Cheers North East magazine #81 - May 2018

cheers WWW.CHEERSNORTHEAST.CO.UK // JUNE 2018 // ISSUE 81

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A B O U T

P U B S ,

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A N D

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NEW BREWS NOW ON SONG FIRST AND LAST AND EVERYTHING RUSSIA SAYS ZDRAVSTVUYTE IT’S HELLO TO WORLD SUPS AND PENALTY SHOOT-OUTS

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BREAKING THE MOULD Consett Ale Works is a micro-brewery based at the Grey Horse pub in Consett.

Leaning heavily on the town’s iron works heritage, we have developed our distinctive brands, Red Dust and Steel Town Bitter.

Our beers hark back to the days when prosperity could not be separated from the steel which built Blackpool tower and the nation’s nuclear submarines.

The recipes for the brews were created with the former ironworks in mind. We wanted to have ales that we thought would be flavoursome enough to have quenched the thirst of the ironworker’s as they left work after a hot and gruelling day in front of the furnaces.

GET IN TOUCH - RUFUS (BREWERY): 01207 591 540 or LYNN (SALES): 07730 896 766 Consett Ale Works, 115 Sherburn Terrace, Consett, Co. Durham, DH8 6NE. www.consettaleworks.co.uk

WELCOME Here we are at the middle of the year and looking forward to a cracking summer, that is if any of May’s weather is anything to go by.

June is the month of the summer solstice, the time when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky. It marks the end of spring and the beginning of summer and is punctuated by holidays, festivals and rituals, such as going to the pub and getting your glass filled with whatever takes your fancy.

It’s also beer garden time; it’s about al fresco drinking and dining and slapping on the Factor 30 which we hint at with our cover feature. But don’t forget that the pubs with no outside area are quite often the coolest place to be (in every sense of the phrase). In hot weather, indoors among the handpulls and keg taps can be a lot more fun.

Courtesy of award-winning beer writer Adrian Tierney-Jones, we’re taking a look at some beers to drink during the World Cup – and to sample with whatever mood strikes you. And, we hear from our World Cup cover girl of 2014 and how she – a Brazilian beauty who studied at Newcastle University – remembers the North East.

We are also pleased to welcome a new regular column from Rich and Dean of Brew Stories who are video bloggers (vloggers for those in the know).

This month they visited Beamish Hall Brewery, and you can read more on page 12.

So this month, enjoy yourself, go to the pub – inside or out – then follow the gigs and festivals guide on pages 26 to 35 and have a terrific June.

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 Photography: Peter Skelton www.thepsp.net

CONTENTS 20

A MONTH OF FOOTBALL

Award-winning beer writer Adrian Tierney-Jones selects some World Cup finalists’ beers from his book The Seven Moods of Craft Beer. As you’d expect, there are a few very interesting ones. Seek them out. And before the last World Cup Finals in June 2014 we invited Brazilian student Tainá Vieira to feature on the cover of Cheers. She has now finished her studies at Newcastle University – the final part of her programme was back in Brazil – so we caught up with her memories of that time and her winning predictions.

COVER: ARRON CRAGGS TAKES A BREAK FROM GARDENING AT BEAMISH HALL. PHOTO: PETER SKELTON

PEOPLE NOW ARE SO MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN WHERE THEIR BEER IS COMING FROM, WHERE IT’S MADE AND WHAT’S IN IT

MATTHEW FRANKLAND THE WORKING HAND BREWERY

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CHANGING THE RECIPES

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

Pit stop: A breather at the top of a long hill

PINTS FLOW AFTER CHARITY RIDE Bruce Renwick, owner of CentrAle bottle shop in Newcastle Central Station joined 5,999 other cyclists for Etape Loch Ness, a 66-mile bike ride around Scotland’s deepest, most mysterious loch. A lifelong cyclists, he did it in aid of McMillan Cancer Support, and raised an amazing £1,240 – but he had worries over his fitness and weather-interrupted training schedule.

“I wanted to be fit enough to get round but also fit enough to enjoy it,” says Bruce. “As it happens, the weather conditions were perfect and the roads were bone dry, although there was still snow on the hills.

“I did it in four hours and five minutes which I was absolutely over the moon with. I really enjoyed it – so much so I’m doing it next year.

I must have been better prepared than I thought, even allowing for stubbornness.

“I had one pint the night before, but I certainly made up for it on the Sunday night.”

READY FOR THE BESLER FLIGHT?

The Head of Steam Durham has reopened following a full refurbishment to update the site, in line with the new brand style for the group of pubs that includes recently-opened bars in Didsbury, Nottingham, Birmingham and Leicester.

The pub’s entrance has been opened up which has completely transformed the downstairs space which is now much more welcoming.

Since opening in 2009, the Durham pub has been hugely popular in the city centre, and now has a delicious new food menu – traditional British pub classics with a twist – to complement the already impressive selection of cask ales and craft beers from the UK, Belgium, US, and beyond. A selection of premium cocktails, wines, spirits and soft drinks complete the drinks range, with all menus available online via the

website, and the site a verified venue on Untappd (the beer check-in app).

The menu includes a Besler Flight, three light bites paired with three beers to complement the food options, plus selected dishes using beers on sale in the bar as ingredients – for example, the Full Head of Steam Burger made with Camerons Brewery Röad Crew beer.

MADE IN SMALL BATCHES FINEST

INGREDIENTS TRUE CASK CONDITIONED Delivered directly and through SIBA DDS in the north and by good wholesalers nationally.

hexhamshire.co.uk • 01434 606 577 Enjoy our beers, delicious home cooked food and a warm welcome at our cosy pub with real fire and beer garden – diptonmill.co.uk We are easy to find & only 2 miles south of Hexham.

Dipton Mill Road, Hexham NE46 1YA

4 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

NEWS

ALL FIRED UP FOR THE FUTURE

records, manufacturing and warehousing and distribution records of individual beer batch or gyle numbers, finings supply, shive and keystone materials and manufacturing and testing records, hop supply and storage, all ingredient batch numbers and quality control records.

“Then you take the horizontal lines – staff training records and Tough assessment: Alistair Lawrence, Firebrick Brewery recognised certificates for HACCP (Hazard Aware Critical Control Points) and Blaydon’s Firebrick Brewery has joined a food safety, formal taste training, right through to selected group of North East beer producers environmental factors that include pest control and in achieving one of the food and drink pH testing for caustic residue and microbiological industry’s top awards. Brewery owner Alistair Lawrence reports that they now rub shoulders control. Only then you have an in-depth, intense 360º audit process. with Hadrian Border and Tyne Bank in gaining “Some other craft breweries have opted the tough SALSA (Safe And Local Supplier instead for the Society of Independent Brewers Approval) audit certification.

(SIBA) audit process. Overall, it has got to be Alistair says: “SALSA is a very thorough the right direction for craft breweries to take, examination of the whole production system because a level of audit and impartial examination vertically and horizontally, say if you follow a is necessary to maintain standards and brewery vertical line from barley growing in the field to credibility in a competitive sector.” a pint of beer in a pub or bottle in a shop or If proof were needed of Firebrick’s quality of restaurant; and examine all the supply, storage and production, it’s in Little Belgium, its new Witbeir manufacturing processes in between.

“What it does is ensures the brewery examines which took first prize in the tricky wheat beer category of the recent Newcastle Beer Festival’s itself and creates a business geared up to deliver Battle of the Beers competition. Little Belgium is the best product possible as consistently as due to hit the brewing schedule again soon and possible, which is great news for the consumer. will be making an appearance in cans as well as “The ‘spine’ of the process ranges from on handpull this summer. grain storage and suppliers’ processes and

A GREAT NORTH LEAP FORWARD

Great North Eastern Brewing Co (GNEBC) has taken delivery of new bottling and canning machinery (above) – a significant investment in the Dunston, Gateshead, brewery that augers well for the future. Recent developments also include full kegging equipment, a refurbished taproom, outside entertainments and seating area with covered stage and tiki-style bar, and expansion into the next-door unit where a cold store, storage facilities and new offices are under construction on the massive site near the Metrocentre.

The bottling line from Carmichael Bottling in Edinburgh – quarter of a million pounds worth of computerised kit that can be controlled from anywhere in the world – can cope with filling up to 10,000 bottles a day which, together with the Scotia Welding & Fabricationbuilt state-of-the-art kegging facility, will allow GNEBC to offer highly competitive services to the North East brewing market and beyond.

All this and brewing, too!

First & Last Brewery Finely crafted ales from the heart of Northumberland

T 07757 286 357 E info@firstandlastbrewery.co.uk Facebook firstandlastbrewery Twitter fl_brewery www.firstandlastbrewery.co.uk www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 5

NEWS

CHARITY BEGINS NEXT DOOR

There’s no shortage of fine pubs to wind down in for people working in Newcastle city centre. Staff at estate agent Walton Robson, right next door to The Hotspur on Percy Street, know that very well, so where else were they to go to stage a charity pub quiz?

Walton Robinson have been fundraising for St Oswald’s for several years. The North Eastbased charity provides specialist hospice care to adults and children with life-limiting conditions.

Members of the team are also tackling The Great North Run in a bid to raise £1,500.

“We’ve organised a few other events to reach our target,” says marketing assistant Anna Smith. “These include bag-packing at a local supermarket, a World Cup sweepstake, raffles and a highly competitive office bake-off.

“But the Hotspur pub quiz on June 19, kindly hosted by our favourite post-work drinks spot,

is our biggest event.

Together we look forward to a great evening as well as hopefully smashing our target.”

The Hotspur is a terrific example of a town-centre pub; tidy, friendly and buzzing with animated chatter. A wall of pumplicps adds a dash of colour to traditional brick and timber surroundings lit naturally by deep picture windows. The pub frontage has changed little since it was built in 1901 as part of Newcastle Breweries’ development of the Haymarket Brewery site, although two side doors are now sealed up. Owner Stuart Douglas is a highly seasoned operator leisure trade and bought The Hotspur three years ago.

“We’ve restored it to a boozer with eight cask

and eight keg beers, good wine and spirits and homemade food in a chilled-out atmosphere,” says Stuart. “Our beers are all local – nowt flash but all with interesting flavours and characteristics such as Wylam Jakehead IPA, Jarl from Fyne Ales, Great North Eastern Brew Co Rivet Catcher and Timothy Taylor’s Landlord.”

Here’s a quiz question: What is a stuffed heron doing in a display case in the corner? *St Oswald’s Charity Quiz, The Hotspur, June 19: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/waltonrobinson-newcastle3 or text £5 to WRWR55.

COMING SOON... WWW.BYTHERIVERBREW.CO

6 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

NEWS

Old hands: Roger Protz, left, joins the vintage ale testers.

Photo: Ian Young

HISTORY LESSON AT VINTAGE RALLY Cheers reader Ian Young is a man with a passion for historic beers. Among his collection are two bottles of 1997 Golden Anniversary Newcastle Brown Ale. He mentioned this to Molson Coors dispense technician Brad Wight – a fellow vintage beer buff – who subsequently invited him to a tasting at Steam Machine Brewery in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

Ian writes: “Brad sources most of his beers from eBay and recently bought a bottle of 1975 Courage Russian Imperial Stout which he thought tasted fantastic so he posted it on Twitter.

"Renowned beer writer Roger Protz got in touch saying he also had a few vintage beers and they should meet up for a tasting.

“Nick Smith of Steam Machine is also a bit of a beer historian and offered to host the event where volunteer tasters included beer blogger Pat Woodward from Ohio who is a visiting professor at Durham University.

“Some dated from 1958 plus a few had no clue to their age but

could have been considerably older. We tasted more than 20 beers, the first being a bottleconditioned 1997 Worthington White Shield. Most of us found this to have a fruity flavour not unlike sherry and with a dry finish.

“A good few of the beers were produced for special occasions – Princess Anne’s wedding in 1981, for example; the Queen’s Silver Jubilee 1977 and the 1997 general election.

"Most of the beers had moved towards sherry-like flavours with the Marstons Silver Crown IPA (1977) clearly also tasting of marzipan.

“The oldest bottle opened was a pre-war Vaux Strong Ale and although we had high hopes, it turned out to be awful with a strange antiseptic character.”

Despite the excitement of the occasion, Ian was still not tempted to flip open his Golden Anniversary Brown Ale. “Although it was a great experience tasting the old beers, it’ll remain unopened until at least 2027.”

BEN & LAURA WELCOME YOU TO DURHAM’S NEW BOTTLE SHOP AND TAP ROOM OPENING TIMES: Weds & Thurs 2pm - 8pm Fri 2pm - 9pm, Saturday 12pm - 9pm, Sunday 12pm - 4pm

32 Marshall Terrace, Durham, DH1 2HX @TheHopKnocker

AND TALKING OF OLD AND RARE… A bottle of single malt whisky has sold for a record €1.1m (£813,000) at an auction in Hong Kong. The rare 1926 Macallan scotch was bought an hour after a similar vintage bottle changed hands for slightly less. The whisky bottles, described as “The Holy

Grail of Macallan”, had not been seen in public since they were last auctioned 30 years ago and were part of a 24-bottle batch produced for the distillery’s most prestigious customers. The bottles feature labels by pop artists Valerio Adami and Sir Peter Blake. www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 7

NEWS

BY THE RIVER WE BABBLE ON On a recent visit to Wylam Brewery, we find Adam Lyle, lead brewer from Northern Monk in Leeds, just completing his brewery’s contribution to the Northern Powerhouse collaboration. It’s number eight of eight beers to be revealed in a special box on June 22 for the opening of the Great Exhibition of the North, a summerlong celebration of the North of England’s pioneering spirit.

Brewing eight beers in collaboration with others on a single site has not been without its challenges, however.

Wylam Brewery brewer Lee Howarth says: “We’ve sent out three beers for canning and the rest are conditioning – five tanks taken up uses a lot of production space.”

As if this wasn’t a big enough project, Wylam directors Dave Stone and Rob Cameron have developed By The River Brew Co, a hugely ambitious HALF PAGE project thatHOS_DURHAM_MAKEOVER will transform Hillside Quays in Gateshead (under the Tyne

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Bridge) for the foreseeable future.

“By The River is not a Wylam project,” says Dave Stone. “It’s the next development in what Rob and I do together. We’re installing a 15-barrel brewery which will sell its beers mainly on site through a brewery tap and restaurant. It’s a creative container community that will last for four years – one of the legacies of the Great Exhibition and something to celebrate after the event.”

And, if you think that being able to track the delivery a pair of trainers from online store to warehouse to national depot to regional depot to courier to the instruction “if not in, place in blue bin” is clever technology, think on that the same rules apply with a full brew kit being shipped from the United States.

Dave Stone swivels his laptop around, homes in and homes in on a map of the world until eventually the ADVERT.pdf 1 25/04/2018 Atlantic Ocean appears like a13:56 maritime motorway with hundreds of ships

Powerhousers: Lee Howarth (Wylam), Adam Lyle (Northern Monk) and Chris Lee (Wylam) after the final brew

NEWS criss-crossing the vastness.

“See that one there,” he says, pointing to a ship-shaped symbol about a third of the way across.

“That’s ours with a full brewery on board.”

By this magazine’s print slot, the ship-shape will have reached Rotterdam ready for its final trunking to Gateshead.

By The River will also feature the Backyard Bike Shop relocated from the Ouseburn and Träkol restaurant with an open-fire kitchen producing fiercely seasonal nose-totail cooking using only British rare and heritage breeds. It’s basically bringing primitive outdoor cooking indoors.

The brewery taproom will have 20 keg lines; there’s a coffee shop and cocktail bar in the plan as well as a Hawker Market – pioneering street food traders and other market activities over weekends which will be a great base for local producers.

The By The River development is well under way. In the understatement of understatements, Dave Stone says: “We’ve been batting ideas about.”

ONE YEAR IN, LOTS TO DO The manager at one of Newcastle’s premier bars celebrates a year in the job this month. Gareth Frazer settled into the role at Fitzgerald’s on Grey Street very comfortably, having previously enjoyed a city-centre pub background and top-level retail experience.

He managed The Hotspur on Percy Street until 2014 then had two-and-a-half years in stocktaking before a brief stint as an assistant manager for Aldi where he thought the job would be more customerfacing than it actually was.

“You were far too busy to do too much of that,” says Gareth. “Anyway, I like working in the city centre and I’ve really been enjoying being back into it.”

Fitzgerald’s is a fine big pub that suits a variety of purposes with a fair spread of clientele – most of whom know their beer. Staff have an enviable reputation for friendliness.

“We’ve got the right balance of people,” says

Gareth. “We’ve got young and older ones and it’s not an easy job to do. The real ale was one of the things that attracted me; I was never a stranger to Fitz’s pubs, they’re synonymous with great beer. The local focus also appealed which I wanted to be part of.”

Five cask handpulls and five craft keg taps set the Fitzgerald’s standard with Anarchy Blonde Star and Hadrian Border Grainger Ale both permanent fixtures with the others on a rotating programme.

A Sunday folk music club is proving a good idea and Gareth has invited a quiz-master friend to bring his football quiz to the pub to celebrate the fifth anniversary of its founding. That could lead to special theme quizzes on a regular basis.

But for now, it’s one year in and full steam ahead.

Introducing the first of our gluten free beers – BEAMISH HALL BITTER a traditional Northern bitter with a hint of fruitiness

BREWERY The Stables Brewery, Beamish, Stanley DH9 0YB

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01207 233733

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www.beamish-hall.co.uk www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 9

NEWS

COMING UP

"Quality from field to glass"

Trade: 01661 886769 General Enquiries: 01661 886192

Coming Soon

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Please call to pre-order your cask!

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JULY 19-22 THE OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL Old Swan Hotel (“the home of crime”), Harrogate, North We’re covering an awful lot in our rip-snorting, upcoming July/August Yorkshire The world-class, award-winning publication – among which is a Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing look inside the new Hop Knocker bottle shop in Durham. Judging by Festival returns to the magnificent the reports we’ve been getting, it’s Old Swan Hotel this summer. hitting the spot in Gilesgate. We’ve Celebrating the very best in crime also been chatting with beer writer fiction, the festival is a firm date Stephen Beaumont about his new in the literary calendar and has achieved international acclaim for its book Will Travel For Beer: 101 programming, Remarkable organisation Journeys and Every Beer atmosphere.

Lover Should Join the Experience likes of – and with Denise Mina quotes like (The Long “I’ve had dried Drop), John cabbage and Grisham corned beef interviewed IPA in Ontario”

by Lee Child, avid crime reader it promises to be a rattling read.

Richard Osman, Nicci French, Val Then there’s the unbelievable McDermid and Don Winslow as they talent that’s turning up for the Old reveal who dunnit. Or leave us in Peculier Crime Writing Festival in suspense. Then there’s a set from Harrogate. T&R Theakston, the The Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers Val Masham, North Yorkshire, brewery McDermid, Doug Johnstone, Chris is sponsoring the event for the 15th Brookmyre, Luca Veste and Stuart consecutive year. Somehow, a dark, Neville as they murder Johnny Cash, strong, mysterious beer is just the Elvis, Talking Heads and Bruce perfect companion for a weekend of Springsteen. crime or an evening curled up on the Details: settee; crime book in hand, beer at harrogateinternationalfestivals. hand, and perhaps a dram at hand. com/crime-writing-festival/ Just don’t look round…

IN SHORT

Beer ticker extraordinaire Phil Hodgson has just managed to down his 23,000th different beer with a glass of Mariners Bitter Pale Ale at the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle, by the looks. The beer celebrates his other passion, South Shields FC. That’s an awful lot of beer – try saying “twenty three thousandth” after a couple.

Well done, though.

With waste plastics in the news and not going to go away, NicheSolutions tells us that they make no charge for the containers for brewery cleaning and hygiene aids such as Percid 5, Hypoquest, Causgleam, and many more.

They’ll even collect empties for free, 32 to a pallet, and recycle

them to make into traffic cones to keep the environmental impact to a minimum.

What’s more, the money made from recycling plastic containers is donated directly to the British Heart Foundation. So please remember to return all your empty containers – let’s move together to minimise the brewing industry’s carbon footprint and support Britain’s number one heart charity.

NEW FACES

OPEN FOR BUSINESS In aviation parlance, St Mary’s Inn in Stannington, Northumberland, has been in holding pattern for the past 12 months. The hugely popular pub with rooms and restaurant put up its shutters in May 2017 in response to an

adjacent housing development failing to progress as originally anticipated.

Happily, the situation has been resolved and St Mary’s Inn is once again fully operational. The 11-bedroomed pub, set in the former administration centre of

the now-demolished Stannington Hospital, is looking hale and handsome in the late spring sunshine. New general manager Robin Freer – a man with more experience of serving cask and craft keg beer than most in the region – leads a new team that includes head chef Chris Cheek, another highly experienced professional.

“We’ve commissioned Rigg & Furrow Brewery from Acklington to produce our exclusive St Mary’s Ale,” says Robin. “It’s a traditional English bitter using Challenger and Bramling Cross hops; a 3.8% beer that creates a nice balance of flavours between sweet and bitter.

“We also have Anarchy Brew Co Citra Star and Smoke Bomb on handpull from literally jut up the road, as well as Exile GlutenFree Ale and Maltsmith’s IPA on keg.”

For his part, Chris Cheek promises good, well prepared pub food – “what people want and what people like”. So, if you fancy a fish-finger sandwich with your

pint, you’re perfectly at home.

The renowned wire dog sculptures by Gary Tiplady have come out of semi-retirement, as have framed cartoons by former Times cartoonist David Haldane who lives locally, and proggy mats woven by a local craftswoman.

Original Norman Cornish paintings and drawings always create a talking point.

Live music in the lounge areas off the main bar creates a real pub atmosphere, while beer festivals could be in the plan for the outside grassed area.

Surrounded by mature trees and shrubbery, it’s definitely a country setting ripe for neighbouring families and visiting business people ready to unwind and as a base for tourists eager to explore Northumberland’s countryside and coast.

“But at the end of the day, St Mary’s is a pub,” says Robin Freer.

“A pub with bedrooms catering for everybody – child friendly and dog friendly, in an amazing location.”

In aviation parlance, this is going to fly.

www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 11

NEWS

Rich Rogerson and Dean Marriner of Brew Stories

WELCOME TO BREW STORIES!

Hello we’re Dean and Rich. We're two ordinary blokes who love beer so much we started Brew Stories, a video blog where we meet the people, and tell the stories behind, North East beer and brewing.

Over the last 18 months we've connected with loads of interesting folks across the region. Admittedly our first video efforts were a little shaky but we're getting better (slowly).

We’re currently filming a series of specials with the team at Cheers, and have spent some time in Berwick upon Tweed trying local hostelries and meeting the one-man brewing wizard that is Bear Claw.

In an upcoming episode, we go behind the scenes at the internationally renowned Brewlab to learn all about the science and business of brewing. We've also just spent an afternoon learning about the great things happening at Beamish Hall Brewery.

On top of all that, we are also discussing some collaborations and events designed to promote the wider artisan food and drinks sector - so watch out bakeries, distilleries, cheese-makers and chocolatiers... we may be visiting you soon too! It's a tough life.

Brew Stories is about sharing, community and bringing people together to promote what this part of the world has to offer because we believe our region has something to shout about. From great beer to fantastic breweries and a thriving craft culture it's a place full of creative, innovative and passionate people and we want to showcase their talents.

So if you think there's something we should be covering, please let us know.

We've got more exciting episodes in the pipeline, so look out for the monthly Cheers email bulletin and make sure you keep an eye on www.brew-stories.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to find out more. Just search for Brew Stories and you’ll find us. Cheers!

Email: the_chaps@brew-stories.com www.brew-stories.com 12 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

Relax: Arron Craggs enjoys an after-work pint

HOW DOES YOUR (BEER) GARDEN GROW? The latest venture at Beamish Hall Country House Hotel near Stanley in County Durham is an attractive garden centre which opened with a flourish in April. It’s a delightful site selling seasonal plants, eclectic garden furniture and witty garden art that would be the making of many a pub beer garden.

The present Beamish Hall was built in the mid-18th Century as a country house and is now grade-II listed.

It was originally built in 1268 as a present for the wedding of Isabella de la Leigh and Guiscard de Charron, so its current use as a premier wedding venue has a long history. Set in 24 acres of woodland and parkland and now a successful hotel, it’s owned and operated by the local Craggs family under the Best Western banner – plus it’s home to the highly popular Stables Brewery.

The garden centre forms part some new initiatives to refresh the Beamish Hall experience, such as a new Woodland Trail and an Alice In Wonderland feature with enormous wooden carvings. It’s a treasure trove of shrubs, trees, bedding plants, garden ornaments, tables, seating – benches and chairs in metal and wood – planters, arbours, objets d’art and hanging baskets.

It’s everything a pub would need, inside and out, to take advantage of (hopefully) a fine summer.

Arron Craggs, son of owner David Craggs, has taken time out from mowing the lawns to chat about the new venture. There’s a wedding later on in the day – the third one of the week – and he’s under a bit of pressure.

“Gardening is all I’ve ever done since I left school,” he says. “I love the outdoor work.

We had been talking for a while about converting one of the car parks into what you see now, although there’s still a lot more to do.

We opened in April after four weeks of intense preparation.

It’s already doing well and word will get around that we’ve got all this going on.

“We’ve got a good team here with people on work placements doing all sorts of work, plus volunteers. Peter Diehl from The Stables Brewery also helps out a couple of days a week and we’re interviewing for someone who knows more about the nursery garden side of things.”

Even after just a few weeks in business, Beamish Hall Garden Centre is thriving on imagination and freedom of spirit – just what you need at home or in a beer garden.

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BREWERY NEWS

BUILDING UP A FIRST

Soul funk singer Barry White wasn’t the inspiration for Northumberland’s newest brewery; it’s more down to earth than that.

First & Last didn’t spring from the lyrics, “You’re the first, the last, my everything”, but depending on which direction you’re approaching the attractive village of Elsdon where it’s based, it’s the first brewery in England – and the last going the other way.

First & Last is tucked into outbuildings at the Bird In Bush pub – currently being renovated in an ambitious programme which will reveal an absolute gem in Northumberland’s already impressive pub culture.

The brewery, owned by husband and wife team Sam and Red Kellie, produced its first beer in April, following 18 months of “cuckoo” brews at the likes of Twice Brewed Brewery, Allendale Brewery and Stu Brew, the Newcastle University

14 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

At last: Red and Sam Kellie, First & Last Brewery brewing facility that Red helped set up.

“It’s great to be finally brewing on our own site,” says Red. “The Bird In Bush buildings are late 1700s, grade II listed, and we’re in the Northumberland National Park in Redesdale which means you need planning permission for

absolutely everything. But we’ve been happy to jump through hoops.”

Both Red and Sam have come through the home-brew tradition, while she is also head brewer at Twice Brewed on the B6318 Military Road near Bardon Mill where she brews two

BREWERY NEWS and three times a week. Sam is a former science teacher who worked primarily with disengaged youths, but like so many in modern education, he felt disillusioned when it became less about the children and more about “the system”. He moved on to work for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award organisation.

He says: “We looked at different sites for the brewery, including other pubs and industrial units, all of which had their merits and their drawbacks.

An industrial unit has all the three-phase electrics and drainage built in, but when we talked to Steve Shaw and Katie Bland at the Bird In Bush and listened to their plans we knew this was the place.

“We all come from completely different backgrounds and they have been brilliant supporters.”

The Bird In Bush – when fully functioning in July – intends to capitalise on the burgeoning Northumberland visitor experience – as does First & Last. A state-of-the-art kitchen is being installed and three letting rooms plus a bunkhouse will cater for cyclists, walkers and local and foreign visitors.

Innovation and provenance lie at the root of First & Last’s mission and full use is made of locally-foraged ingredients – water avens roots, elderflowers, spruce and ground ivy.

A core stout forms the base of a series that contains either cocoa nibs, chocolate, chilli peppers, vanilla pods or cardamom, while the

straightforward – by comparison – Equinox Pale Ale (4.2% abv) and Reiver (4.2% abv) are beers with sublime aromas and flavours.

“We want to keep our beers interesting,” says Sam. “Basically, beer is a science experiment you can drink. Northumberland and The Borders are our main targets, though not all pubs in these areas are used to the weird and wonderful range of beers you find in the likes of Newcastle.

“We like to experiment but we’re also in business and know what sells. And we’re really keen to put a Kölsch out this summer (pale golden Colognestyle beer) and we’re keen to produce a lager for RedeFest community cultural and music festival in August.”

Red admits her heart and soul are in porters and has recently produced an eight-malt expression at Twice Brewed. She says: “The brewing community in the North East is such a lovely family. Redesdale is where we live and work; it’s such a gorgeous landscape here which

feeds the creative aspect of the brewery. Anyway, without doubt there would have been brewing going on here at the Bird In Bush 200 years ago.”

The brewhouse itself was commissioned from Oban Ales in Scotland, a five-barrel plant that fits neatly into the stone-built space. A neighbouring farmer takes spent grain for his Belted Galloways and a fruit and vegetable producer collects hops to use as a mulch and for composting.

Sam and Red have also been working closely with the Environment Agency on sustainability issues – for instance, water used for cleaning and contains chemicals is held in a tank and treated before it goes into the main sewage system.

“We’re not a nine-tillfive business, this is a real passion and we’re not out to make millions,” says Sam, his mind already doing a slight rewind. “Don’t get me wrong on that, it would be nice. Our brewery and our beer are from Northumberland for Northumberland.”

It’s their everything.

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BREWERY NEWS

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Gripping: Matthew Frankland takes a wrench to the job

LENDING A HAND

The distractions in reviewing pubs and breweries are fairly obvious. Beer, beer and more beer; it’s a wonder any work gets done. Seriously though, you have to be unbelievably strict on

yourself or you’d never produce a magazine like Cheers.

But, when editor Alastair Gilmour and photographer Peter Skelton set out to visit The Three Horseshoes in Leamside, near

Not all corporate events are boring Plus, you get to enjoy a beer on work time!

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BREWERY NEWS Durham, they ended up reviewing the brewery behind the pub instead. This was down to two things – the attractiveness of the 2.5-barrel capacity brewhouse itself, and its engagingly talkative head brewer Matthew Frankland.

The Working Hand Brewery started life in 2012 as Leamside Brewery, named after the small County Durham village, and operated happily for several years under the ownership of pub operator Darryl Frankland. Then, one time when Darryl came back from holiday, he found that his son Matthew had changed the name of the brewery, had dropped the old favourite beers and had devised new recipes. He had been helping out in the brewhouse and was obviously champing at the bit – something of a coded message that said: “I can do this if only you’d let me”.

Matthew says: “After not talking to me for a couple of hours I heard him telling someone about the changes, so I guessed it was all OK. “We brew four core beers and a few specials, brewing four times a week. I get a hand from Ross Bainbridge getting eight casks

The

out of each brew – any more than that and I’d probably be not too happy with the quality. You have to feel comfortable with what goes into the fermenter and when you’re selling beer to somebody you have to give them a chance; mistakes can be expensive.

“We let people come in and brew for the day – doing everything under supervision.

It’s very handson and simply watching would be very boring. Brewing is a simple process made difficult.”

There’s a story behind every Working Hand beer – for example More Choke Jackie comes from an oft-told tale about teaching someone to drive who hadn’t even got a licence. Then there’s Dr Kelly’s Sick Note, a blonde

session ale; Lucky Crown Bitter and Angry Baby IPA, all with references to The Three Horseshoes bar-room banter often referred to as the five o’clock club; rich in humour, insight and depth of character.

“We made a Black IPA which was amazing and went so well you’d think it had evaporated,” says Matthew.

“But we’re still trying to find the right balance. People are so much more interested in where their beer is coming from, where it’s made and what’s in it.

“We also try and keep prices down, particularly for micropubs. People have put so much effort into them – it’s someone’s dream.”

Matthew uses a large kitchen ladle instead of a conventional sparging arm to spray hot liquor onto the top of the grains to flush out the last of the fermentables. It does the job admirably, but there’s reasoning behind it.

He says: “I really love doing that part of the job, it’s a good way to spend ten minutes thinking about what you want to do with your life.”

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ADVERTISING PROMOTION

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hompson Contracts has specialised in bar fitting and pub refurbishment for over 28 years and has expansive onsite facilities and services which harness everything you need to breathe new life into your existing interiors.

Spread out over two units on the Cold Hesledon industrial estate just outside of Seaham, TCL’s experienced polishers are busy working on some new display units for a pub which is currently being refurbished, but Director Alan Robson assures us that TCL works on projects of all descriptions, including for pubs which require a sparkle and not necessarily a full refurb.

“Our polishers have a wealth of experience in all types of finishes. From new made-to-measure items to respraying existing loose furniture, we can offer a painted or polished finish no matter the style. Couple this with our on site upholstery service, we can make existing furniture as good as new.

“You can visit our onsite showroom, which is filled with a huge selection of contract quality fabrics from the likes of Harlequin, Sunbury, Clarke & Clarke, Romo, Sanderson and Isle Mill. From reupholstering your existing fixed and loose seating to building new, we can do it all. We can either bring your items back to our factory or we can, in some cases, work onsite overnight, or we can loan out replacement furniture while yours is away,” adds TCL Managing Director Alan Robson.

On a budget? TCL has lots of remnant fabrics and used furniture of all shapes and sizes, which can be sold as seen or can be refurbished for you. From chairs, stools and tables to feature mirrors and bric a brac, TCL has a huge selection which is really worth seeing if you are wanting to make some changes, regardless of your budget.

Along with the polishing and upholstery service, TCL also has a flooring division, supplying and fitting all types of contract flooring including carpets, Karndean, durable vinyls, solid timber flooring to all aspects of tiling.

CONTRACT FURNISHING TCL sources and produces quality indoor and outdoor furniture, both loose and fixed. TCL’s skilled craftsmen and product sourcing specialists manage all furnishing needs, while bespoke joinery is delivered by experienced craftsmen at TCL’s Seaham factories. Specialising in bar tops, fronts and back fittings, the firm’s designs incorporate a range of bespoke materials including wood, mirror, marble, glass, acrylic and granite.

TCL’s in-house upholstery division is also on hand to reupholster existing seating and provide curtains and other soft furnishings.  Bar Fitting  Project Management  Contract Interior Design  Contract Furniture  Upholstery Division  French Polishing Shop  Contract Flooring Division  External Works  Maintenance Service

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ADVERTISING PROMOTION

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ICELAND

SWEDEN RUSSIA DENMARK

ENGLAND FRANCE PORTUGAL

POLAND BELGIUM GERMANY

SWITZERLAND SERBIA CROATIA SPAIN TUNISIA

MOROCCO EGYPT

MEXICO

FIFA WORLD CUP 2018

SAUDI ARABIA SENEGAL

COSTA RICA

PANAMA

NIGERIA

COLOMBIA

PERU

BRAZIL

AUS URUGUAY ARGENTINA

GROUP A Russia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Uruguay Russia vs Saudi Arabia - T hurs 14 June 4pm - ITV Egypt vs Uruguay - Fri 15 June 1pm - BBC Russia vs Egypt - Tues 19 June 7pm - BBC Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia - W ed 20 June 4pm - BBC Uruguay vs Russia - Mon 25 June 3pm - ITV Saudi Arabia vs Egypt - Mon 25 June 3pm - ITV

WORLD SUP Beers to savour and set the mood from seven of the World Cup finalists chosen by Adrian Tierney-Jones

The football jamboree that is the World Cup finals is upon us. Four weeks of 65 matches taking place between June 14 and July 15 in 14 venues across Russia.

Our pubs are showing matches, hosting events and producing food from any one of the 32 participating nations, so it’s an opportunity to pick a team – if you’re not English – and follow their fortunes. And what better way to do that than with an appropriate beer at hand? Cheers invited awardwinning beer journalist Adrian Tierney-Jones, the current British Guild of Beer Writers’ writer of the year, to pick a few world sups.

20 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

SOU

IRAN

GROUP B Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Iran Morocco vs Iran - Fri 15 June 4pm - ITV Portugal vs Spain - Fri 15 June 7pm - BBC Portugal vs Morocco - Wed 20 June 1pm - BBC Iran vs Spain - Wed 20 June 7pm - ITV Spain vs Morocco - Mon 25 June 7pm- BBC Iran vs Portugal - Mon 25 June 7pm - BBC

Adrian says: “Are you in the mood for a beer? Of course you are. But what kind of mood are you in and what kind of mood is the beer in that you fancy drinking?

Will there be a row when the two of you meet, or will you get on famously and stay together for the next three glasses or so?

That’s the kind of mood I got myself into when writing and thinking about my latest book, The Seven Moods of Craft Beer (I didn’t really want to use the word ‘craft’ in but you know publishers and all that). When I thought about the mood of a beer, I liked to try and guess what the beer in the glass was saying to me. Then I thought about the kind of conversation I was having with the beer in my hand. What was this beer saying to me, what was I saying back to it? How did the two of us feel when brought together?

Or is this all a bit too fanciful, a conceit conjured after a few too many? Here are six beers from World Cup finals nations – so see if they match your mood (especially when England lose on penalties).

GROUP C France, Australia, Peru, Denmark France vs Australia - Sat 16 June 11am - BBC Peru vs Denmark - Sat 16 June 5pm - BBC Denmark vs Australia - Thurs 21 June 1pm - ITV France vs Peru - Thurs 21 June 4pm - ITV Denmark vs France - Tues 26 June 3pm - ITV Australia vs Peru - Tues 26 June 3pm - ITV

COUNTRY: SPAIN MOOD: SOCIAL Dougall’s 942 American Pale Ale (4.2% abv) This zesty, chatty APA is bright and colourful in the surge of hop and fruit aromatics that emerge from the glass; a beer made for friends gathering in a beer garden, eager to spend time together. Brewed in the heart of rural Cantabria in northern Spain this is a beer that reflects the sunny, social side of life out there.

COUNTRY: FRANCE MOOD: ADVENTUROUS Brasserie du Grand Porter Gourmande Porter (5.9% abv) There’s a glorious sense of adventure and ambition behind the story to the way Brasserie du Grand Paris’ founder Anthony Baraff moved from the US with his French wife who was starting work in Paris. He wanted beers like he drank at home, so began brewing them himself, including this silky smooth porter which is rich in coffee and chocolate flavours.

A C A N N Ic

WORLD CUP

UTH KOREA

GROUP E Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Serbia Costa Rica vs Serbia - Sun 17 June 1pm - ITV Brazil vs Switzerland - Sun 17 June 7pm - ITV Brazil vs Costa Rica - Fri 22 June 1pm - ITV Serbia vs Switzerland - Fri 22 June 7pm - BBC Serbia vs Brazil - Wed 27 June 7pm - ITV Switzerland vs Costa Rica - Wed 27 June 7pm - ITV JAPAN

GROUP F Germany, Mexico, Sweden, South Korea Germany vs Mexico - Sun 17 June 4pm - BBC Sweden vs South Korea - Mon 18 June 1pm - ITV South Korea vs Mexico - Sat 23 June 4pm - ITV Germany v Sweden - Sat 23 June 7pm - ITV South Korea vs Germany - Wed 27 June 3pm - BBC Mexico vs Sweden - Wed 27 June 3pm - BBC GROUP G Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, ENGLAND Belgium vs Panama - Mon 18 June 4pm - BBC Tunisia vs ENGLAND - Mon 18 June 7pm - BBC Belgium vs Tunisia - Sat 23 June 1pm - BBC ENGLAND vs Panama - Sun 24 June 1pm - BBC ENGLAND vs Belgium - Thurs 28 June 7pm - ITV Panama vs Tunisia - Thurs 28 June 7pm - ITV

STRALIA

GROUP D Argentina, Iceland, Croatia, Nigeria Argentina vs Iceland - Sat 16 June 2pm - ITV Croatia vs Nigeria - Sat 16 June 8pm - ITV Argentina vs Croatia - Thurs 21 June 7pm - BBC Nigeria vs Iceland - Fri 22 June 4pm - BBC Nigeria vs Argentina - Tues 26 June 7pm - BBC celand vs Croatia - Tues 26 June 7pm - BBC

GROUP H Poland, Senegal, Colombia, Japan Colombia vs Japan - Tues 19 June 1pm - BBC Poland vs Senegal - Tues 19 June 4pm - ITV Japan vs Senegal - Sun 24 June 4pm - BBC Poland vs Colombia - Sun 24 June 7pm - ITV Japan vs Poland - Thurs 28 June 3pm - BBC Senegal vs Colombia - Thurs 28 June 3pm - BBC

COUNTRY: ENGLAND MOOD: GASTRONOMIC Burning Sky Monolith Wood-Aged dark beer (8.0% abv) A remarkably calm beer that has held its own amongst the disorder and disorientation of ageing within a barrel that once held red wine. Complexity is its name in the glass with toffee, treacle, smoke, cherry and a woodiness on the nose and then a mouthful of vanilla, chocolate, cherries, liquorice and a stroke of creaminess before heading for a dry, bitter finish.

Beef bourguignon please!

COUNTRY: AUSTRALIA MOOD: BUCOLIC La Sirène Flemish-Style Farmhouse Red Ale (6.0% abv) Melbourne might not be that bucolic, but envelope yourself with this gorgeous Flemish-style red ale that is influenced by the rustic brewing traditions of northern France and Belgium.

You are now in the countryside. A

ROUND OF 16 Group C winner vs Group D runner-up - Sat 30 June 3pm (M50) Group A winner vs Group B runner-up - Sat 30 June 7pm (M49) Group B winner vs Group A runner-up - Sun 1 July 3pm (M51) Group D winner vs Group C runner-up - Sun 1 July 7pm (M52) Group E winner vs Group F runner-up - Mon 2 July 3pm (M53) Group G winner vs Group H runner-up - Mon 2 July 7pm (M54) Group F winner vs Group E runner-up - Tues 3 July 3pm (M55) Group H winner vs Group G runner-up - Tues 3 July 7pm (M56) QUARTER-FINALS Winner M49 vs Winner M50 - Fri 6 July 3pm (M57) Winner M53 vs Winner M54 - Fri 6 July 7pm (M58) Winner M55 vs Winner M56 - Sat 7 July 3pm (M60) Winner M51 vs Winner M52 - Sat 7 July 7pm (M59) SEMI-FINALS Winner M57 vs Winner M58 - Tues 10 July 7pm (M61) Winner M59 vs Winner M60 - Wed 11 July 7pm (M62) THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF Loser M61 vs Loser M62 - Sat 14 July 3pm FINAL Sunday 15 July 4pm

ripe plummy fruitiness alongside the delicate waft of rose dominates the aroma, while sip after sip reveals layers of tartness, creaminess, vinosity, a hint of toasty caramel, more stone fruit (cherry, plum) before it finishes dry and appetising.

COUNTRY: GERMANY MOOD: POETIC Schönramer Saphir Bock (8.0% abv) This Heller Bock gleams gold in the glass, as gold as a ring of which sagas are sung.

One single hop variety, Saphir, leads the way to an eloquent poem of a beer with soft lemon and honey notes on the nose followed by a herbal, citrus-sweet, zingy and honeyed character that makes this strong beer all the more drinkable.

COUNTRY: BRAZIL MOOD: CONTEMPLATIVE Wäls Petroleum Imperial Stout (12% abv) Contemplation is all within the breadth and scope

*All kick-off times BST

of this imperial stout, that was first brewed in 2010. Time is needed to evaluate its sweet nose that’s reminiscent of Yorkshire Parkin (with a hint of ginger), treacle toffee and a hop-influenced pungency. Then give yourself more time to contemplate the sweet mocha-like notes on the palate with a citrusy fruitiness in the background.

COUNTRY: ICELAND MOOD: IMAGINATIVE Viking Gylltur (Viking Gold) 5.6% abv This isn’t one of Adrian Tierney-Jones’ Seven Moods picks – although an Icelandic classic it’s perhaps too “ordinary” – but we’ve included it to celebrate the imagination of one hopeful North East punter who stands to win £25,000 if Iceland win the World Cup. Beer blog Wake Up Reykjavik reckons: “Viking Gylltur will not change your life but it is a quality beer that has for a good reason been the most popular beer in Iceland since 1989!”

Twenty-five grand might change a life, though. *The Seven Moods of Craft Beer by Adrian Tierney-Jones (published by 8Books, £12.99) www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 21

WORLD CUP

HÁ QUANTO TEMPO NÃO NOS VEMOS!

Or ‘long time no see!’ No wonder football is called The Beautiful Game. We catch up with our June 2014 World Cup cover girl

foothold in her chosen profession.

She offers an insight into the Brazilian economy and offers her opinion on Brazil’s chances of winning the 2018 World Cup, plus she has fond memories – despite the weather – of her life in Newcastle.

Tainá says: “Brazil is going

Tainá Vieira was studying engineering at Newcastle University at the time of the last World Cup – held in Brazil, her native country. She returned home for work experience as part of her degree, but like many a student before – and no doubt after – she is finding it difficult to gain a

PORTING ACTION ON THE BIG BUS SCREEN

JUNE 14 - JULY 15 IN SUNDERLAND CITY CENTRE LIVE TENNIS

FORMULA ONE

LIVE FOOTBALL FROM RUSSIA

sunderlandexperience/

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HORSE RACING

sunderland_experience/

WORLD CUP

Tainá Vieira and Naiara Climas Pereira pictured in The Hotspur, Newcastle. Shirt from a range at www.toffs.com through a deep crises and specially this week we are witnessing many strikes that made fuel prices increase 300%, and making food increase in price as well. Supermarkets are limiting consumers to buy just five itens per person – it is really, really chaotic, like an ‘end of the world’ zombie movie.

“I always remember Newcastle as cold and windy because it’s

impossible not to remember! I’m really not missing the cold, but I also remember it as a safe and calm city; its cute houses, many trees and lovely gardens. I miss breathing its clean air, walking from Northumberland Street to Henderson Hall (student accommodation) – I used to love the trees in Henderson.

“Another thing I really miss is the bus. I’m jealous about the

empty, electric, punctual buses. I always remember how nice was to be part of Cheers magazine in the 2014 World Cup issue; thanks again for that. I think Naiara will never forget this as well. (Tainá’s friend and compatriot Naiara Climas Pereira accompanied her on the photoshoot at The Hotspur in Newcastle.)

“I graduated about one year ago, and yet I couldn’t get a job in

my area. Things are difficult here now, but I still hope to get a job as an engineer some day – maybe when economy gets a little better.

I now have an Instagram store where I made some hair flower arrangements, among other handmade accessories, and sell some clothes. I am also studying to take a test for working in a bank. Many disconnected things, right?

“Now about football. You know, I’m not really a specialist, but in my opinion I don’t think that the fact that the players play well with their clubs that makes them play well together (for Brazil). It is a matter of luck. Starting them training together only one month before the competition starts is not enough.

“But yes, I will support them – I don’t think I have an option! The whole country stops on match days and everybody will be watching, though my guess is that they won’t win this year… in my mind, Germany and France are always good hints.

“Thanks one more time for the opportunity. Cheers!”

COME ALONG TO WATCH THE WORLD CUP 2018 & ENJOY OUR MATCH DAY SPECIALS THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT New luxury bar for private hire 6 Real Ales always on tap. FOOD SERVED DAILY Full English served from 6am Monday - Friday in C C Hudsons

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Grand Central Station, Neville St, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 5DG www.centurion-newcastle.com www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 23

WORLD CUP

BEER UNITES NATIONS Regular readers understand well, Cheers is no stranger to promoting beer, pubs and breweries with Russian connections. We do the same with other countries, notably the Czech Republic, as it’s our way of saying there’s a whole world of lovely stuff out there.

But for four weeks over June and July, the focus is on Russia and the 2018 World Cup Finals. For instance, Tyne Bank Brewery has produced a beer called Stalin’s Cow which was voted Canniest Beer by the recent Camra Newcastle Beer & Cider Festival. Stalin’s Cow (10% abv), an imperial chocolate milkshake stout, is intensely chocolatey and malty with accents of dried fruit and a smooth, sweet warmth.

Morpeth-based Anarchy Brew Co has begun supplying a bar in Moscow – appropriately called Anarchy. It is part of Squat ¾, an amazing 19th Century building

situated near the Bolshoi Theatre which was originally a Turkish Baths and is now a nightclub. Anarchy brewer Les Stoker also brewed a beer in collaboration with Gletcher Brewery situated about 70km from Moscow which has a great reputation in Russia for its quality. A return “leg” scheduled for later this year.

Another North East-Moscow connection is Bobby Dazzler, the premium golden ale brewed by The Stables Brewery at Beamish Hall in County Durham. The owners of Bobby Dazzler sports bar in Moscow came across it on the internet and were so intrigued that they visited The Stables in 2014, followed by a Stables crew reciprocal visit three years ago.

Bobby Dazzler is a real bobby dazzler – a brilliant corner pub in a desirable city suburb that oozes ambience and friendliness. Its

PROUD TO SUPPORT ALL OUR LOCAL NORTH EAST BREWERIES WITH THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF LOCAL BEERS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE.

owners and clientele are dedicated to Manchester United and all things British – including beer, such as London Pride, Spitfire and Bishop’s Finger. Sure, there’s a corner featuring Best and Charlton and Giggs and Scholes and red and white, but sports bar or not, Bobby Dazzler is a revelation.

The food is faultless and the beer is served as well as the brewer intended with prices on a par with what we pay in the North East.

Bobby Dazzler head chef Adolf Becker sums it all up: “I want quality; quantity I don’t need; quantity is expensive.” www.bobbydazzler.ru

WORLD CUP 2018 SPECIAL JOIN US FROM KICK-OFF AND CELEBRATE LOCAL BEERS WITH PRIZES THROUGHOUT THE TOURNAMENT WE WILL BE HOSTING WEEKLY COMPETITIONS MATCHING THE COMPETITIONS 32 TEAMS WITH 32 BEERS. PURCHASE ANY OF THE 32 BEERS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH AND YOU WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE ENTERED INTO A COMPETITION.

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24 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

WEEK 1 PREDICT THE CORRECT SCORE FOR ENGLAND’S OPENING MATCH AGAINST TUNISIA AND BE IN WITH THE CHANCE OF WINNING A BAG OF GOODIES PURCHASE A MATCHING ‘TEAM BEER’ ON MATCHDAY AND RECEIVE 10% DISCOUNT ACROSS THE PRODUCTS IN STORE.

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SUMMER EVENTS ONGOING FOOD! FRIDAYS Tyne Bank Brewery, Walker Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2AB Every Friday night there’s a Newcastle-based street food vendor in residence at the brewery taproom. Keep an eye out on the Facebook page for details on who it will be. www.tynebankbrewery.co.uk LAST WEEKEND OF EVERY MONTH BREWERY TAP OPENING McColl’s Brewery, Unit 4 Randolph Industrial Estate, Evenwood, Bishop Auckland DL14 9SJ Beer shop and brewery tours – and of course, a pint or two. Fridays 3pm-7pm, Saturdays 12noon-5pm Details: mccollsbrewery.co.uk

SUMMER TIME AND THE LIVIN’ IS EASY A selection of festivals, fun, food, music, arty and beery things to celebrate sunny days

26 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

JUNE 8 THE WEDDING PRESENT O2 Academy, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SW The Wedding Present are playing a series of gigs in 2018 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the release of their first singles collection ‘Tommy’, a compilation which gathers the band’s first four singles and accompanying B-sides and adds selected tracks from two early BBC Radio 1 sessions. An overview of the band’s frenetic output before the debut album, George Best, it’s not only a definitive look at their early years,

SUMMER EVENTS innovative and influential bands of all time, PiL’s music and vision earned them five UK Top 20 singles and five UK Top 20 albums. With a shifting line-up and unique sound, John Lydon reactivated PiL in 2009 after a 17-year hiatus by taking them back on the road worldwide.

Details: ticketmaster.co.uk

Editorial credit: / Shutterstock.com but also one of the great albums of its time and genre.

With fans including the late, great John Peel, the Wedding Present are a truly influential band and this eradefining record live will be a quite a live show for fans of the band and the uninitiated.

Details: ticketmaster.co.uk JUNE 10 DOUG STANHOPE O2 Academy, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SW US stand-up comedian Doug Stanhope is renowned for his live show, as a two-time winner of Time Out New York’s Best Comedy Performance of the Year award and selected by both Variety and the Hollywood Reporter as one of the Top Ten Comics To Watch. His debut at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe saw him win the Strathmore Press Award for Best Act of the Fringe. Doug has been drunkenly stumbling down the back roads and dark alleys of stand-up comedy for

over a quarter of a century - roads laden with dank bars, prostitutes, cheap drugs, farm animals, evil dwarfs, public nudity, menacing third-world police, psychotic breaks, sex offenders, and some understandable suicides. He is vulgar, opinionated, brutally honest, shockingly uninhibited.

Details: ticketmaster.co.uk JUNE 12 PUBLIC IMAGE LIMITED O2 Academy, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SW Public Image Limited invite you to celebrate their 40th anniversary with them on The Public Image is Rotten 2018 Tour. This tour is accompanied by the release of a career-spanning box set and a documentary of the same name – a must for all PiL fans. The band’s last tour in 2016 saw the band fronted by John Lydon play some of the best performances ever and this one is set to continue their rise.

Widely regarded as one of the most

JUNE 14-16 TYNEDALE BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL Tynedale Rugby Club, Corbridge, Northumberland Organised by Tynedale Lions and Tynedale Rugby Club, this year’s festival is bigger and better than any before – 124 beers and 30 ciders over three days in a massive marquee in the middle of a grassy field in beautiful Northumberland. What more do you want? Wine, Pimms and gin bar, street food vendors and a whole host of entertainers including live bands. Tickets from £8 includes souvenir festival glass and programme. Saturday is family day from noon till 5pm, so children are welcome. Camping on site.

Details: tynedalebeerfestival. org.uk FROM JUNE 18 WORLD CUP 2018 SCREENINGS O2 Academy Newcastle Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1SW Can’t make it to Russia? Well, O2 Academy Newcastle will be screening England’s World Cup

2018 games on the biggest multiple screens in the city. Get together with over 1,500 fans to cheer on the highs and commiserate the lows.

Soak up the atmosphere as you drink to the Three Lions and chant along with the crowd. Kicking off on Monday June 18 at 7.00pm with England’s first group game against Tunisia. Harry and the boys take on Panama in their second group game on Sunday June 24 with a 1pm kick-off, ideal for those who like an earlier start to their matchday. Why not take in some pre-match Sunday bait from one of Cheers nearby favourites, The Town Wall? In what could be England’s final game of the tournament (surely not), we take on tournament dark horses Belgium on Thursday June 28 – kick off 7.00pm.

Facebook: facebook.com/ o2academynewcastle Over 18s only JUNE 14-JULY 31 EUROPEAN BEER FESTIVAL 15 Head of Steam bars across the UK The Head of Steam proudly launch the European Beer Festival. From June 14 until the end of July, all 15 Head of Steam bars across the UK will feature a great range of beers from breweries previously not seen in the UK. These include White Frontier from Switzerland, Puhaste (Estonia), Maryensztadt (Poland), Widawa (Poland), Braukraft (Germany), Vandestreek (Holland), and Maldita (Portugal) Check out the Facebook event

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SUMMER EVENTS JUNE 14-JULY 15 GLOBAL BURGER COMPETITION 2018 The Central, Half Moon Lane, Gateshead NE8 2AN The Central, Gateshead, is set to stage a Global Burger Competition.

Throughout the World Cup football tournament, as the teams are eliminated, so are the burgers. Be the first to eat all 32 burgers and win the Global Burger Competition trophy (so make sure you scoff them tactically).

The menu offers great vegetarian and vegan options too, and food is served Monday to Saturday 12noon-8pm, and Sunday from 12noon- 5pm. Updates and more info on the Central Facebook events page. www.facebook.com/central. gateshead JUNE 15-16 THE LAFFALANG GANG Westovian Theatre, South Shields NE33 2JS Laugh while the Laffalang Gang, arguably the region’s most successful and funniest comedy

sketch troupe (The Stand, Sunday For Sammy). Comedy legend Bob Stott and other top comedians in two hours of hilarious sketches and rib-tickling songs in a campaign against NHS cuts. Written by Ed Waugh and directed by Gary Hunter. Suitable for ages 14 to 114. All profits from this glorious show go to Save South Tyneside Hospital Campaign. Say no to NHS privatisation – free healthcare is not a privilege.

Tickets £13 via The Word, Market Place, South Shields, 0191 424 7788 or www.westovians.co.uk UNTIL JUNE 16 FINE ART DEGREE SHOW Newcastle University Fine Art Department, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle NE1 7RU See what future artistic talent there is in the region. London show (Copeland Park, Peckham SE15 3SN) June 29-July 3. www.newcastledegreeshow.com JUNE 16 NEWCASTLE VINYL RECORD FAIR

Gosforth

BEER Festival 2018

fri 3 august sat 4 august sun 5 august 4pm - Midnight 12pm - Midnight

12pm - 8pm

GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE Free Entry Live Bands Street Food

Beer Music Scream m e at: s ta c k for P i z z a Food FI K A

beavertownnorthernalchemyalmasty magicrocknorthbrewingcoboxsocial cloudwaterkernelwylamandmanymore NARC STAGE ROB HERON & BEHOLDAPALEHORSE T W I S T THE TEAPAD PHIL DAVIDS & the H E L I X ORCHESTRA GOOD TIMEs BAND

c u b a n o s

gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk @gocivtheatre

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HAWKSHEAD BREWERY, MILL YARD, STAVELEY

FROM PROGRESSIVE WWW.HAWKSHEADBREWERY.CO.UK

SUMMER EVENTS JUNE 17 FATHERS’ DAY FUN Beamish Hall Country House Hotel, Beamish, County Durham DH9 0YB From 12noon, barbecue, bouncy castle, coconut shy, craft centre, fairground rides, penalty shot-out (go on, beat dad), egg-and-spoon and sack races, treasure hunt, The Stables brewery tours (go on, lose Dad) and much, much more. Admission £4, info 01207 233733.

Student Union, Northumbria University, Sandyford Road, Newcastle NE1 8SB New and used vinyl, CDs, DVDs, posters, rarities, autographs – buy, sell, exchange. 10am-4pm (£2).

Stalls and enquiries (text only please) 07720 308 277.

A seasonal showcase of summery food goodness. Full line-up of traders to be announced over the next few weeks (there are still a few stall spots left so drop Tyne Bank a message if you’re an independent trader with an awesome product).

Weather permitting, the organisers will make the most of the (newly built) beer garden) with street food JUNE 16 outside. 12noon-8pm, free entry.

SUMMER FOOD MARKET // Child and dog friendly.

SUMMER Details: www.tynebankbrewery.

Tyne BankCheers_Half_Page.pdf Brewery, Walker Road, 1 23/05/2018 11:50 co.uk Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2AB

JUNE 17 FEATHERS FATHERS DAY Give him a present he’ll remember forever from a selection of courses and classes taught by professional chefs who are working or have worked in The Feathers kitchen at Hedley on the Hill, Stocksfield, Northumberland. All courses and classes are hands-on, designed to give you the skills and confidence to make the dishes at home. Speciality classes: For those who want to learn a new skill by a professional chef. They are designed for complete beginners in these fields

but will also be of benefit for those of intermediate cooking skills.

Details: thefeathers.net JUNE 21 EMPTY BOWLS Tyne Bank Brewery, Walker Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 2AB Tyne Bank Brewery hosts its first Empty Bowls evening bash at the brewery taproom. The fabulously talented North East Potters are donating 100 hand-made bowls and the amazing people behind Harissa restaurant in Newcastle are donating the food for this fundraiser to benefit local food charity Food Nation and food bank Hebburn Helps. The idea is that you buy a ticket for the amazing price of £20, you head along to the brewery with your Paypal receipt (paper or phone) and choose a bowl which you will then be served your meal in.

The the washed bowl is yours to take home. Not only do you get tasty vegetarian food and a lush handmade bowl but you also get to help food awareness charities in the North East with

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SUMMER EVENTS their sterling work – and enjoy beer brewed on the premises.

Details: www.tynebankbrewery. co.uk JUNE 22-SEPTEMBER 9 GREAT EXHIBITION OF THE NORTH A free, summer-long celebration of the North’s pioneering spirit and 2018’s biggest event across Newcastle and Gateshead.

A packed programme – too numerous to detail here – of amazing events, family-friendly activities, live performances, displays of innovation, new artworks and unforgettable experiences. The region’s creative story unfolds in 80 days – how our culture has shaped our present and inspires our future. Highlights include: Lauren Laverne’s Great Northern Soundtrack, Fifty Northern Icons, Multiverse Arcade and Life In A Northern Town – plus By The River Craft Crewery, micropub, cycle hub and cocktail bar at Hillhead Quays, Gateshead (under the Tyne Bridge).

Info: www.getnorth2018.com

JUNE 28 ANGEL VIEW RACES Angel of the North, Gateshead Join Low Fell Running Club for their annual Angel run to celebrate the iconic statue’s 20th anniversary.

1.5 mile Fun Run at 6pm, open to all, followed by (6.30pm) the Junior Race then the Senior Race at 7.15pm. Crafty activities, face painting and pop-up café.

Info: www.lowfellrunningclub. co.uk JUNE 28-JULY 2 GUIDE POST INTERNATIONAL BEER & CIDER FESTIVAL Guide Post, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0RN Ryhope’s Guide Post has long since been the hub of the local community, a real pub offering locals a home from home. This all-encompassing weekend of events certainly represents the pubs ethos. Kicking off, quite literally, with England’s huge World Cup group tie against Belgium on Thurs 28th , the festival runs into a weekend which will see seven real ales, four traditional ciders and a

The Woodman Inn, Durham variety of draught and bottled craft beers from around the world, plus live music, pool, poker and domino competitions and a blooming disco.

There’s a day for all of the family to enjoy too on Saturday June 30.

Facebook/theguidepostryhope JULY 19-22 OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL Old Swan Hotel (“the home of crime”), Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 2SR The world-class, award-winning Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival returns to the magnificent Old Swan Hotel. See further details on page 10. Details:

harrogateinternationalfestivals. com/crime-writing-festival/ JUNE 30-JULY 1 THE CRAW INN BEER FEST The Craw Inn, Auchencrow, Eyemouth, Berwickshire TD14 5LS Country inn in the beautiful Borders specialising in real ale, wine and good food. Voted best pub and bar in the Scottish Borders in the 2018 national pub awards and currently rated number one by Camra beer scores for Edinburgh and South East Scotland. More than 25 different beers from the likes of Tempest, Salopian, Fyne Ales, Bristol Beer Factory, Thornbridge, Tiny Rebel,

Lising Evidence

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL 19th-22nd July 2018 Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate #theakstonscrime W: theakstons.co.uk

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1789 THK Event guide Ad 128x190mm_v2.indd 1

Theakston Brewery

Theakston1827

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SUMMER EVENTS Fallen, Hawkshead, Beavertown, Cloudwater and Magic Rock. Hog roast, live music, free entry.

Details: thecrawinn.co.uk JULY 1-SEPTEMBER 2 PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE INFORMAL LECTURE SERIES Station House, North Road, Durham DH1 4SE Durham’s Station House has announced the first three dates and speakers for its informal lecture series, Public Knowledge.

David Erricks, Station House crime scene investigator, will kick off the series on July 1 when he will discuss forensics and 3D imaging.

All evenings will consist of around a 30-40 minute talk by an expert on a subject about which they are passionate, followed by a Q&A session in the comfortable surroundings of the pub. Evenings two and three will follow on the first Sunday of the month in the upstairs room and will cover Sea Hear: Using sound to map the sea floor, and Neuroscience: Attention, addiction and brain-zapping. www.stationhousedurham.co.uk

JULY 2, 9, 16, 23 BEGINNERS’ PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE The Staiths Café, Autumn Drive, Dunston, Gateshead NE8 2BZ A four-week course with Ian Weldon Photogaphy to set you on the path of shooting and taking control of your camera – all intended to make better pictures. An exhibition at The Staiths Gallery will take place later. 8pm-9.30pm, £120 per place.

Details: info@ianweldon.com JULY 7-8 THE OUSEBURN FESTIVAL Various venues around the Ouseburn, Newcastle The Ouseburn Festival is a family-friendly festival held every summer packed with weird and wonderful goings-on, including live music and comedy, food stalls, arts and craft fairs, and a huge range of fun stuff for kids to get involved in. As with any good festival you can expect street performers ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous. As well as taking over the streets, this two-day festival is spread across

JULY 12 COLLABATHON The Cumberland Arms, James Place Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle NE6 1LD Presented by the Cumberland Arms and Block & Bottle, one pub takeover featuring five breweries and four bottle shops as part of the Cumby’s summer beer festival (Thursday July 12-Sunday July 15).

Details (pub): 0191 265 6151.

JULY 14-17 WOODMAN INN BEER FESTIVAL The Woodman Inn, 23 Gilesgate Durham DH1 1QW The Third Annual Bangers and Beer Festival with a twist.

Alongside a great selection of more than 20 real ales and ciders from local breweries and a great selection of flavoured sausages, this year there will be cocktails galore. A fantastic Durham pub to visit in the sunshine with a mightily impressive beer garden – what more excuse do you need? info@woodmaninn.co.uk

JULY 13-15 NORTH EAST CHILLI FESTIVAL Meggie’s Burn Fields, Sea Front, Blyth, Northumberland This Festival by the Sea features live music from the likes of Smoove & Turrell and The Marley Experience, plus the infamous chillieating competition, street food, stand-up comedy, real ale bars, cabaret, producers’ market, kids zone and on-site camping.

Details: www.chillifest-ne.co.uk

JULY 19-21 SUMMER BEER FESTIVAL The Beer Hall, Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 9LR Hawkshead’s 13th 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

a number of venues, and is a wild and exuberant celebration of the Ouseburn Valley.

Details: ouseburnfestival.org.uk

THE

CourtyarD ANNUAL SUMMER BEER FESTIVAL THURS 23RD AUG - MON 27TH AUG

• Showcasing over 50 cask conditioned ales plus real cider and perry • Locally Sourced Food Available from our All New Menu • Live entertainment • Craft, Draft and Bottled Beers available

FREE ADMISSION Arts Centre Washington, Fatfield, Washington NE38 8AB T: (0191) 417 0445 E: info@thecourtyardbar.co.uk www.thecourtyardbar.co.uk www.facebook.com/thecourtyardwashington www.twitter.com/courtyardales

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SUMMER EVENTS 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 20-22 SUMMERTYNE AMERICANA FESTIVAL Sage, Gateshead Quays Some of the finest musicians get together across two free stages of sizzling music during SummerTyne Americana Festival. Those booked so far include Sam Gibson, Jinski, Portraits, Tom Blackwell, Strange Blue Dreams, Wandering Hearts, Mel Greggain and Georgie.

Details: www.sagegateshead. com JULY 21 BREWERY OPEN DAY Roosters Brewery, Grimbald Park, Wetherby Road, Knaresborough HG5 8LJ Celebrating 25 glorious years, an

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anniversary collaboration with Odell Brewing (Colorado), Oskar Blues (Colorado) and Camden Brewery from London. Project Beer Launch, brewery tours, hot food. The fun runs between 12noon and 5pm, followed by an after-party and tap-takeover at The Half Moon in Knaresborough with live music.

Details: www.roosters.co.uk JULY 26-29 BATTLESTEADS BEER FESTIVAL Battlesteads, Wark, Hexham, Northumberland NE48 3LS The Battlesteads Beer Festival is in its eighth year with its most well-stocked bar to date. The annual four-day festival hosted by Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant is a celebration of the best drinks the North East has to offer from ales, lagers and stouts to gins and ciders.

There is live entertainment every day, with local bands including The Mudskippers, The Culprits, Jason Arrup, and Marty Craggs and Trevor Sewell.

All proceeds will be donated to the Great North Air Ambulance – a

worthy charity Battlesteads is proud to support. Admission is free on Thursday (6pm-11pm) and Sunday (12noon until the beer runs out). On Friday and Saturday tickets are £4 (12noon-11pm). A free transport service from Hexham is also available on Friday and Saturday. www.battlesteads.com UNTIL JULY 28 JULIE COPE’S GRAND TOUR: THE STORY OF A LIFE BY GRAYSON PERRY Shipley Art Gallery, Prince Consort Road, Gateshead NE8 4JB This Craft Council touring exhibition by 2003 Turner Prize winner Grayson Perry is diptych of tapestries telling the story of Julie Cope, a fictitious Essex “everywoman” who was inspired by the people Perry grew up among. Julie’s story is told through Perry’s vibrant and detailed style representing the trials, tribulations, celebrations and mistakes of an average life. Free entry, TuesdayFriday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am5pm.

Details: shipleyartgallery.org.uk

JULY 31-AUGUST 5 CIDER WEEK Station House, Station House, North Rd, Durham DH1 4SE Durham’s Station House is hosting a special cider week with 10 ciders on tap alongside the excellent range of real ale. A stamp card will be in play for the week with the first 15 people to have a half-pint of each of the 10 ciders receiving a free Station House Ciderologist T-shirt. Any others to achieve the feat will be able to redeem a free pint. Follow the Station House on Facebook for the full list of ciders. www.stationhousedurham.co.uk AUGUST 3-4 REDEFEST Camien Café, Rochester, Otterburn, Northumberland (on the A68) NE19 1RH A non-profit, volunteer-run, community music festival. It is without doubt England’s most isolated festival, but it is well worth the effort to reach the last outpost before you cross Carter Bar on the high road into Scotland. This

SUMMER EVENTS Saturday’s NARC stage, plus family activities and even retro gaming.

Free entry.

Details: www. gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk 0191 284 3700

year celebrating its 12th year. The Redefest bar offers a selection or real ales from local breweries, plus cider, wine and soft drinks. Woodfired pizzas, fish and chip van and Thai food. The Camien Cafe will be open serving food throughout – hot dogs and crepes will also be available from the Crepe Van. Music, workshops and an awful lot more.

Details: redefest.org.uk

AUGUST 3-5 GOSFORTH BEER & FOOD FESTIVAL Civic Theatre, Regent Farm Road, Gosforth, Newcastle NE3 3HD A weekend of beer food and music with 30 taps of the best local, national and international keg and cask alongside food from Scream for Pizza, Meat Tack and Cubanos, with DJs and live bands, including

AUGUST 4 DURHAM BREWERY BIRTHDAY BEER BASH Durham Brewery, Bowburn North Industrial Estate, Bowburn, Co Durham DH6 5PF Celebrating its 24th anniversary on August 4 (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 and is 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 12 beers on cask and keg – some old favourites as well as new beers launched on the day. Food will be provided

by Newcastle’s gourmet burger specialists Meatstack and live

music will be hosted throughout the day. 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. Tickets are available now from the website or direct from the brewery. www.durhambrewery.com AUGUST 7-11 CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE GREAT BRITISH BEER FESTIVAL Olympia, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London W14 8UX The annual Camra extravaganza featuring all things real ale. Each hall will have bars serving some of the very best real ales, craft beer, ciders and perries available from some amazing breweries serving their great beers direct. Also wine, gin and coffee for those looking for a little break from beer.

Fantastic London street food and live music.

Details: www.gbbf.org.uk

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SUMMER EVENTS AUGUST 11-12 ASHBROOKE BEER FESTIVAL 2018 Ashbrooke Sports Club, West Lawn, Sunderland Sunderland’s favourite beer festival returns with even more to offer.

Alongside a fantastic selection of 30 real ales, ciders and perries, Ashbrooke will host its very own gin bar. Food will be provided by local suppliers. Tickets are £10 and includes three drinks and commemorative glass. The festival begins on Friday 11 from 4pm and Saturday’s session starts at 12noon.

AUGUST 23-27 THE COURTYARD BEER FESTIVAL The Courtyard, Biddick Lane, Fatfield, Washington NE38 8AB The 15th annual beer festival at Washington’s beautifully modern cafe/bar set in the delightful surroundings of Arts Centre Washington, features more than 50 cask conditioned real ales, perry and cider. There will be locally sourced food available from the café’s renowned menu, a smoky

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BBQ and a host of live music throughout the festival. Admission is free across the weekend. www.thecourtyardbar.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 26 HOOTENANNY & BEER FEST More than 30 guest beers and ciders plus gin and prosecco bar, Robinson’s Butchers, Napoli Woodfired Pizza, Moody Bood Bites. Live music. Tickets £15 (£12.50 before July 31) available from the rugby club and Alice House Hospice includes entry, four beer tokens, tasting notes and stack cup.

Hartlepool Rugby Club,

Think about it: Thinking Drinkers. See October 13 Mayfield Park, Easington Road, Hartlepool. Tel: 01429 266445.

AUGUST 31-SEPTEMBER 2 BERWICK FOOD AND BEER FESTIVAL The Barracks, The Parade, Berwick upon Tweed TD15 1DF Now in its eleventh 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 80 local food, food related and drink stalls, street food, children’s entertainment,

SUMMER EVENTS demonstration kitchen. Berwick Beer Festival features up to 10 local artisan brewers from Newcastle and Amble to Galashiels and Wallsend. www.berwickfoodandbeerfestival. co.uk SEPTEMBER 7-9 BAAFEST Brown Rigg, Bellingham, Northumberland NE48 2HR A superb weekend of live music, workshops, stalls, two real ale bars, food and festival camping in the glorious Northumberland National park. Now in its ninth year, it’s an opportunity to hear some of the best established folk, blues and acoustic acts alongside emerging talent across three stages. Come for the day, the weekend, or an extended stay (incl Thursday and Friday night concerts).

Tickets and info: www.baafest. co.uk 01434 220646.

OCTOBER 13 THE THINKING DRINKERS’ PUB CRAWL The Stand, High Bridge,

Newcastle NE1 1EW A hilarious new tour with Tom Sandham and Ben McFarland is an intoxicating bar-hop through history, from the symposiums of Ancient Greece to the classic British boozer via Wild West saloons, Victorian gin palaces and the secret speakeasy.

You’ll learn a lot, you’ll laugh a lot and you get five free drinks.

Tel: 0844 693 3336.

OCTOBER 18-20 CRAFT BEER CALLING Wylam Brewery, Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park, Newcastle upon Tyne For one weekend only, an assembly of some of the world’s leading craft breweries under one roof, plus a gin palace, a wine cellar, great music, sumptuous street food and an artisan cider cellar. Interact with brewery staff and get to know so much more about their beer at Meet The Brewer sessions. Among those invited by Wylam Brewery are Beavertown, Siren, Verdant, Northern Monk, Magic Rock and Cloudwater.

Details: www.craftbeercalling.com

THE GUIDE POST

NATIONAL BE R E ER T IN

& Cider

CAMRA 2017 SOUTH WEST NORTHUMBERLAND PUB OF THE YEAR WINNER

Thursday 28th June Monday 2nd July

7 DIFFERENT Ales & 4 TRADITIONAL Ciders

And a variety of draught & bottled craft beers from around the world th

ay 28 Saturd Thursd Belgium F a mily Fay 30 th v d un n a h l t Eng Disco D 12 – 5pmDay 29

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(12 Handpulls - 12 Ciders/Perrys) Pie & Peas, toasties & sandwiches available every day

from 7

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D , To Be A s Pool nnounc etition n p m ed o C On Sun poker es to be wo day! iz

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TRADITIONAL PUB WITH REAL ALES, A REAL FIRE AND A WARM WELCOME

Please ask behind the bar for more information or call 0191 523 5735 Find us on facebook theguidepostryhope Guide Post, Ryhope, Sunderland, SR2 0RN

BUSKERS NIGHTS Tuesday 5th & 19th June THE NEW BOATHOUSE B&B NOW OPEN CONTACT US FOR BOOKINGS FREE Function room !! Catering available on request

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Station Road, Wylam, NE41 8HR Tel: 01661 853431 Follow us @Boathouse Wylam & Like us on

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HERE’S LOOKIN’ AT YOU

A flavour of continental Europe is heading for Whitley Bay with a pop-up version of a classic bar style.

Café Amsterdam is designed in the tradition of the Dutch city’s fabled “brown bars”, quintessential elements in its culture and favoured haunts of colourful characters, great beer and local delicacies.

Drafted in to advise on the project is Andy Hickson, manager at The Green in Wardley, Gateshead, and previously the Bacchus in Newcastle.

The Café Amsterdam idea is to celebrate new-wave Dutch craft beer, including small breweries such as Uiltje, Frontaal Bier, Brouwerij ’Ti Ij, Oedipus Brewing, and a few very special beers from Tommie Sjef and his Wild Ales microbrewery in Den Helder who ferments and ages his beers in oak casks.

There will also be traditional and progressive spirits, Dutch cheese plates, and samples from Wilde Chutney – a lady who ferments and pickles her own produce.

The Amsterdam experience, flavour and ambience will be enhanced by 15 fabulous photographs of Amsterdam taken

by Adam Lang of Lang Shot Photography, complemented by 30 Newcastle and North

East shots displayed to connect the two.

Adam, who works by day for BT, got into photography through walking across the bridges every day to work from Gateshead to

NEWS

CHEERS ON TOUR

Cheers reader Ewan Waugh sent us this photo from Jönköping in southern Sweden where he now lives and works.

In the background is Sofia Hotellet, a hotel set in a beautiful 19th Century building which overlooks Vättern Lake, Sweden’s third-largest and one of three that the town sits on. Ewan appears oblivious to all this, saying: “It’s amazing the pristine condition of the magazine.”

Newcastle.

“I bought a camera rather than taking pictures on my phone,” he says. “I remember seeing a reflection of the city on the Tyne that I had never noticed before. My mind is now always on framing a shot.

I like soft, low light and look at shadows then manipulate them, learning by trial and error plus some YouTube tutorials.”

Adam has been selling prints through his website (www. langshotphotography.com), through groups on Facebook, and in various shops – The Glamorous Owl for example, next to The

Old George in Newcastle, and Upside Down on Side which also opened up in premises across the road.

Adam says: “I actually sold one there to a girl from Warsaw as I was bringing them in – she bought it on the spot. I want to do more craft markets and set up more shops and have just done my first album cover. I was watching local band Broken Levee with my camera and next thing I know I’m arranging CD artwork.”

Adam has already exhibited in pubs, notably The Central in Gateshead in December 2016 and had several examples of his astonishing work hanging in Gateshead Railway Club.

“I’ve got some great photographs lined up for Café Amsterdam,” he says. “One is printed with a metallic finish which I’m really pleased with – it gives them a different sort of light, it shines a bit more.”

The shine will definitely be on Whitley Bay this month. *Café Amsterdam pops up over the weekend of June 8-10 at The Storm Cellar, 10 York Road, Whitley Bay NE26 1AB. www.langshotphotography.com

BOG STANDARD

A little bit worn around the edges, perhaps, but you can forgive a 150-year-old urinal for that. PJ Clarke’s is one of the oldest pubs in New York, dating back to 1868.

The toilets were praised by Frank Sinatra, a frequent visitor, as was Jackie Onassis.

Louis Armstrong once played in the back room of the pub and Johnny Mercer is said to have written “One For My Baby (And One More for the Road)” on a napkin while sitting at the bar. Original owner, Irishman PJ Clarke, is still around – his ashes sit in a canister behind the bar. www.cheersnortheast.co.uk / CHEERS / 37

FUN STUFF

SIGN OF THE TIMES The letters have all been removed from the entrance to this Gallowgate, Newcastle, building (now student accommodation). Can any calligraphy experts work out its original name? Answer at the foot of the page.

THE DIRTY DOZEN TWELVE QUESTIONS TO HURL ACROSS THE TABLE 1 What colour light is shown on the starboard side of a ship?

2 What does a galactophagist drink?

3 Which sport uses the words bonspiel, koggle-kaggle and crampit?

4 What does a television licence cost in the US? 5 In Tibet, who or what is The Sacred Mother of the Waters?

6 In men’s fencing competitions, how many hits are needed to win?

7 If you were hypermetropic what would you have?

A MAN WALKS INTO A BAR… …AND THE BARMAN SAYS: “WHERE WERE YOU LAST NIGHT? YOU AGREED TO COME TO ALL THE NEW EATING AND DRINKING EVENTS WE’VE DEVISED FOR THE PUB.” THE MAN SAYS: “LAST NIGHT? YOU BILLED IT AS ‘NO MEAT MONDAY’, SO I DID AS YOU SAID AND STAYED AT HOME.”

EEH! NUMBERS

8 Who asked Rhonda for help?

9 In heraldry, a bar sinister means that the bearer is what?

10 What colour ribbon does a Victoria Cross have?

11 How many hours ahead of GMT is Moscow?

12 Which Yorkshire racecourse never stages flat racing?

944

The number of pages in The Oxford Companion To Beer edited by Garrett Oliver (Brooklyn Brewery) 944: The classic Porsche built between 1982 and 1991 944 Center Avenue, Oostburg, Wisconsin, is the address of the Pizza Ranch restaurant 944: The year King Edmund I – grandson of Alfred The Great – conquered Northumbria and ceded Cumberland to Malcolm I, King of the Picts and Scots.

QUOTE

“SCOTCH WHISKY IS MADE FROM BARLEY AND THE MORNING DEW ON ANGELS’ NIPPLES.” WARREN ELLIS, GRAPHIC NOVELIST

QUIZ ANSWERS: 1 Green. 2 Milk. 3 Curling. 4 Nothing. They don’t have them. 5 Mount Everest. 6 Five. 7 Long-sightedness. 8 The Beach Boys. 9 Illegitimate.

10 Purple. 11 Three. 12 Wetherby.

SIGN OF THE TIMES: ANDREWS HOUSE 38 / CHEERS / www.cheersnortheast.co.uk

NOW OPEN

COMING SOON

STORM CELLAR

BEER BOX

by Black Storm ― May 2018

by Black Storm ― August 2018

10 York Road, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE26 1AB.

STACK Newcastle, Pilgrim Street, NE1 6QE.

CALL PAUL FOR BEER ON 07725 762 102 @blackstormbrew blackstormbrewery.com

JOIN OUR GROWING STOCKIST FAMILY

Want to stock Black Storm beer?

order@blackstormbrewery.com or call +44 (0) 191 252 6303

Ouseburn’s Newest Brewpub & Burger Kitchen

Enjoy a drink and a bite to eat in our modern, friendly bar nestled under one of the Byker Bridge arches in Newcastle's creative quarter.

10 taps of craft beer | Onsite microbrewery | Undercover courtyard Sit-around fire pit | Child and dog friendly | Beer tastings Brewery experience days | Private parties

Events

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GETNORTH PALE ALE Unfiltered. Wheat Free. Allergen Advice: Contains Barley

FEATURE BEER: GetNorth Pale 4.0%

At 4.0%% this fruity, crisp pale is our unofficial beer to celebrate the Great Exhibition of the North and perfect for summer drinking. Its brewed with an eclectic mix of hops including Fuggles, the classic English hop with its earthy tones, Crystal from USA with its woody fruity notes, Mandarina Bavaria from Germany with an orange twist and Taiheke from New Zealand contributing tropical fruits aromas.

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