Swale ale spring 2015

Swale Ale THE FREE MAGAZINE OF SWALE CAMRA

Drinkers hoping for a Mild Spring

Denken Reine Gedanken Page 26

Microbreweries USA Page 30

Death of a Pub Page 40

SPRING 2015 1

Firkin Ale - 07762301364 Brewed by microbreweries delivered to the Licence Trade Many Breweries – One Delivery

Presidential Company for Gravesham and Medway Licensed Victuallers Association

Email: Firkinaleltd@live.co.uk 2

Swale Ale © Spring 2015

Editorial

Published by the Swale Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale Ltd (CAMRA).

Circulation: 1500 Editorial Committee and Contributors: Les Bailey, Derek Cole, Suzanne Collins, Hannah Greer, Mike Harris, Paul Irving, David Jenkins, Paul Skelton, Keir Stanley, Jeff Tucker, Jeff Waller Print Liaison: Les Bailey Advertising: Gary Holness ——————————————–—— All correspondence to: Les Bailey 58 Wallers Road Faversham Kent ME13 7PL Email: swaleale@gmail.com www.camra-swale.org.uk www.issuu.com/swaleale 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 another bumper edition of Swale Ale packed full of interesting articles. As always there is plenty of pub news in this edition, including details of the new Micropub in Faversham and a look back at the Mechanics Arms – a Shepherd Neame pub recently sold under a restrictive covenant meaning it is less likely to re-open as a pub. As always we need more pub news – so please e-mail us or use Whatpub.com to help us make sure our news is up to date. As we get closer to summer more and more beer festivals start to take place, including Planet Thanet at Easter, Kent festival in July and many others across the country. I know many of you will now be planning your holidays and if you are travelling somewhere particularly exotic why not take Swale Ale with you and send us a picture of it - whether you are relaxing on a beach or heading away on safari. We are always interested in new articles and you will have seen in this and previous editions articles from the US, Australia and Spain. We would also welcome your letters and views, whether on pubs in general, real ale or what you would like to see in future editions of the magazine.

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: Paul Irving Secretary: Les Bailey Social Secretary: Doris Munday Treasurer: Les Bailey Press and Publicity Officer: Matt Deller Pubs Officer: Harvey Melia

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Chairman’s Chat

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ince the last edition of Swale Ale we have been busy shortlisting our pubs for the 2015 Pub of the Year and 2016 Good Beer Guide.

Congratulations to all the pubs put forward for the Good Beer Guide and our top four – The Elephant, Faversham, The Paper Mill, Sittingbourne, The Three Hats, Milton Regis, and The Three Tuns, Lower Halstow. Many of you, like me, will now have visited Furlong’s Ale House in Faversham – the latest Swale Micropub. Micropubs reached a key milestone in January with the 100th opening. Micropubs are expanding from their base in Kent and you can now find them in most parts of the country. How long will this expansion last? Who knows, but there is no sign of it slowing down!

Hopefully many of you managed to get the Dover Beer Festival in February which was good fun with some excellent beer. My favourite was Abbeydale’s Absolution. Abbeydale is one of the many quality breweries in Sheffield – a great place for a pub crawl! You may be reading this at another beer festival such as Planet Thanet and if you are, feel free to take this copy home with you or donate it to your local pub.

I’m now looking forward to the spring and getting out and about to visit some of the great country pubs we have in our branch and I might well see you in there!

Cheers!

Paul Irving

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staggering 40% of people no longer visit the pub and only 14% of adults visit the pub once a week or more. 23% of pub-goers have stated in independent research, published by CAMRA in January 2015, that they visit the pub less often than they did just 12 months ago.

With 29 pubs closing every week and pubs experiencing these worrying trends, we would like to encourage everyone to visit the pub in April to show your support for British pubs. Pubs are a great place to socialise, and that does not always mean having to drink alcohol. A great community pub is adaptable to the needs of its locals, offering the perfect social environment for all to enjoy.

Trading Standards If you believe that you have been treated unfairly in a local pub or bar you should contact your local trading standards department. Trading Standards exist to ensure that customers are treated fairly and neither cheated nor mislead by traders.

The Trading Standards organisation in Swale is entitled ‘Environmental and Consumer Protection’ and can be contacted on: Telephone 01233 898825 Email trading.standardseast@kent.gov.uk 4

CONTEMPORARY PUB AND EATING HOUSE with log fires, comfy arm chairs, dining room, courtyard & garden, set in Conyer which is part of the fabulous Swale walking area with the Saxon Shore Way and Swale Heritage Trail. Footpath to/from Teynham station - 20 minutes walk, Bus 344/345, parking. Dogs & children welcome.

Great Cuisine from our light lunch menu to dining Ă la Carte with a wide selection of dishes prepared by our chef from locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. Always ask if you have any special diet requirements.

Awarded 5 stars for food hygiene.

Food served daily ~ see our website for times, menus, special days, jazz & blues evenings, etc New weekend breakfast menu ~ served 10am to 12:30pm

FREE HOUSE with good range of cask ales, lagers & wines including Adnams, Masterbrew, Old Dairy Red Top, Guest Ales Read about us in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. CASK MARQUE www.shipinnconyer.co.uk email enquiries@shipinnconyer.co.uk TABLE BOOKINGS t 01795 520881

The Ship Inn Conyer Conyer Quay, Teynham Kent ME9 9HR 5

225 YEARS SERVING SUSSEX ….and still as fresh as ever Winner of 3 Local CAMRA Festival Awards in 2014 and 2 Awards in CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain London & South East Area Competition 2013/14

‘Time Honoured Beer Locally Revered’

BreweryAdA4/15.indd 1

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28/01/2015 14:48

Hopdaemon

Swale Brewery News Shepherd Neame

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n spring Shepherd Neame will relaunch some of its seasonal ales.

Early Bird (4.3% ABV) takes its name from the Early Bird variety of Shepherd Neame’s signature East Kent Goldings hops, grown in hop gardens near the Faversham brewery. A refreshing pale golden beer with floral aroma, it is a superb accompaniment for salads and fish dishes. There’s no chance you will miss it at the bar, as the brand has undergone a complete redesign to give it a more eye-catching, contemporary look. Look out for the colourful green square pump clip.

Created to commemorate St George’s Day, Dragonfire (ABV 4.5%) combines barley, oats, rye and wheat with two English hop varieties – Goldings and First Gold – in addition to a fiery secret ingredient. Conceived in Shepherd Neame’s pilot brewery, the gutsy seasonal ale is full bodied and rich with a mellow mahogany hue. It is among a new collection of No.18 Yard Brewhouse beers, named after the historic cask store.

India Pale Ale (ABV 4.5%) hails from the tradition of 18th Century IPAs, which relied on generous hopping to protect exports during arduous journeys overseas. This modern incarnation retains the strength, body and strong hop character which is synonymous with this beer’s provenance.

India Pale Ale delivers potent bitterness, offset with generous amounts of pale ale malt to deliver a balanced, yet uncompromising brew.

Shepherd Neame also brewed two beers for the latest Wetherspoon’s festival. At 5.0%, Boadicea IPA is described as having a sweet, malty base balanced by subtle bitter and citrus notes with a clean finish. Two Spanish brewers also brewed a beer at Shepherd Neame – Cerveceria Fort English Style IPA. This 5.8% beer is described as golden-coloured, hoppy, light-bodied beer which contains light, fruity notes and a balanced finished.

The branch Brewery Liaison Officer is Bob Thompson.

Hopdaemon continues to brew at capacity and Swale Ale is pleased to see Skrimshander I.P.A. avaliable in many more pubs locally.

The branch Brewery Liaison Officer is Howard Gates.

Mad Cat Mad Cat is to provide guest beers to a number of pubs including the Three Sisters at Otterham Quay and the Vaults Cask and Kitchen in Faversham.

The branch Brewery Liaison Officer is Doris Munday.

Branch Diary Wednesday 8 April 2015 8pm - 9:30pm Business Meeting at Summoner, Sittingbourne followed by social at Fountain, Sittingbourne Wednesday 13 May 2015 8pm - 9:30pm Business Meeting at Swan,Teynham followed by Social at Black Lion, Lynsted Wednesday 10 June 2015 8pm - 9:30pm Business Meeting at The Bowl Inn, Charing Wednesday 8 July 2015 8pm - 10pm Swale CAMRA AGM, Three Tuns, Lower Halstow Wednesday 12 August 2015 8pm - 9:30pm Business Meeting at The Shipwright’s, Hollowshore.

Swale CAMRA’s branch business meetings currently start at 8pm for approximately one hour. They are often followed by a social meeting at another pub close by.

Additional details and maps are available on our website: www.camra-swale.org.uk

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THE THREE HATS T HE T HREE HAT S MILTON REGIS MI LTON REGI S

Ever changing selection of cask ales

Ever changing selection of cask ales

Large Beer Garden Mobile Bar and Catering Service Available for Large Beer Garden Weddings, Christenings and Birthdays

Mobile Bar and Catering Ser vice Available for Weddings, Christenings and Birthdays

No function too big or small No Function t oo big or small

Call Malcolm on 07764 842478 Call Malcolm on 07764 842478

T hree Hats,The 93 High Street, Milton Regis,Street, Kent, ME10 2AR Three Hats, 93 High

Milton Regis, Kent, ME10 2AR

SWALE CAM RA PUB OF T HE YEAR 2013

SWALE CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2014 8

the enterprise range.

Swale Pub News Charing The Bowl - continues to serve Kent beers, recent beers have included brews from Wantsum and Ramsgate.

Doddington The Chequers Inn - the tenancy is currently being advertised.

Eastchurch The Wheatsheaf - has closed with its future uncertain.

Eastling The Carpenters Arms - Angela Stevens is the new landlady and he is running the pub with her partner Darryl who is a chef. They took over in mid January and will be doing meals by the time this magazine goes to press.

Faversham The Chimney Boy - is still home to Faversham Folk Club each Wednesday night. The pub features regular live bands and has just rebranded its restaurant Prestons.

The Elephant - Good to see Hopdaemon Skrimshander making a rare appearance recently.

Furlong’s Ale House - is proving popular with locals and is now serving four beers mostly from Kent (and occasionally from Sussex). Regular beers include those from Canterbury Ales, Hopdaemon and Wantsum. Up to two ciders are also served along with Kent wines. A CAMRA discount of 10p of a pint of ale/cider and 5p off a half has been introduced.

The Market Inn - hosts regular live music and is also the home to a Folk Music Session on the last Sunday of each month at 8pm.

The Vaults Cask and Kitchen - continues to serve a Mad Cat house beer alongside national beers from

The Phoenix Tavern - on 10th – 12th July 2015 the pub’s Timothy Taylor Appreciation Society will be taking ‘Timothy Taylor’ back to Keighley on a weekend outing to the Timothy Taylor Brewery.

Leave Faversham on Friday, back Sunday night, if you are interested in joining in, put your name down!

The Railway Hotel - is home to Faversham Blues Club. Different artists performing on the last Wednesdays of each month. 8.30pm-11pm.

Graveney Four Horseshoes - it is reported by a branch member that the pub will reopen in early April (6th?) as the ‘Freewheel’ reflecting a new emphasis on attracting the cycling community; it is a short distance from the National Cycling route. It is understood that it will serve afternoon teas and in the evening there will be real ale!

Lower Halstow The Three Tuns - held a very successful winter beer festival which was well attended by CAMRA members. Some great beers were available along with a hog roast. Regular quizzes continue to be held (usually first Wednesday of the month).

Milton Regis The Three Hats - serves a good range of national beers and with a new menu proving popular with diners. A beer festival is planned for the summer and Malcolm will also be having a real ale stall at Sittingbourne St George’s Day celebrations in the High Street.

Milstead The Red Lion - a recent visit by a CAMRA member found Musket Flintlock and Adnams Bitter available.

Minster The Heritage – recently celebrated their first birthday with a wide range of beers and live music.

The event was well attended with over 40 locals joining in the celebrations. Recent beers have included commissioned brews from Black Tap Brewery (a Solihull based brewer) called Heritage Bitter and Swampy Mild. Mad Cat has brewed Dockyard Church Ale for the Heritage with 20p Page 10▶ 9

◀ Page 9 from each pint donated to the Sheerness Dockyard Church Preservation Trust.

Minster Working Men’s Club - is reported to be serving a Mad Cat beer and CAMRA members are welcome to visit.

Newnham The George - has regular music including: April 3rd, Granddads. May 1st, Kameeleon. June 5th, Missouri Gutts. July 3rd, Lakota. August 7th, Goosebumps.

September 4th, Soozuns. October 2nd, Chillbillies.

November 6th, Kelly’s Heroes. December 4th, The Benz.

Oad Street The Plough and Harrow - is now stocking two guest beers with a focus on local breweries including (on a recent visit) Mad Cat. Perry Wood The Rose and Crown - will host a monthly quiz night on the first Wednesday of the month. Teams of up to four can play at £2 per head with brain food supplied.

Queenborough There are rumours that a Micropub might be set up in Queenborough.

beers which also includes Doom Bar and Courage Directors.

The Royal Hotel - the tenancy is currently being advertised.

Sittingbourne The proposal for a new Wetherspoon pub has been vigorously opposed by local publicans and residents and we understand that a planning application was recently rejected. Watch this space to see how this story develops.

Bunters – is serving real ale at £2.90 a pint (usually London Pride or Bombardier).

The Fountain - the tenancy is currently being advertised.

The Long Hop - usually serves two or three beers including Doom Bar and Master Brew.

The Paper Mill - features a wide range of interesting national beers including those from Blue Monkey and Tiny Rebel. Blue Monkey’s BG Sips was particularly popular and is likely to make a return visit. The Paper Mill is also hosting occasional “Cheese Sundays” with free cheese boards.

The Park Tavern - the tenancy is currently being advertised.

Rodmersham Fruiterers Arms - serves a range of Enterprise beers including Otter Ale, Doom Bar and Marston’s beers.

The Summoner, Wetherspoon - continues to serve a good range of local and national beers and is looking to arrange a local beer festival

Selling The White Lion - at the time of going to press The White Lion has a note on its home page saying that it is closed until further notice.

Stalisfield Green The Plough - still serves three Kent beers. A recent visit by a CAMRA member found the beer on good form. Beer festival planned for 11-12 September.

Sheerness The Belle and Lion - continues to serve a range of real ales. A recent visit found Oakham JHB on offer.

Teynham The Swan - continues to serve two ales, often a LocAle from Wantsum or Whitstable. The price of a pint remains £3.

The Old House at Home - the tenancy is currently being advertised.

The Red Lion - on a recent social visit London Pride, Courage Best and Bombardier were on offer. The pub has a rotating list of five favourite 10

For the latest news and information on pubs in the branch (and across the country) don’t forget to check www.whatpub.com regularly. This website is an excellent source of information and is updated Page 13▶

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by CAMRA volunteers. Around 95% of real ale pubs are now detailed, providing an unrivalled source of information. Nothing is infallible so if you see any errors please let your local branch know.

If you are a CAMRA member remember to add your scores and comments to Whatpub.

Pubs of the Year National Pub of the Year The Salutation Inn, Ham, Gloucestershire Pubs are judged by CAMRA on a variety of criteria such as atmosphere, level of service, value for money and community focus, with extra weighting of course given to the quality of their real ale, cider and perry. This process takes a full 12 months and hundreds of hours of judging by dedicated CAMRA volunteers and competition judges.

Kent Pub of the Year The Windmill Sevenoaks Weald TN14 6PN Congratulations to The Windmill as it made it through to the judging for super regionals that is the final four in the country.

Greater London Pub of the Year The Door Hinge 11 Welling High Street, DA16 1TR A fine Micropub.

CAMRA AGM & Members Weekend April 17 - 19 2015 Albert Hall Conference Centre North Circus Street, Nottingham NG1 5AA www. camraagm.org.uk

Beer Festivals 3 - 4 April 2015 Planet Thanet Easter Beer Fest Winter Gardens, Margate CT9 1HX 200+ beers.

Fri 12:00 - 21:30 £5, Sat 12:00 - 20:00 £3 FREE entry to card carrying CAMRA members 23 - 25 April 2015 39th Farnham Beerex Farnham Maltings, Bridge Sq, Farnham, Surrey Thurs/Fri 18:00 - 23:00, Sat 11:00 - 15:00, 18:00 - 23:00 www.camrasurrey.org.uk 24 - 25 April 2015 The 10th Bexley Beer Festival Old Dartfordians Sports Club, Bexley.

30 April - 2 May 2015 Kidbrooke Beer Festival Charlton Park RFC SE3 8NB 12 - 10.30 £2 (£1 for card carrying CAMRA members) 19 - 20 June 2015 Kent and East Sussex Railway, Friday evening and Saturday. www.kesr.org.uk 4 - 5 July 2015 Sittingbourne Steam Railway’s Steam & Beer Frequent trains will depart Sittingbourne Viaduct Station to take you to the beer festival at Kemsley Down. ME10 2XD (behind KFC and Pizza Hut) 23-25 July 2015 Kent Beer Festival Merton Farm, Off Nackington Lane, Canterbury Kent, CT4 7BA 11-15 August Olympia 2015 Great British Beer Festival 11th & 12th September 2015 Beer Festival The Plough Inn, Stalisfield Green, Faversham, Kent ME13 0HY 13

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May is Mild Month

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ild, more than many styles of beer, has had a rollercoaster ride. Popular until the 1960’s; it nearly disappeared but the decline was reversed in the late 1970’s and now many breweries produce a regular mild. One of the early “resurgent” milds was produced by Thwaites Brewery and won Champion Beer of Britain (CBOB) in 1978. In the 2008 competition York’s Rudgate Brewery won the award for their Ruby Mild. The growth of mild has been one of CAMRA’s greatest successes and many discerning drinkers seek out a good quality pint.

Each year, CAMRA designates May as a mild month to encourage drinkers to try this interesting form of beer. In Swale we are lucky enough to have many pubs that stock mild. Here are some of the milds you can often find in our branch area: Mad Cat Mild Disobedience (4.0%) At top end of the strength range for mild, this uses Bramling Cross Hops and blended rye and carafe malt. This gives a slightly sweet and fruity taste. Mild Disobedience is produced locally at Brogdale Farm near Faversham.

Seasonably available at the Vaults Cask & Kitchen (Faversham), the Brown Jug (Upchurch), the Heritage (Minster) and the Three Tuns (Lower Halstow).

Goacher’s Mild (3.7%) This is a classic dark mild which is hopped with Kent Fuggles. The chocolate and black malts create a distinctive, sweet taste. Goacher’s Mild is brewed near Maidstone and is well regarded by discerning drinkers, often featuring at national beer festivals.

Always available

Mild Disobedience Pumpclip Photographs by Mat Cat Brewery

at The Paper Mill (Sittingbourne), The Three Tuns (Lower Halstow) and The Black Lion (Lynsted) and the Shipwright’s Arms (Hollowshore).

Banks’s Mild (3.5%) This chestnut brown and full bodied is malty with a slightly bitter aftertaste. It is one of Banks’s original beers and is brewed in Wolverhampton.

Often available at Enterprise Pubs such as the Three Hats (Milton Regis) and Marston’s Pubs.

All tasting notes based on those on brewery websites.

[PI]

Editor’s Comment

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n addition to mild there are many different beer styles that your local can stock. If you find that your local pub always has the same beer on remember to request these alternative styles, as often when asked by our branch why they do not stock mild, stout, porter, brown or pale ale, they simply suggest that there is no demand as customers do not ask for this. Encourage your local to have a balanced bar by trying something different.

For more about mild see page 38 15

The Original Kentish Ale Gets a New Look

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hepherd Neame’s renowned Master Brew has a new look, celebrating its heritage as The Original Kentish Ale: the only UK beer style protected by the EU. The beer’s signature green remains, but it’s now New Master Brew Branding offset with a more subtle silver and cream colour Photographs by Shepherd Neame palette and clearer fonts. The new-look metal pump with the brewer’s unique ale yeast. clip and bottle label include a photograph from Master Brew is brewed in the UK’s last 1905 of hop pickers at Shepherd Neame’s hop farm remaining solid oak mash tuns using the finest Queen Court. Thousands of families from London quality British pale ale, crystal and brown malted enjoyed annual ‘hopping’ holidays to the Kent countryside until the mid-20th century – a tradition barley. In accordance with its PGI, it uses chalkthat continues to be celebrated at the town’s annual filtered mineral water from the artesian well deep beneath the brewery and is bittered with archetypal Hop Festival.

Kentish hops Admiral and Target, with later hopping The design also references Faversham as the from Goldings for aroma.

Home of the Hop, acknowledging the town’s From three-time position as a worldBeer Writer of the Year, centre for hop growing.

Ben McFarland: Some of the UK’s first Delicate and hop gardens are thought devilishly drinkable, this to have been planted in quintessentially Kentish the area, in particular ale lays the county’s Homestall Farm in 1590 hallowed, herbaceous as referenced in a plan at hops on a firm, biscuity the Kent History Library bed of pale and crystal Centre. Today, Kent is one malt. Endowed with of only two major hop an inviting auburngrowing regions in Britain. amber hue and a Queen Court Farm tantalising toffee-ish hosts the National Hop aroma, it’s an enlivening Collection, a living archive English ale that, given of historic hop varieties which play a vital role in New pump clips, bottles and glasses its unassuming ABV, pleasures the palate research and breeding with a remarkable programmes and attract fullness of flavour. interest from breweries across the world.

The beer is available on cask and in 500ml Shepherd Neame is the only brewer in the UK bottles (at 3.7% and 4% abv respectively) across able to call its beer ‘Kentish Ale’, a style of beer which is afforded Protected Geographical Indication pub, bars and off licences across the South East.

[Shepherd Neame] (PGI) from the European Union. It is characterised by a low level of sweetness and a dry, slightly astringent and peppery hop character when paired Editors’ note: Another PGI is Rutland Bitter.

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The Changing Face of Master Brew

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ver many years Shepherd Neame have changed the branding of their signature beer. At Swale Ale we have collected a number of different pump clips that have been used over the years. Can help us date them?

Come with friends, come with family, bring the children – and bring the dog!

The Red Lion country pub is your ‘home from home’, providing superb homemade food, delicious real ales and inspired events throughout the year.

Think of us for Parties & Celebration Events – Business Meetings - Coffee Mornings - Weddings Easter Bank Holiday – Friday 3rd April – Live Music With Benzego 9pm First May Bank Holiday – Friday 1st May – Live Music TBC Second May Bank Holiday – Friday 22nd May – Live Music With Robin Falcon & Band 9pm

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Swale’s Winning Pubs 2015

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e have now selected our Good Beer Guide 2016 entries. Out of the 15 successful pubs, four were shortlisted for Swale Pub of the Year. By the time you have read this article we will have chosen our Pub of the Year so keep an eye on our website.

The Elephant A destination pub for real ale drinkers, The Elephant has won numerous awards and is popular with locals and visitors to Faversham who enjoy a drink in the secluded garden or by the cosy open fire. Five real ales are on offer.

The Paper Mill The Paper Mill was Swale’s first Micropub and has grown from strength to strength, helped by a varied range of beer and loyal customer base. This one-roomed pub usually serves three ales including regular Goacher’s beers and interesting brews from further afield.

The Three Hats Last year’s Pub of The Year, The Three Hats is the only remaining pub in Milton High Street. Up to four beers are available from the Enterprise range. Regulars are particularly fond of Proper Job and Bank’s Mild.

The Hats has been a consistent supporter of CAMRA and offers a 20p discount off a pint.

The Three Tuns A traditional pub in the country, The Three Tuns is a picturesque and welcoming destination for good quality Kent beer and food.You can usually find four real ales and several real ciders with a CAMRA discount of 10p a pint. The twice yearly beer festivals are extremely popular and attract real ale drinkers from across Kent.

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Sittingbourne Pub History

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ollowing on from Faversham pub history in our last issue of Swale Ale, here are some more fascinating facts about the history of pubs in the local area, this time in Sittingbourne.

The research continues at www.dover-kent. com and I decided that I would give information regarding the public houses that I know about and give some insight as to how this research comes about. The first thing is to compile a list of the pubs in the town. Originally the list was for 40 pubs but as different information comes to light, I have now reached 59. This happens when I find even earlier pubs from my original list or new pubs have opened.

My list starts alphabetically from the Barge that used to be at Crown Quay Lane, now demolished and ends at the Ypres Tavern at 22 West Street, once the Railway Tavern.

The pubs in my list were not all open at once of course, and some of the buildings would have changed name over the years. In this article I am going to give all of them a mention, so which ones can you remember or have even heard of?

Every public house tells a story, and it’s finding that story that makes my hobby so interesting.

I cannot do this without local knowledge of course, of which the internet is a great tool for communication, but I am helped a lot by the local libraries and also the vast selection of local newspapers that are now available online.

The Beauty of Bath in College Road is the second in my list, still open and their sign depicts an apple. This apple variety was propogated in 1864 by a gentleman called George Cooling at Bailbrook House in Bath, and is an early cropping eating apple.

Who would have thought of that connection?

Third is the Bell at 17 Bell Road, and fourth the Billet at 206 London Road. The Billet sign in 1973 depicted a double picure, one on either side.

The first of a serviceman leaving what looks like his place of residence, being waved off by a young lady, the other side I’m afraid he doesn’t appear to have a very good welcome home, being shouted at by the scarf and apron wearing landlady. I know which 20

one I’d prefer.

Next I have listed the British Queen on the London Road, of which I know nothing about at all, although it was open between 1861 and 1891. The Bull Hotel at 67 High Street I know to be operating in 1832, but Bunters at 1 Station Road, although an old building, is a relatively new name and was originally known as the Golden Eagle. Why do they change the names of pubs? Answers given in a future edition. The Castle Inn, 29 Berry Street, and the Chalk Tavern, Bassett Road, I know little about.

The Cherry Tree, Water Lane, changed its name to the Shakespeare and then later to the Shire. I have seen mentioned a Crown Inn as well, but have no date or indeed location, so this could be a red herring; that’s the way the research goes sometimes.

The Entertainer is next on the list, at 41 High Street, but this used to be known under the sign of the George Inn. Today, you’ll probably know the pub as the George and Dragon, or as least it was from 2010. The Fleur de Lis I have at 19 Dover Street, the Forester’s Arms at 1 Station Place, and the Fountain Hotel at Station Street.

The Globe and Engine at 16 Berry Street was serving beer in 1900 but unfortunately closed in 2012 and is now a Portuguese restaurant. I have a Golden Eagle at 1 Station Street, but not being local to the area don’t know how close this is to Station Place or Station Road or even if those places still exist. Next on the list is the Golden Fleece at 38 West Street, and the Golden Lion at 47 Miton Road. The Gore Court Arms looked a little different in 1920 to what it looks now and used to be owned by professional darts champion Dave Whitcombe.

I know of a Key Inn in Key Street, and still open the is King’s Head at 38 London Road,. The Lion Inn at 58 High Street, now operating as an Indian restaurant, used to present a very nice 3

The Globe and Engine Photographs by Paul Skelton

dimensional sign depicting a carved Lion as the 1973 sign shows.

The Long Hop at 80 Key Street has had a number of different signs over the years; in 1987 one side of the sign pictured the actual hop as used in brewing, and in 2003 took on a cricket theme. I think it’s great the way some of the pub names are interpreted, and would love to get to the bottom of the story as to when and why the signs changed.

I have a Man of Kent at 37 Cockleshell Walk, and a Milton Arms at 7 The Wall, a Navy Arms at 8 Princes Street, but still open after being closed for a short while in 2011. I have just found reference to a New Inn and wonder whether this replaced another with a different name on the same site.

There is an Old Oak at 68 East Street, the sign last showing an oak tree, but prior to this, and I haven’t yet managed to find a picture of it yet, used to depict the rotting hulk of an old ship wrecked on the seashore.

Newly opened on 12 October 2013 is the Micropub the Paper Mill, situated at 2 Charlotte Street. There’s also The Park Tavern on the corner of the Park and Addington Roads.

I have reference to a Peace and Plenty at 16 Milton Road, and a Pied Piper on the Dover Road, but this has been called by another name either side of this title, as yet names unknown to me and I haven’t a house number for the building. There used to be a Plough, now demolished, that was just below the Old Oak at 58 East Street, and a Prince Alfred on the Hawthorne Road which closed in 2007.

Also closed and operating as an Indian restaurant I believe was the Prince of Wales at 27-31 Canterbury Road. There was a Railway Arch serving beers at 1 Milton Road, and a Railway Tavern at 22 West Street, which later became the Ypres Tavern.

I have mentioned the Lion Inn, and also have this listed as the Red Lion. The Red Lion, at 58 High Street can be traced back to 1415 where it is said that King Henry V was entertained on his return from the battle of Agincourt, the entire bill came to a mere 9 shillings and 9 old pence, and the wine was an amazing penny a pint.

I know of a Rendezvous at 104 High Street, and a Rose and Crown at 2 Bell Road, I believe this is also closed and operating as an Indian restaurant today.

In 1769 the Rose Inn was advertising the auction of contents of a house in Canterbury, but the building today offers no more than a Wimpy for refreshment.

There was a Royal Oak at 45 Dover Street, and I believe a Royal Victoria Hotel, originally the previously mentioned Rose, and the Shakespeare Hotel on the Canterbury Road, previously the Cherry Tree and later the Shire as mentioned before and also Shire Horse. The Ship Inn at 22 East Street I know was open in 2005, local knowledge needed here I’m afraid for its current situation.

Another relatively new pub to open is the Summoner, again in the High Street and opened by Wetherspoons on 24 November 1998. The name was chosen from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, who promises to “telle tales of friars, ere I come to Sittingbourne”.

The Three Kings I have traced back to 1808, now closed - it was situated opposite the Odeon cinema. There was a Three Post Boys at 36 High Street, and a Smith and Jones pub called the Vineyard at 6-10 West Street.

Closed pub the Volunteer used to be at 39 West Street, and known to be open in 2005, the Wheatsheaf at 90 East Street.

I appear to have found two pubs called the White Hart, one at Crown Quay Lane and the other at 27-29 High Street, I am assuming they are different.

The last on the list the Ypres Tavern. Now the detective work starts and I am hoping more photographs will be added, old and new, licensees names identified and the stories that go with the pub.

So, this is now the building blocks for the real research, but as I always say, today’s news is tomorrow’s history, so if reader out there can add any further information to any of the pubs, or indeed correct any errors, I would be very pleased to hear from you. My email is located at the bottom of every page on my web www.dover-kent.com and each pub has its own page.

Paul Skelton www.dover-kent.com

21

Cider in May?

C

AMRA has celebrated cider and perry during the month of October for a number of years now and, this year, we are introducing a second opportunity to celebrate this traditional drink in the month of May. May might seem a strange time to celebrate a drink made from apples and pears but there is some logic in the timing. May is a time when the apple and pear trees in our orchards are in blossom and, without the orchards and tree blossom, we wouldn’t have the fruit to make the ciders and perries that are on offer throughout the year.

Unfortunately many of the old traditional orchards have disappeared over the years but, thankfully, in recent years producers have started to plant

Furlong's Ale House

22

new trees to keep the tradition of cider and perry production alive.

May is also the time when the juice that was pressed the previous year has fermented through and is ready to drink. Real ciders and perries differ from the more industrial products available in that they are not fizzy and the flavours of the fruit used in their production come through in the final product. So why not take the opportunity to visit some of the many pubs which now offer real cider or perry and give them a try.

[HQ]

Just some of the Swale branch pubs regularly serving real cider • • • • • • •

The Elephant, Faversham Furlong’s Ale House, Faversham The Paper Mill, Sittingbourne Phoenix Tavern, Faversham The Swan, Teynham The Three Tuns, Lower Halstow The Vaults Cask and Kitchen, Faversham

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

23

Swale Walk Boughton, Staplestreet & Hernhill

will pass medieval St Michael’s Church which was rebuilt in 1450. Next to the Church is an old Manor House, both of which overlook the village green.

On the other side of the green is the Red Lion, a 500 year old pub.

A

pleasant country walk along way-marked paths and quiet country roads which passes close to Mount Ephraim gardens and allows good views over the Thames Estuary. Several pubs can be found along the route in which you can quench your thirst.

Duration: Take the Number 3 Stagecoach Bus from Canterbury or Faversham and alight by Boughton Post Office. Head down “The Street” and turn left onto School Lane. After a short walk you will see a way-marked path. This runs up the right hand side of a football pitch and has a slight incline. In less than 10 minutes you will arrive in the village of Staplestreet by the Three Horseshoes pub.

Three Horseshoes The Three Horseshoes is a Shepherd Neame pub and serves their regular range of ales, plus seasonal ale in two large, traditionally furnished bars. It also has a small beer garden and log fire. The 19th Century building opposite is known locally as Hobnail Row or Ticklebelly Row. From the Three Horseshoes follow Church Road to Hernhill (around a 15 minute walk).You 24

The Red Lion Photographs by Paul Irving The Red Lion is a traditional pub with a large beer garden, up to six changing real ales (including some from Kent) and varied menu. The quiet village beer garden is the perfect place to have a pint on a bright and sunny late spring day.

Leaving the Red Lion, you can either retrace your tracks, or head along Crockham Lane and shortly after the pub there will be a footpath on your left, heading across a field. Follow that path, which crosses over a track, and then just before it hits Thread Lane you can follow another track on the left hand side. This will take you to Staplestreet Road. Cross Staplestreet Road and head down a track – Bounds Lane. This will bring you back to Boughton where you get the bus. If you fancy another pint you can head to Shepherd Neame’s Queens Head, built in 1590 and serving two ales.

The area around Hernhill has a fascinating history including a connection to Sir William Courtney’s Rebel “Army” of 1838. You can find out more about the area at: www.faversham.org/ community/villages/hernhill.aspx.

[PI] More pub walks are avalaible on our branch website at www.camra-swale.org.uk. If you go on a good pub walk this spring why not write an article for our next magazine, out July 2015.

25

Denken Reine Gedanken (Thinking Pure Thoughts)

E

ditor’s note:You may be wondering why the title of this piece is in German. Unfortunately Obadiah Spillage is unavailable to contribute his normal piece to this edition of Swale Ale. We are not exactly sure of his present whereabouts as he seems to have gone AWOL after a particularly overindulgent ale tasting session. We believe that he was attempting to visit every single Micropub in Kent in 24 hours in the name of research.

So, in his absence, we have Obadiah’s German cousin – Otto von Spillage.

Grüße Geneigte Leser (trans: Greetings Gentle Reader) A warm welcome from Verschütten Schloss (trans: Castle Spillage) here in the mountains of Bavaria. I have been asked by the people at Swale Ale to write a piece for your magazine as I understand that my cousin Obadiah is temporarily unavailable so I hope you find this entertaining.

Now we Germans have always been serious about our beer. So serious that we introduced some exacting laws about what can and cannot be used in the beer making process.

Photographs by Swale CAMRA

On 30th November 1487 Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria, decreed that only water, malted barley and yeast were to be used in the brewing of beer.

This was later endorsed on 23rd April 1516 by two other Bavarian Dukes, Wilhelm IV and Ludwig X. These laws were called the Reinheitsgebot or The Purity Pledge. There might have been a certain amount of self interest going on here as the Bavarian royals monopolised the growing and distribution of barley and did not want this challenged by the use of other cereals. Plus wheat beer was considered a delicacy for the consumption of the royals only so whilst the Reinheitsgebot ensured that the populace drank pure, clean beer it also ensured that only the royals could have the delicacies!!

One of the main reasons why the Reinheitsgebot was introduced was that in the sixteenth century drinking water could seriously damage your health or more accurately kill you!!

So we drank beer and often in vast quantities as the water had been boiled in the brewing process, thus killing anything in it that would have killed us. However the standard of the beer could

German Quality Beermats

Page 28▶ 26

The Elephant Faversham

31 The Mall, Faversham, Kent ME13 8JN

PURVEYORS OF QUALITY Golden ALES, Mild, Bitter PORTERS AND STOUTs Award winning CAMRA pub

Opening Hours Closed Mon Tue - Fri 3-11 Sat 12-11; Sun 12-7

EST. 1952 Faversham Kent

Proper Beer in a Proper Pub Just outside the ‘Heart’ of Faversham 27

◀ Page 26 vary considerably. Hops were later added to the permitted ingredients but before their introduction brewers had used various strange ingredients to preserve the beer. Commonly herbs such as stinging nettles and henbane were used (although henbane had hallucinogenic properties which made a person think they could fly!) but also soot and more alarmingly fly agaric mushrooms – the red spotty ones (some species of which are also known for their hallucinogenic properties, I think there is a pattern developing here!) and so the Reinheitsgebot was introduced in Bavaria to ensure that the quality of the beer was maintained by only allowing the three ingredients, barley, hops and water.

When in 1871 Bismarck unified the states of Germany, he insisted on the implementation of the Reinheitsgebot across the whole country as a condition of them joining the unified state.

The insistence that restricting the ingredients ensured the quality of the beer and threatened legal sanction against transgressors came hundreds of years before anybody had heard of consumer protection laws. This ruling applied to not only German brewers but any from other countries that wanted to sell their beer in the country. This particularly irked the French and there not being a handy port to blockade, they took their gripe to the European Court in 1987 and achieved a ruling that the Reinheitsgebot was ‘a restraint of trade’. This was somewhat ironic because the main thrust of the complaint came from brewers in the Strasbourg region of France once owned by Germany!

The German brewers were not going to give up without a fight and launched a campaign against what they termed ‘chemi-beer’, alleging that some foreign beers were produced with added chemicals to help speed up fermentation and create a thick head on the beer. However the foreign brewers did not reckon on the loyalty of the German people when it comes to their beer and the impact of imported beers was very low. In fact many bars 28

today display a plaque stating that the beer sold adheres to the Reinheitsgebot.

As I said at the start of this piece we Germans are serious about our beers. The German Brewers Association has made an application to UNESCO to have German beer produced under the Reinheitsgebot added to World Heritage List which preserves traditions that are considered unique and worth protecting.

Marc-Oliver Huhnholz, a German Brewers Association spokesman, said “It stands for the things you are thinking of when you think of Germany, beer, culture and friendship and all these positive things, I think it’s a traditional thing because it brings us together and holds us together as a nation within todays more and more international lifestyle.”

I believe the way our beer is produced under the Reinheitsgebot is indeed unique and Photograph by Swale CAMRA worth protecting and has nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that French gastronomy is also on the UNESCO list!

Today many German beers are again brewed using ingredients other than those stipulated under the law and are thus no longer compliant with the Reinheitsgebot. Examples of this are some of the excellent wheat beers that are now produced such as Erdinger and Franziskaner.

I hope that, if you have not already visited Germany, you will do so soon and experience our wonderful range of beers brewed by more than 1300 breweries who produce around 5000 brands of beer from Alt to Zwickel.

Glücklich Trinken (happy drinking)!

A wide range of beer books are avalable from www.camra.org.uk.

These can help you seek out those excellent brews from all over Europe. In particular the Good Beer Guide Belgium is great.

Serving quality cask ales and ciders from both Kentish and national brewers. We also have a range of bottled Kent ales available to purchase (or drink).

Check Twitter/Facebook for our themed nights and events Location

17–19 Minster Road, Sheerness. Kent ME12 3JE Tel: 01795 664000 www.facebook.com/the heritagemicropub

THE HERITAGE

Sheppey’s 1st Micro Pub

Opening Hours

Mon - Closed Tues -4-9pm (or later) Wed -4-9pm (or later) Thurs - 4-9pm (or later) Friday – 12pm-11pm Sat - 12pm-11pm Sun- 12-8pm

Proud to follow the traditional micro pub formula of no music, lager, spirits, food and TV – just good old fashioned talking.

Pop in for a pint and a chat

Sittingbourne’s Steam Railway’s STEAM & BEER 4th & 5th July 2015 Frequent Trains will depart Sittingbourne Viaduct Station to take you to Kemsley Down where you will find the Beer Festival with a large selection of real ales, ciders Live music on Saturday or meet Captain Jack Sparrow on Sunday.

Discount for CAMRA Members

29

Microbreweries flourishing in USA

T

here was a time when ordering a draught beer almost anywhere in the USA offered a choice: Budweiser or Miller. Then there was Bud Light. Sigh. As an ex-pat Brit who has lived in many regions of the United States, it was a depressing situation and on my return visits to England, I would make a bee-line for some Swale-area pubs to get my ‘fix’ of a decent brew.

But in recent years, things have definitely changed for the better in America. Craft beers and microbreweries are springing up all over. Last summer, I visited a mini-festival held in Birmingham, Alabama, at which about a dozen local craft breweries offered samples of their products and I was favourably impressed with most of the offerings.

These new microbreweries are generally created and operated by earnest, enthusiastic thirty-somethings who are often self–taught and dedicated to their craft like true artisans.

Here in Nashville, Tennessee, we are fortunate to be home to a number of small breweries, many of which have appeared within the past two or three years. I recently visited Jackalope Brewing Co and met with CEO/Brewmaster Bailey Spaulding and Head Brewer Steve Wright and found them hard at work in wellies and aprons with a great deal

Bailey Spaulding and Steve Wright in the taproom attached to their microbrewery 30

Mike Harris, Nashville, Tennessee Photograph by M Harris

of activity happening in a remarkably tight space (think: Doctor Who’s Tardis). Bailey and Steve were being assisted by a couple of ‘volunteers’ - craft beer fans who donate their time in return for a few beverages.

Bailey opened Jackalope Brewing in May 2011, but it was almost a non-starter because all the equipment she purchased was faulty and arrived without a manual. Determined to start anyway, they began with a tiny half-barrel system and served their beer for only four hours per week in the adjacent taproom for the first six months. Steve became Jackalope’s biggest fan. He joined them as an intern and rose to become a partner and Head Brewer. With his input, the brewery continued to grow and by the end of 2011, they had a 15-barrel brewhouse in operation.

Jackalope’s four main products are Thunder Ann, an American pale ale; Rompo, a ‘red eye’ ale; Bearwalker, a maple brown ale; and Leghorn, described as a rye IPA. Small batches are supplied to local bars and restaurants in both draught and canned form and are finding an enthusiastic reception from both locals and Music City’s tourists.

But the best place to sample craft beers is always in the taproom attached to the microbrewery, and Jackalope is no exception. There are always eight different draughts available and, in 2015, they are adding eight more, available only in the taproom, not distributed to bars and restaurants.

This allows them to test-market new beers on their most discriminating fans.

Devotees of Swale’s recently opened Micropubs Page 33▶

of Two Halves

A Campaign

Fai r on dea b tax eer l now !

Save Britain’s Pubs!

Join CAMRA Today Complete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and a fantastic discount on your membership subscription.

Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd with your completed form, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus or call 01727 867201.

All forms should be addressed to the: Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW. Your Details Title

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Campaigning for Pub Goers & Beer Drinkers

Enjoying Real Ale & Pubs

Join CAMRA today – www.camra.org.uk/joinus Instruction to your Bank or Building Society to pay by Direct Debit Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to: Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road, St.Albans, Herts AL1 4LW Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building Society Service User Number To the Manager

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If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed.

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31

PHOENIX TAVERN Abbey Street, Faversham

The Beating Heart of Faversham ® SIX REAL ALES Changing regularly, but always Timothy Taylor Landlord, Harvey’s Sussex and a Blond!

REAL FOOD prepared freshly on the premises each day REAL ATMOSPHERE Lovely garden and open inglenook log fires REAL TRADITION - 14th century oak beamed pub Five Quality lagers and Quality Wine from Corney and Barrow, Cask and Keg Cider Dogs and children welcome Car park

Good Beer Guide 2015

'Official home of the Timothy Taylor Appreciation Society'.

The country pub in the medieval town

@Phoenixfav

The Phoenix Tavern Faversham

www.thephoenixtavernfaversham.co.uk 01795591462 591 642 w w w .thephoenixt avernfaversham .co.uk - -01795 32

◀ Page 30 would feel quite at home visiting these Nashville taprooms. No TVs, no fruit machines, fairly Spartan furnishings. And an opportunity to sample a carefully-crafted ale at the source.

Currently, the majority of the draught product is presented in pressurized kegs. However, Bailey is an advocate of gravity-fed cask ales and is gradually introducing it – initially at festivals – as there is still a degree of customer resistance, until they get a chance to taste it.

In addition to Jackalope, Nashville hosts several other craft breweries, including Yazoo, Black Abbey Brewing and Tennessee Brew Works, to name a few.

As with British Micropubs, these little breweries are happy to cooperate with each other, sharing ideas and even equipment when needed.

So when you are visiting the United States, don’t settle for a Bud. Find a local craft beer created at a microbrewery. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

You can find more information about Jackalope at www.jackalopebrew.com.

[MH] Nashville, Tennessee

These beermats feature Jackalope’s four leading products.

If you have a beer story and would like to contribute to Swale Ale please email it to us at swaleale@gmail.com

33

34

Drinking Without Driving

I

bet there are loads of pubs in Kent which you’ve never been to. You probably think they are too far away or difficult to get to without somebody driving.

In a handful of cases, you may be right, but most are more accessible than you think, using Kent’s comprehensive network of trains and buses. Why not make a day of it, and visit a selection of lovely pubs in an area which you wouldn’t normally go to?

In this internet age, it is so easy to find all the information you need, about the pubs, train and bus times, ticket information and fares.

Starting with the pubs, the obvious place to begin is CAMRA’s excellent Whatpub website www.whatpub.com. Just put in the name of a town or village, and it will show all pubs in the area, including, in most cases, details of the real ales that you will find, and the all-important opening hours.

Often the entry for a pub also shows the proximity of a railway station and/or bus route. If you are visiting a village with only one pub and an hourly bus or train service, it may be worth a phone call to the pub to make sure they’re going to be open!

Train times and fares can be found on nationalrail.co.uk. Rail trips are a bit restrictive in that you buy a return from A to B, but can break your journey at stations along the route.

Southeastern offer a three-day rover, but no daily ticket.

Bus travel is more flexible than trains, and the information is just as easy to find if you know where to look. You don’t need to buy separate tickets on each bus, as there is a handy day ticket, called an Explorer, which can be bought on any Stagecoach or Arriva bus, and is valid at any time of day on 99% of buses in Kent (and part of East Sussex). It costs, at the time of writing, £6.30 from Stagecoach or £7.20 from Arriva. Considering the extent of its validity, it’s great value for money. Any other day ticket isn’t valid on other operators’ services, so beware!

Where do the buses go? The best place to start is to put ‘Kent bus map’ into a search engine. Go to the www.kent.gov.uk website, type

in ‘Find a bus route’, and there are links to the comprehensive county map and individual town/ area maps.

Some routes have a limited service, either a few journeys per day, or only on certain days of the week. Evening and Sunday services can be limited, but most trunk routes run at least hourly during the daytime. The ‘bus information’ pages for each area on the KCC website will give you this detail.

For a copy of the actual timetable for a route, go to travelinesoutheast.org.uk. I normally click on ‘Find a timetable’, then put in a town or village name to get a list of all routes for that location.

Some will be school routes, which are not a lot of use, but the main routes can be selected to show the full timetable and, if you need it, a detailed map of the route, including the stops.

With an Explorer ticket, you can just jump on and off buses as you wish, showing your ticket to the driver. Stagecoach accept Arriva tickets, and vice versa. Most bus routes which are operated by smaller companies are KCC contract services, which are obliged to accept Explorer tickets according to their contract. The KCC bus information pages indicate which services are KCCtendered.

Remember, not all pubs have a bus stop or railway station right outside, so you may have a bit of gentle walking to do to get to some truly great pubs. There are around 1500 pubs in Kent – go and find them!

Jeff Tucker Kent Public Transport Officer,

Why not take the bus to...

• • • • • • •

The Brown Jug, Upchurch, Bus 237 (irregular) The Chequers Inn, Doddington, Bus 345 The Dove Inn, Dargate, Bus 638 The George Inn, Newnham, Bus 345 The Plough Inn, Stalisfield Green, Bus 660 The Red Lion, Badlesmere, Bus 666 The Three Tuns, Lower Halstow, Bus 327

For more information on how to reach these wonderful pubs visit www.kent.gov.uk and type in ‘find a bus route’.

35

www.thethreetunsrestaurant.co.uk

Produce Market 25th May

(12 - 4pm) Beer Garden and stream side decking. Food prepared daily using finest local produce.

Kentish real ales & ciders always on offer.

Kent Life and Kent on Sunday Pub of the Year.

The Street, Lower Halstow, Sittingbourne, Kent.

ME9 7DY 01795 842840

info@thethreetunsrestaurant.co.uk 36

East Kent Amateur Brewers

E

ast Kent Amateur Brewers meet monthly, on the first Wednesday of every month at 7.30pm in the Bottle Shop, The Goods Shed, next to Canterbury West Station. The group is for people who are interested in finding out about homebrewing, sharing their experiences, and sharing what they have made. There is an annual members' competition and occasional outings. Come along, bring a bottle of whatever you have made (beer, wine, spirits, soft drinks all welcome!) and meet fellow homebrewers.

For more information, find @eastkentab on Twitter or search for the "East Kent Amateur Brewers" group on Facebook.

[HG]

The Brewing Process Photographs by Hannah Greer

Brew Your Own British Ale

I

CAMRA Books are avalaible online at www.camra.org.uk/shop

f you are looking for a present for somebody who loves real ale, or are considering doing some brewing yourself, CAMRA has just published an updated version of Graham Wheeler’s successful book Brew Your Own British Real Ale. This new edition is re-written, enhanced and updated with new recipes for contemporary and award-winning beers, as well as recipes for old favourites no longer brewed commercially.

In the book recipes are grouped by beer style, allowing home brewers to recreate popular and classic Milds, Pale Ales, Bitters, Stouts, Porters, Old Ales and Barley Wines. The book includes a fullcolour section on brewing methods and equipment, helping readers to choose the right brewing method for them and the right equipment to brew successfully.

[KS] 37

A Mild Return

R

ecently whilst out shopping with my eldest daughter she asked if she could go into one of the “trendy and expensive” shops that all the teens are currently spending their parents’ money in.

With a degree of hesitation I agreed that she could pop in for a few minutes on the agreement that both me and my credit card stayed outside. I think she was relieved that I did not go in but not so happy that the credit card did not accompany her, so as usual I stayed outside and waited. However, I couldn’t resist a quick pop in the shop after my eyes were drawn to what looked like vinyl LPs being sold in this fashionable shop. How shocked was I, I thought that vinyl was a thing of the past replaced by the cleaner, crisper sound of CDs and more recently the impersonal download. I was pleased to see old favourites and instantly recognised many of the LPs I had as a teenager including such classics as Michael Jackson’s Thriller. “But why are they being sold in such a modern shop?” I asked my daughter. Rolling her eyes as only a teenager can, she told me “they are making a comeback Dad and new artists are recording on vinyl now”. This was music to my ears as I have such fond memories of sitting at home playing my record collection with its comforting crackle and wobble on the turntable.

Vinyl is returning from the dead!

This got me thinking about what has gone out of fashion in the beer world that needs to make a comeback. In the 70s and 80s who would have ever thought that vinyl would have gone out of fashion, yet somehow it did with people’s desire for clean, crisp music.

Having been converted to Real Ale after many years as a Guinness drinker, I am definitely a lover of the dark ales (stout and porter) with particular favourites of mine being Brighton Bier Porter, Goacher’s Imperial Stout and have been known to break a train journey for a pint of Pig and Porter Oatmeal Stout.

The beer that I would like to see make a comeback in the same way that vinyl is returning to the youth of today is a good quality dark mild with its dark appearance, roasted malt smell and its roasted coffee and chocolate flavours. Until the 38

1960s mild was the most popular style of beer in England but today it accounts for less than 1.5% of total beer sales after falling out of popularity in the 1970s when it gained a reputation as an old man’s drink. This wasn’t helped by the brewers reducing the quality of the beer by placing it onto gassed pumps. It got so bad for this beer that CAMRA had to put it onto their endangered beer list to try and save it and came up with the “May is a Mild Month” campaign slogan. In recent years the fashion towards lighter beers and the decline in community pubs in favour of larger chains was another reason for its decline. The rise in microbreweries over the past few years has seen the number of Real Milds being produced has increased although I am personally disappointed that less of the Micropubs have taken this up as an option to sell. The Paper Mill always serves Real Mild (Goacher’s) but this is one of the few. I guess this is because most drinkers now prefer the more interesting taste of the lighter beers instead of the steady, smooth taste of a good pint of Mild. I don’t expect to change many people’s views on this beer but I would say give it a try again, forget the poor versions that have been sold since the 1970’s, find a good Real Ale pub and give real Dark Mild a try. Let’s make May a Mild Month!

[DJ]

Advertising Rates Half Page £30 Full A5 Page £55 Minimum circulation 1,500 Contact: swaleale@googlemail.com Please send your advert as a PDF or JPG file.

Harveys County Town Hop

H

arveys Brewery is launching a ‘County Town Hop’ at the commencement of its 225th year. It is twenty-five years since the original ‘Harvey Hop’ was devised for the firm’s bicentenary year. Over four hundred and fifty people elected to travel round all thirty-seven pubs owned by the brewery at that time, drinking a pint of Harveys beer and having their ‘bicentenary book’ stamped at each to qualify them as ‘Harvey Hoppers’. The scheme was closed to new entrants some years ago but there has been demand for a new one ever since.

Miles Jenner, Head brewer and Joint Managing Director, explained ‘Hoppers old and new will have the opportunity to visit our four tied houses in Lewes, East Sussex, over a four month period and consume a total of eight different seasonal brews – four available as part of our established

range and four new ‘County Town Beers’, brewed at our ‘Georgian’ microbrewery. Essentially we are celebrating the origins from which the Company evolved.’

All those completing the task satisfactorily will receive a ‘Hopped Up and down the County Town’ limited edition ceramic frog tankard marking this milestone in the Hoppers Passport Photographs by Harveys of Lewes Company’s history. So far, almost a hundred hoppers have applied for their ‘passports’. If anyone would like to join them in their travels, application forms are available from the Brewery Shop in Cliffe High Street - a passport size photograph will be required.

[Harveys Brewery]

39

The Death of a Pub: Mechanics Arms RIP

I

n the early 1970s when I first visited Faversham there were three public houses which took my fancy; The Bear, still much as it was then, The Sun, of which some remains as was, despite extensions, and the Mechanics Arms. The Mechanics had a certain charm about it with a corridor on the right and rooms off it, to the left. Then there was the beer; the prime reason for visiting and the Mechanics always seemed to have the best of pints. A good place to head for, especially when buzzing round doing the various Shepherd Neame Ale Trails.

When entering the Mechanics then, the first room, the public or bottom bar was always crowded, particularly with the darts board being within and often being played. I didn’t mind, with friends, using the top bar, but occasionally we wormed our way into the hubbub and invariably it was a place where you would end up in conversation, like a Micropub, it was hard to avoid doing so and it had a lovely community feel. There was even once another narrow room between

Darts Team late 50s

Photograph courtesy of Peter Holness

top and bottom bar, for the jug and bottle. The Landlord, a proper landlord, was a wonderful chap to talk to, Eddie and his wife Betty ran the pub from 1970.

Time moves on and in 1984 a youthful couple full of enthusiasm for the pub took over, Kay and 40

Mechanics Arms

Photograph by Peter Holness

Ray Leslie. Of course if you have one very crowded bar, then you need more room so an extension had appeared, for the darts and toilets. The couple kept the beer well and even after they split, Kay carried on. She always seemed to remember us on visits.

Nothing beats feeling welcome.

More years pass and going back to the Mechanics, having now moved to Faversham to live, it isn’t the same any more. The interior is now one large room and something has gone from the feel of the place. Listed grade ll in 1972, perhaps they should have ‘listed’ the interior as well! Even more years pass on and a friend asks to go there for old time’s sake; the interior is now adorned/ littered with large children’s toys and frankly it isn’t comfortable to linger.

Now after a year and a half’s closure, the pub is gone for good. Sold at auction, not even a protest.

SOLD, but not sold for use as a public house! It was apparently said a couple of years back by the brewery that it was not economically viable as a pub. I also heard recently that it was being sold, with a covenant to prevent it being a pub, because there was a lot of work needed to the building. All I can say is that, to my mind, if a brewery specifically doesn’t want to sell premises as a pub, it is because they don’t wish to have possible competition and they certainly don’t want to be embarrassed by the pub becoming successful. It costs a lot to restore a building whatever it becomes. But what killed

Mechanics Arms Darts Team Outing

Photograph courtesy of Peter Holness

the Mechanics itself ? Was it all the known factors mounting up; smoking bans, home entertainment, high rents, price of drinks, supermarket take home competition, open plan bar or is it just that the Mechanics was a place for another time?

[JW] What do you think about pub closures in Swale?

Email Swale Ale at swaleale@gmail.com

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.

Home of the Grumpy Landlord.

Please check website or phone to confirm hours of opening.

Tel: 01795 590088 www.theshipwrightsarmspub.co.uk Directions: At Davington School turn into Ham Road and follow the signs across the marsh.

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The Grumpy Landlord on opening hours and being grumpy

W

ell spring is nearly upon us and we can look forward to long summer evenings and people sitting in the garden enjoying a pint in the sunshine, (we hope!)

Like many publicans in remote or isolated places, we made the decision this year to open lunchtimes only on some weekdays during the winter months. It is no longer a viable proposition to stay open ‘just in case’ a customer turns up, since the cost of heating, lighting and staff is rising steadily.

As many pubs have found, it makes good business sense to open when you know you will have customers and these hours will vary depending on the location of the pub. There have been nights in past winters when we have had no customers at all, which is not conducive to staying in business.

The trouble with owning a ‘destination’ pub is that you can never tell how many people are going to choose to come your way on any given day, unlike town pubs who have a passing trade which can be reasonably predictable.

To remain viable, pubs also have to recognise that the trade has changed and like any other business, we have to ‘go with the flow,’ trying to balance the needs of our customers and the viability of the business. In our case, although the lunchtime trade has remained fairly steady, people just do not want to venture across a misty marsh in the middle of nowhere on a cold winter’s night.

The good news is that we will soon be starting our summer season and opening every weekday evening, so keep an eye on our website or Facebook page for further news on this front.

Rumours have been spreading that I have been far less grumpy of late and there have been reports that I have been seen to be quite cheerful. Well, I have to put my hand up to that one. About nine months ago I had a major health scare, but thanks to the brilliant services of the Kent and Canterbury hospital, I have been declared fit and well again. The problem is that the treatment I received obviously had the side effect of make me unaccountably cheerful, which does not suit the image at all and caused total confusion with the regulars, who took

to muttering into their beer that I ought to give them notice if I was to start being a genial host!

You will be pleased to know however that after a few therapy sessions (i.e. working behind the bar and talking to customers), my level of grumpiness has returned to normal.

Being asked if we served ‘double latte with caramel’ and could we manage a couple of toasted tea cakes, soon had me on the way back to normality, and the clincher was the couple who let their children wreck a laid up dining room and then told me that they believed in ‘free expression’ in raising children.

I exercised my own version of free expression and as I showed them the door, found that miraculously, my grumpiness had returned, much to the relief of my regulars. All is well again at The Shipwright’s.

Derek Cole Grumpy Landlord of the Shipwright’s Arms

You can read past issues of Swale Ale online at

www.issuu.com/swaleale 43

THE BERRY WALMER Multi-award Winning Pub Where You Will Find: Real Ale, Real Cider and a Real Fire!

Up to 11 Cask Ales Plus 6 Key Keg Ales. Always 6 Ciders Available Also serving “Si’s Pies,” Delicious Hand Made Pork Pies and Scotch Eggs Follow us on Facebook and Twitter www.theberrywalmer.co.uk Tel: 01304362411 23 Canada Road, Walmer, Kent CT14 7EQ 44

10 years at the Berry!

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Live Music Saturday 21st March Quiz Nights: 2nd Friday of each month 4th April - *special* Food and Drink Quiz £7.50 each to include a curry buffet.