April 2014 - CAMRA Heart of Warwickshire

F
E
E
R
The Beer and
Ragged Staff
Issue 83 April - June 2014
Great British Pub
Scandal
Join us to
celebrate the
40th Anniversary
of CAMRA in
Warwickshire
Heart of
Warwickshire
PUBS IN LEAMINGTON SPA AND WARWICK
THE JUG AND JESTER, THE BENJAMIN SATCHWELL
AND THE THOMAS LLOYD
Five or more real ales are always available with a selection of local
brewers and from around the UK with a least two ‘Real Ale Festivals’
held throughout the year
Extensive food menu served daily from 8am- 11pm with a variety of
club days and special promotions
All with the room to cater for any occasion
All with free-wifi
THE JUG AND JESTER
11/13 BATH STREET
LEAMINGTON SPA
CV31 3HS
01926 331820
2
2
THE BENJAMIN
SATCHWELL
112-114 THE PARADE
LEAMINGTON SPA
CV32 4AQ
01926 883733
THE THOMAS LLOYD
3-7 MARKET PLACE
WARWICK
CV34 4SA
01926 475690
Beer and
Staff Issue
82 83
BeerRagged
and Ragged
Staff Issue
The Beer and Ragged Staff
Issue No. 83 April 2014
Published by The Heart of Warwickshire
Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, 5
Lammas Walk, Warwick. CV34 4UX.
Phone: 01926 403423.
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.camrahow.org.uk
CAMRA HQ: 230 Hatfield Road, ST. ALBANS,
Hertfordshire. AL1 4LW. Phone: 01727
867201.
Printed by Cadman Printers, Unit 7D,
Jenton Road, Sydenham Industrial Estate,
Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV31 1SX.
Phone: 01926 423742.
Opinions and views expressed in this
newsletter are not necessarily official branch
or CAMRA policy. All contents, except
otherwise indicated, © copyright CAMRA
Heart of Warwickshire 2014.
Heart of Warwickshire Branch Committee
Chairman: John Crossling
([email protected])
Treasurer: Tony Cragg (treasurer@camrahow.
org.uk)
Secretary: Lorraine Atkins (secretary@
camrahow.org.uk)
Membership Secretary: Robina
Griffiths([email protected])
Magazine Editor: Ian Bayliss (editor@
camrahow.org.uk)
Press Officer: John Crossling (press@
camrahow.org.uk)
Public Affairs Officer: Robina Griffiths
([email protected])
Pubs Officer and Pub News: Dave Shurrock
([email protected])
Cider Officer: Ian Bayliss (cider@camrahow.
org.uk)
Social Secretary: John Griffiths (events@
camrahow.org.uk)
Webmaster: Dave Wedgbury (webmaster@
camrahow.org.uk)
Committee Members: Andrew Thomas
To contact by phone, call 07925 633 173 and
leave message stating the contact required.
Trading Standards
Warwickshire County Council Website
http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk
Phone Trading Standards Headquarters
Phone: 01926 414040
Call in person Warwickshire Trading
Standards, Old Budbrooke Road, Warwick
CV35 7DP
Press date for next issue
(July 2014) is Monday 2 June.
In this issue
Branch diary
3
The Great Briitsh Beer Scandal
5
Budget News
5
40th Anniversary
7
Brewery news
9
11
What we get up to at branch
meetings
Beer Festivals
13
Pub News
13
Book update
13
Ah! The Punch Bowl
15-16
A Branch trip to North Warwickshire
17
What Pub?
19
Update on Harbury Beer Festival
19
LocAle
23
Become a member and keep in touch
26
We are proud to announce that
the “Beer and Ragged Staff ” has
been awarded the most improved
magazine of the year 2013.
Congratulations to Ian Bayliss,
Editor.
John Crosling, Chairman
Advertising rates
Per single issue (full colour only)
Oblong (128mm x 41mm)
£40.00
Quarter page (63mm x 94mm) £40.00
Half page (128mm x 94mm) £75.00
Full page (128mm x 188mm
£140.00
Discounts will apply for multiple entries.
To advertise please contact [email protected]
To contact the Heart of Warwickshire Branch call 07925 633 173
www.camrahow.org.uk
April - June 2014
3
Branch Diary
All events start at 20.30 unless otherwise stated
01/04/2014
08/04/2014
15/04/2014
22/04/2014
29/04/2014
06/05/2014
13/05/2014
20/05/2014
27/05/2014
03/06/2014
10/06/2014
17/06/2014
24/06/2014
01/07/2014
Racehorse
High Pavement
The Three Horseshoes
The Bull Inn
Red Lion
The Stag at Offchurch
Star and Garter
Woodland Tavern
Cricketers Arms
Unicorn
The Tudor House Hotel
Vine Inn
Boat Inn
Crown
Barley Mow
Black Dog
Crown Inn
Game Cock
Shakespeare Inn
Old New Inn
White Horse
Fox and Vivian
Clarendon
Hope & Anchor
Cask and Bottle
Butcher's Arms
The Malt Shovel
Antelope Inn
Cottage Tavern
Old Fourpenny Shop
The Plough Inn
The Avon
Merrie Lion
The Wharf Inn
Blue Lias
Cuttle Inn
Two Boats Inn
Green Man
New Bowling Green Inn
Roebuck Inn
Railway Inn
Millwright Arms
Holly Bush
Folly
Crown Inn
King's Head
Bridge at Napton
The Moorings at Myton
Cape of Good Hope
Warwick
Warwick
Princethorpe
Weston under Wetherley
Hunningham
Offchurch
Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Warwick
Warwick
Warwick
Stockton
Stockton
Stockton
Southam
Harbury
Harbury
Harbury
Harbury
Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Bishops Itchington
Gaydon
Lighthorne
Ashorne
Warwick
Warmington
Avon Dassett
Fenny Compton
Fenny Compton
Stockton
Long Itchington
Long Itchington
Long Itchington
Warwick
Warwick
Warwick
Warwick
Priors Marston
Napton
Napton
Napton
Napton
Leamington Spa
Warwick
CV34 6AS
CV34 4AP
CV23 9PR
CV33 9BP
CV33 9DY
CV33 9AQ
CV32 5LL
CV32 5HW
CV31 3PT
CV34 6LN
CV34 6AW
CV34 6AW
CV23 8HQ
CV47 8JZ
CV47 8JE
CV47 0HF
CV33 9HE
CV33 9HT
CV33 9HR
CV33 9LS
CV32 5PZ
CV32 4RZ
CV32 4RZ
CV32 5XT
CV32 4SY
CV47 2RE
CV35 0ET
CV35 0BX
CV35 9DR
CV34 6HJ
OX17 1BX
CV47 2AS
CV47 2YH
CV47 2FE
CV47 8LD
CV47 9QZ
CV47 9QZ
CV47 9PW
CV34 4JD
CV34 4HU
CV34 4LW
CV34 4NU
CV47 7RW
CV47 8NZ
CV47 8LZ
CV47 8NG
CV47 8NQ
CV31 3NY
CV34 5DP
Diary page at
http://www.camrahow.org.uk/index.php?p=diary
4
Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 83
LET’S CALL TIME ON THE GREAT
BRITISH PUB SCANDAL
TO: VINCE CABLE MP, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR BUSINESS
We call on the Government to stick to its
promise to introduce a Pubs Watchdog to
prevent valued pubs from being placed at
risk of closure due to unfair practices in the
pub sector.
Why is this important?
A Pubs Watchdog is urgently needed
to govern the behaviour of large pub
companies (which own around a third of
UK pubs) and ensure publicans are treated
fairly. A key role for the Pubs Watchdog
would be to ensure rents and wholesale
prices are reasonable.
Last year the Government recognised that
“there is some real hardship in the pubs
sector, with many pubs going to the wall as
publicans are struggling to survive on tiny
margins. Some of this is due to pubcos [pub
companies] exploiting and squeezing their
publicans by unfair practices and a focus on
short-term profits. Four Select Committee
reviews since 2004 have highlighted these
problems” (Vince Cable MP, January 2013).
In 2013 the Government rightly concluded
that “a change in the law is now needed to
shift behaviour”. However, time is rapidly
running out to introduce these important
changes.
The case for action:
• In a 2013 survey, the majority (57%) of
publicans renting pubs from the large
pub companies reported earning less
than £10,000 a year.
• Typically these publicans have to buy
all their beer from their pub company
and are not allowed to buy on the open
market. This can inflate the cost to
publicans by around 50p a pint.
The large pub companies have disposed
of thousands of pubs in the last four
years alone and plan to sell many more
every year.
• In total 96% of people responding
to a Government consultation survey
declared their support for a Pubs
Watchdog.
Publicans with the large pub companies
should be given the option to buy one real
ale on the open market – known as a guest
beer right. They should also be given the
option to choose a market rent only contract
that would allow a publican to buy all of
their beer on the open market from any
brewer they choose.
We need your support to protect your local.
You do not need to be a CAMRA member
but please log on to www.pubscandal.org.
uk and sign the petition and help stop
big pubcos putting pressure on individual
publicans risking closure due to unfair
practices.
•
BUDGET SUCCESS: Beer
Duty Cut for Second Year
Running!
The Chancellor has announced an
unprecedented second consecutive cut in
beer duty as well as freezing cider duty,
during his Budget statement.
This is an incredible success and is testament
to another year of fantastic campaigning by
CAMRA members on this issue.
This new beer duty cut will give the beer and
pub industry a solid platform from which to
continue on the long road to recovery - and
will help keep the lid on the price of a pint
in your local.
April - June 2014
5
How refreshing!
A traditional pub where ordinary folk
meet to drink extraordinary beer.
Josie James and her team have fought
off the unnecessary desire to ‘upgrade’ or ‘modernise’ in favour of a
continuing charm - if it ain’t broke,
don’t fix it!
3 Regent Street Leamington Spa CV32 5HW
(01926) 425868
Email: [email protected]
6
Thus the Woodland Tavern remains
unsullied by wine bar graphics
or texting bar staff and the
commonplace is treated with respect:
clean comfortable surroundings,
courteous good humour and BLOODY
GOOD BEER! Cheers
Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 83
40th Anniversary
CAMRA in
Warwickshire
In 1971 CAMRA
nationally was founded
by four men with a
deep concern for what
was happening to their
traditional beer and their
first AGM was held in the
Rose in Nuneaton in 1972.
Now over 40 years later
there are 160,000 men and
women who share that
concern.
The first meeting of the
Warwickshire branch
of CAMRA was held in
the Virgins and Castle in
Kenilworth in 1974 and
that landmark is being
celebrated during this year.
A commemorative reunion
buffet is being held for the
early members who made a
mark on the local branches
in that same pub.
At the Coventry Beer
Festival a Real Ale Trail is
launched which features
22 pubs from across the
County. Visit them all
and get a stamp in the trail
when you buy a drink.
The trail will be available
to pick up at any of the
featured pubs and can be
handed in at any when
completed. The trails will
also be available at the
Nuneaton, Rugby and
Stratford beer festivals
during the year. Featured
prizes include a chance
to be a brewer for the day;
beer and clothing with
more to be announced.
All completed entries will
get a prize. The closing
date will be in the middle
of August with the
winners being drawn and
announced at the Harbury
Beer festival on 30th
August
A logo marking the event
has been produced by
Vivienne Robinson a
talented member of Heart
of Warwickshire Branch
and many thanks go to
her for her artistic efforts.
This will be used on all
publicity throughout the
year and on festival glasses.
Breweries through
the county are being
asked if they will
produce a special
beer to mark
the anniversary
and some
are agreeing
to hold open days. If
enough special beers are
produced it is proposed
to run an anniversary beer
competition at Harbury
Beer Festival to judge the
best one.
The close of the
celebrations will be
the Champion Beer of
Warwickshire competition
to be held again at the
Wild Boar in Warwick in
November when we hope
to run an inter-branch
skittles competition but
non-members will be
welcome to join in a team
and have some fun.
Keep your eyes open
as more events may be
announced later in the
year.
Prizes
a
l go into
cards wil ich will
pleted
wh
All com a major prize, and the
r
a
draw for polypin of bee
ewer for
a
include become a “Br a major
g
to
chance se not winnin tion
sola
r.
Day”. Tho receive a con
l
irt or bee
prize wil example a t-sh please
es,
prize, for listing of priz .uk.
org
For a full w.camrahow. at 2pm
go to ww will take place at the
h
w
The dra y August 30t
rda
on Satu Beer Festival.
y
Harbur
ns
Instructio
in
real ale
pint of
get
least 1/2
pub and
Buy at
ticipating
each par stamped.
r
Rea
ed you it
d
paign for
first
d
your car have complet
The Cam 1971, and its at the
and han
you
in
d
When
r details ing pub.
you
formed AGM was hel
in
pat
al
card, fill r last partici by
t year. A
Nation
ton tha ce at the
ed
you
Nunea
over at st be complet
Rose in eting took pla .
me
Cards mu h 2014.
ton
second
Nunea
10t
in
, also
August
ir
Crown “Coventry &
held the
n
The the hire Branch” Virgins
cks
Name
Warwi H meeting at the
ral rt
in 1974.
inaugu eaKen
ilworth
of
War
& Castle,
Address
w
rted
here it sta l Ale was
W
Inn
icks
Rose
The
Road
Coton
6 Ch Harve
steaton
Nune
Long urch Ro r 5TW
Itc CV11
ad
CV
47 hingto
9PE
n
Crown Street
Punc
10 Bond
1 Th h Bowl
Nuneaton
4BX
Wa e Butts
CV11
rwick
CV
34
4SS
The
27 Wild Bo
La
Wa kin Ro ar
rwick
ad
CV
34
5BU
Case
Case is Alt
ere
d
Five Lane
Hase Ways
CV ley
35
7JD
The
Arms Some
rville
4 Ca
Leammpion
ington Terra
CV
ce
32
4SX Spa
www
.cam
raho
w.org
.uk
hire
Contact
Email
Ale trail
number
Rugb
y
The
5-6 Merch
an
Lit
Stree tle Ch ts Inn
urc
Rugb t
h
CV y
21
Ragla 3AW
n
50
Du Arms
Rugb nchu
rch
CV y
Road
22
6AD
Ale
xand
72
ra
Ja
Arms
Rugb mes
Stree
CV y
t
21
2SL
Cov
en
War tr y an
wicks d Nor
hire
th
The
40 AlbSevern
Rugb ert Str Stars
eet
CV y
21
2SH
Squir
rel
33
Ch Inn
Rugb urch
Stree
CV y
t
21
3PU
www
.rugb
ycam
ra.org
.uk
Virgin
7 Hig s and
Castl
Kenil h St
e
CV worth
8 1L
Y
Quee
Old ns He
ad
Me Rd
rid
Cove en
CV ntry
7 7J
P
Town
Bond Wall
Tave
Cove St
rn
CV ntry
1 4A
H
Old
22 Windmi
Sp
Cove on Str ll
eet
CV ntry
1 3B
A
Nurse
38-39 ry Ta
ve
Cove Lord rn
St
CV ntry
5 8D
A
www
.covn
wca
April - June 2014
mra
.org
.uk
Shak
espea
Plo
ug
Strett h Inn
GL56 on-on
9QX -Foss
e
re
The
Sw Bear
an
Stratf ’s Ne
st
Avon ord-up Lane
onCV
37
Holly 7LT
Henle Bush
y
Alc
es Street
B49 ter
5QX
Boars
Churc Head
Hamp h Str
ton eet
CV
Lu
35
8BE cy
Norm
Wh an Kn
ichfor
ight
CV
d
36
5PE
www
.shak
espe
arec
am
ra.org
.uk
7
8
Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 83
Brewery News
Long Itch
Brewery
Seasonal special is now on sale:
a golden ale called Seven Year
Itch’ (4% golden ale with four
malts & triple hopped with
American hops).
Brewer Trevor Howarth was
invited to appear on BBC
Coventry and Warwickshire,
and took part in the Lunchbox
programme on 31 January.
Church Farm
A 10% bottle conditioned
ale call Mad Cow is in the
planning stage. Both the Kiwi
Wheat Beer and the Red
Ale are now available bottle
conditioned. The three main
beers which have been bottled
(Ren’s Pride, Harry’s Heifer
and Sam’s Porter) are not
bottle conditioned.
Two new outlets which should
have two Church Farm beers
on permanently are the
Clarendon and the Cask &
Bottle in Leamington. The
Cape of Good Hope and The
Punch Bowl in Warwick are
regular (but not permanent)
outlets, with one beer.
A special exclusive beer
called The Imp is brewed for
the Chateau Impney Hotel,
Droitwich. This uses French
Aramis hops grown in the
Alsace region of France, and
hand malted English Marris
Otter Malt.
The first of the special craft
beers, a wheat beer with Kiwi
fruit, has been aging in oak
casks since November.
Next special beer will be a
chocolate stout. Not all of the
special beers will be available
in real cask format. A Red Ale
brewed with Challenger and
First Gold hops and aged in
former burgundy barrels will
be available bottle conditioned
later this year.
Church Farm beers should
be available at Warwick Folk
Festival in July this year.
Old Pie Factory
The brewery have had their
bitter professionally bottled
and selling really well through
Underwoods Wines of
Warwick.
Slaughterhouse
brews
Warwick 1100
celebratory
beer
Warwick’s Slaughterhouse
Brewery has been
commissioned to brew
a special one off beer to
commemorate the 1100th
anniversary of the founding of
Warwick.
Brewing has commenced on
the production of a distinctive
‘Old Ale’ with a final alcohol
content of around 5.5% Vol.
This strictly limited edition
beer will be available at
selected ‘1100’ celebratory
events around the town during
2014, in addition a small
amount of draught beer will
be available to the local free
trade as well as a distinctively
labelled bottled version, which
will be individually numbered
and signed by both the Mayor
and brewers.
Any local free houses which
are interested in stocking
this beer or individuals
interested in purchasing this
beer as a unique souvenir
of this special year should
contact the Slaughterhouse
Brewery on 01926 490986
or email enquiries@
slaughterhousebrewery.com.
A donation from every sale of
this beer will go towards the
Mayor’s charity.
Cider
Churh Farm is hoping to
produce a cider made from
the apples from it’s own cider
orhard.
April - June 2014
9
10
Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 83
Branch meeting and
Giant Jenga
Our Branch Meeting was
held on 18 Feb 2014 at The
Punch Bowl, The Butts,
Warwick and was well
attended. It was great to
see some new faces from
our ever-growing CAMRA
Heart of Warwickshire
(HOW) membership.
Topics discussed at these
(more or less) quarterly
meetings include branch
news, local brewery
updates, beer scores, pub
surveys, current campaigns,
events and more.
After the meeting fun
was had by all when we
had a light hearted ‘Giant
Jenga’ competition where
members demonstrated
their skills and dexterity
by attempting to build
the tallest tower before
it collapsed! The winners
were long-standing
CAMRA member
Tony Cragg who was
partnered by Phil Lawson,
a new addition to our
membership. Well done
guys!
Past post-meeting activities
have included skittles at
the Wild Boar and a talk by
Allan Jennings on Pubs of
Leamington at the Jug and
Jester.
In addition to regular
meetings we visit our
local pubs in Leamington
Spa, Warwick, Southam
and surrounding villages
regularly on Tuesday
evenings to check out the
real ale. By joining us on
these‘crawls’ you will meet
other members and nonmembers who come along
to socialise and experience
pubs you may not normally
go to. Operating a lift-share
arrangement, we promote
responsible drinking. Please
come along!
Check the Branch Diary
in this publication or visit
www.camrahow.org.uk for
future dates, events and
further information.
April - June 2014
11
12
Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 83
Pub news
New Real Ale Bar opening
soon in Warwick, called
The Old Post Office
The licence and application for change
of use has just been granted and work to
fit out the premises on West Street is just
about to begin. The bar should be open at
the beginning of May. The plan is to serve
a selection of changing real ales from local
breweries - with a couple of hand pumps
and also ale served direct from the cask. As
well as promoting quality real ales the bar
will also be serving traditional hearty pies for
the hungry ale drinker.
The Butchers Arms, Bishops Itchington
to be listed as an Asset of Community Value
and this has been approved.
Gary and Lynne have taken over as licensees
recently at the Barley Mow in Stockton.
We wish them all the best.
Book update
Community Pubs
Month is in April and
Mild Month is May.
If you are planning any
events contact us on facebook, email or when we
visit you to help us share
the word. Promotional
packs are available to help
support your event.
Beer
Festivals
Coventry - 4th/5th April
Long Itchington - 2nd-5th May 2014
Stratford-upon-Avon Beer & Cider Festival 13th/14th June
Stockton - 13th/15th June
Warwick Lions - 18th/19th July
The Great British Beer Festival, Olympia,
London - 12th-16th August
If you have any pub news or upcoming
festivals please let us know at
[email protected]
Pubs of Royal Leamington
Spa
Two Centuries of History
Following the article about this new publication
in the last issue of the Beer & Ragged Staff,
an update on the publication.
The New Year saw the start of the time
consuming typesetting process and producing the proof copy which all three authors have
read from start to finish. The amended copy has been
returned to the publisher and the next phase has started.
No publication date as yet but the wait should not be long.
April - June 2014
13
Ah, The Punch Bowl!
You always get a delightful
warm and friendly welcome
from Claire & Ellie and their
team at this fine old hostelry
in the heart of Historic
Warwick!
I am sitting here with family
and friends watching the Six
Nations Rugby on the big
screen after a fabulous Sunday
Lunch and sampling one of
their fine Real Ales. The girls
pride themselves on always
having at least 5 Real Ales
available, and proudly boast
featuring around 300 different
Real Ales, (and counting!)
since taking on the pub in
May 2013.
Since frequenting The Punch
Bowl which is situated at the
top of The Butts opposite
the old Police Station, I have
learned that it has a long and
interesting history.
Originally called ‘The Punch
Bowl Commercial and Posting
Inn’ it appears in town records
dating back to the Warwick
Map of 1806 – there’s a copy of
the map on a board over the
fire place which, incidentally,
has a glorious roaring fire in it
throughout the winter! There
is a small car park at the front
of this unusual site (which
doubles as a beer garden in
the summer!) which in 1806
was apparently the site of the
town Waterworks, owned by
the Earl of Warwick. Records
show the owner of The Punch
Bowl, John Turner lived there
at the time.
There is an intriguing mystery
about a network of tunnels
reputed to run underground
in Warwick connecting
Warwick Castle and Priory
Park and there is a sign in
The Punch Bowl suggesting
‘Beneath these floors lies one
of Warwick’s hidden tunnels
said to link the Ancient Priory
to the old town’ – I would love
to find out more and one day
explore them!
You can read other interesting
stories and facts about The
Punch Bowl including the
mystery of the missing
landlord; a timetable from the
old coaching days when it was
a stopping point for travellers
from all over Britain; and a list
of over a century and a half of
The Punch Bowl’s landlords!
The history of Warwick is
also captured in numerous
framed old photographs
around the walls including
one picture of the Punch Bowl
Hotel showing that petrol was
available! A remnant of the
old Commercial and Posting
Inn days, perhaps?
Back to the present, and The
Punch Bowl has become a
popular venue for watching
major sporting events on
the new 2.5 metre wide
screen! There are also events
and offers throughout the
week including: ‘The Butts
Brain Teasers’ quiz on the
third Sunday of the month;
‘Temptation Tuesday’
(free half pint with every
meal!); ‘Watch Your Wallet
Wednesday’ when Real Ales
are £2.50 a pint from 5pm to
11pm! ‘Thank Fizz It’s Friday’
for those with a penchant
for bubbles! Live Bands on
Thursday nights when you
will experience an exciting
vibe!
You’ll always find something
going on at The Punch Bowl!
Or you can find a quiet corner
to have a chat!
So why not join the
charming Claire and Ellie
(who evidently love every
minute of what they do – you
can tell from their smiles
and enthusiasm!), and
experience the atmosphere of
a traditional local pub which
truly has a ‘Colourful History
and a Lively Present’!
Hope to see you there!
Sally-Jane Downes,
enthusiastic CAMRA
member.
It seems Sally-Jane is not
alone, it was revealed at the
AGM on Tuesday 25 March
that The Punch Bowl has
been voted Pub of the Year for
Heart of Warwickshire Branch
Heartiest congratulations go
to Claire and Ellie and the
staff at the pub.
Lord Nelson, Sperrin
Brewery and Church End
Tap Room Trip
On Friday 21st March, 22 HOW CAMRA
members went on a trip to the Lord
Nelson, Sperrin Brewery to present Treave
Sprerrin with the award for their brew
Golden Bounty being voted third at the
Harbury Beer Festival last year.
Whilst there I everybody enjoyed a pint or
two of one of Sperrin’s brews including
Thick as Thieves which was the winner of
Champion Beer of Warwickshire.
From there we went to the Church End
Tap, home of Church End Brewery Tap
who came second in the Champion Beer
of Warwickshire with Blue Norther.
To sample their many beers, they serve
them in thirds, which they serve 8 at a
time on a platter known as a coffin. This
proved popular with our members and they
ran out of coffins!
A good night was had by all!
John with a coffin of beer
The 3rd place certificate for the Beer of the
Festival voted by attendees of the 2013
Harbury Beer Festival, was presented to Ron
and Treave Sperrin by CAMRA committe
member John Griffiths
Nick, Sally-Jane, Steve and Steve O enjoy
a beer
April - June 2014
17
18
Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 83
What Pub? An update
Branch volunteers recently completed a
survey of pubs in the area to keep the details on WhatPub up to date. 106 pubs in
the area now have full details, the next aim
is to start taking photos of pub interiors
and update the main descriptions for each
pub, and if you have a flair for writing or
photography then help would be welcome!
Over the coming months CAMRA will be
adding features that will make whatpub.
com an even better online pub guide. The
plan includes registration for non-CAMRA members, personalisation such as
saving visited and favourite pubs, generating suggested pub crawls and logins for
landlords to send pub details. Go to the
website to find out more.
24th Harbury Beer Festival
The dates and the theme for this years
beer festival have been confirmed.
It will take place on Friday 29 and
Saturday 30 August and alongside a
selection of Warwickshire brewery beers
we will be featuring beers produced by
Brewsters. There will also be a selection
of real cider and perry.
As usual the festival will take place in the
Harbury Village Hall.
The festival is run by volunteers from
the Heart of Warwickshire branch, if you
would like to be a part of the team then
please let us know - more details in the
next edition of the Beer and Ragged Staff.
Updates can be found on our website,
www.camrahow.org.uk.
A few memories from last year!
April - June 2014
19
20
Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 83
WYE’S WORDS No. 12
“
PiNT Of BuTTY AT NiGHT,
DRiNKER’S DEliGHT
Butty Bach is a Welsh term for little friend – and this
smooth and satisfying premium ale has certainly
made a few friends in its time. Brewed using locally
grown fuggles, Goldings and Bramling Cross hops,
Butty continues to delight new fans and old followers
in equal measure. 4.5% ABV
www.WyeValleyBrewery.co.uk
”
SHARE OuR TASTE fOR REAl lifE
Heart of
Warwickshire
CAMRA LocAle - promoting pubs that sell locally-brewed real ale, reducing the number of
‘beer miles’, and supporting local breweries.
Licensees - do you have a regular “Local” Real Ale on sale in your pub?
If yes, then contact any of the committee, details on page 3 of “Beer & Ragged Staff ”, who
will be happy to arrange a visit to discuss the scheme, or log onto www.camrahow.org.uk and
look at the LocAle tab for more information.
The Heart of Warwickshire scheme recognises pubs which regularly stock at least one real
ale which is brewed by a local brewery, one that is within 25 miles’ driving distance. The
geographical shape of the Heart of Warwickshire Branch area, means that some breweries are
within 25 miles of parts of the branch area and others not.
Pubs and Clubs
Village Club,Harbury
Antelope, Warwick
The Wharf, Fenny Compton
Fox & Hen, Bascote Heath
Cape of Good Hope, Warwick
Woodland Tavern, Leamington Spa
The Anchor, Leek Wootton
The Talbot, Leamington Spa
Red Lion, Northend
Harvester, Long Itchington
The Antelope Inn, Lighthorne
Market Tavern, Southam
The Cricketers, Leamington Spa
Wild Boar, Warwick
White Hart, Ufton
The Rose and Crown, Warwick
The Oak, Warwick
The Old New Inn, Harbury
The Case is Altered, Five Ways
The Green Man Leamington
The Avenue Leamington
Benjamin Satchwell Leamington
Jug & Jester Leamington
Thomas Lloyd Warwick
Local Beer
Hook Norton
Slaughterhouse
Hook Norton
Hook Norton
Church End, Hook Norton, Old Pie Factory
Slaughterhouse
Purity, Slaughterhouse, Church End
Byatt’s
Purity
Hook Norton
Warwickshire, Wood Farm
Warwickshire
Slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse, Weatheroak, Tunnel, Long Itch
Slaughterhouse, Purity
Purity
Hook Norton
Purity
Old Pie Factory, Slaughterhouse, Churchend,
Weatheroak, Warwickshire
Long Itch
Long Itch
Long Itch
Long Itch
Long Itch
April - June 2014
23
Good Beer Guide 2014
The latest edition of the Good Beer Guide is
now available on online:
£10.00 (online members price)
£12.99 (non-members price)
(£15.99 rrp)
Packed with 4,500 of the best real ale pubs
in the UK and information on every real ale
brewery currently operating and their key beers.
The Good Beer
Guide Mobile is
also available on all
Apple iDevices and
AndroidTM Devices
updated with the
latest listings from
the Good Beer Guide
2014.
24
Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 83
April - June 2014
25
Enjoy Good Beer & Great
Pubs
Joining CAMRA is not all about serious campaigning. We also know how to have
fun by enjoying good beer and great pubs.
CAMRA Heart of Warwickshire branch organise a large number of socials for all
members to enjoy, see page 4 or the website for our branch diary. These include
the Tuesday Night Crawl, pub trails and trips to pubs and breweries.
Each member that joins CAMRA receives £20 worth of JD Wetherspoon real ale
vouchers and hundreds of pubs across Britain offer CAMRA membership cardcarrying members discounts in return for your trade through the CAMRA Pub
Discount Scheme. For more information on these pubs please visit the CAMRA
Pub Discount Scheme page.
Joining CAMRA is great value for money, helps support our beer and pub trade
and also offers you a range of superb benefits.
So what are you waiting for? Join CAMRA today and help us make a difference!
Thank you to all who have liked
our Facebook page. The aim
of the page is to pass on campaigning news, remind members
of our Tuesday pub crawls and
other events or pub news in the
area of interest to the local membership.
CAMRA HOW Facebook
Page at
http://www.f acebook.com/
camraho w
If you are a member or local
landlord please share any pub or brewery news or events on the page.
Is there a great guest beer available? Has your local been on top form?
Are there bands playing? Please also keep us informed on pubs opening
or more sadly closing. We will keep you all informed of the CAMRA key
campaigns coming up throughout the year, give us a shout if you would
like details of how to get involved.
26
Beer and Ragged Staff Issue 83