Swale Ale The FREE magazine of the Swale branch of CAMRA The Campaign for Real Ale
Local brewery invests in its heritage
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s many Swale Ale readers will be aware the largest brewery in our area, and in Kent, is Shepherd Neame. As well as its major brewing arm, Shepherd Neame also own and operate a total estate of 354 pubs, comprising 44 managed pubs and 310 tenanted and leased pubs. With many of its competitors failing to invest in their tied estate and with vast numbers of pub closures nationally, it is interesting that we are currently seeing Shepherd Neame invest heavily in the refurbishment of many of its pubs. Swale Ale has reported on the great work completed at The Fountain, Sittingbourne and The Bear in Faversham to name a few. Pubs have been given traditional new hand painted signage by Eric Pollard, and often sympathetic restoration of their interiors, which is a far cry from the ‘Irish’ style pub chains of the 1990s. This investment in its tied and managed pub chain is always welcome, particularly at a time of national belt tightening, and shows a commitment to local communities. In the past year the brewery has undertaken a number of high profile acquisitions including four pubs from Enterprise Inns (The Old Neptune, Whitstable; The Old City Bar, Canterbury; The Kings Head, Deal and The Zetland Arms, Kingsdown, Deal). The brewery has also been expanding its hotel portfolio following the acquisition of two prestigious hotels in the first half of the year and a further inn purchased in February 2012. The story of Shepherd Neame pubs has not always been bright. At their AGM in 2009
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The Three Horseshoes, Staple Street the brewery announced the sale and/or closure of 35 pubs over a two year period, and in our own area we have already had to say goodbye to the Mechanics Arms in September 2012 and The Windmill on January 2nd 2011. The question lies in what Shepherd Neame will decide to do next. See page 3
In this issue… Pubs at the extreme of Swale Pub tour: A Canterbury Tale Timothy Taylor visits Faversham A village pub walk south of Sittingbourne Trips out: all within a day of Swale Jolly boys tour to Sheppey
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Local brewery invests in its heritage many of the food In order to answer led houses have this question our had considerable brewery liaison investment, officer Bob attention is Thompson arranged moving towards for me to meet with the wet trade. John Humpherys and The Imperial in Martin Godden and Southborough, for came along to take example, a wet led some exce ll ent high street local, photos for our has undergone a records. refurbishment to Our meeting enhance its began with a visit to traditional The Anchor in New pub signage at the features. Abbey Street, The Three Horseshoes Plough and Harrow Inn, O u r Faversham. This Staple Street, Hernhill Bridge second visit in refurbishment has Faversham was to only recently taken The Bear Inn. We were told about how during place, and it was the intention that the building refurbishments the brewery were keen to work should complement the pub’s historical unearth and rejuvenate existing features. At character. Work was done to remove the The Bear many changes were made to the shelving above the bar, making it easier to grab original refurbishment plans to take advantage of glimpses of the back bar and ‘cosy seating areas’. the discoveries uncovered as wood chip and Extensive work has taken place in the building to layers of paint were removed. the left of the pub which used to be the Crab Shepherd Neame were interested in Shack restaurant. The new space is intended to reinstating original features such as the dividers be a coffee shop in the daytime and provide in The Railway Hotel in Faversham, which were additional seating to the main bar area in the particularly requested by the licensee Chris evening. This seems to be a diversification that Maclean. may appear in other Shepherd Neame owned However the biggest changes to each town centre pubs where additional space can be pub during their refurbishment seems to be the found. extensive effort that is Like many pubs going in to the hand that have been painted signage. This refurbished over the past painstaking attention to three years, The Anchor detail shows a keen has both a wet and dry interest in the brewery’s trade. However the pub heritage, maintaining brewery were keen to its assets for people to establish that enjoy long into the future. refurbishments were not [KS] only inten ded f or restaurants or gastro pubs, but rather any Photographs courtesy of Bob premises that showed an Thompson, Brewery Liaison Coffee shop at The Anchor, Faversham Officer and Shepherd Neame. opportunity. Now that
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Editorial
Swale Ale © Spring 2013 Published by the Swale Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale Ltd (CAMRA). Circulation: 1000 Editorial Committee and Contributors: Les Bailey, Suzanne Collins, Derek Cole, Gary Holness, Simon Ing, Paul Irving, Gill Joiner, Keith Joiner, Andrew Kitney, David Selves, Keir Stanley, Bob Thompson, Jeff Waller, Malcolm Winskill. Print Liaison: Les Bailey Advertising: Gary Holness ——————————————–———— All correspondence to: Les Bailey 58 Wallers Road Faversham Kent ME13 7PL Email: swaleale@gmail.com Telephone: 01795 538824 ———————————————–——— Any opinions expressed within these pages are those of the individual authors only and do not represent those of CAMRA or any of its officials.
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elcome to the latest edition of Swale Ale. As you read this the daffs should be up and the lambs should be frolicking, or alternatively winter has decided to outstay its welcome and it is still freezing. Either way the good people at Swale CAMRA have been beavering away to bring you another packed magazine. In this edition there are articles that range in topics from ‘A Canterbury Tale’ to ‘A few from the Few’, plus all the regular pub and brewery news from around the area and a whole lot more. Many thanks to all of those that have contributed to the magazine. We invite you to settle back with a pint of your favourite ale and enjoy and if there are some pubs you have not yet visited that feature in these pages then we urge you to seek them out and give them a try.
Advertising rates: Half Page £25 Full A5 Page £50 Minimum circulation 800
The existence of this publication in a particular outlet does not imply an endorsement of it by Swale CAMRA. ———————————————–——— Printed by: Abbey Print, Faversham ———————————————–—— Branch Details Chairman: Simon Ing Secretary: Les Bailey Treasurer: Les Bailey
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Visit our award winning website at www.camra-swale.org.uk Spring Issue 2013
Chairman's Chat
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would like to start by thanking everybody that over the last year has helped with the creation of this magazine. It takes a lot of work, and is all voluntary. From writing the first article, getting advertising, setting out and collating, proof reading (and even when we do this the odd mistake can still get through), going to the printers and then distributing this magazine to all the places you can find it. I won't list names, you know who you are, so once again thank you. Now to you the reader. We always need articles, points (or even pints) of view, adverts and your opinions. So if you have something you can write about, we would like to hear from you. If we can print it, we will, and you will be credited as the author. It would be nice to have opinions other than ours. Have you been to a pub and had a good or bad experience? Could you write about it? Have you found your perfect pint? Tell everyone! Write it down and send it
to us. It is not as hard as you may fear, after all I managed to write this and the spell checker is a wonderful thing. I have even managed to write the odd (or is that very odd) article and had it printed. This magazine is free and everybody involved is a volunteer, so no one gets paid. But the magazine is covered by copyright, which means nobody can reproduce your work without permission. One more thing - we have to send a copy to the British Library, so if you do write something for us, you can claim to be a published author and when people doubt you, you can tell them where to find the proof! So if you do have something for us to print please send it to swaleale@googlemail.co.uk.
Simon Ing
Faversham’s hidden gem The Shipwright’s Arms, Hollowshore, Faversham
A 17th Century traditional creek side free house. Selling up to five real ales from Kentish brewers, and serving good food. Take a trip back in time and savour the delights of a truly traditional pub. Rated by Jamie Oliver as one of the top 100 traditional pubs in the country.
Please check website or phone to confirm hours of opening. Tel: 01795 590088
Web: www.theshipwrightsarmspub.co.uk Directions: At Davington School turn into Ham Road and follow the signs across the marsh.
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THE FOUNTAIN SITTINGBOURNE
Thai Restaurant and Takeaway Tue to Sat 12 noon—2:30pm & 5—10pm SHEPHERD NEAME ALES SERVED Mon—Sat 11am—11pm Sun 12—8.30pm 37 Station Street, Sittingbourne, Kent ME10 3ED 01795 228971
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Swale CAMRA Branch Diary Wednesday 10th April 2013 Branch Business Meeting: 8pm Swan & Harlequin, Conduit Street, Faversham Wednesday 8th May 2013 Branch Business Meeting: 8pm Brown Jug, Horsham Lane, Upchurch Wednesday 12th June 2013 Branch Business Meeting: 8pm Bowl Inn, Egg Hill Road, Charing Saturday 6th July 2013 BRANCH AGM: 7.30PM The Swan, London Road (A2), Teynham (10 minutes walk from Teynham Railway Station - buffet provided)
April is Community Pub Month Celebrating the Great British Pub Try and take a friend or relative to one of your favourite pubs in the area, perhaps one you haven't been to for a while. They need your business NOW!
Kent Pub and Brewery News Shepherd Neame: The following beers have recently been produced on the Pilot Brewery: Burns Extra Special Ale (4.5% abv), brewed in a Scottish 80/- style; Holly Hop Ale (4.1% abv), brewed for 3 pubs in central London to commemorate the 54th anniversary of the death of Buddy Holly; Triple Oat Stout (4.2% abv), only available in our area at The Bear, Fa versham; Heart Warmer (4.2% abv), brewed for St Valentines Day and containing red rose petals and passion fruit and Muddy Water (4.5% abv), brewed for and supplied to pubs in Broadstairs for the Broadstairs Blues Music Festival. The Main Brewery has or will produce the following beers: Frosty Glow (3.9% abv); Amber Ale (4.5% abv); for February; Early Bird for March/April and Whitstable Bay for May onwards.
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The following beers are being brewed for Wetherspoon’s Spring Beer Festival: Red Racer India Pale Ale (6.5% abv), with assistance from Gary Lohin from the Central City Brewing Co, British Columbia, Canada and New World Pale Ale (4.0%abv).
Hopdaemon: Tonie Prins continues to brew at full capacity. His Green Daemon was runner up beer of the festival at the recent White Cliffs Winter Ales Festival held in Dover at the beginning of February.
Mad Cat Brewery: A new brewery recently established by Peter Meaney at Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham. Peter gave up his previous life in the 7
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Kent Pub and Brewery News paper industry in May 2012 after having worked for A y l e s f o r d Newsprint for nearly twenty years. He established his brewery at Brogdale Farm, home of the UK National Fruit Collection, with the intention of producing “outstanding English ale from the finest ingredients. Balanced, tasty and hoppy, ranging from Pale Ales to Stouts and Porters�. After refurbishing an old cold store the plant was delivered and installed in the first week of December 2012. The first brew of Golden IPA (4.6% abv) was ready in cask and bottle in time for Christmas 2012 and has been supplied to the Red Lion (Sheerness); The Elephant and Old Wine Vaults (both Faversham) and soon to other pubs in the Swale area. His range of beers will also include Platinum Blonde Ale (4.2% abv); Auburn Copper Ale (4.2% abv) and Jet Black Stout (4.8% abv). We hope to provide a more detailed update on this new brewery and the availability of its beers in the next edition of Swale Ale. For more information see www.madcatbrewery.co.uk Faversham: The Phoenix Tavern. As usual the Phoenix continues to offer a wide range of national and local beer. Recently they launched their Timothy Taylor Appreciation Society which seems to include a life size cut out of the man himself! The Mechanics Arms remains closed and as yet Shepherd Neame remain silent on what plans they have for this pub including whether they will re-open it, sell it as a pub or sell for conversion to a residential property. The Bear regularly serves Shepherd Neame
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seasonal and pilot brewery beers including the excellent porter. The Bear has a general pub quiz on the last Wednesday of each month (booking essential) and also organises interesting themed food nights on the first Monday for each month. For more information please access their facebook site. The Elephant. Now that Jim and Kim own the freehold on the pub, they are looking at making a number of improvements to the back room which is currently used for local functions including beer festivals, parties and of course CAMRA meetings. The Sun. Shepherd Neame have put in a planning application for the old shop to the left of the pub. Although the plans are currently unclear it is believed that the former retail premises may become an extension for the bar area (and possibly a coffee shop) on the ground floor and four additional letting rooms on the first floor. Selling: The Sondes Arms is being advertised in the pub trade press as being available for lease for a negotiable term. Sittingbourne: The Fountain. Serving excellent Thai food the Fountain also books live bands most Friday nights. Their current line-up includes: Rat Pack and Vegas evening on the 6th April and the Thai New Year which is all day on the 13th April. This is a full day and evening of Thai songs, dancing and food tasting! Globe and Engine. This Shepherd Neame house is now being described as a Portuguese restaurant but still also appears to be operating as a pub. Milton Regis (near Sittingbourne): The Three Hats. Malcolm informs us that he is holding another of his successful beer festivals 9
75 Preston Street, Faversham 01795 591817 www.theoldwinevaults.com
The Old Wine Vaults is a 16th century pub set in the heart of historic Faversham.
FOUR Cask Ales TWO Cask Ciders
St Arnolds Beer Festival Weekend 5th, 6th, 7th July 2013
CAMRA Discount off nominated local ale and cask cider with a valid CAMRA Card
The pub is open Mon-Sat 11am to 11pm and Sundays 12pm to 10.30pm. 10
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Kent Pub and Brewery News at the pub on the weekend after Easter. The dates of this festival are 5th, 6th and 7th of April. Borden (near Sittingbourne): The Maypole. This village pub is currently serving four different cask beers as well as providing excellent deals on lunchtime and evening food. Oad Street (near Sittingbourne): The Plough & Harrow recently had Shepherd Neame Porter and Gravesend Shrimpers Bitter on sale and the Landlord reports increasing interest and sales of real ale by his customers.
Upchurch: The Brown Jug, Horsham Lane now regularly has Harveys Best Bitter and Dark Mild and recently had a Bellhaven guest beer. Beer Festivals Three Hats Post Easter Beer Festival: Sittingbourne 5th, 6th and 7th April 2012. Kent Beer Festival: Merton Farm, Canterbury 19th – 21st July 2013 Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) 2013: Olympia, London: 13th – 17th August 2013
Pubs at the extreme of Swale from East to West
The Sondes Arms, Selling
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eaders of Swale Ale may not be aware of how large an area the branch covers. This article introduces you to two pubs at the outer limits – in Selling and Lower Halstow. The Sondes Arms, Selling. Selling is a
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small village midway between Canterbury and Faversham. Two minutes walk from the train station (on the Canterbury East to London Victoria line) is The Sondes Arms. The Sondes has recently reopened after being sold by Shepherd Neame. The pub itself is an attractive red bricked building on the main road through the village with a large garden and an open fireplace. The curved bar currently stocks three real ales. On a recent visit these were Adnams Bitter, Adnams Lighthouse and Shepherd Neame’s Master Brew. The landlord wants to increase the number of hand-pumps to up to six. He is also keen to extend the range to include local beers from Gadds’ and possibly a local cider. Live music (mostly blues or jazz) plays on every second Sunday and quiz nights are every Wednesday. The pub also serves a good selection of homemade meals and has special fish and chip nights (Thursday) and curry nights (Wednesday). They also cater for private parties 11
The PHOENIX TAVERN Abbey Street, FAVERSHAM 01795 591462 REAL ALES from Around the UK and Local REAL FOOD prepared freshly daily on the premises REAL ATMOSPHERE lovely garden and open inglenook log fires REAL TRADITION - 14th century oak beamed pub Quality lagers and Quality Wine from Corney and Barrow
Good Beer Guide 2013
'Official home of the Timothy Taylor Appreciation Society'.
@Phoenixfav
The Phoenix Tavern Faversham
www.thephoenixtavernfaversham.co.uk ME13 7BH - 01795 591462 12
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Pubs at the extreme of Swale from East to West
The Three Tuns, Lower Halstow and functions. Future plans include a beer festival and barbecue, possibly in June 2013. The Sondes is well worth a stop of on the way back from Canterbury and you can even pick up any groceries as they have a village shop open from 06:30 to 23:00. The Three Tuns, Lower Halstow In the west of our branch is the idyllic village of Lower Halstow, a short walk from Newington and with a regular bus service to Chatham and Sittingbourne. It is home to The Three Tuns, a free house located close to the Saxon Shore The Three Tuns Way long distance path. The pub has been in the last two editions of the Good Beer Guide and prides itself on selling local produce. There are three Kent ales on tap permanently; regular brews come from all the major Kent breweries including
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Hopdeamon, Gadds’ and Old Dairy. A permanent cask cider from Kent is also always available – on a recent visit it was Dudda’s Tun. In addition, five to six ciders are also available in boxes from the cellar. The Three Tuns also stocks Kent Curious Brew – a keg lager/beer (and very tasty) from Chapel Down. The Three Tuns is perfect on a summer’s day with a large garden including covered areas for when it’s slightly damp and in the winter has an open log fire. Summer is a good time to visit, particularly for their August Beer and Cider Festival which last year featured around 25 beers and ciders and live music. Some favourite beers were Old Dairy Hop Top and Old Dairy Czar Top – the latter a 10% Russian Imperial Stout – guaranteed to put hairs on your chest! The food is excellent – all locally produced and reasonably priced. The sausage and mash is particularly nice! So next time you fancy a day out you could do worse than The Three Tuns or The Sondes.... [PI]
OpenStreetMap
The Sondes 13
The White Lion Selling
The White Lion is a restored coaching inn dating from 1703, in the village of Selling, close to the beautiful walks of Perry Woods A la carte menu Lunch served 12 to 3, three course set menu £11.95 Tuesday to Saturday
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Early bird Tuesday to Thursday 6pm to 7pm, three course £19.95
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Sunday Roast two course £14.95, three course £19.95
Opening Times Tuesday to Saturday 12:00 to 3:00 & 6:00 to 11:00. Sunday 12:00 to 3:00.
Check website for seasonal opening times. www.whitelionselling.co.uk info@whitelionselling.co.uk 01227 752211
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Taylor Appreciation Society O
n 19th November 2009, The Phoenix Tavern, Faversham rose from the ashes having been a dull run down pub which had been closed for 8 months to become arguably one of Faversham’s best pubs, winning awards and plaudits for its food, real ales, premium lagers and Corney and Barrow wines. Cask Marque accredited, the Phoenix has become a mecca for good beer lovers and recently founded the Timothy Taylor Appreciation Society. Sam Grimston from the famous Yorkshire brewery said, “To our knowledge this is the first Timothy Taylor Appreciation Society, and is a flattering testament to the delicious beers that bear Timothy Taylor’s name. Long may the beer and the Society thrive and develop more branches.” Timothy Taylor was born on 6th August 1826 at Bingley and died on 9th January 1898, aged 71. Rumours abound about him not allowing his ales out of Yorkshire and certainly not into Lancashire! Probably all nonsense but today we are fortunate enough to enjoy these fine ales all over the UK, and with the help of a head and shoulders picture of Timothy Taylor from the brewery and Abbey Print in Faversham, Phoenix Landlord David Selves created a life size cardboard cut out of Timothy Taylor for the launch of the Society and is pictured here with him. Harold Goodwin was elected President of the Society, a just reward for his disappointment when at an airport on the other side of the world he received the Phoenix weekly email telling him that Timothy Taylor Landlord was settling in the cellar. No time to lose. From Heathrow the flyer to Paddington, a cab to St Pancras, the flyer to Faversham, a cab to home behind the Phoenix, front door open, case and coat thrown in and a quick march to the Phoenix to burst through the door in anticipation as the badge was changed from Landlord to “I’m in cleaning fluid”, the beer having all been drunk! The Society will hold regular meetings
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David and Timothy on a night out to sup the ales, the next being 9th April at 7.30pm when Landlord and Golden Best will be available with the famous Phoenix Picking Pots featuring whitebait soaked in Landlord and deep fried. Landlord David Selves commented, “It’s always been one of my favourite beers and we had it on opening night, so it is appropriate that it should be the first appreciation society we form. It was good to see so many people and although this time the furthest traveller was only from Sittingbourne we expect that to change as word spreads and who knows we might start an annual festival so that pilgrims can come from far and wide to meet Mr Taylor who is now enjoying his posthumous retirement applause among friends! [DS]
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Jolly Boys Tour
The Playa Free House, Isle of Sheppey
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attle bus at the ready our intrepid explorers were chomping at the bit. Passports in hand we could feel the excitement, like Christopher Columbus before us we were off to explore unchartered territories. As we rose high into the sky we had no idea what we would find when we landed back on dry land. Then, there it was in front of our eyes - the Isle of Sheppey. Left, right, which way to go? The battle bus veered to the right, swerving through tree lined windy tracks, avoiding the chalets and mobile homes. Eventually we came to a halt in a place the locals called Eastchurch, Warden Road. Here we found a watering hole, The Wheatsheaf, in spacious grounds, with ample parking for what we now realise is an all terrain battle bus (who would have thought Nissan had it in them). Entering the ale hostelry we passed a family dining on the reasonably priced, traditional pub fayre. Approaching the bar, the innkeeper lady offered us a choice of Shepherd Neame Spooks ale or Greene King Abbot for the princely sum of £3.20. Both well kept pints. Back from whence we came in our amazing vehicle, to a more populated area of the island. Here we found a place where the locals meet for social and community gatherings. 16
They named this centre Minster Working Men’s Club, where you can purchase pints of Nelson’s Pieces of Eight or an exceptionally good Shepherd Neame Master Brew for only £2.90. Next to Minster Abbey this club also appears to be the Isle of Sheppey’s political hub. Our party were introduced to political legend Mad Mike Young, Official Monster Raving Loony Party, who insisted on mentioning the luck one of his political colleagues happened upon. Sheik Mihand has invested his retirement fund in a plot of land at the site of the proposed new London Airport runway. When the land is compulsory purchased he will make a killing, but as Sheik Mihand is now short of the price of a pint, he is open to offers for this land situated in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Off to the seaside. We fought through wind and rain, climbing to the top of the Minster cliffs where we found, overlooking the beach, The Playa Free House. Inside the spacious bar our thirsty explorers ordered seven superb pints of Shepherd Neame Late Red (£3.60), a half pint of Master Brew and a non-alcoholic beer for the driver. The smartly dressed bar staff informed us they had a very busy food trade and advance booking was required at weekends. Back inland, or as inland as you can get on Sheppey, we ventured to the Harps Inn, Minster Road. A large premises with ample parking for our battle bus. The friendly bar staff served us St Austell Tribute and Sharp’s Doom Bar at £3.20 from a small bar. The friendly locals suggested some other locations we should visit, namely The Red Lion, Blue Town and the Royal Hotel, Sheerness. Sadly it was time for us to return back to the mainland and get our passport stamped at Jolly Boys headquarters. We discussed our trip and voted the Late Red at The Playa and the Master Brew at the Minster Working Men’s Club as beers of the evening. Can’t wait for our next trip over the water and turn left! [MW]
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THE THREE HATS MILTON REGIS Ever changing selection of cask ales Large Beer Garden Mobile Bar and Catering Service Available for Weddings, Christenings and Birthdays No Function too big or small Call Malcolm on 07764 842478 Three Hats, 93 High Street, Milton Regis, Kent, ME10 2AR
SWALE CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2012 HIGHLY COMMENDED Spring Issue 2013
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A Canterbury Tale I
f you mention Canterbury to anyone they will undoubtedly comment on the Cathedral, or perhaps the Archbishop (past or present), or even the impressive stone wall that surrounds the inner city, or possibly the famous Canterbury Tales. Mention Canterbury to a real ale fan, however, and they are likely to remark on the quality of pubs, the micro breweries and vast choice of ales available in this bustling city. So with all this in mind I decided to spend a couple of afternoons just before Christmas (2012) doing a “rekky” of this great city to actually see what is on offer to the ale drinker. Having two train stations served by Southeastern Rail (one in the East, one in the West) the first decision I had to make was where to start!! I went for West with the first point of call being Murray’s General Stores and the Bottle Shop. Both of these are conveniently located within the farmers’ market food hall literally yards from the station concourse. Opened in 2002 this converted Goods Shed is a haven for fresh local produce of great proportion along with these two independently run real ale and cider outlets. Both stock a very impressive, ever changing, range of quality bottled ales from most of the Kent breweries along with some of the more popular national ones. The Bottle Shop also sells mini casks and polypins subject to availability and selection at the time. What makes both
The Unicorn
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The Bottle Shop at the Goods Shed places very appealing is that you can purchase your desired ale and then enjoy it at a table within the market while sampling the vast range of food delights around you. Dragging myself away from the market my next stop was to be The Unicorn. Dating back to 1593 this charming Tudor fronted building and its then owner, Isaac Buesden, was granted a licence to sell alcohol in 1664, which at first bore no title other than that of an ale house in St Dunstan’s. From then on it passed through many hands but still remained a popular ale house right up to the present day. The Unicorn offers a very welcoming atmosphere and is very much a “locals” pub, being very popular with the (mature) students from the nearby university. It boasts a good selection of ales – normally Master Brew and Doom Bar on full time with the other two hand pulls as rotating guests (normally from Whitstable Brewery). The daily food menu promotes excellent home cooked meals at a very reasonable price. A very worthy starting or indeed ending place depending on which train station you choose. Leaving The Unicorn heading towards the town is the West Gate Inn owned by JD Wetherspoon. This particular venue takes its name from its proximity to Canterbury's West Gate, one of the finest medieval gateways in Britain. This pub is a Grade II listed building, and dates from the 17th century. Over the years, it
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A Canterbury Tale has been modified and rebuilt and has lost much of its timber frame and original features, but still keeps all the quaint “nooks” and “crannies” inside. The ale selection is constantly changing, offering both national and local breweries. The food menu is simple but offers good fayre at a very competitive price. As with most Wetherspoon’s it does what it says on the tin! Leaving here heading towards the High Street you take a left turn into St Peter’s Lane and walk the length until you reach St. Radigunds St – here you will find The Dolphin. This popular gastro/bistro venue was awarded the 2012 Gold accolade for pub of the year by the local CAMRA group. The pub offers up to five real ales (and a cider) normally from Sharp’s, Hopdaemon and Gadds’. The restaurant at the side and rear of the pub is very popular and can become full very quickly at peak times. The pub’s décor and atmosphere is very comfortable
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and welcoming. There is also a comprehensive collection of board games and free internet access. They also have a monthly “Dolphin” quiz on a Monday which proves popular with the locals and ale drinkers alike. Walking two minutes from here along St. Radigunds St towards Northgate you will find The Parrot. This charming grade II star listed building dating back to the 14th century has been skilfully converted into a popular place to drink and eat (Canterbury’s oldest pub - 1370!!). The interior is just as stunning as the exterior boasting low ceilings, original timber beams and flooring and plenty of tapestry hanging from the walls. Acquired by Shepherd Neame, they have kept all the original features whilst adding a touch of brewery memorabilia around. The beer selection is obviously Sheps but they nearly always support a guest ale, normally from Hopdaemon. Unfortunately at my last visit the
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The Swan Inn Teynham
Two ‘LocAles’ including a Wantsum pump Award Winning ‘Duddas Tun’ Cider Sky Sports Free Quiz Sunday from 4.40pm Live music Saturdays at 9pm Karaoke Sundays and Tuesdays from 7pm
Sunday lunch 12-3.30 2 meals for £9 78 London Road, Teynham, Kent ME9 9QH 01795 521 218
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A Canterbury Tale famous Parrot was no longer there – not sure Leaving the cobbled market square the reasoning behind this!! Nevertheless a lovely walking towards Burgate is Butchery Lane. Here historic place to have a drink and/or to eat. you will find The City Arms - one of the three Heading back towards the High Street outlets run by ever popular Canterbury on the corner of Palace St and St Alphege Lane Brewers and owned by Stoneset Inns. Housed in you will find The Bell and Crown.. Capturing a 15th century building this pub has been in the comments I have heard and read it can only existence for over 300 years, being called be described as a typical English pub - a very Morocco and the Angel and Castle. In 1892 it affable and pleasant city pub was registered under its which clearly benefits from present name. Fortunately the passing trade from the pub escaped minor damage Cathedral and yields a good during the wartime bombing mix of clientele. It offers up to raids despite the opposite side 5 Kent ales selected normally of the lane being completely from Whitstable, Gadds’ and destroyed. Today, you will be Canterbury Ales. There is also guaranteed a warm welcome a local cider from Biddenden where you will be offered up to on offer. A “no frills” food four ales from their brewery menu is available offering good (normally one being from value for money – definitely a Gadds’). Good value traditional pub to pop in en-route to the food is available at certain times next. of the day. They also support Within five minutes CAMRA where they will walk you reach Sun Street/ discount your final bill by 10% Burgate and the Nicholson’s when producing an active owned The Old membership card. Buttermarket . Located Continuing the Burgate directly opposite the entrance part of this crawl, if you go to the Cathedral Gate, this back to the main street and traditional pub is a welcome head in the opposite direction site to tourists. As with many of the cathedral you will come pubs in the area it’s steeped in across Canterbury’s other The Old Buttermarket history. There has been a Wetherspoon and the larger of public house on this site for the two, The Thomas over 500 years; a coaching inn called the Black Ingoldsby. Although the building has no real Boy stood here from the 1600s until 1908. A historical interest being an ex-furniture store, butter market used to be held in the square the name of the pub does! Richard Harris outside the pub. Flint pieces in the cellars Barham was born in 1788 at 61 Burgate across indicate it may stand on Roman remains and the road. Using the pen name Thomas Ingoldsby that it used to be connected by tunnels to he wrote The Ingoldsby Legends, which first Canterbury Cathedral. With regards to the ales, appeared, in 1840, in a periodical edited by as with all Nicholson’s pubs they offer a large Charles Dickens. Today this Wetherspoon’s catalogue of changing ales from the national pub keeps up with tradition by offering an breweries, occasionally promoting the local impressive range of changing cask ales and ones. This is supported by their standard food ciders along with their usual food menu. As with menu which you will see in all their outlets. the West Gate this place appeals to the young,
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The Sondes Arms Selling
Restaurant open Friday / Saturday Night 6:30 to 9:00pm Sunday Lunch 12:00 to 4:00pm Curry Night Tuesdays Fish & Chip Night Thursdays
Booking recommended Regular Sunday Lunch Music Blues/Jazz Quiz night every Wednesday Kitchen run by two ex-RAF Chefs
One minutes walk from Selling station Convenience store open from 6:30am until 11:00pm Dog friendly/Children on leads Tel: 01227 752517
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A Canterbury Tale tourists, shoppers and theatre goers alike. still be found in Canterbury today. One of the Continuing you will now need to cross highlights of this place is that you can view the Canterbury’s busiest road - Upper/Lower Bridge brewing process from your table. The 4 barrel St and head left towards Broad St. Here you are plant is behind glass partitions literally next to looking for a small side road on the right called the bar. Along with the impressive selection of Havelock Street and The New Inn. Tucked cask ales available from the brewery there is away amongst a row of terrace houses this little normally one guest from Gadds’. The food menu converted two up two down is a is equally as impressive and very real hidden gem! Here you will good value – especially if you find a friendly and warm hold a CAMRA card (10% off). welcome from the owners and The final pub on this locals. It sort of feels like a extensive yet informative crawl is mellow, relaxed front room about 10 mins walk from beerhouse, like those common Canterbury East station, near in Victorian times. The open Wincheap. The Kings Head is a fires and the old juke box just hidden gem and very much a add even more character to the traditional pub. It has a log fire, interior. The pub offers a good holds regular quizzes and serves range of changing real ales and a good value home cooked food. It local cider, good value home offers four real ales including one cooked food and a quaint or two from Kent (particularly tranquil relaxing beer garden to from Goacher’s and the rear (once you have gone Hopdaemon) and very through the extension and the reasonably priced B&B conservatory)!! Definitely worth accommodation. Quoted from the 10 minute walk from the city Trip Adviser “one of only a centre!!! handful of proper pubs left in Retracing our steps for Canterbury.” I am sure this The New Inn the final furlong back along speaks volumes when a tourist/ Lower Bridge St and down the visitor is looking for that certain main High Street parade just opposite Guildhall type of pub away from the hustle and bustle of Street is a small opening called White Horse the city. Certainly one to try if you have a spare Lane. If you don’t spot this you will undoubtedly hour waiting for train – which with Southeastern see the board on the pavement advertising The is quite likely! Foundry Brew Pub. This is Canterbury Being a supportive CAMRA member and Brewers’ flagship pub in the city and probably a real ale fan I have tried to pick what I the most popular real ale (craft) outlet in the personally feel are the best of the bunch in area to date. Owned by the Stoneset Inns (City Canterbury. Obviously this is not a definitive list Arms and the Beercart Arms) this modern and of course it is just personal selection and looking yet industrial feel venue is a haven for choice. Everyone has different views about the real ale and cider drinkers. The two storey pubs I have or have not included. However I building, now the site of Canterbury Brewers hope this article will help a little and assist the (opened in June 2011), was part of the Drury & reader when they are next visiting Canterbury Biggleston’s Foundry from the early 1800s to looking for that unique beer. the late 1900s supplying the south east railway. [AK] They even constructed one of the very first torpedoes and their 19th century lamp posts can
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Who said there are no ‘proper’ pubs left?
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rying to maintain a seventeenth century pub, situated in the back of beyond, with little passing trade other than the odd seal, yachtsman or rambler is no easy task. We endeavour to preserve it in as unique and original condition as we can, aiming to keep it as far away from ‘modern’ developments in the licensed trade as possible, (complete with miserable landlord, outside toilets and more draughts than a tramps trousers), our aim being to provide a glimpse of how things used to be. This ambition often leads to problems. One couple, (who were first timers), arrived in a very large and expensive car, and on enquiring about the men’s ‘facilities’, were told that they were outside. This caused great amusement, which rapidly turned to amazement when they realised that I was serious. Unable to resist the temptation, and not sure if their description of ‘quaint’ referred to me or the pub, I added “and if the bucket is full, let me know and I’ll empty it.” They were out of the door and away faster than a Morris man after a free pint, never to be seen again. Being a grumpy landlord comes naturally after fifteen years of experiencing things like people letting their muddy dogs sit on the chairs, expecting their children to be allowed to roam the pub like marauding pirates and thinking that the purchase of two half pints entitles them to hog the fire for two hours. “Oh we believe in free expression”, one couple said when I objected to their offspring’s attempts to demolish a model ship. “They have to learn you know.” Those children were most surprised when I asked them to leave and take their parents with them. No doubt they are now traumatised for life and not able to go into pubs. (A good result if I say so myself)! If being grumpy means that I expect reasonable behaviour from people who respect the environment they are in and the people around them, then ‘it’s a fair cop Guv’.
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Ours is thankfully still a pub which serves food and not a pretend restaurant where you can get a drink. Nor do we stock any of the numerous designer drinks that grace the shelves of many of those outlets that are all chrome fittings and shiny leather seats, that you slide off as soon as you reach for your packet of nutritionally balanced, organically grown health snacks. We have no TV or games machines, and our single nod at ‘entertainment’ is the local radio station on in the background. The only noise is usually the hum of conversation, a fact appreciated by the surprising amount of regulars we have, who put up with the landlord in order to enjoy a decent pint and good company. Back to being grumpy and those things which are guaranteed to set me off. High on the agenda are the ‘beer buffs’, who ramble on and on about ‘nutty’ flavours, and ‘a follow through of gooseberry with an aftertaste of hop,’ or words to that effect. One such customer waxed lyrical in such terms about one of Phil Goacher’s beers one day, much to the obvious amusement of ‘Big Ron,’ who sat in his normal corner trying to enjoy a quite pint. When asked his opinion as a local, he cast one rheumy eye at the enthusiastic drinker and said, “If you mean the beer’s good, why not just say so!” Amen. I could go on about the beer escalator, the weather, red tape, VAT and ‘elf and safety’, not to mention all those phone calls trying to sell to me something that I don’t need or want, but I’d need a lot more space than is available here! Happy New Year. Derek Grumpy Landlord of the Shipwright’s Arms at Hollowshore
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Are micro pubs a positive step forward?
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have had a keen interest in the micro pub movement ever since my first visit to The Butcher’s Arms. Thinking back, these small pubs remind me of my visits to Ireland - Dingle in particular - where pubs were and probably still are shared spaces with other activities such as shoe or bike repairs. These small pubs, like the micros, offer an environment which encourages a community atmosphere where people get together and talk. I love the idea that in a time of recession when many shops and pubs are closing down due to lack of trade, the micro pubs are thriving. A mixture of low overheads created through limited opening hours, selected locations and a small team of dedicated staff (often just the landlord/lady) have managed to create an environment where the pub can still flourish. I am however concerned that this new growth in micro pubs might indeed have a
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negative impact on the traditional local. With pubcos persisting with high rents and expensive beer lists, it is possible that the competition brought by these new enterprises may indeed be the competition that the ‘traditional pub’ cannot overcome? It is interesting to see micro pubs opening in closed shops, whereas pubs are being turned into supermarkets and flats. I worry that we may lose much of the heritage that exists in our old pubs, from the varied bar styles (public, salon) to the large gin palaces with their cut glass windows and open horseshoe bars. Things seem to be moving in a great circle. Another chapter in pub history - an evolutionary stage - moving back from the large prestigious buildings built by national breweries who used the design of their pubs to show their wealth, driving smaller bars out of business, back to the small bars that were often run from a front room. [KS]
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A few pints from The Few G
reetings gentle reader. For my piece this time I once again return to the Second World War and a tale of thirsty troops in Normandy. Picture yourself as a footsore Tommy in war torn France. You have survived the crossing of the channel on D Day, you stormed Sword beach dodging everything that Fritz could throw at you and secured the beachhead. You then moved inland, liberating villages, fighting in the Bocage where every sunken lane was a perfect place for the Germans to defend and then fought for days to capture Caen. You are at last given a bit of R & R and by George you need a beer! There’s nothing like invading an occupied country to work up a thirst! Only one problem - there isn’t any beer as the supply lines are not delivering ale as there are more important things like tanks to bring over from England. All was not lost and the ever resourceful Englishman would not be separated from his beer if he could at all help it. Now those nice people at the Bushell, Watkins & Smith Brewery of Westerham agreed to supply beer for free to the troops in Normandy, but how to get it there? Step in the RAF. Bushells had been supplying beer to the mess at Biggin Hill so the solution was staring them in the face. They would fly it there. The Spitfire Mk IX had been modified to carry bombs or fuel tanks under the wings and the fighter boys quickly worked out that the mountings could be adapted to carry beer casks. This modification was known as Modification XXX (someone had a sense of humour!!). These Spitfires were frequently sent back to England for ‘maintenance’ only to return with two full casks of beer slung under the wings, nicely cooled from the flight. I imagine that the conversation between the pilot and the squadron commander went something like this. “Sorry Skip but the old crate is using too much fuel and the ground crew cannot seem to fix it. Ok if I pop back to Blighty and get the old girl sorted out - I’ll be back before you know it.” To which the reply could have been, “Yes, old 26
A new meaning to a pint of Spitfire boy, there have been a few incidences of this lately. Better to get it sorted, these Mark IX Spits are a bit thirsty and fuel is in short supply. Mind you, don’t end up in the drink as that sea water leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, if you know what I mean!” Now of course that conversation is purely imaginary but it seems to me impossible that the top brass didn’t know what was happening as it is difficult to hide two beer casks slung under the wings of a Spitfire as it returned to the airfield, and also the whole squadron would be out watching the landing with their tongues hanging out! Spare a thought though for the pilot. Can you imagine how popular he would have been if he had a bumpy landing and lost the beer! Dog fighting with Jerry Messerschmitts would have been a piece of cake compared with facing the wrath of the thirsty ground troops and crew and certainly less dangerous! However, this resourcefulness did not go unnoticed by the taxman and we all know he wants his pound of flesh or in this case gallon of beer!! The brewery was told to stop as they were in violation of the law by exporting beer without paying taxes. This seems to have put a
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A few pints from The Few stop to the beer runs (boo hiss to the taxman!!), however it is more than likely that the real reason was that as the allies moved further into France airfields were set up in the liberated areas and there was no need to fly back to England to effect ‘maintenance’. So ended a resourceful but short lived enterprise of which I am sure the troops were immensely grateful to the pilots who were able to deliver them a few good pints of English ale. So there you have it, a tale of The Few supplying a few to a fortunate few. Cheers,
Careful we don’t want spillage
20th White Cliffs Festival of Winter Ales
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eld over Friday 1st & Saturday 2nd of galore if you were lucky enough to draw a number out that included a 1 in February at the Masion it. Luckily I was successful and Dieu in Dover, the White Cliffs received as my prize a book on Festival of Winter Ales offered home brewing pale ales which I around 75 ales for the discerning hope to try out in the near drinker in its now customary future. The glasses this year time and place. As always the were decorated with a cartoon beers on offer were from 5% image of the late and much ABV and up, with the strongest missed Roger Marples, a being Elgood’s Black Eagle stalwart CAMRA campaigner Imperial Stout at a heady 8.7%. I and leading light in CAMRA had my sensible head on when I from its very beginnings. I met visited from the start at 1pm Roger on only a couple of Friday and mostly kept to half occasions at which he was pints so that I could sample a charming and enjoyed passing on wide choice of ales before I his knowledge with enthusiasm reached my limit. Of particular and was a great raconteur. I was note I enjoyed a pint of Kinver truly sad when I learned of his Breweries Khyber at 5.8% passing. I called time on the which, according to the tasting Roger Marples Glass session at around 6.45pm which notes in the events leaflet, is a gave me sufficient time to make “Golden strong bitter with a hop bite that overwhelms the fleeting malty my way back to the railway station well insulated sweetness and drives through to the dry finish” from the cold and wet by the fine warming ales I which I enjoyed and went well with my curry. As had enjoyed that afternoon. [GH] usual the was the tombola stall with prizes
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South Sittingbourne pub walk A loop walk of around 2½ hours starting and ending at Sittingbourne railway station. For the extended version with an extra pub visit see our website: www.camra-swale.org.uk
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n leaving the front entrance of Sittingbourne railway station, cross the traffic lights and pass by the side of the Forum shopping centre and you will reach the town centre. Once you are on the main high street head right for about 7 minutes until you reach Rock Road, a residential street on your left. When you reach the end of Rock Road turn right and then follow the road as it bends left, keeping the small play park to your left. Continue to the end and cross straight over the busy road (Homewood Avenue). Continue straight over across the grass and then it is straight on down College Road. At the end of College Road you will reach The Beauty of Bath. At this point you will be about 25 minutes into the trail. Perhaps too early for the first pub of the day, so there is no pressure to stop here, but of course this is up to you! Turn right away from the pub (down Riddles Road) and then take a sharp left down Starvacre Lane. Up until this point we admit that it has not been the most scenic of strolls, however if you continue straight down Starvacre with the allotment to your right you will soon be traversing fields and orchards. Continue straight along this (quite muddy) path for around 10-15 minutes. You will come to a few points where there are other footpaths bearing off to the left or right, but continue straight along the track, which becomes narrower as it goes on, until you reach a small road. Cross the road and continue straight across the open field ahead, which will take around 10 or 15 minutes. On reaching the other side of the field climb the steps ahead of you and take care crossing the busy road to the pavement. Head right and you will cross a bridge over the motorway. Continue to follow 30
this road and you will soon find yourself in Bredgar village. Continue straight on past the war memorial, keeping the pond on your right. A few minutes further, after passing the church, and you will reach The Sun. The Sun has a sizeable front bar with a long bar separating it from the large restaurant to the rear. On our visit they were serving Sharp’s Doom Bar, Shepherd Neame’s Master Brew, and Harveys Sussex Best. A wide selection of food is served, from sandwiches and jacket potatoes to burgers and pork belly. On leaving The Sun, retrace your steps through the village, over the bridge and back across the field. When you reach the road again instead of taking the footpath follow the road left. You will meet a T-junction onto Heart’s Delight/Wrens Road. Crossing the road go down through the gate and follow the sign-posted footpath across the field towards Borden church. On reaching the edge of the field, head right down a short, narrow path between the houses. Then continue straight on with the church to your left. Just to the right across the road is The Maypole. This free house has a very cosy front bar with a wood-burning stove. This is separated by a door from the larger (but still not huge) bar, with comfy sofas and a dining area. On our visit there were four hand pumps serving Master Brew and Doom Bar along with Butcombe Bitter and Otter Amber. On leaving the Maypole you have a choice. You can continue the walk across the fields to the Plough and Harrow at Oad Street. This loop will add anther hour to your walk and is available on the Swale CAMRA website. If returning home (we only have room for this route here) turn right at the front of the pub and walk towards Borden Church. Take a left at the T-junction and follow the wall of the church until you reach School Lane. This is also the point that the Oad Street loop re-joins our walk.
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THE BEAR Faversham The Bear Inn, 3 Market Place, Faversham, Kent ME13 7AG, Tel 01795 532668
Chris & Marie Annand and staff welcome you to this historic 15th Century inn in the heart of Faversham Immaculately kept Shepherd Neame beers Traditional home made lunches served every day Join us for our popular Quiz Night held on the last Wednesday of every month Find us on Facebook
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South Sittingbourne pub walk OpenStreetMap
Station
The Sun, Bredgar The Maypole, Borden The Long Hop, Sittingbourne The Plough and Harrow, Oad St
Turn down School Lane with the church to your right hand side. There is no pavement at first so be careful! After a few minutes the road will bear left. Instead of following the road, enter what looks like a driveway to ‘Lyndum’. This is a public footpath. Go through the gate and heed the notices about keeping to the path and closing the gates to ensure the livestock does not escape! Keeping to your left, go through a second gate and head straight across the field toward the two wooden markers. This was rather muddy when we attempted it and you could to go round the outside of the field. Go through the markers and directly across the next field. When you reach the edge of the field cross the style and again walk straight over the next field. The rough path will lead you to a style. However if you look to your right you will see a gate the corner of the field. Go through the gate and follow the narrow path between the hedges and houses. After a few minutes you will find yourself exiting through the Pine Lodge Care Centre car park and onto the very busy London Road (A2).
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Walk right down London Road and after two minutes you will reach The Long Hop. This free house is a wooden panelled pub with open fire and views of, erm, the lovely A2 and more importantly the park opposite, complete with cricket pavilion, hence the name of this establishment. On our visit both Sharp’s Cornish Coaster and Master Brew were being served. The pub is split levelled with the main bar being to the rear of the pub. On leaving, continue right down London Road and after about 20 minutes of this not so tranquil part of the walk you will be back in Sittingbourne town centre. If you still feel you could do with another pub stop or two on your return journey, there is always The Billet, a Greene King house on the opposite side of London Road about 5 minutes on from the Long Hop. Or there are numerous pubs in Sittingbourne town centre, with the Smith and Jones chain owned The Vineyard which often serves national favourites, or The Red Lion further down the high street, which has a pleasant garden and serves Sharp’s Doom Bar. [SC & KS] 33
THE BOWL INN Find us on the top of the North Downs above Charing, in an area of outstanding natural beauty. Enjoy a pint of real ale or a glass of wine in our large beer garden or heated patio area. Regular steak nights, curry nights, and live music.
Four Star Bed and Breakfast Accommodation We can also offer bed and breakfast accommodation with 4 en-suite bedrooms, and a garden room which offers full facilities for disabled guests. We are a 'dog and horse friendly' Inn Alan and Sue Paine Egg Hill Road, Charing, Ashford, Kent TN27 OHG
Tel: 01233 712256
email info@bowl-inn.co.uk
The Swan & Harlequin We have the largest covered outside drinking area in town
Faversham in Bloom Winner 34
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All within a day of Swale Keith and Gill take another day trip, all within a day of Swale. This time it’s a journey back in time for them as they discover the lovely seventeenth century country pub, The Kings Head in East Hoathly, where Gill’s ancestor George Watford was licensee/landlord and owned the butcher’s shop next door in the mid nineteenth century.
D
uring the course of our genealogical research over the past three years, we have visited a number of fascinating places, some repeatedly. It occurred to us that one such place in particular, the village of East Hoathly, with its charming 17th century pub and more recently attached micro-brewery at The Kings Head, would undoubtedly make a pleasant and enlightening spring or summer outing for some of our dedicated as well as less devoted CAMRA members. The location is approximately 50 miles from Swale and a very pleasant journey through Charing, Smarden, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst, Burwash and Heathfield, taking about an hour and a half by car. The Kings Head is situated fairly centrally to the village, nestled in the green East Sussex countryside just off the A22 and is about
The Kings Head now Spring Issue 2013
The Kings Head then 15 miles from Eastbourne and 5 miles from Uckfield. The pub has long been renowned for its fine food and varied menu as well as its range of real ales. We have visited on a number of occasions in the past few years. On a visit last October we were delighted to have found little has changed. We would highly recommend a visit, either for a leisurely meal en route to a holiday destination or for an organised CAMRA group trip to perhaps include a look at the attached micro-brewery. The pub used to be a coaching inn for travellers between London and Eastbourne. In 2002 the 1648 Brewery was established in what used to be the stable buildings of the inn. The brewery has been successful over the years and they have now acquired the former forge building which is also attached to the premises. The proprietors are in the process of expanding their business into these buildings. Many of you will have, perhaps, already sampled the ales of the 1648 Brewery at The Elephant in Faversham or The Swan at Teynham and the following beers are just a few of their own, taken from a list appearing on the pub’s own website. As at 11 February 2013, the 1648 beers available were Triple Champion (4.0%), Signature (4.4%), and Gold Angel (5.0%), the latter having replaced Winter Warrant (4.8%) 35
All within a day of Swale on that day. In addition to the three 1648 beers The Kings Head always have Harveys Sussex Best Bitter. However, for the Summer months, after Easter, they have a fifth pump on with a guest ale from breweries such as Kings Brewery, Horsham and Dark Star. East Hoathly boasts two pubs although we have not visited the other, namely The Foresters Arms which is a Harveys Sussex Brewers pub. [GJ&KJ]
Landlord’s lament
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ood old Enterprise Inns, they never fail to surprise me. First came the price rises of around 3.5%, not too bad until you realise it's 3.5% on top of already over inflated prices. These price rises came into effect on 4th February, but Enterprise Inns didn't make publicans aware of individual product costs until the 5th February online and 7th February via good old fashioned Royal Mail, making it hard for publicans to prepare their customers for the impending doom about to be inflicted upon them. Just received my latest copy of Empower, an Enterprise Inns publication aimed at promoting footfall through your pub. Glancing at the calendar for March it's packed with great ideas, Mothers Day, Formula 1, 6 Nations rugby and St Patricks Day. Then I glance at April and realise that very little appears to be happening that month, most glaringly on 23rd April! Not even an acknowledgement, these people should be hung drawn and quartered from the nearest flagpole, where the English flag should be! For those who have not worked it out yet 23rd April is St George's Day, and if you were unaware and English you should be flogged and tried for treason with the muppets at Empower. Happy St George's Day. God save our blah blah blah....... 36
List of Ales A sample of some of the ales and their availability are:
Ruby Mild (3.6%) Available December to May Festival Ale 30 (3.7%) Occasional availability Original (3.9%) Available occasionally Triple Champion (4.0%) Available all year Signature (4.4%) Available all year
From pub to vicarage
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s many readers will know Chris Maclean, the landlord of The Railway Hotel in Faversham, will be leaving the town in the next few months to be ordained as a Church of England Minister at Canterbury Cathedral. Chris has been landlord and tenant at The Railway Hotel since 2006 and was instrumental in resurrecting the pub, encouraging the brewery to invest in its refurbishment and requesting the reinstallation of traditional features including the bar dividing screens. He has been a keen supporter of CAMRA and Swale Ale, regularly taking out strange adverts that often provide little or no information about his pub, but rather are designed to amuse. The Railway Hotel has regularly served a range of Shepherd Neame’s pilot and seasonal beers, as well as becoming a major attraction during the Faversham Hop Festival. For this reason I would like to wish Chris all the best in his move to his new parish in Walmer. I am sure at some time we may all see him in his new local which is most likely to be the Berry! [KS]
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Swale Mail We enjoy receiving letters, rants and comments from Swale Ale readers, landlords and pub goers. If you would like to make a comment about what you have read in Swale Ale please contact us at swaleale@googlemail.com
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aving just read the latest Swale Ale I would like to point out some errors in the article on St Albans and look forward to reading the corrections in the next edition. The Horn was originally "The Horn of Plenty" and after various changes of names including the "The Horn Reborn" "Midland Hotel" (after the demolition of the Midland Railway) before becoming "The Horn". The original "Midland Railway" pub was on the opposite corner and an excellent venue for a drink whilst waiting to be met from the station. It is now a small residential development and a great loss to the pubs in St Albans. Also there is no mention of either the Robin Hood or the Victoria (formally the Acorn) which are useful stops when returning from the city centre to the St. Albans city railway station. Whilst G & KJ were visiting the Blacksmiths I'm surprised they didn't mention the Cock opposite. Both pubs have improved significantly since the 70s but neither were to my taste last summer even if the "Blackies" was in the 2012 GBG. Other pubs of note that did not get a mention either in the Winter edition or the Summer edition and worthy of a visit are the Peahen, Portland Arms, Spotted Bull close to the city centre or the King William IV - Roger Protz's local. Can we expect a third article covering the Marshalswick pubs or other pubs near the city centre Bar sixty2 (formally the Pineapple), Rats Castle, Crown, Peacock, Jolly Sailor? CAMRA member Bob Martin Thank you for your correspondence. The original article was never intended to be a complete list of all the pubs in St Albans - but
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merely a sample of what one could find. We agree there are quite a number of other pubs worth a visit. However, in response to the suggested corrections, we would point out that the The Horn was originally 'The Midland Station Hotel' and that from the information we have, the pub on the opposite corner was originally 'The Masons Arms' before it became 'The Midland Railway' in 1870 (known as The Little Midland).
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ince printing our article about the Brewery History Society in the Winter issue we have been made aware that this title can also be purchased from the Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre in Preston Street, Faversham. The Faversham Society also have on sale a number of books about local pub and brewery history including: Inns and Taverns of Faversham (1982) by Frank Haley - 65pp - £6.70 The Truth about Hop-Picking in Faversham, the Locals Remember (illustrated) (1999) by Peter Stevens - 52 pp - £6.15 Faversham’s Historic Pubs and Breweries by Peter Stevens (2005) - 96pp - £7.65 Faversham Society Fleur de Lis Heritage Centre Preston Street Faversham Kent ME13 8NS
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The Three Hats Post Easter Beer Festival LIVE MUSIC FRIDAY WITH RICH PHILLIPS
5th, 6th and 7th April 2013 Open from 11am - close
93 High Street, Milton Regis, Sittingbourne. Kent ME10 2AR
For all enquiries call Malcolm on 07764 842 478 Spring Issue 2013
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