LONDON CIDER PUB OF THE YEAR
The Hop Inn in Hornchurch has won the award for Cider Pub of the Year for Greater London. The presentation was held on 28 May. The award was presented by Chris Rouse (CAMRA East Anglia) and Ian White (cider co-ordinator for Greater London) second and third from left, with Katie, Connor, Andrew, Alison, Phil and Danny from the pub. The runner up in a close competition was the Owl & the Pussycat in Northfields.
Ian White
CROYDON & SUTTON PUBS OF THE YEAR
CAMRA’s Croydon & Sutton branch select a pub of the year from each borough and then decide which of them will go forward to the London regional competition. On 30 May we presented the Sutton borough Pub of the Year certificate to the Hope in Carshalton. Branch chair David Lands presented the certificate to Joe Ford, senior bar staff.
Then, on 18 June, we presented the Croydon borough Pub of the Year certificate to the Claret & Ale, Addiscombe. David presented the certificate to Charlie Reid, the pub’s owner.
The Claret & Ale went forward to the London regional pub of the year competition.
Steve Thompson
SOUTH EAST LONDON PUB OF THE YEAR
CAMRA’s South East London branch similarly split their area into districts for their pub of the year competition. On 30 May the branch met up at the River Ale House in East Greenwich to present three certificates: the Greenwich District and Branch Pub of the Year awards, plus the branch Cider Pub of the Year award. The River opened in 2017 and has already won several awards. Branch chair Andy Large presented the certificates to the pub’s guvnor, Trevor Puddifoot, who, in turn, thanked CAMRA for its support in his aim to make his micropub a place to be and a community in its own right.
The picture shows branch chair Andy (far right) presenting Trevor (second left) and his co-directors Joe and Sian with the three awards. Asked if he had room to display his new certificates, he replied that he might have to build an extension wall. The evening was enjoyed by all, with Trevor’s gesture in kindly pricing all ales and cider at £3.50 a pint for all comers being much appreciated. The full address is 131 Woolwich Road. With thanks to James Guess for the photograph.
Roger Corbett
BEXLEY BEER FESTIVAL
Our 17th festival logo celebrated the 100th anniversary of our hosts, Dartfordians Rugby Club (where we have been in residence for an amazing ten years), along with the 60th anniversary of Radio Caroline, which is still ruling the airwaves.
This year the sun shone on us and we had our second highest attendance, with 1,752 through the door (730 CAMRA members and 961 public) plus 61 under 26s, whom we let in for free. We started with 111 beers and 23 ciders and perries. We were left with less than four firkins of beer and no cider or perry. The customer vote for the beer of the festival saw a resounding win for Bexley’s Mocha Stout (5.5% ABV) with Alnwick Brown taking second place. The winning cider/perry was Black Rat perry with Turners Apple Pie cider and Turners Russet joint second.
The first cask to run out was Bexley’s Spiced Rum Porter (5% ABV). Turners Apple Pie was the first cider/perry to go. We would like to thank Megan Lewis, the club steward, for all her help and assistance and, of course, all of the volunteers who made the festival possible, not least the organising committee. Next year’s event should be around 8 to 10 May. We also took the opportunity to present Megan with the branch’s Club of the Year award.
Peter Trout
MINI-WOODFEST
Our friends in the Society for the Preservation of Beers from the Wood (SPBW) are holding another mini-festival on 3 and 4 August at Ye Olde Mitre in Holborn. It is hoped to have around 20 beers from wooden casks, plus cider. The event will be split into three sessions (Saturday 12pm to 5.30 pm, Saturday 6pm to 10pm and Sunday 12pm to 8pm). Admission is free but it is recommended that you buy beer tokens in advance to secure entry. These are available from the pub or the SPBW website.
BRENTFORD FESTIVAL
CAMRA’s West Middlesex branch will, once again, be running a real ale bar at this community event. It can be found in the Blondin Park community pavilion on Sunday 1 September. Nearest tube is Northfields. Free entry.
NORWICH BEER FESTIVAL
I know that Norwich is a popular event with many London drinkers. This year, the St Andrew’s and Blackfriars’ Halls are being refurbished, a lengthy task because of their Grade II listing. CAMRA’s Norwich & District branch are therefore replacing the usual festival with a series of events being held across the City for 12 days starting Thursday 24 October. Festival coordinator Lucy Cousins said, “It’s Norwich Beer Festival, but not as we know it. This year we’ve had to be creative, while our beloved venue is refurbished, and we’ve decided to have some fun with it.” For details go here.