Ale Cry 125 - Winter 2019 by clcamra

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Ale

FIGHTING FOR DRINKERS’ RIGHTS IN THE HEART OF LANCASHIRE SINCE 1973

Cry

PUB OF THE Year

TWWWZ 2020

issue 125, Winter 2019 03 05 07 10

Pub of the Season: Beer Box Chorley Chatter Riley’s Rambles Pub of the Year

12 14 16 18

Preston Parade Stagecoach 125 Historic Preston Pubs: Part 8 Brewery News

21 22 26 28

South Ribble Scene Ale Cry Visits… Grimsargh & Goosnargh Walking with a Purpose Good Beer Guide Selection

CENTRAL LANCASHIRE BRANCH

Chairman’s Welcome

Branch Contacts Chairman DAVE BELL t: 07900 565281 e: chairman@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Membership Secretary POST VACANT e: membership@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Treasurer DAVE WOOLCOCK e: treasurer@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Secretary & Webmaster GORDON SMALL t: 01772 746118 e: secretary@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Pubs Officer RICHARD LANGFORD t: 07974 799224 e: pubsofficer@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Pub Protection Officer POST VACANT e: pubprotection@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Cider Officer EDD FLETCHER

elcome to our Winter 2019 edition of Ale Cry. Another Festive Season is around the corner and will soon be here. Christmas, of course, is a great time to spend in the company of family and friends and what better place is there to do just that than in a pub? I have recently been reading a report by Professor Robin Dunbar entitled “Friends on Tap – The role of pubs at the heart of the community”. It represents research into the importance of social networks (family and friends) to our health and well-being and the significance of pubs which remain one of the most common places where our social networking takes place. Our personal social networks typically consist of around 150 individuals, about half of whom are extended family members and half of whom are friends. In effect, family and friends constitute two separate networks that are closely interwoven through all the layers of our social world. Interestingly, the average size of rural villages in England and Wales, both at the time of the Domesday Book (1087 AD) and seven centuries later during the late eighteenth century, was almost exactly 150. We have regular contact with the handful of close friends and family who are most important to us, but will have contact with the other people less often. Typically, for each of us, 15 people account for approximately 60% of our social effort, and represent the people who are most important to us – those we see regularly. 50 people typically represent those individuals that we see most often in public social venues (the pub) or at weekends, while the remainder of the 150 mostly represent geographically more distant family and friends. Beyond this, we have an average of 350 acquaintances, as opposed to true friends which will include many of the people we work with and those

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ISSUE 125 WINTER 2019

that we meet casually in our ‘local’ pub – people we don’t know especially well, but whom we recognise and greet, and with whom we share the occasional conversation. There is now considerable evidence that the size and quality of your social network has a direct effect on how ill you are likely to become, on your happiness, and even on how likely you are to die. Positive social bonds help reduce the effects of posttraumatic stress, depression, and increase the rate of recovery from illness; they even promote cancer survival and survival after heart attacks. A pub is still the best place to socialise and expand your social network, so if you want to be happier, healthier and even live longer, get down to a pub near you as often as you can, not just at Christmas but throughout the year. As ever, if you have any thoughts, comments or feedback, please get in touch with us via email, you will find a contact list in this magazine, or better still, come along to one of our forthcoming meetings or events. Please also remember to visit our website www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk for all the latest information and local news and if you are on Facebook, please search for CAMRA Central Lancs and like our page. In addition, you can now follow us on Twitter, search for CAMRA Central Lancs. We also produce a monthly newsletter which is emailed to Branch members on the 1st of each month. If you are not receiving this, it will be because we do not have an up to date email address for you. Please get in touch and let us have your email address and we will add you to our list of recipients. Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. Kind Regards DAV E B E L L

Branch Chairman

e: cider@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Social Media Officer STEWART GRIEVE e: socialmedia@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry Editor ADRIAN SMITH t: 07495 448555 e: editor@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Social Secretary ALEX CALDERBANK t: 07401 020754 e: social@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Young Members CATHERINE BEVAN e: youngmembers@centrallancs.camra.org.uk www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk @CAMRA_CentLancs CAMRA Central Lancashire Branch camra_central.lancs All material copyright © Central Lancs CAMRA No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. Disclaimer: Views expressed in this magazine are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor, Branch Committee or CAMRA nationally. Central Lancs CAMRA accepts no liability in relation to any advertisement or article and recommends the reader make their own enquiries. It should also be noted that inclusion of an advertisement in this magazine should not be deemed an endorsement of quality by Central Lancs CAMRA. Design & Layout: Stewart Grieve Design Ltd e: stew@stewartgrieve.co.uk www.stewartgrieve.co.uk Printed by: Printplus, Cocker Avenue, Poulton-le-Fylde, FY6 8JU t: 01253 299620 www.printplusgroup.com

of Pub season Winter 2019 the

BEER BOX BAMBER BRIDGE

e are delighted to announce that our Pub of the Season for Winter 2019 is the BEER BOX on Station Road in Bamber Bridge. The name is appropriate, as it is housed in a modern, ‘box shaped’ retail unit, and can be found on the main road, just to the north of the Brownedge Road traffic lights and directly opposite the Withy Arms. The pub opened in September 2018. In keeping with the nature of the building, the interior has been kept simple, with a modern looking bar of light wood and metal and open light wood beams on the ceiling. A mixture of high and low level seating is provided and in summer there is even some outdoor seating on the small pavement to the front of the pub. There are 6 handpumps, of which 5 sell a constantly changing array of ales. There are no permanent ones, although Bowland

beers can often be found. Many of the beers will come from smaller breweries from the north-west, although expect the unexpected. A dark beer is usually available. The sixth pump serves a changing cider. There is also a selection of craft beers on draught as well as a full range of drinks for anyone not interested in the beer! The pub is open from Noon until 11.30pm daily, staying open slightly later on Friday and Saturday nights. Although a quiet pub most of the time and a good place for a chat, there is usually live music on a Sunday evening and an open mic session every other Thursday. Our presentation of this award will take place on Thursday 30th January from about 8pm and we hope to see you there. A short trip on the number 125 bus from either Preston or Chorley will be well worthwhile. ADRIAN SMITH

Masons Arms Most Improved Pub of the Year 2018

· · · ·

4 rooms 2 bars 6 rotating cask ales Gin and wine bar

98 HARPERS LANE, CHORLEY PR6 0HU

· · · ·

Ciders, lagers and spirits Fresh snacks daily Open everyday Free wifi

· · · ·

Sky, BT & Racing Dog friendly Family friendly Monday night quiz

LIVE MUSIC www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

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Chorley Chatter

ews from Chorley is a bit thin on the ground this quarter. In the town centre, the IMPERIAL has reintroduced real ale with Classic Blonde from the Westgate Brewery, Wakefield being seen on recently. This is of course completely misleading, as the Westgate brewery is long closed and the beer is contract brewed for H.B Clark by Castle Eden. Ignoring the provenance of the beer, it is great to see real ale back on here and hopefully this will prove popular. A new drinking venue should have opened by the time you read this. Elsewhere in this magazine we have written about the move to Chorley of WITHNELLS BREWERY to a premises on Anderton Street. The bottle shop on the first floor is already open with a wide range of bottled and canned beer from local micro breweries – making this the best place in town if take-home beer is your thing. The

tap room is part of the brewery itself and plans are for it to be open from Thursday to Saturday, although at this moment, opening times are unclear. Please check WhatPub for details. This is just round the corner from SAMS BAR, which usually has three real ales on offer, and if linked in with the three micropubs on Chapel Street, you have a very decent mini pub crawl with little or no walking! The GINNELL closed in September and we have heard nothing about plans for this venue. Meanwhile, out of town, a planning application has been submitted for change of use of the former bakery shop on Collingwood Road to a micropub. It is only a few doors along from the site of the recently closed and demolished Gillibrand pub. While a large estate pub may not have been viable in this area, perhaps a micropub with the right offering may do well. However, it may well suffer through lack of public transport and the draw of the significant real ale offering already present in the town centre.

Another brewery in the area to be opening a tap room is RIVINGTON BREWERY. A visit in mid October showed the bar area well under way, with plans to be opening mid November. The bar will showcase the brewery’s extensive range of ales, with 2 on handpump and a further 14 keg taps – serving their own craft beers as well as cider and lager. It should be open on Friday evenings and from 1–10pm on Saturday and Sunday. However these times may well change, so again, check WhatPub for details. It really is a beautiful setting and there are plans for outdoor seating which will have views across the reservoir towards Winter Hill. Just perfect for a cold beer on a hot summer day. Just down the road in Adlington there have been changes at the CARDWELL ARMS. The pub has been taken over by

Glen & Emma Hutchinson, who have made such an impression at the SPINNERS AT COWLING. The pub had a major refurb a few years ago, but has been smartened up internally. The main change is that food will now feature heavily and there are three real ales on offer, Wainwright, Black Sheep Best Bitter and a changing guest. It looks like the end of the road for the PRIDE OF AGGI (Adlington) after their appeal to the country’s highest ranking planning body failed. Having been refused permission by Chorley Council, owners Darren Tickle and Steve Clarke had hoped that the government’s Planning Inspectorate would overturn the decision. However their application was dismissed, with concerns of

late night noise and disruption being cited as reasons for the decision. The TRAVELLERS REST in Euxton closed suddenly in September and has been boarded up since. It appears there was a hefty increase in the rent and the long standing tenants weren’t willing to pay. Work is now underway on a (long overdue) refurbishment, with the pub due to reopen under new management early in December. The exterior has been painted in the mid grey colour scheme so beloved of pubcos, which looks great on a sunny day but distinctly unwelcoming on a dull wet one! From their posts on social media it looks like this will be very much a food-driven venue, so let’s hope there is some decent beer to wash it down.

In Whittle-leWoods, the new licensees at the DOG INN are David & Maz Biggs. The pub has been smartened up and is now really welcoming. 4 cask ales are available from the Thwaites range, with a return to the quality we used to expect here. There is a cask offer during the early part of the week – buy 9 get 1 free – as well as loads of other offers. Plenty of things going on with live music and quiz on Thursdays. In October a fund raiser realised over £1,800 for a variety of charities Just before we went to press, the news filtered out that Marstons had sold 137 of their pubs to Admiral Taverns. In the branch area this includes the CRICKETERS at Brinscall, the BEAUMONT at Claytonle-Woods, as well as the MILL TAVERN at Higher Walton. Typical of the big brewery/ pubco mentality – with no thought about the impact this will have on their tenants or what changes will be foisted on the loyal customers in these pubs. ADRIAN SMITH

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

THE

OLD VIC SUNDAY NIGHT QUIZ WITH CASH JACKPOT

Serving breakfasts, lunchtime specials and all traditional pub food. Also sandwiches, salads and delicious home made pies.

Private area available for Parties and Functions – Christmas bookings being taken. • 7 Handpumps revolving up to 25 cask ales including many local brewers each week • Sky/BT showing all major sporting events

• New enlarged covered and heated outdoor area with large screen TV • Live music every weekend

• Included in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide • Upto 20 gins on our new gin menu • Live train arrival and departure times shown

Fishergate, Preston Opposite Preston Railway Station 01772 828519

Ale

Advert – Old Vic (Full) 125.indd 1

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13/11/2019 10:07

RILEY’S RAMBLES: WIGAN

igan has much to recommend it to the real ale drinker and is well worth a visit, with it only being a short journey on the train from Preston. The service is frequent, so even if the train is crowded, you don’t have to suffer for long. There is a lot of variety and something to please everyone. With Wigan being in the same division as Preston North End, it is an away game I look forward to, knowing I can have a pleasant drink in one or two of the several good pubs it has to offer. Getting off the train at Wigan North Western, you only have to go over the road to find the first gem, the SWAN & RAILWAY. Grade II listed, it has just been restored and refurbished to a very high level by owner John Brearley, who has spared no expense in returning this classic pub to a state of elegance. There are

impressive stained glass windows, tiled walls, collections of old photos and rooms dedicated to Rugby League heroes of the past. There are seven handpumps, one of which will always be selling Draught Bass, which is a particular favourite of John’s. Other regulars are Courage Directors, Banks’s Sunbeam and a beer from Daleside. The other three beers are regularly changing, usually supporting local breweries from the Wigan area. Opening time is 11am. Food is available and they give a CAMRA discount. You will have noticed the railway viaduct as you came out of the station, and our next pub involves going just under its arch and immediately turning left where you will find WIGAN CENTRAL, which has become a favourite on the local scene. A welcoming pub owned by Prospect Brewery, it has seven handpumps, one of which sells Prospect Totem. The other six serve an everchanging range of beers coming from all over the country. As befits a bar of its name, it has a railway themed interior, with live arrival and departure boards, so you know what time your train is due. It has three

booths plus chairs and tables and outside drinking facilities. It was runner-up in the National Pub of the Year in 2017. It is open every day from midday (11am Sat) until 11pm (10.30pm Sun) and bar snacks are available. This is another pub participating in the CAMRA members discount scheme.

panelling and windows. In winter two coal fires give it a cosy feel. Cask Tetley Bitter is a permanent beer but the four other beers change, usually including a couple of ‘blonde’ style beers and a dark one plus real cider. Reasonably priced food is available especially on Wednesdays when seniors can get various dishes for only £3.75. It is open 11am–11pm throughout, staying open to 1am Fri and Sat. Just up from the Raven is one of Wigan’s two Wetherspoon pubs, the MOON UNDER WATER, with many changing guest ales at the low prices you have come to expect, plus all the usual delights of this brand. Either enjoy, or carry on, bearing left at Market Place to see Hallgate on your left. A few yards down on the right you will see Jaxon’s Court. Down there is the TAP ‘N’ BARREL, the Martland Mill brewery tap. This is a

Going back under the viaduct and walking up past Wigan’s other station (Wallgate), you pass on your left Harry’s Bar, which is impressive both inside and out, but unfortunately, on my last two visits has had no real ale on, even though their website says they do. A few more steps will take you to the BERKELEY, another pub with an impressive interior. It has wooden balconies and a light and airy feel. Here you will find four handpumps that usually dispense a range of rotating guest beers, which on my last visit included Mayflower Equinox at 4%. Sports feature heavily with eight large TV screens showing a variety of events. Opens at 11am (Noon Sun) till 11pm (later at weekends) Continuing up Wallgate, passing Little 15, which again is a very nice pub, but wasn’t selling any real ale when I went in, you come to another Grade II listed pub, the RAVEN. A fine example of an early 20th Century commercial hotel, many original features have been retained, such as

small micropub selling up to seven real ales including a selection of the brewery beers plus guests. There are a few seats outside to the front, but inside you will find an unusual indoor ‘outdoor’ garden area at the back which includes artificial turf. It is closed on Tuesdays, but otherwise opens at noon (1pm Sun) and shuts at 10pm (Midnight Fri, 12.30am Sat). Going back out to Hallgate, turn right and proceed down to see our next pub, the ANVIL, a popular pub which is handy for the bus station. The bar is to your left as you enter, with various drinking areas both to the right and onwards past the bar. There is also a sun trap beer garden to the rear. www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

Seven handpumps dispense three permanent beers in Banks’s Mild, Wainwright and Brakspear’s Oxford Gold, plus four ever-changing guest beers. In addition there are two ciders. Sports are shown on the TV. It is open from 11am–11pm all days except Sunday, when it is Noon–10.30pm. Our final pub is DOC’S SYMPOSIUM, on Mesnes Street, overlooking the eponymous park. Wigan’s original micropub, the bar is a small and friendly pub where you can have a quiet relaxing drink. To reach it from the Anvil, come out and turn left and left again, going down Hallgate, past the bus station to reach New Market Street going right and crossing over to come to Bridgeman Terrace and Mesnes Street. It is about fifty yards down on your right. Five cask ales are on sale, and on my visit, all five were below 4.2% which isn’t always the case, but suited me down to the ground. Weetwood Cheshire Cat is a permanent, the other four are changing. Besides beer, there is a deli counter selling a range of snacks and nibbles. If the weather is fine, you can sit outside looking out over the park. The pub is usually closed Mon to Wed, (except April to end of September, when luckily for me it is also open on Wednesday) but is open Noon–11pm Thur–Sat and 1pm–10.30pm on Sunday. It is about half a mile walk back to the railway station from here, where you could possibly have another drink in the Central whilst checking if your train is going

THE WHEATSHEAF Spendmore Lane, Coppull, Nr Chorley, Lancashire

PR7 4NY

3 ever changing Cask Ales – including Prospect, Bank Top, Blackedge, Martland Mill & Coach House

to be on time on the departure board. There are plenty of trains between Preston and Wigan, both on the main line and on trains bound for Manchester or Liverpool, with a journey time of about twenty minutes. There is a 113 bus service between Preston and Wigan during the day, but it takes almost two hours to get there, making it practically impossible for a drinker, but, from Leyland it would take just an hour. From Chorley there is a regular bus service (the 362) to Wigan that takes only 40 minutes. There are plenty of other pubs in the town centre, making it well worth a visit. PAU L R I L E Y

FREE HOU SE

• Free entertainment: Jukebox — Monday Pool — Monday –Thursday Quiz — Wednesday 9:30pm • Friday/Saturday night live music • Sunday — Chase the Ace 12noon–5.45pm • Beer garden • Dogs & muddy boots welcome • Carling Premier & Strongbow Dark Fruits now being served.

OPENING TIMES

Monday – Thursday from 3pm

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Friday from 2pm

Saturday & Sunday from 12pm

CAMRA VOUCHERS

or many years, one of the CAMRA membership benefits has been the ‘Wetherspoons voucher’ – where members received 40 x 50p vouchers to be used in any Wetherspoons pub over the course of the year. The scheme has been revamped during 2019, and members now receive 60 vouchers a year which can be used throughout the membership year in any of the scheme pubs. In addition to Wetherspoons, there are now a number of other pub companies and breweries who have joined the scheme, such as; Stonegate,Amber Taverns, Castle Rock and Brains. The pubs now accepting the vouchers in Central Lancashire are shown in the table alongside. If you are elsewhere in the country, you can find out which pubs are accepting the vouchers by looking for the £ logo on WhatPub. There are loads of other membership benefits, but given that you now get more in vouchers than the cost of annual membership, there couldn’t be a better time to join CAMRA. Who knows, you might even like to get involved with the campaign? Any members who would like to be involved will be made most welcome at any of our meetings. ADRIAN SMITH

There are now 16 pubs in our branch area where the vouchers can be used. Adelphi

Preston

Bay Horse

Euxton

Black Horse

Croston

Bull & Royal

Preston

Grey Friar

Preston

Leyland Lion

Leyland

Northern Way

Preston

Pearsons

Chorley

Prince of Wales (New Market Street) Chorley Queens

Leyland

Roper Hall

Preston

Sir Henry Tate

Chorley

Twelve Tellers

Preston

Wellfield

Preston

Wheatsheaf

Ashton

Yates

Preston

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

PUB OF THE YEAR 2020

wo years ago we introduced our new Pub of the Year (POTY) competition. Whereas all other branch awards are agreed on at branch meetings, all branch members are eligible to vote for the Pub of the Year. In 2018 the winner was the GUILD ALE HOUSE and in 2019 the MOORBROOK came out on top. Well, how quickly time passes – it’s now time to start the process for 2020. Whichever pub wins our POTY, they will go forward into the Lancashire round, where they will be judged against the winning pubs from the other 4 branches in the county. The judging process looks at 6 distinct features, these being: • Quality of Beer, Cider & Perry • Style, Decor, Furnishing and Cleanliness • Service, Welcome and Offering • Community Focus and Atmosphere • Alignment with CAMRA principles • Overall Impression When casting your vote, we would ask you to keep these criteria in mind. We’re not asking you to vote for your favourite pub, but for the one that best embodies these factors. By doing this, we hope that our chosen pub will have a better chance in the county round (and possibly later). Voting will open on 1st January and will close on 29th February.. The result will be announced via our website, Facebook page and Twitter feed as soon as the votes have been counted. We expect the presentation of the award to be made in April with a full write-up

POFUTHBE Year

T2W0W2W0Z

in the Summer Ale Cry (Issue 127). The long voting window is deliberate – the pubs are in all corners of the branch area, and we would encourage people to visit all the pubs before voting (rather than just voting for the one they regularly go in), to enable them to make a truly informed decision on this year’s nominations. The committee has drawn up a shortlist of 6 pubs. The geographical spread is deliberate, to ensure that all parts of the branch are represented, and reflect the variety of pubs we have in our area. To ensure that the award moves around and doesn’t go to the same pub every year, the current holder of the award (in this case the Moorbrook) is not included in the list. Voting for this award is open to all Branch Members and can be done in a number of ways: • by email to secretary@centrallancs.camra.org.uk • by hand at any branch meeting during the voting window • we also hope to have an online voting platform available and details of this will be sent to members in the monthly emAle newsletter and posted on Social Media. However you choose to vote, you must include your name and membership number and you can only vote once! Branch Secretary, Gordon Small has once again agreed to act as the ‘returning officer’. This is a great opportunity for all branch members to contribute to the selection of our Pub of the Year. If you want to have your say, you need to be a member – so join up now! You can find a membership form inside the back cover of this magazine. ADRIAN SMITH

The Super 6 pubs

Chorley (town) MALT‘N’HOPS

Chorley (rural) YEW TREE (Anglezarke)

Preston (city) BLACK HORSE

Preston (city) GUILD ALE HOUSE

The town’s longest established Free House, the Malt has been runner-up in each of the last 2 years. A former George Lee Memorial Trophy winner and Lancashire Branches POTY 2017. Serving 9 changing real ales, usually from Lancashire and Yorkshire breweries, and featuring breweries such as Bank Top, Blackedge, Moorhouses, Rat & Fernandes. There are usually 2 dark beers available and real cider is also sold. Quiz night, live music, real fires – a cracking town centre pub.

Isolated stone-built country pub/restaurant with lovely views across farmland and up to Winter Hill. While renowned for its quality food, this pub has in recent years boosted it’s Real Ale pedigree, with 3 handpumps serving a changing selection of beers, predominantly from Blackedge Brewery in nearby Horwich, but occasionally from other sources. Fine dining, beer garden and real fires – sounds like an ideal country pub!

An architectural masterpiece, this Grade II listed building is a purist’s delight. A multiroomed interior featuring dark wood, mosaic tiled floor, ceramic tiled semi-circular bar and a mirrored drinking niche at the back. Tied to Robinsons brewery, but under the stewardship of Dan Taylor, 4 of the 8 handpumps serve guest ales, sourced from all over the country, plus a couple of real ciders. A traditional gem.

Winner of this award in 2018, the Guild was the first of the new breed of real ale bars to open in Preston. On 2 levels with a large front bar, smaller lounge and a cosy upstairs room, it is perhaps too large to be called a micropub – but what’s in a name? Up to 7 real ales and a wide variety of craft ales are served – whatever your taste, you are likely to find it here. Truly a beer drinker’s delight.

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ST T E R E SA’S PENWORTHAM

BT SPORTS FREE WI FI POOL / SNOOKER LARGE FUNCTION ROOM LAGERS

REAL ALE CIDERS BIG SCREEN TV SKY SPORTS OPEN

SPIRITS WINE GIN BAR SOFT DRINKS

MON–THUR 7–11 • FRI 7–12 • SAT 4–12 • SUN 2–9

34 QUEENSWAY, PENWORTHAM, PRESTON PR1 0DS

St Teresa’s Parish Centre, Penwortham @TeresaCentre

TEL 01772 743523

@stteresasparish

Preston (rural)/Ribble Valley HAIGHTON MANOR

South Ribble DOLPHIN (Longton)

A former country house hotel that was converted to a pub in 2016. Natural stone walls and bare wooden floors, coupled with traditional furniture make this a classy rural destination pub. Set in large and attractive grounds, the pub boasts 7 handpumped beers and no less than 12 real ciders. Add to this a substantial and varied menu and an excellent wine cellar and you have the ideal pub for a special occasion or for a quiet pint in lovely surroundings.

An isolated country pub on the edge of Longton Marsh. The 4 changing real ales are usually from local micro breweries and along with a real cider are served in the wood floored public bar. There is a conservatory restaurant serving excellent and varied food and a large garden area, which is ideal for relaxing on those sunny days. Not a pub you accidentally stumble across – this well kept secret is certainly worth the effort to find.

M I C R O P U B

L O N G R I D G E

• 5 Rotating, Hand-Pulled Real Ales • 3 Natural Still Ciders • Bottled Beers • Wines + Spirits • Juices, Sodas + Snacks Open Hours: Monday : 4-8pm Wednesday : 4-9pm Thursday : 4-9pm Friday : 4-10pm Saturday : 2-10pm Sunday : 2-8pm

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

PRESTON PARADE

he last three months have seen a lot of activity on the pub front, both good news and bad. First off, a couple of bits of good news. Sean Keefe, who has been running the VINYL TAP as a manager, has taken over the lease on the pub from Richie of the Moorbrook. Sean found some backers who liked the way he ran the pub and this allowed him to buy the lease off Richie. You will see some subtle differences in the pub, but the basics will remain the same. There will be six handpumps dispensing beers from all over the country, but favouring local brewers such as Farm Yard and Beer Brothers, who supply the house beer. Prices have come down in places, making it even more attractive. Home-cooked food is now available 12 till late and besides the vinyl

background music, there will be live music at least twice a week. He also has a quiz every Wednesday. Every now and again, you may catch a well-known face behind the bar as Paula, ex of the Bitter Suite, sometimes helps out there. Her infectious laugh is unmistakeable. Open noon until late, the pub has continued with the vinyl connection and the fortnightly Sunday comedy nights. More good news is that Dan, licensee of the BLACK HORSE on Friargate, has signed a new ten year lease at the pub. We can look forward to many years of changing

guest beers every week, as he continues his regime of having four of his pumps selling beers from all over alongside his range of Robinson’s ales. Speaking of which, one of Robinson’s beers that is always in demand is Old Tom and the good news is that it is back on sale in the Black Horse for the winter season. It is only brewed by Robinsons during the colder months, so get it while you can. It will be available until at least February. Dan has also confirmed that Titanic Plum Porter Special Reserve, at 6.5%, will be a permanent beer on the bar. Now some bad news, the SPEAKEASY, on Fylde Rd. is no more. It shut suddenly without warning recently, with money rumoured to be owed to various breweries for beer supplied, and casks locked in the building. The bar has had a chequered history since the heady days of Paula and Kay when it was among the leading lights of the real ale scene. Going through phases as the Ale Emporium, Mad Hatters, PR1 and finally the Speakeasy, it seems to have eventually been a victim of the rapid increase in the number of outlets for unusual real ales in the Preston area. When it reopens, it will not be a bar much frequented by drinkers of real ales (or of any other kind of beer) for it is in line to become a cocktail bar. Adding to the competition is the news that three new micropubs are planned for the Preston area. The first of these is due to open in a former estate agents over the road from the Black Bull at Fulwood, at the corner of Sharoe Green Lane and Garstang Rd. It

Noon–10pm Sat and Noon–8.30pm Sun. The other pub will be just down Tulketh Brow from the Lane Ends, but we have no further details yet. We will await developments. By the time you read this, a ‘pop up’ bar will have opened at the corner of Friargate and Heatley St. Housed in what is planned to be an upmarket venue to be called the Uptown Pony Club, the temporary bar will go by the name of the WINTER LODGE. will be called the CRAFTY BEGGARS ALE HOUSE and it is said to be designed to draw a more mature crowd in search of a more traditional small pub atmosphere. Plans are to sell local cask ales sourced predominately from the north-west area. The planning document goes on to say that there will be minor modifications to the interior in line with a more traditional public house style and it will be limited to about fifty customers. It has applied to be open from 10am until midnight, staying open till 1am on public holidays. We will see how far they get with that.

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The other two new micros are planned for the Lane Ends area of Ashton in Preston. The first of these will be just along from the Lane Ends Pub on Blackpool Rd. and will be called the TAP END. It is envisaged that it will have a maximum capacity of sixty. The planning documents go on to say that the bar will have an ambient and respectful atmosphere, away from mainstream drinking trends and attract a more refined clientele. It will offer an alternative to the traditional pub by excluding pool tables, dart boards, Jukeboxes, music and TVs. It will promote a low key conversational atmosphere bringing local people together in a premium environment that discourages a drinking culture. A drinking culture. What’s that? Do they mean people getting drunk? Anyway, it plans to be open 4pm–9pm Mon–Thurs, 4pm–10pm Fri,

Apparently, it is a bid to tap into the busy Christmas trade before work begins on the new bar and restaurant in the New Year. Unfortunately, the real ale drinker is not catered for in this venture, for no handpumps were to be seen on the bar. It is a shame it could not emulate that well renowned ‘pop up’ tent adjacent to the Harris Library of a few years ago, The Tundra Bar. Now that was something that was enjoyed by many for the few weeks that it existed. The Pony Club is scheduled to be open by the summer and it remains to be seen if real ale will feature. Just down from there, the DOG & PARTRIDGE is fully open now and selling real ale. It only opens at 4pm during the week (Noon Sat–Sun), so I have not actually managed to get in there yet, but looking through the window, I have seen various pump clips on the handpumps, including Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, Jennings Cumberland and a few others, so I will have to make the effort. Landlady Bobbi Stanley wants to try to get the pub back to what it was like when it was a haven for bikers etc, so if she can get it back to what it was like under Ronnie Fitzpatrick, good luck to her. Meanwhile, just down the road in the OLD BLACK BULL, real ale still seems to be suffering from supply problems, with it often being not on sale, with lines like ‘it has just run out,’ ‘it has only just been delivered’ or ‘the pumps are being cleaned’. It is being

left behind by the other pubs in the city. To the north of Preston in Barton, the PICKLED GOOSE has opened in what was once the Sparling. The new owners are Michael and Chris Rawlinson who also run the Royal Oak at Riley Green. It has been very tastefully updated with new fittings giving a casual yet comfortable atmosphere to this pub restaurant. Although primarily an eating establishment, there are plenty of regular drinkers who are made to feel more than welcome to try the offerings on the bar. Front of house are co-managers Faith and Jamie, and Faith gave me details of how the real ale was doing. There are usually three beers on sale, which they are hoping to build up to four, with Jennings Cumberland being more or less permanent, with the others changing. There is a bit of a tie to Marstons, but they recently had a Bowland Brewery beer on that proved so popular that they are

Cann Bridge Ale House Higher Walton’s only micropub 4 handpulls serving an ever rotating selection of the finest cask ales 2 draught ciders plus house Bavarian Lager

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looking to make their beers semi-permanent. I asked where the name came from, and she told me that ‘I could eat a pickled goose’ is a Wigan saying equivalent to saying you are as hungry as a horse, and there was only one other place so called and that was in Australia. The name was to distinguish it as more of an eating house, but, as I said, casual drinkers are welcome, such that they were hoping to introduce a CAMRA discount. The establishment is open Noon–11pm Mon–Sat and Noon–10.30pm Sun. Food is served Noon–2.30pm, 5.30pm–8.30pm Mon–Thur (Fri 9pm), Noon–9pm Sat and Noon–8pm Sun. Good news from Longridge, where the OLD OAK, which has been closed for over a year has reopened as a community venture and even better, it will be run by ex landlord Nigel Maloney who ran the pub successfully for many years some time ago. During his era, the Oak was known for selling a variety of real ales, thus getting the pub into the Good Beer Guide and I look forward to going up to see him in the near future to renew our acquaintance. Finally, BAFFITOS on the docks has given up the ghost and closed its doors. It had not sold real ale for a while, but it is another one gone. The RIBBLE PILOT however is still going strong and has recently got a new manager called Emma who is keen on real ale. It is a Marstons house and offers a 10% discount to card carrying CAMRA members.

CannBridgeAleHs

Beer made and bottled in small batches in Leyland Crankshaft Brewery

Leyland, Lancashire PR26 7QL | www.crankshaftbrewery.co.uk

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www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

CAMRA CENTRAL LANCS BRANCH AND ...

STAGECOACH 125

his being the 125th edition of Ale Cry it seemed most appropriate that this issue should feature the Stagecoach 125 bus service which links Preston and Chorley, the two main centres of population within CAMRA Central Lancashire branch. An article on this bus route was suggested by occasional Ale Cry contributor Michael Haughey, and my objective here is to briefly describe the many pubs that are directly encountered when travelling on this bus. Boarding the 125 at Preston, and once out of the city centre you go along the A6 (London Road) where you are initially faced with a number of pubs that are no more – the William IV and the Greyhound (both now restaurants), and the Shawes Arms (now boarded up). Across the river into Walton-le-Dale and the first open pub encountered is the YEW TREE, this being a pub which is located on its own little island surrounded by busy roads. It is a place to find Caledonian or Theakston beers. A short distance and you pass the SIR ROBERT PEEL (no real ale as far as I’m aware), and then at the Church Brow junction you have the WHITE BULL, a former Boddingtons tied house that usually has a good choice of interesting beers, typically from microbreweries like Cross Bay and Three B’s. The White Bull is a former CAMRA Central Lancashire branch Pub of the Season and has been an occasional Good Beer Guide entry. Crossing the road, and at the mini-roundabout as the bus route turns right towards Bamber Bridge, there is the former Waltonle-Dale Conservative Club, which by the time you read this should be open as the TAPS & WINE BAR. Indications are that this long anticipated establishment will be selling six handpumped cask ales as well as a range of craft keg beers. A mile or so further and you reach the School Lane area of Bamber Bridge. Here you have the BĒAM & BRYCG, a large pub/ restaurant which re-opened in November 2018 after previously being known as the Pear Tree. While you puzzle on how to pronounce the pub’s new name, you can sample their beers, which in the past have included offerings from Beer Brothers and Black Sheep. Approaching the centre of Bamber Bridge and the pubs begin to come thick and fast. First you have the BEER BOX, a micropub which opened in September 2018 in a former electrical goods shop.

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The Beer Box has six handpunps, with beers sourced mainly from local microbreweries, plus a real cider, and most notably is the CAMRA Central Lancashire Pub of the Season for Winter 2019/20. Across the road is the WITHY ARMS, the pub which really got the ball rolling to make Bamber Bridge into such a great place for the real ale drinker. It opened in 2011, being created from what had previously been a Boddingtons tied house which amongst other things had once been an Irish themed pub. As the Withy Arms it was an immediate success and since then has continued to offer a good range of real ales, including their Ribble Brewery house beers. A short distance further, and crossing the road again, you have YE OLDE ORIGINAL WITHY TREES. Once a Burtonwood pub, it is now a Robinsons tied house and there are usually two or three Robinsons beers available at any one time.

Continuing along Station Road, and next you come to the TRADES HALL CLUB. It was my intention to limit this article only to pubs, but as a club the Trades Hall certainly deserves a mention. It was the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch’s Club of the Year in 2018, and has three handpumps, with beers from microbreweries like Three B’s and Reedley Hallows often being available. Next you reach the BRIG’N’BARREL, which in June 2018 became the first micropub to open in Bamber Bridge, the premises previously having been a TV and Video Repair shop. A 2020 Good Beer Guide entry, the Brig’n’Barrel has six handpumped beers and also sells two changing real ciders. It goes without saying that the arrival of the Brig’n’Barrel (and subsequently the Beer Box) has seen the beer choice in Bamber Bridge vastly increased. Across the road there is the PUMP & TRUNCHEON (no real ale), and from here it’s about a half mile trek before there is something of interest to report. Although not open as I write this article, the WA BISTRO in the former ‘Gone Fishing’ shop premises on Spinners Square, will hopefully be in business before the end of 2019. All being well it will be selling real ale, and it will prove to be a welcome addition to the Withy Arms Group estate.

Having reached the Lostock Lane end of Station Road you find YE OLDE HOB INN, a pub which only recently re-opened after being closed for almost a year due to fire damage. Now looking very smart after its refurbishment, there are usually three real ales available usually including one from Timothy Taylors. Leaving Bamber Bridge the pubs now become more spread out, with the 125 bus route making detours around Walton Summit and Clayton Brook. Back on the A6 the next pub encountered is

the HALFWAY HOUSE on Preston Road in Clayton-le-Woods, reputedly halfway between London and Glasgow, although it could just as easily be halfway between Preston and Chorley. A pub with a separate restaurant, it is a rare outlet in the area for JW Lees with two of their beers usually being on sale. A short bus ride and you reach the MEDITERRANEAN 3 AT THE BAY HORSE in Whittle-le-Woods, again a pub which places a strong emphasis on the food side. However ignoring the Mediterranean 3 part of the business, the pub does sell real ale with a choice of one or two beers usually being available. Another four bus stops through Whittle-le-Woods and you have the SEA VIEW INN, once an important outlet of the nearby Whittle

Springs Brewery. Of the three pubs on the Preston Road stretch of the A6, this is the one with the best beer range, with four real ales usually being on offer.

Back on the bus, the journey continues towards Chorley bypassing the HARTWOOD HALL (no real ale), and on reaching the outskirts of the town centre there are again closed pubs – the Queens Tavern and the Parkers Arms (both later restaurants also now closed). Of course once you disembark from the bus at Chorley Interchange, there are plenty more pubs worth visiting in Chorley town centre. The Stagecoach 125 bus route has a regular service, with buses running every 10 minutes during the day, and every 30 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays. From Chorley most buses go on to Bolton, but the story for this additional journey can be left for another day. This year the branch has produced both a Preston Ale Trail and a Chorley Ale Trail. Perhaps next we should be looking at producing a Preston to Chorley Ale Trail! GORDON SMALL

THE POTTERS ARMS BROOK STREET, CHORLEY

Central Lancs Community Pub of the Year 2019

Three Bs Doff Cocker Black Sheep Best Bitter + Guest ales from local breweries

Don’t miss Tuesday All cask ales £1.99 A real pub with darts, dominoes, pool, and a real fire

Stephen and Denise have been glad to welcome good beer lovers for over 25 years at the POTTERS.

FREE

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

HISTORIC PRESTON PUBS

PART 8 New Hall Lane

n the latest instalment of our look back on the closed pubs of Preston, we focus on just one road – New Hall Lane, from its junction with London Road to the traffic lights at Acregate Lane. This stretch of road is just about 1km, and when CAMRA was formed in the early 1970s, there were 9 pubs still trading, all of which have now closed. I never visited any of these pubs, so am indebted for the recollections of Peter Higson who made a valiant attempt to visit all the pubs in Preston during the late 1970s and to Dave Blackburn, for the loan of several branch produced Real Ale guides of the period. Starting at the western end, our first pub, the ROSEBUD HOTEL was situated on the southern corner of New Hall Lane and London Road. The pub was owned by the Cornbrook Brewery of Old Trafford, which was

taken over by Charrington United in 1961 and became part of the Bass empire. It is thought to have been in existence since pre 1841, making it one of the oldest pubs in the area. At one time it was difficult to get a picture of this pub without including one of the ornamental circular gents urinals (known as Iron Dukes) that stood at the junction. They were removed in the late 1950s. The pub closed in 1988 and was subsequently demolished as part of the road widening scheme. Our picture, taken in the late 1980s shows the pub still looking quite smart but boarded up and with a ‘for sale’ sign. It served real ale as late as the mid 1980s, with Bass Cask Bitter (brewed in Tadcaster) being available at one time. Described as a roughish pub

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with live music on a Sunday night, it scored a meagre 14% on Peter’s visit, so it is perhaps not surprising that it was an early casualty. From here, the pubs came thick and fast at one time. Just a short walk along the southern side of New Hall Lane, the next pub would have been the CARTERS’ ARMS. Owned by Tetley, the original building had been demolished and replaced by an ugly prefab (probably during the late 1950s or early 1960s), with this lasting until 1982 before closure and demolition. It had a reputation for being a bit rough, had a room with a number of pool tables and featured live music. A couple of doors down, on the corner of Adelaide Street, stood our

next pub. The QUEEN ADELAIDE was a Matthew Brown house dating from 1839. The branch guide issued for the 1992 Preston Guild described it as a re-vamped old-style pub left isolated by demolition over the years. An open plan interior with Laura Ashley style furnishings. The external mirror sign makes it clear that real ale is sold – being at the time Matthew Brown Bitter and Theakstons Best. The pub closed in about 2000 and has since been demolished. Another 100 or so yards on, and still on the south side of the road, stood the GENERAL CODRINGTON. This former Matthew Brown pub was on the corner of Napier Street (which was just past where the Bingo Hall now stands). This pub closed in 1988, so just misses out on being in our gallery. According to our records it did not sell real ale at the time of closure. The next side road was Aspden Street, and here, yet again, stood a pub. The NEW HALL LANE

TAVERN was a Whitbread pub, dating from 1861, which closed in 2001. For the first few years of its existence, it was known as the Halfway House, due to its position in the road. It was an open-plan pub with a large bar spanning two drinking areas. There was a spell in the 1980s when it did not serve real ale, but by 1992 Boddingtons Bitter was available (by this time Whitbread had bought the brewery and all but destroyed the beer!) A couple of streets further along stood the GIBRALTER INN. Yet another Matthew Brown pub, it sat on the corner of Pakington Street and closed in 1981. This might seem like quite a pub crawl, but these 6 pubs were squeezed into a distance of not much more than a quarter of a mile, and all have now been demolished, in most cases along with the street corners on which they stood. The remaining three pubs in this issues’ reminiscing are at least still standing, and the next one, just a few more yards along was the BIRLEY ARMS. Another Matthew

room. It served both the Mild and Bitter, originally via electric pump but by the early 1990s, handpumps had been installed. The highest scoring pub in the area on Peter’s visit in the 1970s – with a comment that the beer quality was very good. The pub was the last to close, in 2012, eventually becoming a food store. Our final pub in this issue is the ACREGATE, another Boddingtons’ pub that was built around 1900 and stood on the corner of Acregate Lane. A fine Victorian building with interesting shaped windows, a comfortable spacious lounge and a small plain public bar. As with the Belle Vue, Boddingtons Mild and Bitter were sold, initially on electric pump, but by the mid 1980s, handpumps had been installed. It closed in 2008, although the brewery signage and name still adorn the building. ADRIAN SMITH All the excellent photographs used to illustrate this series of articles come from the Jim Holderness collection, and we gratefully acknowledge this and being able to use them. In part 9 we will be looking at Ribbleton Lane, and would welcome any contributions from readers who frequented pubs down this road – all of which have now closed.

Brown house, dating from the 1850s, it closed in 2005 and the building has been converted into solicitors’ offices – curiously at one time the company based there was called Birleys. Real ale was not available for a number of years prior to closure. To reach the final two pubs, you would have needed to cross onto the north side of New Hall Lane and walk a little way down. The BELLE VUE HOTEL was a Boddingtons’ house and was just to the west of the Skeffington Road traffic lights. Described in the 1992 guide as an odd red brick boxshape building, it was slightly out of character with its surroundings. It was built to replace an older building and was a roomy locals pub with a comfortable lounge and a lively tap

TRADES HALL CLUB Bamber Bridge

Branch Club of the Year 2018

3 Handpumps for real ale Other drinks at bargain prices inc. San Miguel and Warsteiner.

CAMRA members welcome. (Discounted prices on production of valid membership card)

Membership available all year round. 154c Station Road, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancs. PR5 6TP http://www.trades-hall.co.uk

Acts on every Saturday. Bingo every Wednesday and Saturday.

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

Brewery News Our regular feature keeping you updated with information about our local breweries, their plans, their beers and where to buy them. Links to the brewery websites and Facebook pages can be found on the Local Breweries tab on the branch website: www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Beer Brothers We are delighted that official recognition is finally forthcoming for the quality of the beers from this brewery. At a recent SIBA competition, they won no less than 4 awards: • Hefeweizen (bottle) – Silver • Dunkel Storm (bottle) – Bronze • Gunslinger (can) – Bronze • Hop Chocolate (cask) – Bronze They have also found time to move the bar within the brewery, giving them more space to work as well as 10 keg taps to allow them to showcase pretty much the full range of their beers.

Crankshaft Haydn Williams is another of our local brewers who has ‘given up the day job’ to concentrate on brewing full time. A further two 1,000 litre fermenters have been added to further increase brewing capacity.

Escape This is a new brewery based just over the southern edge of our branch area, in Horwich.

The initial core range comprises 3 beers: Erik Weisz, a 4.4% Citra hopped pale ale Frank Morris, a 5% pale ale and Virgil Hilts, a 5% malty bitter. All the beers are unfined, and some of you will already have spotted that they are all named after famous escapees. The beers have been cropping up in odd pubs across the branch area, with the White Bull in Chorley being a regular outlet.

Rivington Another brewery on the move is Rivington, although in their case, the journey is not quite so far. The current site at

Cunliffe Farm was very cramped and far from ideal. Brewer Ben Stubbs has now given up the day job to go full time and with the success of their very distinctive and interesting beers, a larger site was needed. For the last few years they have held the popular ‘Tap Beneath the Trees’ at Home Farm, which is just across the road from their current premises. New brewing kit is being installed in farm buildings here and it

is anticipated that they will be in production before the end of the year. There will also be a tap room on site, and this is covered more fully in Chorley Chatter.

Twisted Wheel Another new brewery just over the branch border – this time in Standish. Twisted Wheel has started brewing on the old Windmill Brewery site at Standish Hall Farm. The brewery name takes inspiration from the Northern Soul theme, with the pump clips based on the patches so loved by aficionados of that dance scene. There is a 10 barrel plant with two fermenters and a further two on the way, which will enable them to brew four times a week. The brewery is a ten barrel plant. At the moment there are three core beers. • Ten Pin. A 4.0% traditional amber beer brewed with English hops. • Sunday Sessions. A 4.5% Pale Ale brewed with New Zealand hops. • Big Black Smoke. A 4.9% Porter. Brewed with oats and treacle for a smokey taste. Rich and warming. There are plans for a 4% Christmas beer, Three Star Jumper, which will be a mahogany beer brewed with English hops and Belgian yeast. There are also plans for a keg and craft range and also bottles and cans.

Withnells For the first time in a good few years, brewing has returned to Chorley. Withnells was

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established by Tom Bennett & Paul Rowe in Bamber Bridge in 2016. Having outgrown their old site, they have moved the operation into Artisan House on Anderton Street, just off the town centre. Interestingly, while undertaking work there, they discovered evidence that the site was once occupied by Nuttalls of Blackburn (who were taken over by Matthew Brown), although in what capacity is unclear. They are currently installing a 2.5 barrel plant, enabling them to produce 17 firkins of beer per brew. There is also a smaller plant to enable them to do trial brews. Work is ongoing and it is hoped that by the time you read this, brewing will have recommenced. Also on site will be a tap room and bottle shop – for more details of this, please see Chorley Chatter on page 5. ADRIAN SMITH

BREWERS If you read this and you think we have missed something, please let us know. It’s virtually a free advert!

DOG INN Monday

Darts fun 8.30pm. All welcome Darts & dominoes players wanted every Thursday.

Tuesday

Buy two large glasses of wine and get the rest of the bottle free. (Bingo coming soon)

Wednesday

First Weds of the month — open mic! On all other Wednesdays we welcome you to come and jam acoustic too!

Thursday

Quiz with a twist includes Play Your Cards Right. From 8.30pm. £1 per person entry. Teams of up to 6 people.

Friday

4 cask Ales

Cask ale loyalty card

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www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

QU TH

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Central Lancs Community Pub of the Year 2018

M D AY 9 P

A warm and friendly atmosphere with great beers, wines & spirits, welcoming customers and a beautiful beer garden awaits you at…

THE BLACK BULL INN

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Enjoy a wide range of drinks • Cask Ale — Two permanent house ales (Theakston’s Best &

Robinsons’ Dizzy Blonde), a rotating CAMRA LocAle Lancashire guest ale, plus two national guest ales • Lagers — Birra Moretti, Amstel, Kronenbourg 1664, and Fosters • Guinness • Extensive range of gins, vodkas, and malt whiskys • Range of wines and prosecco • Low/non-alcoholic drinks available FREE • Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate • Award winning beer garden

In CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2012–20

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W 2020 T E’R IN I E

Enjoy all the big sporting occasions, as well as the horses, on the 3 large HD screens indoors, and a garden screen in good weather

Dogs are welcome!

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On Stagecoach route No 3 – Pope Lane

Opening times Monday–Thursday 12–11 • Friday 12–Midnight Saturday 11–11.30 • Sunday 12–11 20p off a pint for CAMRA card carrying members

@BlackBullPenwor black.bull.penwortham

Ale

Black_Bull_Inn_AleCry125.indd 1

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Telephone 01772 752953 mail@blackbull-penwortham.co.uk

83 Pope Lane, Penwortham, Preston PR1 9BA www.blackbull-penwortham.co.uk

13/11/2019 10:53

SOUTH RIBBLE SCENE

riting this South Ribble Scene I am put in mind of HG Wells and his book ‘The Shape of Things to Come’. I say this in anticipation that there could easily be three or four new real ale outlets open in South Ribble before the end of the year. In the last Ale Cry I mentioned the rumour of a new micropub being opened in Lostock Hall. Things have now progressed. This establishment is to be called LOSTOCK ALE, and by all accounts it should already be open by the time you

read this. The Lostock Ale is located on Hope Terrace, and is in the former Jayne Miller Gift Shop just behind the Pleasant Retreat pub. A pub that had been pencilled in for an Autumn opening was the TAPS & WINE BAR, the comparatively large micropub long planned to be opened at the former

Walton-le-Dale Conservative Club. The latest understanding is that the Taps & Wine Bar will be opening in November and that it will have six handpumped beers available, with local breweries like Beer Brothers and Chain House being supported as well as a wide selection of craft ales. The Liverpool Road area of Penwortham certainly seems to be attracting a lot of attention these days. The new PENWORTHAM ARTS CENTRE opened in September, and although it does have a small bar, it was not initially selling any draught beer. However across the road, in part of the old Booths supermarket building, and opening in December will be 1260 – CRAFT & CRUST, a pub/restaurant being created with a concept that it will be featuring Penwortham’s historical past and that it will be selling craft beers. Other prospective developments in the immediate vicinity are for there to be a new micropub BAR 1260 and for there to be a gin bar GIN JAR ALE. Perhaps all this activity finally puts an end to the oft repeated rumour that the former Booths supermarket was to become a Wetherspoons pub. Another establishment hoping to be open before the end of the year is the WA BISTRO on Spinners Square off Station Road in Bamber Bridge. This is the latest incarnation of the Weavers Arms which was a micropub set to be created in the former Gone Fishing shop premises. The business emphasis may have changed, but we would hope that the WA Bistro will be another real ale outlet to complement the three pubs already in the Withy Arms estate. In the last South Ribble Scene it was announced that YE OLDE HOB INN at Bamber Bridge was not too far from reopening following its enforced closure due to severe fire damage in September 2018. In the event by the time that the Autumn 2019 Ale Cry had been produced this was

slightly out of date as the pub had already re-opened. The beer range remains much as before, with three handpumped beers being available, which on a recent visit included Lees MPA and Timothy Taylors Landlord. That’s it for news, but as in previous issues of Ale Cry, I have again looked at an area of South Ribble with pubs which are rarely getting a mention in these pages. This time it is Longton, where there are five pubs in relatively close proximity on Liverpool Road, the main thoroughfare through the centre of the village. I started off at the RAMS HEAD, which is one of five pubs in the area owned by the Green Crab Pubs company. However rather than visit the restaurant room to sample their green crabs, I opted to go into the

spacious front room which is effectively a sports bar with several large TV screens. On the day there were three real ales available, Black Sheep Best Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord, and Wainwright, while there was a fourth handpump not in use. A quarter of a mile walk and you come to the BLACK BULL. For some time this was a pub with a solitary handpump with a Copper Dragon beer usually to be found. Many years ago in Ale Cry I wrote ‘this is a pub where it would be great to see the

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Ale Cry

addition of a second real ale’. I can’t recall when the second handpump was actually installed, but on my visit there was a choice of two beers which were Ossett Yorkshire Blonde and Wainwright. Continuing along Liverpool Road and my next port of call was the RED LION, a pub which on its website claims to be ‘possibly the best pub in Longton’. If you are wanting live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays then this may be true, but for the real ale drinker it fails to live up to this proclamation. The one handpumped beer available was Wainwright, which on

the evidence so far would certainly appear to be a popular beer in Longton. It was then a short walk to the GOLDEN BALL OF LONGTON, once the brewery tap of the nearby Wilkins Brewery. Of the Longton pubs this is the most upmarket, with there being a strong emphasis on the food side. The pub also prides itself on being dog-friendly, and even offers those dogs bringing owners their own special menu. On the bar I was a little relieved that there was no sign of Wainwright, the beers available being Moorhouses Blond Witch (old pumpclip – I notice that they now call it Blonde Witch), Sharps Atlantic and Timothy Taylors Boltmaker, while a fourth beer Weetwood Cheshire Cat was ‘about to come on’. After visiting four long established Longton pubs, I double backed on myself to look in at the WILKINS & PYE, the micropub which opened opposite the Red Lion in 2018. This is an interesting enterprise, being a micropub that also functions as a sports bar. Having a liking for local history I am pleased that the owners have chosen to honour Longton’s two defunct breweries, with the Pye Brewery hogshead logo even being brought back into use. On the day the beer range was rather limited, with the Beer Brothers brewed Wilkins & Pye House Session Ale being the only handpumped beer available. GORDON SMALL

GOOD

ER BEID E GU

10 craft beers and lagers 2 cask ales and real ciders Select Gins & quality spirits Fine wines Outdoor German style seating Free Wifi Background music

W 2020 I E’R E IN

      

Located at Preston Market, Earl Street. Open everyday from 1200 till late. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

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GOOD

ER BEID E GU

W 2020 I E’R E IN

7 rotating cask ales

 Live

Craft beers and lagers 3 real ciders

Music

 Quiet  Yard

Large range of Belgian ales Wines & Prosecco

 Dog  Free

Lounge

of Ale

friendly Wifi

 Family

friendly

Open everyday from noon till late 56 Lancaster Rd, Preston.

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22/10/2019

09:09

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Ale Cry

ALE CRY VISITs… GRIMSARGH & GOOSNARGH

or our latest minibus trip out, we had decided on visiting the two villages with Viking roots just outside Preston: Grimsargh and Goosnargh. The argh ending of both place names is said to derive from the Old Norse word for a temple, thus at the temple of Grimr (an alternative name for Odin), and the temple of Gusan. This is disputed though, with others thinking that the ending is derived from the Norse word erg, meaning hill pasture. What is agreed is that the Vikings were visitors to this area after the Romans left. Anyway, enough of the history lesson, and on to the pubs. We started at the PLOUGH in Grimsargh, where members from Preston joined up with the minibus from Chorley. The Plough is a large traditional village pub which at one time was alongside the railway station on the Longridge to Preston line. This is long gone, but the pub thrives with its friendly and welcoming atmosphere and its home cooked food. The pub is family friendly,

with a separate bar area to the right of the entrance, dining areas off the main bar and a large beer garden at the back. There are five handpumps on the bar and on the night we had a choice of a couple of beers from Timothy Taylor (Landlord and Knowle Spring), Marston 61 Deep and Hawkshead Dry Stone Stout. Price wise, it was about £3.60 with the 20p a pint CAMRA discount. Opening times are Noon–Midnight except on Sunday when it closes at 10.30pm. Food is available Noon–9pm Mon–Sat, Noon–8pm on Sunday. There is a quiz night on Wednesday with a free supper. Moving on, we travelled the short distance to Goosnargh, where there are three pubs in close vicinity to each other. Two are opposite each other on the main road near the old entrance to Whittingham Hospital (a psychiatric hospital that closed in 1995), while the other one is in the village itself. Incidentally, Whittingham Hospital used to have a train service from Preston, with the line splitting off the Longridge line at the station in Grimsargh. The tickets for the journey were reputedly green in colour, giving rise to an expression once common in the area that someone who was acting a bit

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ISSUE 125 WINTER 2019

daft was said to ‘have a green ticket’. The main pub near the old hospital is the STAG’S HEAD. Inside we found Ossett Blonde on the bar plus the Marston’s owned Jennings Cumberland. The Ossett was on excellent form and we were informed that Ossett brewery had sponsored them for Cask Marque and that one of their beers was generally available. The other beers changed, but they liked Cumberland as it was ‘fast cask’, meaning it dropped clear fairly rapidly and they did not have to wait for days before it was ready to be sold. Prices for the real ales were £3.70. The building itself is a tastefully decorated country pub with a central bar around which there are quiet areas, family and dining sections and a conservatory at the rear. It has a large beer garden with a children’s play area and barbecues in summer. It is open each day from Noon– 11pm, with food served all day from Noon.

Opposite, at TAP & T’ALES, it was a much more cramped affair with the clientele suddenly boosted by the appearance of 16 strangers. It is a cosy one-roomed micropub where conversation is king. Opened a couple of years ago by the owners of the Tap & Vent in Longridge, it is both family and dog friendly, with tables outside in the car park (weather permitting). Four handpumps provide a changing range of beers and ciders from around the country. Unfortunately for me on the night, both the real ales on sale were a bit too strong, being Lancaster Brewery’s Noble Pilsner (4.5%) and Red (4.8%); so I had a pint of Lilley’s Mango

cider at 4%. It has a sweetness I would abhor in a beer, but is fine in a cider and I enjoyed it. Beer prices are dependent on gravity and were £3.70 on the night. The bar is closed on Mondays, being open 4.30pm–9.30pm Tue– Wed, 4.30pm–10pm Thu–Fri, 2pm–11pm on Saturday and 2pm–8pm on Sunday. If you come out of the Taps and turn right down Church Lane, a short walk will bring you to the GRAPES, just past the village green and next to the church. A former coaching inn dating from the 18th Century, it is popular with both locals and diners. There is a lounge bar to the left, a drinking area around the bar and a large restaurant and function room. In summer you can relax on the beer terrace/

garden and in winter there is a real fire to keep you warm. There are four handpumps often selling beer from Moorhouses and Timothy Taylor. On our visit only two were in use, with Moorhouses Pride of Pendle and Blonde Witch available, both at £3.50 a pint. The pub is open from Noon daily apart from Mondays when it opens at 3pm, and closes at Midnight (1am Fri–Sat). Food is served 5pm–9pm (Tue), Noon–3pm and 5pm–9pm (Wed–Fri), Noon–9pm (Sat) and Noon–7pm (Sun) with a focus on local produce. At one time you could also have gone to the Bushells Arms opposite. Sadly, this pub no longer exists having been converted into a smart private dwelling following closure in 2010. However the three pubs left in Goosnargh make it a good place to visit. It looked like the bus service to Goosnargh would disappear when Stagecoach said it was not profitable, but Lancashire County Council has stepped in and there will continue to be a service from Preston, run by Preston Bus. Please check before attempting to travel, as it is likely that the new service will only run during the day with no evening or Sunday/ Bank Holiday service. Grimsargh, on the other hand, has a regular service (Stagecoach No.1) from Preston, even late into the evening. PAU L R I L E Y

PRINCE OF WALES COWLING

@powcowling 01257 260815

9-11 Cowling Brow Chorley PR6 0QE 5 STAR CASK MARQUE 8 Real Ales (Rotating) Live Music Dog Friendly Open Mic Sunday Quiz Night Wednesday Beautiful Beer Garden Friendly Atmosphere 5 Star Hygiene Rating Real Open Fires CAMRA Members Discount

CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2020

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

Walking with a Purpose

A Hoghton Circular

ituated in lovely countryside to the west of Blackburn, Riley Green and Hoghton have plenty to offer by way of country walks and fine hostelries not to mention the historic Hoghton Tower. This is a gentle walk through countryside in an area conveniently situated between the Boar’s Head at Hoghton and the Royal Oak at Riley Green, which is predominantly off-road walking. The terrain is relatively flat and whilst only 3 miles or so is sufficient to build up a good appetite and thirst.

Start by parking near the Boars Head in Hoghton village and set off down the A675 towards the War Memorial, turning left at the signs for Hoghton Tower 1. Head up the drive until you get to the lodge 2 where you need to bear to the left and follow the well-worn track over several stiles keeping the wall to your right. Follow the path down towards the trees where you will shortly reach the Preston to Blackburn railway line 3. Cross the line and turn to the right heading alongside the railway line towards the River Darwen. Walking through a wooded area you’ll pass the now derelict Quarry Cottages on your left 4, then walking between a number of converted mill buildings before returning to the path leading to the fabulous viaduct with its five arches into Hoghton Bottoms 5. You

are now on the Witton Weavers Way following the path along the River Darwen, the river to your left and woods climbing up to your right crossing a couple of wooden bridges before a kissing gate leads you into open meadow, the river curving away to the left. Go straight ahead aiming for the large tree directly ahead 6.

Useful Information

STANDARD ROUTE (3 miles approx.) – Here, the route veers to the right and takes you back up the hill along a clearly marked path to a kissing gate beyond which you quickly find yourself making your way down to the A6061 spotting the rear of the Royal Oak not too far away.

Royal Oak 01254 201445

Distance: approx. 3 miles (extended walk 6 ½ miles) OS Map: Explorer 287 West Pennine Moors

Boars Head 01254 852272

EXTENDED ROUTE (6 ½ miles or so) – For those in need of extra mileage continue walking to the

HOGHTON BOARS HEAD

HOGHTON TOWER

left of the tree alongside the river until it meanders off to the left and your path leads onward, climbing up through the trees and into open farmland 7. Head for the group of trees 8 and through the gate taking you past Hillock Farm and down a rough track to the A674 where you turn left. A short distance along the road having past the sign announcing your arrival in Feniscowles you’ll find a bus stop on your left. Cross the road and head through the steel gate opposite 9 taking you down past the old paper mill site and up onto the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Turn right and follow the tow-path a mile or so until you see the site of the old Boatyard pub on the opposite bank. Before you reach the bridge turn off to the right and the track leads you back up to the A6061. At the junction, turn left and you’ll find the Royal Oak just a short distance away. You have now re-joined the Standard Route. A difficult decision now presents itself … whether to stop at the welcoming Royal Oak or continue back to the Boars Head before partaking in some well-earned refreshments. Many may find the more balanced approach is to stop at both, as by this stage you will probably feel you’ve earned some respite,

River Darwen

A675 ROYAL OAK RILEY GREEN

Leeds & Liverpool Canal

M65

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ISSUE 125 WINTER 2019

especially if the weather’s not been in your favour. Fortunately both pubs offer a good choice of food, and dogs are welcome in the bar areas. Passing by the Royal Oak turn immediately right onto Green Lane, which leads you up to a large stile from where the walk gradually ascends back toward Hoghton Tower 10. Taking in three more stiles the path then leads you back down towards the driveway where you bear left heading back to the main road and the War Memorial. Retrace your steps down the hill to the Boars Head and you’ve reached your final destination. Local history tells us that a chap by the name of William Shakespeare once stayed at Hoghton Tower for a short period during his early days of acting and it’s to his memory that we call to mind the following quote when congratulating ourselves on completing the walk … “Do you think because you are virtuous, that there shall be no more cakes and ale?” … clearly a rhetorical question! Whatever choices you make, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the hospitality of this lovely area of Central Lancashire.

RICHARD LANGFORD

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

Good Beer Guide selection

he Good Beer Guide is CAMRA’s flagship publication, and is published every September. There is usually a fair amount of press coverage, and significantly more on Social Media. Although some people remain positive towards the Guide, there was a good deal of negativity – criticising the Guide, the pubs featured and how we go about selecting those pubs. I didn’t have the energy to respond as I would have liked to the astonishing number of ill-informed comments that I stumbled across, but thought it would make an ideal article for Ale Cry. So let’s have a look at how our branch comes to their decision on which pubs are in the Guide each year, and then take a look at some of the more curious accusations that are being banded around. When it comes to selecting the pubs from our branch area that will get into the next GBG, the active members of the branch spend a good deal of time considering the various options and discussing their merits. During the summer, we draw up a list of possibles – which will normally be all those pubs currently in the Guide, those newly opened or ‘qualified’ and any that have significantly improved their real ale offering since the previous Guide entries were discussed. Our Pubs Officer produces figures on beer scores, compiled from data submitted by members on the National Beer Scoring System. This enables us to see readily which pubs are hitting the required target (with a score of 3 out of 5 being considered good). A pub with an average of less than 3 would normally be discounted immediately as we have more than enough ‘good’ pubs in our area to fill our quota. Some pubs pretty much select themselves – it is a complete waste of time discussing the merits of pubs that everybody agrees are excellent, so we probably fill half of the spaces

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ISSUE 125 WINTER 2019

very quickly. The remaining spaces are not so easy to agree on so we draw up a list of pubs requiring further investigation and over a period of a few months we make an effort to visit all the ‘possibles’ to get as wide a view as we can. Further discussion follows until we have whittled down the list to 34 agreed entries and 3 reserves. Then we go out and resurvey all the pubs to go in the Guide to ensure the information that goes in is as accurate as possible. There is a lot of work to be done and it takes much of the time and effort of the branch during the Autumn and Winter months. Now please bear in mind that this is all volunteer effort and active members of CAMRA spend a considerable amount of time (and money) working to make the GBG as good as they possibly can. However there are some people out there who pour scorn on the whole process and question the merits of the Guide itself. Here is a selection of some of the more bizarre comments I have stumbled over recently, and my response to them: GBG has to change its listings to sell books, otherwise if it genuinely listed the best pubs/ ale, it would just be a reprint of the previous year’s book. So it becomes contentious just so it can change its listings. The honest response to this is – utter rubbish! Pubs change – licensees move on, new pubs open, old favourites close. Just look at Preston. The Guild Ale House, Orchard and Plug & Taps are all new outlets. The Vinyl Tap has recently become a top real ale venue and the Moorbrook has effectively come back from the dead. Five years ago, the top real ale outlets in Preston were probably the Old Black Bull and the Olde Dog & Partridge. Don’t suggest the changes are just for the sake of it. I think it is about time CAMRA made every branch prove that the pubs they are selecting for the GBG are selected on beer quality. The branches near me all do, but

I know from talking to others that there are branches that select the committee members favourite pubs year after year with no chance for new pubs to be included. It is time for CAMRA to prevent this from happening. Well these two objections completely contradict each other. Either we are changing the pubs or we are not. The simple truth is that of the 34 pubs in our area in the current Guide, 24 of them have been in there less than 5 years running, so there is plenty of change. The assertion that ‘the committee chooses their favourite pubs’ is a strange one. All the committee are passionate about their beer, and drink in the pubs where they can get a great range and top quality. These pubs by their very nature are exactly the pubs that should be going in the Guide – so it shouldn’t be any surprise when we put them forward. In fact it would be rather strange if the pubs we chose to drink in were not deemed good enough for the GBG! It’s a Guide compiled from beer scores from people that don’t have to pass any vetting procedure to judge beer, submitted nearly a full year before it’s released. So it’s basically worthless except as a guide to places that meet the minimum requirement of serving beer from a cask. The question of delay is a valid one. We submit the final list of pubs to Central Office in early March for a guide that comes out in September – so the gap is only 6 months. Yes, by the time we get into the following summer, things may well have changed, but our experience tells us that most of the pubs that are good enough to be in the Guide in

March 2019 will still be good enough to go in the next one – probably 80% of each year’s entries are also in the following year’s Guide as well. As far as the vetting procedure goes, no, there is no vetting procedure. However, I would suggest that a beer drinker who is sufficiently committed to join CAMRA and get involved at branch level has sufficient understanding of whether a pint is in good condition or not – and that is really all we are asking! We’re not in it and yet bizarrely we are the local CAMRA branch Pub Of The Year 2019. They’ve used a non existent rule that new landlords have to be in business for a year before being considered. It is not a rule, but sensible guidance. Different branches take slightly different stances on this question, but most require a pub to have a certain ‘proving period’ before they are eligible to go in the GBG. We use a period of 6 months, either for a pub to be open or for the licensee to be in place. A new pub can appear to be on the right track, only for the owners to discover that it’s too much like hard work to run it properly and for quality to show a rapid decline. The

same might well apply to new licensees. This is always a problem area, but I’ll give you two examples from last year, which highlight the problems we face. Over a period of about 6 weeks we had 3 new micropubs open in South Ribble. Two of these had been open for 6 months when the deadline for submissions came round, and were put in the Guide. The Beer Box in Bamber Bridge was just short of the 6 month period, and consequently missed out. As it turned out, Beer Box continued to be well run, with great quality and apart from this ruling, would have been in the Guide on merit. Late in 2018, there were clearly problems at the Mad Hatters, with licensee Alan suffering from ill health. This has been one of the foremost real ale pubs in the branch in recent years, and when it got a new licensee (who was known to us) and was turned into Speakeasy, it would have been easy for us to assume that all would be well and include this pub in the Guide. Fortunately we opted to leave it out – just as well,

considering a month after the Guide was published, the pub closed and is now being turned into a cocktail bar. The GBG is not perfect, but this is not for the want of trying. Across the country, CAMRA members make every effort to make sure that the Guide is as accurate as can be and really does showcase the best pubs to drink real ale. It is strange that so much of the criticism comes from beer bloggers and ‘tickerati’ on various social media platforms – whose opinions seem to be valued by many, yet they are just as unqualified as the CAMRA members they are decrying. If you are a CAMRA member and want to be involved in the selection process, it is really simple. Use WhatPub to score the beer quality in the pubs you visit and contact us (or your local branch) to tell them which pubs should (and should not) be in the Guide. You could even come along to a branch meeting and make your representations in person – you would be more than welcome.

Central Blackpool

Albert’s Ale

MicroBar In the cellar of the Albert Hotel 117 Albert Road, Blackpool, FY1 4PW

Real Ale and Real Cider Over 30 Belgian Beers Fruit Wines, Spirits & Snacks

Opening Hours Thursday & Friday 4-10.30 pm Saturday 2-11 pm Sunday 2-9 pm

ADRIAN SMITH

BREWERY & TAPROOM OPEN EVERY FRI & SAT

12PM TO 10PM

’ T E R C E S T P E K T S E B ‘PRESTON’S www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

Branch Diary

CAMRA

REAL ALE

DISCOUNT SCHEME

Monday 2nd December Committee Meeting at Bamber Bridge Football Club

LAB

LE HE

Thursday 19th December Christmas Social at Black Horse, Preston

members a discoun t. Member Discount scheme Find

Monday 13th January Committee Meeting at Prince of Wales, Cowling Brow, Chorley (7.30)

All over the country, hundreds of pubs to card carrying CAMRA members. These pubs deserve your support and listed below are the ones in our branch area that we believe are offering a discount.

This pub offers CAM

out more: www.camra.org.uk/ disc ountscha are offering discount eme

CAMRA Real Ale A6 Sticker

May 2019.indd 1

Thursday 23rd January Ale Cry Distribution Crawl – Samlesbury Minibus from Chorley & Preston

Ancient Oak, Cottam

20p per pint, except Mon when discount is for all customers

Thursday 30 January Winter POTS Presentation at Beer Box, Bamber Bridge

Anderton Arms, Fulwood

20p per pint, except Mon when discount is for all customers

Applejacks, Longridge

50p per pint

Baker Street, Preston

10%

Bamber Bridge Football Club

20p per pint

Bay Horse, Euxton

10%

Black Bull, Fulwood

20p per pint, except Mon when discount is for all customers

Black Bull, Penwortham

20p per pint

Bob Inn, Chorley

20p per pint

Broughton Inn, Broughton

20p per pint

Monday 10th February Committee Meeting at Guild Ale House, Preston Thursday 20 February George Lee Memorial Trophy Presentation (venue TBA following members vote at Christmas social) th

Thursday 9th March Committee Meeting at Leyland Lion, Leyland (7.30)

Cuckoo’s Nest, Chorley

10p per pint

Trips For further details and to book, contact Alex Calderbank on 07401 020754 or email social@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Fleece, Penwortham

10%

Guild (Fylde Rd), Preston

25p per pint

Lane Ends, Ashton

10%

Market Tap, Preston

10%

Mill Tavern, Higher Walton

20%

Nabs Head, Samlesbury

20p per pint

Olde Original Withy Trees, Bamber Bridge

10%

Pear Tree, Penwortham

20p per pint

Plough, Grimsargh

20p per pint, 10p per half pint

Plungington Hotel, Preston

10p per pint

Poachers, Bamber Bridge

10%

Preston Grasshoppers RFC

10%

Prince of Wales, Cowling Brow, Chorley

10%

Prince Of Wales New Market Street, Chorley

10%

Ribble Pilot, Preston

10%

Smiths Arms, Lea Town

20p per pint, 10p per half pint

Tap & Vine, Penwortham

10%

Trades Hall Club & Institute, Bamber Bridge

10%

Walton Fox, Bamber Bridge

20p per pint

Wellington, Ashton

Up to 25p per pint

Wellington (Glovers Ct.), Preston

10%

Wings & Beer Co., Preston

10%

With a print run of 6,000 and magazines available in pubs and clubs across the area and beyond, an advert in Ale Cry is probably the best value targeted advertising around.

Advert prices Quarter page: £55 Half page: £95 Full page: £175 Back page: £195 (not currently available) For further details contact: editor@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Publication Dates

The next issue of Ale Cry will be published on 1st March 2020. Deadline for copy and advert submission is 1st February 2020.

Trading Standards

For complaints about issues such as short measures, contact: Lancashire County Council Trading Standards County Hall, Pitt Street Preston, PR1 0LD. T: 0345 404 0506

Ale Cry online

Digital versions of this and previous Ale Crys are available at: https://issuu.com/clcamra

Ale Cry

ISSUE 125 WINTER 2019

05/06/2019 12:45

Cann Bridge Ale House, Higher Walton 20p per pint

All meetings start at 8pm unless shown.

Advertising

VA I

If you know of a pub offering a discount that is not listed here, or one is listed that no longer offers a discount, please let us know. If you are a licensee and are interested in joining the scheme then please contact editor@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Join up, join in, join the campaign From as little as

£26.50*

a year. That’s less Includes than a pint a £30 month! Real Ale

Cider & Perry Vouchers

Protect the traditions of great British pubs and everything that goes with them by joining today at www.camra.org.uk/joinup

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Or enter your details and complete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and save £2 on your membership subscription Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd with your completed form, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinup, or call 01727 798440.* All forms should be addressed to Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.

Your details:

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Signed .............................................................................................. Date .................................................................................................. Applications will be processed within 21 days.

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This Guarantee should be detached and retained by the payer.

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This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay by Direct Debits

If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request

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FOR CAMRA OFFICIAL USE ONLY This is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society Membership Number Postcode

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Instructions to your Bank or Building Society Bank or Building Society Account Number

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Please pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the account detailed on this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign For Real Ale Limited and, if so, will be passed electronically to my Bank/ Building Society. Signature(s)

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Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account. †Price of single membership when paying by Direct Debit. *Calls from landlines charged at standard national rates, cost may vary from mobile phones. New Direct Debit members will receive a 12 month supply of vouchers in their first 15 months of membership. The data you provide will be processed in accordance with our privacy policy in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations.

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Date