West Lancs Branch
Issue 91 Winter ‘10
Fighting for drinkers rights since 1973
Pub of the Season
The CAMRA West Lancashire branch Pub of the Season for Winter 2010/2011 is the Wellington in Preston. It is almost two years since a Preston pub was last given the award, and the Wellington is a pub that is long overdue in being given some recognition by your local CAMRA branch. The Wellington is located on Glovers Court, one of the many streets leading down from Fishergate that are perhaps more associated with wine bars and restaurants than with real ale pubs. If you can see the distinctive Booths Arch overhead, then you will not be too far away from the Wellington. The Bar Manager is Nicky Park, who has been working at the pub now for 13 years. She has established the Wellington as a friendly city centre pub that attracts a good mixed clientele with its regular customers including many office workers, shop workers and students. The Wellington is open from 11am to 12 midnight weekdays, and from 11am to 1am at weekends. It has long had a reputation for providing good quality food at good reasonable prices, with Oriental and Indian meals being something of a speciality on the ‘Wellie Menu’. Food is available 11am to 6.45pm on weekdays, and from 11am to 5.45pm on Saturdays. On Tuesdays the pub hosts a popular Quiz Night when free food is provided for those participating.
STOP PRESS: PENDLE BEER FESTIVAL
3-5 Feb. 2011 The Muni Theatre, Colne 3/2: 5 - 11, 4/2: 11.30 - 11, 5/2: 11.30 - 11 members -beers Free always entry toavailable. all sessions There are CAMRA three handpumped Marstons Poachers, Bamber Bridge..now serving real ale from 2 pumps Welcome to Winter. Perfect time to get warm in the pub, and share in the fantastic atmosphere. Still a Month away, but lets us say MERRY CHRISTMAS to YOU!
Burton Bitter is the permanent beer, being of a strength that is suitable for those who want a drink but still have to go back to work. the other two beers are regularly changed but are usually slightly higher strength bitters, which on my most recent visit were Brakspears Oxford Gold and Jennings Cocker Hoop. For many years the Wellington was one of Matthew Brown’s many keg only pubs. It Later came under the control of Cafe inns but it is only since 1999 when it was acquired by Jennings that it became renowned as a real ale outlet. Now part of the Marstons empire it is still badged as a Jennings pub. The Wellington has the look of a traditional pub but in fact there have been a number of refurbishments continues on Pg2
New Britannia Open As predicted in the last issue, the New
Britannia on Heatley St. in Preston has reopened. Under the management Of Dean Mather, late of Oddbins in town it opened its doors on October 2nd. This was slightly later than planned, due to the massive amount of work that was required to make the place fit for purpose. He had to have it completely redecorated from top to bottom to restore it to its former glory.
Third Time Lucky. So says John Smith, owner and brewer
of Hart Brewery. For the last 15 years he has been brewing his beers at the Cartford Hotel in Little Eccleston, but expansion plans for the hotel means that John has been looking for the ideal place to relocate his brewing plant.
CONTENTS: pg 2 Pg 4 Pg 5 Pg 7 Pg 10 pg 15 pg 12 Pg 20 Pg 23
Editorial, Hart News, New Brit Opens Preston Parade Croston Chorley Chatter Viva La Birra Old Postcards Ye Horns Membership
Pg 8 Lytham loo Pg 12 Pub Register Pg 17 Riley’s Rambles Pg 19 Quiz pg 22 Branch Details And Much More ...