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& CA SK FO RC E No.160
Spring 2012
Norfolk Nips is Thirty Years old! Newsletter of the Norfolk Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale
E E R F
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Trafford Arms We are not a ‘virtual pub’ REAL Time! REAL People! REAL Ale!
Raising money for Big C
Chris and Glynis invite you to the Trafford Arms -
61 Grove Road, Norwich 01603 628466 www.traffordarms.co.uk
traffordarms@btconnect.com
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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: Michael Philips 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
Hard to believe, but Norfolk Nips is thirty years old this year. So much has happened in that time since Issue No.1, not all of it for the best. But what was it like in 1982? Some readers will have vivid memories of those days, younger readers may be unaware. Paul Moorhouse, the first Editor writes: It seems incredible to me that thirty years have passed since the launch of Norfolk Nips as a CAMRA newsletter. In that time the staggering changes in the Norfolk real ale arena could not have been predicted by any of us who were involved in Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA in 1982. At that time, although the number of Norfolk pubs serving real ale had soared in the previous seven years from below twenty to around five hundred, choice was severely restricted. The Watney group’s Norwich Castle Bitter was the only real ale in large numbers of them. It seemed, perhaps dubiously in retrospect, that
Published every 3 months by the Norwich, Norfolk & West Norfolk branches of the Campaign for Real Ale © N&N CAMRA 2012 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
other national brewing companies provided appealing variety with cask beers such as Wethereds, Charrington IPA, Ind Coope Bitter and Manns Bitter. Unquestionably, though, the beers of Adnams, which appeared in around twenty pubs in Norwich and more in the wider county areas, were more tantalising. Greene King and Tolly Cobbold were each in a few pubs and in Norwich the real ale drinker could rely on a small number of free houses - chiefly the Golden Star, the Ten Bells, the Plasterers Arms and the White Lion Continued Overleaf
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: 12,000 copies / four times a year 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 Jane Michelson or Chris Shilling on: 01778 420888 / 421550 jane@shillingmedia.co.uk Ad space in NIPS is regularly booked up long before we go to press, so to avoid disappointment please get your ad space reserved at the earliest opportunity. The best way is to book a series of four ads – your message will then be visible all year round and you’ll enjoy a discount off the regular price
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A great real ale pub in the centre of the City Exceptionally good Thai Food lunchtimes and evenings
We are in it! The ONLY Thai Restaurant for Norwich in THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE!
www.vinethai.co.uk We are part of the “Norwich City of Ale” ale trail
Small but Perfectly formed Summer
Beer Fest 25th - 30th June 2012.
.
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NORFOLK NIPS | Now we are thirty - continued - for more convincing ranges of real ales from an array of brewers. On the microbrewery front, Pete Turner’s Star Brewery was in operation at the Golden Star and Ray Ashworth’s Woodforde’s beers had begun to flow from Drayton a year earlier. Over subsequent years a lot of our energy in Norwich and Norfolk branch was spent on campaigns of opposition to the monopoly that was enjoyed in Norfolk by the national Watney brewing group through their Norwich Brewery arm. Excluding their real ales from the beer festival and Norfolk beer guide stirred up plenty of local publicity but behind the scenes CAMRA’s report to the Office of Fair Trading, researched and written by members of the branch, may
well have had a more significant effect in catalysing the eventual changes that were brought about by the Beer Orders. The break-up of the national brewers’ pub chains spawned a welcome boost in the size of pub estates tied to some smaller brewers. The rise of big new pub groups that have had a mixed benefit to the pub consumer and the loss of much of the UK brewing industry to foreign ownership can probably also be chalked up to the Beer Orders. The merits of the changes that have occurred to the brewing and pubs trade over the years are a subject for debate, but few would argue that we have not benefited from the rise of hundreds of
new brewing companies that, although representing a small minority of the UK beer volumes, have created a deluge of fascinating styles and brands of cask beers for the pubs of Norfolk as well as most areas of the UK. Whenever the opportunity arises on my frequent visits to Norfolk, I pick up a copy of Norfolk Nips and Cask Force, and from its pages I invariably derive new knowledge of exciting new developments in the local real ale sector as well as a satisfaction that Norfolk Nips has matured into such a colourful, stylish and entertaining magazine that is clearly a firm part of the Norfolk pubs scene. Paul Moorhouse, Editor, Norfolk Nips 1982-1984 and 1985-1988
First ever Welsh Pub to win CAMRA’s National Pub of the Year! The Bridge End Inn, Ruabon, Wrexham, has won the coveted title, less than three years after it was re-opened by the McGivern Family. The success is all the more remarkable since the family were told that there was little demand for real ale in the area. Now home to a microbrewery, McGivern Ales, seven real ales and a selection of local ciders are available at any one
time. Real Ales from over 100 Breweries have featured since opening, with the emphasis on local produce. Licensee Peter McGivern said that the pub was a family business and a labour of love. They had strived to create a pub that was not focused on food and that they would enjoy visiting. They had put the product first and offered a wide range of beer styles, he added.
The other finalists were: The Engineers Arms, Henlow, Bedfordshire; Front, Custom House Quay,Falmouth, Cornwall and The Swan with Two Necks, Pendleton, Lancashire.
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Farewell to the snow The clocks changed the last Saturday in October, the dark nights arrived and the pubs customers stayed indoors. This appears to be what happened as November proved to be a very poor Month for many pubs on my rounds. Especially on the food side. Xmas and New Year did not appear to be as busy either, as many had expected; and personally I found both quite quiet. January saw the closure of The Squirrels Dray at Sporle, The Winch at West Winch , The Sandboy at Bawsey and also the Anvil at Congham, although this is being temporarily managed until the new landlord arrives whilst some others remain closed.
February and the Snow has arrived (unfortunately) which has not helped at all. A busy time for CAMRA members as we vote for the Pub of the Year and select our pubs for the Good Beer Guide, unfortunately I shall be absent from this meeting, as I hope to say farewell to the snow and fly off to see our friends Craig and Sandi in Hawaii. Hoping the snow has disappeared by the time we return, that Spring is in the air and that trade has improved in the Pubs, which has not been helped by a six pound a barrel Tax increase. This has left very few Pubs under £3 a pint in our area, and some hitting £3.50, making some of our pubs more
expensive than London. Where some informed me the other day they purchased a Pint of Young’s Bitter for £2.70, whilst Norfolk wages do not compare to London wages. Personally I think I think the Government needs to take the tax away from our pubs and put it on the supermarkets, if they really want to stop binge drinking and help save our British Pubs and our Real Ale. Let’s hope spring will bring forth more sunshine and joy to us all (landlords and customers) See you in the Spring. Buff W.N.Chairman
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NORFOLK NIPS | Chairman’s Letters
Do Lager Drinkers damage your health? On one of my recent train travels away from Norwich I had the experience of discussing the virtues of Real Ale with a group of lager drinkers. As the journey progressed the more annoying, boisterous and obnoxious they became. My thoughts immediately went to the Prime Minister’s recent announcement calling binge drinking a scandal which gives the British a bad reputation. He wants to introduce drunk tanks, booze buses and plans for a minimum price for alcohol. The call is to support responsible drinking but this is already in place with the Pub Landlords in control of their customers and telling them when they've had enough. The real problem is the cheap booze sold in the supermarkets and the lack of policing on our streets. CAMRA has always supported responsible drinking and have a good reputation in the drinking world. I just hope the Government ask us to assist in developing their strategy. However we know how much tax they take on alcohol so by having a minimum price will only increase their coffers. I feel it's just the usual rhetoric and the focus should be on getting the drinkers back into the Pubs. As for the Real Ale drinkers they seem to be the ones that are always asleep on the train snoring loudly.
On other matters, our Good Beer Guide Pubs will have now been selected and even I don't know which ones have been successful until the Guide is published. So don't ask me. However it's clear to me that Norwich is still blessed with many great Pubs. Compare that with the forthcoming Members Weekend in Torquay where there is only one GBG Pub. I will be attending and promoting Norwich for the Members Weekend 2013 and I'm certain everyone will be amazed at the fantastic choice of Pubs we have in this fine city. One Branch has even told me they have already organised their Pub crawls in anticipation.
Our Winter LocAle Trail is going very well and some fortunate participants have already completed all the Pubs. Well done. We will shortly be having our Branch AGM and I'm hoping we have new Committee members which is encouraging as more members are becoming active in our organisation. We have over 2500 Branch members but only a few regulars attend our meetings and campaigning trips. I would like to see more members involved and this will be one of our objectives for this year. After all it's good fun drinking Real Ale. Graham Freeman Chairman Norwich & Norfolk CAMRA
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Stig’s Words Firstly congratulations to Norfolk Nips on its anniversary. I wonder what the world will be like in another thirty years, not much chance of me finding out, I suspect! Cask Force didn’t last that long and is of course currently merged with Nips. It seems to me that the blend has worked out rather well, with Nips going from strength to strength. I’d like to thank Mike for his help with that process which I hope produces a county wide real ale message. Although pub closures are an increasing threat to pub culture
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and communities in general, a small measure of good news from our neck of the woods. The Bedingfeld Arms in Oxborough, Chequers in Feltwell and the Red Lion in Hockwold will all be re-open as pubs as you read this! I would also like to congratulate the Union Jack in Roydon which has been selected as our branch pub of the year 2012. Thanks are due to all who have contributed to Nips from West Norfolk CAMRA, Jeff has found time to write for us even though he now has a weekly column in the Lynn News to
fill. Also our ex-chairman Tim has put pen to paper, welcome back to the magazine. Finally an article on Perry from Jim and Pete at Whin Hill Cider, with some stop press news! I hope to meet a few of our readers over the next few weeks as “City of Ale 2” looms large and it would be churlish not to join in, good luck to all involved. I hope our readers enjoy this anniversary edition, and many more. Stig.
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NORFOLK NIPS | Words from the Editors
The Ed’lines Welcome to the Spring 2012 Edition of Norfolk Nips. As in previous years, this issue is a Spring Beer Festival Special. Wherever you are in Norfolk, you will not be far away from a Beer Festival, so why not pop along to one or two and give them your support? Hard to believe, but this issue is also our 30th Anniversary Edition! In Edition No.1, Editor Paul Moorhouse said that the aims of the newsletter were to inform ordinary drinkers about CAMRA and its aims, and to provide for CAMRA members a supply of news about local pubs, beers, breweries and local campaigns. That is as true today as it was then, but none of it would happen without the support of members and real ale enthusiasts throughout the years. So, to everyone involved, whether you edited, contributed, distributed or helped in any other way, a big thank you is due. Next time you have the opportunity, raise a glass and toast the success that you have helped to create. Since doing this job, I have found that the county is awash with unsung heroes helping not only Norfolk Nips but also our Beer Festival as well. You know who you are, please take a bow!
Norfolk Nips has certainly evolved over the years, from its early days as an A4 4 page edition, printed on uncoated stock. The change in size to A5 made it easier to handle and slip in the pocket to read at home. Changing to gloss coated paper permitted the use of photographs and paved the way for the full colour edition that you are holding today. And it won’t stop there, we must look to the future, which is e-publishing, but the printed version will always remain. As an ex-printer, I now that there is something about the look, smell and feel of a freshly printed copy in your hands whilst you enjoy a decent pint of real ale! But we can’t do any of this without contributions from you, the readers. If you have any suggestions for future editions (and yes, I have had
one or two scribbled on beer mats), want to write a feature, or send in some photos (High Res. 300dpi preferred) then do not hesitate, please get in touch. In this issue we welcome Guest Contributor Annabel Smith, the only female Inspector for CaskMarque. She writes about the differences between the North and South and mentions Sparklers. A contentious issue some while ago, but I did notice that a pint of Ale from North of the County was being dispensed for me through a sparkler. “Ah,” I said, “you are serving this the traditional northern way through a sparkler!” Came the reply “I haven’t been shown how to serve it any other way!”. Enjoy!
Subscriptions and West Norfolk Branch information We have a growing number of postal subscribers to Norfolk Nips and Cask Force, and I would like to send my thanks for the kind comments and best wishes from those who have renewed their subscriptions recently. If you would like to join them in receiving the next 4 issues by post, send 12 first class stamps to Norfolk Nips and Cask Force, 91 Tennyson Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 5NG. I also send out occasional emails to members with details of forthcoming meetings and Branch events. All are welcome at these meetings so if you wish to add your name to my mailing list, send your email address to jeffhoyle@btinternet.co.uk.
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| NORFOLK NIPS
Pub News The Pigs, Edgefield Seven new bedrooms are being added to the pub, taking the total number to ten and there is an added bonus to staying here. The mini bar on the landing includes a handpump dispensing the house beer – Old Spot from Wolf brewery. An “honesty pig” is provided for payment.
The restaurant has been extended and the car park renovated, you are now asked to “Park between the Pigs”. The barter system is still operating, so if you are thirsty and have a glut of produce, be it meat or veg, take it into the pub. It will be whisked away to The Head Chef who will examine your wares and determine what they are worth. The Bar Staff will then tell you what you can have. Anything they can use is welcomed, recently a thyme bush was brought in.
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The Nelson, Norwich The Nelson has featured many times over the last thirty years, usually with reports about it closing. So it is very pleasing to announce that it now up and running again, with new Licencees Don and Deb Pearce, formerly of The Champion. It is still very much a community pub, home to a Folk Club on Thursdays plus the Pigeon and Pipe Clubs. There are three Darts Teams and two Pool Teams and the NUTS Poker League is there three nights a week.
There is also live music on Saturday and the local Senior Citizens can still get their Sunday Lunches here. Don says that he has plans for the garden in the summer with BBQ’s and Bouncy Castles in the summer. The Nelson is one of the new pubs signed up to The City of Ale 2012
Crown & Mitre, Lynn received good publicity in the Lynn News for their charity collection. Anvil, Congham is currently being run by its owner, Trevor Stebbings whilst expecting the couple now running Lynn’s Porterhouse to take over. Sandboy, Bawsey, currently shut. Winch, West Winch now has new management with previous trade experience. Kings Arms, Shouldham is for sale. Hogshead, Lynn is reported to have been purchased by people with past connections to the Lattice. They hope to reopen it in the first half of the year. The Wildfowler (closed), Retreat (open) and Cobblestones (closed), all in Kings Lynn are advertised to let. Fenman, Lynn has been taken on by new owners. A visit the day after the meeting showed that it was much as previously, the owner having previous trade experience. A third pump has been added with beers at £2- 2.20/pint. Woolpack, Terrington St. John is now trading under new owners. Old White Bell, Southery, with the owners due to leave shortly, their successors hope to keep it much as it is. Red Lion, Hockwold is still having work done in the prospect of reopening shortly. Bedingfield Arms, Oxborough, having had some work
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to do to get a licence, recently reopened having been shut for a year. Station (previously Norfolk Hero), Swaffham reopened late last year. Reasonably smart, with IPA or a guest on draught, they are taking it a bit at a time with nothing over-ambitious. Meals were expected shortly.
News from the West There is the usual depressing number of pubs closed or with the ‘To Let/For Sale’ board outside. In Kings Lynn, the Jolly Farmers and the Hogshead have been empty for many years and more recently have been joined by the Wildfowler, Cobblestones, Antonio’s Wine Bar and the Queens Arms. Still open, but ‘To Let’ is the Retreat. It is a similar situation out in the villages, with, for example, the Kings Arms in Shouldham up for sale. As reported elsewhere, it looks like the Queens will become the subject of a change of use application whilst the Wildfowler has recently acquired a ‘Lease to Let’ board. There may be better news for the Hogshead on the High Street. My sources tell me (OK, let’s be honest – it’s third hand tap room tittle-tattle), that the pub has been bought and that it will reopen later in the year. The old ‘Sale by Auction’ board on Cobblestones has been replaced by a ‘To Let’ sign, whilst Antonio’s remains ‘For Sale’. Meanwhile, out at West Winch Danny Shea and his wife Pat have returned from
NORFOLK NIPS | News from the West
running a bar restaurant in Spain to take on the Winch. It will concentrate on food which is served from 12 -4 and 6-9.30 each day. Another pub which has recently changed hands, at a price of £175,000 freehold, according to the estate agents website, is the Fenman, opposite Kings Lynn railway station. It has been bought by a local businessman and continues to sell good value real ale.
In September we met the regional manager of Greene King who told us of the exciting plans to transform the Wenns Hotel in Kings Lynn to a Local Hero ale house. So far no work seems to have been done, but the lease is advertised for £27,750, and the advert includes the following information.’ The Local Hero concept allows the operator to sell a minimum of 6 cask ales, 50% of which must be Greene King brands, however, the remainder can be sourced directly from microbreweries within a 20 mile radius.’ Meanwhile, the Cock at Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalene has been bought by a couple from Essex. (Offers in the region of £225,000 according to the estate agents). The place has been refurbished and currently offers Black Sheep bitter and a guest ale, with the possibility of another hand pump by the time we have our branch meeting out there in April. The intention is not to serve food at the pub, and when we made our last visit,
the locals seemed to be very pleased with the way things were going. I am told that the Wash and Tope in Hunstanton has new owners with a track record for Real Ale in the Norwich area, but their impressive website makes no obvious mention of the beer. A quick search for pubs for sale in West Norfolk brings up a long list of other results. Some tease with the description, some are named and others are possible to puzzle out with a bit of local knowledge, for example Daltons list a freehold opportunity in Oxborough for £524,950. If you have 10 minutes to spare, have a look and see how many you can work out.
Whilst pubs struggle, some breweries continue to thrive. Fox brewery up in Heacham celebrates its 10th birthday in May and I believe a weekend of celebrations is planned over the last weekend of April. Out at Tydd St Giles, Tydd Steam expanded in 2010 to a 15 barrel plant. They now supply over 50 outlets and are looking at further expanding production by installing new fermenting capacity. Oakham Ales brewery in Peterborough saw sales rise by 34% in 2010 with over 13,000 barrels being sold. Despite doubling the size of the Maxwell Road brewery in 2010, investment continues and further improvements should be up and running in the spring. Jeff
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Beer scoring in West Norfolk
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West Norfolk’s Best Beer? One of the opportunities open to CAMRA members is to score the beer in any pub they visit. This is done on 10 point scale and the results are recorded on the National Beer Scoring System website which can be accessed by local branches. Obviously, this is not a perfect system. Beer quality can change from day to day, peoples tastes and standards differ, landlords come and go, low numbers of scores can distort results, some of our more remote pubs receive few scores…I could go on. Never the less, I feel that it is an interesting exercise to rank the results from the last year as we are about to decide on the entries for the next Good Beer Guide. I excluded pubs which had only one rating, and note that this list only includes pubs in the West Norfolk CAMRA branch area. Of all the scores registered, the only pub with a perfect score was the White Hart at Foulden, which achieved this for a pint of Humpty Dumpty Nord Atlantic. The top beer pubs according to their average score are as follows: 1) Stuart House, Kings Lynn
2) Crown and Mitre, Kings Lynn 3) Cock, Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalene 4) Windmill, Necton 5) Berney Arms, Barton Bendish 6) Angel, Larling 7) Ouse Amateur Sailing Club, Kings Lynn 8) Railway Arms, Downham Market 9) Sandboy, Bawsey 10) Dabbling Duck, Great Massingham My thanks go to all those who entered scores, especially Michael, who must have a greater knowledge of Norfolk pubs than anyone else alive. Why not get involved and make your opinion count. Just log into the CAMRA national website, hover over campaigns and select National Beer Scoring System from the Additional Information on the left. Otherwise I can enter your scores if you let me know the date of your visit, pub name and location score (0-5, including half marks) and your CAMRA membership number. Beer name is optional. The more scores I get, the more reliable the results become. jeffhoyle@btinternet.com
Union Jack at Roydon wins West Norfolk CAMRA Pub of the Year 2012 I am pleased to announce that the Union Jack has been voted Pub of the year for the second time in four years. Congratulations to Trevor, Mandy and the team who maintain a true drinker’s pub living totally on wet sales. The prices reflect Trevor’s policy of negotiating his own supply deals with breweries and passing this on to his customers (maybe we can get him to pass on his secrets at some time!) 12
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It seems this combined with excellent beer quality and regular beer festivals keep the customers, regular and longer range coming back for more! For me the only flaw is that it is so far away from my little corner of Norfolk, but I guess if I lived too close I might never leave the Jack again… Stig
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Pub Post Its
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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? Fox & Hounds - Weasenham St Peter 16th Century building with, unusually for a rural pub, a separate Lounge and Public Bar. There is also a dining room off the Lounge. The pub is comfortable, friendly and serves excellent pub food. The Lounge Bar inglenook fireplace is noteworthy, with stonework that looks as though it may have come from Castle Acre priory when it was dissolved. Regular beers Adnams Bitter Greene King IPA and one guest.
on sale in regular outlet The Kings Head in Magdalen St., Norwich, among others. What a great pub. Well deserving of the GBPG accolade. There was once a brewery there but nobody seems to know anything about it. Local Historians; help! Lang may yer Schornstein rauch!
Apollo Tavern Only 3 real ales on last time I visited, with nothing over 4% ABV available. “Apollo” though, a fair deal at £2 a pint. Not a lot of real ale drinkers in evidence. (One, me!). Perhaps it`s a case of what time of day you go in? Green Gate - Caister Doom Bar and Wherry always on and reasonably priced. Wherry was £2.70 last visit. They`ve just started trying a lunch deal on Mons and Tues; £1.99 for a main course! Options include fish & chips and Cottage Pie & veg. Not tried it yet. Next time. Nice pub, pleasant people. The Cherry Tree - Wicklewood Dropped in on my way home recently. That naturally curved oak bar top always amuses me. Three Buffy Ales on in good nick, plus a “glass of Nuts” for a £1.00 and a warm welcome, couldn’t be better. Except – that it is now on a Bus Route, The Konnect No.6 Service, Watton – Norwich via Wymondham, stops outside. King`s Head - Magdalen St., Norwich. A little birdy tells me that the admirable Green Jack Brewery in Lowestoft is doing a “Rauchbier”. It will have happened, or not, by the time you might print this correspondence. (Note Stig, NOT Rauschbier. I hope your educational trip to Bamberg was otherwise successful)! It should be 14
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THE ANGEL INN FREEHOUSE
NORFOLK CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2010! 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 www.angel-larling.co.uk
of and
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Pub Survey
| NORFOLK NIPS
Norwich - Real Ale Capital* of the UK 2012? Norwich & Norfolk Branch of CAMRA are organising another Pub Survey in the early summer (exact date to be announced nearer the time), following on from last year's highly successful event, where we found a total of 215 different beers on sale. Volunteers - both members and non-members are welcome to participate - will between them attempt to visit every pub in Norwich on ONE day, to establish which beers are being sold where, and for how much. Once the hard work is over we’ll be getting together to mull over the results at our temporary 'HQ' in one of the city's best real ale pubs, where we hope to announce during the evening that Norwich is the Real Ale Capital* of the UK again in 2012. Apart from the publicity and the kudos generated by the survey, there is a serious purpose as well, as Ian Stamp, survey organiser, says: “As well as having a bit of fun trying to beat the
26 St Leonards Road Norwich NR1 4BL 01603 618734
numbers achieved by other real ale cities such as Derby and Sheffield, the results of the survey give us a lot of important information about the distribution and variety of ales for sale in Norwich. Imagine if we had this sort of detail going back all the way to the late Seventies, when there were only about 5 different beers in the whole of Norwich!”. If you’d like to help with the survey, or are just interested in the results, you can follow progress on Twitter @NrwichPubSurvey (yes, there's an “o” missing!) or on Facebook - just search for “Norwich Pub Survey 2012”, or email NorwichPubSurvey@gmail.com - you'll be most welcome! The survey will cover postcode areas NR1 - NR7, plus a few pubs just outside these postcodes which are still be considered to be 'in Norwich'. *By number of different beers sold per 1,000 inhabitants
A real gem, well worth a visit.
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
ENJOY THE SUMMER WITH A FINE ALE IN OUR BEER GARDEN 16
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The Falcon
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The Gatehouse Pub 391 Dereham Road, Norwich NR5 8QJ Tel: 01603 620340
Pulham Market, IP21 4SU
Live Music and Quality Cask Ales
FOUR REAL ALES Wednesday Irish Folk Music Friday & Saturday Live Music Sunday Celtic Folk Music
Large garden overlooking the River Wensum OPEN: Mon - Thurs 12-11 Fri & Sat 12-12 • Sunday 12-11
Sat 3rd March -Tattooed lies- rock Sat 10th March - After Hours Blues Band Sat 17th March - Coyote Wrecks-rock Sat 24th March - To The Last -rock Sat 31st March - Storm Riches 40th Sat 7th April - rock band Sun 8th April - Sun of Cash 5pm country Sat 14th April - rock band Sat 21st April - Tamel – 50’s, 60’s, 70’s Sat 28th April - Leopard Trio - rock&roll Sat 5th May - Rock Band Sun 6th May - Classic Car and Bike Show, music, stalls and trophies from noon Sat 12th May - Fourplay- R&B Sat 19th May - Blues Situation - R&B Sat 26th May - Live Wire - Rock
Sat 2nd June
Wild West Fancy Dress Party Raw edge – classic rock Mon 4th June
Garden Party BBQ and music from 2pm
Tel: 01379 608897 facebook.com/falconpulham SPRING 2012 | 17
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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 Enjoy your favourite takeaway with a ON HAND PUMP pint of real ale and friendly company! Welcoming Just order your food to be delivered to the pub or bring it in and we provide plates, knives, forks and environment.
REAL FIRE
We even have the menu’s available - Indian, Pizza, Chinese, Fish and Chips etc.
Wednesday Special (12 Noon – 11pm) FOUR guest ales, changing every week, just £2.00 per pint!
CAMRA Good Beer Guide Listed Open Monday to Saturday
12noon to 11pm
Come and enjoy our Tap Room with a selection of Belgian bottled beers, Budvar, Erdinger and Riegele all on Draught.
Sundays 12noon to 10.30pm
91 - 93 WATERLOO ROAD | NORWICH | 01603 441182
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NORFOLK NIPS | CAMRA News
CAMRA launch national pubs campaign
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CAMRA is to launch a new national pubs campaign, Community Pubs Month, to champion local pubs which are at the heart of countless communities across Britain. The aims are to increase footfall in pubs, to encourage more publicans to promote new or existing events to attract further trade, and to spread awareness of community pubs throughout the media.
The dedicated website – www.communitypubsmonth.org.uk – is geared up to give pubs free publicity through listing any events licensees have planned throughout the month. Pubs signing up will be given free promotional material to help promote their events, whether it be the regular weekly pub quiz or a big one-off charity bash to get the community together. Kicking off proceedings on Monday April 2nd with Community Pubs Day, CAMRA branches across Britain will be organising a wide range of events to promote their local pubs during the Month. Tony Jerome, CAMRA Head of Marketing, said: ‘We realise it’s a tough time out there for pubs at the moment – as CAMRA’s new pub closure figures highlighted last week – and this is why CAMRA has put a large amount of campaigning funds into this initiative to help pubs market themselves during April.’
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Norfolk’s True Heritage Pubs 13
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This series of articles highlight the pubs whose interiors have been little altered in the past 40 years or so. This issue features a multi-roomed West Norfolk village pub and one of Norwich’s pubs selling a wide range of real ales.
Crown, Gayton near Kings Lynn
The Crown is a multi-roomed 18th century building that evolved from a small village pub of three rooms with an extension on the right added just after the war. The plans dated 1939 for the expansion of the pub can be viewed in a frame on the wall (between the right hand bar and first room that forms the extension). The highlight of a visit to the pub is the small right hand bar still with high backed settle seating forming a passage into the room, very old benches attached to the dado panelling, and old wood surround fireplace. The bar fittings here and in the left hand bar probably date from the 1950s (as does the parquet floors). Both counter fronts were replaced in 2009. The last of the original three rooms is on the far left and has 20
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an old fireplace with Dutch tiles and a bell push from the days of table service. A small domestic room, which has been amalgamated with the left hand bar in recent years, has an old shelved cupboard described by its Grade II listed description as “having conch
Lounge bar at the Crown, Gayton
head with sun face and rays”. Another addition is the tiny room at the rear of the right hand bar. In the extension on the right, which is of bricks that look more from 1950s, than 1939, there are three rooms. The first looks like a conversion of a former living room with a
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small cast iron fireplace and red tiled floor. Twin doors lead to the dining room, which has a large 1950s brick fireplace and parquet floor. The former garage at the far right end of the building has been converted into another small room called the ‘Boardroom’. Crown, Lynn Road, Gayton PE 32 1PA on the B1145, near the junction with the B1153. It is open from 12 noon to 11 (12 midnight Fri, Sat). Meals are served from 12 to 9 (9.30 Fri, Sat, Sun). Phone number is 01553 636252. Website: www.gaytoncrown.com. Accommodation is in 4 en-suite bedrooms. Norfolk Green Bus 48 runs hourly during the day
Dining Room in the extension at the Crown, Gayton from Kings Lynn. Real ales on sale are the increasingly rare Greene King XX Mild, other regular beers are Greene King IPA, Abbott Ale, Old Speckled
Whalebone, Norwich
The exterior of the Whalebone, Norwich
Hen and a guest beer, which can be a non-Greene King ale. Dog friendly, children are welcome.
A visit to the Whalebone is recommended to see the little changed public bar in a pub that was built in 1878-80. Although the pub has been much extended and renovated in recent years this does not impact on the old parts. Of particular interest is the splendid old and rare bar back fitting with narrow mirrored panels along the top advertising "Bullard & Son", "Ales”, "& Stout"; also four narrow vertical mirror panels. The bar counter is also the original one but with a new top, as is the red and black diamond quarry tiled floor. Originally there was a separate off-sales situated opposite the side door. The Top Bar situated to the right of the public bar is also an original room. The licensee’s office houses an old Bullards metal sign depicting stylised versions of the Bullards Brewer logo. Continued Overleaf
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NORFOLK NIPS | Norfolk’s True Heritage Pubs continued Left: The old bar fittings in the Public Bar at the Whalebone, Norwich Bottom: The bar back fitting at the Whalebone, Norwich
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.
The Lounge Bar has no old fittings and a recent expansion has seen the creation of the Conservatory Bar and the Terrace Area, which is almost covered by two large umbrellas, where in the evening table service is available. – very rare these days. There is another similar very old bar back fitting with top panels of “Brandies” and “Cigars” situated in the Walnut Tree Shades, Old Post Office Court near the Arcade in Norwich city centre. Whalebone, 144 Magdalen Road, Norwich NR3 4BA is open from 11 (12 Sun) to 11 (12 midnight Fri, Sat). The only food on sale is nuts & crisps. Phone number is 01603 425482. It is served by Bus 10/10A from the city centre. It has a range of up to 10 real ales including Broadland (Courage) Best , Fullers London Pride, Oakham Bishops Farewell, JHB, Woodfordes Wherry. The pubs runs an annual beer festival.
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West Norfolk Pub Report
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Diss is a Pub Report An autumn day last year and I drove over to Diss. Friends Nigel & Claire were going to show me the delights of the Diss pub scene, I’ve driven through Diss many times on the way to other places (such as Thorpe Abbots 100 Bomb Group Museum), but never stopped there, certainly never been in a Diss pub, so this would be an education for me, also joining us were Stewie & Kev. Nigel has covered Diss already, but I thought another view of the town would be useful. Parked the ‘Ferrari’ (I’m joking!) at Claire’s house we walked into town for our first port of call. The White Horse is Nigel & Clare’s local, a friendly pub serving two Adnams ales in Bitter and Broadside, good pint of bitter to start the crawl. A few yards along the street (via a chip shop) is the Saracens Head, busy with lunchtime diners, as it was a nice day we sat outside in the beer garden, the Wadworth 6X was decent, couldn’t judge the atmosphere as we were inside only briefly. Next on our wander was the Greyhound, a large two roomed pub with the back bar featuring a few televisions showing Sky Sports and a pool table (we had a game or three), had some Gales HSB here which was good. We did go in the Nutbush but there was no ale on (they had two clips turned ‘round which were Greene King IPA and Adnams Bitter). So out to the Cock, the circus was opposite and the pub was fairly busy, I remembered I’d been in the Cock before when meeting N&C 24
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at a beer festival there, had Timothy Taylor Landlord. The ladies loo was overflowing, too much Bud methinks! To the Park Hotel bar next, called Delucy’s I think, amongst some standard choices was my fave pint of the day, Humpty Dumpty Reedcutter, first time that day we’d had something a little out of the ordinary (also joined by Claire’s Mum Sue, hi Sue!). We returned to the White Horse as Stewie and Kev headed for home, me and Nige squeezed in a couple games of pool, not so much Whirlwind White as Twister Tim!!! Time for a bite to eat, headed to the Waterfront next door to a wee lake called The Meer, a Greene King outlet, their beers were on, I had a seasonal ale called Bonkers Conkers which was okay, the toad in the whole was good. Back to the White Horse yet again, it was karaoke night but I resisted the temptation to give the pub my ‘version’ of “Bohemian Rhapsody”! We missed out one or two others but I sort of gathered that Nigel & Claire showed me the best of the town’s pubs. So, what do I think of the Diss pub scene? The Cock and the White Horse are good pubs, but the fact that we went to the latter three times speaks volumes, Diss doesn’t have a truly outstanding real ale pub that you’d find in Norwich or Cambridge. And the lack of anything out of the ordinary beer choice wise is disappointing, as I said earlier only the Park Hotel had something different on, so
all in all an interesting experience. But could do better. PS-this is my personal opinion, and I’ll happily go back to Diss for a drink sometime, let me know what you think. Cheers!!! By Yoda’s green digit! Aka, Timbo
Parliament hears concerns over “independence” of new pubs dispute panel Greg Mulholland MP has challenged Business Minister Ed Davey MP over the appointment of a surveyor employed on various cases by Punch Taverns as Chairman of a new pubs dispute panel. This new pubs dispute panel (PICAS) was formed as part of the self regulation deal between the Government and the pub companies last year and is an integral part of Ed Davey’s plan to curb the excesses of the large pub companies. Greg Mulholland MP said in Parliament: “The one seemingly hopeful part of the Government’s otherwise dreadful response on pub companies was the unfortunately named PICAS—the pub independent conciliation and arbitration service. However, hope soon faded when it was revealed that it was to be pubcofunded, and this week it has been announced that it will be chaired by a Punch Taverns surveyor. Does the Minister think that licensees will want to use that supposedly independent body?”.
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Earle Arms Heydon
Traditional Norfolk freehouse and restaurant
Three Real Ales always available Good Food • Real Fires
01263 587376 Satnav: NR11 6AD (Just off B1149 Holt Norwich Rd)
NORFOLK NIPS |
City of Ale Update The Cty of Ale Festival, supported by Norwich and Norfolk CAMRA Branch, will run from 31st May – 12th June this year. Bigger and better than last year, 32 Pubs and 7 Breweries have signed up so far, including some new ones. This year, St Gregory’s Arts Centre will be the hub, and will host events throughout the Festival, such as the Launch Party, a Political Debate, an Auction, Pub Quiz Finals Night and a Comedy Night. There will also be the return of the popular Brewers’ Market outside the Forum and many events taking part in the Pubs and Breweries themselves. Rupert Eris is organising a Treasure Hunt, similar to the ones held in Norwich and Great Yarmouth last year. Full details of all events, including the Ale Trails, will be in the Programme – which this year is free! To promote the Festival, Beer Writers from all over the UK were invited to a Preview Weekend in Norwich. Welcomed at a Reception at The Forum, they were addressed by Co-Chairs Dawn Leeder and Phil Cutter;The Sheriff of Norwich, Chris Higgins; Warren Wordsworth from CAMRA and Rod Stokes, their Blue Badge Guide. Before they set off for their first port of call, The Vine, we were all regally entertained by the new film presentation on the history of Brewing and Pubs in Norwich by Frances and Michael Holmes. The writers, Jeff Evans, Susanna and Mark Forbes, Tim Hampton, Darren Norbury, and Adrien Tierney-Jones thoroughly enjoyed their visit of 22 pubs in 4 sessions, two on foot and two on the City of Ale Bus. Some excellent articles have since been penned by them, which adds to the claim that Norwich is the City of Real Ale. And there is more! Norwich is a finalist in the National Britain in Bloom Competition. To mark this achievement, Norwich in Bloom have organised a Bloomin’ Ale Trail, supported by Woodfordes, which will run alongside the City of Ale Trails. More on that in the next issue. Bloomin’ marvellous!
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Tel: 01945 583160 Email: info@elgoods-brewery.co.uk www.elgoods-brewery.co.uk
The Duck Stanhoe, The Three Tuns Wisbech and several Elgood and Free Trade houses throughout East Anglia.
A new range of seasonal beers to celebrate our Greyhound logo will be available at The Reindeer Norwich,
Celebrate 2012 - The Diamond Jubilee and 217 years of Elgoods Brewing
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NORFOLK NIPS | Local Festival News
Fakenham Beer Festival
www.elgoods-brewery.co.uk
Fakenham will be hosting its first Beer Festival thanks to members of local community group ‘Kick Start Fakenham’. It will be held in the community centre on Friday 23rd March, 7 - 11pm and Saturday 24th March 11 - 11pm At least twenty real ales and ciders from across the region will be featured and the entry fee of £10 will entitle visitors to a commemorative glass bearing the community centre logo. In addition there will be six tokens, each of which may
be exchanged for a half-pint of beer or cider. Local band Mangolhead will be playing on the Saturday. The event has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of many local businesses and principally organized by Lisa Smerdon and her partner Glen Mallett who run Sweets ‘n Things on Oak Street. Lisa recently organized the successful Wedding Fayre weekend at the community centre and has been instrumental in driving forward a
number of town initiatives through her roles as a town councillor and secretary of both Kick Start Fakenham and the community centre. The Festival will be staffed by volunteers from ‘Kick Start Fakenham’, who will share profits with the Fakenham Community Centre. For full details call Lisa Smerdon on 01328 855172 or e-mail her at fakenhamcommunitycentre@gmail.com
2nd Dragon Hall Beer Festival to have a Belgium flavour Dragon Hall¹s first Norfolk Beer Festival was a big hit for the venue last year. Over 3 days the much loved, Grade 1 listed historical gem presented a wide range of beers from all over Norfolk including the debut of Tipples’ Dragon’s Tipple, brewed specially for Dragon Hall.
Thanks to generous assistance from Norwich HEART organisers are undertaking diligent research to bring beers, music and food from the beautiful city of Ghent, Norwich’s ‘semi official’ partner city since 2009. All profits will help towards the upkeep of Dragon Hall. www.dragonhall.org
For the second festival there will once again be as many ales from all over the county as they can fit under the ancient timbers of the magnificent crown post roof but this time there will also be a unique selection of bottle conditioned Belgian beers for sampling too.
The Dragon Hall Norfolk (and Belgium) Beer festival 2012 Friday 4th - Sunday 6th May Open Friday 6 11pm, Saturday 12 to 3.30pm and 6 to 11pm, Sunday 12 to 3.30pm Admission: Lunchtimes £5 (Camra members £4), Evenings
£6 (Camra £5), includes £2 beer vouchers and souvenir glass. Dragon Hall, 115-123 King St, Norwich NR1 1QE 01603 663 922
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The Norfolk A to Z
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C is for… Hmm, let’s see. What “C” qualifies as celebrating the finest that Norfolk can offer the Real Ale scene? I Know – Seaside! (Ah, apparently the Editor insists that is cheating. He says I can use that when “S” comes around, which will be Issue 176, Spring 2016. Well, given the current rate of erosion, by then Norwich will be a coastal resort, so maybe I’ll wait!). OK, let’s go for “Coast” (a posh name for the seaside, anyway). There is a lot of it about, almost 100 miles in fact. Norfolk must be one of the few counties where you can stand on a beach and watch the
sunrise, then cross the county and watch it set whilst standing on another beach. It wraps the county nicely on three sides – I once knew a chap who hailed from Dereham, who said it should go round all four sides, so that it would keep out us “furrenners”! You have to admit that the Norfolk coastline is rich in it’s diversity – seaside towns, dunes, marshes, cliffs, pine forests, sandy beaches, shingle beaches, animal reserves, etc. And the really good bit is that wherever you go, you are never that far away from a decent pub.
Take the towns. I have lost track of the number of times that I have been to Great Yarmouth, but I never rated it’s pubs. Then came the Treasure Hunt, organised by Rupert Eris, and some real gems were unearthed. Like the Mariners Tavern, for example, a fine example of an ex-Lacons pub, with a warm welcome and a great selection of beers. But it’s the house style that gets me. The use of flints, ornate windows and conspicuous falcons abound – once you know they are there you look for them, and appreciate them as well.
CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2011 (NORWICH AND NORFOLK BRANCH)
Only NORFOLK Cask Ales Homemade Locally-Sourced Food
** Try Our Greek Specials ** Function Room available - Licensed Bar • Catering up to 65 people, 35 seated • Ideal for meetings, parties and special occasions • Parking Available
01263 822609 or 01263 826003 15-17 Wyndham Street, Sheringham Norfolk NR26 8BA www.thewindhamarms.co.uk 30
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Below decks on The Albatross I’ve always loved Sheringham, not just because of The Poppy Line, but it has everything I want – great fish and chips, an interesting museum, the promenade, the beach and the Lifeboat Station. Oh, and a few decent pubs too. The Windham Arms is always worth a visit, with it’s heady mix of Greek hospitality and food and local ales. Pity Sheringham is not closer so that we can do a Campaign Coach Trip there one evening. Another favourite is Wells. I love the quayside. I knew a shipping family, and I was once invited to Wells as they had three grain carriers moored there. Three of them, triple parked across the water. We had to visit each one, climbing over the sides to get to the next one. On each boat, we were welcomed by the skipper with a warm handshake and several beers. I don’t remember getting back Quayside! Where they were moored is now The Albatross, and a pint of Wherry from the casks below decks brings back the memories. And you can take a miniature railway ride to the beach, which is a mile away, then walk around to Holkham Bay, another favourite.
And then there is Horsey, which has everything. Horsey Mere is the closest Broad to the sea – a mile away at the time of writing, but there are plenty of photos around, particularly in the historic wind pump, to remind you that this is not always the case. You can walk along a path through the marshes to the deserted beach, where – in the winter – there may be seals, or follow the path back to the village, calling in at The Nelsons Head on the way. This is a great atmospheric pub, with a red telephone box outside the front entrance. Handy if you cannot get a mobile signal I thought, until I realised it was the Smokers’ facility!
The Nelsons Head And the real beauty is that you do not necessarily have to drive, you can take the train and the excellent Coast Hopper Bus (as reported by Warren and Graham in an earlier edition of Nips). (Note from the Editor: If you are out and about this summer on the coast, please take the camera and send your photos into me. We will include a selection in the Autumn Edition).
Bottled Beer of Norfolk Competition In 2011 the Norfolk Taste Panel decided to extend the scope of its’ tasting to include Real Ale In A Bottle (RAIB). This was partly to follow national CAMRA policy, partly to ensure entries in the Champion Beer of Britain category, partly to foster better relations with local brewers, but mainly to meet together and enjoy some quality local ales. The first competition was won by Why Not’s Chocolate Nutter. And a big thank you to all the breweries that entered the competition. Having learnt a lot in the first running of the competition we have decided to hold it again in 2012. The competition is open to any commercial brewery in Norfolk producing Real Ale in a Bottle. With round about 30 breweries in the county, and 7 categories, we have limited each brewery to nominating 4 beers. This can obviously reviewed in the light of actual entries but potentially, the panel will have 120 beers to taste. A monumental challenge but one the panel is uniquely equipped for. ‘Blind’ tastings will take place, one category at a time, between April and September. All breweries should have received an entry form but if any haven’t please contact me on 07810300535 or e-mail arted1@ntlworld.com. If any CAMRA member is interested in joining the Taste Panel please contact me using the same details. All you need is a willingness to drink real ale and the ability to make your own mind up in the face of some forthright and spirited discussions. Cheers Alan Edwards
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Up to EIGHT ever changing Cask Ales Good covered smoking area 10 mins walk from railway station
Ales from ÂŁ2.00 a pint! Apollo Tavern | Northgate Street | Great Yarmouth | NR30 1BP
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Win a Case Of Beer from Humpty Dumpty Brewery On the 19th April 2012, Sir Ian “Beefy” Botham will be walking from Norwich City Centre to Coltishall, via the Bure Valley Railway at Wroxham. This is part of “Beefy’s Great British Walk” to raise funds for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research “Beating Blood Cancers”. The Humpty Dumpty Brewery are supporting this stage of the walk by creating a limited edition, specially hopped version of their 4.1% ale – “Give it some Humpty.” The name derives from the 1981 Test Series against Australia, which will always be known as “Botham’s Ashes”. Having just lost the captaincy following the previous disastrous test at Lords, England were in dire straits at Headingly and crashing to an Innings defeat. Until Ian Botham came to the crease and said to
Batsman Graham Dilley “Right then, let’s have some fun – Give it some Humpty!” Botham made 149 Not Out and England amassed 356 in their second innings, giving Australia a meagre target of 130 to win. However, superb bowling by Bob Willis (8-43) destroyed the Australian batting and they were all out for 111. It proved to be the turning point and England secured the Ashes with a 3 –1 series win. The Humpty Dumpty Brewery is giving one lucky Norfolk NIPS reader the opportunity to win a case of 12 bottles of beer and a polo shirt. To win, simply answer the following question: In the 1991 Test Match at The Oval, Test Match Special Commentator Jonathan Agnew
Jazz Update On Saturday 17th March, at the Recreation Centre, Bridewell Lane, Acle, there will be another appearance of Rod Mason and his Hot Five, who are on their annual tour of this country from their base in Germany, and will again include former local favourite Sean Moyses on banjo. The appearances of this band are always eagerly awaited by traditional jazz fans, and another good night should be assured. This venue has a good selection of real ales, and includes Adnams Bitter, Tipples Redhead and Theakstons Bitter. Enquiries - Brian Davis 01493 701880.
NORFOLK NIPS | Competition
said that Ian Botham was given out ‘Hit Wicket’ because he failed to get his leg over! Who was the Test Match Special Commentator who somehow struggled on with his summary, whilst collapsing into an hilarious wheezing fit of giggles, as the Commentary Box Team tried to keep quiet during the live broadcast? Send your answer to Norfolk NIPS 160 Competition, 201 Kingswood Avenue, Taverham, Norwich NR8 6GJ or e-mail norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk to arrive not later than 10/4/12.
The Water Rats Jazz Band are getting ready for their 48th annual tour of the Norfolk Broads during the week commencing Saturday 21st July, generously supported as always by Woodforde's Brewery, but the big news here is that they are also planning an extra visit to the area on the Diamond Jubilee Weekend. It is anticipated that they will be here from Friday 1st June to Tuesday 5th June, and whilst the itinerary is still in the planning stage, it is understood that their many ports of call will include Chedgrave White Horse on the Saturday evening and Reedham Lord Nelson on the Monday lunchtime. Watch out for the full itinerary in the local press, or visit the water rats web site for more details at www.water-rats.co.uk
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Perry Production at Whin Hill Perry is the fermented juice of pears. It has a long history in northern France and the English West Midlands. Its production in Norfolk is less common. Just as special varieties of apple have been developed for cider production there is a whole group of pear varieties suitable only for fermenting to make perry. Although, as with cider, perry can be made from eating fruit the 'real thing' makes a totally different drink. Perry pears are generally small, hard , gritty, acidic and tannic. In a word – inedible! They are also, like eating pears, rock hard one day and overripe the next. Perry has therefore, with some justification, a reputation for being more difficult to make than cider. Whin Hill have always grown their own cider apples to produce cider which in many ways is more West Country than East Anglia in style. We follow the same route with perry, using our own grown traditional varieties of perry pear. There have been few attempts to grow perry pears on a commercial scale in East Anglia. A planting of 25 trees at Aspall Hall in Suffolk in 1908 produced trees that grew well but didn't crop and were cut down in 1930. We planted 30 trees each of varieties Thorn and Brandy in 1994 which began cropping within 5 years and now yield around 3-4 tons a year. A further 90 trees of various varieties including Moorcroft and 34
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Yellow Huffcap were planted in 2005 and are just starting to yield useful quantities. Its likely that the very well drained and light soil has contributed to slower growth and earlier cropping. Even so some of the 1994 trees are already 25feet high and the later ones catching up at nearly 20 feet. In a good location a Yellow Huffcap would grow to 70 feet tall and live productively for 300 years Varieties have to be harvested separately and are generally shaken off the trees. Some pears have to be pressed within a couple of days of harvest and some need leaving for several weeks. They have a nasty habit of going mushy inside while looking fine on the outside so need frequent checks. The best flavour only develops a short time before collapse! Like cider apples, perry pears in previous centuries were crushed with a stone wheel being pulled round a circular trough by a horse. The resulting pomace was then stacked in a cheese with straw or horsehair cloths to be pressed. This meant that the juice was in contact with the pulp for some hours and this has an important effect on the juice. Basically, first run juice – like the pears themselves is unpalateably tannic. Long contact of the juice with the pulp drastically reduces the tannin and improves the resulting perry. This fact probably meant that pears were selected to grow which – with
n ll
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NORFOLK NIPS | Perry Production modern equipment would have not been deemed suitable. So we have to mimic the effect of the old equipment by milling the pears and setting them aside for several hours before pressing. Although a bit of a palaver, the effect on the juice is magical.
equipped to carry on cider and perry production for years to come. They will look forward to welcoming customers old and new to the ciderworks off the Stearmans Yard car park in Wells from April.
Once the pears are pressed, the fermentation, blending and bottling of the perry is the same as for cider. Perry does have a tendency to throw a deposit in bottles after several weeks of perfect clarity – but just a quirk of the real stuff! Most of our perry is blended from the pears we harvest in any year but in 2011 we did manage to produce a single variety Moorcroft. Although perry pear trees are productive for hundreds of years, cidermakers are not. So this is a suitable moment to say that from April 2012 Whin Hill will be under new ownership. Jim Fergusson and Peter Lynn who started the business in 1994 are passing the operation on to Mark and Lisa Jarvis who with backgrounds in fruit growing and food processing are well
6 St Martins Palace Plain, Norwich NR3 1RN
01603 625891 www.thewigandpen.com
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.
• Good Ale • Good Food • Heated smoking area • Comprehensive Outdoor Dining Area • 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.
For the 16th successive year, the Wig & Pen has been included in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. We are very proud of this achievement.
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Makers of a range of award-winning organic ciders, including our User Friendly, Original, Owld Norfolk (voted East Anglia’s best cider), Special Reserve and our Rum Cask. Also our Norfolk Perry (subject to availability)
Tel: 01379 687687 www.crones.co.uk Range of organic juices also available
Norwich’s oldest pub Norwich City of Ale Festival Best Pub Award 2011
Freshly-cooked food A range of ales • Beer Garden
Open 11am -11 pm Mon to Sat 12 noon - 10.30pm Sun
Situated beside Rockland St Mary staithe, The New Inn is a traditional country pub offering a warm welcome in a relaxed and informal setting.
Food served 12 noon - 7pm Mon to Sat 12 noon - 5pm Sundays Best Hous Public eA Nor w ward ic Bloom h in 2011
17 Bishopgate, Norwich NR3 1RZ 01603 667423 36
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Our food is freshly prepared using locally sourced ingredients and cooked to order. We have a large selection of ‘All-time favourites’, plus a variety of Chef’s Specials. Our Sunday Menu is very popular. Cask Marque accredited, we always have 3 or 4 real ales on offer.
Families, children, dogs and walking clubs all welcome.
Visit www.newinnrockland.co.uk or our page to keep up to date New Inn Hill, Rockland St Mary
Tel: 01508 538403
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NORFOLK NIPS | Cider
Cider In Winter -Wassail your own! Cider is an ancient and respected beverage that has its roots anchored in the orchards of English agricultural history. Cider formed an essential component of farm workers’ wages, was used to counter scurvy on ships and to cure a range of illnesses including gout. Children were even baptised in it. A good apple harvest was therefore important and to ensure a full crop for the autumn season wassailing was carried out each winter on the old Twelfth Night (which in the pre-Gregorian calendar was January 17th). Wassailing is a ceremony where singing and dancing secured the health of the trees. The Wassail King and Queen led the songs and processional tune to the orchard where a piece of toasted bread soaked in the wassail-bowl was lodged in a bough as a gift to the good tree spirits (represented by the robin). The evil spirits meanwhile were banished by a cacophony of noise that included firearms. Now to the all important wassail-bowl and its contents. Drinking from the ribbon –decorated bowl was an essential and social part of the ceremony. The bowl was filled with hot mulled cider containing sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and vanillaand that toast! As the bowl was passed around the assembled throng a different toast was made: waes hail (Middle English for “good health”). And the hearty reply: drink hail. This winter some local producers have experimented with mulled ciders. Historical recipes can be easily found and it can be great fun to try these out for yourself. At least one wassailing ceremony took place at a newly planted orchard this January. Other ancient traditions that have participants drinking cider to dispel the winter gloom were also afoot. Plough Monday always sees the Molly Dancers out and about and the Straw Bear at Whittlesey is an excellent occasion for cider consumption.
Next winter why not produce your own wassail-bowl? Traditional Norfolk cider is readily available from our local producers – but this does bring us onto the question of what exactly does constitute a real cider? Current CAMRA rules would not permit the wassail-bowl at the Norwich beer festival for example, and this issue has stimulated heated debate recently. A letter in Whats Brewing pointed out that natural fruit cannot be used to complement ciders and perries, even though there are both historical and logical reasons for this practise to occur. Modern artisan cider producers are hampered in their innovation by rules which forbid the use of fruit or spices, yet such strict rules do not apply to beer. Indeed, in the January 2012 edition of Whats Brewing the GBG editor extols the use of sweet gale, bog myrtle, mugwort, yarrow, caraway and sage amongst other ingredients being used in a Belgian brewery. The contradictions and inconsistency of the rules for real ale, and for real cider are obvious. Recently, under what has been entitled “Fit for Purpose” review of CAMRA’s overall function, members views have been sought (via Apple website) on what should constitute real cider and perry. Some feel the current rules are too restrictive and actually penalise the new breed of craft cider makers and the Norfolk imbibers who are willing to be adventurous and “drink different”. The review sounds a bit like bureaucratic speak but revised definitions that remove the contradictions and permit people to drink what they want would be welcomed by the majority of cider drinkers. Finally, congratulations to the winner of the East Anglian cider competition held at the 34th Norwich Beer Festival. Peter Blake produced his winning Hog and Vine cider in Martham. Nice one Blakey! Small presses now abound. Are we turning back the years to a time when we all grow, make and then wassail our own? Mont
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Angel Gardens Free House
This independently run freehouse has been under the ownership of Ian Warren since 1988 and is situated on the north of the city near to Waterloo Park.
Homecooked and speciality meals Prepared by Ian - a qualified chef with years of experience.
Up to SEVEN reasonably priced Real Ales including THREE guest ales Monthly Quiz & Darts • Live Music on Saturdays
96 Angel Rd, Norwich NR3 3HT
01603 427490
email: ikwarren-angel@tiscali.co.uk www.norwichinns.com
A warm welcome from Rob and Fawnda to...
REYHOUND THE G• TIBENHAM • An old Fashioned, traditional country pub. Serving a selection of Real Ales and Fine food. Children’s play area and large car park. Camping space readily available The Greyhound The Street, Tibenham Norfolk NR16 1PZ Tel: 01379 677676
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smithrjsmith@btinternetcom
OPENING TIMES Monday: 12 - 3pm and 6.30pm - midnight Tuesday: 6.30 - midnight. Wednesday: 12 - 3pm and 6.30pm - midnight. Thursday: 12 - 3pm and 6.30pm - midnight. Friday: 12 - 3pm and 6.00pm - midnight. Saturday: 12 midday -12 midnight. Sunday: 12 midday - 12 midnight. Carvery lunch Sunday afternoon 1pm - 3pm. Booking advisable 01379 677676.
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NORFOLK NIPS | Guest Contributor
The Great North South Divide
Our guest contributor is Annabel Smith, training manager at Cask Marque who writes an interesting article on the use of a sparkler in our pints and frothier. Most of the hop bitterness remains in the beer so it has a more intense flavour, but less aroma. The most common misconception amongst Northerners is that Southern beer is ‘flat’ because it doesn’t have that tight head on the top. Nothing could be further from the truth – any ale which tastes flat is beer that has lost all its condition. Good, well kept ale always gives you a little tingle on the tongue – not fizzy like lager, but certainly not flat and lifeless. Some Southern brewers would be horrified if they knew their beer was being dispensed through a sparkler, and vice versa, Northern brewers may dictate a sparkler should always be used.
There has always been an on going debate between the North and South about how cask ale should be served – with a thick creamy head or a looser frothier head? Which is better? Most of my weeks are divided between working for a few days in the South, and then trying to head back north as the week goes on so I can spend Friday evening in a local pub. And the way cask ale is served is markedly different. Most pubs in the north dispense cask ale using a sparkler – a little gadget which is attached to the beer spout to create a thick creamy head through which the beer is drunk. All the aroma of the hops is encapsulated in the head, and the liquid beneath tastes smoother. The majority of pubs in the South dispense cask ale without a sparkler so the head is looser
Very few London pubs possess a sparkler, let alone use one. But do I enjoy the beer any less? No – it’s just a different experience, and everyone in the pub drinks it that way, so it can’t be all that bad! Maybe it’s the environment we drink the beer in. Most London pubs are packed with beer drinkers at 5 o’clock, drinkers preferring to stay in the city before they tackle the journey home. Here in the North, we tend to go home after work, have our tea, then go out again. We each have our habits and it doesn’t necessarily mean one is better than another. Which goes back to my first point – which is better? And I don’t think there is a right and a wrong answer, it’s entirely up to the individual how they want their cask ale served. So if you want to try a quick taste challenge, next time you’re in a pub ask for two halves of the same beer – one poured with a sparkler, one without. You may be surprised how different they taste.
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West Norfolk Article
| NORFOLK NIPS
Campaigning Issues The big news recently has been the attempts by the Parliamentary Business and Industry Committee to end unfair practices by pub owning companies through a tough and legally binding code. To highlight this, the parliamentary beer group organised a meeting at the Houses of Parliament to coincide with the report. As I volunteered to be the West Norfolk CAMRA public affairs officer, I received an invite to the meeting, and so it was that on a dark evening in late November I queued up to clear security at Westminster. The rather off putting armed police became a lot more friendly when I declared that I was there for the beer, and it only took a few minutes before I was through the airport style body scanners, in possession of my photo I.D. card and wandering the through the labyrinth of halls and corridors which make up this huge building. Eventually I found my way to the Wellington committee room, slightly disappointed not to be next door in the Peel room (as he was MP for Bury, the place of his birth). After a short wait spent chatting to other CAMA members and representatives of various business organisations, along with spotting familiar faces walking past (Ken Clarke does wear brown Hush Puppies), it was into the meeting. After a short photo opportunity for MPs featuring, amongst others, Caroline Lucas of the green party, it was into the speeches. These featured the chairman, Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat), Lord Bilston (Labour), and Brian Brindley (Conservative). All were united in saying that the publicans were getting a raw deal from the pub owning companies, and that the government must take action. This was echoed in a fine speech by Mike Benner from CAMRA and various representatives of the business community, along with some current and ex publicans. It was good to see that our local West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham responded to my invite, and attended the meeting, and that in his correspondence with me he has been very supportive. I have also had a very positive response on the issue from Elizabeth Truss in South Norfolk.
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Contrast this with the Mid Norfolk MP, George Freeman who does not respond to my correspondance.We finished with more pictures and eventually made our way out into the cold London night full of hope and enthusiasm that something will be done to improve that lot of publicans and help to prevent pub closures. This was reinforced a few days later when the House of Commons voted in favour a motion aimed at protecting tenants. Meanwhile, back home, the Compasses in Snettisham has put in a planning application for change of use, which, given the circumstances I felt that there was little point in opposing. The Queens Arms in Kings Lynn has been sold, subject to planning (the asking price was ÂŁ300,000) and it seems that the intention is to turn it into some kind of education centre, although I have not yet seen a planning application. Jeff
The Real Ale Shop is a unique off-licence offering over 50 bottle conditioned ales from 15 Norfolk brewers. We are located on a beautiful arable farm close-by Wells-next-the-Sea, which provides much of the malt used in brewing the ales we sell. The Real Ale Shop, Branthill Farm, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk, NR23 1SB.
Tel: 01328 710810
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NORFOLK NIPS | Titfield Thunderbolt
The Titfield Thunderbolt in North Norfolk
Readers may remember the 1953 Ealing Comedy, The Titfield Thunderbolt. Directed by Charles Crichton (The Lavender Hill Mob), it was the first from the studio to be filmed in colour. It told the story of a village whose railway line was axed by British Railways. Despite strong opposition from the local bus company, they set about restoring the line using whatever they could beg, borrow or steal. They had one month before inspection to gain a Light Railway Order. One of the “stars” of the film was a tramcar from the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway, part of the National Railway Collection. There are only two in existence and the second is on The North Norfolk Railway. Some time ago, a decision was made by the owners, The Midland and Northern Joint Railway Society, to restore it to it’s former glory. But it’s better than that. In the film, wealthy Walter Valentine (Stanley Holloway) is persuaded
to invest in the venture by a promise that it would be legal to serve alcohol all day – he wouldn’t have to wait for the pubs to open. To this end, a bar was created in the tramcar, complete with beer barrel. And so, the North Norfolk Tramcar has it’s own bar, complete with a wooden pin, thanks to Colin Keatley of The Fat Cat! Alas, no beer – yet! It is anticipated that the tramcar will form part of the Vintage Set, which will run on certain days of the year.
The pub with no bar, ales direct from cask. Watch www.nelsonslocal.co.uk for forthcoming events.
Tongue twizzling food, and great value. Huge garden • Summer barbecue
Victory Barn Function Room for Weddings and Parties Come & visit Nelson’s local. Walsingham Road, Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk PE31 8HN
Pictures copyright Geoffery King and Melvyn Massen.
01328 738241
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Michaela and Rik 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 Occasional live Music – see website or phone for details
Food served: Tuesday - Sunday 11.30am - 3pm with Roast dinner every Sunday from 12.30
Eat your takeaway in the pub - plates and cutlery provided!
See all of Norwich City’s matches (Home and Away!) See
www.kingsarmsnorwich.co.uk for details
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NORFOLK NIPS | Dates for your diary
CAMRA Calendar Norwich and North Norfolk Branch Tuesday 20th March Branch 2012 AGM Take 5, Norwich. 8pm (You must be a member to attend – don’t forget your Membership Card). Friday 23rd March Campaign Trip - Route TBA Friday 6th April First Friday Five Visiting five pubs in Norwich, linked to CAMRA’s Community Pubs Month. Route TBA Tuesday 17th April Branch Committee Meeting The Marsham Arms, Hevingham Friday 27th April Campaign Trip - Route TBA Friday 4th May First Friday Five Visiting five pubs in Norwich, which hopefully will be serving Mild Tuesday 15th May Branch Committee Meeting UEA, Norwich Friday 26th May Campaign Trip - Route TBA Friday 1st June First Friday Five Visiting five pubs in Norwich - Route TBA Tuesday 19th June Branch Meeting The Windham Arms, Sheringham. Apart from the AGM, 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 Michael Philips 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 All Branch Meetings start at 8pm.
West Norfolk Branch Branch meetings (All include social) Tuesday 10th April Cock, Wiggenhall Magdalene Tuesday 8th May, Kings Head, Great Bircham Saturday 19th May, Cambridge Crawl Tuesday 12th June, West End, Feltwell
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
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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
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NORFOLK NIPS | West Norfolk CAMRA Xmas Pub Crawl
Crimbo with Timbo Yes folks, it’s that time of year to pen the West Norfolk CAMRA Xmas pub crawl report 2011, just as spring is in the air (sort of, it is mild as I write this!). I know you all out there in Nips readerland look forward to this, you know you do, so let’s get going. This is the real ale equivalent of, “Extreme Fishing with Robson Green”, only less boring and a whole lot more fun! Hail the Ale!!! We started by eating cottages, no hold on, started at the Eaton Cottage on Mount Pleasant (phew, think I got away with that!), a good crowd in early assembled for the off. I thank the landlord for opening up early just for us, I began the day with Wolf Golden Jackal (Howwwlllllll!!!), and a half of Exmoor Gold (nice X2). Over the road and around the corner to the crazily titled Mad Moose Arms (Warwick Street), a family run pub which has a chain pub look to it, again many thanks to them for opening early (must be Xmas spirit!), good drop of Grain Xmas sampled. Joined by more crawlers, we were up to a healthy 20 at this point, great! A quick traverse of the nearby backstreets found us at the Garden House (Pembroke Road), a nice pub we’d been in on a Xmas crawl many moons ago (remember we had over 40 people on that occasion, lunch was wild!), supped Woodforde’s Sundew as myself and Nige attempted
chalk-less pool, we did okay and tied 1-1. Found our way next to the Earlham Road and the Black Horse, a good pub with a fair choice from which I chose Crouch Vale Brewers Gold, a fave drop of mine. Across the road is the Earlham Arms, a new pub on the scene sporting 8 or 9 real ales, nice cold snacks too (yummy Scotch eggs!), tried some Woodforde’s Tinsel Toes which was lovely. Sad footnote, I hear the Earlham Arms has since closed, nothing to do with us I have to say (we’re not Viking beer warriors!), I believe it has something to do with live airing of Norwich City FC home games, a big shame but maybe the pub will live again. More backstreets! To what must be my top Norwich pub, The Alexandra on Stafford Street, not only superb ales but excellent food , once again me and Nige were at the pool table (still tied 2-2), enjoyed a delicious chicken tarragon dish, just dishy, with my Rudgate Jorvik Blonde. Totally Viking, dude. Ah, the Fat Cat on West End Street, things sort of unraveled a bit here but never mind, as long as everyone enjoyed themselves. Myself and Nige stayed longer than scheduled, my ales were Dark Star American Pale (my ale of the day), and Green Jack Mahseer. Got the munchies so had some chips en route,
passing The Plough (not on the list) we thought it rude not to go in, so we did! A half of my fave Grain Blonde Ashe did the trick and we were on our way attempting to catch up with the rest. Popped into the Plasterers (Cowgate), a cracking pub with 15 real ales, and CAMRA members get a discount (good to know in these hard times), and you can bring your takeaway food in to eat, nice pint of Wolf Granny Wouldn’t Like It. We managed to find some stragglers in the Wetherspoon’s pub, The Glasshouse, very busy, more Wolf and Golden Jackal again. And that was it for me, had to leave to catch my train home. I’m not sure if anyone visited all the pubs on the list, I missed out the Old White Lion, Playhouse Bar, and The Vine (but the Plough was extra!), so apologies for not making those, save them for another day. If you did then well done, jolly good show and stiff upper lip, old boy! Thanks to all who attended, from what I hear all had a good time, and that’s the important thing, I know I had a great day. The 2012 Xmas crawl is already in the advanced planning stages, you have been warned!!! See you in December. Cheers!!!!! Timbo
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Norwich Beer Festival reminisce
| NORFOLK NIPS
25 Norwich Beer Festival Years The end of October every year is a time I really look forward to, particularly Norwich Beer Festival week, a week I book off work well in advance, don’t want to miss this great event. If real ale has a ‘Mecca’ then this festival is it for me! The 34th Norwich Beer Festival last October in St Andrews & Blackfriar’s Halls marked a significant anniversary for yours truly, being my 25th consecutive visit to this wondrous event, a beery silver jubilee since my debut here back in 1986. That first visit in 1986 was fairly memorable. Myself and long time drinking buddy Stig timed our lunch session entry badly, arriving about 15 minutes before ‘time’, so I had time for a quick pint, but that pint was one Bateman’s Victory (bit of a strong one!). We timed it better that evening, though that quick pint put me in a nice relaxed state of mind! Over the years we’ve got going to the Norwich Beer Festival down to a fine art, though the queues have grown longer over the years, you used to be able to start lining up after 11am, now even turning up an hour before opening you’ll see some keen drinkers (the evening session queues are unbelievable). A popular festival not only for CAMRA members (I think I joined CAMRA at the Norwich Beer Festival), but also attracting regular and casual real ale drinkers, especially from 48
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nearby businesses, it cannot be a bad thing if the festival converts people to real ale. The festival continues to evolve, such as the opening up of Blackfriars Hall a number of years back (the Tuesday lunch session has turned into a sort of meeting point for West Norfolk CAMRA over the years), and the Foreign Beer Bar marquee has proves an excellent addition, not to mention the cider & perry bar in the main hall. And you have to love the pub games, plus the Tombola, who can forget the cry of, “Another winner on the tombola!!!”. What really makes this such a fun event year after year is all the familiar faces, all volunteering their time to make this a superb experience, it’s wonderful to chat with all the friends I’ve made over this time, almost like a beer family! I’ve volunteered now and then, but would like to thank all the people who give up their own valuable time to make the festival the special one it is, cheers me dears!!! I came full circle last October, as I finished the Thursday lunch session with the every ale I started with back in 1986, one Bateman’s Victory (although not the same barrel I trust!), good to see this beer and brewery still going, with breweries coming and going so frequently these days. Will I make it another 25 Norwich Beer Festivals? Good health and the good Lord willing I
hope so, if I do I’ll be a ripe old 75!!! I raise my glass to the good ship Norwich Beer Festival and all who sail in her, here’s to continued success for many years to come, cheers again!!! Tim Spitzer
New CAMRA Complimentary Brewery Clubs Four new clubs have been introduced: Marston’s is launching their new Club with a brewery tour for one member and three of their friends. The winner will have the chance to learn about the history of the brewery and sample some of Marston’s finest ales. Wychwood is offering one member the chance to win a Wychwood Mini Cask plus a tour of the brewery for them and 3 friends. Join now to receive further competitions and news from the brewery. Brakspear have also teamed up with CAMRA to offer members additional benefit. This month Brakspear is offering one member the chance to win a branded Tankard plus a tour for them and 3 friends. You can book a tour of Banks’s Park brewery and try your hand at being a Head Brewer. Touch, smell and explore the raw natural ingredients, learn about the brewing process from grass to grain and see how traditional brewing methods have evolved.
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NORFOLK NIPS | From the Archives
From the Archives It seems very appropriate here to look back to Issue 1, dated July 1982. Under the headline “We’ve made it!” it proudly proclaimed that the purpose of the newsletter was twofold: “Firstly to inform ordinary beer drinkers about CAMRA and it’s aims, and secondly to provide for CAMRA members a supply of news about local pubs, beers, breweries and local CAMRA campaigns.” It was hoped that Norfolk Nips would act as a forum in which members throughout the county could pass on information to others. Contributions were invited in the form of articles, letters and competitions on a real ale theme. Also in Issue No. 1, it was announced that the 1982 edition of “Real Beer in Norfolk” listed all 500 pubs in the county where real ale was sold. There was also a plug for the 1982 Norwich Beer Festival. It was reported that the 1981 Festival experienced unprecedented demand and beer supplies began to run out on Friday evening. In order to prevent this happening again, “considerably more Beer” was being ordered. For the first time, the Festival would
open on Saturday morning and an extension was being sought so that they could remain open until late in the afternoon. Pub News told us that Norwich Brewery had started to replace Norwich Bitter with Websters Bitter in their pubs, and some concern was expressed that it was the keg version that was appearing in some cases. Greene King were relaxing their “Fizzy Beer Policy” and, following campaigning by the Norwich Branch of CAMRA, The Windmill in Plumstead Road was the latest GK pub to convert to Real Ale. Nigel Thompson proclaimed that North Norfolk was a “Real Ale Paradide” with 65% of it’s pubs selling real ale, compared to only 50% in the city, with Cromer and Sheringham leading the way. Two adverts were carried in this issue – one for The Ten Bells “the smallest free house in Norwich” and Woodforde’s Norfolk Ales. Under “CART (Campaign for Real Take Away)” we learned that CAMRA, with the backing of the National Union of Licensed Victuallers, were launching a scheme to provide free containers for the take home of draught beer. And “Real Ale” is now an official term having made it into the Oxford Dictionary’s latest Supplement.
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8 Keelan Close, Norwich NR6 6QZ
Tel. 01603 787820
Search Winter’s Brewery
sales@wintersbrewery.co.uk www.wintersbrewery.co.uk @wintersbrewery
Open All Day Every Day At Least 5 Local Real Ales Always On Tap Food Served Daily Large Function Room With Bar For Hire Catering For Weddings Birthdays Parties Ect
Bed And Breakfast And Camping
10% Discount For CAMRA Members Station Rd, North Elmham Tel: 01362 668300 50
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ival ich Beer Fest rw o N th 4 3 The
NORFOLK NIPS | Awards
Awards Night For the second year running, the awards presentations were made at The Fat Cat Brewery Tap in Norwich. They were certainly proud to be hosting it again and produced tasting notes for eight winning beers which were on sale that night.
Our chosen charity, The Priscilla Bacon Lodge were on hand to receive a cheque for ÂŁ3.300.00, which will go towards providing some home comforts for the relatives of those spending some time there.
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CAMRA Norwich City Pub of the Year 2011
Live Music every Friday & Sunday
Quiz Night last Monday of the Month
Tapas Night first Thursday of the month
George’s Fest 2012 Thursday 19th - Monday 23rd April
Over 30 cask ales and traditional ciders
With Day, Jubi has to g in o even com
Wi man UK, chan real tried brew com able tion an ‘a and tasti
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- Spring / Summer 2012
als stiv2012 r FeSummer BeeSpring /
Norfolk Pub Beer Festivals
ht ay th
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ril
With such events as St George’s Day, the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics there has never been a better excuse to get down your local and join in one of the hundreds of events planned over the coming months. With there never being so many micro-breweries in the UK, not only will you get the chance to sample a variety of real ales you may never have tried before - including those brewed specially for the coming occasions - you’ll be able to try your hand at traditional pub games, take part in an ‘ale-trails’ and history walks and learn how this great tasting drink is brewed.
Of course there’s more to pubs than beer and skittles, with 84% of people believing that a pub is as essential to village life as a shop or post office; and the closure of a pub – especially in areas that lack other social amenities - can be devastating for the local community.
If you’re watching the pennies, but still want to enjoy the finer things in life then the pub offers the ideal solution. From old favourites like steak and kidney pie to the exotic tastes of Thai cuisine, many pubs offer high quality meals – often cooked by award winning chefs .
A well-run pub can cater for all ages, offering a place where friendships can be formed and provides a convenient stopping point for a family enjoying a bike ride on a sunny day. To help you plan your travel to and from these events we have also included a brief guide to bus and train travel and where to find further information and timetables.
From acts including Madness and Vic Reeves, pubs have even been responsible for kickstarting the careers of some of the biggest names in music and comedy. You never know; one of the acts playing in a pub near you could be a star of the future. So whether you want a quick pint after work or a night out with your friends; look in at the local, you won’t regret it.
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Dereham & District Conservative Club
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7 Quebec Street, Dereham Norfolk, NR19 2DJ (Behind the Market Place) 2
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Up to 12 Guest Cask Ales + 2 Regulars
Free Entry to Card Carrying Members inc CAMRA
Good Friday Evening Non - members donation Saturday noon till Close charity at the door Sunday Lunch -17:00 Club Office Contact 01362 693616
Hill House Inn - Happisburgh
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For 2012: FIVE DAYS
Thursday 21st June to Monday 25th June inclusive The
Over 100 Beers & Ciders 12th
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(and the odd perry) from far and wide, at competitive pub prices. 10
LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT inc. Rock, Traditional Jazz, Rockabilly, Skiffle, Folk and much more.
Family Friendly
CAMPING AVAILABLE One Off Entry payment of ÂŁ5.00 valid for the whole weekend. (Numbered wristband).
FREE PRINTED FESTIVAL GLASS AND TASTING NOTES. Food served all day inc BBQ Festival T-Shirts available
Come and join us at the independent festival by the sea. Celebrate the 12th Solstice festival and 4 centuries of the Hill House. For more details contact:- Clive and Sue Stockton, The Hill House Inn, Happisburgh, Norfolk NR12 OPW Tel/Fax 01692 650004 Web www.hillhouseinn.co.uk
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A beer festival is near you!
Beer Festivals section
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13 Fri 23rd - Sat 24th March Fakenham Beer Festival, Fakenham Community Centre 20 Real Ales and Ciders
Thurs 31st May – Wed 6th June White Horse, Chedgrave Diamond Jubilee Beer Festival Live Music and Family Day
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Thurs 19th - Sun 22nd July Heathlands Community Centre, Blofield Heath Summer Fair and Beer Festival
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Fri 30th March - 1st April White Horse, Overstrand 5th Beer Festival
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Fri 1st June - Green Dragon, Wymondham Spring Beer Festival weekend with live music
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Fri 20th - Sun 22nd July Lodge Bar, North Tuddenham 2nd Summer Beer Festival
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Thurs 5th – Sun 8th April Locks at Geldeston Annual Beer & Music Festival Music: Thurs – Folk, Fri- Folk Rock, Sat – Ska, Sun – Country
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1st - 5th June Butchers Arms, East Ruston Beer Festival • 12 Ales and 1 Cider
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Fri 20th - Sun 22nd July Crusaders RFC, Little Melton Crusaders Beer Festival • 20 Real Ales and Ciders • Camping available
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Fri 1st - Tues 5th June Crown, Banningham Jubilee Beer Festival
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Sat 28th July South Green Park, Mattishall 7th Beer Festival • Over 50 Real Ales • Live Music
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Fri 10th - Sun 12th August Ranworth Village Hall 3rd Summer Beer Festival 18+ Real Ales, 4 Ciders
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Fri 6th – Mon 9th April Union Jack, Roydon Beer Festival
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Fri 6th - Mon 9th April Lord Nelson, Reedham Easter Beer Festival, live music every night
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Fri 6th - Tues 10th April Royal Oak, Poringland Easter Beer Festival
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Fri 6th – Sun 8th April Dereham Conservative Club Easter Beer Festival • 14 Real Ales
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Sat 7th - Mon 9th April Bell Inn, Rickinghall Pie and Ale weekend
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Thurs 19th - 23rd April Cottage,Norwich Annual Beer & Music Festival Live Music every evening
Fri 1st - Tues 5th June Green Gate Caister Queens Jubilee Beer Festival
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Fri 1st - Tues 5th June Lord Nelson, Reedham Queens Diamond Jubilee Beer Festival, live music from 8.80pm each night
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Sun 3rd - Tues 5th June King’s Head, Great Bircham Diamond Jubilee Beer Fesival • 30 Real Ales
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Thurs 21st - Mon 25th June Hill House, Happisburgh 12th Solstice Beer Festival 100+ beers and ciders
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Fri 22nd – Sun 24th June Caister Lifeboat Shed Beer in the Boat Shed Festival 30 Real Ales & Ciders
Fri 20th - Mon 23rd April Green Gate Caister St Georges Beer Festival
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Fri 27th - Sun 29th April Fox and Hounds, Heacham 10th Anniversary bands and beer
22nd - 24th June Jolly Sailors, Brancaster 3rd Norfolk Ale and Music Festival
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25th - 30th June Vine, Norwich ‘Small but perfectly formed’ Beer Festival
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Thurs 28th June - Sun 1st July Beehive, Norwich Summer Beer Festival
Fri 4th - Sun 6th May, Dragon Hall, Norwich Beer Festival • wide range of ales City of Ale, Norwich 31st May – 12th June
Out of Local Area 25th - 29th April CAMRA Bury St Edmunds Beer Festival Mon 21st—Sat 26th May Cambridge & District CAMRA 39th Cambridge Beer Festival
Jesus Green 200 plus Real Ales • 60 plus Ciders and Perries
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A beer festival is near you!
The numbers on the map match the numbers next to the events described on page 55. This map is to show you the g
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Brancaster 22 Staithe Little Walsingham
1
Gt. 19 Bircham
4
Gt. Massingham
Roydon
West Acre
7
Feltwell
8 Rickinghall
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Beer Festivals section show you the general area and is not to scale!
2
tle Walsingham
20 16
15
Heydon
10 21 17 7
29 26
28
14
27
9 23 24 12
25
6 Poringland
Filby
5 18 Reedham
13
3
Geldeston North Lopham
nghall
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ton Locks Inn s e d l e G Locks Lane, Geldeston NR34 0HW Tel: 01508 518414
APRIL 5th to 8th -EASTER BEER & MUSIC FESTIVAL Folky Friday Night with Murphys Lore & support bands 8pm Saturday Live Bands 8pm Country Sunday Live country bands from 1pm
FREE ENTRY ALL SESSIONS
Summer opening Hours OPEN ALL DAY EVERY DAY FROM 12 NOON
SUNDAY MAY 6th - MAY FAYRE Murphys Lore, Mummers, Storytelling, Maypole Dancing, Morris Dancing, Crowning the May Queens 1pm - 8pm JUNE 16TH - LOCKSTOCK All day folk, folk-rock and roots music festival noon to 1am
Go to www.geldestonlocks.co.uk for more information on our events, parties and music line-up
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Beer Festivals section
Travelling around Norfolk Norfolk is well served by train and bus services between all the major towns, villages and out of Norfolk via Kings Lynn and Norwich. There are also many cycle and walking routes available for the more adventerous beer hunter or those with families looking for a full day out with some excercise thrown in. Greater Anglia and East Midlands Trains and East Midland Trains Services run everyday into Norfolk from Ely, Peterborough, Cambridge and Ipswich. All services pass through Norwich where you can then go on to the coastal Norfolk towns of Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Cromer and Sheringham. Go to www.greateranglia.co.uk or www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk to check times
Heritage Train services Mid Norfolk Railway Travelling between Dereham - Yaxham Thuxton - Kimberley Park - Wymondham Abbey This volunteer run railway has a variety of locomotives including a fleet of heritage diesels. Go to www.mnr.org.uk to check times. The North Norfolk Railway Travelling between Sheringham - Weybourne Kelling Heath Park - Holt The North Norfolk Railway offers a 10.5 mile round trip by steam train (vintage diesel trains on some journeys) through a delightful area of North Norfolk designated as being of outstanding natural beauty. Go to www.nnrailway.co.uk/timetable.php to check times.
Bus Services Norfolk Green run a number of Bus services into
and around Norfolk. The Coasthopper route sets off from Kings Lynn and covers Hunstanton - Wells Weybourne - Sheringham - Comer and many of the smaller villages in between. Other services include X8 covering Kings Lynn to Fakenham and Heacham. X5 and X6 services from Fakenham to Norwich covering many villages including Little Snoring, Erpingham. Aylsham and Mile Cross. There is a large map of the routes available for download at: www.norfolkgreen.co.uk/timetables/ The X1 First group service runs into Norfolk from Peterborough passing through Kings Lynn, Narborough, Swaffham and several other villages to Norwich. The service then runs on through Acle and Great Yarmouth.
Cycling Norfolk has hundreds of miles of quiet country lanes and roads to explore. To help you, East of England Tourism has developed a range of Free circular Cycling Discovery Maps. These are available at: www.visiteastofengland.com/ visitor-information/cycling-discovery-maps2.aspx The Sustrans National Cycle Network passes through Norfolk and is designed to make cycling fun, safe and simple as you cover huge stretches of the UK. One third of the Network is completely free from motor traffic, using old railway paths, forest tracks, country parks and bridleways, and the rest uses quiet minor roads and traffic-calmed streets in towns and cities. so if your having a drink - get out of the car and on yer bike!
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ST GEORGES BEER FESTIVAL April 20th-23rd 8 local ales and 4 ciders
QUEENS JUBILEE • 5 DAY FESTIVAL 1st - 5th June, selection of up to EIGHT local ales, FOUR ciders and THREE more ales on the pub bar! Function room available for all occasions including parties, birthdays, christenings, wedding receptions and wakes
Live Music every Saturday Check our web site or Facebook page for whats on.
SUNDAY CARVERY One course for £4.95 2 courses for £6.95 3 course for £8.95
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Beer Festivals section
Simon and Karen welcome you all to their traditional family pub. Great selection of real ales and wines, along with an extensive menu and excellent company.
Diamond Jubilee Beer Festival 31st May - 6th June
Sunday 3rd June Water Rats Jazz Band
www.whitehorsechedgrave.co.uk
Tuesday 5th June Family Day Teddy Bears Picnic Phone us on (01508) 520250 to find out more
Caister Lifeboat’s
Beer in the Boat Shed
Friday 22 – Sunday 24 June
Featuring around 30 Real Ales and Ciders Including Blackfriars, Humpty Dumpty, Panther, Wolf and Woodfordes Music, Games and fun entertainment too!
ENTRY JUST £5 INCLUDES FIRST PINT SOUVENIR PINT GLASS £2 At Caister Lifeboat Shed Fri night: 6 to 10.30pm Sat: 12 noon to 11pm with The Scratch Band (pm) Sun: 12 noon til we’re dry (or 4pm) with Annie’s Jazz Friends
All profits to Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service See more details in our next advert in the Summer edition of Norfolk Nips
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Y! ENTR FREE
THE BANNINGHAM CROWN FREE HOUSE
We are in it!
Traditional Country Pub and Restaurant 4 Real Ales • Great Food• Sheltered Patio and Gardens
JUBILEE BEER FESTIVAL Friday Ist June - Tuesday 5th June Local and National Ales. Ciders. Bar Open All Day Colby Road, Banningham, Aylsham, NR11 7DY 01263 733534 www.banninghamcrown.co.uk
2nd Summer Beer Festival Fri 20th - Sun 22nd July Over 20 local ales & ciders plus the regular bar July 20th open noon - 11pm. Live Music 8 - 10pm July 21st Live Music all day & all night. Headline act - Against all odds. Food stalls, Childrens bouncy castle and much more!
Win a Meal for Two! Register your names in advance by email to vikki@thelodge-tuddenham.co.uk
22nd July Noon - 11pm - just good ole beer!
to confirm your attendance on the day for a chance to win a meal for two.
Main Road, North Tuddenham NR20 3DJ 01362 638466 www.thelodge-tuddenham.co.uk
3rd Norfolk Ale & Music Festival
22,23 & 24 June 2012 Norfolk real ales • Live music all weekend Beer garden • Freshly cooked pub food Oak Lane, East Ruston, Norfolk. NR12 9JG
Beer Festival 1st – 5th June 2012 supported by Wolf Brewery, Attleborough.
There will be 12 breweries represented serving 12 beers and 1 cider. Blackfriars • City of Cambridge • Earl Soham • Grain Green Jack • Mauldons • Nethergate • Panther • Wolf Bees • Courage • Crones
Opening Times: Fri 1st: 7-11pm Sat 2nd: 12noon - 2pm and 7 - 11pm Sun 3rd: 12noon - 2pm and 7 - 10.30pm Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th: 12noon - 11pm Look out on our website
www.thebutchersarms.biz
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for lots of spring/summer events Tel:01692 650237 e-mail: info@thebutchersarms.biz
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Beer Festivals section er al t July m Sum Festiv nday 1s beers r Su an Bee June - Angli
t h 28t Eas s r Thu er 25 Ov
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Mark & Marie offer you a warm welcome to the
Fox and Hounds Heacham
The London Tavern Free House
Home of The Fox Brewery
Great real ales, fine wines and spirits.
We are a free house specialising in real ales.
Food Served: Monday- Friday 11am - 5pm Saturdays 11am - 3pm Sundays 11am - 3pm Evening meals on request Roast Dinners Sundays 12-3pm Chilled bar rolls made daily only £1.00
Live Music every Tuesday Quiz Night Thursday
27th - 29th April
Band and Beer
Attleborough’s only Good Beer Guide pub 2010, 2011 & 2012
Fox Brewery Celebrates its 10th Anniversary of Brewing in Heacham
Camra Discount Scheme & Local Ale
www.foxbrewery.com Tel: 01485 570345
Parking, Disabled facilities, Baby changing, Smokers sheltered garden, and Beer garden. Well behaved dogs on leads welcome.
22 Station Rd, Heacham, Norfolk PE31 7EX
OPEN ALL DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK
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Church St, Attleborough Tel :01953 457415
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Telephone: 01379 898 445 Email: info@thebellrickinghall.co.uk www.thebellrickinghall.co.uk
The Bell Inn, The Street, Rickinghall, Norfolk IP22 1BN
PIE & ALE
WEEKEND
on 9th April Sat 7th to M KEND EASTER WEE Ales tion of Real r Large Selec sh down ou wa to s er and Cid pies homemade all Weekend Live Music
Easter Beer Festival Music starts from 8.30pm each night
Good Friday 6th April
The Bell Inn is a family owned and run Country Hotel with ample Free Parking and Patio Garden.
The A.J Experience; solo vocals impressions and comedy
• 8 En-suited Bedrooms • The Chimes Restuarant seating up to 30 guests • Private Function Suite • Bespoke menus tailored to suit all functions • Warm & friendly atmosphere • Five Real Ales
John Noble; solo vocals - Jazz Swing
Whether you are visiting us for business or pleasure we will endeavour to ensure your stay with us will always exceed your expectations.
We are open all day every day We now serve food all day every day including breakfast
Sunday Lunch served all day 12:00 - 9:00
Saturday 7th April Sunday 8th April Jon Collerick; Folk
Monday 9th April Chrissy Stone; 50’s MOD
Saturday 21st April
‘Shipwrecked’ St Georges Day All the old favourites plus themed beers
The Lobster
& Stables Restaurant
FRESH FOOD SERVED DAILY Vegetarian and Vegan options available
Queens Diamond Jubilee Beer Festival Music starts from 8.30pm each night
Friday 1st June Talisman; Folk Rock
Saturday 2nd June Midnight Special; Blues
OPENING HOURS Monday to Thursday 10am to 11pm Friday to Saturday 10am to 1.30am Sunday 12 noon to 12pm
Sunday 3rd June Jon Collerick; Folk
Monday 4th June The Water Rats; Traditional Jazz
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
Tuesday 5th June Witchhazel; Folk Jazz (4pm) 38 Riverside, Reedham NR13 3TE www.lordnelsonpub.com 01493 701548
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KINGS HEAD HOLT 6 BRILLIANTLY KEPT REAL ALES Including the ever popular Adnams Bitter, Broadside and Woodfordes Wherry. Proudly providing 3 guest ales (143 in one year and rising!) Giving everyone a fantastic accompaniment to our ever growing grill menu. So why not try a delicious locally sourced steak cooked to perfection on our char-grill! 3 stylish, comfortable, yet affordable B&B rooms for single, double or family use
Recently re-furbished ‘George’ Lounge with Snugs and quiet corners Come pull up a stool, grab an Ale at ‘The Question mark Bar’ and put the world to rights! Live music throughout Spring, Summer and Autumn Enclosed Courtyard Beer Garden in the heart of the Appleyard To find out more you can visit our website http://www.kingsheadholt.org.uk/, give us a call on 01263 712543, or just come on down and give us a try, you won’t be disappointed!
COAST ROAD, WALCOTT, NORFOLK NR12 OPE Telephone
(01692) 650371 FREE HOUSE
Proprietor since 1989: STEVE BULLIMORE
OPEN FOR FOOD & DRINKS ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, 11am - 11pm Food available all day until 10.30pm 10% off food and drink on production of CAMRA membership card
FOUR REAL ALES & CIDER 66
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www.lighthouseinn.co.uk
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NORFOLK NIPS | Eastern Transport Collection Society
Room on top!
She’s a lady in red, she’s iconic, and she certainly turns heads wherever she goes. “She” is the double decker bus which has become synonymous with The City of Ale Festival. CAMRA member Peter Wells first suggested that The City of Ale Festival might be interested in using one of The Eastern Transport Collection Society buses, and he was not wrong. OVF 229 caused quite a stir when she ran from the centre of Norwich to Mousehold Heath for the initial photoshoot last year. City of Ale are obviously delighted that she will available again for the Festival this year, and so is The Eastern Transport Collection Society, whose Chairman is Richard Dixon, also a CAMRA member. Richard told me that The Eastern Transport Collection Society was formed as the Eastern Counties Omnibus Society in 1969 by a group of local enthusiasts, converting to an Educational Charity in 1984. In 1971 the Society purchased a 1954 Bristol LD5G (The City of Ale bus), once fleet number LKD229 with the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company. Over the years other ex ECOC buses have been added and they now own seven buses, some roadworthy and others awaiting restoration. The oldest is a 1950 Bristol LL single-decker and the latest arrival is a 1979 Bristol VR new to Gt Yarmouth Transport. Other vehicles are a 1952 Bristol KSW double-decker, currently undergoing restoration, 1959 Bristol MW coach, 1967 Bristol RESL single-decker, and a 1971 Bristol VR. The collection is kept near
Attleborough, together with other members’ vehicles and a small museum and is open by appointment. During the year the vehicles can be seen at various events in the eastern counties, Richard added, from railways, carnivals, City of Ale, and bus rallies, including the Norwich Bus Rally, organised by the Society as part of the Norfolk Gala Day (held this year on 9th September) . The Society became involved with the City of Ale to raise the profile of the society and is proud to carry the City of Ale advert on the bus during the festival. The ultimate aim is the find a site for a museum that can be opened to the public. The Society meets twice a month, once at the Freemasons Pub in Norwich where they show photos and videos and once at Attleborough when they carry out work on the collection’s vehicles. If you would like further information about the Society, or wish to “borrow” one of their buses for an event (you cannot hire them) or make a donation, then call Richard Dixon on 01603 891284 or visit the website www.easterntransportcollection.org.uk.
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The Norwich and Norfolk
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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.
E WE AR IN IT!
Keg - Free Zone 14 Hand Pumps Norfolk Ales and Cider Mild always available Worldwide Bottled Beers Belgian Beers Television-free Bar Billiards www.norwichbarbilliards.co.uk
olk f r o N A R M CA ear Pub of the Y 8 0 0 2 & 6 0 0 2 The Kings Head, 42 Magdalen Street, Norwich NR3 1JE
www.kingsheadnorwich.com
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W
2
T c
Open all day every day food is served:-
Offering four real ales A traditional 17th Century pub, how they used to be
From Norwich & Acle head to Salhouse and at the mini roundabout follow the sign to Wroxham, we are 200yds on the right.
12-2 & 6-9 Tuesday to Sunday 12-3 Sunday for plated home cooked Sunday lunches with homemade Yorkshire puddings and fresh vegetables. Booking advised if dining.
Superb food using fresh, local, seasonal produce Shoot dinners a speciality
Popular quiz every Wednesday from 8:30pm Meat raffle every Sunday at 4:30pm
Tel: 01603 721141 www.salhousebell.co.uk
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Award Winning Real Ale Pub We Don’t Have a Big Screen TV, Food Or a Juke Box 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 11am, children are welcome. 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.
Easter Beer Festival Good Friday 6th - Tues 10th April Music Friday and Saturday Night
Norwich And Norfolk Pub Of The Year 2007
Easter Egg Raffle on the Sunday in aid of The Break Charity
Norfolk Pub Of The Year 2007
A dream of a pub situated in the village of Poringland on the B1332 road to Bungay.
13 years in the Good Beer Guide!
The main bus route from Norwich stops right outside.
44 The Street, Poringland, Norwich, Norfolk NR14 7JT
www.poringlandroyaloak.co.uk Tel: 01508 493734
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