Beer Arounf 'Ere 189

ALSO INSIDE PUB & BREWERY NEWS DIARY DATES GBBF 2016

Peterborough & District Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale June / July 2016

189

Editor: Jane [email protected]

Published by: Peterborough & DistrictBranch of the Campaign for Real Ale.

Produced on behalf of CAMRA by:Orchard House Media LtdEventus Business Centre, Sunderland Rd,Market Deeping. Tel: 01778 382758

Magazine Design & Production: Daniel Speed [email protected]

Advertising Sales Manager:Jane MichelsonTel: 01778 382718

Distribution:David [email protected]

Proof Reading:Bob Melville - 07941 246693

Printed By:Precision Colour Print LtdHaldane, Telford, Shropshire TF7 4QQ

Circulation: 7,000 copies distributed topubs, clubs and members throughout thePeterborough and District CAMRABranch area. A digital version of thismagazine is available to view and download at issuu.com

Editor’s ramblings |3

Beer Around ‘Ere is published by the

Peterborough & District Branch of

CAMRA Copyright © 2016, The

Campaign for Real Ale Ltd.

Views or comments expressed in

this publication may not necessarily

be those of the Editor or of CAMRA.

The next issue of Beer Around ‘Ere will be available

on the 21st July.

We must have your stories, news and

advertisements by 4th July

Please send your stories and other copy to the

editor, Jane Brown.

The sun has returned, issummer here? Well itappeared so the weekend of7th-8th May! Those runningand those attending beerfestivals certainly had theweather for it! We will haveto hope that August hassimilar weather.

You will notice that this edition mentions theCAMRA Revitalisation Project, see Chairman’sCorner and page 13. Do please take a fewmoments to familiarise yourself with its aims andhelp to shape the future!

One person got in touch regarding pubs that givediscounts to CAMRA members. Thank you Ken!

So not so much a list as I had hoped for but amention for the Fox and Hounds in Longthorpewhich gives 10% off real ale for members and I’mtold has 4 real ales on most of the time. Do allpubs offering discounts advertise the fact in-house?Asking the question but not expecting replies Ithink it’s a case of ‘let’s skip the editor’s bit and findsomething more interesting!” I can go along withthat, no more questions!!

Finally please don’t forget to nominate deservingpubs for a Gold or Merit Award. There are some

great pubs in our area that don’t get the recogni-tion they warrant.

Cheers!

JB

IN THIS ISSUEWelcome from the editor 3Chairman’s corner 5Pub news 7–11Is this the end of CAMRA? 13Brewery news 14–16Farewell Bert and Eileen 19Train Trip to Bridlington, Driffield and Beverley 20–23Diary dates 24Iron Horse Beer Club 26–27Awards 29Branch contacts 30Join CAMRA 31

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk JUNE / JULY 2016 |BEER AROUND ERE

Are you missing out?Get Beer Around Ere delivered to your door! For a year (6 issues) send £3.60 for second class or £4.14for 1st Class or multiples thereof for multiple years. Pleasesend a cheque/PO payable to “Peterborough CAMRA” andyour address to:- Daryl Ling, 19 Lidgate Close, PeterboroughPE2 7ZA

BEER AROUND ERE | JUNE / JULY 2016 Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

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Chairman’s corner |5

The main topic of my blurb this issue is thatCAMRA have proceeded with a new membershipaction known as the Revitalisation Project. Thisbasically is asking members in what direction thecampaign should now be going. Many peoplebelieve that CAMRA has done its job as one of themost successful consumer groups in Europe. Thereare some who would say, has it really?

With a membership of over 175,000 shouldCAMRA represent only drinkers of real ale? In1988 we took on board the cider and perryproducers and drinkers. Why not represent beerdrinkers of all types, and try and convert them toreal ale? Or should we represent all drinkers oftraditional styles of beer/cider without caring toomuch on the methods of production and dispense?All pub goers could be represented, because theyare the ones who help to keep the key outlets forreal ale open and pubs promote responsibledrinking in a controlled environment. Finallyshould we represent all people, whatever theydrink, and wherever they buy it and wherever theydrink it?

No, I think the last scenario could include thewinos on the local park bench, so forget that bit.We could, if we position ourselves, represent allbeer and cider drinkers who drink in pubs, plusgain a larger membership and campaigning voice.

If we welcomed all drinkers, even those who havestill not made up their minds what they think isgood beer, we might even help them discover theirown preferences. A few facts to alert you. In 1970beer represented 71% of all alcohol consumed inthe UK. In 2014 this was only 36%. In 1974 therewere fewer than 200 breweries in the UK. Todaythere are over 1500. Between 2009 and 2013 3,800coffee shops opened, whilst during that time 4,500pubs closed. The price of a pint of beer in the on-trade (pubs) increased by 187% between 1987and 2011 but, only 52% for off-sales (shops).

So this is why CAMRA is looking closely at thefuture strategy and purpose. They are holdingopen meetings throughout the country to breathenew life into the campaign, but need to find outfrom our members what direction to take. Make anote of this date. Saturday June 18th there isa Revitalisation Project meeting being heldat the Brewery Tap in Peterborough,starting at 1.30pm. I urge members to attend.Please bring your membership card. There will belimited spaces so book your place promptly. The meeting is also open to any other interestedparties within the trade. CAMRA NEEDS SOMEOF THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED beforeany changes can be made. This review is inkeeping with good governance as all good organi-sations review their mission from time to time. As we have a record membership and greaterinfluence than ever before, any changes can bemade from a position of strength and success.

Please make every effort to attend the meeting onJune 18th. It’s only for a couple of hours, but couldmake a major impact on CAMRA’s future direction.

David MurrayBranch Chairman

Chairman’s Corner


“Many people believethat CAMRA has done itsjob as one of the mostsuccessful consumergroups in Europe. Thereare some who would say,has it really?”



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Pub news |7

The Kings HeadA warm, sunny day at the end of March took us tothe ancient village of Apethorpe, which has amention in the Doomsday book. It has a pleasantvillage pub called the Kings Head with open logfires, London Pride as its regular beer and twoguests from local breweries. Like so many villagepubs nowadays it has a heavy dependence on food,but the bar at the front of the pub has retained muchof its original character. The rather effeminate headdisplayed on the pub sign is presumably that ofJames 1st who stopped in the village on his way toLondon in 1603. At least he managed to keep itintact for the remainder of his life, which is morethan we can say for his mother and son. Furtheralong the road is the beautiful limestone village ofKings Cliffe. This is one of the many unspoiltvillages in the branch, probably flourishing on thewool trade judging by its statuesque Regencyhouses. Nestled amidst its mullioned windows andCollyweston slates is the Cross Keys. As youenter this pub there is a long bar to the left and a small snug to the right, both adorned with theiroriginal stone inglenooks. The main bar is furtheralong the passage and is a regular haunt of KingsCliffe brewer, Jez O'Neill, who brews a special beerfor the pub. Also available were Greene King IPA,Black Sheep Gold and Everards Tiger. The pubboasts a very reasonably priced menu and I wouldespecially recommend the home- made pies. MadMondays offer all the beer at £2.50 a pint andhappy hour is 6.00 -7.00pm every day.

FerrynoughAs the weather gets warmer and the days getlonger, country walks once again become a moreattractive prospect. Our less ambitious walkersmight choose a stroll across the parkland of FerryMeadows rather than risking the hazardous foot-paths of the open countryside. There are severalaccess points to the park, but I have chosen theroute just off the Thorpe Road, which may bereached by a number 2 bus from the city centre.The Boathouse, in Thorpe Meadows, is excel-lently appointed at the head of the boating lake.It has been recently refurbished in the corporate

style of the Chef and Brewer chain which you willprobably find as banal as the distressing pun thatheads this paragraph. Spacious, food orientatedand with plenty of seating room, it has an extensivepatio and garden area overlooking the easternedge of the park. Greene King IPA, Abbot, St.Austell Tribute and Sharp’s Doom Bar, this pubalso offers a moderately priced lunch time menuavailable from 12.00 – 4.00pm, Mondays to Saturdays.Anticipating an arduous walk ahead, I felt it waswise to fortify myself with a steak and kidneypudding, made from real beef suet. And a pleasantwalk it turned out to be, virtually impossible to getlost. Following the boating lake and crossing thegolf course, you are bordering the Nene all theway until you cross it at the suspension bridge.From here you merely follow the tarmac pathswhich dissect the man-made lakes until you arriveat the visitors centre. Not much to detain us here,apart from Jason Thomson’s wood sculpturecarved around the contours of an otherwise deadelm tree. Ham Lane will take you back to theOundle Road and the Granary, a bog standardBeefeater Inn designed in a style that blends wellwith its bucolic setting. Blasted by Becks andsurrounded with grills, I sought refuge in itsspacious basement bar where I found Sharp’sDoom Bar and Fullers London Pride on handpump. Like many chain pub-restaurants, it doeswhat it says on the tin.

The more ambitious can turn left into the OundleRoad and right into Cherry Orton Road for theWindmill. This is an elegantly furnished pubwith open fires, oak beams and oak pillars offeringsoups, kebabs, tortillas, burgers, nachos, steaks,sausage and mash, fish, curries and chicken, all ofthe meat delivered fresh on the day. The menu alsooffers a glutton burger in case Mr. Creosote popsin and is insufficiently sated by all of the otheritems on offer! Black Sheep Bitter, Adnams Broadside, Bishops Farewell, Tim Taylor’s Landlord are the regular beers. On this occasion itwas not Mr. Creosote who exploded but a regularcustomer who, on learning that I was a CAMRAmember, told me to “get up north and get a


Pub News

F

8 | Pub news - continued

decent pint wi’ a decent ‘ed on it”. After thisbattery of imperatives, the soothsayer fled muttering,denying me the opportunity to remind him that it wasKarl Marx who once famously said that “sparklers aretheft”. I was probably wasting my time.

I personally prefer the walk which lies ahead ofBluebell Wood, at the edge of the golf course andon the eastern side of the suspension bridge.Exiting the wood at Milton Ferry Bridge, havingspotted another of Jason Thomson’s intriguing treecarvings on the route, you are at the foot of the sliproad leading up to Love’s Hill above the ancientRoman settlement of Castor. The Romans had thenovel idea of locating a settlement above a floodplain, a principle that seems to have been lost onmodern planners. For those who do not knowCastor, it has evolved into an exquisite villageabounding with thatched roofed houses and astunning church, parts of which date back toAnglo Saxon times, and it still has two pubs. The Royal Oak describes itself as “an Old EnglishVillage Pub”, and so it is. Three roomed with lowceilings, original oak beams and traditional fire-places, it offers four beers: JHB and St. AustellTribute as regulars and two rotating guests. I trieda pint of Thwaites Wainwright, which was in excel-lent condition. It was a Friday lunchtime when Icalled in and the pub was packed with walkers anddiners: hot lunches, toasted paninis, hot and coldbaguettes and steamy soups. These are normallyonly available on a Friday and Saturday, but theywill make special arrangements for a group ofwalkers if notified in advance. Shiraz, Merlot,Malbec and Rioja are all available by the glass or at£16.50 a bottle. You know it makes sense.

It was time I visited my old friends, Simon andKay, in the Prince of Wales Feathers. This isone of the best designed pubs I have ever beeninto. It has three identifiable areas, main bar withSky Sports, a games room and an eating area tothe rear. Each room is framed as a separatecompartment, but with the absence of physicalbarriers they all naturally sweep into each other,thus creating a sense of integrated space whichenhances the conviviality of the pub. It has twooutside drinking areas, one facing the main road,

the other to the rear which now houses a perma-nent stillage and with extended roof cover. This isthe ideal venue for their beer festivals which havebecome popular for the interesting range of beersthat Simon offers. And you don’t have to wait fora beer festival. This is the brewery tap for CastorAles, and there is almost invariably something onthe bar which I have never tried before. Six realales and seven ciders, Kay recommends that youbook in advance if you arrive for Sunday lunch.

On the GrapevineWhich is likely to reopen. The proprietors ofClarks, in Cathedral Square, are relocating to theold Flying Club in their pursuit of the Michelinstar, and I have heard that Charles Wells are inter-ested in turning it back into a pub. Thus, theGrapevine has not only survived the Queensgateholocaust, but also the current gourmet invasion.Phil and Maria Quinn have managed to procurethe Boat in Whittlesey from Elgoods and cele-brated with a mini beer festival at Easter. They willcontinue to serve Cambridge and Golden Newt,due to their continuing popularity, along with twoguests. The Woolpack in Weldon is still up forsale. If it closes for good it will reduce the numberof pubs in Weldon to two. But this is anexpanding suburb of Corby and I have heard thatMarston’s intend to open a pub/restaurant on thenew estate. I have also heard an unsubstantiatedrumour that the Grainstore brewery in Oakhamhas an interest in the Fox in Folksworth. Afterbeing closed for some time, maybe we can lookforward to this pub reopening. Meanwhile, backin the city centre, real ale has returned to the BullHotel in the form of Oakham JHB and Mark 7.Simon Benton has introduced his own brew intothe Ostrich, a 4% bitter called Dirty Bird.Brewed on license by Jez at Kings Cliffe, this isavailable along with the normal enterprising selec-tion of cask ales and a growing range of key kegproducts. Enterprise Inns have put the Hand andHeart in Highbury Street up for sale. It is, ofcourse, essential that we save this pub and MattMace is organizing a community enterprise of pubpatrons and local residents with a view to raising£300,000. Further details are available from Matton: [email protected].


Pub news - continued |9

Inside Stamford After the conflicting information I have receivedon the future of the Periwig, I had an irresistibleurge to visit the Crown and get the informationstraight from the horse’s mouth. For a brief periodI was afraid it would close but I should have knownthat the Knead Group would not relinquish thisvaluable piece of real estate in the middle of Stam-ford. A refurbishment is being planned, but thenew concept is still under consideration. The onlypositive information I have is that it is to be calledPeyton’s Bar and Kitchen, after the winemerchants who occupied the property before itbecame the Marsh Harrier, but I feel sure thatwe can count on Mick Thurlby maintaining hislong standing commitment to high quality real ale.The Crown is still serving Tim Taylor’s Landlord,JHB and London Pride, and I thought I would, foronce, take the rare opportunity to enjoy thecomfort of the well-appointed mezzanine lounge.Stone-walled and sumptuously furnished, abovethe fireplace is a large portrait of a gentleman cladin eighteenth century garb, somewhat inclined tocorpulence, who I instantly assumed to be amember of the Stamford gentry in fancy dress.Closer inspection, however, proved it to be DanielLambert who should need no introduction in thispart of the world. This artifact was somewhatsurpassed by a wooden plaque in the main bardeclaring that “the Lincolnshire red bull on ourfarm is called Christian”. The unfortunate crea-ture is then displayed exhibiting his neck, chuckand blade, sirloin, fillet, rump, silverside, topside,fore ribs, flank and shank, in a true spirit of Chris-tian sacrifice. If it were a sheep farm, dare I say it,greater love hath no lamb. A more indulgentapproach to our animal friends is apparent in therestaurant where there is a notice welcoming our“loving pooches” into all Knead pubs with freedog treats at the bar.

As reported in the last edition, George Sakalli hastaken over the Green Man and has appointedBetty Hawkes as pub manager. The pub iscurrently offering seven real ales with pricesranging from £2.90 -£3.20, a welcome relief inStamford. I have heard that George intends todispose of the juke box and the one-armed bandit,

which should do something to raise the profile ofthe pub and return it to its former glory. The pubfeatured its Easter Beer Festival, as usual, at theend of March. Mick Purvis, who took over theGolden Fleece last year, has now taken over theMillstone, and the pub has started selling foodand has returned to opening every day. It is nowmanaged by his daughter, Carole, and her partner,Malcolm. Like so many other Stamford pubs, it isa former coaching inn, Grade 1 listed and datingback to 1720. As you face the bar, the thorough-fare would have been on your left. I wasparticularly drawn in by the oak beams whichMalcolm suggested were probably recovered froma galleon, pointing out the grooves that run alongthe side designed to hold the transoms. They havemajor plans for the garden, improving the woodendecking and planning to erect metal gates betweenthe stone walls to provide security for children fromthe Sheepmarket traffic. As they are awaiting theinstallation of a new python, if you visit the pubnow you will get your beer poured straight from thecask. I went for a pint of London Pride, a complexbeer which, as it has become more widely available,is not always in the best of form. The pint thatMalcolm drew me from the cellar, however, was atits immaculate best. The Fleece and the Millstoneare most certainly back on my Stamford itinerary.

ResurrectionAs I predicted in my last article, some pubs closefor a short period and are soon to reopen. MyStamford informer, Alun Thomas writes “theQueens Head, Bulwick, re-opened on Friday25th March. A new broom has evidently beenflourished with the interior of the pub a lotroomier and brighter, yet space has been found forthat rarity these days of a snug. Ian and local girlHayleigh are mine hosts, while born and bredRutlander, Rob, is the chef. Straight forward pubfare is the plan in the short run, but watch thisspace. Locals are already giving the pub thethumbs up with two beers from Grainstore, (TripleB and Osprey, both on stonking form on my visit)alongside Bishops Finger and Doom Bar. Fridaythe 25th was of course Good Friday, the same daythat the Black Horse in Elton reopened. Becauseof this they call this Friday Good.


F



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Pub news - continued |11

Meanwhile, back in the city, I attended thereopening of the Blue Bell in Dogsthorpe onApril 2nd. This Grade 1 listed building is one ofthe city’s major assets with parts of it dating backto the seventeenth century. Especially attractive isthe wood panelled snug to the left of the main bar.Paul Cliff, Jimmy and Jeannette Gilligan andDarren Needham are our intrepid entrepreneurswho after four months of hard graft and no littleexpense have launched this pub back into thecentre of the community. The opening ceremony,conducted by Jeannette’s mum, Marjorie Howell,was impeded by either an exceptionally toughribbon or some very blunt scissors, much to thejocularity of the assembled host. On learning thatI was a CAMRA representative, Marjorie remi-nisced with me on the late Gilbert Cole, whoseencyclopaedic knowledge of branch pubs kept usin awe for decades. Gilbert was also a rambler,and I had a fleeting vision of him prophesying thisceremony by reopening a closed public footpathwith his wire cutters.

The Kings HeadRecent newspaper reports reveal that a publicanhas become so irked with the ACV process and thepeople who have inflicted it upon him that he hasbarred all CAMRA members fromhis pub. He appears to be claimingthat the petition has put him at acommercial disadvantage and thatthese “do-gooders” have no right to interfere in his business.

Only a man whose heart is like astone can fail to sympathise withthis poor chap. Whilst it is truethat under English law publicanscan refuse to serve whoever theylike without giving a reason, theynow have to consider a whole raftof laws relating to equality. Andwe all know what a minefield thisis. It has left the saloon bar dooropen to all kinds of undesirabledeviants*. The problem with theseinconvenient laws is that they arealways open to abuse. Only

recently a group from the travelling communityhas successfully claimed that they have suffered adetriment as part of “an identifiable social group”.And there is nothing more identifiable thanCAMRA members with their moth eaten sweaters,beards and sandals. Even the male of the speciesis easily spotted. The point being that the 2011Localism Act is now as much a part of the frame-work of legislation that is designed to protect bothpublicans and drinkers as the laws governingunfair discrimination and those granting manage-rial discretion. It would be somewhat perverse toaccept one and not the other. It was John Miltonwho once said that to say that someone, anyone, isabove the law undermines the very principle oflaw itself**. And his King lost his head over it.

*Further details are available on request.

** Eikonoklastes: John Milton 1649John Temple

Pubs Officer


Send us your news!Calling all landlords and landladies! Had a refurb? Got agreat event on? Started selling a new range of ales or cider?Let us know and we will add your news to these pages.Just email John Temple at [email protected]

I think he has just suggested that his views on ACV’s are at variance with thoseof CAMRA and it would be preferable if we drank elsewhere!



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Revitalisation of CAMRA |13

After 45 years of being one of the largest single-issue consumer groups in the world, the Campaignfor Real Ale (CAMRA) could be coming to an end.The organisation is embarking on a consultation ofas many as possible of its nearly 180,000 membersto ask them who and what it should represent in thefuture, and it may no longer be focused on real ale!

One of its four founders, Michael Hardman, hasreturned to lead the Revitalisation Project - awholesale review into the purpose and strategy ofCAMRA. Members of the organisation will beinvited to share their views about the future ofCAMRA by completing surveys and attendingaround 50 consultation meetings across the UKthis summer. They’ll be asked whether CAMRAshould move away from promoting and protectingtraditional real ale and become more inclusive, orshed subsidiary issues which have become attachedto the organisation over the years - such as cider -in order to narrow its focus exclusively on cask-conditioned beer.

The Revitalisation Project is CAMRA’s responseto a beer and pub industry which has changedhugely since the organisation was founded in 1971.The rise of craft beer and a resurgence of interestin beer in recent years, plus renewed threats topubs, have challenged CAMRA to review if it isbest positioned to represent its members in thefuture.

Options include becoming a consumer organisa-tion for all beer drinkers, all pub goers regardlessof what they drink, or even all alcohol drinkers,regardless of where they drink it. RevitalisationProject Chairman Michael Hardman said: “Thiscould mark a fundamental turning point for theCampaign for Real Ale. So fundamental it may nolonger continue as the Campaign for Real Ale andinstead become a campaign for pubs, or acampaign for all drinkers’’.

“It’s not up to us though. It’s up to our membersto tell us what they want the Campaign to do inthe future. CAMRA has sometimes been criticisedfor failing to react to the times, being old-fashionedand reactionary, and failing to embrace develop-ments in the pub and beer industry such as craftbeer. This is the chance for our members to tell uswho we should represent in the future and for whatwe should be campaigning.’’

“When we founded the Campaign the mostimportant thing was choice and combatting poorquality beer. Now our members need to tell uswhat is important to them. We need to hear fromas many CAMRA members as possible to tell uswhat they think the organisation should look like inthe future.”

Mike BlakesleyPress Officer

The End of CAMRA?


CAMRA members please visithttps://revitalisation.camra.org.uk/

and take part in our future.

14 |

Bexar CountyDuring a recent visit to the breweryBexar County BLO (BreweryLiaison Officer) was able to sampleseveral beers from the fermenterincluding Cookie Monster 6%

abv American lager and El Sol y La Luna 4.9%abv, a Mexican style lager and also a Dortmunderexport lager called I Love To Hate You 5.2% abvall of which were full of taste and flavour.

Also on the go was Papa Steve in a Glen-morangie oak cask which will be going toCambridge Beer Festival where Bexar County willbe sharing a brewery bar with 3 Blind Mice fromEly. Truman Victorian Export Stout isanother Bexar County beer that has been put intoan oak cask and which was first brewed last yearfor Melton Mowbray Victorian market. It wentinto the cask 6.7% abv and should be slightly morelethal when it emerges. This beer will be going toPeterborough Beer Festival. A beer soon to beavailable is a collaboration with Alphabet BrewingCo. called Tainted Dove which is a chocolate,coconut and almond PALE beer, you don’t seemany pale chocolate beers!

Blue BellThe brewery has recently been sold by Emma Bellto John and Debbie, hosts at the Blue Bell Inn.The rationale behind the purchase is to secure thebrewery and the beers to make it an integral partof the Blue Bell business.

All renovation work is now complete and the firstbatch of Ingle Dingle was in the fermenters atbeginning of May and should be on sale soon. Thefirst batch of what will be the main beer and renamed New Honesty was due to be brewed mid-May. This is a 4.1% abv bitter and has a slight‘tweak’ in the recipe from the original!

It will also be known as “That One” and IngleDingle as “The Other One”.

The brewery will concentrate on supplying thepub and for private sales (parties etc.) in the firstinstance.

Castor AlesRecently we added our owntwist to the collaborationmerry go round that seems tobe all the craze these days.

Having tasted Bexar County's collaboration brewwith Weird Beard called “A Lemon Tree my DearWatson” we decided we wanted to try and brewsomething similar. The polite thing to do would beto arrange a collaboration with Steve Saldana, butno, we merely phoned and bombarded Steve withquestions until he effectively gave us the recipe andthe process, and then we set about replicating it.(Some may call it stealing!) Thanks Steve! The final product Leaping Lemon featured atthe Coalheavers beer festival and soon sold out. At the Prince of Wales Feathers beer festival itfeatured as a blend with Leaping Toad andbecame Lemondipity. Look out for future varia-tions on this theme.

We were disappointed not to make theCambridge Beer Festival again this year, but let’sbe philosophical, their loss not ours and on the upside it meant uninterrupted supplies for our loyalPeterborough customers. Production of HoppingToad 4.1% abv continues to increase with theLeaping Toad variation 4.9% abv featuringstrongly in the second quarter of the year.

So Toadies must sign off, but please don't forgetthe first two weekends in July: the PeterboroughHeritage Festival featuring real ale and real art andthe Castor Summer Festival featuring real ale andreal music. Come along to see what “specials” willbe making an appearance from Castor Ales.


Brewery News


Brewery news |15

ElgoodsDouble Swan is the currentseasonal and will be replacednext month (June) withThey Think It’s Ale Over

to celebrate the UEFA Euro 2016 and 50 yearssince England’s World Cup win.

The brewery will again be hosting the SIBA EastBeer Competition and Beer Festival fromThursday 29th September to Saturday 1stOctober. On the pub front as reported in PubNews the Blue Bell in Dogsthorpe has re-opened.

Hopshackle BreweryDark, a 3.8% abv mild has beenbrewed for May and June. It is avery dark ruby colour and usesthe traditional English hop, East

Kent Goldings and the malts used are pale, choco-late, crystal and black. The yeast used has been a‘borrowed’ yeast from another brewery which ismore suitable for mild than the normal ‘house’ yeast.

Black Mule 5.6% abv and Hopnosis 5.2%abv and Dark are all available in casks.

Hopshackle Beers will be at The 42ndCambridge Beer Festival, May 23rd -28th and The Rutland Beer Festival, June 23rd -26th.

Mile Tree BreweryRichard has now recoveredfrom his hip replacementoperation in February and is

now busy brewing albeit with help from neighbourTrevor Parke - a real top bloke and damn finebrewery assistant!

Ely Eel Festival held over the Early Spring Bankholiday was once again a great success. Mile TreeBrewery along with Watergull Orchards ran thebar over the three day event with record numbersof people attending this year. Many thanks to allwho helped us out!

Mile Tree are very pleased to have their beers onceagain at Cambridge Beer Festival. This year they haveDark Secret 3.8% abv and Woodrush 4.7% abv.

The annual Mid-summer Food and Craft Fairtakes place on Saturday 25th June at The SecretGarden Touring Park where Mile Tree Brewerywill be once again running the beer tent.

Mile Tree Brewery and Watergull Orchards will berunning the Beer and Cider tent at the HilgayVintage & Country Festival on the weekend of6th- 7th August.

Nene Valley BreweryNene Valley were invited tosupply their dark beers, DarkHorse 3.8% abv and BibleBlack 6.5% abv, to theCambridge Beer Festival at the

end of May. Big Bang Theory 5.3% abv,Release the Chimps 4.4% abv and Super-sonic 6.0% abv will be part of Nene Valley’s nextcanning run in three weeks. All of these beershave proved popular in this format.

The team are “within sight” of moving in totheir expanded premises with one of the fermenta-tion tanks being delivered next week.

The brewery's original 2.5 barrel plant has beensold to a concern in Letchworth where it will beemployed in a brewpub.

Oakham AlesThe brewery were recently presentedwith Champion Beer of the Festival2015 Award for Green Devil by

Milton Keynes Branch.

The June Oakadamy offering is Enough Ropean amber ale at 4.3% abv with a trio of new worldhops Mosaic, Simcoe and Chinook. Anotheramber favourite Oblivion 5.7% abv made areturn during May as part of the vintage rangecalled so after the krausening process then sixmonths in the cellar. Should be good. Workcontinues at the brewery to further the expansionand new brewing vessels should be ready for instal-lation shortly.

The bottled beer market abroad continues togrow with such far flung places as Indonesia, F


16 | Brewery news - continued

Malaysia, Hong Kong and South Korea takingshipments of Oakham beers.

Star Brewing CompanyStar’s most recent beer Stellar4.1% abv has sold well andAstral 4.5% abv, Titan 4.2%abv and Lightyear 5.0% abv arenow being brewed. Starburst

4.1% abv was brewed in May. Star beers haveappeared at the East Anglian Beer Festival, in BurySt Edmunds and the St George’s Beer Festival atthe Hand and Heart. Three beers were supplied tothe Coalheavers’ Arms Spring Beer Festival. A special beer was to be brewed in May for theBourne Festival June 10th-12th. Members of theorganising team for the Bourne Festival will behelping to brew the beer. The brewery will alsosupply beers to the Cambridge Beer Festival,including a new 5.0% abv beer, Festival BurtonIPA. Star beers are also continuing to be seen inlocal Wetherspoon’s outlets.

Tydd SteamGolden Kiwi has been thelatest occasional beer and willbe replaced by the second

appearance of Artic Fox’s Polar Beer.Armageddon will also make an appearance shortly.

It has been a busy time at the brewery with beersgoing to events at Sandringham and to severalbeer festivals including Cambridge, plus the firstSpalding Beer and Music Festival.

Weldon BreweryThe name has been changed to appeal to a wideraudience. Head brewer Graham Moorhouse hasresponded to the CAMRA revitalization project bylaunching into the craft keg market. Traditionalcask ale still predominates, the latest addition tothe portfolio being Galvy Stout, named after thegalvanizing plant in Corby. Stahlstadt (steel townin German) has proved so popular that it is tobecome a seasonal regular, and we can lookforward to the reappearance of Cupola in latespring. Rosie’s Sweat Box is now featuringregularly at beer festivals.

Xtreme AlesBeer sales continue to bebouyant with Pigeon Ale andMild Stout being brewed on a

weekly basis. Specials continue to be requestedwith a beer called Route 701 being brewed forFenland Bus Festival.

Lack of space continues to be a problem and sofinally the decision has been made to move. A unithas been found, but it does mean that they willmove away from their Turves/ Whittlesey roots!The move will hopefully take place by the end ofJune, but this could change as the unit is currentlybeing re-roofed.


Please support our advertisers |17

Celebrating 20 Years at the Bull, Market Deeping |19

As a token of our high regard for the licensees ofThe Bull in Market Deeping we held our AprilBranch meeting at the pub. This was firstly tounveil the new wall plaque commemorating theinaugural meeting of the Peterborough andDistrict Branch of CAMRA, which took placearound September 1975. Then to present Bert andEileen Murray with a certificate to show ourappreciation for the hard work they had done inrunning the pub for over twenty years. Theyretired from the pub on the 24th of April. We wishthem a long and happy retirement.

DM


Farewell toBert and Eileen

9 High Street, Easton on the Hill, PE9 3LR. Tel: 01780 763003 Email: [email protected]

Find us on Facebook: The Blue Bell

The Blue Bell is a delightful combination of a TraditionalVillage Pub and high quality Italian Restaurant. Run withmediterranean flair and passion by Alex and Cinzia,

it lies at the heart of the picturesque Village of Easton onthe Hill, 1.5 mile west of Stamford, 2 minutes from the

A1 and on The Jurassic Way.

3 real ales, 1 real cider and 6 draught beersGame room, Sky & BT Sport

Freshly prepared food Tuesday to Sunday.Our garden, bars and restaurants are available

for your Wedding, office or birthday party.

19 High Street East, Uppingham, Rutland LE15 9PYTel: 01572 822302

Everards Ales plus twoever-changing guest beers

Open for breakfast 10am- 12noon every day.

We are a great place for Sunday lunch after acountry walk or drive. Served from noon onwards.

We also offer 3 Star AA rated accommodation.

“Meet you at the PeterboroughStation at 8:30am”, said the paper-work, “and this tour will visit eightpubs (more if your prefer) includingtwo of Britain’s Real Heritage Pubs,also one of Yorkshire’s Real HeritagePubs – you could visit up to eightpubs in the 2016 Good Beer Guide.”

Omitted from this paperwork, was thefact that England would be playing Wales for theTriple Crown, so we also had to sort the pubsaccording to the following requirements:

1. Good beer.2. T.V. showing rugby3. Near to railway station to get back on track.

On the train maps were scrutinized, studied andwe came up with what we thought was the idealplan. Our first stop of the day was Bridlington.

It’s years since I have visited thistown, and we had only a five minutewalk to the first pub – the Tele-graph Inn, 110 Quay Road. A great little pub, a free house with asmall on-site brewery in the backyard, which opened in May 2014. It was voted Hull & East Yorkshire’sCAMRA pub of the year in 2013.Whilst waiting for my beer Wold Top

Angler’s Reward, I spied an old “Pac Man” tableand, i’m pleased to say, it was in working order;50p a go and great fun. They then brought outplates of pork pie and pickles for the group andthat was the gaming finished and beer drunk, readyfor the next pub. Thank you for your kindness.

I feel I must pass on a warning here for the walk tothe next pub, of disability buggies - please beaware as there are lots of these in Bridlington andsome are not too worried about directions.


to Bridlington, Driffield and Beverley

Train Trip

Bridlington, Driffield and Beverley |21

We walked about 10 plus minutes back alongQuay Road towards the Promenade and the PriorJohn, a Weatherspoon’s pub. They had a beerfestival on and normally in a “Spoons” pub themost popular beer is “Coming Soon”, but theeagle-eyed of us spotted Titanic Plum Porter,priced at £2.15, a pint then with our 50p offvouchers, a steal at £1.65. Five pints ordered andenjoyed. For a Weatherspoon’s pub this was small,beautifully light and airy, and has one large cres-cent shaped room, with a first floor gallery reachedby a spiral staircase.

I would have liked to have visited the Marine Baralong North Drive, but time and trains werepressing, so we had to leave and make our wayback to Bridlington Station Buffet. It is one ofthe few surviving traditional station buffets (alsoone at Stalybridge, Greater Manchester). It datesfrom 1912 when a new station was opened and hastwo separate unaltered rooms retaining originalfeatures. On our visit it was serving only one realale - Great Newsome Brewery Pricky BackOtchan, 4.2% - a great tasting beer. Look out forsome wonderful enamel signage in this bar.

All aboard the train for Driffield, and theBenjamin Fawcett, Middle Street South, whichused to be two pubs, Norseman/WinstonChurchill, and now the usual “Spoons” pub. Iwould say not as nice inside as the Prior John. I

went for the Rudgate Happy Hooker at 4.0% andenjoyed it. Also ordered was a pale ale, “Phonicskeep the beer alive”. Created by Stereophonicsand brewed by Brains 4.1%, Black Sheep SpecialAle, and 4.45%, Hook Norton Crafty Fox 5.0%,Acorn Brewery Barnsley Bitter 3.8%. Also avail-able was Everards Yakima and Oakleaf PompeyRoyal. Well done Weatherspoons for a greatchoice.

Our walk round Driffield continued and I wasasked “Roz are you off to the Butcher’s Dog?There is a friend of yours in there from the Palmywaiting to have a drink with you”. When wearrived at the Butcher’s Dog, 24 Middle SouthStreet, our friend Simon was there waiting, drinkin hand and advice on which ones we would like.“Great to bump into you Simon”. Five real ales,cider - will say more later, NO music or Wi-Fi, orspirits of either kind, just a pub.

The beers on Saturday were, Rudgate Brew No1Vanilla Mild 3.5%, Butchers Dog ExperimentalPorter with Vanilla 4.5%, (wonderful, my choice).Hooded Ram Brewing Company Toasty Ram 5%Winter Warming Ale(Isle of Man), also by themMosaic single hop, Old Mill Brewery Blond Bomb-shell. Simon’s friend had a pint glass of green stuffwhich I assumed was Lemon and Lime. Howwrong was I - it was lemon and lime cider, byLilley’s 4% and they had Lilley’s Mango Cider also4% which is bright orange. Although I tasted both,and you would not have known you had cider,could have been improved only (my comment)


F

Above: Prior John, Bridlington exterior by Ross Parton

Left: Bridlington Station Buffet – front bar by MichaelSlaughter LRPS

Butcher’s Dog, Driffield exterior by Ross Parton

with a few cubes of ice to chill it. They had 9ciders on in here. What a great place to stay forthe afternoon. They also offer The Dog’sDinner, Pork Pie and Pint for £5 but we had togo and catch a train!

Other pubs visited in Driffield included theTiger – a small narrow local’s pub very busywhen we called which has at least two real alesincluding beers from the SIBA scheme. Also,the Mariners Arms, 47 Eastgate South,Driffield YO25 6LR - a street-corner localselling Jennings Best, Ringwood Razorback (wasBest Bitter), and Banks’s Sunbeam.

Time and trains pressing, it was onward toBeverley, oh and the Rugby. Mick had donesome groundwork on this and rang beforehandto see if any pubs would have a TV and have iton for the rugby and which would let in a groupof beer drinking CAMRA folk for a few hours.We headed for the Tiger Inn, 97 Lairgate,round by the Minster. It is a Brewer’s Tudorbuilding, with a small front bar. Lounge on theleft, a corridor to two small rooms at the backincluding a characterful snug. This is one ofYorkshire’s Real Heritage Pubs and also in 2016

Visit our web site for up-to-date news: www.real-ale.org.uk

Tiger, Beverley exterior byMichael Slaughter LRPS

Bridlington, Driffield and Beverley - continued |23

Good Beer Guide. The locals were friendly andmoved about to accommodate us for the game.Beer was drunk, rugby was watched and a greattime was had by all.

Other pubs visited by members of the partyincluded: -

Woolpack Inn, 37 Westwood Road, BeverleyHU17 8EN – small tucked-away local whichalthough opened-up inside still preserves its veryrare, small panelled snug, complete with old benchseating. It sells a wide range of Marston’s group ofbreweries beers.

Next pub was the White Horse which is a ‘mustvisit’ – one of the top unspoilt pubs in the whole ofthe country. It has a warren of stone-flagged andwood-floored rooms lit by 22 gas lights. Known as‘Nellie’s’ after Nellie Collinson, whose familyacquired the pub in 1927 and ran it until acquiredby Samuel Smiths in 1976. Apart from constructinga proper servery in the main bar, little has changedbut they have added a pool room and brought theold semi-private Kitchen into more regular pubuse. Old Brewery Bitter is the only real ale on sale.

Nearby is the Cornerhouse with Beverley’sbiggest selection of real ales and ciders.

We all met up in the Chequers Micropub, asmall pub just off the main Saturday market area.

Being a micropub it had the essentials of a goodpub - good conversation and good beer – we likedthe sign “No We Don’t Have Wi-Fi: Talk to EachOther!” Unusually, it has a first floor cellar andsells five changing real ales from microbreweries.

We took a train from Beverley to Hull, thenchanged to a train to Doncaster. Some of the partyidentified that the 19.55 train to Peterborough,that we were booked on, was 20 minutes late so adecision was made to visit the Plough only a shortwalk from the station. This is a pub with a Nation-ally Important Historic Interior, little altered since1936 and when we got there we discovered theyhad a small beer festival with 10 real ales.

The members of the party that had arrived inDoncaster early spotted a train to Peterboroughdue in at 20.00 so 10 of us jumped on board.When the other 14 arrived back on the platformthey were expecting to join the late 19.55 train onplatform 3a but there was a very late change ofplatform which was only just spotted by us – butnot all 14 and so we left 3 of the party on the platform – fortunately there was another train toPeterborough at 20.37 so we all got back – but on

3 different trains!!

Another great day out.

Roz Fountain and some pub details from Mick Slaughter


White Horse ‘Nellie’s’, Beverley – front right room andscullery, by Michael Slaughter LRPS

Diary Dates CAMRA meetings, socials and beer festivals in the coming months

JuneFriday 3rd - Sunday 5th Peterborough Conservative ClubBeer Festival. Live music everyeveing with a Barbeque in thecar park. 9 cask ales, real ciderand craft bottles.peterboroughconclub.yolasite.com

Saturday 4th Merit Award Presentation toLetter B, Whittlesey. Minibuswill depart Brewery Tap at 7pmand return by 11pm. Cost £5.Award will be presented at8.30pm. Book places throughSocial Secretary, John Hunt.

Monday 6th at 8.30pmBranch Monthly Meeting at theSwiss Cottage, 2 Grove St,Peterborough PE2 9AG. Allmembers welcome, please bringmembership card

Friday 17th Merit Award Presentation toCross Keys, Kings Cliffe.Minibus will depart BreweryTap at 7pm and return by11pm. Cost £5. Award will bepresented at 8.30pm. Pleasebook places through SocialSecretary, John Hunt.

Saturday 18th at 1.30pmRevitalisation Project - Peterbor-ough Consultation Meeting. We want to hear from you aboutyour vision of the future ofCAMRA. We are running aseries of events across the countrywhich members are invited toattend. Meeting will start at 1.30until 3.30pm at Brewery Tap, Westgate, PE1 2AA.

Saturday 18th Annual Branch Cycle Rally.Departing from CathedralSquare at 4.30pm. Contact Ross [email protected] forfurther details.

Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th Oakham Beer Festival and AleTrail, Museum, Catmose St,Oakham LE15 6HW. Further details: www.rutlandcamra.org.uk

Thursday 30th – Sunday 3rd JulyPloughman Summer BeerFestival, Staniland Way,Werrington Centre PE4 6NA.

JulyTuesday 5th at 8.30pmBranch Monthly Meeting atOstrich, 17 North Street, Peter-borough PE1 2RA. Allmembers welcome, please bringmembership card.

Thursday 7th – Saturday 9thGorefield Beer Festival andGala, Community Hall andField, Wolf Lane, Gorefield,Wisbech PE13 4NE. 25+ RealAles, Real Ciders and CraftLagers. Thursday 7-11, Friday7- midnight, Saturday 12-midnight.

Friday 8th Elgood’s Brewery Visit. Thebranch has been invited to visitthe brewery and gardens.Minibus will depart Brewery

Tap at 6pm and return by11pm. Cost £5, please bookplaces through Social SecretaryJohn Hunt.

Monday 11th at 8.30pmPeterborough Beer Festival 2016Open Meeting, Brewery Tap, 80Westgate, Peterborough, PE12AA. An Open Meeting (for anyCAMRA members) to learn moreabout this year’s Beer Festival.All are welcome, this is yourchance to be involved in one ofPeterborough’s most successfulevents.

24 | Diary dates


VolunteersWantedWith half the year almostgone and our big event onThe Embankmentapproaching we are onceagain calling for ourmembership to come andhelp us at this year’s PBF.The web site is now up andrunning for members tosubmit their applicationsas volunteers in setting upand running one of thecity’s major events of theyear. New faces are alwayswelcome and especiallyyounger people. It really isgreat fun and we supplysome free beer, greatlyreduced priced food and afree bus home at the end ofeach evening. So what areyou waiting for? We needmore people on the Fridayand Saturday but, not somany on theTuesday/Wednesday.

DM.


Please support our advertisers |25

The Bluebell InnHelpston

We support local micro breweries stocking greatlocal cask conditioned ales - always a choice of 4 including “10 Woodgate” which is specially

brewed just for us.

Open seven days a week for drinks and servingfresh, seasonal, locally sourced produce, our menu

offers something for everyone.

The Bluebell, Woodgate, Helpston,Peterborough PE6 7ED Tel: 01733 252394

www.bluebellhelpston.co.uk

‘Lunch for Less’ Menu Monday to Friday

(offering a special two course menu only £12)

Not usually one for drinking on a school night, I saw that the Iron Horse Ranch House in MarketDeeping were holding a ‘Craft Beer Club’ on thefirst Wednesday of the month, so, as a MarketDeeping resident and a big fan of the food there, I thought I’d mooch along and support this newventure.

On arrival I grabbed a pint, handed over £20 formy entry to the beer club, received a Glastonbury-style wristband, and chatted with the staff as wewaited for the arrival of the rest of the punters.

Looking over the bunch assembled I spotted afamiliar face and saw it was Deeping’s local Rectorout with his son. It was awesome to find out he is abeerhead and is passing on his passion to the nextgeneration. Well done sir!

Two of the last to arrive before we got startedwere Dean and Jill from the Jolly Brewer Stamfordwho also now own Baker’s Dozen Brewery. What a

lovely couple they are, very passionate aboutbrewing and both had a great sense of humour, I wish them well in their new venture.

We took our seats at a big table set up on thestage, each place setting had a printed chart of thebeers we would be sampling that night, a quizabout the guest brewery and a sheet to nominatethe best beers of the night to win overall. We alsohad pitchers of water to ‘cleanse the palate’ aftereach tasting.

The night kicked off with a talk from our guestbrewery of the month, Oakham Ales. Thebrewery representative, Jo Coleman, had onlybeen working for Oakham a short while but shehad a good knowledge of the history of thebrewery. Jo talked us through some samples ofdried Citra hops and the comparison betweenthese and hop pellets; the massive demand forAmerican hops and various other topics whichwould be of interest to any beer geek like me.

Iron Horse Beer Club


Iron Horse Ranch House craft beer club |27

We sampled several Oakham beers and Jo talkedus through the hops used and the flavour profiles.Jo’s passion for the brewery was very apparent andmade the talk lively and fun.

After the short talk we had about ten beers tosample, the offerings were from a wide range ofbreweries and included local brews like CastleRock Elsie Mo and Bakers Dozen Electric Land-lady, to further flung places like Americanbreweries Goose Island and Flying Dog. We triedbeers dispensed via bottles, draught (keg and cask)and cans. The samples were being served in verygenerous half pint measures and a whole load ofTapas style dishes where brought out to soak upthe beer.

One of the aspects I really liked about this nightwas the opportunity to put beers ‘under your nose’which you may have drunk a while ago but hadn’trevisited for a long time. JHB from Oakham Alesand Elsie Mo from Castle Rock are two ales Ihonestly haven’t touched for at least five years. Not due to anything being wrong with them, I justpass them by when I see them on the bar due toperceived familiarity. It was actually really good toappreciate these forerunners of the beer popularity‘explosion’ and judge how they held up against allthe young-blood breweries popping up. I’m happyto say I scored them both highly and was surprisedat the subtleties in flavour present in both beers,especially when you compare them to some of theoverly brash IPA’s now appearing.

After a fun few hours filled with some beerybanter and interesting quiz questions we allhanded in our scores and the best beer of the nightwas awarded to Baker’s Dozen Electric Landlady,looks like Dean and Jill are on the right track!

Finally, on the way out, we all had a pick of sixbottles from the range sampled that evening totake home and enjoy.

I had a thoroughly enjoyable night. Richard andhis team worked really hard to make the eveningfun, informative and seriously worth the £20 entryfee. For those of you who may think this is a little

steep, it really isn’t: At least ten beer tasters, somereally decent buffet nibbles, a talk from a brewerand a pack of beers to take home which in mymind was worth about £12. A bargain! Nextmonth is hopefully a talk from HopshackleBrewery. I’ll see you there.

http://www.ironhorseranchhouse.co.uk/craft-beer-club-iron-horse-ranch-house/

Daniel Speed


Peterborough Beer Festival2016 Open MeetingThere will be an Open Meeting (forany CAMRA members) to learn moreabout this year’s Beer Festival. Pleasejoin us at The Brewery Tap on West-gate at 20.30 on Monday 11th July.This will present an opportunity forCAMRA members to put questions tothe Beer Festival Committee.All are welcome, this is your chance tobe involved in one of Peterborough’smost successful events.

ML

Awards |29


Rising Sun, LeveringtonAward PresentationA full minibus departed the Brewery Tap Car Parkin anticipation of an evening spent visiting somepubs in a far flung part of the branch and culmi-nating in a Gold Award presentation to the RisingSun, Leverington.

First port of call was the Bell at Murrow whichwas busy and vibrant. Elgood’s beers in fine formwere enjoyed here before moving on to the Wheelat Wisbech St Mary. En route it was decided to tryout the Bridge Inn. This was something of anunknown quantity as we were not even sure if itwas still a pub or now a café. A pub it certainly isand a nice pint of Adnams Lighthouse was avail-able. Onto the Wheel, a lovely old Elgood’s pubsituated in the heart of the village. The only realale available was Cambridge Bitter which was ashame as more of a range would suit such a nicepub. Next it was off to Leverington and a quickvisit to the Six Ringers. This is very much a local’spub and Greene King IPA on good form was thebeer available.

Finally it was on to the main event and what anevent it turned out to be. The pub was packedbefore we got there but we somehow managed tofit in with some members enjoying the garden.The Elgood’s brewery was very well representedwith several members of the family and senior staffpresent. The beers available were CambridgeBitter, Double Swan and Greyhound Strong Ale.All beers were in good condition befitting a GoldAward holder. The presentations started withSocial Secretary and Elgood’s Brewery LiaisonOfficer John Hunt presenting MD Belinda Suttonwith an East Anglian Beer Competition SilverAward for Black Dog Mild. John had originally putthe pub forward for the Gold Award so he thenpresented this to popular landlady, MaggieSharman. In a short speech he stressed the well-kept beers, very good value food served and most

importantly the way Maggie treated her customersand the great atmosphere created at the pub byMaggie and her team. Maggie thanked thebrewery for their support, CAMRA for recognisingthe good work carried out at the pub, stressing thatwe all need to use our village locals or risk losingthem. She then thanked her friendly, hardworkingstaff and finally and most importantly her loyalcustomers.

The speeches were then followed by a buffetwhich was brought round and served by the staff.The only way to describe the buffet was sumptuous.There were mountains of food of many differentkinds and it was greatly appreciated. Chef Duncanmust have worked for days to produce such aspread and it was very well received by everyone inthe pub. Duncan was summoned out of the kitchenby Maggie to take a well-earned bow.

Finally after a brilliant evening it was time for avery contented group to return to the minibus forthe journey home.

Branch CommitteeSecretary: Dickie Bird4 Cissbury Ring,WerringtonPeterborough, PE4 6QH01733 574226 (tel & fax)07731 993896 [email protected]

Chairman: David Murray01733 [email protected]

Treasurer: Paul Beecham01733 31198107710 [email protected]

Vice Chair: Matthew Mace07809 [email protected]

Social Sec: John Hunt07923 [email protected]

Pubs Officer: John Temple07905 051 [email protected]

Press Officer: Mike Blakesley01733 390828 (h) 07747 617527 (m)[email protected]

Cider Officer: Bernidette [email protected]

Young Members: Kara [email protected]: Bob Melville07941 [email protected] Org: Mike Lane07850 [email protected]

LocAle Officer: Vacant [email protected]

Webmaster: Harry [email protected]

Brewery Liaison Officers

Blue Bell: John Hunt07923 489917Bexar County Brewery: Dave Botton01733 345475Castor Ales: Mike Lane07850 334203Digfield: Dave Waller07821 912605

Elgood’s: John Hunt07923 489917

Hopshackle: Noel Ryland07944 869656

Kings Cliffe Brewery:Mike Blakesley07747 617527Melbourn: Don Rudd07806 731765Mile Tree Brewery:Steve Williams07756 066503Nene Valley: Bob Melville07941 246693Oakham Ales: Dave Allett07966 344417Tydd Steam: John Hunt07923 489917Weldon Brewery: John Temple07905 051 312Star Brewing Company: Don Rudd 07806 731765Xtreme Ales:Katie [email protected] Trading Standards08545 040506www.consumerdirect.gov.ukCheck out our website at:www.real-ale.org.uk

Pub Merit Awards & Gold AwardsDoes your local pub have excellent beer, friendly staff, a great atmosphere, community spirit, or have they intro-duced additional hand pumps? If so, nominate them for an award. Gold Awards are for pubs that makeexceptional efforts to improve. The Merit Award is for pubs that continue to maintain high standards. If you knowof a deserving pub within the branch area, please complete the form below indicating Gold or Merit Award andpost to the secretary or email nominations to [email protected]. Pub name:

Pub address/town/village:

Reason for award:

Your name:

Your phone number or e-mail address:

Your membership number:


30 | Contacts

A great welcome awaits you at The Farmers, Yaxley. We are famous for our fresh vegetables and great carverymeats, succulent and served with all the trimmings, then finished off with a tantalising hot or cold dessert!

Check out our lunch-time grill menus and our ever-changing specials boards. Put it all together with three fine cask ales and you have the perfect place to enjoy dinner with friends or a family celebration. We have a self-contained function suite which is ideal for parties, weddings and all of life’s celebrations.

So if you’ve not been before give us a try and you’ll bepleasantly surprised.

More than just a Carvery!

At Least Three

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Open Every Day10am - 5.30pm All Day Menu & Coffee

Midday - 2:30pm Carvery & Specials Menu5:00pm - Late Carvery & Grill MenuSunday Open From 12 Noon - 9pm

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We have lots of packages

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Now taking bookings for

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Now licensed to conduct Civil Marriage ceremonies on the premises

Documents

Beer Arounf 'Ere 189