Fresh from their rebrand (which captures my overwhelming thought at any young CAMRA event \u2013 \u2018Here for the Beer\u2019) Portobello Brewery may look a bit different, but their beers are as great as ever. Welcomed by Rob Jenkins who founded the brewery and is now the managing director, we were swiftly given a glass (some of us were lucky enough to get a new brand glass) and told to get tasting straight from the unfiltered tanks; yummy! Their London Pilsner and Westway Pale Ale are firm favourites, but there\u2019s something for everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My number one on this visit was the Chestnut Ale; perfect for a cold night in February on an industrial estate! Their beers can now be found in more pubs across London than ever before because the brewery has also branched out and purchased a few pubs in the last year or so. This includes one you\u2019d often find me in, King & Co in Clapham, which always has a least ten kegs and five cask lines at any time (if not more). It\u2019s Rob\u2019s kind nature and love of beer that really makes a visit to Portobello worthwhile; he\u2019s passionate and imbued in every aspect of the beer culture. Thanks to Rob and the team for having us. Cheers! . . . AND ALSO IN WANDSWORTH! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Agreat\nturnout of over 30 young members accompanied by a handful of assorted \u2018others\u2019\nmet with anticipation in Wandsworth on a cold February evening. We were visiting\nJohn Hatch\u2019s private nano-brewery on the old Young\u2019s Ram Brewery site. Entering\nthe brewery through a half disguised door, complete with sliding peep-hole, we\nwere all pleasantly surprised to find ourselves in the former tack room\n(complete with many original fittings) of the former Young\u2019s brewery.\nThankfully, four handpumps have been added to this room and, they were serving\nfour bespoke brews for this event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The beer and joy flowed in equal measure and a fantastic time was had by all. We were lucky to bear witness to the living history that constitutes this brewery and were equally blessed to have had a short speech and Q & A session from John Hatch himself. His efforts to maintain the brewing tradition of this corner of south London are remarkable and he has fed back to me that he too really enjoyed the evening. Thanks everyone for coming. RINGING THE BELL\n<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On a recent Wednesday afternoon, members of CAMRA\u2019s Kingston & Leatherhead branch had a tour of the pubs of Molesey, just into Surrey. We met at the Royal Oak, moving on to the Cannon, Europa, Poyntz Arms and finally the Bell for the main business of the day. This 500 year old coaching inn, situated opposite St Mark\u2019s church in Bell Road, has been voted the branch\u2019s Winter Pub of the Season and, apart from the beer of course, we were there to present licensee Emily Balyova with the customary certificate. This is a pub that, in the view of the locals, has in the last year returned to the standard that Emily had achieved before she was absent on maternity leave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Adrian Palmer made the presentation to Emily while branch members enjoyed a selection of ales from Greene King, Wimbledon and Hogs Back. NORTH LONDON<\/strong> PUB OF THE SEASON <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many\npubs off the main drag are suffering with low awareness and footfall which,\noften leads to their closure, but nothing can be further from the truth for the\nColonel Fawcett. Hidden in the back streets of Camden (but only a few minutes\u2019 walk from\nCamden Road Station), this pub has gone from strength to strength since it was\ntaken over by the small Tidalwave pub chain in 2011. Finally, after several\nyears of consistency, the pub has won recognition for the quality service and\nbeer it provides by receiving CAMRA North London branch\u2019s Pub of the Season\naward, beating hundreds of other pubs in the area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Colin Coyne, Chair of North London branch, commented, \u201cWhat makes this pub successful is that it has tried to reach out\nto all parts of the community. Alongside its range of good real ales, it runs a\ncomedy club, a pub quiz, live music and an infamous gin event once a year to\ncelebrate the death of Colonel Fawcett. We wish the pub ongoing success for the\nfuture. It\u2019s a great example how hidden gems can be successful with the right\nattitude.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Paul Evans from Tidalwave explained his views as to what made the pub successful, \u201cIt\u2019s all down to customer service, the way we interact and value the customer. Training and selecting staff with the right attitude is key. It\u2019s nice to be recognised that we are getting it right.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n The pub dates from the early 1800s and was previously known as the\nCamden Arms. It became the Colonel Fawcett when Tidalwave took over. Colonel\nFawcett\u2019s claim to fame is that nearby in 1843 he contested one of the last\nfatal duels in England,\nagainst his brother-in-law, Lieutenant Monro. The colonel lost and died\nupstairs in the pub. His ghost is reputed to still drink at the hostelry! <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/image-17.png\")
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Tori Bishop-Rowe <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/image-18.png\")
Navindh Baburam<\/strong><\/em> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/image-19.png\")
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Clive Taylor<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/image-20.png\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/londondrinker.camra.org.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/image-21.png\")
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