CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

• Wetherspoons for St Neots?
• Buntingford Brewery Visit
• October is Cider & Perry Month
• Where is all the Green Beer?
• Cornwall Revisited

Although the title would suggest this was return visit my last holiday in Cornwall was way back in 1975, the embryonic days of CAMRA and my real ale drinking.

Cornwall in those days was dominated by family brewers St Austell and Devenish with a number of Whitbread (Plymouth) pubs. The Blue Anchor at Helston was one of the four surviving home brew pubs in the UK.

Our holiday then was based in Newquay and limited to the range of local public transport. Newquay was a real ale desert then and still is to some extent, mainly catering for the surfing holiday crowd.

Our plan for a trip last summer was a leisurely cross-country route with an overnight stop at Taunton. So armed with the Good Beer Guide we set off. First port of call was Burford, a picturesque Cotswold village. Tucked away off the main road we found the 17th Century Royal Oak, a Wadworth’s pub, and an excellent pint of Henry’s IPA.

After checking in at the Taunton Travelodge it was time to explore the area. We had holidayed in the area several years ago when our children were small and then the priority was pubs with garden amusements to keep them happy.

So the criteria this time, was to find the ones we couldn’t go in before! The Carew Arms in Crowcombe has been listed in CAMRA’s national inventory for unspoilt pubs. Although the pub has been modernised over the years the front bar is completely unspoilt with settles and a stone flagged floor. We were too early to eat this time, but I enjoyed a pint of Cotleigh Tawny.

Our next stop was the Star Inn at Watchet which is recommended for food. Watchet is quite a small coastal town with narrow roads. Finding the pub was easy but parking a nightmare. Food was on, but completely booked up for the night. I had to make do with another pint.

By this time the fish and chip shop across the road was beginning to look inviting. But further consultation with the Good Beer Guide revealed the Anchor at Hillfarrannce. Food at last and an excellent pint of O’Hanlons Yellowhammer.

The next day found us at our destination, Helston. Some swift navigation found the cottage where we were to stay and by luck the nearest pub was the Blue Anchor, home to the formidable Spingo - their normal quaffing beer at 5% alcohol.

England were playing Portugal in the football World Cup and I couldn’t think of a better way to watch the match than in the Blue Anchor drinking Spingo. The Spingo helped to overcome the disappointment of England’s defeat.