Lunesdale Drinker - Issue 15 - Aug/Sep/Oct 2012 by Capital Media

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Issue15 - August-October 2012

Inside... Morecambe Beer Festival

Here at last, the long awaited feast of real ales

School’s In W W W.LUNE SD ALE CAM R A .O R G .UK

The new brewery that gives lessons in good taste

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The Queens Jubilee Celebrations

FAITH & IMAGINATION WIN THROUGH Lunesdale Branch Chair Jenny Greenhalgh casts an eye over the beer scene and finds reasons to be cheerful.

warm welcome to the summer [ha!] edition of Lunesdale Drinker which we hope will put some sunshine in your glass. The Jubilee celebrations are lost in a haze of drizzle or driving rain, flapping raincoats and dripping bunting but the beers will continue to cheer. A few breweries in the North West launched Jubilee ales of their own with Three Bs’ one -off 50 barrel brew “Ju BEE lee” 4.2% ruby ale. Thwaites’ “Fine Rain” at 4.1% became “Fine Reign” – although thinking back, perhaps the first name was just as apt. Booth’s supermarket chain chose Ilkley Brewery’s bottled beer “Ilkley Jubilee”, a 4.5% brew which also celebrated HRH the Princess Royal’s visit to the Brewery in April. Our next celebration (combined with a lot of hard work) will be the Beer Festival at Morecambe Winter Gardens Thursday 23rd to Saturday 25th. August – come and enjoy this major event with us. Offers of help will be much appreciated too. See elsewhere in this issue for the organiser’s piece about what you can expect at the festival. Good things sometimes need fighting for, and this includes good beer and good pubs, both of which are threatened by ever-rising taxes on beer. For some time now the trade and CAMRA have been

campaigning to stop the disastrous “tax escalator” which bangs up the cost of a pint every year. We are calling on all pub users and drinkers to sign the antiescalator petition and lobby their MP on this major issue. A number of pubs in the Lunesdale branch area are doing their bit to lower the price of a pint, at least for CAMRA members, by offering a discount on production of a valid membership card. Amounts vary, with the Borough, on Dalton Square willing to knock a whopping pound off a pint. (See our Borough feature elsewhere in this issue.) The response so far has been predictably enthusiastic. Despite the gloomy economic outlook, some pubs are still optimistic and investing for growth. There is one shining local example. The Golden Ball, at Snatchems, not so long ago apparently doomed to closure, now has a handsome glass fronted extension with a balcony overlooking the River Lune. Steve Hunt and his family have put their faith and imagination behind this venture and the pub, we are sure, has a bright future.

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Tim Tomlinson (left) and bar manager Tom Wilkinson of the White Cross receiving the Quality Pub Award from Lunesdale CAMRA chair Jenny Greenhalgh

A BIG TICK FOR THE CROSS Prominent city venue wins Pub of the Year 2012

place with a reputation as the Mecca of cask beer has received a prestigious award from The Campaign for Real Ale. The canal-side White Cross, one of only six Lancaster city pubs in the national Good Beer Guide, was given the Quality Pub Award (Pub of the Year) by the local branch of CAMRA at a ceremony at the pub. The White Cross, which hosts up to 14 local and regional cask ales each week, as well as a famous yearly Beer & Pie festival, was described by Lunesdale branch chair Jenny Greenhalgh as a “happy pub and a great place to be.” Presenting the award, she paid tribute to the pub and what it offered: “Good beer, well kept and presented, traditional

WHAT’S ON?

games, quality pub food and friendly staff.” And it was the staff who were thanked first by landlord Tim Tomlinson as he accepted the framed certificate. “They’re hard working, dedicated, but above all they care – about the customers and the product.” He went on to refer to the stiff competition for the award. “Drinkers are spoilt for choice when it comes to real ale in this area, which is why we feel genuinely honoured to have won this.” He added: “I think our recipe for success is the variety of ales and beer styles you’ll ﬁnd here, together with our commitment to the customers in creating the kind of place they want a pub to be.” For further information about any of these events, contact secretary@ lunesdalecamra.org.uk

CAMRA EVENTS: AUGUST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

SEPTEMBER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Friday 10 : 8pm Pub crawl round Preston (details to be arranged).

Wednesday 12 : 8pm Branch Meeting, Borough (Lancaster).

Wednesday 15 : 8 pm Branch Meeting, Stonewell Tavern (Lancaster). Thursday 23 - Saturday 25 : Morecambe Beer Festival, Winter Gardens.

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OCTOBER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tuesday 16 : 8pm Branch Meeting, Old School Brewery (Warton).

Martin Sherlock finds it’s a case of some doors closing while others open...

he closing of premises for long periods, a feature of the current economic slump, continues. Pubs that have joined this state of limbo recently include Ma Murphy’s Irish Bar (Morecambe), Dalton Arms (Glasson Dock), Park (Morecambe) and mood (Lancaster). At least pubs in this state can reopen, as for example Fenwick Arms (Claughton) and Varsity (Lancaster). The latter has reopened under the name of Oscar’s as a “wine bar and bistro” with three handpumps dispensing a variety of ales. Two new pubs are defying the gloom and set to open in the area soon. Marston’s have acquired land in front of the Globe Arena in Morecambe and have applied for a licence for a pub, currently unnamed. This will be a large

“family dining” venue along the lines of the Bellflower (Garstang by-pass). Perhaps more exciting are plans for a “micro-pub” called the Snug on Carnforth station. This is planned to sell only ale, wine and soft drinks. No spirits, no lager, no food, no music, no machines, just a very small pub. Also coming up is a new brewery in Lancaster called Bartleby’s. They say: “When we say hand-crafted we mean hand-crafted - lifting sacks ourselves, stirring the mash by hand, and delivering the beer by bike, not driving forklifts and pressing buttons. We are in the process of setting up as a workers’ cooperative and aim to be launching with a couple of beers in October.” Definitely something to look forward to.

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PUB & BREWERY NEWS

Branch Contacts Chairman Jenny Greenhalgh Vice Chairman Bob Smith Treasurer Ann Tanner Media & Publicity Ofﬁcer Julian Holt T: 01995 600848

Branch Secretary Martin Sherlock T: 01524 66131 Email: drinker@lunesdale camra.org.uk The Editor reserves the right to amend or shorten contributions for publication. All editorial copyright © Lunesdale CAMRA 2012.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in articles are those of individual contributors and are not necessarily the views of the Lunesdale Branch, The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. Lunesdale 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 Lunesdale CAMRA.

© MMXII 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.

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Hannah Horner behind the bar at the Borough

ALL ROUND BOROUGH Julian Holt on the pub with everything

pread the word. There’s a pub that’s got it all, from “a London atmosphere” to the tastiest chips in town. Oh, and the best beer deal for CAMRA members to be found anywhere. Full stop. Don’t take my word for it – ask the punters. Judging by the people who throng to its doors, whether you want to drink excellent beers or eat very fine food, the Borough is the place to be. 0nce upon a time in Lancaster’s historic Dalton Square there was a pub called, believe it or not, the Blob Shop. Then along came two fairy godpeople (godpersons?) called Hannah and Martin who waved a magic hand pump and a whisk, and hey pesto! Actually it wasn’t quite as easy as that. Nobody conjures a gem like this out of thin air. There are no short cuts to the quality product that is the Borough. Taking over in 2006 (is it really only six years ago?) Hannah and Martin led a handson effort to transform the Borough from a Blob-standard watering hole for yoof to a rendezvous for all age groups seeking the best. The best in contemporary pub culture with traditional values. The big draw for CAMRA people and

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all beer lovers is the range and quality of real ales available. There were four hand pumps to start with, now there are seven. Being that wondrous thing, a free house, enables the Borough to offer a feast of ales. Wells and Young supply draught products, and Hannah and Bar Manager Russell are keen to ensure that, in Hannah’s words, “there is always something pale and hoppy and something dark” on the weekly beer menu. Best sellers are ales from Marble, Hawkshead (Windermere Pale), Dent (Porter) and Ulverston (Fra Diavolo). Independent brewers dominate at the hand pumps. To prove the point, on the evening Hannah talked to the Drinker, the following were available: Young’s Bitter, Borough Indian Pale Ale, Lancaster Red, Old School Brewery (OSB) Hopscotch, Marston’s Marynka Single Hop, Watermill Blackbeard Mild and Kirkby Lonsdale Ruskin’s. Wow. (That’s not a beer, it’s an exclamation.) What of that deal for CAMRA members mentioned earlier? Well, they’ve been offered 30p a pint off almost since the pub opened, but not long ago the decision was taken to raise that to a

What’s the secret of this fine place in one of the city’s finest settings? We’ve already mentioned the beer and food, but someone I talked to made a more specific reference to one menu item. “The chips in the Borough are immediately recognisable – they’re the genuine article, the best in town.” More importantly there’s the feel of the place, the “buzz” - that something that makes you return to a pub again and again. Someone perhaps put their finger on it when they said the place had “a London atmosphere”. Busy, lively, a nice mix of customers. But also a variety of moods and tones. You can be one of the crowd one day, then find a quiet nook to read the paper undisturbed the next. The Borough is an all round great place to be. Spread the word all round the borough, and beyond.

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whopping £1. “We want to attract CAMRA people, who are responsible drinkers and help to create the right atmosphere – one where door staff aren’t needed. But for it to be viable a big increase in sales was needed,” Hannah said. It seems to have worked. Real ale sales to CAMRA members using the discount were up 130% in the first month of the offer. The Borough story is one of phenomenal success. There has been a year-by-year growth in beer sales and staff – currently 46 are employed. (And by the way, where the staff are concerned we are talking real quality – the best.) “We love this place and have no desire to open a premises anywhere else.” Indeed so great is Martin and Hannah’s determination to put down even stronger roots that there are plans to open a hotel there next year. Watch this space.

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Plough & Harrow

DESTINATION STOURBRIDGE Michael Dillon’s Black Country quest for Midlands gems

ight real ale enthusiasts and one lager drinker set off from Banbury and Coventry early one morning with the intention of visiting seven pubs in and around Stourbridge on the edge of the Black Country. Well it didn’t go exactly to plan, with only four pubs being visited. But in mitigation we plead running out of time and too much good real ale in the first four fantastic pubs. We arrived at the first, Dave Murphy’s in Worcester Street, at 11:15 and not surprisingly were the first customers of the day. This pub only opened last year and the décor over three bars is quite modern; however, the front bar we were in had an old feel and was very comfortable and friendly. Real ales on offer were: Three Tuns – Solstice 3.9%; Salamander Brewing Co – Bionic 4.2%; Abbeydale – Demon Drink 4.2%. All were tried and found to be very acceptable. A short walk along Worcester Road heading out of Stourbridge and we arrived at the second pub, The Plough and Harrow. This is a very traditional local pub (see photo) with a U-shaped bar and by the time we arrived, around 12:30, it was already doing a good trade. Real ales on offer were: Craddock’s – Saxon Gold 4% and Crest 4.4%; Timothy TaylorLandlord 4.3%; Purity – UBU 4.5%; Wye Valley – HPA 4%. Craddock’s is a local brew, brewed in The Duke William, so as we were more than familiar with the other three breweries we sampled both beers and found them absolutely great. We then took a ride on the 276 bus for

about ten minutes to Wollaston Junction for a real gem of a pub, The Unicorn in Bridgnorth Road. This is one of a few Black Country brewer Batham’s pubs, and by the time we arrived mid afternoon (times hazy from now) it was standing room only in the front bar. This is very much a traditional local, where, as in most Black Country pubs, visitors are made most welcome. Real ale choice is very simple: Batham’s bitter 4.3% and mild 3.5%. A few pints of excellent beer were supped here. Tearing ourselves away from The Unicorn, a little way down the road we came to The Princess. This has been converted into a large one-bar pub but one that still retains a lively and friendly atmosphere. Real ales on offer were: Greene King – Abbot 5%; Wye Valley – HPA 4%; Enville – Enville Ale 4.5%; Holden – Golden Glow 4.4%. After failing to find the bus stop to take us to the final three pubs we made our way back to the station and finally home after stopping for a couple of pints in The Wellington in Birmingham City Centre. I am told the lager was good... So if you fancy a trip further a field you could do a lot worse than visiting Stourbridge and the four pubs mentioned with the addition of the Duke William in Coventry Street which is only a short walk from the station. This will entail train from Lancaster to Birmingham New Street, Stourbridge Junction via Smethwick Galton Bridge and the railcar shuttle (at 5 mph) to Stourbridge Town. Issue15 |

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An occasional series in which Alan T. Gardner shows that beer mats are not just things to put your pint on.

obinson’s of Stockport, dating from 1868 and now with more than 250 pubs, moved into Lancaster thirty years ago when they took over Hartley’s of Ulverston. They still have a presence here, at the Wagon & Horses on St George’s Quay, a pub that has gone more up-market in recent years. No more whippets drying off round the roaring fire after races on the Marsh while their owners supped Hartley’s Mild, Bitter and XB. Robinson’s has used over 360 different beer mat designs over the years and these are well worth looking out for. Something else worth looking out for is Robinson’s Old Tom, a very fine strong ale which can be found at The Pub on China Street in Lancaster. And if you fancy a variation on a theme, try Old Tom

Chocolate and Old Tom Ginger, both 6% abv and both available in a bottle. Very nice!

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• Quality Beers, Spirits and Wines •Cask Ales •Darts and Pool • Outside Patio • Quality Food • Full Sky Sports/ESPN Package • Free wireless internet

87 Lancaster Road Morecambe LA4 5QH 01524 425353 www.yorkhotelmorecambe.co.uk Issue15 |

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I. Walsh (owner & managing director, Old School Brewery), G.Whittaker (brewer), R. Wallbank (owner) & B. Peters (sales)

SCHOOL’S IN... Julian Holt on a new brewery that offers lessons in taste

fter a session on the blackboard I had an encounter with the headmaster, who gave me detention. “It’s either that or hopscotch,” he said sternly. “Please sir, can’t I have both?” Indeed I could. And I did! Ever wanted to relive your school days? Well, now you can. Though this is an experience for big boys and girls only. A new educational establishment has arrived on the scene: a quaffers’ college, a school of beer, an academy of ale. Yes, Old School Brewery is now accepting students. A typical conversation might go: “So, Principal, what is it you do here?” “We make beer.” “Crikey, in my day we did woodwork.” Enough of the education theme... Or perhaps not, because sampling OSB’s stunning portfolio of beers is, in the full sense of the phrase, an educational experience. You learn about tradition, commitment and dedication and partake in a taste tutorial where all the outcomes are achieved. In the end of term test you are likely to give them ten out of ten. For dentist Ian Walsh and builder Ren Wallbank (I’ll resist jokes about a shared interest in cavities), together with brewer Garth Whittaker all the months of planning and building - the brewery is housed in a converted barn in Warton - paid off in the reception their beers received at the

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official launch in May. “Wild enthusiasm” isn’t an exaggeration. It’s not difficult to see why. Ale making has its complexities, but at its heart is a simple principle that nevertheless some brewers miss: the beer must taste of something. Old School’s beers are true individualists, all unashamedly bold in taste, but with distinctive luscious flavours that distinguish one from another. A common factor is full mouth feel – that glorious combination of texture and taste that gives a great beer its developing flavour and final body. I used the word “stunning” earlier, and I’ll use it again. Try OSB’s 3.7% Blackboard mild and you’ll understand why. Grainy, oaty texture through a massive creamy richness, full roast notes, drying black chocolate finish. (It’s a mild that prompts favourable comparison with the best: Holt’s, Bank Top, Cains.) Or what looks like its polar opposite, the delicate, glowingly pale Hopscotch, a 3.7% thirst quencher, with a huge, juicy taste for its gravity and a massive hop presence. You could drink it till the cows come home. Or the bell goes for end of school. But you must leave room for the other two. Don’t be deceived by the strawcoloured Detention (4.1%) - it’s different from Hopscotch: plenty of fruit at the start, not quite so big on the hops but a

an old and noble theme – the brewing of wonderfully tasty cask ales that, once tried, are asked for again and again. Yes, School’s In for Summer, and for all the seasons that lie ahead. Note: You can ﬁnd OSB beers in local pubs at Warton and Mill Head, at the Woodlands in Silverdale, Longland Hotel, Plato’s Restaurant in Kirkby Lonsdale and the Borough in Lancaster. OSB beers are now on the Mitchell’s list, which means that any Mitchell’s pub can order them. Latest information on the beers’ availability can be found on the brewery’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/osbrew

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nicely drying and lengthy finish – a lovely beer. But top of the form is undoubtedly Headmaster (4.5%) in my view set to win (together with Blackboard) a host of prizes at future beer festivals. At a time when most bitters seem to be blanching (the word anaemic springs to mind) thank God for a beefy beer that’s had half a ton of crystal malt thrown at it and come out smiling. Drink it and you get great wedges of flavour: sweet malt, dark fruit, and in the end biscuity and then hoppy. This is a complex and mighty beer with an extraordinarily full mouth feel. The thanks of all beer drinkers should go to the OSB team for their fresh twist on

MORECAMBE BEER FESTIVAL W

ell folks, by the time this hits the bars the Festival committee will be feeling the sense of stress that comes just before blind panic. Might even be time to turn religious. So what’s going to happen? The Winter Gardens will be opening the doors to a fantastic range of FIFTY real ales & TEN real ciders on Thursday 23rd August at 5pm. Other sessions are Friday 24th and Saturday 25th noon - 3pm and 5 - 11pm. There will be low volume music on Friday (folk) and Saturday (rock) and if all goes to plan there’ll be some entertainment at the lunch sessions. For those of you who feel the need for solid nutrition, there will be the football fans’ favourite Potts Pies, and reet good proper hot dogs available at all sessions. Mmm, real ale and real pies. If this is what heaven has to compete with, it’s lost! There are a lot of people who’ve helped to bring this event of the year to you. The trustees and volunteers of the Winter Gardens have pulled out all the stops to get the venue to the right standard and Cross Bay, Old School, Kirkby Lonsdale and Lancaster breweries have come up trumps providing staff drinks, equipment and... well just about anything we asked for. Mitchell’s have done us proud with their services in the advertising department and Morecambe Bay Wines have been invaluable providing us with manpower and vehicles. Thanks to you all.

The precursor and advertising event,

The festival precusor and advertising event, the Ale Trail happened on the afternoon and evening of 26th of May. There is an article on the Lunesdale website and stuff on the beerfest Facebook site, but I’d just like to urge you to book for next year’s trip. I honestly can’t think of a day that was such great fun as the Trail. Currently we’re trying to sort out staff rotas and there are still a few slots that could do with filling so if you fancy helping out, just let me know at beerfest@ lunesdalecamra.org.uk There’s one thing that everybody reading this can do to help us – Come along, bring a few friends (No, not your smartphone with your Facebook friends) and have a cracking good time. See you at the Winter Gardens. George Palmer, Event Coordinator Issue15 |

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Traditional Real Ales

Westmorland CAMRA POTY 2011 14

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Geoff Webber at the bar of The Ship Inn, Overton

RETURN TO MA’S PLACE George Palmer goes back to a muchloved pub not visited for twenty years

he new and improved Lunesdale Drinker has had an unexpected benefit for me. The new LD production run means the branch has lots of extra magazines to circulate, and that means that pubs that didn’t normally get any now have some great reading material for the customers. So it was that I went to a hostelry, only two or three miles from my home, which I haven’t been to in over twenty years. As I entered the Ship at Overton (aka Ma MacClusky’s) the memories came flooding back. Friday dinner drinks with the power station commissioning team, a couple of early doors beers before putting the Triumph Tiger 750 in the garage and going on a tour of the Bolton-le-Sands pubs. At first everything looked and felt like it did over quarter of a century ago, all dark and cosy, yet there was a difference. The room at the end of the bar seemed brighter and more welcoming (if that is possible). The charming landlady,

Cynthia Webber, explained that a wall had to be removed as the timber studding partition was found to be holding up a rather heavy stone structure on the first floor and this needed proper support. Whilst this was being done the opportunity was taken to improve the facilities and install inside loos. All this went on around the millennium and caused controversy and even a boycott of this lovely boozer at the time. But that was in the past. The pub still has its Bird room and Egg room and oozes character and hospitality. The two handpumps on the glass panelled bar dispense Thwaites’ beers that are well kept and presented, certainly worth sampling. I know that it won’t be too long before I make a return visit, not for reasons of nostalgia, but because Ma MacClusky’s has everything a pub should have, good beer, great surroundings and friendly hosts.

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* See over page for photo caption

PRAISE OF BOTTLED BEERS: BELIGIAN DEVILS & SUCHLIKE

Steve Wright sings the praises of real beer in a bottle – the first in a series peeking behind the bar and sorting the priceless gems of global greatness from the wicked chaff of alcopops and filtered frippery.

AMRA has achieved a lot: where years ago hand pumps were in decline now they are pride-of-place again in the best pubs. But do you ever look behind the bar at what’s in the fridge? Beer fridges have the same status as keg beer for many real ale lovers – a place where dead beer is brightly lit and overpriced for those who want to pose with a bottle, not love a beer. The UK’s tradition is real live ale served fresh from the cask. However when our ales make the move to a bottle all manner of economically and ‘consumer’ driven sins come in: living beer is filtered and pasteurised killing flavour and character - like UHT milk compared to fresh. Add artificial carbonation (soda stream taste) and bottled beers are fizzy ghosts of their live cask siblings. If the UK’s tradition is live ale from a cask then one nation stands head-andshoulders above the others when it comes to live beer in a bottle: Belgium. Belgian beers have a reputation for devilish

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strength, though not all are like that. Their unique yeasts give their beers distinctive tastes that mature over time – Duvel is a fantastic example and shows the wicked qualities in abundance: at 8.5% it’s one to savour not session. The yeast character is dominant balanced by delicate hopping and distinctively Belgian yeast flavours – from a yeast originally cultivated from a bottle of McEwan’s Export! Duvel is in the fridge of many Thwaites pubs. Chimay abbey’s ales (available at The Borough, The Sun, and Atkinson’s) are another superb introduction. Red cap is a ‘dubbel’ – warming and rich, the white cap ‘cinq cent’ is a blonde trippel whilst the blue cap is a real cold weather dark, strong, warming beer at 9% - incredible complexity and actually worth the price. Ideal for a winter’s evening (or June as it’s now called). If those beers excite you then the wild fringes of this particular field might beckon. Several Belgian beers have ‘wild yeasts’. Orval matures and changes for

* Cold comfort at the Sun: Look beyond the Peroni! The Sun boasts an excellent beer fridge including a world-class imperial stout from Brooklyn Brewery, refreshingly different German and Belgian wheat beers and Belgians aplenty including the “wild wing” of Rodenbach and Geuze.

Reach 6000+ real ale drinkers and pubgoers The Lunesdale Drinker is the only local magazine to reach more than 6000 discerning real ale drinkers and pubgoers in North Lancashire.

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years from a light hoppy summer ale to a complex dry marvel. Lambic brewing is a survivor from mediaeval times with no brewer’s yeast added. As the wort cools overnight in an ancient loft wild yeast ‘innoculates’ it before barrelling and blending. Cantillon’s “Rose de Cambrinus” in the Sun’s fridge will change your mind about what fruit beer can be. And for those who love adding extra vinegar to their chips: Rodenbach Grand Cru aged for years in huge oaken vats is a whole world of sourness and oak complexity christened “the most refreshing beer in the world” by the late great non-gloved Michael Jackson. In future pieces Steve will consider American bottled beers, real lagers, and some of the “little local legends” of experimental micros in the North West.

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CAMRAmblers at Hill Inn

MEADOW PIPPETS & HEN HAREMS Dorothy Smith on the delights of a Hike & Pint outing in North Yorkshire

ne morning in Spring the Dales Bus from Lancaster bus station took members of Lunesdale CAMRA from Lancaster to Ribblehead for the start of our walk. We were fortunate with the weather, which was sunny and breezy. Arriving a little early at the Station Inn, organiser Martin Sherlock took us round an adjacent disused limestone quarry where he and Jenny Greenhalgh educated the “townies” amongst us to identify some local flora and fauna. We should now be able to recognise wildflowers such as Lady’s Smock and Early Purple orchids, and some birds including Meadow Pippits. When we arrived back at the Station Inn it was open and very busy. We met up with members of the Keighley and Craven Branch of CAMRA and sampled some of the six real ales on offer. All beers were in good condition and consequently there was some reluctance to move on to the next stage - the hike. However, the beautiful countryside and the dramatic views of the famous Ribblehead Railway Viaduct, completed in 1874, justified us getting out and about again. Despite the grandeur of the 700ft high structure it was a sobering thought that hundreds of railway workers (mostly Irish) had lost their lives during

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the construction work. Accidents and fights were major causes but smallpox epidemics killed both workers and their families. Indeed so great was the loss of life when constructing the viaduct that the railway paid for the local graveyard to be extended. We walked past the sites of the shanty towns where the workers had lived then set off on a couple of miles of easy walking across the paths and fields to arrive at the Old Hill Inn at Chapel le Dale. This pub was even busier than the previous one so we sat on a low wall outside, enjoying the sunshine, the scenery, the beers and the antics of a very handsome cockerel and his harem of hens. Beers included Black Sheep Bitter, Dent Aviator and Golden Fleece. Walking so far had been so undemanding that a comedian in the group suggested we attempt the Three Peaks walk. However, we settled for following Martin up the lower slopes of Ingleborough to a path going around below the summit. This started easy but became tougher when we left the path and began picking our way between the limestone outcroppings. Three of us got lost for a while but we eventually found our way down to a narrow stony lane

Original and Nutty Black were on offer. Plans to visit the Craven Heifer had to be abandoned as time was short. As it was, four of the group nearly missed the last bus back to Lancaster. It would have been a long walk home. Many thanks to Martin for organising the event, although the hike seemed much longer than 7 miles! Despite that, we very much look forward to the next one.

PUSSY CAT, PUSSY CAT, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

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which led, after a lot of stumbling and ankle twisting, to the delightful town of Ingleton - and its pubs. Ingleton was clearly a popular destination as the shops, cafes and pubs were very busy. Most of us relaxed in the attractive garden at the rear of the first pub we came to – the Wheatsheaf - quenching our thirsts with Jennings Cumberland. Later, others went on to visit the Three Horseshoes where Thwaites

George Palmer goes on a right royal booze up I’ve been to London to visit the Queen.

o I went to see the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. What’s that got to do with the price of beer in Lunesdale? Not a lot really, but whilst in the capital I did manage to slip in to a few hostelries and I must say they were quite impressive. For a start, it was hard, very hard, to find a boozer without cask ales and the ones I tried were all in fine fettle. But what was really impressive were the pubs themselves. The hotel I stayed at was on the edge of Pimlico near the West End. Walking round the area one thing stands out: the standard of preservation of the pub exteriors. I can’t say if there is a policy of preservation in the area, but it would seem likely. I’ve been to a few places that have old pub exteriors with the insides ripped out and sterile glitzy plastic and neon used to replace the original interiors, but not in Pimlico. The ones that have been ‘refurbished’ still have the feel of belonging to the building and those that are preserved are in good order.

Take just two of the pubs, the Prince of Wales (free house) and the Jugged Hare (Fullers). The Prince has been opened up and decorated in a bright and ‘modern’ way, yet the bar is very traditional with pillars and a carved top board. The Hare on the other hand, retains what may well be its original decor – high ceilings with decorative pillars rising past the gallery and lit by chandeliers. Both were pubs of real character, warm and welcoming and both surprisingly small (ish). Any licensee or landlord considering ‘modernising’ their pub should go for a few beers in Pimlico before embarking on major refurbishment. And the beers? Two really stood out. Gale’s Spring Hare was outstanding, light, fresh and zesty with a massive hop character whilst not being over bitter. The Fullers ESB in the Prince of Wales had ripened to perfection, full of the fruity and earthy tastes of a great old ale. Both real lip smackers for very different reasons. Oh yes, I suppose I should mention that the Thames Pageant was even more impressive than the pubs!

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