WhatAles? Support your local pub. Use it... or lose it! free. Discover CAMRAlocally at

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1 WhatAles? Summer 2011 Newsletter of thewest Cumbria branch of CAMRA free The Brook Inn at Cleator: pub of the year page 10 Tithe Barn is cocker hoop! centre pages Fox & Hounds West Cumbria s community pub! p5 Support your local pub Use it... or lose it! Discover CAMRAlocally at

2 One of Cockermouth s oldest pubs has re-opened as a dedicated real ale pub! Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 4pm to 11pm Saturdays: 12 noon to 11pm, Sundays: 12 noon to 10.30pm 17 St Helen s Street, Cockermouth CA13 9HX (75 yards from Market Place) Telephone: No TV, no jukebox, no games machines just real good ale, real good nibbles and real good craic! Plus: bed & breakfast, lunch & evening meals (finest quality local food prepared by our Chef)

3 WhatAles? Newsletter of thewest Cumbria branch of CAMRA Save our pubs! The government s policy of continuing the beer duty escalator, whereby beer duty is set to increase 2% above inflation each year, as well as the VAT rise to 20%, means the tax on a pub pint has risen to over 1! It s no surprise that 25 pubs are closing every week 1,300 pubs closed across Britain last year. Yet supermarkets continue to sell alcohol cheaply, fuelling binge drinking and the social problems that brings. You can t buy pub atmosphere in Sainsbury s and neither can you buy cask beer served from a handpump in Tesco s. Decent pubs create an element of mutual selfcontrol and responsible drinking. Licensees want people in their pub to relax and mellow with a few drinks, not get drunk. A good pub is able to l Many thanks to all our contributors, distributors and advertisers leditor, design & production: Andy Smith ; info@smithplusbell.com ladvertising: Jim Chapple ; jimchapple@msn.com ldistribution: Garry Connor ; bodthebiker@googl .com create a meeting place for all kinds of people, where friendship and conviviality are the norm. Great quality cask ale is one of the key elements to keep attracting people into their locals. Made from wholesome barley malt and whole hops, it s vastly different to the bland, tasteless, global lager brands. Its inherent quality, freshness and variety mean, as consumers tighten their belts and look for value for their money, licensees can benefit from adopting and nurturing real ale. CAMRA s research shows that 84% of people believe a pub is as essential to village life as a shop or a post office. They are often the beating hearts of our communities. If we don t use them, we lose them. That s a price we can t afford. las l Printed by: Kent Valley Colour Printers, tel: Branch Officers l Chair: Kathryn Flagner or l Secretary: Simon Harris l Vice-Chair & Membership Secretary: Chris Hale membership@ westcumbriacamra. org.uk l Treasurer: Brian Maudling treasurer@ westcumbriacamra. org.uk l Public Affairs Officers: Stephen Walker ; contact@westcumbria camra.org.uk Ros Berry ros.berry@ btinternet.com l Pubs Officers: Data: vacant Awards and LocAle: Andy Roberts rg.uk l Socials & Transport: Eileen Lithgow, eileenlithgow@ hotmail.com or and Geoff Lithgow, or l Webmistress: Chris de Cordova webmistress@ westcumbriacamra. org.uk or l Equipment: Bob & Catriona Groat or equipment@west cumbriacamra.org.uk l Auditor: Ann Fisher l Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editors, the West Cumbria branch or of CAMRA Ltd. l No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission. SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 3

4 Haven for ale! Our branch s Beer Festival took place this year in mid-march; moving from the November weekend which it had occupied for the previous seven years. The new time of year led to a spring theme hence the bright green festival t-shirts and beers with spring names, like Keswick Brewery s Thirst Blossom. There were other new elements too like bottled beers, which were mainly from Belgium, and a German-style beer produced by Mitchell Krause (from Cockermouth!) The Belgian beers included Donkere Duivels 8 and De Rank Guldenberg. It was a real coup to get these, as they aren t usually available in this country, and were specially imported for us by Barry Smith, who imports the bottled beers for The Prince of Wales at Foxfield. 4 WhatAles?SUMMER 2011 Charity of the Festival was the Motor Neurone Disease Association we raised this will be spent on people living in West Cumbria suffering from the illness. 600 people visited the festival and drank 4,000 halves of beer and cider plus 96 bottles of beer. 16 people took part in beer tasting sessions, learning about different types of ale. One woman went from saying she didn t like beer to being a connoisseur, all in one hour. The festival is organised and run totally by volunteers, and simply wouldn t take place without them. It was really good to see CAMRA members helping at the festival for the first time, doing jobs ranging from setting up the equipment and beers in the days before the festival, serving on the bar and selling vouchers during the festival, and helping pack everything away on the Sunday morning. It was also good to see old hands passing on their expertise, ensuring we will have the skills to run the festival in the future. For the first time we invited local companies to sponsor barrels of beer. This offer was taken up by The Tavern, Whitehaven; BHS Construction Services Ltd, Whitehaven Accident Repair Ltd, Whitehaven Cons Club Ltd, Wayne s World of Pets, Bimbow s Boutique, and George Bruce Associates. The

5 That s me on the bar! sponsorship packages included the company name in the programme and above the bar, plus free entry and a couple of free drinks. It was a great way to have a works night out and get publicity at the same time. This sponsorship greatly helped with the success of the festival. Our main festival sponsor was Jennings Brewery. I would like to thank them for very generously providing the festival glasses; which were taken as a memento by each person who attended. They also donated two barrels of beer, Golden Host and Cumberland Ale. These proved to be extremely popular, and both sold out. I would also like to say thank you to Foxfield, Yates, Hesket Newmarket, Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Great Gable, Ennerdale and Strands breweries, each of whom sponsored the festival t-shirt or donated a cask of beer. Nancy and Peter from the Last Man Inn at Plumbland check the beer list. We did the regional judging for the Real Ale in a Bottle section of CAMRA s Champion Beer of Britain Competition. The winner was Silver Tally from Prospect brewery in Wigan. It now goes on to national judging to be held at The Great British Beer Festival in London this August. CAMRA branch members gave a total of 1,000 hours of their time to organise, set up and run the festival. Beer of The Festival Was Reet Gud -Yal by Beckstone s. This was also the first beer to sell out. Dates for your diary: next year s festival will be on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th March 2012 In all we had 37 cask ales, just over half came from Cumbrian breweries, the rest from further afield, including Cairngorm s Trade Winds from Aviemore in Scotland and Box Steam Brewery s Steam Porter, all the way from Wiltshire. By the end of the festival, 25 of the cask beers were sold out and of the 12 remaining, we really were scraping the bottom of the barrel! The last of the bottled Belgian beers sold early on the Saturday evening. There were also two perries and four ciders, the most popular of these was Millwhites Rum barrelconditioned cider, which sold out rather early on Saturday night. This is a comparatively small festival, but we had big feedback. The frequent comment was that the atmosphere was really good and, by and large, festival goers were pleased that there was no music. People came from a surprisingly long way, including one couple on a day return from Peterborough. Whitehaven Civic Hall is already booked for next year, so here s hoping to see lots of people coming back, and more coming for the first time. Good beers and good conversation with friendly people make a great festival, and that s what we aim for. lkathryn Flagner SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 5 Pictures:Mike McKenzie (Whitehaven News)

6 King George IV, Eskdale We are a traditional pub with everything a traditional pub should have: real ales, home cooked food and log fires. We have a rotating selection of ales from local breweries including Yates, Strands and Ulverston Dogs welcome, self- catering accommodation available Eskdale, Cumbria info@kinggeorge-eskdale.co.uk THE TITHE BARN 41 Station Street, Cockermouth CA13 9QW West Cumbria CAMRA Pub of the Season Spring 2011 Four hand pumps serving the best of Open 11am-11pm, Sunday: Closed all day Mon Telephone: including Bitter, Cocker Hoop, Website: www. tithebarncockermouth. co.uk Great food and great real ale! and seasonal ales

7 Pictures:Jim Chapple Fox & Hounds, Ennerdale Bridge Community charge! At a time when we continue to sadly log the closure of so many of rural pubs in West Cumbria, it is warming to record that one has re-opened recently, thanks to the efforts of the local community, who did not want to lose an essential piece of village life, their local! Ennerdale Bridge can now boast two premises where a good pint of real ale can be had. The Shepherds Arms Hotel has long offered a good pint, accommodation and food. However the Fox & Hounds Inn has recently had periods of closure. The last time it closed was in October 2010, and the fear again rose that this time it might be permanent. To the rescue came a group of mostly local residents who did not wish to lose part of the heart of their community. Under the project management of Peter Maher, and taking their inspiration from the Old Crown at Hesket Newmarket, they raised enough capital to purchase a 15- year lease on the premises. In only eight days, interested shareholders were found to raise the initial 67,000 required for the lease. They took over tenancy of the Inn in March this year, and re-opened on Monday 4th April. Currently there are thought to be 187 shareholders who now collectively own 85,000 shares. They will shortly hold an AGM to elect a Board of Directors. The ultimate target is to have a capital share ownership of 100,000 shares. Since raising the initial funds, support has been given by the Co-operative Enterprise Hub a service run by the Co-operative Group nationally. The up front shareholder is Diana Stewart who runs the Inn as Manager, Licensee, and Beer Selector. >>> Pub craic The Hound Inn, Arlecdon (locally known as the Jerry) is being offered for sale. We held our branch meeting there in May the beers were in excellent condition and we received a warm welcome. This real ale pub is unique insofar as its Dining Room is located in an historic dining car located in its own sidings at the rear of the premises. Originally a First Class 42 seater carriage, currently named Orchid, it dates back to the Southampton Boat Trains of the 1950s and currently seats thirty diners. It is also thought to have been the carriage that bore the body of Lord Louis Mountbatten back to Romsey from Waterloo for his funeral in SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 7

8 Pub crack The Black Tom, Camerton is still closed, and being offered for sale. It looks forlorn, bereft of any signage. The pub has had a chequered history in recent times with various owners and tenants and intermittent periods of being open. More recently it appeared to be enjoying some success as a dining pub, offering a number of local real ales (usually at least one Keswick brew). The location in the historic small rural hamlet of Camerton really puts it off the beaten track. Hopefully someone may see it as a viable business, although it is understood that at least one viewer is planning to turn it into a private residence. As yet no change of use planning application has been seen. >>> Diana (pictured right) had some experience running bars at events in her native Carlisle. However, real ale came as something new to her, and she has up to now relied upon the support of local breweries such as Jennings to help her maintain the stillage and brews in good condition. Evidence being the half pint of Ennerdale Blonde I sampled on a recent visit, and the many walkers who seem to gravitate to the Inn after their walks on the fells or along the Coast to Coast Walk. From recent visitor comments on the internet they are certainly getting the welcome, beer selection and quality right. The five hand-pumps comprise of two Marstons ( Jennings Bitter as a regular, plus another) and three changing local brews. At the time of my visit these were from Ennerdale and Hawkshead. Dave Bailey was also delivering a Hardknott brew to the cellar. Diana is considering joining CAMRA s LocAle initiative which will further support local suppliers. The original premises date back to the early 19th century. In the 21st, they are set to offer a full range of facilities to the visitor, including en-suite accommodation, plans to possibly open up a post office and/or shop, together with an information area to promote local tourism facilities. CAMRA West Cumbria is very pleased that we now have a community pub in the Branch area. We wish them every success and will do all we can to support them. Hopefully this achievement may persuade a number of other communities, where their local pub is under threat or closed, to consider taking control themselves. l Jim Chapple Eddie Brew Kevin Nutter 8 WhatAles?SUMMER 2011

9 Real local, real fire, real food. Real ale: changing constantly CAMRA GOOD BEER GUIDE 2009 Open every day: Sunday to Thurs: 3pm-11pm Friday & Saturday: 3pm-11.30pm Come along and enjoy a fantastic home-from-home atmosphere. No jukebox or fruit machines, just relaxed background music and a selection of board games! Tapas now being served, various dishes available: 5pm 10pm Tuesday to Thursday: 5pm to 12 midnight (Closed Monday) Friday, Saturday & Sunday:12 noon to12 midnight West Cumbria CAMRA s Pub of the Season Summer Main Street, Hensingham CA28 8QX PARKSIDE HOTEL CleatorMoor Serving Fine Local Cumbrian Real Ales Bar Meals 6:30 9:00 Sunday Lunch 11:30 3:00 Unbeatably Good Food Private Parties and Functions 1 Market Place, Cockermouth, CA13 9BZ Four hand pumps Yates Bitter always on! Plus three other guest ales, including beers from Barngates, Corby, Cumbrian Legendary Ales, Dent, Derwent, Hesket Newmarket, Keswick, Stringers and Yates breweries. 10p from the sale of every pint of Keswick Brewery s Thirst Rescue goes to the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, when this beer is on. We also serve a wide range of wines, hot beverages and soft drinks. WEST CUMBRIA CAMRA >>> RUNNER-UP PUB OF THE YEAR 2008 PUB OF THE SEASON SUMMER 2007

10 West Cumbria CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011 The Brook Inn Cleator A pub with heart by Mary Thompson You could easily drive straight past 93 Trumpet Terrace in Cleator. Yes, there s a pub sign, and the unassuming front is neat with window boxes, and wind chimes sound calmly outside, if you had stopped to find them. If you failed to stop you would have missed a special treat in a rather special pub, owned and run by a rather special lady Kirsty Bennett. The Brook Inn is regularly in CAMRA s Good Beer Guide, in 2006 it was Best Pub in the Copeland Pride Awards (and has been a finalist more times than remembered), has been runnerup several times in West Cumbria CAMRA s Pub of the Year awards, and this year was deservedly named as West Cumbria CAMRA Pub of the Year Oh, and Scores on the 10 WhatAles?SUMMER 2011 Kirsty Bennett: owner of the Brook Inn, our branch pub of the year. Doors has awarded them four stars for food safety and hygiene! This long list of plaudits started almost immediately Kirsty opened the pub just before Christmas 2004 by the Spring of 2006, it had already come to the attention of local CAMRA members and Kirsty s hard work in re-establishing a pub in the finest British tradition was recognised when we named The Brook Inn as Pub of the Season for Spring Along with numerous local folk, any number of keen CAMRA members, and visitors who know a good thing when they see it, Ron and I have become regulars, especially when out on our bikes. The pub is open all day every day. There are always four good beers on, Timothy Taylor s and Yates being the house

11 beers, accompanied by two invariably interesting guests, and there s always a real cider available (soon to have its own handpump). Chris Lace, Kirsty s knowledgeable cellarman, keeps all in good drinking order. There s always something to eat available lunches 12 2pm and dinners 6-9 pm, and in between there are light bites and sandwiches. And we re talking here about good food, locally sourced where possible, freshly prepared, appetisingly presented, and cheerfully served. If it s summer then step into the cool but welcoming attractive interior, and if it s winter then step into cosy warmth and a roaring fire. So how did this jewel become established, when, and by what good fortune? I sat down with Kirsty over a pot of tea (well, I was driving!) to chat caption caption caption caption caption caption caption caption caption caption caption caption Pictures:Andy Roberts and Phil de Cordova There are always four ales, with tasting notes on the chalk board and on the tables. Yates Golden Ale and Timothy Taylor s Landlord are popular regulars. Cellarman Chris varies the other two beers sometimes from any of the 29 Cumbrian breweries, sometimes from further afield. Guest beers are carefully chosen and he is happy to consult with customers as to what they would like him to order next. and ask nosy questions, which she answered in her inimitable, friendly, open, though a bit shy, way. Kirsty grew up in Derbyshire and moved to Cumbria for her first job, in Children s Care. She followed this, her chosen career, for 17 years, living for ten of those years in Appleby, before finally waking up one day and thinking I have to do something else now. And, as these things so often happen, within a really short time, she saw an advert for a pub for sale in Cleator. The pub, which has a long history going back to the early 19th century, (and maybe even before that), was really rather unprepossessing. But Kirsty, whose artistic and imaginative flair is evident as soon as you step inside the pub, saw and felt how she could take it on and make it a real welcoming hostelry. She set about not just redecorating, but restructuring the ground floor. It had been one big open room with seats all round the walls. She structured in the triple space that now houses the bar, and a mix of cosy corner seating with free-standing tables and chairs. She immediately enrolled herself on a course at The Lakes College to learn her new business and become a proper licensee. She smiled and laughed as she looked back, remembering just how much work she had undertaken. She immediately spoke about how much help and support she had received, from locals, from friends, from CAMRA, from the breweries, from anyone willing to give a bit of good advice. And that easily moved our conversation into looking at what she values, enjoys, indeed even treasures, in her (not so) new life and work. What stands out even >>> SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 11

12 >>> above her commitment to high standards (whether that s beer, food, or ambience) is her sheer enthusiasm and whole-hearted enjoyment of contributing to the spirit of community. The Brook Inn is without doubt a community pub, a home from home in the very best sense. Kirsty emphasises that this is a place where all are welcome, old folk, young folk, families with children, and dogs especially dogs, providing said dogs recognise that Isobel, Kirsty s friendly dalmation, is Queen of the Walk! There are traditional dominoes and darts, there s live music weekly which often turns into a jam session ; there s a book club now, books being housed in the wall cabinet easily accessed by all. Birthdays are given a special place of celebration, as seen on the events board over the fireplace. There s love in the best sense in this place, the love of people and things that make life worthwhile. There s artwork about. Some things Kirsty has made herself, some are bought by her because she really liked them. And some are the work of local artist and friend Sue Wickwar. Kirsty tells me she wants to make more of showing (and perhaps selling) local art works. Beer The quality of beer is the most important single factor in judging a pub for a CAMRA award; it has to sell excellent quality real ale. The pub doesn t need a wide range of beers to score highly. A couple of ales in tip-top condition is infinitely preferable to one selling seven or eight of variable quality. The fact that a pub is a tied house mustn t be held against it in any way. Atmosphere Is it a nice place to be? Has the most been made of the actual building? Does the style 12 WhatAles?SUMMER 2011 Branch chair Kathryn Flagner hands Kirsty the POTY award. Awards are also being made to the three runners up of our Pub of the Year: the Kirkstile Inn at Loweswater; the Lifeboat at Maryport; and the Brown Cow at Waberthwaite. Our next issue will feature these three great pubs. show respect for the building? Service and welcome Prompt, efficient and friendly? Do you get full measure or at least a top up without having to ask? Clientele Mix A good pub is one where anyone can go in and feel comfortable, whoever they are. A CAMRA Pub of the Year needs to be inclusive, not exclusive. Sympathy with our aims Is cask beer given a positive push here?price lists should be prominently displayed, as should opening hours. Does the This is a pub where you can be sure of a good pint, with a decent choice. You can be equally sure of friendliness and warmth, whether the pub is full and buzzing or whether it is a quiet hour, with just one or two regulars. In many ways the Brook is at first sight a rather ordinary public house. But, Kirsty and I agreed, no amount of brass, beams, or lavish furnishing, count toward that special feel of enjoyment and contentment that makes this pub, and indeed any pub, feel like a good pub. What makes the Brook special is not due only to skill, knowledge, and hard-won practical experience. These flourish, but because of the palpable sense of heart that Kirsty and her staff have made manifest here. n So what makes a pub of the year for CAMRA? pub try to stimulate interest in the issues we re concerned about? Good ValueIn the widest sense of the term, not just how cheap the ale is we ask: how good a pub experience have I had? It s not always easy to pin point exactly why a pub seems so good, but somehow it all comes together and the whole thing works. lif you are a CAMRA member, send your nomination for our 2012 POTY to branch chair Kathryn Flagner at kathryn.flagner@hotmail.co.uk

13 The Swan Inn Real Fire Real Pub Small Parties catered for anytime Opening hours: M-Th /6-12 Fri / Sat / Sun Kirkgate, Cockermouth

14 camra champion best bitter northwest 2010 Plumbland Open 7 nights a week Traditional Village Pub with Good Food and Real Ale People, dog and cat friendly! Open from 6pm every day, and pm Tuesday to Thursday, & from 12 noon on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays Free cordials for designated drivers (for drivers of cars with three or more people) For current menus and ales, visit: or

15 Special brews At this time of year, many brewers are producing one or more seasonal beers in a style referred to as Summer Ales. This is typically a light coloured, gently bittered, hoppy ale, in the 3.5% -4.2% abv band; light, refreshing, easy-drinking, and very popular a great style to tempt those who think they don t like beer! We are fortunate to have an amazing 29 breweries in Cumbria, and many of them are producing something special to delight us this summer, so give them a try when you see them. Yates summer ales portfolio include the following beers: Bees Knees, 4.5%, the popular honey beer, lightly hopped with a crisp taste followed by a delicate hint of honey; Sun Goddess, 4.2%, a complex, full flavoured, packed with tropical fruit; Solway Sunrise, 4.3%, a pale coloured beer with a zing of American hops, very refreshing; Solway Summer, 4.2%, a light beer, very reminiscent of the original Carlisleberg ; Green Hop Bitter, 4.2%, strictly speaking an Autumn beer to celebrate the end of the hop harvest in Westnewton. Boiled green rather than being dried these fresh hops give a >>> SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 15

16 >>> delicious flavour. Yates only beer brewed using Cumbrian Hops. Yates do not have any tied houses but have a huge number of regular and loyal outlets throughout Cumbria, so these should be easy enough to find. Jennings has, for the last few years, had a full year of monthly specials, when they repeat favourites and showcase new beers. This summer we see two new ones to look out for: Cocky Blonde, 4%, light and refreshing with a delicate hint of strawberry, available in July, and Lakeland Stunner, 3.9%, a light golden, easy drinking ale with its delicate floral and citrus aroma, available in August. Many Jennings houses offer the seasonals. From Beckstones, the lovely Leat, 3.6%. This is a floral, fruity, thirst quenching beer which started out as a light mild then got hops added but is not very bitter. It has not been available for a couple of years because of the difficulty of getting the right hops, but Dave the brewer has now found some that should do the trick. Look for this around Millom, particularly the Punchbowl at The Green, the brewery tap for Beckstones beers, where there is a festival of Beckstones multi-award winning beers and other beers on 1st 3rd July All trains to Green Road station (a level walk of one mile) will be met, and people taken back to the station when ready! Kirkby Lonsdale has already released their summer ale which is called Tiffin Gold, 3.6%. It is light bodied with an intensely fruity nose and a lingering bitter finish. The name is linked to Kirkby Lonsdale, as are all their beers. (Tiffin Lane runs adjacent to the churchyard in the town.) Tiffin Gold uses a combination of three hops from New Zealand, USA and Europe. Kirkby Lonsdale s brewery tap is the Orange Tree, in the town, and they supply a number of other outlets with their superb beers. Cumberland Breweries are not doing a new beer for the summer, but their Corby Blonde, 4.2%, strong hop character with clean hop flavours and aromas, which started out as a summer ale last year, has remained so popular that they never stopped brewing it. If you haven t tried it, give it a go. Often to be found around Carlisle, and in Wetherspoons and free houses. Cumbrian Legendary Ales are again giving us the pleasure of Buttermere Beauty, 4.8%, a cold fermented real pilsner and LPA, 3.6%, a very hoppy but refreshing beer using a selection of hops including Cascade. Dent Brewery are not producing a new summer ale for us this year; the delightful Golden Fleece, 3.7%, fills this category admirably, but Rambrau, 4.5%, their lean and crisp refreshing lager-style beer, which was a national Champion Beer of Britain finalist a couple of years ago, is available again for the summer beer. Also look out for Baas and Stripes American Pale Ale, 4.2%. With all these gorgeous locallybrewed summer ales, each with their own individual tasting characteristics, it would be surprising if you couldn t find something to enjoy. Let us know which you like best, and better still, let the breweries know you have enjoyed their beers! l Chris de Cordova 16 WhatAles?SUMMER 2011

17 Kirkstile Inn Loweswater Cumbria The Legend of John Paul Jones Strong Pale Ale Cumbrian Legendary Ales American Invasion brewed in the lakes alc 5% vol NEW! Try our ales in mini casks 5 litres (8.8 pints) Live real ale, easy pour tap perfect for summer 20 info@cumbrianlegendaryales.com Watermill Inn & Brewing Co Ings Village, near Windermere The Watermill is an award-winning friendly Lakeland Inn, specialising in Real Ale, Real Food and Real Atmosphere. Our own on-site Micro Brewery Est Home of the award winning Collie Wobbles. Up to 16 Real Ales on at once, all on traditional hand pulls. Excellent food pm & 5-9pm all week. Varied menu and constantly changing Chefs Specials Board SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 17

18 Our pubof the season: spring 2011 Storming Barn by Ros Berry The Tithe Barn is West Cumbria CAMRA s spring Pub of the Season. A presentation was made on 3rd May by branch members. I caught up with landlord Glyn Hewitt a week later before he was due to dash off to Keswick for a session at the town s annual jazz festival. The pub is over 125 years old, and was for many years frequented by farmers during the town s livestock auctions, which used to take place just across the road on the site now occupied by Sainsbury s. It s coming up to five years since Glyn and Barbara Hewitt took over the running of the Tithe Barn. Prior to that they ran the Lime Kiln in Brigham, before it was sold by the Robinsons brewery, and twenty years before that had run the Appletree in the same village. In between Glyn worked in health physics and ran his own hearing aid supply business for a number of years. After leaving the Lime Kiln, the couple continued to look for the pub that was right for them, and took over the Tithe Barn in July Alongside Jennings brewery the Hewitts instigated a number of improvements and alterations. The original front bar had been very much the preserve of 18 WhatAles?SUMMER 2011 regulars, and had a strong horse racing theme. Now the bar has been opened up to form a single light and airy space, while the Victorian entrance hall, with its tiled floor, wooden panels and stained glass, has been preserved. Glyn and Barbara s aim was to create a family friendly atmosphere, based around serving good quality beer and locally sourced, home cooked, food. The pub appeals to a broad cross section of people; it s a place to enjoy a meal with friends or family, and linger on afterwards to enjoy beer and conversation. They are clearly doing something right, as Glyn says that turnover has doubled since July There are three beers regularly on sale: Jennings Bitter, Cumberland and Cocker Hoop. The beer is always well kept, and this has commended the pub to local CAMRA members. The food menu can range from a trio of pan seared fish to steak in ale pie or curry of the day. There is also a senior citizens lunchtime menu. Along with many Cockermouth pubs, the Tithe Barn has been through some turbulent times. Glyn recalls that the closure of several local bridges after the November 2009 flood meant that some regulars struggled to make their usual visits. We were lucky, says Glyn. We are near the top of the street, and you wouldn t believe we could have been flooded at all, but we had three and a half feet of water in the cellar from the River Cocker being blocked by a fallen tree. Luckily we managed to reopen after just three weeks, when many other Picture: Andy Smith Glyn Hewitt pictured with the POTS award with Daz (left)and Michael (right).

19 The Tithe Barn, Cockermouth 41 Station Street, Cockermouth CA13 9QW Tel: Jennings Bitter 3.5% ABV. Darker and lower in alcohol than most bitters, but exceptionally fullflavoured for a beer of its strength. pubs in the town were closed for much longer. The flood damaged catering equipment, as well as food and drink stocks. In the first few hours of the flood, the pub took in and fed a number of elderly people forced out of their homes, and in the following days used their uncontaminated food stocks to supply rescue workers. What makes Glyn tick is his enjoyment of working with people, both staff and customers. He is also a lover of trad jazz, and enjoys live music. Occasionally there will be a live band performing in the bar on a Sunday evening. We just do it because I enjoy it. We have varied our licence, so we can now let a band play spontaneously if the chance arises. The Hewitts employ six staff and a dozen or so seasonal or casual workers. Glyn tells with some pride how Darren Shaw, known to all as Daz, became the youngest personal licence holder in the country. Working here from before he left school was an apprenticeship for him, Glyn recalls. He passed all his exams, and we took him to the licensing office to receive his certificate in person on his 18th birthday. These are difficult times and Glyn knows that licensees need to make the most of their facilities. The upstairs dining room now doubles as a meeting and function room. There is a retractable screen and Powerpoint projection, and it s already being used by organisations and businesses for meetings and training days. Glyn and Barbara are delighted to receive the award of CAMRA s Pub of the Season. It was a complete surprise, we weren t expecting this at all, he says. It is evident that Glyn s enthusiasm and attention to detail mean that this Cockermouth pub is in good hands. n Cumberland Ale 4.0% ABV. Jennings biggest seller, Cumberland outsells all the other Jennings beers put together and is the only one to be dryhopped. Cocker Hoop 4.6% ABV. Made mainly from English hops, with a touch of Styrian Goldings from Slovenia to give a distinctive aroma. Pale in colour with a rich mouth-feel and a lovely bitter-sweet balance. SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 19

20 Hal and Andy welcome you to the Barn Bistro at Gilcrux. Come and enjoy a delicious meal and try our local real ales in a welcoming atmosphere. We cater for all sorts of functions, serve bistro-style pub food using great local produce. Why not try our steak night (every Wednesday) or our scrumptious Sunday lunches! Open Tuesday to Sunday Food served & pm We are six miles from Cockermouth and four miles from Aspatria between the A595 & A596 Gilcrux, Cumbria CA7 2QX l Three handpumps serving Cumbrian real ales including Jennings Bitter l Lovely real fire! l Well-behaved dogs welcome until 6pm Calder House Hotel Seascale West Cumbria CAMRA Pub of the Season Autumn 2010 Great selection of real ales from Cumbria and the British Isles Excellent food served daily, lunchtime and evenings Superb seafront beer garden Accommodation available all year round Calder House Hotel, The Banks, Seascale, Cumbria, CA20 1QP Tel no:

21 GosforthHall Inn Up hills, down dales, Rod s pies, real ales Located on Wasdale Road, the gateway to Wastwater Tel:

22 Market Place Cockermouth A beautiful 16th century building combining stylish contemporary decor, offering a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Three floors of bespoke lounges, gastro-dining, sports viewing room and vibrant bar. Sun-facing landscaped, terraced Beer Garden. Functions: Weddings, Parties & Christenings. CAMRA Annual Pub Design Awards 2009: Commended Opening Times: Monday to Thursday 11am - 11pm Friday and Saturday 11am - 12pm Sunday 12 noon - 11pm Food Served: Monday to Friday 11.30am-2.30pm & 5.30pm-8.45pm Saturday 11.30am-3pm & 5.30pm-8.45pm Sunday 12 noon-3pm & 5.30pm-8.45pm Contact: The Castle Bar, 14 Market Place, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9NQ Bookings:

23 Sun shines If I was asked for my view of a perfect pub, then I would say it requires at least two basic requirements. Firstly, it must offer at least one consistent, well-kept real ale, served in tip-top condition. Secondly,there must be a comfortable and interesting ambience in which I can enjoy it. The latter is usually the more difficult to satisfy. Now that I am getting on a bit, my hearing is less good and I do not want to have to shout above music or other noise in order to have a conversation. Also I like to be seated to enjoy a pint, particularly if I have been walking beforehand. I do not want to be excluded because all or most of the seating is strictly reserved for those wishing to order food. I appreciate that pubs nowadays are heavily dependent upon income from food, but many pubs have now become eating places that also serve beer. It is almost a case of having to make a dining reservation if you want a pint! However, the reserved seating trend may be turning in the direction of the drinker. One particular example is the Sun Inn at Bassenthwaite which has turned the area directly in front of the bar (and alongside the open fire) into a reserved for drinkers area. This is a noted dining pub, popular with visitors, but appears to be able to balance the comfort requirements of all their clientele. All the tables in the drinkers area are marked as please leave this table free for drinkers. Hopefully this welcoming attitude will encourage more visitors to the pub and be followed by a rethink of some of the more extreme unwelcoming restrictions on drinkers elsewhere in West Cumbria. I would be interested to hear about such premises that welcome drinkers. CAMRA s flagship publication The Good Beer Guide carries symbols against the premises entries as a quick guide to facilities. Maybe there should be one that indicates if the pub is welcoming to drinkers. If not, then why should they be in after all it is a good beer guide? But then this is only my personal view. Please let me know what you think jimchapple@msn.com l JC Pictures: Jim Chapple Pub craic Susan from the Sun Inn writes: Mike and I have a huge commitment to real ale and real food and to providing our customers with value for money in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere. We are bringing this tried and tested combination to the Grey Goat in Cockermouth as we firmly believe this traditional pub has a place in the community and will contribute further to the town s reputation as a food, drink and visitor destination. We very much look forward to our opening on Thursday June 16th and hope to see you all soon. The Dukes Head, Bridgefoot is closed and boarded up. It is understood that Robinsons are advertising for a new tenant. SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 23

24 Pub crack There is still no sign of what is likely to happen with the currently closed, and boarded up, Black Bull ( Annie s ) in Eaglesfield. It was thought that it had been purchased by two local businessmen with a taste for real ale. Subsequently it was learned that the previous owners, Admiral Taverns (see Spring 2011 issue) had accepted another offer from a local purchaser, as yet unidentified. We wait to see what the new owners plans are for this historic pub. Has anyone seen any planning application(s) for the premises? www. westcumbria camra. org.uk Beer duty farce ConDem-ing pubs It s naive not to be surprised when an elected government doesn t live up to the promises made in the run up to an election. But while you can forgive some not being met or ignored reversing a position is harder to stomach. In the run up to the general election politicians of every hue pledged support for the British pub, with Tories and Lib Dems particularly keen to help promote and protect them. Since getting into office, the reverse seems to be true. In the Budget in March, the Government put beer prices up by another 7.2% - or 10p on a pint. This takes the typical duty and VAT bill on a pub pint of a standard bitter to 90p. In many parts of the country and for stronger beers the combined duty and VAT bill is well over 1 per pub pint. The total VAT and duty cost varies depending on the strength of the beer and the price at which it is being sold. The Chancellor has refused to remove the damaging beer duty escalator introduced by the last Government, so beer duty is set to continue increasing 2% above inflation each year. The duty escalator remains in place despite 3,200 CAMRA members contacting their MPs through an lobbying campaign calling for no further increases in beer duty. Supermarkets can afford to and are willing to absorb beer duty increases so they can continue selling alcohol at rock bottom prices. However, this option is not open to struggling community pubs, meaning continual price rises for pub goers. The difference in prices between pubs and supermarkets continues to widen, which will encourage drinkers to stay at home rather than enjoy a pint with friends in their local. It was also recently announced that beer duty will be halved for beers at 2.8% ABV or below. CAMRA will be calling on the Government to push the EU to increase the 2.8% threshold for beers eligible for the lower duty rate to 3.5% ABV so a wider range of beers can benefit. The good news on a duty cut at or below 2.8% is heavily tempered by tax increases for beers above 7.5%. CAMRA campaigned against higher tax on strong beers due to the potential harm to speciality beers and traditional beer styles. n WhatAles? Our autumn issue will be out in September Final deadline for booking adverts is Friday 12th August Deadline for advert artwork is Friday 26th August To advertise, jimchapple@msn.com or ring Jim on WhatAles?SUMMER 2011

25 (Two miles south of Ravenglass on A595) Phil and Becca Chapman welcome you to the Brown Cow at Waberthwaite. We are a community inn nestled on the west coast of the lakes. We offer up to seven fine cask ales including beers from Hawkshead and Lancaster breweries and a Mild always available. We only use local award-winning butchers for our steak. We have four en-suite letting rooms with bed and breakfast. We are close to the mountains and the sea Unfortunately we do not have public transport so you may need a designated driver. We look forward to your visit! Brown Cow Inn Waberthwaite, Cumbria LA19 5YJ Open all day Saturday & Sunday Traditional pub food cooked using fresh, authentic, local, high-quality ingredients. Served every night: pm Fresh Fish: Thursday & Friday eves Friday lunch: 12pm 2pm Food served Saturdays: 12 3pm & pm, Sundays: pm Six hand-pumps serving locally-brewed Jennings real ales and a selection of guest beers The Wheatsheaf Inn, Low Lorton, Cockermouth CA13 9UW; Tel: ; info@wheatsheafinnlorton.co.uk Website:

26 An uncompromised taste of Lakeland and Solway Over 20 beers brewed throughout the year plus a range of seasonal and celebration ales tel: / sales@derwentbrewery.co.uk web: Derwent Brewery, Unit 2a, Station Road, Silloth, Cumbria CA7 4AG West Cumbria CAMRA Pub of the Year Runner Up 2010 l Braithwaite s best kept secret l Excellent local real ales from Keswick, Hesket Newmarket and Barngate breweries and others l CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2010 l Warm and friendly l Passionate approach to good food using mainly Cumbrian produce l Comfortable en-suite rooms l Bar open all day West Cumbria CAMRA Pub of the SeasonWinter Braithwaite, Cumbria CA12 5RY (just off the A66 between Keswick and Bassenthwaite lake) Tel: Website: middleruddings@btconnect.com Brook House Inn and Restaurant, in the heart of Eskdale West Cumbria CAMRA Pub of the Year 2010 Hawkshead Bitter and Langdale (Cumbrian Legendary Ales) always available, plus Yates, Jennings Cumberland and special guests (usually from small breweries in the North). At busy times we have up to 7 real ales (10 at Beer Festival time) and a cider! Cumbrian Legendary Ales Boot, Eskdale, Cumbria CA19 1TG Tel Website: Langdale brewed in the lakes ABV 4%

27 Come and try a pint of quality real ale in the harbour area at Maryport Five hand pumps serving real ales, all from breweries in Cumbria Shipping Brow, Senhouse Street, Maryport CA15 6AB Home of the World Giant Vegetable Championships! Home cooked food. including the best fish n chips in Britain! Meals served 12-3 and 6-9. Open 7 days a week, Tel: >>> SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 27

28 Headstarttohappiness A pint of real ale after a good fell walk takes some beating. BRIAN MAUDLING knows a great route... For many years now, The Wasdale Head Inn has been amongst the big beasts of the Cumbrian real ale scene. Famed as the birthplace of British rock-climbing, and sitting at the head of the unspoilt valley beyond the lake of Wastwater, it has been a magnet for walkers and holiday-makers alike, as well as those local real ale enthusiasts in the know. It has to be said however, indeed it is one of it s charms, that The Wasdale Head is not the easiest place to get to. Especially from Keswick. Consulting our good friends at Google Maps, it gives the required journey from Keswick Moot Hall to the Inn itself as a car journey of 41.7 miles, taking an approximate one hour and seventeen minutes to get there. Such are the vagaries of the local geography that West Cumbria CAMRA branch members need to overcome! There is, though, and alternative means of making the journey which will provide much more pleasure and 28 WhatAles?SUMMER 2011

29 satisfaction as well as, with no driving involved, the chance to sample more than one of the beers available. It utilises one of the many passes of the Lake District, which are those less glamorous cousins of the Wainwrights, but are an excellent way of getting about in the Lakes. Though they do, of course, require a bit of uphill walking but are kinder on the legs than the high fell-tops, meaning you can increase the range and diversity of your walks. The first step is to take the bus from Keswick down to Seatoller, styled as The Borrowdale Rambler. These number 78 buses are fairly regular, especially in summer months, and I caught mine at 11.25, arriving at the farthest stop around Ensuring I was properly kitted out for the walk, including having sturdy walking boots, I then set off on foot towards Seathwaite, on the quiet country road signposted. After little more than a mile I passed through Seathwaite Farm and into the glorious open country. The footpath provided might be well known to many of you, as it ascends alongside Grains Gill up to Esk Hause, and is an excellent way of reaching Scafell Pike and Great End, which looms ominously above. However, that was for another day. Upon reaching a very picturesque arched packhorse bridge I took a path leading off to the right and Buses: The 77 (the Honister Rambler) runs until the end of October and the 78 (the Borrowdale Rambler) until the end of September, starting and finishing at Keswick bus station (next to Booth s). See our website (public transport page) for timetables. ascended close to a splendid waterfall, Taylorgill Force, which is best seen (and photographed!) from the valley floor rather than the short but rather arduous climb up to a clump of trees. Happily, after a while the path begins to flatten out and after negotiating a rather tricky patch where the path turns into a field of boulders, Styhead Tarn comes into view. Continuing up to the summit of Styhead Pass, the famed Stretcher Box came into view, which should reassure you that you ve not taken a wrong turn. The path curves round to the right and does now being to drop down-hill. With the Scafells on the left and Great Gable towering above on the right I hurried down what must have been an old packhorse road as shown in sepia photos in the Wasdale Head Inn and elsewhere. Continuing alongside a beck, the path first crosses a fairly modern wooden bridge and then eventually reaches the Wasdale valley floor. As so very often, the hardest part to navigate is the last mile or so but after traversing many small footbridges, and taking the odd wrong turn, my destination came into view a welcome sight indeed. Once inside what is known as Ritson s Bar, I was delighted by the choice of beers. Other than Black Sheep Bitter >>> SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 29 Pictures: Brian Maudling

30 >>> (3.8%), there was Summer Rose (4.2%), Carlisle State Bitter (3.7%) and W&M Kendal Pale Ale (4.4%) all from Derwent Loweswater Gold (4.3%) from Cumbrian Legendary Ales and also Ennerdale Bitter (3.6%) and (my choice) an excellent pint of Ennerdale Blonde (3.8%), from Ennerdale Brewery. One of the beauties of many of our real ale pubs is that you don t know what to expect on the bar, it could be one of your old favourites or a new one you ve not even heard of... If you go into this same bar today you might find a completely different list of ales or it might be very similar, enjoy the choice... With my pint in hand, I looked around at the maps and rock-climbing paraphernalia on the walls, which do add real character to the place, and then allowed myself the brief luxury of a sit down. Having checked my watch it was now two o clock, only a little over two and a half hours ago I had been in the hustle and bustle of Keswick, the walking part of the journey taking around two of those hours. I am admittedly a fairly quick walker, and there are possibly no greater motivations known to man than a good pint of real ale, and the threat of a missed bus at the end of a long day. So, speaking of which, around quarter past I set off for the return journey, only just 30 WhatAles?SUMMER 2011 Ritson s Bar at the Wasdale Head. The Yew Tree at Honister. catching the bus from Seatoller to be back into Keswick for Though, if I had missed the bus, there was also the option of going into the nearby Honister Yew Tree, a licensed café which has been selling Hesket Newmarket brewery s Doris 90th in tiptop condition. I would however say that, with good planning, a more leisurely six or seven hours could include a meal at The Wasdale Head Inn, and allow less haste in climbing up to Styhead Pass surely a fantastic day out in the Lakes for tourists and locals alike. n Other bars in the area for real ale: The Ladore Hotel; The Borrowdale Hotel; The Riverside Bar at the Scafell Hotel: very good beer Jennings, Keswick, Copper Dragon, etc.; The Langstrath Country Hotel Jennings, Keswick beers, scenic location, on or around Cumbrian Way route down Langstrath valley, not open all year round; The Honister Yew Tree, Seatoller (see left). Layout is one half cafe, one half pub, with a merged seating area. It is only open April to October so try it while you can... lbm

31 Bridge Hotel Buttermere Set amidst majestic mountains such as Red Pike, Haystacks and Fleetwith Pike and nestled between Buttermere Lake and Crummock Water, the Bridge is quite simply an idyllic retreat. Walking and climbing to suit all levels or just relax in the peaceful serenity of this unspoilt corner of the Lakes. The Bridge offers: An award winning restaurant Magnificent, individually designed bedrooms Luxury self-catering apartments Two bars, serving excellent real ale, locally sourced, home cooked food and an extensive wine list Open every day 10.30am 11pm (Sundays 10.30am 10.30pm) Bridge Hotel, Buttermere, Cumbria CA13 9UZ WhatAles? Subscribe! To receive a personal copy of the next four issues by post, please send your name and address, with a cheque or postal order, made payable to CAMRA West Cumbria Branch, for 3.00 (to cover post and packaging) to Jim Chapple, 33 Castlegate Drive, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9HD. Your copies will receive priority over normal distribution. Offer available to United Kingdom addresses only. For overseas please contact Jim at jimchapple@msn.com

32 Calling all pubs and breweries: l A quarter page costs just 29 for a one-off or 105 for four issues l Half page size advert will cost you 54 an issue or 189 for a series of four l A full page is 97 or 347 for a whole year s worth. you can advertise in these pages lwe printed 4,000 copies of this issue you can reach all those beer drinkers in West Cumbria (and well beyond)! l Contact Jim: jimchapple@msn.com At the foot of Skiddaw you will find a hidden Lakeland Gem For Real Ales, Real Food, and a Real Lakeland Experience The Sun at Bassenthwaite Bassenthwaite Village, Nr Keswick CA12 4QT Te l : A 16th Century Former Farmhouse with Oak Beams and Coal Fire. Jennings Real Ales and Special Guests. Local produce superbly cooked & presented by our Head Chef Shaun and his team including your favourites and lots of changing specials. Dogs are especially welcome have a drive out and give us a try! Open all day Sat & Sun from 12 noon (lunch served 12-2pm) Open Mon-Fri from 4pm. Evening meals pm every day - bookings advisable. thesunatbassenthwaite@hotmail.com Website:

33 Marston s list: the hidden gems Trip-hop In August there will not be a branch meeting. However we have organised a Branch Social Trip: Sat 6th August, around Keswick pubs To book transport or for more details contact Eileen at eileenlithgow@ hotmail.com or or Geoff, or Mark takes his pick At the Wheatsheaf Inn at Lorton, just four miles from the brewery in Cockermouth, Jennings real ales go down great. With a campsite at the back of the pub and situated close to some of Cumbria s loveliest fells, landlord Mark Cockbain is not short of visitors. They love Jennings beers, he says. It s a big part of their holiday. The locals also love their Bitter, Cocker Hoop, Snecklifter, Dark Mild and all the seasonals that Mark stocks as well. Having six handpumps during the spring and summer months certainly helps. But Mark is also satisfying the thirst and curiosity of real ale enthusiasts by getting the most out of the Marston s list the beers from around the country that, being part of a bigger group, Jennings is able to supply. We get the Pedigrees and Hobgoblins, they go down great, but I m also keen to get the unknowns, the unheard-ofs that you only find if you dig deeper in the monthly list, says Mark. A recent favourite was Ringwood s Old Thumper. It s strong, at 5.6% ABV, but all those beers seem to go down well. Quite often I will take a cask of beer I ve never heard of, and even when it arrives with the pump clip, I don t know what the beer looks like or where it s from! But they usually turn out great! In May, Mark had four Milds, Jennings Dark Mild of course, Merry Monk, Banks Ruby Mild and Mild. They went down really well. They are not strong, only about 3.1% but still tasty. It could be a lost variety of real ale. And isn t that the spice of life? n SUMMER 2011 WhatAles? 33

34 Branch meetings Wed 6th July, 8pm Fox and Hounds, Ennerdale Bridge (CA23 3AR, six miles east of Whitehaven, east off A595) Wed 7th Sept, 8pm Wasdale Head Inn (CA20 1EX, 9 miles east of Ravenglass, off A595) Wed 5thOctober, 8pm The Barn Bistro, Gilcrux (CA72QX, 5 miles north of Cockermouth, off A595) For transport or more details contact Eileen eileenlithgow@ hotmail.com or or Geoff Lithgow, or www. westcumbria camra. org.uk Trading Standards If you have not received a correct measure, and/or a topup has been refused, or if a price list is not displayed contact Trading Standards: Head Office: ; Cockermouth: From the chair Life begins at 40 This year is the 40th anniversary of the formation of CAMRA. By the early 1970s traditionally brewed beer was looking like an endangered drink. Small breweries were being taken over by multinationals. They often concentrated on the production of keg beers and lagers, as they are cheaper and easier to produce and keep than real ale. So, on 16th March 1971, a group of men decided to make a stand and demand that the drink they enjoyed so much, in all its varieties, should be more widely available. CAMRA was born. Over the years it has campaigned to reform the licensing law, so pubs are open when people want to drink, rather than being limited to the emergency hours introduced during the First World War; and the Office of Fair Trading has been challenged about the brewer s beer tie to pubs reducing customer choice. The success of these, and other campaigns is demonstrated by the statistics. By 1970 there were just under 200 breweries in the UK, today there are over 600, 29 in Cumbria. They brew a wide range of beers from traditional stouts and porters to the new golden ales using American hops. We think this is an incredible achievement, so the Branch didn t want this anniversary to go unmarked, but initially we couldn t think of what to do. Then one of our Social Secretaries, Eileen, came up with the ideas of holding a Pubs Week in August. We will identify 40 pubs, one for each year of CAMRA s existence, and try to visit as many of them as possible in that week. Now, this works out at nearly six pubs a day! I don t know if anyone will manage that, but I think some people will give it a good shot. Full details will be on the West Cumbria CAMRA website in early July, so you too can take part in this mammoth crawl. As well as socialising, the local branch also campaigns. Currently we are speaking to pubs where a pricelist (a legal requirement) is not displayed. Consumers have a right to know how much they will be spending on a product before purchasing it. This mix of campaigning and socialising mirrors CAMRA s current marketing theme of A Campaign of Two Halves. There are lots of things going on locally over the summer, including our social visit to the Keswick area on Saturday 6th August and a visit to The Brown Cow at Waberthwaite (on eof our pub of the year runners-up) then onto The Punchbowl near Millom on Saturday 25th June. For further details contact Eileen or Geoff Lithgow (see left). Finally I would just like to say a big congratulations to Kirsty Bennett and all the staff of The Brook Inn in Cleator. Our pub of the year in West Cumbria has also been named Cumbria Pub of The Year and will now go into the Regional competition. lkathryn Flagner, CAMRA branch chair kathryn.flagner@hotmail.co.uk or WhatAles?SUMMER 2011

35 West Cumbria Branch newsletter What Ales? Spring 2011

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