E F RE No.177
Summer 2016
Summer is here but winter is coming! The National Winter Ales Festival comes to Norfolk. Read more on page 3
Pub of the Year Awards Find out the winners on pages 20 and 21
Ten Years and a Thousand Brews Humpty Dumpty reach a brewing milestone. See page 19 Magazine of the Norfolk Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale
Norfolk Nips |
In this issue: Winter is coming
3-5
Stig’s Words
6
The Ed’lines
7
Pub and Brewery News Around Breweries Revitalisation Project
8-10 12-13 15
Beer Festival Logo Competition 17 Ten years and 1000 brews
Winter is Coming! Many of you I am sure shared in my joy when London 2012 was successful with the bid to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. While the bid to win the right to host the National Winter Ales Festival in Norwich did not take the same five year time span, nor the same budget, there is a great excitement growing.
So, what might you expect? The venue will be the iconic complex of St Andrews and Blackfriars Halls in Norwich, home of the already successful annual Norwich Beer Festival. That could be where the similarity with the traditional Norwich Beer Festival ends as we will not be replicating our October event.
We now know that we, Norwich, will host this national CAMRA festival for the next three years from February 2017!
The Norwich based NWAF will be the home of the final of the Champion Winter Beer of Britain (won this year in Derby by the excellent Chocolate Marble from Marble Brewery in Manchester). The beers that make the final only get there after over a year of local tasting panels and regional heats leading up to the finals, assuring some great beers are in the final line up.
The important dates for you then are Tuesday 21st to Saturday 25th February 2017 when we will host this event, plus of course a few days either side where we will need volunteers to help with set up and take down, a key element in any beer festival!
19
Pub of The Year Awards
20-21
Who’s Brewing
22-25
Bird’s Eye View
27
Cider Matters
29
West Norfolk Club of the Year
31
Awards Evening
32-35
Northern Soul comes east
36-37
Pub Names
38
The Great and the Good
40-41
Mike Tilbury
43
LocAle Update
45
From the Archives
49
Discount Scheme
51
Beer Festival Diary
52
Steve’s Words
58
Saving Pubs and Beer Quality
59
Dates for your Diary
61
Contact Details
62
Continued Overleaf Summer 2016 | 3
Norfolk Nips | National Winter Beer Festival comes to Norwich The fact that this competition final will be hosted in Norwich will mean that you will have access to some of the very best beers available in Britain at our “Champions Beer Bar”. In fact not only the finalists, but also a great range of the best beers from regions around the UK that just missed out getting to the final. To compliment our “Champion Beer Bar” we envisage getting some of the best real ale available in February from Norfolk brewers to also grace the bar! Add to that many more real ales from around the UK in our St Andrews hall, some of the best world beers and a few ciders, we feel the choice will be pretty memorable and there should be something for everybody. After all, we have been set high standards by past host cities, including recent hosts Derby from where I happily accepted the baton to host NWAF on behalf of Norwich back in February at the Roundhouse in Derby.
As a branch we recognize that without our pubs and brewers there would be no CAMRA and no beer festivals. We are looking at how we will be engaging and bringing these valuable assets into the beer festival to help make the entire experience of visiting Norwich for NWAF is something special. While all the detail for the event week has not yet been finalized, we hope you will see some special NWAF based things going on in selected Norwich pubs. This is to help you enjoy the festival over a bigger footprint but also realize how great it is to actually get down the pub! We are of course on the lookout for sponsors, brewery bars, caterers, entertainers and many other partners / helpers to work with us so if you know of or are interested in any aspect where that is concerned, then please do get in touch with us.
Rob Whitmore The planning process has clearly been underway now for some months. It’s great that there is a strong and talented team of volunteers working behind the scenes, making good use of the experience of volunteering at Norwich and other festivals, to help make NWAF a great experience for you. We would love to see you there as a customer or as a volunteer.
Organiser NWAF 2017 Norwich Email: NWAF@camra.org.uk
You will be able to volunteer via the NWAF website (www.nwaf.org.uk) where a volunteer staffing form will be available for you to complete. This will allow you to volunteer to help at the festival. We really do count on your support and you will be made very welcome if you do volunteer. Its a great way to meet up with old friends and meet new ones as well! Keep an eye on NWAF website and the facebook page for more information on volunteering and I will also make information available on the website and facebook pages of our Norwich and Norfolk Branch and of course here in Norfolk Nips and Cask Force as well. Feel free to contact us via email before that all gets up and running of course.
Summer Winter 2016 2015 | 5
Stig’s Words So around comes summer again, unfortunately by the time you read this memories of the shortest summer on record from 5th to 8th May will be fading! First I’d like to congratulate the BBC for their One Show dedicated to the loss of British pubs. A full show was taken up by the subject; it was a balanced and informative treatment and will have reached a far more general audience than CAMRA magazines ever can, well done!
“If these changes occur, I for one will be parting company with CAMRA, which would be a shame after 26 years. Would that constitute ‘Stigsit’?” CAMRA itself is currently canvassing members about its own future, with some of the more radical ideas changing it beyond recognition, including accepting all types of beer production, which it seems to me would make us part of the problem and merely an industry support body rather than the independent consumer pressure group we are supposed to be, this is my opinion (as this is my Column). If these changes occur, I for one will be parting company with CAMRA, which would be a shame after 26 years. Would that constitute “Stigsit”? How about a new acronym; Society for English Licensed Local Outlets Using Taps! I’m sure wise decisions will be arrived at in due course. Enough of my worries, it hasn’t happened yet, on with this issue. Plenty of news of awards for Norfolk pubs forthcoming events and festivals, musings from Jeff and Beer Bird returns with thoughts on attitudes 6 | Summer 2016
to women in pubs in the last century. I’ve also had a nice funny pub sign (toilet in this case) photo sent in, have you got more? If you have (preferably from Norfolk), send them in and maybe we’ll come up with a prize for the best one. This is the time when pubs are at their busiest so if you want to help give an impression of their beer quality and are a CAMRA member, don’t forget you can score them online. Congratulations to the Railway Arms in Downham Market for winning the Norfolk cider pub of the year 2016 on to the regional and then hopefully national competitions. Finally many thanks to all those who contribute the time and effort to make Nips happen each time, we’ve always got room for more stories and thoughts from local members, so please don’t hesitate to send them in!
Norfolk Nips | From the Editors
The Ed’lines Is this the end or the beginning? I'm not talking about the approaching summer days but the future of CAMRA. After 45 years the largest consumer organisation in Europe is now embarking on a Revitalisation Project and seeking the views of all our 178000 members. The media have said it is the end of the Campaign as we have saved Real Ale, but it is my view it is now time to refocus our direction. The Pubs are still closing at an alarming rate and the recent rise of keg/craft beers has to be considered. So please participate and have your say. I already have. Our Branch has a new Chairman, Ian Stamp and I would like to wish him all the best for the exciting times ahead. It was good to see new members joining the Committee and I know they will enjoy the experience of working for the Campaign. I recently attended the Members Weekend and AGM in Liverpool which was so unlike any other I had been to previously. The proxy votes for the AGM outvoted everyone who attended even before we had debated the issues. I'm all for democracy and engaging our members but it was a farce. The National Executive must get it right next time or it might be the end. At least the local Pubs were a good compensation. Our Branch Pub of the Year was the Fat Cat Brewery Tap and I wish them well in the next round of voting. Our Rural Pub was The White Horse, Neatishead and well worth a visit. Due to unforeseen circumstances the article on keg/craft beers in the City has not been included this time. However now with the arrival of Brewdog it shows we should investigate and research this popular drinking culture which some see as a direct attack on Real Ale. Sounds interesting. Our Beer Festival Charity this year is BUILD. A local charity and there will be further details next time. Please try and visit all the summer beer festivals and especially the Norwich City of Ale. Even though other cities have tried to chal-
lenge us it is still my opinion ours is the best in the country. Increasing city borders will not help them as its pubs and local beers that count. As mentioned previously the National Winter Ales Festival is coming to Norwich next year and our local organiser Rob Whitmore has given an update. If you are interested in helping then why not volunteer at the Norwich Beer Festival in October and find out what might be involved. We had a Beer & Brewery Awards evening at the Norwich Cathedral, Hostry which was an excellent way of rewarding the local and national brewers. It was such a success I understand the intention is to make it an annual event. Finally, we have been working on improvements to the Norfolk Nips & Cask Force distribution. If you are a pub that is missing deliveries please let us know. Also we are looking for more volunteers to help with the deliveries so we can cover the whole of Norfolk. Please contact Adam or Ros as they seem to know what is going on rather than me. Now time for a beer. Graham Freeman
Subscriptions We have a growing number of postal subscribers to Norfolk Nips and Cask Force, and I would like to send my thanks for the kind comments and best wishes from those who have renewed their subscriptions recently. If you would like to join them in receiving the next 4 issues by post, send 10 first class stamps or ÂŁ6.50 cheque payable to West Norfolk CAMRA, 91 Tennyson Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5NG. The magazine is also viewable online at issuu.com
Summer 2016 | 7
Pub and Brewery News | Norfolk Nips
Pub and Brewery News News from Norwich & Norfolk Most of the news this quarter is from Norwich, some from contacts but mostly first hand as I live in the city! If you have any news of pubs, in the city or especially in the county, please let me know at pubs@norwichcamra.org.uk! But firstly I should add a brief note to my paragraph in the last edition regarding the Artichoke at Broome, and say that of course Nikki has also retired, not just John. All the best to both of you, and thank you for your hard work over the years! The Owl Sanctuary which closed in January and was the subject of a massive online campaign and an ACV nomination had found a new home on Timberhill. However, two other pubs have closed. The Robin Hood, Mousehold St (now available to let with a private landlord, and the subject of an ACV nomination from Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA) and the Surrey Tavern in Surrey St. Let's hope all are both re-let soon. The Pig & Whistle in Westlegate has been reopened by Claire Brookes from the Walnut Tree Shades and serving food daily as well as cask ales. Pool Table and Darts available in the bar. 8 | Summer 2016
Also in the city centre the Wildman in Bedford St closed briefly, but has now reopened under Lou Wilding, and the Woolie, Muspole St reopened briefly as the Old Woolpack, but is now closed again.
The Three Boars at Spooner Row near Wymondham has been bought by Russell Evans of Bullards Brewery and several pubs in Norwich, and reopened in mid-April.
But probably the biggest news in the city is that Brewdog have finally opened their Norwich bar, in Queen St on the site of the old Hogshead. Whatever you think of them, this is undoubtedly another feather in Norwich's cap. Personally I think they brew some great beers, and just wish that some of them at least were available in cask. I haven't had a chance to visit yet, but the photos I've seen of the renovation look as though they've done a great job, and I look forward to visiting soon. And just to prove we're not a lot of twiggy brown beer drinkers, a quote from one of my regular sources of Norfolk pub news and photos: “Ian, you need to flag Brewdog as open on WhatPub. Tried it on Monday. The wife and I played havoc with the average age of the clientele, but I did have a fantastic beer. A 7.2% saison with a dozen strains of brettanomyces and aged in white wine barrels”!
Fat Cat Inns have just purchased the Perseverance pub, down the round from the Fat Cat in Norwich. Will Keatley tells us it’s to be renamed The Fat Percy and will be a function venue available to hire for parties. Please check www.fatpercy.co.uk for more details.
Outside the city, the Carpenters Arms, Wighton has been closed since late last year, but I hear the Gallon Pot, on the Market Square in Yarmouth, reopened last December.
A recent visit to the Garden House, Pembroke Rd, revealed that the new landlords have added another handpump, making six in total, and a much more adventurous beer range. And not far away another Golden Triangle pub, the Mad Moose has been sold by Animal Inns, and as of the end of May become the Warwick St Social. The Ugly Bug Inn at Colton has discontinued the offer of a discount for CAMRA members, but now offers all real ales at £2.80 per pint to all customers. On the other hand we have an addition to the list of discounts on page 51, as the Rosebery, on Rosebery Rd, Norwich are offering a selection of beers all at £2.50 on Monday nights, on production of a valid CAMRA card.
Norfolk Nips | Pub and Brewery News Residents of the village of Beeston and friends of the Ploughshare have launched a scheme to raise money for a community buyout. The current owner has sold off some land and built a couple of houses, and is now trying to sell the pub for ÂŁ320,000. A meeting in the village hall attracted around a hundred people! Anyone who would like to offer help directly or requires further information can e mail beestonploughshare@gmail.co m or call 07702 481984. The Dozy Doormouse at East Runton (named after the landlord's wife (!) and possibly better known as the White Horse) closed late last year and is now up for sale. And lastly the Bell at Salhouse is to let again.
News from the West We still have a number of closed pubs around. The Wenns Hotel in Kings Lynn is subject to plans developing the upper stories into flats whilst retaining a smaller pub next to a shop on the ground floor. Variations of these ideas have been around for some time, and the start of the work always seems to be around the corner, but as I write, nothing has yet happened. Close by in St James Street, the former RAOB club, the premises of which were once a historic bank, still lie empty. The plan is to turn it into a bistro, but as yet, we wait.
Better news for a couple of premises that have given cause for concern. The Winch at West Winch reopened in April, and I would be interested if anyone has an opinion of the new incarnation as I have yet to visit. There are plans for a large scale housing development adjacent to the pub, which could be a blessing or a curse. Historically it has relied to a large extent on its position next to the A10 and people driving there for the meals, so if the development affects the car parking space, this could be a problem, reducing the possibility of offering good value lunches for people on the Hardwick, for example. On the other hand, lots of people within easy walking distance could lead to the development of a true community pub. When the Winch was first threatened over a year ago, the West Norfolk Branch applied for a listing as an Asset of Community Value (ACV), and was refused as we could not demonstrate that it was used by the community. Now could be the chance to develop that aspect of the pub. Another pub that we put forward for an AVC is the Lattice House. The future of this historic 15th century pub was in doubt as Wetherspoons put it up for sale. Once again our application was refused, this time on the grounds that we could not demonstrate that a local CAMRA branch had the right to make an application (strange, as they accepted the one for the Winch). Having been to workshops and confer-
ences on the subject in St Albans and Liverpool and talked to many people about the subject, including Carl, who has managed to list over 150 pubs in his branch area, I am pretty sure that West Norfolk is unique amongst CAMRA branches in being refused the right to make an application. For several months I have been trying to arrange a meeting to discuss the situation, so far without success. Still, despite the fears of those who, according to a report in the Lynn News, thought the building was about to be demolished, it has been taken over by Hawthorn Leisure, a Birmingham based group formed in 2013 which operate around 350 pubs countrywide. They have been in contact with us ahead of the reopening in mid-May to let us know that there will be a discount for CAMRA members. I believe that the majority of the existing staff have been re-employed, so we wish them well for the future. Up on the coast at Thornham, we hear that the Chequers has been refurbished and is open again. A couple of my contacts have been in touch and the picture looks bright on the beer front, with Moongazer amongst the offerings reported. In Lynn the Crossways has changed hands, with Angie and Robin leaving after more than 20 years in the pub. The pub reopened after a short break and continues to be one of the very few local community pubs left in the town. Continued Overleaf Summer 2016 | 9
Pub News - continued | Norfolk Nips Not far away in Hunstanton, local MP Sir Henry Bellingham helped to relaunch the Wash and Tope which has had a half million pounds investment from Enterprise Inns and the Lifeboat Pub Company. Sir Henry has been a strong supporter of the Campaign and is reported to have visited every pub in his West Norfolk constituency. In April, Woodfordes brewery was purchased by a private consortium of investors. Rupert Farquharson, the MD will remain in place and no changes are planned for the head office management team, so it should be business as normal. Continuing the trend set by the Victory at Clenchwarton and the Cock at Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen, the Rathskellar has been selling a house beer. It’s always fun to try these and see if you can work out who brews them. Making the news in May was the Kings Head in Thetford where the roof of an outbuilding collapsed. The pub was evacuated, and thankfully the only injury was a minor one as a woman was hit by a falling tile. Hopefully the pub will soon be repaired and back to full working order.
Finally, we know that pubs raise lots of money for charity in a huge manner of ways, but Liz at the Peddars in Sporle decided to celebrate her birthday by doing a fundraising skydive. Can any landlords or regulars out there beat that? Jeff
10 | Summer 2016
Around Breweries News from the Brewery Liaison Coordinator Brewers in Norfolk have been extremely busy with the City of Ale and forthcoming summer Beer Festivals. Humpty Dumpty are offering, apart from their frequent spring/summer ales, City Hoppers, a limited edition ale as well as a Meet the Brewer event at the Wig and Pen on the 29th May at 4pm. You can find out more at cityofale.org.uk. Also, commemorating their 1000th brew, it will be available in various pubs and bottles a Strong Imperial Stout. To sample more of their beers you can go on 21st May to the Village & Walk Brewery Visit part of the Broads Outdoor Festival, or their annual Beer Festival which runs from the 22nd to 24th July at Reedham Village Hall NR13 3HL. People’s, a small brewery producing near the Queens Head in Thurlton, will be featured at the Plasterers for their Fem.ale Festival. The brew, by their BLO Tracy Smith, is a cask ale brewed with South African hops called African Queen. Chalk Hill have a Meet the Brewer session on the 31st June at 7pm, where you can find out more about all their brews including their new one, Mustard IPA. The Fat Cat and Neatishead have done a collaboration brew celebrating the fact that both have a tap pub that has won an award in the Norwich & Norfolk Pub of the Year competition, winning the City and Rural awards respectively. The product, Kitty Ale, is a 4.5% beer balancing crystal and caramel malt with American hops.
12 | Summer 2016
Norfolk Brewhouse has brewed a collaboration ale with Poppyland brewery and GreySeal Coffee in Glanford. The idea was to create a drink that blended coffee and ale together. The result is a golden IPA, that balances the flavour and sweetness without the bitterness of the coffee with the refreshing richness of the hops. The Norfolk Brewhouse version of the beer is called Moongazer HopBean IPA and will be available throughout the City. The Poppyland version of the collaboration with Norfolk Brewhouse and Grey Seal Coffee will be available in bottles by the name of GreySeal Coffee IPA. Both brewers will be at a Meet the Brewer on May 28th at The Plasterers and June 1st at The Vine. Poppyland also has a new brew called Strange Attractor: a 5.5% “non-linear” pale ale. You can discover more at Poppyland’s website poppylandbeer.com, or on May 27th at the St Andrew’s Brewhouse with tutored tastings by Roger Protz. Tombstone has now been nearly a year at their new address at George Street, on the north west corner of row 50 in Great Yarmouth, where you can also find the Tombstone Saloon, where all their beers and others from Norfolk, in total ten pumps, can be sampled alongside a great collection of ciders. Golden Triangle has brewed an elderflower ale called ElderFlowerPower and is celebrating five years in business by brewing a 5% version of City Gold, which won Beer of the Festival at the first City of Ale in 2011. The new is named City Gold Extra.
Norfolk Nips | Woodforde’s has been quite busy with a new head brewer and now under new ownership. For the City of Ale a fruity session IPA, 4.1%, with hints of tropical fruit has been brewed. Twenty pence of every pint will go the City of Ale charity, EACH. The beer was named Each Golden by Scott Edwards from Norwich, who won the naming competition. Woodforde’s are also launching a new range of seasonal beers, including a Red IPA and a triplehopped American IPA. According to Belinda Jennings, head brewer, the range will reflect the breadth of the modern day beer spectrum. And finally if you would like to be a Brewery Liaison Officer, Fox, Oakwood, Yetman’s and The Shackleton breweries are in need of one, please contact me if interested at breweries@norwichcamra.org.uk Cheers, Oli Fernandez
Summer 2016 | 13
Norfolk Nips | The Revitalisation Project
Have
Say R U YO
CAMRA members should be well aware of “The Revitalisation Project” which is a major review of CAMRA’s purpose and positioning. An aim of the project is to review CAMRA’s purpose, focus and strategy to ensure that the Campaign remains relevant in a fast changing environment. Not as some media sources suggest the end of CAMRA in its entirety! All established organisations should review their mission and purpose from time to time and CAMRA are no different. We want to build on our strength and success as CAMRA are enjoying a record membership and greater influence in the industry than ever before. The project has three stages: 1. Development of a proposal to be voted on by members at the 2017 Members’ Weekend. 2. A members’ consultation from April–September. 3. Implementation of what is decided. Stage one has happened and part of 2 (an online survey of members) had a closing date of 30th April 2016. So now it is the turn of Norwich to host a consultation event to get the views face to face of its members.
Where? The Auditorium at the Forum in Norwich When? Saturday September 1:30pm to 3:30pm Who? The Project revitalisation team will welcome CAMRA Members only – but if you are not a CAMRA member you can still come and join CAMRA on the day to gain access – CAMRA members must show a valid membership card to gain access. Members will be invited to RSVP online to indicate that they plan to attend an event.
What else? After the event we are planning a couple of Pub Walks for you to enjoy afterwards if you would like some quality CAMRA social time. The purpose of the events UK wide will be to develop interest and involvement in the consultation and give members an opportunity to make their voice heard. We want to start a conversation with a wide range of members at all levels, including those who we never see or hear.
Events are expected to last two hours and will comprise a short presentation (usually by a Steering Group member) followed by an open discussion on CAMRA’s future purpose and structure. This discussion will be facilitated by a member of the CAMRA Staff team. The presentation is an opportunity to cater for less well-informed members by setting the context and create a ‘level playing field’ of knowledge. Other events around the country will be published on the Project Website at www.camra.org.uk/revitalisation. By asking members to RSVP online allows us to follow up with members to ensure that they attend, and to get in touch with them after events to encourage them to remain involved in this important process. Members will also be welcomed at events even if they have not indicated that they intend to come along.
Get in touch If you have any questions, please get in touch with your Branch contact at contact@norwichcamra.org.uk. Rob Whitmore Branch Secretary, Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA
16 | Summer 2016
Norfolk Nips | Norwich Beer Festival Logo Competition
2016 Norwich Beer Festival logo competition launched The annual competition to find the new logo for the 39th Norwich Beer Festival, which will take place from Monday the 24th October until Saturday 29th October 2016, has just been launched by members of the Norwich and Norfolk branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale). The preparations for the popular annual event, which will be held again in St Andrew’s and Blackfriars’ Halls in Norwich and receives around 19,000 festival goers over eleven sessions, and takes ten months to plan and organise. The members and volunteers have only just recovered from running the 2015 Beer Festival but launching the logo competition is one of the first tasks for the beer festival and the winning design will be one of the prime marketing tools for the festival. Rob Derbridge, the festival organiser for 2015, said “We are hopeful that as ever we will receive a large and fantastic array of entries. We always receive entries on various themes, although they must include a dragon in some form, but the entrants can choose a setting or background of their choice. We always look forward to having a tough decision yet again in selecting the eventual winner!”.
details and age (if under-18) on the back of the paper design or within the email. As always, the most important element is that a dragon must be included within the design, although abstract is acceptable, also a maximum five colours (four is preferable), including any black or white parts of the design. Emailed entries should be in a computer readable format (JPEG, TIFF, PNG, PDF, Postscript, GIMP, Inkscape, Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw); no MS Word document files please. Entries (one per sheet or email and with a maximum size A4) can be sent to 2016 Norwich Beer Festival Logo Competition, 4 Rectory Close, Newton Flotman, Norwich, Norfolk, NR15 1PZ or email to beerfestival@NorwichCAMRA.org.uk by Monday 22nd February 2016 at the latest please. All entries will become the property of the Norwich & Norfolk branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and may be used for display and publicity purposes.
The main winner will be judged by the organising committee at the planning meetings in the New Year and will receive £100 along with a selection of merchandising at the festival featuring their logo. There will be ten runner-up prizes of complementary festival tickets and also the best under-18 entrant will get a book voucher. Entrants are asked to specify “Adult” or “Under-18” and include their name, contact
Summer 2016 | 17
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Norfolk Nips |
HUMPTY DUMPTY CELEBRATE ten YEARS AND 1000 BREWS It’s a cold crisp February morning and Craig Fermoy (head brewer and co-owner of Humpty Dumpty brewery) drags himself into work at 4.20am. Why you ask, is he mad? Well yes, just slightly but apart from that Saturday February 27th 2016 is a big day. As it is on this day, with pride, they start their 1000th brew. In 2006, four friends from the London area decided to go into business together owning a brewery. Craig and Mary Anne Fermoy together with Stephen and Lesley George looked in What’s Brewing and noticed a brewery for sale in the idyllic countryside of the Norfolk Broads. Then finally in Sept 2006 they took over the Humpty Dumpty Brewery. The rest is history. Currently producing 26 different beers in both cask and bottles, the Humpty Dumpty Brewery has since made a name for itself for its quality and attention to detail. It was with a sense of honour for the occasion that I and other invited staff and VIP’s went to Reedham to watch the brew take form. With the added bonus of the odd beer or two and a lovely buffet laid on by the Humpties we looked on. I have been on many brewery tours but nothing prepared me for the hustle and bustle of a working brewery. Craig was joined by this trusty team – Tom Farrell, Ian Case and Sean Junker. All four of them knowing exactly what was expected and what they wanted to achieve; a Russian Imperial Stout no less, hopefully around 10% abv. The sad thing is we will have to wait until early summer to sample this delight, but I for one can’t wait! It will be produced in both bottle conditioned and cask and I am told there will (hopefully) be a cask available at their own Reedham Beer Festival on 22nd – 24th July. The bottles will be available in various outlets as well as their own recently re-furbished shop which has a wide
range of bottled beers and other local produce for sale. 2016 is an exciting year for Humpty Dumpty as they will also be celebrating their 10th anniversary at the brewery later this year. So watch this space for more news on the exciting prospect of yet another speciality brew. Jane Edrupt Humpty Dumpty Brewery Liaison Officer
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www.banninghamcrown.co.uk Summer 2016 | 19
| Norfolk Nips
Norwich & Norfolk Branch Pub of the Year 2016 As you know every year the Norwich & Norfolk and West Norfolk Branches choose their Pub of the Year. It is the most prestigious award a Branch can give to a local Pub. The Norwich Branch have awards for their County and City Pubs and the winners are White Horse, Neatishead and the Fat Cat Brewery Tap. The next stage was to select the overall Branch POTY and congratulations go to the Fat Cat Brewery Tap which is on Lawson Road and was previously The Wherry and then The Shed. It is the home of the fantastic Fat Cat Brewery which started in 2005 after being a long term ambition of Colin Keatley, Landlord of the Fat Cat. We all know the Fat Cat has won the National Pub of the Year in 1998 and 2004. The Competition is on the basis of national guidelines that include voting for Quality of Beer, Community Focus, CAMRA Aims & Objectives, Style & Decor and Welcome & Service. It is slightly difficult for the voters as you have to put yourself into the position of a customer visiting the pub for the first time. However it is very enjoyable and if you are interested in helping on the next voting rounds please let us know. So back to the Fat Cat Brewery Tap and the awards presentation evening. The Pub was heaving and the other Fat Cat pubs staff were also there is support. Our outgoing Chairman Warren Wordsworth was the man with the mike although we thought he was going to do karaoke. After handing over the two awards to Mark and Laura we were given an emotional speech from Mark who thanked all his customers for their support over the last 5 years. As the Pub is popular with music lovers a band was on next and a great and memorable night was had by us all. If you 20 | Summer 2016
have not been to the Pub before please make a special visit as the cheeseboards are legendary and not to mention the extensive range of Fat Cat beers on offer. We wish them all the best in the next round of the competition. Graham
Norfolk Nips | West Norfolk Branch - Pub of the Year 2016
Raise a Glass to the King’s Arms, Shouldham West Norfolk CAMRA Pub of the year 2016 Raise a glass to the King’s Arms in Shouldham that has just been presented with the West Norfolk CAMRA Pub of the Year award. Landlord Ian Skinner was joined by a large number of regulars and local people as he accepted the award from Steve Barker, the Chairman of West Norfolk CAMRA. Steve said “Many congratulations to the King’s Arms at Shouldham for winning West Norfolk Pub of the Year. This is a pub owned by the Community and run by the Community. The pub re-opened in late 2014 after being closed for over 2 years. After a Share Issue in August 2013, the target of £150,000 was reached, the majority of shares being purchased by local people (and some support from Stephen Fry). Fund raising continued, and with an enormous amount of voluntary help, the task was complete.
Ian has a passion for real ale which goes back years and thanked old friend Mark from Beeston Brewery who has supported his efforts and helped sponsor the presentation evening. An innovative competition is run where you pay £5 to suggest a beer you would like to see on sale, if your beer is drawn you get to drink it for free when it is on sale. The raffle is self financing covering the cost of a barrel and encouraging customers to try something different. In conversation Ian revealed that the well known tale of the pub’s resurrection to a community asset was only the first chapter of an ongoing story, with varying activities taking place on a regular basis (averaging five per month) such as a “Knitters and natters” session, quizzes and even philosophy, the pub has its own football team, Shouldham FC which is in its first season, introducing a younger dynamic to the customer base.
With community support, this pub has risen like a phoenix from the ashes. The award recognizes the consistently high quality of real ale on offer at the pub which beat keen opposition from other worthy nominees.
The King’s Arms also features a separate cafe which was hosting the King’s Lynn Mountain bike club on the same evening!
Landlord Ian’s reaction was that he was “over the moon” with the award, he went on to say “Thanks to all who voted for the King’s Arms, and for the support of the West Norfolk CAMRA branch and all staff and volunteers at the pub.”
The King’s Arms continues to go from strength to strength and is a deserving winner of CAMRA’s award, it will go forward to the County competition for Norfolk CAMRA pub of the year against the other Norfolk branches selections. Summer 2016 | 21
Who’s Brewing This is the first of a regular article which we hope you will enjoy. In the brewing chair is Phil Halls of Grain Brewery, Alburgh, Harleston, Norfolk, IP20 0BS.
What did you do before brewing? Incredibly before brewing I was in Publishing, not Harry Potter but Government Reports. I was a Project Manager at HMSO and then made maps for National River authorities. My next job was watching paint dry on tennis courts so we could then apply the next coat. I was very good at this.
What got you into Commercial brewing? I was an old friend of Geoff Wright who now looks after our pubs. We both had a love of beer. I wanted a change from working in an office and thought of starting my own business with more of a hands on job. I wanted something I could own and grow and steer the direction of it. We liked beer and brewing had a hint of some exciting things. I had a couple of failed attempts previously but we got together a business plan. Geoff was made redundant and we thought now or never. He sold his car and I re-mortgaged my house and we bought a starter kit from Castle Rock Brewery. We put it into the farm buildings which was an old dairy. I read books, spoke to Ray Ashworth who was a massive help, went on a brief course and started brewing beer. After about two years I started to understand how to brew beer.
How do you go about choosing the style of beers you brew? The style of beer is really by what we like and enjoy. If we really like a beer we feel wouldn’t it be great to have a beer like that.
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How do you choose your ingredients? We are in the middle of the best brewers Barley and Malt growing area in the country. We get the Wheat, Barley and Rye from Crisp Maltings, Great Ryburgh. The hops really depend on the style of beer. We try and use English Hops but with the recent bad harvest this is difficult. For Blonde Ash Wheat we use Saaz hops from the Czech Republic. With Lignum Vitea Pale we use US hops to get the deep hoppy flavour. We have a big palette of hops to choose from.
Are you planning any brewery changes? We had a 15 barrel plant but now can squeeze 20 barrels if needed at a low ABV. We have 3 big fermenters and can convert a conditioning
tank to another fermenter if needed. We tend to brew 2 to 3 times a week turning out 12 15,000 pints a week. We are classed as a Big Small Brewery and are in the top 4 in Norfolk for output. We have no plans to move as we are in a great location in the Waveney Valley. We might increase our numbers of pubs from 3 but we just have to see how it goes. You do seem to have won a few awards over the years? We have a Wall of Glory which is in the bar area and are running out of space. Maybe we should only put up Gold awards (Joke). The brewery bar is very popular and the shop is busy. Continued Overleaf Summer 2016 | 23
Open from Midday Everyday Fresh home cooked food to be found on our bar and specials menus Ever changing selection of local ales and fifty whiskies to be sampled Upcoming Events Real Ale, Cider, and Music Festivals during the Spring (May 27th-30th) and Summer (August 26th-29th) Bank Holiday weekends, with acts including: The Lovin’ Handfull, Starbuck, James Summerhill, Those Darned Mouldy Figs, The A13 All Stars, and Misserable Man! Pub quizzes every Thursday night, DragonFest open mic nights, and much more! Check our website and Facebook page to stay updated through the summer
Norfolk Nips | Who’s Brewing – continued Ballast Point, Sculpin IPA 7.00% from California. They have just got the balance of hopiness right. It is always something I try to achieve.
What is your favourite Grain beer? It depends on my mood. Oak is great on a hot day to slate your thirst and goes down well in one. A satisfying thirst quenching pint. I would have to pick Lignum Vitae as the overall favourite in view of the hoppy flavour and aromas.
What is your favourite Local, National and International beer? Beeston, Worth the Wait 4.2%. Mark just gets it right. Dark Star, Hophead 3.8%. A strong hoppy after taste.
Finally is there anything you want to add? I note you have the National Winter Beer Festival coming next year and I might brew something especially for the event. We have a 200 litre brew kit to experiment with. Brewing is a good industry to be in and people are passionate about their beers. We try to get it right and have had 10 years at it. Still a long way from producing the perfect beer we want to produce, but we are very happy with what we brew. In Norfolk on the whole all the brewers get on well with each other and help and share ideas. I feel beer is for sharing with a friend and enjoying.
Graham Freeman Warren Wordsworth - Photos
Summer 2016 | 25
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Norfolk Nips | Bird’s eye view
Bird’s Eye View: A Woman’s place is... Down the pub? So there I was. All on my own. Sitting in the corner of my local. No, I wasn’t Billy-no-mates (not on this occasion); I was waiting for The Chap to arrive. So I played with my phone whilst supping a pint; texting mates, catching up with Facebook, bidding for some shoes on eBay (sad I know), anything to avoid catching someone’s eye. Actually that’s not quite true. This is one pub where I’d be happy to sit on my own, perhaps with a book or the Sunday papers. In fact Norwich has lots of really lovely, friendly pubs. Granted, there are still a few that are unwelcoming, and some that are downright intimidating for women. But on the whole we are blessed in this city. It got me thinking about women...and pubs. Although pubs have traditionally been the preserve of men, it was women who did most of the brewing back in the day, usually for their immediate families. The First World War transformed female drinking habits. Whilst the men were away fighting, women took on the work they had left behind. Women suddenly found themselves with disposable income, and by all accounts many dashed to the pub and started drinking; and drinking alcohol in greater quantities than ever before! This prompted moral outrage in some quarters, with calls on the government to take action to keep women out of pubs.
house in ten minutes, with 16 coming out who he had not seen enter”! He concluded his report saying that soldiers would return at the end of the war to “find their wives dishonoured and drunkards”. Thankfully there were no laws or measures introduced that specifically targeted women, despite the fact that there did seem to be a genuine fear that changes in society would lead to a decline in women’s standards; fears not only of drinking, but also smoking and wearing trousers. Well I don’t smoke, but I do drink and wear trousers, often at the same time. So I’m raising a glass to those early ladettes. Cheers girls! The Beer Bird
The Aberdeen Journal in 1914 discussed the “evil” of an “increase in the consumption of alcoholic liquor by women”, authorities in Warrington were concerned about “the army of women crowding the public houses”, and clerics in Dundee called for an outright ban on women in pubs. The Manchester Evening News even reported that a magistrate, Theophilus Simpson, had conducted an inquiry into the local ‘underworld’ and that during his research, he had been shocked to count “26 women enter a licensed Summer 2016 | 27
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Cider Matters The month of May started with some exciting news for one of Norfolk’s established producers, Ryan Burnard, whose Burnard’s Stray Perry won the National Silver Perry award at the National Cider and Perry Championships at Reading Beer and Cider Festival. This is a great achievement as it is the first time that East Anglia perry has received an award at the National Championships. Cambridgeshire also did well in the competition this year with Harding’s 3 Peace Sweet cider winning the National Gold Cider award, another first with this being the first time that an East Anglia producer has won the national cider prize.
I was also delighted to be able to attend a meeting with Pierre Moscovici, the European Commissioner responsible for taxation, to discuss further measures to protect small cider producers who make less than 70hl a year. The current duty exemption for small cider producers in the UK is under threat from the Commission, which would like to see tax rates fall in line with the EU Directive on Excise Duty for Alcohol. As there is currently a review into the Directive taking place, CAMRA has asked that a specific exemption is written into a new Directive to ensure that it is upheld in European law. We have also asked for a sliding scale of duty, similar to Small Breweries Relief, to be included in the revised Directive to help producers who would like to expand.
The Railway Arms in Downham Market are also celebrating. They have again been voted as Norfolk Cider Pub of the Year which means they are up against pubs throughout East Anglia for the title of Regional Cider Pub of the Year.
The Commissioner did warn us that the process of reviewing the directive would not happen quickly, but it was clear that he is taking the issue of supporting small cider producers seriously. Andrea Summer 2016 | 29
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Norfolk Nips | West Norfolk Club of the Year
Photo Courtesy of Lynn News
King’s Lynn Club is West Norfolk Club of the Year 2016 Here is a picture from 1999 when the Club last won this award. Is anyone in both pictures? CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) are pleased to announce that the Ouse Amateur Sailing Club has been voted the winner of West Norfolk Club of the Year 2016. The Ouse Amateur Sailing Club, a previous regional and national winner of CAMRA’s Club of the year, was established in 1881. They have supported real ale for many decades and four to five beers and one real cider are available on gravity in their club house at the end of Ferry Lane. Phil Piggott, Hon Secretary of the Ouse Amateur Sailing Club said, “We are extremely proud to be voted winner of West Norfolk Club of the Year 2016 and would like to thank CAMRA for entering our club and for their
continued support. I would also take this opportunity to thank our many ‘Real Ale’ members and staff for helping to keep the beer and cider flowing in King’s Lynn. New members are always welcome, both full and social (you don’t have to sail to join!!).” Steve Barker, West Norfolk Branch Chairman said “It is pleasing to see a Club in King’s Lynn win this award. Their range of real ales and ciders is impressive and served in excellent condition.” The club will go forward to the Regional Club of the Year competition and will be judged alongside clubs from throughout the East Anglia region. Summer 2016 | 31
Inaugural awards evening champions a wealth of Norfolk brewers The very first combined Awards event organised by committee members of the Norwich and Norfolk branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) was attended by many of the local breweries, as well as some from further afield, on Friday 26th February evening. The event was held in the stunning Weston Room of the Hostry at Norwich Cathedral (Church of England) and included a bar of many of the awardwinning cask and bottle beers and a cider, along with a buffet by the Hostry.
32 | Winter 2015
Branch Chairman, Warren Wordsworth, welcomed everyone to the celebration of Norfolk’s fine breweries in the Capital of Ale, also recently rewarded with the prestigious National Winter Ales Festival from February 2017 for three years. The host for the evening, James Kearns, kept the awards flowing and the audience entertained throughout with a good amount of humour. It was hailed a success by the members and brewers alike and saw four different awards presented throughout the
Norfolk Nips | Awards evening evening, as well as some special awards presented by Warren Wordsworth on behalf of the local branch. Many of the Norfolk breweries were represented at the sold-out event, as well as Cambridge’s Moonshine Brewery and cider producer Monk & Disorderly, Suffolk’s Green Jack Brewery and Yorkshire’s Brass Castle making even longer journeys to Norwich. They were collecting their Beers of the Festival awards, voted for by the festival attendees, from the 2015 Norwich Beer Festival (see results overleaf) including Silver overall from Brass Castle’s Bad Kitty. The overall Gold winner was Beeston Brewery for their golden ale, Worth the Wait.
Lorraine Bliss the Chief Executive of St Eds, the branch’s charity last year, also attended and was presented with a cheque for £8,500 which was raised through donations given by the public at the 2015 Norfolk Beer Festival. Lorraine was most grateful to the branch for the funds and also with assistance in raising their profile locally and explained the work that St Eds undertake
with disadvantaged young people and the practical job training they provide. Special awards were presented to Dawn Hopkins as the branch first Pub Champion in recognition of her work whilst a publican in Norwich in promoting pubs and licensees, including addressing a parliamentary rally in London and, although now retired from the trade, she is still campaigning with national groups against unfair pub ties. A second new award for Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Barry Delf who has been a volunteer with the branch for many years including organising the beer festival transport and staying ‘dry’ during the long days setting up, re-stocking and taking down the festival. Barry was unable to attend and so was presented his certificate at the first planning meeting for the 2016 Norwich Beer Festival the previous night.
The winners of the 2016 Norfolk Cask and Bottled Beers of the Year awards, who didn’t know the results until the Awards evening itself, were announced by the Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA branch to an expectant flocculation of Norfolk brewers. The winner of the Gold Champion Cask of Norfolk was Fat Cat Brewery's Marmalade Cat and was collected by a quite shocked Mark Winters! Marmalade Cat won Gold in the strong bitters category for the Fat Cat Brewery, based in Lawson Road, Norwich and beat many fine beers to win the top honour for the first time. The Champion Bottle Beer of Norfolk for 2016 was awarded to Martin Warren of Poppyland Brewery, based in Cromer for the speciality beer Home for Christmas. Martin was delighted to receive a total of five certificates for four of his bottle beers. Poppyland Brewery makes small batches of Continued Overleaf Summer 2016 | 33
adventurous bottled beer, using many unusual ingredients and re-writing the rules of brewing; Martin certainly does ‘do different’ in Norfolk! Both sets of results are determined from a year-long series of tastings by volunteers from the Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA Branch. Norfolk Taste Panel chair Alan Edwards said “In the years since we have been organising the competition, we have seen a definite increase in the quality of the beers entered and also the number of breweries based in Norfolk grow. Alan continued “I would like to thank the breweries for their support and my fellow tasters for their unfailing enthusiasm and dedication to tasting beer”. There was also time for the Champion Beers of East Anglia certificates to be presented by Andrea Briers, East Anglia Regional Director of CAMRA to the Norfolk breweries present: Elmtree, Jo C’s, Golden Triangle and Woodforde’s. These are judged by tasting panels at CAMRA-run beer festivals held across the region over the past year. A full list of results are opposite:
THE WINNERS Cask Beers of Norfolk
OVERALL WINNER CATEGORY Gold Fat Cat Brewery Marmalade Cat Silver Humpty Dumpty Brewery Broadland Sunrise Bronze Winters Brewery Mild
MILD Gold Winters Brewery Mild BITTER Gold Grain Brewery Oak Bottled Beers of Norfolk 2016 Awards
OVERALL WINNER CATEGORY Gold Poppyland Brewery Home By Christmas Silver Woodforde’s Brewery Nelsons Revenge Bronze Elmtree Brewery Nightlight Mild MILD, BROWN & OLD ALE Gold Elmtree Brewery Nightlight Mild
BITTER Gold Woodforde’s Brewery Nelson’s Revenge Silver Elmtree Brewery Norfolk’s 80 Shilling Ale
STRONG BITTER Gold Grain Brewery IPA Silver Poppyland Brewery East Coast IPA Champion Beers of East Anglia - Norfolk Winners
BITTERS Gold Woodforde’s Wherry Bronze Jo C’s Norfolk Kiwi
GOLDEN ALES Gold Golden Triangle Mosaic City
BEST BITTER Gold Humpty Dumpty Brewery Broadland Sunrise STRONG BITTER Gold Fat Cat Brewery Marmalade Cat
GOLDEN ALE Gold Lacons Brewery Encore STOUT Gold Grain Brewery Blackwood Stout
GOLDEN ALE Gold Woodforde’s Brewery Bure Gold Silver Why Not Brewery Hare Of The Dog
SPECIALITY BEER Gold Elmtree Brewery Winter Solstice Silver Poppyland Brewery Elderflower Saison
STOUT & PORTER Gold Two Rivers Brewery Norfolk Stoat Silver Humpty Dumpty Brewery Porter Bronze Poppyland Brewery 10,000 Geese
UNIQUE Gold Poppyland Brewery Home By Christmas
BARLEY WINE Gold Woodforde’s Brewery Headcracker
SPECIALITY BEERS Silver St Peter’s Grapefruit Beer
OLD ALES/ STRONG MILDS Silver Woodforde’s Norfolk Nog
STOUTS Silver Old Chimneys Good King Henry Bronze Elmtree Dark Horse
Summer 2016 | 35
Northern Soul
Photo courtesy of Northen Soul Band.www.northernsoulband.co.uk
I came to appreciate music rather late in life. The Beatles and Stones passed me by, and I didn’t really take an interest until the era of triple gatefold LPs with covers by Roger Dean were all the rage. Then came the art school rock of the likes of Roxy Music and the excitement of punk until any further personal musical development was arrested by my discovery of The Fall. One genre that passed me by was Northern Soul. I vaguely remember Wigan’s Chosen Few appearing on top of the pops and hearing tales of all-nighters at Wigan Casino, but that’s about all.
There is an exhibition of punk memorabilia coming up at the V&A soon, and having seen some video clips of Wigan Casino in the town’s museum recently, I assumed that Northern Soul had been packaged, sanitised and consigned to history in a similar way. However, a recent visit to the Social Club in Runcton Holme proved me wrong. We went out there to drop off the latest copy of the local CAMRA newsletter and as it
36 | Summer 2016
comes East was a Monday evening we half expected the place to be closed, but we were pleased to see that it was packed. Monday is darts and domino night and there were seven games of pairs occupying all the available tables in addition to the tussles going on at the oche. As I ordered my excellent pint of Daleside’s Pride of England, I remarked to the steward about how busy the place seemed and he told me that it was often like that, with one of the highlights being the Northern Soul nights. ‘We get people from all over – Norwich, the Midlands, everywhere’, he told me. He went on to explain that at the last event there were D.J.s down from Manchester and Hull who brought friends with them.
Norfolk Nips | Barman It seems that this love for Northern Soul is not confined to Runcton Holme. A quick glance at the promotions notices in the club showed all kinds of events taking place locally, with the King’s Lynn No 1 Soul Club organising an event at the Blue and Gold club at the football ground in April and a big event coming up at the Adrian Flux arena in September featuring DJs from Whittlesea, Runcton Holme and Hull. If you are not worn out by that, in November there is a soul weekend up at Searles in Hunstanton which features a Northern Soul room alongside the Motown and Funk. If you fancy dusting off the scooter you can head off to Norwich or Hemsby later in the year. Possibly because it was in my mind, I noticed a Northern Soul logo in one of the shop windows in town and began to wonder if somehow King’s Lynn has become the epicentre of this musical genre. Perhaps it should be renamed Eastern Soul, in the same way the Ousebeats once rivalled the Merseybeats.
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In the past it has been suggested that some of the participants had a touch of pharmaceutical help to maintain the high energy needed to dance all night, but as we are all older and wiser, I am sure that this is no longer the case. So what beer should these events serve? As it happens Blakemere Brewery of Nantwich in Cheshire produce a couple of themed beers, Soul Time and Soul Rider with its very collectible (i.e. frequently stolen) pump clip. So next time I am down at Runcton Holme on Soul Night you can pull the moves on the dance floor, whilst I down the Soul Rider. Keep the faith. Barman A version of this article appeared in the Lynn News.
Summer 2016 | 37
Norfolk Nips | Barman
Pub Names Over the past few months, the Pub History Society magazine (www.pubhistorysociety.co.uk) has carried several articles about the derivation of the pub name ‘The Swan with Two Necks’. Today I can exclusively reveal that it is a corruption of ‘The Swan with Two Nicks’. The nicks in question are marks in the beak, and are awarded to swans every time they manage to break someone’s arm. Under ancient laws, all swans belong to the queen, and in the past, swans which had succeeded in breaking a person’s arm would be summoned to the palace and the monarch would gouge the marks in person, but now this is mostly done by the official Swan Upper with queen only gouging one symbolic swan per year. Other pub names also have interesting tales. The Cat and Fiddle is a reference to St Catherine (Cat to her friends). She is usually depicted with a spiked wheel on which she was sentenced to die by the Roman emperor Maxentius, but before this took place she was tortured by having a very loud, out of tune fiddle played to her for several days without a break. This technique was copied many years later when U.S. Special Forces played deafeningly loud rock music for ten days in an effort to secure the surrender of General Noriega of Panama during Operation ‘Nifty Package’. The Kings Head recalls the execution of King Charles I in 1649. After the grizzly event, his head was taken on a tour around the country and displayed in local pubs to show what happens to people who disobey the will of parliament. Obviously there were a lot of pubs and only one head, so in some cases, the Kings Arms were used instead. A more recent pub sign is the Red Lion. The England football team are often referred to as 38 | Summer 2016
the Three Lions and the Red Lion is popularly believed to be a reference to one of their greatest players, Bobby Charlton who usually wore the red of Manchester United. Younger fans will tell you that it is dedicated to Wayne Rooney, who recently broke Charlton’s England goals record, but some of us are sticklers for historical accuracy. The much rarer White Lion is a reference to an era almost lost in the mists of time when Leeds United actually produced England footballers, but the name fell out of favour after the dreadful mistake by Terry Cooper in the 1973 game against Poland which cost England qualification for the 1974 world cup. In the past a newspaper was merely tomorrow’s chip paper, but in the time of the internet these tales may live on forever and even be considered by some to be the truth and gain a life of their own. Look, for example, at some of the ludicrous stories that circulate about the European Union. Many of these originate from the time that Boris Johnson was a Leader writer on The Times newspaper and was accused by fellow journalists of dishonest reporting which contained untruths designed to discredit the Commission. The Guardian journalist John Palmer went as far as saying that ‘as a journalist he is thoroughly irresponsible, making up stories’ but these days all that is forgotten and only the straight bananas are remembered. Then again, perhaps the stories of Boris fabricating tales are an internet myth of our age. So did Bob Holness play saxophone on Gerry Rafferty’s Baker Street? Is Walt Disney’s body cryogenically frozen, and are the clues in the film of the same name, or should we just Let it Go? A version of this article appeared in the Lynn News. bar.man@btinternet.com
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Summer 2016 | 39
The Great and the Good I concluded my lecture on the Littleport riots by posing the question ‘Would it have been better for this country’s working class if Napoleon had been victorious?’, so it was a little ironic that less than a week later I was queuing below the statue of Oliver Cromwell (hero or villain?, discuss) waiting to pass through security to enter the Houses of Parliament. I had been invited to attend CAMRA’s annual reception where members of the Campaign can mingle with MP’s and Lords in an informal setting over a beer and canapes on the terrace overlooking the river. It is no coincidence that this event is held just before the budget in March, when the gentle exhortations of ‘Lets’ cut tax on beer for the fourth year in a row’ are most likely to be effective. After passing through the great hall, the CAMRA party assembled in one of the side rooms for a last minute team talk, giving the great and good of the organisation time to
cast surreptitious glances in my direction and ask the unspoken question – Who is he? Soon we were on the terrace, which had been mercifully covered to protect us from the elements. As the politicians arrived, we split up and engaged them in conversation, in my case Chris Davies, MP for Brecon and Radnor, a very pleasant chap with a great enthusiasm for protecting his local pubs. My invitation had come at the request of our local MP, Sir Henry Bellingham and he soon arrived giving us the chance to collar the professional photographer for some publicity shots, before he introduced me to some of his colleagues, James Cartlidge (West Suffolk), Sir Peter Bottomley (Worthing West) and Simon Hoare, (North Dorset) the host of the event. It struck me that beyond the 10 second soundbite on T.V. how normal, pleasant and
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A Right Royal Beer Festival in Windsor Road to celebrate our Queen’s 90th Birthday
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Music All Weekend with road closed on Saturday 12-5pm for the street party Live & Let Live, Kings Lynn • Tel: 01553 764990 Open Daily 11am-11pm 5 Real Ales • 4 Ciders • Great Atmosphere 40 | Summer 2016
Norfolk Nips | Barman approachable our representatives are. However, with a gathering of a couple of hundred politicians and lobbyists there are bound to be some speeches. CAMRA Chairman Colin Valentine presented awards to Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) and Charlotte Leslie (Bristol North West) for their work in promoting beer and helping to save pubs, and the Pubs Minister, Marcus Jones (Nuneaton) announced that the government was launching a fund of £3.62 million to help community groups who were attempting to save their locals by buying them out – more details on the Plunkett Foundation website http://www.plunkett.co.uk. Then there was time for a word with Marcus Jones, who is passionate in his support for local pubs, and Charlotte Leslie who managed to stop polishing her award long enough to explain how ridiculous it is that a pub can be converted into a supermarket without planning permission, but if the enterprise fails, it cannot be converted back to a pub without going through the planning process.
The King’s Arms • Martham The Green, Martham, Norfolk NR29 4PL
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Sir Henry even introduced me to CAMRA Chairman, Colin Valentine before suggesting that we went off and had something to eat in the restaurant, where I found that I have at least one thing in common with David Cameron, as I apparently chose the same dish as he had had for lunch that day. So, thanks to Sir Henry for obtaining me an invite, and local girl Andrea Briers, veteran of these occasions who kept an eye on me, I had a great time and hopefully helped to persuade a few politicians of the importance of supporting pubs. We exited through a short cut straight from the building to the tube station, so I escaped the watchful eye of Oliver Cromwell on the way out and for at least one night I was glad Napoleon didn’t win. A version of this article appeared in the Lynn News. bar.man@btinternet.com Summer 2016 | 41
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Norfolk Nips | Obituary
Mike Tilbury, Pub Champion We were sad to hear that Mike Tilbury has passed away. He was first elected in 1973 and has held the positions of both Council Leader and Borough Mayor. One of the things that he will be remembered for is the instrumental role he had in saving the last pub in the village of Great Massingham. The pub was under threat, having been closed for a number of years, and Mike played a major role in persuading the council to buy the pub to prevent it being converted in to a house. This allowed a consortium to purchase the pub and reopen it as the Dabbling Duck. The pub has gone from strength to strength since.
Mike was always happy to help others by passing on the experience gained in saving the pub in Great Massingham and advised a number of people who were in similar situations throughout the country. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
Left: MIke Tibury and Above: The Dabbling Duck, Great Massingham
Summer 2016 | 43
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Summer Beer Festival Thursday 30th June Sunday 3rd July BBQ all day and Live Music (Bunkadoos) in the evening on the Saturday.
Open Mon - Thurs 11-11, Fri -Sat 11-11:30 Sun 12-10:30.
Live Bands, Quiz and Poker Nights We’re in it!
Check our website and Facebook page to stay updated Fresh rolls served daily or bring in your favourite take-away
Free Wi-Fi • Dog friendly 44 | Summer 2016
Here is a current list of all the pubs in Norfolk which are part of the CAMRA LocAle scheme. New entries are in Bold.
Horseshoes, Alby Black Boys, Aldborough London Tavern, Attleborough Crown Inn, Banningham Berney Arms, Berney Arms Chequers Inn, Binham Cock Inn, Barford Kings Head, Brooke Artichoke, Broome Green Gate, Caister-on-Sea Reedcutter, Cantley Crown Inn, Catfield George Hotel, Cley-next-the-Sea Three Swallows, Cley-next-the-Sea Victory, Clenchwarton Muskett Arms, Clippesby Red Lion, Coltishall Ugly Bug Inn, Colton Albion, Cromer Cottage, Cromer Red Lion Hotel, Cromer Royal Standard, Dereham Bob Carter Centre, Drayton Railway, Downham Market Royal Standard, East Dereham Queens Head, Emneth Erpingham Arms, Erpingham Bull, Fakenham Wellington, Feltwell Kings Head, Filby Rampant Horse, Freethorpe Locks Inn, Geldeston Wherry, Geldeston Dock Tavern, Gorleston Mariners Compass, Gorleston Dabbling Duck, Great Massingham Barking Smack, Great Yarmouth Mariners, Great Yarmouth Oliver Twist, Great Yarmouth Red Herring, Great Yarmouth St. Johns Head, Great Yarmouth Hill House, Happisburgh Fox & Hounds, Heacham
Kings Head, Hethersett Greyhound Inn, Hickling Pleasure Boat Inn, Hickling Victoria, Hockering Swan, Hilborough Eagle, Hockham Buck, Honingham White Hart, Hopton Nelson Head, Horsey Brickmakers, Horsford Elm Farm Country House, Horsham St. Faith Live and Let Live, Kings Lynn Star Inn, Lessingham Swan Inn, Loddon Dog Inn, Ludham Fox and Hounds, Lyng Anchor Inn, Morston White Horse, Neatishead Relish Restaurant & Bar, Newton Flotman Railway Hotel, North Elmham Orchard Gardens, North Walsham Adam and Eve, Norwich Angel Gardens, Norwich Beehive (Leopold Rd), Norwich Bell Hotel, Norwich Cellar House, Norwich Champion, Norwich Cottage (Silver Road), Norwich Duke of Wellington, Norwich Earlham Arms, Norwich Eaton Cottage, Norwich Fat Cat and Canary, Norwich Fat Cat Tap, Norwich Fat Cat, Norwich Garden House, Norwich Jubilee, Norwich Ketts Tavern, Norwich Kings Head, Norwich Leopard, Norwich Lollards Pit, Norwich
Lord Rosebery, Norwich Maids Head Hotel, Norwich Murderers, Norwich Plasterers Arms, Norwich Red Lion (Bishopgate), Norwich Reindeer, Norwich Ribs of Beef, Norwich Rose, Norwich Sir Garnet, Norwich Take 5, Norwich Temple Bar, Norwich Trafford Arms, Norwich Vine, Norwich Wig and Pen, Norwich Royal Oak, Poringland Ferry Inn, Reedham Ship, Reedham Kings Arms, Reepham Swan, Ringland Three Horseshoes, Roydon Lobster, Sheringham Windham Arms, Sheringham Chalk and Cheese, Shouldham Kings Arms, Shouldham Goat, Skeyton Peddars Inn, Sporle Sprowston Manor Hotel & Country Club, Sprowston Ferry House, Surlingham Lynn Arms, Syderstone Red Lion, Swaffham Pelican Inn, Tacolneston Red Lion, Thetford Gunton Arms, Thorpe Market Queens Head, Thurlton White Horse, Upton Cherry Tree, Wicklewood Willow House, Watton Stag, West Acre Bell, Wiveton White Lady, Worstead Green Dragon, Wymondham The Mill, Yaxham Winter 2015 | 45
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Norfolk Nips | From the Archives (April–June 1976)
A look back through some of The Branch minutes of 40 years ago The April branch Meeting was held on 27th April at The Beehive in Norwich and was chaired by Mr P Walter. Chris Bruton, who at the time was Chairman of the National Executive, was in attendance as a guest.
The Wayland Show had shown an interest with CAMRA for a beer festival. It was reported at the meeting that the Branch funds currently stood at £74.82.
It was reported that the first local beer guide was to be printed and available for distribution by 17th May. It would contain 63 entries including The Bell Hotel, which was a late addition.
The venue for the June Meeting was again The Beehive with Mr P Walter in the Chair. Ian Myhill, the then Area Organiser was in attendance.
There were to be socials to Scole Beer Festival on 29th April and Greene King Brewery on 11th May. Chris Bruton gave a talk to the meeting. The main points he raised were : • He said that real ale outlets in the area were improving. • CAMRA HQ had approached The Director of Fair Trading to look into areas where breweries have a monopoly (25% was considered a monopoly). i.e. Watneys in Norfolk!
Business appeared to be dominated by the recent publication of the ‘Real Beer in Norfolk’ guide which was being launched on the night. Members were invited to purchase the guide at discounted rate of 25p (the normal price being 30p). It was reported that breweries had paid £30 for adverts and that the local press and TV were to be approached to cover the launching of the guide. A request was put out to members to assist in the distribution of the guide as there were 2,000 copies to be sold.
• The Food Standards were to report to CAMRA regarding a definition of ‘real ale’.
There was a request put out to help compile a list of all pubs in the area in order to help CAMRA HQ with their monopolies research.
The May Branch Meeting held on 26th May was also at The Beehive and again with Mr P Walter in the Chair. There were 35 members in attendance.
A recent social to Overstrand was very successful even though only 21 people attended. The next social was to be to The Earle Arms at Heydon which was scheduled for 14th July.
Matters discussed here included were that the local beer guide will cost £130 to produce and if all copies were sold would give a profit of around £500. Recent socials to Wymondham had been a success although not particularly well attended and a cricket trip to Stowmarket went well.
Other things of note reported at this meeting included there would be no Ruddles in the City until at least May/June 1977. Adnams were apparently looking for a pub in the City. ‘Whites’ in Norwich were installing hand pumps.
There was to be a social to Kings Lynn in the near future and the Bystanders Beer Festival was to be in September.
Warren Wordsworth
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FOUR REAL ALES & CIDER www.lighthouseinn.co.uk 50 | Summer 2016
Grab a CAMRA Discount at your local! The following local businesses offer a discount for CAMRA members (usually on presentation of a Membership Card): Rosebery, Rosebury Rd, Norwich: Selection of beers all at £2.50 on Monday nights, on production of a valid CAMRA card.
Albion, Cromer: 10% off real ales, draught and bottled The Bell, Norwich: 20% off all food. 50p off a pint (with your CAMRA vouchers). Brickmakers, Horsford: 10p off a half, 20p off a pint of real ale. Cherry Tree, Wicklewood: 30p off a pint of Buffy’s Compleat Angler, Norwich: 10% off all real ales Green Gate, Caister-on-Sea: 20p off a pint of real ale Glasshouse, Norwich: 20% off all food. 50p off a pint (with your CAMRA vouchers).
London Tavern, Attleborough: 20p off a pint of real ale Leopard, Norwich: 10% off all real ales Lollards Pit, Norwich: 10% off Red Lion, Drayton: 10% off Oliver Twist, Great Yarmouth: 10% off across the board - please show card before ordering Railway, North Elmham: 10% off B&B and camping Plasterers, Cowgate, Norwich: 10% off all real ales (available to all customers on Mondays)
The Whiffler, Norwich: 50p off a pint (with your CAMRA vouchers) The Woolpack, Norwich: 10% off The St Andrews Brewhouse, Norwich: 10% of their own real ales If your pub or business offers a discount to CAMRA, but isn't on this list, please contact pubsofficer@norwichcamra.org .uk and let us know the details (including any restrictions). Please note: We believe the discounts listed are offered at the time of going to press, however pubs may of course withdraw or change offers at any time!
The Rose, Queen’s Rd, Norwich: 15p off pints Lighthouse Inn, Walcott: 10% off all real ales
Summer 2016 | 51
There’s a festival near you! | Norfolk Nips
Beer Festival Diary 10 - 12 June A Right Royal Beer Festival Live and Let Live, Kings Lynn Music all weekend and street party on Saturday 18 June West Acre Village Fete Abbey House, West Acre Local real ale and cider available also BBQ, West Acre Trout, strawberries & cream and tea & cakes. Welly wanging, duck racing, rifle shooting competition, coconut shy, bowling the pig, tombola and raffle. 6 - 20 June Hill House Summer Solstice Beer Festival 120 beers plus ciders and perries Tel: 01692 650 004 17 - 19 June Jolly Sailors 7th Ale and Music Festival Brancaster Staithe PE31 8BJ Tel: 01485 210314 30 June - 3 July Kings Arms Beer Festival Norwich NR1 3HQ Tel: 01603 477888 30 June - 3 July Beehive Summer Beer Festival Norwich NR4 7PJ 2 July Featherfest Feathers Public House Town Green, Wymondham Tel: 01953 605675 7 - 10 July Dereham Blues Festival Held in pubs and venues throughout Dereham with Howlin’ Wolf as the Festival Ale www.derehambluesfestival.org.uk
52 | Summer 2016
12 - 17 July Heathlands Beer Festival 16 ales and 2 ciders Blofield Heath NR13 4QH
4 - 6 August Angel Inn Beer Festival Angel Inn, Larling NR16 2QU Tel: 01953 717963
15 - 17 July Lowestoft Town FC Beer Festival Wide range of ales and ciders. Live music. Love Rd, Lowestoft NR32 2PA
5 - 6 August North Walsham Beer Fest Scout Hut, North Walsham northwalshambeerfestival.com
15 - 17 July Crusaders RUFC 8th Beer Festival 30 ales and ciders Camping available Little Melton NR9 3NP
12 - 14 August 7th Ranworth Beer & Cider Festival Village Hall, Broad Rd NR13 6HS 25 Aug - 3 Sept Railway Beer & Cider Festival Free camping available North Elmham Tel: 01362 668300
15 - 17 July North Norfolk Railway 15th Beer Festival Sheringham Station, NR26 8RA www.nnrailway.co.uk
26 - 28 August Panther Beer Festival Stimpson’s Piece, Reepham Tel: 01603 871163
16 - 17 July The Pleasure Boat Inn WW1 Themed Beer Festival Hickling NR12 0YW Tel: 01692 598870
26 - 29 August Swan, Loddon Beer Festival Church Plain, Loddon NR14 6LX Live Music on Sunday and Charity Summer Fair on Monday.
16 - 17 July Crown Beer Festival, BBQ and Live Music Crown, Catfield NR29 5AA Tel: 01692 580128
26 August - 5 September Duke of Wellington Beer Fest Waterloo Rd, Norwich Tel: 01603 441182
22 - 24 July Reedham Beer Festival Church Rd, Reedham NR13 3TZ Ales, Ciders, Music and Food. 29 - 30 July 19th King’s Lynn Beer Festival Stuart House Hotel, Goodwins Rd PE30 5QX Tel: 01553 772169 Ales, Ciders, Music and Food
26 - 29 August Green Dragon Beer Fest Wymondham NR18 0PH Tel: 01953 607907 2 - 4 Sept Neslon Head Beer Festival Nelson Head, Horsey, NR29 4EE Tel: 01493 393378 2 - 4 Sept Wymondham Rugby Club Beer Festival 50 beers and ciders Tuttles Lane, Wymondham
Angel Gardens
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Victory Barn Function Room for Weddings and Parties Come & visit Nelson’s local. Walsingham Road, Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk PE31 8HN
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Six Real Ales Fine selection of Lagers & Spirits Great Food BBQs and Buffets Live Music Events Sunday Roast dinners served 12-5pm and only £8.95!
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Steve’s Words As usual, I leave writing this piece until the last minute, a gentle reminder from editor does the trick. I cannot use the excuse of being on holiday as I should know when the deadline is ! Going to the Hebrides on holiday, I was not expecting many places to enjoy real ale, the truth being that I was not disappointed. Not one Hotel I stayed in had any real ale on tap, several had bottled, primarily from Skye Brewery. Only one Hotel had a handpump, but it looked a long time since anything meaningful passed through it. Back to reality now, with the abundance of excellent pubs in our area. Many congratulations to Kings Arms at Shouldham for winning the West Norfolk Pub of the year, a very close fought contest, which is really encouraging. How good to have so many excellent pubs in our Area. Every member can take part in the judging of the county round, but be quick as time is getting short. Kings Arms is up against the Fat Cat Tap in Norwich, good luck to all at the Kings Arms, they serve excellent ales and cider, have good, friendly staff, this pub really is at the heart of village life, it deserves to take the County Award. Congratulations also to the Railway at Downham Market, it is Norfolk Cider Pub of the year and now goes forward to the Regional round. I recently attended the presentation for our Club of the Year, which is the Ouse Amateur Sailing Club in Kings Lynn. They were very pleased to have won the award. The club overlooks the River Ouse, which on a warm summers evening is probably one of the best places to enjoy a pint. The winning combination of friendly staff, excellent beers and ciders and the location makes this a worthy competitor for the Norfolk Club of the Year round. Enjoy the summer. Keep drinking. Cheers Steve Barker W.N. Chairman 58 | Summer 2016
Norfolk Nips | Last orders
Saving Pubs and Beer Quality This is my first column as Chairman of the Norwich & Norfolk Branch, and I should like to start by thanking Warren Wordsworth for his hard work in the role over the last three years. Having been brought up in Norfolk, and attended school in Norwich, I drank my first real ales in the early 80’s in the iconic pubs of the time, the Golden Star, the Ten Bells and the Plasterers - then three of the perhaps five or six pubs selling real ale in the entire city! I moved away from Norwich for almost thirty years, but returned regularly to support Norwich City, visit my parents who still live in Wroxham, and latterly to work at the Beer Festival. I returned to live in the Fine City six years ago, and thought I'd get involved in the local CAMRA branch - but never expected to end up as chairman!
hands with) the still-emerging craft beer revolution, on the basis that quality beer helps keep pubs open, and while pubs are open, real ale and other good beer will survive and prosper. Perhaps in some sort of federal structure, where the Campaign for Real Ale, the Campaign for Craft Keg? and the Campaign for Real Cider & Perry work together under a common banner? Solid common sense, or naive nonsense? That's for you to decide for yourself, but please, whatever you decide, get involved in helping CAMRA make the right choice! Check out the Revitalisation Campaign website at http://www.revitalisation.camra.org.uk/, come to a Branch meeting, or come to the Forum on September 3rd! Ian Stamp Norwich and Norfolk Branch Chair
This is a critical period for CAMRA, which has decided to take a long hard look at what it is for, and what it should be doing. The organisation has been hugely successful in some ways, preventing real ale from disappearing altogether, with nearly 180,000 members, and having helped achieve some remarkable wins in the areas of pub ownership and beer duty reduction. However, ‘proper’ pubs (by which I mean pubs which are primarily wet-led, have regulars, staff who know your name, and that indefinable ‘pub feel’) are still closing, making it even harder for smaller breweries to compete. Protection and promotion of these pubs takes a lot of work, and although overall membership is rising, many branches are struggling to find enough people to do it - even in a branch in a city like Norwich! What’s the answer? Well, in my opinion, CAMRA needs to focus on two things: saving pubs, and beer quality. And in order to do this, it needs to attract a new generation of activists, otherwise it will, literally, die out. And that means embracing (or at least politely shaking Summer 2016 | 59
Norfolk Nips | Dates for your Diary
CAMRA Branch Calendar
Friday 29th July Campaign Trip – Route tbc
Friday 5th August First Friday Five – 8.00pm start Micawbers, Ten Bells, Plough, Rumsey Wells, Woolie.
Thursday 11th August Midweek Stroll - Noon White Lion, Golden Star, Woolie, Playhouse Bar, Rumsey Wells.
Thursday 18th August Branch Meeting – 8.00pm Beehive, Leopold Road, Norwich.
Norwich and North Norfolk Branch
Friday 26th August Campaign Trip – Route tbc
Friday 2nd September
Friday 3rd June
First Friday Five – 8.00pm start Red Lion, Lollards Pit, Castle, Cottage, Wig & Pen.
First Friday Five – 8.00pm start Coach & Horses (Bethel), Coach & Horses (Trinity), Georgian Townhouse, Temple Bar, Reindeer.
Sunday 4th September
Saturday 11th June Summer Social – Trip to Colchester – Train 10.30 out returning early evening.
Wednesday 15th June Midweek Stroll – Noon Trafford Arms, Kings Arms, Freemasons, Rose, Pig & Whistle.
Tuesday 21st June Branch Meeting and Social – 8.00pm White Horse, Chedgrave. Coach pick up Castle Meadow leaves 7.15pm.
Friday 24th June Campaign Trip – Route tbc
Saturday 25th June Norwich City Pub Survey.
Friday 1st July
Bowls Match vs Suffolk Branches at Caxton Club, Beccles – Coach from Castle Meadow at Noon.
Tuesday 13th September Midweek Stroll – Noon Earlham Arms, Black Horse, Alexandra, Belle Vue, Fat Cat.
Tuesday 20th September Branch Meeting – 8.00pm Humpty Dumpty Brewery.
Friday 30th September Trip to Ascot Races and Beer Festival – Train from Norwich – details tbc
West Norfolk Branch Tuesday 12th July Black Horse, Thetford
Saturday 30th July
First Friday Five – 8.00pm start Duke of Wellington, Angel Gardens, Rosebery, Dyers Arms, Fat Cat Brewery Tap.
Pub crawl Norwich starting at The Coach and Horses, Thorpe Road at 11am
Saturday 9th July
Tuesday 9th August
Summer Barbecue – 7.30pm Beehive, Leopold Road.
House on the Green, North Wootton (TBC)
Thursday 14th July
Tuesday 13th September
Midweek Stroll – Noon Queen of Iceni, Compleat Angler, Red Lion, Adam & Eve, Wig & Pen.
Railway Docking (TBC)
Wednesday 20th July
Note: all Tuesday meetings start 8pm and normally include a social
Branch Meeting – 8.00pm Ugly Bug Inn, Colton. Coach Castle Meadow 7.15pm. Summer 2016 | 61
Branch contacts | Norfolk Nips
Contact Details Norwich & Norfolk Branch Chairman: Ian Stamp Tel: 01603 665557 Email: chairman@norwichcamra.org.uk Secretary: Rob Whitmore Email: secretary@norwichcamra.org.uk Social Secretary: Michael Philips Email: socialsecretary@norwichcamra.org.uk Pubs Officer: Ian Stamp Email: pubsofficer@norwichcamra.org.uk West Norfolk Branch Chairman: Steve Barker email: steve.barker495@btinternet.com Secretary: Ian Bailey Contact: Ian Bailey Tel: 01553 766904 Branch websites: www.norwichcamra.org.uk www.camra.org.uk/wnorfolk Branch mailing list web page: groups.yahoo.com/group/ CAMRA_Norwich Published every 3 months by the Norwich and Norfolk & West Norfolk branches of the Campaign for Real Ale Š N&N CAMRA 2016 Norfolk Nips is produced and distributed by members of the branch in their own time. Views expressed in Norfolk Nips are not necessarily those of the editor or of CAMRA.
62 | Summer 2016
Edited by: Graham Freeman Email: freem_kwak@yahoo.co.uk Chris Lucas Email: chris-stig@tiscali.co.uk Design & Production: Daniel Speed - Orchard House Media 01778 382758 Email: info@orchardhousemedia.co.uk Advertising: For advertising enquiries please contact Jane Michelson on: 01778 382718 jane@orchardhousemedia.co.uk Distribution: 12,000 copies / four times a year Norwich and Norfolk District: Adam Gannaway 07720 512453 nipsdistribution@norwichcamra.org.uk
West Norfolk District: Ros Harre r.harre@btinternet.com
“Not just a Pub!”
Real Cider and Real Ale Festival Fri 26th to Mon 29th August Music with The Dinsdales on fri and Graham McGrotty on sat.
REAL ALE • REAL WELCOME • REAL FOOD
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Serving Main Meals, Bar Meals and Sandwiches Food is available 7 days a week Check out our website for opening times and menu FOR BOOKINGS Tel 01508 493734. Visit us online at www.poringlandroyaloak.com 44 The Street, Poringland NR14 7JT