S.A.D.C.A.T.S.®

  Sunday Afternoon Drinking Club @ The Saxon ®                                                                  

2011 in Perspective                                                                                                                               
Having realised that I had not updated my Beer List database for over 18 months I sat down to pour through all the festival programmes and my beer drinking records and do the necessary data entry!  Do you think I could find those programmes!!!  Some hours later here are the summary results:

New Beer Total to date:                7120
Beers for 2011 :-                            199
Top Festival:                                Chippenham   
                                                   18 beers
Top Pub:-                                     3 Crowns, Chippenham
                                                   40 beers this year (59 total)
                                                   Highest Climber on my chart moving up to 14th place       
Best Crawl:-                                 Liverpool - 3 Days - 36 Pubs - 53 Beers!!

Happy New Year everyone !!!!!!!!!

Saturday 31st December 2011
Once again we saw the New Year in with Nick & Zoe which was a very fine evening and many many thanks to them!

Christmas Day
Kath & I spent a lovely day on our own and showered each other with many touching gifts.
But the most emotional for me was the arrival of Martin's refurbished Katana on Xmas Eve.
There is a Santa after all and his name is Luthier Robin Greenwood of Stapehill Abbey, Wimborne www.greenwoodguitars.co.uk
Thanks Robin, it's a superb job and I love playing it.

We also made the customary journey to our locals for a pint or two.  Met Nick & Zoe in the Plough (No Xmas Drink there!) and then we all met back at the Cricketers and joined Tony & Wendy.

Friday 16 December - Evening
My Cousin Doreen organised the biggest family get together we have had in over 30 years.  Clown Community Centre was the venue and it is one of only a handful of 'clubs' that have made it into the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.  We therefore had three 4.5% real ales to choose from at (Wait for it!) £2-10 per PINT.  A 70's tribute rock band, disco and meat & potato pie were all included.  Doreen you are a star!!  A great evening was had by all and although there were cousins present that I hadn't seen in 35 years, they in turn saw family they hadn't met for at least 42 years! 

Friday 16 December - Lunchtime - The WANTED INN, Sparrowpit

With family in Liverpool & Chesterfield we have to make the East-West crossing of the penines in all weathers.  There are only 3 routes via the M60 Manchester By-Pass:  The northerly A628 'Woodhead Route' ; Middle & Highest - A57/Snake Pass; or the southerly A623 route through Sparrowpit.  Or if you are feeling adventurous the A537 Cat & Fiddle Pass bringing you via Macclesfield into Buxton from the south.  With snow behind us in Liverpool we chose 'Sparrowpit' and once round the haipin on the right of this photo the summit is in sight 100yds up the road.  If you make it to here going East you know you're OK.  So a pint of Robbies is in order!!  Unicorn 4.2%, or Double Hop 5.2%.  A plate load of Bangers & Mash + full veg in a giant yorkie is only £7-95.  Marvellous!  Don't know how they do it.

Tuesday 13 December
A trip to Liverpool is never complete without a Beer Tour of the City.  And with memories of the Great Crawl back in June whetting my taste buds I set off to reminisce!  Never the same on your own, but it has to be done!  As I struggled against the wind onto the dock road, the hail stones stung my face as I made my way to an empty Baltic Fleet.  Sat by the roaring fire in the back room and sampled 2 of their beers.  I'm surprised I hadn't had 4.2% Blonde before.  Next stop was The Roscoe Head which was also having a quiet moment.  This made a pleasant change from June when it was hot & sweaty and packed inside, forcing us out onto the pavement.  So I took my time and enjoyed sampling 4 beers, including 3 new ones!  Robinson's (Elbow) Build a Rocket Boys at 4% was a cracker!  A group of lads from over the penines were doing the same as me and provided good banter while we drank.  You can get Fish & Chips in here for £5-75.  Do I hear "I couldn't put it out for that!"  ???   Wandering round the corner to The Dispensary I found 6 beers on and decided to try the new Titanic Cappucciono 4.5%.  A dark chocolaty beer for which I was asked if I would like a sprinkle of chocolate on top!!  I declined, but others were less conservative than myself.  Time to move on, lots to do.  Next stop, The Grapes in Matthew St opposite The Cavern.  Improved somewhat since The Crawl.  2 Beers on now, and I couldn't detect the unpleasant smell.  So a pint of Caledonian Flying Scotsman 4% while I sat in 'Their Seat' and travelled back to the swinging sixties.........  Heading for Dale St and my final destination, I thought there was time to squeeze in a half at Ye Hole in Ye Wall.  It is after all the oldest pub in the City, built in 1726 in the reign of George I when America was still a colony.  6 beers on and I tried Clare Brewing Classy Blonde 4.2%.  Pub was busy and on my own I didn't get quite the reception we all enjoyed back in June.  Final stop The Ship & Mitre.  With 13 hand pulls this is Liverpool's Not To Be Missed Premier Real Ale pub.  Just time to try 3 beers and have a pleasant chat to the guy next to me at the bar before I was being called for my train!

A remarkably quiet, Roscoe Head and
The Cappuccino at The Dispensary

Sunday 11 December
The weather was appalling but as I was only a few miles away I thought I might get a shot of Princess Elizabeth on a steam special leaving Lime Street.

46201 Princess Elizabeth
Battles her way through driving rain at Edge Hill, Liverpool with the
York Yuletide Express

Friday 9 December ~ Roger's Birthday!
On our way North we managed to make it to the 3 Crowns to celebrate Roger's Birthday! 

What a night!  Joined by Trvor, then Clive and his son-in-law Pete who lives just behind the pub!  Let's see more of you in the pub, Pete!  A cake, six good beers, including two at high gavity.  And when we drank all the Pot Walloper, along came another Plain Ales.  A good plastering was had by all, wasn't it, Kathie?  So, a late start for Liverpool in the morning!

Monday 14 November
The Crown at Fontmell Magna was closed by Hall & Woodhouse in March 2010 and I never expected to see it re-open.  The present owners have been doing exyensive renovations for the last 12 months and it re-opened as The Fontmell, 'A country pub with rooms' during the last week.  Tastefully renovated and full use has been made of the stream as a focul point as it now passes through the restaurant area.  3 hand pulls offered 6d Best, Keystone Mallyshag 3.6% - £3-60/pt!!  The menu was similarly very expensive with fillet steak at £27, and basic Fish & Chips £10-50.  As I overheard others saying: I think we are expected to pay for the renovations!  I'd really been hoping & looking forward to having a new 'Freehouse' so close to home, but it doesn't look like I'll be visiting too often.

The Crown Inn, Fontmell Magna
Shortly after closure on 9-Apr-2010

Saturday 22 October
After another hearty breakfast we saddled up and moved out.  Tarkie & Teresa going with Andy & Liz, while we took Rog & Gwyn to see Gwyns sister where we left them for a weeks holiday.  We headed for Newton Abbot to visit Kathie & Sid, but managed a pub stop near Saltash on the way.

CROOKED INN, Stoketon Cottage, Trematon, Saltash, PL12 4RZ
18th century cottages belonging to local manor & accessed by a very long drive.  Turned into a pub 25 years ago by current family owners.  4 Hand pulls offered: Jail Ale, HSD, a Cider, and Tintagel Cornwalls Pride 4% which was in good CAMRA 3½ condition.  Nice log fire in l-shaped room which leads to conservatory.  Accomodation in adjoining new buildings.  Sunday Carvery £8-95.  Not an easy find, but worth the effort.

Friday 21 October ~ Falmouth Beer Festival
This year's Festival coincides with celebrations to mark the 350th anniversary of Falmouth becoming a Town by Royal Charter of King Charles II in Oct 1661.  At the turn of the 17th century this little hamlet comprised Arwenack Manor (owned by the Killigrew family) and just a few fishing huts.  It went by the name, Smithwick and later Penny-come-quick, an anglicised version of pen-y-cum-cuic meaning head of the valley.  Piracy was rife and indeed practiced by the Killigrews!  After John Killigrew III fell out of favour and ended his days in prison, his son John Killigrew IV championed growth of the town and petitioned James I for permission to develop the port and build 4 Inns.  The town records include a map of 1615 showing the 4 Inns and many more buildings.  The festival logo this year is an adaptation of the Great Seal of Charles II, suitably amended to show him raising a glass!

So, after a hearty breakfast at Chellowdene we headed off to The Princess Pavillion to make sure we were 1st in the queue for the celebrations!.  At 10:30 with half an hour to opening time we started the queue outside the main doors only to find when the doors finally opened that others had started a queue in front of us, just inside the door!  Luckily this made no difference to us getting 'Best Seats' on the lovely Victorian verandah.  The sun came out and we picked the perfect spot to enjoy the tappas style pic-nic that Gwyneth had put together for us!  From this angle the alterations to the Pavillion are not in your face. The new section is behind the bandstand.  As the wind picked up and we got progressively colder it was good to be able to retreat to this new room, the beers being in the main hall.  I think the jury is still out, but I really liked the 'Cavern' feel of the old building that has been replaced, and it's a bit of a pain going the long way round to the main hall from the garden.  Needs a side entrance near the stage.  Still a great venue!

By 6pm, it was time for us to wander back into town and with his gammy leg Tarkie is to be commended for making sure we made the effort to get to The Seven Stars.  Sadly we learned that Rev Barrington is not in the best of health, but the pub is currently being sympathetically rejuvinated by his Grand-Daughter.  We were made very welcome and sampled the 4 beers available on gravity dispense. Bass, Sharp's Own & Special, plus Skinners Cornish Knocker.  We send our best wishes to the family and our thanks for their lovely old pub.

Opposite the Stars is The Wodehouse Arms which we hadn't tried before and I popped in with Rog & Gwyn for a quick one!  A basic sports pub tied to St Austell where it was nice to see Trelawny on draught.  Nice Landlord, we were the only ones in the pub!

It seemed appropriate to finish the night at The Front where most of the beers were still on and I managed to sample the ones I missed last night.

Thursday 20 October - Evening
Having checked in to the B&B - Chellowdene, we set off into town to sample a few pubs and meet Rhian for Fish & Chips.
On the way in we had to pass a pub we've seen on previous occassions but not bothered to check out as it looked like a converted Victorian terrace B&B.  As I had seen some good write ups on the Real Ale front it seemed a good place to start.

5 DEGREES WEST - Looks a bit 'Bistro' (leather sofas & expensive snax) as you walk in, but we are greeted with 3 hand pumps offering Tribute, HSD, and Cornish Knocker AND they appear to be 'Cask Marque' accredited - not that it means much other than an overly cold cellar!  We are looking for 8 pints of something and as they begin to be pulled the barrels appear to empty on command!  We needed to go across all 3 beers in our struggle to get a pint each.  Some were decidedly iffy, but as it was only 17:30 there would be no one who knew how to change a barrel until 6pm.  Best we move onto a Pub then!!

The FRONT - I simply can't explain how we have managed to miss this place on our previous visits.  Situated at the rear and underneath the Harbourlights Chip Shop looking onto the quay and a stones throw from The Chain Locker, and Quayside Inn.  It doesn't look much from outside but inside we found 12 beers & 5 ciders racked up!  Where do we start??? Regular live music and bring your own Take-Away!   Not surprising that this is the local CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011.

In 2009 we found the Chippy closed at 9:30 on  Friday night!  Went back simply because it was handy to The Front.  They open later now!  But still a sour note I'm afraid.  Tarkie was obviously struggling with his recently broken leg and they couldn't even let him sit down!  Anyway, The Front was so good we didn't bother going anywhere else.

Thursday 20 October - Lunchtime
8 of us were converging on The Falmouth Beer Festival and decided the best place to meet up was The Blisland Inn.

The pub before 1903 fire.                        And as it is today.
When the pub was rebuilt in 1904 they renamed it The Royal Oak and it remained as such until Gary Marshall took over in 1994 when he saw fit to restore the original name.  Gary runs a tight ship which has won him a string of accolades including our own PTVBYD status.  It would be remiss indeed to visit Cornwall without going to The Blisland.  Well done, Gary!

Invariably a successful character pub has it's own Character Landlord, and The Blisland is no exception.  Gary agreed to be photographed with his array of 9 hand pulls which delivered some exceptional ales at £2.00 to £2-85/pt.  The four I tried (Bold on the list) were all in CAMRA 4 condition.  I enjoyed a lovely pork pie for 80p while others had a good plateful of Gammon Egg & Chips at £8-25.  A shining example of quality goods being delivered at very reasonable prices.  So on a Thursday lunchtime here we are in the middle of nowhere and the pub is very busy.  Take note people, it can be done!

Saturday 15 October ~ 5th Wimborne Roundtable Beer Festival
They don't seem to do much advertising for this which is why I only found out about it after last years had taken place.  This year Mark & Rita heard about it and as Mark was in the country it seemed we needed to meet there for a few beers!!  Opened at 12, we arrived about 12:45 and it didn't get busy until we were leaving.

Sunday 9 October
Such a nice day and Kath was away, so I walked over the hill to The Saxon & back!

Gales Seafarers Ale 3.6%
 replaced Ringwood Best as the 2nd house beer

Wed 5 Oct 2011

70000 Britannia storms up Parkstone bank with 10 on unassisted
 08:03 Ex-Poole -'Bath Spa Express'

Sun 1 October ~ Whisky Tasting

Roger, like brother Tony, has an aversion to whisky.  Or at least HAD!
After sampling 10 fine malts he finds a favourite!

Laphroaig  10yo  40%  Islay
Lagavulin  16yo  43%  Islay
Bruichladdich  10yo  46%  Islay
Cragganmore  12yo  40%  Speyside
Dalwhinnie  15yo  43%  Highland
Laphroaig  15yo  43%  Islay
Port Ellen  24yo  59%  Islay
Glenkinchie  10yo  43%  Lowland
Talisker  10yo  45%  Skye
Bruichladdich  15yo  43%  Islay

And The Winner was........ Dalwhinnie

Monday 26 September ~ A Pub Crawl of Bristol

The only group photo of the day in pub no.5, The Bank Tavern.

Click photo to open Journal 11 ~ The Bristol Crawl

Saturday 24 September ~ Chippenham
We all went up to Chippenham for Gwyneth's Birthday Party.  BBQ and two 9's of beer:  Box Steam Tunnel Vision 4.2% & 6^d Brewery Gold 4.2%

Great party but we didn't manage all the beer.  Gwyn, Rog, Angie, Kath & I spent all day Sunday trying to drink the remains of the Box Steam!

Then on Monday the "Last 5 Standing" went on A Pub Crawl... to Bristol.  Report appears above.  Follow [Link] for Journal.

Wednesday 14 Sept ~ A little trip with Tarkie

Went for a couple of pints at The Crown Alvediston, and Horseshoe Ebbesbourne Wake to relieve Tarkies broken leg boredom!

31 Aug ~ 7 Sep.   SADCATS on Tour on The Costa del Sol.....

Various bars & restaurants around Mijas......

..........

Sunday 28 August ~ Neil's Hogroast

My good friend Neil Beverly has been treating his friends to a Hogroast every August Bank Holiday for as long as I can remember, but the event has been sadly missed during 2009/10 due to other commitments.  This year was as good as ever and I'd like to thank Neil for such a magnificent event which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.  Those of you who have attended The Maltings will of course know Neil who was also at our Band & Braai in July, and if you refer back to our Club History you will see that he is an honorary SADCAT.

..........

NEWS FLASH ~ Islay Ales win Champion Beer of Scotland 2010

I'm delighted that my entry for the 1st Coping Beer Festival in June 2009 has won such a high award!

Paul Hathaway drew up the recipe based on my tasting notes specially for my 50th Birthday. A cask was shipped to my party at The Lower Red Lion, St Albans complete with a surprise special pump clip.  This depicts Class '50', 50035 Ark Royal denoting my 50th, and 5.0% abv.  Paul also cleverly put in a shot of my favourite class of diesel (The Westerns) with D10148 Western Lady, and why not?  The OG was 1048.

He then had the problem of what to do with the other 15 casks!  With the Islay Whisky Festival approaching the batch was bottled and given the name 'Single Malt' as only one malt was used in the process, unlike their other brews.  The beer was so popular at the festival Paul decided to make it a regular in their beer line-up!

Thanks Paul, and well done to you and all at The Brewery, Islay Ales, Islay.

Saturday 30 July ~ Braai & A Band at Wildernis

Fresh from the stage at The Plough, we booked Chris & Sarah for an acoustic set at the Braai. 
Sarah let Miqueila take the mic then Chris and I got the heavy metal out for a rendition of 'I Love Rock & Roll'.  Shame I missed band practice on Wednesday!! 

And finally Pete takes a turn on my Casino accompanied by Tony Addley on Saxaphone. "Jazz Club, Nice!"

Saturday 23 July ~ Plough Beer Festival, Manston.

Nick, Zoe, Kath & I went to enjoy a few halves on Saturday afternoon while we listened to the bands brave enough to take the 'Open Mic'!
We raised a glass to them all and saluted their courage.  Especially our friendly barman Chris (with the blue hair) who brought along friends Sarah, Jake & Jon otherwise known as NEBULA.  Landlord Phil had 14 beers in the tent which were in good form.  Beer of the Festival was easily Village Idiot from White Horse brewery, a 4.1% golden ale.  Others that I sampled were:

Saturday 9 July ~ 6^d Brewery Open Day

4 of the beers on today                       SADCATS on A Session!                                                               Town Crier & Sealed Knott

Nick takes a break from serving pints.....                     And Head Brewer Scott takes his turn behind the bar!

Saturday 2 July 2011 ~ 12th Devizes Beer Festival

This is a very finely balanced festival making use of a marquee for 1 day only nestled on the Kennet & Avon canal wharf!  Wadworths provide a trailer used as a stage by live bands and when the weather is kind this is one of the best festivals around.  The days when you could pitch up on the day are long gone.  Now it's ticket only and Sold Out!  The music is usually well suited to the ambience of the event and we liked the Town Silver Band, crooner Richard Lucey, acoustic guitars of Clair in Tommunity, and rustic Somerset Paddles.  Sadly the opening 'Group' were not up to form and they (along with everyone else) were let down by poor service from the site sound engineers, who despite lots of annoying testing for almost an hour before the start, couldn't balance the sound!

BUT, the weather was grand and we had a superb day.   4 SADCATS got a lift from 'Dangerous Dave', the usual crew from NW Wilts Camra came on the bus along with Steve from the 3 Crowns, and Angie met us there.  Great crowd, Great Day!

65 Beers and 16 ciders ready to go!

And what does Kev have 1st?  A LAGER!!!!!!

OK, so it was William Bros, Ceilidh Lager 4.7%

We arrived an hour before opening to get our 'pitch' and by 3pm you couldn't move!

As usual, Beer of the Day easily went to Hop Back Summer Lightning, although it didn't pick any festival awards.

Friday 1st & Sat 2nd July

Another superb support act from Steve and his team.
Oxfordshire Ales was easily his beer of the weekend and the badging was
reminiscent of the old Morrells 'Blue'.

16 - 19 June - LIVERPOOL Crawl...

Click Passport to open Journal...

7 June 2011 ~ Albufeira, Portugal

Quiet Pint @ The Beach Basket                               Lunch @ The Beach                                             Julie/Matt, Kath/Bob, Bev/Ian @ Torre Velha

Saturday 4 June 2011

As it's Nick's Birthday tomorrow we thought it was good of The Exchange in Stur to organize a Beer Festival, so he and I attended the Saturday lunch session!

Free to get in and beer at £2-80/pt.  Music in the entrance hall and lots of straw bales made the scene.  Bar well organized, good selection of beer and well kept.  They couldn't help an Art Brew not clearing or the two Town Mill beers not being too good.  Obvious BOTD was Hopback Summer Lightning, but there were many other contenders around 4%.  The whole town joined in today with a travelling market, food stalls and other bands playing up in the town.  Sessions were oddly timed at Noon-6pm Fri & Sat, plus a Friday evening slot.  On SAt eve there was a Barn Dance in the Exchange at  £5 a head, but the festival bar was closed.

All in all a very pleasant and easy going session.  We hope it was successful for them and look forward to going in greater numbers next year!

And we made a friend with Paul on the Bakery stall who also has a drinking club, with a difference.  He and 9 or so friends have a 'Shed' on a West Dorset farm where they make 2,500 gallons of Cyder each year depending on the crop.  I have been entrusted with the secret location and we have a 'Club to Club' invite for a Sunday lunchtime session!  Something to think about!!!

Here he is enjoying a quiet half out in the sun!!

Thanks Paul, we will be in touch.

Friday 20 May 2011 ~ 6^d Brewery

The Sixpenny Handley Brewery has a little bar that is open for a short while in the late afternoon on most days.  Friday is the longest session 4-6pm and we thought it was time to meet up with Tarkie & Teresa after their move to the village.  Sadly since our last visit they've chosen to charge full pub prices at £2-90/pint and scrap the 20p/pint CAMRA discount which seem rather excessive and un-necessary.  Especially when The 3 Crowns charges £2-30/pint!

But, it's a nice little set up and a good bunch of locals who bring nibbles to the 'Friday Club'.
Beers on today were: Original 3.6%, Best 4%, Gold 4.2%, IPA 5.2%.

Saturday 14 May 2011 ~ 20th Chippenham Beer Festival

Back in the 80's Mike Hayne (Pad) and I used to go to the Sailsbury Beer Festival which was held in the old deconsecrated church.  Not much room in side and numbers were strictly limited.  We had to queue for tickets on a Saturday morning the month before the festival.  What I remember is that we always used to meet a group of blokes who had cycled from Chippenham!!  Malc Cousins and his friends were always at the front of the queue with us and we sat together for many years.  I lost track of this festival and it ended due to the constraints of the site.  A few months ago I bumped into Malc Cousins in the 3 Crowns and we reminisced.  Hoped to see him and his mates today as this is the 1st time I've made it to Chippenham, but obviously they were at a different session.  Anyway, we had a good festival supplemented by enjoyable sessions in our favourite pub: The Three Crowns

We moved to the table in front of Rog, Gwyn & Ang and joined the 4 guys who were also a drinking club!  They live some distance apart (Calne, Didcot, Oxford) but meet up every Sunday for a drink!  Well done those Men!

Shaun joined us just after we'd had our picture taken once again for the Wilts Herald & Gazette

Took advantage of the 1/3rd of a pint glasses to sample more beers and we all shared.

 Thanks Steve & Tom for a great supporting selection at The 3 Crowns!!! (Pints of course!)

Sadly just missed the Otley '08' 8% at fest and BOTD goes to Cotswold Spring for it's well drinkable Codrington Codger!!

Sunday 1 May 2011 ~ May Day Braai

Royal Wedding Bank Holiday ~ Friday 29 April 2011

Tarkie & Teresa moved to 6^d Handley today and helping out on The Van were: Myself, Kath, Roger, Gwyn, Rhian, and Mike.  After toiling all day we managed to get to The Cricketers by 9pm for their RW Beer Festival.  11 Beers + 3 ciders racked up in a marque plus the ususal 3 behind the bar.  '03 Boss' from the renowned Otley brewery was a bit of a disappointment as was Mordue's offering of Northumbrian Blonde which had to be declared unfit.  Despite being completely knackered we managed to sample 5 other beers on offer which were in excellent condition.  In our bright red shirts we are difficult to miss, some of the locals thought 'The Morris' had arrived and Landlord Jo Grieves had a chat with us about the beers.  Well done Jo, an excellent 1st Beer Fest.

Beer of the Festival went to:  Oakham, Bishop's Farewell

 Sat 23 April 2011 ~ St.George's Day

Spent the day helping Roger put up the conservatory then off to The 3 Crowns to celebrate.  As usual 6 beers on including one especially for today - Moor Beer Co's, Old Freddy Walker 7.3%.  A large tray of sausages and bread was provided as nibbles and Dave Mahoney printed up a batch of Song Books for us to have a good old English sing-song.  All the old War favourites plus emotional standards like 'Jerusalem'.  My Mum would have loved this!!!

SADCATS mentioned in Despatches ~ 'Rising Tun' Spring 2011

Good Friday 22 April 2011

Paul & Liz are down from Islay visiting family in Bournemouth and I managed to meet up with them on Poole Quay

The Poole Arms
Probably the oldest building on the new quay dating back to the early 17th century.  The green tiles on the front wall were made by Carters of Poole, the forerunners of Poole Pottery.  This attractive little pub was once a Strong's House, taken over by Whitbread, then Ringwood who in turn were recently taken over by Marston's.  2 Hand pulls offer Ringwood Best and 49er.  The menu is entirely FISH !

We decided to move 2 doors along to another little pub...

The Portsmouth Hoy, with Poole Arms behind it, also nestles between the old warehouse buildings along the Quay. Named after the Portsmouth Coasters that used to moor opposite this section of the quay.  Formerly an Eldridge Pope house it has been taken over by Hall & Woodhouse and surprise surprise the beer is too cold!!  Brewery is promoting a smaller edition of their Pub Trail and we pick up a Passport for nostalgia, but I won't be going anywhere until they sort out their cellar temperatures!  Don't hide behind Cask Marque Mr Woodhouse because they don't know what they are talking about either!

3 hand pulls for house beers: Best, Hopping Hare, Tanglefoot

The Grace House, standing between the 2 pubs was also a pub many years ago - The Britannia Inn.

Spotted Cow
In my early drinking days with Mum & Dad I remember enjoying our trips to "Frank's", as we called it.  Frank was a pleasant Landlord who didn't mind me joining my parents for a beer, even though I was only about 12 as I knew how to behave in a pub!.  In those days it was The Kings Arms and owned by Eldridge Pope and we used to sit in the small Snug bar at the front where the parrot sat on the bar.  In the 70's after Frank had retired the brewery went for an open plan affair and renamed it The Helmsman.  There have been other changes & owners and the last time I visited, it was boarded up.  These days there are so many pubs closing by the day that it is rare indeed to see a resurrection!  Yet here I am on Good Friday and it has been re-opened as The Spotted Cow.  Next time I'll pop in.

Sun 17 April 2011

A quick trip to find the thatched pub which claims to be the oldest in Lancashire, dating from 1320 - The Scotch Piper, Lydiate
Recent archeological analysis of the beams dates the pub to around 1550.  Built around a huge oak tree which supports the rear wall the pub was originally named The Royal Oak and from records available now we first see it recoded as an Ale House in 1663.  2 hand pulls in small bar area giving Black Sheep Bitter plus a guest which today is Slaters Original.  A good pint - CAMRA 3.  There are 2 other small rooms and the pub has been in the same family for over 40 years.

Sat 16 April 2011

Sadly we could not be at The Maltings Beer Festival this year as we were in Liverpool for Steve Smyth's funeral. But Kath & I managed a little trip round the city for a few pubs and a posh Chinese at Mei Mei's.  Roscoe Head:Hart, Squirrils Hoard 4%; Sharps, Atlantic IPA 4.2% - 4 other beers on.
Kath took me to find Ma Egerton's . Named after the famous Landlady of the 1920's who was a personal friend of many stars of the stage.  The pub being opposite the stage door of the Empire it is said many have frequented the place and their pictures adorn the walls of the snug.  Sadly no beer and getting worse for wear it still features in the CAMRA Book of Historic Liverpool pubs.  We had a half of lager and sat for half an hour trying to identify the people in the pictures!
The Ship & Mitre, Weetwood, Cheshire Cat 4%; Outstanding, Red 4.4%; Northern, Two Tone Special 5%.

Sat 9 April 2011

We leave the concrete to set and the girls drop us off for a short walk to Lacock but we only manage 2 pubs!

View from the top of Bowden Hill not far from the pub

The Rising Sun
6 hand pulls giving Moles Best, Mole Catcher and
Tribute which we all went for!  Sadly a bit murky and made me ill shortly after!

We continue down the hill.....

The Bell.
4 beers on, a real cider and a spare pump.
We only just manage to get a pint of Bath GEM (4.1%) and our wives arrive to take us home!

Never mind, we have to get in uniform for the evening session at The 3 Crowns because its going to be Canal Rob's wedding reception!

Friday 8 April 2011

Helping Roger lay the foundations for his new conservatory and pay a visit to The Three Crowns.  A lot happening at the pub this weekend.  Starting with Shaun's 50th tonight which actually starts at The Rose & Crown.  And tomorrow Canal Rob's wedding reception in the pub.  So lots of beers lined up including one specially for Shaun - Cairngorm Black Gold which had to be the Beer Of The Day (BOTD).

Clive pops in to meet us and we learn he is on a special diet and can only drink water!!!!!

Here he is on his 2nd Pint of WATER!!!!

Tuesday 5 April 2011

Waiting for Kath to finish a Beading workshop I pop into The Dolphin, Blandford for my 1st visit since Laurie retired.  Nothing ever changes for the better, does it?  Now a Piddle Brewery tie and I'm not keen on their beers.  Still 8 hand pulls giving 1 cider, Ringwood, Tribute and 4 Piddle Beers.  The Tribute wasn't as crystal as I like it, so I tried their Silent Slasher 5.2%.  Better than their other beers but still not quite crystal clear.  I wonder why?  Curry night seems expensive at £8 without a free drink.  The barmaid for the evening was friendly enough but I sat on my own at the bar for over an hour with very limited conversation.  Can you imagine being the only person at the Bar in Laurie's day?  Of course not, more like 3 deep.  Says it all really.

Thursday 31 March 2011 ~ 6^d Crawl
It's no secret that Tony & Teresa will shortly be leaving the village and heading off to 6^d Handley.  So today, Tony & I went on a little crawl to find out what pubs he has on his new doorstep and across the border along the Ebble Valley.

The Queens Head, Broad Chalke, Wilts
Built as a cottage in 1730 this became a pub in 1865.  The unlucky fellow who was the 1st Licensee moved here because his Mill & Pub had burned down for the 2nd time, and he ended his reign here by hanging himself at age 62.  Not much has changed here since Francis Frith took his picture in 1955 when it was a Courage house.

The left hand view of the bar was taken on 18-Sep-2004 when Paul & I visited on one of our SD&WDS tours.  The beer line up then was Greene King IPA, Suffolk Summer, Old Speckled Hen and 6X.  If that's not a GK tie then probably a pubco like Enterprise Inns.  When they move on it's usually a bonus, but this time Hall & Woodhouse took over in Oct-2006.  As you can see they've brightened it up, but it has the feel of being over-buffed.  Hand pulls down to 4 and 3 house beers are served: Badger Best(1st Gold), Tanglefoot, & Hopping Hare.  On to the next one then!

White Hart, Bishopstone, Wilts.

Formerly a Gibbs Mew house as the picture circa 1930 depicts.  An Enterprise Inn where the 4 hand pulls offer: Ringwood, 6X, and Butcombe so not much has changed since our tour in 2004.  Proprietor Bill Spencer has been here 2 years.  A Chef who prides himself on the value for money deals he has on offer.  The curent 2 courses for £9-50 seemed popular today and we were impressed by what we saw.  Bangers & Mash at £7-75 and a nice rear garden. Butcombe a CAMRA 3½ being a tad too cold!!!

Horseshoe, Ebbesbourne Wake, Wilts

No tour of the Ebble Valley is complete without a visit here.  Tony Bath is a legend which is why this gem is on our PTVBYD list.  The good news is that he isn't planning on retiring for a while so you still have time to make the trip.  Tarkie is moving to within 5miles of the pub and I envy him for having this as a local.  Here we see my Quiet Pint - Bowmans Wallops Wood 4.2% - magic!  Evening meals are very good.  Not cheap but excellent value.  That said, I haven't really looked at the lunchtime menu before but it offers great value snacks - Sausage & Cips £5-95.

Beers today were: Otter Bitter 3.6%, Palmers Copper 3.7%, Bowmans Swift One 3.8% and Bowmans Wallops Wood 4.2% (CAMRA 4½)

The Roebuck Inn, 6^d Handley, DORSET

2 hand pulls presently offering Ringwood Best (CAMRA 3½) with a 49er ready to go on.  From time to time Local beers from Sixpenny brewery are featured.  Good snack menu: Gamon,Egg&chips £7-95, Steak&Ale pie £8-95.

Proprietor John Fury retired here with his wife Ann from the oil industry some 14 years ago and has seen some changes although he managed to outlive The Star a few doors away.  Darts and football team supported.

Most of this village was destroyed by a fire originating in the wheelwrights on Thur 20 May 1892.  Edward Dutch, Landlord at the time, rebuilt the pub in mock Tudor style as in Francis Friths picture circa 1950.  100 years later the building is pretty much the same although the tudor beam upper floor has been rendered with tiles.  I need to check this but probably by the present landlord, which with the period new build at the back makes the pub look much younger than it really is.

Thanks John for making us welcome, and we look forward to sampling more guest beers in the coming months.

And that's probably our last outing in The Tarkie Bus.........

Saturday 26 March 2011 ~ Pictures of the Day at the WSR.

70000 Britannia at Crowcombe           Mogul 9351 at Castle Hill                                           30777 Sir Lamiel at Crowcombe [Published in Rly Herald 262]     

Kathie filming S&D 7F No.88 (53808)
at Bicknoller Bridge

In the Diesel sheds at Williton

Bob 'at home' behind the controls of D1010 Western Campaigner

Bob & Kath with Warship D832 Onslaught

Friday 25 March 2011

At almost the last minute Kath & I decided to visit the West Somerset Railway's 35th Anniversary Steam Gala. This popular event was held over 2 weekends and the pub style B&B's were already fully booked.  So we turned to 'LateRooms' and found Croydon Hall, a stately mansion tucked well away approx 2 miles south west of Washford which meant it was very well placed and had 3 pubs within a couple of miles.

Croydon Hall, Felons Oak, Minehead.
Doesn't it look grand!!  Well I thought so, and well worth £70 for 1 night.  Desperate to find anything at all suitable we booked immediately.  Had I spent a minute reading their details I may have spotted 'Vegetarian Buffet Breakfast'.  But even if I had, I would have imagined there would be proper food as well.  If I had troubled to look at their own website I'd have seen descriptions about 'Peace & Tranquility', 'Holistic Workshops', the Spa, Yoga Classes and Meditations!!

Lovely spot, very peaceful, nice people, comfortable tidy accomodation, BUT..... entirely Vegetarian??!!  I'm a Carnivore, get me out of here!!  Many thanks to the Chef, a great guy who recommended several local pubs.  Phew!!  I'm having the large Sirloin, then!  But stay here again?  I don't think so!!

The Old Ship Aground, Minehead
This is where we were going to stay.  4 Hand pulls giving: Tribute, Exmoor Gold, Ruddles & Courage Best.  The Tribute was in fine CAMRA 4 condition and there were plenty of cheap snacks eg Ham, Egg & Chips @ £5-20.  This pub is at the top of The Esplanade, next to the Lifeboat station.  Great views of Butlitz from its own quayside beer garden.  Friendly enough and we should have eaten here, but looking at the filthy upstairs windows I'm pleased they were fully booked!

The Royal Oak, Luxborough

This should have been just down the lane from our B&B but the lane turned into a track and I bottomed the 206 in the ruts and mud.  A detour of several miles was needed.  Anyway its GBG listed and features in Roger Protz' 'The Village Pub'.  Known to have been a pub since 17th century although the building is much older and believed to have been an Inn with the odd name 'The Blazing Stump' in the 15th century.  Steeped in history, with flagstone floor and inglenook fireplace in the main bar.  The menu is not extensive and quite pricey, mains starting at £14-95.  I had a sirloin (£15-95) which was excellent but onlly came with 6 chips.  They wanted another £2 for a full portion!  Dreadful.  Sadly we were taken to another room as far away from the bar as possible, because we hadn't booked.  Although I didn't take the above pics (courtesy of pub website) I did in fact sit just where the middle shot was taken from.  Pleasant, but no atmosphere.  4 hand pulls gave us a choice of: Exmoor Ale, Exmoor Gold, Cotleigh  Commando 4%, and St Austell Tribute.  I tried the Cotleigh and the Tribute, neither of which were very clear.  I would say lucky to get a CAMRA 1½ and I should have sent it back.  I didn't and paid for my mistake in the loo an hour later!  B&B £100 pn.

The Valiant Soldier, Roadwater, TA23 0QZ
Should have stayed here, should have eat here!!  B&B from £60 pn.  6 hand pulls offering 4 beers: Cotleigh Tawny, Tribute, Palmers IPA, Flowers IPA.(CAMRA 3)  Sadly the 2 local beers were off and I had to make do with Palmers all the way from Dorset!!  Loads of meals starting around £7-25 eg Steak&Ale pie.  20oz Mixed Grill £12-95.

Darts, Pool, locals, skittle alley, all tables in the large bar but doesn't seem to affect the bar trade.
Closes afternoons 2.30 - 6pm .

Duly noted for next time!! 

White Horse, Hungerford, Nr Washford
Picturesque old beam 17th century Inn next to a stream.  B&B £58pn is very reasonable.  Looks like the car park, skittle alley and probably the B&B are on the other side of the road & stream.  This place was packed at 10pm.  Looked like eaters had gone, full of locals and we couldn't really get to the bar.  3 hand pulls offered: Doombar and Greene King IPA !!  Pie meals were £12 and nothing said to me 'Eat Here' so I probably wouldn't.  Doom was OK.  Not GBG listed.

Sat 12 March 2011

Taking the 'Bath Crew' round some of my local haunts.  1st up, The Vine at Pamphill.  I used to drive here at lunchtime when I was at school.  We learn from the present Landlady of some 30+ years that her Mum & Dad were running the pub then.  4 or 5 of us would order a beer and then we went to the upstairs room to play darts!  Those were the days.  And I could drive back to school on 3 or 4 pints!  Her grandfather took the pub when he returned from the Boer War in 1901 and it has been in the family ever since.  I remember it as a Strongs house when I used to go there with Mum & Dad, then Whitbread in the 70's.  Luckily it was acquired from them by the National Trust in the late 80's.  Just room for us 4 and 3 regulars in this tiny bar!  1 hand pull Sixpenny Best 4%, and 1 gravity in cellar Otter Amber 4%. CAMRA 3½.

And this is the pub where Kath & I got married in June 2006, The Langton Arms, Tarrant Monkton
Resurrected from a burnt out shell by Landlady Barbara Cossins.  Not quite the real ale mecca that it once was in the days of the 'Guess the mystery beer' nights but still has 4 hand pulls which today gave 3 beers: Ringwood, Piddle Best 4.1%, and Keystone Gold Spice 4%

In the evening, it was Tarkie's belated birthday bash, held of course in the famous 'Tarky's Arms'.  Sadly, although we didn't know it at the time, this was to be our last meeting in 'The Shed' and we don't have a single phtograph!!  Many thanks to Tony & Teresa for such a grand venture of which we have many fond memories.

R.I.P.  Tarky's Arms  [Sept 2008 - Mar 2011]

Sun 6 March 2011

Rounding off the perfect weekend with a beers & nosh Red Shirt airing at Nick & Zoe's.  Thank you all very much!

Sat 5 March 2011 ~ NW Wilts CAMRA 2011 Bath Half Pint Marathon

This was one hell of a tour worthy of its own Journal, which will shortly be available.  Until then you can access the photo album by clicking the hyperlink on the Group Photo below....

The Griffin was new to us and a worthy find.  We'll add it to any future tours.  The H&W may not be my kind of pub but a Flagship it definitely is!  Kath & I will even book a table on the roof garden for lunch next time we are in Bath!  The Star was cosy with it's lovely fires, and very busy today as they were having a St.Piran's Day (5th March)Festival. Patron Saint of Cornwall.  So not only Cornish Beers but Real Cornish Pasties too, Nice!

Shaun, Dave & Co (The Famous Four) arranged a similar tour last year.  So this time they drew pub names out of a hat until they had the 13 needed for a Half Marathon!  That's why The Volley wasn't on the original itinerary.  But as it was my Birthday, they thought a visit was appropriate.  Once again we were made welcome, by Bar Manager and fellow RAT, Jacques Desmier.  So easily Pub of The Day!!  Thanks Jacq!

SADCATS Journal Vol.9  Bath Half Marathon
 now available (18 Mar) click link on the picture to the left
of Rogers shirt.

Fri 4 March 2011
It was my Birthday yesterday and today Kath has a surprise for me!  We set off in her car at 1pm, destination unknown.  1st stop a Guitar shop where I am allowed to wander round and 'See if there is anything I want to buy!!'  If only there had been an Epiphone Les Paul.......  Oh well.  Upwards and onwards as they say.  Jane (our satellite navigator) issues instructions and we seem to be by-passing Chippenham and heading for the M4.  Kath decides we have time for a detour and call in on Gwyneth for a cup of tea.  We spend a pleasant half hour talking and then get up to go.  "Not coming down The Three Crowns tohight then?"  Ho Ho Ho!!!  And I thought that was my surprise.  Sat urday morning we are up & breakfasted early then walk down to the railway station where we met Shaun & co from local NW Wilts CAMRA.  And that is where The Party started!!!!

The Three Crowns, Chippenham.
Bob, Kath, Gwyneth, Trevor, Roger & Landlord Steve Jenner (Honorary SADCAT)

Fri 18 - Sun 20 February 2011 ~ Three Crowns Beer Festival

9 Beers on Friday as five of us give the 2011 Red Shirts their 1st airing and we are    joined by Trevor, a Friday night 'regular'.

Clive joined us for the Saturday Session and having already attended The Tarkie Arms and Saxon, now proudly wears a SADCAT badge.  "Get me a shirt, Bob!"

Catherine & Rachel pop in to say Hello with Eliott making his 1st visit to a Pub!! 

I managed to sample 13 beers over the weekend and pick up an excellent local pub history book!

Landlord Steve Jenner got a good write up in the latest local CAMRA magazine 'Pints West'.  Noted as one of the county's top real ale pubs it also features on the cover of a new local history book - 'Inns of Wilts in old photos'.  Dating from1784 when it belonged to Kingsfords Brewery, Lacock,  the Cover photo shows the pub circa 1910 when it had been acquired by Blake's of Trowbridge who were taken over by Ushers in 1922.  Laterly in the hands of Enterprise Inns, despite the efforts of good tenants, the pub looked set to close for good in December 2009.  Thankfully Steve and his family came to the rescue and saved this great community pub which (unlike many others featured in the book) re-opened on 1 May 2010 after some basic sympathetic restoration.  Now a Freehouse with 9 hand pulls serving a regular turn of 5 beers with a 30p/pint CAMRA members discount.  And on the many special beer event/festival weekends all 9 pumps are in action as they were this weekend!

Thanks Steve for saving our favourite pub, keeping it's special atmosphere, a good log fire, great value rolls & pies and no telly, music or noisy fruit machines!  We really appreciate you making such an effort to provide us with these very enjoyable Festival weekends for which we award you 'Honorary SADCAT' status.

Friday 18 February 2011

The Oliver Cromwell, St Ediths Marsh, Chippenham

What a difference a lick of paint makes!  This has been a pub since built in 1690.  No information to hand regarding brewery history except currently in hands of Enterprise Inns.  The couple running it have been in for 2 months and generally spruced it up.  2 hand pulls offering 6X and Henrys IPA, although they can take some guests.  Skittle alley at rear together with a largish garden and car park.  The one bar has low beams, huge fire and deep carpet.  Sensible food prices, Chilli £5-95 and Mixed Grill £12-95.  Suddenly this place is worth a visit even if the A road outside is a tad noisey.

The George Inn, Sandy Lane, Chippenham

Historic Wadworths pub of which I have no detail.  Waddys POTY 2010.  Mainly a food pub, very cosy, but also very expensive: Bangers & Mash £11-50.  3 hand pulls with usual suspects and today featuring the stout brewed to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the brewery.  And very nice it was too!

Sunday 6 February 2011

Our 1st visit to The Saxon in a while.  Nick, Zoe, Tarkie, Kath, & me.  Beer in good condition and a good time was had by all.

Saturday 29 January 2011

The Horseshoe, Ebbesbourne Wake
5 beers on gravity dispense behind bar.  Otter Bitter 3.6%, Palmers Copper 3.7%,
Bowman Swift One 3.8%, Sixpenny Gold 4.2%, Sixpenny Special 5.0%

As usual Landlord Tony Bath was good company and we enjoyed a very pleasant session.

The Crown, Alvediston

From the 4 hand pulls 3 beers available today:- Keystone Bedrock 3.6%, Ringwood Best 3.8%, and we were given samples of Sixpenny Marley's Ghost 6.8%

This really did finish the session and we retreated home for stew & dumplings with Nick & Zoe before a trip to The Cricketers where Teresa joined us.

Saturday 15 January 2011 ~ Corsham, Castle Combe, and 3 Crowns!

The Cross Keys, Corsham [199]
Delighted to see this pub re-open.  Not much has changed except a very intense clean inside!  The manky carpet has gone revealing a lovely old wooden floor.  They are starting with 2 beers on their 3 hand pulls, and let the locals vote for what they wanted: London Pride, and Wickwar BOB.  The BOB was in good CAMRA 3½ condition.  They can't do food until kitchen has been upgraded but their aim is Yorkies with Bangers&Mash at £7-50 which sounds great!!  They had also re-started their Dart team in the back room, plus Sun night quizes.  So well done to the new Landlords who previously ran the successful George at Sodbury (where HM QEII stayed!).  We wish them every success.

Castle Combe

Castle Inn                                                 White Hart
Closed for 5 weeks for refurb.  Looks to be aimed at      A Waddys pub that does guests (Youngs Bitter & GK St Edmunds). Although re-claimed courtyard houses
fleecing wealthy tourists so I don't think we missed        a pool table this pub is mainly a food establishment where Fish & Chips goes for an expensive £9-45
much!

Salutation Inn, The Gibb.[234]
This is a PubCo tie which serves 6X, 2 local beers from Wickwar, and a guest local ale currently from Box Steam.  Sadly the Derail 5.2% was just on the turn and although we told the barman this, he did nothing about it.  He was however, interested in getting us to go on his coach trip to The Box brewery but it sounded like we were being roped in to spread the high coast of a coach and we could have gone by ourselves for much less.  Pool & Darts, Beef & Ale pie £7-95.  At a push I suppose this may be worth another look on a nice day!

The Three Crowns

A very pleasant session trying all 6 beers, a good ham roll for £1-50, free sausages & french bread, and of course Clive joined us! Beers are CAMRA 4

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Last modified: 03-Feb-2012