Pints West 80, Winter 2008 - Bristol & District CAMRA

PINTS WEST......................................................................................................................................................The Barley MowWHEN Wadworth brewery closed the Barley Mow in the Dings sometime ago, an awful lot of people thought “that’s it for another pub –more chuffing flats!”Well, they were wrong. The recently formed Bristol Pubs Group(part of Bristol & District CAMRA) heard about the closure. Theypublicised the closure and along came a white knight in the form oflocal brewery, the Bristol Beer Factory.On May 22 nd, the Barley Mow reopened its doors after Bristol BeerFactory took on the freehold and carried out an extensive refurbishment.Originally the pub was known as the Duke of York when built in1914 – it was then owned by Georges Brewery of Bristol. It changed to“The Barley Mow” about 30 years ago when it was taken on byWadworth. It is now one of the few surviving pubs in the Dings – it isbelieved that there were once as many as eight.Interestingly, although the pub was built in 1914, rumour has it thatthere was a pub on the site from the 1820’s.This great little pub is now building up an increasing level of trade.It is very much a traditional locals’ pub situated in a very central areathat was once very densely populated, but slightly off the beaten track.However, the Dings area has gone through many changes over the yearswith Temple Quay 1 & 2 developments, new hotels and residentialapartments going up recently. The Barley Mow is once again servingthe local community. With its reputation growing, people are alsovisiting from further afield to sample the warm welcome and greatbeers.Landlord Andy Bridges and his hardworking team of Andy 2,Antony, Nicky and Liz are proud as punch of this little, cosy, gem of apub. And now, with Christmas around the corner, the atmosphere at the“Mow” is becoming even cosier by the minute, now that the open firehas been flashed up and the mulled cider has been warming. The fullrange of the Bristol Beer Factory ales on tap are soon to be joined bythe Christmas special “Brisltoe”, and with Pieminister pies andhomemade savoury tarts being the flagships of the menu there is plentyon offer to keep the winter chills at bay.The next few months will see the introduction of a more extensiveevents program. On Tuesday evenings Bristol-based arts collective“Squeaky Hill” will be bringing you the silliest craft competitions andmusical bingo. Wednesday is pie & pint for £7. Thursday brings you theever so popular pub quiz and board games competition on alternateweeks. Friday is Tech-Mow night incorporating Vinyl Vibes, Pod Idol,Xbox RockBand party and YouTube nights. To top it all off there is livemusic at the weekends, curry and a pint on Saturdays for £5.95 and anopen mic night every third Sunday night of the month. There’s a lot offun to be had in this little corner of Bristol.Pete BridleThe Barley Mow, 39 Barton Road, “The Dings”, St Philips, Bristol BS2 0LFTel: 0117 930 4709Opening hours: Mon 5-11, Tues - Thurs 12-3 & 5-11, Fri - Sun 12-11.Somerset cider legend goes down inCAMRA folkloreA PIONEERING figure in the world of real cider has added an extrachapter to his already successful resumé by winning the CAMRAPomona Award for 2008.Roger Wilkins, of Wilkins Cider, Lands End Farm, Mudgley, nearWedmore, Somerset, scooped the award for his lifelong devotion toproducing some of the most renowned cider in the county. Wilkins’scontribution to the industry is so well-appreciated that customers havebeen buying from the farm for over thirty years.The Pomona Award is named after the Roman Goddess of applesand is presented by CAMRA to the person, place or thing that has donethe most to promote real cider or perry, primarily over the previoustwelve months and, secondarily, where there is no outstanding contenderin the last twelve months, for ongoing work.Roger Wilkins, Pomona winner, said: “I am delighted to receive thisrecognition for doing something that I love and for carrying on thetradition of farmhouse cider-making that my grandfather taught me. Imust also thank all the people who have supported my work over theyears, and I hope they have enjoyed my cider.”Wilkins has been winning CAMRA awards since the 1980’s, mostnotably taking the Cider of the Year accolade at both the 1988 and 1989Great British Beer Festivals. He took over the family business after thedeath of his grandfather in 1969, and to this day produces up to 20,000gallons of cider per year. Wilkins also has a concern for tradition,keeping alive the ancient tradition of ‘wassailing’, held every January.Sarah Newson, vice chair of CAMRA’s Cider & Perry Committee,said: “This phenomenal contributor to the industry thoroughly deservesthis award for his sheer enthusiasm and commitment to producing thebest real cider. With his farm overlooking Westhay Moor Valley, Rogercould not produce cider in a more stunning location. Maybe thesesurroundings have been the inspiration for his continued success!”Real cider is a long-established traditional drink which is producednaturally from apples and is neither carbonated nor pasteurised. Ascider is made from apples, perry is made from perry pears, which tendto be smaller and harder then dessert pears.As the fruit ripens throughout September and October, it is milledand pressed. The juice is then left to ferment and mature until April/Maywhen it becomes ready to drink.www.camrabristol.org.uk23