BAE 163

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:52 Page 1

EE FR

Beer Around ’Ere

pl

bae ea

se

ta

ke

on

e

Issue 163 | February - March 2012

Letter B, Whittlesey Pub of the Year 2012

Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA | www.peterborough-camra.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:52 Page 2

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:52 Page 3 Chairman’s Corner | 3

A

Chairman’s Corner

warm welcome from the first edition of BAE in 2012. I would particularly like to give a welcome to our new committee members who have volunteered to take on their respective roles as part of our team.

After many years of devoted and dedicated hard work as Branch Secretary, Harry Morten decided that he could not continue in that role due to him now residing most of the year in Spain. He has been replaced by our new secretary Dickie Bird who has shown a lot of enthusiasm in the short time since he took on the role.

Our other new committee member is Katie Barrett, who has taken on the position of the Branch Young Members Contact. Katie has replaced Alix Botton who due to work commitments found it difficult to put enough time as she wanted to devote to the job. I hope that you will all give the new members and indeed the rest of the committee all the support you can in the following year.

As I reported in the last issue of BAE the latest ‘inquiry’ into the way pub companies are exploiting their tenants and driving many out of business has once again failed miserably to address the problem. “The government have either taken the easy way out or, had the wool pulled over their eyes by the very people so criticised by the select committee. The response does nothing to address the fundamental point about the unfair share of turnover pubcos take from pubs, which makes it impossible for many tenants to make a living, even when their takings are at a decent level.” This was the response from Save the Pub Group chairman Greg Mulholland MP. It would seem that again our political masters have no interest in saving one of our countries heritage industries and traditions.

Meantime we have our own local battle to save one of our well supported community pubs.

As we headlined in our last issue the fight to save The Ploughman in Werrington continues.

The licensees Andy and Stuart Simmons are optimistic that taking on the mighty Tesco empire can have a positive result. Go along to the pub, sign the petition or, visit the web site www.savetheploughman.com and register, and sign the online petition. Don’t let one of the largest organisations that are already responsible for decimating our pub stock crush this one under the bulldozer, and give them even more floor space to peddle cheap booze, resulting in yet more pub closures.

I was hoping to get around as many of our local pubs as possible during the festive season.

Unfortunately due to gallivanting across the planet (see last issue) and attempting to lug two heavy suitcases off the airport carousel, I developed a very bad case of sciatica. (If you don’t know what it is I won’t bore you except to say it’s very painful and you can’t walk about a lot.)

On the mend now!

David Murray - Branch Chairman.

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 £2.46 or £3.06 for 1st Class cheque/PO payable to “Peterborough CAMRA” and your address to:Daryl Ling, 19 Lidgate Close, Orton Longueville Peterborough PE2 7ZA Peterborough Branch Website |www.real-ale.org.uk

Photo by Chris Shilling

Tel: 01945 583160 Email: info@elgoods-brewery.co.uk www.elgoods-brewery.co.uk

A new range of seasonal beers to celebrate our Greyhound logo will be available at The Boat , Whittlesey The Blue Bell, Werrington, The Blue Bell Dogsthorpe and free houses throughout East Anglia.

Celebrate 2012 - The Diamond Jubilee and 217 years of Elgoods Brewing

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:52 Page 4

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:52 Page 5

Letter B, Peterborough CAMRA POTY 2012

Pub of the Year 2012| 5

www.elgoods-brewery.co.uk

Photo by Chris Shilling

F

ollowing the announcement of the award of the pub of the year to the Letter B, Branch Chairman David Murray asked me to pen a few words as to why I nominated the Letter B for the Hop award which qualified the pub as a finalist in the Pub of the Year competition.

It’s quite simple really. I believe that the Letter B is a fine example of a community pub that deserved recognition. When Bruce and Denise Roan took on the pub in November 2006, the previous incumbent told Bruce that he would never be able to sell real ale in the pub. Several hundred real ales later, the pub is a regular in the Good Beer Guide and now has the accolade of Peterborough & District CAMRA Pub of the Year!

This is due to the hard work and dedication put in by Bruce, Denise and their team. They have a simple philosophy which is to serve quality beer in convivial, traditional surroundings. The pub looks quite ordinary from the outside and is of a traditional two bar layout within. The public bar is long and traditional and the lounge is comfortable. The pub also has a small garden area.

So what makes this pub so special?

Firstly there is the beer, with a good selection of local and regional beers all served in fine fettle.

There is also a selection of up to six real ciders usually sourced from Westons. The pub does not do food normally but the buffets put on by Denise for special occasions are the stuff of legend. Next comes the banter (abuse) from Landlord Bruce. This is of the highest quality and is always delivered with an irascible smile. Bruce takes great pride in the rapport that he has with his locals. So who are these locals? Whilst I am not a local as such, the pub is always a pleasure to visit because of the friendliness of both staff

and regulars. These regulars also include the Gruftons, a curious collection of characters dedicated to finding the best beers and pubs throughout the land. They are normally dressed like the Dutch National Football Team but will soon be seen looking like Leprechauns on their travels. The Letter B is their Headquarters.

Finally, Bruce and Denise are tireless workers for local charities with several charities actively supported. I think that the HOP award was well deserved and I would like to congratulate all the team at the Letter B for their subsequent success as Pub of the Year.

They will be receiving their award on the 18th of February at 9pm.

John Hunt

• Lamb • Beef • Turkey • Baked potatoes • Barbecues • Freshly Made Salads • Locally Sourced Produce

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:52 Page 6

N

Pub News

ow the season for being jolly is over, our local pubs will now have to contend with the season of little trade and meagre takings. Make sure you do your bit by visiting a couple to ward off the winter blues (wasn’t that a song by Eddie Cochran in 1960?). Good news still abounds despite the sub Artic conditions and hard times (thought I’d quote Dickens, he is 200 years old this year you know).

Good news The Dog in a Doublet I’m pleased to say has

opened to an eager audience and now offer real ale, fine wines and some pretty amazing food. Definitely a destination pub but that shouldn’t stop you from calling in if you happen to be passing. The pub is open early and a number of local fishermen have caught on to the idea of a breakfast and a pint before returning to the riverbank to outdo each other with ‘no word of a lie, my breakfast was THIS big’. John McGinn the landlord has told me that they have had a fantastic response to the opening and past customers have been dropping in to say hi. Their function room has now been refurbished and is available for hire with several bookings already being taken. There will be a charity quiz on Monday evenings with complimentary snacks and big prizes so you know what to do with the early part of your week. John is also on the look out for teams such as darts, dominoes, petanque and bridge. If any team has been left homeless by a pub closing you know where to go, and considering the quality of the food I’m sure the post match nibbles will be of a suitably high quality. I quite liked the look of the Straw Bear Festival themed menu which was on offer in January.

Where else could you expect to enjoy Steak with Bear Naise Sauce or Black Faced Sword Fish Dancing with Bells on (peppered swordfish by any other name)? With good ale, fine wines, good food and a sense of humour it must be worth a visit. The pub has a website at www.doginad.co.uk or call the pub on 01733 202 256 The campaign to keep the Ploughman as a pub

www.real-ale.org.uk

and not a car park for the new Tesco continues apace. The petition to keep the place open now has over a thousand signatures and visitors to the website www.savetheploughman.com has now reached 1,300 which is mighty encouraging. We would like to thank MP Stewart Jackson for his support over the last several months without whose help the campaign would have had less impact. As a result of all this support and the help which local councillor John Fox has provided, not forgetting the many hundreds of ordinary local people, Tesco would now like to have a meeting with landlord Andy Simmonds. Quite what the meeting will reveal is anyone’s guess but direct dialogue is a move in the right direction. In the meantime sign the petition.

The Millstone in Barnack now has Phillipa and Scott behind the bar and we welcome them. Food is on offer as would be expected and a fine array of Everard’s beers awaits the discerning drinker. Fish suppers are available on Fridays and Wednesday is steak night with possible special offers for early diners.

Club Roundup

Over the years we’ve not only lost pubs but also social clubs. Gone are the days when large employers gave space for clubs where workers could while away a few hours after the day’s toils and sup a pint or two. So, what have we lost? Does anyone remember the Hospital Club? Now long gone and replaced with parking spaces like so many others. The Hotpoint Club was one of the finest in the city but now deceased, just like the Gas Club in Padholme Rd, Perkins Engines’ Club, Ex Servicemen’ s Club which later became the Solstice and Baker Perkins Club in Alma Rd in Millfield. So what do we have left? Well, we still have the Phone Inn which was set up for BT types in Westwood, the Peterborough Sports and Leisure near the Triangle as well as the New England Club & Institute nearby. In this issue I’ll mention three clubs that are doing well despite difficult trading times. The first is the newly reopened

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:52 Page 7 Pub News | 7

Burghley Club in Burghley Rd. This is one place I

thought would never open again but open it did and I’m glad to say they’ve even allowed a ne’re-do-well such as myself to become a member. The place has been nicely refurbished and is now bright, breezy and welcoming. The bar has a good range of ales on offer including the much respected Hopshackle beers from Market Deeping. As many will know Hopshackle ales, for some unfathomable reason have difficulty making it south of the border. Quite how they get here is anyone’s guess. The other handpumps can have virtually anything that they fancy being completely free of tie. The choice since opening has been superb with beer quality second to none.

You also won’t find anything from a big brewer or beers that might be termed run of the mill, with most if not all coming from small independent breweries. This is a Greene King free zone! You'll also find a real cider and a few choice bottled beers. I was particularly impressed by their use of magnets to keep me standing at the bar for hours on end which is the excuse I’ve been giving to Mrs Pubs Officer for some months now. Membership is available and the club has just begun providing quality food. Have a look at their website at www.theburghleyclub.com or give them a ring on 01733 896989

The Conservative Club is a long standing institution in Peterborough and I like to mention the place just occasionally, so here I go again. There are always four handpumps in use and at least two of those will be offering something priced under £2.00. They’re also known for their beer festivals which occur around Easter and sometime in the autumn which I’ve been known to frequent as a matter of course.

This year however they’ll be holding four festivals which shows their commitment to fine ales is very high. The club has a certain respectability about the place which I find perfectly suited to my temperament while I imbibe some of Peterborough’s best quality ales. The club is also home to an abundance of snooker tables which are in more or less constant use at busy times. Add to all this the absolutely superb food (cooked to order might I add) and we have a club that’s at the top of its game. As with all clubs, admittance is as a member or as a guest of a member. A dress code operates during the evening with smart casual permitted during the day.

The Flyer’s Club in Priestgate is another of the city's institutions and is a welcome diversion when suffering from ‘shoppers ankle’ or ‘retail jaundice’ as it's just a credit card’s throw from city shops. The club was started in 1939 by members of the RAF Association and was named The Flying Services Club. Originally it was just for service personnel but times change and the club is now open to anyone who wishes to become a member. Membership will cost you £20 a year. There are three real ales on offer and food is available. Contact the club on 01733 562688. To find the club just look for an enclave off Priestgate. Have a look at their website at www.theflyersclub.co.uk Any other clubs out there who would like a freebie mention? You know how to find me.

Scotch Egg Country

I might have mentioned the Coalheaver’s Arms and the availability of scotch eggs in the last issue. On a recent visit I noticed that new types of egg continue to be brought forth from the mysterious kitchen upstairs. The latest offering seems to be Pesto and Springbok! I couldn’t even guess at future creations but perhaps we could start a contest. Suggest a flavour and we’ll see how close you get.

It’s a charity thing

Just a quick mention of the Dragon on the ‘Ear of Werrington' and its charity fundraising. Not only did they manage to generate over a grand for the Royal British Legion recently but they also managed to get me to walk across burning hot coals for the Lee Groome Fund back in November. Persuasive guys these! Although I’m not too sure how I got roped into all this I did enjoy the experience, sort of.

Not wishing to do this singe defying feat (or is that feet) alone, the guys from the Dragon were good enough to round up a good thirty similar stiffs to keep me company. Before we embarked upon this stroll through Dante’s back garden we were put through an hour’s pep talk to make sure we were psychologically suitable for the task ahead. Although the instructions were that we should refrain from drinking anything stronger than a Coke most of my fellow firewalkers had already taken onboard enough Continued Overleaf

www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 8 8 | Please support our advertisers

The

Blue Bell

at Maxey Traditional Free House

• CAMRA Gold Award Winners 2005 • CAMRA Pub of the Year 2006 • Cambs Pub of the Year 2007 •

Now with NINE Real Ales including Fullers ESB and London Pride, at least one Oakham Ale and SIX ever-changing quality guest ales Club & special event buffets on request Real fires in winter, always a friendly welcome!

High Street, Maxey, Peterborough PE6 9EE Tel: 01778 348182

Tel: 01778 560238 Barholm, Stamford Lincs PE9 4RA A Traditional Ale House with an open fire

Six Real Ales with four on rotation 3 Ciders • 2 Lagers Fine Wine & Spirits large beer garden • Pool room Opening Times

open from 4pm week days 1pm saturday and 12pm sundays

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 9 Pub News continued| 9

real ale to quench the fiercest of conflagrations.

Suitably psyched up we strolled to the appointed place in front of the pub and flexed our pinkies in anticipation. As we lined up to take our steps into oblivion nobody seemed the least bit perturbed by it all, although this maybe something to do with the numbing effect of the guest ales on offer. Was I the only one who was anticipating a bit of a laundry problem downstairs that evening? Who knows but we strode out confident and invincible. Before too many seconds the walk had been completed and a man with a hose pipe was on hand to dampen our soles. All good fun as they say but we all went around for a second go like bloody fools. Anyway, a superb night was had by all and live music was provided by Easyersaid, a young combo of some skill and talent.

It was nice to meet Pep Cipriano and his camera who took masses of pictures for ESP Magazine but mine mysteriously didn’t appear in the magazine. I can’t blame him really as I’m not the most photogenic of subjects available, especially when my grimacing may have given clues of an earlier unfortunate downstairs incident!

Steve Williams Pubs Officer

Letter to the Editor

On behalf of the regulars and locals The George Inn, High Street March, we would like to say a big thank you to Marion and Stephen Smith for all they did during the short time they were running the pub. The George had a happy, relaxed atmosphere, the whole place had a smile on it's face and we all had a great time. What happened in October is very sad, not only for them, but also for the pub itself.

We would also like to pay tribute to Debbie and Jim at the Coachmakers Arms for making us welcome during our exile from The George. We hope it's not too long before Marion and Steve are back where they should be ... running a pub. We also hope that The George returns to it's traditional name and can, once again, be a place we would feel able to frequent.

Shelly Pardoe

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 10

Local Brewery Update 10 | Brewery News

Blue Bell Brewery Blue Bell have had a quiet year with no new beers developed. The point of sale material has been given a complete facelift and is now very eye catching and effective. The main development has been bottle-conditioning of beer with Old Honesty now getting a listing with Lincolnshire Co-Operative. Frightened Pheasant and Old Comfort have just had experimental batches brewed to gauge their suitability for bottling. If successful, Emma is hopeful that these too will get a listing with Lincolnshire Co-Operative. The other area where sales have been slowly expanded is sales to private individuals for parties, weddings etc.

The brewery is currently selling to about a dozen outlets and this figure has been steady for most of the year. There are currently no plans to brew any new beers.

Tydd Steam Brewery Tydd Steam has gone from strength to strength since the new 15 barrel plant came on stream at the end of 2010. Last year saw the installation of a new cask washing plant. Demand is such that Will is already thinking of installing greater fermenting capacity.

New beers last year were Stargazer, Quench with added ginger, Sandman originally brewed for Peterborough Beer Festival and the latest beer, Dr Fox’s Cunning Linctus. This is a 4.4% ABV Deep Golden brew with Citra as the main hop. It is just entering the trade at the moment.

The winter seasonal Leveller saw it’s gravity reduced from 4.7% to 4.5% and the Christmas beer Yooligan which is based on Leveller has also seen the same reduction in strength to 4.5% from 4.7%. The brewery is running almost to full capacity and currently supplies 50 - 60 outlets.

There are no new beers planned at the moment.

Oakham Ales Report.

2011 was an excellent trading year for Oakham Ales. Like for like sales were up some 34% from 2010 with over 13,000 brewers barrels being sold. www.real-ale.org.uk

J.H.B. still accounts for 40% of this with Bishops Farewell next with some 20% of sales.

The only down side to the year was the Barton Arms pub in Birmingham which is owned by the brewery was caught up in the August riots. Some irreplaceable stained glass windows were ruined & a bar top was damaged but the ornate internal fittings & décor were saved by staff putting the fire out themselves. Thankfully no one inside was injured in the attack.

White Dwarf as previously reported is no more (surely room on the small plant as an occasional brew chaps), replaced permanently by Scarlet Macaw. For the year ahead there are some changes & welcome additions to be mentioned.

Some changes of note will happen in The Oakadamy of Excellence scheme with some beers being brewed by “guest” brewers. The Jan /Feb beer will be brewed by Crouch Vale Brewery, Apr/ May by Green Jack, Jul/Aug by York & Oct / Nov by Meantime. All advertising material will show the relevant brewers. The reason for the change is simply to try something different that may create a bit of interest. And why not! The beers for the other months will be brewed in house.

It also looks like the new (sic) pub venture near The Oval cricket ground in London will be up & running by the spring. It promises to have similarities to the Brewery Tap with lots of iron work features, a range of in house & guest beers & Thai food. The pub is to be called Oaka at The Mansion House!

Lots of investment is happening with the brewery plant at Maxwell Road which should also be up & running by the spring, so the brewery has requested a visit by the local branch of CAMRA during the summer. As soon as the date is fixed it will be advertised in future copies of BAE. For details of the breweries’ full range of beers visit www.oakhamales.com.

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 11 Campaigning | 11

I

Community Pubs Month- April 2012 – ‘Celebrating the Great British Pub’

n April 2012, CAMRA is to launch a new national pub campaign in a bid to get more people than ever involved in championing the importance of the community pub.

Members’ Weekend & AGM in Torquay – activity will commence with regional and national press stories circulated by CAMRA to highlight the aims of the campaign and relay the major issues facing pubs.

Community Pubs Month is a new initiative similar to past CAMRA national pub campaigns in recent years such as Local Pubs Week.

The main aims of the Month are to increase footfall in pubs, to encourage more publicans to organise and promote events to attract further trade, and spread awareness of community pubs throughout the media. It is hoped the decision to extend celebrations to a month of activity – moving on from Local Pubs Week - will allow CAMRA branches greater flexibility to organise their own events, but at the same time have a set period in which to co-ordinate activity.

It is hoped around a half of all CAMRA branches will be organising a wide range of events to promote their local pubs during the Month, and will be working in the lead-up to April to ensure this first year for the campaign is a big success.

Kicking off proceedings on Monday April 2nd with Community Pubs Day – the day after CAMRA’s

As well as CAMRA branches ordering promotional material to maximise the exposure for this new campaign in pubs across Britain, pub licensees can also order packs direct from CAMRA. Available from early 2012, Community Pubs Month packs will include campaigning posters, beer mats, leaflets and pump clip crowners. Pubs interested in acquiring material for Community Pubs Month can find out more by visiting www.camra.org.uk.

132 Great Whyte, Ramsey PE26 1HS

Keith and Jenny offer a warm welcome to all old and new customers.

Serving a selection of Real Ales: Abbot Ale, Lancaster Bomber, Woodfordes Wherry and one ever-changing guest ale.

Open All Day Every Day! (12 Noon – 11pm ) Live Music • Free WiFi • Large Beer Garden

01487 812597 www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 12 12 | Please support our advertisers

Established in 1796 as one of the ORIGINAL Stamford Ale Houses with a large beer garden, providing accommodation with free WI-FI.

Serving eight real ales and six real ciders.

We also host two annual beer festivals in April and September.

Live Music events please call for more information 29 Scotgate, Stamford

Tel: 01780 753 598

Lincolnshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2009 Peterborough & District CAMRA Pub of the Year 2009

NOW SERVING SIX REAL ALES plus Ciders and Perries.

Over 30 Malt Whiskies

• Food served daily • 12-3pm Monday - Sunday 6-9pm Friday & Saturday • Sky HD and 3D showing Football and Rugby •

t. 01780 755141 w. jollybrewer.com www.real-ale.org.uk

Foundry Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2PP

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 13

Update

LocAle | 13

Its nearly 3 years since we started the LocAle scheme here in Peterborough and District and to date over 120 Pubs and Clubs have joined! Below is the full list.

Addison Arms, Glatton Admiral Wells, Holme Angel, Oundle Angel Inn, Wisbech Baskervilles Hotel, Baston Beehive, Peterborough Bell, Murrow Bell Inn, Stilton Black Hart, Thorney Toll Black Horse, Elton Black Horse, Nassington Black Swan, Farcet Blue Bell, Helpston Blue Bell, Maxey Blue Bell, Peterborough Blue Bell, Peterborough Blue Boar, Eye Boat, Whittlesey, Cambs Brewery Tap, Peterborough Bricklayers Arms, Whittlesey Bull & Swan, Stamford Burghley Club, Peterborough Charters, Peterborough Chequered Skipper, Ashton Chequers, Friday Bridge Chequers Inn, Tholomas Drove Cherry Tree, Peterborough Childers Club, Whittlesey Cock Inn, March College Arms, Peterborough Conservative Club, Peterborough Cosy Club, Stamford Crown, Elton Crown & Mitre, Tydd St Giles Crown Hotel, Stamford Decoy Inn, Milking Nook Dolphin, Stamford Dragon, Peterborough Drapers Arms, Peterborough Duck & Drake, Yaxley Dun Cow, Christchurch Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Kings Cliffe

Exeter Arms, Easton On The Hill Falcon, Fotheringhay Falcon Hotel, Whittlesey Farmers Carvery & Grill, Yaxley Firkin Ale, Bourne Five Horseshoes, Barholm Flyers Club, Peterborough Fox, Folksworth George, Doddington George, Oundle George, Stamford George Hotel, Whittlesey George Inn, Ramsey Forty Foot Goat, Frognall Great Northern Hotel, Peterborough Green Man, Stamford Hand & Heart, Peterborough Hare & Hounds Hotel, Wisbech Hippodrome, March Hole In The Wall, Stamford Ivy Leaf Club, Whittlesey Jolly Brewer, Stamford Jubilee, Bourne Kings Arms, Polebrook Kings Head, Apethorpe Kings Head, Wadenhoe Lancaster Club, Yaxley Letter B, Whittlesey London Inn, Stamford Mama Liz's, Stamford Montagu Arms, Barnwell Nags Head, Eastrea Old Coach House, Market Deeping Olde Dun Cow, Cowbit Oliver Cromwell Hotel, March Ostrich, Peterborough Otter’s Pocket, Stamford Palmerston Arms, Peterborough Paper Mills, Wansford Periwig, Stamford

Plough, Farcet Fen Plough, Holbeach St Johns Ploughman, Peterborough Prince Of Wales Feathers, Castor Queens Head, Bulwick Queens Head, Nassington Quinn's Club, Whittlesey Red Lion, Gedney Hill Red Lion, March Red Lion, Wisbech Rising Sun Inn Rose, Peterborough Rose & Crown, March Rose & Crown, Thorney Royal Oak, Castor Rugby Club, Peterborough Ship Inn, March Ship Inn, Oundle Shoulder Of Mutton, Weldon Shuckburgh Arms, Southwick Shuckburgh Arms, Stoke Doyle Smith's Of Bourne, Bourne Stage, Market Deeping Stilton Country Club, Stilton Swan Inn, Parson Drove Swiss Cottage, Peterborough Talbot Hotel, Oundle Three Tuns, Wisbech Tobie Norris, Stamford Vine, Coates Vine Inn, Market Deeping Warmington Social Club, Warmington Waterton Arms, Deeping St James Wheatsheaf, Upper Benefield Wheel, Wisbech St Mary White Hart, Ufford White Lion Hotel, Wisbech White Swan, Woodnewton Windmill, Peterborough

www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 14

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 15

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 16

Coalies Movember mission to Stamford 16 | Coalheavers Crew on tour!

( O

n 31st October a dozen or so Coalheavers Arms regulars were ordered to shave for the last time for a month as the next day was the start of Movember when normally clean shaven blokes attempt to grow some facial hair to raise money for mens health charities, and to make it more interesting we were to have a pub crawl of Stamford to try and raise a bit of cash via our fining system. Our fining system is normally ÂŁ1 for things like being late for train, sleeping, drinking lager and spillage but as this was a fundraiser we raised the fine to ÂŁ2 and added a few more fines like telling bad jokes, quoting Monty Python, talking about Christmas and there was even a fine for going all day without being fined. Basically there was no escape for anyone.

www.real-ale.org.uk

The quality of the moustaches ranged from an almost muttonchop to something resembling Baldrick`s slug balancing act in Blackadder, but at least they tried, even our mascot Bomber had a moustache, and it was fair to say everyone was very relieved when November 30th arrived so they could shave.

First port of call in Stamford was the newly reopened London Inn. I’ve always liked the look of this pub from the outside but had never been in. But in we went and it was rather nice, a large pub on three levels. It is fairly food orientated but still had five beers on and the Sharps Doombar was pretty good, though, in my opinion, its quality has declined slightly since mass production started.

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 17 | 17

With thirsts quenched it was off to pub number two, The Jolly Brewer. This is a great little pub, we go there every year and always receive a warm welcome, whether its from the staff, the regulars or the roaring fire. It’s always boiling hot in there. Doombar is also always available here alongside one or two Oakhams and a couple of guests. The Ossett was superb.

From there it was a short walk round the corner to The Green Man. When we went there last year we were slightly disappointed with the range and quality but not this time. There were six beers on and between us we tried them all and they were all good. Unfortunately we had just missed the Jaipur but still enjoyed what we had.

(

The quality of the moustaches ranged from almost muttonchop to something resembling Baldrick`s slug balancing act in Blackadder,

)

Next pub was Mama Liz`s. This is one of my favourite pubs in Stamford, busy in the evenings but always quiet when we go, 2pm on a Saturday. Three beers were available from Brewdog, Oakham and Newby Wyke. Once again all were good. We usually stay for two here and also have something to eat. We also had a few of their spicy rum shots for £1 each. Very nice.

Onwards to The Lord Burghley. The Burghley usually has Fullers ESB and Taylors Landlord and one or two guests. I had a good pint of Ossett Excelsior. This pub is always busy on a Saturday afternoon and we like it because they always have rugby on the TV. The only downer of the day was that Leicester Tigers won the game we were watching.

We usually finish at The Kings Head but they had a private do on and it was packed so our last hostelry for the day was The Tobie Norris.

This has to be one of the best looking pubs for miles around. Very nice but a little expensive, maybe that’s why it was a bit quiet. Five beers were on including Adnams, a couple of guests and two from Ufford although the three members of our group who had the White Hart had to send it back. It looked great but tasted awful but they were changed without a fuss.

This was to be our last pub for the day and everyone knew we were to catch the 6 o clock train back yet two of our number, who will remain nameless (Darren and Chris) missed the train. Not to worry, another £4 in fines.

Once again a very good day in Stamford and we raised £96 in fines and together with money raised in the pub we amassed about £300.

We were all moaning a bit about the moustaches but will probably do the same again next Movember.

Dave Botton.

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 18 18 | Please support our advertisers

www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 19 Cider CiderTips Tips| | 19

Tips from a Cider Drinker

B

efore you jump to conclusions, I am not sporting a beard or sandals and whilst I support several charities I tend not to shop there, often.

I am just a simple CAMRA member supporting the community spirit that real pubs offer and one who enjoys real cider more than the brown stuff.

So what do I know about cider and perry? Very little compared to many of my CAMRA brothers and sisters. What I do know is that I like it. I also know that sometimes it tastes awful and finishing it can be challenging. I have, through trial and error, sussed out why it can go wrong and how to put it right.

I have suggested some simple tips to help you through the fear of getting it wrong. The bottom line is ‘it’s your taste buds and not the cider’.

Tips Do not judge a real cider just by the percentage.

Many people think cider is really strong. It is if you tend to drink gallons of it. Most cider and perry strengths fall between 6 – 7.5% which compared to ale means it is strong.

Drink cider and perry in halves. This makes it easier to drink and you will find your drinking skills will adjust to smaller measures. When you turn up at a beerfest I bet you the cider staff will always ask ‘half or pint?’ Trust me you will not last long on pints and it will get messy.

Dry, medium, sweet is the best way to judge what cider or perry you really like. Men tend to go for a medium (sweet or dry). Ladies appear to prefer the sweeter ciders, so experiment. Start with either a sweet or dry and work up or down the taste range. This way you will find the best match to suite your taste buds.

Stay safe and drink water every couple of pints or so. Real cider can leave you a little thirsty so rehydrate, when you can.

Looking for real cider in pubs is getting easier.

Westons Old Rosie is often the cry. Westons have a great range of perry and cider from 4.5 -8%. Try something different too. Gwynt Y Draig Pyder for example. The lovely coloured Thatchers Gold perhaps.

You can find great cider in many local real ale pubs. The Palmy, Toms’ Coalies has a regularly updated range and the Boat and The Letter B in Whittlesey to name just a few.

As I said it is a simple guide to drinking real cider. Don’t take my word for it, try for yourself !

Darren “Dot” Lee CAMRA Member www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 20 20 | Please support our advertisers

Freehouse

Book Now For s Valentine

0 1r7pe.5 £pe rson

3 Cask Ale pumps with at least 1 LocAle and others from far and wide Food served every day • Sunday Carvery Function rooms available to hire for all occasions

Karaoke every Friday 8.00pm Quiz Night every Wednesday 8.30pm start

London Street, Whittlesey PE7 1BH Tel: 01733 351001

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

Traditional Town Centre Pub with real fire

Five Real Ales and Stowford Press Cider Including Wherry, Bombardier, Abbot, Landlord and an ever-changing guest beer

Good Sized Car Park • Heated Smoking Shelter

COMING SOON:Our new kitchen will be opening soon, when we will be able to complement our real ales with an offering of home cooked traditional food. www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 21

Duck or Grouse Day

A

n epic, bird-themed crawl of pubs within the Northamptonshire / Cambridgeshire border area of the branch was one of the year end highlights for Peterborough CAMRA. The plan, hatched by social secretary and general wise owl John Hunt, was to take in as many pubs as possible within the time allowed (approximately 9 hours!) that fitted the theme. The entertainment for the flock along the way was to keep ‘em guessing where the next watering hole would be without cheating by resorting to the wonders of SatNav, mobile internet or any other means of fowl play. Of course we would never do such a thing …. unless no-one was looking in which case it was game on!

The full itinerary for the day was as follows:

Out and About| 21

The Old Pheasant – Glaston Real Ales: Morlands Old Speckled Hen (4.5%) / Oakham JHB (3.8%)

The White Swan – Woodnewton Real Ales: Fullers London Pride (4.1%) / Digfield Fools Nook (3.8%) / Nene Valley Bitter (4.1%) – sadly this had just gone as we were getting served The Falcon – Fotheringhay Real Ales: Fullers London Pride (4.1%) / Digfield Fools Nook (3.8%) / Greene King IPA (3.6%) The Cuckoo – Alwalton Real Ales: Itchen Valley Godfathers (3.8%) / Acorn Brewery Sorachi Ace IPA (5%) / Sharps Doom Bar (4%)

Golden Pheasant – Etton Real Ales: Oakham JHB (3.8%) / Blue Monkey 99 Red Baboons (4.2%) / Cottage Puffing Billy (4.2%) / Castle Rock Harvest Pale (3.8%) The White Swan (“Mucky Duck”) – Harringworth Real Ales: Adnams Southwold (3.7%) / Morlands Old Speckled Hen (4.5%)

The Duck and Drake – Yaxley Real Ales: Morlands Bitter (4%) / Greene King Abbot Ale (5%) / Oakham JHB (3.8%) / Morlands Old Speckled Hen (4.5%) Many thanks go to John for the meticulous planning of a great day out. As ever he is open to any suggestions for future crawls, the more original or, ahem, bird-brained (ok I will stop now before my editor tells me off !) the better. In the meantime new socials are regularly posted on the branch website http://www.realale.org.uk / and also on our new Facebook page (just type “Peterborough CAMRA” in Facebook and we should appear).

See you around in 2012!

Karl Simpson Press and Public Affairs Officer www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 22 22 | Peterborough Beer Festival 2012

Peterborough Beer Festival 2012

A

s I am sure you all realise that the organisation of the Beer Festival pretty much starts following the end of the previous years Festival and certainly for 2012 we have already kicked off with a couple of meetings to discuss some early ideas before submitting our plans to CAMRA for approval.

As a CAMRA Beer Festival we must have approval from the organisation before we can commit to any firm arrangements so our intention is to have this approval as early as possible into 2012.

Clearly the Olympics in London has already impacted and will continue to do so on the availability of ALL equipment associated with outdoor events and to that effect we have already made commitments to our major suppliers to ensure that all the equipment we require will be available for us at the time we start our build in Mid August.

Listening to feedback from 2010 and 2011 it is clear that the new layout is not considered to be as user friendly as the previous layout and I am sure you diehards out there will be pleased to know that we are moving back to the previous layout with two parallel beer marquees connected at one end by the entertainment marquee. Although we have been plagued with poor weather in recent years, we are pretty certain that with some adjustment we can manage a win-win situation with the 2012 layout without compromising the free flow of the site.

Who knows, we might get some sunshine this year…..

Again, we have tried to cater for all by introducing “all day” opening Thursday through Saturday, but this has proved very difficult to administer and we will now open “all day” only on Friday and Saturday. Lunch-time sessions will also be reintroduced (Wednesday through

www.real-ale.org.uk

Saturday) at a minimal cost to allow customers to call in for an hour or two without the expense of an all day admission fee.

Please be assured that the organising committee do take notice of ALL comments and feedback from all beer festivalgoers, we can try to react to the negative comments where we can, but believe it or not we still do get a huge number of positive feedback.

I still maintain that the Peterborough Beer Festival is one of the great events to take place in the Peterborough calendar. Probably one of the reasons for this success is the very hard work and determination put in by the many volunteer CAMRA members, not just from Peterborough, but around the UK who give up their free time and holidays to make the event successful.

Please do remember that the Beer Festival is a commercial venture that has to purchase our wet goods from our suppliers at market price, as would any other business, and all of the Structure and Services have to be similarly paid for. Nobody needs reminding that all of our finances are increasingly difficult to balance, we only need to look at pub closures in the UK in recent years, so do please help us to continue our campaigning efforts on behalf of the Campaign for Real Ale and enjoy yourselves whilst doing so at the 2012 Peterborough Beer Festival.

I will, through “Beer Around Ere”, give you another update later in the year as our planning evolves.

Mike Lane Chair Peterborough Beer Festival Organising Committee.

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 23

Help needed to Organise PBF 2012 This year we have lost three of our members that have served for many years on our Beer Festival Committee. We are sending out a plea (or begging) for some new members to volunteer to assist us in the organising of this years' PBF. A lot of the work involved in organising the Beer Festival takes place well in advance of the actual event and, it’s becoming a lot more difficult for the decreasing numbers of people on the organising committee to do all the tasks required. Anyone who would like to become involved can contact me or any other committee member. We do not expect to throw you into something that may not be suited to your skills. Any kind of organising, marketing, administration or logistic skills would be most welcome. We also need to recruit some more Bar managers. If you have or would like to gain a personal licence please get in touch as soon as possible.

Cheers in anticipation!

David Murray Branch Chairman

Logo Design We have received a few entries for this years PBF logo. It’s not too late to submit your entry. One very important stipulation is that the logo must not contain any reference or suggestion to these years' Olympic Games. I.E. no five rings or flaming torches. (Don’t blame us; this has come from higher up).

The logo should include the Camra motif or something very similar. Please send your entries to Paul Beecham, 205 Fletton High St, Peterborough. PE2 8DY..

Peterborough Beer Festival 2012 | 23

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 24

Veggie Beers are not just for Chrimbo!

R

ecently I have moved house into a property with enough room to fit a dining room table. In a fit of excitement I offered to host the family Christmas gathering.

Unfortunately the offer was accepted, leaving me to contemplate the logistics of how to feed ten people a relatively warm meal while using an oven not much bigger than something from Fisherprice™.

This would be the first Christmas family roast I had cooked in over a decade and to make things slightly more complicated it would be all vegetarian. This is great for my wife, daughter and I as we had long suffered the seriously nuked Linda McCartney sausage or hastily microwaved lasagne (festive? I think not) while everyone else tucked into the turkey, but I knew there would be reservations from the massed ranks of the unconverted meat eater.

So - how best to ease the pain of the missing turkey for the carnivores? The tried and tested formulae of 'give them a good drink and then they wouldn't care anymore'…that’s how!

So with this in mind I thought I’d order a selection of bottled real ales which were all vegetarian and/or vegan to go with the ethics of the meal. Firstly I wanted to find the definition of what makes an ale vegetarian or not:The key ingredient that determines whether a beer is vegetarian /vegan or not is finings.

Finings are used to clarify beer, by pulling yeast sediment to the bottom of the cask. These are usually made from isinglass, an extract from the swim bladder of the sturgeon fish. Although the finings drop to the bottom of the cask with the yeast and are not consumed, the use of an animal product to produce the beer is objected to by vegetarians and vegans.

www.real-ale.org.uk

Some brewers don’t fine their beer, but this means the beer needs longer to settle before serving in the pub and still turns out hazy or even cloudy in the glass. Others use finings made from seaweed, but this is mostly confined to bottled beer usage.

(

“The key ingredient that determines whether a beer is vegetarian or vegan or not is finings.”

Even brewers producing bottle-conditioned beers often fine the beer at the brewery before adding in fresh yeast prior to bottling. However, several brewers bottle without fining the beer and their bottle-conditioned beers can be considered to be vegetarian /vegan.

)

With this information in mind I looked on the main CAMRA website which listed a large selection of breweries supplying vegetarian/vegan beers.

Veggie Real Ales| 25

I settled on ordering Christmas Habit 6% and Time & Tide 4.5% from Blackfriars Brewery in Norfolk. I also ordered a mixed case of 12 bottles from Little Valley Brewery in West Yorkshire.

Both orders arrived promptly and packaged well. Firstly the Blackfriars offerings - the Time & Tide was a decent black traditional stout but the Christmas Habit was a corker! An Old Ale with a spicy infusion of cinnamon, ginger and cloves this went down well as a great winter warmer.

The ales received from Little Valley were Hebden Wheat 4.5%, Ginger Pale Ale 4%, Withens Pale Ale 3.9%, Python IPA 6.0%, Tod's Blonde 5% and Stoodley Stout at 4.8%. The entire Little Valley range is approved by the Soil Association and the Vegan Society, also all the beers are brewed using 100% organic ingredients. Comments received were that the Ginger Pale Ale was light and gentle on the ginger which I think is good as some ginger beers can be a complete palate wipeout and only good for the very end of the night. The Stoodley Stout was well received as being quite rich for a 4.8% and with a good lingering taste.

The Python IPA was punchy at 6% but had a really clean flavour. Generally the overall impression was of a fresh and clean taste to all the bottled beers tasted.

So in conclusion if you are or have a vegetarian member of the family please go to http://www.camra.org.uk /page.aspx?o=veganbeers and check out the range on offer - you won’t be disappointed and you'll get kudos for going that extra mile!

PS: My chestnut, cranberry and port pies went down well with the family but it didn’t stop them from having a rib of beef two days later…..can’t win them all.

Cheers

Daniel Speed

For more info on further breweries please go to http://www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=veganbeers

The Prince of Wales Feathers

Castor, Peterborough Tel: 01733 380222

© Mick Slaughter 2009

)

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:53 Page 25

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!!

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

www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 26 26 | Please support our advertisers

Easter Be er Festival

REGULAR LIVE MUSIC!

5pm Thursd ay 5th April to Monday 9 th April.

visit our website for further details Town Bridge, Peterborough PE1 1FP Tel: 01733 315700 For further information please visit www.oakhamales.com

Real traditional ale house in the heart of the city

5 Regularly Rotating Ales Opening Times :- 11am -11pm Monday to Thursday, 11am -1am Friday to Saturday, 12 - 11pm Sunday,

Live Music Fridays and Saturdays ring or check facebook for details!

North Street, behind Westgate House, Peterborough Tel: 01733 746370 www.facebook.com/ostrichinn www.real-ale.org.uk

IN THE CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2012

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 27 Peterborough Beer Festival 2012 | 27

Blue B~ oEyear~ Selection of Real Ales including Oakham Ales Sky Sports • Pool Table • Darts Regular live music and Karaoke Bar snacks available Tuesday to Saturday lunchtimes Home cooked Sunday Lunches Small conference room available

(Weddings,Christenings and business facilities) FREE

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

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

Food & Drink Awards, East Midlands Winners 2011 Peterborough CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2010 Three ales served from the likes of Oakham, Digfield, Tydd Steam and Black Sheep 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.

Please see website for our wide range of music entertainments for all ages and tastes

BAE162 Competition Answers KEEPING IN RAGE A FAKE NON-ISLAM HERO CHOKE PIGEON, SCORN JEN ONE PARTRIDGE MESS LADIES, NAME ONE HOBBY? BEER ? SHREWD TEASHOP! CARL EVERT LACKS HOP TEAS SO, REAL POCKET LINED THUS? BOLD GROWLER’S HADES ALE SUP-ALONG TIMES MADDIE’S SAD BARON LEN’S DOORPULL FRIEND SEE A SORRY TOKEN BANAL MASTER TEDDY ALERT AS OLD GROOMS CAN JOCK’S NEARLY GREAT BREW BERATE POSTMAN’S REALM SHOULD I DANCE IN CAP AREA? I DESERVE SALFORD MADE SORROW BEN THERE! LATE ALE MUG?

GREENE KING IPA OAKHAM ALES INFERNO JENNING’S COCKERHOOP MARSTON’S PEDIGREE ABBEYDALE MOONSHINE BREWSTER’S HOPHEAD CASTLE ROCK HARVEST PALE THEAKSTON’S OLD PECULIER OLDERSHAW’S REGAL BLONDE MILTON PEGASUS ADNAM’S BROADSIDE FULLER’S LONDON PRIDE ROOSTER’S YANKEE TYDD STEAM BARN ALE CASTOR ALES ROMAN GOLD GREEN JACK TRAWLER BOYS BATEMAN’S SALEM PORTER CALEDONIAN DEUCHARS IPA WOODFORDE’S ADMIRAL’S RESERVE NETHERGATE UMBEL ALE

The winner is Mr Ray Kennedy who gets a gallon of beer to drink in the Hand and Heart.

www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 28 28 | Castle Rock visit

An Englishman’s home is his castle… ...or so the saying goes. With that spirit in mind the Peterborough branch of CAMRA paid homage to the famous Nottingham based brewing institution that is Castle Rock. And, given the accolades that this mighty not-somicro brewery has now attained, it well deserves its seat amongst the real-ale royalty.

down in the milling process. I’m always amazed at how resourceful brewers are when it comes to utilizing everyday equipment to solve problems.

At Castle Rock one ingenious employee decided to take a pair of jeans and attach a cut out trouser leg to act as a funnel to prevent grain spillage!

Moving on through the tour Robin Hood explained the Castle Rock brewing process and kept the guests entertained in a way that only a burly chap in tights describing the science behind “sparging” can! In all seriousness though it was great fun and hats off to Tim and Charlie for providing a novel way to communicate the art and science of brewing as they did.

The group of around 12 arrived early for the 11am tour of the brand new visitors centre and extended brew house. We first of all checked in with our host Charlie who is also the commercial manager for the brewery and we were then introduced to our guide for the tour – Robin Hood – leaving us in no doubt that we were in Nottingham. Robin Hood was actually Tim, the official mascot for the city, and latest recruit at the brewery drafted in to showcase the operations.

After introductions at the visitor centre we were then taken around the corner to the mainstay of the tour, the new brew house and fermenting rooms. The first part of the tour exhibits stage one of the process where the barley malts travel the short distance up towards the grist case ready to be ground

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 29

A considerable amount of new investment has gone into the consolidating the existing site and in the racking area next door it was clear to see the scale of the new building work. The result is that the brewery now has the capability to produce 23,000 pints per day which is three times the previous output.

Back in the visitor centre we were able to sample some of the beers that had recently been produced. In keeping with the Robin Hood theme we had the “wickedly good brew” that is Sheriff’s Tipple, the multi award winning Harvest Pale and a special ale, Spyke Golding, brewed in honour of the late former branch chairman of Nottingham CAMRA who was renowned for his tireless campaigning for the real-ale cause .

On display in the visitor centre there was a remarkable array of awards and certificates showcasing the many individual honours bestowed on the Castle Rock brand. Indeed as a champion beer of Britain winner it was inevitable that national prominence would follow. However it is also evident from the tour that Castle Rock is very proud of its Nottingham heritage and it continues to look to the city for its inspiration. As a beacon of the fine East Midlands brewery tradition Peterborough CAMRA raises a glass in support of Castle Rock.

Karl Simpson Press & Public Affairs Officer

Obituary

It was just before the festive season that we learned of the sad passing of one of our longstanding members. Judith Dudley had over a period of some twenty years at various times held the position of Branch Treasurer and also treasurer to the Peterborough Beer Festival. She was together with husband John instrumental in being a major player organising and helping to run the beer festival, during its earlier days. She saw during her time that she was involved how the festival grew in size and popularity.

As well as being involved in CAMRA, she also devoted much time to her many other interests, in particular her love of cats. The Cats Protection League was just one of the pursuits she devoted time to.

Our condolences go out to her husband John in his great loss. Judith lost her fight from a brain tumour in hospital in Coventry. The attendance in numbers at her funeral showed us how much she was thought of.

Dave Murray

The Dolphin Inn 60 East Street, Stamford, Lincs, PE9 1QD. Tel 01780 755494

4 Cask Marque accredited real ales that includes 2 regularly changing guests Food served - Monday to Saturday 12pm to 9pm. Sunday Carvery served 12pm to 5pm Early Bird menu - Monday to Thursday 5pm to 7pm. Main courses from £4.00 Friday night Steak Night - Get a free drink with steaks or mixed grill from 5pm

Free wireless internet

www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 30 30 | Campaigning

Save the Ploughman - UPDATE

A

As many of you will already be aware from these pages (and other places if our Press Officer has been doing his job – Ed) the Ploughman in Werrington has been under threat from the retail juggernaut that is TESCO. The Ploughman is situated in the heart of the Werrington Centre, slap bang in the middle of where the giant corporation want to extend its current operations to 75,000 square feet, and the plans state that the 2011 Peterborough Pub of the Year is under threat of demolition if the current planning permissions go ahead.

Well since the last edition of Beer Around ‘Ere there have been a few new developments in the Ploughman saga. Following on from a successful media campaign by the brothers Simmonds and support from local politicians including MP Stewart Jackson, a meeting was held with TESCO bosses at the pub on 10th January. Predictably the response from TESCO was the same – the plans to go ahead with the new store monolith were stubbornly trotted out, yet again – despite over 1,800 signatures now added to the petition to save the pub by concerned locals.

This will ultimately mean: no locally situated family friendly pub, no place for the pool team, darts team, or crib team, no more football for Joe Public who can’t afford a monthly Sky Sports subscription, no more contributions to charities who enjoyed the five grand or so that was raised last year, and, for the real ale drinkers, no decent free house in the area. Yes folks, forget the extra parking spaces needed for the extra footfall. Your newly flattened pub will be the “every little helps” for the newly created delivery bay!

any new building is unlikely to commence until much later in the year.

In typically bullish fashion though TESCO have asserted they will “plough” on and despite the temporary respite this is definitely not the end of the campaign. Anything new on the agenda will have to be presented to the local Planning Committee and Peterborough CAMRA will be doing all it can to ensure that a fair and representative hearing takes place. If you haven’t already signed the petition then please do so at www.savetheploughman.com. And finally, TESCO, if you’re reading, which I’m sure you are, remember we are watching.

Karl Simpson Press & Public Affairs

The Cherry Tree 9 - 11 Oundle Road, Peterborough PE2 9PB Tel: 01733 703495 FOUR Real Ales available including Timothy Tayor Landlord and three changing guest ales.

OPEN ALL DAY EVERYDAY

Traditional Meals Served Daily Private Function room holds up to 40 people Ideal for small meetings, weddings and parties Covered Smoking Area • Childrens play area Bookings now being taken for

There is a glimmer of good news however. That is that all plans to go ahead with a new store have been shelved for the immediate future. The announcement of a particularly bad set of post-Christmas trading results and issues with the current plans particularly on the subject of road improvements have thrown a spanner in the works and mean that

www.real-ale.org.uk

Mothers Day 18th March 3 courses £17.95 AMPLE PARKING • CAMRA GOLD AWARD

www.cherrytree-inn.co.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 31 | 31

HARE & HOUNDS AT GREATFORD A genuine FREE HOUSE

29 North Street, Stanground PE2 8HR. 01733 753544

Up to 4 Real Ales available Friendly village pub with riverside mooring.

Large garden • Dogs welcome • Open all day Food served: Tues to Sun 12.00 - 2.30pm, Mon to Sat 6pm - 9pm

Quiz night Sundays - cash prizes

Now with FIVE Real Ales, real fires and a warm welcome!

This traditional English pub has just reopened after a complete refurbishment. We now offer a wide range of Real Ales including:- Oakham JHB, Woodfordes Wherry, Adnams Broadside, Draught Bass and two guest beers

MINI BEER FESTIVAL

OPEN ALL DAY (11am -11pm) and late at weekends Regular QUIZ NIGHTS and DAYS OUT – GOLF DAY 5th APRIL – see website for details

FRI 9th - SUN 11th MARCH

www.thehareandhoundsgreatford.co.uk

7 Scottish real ales outside (undercover).

Live Music Fri/Sat night and Sunday afternoon

Village St, Greatford, Stamford PE9 4QA

www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 32 32 | Please support our advertisers

www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 33 Gig Listings | 33

Rhythm and Booze

28 Jan - Contrast - Charters, Town Bridge 3 Feb - The Guards - Charters, Town Bridge 4 Feb - One Eyed Cats - Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor 4 Feb - On The Ceiling - Blue Boar, Eye 4 Feb - Soulweaver - Charters, Town Bridge 4 Feb - Grumpy Old Men - The Letter B, Whittlesey 4 Feb - Slide To Open - Cherry Tree, Oundle Rd 4 Feb, 9pm - Midnight Dogs, Indigo Child and Attic Til Dawn - Mama Liz, Stamford 5 Feb, 4pm - Pennyless - Mama Liz, Stamford 10 Feb, 10.30pm - Children of the Revolution Charters, Town Bridge

11 Feb - Groove Cartel - Charters, Town Bridge 11 Feb - Hillbilly Moon Explosion - Mama Liz, Stamford 11th Feb The Stereos - Three Horseshoes, Werrington 12 Feb, 4pm - The Collaborators - Woolpack Stanground

16 Feb Traditional New Orleans Jazz Sessions Mama Liz, Stamford

17 Feb - Sympton - Blue Boar, Eye 17 Feb - Verax + Candyland - Mama Liz, Stamford 17 Feb - Frenzy - Charters, Town Bridge 18 Feb - Filthy Lucre - Hand and Heart 17 Feb - Poly Chaos - Charters, Town Bridge 24 Feb - Children of the Revolution - Brewery Tap, Westgate

25 Feb - Lloyd Watson - Blue Boar, Eye 25 Feb - Mighty Mouth - Three Horseshoes, Werrington 9 Mar, 9pm - Ramshackle Serenade (rockabilly) Woolpack Stanground

10th Mar Redemption - Three Horseshoes, Werrington 10 Mar, 9pm - Children Of The Revolution Woolpack Stanground

16 Mar - Retrolux - The Swiss Cottage, Woodston 17th Mar Paddy’s Day The Returns - Three Horseshoes, Werrington

23 Mar - Kickback - The Swiss Cottage, Woodston 24th Mar - The Dirt Daubers (from Paducah, Kentucky) Burning Condors, Old Boy and Southern Discomfort - Mama Liz, Stamford 31st Mar Mighty Mouth - Three Horseshoes, Werrington Please send any details for April / May gigs to listings@tamoko-design.co.uk before 15th March.

www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 34

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 35

Diary Dates FEBRUARY Monday 6 Pie Night at the Plough Greetham.

Depart the Brewery Tap at 7pm and return by 11pm. Cost to include meal is £16.00. FULLY BOOKED. Tuesday 14 Feb Committee Meeting 8.30pm at the Solstice.

Saturday 18 Feb POTY presention to the Letter B in Whittlesey 9pm.

A coach will depart the Brewery Tap at 7pm and return by 11pm. Cost £7.00 MARCH Wednesday 14 March Committee Meeting 8.30pm at the Blue Bell, Dogsthorpe.

Saturday 17th March Trip to Edinburgh, contact Mick Slaughter

Diary Dates | 35

Friday 17th - 18th 3rd Elysian Winter Beer Festival Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely 58 real ales, 15 ciders and foreign bottled beers.

3rd Chappel Winter Beer Festival Friday 24th - 3rd Chappel Winter Beer Festival, Chappel & Wakes Colne Station Essex This event is operated as a fundraising activity for EARM by CAMRA, in Goods shed.

MARCH Friday 9th - 10th Hitchin Beer & Cider Festival Hitchin Town Hall, Brand Street, Hitchin In association with Hitchin Round Table.

At least 60 real ales plus good range of cider, perry and foreign beer.

Thursday 15th - 17th St Neots Booze on the Ouse Beer and Cider Festival Priory Lane, St Neots Over 60 cask beers over the 3 days, plus cider, perry and foreign beers

Saturday 24 March Stamford Stagger Campaigning Crawl, meet at Peterborough Rail Station at 11.30am for 11.52 train. Current Cheap day Return is £7.40 30th March – 1st April CAMRA Members weekend and AGM, Riviera Centre in Torquay http://www.camra.org.uk /membersweekend

Selected Beer Festivals

FEBRUARY Wednesday 1st - 4th Chelmsford Winter Beer & Cider Festival, Triangle Club, Essex County Council, Duke Street. 130+ Ales with emphasis on winter brews.

Thursday 16th - 18th 29th Luton Beer & Cider Festival, Hightown Sports & Arts Centre, Concorde Street - 100+ cooled ales including a LocAle bar. Approx 25 ciders and perries, plus foreign beers and country wines.

Broad Street, Stamford - 01780 763426

A FREE HOUSE Open all day - every day Six Real Ales including Fullers London Pride, Abbot Ale and our very popular Doombar.

Food Served Monday - Friday 12 - 2pm Saturday 12 - 2.30pm Large Beer Garden All Live Sports on 4 TV’s including our 64 inch big screen www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:54 Page 36 36 | Please support our advertisers

)DL RQ WD[ E QR Z

J

C o

A A

Y

T

F

D

A

E

T

P

T

F

D

www.real-ale.org.uk

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:55 Page 37

of Two Halves

A Campaign

)DL U RQ GHD E WD[ HHU O QR Z

7EZI &VMXEMR·W 4YFW

Join CAMRA Today Complete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and a fantastic discount on your membership subscription.

Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd with your completed form, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus or call 01727 867201.

All forms should be addressed to Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW. Your Details Title

Single Membership

Surname

Direct Debit

Non DD

£20

£22

£25

£27

Forename(s)

(UK & EU)

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

Joint Membership

Address

(Partner at the same address) For Young Member and concessionary rates please visit www.camra.org.uk or call 01727 867201.

Postcode

Email address

I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and agree to abide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association

Tel No(s)

I enclose a cheque for Signed

Partner’s Details (if Joint Membership)

Date

Applications will be processed within 21 days

Title

Surname

Forename(s) Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

12/10

Campaigning for Pub Goers & Beer Drinkers

Enjoying Real Ale & Pubs

Join CAMRA today – www.camra.org.uk/joinus Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to: Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road, St.Albans, Herts AL1 4LW Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society Service User Number To the Manager

Bank or Building Society

9 2 6 1 2 9

Address

FOR CAMRA OFFICIAL USE ONLY

This is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society Membership Number Postcode Name

Name(s) of Account Holder

Postcode

Branch Sort Code

Please pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the account detailed on this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign For Real Ale Limited and, if so will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

Instructions to your Bank or Building Society

Bank or Building Society Account Number Signature(s)

Reference

Date

Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.

This Guarantee should be detached and retained by the payer.

The Direct Debit Guarantee This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay by Direct Debits.

If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed.

If you request The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society - If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when The Campaign For Real Ale Ltd asks you to You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society.Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:55 Page 38 38 | Contact Details

Branch Committee

Beer Around ’Ere

Secretary: Dickie Bird 4 Cissbury Ring,Werrington Peterborough, PE4 6QH 01733 574226 (tel & fax) 07731 993896 info@real-ale.org.uk

Editor: Jane Flew bae-editor@real-ale.org.uk Distribution: David Murray (See Chairman on the left) Advertising: Jane Michelson

Chairman: David Murray 01733 560453 chairman@real-ale.org.uk

01778 420888 Mobile: 07732 393621 jane@shillingmedia.co.uk

Treasurer: Paul Beecham 01733 311981 07710 008693 0870 7620848 (fax) treasurer@real-ale.org.uk

Magazine & Advertising Production: Dan Speed 0845 838 7581 dan@tamoko-design.co.uk

Vice Chair: John Hunt 07923 489917 vice-chair@real-ale.org.uk Social Sec: John Hunt 07923 489917 social-sec@real-ale.org.uk Pubs Officer: Steve Williams 07756 066503 pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk Press Officer: Karl Simpson 07737 297072 press-officer@real-ale.org.uk Young Members: Katie Barrett 07581 270590 young-members@real-ale.org.uk Membership: Steve Saldana 07988 067260 membership@real-ale.org.uk Festival Org: Mike Lane 07850 334203 festival-organiser@real-ale.org.uk LocAle Officer: John Rice 07759 342702 locale@real-ale.org.uk Webmaster: Harry Morten webmaster@real-ale.org.uk

Postal Distr: Daryl Ling 01733 235881 Brewery Liaison Officers Blue Bell: John Hunt 07923 489917 Castor Ales: Mike Lane 07850 334203 Digfield: Dave Waller 01733 348760 Elgoods: Position vacant Hopshackle: Noel Ryland 07944 869656 Melbourn: Lew Clayton 01780 765063 Nene Valley: Bob Melville 07941 246693 Oakham Ales: Dave Allett 07966 344417 Tydd Steam: John Hunt 07923 489917 Ufford Ales: Matt Mace 07809 629241 Trading Standards 08545 040506 www.consumerdirect.gov.uk Check out our websites at: www.real-ale.org.uk www.beer-fest.org.uk

The next issue of BAE will be available on: 30th March We must have your stories, news and advertisements by: 5th March Late copy cannot be guaranteed entry.

Please contact Chris Shilling 01778 421550 Mobile: 07736 635 916 or Jane Michelson 01778 420888 Mobile: 07732 393621 jane@shillingmedia.co.uk for all of your advertising needs.

Steve Williams steve.williams@beeraroundere. org.uk or 0775 6066 503 is always looking for pub news.

Please send stories and other copy to bae-editor@real-ale.org.uk Beer Around ‘Ere is published by Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA Copyright © 2012, The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. Views or comments expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of the Editor or of CAMRA.

Sk H Li (See K

S

Jo

TH

Sta Tel

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:55 Page 39

www.savetheploughman.com

Your Award Winning local with SEVEN Real Ales available from ÂŁ2.00 a pint!

Sky Sports Happy Hour Mon - Fri, 5-7pm Live Entertainment (See Rhythm and Booze section) Karaoke every Sunday with Mighty Mouth Trev Sister pub to the Dragon, Werrington Join our Facebook group The Ploughman

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

BAE 163 Prog_Layout 1 23/01/2012 09:55 Page 40

Big kfasot 11am rB eSaat 8 t !

95 ry

ree At Least Th

y, er v r r ca o e at f h e t m can o fr u elf yo s e ur as ev lp yo uch e H as m

Real Ales!

.

5 £ y onl

More than just a Carvery!

A

great welcome awaits you at The Farmers, Yaxley.

We are famous for our fresh vegetables and great carvery meats, succulent and served with all the trimmings, then finished off with a tantalising hot or cold dessert!

Check out our lunch time grill menu’s and our ever changing specials boards. Put it all together with three fine cask ales and you have the perfect place to enjoy dinner with friends or a family celebration.

We have a self contained function suite which is ideal for parties, weddings and all of life’s celebrations.

Open Every Day 10am - 5.30pm All Day Menu & Coffee

So if you’ve not been before give us a try and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Midday - 2:30pm Carvery & Specials Menu 5:30pm - LATE Carvery & Grill Menu Sunday Open From 12 Noon - 9pm All Day Carvery

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