Issue 154 of Norfolk Nips & Cask Force

E E R F & CA SK CAS K FORCE No.154

Autumn 2010

STEAMED UP OVER REAL ALE

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway article inside!

Also inside: BEER FESTIVAL DIARY NORFOLK’S TRUE HERITAGE PUBS part 7 PUB AND TRADE NEWS Newsletter of the Norfolk Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale

Trafford Arms

Nelson Prepares for Battle!

Steve O’Shea cares – about his pub, his customers, and the local community. That much was evident at the Information Meeting he called at The Nelson, Nelson Road, Norwich on Tuesday 24th August 2010.

Steve is also a worried man, concerned for the future of The Nelson. The lease from Enterprise Inns is due for renewal on 15th October. Steve informed them that he would like to renew the lease on 15th March, but has heard nothing since. The signs are not positive. Currently, there are around seventy pubs a week closing for good.

Steve acknowledges that, unlike The Canary, there are several alternative pubs within walking distance and that a corner pub with it’s own car park and outbuildings is ripe for development – you could get around 24 flats on the site.

18th Valentine Beer Festival ‘The Meaning of Life!’

14th – 20th FEB 2011 Raising funds for Downs Syndrome Research Chris and Glynis invite you to the Trafford Arms -

61 Grove Road, Norwich 01603 628466 www.traffordarms.co.uk

email: mail@traffordarms.co.uk

The Nelson, however, is very much a community pub. It has music nights and there are 12 clubs including the Pigeon Club and a Drama Group who regularly use the premises. Sunday Lunch is enjoyed by Senior Citizens from nearby.

All of whom would need to find an alternative if the Nelson was shut. The Pubco, Enterprise Inns, have about 7,000 pubs Nationwide and being a PLC, they have obligations to their shareholders, but Steve knows that they have obligations to their tenants too.

£21,000 since May 2006, Enterprise has not invested a single penny.

Steve is not asking for much.

As he told the well attended meeting, all he is asking for is a Fair Deal. He wants the lease renewed, for at least five years, if not ten, with fair pricing on tied products and some investment to improve the infrastructure – more comfortable surroundings, as Steve put it. “Don’t mess with us - Time to put terms on the table”.

The meeting heard that Steve had plans for the future. He wanted to introduce themed food/ beverage nights, and bring back the full Nelson Food Menu.

The Nelson Music Club would be set up and a Pub Council formed, so that the regulars could have their say. None of this will happen unless the lease is renewed.

Steve has the backing of his local Member of Parliament, Simon Wright MP, who visited the pub the day before the meeting and Greg Mullholland MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, will visit in the next two or three weeks.

The mood of the meeting clearly showed that the Nelson’s regulars are behind Steve and will do what they can to secure the pub’s future.

A Fair Deal? They and Steve deserve nothing less. The closure of The Nelson would indeed be a sad loss to he community.

Mike Baldwin The purchase of Draught and bottled beers is tied. Enterprise did offer a small discount on beer prices, but only if spirits and soft drinks were tied too. The pub is in need of refurbishment, but although the Licensees and Breweries have invested over

STOP PRESS: Enterprise have since confirmed that they have made Steve an offer and that they have no plans to close the pub.

Norwich & Norfolk Branch Chairman: Graham Freeman Tel: 01603 687495 Email: chairman@norwichcamra.org.uk Secretary: Warren Wordsworth Tel: 01603 665557 Email: w.wordsworth@ntlworld.com Social Secretary: Tim MacDonald Tel. 01603 865505 Email: socialsecretary@norwichcamra.org.uk Pubs Officer: Mark Stimpson Email: pubsofficer@norwichcamra.org.uk

West Norfolk Branch Chairman: Phil Buffham Secretary: Ian Bailey Contact: Bruce Ward Tel: 01485 609107

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, Norfolk & West Norfolk branches of the Campaign for Real Ale © N&N CAMRA 2009 Norfolk Nips is produced and distributed by members of the branch in their own time.

Edited by: Mike Baldwin Email: michaelbaldwin8@gmail.com Chris Lucas Email: chris-stig@tiscali.co.uk Views expressed in Norfolk Nips are not necessarily those of the editor or of CAMRA Design & Production: Daniel Speed - Tamoko Design Email: dan@tamoko-design.co.uk Distribution: Norwich and Norfolk District: Tony Miles nips.distribution@gmail.com West Norfolk District : Ros Harre r.harre@btinternet.com Advertising: For advertising enquiries please contact Chris Shilling on: Tel: 01778 421 550 Mobile: 07736 635916 Email: chris@shillingmedia.co.uk Steve Whadcock Tel:01778 420888 / 421550 Mobile: 07736 635916 steve@shillingmedia.co.uk

AUTUMN 2010 | 3

NORFOLK NIPS | Chairman’s Letters

DUKE of WELLINGTON TRADITIONAL REAL ALE HOUSE 14 REAL ALES GRAVITY SERVED available all year round from our glass fronted tap room

6 MORE ALES ON HAND PUMP CAMRA Good Beer Guide Listed

Welcoming REAL FIRE

30 PLUS CHRISTMAS BEERS

Are you like me, still waiting for the Summer to start? Wanting to go out into the sunshine to visit a pub or beer festival and sitting outside with a beer or cider in your hand.

Well where has it gone? The Pubs and Beer Festivals are still there but we now seem to be losing our summertime and it'll soon be Autumn. They say we have global warming but beers with summer sounding names will be a thing of the past unless we get more sun.

How can I exist without Summer Lightning?

In the interests of research I’ve recently visited numerous pubs and beer festivals and it’s been good to see that there is still a demand for

Monday to Saturday 12noon to 11pm

Come and enjoy our Tap Room with a selection of Belgian bottled beers, Schneider Weiss, Erdinger, Dunkel and Riegele all on Draught.

Sundays 12noon to 10.30pm

Just 15 m in utes wal k from Ci ty Ce nt re

91 - 93 WATERLOO ROAD | NORWICH | 01603 441182

Real Ale & Ciders. How can we keep the momentum going? Well one way is to come and join us at the 33rd Norwich Beer Festival in St Andrews & Blackfriars Halls from 25th to 30th October. This is a great opportunity to try new beers and ciders and not forgetting some old favourites. Please consider volunteering and see how enjoyable it is to work behind the scenes and meet new friends.

I was encouraged in the last few weeks by the media interest in our Campaigning Strategies. Our thanks go to Mike Spivey, Pubs Preservation Officer and Mark Stimpson, Pubs Officer who have made it clear that our Branch is

quite prepared to oppose Pub closures and the ruthless actions of certain Pubcos. The idea of refusing an offer from the Trade to reopen a Pub and then accepting a lower offer from a builder so they can pull it down for houses is abhorrent. Please keep the information coming in as it all helps when we object to the Planning Applications.

And to those people who thought my previous Nips comments about England winning the World Cup was due to me being a saturated receptor. Well you were correct.

Cheers Graham Freeman Chairman Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA

Wet, Inside and Out! Whilst getting wet inside at several Beer Festivals, I got wet moving from Pub to Pub at times.

Flitcham Social Club had their mini Beer Festival which I visited on the Friday. 10 Ales from around Norfolk, and a quiz night to go with it. Very Pleasant and sociable.

Available throughout December Open

Summertime Blues

Saturday took me to King’s Lynn and the Crown & Mitre,29 Ales on all at £2.50 a Pint ,nice view up the River from the conservatory, barbecue on the Saturday and a hog roast on the Sunday. Unfortunately the weather was awful with it pouring down all night Saturday and a Gale force wind on the Sunday.

Having been to the Angel at Larling to present Andrew with West Norfolk branch pub of the Year Award, I was delighted to return to present him with the Norfolk CAMRA P.O.T Y. Award.

On the first night of the Angel Beer Festival there were 66 Ales and

4 Ciders. A wonderful beer selection at West Norfolk’s biggest Festival.

The Fox &Hounds at Heacham had the biggest of his 3 Festivals in July with 30 Ales in the back bar and 6 in the pub. Some good northern Ales among them.

August and I am struggling to fit everything in so my friend gave a report on the Dabbling Duck at Massingham which had a good selection of 20 Ales all at £2.50 a pint. I failed to make the Stuart House but I understand 40 Real Ales were soon consumed and by the Saturday night they were running out. A Good Festival for them.

Into Norwich Area and a visit to Longham White Horse proved to be worth the trip, a nice selection of 20 Ales, all at £2.60 a Pint, good music and company, looking forward to my hat-trick there next year.

I have just come back from a visit to the Victoria at Hockering now under the wing of Pete & Avril from the Angel at Swanton Morley, another good night, 16 Ales, 2 Ciders and a Barbecue.

Since the last edition of Nips we have completed 2 Pub crawls, the first round Kings Lynn (a day on the town) which covered 8 different watering holes, and secondly at trip to Ely, with thanks to Tim, which was a very enjoyable day, and the sun shone on us.

With all these events going on plus Branch Meetings (including a very good night at Whin Hill Cider plus charity barbecue. With thanks to the lads and Fred.) Its been difficult to fit much else in, but we did just manage to squeeze a Brewery trip in and visited Elgood’s brewery on Tuesday 17th of August. Thanks are due to Andrea for sorting that one out.

Buff Chairman Of West Norfolk CAMRA

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NORFOLK NIPS | Words from the Editors

The summer is drawing to a close; winter waits in ambush behind a vale of autumn leaves.

Went the summer well?

This is something on which everyone will have a personal view but mine is the only one I am really sure of.

I would say from a beer enthusiast’s perspective it was mostly very good, at least on the surface, many superb beer festivals have passed successfully with our local events being amongst the best of the

The Words of Stig

and can’t help thinking that we are all fiddling while Rome burns.

year, I won’t go into detail as there are plenty of reports contained in this issue.

Pubs are closing at alarming rate despite CAMRA’s valiant efforts, the number of local pubs in my area has halved in the last twelve months.

When asked recently where to go locally for a good pint I had to think hard to find anything within ten miles to recommend.

Just recently I’ve noticed a trend when pubs are criticised by their customers, threats of legal action tend to be bandied about, perhaps the thing to do

The Angel Larling put on its usual triumph with Andrew getting the Norfolk CAMRA Pub of the Year certificate to join his West Norfolk one.

A number of branch events have been popular and well attended, with a great barbecue at Whin Hill Cider in aid of the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

Chairman Buff seems to be trying to support the East Anglian pub trade single handed as you will read.

The GBBF was most enjoyable with many young beer enthusiasts in attendance who will hopefully contribute to CAMRA’s future some of the costumes were superb, great fun all round.

We are now printing and distributing 12,000 copies of this newsletter, which makes us the second largest in the UK, and it’s still free!

From this issue, the music pages are being extended to include all types of music, not just jazz and folk and listings for future issues would be very much welcomed.

Norfolk is a beautiful county, but it is easy to take things for

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your local to combat that!

All this gloom is very depressing, so do what I do, go to the pub with your mates and have a really good laugh and who knows the pub may well prosper and survive the onslaught of doom unscathed.

Isn’t it better to hear what customers thought was wrong rather than never see them again?

Maybe that glass is half full after all……

Barman, top it up please!

After Christmas the VAT increase raises the spectre of £3-50 a pint. It is going to take a really good atmosphere in

The Ed’lines

However, as might be gathered from my opening I’m a bit of a glass half empty man myself

Welcome to the autumn edition. Ah, autumn, according to John Keats - the “season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”– according to CAMRA members, The Norwich Beer Festival.

6

would be for them to use the feedback positively and improve performance in the areas mentioned.

After all large customer service based businesses spend millions to get this type of information.

granted. Do we truly appreciate what is on our own doorstep? The views of holiday makers make interesting reading and on page 27 Clive Taylor, Social Secretary for the Kingston and Leatherhead gives an account of his two weeks in and around Hunstanton. It also raises the interesting question, “Is this a Pub or a Restaurant?” What’s the difference? Some would say 50p per pint. My own view is to ask which is longer, the beer list or the menu.

Also, Warren and Graham give an account of their visit to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and report on their novel solution to serving real ale on the trains (How come I didn’t get an invite?).

As always, many thanks to all our Contributors, without whom this publication would not exist, and the Distributors without whom nobody would be able to read it!

The next issue will be edited by the Cask Force Team, as we will be recovering from the Beer Festival. Good luck, Chris.

And finally, if you spot me at the Beer Festival, please tell me what you like or don’t like about Norfolk NIPS, feedback is always appreciated.

Cheers!

Mike Baldwin Editor – Norwich & Norfolk Branch

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Pub News

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NORFOLK NIPS | Pub News from the West

Pub News Ramblings from the Snug It's a sad day when a pub closes for business, it's even sadder when a pub is demolished or redeveloped for housing.Unfortunately this seems to becoming a regular event in Norwich.

I recently sat in on one of Norwich City Council's planning meetings where the fate of a pub was being decided.

While there was some support among the councilers to retain the community pub and a 500 name petition from the local community to save the pub, the council saw fit to approve the application to demolish it and build housing on the site.

Councilors commented on it's declining business and their attitude was that the community should “Use it or Lose it”.

The pub in question was the Canary. Ok not a great pub I hear you say. I'm sure that given the right landlord and free from it's tie with Enterprise it could have been a good pub and an asset to the local community.

So its days are numbered and a community asset will be lost forever. A final token gesture from the Council was that any new road build as a result of the development should be named after the pub. So expect to see Canary Way or Canary Chase appearing on the map.

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Already this year both the Woodside and James 1 have been demolished. The James 1 was demolished even before a planning application to convert it to housing was approved.

Other pubs currently under threat are the Rosary and Spread Eagle on Sussex Street.

Both have had planning applications for change of use to housing. The future of the Magpie is also uncertain. Earlier in the year it was purchased by an anonomous bidder at auction. Since then, apart from railings being erected along the front there hasn't been any development.

Norwich City Council has a list of historic public houses that are safeguarded under [City of Norwich Replacement Local Plan] Policy SHO21. Unfortunately the Canary wasn’t on the list but the Rosary is.

For those that don't know, policy SHO21 seeks to protect historic pubs wherever possible. However it appears to have very little power to stop developers applying for a change of use.

For a change of use to be considered acceptable, all an applicant would be required to do is demonstrate that a pub is no longer a viable business, there has been unsuccessful attempts to attract additional business or unsuccessful attempts to attract a buyer to

News from the West keep the pub as a licensed premises.

On a brighter note, the Ferry Boat on King Street looks like it will be turned in to a backpackers hotel. I have spoken to the new owners who are keen to keep a real ale bar within the building. While a session pub dosn't appear to be viable option, it is good that real ale may sold once again at the Ferry Boat.

Changing the subject completely, once again the LocAle scheme will be promoted during the trade session at this years Norwich Beer Festival. Any publican wanting more information or would like to sign up to the scheme please feel free to come and have a chat at the festival.

And finally, don't forget to send me your nominations for the 2012 CAMRA National Good Beer Guide.

Nominations can be submitted by email to pubsofficer@norwichcamra.org.uk or by post to Mark Stimpson (Pubs Officer), 8 Pond Road, Horsford, Norwich NR10 3SW. I look forward to hearing from you.

Mark Stimpson

Many years ago I made the big mistake of listening to an album by the obscure north Manchester band called the Fall. I don’t recommend this.

There is a 99% chance you will absolutely hate it and therefore have wasted an hour, or that you will become obsessed by them to the exclusion of all other music. I am in the latter category and it may explain why, in the summer, as the whole world made tracks towards Kings Lynn for the free music festival in the Tuesday market place, we headed out of town.

First stop was the Victory at Clenchwarton. Only Cambridge Bitter on offer, but it was on good form and the pub was looking in good shape with special food evenings.

It was a bit early to eat so we went on to Terrington St Clement to try the Wildfowler, the pub where I made my competitive dominoes debut about 30 years ago but have rarely visited since. Greene King IPA and Abbot were on offer, but despite it being before 8pm and there being a good looking food menu on display there were no meals.

The landlady explained that everyone had eaten early and gone off to Lynn to see Lemar.

They are clearly in the 99%.

Not to be beaten we set off for the Coach and Horses but took a wrong turn on the Fen and ended up heading back to Lynn. Hungry by now we stopped at the Freebridge

Farm and had a reasonable priced meal along with a choice of Adnams and Wherry.

Its a busy formula pub much the same as many of the roadside establishments next to budget hotels, but with food and real ale on offer, you could do a lot worse.

The week before, the car needed some minor repairs up by the coast so we took advantage of the hot weather for an early evening wander around Hunstanton. First stop was the Waterfront Bar (formerly the Three in One), which had expensive Adnams and a super view out over the sea. After a very pleasant stroll around we had fish and chips in the Old Marine bar, run, I think, by the same company. More expensive Adnams, but reasonable food and friendly locals, though I dare say some had, in the words of Benjamin Franklin, ‘seen the French king’.

We caught the bus back to Lynn and alighted by the Woolpack. Seduced by the sign offering ‘traditional ales’ we popped in, only to find the IPA was off because ‘the weather was too hot’.

It is usually about this stage in my round up that I bemoan the fact that the New Inn in Lynn is still closed, but by the time you read this, it should be open again. It is in the same group as the Deer’s Leap in Thetford and may well change its name. Up in Stanhoe, the Crown is under new ownership and is called the Duck Inn. I haven’t been in yet, but it is

looking good from the outside and should be worth a visit.

On our travels we have noticed that the Sportsman at West Winch is still closed, although there was a viewing day for interested parties in June. Also closed is the Compasses in Snettisham.

If you don’t know about the reason for this, try googling it for all the lurid details. Better news for the residents of Shouldham where we hear that the Kings Arms is again open after a long closure. Also open again is the ‘South Gates Bar’, in Lynn, formerly O’Tools and before that the Prince of Wales. It was looking very blue when we came past and had bouncers on the door. I felt that they were probably not playing music by the Fall and carried on past.

Over at Grimston the Bell seems to be open on a regular basis. The landlord is keen on real ale and has had a cooled cellar fitted so that there will be hand pumped beer rather than polypins. He is selling Wherry initially, but there may be guest beer in the future.

I have always associated the Jenyns Arms at Denver Sluice with discos and tepid draught Bass, but it is nearly 30 years since my visit, so I was very pleased to see crowds of people enjoying Sunday lunch by the river and having a choice of 4 beers when I made a return trip. The beers came from Greene King and Adnams Continued Overleaf

AUTUMN 2010 | 9

NORFOLK NIPS | Pub News from the West continued w with the addition of a guest al ale from the Isle of Man – O Okells wheat beer.

The ONLY Thai Restaurant in Norwich in THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE 2011 011

We are in it!

THAI TAPAS from Monday to Thursday 5 - 6.30 pm

Winter Beer Festival

January 25th- 30th 2011

We are in it!

Finally a few places I have co come across on my travels.

W We were down in London at th the Queen’s garden party in Ju June and were lucky enough to miss the train home by two m minutes. I say lucky because it w was a swelteringly hot day to be dressed in a smart suit, es especially as Her majesty does no not have a beer tent. The en enforced delay gave us ch chance to pop into the Be Betjeman Arms on St Pancras st station for an excellent and m much needed pint of Ad Adnam’s. Its upstairs and al along near the statue – a real oa oasis for thirsty travellers.

Regular users of the A17 m may well have noticed that th the Ship at Fosdyke Bridge cl closed recently. It is now re reopen and painted in North N Norfolk national colours, but is really good value. It is no lo longer Bateman’s – Adnams w was on sale when we called – re really good value as well as go good quality. The food lo looked cheap and interesting as well.

LLightning strikes again It happened at Adnams years ag ago and now it has happened at Elgood's. I went on a tour of the brewery and a brand I w was not that keen on is now w wonderful. Here is my official g guide to five reasons why El Elgoods is great 1) The brewery is a magnifi-

cent example of a traditional tower brewery. Although it has been updated recently (helping the beer to be consistently good) much of the old equipment is still there to see, especially the giant open copper cooling trays.

2) Not only can you see the brewery, but the gardens are spectacular. I think that they compare favourably with those of the nearby National Trust property of Peckover House.

The newts in the pond gave their name to one of their beers.

(Go on – guess!)

3) It is a family owned firm.

Unlike the faceless conglomerates such as Scottish and Newcastle, Elgood’s is now in the hands of the 5th and 6th generation of the Elgoods family.

4) They sponsor football. Last week we went to see Kettering play Darlington. (It was 0-0, but a good game. Nice to see Paul Furlong still turning out and playing well at his age. The game was played at the Elgoods Brewery Arena and I believe that they sell cask beer in the supporters club.

5) Black Dog Mild. I don’t know anyone who has tried it and not loved it.

We were so impressed that we are off to their beer festival in September. There you are.

Elgoods has the official seal of approval from Jeff.

Further News Work is currently going on at the Compasses in Snettisham.

The Duck Inn in Stanhoe has been painted in North Norfolk colours and much extended. It is selling interesting looking food and the full range of Elgood’s beers on gravity from a glass-fronted cellar. There is a large glass topped table with a display of flint tools, which is well worth a look. Nearby is the Lynn Arms at Syderstone, which has been refurbished with a nice outdoor drinking area since our last visit. It now sells cask beers from Greene King.

There were three on offer when we called, but over the August bank holiday weekend there was a beer festival, which featured the full, range of Greene King beers and nothing else.

Over in Great Massingham, the Beeston beer ‘Worth the Wait’ was as good as ever when we went to arrange our November branch meeting. They also had a White Horse beer called ‘Village Idiot’. This is the bitterest beer I have ever tasted, even more so than the classic Joseph Holt’s bitter of the 80’s.

I love it.

In Lynn one of the few surviving North End pubs, the Retreat has been taken over by Brendan Flynn and Victor Watling from Essex. Look out for regular gigs in support of different charities.

Down in Swaffham, the Kings Arms is closed and the White Hart is looking a bit sad and is up to let. This is a town crying our for a good real ale pub.

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Earle Arms Heydon

The Gatehouse Pub 391 Dereham Road, Norwich NR5 8QJ 01603 620340

Traditional Norfolk freehouse and restaurant

3 Real Ales always available Woodfordes Wherry, Adnams Bitter and Black Sheep

01263 587376 Satnav: NR11 6AD (Just off B1149 Holt Norwich Rd)

FOUR REAL ALES Live Music, Friday & Saturday Large garden overlooking the River Wensum OPEN Mon - Thurs 12-11 Fri & Sat 12-12 • Sunday 12-11

The Lobster

& Stables Restaurant

Bull Close Road, Norwich

01603 623505

Batemans Beers and Guest Ales Very much a real local pub Cribbage, Darts and Pool Teams.

Patio Garden with smoking area.

Live music every Saturday • Real Fire • Great atmosphere Always a warm welcome from Sue and Steve 12

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FRESH FOOD SERVED DAILY n Vegetarian and Vega options available

OPENING HOURS Monday to Thursday 10am to 11pm Friday to Saturday 10am to 1.30am Sunday 12 noon to 12pm

BEER FESTIVALS ON BANK HOLIDAYS 10 Real Ales • Fine Wines • Childrens Menu Baby Changing • Disabled Facilities Large Beer Gardens • Dogs are welcome 13 High Street, Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8JP Tel: 01263 822716 www.the-lobster.com

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The King’s Head KEG FREE HOUSE

Open 12.00noon - 11.00pm Monday to Saturday 12.00noon - 10.30pm Sunday Run by enthusiastic drinkers and CAMRA members.

Keg Free Zone 14 Hand Pumps Norfolk Ales and Cider Mild always available Worldwide Bottled Beers Belgian Beers Television-free Bar Billiards

NORFOLK NIPS | West Norfolk POTY

Pub Post-its As always, remember that these post-its are subjective and reflect the personal experience of our correspondents. Please feel free to email your post-its in to norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk - and if you really like the pub, why not nominate it for next year’s CAMRA Good Beer Guide?

Hill House, Happisburgh Some pubs have bus stops named after them, some have areas of towns and cities taking their name but Norfolk has to go one better and have a pub giving its name to a time frame, location and occupation level some 80,000 years BP. Now on the beach, the site, discovered in 2000, was once on the banks of an early version of the Thames; it is too old for radiocarbon dating but is in the range 0.75 & 1 million years and may have been the location of Homo antecessor activity. It is now known as the Hill House Formation after the pub some 200m from the site.

Dating from the 14th century, the pub has been restored to a Victorian style.

The Chequers, Hainford Large, pretty thatched country pub with a well kept garden. Inside is mostly given over to food, including on a Sunday evening when all indoor tables were taken. However, there were a few at the bar not eating. The staff were good as was the beer choice, on our visit - Wherry, Broadside Pedigree and Crouch Vale's Brewers Gold. Food good too.

Fakenham Sports Centre White Horse, East Runton Busy by early evening with holiday makers and people eating, busy later on with people enjoying the live music and karaoke. There is an outdoor seating area too and a wide range of pub grub. Beers were good and included Adnams, Morlands Original and one or two others. Has the Cask Marque.

www.norwichbarbilliards.co.uk

rfolk o N A R M A C ar e Y e h t f o b Pu 8 2006 & 200

Food is available from an excellent menu and they also do bar snacks. Two real ales are always on tap, Woodfordes Wherry and Davenports The Story Teller were both in excellent condition on my visit.

Fakenham Sports Centre calls itself “Fakenham’s hidden treasure” and it certainly is, as I found out when I visited. Although the address is Hempton Road, you turn off after The Wensum Lodge and head towards the Racecourse. The Sports Centre is on the left just before the Racecourse entrance. If you are walking, take the delightful path beside the river.

Marlingford Bell Country pub where the one bar is adorned with classic album covers. The three handpumps had Woodfordes Wherry and Revenge, and Beeston Worth the Wait, all at £3 mark. Outside was a pleasant seating area where our summery visit was enhanced by quixotic folk dance frolics.

The Centre offers Golf, Indoor Bowls, Squash, Racketball and Tennis,but Social memberships are available for the less sporty minded.

The Kings Head, 42 Magdalen Street, Norwich NR3 1JE

www.kingsheadnorwich.com

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NORFOLK NIPS | Norfolk CAMRA Branch Calendar

CAMRA Calendar Norwich and North Norfolk Branch Tuesday 21st September Branch Meeting – Humpty Dumpty Brewery, Reedham, NR13 3TZ 20.00 –22.00 Friday 24th September Campaign Coach Trip Visiting several pubs in Norfolk Thursday 30th September 5th Beer Festival Planning Meeting - The White Lion, Oak Street, Norwich 20.00 –22.00 Friday 1st October First Friday Five - Visiting five pubs in Norwich, starting at The Gibraltar Gardens at 8pm.

Then The Nelson, The Bread and Cheese, The Perseverance and finally, The Fat Cat. Sunday 17th October Final Beer Festival Planning Meeting The White Lion, Oak Street, Norwich 19.30 – 21.30 Friday 22nd October Pre-Beer Festival Staff Get Together - The Cottage, Silver Road, Norwich For anyone intending to volunteer their time working at the 33rd Norwich Beer Festival.

Come and meet the Key Staff and other volunteers.

Saturday 23rd October The Beer Store - Loading of vehicles at The Beer Store and

transfer of equipment to the Halls 09.00 – 13.00 Sunday 24th October St Andrews and Blackfriars Halls Set up of stillages, casks and other facilities 09.00 – 17.00 Monday 25th October The 33rd Norwich Beer Festival opens: First session 17.30 23.00 - St Andrews and Blackfriars Halls Saturday 30th October The 33rd Norwich Beer Festival closes. Last session 18.00 – 23.00 Sunday 31st October St Andrews and Blackfriars Halls 09.00 – 14.00: Help is needed to dismantle and clear equipment from the halls Friday 5th November First Friday Five Visiting five pubs close to the City centre. Venues TBA Friday 12th November Beer Festival Volunteers Staff Party at the Scout Hut, Rowington Road, Norwich Tuesday 16th November Branch Meeting The Bannigham Crown Friday 3rd December First Friday Five - Venues TBA You do not have to be a member to attend any of these events, but if you do and you enjoy it, you are more than welcome to join. Just come along!

However, for coach trips, please contact Tim McDonald to book your seat on the coach and let us know where you want to be picked up.

Pick up points: 6.47pm junction of Southwell Road/Grove Road, 6.55pm junction of Old Palace Road/ West End Street, 7.10pm Heartsease Roundabout (Harvey Lane side) 7.15pm Railway Station (Thorpe Road Bus Stops).

For more details and updates, please check the full calendar on www.norwichcamra.org.uk NEW – Updates on the First Friday Fives can also be found at Firstfridayfives.blogspot.com

West Norfolk Branch Tuesday 14th September Angel, Larling. 8pm Tuesday 12th October AGM, Red Cat, North Wootton Friday 9th November Branch Meeting - Dabbling Duck, Great Massingham, 8pm

Got a short pint?

If you believe that you have been treated unfairly in a pub, club or bar, you should contact the Trading Standards service by writing to them at Norfolk Trading Standards Service, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2UD or faxing them on 01603 222999.

A wide range of consumer information and advice is also available online from the Consumer Direct website at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

AUTUMN 2010 | 17

| NORFOLK NIPS

NORFOLK NIPS |

This series of articles highlight the pubs whose interiors have been little altered in the past 40 years or so. This issue features firstly a pub that is very instructive in the way it has grown over time and expanded into adjacent buildings; and secondly one of the most unusual pub buildings in Norfolk.

Three Horseshoes, Warham m The Three Horseshoes, Warham All Saints is a nineteenth-century building with three rooms but prior to the early 1960s the pub only consisted of the current public bar and a snug, which is now the servery. If you look behind the bar you will see a fireplace as this was a public room with a nickname of 'The Sentry Box' in view of its size.

The cupboards within the

servery area are genuinely old, but the shelving was added in the mid 1980s. The small hatch/counter was created in the 1960s when a hole was cut in the wall between the bar and the snug. On the stub of a partition note the number '2' and also the number '3' over the door to the original cellar – a requirement of licensing

magistrates in the past. The public bar is barely altered in many years with its Norfolk pamment floor, dado panelling and scrubbed benches. Look for the rare metal grilles in the windows with the name of the former Norwich brewers, Steward & Patteson, and one of the few remaining Norfolk Twister pub games on the ceiling. On the left of the public bar is a room created in the mid 1960s when the arch (visible outside and in the room itself) was filled in – note the old photograph on the

wall. To the left was originally a general store which closed many years ago. The sliding door situated between the present third room and the passage to the toilets was moved here from the snug.

Although they are both creations, the second and third rooms do look authentic being crammed with various items of memorabilia including brewery and distillers' posters, an old juke box and one-armed bandits, farming implements etc. - even the two doors with 'Billiards' and 'Room' etched glass panels on them have been imported.

Three Horseshoes, Bridge Street, Warham All Saints NR23 1NL is open from 12

© Michael Slaughter 2010

Norfolk’s True Heritage Pubs 7

The original public bar of the Three Horseshoes, Warham All Saints noon to 2.30; and 6pm to 11pm . Meals are served from 12 noon to 1.45; and 6pm to 8pm. Accommodation is available in the Old Post Office, now part of the property -

there are 3 Double Rooms (1 En-suite) and 2 Single Rooms.

The real ales on sale are Woodfordes Wherry, usually Greene King IPA and a guest beer.

Phone 01328 710547.

Never Turn Back, Caister The Never Turn Back, Caister is a remarkable Art Deco-style beach-front extravaganza built

by Lacons of Yarmouth in 1957. It replaced the Manor House Hotel built in 1793 which, due to coastal erosion, fell to the beach in ruins in 1941. The main entrance is in a square two-storey tower adorned with curious panels inlaid with abstract patterns of flint, brick and stone. To one side is a tall, slim, oval turret with the Lacons falcon perched on top. The single storey flat roof bars are to the right and left, each with a veranda supported by brick pillars. The counter in the public bar on the left is especially fine with a brick and pebble inlay.

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However, in the lounge both bar counter front and panelling on the walls are new (having replaced green plastic panels!), and the fixed seating in both bars has also been replaced.

Rolling shutters separated the rear section of the right hand

bar until they were removed in 2007 to make the room larger for its music events; something similar was carried out to create the rear darts area in the public bar . Note the two small Continued Overleaf

AUTUMN 2010 | 19

NORFOLK NIPS | Heritage Pubs continued said, was because “Caister Men Never Turn Back”.

The public bar at the Never Turn Back, Caister shutters covering hatches to the servery. The lobby retains its original slatted benches which are used by children to sit and eat crisps while their parents drank in the bar! The gents’ toilets retain their three original big urinals. The pub name remembers the Caister Lifeboat disaster of 1901, which, it is

Update Alby

Horseshoes

Aldborough Attleborough Clippesby Cromer Drayton Earsham Filby Gorleston Gorleston Gt Yarmouth Gt Yarmouth Gt Yarmouth Hopton Kenninghall Lyng North Elmham North Walsham Norwich Norwich

Black Boys London Tavern Muskett Arms The Cottage Bob Carter Leisure Centre Queens Head The Kings Head Dock Tavern Mariners Compass Mariners Red Herring St Johns Head White Hart Red Lion Fox & Hounds Railway Orchard Gardens Beehive Champion

The Never Turn Back, Manor Road, Caister NR30 5HG is open from 12 noon to 11pm (12 midnight Fri, Sat).

Meals are served from 5 to 9pm (not Mon) and Sunday lunches from 12 to 5. Live music (2-3 piece bands) 5pm to 7pm Sundays. Phone number of licensee Tim Gongo is 07731 145534. Unfortunately, no real ale is on sale.

Hopefully, for 2011 season camping and caravanning site will be available.

If you require photographs of your pub interior / exterior you can contact Mick on 01733 390598 or email m.slaughter45@ntlworld.com to discuss your requirements.

Here is a current list of all the pubs in the area which are part of the CAMRA LocAle scheme.

New entries are in Bold.

Norwich Norwich Norwich Norwich Norwich Norwich Norwich Norwich Norwich Norwich Norwich Reedham Reedham Reedham Tacolneston Sheringham Swardeston Wroxham Wymondham Wymondham

Cottage (Silver Road) Gardeners/Murderers Jubilee Ketts Tavern Kings Head Leopard Rose Take 5 Trafford Arms Vine York Tavern Ferry Lord Nelson Ship Pelican Windham Arms Lakenham/Hewitt Rugby Club Brewery Tap Cross Keys Green Dragon

AUTUMN 2010 | 21

The

Cottage

Festivals and Real Ale

CROMER

Traditional Norfolk Free House

Four Real Ales always available including Woodfordes Wherry, Greene King IPA and two ever-changing guest ales

Sandwiches always available Function rooms for hire Open daily 11am-2.30pm & 5.30pm - 11pm

Bingo Friday nights Line dancing Sunday Nights Cribbage on Monday Nights 8 Louden Rd, Cromer NR27 9EF (Just 3 mins walk from the Sea)

Open all day every day, food is served:12-2 & 6-9 Tuesday to Sunday

Offering four LOCAL real

12-3 Sunday for plated home cooked Sunday lunches with homemade Yorkshire puddings and fresh vegetables. Booking advised if dining.

ales and excellent food.

Quiz Nights every Wednesday from 8.30pm

17th Century timber beamed pub.

A meat raffle is held every Sunday at 4:30pm

From Norwich & Acle head to Salhouse and at the mini roundabout follow the sign to Wroxham, we are 200yds on the right.

follwed by ‘Play Your Cards Right’ for cash!

‘Andy Russell finds plenty of appeal with a family outing to a 17th century pub’ - EDP Eating out October 2009

Tel: 01603 721141 www.salhousebell.co.uk 22

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Latitude is in it’s 5th year at Henham Park near Southwold and is now widely established as East Anglia’s Glastonbury. The festival has 4 music stages and 13 other stages, and hosts the best in Theatre, Comedy, Literary, Comedy, Cabaret and many other arts in just one place.

The Music stages have a reputation of showing off up and coming artists and those that are more leftfield or eclectic in taste. The festival is supposedly a “middle class” festival but really all festivals these days are “middle class” such is the moderate expense.

At Latitude this year 2 very nice real ales were available straight from the barrel: a very drinkable golden hoppy ale in Hektors Pure 3.7% £3.40 and a stronger slightly darker but still hoppy Hektors Scarecrow 4.8% £3.90. Both are made by the affable Green Jack Brewery from Oulton Broad near Lowestoft so the beer has a local slant and not so many food miles involved. It seems that the even closer Adnams are either not interested or were not asked as they are almost a national brand these days and would possible demand a lot of advertisement in the way of sponsorship!! This is good as I would not want to go a festival heavily endorsed with name brands every which way you turn – keep it local, tasty and help the smaller brewer.

Nige

NORFOLK NIPS | King’s Lynn Crawl

The Real Ale Shop Branthill Farm, Wells-next-the-Sea, NORFOLK NR23 1SB ON THE B1105 FAKENHAM- WELLS RD

Over 50 bottle conditioned real ales from 15 Norfolk brewers who all use Branthill Farms famous malted barley.

TEL: 01328 710810

www.therealaleshop.co.uk

THE ARTICHOKE FREEHOUSE at Broome

Up to 8 Real Ales (4 on gravity) 3 Belgian Fruit Beers Outstanding selection of Scottish malt & Irish Whisky Opening Hours 12pm to 11pm weekdays & Sunday 12pm to 12am Friday & Saturday Closed Mondays (Except Bank Holidays)

Lunchtime Meals

162 Yarmouth Road, Broome, Bungay NR35 2NZ Tel: 01986 893325

12pm to 2.30pm weekdays 12pm to 4pm Sundays

Evening Meals

On the 580 and 588 Anglia Bus routes

6.30pm to 9pm Tuesday to Saturday (Booking is advisable)

NORFOLK CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2009 Beer garden and ample parking 24

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A Day On The Town Sunday 6th June was our pub crawl round King’s Lynn. The sun was shining; Bruce and I caught the 10:30 bus to Lynn, giving us time for breakfast at 11:15 in The Lattice House. Washed down with a pint before meeting the others at 12:00, obviously to be sociable we then had to have another pint with them. At £1.99 a pint and a choice of 10 ales we were off to a good start.

Next it was round to the Crown and Mitre where the previous weekend Roger had a beer festival with 29 ales on, some beer was left from this and six pumps were on at £2 a pint, we all enjoyed our ale on the Balcony Conservatory or out on the decking in the sun so much so that we stayed for another. Then it was off to the Globe next door. Here I had a pint of mild which was very cold, and the general opinion was that all their real ales were too cold. If this hadn’t put a dampener on things it did when we stepped out into the rain. The idea of just a t-shirt now didn’t seem to me to be such a good one. So at a fairly rapid pace we headed for the Bank House where we had ½ pt Adnams bitter.

Before quickly moving on up the quay to Bradley’s where we had a half of Broadside before they ran out of Beer. Next stop was the Crossways for a pint of Abbot; the pub was fairly busy then across London road to Windsor road and the Live and Let Live. Here I ran into several people I knew with three ales on at £2.20 a Pint. I had a pint from Brains Brewery before deciding to stay for a pint of Black Dog Mild. Whilst some of our company left us and some moved on to the Bar Red. Having had a very sociable 2 pints in the Livvy. I headed up London road into the Chip Shop, scampi and chips were soon dispatched to join the beer under the porch of the town police station as it was still raining. Then on to Bar Red, meeting up with Heidi the manager from the Lattice. I had a pint of Directors not one of my favorite Beers.

Then back to the Lattice to meet up with some

what inebriated Bruce who enquired as to where I’d been, or words to that effect.

Having seen Bruce struggling to ring his Wife to come and pick us up my entertainment for the day was complete. When she arrived and called to inform us, Bruce took five attempts to answer the phone and when we got in the car I wondered whether his furry friend on the back seat or him were going to be in the dog house for the night. A good day on the Town, with a good choice of well priced ales. Our apologies if we missed your pub out. And if anyone would like their pub added to the list for next year please let us know.

BUFF

REAL ALE SHOP BLOFIELD Visit the shop at Blofield Camping and Leisure Centre, 58 Yarmouth Road, Blofield, Norfolk, NR13 4LQ

Stocking a selection of local Real Ales, Wines and Ciders

Tel: 01493 751975 email: beer@norfolksquarebrewery.co.uk www.norfolksquarebrewery.co.uk

AUTUMN 2010 | 25

NORFOLK NIPS |Hunstanton and Beyond

What I did on my Holidays Part one by Clive Taylor My name is Clive Taylor, social sec for Kingston & Leatherhead area.

Just last week I returned from a couple of weeks holiday staying at Hunstanton, and needless to say I managed to visit a few pubs in your area.

Sat 10th July 10 ; Arrived at Kings Lynn on the train, picked up our hire car and headed out towards Hunstanton. My wife does the driving, while I do the navigating, and the drinking. Since we weren’t allowed into our flat until two thirty I picked out a suitable stopping off watering hole to kick off the holiday. The village of Dersingham seemed quite good, just off the main road and with two Good Beer Guide pubs as well. The first one we came to was the Feathers so this would do, an old hotel made of the local carr stone, as I was later to find out what it is called.

We went along an old corridor with several doors off it, one to a side bar but no one was in it so we carried on to the end to find the main bar that also led out to the garden. The bar was all suitably in keeping with brown carpet, high wood wall panelling, stone fireplaces and upholstered benches around the walls. Unfortunately at the bar the beer range was a little disappointing, ie Bass, OSH and Adnams, I went for the Adnams which was only fair in quality.

We carried on our journey to find our flat in Hunstanton, settled in and then I took myself out to have a look around. A walk along the very busy front and back where I found Hunstantons Good Beer Guide pub, or to be more precise, hotel, or going back in time the

station hotel as the railway station was right opposite, but now it’s called the Wash And Tope. It’s a typical seaside bar, quite long and comfortable, but with only one beer on pump, which was Elgood’s Golden Newt, a bit more of a result but it was only fair also. A bit disappointing for a Good Beer Guide. pub.

Sun 11th Not to far away was open gardens day at Holme Next The Sea, so more for my wife’s benefit we visited some of them, but rather conveniently the White Horse was close by, even though there was tea being served in the church hall. The White Horse lays side on to the village road, white with red tiles. All very nice inside with low ceilings, old style but with a slightly modern feel about it, but at the bar just two beers on, Adnams and OSH. I tried the Adnams and it wasn’t bad at all at £3.10.

On The way back we went via Ringstead and the Gin Trap Inn, another white fronted pub with red tiles set back from the road. All very old inside with low beams and red tiled floors, and at the bar three beers - Adnams, Spitfire and Wherry. I had a pint of the Wherry which was just fair as we sat outside in front of the pub.

The following weekend we came back here to have a meal, it wasn’t cheap so when I spoke to the ‘landlord’ about the pricing and some of the portions, and mentioning the quote about ‘pubs that think themselves restaurants’, it seems that I was wrong in thinking this was a pub, I was informed it was in fact a restaurant!

This evening we drove the other

way to Heacham and called at the Fox And Hounds, initially to have a meal but on first observations it didn’t seem a suitable pub for eating so I just had a pint of one of their own brews, the brewery is just outside. Not having come across Fox beers before I thought I’d go for the best bitter and I wasn’t disappointed, the best pint so far, it was good. To be fair to the pub, before I left I discovered a separate eating area to the rear and it looked quite pleasant, so the following weekend we did come back and have a good meal that didn’t break the bank, and some more of the Fox beers.

We carried on a little bit further to the West Norfolk Inn, a seemingly decent locals pub doing four beers, GK IPA, Hobgoblin, OSH and CWB. I didn’t have a beer as we had a meal, but it had the feel of a well run pub with its Pullman style bar and various other railway artefacts about, quite suitably as the old railway station used to be just outside many years ago.

Mon 12th Went to Sandringham so on the way we drove through Snettisham calling at the Rose And Crown for a midday drink. A regional inventory pub and Good Beer Guide entry, all very old with its large inglenook fireplaces, red tiled floors, but rather unfortunately most of the woodwork had been painted a light gastro green.

Seems a rather prevalent thing in this area to paint the woodwork I noticed. At the bar was Wherry, Adnams Bitter and Broadside and one from Purity which I went for.

Rather disappointing, I didn’t think it had been pulled through.

Continued Overleaf

AUTUMN 2010 | 27

Hunstanton and Beyond The following week we called here again as it was a good old pub, but I’m afraid I was let done again, this time there was Everards Golden Zest. Not so much golden but almost transparent, very thin tasting and not particularly good, so we had to adjourn to the Fox And Hounds.

After our damp afternoon at Sandringham we stopped of at the Coach And Horses at Dersingham, a more basic locals pub but seemed run well enough. Three beers were available, GK Back Of The Net, Caledonian Nectar and Wherry, having drunk the first two recently in my own area I went for the Wherry (£2.95) and it was good, so worth the stop.

That evening I started discovering Hunstanton, ‘might not take too long’ you may think, but all the same I ventured up to the Golden Lion Hotel. As my wife pointed out the statue of a lion on the front of the pub actually looked more silver, but I’ve yet to hear of a Silver Lion pub. It’s a large stone building overlooking the green so it looks quite impressive. Inside there is a simple modern bar with a more traditional wood panelled room to the rear. On my first visit I only saw GK IPA on so no choice, but after ordering I noticed a note pinned to the bar advertising Brains SA, oh too late! Seems they didn’t have a pump clip for it. But over my two weeks I did come back here several times and the beer was good, even though at £3.25 for the Brains. The guest beer did change several times and each time it was good.

Moving up around the corner I found the Old Marine Hotel with a lower bar, just one area but all rather cosy and comfortable.

Always just the one beer on and that being Adnams (£3.10), but having said that it was always good and I did return several times.

Tues 13th Today we travelled on 28

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| NORFOLK NIPS down to Narborough to visit the hall there, on the way we called at Gayton and visited the Crown. A good old two bar pub owned by Greene King, with as one would expect serving GK IPA, OSH, Back Of The Net and fortunately also their mild which I partook of and it was good. A very nice old pub, popular and well run.

Later on that afternoon we got to Castle Acre, and after having a walk around the ruins of the castle we went in to the Ostrich, another Greene King pub. Also quite unspoiled and traditional with a wood floor, inglenook fireplaces and old style gold pattern wallpaper. There was the usual GK range except this time the St Edmunds (£3) was on, and since I hadn’t really tried this one I went for it and it was actually quite refreshing.

Leaving the Ostrich we headed back north and to break up the journey we stopped off at Great Bircham and the Kings Head, I had read the description so was not completely taken aback to find this totally modernised bar, which was doing GK IPA and Wherry.

That evening I ventured the walk over to Old Hunstanton and to the Lodge Hotel, a fairly large old building on the main road. The actual bar runs along the side of the hotel going back to the rear, unfortunately it was all very modern in style, almost barren with its wood floor and very plain walls.

On at the bar was the standard GK IPA, Abbot and Wherry, I went for the Wherry for £2.80 and perhaps surprisingly is wasn’t bad either. I did come back here a couple of times more and they had Woodfords Game On for £3.10 and that was actually quite good as well.

Cutting down the side road opposite I came to the Ancient Mariner, an old flint built pub incorporated with the adjoining Best Western Hotel. One long bar

NORFOLK NIPS | Norwich Beer Festival with a jumble of various seating areas in an old traditional style, all very commercial but seemingly rather popular, I suppose the competition is not to fierce around here. At the bar was Adnams Bitter and Broadside, Wherry (£3.15) and Doombar. I went for the Broadside, it again wasn’t bad, but at £3.40 it shouldn’t be. Likewise I came back here several times and found a beer from Holts called Loose Cannon and that was rather good, also there was Waggle Dance from Youngs.

Wed 14th Drove down to have a ride on the Mid Norfolk Railway at Dereham, on the way we called in at the Railway at North Elmham. A rather locals pub but with a bit of a bohemian feel about it with its varied seating, railway pictures and other things about. The beer range was interesting with Elmtree Burston Cuckoo, Cottage Great Bear, Buffy’s Best Bitter, Spectrum 43 and St Peters Best Bitter.

I tried a pint of the Elmtree as we sat outside in the sun.

After our train trip we had a walk around Dereham and found the George Hotel with its dark old wood panelled bar, all quite smart and comfortable. At the bar was Adnams Bitter and Broadside, and Woodfords Wherry and Sundew. I went for the Sundew (£2.95) which was in a fair condition.

On our way back we went via Brancaster Staithe and stopped off at the White Horse, a plain looking pub with the pub sign showing the front and rear end of the white horse on either side. Inside it was all very light and bright with a front bar area and going back to the rear at one side. Lots of old framed photos of the area were on the walls. At the bar was Adnams Explorer, Wherry and two beers from the local brewery Brancaster, the Best and Oyster Catcher. I had the Best and it was good, the best today.

To be continued in the December issue of Norfolk Nips and Cask Force

Music at Norwich Beer Fest Rule 1: This is a beer festival that provides musical entertainment at most sessions not the other way round.

Rule 2: You cannot please all the people all the time and it is foolish to try.

There you go; Simples! That is all you need to need to know to organise the music at Norwich Beer Festival, however, as the esteemed editor asked for a few lines on the subject I suppose I had better expand on those statements!

Norwich Beer Festival has been based at the Halls complex from its modest beginnings in 1977 but, in recent years, following on from a court case, the Halls have been subject to considerable restrictions on the use of amplified music and that now dictates what is provided and when it is provided. In short a group of buildings that have been used for public gatherings and entertainment and plenty of other activities since the sixteenth century cannot be used in the way many remember from just a few years ago. To put the situation into context we can book and hear a brass/silver band, never the quietest of musical outpourings but cannot entertain a folk 2 piece with a mini amp for fiddle and mando, chello or whatever after 20.00, end of sermon!

However within these restrictions we plough steadily on and like the other aspects of the festival planning starts early in the year. A blank spreadsheet becomes a planning form for 5 lunchtime sessions, 4 early evening and 5 mid-evening slots with additional space(s) for the St.Andrews organ (a very temperamental piece of kit) and for the provision of stage sound as we bring in our own sound engineer who is familiar with the challenges that the combination of happy chatty people plus the soaring vault of St A’s provide.

Some slots almost fill themselves; most years we book a lunchtime session for a string quartet and a couple of slots for a jazz quartet, one brass band has been a fixture since the early days and is allocated two main evening bookings.

Then there are last year’s performers, did anyone really stand out and are they available for this year, perhaps there is a band we booked a few years ago and should go down well again if they are available?

Of course there is the converse

side, a band composed of excellent musicians with a lead singer and musician who could hold an audience by reading out the Yarmouth telephone directory let alone by singing and who enjoyed playing the festival but who decide to call it a day, ahh well, some you win etc.etc. In addition to the usual faces we try to introduce a couple of new bands every year to provide variety; some will go well, some of these will become festival favourites, some just don’t work in the challenging environment that is the N&N Beer fest and just once in a while there will be a complete train crash when the band and audience stage an acrimonious musical divorce despite the gig you saw a few months ago when they went down a storm with a similar crowd; learn and move on!

With any luck the slots will be filled, hopefully with a reserve option to allow for accidents, sickness, double booking, bereavement etc and by August-September the confirContinued Overleaf

AUTUMN 2010 | 29

Queen’s Head and Waveney Brewing Company Traditional Village Pub with a brewery producing permanent and seasonal ales on site Large beer garden, traditional games, lunchtime menu and a good selection of real ale, spirits and soft drinks Listed in the Good Beer Guide every year since 2000.

Station Road, Earsham, Norfolk

Tel: (01986) 892623

The City’s favourite local

The Ribs A GENUINE FREE HOUSE

9 Cask Ales - 6 Lagers and Local Cider Global Bottled Beers - Award winning Wines Brand new look and hi tech cellar Riverside seating and smoking area • Delicious home cooked lunches

Wensum Street, Norwich NR3 1HY

Tel: 01603 619517

www.ribsofbeef.co.uk

Quiz Monday evenings - Blues Nights 1st Sunday of each month Sunday Roasts 12 noon- 5pm

Book a table for four or more people for Sunday Roasts & receive a Complimentary bottle of house wine.

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Continued from page 29 mation letters will go out, the stage plans requested, the sound requirements sorted, will band members be arriving straight from work, will they need a snack? And then there will be the late panics, laughable later but at the time a hassle you could live without, the guitarist that tries to amputate a finger with a razor edged string, the booking lost in the Post, the entry to the programme that went astray; but then finally all the fee’s are agreed and the web-site master has the final running order, the prog editor has all the write-ups and what to do but to wait for the set-up weekend........

The week itself passes in a blur of hurried meals, too little sleep, tie wraps and gaffer tape, arrangements made on the hoof, with hopefully the odd ½ pint of something new to keep us all going until suddenly it is Saturday night the Halls are full and it is time for that last call on the PA of ‘That is Time ladies and gentleman please’ and there is nothing left to do but dismantle the whole edifice, say goodbye to the faces you sometimes only encounter within the Festival week and wait for the shakedown meeting when, after we have put the world to rights, buried the odd hatchets in the guilty, someone will always come up and ask ‘are you doing it again next year?’

Well what do you think?

Jon Knight Buyer

NORFOLK NIPS | Norwich Backpackers Letter

Norwich Backpackers at The Ferry Boat Inn Dear Norwich CAMRA, I thought I should drop you a note, as I’m not sure who has seen my letter of a few months ago about our plans for Norwich Backpackers at the Ferry Boat Inn. As you know, the pub has been shut for a few years now, closed down primarily due to noise complaints by the local flats. As a pub, it isn’t viable without the live music, and the continual development of land around site isn’t likely to make live music a reality again.

Much of the existing building is pretty much derelict. We bought it in January and have already done some work, re-roofed the main part of the building, which houses the front bar and the tenants flat.

The back bar and music room buildings are in a terrible state and basically have to come down and be rebuilt.

Our plans for the site are to rebuild the back areas of the existing buildings, creating a living room/kitchen for the backpackers hostel, a cycle hire/canoe hire barn and a café. Over the car park we plan to build a new warehouse style building to house the accommodation for backpackers and then a reception building linking the old and new buildings.

The front bar of the existing building would then become a real ale appreciation shop/bar.

The space for the shop/bar won’t be big enough to create a real ale session pub like the Fat Cat, but would be big enough to be an amazing introduction bar for real ale.

The excellent cellar would still be available, so the shop/bar could have a few beers on tap, while selling an excellent range of bottled beers.

We are very keen to have CAMRA involved and I’d be very happy to meet up with the branch to talk about our plans further.

A few CAMRA members have been in touch about becoming tenants of the new shop/bar, which is very exciting.

The planning application is now live on the Norwich City Councils website at: http://planning.norwich.gov.uk /online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=sum mary&keyVal=L6MWMSLX0J3 00 Regards Jason Borthwick

AUTUMN 2010 | 31

Yarmouth Visit

| NORFOLK NIPS

NORFOLK NIPS |

Central Yarmouth Pub Scene able we pushed off to The Crystal on Fullers Hill.

On Monday 5th July we started a crawl at the White Horse by the Bure Bridge at Yarmouth. Well when I say started there that is not entirely accurate. We’d actually stopped first at the Suspension Bridge on the other side of the river but it was shut (this was about 8pm). It did not look permanently closed but there you are. We can take a hint and so we did. The Adnams Bitter at the White Horse was not cheap at £1.50 a half but we were both pleasantly surprised by its quality. In fact so much so that we were encouraged to have another. However this time I made a mistake and had a half of Wherry. Although slightly cloudy it was not off, it was just … just that it did not taste of anything. We discussed tastings of the beer that we had had over the last few months and came to the conclusion that the accountants had got hold of the recipe for Wherry over the years and now it was but a shadow of its former self. I don’t know if this is true but I can say that what I drank then was not the same beer that won all those medals years ago. Having tried the entire range of two beers avail32

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Now I remember the Crystal when John & Joyce had it in the late 60’s and 70’s. It was then one of only two pubs in Yarmouth to keep real ale along with Allen’s Bar behind the Town Hall. Many is the hour that I have sat outside the snug with me bottle of Vimto and bag of Nibbits while Dad had his regulation 3 pints of “E”. They had an unusual tradition that when you entered the pub you bought yourself a pint and everybody else a half. This of course ensured that the new drinker had enough to slake his thirst quickly but also that everybody else had something without breaking the buyer’s bank.

The result was, apart from a friendly banter from all, that those present drank more quickly than is normal because you tend to drink 2 halves quicker than you do a pint.

Try it, it’s true. However that was then and this is now. There is no real ale in the Crystal however there is very loud thump, thump music and many cold lagers. As my Uncle Reg would say “I would not go in there to pee in the bog”.

We pass on but not without a sigh for lost glories.

The Gallon Pot on the Market Place was next, Adnams again in good nick. I decided I had suffered enough for the cause

for the moment and ignored the Wherry this time. It was quieter than I had seen it before but then I remembered that this was a lunchtime pub.

Then over the market to ….

The Coachmakers was busy but the temptation to drink GK IPA from the only hand pump was resisted. People say CAMRA members have no will power but just how little do they know us! However as we went down the road towards Sainsbury’s and over the traffic lights Des became all excited.

He reckoned that the whole of the car park in front of you covers a plague pit. This is where 7,000 Yarmouth residents (out of a population of 10,000) were dumped in the 1340’s during the Black Death.

He has lots of old information like that. I expect he saw some of it happen.

Our heads went briefly into the Tudor Tavern but seeing nothing on the hand pumps and not being into masochism we left. During the days when Sir Bobby Robson was collecting silverware with

Ipswich I had played on the wing for the team based here.

That was when it was known as the St Nicholas Tavern. Our only claim to fame was that our manager was the landlady.

We got onto TV for that.

I don’t remember a time when we were not bottom of whatever league we were in. Ha, ha.

But they were happy times and we drank a lot of beer. Passing the old Silk Mills (now a Chinese Restaurant) we dived in at The Oliver Twist .

This corner pub had a modest range of Blackfriars beers and two draft ciders. We had our first friendly welcome of the night. My Twos was a bit of a shock but once I got used to it quite pleasant. I did try to get Des to order “A half ‘o half an’ half”. But he did not fall for that one. Unfortunately he was less impressed with his selection and most of it was still in his glass when we left.

We walked back to Northgate Street, past St Nicholas church

and on to the Kings Head.

We had left this one until the last because during our previous two visits we had been deeply impressed by the quality of the beers presented to us. So it was with much disappointment we found that the place was shut. Perhaps it was because it was a Monday perhaps this is the way that it is. Whatever, we still had both capacity and time. So we pushed on down Northgate Street to the Coach & Horses.

It was a home match on pool night and it was heaving.

Again a small corner local but retaining a lot of character.

Even a small snug such as Ena Sharples and Mini Caldwell used to use in The Rovers Return It was filled with the requisite older (even by our standards) generation but without the Milk Stout. For a change Des bought the round and presented me with an unknown beer which was so highly hopped it had to be Batemans. He was smiling all over his face for if there is one thing that he loves nearly as much as his wife & children it’s a hop. We were both impressed. It seemed cheap too (£2.30 a pint). When we realised that we were deeply impressed. No selection, there was only one (probably two on other nights) but well kept and a good atmosphere. Spotless pub too. Without doubt the find of the night.

asked “Do you have any real ale ?” Who then answered “No” took the hint as we promptly left.

Further I hope that those who found glasses left with beer still in them wonder why. It was not because they were off.

Had that been the case they would have been taken back, it was because they were just not very good.

Too many publicans think that the keeping of vast number of different beers is the way forward but I disagree. I would rather have a choice of one or two beers kept in very good order than 5-8 indifferent ones.

A good night, some good beer, some reminiscing, some walking, some local history but mainly an appreciation of beer and a realisation how far CAMRA has come, in 30 odd years.

Patrick Smith, Des O’Brien

Norfolk Nips Online Did you know that you can also read Norfolk NIPS on line?

Just go to www.NorwichCamra.co.uk

and click on the Branch Newsletter link

I hope the licensees that we

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The Cottage

NORFOLK NIPS | Real Cider

Real Cider Sold Here

FREEHOUSE

and/or perry all year round and despite real cider and perry being a rare sight in most pubs we have now signed up over 400 pubs. Pubs in Norfolk which are already part of the scheme are:-

9 Silver Road, Norwich, NR3 4TB. Tel: 01603 665535 www.thecottagenorwich.co.uk

• Up to Ten Cask Ales • Real Cider

Lattice House Chapel Street, King's Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1EG, Tel: 01553 769585

A selection of Malt Whisky and Gins

Live & Let Live 18 Windsor Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5PL, Tel: 01553 764990

Opening Hours Mon - Sun 12 noon - 11.00pm Quiz Night Every Monday Live Music Every Friday Night and Sunday Afternoon Tapas is the first Thursday of the month Sunday Lunch 12-3pm Hot snacks are available all day everyday

Meet the Brewer Night Thursday 21st October A tasting session with Mauldon’s Brewery followed by a fish and chip supper.

Places must be booked in advance as numbers are limited.

Many people know of CAMRA’s activities supporting real ale and pubs. Something which is less well known about is its support for real cider and perry.

By real cider and perry we don’t mean the chilled fizzy cider products that you generally find in pubs. The products we support are drinks that are not pasteurised and not artificially carbonated. This allows the flavour of the fruit to come through in the final product.

Unfortunately these products are rarely seen in pubs but an increasing number of publicans are discovering the advantage of selling real cider.

As part of lest year’s October Cider and Perry promotion , CAMRA launched our “Real Cider Sold Here” stickers to promote pubs which sell cider

Railway Arms Downham Market Station, Downham Market, PE38 9EN White Hart Bridge Street, Downham Market, PE38 9DH, Tel: 01366 387720

Adnams or Greene King During my travels around the pubs in West Norfolk it would appear that the vast majority of genuine free houses still only offer a choice of Adnams or Greene King beers. If you add to this the pubco’s and the tied house pubs the choice of ales seems very limited.

With around 30 breweries just in Nofolk alone it would make a refreshing change for the consumer “tourist and locals alike” to sample some of the bootifull beers produced at micro beweries around Norfolk.

Some landlords have signed up to CAMRA’S locAle scheme which guarantees the beer to be brewed within a 30 mile radius from the point of dispense (ie the pub).

To encourage the more adventurous / enterprising landlords I have listed a selection of brewers and contact numbers in the hope that they might give a wider choice to pub goers. Many micro brewers will deliver direct.

LOCAL BREWERIES A full list of pubs with stickers can be found on CAMRA’s national website under the About Cider section. Also in this section you will find information on how to nominate an eligible pub which is not already on the list.

Andrea Briers

Wolf Brewery Beesthorpe 01953 457775

Elmtree Brewery Nr.Snetterton 01953 887065

Fox Brewery Heacham

01485 570345

Front Street Brewery Binham

01328 830297

Humpty Dumpty Brewery Reedham

01493 701818

Iceni Brewery Ickburgh

01842 878922

Grain Brewery Harleston

01986 788884

Green Jack Brewery lowestoft

01502 582711

Many thanks to those landlords that already serve a varied selection of Real Ales.

Bruce

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Packed full of Norfolk’s Finest Real Ales Brewed and bottled on the premises, Local Cheeses, Chutneys, Glazed Hams, and Local Crafts. Ideal for CHRISMAS GIFTS!!

BRAN D NEW AL E S AVAI L

Sunday Lunches • Brewery Tours Beer Festivals • Folk Nights If you like Beer and Food - we’re the place to try The Hop and Hog, No 1 The High Street, Downham Market, Norfolk PE38 9DA

AB FROM LE OCTO BER

01366 502149 or Mobile: 07722 570835 thehopandhog@btconnect.com

The Transylvanian Arms Many are the legends of a pub that wouldn’t die. One such was the Transylvania Arms only open after dark it was rumoured the whole staff were (or indeed are) undead…

Dork scratchings. Even after the smoking ban the place still smelled faintly of brimstone, although some say this was simply the effect of eating the snacks.

In the GBG* every year since 1342 it was said the landlord made a deal with the devil.

They also say he was a real Count.

You tend to wake up after a night in most pubs with a hangover, here it was usually anaemia, but you had to wait till nightfall for the hair of the dog (well I did say she’d been there for ever!)

www.norfolkfoodanddrink.co.uk It didn’t have a jukebox just an organ which would only play Toccata & fugue all on it’s own.

THE VEGETABLE SHOP 1d HIGH STREET DOWNHAM MARKET

The door made a horrible screeching noise no matter how much it was oiled and once inside there were no exits.

Come to the ONLY shop in Downham dedicated to providing REAL ORGANIC FRUIT & VEGETABLES plus a range of Organic Wholefoods, Bread and Eggs.

Well, not into this world.

No one could remember how long the barmaid had been there and no one dared ask.

It was rumoured she kept the beer cool on warm nights by hanging above the casks in the crypt/ cellar fanning them with her wings.

It’s a UNIQUE EXPERIENCE! Shop: 01366 385523 Mobile: 07967 346551 Ring Ian for details of our forthcoming Vegetarian Feast Nights with music, ciders and beer made with local organic barley!

THE ICENI BREWERY For ALL your homebrew needs buy DIRECT from the ICENI BREWERY At 3 Foulden Rd, Ickburgh, Thetford IP26 5HB

Tel 01842 878922 / 07949 488113 Or email icenibrewe@aol.com for details

HOME G BREWIN ADVICE PPLIES AND SU

The Arms did attempt to move with the times, two imported lagers were introduced Nosferatu and Vampyr plus Old Crones Cider made from the best shiny red apples 100% deadly, and endorsed by Snow White.

Unhappy hour was not popular as every thing was cut.

In the end the pub changed hands after an unfortunate series of incidents which included the accidental delivery of a kilo of garlic and the final straw when a truck load of crucifixes crashed through the front window in bright sunlight.

But the old Tranny still hasn’t died, it’s a club called “Suckers” now and I’m sure I recognise the barmaid, but worst of all the deathly cold IPA is £4.00 a pint ARRRGHHH!

Stig (Some say they know this pub, do you?) Happy Halloween! *Good Blood Guide.

No one seemed to notice the “Give Blood” sticker on the window, and God help anyone who mentioned stake night.

Its range of Gothic hand pumps served a chilling range of ales, Old Ruby Night Porter, Blood speckled Hen, Old Phlegm Lovely and worst of all Greene King IPA… Horrible!

The range of bar snacks was equally challenging, Pickled eyeballs, Rat on a Stick and

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COACH & HORSES DERSINGHAM

A TRADITIONAL VILLAGE PUB Good Food, Great Beer Accomodation& Large Beer Garden Situated between King’s Lynn & Hunstanton one mile from the Royal Sandringham Estate

STEAK NIGHT FRIDAYS FROM £7.45

2 MEALS FOR £12

WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY LUNCH SPECIAL FULL MENU & SPECIALS ALSO AVAILABLE Serving homecooked food in a warm friendly atmosphere Meals Wed-Sat 12-2.30pm & 6-8.30pm, Sunday 12-3pm & 5-8pm En Suite Rooms From £39

4th ANNUAL BEER FESTIVAL FRIDAY 8th - Sunday 10th OCTOBER 2010

REAL ALES & CIDERS LIVE MUSIC EVERYDAY 77 Manor Road, Dersingham 01485 540391 coach_and_horses@tiscali.co.uk

NORFOLK NIPS | Chairman’s Letter

August Campaigning Our August Campaigning Trip was well attended even though it was in the middle of the holiday season. Our first stop was The Fox & Hounds, Lyng. The Woodfordes Wherry and Landlord were on good form but we all praised the excellence of the Summer Lightning. The Pub was slowly being filled by customers which is always a good sign of a well supported village local. The next visit was to The Mermaid, Elsing. A welcoming community Pub with a mixed clientèle. The Wherry, Wolf Golden Jackal, Broadside were served on gravity and were well received by our party. One of us even tried a Cider but I can't remember it's name as 3 were on offer. Onward to Darbys, Swanton Morley. This Pub displays details of it's history and the construction from an old barn. Also, there was information on the “use your local” scheme. The customers were able to enjoy the large selection of Wherry, Beeston Afternoon Delight, Adnams Bitter, Broadside and Lighthouse. The feedback was the Beeston came out on top. Next on to The Angel, Swanton Morley. The beer choice was Wherry, Newby Wyke White Squall, Summer Lightning, and Mighty Oak Oscar Wilde. It was good to see a mild on offer and we nearly emptied the barrel.

A short trip to The Queens Head, Foulsham where we

sampled again Wherry, and Adnams Bitter. The Bombardier was at the end of the barrel and was changed without complaint.

I noticed some people buying sausages made from saddleback pigs that were reared at the back of the Pub on the old bowling green. I went outside but couldn't see them? The final destination was The Old Work House, Bawdeswell where we had the choice of Adnams Bitter and Broadside which were in good condition.

Overall it was another successful Campaigning Trip and if you are interested in joining us next time then check out the details on our website. I might even buy you a pint.

Graham Freeman

Norfolk Nips 155 The Winter edition of Norfolk NIPS will be published on Friday 3rd December.

Copy for inclusion must be received by Wednesday 17th November

GOING POTTY

Tony G & I attended the Potty Morris festival at Sheringham on the 3rd July this year. This is the 17th year of this festival and we have been enjoying this event for a number of years.

This year there were 25 different dance groups from Yorkshire, Essex, Cambs.

Suffolk, Notts, Kent, Leics, Lincs, Northants, and of course Norfolk. There was even a group from Utrecht in Holland! The Sheringham shantymen also appeared during the lunch break.

The main street is closed to traffic allowing the dancers to perform at various locations around the town. (mainly outside the local pubs). All the pubs are open all day and two in particular are worth a mention. The Lobster Pot has a beer festival with around 20 ales straight from the barrel and The Windham Arms has 7 ales mostly from Norfolk brewers.

Potty day falls on the first weekend of July every year! so if you like traditional music and dancing, great individual shops, a market or a steam railway this is the place to be.

The event is free and usually the weather is fab.

See you next year!

Bruce (W. Norfolk branch contact).

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NORFOLK NIPS |

“A pint of Ever Savoured Brilliance, please!”

6 Real Ales On Handpump • Belgian Bottled Beers Lunchtime Menu Quiz night every Wendesday

Mark & Marie offer you a warm welcome to the

Fox and Hounds Heacham Home of The Fox Brewery We are a free house specialising in real ales.

The first pub in Heacham to be in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

Live Music every Tuesday Quiz Night Thursday www.foxbrewery.com

Tel: 01485 570345 22 Station Rd, Heacham, Norfolk PE31 7EX

OPEN ALL DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK

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People drink the advertising.

It’s an old adage I know, but one that came back to me recently as I waited to served in my local yesterday.

The reason for the wait was that, in front of me, a group of young ‘uns had decided that for their Friday night entertainment, they were going to drink beers from around the world.

Ignoring the handpumps to their right, they were concentrating on the shiny chrome offerings in front of them.

Where to start, that was the problem.

By now, the Landlord had dropped his cheery “What can I get you lads?” personnae, and was now contemplating what I hoped was only his navel.

Should they start with the black stuff from across the Irish Sea, which they knew was worth the wait, as sure as “tick” followed “torque”? Or the cider product that is apparently endorsed by a Guild of modern day craftsmen? Or maybe the reassuringly expensive Belgian beer that Priests skating on thin ice would send out for? No, not that one as it is now obviously a lady’s drink.

In the end, the settled for the one that is 25% Australian and

now runs an Agony Aunt Service. Australia? That’ll be Reading then.

As I settled in the corner with my pint of LocAle, I prided myself that I would never let advertising decide what I would drink, and then I realised that I had.

Christmas Eve – 19, whatever.

As a first year apprentice I found myself in the Basingstoke Working Mens Club with the rest of the Litho Dept as the Union Rep had promised the first round. But what to drink?

My first drink on Licensed premises. Keen observation showed that no one was actually ordering beer, it was pints of “two’s” or “black and tans”, etc. Judging by the comments received, a half pint of bitter shandy or a lager and lime should be avoided at all costs.

Having a sweet tooth, I didn’t like the idea of Bitter, but Mild

may be OK. As it got nearer to my turn, my eyes strayed from the bar to the row of bottles behind.

As I looked at the labels, one in particular caught my eye and a deep West Country voice somewhere in my subconscious said “Looks good, tastes good and by golly – it does you good!” So, I confidently ordered a bottle of Mackeson and to my relief, it met with approval. (Thank you, Sir Bernard Miles!) So much so that someone who by now was on his second pint told me that he had always wanted to try it.

It was a long session and I ended up drinking bottled Guinness, which someone else pointed out was a good choice, because it was actually brewed in Dublin, unlike the draught variety. How daft, I thought.

Being an apprentice meant days out at The Berkshire Continued Overleaf

AUTUMN 2010 | 41

NORFOLK NIPS | College of Art in Reading, with many corner locals scattered around. Courage Best became my tipple of choice and since the Brewery was local it was readily available. But times were changing, and as we all know, not for the best.

Courage Best and my other favourite beers disappeared with the handpumps to be replaced by new colourful plastic offerings.

What to drink when faced with bland tasteless brands, which went as flat as a pancake after ten minutes or so? I still find it hard to believe that some Brewers thought that K*g was their finest acheivement, but in order to help us poor souls decide that their brand was the one, advertising went into overdrive.

We were assured that a Double Diamond “worked wonders”. Courage Tavern was “what my right arm was for” – what did left handed people drink?

And a certain Brewery (Whose name I cannot type here as it is not good for my blood pressure) said that one of it’s “beers” was “special, and always would be”. Yeah, right.

In those dark days, I found that anything mixed with Guinness would have to do.

problem. Scanning through the pages of What’s Brewing and similar publications, it is apparent that the Major Brewers are cutting back on advertising at a time when demand for Real Ale is growing. And if the Big Guns are cutting back, what of the Micro Breweries abundant in Norfolk and elsewhere? Not having much, if any in the way of Marketing Budgets, how can they convince you that their beer is the one that you want to order now, as you stand at the bar.

Getting it in there as a Guest Beer would seem to be the hardest part, but would the design of the pump clip be sufficient to tempt you to part with your hard earned cash? It may of course have a LocAle attachment, there may be tasting notes available and of course, you could always ask the Landlord for information, or even a taster.

But why not just buy a half? If you like it you can always have another.

And you never know, it might do you good, it could work wonders for you, it could even be what your right (or left) arm was created for.

Arthur Pint

But, thanks to CAMRA, times were changing again. On a blazing hot summer’s evening in the70’s, I drove to a pub in Dummer (later known as a watering hole of a now late lamented Princess). The reason was that they were advertising that Real Ale was back, so come and try. The Beer, from Wadsworths, I believe, was in a wooden cask, propped up behind the bar. Eagerly I ordered a pint and took it outside.

Sadly, it was too warm, I’ve drunk tea colder than that, but there was something about it, something that had been missing – flavour. Real Ale may be back, but there is a long way to go, I thought.

Moving up to Norfolk and discovering the Norwich Beer Festival finally convinced me that all was well with the world and Real Ale was back, hopefully to stay.

But in these current troubled times there is a 42

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NORFOLK NIPS | Competition

What am I drinking?

First an apology for the error that crept into last issue's competition.

for Beers that were scheduled to be available for the 32nd Beer Festival.

Many spotted that Lowestoft was printed twice and some realised that there are two Narboroughs, one near Leicester, which was the correct one. Narborough or Leicester were accepted as correct answers.

All you have to do is match the beer and the brewery from the accompanying list.

With The 33rd Norwich Beer Festival approaching, here is a little taster.

The descriptions below are the tasting notes

New Inn at Roughton Pub & Restaurant where East meets West

The Mermaid Inn Church Street, Elsing Dereham,NR20 3EA Tel: 01362637640 Email: the.mermaid@zen.co.uk

COME TO THE MERMAID AND EAT PUDDINGS OR PIE, A CHOICE OF CURRY’S BOTH INDIAN AND THAI, TRY A HUGE VARIETY OF BEERS, CIDERS AND WINE, BRING ALONG KIDS, DOGS AND FAMILIES TO DINE! Look us up in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2010 or the CAMRA Good Pub Food Guide.

We have internet café facilities!

Beer styles, ABV and tasting notes

Breweries and Beer names

1. 5% Bitter Dark reddish brown in colour, with a smokey malt taste

A. Jack’s Revenge - Tipples

2. 3.8% Bitter Amber coloured fruity bitter, last years Beer of the Festival

B. Tamarind IPA - Grain Brewery

3. 4.2% Bitter One of last years award winners, Colin - can you put any of this on yer toast?

C. Norfolk Nectar - Humpty Dumpty

4. 5.8% Bitter Deep dark strong ale, with a long malty finish, named after a ghostly going on.

5. 4% Dark Mild A dark reddish brown mild with a hint of spice

The food served here at The New Inn is a combination of Thai, Chinese and Traditional British cuisines. It is always fresh, cooked to order and served in the traditional manner.

All of the produce served at The New Inn is locally purchased, and there is a full vegetarian and special dietary requirements menu too. There are also many different spirits, wines and real ales to choose from.

For your enjoyment and comfort we have a large, air-conditioned restaurant, which can seat large groups or parties, as well as couples or individuals.

Norwich Road, Roughton, Norfolk NR11 8SJ

Telephone: 01263 761389

Please send completed entries to NIPS Festival Beers Quiz c/o 201 Kingswood Avenue, Taverham, Norwich NR8 6GJ or e-mail to:norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk A mystery prize awaits the winner Note: All Breweries are in Norfolk

6. 4.5% Wheat Award winning wheat beer with hints of grapefruit and lemon amongst the slight bitterness 7. 5.5% Bitter Nice amber orange coloured IPA, with a hint of citrus to the flavour 8. 4.1% Golden Ale Pale golden beer, very drinkable, with a slight honey and vanilla taste 9. 4.6% Golden Ale Malty golden ale

D. On the Huh - Beeston E. Dark Horse Stout - Elmtree F. Sundew - Woodfordes G. Yarmouth Bitter - Blackfriars Brewery H. Straw Dog - Wolf Brewery I. Marmalade Cat - Fat Cat Brewery J. Pack Lane - Uncle Stuarts Brewhouse The winning entry will be drawn at the committee meeting on Tuesday 2nd November.

10. 5% Stout Strikingly different stout

www.thenewinnroughton.com

Th The winner of the Competition in issue 153 was Tony Sadler of Norwich, congratulations!

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NORFOLK NIPS | First Friday Five Report

Michaela and Toni welcome you to

The Kings Arms 22 Hall Rd Norwich NR1 3HQ

Tel: 01603 766361

Everchanging 13 Real Ales, Cider and Mild.

Popular Quiz Night last Wednesday of every month

Food served every lunchtime 12 - 3pm

6th Anniversary Beer Festival 24th Nov -29th Nov 2010 See

www.kingsarmsnorwich.co.uk for details Or join us on Facebook!

The Norfolk Broads.Org Awards 2009 Best Pub Grub Best Broadland Pint Most Child Friendly Pub

the Bridge Inn

Broads Quality Charter Gold Star Award

Open All Day Every Day Full Menu available 12-9pm Light Bites served 12-5pm

Dogs & children welcome. Wheelchair access/outdoor smoking area.

Moorings outside & nearby for 40 boats with some electric hookup available. Open all year round.

Now taking party bookings over Christmas and New Year Open on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve

Old Road, Acle, NR13 3AS 46

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Tel: 01493 750288 www.maypolehotels.com

August First Friday Five The August First Friday Five included three city centre pubs that reopened this year, the first, second and last on our list.

We started at the Edith Cavell, on Tombland.

In its last incarnation as "Coles at the Edith Cavell" it had struggled to keep even one real ale but now boasts four regular cask conditioned ales.

Although the range, including Fullers London Price and Woodforde's Wherry doesn't change too much, it's good to see what is still clearly a bit of a weekend “circuit” pub trying to satisfy the increasing real ale market.

We had a bit of a trek then to The Woolie, formerly The Woolpack, on Muspole Street.

Surprisingly almost empty (possibly because 20,000+ Norfolk people were at Carrow Road for the start of the Championship season!), we managed to fill the pub with our crowd of around 20 ale drinkers, although the range was limited to two Greene King offerings - IPA and St. Edmund.

The new owners have presumably taken a loan from Greene King to help with the pub’s refurbishment, so explaining the beer selection. It does, however, limit its interest for serious beer drinkers.

Onwards, just around the corner, and more Greene King beer at a very busy Golden Star.

This is a tied house but usually manages to have at least one interesting guest beer available.

A lot of people were in the pub that night because they had a live rock band (waiting to perform as we drank our beer), but we left before they started. Quite a few of our followers decided to avoid our next pub, the Hog In Armour, possibly because they perceived it as a bit bright and noisy. However, it usually has a couple of real ales on offer and did this night Woodforde’s Sundew and Adnams Bitter.

The Hog was the only that night that had Norwich City’s game on the TV and we were

able to watch the end of what turned out to be a defeat for City.

We finished the evening at the Plough, on St. Benedict Street. Now owned by Grain Brewery, it reopened in Spring this year and proved instantly popular, and has continued in that fashion ever since.

There’s usually three or four very good quality Grain beers available, alongside two guest beers (usually from East Anglian breweries), and there tends to be a quick turnover of beers on particularly busy evenings like this one, which meant that only two Grain beers were available by the time we got there (the Oak was very good!).

So, a varied selection of beers and pub styles, making for an entertaining evening out.

Adrian Hennessy You can now find First Friday Five reports on the web via a new blog - firstfridayfives.blogspot.com

WHEELWRIGHTS ARMS FREEHOUSE

INTRODUCING REAL ALES IPA (DRAUGHT) £2.40, ABBOT ALE £2.50, OLD SPECKLED HEN £2.50 • CARLING, CARLSBERG, FOSTERS £2.70 • • JOHN SMITHS £2.50•GUINNESS £2.90 • •STELLA £2.90 •STRONGBOW £2.80 • • MILD £2.40 • BOTTLE BEERS FROM £2.70 (MAGNERS £3.00) SPIRITS FROM £2.00 FULL SKY ULTIMATE PACKAGE & ESPN FREE WIRELESS INTERNET CONNECTION Don't forget we also serve Tea, Coffee and Cappaccino all day Parties catered for • 24 hour licence Sorry but children under the age of 14 are not permitted on the premises after 8pm

01493 663705 Beccles Road, Gorleston Great Yarmouth Norfolk, NR31 0PS

AUTUMN 2010 | 47

The Railway Freehouse Station Rd, North Elmham

01362 668300 In the current Good Beer Guide, CAMRA members and supporters of local microbrewers Colin & Julie Smith look forward to seeing you!

REAL ALES • REAL FOOD • REAL PUB

The Shoulder of Mutton ~ Strumpshaw ~

Fine ales and good food served in a friendly atmosphere Real ales include Adnams Bitter and Broadside plus TWO guest ale (mainly from local breweries) Food served 12-2pm and 7-9pm (Mon-Sat), 12-2pm Sundays Pub games include Darts, Pool, Crib and Petanque!

Ian and Jenny look forward to welcoming you..

Norwich Rd, Strumpshaw, Norwich NR13 4NT

Tel 01603 712274 48

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The Sole & Heel Rackheath

Newly refurbished Pub & Restaurant with recently extended Beer Garden

Minimum of 5 changing Real Ales on gravity Restaurant open daily with A la Carte menu in the evenings.

All produce locally sourced where available.

Fortnightly Sunday Quiz

Bar open: Mon 4.30-11pm, Tues 12-2.30 and 4.30-11pm, Weds-Sat 12-11pm, Sun 12-10.30pm Restaurant open: Tues –Sat 12-2.30 and 6-9pm, Sunday Roast 12-4pm 2 Salhouse Rd, Rackheath, Norwich NR13 6QH Tel 01603 720146 Web: www.soleandheel.bravehost.com

NORFOLK NIPS | Dates for your Diary

Beer Festival Diary September 2010 23rd – 25th 19th Letchworth Garden City Beer & Cider Festival

29th Oct - 1st Nov Royal Oak, Poringland Autumn Beer Festival Range of 31 Beers and Ciders available Live Music on Friday 29th with Jigsaw and Saturday 30th with Tosh and Nick.

29th – 2nd Oct St Albans Beer Festival

November

October 2010

23rd - 27th - 31st Rochford Beer Festival

6th – 9th - Ipswich Beer Festival

24th - 29th - Kings Arms Norwich 6th Anniversary Beer Festival

6th – 9th - Bedford Beer Festival 7th –9th - Louth & District Beer Festival 8th - 10th Coach and Horses, Dersingham 4th Annual Beer Festival

24th - 28th Dove Street Inn, Ipswich 60+ beers, ciders and milds Full details of the above CAMRA Beer Festivals can be found at www.camra.org.uk.

14th – 17th - Nottingham (Robin Hood) Beer & Cider Festival 14 – 16th - Quorn Octoberfest 14 – 17th - 2nd Gainsborough Beer & Folk Festival 15th – 16th - Cambridge Octoberfest 21st – 24th - 2nd Beer Festival Green Gate, Caister 10 Real Ales and Cider, Live music every day 22nd - 31st October The Murderers, Timber Hill, Norwich Beer Festival with 25+ ales from each of the counties of England 25th – 30th - 33rd Norwich Beer Festival 27th – 30th - Concrete Pint (Milton Keynes) Beer Festival 50

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Alby Horse Shoes Inn Freehouse Situated on the A140 Norwich/Cromer Road Up to 5 Real Ales including Wherry & Mardlers

Home cooked Food - locally sourced SPECIAL STEAK AND ALE NIGHTS LAST FRIDAYS DURING WINTER MONTHS

10% OFF MEALS BOOKED

BY CAMRA MEMBERS Margaret & Richard Rushmer look forward to meeting you

01263 761378

We are In it!

www.albyhorseshoes.co.uk AUTUMN 2010 | 51

Steam and Ale

| NORFOLK NIPS

NORFOLK NIPS | Steam and Ale and were introduced to the special temperature controlled ‘cellar’, which is a room at the station where the casks are stored at cellar temperature.

Each morning and at various times throughout the day Paul racks off beer directly from barrels stored in the cellar into specially insulated stainless steel containers which are then brought onto the train’s buffet car and attached to the handpumps so they can be served direct to the customers on board the train. The beer is of course ‘bright’ but as it comes fresh each morning direct from the ‘cellar’ and stored in insulated containers it is always fresh and at cellar temperature so it is served in as good a condition as cask ale you will

Real ale on Rails

Taylor and Copper Dragon from Skipton.

purchase in our best real ale pubs.

We continued on the train for a couple of return trips to sample the other beers that were available that day, York Constantine (3.9% abv) and Salamander Barracuda (4.2%abv). Most beers supplied on this line are from local brewers such as Timothy

For more information on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway see www.kwvr.co.uk/index.htm and for information about the local CAMRA Branch, Keighley and Craven see http://www.keighleyandcravencamra.org.uk/ which if you wish to combine your trip with a pub crawl around Keighley has an excellent town map (and maps of other towns in their branch area) you can download showing the locations of all the real ale pubs.

Warren Wordsworth & Graham Freeman

Back by Popular Demand Real ale has been available at many of our heritage steam railways for many years. Some railways such as the Bluebell Railway have real ale buffet bars at their Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes stations and there is the famous GBG listed “Trackside” pub on the platform of Bury station on the East Lancs Railway. Other railways frequently sell bottled conditioned beer in their railway buffet cars. However, it is very unusual to be able to purchase cask ales actually on your train.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway situated on the edge of the Pennines in West Yorkshire is one of few examples. This well established heritage 52

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railway probably more famous for being the location of the classic 1970 film “The Railway Children” and has the Bronte family museum and home at Haworth, which is within walking distance of the station.

However on selected weekdays and virtually every weekend this railway opens its famous “Real Ale” buffet cars which serve traditional ale drawn from the cask.

You may wonder how this is possible. Earlier this summer Graham Freeman and myself travelled the Keighley and Worth valley railway and were lucky to meet with their bar manager Paul Rigg who went through the whole process and

Thursday 21st - Sunday 24th October showed us how their beer was served in such good condition After enjoying a refreshing pint of local ‘Goose Eye Chinook Blonde’ (4.2% abv) we arrived at Oxenhope at the far end of the line to Keighley

A selection of 10 real ales and cider Live music Every Day

All ales at £2.50 Full menu being served as well as a selection of hot and cold snacks throughout the Beer Festival

To book or for more information call Colin or Debbie on 01493 720228 AUTUMN 2010 | 53

NORFOLK NIPS | Beer & Music

Angel Gardens Free House

Simon and Karen welcome you all to their traditional family pub.

Under same ownership for 22 years

TRADITIONAL JAZZ

Up to 7 reasonably priced Real Ales including three guest ales Home Cooked Food • Monthly Quiz & Darts • Live Music on Saturdays Beer Garden with heated smoking shelter

2 Bars (with one for Private Hire) Ample Car Parking 96 Angel Rd, Norwich NR3 3HT

Great selection of real ales and wines, along with fine dining and excellent company.

email: ikwarren-angel@tiscali.co.uk

NOW TAKING CHRISTMAS PARTY BOOKINGS FOR OUR RESTAURANT

www.norwichinns.com

www.whitehorsechedgrave.co.uk

01603 427490

01603 625891 www.thewigandpen.com

6 St Martins Palace Plain, Norwich NR3 1RN

• Good Ale • Good Food • Heated smoking area • Comprehensive Outdoor Dining Area Sky & ESPN Sports TV • Late Night Opening Look out for our Cask Marque Plaque.

This guarantees beer quality in the Wig & Pen and the opportunity to TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.

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Brook Hotel (Formerly Quality Hotel), Bowthorpe, Norwich (off Dereham Road) It is hoped that Real Ale will be available THURSDAY 16th September Colin Kingwell’s Jazz Bandits TUESDAY 16th November Sammy Rimington’s International Band Tickets/Enquiries – Rod Playford 01362 667811 Acle Recreation Centre, Bridewell Lane, Acle Real Ales include Adnams Bitter, Theakstons and Tipples Redhead Friday 3rd December - Gambit Jazzmen Enquiries – Brian Davis 01493 701880

This warm and friendly 17th century Freehouse is to the north side of Norwich cathedral. Owned by Craig & Lynne McLaren since 1993. ‘The Wig’ as its affectionately known, has built a reputation for fresh, fast, affordable British cuisine.

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Music & Real Ale

For the 13th successive year, the Wig & Pen has been included in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. We are very proud of this achievement.

King’s Head Hotel, Beccles, Suffolk Following the sale of the pub to Wetherspoons, jazz sessions have now ceased at this venue (See following notes re Fisher Theatre) Fisher Theatre, Broad Street, Bungay, Suffolk Adnams Bitter on handpump Following a very successful spell lasting several years at the Kings Head in Beccles, jazz sessions have now transferred to the Fisher Theatre in Bungay.

Every Sunday evening -

Red Beans ‘n’ Rice New Orleans Jazz Band The Diplomat, Ormesby Road, Ex RAF Coltishall site (Nr Coltishall) NR10 5JZ Real Ales include house beer ‘Six Squadron’ and a guest beer.

First Sunday of every month (1.00 – 3.30 pm) – Norfolk Dixieland Jazz Band.

Admission free, but lunch bookings advisable on 01603 738866.

NB. The session on Sunday 3rd October will be from 7.30 – 10.00 pm Red Hart, Bodham (Nr Holt) Adnams Bitter and Broadside First Friday every month – Lumiere Rouge Ragtime Band Marsham Arms, nr Hevingham (B1149 Norwich-Holt Road) Following a serious fire at these premises, jazz sessions have unfortunately been suspended for the time being Crown Inn, Banningham (Nr Aylsham) Adnams Broadside, Greene King IPA and Abbot Ale Sunday 24th October (1.30 – 4.30 pm) - Norfolk Dixieland Jazz Band Admission free, but phone 01263 733534 for lunch reservations Dereham Jazz Society, Lakeside Country Club, Quarry Lane, Lyng (nr Dereham) Greene King IPA or Woodforde’s

Wherry and Old Speckled Hen Wednesday 10th November – Simon Nelson's Dixie Mix George and Dragon, Newton by Castle Acre Elgoods Cambridge plus local guest beers Second Tuesday every month – Black Bowler Hat Jazz Band Third Friday every month – Swing Jazz Quartet (Also folk music on first Thursday every month) Northrepps Cottage Country Hotel, Nut Lane, Northrepps (Nr Cromer) Greene King Abbot Ale and IPA Second Sunday every month (Jazz Carvery from 12.00 – 3.00 pm) – Chris Wigley’s Phoenix Jazz Quartet.

(Phone 01263 579202 for further details) The Buck Inn, The Street, Flixton, Suffolk Woodforde’s Mardler’s, Morland Original and Adnams Bitter are the regulars at present, but in addition there are guest beers, and an increased selection in the summer months Every Thursday Sole Bay Jazz Band

MAINSTREAM/ MODERN JAZZ Green Man, Wroxham Road, Rackheath Woodforde’s Wherry, Adnams Continued Overleaf

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The London Tavern Great real ales, fine wines and spirits.

Traditional food served daily, pre-booked evening meals, Childrens menu.

Bar rolls only £1.00!

Meals for large parties up to 30 catered for in our funtion room, choice of set menu’s.

Bookings only.

IN THE ER GOOD BE E ID U G 2010

Parking, Disabled Facilities, Baby Changing, Smokers Sheltered Garden and Beer Garden.

Well behaved dogs on leads welcome.

Christenings, Funerals, Intimate Weddings / Civil Ceremonies catered for

London Tavern Free House Church St, Attleborough Tel :01953 457415

The Pelican Inn 01508 489 521

Other Music Dates The Cottage, 9 Silver Road, Norwich, NR3 4TB. Fri 24th September The Dog Days of Summer (Bluegrass) Sun 26th Crumbs for Comfort (A bit Folky and chilled out!)

Fi 1st October “Hard Rain” Bit of Dillon & Bit folky Sun 3rd Focsle (Folk) Fri 8th Sun of Cash Sun 10th The Vagaband Sun 17th Murphy's Lore (Folk) Fri 22nd Them Harvey Boys

(Bluegrass) Sun 24th Dog Days of Summer (Bluegrass) Fri 29th Hayley Moyses and The Bluegrass Forum Sun 31st The Rum Brothers Fri 12th November Woody Creek Bluegrass

Calling all Real Ale Pubs and Clubs!

If you have any Rock, Folk, Jazz, Blues or Alternative music dates throughout November February please email them to michaelbaldwin8@gmail.com and we will list them here!

He should have gone to the

EATON COTTAGE, UNTHANK RD, NORWICH 01603 453048

OVER 80 ALES ON SALE Four Local Real Ales on Hand Pump

Bottled Norfolk Real Ales In our New ‘Real Ale Shoppe’

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Dereham Jazz Society, Lakeside Country Club, Quarry Lane, Lyng (nr Dereham) Greene King IPA or Woodforde’s Wherry and Old Speckled Hen Every Wednesday – Full programme consisting of various bands and musicians in varied styles, which usually includes one ‘traditional’ session each month (See above).

NB. Sessions resume after Summer break on 29th

September with the Matt Wates Sextet.

For further details phone 01328 863511 or 01362 696741 or visit website www.lakeside-jazz-club.co.uk Keith Chettleburgh

REAL ALE REALISTIC PRICES

Tacolneston

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Bitter, Fuller’s London Pride plus guests Every Tuesday – Full programme consisting of various bands and musicians.

For further details, phone Barbara Capocci on 01603 413443, or e-mail b.capocci123@ntlworld.com

NORFOLK ALE SHOP

South Norfolk’s Best Kept Secret

WINNER OF THE SOUTH NORFOLK ‘PUB OF THE YEAR AWARD’ 2009 /2010.

NORFOLK NIPS | Beer and Music continued

Taking bookings NOW for Christmas Hampers Special Discounts to CAMRA Members With THREE Beer Festivals a Year

FIND US INSTORE AT THE GENERAL STORE 41, HIGH STREET, RINGSTEAD. PE36 5JU. NEAR HUNSTANTON. Telephone; 01485 525270 Email. generalstore41@aol.com.

OPEN SEVEN DAYS 8am -5.30pm.

EXCEPT TUES/WED/SAT CLOSING AT 1pm.

Fine Real Ales,lagers,wines and spirits All Sky Sports • A traditional pub Good covered outside areas • Doggies welcome

“a festival of beers every day” AUTUMN 2010 | 57

Dereham Visit

| NORFOLK NIPS

Saint’s Day 17th March Dereham is famous for St Withburga who laid the foundations for a church and convent in AD654. When her remains were stolen and removed to Ely a spring sprouted at her tomb that still provides water for the well in the churchyard to this day. But I had a thirst of a different kind and armed with a Norfolk real ale guide from 1994 decided to investigate how the “Heart of Norfolk” was faring beerwise 14 years on. In 1994 thirteen pubs were listed as selling real ale. And in July 2010?

The Railway Tavern must count as a significant success story. After a chequered history it is now thriving, the pub on the right and the fish and chip shop on the left. On my visit a recent mini-beer fest yielded six beers from the cask and a permanent ale will be on offer soon. Another interesting place with delicious Elgoods from the one handpump was the Plough and Farrow, unusually situated beneath the cinema on the market square.

Moving on the Kings Head had four beers on (and one handpump off), two Greene King and two guests from outside the Anglian region. The Cherry Tree had two pumps, Spitfire and one clip turned round. The pumpclips on the Red Lion’s two pumps were both turned round. The Bull and the Royal Standard both 58

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offered Greene King beers. The Coachmakers had Adnams.

To continue the trawl through the old guide the Phoenix is still boarded up though Wetherspoons now own it.

The Wellington Sports bar was locked up, Cocos apparently burnt down, The Crown is now a Chinese restaurant and the site of the Fox and Hounds is covered by new housing. I did not manage to visit the three remaining pubs in the ‘94 guide but I hope that the George, the Gemini and the Cock will still be there on my next visit.

What of the state of the real ale in the other pubs? Not a single Norfolk beer was on offer and a significant number of handpumps on the different bars were not being used.

Now, surely the town that considers itself the heart of Norfolk should be able to sustain a local beer trade?

Perhaps we need to enlist the help of St Withburga, a Norfolk woman whose Saints Day is the seventeenth of March. She is much in evidence in Dereham, in the beautiful church and yard and on the gantry town sign. Surely she would welcome Norfolk revellers – particularly female – lifting a glass of Norfolk ale to her, rather than the fizzy alien blackstuff that with endless advertising has become associated with 17 March.

St Withburga’s Day is a Thursday next year. Let’s keep it local. Is it time for a pilgrimage?

Mont

33rd Norwich Beer Festival

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Only a few weeks to go!

Hello again, with only a few weeks to go to the 33rd Norwich Beer Festival, the pace of events is certainly hotting up. The last few weeks have been a blur of activity on all levels, with meetings, correspondence and feedback from many of those involved.

different brewers this year based on feedback from yourselves and the organising committee. We did very well with the shift to a wider range of styles and types, for those who are “dark” beer fans we will still have a good amount of stouts and porters to try.

I wrote last year about developments pertaining to the future of the festival at it's current venue, St Andrews & Blackfriars Halls. I am pleased to announce that due to lack of funding, the management team has informed me that we are OK up to 2013, we even have provisionally placed bookings up to 2015 .

We are also experimenting with “thirds of a pint” which you will see on the commemorative glass, we haven't gone so far as third pint glasses, but a limited edition glass will be available from the products store.

This year on the beer front will see a continuation of our efforts to widen the range of beers at the festival, we hope to bring some

Not quite last is our new bars for St Andrews and Blackfrairs, these have been talked about and discussed for a few years, hopefully this year, they will make an appearance, I would like to thank those involved (Steve C, and Alex) for getting it going.

THE ANGEL INN FREEHOUSE

This brings me round to the eternal plea for more volunteer's to help! .

We have over 2000 members in our local branch, of which I suspect a fair number actually come along and support us. But why stop there, how about giving up a small amount of the time you spend on one side of the bar to actually see what it is like on the other side! If you fancy being a steward, bar person, driver, or general all round good guy/gal, please get in touch with our staffing officer Mark Stimpson at bfstaff@live.co.uk, or check out our web site, www.norwichcamra.org.uk/festival where you can download further details.

The pub with no bar, ales direct from cask.

Watch www.nelsonslocal.co.uk for forthcoming events.

Tongue twizzling food, and great value.

New menus, Nelson commemoration events, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve - all on the website. See you there!

Real fires Victory Barn Function Room Come & visit Nelson’s local.

Walsingham Road, Burnham Thorpe Norfolk PE31 8HN

01328 738241

Thanks for reading Martin Ward Beer Festival Organiser 2010

r a i n M e e h T Ale and Cider Houses rs Now at:

Now Overall NORFOLK CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR! Open all day every day Excellent home cooked meals available from our award winning kitchen Large Beer Garden with play area En-suite accommodation Camping and Caravanning available Larling, Norfolk, NR16 2QU (17th Century former coaching inn)

Tel: 01953 717963

GREAT YARMOUTH

The MARINERS

NORWICH & NORFOLK 2010 PUB OF THE YEAR!

LOWESTOFT THE MARINERS REST Minimum SIX Real Ales + Ciders Stunning Beer garden!

EIGHT Real Ales + Real Ciders always available

Rotterdam Rd, Lowestoft NR32 7ES Tel 01502 538813

Welcoming Open Fire in Winter

GORLESTON THE MARINERS COMPASS

69 Howard St South, Great Yarmouth NR30 1LN

8 Real Ales plus a selection of Ciders 21 Middleton Rd, Gorleston NR31 7AJ Tel 01493 659494

Tel 01493 332299

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COAST ROAD, WALCOTT, NORFOLK NR12 OPE

The Royal Oak at Poringland

Telephone

(01692) 650371 FREE HOUSE

Proprietor since 1989: STEVE BULLIMORE

OPEN FOR FOOD & DRINKS

Autumn Beer Festival Friday 29th Oct - Monday 1st Nov Range of 31 Beers and Ciders available

ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, 11am - 11pm Food available all day until 10.30pm

Live Music on Friday 29th with Jigsaw and Saturday 30th with Tosh and Nick.

Giant Pumpkin Raffle for East Anglia Childrens Hospice on Sunday 31st followed by a comedy afternoon from 1pm!

10% off food and drink on production of CAMRA membership card

We Don’t Have a Big Screen TV, Food Or a Juke Box

FOUR REAL ALES & CIDER www.lighthouseinn.co.uk

We do have 17 handpumps, with Real Ale from far and wide, 2 Real Ciders and 2 Real Ales From gravity, a large car park, large beer garden With heated smoking shelter, darts, pool, quizzes And crib.

We now serve morning coffee from 10am, children are welcome.

26 St Leonards Road Norwich NR1 4BL 01603 618734

A real gem, well worth a visit.

The Royal Oak lies at the heart of the community and new customers are always welcome. Come along and get a real welcome from a real pub selling real ale!!!!!!

Nick, Delia And The Team would love to see you soon.

Norwich And Norfolk Pub Of The Year 2007 Norfolk Pub Of The Year 2007 Eight real ales to choose from, two of which change regularly.

Lovely enclosed beer garden with large sheltered smoking area.

Two pooltables upstairs.

Only a ten minute walk from the train station and city centre.

Pork pies and other light snacks available all day.

Open all day from 12 noon everyday.

Hog roast available sundays.

Sky Sports and ESPN

Great place to watch great sport with some great ale!

13 years in the Good Beer Guide!

A dream of a pub situated in the village of Poringland on the B1332 road to Bungay. The main bus route from Norwich stops right outside.

Contact us on

01508 493734 New email: theroyaloak@fsmail.net

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