Leicester Drinker 125

Welcome to the Leicester Drinker
February/March 2020 - Issue 125

EDITOR The Pub is the Hub is a well-known organization
Fiona Wilde that supports use of pubs especially by helping
them incorporate other activities. It also can be
Please send contributions to used as a saying in its own right meaning the pub
[email protected] (or club) is a vital part of communities, providing
Website: www.leicester.camra.org.uk valuable social interaction for everyone covering
Facebook: Leicester Campaign for Real Ale many circumstances. In the past month this has
been extremely relevant for me personally given the
The Drinker welcomes letters, news, views and articles for circumstances. The ability to call in for a pint or two,
possible publication. Please keep it brief and to the point meet people, and socialize at a very difficult time.
and supply your name and address (this will only be Two phrases have been well used of late - “If there’s
published with your permission). The opinions expressed anything I can do” and “ I don’t really know what to
in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor, say”. The answer to both can be “There’s not really
Leicester Branch, or CAMRA. anything”.
For anyone experiencing a difficult time just being
CAMRA Recommends that if you are in any way there is important. Share a conversation, it doesn’t
dissatisfied with the measure of your pint in any of really matter what about.
Leicestershire & Rutland’s pubs, contact the Trading I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to
Standards. Details below. those who have helped in this respect and to branch
• For Leicester City Council: All Weights & members who have shouldered an extra workload as
a result.
Measures enquiries should be referred to
Citizens Advice helpline on 0345 40 40 506 Beer Festival matters are a large part of the work that
or www.citizensadvice.org.uk has been shared around. We have sailed through
• For Leicestershire districts outside the City: choppy waters recently but have taken steps, we
contact Leicestershire County Council by hope, that will enable the event to continue in future
emailing: [email protected]; or years. As a branch member, why not come along and
telephone: 0116 305 8000. bring someone who hasn’t been before? If half our
• For Rutland County Council: All Weights & members did this, it would be a massive boost. Full
Measures enquiries should be referred to details can be found on the website.
Citizens Advice helpline on 0345 40 40 506 or
www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Leicester CAMRA makes every effort to publish the
Leicester Drinker on time, however sometimes due to
lack of copy being received it may be a few days later
than advertised.

Leicester CAMRA cannot accept any responsibility for
advertisements taken that feature a dated event that
has occurred before publication.

Postal Copies can be obtained from:
S. Collier on 07504 829830
or email: [email protected]
16 South Drive, Leicester LE5 1AN
(Please supply stamps) www.camra.org.uk

ADVERTISING IN MEMORY
Quarter Page - £85.00 BETHANY COLLIER
Half Page - £145.00
Full Page - £260.00 1970 - 2019
Inside Front/Back - £280.00
Back Cover - £300.00 Shawn Collier
Chairman - Leicester Branch
Contact Neil Richards MBE at Matelot Marketing
01536 358670 / 07710 281381. Campaign for Real Ale
E-Mail: [email protected]

Printed by CKN Print Ltd, 2 North Portway Close, Round
Spinney, Northampton. NN3 8RQ. 01604 645555

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 3



A DAY ILKESTON &
OUT IN STAPLEFORD

One Saturday, I got together with some of sweetness. The Aurora Brown Dwarf was a
my favourite drinking mates Andy and Jamie fruity brown ale, with a generous amount
Stenson, Daksha Patel, Lynn Hatton, Mike of chocolate malt with milk chocolate and
Pullin and Mick Sharpe, to go to Ilkeston cocoa notes. Mick had a good natter with the
and Stapleford. Getting a group saver to landlord here.
Nottingham on the train and a group zig zag
day ticket on the Trent Barton buses, ( get the
Twos to Ilkeston) it only costs about £11.

Getting off the bus at the Pelham Street / If you walk onto Pelham street, you can get the
Bath Street stop, in Ilkeston, leaves a very 27 bus to the train station and the Dewdrop.
short walk to the end of Bath Street and the the pub has an impressive Victorian exterior
Ilson Tap. Housed in an impressive old, brick and is an unspoilt multi roomed boozer. I
building, it’s a “very welcoming, cosy and had the Ashover Littlemoor Citra, a sweetish
inviting venue” (Daksha), with lots of old start leads to some hops in the mouth and
adverts and metal signs and a tiny wooden a bittersweet finish. Oakham have made a
bar. There were five ales on, all at £2.90 a pint, special pump clip for the pub, called Bevil.
two from the owners the Aurora brewery. The It has a picture of the two regulars who get
Aurora Mosaic was a fruity, bitter beer, with told off by their partners if they have too
a nice hop bite on the tongue. The Prospect much Green Devil. I thought it was a special
Silver Tally had a decent mix of hops and beer, but it’s just a mixed pour of Oakham
malt, with a lingering bitter finish and some

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 5

A DAY OUT IN ILKESTON & STAPLEFORD

Green Devil and Bishop’s Farewell, which is Just round the corner on South Street is the
dominated by green Devil, giving it an alcohol Crafty One, a light, airy, modern bar, with
kick still and a fruity, hoppy finish. Andy and lots of keg stuff. It does have two real ales.
I didn’t think it was at its best. Daksha kindly The knowledgable owner and a smiley young
shared her black pudding cob with me which woman served us. I drank the Brew York Turtle
was tasty. Peach, an unfined peach and apricot beer,
with fruity notes and a spiky bitterness. Jamie
We got back onto the 27 bus, getting off at thought the keg Cloudwater Kir Royal was
South Street, very near our next five pubs. The “awesome.”
first, the Burnt Pig, on Market Street, was very
busy, with a good atmosphere and a choice Next door, is a very different pub. It’s The
of five beers. There are thousands of pump Prince Of Wales, a down to earth, three
clips on the ceilings of this rambling three roomed, locals’ pub. The place was very busy,
roomed ale house, a testament to how many with a friendly landlady, very well priced ale
beers they have had in their four years. We and CAMRA discount. There were two beers,
met a couple of lads from Leicester who were both by the excellent Pentrich Brewery. The
cycling and a room full of sociable locals who Citra had a fruity taste, with citrus notes and
chatted with us about music and the pubs in a bitter finish. The Soma was full bodied, with
the area. My Black Jack Dead Man’s Hand plenty of hops in the mouth and a longer,
had a good mix of Delta, Nugget and Summit bitter finish.
and a refreshing bitter finish. The Thornbridge
Crackendale had a fair amount of Citra and
a gentle hoppiness in the mouth and a fruity
ending. We all decided to stay for another
half. I had a pleasant chat with the owners at
the bar. They served me a Little Critters White
Wolf, a refreshing bittersweet pale, with a
satisfying hoppy finish. Jamie and Andy really
enjoyed the pork pie here.

Our next establishment was the Spanish Bar,
still on South Street. It’s a rambling, modern
bar. It was busy, with a good age range of
customers and four real ales. I had a go at the
Oakham Dragon In Bavaria, an enjoyable, dry,
hoppy beer, with some balancing sweetness
and a bitter finish.

6 February/March 2020 - LeicesterDrinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk

Another very short walk to Derby Road, plenty of chocolate malt, cocoa mouthfeel,
brought us to the Three Horseshoes. Another with some balancing bitterness and lots of
popular pub, with a mixed clientele. The beer chocolate in the finish.
choice wasn’t very exciting, but there was an
Aurora beer on and the helpful barmaid gave There are many i4 buses back to Nottingham
us some tasters and CAMRA discount. The from almost opposite the Horse and Jockey
Aurora Peaky Ryders was a good balance of and a 9:00 or 9:30pm train back to Leicester,
malt and hops, some chocolate notes and an often via the Vat and Fiddle or Beerheadz.
astringent finish. We went into the attractive
beer garden to consume our beers and toast Thanks to everyone who came with me, it was
Steve and Jenny Thatcher on their wedding great fun.
anniversary, via facebook or some other
technology. Cheers

The My 15s bus stop to Stapleford is back up Chris Greenwood
the road on South Street. we got off at the
Memorial Gardens. It was a few minutes walk
to Alexandra Street and the relatively new
micro, The Millipede. The small, relaxed bar
had six beers and friendly bar staff. There
were two Froth Blowers beers on, I drank the
Jolly Brewer. This was a pleasant bitter with a
generous amount of English hops and a bitter
finish.

The Horse And Jockey, on Nottingham Road 8 CASK ALES
was our final destination. The popular, two 8 HANDPULLED CIDERS
roomed pub has been East Midlands CAMRA 4 CRAFT DRAFT ALES
Pub Of The Year in the past. There was a
good atmosphere in here and eleven real FOOD SERVED DAILY FROM 11 TIL 9PM
ales. The Brass Castle Sunshine was one of my SUNDAY CARVERY 11 -7PM
favourite beers of the day. It was an unfined
amber, (I’m sure it’s changed colour!), with an LARGE SELECTION OF BOTTLED
enticing hop nose, a hoppy mouthfeel, orange BEERS AND CIDERS
peel and lemon notes and a lovely grapefruity
finish. The Turning Point Wavelength was also CAMRA DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE
to my liking. It was a unfined juice bomb, with
a citrusy mouthfeel and a grapefruit notes WINNER OF LEICESTER
at the end. The Panther by Littleover was a CIDER PUB OF THE YEAR 2019
little thin at first, but after a few mouthfuls,
developed into a tasty dark beer with 0116 254 8384
198 London Rd, Leicester LE2 1NE

www.oldhorseleicester.co.uk

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 7

A TRADITIONAL Real ale village pub with 6 cask ales available at all times
All Cask ales are £2.30 a Pint Every Tuesday from 4pm
10% discount for CAMRA Members

Jon & his team look forward to giving you a warm welcome

THE OLD HARE AND HOUNDS, 34 BRADGATE ROAD, ANSTEY LE7 7AA 0116 3677689

8 February/March 2020 - LeicesterDrinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk

A MAP OF THE LEICESTER CAMRA BRANCH AREA

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 9

PUB NEWS 30 YEARS AT THE WHEATSHEAF
Cheers to 30 years!
The Railway Arms in Kibworth Beauchamp
is getting a £200,000 revamp, including In December, Tony and Kathryn Marshall
demolishing a dilapidated skittle alley to celebrated 30 years behind the bar of their
make way for a 60-seat garden. much-loved pub, The Wheatsheaf. (See cover
photo)
The Railway Street pub closed in January
and is hoping to reopen in mid February. Taking on the tenancy in December 1989,
Tony and Kathryn thought they would only be
Last year the Parish Church of St Andrews in there for a few years but 30 years on they still
Aylestone celebrated its 800-year anniversary. love owning a pub business and have created
As part of the celebrations Leatherbritches a great pub that has become the heart of the
brewery provided a commemorative pump local community.
clip for their Blue Boar Bitter on sale in the
Ale Stone. Some of the proceeds will go to
the church’s organ fund.

Steeped in history, The Wheatsheaf Inn was
built in the 1600’s and was formerly a coaching
inn. An old tale says that the pub once caught
fire and that the fire was extinguished using
the beer! The pub was thatched until 1929
and the Wright family from Thurcaston held
the tenancy for 105 years.

Many thanks go to Blue Boar/Ale Stone for
their support.

10 February/March 2020 - LeicesterDrinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk

BEER FESTIVAL
GLASSES

Do you have old beer festival glasses or other
breweriana collecting dust at home? We can
help!

The Old Horse will be showing all Six Nations CAMRA Games & Collectables run tombola
Rugby games and serving Tighthead beer for stalls at beer festivals and hold auctions
£3.50. of brewery-related items. They are always
looking for items suitable for prizes and/or
BREWERY NEWS auction lots.

Framework Brewery will be holding their
monthly tap days on:
February 21 & 22 and March 20 & 21
Fridays 4-8pm and Saturdays 12-8pm

EVERARDS BREWERY Any money made from these helps fund
APPOINTS NEW HEAD BREWER CAMRA’s campaigns to promote real ale and
Leicestershire brewer Everards has welcomed save British pubs.
Jonathan Elks to the team as its new Head
Brewer. If you have some items to donate - or want to
Jon joins the Everards team with a wealth of find out more about how the auctions work -
experience and knowledge, after 18 years email [email protected]
with Carlsberg UK. He’s a master brewer
and was awarded the prestigious JS Hough Or you can pack the items in a box and bring
Award upon qualifying for achieving the them to the Leicester Beer Festival.
highest overall marks in the five modules of
the Master Brewer exam.
As Head Brewer, Jon will oversee all aspects
of the brewing and packaging of the Everards
beer range, including their iconic ‘Tiger’ ale,
as well as leading on the evolution of their
innovative limited-edition brews.
After 32 years at the helm as Head Brewer,
Graham Giblett might have retired, but he
will always have a special spot for Tiger ale
and will be working with Jon to get Tiger and
Everards core beer range brewing on home
soil once again!

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 11

Our first branch meeting of the new decade
took place at the RAFA (Royal Air Force
Association) Club. We have previously held
meetings here as it provides a decent meeting
venue and always has real ale available (on
this occasion St. Austell ‘Tribute’). Many small
private members clubs struggle to make ends
meet as attracting new younger members is
never easy. The RAFA Club is no exception
to this rule, but as a branch we did our bit to
provide support by encouraging all of those
that attended the meeting to buy at least two
pints.

MELTON MOWBRAY Other branch pub news comes from the
& DISTRICT furthest point east of our territory. The Blue
Dog at Sewstern, close to the Lincolnshire
Greetings from Melton Mowbray & District border (tricky to find but worth the search)
branch. has reopened after being closed for a couple
of months toward the end of 2019. On
delivering the last edition of the Leicester
Drinker to the pub I was pleased to meet
new licensees Tarina Charlesworth and
Phillip Bennett. The Blue Dog has enjoyed a
refurbishment which has included the return

12 February/March 2020 - LeicesterDrinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk

of the pew style seating in the snug little bar Drinker will be well aware of and so require
room. This apparently was greatly missed no description from me. We then headed to
by the villagers when the previous licensee one of my old favourites, the Ale Wagon, via
removed it. Tarina and Phil describe the Blue the Brew Dog pub. I particularly enjoy a visit
Dog as ‘’A cosy friendly little pub’’ and told to the Ale Wagon, it takes me back to the late
me that their mission is to develop the pub as 80’s and early 90s when my awareness of real
‘beer based that does food’. This was music ale was first awakened and this was always a
to my CAMRA ears as so many pubs reopen ‘must visit’ destination. Little seems to have
with an ethos that is completely the opposite. changed over the years in this great pub and
Further good news was the return of the pub’s that suited me and my colleagues just fine.
annual beer festival over the late May bank Judging by the excellent beers we enjoyed
Holiday weekend. On my visit the regular ale throughout the day, it won’t be long before
on offer were Black Sheep bitter, Marston’s we’ll be back to Leicester again.
Pedigree and Grainstore ‘Red Kite’ on as a
guest.

The branch’s last social trip of 2019 saw us
visit Leicester, home of this fine publication.
We like to venture in to the big city every now
and again to keep an eye on you all from our
little outpost in the North East of the county.
After disembarking from Arriva bus no. 5 we
seemed to get stranded on a road island with
just the Holiday Inn for company. We were
trying to navigate our way to the West End,
and when we eventually plucked up enough
courage to scurry across around four lanes of
traffic we found our efforts well rewarded at
the West End Brewery Tap.

The staff were extremely friendly and keen Finally, I am delighted to report on
to establish where we were from and were developments at Melton’s Round Corner
quite happy to meet our demand for good Brewery (RCB). Having been open just over a
ale and photographs to record our visit. year and originally not brewing any cask ale,
Next stop was Soar Point. Whatpub told RCB has moved on to brewing an occasional
me that no real ale was to be found here so cask ale served by gravity dispense from the
it proved a pleasant surprise to find a hand bar. This was such a success that a hand pull
pulled Framework beer on offer (along with has now appeared on the bar with permanent
the usual Doom Bar). Unfortunately our
next destination, The Castle, wasn’t open so
we journeyed on to the Two Tailed Lion and
Blue Boar which I’m sure most readers of the

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 13

cask ale available. Throughout December Turns out getting
‘Melton-on-Sea Oyster Stout’ was followed pulled over by the police
by ‘Notorious Hooligan Red Ale’ (named
after the original ‘paint the town red’ revelers isn’t always bad news
from our town) February sees the arrival of
‘Use It Or Lose It’ session ale to be followed It started as a day much like any other for
by ‘Lazars’ bright ale in March (named after our delivery driver. But later that morning,
the nearby village of Burton Lazars, famous as he was carefully navigating the A64 with
locally as the site of a former Leper hospital a precious cargo of Landlord casks, the
several centuries ago). If you’re in Melton and flashing blue lights of the North Yorkshire
fancy sampling some RCB real ale head to constabulary appeared in his mirror. He
the site of the Cattle Market Scalford Road pulled over, fretting about why the police
entrance (and the venue of the town’s annual were stopping him. But rather than issue a
beer festival) and you’ll find the brewery ticket, the officer wanted to order a delivery
tap nestling in the centre of the site. Check of Landlord to the police social club. Is it
Whatpub for opening hours and you won’t be the combination of the finest ingredients
disappointed. and our traditional brewing methods that
means some drinkers go that little bit
So, until the next time - happy beer hunting! further for that arresting taste of Taylor’s?

All for that taste of Taylor’s

Kevin Billson www.leicester.camra.org.uk
Chair – Melton Mowbray & District branch

14 February/March 2020 - LeicesterDrinker

your favourites





What was the ‘Flying Scud’, what is the story
behind the ‘Dwarf and Giant’ what about
the ‘Bull and Mouth’ and what was the
‘Tut’n’Shive’ all about?

What’s in a When it comes to lost pubs some people get
name again quite animated. I sat near three old long-
time locals and my concentration on our own
affairs kept drifting as I ear-wigged on theirs.
Between them they must have come up with
about 50 pubs which had gone presumably
in Leicester or nearby. Even when they
remembered them they were arguing about
exactly where they were and when they
closed.

Old men in pubs no longer talk about women; The very names were interesting and I
probably don’t go to football anymore and researched some but it must be said that
don’t go outdoors much so the weather is not there wasn’t a lot of imagination as some pub
important. What do they talk about? names number in the hundreds of examples.

After a moan about beer prices it seems to me I since tried to find more out about some of
from what I overhear that they invariable talk the names mentioned and I turned up many
of pubs long gone. If you have not spent your more. Even Whatpub knows of 64 closed in
teens and twenties here you have had it when the Leicester area, many even I had used and
this comes up. enjoyed as an incomer all be it some 30 years
ago. I can even remember some not on that
list so I imagine closed pubs number many
hundreds.

Surprising what you learn though, even if Working in the centre of the city I had
of absolutely no use to you. I now know old occasion to use in particular the Durham Ox
names to pubs which still exist but also of well and Black Boy, Vin Quatre, Criterion and Hat
loved hostelries long lost in the mists of time. and Beaver. There were others I remember
Gone but obviously not forgotten. but did not frequent. Near where my car was
serviced the Blue Moon has gone and if I had
Closures come thick and fast these days and time to kill when there I had been known to
if I sat down long enough I could probably go in the Tudor or the Ship and in the very
name quite a lot gone in the last 30 years but early days the Bosworth, all gone.
some names bandied about are from long
before my time and the very names conjure I spent some years managing a branch on
up all sorts of pictures Belgrave Gate and the Bowlturners, Griffin,
Pineapple, Dixie and Black Swan have
gone from near there. Slightly further away

18 February/March 2020 - LeicesterDrinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk

when I had a stroll lunchtimes there was the
Northbridge Tavern on the canal side which
could be walked up to the Abbey, both gone.

Living in Glenfield the unlamented Dominion
and Two Triangles have gone as has the Brant
(Groby), Airmans Rest and Sportsman and
the Plough at Anstey. I did a lot of business in
Rothley and still socialise there and the Royal
Anglian has gone.

Depressing isn’t it?

One thing did jump out at me as I tried to ID
these pubs was just how many creatures are
mentioned in pub names, real of mythical.

Some wet morning before the pubs open I
may try and count them. How many do you
think there are?

Roy Denney

A warm welcome to The Free Trade Inn, Sileby SILEBY
from the new owners Simon, Gary & Shaun.

Traditional village pub
Quality cask ales
Everards favourites & guests
Live music, quiz & karaoke nights
CAMRA discount

Open for drinks
5pm - 11pm Monday - Thursday
12 noon - midnight Friday, Saturday
12 noon - 11pm Sunday

27 Cossington Road, Silbey,
Loughborough LE12 7RW - 01509 814494

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 19

BEER CAN’T BRING
LASTING HAPPINESS....

BUT IT MAKES MISERY A WHOLE
LOT EASIER TO LIVE WITH

Too much alcohol will kill you! As a saying this of it at least allow drinkers to make informed
is undoubtedly true but equally, alcohol is a judgements. The great fault in this though
preservative. The clue is in the first two words. is that almost every country has different
Firstly how much is too much and secondly guidelines and WOW don’t they differ!
‘too much’ of almost anything is bad for you
and possibly ultimately fatal. Exercise is good This is not at first so apparent because none
for you but you can ‘run yourself into the of them even use the same units of measure.
ground’. The World Health Organisation talks of units
of 10gms but few countries use this. Even
How much effect and harm alcohol does has within Europe I have seen figures from 8gms
been discussed since it was first discovered, (the UK) to 20gms (Austria)
when primitive man ate rotting fruit, and the
truth is nobody really knows. Both short term Beyond this the advice on numbers of units
and long term it treats everybody differently. per week differs widely even if you do the
We all know people who get drunk on a sums as to what the numbers mean converted
wine gum and others who down tens of from units into grams. In units terms a study of
pints without noticeable effect. It depends 37 countries showed a range from 14 units a
on untold numbers of different factors; there week to 35 units a week.
are different types of alcoholic drinks with
different absorption rates and those rates It is a can of worms. Really there only are a
depend on the size, fitness and metabolism of few incontrovertible facts to my mind.
the individual. It also changes depending on
when you last fed and indeed what you had Being drunk is not a statistical situation or a
to eat. chemical analysis. It is not being able to carry
out normal functions safely. The liver and
I understand there is also a genetic factor kidney have to process what you put into your
and some races have less of the enzyme body so it must be good to give them rest days
which handles alcohol, for example the early and as far as longer term health is concerned,
peoples of the North Pacific Rim (Native remember the body is like a savings bank; it
Americans, Japanese and some Chinese) stores your savings as fat to be available as
energy later. Put in more calories than you
Most countries publish recommended healthy use and you save more fat so exercise or hard
limits for consumption, supposedly based on work is essential to use it up.
scientific evidence which should on the face

20 February/March 2020 - LeicesterDrinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk

A little alcohol reduces stress which itself can know that we fancy a bite after drinking and
be a killer and drinking socially in a pub can that is where we must resist if we do not want
reduce loneliness and depression. Some wines to pile on the pounds.
contain antioxidants which are good for the
arteries and heart and help fight off cancer. It Another downside is that drinkers trigger a
has long been known that the French suffer a process which stores surplus intake as fat
fairly low incidence of heart disease, despite around the abdomen rather than throughout
having a diet high in saturated fats. the body.

Serious scientific research actually suggests Nothing can ever be checked in complete
that a lot of assumptions about weight gain isolation and you will find ‘experts’ on both
from alcohol are wrong. Drinks have varying sides of all arguments but you probably know
amounts of calories which do need burning your own body best.
off but alcohol can have positive affects
on metabolisms and how you deal with I am no expert but have a vested interest in
calorific intake. It actually often improves keeping informed about my health issues and
insulin function and lowers blood sugar would just suggest that you remember that
levels reducing risk of diabetes and obesity. you CAN have too much of a good thing.
The downside is that the brain realises blood
sugar is lower and thinks that is a problem and Roy Denney
stimulates our appetite to compensate. We all

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The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 21



PULLING 3 If there’s one item (apart from real ale) that’s
2 always been closely associated with CAMRA,
: it’s the Handpump, or Beer Engine to give it
( it’s proper title. The handpump on the bar
of a pub is regarded as something uniquely
In praise of the and traditionally British. Whilst pouring beer
by gravity straight from the cask may be
5Beer Engine regarded as the definitive way of serving
real ale, it is pint served from a handpump
that most of us encounter in our day to day
drinking. However, sadly, we don’t give the
handpump a second thought. Who invented
it, how does it work and in an age of rapid
obsolescence, why has it lasted so long?

Whisper it very quietly, but the concept of

the beer engine we know and love in British

pubs, was first invented by a Dutchman. John

Lofting was a Dutch engineer who moved

from Amsterdam to London around 1688. The

London Gazette of 17 March 1691 stated “the

patentee hath

projected a very

useful engine

for starting of

beers and other

liquors which

will deliver from

20 to 30 barrels

an hour which

are completely

fixed with

brass joints John Lofting
and screws at

reasonable rates.”. However, it appears that

this new-fangled device was slow to take off.

Gravity drawn beer was still the order of the

day.

Things didn’t progress very far until 1797 and
the arrival of Joseph Bramah. He was born
in Barnsley in Yorkshire in 1748 and, like
John Lofting, moved to London. He became

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 23

a Locksmith, a water pump, a machine for the printing
Hydraulic Engineer and automatic numbering of banknotes, a
and a prolific fountain pen and machinery for making gun
inventor of a number stocks. However, it’s his development of the
of completely novel beer engine concept that we fondly remember
inventions. him for. He patented one version of a beer
engine in 1785 and then gave us an enhanced
During the winter version in 1793.

he noticed existing The modern beer engine has changed little
since the early 1800s; it consists of a simple
Joseph Bramah toilets were prone piston attached to a long, sturdy handle. It
allows the casks to be kept in a cooler cellar
to freezing so in below the bar and the beer to be pulled or
drawn up to the bar. Check valves ensure that
1778, he patented a flushing toilet. He then beer flows only in one direction, up from cask
to glass. Traditionally, all beer engine parts
took up the subject of door locks where he were made of brass, but a law passed around
1990 mandated that all parts in contact with
designed, patented and implemented his own beer had to be made of plastic or stainless
steel. Beer engines are designed to dispense
lock, which became famous as the safest, a half or a quarter (Imperial) pint per pull.
The beer is poured through a curved spout,
based on all attempts to break or pick it. Even a swan neck, which is often additionally
provided with a tip with small holes, known
to this day you can still buy Bramah locks. as a sparkler, and which causes beer to foam
up. It should be added that a sparkler is not
He was busy man and patented a hydraulic always met with enthusiasm. With it, the beer
is more aerated but loses part of the natural
press, a rotary engine, a fire engine with carbon dioxide that goes into the foam. Beer
is therefore softer and has sweeter flavour
due to the loss of normal carbon dioxide
(CO2) acidity. Opponents of the sparkler
claim that it has an impact on aroma and
flavour and that it reduces the intensity,
especially of the hops, in some beers. Cask-
conditioned beers are usually served at about
11°C to 14°C (approximately 52°F to 57°F). If a
cask-conditioned ale were served through a
CO2 keg dispensing system, the gas pressure
and colder temperature would increase
carbonation of the beer, which would then
lose its ideal balance of flavours. Conversely,

24 February/March 2020 - LeicesterDrinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk

dispensing fully carbonated beers with a beer been devised that pulls a pint up from the pub

engine would result in relentless foam. cellar better than a beer engine.

Operating a beer engine in a busy real ale pub So when you next order a hand pumped pint
is hard physical work, requiring patience, skill, in a pub, raise your glass to John Lofting and
and muscle. The experienced bar person will Joseph Bramah, and when the publican says
quickly realise they need to switch back and ‘who?’, you can explain it all to them!
forth between using their left and right arms
to pull the pints. If not, they risk the condition
known as barmaid/barman’s bicep, where
one arm grows noticeably more developed
than the other.

Why is this ancient engineering still with us? Article reproduced by kind permission of Steve Bell
There have been attempts to develop more Deal Dover Sandwich and District CAMRA
modern ways of dispensing real ale, most
notably the electric pumps commonplace in
the pubs of the Midlands in the 60s and early
70s. However, quite frankly, nothing has really

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 25

Anytime
of the year...

allMEyenejmaorb!yerCsAhiMpRA

Gift Membership to CAMRA makes an ideal gift
for friends or family who love beer and pubs.

A full year’s CAMRA membership includes: • Discounts on pints at participating
Real Ale Discount Scheme pubs
• A welcome pack to help members make the
most of CAMRA membership • Social activities in the member’s local area
and exclusive member discounts online
• Award-winning BEER magazine and
What’s Brewing news • Learning resources to help members
discover more about beer and brewing
• Free or reduced entry to over 180 beer festivals
• Opportunity to campaign to save pubs
• £30 worth of CAMRA real ale* vouchers under threat from closure

• Discounts on CAMRA books including our
best-selling Good Beer Guide

Give the gift of CAMRA Membership today

www.camra.org.uk/gift-membership

*real ale, cider and perry, subject to terms and conditions.

R.I.P tony harding

A brief tribute to a good friend, CAMRA anything that came in a keg or you couldn’t
member and regular frequenter of pubs see through.
serving good beer. Tony was a familiar figure He was a man of many talents and interests,
in The Ale Wagon, Blue Boar, Kings Head and and, as many quiz teams will affirm, had
occasionally the TwoTailed Lion, Real Ale amazing general knowledge.
Classroom, Globe, Robert Peel and West End Tony was a talented artist/cartoonist
Brewery. New venues were always checked contributing to Viz and an producing an in-
out. house comic for Next.
The Brickies, Criterion, Swan and Rushes and He enjoyed music, especially English folk
Broood were past favourites. music. He attended the Cropredy festival for
He was particularly partial to Hoskins beers many years and regularly visited The Musician
especially Hob, IPA and when available and Leicester Festivals like The Big Session
Green and Gold - the Ale Wagon was usually and Summer Sundae.
the final destination of an evening’s tour. A keen traveler, Tony loved Madrid and we
Tony was always happy to share his views shared trips to Krakow and most cities in
on beer and was not overly impressed by Ireland. Kilkenny in May for the Rhythm and
Roots festival a highlight of the musical and
drinking year.
An avowed socialist Tony once spotted Ken
Clarke at Grace Road, and berated him for
the privatisation of Royal Mail, followed by
the observation that his shoes were crap.
Tony will be missed by innumerable friends,
acquaintances and members of mine and
other friends extended families.
Always sociable, sometimes grumpy and
intolerant, opinionated, wryly humorous and
never dull.
He had been ill for most of the last year and
finally succumbed on November 23rd.
A sad loss.

John Wolfe

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 27

Festival Diary

FEBRUARY special brews which has made Leicester
one of the major events in the beer festival
26 - 29 calendar.
Leicester CAMRA Beer Festival
Our festival theme this year is 20-20 vision -
our festival mascot “Melvyn the Mole” has
been making teaser appearances on Social
Media. More information is on the website.

MARCH

5-7
44th Loughborough Beer Festival
Polish Club, True Lovers Walk, off William St.,
Loughborough, LE11 3DB
60+ beers + cider + perry.

MAY

8 - 11
Old Horse VE Day Beer Festival
A 1940s theme for VE Day Bank Holiday
with 20 different war themed beers and 40s
themed entertainment from various singers
over the weekend. Some special ales will be
1945 prices too at only 5d a pint!

Leicester CAMRA has been busy planning JULY
our 2020 Beer Festival for several months now
and are we pleased to confirm the festival 10 - 12
takes place from Wednesday 26th February Langton Brewery Beer Festival
to Saturday 29th February, again at the iconic
Haymarket Theatre, right in the heart of the
city centre.

Our beer ordering team have already set to
work eagerly compiling their lists of over 200
beers and ciders which we will be available
at the festival, and we will be maintaining the
range of new and rare breweries plus festival

28 February/March 2020 - LeicesterDrinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk

CAMRA discounts available locally

All locations are in Leicester unless indicated in brackets. Information given in good faith and liable to change. Some
discounts may be modified or restricted where special promotions are on offer.

BADGERS SETT, Cropston GOLDEN SHIELD, Fleckney QUEEN OF BRADGATE, High Street
20p per pint 20p per pint off cask ales 10% off Real Ale

BEER PHARMACIE, Syston THE GRANGE FARM, Oadby QUEENS ARMS, Leire
20p/pint off cask ales 20p per pint 10% off Real Ale & Ciders

BLACK HORSE, Aylestone GRIFFIN INN, Swithland QUEENS HEAD, Saddington
CAMRA privleges for special events Offering CAMRA Members a 10% 30p per pint
discount on their Real Ale and Cider.
BLUE BELL, Desford QUEEN VICTORIA, Syston
10% CAMRA discount on real ales and THE HARROW INN, Thurmaston 20p pint on guest ales
cider 20p discount on a pint for valid CAMRA
card holders QUEENS ROAD TAP, Queens Road
BOWLING GREEN, Oxford Street 10p off a pint
10% discount on Cask Ales & Real Ciders KING RICHARD III
25% off all bar snacks including REAL ALE CLASSROOM,
THE CASTLE HOTEL, Kirby Muxloe homemade scotch eggs & pies Allandale Road - 20p pint on real ales &
10% discount on Cask Ales ciders
LANCASTER ARMS, Desford
CROWN, Anstey 20p/pint discount on real ale RED COW, Leicester Forest East
10% discount on pints of real ale 20p per pint
MARQUIS WELLINGTON,
DISTILLERY, Market street London Road - 10% off real ales RUTLAND & DERBY, Millstone Lane
10% off cask ales Approx. 10% off cask ales
NAGS HEAD, Glenfield
DUFFY’S BAR, Pocklingtons Walk 15p pint on cask ales STAMFORD ARMS, Groby
CAMRA discounts for special events 30p pint
NARBOROUGH ARMS, Narborough
EXCHANGE, Rutland Street 10% off real ales. SYSTON SOCIAL CLUB, Syston
10% off cask ale and real cider temporary visitor Membership with
OADBY OWL, Oadby CAMRA card
THE FREE TRADE INN, Sileby 10% off cask ale
10p pint off cask ales TWO-TAILED LION, Millstone Lane
OLD BLACK HORSE, Discount to CAMRA Members to 20p off a
FRIARY, Hotel Street Houghton on the Hill - 20p pint on real ale pint and 10p off a half.
10% Discount on Real Ale
THE OLD HARE & HOUNDS, Anstey WESTERN, Western Road
GENERAL ELLIOT, 10% Discount on Cask Ales, except from Same as Billy Card
Willoughby Waterleys - 10p/pint & 5p/half 4:00PM on Tuesdays - pint for £2.30
on real ales WEST LEICESTER CONSERVATIVE CLUB,
OLD HORSE, London Road Westcotes Drive - temporary visitor
GLENHILLS SPORT & SOCIAL, 10% discount Membership with CAMRA card
Glen Parva - Temporary Visitor Membership
for 50p with CAMRA card O’NEILLS, Loseby Lane WINSTANLEY, The Glade
20p/pint off Real ale 20p / pint off guest ales
GLOBE, Silver Street
10% off real ales PARCEL YARD, London Road WYGSTON’S HOUSE, Applegate
Same discounts as Steamin’ Billy Card 10% on Real Ales

Wetherspoons Pubs Non-CAMRA loyalty card schemes available to all customers:

The following six Wetherspoons pubs are in our area. Exchange, Rutland Street - £2.50 card gives a range of 10% discounts
All accept the standard 50p vouchers plus extras where The Friary, Hotel Street - “Love Cask Ale” - every 7th pint free
indicated. Oadby Owl (Oadby) - 10% off Cask Ales on Thursdays
Queen of Bradgate, High Street - 1 for 10 loyalty card
Corn Exchange, Market Square
Highcross, High Street King Richard III Monday Ale Club - £3.00 a pint for hand pulled real
ales or cider
Lord Keeper of the Great Seal (Oadby)
Sugar Loaf (Market Harborough) The Steamin’Billy Card - £2 card gives various discounts.
White House (Scraptoft) Details at www.steamin-billy.co.uk
William Wygston (Wigston)

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch LeicesterDrinker - February/March 2020 29

Join up, join in,
join the campaign

From Protect the traditions of great
as little as British pubs and everything that
goes with them by joining today
£26.50† at www.camra.org.uk/joinup

a year. That’s less
than a pint a
month!

Or enter your details and complete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive
15 months membership for the price of 12 and save £2 on your membership subscription

Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd with your completed form,
visit www.camra.org.uk/joinup, or call 01727 798440.* All forms should be addressed to
Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.

Your details: Direct Debit Non DD

Title ................................ Surname ............................................................... Single Membership (UK) £26.50 £28.50
Forename(s) ..................................................................................................
Date of Birth (dd/mm/yyyy) ..................................................................... Under 26 Membership £18 £20
Address ............................................................................................................
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Partner’s Details (if Joint Membership) Please indicate whether you wish to receive
What’s Brewing and BEER by email OR post:
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I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and
agree to abide by the Memorandum and
Articles of Association which can be found on
our website.

Signed ...........................................................................

Date ...............................................................................

Applications will be processed within 21 days.

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Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to: The Direct Debit Guarantee
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O This Guarantee is offered by all banks
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To the Manager Bank or Building Society 9 2 6 1 2 9
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the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I for Real Ale Ltd or your bank or
understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign building society, you are entitled to
For Real Ale Limited and, if so, will be passed electronically a full and immediate refund of the
to my Bank/Building Society. amount paid from your bank or
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Signature(s)
O If you receive a refund you are not
Date entitled to, you must pay it back
when The Campaign Real Ale Ltd
Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account. asks you to

†Price of single membership when paying by Direct Debit. *Calls from landlines charged at standard national rates, cost may vary from O You can cancel a Direct Debit at any
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may be required. Please also notify us.