New Full Measure issue 125

Issue 125 | Autumn 2013 | Free, please take one

www.newfullmeasure.org.uk

CITY OF ALE

Norwich, more than just Delia...

HEAD BREWER HEADING TO SALTAIRE

What’s next for Kirkstall?

GET A PASS GET ON THE BUS!

New series explores the best routes

Newsletter of the Leeds Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

Welcome! elcome to issue 125 of New Full Measure. We hope you’ll find some items of interest amongst our pages. It’s baking outside. Truly the hottest I can remember. Hard to believe that in a few short months it’s back to cold mornings, dark evenings and the start of meetings to plan the Leeds Beer and Cider Festival.

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I’m in the Grove in Leeds, spiritual home of Leeds CAMRA. It’s here that just after the New Year CAMRA members will gather to stuff envelopes with forms for volunteers for the 2014 festival. It’s quite a task. Of the nearly 2000 members in Leeds roughly half don’t have a working email address. For these people we mail out around a thousand letters asking for members to join us in serving some of the best beers this country has to offer. Last year around 50 brave souls took up the call to arms joining 60 or so old and increasingly young hands, delivering what we think is the best festival in these parts. I’d like to think everyone had a great time and that they’ll all be coming back. Life doesn’t always work out like that.

We always need volunteers, no matter your level of experience, or amount of time you are able to commit. You will be valued, you will make a difference. If you are a CAMRA member and you’d like to experience the festival from the other side of the tap we'd love to have you. If you’re not a member, why not? Membership is currently a very competitively priced £23.00 for the year. When you take off the £20 vouchers and 4 issues of ‘Beer’ magazine that come with it, it’s like we're paying you to be a member! If you would like to join in the fun at this year’s festival email the staffing team at beerfestivalstaffing@gmail.com or come along to one of the meetings and speak to the staffing team.

In this issue we have the second half of intrepid wanderer Warren Yabsley’s Horsforth Hop, Jeff Utley on the latest opening from the North Bar chain and Nigel Halton paying a visit to Wharfebank Brewery. Mike Hampshire updates us on the latest antics from the young members and Bloke from Hull, Dave Litten, on the latest news from the region. As ever we have all the latest pub and brewery news, award news and the diary for coming events. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the NFM this quarter. If you’d like to submit an article, a letter or even a photo please get in touch at editor@newfullmeasure.org.uk.

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 2013.

NFM Towers Address: Leeds CAMRA, c/o The Grove Inn, Back Row, Holbeck, Leeds LS11 5PL. Email: editor@newfullmeasure.org.uk Web: www.leeds-camra.com www.newfullmeasure.org.uk Twitter @LeedsCAMRA Subscriptions may be had at a cost of £3 for six issues by sending a cheque payable to “Leeds CAMRA” to the above address. Back issues are available for £1 an issue by sending a cheque to the same address.

Currently all previous issues are available.

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. 4,000 copies distributed quarterly to pubs in Leeds and beyond.

Advertising: For advertising enquiries please contact Jane Michelson Tel: 01733 211933 Mobile: 07732 393621 Email: jane@orchardhousemedia.co.uk

Rates: Colour Rates per insertion (exclusive of VAT) are: Quarter page 1 insertion £70 , 2 insertions £65, 4 insertions £60 Half page 1 insertion £130 , 2 insertions £120, 4 insertions £110 Full Page 1 insertion £240, 2 insertions £225, 4 insertions £210 Cover Rates Inside Front / Inside Back 1 insertion £275, 2 insertions £250, 4 insertions £225 Outside Back Cover 1 insertion £300, 2 insertions £275, 4 insertions £245

Finally I’d like to say a special thank you to outgoing editor Ian Smith. Without your guidance, advice, threats and blackmail, Ian, this magazine would not have been put together. Thank you for all your help and I look forward to your continued support.

Tony, your new editor.

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Pub, Brewery & Fest

OSSETT BREWERY This summer saw that most welcome of occasions, the reopening of a public house, and just like buses Leeds got two at the same time. The Black Bull in Rothwell reopened its doors after an extensive refurb. 5 handpulls now grace the bar with Ossett and its micro-breweries all being represented along with selected guest beers.

If the opening night was anything to go by they’ll be doing a great job. Ossett’s second of the month saw the reopening of the Old Peacock in the shadow of the Elland Road stadium in Leeds.

The opening saw a small army of staff dispensing more of Ossett brewery’s extensive line-up including the obligatory special, a red ale named 1919. With a well-appointed bar area, sizeable eating area and football-pitch-sized beer garden this venue looks able to accommodate all comers.

All Hail the Master Brewer A summer Saturday in early August saw real ale lovers from across the county say their farewells to head brewer at Kirkstall Brewery, Dave Sanders, who has now moved on to pastures new at Saltaire brewery. Members of SPBW (Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood) West Riding Branch gathered with CAMRA members from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Keighley & Craven, Huddersfield, Hull and Calderdale and raised several glasses to the master craftsman of real ales, who has headed the emergence of the new Kirkstall Brewery not far from the Leeds Liverpool canal in the shadow of the original brewery.

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Perhaps Dave’s most notable creation has been the multi-award-winning Elland 1872 Porter, currently Champion Beer of Britain. In 2011 Dave was recruited by owner Steve Holt to revive the long tradition of brewing in Kirkstall and developed a superb range of award-winning beers including Kirstall Pale Ale, Best Yorkshire Bitter, Three Swords, Dissolution IPA, Black Band Porter, Generous George and the powerful Drop Hammer.

In recognition of Dave’s fantastic achievements at the brewery Steve presented him with a couple of superb historical items, a tin from Leeds Cooperative Society (with whom Dave began his working life) and a fabulous impossibly rare beer bottle from the original Kirkstall Brewery.

We wish him well.

Market Town Taverns

The cream of the Yorkshire beer scene descended on Coopers in Guiseley on Yorkshire Day, August 1st, for the inaugural Market Town Taverns Yorkshire Beer Awards. The event was a first for Knaresborough-based pub chain who created the Yorkshire Beer Awards out of a passion for beer and the pride they have in Yorkshire’s brewing heritage. The overall MTT 2013 Yorkshire Beer Award Champion Beer, ‘Saltaire Pride’ brewed by Saltaire Brewery, will be available in all Market Town Taverns outlets over the coming weeks.

News

ival News

Notable CAMRA festivals coming up: Barnsley (Elsecar) Beer Festival Friday, September 6th to Sunday 8th York Beer and Cider Festival Wednesday, September 18th to Saturday 21st 25th Keighley Beer Festival Thursday, September 26th to Saturday 28th Huddersfield Oktoberfest Thursday, October 3rd to Saturday 5th 12th Richmond Ale Festival Friday October 11th to Sunday 13th

Ilkley Brewery Ilkley Brewery has appointed new brewer Christa Sandquist who is set to bring her American roots to the fold with a debut brew called Rye n’ Dry. The 27 year old will work alongside head brewer, Chris Ives, who is entirely selftaught. As well as running the day-to-day brewery operations, Christa, who is originally from Washington State in the US, will also be charged with creating new, experimental beers and broadening existing ranges, including the Origins line.

Christa’s first job is to develop what will become her signature brew, Rye n’ Dry.As with the other beers from the range, it will be a Yorkshire take on a classic beer style, in this case a Roggenbier: a high-rye beer traditionally found in Bavaria, southern Germany.

39th Sheffield Annual Beer & Cider Festival Wednesday, October 23rd to Saturday 26th 23rd Wakefield Beer Festival Thursday, November 7th to Saturday 9th 4th Saltburn Beer Festival Friday, November 15th to Saturday 16th Notable non CAMRA eventsHeadingly Beer Festival Friday, October 11th to Sunday 13th Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Beer and Music Festival Thursday, October 24th to Sunday 27th Addingham Beer Festival Friday, October 4th to Saturday 5th We strongly recommend you check all details for confirmation before traveling.

Norwich

City of Ale - A pub crawl around north-east Norwich Charlie, Social Secretary of Leeds CAMRA and all round beer trailblazer, is at it again, this time heading for far-flung Norwich.

The Jubilee

The self-proclaimed “City of Ale” certainly had a lot to live up to, and didn’t disappoint.

I started off in the Fat Cat Brewery Tap, just off Sprowston Road. This was previously known as The Cider Shed and before that The Wherry.

This is the sister pub to the award-winning Fat Cat to the west of the city centre just off Dereham Road. Shed was an apt name for this large pub situated on a suburban housing estate.

However, the addition of pub signs, brewery artefacts and wooden barrels gives the right kind of feel to this pub which serves up to 20 beers at any one time, including the full range of Fat Cat beers from the brewery next door.

Cross over Sprowston Road into Bell Road, and then right into Silver Road. Towards the bottom of Silver Road is The Cottage. There are 10 hand pumps for ale, and also 4 ciders available.

On my visit only 4 ales were available, Castle Rock Harvest Pale, Goffs Summer Knight, Norfolk Brewhouse Moongazer Ruby and Banks & Taylor Golden Fox. The rest had been sold out on the previous evening but they were busy pulling more beers through to replenish the supply.

At the bottom of Silver Road, turn left on to Barrack Street and cross the roundabout, on to Kett’s Hill, where, on the left hand side you will find Ketts Tavern.

Here, the full range of Norwich Bear beers is available in third, half, two third or pint measures. (How very civilised!Ed)

Ketts Tavern

The building dates from the 1600s, and has been a pub since at least 1832. There is an inglenook fireplace alongside wooden flooring, beams and timber frames.

From here, head back to the roundabout and turn left onto Bishop Bridge Road, and then left again up the very steep Gas Hill, and then left again into St Leonards Road. The Jubilee is at the junction with Quebec Road and is a back-street local with attractive hanging baskets outside. A varied range of 8 ales is available including beers from Woodforde‘s, Grain and Hopback breweries.

Turn right at the bottom of St Leonards Road into Rosary Road, and at the bottom is Thorpe Road, where you will find The Coach & Horses, home to the Chalk Hill Brewery. There are 4 banks of 3 handpumps, dispensing Chalk Hill beers only. Two large octagonal tables with green umbrellas outside the pub display the slogans “Drinking Consultants” and “Thirst Therapy“.

Turn right outside the pub to return to the railway station.

A small article like this can only scratch the surface of the number of real ale pubs in Norwich, which is said to have a church for every week of the year, and a pub for every day of the year, and I’m looking forward to a return visit to explore the rest of the city.

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Brewery Visit

WharfeBank Brewery Nigel Halton takes us for a look round the privately owned, independent Yorkshire-based brewery WarfeBank.

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joined the latest brewery tour group on a warm Saturday morning in June. Most had already arrived and were stood outside with samples of the 3 different beers, VPA, Tether Blond and Dales Light Mild which had been laid on for this visit.

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Martin Kellaway, MD of WharfeBank began the visit by giving us an introduction to the brewery. It was built in an old paper mill with a total investment of £500,000 and production commenced in May 2010. Since then there have been over 500 brews, each brew producing approximately 72 x 9 gallon casks, sold to around 200 Yorkshire pubs within 40 miles of the brewery.

Over the last year the business has diversified into selling its bottled ales and also producing craft keg beer. They own/lease 3 pubs, the Fleece in Otley, Half Moon at Pool in Wharfedale and the Rook and Gaskill in York. There are 6 employees of whom 2 are brewers and they are ably assisted from time to time by an ex brewer from Tetleys who is acting as a consultant.

Back in 2010 they started with a portfolio of 3 ales which were Slingers Gold, Tether Blond and Camfell Flame. They have since added 3 more regular ales to their range, WISPA, Verbeia Pale Ale and Best Bitter and there are also monthly specials.

We were taken to the beginning of the process, a raised landing, where half a tonne of malt is manually loaded into the grist hopper and fed into the mash tun with approximately 1000 litre of hot liquor (WharfeBank burtonise the tap water). Hops are added to the copper at 3 stages of the boil, they typically use Cascade, Summit and Galaxy hops amongst others.

The hopped wort is then cooled and transferred to one of the 4 fermenting vessels where a strain of yeast supplied by Daniel Thwaites brewery is

added to the brew. Average fermenting time is 3 days after which the beer is pumped into storage tanks where it is kept for no more than 2 weeks before racking into casks. There are 5 tanks in the temperature-controlled storage room and these have helped save space. There are plans to expand into the adjoining unit which would allow them more storage.

At this point our visit was concluded with some more sampling and questions put to our hosts.

The group then went to the Half Moon for a pie and peas lunch washed down with more WharfeBank ale.

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BBQ SEASON!

Recipe Corner Dry Team 450g plain flour 1 level tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

They say that three’s a charm, well I hope they are right as this is the third recipe I’ve written for the magazine this issue. It was still a toss-up between the first two when the news of Elland Brewery’s excellent 1872 Porter having been named the Champion Beer of Britain 2013 came through. I’d like to say I have very fond memories of the first time I sampled 1872 but as you know, too much of a good thing…That decided it for me, it’s time to make some Seeded Porter Muffins.

For this you will need: Wet Team 225g butter 175g Soft Dark brown sugar 300ml 1872 Porter (you can tell it’s a good recipe when there’s enough left in the bottle to sip whilst baking…)

1 orange, zest only 225g sultanas 175g raisins 50g chopped mixed peel 3 large eggs, beaten 100g Sunflower seeds

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This cake can be made in one 20cm spring form tin (the kind where the sides unclip and the bottom comes out) but I prefer to make it in large muffin cases which cuts down the baking time.

To start take the butter, porter, brown sugar and dried fruit and place them in a saucepan.

It should be large enough to hold all the ingredients and allow them to be stirred without spilling. Place this over a low heat and stir until the sugar has dissolved, then remove from the heat. Leave this to one side to cool. While the porter cools, sieve your flour with the spices and baking powder into a clean bowl. As the wet team mixture cools the fruit will start to rehydrate in the only available liquid, the porter!

You can leave this until the mixture is almost completely cold but ideally you want to get to the next step before the butter solidifies again. Beat the eggs into the wet mixture and then fold in the sieved flour and spices along with the sunflower seeds.

Divide the mixture between 6-8 large muffin cases (the style in the photo came from a catering supplier but most of the supermarkets have their own versions you may have to put up with crazy patterns on them) bake in a moderate oven (gas 4, 160C fan, 175-180C) for 25-35 minutes or until a skewer through the middle comes out clean of batter.

These cakes keep well if wrapped carefully and taste even better the next day. I like to eat them with a little sharp Wensleydale cheese and of course a bottle of 1872!

Cheers!

Young Members’ Corner

Young Members with Mike Hampshire uring July, I arranged a social for our young members to Otley. For those unfamiliar with the area, Otley has great pub heritage, housing some of the oldest pubs in Leeds. This particular social was to embark on the ‘Historic Otley Ale Trail’ and take in some of these great pubs. The trail has 16 pubs, but we opted to try just a handful.

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As Otley doesn’t have a train station, the best way to get there is by bus, which takes around 40 minutes. Within a short distance from the bus station in Otley was our first stop, The Black Bull. This pub claims to be the oldest inn in Otley and it’s alleged that Oliver Cromwell’s troops drank the pub dry on the eve of the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644. If you like more recent history, then this pub is also famous for being the film set for an episode of ITV’s DCI Banks.

Amongst the choices available were Tiny Rebel’s Urban IPA and Naylor’s Centennial.

It was a great day out for all involved. If you’re interested in checking out the trail, search ‘Otley Pub Club’ on the internet. The details of our next young members social will be available soon.

www.facebook.com/leedsrealaleym

twitter.com/YoungLeedsCAMRA

leedscamrayoungmembers@gmail.com

Just over the market square from the Black Bull is the Bay Horse, our next pub stop. This is quite a small pub but with some excellent beer nonetheless; Copper Dragon’s Best Bitter was in particularly good form.

Our third pub stop was Whitakers, again a short walk from the previous pub, but a long way from the old-school pubs we’d visited so far. The pub had a much more modern feel and had an excellent range of ales to choose from.

Next up was The Otley Tavern (formerly Ring o’ Bells). This pub had a really lively environment, probably helped by the pre-season football being shown live on their screens. Again, a good selection of ale; this time we sampled WharfeBank’s Summer Ale - excellent!

Our final pub stop of the day had to be our current Pub of the Year winner, The Old Cock.

This pub wouldn’t be out of place in Leeds City Centre, selling some cracking ales and bottles.

The Reliance Bar & Dining Room

Fine Food & Fine Ales

12 draught pumps including 4 regularly changing Real Ales & 1 Real Cider

Over 20 other craft bottled ales & ciders from Britain, America & Europe Open for lunch & supper 7 days a week

76-78 North Street, Leeds LS2 7PN 0113 2956060 www.the-reliance.co.uk

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HORSFORTH HOP In the last edition of NFM Warren Yabsley took us on a trip around Horsforth. Here, he continues his journey.

Despite being on the other side of the world I’m still spouting on: readers of previous editions will know that the Branch imposed terms and conditions on me leaving but I bet they wished they let me go on a ‘free transfer’ now!

I ended the last article at The Black Bull at the bottom of Town Street. A three to four minute walk down Fink Hill brings you to the Toby Carvery at the junction with Broadway (A6120).

Although primarily an eating place there is a small but comfortable area for drinking by the bar that retains a pub feel. Beyond the bar is a raised area with tables and chairs, again for drinking. A seasonal beer was available and Leeds Pale is the permanent ale.

The Fleece

Heading down Park Side, which is diagonally opposite the last pub, brings you to New Road Side with The Fleece immediately on the right.

Part of the small, local chain that owns The Commercial (Most Improved Pub Summer 2012) and recently The Royal, both at Pudsey, new life is being breathed into these traditional and comfortable pubs with an emphasis on ales.

Alongside the permanent Theakston’s Best and John Smith’s Cask are two guest beers nearly

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always sourced from local breweries. The Fleece is another recent addition to the LocAle scheme.

As an aside, if your business, or one you know of, stocks at least one ale from any brewery within the Leeds Metropolitan District plus 10 miles boundary (it can be a different brewery at different times), get in touch with the branch to join the free LocAle scheme. Further details and a list of both qualifying breweries and current 80-plus signatories are on our swish, new(ish) website.

Turning left takes you past Enigma Bar and Grill on the opposite side of the road but on two occasions of going by the wickets have been empty.

However, I believe it’s better to serve no ale at all rather than trying to stock one without the demand resulting in a poor quality product that might put people off especially if they’re new to ale. Perhaps bottled ales are available instead?

Kobe is encountered on the left side, a little further along the road. This modern, glass-fronted bar with split-level interior serves Black Sheep Bitter from the curving L-shaped bar. It’s a pleasant venue for a drink but it can be busy on Monday nights when there is a large discount on food.

The Horsforth is next, though it is known to many as The Friendly. Shortly after Kobe turn left along Sunnybank Avenue and the pub will be diagonally opposite. Greene King IPA and St. Edmunds were available from the long zig-zag bar on my visit to this Greene King establishment. There are old pictures of Horsforth on the walls and to the rear is a garden with benches.

Making my way back to Broadway via Stanhope Drive (Charlie Brooker fans might find this name apt for an article related to alcoholic beverages), I then turned right towards The Ringway (about a 10 minute walk in total). It was quiet but warm

Horsforth Hop part two

PART TWO and friendly inside. I made myself comfortable in the small room with the fire to the left of the bar.

Beyond is a small back room which is as popular as the large main room. John Smith’s Cask and Black Sheep Bitter were available at competitive prices. If you’re a CAMRA member be sure to take a look at WhatPub for details of pubs, bars and clubs because this is just one example of an establishment that isn’t marked on Google Maps.

The Woodside

The Bridge

From here it’s just over a mile back to Horsforth train station along Low Lane or the 97 bus stops outside taking you to Leeds in one direction and Guiseley via The Grey Horse and The Old Ball in the other.

Of the 18 pubs, bars and clubs that I tried ale in, most were good or excellent. So if you fancy some good beer in traditional pubs or modern bars with everything in between Horsforth could well be worth a venture though I do recommend a few visits if you plan to do a number of the establishments!

Continuing along the main road brings you to a roundabout within a few minutes where The Woodside is located. It’s primarily an eating house but there’s a small area with comfortable seating opposite the bar for drinking and also some high tables beyond. Black Sheep Bitter, Wells Bombardier and Greene King IPA and Yardbird were the ales available.

Turning right at the roundabout from the direction you approached it brings you to The Bridge (LocAle) on Low Lane in no time at all - with its eight handpumps on the curved J-shaped bar set in traditional surroundings - a nice way to finish off this leg. Treboom Yorkshire Sparkle, Leeds Yorkshire Gold, Midnight Bell and their seasonal ale, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Greene King IPA and Tetley Bitter and Mild (whoever brews them these days, answers on a postcard) were available.

I was pleased to see ‘Try Me’ stickers on some of the wickets, always a great way to encourage people to see what ale is all about especially if they’re a little unsure.

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Buses to the pub

Public Houses by Public Transport In the first of what we hope will be a regular series, Leeds member David Woodhead makes great use of the FirstDay Off-peak fare offered by First Leeds buses. Giving an unlimited day’s travel within the Leeds boundary after 9.30am, it’s a great way of getting out and visiting many of the city’s excellent public houses- Ed. his issue features bus route 16/16A SeacroftPudsey-Seacroft. All the pubs mentioned are only a few yards away from a bus stop. This service runs at regular times through the day, seven days a week and serves the west Leeds communities of Armley, Bramley, Farsley, Rodley and Pudsey.

During the day the bus runs every ten minutes or so slowing to every half hour in the evening allowing you plenty of drinking time at your chosen stops.

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Starting from Leeds city centre the first destination is Armley. Times have seen a decline in the real ale offering here. However, it is worth popping in to the Travellers Rest in Hill Top Road just out of town for the well-kept Greene King I.P.A Having quenched our thirst, we hop on the bus again for the short journey to the next destination.

Get off the bus just after the roundabout at Town End in Bramley and the Barley Mow is on the left.

They usually keep three real ales available, Old Speckled Hen, Landlord and Tetley Bitter. A short stroll further up the road brings us to The Old Unicorn, opposite the bus station. It’s a Timothy Taylors pub, so Golden Best will be available as well as Landlord. Leaving Bramley on Upper Town St, we find The Globe, recently refurbished and now providing meals, along with John Smith’s Cask, Theakstons Bitter, or a guest ale.

Our bus now heads to Farsley, and there are no pubs on the route until we arrive at The Fleece, which usually has a selection of 4 real ales available

and The Bay Horse, with a couple on hand pull, usually John Smith’s Cask and the ersatz Tetley Bitter. Both pubs are on Town Street, we get off at the cenotaph (that’s not a pub, it’s a war memorial!).

We have to wait until we get almost to Pudsey for the next hostelries, the Great Northern, serving Tetley Bitter, at the bottom of Richardshaw Lane with, across the road and slightly up the hill, The Oddfellows Hotel. A couple of stops further up we find Bar 57; no hand pulled ales here, but they do a good selection of bottled beers. We alight at the terminus, Pudsey Bus Station. From here there are several pubs within walking distance. The Butchers Arms, a Sam Smith pub so Old Brewery Bitter is always on tap, Crossed Shuttle (Wetherspoons), The Town Hall Taps, with a good selection of traditional ales in a modern setting, plus the IRV Inn which specialises in local ales. All are within a few yards, just across the road (turn left for the Butchers, turn right and cross at the lights for the others).

On our return journey, we take a slightly different route from the outward journey. We travel down Bagley Lane into Rodley. We can get off the bus and have a drink of Tetley Bitter, or a house ale conveniently called “Rodley Barge Bitter”, a 3.9 abv session ale, or a guest ale, in The Rodley Barge.

A short walk from the same bus stop there is The Crown and Anchor. Black Sheep is usually on tap, and as this is the last pub before we see one we’ve already been to, that concludes this edition of Public Houses by Public Transport.

The beers available in the aforementioned pubs were correct at the time of compiling this article but are subject to change. Check bus times and availability at www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/leeds/ before travelling.

Fifteen Pubs, one Day Rider ticket.....Sorted!!

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Pub Review

North Bar Social, Otley

Jeff Utley visits the newest offering from North Bar.

his building probably dates from the midlate 18th Century and is tucked away diagonally from Bondgate. It faces the forecourt of the Woolpack - now a music and arts centre and would be hard to spot if it were not for its prominent feature, a 9ft circular window to the left of the front door. This feature was probably installed in the 60's as a display window for the then ladies’ fashion shop. In more recent times the building has been a pottery and a bottled beer shop (WharfedAle). At present there is no signage, as planning permission is awaited, but the name can be found on a discreet horizontal strip in the windows.

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The interior has been remodelled and opened up, giving a 26ft x 13ft area having a new 13 ft

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bar running on the back wall and seven circular tables spread in front to give seating for 22.

Planning permission is also to be sought to allow a few outdoor tables and chairs. An unusual interior feature is a collection of 16 varied retro working wall light brackets (sconces) on the left hand wall. To the right of the bar is access to the ladies and disabled toilet and to the left access via a staircase to the upstairs ‘cellar’, gents toilets and a lounge/function room. This 12ft x 12ft room has a large L-shaped padded bench and 12 tables; seating is for 36 and the lighting is a feature up here too, with a display of an incredible 51 varied hanging lamps. Also the upstairs room must be giraffe friendly, as the roof beam is well padded to prevent injury.

The temperature-controlled upstairs 'cellar' has an electric hoist to raise casks and crates through a trapdoor in the ceiling of the main bar area below.

by jeff utley

More importantly the ground floor bar serves a choice of about 35 bottled beers and there are 6 fonts plus 4 hand-pumps. The range of the fonts and hand-pumps at time of opening was.....

Fonts: Brooklyn Lager 5.2%; Magic Rock High Wire 5.5%; North Boom 1997 Pils 4.5% (brewed in the Netherlands by Lindeboom especially for North Bar); Ilkley Summit 5.4%; Leifmans Cuvee Brut 6.0% (Belgian cherry beer) and Schneider Weisse Tap 1 Mein Blondes 5.2%.

only time will tell if North Bar Social gets the success it deserves.

North Bar Social can be found at 8-10 Bondgate, Otley, LS21 3AB. Tel. 01943 468061 website: www.northbar.com Opening times: 5-11pm Mon-Wed; 5-midnight Thur-Fri; 11am-midnight Sat; 11am-10.30pm Sun

Handpumps: Broadoak Perry 7.5% (a cider or perry will always be available); Purple Moose Snowdonia Ale 3.6%; Ilkley Mary Jane IPA 6.0% and Prototype 3.8% (a house beer by Kirkstall, which was chosen after a trial of five recipes).

The bar appeared lively despite the surfeit of pubs in Otley – maybe people were giving the new bar a trial look, or maybe they were attracted by the ambience and friendly staff –

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CAMRA NEWS

September will see the launch of not one but two long term projects from CAMRA HQ. Not only do we have the release of the 2014 Good Beer Guide but also the complementary online site WhatPub.com.

CAMRA’s online pub guide has been planned and developed over three years and is the result of an immense amount of work by CAMRA volunteers and staff. The website and infrastructure have been built and developed at minimal cost to the campaign by volunteer developers Simon Wiseman (chairman of Worcester CAMRA) and Tom Blakemore (South Herts CAMRA and a former CAMRA web developer). Key to getting the pub details transferred from branches has been National Executive member Andy Shaw.

While the Good Beer Guide does a great job of highlighting the very best real ale pubs, the WhatPub.com site will complement it by offering a broad view of the pubs in your area. CAMRA members up and down the country have been busy for the last year visiting as many pubs as they can, making notes and entering them onto the WhatPub.com database.

The site is to be launched to the public at large at the end of September/beginning of October.

Before then to use WhatPub.com you will need your CAMRA membership number and password.

Members can use the guide at www.whatpub.com to search for details of pubs across the UK and then look up details such as opening times, descriptions, facilities and, of course, details of the real ale and cider on offer. Being an online guide means that extra functions such as additional text for descriptions, photos and live map data are also available.

Members can try it now at WhatPub.com or if you’re a non-member you can get a sneak peak at WhatPub.com/pubs/tester

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field Wake RA CAMthe Year

A warm welcome from Neil and Maureen from The Junction

f Pub o & winter n 2012 the seaso f pub o 2012/13

Permanent beers in the wood from Ridgeside,Kirkstall,Wall’s, Old Bear and Five Towns. All served from a bank of old Melbourne pumps that have never seen a pint of Tetleys or John Smiths.

Open Fires • Friendly Atmosphere Dog friendly • Quiz Night on Wednesday • Only 2 mins from the bus and train station NEW OPENING TIMES Monday & Tuesday 2pm to 8.30pm.

Wednesday & Thursday 2pm to 11pm.

Friday to Sunday 12noon to 11pm.

Follow Us on Twitter

Tel: 01977 278867 www.thejunctionpubcastleford.com Postcode: WF10 1EE

The Royal Hotel Station Street, Pudsey LS28 8PR

5 Cask ales always on sale Newly refurbished traditional tavern Transformed function room with private bar available for hire

Now serving homemade lunches Monday - Friday with Traditional Roast on Sunday

For bookings call: 07923 383 282 thenewroyalhotelpudsey

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@alehousepubco

The Regent Three permanent ales: Leeds Pale, Tetley Bitter and Kirkstall Three Swords plus a rotating Guest Ale. Sky Sports and BT Sports on Two Screens Beer garden with Plasma screen and Car Park to the rear

Main meals - Two for £8.00 We are open Mon-Thurs 12noon-12midnight Fri-Sat 12noon-midnight, Sun 11am -11pm Quiz nights: Monday – General Knowledge Tuesday – Music Thursday – Entertainment 15/17 Regent Street, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 4PE Tel: 0113 2939395 Email: 6233unit@spiritpubcompany.com

O PE N N O SU W N D AY

Real Ales from: Brown Cow, Theakston, Timothy Taylor, John Smiths and now Leeds Brewery

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Beer Festivals

Strong Milds and Old Ales to feature at Keighley Beer Fest There will be a decent sample of quality strong milds and old ales on the beer list for this year’s Keighley Beer Festival. Most beer styles will be represented on the menu of nearly 70 different real ales. The beer list will appear on the website, when it is finalised.

Keighley Beer Festival is returning to its familiar dates of the last weekend in September i.e.

Thursday 26th – Saturday 28th, staying with the new venue of Central Hall on Alice Street, by popular demand. The festival opens Thursday 3pm-11pm, Friday 11am–11pm and Saturday 11am-11pm. Admission free to card-carrying CAMRA members at all times, non-members £2.50. If you join CAMRA at the festival your admission will be refunded and you may also receive other freebies.

Keep up to date with progress at: www.keighleybeerfestival.org.uk, follow it on Facebook and on Twitter: @KeighleyCravenCAMRA @KeighleyBeer

The Leeds branch of CAMRA regularly recognises achievements by breweries and licensed premises in the district which are worthy of special mention. This month as ever flying monkeys have been dispatched from NFM Towers to photograph the festivities! Fly my beauties, fly!

We began this month by hopping on the train to join with our good friends at Wakefield CAMRA in awarding their Pub of the Season to the Junction at Castleford.

A massive supporter of real ale in general and cask ale served from wooden casks in particular, landlord Neil Midgley was ever the genial host. Local Leeds brewer Simon from Ridgeside was on hand to congratulate Neil and his team while the rest of us got stuck into the great selection of beers behind the bar.

Just short of celebrating its first birthday, Friends of Ham was the deserved winner of Leeds CAMRA Pub of the Season for Spring 2013. Maybe not the obvious choice for a CAMRA award but this city centre bar has built a solid reputation for well-presented cask ales, high-quality locally-produced food and a selection of interesting keg choices. A great night was had by all, including a certain London newspaper food critic who chose that night to review

the food. A great review followed making the night a double success.

Meanwood was our next stop for the Most Improved Pub at the Myrtle Tavern. Scott Westlake and his team have worked hard to turn this North Leeds local back into a proper community pub. This was much in evidence when we joined the locals to celebrate the Myrtle’s award with a fine selection of local ales and a buffet.

Congratulations to all these winners. We hope to bring you more news in the next edition. Coming up we have the Pub of the Year award which will be presented to the Old Cock in Otley whilst this edition of the magazine is at the printers and the Pub of the Season (Summer 2013) award to East of Arcadia on the evening of September 10th. Once again we'll be visiting the Guiseley Factory Workers Club for the Club of the Year presentation to be held on the afternoon of September 15th. The 2014 Good Beer Guide launch will be held at the Crowd of Favours on September the 12th, where we hope to meet some of the best publicans in the district. We will also be visiting the Huddersfield Oktoberfest to present Pure North Cider Press with the award for Leeds CAMRA's Cider of the Festival from way back in March (details to be confirmed),

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Leeds CAMRA Members' Noticeboard Follow @LeedsCAMRA on Twitter or “like” our Leeds-CAMRA Facebook page for up-to-date information about socials, meetings and pubs info in and around Leeds.

Leeds-CAMRA @LeedsCAMRA 28

of Two Halves

A Campaign

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

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

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

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Enjoying Real Ale & Pubs

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Join CAMRA today – www.camra.org.uk/joinus Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to: Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road, St.Albans, Herts AL1 4LW Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society Service User Number To the Manager

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diary dates

Appointment with Beer eeds CAMRA holds a formal business-style meeting in a closed room (one with a door, not an area of a bar) on the first Tuesday of every month. The meeting starts at 7:30pm and has an approximate finishing time of 9:30pm.

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Weds 25th City Centre Social, Tyke Bar 8.00pm, Palace, 9.15pm.

Thurs 26th Keighley Beer Festival, Central Hall, Alice St, Keighley, Thurs 26th - Sat 28th.

October 2013

CAMRA members are advised to check "What's Brewing" for confirmation of meeting locations and for details of other events; alternatively call 07981 297962. 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.

Tue 1st Branch Meeting, Ridgeside Brewery, Meanwood, 7.30pm.

Thurs 3rd Huddersfield Oktoberfest, The Sikh Centre, Spring Grove Street, Huddersfield, Thurs 3rd - Sat 5th.

Tues 29th Wethercrawl, Stick or Twist 8.00pm, Cuthbert Brodrick 9pm and Station Wetherspoons 10pm.

November 2013

September 2013 Tues 3rd Branch Meeting, Garden Gate, Hunslet, 7.30pm.

Tues 10th Pub of the Season presentation, East of Arcadia, Meanwood. 7.30pm.

Thurs 12th Leeds CAMRA Good Beer Guide Launch, Crowd of Favours, Leeds. 7.30pm.

Sun 15th Club of the Year presentation, Guiseley FWC. 1.30pm.

Sun 22nd Otley social, Old Cock 2pm, Otley Tavern 4pm and Junction 6pm.

Tue 5th Branch Meeting, Fox & Newt, Burley, 7:30pm.

Thank You for Having Us! Whitelocks on Briggate, Pack Horse at Woodhouse and Grove at Holbeck for hosting Branch meetings.

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..

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