British Beer and Pub Association launch photographic competition

The British Beer & Pub Association presents the UK’s biggest pub photography competition and exhibition – Pub Life. Taking place over the next three months British drinkers have a once in a lifetime opportunity to capture their beloved local and help celebrate a great British institution, which has been facing tough times.

Regulars, amateurs and professionals are invited to enter photographs of their local pub across six distinct categories in the hope of winning an Olympus camera and for their image to be exhibited at an exclusive exhibition from the 16th -23rd May 2011 at The Old Truman Brewery in East London.

The Public House has been a national treasure since the sixth century, providing a hub for the community and a lively social watering hole for all walks of life. Fifteen centuries later and the much loved institution has borne the brunt of the economic downturn despite being one of Britain’s most recognised traditions.
Now, in a nationwide celebration of everything great about the pub, Pub Life invites members of the public, whether they are a professional photographer or not, to capture their favourite scenes from their local pub under six categories for the chance to win a camera from Olympus and a prestigious spot in the exclusive Pub Life Photography Exhibition.
All six winners will receive an Olympus E-PL2 Single Kit Lens Camera; six runners up will also win an Olympus XZ-1 camera. One lucky overall winner will win the Olympus E-PL2 Double Kit Lens Camera as well as a host of photography accessories to help them get the best shot possible.

Pub Life is homage to the local pub through a unique national photography competition that aims to capture the true spirit of life inside a British pub. Entries will be shortlisted to 10 images across the six categories with the winning images being chosen by a panel of judges. The competition will culminate in a series of unique events running alongside the Pub Life exhibition at London’s Old Truman Brewery gallery space.

Entrants can submit as many images as they like across all six of the competition categories. The categories range from The Sun’s Beautiful Game through to Strange But True category with the most prestigious Pub Life category aiming to uncover the image that best captures life inside the modern British pub.

Pub Life is supported by British In order to submit your photographs visit facebook or email them to entries@publifecompeitition.com

Categories
From the 21st March, budding photographers both professional, amateur and pub locals will be invited to submit images to be judged through the six different categories. From this British Beer & Pub Association and The Sun will nominate a shortlist of photographers who will then be invited to exhibit in a top London gallery for Pub Life.

The exhibition will be from 16th – 23rd May 2011 in a gallery within The Old Truman Brewery.

The six categories are:
• Pub Life: The image that truly represents the essence of life in the modern pub
• The Sun’s The Beautiful Game: An image that depicts sportsmanship within the local pub
• Strange But True: An image that portrays the bizarre nature of the local pub
• The Regulars: This could be a Landlord, or regular figure or feature of your local pub
• Pub With A View: An incredible landscape outside or through a fireside window
• Lazy Sunday: The quintessential English social activity; spent with great friends and a roast dinner

More Information
BBPA Press release (pdf)
Pub Life Facebook Site

Real Ale Guide visits Brains

Met up with Simon Martin from Real Ale Guide recently on a trip around SA Brain and here is some of his footage and interviews of the event:



Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4

Last pub left in village wins CAMRA award

The Red Cow at Llwydcoed, near Aberdare may be the last pub left in the village, out of six that have closed down, but that has not stopped it from winning Mid-Glamorgan Branch of CAMRA Pub of the Year 2011.

The Red Cow is situated on the steep road leading into Aberdare from Merthyr Tydfil and this pub is a haven in an area of closed pubs. The pub is set back from the main road and has its own car park alongside, there is also a bus stop directly outside, the number six from Merthyr to Aberdare runs twice an hour during the day. 

The Red Cow was built in the nineteenth century and has been sympathetically altered throughout the centuries. There is a small outside drinking area at the front with tables and benches and a central entrance door leads to the open-plan interior with the bar on the left and a raised seating area to the right. Six shining  chrome-plated handpumps dispense real ales from an ever-changing selection of breweries and a local cider from International Cidermaker of the year Gwynt Y Ddraig. Chalkboards both inside and outside the pub inform the customers of which ales are available at the pub, recent guest beers have been from Rhymney, Breconshire, Wychwood, Celt Experience and Hop Back breweries and the landlord has a policy of stocking real ales from Welsh independent breweries wherever possible. Beers are even served in third of a pint glasses to encourage customers to taste beers they might not always order a pint of at the bar. Bottled beers include Marston's Pedigree, Courage Best and Grolsh Weissen.

Regular beer festivals are held in the pub throughout the year, with the next one being held over the weekend of the 29th April with over 30 different reals and ciders being on sale at the event.

To the rear of the pub is a restaurant and function room, this is decorated with a painting of Rorke's Drift and features a wood-burning fire in the winter. The military theme is continued throughout the pub with military insignia and memorabilia hanging up in various parts, a reminder of the landlord's  previous career in the Parachute Regiment.  The rear room leads out to a conservatory and another outside seating area, offering views over the Brecon Beacons National Park. 

The Red Cow offers an extensive menu, using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible including rare breed pork sausages and organic Welsh beef steaks. Handcut chips and generous portions of food on the plate often leave the customers with no room for something from the desert menu.

The current landlord took over the pub in March 2008 and has steadily increased the real ale range from one handpump to the six that now serve great Welsh beers to the thirsty customers of Llwydcoed and those from further afield. The Red Cow may be the last pub in the village but offering excellent quality real ales and top quality food will insure its survival well into the future. 

 Above: an old picture of the Red Cow in the days it was owned by Welsh Brewers

Red Cow, 6 Merthyr Road, Llwydcoed, Aberdare, CF44 0YE, 

Open Monday 6-12 (no food), Tuesday-Thursday 12-2.30, 6-12 (food 12-2, 6.30-9), Friday, Saturday, Sunday – open all day.

Google Map:

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Journey Planner:
There is a bus stop outside the pub

Pubs to pay for diversity coordinators

The rate of pub closures may have dropped to 25 a week but it is still an industry in decline. So what have the Local Government Association (LGA) successfully lobbied for? Well an increase in fees that pubs pay for their licence! Yet another tax on the pub will form part of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill and will allow councils to set the fees they charge pubs.

As anyone who has had regular dealings with local councils over the years, it is a fact that the majority of these councils are overstaffed and inefficient, employing jobsworths and busybodies whose sole purpose in life is to stilffle new business and interfere in successful business with more red tape.

Jobsworth and apologist for council non-jobs Cllr Nilgun Canver, the LGA’s licensing busybody, said it was “vital for public protection” that councils can take swift action against individuals and pubs, but “it all costs money”.
She added: “Operating the current licensing system has cost council tax payers over £100m more than anticipated and given the current economic climate, could not be sustained.”

Well my answer is to give licencing back to the courts where it was dealt with at a far cheaper cost to the taxpayer. A publican I know used to pay £50 every two years to renew his licence, this has now increased to over £250 a year for the same bit of paper that allows him to selll beer in his pub. So the obvious answer is that the ineficient council cannot do the job in a cost-effect way so the solution is to take the job away from the council. Better for the publican and the consumer all round.

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said the new plans will have a “devastating impact on pubs, bars and restaurants across the country”.
He added: “Councils are already facing significant budget cuts so the temptation will be all too great to use licensing fees as a revenue raising exercise.”

Martin Rawlings, director of pub & leisure at the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “This does not sit well with the freeze on small business regulation which the Chancellor announced last week.
“In our meetings with the Home Office we have consistently made the point that if the government is intent on introducing locally set fees, then they must be capped in the same way as gaming licence fees. We will continue to lobby hard for a national cap on licensing fees in the regulations.”

And licensees are fearing the worst after news of the change on fees. Andy Brooks of the Laughing Fish, Isfield, East Sussex, said his fixed costs were already far too high.
“For our licence fees to go up as well will be a real blow,” he said. “It’s about time this government and the LGA did something for pus and stopped adding to the difficulties we face.”
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Under our proposal, Licensing Authorities will be able to set the level of the fee within a nationally-set cap. The level of the cap will be set out in regulations which will be consulted on before being introduced.”
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill is due to become law next year.

Hat Tip to SIBA for the story

Otley Motley Brew

Otley Brewery launches new seasonal beer for April

Current Champion Brewers of Wales, the Otley Brewing Company, has announced its new seasonal beer for April, Motley Brew.

Motley Brew is a 7.5% ABV IPA beer that is chestnut red in colour and is infused with sweet notes of malt, caramel and citrus fruits, leading to a dry alcoholic finish. The big aromas and high bitterness gives it a classic IPA mouthfeel.

Nick Otley, managing director of the Otley Brewing Company, said: “This beer is an excellent mix of bitter and fruity notes and has proven to be a popular brew over the past two years since it was first brewed. This beer is named after Otley family member and head brewer, Matthew Otley, and will be available to all trade customers from April 1.”

 Above: Matt Otley at the Great Welsh Beer & Cider Festival

Meet the Bullmastiff Brewer

Bob Jenkins, owner and head brewer of the award-winning Bullmastiff Brewery of Cardiff, will be holding one of his regular 'meet the brewer' sessions at the Bear's Head pub in Penarth tomorrow night (Wednesday 30th April) from 1900hrs.

Bob will be sampling some of his beers and answering questions from inquisitive customers at the JDW Wetherspoons pub:
Bear's Head

37-39 Windsor Road

Penarth

CF64 1JD

 

Picture to the left is an old photo taken in the now defunct Royal Hotel in Penarth, of Bob Jenkins pouring a pint of beer.

 

Google Map:

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 Whilst looking for a photo of Bob to use for this piece I came across this old photo from 1996! Taken in the days I had hair and designer stubble! The awards are for Beer of the Festival at the one and only Poola Festival, held at Pontypool Rugby Club and for runner-up in Champion Beer of Wales Competition.

Artisan brewery announces 'Bar Open' this Saturday

Pontcanna's favourite brewery, well only, Artisan Brewing Company, will this Saturday (2nd April) be holding their the first 'BAR OPEN' event of the year. Be our guest as the Kings Road Art Studios opens its beer garden doors to you fine beer swilling folk of Cardiff (and beyond).

Beers available will be:.
CHOCOLATE WHEAT 5.0%ABV
BOHEMIAN PILSNER 5.4%ABV
SMOKED LAGER 5.4%ABV

Happy hour prices all day!

HOT BBQ FOOD (with veg options)

According to brewery Simon Doherty, "It's a casual affair this time round, so bring your mates for entertainment... We'll add some background tunes, a few seats (fit for children), board games and a dart board if I can find it".

Saturday 2nd April - 12noon till 9.30pm
183A Kings Rd Cardiff - CF119DF
More Information on Facebook 
Google Street View here:
BTW its through the arch to reach the brewery!

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British Drinks aim for European Protection

Four styles of British alcohol are hoping to gain European recognition with protected name status.

Applications for protected  geographic status have been made on behalf of Welsh cider, Welsh perry and Yorkshire beer.

Herefordshire Perry is already protected.

There is also a non-regional application for cask-conditioned ale to be recognised by the system, which already accords protection to Stilton cheese and Melton Mowbray pies.

All four products are in the “initial assessment” phase. This is followed by wider UK consultation, during which time objections will be considered before the European Commission makes a decision on whether to award protected name status.

The only problem I can see with this is that as a cidermaker myself I know that some of the Welsh varieties of cider and pear fruit are, shall we say, not that good for making cider with. That's why most of the orchards still standing have been planted with better varieties of fruit that make a better product. There is also the problem of identifying the fruit - often a local name given to a cider apple is known by another name across the border in Herefordshire. So will PGO Welsh Cider or Perry have to be made with Welsh apple or pear varieties or any varieties grown in Wales? Or will the cider just have to be fermented in Wales just to be called Welsh Cider?

Or alternatively the EU can just stop interfering in our wonderful Welsh ciders and perries so that we can enjoy without being policed by the Fourth Reich?

The Star Inn, Dinas Powys

Star Inn, Station Road, Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan, CF64 4DE

Open all day

Located in the heart of the village, the Star is a white-washed building with narrow sash windows. A five-pointed golden star acts as the pub sign and the unmistakable red and gold dragon of brewers SA Brain takes pride of place at the apex of the building.  

 

From the outside the Star appears to be an early twentieth-century building but this extension hides an original building that dates back five-hundred years to the reign of Henry VIII, making the Star the second oldest building in Dinas Powys, after the castle. The entrance from Station Road leads up a few steps to the oldest part of the building, situated on the right side as the customer enters. A large stone inglenook fireplace with a wooden beam across the top is original and to the right of it is an arched stone doorway that leads to a spiral staircase, a stout wooden door with decorative iron hinges guards it shut nowadays. 

This room was the Tudor hall (pictured), the now blocked-up doorway to the left of the fireplace lead to what was then the kitchen of the original building, the Old Court, next door, is today a separate building but in the 1500s these were one building. The ceiling consists of large cross-beams which are decorated with hops strung across them. The Tudor hall also features exposed stonework and red plaster around the fireplace as well as tables and chairs around the room. The original Tudor hall forms only a small part of the pub today, the early twentieth century extension has vastly increased the size of the original building and almost masked it.  

Opposite the Tudor fireplace is a more modern Edwardian fireplace and the floor is made up of wooden blocks in a herringbone pattern. This leads to the bar servery which stretches out towards the rear of the pub. To the left is the extension which provides more seating and a dining area and views of the village of Dinas Powys can be seen through the narrow sash windows. At the rear of the Star Inn there is a beer garden/patio area and a large car park. There is a wheelchair lift providing disabled entrance from the rear car park.

The handpumps on the bar serve a range of real ales from SA Brain including Dark, Bitter, SA, SA Gold as well as guest beers from other breweries. Food is served all day and chalkboard menus supplement the already extensive standard pub menus.

Google Map:

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South Wales Pub Auction - update

I realise the auction happened a few weeks ago but I have been waiting for some post-auction news before updating and, yes, I did forget about it and left the post gathering the equivalent of dust on the pc.

Previous post regarding the auction was here 

Thirty-one pubs were originally put up for auction, although 18 were sold beforehand, including the Cambrian in Blaenavon and the Engineers, Newport. Others sold before auction were:

Black Prince, Ynysddu

Bowens Arms, Swansea

Copperhouse, Port Talbot

Eagle, Taunton

Full Moon, Trycynon, Aberdare

Maltsters, Cwmbwrla, Swansea

New Beethoven, Maesteg

Puddlers Arms, Rhymney

Railway, Llangynydd

Smith's Arms, Pengam, Blackwood

Star, Llanfihangel Tor-y-Mynydd, Llansoy, Monmouthshire

Star, Mamhilad, Pontypool

Tair Bull, Libanus, Brecon

Ty-yn-y-Pwll Inn, Trethomas

Waterlooo, Oakfield, Cwmbran

Cogan, Penarth

A very crowded auction room at the Celtic Manor Hotel in Ringland, Newport surprisingly saw very few pubs realise their guide price or even meet their reserve, which caused extra work for the auctioneers after the auction. As the auctioneer had pointed out – the pubs on sale today were there to be sold so if the reserve price was not reached they would accept offers afterwards. The auction was largely made up of 'fire sale' properties owned by failing pub companies such as Admiral and Enterprise – many of these pubs had suffered closure in recent years as well as lack of investment in the buildings – Admiral Taverns had even put out a press release a couple of years ago that one of the auction properties had reopened after a period of closure after a £4000 refurbishment! With that amount of money being spent on their pubs it's hardly surprising they are dying on their feet.

Pubs where the reserve was not met:

Admiral, Cadoxton, Barry

Forest Hotel, Treforest

Hornblower, Newport - believed to be sold post-auction

Red Cow, Ystalyfera - back on the market OIRO £70,0000

Rising Sun, Fochriw - back on the market OIRO £70,000

Royal Hotel, Trealaw - back on the market OIRO £70,000

Ruperra, New Tredegar - back on the market OIRO £70,000

Wattstown, Porth - back on the market OIRO £70,000

The Red Cow, Royal Hotel and the Wattstown are all featured in the CAMRA book, Real Heritage Pubs of Wales, for their relatively unspoilt interiors.

Pubs that sold:

Carpenters Arms, Newport. Bought for £160,000 (Guide price £225,000) by the owner of the High Street shitehouse and chav depository, the Greyhound, it is my understanding that current tenants JW Bassett have signed a new 5 year lease with the new owner. Good for Newport as it will be the only outlet for Felinfoel beers in the City.

Colliers, Neath. Sold for £100,000 (GP £130,000)

De Winton, Tonypandy, went for £90,000 (GP £70,000). This could be a good pub once again if the owners want it to be – good main road location, smoking solution, car park etc.

Fox & Hounds, Llanharry, £185,000 (GP£195,000) some fierce bidding for this one especially from a West Wales brewer who seems to have made a phoenix-like return after liquidating his company last year. The auctioneer described him as “a canny lad” though most people refer to him using a lot more expletives.

Well lots of bargains to be had in that auction and even now, a pub for £70,000? You can't even buy a house for that!

Brains invests 5 million to improve pubs

Above: The Heath pub

Wales largest real ale brewer, SA Brain have announced that they will be investing £5 million in improvements to their pubs over the next 12 weeks, across 22 pubs, with projects ranging from small scale redecoration through to major structural and repositioning work.

Major work is already underway at the Boathouse in Bath and the Heath and Ty Mawr in Cardiff, with all expected to re-open before the summer.

Philip Lay, Retail Director at Brains said: "Despite economic pressures our commitment to the hospitality sector within Wales and beyond has not waned. Customers are increasingly looking for higher levels of service and surroundings, which is why we are continuing to invest in our core estate, as well as new business opportunities as they arise.

"Last year we maintained our investment across our estate and we’ve seen some excellent results from the refurbished outlets. For example, at the Three Arches in Cardiff sales have more than doubled since our investment, and the Grape and Olive in Swansea is trading significantly ahead of evaluation. The latter is not only our highest venue in terms of being on the top floor of Wales’ tallest building, but has also become our highest weekly turnover site."
 

Otley on Twitter Crawl with Obscura

The current Champion Brewers of Wales, Otley Brewery are this very afternoon on a pub crawl of London to launch their new beer. Saison Obscura, brewed in collaboration with beer writer Adrian Tierney-Jones.

The Otley Brewing Company is inviting beer lovers to join them on a tour of pubs this Friday, 25 March, to mark the launch of a special beer.

The Saison Obscura, a 5.5% dark Saison style beer. The beer is a continental style beer, flavoured with curacao orange and grains of paradise. It has a tart initial bitterness with smooth medium body and lingering spice notes, with aromas of bitter orange marmalade and soft Belgian wheat yeasts.



Nick Otley, managing director of the Otley Brewing Company, said: “We’re very excited to be launching the Saison Obscura with Adrian on Friday.

“It’s a unique beer that’s packed full of interesting flavours such as warm spices and orange. We had a lot of fun brewing it and we look forward to finding out what others think of it. We’re confident it will go down a storm, particularly because of the blend of unusual flavours and ingredients.”

The beer will be launched at a pub crawl across London where Nick Otley and Adrian Tierney Jones will invite others to join them. It starts at 3pm at the White Horse Parsons Green SW6 and then onto the Cask Pub and Kitchen in Pimlico SW1V for 5pm, the Rake Borough Market SE1 for 7pm and finally the Southampton Arms Kentish Town NW5 for 9pm.

For those who cannot attend, both Nick and Adrian will be using Twitter and “tweeting” comments throughout the day using the hashtag #saisonobscura
Nick continued: “We will be using the power of social media to reach those who cannot be there in person to try the beer. I’m sure the comments will become more interesting as the day wears on! We’re inviting feedback and comments from those who wish to join in as we’d love to know what you think.”

The beer will also be sold at The Bunch of Grapes in Pontypridd, the home of the Otley Brewing Company. The staff from the pub will also be taking questions about the beer and passing onto Nick and Adrian on twitter.

Beer tax rise is 'a kick in the teeth' say Welsh Brewers

The increase of two per cent above inflation in beer tax,announced in today’s Budget, is ‘ruinous’ to the nation’s thriving local brewing sector, ignores its contribution to the economy and puts thousands of jobs
 in breweries and pubs in jeopardy, says Buster Grant, Head Brewer of the Breconshire Brewery and Chairman of the Association of Welsh Independent Brewers, (AWIB).
Buster Grant said, “This is a real kick in the teeth to the local brewing sector, one of the few British success
 stories of recent years. Local brewers are just the kind of business this government says it wants to see
 prosper: they create jobs for local people and contribute to the local and wider British economy by using
 home-grown ingredients. Yet the current beer taxation regime is killing off our main route to market – the British pub.”
He continued, “The Treasury claimed before the Budget that their beer duty escalator is ‘baked in’. We say it is half baked!
Continuing to increase taxes on draught beer, drunk in the socially responsible environment of the pub, will serve only to increase purchases of cheap spirits for unsupervised home consumption. We fail to see how this policy can help tackle binge drinking. ”
Nick Otley, managing director of the family-run Otley Brewery in Pontypridd, said: “Although the price of petrol per litre has been reduced by 1p, which will help the delivery side of our business, it doesn’t offset the increase in alcohol duty. This is not the best outcome for small, family run breweries like ourselves. With the local brewing sector creating jobs for local people and contributing to the local and wider British economy, it comes as a surprise to us that the previous government’s escalator on alcohol duty remains unchanged.

AWIB, along with SIBA (the Society of Independent Brewers) and CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) have all campaigned vigorously against the Government's ‘duty escalator’, which increases beer duty by 2% above inflation every year.

A budget for pub closures

George Osborne today announced that there will be "no change" in beer duty. A brief cheer went around the beerati on Twitter, but many forgot about the Duty Escalator, introduced by the previous Government, which will put inflation plus 2% on the price of a pint. So thats a 7.5% rise on a pint from Sunday, working out at around an extra 20p on a pint.
There is more to come as beers above 7% ABV will be taxed at a higher rate so some great award-winning beers from brewers such as Otley and Brewdog will cost more whilst 2% ABV cans of supermarket swill will be taxed less, despite their lower quality ingredients used and lower production costs than hand crafted ales.
All in all this is another budget that will do nothing to stem the pub closures now running at 25 a week.

SCRAP THE ESCALATOR AND SAVE THE PUB!

Breconshire Brewery shows pride in British Beer

From Brew Wales

The Breconshire Brewery has lent its weight to a national campaign from the Society of Independent Brewers, by sending a copy of its ‘Proud of British Beer’ film to local Member of Parliament Roger Williams MP, in advance of the imminent Budget.

Breconshire Head Brewer, Buster Grant, was one of the 25 brewers to take a role in the short film, launched earlier this month, which celebrates British beer and the British pub where it is enjoyed by millions of people every week. ‘Proud of British Beer’ is not just a ‘feel good’ movie, it also sends a stern warning about damage caused by the government’s beer taxation policy – pub closures are currently running at 29 per week. “Stop the duty increases – show some pride in British beer”, implores a group of brewers in the film’s end frame.

Buster Grant commented, “We are proud to brew British beer, as are the other brewers from across the whole country who feature in this film. We hope that our message about beer duty is heard by MPs like Roger Williams MP who have it in their power to stop the increases and with it the decimation of our industry.”

Tax on UK beer has increased by some 40% since the millennium, and itis expected that there will be another 7% increase at the Budget - unless MPs act now. UK beer tax equates to 40% of the total beer tax in the EU - an astonishing figure. Taxes now make up over the half of the price of a pint in the pub - yet beer is a low alcoholic strength drink, with known health benefits when consumed in moderation. Pubs are responsible drinking enviroments, yet the ever increasing tax on beer (especially in relation to spirits) is driving pubs out of business, and drinkers out of safe, social, responsible enviroments. Even the Treasury's own figures state that the actual revenue from Beer Duty decreases with every subsequent increase in the tax.

The Breconshire Brewery was founded in 2002 by CH Marlow Ltd, and is at the forefront of the revival of the Welsh Brewing Industry. Buster Grant, the Head Brewer, acts as the Welsh Director of SIBA and is also the Chairman of the Association of Welsh Independent Brewers, a group that wholeheartedly supports this film and its message. The Brewery only uses British ingredients, and is proud to brew some of the best beers in the world.

It's time to take pride in the British Brewing Industry.