Full Measure issue 138

FULL MEASURE NEW

SUPPORTING REAL BEER & CIDER IN LEEDS issue 138

the great british pub

e t a b de

plus

cider pub of the year The Fenton Scoops Major Award

// Steve Staindale Memorial Event // Guiseley // WhatPub Explained // Assets of Community Value // Awards

The Magazine of the Leeds Branch of CAMRA

WELCOME TO THE WINTER ISSUE OF

FULL MEASURE Welcome to issue number 138 of New Full Measure. We hope you’ll find some items of interest amongst our pages.

Time flies like an arrow and fruit flies like a banana. Note to self: remember to take the medication. Now where were we? That’s right, time, and it seems like only a few weeks since we were enjoying Leeds Beer Cider & Perry Festival 2016, but we’re already on the way with our plans for next year’s extravaganza. Pudsey Civic Hall will once again be stocked with fine ales. A wide range of styles is sure to be available as our beer and cider-ordering teams do their best to tease visitors’ palates.

The dates for the festival will be Thursday 16th to Saturday 18th of March and our theme is “Down on the Farm”. Plenty of scope for us to play with there, and we’ll try not to be silly (although we’ll probably fail). There’s plenty more to discuss as there have only been two planning meetings so far but by the next issue regular readers can expect to see much more in the next edition of this publication.

CONTENTS News

5

Diary Dates

5

CAMRA Discounts

7

The Great Britisg Pub Debate

8

Cider Pub Of T he Year

11

Steve Staindale Memorial Event 14 Pause for Thought

16

Awards

19

What Pub?

20

A Grand Day Out

23

The Old Cock

27

Thanks as ever go to all the team at NFM Towers, whether they’ve written, taken photos, been involved in distribution or proof-reading, or even just been quietly supportive. Your help is appreciated.

Ian (Editor)

New Full Measure is produced by the Leeds Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the editor, CAMRA Ltd or its branches.

Copyright © Leeds CAMRA 2017.

No part of this magazine may be reproduced without express permission.

NFM Towers Address: Leeds CAMRA c/o 46 West Grange Green, Leeds LS10 3BB. Email: Newsletter@leed-camra.com Web: www.leeds-camra.com Twitter @LeedsCAMRA

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Contributions are welcome from any CAMRA member, and may be sent to the above email address, or by post. Contributions may be edited for reasons of space, and may be held over for future issues.

5,000 Copies are distributed, free of charge, quarterly to outlets in Leeds and the surrounding areas.

Publication Dates: The next issue of NFM (139) will be published 3rd March 2017. Copy deadline is 5th February..

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New Full Measure WINTER 2016 3

Pub and Brewery News

FESTIVAL DIARY

JANUARY 2017 19th to 21st (Thurs - Sat).

Manchester Beer & Cider Festival.

Manchester Central, Windmill Street, M2 3GX. mancbeerfest.uk

FEBRUARY

Three New Breweries

plus News from the Leeds Pub Scene We start with news of new breweries in Leeds. Firstly, Frisky Bear in Morley is currently supplying ales to Sid’s Little Egg in Leeds City Centre and Oscars Bar in Morley.

Staying in Morley, the Blue Square Brewery is up and running. Their beers have also been spotted at Oscars Bar and at the PumpRoom Micropub in Halifax.

Eyes Brewing is also on its way to Leeds. They are the UK’s first and only wheat-focused brewery and are currently operating at Ainsty Ales in York.

Quirky Ales at Garforth now has a tap room which serves cask and bottled ales. Opening hours are very limited, so please check online at quirkyales.com before visiting.

Wharfe Bank have ceased brewing in Pool-in-Wharfedale.

However it appears that some of the beers will continue to be brewed at other premises.

15th to 18th (Weds - Sat).

Derby Winter Ale Festival The Roundhouse, Derby College, Derby DE24 8JE derbycamra.org.uk/ winter-beer-festival 21st to 25th (Tues - Sat).

National Winter Ales Festival.

St. Andrews & Blackfriars Hall, St Andrews Hall Plain, Norwich, NR3 1AU. www.nwaf.org.uk

The Hourglass in Leeds Centre is now known as Bower’s Tap. It has been refurbished and has six hand pumps.

The Phoenix, formerly the Central, on Wellington Street has also been refurbished and renamed the Editor’s Draught.

It specialises in craft beers and also has four cask lines.

The Eagle Tavern at Sheepscar has re-opened after a major refurbishment but has no cask ale.

The Old Red Bus Station on Vicar Lane currently has one cask ale. Opening hours are limited.

It has been reported that there are plans to transform The Crown at Pudsey into flats.

23rd to 25th (Thurs - Sat).

Bradford Beer Festival.

Victoria Hall, Saltaire.

MARCH 16th to 18th (Thurs - Sat).

Leeds Beer, Cider and Perry Festival.

Pudsey Civic Hall, Dawson’s Corner, LS28 5TA. New Full Measure WINTER 2016 5

6 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

CAMRA

A Few Pence Off

discounts

Some weeks ago I was approached by a prominent and active member of the Leeds CAMRA committee who wanted to chat with me about an online review he’d seen for a Leeds pub. The author had rated the pub highly (four marks out of a possible five) saying, “Good pub, good range of beers, nice staff”. All well and good so far, but then they went on to question how a pub which had won a prestigious Leeds CAMRA award did “not accept CAMRA membership cards for discount as so many other pubs do”.

Firstly, I know the hostelry in question fairly well, having spent many a pleasant session in there, and it’s not just the one award that it has won, it’s many, including a few from Leeds CAMRA and also a Pub of the Season from our friends at SPBW (Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood) West Riding Branch. I consider the prices to be very reasonable for where they are, certainly competitive.

Admittedly, if you want an 8% imported American “hopmonster” you can expect to pay a premium, but the standard house beers are reasonably-priced.

When pub licensees and owners are trying to set their prices, they have a lot to take into consideration. Business rates,

mortgages, heating, lighting, water, equipment costs, staffing... you get the idea. They know what they need to charge in order to make a margin of profit, or in many cases, just to break even. Of course, as a customer, you have the right to look at the prices and

say, “I’m not paying that”, then go find somewhere which may provide a lower quality of product and service. What you don’t have is the right to flash your CAMRA membership card and expect preferential treatment.

Discounts, where offered, are included in the costings, and possibly aimed at creating gains for the pub through keeping a drinker there for more than an hour or so, return visits,

recommendations, etc., but no pub is obliged to give them.

Being a member of CAMRA has enough benefits as it stands.

One which is mentioned most often is the £20 of Wetherspoon vouchers per year. If you are a regular ‘Spoons visitor this will almost cover your membership fee in one go, and exceed it if you are 26 or under, or over 60 (see the membership form on page 28).

Beer festivals tend to give preferential treatment too.

Most CAMRA festivals will give reduced or even free entry to members. There are offers from various companies for discounts on products and services, there’s the monthly copy of “What’s Brewing” landing on the doormat, or being downloaded via email, and the award-winning quarterly “Beer” magazine, also discounts on CAMRA publications such as the Good Beer Guide. For me, the biggest benefits are being part of the organisation, attending socials, where we make everyone welcome, and being able to volunteer at CAMRA festivals (it’s far more fun than just attending).

As for discounts, it’s always nice to see a few pence knocked off the price of a pint, but please, don’t demand them.

Ed. New Full Measure WINTER 2016 7

the great british pub

e t a deb

Richard Coldwell recently attended The Great British Pub Debate which was hosted by The British Guild of Beer Writers as part of the Leeds International Beer Festival.

He decided to pen a few words.

The event was held in the old Number 1 Crown Court, in the Victorian monolith that is Leeds Town Hall. If you’ve never been inside, it’s a fascinating place and well worth the fee for a guided tour. In terms of the courtroom itself, think massive wooden islands and a huge throne, all floating around in a vast high-ceilinged room with the stairs from the dock leading down to the cells below.

If I’m honest, I thought more people would have turned up to join in the debate. If you read some accounts there were around fifty people present, I counted thirty-seven, including the organisers. Having said that, the good and great of the beery cognoscenti had travelled to Leeds from all over the UK, it’s not often you get events like this outside London.

There were also some local writers, Barry Pepper, and co-organiser and orkshire Evening Post correspondent Simon Jenkins, as well as representatives from diverse licensed premises, brewers and pub companies.

Initially I had been unsure what to expect, but it soon became clear that this was to be a proper, 8 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

full-on debate, with a chair, and proposers and seconders, speaking for and against the motion to the assembled house. Taking into account the location, and the couple of politicians present, it truly resembled a mini parliament.

“This house believes that coffee shops, café bars, restaurant chains and take-aways are making the traditional pub less relevant”.

Now you didn’t need razor-sharp wits to realise this was exactly what the expert had just spent fifteen As a precursor to the debate, minutes telling everyone. However, Peter Martin of CGA Peach, in traditional form we went on to hospitality trade analysts, provided debate this in detail. CAMRA’s a considered overview of the National Executive member, Andy licensed trade from his position Shaw, who chairs Key Campaign as paid adviser to CAMRA. If I’m 4 (pub promotion), spoke against honest, I don’t think he told us the motion, essentially saying there anything we didn’t know, whether is no substitute for the pub, and it we like it or not; times are changing, went from there. No one on either people are looking to new things side of the debate had a bad word in the food and drink sector, they to say about the pub; institution, want to be wooed and wowed by architectural delight, community new concepts. He called these new hub, and the absolute definition of factors, like pop-up bars and street British tradition were just a few of food markets, ‘Disruptors and the platitudes used.

Innovators’, presumably compared to what we all see as the status Everyone acknowledged the quo. He was very clear that modern proliferation of the modern café consumers are far more discerning bar. Somewhere you can get tea or and better-informed about what coffee, a glass of wine, a good beer, they want these days, knowledge and in most cases some good cask and power driven by social media. ale. A place where retired folk go for coffee and cake in the morning, The motion, proposed by Dan where people might drop in for a Murray from Leeds List was, bit of lunch, a tea-time pint, a night

erudite way the house conducted itself. I’m pretty sure everyone contributed, some of us more than others! As I listened, I felt the argument was definitely going with the original motion, and there was a feeling that although pubs are good there is a bit of evolution going on. My finger in the wind gave me the feeling that a lot of people had a foot in both camps, even the staunch pub supporters, so I was surprised when the vote went 44% for, 56% against. I think some of those who voted against the motion had to do that to maintain their position, despite the evidence. I’m glad that they did actually. Me? I voted for the motion.

Bad pubs will always disappear; good pubs will endure because of high-quality input out. A safe place where lone females are happy to wander in and out at will. Only thing is, it’s not a pub, or is it? Has this new sort of bar become the pub of tomorrow, or even today? I certainly know bars where they have quizzes, raise money for local causes, where people meet and chat or just have a quiet drink.

What about the micro pub too, they seem to be opening all over, often in places where traditional pubs have fallen into decline?

What underpins everything was highlighted by several debaters, it’s the Q word – Quality. For me it’s everything, and the only thing I want in a pub, be it a modest local, a grand city-centre pub, a modernstyle bar or club. If you haven’t got quality running through the heart of a business, then you don’t

deserve to succeed. You don’t need to spend big money, but if you don’t put in the effort and take pride in your work you will become history.

Those of us who look dreamyeyed at every pub and espouse ACV’s and ‘No pub closures at any cost’ would do well to heed the market analyst’s view; this is a business, an industry that needs to make money. No one is going to keep open a loss-making enterprise to appease a small section of the public. You even pay to go into many museums, don’t you? If we ever ended up with a pub museum, it would tell us that the biggestselling liquid in early 21st century UK pubs was inferior-quality lager, which tells real ale traditionalists that in the drinks industry our position as interested parties may be weaker than we think. The pub museum archives would also tell us that you can’t go for a pint just once a year at Christmas Day lunchtime and then moan when your quaint local closes!

Overall, I was very impressed with the standard of debate, and the

Having said that, I’m not convinced the modern café bar will ever take over totally. What I do know though is that traditional pubs will have to be at the very top of their game to survive, maybe even bringing elements of the café bar into the pub, just as café bars have adopted elements from the pub.

Bad pubs will always disappear; good pubs will endure because of high-quality input from all involved, brewers, pubcos, publicans and their staff. Customers ultimately decide what the marketplace offers through how often, and in what amounts, they vote with their money and their feet. Sadly, there are many other socio-political factors that have far more impact on this than the quality of the beer or the premises.

Overall, whatever your viewpoint, this was a fantastic event and a big thank you goes to The British Guild of Beer Writers for organising it and to Thornbridge, Little Valley, Northern Monk, Roosters and North Brewing who kindly provided the beers which helped fuel the lively debate.

New Full Measure WINTER 2016 9

ABBEY INN 99 Pollard Lane, Newlay, Leeds, LS13 1EQ

DUCK & DRAKE Kirkgate, Leeds, LS2 7DR

OTLEY TAVERN Newmarket, Otley, LS21 3A

BARNLEIGH 118 Swinnow Road, Leeds LS13 4NX

NEW HEADINGLEY CLUB St Micheals Road, Headingley, LS6 3BG

THREE HULATS 13 Harrogate Road, Leeds, LS7 3NB

BIRD IN HAND Springmead Drive, Garforth, LS25 1JW

OLD PEACOCK Elland Road, Leeds LS11 8TU

TROYDALE CLUB Troydale Lane, Pudsey, Leeds, LS28 9LD

10 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

cider pub of the year Warren Yabsley, and many others, recently visited The Fenton for a presentation.

Do you like your apples and pears?

If the answer is yes to the alcoholic, liquid form, Leeds is the place to be with not just one but two awardwinning cider pubs! The Fenton (Woodhouse Lane) has been crowned Cider Pub of the Year by Leeds CAMRA branch with Foleys Tap House (Headrow) gaining the same accolade in the Great British Pub Awards competition.

Now, when we say cider we’re not talking about the bland fizzy stuff, we mean the real deal.

And when I say cider I include perry, which is like cider but made

from pears. These are produced naturally from fruit and not from concentrate, hasn’t had artificial flavourings added and isn’t carbonated (fizzy). Smallscale producers from Cornwall to Scotland and Kent to Wales craft a wide range of styles from sweet to dry. An increasing number of ciders are fruit, or even vegetable, flavoured though it can be difficult to tell which contain actual fresh fruit or vegetable juice, (thumbs up) and which have lazily had a dash of flavouring added (thumbs down).

Both pubs have shown enthusiasm and dedication to real cider by going far beyond what would be justified from a business viewpoint in this market, so thoroughly deserve their hardwon awards.

Before we go any further, you might be wondering how a pub can win Cider Pub of the Year at the Great British Pub Awards competition but not the local CAMRA branch competition.

Put simply, it’s because different criteria are used.

In Leeds CAMRA Branch, we first invite members to assist the judging panel and nominate venues via the branch email, New Full Measure WINTER 2016 11

which reaches 1800 members.

Using the responses, we shortlisted six pubs. The judges, all knowledgeable cider-drinkers, then make individual assessments of each pub using CAMRA’s national judging criteria that include quality of cider, staff knowledge, promotion of cider, welcome and friendliness, community focus and overall experience. Those of you with good memories will recall Foleys Tap House deservedly won the branch award last year but other venues have substantially upped their game in the last 12 months, with The Fenton just edging it this year.

The Great British Pub Awards competition, organised by the pub-trade magazine Morning Advertiser and won this year by Foleys Tap House, focuses on seeing the business in action.

This is through interviewing the licensee with regards to the pub and business success, assessing business development, touring front and back of house, and sampling the food/drink. The two competitions are quite different hence two different winners.

Let’s explore both venues, starting with The Fenton. It’s fairly new to cider, having stocked it for around two years, but the team have hit the ground running.

Four cellar-cooled ciders are available. Staff have excellent knowledge of the ever-changing line-up and are happy to provide a taster. Pumpclips on the upright of the main serving area of the bar indicate the choices, which include various styles and strengths (%ABV) and come from recognised and lesser-known producers. Although generally not to my taste, a fruit cider is always available and I’d always rather see someone drinking that rather than a fizzy substitute. Above the bar are the pumpclips of 12 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

Above the bar are the pumpclips of forthcoming products and there are signs outside advertising real cider. forthcoming products and there are signs outside advertising real cider. On the presentation night, Phil and Emma from Real Cider Company (Hebden Bridge), the pub’s cider supplier, were in attendance thus showing the excellent relationship between pub and supplier.

Jonny and Siobhan took over the pub two years ago. I first visited the pub in 2008/9, around the time Jonny first worked there, and it has been through very variable standards of management since.

Thanks to the enthusiasm of the current managers, it’s now

at its zenith having undergone a thorough clean and created a community atmosphere with plenty of weekly events such as open mic, quiz, free pool and life drawing (that happens in the function room upstairs and thankfully for the artists the model isn’t a stereotypical looking CAMRA member!). There are four or five ales available, often including a dark and/or little bit

stronger beer (think 5-6%ABV).

Yorkshire microbreweries feature heavily and the house Fenton Bitter is from Ridgeside Brewing Co. at a very competitive price. In addition to attracting students and lecturers at certain times, which is no surprise being so close to two universities, it has a diverse crowd of other regulars.

The pub retains many original features including push bells for service (sadly no longer in use) and a clock above the island bar.

Rooms radiate off the tiled central corridor. The pub features briefly in the book CAMRA’s “Yorkshire Real Heritage Pubs”. Perhaps now is the optimum time for the owner to capitalise on the pub’s success and invest in upkeep of the heritage features while upgrading some of the facilities.

Now let’s move on to Foleys Tap House. As is stated on the signs outside, 24 ciders and perries are always available, which is among the largest selections in the country. On the shelf behind the bar there are 3 or 4 from each of the 7 styles: perries, fruit ciders, sweet, sweet/medium, medium, medium/dry and dry.

Each box end is adorned with a mini-blackboard that states the

producer, county, style, alcohol percentage and price with the information in a different colour for each style.

Jason took over the day-to-day running of Foleys Tap House three and a half years ago and has transformed it. Again, it’s somewhere that has seen This practice scored extremely many ups and downs usually highly amongst both sets of dependent on the often shortjudges, the Great British Pub term manager but, having been Awards judges liked it for creating drinking there since 2008, I a professional look for the product feel that it is at its zenith. In offered while the CAMRA judges addition to the cider, there are favoured it for providing customers normally nine to twelve ales with increased information. available, and in my opinion the most interesting and diverse The latter also looked favourably ale offering in Leeds. There are on promotion of 1/3 pint tasting normally 4 from York Brewery platters but having the cider at (owned by Mitchells of Lancaster) room temperature was a negative with the rest offering the beer that ultimately tipped the connoisseur something different. award in favour of The Fenton.

You may find regularly-changing The branch has discussed the beers from all over the country practicalities of cellar-cooled cider that are rarely seen locally, from with Jason, the affable manager, top-quality 3.5% brews through but sadly due to the pub’s layout to red ryes, imperial stouts, double it just isn’t feasible.

IPAs at over 7% and everything in between. Both The Fenton and Foleys Tap House provide a great To celebrate the award an atmospheric “cider barn” was offering for all pub goers whether formed on the raised seating area they drink cider, ale or something for a weekend accompanied by else, and are worth visiting. low-key live music. A temporary bar offered over 60 ciders with Leeds CAMRA has a branch straw bales providing the seating meeting in the upstairs room at The and forming the front of the bar.

Fenton on Thursday 5th January The event was very successful and starting at 19:30 so why not come enjoyable except for whomever had along to experience the pub and to clean up on Monday morning! see what we get up to as a branch.

New Full Measure WINTER 2016 13

Steve Staindale Memorial Event Leeds CAMRA’s new social secretary, Adam Wilson, attended the Steve Staindale Memorial Event at Ridgeside Brewery. He was moved to write a few words.

It was standing room only in the bar at Ridgeside Brewery. We had all gathered to raise a glass to Steve Staindale, in any other circumstances the one man we would have all expected to see there. He was a stalwart of the local CAMRA branch and the driving force behind the Leeds LocAle movement, so the news that Steve had gone to drink the pint eternal left the rest of us pretty dashed sober.

After three or four years of his company at CAMRA events, I thought I had the measure of the man, a passionate beerlover and ever dependable fact-fountain; yet what’s this?

That’s him there on the out-held phone screen; despite the shaky YouTube footage it’s definitely him, clutching a ukulele and onstage with Doctor Busker and The Dorset RATS at the Great Dorset Steam Fair, alive and bawdier than ever, singing an ode to the joys of the Chemical Loo. All this courtesy of a number of friends and members of the Dorset RATS (Real Ale Tasting Society), who had the made the journey up to Ridgeside to join us in sharing a few stories of a Steve I never had the chance to meet, the steamrallyer, kids’ face painter, henna tattooist and, of course, the familiar bushybearded, died-in- the-wool, real 14 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

ale man, stories punctuated with raucous choruses of ‘More Beer’ and lubricated by a glass or two of Ridgeside’s finest.

Steve had been Brewery Liaison Officer for Ridgeside since its foundation under Simon Bolderson and tirelessly championed their cause over the years, standing by them after Simon’s illness threatened to bring an end to one of the best breweries in Leeds.

Behind the bar and now settling into their second year at the helm, Juan and Matt, the new owners, have continued where Simon left off, much to Steve’s satisfaction, and mine too. Both were all too happy to rally round, supplying both the beer and the venue.

Every single penny from the beers rattled into the charity tubs for Wheatfields Hospice.

Fenced in behind the pumps at the back of the crowded taproom, Juan and Matt had laid on a barrel of Vienna Pale (3.8%), a pale ale with a light hop nose and malted biscuit taste which made for an ideal session ale.

Also, they provided a stand-out, powerhouse of an oatmeal stout, the award-winning Black Night (5.0%), really keeping the stories flowing.

the Ridgeside team and every single person who attended for plumbing the depths of their pockets. Thank you so very much.

But besides doing our bit to support the care and compassion shown by the dedicated staff at Wheatfields, this was an opportunity to celebrate a life and to meet the other side of Steve, reflected in the stories of those who knew him best, those we can now call friends.

By the time the barrels were dry and the cheese board vanquished, the charity bucket rustled healthily with a final donation of £346.89 going to Wheatfields Hospice. For this I have to thank the generosity of

Cheers to the Dorset RATS, I’ll see you on tour, and Steve, if you are looking down on us from the great bar in the sky, don’t worry about Ridgeside, those beers are in good hands.

AW

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New Full Measure WINTER 2016 15

BEER FROM THE WOOD

Pause for Thought Richard Coldwell has shown in the last couple of editions of New Full Measure that he likes to challenge concepts.

We figure he can’t help himself.

Fellow blogger Retired Martin recently posted a photo on his site of a Marston’s Pedigree handpump sitting on a bar alongside a couple of other well-known, respected, long-established ales.

The caption read, ‘That would have been exciting 20 years ago!’ This got me thinking about why some beers are no longer exciting.

I remember my first encounter with the noble bitter that was Marston’s Pedigree at a CAMRA festival in Sheffield, sometime in the early eighties, followed by a few ‘on the house’ pints in The Cocked Hat, Attercliffe, Marston’s first, possibly only, pub in Sheffield at the time.

After that initiation I used to seek it out whenever I could, but I haven’t come across a decent pint of it for a long time; you’d think that out of Marston’s 1,500 pubs there’d be one that could manage that.

Now, is it me or Pedigree which has changed? I guess it’s my tastebuds. Hold on though … actually they haven’t… they’ve just been educated perhaps. I embrace more of the diverse styles of beer available now, but I think I can still recognise and appreciate a very good, balanced beer of any style or description. So why do I think Pedigree just isn’t the beer it once was?

16 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

WARNING

Some people may fin d these views contro versia

l!

Maybe Wolverhampton and Dudley Brewery, sorry Marston’s, are mixed up about what they do. Is it pubs or beer? If it’s beer, which beer, whose beer? They brew more different beers than you can shake a stick at, and own more original breweries than they have brewing plants now. That can’t be right can it? They even brew ales for other (big) brands in their beer factories; think Tetley’s and Draught Bass! For me that’s just mocking an awful lot of beer drinkers.

The strap line of a recent article in the Morning Advertiser (0111-16) by Nicholas Robinson heightened my suspicions further.

Essentially, the interview with Richard Westwood, Marston’s Managing Director, suggests in quite aggressive terms that Marston’s are poised to ‘snap up’ appropriate brands as and when the opportunity arises.

Granted he does say that Marston’s want to concentrate on their core brands, Pedigree, Hobgoblin and Wainwright, as well as brewing Shipyard under licence, but all these are brands from other breweries that Wolverhampton and Dudley have already taken over.

In another Morning Advertiser article from the same week, Nicholas Robinson outlines the launch of Marston’s million pound re-branding exercise, which targets new, younger drinkers.

Even Pedigree gets the makeover with a trendy rehash of an established product. Burton Pale Ale gets renamed Saddle Tank and

Oyster Stout becomes Pearl Jet. Why would they want to rename a decent established product like Oyster Stout?

Effectively, all they’ve done is make some of their premier products resemble ‘craft beer’ brands. Boak and Bailey have cleverly termed this phenomenon ‘Craftsploitation’. Will it work? I’m not too sure myself. Pedigree will

They don’t espouse any decent beer, and see customers purely as numbers still be Pedigree, and EPA will still be EPA, and nothing like what the label promises.

It’s a bit like the ‘Crafty Dan’ brand that Thwaites (or what Marston’s left of them) produce.

I don’t know if you’ve tried 13 Guns. I have, and you’d think

that with thirteen of them firing at once, at least one would be on target. All I can taste is a strange aniseed flavour in my mouth and I’ve tried it a few times. In fact, the same sort of funny taste I got from reading the Marston’s Managing Director’s thoughts when he puts down his customers with references to ’banging out barrels of liquid’ onto the market and the consumers’ demand for ‘interesting liquids’. Oh, Mr Ratner would be proud of you!

And I thought they were meant to be brewers.

Clearly Marston’s are wholly financially motivated, and their MD may have been a little naïve in the way he described their products to a trade journal.

Although the re-branding introduces bottle-conditioned Pedigree, I’m convinced, despite this, that they consider the real ale drinker is only a very small part of their market and doesn’t appear on their radar. In the same way craft beer goes unrecognised beyond being a trend to be followed. Can you imagine the young drinker, seeking a modern taste, cracking open a bottle of ‘Pedigree Amber Ale’ only to find themselves pouring out a traditional bitter! What’s wrong with a traditional bitter anyway?

why I think it’s time beer drinkers realised that poor real ale, poor breweries, bad pubcos and poor pubs are all out there.

They don’t espouse any decent beer, and see customers purely as numbers with cash that needs transferring into the parent company’s coffers by any means possible.

I think Marston’s have stealthily transformed into the old enemy, and I don’t see much difference now between them and the huge corporate brewers of the late sixties and early seventies, dominating beer and pubs.

I don’t think we should be fooled by the minor concession to real ale drinkers (that’s CAMRA then) by the introduction of bottleconditioned Pedigree whilst they head off in a totally different direction. Maybe we should do something to make it easy for people to differentiate between I was only a nipper when CAMRA the bland processed beers being was formed. Despite living in a tied public house owned by one of pushed by some of the big brewers and traditional brewers’ the so-called ‘Big Six’ breweries I had no idea what they were doing. beers whose very existence is, for the time being, no longer under Looking back though, I think I’m threat. getting a bit of déjà vu. That’s New Full Measure WINTER 2016 17

18 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

AWARDS As regular readers will know, we at Leeds CAMRA like giving

out awards for excellence, and this quarter is no exception.

Things started off in late August with a Trip to Ledsham. Once again Chequers Inn had snapped up the coveted Rural Pub of the Year award (top photo).

A group of stalwarts travelled over by minibus and enjoyed some very fine ales and marvellous hospitality.

It was my first visit there for a couple of years, so it was a real treat to go back.

September came along and it was time for (drum roll please) the launch of the Good Beer Guide 2017 (middle photo). Leeds has an allocation of just thirty entries, so competition is fierce and, whilst many regular entrants kept their spots, a few new faces appeared. I’m not going to name any (that information is contained in the Guide), but all thirty businesses were invited to Kirkstall Brewery’s new premises down by the YTV studios where CAMRA members were able to present them with their licensee packs. Sadly, not all were able to attend at short notice, but those who could get there all seemed to have a great evening. I know I did.

A couple of weeks later and we were down at The Abbey Inn in Newlay where it was time to congratulate all involved for securing the Pub of the Month award for September (bottom photo). Once again there were fine ales and excellent hospitality, plus a quiz. Although I had to leave early, it was another great, well-attended evening. We really suffer for the cause at times.

Finally, it was a trip to The Fenton in Woodhouse for the Cider Pub of the Year award. I’m not going to twitter on too much about that, for the simple reason that Warren Yabsley has provided a far more detailed article on page 11 of this publication We still have more presentations to come over the next few months, including the Old Cock at Otley (Pub of the Month,October), Gledhow Sports and Social (Club of the Year) and Templar (Pub of the Month, November). We’ll endeavour to keep you up to date with presentation schedules and photos.

Congratulations to all our winners. You can be proud of your achievements.

Ed

Please note that voting is now open for the next edition of the Good Beer Guide.

Leeds CAMRA members can vote online until January 31st 2017 using the link on the Members’ Page at leeds-camra.com.

Paper forms will also be available at the December and January Branch meetings.

New Full Measure WINTER 2016 19

Dave Ansley explains the mysteries of WhatPub.com is a website which gives details of pubs and bars across the country. It is updated and maintained by volunteers from the local CAMRA branches.

The entries provide information about the premise’s facilities and, of course, the cask ales available.

Maps of the locations are available and most entries have photos and descriptions.

Once you are logged onto WhatPub as a member and have gone to the pub you want to score, the only thing you need to record is your score.

The Leeds Branch of CAMRA has over 670 entries on WhatPub and it is a major task to keep it updated, so you can help us by letting us know if there are any errors or omissions in the entries. On the WhatPub site if you select Submit Updates you can send details of your suggested changes.

CAMRA members can also rate the beer available using the Submit Beer Scores feature. These scores are recorded in CAMRA’s National Beer Scoring System (NBSS). NBSS scores are useful to local branches to monitor the quality of cask ale in the area and are used in the process of selecting entries for the Good Beer Guide 20 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

There are also optional fields to record the beer you are drinking and if you click on Show Advanced Options you can record the price and make a comment if you wish.

What do the scores mean?

0. No cask ale available.

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

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

3. Good. Good beer in good form.

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

4. Very Good. Excellent beer in excellent condition.

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

Note, the NBSS allows you to enter half-scores

How goOd is your bEer?

CalLing aLl CAMRa Members!

Help Monitor cask ale quality in LeEds Go to WhatPub.com and ‘Submit Beer Scores’ Search your location and score 0-5.

Thanks!

New Full Measure WINTER 2016 21

The Chequers Inn Ledsham, Leeds LS25 5LP Tel: 01977 683135

The Fleece Free House

multi award winning CAMRA pub wishes all our customer old and new

Leeds CAMR A Branch Rural Pub of the Year 2016 Beer Garden • Bar Meals Restaurant • Open Sundays Food served 12noon - 9.15pm Real Ales from: Brown Cow, Theakston, Timothy Taylor, John Smiths and now Leeds Brewery

22 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

a merry christmas and a happy new year www.fleecepudsey.co.uk

dc

The Fleece, 100 Fartown, Pudsey, Leeds.

Tel: 0113 236 2748

A Grand Day Out Around ...Guiseley

Guiseley TRIP

Guiseley TRIP

Once Again, Warren Yabsley Guides Our Readers Around An Area Which May Not Be Familiar To All. My inspiration to visit many pubs around the branch area was provided after reading articles , ley Rd in New Full Measure by Rick 4-6 Otey, Leeds l Lamb, a roving reporter for lessGuise 20 8AH LS frequented places. It wasn’t long before I started writing about pubs I’d been to but one area that stood out as not being featured previously Coopers, a Market Town Taverns (MTT) was Guiseley, where Rick is based. Now is the pub, is next and also on A65. MTT’s twenty time to address this. pubs were sold to Okell’s Brewery on the Isle of Man five years ago. If something I’ll move from south to north so to start it’s is successful, it can be worrying when a The Yorkshire Rose (on A65 near the retail takeover happens but thankfully very park; bus: 1 minute walk; train: 10 minute little has changed, except that there is walk; full transport details at the end). I’ve popped in a couple of times since the current a permanent Okell’s beer in many of the venues. Eight beers plus a cider are available tenants took over with the most memorable in stripped-back and contemporary yet visit being just after they started. unpretentious surroundings. Expect to see one or two well-known regional brews The cellar was being pressure-washed and together with a number of rotating, lesserthe amount of steam caused the fire alarm known ones. to go off, twice! From the quality of the beer it was clear they had put a lot of effort into Cutting across the bottom end of Morrisons cleaning the lines as well, the experience car park to Park Road brings you to Hawkhill gained from both working in the pub trade Social Club. It’s a nice-looking stone-built was evident. A Robinsons’ beer was available on both occasions together with Greene King premises with signs encouraging new Old Speckled Hen and Moorhouse’s Ice Witch members but the entrance at the rear of the building on the car park side isn’t the on the first visit and Sharp’s Doom Bar next most inviting. However, I received a friendly time around.

rs

coope

New Full Measure WINTER 2016 23

welcome and non-members can be signed in by a member. In the first room there are two snooker tables and a tiny corner bar, complete with a couple of stools, that serves Banks’s Tetley Bitter whilst the large main room is decorated in a typical social club style together with plenty of seating and a pool table.

Back on A65 and The Regent (opposite Morrisons) has been closed for quite a while and every time I’ve gone past there seems to Gate, Town y, Leeds be less of the building remaining. However, as e l Guise 20 9JA one door shuts another opens. Everybodys All LS Day Social opened in spring 2016 and is in the top (north) end of the building that houses the supermarket. This definitely appeals to a different clientèle from other Guiseley establishments and has a modern bar vibe, which would fit comfortably in the city centre. However, at 5pm on a Saturday I was very surprised to be one of the youngest of the few dozen people in there given that I’m in my early 30s. Three Greene King beers were available on my visit with London Glory in superb form.

N

new IN

A walk of a minute or two brings you to The Station situated on the crossroads near the rail station. The inviting-looking stone building, with a large part covered in ivy, is branded as a Pizza Kitchen & Bar, as are The Podger in Garforth and The Old Ball in Horsforth. It’s part of the Mitchell & Butlers stable following the acquisition of former owner Spirit in 2014. The formulaic yet cosy interior remains with plenty of tables and chairs interspersed by settees, various bold wallpaper sections betwixt painted walls and wood flooring leading to carpeted areas.

With a large conservatory to the rear the pub is a lot bigger than on first impressions. It’s worth walking around to the left from the main entrance as this is where the handpumps in use are located along with the open pizza preparation area. Leeds Pale, Sadler’s Thin Ice, Greene King IPA and Belhaven Stout were available on my latest visit.

Next go along Oxford Road, which is to the side of The Station, and after 7 minutes you’ll come to a mini-roundabout. Here, head left up Town Street and Guiseley Factory Workers Club is on the right after 100 metres. Despite its imposing look, you’ll receive a warm Yorkshire welcome in this traditional, community-focused establishment that won Leeds Club of the Year for eight consecutive years after the award’s inception in 2007/2008, only this year failing to take the accolade after being edged out very narrowly by Gledhow Sports and Social Club.

Snooker, darts and dominoes are regularly played 24 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

the station

70 Otley Guiseley, LeRd, ed LS20 8BH s

and a host of groups meet at the premises including Mums and Tots, an allotment society, a model flying club and Slimming World (an ideal venue if you want a beer to celebrate losing a couple of pounds that week!). 4 ales are usually available, often including a dark beer. Just under 2,500 have been served since 2004 as this edition goes to press. The Club has survived and prospered thanks to the diligence of the voluntary Committee and the emphasis on the quality and variety of ale. Let’s hope this continues.

Heading back to the mini-roundabout, continue straight ahead (that’s a right turn if you’re skipping the Club) and The New Inn will be on your left at the crossroads after 50 metres. It’s a traditional, stone-built building with fixed seating in the bay windows either side of the entrance. Although the interior is one room it has

Guiseley TRIP - CONTINUED distinct, separate areas. On my first visit, Saltaire Blonde was available with Sharp’s Doom Bar and Marston’s Wychwood Hobgoblin on the handpumps the second time around.

white cross Ot

ley Rd Guiseley, Le , ed LS20 8LY s

hire yorkosse rLeeds Rd, s 2 eed ley, L Guise 20 9NA LS

Opposite The New Inn was Martha’s Ale House (aka The Woolpack), which served good beer but was neglected and sold for housing. On the third corner of the crossroads is The Red Lion: I’ve often wondered if somewhere has all four corners covered!

The pub was closed a couple years ago for an extensive period to enable a full refurbishment. The landlord was serving the first time and came around to where I was sitting after a couple of minutes to check the beer was in good condition, which it was.

If you want a slightly different return route, head along the narrow road (Well Lane) to the side of The Red Lion and you’ll come out on the main street.

Turn right, after 2 minutes pass The Station and 6 minutes further will bring you to Guiseley Cricket and Football Social Club. It’s a shared clubhouse appropriately located between the cricket ground to the right and the football pitch of Guiseley AFC to the left. Two ales (Black Sheep Bitter and a pale ale from a West Yorkshire brewery) were available on my visit. The long bar serves the single room though there is a semi-partitioned seating area that is excellent for watching leather on willow.

From the entrance to the club it’s just 100 metres to Ings Lane. Here turn right and after 7 minutes The Ings will greet you (bus stop outside, see below for

Mode

Bus

Bus

Bus

Train

Service

33/33A

97

966

Ilkley line

Transdev Keighley Bus Company

Northern

Guiseley to Yeadon circular via Ings Lane

/

1 (Monday-Saturday daytime)

2-3

NA

11-15

Operator First First

Route Along A65 From Yeadon

via Oxford Road,

terminating at Morrisons Standard 6 3 frequency per hour

Standard time 50-60 60-85 from Leeds bus/train station (mins)

New Full Measure WINTER 2016 25

Guiseley TRIP - CONTINUED more details). It’s on the very outskirts of Guiseley and has a traditional, country pub feel. There are fields surrounding this stone building, which has retained a number of traditional interior features that add to the cosy feel. There’s a fire surrounded by ornate tiles on both the left and right walls, a barrel churn incorporated into the underside of a table, many porcelain items dotted around and on the shelf above the bar are an old pram, drum and teddy bears. Metal drip trays on the bar are engraved “Welcome to The Ings” along with the landlord’s and landlady’s names.

Banks’s Tetley Bitter and Mild (we’re unsure where Mild is currently produced), Timothy Taylor Landlord, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and Marston’s Thwaites Wainwright adorned the handpulls.

From here it’s back to the main road followed by a right turn. White Cross, a comfortable Ember Inns venue (Mitchell & Butlers), is the final port of call.

Around six or seven ales are usually available with the permanent offering being Black Sheep Ember Inns Pale Ale alongside one or two that feature regularly. Guest beers are mainly sourced from regional breweries with some coming from smaller breweries. The handpumps are split between the smaller front bar that attracts primarily drinkers and the larger lounge that appeals more to those who want a decent drink with their meal. A small chalkboard next to the handpumps on both sides of the bar lists the choice on the other side, which saves a walk. On my latest visit I opted for Brains Rev. James and was offered a choice of straight-sided or dimpled glass; naturally I chose the latter, in-vogue option (maybe it’s the beard and checked shirt!).

Don’t forget CAMRA members currently receive a discount on cask ale, except on Mondays when the ale is substantially discounted for everyone.

If you go any further you’ll find yourself in foreign territory, Bradford branch area none the less, so it’s probably best to turn around and head for home!

Food: Having visited some or all of these venues your stomach will definitely be rumbling. In addition to food offerings by The Yorkshire Rose, Coopers, Everybodys All Day Social, The Station and White Cross there are three great chippies (something always close to CAMRA members’ hearts) on, or very close to, the route.

food

26 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

Community Assets

The Old Cock freeh ouse

Lee and his partner Linda had been looking for suitable premises for a pub for some time, and this property seemed ideal for renovation. Together with Lee’s father, David, they started work and once the building was structurally sound they exposed many of the original features including the stone flagged floors, original fireplaces, stone mullioned windows and the datestone, as well as converting it into a working pub. They’ve clearly made an excellent job of it”.

Many moons ago I visited the Old Cock in Otley and chatted with owners Lee Pullan and Linda Exley about their venture in transforming a former café into what would turn out to be one of the best pubs in the Leeds district, winning three Leeds CAMRA Pub of the Year awards. I even wrote an article for New Full Measure which was published in November 2010.

Since I don’t see the point in reinventing the wheel, I’m going to quote from that article.

“Originally built as two small cottages in 1755 it was converted into one larger cottage in the late nineteenth century. It was condemned for residential use in the middle of the twentieth century and became commercial premises.

It served as a number of shops, including an antiques shop and eventually became the Curlew Cafe, and finally the Sugar Street Bistro. It then fell empty for over three years and was in a very poor state of repair.

History lesson over, and most of our readers will have visited this establishment by now, but did you know about the difficulties Lee and Linda have faced over the last couple of years?

Back in January 2015, the Otley Pub Club successfully nominated nineteen out of the twenty pubs in Otley as “Assets of Community Value” or ACVs. Of these, the Otley Tap House had been opposed by the Pub Club for a Change of Use on the grounds that there were already enough pubs or bars in the town. Six months later, it too was nominated as an ACV. New Full Measure WINTER 2016 27

Fa on ir de tax bee al now r !

A Campaign

of Two Halves

7EZI &VMXEMR W 4YFW

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Lee and Linda made a formal request to be withdrawn from the nomination, but this was rejected.

Bear in mind that when they wanted to open the pub in 2010, they requested assistance from the President of the Pub Club in trying to acquire Change Of Use to turn The Old Cock building into a pub, but he declined to help as supporting the opening of a new pub was in conflict with his public efforts to save existing pubs.

The thing about ACVs is that they can be a very useful tool when it comes to protecting threatened pubs. If a developer is planning to close down a long-established hostelry and convert it into flats for example, an ACV can put a restriction on their rights meaning that they’re unable to convert, demolish or sell it within a five year period unless they consult the local community. They may be required to give that community a period of time to put in a bid to buy it, or it could even be subject to compulsory purchase by the Local Authority.

The problem with this one is that the Old Cock was not under threat at all. It’s clearly extremely successful as a public house, and the owners seem to enjoy running it as such a venture. They’re passionate about cask ale and have a proven track record of high quality and service. Indeed, they’ve recently been rewarded with the October Pub of the Month award, but we won’t quite be in time to get the presentation photos in this edition of the newsletter.

What does the ACV mean to Lee and Linda? Well, it puts a restrictive covenant on their title deeds, which limits future lending on their property as banks are reluctant to lend against a building which can’t be sold for six months. This has left them with a large loan secured on their home and made it more

difficult for them to raise additional funds to sustain the business or for refurbishment.

They state that they would not have purchased the building if the restrictive covenant had been in place. They’re not running the Old Cock on a short-term basis, it’s clearly a labour of love.

However, should their personal circumstances change, through no fault of their own they would have great difficulty selling the business as a going concern. At NFM Towers we’ve put a few feelers out, and the general consensus from independent pub owners is that they would be extremely disgruntled if someone were to come along and start interfering in their finances. I think I can understand why.

What is the cost to the community?

Lee and Linda state that each Otley ACV cost the Council a reported £1.070, a total for twenty pubs of £21,400. With some opting for a review and potentially a tribunal, this cost will have significantly increased.

Remember that this is not a one-off fee, but is re-incurred every five years if the ACVs are renewed.

Where do we go from here? We understand that Otley Pub Club have given an assurance that, when the current ACV expires in over three years’ time, they do not intend to nominate “singleton

freehold pubs” like the Old Cock.

I gather from Lee that this has yet to be stated publicly. If the Pub Club would like to contact New Full Measure with a statement to this effect, we’ll see what we can do to spread the word.

To summarise, I’d like to remind the reader that ACVs can be extremely useful when it comes to protecting historic pubs, or potentially the only pub in the village. However CAMRA and other organisations should not seek ACVs for pubs which are not vulnerable, especially when this can seriously affect licensees’ livelihoods.

For Lee and Linda the damage is done and hopefully won’t be repeated in 2020. What they’re trying to do is to protect other independent pub owners from being placed in the same position. They would like the ACV rules changed to exclude independent free houses, unless the landlord and freeholder agree to the application, and businesses which have been trading for a comparatively short period in pub terms. Blanket applications, such as the one in Otley, should not be permitted. Finally, to deter frivolous applications, nominators of ACVs should be able to demonstrate the means to buy the business should it come up for sale.

Ian Smith (Editor) New Full Measure WINTER 2016 29

Appointment with Beer Leeds CAMRA holds a business-style meeting on the first Tuesday of most months, with the occasional Thursday for those who can’t make Tuesdays. The meeting starts at 7:30pm and has an approximate finishing time of 9:00pm.

CAMRA members are advised to check “What’s Brewing” for confirmation of meeting locations and for details of other events. A full listing of events is also published at http://www.leeds-camra.com/ where it is regularly updated.

Leeds CAMRA is organised and run entirely by unpaid volunteers. All members are always welcome at meetings and socials.

DECEMBER 2016

JANUARY 2017

Sunday 4th December, 2.00pm.

Sunday Lunch Social.

Bingley Arms, Church Lane, Bardsey, LS17 9DR. Please contact socialsecretary@leeds-camra.com in advance for table bookings. £11 for main course, £15 for two courses.

Transport X99 bus from stop G1 on Eastgate at 12:48.

Thursday 6th December, 7.30pm.

Branch Meeting. The Fenton, 161-165 Woodhouse Lane, LS2 3ED.

Tuesday 6th December, 7.30pm.

Branch Meeting Pack Horse, Woodhouse Lane, LS2 9DX.

Sign up to Ale Delight

our monthly branch email, for regular local news.

Info: Membership@leedscamra.com Contact: socialsecretary@ leeds-camra.com

Leeds-CAMRA @LeedsCAMRA West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service 0113 253 0241 West Yorkshire Joint Services, Nepshaw Lane South, Morley LS27 7JQ

30 New Full Measure WINTER 2016

Wednesday 11th January, 7:30pm.

Beer Festival Preparation Social Grove Inn, Back Row, Holbeck LS11 5PL Come down, help us with our annual branch mail out, and have a drink and a natter.

Check leeds-camra.com or “What’s Brewing” for more details

Thank You for Having Us! Thank you to Crowd of Favours (City Centre), Fox & Newt (Burley), Pack Horse (City Centre), Kirkstall Brewery (Burley), Ridgeside Brewery (Meanwood), Grey Hawk Brewery (Skipton), Baht’ap (City Centre) and Wapentake (City Centre) for hosting recent branch events. It’s much appreciated.

Don’t be a Wazzock!

Don’t Drink and Drive.

Public transport information for the Leeds area is available from Metro offices and at wymetro.com There really is no excuse.

Branch contacts Leeds CAMRA c/o 46 West Grange Green Leeds LS10 3BB Committee members Chairman: Mike Hampshire 07763274454 Branch Contact: Nigel Halton BranchContact@leeds-camra.com Festival Organiser: David Dixon BeerFestivals@leeds-camra.com Locale Coordinator: Carole Taylor Locale@leeds-camra.com Membership Secretary: Warren Yabsley Membership@leeds-camra.com Newsletter Editor: Ian Smith Newsletter@leeds-camra.com Press and Publicity Officer: Richard Coldwell Publicity@leeds-camra.com Pub Database Holder: Dave Ansley WhatPub@leeds-camra.com Public Transport Officer: Tony Jenkins PublicTransport@leeds-camra.com Secretary: Carole Taylor Secretary@leeds-camra.com Social Secretary: Adam Wilson SocialSecretary@leeds-camra.com Tasting Panel Coordinator: David Dixon TastingPanel@leeds-camra.com Treasurer: Keith Sunderland Treasurer@leeds-camra.com Webmaster: Christine Jopling Webmaster@leeds-camra.com Young Members: Warren Yabsley YoungMembers@leeds-camra.com

New Full Measure WINTER 2016 31

winner