Wolverhampton CAMRA newsletter - 2002
The Branch newsletter is distributed through approved CAMRA pubs and is available free.
Three faces known to Wolverhampton beer drinkers have recently popped up in new surroundings.
Julian Hobson, popular former licensee at the Exchange Vaults is now in charge at Bennett's, Bennett's Hill, Birmingham. Andrew Brough, previously Assistant Manager at the Newhampton Inn, has taken over as Manager at the Beacon Hotel, Sedgley. Last, but not least, Keith Walker, for 13 years mine host at the Great Western, is regularly to be found behind the pumps at the Miner's Arms, Ruiton Street, Lower Gornal where his daughter, Sarah Pritchard is now licensee. We wish Andrew, Julian, and Sarah the very best for the future. If you're in their areas why not pay them a call.
Well established brewer, Burton Bridge, scooped the prestigious West Midlands Beer of the Year award for their 5% ABV Top Dog Stout. The announcement and presentation to brewers Geoff Mumford and Bruce Wilkinson was made at an awards ceremony at the Great Western in late December. Runners-up were Church End Gravedigger's Mild and Hobson's Bitter.
The result has also been announced for the West Midlands Winter Beer of the Year. The title went to Holden's XL Old Ale (7.2%) with runners-up Highgate Old Ale and Pardoe's Black Widow.
The 2001 West Midlands Pub of the Year was won by the Cock Inn in Wellington, Shropshire. This 18th century former coaching inn always stocks up to seven real ales, including a stout and a mild as well as a traditional cider. They are always served in excellent nick, and you can choose to drink in the roomy Old Wrekin Tap Bar or the quieter no- smoking lounge. A friendly welcome is guaranteed. Congratulations to licensees Pete & Liz Arden on this well deserved award.
Valhalla, corner of Lichfield Street and Princess Street. This semi-circular building was for many years the Criterion Hotel before its transformation into the town's first theme pub- the Valhalla in the early seventies. The one roomed bar featured a mock-up of a Viking longboat - (Fallen heroes were sent to their eternal resting place 'Valhalla' in a longboat). I used this pub mainly at weekends, before going to the 'Lafayette'. It was the first pub in Wolverhampton to serve Brew XI FROM M&B Cape Hill in Birmingham. The pub closed in 1978 and is now used as the University's Higher Education Shop.
A short walk along Princess Street brings us to the French Duck, very much a theme pub with wooden floors and different levels. I remember it sold Younger's Tartan (How foolish I was in those days!). It did not survive long, suffering an extensive fire in June 1981 after which the building was found to be unsafe and by the end of that year it had been demolished. The Duck was set back from Princess Street, however, the new bank built between the current Tap & Spile and Henn's the Jewellers now forms a continuous building line.
We now walk down Princess Alley into Berry Street. This brings us to the Cotswold Bar, part of the then Victoria Hotel. This had a short life in the early seventies and was handy for the dances, which were held upstairs in the hotel. The bar had some years earlier been the Caernarvon Castle and the building remains to this day.
Walking across Victoria Square and down Railway Street to its junction with Broad Street you would find the Squirrel. A large Ansells pub with Several rooms, my main visits to this pub coincided with the appearance of the travelling fair, which would set up on the waste ground opposite. It was ideal for a drink before and after sampling the delights of the waltzers etc., especially if you had company! The pub was demolished in 1973 in preparation for the Ring Road, which now runs through the site. The squirrel was the symbol used to identify Ansells and bad beer from the brewery was known locally as Squirrel.
A stroll across the old Broad Street Canal Bridge (which was removed in 1976 and rebuilt at the Black Country Museum) brings us to the left-hand Side of the Union Inn. This old Butlers' (later M&B) pub was right next to the canal and consisted of a smallish bar (canal side) and a larger lounge. It was a regular haunt of a Saturday night in the late sixties/early seventies, usually after returning from Old Trafford by train. I remember a very good and long session in 1968 after Man. Utd had won the European Cup. You could also on occasions get 'lock-ins'. I have discovered that my grandfather was the licensee of the Union Inn, and I have a license dated 12 October 1899, when the owners were the 'Birmingham Canal Company'. The Union struggled on for during Ring Road works before being demolished as part of a clean up of the area, the site is now a canal side paved and grassed walkway.
Note: The Tavern in the Town, featured in 'Drinking in My Past 2, did in fact become "Moriarty's" before closing in 1981.
Planning Applications to demolish the Bradmore Arms and the Elms at Shareshill have been refused. CAMRA submitted objections to both applications, and wishes to congratulate local campaigners on these successes. LOCAL PUB 'LISTINGS' OFFERS GREATER PROTECTION
The City Council have set in place a 'Local Listing' for buildings of historic or architectural interest which fail to meet the more stringent criteria required for national statutory listing.
CAMRA has submitted details of various pubs and are pleased to announce that the following have been accepted onto the 'Local List': Pyle Cock and Vine (Wednesfield), Stile (Whitmore Reans), Stamford Arms (Penn Fields), Hogshead (City Centre), Bushbury Arms and Paget Arms (Low Hill).
Alex Nicholson has taken over from Helen Winship as manager of the Posada in Lichfield Street. The pub is now open all day Monday to Saturday and from 7pm -11pm on a Sunday. Abbot Ale has replaced Adnams Broadside as a regular beer. Alex, along with long-serving staff Veena and Giz, promise you "a warm & friendly atmosphere" .
11-13 April 2002
Walsall Beer Festival at the Town Hall,
Leicester Street.
5pm - 11pm Thursday 11am - 3pm, 5.30pm - 11pm Friday & Saturday. Around 90 real ales, 30% specifically sourced from Midlands and East Anglia. Variety of Ciders, Perries and German Bottled Beers. Admission free at lunchtimes and before 7pm, and to CAMRA members at all times.
18-20 April 2002
Stourbridge Beer Festival at the Town
Hall.
30 May - 1 June 2002
27th Wolverhampton Beer Festival,
Wulfrun Hall, Mitre Fold.
This year the festival's regular weekend coincides with the celebration of the Queen's Golden Jubilee. We intend to mark this by having our very own 'Jubilee Bar' featuring a selection of the special brews produced to commemorate the occasion.
Watch 'Beerwolf' and the local press for further details. Also the branch web: www.wolverhamptoncamra.org.uk
Back in the not so distant days when the likes of Allied, Bass, Courage, Scottish & Newcastle, Watney and Whitbread ruled the UK brewing scene, most drinkers could make a reasonable guess at which company owned and brewed each beer. The latest developments regarding the ownership of both Bass brewery and Bass beer show how utterly confusing the whole situation has become!
Are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin.
Interbrew of Belgium bought Bass in June 2000. Then the Department of Trade & Industry told Interbrew to sell Bass brewers as they already owned Whitbread's breweries and brands and the total acquisition of Bass would give them a 40% stake in the British brewing industry.
The DTI's decision was challenged in the courts and a compromise agreement was reached which has resulted in the sell off of the Bass and Bass Museum breweries in Burton and the M&B brewery in Cape Hill, Birmingham to American giant 'Adolf Coors'. But, wait for it, the ownership of the beers under the name of Bass remain with Interbrew, whilst the Cape Hill beers such as Brew XI will be owned by Coors. Therefore, Interbrew will have to have the Bass brand which they own, brewed for them under licence by
Coors at the brewery which bears the beer's name. Mighty confusing, isn't it!!
2002 sees the historic Burton upon Trent celebrating 1000 years of brewing in the town. "What's this got to do with Wolverhampton?" You may ask. Brewing in Burton was started all those years ago by a monk from Wolverhampton! So let's join together with the people of Burton and raise a glass to "Wulfric", the monk that started a great tradition!
Saturday 24th October - a murky grey morning. Wasn't feeling so bright myself as I'd rather overdone it the day before at the excellent Dudley Winter Ales Fayre (and afterwards at Ma Pardoe's)
Ten of us stalwarts from the Wolverhampton CAMRA branch set off for Slater's brewery in Eccleshall to celebrate two of their beers winning awards in the West Midlands Beer of the Year competition 2000. Slaters Bitter was the Champion of Champions whilst the Supreme was overall second, as well as winning the Special Bitter category.
It was train to Stafford then bus to Eccleshall. We discovered from the bus driver that not only was it pronounced Ecker-shawl but that as there were ten of us we could buy two multisaver tickets for a fraction of ten returns. Then by the time we got off the bus the sun was out.
The brewery is out the back of the George Inn (GBG 2002 Page 417). This 17th Century residential coaching inn has an unspoilt bar area, a smoke room with an old yet functional log fireplace, an L-shaped back snug, ten bedrooms and its own restaurant come bistro. I started with the Slaters Bitter at 3.6% - it was cool, refreshing and wonderfully happy. Andy Slater kindly showed his interested visitors around the small brewery. Although somewhat cramped for space he currently manages about 11.5 barrels per brew, about 40 barrels a week in total, with the mashing done by hand. Hops used are Challenger, WVG and some Cascade. We sampled the increasingly available Top Totty (a pale wheaty beer at 4%) and his 3.4% Monkey Magic Dark Mild, which was originally brewed for the second Slaters tied house, the Monkey at Crewe, kept by Andy's sister, Vicky (GBG 2002 Page 62)
After the tour we relaxed back in the stone-flagged bar, where the chalkboard announces an inviting range of meals - the fish dishes looked particularly appetising but I was set on more Ale. So I went up through the strengths with halves of the 4% Original, the 4.4% Premium and the 4.7% Supreme - a lovely ale featuring American Mounthood hops. I finished my tasting with a pint of The Grand 'Un, produced to mark their 1000th brew. It is 5% and deliciously fruity with a hint of burnt sugar - am I starting to Sound like that lot from Food & Drink? Anyway, logic then took over and I tucked into a substantial lunch before sipping a final pint of Slater's Bitter.
So it's thanks to Andy Slater for his hospitality and to the bus driver for saving us the cost of a pint apiece. It was another local branch day out, and this time at Wimbledon the Wolves actually went one better and won.
Why not come and meet us at one of the monthly branch meetings, then join us for a brewery visit? Somebody's got to do it! See Branch Diary for details.
Dennis Turner, M. P. for Wolverhampton South East has been named "Parliamentarian of the Year" by the Campaign for Real Ale. Dennis has been unstinting in his campaign for legislation to ensure that beer drinkers gets a full pint when they ask for one. CAMRA are very grateful to have his continued support on this issue, and local members are delighted that Dennis has been honoured in this way. The award was formally presented to him at the CAMRA Parliamentary Reception held at the House of Commons on January 23rd.
Congratulations to Jake Smith, licensee of the Chindit, Merridale Road on the award of the 'Cask Marque' quality accreditation. Also well done to Stuart Cadman of the Hogshead for passing his British Institute of Innkeeping and National Licensees exams. 'Beerwolf' is always happy to acknowledge Quality awards and training successes. If you know of any, please let the Editor know - See Contact List.
CAMRA Wolverhampton Branch presented their inaugural "City Pub of the Year" to "Tap & Spile" landlord Mick Stokes at a presentation evening in mid-November. The award was well deserved for a popular pub that boasts an ever-changing range of interesting and often unusual guest beers in excellent condition. Prices are very good indeed for a City Centre outlet and the staff provide a welcoming, efficient and friendly service.
For the most up-to-date branch diary, see the Wolverhampton CAMRA Diary on this web site.