cheers WWW.CHEERSNORTHEAST.CO.UK // JUNE 2017 // ISSUE 71
I T ’ S
A B O U T
P U B S ,
P E O P L E ,
B E E R
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A N D
Y O U !
JUMPIN’ AND HOT MUSIC AND BEER GO HAND IN HAND
LOOK ANOTHER WAY NATURAL HEALTH SERVICE TAKES BIRD’S EYE VIEW
IT’S SUMMER, IT’S PLAYTIME
ENJOY YOURSELF, IT’S GREATER THAN YOU THINK
FREE PLEA
SE TAKE A COPY
TH E
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AYDO BL
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C I S U M R E E B T I VA L 2
WELCOME
Here we are at the middle of the year and looking forward to a cracking summer. June is the month of the Summer Solstice, the time when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky when seen from the North or South Pole. It generally marks the end of spring and the beginning of summer and is interpreted by holidays, festivals and rituals, some of which in ancient times were associated with religion and fertility. Hopefully one of those will be the ritual of dressing like a postie – in freedom-flaunting shorts and polo shirts. It’s also beer garden time; al fresco drinking and dining and slapping on the Factor 30. But don’t forget the pubs with no outside area – often the coolest place to be (in every sense of the phrase) in hot, dry weather is indoors among the handpulls and keg taps. To celebrate the uplift of optimism and wellbeing that summer brings (caution: this was written before the result of the General Election was known), we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of gigs and festivals that will illuminate the coming months. Save them in your diary and we might see you there. Elsewhere, we’re reporting on the great and not-so-great aspects of the pub industry; stories from the North East peppered with those from further afield such as India and Russia – with a page full of readers saying “cheers”. We’re looking at the region from another angle, listening to what music has to offer, and being amazed at the inventiveness of our pubs and publicans. Enjoy yourself, go to the pub – inside or out – but go easy on the shorts and polo shirt ritual. Not all of us are honed and tanned posties. Cheers, Alastair Gilmour Editor, Cheers North East
EDITORIAL
Alastair Gilmour 07930 144 846 01661 844 115 alastair@cheersnortheast.co.uk @CheersPal www.cheersnortheast.co.uk We are tweeting. Follow us @cheers_ne
CONTENTS 12
HARD WARK BRINGS REWARDS
There’s a pub in Northumberland where you can drink the finest beer and eat the prettiest flowers. Where you can enjoy fresh produce grown in a garden 50 metres away and where nature is given the chance to come first. Coming first is Battlesteads Hotel in Wark – it has been honoured with a gold award in the Sustainable Tourism Business category at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence. It’s about as high as you can get in the pub tourism world, so they’ve got a lot to crow about.
COVER: ANGALEENA PRESLEY, HEADING FOR SUMMERTYNE AMERICANA AT SAGE GATESHEAD IN JULY
GENTLEMEN’S NECTAR IS SO POPULAR IT ISN’T EVEN OUT OF THE TANK BEFORE IT’S SOLD ROSS HOLLAND, BOX SOCIAL BREWING
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CHEERS NORTH EAST
brings out the best in pubs and brewing that exists in the region. The magazine, published ten times a year, is distributed to almost 300 pubs, bottle shops and specialist outlets from the Borders to North Yorkshire and across to the fringes of Cumbria. It is packed with stories from them with suggestions on where to go and what you’ll find there. But most of all, Cheers is about people – after all, it’s people who make beer and people who make pubs what they are. And to be able to bring you more information, our A-Z pub guide can now be found at www.cheersnortheast.co.uk Tell them who sent you.
NEWS
A HEED FOR HEIGHTS OF TOWN’S PUB HISTORY
The Schooner was selected as the ideal venue for a Gateshead’s Pubs evening as part of the town’s Local History Week. Hosted by former librarian and pub expert John Boothroyd, the audience learned the difference between inns, taverns and public houses, with an insight into “common” brewers and why many pubs have “horsey” names such as the Coach & Horses and The Grey Nag’s Head. Along with insightful anecdotes, John illustrated the session with some remarkable images that survive from the beginnings of photography itself, right up to the more recognisable pubs that brought memories flooding back.
NORTHUMBERLAND INN’S SHOCK CLOSURE In a surprise move, it has been announced that St Mary’s Inn at Stannington, Northumberland, has closed until further notice. The decision was not taken lightly as it will have a significant effect on the staff and patrons who have all shown great commitment to the business. When St Mary’s Inn opened in late 2014 it was expected that the construction work taking place around the property – demolition of former hospital buildings and creating a community at St Mary’s Park – would progress steadily and in a timely fashion towards completion. It was also expected that the infrastructure necessary to create such a community, including community centre and sports facilities, would be completed soon after the inn opened, giving the pub the opportunity to flourish in the growing environment. Unfortunately, progress has not been as great as anticipated
Uncertain future: St Mary’s Inn, Stannington. Photo: Peter Skelton
by everyone involved in the project. Even more concerning is that construction work is likely to have an additional impact over the next 24 months as it comes much closer to St Mary’s Inn and for many weeks will be immediately adjacent with unavoidable disruption. A statement from St Mary’s Inn continues: “The pub has been a source of great pride to everyone involved in making it
happen, a team who worked so hard to bring to life something that – in retrospect – was perhaps ahead of its time. “We will revisit this decision from time to time and it is our ambition to reopen when the surrounding construction work is substantially complete. We remain confident that the business can prosper when conditions are more favourable than they right now.”
Picturesque location & only a couple of miles from Hexham Reservations 01434 602814 www.theratinn.com Twitter:@ratales The Rat Inn, Anick, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 4LN 4 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk
NEWS
TRAIL BLAZERS DRINK TO THE OFFICIAL BEER MOSCOW PUB IN UNITED TRIBUTE
Three Pennine-based breweries have been selected to produce official Pennine Way beers to mark the long-distance walk from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm, near Kelso in the Scottish Borders. Hadrian Border Brewery in Newburn, Newcastle, was chosen with two others – Kirkby Lonsdale and Nook Brewery – to brew a commemorative beer following a search for brewing partners in February. They will be available along the 268-mile National Trail and in surrounding areas from Manchester and Sheffield to Newcastle, Carlisle and the Scottish Borders. The maintenance of the trail will benefit from a financial contribution from each pint or bottle sold. Andy Burrows, managing director of Hadrian Border Brewery, said: “We straddle the top third of the Pennine Way and currently supply
Andy and Shona Burrows, Hadrian Border Brewery toast Pennine Walker the Border Hotel in Kirk Yetholm with beer for walkers completing the trail. We’re brewing Pennine Walker (3.8% abv), a thirst-quenching hoppy golden ale just right for slaking the thirst of the weary traveller.”
Regulars at the Bobby Dazzler pub in Moscow not only gathered to watch Manchester United beat Ajax in the Euro League Final, they stood shoulder to shoulder to observe the minute’s silence before the match in remembrance of the victims of the Manchester Arena atrocity. Bobby Dazzler is an English-style pub owned by Alex Merenkov, who has recently opened another in the Russian capital called The Bronze Lion. In 2014, Alex told Cheers – on a visit to The Stables Brewery in County Durham which produces Bobby Dazzler (4.2% abv) – that his compatriots are infatuated with Britain and its culture. Each year he rewards his staff with a trip to the UK, taking in different regions, visiting pubs, breweries and distilleries. (Note the copy of Cheers in the top-left corner of our photo, presented to Bobby Dazzler in a reciprocal visit in 2015.)
OUTSIDE INN AT BREWERY BIRTHDAY BASH Wylam Brewery celebrated its first year at The Palace of Arts in Exhibition Park, Newcastle, over the May bank holiday weekend with a Big Beef Boutique – two days of family fun, barbecued street food and, of course, some of the best beer around. The North East’s finest independent chefs and operators included Caffe Vivo, Cook House, The Earl Of Pitt Street, The Bridge Tavern, Longhorns and Wylam
Brewery Kitchen. Resident beers (isn’t Wylam Hickey The Rake just about the best in summer beer?) were joined by brewing friends Northern Monk, Cloudwater, Verdant and Deya who supplied beer for pop-up bars.
Respect: Man Utd fans in the Bobby Dazzler pub in Moscow stand in silence
www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 5
NEWS
RIVET CATCHES THE HEART AND SOUL A TWO-GRAND GESTURE HITS THE TARGET The Low Lights Tavern in North Shields has raised the final £2,000 to help a memorial statue to get constructed. A target of £75,000 was set by the North Shields Fishermen’s Heritage Project to commemorate the local seamen lost in the North Sea and elsewhere just doing their jobs. The piece will be unveiled on the town’s Fish Quay on Sunday September 24. North Shields one of the few ports in the UK that doesn’t have a memorial.
Soul band Liberty Belle took the decibels up a notch or two at the opening of North Eastern Brewing Company’s events space at Dunston, Gateshead, over the May bank holiday weekend. The brewery, situated yards from the former Federation Brewery and Scottish & Newcastle facility,
THE RAFA-LUTION CONTINUES IN IPA Crown Posada manager Andy Nicholson invited Cheers to announce a competition for naming a new Rat Brewery double IPA exclusive to the
produces North East favourites Rivet Catcher and Red Ellen, among others. The company, headed by Newcastle businessman Paul Minnikin, bought the brands from the defunct Jarrow Brewery and now reports that it can’t brew enough to satisfy demand.
The new set-up features a taproom, lounge and bottle shop and outdoor seating – with all eventually open to the public from 12noon till 8pm every day, and regular live events.
Newcastle pub that would highlight the Huddersfield-based brewery’s tap take-over. Ratthemed names came and went but the winner was somehow inevitable following Newcastle United’s Championship title. Andy said: “The winners of the naming competition are
called Rob and Hayley with their entries… Rata Benitez… and Ratomic. The best runners up were Ratatoonie, DIPA Ratter, Toon Town Rat, RRRAT R’S and Posada Ratted.” Rob and Hayley won a half-gallon of the beer for their initiative – well done to both.
HAVE YOU GOT THE BOTTLE?
Hickey the Rake
Remain in Light
Le Saisonnier
Häxan
Jakehead IPA
10.5° Plato | OG 1042.5 | ABV 4.2%
11.9° Plato | OG 1048 | ABV 5.0%
12.9° Plato | OG 1052 | ABV 5.4%
14.3° Plato | OG 1058 | ABV 6.2%
14.3° Plato | OG 1058 | ABV 6.3%
19.6° Plato | OG 1081 | ABV 8.8%
A Limonata Pale… An Ultra Pale which emulates almost toxic levels of citrus zing. A nuclear sherbet dib-dab of lemon, lime and tropical pineapple.
A Super Stacked Alpha Pale… a colossus of Citra, Simcoe, Chinook and Centennial submerged in a deep vapour steep followed by a late fermentation dry hop.
Lemon Balm & Rosemary Saison… A Belgian style saison brewed using a grist bill of Pilsner, Munich and a hint of Vienna malt.
A Black Wit Beer… Deep, tawny, solid dark tones reveal a well balanced combination of wheaty tartness and luscious dark malts. Fresh limes, cassia bark and spice on the palate with a firm weizenbock
Supercharged India Pale Ale.... Rich/bright & amber/bronze with lots of American hop aroma. Distinctly bittersweet on the palate with a massive hop complexity fashioned deep within the IPA tradition.
Vegan Friendly Slaughterhouse Stout… Vanatblack and bone char intones dwell within this remnant hulk… an electro narcosis of peat smoke pitch, dark cocoa and oiled black cardamom, rib rattle into subtle bolt gusts of port wine and espresso pursued by a dark cherry red grape skin tartness.
WYLAM BREWERY 6 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk WYLAM_Cheers_Mar17.indd 1
Club of Slaughters
330ML BOTTLE | CORE RANGE 28/03/2017 17:34
NEWS
NEW BREW TEAM MEMBER REQUIRED Sonnet 43 Brew House, the County Durham beer innovator, is seeking an enthusiastic craft brewer to join its existing team. Having worked closely with the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) and Brewlab in Sunderland recently, it became clear that while bags of enthusiasm may be an attribute, it is no substitute for having the correct training in making high quality beer. Alan Brown from Sonnet 43 said: “The ideal person to join our team will of course possess a genuine enthusiasm for craft beer and they will be working in a team with a combined 25 year-plus brewing experience to support their training and development. The successful applicant will be enrolled on an industry-relevant and accredited qualification course. “It’s the people who make a
business, so this is a fantastic opportunity for anyone to express an interest.” Contact Alan Brown at cheers@sonnet43.com (07850 649 990).
BAR AND DELI Real Ales, Craft Beer, Artisan Cheese, Quality Wines and Spirits. Enjoy a range of cheese and meat boards to eat in, or take out cheese, crackers, chutney and drinks!’ Check out our facebook for regular event info. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday: 2-9, Tuesday: Closed, Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 12-11 11 Tower Street, Hartlepool | contact.hopsandcheese@gmail.com @HopsandCheese
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BORN TO RAISE HELL – AND GLASSES Cameron’s Brewery Motörhead Röad Crew, the beer produced in association with the legendary rock band, has been exported in bottle and keg to 18 European countries since its launch late last year – with further orders hitting the in-tray. A new presentation tin with bottle and limited-edition glass has been produced for Father’s Day, with a national listing in Morrison’s stores and regionally in Tesco. The cask version of Röad Crew has had guest listings with Molson Coors and JD Weatherspoon and will also be featuring with EI Publican Partnerships, Punch and Heineken this year. The keg product has been installed across the UK trade in the likes of Brighton, London, Northampton, Cardiff, Leeds, Huddersfield, Carlisle, Newcastle and Sheffield. Orgasmatron, as the band might say.
CAMRA 2017 SOUTH WEST NORTHUMBERLAND PUB OF THE YEAR WINNER
TRADITIONAL PUB WITH REAL ALES, A REAL FIRE AND A WARM WELCOME (12 Handpulls - 12 Ciders/Perrys) Pie & Peas, toasties & sandwiches available every day BUSKERS NIGHTS Tuesday June 13th & 27th / July 11th THE NEW BOATHOUSE B&B NOW OPEN CONTACT US FOR BOOKINGS FREE Function room !! Catering available on request
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www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 7
NEWS
CALLING EVERY SHERLOCK HOLMES A family Down Under is appealing to Cheers readers to help them solve a mystery. Donna Gary Whyatt, from Perth, Western Australia, bought a pub sign for her husband Gary – who was born in Hebburn, South Tyneside – from a local antique shop many years ago. “We installed it on the side of our house,” writes Donna. “It’s a great conversation piece. The light inside still works and once switched on reveals the John Smith’s logo. “I have tried many times with online searches to find out if this came from a pub that had been demolished or even upgraded, but have had no luck at all as to where it came from originally. “We came to the UK in May and June 2015 and visited the Surtees Arms in Ferryhill, County Durham, hoping it may have some connection but learnt over a couple of quality lagers that it wasn’t from there. “We left with a copy of Cheers magazine with the idea of getting in touch to see if you or your
readers could help. The search still goes on and we are hopeful that someone may be able to shed some light on the history of our much-loved sign.” Well then readers, it’s up to you. Although the sign is from a Scottish & Newcastle pub, it doesn’t necessarily follow that it’s originally from a North East pub. The Surtees name comes from novelist Robert Smith Surtees (1803-64), creator of the Jorrocks novels. Surtees lived around County Durham so
it’s feasible the pub sign comes from there. There are also Surtees pubs in Kent and Derby. Please direct your detective work to info@cheersnortheast.co.uk
THE BRIDGE TAVERN BREW PUB & EATERY
www.thebridgetavern.com
8 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk BT_Cheers.indd 1
30/01/2015 14:07
NEWS
BREWMASTER WARNS TO LOOK AT HOME One of the world’s best-known brewing figures is urging his UK counterparts to use more homegrown hops for inspiration and to make a bigger effort to tap into beer’s heritage. Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery’s brewmaster, told The Morning Advertiser that the US used more British hops than British brewers do, describing them as “really good”, as a reminder that they should use them too. Oliver, who had guests spellbound at a tasting at The Bridge Tavern in Newcastle in February 2016, also said that the top American beer trends will continue to be absorbed here, becoming part of the overall mix, thereby diluting our traditional
Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster, at The Bridge Tavern
styles even further. He said: “There will be more influences from the rest of Europe, such as Belgium and Germany, like it has with saisons and sour beers. People will start to think ‘what does truly British beer taste like?’. I am interested in the tied-to-land and tied-to-a-place trend as parts of Britain have actual flavours, they have their own terroirs, and it would be really cool to see more British breweries channelling that. “I love traditional cask ale, it’s what got me into beer in the first place, but things were sitting still for a long time. The cool thing about brewing is there’s a worldwide community and I’m happy to see the scene is evolving, that it has busted out and become so fresh.”
www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 9
BREWERY NEWS
THEY SAY SHY BAIRNS GET STOUT As a micro brewery we produce over 18 different beers. Brewery Tours available all year round
Delicious homemade dishes, including fresh scones, cakes, soups, main meals & light snacks available.
It makes commercial sense these days for microbreweries to install a small bar in their premises for tasting events and private functions. It also raises their beers’ awareness. The latest to do so is Flash House Brewing Co in North Shields which sits above the town’s Fish Quay next to a motorbike dealer and an arts venue. A counter constructed from pallets and other recycled timber sits in a corner originally earmarked for the extra fermenters the brewery needs, but it was a toss-up that elbows on the bar won. “It’s always been in the plan have the bar installed to catch the summer,” says brewery owner Jack Okeefe. “We were really surprised how many people came on the first weekend we were open. People like to know where their food and drink comes
from and they can see that our beer just goes from over there to here. “We’re going to be open every other weekend for the summer then put in a license application for every weekend, so Fridays will be for tidying up and preparing the bar – which leaves us four days a week to brew. We’re trying to make it a nice place to drink in, but it’s a working brewery and you can’t get away from that, so we’ve made use of pallets for the bar and seating and sourced other furniture from charity shops.” Jack’s girlfriend Milda Valutyte has been full-time at the brewery since March after he realised he can’t do everything himself – plus he made a decision not to have a traditional core range of products, going for experimentation instead. He says: “We still have a nice range of pale ales around 4.0% abv
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BREWERY NEWS
INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR TO CUMBRIAN BEER Jack Okeefe and Milda Valutyte at Fash House Brewing’s new tap. Photo: Peter Skelton
but I’m playing around with recipes more and bringing out new beers regularly. We’re limited at the brewery to 18 casks at a time but a lot of our customers want something new – and it’s fun for me.” Flash House beers include Iron Giant IPA (6.0% abv) which came was third at the 2017 Newcastle Beer Festival Battle of the Beers, and Breezy Pale Ale (3.8% abv). However, Cheers took to Shy Bairns Get Stout (6.0% abv), the third version of a beer that has proved its popularity in can. “I liked the name,” says Jack.
A Lake District head brewer, originally from New Zealand, has returned from a trip to the US where he collaborated in a beer to mark International Tau Day. Tau Day is an annual celebration of the circle constant also known as Pi (6.28318) which takes place every June 28 (6/28 in the American calendar system). The latest version of Hawkshead Brewery Key Lime Tau, brewed was collectively by Matt Clarke and Chad Yakobsen of Crooked Stave Brewery, Colorado. Key Lime Tau (6.3% abv) was first brewed in 2015 as part of the transatlantic Rainbow Project, a series that challenges brewers to come together and brew a beer inspired by a colour. Matt was also recently invited by Berkshire-based Siren Brewery to collaborate on Thresher Spelt IPA (8.0% abv), a twist on the high-percentage wheat grist Siren has been developing.
www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 11
AWARDS
GLINT OF GOLD RAISES THE BAR
Nothing is wasted in a North East pub and hotel business. And it has its rewards, writes Alastair Gilmour When a Northumberland hotel, pub and restaurant came away from an awards ceremony in 2011 with a silver honour, it focused hearts and minds. At sometime they would go one better. Now Battlesteads in Wark has gained that gold in the Sustainable Tourism Business category at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2017. Its ultra eco-friendly credentials saw it go from winning the North East England competition last November to the final judging against the Blencathra Centre in Keswick and the National Marine Aquarium in Devon. Battlesteads’ owner Richard Slade said: “We have won almost every leading hotel industry award for sustainability, as well as several North
East tourism awards, but to win the national VisitEngland Award for Excellence really is the icing on the cake.” Richard and his wife Dee have been developing and investing in Battlesteads for the past 13 years, having previously elevated the Magnesia Bank in North Shields from moribund CIU club to multi award-winning pub, renowned for its beer quality and choice plus its food and live music. In the Battlesteads bar, draped in old-jumper cosiness, you’re met with a march of handpulls – Cullercoats Lovely Nelly, Seraphim Blonde from Sonnet 43, Durham Magus, Hadrian Border Secret Kingdom and a Devon scrumpy. But there’s a clue to the pub’s other credentials in the large vase of flowers and foliage in every
hue of green and cry of pink, purple and yellow contrasting with the beer handles. “Sustainability means everything we do is ‘green’ from energy production to waste disposal,” says general manager Katie Meyrick. “Local produce comes from no further away than 25 miles.” And like the jugs of greenery everywhere, “local” also means foodstuff from the two-acre gardens and polytunnels barely 50 metres yonder. This is the kingdom of Richard Slade’s daughter Kate Norris and her husband Pete who also run Northumbrian Flowers, an enterprise having great
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AWARDS
success in persuading flower shops across the country to buy British blooms as opposed to those from Holland or Kenya. Low-maintenance LED lighting in the woodchipburning boilerhouse brings seedlings and tropical plants to fruition, such as root ginger, and to grow baby vegetables and herbs all year round. The boiler, run on chippings from a timber yard literally round the corner, also fuels the hotel laundry. “Our carbon footprint measures 4.3 while the national average is something like 31,” says Katie Meyrick. “All the little bits add up to the whole thing.”
All the little bits of a huge bank of solar panels do their job too – and help power a hugely popular stargazing observatory. Marigolds and basil share space with tomato plants in Kate Norris’ polytunnels, a natural deterrent to greenfly and white fly. Edible violets and aliums not only look elegant in their large purple headgear but keep aphids from apple trees trained against a sunny wall. Kate is also nurturing a family of ladybirds to do the same – and to rows of strawberries. Nearby, a six-unit wormery produces liquid fertiliser. She says: “We grow vegetables that the chefs in the kitchen want and use most. It’s very labourintensive, but our guests love it, from fresh flowers in the bedrooms to edible petals on their plates and displays on the bar.” Asparagus, peas, beans and perennial flowers are grown from seed. Cuttings from mature plants and division of root structures is second nature. No space is wasted – everywhere are leeks, sprouts, courgettes, lemongrass, broccoli, dill, coriander, parsley, garlic and several varieties of lettuce. Trees surrounding the vegetable plots will bear walnuts, hazelnuts and sweet chestnuts. “Everything we plant has to earn its keep,” says Kate. “We’re running out of space, but it’s a good position to be in.” Kitchen waste is composted for conditioning the soil with several trials in progress to come up with the optimum mix of materials. Glass from the
bar goes straight into a bottle crusher to produce a substance not unlike coarse sand – with a sparkle – which goes into walkways and tractor ruts. Eggshells are rendered down and placed around young plants to deter slugs; nothing comes out of a chemistry set. A spring-fed pond, attracting dragonflies and ducks, is supplemented by treated waste water pumped from the six accommodation lodges. Bees buzz constantly and sparrows chirrup. This is what gold sounds like. www.battlesteads.com www.northumbrianflowers.co.uk
BOTTLE SHOP & TASTING ROOM
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www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 13
PUBS: THE SOUL OF MUSIC
IT’S HOT AND IT’S JUMPIN’ One of Tyneside’s best-known music promoters credits pubs for its longevity, as Alastair Gilmour discovers
Ask any musician where they first gained their confidence to perform and they’ll invariably reply, “The pub”. First gigs, favourite venues, best audiences, greatest fun – they’re generally all pub related. In fact, Ray Laidlaw, founder-member of the legendary Lindisfarne, reckons that without pubs the band would not have existed. He says: “We used to meet in pubs, write songs in pubs, rehearse in pubs, perform in pubs and relax in pubs. Most of our best ideas came in pubs – and some of the worst, depending on how long we’d been there.” And it’s something that music promoters know well, such as Graham “Shippy” Anderson, who has been involved for the past 32 years with Gateshead-based Jumpin’ Hot Club. “Live music, decent beer – beer makes a hell of a difference – they go hand in hand,” says Graham. “Adam Collerton and I first started in the cellar room at the Bridge Hotel in Newcastle in 1985. It was dark and seedy and it looked like something
out of a Big Bill Broonzy clip – exactly what we were looking for. Dave and Heather Shipley who ran The Bridge helped us a lot in the early days and kept us going, paying us in beer. I remember they sold Sam Smith’s Nut Brown Ale – can you still get it? – as well as Draught Bass and Worthington Best Bitter.” After six months as an acoustic blues club, Jumpin’ Hot decided to dip its toes into booking a variety of performers who straddled other genres such as Rockabilly, Ska, Country, and a whole gamut of World Music. The names are part of music history – Elvis Presley’s long-time guitarist Scotty Moore, Michelle Shocked, Gary US Bonds, Ron Sexsmith, Dale Watson, Ernie Payne, Mary Coughlin, Chuck Prophet and Toots And The Maytals. Then there were Reggae Festivals in Newcastle with unbelievable lineups that featured Prince Buster, Jimmy Cliff, Lee Perry, Horace Andy, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Max Romeo, Dennis Alcapone, Eek-A-Mouse and Rob Da Bank. The Jumpin’ Hot Club – a charity doing its
Graham Anderson, co-founder of The Jumpin’ Hot Club almost 32 years ago. Photo: Peter Skelton community work through Northern Roots – is once again co-curating the outside stage at SummerTyne Americana Festival in July along with The Sage Gateshead. They also have a regular spot on the Made In Tyne & Wear television channel (Tuesdays at 7.30pm). Graham says: “We’ve also been doing the
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PUBS: THE SOUL OF MUSIC
DFDS ferry from North Shields to Amsterdam for three or four years now with a band and a DJ. We got a Journal Culture Club award for it in 2016.” The club uses six venues around Tyneside: The Cluny and Cluny 2, Caedmon Hall and the Little three kings Live Advert.pdf 1 The 30/10/2014 Theatre in Gateshead, Theatre with Studio on the theatre’s third floor for the really small gig.
“We only promote the kind of music that we like, so we’re in a good position,” says Graham. “We’ve got a bunch of volunteers who like to come along and help, in fact Mel Deighton came to the Bridge Hotel gigs in the early days and he’s still here 30 18:33 years later, doing the door. “Ernie Payne was the first gig we put on at the
Little Theatre. It’s always a special night – and it’s the cheapest bar in Gateshead.” In its heyday Jumpin’ Hot Club would work on around 100 bookings a year, keeping their eyes out worldwide for what’s happening and at festivals across Europe. Having been around for 32 years is now its strength. “People wouldn’t come if we didn’t put on what they liked,” says Mel Deighton. “We like small venues but have done Northumbria University Union and Stage 2 at the Sage. I like bands ten feet away rather than seeing Bob Dylan at half-amile. Graham says: “Bands learn their stagecraft in a bar so it’s really important for Jumpin Hot Club to put local bands on in small venues like pubs, not just at SummerTyne. But it’s also really important for local bands with young songwriters to play with a big American band, it gives them a pedestal, somewhere to go.” Jumpin’ Hot Club’s summer schedule includes the Stepping Stones Festival in The Borders (near Carlisle) and in Glasgow, plus Country Cantina at Acklington Village Hall in Northumberland (“we’re hoping Hadrian Border will be doing a beer for that”) and Gateshead Q Festival in a Spiegeltent on Baltic Square where Wylam and Tyne Bank brewery beers will be available. It demonstrates that even after 32 years, wherever there’s a Jumpin’ Hot Club promotion, there’s a beer not far away.
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CHEERS PROMOTION
The Northern Gin Revolution
Planet Juniper, the festival series which celebrates the world of gin, lands in Durham in June. Backed by Cheers, our sister titles Appetite and The Northumbrian, and the folks at Relish Publications, the festival at Durham cricket’s Emirates Riverside ground in Chester-le-Street on June 16-18 will feature numerous gins, including home grown favourites Lakes Distillery, Durham Distillery, and Poetic License. Food will also be on o�er from Sachins Restaurant, Newcastle, Scream for Pizza, and The Little Fishy, and there will be live music to accompany festival goers’ journeys into more than 70 gins. Festival director Mark Carton says: “The last decade has seen a crop of outstanding new gin distilleries grow in the North East. From Hepple Gin in Rothbury to Masons Gin in Bedale, we have an amazing array of talent and quality in the region.” With almost 75% of a traditional gin and tonic being the tonic, Fever Tree will also be on site with tonic water, ginger ale, elder�ower, and Sicilian lemonade - all of it free for festival goers. See our facebook page for more information /cheersnortheast Standard Tickets £15, VIP tickets £35 and Father’s Day tickets £35 Durham Gin Festival, June 16-18 2017 Durham County Cricket Club, Chester-le-Street.
The Perfect Father’s Day Gift - including a gift-wrapped bottle of gin Your ticket will include:
ONLY
£35
• 2 dozen free samples to enjoy • free gin guide and Fever Tree Tonic • Planet Juniper High Ball Glass • Gift-wrapped Bottle of Gin (Choose from Hepple, Lakes, Masons or Poetic Licence)
Order you tickets at: www.planetjuniper.co.uk/fathers-day
DURHAM FESTIVAL
16TH – 18TH JUNE 2017 AT D U R H A M C O U N T Y C R I C K E T C L U B
CELEBRATION
FATHER’S DAY JUST DON’T FORGET IT One day this month – on June 18 to be precise – there are going to be an awful lot of Best Dads In The World. Millions of fathers will be told that they’re simply tops then receive cards and gifts and have a wonderful day being waited on hand and foot. In the UK, Father’s Day is held on the third Sunday of June, although it varies from country to country. It is a day to honour fathers and father figures such as grandfathers and fathers-in-
law. Of course, in the majority of families it comes secondary to Mother’s Day – it’s simply the nature of things – but on Father’s Day, many people make a special effort to visit their father and wish them well before bundling them into the car for a pub meal. Common Father’s Day gifts are ties, socks, underwear, sweaters, slippers and other items of clothing. Other people give tools for household or garden work,
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CELEBRATION luxury food items or drinks, many of them proclaiming that Best Dad slogan. Breweries take full advantage, of course, with gift packs containing beer and a special glass. Brewery tours are easy enough to arrange and are guaranteed a wide grin for the rest of the day. Some of them brew one-off beers to make him feel special, like the deep golden one pictured here from Mithril Brewery near Darlington. Then there are the photos of their children and grandchildren printed onto cushions, pillows, mugs, T-shirts, mouse mats and ties. Many fathers are expected to take these – and children’s drawings – to work the next day to remind them of their loved ones while they are working, or to show off to their colleagues that they have an idealised life regardless of their status in the office. Some families celebrate Father’s Day by going to the pub for a traditional Sunday roast – make sure you’ve booked though; there’s many a crestfallen car-load
turned away on this day because the place is full. There are those who think ahead – popular Father’s Day gifts include driving a fire engine, a rally car, a tank or even taking “control” of a light aircraft. An early-morning round of golf with the club pro, or a surprise cricket lesson with a celebrity coach are yet other popular experiences. There are some suggestions that the idea of Father’s Day originates in pagan sun worship. Some branches of paganism see the Sun as the father of the universe. Since the summer solstice occurs around the same time of year as Father’s Day, some see a link between the two. The modern idea of a special day to honour fathers and celebrate fatherhood (similarly with Mother’s Day) was introduced from the United States. There, a woman called Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by the American Mother’s Day celebrations to plan a day to honour fathers. Father’s Day has been celebrated in June since 1910 in America
and inevitably the custom spread. In Germany, Father’s Day (Vatertag) is celebrated differently from other parts of the world. It is always celebrated on Ascension Day (the Thursday 40 days after Easter), which is a federal holiday. Regionally, it is also called Men’s Day – Männertag – or Gentlemen’s Day, Herrentag. Particularly in Eastern Germany, it’s tradition for groups of males to take a hiking tour pulling small carts – Bollerwagen – crammed with wine or beer and traditional regional foods, Surprise, surprise, many simply use it as an opportunity to get drunk with their mates, but sadly, alcohol-related traffic accidents are said to
multiply threefold on Herrentag. There’s one thing though, whatever you think of your father, grandfather or father-inlaw, or however the closeness, you’d better not ignore it. Forget Father’s Day at your peril; 12 months of haranguing from the rest of the family is a lot to bear.
GREAT FATHER DAY GIF S IN STOR TS E ONLINE &
Local & UK bottle conditioned beers Organic, bio dynamic & no added sulphur wines Micro distillery gins including Durham gin Gift boxes & Hampers available 74 Whitley Road, Whitley Bay, NE26 2NE T: 0754 224 4716 facebook & twitter @bodahome.co.uk www.bodahome.co.uk 18 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk
KBC A5 Advert 0417.indd 1
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The Quayside Exchange 197 High Street East, Sunderland, SR1 2AX Tel: 0191 514 4574 Email: events@quaysideexchange.com www.quaysideexchange.com
www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 19
DRINK, DRONES AND DIVERSITY
THE SKY’S NO LIMIT Looking at the world from an unfamiliar viewpoint can have dramatic effects, as Alastair Gilmour learns Life looks different from another perspective. A bird’s eye view, a worm’s vision, through the bottom of a glass, there’s another interpretation to what we see and perceive. But many of us can’t grasp the connection. It’s one of the reasons Craig Marshall took up photography. He was advised to get out and look at nature – tiny daisies in a lawn, scree-sloped Lake District mountains and even abandoned industrial units might be an antidote to his anxiety, he was told. You simply have to look,
Experiment – running at Arch 16 Café Bar in Gateshead this month. “The industry and heritage of Newcastle and Gateshead, seen it from the air, takes on a different form and beauty,” says Craig. “You’re seeing beauty in things you’ve never previously thought of that way. Looking at nature and industry is a way of getting more people with mental health issues out more and to see things in a different way. “It’s easy to get trapped in your own house if you suffer from anxiety – I know that better than
Wylam Brewery, Newcastle
you just have to appreciate. Coincidentally, he bought a drone – basically a tiny helicopter – then tooled it up with a camera, aimed it high above Tyneside, linked it all to a laptop, and his whole world changed for the better. Craig, a Network Rail safety officer, now has a photographic and video exhibition of his new outlook on life – Serontonin: The Perspective 20 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk
anybody. I want to show people there’s nothing scary out there.” Arch 16 – sitting at the Gateshead end of the High Level Bridge – is owned by Pam Marshall (no relation) who left the RAF four years ago after 23 years’ service, the final three of which as assistant defence attaché in the British Embassy in Kabul. Behind the Arch 16 counter you’ll find
Three Kings Brewery Silver Darling, Tyneside Tommy and Apache, plus Flash House Porter, all from North Shields; Pilsner Urquell, the extraordinary beer from the Czech Republic, and Gypsy Hill Walloon, IPA and Dissident Russian Stout. Foodwise, it’s North Shields crab, Northumberland nettle cheese sandwich combos and rich cakes, plus chorizo from Block & Bottle craft beer and free-range butcher next door. Pam says: “I even found a Syrian refugee working in North Yorkshire making her own haloumi cheese because she couldn’t find anything authentic. You have to support people like that.” Craig Marshall’s Serotonin: The Perspective Experiment – a social enterprise – is a reference to the naturally-occurring chemical found in the human body thought to regulate anxiety, happiness, and mood. Low levels of the serotonin have been associated with depression, but this can be regulated with medicines – or Mother Nature, as he has discovered. “You develop serotonin through doing yoga or listening to music, taking photographs and making short films like I do,” says Craig. “It’s a way of improving mental wellbeing without taking medicine or drugs. There’s statistical evidence of nature as a healer from all over the world. Getting out to nature has saved 30-yearold marriages and saved people from taking their own life. “I’ve been merging film with music for a very emotive effect. I sent samples of what I was doing to a local psychotherapist and she saw the benefits straight away. “Seven months ago, I had never taken a
DRINK, DRONES AND DIVERSITY
The Sage, Gateshead
picture in my life, now I sit in Arch 16 and edit my stuff. I start work at 7.30am but I’ve often been on the beach since six taking photographs. It makes you feel great. It’s amazing what different forms things take when seen from above.” The Sage Gateshead concert venue is a perfect example; it’s not as symmetrical as you might
imagine, while the graffiti-strewn skateboard park at Exhibition Park in Newcastle looks like a piece of contemporary abstract art and could be hung in a gallery as such. Craig is offering 10% of any profit from exhibition sales directly to the Newcastle & Gateshead branches of MIND Mental Health Charity. Strict rules apply to filming from drones
and the privacy issues that can emerge from that but he has been granted a license and follows the drone code and guidelines to the letter. He says: “I can honestly say, doing this has completely changed my life, it got me out doing something positive.” Arch 16 Café Bar is a flexible space that can lend itself to all kinds of events and functions. Pam Marshall is keen to stock a different but complementary beer selection to Block & Bottle next door, so the synergy works well. She speaks Farsi and Darsi and originally went to Afghanistan as an interpreter attached to the Royal Marines. “I fell in love with Afghanistan and volunteered to go back in 2010,” she says. “I realised when I came back (to the UK) you can’t do something on a global scale but you could maybe change something on the street. “I believe education brings integration through art and food and music which is why I love to support things like Craig’s project. We put on hip-hop, DJs, rappers, a calligraphy open day, cultural diversity sessions that debunk what you might read in the press, and have ended up developing something of a subculture at Arch 16 which wasn’t intentional but just sort of happened. “It’s positive and creative and a little hub of all things. It’s mint.” *Serotonin: The Perspective Experiment is at Arch 16 Café Bar, High Level Parade, Wellington Street, Gateshead NE8 2AB from June 16 until July 14 2017. www.theperspectiveexperiment.com www.archsixteen.com
Exhibition Park, Newcastle, skateboard park
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BREWERY NEWS
BREWERY BOXING CLEVER A box social is a Victorian term for a social event where guests bring food and drink to swap among them in stimulating, sociable company. All very relaxed and easy-going. However, Newburn, Newcastlebased Box Social Brewing has rarely sat back in the two years it has been around. First the brewery produced a fine core range with dollops of research and development thrown in, then a bespoke beer for Tygers Of Pan Tang, the heavy metal band that never seems to stop touring, plus the opening of a tap house – The Box Social – in Newcastle city centre.
The
New branding is coming on stream and expansion plans are also moving at a pace with the site of new premises hopefully agreed this month. “Two years has flown over,” says Ross Holland, who runs Box Social with his father Steve. “The difference between our first year and our second has been amazing. “In your first year you’re busy finding customers and finding your feet and getting used to the kit. But we produced our core range which includes Gentlemen’s Nectar – still our best seller – while over the last 12 months we’ve been producing
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PUB QUIZ Every second Monday (see website for dates) Team up to 6 people Entry £1 per person Supper & Cash Prizes
OPEN MIC NIGHT Every second Sunday (see website for dates) Free Entry & Free Supper
Newton, Northumberland, NE43 7UL Tel: 01661 844446 www.dukeofwellingtoninn.co.uk Duke of Wellington Newton @DukeinNewton
22 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk
Ross Holland, right, with Robb Weir, Tygers Of Pan Tang. Photo: Peter Skelton
BREWERY NEWS more experimental beers which have been a big help to the business. And we opened the bar which is going great.” “We’re selling out of beer all the time. The next challenge is to grow the business by moving into somewhere bigger where we can do all our own kegging and canning. It also means bigger volumes so we can sell beer all over the country. But we’ll keep the current brewery with its bar for trial brews and as a tasting room.” One unexpected spin-off from having their own pub is that it acts as a shop window where local landlords frequently try Box Social beers and invariably like them so much they order them for their own pubs. “Blonde and Pale Ale are fine, but it makes it easier that way to sell Raspberry Mojito and Blueberry Cheescake,” says Ross. “Gentlemen’s Nectar is so popular it isn’t even out of the tank before it’s sold and people are simply crying out for our Campfire Porter.”
Exporting is very much on the cards with another trip lined up to Copenhagen where Ross has set up contacts in the city’s burgeoning food and drink sector – but that won’t happen until everything else is well in place. Expansion in personnel is yet another positive development with Darren Scott now fulltime in sales and a brewing apprentice being considered. Tyger Blood, produced last year for Tygers Of Pan Tang, has version two coming out with all the necessary hops and malt waiting in the brewhouse for a brewing slot. Ross says: “It’ll be a similar red beer to the first one, but with more of a hop presence. We’ve also changed the way we dryhop to have the flavour coming through a bit more. The first version sold stupidly well, even for a red beer. “It’s all good news, we’ve done it the tough way – the seven-day weeks are starting to pay off – but there still aren’t any luxuries here.”
FRESH FOOD // CRAFT BEER // GIN // WHISKEY LIVE MUSIC // COMEDY QUIZZES // TASTING EVENINGS // JAZZ CAFE
DOG FRIENDLY // CAMRA MEMBERS DISCOUNT
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SUMMER EVENTS JUNE 9 JASON COOK’S COMEDY CLUB Wylam Brewery Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park. Newcastle Join the North East’s premier comedian with Mark Nelson, Rob Deering and more acts to be announced. All seated (theatre style). Doors 7pm. 18-plus. Tickets £12.50. www.wylambrewery.co.uk
Cue beer: Wylam Brewery. Photo: Craig Marshall
SUMMER TIME AND THE LIVIN’ IS EASY A selection of festivals, fun, food, music, arty and beery things to celebrate sunny days JUNE 8-11 IRON IN THE SOUL FESTIVAL Seafront venues, Cullercoats, Tyne & Wear, and the best in North east music. A festival of literature, music, poetry and ghost stories, featuring an Existential Breakfast, celebrated poet Ian McMillan, Literary Cricket,
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make your own poetry book, Where’s Waller?… and much else besides. Special Iron In The Soul beer produced by Cullercoats Brewery available at The Salt House, The Boat Yard, Boda Home and others www.ticketsource.co.uk/ironpress or 0333 666 3366.
JUNE 9 CHURCHILL Cinemas nationwide An intimate and personal portrayal of the great wartime leader in the final days leading up to the D-Day Landings in 1945 starring Brian Cox and Miranda Richardson, opens at cinemas throughout the world. The film has been made possible by investors from the North East. Chris Reynolds, co-owner with Adrian Marley of The Schooner in Gateshead is finance director of London-based Salon Pictures which has produced the likes of boxing film The Guv’nor and Gasgoigne, a documentary of the region’s greatest footballer. Churchill is expected to be one of the biggest box-office hits of the year. Expect to see the return of Churchill Pale Ale (4.0% abv) in The Schooner. See Cheers April 2017 for the full inside story or at www.cheersnortheast.co.uk JUNE 9-JULY 30 SOUTH TYNESIDE FESTIVAL
South Shields Amphitheatre and Bents Park, South Shields Thursday and Saturday live music and Sunday concerts in a summer of great live entertainment. Free. Starring KT Tunstall, Busted, Louisa Johnson, Five After Midnight, Jedward, Sister Sledge. www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk JUNE 11 YOGA AND BEER Wylam Brewery, Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park. Newcastle It’s a craze that has swept across the US and now the North East will get the opportunity to join the fun! Yoga instructor and doctor Stephanie Warwick hosts the region’s firstever Yoga & Beer Sessions. The Sunday sessions will join together two of Stephanie’s greatest passions and give both beginners and experienced yogis alike a session that will invigorate body and mind. Doors 7pm. 18-plus. Tickets £15 include Yoga session and two halfpints of Wylam beer. www.wylambrewery.co.uk JUNE 13-14 TRANSATLANTIC TRIO PERFORMS FLEETWOOD MAC RUMOURS Wylam Brewery Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park. Newcastle Extra date due to phenomenal demand… Fresh from selling out three nights at London’s Jazz Cafe the outstanding Transatlantic Trio with their full 10-piece ensemble of internationally-renowned musicians
Tynedale Beer & Cider Festival
SUMMER EVENTS JUNE 16-24 THE HOPPINGS Town Moor, Newcastle All the fun of the fair at the legendary travelling show – the largest gathering in Europe.
heart of North Yorkshire plus real ale tent, high quality food stalls, vintage market and trade stands. Featuring: Soul II Soul, The Aswad, Slamboree, Transglobal Underground, The Red Paintings and a whole lot more. Reckoned to be the UK’s best value four-day music festival. www.willowmanfestival.co.uk
perform Fleetwood Mac’s iconic Rumours album. Tickets £20 .Doors 6pm. 18-plus. www.wylambrewery.co.uk JUNE 15 BEER DAY BRITAIN The 2nd National Beer Day follows last year’s original idea – drink beer, ideally in the pub or a brewery taproom and join in the National Cheers to Beer at 7pm using the hashtag #CheersToBeer. Last year the National Cheers trended on Twitter so the challenge is to trend again this year. (No relation to Cheers magazine.) www.beerdaybritain.co.uk
JUNE 15 BEER AND CHEESE PAIRING Head of Steam, Broad Chare, Quayside, Newcastle Join the fabulous folk at The Head Of Steam Quayside to celebrate Beer Day Britain. Four half-pints of great local cask ales paired with Northumberland Cheese Co cheeses to complement them. Tickets: £12 available from the bar now. www.theheadofsteam.co.uk JUNE 15-18 WILLOWMAN FESTIVAL Hillside Rural Activities Park, Knayton, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 4AN Four days of stupendous music in the
JUNE 17-18 WHITLEY BAY PROPER FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL Spanish City Plaza, Whitley Bay, Tyne & Wear NE26 1BG More than 100 stalls of artisan foods from Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Cumbria, Yorkshire and Scotland. Full bar with entertainment, cooking demos and much more. 10am-7pm. www.properfoodanddrinkfestivals. co.uk Tel 07904 187 644
JUNE 15-18 BORDERS BOOK FESTIVAL Harmony Garden, St Mary’s Road, Melrose, Scottish Borders TD6 9LJ Some of the biggest names in books, entertainments and public life take to the stage to bring their work to life. Headlined by Melvyn Bragg, Richard Holloway, Natalie Haynes, Anne Reid, Arabella Weir, Judy Murray and Steve Backshall. Live music (including Scottish Opera), theatre performances, workshops, street market wine tastings, kids’ crafts. www.bordersbookfestival.org
JUNE 16-18 CYCLONE FESTIVAL OF CYCLING Various locations, Newcastle The 2017 Cyclone Festival of Cycling weekend features the Tyne Six Bridges family rides (Friday evening June 16), followed by the popular Cyclone Challenge Rides on the Saturday (June 17). Sunday June 18 will see top men’s and women’s road racing action in the Beaumont Trophy and Curlew Cup races. The traditional three 34, 64 and 106 mile Cyclone Challenge rides have been joined by a 90-mile option. www.cyclonecycling.com
JUNE 16-18 TYNEDALE BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge Three days, 120 beers, 25 ciders, 10 wines, eight bands, two children’s entertainers, six street food stalls, three good causes, two enormous marquees in one fantastic festival. Beers from around the North East and way beyond, plus cider, wine, music and fun on a grand scale. Camping, free car parking. Simply absorb the aromas of grass and canvas tinged with fine ale. Heaven. www.tynedalebeerfestival.org.uk
JUNE 17 DURHAM BLUES FESTIVAL Gala Theatre, Durham Starring Debbie Bond, Dr Feelgood, Aynsley Lister, Red Butler, Kyla
THURSDAY 20TH JULY TO SUNDAY 23RD JULY Over 20 beers, ciders and foreign lagers to try BANDS INCLUDE
GIN BAR
Selection of 8 fabulous gins
Friday 21st The Stax Brothers Saturday 22nd (afternoon) The Mudskippers Saturday 22nd (evening) Alive and Kicking
NEW FOR 2017
PROSECCO BAR
Festival in aid of
ADMISSION
Thursday 6pm until 11pm FREE / Friday and Saturday 12noon until 11pm £4 Sunday 12 noon until the beer runs out FREE Transport service available from Hexham - Friday night and Saturday afternoon/early evening.
Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant, Wark on Tyne, nr Hexham, Northumberland NE48 3LS Tel: 01434 230209 Email: info@battlesteads.com www.battlesteads.com www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 25
SUMMER EVENTS Brox, Brian Rawson Band. Tickets £29 in advance /£32 on the door. 2pm-10pm. Box office: 0300 026 6600 www. galadurham.co.uk JUNE 18 BREWERY OPEN DAY Cullercoats Brewery, Unit 19 Maurice Road Industrial Estate, Wallsend NE28 6BY June 18 is also Father’s Day, so is there a better gift to bestow on Dad? Have a nosey round the brewery on a self-guided tour and meet brewers Bill and Sean. Enjoy fresh woodfired pizza from Hadrian’s Pizza and a pint or two of beer. Wallsend Metro 10 minutes walk or easy parking at the brewery itself. JUNE 18 DUNSTON: STAITHS STEAMERS AND TEEMERS Meet at the car park on Staiths Road, Dunston NE11 9DR, opposite Dunston Excelsior WMC at 2.30pm. A unique walk exploring the history of Dunston Staiths and the industry that was visible from the structure on both banks of the Tyne. The walk takes in
the actual Staiths, one of Europe’s largest timber constructions. Steep steps, although an alternative ramp will be open for people with limited mobility. Newcastlecityguides.org.uk JUNE 22-24 GLASGOW REAL ALE FESTIVAL The Briggait, Bridegate, Glasgow G1 5HZ Ten minutes from both Glasgow Central and Queen Street stations; five minutes from St Enoch S subway with 150-plus beers, ciders and foreign beers. Hot food available. Open: Thu 3.30pm-10.30pm; Fri noon-10.30pm; Sat noon-10.30pm. Prices £4 (Camra members)/£6 nonmembers. Price includes festival glass. www.glasgowrealalefestival.co.uk JUNE 23-JULY 2 MANCHESTER BEER WEEK City-wide Manchester Beer Week includes a brewers’ market, collab fest, meet the brewer sessions, tap takeovers and Big Buzzin’ Party at the iconic Granada Studios. Hawkshead Brewery is one of eight teamed up
The Steamboat BEER FESTIVAL 2017 JULY 27TH - 30TH 2015, 2016, 2017 Sunderland & South Tyneside CAMRA Pub of the Year Over 200 Spirits / 9 Hand Pulls on rotation Regular events throughout the year, call pub for details Supporters of South Shields FC
27 Mill Dam, South Shields, NE33 1EQ (0191) 454 0134 26 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk
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SUMMER EVENTS
Dunston Staiths to create four collaboration brews exclusively for the festival – paired with Runaway Brewery with a “Manchester-themed” beer. www.mrbeerweek.co.uk JUNE 24 HEATON FSTIVAL Heaton Park, Heaton, Newcastle Bring the family ad friends to this friendly community festival (12noon7pm). Stalls, activities, live music and more. Details at the Heaton Festival Facebook page.
JUNE 24 HAYDON BRIDGE BEER FESTIVAL Low Hall Park Football Ground, Haydon Bridge, NE47 6AE Festival number eight features ales, ciders and wine from around the world – and locally. Live music and entertainment from The Street Martins, Tyne Valley Big Band and The Promise – funds raised go to local community causes. www.haydonbridgefestival.co.uk
JUNE 24-JULY 1 ROSKILDE FESTIVAL Copenhagen, Denmark Roskilde Festival near Copenhagen is the largest music festival in Northern Europe – but at this point the faintheated might want to turn away. As part of a scheme first announced in 2015, The Danish Agriculture and Food Council collaborated with Danish Brewery Nørrebro Bryghus to release a beer made from barley fertilised with 54,000 litres of human urine. The urine was collected from humans at the Roskilde Festival in 2015 when it was hoped that 25,000 litres of the “waste liquid” would be collected. Having accumulated over double their target volume, the urine was sprayed over crops in the spring of 2016, producing 11 tons of malted barley. The brewing process then began at the end of March this year and the finished article will be available to taste in June. Karen Hækkerup, CEO at the Danish Agriculture and Food Council, said: “Just as we have seen shops sell goods that would otherwise have been thrown out, beercycling
allows us to recycle a product that is normally flushed down the drain. Danish farmers are some of the best in the world. If you can brew a beer with urine as fertiliser, you can recycle almost anything.” OK, you can read on now. JUNE 24 NORTHUMBERLAND LIVE South Beach, Links Road, Blyth, Northumberland The Undertones top the bill for the 2nd annual Bedlington festival. They will be joined be classic Soul act The Commitments. More announcements to follow on supporting local artists. Tel: 01670 854084 www.facebook. com/NorthumberlandLiveFestival JUNE 24 THE ART MARKET Grainger Market, Newcastle NE1 5QG Loveartnortheast’s latest art and design market. It takes places on the fourth Saturday of every month inside the historic Grainger Market Arcade. Each month around 20 of the region’s best artists, designers and crafters pop up from 9am till
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SUMMER EVENTS 5pm. Each month the traders taking part varies. Tel: 07973108608 JUNE 29-JULY 1 NORTHUMBERLAND PLATE BEER FESTIVAL Newcastle Racecourse, High Gosforth Park NE3 5HP The world-famous Northumberland Plate meeting includes a beer festival on the Friday evening in association with Box Social Brewing with seven races, including the Betfred Gosforth Park Cup. Real ales and ciders. Choose from admissions tickets only or hospitality packages. Beer tent is located next to the pre-parade ring – entry is included within the admission ticket price. www.newcastle-racecourse.co.uk JUNE 30-JULY 2 NORTH EAST CHILLI FEST Opposite Gloucester Lodge Farm (Seaton Sluice, Northumberland, NE24 3PH The sixth Chilli Fest takes place at a new venue across three days and features live music from Heavem
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17, Smoove & Turrel and The Baghaddies. Real ale and cocktail bars, more than 80 independent food producers, top class entertainment. Tickets start at £3 for kids, day ticket £5. Weekend ticket £10 . Weekend Camping ticket £30. www.chillifest-ne.co.uk JULY 1-SEPTEMBER 16 KYNREN Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland, County Durham DL14 7SF Kynren takes you on a captivating, action-packed journey through 2,000 years of British history, myth and legend, from the Roman Occupation to World War II via the Viking and Norman invasions, medieval feasts, he splendour of the Tudors, the Georgian era, Industrial Revolution, and the Roaring Twenties. Ships, steam engines, mass choreography, dazzling pyrotechnics, fire and astonishing lighting and water effects brought to life by 1,000 volunteers. The 9-minute show starts at sunset set to an original soundtrack by award-winning composer Nathan Stornetta. Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets and info at kynren.co.uk or 0300 300 3028.
Mouth of the Tyne Festival Laura Marling Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com JULY 3-9 MOUTH OF THE TYNE FESTIVAL Tynemouth Priory and Castle, Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear Featuring Elbow, Laura Marling, Tom Odell, Billy Ocean, Roddy Woomble, Martha Wainwright, Cornshed Sisters, Sam Fender, Cattle & Cane and many more up-and-coming local artists. www.mouthofthetynefestival.co.uk JULY 4-8 TWELFTH NIGHT Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham
The Castle Players community drama group based at the Old Well pub in Barnard Castle bring Shakespeare alive and this idyllic setting could not be better. Tickets can be bought online at www. thewitham.org.uk, by phone 01833 631107, or in person at The Witham, Barnard Castle. And in true Castle Players’ style, director Jill Cole has given it a new twist by giving the land of Illyria a quirky Victorian steampunk setting. Local microbrewery, Mithril Ales, is producing a special beer – and it
SUMMER EVENTS needs a name. Suggest the best and the winner and a friend will be able to visit Mithril Ales to help start off the special brew, then invited to The Old Well Inn for the launch of the beer and able to taste the first two pints out of the pump. Thirdly, they will receive two tickets to enjoy the performance of Twelfth Night on the evening of Wednesday July 5. Enter by sending The Castle Players a message via their Facebook page or, alternatively, email info@castleplayers. co.uk with the subject “Name The Ale”. Entries must be received by midnight on Sunday 11th June.
and Sat afternoon. www.sraf.camra.org.uk
JULY 6-8 SCOTTISH REAL ALE FESTIVAL Edinburgh Corn Exchange, New Market Road, Edinburgh EH14 1RJ Lothian Bus 35 or 4, 20, 34, 44 will get you there; Slateford Railway Station within 200yds. 160-plus Scottish real ales plus cider and perry. Camra products, tombola and games. Open: Thu-Sat noon-10.30pm. Hot food available throughout. Entry: £6/£4 Camra members. Free re-entry to all sessions with 2016 souvenir glass. Live music every night
JULY 7-8 THE BATHTUB SESSIONS Wylam Brewery Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park. Newcastle A Gin Festival with a Twist brought to you in partnership with Fentimans Mixers. £10 ticket includes a swanky commemorative glass. 18-plus. Doors 5.30pm www.wylambrewery.co.uk
JULY 7 ARTS STEAMER Central Station, Newcastle,NE1 5DB Located on the main concourse of Newcastle Central Station on the first Friday of each month, Loveartnortheast host around 20 local artists, designers, craftersselling everything from original art from original art and prints to ceramics, glass, jewellery, photography and much more. Tel: 07973108608
JULY 12 MEET THE CIDER PRODUCER WITH HARLESTON CIDER
The Station House, Under the Viaduct, North Road, DH1 4SE Free entry, from 7.30pm in the upstairs room www.stationhousedurham.co.uk JULY 14-17 BANGERS AND BEER FESTIVAL The Woodman Inn, 23 Gilesgate Durham. DH1 1QW The 2nd Annual Bangers and Beer Festival will host a great selection of over 20 real ales and ciders from local breweries, plus a great selection of flavoured sausages. A fantastic Durham pub to visit in the sunshine with a mighty impressive beer garden – what more excuse do you need? info@woodmaninn.co.uk JULY 14-AUGUST 6 GATESHEAD Q FESTIVAL STARRING JESTERVAL Baltic Square, Millennium Bridge, Gateshead Jesterval, The North East’s premier comedy festival, returns as part of Q Festival an exciting collaboration with Gateshead Council. Fun for summer days and long hot summer nights.
The stunning Spielgeltent on Baltic Square will play host to a vibrant and eclectic programme of daytime activities and evening events for adults, children and families that also includes a gin festival with burlesque, immersive cinema, family carnival day, crafts, storytelling, performance and DJs. Jesterval will continue to feature some of the most exciting and finest comedians working in the UK today. From household names to hotlytipped acts alongside the best local talent, don’t miss this opportunity to see the acts up close and personal at a very affordable price, as there’s a chance you’ll be paying a lot more for a ticket to see them in the not-too distant future. Tel : 07983389793. E: Della@ Jesterval.com JULY 17-23 MASALA FESTIVAL Newcastle and Gateshead, various venues. A mix and blend of the finest South Asian arts and culture featuring Riverside Ragas: The Monks of Majuli, Mini Mela, Shri Sriarm’s
CRAFT BEER CALLING
INTERNATIONAL BEER FESTIVAL
26/27/28 OCTOBER 2017 WYLAM BREWERY | PALACE OF ARTS | NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
firstries e brew unced o ann ets on tick ale s
visit www.CraftBeerCalling.com for details CBC17_Cheers.indd 1
www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 29 28/03/2017 17:35
SUMMER EVENTS Just A Vibration. Film screenings, workshops and demonstrations of South Indian cooking, meditation, yoga, Bollywood dance and more. Tel: 0191 440 4124 www.gemarts.org JULY 18-AUGUST 18 GATESHEAD ART SOCIETY ANNUAL SUMMER EXHIBITION St Mary’s Heritage Centre, Oakwellgate, Gateshead Gateshead Art Society’s amateur artwork. Pictures will hang from the pillars for you to enjoy throughout the months of July and August. All of the pieces on display will be available to purchase. Free. www.gateshead.gov.uk/ whatson JULY 20-22 NORTHERN CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL The Beer Hall, Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 9LR Hawkshead’s 11th festival continues to draw beer lovers to The Lakes to witness craft brewing in the north of England at its finest. It’s all about British craft brewing...
what’s new, who’s new, what’s stood the test of time, but most of all... what’s good. It’s mostly cask, but there’s a fair amount of keg too. It’s a family affair... kids, dogs, babes in arms, great grandmas, weird brewers – all are welcome. There’s food all day, live music, great beer, good crack and no tickets – the Beer Hall is a pub, it doesn’t charge entry. www.hawksheadbrewery.co.uk JULY 20-23 SEVENTH BATTLESTEADS BEER FESTIVAL Battlesteads Hotel, Wark, Northumberland NE48 3LS The seventh annual beer festival at Northumberland’s eco-friendliest pub, hotel and restaurant features great beers, lagers, ciders, food and live music from The Mudskippers and Alive And Kicking. This year’s charity is The Great North East Air Ambulance. Stay the weekend and unwind. Great sponsorship opportunities too. Contact Katherine Meyrick for more details. Tel: 01434 230209. www.battlesteads.com
JULY 21-23 SUMMERTYNE AMERICANA FESTIVAL Sage, Gateshead Quays NE8 2JR The soaring popularity of Americana and country music in the UK is celebrated at the 12th SummerTyne Americana Festival at Sage Gateshead, bringing together legendary artists, rising stars and the best of the next generation in a full, three-day programme of special events and some exclusive performances. The weekend-long party introduces another sizzling celebration of American roots music. The hugelypopular event this year features The Shires, William Bell,Beth Nielsen Chapman, Merle Haggards Strangers, Chuck Prophet, Jim Lauderdale, Sam Outlaw plus many, many more (local and breakthrough). Plus, following rave reviews for her new album Wrangled, Kentucky native and Pistol Annie Angaleena Presley and a double bill of two of the finest female blues voices from both sides of the Atlantic, Jo Harman and Lisa Mills. Godfather of the Nashville scene, Jim Lauderdale, will
play an unmissable double-bill with Californian rising star Sam Outlaw and making a welcome return to SummerTyne, much lauded American singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet, with his five-piece band. Back for 2017 will be the hugely popular Jumpin’ Hot Stage, its stunning riverside setting perfect for audiences to kick back and enjoy a sizzling combo of country, blues, folk, rockabilly, bluegrass and soul with headline sets from Earl Thomas & Band and Savoy Family Cajun Band, alongside a wide range of burgeoning talent from the US and UK including: Rhona Dalling, Buffalo Skinners, Paul Handyside Trio, The King Bees, Archie Brown & The Prisoners of Fender, Big Ray & the Hipthrusters, Stax Academy Revue, Dexeter, Fargo Railroad Company and much more. Another must-see at SummerTyne Americana is an exhibition of artwork by Jon Langford probably best known for his striking portraits of country music icons that include Hank Williams, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. www.summertyne.com
NORTHERN CRAFT
BEER FEST at Hawkshead Brewery 2OTH 22ND JULY 2017
80 beers from British Breweries cask and keg bars Staveley Mill Yard, The Lakes, LA8 9LR
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#NCBF17
SUMMER EVENTS ciders from Wylam Brewery and others, plus wine and cocktail bar. A huge array of hot food. Producers selling the best food from around the world to eat in a huge outdoor picnic area. Live entertainment and lots more interesting stuff. www.properfoodanddrinkfestivals. co.uk Durham Brewery Birthday Beer Bash JULY 27-30 THE STEAMBOAT BEER FESTIVAL G27 Mill Dam, South Shields NE33 1EQ South Shields have had a lot to celebrate recently after a mighty successful season for South Shields FC was topped off with their recent FA Vase win at Wembley. They also have a mighty fine pub to toast with The Steamboat once again scooping CAMRA Pub Of The Year for Sunderland and South Tyneside. It’s 3rd year running. Pop down to one of the finest pubs in the region for their annual Beer Festival in July. JULY 27-30 KENDAL CALLING The Lake District’s music festival
celebrates its annual success (now a 12,000-capacity, three-day event) with a lineup that includes Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, Franz Ferdinand, Frank Turner, Brian Wilson, Tinie Tempah, Jake Bugg, Editors… and mountains more. See you in the fields! www.kendalcalling.co.uk JULY 29 CRAMLINGTON PROPER FOOD FESTIVAL Seven Oaks Park, Dudley Lane, Cramlington, Northumberland Sixty of the finest artisan food producers selling the best locally made food the country has to offer. Licensed bar selling real ales and
AUGUST 5 DURHAM BREWERY BIRTHDAY BEER BASH Durham Brewery, Bowburn North Industrial Estate, Bowburn, Co Durham DH6 5PF Celebrating its 23rd anniversary on August 5 (12noon-5.00pm), this brewery festival is now a yearly tradition on the first Saturday in August. It’s a great afternoon of good beer and food plus gin from Durham Distillery; a way to meet the brewery’s customers and say thank-you for their support. Steve, Christine, Elly, Georgie, Sean, Craig and Will will be available to answer any questions. At least six cask beers and four keg beers on offer – some old favourites as well as new beers launched on the day – with the first pint of 5% abv and
under free. There’s also a massive range of bottle-conditioned beers to try with 10% discount on bottles, mini-casks, glasses or gifts from the brewery shop on the day. The visitor centre, marquee and main brewery will keep everyone dry should it rain. www.durhambrewery.com AUGUST 8-12 CAMRA GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL Olympia, London The Great British Beer Festival is organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) and offers visitors over 900 real ales, ciders, perries and international beers as well as fantastic entertainment, food, seating areas, and traditional pub games to enjoy all under one roof in the heart of London. www.ggbf.org.uk AUGUST 11-12 BOGSTOCK 2017 Carts Bog Inn, Hexham NE47 5NW Carts Bog Real Ale & Music Festival faetures real ales and ciders. Live music from King Size Voodoo Travellers, Diablo, Gate Crashers, The Happy Cats. £10 entry includes
www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 31
SUMMER EVENTS three beer tokens (£15 both nights), 6pm-12midnight. Set in a traditional country pub in the North Pennines surrounded by stunning countryside. www.cartsbog.co.uk AUGUST 13 THE ROCK’N’ROLL BIKE RIDE The Schooner, South Shore Road, Gateshead NE8 3AF The 6th Annual Tyne Cruise is in aid of the Daft As A Brush cancer charity. The trip takes the route of The Schooner to The Boathouse, Wylam, with select stop-offs en route to a few pubs and breweries. Last year the ride broke its record for the number of entrants with 130 taking part and raised an amazing grand total of £7,057 with donations going to the MS Society and Daft As A Brush. Get your name down and your tyres pumped! www.theschooner.co.uk AUGUST 19 HARDWICK LIVE Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, County Durham, TS21 2EH Hardwick Hall Live is bursting onto the Summer Circuit with a might
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fine line-up that speaks for itself. The festival will feature fantastic acts such as Ocean Colour Scene, Peter Doherty, Fun Lovin Criminals, Soul II Soul, Buzzcocks, Gabrielle, The Brand New Heavies and Cattle & Cane. Prices start at £8 for a child and £49 for an adult day ticket. www.hardwicklive.co.uk AUGUST 23 INTRODUCTION TO CIDER, WITH THE LANDLADY The Station House, Under the Viaduct, North Road, DH1 4SE An evening for anyone who likes cider (or would like to like cider) but isn’t sure where to start. £10 per ticket - samples included. Limited places so book in advance. 7.30pm AUGUST 25-27 THE BLAYDON MUSIC & BEER FESTIVAL Blaydon Rugby Club, Swalwell, NE16 3BN Three days of all round craft goodness. With over fifty beers & lagers – local and national, and a
Berwick Food and Beer Festival selection of ciders, wines and gin there is plenty to wet your appetite. This is fun on a grand scale with eleven live bands and a variety of food stalls, all centred under a very large marquee. New for 2017, event moved to Bank holiday weekend to allow full programme on Sunday with the addition of a Veterans Rugby 10’s tournament on Sunday. www.blaydonfestivals.co.uk AUGUST 25-27 THE BOATHOUSE WYLAM BANK HOLIDAY BEER FESTIVAL The Boathouse, Station Road, Wylam, NE41 8HR
The award-winning pub’s annual August Bank Holiday Beer Festival with some of the finest ales available. Live music and great company. More details in July/ August Cheers. Tel: 01661 853 431. AUGUST 29 LIVE MUSIC Wylam Brewery Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park. Newcastle Parquet Courts plus support from Ultimate Painting. All standing. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets £16.50’ www.wylambrewery.co.uk AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 2
SUMMER EVENTS DURHAM BEER FESTIVAL Durham University Students’ Union, New Elvet, Durham DH1 3AN One of the region’s most popular beer festivals with 120 real ales, ciders and perries, wines and spirits. Battle of the Beers competition. Entry £10 includes glass, programme and three tokens. www.durhambeerfestival.org.uk SEPTEMBER 1-3 BERWICK FOOD AND BEER FESTIVAL Berwick Barracks, The Parade TD15 1DF Now in its tenth year and one of the best places to buy fresh, local and seasonal produce. Organised by the town’s Slow Food Group and sponsored by local business Silver Tweed, the event highlights the region’s thriving food and drink scene. More than 40 local produce stalls, street food, children’s entertainment, demonstration kitchen. Berwick Beer Festival features up to 10 local artisan brewers from Alnwick and Amble to Galashiels and Wylam. www.berwickfoodandbeerfestival. co.uk
SEPTEMBER 28-30 TYNEMOUTH BEER FESTIVAL Tynemouth Cicket Club, Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear Featuring 60 beers, 20 of which are local – with a twist. It’s expected they’ll all be collaboration beers each produced between two breweries or more which will include Tyne Bank, Two by Two, Errant, Wylam, Box Social, Cullercoats, Almasty and Dog & Rabbit breweries. The collab beers will also be available in local pubs. More details in the July/August issue of Cheers. OCTOBER 26-28 CRAFT BEER CALLING INTERNATIONAL BEER FESTIVAL Wylam Brewery Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park. Newcastle The cream of the world’s leading craft brewers assembled under one roof for one weekend only. Gin palace, cider cellar, street food market, top-class DJs, what more do you need? www.craftbeercalling.com
THE
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Available for eveNts / functions Beer Festivals / Music Festivals Price on application The Pimms van is a completely staffed and stocked mobile bar which provides a quirky solution for your party or event. It includes a full draught Pimms bar, flat screen TV/DVD, a mobile phone charging facility, outdoor sound system and also boasts a full garden setup of branded chairs, parasols & gazebos
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IT’s
O’CLOCK
PROMOTE YOUR EVENT IN CHEERS Our next Event Guide will appear in our July/August bumper double issue. If you would like to be included, please get in touch with Emma Howe: E: emma@offstonepublishing.co.uk T:
01661 844115
BOOKING DEADLINE:
TUESDAY 20TH JUNE
www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 33
PUBNEWS
GREETINGS FROM THE COAST A £370,000 investment by owners Stonegate Pub Company has resulted in the transformation of a Tynemouth pub into a vibrant, stylish venue. There’s no doubt The Salutation is a food-led establishment with burgers and pizzas high on the
menu, plus an extensive cocktails list and the pub, on Front Street, caters for sports fans with a selection of live events from around the globe (when Cheers visited, Australian Rules Football was showing with Geelong Cats leading Port Adelaide 74-64).
Vibrant: The Salutation, Tynemouth. Photos: Peter Skelton
Competition among pubs is fierce along the North East coast and Tynemouth has an excellent choice with the likes of Barça Art Cafe, Head of Steam, and the soonto-be refurbished Hugo’s, each with its own characteristics. The Salutation has set out its beer stall on a craft keg range which includes Wylam Jakehead IPA, Hadrian Border Grainger Ale, Tyne Bank Northern Porter and Sonnet 43 Impressionment. The cask handpulls impress equally with Anarchy Blonde Star, Draught Bass and Sonnet 43 Abolition the pick of the line-up, while Dark Horse from Born In The Borders Brewery (Jedburgh) looks intriguing. Rather pleasingly, a large mix of age
groups is attracted by the choice. The large front area is cleverly sectioned into separate, airy, open-plan sections for dining and drinking, with a room to the rear serving more of a traditional restaurant role. The L-shaped bar counter, faced in sections of distressed timber, is a fair old size – and it probably needs to be in this busy village. This recycled wood styling is repeated throughout with a touch of what appears to be old-fashioned lino and ultra-fashionable white tiles – a look that however can’t escape a corporate, off-the-shelf feel. But with a pub like The Salutation, Tynemouth appears the place to be this summer.
S C H O O N E R T U N E Ss June AT THE scHOONER
July AT THE scHOONER
Sat 10th Sourmash Trio 8.30pm Sun 11th The Lounge Lizards 4.30pm Tue 13th Buskers 8.00pm Sat 17th The West Coast Band 8.30pm Sun 18th Frankies Cafe 4.30pm Thur 22nd Acoustic Gathering 8.00pm Fri 23rd The Understudies 7.30pm
Sat 1st Dirty South 8.30pm Sun 2nd The Revoluntionaires 4.30pm Sat 8th Palaminos 8.30pm Sun 9th Bernie & The Bluenotes 4.30pm Sat 15th TBC Sun 16th The Teresa Watson Band 4.30pm Thu 20th The Screaming Miss Jackson & The Slap Your Momma Big Band 8.00pm Fri 21st TBC Sat 22nd Fargo Railroad Company 8.30pm Sun 23 Dogone Daddies 4.30pm Sat 29th TBC Sun 30th Stan 4.30pm
Sunday 13th August is the annual Schooner Charity Bike Ride The Tyne Cruise – This year in aid of Daft as a Brush If you would like to join us for a fun cycle along the river, from The Schooner to Wylam and back,
please check out the details on our website: www.theschooner.co.uk/events
South Shore Road, Gateshead, NE8 3AF 0191 477 7404 | www.theschooner.co.uk
34 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk
PUB NEWS
Community: Leo Bell, Arch2 brewpub. Photos: Peter Skelton
Even though he has lived with the idea for a full year or more, Leo Bell is still surprised by the new Arch2 craft keg brewpub and kitchen at Ouseburn, Newcastle. He and his father Mike have transformed a former tyre-
UNDERNEATH THE ARCHES fitting garage into an intriguing contemporary setting. “It’s turned out better than the picture I had in my head,” he says. “I could see the details but couldn’t quite visualise the whole thing.” A large, yard-like area leaves
customers in no doubt that they’re sitting directly under one of Byker Bridge’s soaring brick arches. The bar itself – covered in – is no-frills caféstyle, straddling beer, coffee and cake as it promises on the window. It feels good, it all tastes terrific. The exterior stark brickwork is softened by a graffiti-style illustration and like the Ouseburn area it depicts, it’s vibrant and slightly edgy. Leo says: “Our first Friday coincided with Newcastle’s Late Shows event which is one of the busiest in the year, but we coped well and we’re well set up for anything that can be chucked at us..” The Newcastle Brewing Co brewhouse which Leo and Mike
operate is expected to be up and running this month as is the full-on kitchen operated by acclaimed Tynemouth café and patisserie Dil & the Bear. “The whole Arch2 idea was that it’s very community-orientated with 50% of the development costs equity funded by local people,” says Leo. “Wherever possible, we’re using local suppliers – artist Jim Edwards designed our bottle labels, our T-shirts are from just around the corner, and even the guy who supplies our wine is originally from Walker. We’ll certainly listen to ideas from people who want to use the space whether it’s a jam session, slam poetry, philosophical debates, you name it.”
Scotia Welding & Fabrication
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36 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk
VIEW FROM ABROAD
WE’VE ALL HAD A SHIMLA EXPERIENCE Former senior lecturer in food technology at Northumbria University, Ian Brown, reports on a trip to India
India is really not a place for those with a delicate gastro-intestinal system. The photo here showing Cheers North East at the Taj Mahal, innocent though it appears, has a tale attached. In recent years, security at the Taj has tightened immensely. All visitors and their bags are subject to stringent security checks, electronically as well as by manual body searches. The following are identified as being unacceptable: Food, drink, video cameras and any form of literature – in any language – including guidebooks. Cheers magazine was highlighted in the electronic scan and removed from my wife Carol’s bag. We were ushered into an interview room and asked to explain this subversive religious literature. It was far from easy trying to interpret what they clearly thought was a Gorgon-headed scandal-sheet –but I did my best. The head of security eventually appeared and following a heated discussion (it was 40º C) and after what seemed like a referendum among three million Hindu gods, Brentry was amazingly declared. I can only put this down to the fact that Cheers was not considered to be of any literary merit whatsoever. Either that, or those Hindu gods were regular readers and approved of it by a clear majority. I had only been in India for a couple of days when I was struck down by Delhi Belly and Shimla Shitz. Imodium kept us on the road and off the bog for a couple of more days but thankfully deep into the heart of Rajasthan our driver took us to visit a rural tribe of a Hindu sect, the Brahmans, where it was recommended that we participate in a local ceremony at the BWMC (Brahman Working Men’s Club) – CIU affiliated, of course. I thought this related to my background in food technology as some locally-sourced raw materials were ground into a powder, mixed with water, then added to a small distillation apparatus which was subsequently heated. The resultant distillate
Takeaway: Ian Brown at the Taj Mahal
was then offered – three times – on a small leaf, and we imbibed each time. This was accompanied throughout by a chant reminiscent of the anger expressed at opposing supporters from the Leazes End whenever Newcastle conceded a goal in the mid-1960s. We then experienced the most powerful of mixed sensory perceptions – bitterness and wellbeing – which produced an amazing craving for sweetness eventually satisfied by small, coarse, uncut lumps of brown sugar. They were uncut diamonds of carbohydrate. The offending micro-organisms – and their spores – failed to trouble my digestive system for the remainder of the trip. But I’m sad to report that the beer situation in India is best described as dire. Kingfisher Lager has well and truly cornered the market. It wouldn’t be so bad if it was the beer that we all know in the wonderful curry houses we have in the North East, but sadly it is reminiscent of something from the Federation Brewery in the 1970 and 80s. Think Ace Lager.
CHEERS ON TOUR
HAVE MAG WILL TRAVEL Regular Cheers readers never fail to inspire with their willingness to spread the word and we’re very proud to present what can only be described as devotion of the highest order. THAILAND. Richard Costello writes from 6,000 miles away: “Enjoying a good read, trying hard to keep my beer cool in 37ºC heat in Tha Din Daeng, just north of Ayutthaya, Thailand.” TOUR DE FORCE. Jan Wendeler sent us these photos – with no message – from York Barbican Centre, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, London Palladium, Birmingham Concert Hall, and Carre Theatre, Amsterdam. A musician, perhaps? HUDDERSFIELD. Phil Thompson promised to say “cheers” from the Rat & Ratchet pub, home of the Rat Brewery –
and he kept his word. Before that, though, he sunk (at least) a pint of Pint from Marble Brewery in the nearby Grove Inn. NORTH YORKSHIRE. Ken Paul, Sunderland & South Tyneside Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) stalwart, paid a visit to the organisation’s national pub of the year, The George & Dragon in Hudswell, near Richmond. “Great pub, worthy winner,” he says. THE US OF A: Tony Brookes, former Head of Steam group supremo, has been Stateside and sent us a selection from the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago; Crescent City brewhouse, New Orleans, and the BB King Blues Club, Memphis. Thanks all, we’re very humbled.
THE US OF A CHICAGO
TOUR DE FORCE YORK TOUR DE FORCE BIRMINGHAM
NORTH YORKSHIRE
THE US OF A NEW ORLEANS
TOUR DE FORCE LONDON THAILAND
THE US OF A MEMPHIS
HUDDERSFIELD
TOUR DE FORCE AMSTERDAM
TOUR DE FORCE LIVERPOOL www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 37
FUN STUFF
SIGN OF THE TIMES We’re not sure if this message, printed numerous times on the bricks of the railway arch on Forth Street, Newcastle, is in homage to the current Pink Floyd ‘Their Mortal Remains’ retrospective at the V&A in London, because we don’t need no education.
A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR… …AND THE BARMAN SAYS: ‘YOU’RE LOOKING A BIT DOWN, WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU?’ THE MAN SAYS: ‘THE DOCTOR HAS JUST THROWN ME OUT OF HIS SURGERY.’ ‘WHATEVER FOR?’ ASKS THE BARMAN. THE MAN SAYS: ‘I TOLD HIM I WASN’T HEARING PROPERLY SO HE ASKED ME TO DESCRIBE THE SYMPTOMS. I SAID HOMER WAS A FAT BLOKE AND MARGE HAS BLUE HAIR.’
EEH! NUMBERS
1927
THE DIRTY DOZEN TWELVE STINKERS, ALL WITH A ‘BRIDGE’ THEME
1 How many uprights on the Tyne Bridge support the arch from the road deck? 2 Newcastle city centre is famous for its seven bridges. Name the only other place in the UK with seven river crossings. 3 The Five Bridges Suite was a huge album hit in 1970 for which band? 4 Which actor started his professional life in TV series Sea Hunt (1958-61) and starred in Airplane! (1980)? 5 The New Bridge pub in Newcastle celebrates which landmark? 6 Which bridge was the subject of the book and movie A Bridge Too Far? 7 The song Bridge Over Troubled Water was written by Paul Simon, but from where did he reputedly get his inspiration for Homeward Bound? 8 In the card game Bridge, if the declaring side is vulnerable, how many points does a grand slam earn? 9 The Bridge Tavern in Newcastle has which name in relief on its fascia? 10 Which term means ‘to shorten by omission of words without sacrifice of sense’? 11 We all know the 17th Century nursery rhyme London Bridge Is Falling Down, but what is the 21st Century significance of London Bridge Is Down? 12 Opened in June 2011 and spanning 102.4 miles (165 kilometers), in which country is the world’s longest bridge? (Extra point for naming it).
Newcastle Brown Ale was first issued Newcastle United won the Division I title (Huddersfield were second, Sunderland third) Ken Dodd was born (November 8). On his birth, his father said: ‘How tickled I am, missus’. Actually, we’ve just made that up. But he could have done.
QUOTE
“ KEEP YOUR LOWS HIGH AND YOUR HIGHS LOW. IF YOU GET 100, HAVE A BEER OR A RUN AND GO TO BED. DO THE EXACT SAME THING IF YOU GET NAUGHT.”
KEATON JENNINGS, DURHAM COUNTY CRICKET CLUB
QUIZ ANSWERS: 1 32. 2 Gateshead. 3 The Nice. 5 Lloyd Bridges. 6 Byker Bridge (opened to pedestrians on October 19 1878 then carts and carriages on January 27 1879). 6 Arnhem, over the Rhine in Germany. 7 Stuck at Rochdale station en route from Liverpool (though some claim Widnes). 8 1,500 points. 9 The Newcastle Arms. 10 Abridge. 11 It will be used by civil servants and UK government officials to announce the death of Queen Elizabeth II and trigger a series of events spanning a 12-day period of mourning. 12 The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China, part of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway.
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