Leicester Drinker 117

theleicesterdrinker

www.leicester.camra.org.uk

FREE Issue 117
August / September 2018
The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

Circulation 5,000 throughout Leicestershire & Rutland

Honours Even! See p9

Out and About p10 Leicester
Beer Week
See p4 - 5

INSIDE Goodbye Charlotte!. . . . . . . . . . . . . p4 Leicester Beer Census . . . . . . . . p18
Brewery & Pub News. . . . . . p6 & 7 Pub of the Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p24
Three Men Still on the Bus. . . . p8 Ale-Bania!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p26
Trip to Leek & Buxton. . . . . . . . . p15 Festival Diary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p28

Facebook/leicestercamra @LeicesterCAMRA leicestercamra

Designed & Printed by AnchorPrint · www.anchorprint.co.uk

EDITOR FROM THE EDITOR

Rob Macardle Welcome to the August/September
Please send contributions to edition of The Leicester Drinker.
[email protected]
With a combination of hot rweeqautirheetrhaengdaCsO, t2hsihsor tages
Website: disrupting beer supplies that
www.leicester.camra.org.uk summer has been a good time to be a Real Ale drinker
with promise of more to come as we hurtle towards
Facebook: peak Beer Festival season.
Leicester Campaign for Real Ale The 5th Mild Trail went well with increased
participation and many pubs used up their mild
The Drinker welcomes letters, news, views and allocation well before June 3rd. The Beer Census gave
articles for possible publication. Please keep it
brief and to the point and supply your name
and address (this will only be published with
your permission). The opinions expressed in
this publication are not necessarily those of the
Editor, Leicester Branch, or CAMRA.

ADVERTISING RATES us some broadly positive news and we’ve seen five pubs
serving real ale opened or re-opened in recent weeks
1/6 page £ 35 + VAT with the promise of at least two more imminent.

1/4 page £ 50 + VAT Sadly, local breweries have taken a few knocks of late

1/3 page £ 66 + VAT and we wait, with interest, to see how things develop in

1/2 page £ 85 + VAT the coming months. One of the disappointing aspects

1 page £160 + VAT of the Beer Census is that the likes of Doom Bar and

Back Page £190 + VAT Old Speckled Hen are still regularly stocked in pubs

Series Discounts available on 1/4 page and above nominally identified as “freehouses” where many of us

VAT Registration Number: 102 0964 57 would rather see a Locale.

CAMRA Recommends that if you are in any way With the AGM soon approaching please be aware that
dissatisfied with the measure of your pint in any there are likely to be a few vacancies on the committee,
of Leicestershire & Rutland’s pubs, contact the both for general and specific roles. If this is of interest to
Trading Standards. Details below. you please take a look at the website for details of how
to get involved and the nomination procedure.
• For Leicester City Council: All Weights & Also coming up is Leicester Beer Week (see page 3)
Measures enquiries should be referred to which needs your support. This ties in with national Cask
Citizens Advice helpline on 0345 40 40 506 Ale Week and should also see the launch of our updated
or www.citizensadvice.org.uk. leaflet Real Ale Pubs in Leicester.

• For Leicestershire districts outside the City: RM
contact Leicestershire County Council by
emailing: [email protected]; ADVERTISE IN THE
or telephone: 0116 305 8000. LEICESTER DRINKER!

• For Rutland County Council: All Weights & With a circulation of 5,000 and an estimated readership
Measures enquiries should be referred to of three times that number, The Drinker reaches
Citizens Advice helpline on 0345 40 40 506 licensees and pubgoers alike and is available free
or www.citizensadvice.org.uk. of charge in almost 200 outlets. The newsletter is
published every two months by The Campaign for Real
Leicester CAMRA makes every effort to Ale, prices to advertise start from £35 plus VAT.
publish the Leicester Drinker on time, however
sometimes due to lack of copy being received Contact [email protected] in the first instance.
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 LEICESTER DRINKER ADVERTISING/COPY DEADLINES 2018
S. Collier on 07504 829830
or email: [email protected] Recommended Absolute
16 South Drive, Leicester LE5 1AN
(Please supply stamps) LD118 Oct/Nov 12/09/18 19/09/18
www.camra.org.uk

2 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

LEICESTER BEER WEEK

We’re establishing Leicester at the heart of UK beer
culture and as a great city to enjoy beer…

A group of publicans, brewers and passionate Lion, the list is growing with venues signing
volunteers have come together to launch up daily to run events including: Meet the
Leicester Beer Week. When we first met, we Brewer, Tap Takeovers, Beer and Food
decided this event should allow participating Matching and much more.
venues to show why Leicester is a wonderful
place to visit to sample amazing local, national There is great excitement about the first ever
and international beers of varied styles.
Putting us at the heart of UK beer culture. Leicester Beer Week, with Zoe White from the

The not-for-profit organisation initially Head of Steam saying, “We (HoS) are excited
involved people from all across the
beer world including CAMRA volunteers, to be involved in Leicester’s first ever beer
representatives from breweries including:
Anstey Ales, Elliswood Brewery, Everards week and showcase what Leicester has got
of Leicestershire and Framework.
to offer. We have one of the biggest Belgian
Along with publicans from The Blue Boar,
Broood, Head of Steam and The Two-Tailed beer ranges outside of mainland Europe as

well as some awesome craft and cask beers

from around the world and we pride ourselves

on delivering not only great beer, but excellent

service and knowledge from our in-house beer

sommeliers!” ›› continued on pg 4

The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 3

›› from pg 3

Claire Cannell, Events and Promotions Manager opening doors, eyes and minds. We’ll be
for Everards said “With so many exciting opening the brewery for a very special Tap
venues in our city serving great beers, it event and further details will be announced on
makes sense that Leicester hosts its very own www.leicesterbeerweek.co.uk”.
beer week. Leicester Beer Week will bring
people into the city and gives pubs the perfect This perfectly sums up why we need to put
platform to shout about what they do. We’ll Leicester on the U.K beer map, as we have a
be running a Comedy Beer Tour across four of great history of cask and we also enjoy beer in
our venues where people will be entertained all its many varieties including the new Trappist
by a stand-up comedian and given the chance brewery in our county borders.
to sample our some great beers alongside a
complementing dish. We’re very excited to be We’re really excited to see what beer related
part of the very first Leicester Beer Week and events our venues can come up with during the
hope that it will grow from strength to strength 20th to 30th of September and look forward
over the years to come!” to welcoming people into the city centre to be
part of what we hope will be an annual event.
Jim Willis, Framework Co-Founder said
“Framework Brewery is delighted to support If you are a venue that would like to host
the inaugural Leicester beer week. Leicester’s an event please contact us on stenno78@
independent businesses have much to googlemail.com or if you are a punter please
celebrate and events like this are great for talk to your local landlord or landlady to see
what event they will be hosting.

www.leicesterbeerweek.co.uk @leicesterbeerweek @LeicsBeerWeek #leicsbeerweek
Contact Jamie Stenson: 07878417422 Email: [email protected]

GOODBYE CHARLOTTE!
PLANNING, THEORY AND PRACTICE

In recent times we have seen not consulted about such On 24th July 2018 we received
pubs turn into shops and changes. a final response from the planning
shops turn into pubs (generally department stating that planning
micropubs), all resulting from CAMRA and other groups permission is required for change
some changes in the planning campaigned on this issue of use and “This case has now
rules over the last fifteen years and eventually their concerns been reviewed by a senior officer.
or so. Whilst there was some were heard in parliament and A decision has been made to take
logic to the changes, life being planning regulations were no further action in this case.
life, there were the usual glitches changed (in April 2017, Ed) Enforcement action is only taken
and unintended consequences. to require an application for where it is considered expedient
planning permission before to do so. Unfortunately, in this
Philip Tiplady takes up the these changes could take place. case, it is not considered to be
story and urges us to be vigilant... expedient.”
When the rules were changed
“An obvious feature of the the Leicester branch of CAMRA This reminds us that good
urban scene in recent years decided to test the attitude of decisions can be taken at central
has been the conversion of a local planning department government level, but if there
pubs to alternative uses, most to the changes. In August is no will to implement them
noticeably supermarkets. 2017 we wrote to the planning at the local council level they
The conversion of a pub to a department at Leicester City can have little effect. That is
supermarket was particularly Council pointing out that the unless local people use their
easy because planning Charlotte had been converted influence to get the voice they
permission was not required into a supermarket without deserve in decisions about their
for this change of use, meaning planning permission for change community facilities.”
that local communities were of use.

4 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

FROM THE CHAIRMAN: Branch Volunteering

The committee has been notified of at please contact me for a chat or we can
least two definite vacancies that will arrange to meet to discuss further.
occur at the October Branch AGM. Our long
standing secretary, Philip Tiplady, will be We continue to look at how we go about our
standing down. He has also held the role business and consider suggestions. As this
of Pub Campaigns Co-ordinator (Pubs issue is published , our August branch meeting
Officer). Descriptions of these roles can will be held in Ratby. This will be more of a
be found on the Camra website or can social evening with branch business covered
be provided at the national site (https:// at one of the three pubs visited.
members.camra.org.uk/group/guest/
branch-opportunities). The roles can be On a national level, Camra is seeking
tailored to local needs and certain items members to represent its branches in a
can be covered by others. mass lobby of MPs on the 30th October
in Westminster. Two members per
The role of Treasurer will also become vacant constituency within the branch are being
with Victoria Harrison leaving post in October sought, a briefing on the topics will be
due to increased work commitments. provided and expenses can be claimed.

A non-committee position that is currently Full details can be found here https://bit.
vacant is the role of Clubs Officer. ly/2J3L66t by logging on to the Camra site.

If you would be interested in knowing more Cheers, Shawn

Coming Soon . . . . .

. . . To SYSTON

The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 5

BREWERY NEWS Meadows. They also plan to have a Beer Hall
next to the Brewery with a capacity for 200
ANSTEY ALES Brewing is continuing at the people, which will host Beer and Food Festivals,
Beer Tasting Sessions and Brewery Tours.
new premises and is going very well. One-off
brews in collaboration with local publicans are Everards continue to produce Seasonal beers.
underway and are proving very popular. Other For May and June it was White Stout at
one off beers were brewed for the local beer 4.6%abv, brewed with Lincoln Green Brewery
festival and the Mild in May promotion. There and limited to 40 casks and not your typical
is a plan to introduce a new label with the stout, being a light golden beer with the full
object of creating more experimental beers, body and flavour of a stout. To create these
news to follow later. typical flavours, they’ve substituted the dark
malts for rich, chocolatey cacao nibs in the
Since moving to their new premises Anstey mash and then dry hopped it with even more
Ales have continued to develop and now have cacao nibs and coffee beans from artisan
a maximum capacity of 20 Barrels (3300L) coffee roasters, 200 Degrees, who are based
per Week with current production around 8 in Nottingham. The result is a light-coloured
Barrels (1300L). The second opening of the beer with roasted flavours and rich coffee and
Mash & Press went well, despite picking the chocolate flavours on a light gold backdrop
Royal Wedding weekend to open, and they are derived from Admiral, Fuggles, and Brambling
planning to continue with ad-hoc openings. Cross hops. For June and July, we saw another
new beer, Tropical IPA, a 4.3%abv Golden
A new bottling facility is currently being Session IPA brewed with Nelson Sauvin,
added and they aim to produce around 2000 Cascade, Columbus and Galaxy hops as well as
bottles per month for sale through various Malted Oats. For August, Bel The Giant is a 4.6%
local outlets. ‘Fluthered’, an Irish Red Ale, has abv Best Bitter brewed with Endeavour and
been recently launched and has proven to be Target hops. This has aromas of pine and citrus
an instant success, also the launch of their with grapefruit, blackcurrant and spices on the
new ‘Hi-Jacked’ range of one-off specials and finish. For details of the back story to Bel the
collaboration ales, is proving popular too. Giant take a look at the Everards website.

Stuart Slessor has been joined by Rob Clough They continue to add to their Project William
of Charnwood Cider as business partner and Scheme as and when suitable pubs arise
the two are working closely to develop their and the latest acquisition is The National
brands. Anstey Ales are now on permanently Westminster Bank premises in Trentham,
at the Brookside in Barkby as well as being a Stoke On Trent. Currently unlicensed, this
regular feature at the Stadon Sports & Social will become the 6th Titanic Brewery Pub in
Club in Anstey. There is still a lot going on at partnership with Everards.
the Brewery and more news will be released
over the coming months. FRAMEWORK The brewery is very busy

EVERARDS Castle Acres Brewery closed in at present and is building relationships with
other breweries locally. They are increasingly
August 2017 and has now been demolished involved in collaborations, most recently
and the site flat. with Blackjack Brewery in Manchester. The
opening of the Two Tailed Lion affords some
Following the sale of their former site to Crown extra sales opportunities. They still brew two
Estate, building work on the new brewery in or three times a week and have a bottle sale
Enderby commenced on Tuesday 8th May
2018. The £20m Development will also include
a distillery, where they will produce their own
Gin, Vodka, Rum and Sake by the end of 2019
using botanicals harvested from Everards

6 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

PUB NEWS been removed. The Churchgate Tavern has
a lettings board attached and an application
In previous issues we have mentioned plans for (ref no. 20181469) has been submitted for
a small pub adjacent to Prince Rupert’s Gate off change of use to retail but the application not
the Newarke. Following some initial confusion yet validated, so there are no details yet on the
it has been confirmed that The Castle Inn council website.
is indeed for public use. The former Case
Champagne Bar in Millstone Lane is now open Further afield there are micropubs planned for
as The Two-Tailed Lion. In Enderby, the Mill Barrow on Soar, Quorn and Syston with another
Hill Cask & Coffee is now up and running and likely within the city boundary.
in Blaby the Tom Thumb is being brought back
to life. More details on all four can be found in Pub News relies greatly on input from the
Out & About p10 onwards. public and the trade. CAMRA members will
generally visit premises with an existing real ale
No more news on The Gate but as we went commitment so information on new stockists
to press the Swan & Rushes was about to re- and outlets is particularly welcome. Thanks on
open as a Sports Bar with three hand pumps this occasion to Shawn Collier, Steve Peck,
having been retained for real ales. No such
luck at Walkabout (formerly Yates’s) in Belvoir Gary Winkless and Bill Woolley.
Street where all four hand pumps have now

every Friday 12 - 5 and brewery tours on have recently brewed their first wheat beer,
the last Thursday of the month. A new beer Summer Wheat.
has joined their range - Fox Paw, a 4% malty
hoppy take on a traditional bitter - this will There is nothing to report for HOSKINS or
be available all year round to go with their STEAMIN’ BILLY. See page 17 for news of
standard range of Friday St. IPA and Jackpin. LANGTON, MARKET HARBOROUGH
Winder Wheat beer (4.6%) will be available and TRES BIEN.
during the summer as well.
LOCAL BREWERY WEBSITES
They have a tap takeover planned in the next Anstey Ales
month at the Malt Croft in Nottingham as well www.ansteyale.co.uk
as one at the Crown and Kettle in Manchester Bakers Dozen bakersdozenbrewing.co.uk
and have received some good orders for beer Belvoir belvoirbrewery.co.uk
festivals recently (14 casks for the Cambridge Charnwood charnwoodbrewery.co.uk
Festival). The future looks promising! Dow Bridge dowbridgebrewery.co.uk
Elliswood theelliswoodbrewery.co.uk
PIG PUB Is very busy brewing continuously Everards everards.co.uk
Framework frameworkbrewery.com
and in March added Gloster Bitter a 4.4 % pale Golden Duck goldenduckbrewery.com
ale brewed with AZACCA hops. A new Pig Pub Grainstore grainstorebrewery.com
Brewery website is being created. Great Central gcbrewery.co.uk
Kendricks see Pig Pub
Q BREWERY Have been brewing for several Langton langtonbrewery.co.uk
Long Lane See Golden Duck
festivals over the spring & summer. Market Bosworth www.marketbosworthbrewery.co.uk
Market Harborough MHbrew.co.uk
WEST END BREWERY Brewing has Parish n/a
Pig Pub piginmuck.com/brewery
recommenced after a short break for the Q Brewery qbrewery.co.uk
brewery floor to be replaced. New vessels are Shardlow n/a
on order for installation in the summer which Stoney Ford stoneyfordbrewco.co.uk
will double the capacity of the brewery. They Très Bien tresbienbrewery.com
West End Brewery facebook.com/WEBLeicester

The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 7

Three Men

still on the buses...

Early June saw us getting a Saturday we called this time despite what it says on What Pub.
early morning start and visiting Superbly located at the foot of the hill and just off
Wellingborough, like many towns, the village green, when open it does bar snacks at
looking a bit tired in places. lunch times. The Three Horseshoes is, to our minds,
a far better pub though; a bit upmarket but still
There are some lovely buildings and it must have very friendly. Food is excellent value; posh snacks
been a wealthy area once. It does however have are served as well as gastro food. With a beautiful
some really excellent hostelries. This trip, we took outdoor area, exposed brickwork, fireplaces and
in The Little Ale House (07870 392011) which is a flagstone floors it has a lot of charm and it also has
very friendly micropub on the High Street (7 ales, 6 a farm shop and chocolate workshop. As we arrived
draught ciders) set up by the same man who opened they were off loading sacks of chocolate. It carries a
the Little R’Ale House (play on words) at the railway number of national real ales but some locals as well.
station (07787 446460). One of our number hails It was time for the next bus so off to Coleorton
from Wellingborough and used to visit here train- where the bus stops right outside the Angel at 2.28,
spotting. Occasional Steam trains still pass by and just as well as the pub closes 2.30 on the dot and we
the main line trains thunder past as you hold on tight had to drink up in the outside area! The sacrifices we
to your pint. Both micro pubs have since been sold on make! Then 10 minutes walk to Kings Arms, a lovely
but are excellent. pub with very good gardens but for whatever reason
3 buses had got us to Wellingborough and a 4th out seems to change hands fairly often. Two hours
to the station by 11.45 with 4 hours to work our way later we are back on the bus for our connection in
back into the town centre Coalville. I hate to think what we would pay on the
The Old House (01933 225932) is actually a new buses if we had no passes.
pub. A Grade II listed timber framed ‘Tudor’ During the period in ones and twos or with our
building part Medieval, with footings from 10th wider crowd we have tried other pubs. Your scribe
Century. It reopened as a pub last year after went back to Stoke Golding and ate this time. Not
being previously a restaurant. Run as a brewery much choice, only a home made stand pie or a
tap by Harts brewery it is well worth a visit. sausage roll, but WOW. The pie was solid meat (pork)
Lunches limited to gob-stopper butties. and black pudding and the sausage had so much
All very interesting in their own way but the best sausage meat in that it would not fit in my mouth.
of the bunch was the Coach & Horses, an award The two of us were well satisfied and the beers were
winning town centre traditional pub with good beer great as usual.
garden (08714 329005). Excellent good value food To finish in Leicester, two of us wandered into the
and a great range of drinks. new Lion with Two Tails. Remarkable what they have
The trip ticked a lot of boxes as between us our many done with this tiny ex solicitors office. They had three
interests include trains, architecture, history and of good real ales on offer, but mostly selling craft beers
course food and drink. which are not really our thing.
Another interest we all share is country walking,
unspoiled villages and market towns. July saw us Free Rider
taking in the villages of Breedon and Coleorton.
We used a Skylink to the airport and then the155
through the villages towards Coalville to return to
town on the 29. We caught 3 consecutive 155s which
are every 2 hours but it is a route under threat.
Breedon has two very good pubs. The Holly Bush is
hard to fault other that it was closed the lunchtime

8 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

SKITTLES

The annual skittles match between Everards
Brewery and Leicester CAMRA has long been a
summer highlight.

Following a pretty miserable streak of results for Leicester
CAMRA in recent years we finally won in 2017, so when the
teams met again at The Black Horse, Aylestone for the 2018
edition, the contest was bound to be keenly fought. So keenly
fought that the teams could not be split, finishing in a draw over
the three legs. Funny how Everards always come good towards
the end… is there something in the food or the beer?

Roll on 2019 when CAMRA try for three years without defeat!

The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 9

OUT & ABOUT

with the Editor

Sunday 24th June use by DMU staff and students, but while
taking photos I was told I was welcome to
This was my first opportunity to visit The have a drink. Anyway Joe Stephenson, the
Castle Inn, nestled behind Prince Rupert’s DMUSU Commercial Manager has happily
Gate. Not the re-opened old pub but a cosy clarified the situation: “The Castle Inn is now
space utilising the adjacent two old cottages open to members of the public, we didn’t
and sure to be a hit on winter evenings. To the initially want to advertise this as we wanted
right is a snug that can accommodate 25 to 30 our students and staff to have sole use for
people seated and to the left is the “standing the opening few weeks but we will now be
room only” bar/servery which has shelves at advertising it as open to the public”. I’ve since
“beer height” on two walls for those who wish been in a couple more times and can confirm
to drink vertically. One drawback is there is only that the opening hours are Monday to Friday
a single toilet cubicle, so some people might 12hrs -14hrs & 17hrs - 23hrs, Saturday 12hrs
need to “plan ahead”. That said, it is only a -15hrs & 17hrs - 23hrs and Sunday 12hrs
small place so it’s unlikely there will be long -15hrs. Last Orders are called 30 minutes
queues! before closing time.

There was initially some confusion over this
place’s status and whether it was for private

PrAitncteheRuCpaesrttle’s IGnant,e

10 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

The Two-Tailed Lion,
Millstone Lane

Monday 25th June MMMIIINNNIII BBBEEEEEEVVVEEEEEERRRRRRFFFYYYEEEDDDSSSAAATTTYYYIIIVVVIIIAAASSSLLLAAAHHHEEERRREEE!!!

Although it had a “soft opening” a few days GGGOOOUUUUUUEEETTTRRRRRRSSSTYTYTY‘‘‘RRRBBBOOOEEEEEEUUUAAAEEERARRAALLLRRRMMMEEEAAASSSAAAVVVLLLTTTZZZEEEEEEHHHIIIRRR’’’NNNEEETTTGGGCCCYYYUUU!!!HHH’’’RRR!!!RRR!!!AAANNNEEENNNOOOGGGGGGVVVRRRIIIEEENNNEEERRRGGGAAAIIITTTSSS!!!!!!
earlier, the Two-Tailed Lion had its official
launch on Monday 25th. When originally LweFMiNNNRwcOSSSIeMMMOOODwNAAAsAAAA‘‘‘DWWWOOOtTTTY.TTTeNNNAs/WWWSrNNNYUUUyDDDOOOACIIITDDDsRRRTTTTOAPPPAAAUtTTTAAAODDDoMTREEEEEELLLPYYYHAAAnDRENNNRRRLLLUANsYYYATTT’’’RYI444oDDD@@@NSOOOC1AAA...GcD2AAA333lsssAuNNNiMTTTH000yyyYYYaYbODHHHDDDssspppl6.UtttoFFFTmmmwUUUooopRfSSSORRRnnn.RRRStemUUU1hssstttIIIe2.DDDSSSoooeoooNNNTbMcccDDDAAAOY111DDDIliiiDeaaaAAAyYYY1111AAAa1Nlll.ppp,,,YYYcrIpYYYGmmm2.omH0mT.18
mooted it was going to be craft beer only, but
happily they decided to offer hand pumped NNNEEECCCAAAWWWMMMRRRMMMAAAEEEMMMSMMMEEEUMMMBBBNBBBDEEEEEEARRRRRRYSSSSSS1FFF2AAARRRMLLLEEEDEEEWWWTEEEAAAONNNYYYTTT1RRR1SSSYYYpWWWWWW.mIIIEEETTT. HHHLLLCCCCCCAAAOOORRRMMMDDD EEE
real ales as well, which on early evidence looks
to have been a sound call. Formerly The Case 2222000011116555


   


   


   


   


    2222 000


    011116667


   


   
Champagne Bar in Millstone Lane, the place
has been given an airy make over with locally


   
sourced materials; the intimidatory feel of
the former décor having been banished with
lighter paintwork and improved windows. The
main bar area is quite narrow but can hold
about forty people. Upstairs there are toilets
and two self-contained rooms, each good
for about fifteen people. One of the upstairs
rooms has a smart TV so handy for private
viewings, seminars, etc. Beer wise, there are
three hand pumps for real ale and six taps
for craft beers from Keykegs. In addition
there are lots of craft beers in a large fridge
and, considering the pub’s ›› continued on pg 12

The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 11

›› from pg 11 Wednesday 27th June (1)

small size, a good On Tuesday 26th I’d been to the Pub of the Month
variety of Wines and presentation at Aylestone’s Black Horse which meant a
Spirits. Although not “double header” on the Wednesday afternoon/evening. “The
owned by Framework Mill Hill Cask and Coffee” has been in gestation for some time
Brewery, it does but all came together rather rapidly at the end of June and
have some common it opened on the 22nd. Run by husband and wife team Jay
directors, so expect to and Georgina Brice-Boucher (right), the former newsagents
see Framework beers in sits opposite what used to be the Plough in Enderby. Mill
some form from time Hill has one good size room which looks good for sixty or
to time. Day to day seventy people and a moderately sized beer garden which
running is entrusted can accommodate a further thirty. There are six cask nacelles
to qualified cicerones (gravity dispense) providing four real ales and a couple of
Matt Baker and Alice real ciders together with craft beers on tap or in cans. There
Hubbard who will be is also a good selection of wines and spirits, with plans to
familiar faces to many, increase the range over time and they are also able to do off-
having worked in both sales. Food is kept simple with pies, sausage rolls, etc though
Brewklopedia and The in time a range of cakes will probably complement the hot
Tap in the Square drinks offer. Jay has spent most of his life in Local Government
within the last year. as a Youth Worker but they took on the shop about six months
Two days and two good ago and he now works full time in the bar; Georgie still does
additions to the local her day job but helps out
beer scene! whenever she can in the
evenings and at weekends.
Closed on Mondays, they
operate 16.00 - 22.00hrs
Tuesday and Wednesday,
12.00 – 22.00hrs, Thursday
to Saturday and 12.00 -
16.00hrs approximately on
Sundays.

12 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

›› continued on pg 14

At Syston Community Centre

SBFysteEonstREiovtaRaryl Thu 30th Aug - Sat 1st Sept

Thu & Fri 6-11pm, Sat 12-6pm

Prosecco Bar! tPorcohcaereitdys!

Live music on
Friday & Saturday

Real ale from
local breweries

Locally supplied

...with bubbles! food Syston Rotary Club

£1 entry Free to CAMRA members

The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 13

›› from pg 13

Wednesday 27th June (2)

After Enderby I made the short journey
to Blaby where the Tom Thumb, Grove
Road, had re-opened four weeks earlier
after a long period of closure. Mine host is
Dave Greatorex who has been in the trade
nineteen years in different parts of the
country but latterly at the Curzon Arms
in Woodhouse Eaves. Before re-opening,
they’d given the place a lick of paint
and opened up so as to give the locals
a reminder of what the pub has to offer
including its large, child-friendly garden.
The full refurbishment is now underway
and is expected to be finished in mid-
September. At the formal re-launch they
will have a traditional pub fayre food offer
but with a few additional surprises. Closed
Mondays they will open 12.00 – 23.00hrs
on other days, except Sunday when they
will close at 22.30hrs. Sky SportsTV is
planned and they aim to use all the 5
available hand pumps – one for cider, two
or three Everards beers and one or two
guests. Priced at £3.00 per pint on my
visit, Dave hopes that he will be able to
offer at least one beer at that price point
so as to entice real ale drinkers as he
rebuilds the business.

Friday 29th June

Saw me at The Wheatsheaf, Woodhouse
Eaves. Although just outside our branch
area (in the Loughborough area by about
¼ mile) I had been asked to pop along to
cast a critical eye over their forthcoming
plans to improve and expand their real
ale offer (currently four hand pumps) and
engage more with CAMRA. More variety
of beers, including Locales, is promised
and they aim to attractive more CAMRA
members to the pub in future with festivals
and special events. Always a favourite pub
of mine, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye
on developments.

14 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

LCAEMERAKTRI&P TOBUXTON

by Chris Greenwood

Although a grey, damp Saturday morning My first choice was the end of the barrel and
there were plenty of smiling faces in St. changed without fuss by the pleasant landlady.
Margaret’s Bus Station for another interesting I drank the Hydes / Beer Studio Caramel Flare; it
CAMRA trip with the market towns of Leek had an interesting mix of flavours starting with a
and Buxton on the agenda. Driver Mick got us grapefruit mouth feel leading to a milk chocolate
to Leek for 11.15. Quite a few pubs were open biscuit finish.
at 11am, so armed with Gary’s map, I teamed Not far from the market is St. Edward’s Street,
up with Lynn Hatton and Mike Pullin. where we visited three pubs. Wetherspoon’s The
The Beer Dock in the attractive market square was Green Dragon had an attractive black and white
a micro with two cask ales and a massive selection frontage, wooden beams and a massive clock
of bottled beers. An amiable young lad gave us inside. The Four Point Blanc by the Devil’s Backbone
CAMRA dIscount on an already cheap Salopian brewer, made at the Hook Norton Brewery was
Harbinger; a pleasant bittersweet ale with a slight quite sweet and malty, with some orange notes in
bitter tingle on the tongue. the finish.
A few doors down is the Red Lion; this large Two minutes downhill was the Whim pub, the Wilke’s
Hydes pub was a mix of old and new architecture. Head, a basic three-roomed ›› continued on pg 16

The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 15

›› from pg 15 The High Street (A6) has a lot of pubs on or just near
it. We started at the historic Cheshire Cheese with
boozer with five very well priced beers. I got to try my its many nooks and crannies and original features.
favourite Whim beer, Flower Power. As ever, it had There were six Titanic beers and four guests and is
plenty of hops and a long lasting grapefruit finish, one of Andy’s favourite pubs in Buxton. The Titanic
very drinkable. Iceberg was on very good form, with a lot of hops
At the bottom of the hill was the lovingly restored and a dry, puckering grapefruit finish. The Fat Cat
Quiet Woman. There were lots of wooden beams Wildcat was also generously hopped and had a
and comfortable drinking spaces and a large bitter, astringent finish to it. The bar staff were
selection of Lymestone beers, many under £3. The helpful and the pub was busy.
Lymestone Stonecutter, was a little thin, with an Gilberts, was a small cafe bar with a relaxed
appley flavour and a little bit of lemon in the finish. atmosphere and live fiddle music. There were three
It didn’t take long to get the Cobblers, a comfortable pins of Wincle beers and three hand pumps at the
pub, with a very conservative choice of beers. bar. I drank the Stancil Ginger Pale, which was quite
There was one local Wincle beer on called Indian refreshing with a subtle ginger taste and finish.
Runner, so we all had that. It was a well balanced Just across the road, on Chapel Street, is the Ale
bittersweet ale with a pleasant, bitter finish. Stop, a busy, simple micropub where I had one of my
Our next port of call was the basic, sidestreet favourite beers of the day. The Merlin’s Spellbound was
boozer, The Earl Grey Inn, not too far from the bus a really enjoyable, easy drinking, hoppy beer, with lots
station. This was my favourite pub in the town. of grapefruit notes, especially in the finish, lovely.
From the good choice of beers, I drank the Whim Next was the popular and very busy Buxton Tap.
Magic Mushroom, a full bodied mild, with caramel There was a good atmosphere in here with a lot of
and malt flavours and a beer I haven’t seen for young people and lots of keg. There were two hand
many years. The Mallinsons Tropical Blonde was pumps, both with Buxton Brewery beers. Buxton
a lovely hoppy beer, with a long- lasting hoppy Spa was a pleasant hoppy beer, with a good hop
finish and some grapefruit notes right at the end leaf mouth feel. Buxton Myrica was similar, but
of the beer. The Harbour Tombstone was a very more full-bodied and a longer, drier finish.
flavoursome 3.8% “Session IPA “ with an enticing, A very short walk brought us to the RedWillow, a
fruity nose, hints of lychee and a satisfying citrus recent addition the real ale scene in Buxton. It’s an
finish. Lynn and Mike enjoyed that one very much. excellent conversion from a bank, into a busy and
It wasn’t far to Fountain Street and the Fountain lively pub. I really like the RedWillow beers, so tried
Inn, so I nipped there for a couple of halves. This two of them. The Faithless 83 was a great mix of
very attractive, olde worlde pub had plenty of wood Citra and Simcoe and was really flavoursome for a
features and a large choice of beers on handpump. 2.9% beer. Mike, Lynn and I thought this was one of
I hadn’t tried Facers from North Wales for a long the best beers of the day. The Weightless was full
time, so bought two of their beers. Dave’s Hoppy of Mosaic, with that pineapple nose and finish, with
Beer is not particularly well named. It had a sweet, some balancing bitterness.
malty start, with some English or Welsh hops Since the coach was parked very near the
coming through at the end. The Star Porter was a Wetherspoons pub, The Wye Bridge House,
decent mix of chocolate malt and biscuit malt with we popped into there for a final quick half. The
a pleasant cold coffee like finish. Beartown Unbelievable Jeff was very dry, with
Our time in Leek over, we left this pretty market town some hoppiness and a very dry, bitter finish.
with its plentiful good pubs for the short but very It was soon time to say goodbye to Andy, Sharon
pretty ride to Buxton which gave me chance to catch and Buxton and head back to Leicester. Thanks to
up with my good friends Andy and Sharon Moore. I Mick, the driver and to Gary for organising another
was best man at their wedding and Andy and I have really enjoyable trip.
been drinking mates for many years now.

16 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

BREWERY NEWS >> PART II

BREWERY BROO HA HA
In the last issue we brought you news increased efficiency and two guaranteed retail
of Grainstore helping rescue Stoney outlets (the Beerhouse in Market Harborough
Ford in what seems to be a period of and The Criterion in Leicester) 2018 has proved
flux in the local brewery scene. a struggle and Dave left Tres Bien around
six weeks ago. In recent weeks the lease on
Although there is no change to the day-to-day The Criterion has been relinquished, perhaps
running of the brewery there has been a change unsurprisingly considering the road works chaos
in the management structure at Langton that has enveloped the pub for over a year,
Brewery where Dave and Alistair have decided leaving keen Criterion aficionados wondering
to retire and sold some of their shares to a new what’s next for the place.
management team; an official announcement
is imminent, we understand. Just along the A6, Following a Meeting of creditors on 6th
however, it was sad to see the recent demise July, resolutions for a Winding-up of Market
of the Tres Bien/Market Harborough project. Harborough Brewery Ltd were made on 12th July
When the two breweries joined together a and Liquidators were appointed the same day.
few years back, the future seemed bright with
Dave Canning of Tres Bien closing his 1BBL Happily, The Criterion has been saved (with
plant and becoming the brewer for both brands Karen Foster back there as manager) and The
using Market Harborough’s 6BBL kit. Despite Beerhouse in Market Harborough is unaffected
by the brewery’s failure.

戀攀攀爀 昀攀猀琀椀瘀愀氀
㈀㠀琀栀 ⴀ ㌀　琀栀
猀攀瀀琀攀洀戀攀爀
戀攀攀爀 氀椀猀琀 琀戀挀

挀愀猀欀 ⴀ 挀爀愀昀琀 ⴀ 戀漀琀琀氀攀 ⴀ 挀愀渀

搀攀琀愀椀氀猀 琀漀 昀漀氀氀漀眀 猀漀漀渀 漀渀 漀甀爀 昀愀挀攀戀漀漀欀 ☀ 琀眀椀琀琀攀爀 瀀愀最攀
昀愀挀攀戀漀漀欀⸀挀漀洀⼀眀攀戀氀攀椀挀攀猀琀攀爀 ☀ 䀀眀攀猀琀攀渀搀戀爀攀眀瀀甀戀

琀栀攀 眀攀猀琀 攀渀搀 戀爀攀眀攀爀礀Ⰰ 㘀㠀 ⴀ 㜀　 䈀爀愀甀渀猀琀漀渀攀 䜀愀琀攀Ⰰ 䰀攀椀挀攀猀琀攀爀Ⰰ 䰀䔀㌀ 㔀䰀䜀

戀攀攀爀 昀攀猀琀椀瘀愀氀The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 17

Leicester CAMRA City Centre

BEER CENSUS 2018

On Saturday June 2nd 11 members of KEY STATISTICS
Leicester CAMRA visited all the pubs in
the Leicester city centre to complete (full details on the website: www.leicester.camra.org.uk)
the Fourth annual Real Ale & Cider
census, the purpose of which is to REAL ALE
take a snapshot of the availability and
variety of Real Ale and Real Cider so Change 2018 2017 2016 2015
we can see what is available within our
city on a given day as well as allowing Hand Pumps -14 196 210 193 187
us to look how the overall availability Breweries 12 93 81 66 67
of our favourite tipples are changing Beers -8 137 145 129 111
over the years. Venues 0 48 48 48 50

This year hasn’t seen the growth ABV 3.4% Old Sawley – JIM
trend experienced previously and the (co-brewed by Leicester CAMRA
number of venues selling Real Ale on Lowest: for Mild in May)
the day of the census remained the
same but the amount of breweries 6.5% Charnwood – Crazy Fox
selling in the city has seen a significant
increase up 12 to 93. Highest: 4.3% (down by 0.1% from 2017
and 2015 equal to 2016)
There were 48 venues open and Average:
selling real ale during the census. This
last year has seen the closure of the
Swan and Rushes, no new venues Most Prevalent - Top 10 Available Beers
have opened but three have had
name changes The Walkabout (ex Brewery Beer Availability
Yates’s) now has 2 less real ales but
The Distillery (ex Slug & Lettuce) had 2 Everards Tiger 9 venues
more and Head of Steam (ex Reynard) Sharp’s Doombar 8 venues
has 3 more. Everards Beacon Hill 5 venues
Everards Old Original 5 venues
Overall 16 venues have 28 less real Everards Sunchaser 5 venues
ales on sale though the Barley Mow Fullers London Pride 5 venues
said 4 were coming on later that day, Greene King Abbot Ale 5 venues
9 venues had 12 more on sale than Charnwood Vixen 4 venues
last year. Hopefully the addition of 2 Everards Tubby 4 venues
new pubs due to open will buck this Framework Jackpin 4 venues
slight dip in ales available, it is worth
mentioning that even though it is not Everards Tiger was the most prevalent Real Ale in
recorded on the census Broood had the city again for the fourth year of completing
17 extra beers on sale as they had a the census. For the fourth year in a row the
stillage beer festival on. Everards dominance is split with Sharp’s Doom
Bar coming in at number two. Framework and
Charnwood have both entered the table with 4
casks each available around the city.

18 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

The cider scene in the KEY STATISTICS - REAL CIDER
city saw an overall
increase of 1 venue, ABV
7 less producers, 1 Lowest: 3.5% Saxby’s – Rhubarb (down 0.5% on every year)
less in diversity but Highest: 8.5% Lilley’s – Gladiator (up 1.0% on last year)
the same amount Average: 5.3% (Down 0.1% on last year down by 0.5% on 2016)
selling over the city
60 boxes or casks with Most Prevalent Ciders
Lilley’s dominating the Knights Malvern Gold at 4 venues
market Lilley’s Mango at 4 venues
Lilley’s Rhubarb at 3 venues

Most Prevalent Producer
Lilley’s 10 different ciders at 7 venues

Thank you very much 19
to the volunteers that
participated in the
census: Graham &
Annie Law, Ian Dixon,
Gary Rodbard,
Peter Jones,
John Spencer,
Paul Sharman,
Gill Sharman,
Gary Sanders,
Fiona Sanders,
Rob Macardle,
Gary Winkless
And a thank you to
Bob Reay for handing
over the torch:
Jamie Stenson,
Census Organiser,
Leicester Branch
The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk

9th Amber Valley CAMRA Beer & Cider Festival 2018

To be held at Strutts on Derby Road, Belper The Sunday session 12-2pm is free entry with
from Thursday 27th September to Sunday 30th any remaining beers selling at £2 a pint.
September 2018, this venue has its own car park,
with rail and bus stations only a short walk away. There will be over 65 ales from around the
country, including some one-off festival “specials”,
The festival will be held in the main hall and a varied selection of ciders and perries, country
various “classrooms” of this former Grammar wines and soft drinks. The beer and cider list will
School with the bars in a marquee in an adjoining be available on the website closer to the event.
playground. There will be “quiet rooms” available
at all sessions and local caterer, Farmhouse 2018 sees the centenary of the end of the First
Kitchen, will provide a selection of hot and cold World War and will be the theme for the festival
food from Thursday to Saturday. this year, so the organisers are collaborating with
the Belper in Wartime Group who will have a
The festival will launch on Thursday with a programme of events throughout the weekend,
special preview session from 4-6pm with free including an exhibition. There will also be various
entry to all including non-members. This will be talks and performances during Friday and
followed at 7.30pm by a free-to-enter quiz with Saturday afternoons and customers will be given
prizes, where table-service will be provided for the chance to record their memories of relatives’
participants. lives in Belper from 1917-1922.

There will be live music in the main hall on Music will be provided by Crossroads (classic
Friday and Saturday nights - for full details of all rock and blues) on Friday night, supported by The
entertainment, opening times and prices, please Fab Two (Beatles tribute), and local rock covers
visit www.ambervalleycamra.org.uk. Advance band, Headshrinka headlining on Saturday night,
tickets can be purchased online for all sessions supported by Acorn Roots (pop/folk/reggae/Celtic).
(except Sunday) also via the website. You can pay
on the door but be sure to arrive early to ensure Commemorative glasses in various styles will be
admission (Over 18s only after 6pm). on sale for £3 and hire glasses will be available on
sale or return.

20 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 21

Drinker on Tour

PQauuelenasnladnWd,ilAl uPsrtircaeliian For the second consecutive issue
Alan Bent in Beer, Devon we have multiple entries for
“Drinker on Tour” so we’re still
carrying forward entries to future
issues and the race to the year-end
prize.

Paul Price writes, “ I saw in the
Feb/March edition that you had an
article for the [Leicester] Drinker
on tour, so when I set off to see
my son, Will Price in Australia
in April, I took a copy with me.
Attached is a photo of Will and me
at his home in Kingaroy (peanut
capital of Australia) Queensland,
which is about 200k North-West of
Brisbane.

Will is from Syston and will be well
known as he used to work at the
Syston and District Social Club
(CAMRA club of the year 2017)
before emigrating to Australia to
get married in 2016.

In the photo we are enjoying a
couple of bottles of Charnwood
Brewery IPA and Black Hen which
accompanied me on the trip and
went down very well after the long
and arduous 23-hour journey!”

Our second photo came from
Alan Bent who enjoyed a beer at
The Barrel of Beer, Beer, Devon
on June 30th! Thanks for keeping
the entries flowing in and looking
forward to seeing the next batch.

RM

If you’d like to enter Drinker on Tour for 2018 please e-mail photos to
[email protected]

22 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch



Pub TOHFE Yea r 2018

It seems a long time ago since Country Tap &
the Pub of the Year votes were PubTOHFE Yea r Barrel
cast but we’ve finally managed
to complete the awards ClubTOHFE Yea r
presentations.
Syston & District Social Club
On May 19th the Tap & Barrel was a stop on
the South Leicestershire bus trip as part of Cider PubTOHFE Yea r
Mild in May, so it seemed like a good time to
present them with the County Pub of the Year The Old Horse, Leicester
award. Sadly I couldn’t attend but much Mild
was consumed and apparently a good time
was had by all.

Clubs selling Real Ale continue to increase
in number; a trend to be welcomed,
and for Club of the Year we received five
nominations. All scored well with Syston
again lifting the award which was presented
on June 5th. As ever, the hospitality
was tremendous with an abundance of
sandwiches, pork pie, samosas, etc.

Our final presentation was for Cider Pub of the
Year. With its dedicated cider bar the Old Horse
is a firm favourite with lovers of the fermented
apple so it was no surprise that it was our
Cider Pub of the Year for 2018 and winner for
the third time in four years. Aptly, the award
celebrations took place on June 23rd as part
of the pub’s Sausage & Cider Festival. As our
resident Cider guru, Susan Shirley was on hand
to present the award on this occasion (photo
courtesy of Mandy Stephenson).

Congratulations once again to all our winners.

RM

www.leicester.ca mra.org.uk

24 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

PUB OF THE MONTH

June: BLACK HORSE, AYLESTONE WAwinanrerd

For the second time in as many and, from some of the staff, cheesy
months our Pub of the Month award comedy.
went to Aylestone. Following the Ale
Stone’s success in April we were back in With the weather in our favour the award
the “city village” on June 26th to present was presented in the garden where the
an award to The Black Horse. assembled CAMRA members, and indeed,
several regulars, enjoyed celebratory
This Everards house always has a fine burgers or sausage cobs. Excellent
array of Everards and guest beers, so hospitality as ever and a well deserved
never short of something to suit everyone. award.
For non beer drinkers there is a massive
selection of Gins and other spirits on Our next Pub of the Month is The Salmon
offer, reliable pub food and a busy with the award night scheduled for 14th
entertainment big on cheese, comedy August.

RM

The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 25

Foreign Malto (1960; Birra Tirana); Stefani (1994; Birra
Fields Stela); Birra Korça (1928); T.E.A (2007; Kaon) and
Birra Elbar (2015). There are also three brewpubs:
ALE-BANIA Brauhaus Shallvare (Tirana), Albion Brauhaus
(Durrës) and Beer Houz (Puka). Most of the beers
Breweries and Beer in Albania are focused on lagers and blonde beers, although
by Steve James there are the occasional dunkel and Weiss beers.

A lbania is a small country lying in the south- S ince it has the only international airport,
west of the Balkans, on the eastern side of Tirana was a good place to start. Most of
the Adriatic Sea, between Montenegro and Greece the city centre bars and restaurants offer a range
and close to Italy. Most of its population of around of national beers (mainly Birra Tirana and Birra
3 million live on the coastal plain, focused on the Korça), but some import beers from Kosovo (Peja &
capital city, Tirana, and its main port, Durrës; but Prishtina) and Italy (Peroni). Amstel and Heineken
more Albanians live outside the country than are often available, both on draught and in bottles.
within it! It has a long history, covering the Roman, However, the first port of call had to be Brauhaus
Greek & Ottoman empires, but for much of the Shallvare in Rruga Reshit Collaku, established in
time after the 2nd World War, it was almost a 1995. Most of the eight beers produced here are
“closed” country under Communist rule. However, available in draught or bottled form. The Bockbeir
it is now a democratic and thriving country, (Veri Elbit), Brown Ale (Brunja) and Marzen beers
which welcomes tourists and visitors who wish to were delicious, with two amber (rose) ales, a
experience the bourgeoning tourist industry. weizenbier and an aromatic blonde ale (Bjondja
Aromatike). The Kaon Brewhouse, also in Tirana,
F or economic and religious reasons, per offers a range of T.E.A beers, including lager, pilsner,
capita beer consumption is fairly low, but pils and weissbeer. If you fancy cowboys, Albanian
Albania has a thriving beer and brewing industry. style, try the Spaghetti Western restaurant, which
The main “national” brewers are: the largest, Birra sometimes offers Puka craft beer.

D urrës is a major port and seaside town to
the west of Tirana. Most of the bars and
restaurants offer both national and imported
beers (particularly from Italy), but the first
stop had to be the Albion Brauhaus along the
seafront. Recently relocated from the Albion
Hotel to near the university in Rruga e Currilave,
it is the home of Kaltenbeer and is run by the
brother of the Tirana Brauhaus, who started
brewing here in 2016. A selection of the 9 beers
brewed here are usually available, including the
tasty Festival Beer, IPA, Marzen, Weizen and the
deliciously malty Terminator. The bar near to
the railway station also offered draught Stela
(Stefani), a pale lager not to be confused with a
similarly spelt Belgian beer, along with bottles of
Kuqalashe beer (Birra Malto).

I n the south of the country, Korçe is
the home of Birra Korça, and its beers
are offered in many of the town’s bars and
restaurants. My favourite was Pils e Zeze, a dark
and malty dunkel beer, which makes a change
from the Blonde and 01 lager beers. Every

26 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

August, Birra Korça holds a beer festival in the Kosovo and Montenegro (including Nikšikć o Pivo
town. Mapo’s Irish Pub in the main pedestrian from the Molson/Coors-owned Trebjesa brewery).
street was one of the best bars to try it, and on Here is the quirky Retro-Bar, with old gramophones,
the opposite side of the road we sampled bottles sewing machines and radios, but unfortunately no
of Stefani’s Cez Pilsner Craft Beer Iliria Weissbier Albanian beer! Better is the Radio Bar, nearby.
(unfiltered) and Cek Pilsner Pilsen beer.
S o, if you find yourself in Albania, visting or
N ot far away is Gjirokaster, which used to be just passing through, you can be assured of
known for its cannabis growing areas (now a variety of tasty beers from a range of national
banned!) It is the home of Alfa S.A. who brew just and local breweries. And while you’re there, you
one beer, Birra Elbar, a very drinkable pale lager. may wish to take a journey on a local train – a
One of the best bars to sample this and Korça couple of trains a day on each line, with two
beers is the Taverna Kuko, with its excellent food carriages, graffiti covered with every window
menu and tortoises in the garden! broken, and hauled by ageing Czech diesel
locomotives at barely 15mph!
I n the north of the country is Shkoder, where
bars and restaurants not only offer the Birradhe brohoritje - Gezuar!
national beers, but also some imported beers from (Beers and cheers!)

FESTIVAL DIARY

Month From To Ales Ciders Food Ents Ad/Details Where?

Aug Tue 7 Sat 11 900 Yes Yes Music www.gbbf.org.uk Great British BF, Olympia, London

Aug Thu 16 Sat 18 28+ Yes Yes Music Broood

Aug Thu 16 Sun 19 20 20 Yes Music Summer of Love Page 21 Black Horse, Aylestone

Aug Fri 17 Sun 19 Yes Yes Yes Music Page 29 Oadby Royal Brit Legion

Aug Fri 24 Mon 27 Yes Yes Yes No Cheese & Cider Page 19 Blue Boar & Ale Stone

Aug Fri 24 Mon 27 15 Yes Yes Music Page 29 Britannia, Queniborough

Aug Fri 24 Mon 27 Yes Yes Yes N/K Bakerfest Page 20 Bakers Arms, Blaby

Aug/Sept Thu 30 Sat 1 Yes Yes Yes Music Page 13 Rotary, Syston Community Centre

Aug/Sept Fri 31 Sun 2 70+ Yes Yes Music Page 14 Off the Tracks, Castle Donington

Sept Thu 6 Tue 10 Yes Yes Yes N/K Beer & Sausage Festival Sir Robert Peel

Sept Fri 7 Sat 8 50+ Yes Yes Music Page 27 Victory Showground, Cosby LE9 1SG

Sept Thu 13 Sat 15 Yes Yes Yes Music Heart of Hinckley Hinckley CAMRA multi-pub festival

Sept Fri 14 Sat 15 20+ Yes Yes Yes www.westernpark St Anne’s, Letchworth Rd, LE3 6FN
beerfestival.org

Sept Thu 20 Sun 30 Yes Yes Yes Music Page 3 Leicester Beer Week

Sept Thu 27 Sat 29 65+ Yes Yes Yes Page 20 Amber Valley CAMRA

Sept Fri 28 Sun 30 Yes Yes tbc tbc Page 17 West End Brewery

Leicester CAMRA Branch Diary 2018

Wed 1 Aug Branch Meeting tbc Ratby Walkabout see branch website

Sat 11 Aug Social Bus Trip tbc Ludlow & Shrewsbury see branch website

Tue 14 Aug Pub of the Month 19.30 The Salmon Presentation 21.00hrs

Sat 1 Sep Social Bus Trip tbc N & E Leicestershire

Wed 5 Sep Branch Meeting 19.30 City tba
saveMon 8 Oct Branch Meeting
dateWed 17 Oct AGM
Wed 26 Sep Committee Meeting 20.00 City tba

19.30 County tba the
Regent Road Social Club
(details stc – see Leicester CAMRA website)

NOTES
Branch Contact
Shawn Collier: 07504 829830 or email: [email protected]

For Saturday and Sunday trips
Gary Akiens: 07815 825039 or email: [email protected]

For a fully up to date Branch Diary, please visit www.leicester.camra.org.uk
and click on Diary on the left of the page.

28 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

The Britannia Real Ales
& Ciders
15Queniborough
6th Annual Beer Festival Available over the weekend
(CAMRA Members receive 10% discount
on Saturday 12-6pm and
August Bank Holiday 24th - 27th August 2018 Monday 12-6pm)

ENTERTAINMENT FOOD SERVED
FROM MIDDAY UNTIL
Friday 24th PUB NIGHT (no live music tonight)
9.30PM DAILY
Saturday 25th from 8.30pm: Dayfield, Hough & Shotter
Special Garden Menu
Sunday 26th from 4.00pm: Neal Hancox & Friends

Monday 27th from 3.00pm: AMAZING STREET BUSKER: ELENI DEMETRIOU available

For more information: Follow us on Facebook or call us on 0116 260 5675

www.britanniaqueniborough.co.uk

OADBY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

“NO BINGO”
BEER FESTIVAL

FRI AUG 17: 11-11 • SAT AUG 18: 11-12 • SUN AUG 19: 2-10.30

HOT & COLD FOOD AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT
LIVE MUSIC DAILY

SATURDAY: STRANGELOVE SUNDAY: OPEN MIC

FACEBOOK: OADBY ROYAL BRITISH LEGION OR: OADBY LEGION BEER

0116 271 4415

The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk 29

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.

Badger’s Sett 20p per pint Queen of Bradgate, 10% discount on Cask Ales
(Cropston) High Street
Black Horse CAMRA privileges for special Queen’s Arms, Leire 10% off Real Ales & Ciders
(Aylestone) events Queens Head (Saddington) 30p per pint
Blue Bell, Desford 10% CAMRA discount on real Queen Victoria (Syston) 20p off Guest Ales
ales and ciders Real Ale Classroom 20p/pint & 10p/half off Real Ales
Bowling Green 10% discount on Cask Ales & Red Cow (Leicester 20p per pint
Real Ciders Forest East)
Brewklopedia 10% discount on orders over £10 Red Lion (Gilmorton) 30p/pint
(bottle shop) Rose & Crown 20p/pint
Broood 20p/pint & 10p/half (Houghton on the Hill)
The Castle Hotel 10% discount on Cask Ales Royal Standard 10% off Cask Ales
(Kirby Muxloe) Rutland & Derby, 10% off Cask Ales
Crown (Anstey) 10% off Cask Ales Millstone Lane
Distillery, 10% Stamford Arms (Groby) 30p/pint
Market Street Syston Social Club Temporary Visitor Membership
Duffy’s Bar CAMRA discounts on special events (Syston) with CAMRA card
Exchange, 10% off Cask Ales, Ciders & Western CAMRA card gives same
Rutland Street selected items discounts as a Steamin Billy Card
The Friary, Hotel Street 10% off real ales West Leicester Temporary Visitor Membership
General Elliott 10p/pint & 5p/half Real Ales Conservative Club, with CAMRA card
(Willoughby Waterleys) 55 Westcotes Drive
Glenhills Sports & Temporary Visitor Membership Winstanley 20p/pint off guest ales
Social (Glen Parva) for 50p with CAMRA card (Braunstone Town)
Globe, 43 Silver Street Discount 10% off Cask Ales Wygston House 10% off Real Ales & Ciders
Golden Shield (Fleckney) 20p off Real Ales The Yews (Great Glen) 10% discount on Cask Ales
The Grange Farm (Oadby) 20p per pint
Head of Steam, 20p/pint & 10p/half Wetherspoons Pubs
Market St
Malt Shovel (Barkby) 20p per pint The following seven Wetherspoons pubs are in our
Marquis Wellington, 10% area. All accept the standard 50p vouchers plus extras
London Road where indicated.
Nag’s Head (Glenfield) 15p/pint on Cask Ales Corn Exchange, Market Square
Oadby Owl (Oadby) 10% off Cask Ales - Also give 20% off food (excludes Club combos)
Old Horse, 10% Highcross, High Street
198 London Road Lord Keeper of the Great Seal (Oadby)
O’Neill’s, Loseby Lane 20p/pint off Real Ales Last Plantagenet, Granby Street
Parcel Yard CAMRA card gives same Sugar Loaf (Market Harborough)
discounts as a Steamin Billy Card. White House (Scraptoft)
William Wygston (Wigston)

Non-CAMRA loyalty card schemes available to all customers:

Exchange, Rutland Street £2.50 card gives a range of 10% discounts

The Friary, Hotel Street “Love Cask Ale” - every 7th pint free

Oadby Owl (Oadby) 10% off Cask Ales on Thursdays

Queen of Bradgate, High Street 1 for 10 loyalty card

The Steamin’ Billy Card £2 card gives various discounts. Details at www.steamin-billy.co.uk

30 August - September 2018 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

Join up, join in,
join the campaign

From Discover
why we joined.
£25as little as camra.org.uk/
*
members
a year. That’s less
than a pint a
month!

Join us, and together we can protect the traditions of great
British pubs and everything that goes with them.

Become part of the CAMRA community today – enjoy
discounted entry to beer festivals and exclusive member
offers. Learn about brewing and beer and join like-minded
people supporting our campaigns to save pubs, clubs,
your pint and more.

Join the campaign today at

www.camra.org.uk/joinup

*Price for paying by Direct Debit and correct at April 2017. Concessionary rates available.
Please visit camra.org.uk/membership-rates