Beer around ere 174

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Issue 174 | Dec 2013 / Jan 2014

Also inside:

Bluebell Pub Review • Pub News Dragon Wins Gold Award • Gigs Guide Oakham Ales Visit • Brewery Updates Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA | www.peterborough-camra.org.uk

Chairman’s Corner | 3

J

Chairman’s Corner

ingle, jingle, no not bells, but the tills in our depleting number of pubs over the coming festive season. At least that’s what most will be hoping to hear. For many people a visit to a local pub is just a once in a year event, with family or visiting friends, during the festive season. After all the tinsel and holly have been taken down it’s back to the six packs from the supermarket, sitting on the lounge sofa! Pubs need your support for twelve months of the year, not just for one day.

CAMRA is backing the Fair Deal for your Local campaign which is attempting to get reform of the pub company system. Pubs campaigner and MP Greg Mulholland, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, has spoken out against the way that the Pubcos have behaved towards their licensees. Greg said “It’s the worst example of reckless, irresponsible capitalism this country has seen – a get- rich-quick scheme for a greedy few that has marred lives and closed thousands of pubs, and caused losses of billions for the UK economy.” He continued: “The Beer Orders failed in one spectacular way, which CAMRA and others spotted. They should have prevented any company, not just brewers, from owning and supply-tying more than the 2,000 pubs that were declared as the limit. That was the tragedy and disaster of the Beer Orders”. This hole was spotted and exploited by many in the city, who had no connection to, or little empathy with, the sector.

In 1969 a Monopolies Commission report recommended the market rent-only option for pubs.

This is certainly needed now, if we are to prevent the loss of any more pubs. Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has the power to put the proposed reforms that are demanded into action. Has he got the courage finally to do it? He has acknowledged there are

problems faced by pub tenants which demand attention, but was not sure what exactly was causing them! Meanwhile the Pubcos have hit back by producing a cynical campaign of misinformation about any Pubco reform. This is nothing but a ploy by them to try and stop the government from introducing any changes to the present system.

Whilst still on the subject of pubs it has been confirmed that the Boro Bar (ex Boys Head) on Oundle Road is set to become another Tesco Express mini- market shop. This in spite of many local residents being against the plans, plus the fact there are two other supermarkets within a few hundred yards of the proposed new one.

We will be holding our AGM of the Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA on Monday 2nd December at The Brewery Tap. All members are welcome to attend. This year we have been notified by several of our committee that they wish to stand down from their posts. We therefore shall be seeking some replacements to fill these vacancies.

They are Press, Young Members, Membership and Locale Officers. The present members of these posts will be willing to offer assistance to the people taking on these posts. We don’t ‘throw you in at the deep end’ at least not straight away.

Any willing volunteers can contact me before the AGM. We are in the process of mailing out to all our members voting forms for our POTY (Pub of the Year) and selections for the 2015 Good Beer Guide.

Also attached is an application for tickets to our Xmas party to be held this year at the Ploughman in Werrington Centre. Please support us in these events to ensure our branch remains very active within the campaign.

Finally, I wish all our readers far and wide the compliments of the season and good cheer for the coming New Year.

Cheers

David Murray Branch Chairman.

Peterborough Branch Website |www.real-ale.org.uk

Pub News Around ‘Ere Honest John Full of Brass

The Honest John Pub in South Park Street, Chatteris hosted a fireworks evening on Saturday, 2nd November with entertainment by Chatteris Town Band. The popular local brass band performed a full programme finishing with a resounding selection of Last Night of the Proms music. Visitors were treated to a fireworks display as well as bowls of warming chilli con carne.

The whole event was free and well attended despite the windy weather conditions.

Landlord, Richard Savage, said, “We had a great evening, the band was fantastic and everybody had a good time.”

Chatteris Town Band will be making a return visit to the Honest John for an indoor Christmas concert on Wednesday, 18th December from 8pm, with mulled wine and mince pies available, everybody welcome!

Iron Horse roars into Deeping!

A new venue is appearing in Deeping St James in early December. The Iron Horse is an American diner designed in the style of a Texas saloon, www.real-ale.org.uk

which also has hints of biker memorabila.

They are looking to stock local real ales including a special brew by Bexar County Brewery as well as a selection of craft American beer which they are importing from the USA. The owners have a whole raft of events planned including rock and roll and hillbilly live music plus regular biker nights. For more information please see the website www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk.

In Stamford, The Dolphin in East Road has been closed and there are fears it will be sold to a developer and changed into a dwelling. Stories about The Hit & Miss not being shut appear to be false as latest news indicates the pub is now closed, and cannot be contacted by telephone.

December is the latest date being put around for the opening of the new Wetherspoons pub near the Sheepmarket. No name for the former newspaper premises has been advertised, but expectations include, The Press, The Printing Press, The Mercury or something of that nature.

It’s unlikely to be welcomed by the other local pubs in the town.

Out in the Fens of Lincolnshire The Red Lion in Gedney Hill has been put up for sale. It was unique in the fact that it had a sloping passage to the toilets – the only hill for miles around!

On the 9th of November we presented an award to Smiths of Bourne for achieving ten years of continuous entries in The Good Beer Guide.

This being the first and only pub in the town to achieve this accolade.

Out to the west of our branch area in the village of Collyweston on the A43 is The Collyweston Slater. This 18th century stone built inn is the only pub in the village. Recent new licensees Kelvin and Helen Conboy are determined to make the pub/inn a place for a wide variety of customers to enjoy. Kelvin said “we want to welcome anyone who enjoys good beer, good food

Pub News | 5

and comfortable surroundings”. The pub has three en-suite rooms for non-local visitors, and is just three miles from Stamford. Beers are from Everards brewery with one guest ale featuring at the moment. The pub is one of a few with a Pentanque pitch at the rear of the premises.

Kelvin said they do not intend to open for Christmas day lunch but, will be open from 11am till 2pm for locals and other visitors to come and enjoy a drink.

The Bluebell, Helpston

Another pub with fairly new licensees is The Bluebell in Helpston now under the wing of Shirley and Fernando. Although this is not their first pub, it is the first they’ve run with real ale as a prominent feature. The regular ale is Fullers London Pride with a continuous flow of guest beers as requested by the locals. To use a phrase from one of our major supermarkets “as chosen by you” would seem to be very appropriate for this pub. “Please the locals first” would be my motto for any village pub. With Fernando leaning towards his Spanish origins it is natural for the food to be of a Mediterranean style. The menu includes Pub grub, Tapas and good home cooked food. The pub has traditional opening hours, but closes at 2-30pm and re-opens at 5/6pm depending on the day. It has an entry in the 2014 Good Beer Guide and has had for many years.

Yet another of our pubs has a new licensee, this one in Stanground. Not only a new licensee but a complete transformation with a major refit and alterations. The Whittle Way on Central Square, (just off the Whittlesey Road), was built around the early sixties as a typical estate pub. The first licensee was named “Jock” Simmons who ran it for a number of years. The incoming licensee is Jamie who took over earlier in the year. The Punch Tavern owned pub has had around £250k spent on reviving it. The front public bar, the old lounge area and function room have been combined to create an L shaped bar area with loads of space and seating. A total of 5 hand pumps are available with the regular ale being Doom Bar, and there are guest ales from an extensive list. As the pub only re opened the first week of November after a 5 week closure for the alterations, Jamie has gradually been increasing the range. Pub food is served at lunchtime and in evenings until 9pm. It has all day opening hours.

We wish Jamie and his team success in his quest to bring back the glory days. The pub is well served by public transport, as several of the local bus services run past the door during the daytime.

Further east, a mole informs us that The Carpenters Arms in Coates, which has been closed for over a year, is undergoing a makeover!

The new owners are said to be the licensees of a similarly named pub in Stanground. We await further developments!

Finally, a message to all our pub landlords/ managers, we are always eager to hear of any developments, events or changes to your pubs.

We try our best to get our facts as accurate as possible, however the licensed trade is a very unstable sector of the drinks market and so occasionally we may make the odd error. If we are not informed of the true facts by landlords or local residents we cannot publish them!

So publicans please let us know of anything that may be affecting your pub, contact our Pubs officer who is always keen for news.

Continued overleaf

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New managers Shirlie and Fernando have recently moved to Helpston and refurbished this friendly characterful pub bringing a hint of Spain.

The Bluebell is now offering an extensive food menu combining the English dishes you love with a tasty Spanish twist. From haddock & chips to the social enjoyment of sharing authentic tapas.

www.real-ale.org.uk

Editor’s Ramblings!

Words from our new editor| 7

The Ship Inn, March Each year we send out a voting form to all our members who are eligible to cast a vote for the nominees in our annual Pub of The Year Award.

At the end of last year these were sent out as usual. Although we only get a very disappointing response back from this, we nevertheless use those votes to select the winning pub.

Just before the voting closure date, we received information that one of the contenders The Ship Inn in March had been closed by the local police authority. This was then also reiterated by another source. The result was that we had no other option than to de-select the pub from the nominations.

Without going into further detail we later found that this information was a total fabrication and downright lie! The pub had never been closed during the time suggested. Unfortunately due to a communication problem we could not contact the pub and so we had to accept the information we were given.

This branch of CAMRA DEPLORES ANY MISLEADING INFORMATION THAT IS DETRIMENTAL TO ANY PUB OR LICENSEE. We can only extend our regrets and sorrow to Paul Wing, the Ship Inn licensee, for us being misled.

We are happy to say that the pub continues to thrive and is still one of the town’s most welcoming watering holes.

David Murray Branch Chairman.

Greetings!

Welcome to the December/January edition – where has 2013 gone? Must be a sign of old age!

It’s good to know that BAE reaches further afield than Peterborough and District and that CAMRA members from other areas take the time to email comments. One such came from Clive Walder a Birmingham CAMRA member regarding an article about Bert Murray in the April/ May 2013 edition.

I have Clive’s permission to include his additional information regarding Bert’s footballing career.

Thanks Clive. “a friend of mine gave me a copy of the April/ May edition of Beer Around ‘Ere and I noticed an article announcing that Bert Murray had run the Bull Hotel in Market Deeping for 20 years and it was mentioned that he used to play football for Peterborough United and Chelsea but didn’t mention that he also played for my home town club Brighton and Hove Albion. A friend of mine won the shirt that Bert won in Brighton’s promotion match against Rochdale in 1972 in a raffle. He gave me the shirt and I still have it!”

Will be pleased to receive any sensible ideas, emails, and comments for inclusion in BAE, however they must fit in with CAMRA ethos!

Having said that I cannot guarantee inclusion.

(I dismissed the beer related knitting patterns idea!

Yes they do exist!) I was pleased to see that in the last issue it was reported that more women are trying real ale these days. There really is a real ale out there to suit all tastes/palates and just think of the fun to be had searching for that “special one”!

Finally a big “thank you” to those who do send articles/ information for inclusion, if it wasn’t for this input there would be no BAE! Enjoy the festive season.

JB

Peterborough Branch Website |www.real-ale.org.uk

Bexar County Brewery Bexar County Brewery have been spreading themselves around a bit with beers being available at the Allgates Brewery Beer Festival which is better known as the “Road to Wigan Beer”.

Allgates operate 7 pubs in the Wigan area and have various beers in each pub. The Bedford Beer Festival and Tap East in London to celebrate their 2nd Anniversary, have both taken beers from Bexar, with brews being delivered to the Pig's Ear Festival nearer the time. A beer was specially commissioned for the annual Winter Ball at Cambridge University called Snowball, which is a vanilla stout at about 4%. We think this is the first time a university has commissioned a beer for such an occasion.

A new bottled beer is being produced called ‘I am not a fruit beer’ 4.2%. This will be a slightly sour beer with beetroot! Must be worth a go!

Blue Bell Brewery Sales are normal and bottling is still going well, as are sales to private parties.

Castor Ale Castor Ales continues to brew to capacity to meet demand. Hopping Toad and 12th Man are proving popular additions to the range.

12th Man made a successful appearance in The Shakespeare in Sheffield to coincide with a university reunion of brewer and friends. The whole cask was consumed during the evening session! Many thanks to the staff at The Shakespeare for making it happen.

Castor Ales was pleased to support local band Pennyless by supporting their gig at Kings Cliffe village hall in November, headlined by Nottingham band, Muha.

Now that the nights are drawing in, darker ales are being planned. Look out for Castor and www.real-ale.org.uk

Pollux – The Winter’s Ale, with cinnamon and a hint of cloves for a festive taste. The perfect pint to accompany a mince pie! Merry Christmas to all.

Elgoods The new seasonal is Harry Trotter and the Deathly Swallows 4.5% which is a Plum Porter.

North Brink Porter was out mid-October. The Lambic is still maturing nicely, with a possibility of a new brewing of Lambic in November. The Rose and Crown at Holbeach Hurn has been sold and is now trading as a free house.

Hopshackle Brewery – Market Deeping Nigel is really pleased to have won another Gold Award for Ballast 3.8% abv at Falmouth Beer Festival. “It makes all the hard work worthwhile”.

A new fermenting vessel installed in November is identical to the two already installed.

Hopshackle will be brewing a Christmas beer this year, something which hasn’t been done for last three years. It will be called Black Ice 5.2 abv, a dark beer spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. The Brewery has been approached by two companies who want to export their bottled beers to Asia, in particular China. All Hopshackle beers are now available for Christmas delivery or collection. www.hopshacklebrewery.co.uk Mile Tree Brewery As most will know Mile Tree is based in the Secret Garden Touring Park in Wisbech St Mary and is operated by experienced brewer Richard Matthews and his wife Karen.

Their first summer season at the Park has gone extremely well with draught and bottled beers going down well with campers. The sausage and beer tastings on Saturday afternoons have proved particularly popular with the visitors with lots of positive feedback about the beer (the sausages were probably very well received too but this is a brewery report).

BLO Reports | 9

Many of you will have noticed the trade stand they had at the Peterborough Beer Festival which had a huge response from pub landlords at the Tuesday Trade Session. The beers were also available at the festival and it was noted that Richard was working tirelessly behind the bar ruthlessly promoting his beers, and quite right too. Other Festivals attended included Grantham, Melton Mowbray, Nottingham and Falmouth which were complimented by local festivals at the Hand and Heart, Ruddy Duck, Coalheavers and Wisbech St Mary Sports and Social Club.

The beers are becoming more widely available around the area and beyond with appearances in a number of pubs including White Horse in Witcham, Liberty Bell in Ely and the

Crown Lodge Hotel in Outwell. Closer to home the brewery has had a presence in Charters, Rose and Crown in March, Rose and Crown in Thorney, Mama Liz's in Stamford, Kings Cliffe Ex-Servicemen’s Club, the Cambridge Blue, the Ramsey Golf Club and the Blue Bell in Easton on the Hill. They also supplied the Nene Valley Railway for their recent Diesel Gala.

Richard and Karen attended the Sacrewell Farm and Country Centre’s Autumn Fayre where the draught and bottled beers were offered to the discerning customers and sold extremely well.

Adventurer and Strawberry Blonde are being brewed continuously to keep up with demand and a range of new beers are in the pipe line including a Christmas beer based upon an 1850 Old Porter recipe and will be available in bottles. If you happen to find the beers in your local pub the give them a try and Richard will be keen to have any feedback. If however you can't find the beers in your local pub then ask the landlord why not!

Nene Valley Brewery The Brewery has taken on an Assistant Brewer, Paul Woodcock, who has a Master’s Degree in Brewing from Heriot Watt University. His first beer, PFB (Paul’s First Brown) 4.4%, a brown beer brewed for the World Conker Championships, which took place at the Shuckburgh Arms, Southwick on Sunday October 13th.

Dark Mild (MLD) 3.8% has been brewed again and a re-badged version of BSA was available from the end of October, with a special pump clip naming the beer as Blood Sucking Ale. There have been no changes to the beer. Australian Pale (OZP) has also been made available to seven

Mile Tree Brewery kit

Continued overleaf www.real-ale.org.uk

BLO Reports | 11

McManus pubs in and around Northampton (the Malt Shovel et al) and is re-badged in Northampton Saints colours and known as TRY. Brewing and bottling is now under way for Christmas with a porter to be brewed to supplement the normal range. The brewery is to try mail order via the website for the festive period.

There are tentative plans New Year’s Eve party as alternatives to the more recent Knees Up events. Hop contracts have been signed for this year and next year to ensure a continuity of supply.

Oakham Ales December’s Oakademy beer will be Edgar’s Bazaar 3.9% and next year will see the introduction of 6 brand new Oakademy beers.

Two old favourites will return – Helter Skelter and Mompessons Gold and there will be a brand new seasonal beer in April.

come is a strong Pale Ale, amber in colour 4.6 4.8% abv.

Check out Star Brewing Company on facebook and tweet @starbrewco.

Tydd Steam The autumn seasonal ale Leveller was brewed mid-October. The Falmouth Beer Festival was a triumph for Tydd Steam as they won 4 awards!

Quench won Silver in the Speciality category, Golden Kiwi won Silver in the Golden Ales category and Piston Bob won Gold in the Premium Bitter category and won the overall beer of the festival.

Green Devil IPA was named Champion Beer at the recent St Albans Beer Festival and also took first place at the recent Amber Valley CAMRA Festival in Alfreton. Green Devil IPA will also represent Oakham Ales at next year’s SIBA National Competition which takes place in Sheffield in March.

Star Brewing Company The new Market Deeping brewery is on schedule for the first week in December. All the pre-fab work is done, such as cones for vessel bottoms, dished tops, man ways and rolled body sections.

All is ready for the final assembly – very exciting!

There are two new beers Equinox 4.6% abv, an autumn ale which sold out in a week and Dark Matter 4.4% abv a stout, which is selling well, with very positive feedback from customers. Next to www.real-ale.org.uk

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Gold Award Presentation to the Dragon, Werrington | 13

The Dragon Hoards it’s Gold!

O n 29rd October the Dragon in Werrington became the latest pub in Peterborough to be presented with a CAMRA Gold Award. The award was given for several reasons as cited on the certificate: keeping a good range of real ales, promoting regular incentives on ale and ciders, a commitment to local ales and recognition of the pub’s community activities within the local neighbourhood.

In nominating the pub local membership officer, Steve Saldana, commented: “... the beers here are fantastic, they’re always in good nick. The staff are fantastic, the things that Stuart does here and what he does for charities, it’s second to none and he’s done some things that most other pubs don’t do. That’s why we’re here giving the award because, at the end of the day, he deserves it.”

John Rice added: “I second everything that’s been said. It’s a good pub, good staff, a well run pub with good beers. They deserve this award.”

Landlord Stuart Simmonds was presented with the award by Branch chairman Dave Murray, before proudly showing it off for photographs alongside his staff. Also in attendance was his Charles Wells area manager who had come along to witness one of their flagship local pubs receive the award.

The award now means that Dragon also enters the race for the Peterborough and District Branch Pub of the Year to be decided at the end of the year. As one ‘casual’ observer also pointed out this now puts it in the running against its “sister” pub the Ploughman for the top title!

Karl Simpson Press Officer Pictured: Stuart Simmonds, landlord of the Dragon, receives the award from Steve Saldana and John Rice

14 | Pub Review

The Bluebell Inn Whaplode St Catherine

A

fter a tip-off about large plates of food on offer in the darkest fens, I took up the challenge to hunt them down and took the in-laws out for a spot of dinner one Saturday to the Bluebell Inn, Whaplode St Catherine.

After a 20 minute drive along the arrow-straight droves which line the fields of this area we arrived at the pub just as the sun was setting. First impressions were good. The Bluebell has a large car park which was pretty full, I always take this as a good sign for food-led pubs as it usually means people have come out of their way to dine.

Also outside is a paddock used for events and a large potato packing shed which is the home of the on-site brewery, The Bluebell Brewery, which brews for the pub and other outlets.

Inside, the pub has a traditional feel with beamed ceilings, wood burners and old porcelain signage from the early 1900’s. The front of the pub is separated into smallish rooms with a few seating areas, giving it a cozy and private feel where you could have a conversation in a group without disturbing those around you.

At the Bar, there were three ales available on hand pulls - Old Honesty from the onsite brewery, Thwaites Lancaster Bomber and Woodfordes Wherry.

report by Daniel Speed

We tried the Bomber and Old Honesty. Both ales were clear and fresh from obviously well kept lines. The Bomber won out for overall flavour and body with its toffee and biscuit notes but I would have liked to see a larger selection available from the brewery next door, but that’s the only grumble of the whole visit!

After a short wait we were led through the pub to the dining area by a very polite waitress and shown our table. The dining area was very clean with big oak tables and a massive fireplace which was thankfully used only for display purposes, I think if it had been lit, the heat would probably have instantly turned us into pillars of salt.

After looking through the very extensive menu, which included a large selection of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes, everyone ordered. I must also mention at the time of our visit a cold cuts and fish buffet was also offered on an all-you-can-eat basis which looked very fresh and well stocked.

In a short while our food arrived. Now, one thing to remember if you do visit this pub, come hungry! The plates are definitely loaded towards what I call ‘American portions’ but the quality is very high so I found myself beaten and full well before I had finished - no bad thing in today’s climate of scrimping! I had a word with the owner about the massive portions and he said ‘we have been offering big plates for years and people ‘round here keep coming back for more so we have to keep the portions large’....fair enough I say, farmers portions in farmer county....no complaints from me.

Freehouse

When the bill arrived it came to the grand total of £130.00 without tip. That’s a three course meal for five with a couple of drinks each (£26.00 a head). A good price for good beer and food.

To sum up, the Bluebell is a gem of a pub with polite and friendly staff and well worth the 30 minute drive from central Peterborough. Book in advance, starve yourself for a day and enjoy!

The Bluebell Inn

Whaplode St Catherine.

Lincolnshire PE12 6SN Tel: 01406 540 300 www.thebluebell.net

mas Christ gs Bookin g n i e b now n e k ta 3 Cask Ale pumps with at least 1 LocAle and others from far and wide

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London Street, Whittlesey PE7 1BH Tel: 01733 351001 www.real-ale.org.uk

www.real-ale.org.uk

A

t the end of September Stamford held its first ever Georgian festival, an event hailed as a great success after more than 22,000 people attended over the weekend. But at least one event was a little on the disappointing side...

An advert for a “Compare and Contrast” talk on the history of brewing from Georgian times had caught my eye the previous week, so a friend and I rolled up to The William Cecil (formerly The Lady Anne’s hotel) at lunchtime on the Sunday to enrol.

Having done so we were introduced to the speaker, who I fear must remain nameless. He proudly informed us that he had worked for Guinness and Heineken as well as being instrumental in introducing Stella Artois to the UK. Thunderstruck, we repaired to the bar for a much needed drink (fortunately Nene Valley NVB was eminently quaffable).

Now we had a dilemma – we’d paid the £2.50 but what could an individual with these, erm, credentials tell us about brewing? We opted to go in regardless and I have to say it was a serious disappointment! I don’t claim to be an expert on brewing (although I kid myself that I know a bit about the end product). However, I honestly believe I could have done a better job if I’d been asked to stand up and give an impromptu speech on the subject. Surely there is more to giving a talk than reading a succession of statistics from a sheet of paper, isn’t there?

As for the historical theme – well several times our “expert” threatened to mention the Georgian

Compare and Contrast era before hastily reverting to facts and figures from the industry in the 1970’s. At one point he intoned “None of those breweries remains open today. The one still open is …..”

I started looking at my watch from the ten minute mark, but we had to endure an hour before we were asked “Any questions”. Somebody unwisely came up with a question which our host said would take some time to answer, so the rest of the sparse audience legged it back to the bar where solace was taken in the arms of Nene Valley and their excellent DXB. “Compare and Contrast” proved to be prophetic. We’d also booked for the following lecture “A History of Clock making in Stamford” given by a local clock and watchmaker Robert Loomes. From the word go he had a much larger audience enthralled, even those like me had no previous interest in the subject. His Q and A session was amusing and memorable and I found myself wishing that he and not the brewer had given the brewing lecture...

I should add that we strolled to The George for our lunch. It’s been a few years since I ventured in there, fearing high prices and mediocre ale. But I have to say that the two pints of Adnams bitter I drank whilst there, were the best I’ve ever had from that particular brewery – and I’ve drunk it several times in the Adnams heartland of Southwold. Well done The George.

Alun Thomas www.real-ale.org.uk

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Oakham Ales Branch Social Visit

O

n 26th October the Peterborough & District CAMRA branch made one of their regular pilgrimages to Oakham Ales courtesy of special invitation from the brewery.

Always a popular event in the branch calendar this social event was extremely well attended and attracted a sell out number of 50 members.

The beers provided for sampling were JHB, Scarlet Macaw and Inferno, all served direct from the cask in the cold store. All were in excellent condition and kept the group entertained for a good couple of hours! The usual brewery tour was available for those that wanted to partake.

As we each observed the operation seems to get bigger every year with newly installed pieces of kit appearing as the brewery grows from strength to strength.

The main feature of the days visit was of course the official presentation of the CAMRA silver medal certificate for Green Devil IPA which was awarded at this year’s Peterborough Beer Festival.

This beer came second in the Strong Bitter & Ale category and provided Oakham with yet another accolade to add to their already impressive tally of achievements at CAMRA beer festivals. The award was presented by Chairman Dave Murray to head brewer, Alex Kean, who thanked the Peterborough branch for their support of the brewery over the years.

Karl Simpson Press Officer

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

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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

Beer With Elvis 20 |

A

mused to myself, I like the look of that.

A trip across the States or part of it could be an interesting diversion.

mid-life crisis can hit the unsuspecting 50 year old in a variety of different ways.

Some cling to the vain hope that they’re attractive to the opposite sex 20 years their junior and embark on dalliances in that direction, others try to do something monumental and meaningful such as an epic road trip. As my wife pointed out the only women likely to be interested in me apart from her, would be the very regular customers of Specsavers or those confined in homes for the decayed and bewildered. Therefore, a road trip seemed an obvious choice.

As someone who knows as much about motorbikes as I do about cranial trepanning, the vehicle of choice would have to be a car and as Connolly’s camera crew were unavailable, Clive & Margaret, my in-laws made suitable replacements.

So, armed with plane tickets, high hopes, pensioners and reservations for the first night in a Comfort Inn we headed for America.

An epic road trip needs to be something more substantial than a few days traversing the A14 to Felixstowe and if time was to be spent on the road we’d need a destination more absorbing than a windswept, outcrop of ballast in Suffolk. So in search of some divine inspiration I made my way to the pub.

This particular pub just so happened to have the telly tuned to Billy Connolly and his series featuring a motorbike and Route 66 and I quietly

So what does all this self-indulgent garbage, the mention of in-laws and aging Scottish comedians have to do with real ale? Well, I’ll tell you. If proper beer was going to be absent from my life for a few weeks and sanity preserved, suitable alternatives would have to be sought. My infrequent trips to the States have always presented me with a choice of Koors Transparent or Bladweiser Badger Whizz and I was keen to see if something with more

On The Road with Steve Williams| 21

grunt would be served in Stateside bars. So, with less research than was useful, we embarked upon a journey to discover the unknown, the open road and probably some beer.

The city of Savannah, in Georgia, is vibrant and exciting. In fact, it’s a very pleasant place generally, especially in the cooler months before the mosquitos from the nearby swamps move in and start hanging around on street corners looking for trouble. The water front is awash with bars and restaurants and, remarkably, there’s even a choice of beers to be had. Every bar seems to offer something unusual and a favourite venue turned out to be a little dark hangout called Fiddler’s Crab House. Here could be found a selection of beers including Terrapin Golden Ale at 5% and

Hopsecutioner IPA at a mere 7.3%! Moon River Brewery is the local homebrew pub here which offers the option of having a ‘flight of beers’ giving the opportunity to cram a few more samples into your day. The nearby Boar’s Head on the riverfront made a good stop off for a meal of shrimp and grits complimented with Sweetwater 420 Ale from Atlanta. One of the advantages of Savannah is that it’s one of the very few cities Continued overleaf

22 | Please support our advertisers

in America that allows drinking in public. Here you can go about your business of supping a cold one from a ‘Go Cup’ without the considerable weight of the Georgia PD descending upon you and giving you a damn good thrashing.

Christmas 2013: Join us in December for fabulous festive menus and events in our restaurant, bar and marquee weekend parties.

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Boxing Day & New Year’s Day dining or simply relaxing by our log fire in the bar.

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

A few hours drive north brought us to Charleston, famous for being the place where the first shots of the civil war were fired. An excellent museum run by the United Daughters of the Confederacy can be found in the city which commemorates the southern cause in great detail and has a fine collection of bullet ridden flags.

I get the feeling that despite the intervening 150 years the south are still quite a bit angry about all this. Just a short stroll from the harbour is the Southern Brewery Tap. We took our place at the bar on the third floor and called for suitable refreshment. The brewery is a fine example of what can be achieved with an endless supply of polish and elbow grease. Of the 5 or 6 beers on tap a favourite was the Riptide Red and the Love Me Two Times Blonde. Here we dined on homemade pizza, fries and a southern delicacy called ‘hush puppies’ which, thankfully, turned out to be nothing to do with footwear.

Beer with Elvis. The city of Memphis can be described in many ways. Interesting, lively, exciting or a bit grubby and run down, incidentally the same words used to describe me at various points in my life, but that’s another story.

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 www.real-ale.org.uk

Memphis is also where modern music began, where the blues took root, and where Sun Studios recorded Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and a host of other flamboyant young men, who had parents phoning the local radio station to complain about this dangerous new music. The epicentre of this cultural overload is Beale Street, a short strip of real estate where the blues sing out from a hundred different bars and restaurants all competing for the tourist dollar. After a couple of hundred miles under our collective belts it was time for a beer with our first stop being the Blues Café. A place reminiscent of a transport café on the A47 with the added charm of background Robert Johnson doing his bluesy thing, but it

On The Road with Steve Williams | 23

provided the required refreshments of a ‘Big Ass Beer’, catfish and shrimp. The choice of beer was either the ubiquitous Bud or Ghost River, which was always going to be the better choice. Many of the bars will provide a choice of craft brews including a few very obscure ones of which Lazy Magnolia Stout was more than acceptable. For the real craft beer experience though, an establishment called the Flying Saucer fills the need. Its here you’ll not only be greeted by hundreds of craft beers from all over the US, but also waitresses in miniscule skirts. The place is very popular as you can imagine. Where else would you find such a wide choice of beer! The Flying Saucer is part of a chain of pubs that has outlets from Texas to North Carolina and everywhere in between. The trouble with being confronted by hundreds of American craft beers with names such as Finch’s Cut Throat Pale Ale or Rogue

(

)

“After apologising to all present I hurriedly changed out of my Spiderman outfit, got down from the table and left by the nearest window.”

Brutal IPA is that without some knowledge it’s almost impossible to make a sensible choice.

Many of the ales available can be quite troublesome with strengths in the upper 6% and 7% range and, to make things slightly more entertaining, none of the taps tell you how strong your beer choice will be! So with little or no regard for my social wellbeing and personal safety I opted for a pungent little number from Green Flash Brewery of California called West Coast IPA. This was a revelation and seemed typical of the popular idea that American IPA’s should ram a fist full of hops right up your hooter. A second pint followed, as I had enjoyed it so much, and it slipped down quite easily despite it being 7%, a fact I was blissfully oblivious to as my world became slightly out of focus. There followed another beer of similar clout and, to be perfectly

honest, I’d probably had sufficient but as I was on holiday I thought what the hell. It was soon after, despite many years of coherent thought, that my brain decided to become uncooperative resulting in at least one comical and theatrical episode.

After apologising to all present I hurriedly changed out of my Spiderman outfit, got down from the table and left by the nearest window. Despite my brain running away to the circus for a short while I survived without damage and, after a brief spouse-imposed period on the naughty chair, we continued our tour.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do; and when in Memphis, do as the Elvis fans do, and go to Graceland. Here you can pay homage to Mr. Presley’s money making merry go round. Despite the obscene display of tat and the over-the-top glitz that is the Elvis experience, Graceland turned out to be quite small and reasonably tasteful. A guided tour of the place is compulsory while in town and we took the opportunity of staying in a nearby hotel run by the organisation called not surprisingly, Heartbreak Hotel, which being true to the song, was just at the end of Lonely Street. Having just checked my notes I can say with some certainty that the desk clerks were all dressed in black but there were no bell hops around so it was virtually impossible to know whether their tears had kept flowing prior to our arrival. There was also a complete absence of broken hearted lovers crying away their gloom as everyone seemed to be having a rather jolly time.

Here we were treated to 24 hour Elvis flicks, piped music from the ‘King’ and access to the bar selling Elvis brand wine. In the bar’s defence it also sold Ghost River beer, which again, was probably the better option.

This part of our road trip was specifically included for my mother in-law who has been a fan of the ‘King’ since she was a teenager and I blame her entirely for this dark period in our holiday.

Five hundred miles south of Memphis we hit the city of New Orleans, also known as the Big Easy. A city of fun, frolics, history and a big Continued overleaf www.real-ale.org.uk

On The Road with Steve Williams | 25

paddle steamer just for tourists. It’s also lively, edgy, and you can smell parts of it from a hundred yards away. Built on what was essentially a swamp, the city has coped with more than its fair share of disasters over its 300 year history.

The present city is divided into areas, one of which is the French Quarter, where you can find a wealth of bars and places of enjoyment, and you can also find the world famous Bourbon Street.

A street that by day is quiet, by night a frightening mix of bars, strip clubs and associated ancillary businesses. The smell alluded to earlier is a heady cocktail of bodily fluids and alcohol, not all of which I suspect were spilt accidentally. As an aside my in-laws inadvertently ventured into the street and even now the mere mention of New Orleans makes my mother in-law adopt a glassyeyed stare like a traumatised war veteran. She still occasionally mumbles under her breath ‘you weren’t there man, I’ve seen some stuff, man……’

The city boasts a couple of brewpubs too but the ever present beer seems to be supplied by the Abita Brewery just 30 miles north of the city.

Although not actually a craft brewery it does appear popular locally and it does brew the very excellent Jockamo IPA at a healthy 6.5%. A perfect beer to end a day of sightseeing and paddle steamer riding while sitting on the side of the Mississippi watching a sunset.

Over the three weeks we drove in excess of 2,600 miles and took in more than we ever imagined, all of it good to excellent. I feel that even though the trip was long, and we covered what we wanted, I felt that we’d only just scratched the surface and the US certainly has some beers worthy of note.

So the lessons learnt were, America is very big, there are some excellent beers to be had, don’t leave my mother-in-law unsupervised, and Elvis is dead but doing rather nicely for himself. The real question is did the road trip eradicate my mid-life crisis? The truth is, I’m not sure, so the only thing to do would be to remortgage and do it all over again next year!

Steve Williams

www.real-ale.org.uk

26 | Please support our advertisers

PALMERSTON ARMS 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 NIGHT Every Thursday from 7.30pm

PHILOSOPHY NIGHT Check Facebook for next event

LAZY SUNDAYS from 3pm

www.real-ale.org.uk

Opening Times Mon - Thurs 3-12pm Fri and Sat 12 - midnight Sun 12-11.30pm For information on live entertainment go to Palmerston Arms

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 Monday to Friday and Sundays Private Function room holds up to 40 people Ideal for small meetings, weddings and parties

Christmas Menu and Bookings now available!

AMPLE PARKING • CAMRA GOLD AWARD

www.cherrytree-inn.co.uk

When it’s Gone, it’s Gone Jingle bells, jingling tills, jingle all the way, Oh what fun we had running a pub, That now has gone away.

The greedy Pubco owners increased my rent and my tied beer too, When I made a protest to them, Their answer was “you don’t like it then shoo”

Good Beer Guide 2014

Campaigning | 27

If anyone wishes to purchase a copy of 2014 Good Beer Guide 2014 (at a considerably discounted price), please contact Dave Murray for further details.

Tel 01733 560453 or email: info@real-ale.org.uk

Now my old pub is a supermarket, Where they sell all the beer in tins, Then when the cans are empty, They end up in council bins.

The local youths shun the pubs, Then drink within the park, They chuck the empties on the grass, And leave them when it’s dark.

Now when these people cause trouble, Being full of too much cheer, The local pub gets the blame, For serving them too much beer.

So this tale is to remind you That when your locals gone, Any blame that’s cast about, Could be up to you alone.

Pub-watch Dog.

www.real-ale.org.uk

30 | Pub Merit and Gold Awards

The Prince of Wales Feathers

Castor, Peterborough Tel: 01733 380222

Award winning village local in historic Castor.

Close to the Nene Valley Railway & Ferry Meadows

Serves 6 guest ales & craft beer. Walker & dog friendly.

Home cooked food lunchtime & midweek evenings

HOME OF CASTOR ALES

Pub Merit Awards & Gold Awards Does your local pub have excellent beer, friendly staff, a great atmosphere/ community spirit, or have they introduced additional hand pumps? If so nominate them for Gold or Merit Award. The new Merit Award is for pubs that are continuously outstanding, so if you know of a deserving pub within the branch area, please complete the form below indicating Gold or Merit Award and post to the secretary or email nominations to info@real-ale.org.uk.

Pub name:

Pub address/town/village:

Reason for award:

Your name:

Your phone number or e-mail address:

Your membership number:

The Gig Guide Gig Guide | 33

Renowned drummer drops in at the ‘Tap

Local musician Carlo ‘El Tano’ Parlato made a guest appearance at The Brewery Tap in October.

Carlos ‘El Tano’ is an amazing musician who has toured with Latin big names like Riki Martin, Shakira, Gloria Estefan. La Tarres, Manuela Wult, La Mosca, Bisturi and Los Tulipanes.

Argentinian born Carlos stepped in to cover for drummer Mike Miles joining fellow musicians Hugh Birkenhead - Keys, Martin Jewkes - Saxophone, Lisa Hammond - vocals and Tom Clarke- bass to form the house band for the professional ‘Jam night’ - Jazz Jam at the Brewery Tap on Sunday 20th October.

‘El Tano’ is an amazing musician whose life revolves around drumming, it is his passion and profession, he has been teaching drums for many years in and around the Peterborough area and has recently expanded his studio in to a full blown music academy, to find out more visit Carlo’s website www.eltanodrums.com.

DECEMBER

Mon 2 - Charters Unplugged - Charters, Peterborough Wed 4 - Jayne & Kolz open mic - Pig N Falcon, St Neots Fri 6 - Blackout UK - Charters, Peterborough Fri 6 - SUBWAY 77 - Dragon, Werrington Fri 6 - THE 707 - Ploughman, Werrington Sat 7 Mullered at theMill - Straw Bear, Whittlesey Sat 7 Intruders - Pig N Falcon, St Neots Wed 11 Open Mic - Pig N Falcon, St Neots Fri 13 - The Guards - Charters, Peterborough Fri 13 - Rocket Dogs - Dragon, Werrington Fri 13 - Ghost Repeaters - Pig N Falcon, St Neots

Fri 13 - Gin House - Burghley Club, Peterborough Fri 13 - After Dark - Ploughman, Werrington Sat 14 - Groove Cartel - Ploughman, Werrington Sat 14 - Latino Sound - Burghley Club, Peterborough Sat 14 - Junk Yard Rats - Pig N Falcon, St Neots Sat 14 - The Mistreated - Straw Bear, Whittlesey Sat 14 - Citizen Smith - Dragon, Werrington Sun 15 - Jazz Jam - Brewery Tap, Peterborough Wed 18 - Jayne & Kolz open mic - Pig N Falcon, St Neots Fri 20 - Opaque - Charters, Peterborough Fri 20 - On the Ceiling - Ploughman, Werrington Sat 21 - The Nuggets - Ploughman, Werrington Sat 21 - Piston Groovy - Pig N Falcon, St Neots Sat 21 - League of Mentalmen - Dragon, Werrington Sat 21 - Out of the Blue - Burghley Club, Peterborough Sun 22 - Motor City Vipers - Dragon, Werrington Fri 27 - Stormchaser - Pig N Falcon, St Neots Fri 27 - New Generation Crash & Burn - Dragon, Werrington

Sat 28 - REINSTA80TED - Dragon, Werrington Sat 28 - Beer Belly - Pig N Falcon, St Neots Sat 28 - Rain Men - Burghley Club, Peterborough Sat 28 - Groove Cartel - Brewery Tap, Peterborough Sat 28 - The Rocket Dogs - Straw Bear, Whittlesey Tues 31 - The Atlantics - Corn Exchange, Bourne Fri 20 - Dizzy Miss Lizzy’s - (£10) Charters, Peterborough JANUARY

Fri 3 - The Miss Isle Band - Ploughman, Werrington Sat 4 - 707 - Burghley Club, Peterborough Sat 4 - The Limit - Dragon, Werrington Sun 5 - Oakham Mic - Brewery Tap, Peterborough Fri 10 - Leon - Dragon, Werrington Sat 11 Pennyless (8.30pm) - Straw Bear, Whittlesey Sat 11 - The Overdubs - Ploughman, Werrington Sat 11 - James Edmunds - Burghley Club, Peterborough Sat 18 - Becky - Straw Bear, Whittlesey Sat 18 - Tom Wright Band - Burghley Club, Peterborough

Sun 19 - Jazz Jam - Brewery Tap, Peterborough Sat 25 - Freddie Hall & Duncan Maletka - Straw Bear, Whittlesey

Please send any details for Feb / March gigs to info@orchardhousemedia.co.uk.

34 | Please support our advertisers

www.real-ale.org.uk

DIARY DATES DECEMBER

Monday 2nd AGM at Brewery Tap, 8.30pm Saturday 7th Christmas Party at Ploughman, Werrington Saturday 14th Christmas in the City Crawl.

Meet at Queensgate bus station at 10.30.

Day rider costs £3.90. Please book places through Social Secretary, John Hunt.

Ring mobile 07923489917 for location updates during day for members who wish to join later.

JANUARY Monday 27th Midwinter Pie Night at the Letter B, Whittlesey. Depart brewery Tap at 7pm and return by 11pm. Cost £18 to include pie meal and dessert. Places must be booked through Social Secretary, John Hunt.

Diary Dates and Festival Listings | 35

BEER FESTIVALS NOVEMBER

27th Nov - Dec 1st Dove Street Inn Winter Beer Festival Ipswich dovestreetinn.co.uk DECEMBER 3rd - 7th December Pig’s Ear Beer & Cider Festival.

230+ beers. Unique Fest Brews. Hackney Bar celebrating 9 excitingly new local Micros.

Further info: www.pigsear.org.uk 18th Dec Cock Inn, Werrington Winter Beer Festival. 12 festival ales, buffet and medieval fancy dress JANUARY 10th - 12th Jan Straw Bear Festival, thoughout Whittlesey along with the Straw BearPub, Whittlesey Winter Beer Festival - 20 real ales and live music 22nd - 25th Jan 7th Colchester Real Ale And Cider Festival Colchester Arts Centre, CO1 1NF 90+ Real Ales, 25+ Cider/Perry and a Belgian beer bar. Details: www.colchestercamra.org.uk 23rd - 25th Jan Cambridge Winter Ales Festival, University Socail Club, Mill Lane, Cambridge 23rd Jan - 3rd Feb Pig ‘n’ Hog Winter Festival at the Pig n Falcon, St Neots FEBRUARY 7th - 8th Feb 5th Elysian Winter Beer Festival Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely CB7 4BB 66 casks to start, plus reserves. Bottled Foreign beers. Key-kegs and a good selection of cider. Food available at all sessions.

Disabled access. www.ely-camra.org.uk

36 | 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 Brown 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 01733 211933 Mobile: 07732 393621 jane@orchardhousemedia.co.uk

Magazine & Advertising Production: Daniel Speed 01733 211933 info@orchardhousemedia.co.uk Proofreader: Bob Melville See details below Brewery Liaison Officers Blue Bell: John Hunt 07923 489917 Bexar County Brewery: Steve Williams 07756 066503 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 January We must have your stories, news and advertisements by: 9th January Late copy cannot be guaranteed entry.

Please contact Jane Michelson Tel: 01733 211410 Mobile: 07732 393621 jane@orchardhousemedia.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. Front cover photo copyright John Moore 2013. johnmoorephotography.com

Please support our advertisers | 37

P

GO Ceterb W LD AMRoroug IN AW A h NE A R RD 20 13 Real traditional ale house in the heart of the city

5 Regularly Rotating Ales Opening Times :- Sunday to Thursday 12noon - 11pm Friday to Saturday 11am - 1.30am

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

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

IN THE CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2013 www.real-ale.org.uk

of Two Halves

A Campaign

)DL U RQ GHD E WD[ HHU O QR Z

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

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. Your Details

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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.

Staniland Way, Werrington Centre Tel: 01733 327696 Hodgson Centre, Hodgson Ave PE4 5EG Tel: 01733 578088

rough Peterbo MRA t CA & Distric

Six Real Ales from £2.20 a pint Live Satellite Sports Live Entertainment

ard Gold Aw rs Winne 2013

DRAGON EVENTS SAT 21st Dec: League of Mentalmen SUN 22nd Dec: Motor City Vipers

New Years Eve Party

with live entertainment from THE ONE EYED CATS

Ten Real Ales from £2.00 a pint Live Satellite Sports Live Entertainment Happy Hour Mon - Fri 5-7pm

Winter Beer Fest

22 Ales • 28th Nov - 1st Dec

PLOUGHMAN EVENTS SAT 21st Dec: Nuggets

New Years Eve Party

with live entertainment from CITIZEN SMITH

New Years Eve - £10 per ticket per venue - includes FREE Buffet

Big kfasot 11am rB eSaat 8 t !

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y, er v r r ca o e at f h e t m can o r f u elf yo s e ur as ev lp yo uch e H as m

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Real Ales!

.

5 £ ly

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.

Introducing our new Green Room, available for parties and weddings.

We are now taking booking for 2013/14!

Now taking bookings for New Year 200 Broadway, Yaxley Tel: 01733 244885 Email: thefarmers@btconnect.com

www.thefarmersyaxley.co.uk