Ale Cry 128 - Spring 2022

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Ale

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

Cry

issue 128, SPRING 2022 05 09 11 13

Riley’s Rambles: Buxton South Ribble Scene Branch Awards GBG 2022 Myth Buster

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Pub of the Season Historic Preston Pubs: Part 10 Preston Parade Chorley Chatter

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Beer Scoring Beer by Bus Chorley Pub Festival Central Lancs Branch and …

CENTRAL LANCASHIRE BRANCH

Chairman’s Welcome

Branch Contacts Chairman ADRIAN SMITH t: 07495 448555 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 e: cider@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

W

elcome to our Spring 2022 edition of Ale Cry. Spring is probably my favourite season, with the days starting to draw out, new growth in nature and hope for better days ahead. After the last 2 years we need a bit of optimism and at CAMRA we’re looking forward to getting back to normal. Branch meetings have resumed, presentations have been made and our first trip of the year is already planned.

A few days before I wrote this, there was a cross parliamentary report on pubs issued entitled, ‘Raising the Bar’. It looked at the impact of the pandemic on pubs; on the individuals who run and work in them and on the communities they serve.

As you might expect, the picture painted was not a rosy one, with pubs reporting significant debt accumulation during the periods of restrictions, loans to be paid back, VAT reductions about to be removed, staffing issues and trade still well below pre-pandemic levels in many places.

Despite the gloomy words in this report, it’s clear looking round some of the local pubs that there is optimism for the future.

We’ve seen a couple of new outlets open since our last magazine and a further two about to open. We’ve seen expansion of some outlets and investment in others.

Many of our specialist real ale outlets are continuing to make a great range of beers available and it is clear that the customer demand is still there. Sadly, we also see in pubs where real ale is not viewed as a ‘core product’, a reduction in the number of beers available and sometimes pubs removing real ale from the bar altogether.

Locally, we will do all we can to support real ale and the pubs that sell it. Over

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the next couple of months we plan to reintroduce the popular Chorley and Preston Ale Trails, which have been out of print for nearly 2 years. In April, we are delighted to be part of the first Chorley Pub Festival – and while this is not an official CAMRA event, we wholly endorse and support it. If it is a success (and really there is no reason why it should not be), the organisers are hoping to run one every year. If there is enough interest, we would be looking to get something similar off the ground in Preston in the Autumn. We’ve got some cracking pubs around the branch – so let’s do our best to support them.

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 might be because we do not have an up-to-date email address for you or perhaps because your membership options need changing. Please go to https://camra.org.uk log in and go to edit membership details/marketing preferences in the members area to amend your details and options.

Kind Regards ADRIAN SMITH

Branch Chairman

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 POST VACANT e: social@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Young Members EDD FLETCHER 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

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RILEY’S RAMBLES: BUXTON

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ith the warmer weather coming up, this time my ramble will take you to the spa town of Buxton in the Peak District, which you can visit for a day out, or have a longer stay and enjoy a mini break. It is easily reachable from Preston by train and will reward you with some excellent pubs offering a wide range of different beers. From Preston, you catch a train to Manchester Piccadilly, changing there to the direct service to Buxton. It takes approximately two hours all told.

Arriving at Buxton, you can go down towards the square and start from there, or do what we did and turn left and walk

down Station Rd. where you will find the RAILWAY, a Holts pub with three of their beers on sale, plus a changing guest. A dining pub which retains a gaming area to the left with large screens, it was taken over

by Holts in 2017 from Greene King (it is a pity Greene King didn’t sell the Sumners in Preston to Holts at the same time. We would still have a fine pub instead of a hole in the ground). Anyway, a couple of hundred yards further along will bring you to the local Wetherspoons, the WYE BRIDGE HOUSE. Inside the former Midland Railway hotel you will find all the goodies we have come to expect from this brand.

Going back to opposite the Railway, you should go down Spring Gardens to see the MILTON’S TAP on your right. Usually up to four real ales are on sale in this recently

reputed to be the oldest hotel in England, built in 1573 by Bess of Hardwick. Mary Queen of Scots was held under house arrest there. It has three public bars with varying opening times from noon until 10.30 with food served 12–10. The bars sell up to four real ales including a house beer ‘Queen of Scots’, a 4.2% IPA brewed by Sharps. There is also that rarity these days, a revolving door at the entrance.

Coming out of the Old Hall, look for a street named Hall Bank diagonally opposite, go up, where you will find on the right LUBENS. This is the original 53degrees and refurbished pub. With a tap room on the left and separate dining room to the right and bar area to the rear, it opens at 9am for breakfasts. Turning right on leaving and walking up to the end of Spring Gardens, you will see the famous colonnade in front of you. Turn right again and on the opposite side of the road find the REDWILLOW. It does not open until 4pm Mon–Thurs, (noon otherwise), so you might have to come back to this bar on your way back to the railway station later. The bar is in a former bank that has been refitted with a large bar area and mezzanine floor, and is a showcase for RedWillow brewery with usually 4 of their beers plus a guest on sale. On our visit these ranged from Headless (3.9% at £3.30) to Breakfast Stout (5.6% at only £3.60).

From here go down the side of the Willow on George Street where you will come to 53DEGREES @ BUXTON TAP HOUSE and

the adjacent CELLAR BAR (which has more limited opening times). A collaboration between 53 degrees North and Buxton Brewery, the Tap has up to four Buxton beers on sale and on our visit ranged from a 3.6% to a 5.6% one.

1/3 pint measures are available and food using local products is available all week. It is open from noon midweek and from 10am Sat and Sun. Turning left on exit and after 100 yards left again, you come to the OLD HALL HOTEL,

after they decamped and joined up with Buxton Brewery it was reopened under new management as a stylish restaurant and bar with three real ales. The bar area is to the rear. Thornbridge Jaipur is a regular here as is a beer from Wincle brewery plus one other. It opens at 11.30 until 11 (10 Sun, midnight Fri/Sat) with food 12–3, 5–8.30 (7.30 Sun). Turn right on exit and go up to the top, past the KING’S HEAD which serves mostly Marston’s products and the EAGLE, a Hydes pub with a couple of their cask beers on, to join High Street. Go onwards past Sainsburys and look out on the right for our next pub, the ALE STOP on Chapel Street, just past the Methodist chapel.

The Ale Stop was the first micropub in the High Peak, with an objective to bring to Buxton beers that were rarely seen in the town. With two rooms in a converted wine shop, this is still its aim and to this end there are four changing beers from up and down the country as well as three real ciders. It is a proper drinkers’ pub. There were even some CAMRA members there perusing the newly published Good Beer Guide for 2022. We chatted with them and gave them a copy of our Preston pub guide, with them promising that one day they would visit Lancashire and have a crawl round there. The pub opens www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

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at noon all days, closing at 9pm except on Thurs/Fri/ Sat when they stay open until 10pm. Leaving here, go back to the High Street and turn right.

We are now on our way to the famous CHESHIRE CHEESE. It is only a short walk and on the way you will pass on your right, the QUEENS HEAD, which opens at noon till 1am, selling Doom Bar and Speckled Hen plus up to 3 guests typically a Buxton and a Thornbridge +1, then, on the opposite side of the road, THE OLD SUN. This is a Marstons pub with 6 pumps dispensing beers from their extensive range (including Wainwrights). It is a 17th Century coaching inn but only opens at 4pm except Sats and Sundays when it is noon. You then come to the Cheshire Cheese, and what a fantastic pub it is.

Double fronted and of considerable age and grade 2 listed, it was a Marstons outlet which was purchased by Everards Brewery in 2013. After refurbishment, it is now managed by Titanic Brewery. The pub is mainly open plan but it is split into several areas, one of which has an open fire.

Wooden floors and low ceilings with original beams help to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. What is great is the display of beers on sale. 10 beers are generally available, five of which are from the Titanic stable plus Everard’s Tiger, plus four interesting changing guests. To enable you to try as many as you can, they do a beer

board for £3.95 (Nov 2021) where you can have three 1/3 pints plus a bowl of mixed cheeses.

It is time now to head back down towards the RedWillow, this time going down the High Street. If you are inclined, look out on your right for Scarsdale Place and there you will find an excellent fish and chip shop. A small fish and small chips is only £6 to eat in. Opening times are 12–2 and 4.30–7pm.

On your way down, towards the Redwillow you will pass the NEW INN, a Robinsons pub selling near enough the full range of their beers, with eight handpumps selling six Robinsons badged beers and two under the Hartleys name. The pub is open noon till 10pm. For those of you who haven’t been in the RedWillow yet (don’t forget it only opens at 4pm Mon–Thurs) now is the time for you to get some in before you return to the railway station. To get to the station from here, coming out of the pub, turn right and go up Station Approach on the opposite side of the road, or turn left up to the roundabout and turn right on Station Road. The station is right in front of you.

To get to Buxton from Preston, take a

Brewery Tap and Shop open Friday & Saturday 12pm-9pm

train to Manchester Piccadilly and change trains to the direct service to Buxton. There is a connection approximately every hour.

If you caught the 10.10 from Preston, you would get to Buxton at 12.06. If you get the next one (11.02 from Preston) you arrive at 13.06. Returning follows a similar pattern with trains approximately every hour.

Some of the connections at Piccadilly are very tight, only minutes to get over to far platforms, or involve half hour waits, but that should not put you off. It is well worth the effort. Timetables change, so it is always best to check on the National Rail Enquiries website for up-to-date information. One last bit of information is, if you are over 55, you can get a special ticket called an Explorer 55 for Northern Rail. It is a one day rover ticket costing £15.90 which is valid only on Northern trains, but you can travel anywhere on their network west of the Pennines, getting on and off as many times as you wish. The range is from Carlisle in the north down to places such as Buxton, Chester, and Stoke on Trent in the south and as far east as Todmorden and Greenfield.

Thus our trip today would cost only £15.90 instead of the off peak day ticket cost of £24.90 (this could go up in March, as the Government is putting up rail fares whilst reducing air travel). You can just ask at the ticket office for an Explorer 55 ticket, but you must produce some evidence that you are 55 or over.

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@CrankshaftBrew

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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 • 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 – 1st Saturday of the month • Real fire

Fishergate, Preston Opposite Preston Railway Station 01772 828519

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

SOUTH RIBBLE SCENE

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ast time round South Ribble Scene was largely taken up with a run through of the various (micropub) openings and (pub) closures that had taken place over the preceding 18 months.

Although there may not be quite so much to report from the last three months, as was hinted at in the Winter 2021 Ale Cry, we can now confirm the appearance of a new real ale outlet in Bamber Bridge, with the former Lancs & Yorks pub on Station Road having made a comeback as the LANCS & YORKS micropub. The original pub closed in 2013, with reports at the time that it may be demolished. Opening in November 2021, the new micropub is occupying the part of the old pub building adjacent to the railway line. It is selling two handpumped beers, Wainwrights as a regular, plus a changing guest beer which has typically been from Bowland or Timothy Taylors.

Plans have been announced that the Lime Bar people in Penwortham are wanting to open a new bar on Chapel Lane in Longton.

The Lancashire Post has reported that it may be a ‘craft beer and fine wine’ venue, so we can perhaps be optimistic in the hope that beer wise it could be selling something a little more interesting than what is available at their Penwortham bar.

Early in 2022 there has been news of a possible pub closure, with it being revealed that the ROSE OF FARINGTON on Stanifield Lane in Farington, may soon be converted for residential use. In November plans were submitted that changes be made to the pub building, with the intention that it be converted to create 10 new apartments.

In January it was reported that South Ribble Borough Council’s planning committee had given the go ahead that this conversion could now take place. However for the time being at least, this community pub remains open, with weekly open mic jam nights and discos taking place.

Staying in the Leyland area, the GABLES on Hough Lane re-opened in November after undergoing a major refurbishment.

Previously structured with two separate rooms around a central serving area, the pub has been opened out and now comprises one large lounge room. The beer range has also changed, with just two handpumped beers now being available.

I have been reminded that in the last Ale Cry I failed to mention that the neighbouring MARKET ALE HOUSE had grown significantly in size during 2021.

Early in the year they acquired the shop premises next door, these having previously been occupied by Galloway’s Bakers. Now with an extension seamlessly connected, the floor space of the micropub has more than doubled. Additionally they have brought into use an upstairs room which will be suitable for private meetings, etc. (CAMRA Central Lancashire have already had a meeting there).

More recently the LOSTOCK ALE in Lostock Hall is another micropub to be similarly expanded. In their case they have taken over premises next door that were previously occupied by an Age Concern charity shop. Like the Market Ale House, the Lostock Ale has now become much more spacious, while a future development

planned is the addition of a stage for live music performances.

Continuing with my practice of spotlighting a particular area of South Ribble, this time I am returning to Penwortham. However on this occasion I am only looking at the five micropubs that have sprung up there in the last four years.

First the outlier. The BARREL & BEAN CO is located on Leyland Road in the Middleforth area of Penwortham, some distance from the other micropubs. It was opened in March 2019, and very soon proved popular as a café bar for the local community. Following the Covid lockdown it remained closed for most of 2021, and only re-opened in November 2021 after an internal refurbishment which has seen more comfortable seating installed. Two handpumps, but while things were quiet at the beginning of the year, Titanic Iceberg was the only real ale available.

On to the TAP AND VINE on Liverpool

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

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Road, the first of Penwortham’s micropubs to open in March 2018. Appearing at just the right time as Penwortham was changing with a number of new coffee shops and eating establishments being opened, it was a real ale drinker’s alternative to the then recently opened Lime Bar & Lounge opposite. It was soon recognised by CAMRA Central Lancashire branch as a Pub of the Season, and has also gained a place in the Good Beer Guide. The beer range continues to be impressive, with Cross Bay Sunset, Rock Solid Off Kilter, First Chop Hop, and Purple Moose Dark Side of the Moose all being available on a recent visit. Interestingly, this was the Penwortham micropub to have the greatest beer range, as well as being the only one to have all its handpumps in use.

Next, the 1260 CRAFT & CRUST, which opened in December 2019, one of two bars

out for a drink, although snack meals are also available. A nice intimate setting, and apparently dog-friendly for those customers being taken for a walk. There are three handpumps, but on my visit just two were in use, with Pennine Misty Morning and Wily Fox Crafty Fox being the beers available.

Finally there is NO. 16 ON THE HILL, next door to 1260 Craft & Crust, but on the corner of Priory Lane. The newest of the five micropubs, it opened in March 2020, but unfortunately was almost immediately forced to close due to the first Covid lockdown. Owned by the same people who run the Sir Tom Finney pub in Penwortham, it is styled as a cocktail bar, but also describes itself as being for ‘those who love cask ale’. Another bar with three handpumps, but with only two in use at the time of my visit, the beers on offer were Cross Bay Zenith IPA and Cross Bay No. 16 Blonde.

The popularity of micropubs continues to grow, both locally and nationally. Dependent on your exact definition South Ribble now has something like 20 micropubs. The main centres of population, Leyland, Penwortham, and Bamber Bridge all have a selection of micropubs to choose from, while places like Higher Walton, Longton, Lostock Hall, and Walton-le-Dale also each have a micropub as an alternative to a more traditional pub.

located in the former Booths Supermarket premises on Liverpool Road. The largest of the five micropubs, it is promoted as an ‘informal dining experience specialising in Neapolitan style pizza and craft beer’.

Undoubtably, more of a restaurant than a bar, it is still welcoming to those just wanting a drink. Two handpumps, with just one in use, as I was informed that sales of cask conditioned beer have been down in recent months. The beer available was the rather strong Pentrich No Kind Words (5.5% ABV), although next on was a more reasonable 3.5% beer.

Also opening in December 2019, and also on the former Booths site, we have the GINJARALE. Much smaller than its neighbour, the GinjarAle is more recognisable as a conventional micropub, being a bar primarily aimed at those just

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OPENING TIMES

Monday – Thursday from 3pm

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Friday from 2pm

Saturday & Sunday from 12pm

BRANCH AWARDS Spring is the time of year when we decide on the three major branch awards; the Pub of the Year, the Club of the Year and the Cider Pub of the Year.

Pub of the Year

In the last issue of Ale Cry we announced the 6 finalists in our Pub of the Year competition and set out the judging criteria.

With all the disruption during last year it was decided that the committee would draw up the shortlist, although we hope to make the selection process open to all branch members for next year’s competition. The six pubs that were chosen for the shortlist were: BLACK HORSE (Preston), DOLPHIN (Longton), MARKET ALE HOUSE (Leyland), MASONS ARMS (Chorley), PLAU (Preston) and RED LION (Wheelton).

The pubs were selected taking into account the criteria applied to the national competition. Pubs are judged on the following points: • Quality and condition of product • Promotion and knowledge of product • Cleanliness and staff hygiene • Service, welcome and offering • Style, Decor and Furnishing • Community Focus and Atmosphere • Sympathy with CAMRA aims • Overall Impression and Value The judging process was an interesting one, and when the scores were in, there was one clear winner. All but one of the judges voted the RED LION as the best pub and it scored highest overall in every single judging category. The BLACK HORSE was the runner up and the MASONS ARMS third.

The presentation was held on 10th

February. The pub was packed with staff and their families, locals and branch members.

It was all a bit chaotic, but some great beer was being served and an enjoyable evening was had by all. Congratulations to Richard, Nikki and their team for turning this into a great pub, which now goes forward into the next round of judging where it will come up against the other Lancashire branch winners. We wish them well.

Club of the Year

With so many good pubs in our branch area, it’s very easy to overlook the fact that we have some excellent clubs out there, serving interesting beers in great condition.

Last Autumn we had a social trip to Croston and visited the CROSTON SPORTS CLUB. We were impressed with a smart appearance of the premises, a modern and cosy interior and a couple of cask beers on offer. There is usually something on from Moorhouses plus a guest – on that particular visit it was from Rooster’s, but will often come from local breweries. They run a beer festival at Easter and clearly care about their real ale, so this year we are delighted to select them as our Club of the Year. We have a social in Croston planned for 26th May and hope to make the presentation to them then.

Cider Pub of the Year

Since we last gave out a Cider Pub of the Year award, there have been some significant changes to our definition of what constitutes real cider. This has meant that many of the most readily available ciders are no longer considered to be ‘real’ – including such well known brands as Westons, Gwynt Y Ddraig and Lilley’s.

That’s not to say that these brands are not good and worth drinking, but as they are no longer considered ‘real’ it removes rather a lot of our pubs from contention for this award. We’ve taken the rather unsusual step this year of selecting a pub that not only does not serve any cask ale, but also where the cider is not on draught, but in bottles. NIKO, on Guildhall Street in Preston only opened in July 2021, but with a decent selection of bottled real cider, it ticks all the boxes and we are delighted to make them our Cider Pub of the Year 2022.

ADRIAN SMITH

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

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Good Beer Guide 2022 Myth Buster

T

he Good Beer Guide is CAMRA’s flagship publication and the definitive rundown of the best places in the UK to get a pint of real ale, from cosy country inns to upmarket style bars.

The 2022 guide was published on 12 November 2021 and was the 49th edition of the country’s best beer and pub guide, featuring over 4,500 of the best pubs in the UK, chosen by CAMRA members giving details of real ales, food, opening hours, beer gardens, accommodation, transport links, disabled access and family facilities.

First and foremost, I would like to congratulate all the pubs selected for this year’s guide in the Central Lancashire branch area, in particular those who are new to the guide or returning entries and have thoroughly deserved the recognition. They include the Wheatsheaf (Coppull), Haighton Manor (Haighton), The Rivington (Rivington), Rivington Brewery Co. Tap (Rivington), Tap & Vent (Longridge) and Winckley Street Ale House (Preston).

Compilation and selection for the Good Beer Guide is a complicated and time-consuming process and is quite an emotive subject each year following publication, when pubs are either omitted or included in the guide. Hopefully, the following “myth buster” will assist in developing an understanding of how the standards are applied in our branch area.

How important a role does beer scoring play in GBG selection?

It is critical, by far the most influential tool in our selection process and is the way in which every CAMRA member can consistently contribute to selection each year. This is first and foremost a publication for lovers of real ale and, as CAMRA members it should reflect your views. In 2021 thousands of scores were submitted for pubs in our area not only by locals but also by visiting members from 40 other branch areas across the country.

Is it possible to buy your way into the Good Beer Guide?

No. The Guide is completely independent, there is no charge for entry and incentives would never be accepted.

If no beer scores are submitted for a pub during the preceding 12 months, could it still be selected for the Good Beer Guide?

No. In supporting CAMRA values, there is a responsibility on us all to promote and record beer scores…members, landlords and committee members alike. If there is no motivation to score the beer in your local then it’s almost certainly not a pub that should feature in the guide.

If a pub serves more cask ales is it more likely to be selected?

No. In some respects this may make them less likely to be selected if the same quality is not maintained across the full range of real ales. Quality not quantity is key and the Circus Tavern in Manchester is evidence of this mandate where serving just two cask ales to a high quality has ensured they have been a regular in the guide for many years now.

Can anyone contribute to selection of pubs in the guide?

No. Only CAMRA members can get involved, either through submitting regular beers scores through WhatPub and/or suggesting potential candidates to the committee via email.

If a pub serves good cask ale is there a reason why it may not appear in the Good Beer Guide?

Yes. Sadly, each area is given a quota of pubs that can be included. In our case this is fixed at 34, roughly 1 in 10 of the pubs serving real ale in our area, so good is often not quite good enough, as we are blessed with a significant number of very good pubs here in Central Lancashire.

Isn’t it just the same pubs getting in every year?

No, since 2017 56 different pubs have featured in the guide in our area, a mixture of traditional pubs and micropubs from rural and urban locations.

Could one member adversely impact the selection of an entry into the guide?

In theory this is possible, but all beer scores for every potential contender are rigorously checked before selection and where there is a disproportionate percentage of high scores for a pub

submitted by one member, the committee will arrange visits by a number of committee members to verify if standards are met.

How far in advance are the selections made and is there a risk that the selections will be out of date by the time the guide is published?

The selections are submitted in March each year for publication in September (this year was an exception to the rule due to the pandemic). This can present its challenges, as businesses can come and go so for this reason we generally avoid selecting pubs that have been open less than six months in order to allow for a sustained period of consistent beer quality and to reduce the chance of short-lived ventures being selected that then cease to exist when the guide is published.

What else can affect a pub being selected for the guide?

If the landlord changes then, as with any new premises, there will generally be a six-month “proving” period before the pub is then reconsidered for the guide. The Black Bull in Penwortham is one such example, which is not in this year’s guide following the departure of its long-standing landlord earlier in 2021 despite being a regular in the guide over the last decade.

If a pub has been closed for a significant period during the preceding 12 months, often through no fault of their own this is likely to impact on their chances of selection. The pandemic has taken its toll here as well!

How does the basic selection process work?

By comparing 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 very quickly. The remaining spaces are not so easy to agree upon so we draw up a list of pubs requiring further investigation and over a period of a few months committee members 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.

The GBG is not perfect, but this is not for the want of trying.

Across the country, CAMRA members invest huge amounts of time (and money) to make sure that the guide is as accurate as possible and really does showcase the best pubs to drink real ale.

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.

RICHARD LANGFORD (PUBS OFFICER AND G B G C O O R D I NAT O R )

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

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of Pub the season

SPRING 2022

Vinyl Tap PRESTON

W

e are delighted to award Spring 2022’s CAMRA Central Lancs Pub of the Season award to Preston’s favourite record-rifling pub, the VINYL TAP. Having previously been awarded our ‘Most Improved’ award the year it opened, the Vinyl Tap has established itself as a Preston staple for real ale and real music.

The Vinyl Tap’s unique feature, as you may have guessed from the name, is its celebration of vinyl music, with ever-growing racks of records from just about every genre but particularly rock, metal, country and alternative. Visitors can pick out any record and leave it by the bar to be played, ensuring the mix of music played stays as unique as the drinkers enjoying it. An album of the day is a regular feature with a record being picked, promoted on social media and played at 5pm that day (Meatloaf’s ‘Bat Out of Hell’ was recently picked following the singer’s passing).

Up to five ales are on offer with the regular ‘Vinyl Pale’ being supplied by Kirkby Lonsdale brewery, as well as Motorhead’s ‘Roadcrew’ being a popular choice for lager drinking customers.

Regular open mic and band nights (as well as the vinyl selection) mean that the Vinyl attracts many music fans and gives the pub a really friendly atmosphere where you can always find someone to chat to about your favourite band or album.

The Vinyl Tap’s success hasn’t been without difficulties, with the recently completed extensive Adelphi-quarter revamp at times surrounding the pub with fences, machinery and large holes.

Thankfully with landlord Sean at the helm, the Vinyl was able to get through these tough times and now sits ideally placed between the university and the thriving Adelphi/Friargate area of the city.

The Vinyl Tap is a real triumph and well deserving of our Pub of the Season award; there’s always a great selection of ale at very competitive prices, I know I’ll receive a warm and friendly welcome from the regulars, staff and landlord Sean and the music (whether live or vinyl) is always excellent; I’ve discovered several bands whilst foot-tapping with a pint. The Vinyl’s location is convenient for the city centre (5-10 minutes walk from the train or bus station) but also a great city centre edge stop if you’re visiting our outlying pubs (such as the Moorbrook or Princess Alice) or making your way to Deepdale to watch some football. The building itself has been a pub for many years under a couple of names (the Hearts of Oak and the Variety) and sat vacant for some time before becoming the Vinyl Tap. Although the Vinyl Tap has only existed for a few years, the building’s history gives it a familiar pub atmosphere, having served the drinkers of Preston since at least the 1850s and counting two former

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Preston North End players amongst its previous landlords, including 1900s England player Richard ‘Dicky’ Bond.

In the last year or so Sean has utilised the Vinyl’s kitchen to start serving authentic German bratwurst with a simple menu where you select your preferred wurst (a delicious veggie wurst is available) and choose from an extensive list of toppings. The simple but delicious bratwurst menu has added to the venue’s appeal without making it feel like any less of a drinker’s pub.

I highly recommend you get to searching the pub’s vinyl racks for your favourite album next time you’re enjoying a pint.

Congratulations to Sean and the Vinyl Tap staff on all they’ve achieved with the pub over the last few years, there’s nowhere I’d rather discover new music and old favourites with a quality pint.

EDD FLETCHER

THE POTTERS ARMS BROOK STREET, CHORLEY

Black Sheep, Doff Cocker & Guest Beer

FREE

Central Lancs Community Pub of the Year 2019

TUESDAY IS CASK ALE DAY ALL AT £1.99 A real pub with darts, dominoes, and a real fire

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

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15

HISTORIC PRESTON PUBS

PART 10 NORTH ROAD

I

n the latest instalment of our look back on the closed pubs of Preston, we focus on the area in the vicinity of North Road.

Starting at the Adelphi Roundabout we head out of town along Moor Lane, and after a short distance, on the right hand side of the road, we come to our first pub. A relative newcomer, the CROSS KEYS at 148 Moor Lane only opened in

1967, and had been built to replace another Matthew Brown pub with the same name on nearby Adelphi Street. The pub was close to the site of Preston’s last windmill. The design was typical 1960s, with an open plan lounge style and little in the way of distinctiveness. The 1992 Preston Guild Real Ale Guide shows the pub as serving Theakston Best Bitter.

The pub was known by a number of different names over the next 13 years: RAVEN, RAT & RAVEN, RAT & PARROT and at the time of closure in 2005, EINSTEIN’S THEORY, by which time real ale had long since been discontinued. The building was demolished in 2007 and student flats built on the site. [Author’s note: this pub should have featured in Part 3: The University Quarter, but was somehow overlooked.]

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Further up on the other side of the road on the corner with Victoria Street was the PRINCE ARTHUR. The original pub was built in 1851 and was a more traditional looking three storey building. At some point the original pub has been demolished and a rather squat and ungainly looking flat roofed replacement built.

In the late 1980s this was a Bass house with one large room around a central bar and was recorded as serving Stones Best Bitter. At one time this was the brewery tap for the long defunct Victoria Brewery, which was in the adjacent building on Victoria Street. The building to the right in the picture of the pub shows the end of what was once the premises of Thomas Powell & Son, biscuit manufacturers. It is a similar story here to the Cross Keys, change the name, in this case to UNIVERSITY TAVERN (no doubt to try to cash in on the nearby university), take out the real ale and give it a garish paint job. Another name change followed, this time to JJ’S LOUNGE BAR, leading to the inevitable closure in 2011. The building is still in existence and is occupied as a food take-away.

At the top end of Moor Lane, on the corner of Vernon Street, we come to our next pub, the MITRE TAVERN. This was a modern, two-roomed pub, with a comfortable lounge and a more basic tap/games room. This was once a Vaux pub, and significantly the only one in the city serving real ale, although by the time of it’s closure in 2005 it was serving Tetley Bitter. The building still stands and is occupied as a vet’s surgery.

At the traffic lights, where Moor Lane meets North Road stood our next casualty, the UNICORN. A fine stone-built pub, which became a Theakston’s house when Matthew Brown were promoting that brand.

Described in the 1992 guide as a comfortable spacious pub specialising in live music and quiz nights and with a decent range of real ale, a function room and a beer garden, this would seem to be exactly the sort of pub that would survive.

However, the ever-growing university acquired the pub and closed it in 2017. It is currently being used as offices but will be turned into student accommodation once other building work in the area is completed.

Our next closure is another recent one. The NEW WELCOME on Cambridge Walk was a Thwaites’ pub that again survived until 2017. It was described in the 1992 Guild Guide as “a small cosy locals’ pub, which has survived the surrounding demolition and which now serves new housing developments. The well preserved windows include the information that ‘Home Brewed Ales’ are on offer here”. Thwaites Mild & Bitter were available on handpump and real ale was available here until only a few years ago. It is interesting to compare the fate of this pub, owned and run by a local brewery with a seeming

lack of interest in its ‘wet-led’ pubs, with the Princess Alice – only 80 yards away on the same street, which has in recent years been thriving under independent ownership.

A short walk west along Aqueduct Street takes us to our next casualty, the HERMON. For many years this small one-room local was a keg-only Whitbread house. There was none in 1989 when the branch produced a Preston Real Ale Guide, but by 1992 it was recorded as selling real ale in the form of Boddingtons Bitter and Theakston Best Bitter. The pub was named after an Edward Hermon who was M.P. for Preston from 1868 to 1881 – although the pub sign for some reason depicts what appears to

be a slightly inebriated landlord. It closed in 2000 and is still standing today, albeit with no external clue as to how it is being used.

A short walk away across the A6 and we come to our next pub, the LOVAT ROAD, which stood on the corner of Lovat Road and Muncaster Road. This was a Matthew Brown pub,

and looked decidedly uncared for in our photo – taken in the late 1980s. It is not recorded as selling real ale over the course of the next 20 or so years, but the pub soldiered on until 2004, when it closed and was converted into housing.

Our final two pubs were close together on Kent Street, which is again only a short walk away. The DUKE OF KENT was a Matthew Brown pub that stood on the corner of Frank Street, and like a number of the city’s pubs owned by that brewery, is not recorded as selling real ale in the last 30 or so years.

Rather tucked away in the back streets, the pub was trading as early as 1850, and apart from one recorded incident where a 12-year-old boy has a piece of his ear bitten off by the landlord’s dog (Preston Chronicle November 1872), little of note appears to have happened here.

The pub closed

in 2002 and is still standing today, derelict and shuttered but still quite clearly a former pub.

Our final pub was on the opposite side of the road and just a little bit further along towards the City Centre. The DUKE OF SUSSEX was a Greenalls pub that stood on the corner of Sussex Street. Much of the housing in this area was demolished in the latter part of the last century and it is perhaps not surprising that the pubs struggled to survive.

The 1992 guild guide notes that the pub had recently reopened and was selling Greenalls Bitter, although it notes that it was dispensed by an electric pump activated by a dummy handpump. The pub soldiered on until 1998, and is notable as being the only one of this issue’s pubs to have been demolished. It is indeed difficult to tell exactly where it was as Sussex Street has also disappeared!

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 11 we will be looking at the Fylde Road area and would welcome any contributions from readers who frequented any of the closed pubs in this area.

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

17

PRESTON PARADE

I

n the last issue we told you of the plans for a real ale bar in the former bank on the corner of Moor Lane opposite the Adelphi pub. We were looking forward to seeing real ales there to show the management of the Adelphi that it was a mistake to spend £350,000 on a refurb and not have real ale on. I am sorry to tell you that Preston City Council have destroyed all plans for this by not granting planning permission for the venture. The owners of the BEER BOX micro in Bamber Bridge had a vision of opening a unique

venue in the attractive unused building in the University quarter to be called the BIER BOX. They agreed terms with the owners and commenced their planning application in June 2021.

Preston Council have now rejected their request for change of use to a drinking establishment on the advice of environmental health. Beer Box have decided not to appeal the decision as they do not believe they would be allowed to realise their vision at this location. They still want to create a Bier Box in Preston, but only if they can create the venue they want.

Environmental health!!! Near the Adelphi which has loud music blaring out from it frequently! On the new ‘square’ where the council has plans to hold loud events! What does this tell us about the City of Preston’s ambitions to be a proper city? Maybe they should have a word with neighbouring Chorley Council or South Ribble where councillors there seem to know the value of places like the Bier Box and appreciate the multitude of micropubs that they have welcomed to their local scene, really putting them on the map.

One new venture that is coming to fruition and should be open by the time you read this is HOPWOODS TAP HOUSE. Sited on Church Street opposite the Miller Arcade, it is the brainchild of the Baluga Bar’s Managing Director, Nick Carter. With plans to be open seven days a week from 10am to 4am, the licence application hints at live music and performance of

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dance at these hours too. Signage indicates that 30 craft ales and beers on tap will be available with four handpumps having been seen whilst the interior was under construction.

The building was originally the site of Woods Tobacco Manufacturers and during the renovations, taking it back to what it was like internally 100 year ago, a lot of treasures have been uncovered which might be displayed in the bar.

Let us hope that it becomes a welcome addition to Preston’s real ale scene unlike the newly opened SLUG AND LETTUCE in the building that was lately Yates and originally Addison’s Wine Lodge. As anticipated, no real ale is on sale in this clone of many a Slug and Lettuce pub in towns and cities all over the country. It reminds me of the fashion several years ago to have an ‘Irish Bar’ in every town.

How many O’Neill’s do you see these days?

There is one in Liverpool and Manchester, but they used to be everywhere. Fashions come and go. I remember the old Addisons and Turks Head, with its docks and schooners of Australian white and Red Biddy. One thing that they had was a rail just back from the bar which you had to queue up along to get served, ensuring you were served in your proper turn. None of this where a crowded bar is asked ‘who’s next?’ Everybody knew, because you were in an orderly line. No arguments!

While it is great to see microbars springing up all over the place, bringing us more choice of beers than we have ever had, it is sad to see traditional pubs slipping away. Near the Guild Tavern on Lancaster Rd. is the GOLDEN CROSS pub that could be under threat. This 160-year-old former Bass pub has been listed for offers in the region of £325,000 as an investment opportunity with potential for nine apartments on the top three floors.

The pub does not currently sell real ale, but it could. I can remember when this pub sold Bass. When I first started going in pubs, this was one of several pubs in the centre of town that had upstairs bars. This one was called Sullys. The upstairs room in the Black Horse was called Peter’s Bar. The Stanley had the Knowsley Room. Perhaps the busiest was the upstairs at the Boar’s Head on Friargate, the Murrayfield Lounge. It was busier than the actual downstairs pub and was always

crowded at weekends. The Boar’s Head was a Tetley pub, and although it had not sold real ale for some time, it was a sad day when it closed in 1983 and was converted into a betting shop.

The Salvation Army always came round selling their magazines War Cry and Young Soldier.

Another pub that is now very threatened is the PLUNGINGTON HOTEL in Fulwood. A community action group has been set up to try to ensure that Admiral Taverns, the owners of the pub, do not go ahead with plans to build houses on the site. However, the managers put in by Admiral

are said to have left and real ale wasn’t on sale on a recent visit. Let us hope the action group can come up with something to ensure this vital asset to this area of Fulwood can survive and thrive. We have lost too many pubs in Fulwood (Withy Trees, Sumners, Garrison) and we must not lose another.

News from farther afield is that the CORPORATION ARMS in Longridge is up for let. Fleurets, the specialist agency is marketing the pub/restaurant with a guide rent of £75,000. Over at Goosnargh, news that the YE HORNS INN will be opening in mid-March after extensive renovation by owners J. Townley, who are also building a number of luxury homes and cottages around the site. A Michelin starred chef, Sean Wrest, will be in charge of the restaurant there when it reopens.

His fiancée, Sam Haigh, will be general manager. Let us hope that she will keep up the tradition of selling an interesting range real ales behind the bar.

Finally, Gavin, manager at the MARKET TAVERN in Preston is hoping to get Cask Marque accreditation soon. He says that once he gets this, it will allow him to put a greater range of real ales from the SIBA list on the bar.

The pub does have guest ales at the moment, but he is tied to the Heineken list, and recently he has found that the same beers keep on coming round more frequently. He wants to be able to offer a more exciting range to us. We hope he is successful.

PAUL RILEY

CAMRA

Branch Pub of the Year 2018 & 2020

7 rotating cask ales Craft beers and lagers 3 real ciders Large range of Belgian ales Wines & Prosecco

 Live

Music

 Quiet  Yard  Dog  Free

Lounge

of Ale

friendly Wifi

 Family

friendly

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

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

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19

Chorley Chatter

I

t really is a mixed bag for the Chorley area for this quarter’s update.

RILEY’S TAPROOM AND WINE BAR opened in December 2021 in the old Fresh & Fruity shop around the corner from Chorley Market. Two handpumps are planned but the ten keg lines serve a range of craft beers

sourced from mainly local breweries including some real ales on membrane keg. Rivington beers are heavily featured and this new bar seems to have hit the ground running and is a welcome addition to the scene.

CLARKE’S SÍBÍN opened in December 2021 in premises previously used by Age Concern at the bottom end of Chapel Street.

With probably the most striking exterior in

town, this looks very much an Irish bar, with the usual products available but with the addition of two cask ales served, frequently from local breweries such as Bowland.

Ben’s Brewery was set up in Chorley in May 2021 and plans are already well under way to open their BREWERY TAP on Market Place, which is due to open on 11th March with 6 real ales on offer. In the meantime Ben’s cask beers are appearing in a number of outlets within our branch area and seem to be doing well.

One of the things that became apparent with the social distancing rules applied during lockdown is that there can be a distinct downside to being ‘micro’. There have been a number of local micropubs expanding, either utilising upper floors or acquiring adjacent units. During last

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Autumn, the Shed became the SHED AND THE GARDEN, and although this has been open for some time, it was only recently that I managed a visit. The original rustic feel is retained, but the garden part is quite something, with paving, gravel paths, picnic tables and the like, giving a real outdoor indoor feel. Festooned with fairy lights on a dull winter’s day, the effect is really impressive. With 3 changing cask ales on offer, often from local breweries, this is an expansion that has really worked.

In the last issue of Ale Cry we mentioned that the SHEPHERD’S HALL ALE HOUSE was expanding by taking over the adjacent unit (formerly a hairdressers’ salon) and opening this as the VICTORIA ROOMS. The VR part features extensive seating and table service and completely changes the feel of the premises. I was fortunate to be in on the opening night just before Christmas and there was a real buzz about the place.

For those who like the taproom feel of the original pub, this has been retained, so really this is the best of both worlds.

Looking a little further afield we have seen SAM’S 3 open on Moor Road in November 2021 breathing fresh life into what was once the SEBASTOPOL INN (and before that SAM’S TOO), although reports suggest real ale is not available.

There has been a change of licensee at the PRINCE OF WALES on Cowling, with Gill Bitmez taking over the reins. Gill is well known in Chorley, having been behind the bar in many of the town centre pubs in recent years. She certainly knows a bit about cask ale, so should fit right in at this excellent locals’ pub. We wish her well.

Up at the RIVINGTON BREWERY CO.

TAP, they have extended to the side of the building, turning another disused farm outbuilding into a family friendly area.

Although dogs are not allowed in this room, the site is sufficiently large and varied that this shouldn’t be a problem.

Over in Adlington, the OLD POST OFFICE opened in December 2021 on Chorley Road near the Elephant & Castle lights. This is the brewery tap for Escape Brewery from Westhoughton and serves three cask ales of their own, along with one changing guest

usually from another local brewery. In addition there are three craft pumps with an interesting range of strengths and styles.

The interior is cosy and smart and there is a reasonable sized outside area to the rear, with views over the park. There are plans to turn this into a beer garden by Spring, which will probably double the capacity of the place.

Sadly, not everyone has fared as well and our Thwaites’ houses seem to be struggling at present with notable closures at the CROWN (Croston), GOLDEN LION (Higher Wheelton) & BROWN COW (Eccleston).

The future of one long-closed Thwaites’ pub seems to be approaching a conclusion

as a planning application has been received to demolish the remains of the GRILL & GRAIN AT THE BOATYARD (Riley Green). This was almost completely destroyed in a fire in April 2017 and it seems the site is destined to become the offices for a building company. The artists impression looks attractive, but one can’t help but wonder why the site, given its ideal location, is not considered suitable for a modern canalside pub with a beer garden overlooking the water. But we are talking about Thwaites, so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised!

The TOP LOCK (Heapey) closed soon after re-opening in late 2021. Reports of unrealistic rents and overheads have filtered through to us and the sign outside the pub shows it is once again available to lease and with refurbishment planned. Now bearing in mind it was refurbished in 2017 in an effort to turn it into a plush, fooddriven, destination pub, one wonders what

they are planning now. When I first moved to Chorley nearly 20 years ago, this was the go to pub in the branch area for quality real ale. Slightly scruffy, but with great ale and wonderful food (mainly curry), it was often packed, particularly in summer when customers would often queue out the door on sunny weekend days. This just shows what happens when owners rip the heart out of a pub and try to change what made it a success in the first place.

Back in Chorley, the IMPERIAL on Union Street has remained shut since September 2021. Earlier last year, TRADERS TAPHOUSE reopened after a refurbishment promoting real ale and the initial signs were encouraging. However a recent visit revealed two bare pumps and the third with the pumpclip (White Witch) turned round.

There is no reason why a pub without a real ale customer base cannot be turned into a real ale mecca – there are enough examples of this being done in the local area – but the offering needs to be sufficient to encourage cask ale drinkers to visit, and quite frankly, mainstream beers from commonly available breweries isn’t going to do it.

Finally, the PARKER’S ARMS at the top of Park Road is still under threat of demolition and an application for site redevelopment to a three-storey showroom/ office with associated storage facility remains open for consultation at this time.

RICHARD LANGFORD/ADRIAN SMITH

OPENING SOON BEN’S TAP & BOTTLE SHOP Our new bar will be officially opening on Friday 11th March from 10:00 until 22:30.

Situated in Chorley Town Centre, we will be serving Ben’s Beer & regularly changing guest ales, as well as locally sourced gins. The bar will also have a selection of lagers, ciders, spirits, wines, prosecco and soft drinks.

Ben’s Tap & Bottle Shop 2 Market Place, Chorley, PR7 1DA Tel: 01257 367 890

Chorley Market

Bob Inn

Derian House

Riley’s Taproom

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

21

What?ub, Beer Scoring and the Good Beer Guide

Y

ou are all probably aware of the Good Beer Guide, CAMRA’s flagship publication, which lists the best real ale pubs in the UK, but what you may not know is how those pubs are selected to appear in the Guide. The answer is that it is largely via beer scores submitted

by CAMRA members from all over the country. If you’ve ever wondered why your favourite pub isn’t in the Guide, this may well be because you, and others, haven’t entered scores rating the quality of beer there. By beer scoring, you can contribute to the process of selecting pubs that go in the Good Beer Guide.

So how do I score the quality of the beer?

You don’t have to be an ‘expert’ to begin scoring your beer. However, it is not about your favourite beer receiving the highest score. You may try a beer that isn’t to your normal taste but what you need to consider is the quality of that beer, how well the pub has kept it and served it and score it according to the general guide below. It is a simple system with a ten point range from 0 to 5, with half points being used, if your opinion of the beer falls between two categories.

0 1

No cask ale available.

Poor. Beer is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment.

2

Average. Competently kept, drinkable pint but doesn’t inspire in any way, not worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing.

3

Good. Good beer in good form. You may cancel plans to move to the next pub. You want to stay for another pint and may seek out the beer again.

4 5

Very Good. Excellent beer in excellent condition. You stay put!

Perfect. Probably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely.

How do I submit my scores?

In order to submit your scores, you need to login to CAMRA’s online pub guide www.‌whatpub.com either on a computer or by smart phone. Here you will find a list of nearly 35,800 real ale pubs from all over the

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UK, which includes all pubs that serve real ale not just those in the Good Beer Guide. In order to start submitting scores you need to: 1 Login. To do this you need your membership number and your CAMRA password.

2 You can then search for your pub by name or simply search for nearby pubs if you have location activated on your phone.

If searching by name alone be careful, as there are many pubs in the country which share the same name. My advice is to search by the pub name and the town or if sat in the pub use the nearby pubs option.

3 Once you have found your pub a ‘Submit Beer Scores’ box will appear on the right-hand side of the screen (or on the bar underneath the pub photo if you are using a smart phone).

4 Simply fill in the date and your score then as you begin typing, the brewery name should automatically appear underneath where you are typing. You do not have to enter the name of the beer you are drinking but if you wish to do so once you have entered the brewery name you

should be able to click on the arrow in the Beer box and a drop-down list of that brewery’s beers should appear. In some cases, the beer you are drinking may be new or a one-off by the brewery so may not appear on the list. If this is the case, you can simply type in the beer name.

Select the correct one click ‘submit score’ and your score will be entered into the database.

It is as simple as that. A bonus is that the site keeps a record of your scores so you can look back to see what beers you have had and how you rated them if you want…this facility is only available on the desktop version – look for the ‘View All’ sign underneath the scoring card. The results can be sorted by date, pub or town and is an ideal way of looking back on where you’ve been and what beers you’ve tried.

Due to the pandemic the number of scores submitted in 2020 and 2021 dropped, which was to be expected but in 2021 we still had 1436 scores covering 138 pubs serving real ale in our area, which is a vast improvement from 10 years ago when we only had around 700. Unfortunately, while the overall trend is upward, we are still in the position that for most pubs, the scores are statistically meaningless. Less than 50 pubs had over 12 scores, so when it comes to beer guide selection we are still having to rely on our local knowledge in some cases.

So, who’s getting the highest number of scores and which pubs are scoring the highest? The top three in terms of numbers are the Red Lion (Wheelton) (175), Guild Ale House (Preston) (95) and Shepherds’ Hall Ale House, Chorley (124). The highest average scores (with 20 or more scores received) are currently the Red Lion (Wheelton), the Rivington Brewery Co. Tap (Rivington) and the Plug & Taps (Preston).

Our branch membership is about 1550, but in the last year only 22 of our members have scored beers. Thankfully, a large percentage of scores are made up from members of other branches visiting our area and in 2021 this included members from 40 other branches.

To each and every one of you I extend a big ‘thank you’ from the committee, but with only 1 in 70 of our members recording beer scores each year there is still a long way to go to ensure that the pubs selected for the next Good Beer Guide are really the best in the branch, a responsibility that rests with every member.

If you’re not a CAMRA member, then why not join us – see page 31 for details.

RICHARD LANGFORD G B G C O O R D I NAT O R

CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2022

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

Ale Cry

23

Beer by Bus

Stagecoach 125 The Final Chapter

B

ack in the winter of 2019 our secretary, Gordon Small wrote an article on the 125 service between Preston and Chorley highlighting some great real ale outlets along the way, so roughly two years on I think it’s only right that we finish the journey, making our way from Chorley to Bolton The 125 has 113 stops departing from Royal Preston Hospital Grounds, Sharoe Green and ending at Bolton Interchange.

Buses run regularly from Chorley to Bolton throughout the day, both midweek and at weekends so long waits for the next bus can be avoided with ease.

The 125 from Chorley takes you through Heath Charnock, Adlington, Horwich and Doffcocker before reaching its destination at Bolton and we are truly spoilt by the choice TIMETABLE and quality of the real ale pubs close to stops along the way.

This article focusses on pubs within a few minutes’ walk of the respective stops, but feel free to venture further afield in search of more.

While the variety of ale on offer undoubtedly changes regularly, on an average day alone you’re likely to find beers sourced from at least twenty-two different breweries, mainly based in the Northwest region and a choice of around fifty different beers along the route…more than enough to be going on with!

Departure from Bus Station, Chorley Town Centre With time on your hands this is a great location from which to explore an eclectic mix of pubs, all within a few minutes’ walk, including the ALE STATION, SHEPHERDS’ HALL ALE HOUSE AND VICTORIA ROOMS, SAM’S BAR, Withnell Brewery’s ARTISAN ALE HOUSE, NELIPOTS and the CROWN.

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If you just fancy travelling to Chorley for the day, then feel free to use the below link to access the latest Chorley Real Ale Trail.

Stops and pubs along the way are as follows:

Yarrow Bridge

CHORLEY REAL

Ten minutes out of ALE TRAIL town and you’ll find yourself on the A6 heading towards Heath Charnock. The YARROW BRIDGE stop is just 50 yards from the pub, which is a Greene King pub where you’ll find up to four cask ales including their own IPA and up to three changing ales. There’s a large menu always available and a 10% discount for CAMRA members off cask ales.

White Horse and Cardwell Arms Stops

the Old Post Office is the newly opened Escape Brewery Tap. Following a short stop off in Adlington just jump back on the next 125 and you’ll soon enter the town of Horwich.

For those wishing to focus on less familiar pubs found within the Bolton CAMRA area, the below link provides further details of those along the 125 route between Horwich and Doffcocker.

Another 5 minutes along the route and you’ll have entered Heath Charnock where the WHITE HORSE and CARDWELL ARMS come in quick succession. Each has a bus stop close by bearing its name, and you can expect a variety of traditional ales on offer, typically from Sharp’s, Wainwright and Black Sheep.

The Crown, Horwich

Elephant & Castle By this stage the pubs are coming thick and fast and just two minutes down the road you’ll find the ELEPHANT AND CASTLE in Adlington, with the SPINNER’S ARMS and OLD POST OFFICE nearby. Beers from Copper Dragon, Moorhouses, Ruddles, Sharp’s and Escape breweries are on offer;

The first stop of note in Horwich is the CROWN, which is across the road from the pub. This is the first of two Joseph Holt’s pubs along the route and typically serves four of their own ales along with several from local breweries.

A minute’s walk up Lee Lane will find you at the OLD ORIGINAL BAY HORSE, the BREWERY BAR (Blackedge Brewery’s Tap), TAP & CORK micro pub and the Bowling Green. Beers from local breweries such as Blackedge Brewery and Northern Monkey should be expected along with a selection from Timothy Taylor’s, Jennings, Moorhouses, Cross Bay and Joseph Holt’s.

A further minute’s walk down the road towards the centre takes you past the

ales, often featuring Moorhouse’s, Sharp’s Doom Bar and Wainwright whilst Bank Top Brewery’s Ale House further up the hill showcases up to nine of their own cask ales and also has a fine selection of real ciders.

Georges Lane, Bottom O’Th’ Moor

Close by is the JOLLY CROFTERS, a friendly food pub currently serving just one cask ale, Wainwright.

Bottom O’Th’ Moor, Blundell Arms

VICTORIA & ALBERT and TAILS & ALE (there is also a bus stop (Albert Street) if you’ve not stopped earlier). A selection of ales can be found in these two pubs, not only from Robinsons and Moorhouses but also from the Ossett/Rat breweries in Yorkshire and Escape Brewery.

BLUNDELL ARMS has two regular ales, Greene King IPA and Timothy Taylor Landlord as well as up to two changing beers. It is an imposing pub, which is Grade II listed, dates back to the early 1700s and has previously been used as a courthouse, farm and mortuary.

Leisure Centre Passing through the centre and up Church Street this stop is opposite the Leisure Centre in Horwich, between the BRIDGE HOTEL and BANK TOP BREWERY ALE HOUSE. The Bridge Hotel is a fabulous old pub, recently refurbished and listed in the national inventory of regionally historic pub interiors. It has three changing cask

A few minutes down the road is BUNBURY’S micro, thirty seconds walk towards Bolton from the stop with its three handpumps serving a range of ales generally from local breweries such as Rivington, Holy Well and Northern Monkey, as well as an offering of real cider.

Bolton Interchange, Bolton

Brownlow Road This stop is only a minute down the road, and you’ll find the SADDLE INN and newly opened micropub, B33R@33 just seconds away. You’re likely to find something from the Amber Taverns range such as Banks’s Sunbeam in the Saddle, which is a keen sports TV pub and at B33R@33 there’s a couple on handpump typically from local independent breweries.

Merlin Grove, Doffcocker

Bottom o’th Moor, Walker Fold Road

The next stop brings you to BOB’S SMITHY, a free house, which serves three regular beers, Bank Top Flat Cap, Wainwright and Timothy Taylor Boltmaker along with up to three changing guest ales.

Doffcocker, Doffcocker Inn

DOFFCOCKER INN is our second Joseph Holt’s pub, a traditional Victorian property dating back to 1901 and has two regular beers, Holt’s Bitter & Holt’s IPA; you may also find some real cider. Across the road at the HOPE & ANCHOR aka the “Little Cocker”, you’ll find three regular beers, Tetley Bitter, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Wainwright with one changing beer.

There are numerous real ale pubs within easy walking distance of the interchange including the SWEET GREEN TAVERN (two changing ales), Wetherspoon’s SPINNING MULE (two regular ales Greene King Abbot and Ruddles Best Bitter along with seven changing ales), NORTHERN WAY (one changing ale) and the NORTHERN MONKEY BREWERY BAR (serving four of the brewery’s own cask ales).

If of course you fancy sampling a wider range of what the town has to offer, please use the link below for a town centre ale trail BOLTON ALE prepared by colleagues TRAILS from Bolton CAMRA. The photos for this article were taken on a cold and wet winter’s day and probably reflect what you’re likely to experience when making this trip… thank goodness Stagecoach don’t operate an open-top 125 service!

RICHARD LANGFORD

www.centrallancs.camra.org.uk

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CHORLEY PUB FESTIVAL

S

t George’s Day is 21st April – a time when we should celebrate things that are quintessentially English. Now personally, I don’t think you can get more English than the humble pub – and it’s fair to say that for a town of its size, Chorley has a better selection of pubs and a wider range of beers than most places. So, this April, we are delighted to announce the first ever Chorley Pub Festival.

Rather than having a beer festival with loads of beers crammed into one location, we have loads of beer spread across 14 pubs in the town centre. We have traditional pubs, micropubs, cafe bars, brewery taps and craft ale bars – in short, whatever your preference, there is something for everyone. Most of these are Independent businesses, with the majority having been opened in the last few years, showing what a vibrant beer drinking town Chorley has become. Spread over 4 days (Thursday 21st – Sunday 24th April) there will be over 70 real ales on offer, including a number of beers and breweries not usually found in the town. There will also be a selection of craft ales, continental lagers and all the other usual pub drinks on offer.

Under normal circumstances, these pubs showcase a great selection of real ale, but for the event some of them will be putting on extra pumps, opening longer hours and adding food and entertainment to their offering. Some of these venues have been around for many years, while others are relatively new (one of them isn’t even open yet). All of them are within a 10 minute walk from the bus and train stations, with many of them clustered around the market area, so getting between the venues once you get here will be easy.

Our plans are still at an early stage with a lot of the details still to be finalised. The Festival has its own website, www.chorleypubfestival.co.uk which will be live soon and will be updated with the Festival programme, beer listing and all the other info you need as and when details are confirmed.

So, put the date in your diary, tell your friends and join us in Chorley at the end of April for what promises to be a great 4 days.

Hopefully the event will be a success and we can look forward to doing one every Spring.

ADRIAN SMITH

The 14 venues participating in the event are: Ale Station Artisan Ale House Ben’s Brewery Tap Bob Inn Bootleggers

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Clarke’s Síbín Flat Iron Malt n Hops Nelipots Rose & Crown

Shed & Garden Shepherds’ Hall Ale House Riley’s White Bull

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Ale Cry

27

CAMRA CENTRAL LANCS BRANCH AND ...

THE GEORGE LEE MEMORIAL TROPHY

A

nyone who has had any involvement with CAMRA Central Lancashire branch over the years will almost certainly have heard of the George Lee Memorial Trophy award.

It is with a little reluctance that the branch has decided that the time has come for this once prestigious award to now be retired. The introduction of specific awards for Pub of the Year, Club of the Year, and Cider Pub of the Year, plus the existence of other occasional awards, has effectively reduced its importance. In practical terms we have also reached the stage where the trophy has no more room to record future winners, despite the shield having already once been enlarged in order to display more award winners.

The ‘George Lee’ was instigated in 1981, and for the best part of 40 years it has been considered the premier annual award made by CAMRA Central Lancashire branch.

The award is named in memory of George Lee, who had passed away in April 1981. For 10 years he had been the landlord of the Moorbrook in Preston, this being the pub which was the birthplace of CAMRA West Lancashire branch (as we then were). For good measure George was a founder member of the branch, and at the inaugural meeting in 1973 was elected as the branch’s first Treasurer.

Traditionally the George Lee winner has been chosen each year at the branch’s Christmas Meeting, with those branch members present on the night able to cast their vote from a shortlist of five or six candidates previously drawn up by the committee. The winner of the award was to be selected as ‘the pub, organisation, or person that was considered to have done the most for real ale locally during the previous calendar year’. As well as holding the trophy itself for a year, the George Lee winner was presented with a certificate which they could keep as a permanent record of the achievement.

The first winner, chosen for 1981 but holding the award throughout 1982, was the OLDE BLUE BELL in Preston.

This was a pub that had been a keg only house for most of the 1970s, and at the time of the vote it was considered a tremendous asset to the branch that we at last had an outlet for cask conditioned Samuel Smith’s beers.

The first two-time winner came in 1993/94 and it was the OLD BLACK BULL in Preston. Having won the award in 1992/93 it was sufficiently popular to retain the award for a second successive year.

In 2001/02 the NEW BRITANNIA in Preston was to emulate the Old Black Bull by winning the award for a second time. Three years later it was to go one better and become the first three-time winner, a feat that would eventually also be equalled by the Old Black Bull. In 2006/07 another Preston pub, the BITTER SUITE rose

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GEORGE LEE MEMORIAL TROPHY ROLL OF HONOUR 1981/82

Olde Blue Bell, Preston.

1982/83

George, Preston.

1984/85

Leyland Brewery Company.

1985/86

Maudland, Preston.

1986/87

Black Horse, Preston.

1987/88

St Teresa’s Parish Centre, Penwortham.

1988/89

Fox & Grapes, Preston.

1989/90

Market Tavern, Chorley.

1990/91

Black Horse, Croston.

1991/92

Malt‘n’Hops, Chorley.

1992/93

Gastons, Preston.

1993/94

Old Black Bull, Preston.

1994/95

Old Black Bull, Preston.

1994/95

Railway, Chorley, and St Teresa’s Parish Centre, Penwortham (joint winners).

1995/96

The Real Ale Shop, Preston.

1996/97

Forrest Arms, Longridge.

1997/98

Hogshead, Preston.

1998/99

New Britannia, Preston.

1999/00

Red Herring, Coppull.

2000/01

Ashton Institute & Social Club.

2001/02

New Britannia, Preston.

2002/03

Old Wheelton Brewery.

2003/04

Market Tavern, Preston.

2004/05

New Britannia, Preston.

2005/06

Dolphin, Longton.

2006/07

Bitter Suite, Preston.

2007/08

Bitter Suite, Preston.

2008/09

Top Lock, Heapey.

2009/10

Continental, Preston.

2010/11

Continental, Preston.

2011/12

Old Black Bull, Preston.

2012/13

Leyland Lion, Leyland.

2013/14

Mark Woods

2014/15

Ale Emporium, Preston.

2015/16

Shepherds’ Hall Ale House, Chorley.

2016/17

Malt’n’Hops, Chorley.

2017/18

Hoppy Days, Longridge.

2018/19

Haydn & Angela Williams.

2019/20

Black Horse, Preston.

to prominence, winning the award two years running, and then winning it a third time in 2014/15 after the pub had undergone a name change with it becoming the ALE EMPORIUM. Several more name changes have since followed, and these days it is no longer selling real ale.

Inevitably there have been some casualties. The GEORGE, the MAUDLAND, and the FOX & GRAPES are all Preston pubs that have closed down since they were honoured with the award. The 1991/92 winner GASTONS survives as a pub but is now known as Baker Street, having had a chequered history since its glory days as the brewery tap for the Little Avenham Brewery.

Predictably the majority of George Lee winners have come from Preston, but over the years there have been winners coming from most other parts of the branch area. The MARKET TAVERN in Chorley (now known as the Flat Iron) was the first non-Preston pub to win the award in 1988/89. The MALT’N’HOPS in Chorley was to win the award on two occasions. It was the winner in 1990/91, but it was not until 2016/17 that it was successful for a second time.

Not all George Lee winners have been pubs. In 1983/84 the award went to the LEYLAND BREWERY COMPANY and in 2002/03 the winner was the OLD WHEELTON BREWERY, a microbrewery that was located at the Dressers Arms at Wheelton. Unfortunately, it would appear that honouring a brewery was the kiss of death, as both these businesses were to be relatively short-lived affairs.

The first club to win the award was ST TERESA’S PARISH CENTRE in 1986/87. The Penwortham club would go on to be named CAMRA national Club of the Year in 1992, and in 1994/95 it was again a George Lee winner. On this second occasion it had to share the award with the RAILWAY at Chorley, each recipient keeping the trophy for a six month period. The branch committee had not anticipated that there could be joint winners of the award, and for subsequent years the voting was structured so that it would be virtually impossible for it to happen a second time.

Two awards from the 2010s have gone to people, rather than

to a pub or to a particular organisation. The recipient of the 2013/14 award was MARK WOODS, the landlord of the Horns at Goosnargh, and the owner of Goosnargh Brewery.

The recipients of the 2018/19 award were HAYDN & ANGELA WILLIAMS, still going strong in 2022 as the owners of the Crankshaft Brewery in Leyland, and who at the time had recently opened the Cann Bridge Ale House micropub in Higher Walton.

The most recent winner of the award was the BLACK HORSE in Preston. This was another pub to have twice been a George Lee winner. The Black Horse’s first success came in 1985/86, but there was then a whopping 34 year gap until its second win came in 2019/20.

Perhaps surprisingly, George Lee’s former pub, the MOORBROOK has never been a winner of the ‘George Lee’ award. It has been nominated on a number of occasions, and in 2019 was chosen as the branch’s Pub of the Year.

However despite this apparent oversight the CAMRA Central Lancashire branch committee have decided that the George Lee Memorial Trophy should now be returned to its spiritual home at the Moorbrook for it to be on permanent display.

GORDON SMALL

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Ale Cry

29

BEER FESTIVAL DIARY These are the events we are aware of in the local area over the next few months. For full details, please refer to the festival websites / social media.

Oldham: Rochdale, Oldham & Bury CAMRA. Queen Elizabeth Hall, West St, Oldham OL1 1NL 1st–2nd April Croston: Croston Sports Club, Westhead Road, Croston, PR26 9RR 14th–18th April Bamber Bridge: Bamber Bridge FC, PR5 6UX 15th–17th April Blackburn: Blackburn Rugby Club, Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn, BB1 8NB 29th April–1st May Clitheroe: East Lancs CAMRA. Assembly Hall of St. Michael & St. John’s, Lowergate, Clitheroe, BB7 1AG 12th–14th May Atherton: Bent & Bongs 32nd Beer Bash, Atherton Roller Rink, Atherton, M46 9JQ 26th–28th May Leyland: St Marys Community Centre, Broadfield Drive, Leyland (formerly the Priory Club) 27th–29th May Chorley: Thirsty Magpie, Victory Park 2nd–5th June White Coppice: Coppicefest, White Coppice Cricket Club 2nd–4th June

Branch Diary Thursday 24th March

Bamber Bridge Pub Crawl. Starts at Beer Box (7.30)

Saturday 2nd April Kendal trip

Mon 4th April

Committee meeting Applejacks, Longridge (7.30)

Tuesday 19th April

Social and POTS Presentation Vinyl Tap, Preston (7.30)

Mon 9th May

Committee meeting Guild Ale House, Preston (7.30)

Thursday 26th May

Croston Pub Crawl Starts at Wheatsheaf (7.30) including Club of the Year presentation at Croston Sports Club at 8.30

Mon 6th June

Committee meeting Market Ale House, Leyland (7.30)

Sat 18th June Halifax trip

Advertising With a print run of 5,000 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.

If you are interested in advertising in Ale Cry, please contact editor@centrallancs.camra.org.uk for further details.

Publication Dates The next issue of Ale Cry will be published on 1st June 2022. Deadline for copy and advert submission is 1st May 2022.

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

Thursday 23rd June

AGM Black Horse, Preston (including talk by Steve Halliwell) (7.30) For full details of trips, visit the branch website or contact Adrian Smith on 07495 448555 or email chairman@centrallancs.camra.org.uk

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Branch meetings may be subject to last minute change. Updates will be posted on the branch website, and our social media channels.

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