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Issue 153 | June - July 2010

IN THIS ISSUE: GRAND DAY OUT | SPOTLIGHT ON OUNDLE ROAD PUB NEWS | BAE GONES | BEHIND BARS | JOIN CAMRA AND MUCH MORE Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA | www.peterborough-camra.org.uk

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Chairman’s Corner | 3

Chairman’s Corner

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ello again. By the time you read this we will possibly have a new set of politicians attempting to run the country or some of the same ones having another crack at it.

Either way we hope that most of the 650 odd election candidates, who signed up to show their support for CAMRA’s Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter, stick to their promises to support beer and pubs - especially if they get elected! We also hope that whoever ends up in office retains a dedicated pubs minister – a sentiment agreed by delegates at the CAMRA AGM in April...

Our branch continues to fight the closure of local pubs which are still under threat. Many have been highlighted by the local media, press and radio.

An example of how bad the situation in some areas has become is to take the old ‘Crown to Town’ pub crawl along Lincoln Road in Peterborough. With only three ‘pubs’ still open within that sector and, the Hand & Heart sticking out like a lighthouse beacon on a remote rock, drinkers in that area are sadly deprived of a choice of pubs. I am aware that technically the Hand is not on Lincoln Road but, give the residents some comfort.

One of CAMRA’s aims is to try and attract more female drinkers back into the pub which could help save community pubs and promote real ale.

A recent survey set up to change beer’s image and relationship with females, found one in three women visit a pub once a fortnight and most preferred their local rather than a high street chain. The majority preferred to drink beer than any other drink. Landords can make their pubs more female friendly by simple measures, for example by better seating areas, a duster used regularly or politely asking the loud mouthed yob to tone down his language.

In this day and age we blokes do like the company of most women!

So it’s up to us to encourage them to come to a welcoming pub – you then don’t get the grief when you get home! (I jest, honest).

The boss of a major pub chain made some comments recently about certain local authorities making a ‘sting’ in some of their pubs. The object was to try and catch out any of the well trained staff serving an under-aged person attempting to buy alcohol in the pub. Now this practice goes on in many areas all the time and I’m not objecting to it. It just seems to me that someone who has made stringent efforts to prevent under-age drinking taking place in their pubs is an easier target than some corner off – sales shop selling cheap booze to anyone in long trousers. My point again, pubs are capable off controlling to whom they serve alcohol and how much. Shops don’t always and the resulting ‘binge’ drinking is blamed on the pubs.

To end on a happy note, I have been making observations over a period of time on the quality and friendliness of some of the bar staff in our local pubs. Some quite honestly are in the wrong job and need a course in PR. Most I’m glad to say take on their task in a friendly and reasonably efficient manner. Any outstanding pub staff ? Well at risk of receiving the wrath of every other bar person, on a consistent basis The Drapers Arms staff (yes a Wetherspoons) pub gets my thanks for their efforts. I also thank our entire bar staffs that make it a pleasure to help us continue the great British institution of drinking in our pubs.

Use them or lose them!

David Murray - Branch Chairman.

Peterborough Branch Website |www.real-ale.org.uk

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4 | Please support our advertisers

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Campaigning | 5

650 Election Candidates demand reform of the beer tie

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AMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, is delighted to announce that just prior to the election, over 650 election candidates - that’s one for each constituency in the UK - had committed to reforming ‘beer tie’ arrangements in the UK pubs industry, one of the key causes of high beer prices and wholesale pub closures. This is particularly important at a time when over 5 pubs a day continue to close across the UK. The closures are due in part to large pub companies exploiting tie arrangements, which force tied publicans to buy their beer at around 50% above free market prices.

Reforming the beer tie is one of five key commitments that CAMRA has asked election candidates to sign up to. There has been an unprecedented demonstration of support and interest in the issue of the beer tie, rebalancing alcohol taxation and supporting pubs as a solution to alcohol misuse from candidates hoping to be elected on Thursday.

On the basis of pre-election polling almost 180 of the candidates who have signed up are likely to be elected. During the next parliament CAMRA will be calling on each of the elected candidates to back up their commitment to “reform the beer tie to deliver a fair deal for consumers” with action on issues such as a legally binding code of conduct, a guest beer right and a free of tie option for tied tenants.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said: ‘Such positive support for the core aims of CAMRA’s Beer Drinkers and Pub Goers Charter shows that to secure a sustainable future for British pubs and prevent countless local communities from losing their social hub, reform of the ‘beer tie’ is urgently required.

The large pub companies won’t be able to escape the growing political pressure for reform.

‘The widespread level of support from every political party for community pubs, local brewers and consumers is a milestone in CAMRA's history, and will form the foundation for effective campaigning by CAMRA’s 110,000 members in the next Parliament.’

CAMRA is asking election candidates to: 1) Promote the interests of Britain’s pub goers 2) Champion well-run community pubs 3) Rebalance alcohol taxation to support beer and pubs 4) Reform the beer tie to deliver a fair deal for consumers 5) Support the role of well-run pubs as solutions to alcohol misuse Of the 664 election candidates who have signed up to support CAMRA’s commitments, 264 are Liberal Democrats, 161 are Labour Party candidates, 80 are Conservatives, 122 are Green Party candidates and 37 are from other parties.

Up-to-date lists of election candidates signed up to support CAMRA’s five election commitments can be found at www.camra.org.uk /electionportal along with party breakdowns, policy summaries, quotes from supportive candidates and examples of where candidates have publicised their support in their local press.

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6 | Editor’s Rant

‘And the Men who hold high places... ...Must be the ones who start, To mold a new reality, Closer to the heart” Back in the 1970’s, an old friend once remarked to me, “It doesn’t matter who you vote for – the bloody government still get in.” After the results of the recent General Election, and the subsequent formation of a coalition government, never has a truer word been spoken. For us beer loving pub goers, the future is very uncertain, as the two parties will have to agree to differ on several key issues, and both had different plans for the drinks industry. The Lib-Dems had promised to overhaul the industry in many positive ways. Plans to scrap the duty escalator; tackle the powers of the greedy pub-cos and retain the services of a pubs minister were just some of the highlights of their election manifesto. The Tories weren’t giving much away, other than they would retain the duty escalator and continue to drive a gulf between pub prices and those of the supermarkets. How it all pans out is anybody’s guess, but it won’t be that long before another budget will reveal all. Let’s just hope that whatever this new government decides upon, that it will be for the best, otherwise many of us will no longer be able to afford a visit to the pub, that is, if we can find a pub near where we live!

On a brighter note, it has been great to get outside in the sunshine (interspersed with volcanic ash clouds), at one of the many pub gardens we have in the area, or at one of the many beer festivals that take place outdoor between Spring & Autumn. I missed the wonderful event at the Coal Heaver’s due simply to my workload at the Hand, but I gather they had just as much fun as we did. Reading Beer Festival a week later really was a monster event.

With around 600 ales on offer, about 125 of which were LocAle brews, plus well over 100 www.real-ale.org.uk

ciders & parries to sample! The event, now in its 16th year is held in giant marquees on King’s Meadow, just staggering distance from the railway station. In recent years the festival has become as popular as those held under canvas

(

Talking of beer festivals, it is now less than 3 months until our own superb event on the embankment, so put the dates in your diary or mobile phone!

in Cambridge, Nottingham & Peterborough.

All beers were made available in third measures as well, enabling one to sample just a few more than if drinking in halves, and I wonder just how long before all CAMRA festivals adopt this practice?

Talking of beer festivals, it is now less than 3 months until our own superb event on the embankment, so put the dates in your diary (or mobile phone); find your membership card (ensuring it will still be in date) and come pay us a visit. Better still, go to our website and volunteer to come and work a session or two, I for one guarantee that you will not regret it.

Those of you that know me well are aware that I am rarely lost for words when it comes to the subject of beer or pubs, and always have an opinion to offer, so may find it refreshingly amusing that I never know what to write about in these editorials until the last moment. Very often it is an article in a newspaper or trade magazine that sets me off, or perhaps a remark made to me in the pub. Usually I try and base my rant around the other articles within the

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newsletter, but it’s not always that easy to find inspiration in such depressing times.

Overcoming jet lag or recovering from a hangover is child’s play compared to the neurosis that we call writer’s block! I am indebted therefore to a similar remark made to me by two completely different friends, who I doubt have ever met, at two completely different locations just a week apart. It may not be relevant, but what the heck, I’ll finish my column with it.

Last year I spent eight days with my team as cellar manager at Reading BF and then just as my back was getting used to sleeping in a proper bed again, off to Cambridge BF for 2 weeks, where I have been cellar manager for several years. Due to my current workload, I have very reluctantly taken a year off from both events.

During his visit to my beer festival at the Hand, I apologized to Clive (festival treasurer at Cambridge BF) for not being able to help at Cambridge this year. A week later at Reading I did the same to Graham (head cellar manager at Reading BF), and both said more or less exactly the same.

“Helping out at a beer festival, no matter the size of your role is campaigning, and is most appreciated.

However, trying to turn around the fortunes of a pub threatened by its greedy landlords (Enterprise Inns), is also campaigning, and therefore to be commended.”

In the 35 years I’ve been involved with CAMRA, helping out at festivals, working in pubs etc, I’ve had quite a few compliments paid amongst the numerous brickbats I’ve defended myself from! It was still humbling though, to be considered just as valuable to the cause when I had personally felt so utterly dejected at the thought of having to let friends down.

So remember folks, there are many ways you can help CAMRA achieve its aims, or to borrow a catchphrase from one of our greatest enemies… …Every little helps.

Cheers,

Bram

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 www.real-ale.org.uk

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8 | Pub News

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Pub News

’m inclined to think that pubs that fare badly are destined to become other things. The Nag’s Head in Whally Street is now waiting to be flats, although unfounded rumours hint at it reopening as a pub, no doubt to coincide with bacon becoming airborne. The Royal Oak in Walton is to become more flats and Scarletts will be an Asian restaurant of some denomination in the future. Sometimes pubs become something in the meantime - before they re-emerge from their dormant state as magnificent phoenix like creatures with lovely plumage. Such a pub is the Old Still, or Still as we of a certain vintage shall ever call it.

Not wishing to see Queensgate shopping centre hit hard times with the manager out jostling for space with the Big Issue sellers, “can you spare some change for a large corporation Guv,” I can see the benefit of them temporarily renting out the Still as something other than a pub. In this case to the Museum and Art Gallery who are making use of it in a responsible and creative way. Works of art take many forms and I’m sure some of us will take a turn around the old building to see what has replaced the beer taps and belligerent customers of times past.

Of particular note to us decaying veterans of Mr Crisp’s hostelry is the temporary display celebrating the building’s past, put on by the combined efforts of the Museum, Library and yours truly. Many hours had been spent collating newspaper cuttings, photos and documents to provide a superb exhibition that was available for viewing on a one-off occasion in April. A wealth of ex-customers perused the fine pictures of themselves from 25 years previous and we all remarked on how much thinner we looked and how we all seem to have much more hair back then. The display is still on as I write and when it is removed, Stuart Orme of Ghost Walk fame and Museum ‘guvnor’ has promised that we at CAMRA Towers can use it for our

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mobile museum which we intend to display at the beer festival. So if you missed it this time, make sure you visit the beer festival and view the photos of various ex-committee members as sleek young bucks resplendent with their flowing locks.

Onions, weep no more If the sight of onions makes you a little tearful then a suitable antidote, apart from holding your head underwater, would hopefully be to visit the newly refurbished establishment known previously as the Glass Onion in Burghley Road, although others may remember it as the Fountain before its internal decimation.

The Rose, for that will be its new name is in the process of being opened again as a pub with possibilities. A sign outside tells us it will be a real ale pub and family friendly. The man behind all this activity is keeping his identity under wraps for the present but his involvement with the Embe Restaurant, until recently part of the Thorpe Lodge Hotel, is well known. The pub will cater for those who like a pint of ale and who may enjoy a choice of food with a Caribbean or African bias. The rear garden will be used to its full potential with kids playthings and other items that spin around and make you whoosie. The work will probably be done by the time BAE hits the streets so you will, I assume know all this already!

A tree by any other name I see that Councillor Peach raised his head above the parapet recently in the Evening Telegraph, decrying the abrupt and unexplained closure of the Elm Tree Tavern in Dogsthorpe.

It would appear that the pub closed overnight and concrete blocks placed around the premises to deter any lead and copper shoppers.

Reassurances were proffered by Admiral Taverns, who said that new tenants were being

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Pub News | 9

sought just as Councillor Peach uttered his concerns. The new incumbents have now been installed, although their identity is still unknown.

It seems a bit of a lost opportunity for mine hosts as they could have followed this mysterious closure and its press coverage with a splash of publicity such as ‘local councillor welcomes new landlord to pub’ or ‘new look for old pub’ or some other such suitable words. What we actually got was a small note pinned to the door saying ‘open at 6pm’. Well, it’s open again, which is a start.

Tesco and the Ploughman. A modern tale

Ploughman - Werrington

Andy Simmonds the landlord of the Ploughman in Werrington Centre continues to sell very nice ales at very suitable prices and the quality of said ales are some of the best in the area.

The pub is totally free of tie and Andy chooses whatever takes his fancy. The only fly in the mash tun is the looming presence of Tesco and their entourage of bulldozers. The proposed development will see the whole area cleared and a new Tesco (bigger and better than ever goes the propaganda no doubt) will take its place.

Most local people can’t see the need for such a huge development, as the accompanying traffic will turn this piece of Werrington into gridlock city. The pub will be replaced but with a nice ‘family restaurant pub’, whatever that is. As we know from experience what will actually happen is the highest bidder will create a chain pub dining experience, the sort real ale lovers avoid like the plague. Mr Simmonds will not get a look in and we’ll have to endure the pub version of

McDonalds. Some of the locals at the Ploughman along with Andy are adamant that the pub as it stands could be saved and Tesco can build around it. A nice idea but hopes aren’t high. In the meantime enjoy the competitively priced ales.

By George it’s happening It may have been a long time coming but the refurbishment of the George in Whittlesey is underway and about bloody time we say.

The pub along with the old post office next door have blighted the Market Place for far too long and I’m sure the local residents will be glad to see some changes to what is essentially a derelict part of town. We believe the pub will be called the George & Star, which was its earlier name and as we know, Wetherspoons do like to play the history card when it comes to choosing names for their pubs.

A dog that won’t be put to sleep The Walk the Dog in Chatteris has appeared quite often in the Fenland papers of late and the saga continues. The gist of the story is that Punch Taverns have refused permission to allow alcohol to be sold in the premises due to some disagreement between various parties. We have a

Walk the Dog - Chatteris

three-way disagreement between the current leaseholder, the man behind the bar and our friends, Punch Taverns. At the moment Nigel Marsh and his family are running the pub through a series of Temporary Event Notices in the pub allowing beer to be sold Thursday Continued Overleaf

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10 | Please support our advertisers

The Boat Inn CAMRA Cambridgeshire Pub of the Year 2009

25 Main Street, Cottesmore, Rutland LE15 7DH We offer a warm welcome and traditional, fresh, home cooked food. Whether you want morning coffee, lunch, dinner or just a snack, it’s available at e Sun.

HELP THE HEROES DAY Saturday 26th June Minimum of 10 Real Ales/Ciders Live Music • Barbecue • Bouncy Castle Raising funds for the ‘Help the Heroes’ Charity.

2 Ramsey Road, Whittlesey Tel: 01733 202488 www.theboatuk.com

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The Sun Inn 1st Annual Beer Festival Starting Friday July 23rd from 4pm to Sunday 25th July up to 20 cask ales and ciders, BBQ, hog roast and entertainment – please contact us for more details Visit our website at: www.thesuninncottesmore.co.uk e-mail: info@thesuninncottesmore.co.uk

Tel: 01572 898217

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Pub News continued | 11

through to Sunday. Its all a bit of a nightmare but whatever the difficulties let’s hope it all comes to a head in the very near future when fine cask ales can again flow unhindered by red tape.

A ship afloat In the town of March the little Greene King pub on Nene Parade called the Ship is now steaming ahead to an unqualified success. Recently refurbished by Paul Wing and Stuart Wright, this ancient riverside pub is now selling three real ales, only one of which is a possible GK. The others are independent and are proving quite popular. Business is brisk and the inside has had a much-needed facelift. For those with historic leanings have a look at the ceiling, early 16th century unless my 'I Spy book of Old Stuff' is mistaken. Well worth a visit. You might also want to take in the Rose & Crown in St Peter’s Road, which had a superb beer festival back in April. It also does a fair trade in ales even when it’s not having a fest!

Greene King or not Greene King... that is the question While on the subject of our old sparring partner Messer’s GK & Co, the Crab & Winkle in Werrington now has the policy of serving a non GK beer or two (and apparently being well received by the discerning locals). How can this be we ask ourselves? The brewery has been very definite on the subject of guest beers in its pubs over the years and only allows ‘guest beers’ from its extensive portfolio of preferred ales, which is essentially a list of beers brewed by themselves, all named after breweries they’ve spent the last 30 years taking over and closing down. Now it would seem there is a change of heart at HQ with a select number of landlords able to purchase whatever they like outside of the tie.

Clever stuff perhaps but maybe GK have realised that not everybody likes their IPA! Pub owner makes mistake A brash statement you might think, but when it comes to the Nag’s Head in Eastrea near Whittlesey it is entirely deserved. Mr Lepla who owns the pub has foolishly decided to apply for

planning permission to demolish the pub and build houses. As the pub is the only one in the village, we at CAMRA along with the regulars have joined forces to make sure it doesn’t happen. Objections have been lodged with Fenland Council (skilfully prepared by our own experts if I may say so) and meetings are taking place as we speak. I suspect that Mr Lepla will not be successful, as he seems to have underestimated the depth of feeling amongst the people of Eastrea.

Pub News Shorts It’s nice to see the Crown in New England open again and judging from the number of customers on a recent Thursday it’s destined to stay open.

Entertainment is on Thursday through to Sunday and they are on the look out for some new local bands to come and do their thing.

Have a look at their Myspace page and all may become apparent.

Towards town we come across Millfield. Until recently the Windmill was still operational as a pub but it now looks to have finally bit the proverbial dust and is currently being converted to flats.

The Decoy - Milking Nook

The Decoy in Milking Nook is to celebrate one year of trading with the delightfully cheerful Sandra Kabia at the helm. On Saturday 3rd July she is hosting a Western themed family day, complete with Bucking Bronco, Horseshoe Throwing and a bouncy castle for the kids.

A disco and live music will round off the night, all taking place in the lovingly restored beer Continued Overleaf

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12 | Please support our advertisers

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Pub News continued | 13

GEORGE INN OUNDLE - 01832 272324

COUNTRY PUB ON THE EDGE OF TOWN Offering a selection of real ales, including local ales, fine wines and a good selection of lagers and ciders.

FOOD IS SERVED LUNCHTIMES AND EVENINGS (except Sunday evening and Monday) All food is cooked fresh to order on the premises using locally sourced products.

Sunday lunch is carvery time where there is a slection of 3 roasts and 8 vegetables

Tuesday to Saturday 2 dine for £10 We have a large car park and there is a large decked area where you can enjoy al fresco dining, bbqs and live music.

Our speciality is the black rock grill where you cook your steaks etc. on a superheated granite rock the way you like it.

We also cater for weddings, Birthdays and other functions so give us a call or pop on down to be assured of a warm welcome.

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

garden, with all proceeds going to charity. Sandra also offers an excellent value roast lunch on Sundays, so why not pay her a visit? Contact her on 01733 811953 for further details.

In the town of March the Cock Inn has had a period of opening and closing. Even when it’s supposed to be open for business it mysteriously looked closed - so confusing. The place has now been taken over by a couple of local businessmen who look as if they know what they’re doing. The pub has been refitted and the garden has had an overhaul. Whether it sells real ale or not is another question.

The recently refurbished Blue Boar in Eye has real ale in the form of Bombardier, Oakham Ales and a guest ale. Say hello to Jim & Alison if you’re in the village.

The Royal Arms in Newark on the Old Eye Road has now got Black Dog Mild on offer.

Landlord Malcolm Carter of the Carpenter’s Arms in Coates is making a stand along with his regulars to keep the popular pub open despite the best efforts of the owners to oust him.

The freehold of the building is in the hands of a well known High Street bank who have called in the loan from the main leaseholder leaving Mr Carter with just weeks to quit. The bank has issued instructions that it intends to sell the pub and requires a closed and boarded up pub to do so. A strange idea methinks. Wouldn't it be more of an attractive property and therefore more saleable if it was open and thriving rather than a forlorn and abandoned building? Banks usually tend to be run by highly paid experts so I'm sure they know what’s best?

Keep the pub news coming and cheers Steve Williams - 07802 896641 steve@pubhistorysociety.co.uk

Good sized Car Park.

Heated smoking shelter www.real-ale.org.uk

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14 | Please support our advertisers

SIX REAL ALES ON AT ALL TIMES

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Behind Bars - The Swiss Cottage| 15

The Swiss Cottage….

Where’s that then? squalor to a great “spit & sawdust” boozer with a strong Irish theme.

During this time, I was completing my Engineering studies and blowing every penny I didn’t have on a round the world, backpacking trip. On my return, I failed in my chosen office profession of engineering at APV Baker and found my vocation in driving a lorry and delivering gas to pubs and other licensed premises, including the Swiss.

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his is the question that makes the Swiss so special. Angela and I know the names and normal drink of more than nine out of ten people who come through the door. Creating a comfortable atmosphere filled with friendly banter happens naturally in our pub and for those that know the pub, there is an invisible sign outside saying “idiots need not enter”.

Off the beaten track, the Swiss has always been an Irish bar, attracting a wide range of drinkers predominantly from Woodston and Fletton.

Over the past couple of years, the pub has become much more orientated towards sport with just about every televised event being shown. The pub boasts dominoes, darts, cribbage, pool and cricket teams in the week and there is always live music on a Friday night.

Angela took the Swiss on in 2001, and quickly turned it into a local success story having previously run the Cavendish on Eastfield Road when she was still a teenager. Having spent a decade in Ireland, first managing bars and then as maitre d’ of two very successful restaurants, Ange returned to Peterborough and chose the Swiss over two other available pubs, quickly converting it from a locally recognized place of

After buying a house on Palmerston Road, in 2006, a late night beer in the Swiss lead to a wonderful marriage and two children in less than two and a half years…

Largely due to my own tastes, real ale in the Swiss has developed from one firkin every fortnight to at least 6 firkins a week. One of my ambitions for the future is to offer a wider range of ale as we currently supply the lighter end of the ale spectrum.

In answer to the question of why we are here in the Swiss and why we do what we do, Angela and I are in complete agreement… Because we love it!

James Hopkin - Swiss Cottage The Industry Mole Feature we ran in the last issue resulted in our Editor receiving a lot of phone calls, emails and comments in support. The mole has promised to reveal further unfair practices by the Pub-cos in the next issue of BAE. www.real-ale.org.uk

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Spotlight on Peterborough - Oundle Road | 17

Spotlight on Oundle Road Gordon Arms

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his being the third feature in the series, following Stamford & Bourne, other commitments lead to our party choosing somewhere closer to home to highlight, and so we took it upon ourselves to rise to Steve Williams, and his challenge to find an alternative to the infamous ‘Crown to Town’ crawl that has been a feature of Lincoln Road imbibers for a good many years. The reasoning was that the distance between our chosen starting point and finish was about the same, two and a half miles, and the number of pubs was about the same as the legendary crawl in its heyday.

Starting at the Gordon Arms, a clean vibrant pub with the emphasis clearly on food, and being right next door to the junction for the Parkway, very popular at lunchtimes with office workers, taking the opportunity to soak up the sun sitting in the well kept garden whilst nibbling on a panini. Wells Bombardier was in good nick on our visit but the Old Speckled Hen was far too cold, and possibly needs further investigation.

A short stroll towards town brings us to the Botolph Arms. Set back from the main road in wonderful surroundings that act as the beer garden. The pub was refurbished a few years back, yet retains that rustic charm we have come to love. Sam Smith’s Old Brewery Bitter at just £1.60 a pint is the only ale on offer, but the canny landlady here keeps a mean pint of it.

The next pub on our list was a good 15 minutes walk away, and that’s when similarities with the old ‘Crown to Town’ crawl arose, especially that large gap between New England & Millfield.

Regardless, we pressed on to the Cross Keys only to discover nothing for us to drink, well no real ale anyway. The Keys is a popular sports bar, with giant plasma TV screens on just about every wall. You might think that with all those houses having just been built on the old British Sugar site, there would be a demand for a drop of the traditional stuff, but apparently not.

Continuing townwards, we could have diverted a few hundred yards and checked out the Woodston on Belsize Avenue, which has occasionally sold John Smiths rough in the past, but I recalled that on my last visit there it was more or less exactly like the pub we had just left, so we didn’t bother and pressed on.

With the built up area now becoming evident, the next port of call would have been the Boy’s Head, but it is currently boarded up and Continued Overleaf

Boltolph Arms

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18 | Spotlight on Peterborough - Oundle Road

Boy’s Head

awaiting its fate. Let’s just hope it does reopen as a pub soon.

The Palmerston Arms wasn’t yet opened when we strolled past at 1:45pm, and as we knew The Office to be yet another lager fuelled sports bar, we crossed over to call in the Cherry Tree for a pint and a spot of lunch. Jess & Ann at the Tree were recently presented with a Gold Award, and now that they are free of tie, there is usually a decent beer or two on at a very competitive price. On our visit Oakham’s White Dwarf was the preferred choice, although wellkept Landlord & Pedigree are always available.

While studying the menu on the chalkboard above the bar to decide our food order, we were told that the kitchen was in fact now closed.

Hmm? Only 1:50pm according to my watch, and they clearly advertise food cooked ‘til 2pm.

2 1

www.real-ale.org.uk

We sat down and discussed this little faux pas as the beer slid nicely down. Obviously our debate was overheard at the bar (intentionally) and after consulting with her daughter in the kitchen, the barmaid informed us that she would now cook something quick for us if we wanted something simple. By now it was 2:10pm, and if they had simply taken our order when we arrived we would have been eating it by now, so we politely declined and got ready to move on back to the Palmy for opening time at three.

You can always be sure of a good choice of ales & ciders in this Bateman’s owned pub, and we happily demolished a few pints here as a

Cherry Tree

OU ND LE RO AD

3

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| 19

compensatory liquid lunch, for we had also missed our opportunity to make last orders at the nearby Chippy, and Karen & Mick do allow customers to bring their own food in to the pub.

With Dan & Chris having other obligations to meet, it befell JPS and myself to check out the remaining two pubs, neither of which are actually on Oundle Road, but close enough to it to include in our crawl.

The Swiss Cottage, tucked away on the corner of nearby Grove Street, was presented with a Gold Award only last year, and the Roosters Yankee was as good as it’s ever been. The Swiss was chosen to be the next in our ‘Behind Bars’ feature, so you can read more about that on page 15 of this issue.

A quick stroll across ‘The Rec’, a couple of hundred yards up London Road, and we arrive at Park Street, and the wonderful Coal Heaver’s Arms, or the Coalies as the locals prefer to call it. In addition to a fine selection of Milton beers & guest ales, they still had a good selection of freshly made rolls available, and so we managed to line our stomachs with something other than beer. The Coalies has a delightful beer garden, which had seen lots of activity during their beer festival a mere fortnight earlier, and another such

Key: 5

4

7 PA R

8

6 GR ST OVE RE ET

KR D

1 - Gordon Arms 2 - Boltolph Arms 3 - Cross Keys 4 - Boys Head 5 - Palmerston Arms 6 - Cherry Tree 7 - Swiss Cottage 8 - Coal Heavers Arms

Coal Heaver’s Arms

event is scheduled for September when around 30 beers will be available for the discerning drinker to sample from the marquee in the garden.

With time pressing, and a pub of my own to run, it was time to ring a taxi and call it a day.

Had we more time, we could have included the Peacock on London Road and the Charters on Town Bridge as part of the crawl, and then we would have actually finished in town!

Enjoyable as our day was, the original idea was to consider our chosen route as an alternative crawl to the infamous ‘Crown to Town’, and so how did it compare?

Well with some pubs not selling real ale; one pub boarded up and large gaps between certain pubs, we’d say there is not that much difference, apart from those that do sell a selection of ales are well worth a visit. Just keep an eye on your watch though, if you are planning to eat along the way!

Cheers

Bram

www.real-ale.org.uk

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20 | Please support our advertisers

Hand & Heart

12 Highbury Street, Peterborough PE1 3BE 01733 564653

Constantly changing Real Ales

r e m m u S

(available for Hire)

AL V I T S E F R E E B July

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

Over 30 vailable Hot food a day riday - Sun F ic s u M e Liv

Large beer garden

1st ra- re4otrhnew real ales

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 Real Ales from mainly small microbrewers and independents, a range of European beers and twenty Belgian bottled beers.

OPEN ALL DAY EVERY DAY from 11am until Midnight (from 12 noon Sunday) Lunchtime food 12.00 - 2.30pm Monday, Friday, Saturday sandwiches available Tuesday to Thursday

www.real-ale.org.uk

IN S R A R YE BEE EN D TE OO DE! R G I U FO THE GU

BAE 153 Prog:Layout 1 24/05/2010 08:15 Page 21

Cricket | 21

CAMRA Cricket Update

T

he two teams Peterborough CAMRA Cricket Team entered for the local winter indoor cricket had mixed seasons with the "A Team" only winning one game, coming last in the league and out at the first round of the cup. The "B Team" fared better winning eight and losing six ending up 4th overall in the league, they also had a degree of success in the cup coming runners-up to a strong Perkins team.

The team have started off their Summer 2010 strongly with wins against Uppingham, Old Eastonians and Islip in the three games played.

The star performer so far has been opener Alan McLean who is averaging over 150 having only been out once this season. We again thank our two sponsors Oakham Ales and the Coalheavers Arms whose continued support will help us go on not one but two Tours this season. Our fixtures this season are: (see fixtures opposite) ! es ic gh Pr rou t o s b Be ter Pe n i

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!!

Open: Mon-Fri 4 -11pm; Sat 12 -1am; Sun 12 - 11pm Food: Weds/Thurs/Fri 5pm-8pm; Sat/Sun 1pm-5pm June 5th – ‘Mighty Quinn’ July 3rd – ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION – Disco all Day, Live Music from ‘The Guards’ July 10th – ‘The Brays’ July 24th – ‘Aladdin Sane’ (Bowie tribute) July 31st – ‘The Stereos’ (60’s) Milking Nook, Werrington, Peterborough PE6 7PP

Tel 01733 811953

Away from cricket the team has arranged a number of social events including a February afternoon at the Karting Track with Martin Fare being victorious, and a Captains vs Chairmans Golf Day which was one

by Nick Bradbury's Captains team 3 - 2.

Anyone interested in playing in the team, or wanting to play against us, should contact me on 07809 629241 or email ufford-ales-blo@real-ale.org.uk.

Matt Mace - Club Secretary

CAMRA Cricket Fixtures Date

Opposition

Thur 3 Sun 6 Thur 10 Sun 13 Thur 17 Sun 20 Sun 27

Castor Rusden Orton Park

A A A

Hampton Aston Hampton

H A A

Folksworth Hampton Motley Crew Lord Kings XI Harborough South Ashton

A A A A A

Uppingham Royal Haskoning

A A

Gonads Tolethorpe Witham-on-the-Hill Orton Park

A A A A

June

July

Thur 8 Sun 11 Fri 16 Sun 18 Sun 25 Wed 28

August

Sun 1 Wed 4 Sun 8 Thur 12 Sun 15 Sun 22 Sun 29

September Sun Sun Sat Sun Sun

5 12 18 19 26

Home / Away

Wansford Braybrooke Tour - York

A A

Seas End

A

www.real-ale.org.uk

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22 | Northamptonshire Trip

A Grand Day Out priority was given to our welfare.

W

hat a jolly outing to Northamptonshire we had with Bram and other members of Peterborough CAMRA on Saturday 8th May. We set off from Peterborough at 10:00am and headed for Nobby’s Brewery at the Ward Arms, High Street, Guilsborough. When we arrived a sign on the pub door says that the Ward Arms opens at 12:00, and as we were there at 11:10 we thought “Oh,” an hour to wait for it to open,” but no, Bram knocked on the doors and they opened. We knew Bram had the touch looking after beer, but being able to open a pub just with a slight tap, well that’s another thing all together. Thanks Bram.

Ward Arms

Before we went round the brewery, we all had a drink, looked at the menu and ordered our food, as Bram had limited our stay to 2 hours; www.real-ale.org.uk

We were then shown around the brewery, samples partaken of and enjoyed. The Tresslers Mild that was in the brew house was absolutely wonderful. We then went back into the bar and our food was ready, and again, we could not fault the food or the service.

Our next stop was in Kettering at the Poppies Beer Festival, at Kettering Town football ground.

Bram again had arranged that you could either buy a festival glass, or use one from behind the bar, but it would be an Elgoods glass, which was no problem for us. The festival had 22 beers on and 3 ciders plus the club bar had a wide range of Elgoods beer. (Kettering Town are sponsored by the brewery; their ground is called the Elgood’s Arena, and their sales manager Marcus Beeching was serving on the festival bar.) We sat inside watching the football, which was outside in the rain. Our stay there was an hour, which was plenty much long enough.

We got back on the coach and set off towards the outskirts of the town centre for the Alexandra Arms, 39 Victoria Street. Now this is a pub that you just have to visit, a street-corner pub serving fine beer through an array of 14 hand-pumps, and the walls and ceilings are festooned with every pump clip that you can think of. It is wonderful outlet, and we spent a good hour and half there talking and drinking. It is a little oasis, and the landlord has been there for 7 years. The back cellar was the original site of Nobby’s brewery, now occupied by Julian Church who was in attendance to show anyone interested around his modest plant. We would

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Northamptonshire Trip | 23

agree with the Good Beer Guide here that if you want to visit just one pub in the area then visit this one, you will not be disappointed.

Back on the coach and off again, this time to the Rushden Historical Transport Society, located in the old Rushden railway station buildings. We thought this might just be a bit of culture thrown in by Bram, but we discovered that the former ladies waiting room had been converted to a social club serving a wonderful selection of real ales. Apart from the club walls being deco-

along Oundle Road so asked if we could be dropped off at the Palmerston Arms, as my sister lives near there. We called in and had a final drink to round the day off.

We would like to say Thank you again to Bram, who can organise a p*** up in a brewery, for all his effort and time put into this. Any other trips like this one and we will be first on the list.

Thanks once again.

Ian and Lynn Thorn Boston, Fenland CAMRA. Thanks very much for the very prompt report of our day out in Northants, it certainly helped ease my heavy workload as I didn’t have to compile one!

Thanks also for the very complimentary comments, so pleased you enjoyed yourselves. Bram

Alexandra Arms - Kettering

rated with beer & railway memorabilia, we were permitted to sit in the train carriages on the platform and enjoyed the beer and the company for another hour, this was another great little place to visit.

Back to the coach, and this time heading back towards Peterborough, just having time to call in at the Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor. They too had a beer festival in full flow, with a varied array of beers outside in the tent. As it was getting cold and damp we sat inside the pub in a small games room and played ‘Ring the Bull’, a great little game that kept both myself, my husband and his sister amused for some time, and gave customers a lot of fun watching us and our sibling competitiveness.

Back on the coach one final time, and we where heading back to Peterborough for the end of the trip at the Brewery Tap car park. We came back

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 £2.22 or £2.76 for 1st Class 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

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24 | Please support our advertisers

Summer at The

GOLDEN

Pheasant

fro m

Now with FOUR real ales!

(Batemans XB + 3 Guests)

Ju s Pe On t off ter ly t bo six he A rou m 15 gh iles Cit yc en tre

Great main food menu to choose from Daily (Mon-Fri 12-2pm and 6-9pm, Saturday 12-9pm, Sunday 12-6pm) Lunchtime specials (Mon–Fri 12-2pm) ‘Early Bird’ menu (Mon-Fri 6-7pm) Bring the kids along to enjoy the giant outdoor play area and new equipment!

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

Marquee bookings now being taken for Christmas and 2011 !

1 Main Road, Etton, Peterborough PE6 7DA Tel 01733 252387 Email kateshinkins@hotmail.com Web www.thegoldenpheasant.net

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

Lincolnshire CAMRA Pub Of The Year 2009

‘Footy at the Jolly’ Table service during all England matches with free half time food.

All matches shown in H D

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

Foundry Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2PP t. 01780 755141 w. jollybrewer.com www.real-ale.org.uk

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Campaigning | 25

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,

Join us for World Cup Action on our 42 inch Screen!!

Enjoy Footy Food during the England games with international flavours to match the opposition!

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

Blue r B~oEyea ~ Summer Beer Festival and Family Fun Day

(Sat Only)

Friday July 9th - Sunday July 11th 8 locally produced Ales (plus our regular Charles Wells Bombardier and Oakham Ales) 3 Traditional Ciders Saturday activities include Two Live Bands, Barbecue, Bouncy Castle and face painting.

Sunday: Watch the World Cup Final on our Plasma Screens (one with HD) COME ON ENGLAND!!

46 High Street, Eye, Peterborough PE6 7UY Tel: 01733 222234

BAE Gones 25 Years Ago Volume 1, Number 1 of Beer Around ’Ere was published and we were campaigning about the price of beer, preserving pubs, poor quality ‘English’ lager, limited licensing hours and brewery takeovers. Nothing much changes!

We were also celebrating our tenth birthday since Peterborough CAMRA was formed in 1975.

The newsletter was littered with long-gone names such as Davenports Draught Mild, Sam Smiths Museum Ale, Wilsons Bitter, Higsons Bitter and Elgoods EB. 20 Years Ago The 1st May saw tenanted pubs of breweries with more than 2000 pubs allowed to take a guest real ale. It took fifteen years of campaigning to get to this position but some breweries were already trying to get around the deal with their own ‘guest’ lists, bonuses and threats. In due course, the big breweries set up pub companies and arranged cosy deals with them for the supply of beer as a way of getting around the legislation and the Government just stood by and watched.

15 Years Ago We attacked nitro-keg for blurring the distinction between keg beer and cask real ales and swanneck hand-pumps for serving beer that looked (and sometimes tasted) like nitro-keg.

There was also a Real Ale Trail around some of the best pubs in our branch area. Of these St Peters Inn of Stamford, the Coach & Horses in Fletton, the Black Horse in Oundle and the Cuckoo at Wing are closed and gone forever while the Fountain, more recently the Glass Onion, is due to reopen as the Rose.

10 Years Ago We reported that the Brewery Tap was at risk of being demolished to make way for the development of the North Westgate area. Yes, that really was ten years ago. www.real-ale.org.uk

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26 | Please support our advertisers

www.real-ale.org.uk

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Live Music dates and venues | 27

O

Rhythm and Booze

k - i’m starting off with a moan - Landlords and Landladies out there - this page is for you to let us, the great unwashed music lover, know what’s going on in your pub. This issue I have had the massive number of TWO (Karen at the Palmy and Mike at Mama Liz - thank you) people supply me with their gig dates.

Please, please, please get on the phone, email or even carrier pigeon and let me know what audio delights you have for us - its free!

Never mind the Bo**ocks - Punk’s back in Peterborough Reported in the Evening Telegraph in late April, the Cellar Bar beneath Thorpe Lodge Hotel, Thorpe Rd is the new home of the Peterborough Punk Club.

The Black Marias appeared on the 1st May and more gigs are planned for the first Saturday of every month.

Palmerston Arms June 19th - The Malingerers July 31st - T.B.C Prince of Wales Feathers - Castor

Looking at the web site it seems football fever has hit the Prince of Wales with the England World Cup games televised on the 12th, 18th and 23rd.

However music is still high of the agenda with the following live bands playing:

Sat 19th June - Symptom Sat 26th June - Porky Pig Sat 17th July - Highway to Somewhere Sat 31st July - Children of the Revolution

Any promoters, venues or bands wanting to be featured in the August / September edition should send their details to dan@tamoko-design.co.uk before 10th July.

Daniel Speed

Mama Liz’s Complaints from residents near this Stamford venue have sparked off a planning row with South Kesteven District Council over live events.

Hundreds of local music lovers have rallied round and signed a petition supporting the appeal against a planning enforcement order.

Currently music is still live at this venue with a Folk event planned on the 30th June in association with the Stamford Riverside Festival.

Please see www.mamaliz.co.uk for more information on this event.

June 5th - Irene Rae plus support - 8.30pm June 6th - The Rolling Gnomes - 4pm.

June 10th - New Orleans Jazz - The Tierra Buena Dixie Six - 8pm.

June 17th - Speakeasy - 7.30pm.

June 18th - Heart and Dagger - Glam/Sleaze Rock - 9pm June 25th - Dub Presents - Reggae/ Dub/ Drum And Bass/ Dubstep - 9pm June 26th - From A Dark Place - metal/punk - 9pm June 27th - Jazz Club -The Jeremy Watson Trio - 6pm www.real-ale.org.uk

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28 | Please support our advertisers

Incorporating East Restaurant Thai and Pan Asian cuisine

Art and Soul Live Nights

Summer Sundays

(Free Entry)

(Free Entry)

Saturday 12th June

Live entertainment in the garden from 3pm

Fuel for the Fire, Jackdaw + Acoustic Session including Double Penetration + More Saturday 10th July

For details please visit our website www.oakhamales.com

Sunday 30th May – Citizen Smith Sunday 27th June – Houndogs Sunday 25th July – Groove Cartel

12 Real Ales on Tap including award winning brews from Oakham Ales Town Bridge, Peterborough | Tel / Fax: 01733 315700 Email: charters.manager@oakagroup.com | www.oakhamales.com

The Bluebell Inn Pictures by Michael Slaughter

10 Woodgate, Helpston Peterborough, PE6 7ED 01733252394

A

traditional country Inn set in the beautiful village of Helpston.

Offering a warm welcome and a typical English pub atmosphere.

The antidote to uncluttered “cool”.

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.

BEER FESTIVAL

Good home cooked food cooked by our new chef and served seven days a week. Traditional Sunday roast served from noon and daily 2 course lunchtime specials. New Menu Available.

July 8th-11th

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

Minimum of 18 Beers + Ciders

Live Entertainment Ample customer parking. Also conveniently close to the Hot Food served all day, each day Stocking Adnams Tally Ho!

www.real-ale.org.uk

hourly Peterborough - Stamford bus route (mon - sat)

BAE 153 Prog:Layout 1 24/05/2010 08:15 Page 29

Please support our advertisers | 29

‘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

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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30 | Campaigning

Cherry Tree - Gold Award On Thursday 29th April a few turned out at the Cherry Tree on Oundle Road, Peterborough to present Jess and Ann with a Gold Award certificate for introducing a new range of real ales since they went free of tie. In addition to the regular Pedigree and Landlord, there are normally three guest real ales with at least one from a LocAle brewery. On this occasion there was Oakham Ales White Dwarf, Cottage Terrier and Digfield March Hare all at a very reasonable £2.40 to £2.60 and served in excellent condition at the correct temperature.

Ann had put on a buffet for us and since there weren’t too many CAMRA members present we shared it out with the other pub goers which wasn’t a problem for this was Open Mic night

and the place was buzzing with musicians. Open Mic nights can be a bit of a disaster but this was a pleasure with most of the volunteers well able to hold their own. It’s always the last Thursday in the month and I will definitely be back for the next one.

Call in to the Cherry Tree; it’s a friendly pub that serves good beer and does loads for charity and is now in the running for our Pub of the Year.

Harry

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 The Gangsters - Saturday 5th June Black & White SKA Night, featuring The Gangsters - Free entry before 9pm £3 after. Dress in Black & White on the night to receive a “free” shot.

Comedy Nights on Tap – Saturday 17th July Tickets now on sale – Hurry limited availability.

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

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Campaigning | 31

The Kings Head Church Street, Wadenhoe PE8 5ST Tel: 01832 720024

4th Annual

Beer

Festival Friday 4th - Sunday 6th June 2010

14 Beers, Mostly From Local breweries Barbecue Children’s entertainment Open all day Friday and Saturday (Sunday 12 noon - 6pm)

The Prince of Wales Feathers

© Mick Slaughter 2009

Castor, Peterborough Tel: 01733 380222

Membership Update By the time you read this the new CAMRA membership system will be fully available, so that when you move house you can now amend the details yourself, just log in to the CAMRA website www.camra.org.uk with your membership number and password (your password is your postcode in capitals without the space unless you’ve changed it to something else) then click on “My details and preferences”, which will ask for your membership number and password again then you can amend all your personal details or join any of the several brewery clubs and update your contact preferences.

I would encourage all members to check their details to make sure that addresses, mobile numbers and email addresses are up to date, this could potentially avoid the many “I can’t find/haven’t received my membership card” phone calls just before Peterborough Beer Festival, because you have moved but not told us!

With national membership now over 112,000 and over 2,700 locally we need more people to get involved, so if you can spare an evening once a month and a few hours during the month we would love to see you at a committee meeting details in this mag.

Cheers

Award winning village local in historic Castor.

Close to the Nene Valley Railway & Ferry Meadows.

Daryl Ling – Membership secretary Peterborough & District branch of CAMRA

Serves 5 guest ales & real cider. Walker & dog friendy.

Homecooked food served every lunchtime.

BREWERY TAP OF CASTOR ALES details at: www.princeofwalesfeathers.co.uk www.real-ale.org.uk

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32 | Dates for your Diary

Diary Dates JUNE Mon 14th - Beer Festival Open Meeting Meeting room at the Brewery Tap, PE1 2AA at 8.30pm. All welcome to come along to hear what has changed for this year (and it's quite a lot).

Sat 19th - East Anglia Regional Meeting "Beer in the Gibberd Garden", Marsh Lane, Old Harlow, CM17 0NA at noon.

Sat 19th - East Midlands Regional Meeting Temple Hotel, Temple Walk, Matlock Bath, Matlock, DE4 3PG at noon Wed 23rd - Branch Committee Meeting Spade & Shovel, Eye, PE6 7UP at 8.30pm

JULY Thu 1st – Gold Award Presentation Hand & Heart, Millfield, PE1 3BE at 8.30pm Sat 3rd - CAMRA Cycle Rally & Treasure Hunt The regular cycle rally treasure hunt will start from Cathedral Square at 6pm sharp.

Be there for 5.45pm. All comers welcome.

Fri 16th – Annual BBQ at Elgoods Brewery, Wisbech Mon 26th – Branch Committee Meeting Drapers Arms, PE1 1LZ at 8.30pm Sat 31st – Day trip to the coast at Hunstanton; also visiting the Fox Pub & Brewery Beer Festival at Holbeach. (Tbc, contact Dave Murray for further details)

Selected Beer Festivals (CAMRA events are shown in bold) JUNE Fri 4th - Sun 6th Bourne Round Table, Well Head Gardens, Bourne, PE10 9LY 80 real ales, 25 ciders, craft fair, live music and fairground. www.bournefestival.com Fri 4th - Sun 6th Talbot Hotel, New Street, Oundle, PE8 4EA Approx 20 beers. www.thetalbotoundle.com / Fri 4th – Sun 6th King’s Head, Wadenhoe, PE8 5ST Approx 15 locally sourced ales, BBQ etc

www.real-ale.org.uk

Fri 11th - Sun 13th 8th Welland Valley Beer Festival. Held in 11 pubs across the Welland Valley Over 160 real ales and ciders. Vintage bus service on the Saturday between pubs. www.wellandvalleybeerfestival.co.uk Sat 12th Nene Valley, Wansford Station, Stibbington, PE8 6LR Get there by Nene Valley train or FREE bus from Brewery Tap at Noon, 2pm or 4pm Sat 26th Boat Inn, Whittlesey, PE7 1DR Help for Heroes Charity Beer Fest. Approx 10 ales plus BBQ & music JULY Thu 1st – Sun 4th Hand & Heart Summer Beer Fest, 12

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Please support our advertisers | 35

Highbury Street, Millfield, PE1 3BE Approx 30 beers, cider & perry, food & live music in the garden

The Ploughman Werrington - 01733 327696

Fri 2nd - Sun 4th Ploughman, 1 Staniland Way, Werrington, PE3 6NA Approx 20 ales & ciders, German themed BBQ, live music etc (Preview night on Thursday 1st)

Happy hour Mon-Fri 5pm- 7pm • Sky sport big screen (all big games)

Wed 7th- Sun 11th Derby CAMRA Beer Festival, Assembly Rooms, Market Place, Derby, DE1 3AH

Free Pool Mondays / Cash Poker - (Free half time nibbles) every Thursday at 8pm Function room for hire at reasonable rates (free to all CAMRA members) Join our face book group the ploughman.

Thu 8th - Sun 11th Bluebell Inn Helpston, 10 Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7ED 18+ real ales and traditional ciders sourced from local microbreweries and bordering counties.

Timed to coincide with events in the village during the John Clare Festival.

Thu 8th - Sun 11th Ostrich, 17 North Street, PE1 2RA

Real Ale from £2 a pint Live music (see local press)

July 2nd - 4th

Charity Beer Fest (Fest preview starts Thursday 1st)

15 - 20 Real Ales and Ciders, German Theme BBQ Live music from

Friday 2nd - One eyed cats Saturday 3rd - Hooker Sunday 4th (afternoon) - Leon (night) Karaoke with Mighty Mouth (Trev)

Thu 15th - Sun 18th Smith's 4th Annual Beer Festival, 25 North Street, Bourne, PE10 9AE 25+ real ales plus ciders. Hog roast, live music. www.smithsofbourne.co.uk / Fri 16th – Sun 18th Duck & Drake, Main Street, Yaxley, PE7 3LY Approx 15 locally sourced ales, BBQ etc AUGUST Tue 3rd – Sat 7th Great British Beer Festival, Earl’s Court, Warwick Road, SW5 9TA 450+ draught real ales, traditional cider & perry, continental draught & bottled beers, wide range of food etc. www.gbbf.org.uk Tue 24th - Sat 28th Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival, Embankment, Bishops Road, PE1 1EF, 350+ draught real ales, traditional cider & perry, bottled beers, live music, wide range of foods, pub games, quiz, etc, etc... www.beer-fest.org.uk

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 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

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34 | 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 Press Officer: Karl Simpson 07759 342702 Hopshackle: Noel Ryland 07737 297072 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 of the Boltolph Arms on Oundle Road. 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: 15th July We must have your stories, news and advertisements by: 22nd June 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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BAE 153 Prog:Layout 1 24/05/2010 08:15 Page 36

ree At Least Th

Real Ales!

More than just a Carvery! r Lovely Bee

Garden!!

N

ow the the summer’s here why not come and enjoy a spot of sunshine and a drink in our lovely beer garden or covered and heated patio area.

Here at the Farmers we support local ales so why not choose from our selection of at least three Real Ales on hand pump.

Our selection of food includes a delicious carvery with succulent cuts of meat, complimented with assorted potatoes and seasonal fresh vegetables.

Alongside our excellent carvery we are also serving such summer classics as Ploughman’s lunch, baguettes filled with succulent roast meat, fresh cut sandwiches and salads.

We have a large function room perfect for weddings, birthdays, conferences etc – come and see for yourself!

We are open from 10am until late every day of the week so come and vist us - we look forward to see you!

200 Broadway, Yaxley Tel: 01733 751286 Email: thefarmers@btconnect.com www.thefarmersyaxley.co.uk