rhythm and booze Re-enter the Dragon Food, Booze, Bands & News - Issue 8 - July/August 2011
The Dragon, Werrington - now run by the family behind The Ploughman. A pub that was ‘on its knees’ has been brought back to life thanks to its new licensees. The Dragon, Hodgson Centre, Werrington has been taken over by The Ploughman’s Stuart and Andy Simmonds, and is being run by their brother Chris. Following an extensive clean up,
the pub offers a greater range of real ales than ever before with the handpumps relocated to a prominent position on the bar. Having regained its place as a community pub, The Dragon will be running a ‘Uniform Night’ on Friday 30 July. With a suggested entrance fee of
£1, participants are encouraged to wear any kind of uniform – be it military or even a tea lady’s tabard – and will be able to enjoy a barbeque while watching 60s covers band The Nuggets. For more information on The Dragon, visit its Facebook page at tinyurl.com/656dxwx
Split Sounds The Destructors/Dun 2 Def Wohlgefuhl Two of the region’s longest serving Punk bands unite for this 18-track album. Turning the ‘split’ concept on its head, each band perform seven new tracks and two covers, one of which was originally recorded by the other act. Out 1 August 2011
“Dun 2 Def gob out UK Subs-inspired punk rock exactly how I like it!” - Peterborough Evening Telegraph “Playing punk rock for over 20 years has had a weird effect on The Destructors… they got pretty bloody good at it!” - Mass Movement Magazine
BUY ONLINE or as a DOWNLOAD BY MAIL ORDER FROM METALONROCK.TV OR AS A DOWNLOAD FROM iTUNES/7DIGITAL
by Cardinal Cox
Pub Scrawl Mark Grist debuts his new show on 6 July. Photo © Mark Grist Mark Grist will debut his new oneman show Shetland Boy on Wednesday 6 July at the Key Theatre as part of the Peterborough Summer Festival (tickets £5). The festival ends on the weekend of 9/10 July with events in Central Park, where Pint of Poetry will be sharing a tent. Events include three specially commissioned, totally original poetry acts. There should also be a poetry trail around the park, organised by Keely Mills, who is currently Poet-in-Residence at Caffé Nero on Cathedral Square. This year’s John Clare Festival at Helpston is on over 9/10 July and includes storyteller Hugh Lupton, poet Patrick Bond and local folkies Pennyless performing. For more details go to the John Clare society website at www.johnclare.org.uk The T.S. Eliot Festival at Little Gidding, which this year features special guest Simon Armitage, is also on over the weekend of 9/10 July. Further details can be found at www.eliotsociety.org.uk/festival Pint of Poetry, Dash of Drama will be having its regular nights at Charters Bar - as it is summer, possibly in the garden outside - on Wednesday 20 July and 18 August. If you want to read, it is best to get there about 8pm as it can get quite
busy, and the entertainment starts around 8.30pm. Poetry Factory continues to offer constructive criticism to writers and performers on the third Tuesday of the month at the PCVS building on Lincoln Road (roughly opposite the Geneva Bar). On Tuesday 19 July there is a special guest tutor Molly Naylor (so book in advance) with admission priced £5. On 16 August it is just the usual circle so admission is free. Remember to take a couple of poems, a pen and some paper. Ring Pete Irving (current Bard of the Fens and last year’s John Clare Poetry Prize winner) on 01733 890537 for further information. Speakeasy is taking a well deserved break, but will be back at the Brewery Tap in September. In the meantime keep your eyes open for dates of its precocious little sister, Drama on Tap, open mic for all sorts of comedy and playlets. This year’s Poetry Competition organised by the John Clare Cottage in Helpston (next to the Blue Bell pub) is on the subject of celebration; the closing date for entries is 15 July 2011. As a previous winner, I can say what an honour it is to win the title. For full information go to the Clare Cottage
website or send an email to events@clarecottage.org Peterborough Central Library has a summer filled with author events; starting on Wednesday 13 July at 7pm with Lesley Pearse one of the Top 5 best-selling female fiction authors in the UK, thriller writer Sam Hayes and the award-winning crime writer Barbara Nadel. Top American crime author Tess Gerritsen, who’s talks are brilliant, will be at the library on Monday 25 July at 7pm. Her background is in medicine so her books are gory. Elizabethan England is the setting for author James Forrester (who also writes history books as Ian Mortimer) who will be giving a talk on Wednesday 27 July at 7pm. Then it is off to the 1820s with Allan Mallinson to talk on his 11th novel On His Majesty’s Service on Wednesday 17th August at 1pm. Tickets for each talk cost £3 (concessions available) and are available from Waterstones bookshop, Central Library or by ringing 01733 864287. I’ve been asking about Reading Groups that meet in pubs but haven’t had any fresh leads. If you’ve got more information then drop me an email at cardinalcox1@yahoo.co.uk Usually our local hero is a poet or novelist, but this time, as it is summer and you might be off to a festival, I thought I’d celebrate the writings of Wisbech’s Brian Tawn. From the mid-1970s onwards he produced the Hawkfan/Hawkwind Feedback publications for the followers of space rockers Hawkwind. For anyone to devote so much time and effort to a band with a decidedly cult rather than popular following is dedication beyond normal expectations. Cardinal Cox is an enthusiastic amateur drinker. His act Riders of the Purple Sage and Onion Stuffing is one of the three specially commissioned works premiered at the Peterborough Summer Festival.
The Black Swan 77 Main Street Farcet Peterborough PE7 3DF 01733 243596
A Traditional Village Pub Heated Smoking Area Pool/Darts/Jukebox Real Ales From ÂŁ2.60 Bar Snacks Car Park
Cruising for a boozing
The Hand & Heart, Higbury Street - A little out of the way, but well worth the walk. The Peterborough Beer Festival is upon us and the choice of ales from around the country is simply staggering. But what do you do to avoid cabin fever, or whatever they call its marquee equivalent? Steve Williams of www.peterboroughpubs.co.uk has a suggestion. For those of you new to the city and the festival, Peterborough provides a variety of venues in which to drink real ale. From a quiet village pub just 25 minutes walk from the festival to Europe’s largest brewpub, Peterborough has it all. I will divide the pubs into north and south of the river to make direction finding easier. To start with, the festival is on the north bank of the Nene. All directions use the festival as a starting point unless it is obvious to
the contrary. There are two bridges that cross the river Nene. The first we shall call the ‘Town Bridge’, which is the nearest to town, ASDA and shopping, and can be found by coming out of the festival and looking right towards the river. The second is what we shall term the ‘Flyover Bridge’. This is away from town and leads to Stanground. If you look to the river and turn to your left you will see the bridge. South The Woolpack, 29 North Street, Stanground, Peterborough PE2 8HR This is the closest you can get to a village pub in the city, situated in the ancient village of Stanground just south of the Nene. The pub offers up to four beers and is open all day, every day. The pub’s garden backs
onto the old course of the river Nene and offers somewhere to park if you’re visiting by boat. Directions From the festival look towards the river, turn left and walk along the riverbank until you see a slope that takes you up to the ‘Flyover Bridge’. Use it to cross the river and once on the south side, turn left towards the church. At the top of the lane you will reach a road. Look to your left and head towards the thatched house. When you reach it, turn left down the slope (Mount Pleasant) and at the bottom turn right; the Woolpack is 100 yards further on. Charters, Town Bridge (south side), Peterborough, PE1 1FP Only just south of the river (as it’s (continued on page 9)
Mackail to the A beer celebrating Peterborough United’s promotion to the Championship has been launched by local brewery Castor Ales. Craig Mack Ale, a tribute to star striker Craig Mackail-Smith, is a dry-hopped variant of the brewery’s popular Roman Gold and at 3.7% is the perfect session ale for any self-respecting Posh fan. The idea for a Peterborough United themed ale came about as brewery boss Duncan Vessey enjoyed a few pre-match beers at The Crescent in Salford, prior to the club’s 3-0 victory against Huddersfield Town in the League One play-off final at Old Trafford. Returning home from the match, Duncan decided that “the name Craig Mack Ale would be a fitting tribute to the London Road favourite” and by the following week had launched the beer at The Ostrich Inn, North Street. Since then, the beer has been available at The Prince of Wales Feathers in Castor and The Crown Inn, Lincoln Road with plans to sell it at a venue close to Mackail-Smith’s new club. Giving the brewery his support for the ale, Mackail-Smith will be signing posters featuring the pump clip artwork – drawn by the Evening Telegraph’s John Elson – to be auctioned off to raise funds for his chosen charity, the NSPCC. Opened three years ago, Castor Ales is a three-barrel plant that produces
the
Paul Jones helps Craig Mackail-Smith celebrate Posh’s promotion. Photo © www 12 firkins (490 litres) per brew and creates beer named after local themes; in addition to Roman Gold and Serene Nene, the brewery launched Old Scarlett – named after Robert Scarlett,
sexton who buried Katherine of Aragon – at the start of the year. A follow-up beer to Craig Mack Ale is being developed to celebrate Posh’s new season in the Championship and
LIFTED UP WHERE WE BELONG
It’s been a month since ‘that’ game at Old Trafford and Jamie Jones is still walking round in a PUFC influenced positive haze; It really was that good. So now we find ourselves back in the Championship, a league full of clubs much bigger than Posh with some serious money to spend. What will the season bring? Last time we got promoted to this league the talk from within the club was of a charge for the play-offs. This time around, I think we
would all be very very happy with a season that keeps us out of the relegation zone. I really hope we can survive and maybe even thrive in a couple of season’s time but it is going to be tough. Just looking at the Championship league table can bring a smile to my face. The thought of Kevin Nolan, a £4M signing on reported wages of £55K a week running out at London Road will make every Posh fan chuckle. Welcoming the likes of Leeds,
Birmingham and West Ham to our three-sided ground is going to be very interesting indeed. As I write this, the rumour mill surrounding the departure of CMS is cranking into overdrive with tales of Wigan, Leicester and Everton filling the internet message boards. The lad will go down as a true PUFC legend who gave everything to the cause and scored a bucket load of goals. We have to hope that one of the current players or the new signings see it as a
e ale
Busy Bassist
Rich ‘Angus’ Mackman, looking forward to this year’s Peterborough Beer Festival. Photo courtesy of Rich.
theposhpics.com another beer, Calling Spain, will be sold exclusively at the Peterborough Beer Festival in August. More information on Castor Ales is available at www.castorales.co.uk challenge to step into his shoes and be the new idol of the London Road end. Regular readers of this column will know that I am the co-host of the un-official Posh fans podcast Standing On The Glebe, which can be downloaded by visiting www.standingontheglebe.co.uk It’s been our first season on the air and it has gone far better than we expected in terms of listener numbers – so thanks to those of you that have tuned in. We will return for the Championship season, as will this column. Up the Posh!
In addition to the wide variety of ales, wines and ciders on offer, the Peterborough Beer Festival has built up a reputation for booking some of the best covers and original bands around. Playing this year’s festival – on Thursday and Friday, respectively – are power-pop trio The Vow and Sex Pistols’ tribute Filthy Lucre, two local acts featuring Rich ‘Angus’ Mackman on bass. Playing guitar from the age of 15, he has developed a career as a music tutor while spending time in a variety of successful bands. Not only was he a member of Heads Apart - whose debut album Feisty garnered a four K review in Kerrang! – but as part of The Contrast, Mackman “played one of the coolest gigs ever” on Randall’s Island, New York when he shared a bill with Iggy Pop, The Strokes and the New York Dolls. Into everything from metal to Motown, he has a particular passion for Punk rock in most of its forms. Not only does Mackman wish he could have seen The Cardiacs “in some little club someplace when they had the
classic mid-80s line up” and would like to play bass on a Bad Religion track or two, his favourite song is Bodies by the Sex Pistols “because in good old fashioned terminology, they ROCK.” It is his love of the Pistols that has seen him reunite with former Heads Apart members Sean Dunleavy and Danny Frost to form Filthy Lucre, the region’s most authentic sounding tribute to the Sex Pistols. Performances by Filthy Lucre and The Vow at The Hand & Heart were enough to persuade landlord Paul ‘Bram’ Brammer and Peterborough CAMRA’s Mike Lane put both bands on at this year’s Peterborough Beer Festival. “I’m really grateful to Mike and Bram for sorting this out,” says Mackman, “the beer fest is going to be great, although I’ll have to pace myself on those ales.” n Further information on Rich ‘Angus’ Mackman and his bands can be found on the following websites: www.richardmackman.co.uk www.myspace.com/filthylucreband www.myspace.com/thevowareback www.thecontrast.net
(continued from page 5) on the river!) is Charters, a large converted grain barge that provides the easiest and most convenient point to try more ales. As it is the closest to the festival, it might get a bit busy during ‘festival down times’. Directions: Head over the Town Bridge. The pub is on the south bank of the river. If you go to a similar barge on the north bank, you will find a Chinese restaurant with no real ale. The Cherry Tree, 9-11 Oundle Road, Woodston, Peterborough PE2 9PB The Cherry Tree is known as one of Peterborough’s live music venues, it has seen a wealth of talent perform here and offers several well-kept ales. Directions: Cross the Town Bridge and continue until you find a turning to your right, which will take you under the railway bridge to Oundle Road. Follow the road past ‘Lego Land’ and the Cherry Tree is the first pub on your right. The Palmerston Arms, 82 Oundle Road, Woodston, Peterborough PE2 9PA One of the best pubs in the city for real ale. Lots of beers sold on gravity from the cellar at the back of the bar, which you can see being poured through the large window. Directions: Follow the directions for the Cherry Tree and the Palmerston is a couple of hundred yards along on the opposite side. Coalheaver’s Arms, 5 Park Street (Off London Road), Woodston, Peterborough PE2 9BH The Coalheaver’s Arms is one of the city’s success stories. During the festival the pub will probably have eight or so beers on, some of which will be by Milton of Cambridge. A super pub with a pleasant beer garden. Directions: Cross the river via Town Bridge and continue past the football ground. When you reach KFC and the Peacock pub carry on over the bridge. Follow the road until you reach an off licence on the right (150 yards). Turn in here and the pub is hidden away 50 yards
further on. If you have visited either The Palmerston Arms or The Cherry Tree then you can take a short cut through the park opposite the Cherry Tree. Head diagonally across it, walking through the alleyway to Queens Walk then left onto London Road. Turn right, following London Road away from the city and turn right at the off licence as above. North The Beehive Pub, 70 Albert Place, Peterborough PE1 1DD A stylish venue with a reputation for good food with several ales on offer. Directions: From the festival head towards town, turning left before you reach the pelican crossing. Continue along the pavement and you should spot The Beehive in the distance. The City Centre (or thereabouts) There are several pubs worth a look in and around the city centre. If you proceed from the festival towards town, taking the pelican crossing onto the thoroughfare (Bridge Street) you will eventually come to Cathedral Square. Stand with your back to the Cathedral, looking towards the Guildhall (the old building on legs) and if you take the left hand road away from the square, you will eventually come to The Draper’s Arms, 29-31 Cowgate, Peterborough PE1 1LZ, which is a better quality Wetherspoon’s. Had you taken the path between the church and McDonald’s, you would have found The Grapevine, 10 Queen Street, Peterborough PE1 1PA a pub that has Charles Wells beers on tap. From Cathedral Square keep the Cathedral on your right and walk up Long Causeway. Turn left at the junction near to the Halifax Building Society onto Westgate. If you follow the road you will eventually come to three pubs. Just past Westgate House, on the right, is North Street where you will find The Ostrich Inn, 17 North Street, Peterborough PE1 2RA. Superbly refurbished, it now offers a selection of ales, at least one of which is a LocAle. Live
music is offered at weekends and there is a pleasant courtyard in which to enjoy your beer. Further along Westgate you will come to The Wortley Almshouses, Westgate, Peterborough PE1 1QA. Converted in the early 1980s into a pub by Sam Smiths from an old and derelict almshouse. Several years ago it was refurbished and divided into many small and intimate rooms, which won it an award. Sam Smiths beers are available at the usual competitive prices. At the end of Westgate you will find the well-known The Brewery Tap, 80 Westgate Peterborough, PE1 2AA. This is the largest brewpub in Europe and is the home of Oakham Ales. Expect Oakham Ales on the bar and a host of many others. The pub is famous for its Thai cuisine, which is served all day. If you were at the junction of Long Causeway and Westgate and you continued straight ahead into Broadway you would find The College Arms, 40 The Broadway, Peterborough PE1 1RS. This is our ‘other’ Wetherspoons. Turn left as you’re walking out of The College Arms and left again onto the road (Fitzwilliam Street) between the Imperial Bento and the Central Library. Continue past the junction with Park Road and stop when you get to Lincoln Road. Turn right and continue along the road, walking across the zebra crossing in front of Williams Tools, carrying on past the estate agents on the junction with Dogsthorpe Road. Just past the Emperor Chinese restaurant you will come to Highbury Street. Turn in here and you will find The Hand & Heart, 12 Highbury Street, Peterborough PE1 3BE, a 1930s pub which has remained intact since its rebuilding in 1938. Cambridgeshire’s Pub of the Year 2010, the ‘Hand’ is known throughout the area for its perfectly kept ales, beer festivals, Irish music sessions and monthly cheese club. It’s a bit of a walk from the festival, but well worth it. Alternatively you can catch the Citi 1 bus from Queensgate or Broadway, which will get you there quickly. I hope you’ve found time to visit a few of pubs above, but don’t forget to return to the Festival.
LISTINGS
‘Peterborough CAMRA’s Pub of The Year 2011’ The Ploughman Staniland Way, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6NA 01733 327696
Cock Inn 1305 Lincoln Road, Werrington Peterborough PE4 6LW 01733 322006
July
02 - Monkey Boy 08 - Redemption 09 - Pureklass Karaoke with Paul 16 - The Sound Injectors 23 - The Guards 30 - Storm
01 - 03 Charity Beer Festival in aid of The Rudolph Fund 01 - One Eyed Cats 02 - Taking care of business 03 - The Nuggets/ Mighty Mouth Karaoke with Trevor 09 - The Pigs (Police Tribute) 16 - The Influence August 05 - On the ceiling 12 - Kyckback 28 - Citizen Smiffy Going to the Peterborough Beer Festival? The Citi 1 bus runs regularly between Werrington Centre and Rivergate/TK Maxx. Blue Bell Inn Welland Road Peterborough PE1 3SA 01733 554890 July 01 - Friction 02 - Disco 08 - Slide to Open 09 - Swingin’ the Led 15 - Aladdinsane 22 - Circa ’73 29 - Wayne Mills Disco August 05 - Burlesque 06 - Daffy & the Alien 12 - Undercover 13 - Frankly my dear 19 - Children of the Revolution 26 - Wayne Mills Disco 27 - Cutting Loose
July
August 06 - Pureklass Karaoke with Paul 13 - UnLtd 20/21 Party in the (car)park - line up to be confirmed 27 - Circa ‘73 Dragon Hodgson Centre, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 5EG 01733 578088 July
02 - Pulse 08 - Jumpback 45 (Northern Soul) 09 - UnLtd 15 - 5 Miles High 16 - Undercover 17 - Blind Vinyl 23 - Monkey Boy 29 - Gin House 30 - Lloyd Watson August 05 - Lee Major’s the Balance 06 - Glass Heart 12 - James Edmunds 13 - The System 19 - Retrolux 20 - Storm 27 - Frankly My Dear Prince of Wales Feathers 38 Peterborough Road, Castor Peterborough PE5 7AL 01733 380222 July 09 - Self Preservation Society 23 - Altered Ego
08 - Daffy & The Alien 09 - Twenty4 16 - Under_covers 22 - Kyckback 29 - Mighty Mouth Karaoke with Rose 30 - The Nuggets
August
August
July
06 - Out of order 13 - Undercovers 20 - Monkey Boy 26 - Mighty Mouth Karaoke with Rose
09 - Crayfish Rocket 16 - Pulse 23 - Soul Weaver 30 - Karaoke
The Ostrich Inn 17 North Street, Peterborough PE1 2RA 01733 746370 July 01 - Colin ‘Citizen’ Smith
06 - Electric Warriors Three Horseshoes Church Street, Werrington, Peterborough PE4 6QE 01733 571768
August 13 - No Man’s Band 20 - AV Band 27 - Karaoke * All listings given in good faith, Rhythm & Booze cannot be held responsible for any discrepancy.
Rhythm & Booze, Issue 8 - July/August 2011. All written material, unless otherwise stated, © Simon Stabler Please send any letters, submissions, material for review and gig listings to simonstabler@aol.com by 15 August
Hodgson Centre Werrington Peterborough PE4 5EG 01733 578088 nLeague poker - Mondays and Tuesdays nCash quiz - Sundays nDarts/Pool nLive Music (see the listings page) nSix real ales, three changing guests nAll ales ÂŁ2.80 a pint nLive sports shown on TV
The Crown Inn 749 Lincoln Road Peterborough PE1 3HD 07516395905 Open: 11:30 - 00:00 Sunday - Wednesday 11:30 - 01:00 Thursday - Saturday
www.crowntotown.co.uk
A Pub At The Heart Of Its Community! nServing quality real ales nA new lunchtime menu nDedicated Smoking Patio nWheelchair access at the front nFree pool every Thursday from 6pm nLive Poker League Monday & Thursday from 7:30pm nFriday Night Karaoke nFunction room available for hire