185 Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale October / November 2015
PBF15 was a scorching success!
30,534 visitors over 5 days Read more on page 16-17
ALSO INSIDE PUB & BREWERY NEWS
DIARY DATES
JOIN CAMRA
PBF is over for another year, at the rate this year is going it will soon be time for the next one. Whilst on the subject of beer festivals, a message for all Peterborough and District landlords/landladies (well at least the ones that read this section!) Please let me have dates for your pub beer festivals as soon as they have been arranged if you would like them to be included in the Diary Dates section which appears towards the back of this publication.
As Beer Around ‘Ere is only published six times a year it is imperative to get dates in as soon as possible. I hear mutterings regarding the omission of said festivals, however I can only include the ones for which I have details. Having said that I do check the Peterborough CAMRA website and incorporate any mentioned that fall within relevant dates. Getting a mention could bring in a few extra customers. You know it makes sense!
As reported earlier in the year there are now two additional awards for pubs in the Branch area, Cider Pub of the Year and LocAle Pub of the Year. So if you know of a pub you believe to be worthy of consideration for either of these awards, then please send nominations to info@real-ale.org.uk . They can also be posted to the secretary, see page 30 for address. Details required are: - pub name and address, your contact details and your
Editor: Jane Brown bae-editor@real-ale.org.uk
Published by: Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale.
Produced on behalf of CAMRA by: Orchard House Media Ltd Eventus Business Centre, Sunderland Rd, Market Deeping. Tel: 01778 382758
Magazine Design & Production: Daniel Speed daniel.speed@orchardhousemedia.co.uk
Advertising Sales Manager: Jane Michelson jane@orchardhousemedia.co.uk Tel: 01778 382718
Editor’s ramblings | 3
IN THIS ISSUE Welcome from the editor 3 Chairman’s corner 5 Pub news 7–11 Brewery news 12–15 PBF 2015 round-up 16-19 Coalies go to Brighton 21-23 Community power 24-27 Entertainment and gig guide 28 Diary dates 29 Contacts & pub merit awards 30 Join CAMRA 31 CAMRA membership number and indicate category, either Cider or LocAle. You can of course still nominate pubs for Merit and Gold awards. NB. LocAle nominations must be accredited to the LocAle scheme i.e. regularly stock ales brewed within a 30 mile radius of the premises. Cider Pub nominations should permanently stock, promote and encourage the sale of quality real cider. Please get those nominations in! Cheers
Distribution: David Murray chairman@real-ale.org.uk
Proof Reading: Bob Melville - 07941 246693
Printed By: Precision Colour Print Ltd Haldane, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ
Circulation: 7,000 copies distributed to pubs, clubs and members throughout the Peterborough and District CAMRA Branch area. A digital version of this magazine is available to view and download at issuu.com
Cover Image: Photo by John Moore. PBF Photospread: Karl Simpson
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
JB
Beer Around ‘Ere is published by the Peterborough & District Branch of CAMRA Copyright © 2015, The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. Views or comments expressed in this publication may not necessarily be those of the Editor or of CAMRA. The next issue of Beer Around ‘Ere will be available on the 20th November. We must have your stories, news and advertisements by 2nd November. Please send your stories and other copy to the editor, Jane Brown.
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
4 | Please support our advertisers
The Ramblewood Inn ‘The pub in the woods’
The all day venue – Open for meals and snacks 12pm to 9pm daily A conservatory restaurant with food served all day, nooks and crannies in the old stables, outdoor seating and extensive parking, plus a selection of Real Ales.
Real food, Real ales, Real pub BEST WESTERN PLUS Orton Hall Hotel & Spa, The Village, Orton Longueville, Peterborough, PE2 7DN Tel: 01733 391111
50% OFF
All food purchased when you spend £30 or more
Name Email Postcode Terms and Conditions - Coupon valid only when £30 or more is spent on food, cannot be exchanged for cash, does not apply to spend on drinks cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, not valid for parties in excess of 8 people. Valid until Friday 27th November 2015. If you do not wish to receive further promotions please tick here.
For special offers, news and travel directions visit www.traditionalinns.co.uk
BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Chairman’s corner |5
Chairman’s Corner This year’s annual Peterborough Beer Festival was one of our most successful in years with just over 30,000 visitors! Ole’ to you all. Yup I’ve just got back from a short break in sunny Spain, after another hectic two weeks toiling and helping at this year’s PBF. And what about this year’s event? Wasn’t it a cracking one, as you virtually drank us dry! There may have been the odd pint or two still sloshing about in a cask but, from 9pm onwards the ‘sold out’ signs were springing up rapidly until closing time at 11pm. It must have been one of our most successful festivals for many years, with just over 30,000 visitors. We within the Peterborough and District branch of CAMRA thank you all for your support, whether as a visitor or as a volunteer helping to run the festival.
During my trek around Spain it was refreshing to find that ‘Craft Brewing’ has a presence in the country. The Maier craft brewery is located in the city of Cadiz, on Calle Cuna Viejal. Web site www.cervezamaier.com and is on tripadvisor. The beers can be found in several of the city bars, in particular El Canon bar, on the corner of Calle Feduchy, right opposite where one of the city’s oldest sherry Bodega’s originated in 1932.
Back to business at home. We have a number of copies of the new Good Beer Guide on offer to members at a discount of the cover price. Contact me for a copy.
A recent copy of Beer Around ‘Ere contained an article about the procedure for obtaining an ACV (Asset of Community Value) for any pub that was under threat of being demolished or faced a
Bottle Collection A local bottled beer collector wishes to sell his extensive bottled beer collection totalling more than one hundred and fifty bottles featuring Jubilee Ales, Royal Wedding Ales, Victory, Celebration and various others. For further details please e-mail oakham-ales-blo@real-ale.org.uk Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
change of use. Our intrepid Pubs Officer has penned another piece on the same subject to illustrate how the procedure has been implemented in order to protect a pub in his native London. Any pub under threat, and their regulars, should be aware of this guidance. Many CAMRA branches have already obtained ACVs in order to protect pubs from disappearing. We, within our own branch, would like to be seen to be making a strong effort to do the same. Please contact us if you know of any pub that is or could be under threat of being lost.
As I’ve just returned from my travels this month’s report is a bit rushed and short. Great I hear some say! Cheers for now. David Murray Branch Chairman
The Bluebell Inn Helpston Are we the only pub to have two different images on our pub sign?
We’re like to think we’re different for other reasons too – we’re a proper village local with a really warm welcome to all. We support local micro breweries stocking great local cask conditioned ales - always a choice of 4 including “10 Woodgate” which is specially brewed just for us. Serving fresh, seasonal, locally sourced produce, our menu offers something for everyone.
The Bluebell, Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough PE6 7ED Tel: 01733 252394 Email: hello@bluebellhelpston.pub OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
6 | Please support our advertisers
BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Pub News
Given the popularity of the focus on village pubs in the last issue, I have succumbed once again to public demand and have decided to present a guide to pubs along the Nene Way. In fact, as there are only 42 pubs in the city area selling real ale compared 262 in the whole branch, I feel that this refocusing of our attention into the hinterland is long overdue. Complaints should be addressed to the Serious Omissions feature which I intend to revive in the next edition. The Nene Way To do the whole route east to west you would need to start at the Dog in A Doublet, but as this would involve a long walk to the city and across the city, readers may prefer to split the walk up and begin elsewhere. So I have decided to chunk it and start with the route from Wansford to Nassington. Wansford Wansford may be reached by the number 9 bus from the city centre, or if you haven’t grown up yet, you can get a day ticket for the Nene Valley Railway. The village itself is well worth a visit as much of it is protected and it still has three pubs. You alight from the bus alongside No 1 Old North Road and cross the ancient bridge, with its triangular stone alcoves protecting you from the traffic, to the Haycock. This is a comfortable hotel which is quite evidently a former coaching inn famous for once having lodged Queen Victoria and Lord Byron. It currently offers one beer from the Nene Valley brewery range. With a beautiful garden on the banks of the Nene, it is an excellent wedding venue. Along the road from the Haycock is the Cross Keys, a limestone building dating back to 1750 with a ridged, pantile roof obviously of later addition. It currently sells Adnam’s Southwold as its resident beer.
Just across the road is the Paper Mills, originally a private residence converted in the 1820s. With London Pride and either St. Austell Tribute or Proper Job as regulars, they also place an emphasis on locales; Digfield, Grainstore, Nene Valley, Star and Nobby’s amongst them. Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Pub news |7
Manager Matt informed me that they leave the choice to the customer. An attractively furnished front bar looks out onto the historic buildings opposite which bear the distinctive hallmark of the “Wansford Look”, a unique style of local architecture designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon in Victorian times. The front bar leads into a narrow dining area which naturally folds into the mix of the pub and a conservatory area to the rear. The food is exceptional with some enticing pasta dishes. I did, however, feel obliged to indulge myself in a substantial dish of rib eye beef which I only just managed to finish before getting to the pudding.
The footpath to Yarwell is well signposted at the crossroads alongside the church just opposite the old post office. Past the horse stockade and through the gate. You cross the field, pass through another gate into a beanfield. Follow the telegraph wires and head for the poplar trees until you reach a track. Here you have a choice. Right deviants will follow the main road. Those inclining to the left will take the more righteous path along the bank of the river and past the weir. Here you cross the bridge and turn right through the gate and proceed until you pass through another gate where you then follow the diagonal path until you arrive at a walled passage which leads into Main Street. Walking time is about 30 minutes. Yarwell Turn right at Main Street to the Angel Inn. The pub dates back to 1673, and as you enter you are drawn into the small well shaded main bar with the original fireplace to the right. Above the lintel of the fireplace is a cock feeding notice. I did not quite gather its import until I read the text beneath informing tenants that the feeding of cocks is prohibited in their farmhouses. It goes on to point out that the damage to fixtures and fittings is incalculable, not least the awful stench encountered by the sheriff when he comes to collect the tithe. It fails, however, to mention the stench exuded by the sheriff. To the left of the main bar you are drawn into a warren of rooms which are mainly devoted to games, and a well furnished beer garden
F
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
8 | Pub news - continued
which is often used for charity events. Brewster’s Hophead and Decadence were available on my visit. Nassington Turning left out of the pub and along Mill Road you can pick up the Nene Way again just along to the left. The footpath from here onwards is well marked and well preserved and will eventually take you through a gate and into the slip road leading to Yarwell Lock. Cross the bridge and follow the footpath until you encounter another bridge. At this point I must counsel caution as, if the collective weight of the group, exceeds 7.5 tons, you will need to find an alternative route. Carry on through the woods and across the looping path until you cross another wire fenced bridge until reaching Station Road. Walking time is again about 30 minutes.
Arriving at Nassington, the first pub you meet is the Black Horse. Landlord Gary took the pub over in July when it did not enjoy a particularly high reputation. It has since been through a comprehensive renovation. With new toilets, a new kitchen, new flooring and new panelling, this pub is now a very attractive venue. It dates back to 1674, but the fireplace in the annex to the main bar is of much greater antiquity having allegedly been rescued from Fotheringay Castle. Gary’s regular beers are Everard’s Tiger and Sharp’s Doombar, and he also features three guest ales.
Fotheringay Castle was, of course, the venue for the execution of Mary Queen of Scots, after whom the Queens Head is named. Whether the name is a reference to the Queen herself or a sardonic reference to the head, I am not quite sure, but there is a very fetching portrait of this, whilst presumably still intact, on the inn sign. The pub has a roomy main bar, all brick and beams with four hand pumps serving Greene King IPA, Oakham JHB and rotating guests from local breweries: Nobby’s, Nene Valley, Digfield and Kings Cliffe. This leads into two restaurant areas; the first spartan, cool, and shaded (it was a very hot day when I visited); the second a sumptuous, up market area on a mezzanine floor which was added about five years ago. Entering the second BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015
my eye was immediately caught by what seemed to be two genuine oil paintings on the bull fighting theme reflecting the pub’s accent on Spanish food.
Diners are surrounded by hand decorated plates and this would be ideal for a small function on a special occasion. The pub provides a sumptuous and varied menu specialising in steaks cooked in a josper, a Spanish charcoal oven which owner Paul Smith brought from Spain. For the hungry walker there is a bar snack menu offering sandwiches, burgers and salads. To the rear is an elegant function room overlooking a long patio and garden area which stretches back over a hundred yards to the river bank. The garden itself is lit by ornamental lamp posts and dominated by a huge willow tree. You can return to Wansford either by retracing you steps, or following the main road, which is footpathed all the way. Stamford setback This is one of the rare occasions when I have to report bad news from Stamford. My local informer, Alun Thomas, has advised me that the Drum and Monkey has closed and is beyond hope, and that the Northfields is boarded up and will probably suffer a similar fate. Mama Liz’s, Peterborough pub of the year 2010, thankfully allays the curse of the closures and is still going strong with Oakham Citra, Lacons Legacy and Salopian Hair of the Dog available on my last visit. The Voodoo Lounge nestles beneath the bar under the vaulted ceiling of what was originally a wine cellar. Now acoustically proofed for the music, part of the original stone is covered but the whole structure is still clearly evident. Dank and moist, ideal for the maturing of wines, the atmosphere now lends some authenticity to the voodoo and blues music ambience. Even more so when you encounter the dark, exploratory passages leading off and forming a warren of underground tunnels which interlink Broad Street and North Street. I thought it advisable, however, to select the over ground route, through Nags Head Passage, to the Pear Tree, where Sharps Doombar is now the resident real ale. Meanwhile, at the Jolly Brewer, Dean and Jill
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Pub news - continued |9
have introduced their own range of beers from their Baker’s Dozen brewery in Ketton: Tentacular at 3.5 abv, Summertime at 4.6, Electric Landlady, Galactic Landlady, both at 5 per cent. Incidentally a baker’s dozen, as every schoolboy knows, is in fact thirteen. It became common practice for mediaeval bakers to offer the extra loaf to avoid the huge fines imposed for underweight products, thus providing us with the perfect legal precedent for the oversize glass. Short measurers please note. In the suburbs As you cross the blue bridge by the railway station into Thorpe Road you will find yourself in yet another Peterborough beer desert. It is miles before you can stop anywhere for a drink – a calamity which could be offset by the reopening of the Sessions House. I am sure the owners of this establishment will realize the potential of its previous incarnation as a pub/carvery when the proposed, up-market housing development takes off on the site of the redundant hospital. Although it seems to me that it has a substantial catchment area as it is.
If you venture further north you are likely to become seriously Greene Kinged. Your best bet is to catch the number 2 bus to Thorpe Wood Police Station and walk along the road to the Woodman, which is flanked by a golf course beautifully landscaped by some judiciously positioned beech trees. As I gazed out at them from the pub’s conservatory, the resinous hops of Olde Trippe resonated on my tongue. This is one of three beers currently being offered by landlady Sue Buddle with the inevitable IPA and Abbot also available. The pub was closed and went through a major refurbishment during August, and Sue told me that Greene King are prepared to open their books on guest ales according to the volume of their cask ale sales. So if you want a choice, vote with your throat.
Further back along Thorpe Road is the Fox and Hounds, which also went through a major refurb last April. This is a recent Greene King acquisition and I hope they do something to maintain the current beer range. Contrary to some of the views Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
I have heard expressed recently, this pub is not purely a food outlet as they have realized that they also have a market for the regular drinker. The management here has made the astute decision to offer free dog treats to lure in local dog walkers and I suspect that this will also offer some welcome relief to their hard pressed domestic budgets. As with the Woodman, they will be offering a 10% discount to the card carrying CAMRA member. Four real ales were available on my last visit including an excellent pint from the Cottage brewery. Evidence of this expanding guest beer policy within the Greene King group was apparent in the Boathouse, just off Thorpe Road on the eastern edge of Ferry Meadows. Now run by Darren and Liz, formerly of the Crab and Winkle, I regaled myself with an excellent pint of Purity Mad Goose whilst reminiscing on the several times I have visited this pub in the past when walking my dogs.
“Giving the customers what they want is the way forward”. Steve Leather took over the Dragonfly in Orton in July and at first sight it was a forbidding task. High walls and a sloping terrace make it look more like a fortress than a pub; a fairly typical 1970s custom built pub reflecting the functional architecture of the estate that surrounds it. He took some simple decisions to make it more attractive: hanging baskets; wooden patio furniture to replace the broken plastic: remove the graffiti; make sure there are enough ash trays. I went to see him in early August and noticed the improvement as soon as I ducked to miss a hanging basket. “Sometimes it is just a question of a general spruce - up, make the pub look more inviting”. Steve has been in the trade for more than ten years and has run pubs all over the country. He sees the growth area as real ale and food. “There is no point in opening a bistro in Orton Malborne, but there is a market for good quality retro food: scampi and chicken in the basket, Sunday roasts”. He intends to experiment with real ales from the Punch portfolio just to discover what the customers really like. I think he is on a winner.
F
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
10 | Please support our advertisers
Peterborough’s Oldest Members Club
PALMERSTON ARMS
Just a short walk from Bus and Railway Stations and Queensgate
82 Oundle Rd www.palmerston-arms.co.uk
Live Music & Entertainment
14 Ever-changing, gravity fed real ales Wood burner for winter
Fri 2nd Oct Big W Disco Sat 3rd Oct The Rejects
VINYL NIGHT
Friday 9th Oct Children of the Revolution Sat 10th Oct Fat Chantz
Bring down your favourite records Check Facebook for next event
Fri 16th Oct Disco Sat 17th Oct Shades of Green
UKELELE NIGHT
Sat 24th Oct Go with the Flow Sat 31st Oct The Collaborators Fri 13th Nov Motor City Vipers
Every Thursday from 7.30pm
Sat 14th Betty Swollocks
PHILOSOPHY NIGHT
FREE entry to CAMRA Members
Check Facebook for next event
Sunday Carvery 12.30 - 4pm
Find us at: 7 Burghley Rd, Peterborough PE1 2QA Tel 01733 896989 theburghleyclub Website: www.theburghleyclub.com
LIVE MUSIC WEEKLY Check Facebook & local gig guides
Opening Times Mon - Thurs 3-12pm Fri and Sat 12 - midnight Sun 12-11.30pm
For information on live entertainment go to:
Palmerston Arms
from 4pm
CAMRA Gold Award 2015 Great selection of Real Ales Large Open Beer Garden BT and Sky Sports
Function Room to Hire
BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
The Palmerston Arms in Woodston will be running an event from 5th – 11th October promoting up to 40 traditional English bitters. Batemans have now opened up their portfolio to include beers from Nene Valley and Kings Cliffe. Fenland update Our thanks are due to Simon Brand and his colleagues for raising an ACV on the Straw Bear in Whittlesey. This pub is currently on the market for £250,000. Interested buyers should apply to Everard Cole and for advice on funding and financing issues to the Plunkett Foundation.
A short note on the continuing debate about the value of ACVs. My own view is that its chief effect in the future will be to provide a disincentive to apply for change of use. This is in keeping the findings of the May edition of the MINTEL survey: “Conversions of pub premises for other uses are expected to continue slowing down due to increasing legislation as more sold venues are being retained as pubs.”
Elsewhere in this edition we have presented an example of an outstanding success story for ACVs in North London.
The same report foregrounds the growth of food in the contemporary pub market, a point not lost on Peter and Michelle Stead – Davis, who took over the Ram earlier in the year. Originally three dwellings, it was in the 1930s the property of Huntingdon Fine Ales. The function room at the back is clearly much later and is currently undergoing a major overhaul. It will be called the Shepherds Hut to reinforce the ovine theme. Peter and Michelle opened their restaurant on July 16th and with the business expanding, the future of this pub is looking extremely healthy. Two rotating real ales and a large garden to the rear, this pub has retained the atmosphere of a traditional family local. Queensgate-gate Hopefully the incorporation of the Brewery Tap into the proposed Westgate development indicates that planners have begun to take a more sensitive Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Pub news - continued |11
approach to the community value of pubs. But, lest it be forgotten, let us recall the devastation which occurred in the city centre in the seventies. For I have the unfortunate duty of informing my sensitive readers that I have been the victim of some vitriolic and unjustified criticism regarding my appraisal of the effects of Queensgate on the city in Issue 183.
The essence of this criticism is that the said monstrosity is a major asset to the city attracting visitors, revenue and all kinds of desirable things. Whilst respecting the sincerity of these plaintive remarks, I cannot help thinking that they miss the point. Now let me put my cards face upwards on the table. I have nothing against shopping precincts. In fact some of my best friends shop in them. What I was objecting to was the systematic demolition of the ancient street pattern, taking with it several, well- loved pubs in the city centre: The Crown, White Horse, Greyhound, Bell and Oak, Elephant and Castle, names that should be on every resident’s lips. Whilst not for one minute doubting the probity of its authors, what strikes me about the Public Enquiry* into this venture is that there is scant reference to the value of the pubs to the community and their contribution to the social life of the city. “Recommended for demolition” is the constant refrain running through it and it concludes with the generous suggestion that “elsewhere, certain buildings should have their historic roofing materials and occasionally old windows carefully retained for incorporation elsewhere”.
Where exactly I have failed to notice, but I seem to recall that Frankenstein’s monster eventually destroyed itself.
*Public Enquiry into the objections to the Compulsory Purchase Order: 9 October 1973.
JT
Send us your news! Calling all landlords and landladies! Had a refurb? Got a great event on? Started selling a new range of ales or cider? Let us know and we will add your news to these pages. Just email John Temple at pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
12 |
Brewery News Bexar County Bexar County beers were well received at Peterborough Beer Festival. There were six or seven different beers available on the regular bar, the LocAle bar and the singles bar. Even the beetroot ginger beer sold out! Bexar County beers also appeared, in both cask and keg, at The Coalheavers Beer Festival, Peterborough, and at the Jolly Brewer’s Festival, Stamford. There will be six different beers heading to the Nottingham Beer Festival in October.
Poquito Pequeno has turned into a place holding name for a low gravity pale hoppy beer, the latest one being a 3.5% abv beer with Mosaic and Centennial hops. Papa Steve will be brewed again in time for a Christmas release, plus two more Christmas-time beers and will include an oak-aged, soured, brown beer.
More collaborations with Three Blind Mice are in the pipeline. Blue Bell Sales are still steady and bottled beers are doing well with the Co-Op being the main customer. Frightened Pheasant is now a seasonal beer and will be available from April/ May to around August. There are no new beers planned at the moment.
Castor Ales What a summer it has been! Clearly we are not talking weather. Consumption of Castor Ales has gone off the Richter scale (the last barrels of NepAle have now been sold, but our thoughts are still very much with the people of Nepal).
Since the last edition, Castor Ales has been consumed in vast quantities at various places including the Great British Beer festival. A feature on this event will appear in a future edition. BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015
Hot on the heels was the wonderful Water Newton Music Festival, which served as a ‘warm up’ to the PBF. Pretty much the full range was available and it all went down well.
The Peterborough Beer Festival was another roaring success and the NepAle Tweak on the Singles Bar sold out in three hours on trade day! Congratulations to all those involved in putting on another fantastic festival.
By the time you read this, the Peterborough Arts Festival will have come and gone, and as keen supporters of this event, Castor Ales hope a good time was had by all at this real ale/real art event.
As has been leaked on social media, Castor Ales have signed a legally binding contract with the Simmospoons’ empire to supply Hopping Toad, so it will be permanently available in all their outlets, raising money for great causes.
Castor Ales is also proud of its association with The Salmon in Leicester, and is supplying some “one off ” beers for a prostate cancer charity presentation evening on 2nd October 2015. That should keep the Leicester tickers happy.
Despite being incredibly busy over the last two months, the investment programme has continued unabated with shiny new clips fitted to all our hoses adding that extra little something to the brewing process.
Thanks again to all regular customers for their fantastic support.
Digfield Ales An enjoyable and successful Peterborough Beer Festival for Digfield Ales with Mad Monk achieving a Gold Award. This follows two runner up successes for Mad Monk and Shacklebush at the Northampton Delapre Festival. A special 10th Anniversary brew is planned for later this year. Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Brewery news |13
Elgood’s The seasonal for October will be called Which Witch is Which and will be supported by a competition on Facebook and Twitter where you can e-mail your answer to win 10 cases of beer. This will be their new Halloween beer.
Oak Aged Winter Warmer which has had an eleven month maturation in Oak barrels will be available for December. Pubs which will soon require new tenants are the Bell at Murrow, the Cock at March and the George at Doddington.
The Blue Bell at Werrington is doing well after its change of management earlier in the year, but as yet there is no new tenant for the Blue Bell at Dogsthorpe. Kings Cliffe Brewery This was the second year at Peterborough Beer Festival and Kings Cliffe P51 won joint Bronze in the Stout and Porter class which was a fantastic result considering P51 has only been brewed since January 2015. More good news for P51, it has been selected by Batemans to be a regular at the Palmerston Arms and there are also repeat orders for the Aviator Hotel and Bar at Sywell Airport. There were two specials on the Singles Bar brewed by KCB, namely, Lemongrass Ale (KCB 5C with lemongrass) and the brand new IPA SMaSH 6.5% abv.
A new golden ale, GoldNZ 4.2% abv, using NZ Motukea hops was due to be a special at the Ostrich, Peterborough, in early September.
Mile Tree Brewery The brewery had an excellent Peterborough Beer Festival receiving two awards for their beers. Crescent Ale won a Gold award in the less than 4% abv category and Larksong won a Bronze in the 4.4% abv to 4.9% abv category. Richard and Karen are extremely pleased with the awards. The Trade Day at the festival went very well indeed with many customers coming to meet them and sample their beers. The festival Singles Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Bar had the 7.2% abv Double Stout which proved very popular. The Bottled beer sales are continuing to grow appearing at various farmers markets and festivals. The brewery continues to have their beers at various beer festivals including the Elgood’s SIBA festival, the Coalheavers, Bedford and Norwich. The full range of beers now includes:Adventurer 4% abv, Meadowgold 3.8% abv, Larksong 4.5% abv, Crescent Ale 3.9% abv, Wellstream 4.9% abv, Dark Secret 4% abv, Double Stout 7.2% abv,1850 Porter 5.3% abv, Winter Ale 6% abv.
Nene Valley Brewery The PBF Cellar Team visited Nene Valley and brewed an IPA for the 2015 event. Ausome IPA at 5.6% abv is a pale gold IPA with lots of Galaxy, Mosaic and Simcoe hops. The brewery has re-badged the beer as Collision, and the remainder has gone into the trade. Bible Black and Release the Chimps and the 2015 edition of Double JIP, at 9.9% were also available. Two dish-bottomed 20 bbl fermenters have been shoe-horned into the existing brewery. The number of brew days has increased to three per week.
The brewery participated in the Maris Otter 50 Festival, in Norwich, in mid-September. Fifty breweries each produced a new beer for the festival, The Nene Valley entrant was a 7.4% rich, candied orange brew; not too dark with lots of hop and, of course, Maris Otter barley.
Oakham Ales Green turned to gold again for Oakham Ales, this time at the recent Peterborough Beer Festival where Green Devil I.P.A. won gold in the 5.6% - 6.4% abv category. Further proof of the quality of this beer. Let’s hope we see it around more in cask form where it should be! Also Black Hole Porter won a silver in the stouts and porters category.
The expansion at the brewery continues, five new brewing tanks have been installed with more to arrive in the next couple of months. This extra
F
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
14 | Please support our advertisers
We oer a range of two permanent and two changing guest real ales alongside two real ciders. Why not enjoy a pint or two in the sun outside on our patio? A Breakfast menu is served from 10 - 12. We are a great place for Sunday lunch after a country walk or drive. Served from noon onwards. We also oer 3 Star AA rated accommodation.
For further information or room reservations please call 01572 822302 14 High St East, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9PY
BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
capacity will enable all the bottling and kegging to be kept in house.
Some old and new beers are soon to be making an appearance in the seasonal and aged range. The October seasonal will be Asylum 4.7% abv. During November Atilla 7.5% abv will be back in the aged range, followed by the December seasonal Deep Thought 4.7% abv. Available at present is Dreamcatcher 6.9%abv and a new little ditty called Bona Nox 8% abv. Shoulder of Mutton Brewery This month’s special bitter is called Rosy Cheeks made to commemorate a special customer's big birthday. There have been appearances at several beer festivals, including Peterborough, for which a one-off citrus beer called X4 (named after the bus route to Weldon from Peterborough) was brewed. Festival specials were also made for Melton Mowbray and Brigstock. Staff and customers enjoyed a visit to Pot Belly brewery in Kettering. Star Brewing Company Simon confirmed that Helios 4.3% abv, has been brewed and distributed including an appearance at the Fat Cat Beer Festival in Sheffield. There will be a beer specially brewed for the Rugby World Cup called Jerusalem 4.4% abv, a golden best bitter. Final Frontier 4.3% abv, was brewed for the Peterborough Beer Festival, plus some local outlets and has sold well. The organisers of Nottingham Beer Festival have made an enquiry with regard to having Star beers at their festival. Lightyear 5.0% abv, will reappear in the near future alongside the regular beers Comet and Meteor. Tydd Steam Recent beers Ratcatcher and Mind Bomb have both sold very well. Following Yeovil Ales patenting Stargazer, brewer Will realised that he couldn’t afford to lose the name Barn Ale and has therefore patented the name. Scoundrel will be released for the Rugby World Cup and re-badged as Sweet Chariot. Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Brewery news - continued |15
Roadhouse has made a return and is currently available. Amnesiac will also be returning soon.
Xtreme Ales This year Xtreme had 8 beers at Peterborough beer Festival, which included two collaboration brews with Bexar County brewery. Beer festivals continue to be a big part of sales currently. Festivals coming up featuring Xtreme beers are: Bedford Beer Festival 7th – 10th October; Nottingham Beer Festival 7th – 10th October and finally the Half Moon Hitchin Beer Festival 22nd 25th October. There will be a new cherry beer released soon as well as a new single hop range of beers. Pigeon Ale and Evil Pigeon continue to do well.
Appley ‘appenings! Following on from the Oakham Village Festival, Charters Bar held their first cider festival. The festival was set up and run by Natasha Gollings, Assistant Manager, and longest serving employee, Kirsten England, who rose to the challenge after recognising the growth in popularity and sales of real cider. The festival was well received and it was great to see CAMRA cider representative, Bernidette Gilbert, and regular patron, Bernie Mason, take an active role in serving on the festival bar. The festival showcased 20+ ciders and amongst those proving most popular were, Fynbury’s Blackberry & Nettle, Sandford’s Bumbleberry and Gwynt Y Ddraig Happy Daze. Look out for the festival’s return next year. OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
16 |
Peterborough Beer Festival 2015 Round-Up The 38th Peterborough Beer Festival which took place between 25-29th August proved to be another big success with a total of 30,564 real ale fans making their way to the annual event. The numbers visiting this year were once again up on the previous year with both Friday and Saturday showing a rise of almost a thousand additional people attending on each day. With over 33 new breweries featured at the festival and almost 170 represented in total the offerings proved a big draw for beer drinkers from far and wide.
The event got off to a great start on the Tuesday with the opening of the Trade Session. As well as the invited members of the beer and pub trade the Mayor of Peterborough, Councillor John Peach and Mayoress Ms Janet Martin were the first to arrive when the doors opened at 3pm. Prior to this the crowds waiting to pour in were already stretching way back across the Embankment and even the most ominous looking grey clouds were insufficient to deter those eager to come in.
For the most part the weather remained kind and with the exception of a few showers during the week (the now clichéd expression: “It’s raining, it must be the Peterborough Beer Festival!” was heard once or twice) the weather stayed on our side. Friday and Saturday in particular had glorious sunshine for long periods and no doubt encouraged many to come along to revel.
Champion Beer judging took place from 11am Wednesday with an assembled panel of ‘tasters’ including publicans, CAMRA regulars and a few assorted local journalists for good measure. The results were made available by late afternoon. For the ‘Overall Champion’ category, in marked contrast to last year’s winners, the trend was towards lighter rather than dark beers. In order they were: BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015
Gold – Bullards No.1 East Coast Pale Silver – Nobby’s APA Bronze – Son of Sid Muck Cart Mild
Once the results were announced of course the inevitable happened – the winners started selling out rapidly. Efforts were made to replenish stocks of the Bullard’s beer and attempts were made to make contact the happy brewers who, understandably, were busy having a few celebratory pints themselves. After a few phones calls and a bit of persuasion (and a little bit of publicity!) we managed to get David Jones and Tom Allen over from Norwich and they arrived with two casks which we managed to have settled and back on in time for Saturday afternoon.
On the LocAle front Kings Cliffe, Milton, Mile Tree and Oakham all enjoyed success and proved once again that Peterborough and District is well represented by acclaimed breweries. Full details of all the winning beer categories can be found on the ‘Champion Beers’ page of the Peterborough CAMRA website at www.beer-fest.org.uk.
Peterborough Beer Festival is also renowned for putting on a great display of live entertainment and 2015 was exceptional. Open Mic night has been running for three years and according to organiser Stacey, this year the standard of performance was the best it’s been. Not only did the acts raise the bar but the festival setting is gaining a reputation as a place to perform; one young duo travelled over 60 miles to play on stage on a Tuesday night.
As the week continued the variety of live music proved a major attraction as the music marquee packed out night after night. Everything from hard rock, punk, reggae, ska, new wave to a string quartet playing classic songs, could be heard on Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
the music stage during the week. We were delighted also to have the talents of Hereward TV recording and broadcasting the entertainment throughout the week. Watching the bands streamed live online and seeing all the positive feedback particularly on social media, gives great encouragement and goes to show that all the hard work put in by the huge number of volunteers over the year was well worth it.
Peterborough Beer Festival Round-up |17
In terms of enduring memories from Peterborough Beer Festival 2015, there were a few standout moments. On the Thursday afternoon we were treated to the spectacular sight and sound of the Vulcan XH558 fly past on route from Clacton to Doncaster. Numerous pictures of this were shared on the festival Facebook page. The image of a sleeping dog (from a dogs eye view) probably became the most ‘liked’ post with over 5,000 views; proof if it were needed that it is a family friendly beer festival. Then there was the group of around ten who arrived on the Saturday, each carrying a handmade cake to be tried by all members of their party. As they settled down on the Embankment with their picnic blanket, cakes and ale, it was perhaps the most novel pairing of booze and cake since the classic scene in the film Withnail and I. Roll on next year! Karl Simpson PBF Publicity Team
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
20 | Please support our advertisers
29 North Street, Stanground PE2 8HR. 3 real ales, 1 real cider and 6 draught beers Game room, Sky & BT sport Freshly prepared food Tuesday to Sunday. Our garden, bars and restaurants are available for your Wedding, office or birthday party.
RUGBY WORLD CUP All matches shown live in our bar 9 High Street, Easton on the Hill, PE9 3LR. Tel: 01780 763003 Email: info@thebluebellpub.com Find us on Facebook: The Blue Bell
BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015
Tel: 01733 753544 Friendly village pub with riverside mooring. Up to 4 Real Ales available Large Garden Dogs Welcome • BT Sport Food Served: Tues to Sun 12 - 2.30pm Mon to Sat 6pm - 8pm
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
|21
coaches, all of which were spotlessly clean and virtually empty. It seemed as though, in no time, we were pulling into Brighton station.
Coalies go to Brighton The latest episode in our quest for great pubs and beer took us to sunny Brighton, only it wasn’t sunny and it wasn’t bright. It was wet with gale force winds which made it very difficult walking up Brighton’s very steep hills.
Peterborough to Brighton is a fair distance and one or two regulars were a bit put off by this but the journey went really quickly. Just an hour to London and then 54 minutes from Victoria to Brighton. A ticket from Peterborough to Brighton is about £34 including a third off for groups but if you get group tickets to Huntingdon and then group tickets from Huntingdon to Brighton it is £21.60, a big saving just by splitting your tickets.
Due to the early start we were unable to have breakfast as usual at the Drapers Arms but we had a 30 minute wait at Victoria which gave us time to grab some food, or, as some did, visit the Wetherspoons at the station for an early pint. It was after 9.30am after all. We were not sure if the train was to split on its way down to Brighton so it was suggested that we go to the front of the train but this took ages as the train consisted of at least 20 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Our first stop was Dark Star Brewery’s Evening Star which, according to their website, and the Good Beer Guide, opens at 11am. No, it doesn’t, it opens at 11.30am and it was now only 11.02am. We needed to find a pub that was open before the crew died of thirst as nearly an hour had passed since the pint at Victoria. The Brighton Belle was our salvation even though we had to pay £3.95 for a sub-standard pint of St. Austell Tribute. At least the rugby 7’s were on TV so we had something to watch. We left at 11.28am for the 2 minute walk back to the Evening Star.
What a great little pub. Four of their own beers were on plus another four local guest beers and a few craft keg beers. Again, the cost was around the £4 mark but we knew before we went it was going to be expensive.
Pub number two, The Cow, was a short walk away at least it looked short on the map and probably would have only been about five minutes if it were not for the incredibly steep hills. The five minute walk was almost like a five mile walk. The Cow was ok but only had two cask beers on even though they have four pumps. I had a keg Fransiscan Well IPA at 5.5% which was really good. Others had the cask ales and some had the keg beers and they were all good even though the choice was limited. Time to move on.
F
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
22 | Please support our advertisers
BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Next pub was the excellent Brighton Beer Dispensary. A bit on the small side but provided a large range of cask ales and craft kegs and also cans. I’ve never liked beer out of a can but the modern day craft type beers taste fantastic out of a can. If you didn’t see it poured you would think it was a draught beer. I had Beavertown Black Betty, a Black IPA at 10% and out of a can, but it was brilliant, even at £5 per can. Brighton Beer Dispensary is a joint venture between Late Knights brewery and Brighton Bier Company and most of the beers are from those two breweries although there were some other guest beers available. At the end of the day it was a toss-up between this place and The Evening Star as best pub of the day. The other big hit here were the battered gherkins or beerkins as they were called. Pretty disgusting in my eyes but apparently went really well with beer. Quite often when I do these write-ups, by the time it gets to the last pub the memory becomes a bit sketchy. I can remember the last pubs but for some reason I have a mental block about the next pub which was The Craft Beer Co. pub. I know I went there as I have photographs but no recollection. It’s not just me, a lot of the others can’t remember it either but we were definitely all there. I had to look at their website to jog my memory. They have up to 10 cask ales on and at least 12
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Coalies go to Brighton - continued |23
craft beers and the prices are not too bad. What I do remember is about four of the crew who were desperate for the loo all piled into the kitchen by mistake only to be chased out by the chef. Made us all laugh!
Next stop was North Laine Brewery Tap, a huge pub, even bigger than Peterborough’s Brewery Tap. It was really busy inside though we were probably 20 years older than most of the clientele. Quite a lot of beers were available including four of their own beers. Not too bad but I wish I had one of the guest beers instead. It was also a bit loud in there, we don’t do loud!
From there we went to The Prince Albert close to the station. Not a bad place, nothing too special but worth a visit. It was quite busy and a bit loud but at least the loud music was good music. Six beers were on, mostly local and in good nick. We now had a choice, one more here or back to the Evening Star. Two minutes later we were back in The Evening Star. It was considerably busier than it was at 11.30 in the morning and a couple more beers were on. You would really like this pub as your local. All in all, a good day despite the weather. Will need to do a bit of overtime now to pay for it.
Dave Botton
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
24 | Community power
Community Power ACVs rule? A recent issue of Beer Around ‘ere presented a pointby-point process for raising Assets of Community Value and there is now a major push within the branch to increase them. It may be that we are lulling ourselves into a false sense of optimism by thinking that this is a panacea for all of the problems within the trade, but it is surely something that we cannot ignore. I am suggesting that the way forward is to research the experience of other branches through case studies. Happily, I have a success story to relate.
One of the most vibrant thoroughfares in North London is the road running from Seven Sisters Station, past the Spurs’ football ground, to Edmonton Green. Tottenham High Road is adorned with some imposing Victorian, red brick buildings and punctuated with several public houses. Although of no singular architectural merit, these buildings and the pubs, some of which have inevitably disappeared, are etched into my emotional memory, for I have been a Tottenham Hotspur supporter since 1958. Imagine then my anger and frustration when a couple of years ago a wild contagion of a sense of injustice erupted into a
BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015
riot which wrought destruction on some of the buildings and, apparently, the community spirit. So this is also a story of recovery.
The Antwerp Arms is situated to the left of the High Road, along Church Street, opposite Bruce Castle Park, like a green oasis in an urban wasteland. I thought I had drunk in every pub in the White Hart Lane hinterland over the years yet I had never been in ‘Annies’. I finally discovered it about ten years ago and it quickly became a favourite venue before home games. But there were serpents in the garden. It was sold by Enterprise Inns to a developer and destined to be turned into housing. Except that the locals didn’t see it that way and a group of determined people gathered together and decided to do something about it. Mav Highsted is a retired communication skills teacher and now the Communications Director for the Antwerp Arms Association. I met her recently to discuss the pub’s recovery. She firmly believes that the regeneration of the area was a defining context for the regeneration of the pub. Part of building up a heritage area, with the church and the Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
whole terrace alongside the Antwerp locally listed. Were the riots then a catalyst? “Of course, you do not keep people off the streets by closing pubs and giving them nowhere to go.” As a long-standing resident of the area who witnessed the dreadful scenes a couple of years ago, she sees the Association as part of a new entrepreneurial spirit for which the pub has become an emblem. There are now two breweries in the area, Redemption and Beavertown at Tottenham Hale, an artisan baker and a cheese maker to name just a few. I have been tracking the progress of ‘Annies’ since. As soon as I heard that it had definitely reopened I arranged a meeting with Ian McLaren who is Secretary of the North London CAMRA branch and Finance Director of the Association. This is a sort of co-operative, a local social enterprise which eventually turned itself into a business. Ian recalls how they decided to call in some experts. One of them was the Plunkett Foundation, a charity that helps communities to buy local assets and run businesses. It was originally formed to preserve local shops but is now being drawn into preserving pubs. The question they put to him was “would you be prepared to buy it to save it”. This was a huge imponderable if it were not for the commitment of the organisation and the amount of publicity and support that they managed to engender in the local area.
Funding then became the key issue. They were advised to set up a Community Enterprise Society and applied for a grant to the Social Investment Business. This is a government fund created to raise capital with the express intention of having a social impact in deprived areas. To get the grant they had to establish what they are doing for the local community. So they set out their stall by explaining that they intended to attract all kinds of groups, from toddlers to pensioners. So be it, but what struck me as surprising was the growing awareness of the social importance pubs in an area of public life where there was previously considered to be some inherent bias against them. In addition, there was a feeling within the North London branch that there were councils that were for some reason anti-pub and that this had impeded the ACV registration process.
F
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
Community power - continued |27
The money started to arrive from all kinds of sources. I spoke to Operations Director, Lindsay Fowler. Tottenham born and bred, she has a keen interest in saving local pubs. She told me that two thirds of the investors are local people and some have come from former residents of the area, many of them now living abroad. She managed to harness the support of local M.P., David Lammy, who wrote a letter of support for the initial application. Former Spurs captain Gary Mabbutt rallied to the cause. The local brewery Redemption has made a major investment and has made it their brewery tap. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, which is making a major contribution to the regeneration of the area by building a brand new stadium, has also shown an interest in the project, as has the Spurs Supporters Club. But to save a pub can be an arduous task. She is currently raising a share issue for a further £50,000, which is still open, for further improvements. The initial Asset of Community Value was raised in June 2013. Clearly, they had a mountain to climb, as they were pioneering what was in effect new legislation. There were problems with the ACV process itself. Ian recalls that the councils didn’t really understand it. There was a general feeling within the North London Branch that some boroughs turn them down on spurious grounds, which is precisely why it was essential to raise the profile and widen the publicity.
For if you listen to the current wisdom, this is an area where the preservation of pubs is least likely. Haringey is reputed to have the widest ethnic mix of any borough in the country. But I am amongst those who are determined to challenge the assumption that demographic change necessarily augurs the extinction of the local (I fondly remember many of the Caribbeans I worked with in South London who were committed Young’s Special drinkers). And they were also up against the gangrenous insensitivity of property developers who think that a pub is merely a building, which has no value to the
Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
community. But then, as the Gospel tells us, it is easier for property developers to get through the eye of a needle than it is for them to challenge their own values. The ACV was finally successful in September 2013, after the buyers realised that they would not get the required planning permission. Once purchased, the Association set about producing their own business plans and prospectuses. Most of the work has been done by volunteers: solicitors, accountants, electricians, plumbers, cleaners; anyone who was prepared to lend a hand.
All of the above testifies to a conspicuous success for the Assets of Community Value programme. It is not only an example of how the work of a number of courageous people succeeded in keeping their pub open but also a reflection of the grit of the local populace who wanted to see their community restored. It is an inspiration to all those in similar circumstances across the country. And once an idea gathers momentum, there is no saying where it will go. As Lindsay says:” It’s very exciting to be part of something like this and although it has become practically a full time job for me, I am hoping once we get the new manger in, we can all relax and maybe move on to the next pub!”
We should not be deterred by the fact that the negotiations to save the Antwerp lasted for more than a couple of years and we are completely dependent on your active support to ensure that our own projects succeed. For this is truly our domain and truly CAMRA’s prerogative; as now we appear to have won the argument over real ale the focus of the movement will increasingly settle upon saving pubs. I am confident that we are witnessing the growth of a movement that once it gathers momentum will be irresistible. The law and public feeling are on our side. John Temple
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
28 | Live Music in October and November
Two Bands, One Night
Saturdays, you gotta love them, and with no work the following day it usually means a few beers are most definitely on the cards! So without so much as glance at any gig guides, I ventured down Oundle Road to the Cherry Tree. My excuse to the other half was a little transparent, as is normally the case, but a pass out was duly issued so off to the ‘Tree’ at double pace it was.
As is the norm on a sultry summer’s night, the pub’s beer garden was fairly busy, as were the resident gnats and mozzies. I was prepared for them this time though: insect repellent! It’s no Brut For Men, but if, like me, you get nibbled, that little spray of repellent makes for a more comforting session on the ale, especially when in the open air. Mission accomplished with my alfresco friends it was back to the bar for a pint of Ginger Pig and some live music. Tonight’s band were new to me and very good. Velocity by name and seemingly by nature too. This vibrant trio of twenty somethings played a good spread of guitar based anthems that crossed decades and genres. Their boundless energy infusing a growing crowd of punters to their cause.
Say what you like about local music, and in particular bands who do covers, but quite frankly we should support them and embrace the variety of choice on offer. They can make a visit to the pub so much better. With that in mind, which is often the case in this part of Peterborough, more live music was on offer, and in close proximity. So with a hop, not so much a skip and a jump, it was off to the Palmerston Arms.
Ramshackle Serenade were in fine form, with dancers and shape-shifters aplenty to their eclectic mix of double bass rockabilly and jive. As always the band delivered the goods, even chucking some Depeche Mode in along the way. Elsie Mo was on tap, for me one of the best that the Castle Rock brewery produce. Oddly it made the walk home a bit wobbly, which made my “sure I will be back by midnight” pledge a bit of a tough one. Woodston pubs and live music a plenty. Try popping by, you might just find a surprise or two.
Pimlico
Gig guide October Fri 2nd Tom Seals Trio Charters, Peterborough Sat 3rd Porky Pig Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor Sun 4th Mic Night Brewery Tap, Peterborough The Verzions Charters, Peterborough Thu 8th Captain Backwash Hand and Heart, Peterborough
Fri 9th The Tinderbox Charters, Peterborough Sat 10th The Unknown 3 Horseshoes, Werrington Greg McDonald Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor
Sat 17th The Unknown The Heron, Stanground Mistreated Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor
Tallawah Charters, Peterborough Mon 19th Open Mic Charters, Peterborough Fri 23rd Stone Pony Charters, Peterborough Sat 24th Hush Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor
Fri 30th Club Recall Beat Cancer Charity Halloween Ball Brewery Tap, Peterborough Sat 31st Grounded + Sci Fi Halloween Party Charters, Peterborough
November Fri 6th Acousticats Charters, Peterborough Sat 7th The Unknown Ploughman, Werrington The Claimed Prince of Wales Feathers Tin Pigeons Charters, Peterborough Fri 13th Children of the Revolution Charters, Peterborough
Sat 14th Jessica White Prince of Wales Feathers
December Fri 18th Children of the Revolution Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor
Sat 19th C J Hatt Prince of Wales Feathers, Castor
Diary dates |29
Diary dates October
Monday 5th at 8.30pm Branch Committee Meeting at the Sir Henry Royce, 1-3 Broadway, Peterborough PE1 1TA. All members welcome, please bring membership card.
Saturday 17th Gold and Cider Awards in Coates and Whittlesey. Presentation of Gold Award to Vine, Coates and County Cider
Pub of the Year to Letter B, Whittlesey. Depart Brewery Tap at 6pm and return by 11pm. Cost £7. Please book places through John Hunt, Social Secretary.
CAMRA meetings, socials and beer festivals in the coming months
Monday 19th at 8.30pm Peterborough Beer Festival “Wash up” Open Meeting at Cherry Tree, Oundle Road, Peterborough, PE2 9PB. All members welcome, please bring membership card.
November
Saturday 7th Joint social hosting Huntingdon Branch on a visit to Stamford. Meet at P’boro Railway Station at 11.30am. Return approx 5pm Please book places through John Hunt, Social Secretary.
Tuesday 10th at 8.30pm Branch Committee Meeting, venue to be confirmed. All members welcome, please bring membership card.
Gold Award Presentation
On Friday 14th August the Woolpack in Stanground was presented with a Gold Award for the quality of beers served. Unfortunately landlady Linda was in hospital and so was unable to receive her award. However, partner Pete was on hand to accept on her behalf. Congratulations Linda!
Steve Williams (nomination sponsor) presenting Pete with award. Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk
Saturday 21st Crowland and Spalding Crawl. Meet at Queensgate bus station at 10.45am for 10.55am bus to Crowland then on to Spalding. Last bus returns by 9pm. Dayrider ticket required.
Thursday 26th- Sunday 29th Winter Beer Festival at the Ploughman, Werrington 24+ ales.
December
Sunday 20th Christmas Mystery Tour. Depart Brewery Tap at 11am return by 8pm. Cost TBC. Please book places through John Hunt, Social Secretary
LocAle Report
I am pleased to report that the LocAle bar, introduced to the Peterborough Beer Festival 2015, was a huge success. All the LocAle beer sold out before the end of the festival. This shows that locally brewed beers are hugely popular with the general public and CAMRA members alike. A great effort was made by staff on the LocAle bar to promote and serve beer of the highest quality and encourage customers to search out local brews. This in turn will hopefully persuade our branch outlets to stock more and more LocAles. Here’s hoping that the bar becomes a permanent feature at future festivals.
It is also pleasing to report that the number of Peterborough and District Branch area public houses stocking one or more locally brewed ales is on the increase. Long may it continue. Dave McLennan LocAle Officer OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2015 | BEER AROUND ERE
Branch Committee Secretary: Dickie Bird 4 Cissbury Ring,Werrington Peterborough, PE4 6QH 01733 574226 (tel & fax) 07731 993896 info@real-ale.org.uk
Chairman: David Murray 01733 560453 chairman@real-ale.org.uk
Treasurer: Paul Beecham 01733 311981 07710 008693 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: John Temple 07905 051 312 pubs-officer@real-ale.org.uk
Press Officer: Mike Blakesley 01733 390828 (h) 07747 617527 (m) press-officer@real-ale.org.uk
Cider Officer: Bernidette Gilbert
cider@real-ale.org.uk
Young Members: Kara Williams young-members@real-ale.org.uk
Membership: Bob Melville 07941 246693 membership@real-ale.org.uk
Festival Org: Mike Lane 07850 334203 festival-organiser@real-ale.org.uk
LocAle Officer: Dave McLennan 01733 346059 (h) 07854 642773 (m) locale@real-ale.org.uk Webmaster: Harry Morten webmaster@real-ale.org.uk
Brewery Liaison Officers Blue Bell: John Hunt 07923 489917 Bexar County Brewery: Dave Botton 01733 345475 Castor Ales: Mike Lane 07850 334203 Digfield: Dave Waller 07821 912605 Elgood’s: John Hunt 07923 489917
Hopshackle: Noel Ryland 07944 869656
Kings Cliffe Brewery: Mike Blakesley 07747 617527 Melbourn: Don Rudd 07806 731765
Mile Tree Brewery: Steve Williams 07756 066503
Nene Valley: Bob Melville 07941 246693
Oakham Ales: Dave Allett 07966 344417 Tydd Steam: John Hunt 07923 489917
Shoulder of Mutton Brewery: John Temple 07905 051 312 Star Brewing Company: Don Rudd 07806 731765 Xtreme Ales: Matt Mace 07809 629241
08545 040506 www.consumerdirect.gov.uk Check out our website at: www.real-ale.org.uk
Trading Standards
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:
Big kfasot 11am rB eaSat 8 t ! ry 95
r At Least Th
, ry ve r r a o e c at f h t e m can o r f u lf se s yo r e u a ev lp yo uch e H as m
on
ee
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 5:00pm - Late Carvery & Grill Menu Sunday Open From 12 Noon - 9pm All Day Carvery
Check out our lunch-time grill menus and our everchanging 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.
Planning a wedding or special family event? We have lots of packages available including our new Green Room facility. Please call for further details.
Now licensed to conduct Civil Marriage ceremonies on the premises
Now taking festive bookings
200 Broadway, Yaxley Tel: 01733 244885 Email: thefarmers@btconnect.com
www.thefarmersyaxley.co.uk