Beer Around Ere 191

191 Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale October / November 2016

Another Year of Beer at PBF! Festival review on p.16

CAMRA CYCLE RALLY

WHAT IS A MICROPUB?

Slowly orbiting in circles, looking for answers

Mike Blakesley shares a short history on the current micropub explosion

ALSO INSIDE PUB & BREWERY NEWS

HUNTING FOR BEER IS HARD WORK A journey around the pubs of Norwich

DIARY DATES

JOIN CAMRA

In the CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE!

THE PLOUGHMAN•WERRINGTON rough Peterbo AMRA C t & Distric

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ugh rough Peterbo AMRA Peterboro MRA A C C t t ic ic tr tr is & Dis d &D

e ar Gold Aw 013 Pub of th 2 1 1 r e 0 Winn Year 2

Ten Real Ales from £2.00 a pint Permanent range of ales Four Real Ciders•Live Sky Sports•Live Entertainment Happy Hour Monday - Friday 5-7pm

Halloween Spooktacular

New Year’s Eve Party

FRI 28th October Live Music: One Eyed Cats Sat 29th October Live Music: The Nuggets Sun 30th October Halloween Karaoake

Ticket-only event to see in the new year with style.

Hot Buffet included Live music with The Fedz!

Only £10 per person

The Ploughman Staniland Way, Werrington Centre Tel: 01733 327696

39th PBF has been and gone, (see review on page 16–17) and no more Bank Holidays until December! Oh well back to normality at least for a while.

I read recently in What’s Brewing that according to new figures released by CAMRA at the Great British Beer Festival, most people disagree with official health guidelines on alcohol consumption, and that CAMRA are asking the Department of Health to launch a public consultation into whether the alcohol guidelines are evidence based and fit for purpose.

Watch this space! It does seem to me as with ‘five a day’ a figure tends to be plucked out of the air with no ‘concrete’ evidence to back it up, but what do I know!

Have you nominated beers for the next Champion Beer of Britain? If not visit www.cbobvoting.org.uk using your member log in details, which will give you relevant information on how to proceed. All members are eligible to vote for beers brewed local to them in the Champion Beer of Britain (CBOB) competition which runs from 1st September to 1st November 2016. Peterborough branch straddles two CBoB areas (East Anglia and East Midlands) so, if you choose you can nominate in both. Have your say, vote for your favourites!

Cheers JB

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 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 12–13 Save a community pub 14–15 PBF roundup 16–17 CAMRA Cycle Rally 18–19 Micropubs 21 Norwich beer hunt 22–23 Diary dates 24 Join CAMRA 28 CAMRA cricket 29 Branch contacts 30

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THE GOLDEN FLEECE 18 Sheepmarket Stamford Tel: 01780 763749

A traditional village pub in the heart of Stamford.

We are a family run pub with a friendly atmosphere and cracking good food. From 9am t0 4pm Monday to Saturday we serve home cooked food prepared on the day. On Sunday we offer a proper home cooked roast dinner from 12pm to 3pm.

Three real ales (including one rotating guest) are available alongside Westons Family Reserve Cider.

For entertainment we offer Karaoke on Thursdays and Sundays and Live Bands on Fri and Sat nights.

BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

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Chairman’s corner |5

Chairman’s Corner “Many of our loyal stalwarts will be calling time for the last time next year. We need your help for the event to continue.”

So yet another Peterborough Beer Festival has been done and dusted. Next year we will have reached the milestone of the 40th PBF. Will there be another after that? Definitely if, and it’s a very big if, we get more of our CAMRA members and friends to volunteer. Many of our loyal stalwarts of the last thirty odd years will be calling time for the last time next year. We need your help for the event to continue.

How about this year’s festival? We had glorious sunshine throughout the week until the Saturday, when the sky decided we needed a bit of dampening down. Well it wouldn’t be the PBF without a drop of rain! Unfortunately the deluge in the afternoon deterred many people from coming along, however, the big puddles had all gone within half an hour. Nevertheless those who did come still had a choice of over 100 beers, plus, ciders and wines to enjoy. So we look forward to next year’s 40th with great anticipation.

Finally after much shuffling by the government the long-awaited Pubs Code has come into force following their approval. The introduction of the code was originally scheduled for May, but errors in the initial drafting caused it to be delayed. The Pubs Code gives tenants more rights and greater protection from the large pub companies with tied pubs in England and Wales. Tenants of pub

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companies and breweries operating more than 500 pubs will be able to request a Market Rent Only agreement. This means they will no longer be tied to buy drinks and other products from their landlords. It may see beer prices drop a shade! Business minister Margot James was urging all tenants and pub companies to work with the pubs code adjudicator Paul Newby, as well as with one another. Paul Newby also reiterated that he would work tirelessly to uphold the code and its values from day one. He understood and appreciated there were tied tenants struggling to make a living as a result of bad deals with their landlords.

The deadline for the second Revitalisation Project survey has now passed. Speaking to many of our local members who have completed the survey, it would appear that the first survey which highlighted a number of issues sent out a message that the main aims of CAMRA are still the driving force that have to be maintained. These are the protection of real ale and cider, the support and protection of our pubs without any deviation from those aims. We shall, I’m sure, hear in the next few months the case for or against any change to those aims. A final decision is set to be made at the 2017 AGM being held in Bournemouth.

I have a number of 2017 Good Beer Guide’s on offer at a discounted price for members. There are a limited number and therefore it’s “first come, first served”. So, please contact me if you want a copy.

Cheers for now.

David Murray Branch Chairman

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The Ramblewood Inn ‘The pub in the woods’

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BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

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Pub News

A pleasant Sunday afternoon was spent strolling around Glinton and Peakirk in the warm sunshine of early August. Easy to reach on the Peterborough - Market Deeping - Bourne axis, the first stop was the Blue Bell in Glinton, a well-appointed Greene King pub on a green opposite the village church. It has a large tree canopied garden to the rear full of ferns and willows and is popular for its Sunday lunches. It offers Greene King IPA, Belhaven, and a beer called Blue Bell Bitter, which I could not identify but it had the unmistakable Greene King yeast flavour. The Sunday lunches, which are served in challenging portions with a healthy selection of fresh vegetables, are available until 4.00p.m.

The road to Peakirk will take you directly to the Ruddy Duck. Formerly the Black Bull, the lease was bought by current owners, Sue and Andy Ruddy, who gave it its eponymous title, now serving Adnams Broadside and a guest locAle. This pub has a senior citizens' offer from Tuesdays to Saturdays. The point, of course, is that senior citizens have families and, once you get them into the pub, they are likely to come back with their entourage. The crackling on the pork joint was especially crisp and appetizing. My friends (both of them) tell me that eating pork without the crackling is like kissing a person without a moustache,* so it was one of those days when a lot of pig found its way home. A comfortable main bar is well provided with seating room with plush settees flanking the whole of the wall backing on to the main road.

Pub returns to Eye Green It seems as though the current vogue of turning pubs into Indian restaurants has reached saturation point. Five Spices, in Eye Green, formerly the Greyhound, has been reinvented as the Maccaloo Gastro Pub. Managers Adam and Age (pronounced Aggie) Machala (the pub is a play on their name) are from Poland and have introduced a number of attractive Polish features with, as the name suggests, food being available at all times, apart from Mondays when the pub is closed.

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Pub news |7

Speciality days are: Wednesday – Polish, Thursday- Italian, Friday – Mexican. Adam also cooks a special dish every day but you need to ask for it as it does not appear on the menu. This is a clean, bright and friendly pub with a definite sense of joie de vivre. All of the furniture is imported from Poland and the walls are adorned with the work of local artists.

There is a large, canopied and nicely landscaped barbecue area with a children’s playground in the garden. The garden furniture is attractive, polished wood and does not cause a hernia when you try to prise yourself into it. Children are welcome at all times. Dogs are not allowed in the bar but are welcome in the garden. The real ales on offer are Sharp’s Doom Bar and Atlantic, and Age has been briefed in the advantages of removing the sparkler and intends to offer customers the option. Highly recommended.

“My friends (both of them) tell me that eating pork without the crackling is like kissing a person without a moustache” There is spacious car parking and the No. 37 bus from Spalding and Peterborough stops just outside.

So too for the villagers of Folksworth who will be relieved to learn that they will no longer have to travel too far to get a pint, for the Fox is now under the ownership of the proprietors of Clarke’s restaurant in Peterborough. Sarah Wilkinson, who attended the public forum at the Parish Council Meeting reports that “they plan to turn it into an up market gastro- pub. It will still have a snug area where people can come for drinks and snacks, with the restaurant area on the right.

They will be aiming to make it family friendly and are keen to emphasise that they want to give the village a pub back.

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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

8 | Pub news - continued

They are also planning to put a sun room at the back to make the most of the beautiful views across the fields and will provide a soft seating area with fireplaces. The chef plans to use local produce wherever possible and all the food will be freshly cooked. The restaurant will seat 100 – 120; the pub side will be a free house and serve real ale” (no details yet). I understand that they would like to open the pub in October, but as often these proposed dates are often too optimistic, I am sure that we can look forward to it opening before Christmas.

Meanwhile, back in the city centre, the Bumble Inn has extended its opening hours to 10.00p.m.

Tuesday to Thursday and 11.00p.m. Friday and Saturday. Whilst on the subject of new ventures, I am delighted to hear that the Waggon and Horses in Langtoft, after an uncertain period, is now prospering under its new management who are promoting a beer festival on the last weekend in September.

ACV update Whilst there are now in excess of 1,200 pubs across the country protected by ACVs, I counsel caution on any overconfidence in the efficacy of this measure. Whilst an ACV will trigger a six month moratorium on the sale of a pub, it is often the case that the local residents cannot raise sufficient funds to table their own bid. There are also inconsistencies in the application of the process by local councils. As I reported in my article on the Antwerp Arms in Issue 185, the committee who gathered to rescue the pub experienced a decided antipathy from Haringey council on the value of pubs to the local community.

Those readers who have expressed to me their reservations on the process may be interested in an article recently published in The Guardian newspaper. This records the unprecedented step taken by Wandsworth Council of using a particular piece of planning law called an “article 4 direction” to protect its pubs, which means that all owners of bars or pubs in the borough will have to seek council permission before changing the pubs use or knocking it down. The criteria normally BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

employed are “historic or architectural value or because they make a positive contribution to the community”.

Colin Valentine, CAMRA’s chairman, has recently said “It has become evident that ACV listings are not enough to give pubs the protection they deserve from closure, or acquisition for demolition, or redevelopment by investors.

Communities are not getting enough of a say in the process when the pubs they treasure are threatened by closure or change of use.” My own view is that there should be a CAMRA initiative to prompt all councils to adopt this measure and perhaps individual readers may feel obliged to contact their MPs on its potential efficacy.

Across the Burghley Park we strode. Later, in the most recent of our country walks, as this begins in another poet’s domain.

Fortunately, I was accompanied by the editor - for my own safety. We proposed to start the walk from the Bluebell in Helpston where we all know John Clare lived, although it is rumoured that he ate and slept in the cottage next door. It is a traditional village pub currently serving London Pride, Adnams Ghost Ship, Nobby’s Claridges Crystal and regular contributions from the Star Brewery who brew special beers for the pub. The entrance at the rear leads into a flag stoned foyer with traditional settles, magazines and paperbacks, leading on to the main bar and two restaurant areas to the left and right. It reminds me of an old bottle and jug but with no window to the bar.

Helpston can be reached by the 201 bus from Peterborough, Stamford, or any other village along the route

This is the place, according to the poem of the same name, where “useless ignorance slumbers life away”, so I feel well qualified to comment on it.

The slumber, however, did not seal our spirit for long as we embarked upon the arduous journey to the footpath and then changed our minds and caught the bus to Bainton. From Bainton it is a thirty minute walk along the Ufford Road, past the ancient sheep dip, perfectly preserved for over 700 years, but unfortunately, no longer accessible to

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Pub news - continued |9

refresh the weary traveller on a hot summer’s day.

It is an easy walk past Ufford farm until you catch sight of the village church of St. Andrew sited high on a hill dominating the village. The pub is just opposite.

The White Hart in Ufford is now the property of Stamford Country Inns selling London Pride, Oakham JHB and Grainstore Red Kite. This is an ancient, well preserved limestone pub. What was originally the public bar is now a dual function room facing on to the Norman church. It is now also an eating area, with a snug nestled between this and the main restaurant to the rear. The snug is flanked by two patios: to the right a stone walled drinking area and to the left an orangery. Beyond this is the building that originally housed the Ufford Brewery but has now been converted to accommodation. The main bar is decorated by horse paraphernalia, railway lanterns and rows of chamber pots hanging inaccessibly from the ceiling, so we would recommend the more luxurious toilets which are situated at the back of the bar. The White Hart is open all day, every day and serving excellent food from head chef Dorran Leigh. Traditional kitchen style furniture enhances the rustic feel of the pub. I was pleased to note the highchairs which are made available for young children.

Leaving the White Hart, take the road opposite, footpathed in the main part, and follow its curves to the viaduct. Turn left on to the Southorpe Road and locate the footpath on the left hand side cutting back beneath the viaduct you have just crossed. This is a pleasant walk through a small cluster of trees called Ufford Oaks. Most of the walk is along a clearly marked track, loser-friendly as even we managed to follow it without getting lost. Continue along it from the oaks until you sight a tall hedge where you veer to the left. Follow the hedge on your right hand side and into the copse. Follow the footpath and turn right at the marker post into the wood alongside the cricket pitch to your left and continue until you reach the passage between the stone wall and the trees.

This will bring you out by the post office just opposite the church. Turn left into Church Road Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

through the Square and into Main Street and follow the road up to the Millstone which is just off to the left. This is an Everards pub selling proper traditional copper coloured bitters: Beacon Hill (recently rebadged), Tiger and Old Original, and a guest. It is a spacious, L shaped pub with a snug and, of course, a restaurant. Landlady Malinda said that the pub is now heavily dependent on food with regular drinkers from the village she could count on the fingers of both hands. You know what they say, use it or lose it. The pub is open from 12 -3.00 Monday to Thursday, and all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I had an excellent pint of Lincoln Green Sherwood whilst there so I really think that the villagers just don’t know what they are missing.

Turning from the pub into Jack Haws Lane, you can follow the road to Pilsgate for about a mile, foot pathed all the way, and locate the new footpath just off to the left. Not so much a traditional footpath but more like a wide hard cored track.

It is easy walking between the hedge and the well wooded rolling hills to your left. When you come back onto the main road, it is a short walk to Burghley Park. On entering through its imposing towered gates, you have the pleasant shade of the tree lined avenues, laid out in the eighteenth century by Capability Brown, leading up to the House itself. Not much to detain us here in the public house way of things as the brewhouse is no longer functional, so if you turn right and follow the main path, veer right past the iron gates and past the cattle grid. This will bring you out into Water Street in Stamford, where the world is your oyster (23 pubs at the last count).

By way of a change, we took the route past the old Station House and the old Hunt brewery, over Albert Bridge, along Blackfriars Road and into St. George’s Square. Stamford is famous as a town built almost exclusively from local stone, but it still has a number of timber framed buildings dating back to the economic decline of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. One of these is St. Mary’s Vaults in St Mary’s Street. Its timber framed upper storey and tall, gabled cross wing now houses the pub’s games room. It is a former

F

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BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

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coaching inn with a Tudor frontage converted into a Samuel Smith’s pub. With Old Brewery Bitter (the only beer I am aware of sold exclusively from the wood) at £1.90 a pint, it is probably the cheapest pub in Stamford. That is, of course, along with the Melbourne Brothers bar just off Red Lion Square, also a Sam Smiths house.

We took the opportunity to visit Lewis Dalton and Lucy Howard (formerly of St. Mary’s Vaults), who took over the pub a few months ago. Lewis told us that their intention is to make the pub a lot friendlier bringing board games back into the games room which is attractively furnished with Chesterfield sofas. They are planning chess, dominoes and backgammon tournaments in the future. The beer garden is now adorned with plants and hanging baskets with the intention of attracting the birds (and presumably the ornithologists). Lewis will arrange brewery tours – the original Victorian brew tower is its most dominant feature and Sam Smiths are using the pub as a training centre for their chefs.

Pub news - continued |11

number of non drinkers simply sit around and nod whilst the resident Aristotle holds court.

My statistical adviser, Mark Turnbull, suggests that accountancy nights might be more exhilarating.

And as every pedant will tell you, nil significat, nisi pulvator. Or, as Duke Ellington put it, “it don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing”. Think I’ll stick to the live music.

*The gender here is deliberately camouflaged to conform to current equality legislation.

John Temple Pubs Officer

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

This is a historic pub in a historic town with much of it dating back far beyond its Victorian brewery. On three levels, the bar is on the third whilst the original priest hole nestles at the back of the ground floor. Although pasteurized, Sam Smith’s Extra Stout compares very favourably with Guinness, but we decided to go up market and sample their own draught wheat beer and the excellent Taddy Porter (unfortunately only available in the bottle).

Pub attractions My astonishment threshold was somewhat lowered when I read in a recent Mintel survey that only 13% of pub users are attracted by live music.

Lowered because every time I visit a pub featuring live music it is rammed to the front door.

I have also found that poetry readings are increasing in popularity in the city (Charters, Drapers). Although there are some talented poets operating in the area, I find that after several pints of bitter I cease to feel the weight of the words and my pulse starts to beat to a different rhythm. Less so on philosophy nights when a Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

12 |

Brewery News Blue Bell The new half firkin micro plant has been installed and is a smaller mirror image of the main plant.

This will enable test brews of occasional beers to be brewed without any wastage. A proposed strong brew called The Dodgy One is currently being tested. The new beers are regularly outselling the guest pump at the Blue Bell pub.

Castor Ales So the great PBF has been and gone and Castor Ales once again are celebrating.

Though they are not quite sure what they are celebrating-but say it seems churlish not to celebrate something—so they are. They were happy to receive the “best beer brewed in Castor” category, Hopping Toad was a clear winner. The festival special Three Foot 3 (39th PBF get it!) and Imperial Palace Porter certainly received rave reviews and a crew from Falmouth made sure they secured both for the great Kernow Beer Festival in November. Such are the margins that define success and failure in the world of brewing.

The bumper plum harvest this year will undoubtedly feature in the new batch of Imperial Palace Porter along with the ubiquitous liquorice.

Production at the brewery has stepped up to ensure they use up all the hops they have contracted to this year. So expect to see 12th Man and Imperial Palace Porter in a pub near you soon (as long as the landlord gives Duncan a call, because they never knowingly tout for business). Hopping Toad and Roman Gold remain central to their portfolio and if there are any hops left, who knows they may knock out one or two beers to keep the tickers ticking over!!!

BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

Elgood’s Bottled Cambridge Bitter has ‘taken to the high seas’ as it is now on sale in Cunard’s Liners as well as on P&O Britannia. Indian Summer is the current seasonal ale and a beer called The Enigma Brew has also been spotted. Which Witch is Which and Plum Porter will be seasonals for October. On the pub front, the Queens Head at Emneth has re-opened and is serving cask Cambridge Bitter. However, the Buck at Tilney St. Lawrence has been sold as a free house, leaving Elgood’s with an estate of thirty.

Oakham Ales Since the brewery was founded in the early 1990’s J.H.B. has been the flag bearer for Oakham Ales, its sales always out stripping the other beers in the portfolio. However, in recent months the flag has been handed over to Citra a beer that was only introduced in 2009. This was when production director John Bryan was so impressed by this new crop on his annual pilgrimage to bless the new hop harvest, that he ordered a batch to be flown over from The States. Therefore, becoming the first British brewer to use it.

Brewed occasionally at first it was made permanent in 2011 in both cask and bottle and following numerous awards in the brewing industry and at CAMRA events the public are at last convinced by it. Citra now accounts for 30% of the brewery’s total output. Not bad eh! J.H.B. sales still are still in growth also. Bottled Citra already widely available in various supermarkets is now being sold in 144 more Co-op stores, with growth also at Morrisons and Bargain Booze nationally.

Work is now well under way at the brewery for its expansion with various brewing vessels waiting to be plumbed in and work is back on schedule.

Hopefully more information on progress in the next issue.

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Helter Skelter should be available by the time you read this and the October Oakadamy beer will be Study in Scarlet (4%).

Further afield a deal has been struck in Canada for the brewery’s beers to appear in British Columbia. Six hundred cases of Scarlet Macaw have found their way to the ‘Alko’ state liquor stores in Finland, so hopefully a nation with a notoriously high suicide rate have found something to cheer them up!

Nene Valley Brewery Having survived their first Peterborough Beer Festival (PBF) running their own Brewery Bar, Nene Valley are keen to repeat the process again in 2017. They are extremely happy with the way things went (Release the Chimps won the Best Bitters and Pale Ales category and won Bronze overall) and with the amount of Nene Valley beer which was sold. They made a number of new contacts and opened new accounts as a result of their presence.

Having all of their beers “gluten free” was a talking point for a number of patrons and the brewery aim to make more of this in the future.

The time since PBF has been spent replenishing stocks and delivering to existing customers. This week the Nene Valley elves will be brewing Release the Chimps (4.4%), Big Bang Theory (5.3%) and Australian Pale (4.4%) twice. Starless Stout (4.2%) is to be brewed again in a couple of weeks but there have been a number of changes to the recipe which will result in changes to the final beer.New beers which may, or may not, appear in the next few months could include a Milk Stout, “Sour” Beer and a vegetarian Christmas Beer. Watch this space!

Star Brewing Company Star beers that are available at present are Starburst (4.1%), Meteor (4.0%), Lightyear (5.0%) and Velocity (3.9%). Beers are continuing to be seen in local pubs and Weatherspoon’s outlets.

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Brewery news |13

Tydd Steam Lubrication which was the second beer to be brewed by Tydd Steam is currently being brewed as one of the occasional portfolio.

Leveller will be brewed shortly for the autumn.

American Eagle which was brewed recently was a great success, selling out quickly.

Brewer Will is planning to get some new larger chillers which will enable bigger batches of beer to be brewed as sales are very strong and this new investment will help keep up with demand.

Xtreme Ales Another year of Peterborough Beer festival has been and gone!

Xtreme had a very good festival with all five of their beers selling out by Friday evening.

By the time you read this they should be in their new brewery premises and producing beer. It has been a long process ongoing since February and has made them realise just how difficult public utilities are to deal with. A last special brew at the old brewery will be available at the Nottingham Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival, (12th-15th October). As yet the beer it is unnamed!

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14 | Cider

The term “craft” has crept into the drinks sector vocabulary as a cover-all description to describe the products of new, small scale brewers.

The explosion in numbers of new “craft” breweries starting up in business has captured the imagination of a new generation of drinkers looking for something exciting and different.

Something similar is happening in the world of cider, albeit on a smaller scale and somewhat more scattered geographically. While the number of new cider makers is but a fraction of those setting up a new brewery, they are more likely to be producing cider for the love of it first and foremost. The term “craft” hardly does them justice. I prefer to think of them as “artisans”.

Traditional cider areas such as Herefordshire, Somerset and Devon; even the more diverse areas famed for using eating and cooking apples to produce cider such as Kent, East Anglia and Scotland are all benefitting from this resurgence in cider making, usually carried out by keen individuals with more than a passing interest in the heritage of the drink. Much of this new wave are producing very small quantities only for local consumption, the sort of thing you’d purchase at the local farmers’ market rather than find in your local pub.

By now you've probably caught up with me and wondering how Scotland has crept into the list?

We are Peterborough CAMRA Pub of the Year 2016!

Up to 4 Real Ales available • Friendly village pub with riverside mooring • Serving Sunday Roast • Large garden • Dogs welcome Food served: Lunches Mon - Sat 12-2pm, Sun 12-3pm. Evening meals Mon-Sat 6-8pm

Sun 6th November - The Stringlers 4- 6pm Beer Festival Fri 14 to Sun 16 October.

Countryside theme with Live music, BBQ (weather permitting) and lots of ales BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

What a lot of people aren’t aware of is Scotland's rich cider past. Historically, there are several areas of Scotland which were once home to apple and pear orchards. Eight hundred years ago the estates and monasteries of the Scottish border region were awash with large orchards. These stretched as far as Glasgow and the Clyde valley. Some parts of modern day Glasgow, such as the Gorbals, Govan and the Merchant City were once home to vast orchards. In fact the Merchant City is largely built on the site of a huge, old pear orchard. It is some of these old estates that present day cider makers turn to for their apple crops. Some old orchards Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Cider |15

The resurgence of Scottish cider

have been left to nature and the apples they produce simply fall to the ground to rot. Not any more as enterprising cider makers are busily seeking out these old orchards and their rare fruit trees and either buying up the surplus fruit or taking on the maintenance of the trees.

Probably the longest established (founded 2008) and certainly the largest of the new wave of Scottish cider makers is Thistly Cross Cider, now based at their new cider barn in West Barns near Dunbar in East Lothian. They source local apples for their Jaggy Thistle, the only real cider they produce.

Their output of fruit added ciders is so large, even exporting to the USA, they can’t source enough home grown apples and resort to using imported apple juice concentrate for most of their range.

Another borders cider maker but based near Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway is Waulkmill Cider. Owner Chris Harrison also scours the region for his supplies of apples and pears and in 2013 he produced the first Scottish perry in over a century. He is also planting new trees with an eye to the future.

Meanwhile in Glasgow, John Hancox set up Clyde Cider in 2015 and has produced the first urban west of Scotland cider since medieval times.

One of John's main interests is the promotion of fruit tree planting (www.scottishfruittrees.com).

Again, John seeks out windfall crops of apples for his cider making. He casts his net some distance as he has been able to obtain enough apples from the Edinburgh area to produce a special edition Morning Cider, named after the capital city suburb of Morningside.

Cider making in Scotland doesn't stop at Glasgow either. The Carse of Gowrie area of Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Perthshire was famous in Victorian times for its apples, pears and plums. Today it is one of the UK's biggest soft fruit growing regions. The village of Errol sits not too far from the banks of the River Tay and has been the home of the Cairn O'Mohr Winery since 1987. A recent addition to their range of fruit juices and wines has been cider.

They don't have far to go for their apples although one of their special, single varietal ciders (King Jimmy's) involves using a rowing boat to gather the apples from a clutch of trees from an island in the middle of a lake on the local golf course!

Finally, we head north. Mention Loch Ness and the first thing that enters most people’s minds is the monster. However, by the shores of the loch the village of Drumnadrochit is home to Loch Ness Cider. Set up in 2014 by Karen Wotherspoon, a keen cider drinker who grew up in Devon, and using a blend of Highland apples from the Black Isle (even further north than Loch Ness) there are plans here to plant new cider apple tress using varieties that are known to produce fruit in the Highland climate.

You might have to search high and low for a sample of Loch Ness Cider (try out Scottish Aldi stores) but it just goes to show that cider making is alive and well in even the most unlikely places.

There are at least another four or five Scottish cider makers I could have mentioned. All have the same enthusiasm to reinstate Scotland on the cider map in however small a way. One bright spot on the future horizon comes from the Scottish Government’s own statistics. In 2014 Scottish National Heritage commissioned a National Orchard Inventory. It found that there were orchards in 31 out of Scotland's 32 local authority areas with the greatest concentration in the Clyde Valley and Kingdom of Fife areas.

Bill Wilkinson OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

16 |

Peterborough Beer Festival 2016 Another Year of Beer!

Once again Peterborough welcomed the CAMRA beer festival for its August pilgrimage at the Embankment, traditionally the last big event of the summer months in the City. The Peterborough festival now in its 39th year is firmly established as one of the major CAMRA beer festivals in the country and with around 30,000 visitors coming again from all of the country this year’s event did not disappoint.

The 5 day extravaganza began with the Tuesday afternoon trade session, as always an opportunity for brewers, retailers, licensees and suppliers to the trade to network in a convivial setting. Of course, just drinking beer and having a chat with friends was also a perfectly acceptable way to pass the time too.

At exactly 5.30pm the festival opened to a huge crowd stretching down to the Key Theatre as the first obstacle for the PBF committee team was cleared – a nice sunny day to start off with. The unpredictability of British summertime can sometimes be the nemesis of our outdoor beer festival but not today.

BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

A walk around the beer festival’s three cavernous marquees revealed the usual delights of over 400 different reals ales on offer. The ever popular Singles Bar corner was, as usual, a crowd-pleasing destination, as indeed was the LocAle bar in the North Marquee and Bar 3 featuring cask sponsorship by Peterborough local businesses. New for this year the inclusion of the key keg bar attracted a great deal of interest as this section of the beer market continues to gather pace nationally. Foreign bottled beers, ciders and wines also continued to be popular as the festival draws people of all ages and differing tastes through the door.

The champion beer of the festival was expertly supervised this year by the inimitable Bram from the Hand and Heart. At the end of the day’s proceedings the declared overall winners were: Gold - Fyne Ales Jarl 3.8%: A very light, golden ale with strong citrus notes.

Silver - Drygate 7 Peaks 5.0%: A golden IPA with a complex mosaic hop aroma and crisp dry malt backbone.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Beer festival roundup|17

Bronze - Nene Valley Release the Chimps 4.3%: A golden-coloured American-style pale ale with a fruity hop aroma and flavour.

Well done to the winners and in particular to our local brewer Nene Valley.

A full programme of musical entertainment complemented the week with many diverse acts once again featured. Special thanks must go to Stacey for hosting a brilliant open mic night and helping to showcase our local talent. Visit the photographs page of the Peterborough CAMRA website to see lots of images of the bands and individual performers on stage during the week.

Next year, of course, will be the landmark 40th Peterborough CAMRA beer festival and planning will begin in earnest just as soon as the volunteers have had a well-earned break! We want to make 2017 special – a year to remember - so all ideas are welcome and please do contact your branch membership or get in touch with the committee.

We are already in search of a logo for next year’s PBF so if you have a really good design (or idea that we can spruce up) we will pay you £200 if we choose yours. Just send them to logo@beer-fest.org.uk. Good luck and see you next year!

Karl Simpson

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

18 |

Do Not Ride Bicycles Through The Pool

Saturday 18th June saw a break in the rainy weather and the Annual CAMRA Cycle Rally.

Unfortunately only by nine contestants turned up, one contestant was given the instruction “On Your Bike or on your bike!” We had to disqualify him for forgetting his bike. Protocol dictates that I cannot name Dickie Bird.

That resolved we started at 16:30 sharp.

Contestants started slowly orbiting in circles as they sought the answer to the first question which would allow them to break orbit and head north between the Chopstix and Phone Experts.

First port of call was The Sir Henry Royce where Thwaites Magic Sponge proved most popular. I did have a full beer list but it got lost somewhere on route.

BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

From there we moved on through Stanley Rec to the Conservative Club where another good range of beer greeted us, along with CAMRA’s own Noel Ryland. Must be a lot of exciting discussion in there post Brexit? Then we headed west via Arkwright’s assistant (Granville Street), between Eddie Kidd and Evel Knievel along county thoroughfare (Cambridge Avenue) and past the twin towers (Mosque) and eventually via Baker Park [What is the difference between a Buffalo and a Bison?] to the Halcyon where contestants searched for an early breakfast. Onward we continued east along the Warwickshire town way (Atherstone Avenue) and eventually to South Bretton and Coopers – what is not appropriate to the Italian Job? Answer – yellow mini!

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

At this point we headed north up Blind Lane – how many yellow croquet hoops? - Railings around children’s play area – I counted 114 Winning team came in at 113. Only did one count as it is probably not too wise to hang about a children’s play area too long at my age!

We then continued onto The Fayre Spot where we were defeated by the crowds waiting to go in to see “From the Jam”, a tribute band featuring original Bruce Foxton. We couldn’t even see the bar never mind get to it!

Then we proceeded north through Bretton Park over the railway bridge and Rhubarb Bridge before descending to the Lime Tree through Mildmay Road. Nice to have a road to celebrate CAMRA’s spring campaign!

From there a convoluted route led contestants on a merry dance – two lions guarding two fat women – two stone lions on gateposts outside number 88 (Derek and his Dominoes found some other Lions in a different direction) and then into Trite eastern substitute for red cross – Itter Crescent – and eventually to the Crown. Where might Jeremy live?

Corbyn House - Where might Alice live? – Wonderland Cottages. Rich pickings in that area.

CAMRA cycle rally |19

when we used to be asked to write an essay on the subject “It’s illegal, it’s immoral or it’s fattening” The other two were a bit too easy. We were not sure what to expect and we had wondered about how we would present something immoral. Not to worry, these CAMRA cyclists have a lot to answer for. A VHS tape in a plain brown wrapper was presented as fitting the criteria. We declined Bram’s kind offer to screen the tape, probably was Mary Poppins but hey ho!

At the end of the day, sorry night, the winners were Matt Mace, Derek and Martin Gibson of the Rushholme Ruffians who narrowly defeated Becks and Trevor of B & T – But we don’t do phones.

Many thanks to all who competed and to the pub landlords who either wittingly or unwittingly played their part. We couldn’t have done it without you!

See you in 2017!

Ross Parton

Onwards, back onto cycle path and down to Millfield past Postman Pat’s regular, emerging on the French Strasse opposite the Battle of Hastings.

From there it was the dodgy Army Rank – Serjeant Street and back past the twin towers to Don Quixote’s nemesis. From there past the cold country (but good at football) need any more clues? Eventually via the patron saint of Inn Keepers (St Martin) to the Hand and Heart.

Contestants were asked the final question of the night – What is two of 135? If you want to know the answer you better get down to the Hand and Heart for a pint and a prowl!

The CAMRA cycle tour is partly about finding clues and partly scavenger hunt. We like to present contestants with the chance to use their imagination. One of the objects we asked for was “an immoral item”. This goes back to school days Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

20 | Please support our advertisers

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We cater for buffet or sit-down meals.

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Four real ales Six draught lagers • Large car park Large beer garden with children’s play area Sky & BT Sports (Two TV’s)

Blue Boar, Eye

BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

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Micropubs |21

MICROPUB What’s one of them?

Recently I visited a Micropub called the 10:50 From Victoria, a railway themed Micropub in Strood, Kent. It was fantastic with a great selection of ales and great conversation just like the days before mobile phones ruined the art of conversation. I like the reasoning that the three owners of 10:50 From Victoria have on their web site, why would three grumpy old men start a new business in today’s economic climate?

A Micropub is a very small, one room public house. The concept is attributed to publican Martyn Hillier and his pub, The Butchers Arms, in Herne, Kent.

The definition is difficult as it is a set of ethics rather than a set of rules. According to the Micropub Association it is defined as follows: ‘A Micropub is a small freehouse which listens to its customers, mainly serves cask ales, promotes conversation, shuns all forms of electronic entertainment and dabbles in traditional pub snacks’.

There may be differences between the pubs; they may or may not have a bar, they might serve beer straight from the cask or through hand pumps. But they are united in one philosophy. A simple pub with the focus on cask beer and conversation for entertainment. The basic premise is KIS, KIS – Keep It Small, Keep It Simple

It became easier to set up a small independent public house following the passing of the 2003 Licensing Act, which became effective in 2005.

The original Micropub, The Butchers Arms in Herne, Kent, was opened in 2005 by Martyn Hillier after spending several years as an off-licence. In 2009, Martyn gave a presentation to the AGM of Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), in Eastbourne, showing the simplicity of the 'Micropub' model and encouraging other people to follow his lead.

Since then, we now have over 200 Micropubs in England.

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

1st Reason: Pubs are still in decline. The rents and rates are way too high.

2nd Reason: Some publicans believe that loud music and TV screens equal punters – ‘Wrong’, no pub can be all things to all people.

3rd Reason: At seventy years old the need to create your own social environment is an excuse for something to do and a place to go.

Peterborough’s first Micropub ‘The Bumble Inn’ has opened in Peterborough with more to follow in and around our great city, please pay them a visit and make up your own mind.

Mike Blakesley Press Officer

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

22 | Norwich beer hunt

We’re going on a Bar Hunt!

In some ways it was like watching Corrie when Ena Sharples sat, hawk like, brooding over her nip of the black stuff. Well, at least some of the pubs visited exuded that old corner pub feel: and served some old fashioned ales. This was a trip that would not leave us feeling bitter.

First: the getting there; and back again; letting the train take the strain. Getting the right trains and a Plusbus ticket cost £19.20 (£12.80 with the right cards). Leaving the train at just after 11am we headed to the nearby Weatherspoon’s, the Queen of the Iceni. Unusually for a Weatherspoon’s, the pub is in a new building in the Riverside Development –more eateries than you could throw a spoon at! Not all Spoons are created equal. Just four uninspiring real ales tucked away at the bar. Let us be grateful for the Drapers!

Fortunately we were going for the hot drinks with the brunch meal deals: the day was young and there were many bars to be entered. Now it seems that no trip to Norwich is complete without a pilgrimage to the Fat Cat.

next bar stop; the Belle Vue. A Victorian estate pub, situated as ever at the junction of two roads, with the door at the corner.

A half of Wolf Brewery Edith Cavell, golden bitter at 3.7%, was followed by a regretful glance at the sun bathed beer terraces (So many pubs and so little time!) we headed to our next pub...or not!

Our plan for the day was based on the City of Ales Beer Trails; a fine set of organised routes which visit the 45 pubs taking part in a “ten day celebration of local pubs, breweries and real ale throughout the fine city”. Each with its own list of beers and guest beers; all on the organisers’ web site of course. But not all the pubs take part!

We had planned a route using three different trails, filling in long gaps in one trail with a few pubs on other trails.

Heading for the Black Horse, we almost passed the Alexandra; a free house. Another jewel of a proper old pub! Often named for the street they are on, or a nearby street, they were purpose built; with the shop across the junction.

A reasonable selection of beers on pump and tap, plus cider and bottled beers. A couple of halves of Fat Cat’s own Amber Bitter and an Old School Hopscotch. Dragging ourselves away, we headed for our BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

There seems to be more than a pub for every hundred houses. All before the telly. Happy days.

A half of the Chalk Hill Tap and quart of craic with fellow discoverers, then on down the hill to the Black Horse; a very

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Norwich beer hunt |23

different stable of ale. A glass of Hydes’ Old Indie, in the sunshine of the beer garden was pleasant.

This is a modern foodie pub inside; catering for vegetarians, vegans and functions. Crossing the road (distance is no object to a dedicated Pub Hunter), we walked up the driveway to the imposing Earlham Arms. On entering, it becomes obvious that this is more a place to be seen in rather than imbibe in.

Although austere, and modern, there was a reasonable choice of ales, with a pint of thirds for the City of Beers guests; all for £3.30 a pint – except Green Jack Ripper at 8.5%! Still that’s what thirds are for! The Ripper was preceded by Jo C’s excellent Bitter Old Bustard and accompanied by a gallon of chat. An octogenarian on his way back from the bookies and a pub hunting couple altered the atmosphere to warm and friendly.

If the Fat Cat, Belle View and Alexandra Tavern were old style corner pubs, the pub style changed from the Black Horse on. Now we were in the roadside pubs; modernised to favour fad foods (tapas, designer burgers etc.) and faux cuisine ( restaurant-sounding dishes from kitchens created to deliver pub grub and scampi in a basket. Okay, Gastro Pubs).

Here we left the Earlham Trail, dropping to the Westwick Trail, to find the Reindeer. This is another foodie pub, but with attitude! Their coat of arms are crossed knife and fork supported by a reindeer rampant. Menu leaning towards substantial food. Brass Castle Brewery’s Session Mini IPA kept the whistle wet, whilst a short chat with the bar staff confirmed their ethos here was less aspirational. (The loo where being able to chat through window with those in the beer garden confirmed this view.) All too soon we bade farewell Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

and continued on the trail to the Plough: which was rescued from “foodie” by some less familiar beers and a sun-drenched terraced beer garden, complete with permanent barbeque bar and lots of sun umbrellas. Grain’s Blonde Ash 4% wheat beer went well with sun on the patio, encouraging our expedition onwards.

Our next pub took us back on the Earlham Trail, however we did have a quick glance into Micawbers, but just three beers from Adnams, Woodfordes and Humpty Dumpty did not delay us. The Sir Garnet, is on the Market Place, an imposing building with parts several hundred years old. It has been a pub for more than a hundred and fifty years and has more stairs than a Wetherspoon’s! Blackboard pump clips simplify the labelling of the pumps (If you can get the chalk back from the darts players!). It seemed somehow appropriate for a dark mild.

We leave the Sir Garnet and heading through the elegant arcade we go to the bus stops by the Castle.

Waving our Plusbus tickets at the driver, we are soon on our way back to the rail station, where we find we still have time to visit just one more establishment. Our last “bag” was the Coach and Horses (Thorpe) and a Chalk Hill Home Brewed Ale – CHB at 4%. We follow the back lanes and paths down to the station where, almost typically, our train was stuck due to delays with cleaning!

For a pleasant day out I would recommend visiting Norwich as we did, of course sunshine helps, but Norwich still has many of the old style pubs and locals that we are rapidly losing.

Perhaps a visit may help refresh your memories of these treasures and maybe try to find a few nearer home – or just give you something to dream about!

Michael Fare

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

24 | Diary dates

Diary Dates October

Thursday 6th – Saturday 8th St Ives Booze on the Ouse Beer and Cider Festival. For further information. www.hunts.camra.org.uk/festival

Wednesday 12th – Saturday 15th Nottingham Robin Hood Beer and Cider Festival. For further information http://www.beerfestival.nottinghamcamra.org

Monday 17th at 8.30pm Beer Festival Open ‘Wash Up’ Meeting at the Brewery Tap, 80 Westgate, Peterborough, PE1 2AA. All members welcome, please bring membership card.

Wednesday 19th Mid-week Campaigning Crawl

CAMRA meetings, socials and beer festivals in the coming months

to Northants part of branch area. Depart the Brewery Tap at 6.30pm and return by 11pm.

Cost £5. Please book places through John Hunt, Social Secretary.

November

Monday 7th at 8.30pm Branch Monthly Meeting at Bumble Inn, 46 Westgate, Peterborough, PE1 1RE. All members welcome, please bring membership card.

Sunday 20th Mystery Tour. Depart the Brewery Tap at 12.00 noon and return by 8pm. Cost £12 to include light refreshments.

Please book places through John Hunt, Social Secretary.

December

Monday 5th at 8.30 pm.

Annual General Meeting of Peterborough and District Branch of CAMRA at the Brewery Tap, PE1 2AA. All members welcome to attend, bring your membership card.

Saturday 10th from 7pm.

CAMRA Branch Christmas Party at the Heron, Stanground PE2 8QB (tbc).

Saturday 17th Christmas Crawl, Alwalton to town via Oundle Road. Meet at Cuckoo, Alwalton PE7 3UP at 11am. Please book places through John Hunt, Social Secretary.

The Bluebell Inn

Helpston

The Bluebell, Woodgate, Helpston, Peterborough PE6 7ED Tel: 01733 252394 www.bluebellhelpston.co.uk 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.

Open seven days a week for drinks and serving fresh, seasonal, locally sourced produce, our menu offers something for everyone.

‘Lunch for Less’ Menu Monday to Friday

(offering a special two course menu only £12)

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

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Please support our advertisers |27

Peterborough’s Oldest Members Club Just a short walk from Bus and Railway Stations and Queensgate

Food served Wednesday to Sunday Free entry to CAMRA members Live Music & Entertainment 14th Oct Mauricky 15th Oct Scenics Showband 21st Oct Disco 22nd Oct 101 Proof 28th Oct Sole FX and Single Mingle Disco 29th Oct Halloween Fancy Dress and Soul Runners 5th Nov Fat Chancz 11th Nov Jessies Ghost 12th Nov Jellyroll abd One Eyed Cats 19th Nov Black Elvis 25th Nov Intruders 2nd Dec Casino Night

Find us at: 7 Burghley Rd, Peterborough PE1 2QA Tel 01733 896989 theburghleyclub Website: www.theburghleyclub.com

VINYL NIGHT Bring down your favourite records Last Friday of the month

UKELELE NIGHT Every Thursday from 7.30pm

LIVE MUSIC WEEKLY Check Facebook & local gig guides

14 Ever-changing, gravity fed real ales thepalmerstonarms

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

CAMRA Cricket|29

CAMRA Cricket The 2016 season is almost over and once again the Peterborough Camra Cricket Club has had a successful season both on and off the pitch.

With legends of the club Dave Murray, Dave Allett and Mick Lane now resting on their hefty laurels, the cricket club have welcomed a number of new players in recent seasons. Some good but most terrible, the transformation to real ale drinkers has been smooth despite some early protestations.

With a full list of Sunday and midweek fixtures the team has been busy, 42 games in total. Club captain Neil Wright has steered the team in both formats of the game with a good degree of success, despite his own poor form, being leading contender for the duck bat, and an ongoing infection that impacts on his scoring. The team has won 70% of its games and taken the name of Peterborough Camra around the country.

Our sponsors, The Coalheavers Arms on Park Street, has allowed us to develop ‘cow corner’ in the south wing, the addition of the Bumble Inn to Tom’s empire has also allowed players to rest in the city centre too, though no cricket theme here, yet.

Leading lights with the bat have been Nick Bradbury and Alan McLean. McLean benefitting from a weekend at Trent Bridge to work on his game.

The bowling has been dominated by 63 year old Gary Barrett and club captain Neil Wright.

The team is indebted to Orton Park Cricket Club who allow the team to use their ground on a regular basis. Orton have won all three Saturday leagues they played in this season, but still failed to beat the might of CAMRA. This season’s tour took the team to Hull, those who know the city will be well versed in the real ale scene, and despite a wash out at the Friday night game, our hosts Hessle CC provided a barrel of ale, plus good entertainment in the shadow of the Humber Bridge. The Saturday was a tour of Hull’s pubs which led to the inevitable difficult Sunday fixture, but even with some tender heads and early morning mopping work, CAMRA managed to beat a strong league side in Cottingham.

The team continues to go from strength to strength on the field, having played in seven different counties this season the reach of the team continues.

The club are always on the lookout for players of any standard. If you know Dave Murray you will agree that we cater for all. Throughout the winter the team has indoor cricket and nets. We also have a number of social events which people are welcome to join.

Our website of peterboroughcamra.playcricket.com contains all of our details, or we can be followed on twitter on @CAMRACC.

Any one with interest in joining as a player or socially can contact me on 07739 832036.

Nick Bradbury

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016 | BEER AROUND ERE

30 | Contacts 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: Vacant Position locale@real-ale.org.uk Webmaster: Harry Morten webmaster@real-ale.org.uk

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

Brewery Liaison Officers

Tydd Steam: John Hunt 07923 489917

Bexar County Brewery: Dave Botton 01733 345475

Xtreme Ales: Katie Barrett xtreme-blo@real-ale.org.uk

Blue Bell: John Hunt 07923 489917

Castor Ales: Mike Lane 07850 334203 Digfield: Dave Waller 07821 912605 Elgood’s: John Hunt 07923 489917

Star Brewing Company: Don Rudd 07806 731765

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 an award. Gold Awards are for pubs that make exceptional efforts to improve. The Merit Award is for pubs that continue to maintain high standards. 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: BEER AROUND ERE | OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2016

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk