NORTH KINGSTON PUB CRAWL
As its contribution to GBBF at Your Local, CAMRA’s Kingston and Leatherhead branch held a pub crawl in North Kingston. Those taking part included several former Kingston Beer Festival committee members, (L to R) Dave Oram, Gill Baker and Dave Morgan, pictured here outside the first pub, the Canbury Arms (KT2 6LQ). As well as three beers in excellent condition (Young’s, Harvey’s and Surrey Hills), the Canbury gave the crawl welcome publicity.
Unfortunately, our current Branch Secretary, John Burns, slightly strained a muscle on his one and a half hour walk from Hersham but he stayed the course and his drinking arm was unaffected. Coming from even further afield were CAMRA’s Regional Director for Surrey and Sussex, Paul Saunders, and Rebecca Oram, a student at Swansea University.
By good planning (aka blind chance) the branch hit upon the first reasonably sunny day for weeks. This gave us an opportunity to enjoy the award winning garden at the Wych Elm (KT2 6HT), along with excellent Dark Star and Fuller’s beers plus food from a Michelin trained chef. The third stop was the classic family owned free house, the Park Tavern (KT2 6AP) serving six real ales. If visiting, look at the ceiling completely covered with pump clips acquired over the years. Last stop was long term Good Beer Guide entry, the Willoughby Arms (KT2 6LN), a true local boozer with six beers, a cider and beach huts in the garden wherein to enjoy them.
Many thanks to all the landlords, managers and staff who made our event a great replacement locally for the Great British Beer Festival.
Dave Morgan and Gill Baker
TIME FOR TEA
As part of CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival at Your Local in August, the Snooty Fox, in Canonbury (N5 2NN), offered an alternative to a conventional afternoon high tea by hosting a beer and cake tasting. Christine Cryne, master trainer and beer judge, who led the tasting, said, “It’s great to be doing something with Nicole and her team at the Snooty, which has twice won North London CAMRA’s Pub of the Year. This is the first face to face event I have done since February 2020 and it was a joy to see people in the flesh again. This is a great way to show people how to pair food with beer, while having some fun and supporting a local pub.” The five cake and beer pairings are listed below. The most popular beer was a pale ale called All These Vibes from the Tunbridge Wells based Pig & Porter brewery. The winning combination however was London’s Five Points’ Stout Porter matched with a Belgian Chocolate Cake.
Brewery Beer Cake
Camden Hells (4.6% ABV) Madeira Cake
Burnt Mill Pintle (4.3% ABV) Lemon Cake
Pig & Porter All These Vibes (5.3% ABV) Carrot Cake
Five Points Stout Porter (6.0% ABV) Belgian
Chocolate Cake
Fuller’s 1845 (bottle) (6.3% ABV) Genoa Cake
Christine Cryne