Full Measure winter 2012

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Issue 122 | Winter 2012/13 | Free, please take one

www.newfullmeasure.org.uk

inside this issue: Collingham Ales

The latest hoppenings in North Leeds

Yeadon, Worth Valley and South Leeds Our valiant reporters go in search of beer

Briscoe’s of Otley We find out the brewery’s history

Desert Island Beers We send another victim to the Island

Magazine of the Leeds Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

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Welcome! elcome to issue number 122 of New Full Measure. We hope you’ll find some items of interest amongst our pages.

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Over the last two editions, we raised the issue of the e-petition in opposition to the beer duty escalator which imposes an annual increase in the duty on beer of inflation plus 2%.

We’re pleased to report that the target of 100,000 signatures was met, at which point Parliament was be obliged to debate this issue. This has now been done and considerable dissatisfaction was expressed on both sides of the House.

However, we will still need your help. CAMRA is organising a mass lobby of Parliament on December 12th. Even if you are unable to attend, you can still help by writing to your MP asking them to pressure the Chancellor of the Exchequer into scrapping this policy which is so damaging to our pubs industry and the people whose livelihoods depend on it.

Thanks to all the contributors to NFM, whether they have written articles, worked with research behind the scenes, assisted with distribution, or simply been quietly supportive. You all know who you are, it’s great for me to have so many new bodies on board, and this couldn’t have happened without you.

See you next time!

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 2012.

NFM Towers Address: Leeds CAMRA, PO Box 215, Calverley, Pudsey, LEEDS, LS28 0BQ. 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, or wrapped round a brick and thrown at a Branch Meeting. Contributions may be edited for reasons of space, and may be held over for future issues.

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News

Pub, Brewery and Festival News s in the last edition of NFM, we start with the Templar on Vicar Lane which is still subject to a compulsory purchase order and to planning applications. There are early signs are that developers are relaxing their stance towards the redevelopment of this building, and may be tolerant of it remaining as a valuable community pub. The profile of the pub

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way soon to check that it reaches the usual high standards. The things I'll do for the cause.

Next stop, beer festivals. We start with the sad news of the tragic death of Malcolm Kay. Regular festival-goers will have seen his stall at the major beer events around the country, selling T-shirts, badges and other breweriana. Our sympathies go to Yvonne and his family.

It's the quiet season for major festivals, with many people having other plans in December and into the New Year, but there are a couple we’d still like to flag.

National Winter Ales Festival, Manchester.

January 23rd to 26th.

Boston Spa. February 15th to 16th.

Bradford, Victoria Hall, Saltaire. February 28th to March 2nd.

has been raised by campaigning from within the branch and with support of the All Party Save the Pub Group. We’d like to thank Sam Parker for his efforts on this matter. Ridgeside Brewery's production of a special Templar ale might give you an excuse, if one were needed, to pop in and enjoy this fine pub with eight handpumps up and running.

The Gamecock in Bramley is closed, and the Hobby Horse, Little London is boarded up. On the positive side, Toast on Wellington Street is reported to be serving cask ale again after a break, and, on the same street, we’re told the Central has four wickets after its recent refurbishment.

Brewery news now and we're back to Ridgeside who have launched a MyrtAle on behalf of the Myrtle Tavern at Meanwood.

It’s not one that this correspondent has sampled yet as the official launch was on the day I was putting the finishing touches to this magazine, but I shall certainly be travelling out that

Finally, Leeds Beer, Cider & Perry Festival at Pudsey Civic Hall. March 14th to 16th.

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Warren Yabsley takes us a little off the beaten track.

South Leeds ‘Where have your wanderings taken you to this time?’ I hear you exclaim en mass. Does sarcasm come across in the written form? Well, to a number of places in the south of the Leeds district including East and West Ardsley, Middleton and Tingley, not traditionally known as real ale hotspots but somewhere I wanted to explore.

I’ll say now that information about buses is written in good faith as I didn’t catch any, though I did see a few, and the details were gathered from the bus operators’ and Metro websites plus through looking at the bus stop information boards. I’ve tried to make the pub order as bus friendly as possible and provide walk times based on pub pottering pace.

Starting in Middleton, on Helston Road, was Merlins (Arriva 481 then a 2-3 minute walk).

It’s set in a housing estate and isn’t the prettiest of pubs. I thought I’d give it a whirl, however, and was glad I did. Split over three distinct levels, it’s pleasant enough inside and the John Smith’s Cask I had was in excellent form. It was the solitary ale and wouldn’t be top of my list of favourites but quality speaks for itself. I gave it a high mark on the National Beer Scoring System (NBSS) and hope it’s always as good as this.

As an aside, I was intrigued by the number of

Cornish place names in this area having spotted roads named Bodmin something-or-other and Padstow Gardens. Maybe a fellow Cornishman had a hand in the naming?

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The Middleton Arms is no more so The Falconers Rest on Thorpe Lane was the next port of call (Arriva 481 outside or First 85 [limited daytime service] then a 5 minute walk).

Marston’s signage was outside so I thought Pedigree or something akin would be on offer but unfortunately both handpumps were bereft of ale in this one room venue, which has a strong blue theme for its decoration. At the time of writing according to the Marston’s website there was a vacancy for a licensee so who knows, ale might be part of their business plan.

First 85 also stops en route near Middleton Conservative Club, which serves Marston's Tetley Bitter according to their website. Unfortunately this was too far off my route so I wasn’t able to visit and confirm this.

The Nook was next (either Arriva 481 or First 85 to Thorpe then a 15-20 minute walk). Given its rural setting on Lingwell Gate Lane it’s easy to forget its proximity to both the M1 and M62.

Originally a multi-roomed pub, not too dissimilar to The Grove, Holbeck in terms of layout but without the room to the rear, the two smaller rooms have been incorporated into the area with the bar though the tap room is still intact.

Thankfully the ambience has been kept and I had a pleasant conversation with the locals. There was a wide range of pumpclips on the wall behind the bar but only Marston's Tetley Bitter was available. Both bus routes continue from Thorpe to the junction of Common Lane and

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Around and about in South Leeds Moor Knoll Lane where The Railway is found. An old stone brick building, the entrance leads you to doors for the small bar room to the left and lounge to the right with its homely traditional decoration and unusual zig-zag bar.

Unfortunately both wickets had their pumpclips turned around.

At the other end of Moor Knoll Lane with the junction of Main Street in East Ardsley is the imposing Bedford Arms where darts, dominoes and pool can be played. The bar room is traditionally styled but the lounge has been tastefully modernised and includes three large wooden barrels for tables complete with tall chairs.

Unfortunately, the handpumps are for decoration purposes only now. Both buses pass by and the same also applies to the following venue.

The Bay Horse (Bradford Road, A650) was next in East Ardsley; an attractive building with a few tables and plants outside and keen to promote its pub grub. The interior consists of one wide, low-ceilinged room with a long bar on the opposite wall from the entrance. It was a surprisingly hot day when I did my walk (no I haven’t gone mad, I visited just after the previous magazine was published at the start of autumn) and I was

looking forward to a refreshing pint of ale but my hopes were dashed, only keg bitter was available.

Just a few yards away are East Ardsley’s Conservative Club and General Working Mens’ Club – might there be ale at either? Sadly I didn’t have time to discover.

This is where you leave the 481 behind and catch Arriva 425 or continue with the 85. Both serve the cross-roads where Westerton Road starts and nearby, behind the Co-op, is East and West Ardsley Social Club. Another venue I had to skip; I did very well surveying the pubs but unfortunately was poor on the club front.

Along Westerton Road is The Smithy (425 outside, 85 to the junction of Eastleigh Drive then a 5 minute walk; additionally Arriva 117 from Leeds centre stops outside). This time the weather was somewhat worse (surely you didn’t think I did all this in one day?!), it was very foggy, which added to the image of the pub. It’s a red brick building with large windows; the Leodis website dates it from the late 1940s or early 1950s but it’s not the most appealing looking place. I’m glad I went in, however, as I received a warm welcome from the landlady and had an absolutely cracking pint of John Smith’s Cask; another very high mark on NBSS. Appearances can be very deceptive!

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Around and about in South Leeds - continued The British Oak is further along Westerton Road (425 outside). It was very pleasant inside and deserves to succeed (plus I want Neil J to keep smiling!). I had visited before and noted that Black Sheep Bitter had been replaced

by John Smith’s Cask on the central bar which serves the one large room.

From the end of Westerton Road it’s a 15 minute walk to The Hare and Hounds on Batley Road, West Ardsley or Arriva 153 drops you within one minute of the door; 117 continues from The Smithy to here. It’s a cosy venue with low, beamed ceilings in both the carpeted bar and lounge and there was a convivial atmosphere on my visit. Marston’s Tetley Bitter was available.

Given a choice of ales I wouldn’t have this brew anymore but I am glad to see the new pumpclips state that it is contract brewed for Carlsberg, Northampton implying that it is no longer brewed in Leeds though it does fall short of saying where it is brewed, Wolverhampton.

Both the 153 and 425 serve The Bulls Head on the crossroads with Dewsbury Road, A653. The pub has a bar and lounge that have separate entrances and no link between them. There was a friendly atmosphere in the lounge, which consists of a small bar area and two rooms, one large and one small. I settled in nicely to one of the leather-style settees in the bar area close to the fireplace and well stocked bookcase with my

Sam Smith’s Old Brewery Bitter but all too soon it was time to move on.

Between here and the infamous Tingley roundabout (so big there’s a road through its centre) The New Scarborough is no longer a pub and The White Bear alongside said roundabout is boarded up. Nearby is Tingley Working Mens’ Club (it’s a club so you know the story by now), which you can be dropped off outside if you take the 153.

This continues to Tingley Common, A650 where you will find The Village Hotel with its thriving Victory Pub and Kitchen on Capitol Boulevard (not to be confused with the very pro-ale one of the same name at the far end of Headingley).

The hotel itself is housed in a modern, sleek black building whilst a more traditional feel has been attempted in the ‘pub’ with some contemporary features, thus in effect creating a pleasant bar. Marston’s EPA and Pedigree were available; I tried a half of the latter and was pleased with the condition of it.

This was my final venue (at last!) for this area so to get back to Leeds centre you will need the 85 if you’re very early, or there are frequent buses from Tingley roundabout. A 15 minute walk or Arriva 427 or 153 will get you there.

If you’re not exhausted at reading this marathon piece or too confused by the buses why not visit these places and help keep them alive? Admittedly, the selection of ales isn’t the best but all were in very good form and there were a couple of real surprises along the way.

Many of these pubs are the types that are struggling to survive the most, so let’s try not to add any more to the ‘pub closed’ list.

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A Walk Aro un To Keighley: Bus: Transdev Keighley & District 760 (Monday - Saturday daytime half hourly, Sunday hourly.) Train: Monday Saturday daytime frequent, Sunday one per hour direct and one with a change at Shipley. From Keighley Bus Station Keighley & District 665, 717 or 720 to Oakworth - 6 per hour Monday - Saturday daytime (717 most direct and most frequent). Sunday 717 one per hour and 665 one per hour after 11.30am. light at the terminus on Windsor Road in Oakworth and walk back to the main road. Turn right and a walk of 50 yards brings you to the GOLDEN FLEECE. This whitewashed pub is beautifully maintained with a wine and cream colour scheme throughout, which encompasses the bench seats, buffets, carpets, walls and even the felt on the pool table. It is multi-roomed olde worlde, with much dark stained wood, beaten copper table tops, subtle wall lighting, ceramic jugs hanging from the ceiling and gas-fired heating. There is a separate games room with dartboard. The bar is of solid carved wood. A choice of two beers; Taylor’s Golden Best and Marston's Tetley Bitter.

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Turn left onto Bank Lane and immediately left onto an unmade stony lane, Grey Scar Road, then Turnshaw Road. Now we have a 30minute tranquil walk through open countryside, with fields and woods to left and right, and only a smattering of cattle and sheep for company.

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Out and about - Worth Valley

ro und The Worth Valley Towards the end of this rough track there is a stone war memorial, set into a wall, for six Canadian flyers who crashed at this spot during World War Two. Fittingly, it is bedecked with flowers. Five minutes later, at the end of this track we come to the GROUSE in Oldfield.

let me through his field, with instructions not to touch any bricks I came across as they marked his traps.)

War memorial

This is an isolated and remote Taylor's house, with unrestricted views of Haworth, Stanbury, and moors and reservoirs from the lounge and dining room.

There is a compact walkers' bar to the front, with functional wooden floor, and glowing iron stove to thaw chilled bones. Note the expansive mural that is a view from the rear of the pub. Also, several framed old Taylor's advertisements adorn the walls.

Beers on offer are all Taylor’s brews: Landlord, Boltmaker, Golden Best and Ram Tam. Take a look at the view from the rear first, then left from the pub and take a ten-minute walk along the Colne Road, which is relatively quiet, then take the marked footpath sign on the left.

Follow this enclosed path past a small reservoir to Oldfield School. Left here and right down a tarmac lane opposite the bus stop, crossing a wooden stile after a clutch of cottages. Take the steep, grassy descent, crossing a stream that has been on your right hand side. At the bottom, cross the River Worth by an open bridge next to a circular sheep enclosure and climb the bank to the left of a derelict mill. An equally steep rise up the other bank brings you to the village of Stanbury. (When you find the footpath, that is. I couldn’t but fortunately a friendly farmer

There are two pubs Derilict mill by River Worth to choose from in the centre of the cluster of houses and farms, with a third, the Old Silent Inn, a mile up the hill towards Ponden Mill and reservoir. Not being greedy I stuck to the two that were only 50 yards apart.

The first, the FRIENDLY, is a very old-fashioned, three-roomed pub, which has remained virtually untouched for many decades. A central bar is flanked by a very small lounge to the rear and equally small tap room at the front. Walls are cream painted throughout with wooden struts on the walls. Pictures and photographs of local characters and scenes decorate the walls.

The games room has a huge, open, stone fireplace.

This is very much a locals' pub where comfortable fadedness prevails. The three beers were: White Horse Village Idiot, Goose Eye Bitter and Black Moor.

Less than a minute and I am in the WUTHERING HEIGHTS, which has been welcoming folk since 1763, it claims. So it must have had another name originally as Wuthering Heights was not written until the 19th century. Back to the point, this is a well-furnished, multi-roomed house, with a comfortable lounge which is bisected by the bar. Seating throughout is bench seats and buffets, with a beautiful church pew near the bar.

It is richly carpeted throughout, with photographs of the village on the wall and brassware dangling from beams. There is a dining room with wrought iron and wood tables on the right and a games room with pool table to the rear.

On the bar were a Theakston’s bitter, Taylor’s Landlord and Naylor's Halloween.

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Worth Valley - continued Turn left from here and right on the Oxenhope road, crossing over the Lower Laithe reservoir.

Turn left onto a road marked ‘Bridle path to Cemetery Road.’ This tarmac track turns to grass and stone, with the moors on your right and views across Craven on your left. At the end of the bridle path continue down Cemetery Road, passing the well-locked, dark and eerie Haworth cemetery on your right and rejoin the main road to Haworth. Keep on the left hand side and in the midst of a row of terraced houses you find a sign and opening which leads to HAWORTH CRICKET CLUB. The sign said the bar was open, so I risked it. (Saturday afternoon it is open from about 12.30pm.)

At the rear of these houses, perched on the edge of a valley, sits Haworth cricket field, with its small, breeze-block clubhouse. It is a tiny, basic room with bare walls and concrete floor.

A home-made wooden bar, with single hand pump, served a very fine pint of Goose Eye Wonky Donkey. Furniture was of the unmatching chairs and buffet variety with wooden tables. Two TVs sat in the corner, one above the other, the upper showing rugby league, the lower football results. The dozen or so members of the club chatted to me like I was one of their own and came in every evening. Wonderfully warm, friendly and welcoming, and real ale at £2 a pint!!! No wonder they’re the Craven League champions.

Back onto the road and a couple of minutes later you reach the OLD SUN INN. This is an open-planned pub with lounge, dining room and games room with pool and darts all in separate areas and booths. It is comfortably furnished in a modern style, with paintwork of terracotta and cream, and flooring a mix of stone flags, wood and carpet. It had an extensive, good value menu. Three beers: Greene King I.P.A. Taylor's Landlord and Black Sheep Bitter.

From here go on into Main Street, Haworth village and the first pub is the KINGS ARMS. This is a nicely furnished old pub with plenty of wood.

The majority of the pub is set out for dining, with only a couple of bar stools by the bar for the drinker. Three beers were on offer: Caledonian

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The Friendly and landlord Flying Scotsman, Taylor's Landlord and a house beer, Kings Arms, brewed allegedly by Tetley's (presumably made by Marston's). I felt a bit shaken when I was charged £1.80 for half of Caledonian.

Just a few strides down the road is the BLACK BULL. This has a long open room, low-ceilinged, beamed and panelled, with ante-rooms to the left. It is an old well-cared-for inn, richly carpeted and decorated with a variety of ornaments on the shelves around the bar. Pictures of Haworth and the Brontes hang on the walls. There are fine views down the cobbled Main Street from the windows on the left of the pub Again three beers to choose from: Black Sheep Bitter, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and Hop Back Summer Lightning, the last only marginally cheaper than the last pub.

At the bottom of Main Street is HAWORTH OLD HALL and a majestic old hall it must have been.

The entrance comprises a stone arched porch with inset stone seats and huge, iron-covered, studded door. The interior matches the entrance, with bare imposing stone walls, stone columns and arches and a combination of wood and flagged floors. Wide open fireplaces house iron stoves. Seating, fortunately, is comfortable.

There is a truly medieval feel. This being a Marston's-owned pub, all six beers were from their own stable, four Jennings: Bitter, Sneck Lifter, Cumberland and Cocker Hoop, plus Marston's E.P.A. and Single Hop. There are other pubs in Haworth to try, a couple on Main Street and one by Haworth railway station.

R.I.P.

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As regular readers will know, we at Leeds CAMRA like to give out awards for excellence.

This quarter was no exception and we at NFM managed to obtain photos on each occasion. beer garden. What better way could there be than to spend an afternoon in the sun sipping Brown Cow Sessions? There were many diners in for their Saturday lunch. Please take note, if you’re travelling from afar, that the pub is not currently open on Sundays.

Firstly, in September, we visited the White Swan in the city centre for the Good Beer Guide 2013 launch night. Many of the best pub landlords in the Leeds district were able to attend and collect their Good Beer Guide licensee packs. Branch expert, Barrie Pepper, provided a breakdown of how many occasions each of the pubs had achieved this status, and it was certainly interesting reading. The presentations were made by Reverend Canon Tony Bundock, the Rector of the newly appointed Leeds Minster and a great time was had by all.

Also, whilst in this Leeds Brewery pub we were also able to present their head brewer, Venkatesh Iyer, with the award for his creation of a mystery mild which won Joint Mild of the Festival at Leeds CAMRA Beer, Cider and Perry Festival 2012. Sadly, with all the bodies around, our cameraman was briefly unsighted for this shot, so apologies to Venkatesh and we hope you’ll forgive us.

In October, a group of us travelled out to The Chequers Inn at Ledsham for the well-deserved presentation for Pub of the Season, Summer 2012. It’s always a pleasure to visit there and we were fortunate to have good weather for the day, enabling us to sit out in their wonderful

In November, during the interval of our branch meeting, we congregated by the bar at the Fox & Newt in Burley to hand them a special award for the Most Improved Pub. The pub has gone from strength to strength over the last couple of years, helped in no small part by the fact that the brewhouse in the cellar is up and running again. This means that there's a plentiful supply of their own Burley Street Brewhouse beers as well as guest ales from other breweries.

Congratulations to all who have featured this quarter, and we look forward to more presentations in the coming few months. We hope to report on those in the next edition of NFM.

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New Brewery Leeds is the place to be at the moment for new breweries popping up. Tony O'Brien tells us what's going on at the latest addition.

Collingham Ales at the Duke of Wellington in East Keswick and is also stocked at Scarcroft Golf Club and the Royal Oak in Wetherby. All the Leeds Brewery pubs, Stew and Oyster at Roundhay, Calls Landing, and the Old Cock and the Junction in Otley have all been great supporters of the beers.

Steve produces around six brews a month each of 10 firkins and currently the two beers available are:

Journeyman – a 3.9% best bitter brewed with Maris Otter and Munich malted barley together with Summit and Styrian Golding hops to give a full measure of maltiness and hoppy flavour.

Collingham Ales had been talked about in the Barrett family for years. It was a dream that became reality earlier this year when Steve retired from being Head Brewer at Samuel Smith Old Brewery.

The micro-brewery is based in the West Yorkshire village of Collingham, where Steve and Helen produce hand-crafted ale in their converted garage. The two beers were launched in late May and have enjoyed considerable success, with Artisan’s Choice being the beer of the month in Muse, Wetherby during the month of August. The same beer also came first in category at the York Beer Festival. Journeyman is a regular on the bar

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Artisan’s Choice – a 4.4% golden ale brewed with Maris Otter and Vienna malted barley together with Citra and Motueka hops to give a smooth-drinking golden ale with a pronounced fruity, citrus hop character.

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Rick Lamb takes us for a trip around his local district. Having read this, I think I shall take a trip out that way myself in the near future.

The Pubs Of Yeadon

s I live here, I thought it was time for a new look at Yeadon, as two pubs have re-opened after a period of closure, with a number of others having had major refurbishments. A good excuse to see what they offer in the way of real ale. This is a far from strenuous walk and downhill all the way.

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Yeadon is an unpretentious old mill town, where substantial Yorkshire sandstone mills and dye houses of varying sizes once proliferated on the slopes around the town (the remnants of some can still be seen on a walk around the hostelries of Yeadon). The old parts of the town, surrounding the High Street, are built of millstone grit, a particularly hard sandstone. The industry existed because of the natural springs which riddle the area. Even into the early 1980s thousands were still employed in the textile industry in the town which is also the home of Leeds/Bradford airport, a picturesque lake and parkland, Yeadon Tarn and a town hall which, when built, was hugely oversized for the town it served. You also can find the uniquely named street called Football, just Football, nothing else.

(Look for the painted black and white football on the gable end of the terrace on Harper Lane).

Buses from Leeds : Monday - Saturday daytime - First 33A Otley or Yeadon (4 per hour,) First 97 Guiseley (3 per hour). Evenings and Sundays -

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both services are hourly. Alight opposite White Swan (stop after the large fish restaurant).

The WHITE SWAN is a three-roomed hotel, with 5 letting rooms on the first floor, sitting next to Yeadon Cricket Club ground where the local Yeadon side defeated the touring Australians in the late nineteenth century. The pub re-opened earlier this year after a lengthy makeover. On entering there is a bar/lounge, subtly lit and comfortably furnished, with, at the rear, a dining/function room. The whole pub has been done in a modern, minimalist style with soft orange and white walls. Six beers to choose from: Black Sheep Bitter, Greene King Gangly Ghoul, Ossett Silver King, Thwaites Nutty Black, Moorhouse's Blonde Witch and Daleside Old Legover.

Turn right from the pub and head down the High Street for a quarter of a mile to the ALBERT, another pub with a recent refurbishment. The bar has been pushed back to make a larger, wooden-floored, basic drinking area, with high tables and chairs and more standing room.

On the left is the lounge with benches and furniture in a mix of fabric and leather upholstery.

It is carpeted throughout and has a tiled fireplace with iron stove. The games room, which was once a separate cottage, has a multicoloured wood block floor and is equipped for pool and darts. Note the large Leeds United tribute mural.

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This is a sports-mad pub with multiple TVs. To the rear is a covered courtyard. Again a choice of six beers: Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and Best Bitter, Black Sheep Golden Sheep and Progress, Marston's Tetley Bitter and John Smith's Bitter.

Turn right out of the pub and go up Cemetery Road for no more than 25 yards and you find the NEW INN. This is a tiny, traditional, cosy streetend local hostelry, the street being Worlds End and the only Worlds End in this country at the end of a Cemetery Road. The small, comfy lounge is more like a front room, with upholstered seating and solid wooden tables and is richly carpeted. In one corner is a stone fireplace complete with bellows and fire irons. Old photos of the town decorate the walls. The tap room is even smaller and is a basic darts and dominoes enclave. The whole place has a very homely feel.

The two beers were Timothy Taylor Landlord and Jennings Cumberland.

From here head left and cross the roundabout just below the Albert going past the Clothiers Arms (no real ale at present, but watch ‘Full Measure’ for developments in the near future).

Carry on down the main stretch of the High Street, passing Morrisons and within a few short strides you reach the AVIATOR. Formerly Yeadon Picture House (it is rumoured the screens and projectors are still housed upstairs), it is now a Smith & Jones establishment. This is a very large, open-planned pub and eatery, with a mixture of relaxing sofas, armchairs, chairs and buffets. Although open-planned there are a number of side booths for privacy. Greene King Morland Original was on sale, with Springhead

Bees Knees and Marston's Ringwood Lovey Warne almost ready for serving.

Left from here, cut across the cobbled square in front of the impressive Town Hall and the Methodist church, with its small green at the front, and turn into Ivegate opposite a pizza takeaway. On the left is the CROWN, another traditional two-roomed local. On entering you find the lounge with three distinct sections which were originally three separate rooms. Upholstery is a mix of leather and tartan plaid, with old solid tables on wrought iron legs, wooden spindlebacked chairs and buffets. There are two open fires with polished wood surrounds and collections of ceramic drinking vessels and brassware.

There are also many ceramic shire horses on the shelves. On the walls are pictures of the Yeadon High Street of yesteryear. There is a comfortable upper tap room behind the bar with separate booths. Darts is played in here. There are pictures of racehorses and old Second World War aircraft and an impressive trophy cabinet.

Outside is a well-furnished covered courtyard for alfresco drinking, talking of which, the beers were Copper Dragon Golden Pippin, Ilkley Black, Cross Bay Sunset and Marston's Tetley Bitter.

Left from the Crown, cross the road and directly in front of you and not 50 yards away, is the TARN, a basic one-roomed inn with a bar dividing a small lounge at one end from the games/pool room at the other. It has a fine collection of pump clips dangling from fork handles around the bar and lounge. Live music on Fridays. Three beers: Timothy Taylor’s Havercake, Greene King Old Speckled Hen and Partners Shoddy Porter.

Continued overleaf 17

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A warm welcome from Neil and Maureen from The Junction

y Merrm t as Chtroiasll ours,

mer custond new! old a

We supply an ever changing variety of real ales mainly sourced from local Breweries and award winning beers from Ridgeside Brewery served permanently from the wood. Served through 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 Opening times Monday to Thursday 2pm until 11.30pm.

Friday to Sunday 12noon until late.

Contact us by telephone on: 01977 278867 Postcode: WF10 1EE

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Out and about - continued

Turn left out of the Tarn and head downhill, past a couple of blocks of small flats. On the right note a couple of cream-washed cottages, which until last year was the Oddfellows. Around the corner is the TUT ’N’ SHIVE, refurbished last year after being closed for a number of months. It has very modern variously-coloured décor throughout and a style which I can’t put my finger on. The main lounge, comfortable and well furnished, is sub-divided with large-screen TVs for sporting events. A smaller separate lounge has a couple of individual booths with their own personal builtin TVs. There is a pool room on an upper level.

Meals are served lunchtimes. Outside is a cobbled beer garden. A choice of three beers: Moorhouse’s Pride of Pendle, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin and Saltaire Blonde.

There is a choice of routes to our next pub.

Uphill back to the Tarn, the only uphill stretch if you choose to go this way, then right down Henshaw Lane, or sharp left out of the Tut and down an access road which passes a long row of garages. After these go through a narrow, fence enclosed ginnel and into a small housing estate.

Follow this road to the end and turn right.

Alternatively, pass the first set of garages and take the rough path in front of a small mill (Old Dog Mills, scene of a very violent industrial dispute almost a century ago, when a number of the striking textile workers were sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour) passing a pond, continuing alongside a beck, past a second pond until you reach the road aforementioned. Turn right and right again into Henshaw Lane. Fifty yards on the left is the STATION.

The demolished bridge you have passed just before the pub carried the branch line from Guiseley to Yeadon and is where the pub derives its name. The station itself was at the top of the embankment behind the pub. It was just a goods line, although it did have one passenger service a year. The half-timbered Station is traditional and has a brightly-painted, comfortable lounge, with upholstered bench seats and furniture. A small pool room is on the left. A choice of four beers: Kelham Island Pale Rider, Leeds Pale, Wells & Young’s Bitter and Marston's Tetley Bitter.

Continue down Henshaw Lane for fifty yards and turn right at a motor spares shop before the road reaches the A65. Here you find our final watering hole, the WOOLPACK, which has also just been refurbished. It is open-planned and modern, the flooring being a mixture of wood, stone flags and carpet. Three distinct sections, with the use of glass panels, give a light and airy feel. Pictures of old Yeadon decorate the walls.

Meals are served lunchtime. A large, very floral, enclosed beer garden is to the front. Beers are Jennings Cumberland and Marston's Tetley Bitter.

From the Woolpack turn left to the end of Henshaw Lane. Buses to Leeds (First 33) are half hourly Monday - Saturday daytime, hourly evenings and Sundays.

Well, it has surprised me! 27 different beers to choose from on one night in Yeadon and better yet to come. I think I might have another wander around next week.

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The Regent Three permanent ales: Leeds Pale, Tetley Bitter and WharfeBank Tether Blonde plus a rotating Guest Ale. Sky sports and ESPN 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-11pm Fri-Sat 12noon-midnight, Sun 11am -10.30pm 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

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Leeds Beer Festival

Leeds Beer Festival 2013 March will soon be upon us, and the festival planning committee is already preparing for the Leeds CAMRA Beer, Cider and Perry Festival 2013. nce a year Leeds CAMRA organises an event which brings together drinkers from all over Leeds, many parts of Yorkshire and a good few other places too. That event is the Leeds CAMRA Beer, Cider and Perry Festival. This coming Spring, the Beer Festival will take place from Thursday 14th to Saturday 16th March.

Opening times and admission prices are shown below, but first a few details about the festival.

O

The number of beers we will have on offer may vary from session to session but, this time around, we're planning on supplying over 200 cask ales! As you would expect from such a large number there will be plenty of different styles, something for everyone you could say. So whether you want a fruity mild, a refreshing blond beer, a classic bitter, a rich stout, a warming strong ale or just something plain weird we will have it all. Many beers will be one-offs so arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Perhaps beer is not your thing, then could we tempt you with a cider? Traditional cider and perry are continuing their renaissance so we will be aiming to have a selection which just can’t be beaten. At this stage, we can't go into too much detail, but we're certain that the ordering team will do their usual, excellent job.

You want bottled beers from all over the globe?

Yes, we will have those too. You can expect bottles from all the major beer producing nations as well as a few which you may not expect.

What else do we have up our sleeves? Well there will be music at all evening sessions with local musicians, hot and cold food, a snack emporium and stalls offering all sorts of beery stuff and nonsense. Did we mention the theme?

No we didn’t, it’s The Top 20, to celebrate our twentieth festival at Pudsey Civic Hall. Here’s where you can help, we are looking for what people think are the best accompaniments to go

with beer. So whether it is a crunchy pork snack, a specific flavour of crisp, a type of music or even another beer then please let us know. We are hoping to compile a Top 20 of your suggestions, simply tell us what you enjoy most with a beer, whatever it may be. The world is your oyster, now there’s an idea, a rich velvety stout with fresh Whitstable Bay Oysters. Send your ideas, clearly marked as “Top 20” to editor@newfullmeasure.org.uk or to the postal address on page three of this magazine.

See you in March at Pudsey Civic Hall LS28 5TA, just up the road from New Pudsey railway station. Further details will be available nearer the time.

Opening Times Thursday 14th March 11am - 3pm & 5pm - 11pm Friday 15th March 11am - 3pm & 5pm - 11pm Saturday 16th March 11am - 4pm & 6pm - 11pm CAMRA members can gain admission 15 mins earlier at all sessions

Admission Prices Thursday am session FREE; pm session £4.00, FREE to NUS members Friday am session FREE; pm session £5.00 Saturday am session £4.00; pm session £3.00 CAMRA members FREE at all times (except Friday evening, £3.00)

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Recipe Corner We at NFM Towers know that our humble magazine gets around the country a bit. Obviously the true Yorkshire folk out there can make a Yorkie pud blindfolded, but for the benefit of those reading from afar, and any southerners or Lancastrians who have seen the light and moved to this great county, chef Tony Coltman takes you through the basics.

Recipe Corner his is the best Yorkshire pudding recipe going, bar none, It’s also the easiest!

Equal quantities of eggs, milk and plain flour by volume. That’s it. (Oh ok, a small pinch of seasoning is allowed as well).

T

Pre-heat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (400 degrees Fahrenheit or gas mark 6).

Pick your favourite teacup, mug or, as I have on occasion, bucket. Break your eggs into it until you reach the top and pour into your mixing bowl. Do the same with your milk and give them a good beating. Rinse and dry the cup/mug and measure the flour the same way, add it in and give it a vigorous beating. I then leave this to come to room temperature.

For the tins, stick them in the oven for ten minutes before you start, give each compartment a good glug of oil, half an inch at least, and return to the oven until the pan is smoking. Now is the time to work quickly. Deep fill your tray with the batter. If you have enough oil and it’s properly heated, you’ll see the oil and batter react to each other and you'll get oil on top of the batter. This helps you get the dip in the middle. You need to fill all your trays before they cool down.

Get them into the oven and walk away. Leave them to cook. Peeking, opening the door or messing about with the tray will all lead to

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pancake-like failure. Leave them for at least 15 minutes, 20 if you can wait that long. Your Yorkies will look done before then but you need to give them time to dry. If you take them out too soon they’ll look great for about 5 minutes then will wilt and go soggy! Pull them when they are even-coloured, crisp to the touch and lift from their trays easily.

If you’re not going to wolf those bad-boys down straight away, leave them somewhere warm but don't cover them.

And don’t reheat them. Frozen supermarket puds, my left buttock!

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

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CONFESSIONS OF A BEER MAT COLLECTOR Keith Sunderland finds an excuse to go out for a pint. He shares a few things with NFM readers. admit that I am one of those strange people who collect beer mats. There is a name for people like me (besides sad b…..), and that is “tegestologist.” The name is derived from the Latin for a mat, but really the word relates to a floor-mat e.g., a rug. Thus I should really collect small carpets, and associated soft furnishings, and visit IKEA. Thankfully I collect beer mats, and therefore have an added reason to visit pubs.

I

The idea of drip mats dates back to the 19th century, but the idea of putting adverts on them probably didn’t occur until around the early 1900s. Beer mats is the term for drip mats advertising a brewer or a beer/lager, and whilst most collectors stick with these some collect such as cider or whisky or just anything they can find.

The mats themselves can be made from paper (flimsies), wood pulp (usual substance), bleached board, cork, thin card, plastic, rubber or pliadek, the last being named after the Baildon firm specialising in the method of attaching hairs to rubber by electrolysis. (Think of the red or purple flock wallpaper in Tetley’s pubs in the 1960s and 70s).

The earliest surviving “beer mat” dates to 1922 from Watney Combe Reid (London) the subsequent brewer of the infamous 1960s Red Barrel.

Most early mats were printed abroad (generally Belgium), and were fairly thick and solid, much as Belgian produced mats are today. UK printers after the Second World War tended to use thinner mats.

I collect only UK/Irish mats including exports (mats designated for use abroad to support an exported product), and have around 23,000 including 80 from before the Second World War.

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The oldest of these is by Chas Rose (Malton), and dates from 1929.

I am a member of the British Beer Mat Collectors Society, and this provides catalogues of all known mats plus a vehicle for meetings and swaps. Most members are also in CAMRA, and therefore visiting real ale pubs is very much on the agenda. Part of the appeal is being aware of the history of UK brewers, and the beers they sell, through the collection of mats across the ages. Also it provides information about current brewers and beers long before their beers arrive locally.

Sometimes beers survive mergers of breweries, and are rebadged under new brands. Jubilee Stout was issued in the 1930s by Carter Milner & Bird of Sheffield. Their Hope Brewery was merged with Henry Tomlinson’s Anchor Brewery to form Hope & Anchor in 1942, and mats emerged rebranding the Stout. Charrington eventually took over H & A in the 1960s, and more rebranding took place.

Lager drinking in this country is not a new phenomenon, and Arrols of Alloa issued mats in the 1930s for Grahams Lager. This didn’t really take off as the public perception was that lagers should be either Scandinavian or German. Thus the name changed to Grahams Skol Lager, and subsequently just Skol. Again beer mats over the years charted the gradual change.

Sometimes beer mats are issued with a particular gimmick to catch the public's attention. In 1939 Wm Younger (Edinburgh) issued some mats containing sand in a transparent area within a picture of a glass of beer. When tilted the sand made the glass appear to empty or fill. I have seen

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tegestology one of these, but don’t possess any of them.

In 1963 Greenall Whitley (Warrington) issued mats with a type of hologram attached. When tilted the hologram showed either their logo or a glass of beer. Mats have been issued with subliminal messages which only appear when chilled or with scratch off portions for prizes.

Series exist with vintage cars and birds of prey amongst others, and some series fit together like a jigsaw. Trough Brewery (Idle) issued a series of jigsaw mats in 1983 which when fitted together showed black and white photos of some of their pubs. Cumbrian Legendary Ales of Hawkshead also brought out a jigsaw-style set of mats.

Dark Star (Brighton) recently issued a set of 30 mats with a common front consisting of the brewery details and intertwined hops. The reverse carries a small portion of the picture on the front, and thus all 30 are needed to complete a larger version of the front.

The world's largest and smallest beer mats are both

by Yorkshire breweries (naturally). The smallest is from the old Steampacket Brewery in Knottingley, and at 18mm is less than the size of a postage stamp. The largest is over a yard long, and nearly as high, and comes from Theakston's (Masham). I am fortunate enough to have copies of both although the latter took some getting home.

Part of the appeal is in it being a bit like a treasure hunt where you set off to a certain area looking for a particular mat known to exist. Some mats have been more challenging than others, and when Tetley's issued their several Rugby League series in recent times I had to attend several matches in order to get into the drinks area inside the grounds. At St Helens there was no match, and the ground was closed, but I man-

aged to bribe a cleaner on a cigarette break and she searched the bar area whilst I waited outside. I have also blagged my way in to private members-only clubs upon spotting a mat through the window.

Black Sheep (Masham) issued a series of “scratch off to reveal prize” mats in 2009. There were five prizes plus the losing mat, obviously the most common. I managed to obtain all six mats, but couldn’t claim any of the prizes as that would have meant surrendering the beer mats.

Fortunately the top prize was only a T-shirt so the decision was not as difficult as if it had been a Ferrari.

It is a social thing as well as a collecting thing, and members meet at beer festivals, go on pub crawls, and correspond with news as well as swaps. Basically it is just an extra dimension to simply going out for a pint, but one that can give extra satisfaction especially if you discover an extremely rare mat.

Details of the BBCS can be seen online under www.britishbeermats.co.uk

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Briscoe’s

Briscoe’s Brewery Nigel Halton took a trip to Otley where he found out a lot about Briscoe’s brewery. n his student days Dr Paul Briscoe took an early interest in making his own drinks by producing cider from cartons of apple juice and making alcoholic lemonade which tasted like martini and bitter lemon. Paul started brewing beer for himself with supermarket homebrew kits before moving on to using malt extract with added crystal malt then progressing to a full grain mash with yeast from bottles of Guinness.

I

Commercial brewing started in November 1998 with modifications from a homebrew kit. The boiler was a plastic bucket with kettle elements and a watering can was used for sparging!

Brewing took place once or twice a week and his first beer was called Chevin Chaser using Bramling Cross hops and late hopping with Styrian Goldings. The second beer, Three Peaks, followed with the same combination of hops. They were named after his passion for fell running.

During 2000 he set up the microbrewery in a two-storey outbuilding which was behind the Bowling Green pub in Otley. It was a 2.5 barrel brew length and three beers were regularly brewed, Burnsall Classic, Dalebottom Dark and Strid Straddlers. There were usually one or two of these beers on the bar of the pub.

Two years later a serious arm injury (whilst running!) prevented further brewing at the pub so Paul went back to using his home kit to supply beer for the Bowling Green. Soon afterwards the pub was sold to Wetherspoons. He could not find a local outlet in Otley and his son was born so he took time out from the trade and waited for the right opportunity to brew again.

This was the opening of the Old Cock pub in Otley in September 2010. They were keen to sell his beer and he also managed to get the Hunters Inn and the Kings Arms at Heaton as regular outlets. Lately the Horse and Farrier in Otley also

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stock a Briscoe’s ale. The management at the Bowling Green showed interest in stocking his beer but but agreement could not be reached to supply at that point in time.

When he re-started brewing the demand was for premium strength beers at 4 to 4.5%. These days he gets more interest for the lower strength mild and pale ales, at 3.8 to 4.1%. Currently Chevin Light is a good seller; this is a weaker version of Chevin Chaser. He has found that he can achieve a better consistency of his beers using a mix of dried yeasts; they are now in the whole range. Every beer is allowed two weeks' conditioning and they are almost clear when they go into the cask, giving a better shelf life. He uses an Aurora hop in several of the beers and discovered a Pacifica hop from New Zealand which is used in Pacifica Pale Ale. November and December events in Otley will see the Victorian Velvet, a new mild and Lighter Shade of Pale available.

The Reliance Bar & Dining Room

Fine Food & Fine Ales 17 different ales and lagers from the British Isles and Europe.

Guest British Micro brewery ales changing weekly.

Open for lunch & supper 7 days a week

76-78 North Street, Leeds LS2 7PN

0113 295 6060 www.the-reliance.co.uk

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Desert Island Beers

Desert Island Beers Being stranded on a desert island would surely be a dreadful experience. One of Leeds beer festival's bar managers, and long standing branch committee member, Dave Ansley, makes it more tolerable (or maybe even pleasant) by choosing eight beers to take with him. am going to start with a beer from the other end of the country, Trelawny brewed by St Austell in Cornwall. I recently stayed at a fantastic St Austell pub called the Castle Inn in the small village of Lydford in Devon and even though they had a full range of the brewery's beers I ended up drinking this all night as it was such a well-balanced, quaffable ale.

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Next to the South East of England and Harveys’ Sussex Mild, only 3.0% abv, but dark and malty, and available in Harveys’ pubs across Sussex and beyond, but where I have drunk it the most is at the Royal Oak on Tabard Street in London, one of the finest pubs in the capital.

The next four beers are also milds. Mild is a hugely underrated style of beer, but one that I love and would recommend everyone to give it a try. There are also various regional variations of mild and my next choice is one from the West Midlands, Black Country Mild from Holden's Brewery. This is a chestnut red mild, easy to drink and packed with flavour. One of the best places to drink it is the Great Western tucked away next to railway arches below Wolverhampton station.

We are getting closer back to Yorkshire now, but I am afraid my next two beers are from the wrong side of the Pennines! Both are dark milds, but I could not choose between them so decided to have both. Firstly, Black Cat brewed by Moorhouse's Brewery in Burnley. This is a great session beer and on visiting the Grove Inn in Leeds, where it is a permanent beer, it will always be my first beer and quite often the beer I drink all night.

My second Lancashire beer is Nutty Black from Thwaites in Blackburn. This can be found in the

Manor House in Otley, which is one of Otley's great community pubs and is a good setting for this dark ruby mild which is packed with taste even though it is only 3.3% abv.

The last of the milds finally brings us home to Yorkshire and to Golden Best from the iconic Timothy Taylor Brewery of Keighley. This is probably the best example of a light Pennine-style mild available and like all of my choices is a beer I could happily drink all day. It can be found in many of Timothy Taylor's pubs across the West Riding.

I now need some more variety to my range of beers so my next choice is something light and hoppy, Curious from Magic Rock Brewery in Huddersfield. I discovered this beer at last year’s Otley Beer Festival and ended up going back for more. I have found it a few times since on as a guest ale in places such as Mr Foley's Cask Ale House in Leeds city centre and it is a very drinkable beer with a great citrus hop flavour.

If I had been writing this a few years ago my final choice would have been Tetley Bitter, preferably drunk in the Whip, tucked down an alley in Leeds city centre and an uncompromising drinkers’ pub.

Sadly production of Tetley's has now been shipped off to Wolverhampton and the Whip has been converted into a soulless modern bar with no real ale.

However, my final choice is still a bitter from Yorkshire and a worthy successor, WharfeBank Brewery's Best Bitter. My favourite place to drink this is at Otley Rugby Club; for me there is not a much better way to spend a winter Saturday afternoon than drinking proper Yorkshire beer whilst watching proper Yorkshire rugby at a proper Yorkshire rugby club!

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Leeds CAMRA Members' Noticeboard Do you know of anywhere that offers discounts for CAMRA members?

We at NFM Towers have been asked to compile a list of all pubs or clubs within the Leeds district which offer a permanent discount to CAMRA members with a view to promoting both the business and the Campaign for Real Ale. So far, we understand that the following businesses are operating a “pub discount scheme”:-

Brown Cow, Whitkirk • Eldon, Woodhouse• Hop, City Centre • Owl, Rodley • Victory Bar, Village Hotel, Headingley • Tyke Bar, City Centre, subject to membership, which is free If you know of other venues which we can confirm offer such a discount, or if you believe we have made an error with the ones we have named, please e-mail us at editor@newfullmeasure.org.uk or use the postal address on page 3 of this newsletter.

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

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diary dates

Appointment with Beer January 2013 Tue 8th Branch Meeting. Pack Horse, Woodhouse. 7:30pm.

Thu 10th Beer Festival Preparation (Stuffing) Social. Grove, Holbeck. 8:00pm.

Mon 14th Thousandth different beer celebration.

Old Cock, Otley from 7:00pm Sat 26th Pudsey Social. Commercial, Chapeltown from 2pm. Fleece, Fartown from 4pm. 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 aiming to finish at approximately 9:30pm.

February 2013 Tue 5th Branch Meeting. Venue to be arranged.

7:30pm.

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.

Thank You for Having Us!

L

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

December 2012 Sat 1st Wetherby Social. Windmill, Main Street, Linton then Muse, Bank Street, Wetherby from 4:30pm. Meet on X99 bus from Infirmary Street departing at 13:40.

Tue 4th Branch Meeting. Whitelocks, City Centre. 7:30pm.

Fri 14th Branch Christmas Party. Guiseley Factory Workers Club. 7:30pm.

Thu 27th Get the Turkey out of your System Social. Grove, Holbeck. 7:30pm.

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Fox & Newt at Burley, Garden Gate at Hunslet and Ridgeside Brewery at Meanwood for hosting Branch meetings.

Don’t be a Wazzock!

Dont 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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