Hop Press

Issue 2 – May 1981

A rough scan & OCR of the original leaving out adverts & some sections such as the Crossword
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Contents

• Where is the Strongs Country Going?
• Wessex Mild
• Winchester Beer Festival 1981
• Pub News
• Show Me The Way To Go Home!
• CAMRA AGM 1981
• Commemorative Bottle Collections
• Pub Histories
• Real Ale in Lymington
• Branch Diary

WHERE IS THE STRONGS COUNTRY GOING? Hop Press index

Last month, Whitbread quietly announced the ceasing of brewing at their Romsey Brewery. The announcement, to take effect in June, must surely seal the fate of the once famous Strongs Brewery.

The official reason for the closure is because of economics, but this is surely a smoke screen for the fact that Whitbread intend to rid themselves of the brewery.

Not so long ago, Romsey handed over the brewing of mild to Portsmouth, the reason being so that they could concentrate on brewing Strongs Country Bitter. Now Strongs Country is to be brewed in Portsmouth leaving Romsey as a kegging/ bottling depot. When the M27 link is built, what will the excuse be to stop kegging? Economics?

For some strange reason, it is cheaper to brew in Portsmouth and then drive past Romsey to distribute to the west of the county. Similarly, it is cheaper to brew at Portsmouth and ferry a product that is cheaper than petrol to Romsey for kegging and then to distribute to many of the places on the same route.
Who do they think they are kidding?

The rates on the site at Romsey will remain approximately the same, whether they are brewing or not, as they claim they want to economise then surely with the cost of petrol these days it makes sense for each brewery to brew and distribute for its own area rather than cover the same part of the county time and time again?

The effect of us, the drinkers, is going to be less choice and more expensive prices. This is not just idle speculation, already in our area Wessex Mild is becoming increasingly difficult to come by, being replaced by the Keg Best Mild. Among the reasons given are that the Portsmouth brewed Mild is not liked in this area - all the more reason to brew it at Romsey.

Whitbread are fast becoming the most expensive pint in this area. How much will it be when we have to pay the fare from Portsmouth on top?

*********

(The views expressed in HOP PRESS are not necessarily the views of the branch or Campaign as a whole)

WESSEX MILD Hop Press index

We reported in the last issue that the future of Wessex Mild on the Isle of Wight was in doubt. This would now seem to be the story in the Strongs trading area, as more and more pubs seem to be switching to Keg Mild.

No-one is prepared to say whether this is a brewery policy or not, but pubs which had a large sale of cask Mild have switched - so it would seem to be the case. If this trend were to carry on through to its end, i.e, no Wessex Mild, it would leave Southern Hampshire with only one generally available Mild - Marstons - with Gales making a few in-roads. Indeed the west of the county will be practically devoid of cask mild.

Whitbread claim that Wessex Mild is not liked in this area, and that Best Mild is a better mild. Far be it for me to deny the drinker a better drink but wouldn't it be nice if Whitbread would remember that the customers have the right to a choice and market a cask form of Best Mild for those of us who dislike a pint of gas!

So come on Whitbread - how about it?

WINCHESTER BEEREX Hop Press index

At the end of the month, 29/30 May the Gulldhall, High Street, Winchester, once again hosts the Winchester Beer Festival. After the enjoyment of last year, if there was not another festival this year, then a few people would have lived in fear of mob revenge! So a committee was formed and got together a festival which we think will be even better than last year.

last year we had beers representing the West Midlands, this year its the turn of the Nottingham area, which means such delights as Homes and Shipstones, Lloyds and Hopkins and more - as well as other surprises.

Once again you can try your skill on the pub games, relax in the museum stand and enjoy the entertainment whilst drinking one of the 8000 pints on sale!

Tickets are on sale in most pubs in Winchester, The Masons, New Inn, Junction and Bay Tree in Southampton; and Tudor Rose in Ramsey and Longmead in Bishopstoke, or from:
I Drinkwater, 39 Desborough Road, Eastleigh (Phone: Eastleigh: 611075} enclosing an SAE.

PUB NEWS Hop Press index

By the time you read this, STAN MONTAGUE of the HAMPSHIRE BOWMAN will have departed for a new venture. Stan who helped found the branch will be sorely missed by the branch and the pub's customers. We wish both him and his successor the very best.

A new Real Ale outlet has recently been opened at Calmore, it is called the SAXON and sells Draught Bass. Other new outlets in this area are the LEIGH HOTEL in Eastleigh and the BEAR & RAGGED STAFF at Timsbury, both selling Strongs Country, Whitbread.

The CRICKETERS at Fair Oak also sells Strongs Country Bitter with Pompey Royal on handpump.

The QUEENS HEAD at Fishers Pond now sells Marstons Pedigree.

On not such a good note, the LONDON HOTEL and the GLOBE both in Southampton along with the FLEMING ARMS in Romsey, have gone 'fizz' and no longer sell Real Ale.

We welcome new landlords at the ABBEY HOTEL and THE SUN in Romsey.

ALL CHANGE:

The RAILWAY INN at Horsebridge has recently changed its name to THE JOHN OF GAUNT.

MARSTONS are renaming their bitter and mild brews (the brews remaining the same).
Draught Mild will now be called Mercian Mild
Burton Bitter will be called CAPTITAL BITTER (Their Keg Bitter & Mild now called ALBION)

SHOW ME THE WAY TO GO HOME Hop Press index

A lot of folk have written to the branch medic and said that the article on the 'Morning After' was great - however, a lot of them could not even remember getting home.

This article, therefore, is dedicated to Para Letic & Co...

A.G.M. 1981 Hop Press index

IAN P. DRINKWATER

The annual pilgrimage to CAMRA's AGM has become something of an institution for hundreds of CAMRA members from all parts of the country and even from as far afield as Holland and the USA. The Southern Hampshire branch has been represented at every AGM since 1975.

Each year a different branch hosts the weekend event, the location normally being a University Town or City in order that the 600 or so members who attend are catered for in terms of campus accommodation, catering and conference facilities.

The 1981 AGM was held in the beautiful city of Durham in NE England, an area starved of Real Ale. Outside the main conurbations, Real Ale is the exception rather than the rule and to search out a 'real' pub can involve a lengthy expedition.

This year, myself and four other members of the branch made the trek to Durham by train. Arriving in the late afternoon of Friday, we were met at Durham Station by a mlnl-bus which conveyed us to the University where we booked into our rooms. Here we were joined by another member who had arrived. by car from Winchester.

Friday evening included an excursion for some of us to sample the somewhat limited delights (ale wise) of Newcastle. We all later rendezvoused back to Durham University where we carried out an inspection of the Beer Exhibition until the early hours!

After Saturday Morning's breakfast we packed into Durham University Students Union with over 800 members to commence the real business of the weekend.

"Whoever thinks CAMRA is a declining force should see the crowds here. It's a tremendous show of strength" said chairman Tim Amsden. How right he was, the mood and enthusiasm of the meeting confirmed that.

The meeting commenced with a minute's silence in memory of the Campaign's late Chairman, Joe Goodwin, who died unexpectedly at his home in Bournemouth last November. The Standing Orders of the AGM were then adopted with the addition of no smoking or consumption of ale during the meeting.

Having made a loss of £47,000 last year, finance was the major topic of conversation and was debated until the lunchbreak. The outcome of two motions was that the membership fee is to be increased to £7.00 (husband and wife joint membership to be the same £7.00) and that a levy of 10% will be made on branch's profit.

Saturday afternoon and Sunday Morning were spent debating some 40 other motions, including one from our branch:

"This AGM affirms that CAMRA should not promote pubs which consistently exploit their real ales by over-pricing".

This motion was moved on behalf of our branch by Ged Wallis and seconded by Kim Kellaway. It attracted much interest and support from the meeting and was carried as amended by the addition of the following:

... and therefore this meeting:

1. Asks all branches to expose the wide variance of beer prices, and those pubs and brewers overcharging for the area, through the local media.
2. Instructs the National Executive to do the same- nationally, making more use of our contacts with the media nationally.
3. Asks all branches not to include pubs in the 1982 GBG who are blatantly overcharging for the area.
4. Instructs the Area and Regional Organisers to discuss this motion with their branches and asks for their co-operation reporting back to NE.

(In connection with this motion the branch has launched a price survey in the area. Any members able to help should telephone Eastleigh 611075. Results will be published in the next issue of HOP PRESS.)

During the weekend an election was held to fill five vacancies on the National Executive (NE). Norman Spalding from our branch was an unsuccessful candidate, but our own Regional Organiser (RO) Dave DeKerchar was re-elected by a narrow majority of seven votes - a rather close shave eh Dave?!

After a few farewell ales Sunday Lunchtime in the Beer Exhibition, we rather wearily said good-bye to Durham and made the long trek back to Hampshire - thinking that 12 months hence we'd be sampling the delights of Indian Curries and Tetleys in Bradford!

NB: The Southern Hampshire Branch have their own AGM on Tuesday 12 May upstairs in the Queens, High Street, Southampton, starting at 8.00pm.

GOOD BEER GUIDE 1981 Hop Press index

By now CAMRA's premier publication the GOOD BEER GUIDE has been on sale a couple of months. It lists over 6000 pubs throughout the country which sells Real Ale in tip top condition.

All the pubs are chosen by local GAMRA members during the course of the year in which the merits and dis-merits of all the pubs selling real-ale are discussed.

The cost of this informative book in the shops is £3.50 of from the Editor for £3.00 (CAMRA members £2.50).

COMMEMORATIVE BOTTLES Hop Press index

In the last issue under the subject of beer labels I mentioned that one way of specialising was to collect commemoratives. These, however, make a more interesting collection if they are still on the bottle. The craze for collecting bottles is not new, but what used to be the domain of antique shops selling empty bottles from defunct breweries, has. now switched to the pubs selling beers bottled for special occasions.

What started this new craze was the Silver Jubilee (although brewers had been bottling and people collecting for years before) when 58 breweries produced a bottled celebration ale and so for the first time in years, everyone was able to lay their hands on at least one special bottle, so people tried to make a set. This led to awareness of the other 'specials' {Theakstans celebrated their 150th Anniversary in the same year) and so a whole new generation of bottle collectors came into being.

In all there were 66 Jubilee Ales though some {Litchborough for example) are a lot scarcer than others and they ran the complete range of bottle sizes, 180 mls {Devenish E. P.), 275 mls {Donnington,Courage etc).

The 66 are made up of variations. Courage for an example, had a date on one set of labels which was omitted from another set, Devenish changed the size of their labels. Gales and Hydes did three different bottles, Gales 180, 275 and "Corkies". Hydes 275, 550, 730 mis. Anyone with a Hook Norton "Old Bill" Jubilee Ale has a forgery and this is not included in this list.

Specials are not limited to Real Ale, brewers Skol produced a Jubilee Ale, whilst Westons Cider last year, celebrated their centenary with a bottle, nor is it limited to bottles, for Ruddles issued a Can of County to celebrate 150 years of Travellers Fare. Size is also no object, the Fox at Ansty was just one of three pubs to have a jubilee ale, whilst Allied issued a Jubilee Ale for each of its constituent companies {Ansell, Tetley, Ind Coope and Skol).

The occasion does not have to be far reaching either, last year Selby issued a bottle to mark the birth of the owners daughter while this year, North Country Brewers have issued "Celebration" to commemorate the opening of the Humber Bridge.

When starting a collection it must be borne in mind that bottles take up a lot of room (just ask a publican!). There are no hard and fast rules to collecting bottles, they can be packed into a crate and put in the loft and forgotten (if you collect for investment) or displayed in cabinets or on shelves.

As yet there is not national organisation for bottle collectors. Anyone wishing to start has to rely on word of mouth to find. other collectors in their area or advertise. The only places which stock 'Specials' from out of the area are specialist off-licences such as 'Two Brewers' in London or legendary 'Yorkshire Heroes' in the North. Unfortunately the South hos no such shops as these. The only way to obtain bottles is through the 'Bottled Beer for Collectors' from Abingdon, Oxon, which is a mail order company. The disadvantages with this is the high cost of postage (£2.50 for 4 bottles), the risk of breakage (although bottles are packed in a strong polystyrene package) and the fact that four bottles at a time have to be bought - but the list is quite long - 24 as at March 1981. All the beers are fairly recent, though if you know your requirements the boss, Mr J Laker, will do his best to try and find it {these along with rarer bottles etc., have to be collected from the warehouse).

One point to remember when buying the older bottles is that the price is likely to be high. I know of someone who paid £20 for a bottle of Guinness Jubilee and considered it a bargain ~ This is not a typical price fortunately.

Happy collecting *****

Anyone wishing to have a list of all the Jubilee Ales send an S.A.E. to Jon Tugwell, 15 Bellevue Rood, Eastleigh, Hants SO5 4BA

Bottled Beer for Collectors Ltd, 55c: Milton Trading Estate, Nr Abingdon, Oxon.

Out this month: Youngs of Wandsworth are marking their l50th Anniversary with a bottled beer.

PUB HISTORIES Hop Press index

The ECLIPSE in the square facing the Cathedral looks the perfect tourist pub, with its oak beams and ageing atmosphere, and is well featured in most of the city guide books, but was once a shabby beerhouse and later served as tea rooms.

Early photographs show a plain front and only one central upstairs window, and the house was a beerhouse until 1953. Clearly an example of the fine arts of Brewery building departments.

The name Eclipse does not come, as is often supposed from the Eclipse of the old Sun Inn which once stood opposite, for the Eclipse was in existence for some eighty years before the closure of the Sun.

Formerly the Nelson, it was renamed the Eclipse in the late eighteenth century after the famous unbeaten Derby winner 'Eclipse' a horse bred by the Duke of Northumberland and owned by Major O'Kelly who used to proclaim "Eclipse first, the rest nowhere".

Sadly despite its now pleasant atmosphere the Eclipse does not serve Real Ale.

The OLD VINE opposite, started life as one smaller building, as can be seen from the exterior, and only became enlarged in recent years. Starting life as the "Wine Stores" with surprisingly a full six day licence, trade gradually built up until the owners, Farnham Brewery, sold out to Courage of Southwark, who then developed the house further.

In 1959 when the old Morning Star in the High Street was closed, the seven day licence was transferred, and the premises re-named "Old Vine". After a period of Courage's Keg only days, it now serves Best Bitter and Directors on handpump.

The BAKERS ARMS in the High Street passageway, has had several changes and quite a few different brewery owners. For many years a Watneys House and now serving Traditional Ales, the picture in the past was vastly different. The original house encompassed both the existing courtyard and the end of the passageway, so that it was completely blocked in, on re-building in 1898 it was sold to Hugh Wyeth, a local brewer, and it was famed for its draught Stout. It passed to Strongs of Romsey with the brewery when Wyeth sold out, later it was sold to Welsh & Company of Southampton before ending up in Watneys hands.

REAL ALE TRAVELS Hop Press index

RAB NOOLAS

How often has it happened to you - you've had a nice day out with the family in the forest or at the beach, and on the way back the mother-in-law complains she gets thirsty in the boot? The only trouble is you don't know the pubs in the area. Well, our nomadic tippler RAB NOOlAS recently visited Lymington for the odd drink or so and sent us this report......

Arriving at the station, the first place one comes across is the RAILWAY HOTEL in Station Street. This, like many others, is a Whitbread pub serving Strongs Country Bitter on handpump.

Next stop ls the SLIPWAY BAR and restaurant on the quay, leaving Station St turn left into Gosport Road and then left again down the cobbled area of Quay St to the quay. In the Waterline Bar, Ringwood Bitter can be found on handpump. The bar is fairly small and has a large window looking out over Lymington Harbour.

Most of Lymington's Real Ale pubs are in the High Street and St. Thomas Street, so come back up Quay Street and you'll find ourself looking up the High Street. About 150 yds on the right is the RED LION (Whitbread) serving Strongs Country Bitter (handpump). This pub, which is usually quiet except on Market Day, Saturday, has the smallest public bar in Lymington.

The next two outlets are fairly close together and not far from the Red Lion. The ANGEL HOTEL (Eldridge Pope) has Royal Oak, Dorset Original IPA and Dorchester Bitter on handpump. The hotel is very comfortable inside and has a large fire in the winter. The building has a separate restaurant and has been in the Good Beer Guide since 1975. Avoid the ANGEL TAP under the archway because it sells no real ale.

A few doors away is LONG'S WINE LODGE. The bar is tastefully decorated and on the walls are several photos of barmaids who have worked there over the last two or three years. It is a place where many of the yachting fraternity of the town drink. The beers served are Long's Bitter (Welsh Brewers WPA), Wadworth's IPA and 6X, all on handpump.

Walk on up the High Street past the church into St. Thomas Street where there is another Eldridge Pope pub, the LOBSTER POT which sells IPA and Royal Qak on handpump. Both beers are always in superb condition and the pub also does good bar snacks.

Cross the road, past Waitrose Supermarket (which used to be the old cinema years ago) and we find the KINGS ARMS. Another Whitbread pub, serving the only gravity drawn beer in central Lymington, Pompey Royal, Strongs Country Bitter and Mild are drawn from the barrel. It is also the only house in town serving real mild. A pub well worth going to.

The next pub on our walk is YE OLDE ENGLISH GENTLEMAN in Queen Street, just round the corner on the right-hand side. This is Devenish's only pub in Hampshire and has Wessex Best Bitter and Bitter on handpumps. The pub also provides good bar snacks.

If one is feeling energetic there is another pub in Lymington worth a mention. It is about a mile from the town centre on the Southampton Road and is the MONKEY HOUSE (Whitbread) selling Strong Country Bitter and Pompey Royal on handpump. There are two Gaskell & Chambers pumps in the Iounge, look up to the ceiling where there is a nice collection of china plates in the rafters.

As you can see, a wide variety of beers served in different surroundings in a relatively small area - good drinking.

BRANCH DIARY Hop Press index

For details of these and other CAMRA activities, contact the Branch Secretary Stephanie Organ, Southampton 462653 (Home) or Southampton 34343 Ext 224 (Work)

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

I wish to become:

* A full member of CAMRA Ltd (£7. 00 per year)

* A joint member with my wife/husband (£7.00 per year)

Please make cheques payable to "Campaign for Real Ale IJd", and send completed applications to: CAMRA Membership, 34 Alma Road, St, Albans, Herts, AL1 3BW

Name ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Address ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

After joining you will receive your members monthly magazine 'What's Brewing' but more importantly you will find out about local CAMRA branch activities -they will be delighted to welcome you at any time - find out more.

Hop Press issue number 2 – May 1981

Editor: Jon Tugwell
15 Belleview Road
Eastleigh
Tel: Eastleigh 615209
hop-press@shantscamra.org.uk

Contributors:
Roje Boote, Exchange, Winchester
Norman Spalding
Ian Drinkwater
Nick Martin
South Hants Branch CAMRA
All landlords selling Real Ale

©CAMRA Ltd. 1981