Ale Cry 97

Central Lancashire Branch Issue 97 Winter 2012

Ale Cry

Formerly the West Lancashire Branch

Fighting for drinkers rights in

PUB OF THE SEASONORIGINAL FARMERS ECCLESTON

since 1973

the more interesting part of the Enter

prise guest list with Wells Bombar

dier, Black Sheep Bitter and Deuchars The Winter pub of the Other attractions of this IPA among the regulars. season is the Original comfortable, white painted pub, which expanded into the Farmers Arms in Ecclecottage next door, are a restaurant with good value food ston, between Leyland ( which can also be had in the bar) and four rooms of acco and Chorley on the mmodation, including an ensuite, so you can use the pub as B5250. The name Ec a base and explore the surrounding countryside and have a cleston comes from the few good drinks when you get back.

A quiz night is held on Celtic word egles (think iglesia in Latin) meaning Monday. If you have been watching any sport this summer,

church and the Old Eng- you must have heard that Bradley Wiggins, Tour de France lish word tun, meaning farmstead or settlement. The puband Olympic Gold Medal winner( and probable BBC Sports itself dates from around 1799 and was originally used Personality of the Year) regularly turns up for refreshment.

The pub is open noon till midnight (11.30 Sun) and meals as a public weighbridge. The location of the weighing plate is still visible at the front of the building. The are available throughout the day seven days a week. They Farmers has been run by Barry Newton for the past 25 have a website where you can see more details of what is years, him having started out at the Royal in Cleveleys available (www.originalfarmersarms.co.uk) and the phone

number is 01257 451594. and it has been a regular in the Good Beer Guide for

There will be a presentation many years. This is with good reason with up to six

by our branch on Thursday high quality real ales on sale, with three changing

10th of January at approx regularly. An Enterprise

9pm at the pub. All are wel Inn owned pub, it is allowed a completely free of tie

come to attend.

A minibus real ale, and Barry takes full advantage of this and

will run from Preston via unusual beers often appear on the bar. His customers

Chorley to the pub and back are quite knowledgeable and they suggest beers to him

on the night. and he tries to comply as far as he can. Recently Green

Paul Riley Hill Stellar and Hawkshead Windermere Pale Ale Janet - general assistant at the have appeared on the bar. The other beers come from OriginalFarmers Arms, Eccleston

up to five guest ales or ciders plus chance to win the national pub of The Tony Buller Trophy a selection of bottled beers from the year. Last year’s Trophy winner, This year’s award, which is given to the around the world on sale. It has the Swan with Two Necks in Pendwinner of the Lancashire pub of the year, subsequently beaten the Cumbria leton, also an East Lancs Branch has been won by the Bridge Bier Huis in pub of the year to become the pub, made it through to be in the top Burnley. The trophy is awarded in memory West Pennines pub of the year and three, so good luck to the Bridge. of Tony, who played a big part in our will go forward to the super –re- Maybe our branch can finally win branch until his untimely death. Nomina- gional finals, the winner then has a the Tony Buller Trophy next year. tions are made by all the separate branches Our nomination will be chosen at in Lancashire and are judged by members our Christmas Party/Social/Branch of the other branches, the winner scoring meeting at the Stanley Arms in the most points from a set formula of critePreston on Monday 17 December. ria. The Bridge received the highest score.

(The picture shows me awarding the Once again, our entry, which was the Old shield to Simon Scott and Emma Black Bull in Preston, did not get enough Harrison at a presentation at the votes to win. Our branch has yet to win the pub.) trophy. The Bridge, which is on Bank Pa rade in Burnley, has Moorhouses Premier Paul Riley as a permanent beer and

Inside this issue!!!

p2 Chorley; p3 Editorial; p4 Preston p6 Locale, 124; p8 Save the Vic;

P10 S.Ribble; P11 Crafty Dan; UCLAN Real Ale Soc.; P13 Longton; p14 Edinburgh; p15 A6; p18 Salamander; p20 6 gal in Leyland Lion; p21 Ghosts; p22 Branch details; p23 MEMBERSHIP FORM ...and much more

The Red Lion at Wheelton went under the hammer....and was bought by Phil Entwistle from the Top Lock..........

7 Stars, Leyland re-opened............ales inc Deuchars IPA, Theakston’s Lightfoot

New Kid IN town

y e l r Chhoatter C

New Kid IN town

Tom Sweeney is the new licensee at the Brookes Arms I always say - ‘as one door on the corner of Brook Street and Eaves Lane and that is

closes another one shuts.’But as the good news for local real ale drinkers. At that end of the

door to the Swan with Two Necks shut the Lane real ale is already available. Linda in the Shepherds

door to Pearson’s opened. Nick at the Swan always Arms served me a lovely pint of Wainrights had an eye for publicity with his campaign against the smok and the John in the Prince of ing ban the most memorable. Pearsons can claim better than Wales is planning two more that. Within 3weeks of opening they twice made international hand pumps to add to the headlines. It was the pub blind man Colin Farmer was head existing five. Down Sheps ing for when the police decided he was a sword wielding Cowling is the Spinners Brethy maniac and tasered him. A week later they made the world and on Brook Street itself is the Prince press again when the Daily Mirror, somewhat tongue in cheek Potters. At the other end of the of critisised them for asking customers to remove headwear in Lane is the Bretherton where Wales the pub (a stand other licensees have told me they support). Chas can be relied on for three So the Swan has gone and the pub has been left in such a good ales Further on down state of dereliction it will cost a pretty penny to bring it back Botany is the Lock and Quay in to use. Ale Cry was full of stories about the pub over whilst on the same side of the the colourful 8

tracks are the Railway and Malt & years under Denise Hops. So if you’re planning an Ale and Nick’s manag

Trail you could do worse than head ement. It was one Lock and Quay for that part of Chorley Tom at the of our pubs

Brookes is a well known and popu of the Season Tom behind the bar lar Chorley man who has returned and will be

after running the Pagefield and sadly missed Honeysuckle in Wigan (popular

with Wigan CAMRA members) He

will be managing the Brookes on

behalf of Trust Inns and will be Pearsons occupies The Derelict Swan

starting off with three handpumps. the former Yates’s

The pub has a chequered recent Wine Lodge bang

history being shut more often than in the centre of

open and when open rarely offering Chorley’s shopping

any real ale. I’m sure Tom will give area - a place held

it the stability it needs. in reverence by Chorley’s drinkers.

Since the Wine Lodge closed a succession of fly by nights have tried in vain to make it work The Swan in its heyday - the way that most pubcos do, insulting the intelligence of the drinking public with gimmick after gimmick and childish name after childish name leading to inevitable faiure At last a sensible pub chain has come along and rescued it from obscurity and turned it almost instantly in to the suc cess its location and history suggested it merited.Amber Tav The Red Herring in front of the home of the Chorley Brewhouse erns is a rapidly expanding pubco suporting real ale. My first They’ve got em in Blackburn, Bolton and Burnley. experience of them was the excellent Berkley’s in Wigan.

They’ve got them in Wigan and Standish. They’ve a Recently they have made a success couple in Preston. They’ve even got one in Feniscowles of theWheatsheaf on Fylde Road and one in Horwich Now at last Chorley has one.Chorley and the Queens in Leyland. Pearsons Brewhouse has now opened in Coppull Business Centre currently has a changing range of 3 and their brews have already been seen around the area.

‘Locale’ real ales Watch this space.

New Kid IN town

Pearson’s by night

Mike and Rachel

are the management

team. The pubs semi-covered beer garden honeymoon

period is just about

over. Many of the Swan’s former regulars are now settled in there and nearby pubs seem to have lost custom to Pearson’s.Kinetic has had to give up on real ale temporarily. 3 are keg pubs. Shame about Kinetic. We wish Mike and Rachel all the best and hope the number of handpumps grows in relation to the custom

New Kid IN town

Tony Fitzgerald is to be the new licensee in the White Hart. As a free house

his imput will be significant

so the good news is that real

ale is high on his agenda.

Work is progressing Tony with sleeves rolled up and it should be open in the White Hart in mid to late January so Watch this space.

2

t)

(con r e t The Little Eagle on t Cha y e

Bolton

R oad is now selling l Chor

Real Ale. My mate Dennis says that he

had a lovely pint of Youngs Bitter in there the other day and my mate Dennis says that if sufficient locals sup it Linda will put a third handpunp on. If Dennis says it’s a good ‘un thats good enough for me so get your self down there and help the odds on that third hand pump.......I know I will.

All we need then is the Duke of York next door - where I used to enjoy a pint or 3 of Joseph Holts Bitter to start selling real ale again

l a i r o t i d E Unlucky 2012 - Real ale wise it’s been a mixed bag.

13?

On the plus side: 1) young ‘uns have taken to real ale and it’s unstoppable.

Think about it - healthy, organic, a thousand different flavours, fighting conglomerates and their indoctrination, going in pubs thinking ‘poor brain dead sods.’ when the indoctrinated softie girlyboys ask cooly: ‘can I get a wickid’ (or similar) girlie drink 2) new or newish micro breweries (probably about 50 in Lancs alone), forcing the pubcos to acknowledge their existence.

3) Wetherspoons keeping prices low, finding they haven’t got it all to themselves, with the Smith and Jones Group and more recently, Amber Taverns amongst those competing on all fronts.- not to mention the old kids on the block the likes of Sam Smith selling top quality real ale for £1.80

It wasn’t just Pearsons that benefitted

form the national publicity in the

Daily Mirror about banning headwear.

Trader Jacks also got a good mention.

I am sure that both pubs will have

benefitted from an increase in real ale sales

Sorry more pubs haven’t been covered in this issue but one of our regular contributers - Alp has been struck down by a bone illness----known as...... idleness

Lord Mountain, Royston, Toad, Melodious Mick

The Red Herring

MILL LANE, COPPULL, CHORLEY, LANCS. Tel: (01257) 470130 Ste & Mary welcome you to Coppull’s only freehouse: An oasis in a beer desert.

Guest Ales include: Moorhouses, 3Bs

and many more Good Beer

4) more and more free houses fighting the pubco domination.

On the minus side 1) a government as far removed from the man in the street as the last bunch, if not more so - who would have thought that possible??? with their stupid beer duty tactics 2) Pub companies so incompetent that it has worked in their favour. Woe betide you if you owe the banks a few hundred quid. but if you are £18 billion pounds in debt, the banks have to prevent you going bust at all costs 3) Supermarkets - below is a photo of the place across the road from the Sun on Friargate where I held my wedding reception over 40 years ago. Last year it became a ‘Tesco’ The supermarkets are killing our social life off in two ways a) undercutting prices and b) exploiting planning law weaknesses to convert pubs into shops.

Sat night entertainment, Guide -we’re in it.

Sun night quiz Ring Mill function room for hire

Monday to Thursday open from 3pm Friday to Sunday open from 12pm

3

4) ‘Craft’ breweries - In the States and Europe good quality tasty beers are produced. but they are not real ales - they are what I call ‘Zombeers’ - they have have the life taken out of them and are brought back to a semblance of life by the addition of gases (nitrogen and carbon di-oxide and sometimes chemicals). They are tasty beers and people will prefer them to ‘John Smiths’ and bland lagers. BUT they are not real ale and CAMRA needs, in 2013 to wake up to the threat that they present. Zombeers are far easier for pubcos and breweries to look after with many times the shelf life of real ale and fewer production problems. I say 2013 because the threat will become reality while CAMRA is still sleeping.

2013 - when our branch reaches 40 looks like being a very interesting year Ed.

Preston

Parade

Comings and goings are a fact of life in pubs. If you have had an interest in beer for as long as I have, you are sure to have seen many things happen, some good, some bad. There is never a dull moment. So, where do we start this issue? Many of you will have been shocked by the sudden closure of the Fox and Grapes in Fox St

and the disappearance of Sharon. One

day the pub was open

and then it was not.

Many rumours have

gone around: - the

pubco put her rent up,

they wanted to force

her out, she had just

had enough. Anyway

she has gone, some say to Spain, some Scotland or some other place beginning with S. There was talk of it becoming flats, but the other rumour has come true. By the time you read this, it will have reopened after an extensive refit under the auspices of the Kukoo bar next door (the former Exchange Hotel). We have been told that it will be run completely separately from the cocktail bar and will not be knocked through. The management would be foolish not to have real ale on, it being the only growth area in beer sales and I look forward to seeing The Fox’s latest incarna-

PARKERS ARMS Park Road Chorley 01257 261999

Opening hours: Monday - Thursday: 11am - 12pm Friday - Saturday: 11am - 1pm Sunday: 11am - 12pm

tion. I believe the cocktails at the Kuckoo are out of this world and the experience there is really good. Let us hope their vision for the Fox is up to it. Another one to leave the onerous task of running a pub is Pam at the Old Black Bull on Friargate. After many years of looking after the beer there, she has decided to retire and put her feet up. I am sure she will find there are so many things to do that she will wonder how she ever found time to work. Things at the Bull will not change too much, for Stan, who is now the General Manager, is to continue ordering the beers for the pub and Michael is now the manager in charge of running the pub.

He has been fully trained up by Pam to look after the beer and she has passed on her years of knowledge to him. We wish him the best in his new position. The pub itself has had a minor overhaul, with additional seating being added and some cosmetic work done.

One licensee who doesn’t know if he is coming or going is Richie at the New Britannia. In temporary charge for the last few months, a decision will be made in the New Year on whether he will permanently take over. Since he has been there, he has introduced a range of beers that is something for everybody.

Draught Bass at £2.00 a pint seems to be going down well.

(I am glad this is so, for I suggested that it would). The other beers on sale are Sharps Doom Bar, St Austells Tribute, Jennings Cumberland, Black Sheep Bitter and Wells Bombardier. It has a much friendlier atmosphere than of late

Kurt, Andrea and Danielle welcome you

to the Rose and Crown

Chorley Open from 12pm ‘til midnight, 7 days a week

Home-cooked food being served 12pm till 3pm, Mon.- Fri. Also Wed nights 5,30pm till 8,30pm followed by quiz.

Monday - Poker & Pool, Free food being served.

Wed - Quiz Night with an exciting task round each week.

4 Hand-pumps in action throughout the week, House bitters Wainwrights and Cumberland plus two guest ales.

All live sporting events shown on our 8 tv's plus 2 BIG Real Ales from £2. per pint: screens, with SKY and ESPN channels available.

Jennings’ Cumberland + guest Nominated for BEST SPORTS PUB at the STAR PUB AWARDS 2012.

Disco and Karaoke Every Friday and Saturday We have recently invested in the refurbishment of our onsite stables. These beautiful buildings have been brought up to date and are now available to book any event. The stables, coupled with our own town centre location, makes the ideal for birthday parties, hen do's, stag do's, leaving parties, Christmas parties, weddings and funerals. Furthermore, with live music, Karaoke and food available on request, we can provide you with that unique experience you'll be looking for.

Follow us on facebook for all up and coming events, www. facebook.com/RnC.Chorley To book, or for more information, Please call us on 4 01257368022

and I hope he stays on.

There are coming and goings at the Anderton Arms and Black Bull Fulwood (both are Ember Inns) as the licensees at the former move over to the latter. Will third pint trays appear at the Bull or disappear from Andertons?

Still said to be coming, but not happened yet, is the reappearance of guest ales at the Black Horse. Graham has intimated that they would return. Meanwhile the pub was named the “North West’s Best Cask Beer Pub” at the Great British Pub awards, run by the Publican magazine. Unfortunately, he did not go on to win the National award, but well done to the team there. Meanwhile, further along Friargate the Greyfriar has been having a makeover.

Not quite gone, but struggling are real ales at the White Hart in Fulwood. Sales have dropped off a bit and there have been a few occasions when no real ale has been on sale. I had thought it was doing alright. Meanwhile, the Waterfront down on the docks is said to ready for reopening after a disastrous fire during renovations. An ex licensee of the Waterfront has taken the reins at the Stags Head in Goosnargh. Eduardo Albero has been at the Stags for four months and always has 5 real ales on sale, with Caledonian Deuchers, Flying Scotsman, and Theakstons Best Bit

ter as permanents, and two

guests which on my visit were Hobgoblin and Devil’s Ad

vocate, a dark lager style

beer at 4.2%. The pub has

been completely refitted after the previous tenants mysteriously disappeared after removing a lot of the fixtures and fittings. It is comfortable pub, open from 12 till 11 and sells very good, reasonably priced food till 9pm.There is live music every couple of weeks at weekends and on special occasions and a “round the world extravaganza” is planned for the New Year. There is a Wednesday quiz with a free supper provided.

Look out for the Tundra Bar on the Flag Market. Brought to you by the Continental, it is a pop up bar and is described as a place to escape the hustle and bustle and artic conditions of the high street shop. Running up to New Years Eve when it will be open till 2am, it will feature winter ales and mulled wine and cider plus other festive beverages. It is even open on Christmas Eve till 12.30am and entry will be free. A great addition to Preston’s Christmas attractions. Work on the Continental’s other project, the Co-op Bar on Ormskirk Road is proceeding slowly and it looks like it is going to be well into the New Year before we will see anything. During the recent Guild week, the Old Bull on Church Street took the opportunity to re open the front bar there and dubbed it the Guild Tavern. It is still open and is a very comfortable and warm place to have a few drinks. Opening times are 1- 8 Mon Thurs, Fri-Sat 12-late, Sun 12-10.30. They sell Theakstons Bitter at a very reasonable

£1.99 as well as one Moorhouses beer plus a guest which has recently been from Cross Bay and Copper Dragon. Sky Sports are on and private functions can be catered for (except Fridays. The main bar through the arch is open as normal where two Moorhouses beers are normally on sale. Further along Church St. Barneys Piano Bar is soon to receive the promised second hand pump. More details next time when we know what’s coming.

There is a new face face at the Unicorn on North Rd. but it will be well known to many as it belongs to the former landlady of the Eldon pub on Eldon St. As the pub does not open at lunchtimes midweek, I have not yet had the opportunity to check what beers are on sale, but under the previous landlord, three real ales were available, including guest beers, so I would think that would continue. I will let you know next time. The Jazz Bar in the centre of town has shut down, after plans to convert the former Empire Hotel (and Harry’s Bar) to flats were revealed. Why they could not have continued with the bar and just renovated upstairs is beyond me. The question is where all the regulars from the Jazz Bar are going to go now. Along with the Central (Guild Tavern, Lionel’s) opposite, the Empire was once one of the most well known pubs in Preston, being adjacent to the old Ribble bus station. The building of the Guild Hall and offices on Church St. put paid to that.

Meanwhile, the Guild Merchant has finally reopened after a major refit by owners Marstons and as expected is now much more food orientated. Initially it has been selling Marstons Pedigree, EPA and Hobgoblin. Let us see if this can be sustained. At nearby Bartle, the Saddle has a new landlord who was formerly at the Black Bull in Leyland. Three Thwaites beers are on sale: - Original, Wainwrights and Bomber. I see that the Ship on Fylde Rd. has had another makeover, now being known as the Ship and Giggles. It has had a further £100,000 spent on it to turn it into, and I quote, Preston’s swishest live music venue. This is after Punch taverns spent £160,000 on the last incarnation. The latest one, trying to move away from being just a students pub, is aimed at a mixed market through the week, with table service and the owners say things are going really well. Previously real ale sales had been very erratic, with it disappearing for days on end. Let us see how it fares with its new clientele. Nearby at the Adelphi, don’t forget to show your Camra membership card and then you will receive a 10% discount on the real ale.

Finally, one of Preston’s brewers, John Smith of Hart Brewery has revealed that he could be on the point of selling up and moving to the Philippines. He says that it is getting to the point where he can not compete with the massive discounts some breweries are giving on their beers. He knows of examples where licensees are paying only £53 for a firkin of beer which is less than the cost he can make it for. He says he can not continue putting his life savings in and thinks people should be aware of what is going on. This would be a sad loss for Preston, but John must do what is best for himself and we all wish him well in whatever he decides to do.

Paul Riley

5

In fact I think it fair to say that it was effectively the revitalisation of the Railway five years ago that set things in motion to herald the great improvements to the Leyland real ale scene that are still continuing to this day. On my visit there were four real ales available, with Lancaster Blonde being the one LocAle beer Following the lead of other branches, CAMRA West that is permanently available. Look out for pubs and clubs in Lancashire branch (as we then were) launched a Lo- the branch area that are displaying LocAle promotional material cAle scheme in Spring 2009. By doing this the branch and in particular look out for 2013 window stickers which should was putting into practice an initiative that we would be coming soon. These establishments are to be recommended actively support those licensees in our area who were if you wish to support those licensees who are doing their bit for Gordon Small selling at least one beer that had been brewed within local breweries (and for the environment).

LOCALE OUTLETS (as at November 1st 2012) 30 miles of their pub premises.

There are now 41 LocAle outlets (40 pubs plus one club) which • BRIDGE, Adlington (various) are currently recognised by the branch as being part of • WHITE BULL, Alston (Thwaites) the scheme. Since last time there have been two addi- • WITHY ARMS, Bamber Bridge (various) tions, the WHITE BULL at Alston, and the QUEENS • SADDLE, Bartle (Thwaites) at Leyland, while there has been one deletion, the cur- • SITTING GOOSE, Bartle (Thwaites) rently closed SWAN WITH TWO NECKS at Chorley. • CRICKETERS, Brinscall (various) In each issue of Ale Cry I have been featuring a selec- • TILLOTSONS ARMS, Chipping (various) • BLACK HORSE, Chorley (Holts) tion of the branch's LocAle pubs. This time I have looked at the three LocAle pubs located in Leyland. • HOP POCKET, Chorley (Thwaites) QUEENS. This pub on Golden Hill Lane is one of the • KINETIC BAR, Chorley (Prospect) most recent additions to the branch's LocAle register, • MALT ‘N’ HOPS, Chorley (various) having only re-opened in August after a period of clo- • POTTERS ARMS, Chorley (Three B’s) sure while it underwent a complete refurbishment. It • WHITE BULL, Chorley (Bank Top) is now owned by Amber Taverns, and the good news • BLACK HORSE, Croston (Moorhouses) • CROWN, Croston (Thwaites) is that this longstanding keg-only outlet has been transformed into one of that company's growing num- • BROWN COW, Eccleston (Thwaites). ber of pubs that are actively promoting real ale. Since • ORIGINAL FARMERS ARMS, Eccleston (various) re-opening the pub has been selling beers at competi- • HORNS, Goosnargh (various) tive prices from a number of different LocAle brewer- • YEW TREE, Heath Charnock (various) ies including Moorhouses, Burscough, and Thwaites. • GOLDEN LION, Higher Wheelton (Thwaites) • BOAT YARD, Hoghton (Thwaites) On my visit there were three real ales available, of • ROYAL OAK, Hoghton (Thwaites) which two were LocAle beers, these being Moorhouses Blond Witch which I sampled at just £1.85 for • SMITHS ARMS, Lea (Thwaites) • QUEENS, Leyland (Moorhouses) a pint, plus the seasonal Moorhouses Ruby Witch.

• RAILWAY AT LEYLAND, Leyland (Lancaster) • WAGGON & HORSES, Leyland (Thwaites) • BULL & ROYAL, Longridge (Thwaites) • CORPORATION ARMS, Longridge (various) • BULL & ROYAL, Preston (Moorhouses) • LAMB & PACKET, Preston (Thwaites) Wagon & Horses • MOORBROOK, Preston (Thwaites)

Queens • NEW WELCOME, Preston (Thwaites) WAGGON & HORSES. This is another pub that has • OLD VIC, Preston (various) recently re-opened after a lengthy period of closure. • PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS RFC (Thwaites) It is located on Bent Lane, and being slightly off the • SUN, Preston (Thwaites) • WHEATSHEAF, Preston (various) beaten track this has meant that it is a pub that will probably not be that familiar to some Ale Cry read- • NABS HEAD, Samlesbury (Thwaites) ers. Once known as the Lord Stokes, it is a Thwaites • NEW HALL TAVERN, Samlesbury (various) tied house that has new licensees, who since taking • WELCOME TAVERN, Walton-le-Dale (Thwaites) over have endeavoured to get the pub re-established • RED LION, Wheelton (various) DOG, Whittle-le-Woods (Thwaites) as a real community local. Brand new beer lines and • Travelling the 124 The 124 Transdev bus travels between equipment have been installed, and when I paid my Chorley and Blackburn every half hour Mondays to Saturdays visit there had just been a complete cleaning and at quarter past and quarter to the hour and on Sundays at five shampooing of the pub's interior. There were two past the hour. The journey is very picturesque for it is in the beers available, Thwaites Original and Thwaites lovely Lancashire countryside and it passes 11 Real Ale pubs, Wainwright, but there are hopes that this range some of which I will attempt to describe. The first pub of intercould soon be increased to include selections from est is The Lock & Quay.A few of you the Thwaites seasonal beer list.

RAILWAY AT will remember it as the Railway when LEYLAND. This is a large spacious pub located on trains used to run from Chorley to Preston Road quite close to the railway station (as you Blackburn, as it was by a railway would expect). Since re-opening in 2007 after a major viaduct. The pub is nicely appointed refurbishment it has been recognised with a place in and very welcoming. It has three real the Good Beer Guide, and it has held a number of ales which change every week. When I was there, Black Sheep Beer Festivals. In recent years it has also become a Bitter @4.2%, Gangley Ghoul @ 4.2% from Green King and 6 regular venue for hosting local CAMRA meetings. Wychwood Hob Goblin @4.5% were on sale. It also (cont over)

(cont) sells good pub food MonTravelling the 124 Fridays from 12.00. to 2.30pm and 4.30 until 9.00pm, Saturdays 12.00 until 9.00pm and Sundays 12.00 until 8.00pm. Fridays they specialize in Steaks You can have 2 Steak meals and a bottle of wine for just £14.99, and on a Saturday there is a Tapas night. There are also the usual pub games available.

From there you can either walk down to Lr Wheelton if the weather is fine or you use the bus which passes the pub at 20 past the hour or 50mins past the hour. The main pub in the village is .

There you the choice of three beers. The first is Hawkshead Bitter @ 3.7% which is a permanent brew and then there is a choice of two other beers. At the time of my calling there was Taylor’s Golden Best (which I now believe is called Bolt Maker) @ 3.5% and Hob Goblin @ 4.5%.

The pub does not make meals during the week but on Sundays it serves a roast dinner. You have the choice of 2 courses for £7.95 or 3 courses for £8.95p.There is also a Curry night on Thursdays. Quiz night is Wednesday. oing across the road and going a short walk down Kenyon Lane you come to pub. This is a

GBG entry and there you find an array

of usually nine real ales. There are too

many to list here but usually there is

always a Mild and a Stout available.

You can buy food all day and every day also, and watch the boats tipple down or up the locks (if the weather is fine). xiting The Red Lion you can go across the road and catch the bus to The at Hr Wheelton, or it is only a short walk up the hill to the just across Blackburn Road. Usually it has 8 beers on tap and there is good food served all day in the down stairs pub but particularly if you want Chinese food there is Chinese restaurant upstairs at weekends. The pub itself is quite spacious as it has been enlarged over the years by adding the existing cottages into the pub. If you opt to go to the Golden Lion, there is a stop outside the pub and there you will find a good Thwaites house. There is always on the pumps Nutty Black (a good mild) @ 3.3%,Original @

3.6%, Wainwright @ 4.1%, Lancaster Bomber @ 4.4% and a fifth pump which usually has the seasonal beer on.

The pub is very well appointed with a comfortable bar and lounge. The beer I tried on my visit was Nutty Black and it was very good. There is also a big range of good meals served every day all day. Leaving the Golden Lion we go outside and catch the bus to Brinscall which goes at 28mins and 58mins past the hour. rriving in Brinscall the bus stop is adjacent to the pub.

This is a good local pub and sells Jennings Cumberland @ 4.0% and Jennings Cocker Hoop @ 4.6%.

There is also one guest

beer pump which on my visit was a Marston’s beer called Armistice

2012. It is a good local pub

to visit with good ale. rom there just a few

doors down the village is newly opened pub called the Oak Tree. The sells a rarity in our area:- Holts beers. It is a free house run by landlords Sandra and "Chalky". (I didn't ask how Chalky got his nickname). The beers on tap were Holts

Fireplace in new extension

Mild @ 3.2% and Bitter @ 4.0%. Also on the third handpump was Holts seasonal beer, but I believe that the third handpumped beer will vary and will not just be for Holts. There are two wood burning fireplaces, one in the lounge and one in the back room which has newly uncovered flags and good bench type seats so that people walking in the local area will be able to warm themselves and eat good food in comfort although they could be muddy from walking seeing that we have such good walking weather.

(Part two in the next issue)

THE

POTTERS

BROOKE STREET

Good Beer Guide 2013 Winner of Gidlow Paint and

and a real fire

“Merry Christmas to All”

7

The Victoria Hotel in St. Annes has been under threat of closure for a few years now. Although it is not in our branch area, the fate of such an iconic pub cannot be ignored. This massive pub on the corner of Church Rd. and St. Albans Rd. is away from the coast and its tourists and was originally built for the local community. Constructed in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee it has stood for a century as the hub of the working class community of the town. I remember going in it when it was a Boddingtons pub and marvelling at its rabbit warren-like inside, with umpteen small rooms away from the bar. Along with the Mount and the old Fairhaven pub it was one to be admired as an example of how they used to build pubs and hotels.

It is now owned by the Spirit pub group and in 2009 they decided that it was no longer viable as a pub and decided to get rid of it. It was offered for sale and plans were submitted by McCarthy and Stone Retirement Lifestyles Ltd to turn it into flats. Immediately a lot of local people decided to fight this, formed an action group (now the Victoria Hotel Community Association) and raised objections to the plans.

After a lot of hard work, using new rules introduced under the 2011 Localism Act they had success in that Fylde Borough Council refused the plans. The intention of the act is to allow communities to take ownership of their community assets and run them for themselves. However the company appealed and the Planning Inspectorate held an inquiry which went into great detail of the plans and objections. The final decision came on 20 June and the appeal was dismissed. Much rejoicing took place, but this is only the beginning of the fight to save the Vic. The Victoria Hotel Communities Association are now trying to buy the pub and set it up as a community run public house. Many options have been explored and the final choice was to set up a Cooperative Community share scheme which would be used to buy and run the pub. This would appear to be the best way forward so that all can share in the opportunity to own the pub. A board of Trustees is being set up in accordance with Charity commission guidelines. They are now looking for people to pledge to buy shares, which are £1 each and can be bought in blocks from £100 up to £20,000. The top limit is a legal limit so that there will be no majority shareholder. Once they have secured ownership, several urgent repairs are needed before full restoration can take place. The pub needs to be made watertight so that the integrity of the building can be maintained. The association are looking for charitable giving to do the initial repairs.

If you think you can help or are looking for more information on the pub and its battle for survival, or interested in tips of saving your own pub, the group have a very informative website www.vhca.co.uk It contains details of their plans, future events and meetings. It also has downloadable copies of their newsletter and a full copy of the appeal decision of the Planning Inspectorate. Paul Riley

8

9

the Rose & Crown in Farington, the pub has

undergone a refreshing face lift and is a wel

come addition to the growing Leyland real ale

scene. Beer prices are less than £2 a pint, meaning that the pub is able to compete favourably with the The big news since the last issue of Ale Cry is that we nearby Wetherspoons pub, the Leyland Lion. Meanwhile the now have one new pub while there are also a number of situation at the landlord's former pub, the ROSE & CROWN previously closed pubs that have recently re-opened. on Stanifield Lane is less promising. There are still three The new pub is the BROWN HARE on handpumps in place, but on a recent visit there was no real ale

Millbrook Way in Penwortham. After on offer. Hopefully this will be just a temporary glitch.

Marstons Inns & Taverns were given the There are two other Leyland pubs that have also recently

go ahead to build this new pub, work was re-opened after periods of closure. In August the BROAD very soon underway with the former FIELD ARMS on Leyland Lane re-opened after undergoing a

farmhouse on the site being demolished refurbishment. In the opening week the beers available were

and with a brand new building almost Caledonian Deuchars IPA, Caledonian Flying Dutchman,

immediately appearing in its place. The and Theakstons Best Bitter. More recently the WAGGON &

pub opened on Monday October 15th, andHORSES on Bent Lane has also re-opened after a refurbish by all accounts is doing a roaring trade. ment. This Thwaites tied house has new licensees, and they I visited the pub on a weekday afternoon a few days afterhave overseen the pub being given a complete overhaul with it had opened and the beers available were Jennings Bit- new beer lines having been fitted. There are currently three ter, Marstons Pedigree, and Wychwood Hobgoblin, plus handpumps, but it is the expectation that this number may the Marstons seasonal beer Citra Single Hop. For the soon increase with a good range of Thwaites beers being time of day the pub was very busy and it was impressive available. A third pub, the SEVEN STARS on Leyland Lane that there were plenty of staff on hand to provide assis- is yet another pub which is undergoing a refurbishment, and tance. The beer was in top condition, but one thing that I although still closed as this Ale Cry went to press it is the could not understand was how it had been able to claim hope that it will be re-introducing real ale when it eventually cask marque accreditation over a month before it had re-opens. opened, when no beer had even been delivered. A couple Staying in Leyland, the OLD LEYLAND GATES on Golden of weeks later and I paid a second visit. On this occasion Hill Lane is a pub that has recently come to the branch's atthe beers available included Banks's Howling Wolf and tention as a new real ale outlet. I paid a visit during the pub's Marston's Pedro. The latter was a 5.2% beer priced at a recent seven week long Cask Ale Festival when the beers cool £3.20 a pint.

Going back a couple of available were Black Sheep Bitter and John Barras Celebramonths, the QUEENS on Golden Hill Lane in Leyland tion Ale. The latter is a special beer brewed by Marstons and re-opened in August, and was initially selling beers from sold at £1.99 a pint to celebrate the 100th pub acquired by the Burscough and Moorhouses breweries. Now owned by John Barras pub company. The FLEECE on Liverpool Road Amber Taverns, and now run by the former landlord of in Penwortham is one of the more recent pubs to be badged by Spirit as a John Barras house, and it has also been selling John Barras Celebration Ale. In the last issue of Ale Cry I was pleased to report that the BRIDGE on Victoria Road in Walton-le-Dale was once again selling real ale. Unfortunately this news is already of date, with the pub having closed, and with reports Now Free of Ties on Cask Beers out coming in that it is to go the same way as its namesake pub This allows us to offer up to 9 local in Penwortham, with the building being converted for use and regional Real Ales at all times as a children’s nursery. Those of a certain age may recall that this riverside pub was once considered a showpiece outlet for Matthew Brown when they were launching their John Peel Special Bitter some 30 odd years ago. Another pub currently closed is the SWAN on Church Terrace at Higher Walton. This former Boddingtons house was once a regular Good Beer Guide entry, but sadly it is a great many years since it last sold real ale.

Finally, returning to Penwortham and special mention should go to the BLACK BULL on Pope Lane. During Heated Beer Garden 3D TV - Live Sports on 7 Screens the recent National Cask Ale Week they reduced the price of all their cask ales by 10p per pint, and since then they Meet The Brewer Evenings kept this reduction in place for customers who are ‘One of the UKs top 100 pubs 2011’ - Famous Grouse Awards have CAMRA members.

South Ribble Scene

The Old Black Bull

Three time winner of George Lee Trophy

Stan and Michael are looking forward to offering you a warm welcome Central Lancs Pub of The Year A Good Beer Guide and Cask Marque Pub Thurs Eve a Cask Ale at £1.99 a Pint 33 Friargate - PRESTON - PR1 2AT Tel: 01772 823397 www.theoldblackbull.com 10

18 pubs closing every day. The impact on our society is extremely serious.We need your support. Join us ( see p23 )

Crafty Dan:-Thwaites Own Micro Brewery

Sometimes attending meetings can get its just rewards.

Lancashire Branches meetings, where all the local branches come together and discuss important matters, are often poorly attended by members of our branch. However, the chance to go round a newly installed microbrewery would surely be enough incentive for anyone. We were allowed up to twelve members from our branch, but despite details of the event being posted on our website, only four members of our branch took advantage of this chance to see the plant. Add to that, copious amounts of free ale and a buffet and you sure missed a good afternoon out. Sure, you had to make your own way to Thwaites visitor centre, but believe me; it would have been worth it. Not that it cost me much, with my free bus pass, but even if I had had to pay it was a not to be missed meeting.

We were welcomed at the brewery by Director Ian Bearpark who invited us to have a beer from the selection on offer, which included Nutty Black, Wainwrights, Bomber and a couple of seasonals, Half Nelson and 13 Guns. He introduced us to the Chief Executive of Thwaites, Richard Bailey, who was to make a small presentation to us later. First we had to get through the agenda of our meeting. Ian Ward, the Area Organiser for Lancashire, runs very tight meetings, so there is not too much rambling and it was soon time for Richard to speak to us. In the course of it, he told us that Thwaites are committed to real ale and are looking forward to moving their brewery to a new site in the next few years. It would allow them to lay down their future in beer and they were down to looking at the last couple of sites. The new brewery would not have the capacity of the present one, which is 300,000 barrels a year, but they were cutting back on contract brewing, and would thus suit their future needs.

The new brewery would use lauter tuns instead of mash tuns but would otherwise be the same. He told us that they were planning more joint ventures such as the one with

Chorley Brewhouse

Hopstar

Southport Bank Top Lancaster

1 Golden Hill Lane Leyland

11

01772 453224 Facebook: Queens Leyland

Fine Selection of ‘Locale’ Casks Cheapest beer in town Live Sports: 9 Flat Screen TVs inc. Large Screen Live Music - Sat. & Sun. Bingo, Quiz - Wed Free wi-fi

Prospect Allgates Thwaites

Three Bees Bowland MoorHouses

Queens

Burscough

Prospect Brewery were they help them buy a pub in ex change for the right to supply some products to the pub.

He then invited us to visit their new microbrewery, which he explained would move into the new brewery intact when it was built. We were lead into the brew ery complex and taken to the site of Crafty Dan. Ian

Bearpark filled us in with some of

the reasoning for the brewery within

a brewery as we were shown round

the 20 barrel plant. It was built

at a cost of £200,000 and it would

allow them to develop new short

run beers which mean they could be creative and try out some ideas they had for new brews.

Crafty Dan would allow Head Brewer Steve Fielding to create up to three new beers a week and trial new experimental flavours, one off brews for special occasions and highly flavoured beers, which they know are popular with cask ale drinkers. The plant, with its three fermenters is very impressive and we thanked him for the chance to see it.We returned to the bar for more beer and a free buffet kindly provided for us. We were free to talk to the representatives for the rest of the time and the final surprise was that everyone was given a three bottle carryout to take home.

Are you now one of our 855 branch members wishing you had looked at our website for future meetings?

Don’t miss out on future events. Go to www.centrallancscamra.org.uk. and see what’s on.

Meanwhile, the best place to try the products of Crafty Dan is probably the Lamb and Packet on Friargate in Preston, which always has the latest brews from the plant available among its five cask beers.

Paul Riley

Dog and Partridge 44 Friargate Preston Tel: 01772 252217

House Casks Include: Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Joseph Holt’s Best Bitter Tetley Mild plus: Weekly Guests From The Punch Finest Cask Range and SIBA Direct Delivery

Smokey-o-Joes 32-Seater Smoking Area Good Value Lunches Including: ‘The’ Curry Fridays The Big Quiz Thursday Night Rock DJ Sunday

UCLAN real ale society

Ben, Paula (from the bitter suite) and Calum Paul Riley and me (ed) had a good chat to a couple of interesting lads the other day. Calum and Ben were in the Bitter Suite for a quick lunchtime pint. For quite some time we have been hoping that the huge increase in interest in real ale amongst young people would manifest itself in increased involvement in CAMRA. The students real ale club is a great start. If the other 15 - 20 members are as enthusiastic as Ben and Calum the future looks bright. The battles they face from ignorant authorities and brain dead pubcos are every bit as challenging as we faced forty years ago but it seems to me that they are up to the challenge. Campaigning on real ale issues is not just a matter of fighting battles - it is also about enjoying the social life that goes with it - meeting new friends, seeing new places on brewery visits, pub crawls and ale trails. Developing your taste buds and learning to appreciate the thousands of tastes that the huge range of real ales has to offer is a cause worth joining. Never, and I do mean never, have there been so many different ales to choose from and its growing all the time. The Bitter Suite, The Guild, The Adelphi and the Lamb and Packet are all going out of their way to make the society welcome so if you are an interested student contact Ben or Calum >>>>>>>>>>>>

Ben -becooper@uclan.ac.uk Calum - ceslater@uclan.ac.uk The

Walmer Bridge Liverpool Old Road, Walmer Bridge, Preston, PR4 5QE. Telephone - 01772 612296.

Quiz Night - Thursdays Live Football Coverage Four handpumps: Robinsons Unicorn plus up to two guest beers always available.

Holder of Cask Marque and ACE Award certificates.

Large beer garden with children's play area.

12

The Old Vic

Also known as the Vic and Station

Tel.No.

Find us

Fishergate Preston

Opposite Preston Railway Station CAMRA Recommended Good Beer Guide 2013 7 Handpumps in action Normally 20 different real ales available during the course of a week Two 3D screens - 4 Sky Boxes Showing: Football, Rugby Cricket, Horse Racing, Darts, Athletics, Tennis, Golf and other major events Traditional pub with traditional lunchtime bar meals Buffets can be arranged 13

Longton and beyond (This article was held over ............................. Ale Cry Visit

from the last issue to accomodate the Guild Guide to the pubs of Preston and so some details might have changed since, but were correct at the time of writing.) You might have noticed that in the Spring issue

12 on Sundays.

It was just a small journey to our next pub, the privately owned Longton Arms. We were given a real welcome by the bar staff and owners daughter and this pub seems like a real friendly local. The beers both came from Robinsons on our visit, Unicorn and Dizzy Blond (£2.70). The pub has a room beyond the bar that has a real fire in winter and a small snug at the front. We were told that the snug was not used enough so there is a plan to open it up a little to make it more accessible. There is a games room in an outbuilding and an outside smoking area. They have big screen entertainment and a karaoke on Sunday. The pub is open 3-11 Mon-Fri and 12-12 Sat and Sun. Snacks are available. We moved on to Longton village itself, which has four pubs, too many for us all to visit in the time we had left, so we split up. I was in the group that went into the

of Ale Cry there was not a feature of Ale Cry visits….

This was because at the last minute, (well hour actually) I was rung up and told that the minibus we had hired had broken down and would not be able to appear. I had then to frantically phone up all the people booked to go on the trip and notify them it was cancelled. Luckily, I was able to contact everybody before they set out. That trip was to have been to Longton and beyond, so it was natural to go for the planned trip this time around, so I duly booked the minibus again with the same Kirkham based taxi firm, after all the none show was one of those things. Guess what though, this self same Kirkham taxi firm phoned two Rams Head first, where we were welcomed hours before the trip and said they couldn’t find a driver by the manager Tim, who many people will remember from his time at the Dolphin, and they were to let us down again. I told them in no uncertain terms that we would never use them again and if down on the edge of the marsh. The Rams anybody asked me to recommend a taxi firm, they would Head belongs to the Trust Inn group of pubs not appear on my list. Very luckily for us, Bob’s Minibus who own more than 500 pubs nationwide, (01772 687489) was able to accommodate us at that very mostly tenanted. Originally known as the Pub short notice and the trip went ahead.

We decided Estate Company, they were set up in 1995 and is one of the oldest and longest standing independent pub the best way to do this trip was to go to the far end and work back, so we drove to Much Hoole and went into the owning groups in Great Britain. Most of its pubs have come Smithy Inn. This is a comfortable village local on Liver- from Scottish and Newcastle, but they have picked up substanpool Old Road and the only one since the Black Horse andtial numbers from elsewhere including 102 from Mitchells and Butler. Trust Inns have a guest list, that includes beers from Rose and Crown nearby were turned into restaurants.

Moorhouses, but on our visit we could choose from Deuchers IPA, Black Sheep Bitter, Jennings Cumberland and the one permanent beer, Thwaites Wainwright. There are two separate rooms with one very popular for live sports. The pub is

open 12-11 and offers a full range of home cooked British Fare food from 12-2 and 5-8.30 Mon-Sat and 12-6.30 on Sunday. The tenants are Rob and Angela Green and they have recently also leased the Anchor at Hutton.

We went back to the Black Bull, a welcoming community local in the centre of the village with knowledgeable bar staff. Here we met up with the others who had gone to the other pubs in Longton and reported that the Red Lion had

Dave Bell and me in the Smithy Inn Usually there are three ever changing real ales on in the Greene King IPA as its only real ale and the Golden Ball Smithy, but this time there were two, Harvistoun Bitter was selling Robinsons Unicorn. Meanwhile we were tuckand Twisted, and Greene King IPA, both former CAMRA ing in to our pints of Copper Dragon Best Bitter at £2.50 beer of the year winners, at £2.70 a pint, and a good way a pint, which is their permanent real ale, there being no room for another. It was quite busy in the Black Bull and to start off. The pub is open 11.30 to 10.50 MondayThursday and till 12 at weekends. They usually have live the locals were telling us how they really liked it there and music on Friday and have occasional other events like hog it did seem to have a good atmosphere. Features of the pub are TV sports, a quiz on Monday at 9pm and a 50p roasts. On Tuesday there is a quiz and bingo night and lunch is available 12-2.30 and all day Sunday. There is a pool table. The pub does have a quiet area and the service Soon it was time for us to beer garden to the rear. (since our visit, there has been a bus stops right outside. get back to the bus station for everybody’s last bus home. change of management) We met up with two of the loIt had been another good night out, thanks to Bob and his cal CAMRA members there, Dave and Mary Moore and minibus coming to the rescue, and we look forward to they were to follow us on their bicycles.

From here our next trip out, which will be going north of Preston, to we went to Walmer Bridge and first went in the Walmer Barton and beyond.

Paul Riley Bridge Inn, a Good Beer Guide listed pub. The pub consists of two rooms, a recently refurbished lounge and a vault popular with the sporting fraternity. The lounge used to have pictures of the two defunct Longton brewer- Welcome UCLAN Real Ale Society ies Pye’s and Wilkins, but these seem to have disappeared May your strength grow. after the decorating. Three real ales are usually available, Robinsons Unicorn and two changing guests. On our visit, But You don’t have to go to UCLAN. the guests were Everards Elixir a 3.9% beer at £2.80 and You may go to a different uni or college Greene King IPA. The landlord is keen on his beer and You may work or be out of work supplies real ale to the nearby village hall for functions.

The pub also has a large garden with a children’s playing WE NEED YOU area. The pub is open from 4-12(1am Fri and Sat) and 12-

UNDER 26

14

- more free beer £ than subs (see p23)

A Sally round . . . . . . . . . Edinburgh

I have always loved Scotland, perhaps this stems from available, now this was more like it. Cromarty Brewery my Scottish ancestry. My Grandfather (my dad’s dad) Brewed Awakening at 4.7%, Cromarty Brewery Happy came from Glasgow and arrived in Preston looking for Chappy at 4.1%, Fyne Brewery Avalanche at 4.5%, Stewart work after the First World War. He obviously found Brewery No.3 at 4.3%, Stewart Brewery Coconut Porter at something worth staying for, whether it was my Grand-4.5%, Blackwater Brewery Fat Cat at 4.5% and Salopian mother or maybe some great pubs, as this particular Brewery Icon at 4.2%.

I had a pint of Happy strand of the Bell family has been here ever since.

Chappy which was just to my normal taste, pale, hoppy These days, I go to Scotland regularly as part of my and fruity. Carole, who loves coconut, couldn’t resist the job working for a well-known Scottish Bank. This Coconut Porter. A sip of hers soon had me ordering a pint particular Sally round however, occurred when Carole for myself and another for her.

In addition to great and I had a weekend in Edinburgh earlier this year. We real ale the Bow Bar has an extensive menu of single malt stayed at the Apex International Hotel in Grassmarket whisky with over 200 different single malts available. After which is located in the old part of the city, just below a pint of Avalanche and a pint of Fat Cat, both of which the castle. As we discovered, this was a great locawere great, we decided to try a single malt. I have never tion as there are plenty of great real ale pubs within a been a big whisky drinker but when in Rome and all that. few minutes’ walk.

We arrived early on a Looking through the menu, I was intrigued to discover that Friday evening and after checking in to the hotel we the price of a measure ranged from around £3.50 to well were keen to start our Sally round. We decided to start over £100. After seeking advice from the friendly barman on Grassmarket itself and we entered the Black Bull. we decided to each have an Oban 14 year old single malt as

Nothing too out of the our night cap. Priced at £5.25 a glass this didn’t seem too

ordinary in here and we outrageous and we both really enjoyed it. It was so smooth

had a choice of typical and was a great way to round off our Sally Of course we Scottish beers such were now quite hungry after all this drinking and on our as Caledonian Deuchars way back through Grassmarket, we spotted the bright lights IPA, Caledonian 80/, of a chippy and as Auld Jock’s Pie Shop was in darkness Harviestoun Bitter and it was a no brainer. Now, I’ve been in plenty of Chippys in Twisted and Inveralmond Brewery Thrappledouser.

Preston over the years but never one where Haggis Fritters Carole chose a half of Deuchars IPA, commenting that were on the menu. I had promised Carole a romantic meal Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted was a bit too citrusy forin Edinburgh and now was the time to deliver. We sat on a her liking. I, on the other hand, can’t get enough of the bench under the stars in Grassmarket eating Haggis Fritter stuff, I love it and I was soon well down a pint of Bit- and chips with plenty of salt and vinegar. A proper Lanter and Twisted which was served in an old fashioned cashire night out with an international twist.

The barrel glass. This first pint was quickly followed by a next day we made a couple of purchases to bring home to couple more before we decided to move on to the next Preston, a bottle of Oban 14 year old single malt (£38) and pub. After a walk of about 10 seconds we were in the a haggis. Lovely.

Next time you are in Edinburgh give bar of The Beehive Inn, right the Bow Bar a try, it is well worth a visit. Dave Bell next door. Again, there were offerings from Caledonian with Flying Dutchman and the ubiquitous Deuchars IPA. With Carole settling for more Deuchars, I was drawn towards a new brew from Steeley lane Chorley LancsPR6 0RD Broughton Ales, Dark Dunter at 5%. Ordinarily, I 01257411449 prefer pale, hoppy beers, the more citrus flavour the emailrailwayinnchorley@yahoo.co.uk better. This is why Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted is one of my favourites, it has almost a grapefruit flavour.

Jennings Cumberland and 4 changing guest ales Occasionally, I come across a very dark beer that I like A CAMRA pub of the Season such as Boggart Brewery’s Rum Porter or Hardknott Brewery’s Code Black. Dark Dunter has now been A Good Beer Guide and Cask Marque Pub added to this list. It tastes of oatmeal and chocolate and is very moreish. No prizes for guessing what happened Free pool every Monday next then……yes, another pint of Dark Dunter.

Darts and dominoes - Thurdays Soon it was time to move on and still on Grassmarket, Free Jukebox every Tuesday we ventured into The Last Drop. A cosy, welcoming pub although there was little new in respect of ale with the usual Caledonian beers available. . A quick one it was then, before we made our way up West Bow and into what is probably my favourite pub in Edinburgh, the Bow Bar. The Bow Bar is a traditional Scottish Alehouse. There is only one room and very little in the way of tables and chairs. Just as well, as it was packed with drinkers, mostly standing. The atmoSeasonal music festivals sphere was buzzing with the hum of conversation as with up to 8 bands we approached the bar. A chalkboard listed the beers

The Railway Inn

Chorley’s Premier Music Venue Live Music Friday and Saturday Evenings

15

ALE CRY UP THE A6

From here we travelled down to Broughton and went in the Broughton Inn at the notorious bottleneck on the A6.

The latest expedition to spread Ale Cry around saw us heading up the A6 to visit the most northerly pub in the area covered by the Central Lancs branch. This is the Roebuck in Billsborrow, and it is only half right, because only the car park is in Preston City Council. The anomaly is that the left side of the A6 north of Barton is in Wyre Borough whilst the right hand side as far as the car park is ours. Thus Guys on the canal is in Blackpool Fylde and Wyre branch, as is the White Bull in Billsborrow.

In the Roebuck we were glad to see that, although the pub is now a Chef and Brewer pub and thus has an emphasis on food, that real ale also rules the roost. Be- The excitement is getting too much for sides Green King IPA and Black Sheep Bitter, we could Melodious Mick in the Broughton Inn also try a Marston’s beer from their single hop series.

Now a Vintage Inn, the pub has had many incarnations This one was called Nelson Sauvin, a New Zealand hop since it was known as the Shuttleworth Arms, but now that has an aroma of gooseberry, grapefruit and citrus, seems to have settled down to a bit of stability, Vintage and was on sale at £3.05 a pint. The pub has now joined Inns being an arm of the M & B group, along with Ember the SIBA direct delivery scheme and will be selling beers Inns. As all the others, again food is a prominent feature from micros within 30 miles of the pub. Besides the here, with an extensive food menu including a fixed price food, behind the pub is a Premier Inn which uses the pub menu up to 5pm. There is still plenty of room for drinkers to serve breakfasts to its customers. The pub formerly to enjoy the real ales on sale and assistant manager Paul belonged to Matthew Brown and I can remember playing Johnson, a New Zealander, was hoping they could attract bowls on the long gone bowling green. more drinkers in from the local area instead of them go Next we travelled south to ing down to the Black Bull in Fulwood. To this end, they go in the Sparling. This were having a list of different beers every quarter that they

again is a pub that has a can order from. I had made a visit some months ago when

focus on food, but real ale Marstons beers were in abundance. On this visit we found

is a very important part of that Thwaites was now in favour with Original, (£2.85) the dining experience here. Wainwrights and Bomber (£3.30) on sale. They had had a

There is plenty of room meet the brewers night the day before. Paul added that they for the casual drinker and owner Neal Tripp is proud of usually have Doom Bar on as well. Our editor found the how much real ale he sells. Six nines of Thwaites Wain- chairs so comfortable that he fell asleep. We woke him up wright, four of London Pride (£2.90 a pint) and two of before we went to the next pub, which was the Withy Trees.

Old Speckled Hen is an impressive throughput, to which you can add occasional guest beers, such as Cross Bay Sunset. Neil is so gung ho about his beers that he showed me around his cellar, which was impressively clean and bright and is an example to all of good cellarmanship.

The pub which is a mix of contemporary and traditional is open 11-11(12 Fri, Sat. 9pm Sun).

It was just a small hop down to our next pub, the Boars Head, also in Barton. It was once a Dutton’s pub;

passed through Whitbread hands Here we found three beers to choose from to finish off the and now belongs night; A beer brewed by Lees called Governor at 3.8% and to Mitchell’s of £3.00 a pint, London Pride, and Speckled Hen. The pub has Lancaster, which had an extensive refurbishment and with 3 plasma screens has seen a great is a good sports bar. Food is available every day and the improvement to the beer range. Mitchell’s, having closed pub was a winner of the best newcomer award in the North their own brewery now own York Brewery and you will West at the 2011 Great British Pub awards. It also has the usually find some of their beers on sale in their pubs. The largest beer garden in Preston, it occupying the former one on sale on our visit to the Boars Head was Guzzler, bowling green. I remember it when it was a Matthew brown a good 3.6% session beer at £2.50 a pint. Also available pub and Bill Craig was in charge. It was on of those pubs was Blackjack Brewery New Deal, a flavoursome 4.2% where they had Theakstons on as well as Lion beers and at £2.95 which was also the price of the Coniston Blue- also the rather good John Peel Bitter. I would prefer it to bird XB bitter at 4.3%. Like all pubs in this area, food Speckled Hen any day of the week. plays a big part here, including a carvery on Sunday, but Anyway, that’s all we had time for that night and we headed besides relaxing on the sofas with your beer, you can back to the bus station for everybody’s last bus home. enjoy a game of pool or darts in the games room. There Our next jaunt will see us heading out of our area towards is also a quiz night on Thursday. It was interesting to see Frecklton. Anyone wanting to join us, check the date under that, with all the discussion on which beers are best, pale trips and future meetings and give us a ring to book your ones or dark, it was holding a battle of the Blondes v place. Paul Riley Brunettes cask ales recently. I would hazard a guess that . the blondes won. The pub opens at 10am and food is 16 served ‘til 9.

Brookes Arms

Brook Street Chorley 3 changing Real Ales from £2.40 per pint Live entertainment Disco / Karaoke Accoustic nights Live TV Sports THE SHAWES ARMS London Road Preston

Opening Times: MON-THURS - 12 - 11 FRI-SAT - 12 - 12 SUN -12 - 10.30 ‘A watering hole on the Guild Wheel’ 3 Guest Ales and Ciders Bar Snacks Sky Sports TV Large Beer Garden overlooking River Ribble Families and Dogs welcome Pool Table, Dart Boards.

Quiz night and play your cards right - Sunday Fortnightly DJ Karaoke Regular Live Music - See Facebook for Details 17

SALAMANDER BREWERY

When a summer Saturday Brewery trip was mooted, the most popular choice was to visit Salamander Brewery in Bradford. With it appearing often at the Bitter Suite (it being a particular favourite there), we knew we could expect some good beer. Thus mid July saw a full minibus making its way up the M62 with 16 lucky people to be met at the brewery, a couple of miles east of the city centre, by the liaison officer Brian Mitchell. He welcomed us and took us up to the bar (which came from Mitchells of Lancaster), and we were told to help ourselves to the beer on offer, which was Wanderlust, a fine 4% drinking beer, which was to be followed by the much heavier Clean and Jerk at 5.2%.While we were savouring our first drink, Brian gave us a short history lesson.

Salamander Brewing Co. was founded in 1999 by Christopher Bee and Daniel Gent who had a mission to bring high quality independently brewed beer to the masses. Chris has a post graduate diploma in brewing and Dan a brewery related PhD and both worked as head brewers at other breweries before setting up in a former pie factory, where they thought that its cold rooms and concrete floors would be ideal for a small brewery. And so it has proved, with both of them constantly tweaking the recipes to perfect their brews and, in an effort to keep things interesting, producing an ever changing range of new beers, from refreshing session beers to strong chestnut coloured ones, with hundreds having been brewed over the years. Their regular beers are Mudpuppy and Golden Salamander, with the latter winning silver medal in 2011 at the GBBF.

As we refilled our glasses, Brian went on to tell us that a lot of the brewing plant came from dairies and being stainless steel, helped in keeping things scrupulously clean. It was the first new brewery in Bradford, after

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Trough brewery of 20 years ago. The owners have tried to keep things simple, not bottling their beers or buying pubs after watching others getting too greedy and going bust.

They were at that time brewing three times a week in the 10 barrel plant and distributing their beers from Holyhead to Scarborough, Whitby to Leicester. He then invited us to go down and tour the brewery.

The brewing method was the usual one of mashing, sparging etc, into the copper, through a cooler to the stainless fermentation vessels. Here they are kept at 10-14C during fermentation before going to the conditioning area for 2-3 days before fining and casking. The main malt used is Maris Otter which is pre-milled, with many others used in the individual brews. Various hops are used in individual brews, including foreign ones such as perle for the German ones. Full hops are preferred. The local tap water is used for the brewing, but the brewery have gone green for the other uses of water and they save rainwater and use it for washing casks etc and thus they save 1000 gallons a month.. They only use the yeast once, believing that the best way to ensure a problem free brew is to use fresh yeast every time. It is used in powdered form.

We returned to the bar, where, whilst we were helping ourselves to the food provided, Brian answered as well as he could any questions that were thrown at him.

Simultaneously we were filling our glasses whenever we wanted. Apparently, because of the demographics, Bradford has lost many of its pubs, with up to 60 pubs closing in the last year alone. Luckily, the pub we were intending to visit after leaving the brewery was still thriving. First of all there were some more beers to be drunk and the thank you speeches to be made before it was time for us to move on. With a last farewell, it was time to head for the Fighting Cocks on Preston St, which is a short walk

out of the City centre. We chose this pub because it usually has 12 real ales on, including at least one dark one, and is justly a popular venue both with loyal locals and well travelled real ale enthusiasts. If you ever visit Bradford, it is well worth the effort of seeking it out. It was a fitting end of our visit to Salamander and set us up for our journey back to Lancashire.

If you have ever wondered why the brewery is called Salamander, the answer is simple. Dan the head brewer likes salamanders and when they started up, instead of using a district name for example, they decided to use the name Salamander. Another feature of Salamander is their pump clips, which are as individual as the beers they represent and apparently are the subject of much discussion by the cognoscenti. These are all designed by Dan’s sister, Susannah Gent, a Sheffield based artist and film director. A gallery of them (plus more information on the brewery) can be found at www.salamanderbrewingcompany.co.uk.

Our trip in 2013 will have to be a good one to beat this one.

Paul Riley

Brewery Bar

Brewery

The Cricketers, Brinscall Hilary welcomes you to her traditional warm friendly pub

Real Fire 3 real ales including Jennings Cumberland and Cocker Hoop Sky Sports TV Large Beer Garden Families and dogs welcome Free Wi Fi

Home cooked meals including Sunday Roasts £3.50 !!!

Fighting Cock

e l t t o B y e l r o h C Gas Ltd

Compound 1 The Entreprise Centre Mill Lane, Coppull, PR7 5BW Tel: 01257 795700 Fax: 01257 795150 Mobile: 07903 061661 sales@chorleybottlegas.co.uk www.chorleybottlegas.co.uk

• All cylinders 100% HSE and fully tested • Full range of cylinder sizes to suit any working environment • 7 day 24 hour emergency call out for our clients • Remember - Chorley Bottle Gas Ltd does not charge any deposits or rentals • All cylinders are fully labelled for easy identification • All our gasses are 100% food grade certified quality

The Original

FARMERS ARMS Bar and Restaurant

• Up to 6 CASK ales at a time.

• A varying selection of real ales from local micro breweries • Bar open all day until 12pm

• A large selection of freshly made bar snacks

•

Sandwiches to T-bones & Ostrich served all day

• Special offers on beers all day everyday.

• Excellent bed & breakfast accommodation. with en-suite facilities available • Single room from £20 (en-suite from £25) • Double room from £25 (en-suite from £30)

TOWNGATE ECCLESTON NR CHORLEYPR7 5QS TELEPHONE 01257 451594

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6 free gallons at Lion

Girl Power

Real Ale’s no longer a man only domain!!

The 40th Good Beer Guide - 2013 - is now on sale.

Available to CAMRA members for as little as £10 (online www.camra.org.uk/shop) or £11 mail order. Britain’s bestselling and fully independent beer & pub guide is back with updated listings featuring over 1000 pubs that did not appear in last year’s Good Beer Guide A beer lover’s best friend, with 4,500 pubs from around the UK all nominated and reviewed by CAMRA members

An envious Ed. (from left) looks on as Alex (bar staff), winner Irish John, (manageress) Caroline and winner Foxy pose for photo

We have been desperate for branch contacts - someone prepared to be our contact with two or three pubs they drink in. They dish out the Ale Cry. They tell us if anything is happening in those pubs so we can help or report through Ale Cry. Two lads who volunteered are (Irish) John Finlay who covers part of Withnell and Brinscall and Graham (Foxy) Foxcroft who covers part of Adlington.

Mark and Caroline from the Leyland offered prizes of 3 free gallons of real ale per season to help us recruit.

Irish John won in Spring and Foxy won in Summer. ..................Could you be next ????

Contact me (see p22)

Ed

Claire & John Welcome you to the:

4 Real Ale Hand Pumps Real Fire Pool Table, Darts Board Sky Sports Dogs Welcome 1st Tuesday of the Month

Wednesday Night Quiz Night 9pm

Open Mic Night 9pm Singers, Poets, etc All Welcome

Cash Prizes, Open Box, Snakes & Ladders

Thursday

Sunday

Curry Night 6—9 pm 3 Courses £7.50

43 Fylde Street Preston PR7 1DP 01772 201397

Roast Dinner 12-7.30 2 Course £7.95, 3 Courses £8.95

The Red Lion, 196 Blackburn Road, Wheelton, Chorley, PR6 8EU Tel: 01254 830241

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Going across to Lancaster Road

CAMRA CENTRAL LANCS BRANCH North and there is the SPINDLE MAKER’S ARMS, a former AND ... GHOST SIGNS

Thwaites pub which somehow I may be writing this article shortly after Halloween, but defiantly continues to keep it has nothing to do with haunted pubs or an appeal for the going and which still possesses a free standing but evidence of ghosts and ghoulies. No the term ‘ghost sign’ weathered pub sign. When writing an Ale Cry article over is used to describe old advertising that is on a building 12 years ago I described it as an ‘eyesore’and said that I which has been allowed to gradually fade away over the had even seen ‘children playing on the pub’s flat roof’.

Ghost signs are years yet is still faintly detectable.

Twelve years on the condition of the former pub traditionally those that have been hand painted, but for this has further deteriorated with it now being surrounded and article I have taken liberties with the definition and have protected by a high metal fence. After all this time I’m been on the look out for long closed pubs in Preston that are beginning to wonder if the building has a preservation order still displaying visual evidence of their previous existence.

Across the on it that has not yet been made public Starting in the city centre I begin with two buildings that road is the former LANCASTER, now the offices of the have permanent remembrance of their past lives as public Strettles property letting company. The building is certai houses. On the corner of Market Street and Orchard Street nly recognisable as a former pub, but these days there is you will find a large currently empty building with the little tangible evidence of the time when you could get a words FARMERS ARMS HOTEL clearly etched in stone, pint there. However I can only assume that the current while overhead the more trained eye will also detect the old residents are having trouble convincing some Matthew Brown sheaf motif. About one hundred yards people, for in the entrance there is a sign away, at the corner of the Miller Arcade you will see the pub saying THIS IS NOT A PUBLIC HOUSE. name THE CROWN spelt out in mosaic in the entrance to Moving to the Plungington area and there an establishment that was most recently an Italian restau are two former pubs that appear to all Moving along to Church Street, and there rant. intents and purposes to be still masquare two once neighbouring former pubs that are still easily erading as pubs. First there is the discernable. The former GEORGE has been incorporated

NORTH STAR on Hawkins Street, a as part of the Ted Carter fishing tackle shop, but there above

pub which has now been closed for the old pub entrance is a hanging William Mitchell’s brew

over 10 years, yet which still has a ery sign. A few yards away you have the LAMB, which has

number of large pub and brewery been converted for use as student accommodation, but

signs on display. It is another which still retains the pub name over the door - although with a colourful hanging sign, and I note also admittedly this is not the original lettering from when the that it is still offering Cask Ales. The Head out building was last in use as a public house. second is the COTTAGE on Brook

towards Deepdale and there is Street, which closed in 2003 and which the STEPHENSON’S ARMS, has since been converted into a

a former pub that currently ap residential property. Here the old pub

pears to be in a state of limbo name is prominently there for all to

as the building awaits a deci see, while there is also a hanging sign guaranteed to catch

sion for its next use. This is a the attention of those passing by on the look out for a pub. pub that seems to have a dual personality, having addresses Finally, heading back down Brook Street into town and you on both East Street and Holstein Street, and having both a pass the HORNBY CASTLE, another former pub that has hanging sign saying the Stephenson’s Arms and a name sign been converted for accommodation and another former pub saying Churchill’s. Close by, another former pub looking which still proudly displays a hanging pub sign. a little sorry for itself is the WINDSOR A leisurely walk around Preston and I have found plenty of CASTLE on Egan Street. Here the pub examples of ‘ghost signs’ in these ‘pubs that are no longer name signs and the Thwaites Brewery pubs’. It must be confusing to some people, but personally signs are still very much in evidence, I like to see these quirky reminders of Preston’s past about and here there is a hanging pub sign the place.

Gordon Small depicting a different Windsor Castle Poor Melodious Mick. that is fairing a little better these days.

From here it is no short distance and you Lack of space again prevents me from including come to the CLOVER on Meadow Street. Another former his article. I know he’s had a

pub that is now used to provide rented

out living accommodation, this is an great time at his festivals this

other building where the hanging pub year despite the weather > >

sign has been retained.

Ed

21

Attention : Pubs, Clubs, Breweries, Pubcos, Suppliers to the trade Compare our target market with local press Read on--------------

Our quarterly publication goes right to the heart of your customer base. With an estimated 30.000 ‘interested’ readers ‘Ale Cry’ reaches ale drinkers all over the UK. Every pub we go in is given customer copies and also pub copies for drinkers to read and return to the bar for others to peruse.

And it’s not just to local locals - no - no - no. As all our volunteer distributors travel around the country and further afield we leave pub copies in pubs we visit on our travels: from Scotland to Devon; from Wales to Yorkshire; from Canada to Germany; from the States to Poland etc., etc., Contact us (see below) for full details of where they’ve been left and to find out how to advertise with us Other than word of mouth you won’t find a better way to get your message across - Just ask our current advertisers

Current Prices: Double Page £300 Back Page £195 Full Page £175 Half Page £95 Quarter £55 Over 800 branch members but only a couple of dozen active.

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over 60 You’d be mad noor t to join CAMRA From £15.50 to join: £20 ale vouchers, and 15 mon membership for thereaprl ice of 12 (see page 23) ths `

Drink Real Ale Mother Nature’s Choice

Published by: The Central Lancashire Branch Of The Campaign for Real Ale

Branch Details:

Officers and Contacts:

Branch Contaact And Chairman Dave Linley 01772 735628 Secretary Gordon Small 01772 746118

14 Bank Parade Penwortham Preston Treasurer Paul Riley 01772 709272 Womens contact: Sue Riley 01772 709272 Vice Chairman Alan Thompson Webmaster and Steve Eaves Young members Social Secretary Steve Enderby Communications (inc. membership & editor) Mick Clark

01257 276363 steveneavesuk @yahoo.co.uk 01257 410146 07984 840486

Real Ale -

Branch Meetings (8pm): Branch / Socials* Committee # You’re welcome to attend any of our meetings

Dec 17 Jan 10

21 Feb 7

18 Mar 7

17

*Stanley(Preston) Christmas Social #Farmers Arms (Eccleston) Inc. Pub of Season Presentation *Potters Arms (Chorley) #Queens (Leyland) *Old Vic (Preston) #Bitter Suite (Preston) *Black Bull (Penwortham)

Trips Thur Jan 31st - Ale Cry trip round north Freckleton. Minibus from Old Vicarage, Preston (near bus station) Leaves at 7.30 - Return to Preston 11pm. Contact Paul Riley to book a place (01772 709272)

Deadline for Adverts and Articles for the

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Ale Cry are not Summer (Guild)Edition:: necessarily those of the Editor, the West Lancashire Expected Publication Date: Branch of CAMRA, or of the Campaign for Real Ale

17/2/13 11/3/13

22

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