the magazine of chesterfield and district camra …

Chester�eld & District CAMRA

@THEWINDINGWHEEL @THEWINDINGWHEELFri 6th & Sat 7th Feb 2015

Lunchtime sessions 11am - 4pm £5.50Evening sessions 6.30pm -11pm £6.50Lunchtime sessions 11am - 4pm £5.50Evening sessions 6.30pm -11pm £6.50

BEER

InnSpireDecember 2014 issue 112

THE MAGAZINE OF CHESTERFIELD AND DISTRICT CAMRA

FREE COPY

InnSpireEditorial & Production

Tim Stone & Debbie Jackson Tel: 07773 141433

[email protected]

Tim Stone Tel: 07773 141433

[email protected] Informationwww.innspire.org.uk

[email protected] Deadline for February

Issue 113Friday 16th January 2015

InnSpire has a circulation of 4,250 copies and is produced by and

copyright of the Chesterfield & District Branch of CAMRA.

No parts may be used without permission. Articles & letters are

always welcome and may be submitted by email to the InnSpire

Editor, address above. Please note that the views expressed

herein are those of individual contributors and not necessarily those of the national Campaign for Real Ale

or the local Branch.

Chesterfield & District CAMRA is a Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

Chesterfield & District CAMRA ChairmanMick Portman

88 Walton Road, Chesterfield S40 3BY Tel: 01246 277757

Branch ContactJane Lefley

[email protected] 863432

Wobble OrganisersRay Easter

[email protected] Clark

[email protected] & Dales Branch

ContactPeter Boitoult 07791 159 526

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The most interesting beer event of the past two months was the Market Beer Festival. Thanks to the organiser, Jane Lefley, dedicated drinkers and (perhaps more importantly) casual passers by had the opportunity to try some of our locally brewed beers.

Every customer who I spoke to said they had enjoyed the festival, and we owe a vote of thanks to Jane and her team of volunteers (many of them first timers) who made the festival such a success. This was not just about raising money for CAMRA, but also raising awareness of real beer to those who wouldn’t normally consider it.

Voting for the branch Pub of the Year is taking place now, as well as the latest Pub of the Season.

The bad news is that pubs in Chesterfield have a new enemy. Disgracefully the ‘ethical’ Co-op is challenging Tesco as the prime destroyer of pubs in our area.

Despite the evil intentions of our caring Co-op, we’ve got some cracking pubs in Chesterfield and District so get out there and drink some beer.

Chairman’s Report

Mick Portman

Award Winning AlesVisit the brewery shop to see our

full range of bottled beers plus wines, whiskies, world beers and merchandise.

01246 221680 www.bramptonbrewery.co.uk

[email protected] 4 & 5, Chatsworth Business Park,

Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 2AR

Brewery NewsBradfield

Bradfield Brewery are always looking to improve our ‘green credentials’ whilst maintaining a practical approach to everything we do on and off the farm. In 2011 we installed 158 state-of-the-art solar panels generating up to 36kw of green energy. And now we’ve taken delivery of our first electric vehicle. The Nissan e-NV200 now gives us a great balance between practical and

environmentally friendly. It’s the first electric van on the market and returns 100 miles of transport on a single charge. It’s also the most practical electric car around with a large load space making it ideal for our delivery needs.

BramptonThe Brewery picked up a trio of awards at the recent SIBA Midlands Regional Beer Competition held during Nottingham Robin Hood Beer Festival at Nottingham Castle. Cask Speciale took Silver in the Strong Bitters category, cask Winter Bock took Bronze in the Premium Strong Beers category, and bottled Brampton Stout won Silver in the Bottled Porters, Milds, Old Ales & Stout Category. The brewery’s Spirit Of Brampton Mild has proved very popular, so much so that recently a second batch of Mild was sent off to be distilled into the Spirit. Don’t forget to pop into the shop for those special Christmas gifts!

Heath VillageHeath Gold ABV 4.4% – an English IPA - was well received at the Chesterfield CAMRA Market Beer Festival in October. As it turned out, the brewers were lucky to get to taste it as it was the first beer to sell out! We’ve also been trying a new brew, Heathen’s Bitter, which is a variation on a traditional London bitter recipe. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for some initial tasting notes.

Peak AlesThe brewery open day on Saturday 8th November proved a great success with plenty of beer and pork sandwiches from New Close Farm Shop in Bakewell being consumed. The brewery was also blessed by Revd. Canon Tony Kaunhoven. We’re now getting used to working from split sites - just a few teething problems with computers as ever!

Pigeon FishersThe brewery produced the exclusive Chesterfield Arms Christmas Pudding Ale in the first week of November. After this brew the 1 BBL plant will be taken out and replaced by the new 2.5 BBL plant, ex-Barlow Brewery. We hope to have ale from the new plant in the pubs by the last week of December and we will be brewing five days a week from the end of January, so expect to see much more of our beers in a wider variety of pubs, more often in 2015!

Shiny BrewingThe successful Derby brewery have announced that they will be taking over the County and Station in the centre of Matlock Bath. They’ll be offering real ales, real ciders, craft beers and bottles, as well as Sunday roasts. The pub opens at 6pm on Tuesday 2nd December, and will then be open daily from 11am.

Brewery news cont..

Brewery news cont..Thornbridge The Brewery’s Great British Home Brew Challenge was won by office worker, Graham Nelson, with his Vienna IPA. The crisp, well-rounded ale is now available in 70 Waitrose shops nationwide, including in Graham’s home county of Cheshire, for £2.50 for 500ml. The brewery has also been doing well in its own right with Tzara, its Kölsch style beer winning a number of awards recently.

Pub NewsReports of The Crispin’s demise in our last issue proved to be premature, as it is still trading and trading profitably and will continue to do so until Tesco comes galloping in, which is fortunately not just yet. It is hosting parties for ‘hatch, match and dispatch’, naming ceremonies, weddings, and wakes, with the conservatory fully booked!

The Three Tuns in Dronfield has been awarded the title of Dronfield CAMRA Cider Pub of the Year for 2014, as voted by members of the local group in recognition of the pub's efforts in promoting the sale of traditional cider in the Dronfield area. Chairman of Dronfield CAMRA, Rob Barwell, presented the award. Owd Barker, produced locally by Dick Shepley of Woodthorpe Hall in Holmesfield, is one of over a dozen different traditional ciders which are always available. The Three Tuns has recently produced its own cider at the Woodthorpe Hall cider press, called Owd Podger, using apples supplied by regular patrons of this popular local pub.

The Tramway Tavern in Brampton was crowned Pub of the Year for the second year running at the Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards. Hosted by Ainsley Harriott, the awards ceremony celebrates the best in food and drink in Chesterfield. The panel judged staff on knowledge of the drinks on offer, on staff service and the overall feel of the pub and its facilities. Manager Emma Clarke said the pub was absolutely blown away to have won this award again.

The Rose and Crown in Brampton is celebrating the fifth anniversary of opening with a bit of a makeover. As well as a full internal redecoration, some of the seating will be changed around and a new bar front and bar back will be installed, alongside upgraded lighting. Some of the internal decoration will be changing with changes to the existing pictures and photographs that are dotted around the pub. The amount of work being undertaken for the refurbishment is quite substantial, but after a short period of closure, the pub is officially scheduled to open again at Midday on Friday 5th December.

Pub News cont..

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[email protected] or [email protected] • www.brunswickbrewingcompany.co.uk & www.brunswickderby.comThe Brunswick, 1 Railway Terrace, Derby, DE1 2RU • For all enquiries please call: 01332 290677

The Brunswick will offer• Full range of six Brunswick Ales, Everards Tiger, Everards

Beacon, Timothy Taylor Landlord

• AND 8 regular changing cask ales

• NEW homemade menu using quality locally sourced ingredients

• Regular CAMRA discount - 20p off a pint

Alan & Philippe have accolades as winners of CAMRA Pub of the Year 2010, 2011 and 2014 while at The Crown, Uppingham & Brewer James has been brewing award winning ale at TheBrunswick now for 11 years.

The Brunswick Pub & BreweryNew licensees Alan & Philippe look forward to welcoming you

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Award Winning Ale

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Real Ale, Real Food, RealBrewpub. A great partnership

of two businesses!

Award-winning ale fromDerby’s oldest breweryKeep a look out for our exciting new seasonalales created by James, if you would like toknow more, he would love you to pop in for achat or give him a call!

For orders and enquiries call 01332 410055 oremail: [email protected]

Regular regional deliveries available.

Brunswick A5 Landscape Advert_Layout 1 08/05/2014 11:17 Page 1

A campaign is gathering pace in Chesterfield to save one of its favourite locals from being closed, and re-opened as a convenience store.

The Wellington Pub, on the High Street, New Whittington, is described by campaign leader Viky Muddiman as the hub of the community - a place where

people go not only to drink but for food, company and support. The award-winning pub, which is currently part of the Marston’s group, serves food and real ales, but also delivers meals to elderly and infirm residents in the community. The pub is believed to be closing in 2015 – and will be taken over by the Co-op. This, says Viky - a regular at the pub - will not only create a hole in the community but will also destroy other businesses in the village. She has mounted a social media petition which currently stands at nearly 500 signatures, with around the same on paper too, and is asking Marston’s to reconsider their plans for the pub, which employs nine people from the village. A public meeting is scheduled with local MP Natascha Engel, which Viky hopes will galvanise more support to save a valuable community resource. Viky says the support for the petition has been overwhelming, adding, “The whole village is behind us. It’s a valuable asset to the community and a family run business. People come here to congregate in many different ways. A lot of elderly people who can’t, or don’t want to cook for themselves come here and they also send meals out to various

Save the Wellington!

housebound residents. People with learning disabilities are brought here where they feel safe and welcome, and the pub has full disability access. There are pool and darts teams here – where are they going to play? “It’s been a feeling of shock in the village as it’s an asset. It’s not doing poorly – it’s pulled through the recession and we have live music, children’s parties – it’s a popular place to come.

There’s a couple that had their wedding reception here 40 years ago and they wanted their 40th anniversary party here next August – we want to keep it open for them and all the other people who appreciate this local asset.”

You can sign the petition at https://www.change.org/p/marston-s-brewery-keep-our-pub-as-a-pub

The Pomegranate Theatre Box Office (01246 345222), Chesterfield Tourist Information Centre (01246 345777)

Arkwright Arms, Sutton cum Duckmanton (01246 232053), Chesterfield Arms, Newbold Road (01246 236634)

Derby Tup, Sheffield Road (01246 454316), The Market Inn, New Square (01246 273641)Old Poets’ Corner, Ashover (01246 590888),

The Fat Cat, Sheffield (0114 249 4801)Hops in a Bottle, Mansfield (01623 626302),

Real Ale Corner, Chatsworth Road (01246 202111)MoCa Bar, Dale Road, Matlock (01629 258084), The Beer Parlour, King Street (07870 693411)

Winding Wheel 2015 Beer Festival

Tickets are now on sale for the Annual Beer Festival at the Winding Wheel, Chesterfield. We are changing the layout a little this year, so upstairs will see breweries over 30 years old showcasing their beers, with the Ballroom hosting

breweries that are three years old or under. There will still be beers from the Derbyshire Brewers’ Collective and from the rest of the country downstairs. Cheese Factor ploughman’s, Merry Berry Chocolate, Gaunt’s and Pipers Crisps will be on hand for some light refreshment.

Entertainment for the Friday night is to be confirmed, but on Saturday, by popular demand, it’s Doc Marten and the Ill Fitting Suits. Tickets are £5.50 for lunchtime sessions 11am – 4pm and £6.50 for the evening sessions 6.30pm – 11pm.For your nearest outlet please see the list below.

Chester�eld & District CAMRA

@THEWINDINGWHEEL @THEWINDINGWHEELFri 6th & Sat 7th Feb 2015

Lunchtime sessions 11am - 4pm £5.50Evening sessions 6.30pm -11pm £6.50Lunchtime sessions 11am - 4pm £5.50Evening sessions 6.30pm -11pm £6.50

Entertainment Friday Night - To be con�rmed

Saturday Night - DOC MARTEN & THE ILL FITTING SUITS

Entertainment Friday Night - To be con�rmed

Saturday Night - DOC MARTEN & THE ILL FITTING SUITS

BEER

As you may have seen in the news, MPs voted to change a law tying thousands of tenant landlords into beer supply contracts with large breweries and pub companies last month. Currently, some pub tenants subject to ‘beer ties’ have to pay more than the market rate for alcohol and cannot purchase it from cheaper suppliers.

Landlords said it would make the system fairer and improve choice for drinkers, while predictably the large Pub companies (Pubcos) claimed the move would lead to job losses. The change was passed in a shock defeat for the government following years of lobbying by CAMRA and hundreds of publicans. The family brewers such as Thwaites and Everards (who generally treat their licensees fairly) will not be affected.

Tim Page, CAMRA Chief Executive commented, “Today’s landmark Parliamentary vote helps secure the future of pubs. CAMRA is delighted that, after ten years of our campaigning, MPs have today voted to introduce a market rent only option for licensees tied to the large pub companies - a move that will secure the future of the Great British Pub.

“The Government was defeated by 284 votes to 259 with MPs from all parties voting in favour of a new clause to the Small Business Bill that will empower Pubco licensees to choose between a tied agreement and a market rent only agreement that will allow them to buy beer on the open market. Allowing over 13,000 pub tenants tied to the large pub companies the option of buying beer on the open market at competitive prices will help keep pubs open and ensure the cost of a pint to consumers remains affordable. The large pub companies will no longer be able to charge their tenants prices up to 60 pence a pint higher than open market prices.”

“This simple choice should spell the end of Pubco licensees being forced out of business through high rents and tied product prices. Thank you to the 8,000 CAMRA members and campaigners who lobbied their local MP to help make this happen and to those MPs that voted to support pubs. CAMRA are now urging the Government to accept the outcome of the vote.”

Historic changes for the pub industry

The submissions to the Commons from the Pubcos showed little concern for anything other than the resale value of their estate. In one section of the Enterprise submission the phrase “Transferring value to the tenant” even appears as a negative.

However, the bill still needs to be passed in the House of Lords, and there is still some debate as to the ultimate outcome of the changes. One consequence is likely to be more competition – both for the family brewers as more and more free of tie operators move into the market, and the market opens up for the growing number of craft brewers – and for the Pubcos as they have to change the way they operate to offer true benefits to justify any increase in beer prices.

Local publican Dave Mountford has argued that the legislation won’t take effect until March 2015 and then realistically won’t be phased into agreements for years afterwards, and will just allow further abuse and further pub closures.Only time will tell whether CAMRA’s hopes for the future are fulfilled.

Comment from Toby Perkins MP

As Chesterfield’s MP many people I meet have a pretty strong general idea about what I do. When I am described as the Shadow Business Minister fewer do, but responses to being described as Shadow Pubs Minister tend to involve jealousy, resentment and scorn! I hope that CAMRA members (unlike many of our otherwise impeccable fellow citizens) will have a greater realisation of the serious business of the challenges facing our pub trade and its importance as an economic and social contributor to the UK.

The amendment to the Small Business Bill will create a significant competitive pressure for Pubcos to offer tenants a good deal or see them pay only a market rent and buy their beer on the wholesale market, effectively creating a much larger potential market of free trade houses. This statutory code has been introduced in the light of numerous reports of struggling publicans feeling that the true potential of their earnings from a pub has been mis-represented and has seen thousands of people leave the industry bankrupted and with their life’s savings gone. If you are one of the many Chesterfield CAMRA members who wrote to me to ask me to support the amendment, don’t worry I was there!

Historic changes cont...

TIGERBEST BITTER

@EverardsTiger facebook.com/everards

www.everards.co.uk

Southwell Folk Fest A5 ad Portrait.indd 1 16/05/2014 16:25

TIGERBEST BITTER

@EverardsTiger facebook.com/everards

www.everards.co.uk

Southwell Folk Fest A5 ad Portrait.indd 1 16/05/2014 16:25

The Market Beer Festival was held at the Assembly Rooms at the Market Hall in Chesterfield on the 24th and 25th October. The festival featured 43 beers from Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, many of them new ones. A Battle of the Beers took place where local brewers send a beer to go head to head before a panel of judges who blind taste to select the winner. The panel of judges were made up of a cross section of beer drinkers, brewers and customers of the festival. The judging took place on the Friday afternoon and four tables with six judges on in the first round, with the top two beers from each table going through to the final table, which then had the hard task of finding the winners.

The Market Beer Festival

The winners of the Battle of the Beers were as follows:Gold - Ashover Brewery for Serlo, a pale hoppy beer 4.4%Silver - Amber Ales, Ripley for Black Nitro, a dark profile of a IPA 6%Bronze – Thornbridge Brewery, Bakewell for Made North, a new bitter 3.8% Customers of the festival had a vote also and the winner of the Battle of the Beers Drinkers’ Choice was Brown Ales, Clay Cross for Matrix, a stout 5.9%. The Beer of the Festival was a joint winner between two stouts, Townes Brewery, Staveley for Pynot Porter 4.5% and Wentworth Brewery for Blueberry Stout 4.8%. There will be a presentation at the helpers get together for all the winners. A huge thank you to the volunteers who worked the festival and the customers that supported it. Here is some of the feedback from the comments forms:

Well run, polite staff, friendly atmosphere.Very pleasant, plenty of seating not enough advertising of directions outside (this has been noted and will be better next year).Really good, lovely vibe and brilliant staff.Small but beautiful.Need more food stalls (this is only a small venue so nowhere to accommodate any more).No tombola (this will return).

The winner of the February Beer Festival tickets for filling in their comment form is Simon Barker, Alfreton. Don’t forget tickets for this are now on sale - see advert in this issue for details - see you there!!

Staveley’s Speedwell Inn and the associated Towne’s Brewery celebrated its first anniversary under new management last month. Lawrie and Nicoleta Evans took over Chesterfield’s first – and only – brew pub from Alan Wood (Aka Curl) last year following his retirement.

Lawrie had been working as a consultant engineer, involving long journeys from the town every day, while Nicoleta worked in accounts for a home care company. As Lawrie’s contract was coming to an end they began looking

for a business, and had lost out on another pub when they heard that Townes and the Speedwell might be available.

Curl was happy that the brewery would be in safe hands, with Lawrie maintaining his recipes and ethos. And, as if proof were needed, The Pynot Porter took the prize of joint Beer of the Festival at the Market Hall, and continues to sell well in the pub.

The outside and interior of the pub has been redecorated, and there are plans to open up the upstairs function room in the new year.

Lawrie and Nicoleta celebrated the anniversary with a special event featuring music from popular duo Dogs Bolx and a truly spectacular cake which Nicoleta had baked and decorated herself. There are also plans for music every month with JJ Galway booked for Christmas Eve.

First Anniversary for Speedwell

The business continues to grow steadily, with Lawrie happy to take his time building on Townes’ success. He is currently only brewing enough beer to supply the pub itself, with the occasional swap with other local breweries, so if you fancy a pint of Townes’ best, head in to the Speedwell Inn where you will be sure of a warm welcome from Lawrie, Nicoleta and the staff.

Chesterfield CAMRA Chairman Mick Portman commented, “I’m delighted to see Chesterfield’s

first home brew pub carrying on so well, and producing excellent beer under its new management. Good luck for the future!”

LOWGATES STAVELEY TEL. 01246 472252

Mon to Fri : 6 pm to 11.30 pm Sat: 12 noon to 3 pm & 6 pm to 11.30pm Sun:12 noon to 3 pm & 6 pm to 10.30 pm

CHESTERFIELD’S FIRST BREW PUB

HOME TO THE

B R E W E RY

THE SPEEDWELL INN

They would have loved it…..The Thorn Tree on Jackson Road is Matlock’s most consistent entry in the Good Beer Guide, and has recently scooped yet another award, being voted the Matlock and Dales CAMRA Summer Pub of the Season 2014. So what makes the Thorn Tree so much of a favourite watering hole among the people of Matlock? It’s been sitting on the top of Matlock Bank for over two hundred years, initially as a coaching inn, slaking the thirsts of coachmen (and horses) travelling between Derby and Manchester. Still a traditional and unspoiled public house, it now dispenses up to seven real ales to regulars, day-trippers, office workers, real ale enthusiasts and ramblers alike. A rather compact establishment – it’s amazing they all fit in sometimes. Pat Stevenson has been at the reins for seven years now and it’s been seven years of high quality service, ales, and food. So who slakes their thirst there now? (Apart from me). Well I’ve composed a list. They may not have been before, but if they had, I’m sure they would have loved it…..

MAD Summer 2014 Pub of the Season

The Thorn Tree

Edmund Hillary would have loved it. For visitors to Matlock, once deposited at the bus or railway station, it’s only a ten minute walk, but quite a hill. Up Bank Road, past the County Offices, pause for breath, up to the Hydro, pause for breath again, then uphill once more to Jackson Road, up the steps, past the iron snails and the stone labrador*, and you’re there. And after your ascent, you, like Hillary, will definitely appreciate your pint. (Buses and taxis are available, for less mobile trekkers and climbers - and the bone idle).

English landscape artists such as JMW Turner and John Constable would have loved it. The panoramic view from the front patio is well worth the climb, and would have had them ordering bucketloads of oil paints to capture it all on canvas for the nation and posterity. (Although it’s still there, unlike the Hay Wain and the Fighting Temeraire).

George Orwell would have loved it. In 1946 he wrote an article for the Evening Standard on what he considered to be the perfect pub, giving ten key criteria they needed to meet in order to be considered one. Unfortunately the respected author never managed to find an establishment which ticked all ten boxes. Fastidious independent research (of my own) has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the Thorn Tree ticks at least nine of them, which is one more than George Orwell’s personal best.

The Prince of Wales would love it. HRH is a keen real ale drinker and founder-patron of ‘The Pub is The Hub’ movement, which campaigns to protect rural pubs and maintain them as the centre of the rural community. He would undoubtedly welcome the thriving community spirit (and excellent ales available) in the Thorn Tree.

Desperate Dan would love it - Pat’s Wednesday Pie Night would leave Cactusville’s most famous resident (and renowned pie-enthusiast) full to bursting. Jeremy Paxman would love it - University Challenge would undoubtedly benefit from the wit and wisdom in Pat’s Monday night quizzes. The list goes on. And I haven’t even mentioned the curious overabundance of canines, the haunted clock, the wall of bon-mots, the free wifi, and the totally awesome (and mercifully infrequent) stylophone playing. So congratulations to Pat and his crew for winning the MAD Pub of the Season, and here’s to at least seven more years. Cheers.

Tony Farrington*It might be fibreglass. I haven’t checked.

18th Dec. Monthly Branch meeting and result of the POTY competition at the Thorn Tree Inn, Matlock starting at 8.00pm.

27th Dec. Social Trip to Nottingham train from Matlock or meet in the Organ Grinder at 1.00pm

15th Jan 2015. Matlock and Dales Branch AGM followed by the monthly meeting being held at the MoCa Bar, Dale Rd Matlock, 8.00pm start.

www.mad.camra.org.uk or Peter Boitoult 07791159526, for more details.

MAD Diary

Matlock CAMRA Pub of the Year2013 & 2014

MoCa BarServing a selection of real ales from....Abbeydale, Oakham, Blue Monkey,

Dancing Duck, Kelham Island & Brampton

Mon-Wed real ales £2.50 per pintLunchtime light bites menu availableTry a Real Ale Rack - 4 x 1/3 pint with cheese!

Open 11am until late

77 Dale Road, Matlock Tel. 01629 258 084

An enthusiastic bunch assembled outside Matlock Co-Op at 4pm on Saturday 18th October to be conveyed in Ian Lefley’s trusty bus to sample the delights of the Division Street area bars and pubs.

First up was Henry’s Cafe Bar on Cambridge Street, where we met Peter B. This is a modern split level bar with lots of pumps, but unfortunately most of them were not dispensing beer as the cellar man had suffered an injury. Just four real ales on, from which I tried Clarks Classic Blonde - ok, but not terrific.

We swiftly moved round the corner to the Brewhouse on Wellington Street. This bar has an on site brewery (Aardvark) visible through huge glass windows, and an industrial sort of vibe with exposed steel beams and lots of white tiles. The favourite beer seemed to be Aardvark Test Brew 7, which was being brewed for them at Dukeries for the time being.

Our next hostelry was the Old House on Devonshire Street. Very busy and lively, with a good choice of beer. I tried

Saltaire Sovereign Harvest, a very satisfactory flavoursome golden ale. However, we were having difficulty hearing ourselves speak in this busy pub, so decamped to the quieter Red Deer on Pitt Street. A traditional pub with a pleasant feel to it, and you can definitely conduct a conversation here. I had Prescott’s Chequered Flag, which was well presented.

A short hop across West Street took us to The Hop in the West One Plaza on Fitzwilliam Street. This is a modern pub, but with an

MAD CAMRA does Sheffield

interesting interior. Owned by Ossett Brewery, it boasts a large choice of their own and many other real ales. My choice was Ilkley Mary Jane - very nice too.

Close by is the Bath Hotel, a Heritage pub owned by Thornbridge Brewery with a decent choice of their own and guest beers. The Thornbridge Desert Sessions was my nicest pint of the evening. At this point several of us were feeling peckish, so the decision was made to walk to the next pub, the Devonshire Cat, via various take away outlets on Devonshire Street. Then for some unknown reason the group walked right past two take away outlets, before heading down a side street towards the pub without

stopping to purchase any food!

The Devonshire Cat is a huge modern pub in the Student quarter with lots of hand pulls and a massive choice of bottled beers (Belgian, USA etc). They even have a Belgian style beer menu. Although I usually like to try new beers on a trip like this, I could not resist one of my favourites - Abbeydale Absolution - which rarely disappoints. Since we had failed to get any food on our walkabout, everyone was dipping into Simon’s chip butty, leaving him with just the bread!

As time was marching on, and Ian was picking us up from the last pub at 9.30, we made fast tracks across town down to the Sheffield Tap on the Railway Station. Beautifully restored by Thornbridge, this is a must see stop on any pub crawl in Sheffield. The newly finished First Class Dining room is something

MAD CAMRA does Sheffield cont...

special. There is also an on site brewery here, the Tapped Brew Co, providing even greater choice alongside Thornbridge’s large range and other guest beers. As usual, we were reluctant to tear ourselves away when the bus was announced. Kelvin brought his almost full pint on to the bus with him!

Ian helpfully dropped all of us off near to home, a huge benefit to those of us who live out in the sticks.The trip was deemed a great success by all. Thanks to Peter Boitoult and Graham Dawson for organising, Peter B for pub notes and Ian for transport.

Jeff Glaves

MAD CAMRA does Sheffield cont...

SERVING 5 REAL ALES & HOMEMADE FOOD BAR OPEN ALL DAY Food served 12-2.00pm & 6.30-8.30pm

Wed 31st Dec - New Years Eve Supper & Disco Sat 24th Jan - Burns Night Whisky Tasting & Dinner

The Lathkil Hotel - Over Haddon - Bakewell - Derbyshire - DE45 1JE 01629812501 - www.lathkil.co.uk

Happy Christmas & New Year from all at The Lathkil

CAMRA SUMMER PUB

OF THE SEASON 2014

1 King Street North,Whittington Moor, Chesterfield S41 9BA

Real ales and craft ciders in bottles and on draughtDraught beers changing on the bar every week

Open 4 -11pm Mon.- Fri. 12pm -12pm Sat.

1pm -10pm Sunday

Phone 07870 693411

Dawn

K

EEP IT REAL

CAMRA PUB of the SEASONAutumn 2014

CAMRA PUB of the SEASONAutumn 2014

What did you do before you became a brewer?During College and University I’d always worked part-time in pubs, restaurants, bars and clubs. My first ‘proper’ job was as a Customer Services call centre agent for an online bank in Derby. I then spent the next eight years there in various other roles, including selling PPI (ha ha), Management Information, Credit Risk, Process ReEngineering, Finance Accounts and Project Management. Pretty much a Jack of all trades, and a master of none!

What made you become a brewer?The business got sold over an extended period and I had plenty of time to assess my options, and I liked the idea of running my own business. Gourmet Food truck and Professional Poker player were two options but Brewing seemed like a good choice - everyone likes beer, right?!

What inspires the sort of beer you produce?I love the punchy fruity flavours given by the new American and New Zealand hop varieties that have arrived in the last five or so years, so that’s where I started from. Now I’m inspired by drinking other people’s beers and those

Meet the BrewerPedro Menon - Shiny Brewing Co.

which may give me something to aspire to, or an idea on how to take it further, or try a different twist with it.

That said, I can’t be too experimental too often, because at the end of the day I need to produce beers that will sell, as I can’t drink it all myself!

What’s your favourite beer - from your brewery?I really love the Affinity, hence the name. Lots and lots of Citra aroma hops, carefully balanced with the body and bitterness. However, a bit like children, I can’t choose a favourite, because I love them all differently! Different beers suit different occasions.

What’s your favourite beer - from any other brewery? Again, this is a really difficult one to answer: I see brewing as a process of progression and people are always making better beers. Thus, my favourites change from month to month! Think about how any Champion Beer from over five years ago would probably seem quite mundane and run-of-the mill now. My favourite beers of the last month have come from Ashover - BlackJack, Tiny Rebel, Beavertown and Kernel.

Meet the Brewer cont..

SHINY BREWING Co.Ltd

www.ShinyBrewing.com

DERBY’S PREMIER MICROBREWERY!

ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING OF THEIR LATEST PUB

REAL ALES REAL CIDERS CRAFT KEG SPECIALITY BOTTLES

Open Daily 11am - late

OPENING TUESDAY 2nd DECEMBER @ 6pm

COUNTY & STATIONDale Road, Matlock Bath

To Derby

To Matlock

A6

Matlock Bath

North Parade

WE AREHERE!

Pork Pies & Sunday Roasts Available (full menu to be launched in New Year)

CAMRA Discount Available

Where in the world is your favourite place to drink beer?Anywhere on holiday by a pool or beach when its hot - even lager tastes good then. I’ve enjoyed drinking in Manchester recently - the bars in the Chorlton area are well worth visiting if you like craft beer.

What’s the most important thing we can do to protect real ale pubs?By visiting and spending money in them: that will definitely help! I think some pub companies are strangling the life out of pubs through the restrictive terms, and some pub tenants have got very little chance of success, or more correctly, reaping any rewards for their own success.

What are your first drinking memories?I got my real ale education working at the Holly Bush Inn in Makeney. I could taste, for free, all the best ales that the UK had to offer. Looking back, they were all brown bitters as there was no Porters or golden beers, and certainly nothing that contained foreign hops. But that was my first experience of a proper pub, where everyone knew each other and the staff would get your next drink on the bar before you ordered it.

Meet The Brewer cont..

A friendly pub on Sheffield Road in Dronfield, next to the home of Sheffield FC, the world’s first football club.

Acoustic Nights on Mondays from 8.30pm, a relaxed atmosphere with all styles of music welcome.

Don’t miss 20% OFF all Bottled Beers Tuesday to Thursday

10% Take Away Deal buy any three bottles to take away and get 10% OFF (cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer)

CAMRA members get 20p off Thornbridge and guest ales.

Home cooked, locally sourced food is now available.

For Thornbridge news and your chance to WIN £100 of Thornbridge goodies visit thornbridgebrewery.co.uk

The handpulls on the bar serve locally brewed Thornbridge beers plus a rotating guest beer. Complemented by a selection of locally brewed, foreign and mainstream lagers and a range of bottled beers from around the world.

FOO

D

OP

EN www.mycoachandhorses.co.uk Enquiries: 01246 413269

Coach & HorsesBEER MuSIC ARTS COMMuNITy

Drinks Producer of the Year 2014

Monday 4pm-11:30pmTuesday to Thursday 12pm-11pm Friday & Saturday 12pm-12am Sunday 12pm-10.30pm

Home cooked, locally sourced food is served Tuesday to Saturday 12pm-3pm and 5pm-8pm

We started our latest Wednesday Wobble at the Chesterfield Alehouse for our Pub of the Season survey, where they had a fine selection of Ales as usual. We had the Yorkshire farmer (Bradfields) which was very good! Then on to the Peacock for a brief visit before heading over the hills to Matlock. The Druid Inn at Birchover was our first stop, where the

Chocolate Marble and Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby were excellent. We were made to feel most welcome, with a lovely fire burning and friendly Landlord who wished us all well on our journey.

We then visited MoCa Bar in Matlock itself, another great pub where we saw some familiar faces from the MAD branch - very nice to see them all again! The Fishpond in Matlock Bath was the next call, which also had a great range of ales. However I must admit to forgetting to write things down after that (must have been the beer - or I was talking too much as usual!)

The final pub on our tour was the Thorn Tree Inn, again lovely friendly staff adding to our enjoyment. I think my memory came back by then because I remember having EPA by Nottingham brewery which was very good! An enjoyable evening had by all - why not join us next time?

Pauline Easter

A Wobble to Matlock

It occurred to me that as I was going on holiday, there was another scene to be described, namely the micro-brewery scene in Southern California. Campaign news is therefore taking a different approach this month. Research has been arduous and difficult, but persistence has paid off.

Two micros have been visited, and the scene is interesting. The brewers here have distribution problems, as do ours, and they have bureaucracy problems similar to ours. Pat Horton, owner and brewer of Stumblefoot in San Marcos sells all his beer through a distributor. Ryan Hensley of Culture Brewery in Solana Beach sells and delivers it all himself. The biggest bureaucratic headache for Pat Horton was government interference in the labelling on his bottles. It took four months to get the wording agreed!

For brewing, there is a progressive tax regime favouring the small brewer, but it is a volume tax not an alcohol tax. That is why there are so many more beers of high gravity here, there is no penalty for higher alcohol contents. The market share held by micro brewers is about 8% compared to about 6% in the UK, but like ours it is rising strongly. The craft beer market is nowhere near saturated, and new breweries are springing up all the time. Ryan Hensley was,

InnSpire in California

for example, brewing at Pizza Port, a series of restaurants that are also breweries. Every Pizza Port outlet has its own brewery and they expand by franchise.

On the home front, Green King have acquired another 1000 or so pubs, and are well on the way to rivalling Punch taverns. Let us hope that they resist the temptation to mortgage them all and take the money out in dividends making the business unsustainable. No one knows yet just what Marston's are doing with some of the pubs sold as unprofitable. Some we know are to be Co-op shops, but the majority of the rest have no public destiny as yet.

Alan Craw

Chesterfield CAMRA branch meetings:

December 4th Tap House Brampton 8.30 pmJanuary 8th Brampton Manor 8.30 pmJanuary 29th Chesterfield Arms 8.30 pmNo Meeting FebruaryMarch T.B.A

Chesterfield CAMRA

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 4LWName 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

Branch Sort Code

Reference

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

Service User Number

FOR CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE LTD 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 and you will receive 15 months membershipfor 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, visitwww.camra.org.uk/joinus or call 01727 867201. All forms should be addressed to the: Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.

Your DetailsTitle 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)


Direct Debit Non DD

Single Membership £24 £26(UK & EU)

Joint Membership £29.50 £31.50(Partner at the same address)

For Young Member and other concessionary rates please visit www.camra.org.uk or call01727 867201.

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

I enclose a cheque for

Signed Date

Applications will be processed within 21 days

01/15

Campaigning for Pub Goers& Beer Drinkers

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

Enjoying Real Ale& Pubs

A Campaign of Two Halves

Email address (if different from main member)

The fact that you are quite possibly reading InnSpire while sampling a pint of real ale in your local pub is largely down to the efforts of CAMRA, founded in the 70s. CAMRA is an independent, voluntary organisation campaigning for real ale, community pubs and consumer rights. CAMRA was formed in March 1971 by four men from the north-west who were disillusioned by the domination of the UK beer market by a handful of companies pushing products of low flavour and quality onto the consumer.

In the present day, CAMRA has over 160,600 members across the world, and has been described as the most successful consumer campaign in Europe. So why not join today and be part of a highly successful organisation?

But, you may say, in that case the battle must be over – there’s no need to join. Well, local pubs continue to disappear at an alarming rate, and the story of the Crispin Inn continues as we go to print.

So, apart from helping to preserve our drinking traditions, what’s in it for you? For just £23 per year you receive a quarterly copy of the magazine BEER, and a

monthly colour newspaper, What’s Brewing, informing you of beer and pub news.

There are also discounts on books, entry to over 160 beer festivals and various holidays and attractions. Various pubs also offer discounts to CAMRA members, and each year you will receive £20 worth of Wetherspoons real ale vouchers.

Most importantly of all, however, by joining CAMRA you are helping to ensure that you will still be enjoying a pint of real ale in years to come!

You can join online at camra.org.uk, complete the form opposite or contact our membership secretary Jane at [email protected] or on 07790 863432

Membership

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 4LWName 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

Branch Sort Code

Reference

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

Service User Number

FOR CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE LTD 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 and you will receive 15 months membershipfor 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, visitwww.camra.org.uk/joinus or call 01727 867201. All forms should be addressed to the: Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.

Your DetailsTitle Surname

Forename(s)


Address

Postcode

Email address

Tel No(s)

Partner’s Details (if Joint Membership)

Title Surname

Forename(s)


Direct Debit Non DD

Single Membership £24 £26(UK & EU)

Joint Membership £29.50 £31.50(Partner at the same address)

For Young Member and other concessionary rates please visit www.camra.org.uk or call01727 867201.

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

I enclose a cheque for

Signed Date

Applications will be processed within 21 days

01/15

Campaigning for Pub Goers& Beer Drinkers

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

Enjoying Real Ale& Pubs

A Campaign of Two Halves

Email address (if different from main member)

Wed 31st December 8.00pm till late

New Years Eve

Party

Come along and see in the New Year with an amazing night of live music, whisky & our

famous homemade haggis pasties. The evening starts at 8pm and continues on into the wee

small hours.

We are delighted to be welcoming back Chesterfield’s living legends

The Pitz for a night of rock & roll and dancing, not to be missed!

We also have a very special deluxe New Years Eve menu, hurry though,

as we only have 10 tables! Please check our website for details

The Market Pub 95 New Square, Chesterfield

01246-273-641 – www.themarketpub.co.uk

the magazine of chesterfield and district camra …

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