are Independent businesses, with the majority having been opened in the last few years, showing what a vibrant beer drinking town Chorley has become. Once again, the festival will run for four days – from Thursday 20 th April through to Sunday 23 rd. There will be over 70 real ales on offer, including a number of beers and breweries not usually found in the town. There will also be a selection of craft ales, continental lagers and all the other usual pub drinks available.
Under normal circumstances, these pubs showcase a great selection of real ale, but for the event some of them will be putting on extra pumps, opening longer hours and adding food and entertainment to their offering. Some of these venues have been around for many years, while others are relatively new (one only opened in early February). All of them are within a 10 minute walk from the bus and train stations, with many of them clustered around the market area, so moving between the venues once you get here will be easy.
Our plans are still at an early stage with a lot of the details still to be finalised. The Festival has its own Facebook page, https:// www.facebook.com/chorleypubfestival which will be updated with information from the participating venues as and when details are confirmed.
So, put the date in your diary, tell your friends and join us in Chorley at the end of April for what promises to be a great four days.
ADRIAN SMITH
Ale Station
Baaa 38
Ben’s Brewery Tap
Bob Inn
Clarke’s Síbín
Flat Iron
Malt n Hops
Nelipots
Railway
Riley’s
Rose & Crown
Shed & Garden
Shepherds’ Hall Ale House
& Victoria Rooms
White Bull
You’d be forgiven for thinking with the long-lasting effects of Covid and the cost-of-living crisis that there would be more doom and gloom to report this issue, but I’m glad to say that here in Chorley, we’re having none of that.
Firstly, our congratulations go to the recipients of the Three Best Rated Pubs 2022 award for Chorley, which went to the DRESSERS ARMS (Wheelton), SEA VIEW (Whittle-le-Woods) and BLACK HORSE (Limbrick). Details of the selection process and criteria can be found at https:// threebestrated.co.uk/50-point-inspection
Sadly, there has been a closure during the last few months with Lost Bar on Fazakerley Street closing at the end of November. The premises’ future remains uncertain but if anyone hears any news please get in touch.
December saw the opening of SPEAKEASY in the old Withnell Brewery
the home of Cakes by Ruth (see page 11 for further details).
In January 2022, Chorley became home to another brewery, Twisted Wheel. The original Twisted Wheel Brewery was set up in Standish before moving to much larger premises in Warrington. Despite having forged a reputation for producing quality ales, the brewery fell victim of the economic crisis and closed in December 2022. Their head brewer, Anthony Barrett, has joined forces with Ben Haydock (of Ben’s Brewery) to set up the ‘new’ Twisted Wheel, with the rights to use the brand and the recipes (which Anthony developed). Brewing has commenced on a ‘cuckoo’ basis using the existing plant at Ben’s. This is much smaller than Anthony is used to but it keeps the brand alive. Some additional fermenting vessels have been purchased to increase capacity and the latest version of Twisted Wheel beers have started appearing around the area.
The last issue saw us celebrate a number of the pubs listed in the 2023 Good Beer Guide (GBG), and in some cases, ones that had reached significant milestones for consecutive years in the guide. However, this is just part of the story, and I thought it only right to recognise the contribution of other pubs to the town’s current success.
Since that time, it has deservedly appeared in the guide on 30 separate occasions and under current landlord John Grainger, it has been awarded a number of CAMRA awards, most notably the Central Lancashire and Lancashire CAMRA Pub of the Year. They serve nine ales on handpump, and it has now been in the GBG for the last 7 years. It was also the runner-up in the 2023 branch Pub of the Year competition.
These days Chorley is without doubt one of the top cask ale destinations in the northwest, attracting large numbers of visitors from across Lancashire and around the country; its reputation continues to grow, as does its stock of good pubs. However, this
premises. This is the reincarnation of Brendan Ferguson’s original Speakeasy Bar, which was opened in December 2016 on Chapel Street, premises now the home of Nelipots. Initial opening times will be limited to the weekend (Fri–Sun), two handpumps for cask ale adorn the bar and a street food offering is planned once the kitchen has been completed.
Many may have noticed a ‘For Sale’ sign at the front of Brendan’s micropub, BOOTLEGGERS on Bolton Street, but rest-assured, this is the just the owners selling the building and does not affect the business.
JR’s Ale House in Adlington saw a change of management late in 2022 and under its new name, ‘INN THE DOG HOUSE’ is reported to be doing well with a reduced range of cask ales but good beer quality reported.
BAAA 38 is Chorley’s latest new pub and has opened at No.38 Market Street, once
Chorley has always had its fair share of pubs, but as you’d expect, in years gone by those gracing the pages of the GBG tended to be traditional pubs rather than micros and were far fewer in number compared to other parts of the branch area. Back in 1974 the FLAT IRON (then Market Tavern) and SAM’S BAR (the Wagonmaker’s Arms) were the sole entrants from Chorley. These days you can expect to find at least half a dozen of our pubs in the guide, but things didn’t really start to improve until the arrival of the MALT ‘N’ HOPS in 1989.
This was one of the town’s first “new pubs”, where the premises had previously
has not been achieved overnight; it comes down to the sheer hard work, vision and determination of the landlords and their staff, and the very significant support of the local council under leader Alistair Bradley, who continue to support local businesses, strive to encourage more footfall into the centre and have even provided financial support for production of the latest CAMRA Ale Trails you see around town today.
The Malt ‘n’ Hops certainly set the scene, but over the last decade, the arrival of four other cask ale venues in Chorley have set firm foundations for the town’s development. As you may expect, they are all free houses providing a wide selection
been used for other retail use and was then converted into a pub; not exactly a micropub, but it followed a blueprint that has more recently become the norm where new pubs are concerned. It had a strong focus on cask ale from the outset and by 1991 had been selected for inclusion in GBG.
MALT ‘N’ HOPS
BOB INN
of excellent cask-conditioned ales sourced both locally and nationally. They are an eclectic mix, each venue having its own identity, being family-run and dogfriendly; together they attract and cater for a large variety of clientele, which has been key to the town’s attraction.
First to arrive on the scene in August 2014 was the Shepherds’ Hall Ale House (now SHEPHERDS’ HALL ALE HOUSE & VICTORIA ROOMS) located in one of Chorley’s truly historic buildings. Initially a small beer house converted from previous retail use as a newsagent, this quickly became a regular haunt for many ale drinkers in the town and expansion in December 2021 into the adjacent premises has seen it go from strength to strength, with nine cask ales now available. They celebrated 8 consecutive years in the GBG this year.
Second on the scene was the BOB INN in October 2014, the first bar housed in the market and the smallest pub in the
branch area. This quirky ale house has opening times to mirror the market and is always a hive of activity…no music or games machines here, just good old-fashioned banter with three everchanging cask beers served, sourced from smaller breweries. Landlord Steve Cooney celebrated 7 consecutive years in the GBG this year.
As new development began to gather pace in the town 2016 saw the ALE STATION opening on Chapel Street in what was once Parky’s Sandwich Bar. Located near both the bus and train stations this is a great place to while away an hour or so. Train times are displayed on a constantly updated digital display and up to nine ales are served with a focus on traditional English bitters. Landlord Mick Barker celebrated 6 consecutive years in the GBG this year.
The final piece in the puzzle is the MASONS ARMS on Harpers Lane. This pub stands out for a number of reasons, both
in terms of its location, about a mile out of the town centre and the fact that prior to its modernisation and reopening in 2017 it had never been in the GBG or served cask ale for as long as anyone could remember. Landlord Nick Reid is a keen cask ale fan and brought a great selection of regularly changing cask ales to the existing offering in what is now a fabulous pub serving the local community and a destination for real ale fans where you’re always assured a warm welcome. Nick celebrated 5 consecutive years in the GBG this year.
A quick trip round these pubs in January revealed a total of 31 different beers on offer from 22 breweries, sourced almost entirely from the north of England. These are five great pubs that have formed the bedrock of the cask ale scene in Chorley over recent years, although there is certainly no room for complacency, as there are many other genuine contenders knocking on the door…the future is certainly bright!
RICHARD LANGFORD
Two branch awards have been won by Preston pubs and you can read about them in separate articles elsewhere in this edition. Congratulations to Dan at the BLACK HORSE in winning our Pub of the Year award and also to the ORCHARD pub for being our Spring Pub of the Season. Well, what else is happening in our City? Firstly, the WINCKLEY STREET ALEHOUSE duly reopened in December with up to four changing real ales and 10 keg and craft ales on sale. It now has an electronic beer board to help you make your choice. It also joins the select few pubs like the Guild Ale House which welcomes dogs. It is closed Monday and Tuesday, opens at noon all other days and closes at 11pm (6pm Sun). Lunchtime and evening meals are served and there is an outside pavement drinking area. Payment is by card only.
The great news is that Preston has a brewery again, with the CHAIN HOUSE BREWING COMPANY receiving permission to
on cask and craft keg from Rivington, Chainhouse, Polly’s, Mobberley and Pentrich breweries next to a range of draught Molson brands. As per Mark’s mission statement when he first took over, there is truly something for all beer wise.
Work has begun on the massive student accommodation block behind the MOORBROOK on North Road. Plans were submitted three years ago and worries were expressed at the time about the pub being overlooked, and all the noise and dirt being generated during construction. Let us hope that when these flats become occupied, generations of new students will become customers of their nearest pub.
relocate its brewing plant from brewer Ryan Hayes’ garage in New Longton to a former joinery workhouse on Market Street West. It has been installed and brewing has commenced. There is also a taproom with two cask beers and fourteen craft lines featuring both Chain House and guest beers. The brewing plant is on view from the taproom, so you can enjoy a pint and watch the next batch being brewed. In addition to Chain House beers being brewed on this plant, Haydn from the, now sadly closed, Crankshaft brewery has been invited to keep his hand in by doing the odd collaboration with Ryan on the Chain House plant. One you can look forward to seeing on the bar is a strong West Coast IPA, with others to follow. Entrance for now is through the garden of the next door Lost Bar off Clayton’s Gate, and the alleyway alongside. The Taproom is closed on Monday, but is open 4–11 Tues to Thurs, 1–midnight Fri noon–midnight Sat, and noon–9pm Sun.
Following complaints about beer changes at the PLAU which saw Wainwright appear on cask and Molson Coors products take over the keg taps, new leaseholder Mark O’Rourke has installed 7 new draught lines for independently brewed keg and stated that ‘brewers of good cask’ will occupy the hand pumps, which have been moved to the lower bar area. A recent visit saw beers from Rivington and Mobberley alongside permanent fixture Wainwright
A couple of local pubs have had reviews of their licence after incidents occurring on the premises. As a result, the STANLEY ARMS on Lancaster Rd. has been ordered to use plastic glasses after 10pm and to employ additional door staff. This popular pub can get very busy at weekends, but it seems a bit unfair when other venues of similar ilk do not have similar restrictions. Maybe after another review this condition will be withdrawn. The other pub reviewed was the TULKETH TAP ROOM at Ashton, but the good news there is that the micro has been given permission to continue opening, subject to some strict conditions. Even better is that they have applied for an alcohol licence for the next door Americanstyle diner which is currently being readied. Meanwhile, a new bar called the AVIARY has opened next door to the Tap End microbar at Lane Ends. No sign of any real ale there yet, but the TAP END is benefitting from people coming to the area because of the six pubs/clubs/cafes/bars in such a small area. Bad news at the Tulketh Tap’s sister pub, the FRIARGATE TAP, where there are plans to remove two of the handpumps, leaving just the one serving real ale there.
News of a couple of pubs on the fringes of the City: unfortunately
at the GRAPES at Goosnargh, Nicola and Mark will not be renewing their tenancy at this traditional country pub. With the fuel cost rises and cost of living crisis, the sums no longer add up. To date, no new tenant has come forth. We can expect many more such cases in the coming year. One that has gone is the SADDLE at Lea, which has finally been demolished, with the construction of a petrol station that is taking its place now under way. Have they not heard that they are doing away with petrol cars, or do they know something we don’t? Finally, people power has won at the NEW BRITANNIA in Heatley Street, where the landlord has seen the error of his ways in removing the pool table from the pub. The table has been restored to its place in the room to the left of the entrance, and this has led to the return of many people who had gone elsewhere to hone their skill at this popular bar room game.
PAUL RILEY
10 Craft beers and lagers
2/3 cask ales
Select Gins & quality spirits
Fine wines
Outdoor German style seating
Free Wifi
Background music
Live music Saturday during summer
Open everyday from noon till late
Preston Market, Earl Street, PR1 2LA
Since 1989 CAMRA has operated Tasting Panels across the UK: currently there are seventy-eight Tasting Panels. They were set up to boost the public image of real ale by setting a common tasting standard, and to publish independent flavour assessments for real ales. CAMRA’s tasting panels are local groups of tasting-trained CAMRA members who conduct and record tastings of their locally-brewed beers, both individually and in groups.
But what do they do, and how can I get involved?
Primarily panels have responsibilities to taste and monitor beers from breweries under their domain. We do not have one for the branch, but there is one covering the whole of Lancashire.
Their responsibilities are:
• To taste each beer and allocate it to one of CAMRA’s 12 beer styles, using the CAMRA style guide and flow charts which can be found on the CAMRA website. This is purely for beer judging purposes. For instance all CAMRA IPAs have a minimum strength of 5.5% ABV. This does not prevent a brewer from naming a beer as an IPA, whatever its strength. A good example is Greene King IPA, which
is just 3.6% ABV, so for CAMRA purposes only it is classed as a Session Bitter.
• To create a taste profile for each beer, we complete a Tasting Card. Scores out of ten are recorded for intensity levels of a series of flavour attributes in aroma, taste and aftertaste, and an ‘Overall Score for CBoB’ (Champion Beer of Britain), which is a combined score for overall impression and fit to style. All assessments are impartial, setting aside any personal preferences for particular beer styles.
• Tasting Panel Chairs write tasting notes, based on the notes from panel members, and enter them on the Brewery Information System (BIS). These provide the tasting notes in the breweries section of the GBG and more detailed ‘online notes’, available for any CAMRA purpose including support for beer festivals. Lists of beers with their designated styles and tasting notes can be downloaded, to help organisers to choose beers to stock and publish notes in festival programmes.
• To check for any changes in beer character. This can be passed to the BLO (Brewery Liaison Officer) to check for recipe changes with the brewery.
• At the end of each tasting year (midOctober), Area CBoB (Champion Beer of Britain) Coordinators receive nominations from Tasting Panels of their beers with the highest average ‘Overall Score for CBoB’ in each category. Panel nominations
carry more weight than CAMRA members, as panels are CAMRA tasting-trained. Panel members complete tastings cards individually, whenever opportunities occur, or in panel meetings. Panels also meet periodically for training, group tastings and standardisation sessions.
Tasting is fun. But we need enough capable and willing volunteers. New volunteers can be registered as members of their local Tasting Panel when they have completed Tasting Panel training. Any CAMRA member, with adequate tasting abilities, is eligible. Everyone’s palate is different and therefore each Panel needs a wide range of participants. Training helps identify flavours and aromas present in beer. Training a member to become a fully qualified taster falls into two stages:
This concerns checking the member’s sensitivity to basic tongue tastes (sweet, sour, salt and bitter) and the ability to recognise a range of flavours in beer, including types of malts and hops. A kit of flavour essences is used to familiarise tasters with desirable flavours and off-flavours spiked into beer or water. Optionally, this stage may also include tests of detection of dilution to appreciate concentration of flavours, and blind tastings of beers to make the trainees think about what they are tasting and how it relates to what they would expect from those beers.
A national tasting training coordinator organises a range of face-to-face and online training. The hierarchy is ‘Beer Appreciation’, ‘Tasting Panel Training’, and ‘Beer Judging’. Beer judging is for experienced tasters who wish to progress to judging at national level beer competitions.
A number of accredited tasting trainers across the regions have received trainthe- trainer training and can deliver the ‘Tasting Panel Training’ and, in some cases, the other national courses.
This includes familiarisation with the 12 beer styles into which all real ales are placed by CAMRA, and awareness of the BIS website and its facilities for tasting panel members. Trainees also learn how to conduct systematic tastings of beers and record them using the online tasting card website and the equivalent paper tasting card. The session finishes with practical profiling of several beers under the supervision of the trainer.
1 I don’t have a good enough palate.
• Everyone’s palate is different.
• Very few people can’t taste, they are just sensitive to some tastes and blind to others.
2 I’m afraid of getting it wrong!
• So does everyone at first. It just takes practice.
• Sitting with experienced panel members helps to develop confidence.
3 I don’t know the words to use.
• You will learn in training, and by experience.
• Practice. When drinking a beer write notes and then look up the tasting notes in the Good Beer Guide for comparison.
Get yourself trained. Practice and practice; your palate will become more sophisticated over time and you’ll be able to pick out more flavours and identify them.
So get involved. It’s fun and who doesn’t like drinking beer!
If you would like some training or are interested in getting involved in a Tasting Panel then please contact Chris Sandison Regional Tasting Panel Co-ordinator at northwest.tprc@tasting.camra.org.uk
(With thanks to Tony Lucas, Cheltenham CAMRA for use of his article which originally appeared in TheTippler –the Gloucestershire branches magazine)
With more than 15 years experience I offer friendly graphic design services with a keen eye for detail. Designs ranging from flyers, brochures, catalogues, and books are all assured the same commitment and creativity, guaranteeing projects exceed expectations.
Going into 2023 and the big news from South Ribble has been the closure of CRANKSHAFT BREWERY. This bombshell came in December, with owners Haydn and Angela Williams making an announcement that Crankshaft Brewery was to cease trading at the end of the year.
The brewery and brewery tap have now both closed, with Haydn and Angela indicating that this has been necessary due to rising costs in power, ingredients, and the cost of living causing reduced sales. This is sad news for the Leylandbased brewery which has played a big part in the local real ale scene for the last six years. The achievements of Haydn and Angela were much appreciated by CAMRA Central Lancashire branch, and four years ago they were worthy winners of the branch’s prestigious George Lee Memorial Trophy award.
Going into the new year, Haydn and Angela have said that they are continuing to provide bar services at ST MARY’S COMMUNITY CENTRE on Broadfield Road in Leyland. Additionally in January there was an interesting development, with Haydn collaborating with Ryan Hayes of the Chain House Brewing Company, with them producing a West Coast IPA beer. Perhaps we haven’t heard the last of Crankshaft Brewery?
As anticipated in the last Ale Cry, the Sir Robert Peel in Walton-le-Dale has now re-opened after having been closed for the last three years. Now known as the BOBBY PEEL, the premises have been thoroughly refurbished as a modern sports bar, with live entertainment taking place each Saturday. Initial announcements had indicated that it would be a cycling-themed pub, and that it would be stocking Belgian beers plus a cask beer from Crankshaft Brewery. An interesting idea for a theme pub, but when the Bobby Peel opened its doors
in November, there was not a bicycle to be seen, nor indeed any real ale.
Last year I reported that the Brig ‘n’ Barrel in Bamber Bridge had closed, with the possibility that it may be re-opening under new ownership. In November the Station Road premises did re-open as the ZEST LOUNGE & BAR, unfortunately not a bar that is selling any real ale. Elsewhere in Bamber Bridge the Casual SixtyNine Lounge (next door to the Beer Box) has been renamed the BRIG LOUNGE, but is another bar not selling any real ale.
However there is some interesting news from further along Station Road in Bamber Bridge, where the Withy Arms Group people have put in an application that the WA BAR & BISTRO premises be allowed a change of use for it to become more of a drinking establishment. Ahead of the business being opened in December 2019, they had originally wanted that this former fishing tackle shop be converted into a micropub to be called the Weavers Arms, but on a couple of occasions they had planning permission refused.
As in previous issues of Ale Cry I am featuring a particular area of South Ribble looking at the pubs and the beers that are available on a particular day. I last investigated Longton in 2019, so I thought it was about time that I had another look at the concentration of pubs and bars in the half-mile stretch of Liverpool Road in the centre of the village.
On a Saturday just before Christmas I started at the RAMS HEAD, one of four pubs in the area owned by the Green Crab Pubs Company. The restaurant room was booked for a function, but although quite busy there was plenty of room in the spacious front lounge which is effectively
a sports bar with several large TV screens. There were two handpumped beers available – Timothy Taylor’s Landlord plus Wainwright Gold – interestingly two of the three beers that were available on my last survey in 2019.
A short walk and I passed THE GROTTO, the Christmas themed pop-up bar which appeared at the beginning of December. I always like to try new bars, but with no real ale available it had to be given a miss. Perhaps the owners have plans for a more permanent set up?
Crossing the road I soon reached the BLACK BULL, another large pub with plenty of seating areas to the front and rear of the serving area. On the day this was the only pub that had all its handpumps in use, with two beers available – Purity Mad Goose and Wainwright Gold
Continuing along Liverpool Road and my next port of call was the WILKINS & PYE, the micropub which was named after the two breweries that once operated in the village. Opened in 2018, it later had a lengthy period of closure following on from the Covid lockdowns. My first choice of beer was Lancaster IPA, but on being pulled through the barman did not consider it suitable for sale. This being the case I went for their other handpumped beerMoorhouses Blonde Witch.
Across the road the RED LION was closed with no lights on. I later discovered that it had failed to open on time due to them having problems with a burst pipe and a flooded cellar.
Completing my Saturday afternoon stroll and I finished up at the GOLDEN BALL OF LONGTON , the most food oriented of the pubs on this stretch of Liverpool Road. Two beers were available at the time of my visit – Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker plus a Christmas beer from the Laine Brew Company.
Longton is a great place to visit for the real ale drinker. The pubs are all quite close together, and not too far away just off School Lane there is the LONGTON VM CLUB (only open in the evenings). This was CAMRA Central Lancashire branch’s Club of the Year in 2020, and usually has up to three changing guest beers on offer.
GORDON SMALL
BROOK STREET, CHORLEY
FREE
A real pub with darts, dominoes, and a real fire
FERRET (Preston). Some potential good news here. Preston City Council have approved a plan for a loan to be made to the Music Venue Trust, who are hoping to purchase the freehold of the building. However, MVT are still short of their target so news stories that the venue had been saved were premature.
RIBBLE PILOT (Preston). This Marston’s owned pub will close for a couple of weeks in late February for a £130,000 makeover. An article in the local press hinted at a smarteningup, and uses the odd phrase of a ‘grown-up’ bar (whatever that means). I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
VAULTS (Chorley). The pub closed in early February with rumours that it has been sold but that it would continue as a licensed venue of some sort. Hopefully the new owners will reinstate real ale to the offering.
WELLFIELD (Preston). The pub has closed for the time being following a number of incidents. We understand a licensing review is to take place.
The long closed BROWN COW (Eccleston) is set to reopen in March and will be run by Lyndsay, who until recently was manager at the Wheatsheaf in Croston. We understand that the GREENHAUS (Eccleston) is due to have new owners in the near future, but no further details are available.
Monday 6th March Branch meeting
Leyland Lion, Leyland (7.30pm)
Saturday 25th March Trip to St Helens (train) details TBC
Monday 3rd April Branch meeting
Sir Henry Tate, Chorley (7.30pm)
Thursday 20th April Social & Pub of the Season presentation
Orchard, Preston (8pm)
Thursday 4th May Branch meeting
Plug & Taps, Preston (7.30pm)
These are the events we are aware of in the local area over the next few months. For full details, please refer to the festival websites/ social media. If you are holding an event, please let us know so we can promote in Ale Cry. There is no charge for this listing.
Bamber Bridge: Bamber Bridge FC, Brownedge lane, Bamber Bridge. 31st March–2nd April
Croston: Croston Sports Club , Westhead Road, Croston. 6th-9th April
Burscough: Lancashire Beer & Buses. Vintage buses from Burscough to over a dozen real ale pubs. 15th April
Fulwood: 10th Fulwood & Broughton Cricket Club Beer Festival, corner of Garstang Road & Lightfoot Lane, Fulwood. 28th–30th April
Clitheroe: Clitheroe Beer Festival, Assembly Hall of St Michael & St John’s, Lowergate. 11th–13th May
Chorley: Thirsty Magpie Beer Festival, Chorley FC, Victory Park. 27th–29th May
Chorley: Shepherds’ Hall Ale House Cider Festival. 2nd–4th June
White Coppice: Coppicefest 2, White Coppice Cricket Club. 16th–18th June
With a print run of 5,000 and magazines available in pubs and clubs across the area and beyond, an advert in Ale Cry is probably the best value targeted advertising around.
Quarter Page £70
Half Page £115
Full Page £210
Back Cover £230 (not currently available)
If you are interested in advertising in Ale Cry, please contact editor@centrallancs.camra.org.uk for further details.
Thursday 25th May Social & Cider Pub of the Year presentation
Venue TBA
Monday 5th June Branch meeting
Market Ale House, Leyland (7.30pm)
Thursday 22nd June AGM
Black Horse, Preston (7.30pm)
Saturday 24th June Social & Club of the Year presentation
*provisional date, venue TBA
For full details of trips, visit the branch website or contact Adrian Smith on 07495 448555 or email chairman@centrallancs.camra.org.uk
The next issue of Ale Cry will be published on 1st June 2023. Deadline for copy and advert submission is 1st May 2023
Digital versions of this and previous Ale Crys are available at: https://issuu.com/clcamra
Branch meetings may be subject to last minute change. Updates will be posted on the branch website, and our social media channels.
Please indicate whether you wish to receive BEER by email OR post: Email Post I wish to Opt-in to
Concessionary rates are available only for Under 26 Memberships. I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and agree to abide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association which can be found on our website. Signed
Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to: Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road, St. Albans, Herts AL1 4LW Email: membership@camra.org.uk Telephone: 01727 867201
The
l This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits.
l If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, Stripe will notify you 2 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Stripe to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.
I understand that CAMRA has partnered with Stripe, who collects Direct Debits on behalf of CAMRA and confirm that I am the account holder and the only person required to authorize debits from this account.
l If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by Stripe or your bank or building society you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society.
l If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Stripe asks you to.
l You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.
with Stripe on behalf of
