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Issue 155 | October - November 2010

ANOTHER GREAT YEAR AT THE PETERBOROUGH BEER FESTIVAL! IN THIS ISSUE: BEER FESTIVAL PICTURE DIARY |PUB NEWS | BAE GONES | RHYTHM AND BOOZE | JOIN CAMRA & MUCH MORE Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA | www.peterborough-camra.org.uk

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Chairman’s Corner | 3

A

Chairman’s Corner

s there will be many other items in this issue regarding this years Peterborough Beer Festival I will not make it a big theme of my blurb. My main concern apart from the two days of continuous rain was yet again the poor turnout of local volunteers we received from the local CAMRA branch members. These were most likely the same ones who complained bitterly about having to queue alongside nonmembers to enter the festival on Friday night.

Ok so we did get that slightly wrong for a time – then it was fixed. Most of our problems at the festival are mainly due to a shortage of staff, and the less we have the harder it gets for the volunteers who are trying their best to cope. End of whinge!

The long drawn out argument on how to tackle excessive drinking continues. North of the border the SNP Government has tabled yet another flagship proposal to impose a 45p a unit minimum alcoholic drink price.

This has led to the proposals being attacked by opposition politicians, drink industry bodies and surprisingly supermarkets! The additional ‘tax on booze’ would do nothing to alleviate the binge drinking habits of the few but, would hit the less well off who drink responsibly and in moderation.

A list of alcoholic drinks in a national Scottish newspaper portrays a raft of increases in canned lagers, cider and spirits. From a modest 11p on a four pack of cheap lager, to a whopping £3.84 on a bottle of vodka. No mention is made on any increase to draught beer prices in pubs. Forget the booze cruise; welcome the booze excursion down to Carlisle or Berwick-on Tweed.

My last plea for help in distributing this tome has been I’m glad to say met with some success. Four different new distributors of BAE have come on board in Wisbech, Chatteris, East Northants and parts of Peterborough, with offers of help from others. I feel very indebted to these people without which this campaigning tool would not reach the intended targets.

The new pubs that opened up during July locally seem to be well received. The George in Whittlesey, the new ‘spoons’ pub got off to a gigantic start with queues at the doors on the first opening nights. The Beehive in Peterborough has started well with both diners and drinkers giving it the thumbs up. The Grapevine on Cathedral Square re-opened a few weeks ago and is slowly re-entering the pub circuit. The Crown along Lincoln Road is undergoing a major refit by the same company that did The Ostrich in the city centre.

Finally on a last note about the PBF, a very grateful thanks to all our volunteers at this years event without which we could not run it. Now could someone please switch of the rain for just one year!

David Murray - Branch Chairman.

Committee Posts With the end of our year within the branch calendar approaching in December, now seems a good time to ask for volunteers who would be willing to serve on the branch committee.

We have some posts unfilled during this year and would like to start the new year with a full ‘house’ of committee members. This enables us to organise events and socials throughout the year and to ease the burden on other committee members who may be doubling up on certain posts. Elections take place at our AGM in December. Details will be published in the next issue of BAE. Advanced notification of our Xmas party which this year will be held at the Peterborough Rugby Club on December the 18th. Details again will be published in our next issue. Note; as there are a limited number of tickets ( not yet available ) priority will go to volunteers who helped at this years PBF first.

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

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4 | Please support our advertisers

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Campaigning | 5

Good Beer Guide 2011

L

ast month saw the publication of the 2011 edition of CAMRA’s flagship work, the Good Beer Guide. This thirtyeighth edition continues the story of recent years – the astonishing growth of small craft breweries. There are 767 breweries listed, 78 more than last year.

Roger Protz, the Guide’s editor said, on publication day: “The real ale revolution goes on in spite of all the problems facing the brewing industry such as the often anti-competitive behaviour of the large pub companies, the heavy and continuing rise in tax on beer, grossly unfair competition from supermarkets, and the smoking ban in pubs. Yet, against all the odds, craft breweries continue to sprout like mushrooms at dawn.”

“The main reason is a simple one: Craft brewers are responding to genuine consumer demand.

Beer in pubs may be expensive compared to cheap supermarkets but drinkers are prepared to pay a bit extra for beer with taste and quality.

Real ale hits the spot in every way: it has flavour and is made from pure, natural ingredients that are grown mainly here in Britain.

More and more people want to think local and drink local, and real ale meets that demand.”

One fantastic success story is the home-brew pub. When CAMRA was founded in 1971 there were just four pubs in England still brewing beer on their premises, all of them considered as quaint anachronisms surviving into a wrong century. The new guide now lists 136, and still includes the four survivors.

The Guide, whilst still a mine of printed information, has kept up with modern life styles and is now also available as an app for your mobile and as a POI file for your sat-nav.

For more information go to: http//m.camra.org.uk or text camra to 88080 and follow the response.

Ploughman receives Gold Award The latest Gold Award was presented to Andy and Stuart Simmonds of The Ploughman in Werrington Centre. It was given for reviving a pub that was not selling real ale, to one with 5 hand-pumps dispensing a range of beers, including some from the Oakademy of Excellence.

Pictured are the Mayor of Peterborough Keith Sharp, Branch Chairman Dave Murray, Andy Simmonds, John Rice LocAle Officer, Stuart Simmonds, Harry Morten Branch Secretary. www.real-ale.org.uk

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6 | Editor’s Rant

So Much For Summer

T

he leaves of brown came tumbling down, Remember in September in the rain, The Sun went out just like a dying ember, That September in the rain, Hello again readers. It doesn’t seem five minutes since we were heralding the arrival of Spring, and an opportunity to enjoy a pint of delicious cooling real ale in one of the many pub gardens, or while attending one of the numerous beer festivals in the area. Apart from a few days in June when we had a mini heat-wave, I think it’s now safe to assume that Summer has been and gone, and as the nights draw in, we can look forward again to that all too familiar routine of shoveling snow from the path and de-icing the car windscreen every morning. Visitors to this year’s Peterborough Beer Festival once again had to endure some pretty unseasonal weather, but it didn’t seem to deter most of you from enjoying the wonderful range of beers & ciders on offer. Let us hope that your dedication to enjoying the nation’s favourite tipple doesn’ t wane this winter, as many community pubs face a severe struggle ahead of them, especially with VAT due to rise to 20% in the new year, alongside the almost obligatory price hikes from the large brewing companies.

I know just how tough things are from personal experience, having just celebrated my first year running the Hand, and wondering if we will be strong enough to survive another year, as council tax, business rates and other utility bills go through the roof. Alongside the expected rise in business costs, as previously mentioned, it would appear that everyone assumes pubs make loads of money and so we can afford it.

Wrong. Almost 50 pubs a week are closing their doors for the last time. Many of these are backwww.real-ale.org.uk

street pubs like mine, or isolated country pubs that are threatened even further by the possible reduction to the drink driving limits currently being considered. Surely, enough is enough?

A walk in to town the other evening highlighted to me the reality of where we are heading.

Empty beer cans, vodka bottles & discarded food wrappers littered the streets and blocked gutters, and a short cut across the park resembled being at Glastonbury the day after the festival had finished. I know the streets are swept regularly, but it doesn’t take that long for them to become a tip again, which just shows how much food & drink is bought from supermarkets or local booze outlets to be consumed on the go, and just how little respect is given to our local environment. Enjoying ones refreshment in the warmth of a British pub just doesn’t appeal to the majority anymore, and unfortunately the community is worse off because of it.

The new 2011 CAMRA Good Beer Guide is now available, and many of the 4,500 entries – selected as the best pubs in the land – are struggling to stay open. So while we still wait for government, both nationally and locally, to introduce measures that are desperately needed to regenerate the industry and protect our most threatened pubs, it is up to us, the beer loving public to keep them open by using them more often.

An American friend mentioned to me earlier this year that just three things typified all things English to him: the pub, fish & chips and the weather! Well chicken tikka masala appears to have replaced fish & chips as the nations favourite dish, so how long will it be before sitting in front of the telly with a six-pack & a bucket of fries replaces a regular visit to the pub?

Then again, you can always rely on the weather!

Cheers

Bram

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8 | Pub News

Pub News The George So the George in Whittlesey is finally open.

About time too The opening day, or morning would be a better term, saw the huddled masses enjoying a coffee and bacon butty whilst listening to an opening address by the town Mayor. The pub has been full ever since so it's obvious the town's folk appreciate a good pub when they see one. As Pubs Officer I felt it was my duty to give it the 'once over' although I did leave it until the more civilised hour of late Saturday afternoon.

The ales were excellent and the atmosphere was lively, but then places tend to be at this time.

Having spoken to a few people in the town the feeling is that the George is bringing people out of the wood work and not necessarily taking trade from the other pubs, which was my theory some months back. Whether local pub landlords can back up these views is another thing.

Feel free to contact me and tell all. The refurbishment is what you would expect from Wetherspoon’s with lots of nooks and crannies in which to lose the wife while you're looking after your pint. The obligatory pictures on the walls feature local scenes and local history and even a history buff like me acquired new knowledge whilst supping my Grainstore Ten Fifty.

So, plenty of hand-pumps, plenty of beer, a carpet so thick you can lose a child in and lots of local history, worth a look I’d say although I'm not convinced that selling Monster Cocktails in buckets is a great idea.

There are other pubs in the town as you all know and you should always check out a few when in town. We all have our favourites, mine being the Boat and the Letter B but don't let that stop you trying the rest of them!

www.real-ale.org.uk

Pubs reopening, new people and a bit of chat The Straw Bear pub on Drybread Rd appears to have been sold and subsequently bought by a local businessman who intends to restore its past fortunes. Once part of the Hungry Horse/Greene King empire it may well now sell something more adventurous than good ‘ole IPA. Let’s hope so.

Alright I admit it’s been open for a while now but I thought I’d just mention the Rose in Burghley Rd. Nick the owner has now finished refitting his kitchen and he’s all fired up to provide the discerning citizens of the city with something unusual. Specialising in food with the taste of Africa and the Caribbean it looks to be something a bit different. For those who are not enticed by the flavour of distant shores Nick will be providing traditional English pub food as well. All this washed down with one of his two real ales, a clutch of live music events and we have a pub worth a look. The pub opens lunchtime and evenings Monday through to Thursday and all day opening Friday to Sunday.

Food is served at all sessions but last food orders at 9.30pm.

It’s good to see the Elmtree Tavern open again after a brief interruption of service. Back in April the pub closed mysteriously and it wasn’t until local councillor Mr Peach made representations to Admiral Taverns that the pub reopened.

The new people looking after the place are Dave & Debbie Wilson who have run numerous pubs before. They left Norwich and headed to Peterborough especially to take on the Elm Tree. They even brought their chef, Jutty Saunders with them. Food is now available and we look forward to the pub having a bright future.

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Pub News | 9

My apologies for not mentioning the Beehive in Beer Around 'Ere earlier but I thought I’d let them get settled before giving them airtime, well that’s my excuse anyway. Actually it was down to my usual incompetence for which I offer my complete and unreserved apology, may St Bibiana descend upon me and smite me. In any case the Beehive seems to be thriving without any interference from me. Jim and Sharon Trevor have done a magnificent job of refurbishing the pub. Although some of the traditionalists amongst you may not like the modern, light and stylish interior I believe it’s one of the best refurbs I’ve seen for a long time. There were three ales on offer on my last visit, two of which were from new local brewery Castor Ales. Food features predominately in the pub, that is not surprising as the couple run Jim’s Bistro in Broadway as well. We wish them well with the pub and look forward to making it a regular port of call.

The Grapevine in Queen St reopened just before the Peterborough Beer Festival after a period of closure. The pub closed in February after the landlord said the ever-present building site outside was affecting the business. Charles Wells brewery have now signed up Jan and Pete Dagley to run the pub for them and the couple are looking forward to the good times ahead.

There is a range of ales on offer, which we have to assume, are from the Chas Wells stable but as I’ve not managed to visit the pub yet I can’t comment. Now the building work outside is reaching completion the drinkers will soon be able to enjoy their drinks without the uninterrupted view of a builder’s cleavage.

The Crown to town pub-crawl will soon have its starting line reinstated in folk history. Local firm Baxter & King have now purchased the pub and are currently kicking several shades of solids out of the fabric of the place. The previous pub to get the treatment was the Ostrich so we know they'll make a good job of it. The landlord will be local man Brian Gascoyne who knows the area better than anyone. Brian has run many pubs in the city over the years and we know he’ll

make a success of this one. We await the grand opening with much anticipation.

Wetherspoon’s may be on the prowl again, this time in March. The Hippodrome bingo hall is now within their sights and they may be making a bid for the building soon. Watch this space.

While we’re in March.... The Cock appears to be having some work done on the outside. Looks like new windows and a bit of TLC. Although we’re not sure whether it’s open or not it hopefully will be by the time you read this. Bar 23, Men of March and now Little London. Just a few names that the pub on the Dartford Rd has been known by. Now refurbished and thriving, judging by the drinkers sunning themselves a while back. The sign outside says real ales but I’ve yet to try them. I will get our March Pub Spy to have a ‘look see’.

Shoulder of Mutton - Weldon

The Shoulder of Mutton in Chapel Road, Weldon has joined our LocAle Scheme.

New owner Steve Cook now stocks at least one beer from a local brewery and sees it as part of his plan to revitalise the local economy and give customers a greater choice. The Shoulder of Mutton has already discovered a big demand for real ale and has a choice of three but this will double to six very soon. Pub goers at the Shoulder clearly like the new free house status that is giving them a varied range of beers to enjoy. Food should be available as well by now.

Even though the pub has only been open for about a month following the closure by Continued Overleaf

www.real-ale.org.uk

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10 | Please support our advertisers

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Tel 01733 811953 www.real-ale.org.uk

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Pub News continued | 11

Enterprise Inns last year it’s making a big impression on the village. It just goes to show what can be done when a pub isn’t run by a pub group and a person with individual flair gets to do his own thing. If only we could repeat this recipe countrywide!

I’m sure I’ve mentioned the Addison Arms in Glatton before but just in case I haven’t I’ll do it now. The pub is a free house and now has three ales on including a house beer by Digfield called Addison Ale (what else). There is a full menu, a quiz on Sundays and fab beer garden with a play area. As I keep hearing good things about the place I thought I should give them a mention.

Feel free to visit and report back especially about the play area as I haven’t had a go on the swings for ages.

Meanwhile in Stamford, the Bull and Swan should reopen before Christmas after a complete refit. It will be run by the Hillbrooke hotel chain, who will also run the Lady Anne’s Hotel just up the road. The Bull and Swan will have 7 themed guest rooms, and the Lady Anne’s rooms are being reduced by 4 and will all be themed as a boutique hotel. They will be run as separate businesses and the Lady Anne’s will not open until next year.

It’s a charity thing The Cherry Tree is a cornerstone of the community when it comes to raising money for good causes and Ann & Jess have raised countless thousands for all sorts of charities over the years. I’m sure Ann will tell me exactly what the total is if I talked to her nicely. The pub was chosen a while back as the venue for a music event to raise money for MIND, the mental health charity in memory of well-liked and popular regular Mick Lambert. The music continued throughout the night, the beer flowed and a pile of cash was raised. To say there was standing room only would be a bit of an understatement but that just made it all the more friendly! A superb job done.

Raising money by cycling to and from pubs always sounds like a good idea to me but to

choose the highest and lowest pubs as your start and finish points with 188 miles in between is probably pushing it. A trio of traffic officers (not sure what the collective noun is for traffic officers - clean answers on a postcard please) decided that the Admiral Wells in Holme at 9ft below sea level would be a suitable finishing line for their escapade. The starting point was the Tan Hill Inn, located amongst the clouds somewhere in the Yorkshire Dales, whose altitude of 1,732 ft is guaranteed to make even the hardiest of cyclists go light headed. Having started the ride on Saturday morning, they arrived safely at Holme at 2pm on Sunday, just in time for a wellearned rest and no doubt huge quantities of beer. All the money raised will go towards supporting the Hospital at Home Scheme.

There are some pubs that just can’t do enough for charity and the Boat in Whittlesey (Elgood’s beers straight from the cask as if you needed tellin’) seems to have something going on all the time. Their last little soirée was in aid of Sue Ryder when the pub was busy inside and out with music provided by Kick Back, Just John, Maddie Corney, Outa-Stock and Minnie Birch who all played free of charge. Phil the landlord would like to pass on his personal thanks to all who attended and to the musicians who did a brilliant job.

Ploughman - Werrington Centre

I’m not sure what the record amount raised by a single pub on a single weekend is but the Ploughman in Werrington Centre must be up there in lights somewhere. Andy and Stuart Simmonds decided that raising money towards Continued Overleaf

www.real-ale.org.uk

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12 | Please support our advertisers

Blue Boar

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~ Eye ~

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Pub News continued | 13

the care of their long time friend James Linford just had to be done following complications during surgery. Not content with just having a beer festival (and it was absolutely superb!) but they also held auctions, raffles and a host of other ancillary activities just to raise that bit extra. Andy said he was overwhelmed by the generosity of the regulars and local businesses that had donated heaps of goodies in support.

After the dust had cleared, the bands had gone home, the ales had been supped, and the washing up done and the money counted it looked like the weekend was a success. I think both Andy and Stuart were a little taken aback when the sum raised amounted to £3,100!

Just having a good time Well if this isn’t what visiting pubs is all about I don't know what is. I’d like to reserve a short bit of space in Pub News just to highlight a few pubs that have been making sure their customers have just that. So in no particular order here we go.

The Northfields in Drift Road, Stamford held their fifth annual beer festival over the weekend or 20th August. It was good to see this old-fashioned 1930’s estate boozer, where there always seems to be something of interest going on packed with drinkers both inside and out on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

From Peking to Peakirk, ruddy hell it was a duck fest. The Ruddy Duck in Peakirk is known for its nice food, nice beer and nice atmosphere but it is less known for its Duck Fest. This annual gathering of people from across the area grows year on year and this year; despite the onslaught of a monsoon it was better than ever. A beer festival was provided in the shed out back and a gazebo was provided to keep the band dry.

My main reason for visiting, apart from the yummy beers was to watch the Houndogs, a rock & roll/rockabilly trio who reintroduced me to the 1950’s without the inconvenience of rationing. Not content with playing some of the best R&R ever, they managed to play Tainted Love by Soft Cell as a rockabilly number. It shouldn’t have worked but it did. Cheers lads.

Mary and David Whittington have been running the Admiral Wells in Holme for a decade now and to celebrate they put on a day of fun at the pub. Apart from the range of excellent beers on at the pub they put on a hog roast and live music by Funkify.

Did you local pub hold an event? Did you have a good time? Tell us about it. It’s a bit like a free advert for them.

Pubs not opening The fate of the Crown in Glinton has now been sealed and will be converted to a nursery if planning permission is granted. The site had been set for demolition and the building of a small housing development but permission was hard to come by. Whatever it becomes its days as a pub ended years ago.

Old Scarlett’s pub in Sycamore Avenue in Dogsthorpe has now been converted into an Asian restaurant. Although the pub only opened about 50 years ago to serve the new estate it had suffered for many years being run by a series of temporary managers. This brought with it a less than desirable clientele on occasions.

No doubt some of the local residents will be glad of its demise.

The news that the Triangle in New England is being converted to a supermarket will not surprise anyone, especially anyone who lives in the area. The pub has had a chequered past to say the least and the place has been plagued with troubles for many years. It’s a shame to see any pub close but in this case I will only shed tears for the name and its associated historical significance. It was only a short time ago, that the Greyhound that had stood opposite, finally closed its doors to drinkers of beer and became a cafe for drinkers of tea, and it then became a supermarket.

Keep the pub news coming.

Cheers for now Steve Williams - Pubs Officer www.real-ale.org.uk

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14 | Please support our advertisers

The Bluebell Inn 10 Woodgate, Helpston Peterborough, PE6 7ED 01733252394

Helpston. Offering a warm welcome and a typical English A pub atmosphere. The antidote to uncluttered “cool�. traditional country Inn set in the beautiful village of

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Beer Festival Report | 15

All Change at the Beer Fest ?

W

here were many changes to the Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival this year and, as is always the case with change, some visitors loved them and some hated them.

Most liked the idea of being under cover once past the pay gates but we did have problems of Friday evening with the members’ gate. In the past the members’ gate was clearly separated from the other gates. This year it wasn’t and so, although we did have two gates open for members, non-members were queuing at those gates and so the whole thing failed. Once we controlled the queues then all was well again and it should be easy to control in future.

Some liked the idea of having all of the beers together but others complained that it was a long way from the music marquee to the A-E breweries and cider.

The music marquee was a much better shape – wider, shorter and higher – it was easier to see the band and made for better sound and lighting quality but having an entrance at one end only made for a dead space at the far end. Some complained of the jam at the entrance to the marquee but that is nothing new. I walk the whole of the marquees regularly and it has always been easier to go outside to get from music to beer marquees.

A few complained about the increased entry prices, even though they were exactly the same as last year – just that we charged for a fully refundable glass at the entry gates. One complained that he came back every day with the glass he bought on Tuesday and was annoyed that he had to pay for another glass and then get a refund. He must be in the minority as we had very few glass tokens refunded. We think most people buy a glass on their first visit and then keep it and refund

glasses on future visits.

I am pleased to say that we had no complaints about beer quality or temperature and a few suggestions for new items that we could sell in our soft drinks bar. So, given that we expected some moans from people about the new layout, why didn’t we just leave things as they were?

The main reason is that the old layout was great when we were subjected to hot dry sunny autumns but since the first serious rain in 2004 we have had to fight a continuous battle to build the festival and keep the Embankment safe for our customers. Roadways and walkways have helped but we have always been in the position where it was necessary to drive heavy vehicles over public areas. The change this year meant that we were able to avoid that problem. The several heavy bursts of rain during build were something that we could cope with, though it was much pleasanter walking in the public areas than in the muddy staff areas.

But then thirty-eight hours of continuous rain after we had opened turned the Embankment into a slippery thin mud layer. Had we still been using vehicles in the public areas, it is doubtful if we could have kept the festival open to the end.

We will look again at the layout but there are only so many options and I would suggest that having a mud-bath for our customers to use is not one of them.

Harry

Some Beer Festival Numbers Customers: 31,567 Beer consumed: 95,412 pints Bottled beer: 9392 bottles Cider: 12,680 pints Wine: 7816 glasses Glasses: 16,376 taken home Volunteers: 422

www.real-ale.org.uk

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16 | Peterborough Beer Festival Photos Many Thanks to Susan Brammer; Harry Morten, Carlie-Ann Hare and Marcus Sims for these great photos.

www.real-ale.org.uk

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Keep it in the Family Long-term CAMRA member, Paul Berrisford, was one of the founders of the Peterborough Beer Festival back in 1978, and is the only person to have worked at every festival since. He had a special reason to celebrate in 1992, when his wife Michelle gave birth to their second son, Peter.

Paul’s brother-in-law, Fred, planned a holiday to see the new baby, only to find that when he arrived from his home in Germany, Peter had yet to be born,being two weeks overdue. But he duly made his appearance on the Tuesday afternoon of the beer festival, allowing Paul and Fred to “wet the baby’s head” that evening, by sampling a range of German and Belgian beers from the bottled beer bar.

This year Peter was able to celebrate becoming eighteen by visiting the beer festival for the first time on the Wednesday night. The photograph shows Peter with his first pint of real ale at the festival, locally brewed Ufford Ales’ Golden Drop.

Peter commented, “The start of a decent drinking career. Long live real ale!”

His Dad was proud. www.real-ale.org.uk

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18 | Campaigning

Peterborough CAMRA Beer Festival 2010 Champion Beers OVERALL CHAMPION

Green Jack - Summer Dream GOLD Raw - Dark Peak SILVER Hopshackle - Resination BRONZE

Bitter (< 4%abv)

Grafters - Moonlight Castle Rock - Harvest Pale Tintagel - Castle Gold

GOLD SILVER SILVER

Whim - Kaskade Fyne Ales - Hurricane Jack Oakham Ales - Musashi

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Best Bitter (4%abv to 4.5%abv)

Strong Bitter/Ale (4.6%abv to 6.4%abv)

Tydd Steam - Amnesiac GOLD Newby Wyke - 2nd Refit SILVER Thornbridge - Colorado Red BRONZE

Light and Dark Mild (< 4.3%abv)

Julian Church - Monk Bee on Mild GOLD Elgoods - Black Dog SILVER Son of Sid - Muckcart Mild BRONZE

Speciality Beer

Green Jack - Summer Dream GOLD Whim - Snow White SILVER Salopian - Lemon Dream BRONZE

Stout & Porter

Boggart Hole Clough - Rum Porter Digfield - Mad Monk Brown Cow -

GOLD SILVER

Mrs Simpsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thriller in Vanilla BRONZE

Barley Wine and Strong Old Ales

Hopshackle - Resination Grainstore - Nip Green Jack - Ripper

GOLD GOLD BRONZE

Raw - Dark Peak Raw - Grey Ghost Toad - Golden Angel

GOLD SILVER BRONZE

Best Beer from a New Brewery

www.real-ale.org.uk

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Please support our advertisers | 19

The Prince of Wales Feathers

Castor, Peterborough Tel: 01733 380222

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

© Mick Slaughter 2009

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

Award winning village local in historic Castor.

Close to the Nene Valley Railway & Ferry Meadows.

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

Home cooked food every lunchtime and NOW available midweek evenings too!!

CHRISTMAS MENU NOW AVAILABLE.

BREWERY TAP OF CASTOR ALES details at: www.princeofwalesfeathers.co.uk

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

A superior charming Country Inn

5 rotating cask ales and 2 regular

Traditional Town Centre Pub with a Warm Welcome!

Full Chef’s Menu 7 Days a week served between 12-2pm & 5.30pm - 9pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12-9pm

5 REAL ALES + CIDER

Sunday Roast 12-2.30pm from £7.95 for 2 courses

Beer Garden with Smoking Area Childrens Play Area

Including Wherry, Bombardier, Abbot, London Pride and an ever-changing guest beer Pub games including Crib, Dominoes and Darts

12 rooms with en-suite accommodation available Full English Breakfast included Main Street, Dyke, Nr Bourne PE10 0AF

Tel: 01778 422970

Good sized Car Park Heated smoking shelter www.real-ale.org.uk

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BAE Gones| 21

BAE Gones 25 Years Ago

A family feud within the Bateman family meant that the brewery was likely to be sold to one of the Nationals. Midsummer Inns and Greene King were both thought to be interested and this left George Bateman trying to find £10million to prevent the sale.

Another successful beer festival saw 11,800 pints being sold but without the presence of Elgood’s who had been barred from appearing due to their use of false hand pumps in some of their pubs. Ruddles County reached a pound a pint in the Still.

20 Years Ago

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

Greenall Whitley decided to pull out of brewing saying that they could buy beer from Allied cheaper than they could produce it. This meant the closure of breweries in Warrington and Nottingham with the resultant job losses and the eventual loss of Greenall, Davenport and Shipstone brands. The thirteenth Peterborough Beer Festival was a success as the first one under canvas having been forced to move out of the Wirrina just ten days previously. All records were broken and we became the third biggest beer festival in the country.

15 Years Ago

The Beer Festival spent its first year in the solid aluminium frame tents that we use today. The fest was opened by Bishop Bill Westwood who said of Bishops Farewell, “A lot of Bishops have had beer called after them in the days when it was all froth. This is real beer and to have a real beer named after you, that’s distinction”.

All day Sunday hours came in, with little publicity and little public awareness. Licensees indicated that they would experiment for a few weeks to assess public demand.

10 Years Ago

The Bridge (Royal Oak, Port Out Starboard Home) closed its doors, having been purchased by the City Council to make way for the South Bank project.

A meeting was held for interested parties, the City Council Planners and Hawksworth Developers concerning the proposed North Westgate redevelopment that could spell the end for The Brewery Tap. We reported that it could face the bulldozers in as little as 12 months time - less than 3 years after it opened.

www.real-ale.org.uk

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22 | Please support our advertisers

www.real-ale.org.uk

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Music Listings| 23

Rhythm and Booze Dragon - Werrington

Oct 1st The Guards Oct 9th Wrecklass Knecklass Oct 16th The Nuggetts Oct 22nd The Returns Oct 29th Soul And Motown Disco Oct 30th Halloween Party With Porky Pig

Shakedown Blues - Village Hall, Castor

Saturday 9th October 2010 Little Willie Littlefield - Legendary Texas piano player reminiscing about his years in California, 1949-1958, when together with Amos Milburn, Charles Brown, Floyd Dixon and The Liggins Brothers carved out a new way of playing the blues whilst recording bucket loads of hit records.

Tickets £15 in advance/£16.00 PayPal/£17.00 on the door - 7:30pm - Licensed Bar Saturday 13th November 2010 Doug MacLeod - Brilliant singer, song writer, guitarist and raconteur from L.A. Tickets £15 in advance/£16.00 PayPal/£17.00 on the door 7:30pm - Licensed Bar

Prince of Wales - Castor

Oct 2nd Live music with 24 9pm Oct 9th Live music with The Influence 9pm Oct 16th Live music with Children of the Revolution 9pm Oct 22nd Race Night 8pm Oct 23th Live music with Crayfish Rocket 9pm Oct 30th Halloween inc Live music with The Overdubs 9pm Nov 6th Live music with Porky Pig 9pm Free Nov 13th Live music with Daffy & The Alien 9pm Nov 20th Live music with The Mallingerers 9pm Dec 17th Live music with Children of the Revolution 9pm

The Ploughman - Werrington

Oct 2nd Irioium Oct 9th Shane Poole Oct 16th The Mighty Quinn

Oct 23rd Park Lane Oct 30th Halloween Party Weekend (The Highway Somewhere) Sun 31st Halloween Party Weekend (James Psychic Card Reader) Mighty Mouth Karaoke Nov 12th Daffy And The Alien Nov 20th Les Woods Band Nov 26th Electric Warriors Nov 27th TBC Charity Fundraiser

Radius Club, Solstice - P’boro Centre

15th October - Major Fund Raising Event for YPEC for the youth of the city. 8pm - late One Eyed Cats, Blues Mike (solo), Intwined, Mike DeHat, Leon, Moony / Pre Opaique and more local bands to be confirmed. ‘A big thanks to all that are supporting this fund raise to help other people’. £5 on the door (parties of 4 or more £4 per person).

12th November - R and B/ techno, dance and rap night - Rafroman (RandB), Aquasonic (Tecno/ Dance), The Message, Amy Woods (www.amywoods.co.uk), Xidus Pane, Aaron ‘Menace’ Carling plus DJ Surefya Please send any details for December / January events to dan@tamoko-design.co.uk before 15th November.

Daniel Speed

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24 | Please support our advertisers

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:

Summer at The

GOLDEN

Pheasant

fro m

Now with FOUR real ales!

(Batemans XB + 3 Guests)

Ju Pe On st o l ter y ff t bo six he rou m A1 gh iles 5 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

Pub and 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 www.real-ale.org.uk

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Please support our advertisers | 25

A selection of our Award winning Norfolk ales

Delivered every week in your area The Wolf Brewery

Rookery Farm, Silver Street Besthorpe, Attleborough Norfolk, NR17 2LD Telephone: 01953 457775 E-mail: info@wolfbrewery.com

For further information, call our Sales Manager John on 07786 934270 or Customer Services at the brewery www.wolfbrewery.com

Winner of the Good Pub Guide 2009 ‘Own Brew Pub of the Year’ Award

Authentic Thai Cuisine

80 Westgate, Peterborough PE1 2AA

Tel: 01733 358500 Email: brewerytap.manager@oakagroup.com Web:

www.oakhamales.com

www.real-ale.org.uk

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26 | Please support our advertisers

www.real-ale.org.uk

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Please support our advertisers | 27

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)

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

Lunchtime food 12.00 - 2.30pm Monday, Friday, Saturday sandwiches available Tuesday to Thursday

Give your branding a unique look through our illustrative design service.

If you require competitively priced design and illustration for: Posters | Leaflets | Flyers | Advertisement Artwork | Pump Clips | Bottle Labels Logos | Menus | Point Of Sale Displays | Business Cards | Signage Contact us for a free no obligation quote on:

www.tamoko-design.co.uk

01733 751286 www.real-ale.org.uk

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28 | Diary Dates

Diary Dates OCTOBER Mon 18th, 8.30pm Beer Festival Open Washup Meeting at the Drapers Arms, 29-31 Cowgate, PE1 1LZ. Come along and tell us what you think we got right and what we got wrong.

Tues 26th, 8.30pm Committee Meeting.

Cherry Tree, Oundle Road, PE2 9PB. NOVEMBER Sat 6th, Noon East Anglian Regional Meeting, Swan, Southwold

Tue 23rd, 8.30pm Committee Meeting, Brewery Tap, PE1 2AA DECEMBER Tue 7th, 8.30pm Branch AGM, Brewery Tap, PE1 2AA Sat 18th Peterborough CAMRA Christmas Party at the Rugby Club. Tickets £6 to include a free pint, buffet and music by “Taking Care of Business”. Note that as the venue is of limited size, tickets will be offered first to Beer Festival volunteers, BAE deliverers, etc.

Selected Beer Festivals (CAMRA events are shown in bold) SEPTEMBER Sun 26th Woolpack Charity Day & mini beer festival, North Street, Stanground, PE2 8HR Thu 30th - Sat 2nd Elgood’s Beer Festival, North Brink Brewery, Wisbech, PE13 1LN 120+ beers mostly from East Anglian breweries. Live music every evening, food, gardens open during the day. Pre-booked entry is £3.50 including a festival glass and a pint of Elgood's beer.

OCTOBER Wed 27th - Sun 31st Jolly Brewer Halloween Beer Festival, 1 Foundry road, Stamford, PE9 2PP 15+ real ales and ciders. www.jollybrewer.com Thu 14th – Sun 17th Nottingham ‘Robin Hood’ Beer & Cider Festival, held in marquees in the grounds of Nottingham

Castle. Over 700 beers, plus large selection of traditional ciders & parries. Advance tickets available, www.beerfestival.nottinghamcamra.org for further details.

Fri 15th & Sat 16th The 4th Cambridge Octoberfest, University Social Club, Mill Lane, Cambridge, CB2 1RX. A fine selection of British & continental beers. www.cambridgebeerfestival.com for details.

NOVEMBER Tue 30th – Sat 4th Dec Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival, Round Chapel, Powerscroft Road, Hackney, E5 0PU. Over 100 beers & ciders; easy access by public transport. www.pigsear.org.uk for details.

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30 | 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 and Steve Whadcock 01778 421550 / 420888 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

The next issue of BAE will be available on: 24th November We must have your stories, news and advertisements by: 1st November 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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Awar d win Real ning

from

Ales ÂŁ2.0 0!

Your CAMRA Gold Award Winning local with FIVE Real Ales available! (Five hand Pumps) Sky Sports Free Pool on Mondays Happy Hour Mon - Fri, 5-7pm Live Entertainment (See Rythm and Booze section) Karaoke every Sunday with Mighty Mouth Trev Function room for hire at reasonable prices Join our Facebook group The Ploughman

THE PLOUGHMAN Staniland Way, Werrington centre PE4 6NA Tel: 01733 327696

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ree At Least Th

Real Ales!

More than just a Carvery! s Christmas Booking

g taken. now bein venue Try a new r for you ty! xmas par

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.

r Lovely Bee

Garden!!

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 seeing you!

200 Broadway, Yaxley Tel: 01733 244885 Email: thefarmers@btconnect.com www.thefarmersyaxley.co.uk