beerlines the magazine of the North Hampshire branch of the Campaign for Real Ale ISSUE 3 OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2013
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I n Th i s I s s u e . . . • The Soldiers Return • Healthy...Andwell • Pub News • Pub Walk • Beers by Bus • GBBF 2013
5 6-7 8 12-13 14-15 16-17
PLUS MUCH MORE...
WWW.CA M R AHANTSNO RTH.O R G .UK
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
beerlines
North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Branch Contacts Editor and Branch Chairman Jonathan Pain e: beerlines@hotmail.co.uk Branch Secretary & Distribution Manager Jeff Salt e: secretary@camrahantsnorth.org.uk All officers can be contacted securely through our website (see below): Pubs and Clubs Officer - Andy Wootten Membership Secretary - Brenda Cross Branch Contact / Festival Organiser - Phil Myatt Vice Chair/Social Secretary - Helen Casson Branch Treasurer - Doug Cross Webmaster - Ian Butler West of Area (sub-branch) / Regional Director John Buckley
Web: www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk Twitter: @CamRAHantsNorth Facebook: ‘North Hampshire CAMRA’ The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions for publication. All editorial copyright © North Hampshire CAMRA 2013 Disclaimer: Views expressed in this publication are those of their individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor, branch committee or the Campaign for Real Ale nationally. North Hampshire CAMRA accepts no liability in relation to the accuracy of advertisements; readers must rely on their own enquiries. It should also be noted that acceptance of an advertisement in this publication should not be deemed an endorsement of quality by North Hampshire CAMRA.
Trading Standards (Hampshire) Montgomery House, Monarch Way, Winchester SO22 5PW t: 01962 833620 e: tsadvice@hants.gov.uk www.hants.gov.uk Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road, St. Albans, Herts, AL1 4LW t: 01727 867 201 e: camra@camra.org.uk www.camra.org.uk
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© 2013 Capital Media Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be transmitted, reproduced, recorded, photocopied or otherwise without the express written permission of the copyright holder.
Message from the Chairman A warm welcome to you
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elcome to the third issue of Beer Lines in its new form. Whether you are a CAMRA member or not, we hope that you will take a free copy and take some time to read up on who we are and what we are doing in the local area. If you feel inclined to ‘join up and join in’ please contact myself (or one of the branch officers) using the website or details opposite. Every three months there will be a new edition and we plan to make the magazine informative, lively and readable. CAMRA has been campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights since 1971. As a part of the national organisation, which now boasts more than 145,000 members, our Branch aims to: • hold welcome events for new members and encourage involvement in campaigning and Branch activities; • encourage more pubs to offer discounts to CAMRA members and promote beer scoring, leading to an improved annual ‘Good Beer Guide’ • encourage our existing membership to get involved in campaigning through an increase in social events. We encourage you to let us know what you think of the magazine and its content and look forward to hearing your ideas for future articles. Cheers! Jonathan Pain
(Branch Chairman and Magazine Editor, North Hampshire CAMRA)
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
Capital Media Group 2 Halifax Court, Fernwood Business Park Cross Lane, Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, NG24 3JP t: 01636 302 302 e: beerlines@thisiscapital.com www.thisiscapital.com
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
SAVING THE WORLD FROM MEDIOCRE BEERS Stri ki ng l y G o o d
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
Find out more at www.wildweatherales.com
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Unit 19 Easter Park, Silchester RG7 2PQ.
Tel: (0118) 9701837
Email: enquiries@wildweatherales.com
Visit our Brewery Shop • Shop Online • Trade Welcome
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
The Soldiers Return www.soldiersreturnbasingstoke.co.uk
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from the before pictures they had their work cut out. The pub opened its doors on the 25th of May to an amazing turn out of customers. From 11am through to 11pm the pub was full to bursting with people and the custom had spilled out into the street and onto the field opposite. Duncan reports that since opening the pub is going from strength to strength and performing better than ever imagined. The Soldiers Return freehouse now boasts something for everyone with its comfy front bar featuring leather sofas and open fires, the back bar with a pool table, darts boards, games machines and Sky Sports and a separate dining area where customers can eat from either a bar menu or an innovative ‘a la carte’ menu. Cask ale has been popular in the pub since its reopening selling Fullers London Pride and Gales Seafarers with a choice of one or two guest ales regularly changing. Duncan is keen to promote Christmas bookings throughout December with a fantastic set menu on offer, discounts for large parties and plenty of festive entertainment lined up. Enquire within or contact details can be found below. It’s lovely to see a pub reopen and become and thriving community hub and well worth a visit. Helen Casson
80 Upper Sherborne Road, Basingstoke, RG21 5RP e: info@basingstokesoldiersreturn.co.uk t: 01256 842542
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
his 150 year old Pub situated on Upper Sherborne Road in Basingstoke has been closed for the last two years. The owners, The Wellington Pub Company, attempted to achieve planning permission to knock the building down and use the plot to build flats. But following a 91 person signed petition and the backing of the Basingstoke Heritage Society, Basingstoke and Deane Council decided against the plans and denied planning. The building was left dormant and empty, gradually deteriorating over the last few years and becoming more and more of an eye sore. Prior to this the pub has had a chequered history with Landlords coming and going and very little investment going into the building. The pub, as of the 2nd March 2013, was taken over by Duncan Carter his partner Sam Dinham and Sam’s parents Sally and Kevin. For 3 solid months the four of them poured blood, sweat, tears and a considerable amount of money to refurbish the building top to bottom. You can see
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
Healthy... Andwell Our area’s largest brewery
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www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
n the 10th of October 2008, Adam Kamrower’s ‘baby’ was born and his first brew came from a brewery he had created in a farm by the M3 at Odiham, near Hook. His equipment was a Bavarian Tech 10-barrel plant he had bought second-hand from Copper Dragon in Yorkshire. He called the brewery ‘Andwell’ after the village where his family lived, a few miles down the A30 towards Basingstoke. It was there his father had run a trout farm with a smoking plant in which Adam worked, then managed himself, for 8 years before changing his focus from fish to beer. He was aided by his brewer Tim, who had worked in France and who wanted to return to brewing traditional English Ales. Together, they developed the four core Andwell beers. With his extensive knowledge of food industry
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and processing, Adam vowed to ensure that the beer he produced was of a consistent taste and quality – something micro-breweries are not always good at, so chemical analysis and rigorous hygiene were key to his production and both continue to ensure the consistency of the Andwell beers today. The brewery came full circle in August 2011 when the operation was moved to Andwell village, to the site of the Trout Farm (which finally shut at the end of August this year). Andwell brewery had come home. This time it was double the size, a 20-barrel plant with a brand new brew house made by Bavarian Tech. So, now nestling by a stream at Andwell, 5 miles from Basingstoke, big things started to happen. The idyllic rural setting and extra space allowed Adam to open a brewery shop (Offsales, daily and Saturday morning) plus run visitor tours and generally expand his beer range, as there was now spare capacity for seasonal and special brews. The current brewer is Alex, who is a young enthusiastic member of the Andwell brewery ‘family’, which also includes Helen, Adam’s wife. In that vein, for the past 2 years in July the brewery has run a big Family Fun Day on a field adjacent to the brewery. The last event attracted over
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
600 local people who enjoyed a day of fun, frolics and froth. Also this July, taking on a new challenge, Adam formed a joint venture with a like-minded pub investor to purchase the former Lord Derby Inn pub, next to the farm at Odiham he started at. Renaming it simply Derby Inn, they re-vamped it and had its official opening and reception on Friday 19th July. Serving a range of locally sourced food and Andwell beers, plus interesting guest ales and some notable American craft beers, it has already established itself as a pub worth visiting. It also offers accommodation, which is handy as it is just a mile south of Junction 5 of the M3. Andwell has 4 core beers – Resolute Bitter, 3.8% named after a town in the Canadian Arctic, Gold Muddler 3.9% named after a trout lure, King John 4.2% named after the castle near Odiham that King John built, and Ruddy Darter, 4.6% named after a local dragonfly. Currently there is also a RED IPA, a Golden IPA and Adam tells me they have just brewed a new beer, called Crystal Weiss, (a wheat beer) which will appear soon in some M&B pubs including the Nicholson’s chain. Look out for that! It is sold under the Andwell name, not brewed under licence. Andwell beers are on 2 handpumps at the Odiham & Greywell Cricket Club, (a former Good Beer Guide regular) which was officially re-opened on August 4th by Sir Tim Rice. The previous building burnt down in an arson attack so the lovely new building is another welcome addition to the Odiham drinking scene. Although a private member’s club, CAMRA members are welcome and there is a 10% discount available on production of your card. So, no excuse not to try Andwell beers there. You can also usually get them at the Mill House in Odiham, the Leather Bottle in Mattingley and the Crooked Billet on the A30. Adam tells me you can sample Andwell beers at the Ascot Beer Festival at the racecourse,
If you own or manage a pub, bar or restaurant and serve real ales, it’s never been easier to get your business in front of more than 6,000 people! Beer Lines distributes to all branch area pubs in North Hampshire and advertising costs as little as £55 for 3 months..
> CALL 01256 832 832 TODAY
on October 4th and 5th and OctoberFest on October 11th -13th at Milestones in Basingstoke. Find out more at www.andwells.com. As the largest brewery in the North Hants Branch area it deserves our local support. Long may Andwell continue! Brenda Cross
THE
SWAN HOTEL
KINGSCLERE • A.D.1449
5 Handpumps Serving a Wide Range of Real Ales Contemporary Menu of Homecooked Food 9 Ensuite Bedrooms In the Good Beer Guide since 1991
www.swankingsclere.co.uk
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
6500+ READERS
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
Pub News ...and snippets
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f you have any snippets of information about your locals (closures, openings, owner-changes etc) please get in touch to let others know. The pub scene is ever-changing and it is nice to be kept informed about it. Odiham Area Having gone into administration and struggled on for a while, the Thai restaurant/bar the Chilli Pad (formerly the Jolly Farmer at North Warnborough) has ceased trading altogether and has shut permanently. It is believed the pub will not re-open but will be sold off for housing. The George Hotel has been sold and is believed to have been bought by Fullers to remain as a hotel with a bar. Refurbishment has commenced, so was closed at the time of going to press. Odiham & Greywell Cricket Club - The new clubhouse is now open and the facility is back in full swing after a couple of years. CAMRA members welcome (show card) and 10% discount given. Limited opening hours - check ‘What Pub’ within the CAMRA site for current details.
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
Kingsclere Area The Crown has new owners and was due to re-open (16/09/2013). Royal Oak Ecchinswell is closed, awaiting new managers.
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Highclere Area After an extensive refurbishment the Yew Tree in Highclere re-opened in the summer. Run by Simon & Tori, this cosy 17th century country pub offers four real ales and a real cider. The menu offers excellent locally sourced home cooked food, accommodation is also available. Good Beer Guide Pubs 2014 The new 2014 guide was published and launched on September 12th. As the definitive and most accurate of the published guides, it is the bible for real ale lovers of all ages who want a good pint when travelling around or who just want to find a hospitable establishment
that local drinkers have recommended. It also contains full details of breweries and their offerings, including many new ones. The pubs which are included from this area, (in no particular order) are; Yew Tree, Lower Wield; White Hart Hotel, Hook; Mill House, N . Wa r n b o r o u g h ; Waggon & Horses Hartley Wintney; The Sun, Dummer; Fur & Feathers, Herriard; Lloyds No.1, Basingstoke; Queens Arms, Basingstoke; Northbrook Arms, East Stratton; Fox and Goose, Greywell; Crooked Billet, Hook Common; Greyhound, Overton; Red Lion, Overton; Cricketers, Tangley; The Eagle, Abbots Ann; Wyke Down, Picket Piece; White Lion, Wherwell; White Hart, Charter Alley; Plough, Little London; White Hart, Whitchurch; The Bell, Whitchurch; Prince Regent, Whitchurch; Swan, Kingsclere; Way Inn, Basingstoke; The Fox, North Waltham. Congratulations go to them for being judged the top area pubs/bars providing consistently good, quality beer, as scored by many different CAMRA members scoring the beers drunk on their unannounced visits. The new 2014 Good Beer Guide (RRP £15.99) is available to CAMRA members at a cost of £10 (plus P&P) from the online CAMRA bookshop (see website) or by phoning HQ 01727 867201.
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
Annual Beer Walk Sunday 1st December! A selection of draught and bottled real ales Ideal for parties, weddings and functions Visit our brewery shop week days 8-4 Online orders and payment (See our website for details)
The Old Sawmill, Nyewood, Nr Petersfield, hants GU31 5HA Telephone: 01730 821 362 www.ballards-brewery.co.uk
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
Free local home delivery!
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
Diary Dates More info? Email us: branch-contact@camrahantsnorth.org.uk October 4th - Branch Long Dog Brewery visit details on the Branch website October 4th - 5th – Ascot Beer Festival. At the Racecourse 11-6, tickets available in advance at a discount to CAMRA members. Details in ‘What’s Brewing’ October 11th - 13th - OctoberFest, Milestones Museum Basingstoke. with beer festival run in conjunction with CAMRA. Any willing volunteers contact Jeff Salt. Tickets from www.hampshireoctoberfest.co.uk or the museum directly. November 7th - 10th Egham United Service Club Beer Festival A non-CAMRA event but well supported as an excellent little beer festival showcasing small
Quick Quiz
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
The first letter of these 7 double clues make up an anagram forming the name of an additional healthy brewery. Can you name it?
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
First woman of the night Limbs eleven Worry a pet Garfunkel painting Minim letter Green with lemon Northern river and dress
For answers see page 18
breweries and many specially produced beers. Details on their website at www.eusc.co.uk. CAMRA members have discount on entry. November 8th - 9th – Woking Beer Festival £9 entry including programme and glass. Details in ‘What’s Brewing. Volunteers required. www. wokingbeerfestival.co.uk
Current in our area • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Pubs
Mill House, North Warnborough Overton Memorial Institute (The Stute) Sun Inn, Dummer Eagle Inn, Abbotts Ann The Crown Inn, Upton Leather Bottle, Mattingley, near Hook Fur and Feathers, Herriard Prince Regent, Whitchurch Bounty Inn, Basingstoke White Hart, Hook The Woolpack Inn, Totford Red Lion, Overton Swan Hotel, Kingsclere The Fox, North Waltham Odiham & Greywell Cricket Club Derby, North Warnborough Bourne Valley Inn, St Mary Bourne Watership Down Inn, Freefolk Barley Mow, Oakley White Hart Charter Alley Plough, Grateley
Visit www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk to see the latest list with a map link
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Pub Walk Around Chilbolton Start/Finish: West Down Car Park, Chilbolton SO20 6AX (OS Ref SU 383389) Total distance: 2.5 miles. NB Please ask the landlord for permission to park in the pub car park.
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eave car park turn left and cross road bridge to the Mayfly, an excellent pub on the banks of the river Test, real ales on day of walk were all from Fullers, London Pride, Summer Ale, Gales HSB and Seafarers. After refreshment return back over bridge and turn left onto footpath opposite car park, after 50yds at footpath junction go right, continue by footpath and lane for 300yds to reach main road, go right on grass verge to road on right signposted Wherwell, Turn right and continue on road for 400yds passing a bridleway and footpath sign on left, at footpath sign on right turn onto
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
the Test Way, cross river Test onto Chilbolton Cow Common. Continue on path across common crossing the river Test again to a gravel track, turn left and just before a gate to cottages turn right onto path under telegraph lines, cross style continue to second style to road and the Abbots Mitre, this pub does excellent Italian meals, it’s real ales on the day were Ringwood Best Bitter, St Austell Tribute and Fullers London Pride. Leave pub turn left on road for 100yds then turn right down Joys Lane, at car park bear left on Test Way towards white cottage, at gate turn right keeping on Test Way, enter playing field turn right and continue for 300yds to reach road, cross road to enter West Down Reserve, turn right through gate on Test Way, take right fork at path junction, after 200yds at the next path junction go right down to gate and return to car park. Geoff King
The
CRICKETERS ARMS An old Drover’s pub with a cosy atmosphere, built in the 16th century and set in beautiful countryside. • Good Quality Home Made Traditional English Food • Cask Beers • Inglenook Fireplace & Wood Burning Stoves • Seperate Dining Room & Bar • Function Room • Scandinavian Timber Style En-Suite Chalets Available Closed Lunchtime, Monday to Thursday
the
Coach & Horses - r otherwick -
www.coachandhorses-rotherwick.co.uk
The Street, Rotherwick, Basingstoke, RG27 9BG t: 01256 768976
Clarke's Ln, Tangley, Andover, SP11 0SH
01264 730283 • www.thecricketers.eu
Grea & a warmt alwee,lcgromeat food, A gem of a pue asb sured.
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
A friendly, authentic village alehouse boasting a lovely south-facing garden in the midst of tranquil farmland. Consistently well-kept Hall and Woodhouse ales are always available, served fresh and bright. Classic pub grub is all home cooked, high quality and good value for money. Come and experience the atmosphere of this proper pub, and see why it has once again become beloved of the village and beyond.
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
A Pub Walk
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
Town Mills
Around Andover
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www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
ell, around the Town Centre really, as Andover does not have a leading standing when it comes to a pub culture. Arguably it still suffers from reputations when it was the place for a squaddies’ night out, so has it changed? It’s certainly not as some suggest and there is now a good choice when it comes to real ales and pleasant pubs to sit, chat and enjoy a beer or two. The meet for this wander is the John Russell Fox, which often has a number of ales from smaller brewers on its two banks of handpumps. It is pleasant, but like many JDW can suffers smokers at the doors and once inside there’s not much character. The beer was very
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good though, and the lunchtime service friendly and prompt, with a very tasty Mordue Belma Red enjoyed, while planning the day’s ‘campaign’. A new ‘pub’ had opened, The Bar, so it made a first stop but were few customers and no real ale, previously being the Cabin Cafe in the alley by the Post Office. Offerings are all keg with just one ale, two lagers and a cider on the taps, so potential, at least for some bottle conditioned ales. Let us hope. It is wished well. Across the road is the Station Hotel - a real community pub that features a lot of live music, but this lunchtime horses were the focus with racing pages spread over the bar top. A pleasant enough London Pride was enjoyed, while Doom Bar was also on offer. Stonehenge Ales have been here too. A friendly local recommended Wadworth’s Town Mills, and it was no disappointment. The impressive waterwheel has been restored, while four ales greet the customer. Tasters were offered and the Bishop’s Tipple went down a treat followed by a rare beer for the area, a very pleasant
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Portobello Star from the new London ‘craft’ brewery. Round the corner and into the very comfortable White Hart, a Marstons house serving Pedigree, Hobgoblin and a reasonable Ringwood Best - good prices too and several areas in which to relax. Across the street is the Redbridge, with offerings being Doombar, Well’s Bomdardier and Courage Best. Lots of TV screens too and low lighting. Then round to the homely Lamb, arguably the most ‘traditional’ of Andover’s pubs and now in the hands of new hosts Jan and Rod who have attracted trade from their last pub in Whitchurch. It must mean something when custom follows you. Now open all day, they served up a good Bishops Tipple, along with Wadworth’s Henry’s IPA and 6X. Life, Propaganda and Piston were all given a miss, with the next halt being the Foresters where a Greene King Morland Original was sampled. The stay was short, before leaving to glance at the Danebury, enveloped in scaffolding and hopefully on course reopen under its historic name of the Star And Garter.
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Across the Market Place is the Globe, another historic Greene King pub, and often with an interesting guest beer. This time it was Exmoor Silver Stallion, and very nice too. The oldest pub in Andover could not be missed - the Angel, with a good pint of Elgood’s Indian Summer, just to remind us that hopefully some better weather may be on the way. St Austell Tribute and Old Speckled Hen were the other choices. Last was the Lardicake, a traditional pub tucked away just off the centre where the only mild ale of the day was found, by Bank’s Brewery, with an excellent Taylors Landlord. A few pubs/bars were missed out, due to time, but Andover town centre certainly is quite a compact place for a visit and has quite a range of ales in friendly Hampshire town surroundings, including one or two quite interesting surprises. Meanwhile CAMRA is considering a separate group in the Andover area, incorporating surrounding villages. If anyone would like further information and is interested in local socials and events, please contact John on 01256 892650 john@jpbdesign.net John Buckley
Peter, Fran and the team welcome you to The Fur & Feathers. A Victorian pub situated in the Hampshire countryside. You can while away the hours over a great pint complemented by some delicious home made food. Always warm and cosy no matter what the weather does outside with two roaring log burners keeping the winter chills away on the outside and a good selection of Whisky for the inside. We have a well stocked Humidor with cuban cigars to be enjoyed in our log lined smoking shelter. • At least two LocAle selected Ales • Sharps Special 5% • Sharp's Orchard Cider • • Hazy Hog Cider from Hogs Back Brewery • Becks Vier • Warstiener • Peroni •
Opening Times Tues - Thurs: 12 noon - 3pm & 5pm - 11pm Fri & Sat: 12 noon - 11pm Sun: 12 noon - 6pm
Food Service times Tues - Sat: 12 noon - 2:30pm & 6.30pm - 9pm Sun: 12 noon - 3pm
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
HERRIARD, BASINGSTOKE, HAMPSHIRE, RG25 2PN • 01256 384170 • www.thefurandfeathers.co.uk
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
Beers by bus The No. 14 route (Basingstoke to Tadley)
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his is a continuation of the article that appeared in the last issue of Beer Lines. All pubs are reachable on the no. 14 bus that runs between Basingstoke and Tadley.
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
THE PLOUGH, Little London, near Silchester The bus stops a hundred or so yards downhill from the pub, although if you have a willing driver he may drop you outside. (Always worth asking.) I have to declare a certain level of bias here as this is one of my favourite pubs in North Hampshire. A traditional seventeenth-century rural pub, the Plough still retains some old, if not original features including uneven flooring and low ceilings with wooden beams. Tread carefully, especially if you turn right after entering the front door: there is a step up that catches the unwary visitor. Most modern pub features are eschewed here – there
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isn’t even an electronic till, just a wooden box, and all purchases are written down in a note book. The pub accountant must have a lot of patience! The bar area to the right (careful of the step) has a bar billiards table and an old fashioned fireplace. Two, sometimes three, beers are served straight from the cask and up to two on handpump. When I was there in June the beers straight from cask were West Berks Swift Pale Ale (3.8), and Long Man American Pale Ale (4.8%) from Sussex. On handpump were Palmer’s Dorset Gold (4.5%) and Ringwood Best (3.8%). All beers were of superb quality, a testament to licensee Terry’s dedication and expertise. Food is simple, tasty and very good value and quality – filled hot or cold baguettes. This is very much a beer drinkers’ pub. There is a pleasant beer garden at the side with some brand new wooden garden furniture. Very peaceful. Sometimes all you can hear is the clip-clop of a horse or the sound of an upmarket car being parked. This is pub of contrasts, used by a large cross-section of people from farm workers to retired financial advisors. Okay, I’m generalising here, but you get the picture. I guarantee that even if you have never visited the Plough before, you will find yourself in conversation with one of the regulars within a few minutes. It’s that sort of pub. Some years ago the pub was a contender for the CAMRA National Pub of the Year. I think it should have won it!
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
The Calleva Arms (0118) 9700305 www.thecalleva.com
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
THE CALLEVA ARMS, Silchester Five minutes by bus from the Plough is a Fuller’s tied house on the edge of The Common. The bus stops right outside the Calleva, formerly the Crown Inn. There is a good range of well-kept Fuller’s beers, plus usually one guest, with good home-cooked food (don’t forget to check out the Specials board) presented with flair by licensees Simon and Sharon. The pub closes at 3.00 pm Monday to Thursday and is open all day Friday and Saturday. Food, though, is only available in the daytime until 2.00 pm but I would advise contacting the pub in case this has changed since my visit in June. There is a main bar with a Pool table and darts board, an adjoining conservatory and a very spacious garden with a rare (for the UK) Petanque pitch. Silchester is in the centre of a triangle of towns – Basingstoke, Reading and Newbury – and the pub is visited by walkers, horse riders, cyclists and ‘diggers’ (the famous archaeological site of Calleva Atrebatum is nearby – really worth a visit especially to see one of the few remaining wellpreserved Romano-British amphitheatres in this country). Functions are catered for either in the garden or the conservatory – ideal for a small wedding reception or anniversary party. There is an interesting collection of artefacts hanging from the ceiling and on shelves – model planes, musical instruments, skis, military helmets, old bottles, Toby jugs ... . Someone likes collecting. A well furbished pub which majors on food but nevertheless still welcomes drinkers who want to drink in the delights of this very picturesque corner of North Hampshire. Jim Turner
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
GBBF 2013 Report from the Great British Beer Festival
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
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or many beer lovers, the CAMRA Great British Beer Festival is the highlight of the drinking year. Known as “the biggest pub in the world”, this celebration of the art of brewing has been a calendar fixture since the early days of the CAMRA organization itself. This year it was held on the 13th – 17th August, inside the Victorian splendour of Olympia London. This venue has been home to the festival for 15 of the last 21 years, and provides a grand setting in which to enjoy the huge selection of brews on tap and in bottles. The festival this year offered a choice of over 800 beers, ciders, and perries: impossible to try them all, even for visitors who attended for the full five days! And these were not just from the UK, there was an excellent selection of continental beers with representatives from Germany, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, Italy, and a very good selection of powerful brews from the USA. To accompany the beers, there was a wide range of high quality food on offer, both traditional and slightly unusual… And for retail therapy, there were
several booths offering beer books, memorabilia, T-shirts etc. To provide the soundtrack to the event, there were many live music bands performing in a range of styles from string quartets to Alvin Stardust! One of the first organized events at the festival was the announcement of Champion Beer of Britain, which is the culmination of a year-long process involving regional tastings, voting, and judgements. Here are the 2013 overall winners: Gold: Elland 1872 Porter (West Yorkshire) Silver: Buntingford Twitchell (Hertfordshire) Bronze: Fyne Ales Jarl (Argyll) Many congratulations to them, and to all the
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
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winners in the various different style categories. Please check the CAMRA website http://www. camra.org.uk/cbob for full details of all the winners. Needless to say, supplies of the winning beers were soon running low at the festival! The North Hampshire CAMRA branch made a group visit to the festival on the Thursday, which coincided with the festival “Hat Day”. Consequently some of the branch members got a little bit carried away with the headgear… Our region was represented at the show with beers from Longdog (Brindle) and Triple FFF (Alton’s Pride). Unfortunately there is so much nationwide competition to supply beer to the festival that our other local brewers didn’t get a chance to take part – hopefully this will change for next year. Overall, the event was attended by 51,000 visitors, who managed to consume the impressive quantity of 225,300 pints of British real ale and around 9,000 pints of real cider and perry. A huge vote of thanks goes out to the army of around 1,000 unpaid volunteers who staff the festival over the five days. They did a sterling job this year as always. Cheers! Michael Hodson
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
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North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
Rural Rides A bike tour of real ale pubs around Basingstoke
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
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his bike tour of some excellent real ale pubs close to Basingstoke is suitable for all cyclists even novices and, apart from a short and easily walkable section of the A30, features quiet country lanes and a series of gentle rises towards the town of Hook in Hampshire. Note: there is a mainline station at Hook if enthusiasm wanes! The ride, without stop off’s can be easily ridden in an hour or so. It is recommended that the opening hours of the various pubs listed are checked to avoid disappointment. Start the ride from Lloyd’s No.1 Bar, a short distance from Basingstoke mainline station and at the fringe of the Basingstoke’s Festival Place shopping centre. The first section is a designated cycling path through Eastrop park and under the ring road towards Old Basing. Basing Road connects to the cycle way and takes the rider over the head waters of the River Loddon and left onto The Street, Old Basing. Just past the ruins of Basing House is the next stop - The Crown public house on the right. Leave The Crown and continue along The Street and under the railway viaduct - The Bolton Arms is to be found shortly on the left. On leaving, continue downhill and turn right onto Newnham Lane towards Newnham. There are a series of gentle climbs involved on this part of the route. The Old House at Home can be seen on the left across the green as Newnham is reached. At Newnham, having left The Old House, turn left along Ridge Lane passing signs on the left to Tylney Hall. A short climb past the grounds of the hall on a twisting lane take you to a left hand turning - the Street - taking the rider to the village of Rotherwick. On the right is The Coach and Horses and a few hundred metres on the left
is The Falcon, both in Rotherwick village. Leaving The Falcon and continuing in the previous direction, take the next left hand turning (Hook Road). This takes the rider onto the B3349, the Reading Road. Take the next left turning, again sign posted the Reading Road, but by-passed by the newer B3349 at this point (Both roads lead to the A30 at Hook, but the older Reading Road is quieter traffic-wise). Almost opposite the junction of the Reading Road with the London Road (A30) at Hook is The White Hart. The next pub on the route is The Old White Hart - approx 100 metres further down the A30 from The White Hart. Continue west along the A30 to the road sign indicating a right turn onto the Newnham Road. This road runs alongside the railway cutting of the mainline railway. This return journey retraces the previous ride at The Old House at Home and is a largely downhill journey back to Old Basing. Returning under the railway viaduct at Old Basing as before, the second right turning, Bexmoor Way, takes you onto a footpath behind the houses and onto the ‘towpath’ of the river Lodden. Turn right here at the towpath, under the viaduct and onto The Millstone pub with its impressive outlook over water meadows. Leave The Millstone and back along the towpath to Basing Lane adjacent to the river bridge. Turn to the right over the bridge and retrace the ride back to Basingstoke. David Dry Answers to Quick Quiz [on page 10] 1. Eve; 2. Legs; 3. Dog; 4. Art; 5. Note; 6. Lime; 7. Wear & the Brewery was ‘ANDWELL’.
beerlines
North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
Basingstoke Sports & Social Club
Beer Festival
22nd-24th November
for further info please get in touch or join us on Facebook Basingstoke’s premier club offering a range of indoor and outdoor sports for men and women of all abilities. More than that, it’s also a place to meet and make new friends. We have a great bar with a very friendly atmosphere where you can come and relax and enjoy one of our many regular and guest beers. Darts Teams • Live Music • Quiz Nights • Race Nights • Disco • Casino Nights
Mays Bounty | Fairfield Road | Basingstoke | RG21 3DR Tel:01256 331646 | E-Mail: events-bssc@btconnect.com
WWW.BASINGSTOKE-SPORTS-CLUB.CO.UK
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
For news and event information join us on Facebook
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beerlines
North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
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beerlines
North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
Brewery News Your local brewery update Andwell Brewing Company
Sherfield Village Brewery
01256 761044 www.andwells.com
07906 060429 www.sherfieldvillagebrewery.co.uk
Andwell Brewing Company have taken on their first pub. They have leased the Lord Derby at North Warnborough. It reopened at the end of July with five handpumps (3 Andwell and 2 guest beers) and a rotating selection of World Beers (kegs). The brewery took part in the Odiham Armed Forces Day on 6th July and held its annual Brewery Funday on 7th July. The number of seasonal ales has increased to eight: • Spring Twist (4.2%) Special Amber Beer • Porter No.2 (4.9%) Dark Winter Warmer • May’s Mild (3.8%) Traditional English Mild • Golden IPA (4.8%) Golden ale with a fresh hoppy aroma • Sovereign (4.3%) red-coloured, sovereignhopped ale • Crouch Hold Engage (4.5%) rich, malty, amber ale • Gold (4.4%) golden ale with a spicy aroma • Cobbett’s Anniversary Ale (4.3%) old-school chestnut.
Mash Brewery Twitter - @MashBrewery shop.mashbrewery.com
Longdog Brewery 01256 324286 www.longdogbrewery.co.uk Longdog currently brews 4 year-round beers: Bunny Chaser, Golden Poacher, Brindle Bitter, and Lamplight Porter. The seasonal beers have been put on hold until next year, but instead we shall be treated to a succession of monthly ‘Specials’. These will typically have an ABV of about 4.5% and use New World hops. The first of these, ‘Ale Dorado’, an American Pale Ale at 4.5% using El Dorado hops became available in July.
Wild Weather Ales 0118 970 1837 www.wildweatherales.com A successful summer for Wild Weather Ales with all four ales in full production and the brewery delivering casks & bottles to more and more pubs in the North Hampshire and Berkshire area. Work is progressing on the new dark beer which has the working title ‘Black Night’, and will be a medium strength brew with a target release date of the Ascot Beer Festival in early October. There are plans afoot for a winter ale in November, and also a low-alcohol session beer for next year.
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
They began to brew in their one barrel plant in June and have 5 main offerings, brewing in rotation, and bottling to order. A new 10 barrel plant is on order from Elite of Swindon and is due to be delivered and installed in November. Currently there is a range 5 brews - Mash Bitter (3.9%), Mash Amber (4.3%), Mash Gold (4%) Mash Chocolate Stout (5%) and Mash Pale (3.8%). They are available in firkins, 36 pint polypins and 500ml bottles. Whilst brewing and distribution is obviously taking place, it is not clear whether the beer has been available on handpumps to drink in pubs locally yet, but at least one has ‘taken it’ (Queen Inn in Winchester). Bottles are available in specialist Beer outlets in Alton and Romsey.
Peter is heavily involved in preparation of brews for various beer festivals. Pioneer Stout is currently in production. Peter is planning a weak beer at 3.5% and a strong beer at 7.0%. There will be more information to follow on these at a later date. Bottling of Pioneer, Green Bullet and Southern Gold is about to take place. These will be available in “The Village Shop” and selected farm shops in the local area.
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beerlines
North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
Welcome Back A new innings begins!
O
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
n Sunday 4th August the new clubhouse at Odiham and Greywell Cricket Club was formally opened. The new facility replaced one destroyed by fire early last year and of course includes a bar. The honours were performed by Sir Tim Rice whose team “Heartaches“ played a charity friendly against the incumbents. The beers are from local brewer Andwell’s and a good range of products were on sale. Your scribe sampled the Golden IPA and guest beer Rooster’s Stars and Stripes, both in top condition. As previously CAMRA members are welcome and will receive a 10% discount upon production of their membership card. The bar manageress Donna
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made us very welcome and it was nice to return to a convivial venue that has always made us feel at home. Sadly the cricket season and summer have come to an end but the bar remains open albeit with reduced hours. As one of the oldest cricket clubs in the country, it will celebrate 250 years not out next year, with a bar that the members can be proud of. Doug Cross
beerlines
THE
North Hampshire Branch of CAMRA
Issue 3 | WINTER 2013
• UP TO 7 REAL ALES AVAILABLE DAILY DURING THE SUMMER
BOUNTY INN
• WATCH OUT FOR OUR NEXT BEER FESTIVAL
BASINGSTOKE
• HOMEMADE PUB FOOD WITH WEEKLY SPECIALS
A warm welcome awaits you at THE BOUNTY INN a traditional pub in the heart of Basingstoke Quiz Night
every Tuesday at 8.30pm
Sunday Lunch £7.95
Free Pint of Real Ale on presentation of this coupon and your valid CAMRA membership card
T&C’s: Limit one coupon per person. Coupon must be presented on ordering. Cannot be combined with any other offers coupons or specials.
• WI-FI AVAILABLE • REAL FIRE • DOGS WELCOME • REGULAR MUSIC EVENTS • OPEN ALL DAY • FOOD AVAILABLE MON - FRI: 12-2.30pm SAT: 12-5.30pm & SUN: 12-4pm
www.camrahantsnorth.org.uk
HAVE YOUR FIRST PINT ON ME!
• BEER GARDEN WITH COVERED AREA
Bounty Rd Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 3BZ t: 01256 320071 e: sueleecondron@googlemail.com
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