Issue 156 of Norfolk Nips & Cask Force

& CASK FORCE& CASK FORCE& CASK FORCE

Newsletter of the Norfolk Branches of the Campaign for Real Ale

No.156 Spring 2011

Also inside:BEER FESTIVAL DIARYNORFOLK’S TRUE HERITAGE PUBS part 9PUB AND TRADE NEWS

FREE

NORWICH ‘CITY OF ALE’ EVENTLAUNCHED THIS SPRING!

Special Festival section* see pages 53 - 65

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Trafford Arms

Chris and Glynis invite you to the Trafford Arms -

61 Grove Road, Norwich 01603 628466www.traffordarms.co.uk email: [email protected]

YOUR PUB,OUR COMMUNITY

our nominated charity this year is the Downs Syndrome Society

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This year, the year in whichCAMRA is forty years young,Norwich will have not one, buttwo Beer Festivals.

In addition to the 34thNorwich CAMRA festival whichwill be held at St Andrews andBlackfriars Halls in October,there will be another, runningfrom 26th May – 5th June. Thisexciting new addition is verydifferent from the CAMRAFestival, but is intended tocomplement it, both thenpromoting Norwich as TheCity of Real Ale.

So how is this festivaldifferent? Firstly, It is the coming togetherof local Maltsters, Breweriesand Norwich City Pubs topromote real ale. There will beat least 20 Breweries and 30Pubs participating.

Secondly, the event will takeplace in the Pubs themselves,so there is no single venue.

A committee has been set upto organise the event, co-chaired by Dawn Leeder fromPintPicker and Phil Cutter,

landlord of The Murderers.There will be a programme,which will be on sale soon. Thiswill give full details of the Pubsand Breweries taking part,which beers are available, andwhere plus listings of events,including Brewery Open days,Meet the Brewer events inPubs, BBQ’s, Quizzes, LiveEntertainment, etc.

It is hoped that The EasternCounties Transport Collectionwill be available to providesome transport for the event.There will also be a Brewers’Market outside the Forum on28th May, where local Brewerswill be selling bottled beersand other merchandise.

The event will kick off with alaunch party on the 26th Mayand will be officially opened byRoger Protz. It will end with aFestival Awards event, withprizes for Beer of the Festival,Pub of the Festival, etc as votedfor by the public.

In essence, it is LocAle, butnot as we know it, and is agolden opportunity for localBrewers to get quality, localales into quality local Pubs.That can only be good for thereal ale scene in Norwich andNorfolk. Compare that to thescene 40 years ago.

Mike Baldwin

FRONT COVER PICTURE:courtesy of The NorwichEvening News

SPRING 2011 | 3

Norwich & Norfolk BranchChairman: Graham FreemanTel: 01603 687495Email: [email protected]: Warren WordsworthTel: 01603 665557Email: [email protected] Secretary: Tim MacDonaldTel. 01603 865505Email: [email protected] Officer: Mark StimpsonEmail: [email protected] Norfolk BranchChairman: Phil BuffhamSecretary: Ian BaileyContact: Bruce WardTel: 01485 609107 Branch websites:www.norwichcamra.org.ukwww.camra.org.uk/wnorfolk

Branch mailing list web page:groups.yahoo.com/group/CAMRA_Norwich

Published every 3 monthsby the Norwich, Norfolk & WestNorfolk branches of the Campaignfor Real Ale © N&N CAMRA 2009Norfolk Nips is produced anddistributed by members of thebranch in their own time.

Edited by:Mike BaldwinEmail: [email protected]

Chris LucasEmail: [email protected]

Views expressed in NorfolkNips are not necessarily thoseof the editor or of CAMRA

Design & Production:Daniel Speed - Tamoko DesignEmail: [email protected]

Distribution:12,000 copies / four times a yearNorwich and Norfolk District: Tony Miles [email protected] Norfolk District : Ros Harre [email protected]

Advertising:For advertising enquiries pleasecontact Chris Shilling on:Tel: 01778 421 550Email: [email protected]

Steve WhadcockTel:01778 420888 / 421550Mobile: 07736 [email protected]

New Festival to beopened by Roger Protz

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With the 40th Anniversary ofCAMRA coming up on 16thMarch, why not celebrate witha pint of Real Ale in your localPub. There have been manysuccesses over the years andwe still campaign for manyissues relating to promotingReal Ale. Nationally we havewon a major victory inpersuading the Pub’s Ministerto begin public consultationinto banning restrictivecovenants. Many of our localcommunities will benefit fromremoval of this anti-competi-tive practice and hopefullyPubs will remain Pubs.

We have also seen local Pubsbeing demolished withoutplanning permission and thatmust change. Recently I spoke

to the local press on mattersrelating to the Government'sbetrayal on the minimumpricing of alcohol and theeffects of the smoking ban onour Pubs. You will have noticedthat our Branch members areworking with the local mediato encourage variouscampaigns and if you would liketo help then please contact me.

Our new Committee will beelected at the AGM in Marchand I’m pleased that moremembers are becominginvolved and are prepared towork for the Campaign. It’s notall about trips to Pubs andBreweries although we do allfind these very enjoyable.

We recently held our Beers of

the Festival Awards which coin-cided with the opening of theFat Cat Brewery Tap. It was agrand night out. We alsopresented a cheque to ourBranch Charity 2010 – NorwichDoor to Door for over £5000which allowed them to order anew bus. We have yet tochoose our new Charity and Ihope they will as successful thisyear.

Finally I would like to thankMike Baldwin and WarrenWordsworth for assisting onthe Committee for the forth-coming Norwich City of AleFestival although for somereason it was my quote theyused in What’s Brewing. Fameat last.

Graham Freeman

Springing into Action

SPRING 2011 | 5

NORFOLK NIPS | Chairman’s Bits

Another years gone by, and2011 is here, A year which isgoing to be a difficult one formany Landlords.

Only two months have passedand already four pubs in westNorfolk have shut. The Beding-field Arms at Oxborough, theCrown at Middleton, theRampant Horse at Gayton andthe Queens Arms kings Lynn,three others look like becomingprivate residential dwellings,and several others are strug-

gling and leases are up for sale. Add to this that I’ve just beeninformed Tom Woods Breweryand Beer distribution havegone bust; it makes it a poorstart to 2011.

On a brighter note havinggot over my ailments, it wasgood to get back into somesocial drinking at the TraffordArms Beer festival on Saturday9th February, A good collectionof Ale’s along the bar plus amarquee at the back with a

good variety of Ales. ReephamRailway Beer festival is the firstweekend in March, and Easterpromises numerous Festivalsaround the country.

I hope to see you at some ofthem. All the best for 2011.

Buff West Norfolk chairman

Difficult Days

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Welcome to the Spring 2011edition.

This bumper Beer Festivaledition has more pages andsome new features.

We have introduced our new“whiteboard”. Here you willfind details of importantupcoming news and events,with the Branch Calendarsconveniently arranged on thepreceding page.

“From the Archives” delves intoold copies of Norfolk NIPS andhighlights the burning issues ofthe day. It would appear thatsomething’s never change!

We have said before thatNorwich can claim to be theUK City of Ale and with thenumber of real ale Pubs in theCity and Breweries countywide,no one can deny that the realale scene in the city is vibrant.

And now, Norwich has twoBeer Festivals.

The first, which will be openedby Beer Legend Roger Protz,celebrates LocAle in our excel-lent City real ale Pubs.

The second celebrates the verybest in real ale, cider, and perryfrom the UK, plus exquisitebeers from around the world,all in the magnificent surround-ings of St Andrews andBlackfriars Halls.

CAMRA have asked Branches todo something to celebrate their40th Birthday on 16th March.We are going one better; weare celebrating all year!

So, next time that you are in agreat local pub, drinking adecent pint of fresh real LocAle,raise your glass and say “HappyBirthday CAMRA!”

So 2011 is here, two monthsold by the time you read this.

Much has been going on inWest Norfolk, with pubscoming on the market as pubsfor a change. Plus A GBG pubunder new management, andsome worrying news onanother.

The branch has along withNorwich branch been engagedin surveying pubs nominatedfor consideration as 2012 GBGentries. Remember there areonly a small number of peoplegiving us input by way of pubvisits and news, so if you use a

good real ale pub we don’tknow about please tell us.

As I said last year surveying isan onerous task which westeadfastly carry out on behalfof real ale drinkers everywhere!

If it sounds like somethinggood to do, come and meet usat a branch meeting or social.

We have also managed to fitin the usual walks and beerfestivals some of which you’llread about in this issue.

Personally I visited anotherpub celebrating a tradition

from another culture,read on to find out what it was!

May I thank all the contribu-tors and people in the real alebusiness for their support ofthis issue.

Finally good luck to “NorwichCity of Beer” in its first year anexciting idea.

NORFOLK NIPS | Words from the Editors

Words from The Stig

SPRING 2011 | 7

The Ed’lines

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8 | SPRING 2011

Ramblings from the Snug

I’d like to start by saying thankyou to everyone who nomi-nated pubs for inclusion in the2012 Good Beer Guide and alsoto the small army of volunteersthat have given up their timeto survey the pubs.

I had a tremendous responsefor nominations with well over100 pubs being put forward.It would be great if I couldhave them all in the guide butunfortunately our branch areonly given space for 77 pubs.

At the time of writing, acouple of Norwich pubs areunder threat of being lostforever. The Rosary closedabout a year ago. An applica-tion to turn the building intoflats was turned down by theCity planning last year. A newslightly altered application wasrecently submitted. AgainCAMRA has objected to theapplication and I hope that theplanning committee see senseand refuse this application.

The other pub under threat isthe Queen Charlotte onDereham Road which has hadan application for a change ofuse to charity and communityuse. The Queen Charlotte hashad a chequered past but atone point it was a decentmusic venue.

While not immediately underthreat, the Sir GarnetWolsey is up for sale. At onetime there were at least 13pubs around the market. Sadlythe Sir Garnet Wolsey is the lastremaining pub on Norwichmarket place so it deserves tobe saved. It would be a realshame if it were to be snappedup by a coffee shop chain andlost forever.

I was shocked to learn thatthe landlord of the MaidMarian had taken the drasticstep of locking himself and hisfamily inside the pub anddeclared squatters rights. Thisis in response to Enterprise Innsincreasing the rent. What I findtotally unbelievable is thatEnterprise are currently adver-tising for a new tenant to takeover the running of the pubrather that trying to reach anagreement with the existinglandlord. I would be interestedto hear from any tenant of anEnterprise Inns pub who haveor are experiencing problemsfrom Enterprise. You can emailme at [email protected]

I, along with Pubs Preserva-tion Officer, Mike Spivey had avery positive meeting withcouncillor Victoria MacDonaldabout the plight of Norwichpubs in general. Victoria waspreviously a landlady inSudbury so has an under-standing of the issues pubs facetoday. Hopefully we can work

together in the future to savesome of our pubs. Until next time.

Mark StimpsonPubs Officer

News from the West

It seems that things are lookingup in West Norfolk. TheDeer’s Leap in Lynn is up andrunning, although we have yetto make a visit.Out at West Winch, the

Sportsman has reverted tobeing called the Winch. Thenew owner is Peter Collis, whohas a couple of pubs down inLondon. We called in at around9.30 one evening, and werelucky to find it open as it is verymuch a food pub, but this gaveus a chance to have a chat withthe barman, who, it turnedout, was really the handyman.He managed to rustle up a pintof IPA, and being unsure of theprices, we came to an agree-ment that suited us both.

Apparently the place was inpretty poor condition when thenew owners took over, andthere are some things still todo, but the carvery is back inbusiness and trade is pickingup, especially at weekends.Other pubs with new landlordsinclude the Woolpack atTerrington St Clements. This isnot the same as it was whenLucille ran it, but it still serves agood pint – London Pride andWherry, I think, when wecalled. In Lynn, the ‘To Let’

| NORFOLK NIPS

Pub News

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notices are down from theFenman and the hand pumpson the bar suggest a visitwould not be in vain. TheRetreat, also in Lynn has beentaken over by Loraine Tomlinand Malcolm Kilbourne whohave moved down fromAberdeen. They aim to make itinto a community pub, andhave revived the darts anddomino teams, with crib, pooland football to follow. Mymemories of playing dominoesin the pub are coloured bywatching the Heysel disasterunfold on the pub TV as weplayed a summer league fixturemany years ago, but it will begood to see it at the heart oflocal life again.

Several people have told usthat the Rose and Crown outat Harpley is being refurbishedand is to open again.Out in Barton Bendish, the

Berney Arms has been opensince August. This wasformerly the Spread Eagleand this handsome chalk andbrick building is surrounded bya large garden. It serves foodall day including afternoonteas. The refurbishment istasteful in a sort of toned downNorth Norfolk style and therewere three beers on offer whenwe visited, all from Adnams.They also do accommodationin what looks like the convertedstable block.

There is less good news forthe Cobblestones in Lynn.The future is uncertain for thisMexican themed pub andrestaurant run by Dave Kilv-ington since 2004 as he is now

retiring. Formerly the PrincessRoyal, it is situated on the edgeof town, near the car parks andswimming pool and shouldhave a future in one form oranother.

There are plans afoot to refur-bish the Wenns on Saturdaymarket Place in Lynn. Theseinclude internal and externaldecoration and a plan to servecoffee alongside the GreeneKing beer and food. This hasnot met with universalapproval, and one of the staff isinvolved in a campaign to‘Save Our Wenns’. Check thisout on Facebook on the site‘Wenns Drunkards’. Personally,I would consider changing thename of the campaign group ifthe idea was to garner supportacross a wide spectrum of thepublic.

Back in the snows ofDecember we headed up tothe coast. Being early for theevent at Thornham Lifeboat westopped for lunch in the Yurt.The industrial sized woodburner made it warm and cosy,and although on the priceyside it is an interesting changeif you don’t fancy a pint. We did, and after a beautifuland very cold walk around themarshes we dropped into theOrange Tree. A roaring logfire, comfy armchair and anexcellent pint of Adnams madeit very difficult to leave.Another place we dropped

into for the first time in yearswas the Windmill at Necton.This is just east of Swaffham tothe south of the A47. It provedto be a pleasant village local

selling IPA and a Beeston beer.For our January meeting we

went to the Hare Arms atStow Bardolph, and were madevery welcome. There was afine selection of the GreeneKing range of beers, a few newfaces at the meeting and evena look at the cellar. We haveneglected this place a bit inrecent times. It has a greatatmosphere, a good-lookingmenu and is well worth calling in.

As well as the odd beer, Iquite like football and in thecold of November I had acouple of trips down toCambridge. I walked out to seeUnited, and also strolled out toHiston. Both visits involveddropping into a few randomlychosen pubs in the east andnorth of the city. It was greatto find that not only every oneI tried sold real ale, but alsothat about two thirds hadspecial offers with cheap pints.These were mostly on GreeneKing IPA, but one pub hadThwaites Original for £1.90 perpint. Since Christmas I havebeen to see games in suchdiverse place as Bolton, Fleet-wood, Bradford, Accrington,Borehamwood and Southendas well as Lynn’s 10-1 win onNew Year’s day. One otherplace we went was Wigan butwhen I tried to buy a couple oftickets for the game againstArsenal, it turned out that I wasbanned. Despite being a life-long Bury FC supporter, theydecided that I was an Arsenalfan on the grounds that I alsobought a ticket for Wigan v

Continued Overleaf

SPRING 2011 | 9

NORFOLK NIPS | Pub News

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Geldeston Locks InnLocks Lane, GeldestonNR34 0HW Tel: 01508 518414

OPEN ALL DAY EVERY DAY from 12noon to late evening

Food Service Summer Hours: Monday to Friday 12pm to 2.30pm and 6pm to 9pmSaturday and Sunday 12pm all day through to 9pm

Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd April

BIG MUSIC WEEKEND with legendary live 70’s glam/disco band UNCLE ROMEO on SATURDAY 9pm

and SUNDAY 1pm - MURPHY’S LORE AND CRUMBS FOR COMFORT

SUNDAY MAY 1st MAYDAY FAYRE 12pm to 8pmCrowning the Waveney May Queen , Morris sides, eatre from ameside Mummers,

Maypole Dancing, music From Murphy’s Lore, beers, barbecue and cake shop

THURSDAY 21st TO SUNDAY 24th APRILEASTER BEER, CIDER AND MUSIC FESTIVAL Live music all weekend, over 30 beers, ciders and perries, cake shop, barbecues, and

famous curries of the world food session on the Friday nightOpen all-day-every-day-from 12 to close • All FREE entry!!!

Go towww.geldestonlocks.co.uk

for more information on our events, parties and music line-up!

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Arsenal two seasons ago. Noamount of persuasion couldmake the computer change it’smind, so we had to go andhave a couple of pints ofThwaites instead. So, to all yougood people of Wigan, mymessage is this. May all yourpies be Octopus pies.

Jeff

The Swan at Hilborough

The Swan has recently beenleased to new husband andwife team Clare and JamesElmer. They have a great dealof experience in the pub busi-ness running pubs forWhitbread, but are now settingout to create their own visionof a country pub. I went alongfor a chat with Clare to seewhat they hoped to do with theSwan in the next year or so.

The food is already goingwell, James is a chef and theyare focussing on good tradi-tional pub food with thecarvery on Sundays alreadyneeding to be booked.Apparently the steak and ale

pie is a speciality.

Clare has plans to continue tochange the interior to give a

local pub feel rather than arestaurant, the change inatmosphere is already notice-able. She plans to expand thenumber of hand pumps sellingreal ale as the spring andsummer come along, poten-tially having five pumps.

Already sold are GK IPA,Abbot, Beeston beers plusElgoods and Humpty Dumpty.Clare hopes to offer a changingrange of beers mainly of localorigin.

Popular quiz nights are heldon the last Friday in the month.Clare was born in Hilboroughand comes from a family ofgamekeepers, she hope toorganise meets for gamekeeperswhich will require tickets. Clarehopes to organise other eventsduring the year. The Swan alsooffers accommodation and acaravan park.

A larger range of beers needto be drunk so let’s hope theyget the support they need! I’dlike to wish them good luck intheir new venture.

Stig.

This piece of good news isput into perspective by thenews that the Red Lion atHockwold is on the market as ahouse. However on the positiveside the Chequers at Feltwellhas been bought with a view toleasing it out as a pub, buildersare already clearing it up.

SPRING 2011 | 11

NORFOLK NIPS | Pub News continued

Planning IssuesRecently we have been keeping aneye on planning issues in the WestNorfolk area, and in between therelatively uncontroversial applica-tions, such as those for new signs atthe Deer’s Leap, new windows forthe Dukes Head, both in Kings Lynn,and some log cabins at the back ofthe Le Strange Arms in Hunstantonthere are some more issues lurking.First some good news, with an

application in the pipeline to refur-bish the Red Lion at Caston. This hasthe support of the local parishcouncil, and as the plans include abar and cellar it looks like the aim isto reopen this pub. Less good are acouple of change of use applicationsfor pubs to housing. The Kings Armsin Swaffham has aroused little oppo-sition, other than my letter, and hasbeen given permission. Morecontroversial is the case of the AlbertVictor in Castle Acre. This has gath-ered a number of comments. Itseems that there was a new managerand staff ready to take over when itclosed. There is a clear and cogentletter detailing the views of localcouncillors opposing the scheme, aswell as several others in oppositionto the scheme, including one fromus, as the local CAMRA branch. Infavour of turning the pub intohousing there are a rather oddcollection of letters. These includeone from a resident of Leigh On Sea,Essex who says that he has beenstopping in the village on the way toCromer for lunch every year for thelast 20 years, and as none of thethree pubs in the village are busy, thepub should close. The mostintriguing, to me at least, is asubmission from the area managerof the Grimsby brewery, Tom Woodsarguing the case for change of use.I find it odd that a brewery wouldwant a free house to close and I havewritten to Tom Woods for clarification. Ihave not received a reply. To view thedetails of the application and the checkthe West Norfolk planning websiteapplication number 10/01988/F.

RT

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AL

and

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12 | SPRING 2011

Pub Post Its | NORFOLK NIPS

Coach & Horses, Bethel Street, NorwichThis well-known theatre pub has been undernew management since November last year,and has benefited from a good clean-up by thelooks of it. Still a Green King lease with Abbot,IPA and Speckled Hen, but the new landlords,Dave and Tracy, have added a couple of extrahandpumps for guests, including regular non-GK beers - recent examples have includedBrewdog (yes!), Hyde's and Holden's, all inexcellent condition. The genuinely home-cooked food (lasagne, proper ham egg andchips) are also very good value, as are the hotpies and baguettes. Pop in!

New Inn, HorningHaving spent my usual month of January,‘Alcohol’ free, it was a joy to enter a pub withsuch warmth, (and it was not just from the fire),both staff and customers alike contributed to thereception. At this time of the year, there wasonly a choice of two Real Ales, namely GreeneKings ‘Abbot’ and Adnams Bitter. Being alunchtime I decided on the weaker of the two,which is not normally one of my favourite Breweries. However, it was served Crystal clear, the aromawas very pleasant and the taste was Superb.

Weybourne ShipVisited on one of the darker days of January buta steady flow of coast-path walkers and localsthrough the door; two Norfolk beers on thepumps with a third just sold out and you couldalmost smelt iron on the wood-burner!Just at the western end of the village is the

Malting’s Hotel with the bar open to non-resi-dents. The old stables annex, where the barused to be located, has been put to other uses.But the present counter is housed in the mainblock of the building and is a trip back into theEnglish Country Hotel c.1970’s style wise(comfortable; not cutting edge). But it has two

hand-pumps with a fluctuating range sometimeslocal, sometimes Wadworths, and that lingeringhint of eccentricity but minus Spanish waiter!

The Star, Fakenham.The sign on the front wall says “ Back to a tradi-tional, friendly, family pub, The oldest pub intown.” This is the mission for new LandladyJanine Scott. She admits that when she tookover the pub in November, this former GBGguide pub was sadly neglected. With partsdating back to the 15th Century, it is worth avisit. It’s open plan with a single bar and twoseating areas, with a pool room at the rear.There is an open fire and the cellar has a breadoven! Outside, behind the pub, is a delightfulgarden, which is a pleasant surprise as the pub isset back off the road, creating a small car park.The ceiling beams have coins stuck into them.

The story is that, during the war RAF crews wouldplace a coin here as a good luck talisman beforetheir next mission. If and when they returned, themoney for the beer was there waiting!There are two real ales, Woodfordes Wherry

plus a guest from The Admiral Taverns list. On my visit, Ruddles Best was available, with LondonPride and Hobgoblin having been on earlier.

Pub Post-itsAs always, remember that these post-its are subjective and reflect the personal experience ofour correspondents. Please feel free to email your post-its in to [email protected] - andif you really like the pub, why not nominate it for next year’s CAMRA Good Beer Guide?

Subscriptions and Branch informationWe have a growing number of postal subscribers toNorfolk Nips and Cask Force, and I would like tosend my thanks for the kind comments and bestwishes from those who have renewed theirsubscriptions recently. If you would like to jointhem in receiving the next 4 issues by post, send12 first class stamps to Norfolk Nips and CaskForce, 91 Tennyson Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk,PE30 5NG. I also send out occasional emails to members withdetails of forthcoming meetings and Branch events.All are welcome at these meetings so if you wish toadd your name to my mailing list, send your emailaddress to [email protected].

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The King’s HeadOpen 12.00noon - 11.00pm Monday to Saturday

12.00noon - 10.30pm Sunday

Run by enthusiastic drinkers and CAMRA members.

Keg Free Zone 14 Hand PumpsNorfolk Ales and CiderMild always availableWorldwide Bottled BeersBelgian BeersTelevision-freeBar Billiardswww.norwichbarbilliards.co.uk

KEG FREE HOUSE

The Kings Head, 42 Magdalen Street, Norwich NR3 1JEwww.kingsheadnorwich.com

Dating from the 14th century, the pub has

been restored to a Victorian style.

CAMRA Norfolk

Pub of the Year

2006 & 2008

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Burn’s day at theAngel, Larling.

Earlier in the year I was tippedoff that a foreign tradition wasgoing strong in the heart of theNorfolk countryside. It seemeda good idea to investigate as itlinks in with my report on theVine in Norwich at Christmas.

It turned out that the Angel,Larling, currently NorfolkCAMRA pub of the year, cele-brates the birthday of the greatScottish bard Robbie Burns on25th January every year.

This featured a full address toThe Haggis, the first line ofwhich appears as the title ofthis piece. This was carried outby a piper in full traditionaldress in front of a packed pubsome of whom had also gonefor full Scottish rig. The Haggisis anointed with Whiskey at theend of the address and thenpiped out to be distributed

with a helping of neeps andtatties.

You may well wonder whatthis has to do with real ale butall will now become clear. Theevent was supported by FyneAles of Argyllshire, contributingthe whole range of their beersfor sale in the pub, a rare treatin East Anglia.

I had a chat with Rob Jennertheir sales director whorevealed an interesting link toour region. For the last six years

the head brewer at Fyne Aleshas been Will Wood previouslysecond brewer at Oakham!This was, I would say,

reflected in the style andflavour of the beers.I commented on this to Rob

he told me that the tradition-ally perceived malty taste ofScottish beers is no longer thenorm, with Scotland goingfrom four to forty four real alebreweries in fifteen years.It seems that there has truly

been a real ale renaissanceNorth of the border.

My favourite was the “VitalSpark Dark”, which was surpris-ingly hoppy.

The piper returned to regaleus with more poems and musicaccompanied the ex-pat Scotsin fine voice, the decibel levelof bagpipes in a small bar isincredible, I can hear quite wellagain now!

It was worth it to hear thevery funny address from theHaggis to its consumers, whichis far too rude to repeat here.

Fyne Ales held a weekendevent at the Angel last year,only this year becominginvolved with the Burns eventwhich Andrew has held formany years. If you are free inearly January, try it, I guaranteeyou won’t be bored.

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,Great chieftain o the puddin’-race!

NORFOLK NIPS | Burn’s Day

SPRING 2011 | 15

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16 | SPRING 2011

A timber-framed, flint and brickpub built to a standard hall-house plan and the only onefeatured in this series to bestatutory listed at Grade II*.Prior to 1993 the GreenDragon had possibly the mostimpressive historic pub interiorin the whole of Norfolk andeven today it is of significant'true heritage' interest. Thefront door leads into a passageand at the rear is the main barsplit in two by a wooden parti-tion forming a snug area withsettle seating around aninglenook fireplace. Whereasmost similar snugs have beenfully opened-up to create onelarge room, at the GreenDragon sections of the parti-tion, which reach the ceiling,survive to the left and right andmake this a remark-able survivor. Sadly,the central section ofthe partition wasremoved in 1993. (Fora rare example of anintact snug visit the RedLion, Kenninghallfeatured in Norfolk Nips149). The fireplace is amassive one of 1930sbrick but the carvedmantelpiece looks older.In recent years there havebeen changes to the bar itself -it was originally much smaller,more like a tiny servery, with

the hand-pumps onthe backwall. The

bare wooden flooredlounge at the front of the pubwas at one time a shop and isnow in use as a dining room.

This room has another 1930sbrick fireplace and service is viaa tiny hatch cut into the doorto the servery. Other 1930schanges include the adding ofthe ladies toilets - note theperiod 'Ladies only' illuminatedsign. Look for figure '1' on the

Norfolk’s True Heritage Pubs 9 | NORFOLK NIPS

This series of articles highlight the pubs whose interiors have been little altered in the past 40 years orso. This issue features the oldest of Norfolk’s ‘true heritage pubs’, a building dating from the mid15th century; and one of the youngest in terms of its interior, having been refitted in the early 1960sbut barely changed since.

Green Dragon, Wymondham

The lounge and Exterior of the Green Dragon, Wymondham

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SPRING 2011 | 17

door to the cellar and ‘2’ onthe door to the bar – a formerrequirement of licensing magis-trates. A third small roomtowards the rear of the pub hasbeen brought into use inrecent years.

The Green Dragon, 6 ChurchStreet, Wymondham NR180PH is open from 12 to 11 (12

Thu to Sat). Meals are servedfrom 12 to 3; 5.30 to 8.30Mon to Thu; 12 to 9 Fri, Sat;12 to 7 Sun. Phone number is01953 607907. Accommoda-tion is available in 3 en-suiterooms. Real ales on sale areAdnams Bitter or WoodfordesWherry and three guest beers,at least one of which is fromlocal micro breweries. They hold beer festivals at the end of

May and end of August.

NORFOLK NIPS |

White Horse, Gaywood, Kings LynnThis is a Victorian building thatformerly consisted of two smallbars at the front. Then in theearly 1960s Watneys extendedat the rear and created a publicbar at the front, a lounge bar inthe rear extension, a corridorlinking them and also an off-sales on the front left. The onlychange since then is theremoval of the off sales inc.1990 which increased thesize of the public bar. Most1960s interiors have since beenreplaced making intact oneslike this more rare than Victo-rian and inter-war ones! Otherpubs in Norfolk which stillretain 1960s bar fittings includethe Wheel of Fortune,Alpington and West EndTavern, 1 Browne Street,Norwich. The public bar has aFormica-topped counter, a1960s bar back with a smallcash drawer, and some unusualpatterned-glass windows. Inthe corridor, note that thedoors retain their room namesin distinct Watneys redlettering– and whilst the ladieshas been refurbished, the gentsloos remain un-modernised.

The lounge has a stripped pinewainscoting, with anotherFormica topped bar counterand 1960s bar back with asmall cash drawer. This is a verysports-oriented pub – even twopigeon clubs meet here.Maybe not of great architec-tural merit, it is a rare survivalprobably due to licensees of 25years standing. However, dueto retirement, a change isimminent and although nochanges to the interior areplanned at present we recom-mend a visit soon.

White Horse, 7 Wootton Road(A148), Gaywood, Kings LynnPE30 4EZ is open from 11 to11pm Mon to Sun. No food issold – just crisps and nuts!Phone 01553 763258. It sellsWoodfordes Wherry.

The snug of the Green Dragon

The lounge bar at the White Horse, Gaywood, Kings Lynn

If you require photographs ofyour pub interior / exterioryou can contact Mick on01733 390598 or [email protected] discuss your requirements.

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Large beer garden, traditional games, lunchtime menu and a good selection of real ale, spirits and soft drinks

Listed in the Good Beer Guide every year since 2000.

Queen’s Head and Waveney Brewing Company

Traditional Village Pub with a breweryproducing permanent and seasonal

ales on site

Station Road, Earsham, Norfolk

Tel: (01986) 892623

18 | SPRING 2011

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SPRING 2011 | 19

NORFOLK NIPS |

There was Banger racing atGreat Yarmouth after Christmasand I was in the Oliver Twistfor their happy hour (12-1pm).The Blackfriars bitter was excel-lent at £2 and the pub also sellsthe local East Coast cider fromMartham, a 6% and an oakbarrel-aged 7.3%. The walk tothe stadium necessitated astroll down Northgate Streetpast a number of interestinghouses and sadly ex-houses.

For instance, the Crystal iscurrently closed and the WhiteHorse has long been convertedto a private dwelling (though itstill has its Lacons Falcon statueand plaque). The Kings Arms isthriving but familiar to me so

onto the Coach and Horseswith its green tiled externalwall reminiscent of my primaryschool a long time ago. Thetwo handpumps dispensedseasonal ale at £2.40 a pint.

A brief off road to the LaconsArms and its unusual wroughtironwork sign-surround foundGreen Jack Orange Wheat(£2.80) on its handpump.Glass cases contained a hugestuffed fish and next to it whatappeared to be the body of acrow grafted onto the head ofa toucan with a plastic bill. Abizarre sight and one for theGuinness collectors!Onto the Sportsman and an

unpromising exterior lead into

a tardis-like interior full of pubgames, friendly punters andexcellent Adnams ordinary at£2.30. Finally, the Apollo hadits own badged beer at £2,malty and fresh at 4.3% butthe bar staff couldn’t say whobrewed it. Enough beer fornow but an interesting crawlalong a street often overlookedby ale drinkers. Past the longclosed Lord Roberts to theDeath Destruction derby andno real ale at the stadium butI’d had enough excellent alefor one day. East coast winter’safternoons don’t come muchbetter than this.

Mont

A stroll down Northgate Street

DUKEof WELLINGTONTRADITIONAL REAL ALE HOUSE

14 REAL ALES GRAVITY SERVEDavailable all year round fromour glass fronted tap room

6 MORE ALESON HAND PUMP

WelcomingREAL FIRE

CAMRA Good Beer Guide ListedOpen Mon to Sat 12noon to 11pm

Sun 12noon to 10.30pm

Come and enjoy our Tap Roomwith a selection of Belgian bottledbeers, Schneider Weiss, Erdinger,Dunkel and Riegele all on Draught.

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At precisely 8:30 am our train slid silently out ofNorwich Station and around 20 members wereeagerly anticipating a grand day out in Londonvisiting Fuller’s Brewery. At precisely 8:45am itlurched back into Norwich, having failed to evenreach the swingbridge.

Those who subscribe to the notion thatCAMRA members are unfit and overweightwould have been impressed by our lighteningdash to another platform to catch the 9:00 train.In truth, it wasn’t a great start. Des had done hishomework and he was right, the 4 for 2 deal ontickets was the best value. To work, all it neededwas members to arrive back at Liverpool St infours. Simples!

By the time we got to the Brewery, we were anhour and a half late. We were met by Ron Finch,pacing up and down outside the Brewery Tap.He was obviously pleased to see us (or was herelieved?)

However, having downed a swift half or twoand placed our food orders, we were ready forthe tour in two groups, with our excellentguides, Gill and Sue. The brewery is on acompact site, but that does not mean small, andthe statistics are impressive:

• 1 million pints brewed per week• 20 different brands

• 19 of which use UK Hops (Discovery is the exception using Willamette fromthe USA).• 2 strains of yeast (since the acquisition of Gales).

Oh, and they use East Anglian Barley too.

They don’t rush things here; Fullers Pride isready in 2 ½ weeks, ESB in 4 ½ weeks, and theSpecial Reserve? – 2 years!

Highlights on the tour included the oldestWisteria in the country, the London Copper(used from 1823 – 1984. This 160 barrel copperwas coal fired until 1967) and not forgetting Lesthe Robot, who was picking up and turning sixcasks at a time. Working his little cotton socks offhe was, if, indeed, robots do have little cottonsocks – and I bet he doesn’t get the workers’beer allowance either!

By now we were getting thirsty, so it was off tothe Tasting Session, with Chairman Grahamgiving an impromptu demonstration on how itwas supposedly done.

| NORFOLK NIPS

20 | SPRING 2011

Visit to Fuller’s Brewery

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SPRING 2011 | 21

NORFOLK NIPS | Fuller’s Brewery

London Pride and ESB were followed byDraught Bengal Lancer, a new IPA. Then bottlesof Golden Pride (recently reduced in strength toonly 8.5%) and Chiswick Bitter. These twomixed together make Griffin’s Blood. We alsosampled the Vintage Ale, London Porter, andGale’s Prized Old Ale – a sour beer, which wassuperb and certainly my favourite. But pride ofplace has to go to the Special Reserve, which ismatured in oak barrels for two years. No.1 wasmatured in whisky barrels, No. 2 in cognac barrels,and No.3? – Wait and see!

Following the tour it was back to the BreweryTap for an excellent meal and the odd swift half ortwo, before we departed. Unusually, the tour hadnot ended in the Shop, so some of us visited tostock up on merchandise, before heading home.

A quick stop at GBG pub The Harp in LeicesterSquare became a long stop, which meant thatwe missed the intended 7:30 train home.

So all we had to do was get to Liverpool Streetin fours to use the 4 for 2 tickets.

Simples…

He should have gone to theEATON COTTAGE, UNTHANK RD,NORWICH 01603 453048

Fine Real Ales,lagers,wines and spiritsAll Sky Sports • A traditional pub

Good covered outside areas • Doggies welcome

“a festival of beers every day”

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We are part of the “Norwich City of Ale”

ale trail that will be taking placethis year between

May 26th and June 5th

The ONLY Thai Restaurant in Norwich in THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE 2011

We are in it!We are in it!

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:21

SPRING 2011 | 23

Diss had a beer festival last October which Claireand I attended with vigour and excitement (Itwas Claire’s first Beer Festival). All the beer wasprovided by Buffy’s Brewery in conjunction withDiss Corn Hall, so there was about 8 Buffy’sbeers from a choice of about 30 + a couple ofciders. Claire went straight for Buffy’s FestivalAle and at 8% she thought it wasn’t a good ideato start off with such a strong beer!!

Diss has more than a few decent pubs – TheSaracen’s Head is a free house and sells 2 realales (St Austell Tribute was on last I went there).The Greyhound, close to the Corn Hall is noisybut has a decent pint of Wherry on tap. Closeby is the Nutbush (previously The Two Brewers)was very quiet when visited but had a decentpint of Adnams Bitter. Down the High Streetnear the Mere is the only Greene King pub inDiss – The Waterfront. The Park Hotel usuallyhas bands playing on a Friday night and a goodPint of Broadside alongside a Guest Beer whichlast visit was Humpty Dumpty Railway Sleeper ata hefty 5% ABV but in good nick and very drink-able. On the west side of town, in the areaknown as Fair Green is The Cock which has TimTaylor Landlord, Adnams Broadside and aseasonal Adnams beer. Further out of town nearthe golf course is the White Elephant which israther odd and very much a characterful localspub - there is one handpump but no real ale onour visit, though there was a good selection ofbottled beers which warranted a taste of Bate-mans Victory and Marstons Old Empire.

My (and Claire's) favourite pub in town is thevery friendly White Horse almost opposite thechurch – it has 2 excellently served Adnams ales(Bitter, Broadside and lately the gorgeous OldAle), no food and just general good banter withthe landlord often doing a bit of karaoke or theodd magic trick - Well worth a visit as is Diss!

Nige

Diss is Bliss for Beer?

NORFOLK NIPS | Diss

1

15th - 17th July 201112 Real Ales and 2 Ciders

Friday 5pm - MidnightFamily Day & Beer Festival

BBQ, rounders and other games for the children.

Saturday Noon - Midnight Beer FestivalLive music from 8pm with Mustang Sally.

Sunday from Noon - Midnight Fair & Beer Festivalwill include side shows, stalls, BBQ, Tea & Cakes, Pimms Tent,Bouncy castle and slide, Dance Demo, Tombola, Plant Stall,

and much more..

Entrance to the fair is FREE

Heathlands Community Centre, Woodbastwick Road, Blofield Heath,Norwich, NR13 4QH Tel: 01603 714164 Mob: 07818466473.

Registered Charity: 303909

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Following the announcementof the awards after the Festival,they were presented on the 3rdFebruary at The Fat CatBrewery Tap, previously knownas The Shed. The refurbish-ment was only just complete –unusual to walk into a Pub andsmell fresh paint! The namechange had confused one ortwo, including Beer of theFestival winners, Keith and SueSimpson from The Brown CowBrewery in Yorkshire. They hadoriginally gone to The Fat Catin West End Street. Fortunately,they realised their mistake intime and still managed to get abeer or two before dashing offto the Brewery Tap.

Brown Cow have beenbrewing for 11 years and havewon many awards at Festivalsup and down the country. MrsSimpson’s Thriller in Vanilla wascertainly a worthy winner, lookout for it if you didn’t try it atthe Festival.

We were delighted that ourchosen charity, Norwich Doorto Door were also on hand toreceive a whopping cheque for£5,215.00. This will enablethem to buy another bus andthey will let us know when itarrives. They were extremely

pro-active in their approachand have certainly raised thebar for the next charity at thisyears festival!

This year’s Beer Of TheFestival was Mrs Simpson’sThriller in Vanilla, a 5.1% from

Brown Cow Brewery, in NorthYorkshire.

The silver award went toGolden Pale Ale, from Norfolk’sElmtree Beers, and the bronzeaward went to Adnams Tally Ho.

Chairman’s Letter | NORFOLK NIPS

24 | SPRING 2011

The category winners were: MildGold: Felstar, Crix Forest

Silver: Sarah Hughes, Dark Ruby Mild

Bronze: Spire, Dark Side of the Moon BitterGold: Riverside, Major

Silver: Grain, Oak

Bronze: Cliff Quay, Bitter Best BitterGold - joint, Skinners, Betty Stoggs

Gold - joint, Humpty Dumpty, Swallowtail

Bronze: An Teallach, An Teallach AleStrong BitterGold: Fat Cat Brewery, Cougar

Silver: Tryst, Blackjack IPA

Bronze: Grainstore, Ten FiftyOld, Stout & PorterGold: Brown Cow Mrs Simpson’s Thriller in Vanilla

Silver: Spectrum Octogram (Pinder's Porter)

Bronze: Hopshackle Historic Porter SpecialityGold: Downton, Chocolate Orange Delight

Silver - Joint, Green Jack, Hop Harvest

Silver - Joint, Green Jack, Fruit Bat Golden Beers Gold: Elmtree, Golden Pale Ale

Silver: Thornbridge, Kipling

Bronze: Kelburn, Goldihops Cider – Pickled Pig, Porker's Snout. Perry – Rathays, Painted Lady SV. Foreign Beer – Boon, Kriek.

Beers of the Festival 2010

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SPRING 2011 | 25

NORFOLK ALE SHOPOVER 60 ALES

ALE SALE!EVERY SUNDAY

20% off ALL BOTTLESFIND US INSTORE AT

THE GENERAL STORE 41, HIGH STREET,RINGSTEAD. PE36 5JU. NEAR HUNSTANTON.

Telephone; 01485 525270Email. [email protected].

OPEN SEVEN DAYS8am -5.30pm.

EXCEPT TUES/WED/SATCLOSING AT 1pm.

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:21

Dover is one of those places that peoplenormally pass through without staying long, butthe Winter Ale Festival held there in Februarygave a bunch of us from West Norfolk thechance to put this right. Craig and Sandi werethe advance party and were there ready to greetus when we had finally overcome the conges-tion of the M25 on a Friday evening and theywasted no time in guiding us along to thewonderful venue in Dover Town Hall. This is likea smaller version of St Andrew’s Hall in Norwich,and featured wood panelling, coats of arms, oilpaintings and displays of fearsome medievalweapons. However we were there for the beer,and a bar with around 75 firkins tapped andready awaited our best efforts. I am no beerticker, so I cannot recite a list of the ones weselected, most of which were unknown to me,but I do recall that my favourite was from PortO’ Call from Bank Top Brewery in Bolton, Alsoworthy of a mention is the good quality foodavailable at the festival and the fact that all thebeers were on sale at £2.50 a pint, which,considering that some were over 10% abv, ispretty good by Norfolk standards.

Next day the gale force winds made thethought of a ferry trip to France rather daunting,so whilst John and June braved the cliff top walkand Craig and Sandi visited the castle we set offto Margate in search of a football game. I guessthat a blow by blow account of a Ryman leagueencounter played in a high wind in front of acrowd of 340 people and one rather nice dog isof limited appeal, but Margate turned out tohave more to offer than just football. Pre gamewe wandered around the old town and found arather nice Shepherd Neame pub called theNorthern Belle, which had been converted froma couple of old fisherman’s cottages. Therewere a few Billericay fans playing ska and punkon the jukebox, but the landlady still had timeto recount her life story, with details of her chil-dren,home in Newcastle and more besides. Iguessed that the other pub in the Good Beer

Guide might be a bit of a disappointment afterthat, but as chance would have it I never foundout. On the way we passed a street corner puband whilst Ros went shopping I called in foranother quick pint. I was confused at first by thestillage in the middle of the room but at thesame time heartened by the sight of 8 beers, 8ciders and 4 perries. The counter seemed to bereserved for the grilling of giant sausages forthose who did not want the specialist pies orone of the selection of cheeses. It was quiet atSaturday lunchtime with the contented chatterof customers around the wooden tables in frontof the open fire the main distraction from thefine ale, but there was the promise of live musicon some evenings. Nor were links with thewider community forgotten with the opportu-nity to purchase duck eggs for a donation tocharity. This could be the best pub I have everbeen in, and quite possibly the best in theworld. It is called the Lifeboat Ale and CiderHouse and the only drawback is that it is not inWest Norfolk.

There are lots of other things worth visiting inthe area – the Castle is tremendous with aMappa Mundi to rival the one in Hereford cathe-dral, and the town museum has the world’soldest sea going boat on display. It is older thanthe pyramids but you can still see how theplanks are joined with twisted yew twigs. Thereare other pubs in Dover as well – Blake’s CellarBar is a classic, and in the White Horse we had achat couple who worked in the local kennels andwho had adopted two dogs who had not beencollected after their 6 months quarantine expired.Dover and East Kent is a run down industrialarea with a transitory population, but it has afaded grandeur and really friendly locals. I wasimpressed by lots of things, but especially theLifeboat. There is a new art gallery opening inMargate in April, and Kent play cricket close byin Canterbury. I can see another visit to the areahappening in the not to distant future.

Jeff

West Norfolk Trip South | NORFOLK NIPS

Dover Soul

26 | SPRING 2011

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SPRING 2011 | 27

On the 30th January, West Norfolk CAMRA did athree mile walk around the ruins of St. Jameschurch and some of the local footpaths. Thewalk was enjoyed by a dozen or so, and threedogs. The weather was ideal for walking. Onarriving back at Church farm we rid ourselves ofmuddy boots and proceeded to the Sandboy atBawsey for lunch. Beers on offer were Oakham,Brew Dog and Cottage and all were in goodcondition. Our numbers increased for Sundaylunch and thanks are due to Phil for an excellentmeal. Thanks also go to Jeff and Ros for organ-izing the walk and we all hope that more walkswill be forth coming during the year.

Bruce

Sandboy Visit

NORFOLK NIPS |

The 2010 Annual CAMRA National Executiveand Regional Directors Conference was held inNorwich during the weekend of 3-5thDecember. The delegates attended variousmeetings hosted at Take 5 and The Ribs of Beef.

On the Saturday evening, theywere escorted onpub crawls aroundthe City byNorwich CAMRAMembers, visitingmany of our excel-lent city centrePubs, finishing atThe Fat Cat.

NERDS Visit NorwichWHEELWRIGHTS ARMS FREEHOUSE

INTRODUCING REAL ALESIPA (DRAUGHT) £2.50, ABBOT ALE £2.60,

• CARLING, CARLSBERG, FOSTERS £2.80 •• JOHN SMITHS £2.60•GUINNESS £3.00 ••STELLA £3.00 •STRONGBOW £2.90 •

• MILD £2.50 • BOTTLE BEERS FROM £2.80 (MAGNERS £3.10)

SPIRITS FROM £2.00

FULL SKY ULTIMATE PACKAGE & ESPN FREE WIRELESS INTERNET CONNECTION

Don’t forget we also serve Tea, Coffee and Cappaccino all day

Parties catered for • 24 hour licenceSorry but children under the age of 14

are not permitted on the premises after 8pm

01493 663705Beccles Road, Gorleston

Great Yarmouth Norfolk, NR31 0PS

THE ANGEL INNFREEHOUSE

Now Overall NORFOLK CAMRAPUB OF THE YEAR!

Open all day every day

Excellent home cooked meals available from our award

winning kitchen

Large Beer Garden with play area

En-suite accommodation

Camping and Caravanning availableLarling, Norfolk, NR16 2QU (17th Century former coaching inn)

Tel: 01953 717963www.angel-larling.co.uk

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:21

28 | SPRING 2011

Head Chef Lewis Burrell - Finalist of National British Pub Chef of the Year 2011

Four Real Ales on Hand Pump from £2.70 a pint.

THREE Beer Festivals a Year

South Norfolk Pub of The Year 2010

136 Norwich RoadTacolneston, nr Wymondham

Norfolk NR16 1AL

Telephone: 01508 489521

[email protected]

Opening hoursWe are open 7lunchtimes & 6 evenings every week

• Monday to Saturday lunch 12pm- 2.30pm

• Monday to Saturday evenings6pm till close

• Sundays 12pm - 4pm

Ale ShopOur new Norfolk real ale andlocal produce shop not onlysupports our local 31 Norfolk and Suffolkbreweries, but also offers a range of other specialist local produce such as relishes, chut-neys and preserves, ciders, lagers, oils, Norfolkcheeses, homemade desserts and chocolates.

A warm welcome awaits you at to our award winning free-house, The Pelican Inn, Tacolneston,

South Norfolk

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:21

Last October, I went in searchof the Norwich Bear, havingbeen inspired by tales ofstrange creatures in EnglishFolklore. So when I heard ofsightings of a panther inReepham, I had to investigate.

My luck was in one coldFriday night in January, when,quite by chance, I encountereda wonderful specimen inReepham.

Actually, it was during theJanuary Campaign Trip, and wewere in the King’s Arms inReepham, and the panther wasred, not black. But it was a verygood pint.

Whilst there, I met Martin,who owns the nearby PantherBrewery and I arranged to visit.

The Brewery is in Collers Way,the Industrial Estate near the

old Railway Station. It was theformer home of The ReephamBrewery. Martin admitted thatwhen he took it on, it was in abit of a state, but you wouldn’tknow that now. The entranceincorporates a small shop witha selection of Panther Ales inbottles. At the time of my visit,the bottles were partially hidingClue No.3 for the next editionof Radio Norfolk’s TreasureChest.

This is a five barrel plant,which includes bottling equip-ment, a temperature controlledstoreroom, (which is also usedto condition the bottles) andan ex orange juice fermenter.

The current range consists ofthree ales, all with “bite”:• Golden Panther – 3.7% Lightand refreshing.

• Red Panther – 4.1% Distinc-tively sleek.

• Black Panther – 4.5% Dark,mysterious and full bodied.

Coming soon is Pink Panther– which will be a wheat beer.

They are available in 500mlbottles, beer boxes and incasks.

So where can you go to trackdown a panther, or two?

The King’s Arms in Reepham,Darbys in Swanton Morley, TheRailway in North Elmham, TheKing’s Head in Dereham, andthe Earle Arms in Heydon forstarters, plus the Real Ale Shop,Bawdeswell Garden Centre andthe Post Office in Cawston.

Martin is clearly innovativeand has some very interestingideas for the future, so maybesightings of Panthers will bebecome widespread in Norfolk.

Mike Baldwin

Black Panther seen in Reepham

SPRING 2011 | 29

NORFOLK NIPS | Panther Brewery

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Norwich was a beer desertback in the 1970s - hardly apub serving real ale, andhaving lost what in the nine-teenth century had been athriving community of brew-eries. Now, Norwich is one ofthe country's top real ale cities,with one of the biggest andbest beer festivals, and thecounty supports 30 or so brew-eries, from the smallestbloke-in-a-garage micros toWoodforde’s.

It’s a wonderful success. Butno one back in the unenlight-ened 1970s could have predictedit. Which prompts the ques-

tion; how did it happen?Well for a start, we had a

pioneering generation of land-lords and brewers ‘doingdifferent’ - Colin Keatley, RayAshworth, Pete Turner, WolfeWitham. Sometimes it's downto a few brave individuals toturn the tide, and that's whatthey did. And of course, oncewe had one or two good real ale pubs and a couple ofbreweries, it made it mucheasier for other landlords andbrewers to make the commit-ment to real ale.

But I don’t think that’s allthey did. By bringing great ales

to Norwich drinkers, theystarted a revolution in Norfolktastebuds - creating a newmarket of drinkers who knewwhat real ale was and what itought to taste like.

Educating people about beeris still a job we need to do. A lot of my friends used tothink ‘real ale’ was synonymouswith ‘bitter’ - till I introducedthem to drinks as different as StPeters Grapefruit Wheat Beer,Spectrum Black Buffle, andDuchesse de Bourgogne. Manydrinkers don’t understand theway the industry is structured,so they don’t understand the

| NORFOLK NIPS

Creating beer drinkers...

30 | SPRING 2011

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LetterDear Editor,The article by Jennifer Nicholls onBeer Festivals here and abroadbrought back memories of my tripto New York last year. I was onlythere for two days and arriving latein the evening, I was desperate for apint.

So desperate, that I decide that thehotel bar would do. The first thingthat struck me was the range ofbeers on offer. All kegs and bottlesadmittedly, but I was delighted tofind the usual suspects that I haddreaded finding were conspicuousby their absence.

It reminded me of a TVprogramme I saw where anEnglishman went into a bar inAustralia. Surveying the bar, heasked where the Fosters and Castle-maine were. The answer was, “Wedon’t drink that here, mate!”

The second thing to strike me was,of course, the price.

I subsequently found a superb Irishbar on 6th Avenue and an inter-esting café on Statten Island.

However, the highlight, beer wise,had to be the Bar/Diner on 42ndStreet. Not only a great range ofbeers, but the wall behind me wasfestooned with Beer Trays, a greatassortment of Brewers and beers.

Jack Howarth

difference between managedpubs (like Wetherspoons) andtenanted pubs (like Enterpriseand Punch), and the impactthat has on the prices a land-lord has to charge. And a lot ofdrinkers don’t even realisethey’re not getting full pints!

CAMRA has a huge role toplay here. CAMRA’s work indefending pubs at risk, supp-orting local breweries, andcampaigning on tax and regulation issues, is of courseimportant. (Without the taxbreaks for microbreweries, andwithout the Beer Orders, wewouldn’t have so many breweries in Norfolk today.)

But I believe the single mostimportant accomplishment ofCAMRA in Norfolk lies inhaving created a whole genera-tion of knowledgeable,adventurous real ale consumers- even if not all of them care toget involved in campaigning,or indeed to join CAMRA itself.

Look around the beer festivaland you’ll see those veryyoungsters who are conspic-uous by their absence from themembership roster, enjoying areal ale with their friends orworking on one of the bars.That’s the next generation ofreal ale drinkers in place. Realale is no longer just for oldcodgers or beardies - look inany of our real ale pubs andyou’ll find a good cross sectionof the community, by age,gender, even nationality. (I recently had to courier twobottles of real cider to Kochi,India, for a UEA graduate whomissed his regular tipple.) And

all these drinkers, by payingtheir money over the bar, arehelping to support CAMRA’saims - whether they realise it ornot.

So how can we keep doingthe good work of creatingknowledgeable - and thirsty! -real ale consumers?Buy your friends a drink! All of

us have friends and colleagueswho don't drink real ale - findthem the right beer, which isn'talways a bitter. (I’m alwaysamazed by the way Pete Wellsmanages to find the rightBelgian beer for everybody inthe marquee at the beerfestival; he has limitless reservesof patience, endless goodhumour, and an inexhaustibleknowledge of beer, and justabout everybody he servesends up leaving with a full glassand a smile on their face.)Come to think of it, you canalways buy people who aren’tfriends a drink - something TimMcDonald thinks should bepart of our regularcampaigning, and I think he’sgot a point.Educate yourself and others.

Support the work of the tastingpanel, go to pub tastings andbrewery trips, and work atCAMRA beer festivals (and atpub or club beer festivals if youget the chance) to spread thegood word.

Found a fantastic brewery,amazing beer, or great pub?Had a homebrew success?Write something for NorfolkNips and tell other drinkersabout it. Or help distributeNips, to get the word out.

NORFOLK NIPS |

SPRING 2011 | 31

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Alby HorseshoesAldborough Black BoysAttleborough London TavernBawsey SandboyBinham The ChequersClippesby Muskett ArmsClenchwarton VictoryCley The George and DragonCromer The CottageCromer Red LionDrayton Bob Carter Leisure CentreDownham Market Railway ArmsDownham Market White HartEarsham Queens HeadFilby The Kings HeadGorleston Dock TavernGorleston Mariners CompassGt Yarmouth MarinersGt Yarmouth Red HerringGt Yarmouth St Johns HeadHeacham Fox & HoundsHethersett The King’s HeadHopton White HartKenninghall Red LionKings Lynn Live and Let LiveLudham The DogLyng Fox & HoundsNewton by Castle Acre George & Dragon

North Elmham RailwayNorth Walsham Orchard GardensNorwich BeehiveNorwich ChampionNorwich Cottage (Silver Road)Norwich Gardeners/MurderersNorwich JubileeNorwich Ketts TavernNorwich Kings HeadNorwich LeopardNorwich RoseNorwich Take 5Norwich The Ribs of BeefNorwich Trafford ArmsNorwich VineNorwich York TavernNorwich Wig and PenReedham FerryReedham Lord NelsonReedham ShipThurlton The Queen’s HeadTacolneston PelicanSheringham Windham ArmsSwardeston Lakenham/Hewitt Rugby ClubWest Acre StagWiveton The Wiveton BellWroxham Brewery TapWymondham Cross KeysWymondham Green Dragon

Update Here is a current list of all the pubs in Norfolkwhich are part of the CAMRA LocAle scheme.New entries are in Bold.

SPRING 2011 | 33

NORFOLK NIPS | Competition

Win a pack of beers from ThePanther Brewery, one bottleeach of Black Panther, GoldenPanther and Red Panther.

All you have to do is answerthe following three questions.

The first correct entry drawnout of the hat will win theprize. The Editor’s decision isfinal.

Question One: The BlackPanther is usually a blackcoated species of one of whichtwo big cats?

Question Two: Who, orwhat, was the Pink Panther inthe film of the same name?

Question Three: RedPanthers were sold by Prideand Clarke for £28 17s 6d from1933 to 1939.What were they?

Entries to:[email protected]

or by post to: Norfolk NIPS, 201 Kingswood Avenue,Taverham, Norwich NR8 6GJ

Win a pack of Panther ales!

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:21

34 | SPRING 2011

26 St Leonards RoadNorwich NR1 4BL

01603 618734

A real gem,well worth a visit.

Eight real ales to choose from, two ofwhich change regularly.

Two pool tables upstairs.

Pork pies and other light snacksavailable all day.

Hog roast available sundays.

Lovely enclosed beer garden withlarge sheltered smoking area.

Only a ten minute walk from thetrain station and city centre.

Open all day from 12 noon everyday.

Sky Sports and ESPN

Proud to be part of the Norwich City of Ale festival – May 26th -June 5th

COAST ROAD, WALCOTT,

NORFOLK NR12 OPE

Telephone

(01692) 650371

Proprietor since 1989: STEVE BULLIMOREFREE HOUSE

OPEN FOR FOOD & DRINKS ALL DAY, EVERY DAY, 11am - 11pm

Food available all day until 10.30pm10% off food and drink on production of CAMRA membership card

www.lighthouseinn.co.uk

FOUR REAL ALES & CIDER

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As mentioned last time, I joined CAMRA at myfirst opportunity. They were also kind enough tosell me the latest GBG and an ink pen; I had totake notes at the beer fest! I did all of the aboveat my first real ale festival in October 2000 atBedford. I was amazed at the number of beersto sample. I had expected more of a German-style fest where there is a limited selection butmega quantities. I never dreamed they wouldhave 50+ ales to sample. I went with two friendsand my lovely wife came along to shop and thensafely drive us home. We grabbed a program,bought half pint glasses and set out with my newink pen to rate all the ales we sampled.

While enjoying our first ale a “grey beard” heardour accent and was intrigued that Yanks liked“warm beer”. Evidently, Americans are knownfor being lager louts that like their beer ice coldand tasteless. Well, that may be true for some ofus but those of us in the know appreciate thereal stuff. In defense of those stateside lagerdrinkers, I should explain that many areas in theUS are VERY hot in the summer. This is onereason why many Americans drink their beer icecold, and as you know, the colder the beer theless you can taste. Another reason is the 18thAmendment to the US Constitution, AKA prohi-bition. Before prohibition there were many goodbreweries and beers in the US. However, whenprohibition was repealed, only a small numberof breweries were able to restart operations.With limited competition, the big breweries

were able to push their extra-cold and limited-taste brews on the American public.

We weren’t fortunate enough to have anAmerican version of CAMRA. Of course, sinceJimmy Carter legalized home brewing (arguablythe best decision of his presidency) we haveseen a resurgence in great beers via the micro-brew revolution, but that is another story. Back to the Bedford beer fest…our new friend

was packing a 10 year-old GBG that he couldn’tget rid of because it had all his tasting notespenciled in the brewery section. He alsoinformed us that we should have gotten pintglasses so we could hold the top part of theglass and prevent the beer from warming up viabody temp. My frugal side appreciated hissecond reason for using a larger glass…youfrequently get more beer when ordering a halfin the pint glass. Ah, the things you can learn ata beer festival!

From Across the Pond (part 2)

SPRING 2011 | 35

NORFOLK NIPS | Colonial Craig

“Before prohibition therewere many good breweries

and beers in the US.However, when prohibitionwas repealed, only a smallnumber of breweries wereable to restart operations.”

Alby Horse Shoes InnFreehouse

Situated on the A140 Norwich/Cromer RoadUp to 5 Real Ales including Wherry & Mardlers

Home cooked Food - locally sourced

SPECIAL STEAK AND ALE NIGHTSLAST FRIDAYS DURING WINTER MONTHS

10% OFF MEALS BOOKED BY CAMRA MEMBERS

Margaret & Richard Rushmer look forward to meeting you

01263 761378 www.albyhorseshoes.co.ukWe are In it!

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Tuesday 15th March - 8pmNorwich and Norfolk Branch AGMHeld in the upstairs room at Take 5, NorwichYou must have a current CAMRA membershipcard to attend this meeting

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:21

The next issue of Norfolk NIPS

will be out on 3th June

Deadline date for copy is 25th May

9th April

Pub Treasure Hunt -

Central Norwich

Meet at The Reindeer on Dereham Road from

2pm for start at 2.30pm sharp. Teams of 4,

may be able to form a team on the day.

Hunt will be on foot and will finish at 6pm.

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Yes my friends, it was theseason to be jolly, fah-la-la la-la,la-la-la-la! Or something likethat, t’was the Saturday beforeXmas, the venue being thegreat city of Norwich (home ofthe mighty Canaries!), time forthe West Norfolk branch ofCAMRA’s annual seasonal pubcrawl. Our annual ‘world’ tour,the t-shirt’s in the post!

A chilly old day greeted us,with hints of snow, but suchweather didn’t deter the aleloving ensemble, we attractedwell over 30 people on the day(possibly nearer 40), not bad.We got the (foot)ball rolling

in fine style at the King’s Arms

on Hall Road, who were kindenough to open a half-hourearly just for us (thanks toGraham of the N&N branchwho called them on ourbehalf), my opening salvo wasSpringhead Surrender andAdnams Old, two of fourteenon offer. Is there anyone outthere who agrees with me thatAdnams beers have become abit ‘bog’ standard and dull,their Bitter used to have asulphorous aroma. All to soontime for our 2nd stop on theitinerary, the always superbTrafford Arms, I think I countedten ales (not bad eh?), Iplimped for Ossett NervousTurkey, good stuff (in fact I

gobbled it down! Groan!).Enjoyed a light lunch too, chilliand chips, good beer drinkingfood. That made me a tad lateleaving, but soon caught upwith the crowd in the one timecoaching inn that is the Coach-makers, a really good pub thatserves tasty ales on gravity,always a thumbs up from me,my tipple here was WolfGolden Jackal (I’m gonna say it,wait for it, howling good.Sorry!).Literally around the corner to

our next port of call, a verybusy but friendly Champion,some Bateman’s XB slippeddown the throat nicely, spied a“Molly Dancer” and for the

West Norfolk Xmas Pub Crawl | NORFOLK NIPS

Xmas Crawl 2010

38 | SPRING 2011

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next few pubs kept singing thetheme to the Mel Brooks film,“Robin Hood; Men In Tights”!It was downhill from there,literally! Eventually made italong to St Benedicts and aslight departure from the normas we visited the Arts CenterBar, two ales on gravity andanother Wolf ale for me,Coyote (lovely), some bravesouls tried the bar’s vegetarianmenu (the burgers looked big,but how did they taste?!). Thegroup steeled itself for a longtrek to our following venue, noI’m kidding (fooled you!),across the street to The Plough.

Grain Brewery have trans-formed a scruffy pub into a topboozer (a right Xmas cracker),with their own ales and gueststo choose from, of course I hadto go for my fave Grain beer,the excellent Blonde Ashe, deli-cious. Late afternoon by now,darkness descending on thethirsty masses, word reachedme that one of our lot took atumble outside the Hog InArmour, looking up when heshould’ve been looking ahead,not saying who (initialsN.N.!!!).Anyway, the RumseyWells was our latest pub, theyhad a small but decent choice,I went for Purity Mad Goose,they did have some mulledcider too. A short walk to theend of Colegate brought us tothe Golden Star, yes a GreenKing pub but I won’t hold itagainst them (much!), along-side the GK range were someguest beers such as HookNorton Old Hooky, which wasvery nice thank you.

A street over on Oak Street isthe Old White Lion, once a Tap& Spile, now a popular Miltonrun pub with plenty of theirwonderful range, I had Spartaand Jarrow Irish Stout, andsnacked down a nice chickenand vegetable casserole. Sadlyour next pub, the PottergateTavern didn’t have any real ale(oh no it’s a disaster!), maybethey’d run out? So straight onto the Leopard where wereceived a friendly welcome,some brought their fish ‘n ‘chips in to eat with the fine alessuch as the Scary BirdBateman’s XB in disguise!), Ilike this corner local, check itout soon. Not so scary bird,but good Canary news asNorwich City won 2-1 away atCoventry thanks to Grant Holtdouble, Jeff’s fave striker (not!),come on you Yellows!!!Last pub time (boo hoo!), and

the King’s Head which was asgood as ever, although some ofus took a detour to the Cottageon Silver Road, a drop ofCrouch Vale Wild Hop endedthe day for me in brilliant style,luverly jubberly!

Wow, what a great Xmaspub crawl, with the biggestattendance we’ve had for along time. I had a great time,and I know everyone else didas well, especially our Americanfriends (who were very keen!).Many thanks to everyone whomade this a truly memorableday, cheers!!!!!

Ps, the 2011 crawl wasplanned on the day above, beafraid, be very afraid!!!

Timbo

SPRING 2011 | 39

NORFOLK NIPS |

An Ode to GrainBrewery’s products

How can one refrainFrom the brews of Grain?May your India Pale AleNever go staleAnd the Blackwood StoutNever run out!Your Oak could easilyMake an Old SoakOf me.The Best BitterJust makes feel fitterSo I can willingly dashFor a pint of Blonde AshOr I’d just as soonHave a Harvest Moon!But I could easilyHave more than I oughtaOf your excellent Porter!

Mike Spivey

An Ode to GrainBrewery’s products

How can one refrainFrom the brews of Grain?May your India Pale AleNever go staleAnd the Blackwood StoutNever run out!Your Oak could easilyMake an Old SoakOf me.The Best BitterJust makes feel fitterSo I can willingly dashFor a pint of Blonde AshOr I’d just as soonHave a Harvest Moon!But I could easilyHave more than I oughtaOf your excellent Porter!

Mike Spivey

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Angel Gardens Free House

This independently run freehouse has beenunder the ownership of Ian Warren since

1988 and is situated on the north of the citynear to Waterloo Park.

Homecooked and speciality meals Prepared by Ian - a qualified chef

with years of experience.

Up to SEVEN reasonably priced RealAles including THREE guest ales

Monthly Quiz & Darts Live Music on Saturdays

Beer Garden

2 Bars (with one for Private Hire)Ample Car Parking

96 Angel Rd, Norwich NR3 3HT

01603 427490email: [email protected]

www.norwichinns.comWe are part of the "Norwich City of Ale" ale trail that

will be taking place this year between May 26th and June 5th

40 | SPRING 2011

Surname

F

Postcode

E

Surname

F

Direct Debit Non DD

S £22

(

£25 £27

(

Date

A

Earle ArmsHeydon

Traditional Norfolkfreehouse and restaurant

3 Real Ales always available

Woodfordes Wherry, AdnamsBitter and Black Sheep

01263 587376Satnav: NR11 6AD(Just off B1149 Holt -

Norwich Rd)

The Lobster& Stables Restaurant

10 Real Ales • Fine Wines • Childrens MenuBaby Changing • Disabled Facilities

Large Beer Gardens • Dogs are welcome

13 High Street, Sheringham, Norfolk, NR26 8JPTel: 01263 822716 www.the-lobster.com

OPENING HOURSMonday to Thursday 10am to 11pmFriday to Saturday 10am to 1.30am

Sunday 12 noon to 12pm

BEER FESTIVALS ON BANK HOLIDAYS

FRESH FOOD

SERVED DAILY

Vegetarian and Vegan

options available

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:22

Instruction to your Bank orBuilding Society to pay by Direct Debit

Please fill in the whole form using a ball point pen and send to:Campaign for Real Ale Ltd. 230 Hatfield Road, St.Albans, Herts AL1 4LW

Name and full postal address of your Bank or Building SocietyTo yteicoS gnidliuB ro knaBreganaM eht

Address

Postcode

Name(s) of Account Holder

Bank or Building Society Account Number

Reference

Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account.

Branch Sort Code

Service User Number

FOR CAMRA OFFICIAL USE ONLYThis is not part of the instruction to your Bank or Building Society

Membership Number

Name

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Instructions to your Bank or Building SocietyPlease pay Campaign For Real Ale Limited Direct Debits from the accountdetailed on this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct DebitGuarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Campaign For RealAle Limited and, if so will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

Signature(s)

Date

This Guarantee should be detachedand retained by the payer.

The Direct DebitGuarantee

This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay by Direct Debits.

If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed.If you request The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request

If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by The Campaign for Real Ale Ltd or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society

- If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when The Campaign For Real Ale Ltd asks you to

You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society.Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

9 2 6 1 2 9

Join CAMRA TodayComplete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive 15 months membership for the price of 12 and a fantastic discount on your membership subscription.

Alternatively you can send a cheque payable to CAMRA Ltd with your completed form, visit www.camra.org.uk/joinus or call 01727 867201. All forms should be addressed to Membership Department, CAMRA, 230 Hatfield Road, St Albans, AL1 4LW.

Your Details

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Direct Debit Non DD

Single Membership £20 £22

(UK & EU)

Joint Membership £25 £27

(Partner at the same address)

For Young Member and concessionary rates please visitwww.camra.org.uk or call 01727 867201.

I wish to join the Campaign for Real Ale, and agree toabide by the Memorandum and Articles of Association

I enclose a cheque for

Signed Date

Applications will be processed within 21 days

12/10

Campaigning for Pub Goers& Beer Drinkers

Enjoying Real Ale& Pubs

Complete the Direct Debit form below and you will receive 15 months membership for the price

A Campaign of Two Halves

Join CAMRA today – www.camra.org.uk/joinus

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:22

TRADITIONAL JAZZ

Acle Recreation Centre,Bridewell Lane, AcleReal Ales include AdnamsBitter, Theakstons and TipplesRedheadFriday 4th March – Rod Masonand his Hot Five (fromGermany), including formerlocal favourite, Sean Moyses,on banjo. Enquiries – Brian

Davis 01493 701880

Brook Hotel, Bowthorpe,Norwich (off DerehamRoad) No Real Ale at presentTuesday 8th March – The NewOrleans Z’Hulus. New Orleansstyle band led by British trum-peter now living in Belgium,and featuring musicians fromBelgium, Germany, Hollandand France. Tickets/Enquiries –Rod Playford 01362 667811

The Diplomat, OrmesbyRoad, Ex RAF Coltishallsite NR10 5JZ Real Ales include house beer ‘SixSquadron’ and a guest beer.First Sunday of every month(1.00 – 3.30 pm) – NorfolkDixieland Jazz Band.Admission free, but lunch

bookings advisable on 01603738866.

Crown Inn, Banningham(Nr Aylsham) Adnams Broad-side, Greene King IPA andAbbot Ale.Sunday 27th March (1.30 –4.30 pm) – Simon Nelson’sDixie Mix.Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May(1.30 – 4.30 pm) – NorfolkDixieland Jazz Band.Admission free, but phone

01263 733534 for lunch reser-vations

Fisher Theatre, BroadStreet, Bungay, SuffolkAdnams Bitter on handpumpEvery Sunday evening - RedBeans ‘n’ Rice New Orleans JazzBand.

Bell Inn, Hempton (Nr Fakenham)Woodforde’s Wherry, JohnSmiths Cask and guest beersFourth Thursday every month –Chris Wigley’s Jazz Quartet

Red Hart, Bodham (Nr Holt)Adnams Bitter and Broadside

First Friday every month –Lumiere Rouge Ragtime Band

King’s Arms, Market Place,ReephamAdnams Best Bitter, ElgoodsCambridge Bitter, Woodforde’s

Beer & Music | NORFOLK NIPS

Music Events in Pubs and Clubs around Norfolk

42 | SPRING 2011

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Wherry and Nelson’s Revenge,Greene King Abbot Ale plusguest beers.Every Sunday lunchtime (12noon to 2.30 pm) from 8thMay to 4th September (plusBank Holiday Mondays 30thMay and 29th August) in theattractive courtyard at rear ofthe pub (weather permitting).The bands alternatingthroughout the Summer will beNene Valley Jazzmen, SimonNelson’s Dixie Mix, Climax JazzBand, Norfolk Dixieland JazzBand and Vintage HotOrchestra.(Phone King’s Arms for more

details 01603 870345)

Dereham Jazz Society,Lakeside Country Club,Quarry Lane, Lyng (nrDereham)Greene King IPA and Wood-

forde’s Wherry Wednesday 18th May – SimonNelson's Dixie Mix (Start 8pm).

George and Dragon,Newton by Castle AcreHouse beer Newton Bitter,brewed by Elgoods, plus localguest beers.Jazz Trio on the first and thirdMondays of every month, andSwing Jazz Quartet on thirdFriday of the month(Also folk music on first

Thursday every month)

White Lion, Wheatacre(Off A143 Beccles toHaddiscoe road)Adnams Bitter plus guest beerSecond Friday every month -Chris Capocci's Big HouseJazzmenThe Buck Inn, The Street,

Flixton, SuffolkWoodforde’s Mardler’s andAdnams Bitter are the regularsat present, plus a good selec-tion of guest beersEvery Thursday - Sole Bay JazzBand

NB. Following a serious fire atthe Marsham Arms, nrHevingham, jazz sessions havebeen suspended for the timebeing, but it is hoped they willresume some time in theSpring (watch the press fordetails).

MAINSTREAM /MODERN JAZZ

Green Man, WroxhamRoad, RackheathWoodforde’s Wherry, Adnams

Bitter, Fuller’s London Prideplus guests.Every Tuesday – Full

programme consisting ofvarious bands and musicians.For further details of jazz

sessions at the Green Man,phone Brian McAllister on01603 614169, or visit web sitewww.norwichaccommoda-tion.com/jazz

Dereham Jazz Society,Lakeside Country Club,Quarry Lane, Lyng (nrDereham)Greene King IPA and Wood-

forde’s Wherry Every Wednesday – Fullprogramme consisting ofvarious bands and musicians invaried styles, which usuallyincludes one ‘traditional’session each month (see

above). NB Sessions nowcommence at 8.00 pm.For further details phone

01328 863511 or 01362696741 or visit websitewww.lakeside-jazz-club.co.uk

Keith Chettleburgh

OTHER MUSIC

The Cottage, NorwichIn MarchSunday 13th - Murphy's Lore4.30pmFriday 18th - Crumbs ForComfort 8.30pmSunday 20th - Polaris 4.30pmFriday 25th - Johnny Jump8.30pmSunday 27th - The Gas HillMob 4.30pm

In AprilSunday 3rd - The Band WithNo Name 4.30pmSunday 10th - The Indebtors4.30pmFriday 15th - Hayley moyses &The Bluegrass Forum 8.30pmSunday 17th - Flying South4.30pmFriday 22nd - The Harvs8.30pm

NORFOLK NIPS |

Landlords andLandladies!If you have any live music eventsin your pub or club LET US KNOWand if we have room we will list itin this section. Send details forJune - August to: Mike BaldwinEmail: [email protected] Chris LucasEmail: [email protected]

SPRING 2011 | 43

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:22

Tel: 01603 721141 www.salhousebell.co.uk

Offering four real alesA traditional 17th Century pub,

how they used to be

From Norwich & Acle head to Salhouseand at the mini roundabout follow the signto Wroxham, we are 200yds on the right.

Open all day every dayfood is served:-

12-2 & 6-9 Tuesday to Sunday

12-3 Sunday for plated home cooked Sunday luncheswith homemade Yorkshire puddings and fresh

vegetables. Booking advised if dining.

Superb food using fresh, local, seasonal produce

Shoot dinners a speciality

Popular quiz every Wednesday from 8:30pm

Meat raffle every Sunday at 4:30pm

44 | SPRING 2011

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SPRING 2011 | 45

Norwich and North Norfolk Branch

Tuesday 15th MarchBranch AGM – Take 5You must hold a current membership card toattend and vote at this meeting20.00 –22.00

Friday 25th MarchCampaign Trip, visiting selected pubs in Norfolk,including The Wroxham Shed.

Friday 1st AprilFirst Friday FiveStarting at 8pm at The Whiffler, Boundary Road,then The Falcon, The Boundary, The Windmilland The Edward VII

Saturday 9th AprilTreasure HuntSearch for clues in Teams of four in Norwich CityCentre. Meet at The Reindeer at 2pm. Finishes at6pm..

Tuesday 19th AprilBranch Committee Meeting

Friday 25th AprilCampaign Trip to The Dog, Ludham

Friday 6th MayFirst Friday FiveStarting at 8pm. Route TBC. (Will feature 5Central City Pubs selling Mild to celebrateCAMRA’s Mild in May promotion).

Tuesday 17th MayBranch Committee Meeting - TBA

Apart from the AGM, you do not have to be amember to attend any of these events, but ifyou do and you enjoy it, you are more thanwelcome to join. Just come along!However, for coach trips, please contact Tim

McDonald to book your seat on the coach andlet us know where you want to be picked up.

Pick up points: 6.47pm junction of SouthwellRoad/Grove Road, 6.55pm junction of OldPalace Road/ West End Street, 7.10pm Heart-sease Roundabout (Harvey Lane side) 7.15pmRailway Station (Thorpe Road Bus Stops).

For more details and updates, please check thefull calendar on www.norwichcamra.org.uk

NEW – Updates on the First Friday Fives can alsobe found at Firstfridayfives.blogspot.com

All Branch Meetings start at 8pm.

West Norfolk Branch

Branch meetings (All include social)

Tuesday 8th March Swan, Fincham,

Tuesday 12th April Ancient Mariner, Old Hunstanton

Tuesday 10th May, Runcton Holme Social Club (TBC)

CAMRA Calendar

Got a short pint? If you believe that you have been treated unfairly ina pub, club or bar, you should contact the TradingStandards service by writing to them at NorfolkTrading Standards Service, County Hall, MartineauLane, Norwich, NR1 2UD or faxing them on 01603 222999.

A wide range of consumer information and adviceis also available online from the Consumer Directwebsite at www.consumerdirect.gov.uk

NORFOLK NIPS | Dates for your diary

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:22

46 | SPRING 2011

FOUR REAL ALESLive Music, Friday & SaturdayLarge garden overlooking the

River Wensum

OPENMon - Thurs 12-11

Fri & Sat 12-12 • Sunday 12-11

The Gatehouse Pub 391 Dereham Road, Norwich NR5 8QJ

01603 620340

Great real ales, fine wines and spirits.A large Home-Made selection of traditional food served

daily, Main meals, Set menu deals, Light lunches, Specials& Childrens menu. Roast Dinners Sundays 12-3pm

Chilled bar rolls made daily only £1.00

Attleborough’s only current Good Beer Guide pub 2010 & 2011Camra Discount Scheme & Local Ale

Breckland Council Rating Level 5

Parking, Disabled facilities, Baby changing,Smokers sheltered garden, and Beer garden.

Well behaved dogs on leads welcome.Christenings, Funerals, Intimate Weddings / Civil Ceremonies catered for

Church St, Attleborough Tel :01953 457415

The LondonTavernFree House

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:22

The Government wants to relaxthe law to enable Pubs to servedrinks in different measures.

At present, beer can only besold in 1/3, ½ and one pintmeasures.The change would allow beer

to be sold in “Schooners”,apparently popular in Australia.A schooner is 2/3 of a pint.

When asked for their opinionby the local press, a CAMRAspokesperson said that theydidn’t think that there wouldbe a demand for the newmeasure. They didn’t ask me!

I have wanted something likethis for years. Don’t get mewrong, I don’t want to see the

pint disappear, but I am anenthusiast, not a traditionalist. Ibelieve that there does come atime when a pint is too much,especially if it has a heavy ABVand especially if I have the car.The only alternative at the

moment is to have a half, and Ihate drinking halves! A straight half pint glass is not

always easy to drink out ofwithout spilling a drop or two,and not all pubs have ½ pintjugs. And, just sometimes, aswift half leaves me wantingmore, which defeats the object.At home, I have some glassesthat I got from the local garage(in the days when I could affordpetrol in large enough quanti-ties to qualify for the offer).They are plain; straight jugs

and hold 400ml, or 2/3 of apint.And I think that this size is just

right. I can drink a pint when Iwant one, but would be quiteprepared to drink a schoonerwhen the need arises.

But I ask you – a schooner?Where did that come from? It’stwo nips, or a double nip.Surely, as a Maritime Nation wecould come up with a bettername. A Wherry perhaps? No,on second thoughts, asking fora Wherry of Wherry is just plainsilly. So is a Broadside of Broad-side. What do other readersthink? Do you support thechange, and what would youcall the new measure?

A Trotter

Call for new measure all at sea?

SPRING 2011 | 47

NORFOLK NIPS | Schooners

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:22

48 | SPRING 2011

The Sole & HeelRackheath

Newly refurbished Pub & Restaurantwith recently extended Beer Garden

Minimum of 5 changing Real Ales on gravity

Restaurant open daily with A la Carte menu in the evenings.All produce locally sourced where available.

Fortnightly Sunday Quiz

Bar open: Mon 4.30-11pm, Tues 12-2.30 and 4.30-11pm, Weds-Sat 12-11pm, Sun12-10.30pm Restaurant open: Tues –Sat 12-2.30 and 6-9pm, Sunday Roast 12-4pm

2 Salhouse Rd, Rackheath, Norwich NR13 6QHTel 01603 720146 Web: www.soleandheel.bravehost.com

NN#156:Layout 1 28/02/2011 13:22

The following items of interest were publishedin earlier editions of Norfolk NIPS

1987WATNEY MERGER – The merger of Watneycompanies Manns and Norwich Brewery will notchange the product ranges in the pubs, MDDavid Jacobs told CAMRA representatives

WATNEYS KILL OFF LOCAL BRANDS – S & PBitter has finally been axed as Watneys bring inRuddles Best Bitter

INN FOCUS – The New Inn on West End Street has unfortunately had to take cask beerout again as there wasn’t enough call for it

1991COLIN’S CHESHIRE GRIN - The Fat Cat, WestEnd Street Norwich, a new Colin Keatley enter-prise, is due to open on Monday 2ndDecember.

STEADY PINTS - Greene King have built a newpub at Thorpe Marriott, called The Otter.

GREENE KING’S NEW ALE: WHY CALL ITRAYMENTS? – Greene King have launched anew mid range real ale, brewed at Bury StEdmunds in Suffolk, but called Rayments SpecialBitter, which is named after the brewery theyclosed down in 1987.

From theArchives

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A refreshing pale ale with a delicious hoppy aroma.

Brewed with a single hop that imparts both a floral andspicy aroma, added to a combination of two malts

keeping this ale simple and refreshing.

4.2% ABV

Tel: 01493 751975email: [email protected]

www.norfolksquarebrewery.co.uk

Specialising in delicious bottle conditioned real ales

The Shoulder of Mutton ~ Strumpshaw ~

Fine ales and good food served in a friendly atmosphere

Real ales includeAdnams Bitter andBroadside plusTWO guest ale(mainly from local

breweries)

Food served 12-2pm and 7-9pm (Mon-Sat), 12-2pm Sundays

Pub games include Darts, Pool, Crib and Petanque!

Ian and Jenny look forward to welcoming you..

Norwich Rd, Strumpshaw, Norwich NR13 4NT

Tel 01603 712274

The Real Ale ShopBranthill Farm, Wells-next-the-Sea,NORFOLK NR23 1SB

ON THE B1105 FAKENHAM- WELLS RD

Over 50bottle conditioned realales from 15 Norfolkbrewers who all use

Branthill Farms famous malted barley.

TEL: 01328 710810www.therealaleshop.co.uk

50 | SPRING 2011

Introducing the

NEW PANTHERBREWERY

Shop Open Mon – Fri 9am – 6pm

Sat 10am - 3pm

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Having now been the Pub Preservation Officerfor Norwich and Norfolk branch for somemonths, I am naturally disturbed and disap-pointed at the number of pubs we’ve lost over thelast year and those that remain standing idle andso, under threat of closure or worse, demolition.

It’s all very well for us to complain, but whatare we, and much more particularly, you, thereaders of NIPs doing about it? This is a battlefor all pub goers to take part in. Don’t expectothers to fight your battles for you. I can onlyprotest on your behalf if you play your part.

Just how often did you, personally, use thatpub down the road or in the next village that’snow standing empty or has now becomehousing? If you didn’t, why was that? Could itbe that other people also found it unwelcoming,unappealing or inconvenient? More to the pointthese days, was the local shop selling beers andspirits cheaper than the landlord could buy hisstock in? Did the owners ignore the wishes of thelocals or not permit the landlord to buy the beersand other products they preferred ? More usuallythese days, were its prices too high for you?

What do you think makes a good pub andhave you told the landlord of your local? Coulda Karaoke night, book club, a book exchange, adiscussion group (Films, TV programmes andparticular sports, could be the topic, it doesn’thave to be anything heavy), a regular quiz nightor a new game be introduced? If not why not?

Exactly why did you and others forsake thecompanionship of a good pub for a quiet drinkat home in front of the TV ? How do you meetnew people and make new friends doing that?

How welcome do you make newcomers toyour local? Do you really and truly want tofossilize with the same old faces day in day out,good company though they may well be. Oncein a while a new face adds something and ifnot, then what does it matter as long as they are

not positively obnoxious! Such people are easyto get rid of anyway! With a kinder receptionand a little patience they may not be quite sobad after all…at least give them a chance!So, what are you going to do to stop your local

and that “pub down the road’ from closing?

1. USE IT! Further, if it’s good, tell people so!Arrange to meet friends that don’t know it there.

2. If it’s not giving you what you want…SAY SO!.. suggest what would make it better.

3. If your pub is closing or has closed,what can you do about it? SHOUT as loudand for as long as you can! Write to your coun-cillors (both local and County), your M.P. andget the local press involved! Don’t be frightenedto contact the local Radio and TV stations too!

4. Keep an eye out for Planning Applica-tions. They have to be posted on the propertyitself and it’s not hard to check your localcouncil’s weekly list of planning applications.They are available on-line and if you have noaccess to the internet, councils will help youaccess them. You should be aware though thatjust because you succeeded in defeating oneapplication, the owner can keep filing amendedones and is very likely to do so. You MUST perse-vere and fight each and every application! Oneletter to the first application is NOT sufficient. I can write a letter, but there is no substitute forconcerted, local, vocal support.. Contact yourcouncillors, both local and County. Involve theM.P.. Write to all local newspapers and radiostations. But ultimately there is only one solu-tion…USE IT! Use it today, tomorrow and theday after and if it is not giving you what youwant out of “your’ local, say so loud and clear!

YOUR PUB NEEDS YOU! And you may justneed it more than you realise!

Mike Spivey,Pub Preservation Officer

Threats to Our Pubs

SPRING 2011 | 51

NORFOLK NIPS | Campaigning

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PIE & ALE

WEEKENDSat 23rd to Mon 25th April

Large Selection of Real Ales

and Ciders to wash down our

homemade pies

Live Music all Weekend

52 | SPRING 2011

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Norfolk Pub Beer Festivals - Spring / Summer 2011

Beer Festivals

Spring / Summer 2011

Over the next three months, acelebration of real ale is takingplace in pubs and other venuesacross the county.

With there never being somany micro-breweries in theUK, not only will you get thechance to sample a variety ofreal ales you may never havetried before - including thosebrewed specially for the occa-sion - you’ll be able to try yourhand at traditional pub games,take part in an ‘ale-trails’ andhistory walks and learn howthis great tasting drink isbrewed.

Of course there’s more topubs than beer and skittles,with 84% of people believingthat a pub is as essential to

village life as a shop or postoffice; and the closure of a pub– especially in areas that lackother social amenities - can bedevastating for the localcommunity.

A well-run pub can cater forall ages, offering a place wherefriendships can be formed andprovides a convenient stoppingpoint for a family enjoying abike ride on a sunny day. Tohelp you plan your travel toand from these events we havealso included a brief guide tobus and train travel and whereto find further information andtimetables.

If you’re watching thepennies, but still want to enjoythe finer things in life then the

pub offers the ideal solution.From old favourites like steakand kidney pie to the exotictastes of Thai cuisine, manypubs offer high quality meals –often cooked by awardwinning chefs – for a fraction ofrestaurant prices.

From acts including Madnessand Vic Reeves, pubs have evenbeen responsible for kick-starting the careers of some ofthe biggest names in musicand comedy. You never know;one of the acts playing in a pubnear you could be a star of thefuture.

So whether you want a quickpint after work or a night outwith your friends; look in at thelocal, you won’t regret it.

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54 | SPRING 2011

For more details contact:- Clive and Sue Stockton, The Hill House Inn, Happisburgh, Norfolk NR12 OPW Tel/Fax 01692 650004 Web www.hillhouseinn.co.uk

Hill House Inn - Happisburgh

FREE PRINTED FESTIVAL GLASS AND TASTING NOTES.

Food served all day.Festival T-Shirts available

Come and join us at the independent festival by the sea. Celebrate the 11th Solstice festival and 4 centuries of the Hill House.

The11th

For 2011: FIVE DAYS

Thursday 16th June to Monday 20th June inclusive

Over 100 Beers & Ciders (and the odd perry) from far and wide, at

competitive pub prices.

LIVE MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT inc. Rock, Traditional Jazz, Rockabilly, Skiffle, Folk and much more.

Family Friendly

CAMPING AVAILABLEOne Off Entry payment of £4.00 valid for the

whole weekend. (Numbered wristband - numbersentered into a Grand Prize Draw).

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10 –12th March - St Neots Booze on the OuseBeer Festival Priory Centre, Priory Lane, St Neots, CambsPE19 2BH 55+ cask beers over 3 days, pluscider,perry and foreign beers. Souvenir glass,tombola and CAMRA Shop. Food all sessions,free soft drinks for drivers. For full details visitwww.huntscamra.org.uk

18 - 19th March - Hitchin Beer and Cider FestHitchin Town Hall, Hitchin SG5 1HX At least 60 Real Ales, plus cider, perry andforeign beers (including draught foreign beer).In association with the Hitchin Round Table,

this quiet festival is possibly the last event in thecurrent format. Disabled access and toilets.Souvenir glasses, hot/cold food, tombola and

products available.For full details call Andy Rawnsley on 01438

816938, or [email protected]

20-23rd March - East Anglia Beer FestivalThe Apex, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

1st - 3rd April 3rd Independent Beer Festival -White Horse, Overstrand

21st - 25th April Easter Beer and Cider Festival -Kings Head, Wroxham

21st April - 2nd May George’s Fest - The Cottage,Norwich NR3 4TB

22nd - 25th April Easter Beer Festival - The WestEnd, Feltwell IP26 4BJ

22nd April - 2nd May 5th Beer Festival -Murderers, Norwich NR1 3LB

22nd April - 2nd May St George’s Day Festival -Lord Nelson, Reedham NR13 3TE

22nd April - 2nd May Spring Beer Festival - WhiteHorse, Chedgrave

22nd April Beer Festival - Royal Oak, Poringland,Norwich

22nd - 25th April Easter Sausage and Ale Festival -Kings Head, North Lopham

22nd - 25th April Easter Beer Festival - Fox andHounds, Heacham PE31 7EX

23rd - 25th April Pie and Ale weekend - Bell Inn,Rickinghall, IP22 1BN

28th April - May 1st Great Yarmouth Beer Festival- Blackfriars Brewery NR30 3NZ

29th April - May 1st Norfolk Beer Festival -Dragon Hall, Norwich NR1 1QE

25th - 30th May Beer Festival - Dove Street Inn,Ipswich

27th May - 5th June ‘The Dark Side’ Beer Festival -Wig and Pen, Norwich, NR3 1RN

9th - 17th June Annual Beer Festival - Whalebone,Norwich NR3 4BA

10th - 12th June Norfolk Ale and Music Festival -Jolly Sailors, Brancaster Staithe PE31 8BJ

16th - 20th June 11th Solstice Beer Festival - HillHouse Inn, Happisburgh NR12 0PW

20th - 26th June Beer Festival - Heath House,Norwich NR3 4SG

30th June - 3rd July Summer Beer Festival -Beehive, Norwich NR4 7PJ

15th - 17th July 10th North Norfolk Railway BeerFestival, Poppy Line Sheringham Station

22nd - 24th July Reedham Beer Festival

22nd - 24th July Crusaders Beer Festival - LittleMelton, NR9 3NP

STOP PRESS!!Here are a few more added just before print!

21st - 24th April Easter Beer, Cider & MusicFestival, Locks Inn, Geldeston NR34 0HW

22nd - 25th April Spring Beer Festival - Chequers, Binham (see advert).

23rd March - 10th AprilInternational Real Ale Festival - all Wetherspoonspubs in Norfolk

26th May - 5th JuneNorwich City of Ale Festival

A beer festival is near you! Beer Festivals section

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A beer festival is near you!The numbers on the map match the numbers next to the events described on page 55. This map is to show you the

Roydon

West Acre

Gt. Massingham

Little Walsingham

56 | SPRING 2011

Feltwell4

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Rickinghall

Brancaster Staithe17

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how you the general area and is not to scale!

Beer Festivals section

Geldeston

Poringland

Heydon

Tacolneston

Filby

North Lopham

le Walsingham

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The pub with no bar, ales direct from cask.

Watch www.nelsonslocal.co.uk for forthcoming events.

Tongue twizzling food, and great value.

Help the HeroesFrankie Martin on the

Great British Pub Tour 12th April

Real fires Victory Barn Function RoomCome & visit Nelson’s local.

Walsingham Road, Burnham Thorpe Norfolk PE31 8HN

01328 738241

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Travelling around Norfolk

Norfolk is well served by train and bus serv-ices between all the major towns, villagesand out of Norfolk via Kings Lynn andNorwich. There are also many cycle and

walking routes available for the more adven-terous beer hunter or those with families lookingfor a full day out with some excercise thrown in.

National Express andEast Midland TrainsServices run everyday into Norfolk from Ely,Peterborough, Cambridge and Ipswich.

All services pass through Norwich where youcan then go on to the coastal Norfolk towns ofGreat Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Cromer and Sheringham.

Go to www.nationalexpresseastanglia.comor www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk to check times

Heritage Train servicesMid Norfolk RailwayTravelling between Dereham - Yaxham -Thuxton - Kimberley Park - Wymondham Abbey

This volunteer run railway has a variety of locomotives including a fleet of heritage diesels.Go to www.mnr.org.uk to check times.

The North Norfolk RailwayTravelling between Sheringham - Weybourne -Kelling Heath Park - Holt

The North Norfolk Railway offers a 10.5 mileround trip by steam train (vintage diesel trainson some journeys) through a delightful area ofNorth Norfolk designated as being ofoutstanding natural beauty.

Go to www.nnrailway.co.uk/timetable.php tocheck times.

Bus ServicesNorfolk Green run a number of Bus services intoand around Norfolk.

The Coasthopper route sets off from KingsLynn and covers Hunstanton - Wells -Weybourne - Sheringham - Comer and many ofthe smaller villages in between.

Other services include X8 covering Kings Lynnto Fakenham and Heacham.

X5 and X6 services from Fakenham to Norwichcovering many villages including Little Snoring,Erpingham. Aylsham and Mile Cross.

There is a large map of the routes available fordownload at:www.norfolkgreen.co.uk/timetables/

The X1 First group service runs into Norfolkfrom Peterborough passing through Kings Lynn,Narborough, Swaffham and several othervillages to Norwich. The service then runs onthrough Acle and Great Yarmouth.

CyclingNorfolk has hundreds of miles of quiet countrylanes and roads to explore. To help you, East ofEngland Tourism has developed a range of Freecircular Cycling Discovery Maps. These are available at:www.visiteastofengland.com/visitor-information/cycling-discovery-maps2.aspx

The Sustrans National Cycle Network passesthrough Norfolk and is designed to makecycling fun, safe and simple as you cover hugestretches of the UK.

One third of the Network is completely freefrom motor traffic, using old railway paths,forest tracks, country parks and bridleways, andthe rest uses quiet minor roads and traffic-calmed streets in towns and cities. so ifyour having a drink - get out of the car and onyer bike!

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60 | SPRING 2011

Heath HouseNorwich • Traditional Family Pub

BEER FESTIVAL20TH - 26th JUNE 2011

• Ales from near and far •

• Open from 12 noon every day •

Unveiling of Tipples New IPAFIRST CHANCE TO TRY THE NEW BREW! The Heath House, 99 Gertrude Rd, Norwich, Norfolk NR3 4SG Tel: 01603 406417

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SPRING 2011 | 61

2nd Norfolk Ale & Music Festival10th, 11th & 12th June 2011Norfolk real ales • Live music all weekendBeer garden • Freshly cooked pub food

Thurs 21st – Mon 25th AprilComplete range of Woodforde’s beers.

Real cidersMusic • BBQ

Beautiful riverside settingAll welcome

Wroxham | 01603 782429

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62 | SPRING 2011

Mark & Marie offer you a warmwelcome to the

Fox and Hounds Heacham

Home of The Fox BreweryWe are a free house specialising in real ales.

The first pub in Heacham to be inthe CAMRA Good Beer Guide.

Live Music every Tuesday Quiz Night Thursday

www.foxbrewery.com Tel: 01485 57034522 Station Rd, Heacham, Norfolk PE31 7EX

OPEN ALL DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK

Easter Beer FestivalGood Friday to Easter Monday Live entertainment every night.

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SPRING 2011 | 63

Summer

Beer Fest

ival

Thurs 3

0th June

- Sunda

y 3rd Ju

ly

Over 20

Norfolk

Ales an

d Ciders

! BBQ A

ll weeke

nd!

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64 | SPRING 2011

Simon and Karen welcome youall to their traditional family pub.

Great selection of real ales and wines, along with fine dining and excellent company.

www.whitehorsechedgrave.co.uk

SPRING BEER FESTIVALThursday April 21st to

Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May

20+ Real Ales

We are in

Great Yarmouth

Beer Festival at Blackfriars Brewery, Maincross Road,

Gt Yarmouth NR30 3NZ

Thursday April 28th 12 noon – 11 pmFriday April 29th 12 noon – 11 pm

Saturday April 30th 12 noon – 11 pmSunday May 1st 12 noon – 11 pm

Entrance £2.00 if ordered with Yarmouth Mercurytoken or £2.50 on the door

Over 100 beers from local breweries and a range ofciders including Norfolk’s best

Live music • Delicious food • Great Fun Tickets are purchased from

Blackfriars Brewery, Maincross Road, Gt Yarmouth NR30 3NZ

The West End | Feltwell | Thetford | Norfolk IP26 4BJ | 01842 827711

EASTERBeer FestivalEaster Friday 22ndMonday 25th April

Ales to include Hophead Darkstar, Woodfordes Norfolk

Nog and a range of ales from Iceni Brewery

Food AvailabilityFri 22nd Hot roast pork & apple rolls - 12pm to 4pm,

Dinner menu avalible from 6pm till 9pm

Sat 23rd Full Menu 12 to 3pm & 6pm to 9pm

Sun 24th Fantastic sunday carvery from 12 to 3pm usinglocally sourced produce. Adult £7.95 Childs £5.95

Mon 25th Hot Roast Pork & Apple rolls from 12 to 4pmdinner menu avalible from 6pm till 9pm

Entertainment Sat 23rd BAND Salacious Crumb 9pm onwards

you name it they can play it x

Mon 25th 2nd annual WEST END Wellie wanging comptition starts 2pm

www.thewestendfeltwell.co.uk

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SPRING 2011 | 65

6 St Martins Palace Plain,

Norwich NR3 1RN

01603 625891

www.thewigandpen.com

Look out for our Cask Marque Plaque. This guarantees beer qualityin the Wig & Pen and theopportunity to TRY BEFORE YOU BUY.

For the 13th successiveyear, the Wig & Pen hasbeen included inCAMRA’s Good BeerGuide. We are very proudof this achievement.

• Good Ale • Good Food • Heated smoking area • Comprehensive Outdoor Dining Area

Sky & ESPN Sports TV • Late Night Opening

Friday 27th May until Sunday 5th June 2011Mild, Stout & Porter from Norfolk & beyond!

A festival of dark beer, highlighting the complex flavours of ale away from the pale. Sixteen dark

delights available on gravity or hand-pull. Open 11.30am till 11.30pm, 8 days a week!

‘The Dark Side’ Beer Festival‘The Dark Side’ Beer Festival

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Where is the most expensiveplace to drink a beer? CentralLondon and north Norfolkimmediately spring to mind,but those in search of realwallet abuse should head forItaly. Specifically, make abeeline for St Marks Square inVenice. Here, surrounded bychurches and palaces, you willfind a number of smart cafesfringing the square. Each onehas a number of tables outsideand a small stage featuringclassical musicians. Each groupplay in turn, so a crowd ofpeople stand and watch and assoon as one lot finishes theymove around the square to thenext cafe. This culturalvoyeurism is fun and free, butchoose to sit down and have adrink whilst taking in theatmosphere and things changerapidly. First there is the covercharge – all Italian bars andcafes charge more to sit downthan stand but 5.70 (all pricesin Euros) is steeper than most.Then there are the drinks. I hada small bottle (33cl) of McFar-land’s Rossi beer, which camein at 9.80. We had gatheredfor a celebration and as the restof the party were female, thedrinks order mostly comprisedof wine, coke and Bellinis (acocktail made from crushedand concentrated peach juice.Hemmingway didn’t ratethem.) In total the round for10 people came to 172 Euros.To be fair, this did include thecover charges and you are

paying for the whole experi-ence, not just the drink. I don’tthink it would have the sameresonance sat outside the OldMaydens Head on Tuesdaymarket Place in Lynn, nursing apint of IPA.

On the way back we had aplanned stop in Düsseldorf (asopposed to the unplanned stopin Frankfurt on the way out.Lufthansa look after theirpassengers – check them out).Düsseldorf seems to be thestag and hen party capital ofthe world, and it is clear atonce that you are back in abeer drinking country and haveleft the wine behind. That said,even though the old town waspacked with young things intheir team shirts intent ondrinking themselves intooblivion, there was none of theaggressive behaviour and latent

menace all to often apparent inBritish towns and cities on aSaturday night. That mightexplain why the bike bar takesto the German streets. This is abar on wheels and each barstool has a set of pedals so thatit can be propelled around thestreets as you drink. I guessthat the driver has to stay onthe soft drinks, but even so,can you imagine it gettingapproval here? No doubt theauthorities would want dedi-cated roads – the bus lanewould become the booze lane(works better with a Lancashireaccent!) and then there wouldbe the requirement for a toilet. I suppose that you could

attach a little cabin to betowed along behind the bar.Still, it would avoid the prob-lems of being late homebecause you stopped for adrink on the way.

Travellers Tales

SPRING 2011 | 67

NORFOLK NIPS | Travellers Tales

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68 | SPRING 2011

An ever-changing selection of five Milton brews andthree guest beers. Also serving a verity of fine maltwhiskies, a range of Trappist and Fruit Belgian beers

and a unique English brewed Lager.

Food coming soon

Come and have a tipple at the last of the Oak Street Alehouses

www.individualpubs.co.uk/whitelion/

73 Oak Street, Norwich NR3 3AQ

01603 632333

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Ten years ago it was a prettysmall affair. But last year thetwo and a half days of theNorth Norfolk Railway BeerFestival saw 11,500 pintsdispensed, with record crowdsenjoying the unique atmos-phere of ale and steam.

This year’s 10th birthday bash(July 15th – 17th) promises tobe the biggest ever. Therailway’s Nessa Pritchard toldus she expects to have over100 different brews – ales,

ciders and perries. There’s anemphasis on East Anglianbrews, but ales from all overthe UK make this a beerfest notto be missed.

As usual, souvenir glasses andpolo shirts will be on sale. Liveentertainment will mix with thewhistles of the steam engines.Hot food will be available dayand evening.

And here’s the really goodnews. The terminus of the

hourly Bittern Line trains fromNorwich and North Walshamto Sheringham is just across theroad from the Festival. And thelast train back to Norwich onthe Friday and Saturday isn’t tillquarter to midnight – allowingyou to celebrate the 10thbirthday in style!

For further information: Colin Borg on 020 8789 0478,07774 710 354 [email protected]

10th Birthday for NorthNorfolk Railway Beer Festival

SPRING 2011 | 69

NORFOLK NIPS | North Norfolk Railway

The Kings HeadNorth Lopham (Near Diss)

400 year old thatched country pub

Real Ales at sensible prices: Woodfordes Wherry & Adnams Bitter plus a rotatingguest beer (4% ABV and above) PLUS Aspalls Cyder and a draught keg Mild

Home made food, freshly prepared with a selection of Vegetarian and gluten free meals(Served Wednesday to Saturday 12 - 2.30pm & 6pm - 8.30pm and Sunday Lunch 12 noon - 3pm)

Opening Times: Monday 5-11pm Tuesday / Wednesday 11.30am - 3pm and 5pm - 11pm

Thursday / Friday 11.30am - 3pm and 5pm - 12midnightSaturday 11.30am - 12midnight Sunday 12noon - 10:30pm

The Kings Head, 16 The Street, North Lopham, Diss , Norfolk IP22 2NE Tel: 01379 688007

Real Fire

Real Fire

Beer Garden &ample Parking

Beer Garden &ample Parking

Fri April 22nd – Monday April 25th15+ Beers Including Champion Beers of Britain

and OVER 60 types of sausage (including Vegetarian and Gluten-free varieties)For full details SEE OUR WEBSITE www.lophamkingshead.co.uk

EASTER SAUSAGE & ALE FESTIVAL

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Two roast dinners for £10 Sunday‘Crumbs for Comfort’ coming soon

See www.kingsarmsnorwich.co.uk for details

Everchanging 13 Real Ales, Cider and Mild.

Popular Quiz Night last Wednesday of every month

Food served Tuesday - Sunday 12noon - pmand 5pm - 8pm

Michaela and Toni welcome you to

The Kings Arms 22 Hall Rd Norwich NR1 3HQ Tel: 01603 766361

If you require competitively priced design and illustration for:

Posters | Leaflets | Flyers | Advertisement Artwork | Pump Clips | Bottle Labels,

Logos | Menus | Point Of Sale Displays | Business Cards | Signage

Contact us for a free no obligation quote on:

www.tamoko-design.co.uk 01733 751286

Give your branding a unique lookthrough our illustrative design service.

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We Don’t Have a Big Screen TV, Food Or a Juke BoxWe do have 17 handpumps, with Real Ale from far and wide,

2 Real Ciders and 2 Real Ales From gravity, a large car park, large beer garden With heatedsmoking shelter, darts, pool, quizzes And crib.

We now serve morning coffee from 10am, children are welcome.

The Royal Oak lies at the heart of the community and new customers are always welcome. Come along and get a real

welcome from a real pub selling real ale!!!!!! Nick, Delia And The Team would love to see you soon.

The Royal Oakat Poringland

A dream of a pub situated in the village of Poringland on the B1332 road to Bungay. The main bus route from

Norwich stops right outside.

Contact us on

01508 493734 New email: [email protected]

Norwich And Norfolk Pub Of The Year 2007

Norfolk Pub Of The Year 2007

13 years in the Good Beer Guide!

Easter Beer FestivalGood Friday 22nd April

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Issue 156 of Norfolk Nips & Cask Force

Documents

Transcript of Issue 156 of Norfolk Nips & Cask Force