BAE 152 by Peterborough CAMRA

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Beer Around ’Ere

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Issue 152 | April - May 2010 |FREE, please take one

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Chairman’s Corner | 3

Chairman’s Corner

ello again. I know that I’ve covered this topic before but, do think that it’s a very important subject in the fact it could well have a major effect on what we pay for our favourite tipple. The Office of Fair Trading has agreed to re-open its investigation of the beer tie and is now consulting further on CAMRA’s super-complaint. CAMRA had appealed against the OFT’s ruling that it had found no evidence of the beer tie having an adverse impact on consumers. However following the OFT’s decision to open the consultation, CAMRA have agreed to stay its appeal until 1st August. CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner stated “We are delighted that the OFT has responded to our appeal by agreeing to conduct an open consultation and I encourage all parties to use this opportunity to submit further evidence of anti-competitive practice.” We in CAMRA look forward to working with the OFT to deliver reform of the beer tie so that the pub market works in the interest of the consumer. We also hope to get a better deal in the interests of the pub licensee. Just ask any local pubco tied licensee what they have to pay for their cask beers which are heavily loaded in price. By the time this issue hits the streets we will most likely have been given a date for the forthcoming general election. I expect the usual sucking up to all and sundry with promises that the candidates and we, all know they cannot or will not keep! Within this issue we have listed a short summary of what CAMRA is asking politicians to address. I must point out to remind you that CAMRA is a non-political organisation and, we do not hold any alliances with any political party. A list of contacts is available for you to obtain more detailed info on the issues we are putting in our Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter. During a visit to another city I was engaged in conversation with the licensee in regard to his sales of real ales against the sale of lager and keg

beers. He made a very good point by saying that his consumers of real ales were doing so because they were not available at knock down prices from any supermarket. This in comparison to the lagers being readily available in cans at prices well below his cheapest. His overall conclusion was that this was the reason for his sales of real ales outstripping the lager sales. This in a pub selling six or seven ales most at £3 plus a pint! Yes folks we also will very soon see the figure 3 on most price boards in our pubs. Whatever your political or non-political views please do find out more on CAMRA’s ‘manifesto’ before the election. Your vote could make a significant difference to the next few years of our drinking culture and pubs. We’re now approaching the season of the Beer Festival – not the PBF that will be soon enough. Several local Beer Festivals are soon to be held around our branch area. See our diary dates for details. The last few years have been labelled ‘May is Mild Month.’ A style of beer not universally that popular around these parts but, has its followers. We welcome reports of any pubs promoting mild ales during this period. Finally I cannot fail to remind you again even though it seems a long time away, of this years PBF – Peterborough Beer Festival. We are making some major changes to the layout this year, so some of you may get a little bit more confused than past years! We are of course making our usual appeal for help from the members and friends who make it all possible. Without these unpaid volunteers the festival would not take place. For your diary dates this years PBF takes place on the Embankment from Tuesday 24th till Saturday 28th August. We have a completely covered venue this year! That’s it folks - Cheers David Murray - Branch Chairman. Peterborough Branch Website |www.real-ale.org.uk

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4 | Campaigning

The Industry Mole

here has been much written in Beer Around ‘Ere lately concerning the ongoing battle to reform the beer ties, especially with respect to the large pubcos, in particular Enterprise Inns & Punch Taverns, with regard to CAMRA’s super complaint that was initially rejected by the Office of Fair Trading last year. Although the OFT have now decided to reopen their investigation, I thought as the licencee of an Enterprise Inns establishment, your readers might like to share a little ‘inside information’? It is very hard for any tied pub to make much of a profit these days. The rents imposed are often as much as 20% of one’s annual turnover! Then there is the Council Tax or Business Rates, and in my instance I pay almost twice as much per month as the average householder pays in a year, and I still only get my bins emptied once a fortnight! Add into the equation utility bills, insurance & staff wages and a grim picture begins to emerge. This is why all pubs need to attain a ‘certain’ Gross Profit margin (GP) on everything they purchase against everything they sell. Around 50 years ago, everybody used the pub – the only other source of alcohol was an off licence, and there were not that many of those, and supermarkets were still in their infancy. In those happier times, a pub only needed to generate a GP of around 25%, as all pubs were owned by local breweries that charged a much fairer rent, and the turnover of their wares was far greater. Nowadays, most pubs need to attain a GP of at least 40% and in many cases, a lot higher. The one thing that I have not yet mentioned holds the key to meeting this target – the wholesale price of beer! When the OFT first rejected www.real-ale.org.uk

CAMRA’s super complaint, one of their key observations was as follows: “The OFT has found that higher prices exist for some products in tied pubs, but claims that these are marginal, with a pint of lager costing drinkers 8p more in a tied pub compared to a free house.” Eight pence? I could live with 8p, and I wondered just where the OFT obtained their info from? Fast forward to February this year and I received a letter from Adnams Brewery, informing me that as a valued customer, and to help the pubs during these hard times, they would not be putting their beer prices up for the 3rd year running…My new Enterprise price list duly arrived the following day, with a price increase across the board on all items of up to 7.2%, with Adnams beers increasing by an average 4.5%. Following the VAT increase on January 1st, I now had no option but to increase my prices, by around 10-20 pence per pint, and further the gulf between the supermarkets and myself. So let’s go back to that 8p shall we, and why exactly I cannot sell my beer or lager at a modest 8p per pint more than say Wetherspoons. The table top right shows just what I must pay Enterprise Inns for a selection of products available to me excluding VAT (£ WP). The middle columns then show what I would need to charge (including VAT) to attain the target GP. The final columns show what I decided upon charging to be competitive (£ Retail), and the resultant GP I am achieving on that line. So, what do these prices reveal then? Apart from the fact that I currently need to be making 46% GP overall to survive, and that as I don’t have the facility to do pub food, nor do I sell a lot of spirits & wines (which have a far greater mark up), my beer prices must come close to

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Campaigning | 5

Product

£ WP

Carling * 136.24 Kronenbourg * 148.06 Guinness * 139.45 Adnams Bitter 94.16 Adnams Explorer 103.09 Adnams Broadside 110.20 Fullers London Pride 105.74 Hopback Summer Lightning 102.78 Taylors Landlord 109.98 Oakham Bishop’s Farewell 101.24 Theakston’s Old Peculier 122.70

40%

42.5%

3.03 3.29 3.10 2.63 2.88 3.08 2.96 2.88 3.08 2.83 3.43

3.16 3.44 3.24 2.75 3.01 3.22 3.09 3.00 3.21 2.96 3.58

Target GP 45% 47.5% 3.31 3.59 3.39 2.87 3.15 3.36 3.23 3.14 3.36 3.09 3.74

3.46 3.77 3.55 3.01 3.30 3.52 3.38 3.29 3.52 3.24 3.92

50% 3.64 3.95 3.72 3.16 3.46 3.70 3.55 3.45 3.69 3.40 4.12

£ Retail

% GP

3.20 3.40 3.20 2.70 2.90 3.00 2.80 3.00 2.90 2.90 3.20

43.15 41.85 41.81 41.46 40.33 38.34 36.61 42.49 36.34 41.40 35.64

* 11 gallon container. All others are firkins and based on the assumption of selling 70 pints that. Yet, I’m forced to be as competitive as I can so you can see from the right hand columns of the table that I’m not really charging what I must and yet, I’m still far more expensive than most other pubs in town. On a recent walkabout, I decided to exclude Wetherspoons from the equation, as well as private members clubs. I still found that Carling & Guinness were often available at 50p per pint cheaper, and real ales such as Adnams and Oakham Ales at around 60p cheaper! This is purely and simply due to what I must pay for my beer to stay within the terms of my lease, in that I must buy everything I sell direct from Enterprise. If I was allowed, just like any other striving business, to buy my stock from the cheapest supplier, I could easily compete with other similar outlets. One such example is Oakham Ales Bishop’s Farewell. If I could buy this direct from the brewery I could charge just £2.15 a pint and still make 46% GP, that’s 75p cheaper than my current price which only returns 41% GP! Village and back-street community pubs are the most vulnerable, and with pubs closing at a now alarming and unacceptable rate, something needs to be done very soon to help those remaining to

survive. Curbing the power of the supermarkets would help enormously, and also help prevent the scenes of carnage we see on our streets at weekends as binge-drinkers get fuelled up on this cheap booze and the pubs inevitably get the blame for it! But by far the easiest solution would be to remove the restrictive ties imposed upon pubs by these out-of-touch pub companies. I’m fortunate only in that I have a loyal bunch of customers who understand these issues – although it doesn’t stop them complaining about the prices! If I continue to keep a good pint, and generally keep them happy, they will stay loyal to ‘their local’. But for just how much longer? With a budget announced for about the same time as this issue will hit the streets, might another duty increase just be the straw that breaks the camel’s back? Don’t believe the hype. Read between the lines and come what May, use your vote wisely! The Industry Mole

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6 | Editor’s Rant

Here We Go Again…

any parties including CAMRA have welcomed the recent announcement by Pubs Minister John Healey, who is set to launch an action plan designed to help struggling community pubs. There are several articles in this edition of BAE that relate to the problems many licensees are experiencing with the stringent beer tie imposed by many pub companies, and I for one look forward to developments in redressing these practices. My only concern is that this new initiative has come a little too late? For one thing, Mr. Healy and his party may not even be in office in a few weeks time, so will a different government pledge to continue his plans? On the positive side, at least it’s a move in the right direction, compared to the off-hand way CAMRA’s super complaint was dismissed by the Office of Fair Trading just a few months ago. More than 500 pubs have closed so far this year already. Their owners considered many of these establishments ‘unviable’, but the use of restrictive covenants denied any other party from trying to turn them around. Coupled with inflated rents, excessive council tax or business rates and being forced to pay almost double the price for beer, it is no wonder so many licensees have been forced out of business, and why many more are struggling to make ends meet. John Healy insists that he will give the pub companies just 15 months in which to ‘sort themselves out’; otherwise he will do it for them! By this, he insists that all pubs should be given the option to go free of tie or at least have the right to buy a guest beer of their choice from wherever they like. Another case of déjà vu? Well I clearly recall being here once before. The original Beer Orders act introduced by Lord Young in 1987 was designed to give www.real-ale.org.uk

drinkers a real choice, by placing restrictions on any brewery that owned more than 2000 pubs by forcing them to offer guest beers. The act was of course flawed, in that the restrictions should have been placed on any business, which would have then prevented the formation of pub

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On a much brighter note, it is nice to see the sun shining again, and the days stretching out into the evenings, and customers enjoying the many pub gardens. Must be time for a beer festival then!

companies from avoiding the law. In realising that the act served no useful purpose, the current government scrapped the beer orders in 2002. The campaign for new regulations to include the fair pint and the abolition of the brewery tie have been going on since then, and only now have we seen a response from a government that has taxed our national beverage beyond the reach of many pub goers. A case of too little, too late perhaps? I hope not. On a much brighter note, it is nice to see the sun shining again, and the days stretching out into the evenings, and customers enjoying the many pub gardens. Must be time for a beer festival then! This edition of BAE covers three lots of Bank Holidays, in addition to St. George’s Day, so many pubs in our branch area are holding an event to celebrate the arrival of some warmer weather after the harshest winter for many a year. With so many pub & CAMRA beer festivals being held over the next two months, there’s bound to be one somewhere near you, so please do go along and support them.

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On a final note, I have noticed that very few breweries now supply the traditional hard balsa spiles to their customers these days, preferring instead to send the new white nylon things which just don’t seem to work as well for me in getting the correct condition in the beer. I don’t mind change, as long as it’s beneficial, but I’m a great believer in that old adage, “if it ain’t broke, then don’t fix it!” Imagine how I reacted then, when on March 17th, Marston’s brewery announced their new ‘Fast Cask’ technology?

whole story in The Publican at http://www.thepublican.com /story.asp?storycode =66624) The claims that this innovation benefits many are a little precipitous for me, so I await further developments and reports with interest. In the meantime, can we have our hard balsa spiles back please? Cheers

Bram

This new technology means that yeast in the final fermentation process within the cask remains in pellet form surrounded by a permeable gel so the beer itself stays clear while the reaction with the yeast occurs and does not need to be stored flat for days in order to settle. This new fangled idea has apparently been secretly tested on ‘certain’ Marston’s brands with no adverse customer reaction, and beers such as Hobgoblin and Pedigree are now to be made available in ‘Fast Cask’ form. (You can read the

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8 | Pub News

Pub News - In Praise

t this time of year Mrs Pub News and myself like to take a well-earned break at our Tuscan villa and relax while being pampered by an extended staff of flunkies in powdered wigs. Unfortunately this year due to the inconvenience of having an Olympic sized swimming pool built we were unable to visit. We chose instead to venture closer to home and bought ourselves a couple of Mega Riders for use with the local bus company. Despite the fear and trepidation that accompanies the prospect of rubbing shoulders with the lower orders, we had a rather pleasant time visiting some local boozers.

Farmers’ - Yaxley

A trip to Yaxley was our first adventure. Most people visit Yaxley to take advantage of the carvery and ales at the Farmer’s on Broadway, but as we had dined already we were just on the look out for a couple of pints, and the Farmer's would have to wait until another day. There are three pubs on Main St at the bottom of the hill in the village, and although one is currently closed, the two remaining were certainly worth a visit. The Duck & Drake has recently been bought by local man David Rayner. The pub used to be split between an Indian restaurant and a pub but now it is firmly just pub - That is until the refurbishment that will inevitably take place in the restaurant! On the Sunday we called in the pub was buzzing with not a seat to www.real-ale.org.uk

be had. The ales on offer were also a nice little bonus with Digfield and Oakham doing a brisk trade. Two more hand-pumps were also doing their best to keep up. A short walk along the street took us past the Royal Oak, which was firmly closed. The small sign outside stating that it was a temporary situation didn’t inspire me with too much confidence. The Three Horseshoes is further along the street and is easily spotted by its thatched roof. This pub is huge. Split into 3 areas with bar, lounge and a rear area for more serious chilling gives a choice of environment in which to sup. The Broadside here was superb and it looks like the pub could do quite a good food trade. The convenience of having a beer here is that the regular bus (Citi-7) stops virtually outside. As we travelled south we were tempted to call in on Farcet and imbibe one or two in the Black Swan, but as we’d promised to meet up with other topers we had to miss it out which was a bit of a shame. Stanground is not too far along the route back to town and it was the Woolpack to which we resorted on this occasion. I think the beer just gets better and better in here. Tim Taylor’s Landlord is permanently on show here and 3 other beers should keep most drinkers occupied for a while. It’s a bit of a stroll from the bus stop on Stanground Corner to the pub but worth the effort. The Citi-3 bus will actually get you a

Royal Oak - Yaxley

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Pub News | 9

aise of Public Transport

The Woolpack - Stanground

bit closer to the pub but you can’t get to Yaxley on that one. You can’t expect everything from Mr Stagecoach and his bus company can you? The nice thing about the Citi-7 bus is that from Stanground it will actually drop you off a hop, skip and a stumble from the Coalheaver’s Arms, nice. A stroll into town won’t take you long from here and you could always drop in at Charter’s should you feel the need. From Queensgate the world opens up before you with omnibuses eager to transport you to all parts of the city and beyond. Bus Citi-1 going north will take you to Millfield (Hand & Heart) before finishing in Werrington (Ploughman, Three Horsehoes and the Bluebell). Bus Citi-1 going south will take you along Oundle Rd (Cherry Tree, Palmerston, Swiss Cottage) or Number 24 will take you further along Oundle Rd (Botolph, Ramblewood and the Windmill). Generally speaking buses are every 10-20 minutes during the day for many routes with an hourly or half hourly service of an evening. I’d be the first to admit that it’s not perfect but with a weeks worth of holiday and ticket to ride (apologies to Lennon & McCartney) in your hand the number of pubs you could visit is quite extensive. A daily version of the bus ticket is available at about three and half quid. Have a look at the website at www.stagecoach.com for more details.

Pubs Closing The Grapevine in Queen Street next to Queensgate is now closed. High business rates and lack of trade due to the building site outside have been quoted as the reasons behind the closure. Perhaps the idea of dining while glancing out of the window and viewing a ‘brickies cleavage’ is not palatable to some. The owners, Chas Wells maybe willing to install a manager until the building work is completed at which time the place will no doubt be more financially viable. In fact a pub that opens onto a nice square with a more pleasant outlook will I’m sure be a great addition to the cityscape. I wouldn’t suggest for a moment that the square will be used by individuals who are more likely to make their purchases at an off licence, which may detract from the desired ambience. We await developments with interest. The Crown in New England is now closed. This closure seems to be something to do with the licensee (if there was one) not knowing the finer points of his licence and having private parties out of hours. The pub may reopen when and if the Council are happy with whoever runs it knowing what they’re doing. Traditionally the Crown to Town pub-crawl was an activity indulged in by the drinker with the constitution of a concrete elephant, but now there are only 3 pubs! Two of which I wouldn’t venture into anyway. I suggest we come up with an alternative to the Crown to Town. Ideas to the usual address please. The Royal Oak in Walton is now boarded up and awaiting its fate. Quite what that will be is anyone's guess. Planning permission has been granted for the building of houses on the site but following the sale at auction recently it now has another sign outside saying for sale, reduced price. Does this mean that it may reopen as a pub? Continued Overleaf

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Pub News continued | 11

Pub refurbing The Blue Boar in Eye is currently undergoing a bit of a makeover. Now owned by two local businessmen, it will hopefully now have a more steady future. This will obviously depend upon whom they decide to put behind the bar. We’ve seen pubs taken over by local entrepreneurs before with the promise of excellent ales and good food with the management then failing to deliver. Let’s hope all goes well. Wetherspoons on the prowl Back in February there was a bit of activity in and around the decaying carcass of what has become the George in Whittlesey. The sight of men in hard hats, carrying clip boards and with inquisitive looks upon their faces leads me to believe that Wetherspoons will be leaping into action in the near future. We’re not too sure how long the pub has been closed but it seems like an eon and as long as the fire damage isn’t too extensive we may see some action. There are obviously problems with a building of that age and there is believed to be some asbestos that will need removal before anything drastic can take place. The site of the George and the old Post Office next door have been boarded up for far too long and the impression they give to visitors to the town can’t be good for business. Some local pub landlords may not like the idea of a Wetherspoons on their doorstep and will no doubt believe their businesses will suffer as a result of the company’s philosophy on ‘competitively priced’ beers. But the effect of a thriving town centre may benefit other local pubs. If there are more people in town having a meal and a pint they may try a couple of other pubs as well.

etherspoons are also rumoured to be looking at expanding their estate and may have looked to the fenland town of March for their next pub. A whiff of a sniff of a hint that they may look to convert a building that was or is a cinema has the ring of truth about it. We'll wait and see as usual.

‘Tis the season to be jolly, tra la la la laa la la la laa.....’ Forget the festive season and the aroma of turkey specials, its beer festival season again. Before we get into the swing of the Great British Beer Festival in early August and our spectacular and far more impressive shindig on the Nene embankment at the end of August we have local pubs with festivals in abundance. The first I’ll mention will possibly have been and gone by the time you read this but just in case this issue of BAE hits the streets early, Charter’s are having an Easter Beer Festival from 1st – 5th April. At about the same time we have the Golden Pheasant at Etton hosting a beer festival from 2nd-4th April. This fest will hopefully feature Elland Brewery’s 6.5% 1872 Porter and Nettlethrasher (4.4%). The brewery has been quite successful in getting a foothold locally but more of that later. Later in April there is a Holy Trinity of festivals to keep us all happy. The Award Winning Jolly Brewer in Stamford will hold their event from 21st April and the Hand & Heart and the Coalheaver’s will start the next day. Make sure you get to all three of them! Further details will appear nearer the time so look on the web as usual, www.peterboroughpubs.co.uk should keep you up to date. Although not specifically a beer festival, the Boat in Whittlesey will be holding a charity outdoor music festival in aid of Coates Crusaders on the May Bank Holiday Sunday (30th). Confirmed acts include Loose Baby Charlotte, Outa-Stock and Mike Luff with more to be confirmed. A selection of ales will no doubt be on offer with barbecue and amusements for the children. If you really want to get steaming.... you could do worse than visit the Nene Valley Railway on Saturday 12th June. The main activities will take place at the Wansford end of the line with over a dozen ales in a marquee. There will be a few rides and diversions for the kids and of course Thomas will be chuffing up and down the line Continued Overleaf

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12 | Pub News continued

keeping us all enthralled with his antics, that naughty, misbehaving little engine... If you want to take the whole tribe, a family ticket is available but adults can get an ‘all dayer’ for £12 which entitles you to travel the whole length of the line over and over again. If you just want to visit the festival and shift a few halves without paying to go on the trains, then there should be a complimentary double-decker bus to take you to and from the festival, but check for exact details before you go. You may even find a few of the committee serving behind the bar during the day so do say hi if you recognise anyone. Keep looking at the Nene Valley Railway website for more up to date information at www.nvr.org.uk A pub that is doing very nicely thank you very much is the Ploughman in Werrington Centre. Andy and Stuart Simmonds have continued to serve some excellent beers in their short time at the pub and they’d like to invite us all to their beer festival, which apparently is the largest beer festival in Werrington! The event will run from 2nd until 4th July so put it in your diary now. For more information call Andy on 01733 327696.

The Punchbowl - Stamford

New People The Punchbowl in Stamford (formally the White Swan) is now under the stewardship of former landlord Jonathon Groves in partnership www.real-ale.org.uk

with Peter Atchison. Jonathon has won a CAMRA Gold Award at the pub in 2004 so the signs are promising. It is now run as a free house with Oakham JHB on permanent. There are 3 other handpumps so a varied choice should always be available. This area of town now has four pubs worthy of a visit so if youre in town also check out the Jolly Brewer, Hit or Miss and the Green Man. The Northfields in St Paul’s Rd, Peterborough has had a change of licensees in the form of Andy and Maureen who will continue to provide entertainment most weekends. Greene King IPA and John Smiths cask are available. Although I’m not sure how long the Chequers in Orton Wistow has been reopen but it’s nice to hear that they are having live music and quizzes. Woodforde's Wherry was spotted on a recent visit. Moving on It is with a heavy heart that I have to report that Darren and Becky will be leaving the Hit or Miss in Stamford. They have decided that now the pub is one of the more successful pubs around they should have a break and take it easy for a couple of years. They will be moving to Winchester within a short while and Darren is looking forward to having a 9-5 job for a while. When Darren & Becky took over this Bateman’s pub it was a struggling out of the way pub with little prospect of success. They leave the pub is fine form with regular quizzes, live music, karaoke, beer festivals and goodness knows whatever else they thought up over their short time behind the bar. The beers were in super condition and they made the pub the centre of the community with people travelling from far and wide and also quite near. I only hope that the new incumbents can carry on in a similar vein because they’ve got a hard act to follow. We at Peterborough CAMRA wish them all the best for the future and we all look forward to seeing them running a pub in a few years somewhere near here.

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Pub News continued | 13

Pubby Snippets The Beehive is opening in the summer with new owners taking on the freehold. They also own Jim’s Bistro in Broadway and Jim’s Yard in Stamford so we can expect good things from them.

Cheers for now and keep the pub news coming. Steve Williams - 07802 896641 steve@pubhistorysociety.co.uk

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And finally I have noticed in a few pubs like the Ploughman, Werrington, the Bluebell, Maxey, the Goat at Frognall and the Golden Pheasant at Etton over the last couple of months or so a brewery beer I’m not familiar with showing up on the bars. The Elland Brewery is based in Calderdale in Yorkshire and they seem to brew quite a nice range of ales. I thought that perhaps there was some marketing guru on the make in the local area but the explanation is quite simple. In October last year, four Peterborough CAMRA members bought the brewery from the retiring owner and are starting to promote their beers southwards along the A1 and into the Peterborough area. The new team, having known the head brewer for many years, were well aware of the reputation of Elland beers and were convinced that they could expand the brewery’s distribution range to include our region. Directors Fiona and Mark Smith, Andy Parker and Dickie Bird all have previous brewing experience, albeit on a small scale at the Two-Halves Brewery (which still continues to produce a few festival ales) and the opportunity to be part of a bigger and already thriving multi-award-winning micro-brewery business was too good to pass up. The 10 barrel plant usually produces around 1700 gallons of beer each week, ranging from light, amber session ales, a traditional dark ruby mild, a pale hoppy 4% Best Bitter and on to the 2010 CAMRA Supreme Champion National Winter Ales Festival winner, 1872 Porter at 6.5%. Hopefully, many more of these northern-style beers will be appearing at a pub near you in the not-so-distant future. For further information, contact Dickie Bird on 01733 574226 or visit the website: www.ellandbrewery.com

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14 | Please support our advertisers

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Real Ale and Cider Festival Friday 30th April - Monday 3rd May Real Ales sourced from Micro-Breweries across the UK Variety of Country Cider and Perry

Heated Festival Tent Friday 30th April Open from 5pm Food available 6.30-9.00 in the Inn Camra members £2.50 per pint on production of members card Saturday 1st May Festival tent open noon- 10.30pm All Day BBQ Evening: Innuendo

Sunday 2nd May Festival tent open noon-10.30pm Afternoon: Live music from Evening: Open Mic night and BBQ Monday 3rd May Day Festival tent open noon- evening Lunchtime: Hog Roast Afternoon: Live music from 2-5pm Elton Society Village Fete on the Green (May dancing, stalls, games, BBQ)

For further details please contact: 8 Duck Street, Elton, Cambs PE8 6RQ Tel: 01832 280232 | Email: inncrown@googlemail.com | www.thecrowninn.org www.real-ale.org.uk

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Campaigning | 15

CAMRA’s Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter

hese are in Summary the issues that Camra would like politicians to consider during the forthcoming election debates.

1. Promote the interests of Britain’s 15 million regular pub goers. 2. Champion the community importance of wellrun pubs. 3. Support the rebalancing of alcohol taxation to protect well-run community pubs, small brewers and traditional cider producers. 4. Press for reform of the “beer tie” arrangements to ensure a fair deal for consumers, allow local brewers to sell their beers to local pubs and to deliver a sustainable future for Britain’s pubs.

5. Seek to address issues of alcohol-related harm through a more targeted, nuanced policy approach that supports pubs which play a positive role in community life and provide a safe and responsible place to enjoy a drink. A leaflet explaining in more detail these and other points is available from: The Campaign for Real Ale 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans AL1 4LW Tel: 01727 867 201 Email: camra@camra.org.uk Web site; www.camra.org.uk Or contact CAMRA’s public affairs team: Jonathan Mail on 01727 798 448 or Emily Ryans on 01727 798 447 or via email campaigns@camra.org.uk

Incorporating East Restaurant Thai and Pan Asian cuisine

Art and Soul Live Nights

Easter Beer Festival

Saturday 3rd April

Starts Midday Thursday 1st April

(Free Entry)

The Whisky Jax and Being Jo Francis + Acoustic Session including: IRENE RAE , DR ROBEATNIK, RICHTER SCALE INTIMATELY EVA + More

Saturday 1st May Jazz Fusion from London Band Slinfold, Kerry and the Giants + More

30+ Real Ales, Ciders & Perry Great Selection of Bottled Belgian & Continental Beers Pan Asian Cuisine

The perfect riverside setting to meet, eat, drink and enjoy Town Bridge, Peterborough | Tel / Fax: 01733 315700 Email: charters.manager@oakagroup.com | www.oakhamales.com

www.real-ale.org.uk

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16 | Please support our advertisers

The Bluebell Inn Pictures by Michael Slaughter

10 Woodgate, Helpston Peterborough, PE6 7ED 01733252394

traditional country Inn set in the beautiful village of Helpston. Offering a warm welcome and a typical English pub atmosphere. The antidote to uncluttered â&#x20AC;&#x153;coolâ&#x20AC;?.

We serve up to six real ales from national breweries and local microbreweries including Tydd Steam, Elgoods, Adnams, Fullers, Wells and The Grainstore Brewery. All changing weekly. Permanently available, exclusive to us John Clare Bitter 4.3% from the Grainstore. Also sold in bottles.

Good home cooked food served Tuesday to Sunday. Traditional Sunday roast served 12 - 5pm and daily 2 course lunchtime specials. New Menu Available.

BEER FESTIVAL

July 8th-11th

Small parties can be catered for Funerals, christenings, birthdays etc...

Minimum of 18 Beers + Ciders

Ample customer parking. Also conveniently close to the hourly Peterborough - Stamford bus route (mon - sat)

Live Entertainment

Hot Food served all day, each day

www.real-ale.org.uk

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Bourne | 17

Spotlight on Bourne

ollowing our successful day out in snowy Stamford in January, as featured in the last edition of BAE, the editorial team & LocAle officer John Rice chose Friday 5th March to check out the pub scene in Bourne. For starters, the weather was much improved, brilliant sunshine all day, even if it was just a tad nippy in the air.

Bourne has a dozen pubs listed on our website, and as all but one of them are situated within spitting distance of the crossroads in the town centre, we had hoped to check them all out. After being rapidly transported from Queensgate by Delaine’s buses, we alighted adjacent to the multi award-winning Smiths at 12:40 for our first refreshment break. The pub was heaving, and it seemed everyone in Bourne was partaking of lunch in here, so it did take a couple of minutes to get served a pint of one of the 6 delicious ales on offer. I eventually chose the Ufford Ales, White Hart Bitter 3.8%, one of several LocAles on the pumps, and as the Guv’nor Pat is such a nice chap, we decided he would become the next victim in our ‘Behind

The Jubilee

Bars’ feature, so you can read more about Pat and this cracking pub in that article. Our next port of call was the Nag’s Head. Some of you may not have been aware that the pub was closed for most of the summer 2009 following a fire, and this was certainly my first visit since the refurbishment. In my honest opinion, a makeover was much needed anyway, and the pub is now light & airy, very open plan with a strong emphasis on food at lunchtimes. (I was already forming the opinion that everyone in Bourne dines at the pub for lunch, as here was pretty busy also!) 3 beers were on offer, including a house beer called Felsto Bitter brewed, apparently, by M&B, however we all played safe and enjoyed the Sharp’s Doom Bar or the Lancaster Amber. With Chris waiting to meet a business colleague, and the others wanting to eat, it befell upon me to check out the only pub not in the town centre. The Anchor is a delightful multi-roomed pub situated by the river on Eastgate (just behind Delaines garage) and a brisk 10-minute walk from town. My only disappointment on arriving there was discovering the only real ale

The Nags Head

Continued Overleaf

www.real-ale.org.uk

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(

18 | Spotlight on Bourne continued

)

Bourne has a dozen pubs listed on our website, and all but one of them are situated within spitting distance of the crossroads in the town centre,

Marquis of Granby

they serve is the dreaded GK IPA, so I had to decline and head back to rejoin the others. On the way back I took the opportunity to check out the Marquis of Granby on Abbey Rd, and although I am reliably informed that they do usually serve the proper stuff, all I could see on offer were ice-cold fizzy lagers, so I gave it a miss and went back to the Nags.

The Red Lion on South St has not sold cask ale for ages, and the Mason’s Arms, was not open as it was being taken over literally that day by new licensees Stuart Whitting and Toni Machin (formerly at the ‘Ring of Bells’ in Loughborough). Chris did manage to call in a couple of days later to meet the new licensees but they were out, although he did report that the Adnams Broadside was in tip-top nick and at a very reasonable £2.40 a pint.

But if it is value you really want, in a nice cosy back-street local, just walk around the corner to

Key: 1 - Smiths 2 - Nag’s Head 3 - The Anchor 4 - Marquis of Granby 5 - Golden Lion 6 - Jubilee 7 - Firkin

WEST ST

NORTH S T

Mason’s Arms

6 2

SOUTH ST

ABBEY RD

4 SP AL

DI NG

EAST GATE

www.real-ale.org.uk

)

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| 19

the Golden Lion on West Street. OK so it’s a Sam Smiths pub, but the Old Brewery Bitter was in cracking form and at well under £4 for a pint and 3 halves, tremendous VFM! Poking our heads around the door of the Angel Hotel in the market Place, we learn that the hand-pump there is only used for private functions! Why? Again, we didn’t linger. The Burghley Arms opposite had two handpumps, but again no real ale, so we staggered the 50 yards to the Jubilee. Another of Mick Thurlby’s pubs, this has a very modern feel and is obviously popular with the younger drinkers, so when we called in around 3.30pm, it was empty. The one pump in use was dispensing more of Ufford’s finest, this time Golden Drop, and very tasty it was too! With the Royal Oak in North St now closed, and awaiting the fate of being converted to a private dwelling, we had to loiter a wee while to check out the remaining pub, the Firkin Ale, as it doesn’t open until 4pm. A good selection of beers were on offer, and as we had bumped into Malcolm Wheeler from Oakham Ales, we joined him in a pint of JHB. This outlet is very basic, and at first, may look more like a shop than a pub, but all the beers are excellently priced with even the likes of Guinness on sale for under £2! I was happy to stay for more sampling, but our carriage was due to depart from outside the Burghley Arms in 2 minutes, so we had to say our goodbyes and make a quick dash for it. It had been a good few years since I last did a complete pub crawl of the town, and that was before Smiths, the Jubilee or the Firkin Ale were open, and there was not much of a choice for lovers of cask ale then. Now though, the town has a vibrant atmosphere and a healthy choice of good real ale pubs. So if you do get to visit the Bourne & District Round Table’s event on the Wellhead at the beginning of June, then why not check a few of them out? Cheers

2 ME

FOR A£LS 9 W ed & T eveninghsurs (see t&c)

Serving great beer & tasty food every lunchtime and Wednesday to Saturday evenings! Serving a range of national & regional Real Ales all day everyday! Sunday lunch Served 12-5 (bar menu also available) For more details Ring: 01778 393644 or Email: thenagsheadbourne@hotmail.com

Bram www.real-ale.org.uk

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Behind Bars | 21

Smith’s of Bourne

An annual beer festival is held in July and this year will be the fourth. Live music is available every Saturday evening showcasing a range of local and regional talent. The pub itself has won many awards including a CAMRA national pub design award in 2003 and Peterborough & District CAMRA pub of the year award 2002. Currently Pat and Jane are planning activities around June in anticipation for the World Cup which hopefully will be great for everyone.

at Taylor, the licensee of Smith’s, commenced his pub trade later in life than most, in the Stamford area at the Arts Centre, running the Cellar Bar from 1992 until 1994 when he and his wife Jane moved to the Lord Burghley, and enjoyed 6 and a half more years in what was to become a very busy town pub. In 2000 Pat & Jane moved away from the area to Richmond in Yorkshire for a retirement that lasted all of 3 and a half years.

Pat is a keen supporter of local ales (which probably explains his portly appearance) and is always looking for new and exciting stock for his cellar. Pat and Jane have always strived to put the customer first by offering good service and quality products whether it is food or drink. He is particularly proud to think that individuals, whether male or female can feel safe and comfortable in the pub’s friendly surroundings.

January 2004 and it all started again as Pat & Jane joined up with local entrepreneur Michael Thurlby, and were invited to run Smith’s of Bourne. It was a case of déjà vu as the pub was similar to the Lord Burghley: ‘Olde Worlde’; open fire, real ales etc, but Michael and his team had created much more. Lunchtime food, individually themed rooms, a play area for children, and in fact a very warm and friendly family pub. Pat and Jane have been at the pub for just over 6 years now and it has changed quite considerably in that time. Breakfast and evening food have been introduced, 6 real ales are now on tap including beers from the company’s own Ufford Ales brewery. Offers and promotions are ongoing and private functions are catered for. Coffees, teas and elevenses are available all day. www.real-ale.org.uk

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22 | Small Beer

London Calling… With the next general election now confirmed for early in May, politicians of all parties have begun making their electoral pledges. While CAMRA does not side with any political party, we reserve the right to report on any political activity that may affect the pubs & brewing industry, in particular the current bone of contention, the brewery tie. In the trade newspaper the Morning Advertiser on 4th March, the front page article carried the heading “Lib Dems: radical reform for tie. The key points of the article and their intentions were: Lib Dems’ plans for pubs Tie/pubcos: Pubs allowed to opt out of tie; tied pubs allowed at least one guest beer; upward-only rent review clauses and restrictive covenants outlawed; no pub to be demolished without public consultation. (Some edicts won’t apply to companies with less than 500 pubs.) Beer duty: No increases Rate relief: Councils given powers to grant 50% relief for last pub in the village Supermarket pricing: Ban on sales below the cost of production + tax + duty. A minimum price per unit would then be set by an “independent body” Live music: Reintroduce the Live Music Bill, removing the need for music licences for sub200 capacity venues and reintroducing the two-in-a-bar rule Mandatory code and tobacco vending machines ban: No changes Smoking ban: No extension to doorways Underage sales: Every test purchase failure leads to a licence review Progressive beer duty: Scrap thresholds and use a sliding scale of relief Pubs minister: Will keep the position If you haven’t already seen the article, you can read it and make comments at http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk /news.ma /art icle/86186 www.real-ale.org.uk

Meanwhile closer to home… If you think that Labour’s appointment of John Healey as Pubs Minister on February 8th came just a little too late into their term to serve any real purpose, following 12 years of doing very little to help the industry – and an awful lot to damage it, then the following may not surprise you? Our illustrious advertising man Chris Shilling took time to write to his local MP Quentin Davies asking him to sign the Early day Motion with regard to ‘Backing the Pub’. He received the following reply: Dear Mr Shilling Thank you for your recent email in support of the "Back the Pub" campaign and EDM 687. Pubs of course play an important role in the British way of life which I welcome, but there are many reasons why some of them close (notably changing consumer habits). It is therefore for publicans and owners to rise to this challenge and find new and innovative ways to entice customers through their doors. Community support can also be vital and the "Back the Pub" campaign is a sign of that. I regret that, as a member of the Government, I am unable to sign any EDMs. With best regards Quentin Davies And I though we elected MP’s to serve us in our respective constituencies? Obviously not! And finally… By the time the next edition of Beer Around ‘Ere goes to print, the election will have been confined to history and most of our thoughts will be focused on the football in South Africa. I was amused therefore by the latest advertising campaign by Carlsberg, official sponsors of the beer for England, with the tagline: “Your Greatest Opportunity For Four Years.” Strange isn’t it? That our national team is managed by an Italian and sponsored by the Danish, who still want to close Tetley’s Brewery in Leeds, the largest cask brewery in England at a time when real ale is in growth?

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Please support our advertisers | 23

8th Welland Valley Beer Festival June 11th - 13th 2010 Taking place at 11 pubs across the Welland Valley. With over 160 different real ales & ciders. With a vintage bus service on the Saturday connecting all venues and Market Harborough station. Food and entertainment. Programmes will be available from all participating pubs in May and online from the website.

Call 07790 197220 or 01536 771609 or see www.wellandvalleybeerfestival.co.uk Participating pubs are: Red Lion - Middleton • Talbot Inn - Gretton • Castle Inn - Caldecott • Hatton Arms - Gretton George and Dragon - Seaton • Sondes Arms - Rockingham • Spread Eagle - Cottingham Royal George - Cottingham • White Swan - Harringworth • Queens Head - Sutton Bassett Marquess of Exeter - Lyddington

‘The Country Pub in Town’ Award Winning, Multi-roomed, Family Friendly Real Ale Pub

6 Handpumps on at all times

4th Annual Beer Festival Thursday July 15th to Sunday July 18th

Ufford Ales Union Jack + White Hart Plus FOUR Guest Ales

25+ beers (‘Southern’ + Local)

Jollydale Real Cider – ‘Crafted & nurtured in Stamford!’

Real Ciders

Draft Continental Lagers include Konig Pilsner and San Miguel Open for Breakfasts at 8am (9am Sunday) + Lunchtime Food Daily Evening Meals Mon-Thurs (6pm-9pm)

Hog Roast Live Music Each Day

Thursdays REAL ALE JUG NIGHT 4 Pints for £9.50

25 North Street, Bourne

Wednesdays WINE & BOTTLE NIGHT

Tel: 01778 426819 smithsofbourne@hotmail.co.uk

‘Buy One, Get One Free’ on Selected Wines and Bottled Beers

www.real-ale.org.uk

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24 | Please support our advertisers

Unique Brew Pub Award Winning Cask Ales Authentic Thai Cuisine ‘Tap Room’ Function Suite available for Private Hire

Winner of the Good Pub Guide 2009 ‘Own Brew Pub of the Year’ award Comedy Nights on Tap - Friday 23rd April Tickets now on sale - Hurry limited availability Lime Shark - Friday 28th May Guitar driven rock with acoustic support from Ben Callanan. Tickets £3 or £4 on the door.

80 Westgate, Peterborough Tel: 01733 358500 For forthcoming events please visit our website www.oakhamales.com

www.real-ale.org.uk

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Campaigning | 25

BAE Gones 20 years ago We reported that some brewers were still using fake handpumps to serve keg beers and hoodwink customers. CAMRA identified Greenall Whitley, Shipstones and Whitbread as the main culprits. We presented the Pub of the Year award to the King’s Head at Wadenhoe. But who is the young chap standing next to an almost unchanged Dave Allett?

small brewers overfilled a little to ensure that they did not give short measure (while barstaff only had to fill the glass to 95%). We noted that big brewers used expensive meters, beyond the pockets of small brewers, to give an exact fill and so only craft beers would increase in cost.

The Portman Group had just been set up to deal with the problems of alcohol abuse including under-age drinking and aggressive and violent behaviour. (And yet the politicians go on as if this is a new phenomenon)

5 years ago The thorny issue of short pints was raised again as Dennis Turner, MP, tried to get us the pint that we deserve. Unfortunately nothing changed much.

15 years ago John Major said that it was time to change the law and let pubs open all day on Sundays and, as expected, it was met with mixed feelings by both drinkers and the trade.

A T HOLYOAK

We seemed to do a lot of pub crawling to gems like the White Horse in Morcott, the Exeter Arms in Barrowden and the one in Wakerley (now gone), the Queens Head at Bulwick, the Shuckburgh Arms in Southwick, the Plough at Farcet Fen and the Black Swan at Farcet. We finished at the Coach & Horses in Stanground (gone). And we came close to getting into serious trouble for publishing a design for a beermat for something called “Tom’s Crafty Keg”. See BAE60 on our website. 10 years ago We reported that Customs and Excise had decided to charge duty on the exact contents of casks rather than the nominal contents. Most

PLUMBING & HEATING CORGI REGISTERED 01733 208437 OR 07860 569389 192 STONALD ROAD

WHITTLESEY www.real-ale.org.uk

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26 | Please support our advertisers

9A North St, Stamford Lincs PE9 1EL 01780 765888 www.mamaliz.co.uk

Three ales served from the likes of Oakham, Digfield, Ufford, Oldershaw, Castor, Newby Wyke or Grainstore Continental Lagers • American bottled beer

Darren and Becky send all their loyal customers best wishes and the best of luck to the new landlord and landlady Tom and Julie!

Opening Times 12 midday to 11.30pm, sunday, monday, wednesday, thursday, 12 midday to 2am friday and saturday, closed tuesday.

Peterborough CAMRA

PUB OF THE YEAR 2010

Hand & Heart

12 Highbury Street, Peterborough PE1 3BE 01733 564653

Constantly changing Real Ales Large beer garden (available for Hire)

Listed in the CAMRA inventory and a consistent Good Beer Guide Entry

www.real-ale.org.uk

C USI M E THE LIV N I EE N QU ARDE R MA ER G E’S R G BE R E

EO D BE G ST KEN VAL PRIL E I WE FEST 25TH A CIAL O PE D T ND S S N 2 A 2 ALE RE RA

L REA

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Live Music dates and venues | 27

Rhythm and Booze Friday, May 7th - Shindig - Breaks/House/Electro Palmerston Arms Karen and Mick at the

Palmerston Arms have been slowly but surely building a thriving live music scene over recent months - the pub might be quite small for a music venue but the atmosphere is great! April 4th - Ellaine’s 40th Birthday Bash with the Mighty Persuaders April 17th - Lloyd Watson Palmerston Arms are also now selling Oakham Ales permanently and are now part of the LocAle scheme.

The Decoy at Milking Nook have the following offerings - April 17th ‘Iridiun’; April 24th ‘The Stereos’ (Beatles tribute); May 1st ‘Friction’; May 15th ‘Pulse’; May 29th ‘Leon’ The Crown Inn at Elton have Guido in the bar on Monday 4th April.

The Voodoo Lounge - downstairs at Mama Liz’s

in Stamford has something on most Wednesdays through to Sundays for the real ale drinker. Listings are: Wednesday, April 8th - Speakeasy - Spoken word, poetry and open mic - Doors 8pm - £5 Friday, April 9th - From A Dark Place present Metal/ Punk /Ska - line up TBA - Doors 8.30 - £3 Saturday, April 10th - Boomerang Returns Acoustic, World and Folk music - Doors 8.30 - £6 (£5) Thursday, April 27th - New Orleans Jazz The Frog Island Jazz Band - Doors 8pm - £6 Sunday, April 25th, - Jazz Club with The Jeremy Watson Trio - Swinging Jazz - 6pm - Free Thursday, April 29th - Voodoo Stands Up - An Evening Of Stand-up Comedy - Doors 8.30 - £7 (£5) Saturday, May 1st - From A Dark Place present Battle Of The Bands: The Final, Doors 8.30pm - £3

- Doors 9pm - £3 Saturday, 8th - Boomerang Returns - Acoustic, World and Folk music - Doors 8.30 - £6 (£5) Friday, May 14th - Voodoo Lounge Live presents Giz Butts, Red, Black and Blue Band with support from Jackdaw. For Further listings throughout May please look at the Mama Liz’s web site at: www.mamaliz.co.uk

The Hand and Heart have confirmed the

following acts for their April beer festival weekend on 24th & 25th April. Confirmed bands are Retrolux, The Contrast Symptom, Proto Inferno plus several surprises and guest appearances from well known local musicians.

The Prince of Wales have plenty going on over the coming months with everything from Kids easter bonnet making ( Sunday 4th April) to the World Cup. Live music listings are: Sat 17th April One Eyed Cats Sat 24th April ‘24’ Thurs 6th May Frankie Martin Fri 7th May Les Woods Sat 8th May The Malingerers Sun 9th May Daffy & The Alien Sat 22nd May 101 Proof And finally many thanks to Simon Stabler for your efforts compiling this column in the past. Your efforts were greatly appreciated! Cheers. Any promoters, venues or bands wanting to be featured in the June/July edition should send their details to dan@tamoko-design.co.uk before 10th May. Daniel Speed www.real-ale.org.uk

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28 | Gluten Free update

Gluten Free Beer Update

fter my article in Beer Around Ere issue 151 I was contacted by Bernadette Warren of the Fenland and District Coeliac Group. She kindly told me Gluten Free bottled beers from Greens and Hambleton are available for purchase from the Newmarket and Peterborough Food fairs which her group are involved with.

We Support Home cooked food Live Football Live Music Saturday nights Quiz every Sunday

Milking Nook Friendly ‘Home from Home’ pub with well kept Real Ales at sensible prices! REAL ALES including an Oakham Ale on at all times plus a changing Guest Ale JUST £2.40!!

Dates are:

‘Happy Hour’ special prices on Lagers, Ciders and ‘Smooth’ (Mon-Sat 4pm-7pm)

Rowley Mile Racecourse, Newmarket

Food: Weds/Thurs/Fri 5pm-8pm; Sat/Sun 1pm-5pm

Saturday 17th July 10am - 1pm

Saturday 16th October 10am - 1pm

Deafblind UK Centre, Cygnet Rd, Hampton, Peterborough

Open: Mon-Fri 4 -11pm; Sat 12 -1am; Sun 12 - 11pm

April 3rd - Karaoke Disco April 10th Indian Night – 3 courses £13 Milking Nook, Werrington, Peterborough PE6 7PP

Tel 01733 811953 After having discussions with several Landlords around the Peterborough and Stamford area many would trial cases of bottled Gluten Free beers for thier punters if we make ourselves known. Let your local pub know if your interested and maybe we could get some gluten free offerings out there! Bottles are a start but we want cask if possible. An email from Tim Cosgrove pointed out we could try the real Cask Ciders and Perries on offer as these are gluten free - needs further intensive research I think!

ARE YOU MISSING OUT? Only the beer-stained copy left?

Get Beer Around Ere delivered to your door! For a year (6 issues) send a £2.10 cheque/PO payable to “Peterborough CAMRA” and your address to:-

Daryl Ling 19 Lidgate Close, Orton Longueville Peterborough PE2 7ZA www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 152 Prog:Layout 1 22/03/2010 12:29 Page 29

fro m

Ju O st Pe nly off t ter six he bo m A1 rou ile 5 gh s ce ntr e

Please support our advertisers | 29

The

GOLDEN

Pheasant Open Daily: Mon – Thurs 12-3pm and 6-11pm Fri/Sat 12-11pm Sun 12-11pm

d n e k e e W Easter tival

s e F r e e B

STARTING LUNCHTIME GOOD FRIDAY until the beer runs out!

3 Real Ales Lunchtime specials served Monday to Friday 12-2pm Great food at great prices Also available during Early Bird Monday to Friday 6-7pm Saturday food Noon – 9pm

16 Rea l Ales , 4 Cid Live M and 3 Fr er u usic Fr i t Beers s iday n . i even ght,

ing an Sat aft d sun ernoo Food a day afterno n and on. vailabl 1 Main Road, Etton, Peterborough PE6 7DA e.

Tel 01733 252387 Email kateshinkins@hotmail.com

THE GREEN MAN 29 Scotgate, Stamford 01780 753598

Established in 1796 as one of the ORIGINAL Stamford Ale Houses - Providing Accommodation, Lunch Time Meals,

Minimum of SIX Real Ales and SIX Real Ciders

15th Easter Beer Festival FRIDAY April 2nd – Monday April 5th South Lincs’ Largest Pub Beer Festival!

35+ Beers mostly from Micros Real Ciders Wide range of Bottled Belgian Beers Hot Food lunchtimes 12-2.30pm • BBQ Sat/Sun Live Music Fri/Sat/Sun • Open 11am – Midnight each Day Bed & Breakfast available.

IN S R A R YE BEE N D E TE OO DE! R G I U FO THE GU www.real-ale.org.uk

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30 | Campaigning

Shock News from Pubs Minister Significant.. ‘The Government will issue a new set of Beer Orders forcing pubcos to offer free of tie leases and a guest beer option within 15 months if the industry fails to do so voluntarily.’ That’s the astonishing news from new Pubs Minister John Healey as he gave his full backing to the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee report, which set a June 2011 deadline for reform (’Pubcos have until June 2011 to change’). Healey unveiled a 12-point plan to help pubs backed by £4m of Government cash but all attention will focus on the Government threat for statutory reform of the pubco model. The news is a massive victory for anti-beer tie campaigners Fair Pint and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA). The minister wants the industry’s code to go further to include offering a free of tie option and a guest beer right for those who are tied. He also wants all Brulines equipment to be officially calibrated. “We will endorse the one year deadline (from when the code starts) for the industry to show it is complying with its own Code, making clear that Government will monitor progress for one year and intervene to regulate the market by putting the Code on a statutory basis backed by an industry enforcer if the industry fails to deliver,” said Healey. “We will also make clear that Government will monitor progress for one year and intervene to introduce a non-tie option and legislate for a Beer Order to allow guest beers if these flexibilities are not introduced,” he said. CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has warmly welcomed the action plan announced today by Pubs Minister John Healey to save Britain's struggling community pubs. www.real-ale.org.uk

Mike Benner, Chief Executive, said, "This is a great day for people who care about the future of our community pubs. This inspired action plan could offer a lifeline to thousands of pubs and help communities stave off pub closures which threaten their quality of life and community well-being." "I am delighted that John Healey has listened to CAMRA's calls to help stop pubs being demolished unnecessarily, to ban the anti-competitive practice of placing restrictive covenants on pubs to stop their future use as pubs, and for the industry to self-reform the beer tie to allow pub tenants a free of tie option and to take a guest ale." CAMRA has also welcomed steps to provide Government funding to Pub is the Hub, to ease planning restrictions on diversification and run a three year trial to provide much-needed support for communities who wish to buy their local pub.

The Jolly Sailor, 43 Great Whyte, Ramsey PE26 1HH Tel 01487 813388

Traditional Town Centre Pub with a Warm Welcome!

5 REAL ALES + CIDER Including Wherry, Bombardier, Abbot, London Pride and an ever-changing guest beer Pub games including Crib, Dominoes and Darts Good sized Car Park. Heated smoking shelter

April 23rd – St George’s Day Special drink offers + food Acoustic music Club every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month – all welcome!

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New Pub in Newark | 31

Thurlby in Newark F

ans of the Tobie Norris in Stamford will know of Mick Thurlby’s considerable expertise in restoring ancient buildings and turning them into vibrant pubs. Well, can I suggest a 30 minute trip north on the train to Newark where Mick has just reopened the 15th Century former Woolpack pub as the ‘Prince Rupert’? The multi-roomed, 2 floor pub stands in Stodman St, close to the Market Place, and had been empty since 2006. Active CAMRA members, Tony and Heidi Yale have been recruited from the renowned ‘Castle’ pub just up the road to run proceedings. Real ales including

Tony and Heidi Yale

Beers available on the opening night were Abbeydale Absolution, Ufford Golden Drop, Adnams Gunhill, Lancaster Amber and Maypole Flanagan’s Extra Stout. Food is served daily except for Sundays and the pub is open all day everyday from 10am (12 Suns). As well as being a keen CAMRA member, which will inevitably mean regular beer festivals to be announced, Tony is a huge music fan, and plans to bring regular acoustic, blues and Jazz nights to the Rupert. by Chris Shilling

one from Mick’s Ufford Brewery and a permanent ‘’LocAle’ are supplemented by three further changing guests and a Real Cider. The building dates from 1452 and includes many original features. Six rooms, the smallest just 6ftx6ft, are named after English Civil war themes. Prince Rupert it seems was a nephew of Charles 1st and was court martialled in Newark for losing a major battle back in 1642. www.real-ale.org.uk

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32 | Please support our advertisers

The Jolly Brewer Peterborough & District CAMRA Pub of the year 2009

Lincolnshire CAMRA Pub Of The Year 2009

Jolly BrewFest April 21st ‘til 25th

• 5 real ales • Food served daily 12-3pm Monday - Sunday 6-9pm Friday & Saturday

15+ LocAle Real Ales & Ciders Foundry Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2PP t. 01780 755141 w. jollybrewer.com

www.real-ale.org.uk

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26 | Dates for your Diary

Diary Dates APRIL Fri 16th – Sun 18th CAMRA Members Weekend, held at Villa Marina, Isle of Man. See What’s Brewing for further details. Sat 17th Breweriana Sale, Coalheavers Arms, Park St, Peterborough, noon-5pm. For further details contact Maxine on 01733 239585 or email mike@bbpcs.co.uk Tue 20th Branch Committee Meeting, Dragon, Werrington 8:30pm MAY Sat 8th A Grand Day Out! Bus Trip to the Ward Arms, Guilsborough, home of Nobby’s Brewery & lunch stop. On the way home, visits to the Poppies (Kettering Town FC) Beer Festival; the Alexandra Arms

(home of Julian Church Brewery) and the ever-popular Rushden Historical Transport Museum. Bus departs Brewery Tap 10.00am, return approx 7.00pm, Cost tbc. Contact Bram for bookings & further details. Sat 22nd Heritage Pub Group: Trans-Pennine Rail Ale Trip, approx cost £30. Contact Mick Slaughter for further details. Mon 24th Branch Committee Meeting, Cherry Tree, Oundle Rd, 8:30pm. Fri 28th Working Party Trip to Cambridge Beer Festival, bus departs Brewery tap 6.30pm, returning for 12.30am. The bus is free to all volunteers (who will receive preference), or £5 to others.

The Social Secretary’s position is currently vacant. Please contact Dave Murray for bookings or further details, except where stated otherwise

Selected Beer Festivals (CAMRA events are shown in bold) APRIL Thu 1st – Mon 5th Charters, Town Bridge, Peterborough. Easter Beer Fest, approx 40 beers.

Fri 2nd – Mon 5th Green Man, Scotgate, Stamford. Easter Beer Festival, approx 40 beers & ciders. Fri 2nd – Mon 5th Rose & Crown, St Peter’s Street, March. Easter Beer Festival, approx 20 beers Fri 2nd – Mon 5th Golden Pheasant, Etton. Easter Beerfest, approx 20 real ales. Wed 14th – Sat 17th 34th Newcastle Beer Festival, Student Union, King’s Walk, www.real-ale.org.uk

Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Approx 115 ales, check cannybevvy.co.uk for further details.

Wed 22nd – Sun 25th Jolly Brewer, Foundry Rd, Stamford, over 20 ales. Thu 22nd – Sun 25th Hand & Heart, Highbury St, Millfield. St George’s Beer Fest. Approx 30 ales, plus live music in the garden at weekend. See advert in this issue for further details. Thu 22nd – Mon 26th Coal Heaver’s Arms, Park St, Peterborough. Spring Beer Fest, Approx 40 beers plus bbq & live music. See advert in this issue for further details.

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Please support our advertisers | 27

Thu 29th – Sun 2nd 16th Reading Beer & Cider Festival, King’s Meadow, Napier Rd, Reading. Over 550 real ales and possibly the largest selection of ciders in the country! Check www.readingbeerfestival.org.uk for further details MAY Thu 6th – Sat 8th Poppies Beer Fest (Kettering Town FC), held in the ‘Tin Hat’ lounge, about 30 ales. Fri 7th & Sat 8th May - Peterborough Rugby Club Beer Festival, Fengate, 50 real ales, ciders & perrys Fri 7th – Tue 11th Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor. Spring Beer Festival, approx 30 beers plus all the usual surprises. Mon 24th – Sat 29th 37th Cambridge Beer Festival, held in giant marquees on Jesus Green. Over 200 real ales plus around 100 ciders & perrys, check www.cambridgebeerfestival.com Thu 27th – Sat 29th Lincoln Beer Festival, The Drill Hall, Free School Lane, Lincoln. Over 80 ales, check www.lincolncamra.org.uk for further details. Thu 27th – Sat 29th Northamptonshire Beer Festival, Delapre Abbey, London Rd, Northampton, approx 250 ales. Fri 28th – Sun 30th 15th Newark Beer Festival, held in marquees on Riverside Park, Newark. Approx 150 ales, check www.newarkcamra.org.uk for further details. JUNE Fri 4th – Sun 6th BourneBeer Fest. In marquees on the Wellhead, Bourne. Approx 50 beers Fri 4th – Sun 6th Talbot Hotel, Oundle. First Summer Beer Festival, approx 20 beers.

132 Great Whyte, Ramsey PE26 1HS

Serving a selection of Real Ales: Abbot Ale, Wells Bombardier, Woodfordes Wherry and one ever-changing guest ale. Live Music

Now With Free WiFi Large Beer Garden

Find us in the Good Beer Guide 2010

01487 812597 THE SPINNING WHEEL Baston Popular Village Local Serving

Traditional Ales including Charles Wells Bombardier and Changing Guest Ales. Traditional Food Tues-Sat (lunchtime + eves), Sunday Lunch Weds is Pizza Night (eat in or takeaway), Thurs is Steak & Rib Night Quiz night every Monday • Poker Night every Wednesday Open Microphone Night last Sunday of each month,

Fri 11th – Sun 13th 8th Welland Valley Beer Festival. Organised in conjunction with Northants CAMRA, over 100 real ales at 11 participating pubs linked by free vintage bus service on the Saturday. Check www.wellandvalleybbbeerfestival.co.uk Sat 12th Nene Valley Railway Beer Fest.

BOOK NOW for Easter Sunday Lunch OPEN ALL DAY Good Friday, Easter Monday and May Bank Holidays RACE NIGHT Friday April 9th (for Baston Cricket Club)

4 Church St, Baston, Lincs PE6 9PE Tel 01778 560395 Email spinningwheel@talktalkbusiness.net

www.real-ale.org.uk

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36 | Please support our advertisers

Cambridge Bitter 3.8%

Gold Award Champion Bitter of Britain 2006 Available all year round:

SEASONAL ALES Thin Ice 4.7% Jan/Feb Old Wagg 4.0% March/April Double Swan 4.5% May/June Mad Dog 4.4% July/Aug Barleymead 4.8% Sept/Oct Old Black Shuck 4.5% Nov Snickalmas 5.0% Wenceslas Winter Warmer 7.5% Dec

North Brink Brewery, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire www.real-ale.org.uk

Tel: 01945 583160

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Campaigning | 37

Pub Merit Awards & Gold Awards The committee feel that pubs outside of Peterborough are missing out on Gold Awards and so they have introduced a new Merit Award for pubs that are continuously outstanding. If you know of a pub in our area that deserves a Merit Award or Gold Award then please complete the following form and send it to our Secretary. Pub name:

Pub address/town/village:

Reason for award:

Your name:

Your phone number or e-mail address:

Your membership number:

www.real-ale.org.uk

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38 | Contacts

Branch Committee Secretary: Harry Morten 49 St Margarets Road, Peterborough PE2 9EA 01733 764296 07900 056940 08707 620848 (fax) info@real-ale.org.uk Chairman: David Murray 01733 560453 chairman@real-ale.org.uk Treasurer: Paul Beecham 01733 311981 07710 008693 treasurer@real-ale.org.uk Vice Chair: Paul Brammer 07922 604988 vice-chair@real-ale.org.uk

Beer Around ’Ere Editor: Paul (Bram) Brammer 07922 604988 bae-editor@real-ale.org.uk Distribution: David Murray (see Chairman on the left) Advertising: Chris Shilling 01778 421550 chris@shillingmedia.co.uk Magazine & Advertising Production: Daniel Speed 0845 838 7581 dan@tamoko-design.co.uk Postal Distr: Daryl Ling 01733 235881

Brewery Liaison Officers Blue Bell: John Hunt 01406 330453 Social Sec: Situation Vacant Castor Ales: Mike Lane social-sec@real-ale.org.uk 07850 334203 Pubs Officer: Steve Williams Digfield: Paul Brammer 07802 896641 07922 604988 pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk Elgoods: John Rice 07759 342702 Press Officer: Hopshackle: Noel Ryland Situation Vacant 07944 869656 press-officer@real-ale.org.uk Melbourn: Lew Clayton Young Members: Alix Botton 01780 765063 07806 625574 Oakham Ales: Dave Allett young-members@real07966 344417 ale.org.uk Tydd Steam: John Hunt 01706 330453 Membership: Daryl Ling Ufford Ales: Matt Mace 01733 235881 07809 629241 membership@real-ale.org.uk Festival Org: Mike Lane 07850 334203 festival-organiser@realale.org.uk LocAle Officer: John Rice 07759 342702 locale@real-ale.org.uk

www.real-ale.org.uk

Trading Standards 08545 040506 www.consumerdirect.gov.uk Check out our new website at: www.real-ale.org.uk or www.peterborough-camra.org.uk

Front Cover is the exterior of Smiths in Bourne. Picture taken and supplied by Mick Slaughter LRPS Licensees - if you would like to improve your advert with high quality pub interior and/or exterior photographs please contact CAMRA member Mick Slaughter LRPS on 01733 390598 to discuss your requirements.

The next issue of BAE will be available on: 28th May We must have your stories, news and advertisements by: 7th May Late copy cannot be guaranteed entry. Please contact Chris Shilling 01778 421550/07736 635 916/chris@shillingmedia.co.uk for all of your advertising needs. Steve Williams pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk or 07802 896641 is always looking for pub news. Please send stories and other copy to Bram (Paul Brammer) bae-editor@real-ale.org.uk 07922 604988 Beer Around ‘Ere is published by Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA Copyright © 2010, The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. Views or comments expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of the Editor or of CAMRA.

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