Another Successful Norwich Beer Festival! - Norwich and Norfolk ...
Another Successful Norwich Beer Festival! - Norwich and Norfolk ...
Another Successful Norwich Beer Festival! - Norwich and Norfolk ...
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FREE<br />
& CASK FORCE<br />
No.151 Winter 2009/2010<br />
<strong>Another</strong> <strong>Successful</strong><br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>!<br />
West <strong>Norfolk</strong> Retrospective<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong>’s True Heritage<br />
Pubs part four<br />
Mild <strong>Beer</strong> styles<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong><br />
2009 roundup<br />
Music <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beer</strong><br />
PLUS NEWS AND REVIEWS<br />
Newsletter of the <strong>Norfolk</strong> Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale
Chris <strong>and</strong> Glynis invite you to the<br />
Trafford Arms<br />
17th Valentine <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong><br />
8th to 14th February 2010<br />
“To drink or not to drink”<br />
Raising money for the Hamlet Centre<br />
61 Grove Road, <strong>Norwich</strong> 01603 628466<br />
www.traffordarms.co.uk email: mail@traffordarms.co.uk
What Recession<br />
Well that’s what we<br />
thought when we saw<br />
the amount of<br />
customers at our<br />
recent <strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>.<br />
It seemed with all our trials<br />
<strong>and</strong> tribulations with the credit<br />
crunch everybody wanted to<br />
have a good time. Martin<br />
Ward comments later on the<br />
outcome of the <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong><br />
but overall everybody seemed<br />
to have enjoyed themselves.<br />
We certainly did <strong>and</strong> it was<br />
very pleasing to see our regular<br />
<strong>and</strong> new customers. At the<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> we launched our<br />
LocAle Scheme which encourages<br />
Pubs to sell beers from<br />
local Breweries. More details<br />
follow <strong>and</strong> we hope our local<br />
Pubs will participate in the<br />
Scheme.<br />
Even at this time of the year<br />
we are now asking for nominations<br />
for the Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide<br />
2011 <strong>and</strong> all Pubs will be<br />
considered. We of course need<br />
your help with the Pub surveys<br />
which we know you all enjoy<br />
doing <strong>and</strong> is essential for the<br />
preparation of the Guide.<br />
NORFOLK NIPS | Chairman’s Bits<br />
The Cask Ale Report has been<br />
released <strong>and</strong> is encouraging<br />
news for the Real Ale industry.<br />
I was pleased to note that over<br />
the last year the number of<br />
women who drink Cask Ale<br />
has more than doubled which<br />
is a staggering result for something<br />
that's generally held up<br />
as a “man's drink”. Maybe<br />
prettier glasses helped.<br />
Going back to the recession I<br />
know the difficulties our Pub<br />
trade is facing <strong>and</strong> the increase<br />
in VAT next month won’t help.<br />
We must support our Pubs <strong>and</strong><br />
rather than drinking at home<br />
why not visit your local Pub<br />
instead otherwise we may lose<br />
it forever.<br />
Finally on behalf of our<br />
Branch I would like to wish<br />
you a Merry Christmas <strong>and</strong> a<br />
Happy New Year.<br />
Graham Freeman<br />
Chairman <strong>Norwich</strong><br />
& <strong>Norfolk</strong> CAMRA<br />
All the best from the West<br />
I’d like to start by thanking<br />
Tim for everything he’s<br />
done over the last 9 years,<br />
<strong>and</strong> look forward to his<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> pub crawl on the<br />
19th December.<br />
As the year comes to an end<br />
its time to reflect on what’s<br />
been a busy year in the west.<br />
Several brewery trips<br />
including a very enjoyable<br />
weekend at Belvoir brewery,<br />
Old Dalby <strong>and</strong> the pub visits in<br />
Melton Mowbray.<br />
We’ve seen Membership<br />
remain steady, attendance at<br />
branch meetings double<br />
( although we would still like<br />
to see more of you), Real ale<br />
sales increase in our area <strong>and</strong><br />
an increase in the amount of<br />
beer festivals, or is this just I’ve<br />
attended more ( 15 this year I<br />
think ). The 2 breweries that<br />
closed have reopened, Bullbox<br />
<strong>and</strong> Brancaster.<br />
Yes a good year <strong>and</strong> I look<br />
forward to the next one.<br />
May you all have a good<br />
Christmas <strong>and</strong> get what you<br />
want (bottles of real ale) or<br />
even a barrel. And have a<br />
Happy New Year spent with<br />
good company, good ale, in a<br />
good pub.<br />
All the best from the west.<br />
Phil Buffham (buff)<br />
Chairman of West<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> CAMRA<br />
Got a<br />
short pint<br />
If you believe that you have<br />
been treated unfairly in a pub,<br />
club or bar, you should contact<br />
the Trading St<strong>and</strong>ards service<br />
by writing to them at <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
Trading St<strong>and</strong>ards Service,<br />
County Hall, Martineau Lane,<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong>, NR1 2UD or faxing<br />
them on 01603 222999.<br />
A wide range of consumer<br />
information <strong>and</strong> advice is also<br />
available online from the<br />
Consumer Direct website at<br />
www.consumerdirect.gov.uk<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 3
26 St Leonards Road<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> NR1 4BL<br />
01603 618734<br />
A real gem,<br />
well worth a visit.<br />
Eight real ales to choose from, two of<br />
which change regularly.<br />
Two pooltables upstairs.<br />
Pork pies <strong>and</strong> other light snacks<br />
available all day.<br />
Hog roast available sundays.<br />
Lovely enclosed beer garden with<br />
large sheltered smoking area.<br />
Only a ten minute walk from the<br />
train station <strong>and</strong> city centre.<br />
Open all day from 12 noon everyday.<br />
Sky Sports <strong>and</strong> ESPN<br />
We would like to wish all <strong>Norfolk</strong> Nips readers a<br />
Happy Christmas <strong>and</strong> a prospeous new year.<br />
Monday<br />
Karaoke<br />
Tuesday<br />
Country <strong>and</strong> Western club<br />
Wednesday<br />
Salsa dancing with Salsa Negra<br />
Thursday<br />
Quiz <strong>and</strong> Curry Night<br />
Friday<br />
Live Music<br />
Saturday Party Night<br />
Sunday Carvery<br />
Tel: 01553 630527<br />
The S<strong>and</strong>boy<br />
Gayton Road, Bawsey, Kings Lynn PE32 1EP<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> Garden <strong>and</strong> Play area<br />
Function room available<br />
Ample parking is available<br />
Camping <strong>and</strong> Caravan pitches available<br />
Opening times : 11:00am till 11:00pm Every day<br />
At the S<strong>and</strong>boy we offer a choice of both<br />
traditional food <strong>and</strong> Thai food. We have an<br />
extensive choice of food from S<strong>and</strong>wiches, Pub<br />
Classics, Grill, Fish, <strong>and</strong> Curries. All our food is<br />
homemade using ingredients sourced locally where<br />
possible. Our Thai food is cooked by Somphit <strong>and</strong><br />
is also optionally available as a takeaway.<br />
6 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
Tim Spitzer; thanks<br />
for nine years<br />
On behalf of the West<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> Branch I would<br />
like to personally thank<br />
Tim Spitzer for his last 9<br />
years as Branch Chairman!!<br />
Indeed he has been our longest<br />
serving Chairman. He will take<br />
a well earned break off the<br />
committee for the time being<br />
though no doubt he will be<br />
back in the thick of things<br />
sooner rather than later. 9 years<br />
has seen a lot of changes in the<br />
branch <strong>and</strong> Tim has kept<br />
things as smooth <strong>and</strong> well<br />
running as possible…he always<br />
seems to plan the Annual<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> Xmas Crawl at least<br />
one year in advance so some<br />
branch members have plenty of<br />
time to do a test run, then<br />
another, <strong>and</strong> another <strong>and</strong> so on!!<br />
Tim has been to almost all<br />
meetings in his 9 year tenure at<br />
the top <strong>and</strong> has been a true<br />
stalwart to the branch <strong>and</strong><br />
CAMRA as a whole. Phil Buffam<br />
takes over duties as Branch<br />
Chair so we wish him well in<br />
his next 10 years!! Finally well<br />
done Tim “bloody nice bloke”<br />
Spitzer <strong>and</strong> why don’t we have<br />
a pub crawl to celebrate…oh<br />
yes I think you’ve already<br />
planned one around<br />
Cambridge next Spring!<br />
Brewery tee’s on tour<br />
When that wonderlust overcomes<br />
<strong>and</strong> you fly, drive,<br />
float, walk, cycle or swim to<br />
far off (or not so far-off)<br />
climes, take your favourite brewery<br />
shirt with you <strong>and</strong> send us a snap or<br />
two.<br />
To start things off here’s a picture<br />
of Graham Freeman posing like a<br />
catalogue model in front of a popular<br />
Grecian l<strong>and</strong>mark wearing his Humpty<br />
Dumpty Brewery t-shirt.<br />
NORFOLK NIPS | Chairman’s Bits continued<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> & <strong>Norfolk</strong> Branch<br />
Chairman: Graham Freeman<br />
Tel: 01603 687495<br />
Email: chairman@norwichcamra.org.uk<br />
Secretary: Carolyn Jones<br />
Tel: 01603 865505<br />
Email: secretary@norwichcamra.org.uk<br />
Social Secretary: Tim MacDonald<br />
Tel. 01603 865505<br />
Email: socialsecretary@norwichcamra.org.uk<br />
West <strong>Norfolk</strong> Branch<br />
Chairman: Phil Buffham<br />
Secretary: Ian Bailey<br />
Contact: Bruce Ward<br />
Tel: 01485 609107<br />
Branch websites:<br />
www.norwichcamra.org.uk<br />
www.camra.org.uk/wnorfolk<br />
Branch mailing list web page:<br />
groups.yahoo.com/group/<br />
CAMRA_<strong>Norwich</strong><br />
Published every 3 months<br />
by the <strong>Norwich</strong>, <strong>Norfolk</strong> & West<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> branches of the Campaign<br />
for Real Ale © N&N CAMRA 2009<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> Nips is produced <strong>and</strong><br />
distributed by members of the<br />
branch in their own time.<br />
Edited by:<br />
Graham Freeman<br />
& Warren Wordsworth<br />
Email: chairman@norwichcamra.org.uk<br />
Chris Lucas<br />
Email: chris-stig@tiscali.co.uk<br />
Views expressed in <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
Nips are not necessarily those<br />
of the editor or of CAMRA<br />
Design & Production:<br />
Daniel Speed - Tamoko Design<br />
Email: dan@tamoko-design.co.uk<br />
Distribution:<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Norfolk</strong> District :<br />
Tony Miles jabbamiles@gmail.com<br />
West <strong>Norfolk</strong> District :<br />
Ros Harre r.harre@btinternet.com<br />
Advertising:<br />
For advertising enquiries please<br />
contact Chris Shilling on:<br />
Tel: 01778 421 550<br />
Mobile: 07736 635916<br />
Email: chris@shillingmedia.co.uk<br />
Please email your pictures to<br />
chairman@norwichcamra.org.uk<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 7
Pub News | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
Pub News<br />
The Reindeer on Dereham<br />
Road <strong>Norwich</strong> has lost its l<strong>and</strong>lord<br />
after being open for just<br />
18 days during October. Is this<br />
a record It appears that<br />
Elgoods are again looking for a<br />
new tenant.<br />
The Woolpack Muspole<br />
Street <strong>Norwich</strong> has shut yet<br />
again. We do not know the<br />
reason as has The Plough St<br />
Benedicts Street, <strong>Norwich</strong>.<br />
The Rosary is closed up for<br />
lease sale.<br />
The Bridge House, on Riverside<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> has now<br />
reopened. (Oct 2009)<br />
The Cottage on Silver Road,<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> is due to be reopened<br />
shortly having been purchased<br />
by Mauldons Brewery of<br />
Sudbury.<br />
Wroxham now has a new pub<br />
called The Wroxham Bistro<br />
<strong>and</strong> Brewery Tap<br />
It has been described as “a<br />
venue to showcase Real Ale<br />
from <strong>Norfolk</strong> Breweries <strong>and</strong><br />
aims to have as broad a range<br />
of beers as possible available.<br />
There are 10 h<strong>and</strong>pumps <strong>and</strong> a<br />
purpose built tap room too.<br />
They have also started food etc<br />
which will exp<strong>and</strong> in time”.<br />
As reported in last NIPS The<br />
Steampacket in <strong>Norwich</strong><br />
reopened in September. (For<br />
more details see October Friday<br />
Five report).<br />
8 | WINTER 2009 / 2010<br />
It has been reported that The<br />
Oxford Stores in Little Walsingham<br />
has recently closed.<br />
The tenants of The Woods<br />
End, Bramerton, famous for its<br />
connection with Billy Bluelight,<br />
a local character who used to<br />
challenge boat trippers to a<br />
race along the riverbank from<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> to Great Yarmouth in<br />
the 1920s <strong>and</strong> '30s, are to<br />
retire shortly. The owners,<br />
Bucks based Wellington Pub<br />
Company have allowed the<br />
tenants to sell it on lease hold<br />
with an asking price of<br />
£55,000.<br />
South <strong>Norfolk</strong> District Council<br />
has recently set up a Rural Pubs<br />
Scrutiny Task Group in<br />
response to the many pubs in<br />
their area that are struggling.<br />
As part of this initiative they<br />
introduced a ‘Pub of the Year’<br />
competition. The six finalists<br />
were: The King’s Head,<br />
Hethersett (Northern River<br />
Valleys), The Countryman,<br />
Tasburgh (Tas Valley), The<br />
Pelican, Tacolneston<br />
(Wymondham <strong>and</strong> West),<br />
Ferry House, Surlingham<br />
(Eastern River Valleys) <strong>and</strong> The<br />
Cock Inn, Diss (Waveney<br />
Valley).<br />
The eventual winner of ‘The<br />
South <strong>Norfolk</strong> Communtity<br />
Pub of the Year’ award was<br />
The Pelican at Tacolneston.<br />
Our congratulations go to<br />
Esher Maginn at The Pelican.<br />
For more information on South<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> District Council’s Rural<br />
Pubs Scrutiny Task group see<br />
http://www.southnorfolk.gov.uk/pubs<br />
Brewery <strong>and</strong> Trade<br />
News<br />
Reepham Brewery to Close<br />
Reepham Brewery, one of<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong>’s oldest surviving<br />
breweries is about to close this<br />
autumn. Ted Willems, the<br />
owner has been brewing on<br />
this Reepham site since1983.<br />
He along with Woodforde’s<br />
was one of the only two<br />
independent brewers that<br />
existed in <strong>Norfolk</strong> in the early<br />
1980s when Watneys beers<br />
dominated the area. It was<br />
breweries like this that helped<br />
see off “The Watneys Red<br />
Revolution” <strong>and</strong> subsequent<br />
closure of their King Street<br />
Brewery in 1985 which paved<br />
the way for the emergence of<br />
so many micro breweries that<br />
have opened during the last<br />
two decades giving <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
such a huge variety of beers<br />
which we can enjoy today.<br />
The breweries br<strong>and</strong> names<br />
such as ‘Velvet Stout’ <strong>and</strong><br />
‘Rapier Pale Ale’ were much<br />
sought after <strong>and</strong> popular real<br />
ales winning many awards<br />
both locally <strong>and</strong> nationally.<br />
He plans to develop his own<br />
engineering business <strong>and</strong> offer<br />
advice to people running micro<br />
breweries. We wish Ted well in<br />
his future ventures.
Humpty Dumpty Brewery<br />
launches new beer.<br />
Humpty Dumpty Brewery<br />
launched their new beer,<br />
Swingbridge Stout, abv 4.1%,<br />
at this year’s <strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong><br />
<strong>Festival</strong>. This beer is a complex<br />
mix of malts <strong>and</strong> roasted barley<br />
that they have been working<br />
on for about a year now. It’s<br />
relatively low gravity, but it<br />
punches above its weight in<br />
the flavour department. The<br />
beer was very well received by<br />
customers at <strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong><br />
<strong>Festival</strong>.<br />
The Hop <strong>and</strong> Hog move in<br />
Wissey Valley Brewery<br />
The Hop <strong>and</strong> Hog in Downham<br />
Market started life in April this<br />
year as a local produce Shop,<br />
selling cheeses, vegetables, <strong>and</strong><br />
jewellery all from <strong>Norfolk</strong>.<br />
In July they moved Wissey<br />
Valley Brewery to premises at<br />
the rear of the shop <strong>and</strong> also<br />
took on neighbouring premises,<br />
the front part of which is now<br />
The Vegetable Shop. The back of<br />
this is being kitted out as a<br />
premium ale shop.<br />
Next year they hope to attract<br />
CAMRA members for brewery<br />
tours <strong>and</strong> to sample the new<br />
range of ales from Iceni <strong>and</strong><br />
Wissey Valley Breweries.<br />
News from<br />
the West<br />
Last month some of us<br />
ventured eastwards to Blackfriars<br />
brewery in Great<br />
Yarmouth. Originally founded<br />
in 2004, the brewery now<br />
operates from the ground floor<br />
Blackfriars brewery visitors centre<br />
of a converted courtyard<br />
building once used for herring<br />
packing. Now, the only fish<br />
present are the ones in the<br />
pictures on the walls of the<br />
shop <strong>and</strong> visitors centre <strong>and</strong><br />
the ones we ate for lunch.<br />
I cannot speak highly enough<br />
of the welcome we received at<br />
the brewery <strong>and</strong> the quality of<br />
the beer that we were<br />
encourage to sample. For me,<br />
the highlight was the chance<br />
to taste some Audit Ale straight<br />
from the cask. At around 8%,<br />
this barley wine style beer is<br />
rarely found these days, <strong>and</strong><br />
then normally only in bottles.<br />
This example is brewed to the<br />
old Lacons recipe, which was<br />
there framed in the brewery.<br />
Some readers may recall an<br />
article I wrote about this style<br />
of beer in a recent edition of<br />
Nips, <strong>and</strong> it was a privilege to<br />
actually try it. I wasn’t alone in<br />
thinking that it was wonderful<br />
– one of the visitors took away<br />
a 2-litre carry out! If you are in<br />
Yarmouth search out the shop,<br />
which is open throughout the<br />
year, except on Sundays.<br />
NORFOLK NIPS | Pub News<br />
We also called in a couple of<br />
excellent pubs in Yarmouth.<br />
The Red Herring has been<br />
listed in the Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide<br />
for many years <strong>and</strong> is as good<br />
as ever, but it was my first visit<br />
to the Mariners Tavern <strong>and</strong><br />
this is also a fine pub with<br />
about six beers available. On<br />
the way back west we called in<br />
at a couple of excellent pubs at<br />
Reedham. Both the Lord<br />
Nelson <strong>and</strong> the Ship are by<br />
the side of the river <strong>and</strong> you<br />
can sit outside watching the<br />
boats sail past <strong>and</strong> the swing<br />
bridge open <strong>and</strong> close.<br />
We were lucky to have perfect<br />
September weather, <strong>and</strong><br />
I cannot remember a nicer<br />
Sunday lunchtime.<br />
Nearer home, we called into<br />
the Crown at Middleton to<br />
find that it was the first night<br />
for the new owner. It was<br />
pleasant <strong>and</strong> popular, with the<br />
promise of excellent food <strong>and</strong><br />
lots of interesting wine on<br />
display. This does not always<br />
mean that the same care <strong>and</strong><br />
attention has been lavished on<br />
the beer, but in this case I am<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 9
WROXHAM BREWERY TAP<br />
Newly launched ALE HOUSE <strong>and</strong> BEER SHOP<br />
Selling a MINIMUM of 50 <strong>Beer</strong>s, ALL from NORFOLK BREWERIES!<br />
Prices from £2.00 to £2.90 per pint<br />
Open 11am – 11pm Mon – Sat (12 Noon – 10.30 pm Sunday)<br />
Coming soon: Wroxham Brewery: own own beers brewed on site<br />
Attention all brewers!<br />
If you would like to supply your beers through the Wroxham Brewery Tap<br />
please contact us for details:<br />
Tel 01603 781952<br />
contact@kingsheadcoltishall.co.uk<br />
The Wroxham Brewery tap, Staitheway Rd, The Peninsula, Wroxham, <strong>Norfolk</strong> NR12 8TH<br />
The City’s favourite local<br />
The Ribs<br />
A GENUINE FREE HOUSE<br />
10 | WINTER 2009 / 2010<br />
9 Cask Ales - 6 Lagers <strong>and</strong> Local Cider<br />
Global Bottled <strong>Beer</strong>s - Award winning Wines<br />
Br<strong>and</strong> new look <strong>and</strong> hi tech cellar<br />
Riverside seating <strong>and</strong> smoking area<br />
Delicious home cooked lunches<br />
Wensum Street, <strong>Norwich</strong> NR3 1HY<br />
Tel: 01603 619517 www.ribsofbeef.co.uk<br />
Wishing all our customers a very Merry Christmas <strong>and</strong> a happy,<br />
healthy 2010. Our thanks for your continued loyal support.<br />
Open Christmas Day.
delighted to report that the<br />
Wherry was excellent. This<br />
place has all the ingredients to<br />
be really successful, <strong>and</strong> we<br />
wish them all the best.<br />
A few miles away, up on the<br />
coast, the Ship at Brancaster<br />
has been closed <strong>and</strong> has undergone<br />
refurbishment. I believe<br />
that it is being run by the same<br />
people as the Crown at East<br />
Rudham <strong>and</strong> the Kings Head at<br />
Letheringsett. We tried to<br />
check it out in early November,<br />
but it was not yet open. From<br />
the outside it looks really good,<br />
<strong>and</strong> I guess in concept it will be<br />
similar to the other pubs in the<br />
group, with a modern look,<br />
great food <strong>and</strong>, we hope, good<br />
beer. Let us know if you get<br />
there before we do.<br />
Out at Terrington St John, the<br />
Woolpack seems to have<br />
settled down under new<br />
ownership. There were three<br />
beers on when we visited <strong>and</strong><br />
the staff were friendly <strong>and</strong><br />
attentive. The food is still good<br />
value <strong>and</strong> very tasty. It’s just off<br />
the main Lynn to Wisbech<br />
Road <strong>and</strong> worth the detour.<br />
In Lynn the Wenn’s Hotel is<br />
advertised as under new<br />
management. I am getting a<br />
bit old for the Friday night<br />
circuit <strong>and</strong> so I have not<br />
ventured in myself. I was not<br />
really convinced by the adverts<br />
in the Lynn News, which promised<br />
‘Ales <strong>and</strong> Larger’.<br />
Not such good news from the<br />
Cat And Fiddle at East<br />
Rudham which has been closed<br />
for a while <strong>and</strong> we hear is<br />
unlikely to reopen. Also still<br />
closed is the New Inn on<br />
Wootton Road. No news or<br />
even rumours about the future<br />
of what should be a very<br />
successful pub. On a more<br />
positive note there was a planning<br />
application mentioned in<br />
the Lynn News looking to turn<br />
the bed shop close to the south<br />
gates back into a pub. It was<br />
formerly O’Tools <strong>and</strong> before<br />
that, the Prince of Wales, so it<br />
should have a good chance of<br />
being accepted. Not sure<br />
about the cryptic reference to<br />
lap dancers though.<br />
Our trips round <strong>and</strong> about<br />
have taken us to a few of the<br />
regions pubs – the beer in the<br />
Kings Head at Bircham was<br />
exceptionally good when we<br />
called. From there we thought<br />
that we would try the Orange<br />
Tree at Thornham but it was<br />
so popular we could not get<br />
into the car park. Several<br />
people have recommended the<br />
place, so it is one for a repeat<br />
visit. Instead we tried the<br />
White Horse at Holme Next<br />
To The Sea. It is off the main<br />
road <strong>and</strong> down in the village.<br />
I reckon that a lot of people<br />
drive along the coast road <strong>and</strong><br />
are unaware of its existence. It<br />
is the first time I have been in<br />
since it was closed for a while<br />
due to a fire <strong>and</strong> it was good to<br />
see that it still sold good beer,<br />
(I think I had Adnams), <strong>and</strong><br />
that it is still a bit more like a<br />
village local compared to some<br />
of the North <strong>Norfolk</strong> pubs.<br />
On the way home we<br />
thought we would try the<br />
Black Horse at Castle Rising.<br />
Last time I was in there was a<br />
very loud b<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> a young<br />
clientele which did not inspire<br />
NORFOLK NIPS | Pub News continued<br />
a quick return, but this time it<br />
was much quieter with a good<br />
mix of customers <strong>and</strong> 4 beers<br />
on offer. We stayed much<br />
longer than we anticipated <strong>and</strong><br />
would definitely call again.<br />
Also on the outskirts of Kings<br />
Lynn is the S<strong>and</strong>boy at<br />
Bawsey. They expressed an<br />
interest in receiving some Nips,<br />
so we have been along a<br />
couple of times. There is a large<br />
dining area, but there is plenty<br />
of room if you just want a<br />
drink. Three beers were on<br />
offer when we called, the food<br />
was good <strong>and</strong> not too expensive<br />
<strong>and</strong> there seems to be a lot<br />
going on, including regular<br />
Salsa sessions.<br />
Maybe the next place to try is<br />
the Red Cat at North Wootton.<br />
Once a beer guide regular it<br />
seems to have drifted out of<br />
favour in recent years, but we<br />
hear that it has been refurbished<br />
<strong>and</strong> that it could be heading<br />
back to its former glory. Let us<br />
know what you think.<br />
Finally, pubs do great work for<br />
charities. One of our branch<br />
members is involved with the<br />
Burma Star association <strong>and</strong> is<br />
very grateful for all the places<br />
that allow him to put a<br />
collecting box on the bar.<br />
Some pubs go even further,<br />
organising special fundraising<br />
events. There are too many to<br />
give a full list, but lets hear it<br />
for the Cock at Magdalen who<br />
raised £500 for the ‘Help the<br />
Heroes’ appeal <strong>and</strong> for<br />
Wimbotsham Chequers who<br />
raised a massive £8000 from<br />
their Fenman Classic bike show<br />
for a variety of local charities.<br />
Jeff Hoyle<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 11
Pub Post Its | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
Pub Post-its<br />
As always, remember that these post-its are subjective <strong>and</strong> reflect the personal experience of<br />
our correspondents. Please feel free to email your post-its in to norfolknips@yahoo.co.uk - <strong>and</strong><br />
if you really like the pub, why not nominate it for next year’s CAMRA Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide<br />
Feathers, Wymondham - Full <strong>and</strong> friendly<br />
with lots of pumps <strong>and</strong> interesting wall<br />
displays. Elgoods Tickler (£2.30) was excellent.<br />
Queens Head, Wymondham - just had one<br />
pump with London Pride on it, £3 a pint <strong>and</strong> OK.<br />
There was live Premier football on the big screen.<br />
Cross Keys, Wymondham - had an impressive<br />
eight pumps including Hopback Summer<br />
Lightning (£3) delicious.<br />
Windmill, Wymondham – This pub which<br />
has recently reopened offers Wolf beers <strong>and</strong> Tim<br />
Taylor L<strong>and</strong>lord (£2.70). With its open log fire,<br />
a big fish tank, a <strong>Norfolk</strong> twister on the ceiling it<br />
is particularly recommended.<br />
Kings Head – Shipdham – complete with real<br />
fire has Taylor L<strong>and</strong>lord available.<br />
Golden Dog – Shipdham - has one real ale<br />
available - Wolf Werewolf <strong>and</strong> also has a real fire.<br />
Old Bell - Saham Toney – Has four real ales<br />
on with Greene King IPA <strong>and</strong> Adnams Bitter as<br />
regulars. Occasional guests include London Pride<br />
& Palmers Copper Ale. Excellent food available.<br />
The Cock – Drayton serves a range of<br />
Marston’s ales plus guest ales from Woodforde’s<br />
<strong>and</strong> recently they had on Wychwood Hobgoblin<br />
which was superb.<br />
The Red Lion – Drayton sells a range of<br />
Adnams <strong>Beer</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Courage Directors.<br />
The Bob Carter Leisure Centre – Drayton<br />
usually serves four real ales, that include Green<br />
King Abbot <strong>and</strong> IPA plus a local guest from<br />
Woodforde’s. They have recently had Humpty<br />
Dumpty Little Sharpie on which sold out in two<br />
12 | WINTER 2009 / 2010<br />
days! You can reach Drayton from <strong>Norwich</strong> by<br />
bike along Marriott’s Way <strong>and</strong> it is well worth<br />
the effort.<br />
Kings Head – Woodton In addition to their<br />
Greene King <strong>Beer</strong>s this pub has recently had on<br />
Grain Bitter, Buffy’s Blue (on gravity), <strong>and</strong><br />
Humpty Dumpty Little Sharpie. A pub worth<br />
trying if you are in the area.<br />
Mayden’s Head, Lynn has been closed for the<br />
last week or so. Apparently it has changed h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
again but nothing definite known. (Subsequent<br />
to the meeting the pub has been seen open).<br />
First & Last, Ormesby - Now has four cask<br />
ales available, Adnams Broadside, Greene King<br />
IPA, <strong>and</strong> Speckled Hen plus a guest.<br />
Wenns, Lynn under new management.<br />
Live & Let Live, Lynn<br />
4 well kept real ales but let down by paintwork<br />
needing re-doing.<br />
Red Cat, North Wootton has reopened after<br />
refurbishment.<br />
Globe, Lynn current (Wetherspoon’s) beer<br />
festival including foreign beers. Ale & service good.<br />
Lattice, Lynn same festival, beers & service<br />
also good.<br />
Stag, West Acre say they had the first ever<br />
public cask of Beeston’s new mild, Squirrel’s<br />
Nuts. As the brewery hadn’t one yet, the pub<br />
designed their own pump clip with a predictable<br />
picture of a squirrel. We’ll see if Beeston go with this!<br />
Red Lion, Hokwold, currently closed.
NORFOLK NIPS | Pub Post Its continued<br />
S<strong>and</strong>boy, Bawsey, 3 ales on. Were interested<br />
in local breweries. Apparently have already<br />
approached Fox.<br />
Globe, Fair Green advertise GK IPA + an ever<br />
changing guest.<br />
Rampant Horse, Gayton is apparently up for<br />
sale again.<br />
Crown, Middleton, under new management,<br />
keen on the beer even if he doesn’t drink it<br />
himself. It seems he was previously chef at<br />
Fishes, Burnham Market.<br />
Dolphin, Thetford doing well, ‘no IPA or Wherry’.<br />
Black Horse, Thetford doing well enough to need<br />
more stillage, his 4 pumps are selling too quickly!<br />
Thetford Legion is expecting 4 casks of<br />
Adnams Tally Ho by Christmas.<br />
Chequers Feltwell is currently closed no information<br />
on re-opening has been forthcoming.<br />
REAL ALE SHOP<br />
BLOFIELD<br />
Visit the shop at<br />
Blofield Leisure Centre, 58 Yarmouth Road,<br />
Blofield, <strong>Norfolk</strong>, NR13 4LQ<br />
Or<br />
Visit our brewery shop at<br />
7 Estcourt Road, Great Yarmouth,<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong>, NR30 4JQ<br />
Tel: 01493 854484<br />
email: beer@norfolksquarebrewery.co.uk<br />
www.norfolksquarebrewery.co.uk<br />
The Stag at West Acre had the pleasure<br />
recently of being the first pub where Beeston<br />
Brewery's new beer, Squirrels Nuts became available.<br />
In response to the piece on The Fat Cat in the<br />
autumn edition:<br />
Dear Sir/Madam,<br />
I read with interest the pub post its in the<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> nips (Autumn 2009).<br />
Whilst I accept that one can only judge a pub on<br />
the day of the visit I did find the comments on<br />
the Fat Cat disgraceful. To say that the pork pie<br />
was the highlight of the evening in a pub which<br />
regularly has well over 30 ales on, <strong>and</strong> more<br />
punters on a wet Tuesday evening than most<br />
pubs have on a Friday, indicates that the contributor<br />
must exist in an abyss of ignorance, or<br />
jealousy! I drink session ales at 3.8% or less <strong>and</strong><br />
there is almost without fail a choice of 5 or<br />
more, most so called ale pubs would be pushed<br />
to have 5 ales of any description.<br />
Steve Foyster<br />
Six Real Ales<br />
Live Music Every Thursday<br />
Lounge & Garden<br />
Seasonal menu<br />
(formerley the St Andrews Tavern)<br />
4 St Andrews Street, <strong>Norwich</strong>, NR2 4AF<br />
01603 614858<br />
Open Midday to Midnight 7 Days A Week<br />
Serving Food until 9pm Monday to Friday<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 13
2nd ALL NORFOLK<br />
3rd <strong>and</strong> 4th APRIL 2010<br />
OVER 30 NORFOLK ALES & CIDERS<br />
AT LAKENHAM-HEWETT RFC - ADMISSION £2.50<br />
OPENING TIMES Saturday 1200 ‘til 2300 Sunday 1200 ‘til 2100<br />
BBQ-HOG ROAST<br />
LIVE MUSIC<br />
CAMPING AVAILABLE<br />
The New Clubhouse<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> Road<br />
Swardeston<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> NR14 8DU<br />
beerfestival@lakenhamhewettrfc.co.uk<br />
14 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
NORFOLK NIPS | Words from the West <strong>Norfolk</strong> Editor<br />
October First Friday<br />
Alarge number of beer<br />
enthusiasts assembled at<br />
The Queen of Iceni on<br />
Riverside to begin this<br />
month’s exploration of city<br />
hostelries. This large purposebuilt<br />
Wetherspoon’s Lloyds No<br />
1 did not disappoint with a<br />
keenly priced array of familiar<br />
<strong>and</strong> guest beers on the counter<br />
<strong>and</strong> all in tip top condition.<br />
Wetherspoon’s real ale pricing<br />
policy <strong>and</strong> close relationship to<br />
CAMRA is well known <strong>and</strong> with<br />
Friday evening’s revellers<br />
pouring in this made the venue<br />
a fine place to start drinking.<br />
Steampacket, Crown Rd<br />
The route to the next pub,<br />
the newly reopened Steampacket<br />
on Crown Road was<br />
across the new Lady Julian<br />
footbridge which links Riverside<br />
with King Street <strong>and</strong> there<br />
were fine views along the river<br />
on this balmy night. The<br />
Steampacket has been refurbished<br />
but still retains an<br />
intimate feel to it <strong>and</strong> a friendly<br />
welcome was received. Three<br />
h<strong>and</strong> pumps on the bar<br />
(Wherry, Adnams <strong>and</strong> London<br />
Pride at £2.60) dispensed<br />
excellent quality ale. The bar<br />
area has been exp<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
slightly, the back room is now<br />
toilets <strong>and</strong> there will soon be a<br />
restaurant operating upstairs.<br />
Apart from ourselves workers<br />
from the nearby television<br />
studio (including an instantly<br />
recognisable sports presenter)<br />
were enjoying the atmosphere<br />
at the bar.<br />
A short walk along the top<br />
end of King Street took us to<br />
Kings, (previously Nags Head,<br />
Tuskers) where the h<strong>and</strong>pumps<br />
were Adnams (£2.75) <strong>and</strong> Spitfire<br />
(£3.00). A convivial<br />
atmosphere had some of us<br />
involved in conversation with a<br />
local drinker.<br />
Time to move on now, to the<br />
Wild Man on Bedford Street,<br />
one of the few pubs that Tolly<br />
Cobbold used to own, but now<br />
offering other Suffolk beers <strong>and</strong><br />
Wherry. The Abbot (2.90) was<br />
excellent, the Wherry<br />
according to reports hazy but<br />
drinkable. The pub was full of<br />
young people enjoying a Friday<br />
night out in the city, <strong>and</strong> it had<br />
a very friendly feel to it.<br />
Our final call was to the bar of<br />
Cinema City. The beautiful<br />
mediaeval Suckling Hall <strong>and</strong> its<br />
enclosed flint courtyard are a<br />
wonderful setting to quaff real<br />
ale. The one beer on offer,<br />
from another Suffolk brewer,<br />
St Peters is named after the<br />
builder of the hall Sir Robert<br />
Suckling. Some of our party<br />
were lucky to taste the beer (at<br />
£3.30 a pint) before it ran out,<br />
others went elsewhere (or<br />
home to bed!)<br />
In summary, an enjoyable<br />
crawl via some varied <strong>and</strong><br />
interesting establishments, but<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> beer (Wherry) was<br />
found in only two of the fine<br />
pubs, a situation that I am sure<br />
local CAMRA members would<br />
like to see rectified in future.<br />
Mont<br />
A visit from<br />
Wetherspoons<br />
It was very nice to see the<br />
management team from “The<br />
Lattice House” in King’s Lynn turn<br />
up at our recent branch meeting.<br />
They expressed their keeness to<br />
address any issues which might<br />
st<strong>and</strong> in the way of future inclusion<br />
in the Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide. They<br />
are taking steps to ensure problems<br />
encountered in the past with<br />
for instance speed of service <strong>and</strong><br />
beer quality are corrected.<br />
They also intend to get increasingly<br />
involved in the local<br />
community.<br />
We welcomed them <strong>and</strong> are<br />
very encouraged by their news.<br />
Nice to know talking to other<br />
folk in the pub business as well<br />
that they do want to know why<br />
they do or don’t get into the GBG.<br />
One publican told me he felt<br />
that one failing in the process was<br />
that branches very seldom explain<br />
to publicans who falter, what they<br />
need to do to rectify the situation.<br />
Is there a need for some form of<br />
scorecard which the publicans<br />
could ask to see<br />
This is a difficult question.<br />
What do you think<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 15
<strong>Norfolk</strong> CAMRA Branch Calendar | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> CAMRA Branch calendar<br />
15 December - Branch Meeting. The Railway,<br />
North Elmham. 8pm. Coach, Normal pickup<br />
times <strong>and</strong> route.<br />
19 December – Our traditional Christmas<br />
Crawl of 10 <strong>Norwich</strong> pubs. 5.00pm Rose (235<br />
Queens Road) 5.30 Freemasons Arms 6.00 Kings<br />
Arms 6.45 Horse & Dray 7.30 Queen of Iceni<br />
(Lloyds No 1, Riverside) 8.15 Coach & Horses<br />
(Thorpe Road) 8.45 Rosary Tavern 9.15 Jubilee<br />
9.45 Red Lion (Bishopgate) 10.15 Ketts Tavern.<br />
20 December – West <strong>Norfolk</strong> Christmas Crawl<br />
in <strong>Norwich</strong>. A chance for members from both<br />
branches to meet up <strong>and</strong> socialise. - 1100<br />
Whalebone - 1200 Duke Of Wellington -1245<br />
Cider Shed -1330 Heath House -1415<br />
Cottage -1500 Ketts Tavern - 1545<br />
Adam & Eve -1630 Wig & Pen -1730<br />
Ribs Of Beef -1815 The Vine - 1900<br />
Belgian Monk - 1945 Queen Of Iceni.<br />
8 Jan 2010 First Friday 5 - Fat Cat (West End<br />
Street) (8pm) then West End Retreat, Black<br />
Horse, Mitre, Garden House.<br />
19 Jan Branch Meeting Lord Nelson, Reedham.<br />
8pm, Coach normal pick up times <strong>and</strong> route.<br />
21 Jan “<strong>Beer</strong>s of the <strong>Festival</strong>” awards. Cottage,<br />
Silver Road 8pm.<br />
29 Jan Campaigning Coach Trip. (destination to<br />
be arranged)<br />
5 Feb First Friday 5 Compleat Angler (8pm)<br />
then Red Lion (Bishopgate), Bridge House, Ketts<br />
Tavern, Cottage (Silver Road).<br />
16 Feb Branch Meeting which will include<br />
voting for GBG 2011. (Please bring membership<br />
card if you intend to vote). York Tavern, <strong>Norwich</strong><br />
26 Feb campaigning Coach Trip (destination to<br />
be arranged)<br />
16 March Branch AGM. Only Card carrying<br />
members admitted. Venue Take 5. 8pm.<br />
Coach pick-ups: 6.47pm junc. Southwell<br />
Road/Grove Road; 6.55pm junc, Old Palace<br />
Road/West End Street; 7.10pm Heartsease<br />
Roundabout, (Harvey Lane side); 7.15pm<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> Railway Station, (Thorpe Road bus<br />
stops). Please contact Social Secretary Tim<br />
MacDonald E-mail socialsecretary@norwichcamra.org.uk<br />
or 01603 865505 in advance if<br />
you wish to board the coach on any part of the<br />
above route.<br />
For updates on the social calendar check<br />
www.norwichcamra.org.uk with the full branch<br />
events calendar. You do not have to be a<br />
member to come on the Branch meetings,<br />
coach trips or the First Friday Five. If not a<br />
member why not attend any of these <strong>and</strong> if you<br />
enjoy them then perhaps you may wish to join!<br />
West <strong>Norfolk</strong> CAMRA Branch calendar<br />
8th December, White Hart,<br />
Foulden<br />
19th December, <strong>Norwich</strong><br />
tour starts 11am, The Whalebone<br />
9th February, Lattice<br />
House, Lynn<br />
9th March, Black Horse,<br />
Thetford<br />
Proposed visit to Masham,<br />
Theakstons & Black Sheep<br />
Breweries<br />
March 26-27-28th 2010<br />
(01842 827600)<br />
16 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
The Kings Head<br />
North Lopham (Near Diss)<br />
400 year old thatched country pub<br />
Real Ales at sensible prices:<br />
Woodfordes Wherry & Adnams Bitter plus a rotating guest beer (4% ABV <strong>and</strong> above)<br />
PLUS Aspalls Cyder <strong>and</strong> a draught keg Mild<br />
Home made food, freshly prepared with a selection of<br />
Vegetarian <strong>and</strong> gluten free meals<br />
(Served Wednesday to Saturday 12 - 2.30pm & 6pm - 8.30pm <strong>and</strong> Sunday Lunch 12 noon - 3pm)<br />
Real Fire<br />
Opening Times: Monday 5-11pm<br />
Tuesday / Wednesday 11.30am - 3pm <strong>and</strong> 5pm - 11pm<br />
Thursday / Friday 11.30am - 3pm <strong>and</strong> 5pm - 12midnight<br />
Saturday 11.30am - 12midnight<br />
Sunday 12noon - 10:30pm<br />
The Kings Head, 16 The Street, North Lopham, Diss , <strong>Norfolk</strong> IP22 2NE Tel: 01379 688007<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> Garden &<br />
ample Parking<br />
FREE HOUSE<br />
COAST ROAD, WALCOTT,<br />
NORFOLK NR12 OPE<br />
Telephone<br />
(01692) 650371<br />
Proprietor since 1989: STEVE BULLIMORE<br />
OPEN FOR FOOD & DRINKS<br />
ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, 11am - 11pm<br />
Food available all day until 10.30pm<br />
10% off food <strong>and</strong> drink on production of CAMRA membership card<br />
FOUR REAL ALES & CIDER<br />
www.lighthouseinn.co.uk<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 17
<strong>Norfolk</strong>’s True Heritage Pubs 4 | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
Woodside, Thorpe St Andrew<br />
© Michael Slaughter 2009<br />
The public bar of the Woodside, Thorpe St Andrew, which has hardly<br />
changed since it was built in 1956.<br />
in my second article in<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> Nips I advise readers<br />
that the Red Lion, Kenninghall,<br />
was recently added to<br />
the Part Two of CAMRA’s<br />
National Inventory of Historic<br />
Pub Interiors for its rare snug.<br />
In this issue I am delighted to<br />
advise readers that another<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> pub has been added to<br />
the national list, this time to<br />
Part One – it is the Woodside,<br />
Thorpe St Andrew on the east<br />
edge of <strong>Norwich</strong>. Normally, a<br />
pub needs to be wholly or<br />
largely intact since before 1939<br />
to be included, but pubs built<br />
between 1939 <strong>and</strong> 30 years<br />
ago <strong>and</strong> essentially intact since<br />
construction can also be<br />
18 | WINTER 2009 / 2010<br />
added. The Woodside was built<br />
in 1956 in inter-war style by<br />
Bullards Brewery <strong>and</strong> it is very<br />
little changed, still with its<br />
Crittal windows - it is an amazingly<br />
rare survivor. It still retains its<br />
original plan-form of a lounge,<br />
public bar, smoke-room <strong>and</strong><br />
off-sales (no longer in use).<br />
The room in regular use is the<br />
lounge on the right with a<br />
curved original counter which<br />
retains its original Formica top<br />
but, like the walls, has a new<br />
frontage of wooden panels<br />
over the original ply ones. This<br />
bar also retains its original<br />
mirrored back fitting with glass<br />
shelves <strong>and</strong> two lower drawers.<br />
The distinctive 1950s entrance<br />
to the off sales of the Woodside,<br />
Thorpe St Andrew.<br />
The spartan public bar is in the<br />
middle with a '3' on one of its<br />
two inner doors, original
NORFOLK NIPS |<br />
counter on a tiled plinth with a<br />
button leatherette frontage<br />
<strong>and</strong> a black Formica top. The<br />
bar back is of classic late<br />
50s/early 60s style, as is the<br />
fireplace <strong>and</strong> there are two<br />
sections of corner seating. The<br />
public bar tends to only be<br />
open currently when some<br />
customers find the lounge is<br />
getting too noisy <strong>and</strong> also for<br />
the meetings of a Reptile Club<br />
on 1st Tue of the month. The<br />
far left front door is not<br />
currently in use but leads to an<br />
intact separate tiny off-sales<br />
room with its counter, <strong>and</strong> also<br />
the former pool room which is<br />
currently only used by<br />
members of the local pigeon<br />
club who meet on Fri. <strong>and</strong> Sat<br />
this issue has a 1950s<br />
theme as I now feature<br />
the Kings Arms, Blakeney,<br />
which is little changed<br />
since it was re-fitted following a<br />
flood in 1953. Originally three<br />
fisherman's cottages, it was<br />
built in 1760 (note the ‘FH +<br />
1760’ tiled into the mellow red<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> pantiled roof of the<br />
building – the initials ‘FH’ is<br />
thought to relate to the builder<br />
who fitted it <strong>and</strong> not ‘Free<br />
House’, a modern term). The<br />
pub consists of 4 small rooms -<br />
the original layout looks like it<br />
could have been two rooms<br />
with an off-sales hatch situated<br />
opposite the front door. Note<br />
the plaque on the wall<br />
recording the flood level in<br />
1953 - the bar fittings are those<br />
installed following the 1953<br />
flood. The public bar on the<br />
evenings. This room has a<br />
parquet floor, original counter<br />
with a panelled front <strong>and</strong><br />
Formica top, bar back with till<br />
drawers <strong>and</strong> one section of<br />
fixed seating looks original.<br />
Note that most of the doorways<br />
have two rows of translucent<br />
glass blocks around them. If<br />
you want to inspect the rooms<br />
on a visit to the pub just ask<br />
<strong>and</strong> the bar staff will show you<br />
them. The Woodside is situated<br />
at 148 Plumstead Road East,<br />
Thorpe St Andrew NR7 9NG.<br />
The real ale on sale is Greene<br />
King IPA, but this tends to only<br />
be during the racing pigeon<br />
season. No food. Open from<br />
11 to 11 (10.30 Sun). Telephone<br />
01603 708918.<br />
Kings Arms, Blakeney<br />
left has a red quarry tiled floor,<br />
a 1950s style lapped wood<br />
counter with a new top, <strong>and</strong><br />
bar back shelving including<br />
ones with 1950s red Formica<br />
on them. The large brick fireplace<br />
could have some 1950s<br />
changes as it contains both<br />
h<strong>and</strong> made <strong>and</strong> machine-made<br />
The Smoke Room bar fittings at<br />
the Woodside, Thorpe St Andrew<br />
–the style being typical of the<br />
late 1950s.<br />
bricks, but the dado panelling<br />
is much older as could be the<br />
two long benches.<br />
To the right the lounge bar<br />
has more old dado panelling<br />
on the wall, another lapped<br />
Continued Overleaf<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 19
Queen’s Head<br />
<strong>and</strong> Waveney Brewing Company<br />
Traditional Village Pub with a brewery<br />
producing permanent <strong>and</strong> seasonal<br />
ales on site<br />
Large beer garden, traditional games, lunchtime menu <strong>and</strong> a good<br />
selection of real ale, spirits <strong>and</strong> soft drinks<br />
Listed in the Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide every year since 2000.<br />
20 |WINTER 2009 / 2010<br />
Station Road, Earsham, <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
Tel: (01986) 892623
NORFOLK NIPS | Heritage Pubs continued<br />
The quarry tiled public bar at the Kings Arms, Blakeney, barely<br />
changed since it was refitted in 1953 following a flood.<br />
wood counter with a new top,<br />
more bar back shelves with red<br />
Formica on some <strong>and</strong> the old<br />
till drawer. The room has been<br />
combined with another small<br />
room to the far right which has<br />
a 1950s brick fireplace. In the<br />
far corner is the disused phone<br />
booth which has been listed as<br />
the smallest art gallery in a pub<br />
in Britain! Two further small<br />
rooms to the far left were<br />
brought into pub use in the<br />
1980s. A further ‘Garden<br />
Room’ has been added in<br />
recent years. It is heartening to<br />
find a pub in the popular North<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> coast area that has<br />
resisted changes <strong>and</strong> I can<br />
thoroughly recommend this<br />
unspoilt gem. Why not<br />
combine a visit with one of the<br />
daily (early February / April to<br />
the beginning of November)<br />
seal-watching trips to the far<br />
end of Blakeney Point which<br />
set off from Morston Quay. See<br />
the Kings Arms website<br />
www.blakeneykingsarms.co.uk<br />
for more details.<br />
The Kings Arms, which has<br />
been run by the Davies family<br />
since 1976, is situated at Westgate<br />
Street NR25 7NQ close to<br />
Blakeney Quay <strong>and</strong> is open<br />
from 11 to 11. Five real ales are<br />
available - Adnams Best Bitter,<br />
Marstons Pedigree <strong>and</strong> Old<br />
Speckled Hen on h<strong>and</strong>pumps;<br />
also Woodfordes Wherry or<br />
Nelsons Revenge <strong>and</strong> either<br />
Adnams Broadside or Explorer<br />
from casks on the bar. Freshly<br />
prepared meals are available<br />
from 12 to 2 <strong>and</strong> 6 to 9; also<br />
bar meals can be ordered from<br />
12 noon to 9.30pm. Accommodation<br />
is available in 7<br />
en-suite rooms. Telephone<br />
01263 740341.<br />
The public bar counter at the<br />
Kings Arms, Blakeney – a Woodfordes<br />
<strong>and</strong> an Adnams beer is<br />
always sold direct from the cask.<br />
If you require photographs of<br />
your pub interior / exterior<br />
you can contact Mick on<br />
01733 390598<br />
or email<br />
m.slaughter45@ntlworld.com<br />
to discuss your requirements.<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 21
Correspondence | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
Can our pubs be saved<br />
Afew months ago I was in a<br />
pub in <strong>Norwich</strong> enjoying<br />
the music of L<strong>and</strong>ermason.<br />
This is quite a<br />
nice b<strong>and</strong>, so it was not<br />
surprising that it was a bit<br />
crowded. The beautiful<br />
weather helped to make the<br />
public thirsty. When a member<br />
of the staff of the pub came to<br />
collect the empty glasses from<br />
our table I asked her if she<br />
could bring us full ones in<br />
return. She looked at me like<br />
I had made a very indecent<br />
proposal. Immediately I<br />
apologised <strong>and</strong> went to the bar<br />
myself to get new beers for<br />
myself <strong>and</strong> the other people at<br />
the table.<br />
I had to think about this<br />
when I read an article about<br />
the amount of pubs that are<br />
closing down nowadays. A lot<br />
of people blame the government<br />
for this. It should be<br />
caused by the high taxes.<br />
I think this is a bit easy to say.<br />
In my country the taxes are<br />
higher <strong>and</strong> yet less bars have to<br />
close definitely.<br />
I think pub owners should<br />
have a closer look at what their<br />
business is about. I don't think<br />
this is selling beer but serving<br />
beer. The consumers can easily<br />
buy good beer in supermarkets<br />
or in off-licences. At home<br />
they drink it whilst entertaining<br />
company or watching sports<br />
on television or such. In pubs<br />
there is in most cases nothing<br />
extra coming with their drink,<br />
except when the owner/<br />
22 | WINTER 2009 / 2010<br />
manager organises live music.<br />
In the Netherl<strong>and</strong>s I'm used<br />
to have my beer brought to my<br />
table, often combined with a<br />
little bowl of nuts. Sometimes<br />
the barkeeper asks me when<br />
I enter the bar if I would like<br />
the “usual”. Even on the ferry<br />
between Hook of Holl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
Harwich the waiter walks to my<br />
table when my glass is empty<br />
<strong>and</strong> asks if it needs to be<br />
refilled. And the barkeeper<br />
always will make a little chat if<br />
he has the time for this.<br />
Normally paying is done when<br />
I want to leave, not after<br />
receiving every single beer.<br />
It shows I'm being trusted.<br />
This is all meant to give the<br />
feeling of being welcome, that<br />
I feel at home. For this special<br />
treatment I'm willing to give a<br />
tip to the staff.<br />
On all my travels in Europe<br />
<strong>and</strong> the USA I experienced that<br />
service is a normal thing. But<br />
not in the UK. In Pol<strong>and</strong> I once<br />
was in a student bar: they had<br />
no table service. Yet even here<br />
they gave more service than in<br />
the UK: when giving a large<br />
order you get a tray to carry<br />
the glasses to your table. In the<br />
UK barkeepers are not bothered<br />
to see you walk to <strong>and</strong> from the<br />
bar a couple of times to get the<br />
glasses on your table.<br />
The average barkeeper in the<br />
UK st<strong>and</strong>s on a sort of platform<br />
behind the bar <strong>and</strong> looks down<br />
literally on the visitors of the<br />
pub. I have witnessed that the<br />
barkeeper sits on a stool, busy<br />
with reading the news paper or<br />
making a crossword puzzle.<br />
With a big sigh the drinks or<br />
snacks are sold. Instead of a<br />
little chat I have heard remarks<br />
like: “I don't know if you are<br />
worthy to drink my beer”, “Oh<br />
no, not you again!” <strong>and</strong> “You<br />
are too ugly to drink my beer”.<br />
Is this the way to make the<br />
client feel at home <strong>and</strong> make<br />
him want to come back<br />
Everywhere in the world there<br />
is music or a television to<br />
watch for guests who don't<br />
have someone to talk to.<br />
DVD's are shown sometimes,<br />
people watch important sport<br />
matches together. In my<br />
opinion the pub should<br />
compete with the living room<br />
at home. As long as this is not<br />
happening there will be an<br />
increase of pubs closing down.<br />
A customer who gets up from<br />
his chair has a choice: to walk<br />
to the bar or to walk out of the<br />
door. It's up to the staff of the<br />
pub to take that choice away.<br />
The barkeeper should be a<br />
host.<br />
Seeing pubs get closed is<br />
such a pity! Most pubs are<br />
really a wonderful sight, there<br />
are excellent beers available<br />
<strong>and</strong> I think that by only giving<br />
a little extra effort they can be<br />
a great place to be!<br />
Albert van der Steeg
Return to<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong><br />
As I was in <strong>Norwich</strong><br />
recently, I had the chance<br />
after 30 years to revisit<br />
your splendid <strong>Beer</strong><br />
<strong>Festival</strong>. As one of the small<br />
group of co-founders <strong>and</strong><br />
organizers of the first ever <strong>Beer</strong><br />
<strong>Festival</strong> in <strong>Norwich</strong> in the late<br />
seventies, I was interested to<br />
see what had become of our<br />
great plans <strong>and</strong> hopes at the<br />
time, as I moved shortly afterwards<br />
to Germany , where I<br />
have lived ever since. It was<br />
really great <strong>and</strong> I congratulate<br />
you all on your enormous<br />
success. I know how very many<br />
people are involved, all giving<br />
unstintingly of their time <strong>and</strong><br />
energy but it was really worth<br />
it. Thanks for a wonderful<br />
experience <strong>and</strong> keep up the<br />
good work – Germany has,<br />
unfortunately, no real equivalent,<br />
so you can imagine the<br />
pleasure as I downed my first<br />
pint of real ale after so long.<br />
Geoff Cheeseman<br />
The Old (or not<br />
so old) Days<br />
icame to live in <strong>Norwich</strong> with<br />
my wife <strong>and</strong> son in 1966.<br />
Our new home was in Eaton<br />
on the newly created Greenways<br />
Estate. At that time there<br />
were rolling fields that are now<br />
covered with houses.<br />
My local was The Red Lion<br />
situated on what was then<br />
(before the construction of The<br />
Cringleford Bye Pass) the main<br />
A11. The A11 crossed the Yare<br />
by a narrow bridge which<br />
frequently held up traffic.<br />
The Red Lion is a very old pub<br />
dating back to the late 17th<br />
century. Eaton village once<br />
boasted no less than six pubs<br />
but by the 1960s there were<br />
just two remaining. The Red<br />
Lion <strong>and</strong> The Cellar House.<br />
These two pubs served the<br />
village population. However, a<br />
growing population of home<br />
owners in the area was to<br />
precipitate many changes. But<br />
in 1966 much of the old<br />
remained.<br />
The Red Lion had three<br />
unequal sized rooms. There<br />
was a traditional bar at one end<br />
<strong>and</strong> next the “Saloon” <strong>and</strong><br />
then a small “Off Licence”. The<br />
bar had a stone floor, sprinkled<br />
with sawdust, some benches<br />
<strong>and</strong> some wooden tables <strong>and</strong><br />
chairs. There was a much used<br />
dartboard <strong>and</strong> games of dominoes<br />
were often played. “The<br />
Saloon” was a different world.<br />
It was more like a smart hotel<br />
lounge covered with a thick<br />
pile carpet <strong>and</strong> with comfortable<br />
settees, arm chairs <strong>and</strong><br />
small round tables. In winter<br />
the large ornamental fireplace<br />
was lit with a roaring log fire.<br />
At the far end of the building<br />
was the “off licence”, a very<br />
small room where locals could<br />
buy beer to take home. Sometimes<br />
one might see a woman<br />
accompanying a man in the<br />
lounge. Very occasionally two<br />
women might enter alone. The<br />
only women seen in the bar<br />
were young students.<br />
The pub was then a Steward<br />
& Patteson house <strong>and</strong> as I<br />
recall there was just a choice of<br />
mild or bitter. The only food<br />
available was crisps although I<br />
think a s<strong>and</strong>wich may have<br />
been available on request.<br />
And, ah yes, the toilets!<br />
Outside in the yard was a<br />
walled open air urinal. It<br />
consisted of a wall <strong>and</strong> drain<br />
<strong>and</strong> there was a smell.<br />
By 1969 the old Red Lion was<br />
no more. Watneys had taken<br />
over bringing in their bl<strong>and</strong><br />
keg beer. The interior was<br />
modernised <strong>and</strong> consisted of a<br />
single large room <strong>and</strong> one<br />
small bar. The floor was<br />
covered by an industrialised<br />
type carpet <strong>and</strong> gone was the<br />
old wooden furniture to be<br />
replaced with ‘modern’ style<br />
tables <strong>and</strong> chairs. An indoor<br />
hygienic toilet completed the<br />
refurbishment. I think I was just<br />
in time to witness the end of<br />
one era <strong>and</strong> the beginning of<br />
another.<br />
Norman Wordsworth<br />
Do any of our readers have<br />
memories of pubs from<br />
yesteryear If so we would like<br />
to hear from you. – Ed.<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 23
Fantastic Four go to Somerset | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
Smashing Spring in Somerset<br />
No tourists in here just friendly<br />
locals. Midweek we drove high<br />
up in the Mendip Hill's <strong>and</strong><br />
found another of our finds in<br />
the Hunter's Lodge at Priddy.<br />
The pebble dashed exterior did<br />
not bode well but as we<br />
entered we came across a pub<br />
which seemingly had not<br />
changed for 100 years. <strong>Beer</strong><br />
straight from the cask once<br />
more <strong>and</strong> the amazing price of<br />
just £3.50 for a bowl of faggot<br />
<strong>and</strong> peas!!<br />
the group of 4 (Big Nige,<br />
Big Kev, Stew <strong>and</strong> Sharon)<br />
returned to Somerset this<br />
past Spring to see if we<br />
could relive another week of<br />
sun, s<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> fabulous Real Ale<br />
<strong>and</strong>...erm Cider!! We got to our<br />
cottage in the middle of<br />
nowhere but too far south of<br />
Glastonbury in good time to<br />
do shopping for the week <strong>and</strong><br />
have a pint down the local<br />
Castlebrook Arms in Compton<br />
Dundon...what a surprise to<br />
find a genuine local with<br />
Sharps Doom Bar <strong>and</strong> Otter<br />
bitter...both very drinkable!!<br />
the pubs! Our first find was the<br />
Barton Inn at Barton St David.<br />
We were not sure at first as we<br />
could hear loud punters <strong>and</strong><br />
the Pub Sign was upside<br />
down!! In we went <strong>and</strong> what<br />
we encountered was a truly<br />
eccentric village local with beer<br />
served straight from the barrel!<br />
Average prices for Somerset<br />
were well down compared to<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> at about £2.50 a pint<br />
<strong>and</strong> Local Cider was much<br />
cheaper at about £2.00. the<br />
cider was also very good. We<br />
visited Wilkins Cider Farm near<br />
Wedmore, <strong>and</strong> sampled some<br />
delightful blends of dry <strong>and</strong><br />
sweet varieties. Stew bought a<br />
The week started rather wet<br />
but got sunnier <strong>and</strong> warmer as<br />
the days went by <strong>and</strong> so did<br />
24 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
NORFOLK NIPS | Fantastic Four go to Somerset<br />
gallon to take away for a mere<br />
72 pence a pint!! in general in<br />
Somerset the food prices were<br />
reasonable <strong>and</strong> the style much<br />
less of the pretentious “gastro”<br />
type found so predominantly in<br />
East Anglia nowadays, <strong>and</strong> the<br />
quality was excellent nearly<br />
everywhere.<br />
Back to the pubs <strong>and</strong> another<br />
classic pub revisited from last<br />
time was Eli’s (Rose & Crown)<br />
at Huish Episcopi. I had just<br />
reopened after extensive<br />
flooding earlier in the year. The<br />
pub is unusual as there is no<br />
bar making it more as if you<br />
are walking into someone's<br />
house. There are multiple<br />
rooms for nothing but good<br />
basic chat. <strong>Another</strong> pub which<br />
we raved about last time was<br />
the Halfway House in<br />
Pitney..this time it was a little<br />
disappointing with the beer<br />
not <strong>and</strong> food not such good<br />
quality...hopefully this is a mere<br />
blip <strong>and</strong> we will return one day<br />
to find it back to its best. After<br />
a bracing walk on Brean Down<br />
we headed for the Queens<br />
Arms at Bleadon....<strong>Another</strong><br />
find! Absolutely well recommended<br />
for super atmosphere,<br />
good wholesome food <strong>and</strong><br />
superb beer (Butcombe gold<br />
<strong>and</strong> Bath Golden Hare on<br />
when visited).<br />
There were plenty more pubs<br />
we visited not only in the Good<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> Guide but ones we visited<br />
on the off-chance - The Castlebrook<br />
Arms was not in the<br />
guide but was excellent all the<br />
same as was the Anchor in<br />
Seatown. Oh <strong>and</strong> on the way<br />
back we visited another classic<br />
Oxfordshire pub - Peyton Arms<br />
at Stoke Lyne. it would have<br />
been rude not to visit <strong>and</strong> it<br />
was truly a great end to a great<br />
week in the west country.<br />
Nigel Nudds<br />
West <strong>Norfolk</strong> Subscription<br />
To receive the next four issues<br />
of <strong>Norfolk</strong> Nips <strong>and</strong> Cask<br />
Force, send ten 1st class<br />
stamps to <strong>Norfolk</strong> Nips,<br />
91 Tennyson Road<br />
Kings Lynn, <strong>Norfolk</strong>, PE30 5NG<br />
The Real Ale Shop<br />
Branthill Farm, Wells-next-the-Sea,<br />
NORFOLK NR23 1SB<br />
ON THE B1105 FAKENHAM- WELLS RD<br />
Over 50<br />
bottle conditioned real<br />
ales from 15 <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
brewers who all use<br />
Branthill Farms<br />
famous malted barley.<br />
TEL: 01328 710810<br />
www.therealaleshop.co.uk<br />
Now selling<br />
bottle conditioned beers from<br />
The Real Ale Shop in<br />
Wells Next The Sea<br />
tel 01328 710810<br />
Contact us below<br />
for trade sales:<br />
01603 279927<br />
john@oleslewfootbrewery.co.uk<br />
3 Pollard Rd, Hainford,<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> NR10 3BE<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 25
Packed full of <strong>Norfolk</strong>’s Finest<br />
Real Ales Brewed <strong>and</strong> bottled on the premises,<br />
Local Cheeses, Chutneys, Glazed Hams, <strong>and</strong><br />
Local Crafts.<br />
Sunday Lunches • Brewery Tours<br />
• <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>s • Folk Nights<br />
If you like <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>and</strong> Food - we’re the place to try<br />
The Hop <strong>and</strong> Hog, No 1 The High Street,<br />
Downham Market, <strong>Norfolk</strong> PE38 9DA<br />
01366 386658<br />
thehop<strong>and</strong>hog@btconnect.com<br />
THE VEGETABLE SHOP<br />
1d HIGH STREET DOWNHAM MARKET<br />
Come to the ONLY shop in Downham<br />
dedicated to providing REAL ORGANIC<br />
FRUIT & VEGETABLES plus a range of<br />
Organic Wholefoods,Bread <strong>and</strong> Eggs.<br />
It’s a UNIQUE EXPERIENCE!<br />
Shop: 01366 385523<br />
Mobile: 07967 346551<br />
Ring Ian for details of our forthcoming<br />
Vegetarian Feast Nights with music,<br />
ciders <strong>and</strong> beer made with<br />
local organic barley!<br />
THE ICENI BREWERY<br />
For ALL your homebrew needs buy<br />
DIRECT from the ICENI BREWERY<br />
At 3 Foulden Rd, Ickburgh, Thetford IP26 5HB<br />
Tel 01842 878922/ 07949 488113<br />
Or email icenibrewery@aol.com for details
in <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
NORFOLK NIPS | LocAle<br />
this year’s <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> saw<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> & <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
CAMRA launch their<br />
LocAle scheme.<br />
What is LocAle<br />
The LocAle scheme is a new<br />
initiative that was created by<br />
the Nottingham Branch in<br />
2007 who wanted to support<br />
their remaining brewers<br />
following the buy out <strong>and</strong><br />
subsequent closure of Hardy &<br />
Hansons by Greene King. They<br />
were quickly followed by York<br />
<strong>and</strong> Isle of Wight branches. It<br />
was taken over by CAMRA HQ<br />
who has adopted the idea as a<br />
National initiative <strong>and</strong> many<br />
branches have subsequently<br />
implemented this scheme.<br />
Definition of LocAle.<br />
LocAle as defined by <strong>Norwich</strong><br />
& <strong>Norfolk</strong> CAMRA is for a pub<br />
to always stock at least one real<br />
ale (as defined by CAMRA)<br />
brewed at a brewery that is no<br />
more than 30 miles from door<br />
to door.<br />
By introducing this scheme<br />
we will be encouraging pubs to<br />
sell local beers which will<br />
reduce the "beer miles" thus<br />
benefiting the environment. It<br />
ensures more variety <strong>and</strong> diversity<br />
to the consumer, <strong>and</strong><br />
hence better sales for the pub.<br />
The scheme helps sustain the<br />
local micro brewers <strong>and</strong> benefits<br />
the local economy.<br />
Local licensees are invited to<br />
join this scheme <strong>and</strong> those<br />
opting to join are being issued<br />
with the necessary publicity<br />
material that include guidance<br />
notes, stickers to display in<br />
their windows <strong>and</strong> ‘Pump clip<br />
Crowners’ which are small<br />
cardboard stickers that l<strong>and</strong>lords<br />
attach to their pump clips<br />
advertising that beer dispensed<br />
through these pumps is<br />
brewed locally <strong>and</strong> can be<br />
considered as LocAle.<br />
So far the following pubs<br />
have signed up to LocAle:<br />
Aldborough - Black Boys.<br />
Clippesby Hall - Muskett Arms<br />
Cromer - The Cottage.<br />
Earsham- Queens Head.<br />
Filby - Kings Head.<br />
Gorleston- Dock Tavern.<br />
Gt Yarmouth- Red Herring,<br />
St Johns Head.<br />
Hopton - White Hart.<br />
Kenninghall - Red Lion.<br />
Lyng - Fox & Hounds.<br />
North Elmham - Railway.<br />
North Walsham- Orchard<br />
Gardens.<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> -<br />
Gardeners/Murderers, Jubilee,<br />
Ketts Tavern, Kings Head, Rose,<br />
Take 5, Trafford Arms, Vine.<br />
Reedham - Ferry.<br />
Sheringham - Windham Arms.<br />
Swardeston -<br />
Lakenham/Hewitt Rugby Club.<br />
Wroxham - Brewery Tap.<br />
For Further information see<br />
our Branch Website:<br />
http://www.norwichcamra.org.<br />
uk/locale/locale1.htm<br />
Licensees who wish to join or<br />
require more information<br />
about the LocAle scheme<br />
please contact: Warren<br />
Wordsworth, Pubs Officer,<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> & <strong>Norfolk</strong> Branch.<br />
E-Mail:<br />
pubsofficer@norwichcamra.org<br />
.uk or by post – 16 Grove<br />
Avenue, <strong>Norwich</strong> NR1 2QD.<br />
Warren Wordsworth<br />
West <strong>Norfolk</strong> CAMRA XMAS<br />
Pub Crawl 2009 - <strong>Norwich</strong><br />
Saturday 19th December)<br />
It’s that time of year again,<br />
here’s the full schedule.<br />
All welcome, join in at any<br />
point. Food arrangements up<br />
to the individual.<br />
1100 Whalebone (Magdalen<br />
Rd)<br />
1200 Duke Of Wellington<br />
(Waterloo Rd)<br />
1245 Cider Shed (Lawson Rd)<br />
1330 Heath House (Gertrude Rd)<br />
1415 Cottage (Silver Rd)<br />
1500 Ketts Tavern (Ketts Hill)<br />
1545 Adam & Eve (Bishopgate)<br />
1630 Wig & Pen (Palace Plain)<br />
1730 Ribs Of Beef (Wensum St)<br />
1815 The Vine (Dove St)<br />
1900 Belgian Monk (Pottergate)<br />
1945 Queen Of Iceni (Riverside)<br />
Contact; Tim Spitzer<br />
(07950)823270.<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 27
6 St Martins Palace Plain,<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> NR3 1RN<br />
01603 625891<br />
www.thewig<strong>and</strong>pen.com<br />
This warm <strong>and</strong> friendly 17th century Freehouse is to the<br />
north side of <strong>Norwich</strong> cathedral. Owned by Craig & Lynne<br />
McLaren since 1993. ‘The Wig’ as its affectionately known,<br />
has built a reputation for fresh, fast, affordable British cuisine.<br />
• Good Ale • Good Food • Heated smoking area<br />
Sky & ESPN Sports TV • Late Night Opening • Real Fire<br />
Look out for our Cask<br />
Marque Plaque.<br />
This guarantees beer quality<br />
in the Wig & Pen <strong>and</strong> the<br />
opportunity to<br />
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.<br />
For the 13th successive<br />
year, the Wig & Pen has<br />
been included in<br />
CAMRA’s Good <strong>Beer</strong><br />
Guide. We are very proud<br />
of this achievement.<br />
28 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
The Mermaid Inn<br />
Church Street, Elsing Dereham,NR20 3EA<br />
Tel: 01362637640 Email: the.mermaid@zen.co.uk<br />
Great Pub Food Menu<br />
Try our famous Steak <strong>and</strong> Kidney Roly Poly<br />
with thick beer gravy. We cook our own Ham in<br />
real ale, we can't cook it quick enough!<br />
INFLATION BUSTER MON - FRI ONLY £4.95!<br />
Freehouse, Real Ales, Real Food,<br />
Real Welcome!<br />
Look us up in the CAMRA Good<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> Guide 2010 or the CAMRA<br />
Good Pub Food Guide.<br />
We have internet café facilities!<br />
The Railway<br />
Freehouse<br />
Station Rd, North Elmham<br />
01362 668300<br />
In the current Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide,<br />
CAMRA members <strong>and</strong><br />
supporters of local microbrewers<br />
REAL ALES • REAL FOOD<br />
REAL PUB<br />
Colin & Julie Smith<br />
look forward to<br />
seeing you!<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 29
Westgate Street, Blakeney, <strong>Norfolk</strong> NR25 7NQ<br />
Tel: 01263 740341<br />
Situated in beautiful Blakeney<br />
Recommended by most Good Pub <strong>and</strong> Food Guides<br />
Food Served all Day<br />
Lovely en-suite accommodation.<br />
Children & Pets Welcome<br />
Car Parking • <strong>Beer</strong> Garden • Dogs welcome<br />
OPEN ALL DAY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR<br />
www.blakeneykingsarms.co.uk<br />
Pig n Falcon - St Neots<br />
LIVE MUSIC<br />
WED, FRI + SAT<br />
ALES TO DATE<br />
198<br />
FROM 9/4/09<br />
NEW<br />
large heated<br />
smoking area<br />
Minimum of<br />
SIX CHRISTMAS<br />
ALES<br />
on at all times during the<br />
festive period!<br />
‘Rock <strong>and</strong> Ale’ every weekend with up to 16 Ales & ciders<br />
from £2 per pint<br />
Open 10am (11am Sunday) til’ late Monday -Sunday!<br />
www.PignFalcon.co.uk<br />
Tel 07951 785678 – New St, St Neots – PE19 1AE<br />
30 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
NORFOLK NIPS | <strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong><br />
32nd <strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong><br />
<strong>Festival</strong> & Beyond<br />
With the dust now<br />
settled on the<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>, we<br />
can look back<br />
<strong>and</strong> congratulate<br />
ourselves on another<br />
fabulous festival.<br />
It was our busiest festival to<br />
date, with over 19,000 visitors<br />
throughout the week, drinking<br />
well over 60,000 pints of beer,<br />
6,000 pint of cider <strong>and</strong><br />
numerous bottles.<br />
We recruited our 2,000th<br />
member at the festival,<br />
launched the Branch's Locale<br />
scheme, played host to many<br />
of the counties brewers <strong>and</strong><br />
publicans, raised a few pounds<br />
for NARS (<strong>Norfolk</strong> Accident<br />
Rescue Service) <strong>and</strong> hopefully<br />
had good time.<br />
We also held two competitions<br />
during the week, the East<br />
Anglian Cider competition <strong>and</strong><br />
two categories in the Champion<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> of East Anglia.<br />
I would like thank all my<br />
volunteer staff who did a<br />
tremendous job of keeping our<br />
customers supplied with quality<br />
ales <strong>and</strong> cider, supervised their<br />
me<strong>and</strong>erings around the halls,<br />
without them their wouldn't be<br />
a <strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong> festival.<br />
I would also like to thank, the<br />
Hall’s staff who do such a<br />
fantastic job in putting up with<br />
us year after year, the brewers<br />
<strong>and</strong> wholesalers who supplied<br />
us with the beer <strong>and</strong> cider, <strong>and</strong><br />
of course you readers of this<br />
esteemed publication who<br />
came along <strong>and</strong> supported us<br />
in October.<br />
Of course we can't get everything<br />
right, so if you have any<br />
comments (hopefully positive)<br />
about the festival, please get in<br />
touch, either via NIPS or you<br />
will find my contact details on<br />
the branch web site.<br />
Planning for next year's<br />
festival has already started,<br />
which leads me nicely into the<br />
logo competition. The logo<br />
used for the festival is one of<br />
our major marketing points<br />
<strong>and</strong> is the symbol of the<br />
festival, it appears on t-shirts,<br />
glasses, posters et al. You don't<br />
have to be graphical maestro<br />
to enter the competition, all we<br />
ask is a design featuring a<br />
dragon in 4/5 colours <strong>and</strong> we<br />
will do the rest.<br />
The competition is open to<br />
everybody <strong>and</strong> entries should<br />
be sent, either as artwork or a<br />
computer readable file (most<br />
formats accepted, jpeg, tiff,<br />
pdf, postscript etc, no word<br />
docs please!!!). Please send<br />
entries to <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> Logo<br />
competition, 8 Pond Road,<br />
Horsford, <strong>Norfolk</strong> NR10 3SW or<br />
see the branch web site for<br />
further details on submitting<br />
via e-mail.<br />
Two final things, a big big<br />
thank you to the Branch<br />
committee for their help during<br />
the planning stages <strong>and</strong> the<br />
dates for next year's festival,<br />
they are October 25th-30th<br />
2010.<br />
p.s Yes, we are still at St<br />
Andrew's <strong>and</strong> Blackfriars Halls.<br />
Martin Ward<br />
<strong>Festival</strong> Organiser<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 31
Mild <strong>Beer</strong>s | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
Mild <strong>Beer</strong>s at <strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong><br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> has<br />
always been noted for a<br />
wide variety of darker<br />
beers. Usually I head for<br />
the strong stuff - the old ales,<br />
stouts <strong>and</strong> barley wines - but<br />
this year I joined Des O'Brien of<br />
the beer festival's ordering<br />
committee - <strong>and</strong> a keen mild<br />
drinker - to see what we had in<br />
the way of milds.<br />
‘Mild’ is often interpreted to<br />
mean a dark beer around 3.5%<br />
ABV - but it doesn’t have to be<br />
light in alcohol (Sarah Hughes<br />
certainly isn’t, weighing in at<br />
6 %!) <strong>and</strong> it doesn’t actually<br />
have to be dark, either, though<br />
most examples of the style are.<br />
The one indispensable element<br />
of the style is that it must be<br />
lightly hopped - so it's not bitter.<br />
In my mind, that makes it a<br />
great drink for those who say<br />
they ‘don’t like beer’ - often,<br />
just drinkers who have been<br />
put off traditional English<br />
bitters by the higher amount of<br />
bittering hops used.<br />
Magg’s Magnificent Mild,<br />
from West Berkshire Brewery,<br />
has a name that makes big<br />
claims. Would it live up to its<br />
magnificent billing We found<br />
it highly drinkable at 3.8%,<br />
with a big aroma, big palate, a<br />
teasingly large amount of hops<br />
for a mild (just testing the<br />
boundaries of the style!), <strong>and</strong><br />
then once the bitterness died<br />
away, a nice caramel aftertaste.<br />
Des said “It’s not an imposing<br />
32 | WINTER 2009 / 2010<br />
beer, but it’s nice <strong>and</strong> clean<br />
<strong>and</strong> drinks well.”<br />
Next up was Mill Green<br />
Mawkin, 2.9%, from Suffolk.<br />
This had a grainy aroma, <strong>and</strong><br />
quite a grainy taste, but a thin<br />
mouthfeel <strong>and</strong> rather a hoppy<br />
finish. It was sour, rather than<br />
dry - Des called it “almost<br />
lactic”. We agreed we'd move<br />
on rather quickly to the next.<br />
Holdens Dark Mild is brewed<br />
in Dudley, West Midl<strong>and</strong>s, a<br />
traditional home of the mild<br />
style. Lots of toffee apples <strong>and</strong><br />
brown sugar in this mild, with<br />
some good nutty flavours <strong>and</strong><br />
not much at all in the way of<br />
hops. “Not complex but<br />
clean”, Des commented, “but I<br />
think it could grow on you.”<br />
(Later on in the festival, I went<br />
back <strong>and</strong> had a pint - very<br />
refreshing <strong>and</strong> tasty at 3.7%.)<br />
Holt’s Mild comes from<br />
Manchester <strong>and</strong> is what Des<br />
calls “a 1940s style mild” - a bit<br />
thin, fairly heavily hopped for<br />
the style, with c<strong>and</strong>y aromas but<br />
not much residual sugar in the<br />
taste. We found that while it was<br />
a pleasant enough drink at<br />
3.2%, but it didn't do very<br />
much for us - “it would be a pity<br />
if people thought all milds were<br />
like this”, was Des’s comment.<br />
We went on to Brains Dark,<br />
from Cardiff - with a rather thin<br />
mouthfeel at 3.5%, but with<br />
lots more fruit. Des believes<br />
every mild should have a mix<br />
of three flavours - caramel,<br />
grain, <strong>and</strong> fruit. Brains certainly<br />
had the caramel <strong>and</strong> fruit, but<br />
it didn’t have much on the<br />
grainy side.<br />
The next in line, Gravediggers<br />
Ale from the Church End<br />
Brewery in Warwickshire, was a<br />
complete contrast with its very<br />
roasty aroma <strong>and</strong> flavours; so<br />
much grain it practically tasted<br />
of the malting floor. With<br />
chocolate <strong>and</strong> c<strong>and</strong>y tastes, it<br />
had a nice clean, sweet finish.<br />
“A lot of flavour for 3.8%,” Des<br />
said.<br />
We went on to one of the<br />
stronger milds, Banks &<br />
Taylor’s Black Dragon Mild at<br />
4.3%. This was very, very<br />
roasty <strong>and</strong> grainy indeed, but<br />
to the extent that Des <strong>and</strong> I<br />
both found it unbalanced, with<br />
its very dry aftertaste - Des<br />
commented “It’s a one-trick<br />
pony”. When we dropped right<br />
down in gravity to Bateman’s<br />
Mild at 3%, we were rewarded<br />
by a much more balanced <strong>and</strong><br />
satisfying ale - c<strong>and</strong>y aromas,<br />
chocolate <strong>and</strong> grain flavours,<br />
sweet, <strong>and</strong> with a powerfully<br />
dry finish. “Mr Bateman gets it<br />
right again,” Des said, though I<br />
must admit I found the dry<br />
finish left me slightly thirsty...<br />
time for another one!<br />
Bathams Mild is another West<br />
Midl<strong>and</strong>s beer, made at Brierly<br />
Hill, not far from Dudley. What<br />
a contrast with the roasty<br />
Banks & Taylor brew - this was
all toffee apples on the nose,<br />
very fruity <strong>and</strong> sweet, full in<br />
flavour, <strong>and</strong> with a nice<br />
rounded mouthfeel. We scored<br />
it as highly as the Batemans,<br />
though Des commented, “For<br />
me, the Batemans is a better<br />
flavour, but this is very well put<br />
together. It’s a classic example<br />
of a West Midl<strong>and</strong>s Mild -<br />
sweet, caramelly, not overly<br />
hopped, <strong>and</strong> terrifically well<br />
balanced <strong>and</strong> moreish.”<br />
Moreish He enlightened me -<br />
“You always think when you're<br />
drinking a West Midl<strong>and</strong>s mild<br />
- where’s the next one”<br />
The East Anglian style is rather<br />
different. Des remembers<br />
Bullards - “full of grain <strong>and</strong> roast<br />
chocolate malts”. So we went<br />
on to a number of local ales to<br />
see how they captured the spirit<br />
of an East Anglian mild.<br />
Front Street <strong>Festival</strong> Mild<br />
didn't impress us - very sweet,<br />
with burned <strong>and</strong> vinegary<br />
flavours, but almost no<br />
aftertaste. “Lots of flavour,”<br />
Des said, “but not the right<br />
flavours.” We found Woodforde’s<br />
Mardlers, at 3.5%, was<br />
also a little thin, <strong>and</strong> rather<br />
sugary (I have to say I was<br />
disappointed as I have had<br />
some very nice Mardlers<br />
indeed on other occasions, so<br />
perhaps this wasn't typical).<br />
Square Mild, from <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
Square, also seemed a little<br />
attenuated, <strong>and</strong> lightweight for<br />
4%, though its apply aroma<br />
<strong>and</strong> fresh, clean taste made it<br />
thoroughly drinkable.<br />
On to Wolf's Woild Moild, at<br />
4.8%, with a nice enough<br />
aroma <strong>and</strong> sweet, full taste,<br />
with even a little liquorice<br />
creeping in. We both felt it was<br />
too well hopped for a mild,<br />
though. Waveney's East Coast<br />
Mild also, Des thought, wasn't<br />
quite “true to style”, with a<br />
c<strong>and</strong>y aroma, roasty <strong>and</strong> very<br />
dry flavour, <strong>and</strong> some unfermented<br />
sugars - “more of a red<br />
beer than a mild”.<br />
Which left us with two ‘finalists’.<br />
Elmtree Brewery’s<br />
Nightlight, last year's beer of<br />
the festival, is a mild in the<br />
tradition of Sarah Hughes -<br />
dark, full, high in alcohol at<br />
5.7%, <strong>and</strong> very well rounded,<br />
with fruitiness <strong>and</strong> hops in<br />
good balance. Really<br />
wonderful.<br />
But meeting Des’s criteria for<br />
a real East Anglian mild was<br />
The Squirrel’s Nuts from<br />
Beeston Brewery. Toffee <strong>and</strong><br />
grainy aromas - a real malt-kiln<br />
nose - were followed by the<br />
promised nutty flavours <strong>and</strong> an<br />
aftertaste of roast chestnuts. All<br />
of that for only 3.5% alcohol!<br />
“A total contrast to the West<br />
Midl<strong>and</strong>s milds,” Des said, “It<br />
has no residual sweetness - full<br />
of grain <strong>and</strong> roast flavours.”<br />
Probably our favourites of the<br />
day, besides Nightlight <strong>and</strong><br />
Squirrel's Nuts, were Batemans,<br />
Bathams, Gravediggers Ale,<br />
<strong>and</strong> Maggs Magnificent Mild.<br />
What's interesting about this<br />
list is that some of the most<br />
successful milds, in our opinions,<br />
were the lightest in<br />
alcohol; with the honourable<br />
exception of Nightlight, few<br />
milds over 3.8% made it into<br />
our final cut. That just proves<br />
that it's the brewer's craft, in<br />
squeezing the most flavour out<br />
of a limited gravity, that really<br />
NORFOLK NIPS | Mild <strong>Beer</strong>s<br />
matters - not the percentage<br />
on the pump clip.<br />
Mild doesn’t only come in the<br />
dark variety, though. We had<br />
two very fine light milds at the<br />
festival. Timothy Taylor Golden<br />
Best doesn’t use the word<br />
‘mild’ on the label, but<br />
nonetheless it’s a light mild,<br />
refreshing at 3.5% but full in<br />
mouthfeel <strong>and</strong> extremely drinkable.<br />
We were both impressed by a<br />
local contribution - Ragged<br />
Robin from Old Chimneys, at<br />
Market Weston, Suffolk. This<br />
too weighs in at 3.5% <strong>and</strong> had<br />
plenty of flavour, quite sweet,<br />
with a full mouthfeel, <strong>and</strong><br />
refreshing finish. Unfortunately<br />
we only had one firkin of this<br />
delightful beer - perhaps we<br />
should order more next year<br />
Andrea Kirkby<br />
Dark <strong>and</strong> a bit scary<br />
- not like all milds!<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 33
<strong>Festival</strong> awards | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
<strong>Beer</strong>s of the festival 2009<br />
Winner of the Gold<br />
award in the '<strong>Beer</strong> Of<br />
The <strong>Festival</strong>' public<br />
voting at the 32nd<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> was Old<br />
Chimneys Red Clover, a 6.0%<br />
ABV blended old ale spiced<br />
with cloves. Old Chimneys<br />
Brewery is based at Market<br />
Weston, in North Suffolk.<br />
Silver went to Mauldons Black<br />
Adder, a 5.3% dark bitter stout<br />
which was aged in oak casks<br />
for the festival, <strong>and</strong> Bronze<br />
went to Winter's Golden, a<br />
4.1% hoppy golden ale from<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong>'s own Winter's<br />
Brewery.<br />
Category winners were:<br />
Mild - Gold: Sarah Hughes<br />
Ruby Mild (6.0% ABV); Silver:<br />
Beeston The Squirrels Nuts<br />
(3.5%); Bronze: Waveney<br />
Brewery East Coast Mild<br />
(3.9%).<br />
Bitter - Gold: Elmtree Burston<br />
Cuckoo (3.8%); Silver: West<br />
Berkshire Old Father Thames<br />
(3.4%); Bronze: Grain Oak<br />
(3.8%).<br />
Best Bitter - Gold: Waveney<br />
Brewing Welterweight (4.2%);<br />
Silver: Harviestoun Hoptober<br />
Fest (4.0%); Bronze: Woodforde's<br />
Tinseltoes (4.4%).<br />
Strong Bitter - Gold: Fat Cat<br />
Wild Cat (5.0%); Silver:<br />
Oakham Attila (7.5%); Bronze:<br />
Green Jack Ripper (8.5%).<br />
34 | WINTER 2009 / 2010<br />
Old, Stout & Porter - Gold:<br />
Mauldons Black Adder (5.3%);<br />
Silver: Downton Chocolate<br />
Orange Delight (5.8%);<br />
Bronze: Humpty Dumpty<br />
Reedham Porter (5.4%).<br />
Speciality - Gold: Old Chimneys<br />
Red Clover (6.0%); Silver:<br />
Whitstable Raspberry Wheat<br />
(5.2%); Bronze: Opa Hay<br />
Wheat (4.2%).<br />
Golden <strong>Beer</strong>s - Gold: Winter's<br />
Golden (4.1%); Silver: Hornbeam<br />
Lemon Blossom (3.7%);<br />
Bronze: Crouch Vale Amarillo<br />
(5.0%).<br />
Cider - Rich’s Legbender.<br />
Perry - Hecks Blakeny Red Perry.<br />
Foreign <strong>Beer</strong> - Heller Aecht<br />
Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen.<br />
Des O’Brien
Offering four real ales <strong>and</strong> quality<br />
home-cooked food we are sure<br />
you will have a great time.<br />
17th Century timber beamed pub.<br />
From <strong>Norwich</strong> & Acle head to Salhouse <strong>and</strong><br />
at the mini roundabout follow the sign to<br />
Wroxham, we are 200yds on the right.<br />
BT Openzone available<br />
Open all day every day, food is served:-<br />
Monday 12-2<br />
12-2 & 6-9 Tuesday to Sunday<br />
12-3 Sunday for plated home cooked Sunday lunches<br />
with homemade Yorkshire puddings <strong>and</strong> fresh<br />
vegetables. Booking advised if dining.<br />
Quiz Nights every Wednesday from 8.30pm<br />
A meat raffle is held every Sunday at 4:30 pm.<br />
‘Andy Russell finds plenty of appeal with a family outing to<br />
a 17th century pub’ - EDP Eating out October 2009<br />
Tel: 01603 721141 www.salhousebell.co.uk<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 35
Retrospective | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
West <strong>Norfolk</strong> CAMRA<br />
Retrospective<br />
As the end of the year<br />
approaches, I thought it<br />
would be fun to look<br />
back at some of the<br />
things our branch has done<br />
during 2009.<br />
We have visited several Breweries<br />
both local <strong>and</strong> a little<br />
further afield.<br />
It always strikes me that<br />
breweries, much like pubs, are<br />
instilled with the personalities<br />
of their brewers. The difference<br />
being that exept for those with<br />
visitor facillities the only way<br />
that personality reaches most<br />
of their customers is through<br />
the quality <strong>and</strong> character of<br />
their products not just in the<br />
flavour but in the style of<br />
pumpclips chosen <strong>and</strong>, of<br />
course, the names of the beers!<br />
The underlying principle of<br />
many seems to include a great<br />
deal of humour, <strong>and</strong> it's nice to<br />
meet people whose products<br />
you have sampled <strong>and</strong> see if<br />
they match up to your expectations!<br />
This year we visited Belvoir<br />
Brewery near Melton<br />
Mowbray, “Belvoir” is<br />
pronounced “beaver” <strong>and</strong> of<br />
course there were very non PC<br />
“I love beaver” badges for all<br />
(not so popular with female<br />
members!).<br />
The brewery itself was very<br />
impressive with an excellent<br />
36 | WINTER 2009 / 2010<br />
visitor facillity <strong>and</strong> bar/restaurant,<br />
they have big plans <strong>and</strong><br />
deserve to suceed.<br />
Melton itself is very beautiful<br />
<strong>and</strong> rightly famous for it’s pork<br />
pies. It also has all it's GBG<br />
pubs in one street running<br />
towards the railway station you<br />
couldn't really go wrong.<br />
Some stayed in the town<br />
others are motorhome folk <strong>and</strong><br />
found a home nearby (the<br />
council didn’t have time to<br />
evict them).<br />
Later in the year we made a<br />
visit to a brewery in Bury St.<br />
Edmunds (No not that one!),<br />
The Old Cannon Brewery situated<br />
in the like named pub.<br />
The brewery plant is partially<br />
visible inside the pub <strong>and</strong> on<br />
the night of our visit brewing<br />
had been taking place with the<br />
attendant smells! The brewer<br />
gave us a talk which started<br />
with him checking the coppers<br />
by lifting himself on his arm<br />
muscles inside only to emerge,<br />
peering over the edge again<br />
like some brewing Gollum,<br />
thank goodness he didn’t say<br />
“My precious”. The brewery is<br />
run in a very energetic way by<br />
this extreme sports enthusiast<br />
who may just have invented<br />
extreme brewing! The brewery<br />
runs a very lively beer festival<br />
each year <strong>and</strong> was in preperation<br />
for it.<br />
We met up with some of<br />
Craig’s friends there, being<br />
fellow colonials (You know,<br />
Americans), they provided very<br />
entertaining company. By the<br />
way Craig, when are you<br />
gonna write about beer from a<br />
Transatlantic perspective for us<br />
Our third visit was Blackfriars<br />
in Gt. Yarmouth <strong>and</strong> was very<br />
entertaining once we found it<br />
(ask Tim). I won’t go into detail<br />
as Jeff has already covered this<br />
subject, but the visitor setup is<br />
nicely thought out <strong>and</strong> the<br />
glass placed in your h<strong>and</strong> in<br />
the waiting area never seemed<br />
to empty for more than 10<br />
seconds!<br />
We also attempted to visit a<br />
Nottingham brewery but never<br />
managed to get a reply from<br />
them by phone or email.<br />
We also try to get out <strong>and</strong><br />
about locally for either social or<br />
campaigning purposes. The<br />
first outing was a social at the<br />
Walpole Cross Keys which is<br />
the name both of the pub <strong>and</strong><br />
village, Ros organised a walk<br />
around the local fens <strong>and</strong> had<br />
lunch in the carvery. Unfortunately<br />
very shortly after this,<br />
the pub was closed due to the<br />
roof being declared unsafe!<br />
<strong>Another</strong> pub lost, I hope it<br />
wasn't my fault it could be bad<br />
to be declared a pub Jonah!<br />
We visited The Union Jack at<br />
Roydon to award them our
anch POTY 2009, <strong>and</strong> then<br />
later to Whin Hill Cider for the<br />
presentation of a Regional<br />
CAMRA cider award. The<br />
second occasion allowed me to<br />
meet some of our Cider enthusiasts,<br />
how they stay sober long<br />
enough to judge this fruit<br />
based biofuel I've no idea!<br />
During the summer we had a<br />
walk around Roydon <strong>and</strong><br />
Congham organized by Phil<br />
Buffham who is normally just<br />
Buff like I’m Stig. It was incredibly<br />
hot <strong>and</strong> due to bad timing<br />
I missed the first leg, a shame<br />
as I also missed Phil's carefully<br />
researched local history!<br />
We stopped at the Anvil,<br />
Congham <strong>and</strong> then made our<br />
way to Roydon <strong>and</strong> the Union<br />
Jack. Thanks to the folk at the<br />
Anvil who furnished me with a<br />
large bottle of water.<br />
We occasionally get in a walk<br />
before a meeting <strong>and</strong> both this<br />
year were organised by Jim &<br />
Pete (plus Fred) of Whin Hill<br />
Cider one around Burham<br />
Thorpe <strong>and</strong> one along the<br />
beach <strong>and</strong> around the b<strong>and</strong>ed<br />
cliffs at Hunstanton. It's<br />
amazing how thirsty all these<br />
walk makes you!<br />
As you can see for a small<br />
branch we get around <strong>and</strong><br />
have had a lot of fun doing it,<br />
this of course does not include<br />
contacts made distributing<br />
Nips/Cask Force or our<br />
surveying activities.<br />
NORFOLK NIPS | Retrospective<br />
We are planning an out of<br />
area foray to Masham in North<br />
Yorkshire to include visits to<br />
Theakston’s <strong>and</strong> Black Sheep<br />
on or about 27th-28th March<br />
2010. If you would like to join<br />
us contact me by email (on the<br />
info panel). Any N&N takers<br />
If this sounds like your sort of<br />
fun come <strong>and</strong> meet us all at a<br />
branch meeting soon.<br />
Finally, I would like to wish a<br />
Merry Christmas <strong>and</strong> Happy<br />
New Year to everbody from all<br />
of us at West <strong>Norfolk</strong> CAMRA.<br />
Have a good one!<br />
Chris Lucas (Stig)<br />
THE ARTICHOKE FREEHOUSE<br />
at Broome<br />
Up to 8 Real Ales (4 on gravity)<br />
3 Belgian Fruit <strong>Beer</strong>s<br />
Outst<strong>and</strong>ing selection of Scottish<br />
malt & Irish Whisky<br />
Opening Hours<br />
12pm to 11pm weekdays & Sunday<br />
12pm to 12am Friday & Saturday<br />
Closed Mondays<br />
(Except Bank Holidays)<br />
162 Yarmouth Road, Broome, Bungay<br />
NR35 2NZ Tel: 01986 893325<br />
On the 580 <strong>and</strong> 588 Anglia Bus routes<br />
NORFOLK CAMRA PUB OF THE YEAR 2009<br />
Lunchtime Meals<br />
12pm to 2.30pm weekdays<br />
12pm to 4pm Sundays<br />
Evening Meals<br />
6.30pm to 9pm Weds to Sat<br />
(Booking is advisable)<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> garden <strong>and</strong> ample parking<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 37
He should have<br />
gone to the<br />
EATON COTTAGE, UNTHANK RD,<br />
NORWICH 01603 453048<br />
The Gatehouse Pub<br />
391 Dereham Road, <strong>Norwich</strong> NR5 8QJ<br />
01603 620340<br />
Fine Real Ales,lagers,wines <strong>and</strong> spirits<br />
All Sky Sports • A traditional pub<br />
Good covered outside areas • Doggies welcome<br />
“a festival of beers every day”<br />
FOUR REAL ALES<br />
Live Music, Friday & Saturday<br />
Large garden overlooking the<br />
River Wensum<br />
OPEN<br />
Mon - Thurs 12-11<br />
Fri & Sat 12-12 • Sunday 12-11<br />
Visit our Brewery Shop<br />
SURLINGHAM<br />
OPENING HOURS<br />
ALL DAY, ALL YEAR, EVERY DAY FROM 11am-CLOSE<br />
FOOD AVAILABLE ALL DAY, FROM 12 TILL 9pm<br />
Picturesque riverside walks, RSPB reserve, On <strong>Norwich</strong>’s<br />
doorstep. Moorings available. Open Fire, Real Ales.<br />
Good traditional Home Cooked Food,<br />
Main meals from £6.95<br />
All Functions catered for. Live Music, Quiz Nights.<br />
Small Children <strong>and</strong> Dog friendly.<br />
You will receive a Warm <strong>and</strong> Friendly Welcome<br />
from Sonia, Andy <strong>and</strong> All at the Staff at The Ferry<br />
Open Saturdays, Mondays<br />
<strong>and</strong> Tuesdays 11am-4pm<br />
All our bottle conditioned<br />
beers are available.<br />
Also 10 & 20L polypins can<br />
be ordered<br />
We are also providing space for local artists to hang their work<br />
so you can usually replenish your taste buds while exercising<br />
your eyeballs!<br />
Ferry Road, Surlingham, <strong>Norwich</strong>, <strong>Norfolk</strong>. NR14 7AR<br />
Tel: 01508 538659 Email: surlinghamferry@googlemail.com<br />
Website: www.surlinghamferryhouse.co.uk<br />
38 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
NORFOLK NIPS | Thetford Real Ale Scene<br />
Real Ale Renaissance in Thetford<br />
The news from Thetford<br />
the ancient capital of<br />
South West <strong>Norfolk</strong> just<br />
gets better <strong>and</strong> better.<br />
For several years now the only<br />
pub worthy of the Good <strong>Beer</strong><br />
Guide in the town was The<br />
Albion run by two generations<br />
of the Middlebrook family since<br />
1969, famous for it's straightforward<br />
drinkers pub style <strong>and</strong><br />
it's consistently good Greene<br />
King beers. The Albion has<br />
now been joined by two<br />
potential c<strong>and</strong>idates, The<br />
Dolphin was taken on by a<br />
Mother & Son management<br />
team last year who single<br />
(double) h<strong>and</strong>edly revitalised<br />
this one time GBG pub, once a<br />
venue for the most heavily<br />
attended W. <strong>Norfolk</strong> CAMRA<br />
meeting. They turned the pub<br />
into an excellent real ale venue<br />
within the limits of the brewery's<br />
range of guest beers <strong>and</strong><br />
attracted growing numbers of<br />
customers. Only being a<br />
management team they knew<br />
a bid for the lease would see<br />
them move on, this occured<br />
when the manager of the Black<br />
Horse in Thetford put in a<br />
succesful bid.<br />
It seemed they would be lost<br />
to the town, but no! In a plot<br />
twist worthy of any soap opera,<br />
having left the brewery, they<br />
took over the management of<br />
the Black Horse. The Black<br />
Horse is a free house <strong>and</strong> has<br />
given them a wider choice of<br />
beers the response has been<br />
superb <strong>and</strong> the “Horse” is<br />
jumping! (sorry!) They have<br />
booked the Carnegie Rooms in<br />
the town to hold a beer fest<br />
next May, something already in<br />
the pipeline before their move.<br />
The Dolphin also continues to<br />
sell good real ale, under it's<br />
new management.<br />
So all in all a win win series of<br />
events for real ale enthusiasts<br />
locally <strong>and</strong> hopefully like the<br />
real renaissance it'll spread to<br />
other local towns because it<br />
really needs to!<br />
Chris Lucas<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 39
<strong>Norwich</strong>’s oldest alehouse<br />
Four Real Ales<br />
Aspells Cider & over 50 Malt Whiskies.<br />
Food served from 12noon-7pm<br />
Monday to Saturday. 12noon-5pm Sunday<br />
Overall Winner - Best Floral Public House<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> In Bloom Awards<br />
BARRELIEF<br />
MANAGEMENT<br />
Your local Bar Relief to cover for<br />
your Holidays or Sickness.<br />
Personal Licence Holder.<br />
Food Hygiene Certificated.<br />
Please Call Brian Mayhew on<br />
01603 301356 or 07714657752<br />
to discuss your requirements<br />
17 Bishopgate, <strong>Norwich</strong> NR3 1RZ 01603 667423<br />
email: brmpubservices@aol.com<br />
www.brmpubservices.co.uk<br />
The Cottage<br />
C R O M E R<br />
Traditional <strong>Norfolk</strong> Free House<br />
Four Real Ales always available<br />
including Woodfordes Wherry,<br />
Greene King IPA <strong>and</strong> two<br />
ever-changing guest ales<br />
S<strong>and</strong>wiches always available<br />
Function rooms for hire<br />
Open daily 11am-2.30pm & 5.30pm - 11pm<br />
Wishing all our customers a healthy<br />
<strong>and</strong> prosperous 2010<br />
8 Louden Rd, Cromer NR27 9EF<br />
(Just 3 mins walk from the Sea)<br />
Angel Gardens<br />
Free House<br />
Under same ownership for 21 years<br />
Six reasonably priced Real Ales<br />
including three guest ales<br />
Home Cooked Food • Live Music on Saturdays<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> Garden with heated smoking shelter<br />
2 Bars (with one for Private Hire)<br />
Ample Car Parking<br />
Live music Christmas eve<br />
with TERRY ADAMS<br />
<strong>and</strong> New Years eve with DAVIE .J<br />
96 Angel Rd, <strong>Norwich</strong> NR3 3HT<br />
01603 427490<br />
email: ikwarren-angel@tiscali.co.uk<br />
www.norwichinns.com<br />
40 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
NORFOLK NIPS | West <strong>Norfolk</strong> AGM<br />
West <strong>Norfolk</strong> CAMRA AGM<br />
Our 2009 AGM was held at Narborough<br />
social club on 13th October 2009.<br />
This is a synopsis of the main happenings.<br />
Voting for New Committee:<br />
Two c<strong>and</strong>idates came forward for the post of<br />
Branch Chairman: Tim Spitzer <strong>and</strong> Phil<br />
Buffham.<br />
After the c<strong>and</strong>idates withdrew, a vote was<br />
taken under the supervision of the Regional<br />
Director. Following a vote Phil Buffham was<br />
elected to chair.<br />
It was agreed that Tim should continue to<br />
chair until the end of this meeting.<br />
All other post holders were returned unopposed.<br />
All c<strong>and</strong>idates listed below agreed to<br />
serve in post if elected.<br />
Nominated Seconded Post Holder<br />
Chairman Nige Chris Tim Spitzer (not elected)<br />
Bruce Tony Phil Buffham (elected)<br />
Treasurer Tim Chris Jim Fergusson<br />
Secretary Nige Bruce Ian Bailey<br />
Membership Secretary Steve Nige Jeff Hoyle<br />
Press & Publicity Tim Jim Bruce Ward<br />
Press & Publicity Assistant Tim Jim Andrea Briers<br />
Pubs Officer Tim Jeff Ian Bailey<br />
Pubs Preservation Officer Tim Jeff Andrea Briers<br />
Nips Liaison Jeff Bruce Chris Lucas<br />
Webmaster Tim Jeff Nigel Nudds<br />
Cider Tim Jim Andrea Briers<br />
Branch Contact Phil Tony Bruce Ward<br />
Social Secretary: It was agreed to continue without one; Jackie Lucas is OK to continue with a large<br />
part of the work but does not wish to hold the post formally. Anything she does not do will<br />
continue to be done on an ad hoc basis.<br />
Public Affairs Officer: Nobody came forward for this post.<br />
As you can see the main change was we now have a New Chair, Phil Buffham who ran on a "Winds<br />
of Change" ticket hoping to encourage new active members within the branch, increase<br />
campaigning <strong>and</strong> even the holy grail, a beer festival held by the branch.<br />
An interesting year ahead I suspect.<br />
Tim has been our Chair for Nine years <strong>and</strong> was granted a vote of thanks by all present, he will<br />
continue as our <strong>Norwich</strong> pubcrawl guru! Andrea Briers, Regonal Director thanked the branch for it's<br />
work in the last year. The election details are reproduced, with thanks, from our Secretary's full<br />
minutes.<br />
Chris Lucas<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 41
Main Rd, Terrington st John, Cambs PE14 7RR<br />
01945 881097<br />
Open seven days a week<br />
12noon -2pm & 6 - 11pm<br />
Serving traditional home cooked food<br />
with a weekly specials board <strong>and</strong><br />
choice of vegetarian dishes.<br />
Children welcome<br />
Local real ales from Woods <strong>and</strong><br />
Woodfordes plus weekly changing guests<br />
The Burston Crown<br />
Jonj, Frances, Bev <strong>and</strong> Steve welcome you<br />
to our 16th Century country pub.<br />
We offer a fine range of gravity fed real ales,<br />
excellent bar <strong>and</strong> restuarant food every day <strong>and</strong><br />
a welcoming, warm atmosphere. Every Thursday<br />
evening we have a busker’s night <strong>and</strong> host live music<br />
every alternate Sunday.<br />
Sun Dec 20th – live music with Charlie Harper + John Parker<br />
Christmas Eve – Busker’s Special<br />
New Year’s Eve – Beach Party + music by Harper AKA<br />
See www.burstoncrown.com for details<br />
01379 741257<br />
enquiries@burstoncrown.com<br />
Earle Arms<br />
Heydon<br />
Traditional <strong>Norfolk</strong> freehouse<br />
<strong>and</strong> restaurant<br />
Bookings now<br />
being taken<br />
for Christmas<br />
3 Real Ales always available<br />
Woodfordes Wherry, Adnams<br />
Bitter <strong>and</strong> One Guest<br />
01263 587376<br />
Satnav: NR11 6AD<br />
(Just off B1149 Holt - <strong>Norwich</strong> Rd)<br />
Simon <strong>and</strong> Karen welcome you all<br />
to their traditional family pub.<br />
Great selection of real ales<br />
(new Guest ale every Friday)<br />
Fine dining <strong>and</strong> excellent company<br />
Complimentary bottle of Wine<br />
with all table reservations<br />
(min 4 persons) Offer available until<br />
February 2010.<br />
www.whitehorsechedgrave.co.uk<br />
42 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
NORFOLK NIPS | Campaigning trip 2009<br />
September County<br />
Campaigning Trip 2009<br />
On a clear autumnal<br />
evening a group of 14<br />
CAMRA stalwarts headed<br />
north from the city,<br />
passing the sadly-closed<br />
Erpingham Spread Eagle, on<br />
the way to our first very<br />
isolated country pub. But the<br />
car park was full of top-range<br />
motors, so where had we come<br />
on this beautiful clear <strong>and</strong><br />
cloudless night The Saracens<br />
Head at Wolterton was<br />
completely booked for diners<br />
but the l<strong>and</strong>lady graciously<br />
pulled us our pint of Adnams<br />
bitter (£3.10) <strong>and</strong> ushered us<br />
into the walled garden of this<br />
noble brick building where we<br />
pondered the night sky. Some<br />
also cast a longing eye over the<br />
extensive menu.<br />
It was time to move onto the<br />
village of Aldborough with its<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong> Diary<br />
18 -21 Dec Hockering Victoria <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>.<br />
Dec18 - 20 The Greyhound at Hickling.<br />
Promoted in aid of ‘The Wherry Trust’. Local cask<br />
ales <strong>and</strong> ciders available.<br />
extensive green <strong>and</strong> its two<br />
pubs on opposite sides. The<br />
Black Boys is a traditional<br />
village pub, dartboard prominent,<br />
offering Adnams <strong>and</strong> GK<br />
IPA at £2.80 <strong>and</strong> both in good<br />
form. The Old Red Lion has<br />
an attractive open fireplace <strong>and</strong><br />
hundreds of pump clips on the<br />
ceiling, though tonight only<br />
Adnams, GK <strong>and</strong> our first<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> beer, Woodforde’s<br />
Wherry were available at £2.60.<br />
Onto the A140 now <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Alby Horseshoes which, for a<br />
music-loving game-playing<br />
beer enthusiast proved to be<br />
the highlight of the trip.<br />
Wherry <strong>and</strong> Mardlers Mild,<br />
Nethergate Azzaskunk,<br />
Marston’s Jennings Cumberl<strong>and</strong><br />
were soon followed by<br />
Tipples Elm Hill Gold, all at<br />
£2.60 <strong>and</strong> all on top form.<br />
With vinyl playing in the corner<br />
<strong>and</strong> after spinning the <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
twister on the ceiling the party<br />
then indulged in some competitive<br />
Bull ringing. As our visit<br />
was so enjoyable our stay was<br />
extended a little which meant<br />
less time in the 2010GBG listed<br />
Skeyton Goat, another pub<br />
full of diners. The Spitfire was<br />
fine <strong>and</strong> was offered alongside<br />
Wherry <strong>and</strong> Adnams.<br />
On reflection it seems a<br />
shame that <strong>Norfolk</strong> beers were<br />
not more in evidence on our<br />
charabanc crawl as we have<br />
20-odd breweries in the<br />
county, but well done to all<br />
the pubs for their welcome.<br />
Oh, <strong>and</strong> come back soon the<br />
Spread Eagle.<br />
Mont<br />
4 – 6 Feb Chelmsford Winter <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>, Essex<br />
County Council Social Club (Triangle Club), Duke<br />
St, Chelmsford CM1 1LX<br />
8 – 14 Feb Trafford Arms, <strong>Norwich</strong> 17th Valentine<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>.<br />
15 - 16 Jan 2010 Ely Winter <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>.<br />
Maltings, Ship Lane, Ely CB7 4BB Opening times Fri<br />
15 12.00- 22.00 Sat 16 12.00- 18.00.<br />
20 – 23 Jan CAMRA National Winter Ales <strong>Festival</strong>,<br />
Sheridan Suite, Oldham Road, Manchester M40 8EA.<br />
21- 23 Jan 3rd Colchester Winter Ale <strong>Festival</strong>,<br />
Colchester Arts Centre, Open daily 12 noon -11pm<br />
21- 23 Jan 14th Cambridge Winter Ale <strong>Festival</strong>, at<br />
The University Social Club, Mill Lane.<br />
26 -27 Feb Chappel Winter <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong>. East<br />
Anglian Railway Museum, Chappel, Essex.<br />
10 – 12 Mar London Drinker <strong>Beer</strong> & Cider<br />
<strong>Festival</strong>, Camden Centre, Bidborough Street,<br />
London, WC1H 9AU. (Close to Kings Cross/St<br />
Pancras).<br />
18 – 20 Mar St Neots Booze on the Ouze <strong>Beer</strong><br />
<strong>Festival</strong>. Priory Centre,Priory Lane, St Neots,<br />
Cambridge, PE19 2BH<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 43
NORFOLK NIPS | Cask Ale on the up<br />
“Cask Ale is now a star performer”<br />
the newly published Cask<br />
Ale Report: Britain’s<br />
National Drink confirms<br />
that consumption of cask<br />
ale is on the increase despite a<br />
downturn in the pub trade in<br />
general.<br />
The findings of this report<br />
revealed that between January<br />
<strong>and</strong> June this year the sales of<br />
lagers, wine <strong>and</strong> spirits were all<br />
down while cask ale volume<br />
rose by one per cent. Cask ale<br />
is outperforming every other<br />
beer style <strong>and</strong> the only beer to<br />
report sales growth in the last<br />
year. This report states sales of<br />
cask ale is boosted by a jump in<br />
women drinkers <strong>and</strong> an<br />
affluent consumer base.<br />
Some of the key features<br />
highlighted in the report<br />
include:<br />
Total number of real ale<br />
drinkers rose to 8.5 million<br />
Pubs sold 2.3 million more<br />
pints of cask ale in the first half<br />
of this year than in the same six<br />
months last year.<br />
3,000 new pubs put cask ale<br />
on tap in 12 months to June<br />
this year.<br />
400,000 drinkers tried cask ale<br />
for the first time in 2008.<br />
There are now more breweries<br />
trading than at any time<br />
in the past 60 years.<br />
For more information on this<br />
report consult CAMRA’s<br />
National website <strong>and</strong> download<br />
“Cask Ale Report (Oct<br />
2009)” from the site’s home<br />
page.<br />
Mauldons take over <strong>Norwich</strong> Pub<br />
Mauldons Brewery based<br />
in Sudbury have taken<br />
over The Cottage,<br />
Silver Road, <strong>Norwich</strong>.<br />
The Freehouse will re-open on<br />
Thursday evening from<br />
7 pm on the 10th December.<br />
The Cottage has been<br />
completely refurbished <strong>and</strong> will<br />
be run as a real ale pub with<br />
ten ales available. These beers<br />
will be sourced from local<br />
brewers as well as proven<br />
favourites <strong>and</strong> will rotate alongside<br />
the Black Adder Brewery’s<br />
award winners.<br />
Mauldons owner Steve Sims<br />
says he is delighted that Clive<br />
<strong>and</strong> Sally Mann have agreed to<br />
manage the Cottage for them.<br />
Clive <strong>and</strong> Sally joined<br />
Mauldons last November to<br />
help set up <strong>and</strong> run our first<br />
pub, The Brewery Tap in<br />
Sudbury. They have done a<br />
fantastic job for us <strong>and</strong> we feel<br />
sure they will be warmly<br />
welcomed back to <strong>Norwich</strong>.<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 45
The King’s Head<br />
Open 12.00noon - 11.00pm Monday to Saturday<br />
12.00noon - 10.30pm Sunday<br />
Run by enthusiastic drinkers <strong>and</strong> CAMRA members.<br />
Keg Free Zone 14 H<strong>and</strong> Pumps<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> Ales <strong>and</strong> Cider<br />
Mild always available<br />
Worldwide Bottled <strong>Beer</strong>s<br />
Belgian <strong>Beer</strong>s<br />
Bar Billiards<br />
Television-free<br />
CAMRA <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
Pub of the Year<br />
2006 & 2008<br />
Dating from the<br />
14th century, the pub has<br />
been restored to a Victorian style.<br />
KEG FREE HOUSE<br />
The Kings Head, 42 Magdalen Street, <strong>Norwich</strong> NR3 1JE<br />
Telephone: 01603 620468 www.kingsheadnorwich.com
NORFOLK NIPS | GBG 2011<br />
Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide 2011 Nominations<br />
As you have probably seen<br />
in the last two editions of<br />
NIPS I have been inviting<br />
nominations for possible<br />
inclusion in the next CAMRA<br />
National Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide. The<br />
number of recommendations<br />
received so far has been very<br />
good. Please see below the<br />
revised list of new GBG 2011<br />
nominations:<br />
Banham The Banham Barrel<br />
Cromer Dolphin<br />
Cromer Red Lion<br />
Gt Yarmouth Oliver Twist<br />
Hempton Bell<br />
Heydon Earle Arms<br />
Holt Kings Head<br />
Kenninghall White Horse<br />
Lyng Fox & Hounds<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> Arts Centre<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> Franks Bar<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> Micawbers<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong><br />
Murderers/Gardeners<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> Nelson<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> Rose (Queens Road)<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> Vine<br />
Old Costessey Bush<br />
Reedham Ferry<br />
Sheringham The Crown<br />
Stiffkey Red Lion<br />
Swanton Morley Darbys<br />
Tacolneston Pelican<br />
Tibenham Greyhound<br />
Wells-next-the-Sea Edinburgh<br />
Hotel<br />
Wells-next-the-Sea Crown<br />
Wreningham Bird in H<strong>and</strong><br />
Wymondham Cross Keys<br />
The deadline is now fast<br />
approaching so please send<br />
any new nominations no later<br />
than 31st December 2009.<br />
With the deadline for nominations<br />
fast approaches it is now<br />
the time of year again that I am<br />
asking for volunteers to help<br />
survey for the next CAMRA<br />
National Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide. If<br />
you have surveyed before or<br />
are new to GBG surveying <strong>and</strong><br />
would be prepared to survey<br />
for The 2011 GBG, please<br />
contact me at:<br />
pubsofficer@norwichcamra.org.uk<br />
Or by post to:<br />
Warren Wordsworth<br />
16 Grove Avenue, <strong>Norwich</strong><br />
NR1 2QD<br />
I look forward to hearing from<br />
you!<br />
Mark & Marie offer you a warm welcome to the<br />
Fox <strong>and</strong> Hounds Heacham<br />
Home of The Fox Brewery<br />
We are a free house specialising in real ales. The first<br />
pub in Heacham to be in the CAMRA Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide.<br />
Alby HorseShoes Inn<br />
Freehouse<br />
Situated on the A140 <strong>Norwich</strong>/Cromer Road<br />
4 Real Ales – Home cooked Food<br />
5 STAR ESTABLISHMENT<br />
NNDC “Scores on the Doors”<br />
In the 2010 Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide<br />
Food Hygiene Rating<br />
HHHHH<br />
Margaret & Richard Rushmer look forward to meeting you<br />
01263 761378<br />
www.albyhorseshoes.co.uk<br />
Live Music every Tuesday<br />
Quiz Night Thursday<br />
10th Easter <strong>Beer</strong> <strong>Festival</strong><br />
Friday April 2nd to Monday April 5th<br />
With Live Music every night<br />
See website for details - www.foxbrewery.com<br />
Tel: 01485 570345<br />
22 Station Rd, Heacham, <strong>Norfolk</strong> PE31 7EX<br />
OPEN ALL DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 47
Pub Signs | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> pub sign postcards<br />
Maurice Bobbitt of<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> has always had<br />
a deep interest in the art<br />
of pub signs, particularly<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> pub signs. Over the years<br />
he has lovingly photographed<br />
scores of these signs. Now in<br />
association with Classic Prints he<br />
has produced a set of 60<br />
postcards depicting different<br />
examples of these fascinating<br />
illustrations. Particularly now that<br />
the traditional pub is under<br />
threat, these pictures provide a<br />
reminder of the part these<br />
‘community centres’ play in the<br />
social history of <strong>Norfolk</strong>.<br />
The packs of 60 cards are<br />
available at £9.00 per set plus<br />
postage from:<br />
Classic Prints of Hingham<br />
email: millerken@tiscali.co.uk<br />
or phone 01953 850794 for<br />
details. They are also available<br />
on ebay.<br />
Nige<br />
A tawny red strong bitter with<br />
a malt <strong>and</strong> fruit aroma.<br />
This warming ale has a full<br />
bodied soft finish.<br />
The London Tavern<br />
Free House<br />
Church St, Attleborough Tel :01953 457415<br />
Great real ales, fine wines <strong>and</strong> spirits.<br />
Traditional food served daily, pre-booked evening<br />
meals, Sunday roasts <strong>and</strong> Childrens menu.<br />
Meals for large parties up to 30 catered for in our<br />
funtion room, choice of set menu’s. Bookings only.<br />
Parking, Disabled facilities,<br />
Smokers sheltered garden, <strong>and</strong> <strong>Beer</strong> garden.<br />
Well behaved dogs on leads welcome.<br />
Christenings, Funerals,<br />
Intimate Weddings / Civil Ceremonies catered for<br />
IN THE GOOD BEER GUIDE 2010<br />
48 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 49
50 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
52 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
Music & Real Ale<br />
NORFOLK NIPS | <strong>Beer</strong> & Music<br />
TRADITIONAL JAZZ<br />
Acle Recreation Centre,<br />
Bridewell Lane, Acle<br />
Real Ales include Adnams<br />
Bitter, Theakstons <strong>and</strong> Tipples<br />
Redhead<br />
Friday 5th March<br />
Rod Mason <strong>and</strong> his Hot Five<br />
(from Germany), including<br />
former local favourite Sean<br />
Moyses on Banjo, celebrating<br />
the b<strong>and</strong>’s 25th anniversary<br />
this year.<br />
NB. Sessions are now taking<br />
place on Fridays instead of Tuesdays.<br />
Tickets/enquiries – Brian Davis<br />
01493 701880<br />
The Quality Hotel (Filby<br />
Suite), Bowthorpe,<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> (off Dereham<br />
Road)<br />
Fat Cat Bitter is being laid on<br />
specially for the jazz sessions.<br />
Tuesday 9th February – New<br />
Orleans Z’Hulus. New Orleans<br />
style b<strong>and</strong> led by British musician<br />
Brian Turnock, now living<br />
in Belgium, <strong>and</strong> featuring musicians<br />
from Belgium, Germany,<br />
Holl<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> France.<br />
Tickets/enquiries – Rod Playford<br />
01362 668576<br />
King’s Head Hotel,<br />
Beccles, Suffolk<br />
Adnams Bitter <strong>and</strong> Broadside<br />
plus special house beer<br />
Matilda’s Revenge, brewed by<br />
local brewery Opa Hays in<br />
honour of the resident ghost,<br />
<strong>and</strong> guest beers.<br />
Every Sunday evening -<br />
Red Beans ‘n’ Rice New<br />
Orleans Jazz B<strong>and</strong><br />
Feathers Hotel, Market<br />
Place, Holt<br />
Greene King Abbot Ale <strong>and</strong> IPA<br />
First Friday every month –<br />
Lumiere Rouge Ragtime B<strong>and</strong><br />
Marsham Arms, nr Hevingham<br />
(B1149 <strong>Norwich</strong>-Holt Road)<br />
Adnams Bitter, plus alternating<br />
guests including Adnams<br />
Broadside <strong>and</strong> Woodforde’s<br />
Wherry<br />
Third Friday every month –<br />
Lumiere Rouge Ragtime B<strong>and</strong><br />
Crown Inn, Banningham<br />
(Nr Aylsham)<br />
Adnams Broadside, Greene<br />
King IPA <strong>and</strong> Abbot Ale<br />
Sunday 21st February (1.30 to<br />
4.30 pm) - <strong>Norfolk</strong> Dixiel<strong>and</strong><br />
Jazz B<strong>and</strong><br />
(Phone 01263 733534 for<br />
further details)<br />
Northrepps Cottage<br />
Country Hotel, Nut Lane,<br />
Northrepps (Nr Cromer)<br />
Greene King Abbot Ale <strong>and</strong> IPA<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 53
<strong>Beer</strong> & Music | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
Sunday 13th December (<br />
Special Christmas Jazz Carvery<br />
from 12.00 – 4.00 pm) – Chris<br />
Wigley’s Phoenix Jazz Quartet.<br />
No jazz during January <strong>and</strong><br />
February, but monthly Sunday<br />
Jazz Carveries resume on<br />
Sunday 14th March with the<br />
same b<strong>and</strong>.<br />
(Phone 01263 579202 for<br />
further details)<br />
George <strong>and</strong> Dragon,<br />
Newton by Castle Acre<br />
Elgoods Cambridge plus local<br />
guest beers<br />
Second Tuesday every month –<br />
Black Bowler Hat Jazz B<strong>and</strong><br />
(Also folk music on first<br />
Thursday every month)<br />
Bell Inn, Hempton (Nr<br />
Fakenham)<br />
Woodforde’s Wherry, John<br />
Smiths Cask <strong>and</strong> guest beers<br />
Second <strong>and</strong> Fourth Thursday<br />
every month – Black Bowler<br />
Hat Jazz B<strong>and</strong><br />
Dereham Jazz Society,<br />
Lakeside Country Club,<br />
Quarry Lane, Lyng (nr<br />
Dereham)<br />
Adnams beers plus guest beers<br />
on h<strong>and</strong>pump<br />
Wednesday 20th January –<br />
Barry Palser’s Selected Six,<br />
including Alan Gresty on<br />
Trumpet, Tony Teal (clarinet &<br />
sax), Pete Gregory (guitar &<br />
banjo), Peter Baker (bass) <strong>and</strong><br />
Stu Watcham (drums)<br />
54 | WINTER 2009 / 2010<br />
The Buck Inn, The Street,<br />
Flixton, Suffolk<br />
Woodforde’s Mardler’s,<br />
Morl<strong>and</strong> Original <strong>and</strong> Adnams<br />
Bitter are the regulars at<br />
present, but in addition there<br />
are guest beers, <strong>and</strong> an<br />
increased selection in the<br />
summer months<br />
Every Thursday -<br />
Sole Bay Jazz B<strong>and</strong><br />
MAINSTREAM /<br />
MODERN JAZZ<br />
Green Man, Wroxham<br />
Rackheath<br />
Woodforde’s Wherry, Adnams<br />
Bitter <strong>and</strong> Broadside plus<br />
guests<br />
Every Tuesday – Full<br />
programme consisting of<br />
various b<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> musicians.<br />
For further details, phone<br />
Barbara Capocci on 01603<br />
413443, or e-mail<br />
b.capocci123@ntlworld.com<br />
NB. No jazz on 29th December<br />
<strong>and</strong> 5th January. Sessions<br />
resume Tuesday 12th January.<br />
Dereham Jazz Society, Lakeside<br />
Country Club, Quarry<br />
Lane, Lyng (nr Dereham)<br />
Adnams beers plus guest beers<br />
on h<strong>and</strong>pump<br />
Every Wednesday – Full<br />
programme consisting of<br />
various b<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> musicians in<br />
varied styles, which usually<br />
includes one ‘traditional’<br />
session each month (See<br />
above).<br />
NB. Closed for Christmas break<br />
on 23rd <strong>and</strong> 30th December.<br />
Sessions resume Wednesday<br />
6th January.<br />
For further details phone<br />
01328 863511 or 01362<br />
696741 or visit website<br />
www.lakeside-jazz-club.co.uk<br />
Keith Chettleburgh<br />
Folk in the East<br />
(& West)<br />
‘The l<strong>and</strong>s like a bog, with rain<br />
upon rain, Wet upon wet upon<br />
wet, Nine months of Winter &<br />
three months bad weather, <strong>and</strong><br />
never a dry day yet, No never a<br />
drying day yet’ (Bewcastle:<br />
Maddy Prior / Rick Kemp)<br />
So what can drag you out<br />
from a warm house into East<br />
Anglia’s winter weather Of the<br />
regular singer / musician<br />
sessions <strong>and</strong> starting in the city<br />
on Tuesday evenings at The<br />
Duke of Wellington<br />
Waterloo Road, for the von<br />
Krapp Family: they are not a<br />
family, no one is called von<br />
Krapp but for well played<br />
melodeon, fiddles, pipes &<br />
guitar they take a lot of<br />
beating. Micawbers, Pottergate,<br />
the Shufflewing sessions<br />
are also on a Tuesday evening.<br />
On Wednesday the Nelson on<br />
Nelson Street has a More than<br />
Folk play/sing-around from<br />
20.30 while at the Cider<br />
Shed, Sprowston Road, also on<br />
Wednesday, you can find the
NORFOLK NIPS | <strong>Beer</strong> & Music<br />
Irish Session. Jurnets Bar at<br />
the Music House, King Street,<br />
on Fridays from 20:00 this is an<br />
invited musicians evening that<br />
includes, rather than being<br />
exclusively, folk music (with<br />
club m’ship available for<br />
regular visitors). <strong>Norwich</strong> Folk<br />
Club meets at the White<br />
Horse in Trowse on Friday<br />
nights. On the 4th of<br />
December they have The Joni<br />
Mitchell Project while looking<br />
to the New Year the guest is<br />
Tony Hall on the 15th of<br />
January <strong>and</strong> Bill Whaley with<br />
Dave Fletcher on the 5th of<br />
February. On Sunday afternoons<br />
from 14.30 it is worth<br />
checking out the Cider Shed<br />
for live music in many forms,<br />
including folk, while later on<br />
there is another reason to visit<br />
the Nelson for the Sunday<br />
evening session from c.20.00<br />
There is a basket full of folkbased<br />
events typically taking<br />
place once (or twice) a month<br />
at pubs throughout our area of<br />
which the following is just a<br />
sample: -<br />
Folk at the Railway (Mondays)<br />
at the Railway North Elmham<br />
The Wisbech Folk Club meet at<br />
the Angel Wisbech on Tuesdays.<br />
A session takes place at<br />
the Reedcutters at Cantley<br />
on the 1st Wednesday of the<br />
month the 2nd Wednesday is<br />
the Burlington Hotel Sheringham<br />
while, at the Kings<br />
Head at Dereham, folk is on<br />
the 3rd Wednesday of the<br />
month.<br />
The Red Lion in Swaffham is<br />
the venue for the (former<br />
Castle Acre) Folk club on the<br />
last Wednesday of the month .<br />
The Alby Horseshoes are on<br />
the last Thursday of the month<br />
with the Cherry Tree at Wicklewood<br />
(the Buffy’s Brewery<br />
tap) <strong>and</strong> the Greyhound at<br />
Tibenham, at the same time<br />
<strong>and</strong> date. On the 2nd Sunday<br />
of the month in the afternoon<br />
try the Gatehouse on<br />
Dereham Road <strong>Norwich</strong>.<br />
Staying with the Sunday, but in<br />
the evening, Meet in the Hedge<br />
run an open session of music<br />
<strong>and</strong> poetry at the<br />
Wymondham Feathers, on<br />
Town Green, from 20.00 with<br />
2010 dates of 31st Jan, 28th<br />
Feb & 28th March.<br />
Down in the Waveney valley<br />
the Geldeston Locks has<br />
December dates on Thursdays<br />
with Murphy’s Lore on the 3rd,<br />
17th <strong>and</strong> 27th, Bric-a-Brac on<br />
the 10th <strong>and</strong> a Winter Solstice<br />
Special with Old Glory Molly<br />
dancers on Monday 21st.<br />
On the subject of dance<br />
Kemps Men will be dancing on<br />
the <strong>Norwich</strong> Lanes from 11.00<br />
on Saturday 12th December<br />
(so that is the Belgium<br />
Monk, the Birdcage & the<br />
Vine for refreshment) while on<br />
Boxing Day Saturday 26th they<br />
are joining forces with Fiddlesticks<br />
(N.West clog dancers) at<br />
the Banningham Crown.<br />
Looking into the New Year<br />
Whittlesea Straw Bear festival<br />
takes place between Friday &<br />
Sunday (15th-17th January),<br />
which seems to be a popular<br />
event with certain abstemious<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> members!<br />
(www.strawbear.org.uk for<br />
more information)<br />
The <strong>Norwich</strong> Arts Centre<br />
has some goodies for the<br />
season with Oyster B<strong>and</strong> (in the<br />
unlikely event of any tickets<br />
being left!) on Saturday<br />
December 5th, a b<strong>and</strong> I’ve<br />
never heard called Stars of<br />
Sunday League on Friday 15th<br />
January <strong>and</strong> on February 9th<br />
the excellent Dervish.<br />
Scotl<strong>and</strong>’s finest, Moishe’s<br />
Bagel, have the stage on<br />
Monday 15th <strong>and</strong>, in March,<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong>’s very own Horses<br />
Brawl (& support) are dragged<br />
away from appearances on R3<br />
<strong>and</strong> the arts section of the<br />
Guardian on Thursday 4th.<br />
Finally, <strong>and</strong> returning to<br />
December, the Queens Head<br />
Wymondham are hosting<br />
‘Christmas with Tallis’ on<br />
Sunday 12th (donations<br />
£1.00+ suggested) whilst back<br />
in the city the cellar of Take 5<br />
is the venue on Monday 14th<br />
for Musical Tapas (latin guitar<br />
<strong>and</strong> songs) plus the Rampant<br />
Horse Collective with jigs,<br />
polkas airs & reels on flutes <strong>and</strong><br />
fiddles.<br />
If you are hosting a gig, folk<br />
dance session, or some other<br />
vaguely effnic sort of event at a<br />
cask conditioned ale venue<br />
why not spread the word via<br />
these pages or even take an<br />
advert Contact mailing<br />
addresses on Page 3.<br />
Seasonal Solstice Greetings to<br />
All.<br />
WINTER AUTUMN 2009 / 2009 2010 | 55
DUKEof WELLINGTON<br />
TRADITIONAL REAL ALE HOUSE<br />
14 REAL ALES<br />
GRAVITY SERVED<br />
available all year round from<br />
our glass fronted tap room<br />
CAMRA Good <strong>Beer</strong><br />
Guide Listed<br />
CAMRA <strong>Norfolk</strong> Pub<br />
of the Year 2003<br />
6 MORE ALES<br />
ON HAND PUMP<br />
Welcoming<br />
REAL FIRE<br />
Open<br />
Monday to Saturday 12noon to 11pm<br />
Sundays 12noon to 10.30pm<br />
Just 15<br />
minutes walk<br />
from the<br />
City Centre<br />
Come <strong>and</strong> enjoy our Tap<br />
Room with a selection of<br />
Belgian bottled beers,<br />
Schneider Weiss, Erdinger<br />
<strong>and</strong> Dunkel.<br />
91 - 93 WATERLOO ROAD | NORWICH | 01603 441182
NORFOLK NIPS | Real Ale in Mexico<br />
On the Trail of Real Ale in<br />
Mexico: San Miguel de Allende<br />
San Miguel de Allende,<br />
founded in 1542, is<br />
perched 6000 feet above<br />
sea level, near the<br />
geographical center of Mexico,<br />
in the state of Guanajuato. It’s<br />
world famous for its colonial<br />
architecture, cobblestone<br />
streets <strong>and</strong> breath-taking views.<br />
The historic center is a<br />
Mexican national monument,<br />
but recently the town, along<br />
with the nearby sanctuary of<br />
Atotonilco has been accorded<br />
the prestigious honour of being<br />
named a UNESCO World<br />
Heritage site.<br />
Artists, poets, musicians <strong>and</strong><br />
students flock to the San<br />
Miguel each year to paint,<br />
write, perform <strong>and</strong> study. There<br />
are, of course, many reasons to<br />
visit, but added to the long list<br />
is the recently opened<br />
Cerveza de San Miguel, a<br />
new craft brewery, located on<br />
the outskirts of town.<br />
Cameron Carroll, <strong>and</strong> his<br />
father Matthew, started the<br />
brewery less than two years<br />
ago, in a disused h<strong>and</strong>icraft<br />
store. Cameron spent time in<br />
San Miguel as a child <strong>and</strong> has<br />
been traveling back <strong>and</strong> forth<br />
for the last ten years. His operation<br />
is small scale, he only<br />
brews one beer <strong>and</strong> it’s an<br />
American Pale Ale. It can be<br />
described as a Sierra Nevada<br />
style ale, with a fragrant<br />
bouquet <strong>and</strong> moderate hoppiness.<br />
He uses Golding hops<br />
instead of the familiar Cascade<br />
hops to produce American Pale<br />
ale with an English twist!<br />
If that doesn’t appeal, besides<br />
the full bar, there are 7 other<br />
beers on draught, three from<br />
the Minerva craft brewery, in<br />
Guadalajara. Their Colonial is<br />
a Kolsch style lager, Vienna is<br />
an Oktoberfest style lager <strong>and</strong><br />
there is Stout, with a strong<br />
flavour of toasted barley <strong>and</strong><br />
Continued Overleaf<br />
WINTER 2009 / 2010 | 57
Real Ale in Mexico continued | NORFOLK NIPS<br />
hints of chocolate <strong>and</strong> coffee.<br />
Grupo Modelo, one of the<br />
two big-boy Mexican breweries,<br />
provides their Modelo<br />
Especial, a pilsner style <strong>and</strong><br />
the popular Negra Modelo, a<br />
dark Munich Dunkle style with<br />
caramel <strong>and</strong> chocolate flavours<br />
<strong>and</strong> a spicy hop profile.<br />
Brewery giant Cerveza<br />
Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma is<br />
represented by Indio, an alelike<br />
darkish lager with a robust<br />
malty finish. Sol, is a popular<br />
Mexican golden lager, with a<br />
refreshing taste <strong>and</strong> mellow<br />
flavour.<br />
One can enjoy these real ales,<br />
either in the shade of a pepper<br />
tree in the enclosed patio, in<br />
the pub room, complete with<br />
dart board, or in the cozy<br />
restaurant. The food is reasonably<br />
priced <strong>and</strong> many entrees<br />
include the home brew as part<br />
of the recipe: beer battered<br />
blooming onion, fried green<br />
tomatoes <strong>and</strong> battered shrimp.<br />
A good paring is the Pale Ale<br />
with one of their wood-fired<br />
pizzas.<br />
www.cervezadesanmiguel.com<br />
The Kings Arms<br />
22 Hall Rd <strong>Norwich</strong> NR1 3HQ Tel: 01603 766361<br />
5th Annual Haggis Bash<br />
Monday 25th January<br />
Haggis, Neeps <strong>and</strong> Tatties washed down with a ‘Wee Dram’<br />
<strong>and</strong> a wide selection of Scottish Ales!<br />
Over 40 Cask Ales personally selected from regional<br />
<strong>and</strong> microbreweries across the UK.<br />
All styles of beer will be available including<br />
many Dark <strong>Beer</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Real Cider. <strong>Beer</strong>s<br />
will be served on H<strong>and</strong> pump at the bar or on<br />
Gravity from “The Shed of Dreams”.<br />
A. Ciurczak<br />
58 | WINTER 2009 / 2010
The Shoulder of Mutton<br />
~ Strumpshaw ~<br />
Fine ales <strong>and</strong> good food<br />
served in a friendly atmosphere<br />
Real ales include<br />
Adnams Bitter <strong>and</strong><br />
Broadside plus<br />
TWO guest ale<br />
(mainly from local<br />
breweries)<br />
Food served 12-2pm <strong>and</strong> 7-9pm<br />
(Mon-Sat), 12-2pm Sundays<br />
Pub games include Darts, Pool, Crib <strong>and</strong> Petanque!<br />
Ian <strong>and</strong> Jenny look forward to welcoming you..<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> Rd, Strumpshaw, <strong>Norwich</strong> NR13 4NT<br />
Tel 01603 712274
The pub with no bar, ales<br />
direct from cask.<br />
Watch www.nelsonslocal.co.uk for forthcoming events.<br />
Tongue twizzling food, <strong>and</strong> great value.<br />
Check our website for<br />
Tuesday Lunch QUIZ - 60 questions<br />
& a bowl of soup £5.00<br />
Thursday night curry or italian<br />
- £8.00 inc. drink voucher<br />
Live music every Thursday from 8.45pm.<br />
All details on the website.<br />
Real fires. Huge garden.<br />
Come & visit Nelson’s local.<br />
Walsingham Road, Burnham Thorpe <strong>Norfolk</strong> PE31 8HN<br />
01328 738241<br />
KINGS HEAD HOLT<br />
Six brilliantly kept local ales on offer.<br />
Over the past ten months the pub focussed its attention on providing a<br />
wide range of well kept local ales for you all to try <strong>and</strong> thanks to your<br />
support we have now offered over a hundred different local guest ales,<br />
uncovering some real gems on the way.<br />
Along side this we have been providing locals with their old favourites<br />
Woodfordes’ Wherry, Adnams’ Bitter <strong>and</strong> Adnams’ Broadside <strong>and</strong> we are<br />
proud to announce we have been nominated for the Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide.<br />
Come <strong>and</strong> relax by the fire in our newly refurbished George’s bar where<br />
you can grab a cosy booth or just a stool at the bar while you drink your<br />
ale <strong>and</strong> put the world to rights.<br />
Come <strong>and</strong> try our own real ale ‘King’s Ransom’ exclusive to the king’s<br />
head, brewed by Black Friars Brewery.<br />
To find out more you can visit our website<br />
http://www.kingsheadholt.org.uk/, give us a call on 01263 712543,<br />
or just come on down <strong>and</strong> give us a try, you won’t be disappointed!
The Royal Oak<br />
at Poringl<strong>and</strong><br />
Come <strong>and</strong> enjoy live music on Friday <strong>and</strong> Saturday at our<br />
EASTER BEER FESTIVAL<br />
April 2nd - April 9th<br />
Range of 30+ <strong>Beer</strong>s <strong>and</strong> Ciders available<br />
Giant Easter Egg Raffle on sunday for East Anglian Children’s Hospice<br />
We Don’t Have a Big Screen TV, Food Or a Juke Box<br />
We do have 17 h<strong>and</strong>pumps, with Real Ale from far <strong>and</strong><br />
wide, 2 Real Ciders <strong>and</strong> 2 Real Ales From gravity,<br />
a large car park, large beer garden With heated<br />
smoking shelter, darts, pool, quizzes And crib.<br />
We hold two beer festivals each year.<br />
The Royal Oak lies at the heart of the community <strong>and</strong><br />
new customers are always welcome. Come along <strong>and</strong><br />
get a real welcome from a real pub selling real ale!!!!!!<br />
Nick, Delia And The Team would love to see you soon.<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> And <strong>Norfolk</strong><br />
Pub Of The Year 2007<br />
<strong>Norfolk</strong> Pub Of The Year 2007<br />
13 years in the Good <strong>Beer</strong> Guide!<br />
A dream of a pub situated in the village of Poringl<strong>and</strong><br />
on the B1332 road to Bungay. The main bus route from<br />
<strong>Norwich</strong> stops right outside.<br />
Contact us on<br />
01508 493734<br />
New email: theroyaloak@fsmail.net
FREEMOUSE 49 West End Street, <strong>Norwich</strong> NR2 4NA 01603 624364<br />
<strong>Beer</strong> Pub of the Year<br />
GOOD PUB GUIDE 2010 - Winner for the 4th time!<br />
Two Times CAMRA National<br />
Pub Of The Year (1998 & 2004)<br />
Up to THIRTY real ales available all year round<br />
FIFTY BOTTLED BEERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD<br />
featuring 25 countries, from Mexico to Mongolia, Jamaica to Japan <strong>and</strong> China to the Czech Republic<br />
FIFTEEN DRAUGHT CONTINENTAL BEERS<br />
INCLUDING 5 FRUIT BEERS<br />
Part of the Oakademy<br />
Scheme of Excellence<br />
NOW IN OUR 20TH YEAR!<br />
ROLLS STILL 60p TAPPITS &<br />
POLYPINS AVAILABLE ALL YEAR!<br />
www.fatcatpub.co.uk<br />
Fat Cat Brewery at the Cidershed, <strong>Norwich</strong><br />
98-100 Lawson Rd, <strong>Norwich</strong><br />
NR3 4LF 01603 624364<br />
UP TO 15 REAL ALES INCLUDING THE FAT CAT RANGE: Fat Cat Bitter3.8%<br />
LIVE MUSIC & ARTS VENUE<br />
01603 788508<br />
www.cidershednorwich.net<br />
Honey Ale 4.3%<br />
Wild Cat 5.0%<br />
Marmalade Cat 5.5%<br />
Stout Cat 4.6%