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Pub Guide

Opening Times

Issue 137 Winter 2008

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PUB PIECES

Somersham Windmill has reopened after it closed unexpectedly in September. New tenants are the Heath and Green Pub Company, based in Essex, and Jamie McCarthy is their manager at the Windmill. There is a new menu and locally sourced food is expected to remain as a feature.

Meanwhile, other news from Greene King pubs is the appearance of cask Greene King mild at the George and Dragon in Eaton Socon and the arrival of new management at the Eight Bells at Abbotsley.

In Earith, the Crown and the Riverview, which have been under common proprietorship for some time, also have new incumbents.

The closure of the Globe in St Neots follows the decision of the tenant to leave. Owners Charles Wells are reported to be planning to sell the property - it is to be hoped that the sale will encourage its continuation as a pub. Charles Wells had previously advertised the tenancy of the Globe as a potential speciality cask beer house.

Elsewhere, Charles Wells have advertised the tenancy of the Royal Oak at Hail Weston and the tenants from their Fenstanton pub the Crown and Pipes have been rumoured to be taking over the Swan at Offord - interior renovation work is being carried out here.

The King of the Belgians in Hartford is for sale, freehold, for £299,500. Also for sale freehold is the Trinity Foot.

At Brampton Black Bull a popular beer festival recently sold out twelve real ales in two days and the two regular real ales, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Oakham JHB are selling so well that the landlady, Sharon Lewis, has asked the freeholders, Enterprise Inns, to install more equipment to up the range of real ales to four.

Whitbread have rebranded the Brampton Hut as a Table Table in association with the Premier Inn next door, and it now sometimes sells Greene King IPA on handpump.

Also in Brampton, the Mill has transferred from Whitbread to the M&B pub/restaurant chain. The popular riverside pub/restaurant will close for two months on 5th January 2009 for rebranding. Whitbread have a policy to concentrate on hotels and have taken 21 hotels from M&B in exchange for 44 pub/restaurants with no potential for bedrooms or a Premier Inn next door - including the Mill.

The Harrier in Brampton has reopened as part of the small local Montaz chain of Indian restaurants and take-aways. No Real Ale!

Another Indian restaurant appears close to opening at Kneesworth, near Bassingbourn, in the former Red Lion. This is another loss of a pub to the rule that such changes do not require planning permission – CAMRA is campaigning for an end to this planning loophole.

The White Horse at Eaton Socon is hosting an Everards 'meet the brewer' evening on 3 December 2008 from 7.30pm. Everards are bringing samples of Beacon, Tiger, Sunchaser, Original and the Christmas Ale Sleighbell. The White Horse will be providing food - chilli con carne with jacket potatoes.Advance booking is £2.50 including food and tastings. For tickets, contact Stephen at the White Horse on 01480 474453.