West Lancs Branch
Issue 91 Winter ‘10
Fighting for drinkers rights since 1973
Pub of the Season
The CAMRA West Lancashire branch Pub of the Season for Winter 2010/2011 is the Wellington in Preston. It is almost two years since a Preston pub was last given the award, and the Wellington is a pub that is long overdue in being given some recognition by your local CAMRA branch. The Wellington is located on Glovers Court, one of the many streets leading down from Fishergate that are perhaps more associated with wine bars and restaurants than with real ale pubs. If you can see the distinctive Booths Arch overhead, then you will not be too far away from the Wellington. The Bar Manager is Nicky Park, who has been working at the pub now for 13 years. She has established the Wellington as a friendly city centre pub that attracts a good mixed clientele with its regular customers including many office workers, shop workers and students. The Wellington is open from 11am to 12 midnight weekdays, and from 11am to 1am at weekends. It has long had a reputation for providing good quality food at good reasonable prices, with Oriental and Indian meals being something of a speciality on the ‘Wellie Menu’. Food is available 11am to 6.45pm on weekdays, and from 11am to 5.45pm on Saturdays. On Tuesdays the pub hosts a popular Quiz Night when free food is provided for those participating.
STOP PRESS: PENDLE BEER FESTIVAL
3-5 Feb. 2011 The Muni Theatre, Colne 3/2: 5 - 11, 4/2: 11.30 - 11, 5/2: 11.30 - 11 members -beers Free always entry toavailable. all sessions There are CAMRA three handpumped Marstons Poachers, Bamber Bridge..now serving real ale from 2 pumps Welcome to Winter. Perfect time to get warm in the pub, and share in the fantastic atmosphere. Still a Month away, but lets us say MERRY CHRISTMAS to YOU!
Burton Bitter is the permanent beer, being of a strength that is suitable for those who want a drink but still have to go back to work. the other two beers are regularly changed but are usually slightly higher strength bitters, which on my most recent visit were Brakspears Oxford Gold and Jennings Cocker Hoop. For many years the Wellington was one of Matthew Brown’s many keg only pubs. It Later came under the control of Cafe inns but it is only since 1999 when it was acquired by Jennings that it became renowned as a real ale outlet. Now part of the Marstons empire it is still badged as a Jennings pub. The Wellington has the look of a traditional pub but in fact there have been a number of refurbishments continues on Pg2
New Britannia Open As predicted in the last issue, the New
Britannia on Heatley St. in Preston has reopened. Under the management Of Dean Mather, late of Oddbins in town it opened its doors on October 2nd. This was slightly later than planned, due to the massive amount of work that was required to make the place fit for purpose. He had to have it completely redecorated from top to bottom to restore it to its former glory.
Third Time Lucky. So says John Smith, owner and brewer
of Hart Brewery. For the last 15 years he has been brewing his beers at the Cartford Hotel in Little Eccleston, but expansion plans for the hotel means that John has been looking for the ideal place to relocate his brewing plant.
CONTENTS: pg 2 Pg 4 Pg 5 Pg 7 Pg 10 pg 15 pg 12 Pg 20 Pg 23
Editorial, Hart News, New Brit Opens Preston Parade Croston Chorley Chatter Viva La Birra Old Postcards Ye Horns Membership
Pg 8 Lytham loo Pg 12 Pub Register Pg 17 Riley’s Rambles Pg 19 Quiz pg 22 Branch Details And Much More ...
the next issue there’ll be a Pub of the season continued: Beer PoliceInrather amusing article about ... over the years. Entering the building there is a small how CAMRA in Chorley room immediately to the right, but otherwise the pub has been opened up with several seating areas facing onto the central bar. On the walls you will find a tasteful selection of saucy vintage photographs which help give the pub a slightly Bohemian appearance. To the rear of the pub a relatively new extension has been built, and in the summer months the pub is able to bring into use a large beer garden for outdoor drinking. CAMRA West Lancs branch will be holding a committee meeting at the Wellington on January 13th when the Pub of the Season certificate will be presented at about 9pm. CAMRA members and others are invited to look in on the night.
GordonSmall
Hart Brewery
came to be known in some circles as the ‘Beer Police’. Some, however, including the former landlord of one of the towns best ale hostelries used the term as a form of contempt, sneering as he spat it out. A friend of mine recently permanently returned from the States refuses to join CAMRA because on a previous visit he met up with me in The Swan With Two Necks whilst I was meeting a senior CAMRA official who condescendingly told my friend off for drinking lager. A couple of friends of mine who frequently drink real ale but also enjoy lagers travel the country watching football. I haven’t seen them enjoying real ale since their last return from London where, whilst enjoying lager in a Wetherspoon’s pub they were loudly interrupted by a posh speaking chap who told them that they were swallowing chemical poison. Whenever I see them now they point out that in their hands are pints of chemical poison. Well done posh chap. In the nearly forty years since I joined CAMRA these sorts of examples have frequently come to my attention. Because of its nature CAMRA can attract arrogant know it all preacher types – ‘beer snobs’ and ‘ale sniffers’ but remember that although they are very much a minority, because they tend to be a loud minority, they tend to be noticed and give CAMRA a very bad image. CAMRA did not come into being to tell people what to drink, very much the opposite it - came into being to defend freedom of choice – to keep real ale available in all our pubs and it’s still very much work in progress, but it is a war which is at long last turning our way e.g.: 1. our branch has seen an increase in membership in the last year from over 400 members to over 700. 2. whilst calling for a pint at the King’s Head on Huddersfield Station a group of more than a dozen bonnie lasses in their early twenties came in fancy dress and each ordered a pint from the wide range of real ales the bar stocks 3. Most of the pubs we visit report increases in real ale sales, some e.g. the Railway in Chorley and The Golden Lion in Wheelton talk of considerable increases. So don’t let the ‘Beer Police’ put you off – join CAMRA as a very worthy cause and ignore the ‘Ale Snidffers’ and if you then have a little spare time why not help us win the war. Ed....................................................................................... ..........It’s becoming symbolic of my editorship yhat I have to aplogise for a mistake in the previous issue. This time after praising the pensioners meal at the Cowling Spin-
Editorial
Being a Preston lad, to brew in his own town has long been his dream. In fact he started brewing unofficially in his garage until a visit from the excise men caused him to go legit. Cartford at that time was the right place for him, but times change and this was the opportunity for him to come home and he is seizing it with both hands. After a well publicised aborted attempt at the Golden Cross, it looked like he would be moving to Nonnos on Corporation St. This has now ceased to be an option and he has had to look elsewhere. He has now found the ideal place on an industrial estate off Greenbank St in Preston. You can now find him in Unit 5 of Oxheys Industrial estate (PR1 7PH) where besides his brewing equipment, John is installing a bottling plant for his beers, which he hopes will give him a higher profile. He moved in on 10th November and hopes to be brewing his first batch of beer on 22nd November. This would mean that by the time you read this, his Preston brewed beers will be on sale in the area. Besides finding his brews available on the bars, he will also be selling his beers direct from the brewery to the general public in casks and polypins as well as in bottles, so with Christmas coming up, he hopes people will choose his beers for that special event that anyone is planning. One change that people will notice straight away is the design of the pump clips. For years they have been known to feature briefly attired young women. Now John thinks he is getting a bit too old for all that and his new pump clips will be eye catching but with different motifs. You can go on his Hart Brewery Facebook site and see the new designs and also some pictures of the work that went ners - their advert quoted the price as £7.50 instead of on in bringing the brewery back home to Preston. For all your beer needs, you can contact John on 07825249091. £3.50........Sorry for the loss of custom my mistake caused Ed PaulRiley
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Pub of the year on my trip back, I was determined to drop of a copy of our branch newsletter at the white house in Peel, nominated for west pennine Pub of the year, a long with the taps in lytham from our own branch area. It was a grey October day in Peel. Pint of Pride of Pendle & Titanic Stout, awesome fire. And an interior like Alladins cave. David Suckling
Children In need Dream Team The Old Black Bull Friargate Preston dressed up and raised ÂŁ190 for childrens in need. Thanks to staff & all who donated and made the night great. Pic Left Mng Mike B staff OBB
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The Old Black Bull
New Britannia
Now free of Tie on Cask Beers! This allows us to offer up to 9 local and regional Real Ales at all times
Heated Beer Garden -New 3D TV Live Sports on 7 ScreensLook out for Special County Themed Beer Festivals Welsh Beer Festival end of January
A PNE Supporters Pub
Now resplendent with eight handpumps serving a changing range of guest beers from near and far, it has already regained its place on the real ale trail. It opens from 11am-12pm all days and besides the downstairs areas there is now an upstairs room which can be used for meetings and bands practicing. He plans to have occasional live music nights and has already had a packed house for an appearance of local band Pike. Dean is currently fitting out the kitchen and he is getting in a former chef from the Inn at Whitewell to do the cooking. The food will be real home made with ‘proper’ chips and will be available at lunchtimes. Besides the ever varying beers there is a good selection of Malt Whiskies. One thing he hopes to have up soon is a chalk blackboard showing the current beers, so that you don’t need to go all along the bar before you make your choice. He has said that if there is enough staff available, there will be cellar runs for the upcoming beers. Also available is a good selection of newspapers of the day for customers to read. Another innovation he is introducing is a range of takeaway pizzas that will be on sale just before last orders are called.
Under26s
Paul Riley
Did you know that if you are aged under 26 you can join CAMRA for just £14and that in return you will get £20worth of Wetherspoons Real Ale vouchers - who says you never get summat for nowt. see Page 23
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PRESTON PARADE The Boars Head at Barton has a new team at the helm, although they might be familiar to some people. John Jacks has moved to the Mitchells owned pub on Garstang Rd after having been in charge at the Clifton Windmill, Salwick and the Fleece Inn in Dolphinholme, both also owned by Mitchells. The Boars Head is already well known for its food menu and John is committed to making it as well known for its beer. There are four handpumps and you should always find a York Brewery beer on sale due to Mitchells tie up with them, plus three changing guest bears. On my last visit there was Bank Top’s Flat Cap, Black Sheep Bitter and Thwaites Wainwrights. Besides the large food area there is a lounge and a very comfortable games room. They have a quiz night on Thursday and occasional live music. The Ribble Lodge on Ribbleton Ave has had a major overhaul. After having been flooded out a couple of times, landlady Liz Moran has spent £20,000 of her own money on refurbishing the bar and making the pub an attractive place to visit , with new floor tiles and wooden balustrades in the lounge and function room. She continues to serve real ale from the Marston’s Cask Ale range and would welcome your support. Meanwhile, Punch Taverns has splashed out £160,000 on the Ship Inn on Fylde Rd. Having found that catering just for the students wasn’t enough to sustain the pub, they are trying now to attract a mix of students and locals to the pub with this major makeover. To that end three handpumps have been installed and it seems the plan is to have at least one Moorhouses beer on sale all the time and then a mix of beers, with Hobgoblin and Adnams bitter having appeared recently. There have been occasions whenthe beer has run out, but one would expect that stocking levels will be sorted out eventually. Another pub rejoining the real ale fold is The Old Bull on Church St. They also are going the Moorhouses route and have both Blond Witch and Premier Bitter on sale. A lot of people will remember this pub as the Bull and Royal when it was Masseys of Burnley’s only pub in the area, so it is fitting that they should pick another Burnley brewery to supply the Real Ale. Along Friargate, The Lamb and Packet, a Thwaites tied house has recently been having three of their real ales on sale at any one time, including the seasonal beers and regulars. Obviously they are trying their best and deserve support. Meanwhile, the other Thwaites pub there, the Sun Inn has an available for lease sign up outside it. The Guild Merchant up Tanterton is again selling real ale with Banks’s Loin’s Roar being seen on sale. The Wheatsheaf at the corner of Fylde Rd and
Tulketh Rd is presently very good value for money, selling two real ales for between £1.65/£1.75 a pint. Recently on the bar have been beers from Phoenix Brewery and Acorn Brewery, both makers of very fine beers The Tithebarn near the bus station has reopened, and had a bit of a refurb. Unfortunately it no longer sells real ale, so you lose some, you win some. Meanwhile, the Golden Cross is earmarked for reopening in the New Year under new management. Having been closed down because of its well publicised adventure with cannabis plants, it is good that someone wants to get this grand old pub going again. Whether it will sell real ale remains to be seen, with the stated aim of the future licensees to be a ‘pre- bar’ for a local night club. However they also want to make everyone welcome and make it a nice friendly pub with live music, dancing, indoor sporting events including boxing and wrestling, plus films and plays. You would think there would be scope for a bit of real ale there somewhere. I would like to tell you something about the Globe (Nonnos) on Heatley St. for at one time it appeared it was going to be the home of Hart Brewery, selling their beers and a range of guests. However, Nonnos became a no- no as far as Hart was concerned and as we go to press, I have no further news on the future of the venture to turn the pub into a mecca for real ale. Maybe next time we will have some good news.
Paul Riley
Bitter Suite Free of Tie 6 Changing Real Ales
53 Fylde Road Preston (Opposite 53 degrees)
Regular Beer Festivals Good Home Cooked Food Monday to Friday 12 - 2.30pm Tuesday night is Pie Night
OPEN ALL DAY SATURDAY
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Beer
THE MALT AND HOPS FRIDAY STREET, CHORLEY PR6 0AH
UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT A WARM WELCOME FROM ALAN & STAFF
CHAMPION BEER OF CHESHIRE 2010 SILVER SIBA NORTH BEER COMPETITION 2010 BRONZE CHAMPION WINTER BEER OF BRITAIN 2010
The Lancashire Walks Ale Cry Quiz No 4 1.Where and when was the first cut of the Leeds-Liverpool canal? 2.What links composer Sir Harrison Birtwistle and writer Jeanette Winterson? 3.What was Jerry Dawson’s special achievement? 4.Rank Preston, Blackburn and Blackpool in order of size of population. 5.Cricket professionals: Pair Sir Learie Constantine, Shane Warne, Allan Border, Viv Richards and Dennis Lillee with the following Lancashire League Cricket Clubs: East Lancashire(Blackburn), Rishton, Accrington, Nelson and Haslingden 6.In what year did Red Rum switch on Blackpool Illuminations. 7.When was the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty created? 8.What shape is the Walled Garden, Worden Park? 9.In what year was Billy Beaumont appointed captain of England Rugby Union squad? 10. What river feeds into Stocks Reservoir?
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Quiz set by John Griffiths and Bob Clare. Many of the answers can be found on www.lancashirewalks.com website.
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and Music Yet again shortage of space has forced me to restrict this column. Hopefully before long a much more extensive version will be locatable on our web site. After the disappointment of Girvan last year (still only one pub - The Royal serving real ale), we returned to Upton on Severnthis year. We had returned to Girvan last year because of the extortionate price of ale at Upton. Surprisingly two years later Upton’s ale didn’t seem tohave increased at all. The rest of the uk seemed to have caught up.There was no short- age of real ale and Some pubs held real ale festivals to coincide with the music fest. Next came the Holmfirth festival. Lemon and I were very disappointed. I has always been one of our favourites, but this year lacked the usual atmosphere.I’l tell you more about the other festivals when there is more space.
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Pubs-Not advertising with us - Why not??? Other than word of mouth you won’t find a better way to get your message across - Just ask our current advertisers. Current Prices: Full Page £175 Half Page £95 Quarter £55 Eigth £35 See Page 22 for contact details
Social Secretary NEEDED
THREATENED
It has come to our attention that a planning application has been submitted to convert the Dolphin, Marsh Lane, Longton, into residential dwellings. This is one of the best real ale pubs in our branch area and we will object to the proposals as a branch. However, there is nothing to stop anyone else who feels strongly about this proposal from objecting themselves. The more objections, the better. The planning application number is 07/2010/0768/FUL and is with South Ribble Council. It can be viewed on
Th'Alps still not been replaced as Social Sec., so until we find someone new for the job there'll be fewer pub crawls, brewery trips, pub visits, and http//publicaccess.southribble.gov.uk/publicacsocial events in general which is a pity, bearing in cess/tdc/DcApplication/application detailview. mind our plans to widen this area of activity and aspx?caseno=LBM74YOT06S00 involve the wider public. If you fancy this enjoyable job please get in touch – see contacts, page22. . We must not lose this fine outlet for real ale.
Lytham Loo
In the last issue I mentioned humorous loos in Adlington. The Taps in Lytham has a head rest over a urinal for the dizzy drinker Toad
Up to 6 CASK ales at a time! A varying selection of real ales from local micro breweries • Bar open all day everyday until 12pm Large selection of freshly made bar snacks from sandwiches to T-bones & Ostrich served all day. Special offers on beers all day every day • Excellent bed & breakfast accommodation with en suite facilities available. • Single room from £20 (en suite from £25) Double room from £25( en suite £20) TOWNGATE•ECCLESTON•NR. CHORLEY •PR7 5QS TELEPHONE 01257 451594
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ALE CRY VISITS CROSTON Going to Croston always seems like a good idea as it is easily accessible by train from Preston, doesn’t take long to get there and, especially if the cheap evening ticket is available, doesn’t cost much. Add to that the reputation for all the pubs selling real ale and you have the ingredients for a good ight out. The100% real ale reputation was dented on this trip, but more of that later. We caught the 19.41 train from Preston and before 8 o’clock we were strolling past the De Trafford Arms, the nearest pub to the station to find it shut and boarded up. We had decided to walk to the furthest pub first and walk back, so we passed the
Thwaites pub, The Crown, planning to visit it later. We duly arrived at the Grapes at the far end of the village, close to the historic parish church. The Tudoresque Grapes has been a pub since at least 1799 and has seen use as a customs house and a magistrates court in the past. It has a small bar, a compact lounge, and there are two rooms at the front and a restaurant at the back. It has a reputation for good food, but also sells five real ales. On our visit we found Draught Bass at £2.53, Davenports Summer Storm, a 3.7% seasonal at £2.71 plus Wadworths 6X, Greene King IPA and Wells Bombardier. While we were there the Bass ran out and was replaced by Shepherd Neame Spitfire. We then proceeded back to the village green, which is overlooked by the Lord Nelson. This former Higsons house was once a farmhouse and claims to be the oldest pub in Croston, with some parts dating back to 1640. With its cosy central bar (roaring real fire) and two separate rooms, the pub continues to be a welcoming venue for drinkers to congregate. We had just missed its annual beer festival, where 25 beers and six ciders had been on sale. It had been such a success that only two beers were left, instead of the usual four. These were Copper Dragon Golden Pippin(3.9%) at £2.60 and Allgates Reverend Ray (4.6%). There is usually Jennings Cumberland and another guest on. The pub sells very reasonably priced food from opening time 3.30 pm ‘til six Mon- Thurs, 1-5 Fri and variable times on Sat and Sun. Check with the pub on 01772 600387 or visit the website l o r d n e l s o n c r o s t o n . c o . u k . Next was the Wheatsheaf adjacent to the village green, a former barn which has specialised in gastrofood in the past. Thus it was not entirely surprising it had recently been taken over by Ian Boasman, who used to have the Bistro French and then
the Vine bar in Eccleston. I m sure many people will remember nights at the Bistro French when people ended up dancing on the tables, and the International stars who appeared there. He has plans for the pub which include making it a good country pub with atmosphere, but also good for the locals. There are always four real ales which on our visit were Moorhouses Premier Bitter(3.7%), Bank Top Flat Cap (4%), George Wright Pipe Dream (4.3%) and Tim Taylors Landlord. He also has an international bottled beer menu. It is open for food every evening and has a good Tapas menu. Opening times are 4.30-11(12 Fri, Sat) and all day Sunday. Leaving here, we turned right and then left up Westhead Rd, to reach the Black Horse. This well known real ale venue is now run by Admiral Inns after a period of ownership by Cains. It had three real ales on when we arrived, Moorhouses Premier, Theakstons Black Bull Bitter(3.9%) and Phoenix Arizona (4.1%). This friendly pub was once the venue for the now defunct Lancashire Branches Bowling Competition and still has its very good bowling green and Boules pitch. With its large bar area and seating areas off including a games section and dining area to the rear, it is a well balanced pub catering for locals and visitors alike in comfortable surroundings. We eventually thought it was time to head back to the station, calling in at the previously mentioned Crown, to sample one of several Thwaites Ales that are usually on sale. To our huge disappointment, there was no real ale and we were surprised to be told that this had been the case for several weeks. This left a little hole in our itinerary, as we had not time to backtrack to one of the previous pubs, but would have to trudge on and stand about on the platform waiting for the train back. Let us hope this situation will not last long and Croston can go back to its 100% real ale record in its open pubs. The train arrived on time at 10.30 and we duly arrived in Preston 16 minutes later. As planned, we all had time to catch our onward travel home. Why don’t you have a night out in Croston and help boost the travel numbers on this line? Who knows, they might one day then open the link to Southport. Now that would be a good.
Paul Riley
Chorley Chatter Good news for the Chorley area is the reopening of the Malt &Hops pub after a brief period of closure. The new landlord Alan Key (his dad was an engineer!) is keeping up the pubs twenty year tradition of real ale and has recently had Abbeydale, Holts, and Oakham JHB on the bar together with beers from the Beartown range.Alan is planning to modernise the pubs cellar, giving it a complete Landlord Alan behind the bar revamp, and also plans With brother Len to extend the pubs current restricted license. Enabling the Malt &Hops to open up longer for its customers, particularly at the weekend. Another local pub which has had a recent revamp is the Golden Lion in Higher Wheelton.
but is soon to reopen having been acquired by Kinetic Bars. As the former Royal Oak, of Chester’s Threlfall Brewery, the pub once dominated Chorley town centre as the main place to drink in the 1960s and 70s. Lets hope cask ale also makes a welcome return to the bar top! THE ALP
Takes more than a lorry to kill off Ebeneezer. He had to be air lifted to Hospital after having an arm and leg crushed by a lorry. We are pleased to report that he is slowly on the mend and recuperating in Adlington So if you are wondering why there is no coverage of Adlington in this issue - that’s why. We all wish him a speedy A new extension has been complrecovery.The White Hart now eted at the front of the pub, symphas beers from the Arkwright athetically constructed in local Brewery on tap at £2 per pint. stone, and giving customers a little Rumours that Trader Jacks more space inside to enjoy their now has real ale proved false. ale. The Golden Lion still serves Joseph Holts is back in Chorley 10 years after the brewery the full range of Thwaites cask left the Duke of York, the Black Horse on Pall Mall has beers together with a new guest installed a handpump serving Holt’s Bitter. It a long time beer on the bar, which has been Elgoods Golden Newt. since the pub served real so the news is doubly welcome. The Red Lion down the road in Lower Wheelton still serves Bowland beers on the bar with the Alp recently en- The Henry Tate is developing the image of a typical lojoying an excellent pint of Bowland Gold!Back in Chor- cal in the late afternoon / early evening when groups are ley the Prince of Wales, Cowling, has recently had Castle socialising and roars of laughter are frequent. The Rock Harvest Pale Ale on the bar which was recently voted Champion Beer of Britain at the Great British Beer most popular ale by far is Thwaites’ Wainwright which Festival. seems to be the case in most pubs which serve it. All the cask Our last pub of the season beers at the The Railway near the InterPrince are change reports a steady instill served to crease in demand, increasing orders each week only to find a consistently some pumps running out by the end of the weekend. The high standard ‘Pub of the Season’ sign facing the railway station has with two real attracted new customers on their way home from work. coal fires in the Another pub experiencing steady increase in sales is the pub to welcome chilled winter visitors! Brethy (Bretherton) on Eaves Lane – from one pump to Down the road in the Potters Arms Hook Norton and two to shortly having 3 on Timothy Taylors beers have seen an appearance at the tap. bar together with more regular beers from Black Sheep Jenny and Dave -licensand Three B’s.In Chorley town centre the White Bull still serves a great pint of Bank Top Brewery Mild which ees from the Leigh Arms and Station Hotel hope to is a great antidote after a session drinking pale `lemon reopen the Parkers Arms squeeze’ beers. shortly and anticipates selling real ale. Those of us Two other town centre pubs worth mentioning are The who remember them serving a beautful pint of 3Bs DoffSwan with Two Necks which has Prospect and Allgate cocker when licensees of the Market Tavern wish them beers from Wigan on the bar, and the Rose and Crown near the police station which is now a thriving local cask well in their latest venture. Lord Mountain, Royston, Melodious Mick and Toad ale pub. Two derelict pubs still blight the town centre. The Al bion, a former Beer Guide entry, and the Eagle and Child which has remained empty for the best part of a decade. Hope has arrived for the former Tut and Shive opposite the town hall which has been closed for over five years
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R & C Far
REAL ALE PUBS REGISTER (195 pubs) Since the last edition of Ale Cry there have been a number of changes to the list of pubs in the CAMRA West Lancashire branch area that are understood to be currently selling real ale. Overall it is good news, with there being nine additional pubs that are selling real ale, as opposed to just three pubs that are known to have stopped selling real ale since the last edition of Ale Cry was produced.
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APOLOGY TO THE NABS HEAD AT SAMLESBURY
In the last edition of Ale Cry we printed a list of all known real ale pubs in the CAMRA West Lancashire branch area. The accompanying article included the wording ‘It is to be hoped that the list does not contain too many embarrassing mistakes’. Unfortunately there was one very embarrassing mistake, with the Nabs Head at Samlesbury being omitted from the list of pubs that are currently selling real ale. This oversight had occurred because CAMRA West Lancashire branch members were mistakenly under the impression that the Nabs Head was temporarily closed for a refurbishment. No sooner had the first few copies of Ale Cry been delivered to pubs in the branch area than we were quickly informed of our mistake. Furthermore when talking to the landlady to try and explain what had happened it was revealed that the Nabs Head had not had a single days closure for more than four years now! Sincere apologies go to the Nabs Head for any confusion that has been caused. Apparently on quite a number of occasions the staff there have had to explain to visitors that they were not closed and that they had not recently been closed. The Nabs Head is located on Nabs Head Lane at Samlesbury Bottoms. As was mentioned elsewhere in the article, it has long been considered one of the branch’s real ale stalwarts, and anyone visiting the pub will find at least two Thwaites handpumped beers on offer. The pub’s opening hours are: Monday 12-2pm, 5-10.30pm; Tuesday to Thursday 12-2pm, 5-11.30pm; Friday and Saturday 12-2pm, 5-12midnight; and Sunday 12-10.30pm. Gordon Small
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These are the nine pubs new to the list:• MYERSCOUGH, Balderstone. Re-opened after a period of closure. • FIELDFARE, Chorley. New pub recently opened. • SHEPHERDS ARMS, Chorley. Re-commenced selling real ale. • ROEBUCK, Leyland. Re-commenced selling real ale. • NEW BRITANNIA, Preston. Re-opened after a period of closure. • OLD BULL, Preston. Re-commenced selling real ale. • SHIP, Preston. Re-opened after refurbishment and has re-commenced selling real ale. • NABS HEAD, Samlesbury. Wrongly omitted from list of Real Ale Pubs. These are the three pubs that have been deleted from the list:• BLACK BULL, Bamber Bridge. No longer selling real ale. • ID, Chorley. Currently closed. • GOLDEN CROSS, Preston. Currently closed.
Looking on the positive side it is pleasing to report that CAMRA West Lancashire is now able to boast as many as 195 real ale pubs in the branch area. On the face of it we are not too far short of having 200 real ale pubs, which would equate to there being about 75% of the total number of pubs in the branch area selling real ale. However being a little more realistic it is recognised that there are a small number of the pubs listed that are not one hundred percent committed to the real ale cause. For the time being these pubs have been given the benefit of the doubt, but when the Real Ale Pubs Register is next printed we will be a little more strict to accurately reflect the true position. As stated in the last Ale Cry this Real Ale Pubs Register must be considered a work-in-progress as it will almost certainly be out-of-date by the time you are actually seeing it in print. In compiling the Register CAMRA West Lancashire branch are using the best information that they have available. Hopefully there will be no serious errors or omissions, but if you think there is a pub missing from the list, or a pub on the list which should not be there, then you are welcome to contact Ed p22.
West Lancashire Real Ale Pub List ADLINGTON. Bridge; Cardwell Arms; Elephant & Castle; Spinners Arms (Bottom); Spinners Arms (Top); Waggon & Horses; White Bear. ALSTON. White Bull. ASHTON. Lane Ends; Ribble Pilot; Wellington; Wheatsheaf. BALDERSTONE. Boddington Arms; Myerscough. BAMBER BRIDGE. Hospital; Olde Hob; Olde Original , Poachers , Withy Trees; Pear Tree; The Peters Bar; Top House; Walton Fox; White Bull. BARTLE. Saddle; Sitting Goose. BARTON. Boars Head. BISPHAM GREEN. Eagle & Child; Farmers Arms. BRETHERTON. Blue Anchor. BRINDLE. Cavendish Arms. BUCKSHAW VILLAGE. Bobbin Mill. CHARNOCK RICHARD. Bowling Green; Dog & Partridge; Hinds Head. CHIPPING. Dog & Partridge; Sun; Tillotsons Arms. CHORLEY. Bretherton Arms; Fieldfare; Gillibrand Arms; Lock & Quay; Malt’n’Hops; Millers; Minstrel, Plough; Potters Arms; Prince Of Wales (Market Street); Prince Of Wales (Cowling Brow); Railway; Rose & Crown; Shepherds Arms; Sir Henry Tate; Spinners Arms; Swan With Two Necks; Trader Jacks; White Bull; White Hart. CLAYTON-LE-WOODS. Beaumont; Halfway House; Hayrick; Ley Inn; Lord Nelson. COPPULL. Red Herring. COTTAM. Ancient Oak. CROSTON. Black Horse; Crown; Grapes; Highfield; Lord Nelson; Wheatsheaf. ECCLESTON. Brown Cow; Original Farmers Arms; Windmill. EUXTON. Bay Horse; Euxton Mills; Plough; Railway; Talbot; Travellers Rest. FARINGTON. Rose & Crown. FULWOOD. Anderton Arms; Black Bull; Cattle Market; Sumners; Withy Trees. GOOSNARGH. Grapes; Horns; Stags Head. GRIMSARGH. Plough. HEATH CHARNOCK. Bay Horse. HESKIN. Brook House; Farmers Arms. HIGHER WALTON. Mill Tavern. HOGHTON. Black Horse; Boars Head; Boatyard; Old Oak; Royal Oak; Sirloin. HUTTON. Anchor. INGLEWHITE. Green Man. INGOL. Guild Merchant. LEA. Cotty B rook; Lea Gate. LEA TOWN. Smiths Arms. LEYLAND. Barristers; Black Bull; Broadfield Arms; Dunkirk Hall; Eagle & Child; Gables; Midge Hall; Railway At Leyland; Roebuck; Wagon & Horses; Wheatsheaf.
LIMBRICK. Black Horse LONGRIDGE. Alston Arms; Bull & Royal; Corporation Arms; Du ke William; Durham Ox; Forrest Arms; Old Oak; Townley Arms; Weavers Arms; White Bull. LONGTON. Black Bull; Dolphin; Rams Head; Red Lion. LOSTOCK HALL. Anchor; Pleasant Retreat; Tardy Gate; Victoria. MAWDESLEY. Black Bull; Red Lion; Robin Hood. MUCH HOOLE. Smithy Inn. PENWORTHAM. Black Bull; Fleece; Pear Tree; Sir Tom Finney. PRESTON. Angel; Bitter Suite; Black Horse; Continental; Fox & Grapes (Fox Street); Greyfriar; Guild; Hartleys; Lamb & Packet; Market Tavern; Moorbrook; New Britannia; New Welcome; Old Black Bull; Old Bull; Old Dog; Old Vic; Olde Blue Bell; Olde Dog & Partridge; Princess Alice; Queen Vic; Shawes Arms; Ship; Stanley Arms; Station; Sun; Unicorn; Wellington; Yates’s. RIBBLETON. Ribble Lodge. SAMLESBURY. Nabs Head; New Hall Tavern. THORNLEY. Derby Arms. ULNES WALTON. Rose & Crown. WALMER BRIDGE. Fox Cub; Longton Arms; Walmer Bridge. WALTON-LE-DALE. Sir Robert Peel; Welcome; White Bull; Yew Tree. WHEELTON. Dressers Arms; Golden Lion; Malthouse Farm; Red Lion; Top Lock. WHITESTAKE. Farmers Arms. WHITTLE-LE-WOODS. Dog; Roebuck, Royal Oak; Sea View. WITHNELL. Hoghton Arms. WOODPLUMPTON. Wheatsheaf.
welly & pots
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Our menus are focused around many of Lancashire's favourites and British classics. Changing seasonally, they make the most of fresh ingredients sourced from local farmers, growers and suppliers. We have a selection of menus that are diverse which will tease your taste buds and pique you into returning again & again. Our chef will be delighted to prepare a suitable dish for coeliacs, vegans or any other dietary requirement. Please notify us when making your booking. Please note that some of our recipes contain nuts and fresh sh will more than likely contain small bones.
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VIVA LA BIRRA! Since the change of editorship at AleCry a number of people have touchingly asked about the former editors. In particular they want to know if we, together with the Chorley Chetterer, still make our annual trip to Germany. Rest assured, dear reader, this still takes place and this year, in an untypical radical departure, started of in Italy, in Milan to be precise. “Italy!” do I hear you shout? Well that was also my reaction when the idea was first mooted the Chorley contingent. This is supposed to be a beet drinking holiday and not a wine and spaghetti trip. However, after a trawl through the internet it became apparent that a beer revolution had taken place in micro-breweries to quench our thirsts particularly in the province of Lombardy of which Milan is capital. So one boiling hot day in july I found myself stood outside Milands vast central station having arrived on what must be the slowest high-speed train in the world, from Paris, and wondering exactly which lamp post did they hang Mussolini from. I soon met up with my two companions who, more sensibly, had flown in from Manchester. After checking in at out nearby hotel we dedicated to St Ambrose (we have one in Leyland). After this we travelled on the efficient but very busy Metro to the nortern suburb of Lambrate for the brewery of the same name and its adjacent pub. The Birrificio Lambate, to give it fermented ales. The very English style bar was fairly empty when we arrived and we managed to get a table although people were piling in all the time for after work drink. We started off with Montestella, a pale 4..9% beet which we though might be a lager but which turned out to be top-fermented and although it was crystal clear was unfliterd. By thee bar there was a huge table full of food which we eventually decided was free for everyone in the pub. As we sat and admired whatwe thought were imitation hand pumps a barman gave one a pull and dispensed a pint. We were told that the handpump beer was called Ligera, a 5.5% “American Style” IPA. So we had pint of American Real ale brewed in Italy served from English pumps. After a meal at a nearby restaraunt we headed back to the city centre and a bar called ‘Isolla della birra’ (Isle of Beer). This was a basic but attractive drinking house specialising in Italian micro-breweries as well as foreign beers. Here we had Baladin Brune, a tasty beer which seemed to be modelled on Guinness, brewed in Piozzo to the west of Milan. We also had a beer called ‘Back Door Bitter’ from the Orso Verde (Green Bear) brewery in Busto Arsizlo just to the north-west of Milan. This beer was described as “A classic English Style real ale, refreshing with a charecteristic head” – abv 4.8%. The next day we visted another Cathedral, the Stadio di San Siro a place of pilgrimage for adherents of Italy’s most popular religion, football. After a trip to the histroric town of Bergamo we returned ti Milan and caught a bus to a pub called the ‘Giardino della Birra’ on the Via Ortica, not so far from the Lambrate. Our information was that this was a home brew pub but there was little sign of any brewery here. We had a meal here washed down by a Pilsner and a Weizen beer, the influence here was very German. We then returned to our favourite pub, the Lambrate. Among others we sampled a top-fermented ale called ‘San Abroeuos’ , an orange coloured beer at 6.8% abv. This is named after the loca, name for our old mate St Ambrose and you
don’t need many of these to wing you up to heaven. The next day, our last in Italy, we caught the train from the Nord station for the lakeside town of Como. The big, ne Como brewery is close to Como Camerlata station and when we got there about noon the large and roomy pub was filling up for the lunch time trade. There was no doubt about where the beer here was brewed as the shiny Germa equipment was clearly visible and a boil was in progress. In keeping with its German influence the beers here are all branded Malthus Bier. The first one we tried was called Marilyn, a 4.9% Lager brewed with French and German malt and Czech and German hops. We then sampled the Malthus weiss, a fair imitation of a Gemran unfliterd wheat beer. After a saill on a paddle steamer on Lake Como we returned to Milan and sought out the Fermento-Birrificio Ambrossiano (him again!). Here again the influence was very German with pale and a dark lager being the best of its type I had in Italy (that should shut peroni up) but again it isn’t clear just where these beers were brewed. For our last Italien sampling we returned to the Isola della Birra where we sampled a 5% Golden ale called Wabi from L’Orso Verde, Tipopils from Birrificio Italiano from a village near Comp and some more Lambrate. The nest day we headed for Germany but the German train couldn’t cope with the Italien heatwave and we arrived in Rosenheim on a bus. Dave Marsden
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2011
Riley’s Rambles Spooners Bar, Porthmadog I have mentioned before how a love of real ale and steam engines goes together. For a long time I had wanted to travel on the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales with its famous Fairlie double ended locomotives. I finally got my opportunity when Mrs Riley and myself had a short holiday in Porthmadog in North West Wales. Porthmadog is an ideal base to explore the area, being on the edge of Snowdonia and on a lovely coast where castles and gardens abound. It is also just up the road from Portmeirion, where that famous TV series the Prisoner was filmed. It also has one of the best pubs in the country, Spooners Café and Bar which just happens to be on the station platform at the beginning of the Ffestiniog railway on the harbour there. First, I should explain its title. It is not a café bar in the modern meaning of the term, but a bar with a café attached. It is named after James Spooner, who was the engineer responsible for the planning and construction of the line and his son, Charles, who introduced steam engines on the route. The comfortable bar is literally a permanent mini beer festival with an ever changing range of beers from small breweries and micros. There are eight handpumps with two serving beers from the local Purple Moose Brewery (Snowdonia a permanent) at one end of the bar and a further six in
To the rear is the café part, which serves hot food from 9am till 2 all days and evening meals from 4pm till 8.45 all days except in January and February when only Thurs – Sat. We ate there twice and it was very good value, especially from the daily specials board. Outside there is a patio where in fine weather you can sit and drink, and watch and smell the steam engines as they ply back and forth in the station. Wonderful! For a change you could walk up to the mainline station where, guess what, there is a pub on the platform called the Station Inn. This had three beers with again a Purple moose beer plus guests. It has a lounge and a smaller public bar, but it couldn’t get anywhere near the Spooners for choice or comfort. We did drive out to the nearby village of Maentwrog where the Grapes Hotel had the full range of beers from Evan Evans of Llandeilo including seasonals always on sale, and also to Tremadog’s Golden Fleece, which is a big supporter of LocAle, but we were always glad to be back in Spooners to see what beers were now on. There is much to do and see in this area (including a trip round the Purple Moose Brewery) that we will go back again sometime and renew our acquaintance with one of the great pubs of Wales.
Paul Riley
the middle for the changing guests. We went in three nights on the run and you could see the beers changing every day. Conversing with the friendly evening supervisor, Mike Morris, we were told that it went through up to 50 casks a week and even in the depths of winter it does 30. No wonder it is a four times winner of the local Camra pub of the year award. There is even a 5% discount for Camra members on production of their card. It is open from 10 am till midnight (12-10.30 Sun) and it holds a quiz night on
Thursday when it is jam packed. One of its features is the locomotive Princess which stands proudly on display in a corner of the bar. One interesting point is that to reach the toilets, you have to walk outside and down the platform.
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CAMRA WEST LANCS BRANCH AND OLD POSTCARDS
Apparently deltiology (postcard collecting) is third only behind philately (stamp collecting) and numismatics (money collecting) as the most popular collecting pastimes for hobbyists. Within the postcard collecting community probably the most popular practice is for people to try and acquire old postcards depicting scenes from the collector’s own local area. Of course you don’t have to be a postcard collector to find old photographs interesting. If you go into any bookshop in the area you will find a local history section, and on those shelves you will find a good number of books that have been produced depicting scenes of old Preston, old Chorley, etc. Many of the photographs in these books will have been taken from old postcards.
It is always interesting to look at a particular scene from the past and to compare it with the same scene in modern times. Not being a postcard collector myself, for the purpose of this article I have raided the resources of one of Lancashire’s premier postcard collectors. As a follow up to my article in the last Ale Cry in which I looked at pubs on the route from Preston to Leyland, I have selected two scenes that will be familiar to travellers along Leyland Road. Scene 1 depicts the Pear Tree in Penwortham. The old postcard pictures a scene from 1908 when a victorious Penwortham football team had just returned
from Deepdale in an open-top horse drawn coach after defeating Walton-le-Dale in the Grand Clothing Hall Cup Final. At this time the Pear Tree was a free house not tied to any brewery, although 14 years later it
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would be acquired by Preston brewer Matthew Brown. The same view in 2010 shows the Pear Tree exterior little changed - this despite the pub having suffered significant structural damage in 2003 when a car crashed into the building. Inside the pub will be much changed, and these days it is selling up to four beers from the Scottish & Newcastle Cellarman’s Reserve guest list.
Scene 2 depicts the view approaching Lostock Hall, with the Tardy Gate pub on the left and the Pleasant Retreat in the distance. The old postcard pictures a scene from the early 1900s this time with what looks like a horse drawn garden shed being prominently on display. As can be seen the Tardy Gate was then selling beers from the long defunct Whittle Springs Brewery, while the Pleasant Retreat was one of several pubs in the area then selling Boddingtons beers. The same view in 2010 shows a busy junction with road markings and traffic lights. The Tardy Gate now has a much more plain appearance, while the Pleasant Retreat appears to have lost all its dormer windows. The Tardy Gate advertises a psychic night, perhaps to try and make contact with some of its customers from the time of the old postcard. Eagle eyed readers will also see the great trouble I have gone to in re-creating the scene by leaving my bicycle under one of the Tardy Gate’s windows. Like the Pear Tree, the Tardy Gate was for many years a Matthew Brown pub. After long being a keg-only outlet it re-commenced selling real ale earlier this year, but on the day this photograph was taken the two handpumps were not in use. Having sold Boddingtons beers for most of the past 100 years, the Pleasant Retreat is these days selling one changing guest beer typically Courage Directors Bitter.
Hopefully this look into the past has been interesting. Incidentally anyone with access to a computer can find plenty of photographs of old pubs in the Preston area by searching through flickr or by looking at the Pubs & Bars of Preston website.
Gordon Small
D WE ARE IN THE 2010 GOOD BEER GUIDE
Call in to sample our selection of Thwaites Cask Beers. The Club has full premises license
Cowling Spinners – see ac90 – change £7.50 to £3.50
but ask for membership details which entitle you to 15% off alcoholic drinks at the bar!
YE HORNS ON NATIONAL INVENTORY
THE EUXTON MILLS HOTEL
The Pub Heritage group has added Ye Horns at Goosnargh to the National Inventory of historic pubs.. This is primarily to recognise the very rare arrangement of a ‘private’ sitting area behind the bar counter but also the high quality fixtures and fittings there and in the rest of the pub. There is a full description on the Pub Heritage website. What follows is a small extract from that. ‘The counter front is of classic 1930s brick in three sections separated by wooden strips. The door into the servery room is marked private, so ask if it is possible to sit in this area- in the UK there are only two other similar rooms hidden behind the bar servery- the ‘inner sanctum’ at the Bridge, Topshsm and ‘the select’ at the Arden Arms, Stockport. This small room has a baffle as you enter, a brick and carved wood fireplace from the inter-war period, above it bar back shelving which looks like it could date from the1930s, a panelled dado and carved settle.’ As reported in the last issue of Ale Cry, Ye Horns is building its own microbrewery on site, which should be in operation early 2011. Thus the pub will have the best of both worlds, being a site of special historic interest and having a modern state of the art brewery in the same location. Already well known for its food, this will be all the more reason to visit the pub. Paul Riley
WIGAN ROAD • EUXTON TELEPHONE 01257 264002
Robin Hood
Cowling spinners
New arrivals include Peroni, Amstel and Tiger beer all on draught
Swan
Branch Officers Branch Contact And Treasurer Womens Sec. Chairman Secretary Webmaster Young members Social Secretary Communications (inc. membership & editor)
Paul Riley Sue Riley Alan Thompson Gordon Small David Suckling Gary Bond Vacant Mick Clark
01772 709272 01772 709272 01257 276363 01772 746118 07597 003210 07809 429716 07984 840486
All emails to: wlcamra@rocketmail.com
Meetings/
Socials(8pm) All meetings start 8pm Branch meetings:Mon 20 Dec. Christmas party, Stanley Arms, Lancaster Rd Preston Mon 31 Jan. New Britannia Heatley St , Preston Mon 21 Feb. Continental, Preston Mon 21 Mar. Moorbrook North Rd Preston Committee Meetings:Thurs 13 Jan. Wellington, Glovers Court Preston.Pub of the Season presentation. Thurs 10 Feb. Rose and Crown, Farrington. Thurs 10 Mar. Malt and Hops, Chorley
Published by: The West Lancashire Branch Of The Campaign for Real Ale Disclaimer: The views expressed in Ale Cry are not necessarily those of the Editor, the West Lancashire Branch of CAMRA, or of the Campaign for Real Ale Printed by: CPL Design Print: Tel: 01772 335928, Fax: 01772 316012. Email: sales@cpldesignandprint.co.uk
Trips Thurs 20 Jan. Trip to Prospect Brewery, Standish. Leaves Preston 6.45pm picks up in Chorley . Cost ÂŁ20 including coach fare, food and beer. Limited numbers. Contact Paul Riley 01772 709272 Mon 24 Jan. Ale Cry distribution by coach, Salmesbury area Leaves Preston 7.30 returns for 11pm. Contact as above.
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proud supporter of traditional,
AMAZING OFFERS FOR REAL ALE DRINKERS
healthy British made real ales & CAMRA in its fight to bring this healthy, organically produced example of British culture to
Accordingly, in association with CAMRA, we are pleased to announce the AMAZING offers: ÂŁ 20 of JD Wetherspoon beer tokens 15 months membership for the price of 12 if you agree to pay by direct debit Once you have joined, if you live in West Lancashire CAMRA area -
Chance to Win 24 pints of real ale for encouraging friends to join
more attention. You don’t need an existing member to recommend you to join CAMRA, but if one has, he or she could win 3 gallons of real ale , just by insterting their details here. Name Membership No Phone No
So fill in this application form below asap and post it to : FAO Gary Fowler, Wetherspoons Membership Offer CAMRA 230 Hatfield Road, St. Albans, Herts, Al1 4LW
The Victoria 54 Watkin Lane Lostock Hall
live music Catering, Karaoke DJ for private functions children welcome monday night quiz pool tables & darts Parking Heated smoking area & Beer Garden
Sky Sports All live Premiership, Championship & International Charity events - other special events football Boxing & Other Open fire- friendly atmosphere Maor Sporting Spo 2 minute walk from train station Events