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Issue 170 | April - May 2013

Inside: Pub of the Year 2013 Award Presentation

Also inside Pub News • Brewery Updates • Mile Tree • Beer Festival Listings • Newcastle Trip and more!

Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA | www.peterborough-camra.org.uk

Chairman’s Corner

Chairman’s Corner | 3

H

ere we go again! Yes I’m referring to yet another debate on the unfair practices by the pubcos, which have resulted in the closure of over 3000 pubs since 2009.

Business secretary Vince Cable says he is going to clamp down on the pubcos, who have not kept promises or made any progress towards changing their behaviour, towards their pub licensees. Cable said he had given them two years to make progress on a voluntary code and it was clear it was not doing enough. He has promised licensees the help of an independent adjudicator to address unfair practices in the industry. He also said he would introduce a statutory code governing the relationship between pubcos and publicans. The code would be enforceable by the new adjudicator. Abuse of the beer tie, which obliges publicans to sell particular types of beer and then pay ‘hiked-up’ prices for their supplies must stop. Excessive rents paid by licensees to these companies should be at the market rate and if they do manage to make a few bob, not to reward the licensee with another hike in the rent.

Now I know that we’ve heard a lot about this before but, I’m going to be optimistic and hope that this time it will happen. Cable has been told by some MPs to get this new statutory code enshrined in law before the end of this year. Now that would be progress!

From a local point of view we have lost several pubs due to the very reasons that the pubcos are being hauled up about. Even now one of our popular local pubs near the city (I won’t name it to save the licensee undue embarrassment), is under threat of leaving the pub due to notice of an unfair rent ’review’ meaning rise. Unless these codes are strictly enforced and the pubcos brought to heel, some pubcos want to discourage any potential publican from taking on a lease with any of them.

Whilst the pub industry is going through its worst period for years, it’s great to hear that an increase in cask beer sales has been celebrated by some of the county’s oldest brewers. The Independent Family Brewers of Britain (IFBB) found that its 29 members grew cask sales by 2% to 47.7% of production. Brewers such as Charles Wells, Fullers and Hook Norton are a few of the names that have seen their cask ale sales increase. So a small glimmer of good news comes through the gloom.

I would like to thank all our members who took the trouble to vote for the pubs that we have selected as possible entries into the 2014 Good Beer Guide. The surveys of the pubs that received the most votes were carried out by our small band of volunteers. They have been passed on to the regional coordinators for scrutiny.

By the time this issue of BAE is published the chancellor will have prepared and maybe delivered his budget. As mentioned in our last issue we have been vigorously campaigning for him to scrap the Duty Escalator on beer, which pushes the tax up even more on our pints. Whether he has listened to us or not will be revealed in his budget speech. If he has not, then the tax on your pint will start rising to above one third of the total cost, resulting in even more drinkers abandoning their local pubs in favour of cheaper six packs from the supermarkets.

We welcome our new Pubs Officer to our team, Neil Holmes has a vast experience of beer, brewers and of course pubs. So any news is always welcome to him.

Roll on the summer when we will hopefully have some cheerier news to look forward to!

Cheers David Murray, Branch Chairman

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Pub News

W

elcome to pub news. First of all I would like to give my thanks to Steve Williams for the many years of good reading he has given to us. If my stuff is half as good as Steve’s I will be happy.

So, a bit about myself ? Those of you who do know me will know I am passionate about my real ales. I have been a CAMRA member for about 10 years after joining at Peterborough Beer Fest. I spend most of my weekends travelling around the country visiting various beer festivals and pubs and yes I have been known to tick the odd beer.

I’m also a keen home brewer and even have a bar set up in my kitchen called The Drunken Duck. I also play cricket for the Peterborough CAMRA Cricket Club. But enough about me let’s get to the latest pub news.......

Palmerston Arms on the Rise If anybody has been in to the Palmerston Arms recently they will have seen the pub is getting back to its best! They held the first beer festival of the year from the 21st to the 27th of January which included celebrating Burns night. Overall 21 beers were on offer with a number of Scottish ales available. Our very own chairman even did the traditional speech and ‘pipe in the haggis’. A very good start to the year which has continued on with 12+ beers always available, with many new

Pub News| 5

beers from mico-brewerys coming every week.

Theme nights have continued as well with events such as Vinyl night, Philosophy night, Polish night, organised by Ewa the barmaid, and Ukulele night. So if you haven’t been in for a while I suggest a visit.

Real Ale back on the menu If you had been in the Carpenters Arms in Stanground over the last year or so you would have seen no real ale on offer, but not any more!

New Landlord Wayne Baxter and his Aunt Annie have brought real ale back to the pub. Slowly building up from one beer engine to two there are now plans to install a third pump. The pub is a member of the Oakham Ales ‘Oakademy of Excellence’ and JHB is the permanent ale. The other two pumps will constantly change using local and national brewers such as Grainstore, Oakham Ales, Tydd Steam and Greene King.

New Brewery on the cards?

The Jolly Brewer in Stamford has plans outlined to add a micro–brewery on the premises. It’s hoped to have the work completed and brewing started by late summer. The first new brewery in Stamford for many a year.

It pays to be a CAMRA member...

Over the last couple of months it has certainly been a benefit to be a CAMRA member in these difficult financial times.

As well as receiving £20 worth of Wetherspoon vouchers when you join, a number of local pubs and clubs are giving CAMRA members some incentives. The Crown, on Lincoln Road, held a winter sale in February with CAMRA members receiving a 50p discount on all real ale. The Burghley Club had special rates for CAMRA members re-joining in January. The Ostrich on North Street is still Continued Overleaf

6 |Pub News Continued

giving Peterborough CAMRA member the chance to get their £20 discount cards, with 50p off a pint. Just pop in with your membership card and pick up yours.

Congratulations to Si Fitch and his wife Kay of the Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor. They were recently awarded by Peterborough CAMRA in recognition of ten consecutive years in the Good Beer Guide. Well done!

News from Ramsey The Jolly Sailor in Ramsey has increased their range of beers to include several beers from local breweries. With the pub getting a bit more freedom from the pubco Punch Taverns, licensee Paul tells us that his regulars have been enjoying the likes of Digfield, Tydd Steam and Nene Valley to name a few.

The George in the centre of Ramsey has reopened (on 22 Feb 2013) after a 6 week, £200,000 refit by Punch Taverns. It is aiming to cater for the whole community with refurbished bars, a restaurant, coffee shop and function room.

It currently sports 3 hand pumps with St Austell Tribute and Adnams Southwold on two of them and plans for a regularly changing guest beer on the third.

The Hawk, a street corner bar overlooking the Abbey Green, which previously sold no real ale, has been closed since the autumn and is now up for sale.

The Cross Keys in Upwood is up for lease from Enterprise Inns. The pub is still trading and is the only pub in the village. It is probably the most south-westerly pub in the branch area.

Pub Closures The Westwood Herald Club, formerly the Lord Westwood, closed down on the 18th of February.

Not to be confused with the Westwood on Mayors Walk, which closed some time ago. A planning application to turn the Westwood Hotel Pub into flats and shops was refused by a planning committee on the 19th of February. Reports have come through that the Great Escape in Stamford has closed.

The Wildfowler at Gedney Drove End has been put up for sale and the Red Lion at Gedney Hill will be losing its licensees shortly and the tenancy will be vacant.

Travelling from Pub to Pub in Peterborough For those of you who use public transport regularly like me will know all about the new bus routes and bus times. But for those of you who may only use them occasionally on say maybe a pub crawl might be in for a surprise or a long wait. An example would be if you used to get the number 7 or 8 to the Coalheavers Arms you would now need to get the number 5 or 6. This website will give you all the new timetables, maps and information you need. Peterborough Bus Times www.pbt.org.uk Oaka open first London pub Oaka, the pub company which owns Charters, Brewery Tap and the Barton’s Arms in Birmingham has recently opened it’s first London venture. The pub, called ‘Oaka at The Mansion House’ was a former pub on Kennington Park Road and has been totally refurbished, with great care taken to preserve the building’s many original features. Aside from the large restaurant area and bar, Oaka at The Mansion House will also feature a spacious outside terrace. Oakham’s award-winning brews JHB, Citra, Inferno and Bishop’s Farewell, will be available on tap alongside freshly prepared dishes from Thailand, Japan, Korea and China.

Oaka is also using the pioneering GeoBAR Heat Recovery System in its cellar, designed to save around seven tonnes of carbon a year. If any

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readers are in the area, please report back with you comments and photo’s.

News from Chris Imbibers enjoying the delightful surroundings of Melbourn Bros Brewery in Stamford finally have a real ale available to them. Sadly not brewed on the premises, it’s regular Old Brewery Bitter from Sam Smith’s other site in Tadcaster. On the plus side it’s priced at just £1.89 The Grade 2 listed Angel Hotel bar in North St, Bourne won’t be familiar to many our readers as it hasn’t served real ale in living memory – this looks unlikely to change as a lack of trade has encouraged the owners to lease it out as a women’s clothes shop!

The Bull Hotel in the Market Place in Market Deeping, known as the birthplace of Peterborough CAMRA, passed another significant milestone recently when landlord Bert Murray and wife Eileen celebrated 20 years at the pub. The former Chelsea and Posh footballer also simultaneously celebrated his 70th birthday.

Bert’s always happy to talk about his footballing days mixing with the likes of Venables, Osgood and ‘Chopper’ Harris while dispensing well-kept pints of Everards Tiger, Old Original plus guest beers.

JD Wetherspoon have announced their controversial plans for a new pub in Stamford, with a £1 million development of the current Stamford Mercury building. The plans can be viewed at www.southkesteven.gov.uk /planning.

Just over the border in Rutland, the White Horse in Empingham has been bought by husband and wife team Steve and Claire Glencross. The Northwick Arms in Ketton also has new tenants in the shape of Marcus Welford and Tim Luff, formerly of the nationally acclaimed Olive Branch at Clipsham.

Easter Fund Raising Event For those who are unaware Tydd Steam Brewery are running a promotion to raise money for

Breast Cancer Care, this is a subject close to their heart at the moment. Will at Tydd has brewed a special beer to raise money for this charity; White Rabbit is a new beer and not a re-hash of an existing ale.

The Letter B at Whittlesey (Peterborough CAMRA and Cambridgeshire Pub of the year 2012) are running an event over Easter weekend to raise money for this worthwhile cause. On Easter Sunday, from lunchtime through to close, in addition to Tydd’s donation Bruce and Denise will also pledge 10p per pint served to this worthy cause. As a bonus there will be a raffle with prizes ranging from a meal for 4 to a flight over the Peterborough area. There will also be a Hog Roast with Richard from Fenland Roaster donating to the charity and entertainment in the evening from “Where’s the Dog”. There will also be at least 8 real ales on offer over the course of the weekend.

If anybody has any pub news they would like to share please feel free to send it to me.

Neil Holmes - Pubs Officer Email: pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk

The Blue Bell wins Rutland CAMRA Pub of the Year

The Blue Bell Inn, in Shepherds Walk, Belmesthorpe has been crowned the 2013 Rutland Camra Pub of the Year. Graham Proud, branch chairman of the campaign group, presented the award to pub landlord and landlady Aubrey Johnson and Caroline Graziano. www.real-ale.org.uk

Mile Tree Brewery 8 | New Brewery News

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ou might have been out lately having a pint or two (or three…) and noticed a new pump clip with a LocAle designation on it. If you have, more than likely it is one of Peterborough District’s newest breweries: Mile Tree.

Richard Matthews is the owner and brewer at Mile Tree brewery, which is located at the picturesque location of the Secret Garden Touring Park just outside Wisbech. With over 25 years of home brewing experience, Richard knows how to make good beer. His first beer produced, Adventurer, was a 4% session bitter that has gone down well with not only the locals but also with those attending the Ely Beerfest and the Cambridge Winter Ales Festival. He has just brewed a second beer called Wellstream which is a 4.9% full-bodied premium ale which is sure to please the masses.

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“If Richard’s first two beers are any indication of what he can brew, then we are definitely in for a treat!”

The dream of starting a brewery began 3 years ago with a simple conversation between Richard, his wife Karen, and their friends Neil and Lesley Pollington - owners of the Secret Garden Touring Park. Following that fateful conversation, much time and effort from themselves and family and friends was put into transforming a stable block into what is now the brewery. Applications were made to, and granted by the Rural Development Programme England to help finance the purchase of a specially built 5 Barrel brew kit from ABUK and stainless steel casks from Kammac. A small 100L test kit was also ordered and is currently on its way. It will be used to not only perfect recipes

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that will be produced on the larger kit but to also produce some smaller more specialised one off beers. Now, finally after two years, all of the hard work has paid off…to our benefit!

If you have not been fortunate enough to run into his beers yet, Mile Tree has been sighted in pubs such as the Letter B in Whittlesea, the Hand and Heart in Millfield, the Blue Boar in Eye, The Crown on Lincoln Road, and Mama Liz’s in Stamford. If you don’t happen to frequent these places then perhaps you ought to ask your local landlord to start stocking these beers.

Now that Mile Tree Brewery is no longer a dream, we can expect to see great things from this micro. If Richard’s first two beers are any indication of what he can brew, then we are definitely in for a treat! All I can say is, we are truly lucky to have such a skilled brewer on our doorsteps.

Contact Richard on 07858930363 for orders or any further information.

Steve Saldana

Brewery News Oakham Ales Oakham Ales Acquires Bellwether Wines Oakham Ales has acquired Bellwether Wines.

The Peterborough based wine company specialises in supplying to the licensed on-trade within a thirty-five mile radius of Peterborough.

The Bellwether Wines name has been retained to become the wine division of Oakham Ales Oakham Ales scoops gold and silver at National ‘Brewing Oscars’ Green Devil IPA and Inferno have been honoured in the Brewing Industry International Awards, widely dubbed the ‘Brewing Oscars’. Green Devil IPA scooped the gold medal (4.9% - 6.9% A.B.V. cask ale category) and Inferno was awarded the silver (2.9% - 4.4% A.B.V. in the bottle category).

The Brewing Awards are highly respected around the world. Green Devil IPA and Inferno have been judged by experts to be one of the finest of their type found anywhere in the world.

Adrian Posnett, Managing Director of Oakham Ales comments: “To win a gold and silver medal when competing with over 1000 beers from over 45 countries is a fantastic honour, particularly as we are being judged by our peers. This is Green Devil’s fifth gold medal at a brewing competition, and it was only launched two years’ ago and Inferno’s first accolade in bottle format (seventh as a cask ale). We are up against some major international breweries, so it’s great to see that the team’s hard work and brewing innovation is rewarded”.

Elgoods The only new item is the launch of this year’s seasonals. The theme is a play on words with animals and films. The January beer was Mortal Wombat, a 4% blond ale. February’s offering has just been released. This is From Russia with Dove which is a 3.7% copper beer. The beer for March is Lizard of Oz and other beers in the series, in no particular order, will be Saturday

Brewery News | 9

Night Beaver, Prawn Free, Easy Spider and Apocolypse Cow. There will be others!

Nene Valley Brewery Friday 1st February saw a group from Brigstock Beer Festival present the brewery with their Beer Of the Festival Award for BSA. A few pints were supped and an enjoyable evening was had by all.

On Monday 4th February, a planning application was submitted for the refurbishment of another building on the site to create a restaurant and brewery tap. It is hoped that both could be open for Christmas 2013.

Jacky Rees has joined the Nene Valley team as Head of Sales. She has already made a number of new contacts and opened up pubs that were previously closed to such a new producer. She will be running the shop every other Friday so she can meet some of the brewery's off-sales customers too.

There is a new addition to the Nene Valley stable – MLD – a 3.8% Seasonal Dark Mild described on the website as: “A classic dark mild with dark malts giving chocolate and coffee flavours. Backed with subtle spicy notes from the hops.” The brewery are looking forward to our visit as part of our Mighty Micros 2 trip and would welcome more members to visit the shop to sample their beers and take some away for later, if driving.

Tydd Steam Will is brewing a new beer called White Rabbit at 4.2% ABV. The beer will feature Eldorado hops in the recipe. This beer is being brewed to help raise funds for Breast Cancer Care with a donation being made to the charity for each pint sold.

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Oakham Ales Bedevilled By Duty Brewery News | 11

When Oakham Ales won S.I.B.A. National Champion Beer in 2012 with Green Devil they decided to put the 6.6% beer into 660ml bottles as their first bottle conditioned beer. May last saw the beer go out, sales went well and as the days got shorter and the year end approached thoughts turned to bottling a second batch. Thinking caps were donned and they did their sums. Mmm. It soon became apparent that cost was becoming prohibitive so the idea was kicked into the long grass and their Devil was to be no more.

Head bean counter John Bryan explains. ‘We analysed all costs of producing the beer as in certain instances we had made a loss with some purchasers. We itemised the cost and found that two areas were killing us, bottling and surprise, surprise duty. Bottling alone was 30% of cost, add labelling to this and it becomes 40% but duty alone is 42% of overall cost. Even the mileage in the tanker to the bottling plant in Cornwall is negligible, despite the high cost of fuel, and the cost of the raw materials that become the beer are also small by comparison’.

It’s a subject that’s covered many a page in recent years as the beer duty escalator that was

introduced by the previous government sees duty rising at 2% above inflation annually. A change of government has seen no change of policy and couple duty with higher fuel costs we’ve seen beer prices increase sharply. Pubs have gone out of business by the hundred and when jobs have been shed all over the industry it seems crazy to keep punishing it like this. It’s just one example of someone in the industry struggling to sell a decent product with brewers publicans and drinkers all suffering along the way. Either a freeze in duty or a small cut would be good. Better still a levelling out of duty with the supermarkets who have profited hugely in recent years with their cynical ‘Drink Responsibly’ logos strewn across the aisles awash with give-away slabs of fizz. (Only 6 per customer)! All to the detriment of the pub trade.

So new thinking caps on then and what to do with their Devil in a bottle. Thankfully certain areas of cost have been cut, particularly bottling and labelling. It looks as if Green Devil will be bottled again and available for sale in early summer providing Chancellor Gorgeous George doesn’t scupper the plans.

Dave Allett

CURAS Visits Bexar County Brewery On Saturday, March 9th, Bexar County Brewery was graced with a visit from the Cambridge University Real Ale Society. A group of 20 or so members of the society were given a guided tour of the brewery plant and were able to sample 5 different Bexar County brews. Richard Matthews from the Mile Tree Brewery joined in on the fun and brought along some bottles from his latest brew for the group to sample.

This was a significant milestone for Bexar County Brewery because it was the first official brewery tour. The tour provided a good platform to talk to the society members about the signifi-

cance of different brewing methods, as well as the future of real ale and how the breweries can attract more young drinkers. It also provided a good forum to discuss different styles of beer that are becoming more in vogue vs more traditional beers.

After the tour, the group headed over to the Hand and Heart in Millfield to have a few more beers before catching the train back to Cambridge. All in all, the evening was a huge success for everyone!

Steve Saldana www.real-ale.org.uk

The magnificent faience interior of the Centurion, formerly the First-Class Refreshment Rooms of Newcastle Central Station.

A

t Peterborough railway station, on a cold grey Thursday morning towards the end of February, twenty or so semi-professional beer hunters set out for a day trip to Newcastleupon-Tyne, a fine city noted for its heritage pubs and several award-winning breweries. As I had spent three years at college up there in the dim and distant past (well, ok, the seventies) and finished my working life up there just five years ago, it was obvious that I would be the tour guide and all-round know-it-all (not for the first time, it was pointed out by more than one other socalled ‘friend’).

So, by eleven o’clock and having already safely negotiated our way out of Newcastle Central Station, I led the band of eager drinkers through the narrow streets of China Town to our first hostelry, the Newcastle Arms, where a plethora of fully-charged handpumps awaited our selection.

As the number of pubs on the list supplied by

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tour manager Mick Slaughter totalled a staggering twenty-three, I had determined to drink in halfpint measures all day, thereby widening the range of the beers I could sample.

Kicking off with a 6.6% Quiet Riot IPA from the Anarchy Brewing Co at Morpeth was maybe not the best of ideas I had that day. To temper my rashness, the second beer I tried was Allendale

One of the huge stained-glass domes at the Bodega.

Beer Hunting on the Tyne

Newcastle Trip | 13

Pale Ale (5.5% - much more sensible!). Taking note of the fine mosaics and the bevelled mirrors on the way out, we headed back the way we’d come, to the Bodega (the first two pubs had kindly offered to open early, just for us, hence the convoluted route).

Here, the decor was just as magnificent as I remembered it. Two huge stained-glass domes are the most striking features of this Sir John Fitzgerald pub. Big Lamp Brewery’s Prince Bishop Ale at 4.8% was my first choice, followed by what had been my favourite beer when I last lived up here, Magus, 3.8%, a wonderful, golden ale from the Durham brewery. It seemed only minutes later that we were on our way, this time to the Town Wall, part of Bewick House (the swan man). I necked a swift half of Doc (4.1%), from the 1st Chop Brewing Co., Lancashire and it was on to our next Fitzgerald pub, the Bridge, right next to the 13th century castle. (So if it’s so ancient, why isn’t Newcastle called Oldcastle?). Every beer on each of the nine handpumps was from Yorkshire, so I chose Ossett Admiral (4.8%) and White Rat (4%).

By now, our team was beginning to spread out, as some made their own way around the city to the pubs by alternate routes. I led a crocodile-like crowd over to the south bank of the Tyne in search of The Central, a pub that didn’t exist when I was up there, probably because it was on the ‘wrong’ (Gateshead) side of the river. Turns out that the Head of Steam chain bought this long boarded-up pub and restored it to its former glory at great expense, but the result is staggering; the decor has to be seen to be believed.

Bar staff opened up the Buffet Bar for us – this is one of less than 300 pubs that CAMRA has identified as ‘Britain’s Best Real Heritage Pubs’, to be included in a new book available in April. The beers for me: Love & Peace (4.8%) from Great Heck and Harviestoun’s Bitter and Twisted (4.2%).

Back over the river for a pie and mash lunch for most of us at the recently-refurbished Red House, washed down with Moor beer Gold(5%) and a Tempest (of Kelso) beer that might have been called Evolution(?) before the long-awaited return to my favourite Newcastle pub, the Crown Posada. Small at the entrance and tiny at the back, this vaguely triangular pub hasn’t changed much in over 130 years. Astounding stained-glass windows (depicting a Portuguese sailor and his lady) and a fabulous moulded ceiling make this another of ‘Britain’s Best Real Heritage Pubs and a must-see for any visitor. Bristol Beer’s Acer was choice no.1 for me, followed by the first (of many) Wylam beer of the day – Gold Tankard (4%). I wanted to stay a little longer than the rest of the but they dragged me out to point them in the

Cumberland Arms, Byker, a CAMRA Real Heritage Pub.

direction of the four Byker pubs, on the east side of the Ouseburn, three-quarters of a mile away, along the quayside. Just why I found myself walking there own my own will always remain a mystery to me, but on arrival at a pub called the Tyne, I quickly quaffed a half of Wylam’s Chinook (4.1%). The last time I was here, on a Sunday afternoon five years ago, a chap by the name of Mark Knopfler showed up to join in the afternoon jamming sessions. Climb up the slippery steps to discover the Free Trade, a tatty looking pub, both outside and in, but with a great range of beers on

continued overleaf

14 | Newcastle Trip - continued

The Peterborough ‘beer hunters’ at the Town Wall, Newcastle.

eight pumps. The pub was showcasing Magic Rock’s beers and Curious (3.9%) was on offer, so, not wanting to miss the opportunity, I had a half and wondered what all the fuss was about.

Reunited with my fellow-travellers, the next port of call was another ‘real heritage pub’ the Cumberland Arms, an unspoilt, traditional boozer with a resident team of (really sharp) sword dancers. They weren’t at home when we called in, just as well, as they have been known to draw blood – mostly their own, but why take the risk?

Wylam Rapper (3.8%) and Fyne Ales Superior IPA (7.1%) were on offer, so it would have been rude to pass on ex-Oakham brewer Wilbur Wood’s finest creation.

The trip back towards the city centre involved passing a couple of pubs described on our crib sheets as “if time allows” (Our illustrious leader Mr. Slaughter doesn’t want to be blamed for encouraging immoderate drinking). One such pub was the New Bridge, which had in its line-up the first examples I’d seen of beers from very local breweries, TyneBank Monument (4.1%) and Cullercoats Lovely Nelly (3.9% and named after a boat that foundered in 1861, only to be saved by the fisherwomen of Cullercoats, who launched a lifeboat after dragging it two miles up the coast).

By this stage, with the exception of John Holland, a lovely chap from Newcastle CAMRA, I’d lost everybody again. Had they grown wings?

On arrival at Bacchus, a pub that had moved 50 yards eastwards since I was a student, the range of beers was once again so very impressive, as I had noticed at all the pubs we’d visited. Our happy band of weary imbibers had regrouped again (how had they got there so quickly?) Unfortunately by now, my notes were becoming so spidery that I can no longer tell you what beers were on offer. Go online and check it out for yourself.

The same applied to our last venue – The Centurion. Built into the station as the first-class refreshment rooms in 1892-3, this apparently has amazing glazed earthenware (faïence) tiles everywhere. I didn’t notice. Someone (probably one of those Shilling brothers) gave me a beer and mysteriously, I woke up at Peterborough railway station!

Friday was a dull day...

Dickie Bird

Pictures courtesy of Mick Slaughter.

If you require photographs of your pub interior / exterior you can contact Mick on 01733 390598 or email m.slaughter45@ ntlworld.com to discuss your requirements.

Cheers to a Beer Our pubs keep struggling on But so many are down in the dumps, ‘Cos the beer’s not f lowing fast enough From out of the bar pumps.

The government taxes, encouraged by those, Who would seem hell bent, That our pubs should all close.

Tesco, Asda and all their ilk, Are f logging their booze, Cheaper than milk.

Camra has started on a great mission, ‘Scrap the Duty Escalator‘, With a 100,000 e-petition.

To London we went on the 12th of December, To lobby our politicians, On a day to remember.

We hoped to see as many of our MP’s And get them to listen, To our serious pleas.

Although they have stated ‘We won’t change the tax’, We still wanted to give them All of the facts.

At end of the day and still in good cheer We all headed to the pub, For a welcoming beer!

So remember this drinkers When your landlords looking glum, Tell him we tried But it may not be done..

NOW SERVING SIX REAL ALES

We will still keep on campaigning for a fair and level playing field for our pubs whatever the outcome of this petition!

DMM

plus Ciders and Perries.

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Real traditional ale house in the heart of the city

5 Regularly Rotating Ales Opening Times :- 11am -11pm Monday to Thursday, 11am -1am Friday to Saturday, 12 - 11pm Sunday,

Live Music Fridays and Saturdays ring or check facebook for details!

North Street, behind Westgate House, Peterborough Tel: 01733 746370 www.facebook.com/ostrichinn

www.real-ale.org.uk

IN THE CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2013

Pub of the Year 2013 Award Pesentation

Campaigning | 19

O

n 23rd February the Peterborough and District branch of CAMRA presented the award for the 2013 Pub of the Year to the Queen’s Head in Bulwick. The pub which notched up a CAMRA Gold award back in August 2012 received enough votes to become only the second branch area Northamptonshire pub since 1990 to win the award.

Peterborough CAMRA vice-chair and original proposer of the Gold award, Matt Mace, said of the pub:

Rockingham Ales whose Bulwick Gold was flying the flag for LocAle on the bar that evening.

Named after the wife of Charles II, the pub is a grade II listed building dating back to the 17th century. Many of the original features remain including date stones for 1675 and 1685 embedded into the front wall and the Collyweston slate roof.

“It was a recent visit to the Queen’s Head that impressed me. Since new owners Rob and Julie took over, the quality of the beers on offer, and the changes they had made, marked a significant improvement in quality since my previous visit a couple of years earlier.”

Under the management of Rob and Julie the pub has gained a reputation for serving both excellent food and drink. Real ale is provided in the form of Oakham JHB and Shepherd Neame Spitfire with additional handpumps for guest beers. On our visit we were also treated to Rockingham Bulwick Gold and Church End Old Pal. In the restaurant the emphasis on seasonal and local produce is evident as is the attention to detail with the well crafted menus.

Despite the distance from the city centre – and the fairly inclement weather too - a good number of CAMRA members made the journey over to the Queen’s Head to support the award. Also present was Brian Bosworth, owner/brewer of

First and foremost however the Queen’s Head is a fantastic traditional local village pub occupying an important place within the community and Peterborough CAMRA are delighted to endorse it as the winner of their 2013 Pub of the Year. www.real-ale.org.uk

T

Coalies go to Huddersfield

he latest instalment of The Coalheavers’ global travels to find the perfect pint took us to sunny Huddersfield, and it was sunny! And very cold. Unfortunately only 11 of us were able to go as most of the tickets for the Leeds train were snaffled up by a certain Mr. Slaughter. My own fault really, I should have been on East Coast website every day waiting for the tickets to be released. If anyone intends using Eastcoast trains for group travel, book 12 weeks in advance for groups of 3 to 9. You can set up an alert that will send you an email 24 hours before tickets are released and you can go online first thing in the morning and get all your tickets at the lowest cost. You can save a lot of money.

I had never been to Huddersfield before and, sorry to say, I thought it might be a bit grim but was pleasantly surprised - it was a really nice place. The first thing you notice is the large statue of local former PM, Harold Wilson and then you see The George Hotel, the birth place of rugby league. One of our crew, Maurice was desperate to see it, being a league fan, but he missed it. It was a big enough hotel! First pub of the day was The Vulcan and, very conveniently, it opens at 9 am. 6 beers were available here from the likes of Moorehouse, Mallinsons, Holts and Golden Dragon and all at £2.20 a pint! This was a very busy pub even at 11.15 in the morning and was a great starting point.

During the walk to the Vulcan, somebody spotted what looked like a bar with a sign saying something about beer brewed on site. Time to

investigate and we were all glad that we did. The Hand Drawn Monkey is a small brew pub featuring 2 of their own beers, a plethora of ciders, though I prefer the collective noun a “nastiness” of ciders. (Sorry, don`t like cider), several key keg type beers and a good range of European and American bottled beers. It’s a small place and the bar when you enter is about 5 feet high so if you are short, head to the back up the steps or you may not get served. The 2 beers were pale ale and “Jeffers wouldn’t like it” which I had and was very nice. There is usually a guest cask beer too.

Next stop was a 10 minute walk away, The Star.

I really liked this pub. It was a friendly, cosy, locals pub with a great range of about 10 beers from Tim Taylor, Salamander, Owenshaw Mill, Steel City and the rarely seen in our area, Pictish. It was very comfortable and the log burner provided much wanted heat and a lovely smell. Once again, the prices were quite reasonable. This was the furthest pub out but if you visit Huddersfield you must make the effort.

Just a 5 minute walk away and across the road to The Rat and Ratchet, home to the Rat brewery. This is another nice looking pub both outside and inside. Again about 10 beers were on, 4 of their own and others from the likes of Fernandes, Ossett and Mallinsons. I think between us we tried all the beers and were all in good nick. It has quite a large bar with the brewery situated beneath it and a smaller quiet area round the corner.

Coalheavers Crew on Tour | 21

Next pub was The Grove, a great little pub just outside the city centre. Is it just me that thinks most of the better pubs are outside the town centres? Or do other people think the same?

Discuss! Anyway, The Grove, what a great little pub. It has 2 bars each with 10 different beers on and a range of ciders, keg beers and bottles.

Definitely something for everyone, unless of course you are a lager drinker, but if you are, you probably won’t be reading this anyway. The pub was very busy but the staff were quite efficient and knowledgeable about the beers. The problem was there were a few strong ones on and having one or two of those kickstarts the amnesia problem.

Maybe one day I’ll learn to write everything down and not have to rely on memory.

I’m not too sure but I think the next pub was The Sportsman. Today was the first round of the 6 Nations and we were hoping to watch some of it here as the pub always shows major sporting

events. But not today alas, as we got there at about 4 o, clock a band were just starting. We had a look at the beers on offer and unfortunately were not too impressed, fairly run of the mill, so we left and headed to The King’s Head.

The King’s Head is one of two pubs on the station platform so ideal for the last port of call as there’s not far to go. According to our research The King’s Head was the better of the two. The beer here was fine but there was nothing to the pub, it was just a fairly boring square building with 8 beers on the bar. Great for last pint but that’s about all it had going for it. A bit disappointing..

We’ve been to so many great pubs over the years that sometimes a pub that is still good falls a little bit below our expectations. Maybe we are getting a bit too fussy in our old age. Please don’t get me wrong, Huddersfield really is worth going to and next time we go we will do the pubs in a different order and maybe see the last two in a different light.

Dave Botton

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THE BLUE BELL Easton on the Hill, Stamford 7th Annual Festival of Traditional Ales 20+ Local Ales plus Ciders and Perrys during the

Village Gala Weekend, Saturday 25th – Monday 27th May

Music Festival Bank Holiday Monday 27th May 2pm - 10pm 5 Live bands featuring “The Big 10”

Plus: Cricket Match, Talent Show, Village Fete, Pet Show, Wheelbarrow Race, Local Artists Display, Barn Dance (Sunday), Hog Roast & BBQ

For further information see www.eastononthehill.com and www.thebluebellpub.com EOTH.village.gala

Held in the grounds of The Blue Bell, 9 High Street, Easton on the Hill, PE9 3LR. Tel 01780 763003 www.eastononthehill.com Email: gala@eastononthehill.com www.real-ale.org.uk

Campaigning | 23

In this section you will find listings and adverts of Pub beer festivals across the Greater Peterborough area. After a long, cold winter what can be better than popping out to your community pub and taking part in one of the many beer festivals available over the next few months.

Sitting in a beer garden and enjoying the spring sunshine while supping a great ale, maybe listening to a local musician or band, taking part in a pub quiz, discussing philosophy, picking up the ukelele or trying your hand at a pub game like crib - its all available at a pub near you!

Some of the beers on offer at these beer festivals will have been specially brewed for the event and may not be around for long.

These festivals are a great opportunity to try out new flavours from breweries you don’t normally see in this area.

Of course there’s more to pubs than beer and skittles, with 84% of people believing that a pub is as essential to village life as a shop or post office; and the closure of a pub – especially in areas that lack other social amenities - can be devastating for the local community.

A well-run pub can cater for all ages, offering a place where friendships can be formed and providing a convenient stopping point for a family enjoying a bike ride on a sunny day.

To help you plan your travel to and from these events we have also included a brief

guide to bus and train travel and where to find further information and timetables.

If you’re watching the pennies, but still want to enjoy the finer things in life then the pub offers the ideal solution. From old favourites like steak and kidney pie to the exotic tastes of Thai cuisine,many pubs offer high quality meals – often cooked by award winning chefs.

From acts including Madness and Vic Reeves, pubs have even been responsible for kick-starting the careers of some of the biggest names in music and comedy. You never know; one of the acts playing in a pub near you could be a star of the future. So whether you want a quick pint after work or a night out with your friends; look in at the local, you won’t regret it.

ARE YOU MISSING OUT? Only the beer-stained copy left?

Get Beer Around Ere delivered to your door!

For a year (6 issues) send a £3.30 for second class or £3.90 for 1st Class cheque/PO payable to “Peterborough CAMRA” and your address to:Daryl Ling, 19 Lidgate Close, Orton Longueville Peterborough PE2 7ZA www.real-ale.org.uk

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www.real-ale.org.uk

Getting Around the ‘boro Campaigning | 25

Greater Peterborough is well served by train and bus services between all the major villages. There are also many cycle and walking routes available for the more adventurous beer hunter or those with families looking for a full day out with some exercise thrown in.

By Train Crosscountry and Greater Anglia Trains run services everyday from Peterborough to Oakham, Stamford, March and Whittlesey.

The service runs regularly from Peterborough station but check their web sites: www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk and www.greateranglia.co.uk for accurate timetables.

Heritage Train services The Nene Valley Railway is a standard gauge railway which runs for seven and a half miles between Yarwell Junction and Peterborough. Its headquarters are based at Wansford beside the A1, the old Great North Road. The NVR operates steam and diesel services between Ferry Meadows, Orton Mere, Peterborough City Centre (Nene), Wansford and Yarwell Junction. There are many lovely walking opportunities from all the stations and you are not far from a Real Ale venue from any of them!

For further information and timetables please go to http://www.nvr.org.uk.

Bus Services Peterborough and surrounding area is well served by a fast and efficient bus service. The Citi buses by Stagecoach cover all of central Peterborough and suburbs. The majority of these services are every ten minutes and go until 11pm or later. Further afield the following villages are served by these bus numbers: Wansford and Oundle - service 23 and 24 Whittlesey - service 31 and 33 March - service 33 Eye - service 36, 37 and 38 Yaxley - service 46 Bourne Delaine service 101 / 102 Market Deeping Delaine service 101 / 102 A full timetable is available online at www.peterborough.gov.uk /traffic,_travel_and_parking /buses/timetables/ or use www.pbt.org.uk.

You can purchase a Dayrider ticket on the Stagecoach services which allow you to get

around Peterborough as often as you like all day.

You can buy them from drivers and a standard Dayrider costs £3.70 and lets you travel between Wansford, Elton, Whittlesey, Thorney and Werrington a bargain day out! for further info go to www.stagecoachbus.com

Cycling The Sustrans National Cycle Network passes through Peterborough and is designed to make cycling fun, safe and simple as you cover huge stretches of the UK. One third of the Network is completely free from motor traffic, using old railway paths, forest tracks, country parks and bridleways, and the rest uses quiet minor roads and traffic-calmed streets in towns and cities. so if you’re having a drink - get out of the car and on yer bike!

Routes are available through Whittlesey, March, Crowland, Eye, Northborough, Peakirk, Etton and Helpston. More information is available at www.sustrans.org.uk

29 North Street, Stanground PE2 8HR. 01733 753544

Up to 4 Real Ales available • Friendly village pub with riverside mooring • Large garden • Dogs welcome Food served: Tues to Sun 12 - 2.30pm, Mon to Sat 6pm - 9pm

MAYDAY WEEKEND BEER FESTIVAL 3rd - 6th MAY 10+ BEERS FROM YORKSHIRE Live Music Sat night and Sun afternoon

Diary Dates & Festival Listings Diary Dates | 27

Thursday 28th March, 8.30pm: Gold Award presentation to the Ostrich, North Street, Peterborough. (Make own way). Chairman David Murray would like to invite all branch members to the presentation of a Gold Award to the Ostrich.

APRIL Saturday 6th April: Community Pubs Month North to South City Community pub Crawl using Citi 1 and Day Rider. Meet at Queensgate bus station at Midday.

Our new pubs officer Neil Holmes is organising the itinerary so it should be good!

Thursday 18th April at 8.30pm "Gold Award" presentation to the Ploughman at Werrington (Make own way) Thursday 18th - Tuesday 23rd Hand & Heart 4th St George’s Beer & Music Fest. A full itinerary of events & bands for the (very) long weekend will be posted on the Facebook page & website.

Tuesday 23 April at 8pm 10 years in the Good Beer Guide" presentation to the Hand & Heart, Highbury Street, Millfield, Peterborough. (Make own way) April 19th - 23rd St George’s Beer Festival, 20+ Ales and 5+ Ciders and Perry The Crown Inn, Uppingham April 20th St George’s Day Beer Festival Ruddy Duck, Peakirk April 25th - 28th Coalheavers Spring Beer Festival. Over 50 Real Ales, Live Music and BBQ. Coalheavers Arms, Woodston MAY Saturday 4th May: “The Big Cheese” Meet at Peterborough railway station at 9.30am for the 9.52 to Melton Mowbray.

We then visit the Melton Mowbray Artisanal Cheese Fair at the Cattle Market followed by

a crawl of the town. (Please note, come armed with a supply of cocktail sticks for all the samples!) Cost £16.00 for off peak return and £1.00 for Cheese Fair.

May 3rd - 6th Woolpack, Stanground Mayday Weekend Beer Festival. 10+ Beers From Yorkshire. Live Music Saturday Night and Sunday Afternoon. BBQ And Food Available.

May 4th - 5th Knobworth - Real Ale, Cider and Music Festival in aid of Prostate Cancer UK - The Angel Inn, Yarwell.

May 10th - 15th Beer Festival - Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor May 22nd - 27th Beer Festival - Dove Street Inn, Ipswich May 24th-27th Beer Festival - Dragon Werrington Friday 24th May "Cambridge Beer Festival" working trip. Depart the Brewery Tap at 6pm and depart Cambridge at midnight.

Cost free to Festival workers and £7.00 to Festival visitors May 23rd - June 2nd Norwich City of Ale. Over 30 pubs and 30 breweries in this citywide event with loads of music and entertainment. www.cityofale.org.uk JUNE Saturday June 1st Mighty Micro’s 2. Visiting Digfield, Nene Valley and Castor Breweries.

Cost £7.00. Please book all places through Social Secretary John Hunt June 20th -23rd Beer Festival - Solstice Peterborough,

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Matt and Emma welcome you to the Tel: 01778 560238 Barholm, Stamford, Lincs PE9 4RA freshly made pizza’s

A Traditional Ale House with an open fire

cooked in an authentic wood fired pizza oven every Friday from 5.30-10pm

bbq on easter sunday

by Groovy Foods 2-6pm

Six Real Ales with four on rotation 3 Ciders • 2 Lagers • Fine Wine & Spirits large beer garden • Pool room Opening Times

open from 4pm week days

1pm saturday and 12pm sundays

Pub Merit Awards & Gold Awards The committee feel that pubs outside of Peterborough are missing out on Gold Awards and so they have introduced a new Merit Award for pubs that are continuously outstanding. If you know of a pub in our area that deserves a Merit Award or Gold Award then please complete the following form and send it to our Secretary.

Pub name:

Pub address/town/village:

Reason for award:

Your name:

Your phone number or e-mail address:

Your membership number:

www.real-ale.org.uk

Please support our advertisers | 29

THE GOLDEN PHEASANT Etton Village A CAMRA award winning Freehouse and Restaurant Spring will be busy at The Golden Pheasant!

EASTER WEEKEND Great food, fun for kids and music...

Good Friday 29th March Real Ale batter fish and chips and other fish specials Saturday 30th March All day dining and live music with The Collaborators Easter Sunday 31st March Sunday Roast served from Midday all day and at 2.30pm a fun Easter Egg Hunt for under 10s.

Monday 1st April Relaxing in the countryside with our new all day dining menu.

ST GEORGE’S DAY - 23RD APRIL Celebrate the day with our great value English Real Ales and Great British Pub Grub Classics!

MAY BANK HOLIDAY SAT 4TH - MON 6TH MAY

ETTON REAL ALE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL! Sat 4th Live Music with The Country Knights at 8pm Sun 5th – Classic Sunday Roast and Real Ales Mon 6th – Real Ale, Live Music, Morris Dancing, Food Fayre

1 Main Road, Etton, Peterborough PE6 7DA Tel 01733 252387 info@thegoldenpheasant.net Web www.thegoldenpheasant.net

30 | Please support our advertisers

The Jolly Sailor, 43 Great Whyte, Ramsey PE26 1HH Tel 01487 813388

Five Real Ales and Stowford Press Cider

Broad Street, Stamford - 01780 763426

A FREE HOUSE

Including Abbot, Tribute, Bombardier and two changing guest ales

Six Real Ales including Fullers London Pride, Abbot Ale and our very popular Doombar.

Good Sized Car Park Heated Smoking Shelter

Food Served Monday - Friday 12 - 2pm Saturday 12 - 2.30pm

JOLLY SAILOR RAMSEY Now Serving freshly prepared food Monday to Friday 12 to 2.30pm and 6 to 9pm Saturday 12am to 9pm Sunday 12 to 4pm

Booking is advisable

The Prince of Wales Feathers

Š Mick Slaughter 2009

Castor, Peterborough Tel: 01733 380222

Award winning village local in historic Castor.

Close to the Nene Valley Railway & Ferry Meadows.

Serves 5 guest ales & real cider. Walker & dog friendly.

Home cooked food lunchtime & midweek evenings

Beer Festival

May 8th to 13th

Live music during festival from Oasis Trbute Band & The Dead Rabbits www.real-ale.org.uk

Open all day - every day • Large Beer Garden

Six Nations Rugby Live on Big Screen

Starting 2nd Feb to 16th March

Peterborough CAMRA Cricket Update

CAMRA Cricket | 31

All weekend fixtures have been arranged for the 2013 season with highlights including a July weekend tour to Worcester and a defence of PACT Trophy against Bradford Telegraph and Argus XI in August. We have been entered into the Peterborough mid-week league but details of fixtures can be found on our PlayCricket website. Thanks again to Orton Park who will be allowing us to use their ground for home fixtures, together with lending us some of their younger players to make up the numbers in the mid-week team.

Upcoming fixtures: Date Home Team Sun 14th Apr Orton Park CC - Friendly XI Sun 21st Apr Old Eastonians CC - Friendly XI Sun 28th Apr Bourne Optimists - 1st XI Tue 30th Apr Wansford - Midweek XI Sun 5th May 1st XI Sun 12th May Clipston CC, Leics - Friendly XI Sun 19th May Braybrooke CC - Braybrooke Sun 26th May Witham on the Hill - 1st XI Sun 2nd Jun 2013 1st XI Sun 9th Jun 2013 Welney - Friendly XI

vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs vs

Away Team 1st XI 1st XI 1st XI 1st XI Islip - Friendly XI 1st XI 1st XI 1st XI Rushden Town CC 1st XI

Throughout the winter we have been playing in the Peterborough indoor league based at Bushfields sports centre. With a few games remaining we are second in the table thanks to superb skipper Pete Jex, and opening partner Alan McLean, who seem to always have to retire when each reach 25 (league rules).

If you feel like joining us for a game and drinks afterwards please call Matt Mace on 07809629241.

32 | Please support our advertisers

PALMERSTON ARMS

Freehouse

82 Oundle Rd www.palmerston-arms.co.uk

14 Ever-changing, gravity fed real ales Wood burner for winter

QUIZ NIGHT Every Sunday from 7.30pm Cash jackpot and a gallon of ale!

VINYL NIGHT Bring down your favourite records Check Facebook for next event

UKELELE SESSIONS Every second Thursday from 7.30pm

PHILOSOPHY NIGHT Check Facebook for next event

LAZY SUNDAYS from 3pm

Opening Times Mon - Thurs 3-12pm Fri and Sat 12 - midnight Sun 12-11.30pm

Quiz Night every Wednesday 8.30pm start

For information on live entertainment go to Palmerston Arms

3 Courses including coffee London Street, Whittlesey PE7 1BH Tel: 01733 351001

The Cherry Tree 9 - 11 Oundle Road, Peterborough PE2 9PB Tel: 01733 703495

FOUR Real Ales available including Oakham Inferno,Timothy Tayor Landlord and two changing guest ales.

OPEN ALL DAY EVERYDAY Traditional Meals Served Mon - Thurs and Sundays Private Function room holds up to 40 people Ideal for small meetings, weddings and parties Covered Smoking Area AMPLE PARKING • CAMRA GOLD AWARD

www.cherrytree-inn.co.uk

www.real-ale.org.uk

3 Cask Ale pumps with at least 1 LocAle and others from far and wide

Food served every day • Sunday Carvery Function rooms available to hire for all occasions

Easter Sunday

Carvery Lunch £12.95

Rhythm and Booze

GIG GUIDE

APRIL

1st April - Shelley Tickner - Charters, Town Bridge 5th April - Little Dave Band - Cross Keys, Oundle Rd 5th April - Undercover - Charters, Town Bridge 6th April - Steve Bean - Woolpack, Stanground 7th April - The Guards - Charters, Town Bridge 12th April - Dizzy Miss Lizzy’s - Charters, Town Bridge 12th April - Soloist Kenny J - Cross Keys, Oundle Rd 13th April - Freeze - Angel, Yarwell 13th April - The Pulse - Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor 14th April - Best of Unplugged - Charters, Town Bridge 18th April - Captain Backwash - Hand & Heart, Eastfield 19th April - One Nation; Raidon & Ignition- Hand & Heart, Eastfield

19th April - Supernova - Charters, Town Bridge 19th April - Tunnel - Cross Keys, Oundle Rd 19th April - Karoake - Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor 20th April - New Generation, Crash & Burn, The Nuggets and Haylie-Mai - Ruddy Duck, Peakirk 20th April - The Black Cases; The Librarians & Columbian Necktie- Hand & Heart, Eastfield 20th April - Pennyless - Angel, Yarwell 21st April - Rob N Dave - Charters, Town Bridge 21st April - Chris Barrie; Dave Reid & Friends; Riot City Blues; Ian Graham & Kat Moore; Uncertain Midnight- Hand & Heart, Eastfield 26th April - Live music with Crash & Burn - Cross Keys, Oundle Rd

26th April - Stone Pony - Charters, Town Bridge 27th April - Porky Pig - Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor 28th April, 5pm - The Hound Dogs, £15 a ticket The Shuckburgh Arms, Southwick

28th April - Pennyless - Charters, Town Bridge

MAY

4th May - Ian Graham and Kat Moore - 9pm Woolpack, Stanground

4th May - The Overdubs - Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor 5th May - Joe Solo (Geoff the chef). 4-6pm Woolpack, Stanground

10th May - The Collaborators - Cross Keys, Oundle Rd 10th May - Definitely Maybes- Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor

11th May - Dead Rabbits- Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor

17th May - Elvis Tribute Night - Cross Keys, Oundle Rd 18th May - 101 Proof - Angel, Yarwell 24th May - Ska and Reggae night with Lowland Skank - Cross Keys, Oundle Rd 31st May - Faster Muttley - Cross Keys, Oundle Rd

REGULAR EVENTS

Charters Unplugged takes place on the first Monday of every month, hosted by Bon RogersWhite and featuring a guest artist. Also at Charters Pint of Poetry & A Dash of Drama remain on every 2nd Wednesday.

Live Bluegrass Session every third Monday of the month at the Shuckburgh Arms, Southwick.

Send any details for June / July gigs to info@orchardhousemedia.co.uk before 10th May

It’s FREE to list your gigs here!

34 | Please support our advertisers

NEW nu Food Me starting

in April

Real Cider

Belgian Beers

World Whisky’s

EASTER WEEKEND BEER FESTIVAL FRIDAY 29TH MARCH - 1ST APRIL Starts noon Friday Live Music • Serving Food Fri, Sat and Sun

For further information please contact THE GREEN MAN 29 SCOTGATE, STAMFORD, LINCOLNSHIRE TEL: 01780 753598 Greenman Stamford

www.real-ale.org.uk

thegreenmanstamford@thegreenman8

Breweriana | 35

Breweriana World Convention Brewery Collectibles World Convention Martin, Slovakia 3rd - 6th October 2013 Do you collect breweriana? Then this is THE event for you in 2013! For the first time in history, breweriana collectors club worldwide will come together for their first World Convention to be held in the northern Slovakian town of Martin, hosted and organised by Martin Porter Club based in the town and run by a multifaceted committee under the chairmanship of the foremost Slovak breweriana collector Ing. Jan Pokrievka. This event will be the largest and only one of its kind in the world in 2013 and will cater for all collectors of breweriana such as beer mats, bottle labels, beer glasses, crown caps, bottle openers, key rings, lighters, playing cards, pens, old bottles, pump clips, cans, postcards etc. An ideal opportunity to enrich and enlarge any collection.

The convention will run over four days from the 3rd to the 6th of October, 2013 in the huge venue of Martin’s sports hall. The organisers will arrange specially priced accommodation for all participants, transport from hotels to and from the venue, catering and refreshments, medical and first aid services, a social programme as well as translating and interpreting services.

As well as participants from every country in Europe, collectors are expected from Australia, USA, Canada, Africa and Asia. with participants from many other countries to be confirmed.

Several small, independent Slovak and Czech breweries will be serving their beers. With a beer in Slovakia costing an average of only one euro (ÂŁ0.5l) this is reason alone to visit this event in a small, picturesque, friendly and welcoming town in a beautiful part of Europe!!!

There are many ways to reach Martin, by air, by rail via Vienna and Bratislava or by road, but

by far the most economic and convenient way to travel there, especially if you have a lot of luggage and exchange material is by "Eurolines" coach from Victoria Coach Station in London direct to Zilina (Slovakia), and from there with a local bus, train or taxi to Martin. It is a pleasant and comfortable journey of around 23 hours passing through some of Europe’s most scenic areas and historic cities such as Lille, Brussels, Aachen, Luxembourg, Cologne, Nurembourg, Vienna, Prague and Bratislava. Accommodation will be arranged in all manner of places from 5 star hotels, B&Bs and student hostels depending upon the level of service required by each visitor. Martin is not far from the border with Poland and the Czech Republic so day trips to these countries are also very easy to make by road or using local bus or train services.

In each participating country of Europe there is a coordinator and an assistant coordinator who will be able to give full information about the event, accommodation, travel, languages, reservations, local amenities and places of interest. They will be able to assist with booking tables at the event, as well as accommodation and travel arrangements, both to and within Slovakia.

The assistant coordinator for the UK is Tyneside and Northumberland CAMRA member (331396) Matt Debinski in Newcastle upon Tyne. If you wish to attend his unique and enormous first world congress of worldwide breweriana collectors, or should you require any further information, please contact Matt by post at: 55 Waverley Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7SD (Please enclose a stamp addressed envelope) www.real-ale.org.uk

of Two Halves

A Campaign

)DL U RQ GHD WD[ EHHU O QR Z

Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to: Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road, St.Albans, Herts AL1 4LW

Service User Number

9 2 6 1 2 9

Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society To the Manager

Bank or Building Society

Address

7EZI &VMXEMR¡W 4YFW

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Join CAMRA Today

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Complete the Direct Debit form opposite and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and a fantastic discount on your membership subscription.

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Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd with your completed form, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus or call 01727 867201.

All forms should be addressed to Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.

Reference

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FOR CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE LTD OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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Instructions to your Bank or Building Society 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.

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Enjoying Real Ale & Pubs

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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 • If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society - If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when The Campaign For Real Ale Ltd asks you to • You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society.Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

38 | Contact Details

Branch Committee

Beer Around ’Ere

Secretary: Dickie Bird 4 Cissbury Ring,Werrington Peterborough, PE4 6QH 01733 574226 (tel & fax) 07731 993896 info@real-ale.org.uk

Editor: Jane Flew bae-editor@real-ale.org.uk

Chairman: David Murray 01733 560453 chairman@real-ale.org.uk Treasurer: Paul Beecham 01733 311981 07710 008693 0870 7620848 (fax) treasurer@real-ale.org.uk Vice Chair: Matthew Mace 07809 629241 vice-chair@real-ale.org.uk Social Sec: John Hunt 07923 489917 social-sec@real-ale.org.uk Pubs Officer: Neil Holmes 07886 974977 pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk Press Officer: Karl Simpson 07737 297072 press-officer@real-ale.org.uk Young Members: Katie Barrett 07951 919451 young-members@real-ale.org.uk Membership: Steve Saldana 07988 067260 membership@real-ale.org.uk Festival Org: Mike Lane 07850 334203 festival-organiser@real-ale.org.uk LocAle Officer: John Rice 07759 342702 locale@real-ale.org.uk Webmaster: Harry Morten webmaster@real-ale.org.uk

Distribution: David Murray (See Chairman on the left) Advertising: Jane Michelson 01778 420888 Mobile: 07732 393621 jane@shillingmedia.co.uk

Magazine & Advertising Production: Daniel Speed 01733 211001 info@orchardhousemedia.co.uk Proofreader: Bob Melville See details below Brewery Liaison Officers Blue Bell: John Hunt 07923 489917 Bexar County Brewery: Steve Williams Castor Ales: Mike Lane 07850 334203 Digfield: Dave Waller 07821 912605 Elgoods: John Hunt 07923 489917 Hopshackle: Noel Ryland 07944 869656 Melbourn: Lew Clayton 01780 765063 Nene Valley: Bob Melville 07941 246693 Oakham Ales: Dave Allett 07966 344417 Tydd Steam: John Hunt 07923 489917 Trading Standards 08545 040506 www.consumerdirect.gov.uk Check out our websites at: www.real-ale.org.uk www.beer-fest.org.uk

The next issue of BAE will be available on: 23rd May We must have your stories, news and advertisements by: 4th May Late copy cannot be guaranteed entry.

Please contact Chris Shilling 01778 421550 Mobile: 07736 635 916 or Jane Michelson 01778 420888 Mobile: 07732 393621 jane@shillingmedia.co.uk for all of your advertising needs.

Neil Holmes pubs-officer@real-ale. org.uk or 07886 974977 is always looking for pub news.

Please send stories and other copy to bae-editor@real-ale.org.uk Beer Around ‘Ere is published by Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA Copyright © 2013, The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. Views or comments expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of the Editor or of CAMRA.

KELLY SIMMONDS TRUST

CHARITY BEER FESTIVAL Friday 24th - Bank Holiday Monday 27th May

18 Real Ales • Hot and Cold Food Live Music from the Nuggets

Raising Funds in loving memory of Kelly Simmonds for the RSS (Respiratory Sleep Study) Unit Papworth Hospital

Hodgson Centre, Hodgson Ave PE4 5EG Tel: 01733 578088

www.save theplough man.com

4TH - 7TH JULY• 59+ ALES! Charity Auction, Raffle, German BBQ Live Music Day and Night Friday Night: Hooker Saturday Night: Motor City Vipers Sunday Night: Citizen Smith Other Bands TBC - check Facebook

THE PLOUGHMAN Staniland Way, Werrington centre PE4 6NA Tel: 01733 327696

The Ploughman

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Real Ales!

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More than just a Carvery!

A great welcome awaits you at The Farmers, Yaxley.

We are famous for our fresh vegetables and great carvery meats, succulent and served with all the trimmings, then finished off with a tantalising hot or cold dessert!

Open Every Day 10am - 5.30pm All Day Menu & Coffee Midday - 2:30pm Carvery & Specials Menu 5:30pm - LATE Carvery & Grill Menu Sunday Open From 12 Noon - 9pm All Day Carvery

Check out our lunch time grill menus and our ever changing specials boards. Put it all together with three fine cask ales and you have the perfect place to enjoy dinner with friends or a family celebration.

We have a self contained function suite which is ideal for parties, weddings and all of life’s celebrations.

So if you’ve not been before give us a try and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Now taking bookings for Father’s Day Sunday 16th June Treat your dad to a meal and a pint!

200 Broadway, Yaxley Tel: 01733 244885 Email: thefarmers@btconnect.com www.thefarmersyaxley.co.uk