FREE Issue 104 April / May 2016 ... · Leicester Beer Festival 2016 p4 theleicesterdrinker FREE...

Jim’s Jaunt – Newtown Linford & Anstey p22

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INSIDELocal brewery news . . . . . . . . . p6

Bus pass to beer . . . . . . . . . . . . p8

Remember Kimm Wainwright . . p9

A Steamin’ Jolly Away Day . . p11

Pub of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . p13

MILD IN MAY SPECIAL . . . . . . p15

Upcoming Beer Festivals . . . . p28 Facebook/leicestercamra @LeicesterCAMRA

Leicester Beer Festival 2016 p4

theleicesterdrinkerwww.leicester.camra.org.uk

FREE Issue 104April / May 2016

The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA BranchCirculation 5,000 throughout Leicestershire & Rutland

Hoptical Illusion p7

leicestercamra

New light through old windows p7

ADVERTISE IN THE LEICESTER DRINKER!With a circulation of 5,000 and an estimated readership of three times that number, The Drinker reaches licensees and pubgoers alike and is available free of charge in almost 200 outlets. The newsletter is published every two months by The Campaign for Real Ale, prices to advertise start from £35 plus VAT.

Contact [email protected] in the first instance.

LEICESTER DRINKER ADVERTISING/COPY DEADLINES 2016

Recommended AbsoluteLD105 Jun/Jul 11/05/2016 18/05/2016LD106 Aug/Sep 13/07/2016 20/07/2016LD107 Oct/Nov 14/09/2016 21/09/2016LD108 Dec/Jan 16/11/2016 23/11/2016

EDITORRob MacardlePlease send contributions [email protected]

Website: www.leicester.camra.org.ukFacebook: Leicester Campaign for Real Ale

The Drinker welcomes letters, news, views and articles for possible publication. Please keep it brief and to the point and supply your name and address (this will only be published with your permission). The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor, Leicester Branch, or CAMRA.

ADVERTISING RATES1/6 page £ 35 + VAT1/4 page £ 50 + VAT1/3 page £ 66 + VAT1/2 page £ 85 + VAT1 page £160 + VATBack Page £190 + VATSeries Discounts available on 1/4 page and aboveVAT Registration Number: 102 0964 57

CAMRA Recommends that if you are in any way dissatisfied with the measure of your pint in any of Leicestershire & Rutland’s pubs, contact the Trading Standards. Details below.

• City of Leicester Council has now moved from New Walk. All Weights & Measures enquiries should be referred to Citizens Advice 03454040506 or www.citizensadvice.org.uk

• Leicestershire County Council 2000, E-mail: [email protected]

• Rutland County Council Offices, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP.

• Trading Standards are part of Environmental Health. All initial enquiries to Rutland County Council can be made through the customer services team. 01572 722577

Leicester CAMRA makes every effort to publish the Leicester Drinker on time, however sometimes due to lack of copy being received it may be a few days later than advertised. Leicester CAMRA cannot accept any responsibility for advertisements taken that feature a dated event that has occurred before publication is published.

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

Welcome to the April/May edition of The Leicester Drinker. It’s been an eventful couple of months with another successful Leicester Beer Festival and continuing largely positive news on the local pub and brewery scene.As a result we’re back to our standard 32-page format for this edition of The Drinker and with the amount of material received we could easily have stretched it to 48 pages. We’d very much like to expand our number of pages but to do that we need to attract more advertisers, for without their support it would be difficult to continue, so if you know of somebody who would find it beneficial to reach our readers please let us know. Many of our advertisers are holding beer festivals in the coming months so please show them your support.Don’t forget that May is Mild Month and this year we have 32 participating venues for what is our 3rd Mild Trail. All the details are on the four page centrefold but if you don’t wish to damage your copy of The Drinker everything is downloadable from our website (www.leicester.camra.org.uk).RM

FROM THE EDITOR

2 April - May 2016 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch

The Stamford Arms, Groby10% CAMRA DISCOUNT ON ALL CASK ALES

• New Play Area for Under 12s• Family Garden• Tuck Shop• No Smoking Area

• 5 Star Accommodation• Available for

Bed & Breakfast• WiFi• Holiday Lets Available

• Fine Food Available• Quiz Nights Tuesday

& Sunday• Pasta & Prosecco

Wednesday• Open Mic Thursdays

• Shires Magazine Pub of the Year

• CAMRA Pub of the Month February 2015

• 7 Cask Ales & Cider Always Available

• Food Served from 11am - 10pm

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

Leicester Morris perf

ormed

A great success, the total attendance over the three and a half days was a tad over 5,000 and 117 volunteers worked over 2,500 hours in total. Media coverage was again improved with social media becoming increasingly important. 18 gallons of Sarah Hughes went by Friday lunch as did a cask of Baz’s Bonce Blower at 12.2%. Rebel MexiCoaco at 6.7% flew off the shelf (like jumping into a vat of Belgium chocolate!) and Bexar Do Bears Sh*t in the Woods, treacle and black pepper porter, was sold out before Friday evening. Dark beers were in great demand.

Seacider was the first cider to go; one of the popular things about it is that it is made with apples the supermarkets have rejected. Cider bar volunteers came from Leicester, Loughborough and Grantham branches. Unlike many festivals we still feature only two fruits – apple and pear!

Festival T-shirts were in great demand (see opposite), as were the glasses. Breakages apart, all 750 pint glasses and 1100 tankards went with just 28 of the original 900 goblets remaining at the end. A number of non-Leicester festival glasses were also sold.

Curries sold well, as did cobs, pies and sausage rolls.

Leicester Beer Festival

Pipers provided festival goers with crisps Everards’ Mad Hatter sold

quickly

Bottled beers were in demand too

The Festival theme proved popular


Apr 7TH Al SansomeApr 14TH Michael VickersApr 21ST RussMerryfieldApr 28TH Open Mic

May 5TH Joe DoyleMay 12TH Club Smashing ComedyMay 19TH Double ShotMay 26TH Open Mic

Apr 2ND HaggisApr 9TH Cliff BywaterApr 16TH AndyGriffithApr 23RD GrahamSummersApr 30TH Steve Cartwright

May 7TH Carole & MariaMay 14TH Jon HarrisonMay 21ST Robb JohnsonMay 28TH Julian Wright

Our navy blue “75 Years of the Jet Age” festival t-shirt proved immensely popular and the initial stock sold out quickly. We had a few more printed but those too soon went. We have since received a number of enquiries from people wishing to obtain one, so we are considering having some more produced. If you would like one of the navy shirts (which are plain on the back) please contact Gary Akiens (07815 825039 or [email protected]) together with the size(s) you require. Cost should be around £10 including P&P. If there is sufficient demand we’ll contact you to confirm payment/delivery arrangements.

Leicester Beer Festival

The Cider Bar

Festival glasses sold well


BREWERY NEWSBARROWDEN (exeterarmsrutland.co.uk) – is relocating its brewing to Whetstone.

BEARDY MONKEY, Melton Mowbray – This new brewery is now up and running. Pale Ale No.2 (a 3.9% golden ale) was given its first showing at the Noels Arms, Melton Mowbray mid-Feb and also available at both Loughborough and Leicester Beer Festivals. Ex-scientist turned brewer Toby Chaplin has now produced an IPA, Leicestershire Pale Ale (5.4%) and Mach One (4.0% dark ale with coffee notes) a festival special for Leicester BF, There are plans to add a second fermenter to the existing half barrel plant subject to demand.

BELVOIR now have a new 13 barrel fermenter making the total of 115 barrels. Sir Frank Whitt’ale (4.2%) featured at Leicester BF. Ian has left the Belvoir Ale House due to his wife’s health and Di is helping out until a new manager is found.

CHARNWOOD (charnwoodbrewery.co.uk) is now brewing 4 times a week after the installation of another fermenter (increasing capacity by 30%). Sales have expanded into south and south east Leicestershire. New seasonal beers feature darker beers and different styles. The shop and bar area now have additional seating to cope with demand. They recently produced a rugby themed beer for Steamin’ Billy.

CRITERION/PIG PUB BREWING CO – see p12

D. O’BRIEN are now brewing in Leicester and their beer was well received at Leicester BF

ELLISWOOD BREWERY (theelliswoodbrewery.co.uk) has been sold to Darren and Louise Lavender, licensees of The Greyhound Public House in Hinckley, to where it will eventually relocate.

EVERARDS continue brewing their monthly seasonals. Most make two appearances but the 3.9% russet brown 6 Nations special Tighthead returned for a fourth time. In March, 4.2% Mad Hatters Tea Party proved popular – it uses Goldings hops and has flavours of British Rosehip and Apple Tea. For April, St George is honoured again with 4% Ascalon. Project William currently stands at 26 Pubs. A number of pubs are being refurbished with very little Everards branding outside as more are let to licensees running the pubs as their own business.

GAS DOG New plant is due for commissioning imminently.

GOLDEN DUCK held a well-attended inaugural Beer Festival in February. Sperrins, Derventio, Alchemist and Tower also featured. Latest brew is Udders Stout (5.8%).

GREAT CENTRAL (gcbrewery.co.uk). Neil Rowley has confirmed the installation of new equipment. Leicester BF featured Festival Special brown bitter GT3, after the first jet engine train which was built in Leicester.

LONG LANE is not brewing at present but concentrating on building a customer base at farmers markets in the local area to sell their stock of bottled beer.

PARISH is ticking over nicely. They had three beers at NWAF and a festival special, Thrust Quencher (a reddish ale at 4.5%) appeared at Leicester BF.

LANGTON Farrier, which hasn’t been around for quite a while, has made a re-appearance. In association with Surj Virk, and after extensive testing, they have produced bottle-conditioned Empress Ale (4.5%) with

the aim of offering people an alternative and better-matched accompaniment to curries rather than gassy lager.

MARKET HARBOROUGH BREWERY came up with a festival special for Leicester BF using hibiscus flowers and a Hoppy Red which will be available in March. Find them on Facebook and Twitter @harborobrewery.

Q BREWERY (qbrewery.co.uk), appeared in force at Leicester BF including 7% festival special called Suck, Squeeze, Bang, Blow.

TRÈS BIEN (tresbienbrewery.co.uk) Production came to a standstill in January as brewer Dave took a fortnight paternity leave when Bronwen gave birth to daughter Margot. Their Leicester BF special was Comet,a 4.5% single hop golden ale.

WEST END BREWERY The Braunstone Gate brew-pub launched at Easter. Their three core-range beers are colour-coded, with drinkers able to offer suggestions to father and son brewers John and Josh Gray, who live above the premises. The aim is a community pub with pub quizzes, a music night and hopefully a beer club.

Also see BAKERS DOZEN (bakersdozenbrewing.co.uk) DOW BRIDGE (dowbridgebrewery.co.uk) GRAINSTORE (grainstorebrewery.com) SHARDLOW


PUB NEWSPUBSThe General Elliott (Willoughby Waterleys) now gives 10p/pint & 5p/half CAMRA discount on Real Ales. The Real Ale Classroom now offers CAMRA discounts of 20p/pint and 10p/half. Discounts have been withdrawn at The Plough, Littlethorpe, where Simon Pick has decided to move to pastures new. Apologies to The King’s Head and its customers for flagging up discounts that weren’t actually on offer – this information was given in good faith by a normally reliable source. The Salmon has re-opened as a Black Country Ales house with 12 hand pumps. The Dove, Evington has been smartly refurbished and re-opened on March 24th with a charity night that raised £1335. Tigers’ favourites Tom Crofts and Matt Smith were in attendance. The West End Brewery (formerly The Looking Glass), Leicester’s first brewpub in twenty years, opened the same night. Also in Braunstone Gate, the former “O” Bar has re-opened as The Laundry Bar with three real ales, initially Cornish Tribute, Adnams Ghost Ship and the house ale Missing Sock were on offer. Further afield The Langton Arms, Church Langton, which struggled for several years as a Greene King house, has been acquired by the Little Britain Pub Company with the support of locals who managed to secure an ACV order from Harborough District Council. Less happily, the same council have refused to accept the nomination of the Admiral Nelson for an ACV. Still in Market Harborough, the former Freemasons Arms, in St Marys Road, which had lain empty for two years, is re-opening as a pub and restaurant. To be known as ‘The Masons’, there is talk of a microbrewery being developed in the outbuildings, which stand around 100 yards or so from the recently opened Market Harborough Brewery. Foxton’s Bridge 61 now sells two changing Langton beers (recently Woodsman and Welland Fox) but has dispensed with the Bridge 61,which was Caudle rebadged.Kieran Lyons of The Western and Richard Thomas of Leatherbritches Brewery have submitted an application for a new micropub to be called The Blue Boar at 16 Millstone Lane. Pub of the Year details appear on page 13 but The Black Horse, Aylestone and the Beerhouse, Market Harborough were joint winners of the Cider Pub of the Year and Syston & District Social Club was again winner of The Club of the Year.As we approached the Leicester Beer Festival there were 287 pages of objections on the City Council planning website ([email protected]./uk Reference 20151948) regarding The Black Boy, a battle that promises to be a long one. Whilst on the subject of planning, some readers will find an interesting map at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/community-rights-hit-a-landmark-5000-uses (you can un-tick all the other options to show just the ACVs).The Past And Present Pubs Of Leicestershire And Rutland (www.pappolar.com) will be a website of interest for many CAMRA members, and further contributions are still sought. A booklet, containing some historic photographs of the Beaumanor Road Brewery, has been loaded on the Leicester CAMRA website and can be found under “Useful Links”.Pub opening hours will be extended in England and Wales on 10 and 11 June to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday. They’ll be able to stay open an extra two hours on both days until 01.00. The longer opening hours also coincide with games in the European Football Championships. On Saturday 11 June, Wales play Slovakia at 17:00 BST and England play Russia at 20:00 BST.

Pub News relies greatly on input from the public and the trade. CAMRA members will generally visit premises with an existing real ale commitment so information on new stockists and outlets is particularly welcome. Thanks on this occasion to Philip Tiplady, Roy Dennehy, Steve Peck, Shawn Collier, Gary Waterfield, Jim Reay, Andre Hundley, Dave Scholes & Anthony Sharman.

Hoptical IllusionAs part of Everards Gold Course, which offers licensees the chance to have some fun and create a beer they can sell to their customers in their pubs, six Everards licensees and a member of the Everards team got together to create from scratch their very own beer that was available in their pubs in March. Not only did they get the chance to brew the beer themselves at the Brunswick Brewery for two days as they went through the whole brewing process and history of brewing, they also got to clean out the equipment, adding ingredients and, best of all, tasting!They eventually came up with an apparent 4.7% ABV dark ruby style ale but featuring a selection of new world hops to give it a full bodied hoppy, citrus, floral character reminiscent of an American style IPA. Naturally, not being the caramel/toffee concoction you’d expect, they called it Hoptical Illusion.The pubs represented were the Free Trade Inn (Sileby), Bull’s Head (Leicester Forest West), Royal Oak (Rothley), Queen’s Head (Saddington), Star & Garter (Wigston) and Stag (Barkstone).


Three Men on a Busout and about

Great news! The unofficial St. Margaret’s waiting room (aka the Salmon) has reopened. Black Country Ales have installed 10 real ale and 2 real cider hand pumps and sell cheap cobs, pork pies, scotch eggs etc. It also opens every Sunday.Meeting midmorning to see where our bus passes can take us we have on several occasions stayed comparatively locally. One route used recently was the no.5 to Syston and the Wreake Valley. This goes to Melton via Queniborough and Rearsby. Getting the 10.35 we were in Syston about 11.00 and tried one in the Fox which was OK but not special before wandering through old parts of the village to get to the Dog & Gun (Steaming Billy) as it opened at 1200. Now that is a good pub! We all have different ideas about what makes a good pub and indeed our tastes in ales vary but I doubt many would be disappointed with any we enjoy. We tried the Skydiver and Tipsy Fisherman beers and both were in excellent condition. 12.54 saw us back on a bus (this time the 128 which goes from St Margaret’s through Syston, Radcliffe on the Wreake, Thrussington, Hoby, Frisby and Kirby Bellars to Melton). It is not easy village hopping on this bus as it only runs every two hours but it got us to Thrussington, which was our main target. Arriving at 13.00 we were dropped outside the door of the Blue Lion one of the best ’real’ pubs in the County and having had the same landlord for thirty years. A Stilton cob, a bowl of chips, two excellent pints of Pedigree and some very welcoming chat and it was time to move on as The Blue Lion closes at 14.00 mid week (not open Weds). Just time for one in the Star before catching the next 128 to Kirby Bellars.The Star is a modern smart eatery but does have a good pint and our next port of call was

another foodie roadhouse. A few hundred yards from where the bus dropped us, the Flying Childers is open all afternoon. Recently refurbished, this very large multi-roomed pleasant hostelry has good outside areas for when the weather is kind and an extensive good-value menu. More important from our point of view, it has some excellent ales to choose from and is back on the route of the no.5 bus which is quite frequent. These buses stop on the outskirts of Queniborough if, before returning to Leicester, you want to drop off and try the two very good pubs there.We have also recently taken in several non-pub venues all well worthwhile. A trip to Hinckley took in the Elbow Room and Pestle & Mortar both hiding behind shop fronts and with an excellent range of changing ales and ciders. They have limited opening hours so check before setting off. The ER serves from a large chilled cabinet and has limited seating but the P&M has a more pub-like traditional bar. Another more-distant trip was a guaranteed winner in that we took in the Winter Ales Festival in Derby (Railway Round House). Four independents had their own bars offering great ales. Thornbridge, Falstaff and Dancing Duck were not new to us but Tiny Rebel was. Not just heavy winter ales but beers of all shades.Early March is festival time. After Loughborough, a week to remember – Wednesday an excellent visit to Salmon for their festival then a visit to the Leicester Festival, not too busy on the Thursday, followed by Kings Head festival on the Friday. The problem with major festivals is you just cannot do them justice and, it may be our age, but we want to discuss the beers we are trying and don’t see the point of bands drowning us out in the evenings.

Free Rider


EVERY DAY IS A

MINI BEER FESTIVAL HERE!

OUR ‘REAL ALE’ TURNOVER IS AMAZING!!!

TRY OUR EVER CHANGING GUEST BEERS THEY’RE GREAT!!

NOW OPEN 4.30pm to 11pm

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NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS WELCOME

CAMRA MEMBERS FREE ENTRY WITH CARD

2016 2015

›› continued on pg 10

Kimm Wainwright, well-known to the Leicester drinking fraternity, died in February after a short illness. Most will have known him for his 12 years behind the bar at The Criterion and prior to that for a stint in The Vaults. A good number will also remember him as an avid follower of Leicestershire CCC and Leicester City FC (though those who knew him longest will remember his conveniently airbrushed affinity for Crystal Palace, too!).Kimm was one of the first friends I made in Leicester and although circumstances meant we didn’t share each other’s company as frequently in recent times, for many years we would see each other three or four days a week, be it discovering obscure country pubs on a Wednesday, snooker nights at Belvoir Billiards followed by The Magazine or kleftico and ouzo at Troodos in Glenfield or Friday and Sunday nights at Ratby’s Plough where we enjoyed literally thousands of pints of Marston’s in the days when real ale in Leicestershire had to be sought out.

After his “A” levels he worked for the Inland Revenue in various offices around Leicester but mainly in Albion Street (dangerously handy for “early doors” in The Black Boy), before moving around several IR southern offices such as Sandhurst, Guildford (where he shared a local with Eric Clapton) and Reading where he bought a tiny one up, one down quarterhouse whichmade for some interesting sleeping conundrums when twenty people visited at once for his house-warming and house-leaving parties (think of the military hospital at Scutari and you’ll get the picture….). Yes, when Kimm had a party it was frequently unconventional. “No dancing, King Crimson or Robert Johnson?” In Leicester it would involve polypins or those little plastic flagons that would require a visit to Hoskins’ Beaumanor Brewery (except the time we drank it all listening to scratchy vinyl of Blind Lemon Jefferson and had to go back to Hoskins again the next day). On one occasion the party snacks were crisps of a fetching fluorescent green; a scientist friend worked on food colourings in a research facility and brought along the rejects. To those who worried about the peculiar shade of the nibbles Mr W would dismiss it with his not uncommon retort to the “food squeamish” (to his mind, vegetarians, curry-haters or those who wouldn’t touch a horse steak, snail or frog’s leg) “Don’t be such a fussy bugger, it won’t kill you!”

When he returned from Reading he settled in Groby but worked in Nottingham and Derby, no mean feat for somebody who never got round to taking a driving test, even though he had a few lessons in his younger days. He eventually left the Revenue when redundancy became available, but during his time there he had also been an active union representative in the Inland Revenue Staff Federation and became a senior figure within the union. Although he was undoubtedly committed to the cause there was always more than a suggestion that he enjoyed

SO LONG, AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH BEER!

Kimm Wainwright


›› from pg 9

E [email protected]

T 0116 2545 287

W www.steamin-billy.co.uk

THURSDAY 26th - MONDAY 30th MAY 2016• 20 Ales all sourced from Micro Breweries

from around the UK plus 10 Ciders!• Food available all weekend

70 Western Road, Leicester LE3 0GA

LIVE MUSIC ALL WEEKEND!

the bonhomie of conferences every bit as much! One favourite conference story was when he said he’d happily share a twin room with a stranger and because of confusion surrounding his Christian name, found himself paired, albeit temporarily, with a female delegate. She was horrified and he thought it hilarious….

Very well-read, he would love a good conversational joust on many a subject, often with the express purpose of winding-up someone with an adverse opinion just for the hell of it, taking bits from The Guardian, Times or Private Eye as the situation demanded. Above all he was never bland and frequently incredibly funny, full of contradictions. He loved absurd humour and I remember us being almost evangelical in trying to spread the word when we discovered obscure programmes such as the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy on Radio 4 or the original Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin tucked away on BBC2 (whatever happened to them?).

He had an opinion on almost everything but was never disrespectful of contrary opinions even if he totally disagreed, which he often did. Agree to disagree was something to which he definitely subscribed; he might think you were an idiot, but defended your right to be one (and the skewed Voltaire reference wouldn’t have been lost on him, either).

Holidays with Kimm were always engaging, whether on

his beloved narrow boats or in tents, or at sporting events, home or abroad. Something of a bon viveur, his health sometimes suffered for it with bouts of gout and latterly diabetes, but most of all he was a true character. Naturally, many of us are sad with his passing, but there are so many stories that you just have to smile about that I find it difficult to feel anything other than happy to have known him. His funeral at Gilroes was so well attended that many had to stand and the wake featured a special brew from Great Central, the proceeds from which, like the crematorium collection, went towards canal restoration.

There are so many “Kimm stories” that it would be easy to fill all thirty-two pages of this publication so this can be no more than a flavour of the man. I hope I’ve managed that in some small way.

Rob Macardle

Great Central produced a special cask ale


STEAMIN’ BILLY #JOLLYAWAYDAY

by Shawn Collier

On Tuesday 2nd February Steamin’ Billy invited its staff, customers and suppliers for a Jolly Away Day. The comfortable and modern Woods Coaches provided the transport and the ‘usual Steamin’ Billy hospitality’ was to be provided throughout the day. Just after 10am I met Peter Harrison at the Parcel Yard. A bacon roll was washed down with a quick half of Batemans Gold to get the day under way. It was then on to the coach to the first stop, The Railway at Hinckley. At work I pass this pub most days but this was the first visit to enjoy the inside of this well-presented street corner pub where we found a window seat to enjoy a Batemans XXXB or two and discussed brewing and pub subjects with Colin Brown from Belvoir Brewery.

The day saw coaches run on various routes from Billy pubs and soon others arrived. Fancy dress had been encouraged and some had gone for it; a couple of smurfs and a pirate were amongst those noted.

Rejoining the coach, it was up the M1 to Derby for Billy’s latest acquisition, The Coronation at Alvaston (above), a large corner local in a residential area and the type of pub fast disappearing from the landscape these days. Here though, a thorough, impressive refurbishment inside and out has resulted in a facility the community can enjoy for many years to come. The Billy beer 1485

was on cask here, amongst others, and in fine condition. One of the spacious rooms has a large pizza oven and the staff were kept busy providing lunch for the “awaydayers”.

From here it was a short run across Derby to The Wilmot Arms in Chaddesden. This pub was taken over 12 months ago and has improved the offer in the local area; Batemans Hooker was enjoyed here before the coaches made their way back to the Parcel Yard where the Echo Drive Band entertained and the party atmosphere continued.

Thanks to Craig who looked after our coach, all Billy staff involved and the drivers for putting up with everyone! Best of all, £1800 was raised for the Matt Hampson Foundation.

Dogs were welcome!11The Leicester Drinker www.leicester.camra.org.uk

THE Charlotte

&

The University of Leicester

Real Ale Society

proudly present

The Big Welsh Beer Weekend

Featuring 15 great guest ales from across Wales Plus real ciders

Friday 3rd June 11am-‐12am Saturday 4th June 11am-‐12am Sunday 5th June 11am-‐10pm

@TheCharlotteBar

www.thecharlotteleicester.co.uk

8 Oxford Street Leicester LE1 5XZ

All change at The CriterionFollowing Kimm’s sad demise (p9), now Russell Hunt (above) has left the pub after many years in situ as it re-positions itself as The Criterion Brewhouse.A new 2BB brewery is to be installed in the cellar of the pub with two beers planned; a 4.1% Best Bitter and a Pale Ale at 3.8%. Brewing is scheduled to start towards the end of April and customers will be encouraged to help out with the brewing and get the particular beer identified on the bar as their brew. A special “brew cam” feeding live from the cellar to a screen behind the bar will give drinkers the opportunity to keep an eye on them, too! A “Real Ale Club” in conjunction with sister pub The Pig In Muck (Claybrooke Magna) will see between 30p to 50p discounted off a pint of cask ale for card carrying members.

In response to various member enquiries we now have a variety of information points in pubs. The Last Plantagenet has a CAMRA notice board in the leaflet area to the left of the front entrance, The Bowling Green has “CAMRA Corner” next to the bar and, most significantly, one of our portable membership stands is now in The Charlotte.

The Charlotte now stocks back issues of The Leicester Drinker and just about any CAMRA leaflet you are likely to want or need. If you have any unwanted copies of CAMRA magazines (Drinker or otherwise), this is now the place to drop-off, pick-up or swop items. In addition there is now a dedicated “festival wall”, so if you are looking to visit a beer festival sometime soon or have details of one coming up, please drop in and take a look.

After a couple of trial runs we’ve now made The Charlotte the distribution hub for The Leicester Drinker in the City Centre, and all the city centre rounds will be routed from there. Rounds for the county are being reviewed, but wherever possible we will continue to use convenient amenable pubs, such as The Old Horse, etc. By the time you read this we hope to have most of the jigsaw in place, but more distributors are always helpful, so if you have an hour or so to spare once every couple of months we’d love to hear from you.

The portable membership stand proved highly successful last summer and it will continue to move around various pubs normally to tie-in with beer festivals and the like. Its first stop is The Black Horse at Aylestone for their St George’s Festival.

Following last year’s initial beer census we are repeating the exercise on Saturday June 11. Full details will appear on the website in due course.

MEMBERSHIP STANDS, THE LEICESTER DRINKER AND THE BEER CENSUS


AwardWinner

The Dove At Evington

The Dove, 48 Downing Drive, Evington, Leicester LE5 6LH

Tel: 0116 2419037 www.doveevington.co.uk [email protected]

RECENTLY REFURBISHED

Cask Ales Available

Home cooked food available

every day

Sunday Lunch served

12.00pm—5.00pm

1 Course from £9.45 2 Courses from £12.45 3 Courses from £14.95

Booking Advisable

PUB OF THE YEAR 2016As Leicester Beer Festival closed we began to tot up the scores for Leicester Pub of the Year.For the second year running The King’s Head was the victor with The Ale Wagon in second place ahead of Country Pub of The Year, The Chandler’s Arms which has now won it for 8 years in succession. Encouragingly, four new or re-opened pubs featured in the top 10, which goes to show that nobody can rest on their laurels. A full report will appear in the next issue but the top ten were as shown on the right.

VOTES1 King’s Head 552 Ale Wagon 393 Chandlers (Shearsby) 324 Black Horse (Aylestone) 295 Charlotte 286 Beerhouse (Mkt Harborough) 267 = Criterion 237 = Real Ale Classroom 239 = Old Horse 199 = Salmon 19

The Black Horse, Aylestone was

again a venue for Leicester Comedy Festival – spot the two comedians...


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Friday 29th April - Monday 2nd May

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THE FREE TRADE INN

Friday 29th April - Monday 2nd May

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27 COSSINGTON ROAD · SILEBY · LE12 7RW · TELEPHONE 01509 814494

CAMRA celebrates and promotes the Mild beer style during May. This is the third year of an organised Leicester Branch Mild Trail. It is open to all; you don’t have to be a CAMRA member. The trail is aimed at promoting the Cask Mild style of beer, which is sometimes overlooked. It also gives people taking part in the trail a chance to go and discover pubs where they may not generally venture to. Join one of our planned social crawls, go at your own pace or a bit of both...

Any feedback, from drinkers or pubs taking part, will be most welcome and could help shape how future trails run.

Please be mindful that from time to time things go wrong and, due to unforeseen circumstances, pubs may not receive casks. Also, being a living product, a beer may not be on sale due to its condition. Therefore a Mild may not be available so please be understanding. Do also check the contact list as some venues will be participating on selected dates only.

A number of local pubs have sponsored a T shirt for the event. Send in your completed forms for a chance of receiving one. Sponsors are in bold on the grid with the addition of the Steamin Billy Brewing Company. Additional prizes have been donated by Malt Shovel (Sunday lunch for 2), Swan & Rushes (12 Belgian bottled beers), Dow Bridge (Bottled Mild) and a Steamin Billy T shirt. Further items may be added after this is printed… keep an eye on the website. T’s and C’s apply.

30 April - 5 June 2016#Leicestermild16

MILD MONTH

“Mi ld t h i n g ! Yo u m a ke my g la s s s i n g . . .”


Saturday 7th May will see us travel northwards to Sileby and Syston and others on the way back.In between these two a further weekday crawl may be added.Saturday 28th May will (hopefully) be a rural bus trip to the more out of the way venues. The month was organised after I had finished with beer festival matters. Crawl information will be updated on the website and via newsletter during April. For future years, if anyone has an interest in taking on the organisation of this event it would be greatly appreciated.

Shawnwww.leicester.camra.org.uk@LeicsCAMRA_SC@LeicesterCAMRA#leicestermild16

MILD TRAILS

Milds are black to dark brown to pale amber in colour and come in a variety of styles from warming roasty ales to light refreshing lunchtime thirst quenchers. Malty and possibly sweet tones dominate the flavour profile but there may be a light hop flavour or aroma. Slight diacetyl (toffee/butterscotch) flavours are not inappropriate. Alcohol levels are typically low with original gravity of less than 1043 (abv 4.3%) and bitterness 14 - 28 EBU.

Pale milds tend to have a lighter, more fruity aroma with gentle hoppiness.

Dark milds may have a light roast malt or caramel character in aroma and taste.

WHAT IS MILD?


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ILD MONTH 30 April - 5 June 2016

The Ale Wagon Last Plantagenet King’s Head

The Criterion Freehouse

William Wygston The Friary

Old Horse The Charlotte The Western

The Parcel Yard High Cross Swan and Rushes

Cow and Plough Chandlers ArmsPlough,

Bruntingthorpe

The Wheel Real Ale Classroom Bowling Green

Malt ShovelDog and Gun,

SystonSyston Social Club

Black Horse, Aylestone

The SalmonGeneral Elliott,

Willoughby Waterleys

Glenhills Sports & Social Club

Winstanley ArmsBeerhouse,

Market Harborough

Horse & Trumpet, Sileby

Free Trade Inn, Sileby

Railway, Hinckley

Stamford ArmsThe Regent Sports

& Social ClubWILD CARD

(Pub name & staff initial)

Attach your stickers here: See p18 for pub locations

16 April - May 2016 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch16

Mild Trail Rules and Information1) The Mild Trail runs from 30th April to 5th June 2016 inclusive. When you buy a pint (or a

half-pint) of cask conditioned mild in a pub on the Mild Trail ask the bar staff for a sticker for the grid. For the Wild Card insert pub name, date and ask bar staff to initial.

2) Only one sticker from each participating pub.

3) Be patient if the pub is busy, be understanding if mild is not available. There will probably be a good reason.

4) Everyone who collects 12 or more pub stickers will have the chance to receive a T-Shirt kindly sponsored by some of the trail participants.

5) All entries will be put in a draw for the other donated prizes. Winners must have a sticker for the pub offering the prize.

6) Trail participants please note there is a 50p CAMRA member sign in fee at the Glenhills Sports and Social Club. Same applies to non-members collecting trail sticker.

7) Contact details are provided for enquiries prior to travel. Please check Whatpub for opening times.

8) Final date for receipt of entries is Monday 19th June 2016. Forms may also be handed in at the June branch meeting.

9) Have a great time!

SEND TO: LEICESTER MILD TRAIL, 16 SOUTH DRIVE , LEICESTER , LE5 1AN

Please complete for the Draw:Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Address: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post Code: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Email (opt): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phone (opt): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CAMRA Membership No.: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Signature: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

T-shirt size (subject to availability) (M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Yes, I am interested in joining the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)


PUB POSTCODE/PHONE PUBLIC TRANSPORTThe Ale Wagon LE1 1RE (0116) 262 3330 City Centre

Bridle Lane Tavern LE1 2HS (0116) 251 0585 5/5A 126/127 (A) 22/25/26/54 (F) 22A/B/C (CB)

The Criterion LE1 5JN (0116) 262 5418 City Centre

The Friary LE1 5AW (0116) 261 9196 City Centre

High Cross LE1 4JB (0116) 251 9218 City Centre

King’s Head LE1 6RL (0116) 254 8240 City Centre

Old Horse LE2 1NE (0116) 254 8384 31/31A (A)

The Parcel Yard LE2 0BQ (0116) 261 9301 Railway Station and City Centre buses 31/31A/48/80 (A) 22/54 (F)

The Pub LE1 6TF City Centre

Regent S&S Club LE1 7DA (0116) 223 8006 48/80 (A)

The Salmon LE1 4QA (0116) 253 2301 City Centre

Swan and Rushes LE1 5WR (0116) 233 9167 88/88A (F) 47/49/84/84A/85/87 (A)

Sir Robert Peel LE2 7DD (0116) 254 0715 As Swan and Rushes $Slug and Lettuce LE1 6DP (0116) 255 5370 City Centre

The Western (off Bede Island) LE3 0GA (0116) 254 5287 50/50A/51/52 (A) 18/19 (F) $Black Horse (Aylestone) LE2 8NA (0116) 283 7225 84/84A/85/87(A) 40(CB) $Bull’s Head (Blaby) LE8 4DN (0116) 278 9799 84/84A/85 (A)

Cow and Plough (Oadby) LE2 2FB (0116) 272 0852 80 (A) (15min walk) 22(F) 22B (CB) (Both 15 min walk)

Dog and Gun (Syston) LE7 1GN (0116) 260 9366 5/5A (A) 100/128 (CB) $ Syston

Syston Social Club LE7 1GP (0116) 260 9086 5/5A (A)100/128(CB) $ Syston

Malt Shovel (Barkby*) LE7 3QG (0116) 269 2558 100 (CB, direct) 5/5A(20 min walk) Syston (25min walk)

The Plough (Littlethorpe*) LE19 2HS (0116) 286 2383 X44 (HB) 50 (5min walk) Narborough

Winstanley Arms (Braunstone) LE3 2WB (0116) 289 0046 104 (A)

Stamford Arms (Groby) LE6 0DJ (0116) 287 5616 26/28/29/29a (A)

The Wheel (Oadby) LE2 5DP (0116) 271 2231 31 (A) 31a/X3 (A) $ 40 (CB) $William Wygston (Wigston) LE18 1DR (0116) 288 8397 47/47A/48/48A/49/49A (A) 40 (CB)

Chandlers Arms (Shearsby) LE17 6PL (0116) 2478384 Public transport unavailable

Key to symbols:(A) Arriva

(F) First bus

(CB) Centrebus

(HB) Hinckley Bus

Rail station $ Not in view from bus stop, venue a short walk away.

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Other East Midland Mild Trails Nearby...Nottingham CAMRA A well established trail throughout Nottingham and the surrounding area. See Nottingham Drinker No.121 or www.nottinghamcamra.org, https://twitter.com/NottinghamCAMRA

www.valeofbelvoircamra.com 14th trail this year (also see ND121)

www.mansfieldcamra.org.uk (also see ND121)

* All venues can be reached with a Leicester Flexi bus ticket except these where an add on ticket should be purchased. www.leics.gov.uk/transport_downloads www.whatpubcom

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“MILD THING – YOU M

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ILD MONTH 30 April - 5 June 2016

(A)Arriva (F) First bus (CB) Centrebus (HB) Hinckley Bus (K) Kinchbus (SC)Stagecoach Rail station

$ not in view from bus stop, venue a short walk away.

* Venues can be reached with a Leicester Flexi bus ticket. Add on tickets available to other venues just outside the flexi zone.

www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/everyday/public-transport www.whatpubcom

PUB POSTCODE/PHONE PUBLIC TRANSPORTThe Ale Wagon* LE1 1RE (0116) 262 3330 City CentreBowling Green* LE1 5XW (0116) 2546496 City CentreThe Criterion* LE1 5JN (0116) 262 5418 City CentreThe Friary* LE1 5AW (0116) 261 9196 City CentreHigh Cross* LE1 4JB (0116) 251 9218 City CentreKing’s Head* LE1 6RL (0116) 254 8240 City CentreThe Charlotte* LE1 5XZ City CentreLast Plantagenet * LE1 6FD (0116) 255 5492 City CentreSwan and Rushes* LE1 5WR (0116) 233 9167 88/88A (F) 47/49/84/84A/85/87 (A)The Salmon* LE1 4QA (0116) 253 2301 City CentreOld Horse* LE2 1NE (0116) 254 8384 31/31A (A)The Parcel Yard* LE2 0BQ (0116) 261 9301 Railway Station 31/31A/48/80 (A) 22/54 (F)Regent Sports & Social Club* LE1 7DA (0116)223 8006 48/80 (A)The Wheel (Oadby)* LE2 5DP (0116) 271 2231 31(A) 40 (CB$) X3 (A$) Black Horse (Aylestone)* LE2 8NA (0116) 283 7225 84/84A/85/87(A) 40(CB) $Cow and Plough (Oadby)* LE2 2FB (0116) 272 0852 80(A)(15min walk) 22(F)22B (CB)

(Both 15 min walk)Glenhills Sports & Social Club* LE2 9JB (0116) 277 1398 84/84A/85/(A) 40(CB) $Winstanley Arms (Braunstone)* LE3 2WB (0116) 289 0046 104(A)The Western (off Bede Island)* LE3 0GA (0116) 254 5287 50/50A/51/52 (A) 18/19 (F) $Stamford Arms (Groby)* (Participating 30 Apr - 14 May)

LE6 0DJ (0116) 287 5616 26/28 (A)

Dog and Gun (Syston)* LE7 1GN (0116) 260 9366 5/5A (A) 100/128 (CB) $ SystonSyston Social Club* LE7 1GP (0116) 260 9086 5/5A (A)100/128(CB)$ SystonGeneral Elliott (Willoughby Waterleys)

LE8 6UF (0116) 247 8058 None (see Mild Trail Social 28th May)

Malt Shovel (Barkby)* LE7 3QG (0116) 269 2558 100 (CB, direct) 5/5A (20 min walk) Syston (25min walk)

Railway, Hinckley LE10 1AP (01455) 612 399 Hinckley 158(A) 48 (SC)Real Ale Classroom* LE2 2DA (0116) 3196998 31/31A $Horse & Trumpet LE12 7LP (01509) 812549 Sileby 2(K)Free Trade Inn LE12 7RW (01509) 814494 Sileby 2(K)Beerhouse LE16 7GL 07738 086194 Market Harborough

X3(A)X7(SC)44(CB) $The Plough (Bruntingthorpe) LE17 5QE (0116) 247 8300 661 (Murphys Taxis)Chandler’s Arms (Shearsby) LE17 6PL (0116) 247 8384 None (see Mild Trail Social 28th May)William Wygston (Wigston)* LE18 1DR (0116) 288 8397 47/47A/48/48A/49/49A (A) 40 (CB)







Old Horse LE2 1NE (0116) 254 8384 31/31A (A)


















(F) First bus

(CB) Centrebus

(HB) Hinckley Bus


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Old Horse LE2 1NE (0116) 254 8384 31/31A (A)


















(F) First bus

(CB) Centrebus

(HB) Hinckley Bus


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Old Horse LE2 1NE (0116) 254 8384 31/31A (A)


















(F) First bus

(CB) Centrebus

(HB) Hinckley Bus


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Old Horse LE2 1NE (0116) 254 8384 31/31A (A)


















(F) First bus

(CB) Centrebus

(HB) Hinckley Bus


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Old Horse LE2 1NE (0116) 254 8384 31/31A (A)


















(F) First bus

(CB) Centrebus

(HB) Hinckley Bus


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Old Horse LE2 1NE (0116) 254 8384 31/31A (A)


















(F) First bus

(CB) Centrebus

(HB) Hinckley Bus


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Old Horse LE2 1NE (0116) 254 8384 31/31A (A)


















(F) First bus

(CB) Centrebus

(HB) Hinckley Bus


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18 April - May 2016 The Newsletter of Leicester CAMRA Branch18

AwardWinner

PUB OF THE MONTH

Like the January 2015 winner, Babelas, this year’s first POTM award went to a café style bar with a commitment to Real Ale,

giving the lie to the belief that it’s necessary to have “eleventeen” handpumps to be in the running for an award. In fact The Exchange has just three; two for beer and one for cider.

As an income stream real ale and cider represents around just 5% of the business’s turnover, but is seen as an essential part of the overall customer offer. Originally there was no real ale available when The Exchange opened and no real necessity to take the cask route, but sisters Cassie and Lauren were persuaded by their mother’s belief that it would be a good addition to their range. Initially there was some Cornish Tribute, Sharp’s Doombar and the like but following

a couple of successful beer festivals instigated by erstwhile bar manager Dan McGarry they are now firmly in the Locale fold with Langton, Charnwood and Tres Bien regularly on offer together with Bottle Kicking ciders. By stocking real ales there is a feeling that they are getting more pre- and post-show trade from The Curve that they hadn’t seen before. Proof of what we already knew – cask ale should be in every bar!

The Exchange is holding its next real ale festival April 21st – 24th with 20 casks and 6 ciders on offer.

January 2016

The Exchange


AwardWinner

Rutland CAMRA Beer Festival and ALE TRAIL 2016

June 23rd to June 26th

Rutland County Museum, Catmos Street, Oakham, LE15 6HW

Small BUT friendly…. sup and chat with fellow minded people. Sit on hay bales in our agricultural museum setting.

Good simple food available. About 40 interesting real ales and 10 cider/perries/wine bar

No crush, just smiles! Great entertainment.

Follow our ale trail round the real ales pubs in the town which

will offer you another 100 real ales!

“One of the nicest, friendliest festivals I have ever been to” .visitor response sheet 2015

Details of opening Hours

Thurs 11 - 8.00. Fri 11 – 8.00 Sat11 – 8.00 Sun12 – 4.00

Free entry at all times for CAMRA members . Non-members also free except from 4.00pm onwards Fri & Sat. (£1)

Glass hire £2.00 refundable

www.rutlandcamra.org.uk Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RutlandCamraBranch/

Twitter https://twitter.com/RutlandCAMRA


Newtown Linford & Anstey

by Jim Reay

JIM’S JAUNT

Starting on a Saturday morning at St. Margaret’s Bus Station, Bay 7, I boarded the 11.13 Roberts Coaches 120 and alighted in Newtown Linford, directly opposite The Bradgate, at 11.36. As this pub doesn’t open until noon, I had time to walk down to the park entrance to see Leicestershire’s only surviving police box still used by the local constabulary where PCSOs Fiona Lacey and Tom Lloyd were sporting enough to pose for a photograph, Fiona confessing to being a big Dr. Who fan and delighted to have her very own TARDIS.Newtown Linford’s history is closely entwined with that of Bradgate Park and owes its very existence to the park which was established as a deer park suitable for the chase by the 13th century, providing the gentry with both sport and food. At that time the land was in the ownership of the Ferrers family who decided to re-house tenants living within the park enclosure to a nearby purpose built new town situated at the ford over the River Lin; hence the name Newtown Linford. The Bradgate Estate, including Newtown Linford, was bought by the Grey family in 1445, the villagers remaining their tenants for 480 years when, in 1925, the estate was auctioned off in 227 individual lots by direction of Mrs. K.H.V. Grey. The auction raised the then grand sum of £226,110 for Mrs. Grey, enabling some villagers to buy their own land and houses while others had their homes sold over their heads. The Bradgate Hotel was sold as an auction lot to Everards for £6,400 and has traded as part of their estate ever since. Behind the 20th century facade is an older village inn, where carriers used to refresh themselves and change their horses. Today described by the local authority as a Key Unlisted Building, it is indeed a dominant building in Main Street. On entering the front door, the public bar was just to my right leading further right to two cosy dining rooms known as the Library and the

Snug. Another small intimate dining area, with one table to seat eight, is to the front of house, set in the large bay window. Towards the rear of house is a spacious Restaurant adjacent to which is a homely area called the Drawing Room. Yet another dining room is situated to the left of the front entrance and this in turn leads to a staircase taking one to the Loft Room furnished with one large table able to seat up to twenty people for a meal or conference. Adjacent to the large rear car park is an enclosed lawned garden with picnic tables and children’s play equipment. Also outback, on split stages, are decked and block paved terraces with garden furniture. Everards Tiger & Original plus Brunswick Last Orders were the available real ales together with Weston’s Rosie’s Pig Cider. My next port of call was The Linford, just short of a furlong to my right on the other side of Main Street.The Linford is an unaffiliated private members club although a foyer notice clearly states “The Linford welcomes non-members. Visitors are required to sign the visitors’ book”. Part of village life since 1926 it’s hardly surprising that it is referred to locally simply as The Club. Formerly affiliated to


Call: 0800 056 4111or visit: www.everards.co.uk

Can you picture a great future with Everards?To find out more, contact us today

If you’d like to enjoy the freedom of running your own pub, our job is to supply all the help and components you

need. Your job is to craft a great pub that delivers joy to your customers, and build a great life for yourself.

@EverardsTiger facebook.com/everards

A5.Enjoyment.ad:Layout 2 20/12/13 09:22 Page 1

Leicestershire Constabulary

Bradgate, Newtown Linford


Call: 0800 056 4111or visit: www.everards.co.uk

Can you picture a great future with Everards?To find out more, contact us today

If you’d like to enjoy the freedom of running your own pub, our job is to supply all the help and components you

need. Your job is to craft a great pub that delivers joy to your customers, and build a great life for yourself.

@EverardsTiger facebook.com/everards

A5.Enjoyment.ad:Layout 2 20/12/13 09:22 Page 1

›› from pg 22

The Royal British Legion Clubs, its official title is The Newtown Linford Ex-Services Club. The original timber structure had a previous existence as a tea-room, at a farm in the village, before being dismantled and re-erected in its present position. In 1928 a brickwork extension was constructed to the front of the club and now forms the foremost operational region. The front entrance leads into the main bar to the left which is furnished with no less than six leather settees, whilst to the right of the bar is a games room with a pool table, darts board and table football. The wooden hut at the back became a function room that was eventually rebuilt in brick in 1960 and extensively refurbished in 2012. Available real ales were Bass and Titanic Plum Porter. Turning left out of the club I continued along Main Street and straight on up the causeway to the side of the road known as Sharpley Hill. Plodding up this long steep incline, I was overtaken by two streaks of shocking-pink in the form of male cyclist whizzing uphill, closely followed by a young lady jogger. Maybe if I donned go-faster shocking-pink, I’d soar uphill with more haste? Wisely disregarding this bizarre thought, to my left was a lady of a less vivid hue. The Grey Lady is unashamedly a restaurant with diners as its target clientele but it does have a small area near the bar, designated for drinkers, with a table, settees, a high table and stools. The business is sometimes referred to as Gibsons Grey Lady, in deference to the Gibson family who have now been proprietors for the best part of 30 years. In the course of conversation with an esteemed long serving retainer of The Grey Lady, I was reliably informed that prior to WWll the premises was an unlicensed establishment known as The Old John Café. On entering the venue via the foyer, I found myself in a not insubstantially sized restaurant

subdivided into two main dining areas, on different levels, each with a smaller annexe. Viewed through the french-doors was a rustically paved patio and a pergola, with garden furniture, overlooking an undulating lawned garden, all set in over three acres overlooking a woodland backdrop. Their real ale was Adnams Southwold Bitter. Continuing up Sharpley Hill, for a relatively short distance, I reached Hunts Hill car park to the right of the road and walked through the car park and a small wooded area before entering Bradgate Park, not far from its highest point, where sits one of Leicestershire’s most famous landmarks, the Grade II listed folly know as Old John. Old John Tower has occupied its commanding hilltop position since been built on the site of a former windmill during the 1780’s. Initially the tower was erected as an observation vantage point for the ladies to view a racecourse that can still be defined by large stones encircling the hill. It is said that the archway abutment, which gives the folly its distinctive beer mug profile, was added later in memory of a beer-loving estate retainer known as Old John, who met his untimely demise when a pole in the middle of a celebration bonfire burned through and fell among the revellers celebrating the 6th Earl of Stamford’s coming of age. Around the tower’s base is a conveniently situated plinth where I sat for a while appreciating the splendid panoramic views whilst catching my breath after the short but steep climb. Lungs re-oxygenated, I was ready to set off for a walk through the park to Anstey.

The Grey Lady

Linford Club


Bradgate Park was a major lot in the 1925 auction and was initially offered to Leicester Corporation for public use but the money needed to buy the land could not be raised. A successful industrialist and philanthropist, Mr. Charles Bennion, came to the rescue, purchasing the park and placing it into a trust before formally presenting it to the people of Leicestershire for their quiet enjoyment and recreation. It is now Leicestershire’s most visited attraction welcoming over half a million visitors a year. With evidence of human occupation going back some 14,000 years, to the Upper Palaeolithic period, there are also suggestions that the area was settled in the Bronze & Iron Ages and has been more or less continuously inhabited ever since. With my back to the tower door, the way ahead was a labyrinth of well-trodden paths. In the middle distance were three small wooded areas and I headed for the middle one of these. The route away from Old John was initially down a very steep slope, but soon levelled off. Reaching the walled wood, I followed the path leading round to the right keeping close to the wall, until the ruins of Bradgate House came into view; I headed straight towards the ruins taking the path passing through a gap in a high stone wall.

Built in the early 1500’s Bradgate House was one of the earliest unfortified mansions in England and one of the first houses of its scale to be built in brick. This once magnificent Tudor house became the birthplace and childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England for a mere nine days in 1553, before being overthrown by Mary I. Nearing the house, my route took me along an unmetalled road and straight on to a bridge over the River Lin. Once over, I followed another unmetalled road for about 100yds to a park bench, placed to the memory of a Robert Smith, and took the path veering to the left of the seat and on to a 6ft high, deer-proof kissing gate set in the high stone park boundary wall. I continued straight on the well-trod footpath over farmland until the path divided into two and I turned right along a path between the back gardens of the 1st & 2nd houses in Anstey. I then turned left along Bradgate Road towards the village centre. Anstey is thought to have originated as an Angle settlement, although it is known that prior to this, the Romans had a significant presence hereabouts. The Via Devana (now better known by its latter Saxon name of Gartree Road) was a


Leicester’s first Micro Pub. A micro beer festival everyday... Real Ale straight from the Cask22 Allandale Road, Leicester, LE2 2DA. 0116 319 6998.

Packhorse Bridge, Anstey The Crown, Anstey


Stadon, Anstey

key Roman Road linking Colchester and Chester, its route passed through Anstey. It is thought to have crossed the Rothley Brook at the location of the existing Pack Horse Bridge. This well-known landmark isn’t the only ancient bridge in Anstey as situated on Sheepwash Lane, now a bridleway linking Anstey to Beaumont Leys, is the other less well known King William’s Bridge. In 1696 King William III planned to visit the Grey family at Bradgate from his base at Belvoir Castle but a reconnaissance of the route found the bridge over Rothley Brook to be too narrow for the royal coach and its escorting entourage so the new wider King William Bridge was built. The Angles named the village Hanstige, meaning a narrow forest track, but by the time of the Domesday Book, the H had been dropped in favour of the name Anstige. After several changes, the spelling eventually became Anstey in the 19th century. The 1760 Enclosure Act had a profound effect on the local landscape as communal open fields passed into the hands of private landowners, removing the villagers’ traditional dependency on the land and forcing many to seek alternative employment. An early local industry was framework knitting which so flourished that by 1845 there were no less than 300 villagers working as framework knitters. In due course, small manufacturers emerged, enticing home-based workers to become wage earning

factory employees. This revolutionary development provoked Anstey’s Ned Ludd to redress what he perceived to be an unfair state of affairs by sabotaging the factory machines; an example taken up far and wide and instigating the notorious Luddite Riots. The village still supports light industry although nearly all the larger factories have now either been demolished or converted into flats. Anstey’s first pub was The Crown Inn which was quite a way down Bradgate Road on the right.The Crown Inn is described by the Local Authority as a Key Unlisted Building although clues to its origins are masked by externally rendered walls. Adjoining cruck framed cottages were demolished in 1960 to facilitate extension of this pub and in all probability the rendering was applied at that time. The pub underwent refurbishment in 2014 and is now essentially open plan. An area akin to a public bar is to the front of house, with a rustic ambience enhanced by uncovered wooden floors, exposed ceiling timbers and a small snug to one end. Adjoining and set back to the left is a lounge bar whilst set back to the right is a raised seating area. Outside, there is a beer garden, drinking terrace and a smoking shelter. Available real ales were Bass and Doom Bar.Carrying on down Bradgate Road, just past Groby Road junction to my right and next door to the Congregational Church, tucked away up a short alleyway was The Stadon Sports & Social Club that reopened in December 2015 following a major refurbishment. The club’s history is closely entwined with that of Boot & Shoe manufacturers, G. H. Palmer Ltd. founded in 1885 with premises in Church Lane. The business prospered and larger premises became necessary, so these were rented on a three-year fixed term tenancy, in the property presently occupied by the Stadon Sports & Social Club. Business continued to prosper, prompting the landlord to seek a threefold rent increase when the tenancy expired. With no alternative premises available, the prudent Mr Palmer took out a mortgage and bought land to build a new factory and workers houses on the corner of Highfield Street and Stadon Road. The club opened in the old factory buildings trading as Palmer’s Shoes Social Club but eventually took the name Stadon as a link with the location of Palmers new premises. The small club comprises one ground floor bar whilst the 1st floor has a games room with a darts board, pool and skittles tables plus a function room. The club is soon to introduce a second handpump on the bar to accompany the Charnwood Salvation that was available on the day of my visit. Turning right out of the club and a short distance

›› from pg 25

The Sports Bar, Anstey

The Old Hare & Hounds


8TH ANNUAL BEER FESTIVAL JUNE 30th - JULY 3rd

LUNCH WED - SAT 12 - 2EVENING TUES - SAT 6 - 9

SUNDAY LUNCH SERVED 12 - 3

SEE WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

THECHANDLERS

ARMSSHEARSBY

0116 247 8384

www.chandlersatshearsby.co.uk

Country Pub of the Year 2009 - 2016

down the road, opposite St. Mary’s Parish Church is The Old Hare & Hounds, a former coaching inn situated within Anstey Conservation area and yet another pub described by the Local Authority as a Key Unlisted Building. Purchased by Marston’s in 1900, it has been part of their estate ever since, though prior to this it was in the ownership of the Anstey Brewery known as Daniel Pettifer & Sons which dates back to at least 1846. It is a typical village pub of traditional character. Viewed from the front it consists of a snug to the right and a public bar to the left leading back into the former smoke room. At a raised level, behind the two front bars, are two small adjoining lounge areas accessible from both bars and effectively affording a link between them. To the rear is a paved yard furnished with picnic tables. Available real ales were Marston’s Burton Ale, Pedigree and Help for Heroes. On leaving I walked straight ahead downhill to the village centre traffic island where I turned left into Stadon Road. To my left, I soon passed the former Working Men’s club which ceased trading in 2009 and is now the Sapori Italian Restaurant & Bar, which has no real ale. Directly opposite the Sapori are homes built on the former site of the aforementioned Palmer Boot & Shoe factory adjacent to my next venue.The Sports Bar Anstey started trading in 2011 in the refurbished premises formerly occupied by the Anstey Conservative Club, and once run by Bill & Nancy Thorne whose young son Willie learned the basics of snooker on the club’s table before becoming the popular, follicly challenged and moustachioed, snooker player and commentator. As its name suggests, the emphasis here is on sport with no less than five large screen televisions showing a varied of live sports in full HD with surround sound. The public bar is to the rear and has two pool tables and a darts board. To the front of house is a comfy lounge bar that, for obvious reasons, is known as the quiet room. The 1st floor table skittles room doubles as a function room with direct egress to a sheltered rooftop smoking terrace

Coach & Horses, Anstey

and an uncovered sun terrace. The one available real ale was Bass. From The Sports Bar I retraced my steps back to the traffic island where The Coach & Horses was directly opposite. Originally built as an hotel, its imposing external presence overlooks the hub of the village. A major interior refurbishment in 1991 involved the removal of some internal walls to create a more up-to-date open-plan environment whilst, at the same time, managing to retain a traditional pub ambience. The premises now consists of a large L-shaped public bar with raised areas at both ends; one end contains a pool table and fixed seating, whilst the other end connects to the lounge bar with its raised area dedicated to darts. Adjacent to the car park entrance is a paved patio with picnic tables and timber planters, all partially sheltered by means of a large retractable awning. This Marston’s house had Burton Bitter & Pedigree and Wychwood Hobgoblin available. The bus stop to begin my journey home was just outside to the left of the pub. Left of the bus stop a recent housing development is named Ned Ludd Close, ensuring the machine-wrecker’s name is remembered in perpetuity. Cheers,

Jim Reay


FESTIVAL DIARYMonth From To Ales Ciders Food Ents Ad/Details Where?

Apr Mo 18 Su 24 Yes Yes Pizza Yes page 5 The Criterion

Apr Th 21 Su 24 20 6 Pizza Live music

exchange leicester.com

The Exchange, LE1 1RD

Apr Th 21 Su 24 15 10 Yes Yes page 19 Black Horse, Aylestone

Apr/May Fr 29 Mo 2 Yes Yes BBQ Yes page 14 Free Trade Inn, Sileby

May Th 19 Sa 21 300+ Yes Yes Various railale festival.com

Rail Ale, Barrow Hill Roundhouse

May Th 26 Mo 30 20 10 Yes Yes page 10 The Western (WestFest)

Jun Fr 3 Su 5 15 Yes tbc page 12 The Charlotte (Welsh Ales)

Jun Th 23 Su 26 40 10 Yes Yes page 21 Rutland Beer Festival & Ale Trail

Jun/Jul Th 30 Su 3 Yes Yes Yes page 27 Chandler’s Arms, Shearsby

July Fr 8 Su 10 Yes Yes Yes Bands page 20 Langton Brewery

Various see ad for details page 29 Swan & Rushes


savedate

the

Leicester CAMRA Branch Diary 2016

NOTESBranch Contact Shawn Collier: 07504 829830 or email: chairman@leicestercamra .org .uk

For Saturday and Sunday trips Gary Akiens: 07815 825039 or email: socials@leicestercamra .org .uk

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

Sat 9 Apr Social Trip Oxford

Wed 27 Apr Pub of the Month 19.30 General Elliott, Willoughby Waterleys

Presentation 21.00hrs

Wed 4 May Branch Meeting 19.30 Parcel Yard Speaker Billy Allingham

Wed 11 May Pub of the Year 19.00 Kings Head Presentation 20.00hrs

Wed 25 May Committee Meeting 20.00 The Exchange

Wed 1 Jun Branch Meeting 19.30 tbc

Sat 4 Jun Social Trip Norwich (City of Ale Festival)

Sat 11 Jun Beer Census see website for details


Black Horse, Aylestone CAMRA discounts/privileges for specific eventsBowling Green 10% discount on Cask Ales & Real CidersThe Castle Hotel (Kirby Muxloe) 10% discount on Cask AlesCrown (Anstey) 10% off Cask AlesDog & Gun (Keyham) 30p/pint on real alesDuffy’s Bar CAMRA discounts on special eventsExchange, Rutland Street 10% off Cask Ales, Ciders & selected itemsThe Friary, Hotel Street 10% off real alesGeneral Elliott (Willoughby Waterleys) 10p/pint & 5p/half Real AlesGlenhills Sports & Social (Glen Parva) Temporary Visitor Membership for 50p with CAMRA cardGlobe, 43 Silver Street 30p/pintGolden Shield (Fleckney) 20p off Real AlesHind, London Road 10p off Cask AlesMalt Shovel (Barkby) 20p/pint on Real Ales & Traditional CiderMarquis Wellington, London Road 10%Nag’s Head (Glenfield) 15p/pint on Cask AlesNarborough Arms (Narborough) 10% off Cask Ales & CidersOld Horse, 198 London Road 10%Parcel Yard CAMRA card gives same discounts as a Steamin Billy Card.Queen of Bradgate, High Street 10% discount on Cask AlesQueens Head (Saddington) 30p per pintQueen Victoria (Syston) 20p off Guest AlesReal Ale Classroom 20p/pint & 10p/half off Real AlesRed Lion (Gilmorton) 30p/pintRed Lion Inn (Rothley) 20p/pint & 10p/halfRose & Crown (Houghton on the Hill) 20p/pintRoyal Standard 10% off Cask AlesRutland & Derby, Millstone Lane 10% off Cask AlesSlug & Lettuce, Market Street 10%Stamford Arms, Groby 10% off Cask AlesSyston Social Club (Syston) Temporary Visitor Membership with CAMRA cardWestern CAMRA card gives same discounts as a Steamin Billy CardWinstanley (Braunstone Town) 20p/pint off guest alesW - Corn Exchange, Market Square standard 50p vouchers accepted and 20% off foodW - Highcross. High Street standard 50p vouchers accepted and 20% off foodW - Lord Keeper of the Great Seal (Oadby) standard 50p vouchers accepted onlyW - Last Plantagenet, Granby Street standard 50p vouchers accepted and 20% off foodW - Sugar Loaf (Market Harborough) standard 50p vouchers accepted and 20% off foodW - White House (Scraptoft) standard 50p vouchers accepted onlyW - William Wygston (Wigston) standard 50p vouchers accepted onlyThe Yews (Great Glen) 10% discount on Cask Ales

W prefix denotes Wetherspoon outlets accepting CAMRA vouchers. One voucher per visit rule generally enforced.

Non-CAMRA loyalty card schemes available to all customers:Black Horse, Aylestone “Cheaper by the dozen” - £5 voucher on collecting 12 stamps.

Chandlers Arms (Shearsby) 1 for 10 loyalty card

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

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

Queen of Bradgate, High Street 1 for 10 loyalty card

Sir Robert Peel, Jarrom Street 50p card, Visit www.sirrobertpeelleicester.co.uk for details

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

CAMRA discounts available locally

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


Fair dealon beertax now!

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