Chairman’s Corner

Having announced his retirement as Branch Chairman in the last issue of BAE, Matt Mace has reconsidered his decision and will continue in the role. This must be seen as a serious positive; in these challenging times, the Branch needs strong leadership and Matt can provide it. The enthusiastic and meticulous Daryl Ling becomes Matt’s deputy. We wish both well!

DISTRIBUTION RESOLUTION?

This is a plea to all BAE readers (or any other helpers) for assistance in delivering our bi-monthly newsletter in the March district. Are you able to spare a couple of hours every two months to deliver to a handful of pubs? We would be most grateful if you could. If you can help, please contact Alan Binnington at

alanbinncam2020@gmail.com Are you missing out?

Get Beer Around ‘Ere delivered to your door! For a year (6 issues) send £4.32 for second class or £5.40 for 1st Class or multiples thereof for multiple years. Please send a cheque/PO payable to Peterborough CAMRA and your address to: Daryl Ling, 19 Lidgate Close, Peterborough PE2 7ZA

Pub News

First, I apologise for a very short report, as I have not been able to visit pubs as I would have wished. I sincerely hope this will change over the coming year as I am painfully aware that someone who should be helping keep pubs afloat in these ridiculously difficult times has hardly been out and about. I can assure you this has been a very painful time for me, as pubs are a lifeline for someone who loves real ale and good company like I do. However, the pain I feel is as nothing compared to that of those hardworking publicans whose sterling efforts have been met with obstruction and restriction at every turn.

My first thought is to congratulate the Ostrich, a pub tucked away in North Street in the centre of Peterborough, which I have known for over 60 years, on being recognised as Pub of the Year. I used to visit the barn which used to stand behind the pub along with John, the landlord’s son, after going to Cubs in St Mark’s church hall, to eat the penn’orth of scraps, or 3d worth of chips if we were flush that week, read our comics and maybe share a bottle of beer if John had managed to sneak one out of the bar. As a young man I did very occasionally visit the pub in the hope it would improve. It didn’t. Now, however, the Ostrich is a brilliant ale drinkers’ pub with a variety of beers and ciders on tap, friendly staff and good live music at weekends. I have managed a couple of visits there recently and I salute all involved in turning this little pub into an oasis in the city centre.

I bought myself the 2022 Good Beer Guide as an early Christmas present to myself and my first trawl through was to concentrate on our local area. Congratulations to The Ploughman in Werrington and The Five Horseshoes in Barholm on a remarkable achievement of ten consecutive years of entries. This is no easy feat and is a tribute to landlords of supreme quality.

Good to see Yaxley is in there too, with the Farmers making its way into this year’s beer bible. The Woolpack in Stanground village is also back in, as is the Bull and Swan in St Martin’s, Stamford. The rest of the information I have is taken from Facebook and Twitter where local pubs have been posting. I note that the Whistlestop in Tallington is making a real effort to attract diners and if I was in a position to do so I would definitely try out eating there as the food sounds and looks great and is very reasonably priced. Likewise I fancy trying their Friday night quiz sometime soon. I also fancy trying Sunday lunch at the Cuckoo in Alwalton or the aforementioned Woolpack. There is a plethora of live music going on around the area’s pubs which is fantastic as we have been starved of live entertainment for too long. Charters continues to support local bands as do The Yard of Ale, Oundle Road; The Crown, Lincoln Road; The Brewery Tap, The Burghley Club and of course the Ostrich and Ploughman. I am sure other pubs do have music nights too, so if they want free advertising contact me and I will ensure they get social media coverage. I should also mention the Open Mic nights at the Iron Horse Ranch House in Market Deeping and the Blue Boar in Eye (not sure if this is still going as I have not noticed any mention recently). It is particularly heartening to me that the Draper’s is re-starting its Spoken Word Open Mic nights at the end of January. I look forward to performing there very soon.

That is the good news. I have to report the continued closure of the Black Horse in Nassington, the Lancaster Club in Yaxley, the Railway in Whittlesey, Melbourn Bros and St Mary’s Vaults in Stamford. Fingers crossed that I can report the re-opening of