Pints West 66, Summer 2005 - Bristol & District CAMRA

PINTS WESTIsland in the Sea......................................................................................................................................................Island in the seaByyour Nailsea correspondentLaurie Gibney20THE CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALECHAMPION BEER OF BRITAIN 2003GOLD MEDAL WINNERSTRONG BITTER CATEGORY.ADNAMS BROADSIDE. BEER FROM THE COAST.“New” pub in Flax BourtonThe Dew Drop Inn dropped into the localpub scene on Friday 8th April, being a veryheavily disguised and “made over” renamedJubilee Inn, which was closed for only fourdays. Outside and at the front the new pubname is evident as is the pub company nameof “Eldridge Pope”. Also a couple of pergolaswith hanging baskets and some potted palmsilluminated at night serve to welcome you in.The garden has been provided with a coveredpatio and an extension to the kitchens isplanned.Inside, there used to be steps down fromthe bar then up to the main eating and sittingareas. There are now no steps down as youleave the bar to make life easier for disabledcustomers and those carrying drinks or food.The shallow steps up to the eating anddrinking areas might have been eliminated alsobut would have needed serious structuralalterations. Clever use of mirrors gives the pubmore depth; potted plants, books, pictures andstuffed birds and fish in glass boxes partiallyhide the mirrors.Michael Cannon bought the Eldridge Popepub chain that leased the Jubilee from EnterpriseInns last year. The pub has been underperformingfor some years and CAMRA wereconcerned that it might close and be sold offfor other uses. Maybe Michael had a soft spotfor the Jubilee because it was his Dad’s local,or thought that being on a busy major road justoutside of Bristol and given the right makeoverit must succeed!We welcome managers Sharon (a Devongirl) and Carl (an Essex boy) Brockington, withbaby Vincent just six months old, to the DewDrop Inn and wish the venture every success.They previously spent four years at the KingWilliam Ale House in King Street, Bristol – aSamuel Smith house but with no real ale. Atthe Dew Drop Inn Carl will be able at last touse his skills looking after cask ale again. Onthe opening night the cask ale was CourageBest, Butcombe Bitter and Marston’sPedigree, but it is intended to provide avarying cask ale range to include local ales.Thanks to John and Christine from Coventryand others for keeping the pub going over thelast few months since “Rich & Mel” movedon.An extensive menu is offered under thebanner of “H. J. Wellfed’s” including tapas,fish, vegetarian, salads,roasters, grills, curries,pies, bar snacks,children’s meals, and atlimited times “241”steaks and over-55’soffers, plus specials ofthe day. Phone 01275462741 to book a table.Another new nameandmanagementThe Battleaxes atWraxall has now beenrenamed the NewBattle Axe. The pubwas built by the Gibbsfamily whose nearbyfamily seat Tyntesfield,and part of the estate,has recently been takenover by the NationalTrust and is well wortha visit.The pub was part ofa small group that hasgone through variousownerships in recentyears, and was boughtlast October by Pannaand Kemar Patel whosuccessfully run thePatco Supermarket inWells Road, Bristol. Atthe same time, PannaLocal CAMRA web site : www.camrabristol.org.ukand Kemar purchased the Gleneagles Hotel inTorquay, which was the original inspirationfor the Fawlty Towers TV comedy starringJohn Cleese and Prunella Scales.Alistaire and Julie Scott managed theBattleaxes for seven years through thick andthin times and left recently, moving to Surrey.Andy Charlock, who was a Wetherspoon’smanager in Weston-super-Mare and Burnhamon-Seatook over management of the NewBattle Axe in April.The popular carvery will continue to beserved in the restaurant together with two-foroneoffers at quiet times and the à la cartemenu. A range of meals and snacks are alsoavailable in the bar. Local produce is usedwherever possible.A drinks supply deal has been struck withScottish Courage, so Courage Best hasreplaced Bass. The other real ale will beprovided from a local brewery, which presumablyrules out the previously-stocked SmilesBest because that is now brewed in Walsall.Newman’s Wolver’s Ale from Banwellcurrently occupies the second pump and isproving very popular. Andy is keen to add athird real ale pump, so support the New BattleAxe and suggest what third real ale you wouldlike to see on the bar – Newman’s Cave BearStout perhaps?New faces at the White LionWelcome to Louise and Nikki who havetaken over the license of the Enterprise Inn’sWhite Lion in Silver Street, Nailsea. They haveretained the real ale range of Courage Best andButcombe Bitter and have introduced a varyingguest ale, starting with Sharp’s Doom Bar.Nikki’s previous experience in the licensetrade was at the Windhover Chapel Bramptonin Northamptonshire, a Vintage Inn that alsoruns the Dovecote, ex-Smyth Arms at Ashton,and Priory at Portbury. Louise is a Nailsea girland her parents Roy and Joan Thomas havelived in Nailsea, Yatton and Wraxall during thepast fifty years. The previous licensees Craigand Cherona have gone abroad.Food is now served at the White Lion from12 to 2.30 and 6 to 9pm except on Mondays,and from 12 to 4pm on Sundays. The menuprices range from £3 to a sirloin steak at £6.95.Their beef and Butcombe pie is very popular.Telephone 01275 852776 for more details.Real ale popular at the Mizzymead Club,NailseaUnlike some other clubs, the MizzymeadClub’s real ale is very popular, supportingCourage Best and Butcombe Bitter plus avarying guest beer. Club manager JackieThursby and cellarman Tony Freeman recentlyundertook an S&N sponsored cellarmanship