Ale Cry 99

Central Lancashire Branch Issue 99 Summer 2013

Formerly the West Lancashire Branch

Ale Cry

Fighting for drinkers rights in

40th

June 1973 Aniversary -

Issue

June 2013

publicity had been obtained in the local press and in NALGO union publications. The Moorbrook was packed out on

40 YEARS OF CAMPAIGNING IN THE PRESTON, CHORLEY AND LEYLAND AREA. On the 25th June the Central Lancashire Branch of CAMRA will celebrate its fortieth birthday, although for most of that time it was known by its original title of The WestLancashire Branch. this makes it

one of the oldest Moorbrook branches in the country and I that fateful Monday night in think that it is at least the old- June 1973. est branch in the north west of I was appointed Chairman, England.

Ken Hargreaves - Secretary I had joined the Campaign for and George Lee - Treasurer. the Revitalisation of Ale in There was no branch commitlate 1972 and had been made tee then. That came later. area organiser for a vague area roughly the same as old Our first brewery trip was to Lancashire without Liverpool Jennings in Cockermouth in September 1973. Everybody or Manchester. I decided to base CAMRA’s campaigning got a bit merry on what was headquarters in the Moorbrook to us a completely unknown brew and a few complaimnts Inn in Preston which served were made later.

Thwaites beers from handpumps, the handles of which I Since then our brewery trips had spotted from the top deck of have been remarkably sober a passing bus. events.

On my first visit to the pub We also organised a coach to after explaining what as far national day of as I knew were the objectives of CAMRA’s protest at the closure by Bass the Campaign to the Landlord, of the Joules brewery in Stone George Lee. I was surprised to be in Staffordshire. taken seriously by George and not treated as a complete nut- So Cheers to CAMRA Central ter.

Lancashir Branch and here’s Prior to our first meeting some to another 40 years.

Dave Marsden

since 1973

Editorial

40 years of CAMRA membership and

most people think I don’t even look

that old. Although I was one of the founder members of the branch I don’t deserve much credit for it’s development. As one of the rebellious generation I was a young trade union activist and I think other founder members felt that my experiences and contacts may be useful. After a little involvement in the preparatory days helping motivate people to come to the launch my other activities and my young family reclaimed me. It is only in recent years that CAMRA has returned to the fore for me.

The members who really merit praise are Ken Hargreaves who, when the branch grew and divided, moved to the newly formed Fylde Branch and Dave Marsden who has maintained his involvement throughout the 40 years.

Dave is the quiet man behind the scenes without whom Looks a bit flat Dave the branch couldn’t have thrived.

As well as Chairman Dave co-edited Ale Cry for years. Real Ale drinkers in Lancashire owe him a vote of thanks.At our next 40th anniversary we’ll be over a hundred so will need a bit more support.

It’s great that CAMRA now has over 150,000 members but without more becoming active our success can’t continue to grow.

Ed

P2 Chorley, P3 Whittingham Beer and Sausage Fest; , Facebook; p4 Locale;

P7 South Ribble; Black Edge Brewery; P9 Goosnargh Inside this issue!p5!! Old Newspapers;

brewery, P12 Discounts; P13 Kingston-Upon-Thames; P14 Pub of the Season ; P15 Burscough; P16 Chester; P18 Preston; P20 Ale Cry visit - Goosnargh; P21 AGM, The Grove Leeds, Wigan Heroes P22 Branch Details; P23 MEMBERSHIP FORM ..... .....................................................................................................................................................................and much more

First time I have been in

ull p p o ,C k y e l r Cho Charnoc and

Minstrel in years and found

that Gerry has got the pub up

to 3 real ales (Hobgoblin, Doom Bar and Wainwrights)

plus a guest, this time it was Clarks.

Hop Pocket has had a recent change of manage

ment and is still knocking out the Thwaites range although only Wainwrights was on show during my quick stop, my fault it was on a Friday lunch time, must have all been drunk the night before when the live music was on. The world’s largest selection of beers from the Marston stable can now be found in the Prince of Wales Cowling. John has been in the pub for over 8 months and has increased the range up to 7. Regulars are very happy and a small pressure group was formed and twisted John's arm to get the Jennings Mild reduced success at £2.69. Well done John. Wednesday night wander- Top Lock Heapey, always has a changing mild (two quick pints) plus a large selection of decent regional ales then down the road to the Red Lion where Clare and John have built up a busy quiz night which seems to be full of locals. Beers from the SIBA list, this time for me it was one from Saltaire. Quick run up the hill to the Dressers, beer quality has improved since I was last in and the additions from the Old School Brewery range always gets my vote.

The Alison Arms in Coppull Moor is up for sale, but not by choice of the licensees. Marstons are apparently putting 400 pubs up for sale, the Leigh Arms and Station in Chorley is another one.

There is talk of a petition being set up to persuade Marstons to allow the Alison to carry on as is. They are still going ahead with their folk music weekend on June 14th to 16th when all their three handpumps will be serving ale (currently one pump is in use with an ever changing beer selection). bought by the car sales site next door and will not re-open as a pub! Whilst work proceeds slowly on bringing the Wheatsheaf back into working order. There are rumours that real ale will be available when the latter pub finally re-opens. The Dog and Partridge Dog and Partridge in Charnock Richard isthriving and serving good ales (more in the next issue) and the Hinds Head in now has three handpumps serving a changing selection of beers. Grimble (Sorry about the rest of Chorley - see p7 - we’ll compensate next time ed)

THE

POTTERS 3 Real Ales including:

Good Beer Guide 2013 Winner of Gidlow Paint and pint Competition)

and a real fire

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

Guide -Sat night entertainment, 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

2

The Whittingham Beer & Sausage Festival Whittingham Club held their first Whittingham Beer and Sausage Festival over the recent Bank Holiday weekend, 3rd, 4th and 5th of May. It was a joint fund raising event by Preston North Rotary and Whittingham & Goosnargh Sports & Social Club.

Saturday afternoon saw me and my next door neighbour "Whippy" go along for a few beers. The publicity material had promoted 25 beers and ciders so I was pleased to find out from Peter, who showed me around the cellar when I arrived, that there were in fact 37.

The festival was extremely well organised and had been set up really well. All the beers were being pumped directly from the cellar where it was nice and cool and so there were none of the usual barrels to be seen behind the makeshift bar. Plenty of willing volunteers working at the festival and an efficient token system also helped to ensure a successful event. There was also a drivers bar offering free Cola, Lemonade and Soda Water to drivers, although I was glad I didn't need to drink any of these freebies.

Peter also made a point of saying how fantastic all the sponsors had been and that Ye Horns Inn and Rudgates brewery had been particularly helpful and generous.

Whippy, who I am sorry to say is a lager

I then thought I should try something strong and dark before we headed home and so I chose Prospect Big John at 4.8%, a dark stout with a liquorice taste. All too soon it was time to go and we hadn't tried any sausages which did smell delicious. There was a great selection of sausages to choose from ranging from Black Pudding and Chicken, Old English Pork, Turkey and Cranberry, Beef and Chilli, Goosnargh Duck, Tomato and Pork with veggie sausages also available.As we made our way back to our local, I couldn't help thinking what a great afternoon we had just had. A great festival, very well organised and superb beers. Whilst I can't personally vouch for the sausages there were plenty of people tucking into them and the ones that I spoke to all said they were lovely.

I for one am certainly looking forward to the 2nd Beer and Sausage Festival. Look out for the dates and make sure they are in your diary Dave Bell

Facebook Your local Branch of CAMRA, Central Lancashire, now has its own Facebook page.

As you will be aware, we cover the Preston, Leyland and Chorley areas. You can now be kept informed about our forthcoming events including Branch and Social meetings, Committee meetings, AleCry distribution crawls and Brewery trips amongst others.

You are welcome to attend any of our meetings and events.

Find us on Facebook and like our page and we will make you aware of the local news and forthcoming events boy, had to make his way to the club's main bar in the next room, Find us, Like us, Join us which was also open, for his regular intake of golden fizz. I, on Go to www.facebook.com and search for CAMRA Central the other hand, had some fine ales to choose from. The beers were Lancashire Branch Dave Bell all from relatively local breweries with Lytham, Ennerdale, Dunscar Bridge, Prospect, Allgates, Fuzzy Duck, Three B's, Ulverston, Storm Brewing, Brimstage, Phoenix, Lancaster, Brightside, Hawkshead, Rudgate, Marston Moor, Hart, Pictish, Bank Top and the new Goosnargh Brewing Company all being represented.

What a line up!

Hawkshead had even made a special beer for the festival, Whittingham Wobbler at 3.7%, a pale and hoppy ale and this was my first choice. Fuzzy Duck Pheasant Plucker at 4.2% was next and also in fine form. This was followed by Brimstage Trappers Hat at 3.8%, very hoppy and refreshing. Deciding to go as local as possible, I then sampled a Goosnargh Brewing Company Goosnargh Gold at 4%. This is from the new brewery at Ye Horns Inn, where Mark Woods has recently set up and is currently brewing 3 great ales, Goosnargh Gold, Goosnargh Truckle and RGB. Fancying a trip to the seaside, I then moved on to Lytham IPA at 5.6%, Whippy meanwhile was steadily putting plenty of lager away.

3

UNDER 26 UCLAN Real Ale Society continues. to grow But You don’t have to go to UCLAN. You may go to a different uni or college You may work or be out of work

WE NEED YOU - more free beer ÂŁ than subs (see p23)

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

Following the lead of other branches, CAMRA West Lancashire branch (as we then were)

launched a LocAle

scheme in Spring 2009. By doing this the branch was putting into practice an initiative that we would actively support those licensees in our area who were selling at least one beer that had been brewed within 30 miles of their pub premises.

Since the last issue of Ale Cry hit the newsletter holders, there has been a CAMRA committee meeting in which a revised list of LocAle outlets has been drawn up and agreed. The outcome is that there are now 45 LocAle outlets (42 pubs plus 3 clubs) which are currently recognised by the branch as being part of the scheme.

The branch is now in receipt of a supply of 2013 LocAle window stickers, and hopefully you will soon be seeing one of these stickers prominently displayed in each of the recognised LocAle outlets.

Of course the main news for this LocAle Update is that we now have a new micro-brewery operating in the branch area. Elsewhere in this Ale Cry you will be able to read all about the new GOOSNARGH BREWERY, which hopefully will soon have its beers turning up at some of our LocAle outlets and other pubs in the branch area. However, while one micro-brewery comes on the

scene another departs,

with the CHORLEY BREW

HOUSE company looking to

have brewed its last. Based

at Coppull and only in existence for about six months, their beers Grain Pole, Eagle Tower, Napper Tapper, White Coppice and Black Coppice were fleetingly seen in a number of local outlets.

As in previous Ale Cry's I would like to feature some of the branch's LocAle outlets. On this occasion two more pubs as follows:CORN EXCHANGE, PRESTON. This is a new addition to the branch's LocAle register, having only earlier this year switched from being a keg-only pub to one that is serving real ale. Opened in 1992, and popular with real ale drinkers when known as the Flax & Firkin, this pub was for many years known as the Assembly and was concentrating on attracting a student and younger age group market. Recently re-launched as the Corn Exchange after a short period of closure, this pub is now selling Thwaites beers, and on my visit Thwaites Wainwright and Thwaites Lancaster Bomber were the beers available.

PARKERS ARMS Park Road Chorley 01257 261999

Opening hours: Monday - Thursday: 11am - 12pm Friday - Saturday: 11am - 1pm Sunday: 11am - 12pm Real Ales from £2. per pint: Jennings’ Cumberland + guest Sky Sports

HOP POCKET, Chorley (Thwaites) MALT ‘N’ HOPS, Chorley (various) POTTERS ARMS, Chorley (Three B’s) ST GEORGES CLUB, Chorley (Thwaites) WHITE BULL, Chorley (Bank Top) BLACK HORSE, Croston (Moorhouses) CROWN, Croston (Thwaites) BROWN COW, Eccleston (Thwaites).

ORIGINAL FARMERS ARMS, Eccleston (various) HORNS, GOOSNARGH. Already featured extensively in this Ale ANDERTON ARMS, Fulwood (Thwaites) BLACK BULL, Fulwood (Thwaites) Cry, this pub was the branch's Pub of the Season for Spring 2013 and was already a registered LocAle outlet even before the estab- GRAPES, Goosnargh (Hopstar) HORNS, Goosnargh (Goosnargh) lishment of its on-site micro-brewery. Now not having to rely on imported beers from other Lancashire breweries, this English Heri- YEW TREE, Heath Charnock (various) tage listed pub is the place to go to try the new Goosnargh Brewery GOLDEN LION, Higher Wheelton (Thwaites) BOAT YARD, Hoghton (Thwaites) products. On my visit the two beers available were Goosnargh ROYAL OAK, Hoghton (Thwaites) Gold and Goosnargh Truckle, although additional permanent and SMITHS ARMS, Lea Town (Thwaites) seasonal beers are also planned for the future.

LEYLAND LION, Leyland (Moorhouses).

Look out for pubs and clubs in the branch area that are displaying QUEENS, Leyland (various) LocAle promotional material - and in particular look out for those WAGGON & HORSES, Leyland (Thwaites) BULL & ROYAL, Longridge (Thwaites) displaying the new 2013 window stickers. These establishments are to be recommended if you wish to support those licensees who CORPORATION ARMS, Longridge (various) ST GERARDS CLUB, Lostock Hall (various) are doing their bit for local breweries (and for the environment).

BLACK BULL, Penwortham (Thwaites).

Gordon Small LOCALE OUTLETS (June 2013) BULL & ROYAL, Preston (Moorhouses)

BRIDGE, Adlington (various) CORN EXCHANGE, Preston (Thwaites)

WHITE BULL, Alston (Thwaites) LAMB & PACKET, Preston (Thwaites)

WHEATSHEAF, Ashton (various)

WITHY ARMS, Bamber Bridge MOORBROOK, Preston (Thwaites) NEW WELCOME, Preston (Thwaites)

(various) OLD VIC, Preston (various)

SADDLE, Bartle (Thwaites)

SITTING GOOSE, Bartle (Thwaites) PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS RFC (Thwaites) SUN, Preston (Thwaites)

SPARLING, Barton (Thwaites) NABS HEAD, Samlesbury (Thwaites)

TILLOTSONS ARMS, Chipping NEW HALL TAVERN, Samlesbury (various)

(various) WELCOME TAVERN, Walton-le-Dale (Thwaites) DOG, Whittle-le-Woods (Thwaites)

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4

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In seven years or so I may say that they have at least to acCAMRA CENTRAL LANCS BRANCH AND ... OLD NEWSPAPERS `In previous articles I have featured old count for one dozen men, most of them fine healthy looking

postcards and old pub adverts as being a great way of finding out more about long gone pubs and breweries in the Central Lancs branch area. Continuing with this theme, another excellent source for information on bygone pubs and breweries are old newspapers. In order to illustrate this point I would like to recount a slightly bizarre story that appeared in the local newspapers almost exactly 130 years ago. The story involves the two rival Longton breweries W & R Wilkins and James Pye & Sons, concerns the question of beer purity, and was to develop into an alleged libel case that went to criminal court at Lancaster in 1883.

It seems that that nothing really changes, as that year there had been much discussion with regard to substitutes that were possibly being used in the brewing of beer.

Wanting to set the record straight Richard Wilkins wrote a letter which was printed in the Southport Visiter of April 5th in which he stated that "during the past six months innumerable letters had appeared in the leading newspapers and trade journals, many insinuating, and others distinctly affirming, that the beer of the present day was not composed purely and simply of malt, hops, and water, as was the original meaning of the so-called beverage; but that owing to the unprecedented high price of hops, an enormous percentage of various kinds of bitter roots and poisonous drugs was constantly being made use as a substitute." Writing of the W & R Wilkins brewery he then went on to say that "Since the establishment of their business more than 50 years ago, they had never used, not even for trial, any ingredient as a substitute, or partial substitute, for either malt or hops; and they had pleasure in giving every facility to any competent person to test their ales by chemical analysis."

Nine days later a letter anonymously penned by 'Fair Play" appeared in the rival Southport News newspaper. This said "Be that as it may, I will just give Mr Wilkins a hit to test his feelings on the pure malt, hops, and water principle, of which he speaks so highly; and, if the result is anything to go by, I for one would not give much for the pure malt, hops, and water trade.

young fellows a few days before their death, to say nothing of the widows and children thus left. Now compare this with that of their neighbours Messrs James Pye & Sons, and test the same thing, when I challenge Mr Wilkins to name one death that has taken place under this firm, which has been established over 50 years; and as the death-rate is all I have to go by at present, I will leave the pure malt, hops, and water principal for Mr Wilkins to explain further if he can."

As you would expect, the Wilkins Brewery owners were not pleased with what had been printed, with the content of this second letter being alleged to be libellous to them and certainly not good for their future beer sales in the Southport area. The Preston Chronicle of June 16th reported on the case when it was heard at Leyland Petty Sessions, with it being revealed that "Fair Play" was actually Richard Thompson, who it just so happened was employed as a cooper by Messrs Pye & Sons, the neighbouring Longton brewery described as being "within a few yards of Messrs Wilkins brewery". It was suggested that his letter had two possible defamatory meanings "that by the use of poisonous drugs in the manufacture of beer Messrs Wilkins have killed a dozen men engaged in the manufacture" or that "twelve men have died from drinking Messrs Wilkins beer". It was reported that the publisher of the Southport News had given Thompson the opportunity to make an apology, but that he had "seemed to boast of what he had done, saying that complainants dare not go on with the case."

The case was adjourned, but exactly one week later the Preston Chronicle of June 23rd reported on the resumed hearing that took place at Leyland Police Station. On this occasion it was stated that Thompson "had never intended to impute anything like the constructions put upon the letter by the complainants", but this was not considered sufficient by the prosecution who said "that it was no apology whatever; it was rather a justification of the statements made." Seemingly having no other choice the magistrate ruled that Thompson must be sent for trial.

Richard Thompson's position did not look good, and one month later he was up for trial at the Lancaster Midsummer Assizes. The Preston Chronicle of July 21st reported on(Cont next page)

proceedings, with Thompson pleading not guilty to a charge "of ma- MORE FROM OLD NEWSPAPERS liciously publishing at Longton, on the 10th April 1883, a certain de- Hopefully this will be of interest to anyone who can refamatory libel of and concerning one Richard Wilkins". The jury first member the days when every other pub in Preston was a heard from the prosecution, but perhaps through inexperience they Matthew Brown house. Printed in its entirety, this article failed to call any witnesses to state that Thompson had actually been is taken from the April 18th 1933 edition of the Lancashire wrong in claiming that Wilkins Brewery had been responsible for the Daily Post. deaths of twelve healthy young men. In response the defence made PRESTON ASSAULT ON OLD BREWERY much of this, with them stating that "There was not a tittle of evidence Three Months Demolition Task.

A race against offered that day that showed the defendant knew these claims to be time to demolish Messrs Matthew Brown’s old brewery in false." They said that it had been a "monstrous injustice" that the case Pole Street, Preston, started today.

The conhad gone to a criminal court, and that the prosecution had been "light tractors, a local firm, Messrs W & J Goodier have twelve and trivial" in presenting their evidence.

In his summing up, weeks in which to demolish the entire building, which the judge made the point that by writing his original letter Mr Wilkins covers an area of 5900 square yards and varies from one had "practically invited other people to come and say, You are all very to five storeys, and they are under penalty for every week well, but you are not quite such a fine fellow as you would wish peopleexceeding the prescribed time.

In addition to movto think you are". There was then much hilarity in court ing thousands of tons of brickwork and great networks of as the judge went on to talk about the libel claim, with him asking steel girders, the contractors have also to fell a 120 ft chim"was what occurred anything more than a little bit of joking?"With it ney stack and fill a 320 ft well which is sunk into the ground now appearing that it was Mr Wilkins and the prosecution who were in the brewery yard.

It will be impossible to at fault, it was finally reported that the Jury "almost immediately retu- drop the chimney in the usual way, and it will have to be rned a verdict of taken down piecemeal and the bricks flung down the inside not guilty" on of the stack. The work is being done under contract to Richard Thompson, HM Office of Works. Officially no plans are available of the while his lawyer Government's intentions, but it is generally understood that was also to be the site is to be used for a new Labour Exchange, which is granted costs. to be built to replace the wooden building in Corporation What a strange Street. story - and it was In addition part of the new premises are to be used by the certainly not the Post Office as a sorting office.

The building will ending that I had not be razed to the ground. The outer wall is to be left to a expected when I height of 9 ft as cover for subsequent building operations. first began It is nearly five years since the brewery was closed down, compiling it.. when Matthew Browns moved their headquarters to NutGordon Small tall's Brewery, Blackburn.

HM Office of Works purchased the premises in April 1931. The old brewery dates back to 1830, although alterations and additions have left little of the original building. Gordon Small

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6

SOUTH RIBBLE SCENE

choose from. It is good to report that things are looking much better these days, with cask ales Robinsons Dizzy Blond and Hartleys Cumbrian Way being available, plus Westons Traditional Scrumpy.

The real ale drinker then has a bit of a walk to the next suitable We are always getting comments from people saying that it is pub. No handpumps (or at least no handpumps that are in use) about time that this pub or that pub got a mention in Ale Cry. at the , the , or the In some instances this is a fair comment, as when there is no . significant news to report it is true that an otherwise excellently run pub can sometimes tend to be overlooked.

With this in mind, for this South Ribble Scene I have looked at an area not covered for quite some time in Ale Cry - the Station Road area of Bamber Bridge. I thought that it would be interesting to see what would be available to the real ale drinker on one particular day (May Bank Holiday). What I found was five real ale pubs (out of a total of eight) selling 17 different beers (this being with no duplication) plus there was also one real cider.

Also the former has now been demolished (leaving a fine view of the magnificent Wesley Street Mill), while the former is now being used as offices.

Nearing the end of Station Road we reach the , undoubtedly the most scenic of Bamber Bridge's many pubs. Looking back at a past issue of Ale Cry, at the time I described this pub then as having the widest range of real ales available in the area. Unfortunately this has not been true for quite some time, but on the day there were three real ales availStarting at the Walton-le-Dale end of Station Road I visited on School Lane. This is a pub that has been able - Theakstons XB, Theakstons Old Peculier, and Thwaites Wainwright. selling some interesting beers in recent years, and this time round I was again not disappointed, with Derwent Springfield What news from elsewhere in the South Ribble area? In Losand Cuerden Challenging Cross being the two beers that were on available. Although it may sound like it, the latter is not a beer tock Hall I can report that the Watkin Lane has now re-opened after having been closed for a brewed at nearby Cuerden Valley Park, but is actually from the couple of months at the beginning of the year.

There had been Cuerden Brewing company based in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkrumours that the pub would be closed for a much longer period shire. with it being given a complete refurbishment, but that does not Back to Station Road and I looked in at the . This now appear to be the case. On my latest visit the beers available pub is at present undergoing a refurbishment, but remains open there were Caledonian XPA and Theakstons XB. with scaffolding and 'wet paint' warning signs currently about Moving to Penwortham, the on Central the place. However although work may be going on there Drive has been running a scheme whereby customers are able to was no obvious disruption to customer service, and on the bar submit requests on what guest beers they would next like to see there were four beers available - Copper Dragon Golden Pippin, Hook Norton Old Hooky, Sharps Doom Bar, and Courage on sale at the pub. It will be interesting to see what the result is, as on my most recent visit the pub was selling Thwaites WainDirectors. wright, a beer which is that popular it seems to be getting everywhere these days.

Next we have the , a current Good Beer Guide entry and the branch's Pub of the Season as recently as Spring 2012. This was my first visit since there had been an increase in Finally some depressing news. In Higher Walton building work and the the number of handpumps, and it was encouraging to see that all has been going on at the former former however both appear to be finished as pubs; six were in use dispensing different beers. For the record these were - Old Bear Hibernation, Old Bear Yorkshire Ale, Peerless while in Walton-le-Dale there are plans for the former to be demolished and replaced by a high tech three storeys high Red Rocks, St =ustell Proper Job, Charles Wells Bombardier, children's nursery. and the Thwaites brewed house beer Withy Ale.

Moving to the , this is also a former Pub of the Season winner, although a lot of water has passed under Bamber Bridge in the 10 years since the Summer of 2003. Once a regular Good Beer Guide entry, it subsequently lost favour when for several years there was just one real ale to

7

SEVERAL ARTICLES HAVE SUFFERED - EITHER BEEN EDITED OR OMITTED ‘TIL THE NEXT ISSUE, DUE TO SHORTAGE OF ADVERTISING INCOME, MY OWN SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE TIME TO DO THE JOB PROPERLY, LACK OF SUPPORT, ETC., ETC. - ALL EXCUSES - THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT AFTER THE AGM YOU SHOULD SEE A MUCH IMPROVED ALE CRY ED

‘hands on’ one, using traditional brewing methods with little reliance on technology so the beers can truly be called hand crafted.

He fills the hot liquor tank the night before a brew, bringing the our pubs or at a beer festival, will understand the joy of our water up to 83º C. Using grains appropriate to each brew, e.g. the finest pale malts for the IPA, he uses a big paddle during the mashbranch in securing a trip to the Blackedge Brewery. Thus ing process, which lasts 1¼ hours, adding brewing salts if needed it was that 15 members on a minibus, plus several from Chorley who made their own way there, arrived on a Thurs- and then sparges the grains at 72ºC to hit 85-90% efficiency of day evening at the brewery, which is based in the one time getting the sugars from the malt. The ‘wort’ is now pumped into engine house of a textile mill in Horwich. We were greeted the copper and boiled along with the specific blend of hops to suit the particular brew for up to 1¼ hours. Only full hop flowers are at the door by owner Wayne Roper and his business partner, Shaun Reynolds, who had been expecting us to turn up used as befits their traditional brewing methods. Wayne gave us a good explanation of how flavours are extracted from hops, differrather earlier than we had, due to a mix up with our social entiating bitterness from flavour. For instance, aroma hops are only secretary. There was no harm done, though, as we were immediately invited to have a pint of one of the three beers added 10 minutes from the end of the boil.

As we continued to have our on stillage for our enjoyment. We could choose from Black glasses filled, he went on to tell Stout, a 4% rich velvety chocolate and coffee flavoured beer, us how the beer was rested for Malt Bitter, an amber fruity 4% bitter, and IPA a full bodied

10-15 minutes to allow the hops 4.7% hoppy and citrus flavoured beer.

to fall to the bottom of the copWhilst we were enjoying our pints, Wayne gave us a brief

per and help filter the hopped history of the brewery. It was originally set up in 2009, by Brewery Vessels long time friends Wayne and Shaun more or less as a hobby, Fermenters wort as it is pumped through a heat exchanger on its way to the only brewing at weekends, but because of their dedication to excellence and the use of only the finest ingredients, the fermenters, bringing the temperature down. Too high a temperature can produce off flavours as they use dried yeast only. It takes bedecision was made in 2011 to start full time production.

They bought the plant of the one time Buckle Street Brew- tween 48 and 72 hours for the yeast to work its magic and produce ery, subsequently adding to it, and moved into their present beer. It is then fined in the fermenting vessels before being racked into casks. Although they do have a number of plastic casks (they premises on Hampson Street, directly behind the Original Bay Horse in Horwich, which is de facto the brewery tap, as only cost £25 as opposed to metal ones at £85 plus VAT) they want to stick to metal and have found a place in Preston which does their beers are always on sale there. The plant is of 5 barrel length and up till recently they have been producing 20 refurbed casks. The fined casks are then kept in their cold store for a week before being sent out, to allow the beer to develop. He told barrels a week. However lately they have been very busy, us they had dabbled with bottling their beer and were thinking of so they have bought two new fermenters and are currently having a bottle shop in six months or so. There was a question and producing 30- 35 barrels a answer session, during which we were told that all of the seven week. We were invited to fill our regular beers that they produced sold equally well. One interestglasses at any time, with wives ing anecdote was about the brewing of the award winning (SIBA Rowena and Kerry at hand to regional gold award 2012) Black Port Stout, a complex 4.9% beer assist us. Wayne then proceeded with additions of real port to the cask. He got some very funny to give us further details of his looks when he was buying bottles of port at 8am on the days it was brewing process as he showed us being brewed. They must have thought he was some kind of alchy. the plant. The brewery is a very The Wives and Wayne Besides the beer, we had arranged for there to be a buffet on the night and we proceeded to help ourselves, with anyone with more questions free to ask on an informal basis. The cost of the trip was £9 which was very reasonable, considering the food and drink consumed, especially those who had come from Chorley on the service bus. Those of us on the minibus had of course an extra charge, 44 Friargate Preston but it was well worth it to see people with a passion for real ale making a success of brewing using traditional methods. Besides Tel: 01772 252217 a core range of seven permanent beers, which besides the previously mentioned beers include Hop Pale Ale (3.8%), Pike Pale Ale (4.0%), a Blonde Ale at 4.5% and American Pale Ale (4.2%), Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, they also produce a range of occasional monthly specials based on particular hops from all around the world called the ‘World Hop Joseph Holt’s Best Bitter Series’. Look out for these and give them a try.

Tetley Mild We had to leave by 10pm, so a thank you speech was delivered by the chairman, followed by a round of applause in appreciation of plus: the evening. It was not completely over yet, though, as we repaired Weekly Guests From The to the nearby Original Bay Horse (‘Long Pull’)for a last beer before Punch Finest Cask Range returning, there being two Blackedge and SIBA Direct Delivery beers on sale, as well as Bank Top Old Slapper and JW Lees Bitter. The pub itself is a gem and has been in Smokey-o-Joes 32-Seater Smoking Area the same family for many years.

There are rumours of a change in Good Value Lunches Including: Landlady Eileen at ‘Long Pull’ command however. It is only to be hoped that if this is true, there are no drastic alterations. It was the ‘The’ Curry Fridays perfect way to finish off the night out. Look out in our future meetings section for news of any upcoming brewery trips. Paul Riley.

Blackedge Brewery Visit Those of you who have encountered their beers, either in

Dog and Partridge House Casks Include:

The Big Quiz Thursday Night Rock DJ Sunday

8

GOOSNARGH BREWERY OPENS

Mark Woods at the Horns Inn at Goosnargh has had an ambition to open a brewery for a few years now. When Grindleton Brewery went out of business 3 or 4 years ago, he bought their 5-barrel plant and arranged with a friendly local farmer to store it in a barn.

He then applied for planning permission for a building next to the pub to accommodate the brewery with room for expansion, together with a brewery shop and viewing area for tourists. Permission was granted but then the banks stepped in, or rather didn’t – in view of the state of the economy, no one would lend him the money to carry out his ambitious proposal.

Last summer, Mark got fed up with waiting and decided instead to convert a small stone outbuilding into a very-micro-brewery.

The building seems no bigger than a domestic garage, but he has put in a 5-barrel plant containing the former Grindleton hot liquor tank, mash tun and copper, all altered and re-insulated, and 4 of their former conditioning tanks. He has added 2 new 5-barrel fermenting vessels made from plastic (the first time I have ever seen plastic fermenters!).

Mark has put up a domestic precast concrete garage next to the brewery to store malt, hops etc., and empty barrels, but the only storage he has for full barrels ready to be distributed is the pub cellar. Basically he just racks the beer from the conditioning tanks when it is needed. Brewing ‘One of the UKs top 100 pubs 2011’ - Famous Grouse Awards takes place fortnightly.

As with most local breweries, Three time winner of George Lee Trophy malt for Goosnargh Brewery comes from Fawcetts of Castleford.

Stan and Michael are looking forward Whole hops are used rather than pelletized, supplied in small vacuum packs by Charles Faram from near Malvern in Worcesto offering you a warm welcome tershire and Nottingham Ale yeast from Murphys of, surprise Central Lancs Pub of The Year surprise, Nottingham.

The beer went on sale in the A Good Beer Guide and Cask Marque Pub Horns at the beginning of April. 3 beers are brewed, Goosnargh Thurs Eve a Cask Ale at £1.99 a Pint Gold, a 4% hoppy golden ale; Goosnargh Truckle, a 3.7% darker, 33 Friargate - PRESTON - PR1 2AT malty beer; and RGB (Real Goosnargh Beer), a copper-coloured Tel: 01772 823397 fruity ale. There are plans for a 4% Blonde summer ale, with later on Autumn and Christmas ales. A 3rd handpump has been www.theoldblackbullpreston.co.uk installed and Mark hopes to have two of the “house” beers on sale at a time alongside one guest.

At the start, the beer was sold just in the pub. Very tasty it was too when branch members made a visit to present a Pub of the Season award just a few days after sales had started. However, it has already been sold at the Whittingham Beer & Sausage Festival at Whittingham Social Club and is due to be sold at the Black Bull (Fulwood) beer festival. By June, Mark hopes to be brewing weekly and

Burscough ­­ Hopstar supplying local free houses.

Mark is the head (and only brewer), having learnt his trade from Dave Porter at the Outstanding Brewery in Bury. Well done Mark, your beer is very tasty and we will hope to see it in free houses in the area in the future, as well as drinking it in the pub.

Dave Linley 01772 453224

Brewery Liaison Officer Facebook: Queens Leyland

The Old Black Bull

Now Free of Ties on Cask Beers This allows us to offer up to 9 local and regional Real Ales at all times

Heated Beer Garden 3D TV - Live Sports on 7 Screens County Cricket based festivals throughout the Summer

Southport Bank Top Lancaster

1 Golden Hill Lane 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

9

Three Bees Bowland MoorHouses

Queens

lìê i~Çó C píK dÉê~êÇë B ro w n e d g e R o a d , L o s t o c k H a l l , P re s t o n P R 5 5 A A Te l e p h o n e : 0 1 7 7 2 3 3 9 4 5 9

tÉäÅçãÉë óçì íç ~ ãçÇÉêå ÅäìÄ ïáíÜ íê~Çáíáçå~ä î~äìÉëÒ Open: Mon-Thurs 7pm-11pm

Fri:5pm-11.30pm

Saturday: 3pm-Midnight

2 Guest Ale Handpumps

Sunday: 12noon-11.30pm

Live Entertainment & Function Room

rotated on a weekly basis

Quiz Nights every Sunday & Tuesday Sports Channels - Sky Sports & ESPN Memberships Available Snooker Table & Pool Table

The Wheatsheaf 50 Water Lane, Preston, 01772 725917

Open

pe

Mon-Thur

11-11

Friday &

Saturday

11-11.30

Sunday

12-10.30

A Pub

Quiz Night of the Thursday Season

Live Music

Friday & Good Saturday

Beer 5 changing real ales

Guide

+ real Cider

Real Ales £2.10-£2.50

Real Cider £2.50

Live Sports

THE MALT AND HOPS

Free House ‘One of Chorley’s most popular real ale hostelries - a long time Good Beer Guide entry, a recognised stopping off point for train and bus commuters, serving a wide and changing range of ‘locales’, wifi, sports t.v. and much more, on twitter and facebook, on net caskaleschorley.com

Due to be refurbished soon and well worth a visit or two or three or more’

10

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

11

10p, 10%, 50p a pint off in local pubs: Show your CAMRA card at these pubs and get discount on your real ales ( hint to pubs: there’s space for more to be added ): • • • • • •

Adelphi Preston 10% Ancient Oak, Cottam 20p Anderton Arms Fulwood 20p Black Bull Penwortham 20p Crown Croston 20p Fishers Preston 10%

•

Hayrick, Clayton-le-Woods 10p(M-Th)

• Highfield, Croston • Plough Grimsargh

20p 20p

Correct at time of going to press but can’t be guaranteed

THE BLACK HORSE

166 Friargate | Orchard St | Preston | PR1 2EJ

The Railway Inn Steeley lane Chorley LancsPR6 0RD 01257411449 emailrailwayinnchorley@yahoo.co.uk

Jennings Cumberland and 4 changing guest ales

A CAMRA pub of the Season

A Good Beer Guide and Cask Marque Pub Free pool every Monday Darts and dominoes - Thurdays Free Jukebox every Tuesday

Chorley’s Premier Music Venue Live Music Friday and Saturday Evenings Seasonal music festivals with up to 8 bands

Our Café The Graze and Grog’ is open daily with special Black Horse pies, ‘Old Tom’ Steak & Ale pie, Chicken pie and lots more on the menu.

See our website for details.

8 Cask Ales:

Unicorn, Dizzy Blonde, XB, Trooper, Old Tom, Cumbria Way, Double Hop IPA, 1892 Dark.

Ciders:

Old Rosie Scrumpy, Stowford Press Cider.

Lagers: San Miguel,

Amstel, Grolsch Blonde, Veltins

12

Wines, Spirits & Bottles

The Function Room is also available to hire Email: theblackhorse44@aol.com

01772 204855 www.blackhorse-preston.co.uk

A Sally Round...........

Kingston-upon-Thames

By this time, the final scores were coming in on the large screen TV and having seen that Preston North End had lost away again we decided to move on to our final pub of this particular Sally.

This was the Willoughby Arms, voted pub of the year 2013 by the Kingston & Leatherhead Branch of CAMRA. It did not disappoint As well as one or two usual suspects such as Fullers London Pride there was a

fine selection of real ales. Twick enham Fine Ales Naked Ladies at 4.4% attracted my attention straight away and this proved to be a great choice,

With Carole in King’s Tun aromatic and hoppy. Other options were Surrey Hills Shere Drop at 4.2% which was very pale, with tastes of grapefruit and lemon, which was fantastic, Weltons Old Cocky at 4.3% and Brightwater Daisy Gold at 4%. It was time to call it a day, by this time Carole and Matt had been talking about Saveloy and Chips for tea and whilst, as a true Prestonian, I would have preferred a Butter Pie to a Saveloy, I decided that when in Rome.....At first glance, Kingston appeared not to have much to offer in the way of good real ale pubs but on closer inspection there are several that are worth a visit if ever you are down this way, perhaps watching Rugby at nearby Twickenham or just being touristy at nearby Hampton Court. If you ever find your way out of the maze, make your way to the Willoughby Arms or the Druids Head for some refreshment, you won’t be disappointed Dave Bell

The Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames lies 10 miles South West of Central London. It is the ancient market town where Saxon Kings were crowned, although more recently, as I discovered, it has been the home of Eric Clapton who apparently used to busk there in his early days.

Recently, I went with Carole and our eldest son Matt, who is 24, to stay nearby for the weekend. On Saturday afternoon we braved the rain and made our way to the centre of Kingston to begin our Sally round. There was an interesting looking market in the Market Place and I was persuaded to delay our entry to the even more interesting looking Druids Head by Carole and Matt, as they wanted a look round.

Soon enough, order had been restored and I was at the bar in the Druids Head. 6 hand pumps were available, although I only had eyes for one as soon as I saw the Oakhams Citra clip attached to it. This is one of my particular favourites and I couldn't resist a couple of pints of this zingy, citrusy, refreshing ale. What a great start to the afternoon. Other ales available were Timothy Taylor Golden Best, Wadworth St George and the Dragon and a couple of offerings from Greene King, IPA and Caritas as well as Druids Head Ale, brewed specially for the pub by Greene King. As I was toying with the idea of having a third pint of Citra, it was only 4.2% after all, Carole and Matt decided they wanted to move on. Ok, it was a Sally

round.

After a short walk we found our selves outside the Wheel Wrights Arms.It had

started rain 21 Market Street ing again so Adlington we went Chorley inside rather PR7 4HE hastily. Not a Tel: 01257 795700 very wide Fax: 01257 795150 choice of cask ale to choose from with only Fullers London Mobile: 07903 061661 Pride and St Austell Tribute available. The London Pride was With compliments selected for all 3 of us and it was agreed as tasty enough. With sales@chorleybottlegas.co.uk nothing out of the ordinary available inside we decided to www.chorleybottlegas.co.uk With compliments brave the weather outside and it was only a couple of min• All cylinders 100% HSE and fully tested Company utes walk to the Kings Tun, a Wetherspoons house. Typical Company Registration No: 5352401 VAT Registration No: 787 3581 76 of Wetherspoons, there was a much greater choice here with • Full range of cylinder sizes to suit any workDevils Backbone American Amber at 4.8%, Belhaven Black ing environment at 4.2%, Thwaites Daniel’s Hammer at 5%, Everards Malty • 7 day 24 hour emergency call out for our Tasker at 5%, Corfu Ionian Coffee Porter at 4.5%, Rudgate clients Pursuit of Hoppiness at 4% and Hilden Number Four at 4.4%. piness which was just right for me and very hoppy. Carole, • Remember - Chorley Bottle Gas Ltd does who has always loved our holidays to the Greek Islands, not charge any deposits or rentals decided on the Corfu Ionian Coffee Porter. I discovered that this had been brewed by the Corfu Brewery as a result of the • All cylinders are fully labelled for easy idencontract brewing available at Everards Brewery in Leicestification tershire and Claudio Mouzakitis the Brewer from Corfu had come over to Everards to produce this beer for Wetherspoons • All our gasses are 100% food grade certified International Real Ale Festival. Anyway, it was really good, quality and went down a treat, so much so that I had to try a pint for

myself. In pursuit of my preferred taste I went for a • Suppliers of balloons and party goods

pint of Pursuit of Hop

Company Registration No: 5352401

13

VAT Registration No: 787 3581 76

• Balloon gas / Helium available

Gerri and Dave offer

you a warm welcome to:

The

Minstrel

Eaves Green Road, CHORLEY, PR7 3PF 07447 129309 www.theminstrelchorley.co.uk

Opening Times: Sunday to Thurs.12 - 12, Fri & Sat.12- 1

Real Ales: Hobgoblin, Wainrights, Sharps Doombar + a Guest beer

Lagers & Bitters: San Miguel, Coors, Carling, Fosters, Carlsberg,John Smiths Extra cold Boddingtons Top Class Sunday Roast. Bar

Full Sky Sports snacks and meals through the package - inc a week. Thurs. Night is superb 8ft screen Curry Night -Fosters Gold £1.25...

Large secure 30p pint off real ale. enclosed garden Great drinks promotions C2B on stage with smoking shelter Not forgetting and log burner

the cracking curry!!!!!

Chorley’s top Live Music every Friday and Saturday Karaoke Sunday entertainment pub::::::::::: Pub of The Season – Summer 2013

The Summer pub of the Season is The Wheatsheaf at Croston.

The Wheatsheaf is situated right at the heart of the picturesque village of Croston in a commanding position next to the village green. The management team, Jon and Becky have totally refurbished the pub and it now has a modern, contemporary style whilst retaining a welcoming, cosy feel

included Hawkshead Windermere Pale, Lancaster Blonde and Ossett Big Red. The pub also has Cask Marque accreditation.

The Wheatsheaf is family friendly and dogs are welcome in the bar area. There is also free Wi-Fi throughout the bar and restaurant areas. The pub also hosts events including live music and beer festivals.

The Branch will be presenting the PoTS Award to Jon and Becky very soon. Why not come along and help celebrate and try the real ale on offer.

All are welcome.

The date and time will be announced soon. If you want to be kept informed about this and The bar has other events in the future please like us on Facebook. Search for CAMRA Central Lancashire Branch and like our page. Dave Bell a wide range of quality real ales, many of which are from local brew eries. On my most recent visit the choice

14

Stopping conglomerates turning pubs into supermarkets - just one of many fights CAMRA must fight.

Join us in that fight ............. (see page 23)

RILEY’S RAMBLES:Burscough This season’s article is actually a ramble, or near enough of

one, as it really involves a bit of walking in the countryside, ideal for a warm summers day, if we ever get any. The only drawback with this walk is that you cannot do it on a Sunday, as the rail network does not run trains between Preston and Ormskirk that day. Of course you could drive there, but you would need a designated driver or teetotaller for you to enjoy the full experience of the pubs.

We did this walk on an unusually dry and sunny Easter Saturday and caught the 1559 Ormskirk train, alighting at Burscough Junction Station at 1621. (There are earlier trains!) We had purchased off peak Duo tickets where two people travel together for a full total of £9.10. The usual off peak fare is £6.10 each. Our plan was to visit three pubs in Burscough and drop off at Croston for an hour or so on the way back, before returning to Preston.

Our first pub was to be the Ring o’ Bells at Lathom, a good twenty minute stroll from the station.

To reach it, come out of the station and cross back over the train line and go down Junction Road until it meets the main road. Here, turn left, following Briars Lane, until you come to Ring o’ Bells Lane on your left, where you will find the pub of that name alongside the Leeds and Liverpool canal. This impressive country pub which only reopened in 2011 is well worth a visit at any time, but what was even better on this weekend was they were having a beer festival featuring over thirty beers and twenty ciders. In a way, this was not necessarily good news, as it meant we spent more time in this pub than we intended, and thus rushed our visit to the other two pubs a bit. Anyway, we enjoyed sampling a few good beers at the Bells, including some Liverpool Organic and Wilson Potter beers among others, mostly at £2.80. Normally, six real ales are on sale, with a couple of Thwaites beers always available and up to four local micro brewery beers too. The pub itself is set in large rural grounds with 24 hour canal mooring available, (There you are, another way to get to the pub) and boasts stone and wood floors in its huge split level interior, with separate local and family areas.

Next up, was the Ship Inn on Wheat Lane, which we reached by walking along the canal towpath back towards the direction of Burscough.

Allow yourself 15 minutes for this, meanwhile admiring the canalside wildlife.

The Ship is also known locally as the Blood Tub and there is a choice of two explanations for this. Firstly, it comes from the tub of water kept outside the pub, where canal workers who had been fighting (as often happened in the old days) were expected to wash off the blood before being admitted into the pub. Alternatively, an early landlady was well known for the manufacture of black puddings and sourced the pig’s blood from local farmers who would deliver it in jugs which were poured into a barrel in exchange for ale, hence the blood tub. Believe whichever you like.

Over 800 branch members but only a couple of dozen active. If you are one of the inactive majority don’t you fancy doing a bit to help fight the cause? Any help would be appreciated so why not get in touch (see p22) Ed

This picturesque pub consists of a series of 18th century canalside cottages incorporated into the pub which had a major refurb in 2011, retaining its original stone floors, wooden beams and real fire. Again, six beers are usually available, with at least one Moorhouses beer and up to five guests, which on our visit included Prospect Nutty Slack and Cross Bay Zenith. All too soon, it was time to go to the next pub, The Hop Vine on the main road through the village. To reach it, head north up the canal to reach School Lane, turning left and proceeding along the road, under the railway line and reaching the pub after about 15 minutes.

The Hop Vine dates from 1874 when it was a coaching stop and was recently refurbished, which shows off the wood panelling and

tiled floors of its classic inte

rior magnifi

cently. As befits the home of the Burscough Brewing Co. which is located in the cobbled flower garden to the rear, three of their beers were on sale, alongside a Dunscar Bridge and a couple from Wilson Potter. The pub was very busy at 6.30 in the evening, with everybody having a good time.

All the pubs we visited serve good food and if you were not rushing off as we were, you could have stopped off at any one of them and had a leisurely bite to eat, and maybe spending more time in the pubs. Meanwhile, we had to get to the station for the 1910 train for Croston. (later trains available) To get to the station, turn left outside the pub and walk down the main road till you meet Junction Road, turn left again and you will reach it. Give yourself plenty of time (10-15 minutes) we made it with two minutes to spare. You do not need to get off at Croston, you can proceed straight back to Preston if you want.

Once in Croston we went down the main road to the Lord Nelson on the village green, as we had heard that it had reopened after a short period of closure, and wanted to check it out. It was as if nothing had changed inside, everything being as we remembered it. We had a choice of Copper Dragon Golden Pippin, Jennings Cumberland and Ruddles County. We sat down for a while, with us having been on our feet most of the afternoon and reminisced.

Our last pub for the day was the Wheat sheaf, which we had heard some good reports about.

These proved to be entirely accurate as it was excellent.

So much so that our branch subsequently chose it as pub of the season and you can see a feature on the pub elsewhere in this edition, so I will not duplicate what it says, apart from to relate what beers were on sale that night, which were Prospect Silver Tally, George Wright Pipedream, Bridgehouse Stokers and Jennings Cocker Hoop; A perfectly good way to finish off what had proved to be an entertaining day out. We just had to get back to the station for the 2100 train back to Preston, which arrives there 17 minutes later.

Paul Riley

Sorry no Quiz this issue

15

100 Club decends on Chester

Mark from the Leyland Lion and Brad from Greyfriars organised a trip (a pub crawl for most of us) round Chester. It followed on from a very successful trip Mark arranged round York. So popular was that one that places for this one were soon snapped up. Between the two Wetherspoons pubs over 100 customers joined the trip and an enjoyable time was had by one and all.

The trip cost £15 and included a full breakfast and two free pints each - an absolute bargain. We arrived at the JDW pub The Square Bottle and moved on to their impressive Forest House (4 photos) including cellar bar and some be - autiful archecture above the main bar ruined by some brain dead designer who added some black lampshades.

Among the pubs I visited (between the hundred of us we must have covered every pub in Chester) were those shown in the pictures - most of them anchient hostelries, full of character Sam Smith’s Boot Inn upstairs on one of Chester’s famous walkways with impressive old chandellier; The Bear and Billet; The Brewery Tap, Joule’s Brewery’s Cross Keys and the riverside Boathouse.

The range of pubs and ales was outstanding.

Boot Inn Bear and Billet

Brewery Tap

Cross Keys Boathouse

Thanks Mark and Brad for a great day, which everybody

enjoyed. Chester really is a great place for an Ale Trip Toad

16

25 17

Preston Parade First of all, let’s get the burning question of the day out of the way. leased by Clive Mason from the owners Heineken, and is ‘When will the Co-op Bar on Ormskirk Road be opening?’ I get run by his nephew, Mike Reeve. Mike used to be at the asked often. Well, the latest on this is that it is still ‘work in prog- White Hart in Fulwood about ten years ago. Heineken own ress.’ Jeremy from the New Continental says that there are a couple the Caledonian Brewery, so it is no surprise to find three of small matters that need sorting out before they can start work Caledonian beers on handpump. These were Flying Scotson the premises. Maybe we will have better news next time. In the man at 4%, Golden XPA at 4.3% and the ‘Yew Brew’ which meanwhile, watch out for developments at the Mad Ferret, near just happens to be Caledonian 80/- rebadged. At present they the Bitter Suite, where rumours persist of an upcoming connection are sticking to Caledonian, but they could get other brewwith the Continental. Meanwhile, just round the corner from the ers beers on in the future. They open at 9am for breakfasts, Coop, The Blackamoor has had an exterior facelift and has acquired with alcohol available from 10 am. The full menu is availexterior signs saying that real ales are on sale. It does have two able from 11.30 -9 pm and the pub stays open until midnight handpumps and had lately been selling Worthington Bitter on one. (10.30 Sun). The pub looked very comfortable and has However, the last couple of times we have been in, there has been plenty of outside seating for when summer comes and I have none on sale. Possibly, they are looking to benefit from the trickle heard good report of the food. It is extremely handy for the down effect of the hoards of real ale drinkers heading to and from Capitol Centre and I can see it doing very well. the Co-op Bar when it opens. Something more enticing

than Worthingtons might be needed. Close by, The Tithebarn has once again reopened, selling some Thwaites beers. I did not know that a keg version of Thwaites Original Bitter existed, there being a smoothflow bitter available, but there does, and that’s what is on sale there.

Let’s have some good news now.

Whilst I was down there, I took the opportunity to visit The White Bull, near Chorley Rd Corner. It is a pub that seems to get overlooked a lot, and it deserves more recognition. There were three real ales on sale, two from Hopstar Brewery, George’s Courage at 3.8% and J.C. at 4.1% plus Thwaites Wainwrights. They were on sale at £2.00 a pint which is the The Waterfront, down on the Marina, should have reopened by the price for cask between 12 and 2 and all day Tuesday. The time you read this. If you remember, it was due to have reopened pub is open 12-11(midnight Fri-Sat). last year, but an unfortunate fire put paid to that. Now owned by More good news is that a new licensee, Chris Baffitos of Warrington, it was due to open on 30th May. One of Gardner has taken charge at the White Hart in Fulwood our members, Dave Hegarty, was passing the building and saw that and reinstated cask beer. Chris was previously in charge the handpumps had been taken off the bar. As this was once one of at the Station in Lytham, where he had six beers on sale, his regular haunts, he felt compelled to contact Buffitos to express selling 12 barrels a week. At the moment, the White Hart his dismay. He was glad to receive a positive response from them. just has two, which recently were Robinsons Dizzy Blonde In an email to him, he was told that work was still going on. They and Thwaites Wainwrights, but these will vary. A CAMRA had left a gap on the bar for the beer engines, three of which would member, Chris is hoping to build the cask portfolio. The pub be initially installed, with provision for more if or when they are is open 12-11(midnight Fri & Sat, 10.30 Sun). He is getting required, which they hope they would be. They were starting with the popular carvery back on Sat and Sun with a normal menu Thwaites Wainwright as a permanent plus London Pride and a available during the week.

Guest. Voting slips will be available on the bar so that people can Elsewhere in Preston, Barneys on Church St. has had its suggest beers to get in. The pub side would be very traditional, with second pump installed and besides the Black Sheep, it has oak floors and red leather seating. There will be TVs and sports, but been selling other beers including ones from the Copper for those wanting something quieter, real ale will be also availDragon range at £2.00 a pint and sales are going well. Just able in the lounge, which will feature leather Chesterfields and arm up the road, Vicky and Nick Pennington have been at the chairs. You can also have it with dinner in the restaurant. He was helm of the Academy since February. also told that a beer festival was planned for mid summer, with an The Grapes at Goosnargh has duly reopened after its outdoor barbeque extensive facelift, and very nice it looks too, with everything and spit roast. fitting in well with its Grade II listed building status. When Dave was assured I went, the pub had only been open for four days and Mark, that they would the licensee, had only been able to get Robinsons Unicorn, not have dreamed Dizzy Blonde, Black Sheep Bitter, Greene King IPA, Tetof opening a pub ley Mild, and Grapes Inn Cask Ale, which is Tetley Bitter on a marina rebadged, on the bar. Now things have settled down, he without real ale. has been able to concentrate on getting more unusual beers We wish it every from the Punch Finest Cask range. Unfortunately, due to success. the massive mark up on the beers bought through the SIBA Another pub that scheme, he will not be pursuing that option. You can have a 18 has reopened after a hefty makeover is the Yew Tree at good look at the pub by visiting their website www.grapesat Walton-le-Dale. The pub is nephew, Mike Reeve. Mike goosnargh.com where full details of the amenities and menu

Preston Parade (cont) available can be found.

One recent Tuesday evening, I had an hour to kill, so I thought I would visit a few pubs that do not usually open during the day, to see what was on sale. I knew that the Moorbrook

would not be open at 7.30, but the nearby Unicorn would be.

On entering, I was dismayed to find all the pumpclips, turned round. The real ale had sold out. There was a barrel of Wainwrights in the cellar, but it had not yet settled. I was told that they often had Bombardier on as well.

I did not have time to try the nearby Withy Trees that night, but for completion, I went one lunchtime. I had been told that it was now a very good outlet for Hart Brewery, brewed here in Preston. This lunchtime though, the only beers were Taylors Landlord and Withy Trees Bitter, which just happens to be Tetley Bitter rebadged. (Again) There was a sign proclaiming that they were proud to present Hart Brewery Ales. I enquired and was told that recently they had had the full range on and that they were so popular they had sold out rapidly. I was told they are also on the SIBA direct delivery service, so I must just have been unlucky not to catch one of his beers, or some other micro. I will have to try again.

Paul Riley

The Original

FARMERS ARMS Bar and Restaurant

I next headed for the Princess Alice, a free house just off Aqueduct Street, where Hart beers had been reported on sale. Again real ale had sold out and it would be weekend before more would be available. By now I had worked up a thirst, so went

• 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)

in the almost next door Thwaites tied house, the New Welcome.

Finally a pub with cask, only one though, the, what is rapidly becoming almost ubiquitous, Wainwrights. I just had time to get to the Plungington Hotel, on Lytham Rd. which is open during the day and had a very good pint of Deuchars IPA in what was

a very busy pub for a Tuesday night. Apparently it was 18 Poker Night, but if it brings people in.

TOWNGATE ECCLESTON NR CHORLEYPR7 5QS TELEPHONE 01257 451594

Ale Cry visits Goosnargh

We then proceeded to the Stags Head, back on Whittinham Lane.

Here the manager Eduardo Albero, formerly of the Waterfront in Preston, greeted us and got to work pulling the pints.

He explained that To present the Pub of the Season award to the Horns at Goos- they usually have nargh, we were going to have to hire a minibus anyway, so it five real ales on, made sense to have a look at a few of the other real ale outlets but the Marstons in Goosnargh on the same night. This and the chance to try Golden IPA had the beers from the newly opened brewery at the Horns (see not settled yet and feature elsewhere in this issue) ensured that there was a full they had run out of complement on the bus.

Wells Bombardier.

We had arranged Our choice to do the presenta therefore was

tion first, so headed Deuchers IPA, Wychwood Hobgoblin and Theakstons Old Pecu straight to the lier. We were quite surprised at how quiet it was in the pub, but pub (PR3 2FJ for as it was by now 9.45, most of the diners must have already left. satnav users) on A full report on this pub appeared in the last edition, and details the corner of Ingle of the pub can be found on their website. white Rd and Horns Lane, where we

We didn’t have were welcomed by much time to hang Mark Woods, the

about, as we still owner and Head

had one pub to Chef. We were told to go to the bar and order a free pint in

visit, the Grapes. celebration of the event. We did not need to be asked twice.

(Go down Church The good news for us was that beers from their on site brew- Lane which is ery, named the Goosnargh Brewing Company, which had

more or less op only started brewing two weeks before, were the beers on

posite the front the bar. The two beers available were Truckle, a 3.7% dark

of the Stags and it and malty beer and Gold, a light and hoppy 4%. A truckle is is just past the a small round cheese which is available at the pub, but there village green). It was a good job the trip had not taken place one was nothing cheesy about the beer, which was in top condi- week later as it was closing then for a complete makeover, and tion and very tasty. After the presentation we were treated to we would have missed a good finale for the night. As it was we a good and warming portion of hot pot and there was time for were in time to meet the licensees Mark and Julie who had been another pint before we had to leave. Besides us who came on there for just six months. He reminded us that he had previthe bus, it was good to see so many locals who had come for ously been at the Wellington at Tulketh in Preston and he had the event. increased sales of real ale there, ending up with four handpumps when he left. He told us that the refurb would not involve any The next stop for us was another place we were looking alteration to the pub layout but would involve a lot of work beforward to visiting, as none of us had been there before. This ing done to improve it. We were told that when it reopened there was the Whittingham Club, in the old Hospital grounds. would be six real ales on and that only local ales would be on sale. Mark said that he can use Siba finest cask and Punch main The entrance to the list to source his beers. Apparently Barry Tyson from Hopstar grounds is to the left Brewery visits often and on the night, two of his beers were on of the Stags Head sale, Lancashire Gold and Saaz Blonde, both 4%. There was

and is about a five also Phoenix Monkeytown Mild at 3.9% and we had just missed minute walk to the Bowland Hen Harrier which had run out. There will always be

club.(take the first a dark mild available. The pub is leased from Punch Taverns to left and then right Inglenook Inns and Taverns of Wetherby , who are building up a to arrive there) The bank of pubs in the North West, Yorkshire and the Midlands. If full name of the club they are all like the Grapes promises to be, it will be very good is the Whittingham for the pub scene. (The Grapes reopened on 16 May and hope Paul with Fred and Joan and Goosnargh fully a report appears in Preston Parade in this issue).

Sports and Social Club and it has facilities for football, bowls, It was time to call an end to a very entertaining evening and get snooker, pool and bar games. It also has facilities for tourback to Preston in time for our last buses home, so it was back ing caravans, motorhomes and camping adjacent to the club, on our transport for the short journey back to the bus station. which is popular with visitors to the area. What interested us Goosnargh village can be reached by public transport using the though was the growing reputation it had for serving a variety No 4 Preston to Longridge service. It takes about 45 minutes, of real ales. When we entered we were welcomed by Fred with late buses running Thursday, Friday and Saturday. UnforSquires, a committee member. Whilst everybody was order- tunately, there is no service on a Sunday, the one day that most ing their beer, he told that the real ales were very popular. people have time off to visit places.

They usually have two on, with Hawkshead Bitter (3.7%) more or less permanent plus a guest, which on the night was Our next sortie out is a visit to Croston on Monday 17 July, Rudgate Cash Master (4.2%). There was a list of the beers which will also incorporate a pub of the season presentation at coming soon, which looked interesting. Fred told us that they the Wheatsheaf there. Why not join us? See details in trips and were hoping to put another pump on the bar in the next year. future meetings elsewhere in this edition.

Paul Riley He spoke of their hopes for the upcoming beer festival they were holding in May. (A report on this festival appears else- 20 where in this edition). Details of membership arrangements can be found on their website.

Conference Review - Norwich It’s called a member’s weekend, which comprises, the AGM and Conference. If you are a CAMRA member you will have received the CAMRA newspaper What’s Brewing for June which includes a review of Conference. As last year if you attended the event you would be of the opinion, which I share that we are an inconvenience which has to be tolerated.

Again not a word was printed of the speaches by those of the hundreds of ordinary members who were chosen to speak on one of the dozens or so resolutions put forward to try to improve the Campaign.

The main debates were centred on the threat to real ale from ’Craft Ales.’ Not one of the many contributions from the floor was quoted in the mag yet a half page was devoted to the Chairman’s comments on the subject. My opinion that the growth of the Campaign has led to it becoming too centralised was confirmed. I prefer not to comment on journastic integrity.Our Craft Ales resolution was narrowly defeated and I was as slaughtered in the NEC election

The Grove - Leeds

In the centre of office blocks of Leeds not far from the railway station is the Grove Inn, my favourite Leeds pub with a constantly changing beer range. Landlord John is Chairman of Leeds CAMRA. He told me that the Leeds contingent at the AGM were disappointed that our branch resolution on craft ales was defeated and that they all voted for Mick Clark’s failed bid for the NEC. At a folk night I enjoyed the local singers and well known harmony family the Wilsons. More about the Grove in future issues

elodious Mick

Mick Clark (sorry no photos- faulty camera)

They may have been relegated from football’s Premier League but that didn’t mean anything to the thousands of ‘pie eaters,’ who lined the streets to welcome F.A.Cup winners Wigan Athletic back to town with the trophy.

I left a meeting with Paul Riley at 2pm in the Black Horse, Preston, jumped on a 113 and headed for Wigan via Eccleston and arrived around 4ish as the youngsters in the crowd impatiently waited for their heroes. Unsurprisingly the local pubs were almost deserted, even the Raven wich was only yards from the arrival point.

I started my celebrations at the Berkeley, an Amber Tavern near the railway stations, which always has a good range of ales on at very reasonable prices, moved on to the neareby Little Fifteen which had two on offer, then down the steps to the attached Boulevard which can be relied for six or seven ‘locales.’ Just up the road is the Raven which was closed for some time. That was bad news for someone like me who has so many fond memories of the pub, particularly on ‘paddies day and evenings.’ The ales were far more numerous and varied than in its previous incarnation and the internal decor had been spruced up but not spoiled. So four good hostelries within 100 yards worth a visit if you’re in Wigan.

After waching 6pm arrival of the team bus (aren’t presentations like this always late) I just had time for a pint in the Anvil near the bus station, before jumping on the 113 again for the CAMRA meeting at the Anchor at Lostock Hall. Well done Latics Lord Mountain Little Fifteen / Boulevard Little Fifteen

Berkeley Anvil

Raven

21

Boulevard

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 Double Page £300 Back Page £195 Full Page £175 1/2 Page £95 1/4 £55

18 pubs closing every day. The impact on our society is extremely serious.We need your support.

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Two more members who have taken on the role of branch >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> contact will win 3 gals of real Under 26 or over 60 ale each at the Leyland Lion.

Yo u’ d be mad t to join CAM You could be one of them. We badly need RA From £15.50 to join:no£2 0 real ale vouchers, branch contacts i.e. people prepared to keep and 15 month members in touch with a few local pubs - passing hip for the price of 12 >>>>>>>>>>>>s>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>> news on to us, >>>>>>>: distributing Ale Cry etc. It’s an enjoyable job which takes little effort and could win you 3 gals of real ale.

Contact ed

Officers and Contacts:

Branch Details:

Branch Contact/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

email address: clcamra@rocketmail.com

website- http://www.centrallancscamra.org.uk/

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

Jun July

Aug

Sept

17 11 29 8 19 5

*AGM ( 40yrs ) Black Horse(Preston) #Old Black Bull (Preston) *Malt & Hops (Chorley) #Railway (Leyland) *Old Vic (Chorley) #Towneley Arms (Longridge)

Trips

Thur July 15th - Ale Cry trip (inc pub of season pres to

Wheatsheaf) Croston. Minibus from Old Vicarage, Preston (near bus station) Leaves at 7.30 Contact Paul Riley to book a place (01772 709272)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Ale Cry are not Deadline for Adverts and Articles for the 2/8/13 necessarily those of the Editor, the Central Lancashire Summer Edition:: 26/8/13 Branch of CAMRA, or of the Campaign for Real Ale Expected Publication Date:

22

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5 Beers 5 Breweries 10th-16th June