No. 128 - News & Ale 1

The magazine published by Surrey Hampshire Borders Branch of the Campaign

for Real Ale, for members and beer lovers

38th Farnham Beerex10th - 12th April 2014 at the MaltingsTickets on general sale 9th February

www.camrasurrey.org.uk www.wokingbeerfestival.co.uk

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No. 128 - News & Ale 3

The Winter IssueWelcome to yet another feature-filled edition of News & Ale to keep you company during those dark and dreary winter months. Before we completely forget last summer’s balmy days we have the first part of Glenn Johnson’s blog on the recent branch LocAle Trail, peppered with words like sunshine and sweltering. Following the failure to stop McDonalds from turning local landmark The Tumbledown Dick into yet another needless fast food drive-thru, our campaign efforts turn to the shockingly lax planning laws. With Good Beer Guide pub selection season coming up we have a reminder of how you can help without even putting down your smartphone. As if the crossword wasn’t enough, we have no less than two more competitions this time. One for the best traditional cider, and one for the best home brew that encapsulates Guildford. Hmm, I suspect somebody had been on the home brew when they dreamt that one up but it sounds like fun. And of course we have the usual stuff including details of forthcoming events from this and our neighbouring Surrey branches.

Cheers! John

Chairman Paul Cowper chairmanshb@camrasurrey.org.uk

Treasurer Chris Hyland treasurershb@camrasurrey.org.uk

Branch Secretary & general contact Kevin Travers

sectetaryshb@camrasurrey.org.ukTel 01252 697435

News and Ale Editor John Karbannewsaleshb@camrasurrey.org.uk

Tel 07850 681789

Membership Secretary Tim West membershipshb@camrasurrey.org.uk

Social Secretary Post Vacant socialshb@camrasurrey.org.uk

Pubs Officer Paul Rhoods pubsshb@camrasurrey.org.uk

LocAle Officer Tony Lea localeshb@camrasurrey.org.uk

Branch Who’s Who

Standard DisclaimerViews expressed in this Magazine are those of the individual authors and not necessarily supported

by the editor or CAMRA

Campaign for Real Ale Ltd230 Hatfield Road, St Albans AL1 4LWTel: 012727 867201 Fax: 01727 867670

Website: www.camra.org.uk

To Advertise in the News and Ale please contact:

Neil Richards MBE Of Matelot Marketing Ltd On 01536 358670 Or E-mail n.richards@btinternet.com

To submit an article or pub clips please E-mail the editor:

newsaleshb@camrasurrey.org.uk

The Deadline for the next issue is Friday 21st February 2014

NEWS & ALEIssue No. 128

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Back in October, Rushmoor Borough Council approved the planning application for McDonalds to open a drive-thru takeaway at the Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough, despite a very spirited and professional campaign run by Save the Tumbledown Dick Action Group (STAG), which CAMRA supported.

What was particularly disappointing was that, in making their decision, the Council recognised that the status of the Tumbledown Dick as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) was a material consideration, but chose to give little weight to this because McDonald’s had already entered into a binding agreement to buy the site before it was granted.

However, Government guidance is clear that “it is open to the Local Planning Authority to decide whether listing as an asset of community value is a material consideration if an application for change of use is submitted, considering all the circumstances of the case.” We therefore feel that Rushmoor had much more flexibility had they wished to exercise it, but it does emphasise the importance of ensuring an ACV is in place, before a pub is under threat.

We are therefore going to work with the local community to seek the awarding of ACV status to a number of pubs in the branch area. These won’t be pubs that we consider to be under any particular threat, but rather ones that we feel particularly demonstrate their value to the local community. If anyone has a pub that they would like us to consider, please get in touch. Currently

only Rushmoor, Waverley, and Hart have ACV policies in place but we hope to work with all councils in the branch area.

The article in the previous edition of N&A focussed on the campaign to get the Government to amend legislation to get a fairer deal for landlords of pubs owner by Pub Companies. Nationally, campaigning activity has intensified as the Government’s decision grows near. CAMRA is resolutely determined to secure reform of the beer tie as operated by the large pubcos. As a consumer group, we want to see a thriving, healthy and diverse pub sector. We also want fairness for licensees so pubs are run by motivated people earning a fair living, who can afford to invest in their pubs for drinkers’ benefit, as well as their own.

CAMRA is also pushing forward to build support from English councils for our campaign to close the national planning loopholes that allow pubs to be converted to other uses or demolished without planning permission.

Our pubs are under threat with 26 closing every week. A big part of this is due to national planning loopholes in England that mean community pubs can be demolished or converted to other uses including shops and supermarkets, restaurants and cafes, betting shops, and pay day loan stores without planning permission or community consultation.

In addition, the demolition of pubs is classed as “permitted development” meaning that planning permission is not required. Between 2003 and

Pubs Campaigning Update

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2012, 414 former pubs were demolished in London alone. Pubs can also be converted to restaurants and cafés without planning permission, as would have been the case with the Tumbledown Dick, had McDonalds not wished to incorporate a drive-thru, which is considered to be a different use. While in some cases restaurants or cafés may provide a similar community space to a pub, conversion to a restaurant is a significant change from a pub where any adult can enjoy a drink without ordering food.

One way we are taking this forward is by encouraging councils and parish councils to submit proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act.

The Sustainable Communities Act is a law that allows people to demand action from Government to help their community. This campaign seeks to use the Act to make Government make the change to planning law that we need. The Act is the perfect tool to do this because Government cannot just say “no” to ideas that are put forward, they must negotiate and reach agreement with an independent panel.

CAMRA’s proposal is:“That the Government help protect community pubs in England by ensuring that planning permission and community consultation are required before community pubs are allowed to be converted to betting shops, supermarkets and pay-day loan stores or other uses, or are allowed to be demolished.”

CAMRA has written to the Leader and Chief Executive of every council in England, asking them to put the proposal forward. So far 14 councils have resolved to write to the Government putting forward proposals under the Sustainable Communities Act but sadly none in our area. However, some Rushmoor and Waverley

councillors have shown their initial support for the campaign and have said they will try and raise support for the motion with fellow council members and leadership in the forthcoming weeks.

If you live in one of the other council areas why not complete the simple web form on the Local Works website (at http://bitly.com/pubsproposal), which asks your local ward councillor to put a motion forward at their next council meeting.

Kevin Travers

It was a while since malty had visited his friend Ted who now runs a pub in rural England. As Malty approached the pub he noticed a big banner hanging from one side of the pub to the other. On it were emblazoned the words “Say no to High Speed Rail 2!”.

Malty entered the pub and asked of his friend “I didn’t know you were against HS2?” “To be honest, Malty I don’t care if HS2 is built or not,” replied Ted. “Then why do you have the banner on the side of the pub?” Malty continued in a very curious voice. To which Ted replied, “You see, the anti-HS2 campaigners have meetings here twice a week to discuss their plans. Also, if any casual person drops into the pub and they are pro HS2 I get my father to talk to them of the dire consequences HS2 will have on the countryside and how it will affect life in the village. On the other hand if any one comes in and is anti HS2 I get my son to start up a conversation telling them of the progress HS2 will bring to the country and all of the jobs it will create for people of his age. Between them they can keep the conversations going on for hours. Because of

Malty, and the HS2

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Inside every commercial brewer beats the heart of a home-brewer; and the roots of many beers we love go back to beer lovers tinkering with ingredients in their garages or kitchens. For this reason, the Guildford-based Little Beer Corporation is determined to support the home-brewing fraternity in our region.

With this in mind, CAMRA and the Little Beer Corporation are going to start an Annual Home-brewing Contest called The Little Brew-Off.

The idea behind the contest is to define and create some unique and fun homebrews that taste like Guildford.

How will it work?First, go online to the ‘Little Brew-Off’ Contest microsite: http://www.littlebeer.co.uk/community /the-little-brew-off, and register as a home-brewer.

Second, get thinking of concepts for how you could represent Guildford as a beer. The crazier the better! In case you’re lacking inspiration, the

brewery will also put up lots of ideas on the web site, as stimulus.

Third, it’s ready, steady, brew! In April 2014, we will give you the green light to get brewing and we’ll ask each of you to post a video on the Contest microsite, explaining your concept & taking us through your brew-day.

Fourth, in early June, we will run our Judging Day, whereby we will ask each of you to bring along a couple of bottles of your home brew, to be judged both by a panel of experts, as well as by fellow home-brewers, in a blind tasting session.

We’ll nominate Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners, who will then have their beers brewed commercially by The Little Beer Corporation, and sold in local pubs, shops and at local beer festivals.

So come on, pit your wits and skills against the rest and register today!

A Call To All Home-Brewers Out There

How Would You Describe Guildford As A Beer?

HS2 I am doing the best trade here for years”, Ted said with a big smile on his face.

“So all is looking good for you then” Malty stated. “It’s okay now but I suspect the line will be built and everyone will just accept it just like the motorway that was built near here a few years ago. What worries me is that when that happens the pro or anti HS2 campaigners will then stop coming to the pub and I will no longer be able to keep the pub open. If only a small part of the support for HS2 was funnelled to supporting rural pubs then many

of them may be saved. Once you close this pub it will never reopened again. This pub closing will have more impact on village life than HS2 would ever have.”

Malty sighed and agreed with Ted. “Maybe once the HS2 campaign has finished you can start a campaign to stop the new airport being built.” “I didn’t know about an airport being built?” “Neither do I, Ted, but do they know that?” said Malty with twinkle in his eye.

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Have you ever wondered how CAMRA selects pubs for the annual Good Beer Guide? Each CAMRA branch is directly responsible for the entries in its area within the county and each listed pub must consistently serve real ale (and real cider if offered) of good quality.

Although the 2014 Good Beer Guide hasn’t been long, the selection process for the 2015 guide is already underway. The annual guide is published in September and to allow time for editing, proof-reading, printing, and distribution, the copy deadline is actually in March. A limited number of urgent late changes are possible until June, but then that’s it.

To help us choose the pubs for inclusion, we collect beer quality information through CAMRA’s National Beer Scoring System (NBSS) in which members are asked to contribute scores for beers they have drunk in pubs throughout the year. It is easy to score your beers in NBSS (see panel for a quick guide).

When you’re ready to enter your scores, log in to CAMRA’s online pub guide, WhatPub (http://whatpub.com), using your membership number and the same password that you use to enter the CAMRA national website. Search for the pub and enter a score for each beer that you drank in the Submit Beer Scores panel on the right of the screen. There is plenty of help and information

about NBSS on the Beer Scoring tab. WhatPub has now been optimised for use with tablets and smartphones so you can score your beer in the pub while you drink it. No more waking up in the morning with a fuzzy head wondering what beers you drank the night before, let alone how good they were! If you don’t have online access at all, then ask your local branch contact for paper forms and we will enter your scores for you.

2015 Good Beer Guide Pub Selection

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Having collected thousands of beer scores over the year, we generate a report in January giving the average, best and worst scores for each pub and a confidence factor based on the number of scores received. The local CAMRA branches use this data to draw up a list of eligible pubs with the highest average score, supplemented by other sources of information, and then visit them to update the pub details ahead of the final selection process held in January and February. All branch members are invited to these meetings at which we select our quota for the next Good Beer Guide.

The dates for the Surrey/Hants Borders branch GBG selection meetings are:

• Tuesday 7th January, 8pm, White Lion, 20 Lower Farnham Rd, Aldershot

• Tuesday 25th February, 8pm, Woking Railway Club, Woking

There are also numerous socials arranged in between these dates for last-minute surveying and data validation. Please see the SHB branch social diary in the centre spread for details.

To make the selection process work as well as possible, we need many more members to enter their scores.

We value the opinions of all members whether active or not and we need as many opinions as possible for as many pints in as many pubs as possible. This is so we can have confidence in the statistics.

We ask members to score the pubs continually not just once or twice. NBSS works across the country, not just in our branch, so please score beers even if you’re travelling further afield. If you are not a member but would like your opinions on beer quality in pubs to count, then join CAMRA!

NBSS Beer Score Definitions

0 No real aleNo cask-conditioned ale available.

1 PoorBeer that is anything from barely drinkable to drinkable with considerable resentment.

2 AverageCompetently kept, drinkable pint but doesn’t inspire in any way, not worth moving to another pub but you drink the beer without really noticing.

3 GoodGood beer in good form. You may cancel plans to move to the next pub. You want to stay for another pint and may seek out the beer again another time.

4 Very GoodExcellent beer in excellent condition, crystal clear and served at the right temperature for its type.

5 PerfectProbably the best you are ever likely to find. A seasoned drinker will award this score very rarely.

Half-scores permitted, e.g. 3.5 is better than “Good” but not quite “Very Good”.

Please also note you’re scoring the quality of the beer and how well it’s kept, not whether you like that particular beer style.

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Rumours have been abroad for some time now that a pervasive and insidious evil is gathering pace in our pubs. What could this be, you rightly ask? Read carefully, gentle readers, as I unveil what is best kept secret from more delicate souls as I lift up the curtain to reveal some truly awful events in graphic detail. The very themes that so many of you have complained about, and implored me to give them the Grumpy Old Man treatment, now follow in all their pernicious detail, but beware they are not for the faint hearted. I refer, of course, to children in pubs. Those of you with a sensitive disposition should read no further.

I decided to do a News of the World style expose, but not, on this occasion, to reveal the lurid goings on of randy vicars or transvestite judges as more pressing behaviour was under investigation. I went equipped with notepad and camera and a range of suitable disguises in order to blend in and get close up to the action, but where were these evils to be found? I did not need to look for long, as a pub with a phalanx of pushchairs just inside the front door was a dead giveaway. On entering I bought a pint and got as close to the action as possible. Straight away I realised that I was in danger of blowing my cover as I had neither a soft drink nor a bowl of cheesy chips and stood out like the proverbial sore thumb.

The children, of various ages from toddlers to teenagers, were agitated and constantly on the move with one poking a chip in another child’s face whilst others were walking around with the food, dropping it on to the floor, or the table,

and picking it up again to eat. Another had to be restrained from climbing up on to the table. The parents were talking amongst themselves, but were constantly being interrupted by the younger children with requests for this or that and were generally told to go away. There appeared to be a birthday party going on for a four year old. Yes, that is correct, as the numerous balloons testified, but who in their right mind would hold a party for a four year old in a pub? They looked as if they had just decamped en masse from an adjoining burger bar which was surely a more suitable venue for a child’s party.

The mess was incredible and resembled a typical teenager’s bedroom, but without the discarded underwear. Suddenly there was a loud bang followed by a blood curdling scream. What heinous crime was this? One of the balloons had burst and all mayhem had broken loose. The scream was from a terrified youngster alarmed by the loud bang who promptly started crying and had a dummy placed in her mouth. Meanwhile, some of the boys attempted to burst further balloons and needed some restraint. A more chaotic scene could not be imagined with feeding time at the zoo looking tame by comparison. I had seen enough and moved on.

Retreating back twenty yards from the crèche enclave, I experienced a short lived interlude of sanity and tranquillity apart from a baby crying in the distance. However it did not take long before normal chaos was resumed. In amongst a child’s scooter on the floor two boys were chasing each

The Grumpy Old Man examines a growing and pernicious evil

Grumpy Old Man

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other around the tables without any apparent parental restraint. A small girl was also on the move with what appeared to be rollers on the bottom of her trainers emitting fluorescent flashes. I was forced to hold on tightly to my beer as an enforced spillage was imminent. This was ridiculous and I seriously considered having to blow my cover and complain about this nonsense. However, somebody must have beaten me to it as a manager appeared to remonstrate with the father.

“Could you please ask your children to be seated and stop them running around as they are likely to upset other people?” To which came the nonchalant reply, “What do you expect from 6 year olds”?

What do I expect? I expect 6 year olds who are likely to behave in such a manner not to be taken to the pub in the first place and once there to be kept under strict parental control. That’s what I expect, as indeed would the vast majority of people visiting pubs including sensible and considerate parents. Notice that there was no apology and certainly no embarrassment from the father as this state of affairs seemed perfectly normal to him. Unfortunately, the supine manager could only repeat his request and retire possibly fearing an escalating confrontation.

Watching all of this was a couple with a languid Staffordshire bull terrier who looked as if he had seen it all before. I imagined a speech bubble appearing at the side of his mouth.

“If I ran around a pub like that I would be thrown out. If my owners threw my ball to chase then they would be thrown out too. How come that there is one rule for children and another for dogs? Woof!”

He had a point. Recognising that I might be sympathetic to his cause he continued, “If I can’t bring my ball in how come that boy can bring in his scooter? It’s ridiculous. Woof”. I was now warming to his logic and more was to come.

“I am not allowed in to many pubs because they serve food and they say that I am unhygienic. Have you seen the disgusting state of personal hygiene of many of the customers and how many of them wash their hands after using the toilets? And they say that I am un-hygienic! What about those kids eating food off the floor”? He was now in full flow.

“They say that we slobber and look revolting, but I have never slobbered in my whole life and am deeply offended by the comment. Mind you, Roxy the Boxer slobbers, but his owner will not let him go to the pub as a result. My owners recognise that I am expected to behave myself and would not let me near a pub otherwise. If only more parents were like my owners. Woof”.

Having said his piece his eyes closed and he appeared to be asleep, but not for long as he came back for a final salvo. “In any case, if my owners were asked to correct my behaviour would they be so stupid as to suggest that’s how dogs behave? I think not. Woof. Woof!”

He had made the case for well-behaved dogs to be allowed into pubs, but the arguments also apply to well-behaved children. I recently did a Whatpub survey and asked the landlord whether dogs and children were allowed into his pub. He replied “only if they are both kept on leashes”! The Staffordshire bull terrier would surely have agreed.

Bob Southwellaka the Grumpy old Man

With thanks to Ned the Staffordshire bull terrier, and to Dr John Simon for his 1848 report on Public Health in London for the language of the opening paragraph.

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Abbey Ford, ChertseyThe first beers from this new brewery are: Knight On The Tiles, a 4.0 % Best Bitter. It’s dark amber in colour and refreshingly sweet to start but with a subtle hop finish. AD666 is a full bodied 4.8% Special Bitter. Like the KOTT, it’s also dark amber in colour but with a ruby hue. Sweet malt up front which transitions to a slightly bitter finish. BLC

Adventure, SuttonNot being able to keep up with demand for their beers, Alex and Ben have taken the big step of moving to larger premises with a bigger brew plant. This means they have temporarily ceased brewing and will re-launch the brewery and the ales when they have settled into their new brew-house. More details in the next issue. Nick Payne

Dorking, DorkingAnother new cloudy wheat beer has been brewed. Called Simcoe, it has an ABV of 5.2% and has some great wheat characteristics; unfortunately a lot of this was lost at the brewery due to a leak. The Ruby has been brewed for Christmas and previous to this was another batch of Oatmeal Stout. Roy Golding

Hogs Back, TonghamFour new fermenting vessels have now been installed, doubling the brewery’s capacity, holding 4 x 40 barrels. Part of the wall and some of the roof had to be removed in order to accommodate them. In addition, a 160 barrel conditioning tank is now up and running. As the cask cellar is

at capacity, a new cask cellar is being made by knocking through more walls. This will quadruple cask storing capacity. Due to the extensive work at present being carried out on the brewery, the opening of the visitors’ centre has been delayed from the end of 2013 to Spring 2014

A new ‘bag in the box’ version of the Hazy Hog cider is now being designed, which will be available for sale shortly. The brewery’s lager is to be produced in bottled form, called New English Craft Lager. Currently only available in the brewery shop and local pubs, it will eventually be available in supermarkets eventually. A over T is to be produced in bottled form, strength 9% ABV, and will be available all year round. The new Stout, called Snout, will remain seasonal for the time being. Sales at supermarkets have increased, and the brewery is on the national listing for Sainsbury’s and Waitrose for both T.EA. and Hop Garden Gold. Overall increase in sales of around 30% are very encouraging.

Director Rupert Thompson is now on Twitter, and for anyone interested in following him the hash tag is #RupertGRT. Donations are still being collected for the charity Prostate Project and it is hoped that £15,000 will be raised over the year. Rupert also took part in a cross-channel row, helping to raise over £20,000 for Alzheimer’s research. Peter Hayward

Pilgrim, ReigateThe brewery has put in an application for an on licence so that it can build up take home trade at the brewery. Business is still good. Roy Golding

BreweryNews

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Thurston’s, HorsellSince the last edition of News and Ale Thurston’s, The Horsell Brewing Company, have added Horsell Gold to their range. They describe the beer as “A golden beer with a rounded bitterness, caramel and spice on the palate, and a hoppy aroma. A fine session ale.” Customers atd Woking Beer Festival obviously agree as they voted it beer of the festival. If that was not enough the Milk Stout came in second. Congratulations to all at the brewery. Nick Banyard

BreweryNews

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In the Summer issue we launched the branch LocAle Trail, featuring 24 pubs from right across the whole branch area. Perhaps that was a little ambitious as only 6 people completed the whole trail. Thanks to Paul Batchelor, Doug Fish, Val Helliwell, Glenn Johnson, Kevin Travers, and Eric Williams for persevering. Thanks also to prolific beer writer and blogger Glenn for keeping a record, of which we feature here the first extract. The full blog post can be found at:http://beer-writings.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/surrey-hnats-border-camra-locale-summer.html

Pub 1 The Tweseldown, Church CrookhamA nice easy start for me this one and it is a pub I have visited once before a few years ago. Turning left out of the office I keep going until I pass the Tweseldown point-to-point racecourse and there it is. Two entrances at the front lead to the public bar and the lounge respectively. I entered into the bar which was quite gloomy. There was a red pool table and plenty of wooden tables. All was quiet so I walked through the connecting door into the lounge / dining area.

Fullers London Pride and Morlands Old Speckled Hen were available but the LocAle choice was the excellent Alton’s Pride (3.8% ABV) from the Hampshire brewer Triple fff. I had a pint of this in Chichester recently and awarded it my prestigious gold medal. It did not seem to be on quite such excellent form today but it was still very good nonetheless and it was served in the appropriate branded glass too. A traditional malty bitter with plenty of caramel flavour with a lovely bitter finish. The landlord was very friendly and was pleased to be a part of the trail but, as with most

trails, the pub did not have a stamp so he scrawled his signature on my sheet instead.

The lounge was less gloomy and it had quite a few customers enjoying the food but I took my pint out into the garden to enjoy some sunshine. The garden was off to the side and had plenty of tables but even at this time of the day when the sun is nearly at its highest most of them were in the shade.

The rear of the pub has a dining / function room called The Barn so the overall size of the place is quite considerable. It’s a decent pub that is probably in need of a little updating and the garden could do with some attention but overall not a bad start to the trail.

Pub 2Prince Arthur, FleetWhat can you say about this second pub? Well, it’s a pub in Fleet High Street and, as with the majority of High Street pubs nowadays, it’s a Wetherspoons. Inside, it looks like a Wetherspoons. Not much else I can say really. A

LocAle Trail 2013

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little smaller than most but it has the same decor and the same excellent beer selection. The lady behind the bar managed to locate the stamp for my trail card so that was a plus point.

There was a choice of two LocAle beers. The Arapaho (4.9% ABV) from West Sussex brewer Langhams and the Hambledon Bitter (4.0% ABV) from Hampshire’s Itchen Valley. Both beers were new to me but I went for the Arapaho because my West Sussex CAMRA friends rave about the brewery. The Hambledon I’m sure will be available further along the trail. My only experience of Langham beer has been in bottles so I was looking forward to finally trying a cask beer.

It bears all the hallmarks of a classic American Pale Ale. It looked beautiful and the taste did not disappoint one bit. The hoppiness hit me straight away. An instant delightful bitterness. The beer was so smooth it had an almost creamy texture to it and there was quite a peachy fruity note nestled in there too. The long bitter aftertaste was simply stunning. This beer was very special and I could not award it anything other than a gold medal 10/10 rating. Fantastic!

The beer was enjoyed in the patio garden at the rear of the pub. The sunshine was full on and the area may have been paved but there was plenty of greenery and flowers to give it a garden feel. It

is noticeable that since the smoking ban in pubs the garden areas are full of smokers. This was very apparent today. It did not detract from enjoying my pint though.

Pub 3 The Golden Pot, EversleyIt is yet another beautiful day so I have decided that a nice drive to the most northerly pub on the trail is called for. The Golden Pot is located in the picturesque village of Eversley. It’s in Hampshire but not far from the border with Berkshire. It is located on the Reading Road that runs straight through this pretty village. From the outside it certainly looks like a very pleasant pub. There are tables and seating all the way across the front. Inside there is a single bar that is sort of split between two rooms that are open to each other. Dining is the main feature with many tables set for lunch with menus. The beer selection wasn’t too bad with three LocAle beers consisting of Andwells King John, and a brace from Bowman,Swift One and Wallops Wood.I had been hoping to find a beer from the Andwell Brewing Company since I began this trail. This North Hampshire brewery is based a few miles away near the village of Hook, close to junction 5 of the M3. I therefore asked for a pint of the King John (4.2% ABV) which was served in the correct glass. The glass shelf above the bar was full of glasses representing a selection of local breweries which was good to see.

LocAle Trail 2013

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December 2013Friday 27th 3pm Farnham Beerex Mailout, Jolly Sailor, Farnham (followed by town centre pub crawl)

January 2014Tuesday 7th 8pm First Good Beer Guide Selection Meeting, White Lion, AldershotSaturday 11th Day out by public bus in Woking area, meet Herbert Wells, Woking for breakfast at 10am. An Arriva Day Explorer bus ticket will be neededWednesday 22nd 8pm Branch Meeting, Alma, Farnham (Upper Hale)Saturday 25th Minibus day of to visit pubs in the Branch area. Details to follow but to reserve your place, please contact Paul Cowper

February 2014Tuesday 4th Guildford Pub Crawl, 8pm Robin Hood (food available beforehand), 9pm Royal Oak, 10pm Three PigeonsSaturday 8th 12 Noon Branch Annual General Meeting, Woking Railway Club, followed by mystery brewery visit, £15 per person to include brewery visit, coach and food.Thursday 20th Farnborough Pub Crawl, 8pm Alexandra, 9pm Tilly ShillingTuesday 25th 8pm Final Good Beer Guide Selection Meeting, Woking Railway Club

March 2014Tuesday 4th Branch Meeting, 8pm Farnham Conservative Club (tbc)Thursday 6th Camberley Pub Crawl 7.30pm Claude du Val, 8.30 pm RSVP, 9.15pm Bear, and 9.45pm Carpenter’s ArmsSaturday 22nd Day Out in Oxford Travelling by train from Reading at approx 10am. Contact Kevin Travers for precise travel detailsSaturday 29th William’s London Pub Crawl Meet at the Harp, Chandos Place, 10.30 -11am.

April 201410th – 12th Farnham Beerex. See opposite for special offer details. Why not volunteer to help at one of the sessions. Contact Chris Hunt for details at farnhambeerex@camrasurrey.org.uk.

SHB Social Diary

Visit the webpage: www.camrasurrey.org.uk/surrey-hants-borders/sh-diary

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What is Farnham Beerex?A major local charity event – this will be its 38th year! Beerex is organised by CAMRA, the Lions Club of Farnham, the Maltings, and some independent real ale lovers. It is the longest running beer festival in England to be held at the same venue.

There will be around 75 real ales, ciders, and perries, plus BBQ food, and great live music. Proceeds go to the Lions Club of Farnham for distribution to local good causes. Held at Farnham Maltings, a few minutes’ walk from Farnham station. Entry by advance purchase only. Tickets go on sale at 7am on Sunday 9th February and always sell out fast.

This year you can buy tickets early for the Thursday evening session as a gift pack comprising: 2 entry tickets, 2 commemorative glasses, 2 programmes, and £10 of beer tokens. All for £30, available now, subject to availability.

2014 Farnham Beerex Earlybird Special Offer

CIDER PRODUCERS OF SURREY AND SUSSEX, CAMRA NEEDS YOU!

Question: What’s the best cider in our area?Answer: We don’t know, but we’re going to find out!

We need your help, so please enter your cider into theSurrey & Sussex regional cider competition

To be judged at the Sussex branches beer & cider festival at Hove, on the 8th March 2014

For this competition, any traditional cider (i.e. made from freshly pressed apples and not micro-filtered, pasteurised or artificially carbonated) produced in Surrey or Sussex is eligible. Only one cider per

producer will be judged, so makers are asked to nominate which of their ciders they wish to enter.

Producers need to be able to provide one 10 litre box on the day, as although we only need a small amount for judging, the public will want to drink the winning cider and other entries after the final

judging.

To enter your own, or nominate another cider, please contact the Regional Cider Coordinator direct – Jackie Johnson, email johnsonjackiem@aol.com tel 01273 202730

Closing date for entries is February 1st, 2014

Farnham Beerex Thursday 10th April 2014, 6pm – 11pm

Two person gift pack available now: 2 entry tickets, 2 souvenir glasses, 2

programmes, and £10 of beer tokens, all for £30

Contact the box office on 01252 745444 or visit

http://www.farnhammaltings.com

22 News & Ale - No. 128

The poor lady behind the bar was run off her feet. She was the only person working and she had to sort out the diners as well as serving drinks. I was eventually served and of course she could not find an official CAMRA stamp and did not know about the trail but a signature and any old stamp lying around sufficed. I then retired to an outside table at the front to enjoy some sunshine.

The beer had a nice copper colour to it. It had a slight malty taste which was soon balanced by a slight rich fruitiness with hints of orange. There was then a long bitter aftertaste which was kept in check by the malty base. A very fine balanced beer which I awarded a score of 7/10.

Pub 4 White Hart, TonghamFrom the outside the White Hart appears to have few redeeming features. A large imposing pub advertising Sky Sports coverage does not fill me with confidence. Entering from the car park I enter a games room featuring a pool table and a bar with no handpumps. Am I in the right place? My eyes go up to a blackboard above the bar with a list of four real ales of which three can be considered to be in the LocAle range. The Hogs Back TEA is brewed just down the road, the Andwell is just across the border in Hampshire and the Surrey Hills Greensand IPA is not far away either. Ringwood 49er completed the quartet of available beers.

A 4.6% ABV IPA sounded appealing so I went for a pint of the Greensand. A signature AND a stamp on my card was duly obtained and with pint in hand I took a wander around the large three-roomed pub before deciding to sit in the back garden. From the games room you walk through to a dining room and here you can head out to the paved outside drinking area at the front or continue heading left to reach a large public bar with TV. All three rooms are served by a central bar area and the handpumps can be found facing the public bar. The back garden had a mix of grass and concrete.

Tongham is a village on the outskirts of Aldershot so it is not your ideal English village and the area around the pub is quite urban so it is overlooked by residential houses. There is a purpose-built BBQ area, a covered seating area which is probably popular with smokers in all seasons and a long stretch of lawn with six or seven wooden tables. All-in-all they are making the most of what they have to play with.

So what of the beer itself? Surrey Hills began brewing in 2005 at the Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking and surprisingly this is the first pint that I can remember having from this particular brewery. It took a while to settle but it became a very inviting golden colour. The fact that it was served in a Surrey Hills Brewery glass added to the excellent first impression. There was a fresh hoppy aroma wafting from it and the first taste was delightful. It appeared quite fruity initially but that soon gave way to an intense bitter hoppiness that I was expecting. The aftertaste was long and a little dry. This was very close to perfection in a pint glass and I awarded it a 9/10.

The good people of Tongham are lucky to have a local pub that offers something for everyone. The White Hart may appear a little scruffy as you drive past but with an excellent range of cask ales it should not be ignored.

LocAle Trail 2013

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Pub 5Falkners Arms, FleetThe Falkners Arms is located on the Ancells Farm estate on the outskirts of Fleet. No doubt built at the same time as the estate, some 20 plus years ago at a guess, it is strange in that it is a single storey establishment. The pub seems to cater to the local community well with Sky Sports and free wi-fi advertised and at the front there is an outdoor drinking area.

The pub is wedged in between a playing field with a children’s playground and a row of shops with a Tesco Express. Fearing the worst, I stepped inside. The bar is long and the open plan of the bar area is broken up with a wall housing a large-screen TV. The staff are certainly friendly and there is a choice of four real ales. London Pride, Doom Bar and Marstons Pedigree are certainly not very exciting or imaginative but it does have a LocAle which is why it is on the trail. A pint of Andwells Gold Muddler (3.9% ABV) was requested and a trail stamp was found and my card was duly marked. The temperature outside was simply sweltering so with a lovely cool pint in hand I went to sit in the sun.

Andwells Gold Muddler is described as a golden blonde beer. I’m not quite sure how a beer can be both golden and blonde but I would describe it as a golden beer. There wasn’t a great deal of aroma and the beer took some time to clear. It was probably slightly past its best but it was certainly not off and it was lovely and cool. It had a very

slight fruity taste to it with a slight bitter aftertaste but overall it was all a bit bland.

So a bland pint in a bland pub would probably sum up pub number five. However, that would not tell the whole story. The pub may be uninteresting but it is well maintained and well run from what I observed and, for a Monday lunchtime, it was fairly busy. The beer was not the best but at least I did not have to drink the Doom Bar so for that I can be truly thankful.

24 News & Ale - No. 128

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BAGSHOTCedar Tree - Corner of A30 and High St.Formerly the Fighting Cocks, this old pub has recently been refurbished, and reopened in October under its new name of the Cedar Tree, complete with new pub sign. Popped in there mid-November, and was glad to see that Liz was still there, and real ale being served - just Sharp’s Doom Bar at the time, but it was in good nick. Sports TVs and a pool table. Also has 5 rooms available for accommodation upstairs. (Doug Fish)

Foresters Arms - A30, opposite NotcuttsHadn’t been here for a while, but good to see Adrian and some of his regulars, and a good beer range maintained - the permanent beers are Brakspear Bitter, Fuller’s London Pride, and Shepherd Neame Spitfire, with 1 or 2 guests, generally including a Locale (Andwell King John at the time). Also noted that there’s a decent Czech lager here, Staropramen. The London Pride was spot on, reminding me what I’ve been missing since handing over my News &Ale distribution around Bagshot pubs! A bonus here on Mondays and Thursday, when one of the beers is only £2/pint! (DF)

BLACKWATERCrown and Cushion, Minley Rd off junction 4a of M3This Shepherd Neame pub now has new management running the ship. Kent’s Best, Spitfire, and Bishop’s Finger are available and well kept. A nice pub all year round, with a log fire in winter

and a beer garden watching for Minley & Hawley Cricket Club in summer. Extensive food menu available. (Neil Thomas)

BOUNDSTONEBat & BallVisited on the back of winning a prize on the Branch LocAle Trail and found an excellent selection of local beers with Oakleaf Quercus Folium and Sherfield Village IPA 5, supplementing the regular Hogs Back TEA and Bowman Swift One. The Quercus Folium was in excellent form, a traditional English Bitter, while the IPA 5, was exceptionally dry and whilst I liked this full-bodied IPA, it might not be to everyone’s taste. The food was very good and the Tuesday night pub quiz was in full swing and clearly well supported. (Kevin Travers)

BROOKWOODBrookwood Social Club, opposite station Nice little social club with beer £2 a pint. Three hand-pulls available. I enjoyed a very nice Hogs Back TEA on a recent visit. Pool table. It’s open from 4pm each day until 11.30pm. (NT)

Hunter’s Lodge, Bagshot RdFuller’s London Pride is the standard beer here, plus two guests. A Vintage Inn pub, more focussed on food than wet sales, however there’s a decent quiz on a Tuesday evening from 8pm, entry £1 per person, teams of 6 tops. (NT)

Reports from local pubs in the Surrey Hants borders area are always appreciated and welcomed, always talk to the publican when compiling a report.

If your pub does not feature, send one in yourself!

Pub Clips

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CAMBERLEYFour Horseshoes - Frimley Rd., corner of The AvenueI was rather worried when a sign appeared outside some months ago, advertising for anyone who wanted to take over the running of this pub. For some years now it’s been allowed to run down, with a succession of temporary ‘managers’ - how many times have we seen this before, and the final demise of another pub? However, in mid-October I was pleased to see a ‘refurbishing’ note in various windows, and was able to meet the new couple running it, Andy and Hazel - still continuing with the refurb, but now open for business. The good news is that they have an initial tenancy/lease for 3 years, and hope to continue well beyond then. Further good news is that the Caledonian Deuchars IPA was the best I’ve had anywhere for ages, and Andy said that he planned to put on a 2nd cask ale before too long - preferably a dark one, for which there’s plenty of scope at this time of the year. (DF)

Pineridge Golf/Leisure CentreThis centre will be known to everyone around the area, with their popular golf course, 10-pin bowling alley, banqueting facilities, etc.. To celebrate their 20th anniversary the Pineridge Golf/Leisure Centre had a special day on Sunday 23rd June, with numerous activities put on, including bouncy castle, a “Gladiators” thingy and face-painting for the kids, a hog-roast, and a beer tent with 6 Hogs Back beers and their new Hazy Hog cider - which was where I gravitated to, naturally! Every half-hour one of the beers would be sold at 1993 prices - £1.50, if I remember rightly, and tasted even better at that price! It was a rather gloomy, windy day, but stayed dry, and the place was packed out; the kids, in particular, having a whale of a time! Well done to all those who helped to put on this event. (DF)

Pub Clips

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Yates - High St., towards the Station endIn May last year this Stonegate pub was gutted by a devastating fire, and has remained boarded up while undergoing complete renovation. The boarding was removed in mid-November, but at time of writing, although the “Yates” name is displayed over the entrance, the pub has not yet reopened, nor can we see through the covered-over windows. However, the expectation is that it will open after Christmas - more anon! (DF)

CHURCH CROOKHAMForestersThe focus is on food, but a beer from Upham brewery down near Winchester has been an unusual visitor recently, to supplement the Hogs Back TEA and Sharp’s Doom Bar. (KT)

TweseldownSadly, Nigel and Maz are looking to leave the Tweseldown and the lease is currently available through Punch Taverns. (KT)

EWSHOTWindmillRalph Holland’s tenure as landlord at the Windmill has not lasted very long, he left in early December. The Windmill is now run by a partnership within the local community who took over the lease three years ago. They usually have 4 real ales on regularly and the Otter Bitter on a recent visit was excellent. (KT)

FARNBOROUGHGloster, O’Gorman AvenueThe hand-pumps have been moved to a more prominent central position on the bar and the intention is to serve 2 guests alongside 4 ales from the Greene King stable. A Monday lunchtime visit early December observed IPA, IPA Reserve, Old Speckled Hen, and Hardys & Hansons Rocking Rudolph, complete with flashing pump clip; it was excellent, smooth and malty, belying its modest (for a Christmas ale) 4.2%. (John Karban)

Imperial Arms, Farnborough StreetOn a quiet night, Sharp’s Doombar and Fuller’s London Pride were on offer, and both found to be in good form. (Jack Reddall)

Ship Inn, Farnborough StreetNew landlord Colin took over this Enterprise-owned pub late September. The beer range has changed with Young’s Special as the main ale and two rotating guests, one of which is hoped to be as local as the Enterprise list allows, e.g. Hogs Back TEA, the other a well-known brand from further away. At the time of my visit it was Timothy Taylor’s Landlord. Considering he had only just taken over, Colin knows how to serve a good pint. As well as a fresh lick of paint in more subdued hues than the recent psychedelic scheme, Colin also plans to offer a more traditional pub food menu than of late. By the time you read this, the Ship will be well worth a visit, especially as it’s easily accessible by public transport, being on the no. 1 bus route and not far from Frimley and Farnborough North rail stations. (JK)

Squirrel, Park RoadOn a recent visit I came across Adnam’s Broadside & Ghost Ship (lovely!), Hog’s Back TEA, and Sharp’s Doombar – nothing over £3.10 a pint, and all very enjoyable. (JR)

Swan Inn, Farnborough RoadNavigation (4.3%), Fuller’s London Pride, and Andwell’s 5th anniversary celebration ale Five Little Fishes were recently on offer. All very refreshing too! All beers @ £3.50/pint. (JR)

FARNHAMJolly Sailor, West StAs part of the Greene King “Local Heroes” scheme, the Jolly Sailor has access to a wide range of local beers, supporting the likes of Triple fff, Bowman, and Hogs Back. The pub has also been chosen as one of the outlets to sell Greene King trial brews. These are beers produced at Greene King’s new £750,000 ‘micro’ brewery which are then sold at a small range of pubs to test popularity etc. Sampled Trial Brew No 1, a 5.4% stout, in early December,

Pub Clips

28 News & Ale - No. 128

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very tasty and packed with liquorice and flavour, unlike many other Greene King beers! (KT)

Lamb, Abbey StThe future of the Lamb looked a little uncertain when it closed suddenly for a few weeks back in November. But it has reopened with new, enthusiastic licensees, who have given the pub a good spruce up and introduced a more homely feel, with less TV and more sofas. Shepherd Neame Kent’s Best and Spitfire were available on the opening night and they plan to vary the range of Shepherd Neame beers and hopefully add a third one if demand warrants it. (KT)

FLEETPrince Arthur, 238 Fleet RdDan Proctor and his staff were preparing for the final LocAle Festival of 2013 which ran in the latter half of December. The list of ales was expected to include LocAles from micro-breweries based in five different counties (Hants, Surrey, Berks, West Sussex and Oxfordshire). In addition to the regular LocAles that these breweries produce, the opportunity was also taken to include seasonal ales (winter and Xmas) so there was something to suit all tastes. The Monster Raving Loony Party’s “Winning Co-ALE-ition” (a rebranded version of Longdog’s 4.2% Brindle Bitter) has become the regular guest LocAle that is always available and just two months after the launch event has become the biggest selling real ale at the Prince Arthur, selling over 250 pints per week. (Derrill Carr)

FRIMLEY GREENRose & Thistle,1 Sturt Rd.Owen has been the manager here for about 18 months now, ably assisted by Jack and others. A refurb in September included cleaning and revarnishing of the wooden floor and the bar, and general redecorating. The regular beers are

either Sharp’s Doom Bar or Fuller’s London Pride (rotating), augmented by 2 or 3 guests and a Weston’s cider. In mid-November I enjoyed an excellent pint of Bath Prophecy, a new one to me. Instead of the usual Fosters, etc., there’s an interesting range of draught foreign beers such as Belgian Fruhli, Czech Kozel and Pilsner Urquell, and others. Nice to see a dartboard in a pub, too. Also popular for food which can be eaten in the various areas around the bar or in the conservatory. Occasional live music events. (DF)

FROGMOREBellA new landlady since September. It seems that there are only about a half-dozen regular ale drinkers here, which isn’t enough to maintain a quality cask ale, so they’ve decided to stop serving it, for the moment at least. However, they might bring in polypins from Hog’s Back or other, for weekends or special events, and are also considering having some bottled beers. In spite of the lack of real ale our News & Ale mags are still retained and read here so all is not lost. Sports TV’s, Pool table, darts, and occasional music events. (DF)

GUILDFORDRobin Hood, Sydenham RdOne of the few proper locals in central Guildford, and well worth the short walk up from the Castle. Always a varied selection of 4 or 5 beers with Dark Star Hophead and Triple fff Alton’s Pride, both excellent on a recent visit. Good value home-cooked food and it’s also good fun on quiz night where a stew or curry is on offer for £1! (KT)

Rowbarge, no. 7 RiversideGreat to see the pub re-established and still supporting local breweries. Two beers from Ascot Ales, including On the Rails, their excellent hoppy mild, together with Shere Drop and Greensand IPA from Surrey Hills, the latter being in great nick. The interloper was Jail Ale from the Dartmoor Brewery in Devon! (KT)

Pub Clips

30 News & Ale - No. 128

HARTLEY WINTNEYCricketers - The Cricket Green, behind A30 on East sideMark and Penny Thornhill came here in February, ably assisted by daughter Amelia. They previously ran The Bell (Young’s) at Fetcham (near Cobham) successfully for 12 years, so come with plenty of experience in the trade. This pub has always been somewhat ‘foody’, but beer has also played a big part here, especially when there’s a cricket match over the road! The regular beers are London Pride and Thwaites Wainwright, with a guest beer, but already a 4th hand-pump has been added, which will feature a Ringwood beer - Fortyniner, on my visit, but as a driver that day I had the Wainwright, which was good. I noted the welcome absence of Fosters, the 4 lagers on offer including Birra Moretti and Sagres. There’s a pleasant outside seating area covered with vines. (DF)

HOOKWhite Hart Hotel, London RdI have visited the White Hart Hotel in Hook several times over the last few weeks with a group of friends and we have all been very impressed with the range and condition of the guest ales they have had available. The only problem is they sell out too quickly e.g. I was drinking Flowerpots Gooden Gold and Otter Ale, went for a curry, and when I came back two hours later they had both sold out. Guest ales including several LocAles which have featured recently have included Milk Street Funky Monkey, Loddon Ferryman’s Gold, and Windsor & Eton’s Eton Boatman. Other guest ales have featured from Longdog, West Berkshire, Goddards, Cotleigh, and Itchen Valley breweries. All in all a very good real ale pub and a very worthy GBG 2014 entrant. (DC)

KNAPHILLAnchor, High StThis pub now looks like a jar of mustard. If you have driven past recently you will have noticed

why! Currently only Courage Best on offer. (NT)

Crown, High StreetThis smart pub is in its 2nd year after a major turnaround, with 3 hand pumps offering ever-changing ales. The pub has a nice collection of tankards from nobbly ones to straight ones. There’s a pool table, a nice food menu, and a beer garden. Recently I enjoyed Longdog Lamplight Porter, Surrey Hills Ranmore Ale and Cottage Brewing beers here, also Old Rosie cider. The pub is accessible by the 28, 34, 35, & 91 bus routes. Highly recommended. (NT)

Robin Hood, Robin Hood Road,New management has been here for a year now, and doing well. Three real ales usually on offer, the Courage Best on my last visit was very tasty. A pub on the up! (NT)

Royal Oak, Anchor HillNice little pub with Young’s Bitter as the main beer plus a rotating guest on offer at around the 4% ABV mark, often from Surrey Hills. (NT)

UPPER HALEAlma, Alma LaneOn the road between Upper Hale and Heath End, the Alma doesn’t get much press but new licensees Tim and Sharon are keen to put the pub on the real ale map. They took over a few months ago and have expressed a commitment to real ale. 4 beers are available with Greene King IPA being a regular and 3 changing beers from either the Greene King range or a brewery supplied guest. Why not come along to the CAMRA Branch meeting we are holding there on 22nd January.(KT)

WORPLESDONJolly Farmer, Burdenshot RdSmart pub out in the sticks in between Worplesdon and Woking. An old style country pub owned by Fullers, offering a range of Fullers and Gales beers on 5 hand pumps. The Back Cab stout was particularly refreshing and tasty on a recent visit. (NT)

Pub Clips

No. 128 - News & Ale 31

Please check our website pages www.surreycamra.org.uk/northsurrey for latest updates.Social Secretary: Bob Inman bob.inman@btinternet.com Tel: 07841 594388

JANUARY 201415th (Weds) 8pm: Good Beer Guide 2015 selection kick-off meeting, in the upstairs bar at the George, High Street, Staines 19th (Sun) 7pm: Panto at the Red Lion, Isleworth. Contact Bob Inman for tickets and more info.29th (Weds) 8pm: Business Meeting at the Beehive, Middle Hill, Englefield Green.

News From Other Branches In The Surrey Area

North Surrey Branch

Diary

NewsSUNBURYThe White Horse – has been taken over by Flavio who used to have the nearby Three Fishes. He will have Courage Best Bitter and Sharps Doom Bar on and hopes to go up to 4 real ales, demand permitting.The Grey Horse – London Pride and Doom Bar available and has LocAle accreditation.The Phoenix – Brakspears Oxford Gold and Ringwood Best Bitter London Pride and Hobgoblin were also available. Has LocAle accreditation.The Magpie – Twickenham Naked Ladies and Twickenham Autumn Red, Trumans Runner, and Magpie Best Bitter, a rebadged Greene King house bitter.Admiral Hawke – Courage Best and Ringwood 49er. Graham who used to be at The Phoenix is now based here and is bringing in some interesting guest ales namely Timothy Taylor Landlord, Greene King Abbot Ale and Ringwood 49er amongst others.

CHERTSEYThe Olde Swan – has re-opened after a change of ownership and a substantial internal re-decoration. When visited, Caledonian Deuchars, By the Horns Stiff Upper Lip and Sambrooks Wandle were available. Well worth a visit along with the

Thyme at the Tavern (previous Pub Of The Year winner) next time you’re nearby.

BEER FESTIVALSEgham: The 17th Egham Beer Festival at the United Services Club in Spring Rise is scheduled for Thurs 17th to Sun 20th April 2014.

Elsewhere there are regular Festivals at the Happy Man and the Beehive pubs in Englefield Green, the Kings Fairway at Ashford and the George in Staines. Information is posted on our website when it becomes available.

PUB CLOSURESChertsey: Since the last edition of News and Ale, the George in Guildford Street has had a couple of managers in fairly quick succession who have tried hard, but it has again closed. It is thought to be the oldest licensed premises in Surrey, dating back to the 13th century. The surviving Public House, a 15th century timber-framed building, took its name from a visit by King George III in the late 18th century.

Egham: The Red Lion remains closed at the time of writing, but pub related planning applications have been received, so fingers crossed it will be open by the time you read this ….

32 News & Ale - No. 128

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January7th (Tue) 8pm Initial Good Beer Guide selection meeting at the Garland, Redhill (RH1 6PP).16th (Thu) 8.30pm Branch meeting, Kingswood Village Club (KT20 6SZ),

February12th (Weds) 8.30pm Branch meeting, Garland, Redhill (RH1 6PP)17th (Mon) 8pm Final Good Beer Guide selection meeting, Hatch, Redhill (RH1 6AT),

March19th (Wed) 8.30pm Branch meeting, Lincoln Arms Hotel, Dorking (RH4 1TF)

Prince of Wales, Baldwins Hill (Enterprise Inns) has closed and is offered for sale. Although just outside Surrey it does appear in our pub guide.

Prince Albert, Bletchingley. The new couple running it have decided to move on to the Prince of Wales, Westcott.

The Old House at Home, Dormansland now has a new landlord, Lee. Beer quality has been good on a couple of visits and he is making a better impression on the regulars than his predecessor.

Dog & Duck, Outwood, has re-opened.

Jolly Brickmakers, Redhill. Dick Holland has announced that he intends to retire when his contract ends in August 2014. He will leave earlier if possible.

Marquis of Granby, Earlswood, Redhill. New person takes over on the 20th November and intends to turn it into a Gastropub.

Old Chestnut, Earlswood, Redhill. The former licensee from the Marquis of Granby, Earlswood, Redhill is taking over and it will close in the new

year for refurbishment.

East & Mid Surrey BranchContact: Clive Jennings 01737 778711

Diary

News

34 News & Ale - No. 128

Contact: Clive Taylor; 020 8949 2099; ctaylor2007@freeuk.com

January 7th (Tue) Branch meeting at the Surbiton Club, St James Rd, Surbiton. 8.15.14th (Tue) Social evening at the Kings Tun, Kingston. 7.3022nd (Wed) An evening in New Malden, meet in the Fountain (8pm), then to the Watchman (8.45) and Bar Malden (9.30).25th (Sat) A social evening in the Lamb, Surbiton helping to prepare a mail out for the forthcoming AGM. 8pm.

February12th (Wed) Branch AGM at the Willoughby Arms, Willoughby Rd, Kingston. 8pm.

If you would like to keep up to date with what is going on in our area, please join us at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAMRA_Kingston_Leatherhead/

The 2014 Kingston beer festival will be taking place at the same venue, the Kingston Workmen’s Club, London Rd, Kingston, on Fri 16th and Sat 17th May. There may be an extra session on Thurs 15th in the evening.

Kingston, Kingston Mill After some years of not serving any real ale, now has three hand pumps. Recently being Adnam’s Lighthouse, Brewhouse Ginger Snap and Daleside Leg Over, all at £3.19.

Downside, PloughHas reopened under new ownership and was serving Courage Best, Caledonian XPA and Autumn Red.

New Malden, FountainIs now serving five ales, including recently Plain Ales Sheep Dip and Twickenham Red at £3.19.

Surbiton, Antelope & Walton on Thames, Anglers Are regular outlets for Brightwater beers, locally brewed in Claygate.

Kingston & Leatherhead Branch

Diary

News

15th Kingston Beer Festival

No. 128 - News & Ale 35

IS YOUR PINT NOT A PINT? UNHAPPY ABOUT THE QUALITY?Should you be served with a pint that you feel is a short measure, always ask for a top up. If you feel that reasonable requests for a legal measure are not being honoured, you should contact your local Trading Standards Department:Surrey 01372 371700 / Hampshire 0845 6030081. Please let us know for our records.

Subscribe to News and Ale To ensure that you always get a copy of News and Ale, why not subscribe?

Fill out the form and send it with a money order or cheque payable to : CAMRA Surrey Hants Borders Branch for £3.00 for 5 issues to:

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1st Issue Required (Issue No.)

The winner of Headscratcher No 74 was Pete Simmonds of Kingston on Thames and the draw was made by Cally Brown, the landlady of The Garden Gate, Aldershot.

Correct entries were also received from Ian Amy, Anne Andrew, Cliff Ball, John Barker, D Batty, John Bayley, Phil & Rose Bell, Diane Burnell, Mr Brian Cotterill, Barry Cox, Jane Cox, N Dunbar, Doug Fish, Mr D Freeland, Molly Godridge, John Graham, Paul Gray, Alan Greer, Peter Hanks, Bob Heaps, Alison Henley, John Hewitt, John Hook, Lorne Johnson, Martin Jones, Terry Lavell, Dave Lean, Julie Lee, Mr C McWhinnie, John Marshall, Sharon Martin, Val Mason, Dom Moloney, Paul Rogers, Bob Selwood, Mrs Kay Stoner, Mrs Madeleine Sutcliffe, Paul Telling, Chris Truin, David Turnbull, Peter Vicary, Neil Walton, John Williamson, Colin Willoughby, and Gareth Wilson. There were four incorrect entries.

Headscratcher No.74 Results

36 News & Ale - No. 128

Across1. There’s a rise in the new gin trade. (8)7. Old Street beer. (5)8. Extend one’s interests in North Cuba developments. (6,3)9. Join in the opening of the Indian Exhibition. (3)10. It’s immoral to live recklessly. (4)11. Quiet backstreets have flat surfaces. (6)13. Sets up secret reforms. (6)14. Mucking about is fun and starting to lie is wicked. (6)17. Kate’s in trouble over first recommending the naked run. (6)18. Boast about British silver. (4)20. A fat round behind. (3)22. Improvement is due in turn to constructive action. (9)23. After the intermission little Edward stared open-mouthed. (5)24. Climbs in a mad scramble. (8)

Down1. This part of the building was first built in a strong wind. (5)2. Fresh caviare promotes greed. (7)3. A part of a foot was found in a certain churchyard. (4)4. Don and Leo combine to make pasta. (6)5. Belt up and disclose the ingredients. (5)6. Change reveals various results. (7)7. New clients get a cut-out design. (7)12. Upsetting adverts are shown in a state of food deprivation. (7)13. Increase general modifications. (7)15. Fresh trifle, with the middle of the cream, is luxuriant. (7)16. An alum mixture is made by hand. (6)17. Discontinue street operations. (5)19. Jokes about Norway incite the crowds.(5)21. Mantraps’ initial purpose is to cripple.(4)

Headscratcher No.75£20 Prize Crossword

Headscratcher No.75 Xword Clues

£20 Prize Crossword. Please send your entries in by Friday 14th February 2014.

All correct answers will be entered into a prize draw. Entries to:

William Hill, Pendennis, Frimley Road, Ash Vale, Surrey GU12 5NN

Name

Address

No. 128 - News & Ale 37

38 News & Ale - No. 128

Fair dealon beertax now! SaveBritain’sPubs!

Instruction to your Bank orBuilding 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 SocietyTo yteicoS gnidliuB ro knaBreganaM eht

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Name

Postcode

Instructions to your Bank or Building SocietyPlease pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the accountdetailed on this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct DebitGuarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign For RealAle Limited and, if so will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

Signature(s)

Date

This Guarantee should be detachedand retained by the payer.

The Direct DebitGuarantee

This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay by Direct Debits.

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.If you request The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request

If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society

- If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when The Campaign For Real Ale Ltd asks you to

You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society.Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

9 2 6 1 2 9

Join CAMRA TodayComplete 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 Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.

Your Details

Title Surname

Forename(s)

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

Address

Postcode

Email address

Tel No(s)

Partner’s Details (if Joint Membership)

Title Surname

Forename(s)

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

Direct Debit Non DD

Single Membership £23 £25

(UK & EU)

Joint Membership £28 £30

(Partner at the same address)

For Young Member and concessionary rates please visitwww.camra.org.uk or call 01727 867201.

I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and agree toabide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association

I enclose a cheque for

Signed Date

Applications will be processed within 21 days

01/06

Campaigning for Pub Goers& Beer Drinkers

Enjoying Real Ale& Pubs

Complete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive 15 months membership for the price

A Campaign of Two Halves

Join CAMRA today – www.camra.org.uk/joinus

No. 128 - News & Ale 39

Fair dealon beertax now! SaveBritain’sPubs!

Instruction to your Bank orBuilding 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 SocietyTo yteicoS gnidliuB ro knaBreganaM eht

Address

Postcode

Name(s) of Account Holder

Bank or Building Society Account Number

Reference

Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.

Branch Sort Code

Service User Number

FOR CAMRA OFFICIAL USE ONLYThis is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society

Membership Number

Name

Postcode

Instructions to your Bank or Building SocietyPlease pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the accountdetailed on this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct DebitGuarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign For RealAle Limited and, if so will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

Signature(s)

Date

This Guarantee should be detachedand retained by the payer.

The Direct DebitGuarantee

This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay by Direct Debits.

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.If you request The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request

If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society

- If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when The Campaign For Real Ale Ltd asks you to

You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society.Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

9 2 6 1 2 9

Join CAMRA TodayComplete 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 Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.

Your Details

Title Surname

Forename(s)

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

Address

Postcode

Email address

Tel No(s)

Partner’s Details (if Joint Membership)

Title Surname

Forename(s)

Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy)

Direct Debit Non DD

Single Membership £23 £25

(UK & EU)

Joint Membership £28 £30

(Partner at the same address)

For Young Member and concessionary rates please visitwww.camra.org.uk or call 01727 867201.

I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and agree toabide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association

I enclose a cheque for

Signed Date

Applications will be processed within 21 days

01/06

Campaigning for Pub Goers& Beer Drinkers

Enjoying Real Ale& Pubs

Complete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive 15 months membership for the price

A Campaign of Two Halves

Join CAMRA today – www.camra.org.uk/joinus

40 News & Ale - No. 128