CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

Issue 139 Summer 2009

• Local Pubs of the Year
• Booze on the Ouse Success
• Brewing in Huntingdonshire

The Falcon on New Street in St Neots has reopened as the Pig n Falcon with a new range of cask beers from independent brewers and is being operated as a free house under a new relaxed Greene King tenancy tie arrangement termed ‘Independence Pubs’, with local CAMRA member and retailer John Nunn at the helm. The Pig n Falcon is offering a wide range of beers from local breweries like Potbelly, Oakham, and Cambridge Moonshine, as well as local cider from Pickled Pig. It is understood that other local Greene King pubs may be offered as tenancies with similar relaxed beer tie arrangements.

During the recent Local Pubs Week coach tour CAMRA members called in at the Pheasant at Keyston to make a special presentation, celebrating the fact that the Pheasant has been in 10 consecutive editions of CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide. This is a outstanding achievement by the licensees of the Pheasant and increasingly rare when pubs change hands on an ever more frequent basis. Congratulations to owners and managers Jay and Taffeta Scrimshaw.

In response to the chancellor’s latest beer duty rise, the Horseshoe Inn and Restaurant, Offord D’Arcy has decided to 'swallow' the duty increase and offer their customers two other incentives: 50p off a pint for CAMRA members showing their membership card, and a 'Local Secrets' loyalty card. This is otherwise known as The Cambridge Card, The Huntingdon Card, or The St Neots Card. Using this card allows their customers to collect points worth 4p for every £1 spent, effectively reducing the average price of real ale to £2.25/pint. Points can then be spent at the Horseshoe to buy more ale or food, or at any of over fifty outlets in Cambridgeshire. The Horseshoe serves Potton Shannon IPA and Fullers London Pride and two guests change every week; these have recently included Buntingford's Golden Plover and Squadron 92.

Following serious damage by fire to the White Hart at Bythorn, Huntingdonshire District Council has indicated that listing building consent to demolish would probably not be granted if requested.

Opening Times has been receiving more reports of changes of licensee at pubs around the area. Peggy, formerly of the Elephant and Castle, Woodwalton is the new landlady at the White Hart, Warboys. There has been a change of manager for Greene King’s holding company at the Merry Boys in Eynesbury. The lease of the Wheatsheaf at Eaton Socon has been reported to be available, a previous incumbent having moved to the Wrestlers in St Neots.

Belatedly, Opening Times can also welcome Kevin and Lucy Whittle, who took over the lease of Greene King pub the Bell at Great Paxton last year, and the arrival at Ellington Mermaid of a new landlord and a wider range of cask ales, from the Greene King range.

Greene King’s Windmill at Somersham has closed again. Last year it closed when the leaseholders pulled out and following the installation of new incumbents shortly thereafter it closed earlier this year due to flooding damage.