Assembly Member in call to Save the Vulcan

 

Above: Assembly Member Andrew RT Davies pours a beer brewed in his constituency at the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival

The Assembly Member for South Wales Central AM, Andrew RT Davies, has urged developers to

look again at plans to demolish the Vulcan Hotel in Cardiff City Centre. He has called on developers to

incorporate the 19th century public house into amended plans, thereby preserving one of Cardiff ’s oldest

pubs. Mr Davies, who sits on the National Assembly for Wales ’ Petitions Committee, said: "I agree

wholeheartedly with petitioners that it must be possible to incorporate the Vulcan into their designs, and to preserve this piece of Cardiff ’s cultural and architectural history. It is very sad to witness the gradual decline of the traditional pub and this is one of the last of its kind in the heart of Cardiff city centre."
The petition, raised by Rachel Thomas, urged the Welsh Assembly Government to use all of their power to protect the Vulcan from closure and received 5000 signatories. Mr Davies said: "It is to be welcomed that the Minister for Heritage has pledged Welsh Assembly Government support for the UK government’s proposed Wales and England Heritage Protection Bill. However, given the legislative timetable at Westminster that bill
may not arrive in time to save The Vulcan."
"The Minister also mentions the fact that discussions are on-going with his officials in Cadw and those within
the Assembly ’s Planning Division about possible measures to protect buildings of local importance. Given
the urgency here, one can only offer direct appeals to the developers themselves, in the hope that they
may acquiesce and work the current site into their plans. I remain hopeful that they will see sense and pay due
respect to the wishes of locals in recognising the cultural and historic significance of the site."

Save Our Pubs with the South Wales Echo

 

Today the South Wales Echo launches a campaign to save our local pubs. Good to see a local newspaper supporting our pubs.

To mark the start of the campaign there is a voucher in the Echo today (Monday 14th March) for a pound off a pint of Brains at this list of participating pubs.

Happy drinking! 

Weekend oddities

A couple of stories caught my eye this week:

The first was the news that archaeologists will be searching for the Tregaron Elephant. Not a mythical being such as the Loch Ness Monster or a sky fairy but a real elephant from a circus that died in 1848 after drinking the local beer. Ha joking aside it supposedly died after drinking water contaminated with lead but since lead is a cumulative poison it would not have killed it immediately. The mystery of who killed the elephant may be discovered, whatever next? Who killed the bear in the Forest of Dean? Anyway according to legend the remains of the beast were chopped and buried in what some sources say 4 different burial pits behind the historic Talbot Hotel. Or they could have ended up on the menu?

The second story was news that Cardiff Council have drawn up plans for a bar in the old Victorian barracks on Flat Holm in the Bristol Channel. The island is the extreme edge of the Mendip Hills and has seen a hotel, bar and even a skittle alley in the last few years of Queen Victoria's reign but that reverted to a farmhouse and is now the bunkhouse. Should be an interesting pub crawl with the only other island bar in the Bristol Channel being the Marisco Tavern on Lundy.

Society of Licensees launched

A new trade body has been formed to give licensees a voice, the Society of Licensees has been organised by award-winning publican Ed Davies of Kilverts, Hay-on-Wye, who also runs the annual Hay Ale and Literature Festival.

Speaking to the Publican, Ed said, ""All too often trade bodies speak on behalf of the on-trade, but leaving those they speak for in the dark.

“This society aims to change that, providing a genuine voice for licensees"
“Our primary focus will be to counter the way pubs are portrayed in the media - often lumped in under the 'alcohol' banner.

“We want the media to highlight that well-run pubs are an asset to a community, selling responsibly and encouraging community spirits.

“We'll work with other trade groups where appropriate, but we won't resort to slagging them off when we don't agree.

“The trade needs to unite in order to benefit as a whole. As disparate on-trade proves easy pickings, and bickering within the trade doesn't help either.”

Currently there are a range of groups licensees can join, from single-issue causes to the broad spectrum covered by the BII. The aims of the group are simple:

To promote and support the benefits of a well-run pub

To provide a voice for licensees directly and independently

To correct mis-representation of alcohol in the public domain

To support British beer, promoting the benefits of supporting a domestic industry

For more information go to the Society of Licensees website

Gwynt Cider Open Days 2011

 

The International Cider Makers of the Year 2010/11, Gwynt Y Ddraig have announced the dates for their open days this year, with good food, music and, of course their award-winning ciders and perries to wash down, these popular weekends are set to return on:

April 23rd/24th (Sat 1001-2100 & Sun 1100-1930)

& 

August 6th/7th 2011 (Sat 1100-2100 & Sun 1100-1930)

Entry to the farm open days will be £5.00 per day. On entry your hand will be stamped (different colour stamp for Saturday & Sunday) to indicate to bar staff and site security that you have entered the event via the main entrance. The cost of the ticket will include one free pint or bottle of cider or perry when presented at the bar.

Visitors are welcome to camp over on the Saturday night but please note that the only facilities available are the portable toilets. Please note that all vehicles and camping equipment are left at the owners risk. If you are camping and plan to stay for the Sunday then please make this known to the staff on the gate so you can purchase the appropriate tickets for both days. (This will be a Saturday ticket and a Sunday ticket.) Please note that all campers will be visited on the Sunday morning just to ensure that they have purchased their Sunday ticket.

Please note that entry to anyone under the age of 18 is free but only with an accompanying adult and under 18s will therefore not be supplied with an entry ticket or have the entry stamp applied to their hand. Anyone attempting to purchase an entry ticket but is lucky enough to appear to be under the age of 18 will be asked to produce photo ID.

Once again we are going to take a step back in time and show you how we used to press the apples by winding up our 19th Century double screw press – pictured below (we will be using a modern mill).

Freshly prepared food will be available throughout the weekend from Cegin Crincae, La Creperie de Sophie and pasties and pastries from in a pickle.

A selection of live music will be played over the weekend, Ross Kirk has been confirmed for the two weekends but a full line up of Artists will follow. 

Gwynt Y Draig Cider

Llest Farm

Pontypridd

RCT

CF38 2PW 

Google Map:

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Cardiff CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011

From Brew Wales

A pub on the outskirts of Cardiff has won the Cardiff CAMRA Pub of the Year Award. The Gwaelod y Garth Inn, set in the hills overlooking the lower reaches of the Taff Valley has been judged to be the best real ale pub in the City. Owners Richard and Barbara Angell said: “We are fantastically happy with the result. Richard said the award was down to his wife’s efforts working behind the bar, but said adding draft cider and five cask ales to their stock had also played a role.

The Gwaelod-y-Garth pub is situated overlooking Taff's Well and this attractive two-story stone-built building offers picturesque views across the Taff Valley below. The front area outside the pub has tables and chairs as well as a canopy for those not so dry days and there is a car park towards the rear of the pub.
The inside is welcoming with a wooden bar and flagstone floors with a separate pool room with old stained glass lettering above the doorway saying 'Saloon'. Two cast-iron fire grates sit in the large stone fireplaces at opposite ends of the pub, the roaring fires providing welcome warmth in the March chill. There are plenty of seats in this pub as well as a separate restaurant upstairs. There is even a bookcase from which customers can choose a Pub Guide or other books to read whilst enjoying the views from the windows.
The name of the pub means 'the foot of the headland of the enclosure' but locals just refer to it as 'The Gwaelod'. The village was the inspiration behind the book and the film The Englishman who went up a Hill and came down a Mountain, although the film was shot in Powys as a more rural setting was thought to be needed than the industrial Taff Valley.
The pub has recently undergone a refurbishment but has not lost any of its character, the old stone walls are decorated with paintings and photographs of the local area, porcelain and pewter beer tankards hang from the rafters and above the bar hang hop bines, picked last Autumn.
Real ales are prominent on the bar at the Gwaelod, with six handpumps offering a choice of real ales from across Britain. Breweries such as Wye Valley, Tomos Watkin, RCH, Purple Moose and Titanic have all featured recently with Wye Valley Bitter being a permanent real ale on the bar. Local cider and perry from Gwynt y Ddraig is also available in bottles and Peroni lager from Italy is on draught.
The Gwaelod is open from 1000 am and serves food Monday-Thursday 12-2, 6.30-9, all day Friday and Saturday and 12-3.30 Sunday, with booking advisable on Sundays. The food is locally sourced wherever possible, with the beef coming from cattle from a nearby farm. There are separate lunch and evening menus along with a specials board which features food such as pork sausages cooked in Gwynt Y Ddraig cider gravy. It is not surprising that this pub has won awards over the years, fromlast year a runner-up in the Cardiff CAMRA Pub of the Year Award to Best Local Pub in the South Wales Echo Food & Drink Awards, this is a wonderful pub in a stunning location.

From Brew Wales

Gwaelod-y-Garth Inn, Main Road, Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff, CF15 9HH, 029 20810408
Google Map:

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Winchester refurbishment

Popped into Merthyr's premier real ale pub and the Rhymney Brewery tap, the Winchester, to see the alterations. Well the fireplace and chimney have been installed, with Fawlty Towersesque moose head above the mantlepiece, the door to the the bar servery has been removed, making a larger bar and the next few days will see the front wall come down to be replaced by a large glass window.
Added to that 4 real ales on the, including Rhymney Dark, this is by far the best pub in Merthyr!

Bunch O' Stouts and Porters at the Grapes

The multi award-winning Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd will be holding one of their regular beer festivals this weekend, starting today (Friday).
On the Main Bar: Note, now 9
handpumps.
Otley – O1 4%
Otley – O6 Porter 6.6%
Otley – Dark Saison (NEW) 5.5% brewed by Adrian Tierney-Jones
Otley – O5 5.0%
RCH – Hewish IPA 3.6%
Lancaster – Black
Castle Rock – Screech Owl

On the festival bar:
Saltaire – Hazelnut Coffee Porter
Hop Back – Entire Stout
Green Jack – Lurcher Stout
Burton Bridge – Porter
Bristol Beer Factory – Milk Stout
Brewdog – Paradox Smokehead
Waen – Blackberry Stout
Dark Star – Espresso Stout
O Hanlons – Port Porter
RCH – Old Slug Porter
Wye Valley – Dorothy Goodbody
Wholesome Stout
Titanic – Black Ice

Continental on tap:
Erdinger - Weissen
D.A.B
Lindeboom
Brooklyn – Brooklyn Lager

Otley brew Croes-o for March

Otley announces new seasonal beer for March

Award-winning Welsh micro-brewery, the Otley Brewing Company, is bringing St David’s day celebrations to life with the launch of its March seasonal beer.

Croes-O is a 4.2% ABV golden ale and is a light, hoppy, delicate beer with big aromas and will be available to all trade customers from March 1.

Nick Otley, managing director of Otley, said: “Croes-O was first brewed for the CAMRA annual general meeting held in Cardiff in 2009. As the Welsh word ‘croeso’ translates to ‘welcome’ in English, this was a great way to welcome the CAMRA board members to Wales. Due to the high demand for this ale, we have decided to re-brew it every year since.”

Get the beers in Wrexham!

For those of near North Wales this weekend, the Wrexham Beer Festival will be featuring a good selection of real ales from across the UK. Organised by Chester and South Clwyd CAMRA this is the third year the event has been held at the Gresford Colliery Club.
Opening Times:
Friday 25th February - 7pm to 11pm (Admission £3)
Saturday 26th February - 12pm to 4pm (Admission £2)
Saturday 26th February - 7pm to 11pm (Admission £3)

All admission prices include a program and a free half pint for CAMRA members on production of their membership card.

Beer List:
Abbey Grange Welsh Black 5.5
Brimstage Sandpiper 3.6
Conwy Mulberry Dark 3.8
Dunham Massey Little Bollington Bitter 3.7
Facers Landslide 4.9
Frodsham P.S.A 4.0
Gertie Sweet Winter Belle 4.7
Hydes Original 3.8
Jolly Brewer Cwrw Powys Fadog 4.0
Joules Pale Ale 4.1
Joules Slumbering Monk 4.5
Liverpool Organic Johnny Handsome 4.0
Marble 3.9 3.9
Northern Deep Dark Secret 5.2
Offbeat Scrumptious 4.0
Great Orme Cambria 3.8
Ossett Treacle Stout 5.0
Plassey Cwrw Tudno 5.0
Plassey Festival Ale 7.0
Prospect Panned Out 4.0
Purple Moose Canol y Ian 4.1
Salopian Darwin's Origin 4.3
Sandstone Poachers Pale 4.5
Sandstone Postmistress 4.4
Spitting Feathers Farmhouse Bitter 3.6
Stonehouse Station Bitter 3.9
Tatton Yeti 4.5
Weetwood Old Dog 4.5
WC SBD

Wrexham Beer Festival, 25th-26th February
Gresford Colliery Club
Bluebell Lane
Pandy
Wrexham
LL12 8EE
01978-364278


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Easily reached by Public Transport:

Raking in the Welsh Beers

The best bar in London are holding their annual Welsh Beer Festival next week. The Rake in Borough Market will be featuring a selection of the best beers from Wales and their 3rd Welsh Beer Festival starts at midday on Sunday 27th February with a meet the brewers session from 2pm with Nick and Matt Otley. The Festival continues throughout the week.

The Beer List:

Rhymney : Dark. Former Champion Beer of Wales!

Bullmastiff : Son of a Bitch, Welsh Black & Welsh Pride.

Conwy : Telford Porter.

Monty’s : Manjana, Midnight & Mojo.

Great Orme : Celtica

Otley : O1, O-Garden ,O-Rosie, Croeso & Motley Brew

Waen : Tidy Pint, Janners Pride, Blackberry Stout & Festival Gold.

Heart of Wales : Aur Cymru.

Jolly Brewer : Druids Ale.

Tomos Watkin : 1879 Lager (Keg)

Three Tuns : XXX.

Bryncelyn : Buddy Marvellous.

Bragd’yr Nant : Mwnci Nel.

Vale of Glamorgan : Grog y Vog, Wheats Occuring & Cwrw Dewi.

Breconshire : Ramblers Ruin, Sin Bin & Welsh Pale Ale.

Preseli : Baggywrinkle.

Kingstone : Humpty’s Fuddle.

Purple Moose : Dark Side of the Moose & Glaslyn.

In addition cider from World Champion Cider makers Gwynt Y Ddraig will also be available.

Rake
14 Winchester Walk
Borough Market
London
SE1 9AG

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Duke of Wellington, Cowbridge

Duke of Wellington, 48 High Street, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, CF71 7AG

Open all day 

The market-town of Cowbridge was once home to many old pubs and coaching inns and the Duke of Wellington is a rare survivor from those days. This two-story whitewashed building looks small from the outside but this is deceptive as the pub stretches back from the road quite a way.

The pub was not always called the Duke of Wellington and had acquired this name by at least 1844, in honour of the Iron Duke who used to stay here whilst on his way to visit the family of General Picton in Pembrokshire. The first mention of this building as an inn with stables and brewhouse was in 1662, although the building is not named, by 1760 it was called the Half Moon and a few years later may have become the Cowbridge Arms before being renamed again in 1829 as the Black Horse and by 1831 another name change occurred, this time to the Coach & Horses. The Duke of Wellington pub was sold to SA Brain in 1919 and the company still own this historic pub today.

The main entrance to the pub is from the High Street with a short corridor leading to the bar on the right and the dining area to the rear, there is also another room to the left, these rooms are perhaps the remnants of the medieval floor plan of the original building on this site. The bar area is spacious with plenty of seating, exposed stonework and blackened beams. The real ales, served from gleaming brass handpumps are Brains Dark, SA, SA Gold and Bitter or there are bottles of Gwynt Y Ddraig Welsh cider also available. There is also an outdoor area towards the rear with comfortable seating, a real sun trap in the hot weather.

The dining area to the rear was once an open courtyard in the days when this pub was a coaching inn and one of the features from those times is a well which now is now a focal point of the room, although claims of its Roman origins are a bit far fetched.

There is an extensive menu available at the Duke with chalkboards offering interesting additions to the usual pub fayre. Sausages made with SA Gold are one of the specialities and there is even a Reverend James chutney to match the Welsh cheeses on the menu. The pub is open all day and food is served 12-9pm Monday to Saturday and 12-5pm on Sundays.

One of the more unusual features of this pub is the function room at the very rear of the building. Built on the site of the old stables around about the time of the First World War, this is a mock-medieval art deco construction that has to be seen to be believed with its huge fireplace and even a minstrels gallery. During Cowbridge Food Festival in October the pub is the venue of a cider festival with around 30 different ciders and perries on sale.  

The righteous get together

In a match made in hell, a joint conference will be held this year by Fake Charities ASH Wales and Alcohol Concern Cymru. The neo-prohibitionists of the smoking and drinking world getting together for what must be a fun-filled couple of days of bansturbation fills me absolute delight.

The topics to be discussed include:
"How do we shift public perceptions and norms?"
"Should we consider managing the retail environment and product marketing as ways of combating tobacco and/or alcohol use?"

So do we expect fair and balanced views from these Government-funded Fake Charities? No, not really as submissions of abstracts from Tobacco or Alcohol Industries or their subsidiaries will not be accepted. Ah so the righteous will be one-sided with their talk of banning advertising and brewery-sponsored sports events. As has been said elsewhere the denormalisation of smoking became eveident before the ban was introduced. We are now seeing the same being done to the drinks industry despite the amount of money it generates for this country.
It's time the Government ceased to fund these Fake Charities who waste our money on schemes to demonise the smoker and drinker. All they wish to do is to attack on our personal liberties and choices for their own benefit not for ours.

First they banned the smokers
And I did not speak out because I was not a smoker
Next they came for the drinkers...........

On another point, National No Smoking Day 2011 is coming up on Wednesday 9th March. Now this is the one day of the year that I choose to smoke, in protest at the nanny state we have imposed on us. This year I have some King Edward Imperials, well the US economy could do with the trade, and also something rather large from Nicaragua. now it's just trying to find the right pub to have a smoke outside, last year the protest was at the Vulcan in Cardiff, still undecided on the venue for this year.

Closed pub reopens

In what is a bit of surprise in the City-Centre of Newport, the former Trout Vaults in Market Street, or CanCans as it became known at one time, has reopened as a well erm 'cabaret bar' whatever that means. According to a well-placed source on Newport pubs, well Rob in the Murenger "A regular from the Murray popped in on Friday night, had to pay three quid to get in and left after he had his arse pinched while at the bar". Ah so the Trout has been renamed the Birdcage and has become a gay cabaret bar, oh well it could have been worse.

Pubs add a billion pounds to the Welsh Economy every year

 A new report commissioned by the British Beer & Pub Association has revealed that 51,000 people are dependent on jobs in the beer and pub industries in Wales with £600 million in wages being dependent on the trade which adds £1 billion to the Welsh economy every year.

The full report, written by Oxford Economics is available here (pdf)

The UK figures are equally impressive:

• 980,000 people in the UK depend on beer and pubs for work
• The beer and pub trade adds over £21 billion to the UK economy every year
• £13.4 billion in UK wages are dependent on the trade, each year

With pubs so important to the economy in Wales, is it not time the Welsh Assembly Government started to support them? Instead the WAG seem intent on supporting the neo-prohibitionists such as Fake Charity Alcohol Concern Wales who rely on Government funding of £250,000/pa to produce negative and incorrect reports such as this one?