The magazine from the Wigan branch of The Campaign for Real Ale
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May to July 2015
CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR JOHN BULL CHOPHOUSE
Photo Credit: Wigan Evening Post
In this Issue... • THE BEER OSCARS • A NEW HOP HERO • CELEBRATE CIDER
Victoria Burgess, of the John Bull Chophouse, receives the prized award from Pete Marsh (Wigan CAMRA Chairman - right) and Greg Liptrot (of the Crooke Hall Inn, last year’s winner - left)
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+ Much More...
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May - July 2015
Branch Contacts Chairperson: Pete Marsh e: chair@wigancamra.org.uk Vice-Chairperson: Ken Worthington e: vicechair@wigancamra.org.uk Branch Secretary: Vacant e: secretary@wigancamra.org.uk Treasurer: Brian Gleave e: treasurer@wigancamra.org.uk Membership Secretary: Shaun Ashton e: membership@wigancamra.org.uk Pubs Officer: Donald Appleton e: pubs@wigancamra.org.uk Public Affairs Officer: Robin Gibson e: public@wigancamra.org.uk Pubs Heritage Officer: Pete Marsh e: heritage@wigancamra.org.uk Young Members Officer: Joanna Whalley e: young@wigancamra.org.uk Social Secretary: Roy Pearson e: social@wigancamra.org.uk Cider Officer: Carol Worthington e: c/o vicechair@wigancamra.org.uk Contributors to this edition: David White, Donald Appleton, Barry Seale, Alan Wass, Jo Whalley, Darrell Lawton, Carol Worthington, Christine Pearson and Roy Pearson. Web: Twitter:
www.wigancamra.org.uk @WiganCAMRA
The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions for publication. All editorial copyright © Wigan CAMRA 2015 Disclaimer: Views expressed in this publication are those of their individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor, branch committee or the Campaign for Real Ale nationally. Wigan CAMRA accepts no liability in relation to the accuracy of advertisements; readers must rely on their own enquiries. It should also be noted that acceptance of an advertisement in this publication should not be deemed an endorsement of quality by Wigan CAMRA.
Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. - www.camra.org.uk 230 Hatfield Road, St. Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW t: 01727 867 201 e: camra@camra.org.uk
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May - July 2015
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR WELCOME
A
warm welcome from your new editorial team – Christine & Roy Pearson. Since the last edition of Swiggin, we’ve been through our most hectic period of the year. The year started with our Annual General Meeting on January 14th when we voted upon our ‘beer oscars’ for local pubs and clubs (see Page 4). This was quickly followed by not one but two beer festivals that branch members are heavily involved in organising and supporting. First up was the Bent ‘n Bongs Beer Bash in Atherton at the end of January which was quickly followed by our very own Wigan Beer Festival (our 28th) at the beginning of March (see Page 18). Both were resounding successes. However it’s not all about hard work, we like to play hard as well. On March 28th we went on our first social outing of the year – 51 beer lovers went on a tour of Ossett Brewery followed by visits to pubs in Wakefield (see Page 20). As the weather improves, we’ll be embarking on more social trips over the summer months. We also run occasional pub survey trips around some of the more hard-to-reach places in our local branch area (see Page 14) As we enter the merry month of May, no doubt the general election will be grabbing much attention in the media with lots of promises being made by politicians. As a consumer group, CAMRA needs to ensure that any pledges affecting pubs and beer drinkers are kept by politicians (see Page 18). May has also been designated by CAMRA as ‘Cider Month’. As such, we encourage you to try a real cider or perry during May to help support British orchards (see Page 10). Although we may be small in numbers, as you can see we are a very active group of people that likes to enjoy themselves. However, there is always room for more if you would like to come and join us (see Page 9). Christine & Roy Pearson
Editors of Swiggin in Wiggin, Wigan CAMRA
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THE BEER OSCARS ANNUAL BRANCH AWARDS
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he Wigan CAMRA Branch Annual General Meting took place on 14th January. Without doubt it’s our busiest meeting of the year. It’s when all our officers are appointed for the forthcoming year and when we take stock of how we have performed as a branch over the past 12 months. However, the really exciting part is when the voting take places for our annual pub and club awards... our Beer Oscars. The most prestigious of these awards is ‘Pub of the Year’. The winner of the award for 2014/2015 is the John Bull Chophouse in Wigan. For years it has been renowned as having the best jukebox for miles around, it is really pleasing that it has finally been recognised for the quality of the beers that it serves. Licensee Victoria Burgess was delighted and shocked in equal measures upon hearing news of the award. For the second year running, The Community Pub of the Year award was won by the Crooke Hall Inn in recognition of their service to the community and the extent of their charitable work. Not many pubs in our region doubles up as a village shop. The Club of the Year award went to The Swinley which has a track record of supporting
local breweries. It’s the first time the club has won this prestigious award. The Best New Cask Outlet was awarded to Doc’s Symposium which was the first in the current trend of micro-bars springing up around the Wigan area. It is run by June and Chris Docherty who are no strangers to CAMRA awards having previously won Pub of the Year when they were the licensees of the Royal Oak in Standishgate. The Cider Pub of the Year was awarded to The Anvil on Dorning Street. The pub is also no stranger to CAMRA awards having won Pub of the Year on numerous occasions however it’s the first time it has been recognised for the ciders it serves. Congratulations to all the award winners. However, it should be noted that there are 128 pubs and clubs within the Wigan area that serve real ale and all of them need your ongoing support. You will find details of each and every one of them on the national CAMRA database (www.whatpub.com) or upon our branch website (www.wigancamra.org.uk).
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ARE YOU A CAMRA MEMBER? COME & JOIN US
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re you are a member of CAMRA? If so you are in good company. Nationally there are over 168,000 members. Wigan is a relatively small CAMRA Branch area having just 725 members (as at 1st January 2015). However, this represents a 25% increase in our branch membership in the past 12 months. Although we may be small in numbers, we are an enthusiastic bunch and pack a lot of punch. As you’ll see from another article in this edition of Swiggin, we put on one of the best beer festivals in the NorthWest and have been doing so for the past 28 years. In addition, we put on several social trips throughout the year for the benefit of our branch members. Last year we organised brewery tours to Titanic, Red Willow, Merlin, Magic Rock, Hand Drawn Monkey and Hardknott. We also arranged trips to Skipton Beer Festival, Saltaire Beer Club and the Broughton Festival of Beer. We also have occasional pub survey trips around pubs in the hard-to-reach outer regions of our branch area. By joining CAMRA there is no obligation to attend meetings or take part in any of the branch activities although you’d be more than welcomed to do so. We meet up formally once a month for branch meetings
but informally on many occasions for social events including an annual BBQ. Joining CAMRA is not expensive – from as little as £24 a year, less than a pint a month. If you are over 60 or under 26, it’s even cheaper – from just £16.50. In so doing, you will be joining the largest single-issue consumer group in the UK which is widely recognised as the most successful consumer group in Europe. One of several membership benefits is that you’ll receive £20 worth of Wetherspoons vouchers each year. You’ll also get free entry into many CAMRA beer festivals, including our very own Wigan Beer Festival. Work out the sums and it becomes a financial nobrainer not to join!!
Trading Standards
Have you ever... received a short pint? Deliberately been overcharged for your beer? Been to a pub that serves only keg beers despite advertising cask ales? Firstly let the publican know about the problem but if you don’t get a satisfactory response these matters should be reported to Trading Standards, which exists to protect the rights of consumers. Wigan Council Trading Standards, Unity House, Westwood Park Drive, Wigan, WN3 4HE. t: 01942 827476 e: ts@wigan.gov.uk 6
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May - July 2015
• 13 TVs & A BIG SCREEN, CREEN, All major sports shown hown • LIVE BANDS EVERY RY FRIDAY from 9.45pm 5pm • SATURDAY NIGHT T - RADIO DJss • FOOD 7 DAYS A WEEK from 12pm Midday ay
5 CASK ALES & 1 CASK CIDER changing weekly
Participant in Sky’s TV series ‘Quiz the Nation’
27-29 WALLGATE | WIGAN | WN1 1LD | T. T 01942 242041 24204 41 4 1
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HOPTASTIC! A NEW HOP HERO
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atch out, watch out... there’s a new hop about. It’s called ‘Equinox’ and until April 2014 was titled HBC 366. They are probably now the most sought-after hops in the industry and the new “hop darling” of the craft beer world. It was developed by the Hop Breeding Company in the USA who also bred Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe hops. The diversified and pronounced aroma characteristics of Equinox combined with extremely high oil content and a tight cone structure make this hop variety pretty unique with an aroma profile of citrus (lemon, lime), tropical fruit (papaya, mango), floral, apple, cherry, green pepper and herbal characteristics. So a tropical fruit salad then. Sierra Nevada Brewery part funded the research and development of Equinox. They brewed with Equinox last Summer as part of their five-bottle Harvest series, which features single hop, fresh hop, wet hop, and wild hop beers. Brooklyn Brewery also brewed a summer ale that used these hops exclusively. The good news is that the hop is now available to British breweries, all-be-it in very limited quantities. In fact, beers using the hop, brewed by North Riding Brewpub, have just won beer of the festival awards at Leeds and Horsforth Beer Festivals. Even better news is that the hop has just been used to produce a beer by All Gates Brewery in Wigan. In the words of Jonathon Provost, head brewer at All
Gates – “The aroma of the Equinox is incredible. New favourite hop”. The beer will be a 4.1% brew, containing only pale malt and a little cara, while being bittered to 30 IBU’s with the parent, and then with multiple aroma additions of the child, but including some first wort hops. Keep and eye out for this new All Gates beer over the next few weeks. Hopefully you get a chance to trail-blaze and be one of the first in the country to experience this new hop. Article adapted from an All Gates Brewery Blog (www.allgatesbrewery.com/blog/)
Online with Wigan CAMRA Do you know that a third of Wigan CAMRA Branch members keep in touch with happenings within the branch via email?
We send out monthly bulletins about what is going on within the real ale scene locally plus beer lists for local festivals and other ‘hot off the press’ news. If you are a Wigan CAMRA member and do not currently receive our e-mails, please contact our Membership Secretary and let us know your e-mail address. This will only be used for internal CAMRA communications – we do not forward our e-mails list to any other organisation. May - July 2015
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CELEBRATE CIDER IN MAY CIDER & PERRY MONTH
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s part of our campaign to encourage more people to try a range of real ales, cider and perries, CAMRA is encouraging members to try a real cider or perry in May and to help support British orchards. May is a time when the apple and pear trees in our orchards are in blossom and, without the orchards and tree blossom, we wouldn’t have the fruit to make the ciders and perries that are on offer throughout the year. Unfortunately, many of the old traditional orchards have disappeared over the years but, thankfully, in recent years producers have started to plant new trees to keep the tradition of cider and perry production alive. Despite a decline in the UK adult drinking population from 88% to 82% - 10 years ago 42% of the population were cider drinkers - this has now grown to 47% - more than lager drinking which has declined to 46%. So, just like real ale, cider drinking is bucking the trend. The traditional heartland for cider and perry makers is in the more southerly counties, in particular Somerset, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. However, cider and perry making is alive and well in Lancashire. Red Bank Cider is located near the southern point of the West Pennine Moors
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of Lancashire on the Bury and Bolton border. They launched in June 2013 at the Greater Manchester Cider Festival where their ‘Proper Cider’ was voted “Cider of the Festival” against 70 ciders & perries from around England and Wales. Dove Syke Cider is Lancashire’s first semicommercial cider producer and is set in the heart of the beautiful Ribble Valley just outside of Clitheroe, in the small village of West Bradford. They are proud to use locally picked Lancashire apples in their products. Seasonal cider production also takes place in the most unlikely places … Moss Side in Manchester. Uniquely, their cider is produced using donated apples and the resultant cider is mostly returned to their donors. However, a small amount of it is available commercially, particularly around Manchester. Keep a look out for it. Good quality cider should be like a glass of wine. Low in fizz and hype - there’s no need for syrups and ‘artificials’ when cider’s crafted in the traditional way. Give it a try in the merry month of May. If you happen to find yourself in Wigan town centre, why not try a cider at Wigan CAMRA’s Cider Pub of the Year – The Anvil on Dorning Street. Real cider is also available at our Pub of the Year – the John Bull Chophouse. Other cider outlets in the town centre include Doc’s Symposium, the Berkeley, the Boulevard, the Raven and Wigan Central Real Ale and Cider Bar.
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PUB NEWS KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE
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igan Central Real Ale and Cider Bar have a new management team. Joanna (Jo) Whalley has become manager whilst Shaun Ashton and Tom Simm have become her deputy managers. Jo and Shaun have strong connections with Wigan CAMRA Branch being Young Members Officer and Membership Secretary respectively. They also have years of experience in working and managing bars around the Wigan area. All Gates Brewery have added another pub to their portfolio. The Swan in Hindley Green becomes their 8th pub. It was purchased in October 2014 and following a full refurbishment it re-opened its doors in early December 2014. There are five hand pumps serving a range of All Gates real ales, plus guest ales, plus lagers and traditional ciders on draught. Paul & Delia Wood, of Martland Mill Brewery, are currently finalising plans to open a micro-bar in
MEET DONALD OUR PUBS OFFICER
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ell, what do I do? I attempt to liaise with all the licensees within our branch area and keep branch members informed of any pub related activities; change of use, refurbishments and so on. A valuable tool in this task is the CAMRA Pubs Database. This can be accessed by both the public and CAMRA members at www.whatpub.com. Then an easy 12
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Jaxons Court, in Wigan town centre, to showcase their beers. Subject to planning permissions, it is hoped that the bar, to be called Tap ‘n’ Barrel, will be opening in June. After a short period of closure, the Dicconson Arms in Appley Bridge has now re-opened as an Italian restaurant, part of the Pesto chain. Another pub reopened after a short period of closure is the Holts Arms in Billinge. The Albion Ale House in Standish has recently achieved cask marque accreditation.
search and filter system should pull up a single pub, or group of pubs within an area. What do you do with it? Well, first look up your pubs, and go get a drink, what else? If you find any of the pub details are not accurate, e-mail me from the link at the bottom of the web page vis. “Fill in the feedback form to submit your updates.” I will normally respond with a few days, although it may be longer if I go round and check details with the licensee. I have a happy little band of hamsters who amuse themselves, and me, with updates to the local pubs. Maybe you would like to join them in their little wheels and keep our branch well informed. The most useful information is any changes to opening times, changes in the main beers, and number of handpulls in use. All other details are of course, gratefully received. I also attempt to introduce members to “the other man’s pub”, and a Friday Five is a real treat and a fun way to do it. Do come along to them. Oh, yes, about once a month, five pubs and five samples ... often with subsidised transport from the town centre.
May - July 2015
BREWERY NEWS LOCAL BREWERY UPDATES All Gates Brewery
www.allgatesbrewery.com Continuing with name changes for the beers, Napoleon’s Retreat will become Wigan Junction, with Citra and Summit renamed as Hic Bibi and Seven Feet respectively. The annual “Road to Wigan Beer” took place over the Easter weekend. A grand tour of All Gates pubs was planned on Easter Saturday in conjunction with Wigan Transport Trust. There will hopefully be a representation of All Gates beer at this year’s GBBF with Dry Bones recommended for inclusion to the beer orders in London.
Hophurst Brewery
www.hophurstbrewery.co.uk
Two more beers have been recently produced. Joust, a 4.0% pale ale with hop flavours of spice, citrus and zesty orange. Cosmati, a 4.2% hoppy, golden ale using American hops giving aromas of blueberry, citrus and tropical fruit. This beer was launched at The Raven on 14th April.
Problem Child www.problemchild brewing.co.uk
Nothing reported.
Wellcross Brewing Co. @WellcrossBrewer
Nothing reported.
May - July 2015
Martland Mill Brewery
www.martlandmillbrewery.co.uk
The latest core beer Lancashire Loom (a golden beer with hints of grapefruit, lychee and floral notes) has been very well received. The brewery has also hosted a successful folk night that featured the local group Chonkin Feckle for whom a special beer was created – Chonkin Feckle a light gently hopped beer of 3.8% ABV. Within the coming months they are going to be launching their next range of core beers. These will be darker in colour but full of gutsy flavour. They have also just aquired premises for their first brewery tap (see page 12).
Prospect Brewery
www.prospectbrewery.com
Brewing continues at the Bradley Hall site and though many nearby units are undergoing demolition the current lease has been extended until mid 2016. Dynamild (5.2%) was produced specially for the recent Manchester Beer & Cider Festival where it went on to win a bronze award in the Champion Beer of the North-West competition (Old Ales & Strong Milds category). Another new regular beer, which featured at the Wigan Beer Festival, is Cascade Blonde (4.1%), a pale heavily hopped beer with a lemony zing. A new ad-hoc beer range (called Prosperity) has been introduced which will be showcasing hops not heavily utilised in their core beer range. The first of these featured at the recent Wigan Beer Festival and was Prosperity #1, a 4.2% pale beer using Centennial and Citra hops. Stocks of this and Prosperity #2 were all sold before being racked and Prosperity #3 is expected to be available by the time this goes to print. As bronze winner in bottled speciality beers at SIBA North West beer competition last year, Clementine was featured at the recent SIBA beer X in Sheffield, A new management team at the brewery-owned Wigan Central bar promises an even better drinking experience for real ale and cider lovers.
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BARRYS TRAVELS SKELMERSDALE & BEYOND
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t was time to get out visiting pubs in our region that we don’t get to as often as we should. So on a cold December night our double-decker bus left the Anvil, in Wigan town centre, bound for Skelmersdale. Our first pub, The Horseshoe, is situated in the old district of Skelmersdale and is a lovely two roomed pub. A very friendly little local serving just one beer on this night which was Fairy Ale Of New York at 5.8%. Plans are in the pipe line to increase to two hand pumps. Very comfortable lounge with a nice cozy vault, it was a shame we had to leave this pub but it was time to move on. Once back on the bus we set off for the small journey to the Toby Tavern which used to be an old farmhouse, a big rambling building. A large outside drinking area would be nice during the summer, but tonight we headed straight indoors as it was freezing cold. On entering a large bright, noisy room we made our way to the bar finding Clark’s Westgate Gold (4.3%) or Toby Tavern Gold (4.0%) waiting for us. I settled for the Clark’s which was very pleasant. Old Rosie cider was also on the bar that night. There were two quiet areas to this large pub plus a large restaurant to the side. It was now time to leave Skelmersdale behind and head up the hill to Up Holland to visit The Victoria. This
one roomed pub was busy when we arrived, with football on the TV, a karaoke disco and people playing pool. After having a pint of Autumn Squirrel (4.3%) from Harts of Preston we were ready to leave for Roby Mill to the Fifteens At The Fox. When we arrived here all the diners had left so it was nice and quiet in this large comfortable pub. A choice of beers from Prospect’s Cascade Blonde (4.1%), Bank Top Flat Cap (4.0%) or Robinson Trooper (4.8%). A very cosy pub with oak beamed ceilings and Toby jugs hanging from them. Our evening was coming to an end so there was just time for our last stop in Standish. We parked outside the church where some of our party headed to the Lychgate Tavern where you can have a pint of Prospect’s Silver Tally or Thwaite’s Wainwright. A very comfortable friendly pub which will be serving food in the months to come. However, most of our party headed to the then, newly opened micro pub on the High Street, The Albion Ale House. On this visit Bank Top Pavilion (4.5%), Dunscar Bridge Rialto (3.9%), Bank Top Sweeneys (3.9%), Millstone Northrock (4.0%), Holme Premiums (4.2%), also two ciders. A very popular little bar with no music or TVs, just good ale and chat, the perfect way to round off the evening. Barry Seale
Fifteens At The Fox and The Horseshoe
ARTICLES FOR SWIGGIN IN WIGGIN? Local beer related articles are always welcome! If you would like to contribute please let us know or email your copy to editor@wigancamra.org.uk Please note that for legal reasons that a full name & postal address must now be submitted with any contributions.
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PIE EATERS ON TOUR TWO TYKE BEER FESTIVALS
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ither side of Wigan Beer Festival, we decided to do a cross-border raid to “t’other side o’ th’ill” – namely the Bradford and Leeds Beer Festivals. First up was the Bradford festival held at the beautiful Victoria Hall in the World Heritage Site of Saltaire. The beers were sourced by Bradford CAMRA member “Brighton Bill” Arnold who we met at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway festival last year. Being a Brighton exile he sourced many of his beers from Sussex and Hampshire as well as local breweries - Goldmark, Rectory and Hurst to name but a few of the beers you wouldn’t normally find up here alongside some favourites such as Liverpool Organic, First Chop and Salamander. My favourites were Brighton Bier’s No Name Stout (5.0% – generous amounts of oatmeal giving it a silky taste) and Kennet & Avon Pillbox (4.0% – a quaffable hoppy session ale). Jean said she wouldn’t like to say which she liked the best as there were so many good ones that she tried. The downside of this festival, however is that from about 2.30pm in the afternoon session the beers started to be rationed for the Friday evening and Saturday sessions. As such, by the end of the afternoon session there were only about 24 beers to choose from which I suppose is OK if you live locally but difficult and frustrating if you have travelled from far and wide as many punters had done. Undaunted by this, and once the mists of the Wigan Beer Festival had cleared, we decided to visit the Leeds Beer Festival. Once again it’s an outof-town location at Pudsey Civic Hall with an excellent array of breweries
May - July 2015
to choose from. There was no restrictions on the beers here with the policy of “once it’s gone it’s gone”- just as it should be in my opinion. One of the beers at the festival was from our own Hophurst Brewery Campfire (3.7% mild). Prior to the beer festival, brewer Stuart Hurst informed me that this would be on so it was the first one I tried. I wasn’t disappointed – delicious! My other favourite was from the BAD Company brewery in Dishforth - Dazed and Confused Milk Stout (5.5%). Alan & Jane Wass
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FROM THE MISTS OF TIME A LOOK AT THE LOCAL PUB SCENE OF YESTERYEAR Thirty-five years ago Pollards Bitter came to Wigan. The Stockport brew was now on sale at the previously keg-only Wigan Arms on Barrack Square. The Railway, a Tetley house in Spring View, finally closed despite local protest. The Leigh Arms, a long-closed ex-Greenalls pub in Lamberhead Green, was bought by Thwaites.
Thirty years ago The Park Hotel on Hope Street closed its doors for the last time on 13th April, whilst the ring road claimed the Grapes Hotel on Wallgate, two years after the pub shut. The Turnkey Cellars on King Street now sold Youngers No. 3 (74p a pint) alongside McEwans 80/-. South Lancashire CAMRA Pub of the Year was the Plough, a Greenall Whitley inn in rural Croft, pipping the Railway Hotel in Leigh by one vote.
Twenty-five years ago The Paramount Pub Company purchased the Crown in Goose Green ; the Conquering Hero, Higher Ince (both keg Matthew Brown) and the Hockery Brook in Hindley (Burtonwood). The White Horse on Standishgate was on the market for half a million pounds. In Gathurst, the Vale Royal went over to real ale, serving Boddingtons bitter and Whitbread Castle Eden Ale. The same beers could be found in the Gathurst Station Bar, alongside Flowers IPA.
Twenty years ago Edison’s in the town centre reopened as the Crofters Arms, the pub’s original name. Real ales were Tetley mild and bitter, plus Barker’s Bitter from Burton-on-Trent, a nod to the Huyton brewery that once owned the pub. Wigan CAMRA Branch voted the Bath Springs Hotel in Bryn as Pub of the Year with the Best New Cask Outlet award going to the Golden Lion in May - July 2015
Ashton-in-Makerfield.
Fifteen years ago The Robin Hood in Orrell started to sell real ale for the first time in ages. Another two pubs stopped selling cask mild: the Black Bull, Hardybutts (Tetley) and the Douglas Bank in Springfield (Holts). The Plough & Harrow in Upholland switched from cask to keg Boddingtons bitter.
Ten years ago The Globe Hotel in Standish, reopened in time for Easter, with real ale surviving the refurbishment. John Smiths Bitter and Wells Bombardier. The Foresters Arms in Billinge went back to cask, selling ales from the George Wright brewery, plus guest beers. The Stanley Arms in Upholland reopened as the Stanley, tastefully refurbished and offering real ale for the first time in ages. Wells Bombardier was the regular beer and Greene King IPA was also on sale.
Five years ago The New Inn in Aspull reopened, but without real ale, Cask beer was also dropped at the Kirkless Hall Inn at New Springs. Taylors Landlord was available at the Gerrard Arms alongside Tetley mild and bitter, Black Sheep Bitter and Prospect Silver Tally. The Crown Hotel in Worthington made it into the final four for CAMRA National Pub of the Year. The Plough & Harrow, a classic boozer in Newtown was finally demolished. Dave White
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WIGAN BEER FESTIVAL 2015 TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS & STILL GOING!
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fter 12 months of meticulous planning followed by a few days of frenzied activity and, in a flash, Wigan Beer Festival was done and dusted for yet another year. After months of planning, the big day arrived – festival set-up day on Tuesday 3rd March 2015. Over the course of the next 6 days, 117 volunteers worked a total of 2,493 hours to make the festival a roaring success for you, the beer-drinking public. Fifteen volunteers worked more than 40 hours, whilst one individual volunteer amassed 58 hours – take a bow, Shaun Ashton. Over the 3 days of the actual festival, we provided you with 90 different real ales and you managed to drink your way through over 12,000 pints of real
ale. We didn’t even bother counting how many pies, bratwursts and bags of crisps you devoured. We provided transport to our out-of-town festival venue. Vintage buses were provided courtesy of Wigan Transport Trust who undertook 53 trips between the town centre and festival venue. For all this effort, is it worth it you may ask? The answer is an unequivocal yes!! Still going after 28 continuous years, Wigan Beer Festival still remains highly regarded and one of the best in the North West. We’ll do our very best to keep it that way. If you feel the same way, why not join our hardy gang of volunteers next year. It’s a lot of fun as well as a lot of hard work.
POLITICS & PUBS CAMRA’S MANIFESTO
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t time of going to press, the General Election is looming and takes place on 7th May 2015. Beer and pubs are close to the hearts of many millions of voters. However, since the 2010 General Election, pubs have continued to close at an alarming rate and 2 pubs are converted into supermarkets every single week. We need to ensure that all election candidates are aware that pubs matter and deserve to be protected. We need to tell MPs and Candidates that the Government must go further to protect pubs to ensure we all have a say in the future of our communities. As such, CAMRA has produced a Manifesto for Pubs and Real Ale and has been lobbying General Election candidates to pledge their support for Britain’s pub goers and beer drinkers by committing to do the following if elected: • Back action to support well-run community pubs by: ensuring pubs are better protected in the 18
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planning system; ensuring large pub companies treat publicans fairly. • Celebrate and promote Britain’s 1,150 real ale breweries by: ensuring that beer duty is set at a level that supports UK brewing; retaining discounted duty rates for small brewers • Represent the interests of pub goers and beer drinkers by: supporting consumer choice and the rights of consumers to fair treatment. Wigan CAMRA has contacted all our local election candidates to ensure that they are fully aware of the CAMRA Manifesto and seeking them to pledge their support. A positive response has been received by all candidates and most have pledged their support for the manifesto. Thanks to Lisa Nandy (Labour), Caroline Kerswell (Conservative), Mark Clayton (Liberal Democrats) and Will Patterson (Green Party). Good luck to all the candidates but, whoever gets elected, you can be assured that we will be on your case to make sure that these pledges are kept!!! May - July 2015
A family & community pub situated in Orrell near the beautiful Waterpark. Now boasting a new modern look whilst retaining a homely character & charm.
• 4 Ever-changing Real Ale Pumps • Fresh Homecooked Food • Extensive Menu • Chef Specials Board • Function Room - Please enquire for details Booking is advisable - Give us a call to book your table
OPENING TIMES Mon & Tues: 4pm - Late Weds & Thurs: 12 noon - 12am Fri & Sat: 12 noon - 1am Sun: 12 noon - 12am
FOOD SERVED Weds - Fri: 12 noon - 2.30pm & 5pm - 8.30pm Sat: 12 noon - 8.30pm Sun: 12 noon - 7pm
Sandy Lane, Orrell Wigan, WN5 7AZ tel: 01942 511859
www.robinhoodorrell.co.uk
ISH UNI D N
U P CO M ING EVENTS
CLUB TY
THE ST A
@RobinHoodOrrell
THE LANKY KATS - ROCK N ROLL Every 1st & 3rd Thursday of the month SEE WEBSITE FOR FURTHER EVENTS & ATTRACTIONS
5 CASK ALES ON AT ALL TIMES
FROM VARIOUS BREWERIES, COMPETITIVE PRICES
Full Size Snooker Table • Pool Table • Darts • Dominoes • Cosy Lounge Room Large Function Room Available to Hire - Fri/Sat/Sun All bookings require a refundable deposit
Winner of CAMRA Club Of The Year 2010,11,12, 13 & 14 Runner-up Greater Manchester Regional Club Of The Year 2012, 13 & 14
Cross Street, Standish, Wigan, WN6 0HQ t: (01257) 424007 | e: standish.unity@standishunityclub.com www.standishunityclub.com May - July 2015
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Opening Times Sun - Thurs 7:30 pm - 11 pm Fri & Sat 7:30 pm - 12 am www.wigancamra.org.uk
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Wigan branch of The Campaign for Real Ale
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TRIP TO OSSETT BREWERY SOCIAL SECRETARY’S REPORT
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he first Wigan CAMRA social trip of the year took place on Saturday 28th March. The destination was Ossett Brewery in West Yorkshire where we had a brewery tour and beer sampling planned. Due to the size of party (51), we had to split into two groups for the brewery tour. However, whilst one group was doing the tour the other group visited the Old Vic, a nearby Ossett-owned pub, where they tucked into complimentary chips, pie and peas (with mint sauce!!). As an added bonus, White Rat was available on one of the eight handpulls. Our host for the brewery tour was Paul Mann, who enchanted us with his charm, wit and personality. Paul, ably assisted by Sarah Bellis, kept the three beers on handpull flowing freely in the brewery bar and we even got to try a beer made with Sorachi Ace hops during the tour of the brewery. All too soon, it was sadly time to say our goodbyes. However, our next stop was just a few strides away -
the Brewers Pride, a freehouse with 10 handpulls and the original site of Ossett Brewery. Whilst there we had the good fortune to meet up with Bob Hunter who was one of the original founders of Ossett Brewery back in 1997 and a previous owner of the pub. Bob left Ossett in 2002 but has returned to his original stomping ground and still brews in the outbuildings at the back of the pub. Bob kindly showed us around his premises - Bob’s Brewing Company. Bob’s best-selling beer White Lion was available on the bar in the pub and was very well received. Our final destination was Wakefield city centre where we split up and went our different ways to sample some of finest hostelries that the city could offer. With just a couple of hours to spare, the choice was overwhelming - Harrys Bar, Old Print Works, Fernandes Brewery Tap, The Hop, Bull and Fairhouse, Henry Boons, The Red Shed (Wakefield Labour Club). Our departure time quickly came around and it was time to board our coach for the journey back across the Pennines. A thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all. Roy Pearson. Ian & Zoe meet Bob the Brewer (left); Otto & George try selfservice (right)
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May - July 2015
A TRUE FREE HOUSE WITH 5 ROTATING GUEST ALES FRESH HOME COOKED FOOD FROM A SEASONAL MENU LARGE OUTDOOR BEER GARDEN & SEATING AREA LIVE SPORTS ON 5 SCREENS THOUGHOUT THE PUB POOL TABLE & DARTS
QUIZ NIGHT WEDNESDAYS Free Sausage & Chips plus Play Your Cards Right
FOOD SERVED Wednesday - Sund ay 12 Noon - 8pm
DELPH TAVERN | TONTINE | ORRELL | WIGAN | WN5 8UJ | t. 01695 622239
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Wigan branch of The Campaign for Real Ale
www.wigancamra.org.uk
May - July 2015
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